The Monster he Created

by Mckiller16

Summary:

Instead of Silco taking in Jinx in episode 3, he hands her over to Singed. She ends up as his lab rat and errand girl, only staying to spare her adoptive father, Vander, from having to take her place. What will happen when Vi learns of her baby sister turned mass murderer? Will they learn to accept each other for who they are? Or will this end in a worse explosion than last time?

Chapter 1: I Wasn't Always Like This

Notes:

Hi, guys! This is my first fanfic so I have no idea how this is going to go, but Arcane has completely taken over my life and when I got this idea I just had to write it down. As I said, this is my first fanfic, so any advice or notes on this is appreciated and welcomed.

Please Read!!

-Everything that's taking place this chapter is happening in S1E4.

-Jinx's hair in this is basically what it looked like when she initially cut it off in season 2 (Before she shaved the sides) and she won't have any tattoos in this, but everyone and everything else is the same.

She was tired.

The job Topside had been more… demanding than anticipated. The doctor had given her the assignment to make sure the two eyed demon the whole Undercity bowed to wasn’t screwing him over. He probably was, but who was she to argue with the doctor.

The doctor had given her missions like this before, check in on shipments Silco was moving, make sure he sold them, and, if the buyer didn’t cough up the money, kill them. Of course they were the lucky ones, when the doctor was running low on “willing” test subjects he sent her out to fetch more. The poor fools who partook in shimmer but didn’t have the funds to afford it ended up on the doctor’s table. A place far darker than the streets of Zaun, something she knew far too well.

A shudder ran down her spine at the thought.

She shuffled her dead feet toward a small alleyway, and leaned against a wall, which was covered in something that would make any topsiders skin crawl, but she didn’t mind, there were worse things then being covered in mystery filth.

“Shit," she said at the thought of having to return after such a failure.

The mission had gone up in flames. Literally. She had let the entire shipment of shimmer go up in smoke. Of course it wasn’t entirely her fault, if that stupid bitch Sevika hadn’t let those tree fuckers get the jump on her, she wouldn’t have had to step in.

“Please, we all know you jinxed it”, Mylo snickered, “Just like you always do.”

“Shut up,” she hissed in his general direction.

She ran her hand though her short choppy hair, the battle on the airship was not pretty. She had ended up killing more of the firelight morons, and possibly some of Silco’s people as well. Not to mention Sevika had caught her after the blood bath, needless to say the woman was pissed. But as if that wasn’t enough, one of the firelight wackos had pink hair.

“Why did you leave me!?”

“Because you’re a jinx! You hear me! Mylo was right.”

  Bam!

She slammed her head hard against the alley wall. Not now, she couldn’t lose her shit yet. That can wait until she back on that god forsaken table. And back on it she would most definitely be, even if the doctor chose to forgive her for losing the shimmer shipment, Sevika would tell Silco she was there, Silco would go to the doctor and throw a fit, and then the doctor would have to do something to appease him. He would have to “fix” her, make her “better” so she wouldn't fail him again.

Bile rose in the back of her throat, and her stomach twisted at the words that the doctor used to justify his torture. The torture she’s had to endure since she 11, when the two eyed monster took her away and shipped her off to the living hell that was the doctor’s…home? Lab? She didn’t know. If he truly did have a home it was left abandoned, he rarely ever left the cave, and if he did it was never for long.

For the most part he would just send Jinx if he needed something. She would go collect it and return. Collect, return, collect, return, kill, collect, return, kill some more, return, return, kill, collect, kill, kill, kill, kil, kill, kill,kill,...and return. The order didn’t matter, as long as it ended with return. As long as she came back, every thing would be fine. He would be safe, and she would finally be doing something with her sorry excuse for a life.

What if he doesn’t want this?

That thought would always make her pause, just like it did now (why else would she be hiding in an alleyway?). What if he didn’t want to live like this, after all she didn’t, if it wasn’t for him she probably would have offed herself day one.

She shook her head, as she pushed herself off the wall and continued to walk down the streets of Undercity, she had come too far, killed too many, and been through too much, it was far too late to turn back. If she gave up now, they would both die.

The doctor won’t touch him if he has her to run his tests on. He won’t turn him into a mindless killing machine, like she was. So she’ll keep going back, keep killing, keep dying on the inside, keep feeling the intolerable pain the doctor brought with his needles and knives. As long as he stayed away from him.

She’d burn the world down before she’d let the doctor turn Vander into a monster like her.

Notes:

So what do you think? I haven't worked out all the kinks for this story and I tend to show heavy bias towards characters when writing, but I really want this to turn out right, so please ask questions. It'll force me to think about the story as a whole, not just what I write in the moment.
But seriously thank you so much for reading, even if you don't stick around, I really appreciate it :)

Chapter 2: Alone With A Monster

Notes:

Welcome back! Big thank you to everyone reading and to those who commented, you guys really helped me put more thought into some things. Once again any constructive criticism is more than welcomed, so feel free to share :)

I wanted to get this chapter up as fast as possible for you guys, so without further ado, chapter 2 of The Monster he Created.

“He’s going to kill you,” Mylo laughed.

“You should have stayed out of it,” Claggor muttered.

That almost made her laugh, of course Claggor would decide now was the time to speak up. He usually kept his mouth shut, then again, he never needed to speak to make her feel guilty. Claggor was always quiet, he settled for giving her sad disappointed looks, Mylo, always the ass, never hesitated when it came to giving her shit for what she did, or didn’t do. There was no winning with them, no matter how hard she tried, they never SHUT UP.

She had another voice, one she hated more than the others, Powder. She despised her the most because of how terribly weak she was, and the fact that she could take control. The others couldn’t do that, but Powder could. The logical part of her brain understood that was because they were actually the same person, but it also knew that it was easier to keep them separated, it’s how she managed to stay sane, well sane-ish. The rest of her didn’t argue with this unwanted occupant because Vander liked Powder, so she got to stay. Jinx would have probably pushed Powder down a well if it wasn’t for him. Not that it mattered much, Powder didn’t come out as often anymore. Why would she, she’d just get scared and run away to hide in some forgotten corner of her mind anyway. The doctor had told Jinx at one point that she was wrong in the head, that she was…. Ah she couldn’t remember. It was said to long ago, to much happened since, and she never really cared to listen to what people said was wrong with her. She was broken beyond repair, what more was there to know?

Her footsteps echoed along the cave walls as the stench of blood and chemicals wafted towards her. It wasn’t long before the floor changed from slippery rocks to solid stone beneath her feet. She began to undo the various blades that were hidden along her far to big black pants and long sleeved (also black) turtleneck shirt, emptying the sowed in pouches that were on her pants and vest, and set them on the nearest table, but decided to leave on her homemade fingerless gloves that had spiked metal knuckles and metal casings under the fabric.

Jinx carried a variety of blades, small ones, big ones and everything in between. Knives weren’t her first choice of weapons but she never really had a choice, did she? The doctor had simply handed her one the first time he sent her out. It wasn’t pretty at first, she wasn’t made for close combat, she was to small and weak, she had broken several bones and had twice as many cuts and bruises, she had to stumbled her way back to the lab like a half dead zombie. She learned eventually though. The doctor made sure of that. Now her clothes take the brunt of the beating, and even if they managed to get her, the wound would heal back up before you could say “stupid blue haired bitch.” (She knows that one from experience). Knives, however, were not allowed to be carried in past the entrance, doctors orders. He said she had used one to attack him during surgery once, she didn’t remember doing it unfortunately, but he was in the middle of stitching up his bleeding flesh when she regained consciousness, so she probably did.

Of course her outfit had seen better days, the pants had been resown and patched so many times Jinx wondered if any part of it was still made of the original fabric, her shirt had to be replaced so many times Jinx had lost count after the first year, and her gloves? Well the metal casing she had added underneath the fabric was basically all you could see now. Blood stains decorated everything Jinx owned, she would say it was her signature look but too many other folks down here had the same style for her to claim that. Not to mention hardly anything fit her, she was too skinny from lack of food and the doctor’s experiments for any clothes to fit her right.

She walked in further to the lab/home she had shared with the doctor for the past 7 years, vats of liquid lined the walls filled with all kinds of different things, some with animals, others humans, some alive, others long dead. All were kept around for the same reason she was, the mutations the doctor had successfully created with in them. Each made for different reasons, Jinx herself was made to see the extent of the human form, at least that’s what the doctor told her. Jinx thinks he selected this because he’s never had an actual willing subject before and he wanted to see if he could cheat death without too much alteration, for his daughter. After all, who wants a hideous looking monster for a daughter?

Some would argue she should be grateful to his daughter for that small blessing but his daughter was also the whole reason the doctor did all this twisted shit to begin with, so she didn’t really feel any particular gratitude.

Out of all the things in this fucked up place his daughter was the only thing he truly cared about, every second he didn’t spend testing or working he spent with her. He once had the nerve to compare himself and her with Jinx and Vander, Mylo had a field day with the thoughts that comparison brought.

“You were gone for a while.”

His cold raspy voice was like nails on a chalkboard to her. He stood at the operating table, his eyes never leaving the poor creature that was under the knife he held in his nimble steady hands.

She walked quietly towards him, fear coursing through her with every shimmer enhanced heartbeat, “Sorry,” she whispered, eyes glued to the floor, voice so soft she only knew she had spoken because she felt the word rumble through her chest.

He gave a hum of acknowledgment, “I suppose things didn’t go well?”

The room was beginning to spin, her brain began to short circuit, all she could hear was Mylo’s laughter, all she felt was Claggor’s pitiful eyes and disappointed frown, and she had to fight for control with Powder who decided to step in, trying to get her to flee.

“Jinx.”

Her eyes snapped up to meet his one good one, all the voices fled when she meet his gaze.

Fucking cowards.

She swallowed down the vomit that threatened to escape and spoke, “The Firelights intercepted the shipment.”

Her voice sounded off, words felt wrong on her tongue, they always did now-a-days. The Doctor didn’t like her speaking, so she only did so when she was out and even then she only really conversed with the voices in her head, or when she was with Vander. The only reason her voice didn’t sound extremely raspy and broken from disuse was because of her singing, her calling card.

“And where were you when this was happening?” He had fully turned away from the mutated animal on his table, giving Jinx a full view of the thing’s open stomach and its guts spilled all over the table. A part of her absentmindedly wondered if he’d clean the table off before throwing her on.

“I boarded the air ship, killed some firelights, and… some of… Silco’s…” She didn’t have the nerve to finish the sentence.

“But you failed to stop them?” The skin on his face where someone’s eyebrows normally stayed raised in question.

Her eyes darted around the room aimlessly, “There were too many, Sevika got in the way, and…” and the girl. Her hair. Pink. Just like V-

“Those are excuses, you already know how I feel about those.”

She licked her chapped and broken lips, “I was too late, by the time I arrived they had already dumped the shimmer. I let them burn it, I froze, and then I destroyed everything in sight,” she admitted freely.

“Hmm,” he turned back around, “I’m assuming you had another episode?”

She released a small breath as he turned away from her, “Yes.”

“I see. What wonderful timing,” her blood ran cold, “I have been developing a serum,” her breath began to quicken, “It seems now would be a good opportunity to test it,” her vision began to tunnel, “Take a seat while I clean up.”

Her body moved on its own, her mind didn’t need to fully function to know what would happen to her if she didn’t do what she was told. So she sat, and she waited. Mylo snickered in her head, Claggor looked away in shame, Powder trembled in fear, and Jinx sat, all emotion and feeling long gone. She allowed the voices to shriek, cry, and cower all they wanted, it didn’t matter in the end. Jinx knew that, that’s why she was in control, Powder could complain all she wanted, but she knew Jinx was the only one who could handle this. Only one who could stop herself from trying to rip the doctor limb from limb when he operated on her without pain killers, only one who could not go completely mad when the hallucinations started, only one who could handle having needles stuck into her for hours on end, only one who could go days without food.

As the doctor would say, Jinx was perfect.

Notes:

Well there we go, I hope this clears somethings up for people, if not ask questions, I’ll do my best to answer them and I might even add some stuff in later because of it.

When I was describing Jinx last chapter, I realized I hadn’t completely nailed some things down about her, so I’m going to try and give you guys the complete rundown here.

- Jinx’s hair falls to about her shoulders because if it’s any longer it gets in her way

-She has no tattoos because 1, I don’t see a reason she would get them in this universe, and 2, she’s not going to put herself under another needle if she has a say in it.

- Her scars, she has them everywhere because of the experiments, minus her face, she has broken her nose multiple times tho.

-Her outfit, (I’m really bad at describing outfits so bare with me in the fic), is all black and it covers as much skin as possible, she doesn’t like physical contact and she doesn’t want her scars on display, so she puts up with the feeling of fabric on her even though she doesn’t like that either. Like I said in the fic everything she wears is always too big for her, so she had to learn to sew to get it to stay on her, plus it was easier to fix the clothes then replace them constantly.

-Her weapons, in this Jinx never gets the chance to make things so she doesn’t make her bombs or her guns. It made the most sense to have Singed give her a knife because that’s what he would have laying around. Even though she had no real skill with knives she eventually got the hang of it, and the shimmer enhancements definitely made up for anything she was lacking.

-Shimmer enhancements, Jinx has super speed, strength, healing, and eye sight. Things might still get added in later, but this is all I have so far. Her eyes will be pink just like the canon universe.

Chapter 3: My Mind Is A Deadly Disease

Notes:

A lot of people have been curious about Vander, so you'll be happy to know we get to see what happened to him next chapter :)

But for now, we get to see what exactly that serum did to Jinx.

Jinx didn’t know how long it had been, her mind to far gone to really know anything. Whatever the doctor had given her had not stopped her hallucinations, it made them worse. What was usually disembodied voices were now full solid body’s that could actually interact with her. She could feel Mylo dig his nails into her as she desperately pulled against the restraints holding her down on the table, she could see Powder grab fist fulls of Mylo’s clothes as she begged him to stop while Jinx screamed for the same thing, she could hear Claggor breathing as he simply watched the entire thing.

Her brothers weren’t always like this, her mind is what did this to them, or maybe it was this place, everything in here seemed to turn into a monstrosity at some point. Jinx wished she could remember them for what they were, but she has long since forgotten what they were actually like, this was all she could see them as now.

Eventually the visions faded back to invisible voices that couldn’t do anything to but mock her. Unfortunately she didn’t get more than a second to breathe before other voices joined them. Voices that screamed at her for killing them, that begged to be spared, others that simply sobbed. An infinite cacophony of voices rattled inside her skull. It was too much, her head felt like it was being split open again and again and again and again and again. There were too many voices to think, or feel, or anything.

When the voices quieted visions took their place. Jinx could do nothing but watch as she was transported back to every murder she committed, her knife cut into flesh, sliced open throats, and sawed off limbs. She was forced to commit every horrendous act she had done all over again as if she was truly there again. Even ones she thought she had long forgotten.

Fire roared all around her, in front of her was her sister and Vander’s twisted bloated corpse.

“I only wanted to help… I only wanted to help,”

“I told you to stay away.”

“Please-“

“I told you to STAY AWAY!!”

She hit me, I fell.

“Why did you leave me!?”

“Because you’re a JINX! You hear me! Mylo was right!”

I sob, she leaves.

“No! Violet please! Come back, I need you!”

But she never did. She left her. Then HE found her. Took her to the doctor and left her to face a fate worse than death.

The scene before her morphed into something new. She was now in the topside building she had blown up. Those cursed orbs shone in her eyes like stars, she gently picked one up. How could something so small cause so much death?

“Powder we gotta go!”

Vi. She looked so different from the way Jinx remembered her, she was less jagged, less sharp, her voice sweet and warm. Janna how she wished she could always remember her like this.

She grabbed the glowing items and stuffed them in her pouch in a hurry, must’ve dropped one in her panic.

The building exploded.

We ran.

 

The scene changed again, and again, taking her through every fuck up she ever had, her minds way of having a bit of fun with her she supposed.

 

“~Dear friend across the river,

My hands are cold and bare~,”

 

With one hand wrapped around Vi’s and the other covering her eyes, she sang, like Vi had told her to. To block out the gunfire and screams.

It didn’t work. She still heard.

 

“~Dear friend across the river,

I’ll take what you can spare~,” 

 

An explosion interrupted her thoughts, she paused before continuing. Her lullaby providing a horde soundtrack to the bloody battle.

 

“~I ask,~”

 

A gun fired.

 

“~of you a penny, 

my fortune it will be, 

I asks you without envy,

We raise no mighty towers, 

Our homes are built of stone, 

So come across the river,

And find-“

 

Vi stopped moving, so Powder looked up at her. She was scared, that’s how Powder knew she should be too.

Vi’s gripped her hand as we looked at the bodies around us. Vi looked to the right, where Vander was beating some enforcers to death, when he turned to us, Vi tucked me behind her.

Thinking back it was kind of funny. Vi scared of Vander. If you asked her now she would probably say she was wrong to be scared of him, that he was just doing what he had to, but she was still scared of him. Powder wasn’t, she didn’t know to be. She had seen Vander before, she knew him, she trusted him wholeheartedly, whatever he was doing was probably for a good reason. Powder didn’t need an explanation.

Jinx wondered what her sister would think if she saw her now, if she was in Vander’s place, ruthlessly murdering. Would she only be offered forgiveness if she stops and gives it all up for Vi, like Vander did. Would Jinx do it? Could she? After all she had done to keep Vander safe, would she truly throw it all away if Vi asked her too?

Dosen't matter. Vi was never coming.

Vi and I watched Vander walked over to us, he looked different as well, not longer were his body and limbs inflated like balloons, or his skin pulled and twisted, he was simply Vander. She wondered how he did it. Turn his back on the revolution he had spent his entire life on, for them, for her.

Vi asked where mom and dad were. He simply squeezed his eyes shut in shame and nodded his head in their direction. We looked, they laid atop each other, dead. Powder didn’t understand, she squeezed Vi’s arm and looked to her for direction. Vi fell to her knees and sobbed. Powder, not able to understand her grief, did the best she could to comfort her, enveloping her in a hug.

Then Vander took them.

Jinx didn’t think should could understand how he did it, giving it all up for them, Powder had never bothered asking, content with being happy, but Jinx wondered.

 

“I’m scared mom, I don’t like the dark.”

There was no vision this time, only the feeling of warmth and the smell of axel grease. This memory was too far gone to be remembered clearly.

“Hmm, well how about I teach you a song you can sing that will magically take all your fear away?”

“Really? There’s a song that can do that!”

She chuckled, “Yes. But only if you believe.”

“I believe! I believe!”

“Ok, ok. Sit down, and I’ll sing it for you,

 

~Dear friend across the river, 

My hands are cold and bear, 

Dear friend across the river,

I’ll take what you can spare,

I ask of you a penny, 

my fortune it will be, 

I asks you without envy,

We raise no mighty towers, 

Our homes are built of stone, 

So come across the river,

And find the world below~”

 

“Wow..."

She smiled, “Powder, if you’re ever scared, sing this song. I promise as long as you believe, it will make you feel better.”

Jinx never forgot that, even now.

When Jinx kills, she sings this song. At first it was for her, to stop the nerves from getting to her and to quiet the voices, but eventually she became numb to the pain she felt. Even so she still sung, not for her, but for her target. Powder didn’t want them to be scared before they died.

Jinx didn’t have the heart to tell Powder it only terrified them more.

Notes:

(Please read!!)

I'm not exactly sure how graphic this fic will get, I've had some people ask about seeing more of what the doctor did to Jinx and that topic isn't a fun one, so if you are uncomfortable with potential gore this might not be the story for you.

Eveything I've written has nothing incredibly terrible in it, I myself am not a big fan of things like that, but if the story calls for it I may include more descriptive scenes, if the chapter ever gets super dark I'll make sure to include a warning. If you feel like a chapter needs one and I didn't include it, please let me know, I'll be sure to add it in.

I want this story to focus on more of the emotional side of things, but you guys deserve to know that things may get unpleasant.

Once again thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed. See you soon :)

Chapter 4: It's A Bad Idea... Right?

Notes:

Omg, I just watched the Ma Meilleure Ennemie official music video they released, and can I just say, it was so beautiful ❤️

Anyway I’m back with another chapter, I really appreciate your guys comments and support.

Hope you enjoy!!

Jinx woke up still strapped to the table, the doctor watching her.

When her eyes meet his one he spoke, “Are you awake now?”

“Y….es…” Jinx’s voice was like rubble, and it hurt to speak.

“It seems the injection intensified the visions instead,” Jinx wanted to scoff at him. Way to state the obvious, “I will have to adjust some things before we are able to try again,” she clenched her jaw, of course he wanted to try again.

He stepped forward and released the restrains on her arms, legs, and head that had left her with scratches over her old scars that she had gotten before she got her healing ability’s. Despite the her body’s protest she stood and moved away from the table.

Jinx felt it as her body began to repair itself, it was a bit more sluggish this time but it still began to heal her open wounds. Even her throat began to feel better as it was being healed from her screaming herself raw.

She hovered in the corner of the room waiting for the doctor to dismiss her, “Go get ready child, I have another job for you.”

Jinx wanted to scream in protest, her body ached all over and her head felt like it was on fire, but she didn’t have the energy to argue. Besides this was her punishment for the airship incident.

She stumbled her way to her makeshift room that she shared with Vander. She had two blankets that were stuffed into a corner, one to sleep on the other to use as a cover, both were so thin they did little more than provide an illusion of comfort. She used them occasionally, but most of the time she just collapsed on the floor. In another corner was an old dented flare, the only thing Jinx had from her childhood. She never touched the thing, hell she tried not to look at it, but today she need something familiar, so she grabbed it and gently rotated it in her hands.

“Wherever you are, light it up and I’ll find you. I promise.”

“Liar,” Jinx whispered as she clipped the flare onto her pants.

She had used the flare sometime in the first year she had arrived at the doctors, she had waited in that spot for the entire day. Vi never came.

The thing was useless after she had used it, but she still kept it, sure she threw the thing around and kicked it a couple times but she still kept it. Then she fixed it. She didn’t even remember doing it, she just woke up one day and found it like that.

Vander laid in the center of the room on a bed, attached to machines that beeped and hissed. His body was still disturbingly distorted, but his veins were no longer pulsing with shimmer. Vander slept soundly, only way you could tell he was even alive was the steady rising and falling of his chest. The doctor was keeping Vander alive, not healing him, she knew that. Vander hadn’t truly woken up once in all the time she’s been here, the doctor had healed all Vander’s life threatening injuries. Even if it wasn’t part of their deal the doctor knew better than to let him die, besides Vander’s was how he kept her in check. Unfortunately for both Jinx and Vander the doctor had no obligation to do anything further than keep him alive, so here he slept for some unknown reason, some wound that never got treated keeping him asleep.

She kneeled at the foot of his bed at let Powder speak, “I’m so so tired,” her voice broke as tears laced with shimmer spilled out of her eyes, “I don’t know how much longer I can do this…”

He didn’t respond, he never did. Sometimes he would wake up and say something, but it was nonsense that had no real meaning. He was living in a dream. He would call out for them sometimes though. Vi, Powder, Mylo, and Claggor. Powder did her best to comfort him, tell him that they weren’t here right now but that they would be back soon, (Milo really loved it when I said that). Other times he would say names of the past, Felicia, Connol, and Silco. Neither Powder nor Jinx knew what to say to this, so they just listened as Vander spoke of his past.

He would laugh when Connol was mentioned, he would sound so nostalgic when he muttered things about Felicia, but when it came to Silco, there were such a variety of emotions she couldn’t understand what his relationship was with him.

At first Jinx felt betrayed when she realized he some sort of relationship with Silco, but over time she accepted it, Powder couldn’t stay mad at him and Jinx had bigger things to be angry about than a long dead friendship. She merely settled for trying to piece together there history through his delirious mutterings. They were friends at some point, Vander did something unforgivable, then Silco did something worse.

It was hard to interpret what Vander said but there was one phrase that always let Jinx know he was talking about one of those three, blisters and bedrock. She would probably never know the meaning behind the phrase, but she liked it.

Powder continued to cry as she explained what had happened on the airship.

Jinx didn’t bother to listen, she had been there after all, besides Jinx thought it was kind of dumb to complain to Vander, he was in a coma, what was he supposed to do? But she let Powder cry, Jinx just settled for observing Vander’s twisted form. She could still remember really seeing him like that for the first time.

 

---

 

The man with different colored eyes had one of his goons carry her to the doctor’s lab. Janna how terrified she had been, she hadn’t even realized someone else had carried Vander in with her. The person who carried her quietly literally dumped her on the floor. She winced, as she looked around at what would be her new home for the next seven years.

As a child she was scared of monsters, so imagine her terror when she saw that monsters surrounded her on all sides. She screamed as she desperately crawled backwards to escape the monstrosities before her. She bump into a pair of legs that belonged to the goon that carried her in.

He scowled down at her before grabbing her by the arm and growling in her ear, “Sit still brat,” he then proceeded to throw her back to the ground.

“Silco? Why are you here, I haven’t even gotten a chance to treat my wounds. And I thought we agreed to keep business between us,” A man said as he looked at the group behind the man named Silco with distaste.

The man who spoke was just as terrifying as the other monsters in the room, his face was covered in bandages and from what she could tell angry red burns covered what was left of his exposed flesh.

“I’m in need of your assistance, and relax, no one here will spill a word about what’s to transpire.”

He narrowed his only exposed eye at him, “How can I be of service?”

Silco waved his hand and a mountain of a man step forward with a woman hanging limply in his arms, “She lost an arm in the explosion, I need her back on her feet as soon as possible.”

“Hmm, yes, I believe I have enough shimmer left over to help the healing process along, but this still doesn’t explain those two,” he said looking back at her and, as she had only just realized, Vander as well.

Powder crawled over to what she thought to be her dead adoptive father’s corps and curled into him out of fear, she didn’t even bat an eye at his new distorted form.

“Those,” Silco said waving at them absentmindedly, “are my gift to you. Do with them what you will. I have no need for them.”

“I know what the man did, but what could that child have possibly done to earn such a fate?”

“She’s the one who caused the explosion believed it or not,” Powder flinched at that, “besides she’s Vander’s child, I need her gone.”

The man with the bandaged face shrugged, “Alright, but do not try to reclaim them later on, I promise, you won’t like what you find.

They then went on to discuss the unconscious woman as Powder cowered next to her father. Powder wanted to cry, she didn’t want to stay here, she didn’t want Vander to be dead, or Mylo, or Claggor. She wanted Vi to come back, she wanted Vi to save her from this nightmare. She wanted to wake up to find Vander or Vi in her bed, hugging her as they told her it was all over and it was just a terrible, terrible dream. That didn’t happen though, so she settled for hugging the corpse of her father closer.

Once Silco and the man finished talking, the group left, leaving Powder and the strange man alone.

He didn’t speak to her, he simply came over and examined Vander, “Fascinating. He still lives,” he commented as he pulled away.

“W-what?!” Powder said as she looked at Vander and then the man.

“It seems the shimmer kept him alive, he truly is an impeccable specimen, he will make for an incredible test subject.”

“T-test s-sub-bject?”

Powder didn’t understand what was happening, she didn’t know who this man was or what he was getting at, but if Vander was alive she wasn’t about to let this guy touch him.

“Look around you child, this is what I do for a living. It’s unfortunate for the two of you, but this is the future that awaits you.”

Panic shot through her like bullet, she stood, “No, no! I won’t let you touch him!!”

He walked over to her, “There is nothing you can do to stop me child.”

She stared up at the monster that loomed over her, “I-I,” she looked back at Vander, “Take me instead!!”

He looked at her confused, “You?”

“I’ll do whatever you want, just…. leave him alone.”

He was quite as the thought the offer over, “Do you know what you’re agreeing to?”

“I don’t care, I’ll do anything to save him!!”

She owed him that much.

He gave a small smile at that, “Alright, I understand. I too know what it’s like to want to save someone.”

That marked the start of her awful seven years as the doctor’s lab rat.

 

---

 

When Powder was done whining to Vander, Jinx took control again. She stood, planted a kiss on Vander’s forehead, and muttered an apology along with a promise to return before leaving the room.

She went to the doctor and received her task before packing up her knives and leaving.

The streets of Zaun were the same as always, no one paid her any mind, and her hood hid her from any prying eyes. As she walked she heard more talk than usual, people always complained about topside, but today it was more than usual, it seemed as though everyone had something to say about topside.

Jinx frowned in confusion. She was always out of the loop, being stuck in a cave most of the time and all, but after that screw up Topside she didn’t like all this talk. She needed information, and she knew just who to go to.

She sat herself down on one of the stand’s chairs, waiting for the giant fish man (J something) to notice her.

He turned around and gave her a wide toothy grin, “WELCOME! WHAT CAN I GETCHA?” He gurgled out.

“He doesn’t recognize you,” Mylo snickered.

“That’s the point you moron”, she snapped back.

“S’CUSE ME?”

Oops, “Not you, sorry. I’ll take whatever this gets me,” she said sliding over some coins she had taken from some guy earlier, she had only just remembered she needed to buy something to get info a couple minutes before she got here.

“COMING RIGHT UP!”

Janna, how long has it been since she’s been here. She watched as the man cooked, (seriously what was this guys name??) nostalgia washing over her.

“ORDER UP!!”

He set down a bowl of fish and tentacles in front of her, it smelled incredible, but the thought of eating made her stomach cramp. Jinx rarely ate, she didn’t exactly need to after the doctor gave her that upgrade some odd years ago, shimmer was now her fuel, so such a big serving of food would cause severe pain.

She took a small bite, it was delicious of course, (she could remember that much) before speaking, “What’s happening Topside that’s got everyone so worked up?”

“BUSINESS ALREADY? YOU HAVEN’T EVEN TOCHED YOUR FOOD.”

Jinx didn’t really know how things worked with J- Jer-, (oh whatever she gives up) but she knew Vander would get information on what was happening in the lanes from him back in the day.

She sighed, “I paid, now you tell.”

He hummed in consideration, “SAY, WHO TOLD YOU B’OUT ME?”

She stiffened, “Does it matter?”

He chuckled, “NO, BUT YA REMINDED ME OF SOMEONE THAT’S ALL.”

She drummed her fingers on the wooden stand, uncomfortable with the turn things were taking, “Just wanted to know what all the fuss was about, didn’t know there were rules for talking,” She took another bite of the slimy food.

“HA! DON’T WORRY I’LL LET YOU OFF THE HOOK BECAUSE IT’S YOUR FRIST TIME! THO I’M SURPRISED YOU DON’T ALREADY KNOW, IT’S TOPSIDES FANCY PANTS HOLIDAY,” she gave him a confused look, “THEY CALL IT PROGRESS DAY, AND THE MAN OF PROGRESS HIMSELF IS SAID TO BE GIVING SOME SPEECH, GOT PEOPLE TALKING SEEING HOW HE MADE THOSE BIG GATES AND ALL.”

Progress day? That’s what everyone was making such a fuss about? Seems as though she was worried for nothing, Silco probably cleaned up the mess from her last mission.

She sighed, what a waste of time. She took another bite of fish, “Sounds lame.”

He laughed hard at that, “YOU KNOW ANYTHING ‘BOUT WHAT TOPSIDES BEEN UP TO?”

She narrowed her eyes at him, “No. Should I?”

“WELL WORD ON THE STREET IS MISTER FANCY PANTS FINALLY MADE THAT HEXTECH STUFF STABLE.”

“Hex…tech…” she tried the word out. It sounded vaguely familiar.

“YUP, YOU KNOW THAT LITTLE BLUE GEM THAT CAN POWER ALMOST ANYTHING? USED TO PACK QUITE THE PUNCH, HEARD’ IT EXPLODE SOME TOPSIDE BUILDING A FEW YEARS AGO.”

Her blood froze in her veins. It wasn’t possible, was it?

“S-seven years ago?”

“AH! SO YOU DO KNOW SOME THINGS AFTER ALL!!”

She slipped off the stool, “thanks..”

“HEY! YA’ DIDN’T EVEN FINISH YOUR FOOD!!”

Those cursed blue stones she thought she had gotten rid of were now back somehow. Her breath was quickening, she had to do something, how could she just live knowing those stones that had destroyed her family were still out there, waiting for someone as stupid as her to find them again.

She had to find it and destroy it.

“You could… use… it…”

She jerked her head towards Powders voice, “Have you finally lost it?!? Or did you forget what happened last time!!” She practically yelled.

“He said…. fixed it…”

She paused. Powder was right. The fish man had said they had made it stable. That’s what the celebration was for, right?

“Don’t tell me you’re actually going to go and jinx everything again?” Mylo asked, sounding practically giddy at the thought.

She didn’t respond, her mind too busy thinking over the possibilities. The man had also said this “Hextech” could power anything, imagine all the things she could do with it if she figured out how to use it. Maybe she could use it to save Vander!

“Janna, she’s actually going to do it!” Mylo said sounding equally surprised and excited.

Was she? This would be a big job and she only had her knifes, she bit her lip, but she was fast and she could be in and out before anyone released she was even there! She would just need the right distraction. Plus she could change her mind at anytime and simply destroy the thing. No harm done.

A grin spread across her face. Guess she’s off to rob some Piltes.

Notes:

Yay, we finally got to see Vander! 😃

I have no real clue about medical stuff, but my impression of Vander’s condition in the show was that he was basically dead when Singed found him, so I don’t think he would just be magically healed even if Singed wanted him to be. Not that he wants that in this fic, but if he actually tried he could definitely heal him.

Another reason he’s still unconscious and deformed from the shimmer is because Jinx doesn’t want the doctor doing anything that involves shimmer or his other shady shit, so the doctor can’t really use all his tools when he’s treating him.

Jinx doesn’t have a bed because it wouldn’t fit in the room with Vander and all his machines, and she definitely wasn’t about to sleep away from him, so she just settled for some blankets. Also, even if Jinx did have some real blankets she still probably wouldn’t use them, they would be too restricting for her, especially if she’s trying to sleep.

Also we may get to see someone new in the next chapter, so stay tuned. 😉

Thank you for reading!! All comments and constructive criticism is welcomed, so feel free to share.

Chapter 5: Jinx

Notes:

I'm back with another chapter 🙂

Just like I promised, today we’re going to be seeing someone else instead of Jinx, don't worry tho, Jinx will be back next chapter!

Hope you enjoy!!

Caitlyn stood outside the tent her mother had had her stationed at, despite her protesting might she add, watching as people walked around with pure awe and joy at the incredible items being displayed around them.

It was extremely boring.

She felt someone give her hat a light flick, she immediately turned and grabbed the assailant’s arm, knowing full well it was merely Jayce messing with her, and twisted it.

“Ow, ow, ow!!! Cait!”

She scoffed, not setting him free from her deadly grasp quite yet, “Serves you right.”

And it did, even if she was waiting for him to finally finish his business talk so he could come see her, she could hardly let him start believing he could get away with things like this simply because he was her best friend.

She looked up at the crowd of people who had come to talk to Jayce and her mother, she locked eyes with her mother, who stood in the center of the crowd, Caitlyn's father at her side like he always was. She gave her a stern look for about a second before turning back to the people before her. Always the business woman.

Caitlyn scowled at her before setting Jayce free and turning back around to face the hordes of happy bustling people.

“You still avoiding her?” Jayce asked.

“I’m working,” she replied as she walked further in to the street.

“I can see that, I mean there’s so much crime to thwart outside your family’s tent.”

She knew he meant it as a joke, something to lighten the mood perhaps, but it landed poorly. She was sick of being forced to do what her mother wanted.

“I can only imagine the strings she pulled to have me posted here,” she replied bitterly.

“It’s your fault really, for not following her into a career more befitting your station.”

She rolled her eyes as Jayce regurgitated the words her mother had thrown at her so many times. Ever since she had shown any remote interest in being an enforcer really.

She sighed, while she appreciated Jayce trying to make her feel better she wasn’t in the mood, “She’d do anything to keep me from seeing the real world.”

“Well at least you’ll have front row seats to the speech,” he declared proudly.

She looked back at him baffled, “Speech?” She asked bluntly.

“Hm hmh,” he hummed in conformation as he practically bounced with joy, “I’m giving the big address to night.”

“Hmm,” she let out a little laugh and rolled her eyes, “We really have descend to anarchy.”

He simply scoffed at her, “Whatever, have fun herding the drunkerds,” he said before turning to leave.

She shook her head at him, while she loved Jayce like a brother, she was worried for him. He seemed to be getting deeper and deeper into the world of the council, and she knew from experience that it was a slippery slope, she didn’t want him to fall.

She still rememberers how quick her parents turned on Jayce when the explosion had happened all those years ago and she knew they would do the same thing in a heartbeat should things go south again. Jayce was simply too naive to survive in the cut throat world that was the council.

When she was a child, he was so hopeful and eager for his experiments to work it was almost comical, unfortunately those same traits were what lead him to Mel Medarda. She had no real personal grudge against the woman, but she was cunning, she saw opportunities and took them without hesitation. She saw opportunity in Jayce, an inventor down on his luck who had no one else to turn to. Caitlyn never voiced her worries to Jayce, she saw no point, they were nothing more than thoughts and theories that could easily be dismissed, still, she worries for him. She didn’t want to see what would happen should he prove to be more trouble than he’s worth, or worse, he becomes exactly what they want him to be.

She sighed at the thought as she turned her gaze to the clear blue sky. Another prefect day, she thought bitterly, how she wished she could actually see some action as an enforcer.

 

---

 

Today seemed to be Caitlyn’s lucky day.

After what felt like a never ending afternoon stood outside her mother’s tent, she heard word of a smuggling that went wrong on an airship. While she hadn’t been officially assigned to the case she saw no harm in stopping by to help out.

The wreckage of the ship was far more than she could have imagined, the entire thing was burnt to a crisp, the fabric that covered the ballon part of the ship was almost entirely gone except for some that hung limply on the wire frame of the ballon.

Caitlyn slipped next to the loading ramp making her self look as though she belonged here. No one payed her any mind and after a minute or two she crept her way onto the ship.

She took in the damage that surrounded her, everything was burnt and chemical smell clung to the air making breathing slightly harder. As she walked she spotted a mask, probably the attackers, that laid on the floor hidden by boxes, she pulled out her camera and snapped a picture before moving on. It wasn’t a second later that she found the ships ledger, thankfully it was still in tact only covered in dust and grime, she wiped it away and examined it. The paper shipment request was stamped with a mark of approval, seems as though someone had just been approved to add their items aboard when the attackers came. With that in mind she went to examine the cargo, one of the many barrels had an odd stain, she wiped her fingers along it, it came off without protest. The substance was liquidy and purple, she crouched and rubbed the substance between her fingers before deciding to smell it, in an attempt to identify it. It gave off a chemical-like smell, probably the fuel for the fire, which explained the lingering sent in the air. She took a picture of the barrel, and moved on.

On the floor were knives, throwing knives it seemed, she gently kicked one with her foot. She took note of them before spotting several cut marks in the metal of the ship. She approached gently running her fingers along the trail of irrational cuts, whoever had done this must have had immense strength to cut through metal, especially if they did so with the blades she had previously seen. She could practically picture this person as they stabbed whatever was in sight before moving on to the next thing in almost a circular pattern until… A strange crystal like structure stood in the markings path, she picked a pice up and examined it, she looked at the rest of the structure and spotted drops of blood. She followed the trail whoever was unfortunate enough to get caught in between this mysterious assailant and their uncontrollable rage.

The blood trail led her to an opened hatch door, she jumped down and flicked on her flashlight before proceeding. She spotted a grate on the floor, she pulled the thing open and found a man huddled in a corner, he was big his entire body covered head to toe with tattoos.

“You’re from the Undercity,” she hopped down and kneeled next to him.

“I didn’t do anything,” he said panic clear in his voice, “She’s crazy,” he said before letting out a loud grunt of pain.

Caitlyn paused slightly when he said woman, she made to make a mental note of it. She looked him over as he spoke, he had multiple stab wounds but there was a particularly big one in his shoulder. Cait pulled out a handkerchief that her mother forced her to carry everywhere, that she was for once glad she did, and pressed it into the large wound on his shoulder.

“Easy-“ she said softly.

“She stabbed me,” he panted.

“Who stabbed you?,” she questioned, “Who were you working for?”

“S-she calls herself Jinx,” he said before groaning out in pin, “She’s psychotic!”

“Who was she working for?”

“I don’t- I can’t”

“It’s ok, I can protect you,” she did her best to reassure him.

She was so close, all she needed was one more name.

“Caitlyn Kiraman, why does that not surprise me?”

She didn’t need to look back to know who it was. Marcus, the chief of police.

Caitlyn didn’t particularly like him, mainly because he allowed her mother to have a say in her job, and also because she had quite liked the previous chief of police, Grayson, she was actually the reason Caitlyn became an enforcer in the first place, and while Marcus did an adequate job as chief, he was certainly no Grayson.

She turned to face him, “Interfering in an investigation, again. You’re supposed to be guarding your mother’s tent.”

“I was, sheriff, but she doesn’t need it. And certainly, this takes priority,” she said gesturing at the wounded man.

“I realize you’re used to getting your way, Kiraman, but there’s a chain of command for a reason.”

“I understand but there’s more going on here, then just the smuggling, if I could just question him-“

He cut her off before she could finish, “I’ll take it from here. Since you’re looking for more work, you can take the graveyard shift tonight at the fair.”

She pressed her lips together to stop herself from saying something she’d regret, then gritted out, “Yes, sir.”

“Good,” he said before turning to the other enforcer, who she caught smirking at her, “I want this one on a boat to Stillwater prison.”

“Yes sir,” he said looking away from Cait still seeming rather smug about the whole thing.

She rolled her eyes, perhaps this wasn’t her luck day after all.

 

---

 

So here she was, stuck on the grave yard shift with a couple of other enforcers. She had to miss Jayce’s speech but if the exceedingly loud applause she heard from outside was any indication, it went well, she’d just have to apologize later, he’d understand.

She stood listening as the other enforcers chatted away, “That it then? I thought that Talis boy was some kind of genius,” Unlike her they had gotten the opportunity to watch the speech, “ Last year, didn’t he launch a blimp halfway across the continent?”

She found it funny, these people were sitting here judging Jayce when they didn’t even know the difference between a blimp and an airship.

She decided to be nice and correct them, “Airship, actually.” She turned to face them, “An airship has a rigid metal hull. It’s not a blimp.”

“It’s a balloon, ain’t it,” He said looking at her with distaste.

“Sure as hell looks that way,” chimed in another.

“Pardon us if we’re not so, quite refined as you, m’lady,” he said after taking a long puff from the cigarette he was holding.

She gave him a tight smile as she reminded herself to be the bigger person and not tell him it doesn’t take a refined person to know the difference between the two, simply not being a moron will do.

“What are you even doing here Kiraman? don’t you have a cocktail party to attend,” The woman said before the entire group bursted out laughing.

She pursed her lips once again keeping her mouth shut before turning away this time. If these people wanted to look down on her simply because of her family name, so be it. It was nothing new and she could certainly deal with it for a little longer before she starts climbing the ranks and making a name for herself.

She gave a huff as she looked out at the city, a building near by seemed to be glowing as the rest lay silent. Glowing? That didn’t seem right.

“Fire…” she whispered finally piecing it together, “Fire!”

She bolted for the building, not waiting to see if the others followed. As she arrived she was frozen in fear as she took in the tremendous blaze before her, the flames were everywhere, they licked the sky and desperately reached outwards for anything else to burn, as a familiar chemical sent clung to the air.

“What’s happening?”

She didn’t even turn to look at her fellow officers, “Get the fire brigade!” She yelled as she ran to a nearby wall that had a fire extinguisher for emergency’s.

She heard one of the others order the rest to evacuate the area and clear the streets as she began doing what little she could with the extinguisher to keep the flames at bay. Others eventually joined her but the fire extinguishers truly did nothing to the ravenous blaze, and before she knew it the fire extinguishers were out and there was nothing they could do anymore. Thankfully the fire brigade arrived, they quickly began to extinguish the flames with ease, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t take a break though, she began to take in the area to see where she could be of use. As her eyes scanned the area she saw something out of the corner of her eye, a blur of pink from the direction of the stairs her and her team had just been at.

She blinked in confusion, was she seeing things?

But before she had any time to ponder that question she was pulled away by a shout for assistance.

Notes:

I'm not exactly sure how to write Caitlyn, so this chapter stuck more with the plot of the episode.

I know she’s all helping people and trying to solve her case, but it just feels stale when I’m writing. 😞 I really want to get the characters right for this, so I’d appreciate any comments on the way I should write her in the future, for some reason I just can't connect with her character 🫤

Anyway, thanks for reading! Remember all comments and constructive criticism is welcomed, so feel free to share. See you guys next time.

Chapter 6: Fuis-Moi

Notes:

Coming up with names for Jinx to call the firelights is really hard 😭

Feel free to leave suggestions in the comments, I’ll probably end up using them at some point. I’ll be sure to give you a shout out at the end of the chapter I end up using them in, please remind me if I forgot.

Remember they have to be some kind of insult!!

Jinx was on a high right now.

The plan had worked seamlessly, she had started that fire using her shimmer infused blood to give it an explosive kick (an idea the firepests had given her), and broke into the chamber they were keeping the blue stone in.

She learned the location of it rather easily, people up there had no fear of being overheard, so they would never think someone would be listening in with the intent to rob them. Then she just used her shimmer enhanced speed to get in and out, everyone being too busy with the fire to notice anything before it was too late. She had also managed to snatch a journal that was sitting near by.

Seriously, how stupid could these people be!

She was grinning ear to ear, it was honestly too easy with her shimmer powers, with out them she would have needed a much larger distraction then one blazing building, she doubted she could have done it without killing some people. But she didn’t need to. She did it with hurting anyone.

She hummed as she walked her way down the street. People gave her odd looks and others straight up told her to shut up, but she couldn’t care less right now, how long had it been since she felt this way? Had she ever felt this way? Her plans never worked, but now? Maybe things were going to be different.

“That’s not true, your plan worked before. Remember?” Milo teased.

“Did you see? My monkey bomb finally worked!!”

She scowled. Milo was wrong, this time no one died, she made sure of it. She picked a secluded building that wasn’t close to anything else and made sure that would burn easily. She didn’t kill anyone this time.

“~But that gem in your pocket did~” He sang, “And we’re the proof,” He cackled.

She clutched the gem that rested in her pocket, “Your wrong, this is going to save me and Vander,” she muttered, mostly trying to convince herself.

“How? You don’t know how to make that thing work, you don’t know how to do anything but make things blow up and die.”

She squeezed it tighter, was Mylo right? She didn’t know how to make this thing work, and could she even make it heal anyone? Theoretically it could, if used correctly, but she couldn’t use it, she didn’t know how.

She bared her teeth and kicked the ground in frustration, why the fuck would she think she could do something like this. It was almost like she was hopeful for once, but Jinx wasn’t hopeful, she knew hope led to disappointment. Jinx knew she couldn’t afford hope, so why had she…?

Powder.

That little shit, she took the opportunity to take over after the experiment. When Jinx was too tired to realize she was in the passengers seat. That’s why she grabbed the flare, Powder couldn’t handle going out alone, she need the reassurance that useless hunk of metal brought. That’s why she went to what’s his faces place for info, because Powder was scared topside was going to hunt her down after the fuck up she had, to caught up in her own feelings to realize that Silco would need to cover his own ass and that meant she was in the clear. That’s why she went for the stupid stone, Powder thought if she had it, she could help.

She grabbed a fistful of hair and yanked hard, “Listen up brat, I’m the one in control not you. You ever try some shit like this again I’ll make you regret it. Ya’ hear!!”

There was no reply, which meant she went back to whatever corner she normally cowered in.

People began to look at her and avoid her as she walked, they whispered about the crazy girl as she passed them.

Jinx pulled her hood down farther over her face. She needed to calm down, Jinx was a shadow, only people who knew about her existence were the doctor, Silco, some of his people, the fire twerps, and anyone who was lucky enough to see her face and escape, and she could count those people on one hand. She didn’t need the publicity, especially not when she just pulled such a big heist on Topside.

This was a mistake, she shouldn’t have stolen the gem, and now she couldn’t get rid of it either. If she tried to dispose of it someone would probably grab the thing, and she couldn’t risk Silco’s people finding it, it would be like handing them a nuke for Janna’s sake!!

She could try to get rid of the thing permanently like she had said she would should things go south, but that was risky. Jinx knew from experience how dangerous this tiny rock could be, and it may be considered stable now but how stable would it be with someone trying to smash it to pieces?

No. She couldn’t risk a new and improved recreation of the last time she messed with these things. She had to keep the damn thing, no matter how badly she wanted to fling it off into the abyss.

She sighed, she really didn’t have time to dwell on this, she still had to finish the job she was sent to do. The doctor had sent her out to pick off some of those squeaky clean rebels, and those earth lovers took the longest to hunt down because they had a hole to hide in that no one seemed to know about. Lucky them, and for today only, lucky for her as well. Hunting them down meant she had an excuse for taking so long on a job, sure she had locations those sparkly simpletons frequented but they were still hard to track, it could take a couple days to get this job done.

Jinx didn’t particularly like hunting down the glow in the dark environmentalists, yes it always took forever, but she hated having to see The Boy Savior face when she killed one of his new friends. She was 13 the first time she had done it, and it still stuck with her like a bad case of heart disease.

 

---

 

Her blade struck.

She had still yet to master the art of killing in one blow so the person below twitched in pain as they began to bleed out. An odd mask covering their face left Jinx wondering what kind of expression they had on underneath.

On second thought, she pulled out her blade and the man let out a groan of pain, probably best she didn’t know.

“Powder?”

That name.

That voice.

She looked up from her twitching victim into the horrified eyes of her best friend, “Ekko?” She whispered so softly for fear he would vanish.

Ekko looked different, for one he was now taller than her, not by much though, and he seemed to have gained some muscle, his white hair was now in locks, longer and pulled back. He looked good, better than her at least.

When he didn’t disappear she beamed at him and stood up, ready for a happy reunion, but he rushed past her and kneeled down to the person on the floor instead.

“Hey, can you hear me?” There was no response, “It’s ok, stay with me. You’re going to be ok.”

Jinx paused confused at his interest in the dying teen.

Ekko began to hoist the person up, “Powder, help me out here,” he panted.

Panic struck as she realized what Ekko was going to do, he was trying to save the guy she had just stabbed.

He couldn’t! If he lived the doctor would have her strapped back on that table as soon as she stepped back in the lab!

She flung a knife at Ekko and the guy. Ekko was quick to react, he threw the guy away from himself and the blade, getting himself a cut along his cheek in the process.

“There she goes again!! Jinxing everything and everyone around her,” Mylo taunted, “Try not to kill him will ya’. It’s starting to get crowded in here”

Kill?

She would never kill Little Man, not on purpose at least, she was only trying to get him away from the guy. Why did he have to go and save him? He was already as good as dead, if he just dogged like she thought he would’ve, he would be fine.

“Powder! What the hell!?”

“Why?” She whispered.

“What are you-“

“Why!!! Why would you risk getting hit to save him!” She spat, as she pointed at the guy’s crumpled body.

He looked between the two of them, “He’s my friend Powder. I had to.”

She took a step back at his words, suddenly seeing the similar mask to the one the guy wore hanging around Ekko’s neck.

The doctor had told her this guy might be harder to get because he was a part of some new found gang that had formed, apparently they went around saying they wanted to better the lives of the people in the Undercity, but Ekko? She would have never guessed he would have joined a rag tag group of do gooders.

“Look if you just help me get him to safety, I’ll explain everything.”

She shook her head, “No. He has to die.”

“Pow-“

“It’s Jinx,” she snarled as she pulled out another knife.

“You’re not making any sense! He hasn’t done anything to you!” He said standing up, arms flinging up in exasperation.

“Doesn’t matter, he used shimmer.”

“So? Half the Undercity is using right now, and he hasn’t used in months.”

Once again she shook her head, why couldn’t he understand, “He didn’t pay Ekko, he has to pay.”

“And you’re here to what?!? Collect!?”

She stared him dead in the eyes, “Yes.”

It was his turn to take a step back in shock, “Y-you’re working for Silco? After everything he’s done?!”

Silco? Did he actually believe she would stoop so low as to work for that backstabbing snake.

“Of course he thinks you’re working for him!! Look at you, you’re running around killing people. Who else would you be working for but a monster like him.” Mylo hollered.

She shook her head trying to get Mylo to quiet down.

“Does it really matter what he thinks, it doesn’t change anything. He will never understand, besides he’s not here for you. He’s here for HIM.”

“No!” She slammed her fits against her head, she looked back at Ekko, “Just… let me kill him! If he dies everything will be fine, we can go back to how we used to be! ……you can have powder back,” She looked up at him with pleading eyes.

“E-ek-k… h…elp,” the guy on the ground groaned out.

Ekko didn’t even hesitate, he took a step towards the guy.

But he was too slow, everyone was compared to Jinx. She took her blade and jammed it into the guys throat, and twisted until he stopped screaming.

“No!” Ekko tackled Jinx to the ground.

Ekko pinned her down, “Why!?!”

He stared down at her as she looked up at him, “I told you,” she said as she sat up and slammed her head into his, she then ripped her arms out of his grip, and stood up, looking at him as he scrambled to his feet, “He had to die.”

She scratched at her wrists, trying to get rid of the unbearable feeling of his tight grip, as she waited for the him to say something, anything.

He didn’t, he merely stared at her for what felt like hours, before turning and hoisting up the dead body of his friend and leaving without looking back.

Anger overwhelmed her as she watched him walk away. She screamed as she flung her knife in to the air, it clinked harmlessly against the wall of the alleyway. She quickly turned her anger towards the wall, she scratched, clawed, and punched, as her flesh ripped open and she pulled off a couple nails from her fingers. She slammed her whole body into the wall as if she expected it to do something, and continued to pound on it until her arms were just as cut up as her hands. Jinx kicked and slammed herself into the wall for a long time before finally collapsing onto her knees.

She sat and breathed in silence for a little before a giggle escaped her lips, which soon turned in to a full fit of manic laughter.

“The Boy Savior!!!” She called out, before breaking down into another fit of laughter and tears.

 

---

 

Thus he earned the title of The Boy Savior. A name to remind him, that no matter how hard he tried he could never save anyone from her. And perhaps an even crueler reminder to herself that he was never going to be there to save her.

Jinx’s eyes drifted up to the smog filled sky of Zaun and sighed, today would go the same way. She would go and kill some more of The Boy Savior’s people, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Notes:

Yay, Ekko!!

Yes, Ekko still thinks Jinx is working for Silco and he also thinks she is staying with him willingly, which isn't entirely wrong.

No, Jinx never bothered to correct him because she felt extremely offended that he even came to that conclusion in the first place.

Jinx does NOT like being touched, especially not restrained, so 
pinning her down was kind of a bad move on Ekko’s part.

Chapter 7: It's A Curse Or A Blessing

Caitlyn sat, spinning her gun absentmindedly in one hand, as she stared at a photograph she had taken from the airship in the other, classical music playing softly in the background.

Her mother had completely lost it when she heard about the fire, she had marched down and practically demanded Caitlyn return home and let the professionals handle it. She had managed to get her mother to let her stay, only after one of her fellow officers from her team assured her all Caitlyn would be doing was crowd control and complimented Caitlyn for how she handled the situation.

“Your daughter truly took charge and made sure the fire was contained Ma’am, it may not seem like it, but she was a great help and we would all appreciate it if you allowed her to stay.”

The sudden shower of praise was unexpected, but not unwelcome, for the first time in Caitlyn’s career she felt she finally did something meaningful and found some common ground with a fellow officer.

She was staring at the picture in her hand so intently she missed Jayce knocking on the door, only realizing he was there when he spoke, “Who would have guessed there was actually going to be some crime happening outside your mothers tent? Lucky you huh?”

She wasted no time standing up and grabbing his arm to drag him along, “I’ve had a break in the case.”

He blinked in surprise, “Really? That’s great!”

She rolled her eyes at him, “No need to sound so surprised. Now come on, while the trail is hot.”

She dragged him across her lavishly big room as she explained her lead, “Listen, you know how I’ve suspected there is a single mind behind the Undercity’s violence?”

“Ah yes, the great conspiracy,” he said as he looked down upon the evidence she had laid out on the floor of her room.

“I think whoever attacked the square is our suspect. Whoever they were they used the same fuel to start the fire up at the botched smuggling operation at the Hexgates.”

“The Hexgates?” He asked confused.

She huffed, “Keep up,” she was on a roll and didn’t have time to explain everything at a snails pace for him.

“All this time, they’ve kept their dealings localized to the Undercity. Low priority. The attack on the square changes things. They’ve overstepped,” she said throwing down the photo of the barrels she had taken so it landed next to the drawing of a fire located on the square on the map she had “borrowed” from the library, “And I’ve already got a name,” she said with a smirk as she stood backing up until she was up on the stool she had set up, “Jinx.”

“Jinx? Where did you get that from?”

She looked over at him, “A man from the Undercity was found on the airship, he claims to have been stabbed by her,” Caitlyn declared proudly.

“Emphasize on claims. Don’t tell me you basing your entire theory on one man’s word, who, may I add, was in a position where he would happily throw someone under the bus to escape punishment.”

She paused at that and sighed, “I might not have it all figured out, but if I can just work this out Marcus will have to listen.”

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned about the council, they need more than just theories.”

She let out a breathy laugh, “Since when did you concern yourself with the council’s opinion?”

“Since I… became a Councilor.”

She laughed out loud for that one. She turned to look at him expecting to see his face have that stupid teasing smile on it, but when she looked, he simply wore a small sincere and hopeful one.

“You’re… serious,” she said as she unfolded her arms, trying to switch her brain over to what was happening not the case, “When? Why?”

He took a breath and straightened up, she could tell he was bracing himself, so she decided to try a different approach, “Have they discovered how to govern with grease and a spanner?”

“Ha ha. I just… I want to make a difference Cait. I can’t do that if I’m always waiting for the ok from Himerdinger or the others. We need change now.”

His face became serious as he looked off into the distance, seeing some future that only existed inside his brain, something he whole heartedly believed he could make a reality should he simply work hard enough. A trait they both shared.

She put her hand on his shoulder, “I understand. Just… don’t let them change you.”

He laughed, “They can try.”

She smiled back at him, before lightly punching him on the shoulder, “Whatever, go on and get out of here, I’m sure you have much better things to be doing now that your councilor and all.”

She did her best to sound casual, but deep down she had wanted his help on this case, and if she was being honest, she was stuck, not entirely sure where to go next.

He hummed, “True, but I may just have an idea on this rather unimportant matter you’re so obsessed with.”

She blinked at him surprised, “What is it?”

“Well if that guy you mentioned was actually telling you the truth-”

“He was.”

“-IF, he was, perhaps he would be willing to give up some more information.”

“Yes, but he was sent to Stillwater, and Marcus will hardly allow an unauthorized trip there.”

“Since when have you concerned yourself with what Marcus thinks?” He said throwing her own words back at her, ”It’s like you said, if you can figure this all out Marcus will have to listen. Besides, Who needs permission from the sheriff when you’ve got a councilor on your side,” he said with a wink.

Her eyes widened, “You’d really do that for me?”

He smirked at her, “Of course I would.”

She jumped on him and pulled him into a bone crushing hug, “Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you.”

“Don’t mention it,” He chuckled as he hugged her back.

She pulled away from the hug, “I have to prepare, I’ll need to think of some questions to ask, and what do I bring with me? All my evidence? Only the things I find important? But if I do that, how will I know if I missed something?” She spoke as she paced around the room.

Jayce laughed, “Did you know how ecstatic your mother would be if you were this excited for one of her parties?”

“Please, do you know how boring her party’s are? I think anyone with a brain would find a trip to Stillwater more riveting.”

He sighed, “Look, I have to get some things sorted on my end but you should really head out as soon as possible. I doubt that guy you were talking about will be as willing to share after a long stay in that place.”

She nodded in agreement, “Go. I’ll come and see you when I’m ready.”

He gave her a smile before turning to leave, “Jayce?” He turned back to face her, she tackled him with another hug, “Thank you, truly.”

With one last hug he was gone.

 

---

 

Caitlyn spent the next few hours preparing for the trip, really she spent most of her time trying to decide which parts of her extensive collection of evidence she should take. Once she had that selected she put on her enforcers uniform and a simple long navy-blue coat on over it before grabbing her custom made gun she’s had for ages.

She then proceeded to slip out of the house unnoticed. The sun was beginning to set as she step out into the street, her body was buzzing with excitement at the prospect of finally getting the chance to prove herself right. Her mother may be angry with her, but she would have to forgive her if she brought down the biggest crime ring in the Undercity completely by herself, right?

Well, she supposed it wasn’t entirely by herself, Jayce should be given some credit. But he already had his dream job on the council, she doubted he would mind letting her have this.

She knocked softly on the door to Jayce’s room, only having to wait a second before he opened it.

“Cait. Come in.”

She stepped inside as Jayce shut the door. His room was a mess, paperwork was scattered everywhere and blueprints decorated his desk that took up most of the room, with pieces of unfinished projects laying around, and a bed shoved unceremoniously in a corner. Despite how it looked, he hardly spent much time in here, he mainly spent his time in the lab with Viktor, merely using this place to store extra clutter or to sleep in occasionally.

“Here,” He said pulling out a folded paper from out of one of the drawers in his desk, “This paper will allow you to basically do what ever you want. It’s got the councils stamp of approval and my signature on it. If you run into trouble or need anything, use this.”

“Jayce…. How? If they find out you did this, you will get into serious trouble.”

He shook his head, “Kinda late to go back now. Just take it and go. I’ve arranged for a boat to take you, they’ll be waiting for you at the docks.”

She stared down at the paper and looked back up at him. She then proceeded to hung him once again.

“You know this is the third time you’ve hugged me today? If I knew all I had to do to get you to treat me nicely was risk my entire career, I would have done it sooner.”

“Shut up,” she said pulling away.

“Good luck. And be careful.”

“Don’t worry, when have you known me to make stupid decisions.”

“Well….”

She smacked him hard upside the head, “Ow, is this the kind of thank you I get for giving you a once in a lifetime opportunity?”

She smacked him again, “Want to go for three?”

“No,” he said holding his hands up in surrender.

She smiled, “Then I’ll see you after I solve the case of the century.”

 

---

It was just like Jayce had said. There was a small boat waiting to take her to Stillwater at the dock. She stepped aboard and decided to stand at the front of the boat away from the person manning the boat, beside the Captain of the vessel hardly seemed in the mood for a chat.

She watched as Stillwater slowly came into view, her only light source being a small green lamp located on the center of the boat and the sweeping beacon of light coming from the prison itself. As the boat approached and she got a better look at the place the only thought that came to mind was of how terrible the place looked.

It was entirely made of stone, and water surrounded it on every side. It made the perfect prison, no one could even escape through the sea, it was filled with jagged rocks with the dock being the only exception, and it was heavily guarded.

She walked up the stairs that led to the entrance, and they were enormous, but the doors to the place somehow made them look tiny in comparison.

Caitlyn decided it was best to not waste time by looking around and made a beeline for the front desk.

“I need to speak with one of the inmates.”

“Oh, folks in here aren’t usually very talkative,” the giant gargoyle like man said.

“This one was hit by friendly fire,” Caitlyn explained, in hopes of not having to pull out the paper Jayce gave her immediately, “He’s got reason to talk. Must have been sent in today?”

She waited, breath held, “Oh. Inmate 2135. Yeah, I’m, uh, afraid that’s not possible.”

“Why not?”

Panic immediately began to rise as she imagined having to return home without having learned anything.

“Uh, well, there’s been…. an incident?”

“What kind of incident?”

No. She couldn’t let this chance pass her by, she would get what she came for, no matter what.

“The….. not so pretty kind.”

“You don’t understand, I have to talk to him.”

“Oh ho, you’ll be able to. As soon as he can move his jaw again.”

She paused considering her options, “Who assaulted him?”

She watched as a smirk crossed his face, “That’ll be inmate 8516. Our little trouble maker. She’s been thrown into solitary so many times she’s got her own personal cell now,” he said as he let out a laugh.

Caitlyn stood there faced with a choice, see this mystery attacker and hope they give her the information she wants or go home with nothing. Unfortunately for the unknown attacker, there was no way in hell she was going to give up.

“Let me talk to her then.”

The guard let out a snort at that, “You sure about that?”

“Yes.”

“Oh what the hell, knock yourself out.” He said as he pushed a button that unlocked the elevator.

“And if I may, I would like a look at her file before I go.”

 

---

 

She road her way down listening to the gears turn in the elevator, mind already forming a new plan for when she questioned the new witness.

She was pulled from her thoughts as the elevator slid to a stop, not very gently she might add, and the doors opened she heard and odd thudding sound coming from further down the hall.

She made her way down the hall, reading the numbers above the cells until she found the one she was looking for, and strangely enough, the cell where the odd noise was coming from. The woman inside had her back to her, which was covered in tattoos, as she quite literally punched the wall of her cell repeatedly.

The noise stopped as the woman turned her head to look at her.

“Who the hell are you?”

Notes:

Things are finally getting started!

Once again, Idk how to write Caitlyn, but I think she turned out better in this chapter.

Her and Jayce don't fight in this version because Cait didn't lose her job, so nothing to really get mad over.

No Jinx for a while, but we do finally get to see Vi!

Thanks for reading, see you soon :)

Chapter 8: Want Someone Crazy Like Me?

Notes:

Please read!!

I was made aware that the term dreads/dreadlocks is offensive and I would like to apologize for my ignorance on the matter. Had I known I wouldn’t have used it, and I made sure to go back and fix it right away. I was told the proper term is locs or locks. If that is incorrect in anyway, shape, or form please let me know, and I will fix it right away. Once again I apologize, I won’t be using that term again.

Vi knows she’s not exactly a model inmate.

Hell they even had a personal cell for her in solitary, but Vi was what was known as a veteran in here, after all how many of these people could say they’ve been in here since they were 15 and survived. She adapted quick, beating anyone who even looked at her funny, she got her ass kick a fair amount though, plenty of broken bones and bruises, even more tears shed. She earned a reputation quick enough, she would pick a fight with anyone even guards, her anger never seemed to run out, no matter many times the guards or her opponents would try to break her. They started calling her the red fury, a bit on the nose if you asked her, Powder would have come up with something better in two seconds flat.

Soon the people who would mess with her dwindled down to nothing, only the ones with a death wish, new comers, and guards looking to make a point tried to start shit with her. No one understood what kept her going, usually the people in here broke after the first year at the latest, but Vi had something no one else did.

Powder.

The thought of her baby sister was the only thing that kept her going. It didn’t matter what was happening to her, as long as she held on to the thought of seeing her sister again she could endure.

There were times when the thought began to slip, like what if Powder had died, or was starving on the streets, or a drug addict forced to work for some creep, or, or, or. Those thoughts always kept her up at night, along with the ones of the cursed night.

The explosion, Vander, Mylo, Claggor, all dead. Then her sister, she was so proud of herself, so blissfully unaware of what she had done. Vi hit her and left.

Vi never truly blamed her sister, she was just angry, if anyone was to blame it was herself. Vi knew that, that’s why she hit Powder and ran, too much of a fucking coward to face the mess she made. She would have though, if some fucking basted hadn’t grabbed her and threw her in here.

Vi now spends her days counting the hours until she gets out, taking out the anger that never left her on anyone and anything she wanted.

Now as Vi said, she isn’t a model inmate, but would anyone blame her for taking an empty lunch tray and beating the living shit out of one of the guys who helped Silco single handily destroy her entire family? She certainly didn’t think so, and if you ask her the guy got off lucky, if those guards were just a little slower or if Vi hadn’t taken her time enjoying the sound of his cracking bones under her metal tray, she would have killed the guy. So yeah maybe he wouldn’t be able to eat solid foods for the rest of his life because Vi nocked out all his teeth and broke his jaw, but at least he still had the rest of his life to worry about that little problem.

So there she was back in solitary confinement, pounding on her least favorite wall, when she heard some obnoxious ass footsteps coming down the hall. But hey, non of her business, so Vi keeps pounding on the wall. That is until the obnoxious ass who made those footsteps decided stoped in front of her cell.

Must be her lucky day or something.

She looked back to see some prissy enforcer girl staring at her, “Who the hell are you?”

It was a valid question, Vi had never seen the girl before, and she would remember if someone like that worked here (for some reason only the butt ugly enforcers got assigned here). So either she was a new enforcer sent here because she an unlucky son of a bitch who can’t catch a break, or she was an enforcer from these main land who decided to take a field trip. Either way, it wasn’t good news for Vi.

“I took a look at your file. There’s no record of you or your crimes. What are you here for?”

Vi wanted to laugh, “My sunny personality.”

The girl flinched when Vi moved, it wasn’t much but it was there, and Vi saw it. She was scared.

“You attacked an inmate. Why?”

“Why not?” Vi said as she paced her cell, whatever this girl wanted, she wasn’t going to give.

“He was a witness in an ongoing investigation.”

“Hmm, bummer.”

This girl actually sounded serious about this, she almost had Vi believing she wasn’t working for Silco, but if she was here about tattoo guy, she definitely did.

She sighed before muttering, “This was a waste of time,” and turning to leave.

Vi called after her, “Couldn’t have put it better. Hey, give Silco a kiss on that winning eye of his, will you?”

The girl turned at that, and sighed once again before walking back, “Silco? The industrialist?”

Vi scowled, “Okay, this is getting old. Can you just send in whoever’s gonna kick the shit out of me, so I can get on with my night?”

That seemed to shut her up.

She stood there hands folded neatly in front of her looking at the floor in consideration, before committing the biggest no-no in this hell hole, stepping over the red line.

Vi didn’t even have time to consider beating the shit out of her, before she pulled out a notebook filled with hand written notes and pictures, “Does the name Jinx mean anything to you?”

“Why did you leave me!?”

“Because you’re a JINX! You hear me!”

Vi slammed herself against the bars making the women step back in shock with a gasp.

“Where did you hear that?”

Whoever this woman was, Vi did not like her knowing the word that haunted her very existence.

She immediately regained her composure, taking a deep breath to calm herself, “My question first. He worked for Silco?”

Was she serious?

“Uh, they all do. How can anyone not know that? Where did you hear that!?” She said practically tripping over her words to try and get her answer faster.

“There was an attack. My witness that you attacked gave me the name of the person who did it.”

Vi’s mind was buzzing. Jinx. It was entirely possible that was just someone’s name considering they’re from the Undercity, but seeing as this, "Jinx" person worked for Silco and Silco was the last one Vi saw Powder with, it was more than likely this wasn’t just some coincidence. Besides if that useless piece of flesh she beat to a pulp coughed up the name, it definitely wasn’t a friend of his.

“I need proof if I’m to believe what you’re saying about Silco.”

Vi scoffed, whoever this woman was they were in way over their head if they actually thought they could take Silco down, but Vi wasn’t going to complain about a golden opportunity falling right into her lap.

“I could get it for you. Just not in here.”

Finally, after all this time, she had a way out and a solid lead on her sister. Maybe her bad luck was finally turning around.

The girl laughed, “In what mad world would I trust someone like you?”

Of course luck was never something she seemed to have. Why the fuck should this be any different.

“Someone like me? You enforcers are all the same. Just asshole criminals in fancy uniforms. You know what? Find Silco yourself.”

“I will, thank you,” she said in her posh little accent as she turned to leave once again.

“Hmm…. Undercity’s gonna eat you alive.”

Her footsteps slowed to a stop, hope flared in Vi before being crushed when they started up again.

Vi spun and slammed her fist into the wall, of course she fucked it up. That was her ONE chance, and she fucked it up because of her attitude.

“Damn it.”

How much longer could she wait, if Powder was attacking things Topside considered worth their time to investigate, she was in trouble. Not to mention Vi just told an enforcer she was related to Silco, if that girl really did manage to crack down on him, Powder would be first on the chopping block because of Vi.

“Damn it, damn it, damn it,” Vi cursed as she punched the wall over and over again.

She paced around the cell in defeat, the sound of the elevator and the thudding of the wardens staff clanging on the floor signaled the start of another bone crushing beating.

What was this? The 953 “chat” they had. Vi was starting to lose count.

She sighed, as the cell door opened, turning around fully prepared to be met with the same face that would always beat her down.

So imagine her surprise when she saw the enforcer girl instead.

Notes:

Thank you for reading, hope to see you guys next time :)

Chapter 9: Sink Into The Wasteland

Vi couldn’t begin to explain what it felt like to finally be free, to finally have the chance to set things right.

 

She looked over the edge of a cliff the Topsiders lined with fencing, that overlooked the Undercity. She breathed in the fresh air as she stared down at the sight before her, her home.

 

She was finally going home.

 

“I heard the bathysphere has a nice view. That could be a good way to get a lay of the land.”

 

Of course the enforcer had to ruin this moment with her posh accent.

 

Vi turned to look at her before pulling up her hood, best not to let the entire Undercity know she was back, “Too risky.”

 

She then jumped down the cliff, letting her instincts take over as she once again climbed the familiar ground. She landed on a beam before back flipping her way onto a roof, sliding her way down and barrel rolling onto another roof.

 

The air rushed through her hair, as she flipped and slid her way down, she couldn’t remember a time she felt so alive. Vi ran down pipes, jumped off walls and over the large gaps that separated buildings and structures, she sprinted full speed across metal overpasses that connected one building to another, until she reached the biggest jump yet.

 

Vi still remember her first time jumping the famous chasm, it was like a right of passage down here, she didn’t land right and fucked up her ankle, she probably didn’t help it by walking her way home on it either, but Janna, the freedom she felt as she flew, she didn’t even let her ankle heal completely before jumping again.

 

Powder’s first time went better than her’s, Vi made sure of it. Sure she chickened out a couple times, and maybe Vi had to catch her before she fell to her death, but she managed to come away without so much as a scratch on her, in Vi’s book that was a success. Vi made sure to make Vander take the whole family out to celebrate at Jericho’s.

 

All that to say, out of all the times Vi’s jumped this gap, non of them, she repeats, NON of them ever felt this damn good. It was as if time itself slowed as she flew across the sky.

 

Unfortunately Vi didn’t have time to waste on savoring that experience, she needed to keep moving. Seven damn years locked in a cell is seven damn years too long. She rolled onto another rooftop before sliding her way down in between two walls, she ran down another roof and jumped off the thing as soon as it ended.

 

Vi kept running until she came to the spot she had been looking for. She stood upon another beam that ran over the Undercity as she took in the view of her home for the first time in seven years.

 

She breathed heavily as she looked down, everything was so similar yet so different. Vi had heard from other people that a new drug Silco made had taken over the streets, shimmer, but it still surprised Vi that the number of beggars in the alleys seemed to have doubled, and so did the flashing street signs. People still bustled around like they always did, stand owners hollering at people as they walked around telling them to buy things, some people flipped them off, while others listened and walked right over to check their stash out. Probably to steal it, but hey, you take what you can get down here.

 

Vi didn’t stop staring for a long time before reminding herself she had a job to do, she could go sightseeing after she found her sister. So she made her way into some empty looking alleyway, before dropping her hood down and taking in a lungful of the sweet, sweet, polluted air of the Undercity.

 

A sharp whistle cut through the air, Vi turned to see two guys leaning against the walls of the alleyway, they both stood up and made their way over to her. One ran their hand along her shoulder as they made their way in front of her, flicking a piece of her hair.

 

“Nice jacket.” Vi said as the guy made his way in front of her.

 

Fine maybe this alley wasn’t as empty as she thought, but at least she got herself a new jacket, and she even scored something for the enforcer chick. If she ever showed that is.

 

After an embarrassing long time, the enforcer girl slammed her way down into the alley. As soon as she landed she bent over and began huffing and puffing like she was exhausted or something. Vi gave her a second before getting fed up with the whole thing and just threw the jacket she had scored at her.

 

She caught the thing rather easily, which may or may not have surprised Vi, who had fully expected her to drop it, and looked at it confused.

 

She looked over at Vi, “Welcome to the Lanes,” Vi said as she walked over.

 

“You almost got me killed,” she complained.

 

Honestly Vi hadn’t really thought the enforcer would make it.

 

“My little sister could do that when she was seven,” Maybe not entirely by herself, but this girl didn’t need to know that, “All us fissure folk can,” Vi said as the woman shuffled back awkwardly to try and get some space from Vi, “Don’t you wanna blend in?”

 

Vi walked off into the streets, the enforcer girl trailing behind her after she wrangled on the jacket Vi gave her, ogling everything in sight like a lost tourist.

 

Vi snickered at that.

 

“And what exactly is so funny to you?”

 

“You," Vi said with a smirk, honestly, how was it possible for someone to look so painfully out of place?

 

She scowled at her, “Just where are we going?”

 

“To see an old friend.”

 

---

 

The smell of fried animal legs and greasy octopus, was something Vi had missed more than anything. If she could only pick one thing to complain about when it came to that insufferable hell hole they call a prison, it was the fucked up food they served. Honestly she had no idea how that slop they served even classified as food.

 

Vi wasted no time stuffing her face full of the food Jericho served up. She only shared a few words with the guy before he served her a giant bowl of her old order. Didn’t even have to say who she was for him to figure her out, well, it probably didn’t hurt having her name written on her face in permanent ink.

 

“Oh, Jericho! Have I missed these.”

 

Jericho laughed happily as he cut off the head of someone’s meal. He didn’t seem particularly talkative today, might have something to do with the fact she brought along an enforcer, but she didn’t mind, she liked seeing a familiar face.

 

Vi decided to be nice and offered little miss perfect some of her food.

 

She looked between Vi and the food like Vi had lost her mind, “No, thank you.”

 

“You’re missing out,” Vi said before slurping down the food she had offered.

 

The girl leaned in closer and covered her face with her hood so Jericho wouldn’t see her or something, “Are you going to question him?

 

“About what? The meat?”

 

Vi knew what the enforcer was getting at, and maybe Vi would have been more direct, but that’s not how things worked at Jericho’s. You eat then you ask the questions, or in this case wait for an answer.

 

“Definitely not above board.”

 

“Silco. His connections? Isn’t that why we’re here?”

 

Vi really couldn’t sit here and listen to her whine anymore, “We’re here because I’m hungry. Do you know what prison food is like? No, of course, you don’t.”

 

Vi shoved another bite of food into her mouth.

 

“Unbelievable. I didn’t break you out of jail to eat… slop.”

 

The girl jumped up and began to pace, “I knew this was a terrible idea. You don’t actually know anything, do you?” She said as she leaned down and stared daggers at her.

 

Vi simply continued finishing her meal, downing the leftover juice in the bowl, “Mh, better than I remember.”

 

Jericho turned around and gave her another hardy laugh before slamming his knife into his cutting board shoulder covering and sliding Vi a napkin.

 

“DON’T BE A STRANGER!!”

 

Vi lifted the corner of the napkin to reveal a symbol marked on the corner. The enforcer girl gave her a surprised look, Vi simply got up and walked away, leaving the enforcer to once again scramble after her.

 

---

 

Vi walked them through one of the quieter passageways she frequented when she was younger, it led to a nice overview of the Last Drop. She walked over and looked down at her old home, leaning over the railing, she watched as two brutes threw a guy who had tried to get in on the ground. It was finally starting to settle in how much things had changed over the years.

 

“Well, that place does look like it has bodies buried in the basement.”

 

Vi gripped the railing hard in an attempt to not punch the stuck up ass in the mouth, “You don’t know anything,” She spat before walking away making sure to shoulder check her as she went.

 

They continued the rest of the trip in silence.

 

---

 

Finally they had arrived at Babettes place.

 

Vi knocked on the door, after a second someone slid back a piece of metal that was blocking the small squared wooden opening in the door and looked out at them. Vi looked up at them and waited for the door to open. The guy let out a growl before sliding the metal plate back into place, unlocking the door, and opening it for them.

 

The door opened up into a long hallway, “The one place all the secrets are spilled,” Vi said, at the suspicious look she got from the enforcer.

 

The hallway had many doorways into other rooms, all of them had people enjoying the amenities the place had to offer.

 

Vi was no stranger to sex, hell you’d be surprised at how many people get laid in jail. Vi had her fair share of fun in there, but it never lasted very long, and it never really meant anything. Nope, Vi didn’t mind sex, it was just a part of life, but the enforcer behind her was a different story. It took everything in Vi not to laugh at her when she looked into one of those rooms, honestly she reminded her of Claggor with the way she blushed at every little thing.

 

“How exactly do you propose we go about this?”

 

Vi stopped, Janna forgive, her but how could she pass up an opportunity like this, she turned to face her, “Let ‘em think you work here.”

 

“Excuse me!? I will not.”

 

Vi truly almost broke down into a fit of laughter at the look on her face, but she really, really wanted to see how far she could take this, “You know what your problem is?”

 

Vi walked toward her, “Please,” the girl said with a roll of her eyes, “Tell me.”

 

“You expect everyone to give you what you want,” Vi began to circle her, really checking her out for the first time, “If you want people to talk to you, you have to let them think you have what they want.”

 

Not bad.

 

Not bad at all.

 

The advice she gave seemed to make the girl pause and think, “And what do I have?”

 

Vi finished her loop, “Your hot, cupcake,” Vi pushed her against a wall and put an arm up trapping her beneath Vi, she let out a gasp, “So what’ll it be, man or woman?”

 

“Um……”

 

Honestly, Vi couldn’t keep it together anymore, the way this girl took everything she said at face value was too fucking hilarious.

 

Thankfully a poor sucker was walking past right in time for Vi to make her great escape.

 

Vi grabbed the guys arm and pulled him towards them, “H-hi. I-I’m Pim. What’s your name?”

 

Poor sucker, “Matilda. But you can call her whatever you want.”

 

Vi looked over at the girl and she let out a gasp as she looked over at the guy, “Ah, yes. Matilda,” she then proceeded to slip into a god awful accent before continuing.

 

Vi left before she truly broke down in a fit of laughter.

 

She walked down the hall until she found the room she was looking for, Babettes office.

Vi pulled open the curtain and was greeted with the sight of the old Yordle, working away at her desk.

 

She looked up at Vi, “Would you believe it?”

 

“Babette,” Vi smiled.

 

“Vi. Come, come let us sit. We have much to catch up on.”

 

Vi sat herself on one of the couches as Babette told a guy to make sure they weren’t disturbed, she then sat herself down on the couch opposite to hers.

 

Babette took a puff of her pipe, “Sweetheart, I was real sad to hear about Vander and the kids. Just terrible.”

 

Vi’s hands tightened into fits at her words, “By the looks of it, no one down here lifted a finger to stop Silco.”

 

“A few tried, but Silco’s got the muscle…. and the money. He took over the Last Drop.”

 

Vi sighed, “I saw.”

 

“Things have changed without Vander looking out for us,” she said before taking another puff.

 

“Have you heard anything about Powder? I think Silco has her.”

 

Babette shook her head.

 

“What about…. someone named Jinx?”

 

Babette froze at that.

 

“You do know something! What is it?”

 

“Vi, that is not something you should start digging up,” she said in a hushed voice, eyes glancing around.

 

“Whatever it is my sister’s involved,” she looked her in the eyes, “Babette, please.”

 

She sighed, “Alright. It’s nothing but rumors, but…. There’s been talk lately about a mystery killer on the loose.”

 

“What do you mean mystery? Nobody keeps a secret for long down here.”

 

“No one knows their real name, Jinx is just one of the many nicknames they’ve acquired, but who ever they, are their careful. They kill quickly, in and out before you can even blink, and they only kill people who won’t be missed. Broke drug addicts. No one even knows if they’re real, only people who knew one of the victims find how those people died odd, with them being stabbed to death, no one really thinks twice about it for the most part.”

 

Relief filled Vi after hearing that, whoever “Jinx” was it was just a nickname they earned. Her baby sister wasn’t a mass murder.

 

Vi’s brows furrowed in confusion, “If they were just junkies who got stabbed to death, how do people know it’s the same person targeting them? Shit like that happens all the time down here.”

 

“I know. Others say the mystery killer has been known to sing before killing, but no one has actually been around long enough to confirm that without being killed themselves. This person leaves no other trace, it’s the only real connection people know of. I honestly didn’t believe the rumors myself, until they started coming after my own.”

 

That got Vi’s attention.

 

Babette sighed, “5 dead, and that’s just this year. No one knows what they’re after, but I have a theory. Every one of my people they’ve killed has had a debt to Silco because of shimmer, I personally believe they’re after the money these people owe.”

 

“So you think this Jinx person is working for Silco?”

 

Babette nodded, “Look here Vi, you need to leave this one alone. There’s a reason there’s so little information on this person. They’re a ghost, one who doesn’t want to be known. If you start digging around, you’ll be dead before you even start.”

 

“So you’re just going to let this person keep killing your people?”

 

“Vi. I will do everything I can for my people, but this Jinx character is more than you can fathom. From what little I’ve been able to uncover, they have inhuman abilities, and no one survives an encounter unless they've wanted them to. I know you have a vendetta against Silco, and that’s fine, she doesn’t seem all that concerned with his safety, just don’t go adding Jinx to your list of enemies. You won’t survive.”

 

Vi scoffed, she had faced much worse in her life than a mystery murder, too scared of there own shadow to come out into the open. Vi could take them.

 

Babette stood and slapped her hand down on the table, “I mean it Violet. Do not go messing around in this.”

 

Vi blinked in surprise, “All right, I’ll leave it alone. I didn’t come here for them anyway,” Vi said also standing, “I need to find Powder.”

 

Whatever mess the enforcer girl was trying to get herself into had officially become her business, Vi couldn’t risk getting involved with it.

 

“You said you think she’s with Silco, right?” Babette said sitting down again, Vi nodded in confirmation, “Silco’s number two’s a regular. I can have Miguel tell you where to find her.”

 

She smiled at the yordle, “I owe you.”

 

“Just stay away from that Jinx business and we’ll call it even.”

 

Vi gave her a nod before heading out.

 

Vi walked down the hall, head down in thought, only stopping when she heard something she’d never dreamed of.

 

The enforcer girl sat in one of the rooms, sweet talking a girl .

 

Imagine that.

 

Vi hesitated for a second, wondering if she should bring the girl along, but then she remembered what Babette had said. Vi needed to stay off of this Jinx character’s radar, and dragging around an enforcer who seemed hell bent on finding them wasn’t exactly going to help with that.

 

Besides this was Vi’s fight.

 

---

It didn’t take long for Vi to arrive at the place Babette’s second hand told her to go to.

 

The place was filled with people using shimmer, drinking, gambling, there were even some guys playing some music that wasn’t half bad.

 

Vi spotted her instantly, sat there, cigar in her mouth as she played a game of cards with a bunch of strangers.

 

Sevika.

 

Rage filled Vi the second she spotted the bitch’s ugly mug. So she did the only next logical thing, she nailed her with a flying knee to the face the second she won the round of cards.

 

Everyone from the table got up and ran as Sevika recovered from the shock and looked up at her.

 

Her face fell, utter disbelief plastered across it, “Vi?”

 

Vi didn’t waste a second, she walked forward and landed another blow on the same cheek she just hit her on before the traitorous sack of shit got a chance to swing at her.

 

She then grabbed her stupid little ponytail of hers and slammed her into a wall, “You filthy traitor.”

 

“Vander had his chance.”

 

Vi growled at her before an inhuman sound came from the arm Vi had pined down, it then started to glow purple. The arm twisted unnaturally before it slammed her backwards with a punch. Sevika turned, kicked Vi in the stomach, sending her to the floor, and ripped her poncho thing off to reveal a fully mechanical arm in place of a flesh one.

 

A shimmer vial jumped out of the arm and slammed itself back in, giving Sevika and her arm a power boost.

 

Vi bared her teeth before standing back up, Sevika made her mechanical fingers wag at her, telling Vi to come at her.

 

Vi decided to take her jacket off too, she may not have a cool new limb hiding underneath but she had a new set of muscles she hadn’t gotten to show off yet, plus her tattoos.

 

Vi let off a series of punches as Sevika blocked with both arms. She took the opportunity at Vi’s next blow to grab her arms and trap them in her mechanical one.

 

“I see you never learned patience.”

 

Sevika then proceeded to head butt her multiple times before letting Vi go flying and punching her in the gut.

 

Vi took the free second to breathe and regain her composure, not that she had long before Sevika attacked her, nearly cutting her head off as she sliced her fingers across the wall behind her, while Vi dogged.

 

Vi took the opportunity to nail her with some punches to the stomach and face. Vi blocked a punch Sevika set her way and sent another one back at her full force, and Vi’s connected. Sevika tried to stab her again but Vi ducked under and landed a blow on her gut.

 

Sevika came again but Vi just ducked to the side, landing some more shots on her gut and face. When Sevika stumbled back, Vi took the shot and landed a flying fist on her face.

 

Sevika fell, the fight seemed to be coming to a close to an end but then she hit herself with another injection of shimmer. She turned and growled at Vi before picking up a nearby barrel and throwing it in the air, and in one swift motion she punched the thing towards Vi.

 

Vi dogged just in time and ran in hopes of avoiding any other flying objects she might send, but Sevika just charged her instead. She slammed into Vi, earning a scream from her, she then grabbed her by the throat and full body slammed her into the ground.

 

Vi groaned as Sevika pushed on her throat harder, she desperately clutched at the mechanical arm around her neck, but Sevika just picked her up and switched arms, using the mechanical one to burn her face as she pressed it against Vi.

 

Vi stared into her eyes before kneeing her in the groin, she crouched down in pain as Vi brought her fits up and slammed them down on her back while kneeing her at the same time. Vi grabbed her and slammed her into a wall, Sevika fell to the floor but immediately went to get up.

 

When she stood Vi nailed her with flying kick that launched her through the wooden wall and into another alleyway.

 

Vi walked forward and pined Sevika’s mechanical arm under her boot and kneeled down, “Where’s my sister?! Where is he keeping her?!”

 

“Keeping her? You mean Jinx?”

 

Wait…

 

“She works for him.”

 

Vi gasped, as her mind began to race.

Jinx was her sister.

 

Sevika took the opportunity when Vi was detracted to pull her arm out from under her boot and stabbed her in the gut.

 

She leaned into Vi and whispered, “She’s a monster.”

 

Sevika threw Vi off her as she stood up, walking forward as Vi tried to focus on the fight, not the gaping hole in her stomach, as she tried to crawl away.

 

Sevika grabbed her by the face and pulled her mechanical arm back to deal the final blow.

 

“I’ll give her your regards.”

 

Vi watched as the vial of shimmer shot up from her arm, her last seconds slipping away as she thoughts of her past began to swim before her.

 

Bang!!

 

A bullet rang through the air, as Sevika stumbled back, she turned and looked towards where the bullet came from, arm sputtering for life. It seemed the bullet took out the vial of shimmer, which seemed to shut down her entire arm. Sevika ran for it as more bullets rained down on her.

 

The thud of the enforcer girls boots sounded as she jumped down from her perch, gun raised, aimed at the alleyway Sevika just escaped into.

 

Janna did she look hot, or maybe that was the blood loss getting to her.

 

“Why did you let her go?” Vi growled.

 

“Do you ever say thank you?” She snapped back.

 

“He’s gonna know we’re here now.”

 

“Whose fault is that?”

 

Vi sighed, she had a point, Vi let her emotions get the best of her again, not that she’d ever admit it.

 

“You’re an all-right shot.”

 

“I’m an excellent shot,” She corrected.

 

Vi took a breath, pain shooting through her as she did, “You gonna help me out, cupcake?”

 

Vi reached her hand up towards her, “Stop calling me that. My name is Caitlyn,” she said as she pulled her up letting her lean on her shoulder.

 

Caitlyn. Not bad.

 

“But you’re so sweet. Like a cupcake.”

 

Ok, so maybe the blood loss was starting to get to her.

 

Caitlyn let out a small laugh, “Shut up.”

Notes:

I wrote that fight scene between Sevika and Vi at like 3 in the morning thinking it wouldn't take that long.

I was wrong.

I spent forever writing and rewatching the scene from the show and at some point I just gave up, (seriously, I don't remember them fighting for that long), so please forgive me if it sounds like a madman's ramblings, I felt delirious by the end of this chapter.

Chapter 10: Know The Crime You Committed, Because I Won't Forgive It

Notes:

Jinx is back, and she's in for a surprise.

Ok, maybe killing The Boy Saviors people was a little harder than she thought it would be.

 

Jinx had spent the entire day and night searching for the morons who were part of the Sparkle squad, and had only found one, she still had two more left.

 

She chewed her lip in thought, if Jinx took to long hunting down these neon losers The boy savior would catch wind that Jinx had killed one of his guys he would tighten his security for a good while. Jinx needed to take care of these shiny showoffs before that happened, which, unfortunately, meant she needed help.

 

Jinx made her way down the familiar path to the Last Drop. Jinx didn’t like coming here, the place brought back to many memories, and it was Silco’s now, manly used as an exclusive club to fund Silco’s expeditions. Silco didn’t like Jinx either, he never spoke to her in person if he could avoid it, always passing messages through Sevika, but jinx was even less excited for this particular met up. It would be their first interaction since the incident at the airship, and as far as Jinx knew, he had yet to get his revenge for it, so Jinx would surely have to listen to his blood curtailing voice today.

 

As Jinx approached the door one of the guards yelled at her, “Hey! You! Take your hood down!!”

 

Jinx scowled, why the fuck were they making such a fuss, they were attracting to much attention.

 

Jinx didn’t take off her hood, too risky, instead she began to whistling her song as she continued to approach. She didn’t sing, the words were only to be heard by the dead and dyeing.

 

“Hey!” he stepped forward teeth bared in anger, “Didn’t you hear what I said you stupid bi-“

 

“Wait!” The second guy stepped forward, “Let her through.”

 

“What!? Silco said-“

 

“Let her through unless you want to die.”

 

He looked at the guy confused, “Whatever, but you’re the one taking the fall for this,” he grumbled.

 

Jinx walked her way past them, whistling the last note of her song. One guard glared at her as she passed, the other watched her carefully, as if he was expecting her to jump them at any moment.

 

When Jinx sailed through the front door an unnatural quiet greeted her. There were no people and the only music playing was some slow tempo song that the bartender was humming along to as he cleaned out a glass.

 

Jinx immediately didn’t like him. He was in Vander’s spot, a scrawny nobody like him had no business being behind a bar.

 

The guy jumped at the sound of the door opening, “M-miss J-j-jinx, welcome in.”

 

Miss? Jinx was an 18 year old who was shorter than him by at least foot, who the fuck does he think he’s calling “miss”, what a spineless coward.

 

Jinx walked her way over to the jukebox, and clicked the buttons and pulled some of the levers in the order Vander had taught her and the rest of the family, before selecting the song she wanted free of charge. A little secret Vander had Benzo add so the family could play whatever they wanted without having to pay for it.

 

The song “Our love” started playing as Jinx made her way to the bar, it was a family classic. Jinx hadn’t heard it in ages, but Powder requested it and she decided to humor her. Not like they came here often, might as well make the most of it.

 

Jinx sat in her old seat, “I need to talk to Sevika.”

 

“A-ah, w-w-well, she’s, uh….. not here?”

 

Jinx narrowed her eyes at him, “Then Silco.”

 

Not ideal but she didn’t exactly have a choice.

 

“T-that’s, I-I uh,” His eyes flew all over the place, desperately looking for a way out of this conversation, “No?”

 

Jinx’s lip curled up in disgust, “No?” She repeated.

 

Sure her and Silco despised each other but they both knew to never straight out refuse the other. It was rare but at times they do the odd job for one another. Jinx because the doctor ordered her too, and Silco…. well probably because he knew if she really wanted to she could kill him.

 

The “bartender” raised his hands up in an attempt to de-escalate the situation, “It’s j-just everyone’s b-busy, some g-girls did a-a number on Sevika, their out trying to g-grab ‘em.”

 

That’s….. interesting.

 

Jinx hated Sevika’s guts, but she was like a cockroach, practically impossible to hurt or kill. No one’s done a number on her since Jinx blew off her arm. Not to the extent of needing an entire man hunt.

 

“Who are they?”

 

He looked like he was about faint when she asked that, “I-I d-d-don’t k-know. Wa-want me t-to pass a-a message to S-Sevika?”

 

Jinx drummed her fingers on the bar in contemplation, he was hiding something.

 

After a moment she pushed a piece of paper towards him, “I need their locations by tonight.”

 

“Tonight?! But I just told you we’re-“

 

His complaints fell on deaf ears, Jinx was out the door before he even started speaking. Well, at least that’s what he thought, Jinx had other plans.

 

---

 

Sevika must’ve done something to piss off whatever god watched over this fucked up place, because not only was today one of the shittiest days of her life. Scrach that, this whole week had been fucked from the very beginning.

 

First that little shit Jinx decided to make a surprise appearance at the airship, causing Sevika’s workload to double. Then, Vi, her sister who was supposed to be dead, decided to just be alive again, and now she had to tell Silco she had lost Vi. Oh, and don’t forget Vi’s new enforcer friend destroyed her arm, so she had to pay for the replacement out of her own salary.

 

What a shit show.

 

Sevika walked into the Last Drop and was immediately greeted by the annoying sound of the bartender’s voice.

 

“Sevika, thank goodness. Here,” he handed her a piece of paper.

 

“What the hell is this?” She growled.

 

“Jinx stoped by-“

 

Oh fuck her, “Did tell her anything?!?”

 

“Wha- No! She just wanted me to give you that and tell you she needs those people’s locations by tonight.”

 

“That little shit has some nerve,” she crumpled up the paper, “You tell her she’s gonna wait till I’m good and ready for those locations.”

 

Sevika didn’t give him a chance to respond before making her way up to Silco’s office.

 

She pushed opened his door with a sigh, Silco was turned away from the door, chair facing the window.

 

“We lost her.”

 

The chair spun rapidly in place as the sound of the door slamming shut and locking sounded behind her.

 

She turned and was met with the sight of Jinx, “Lost who?”

 

Sevika reacted instantly, she moved in for a punch, but Jinx easily dogged with her inhuman speed.

 

Sevika spun to face her, ready to defend or strike, but Jinx was gone, the sound of her voice echoing around her as she sang.

 

“~Dear friend across the river,~”

 

Sevika laughed, as she held her hands up in surrender, not even she was stupid enough to think she could win this fight, “No need for all that. Though I have to say, you sure are making some big moves lately, does the doctor know you’re here?”

 

“~My hands are cold and bear,~”

 

“Alright, you asked. It’s your sister-“

 

THUD

 

A knife flew through the air, making a deep cut across her cheek before landing in the floor.

 

“She’s back. She’s looking for you.”

 

“~Dear friend across the river,

I’ll take what you can spare~”

 

THUD

 

She winced as another blade sliced into her leg, “It’s the truth, but don’t get you hopes up,”

 

“~I ask of you a penny,

my fortune it will be,~”

 

THUD

 

This time the blade logged itself into her other leg.

 

Sevika let out a grunt of pain, before spitting out, “She came here with some girl enforcer, guess she replaced you!”

 

~I asks you without envy,

We raise no mighty towers,

Our homes are built of stone,~”

 

Jinx appeared in front of her, holding the knife that was now pressing against her neck.

 

“~So come across the river,

And find the world below~”

 

Sevika laughed at Jinx, “Carful now. Remember what happens if you do this.”

 

Jinx’s pink eyes bore into hers as she truly thought it over, contemplating if killing her was worth the torture the doctor would put her through.

 

Sevika merely smiled at her, knowing full well she would never do it. After all, a well trained dog won’t run, even if it has no leash.

 

“Tell me the truth.”

 

It was always odd hearing Jinx talk, she had this strange accent you couldn’t quite place. Like she knew the words, but there was just something wrong with the way she said them.

 

“Believe what you want, but I don’t care about you enough to lie to about this.”

 

She blinked at that, then she blinked again, realization beginning to wash over her. The knife in her hand clattered to the floor, as her eyes became unfocused, and her breathing uneven.

 

Not a second later, she was gone.

 

 

---

Vi.

 

ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi ViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViViVi

 

She was back!!!

 

She’s back.

 

She was….. back?

 

She’s not here.

 

Why was she not here?

 

Why was she here?

 

Not for Jinx.

 

Why not?

 

Why is it never for Jinx?

 

Enforcer?

 

Girl?

 

Jinx?

 

Vander?

 

Mylo.

 

Claggor.

 

Powder….

 

Find her?

 

Let her think she found me.

 

Hid?

 

Stay?

 

Go?

 

Run?

 

Die?

 

Kill?

 

So many choices.

 

To many choices.

 

To many voices.

 

Vi.

 

Find her.

 

Find her?

 

Where should she go?

 

The past.

 

All the voices like the past.

 

Search the past.

 

Save Vi.

 

Save Vander.

Notes:

Jinx's "accent" is from not talking often, the words come out weird because she doesn't use them much, so she only has a vague idea of how tk say them.

No one, not even Silco, knows about Vander. When Silco dropped them off, he and the others thought he was dead. So they just assumed the doctor forced Jinx to go along with everything, torturing her if she didn't.

Chapter 11: Do I Wanna Know?

Notes:

Sorry about the late update, I've been busy today.

Enjoy :)

Carrying Vi got harder the more they walked, Caitlyn had to practically drag her now.

 

"Silco's goons aren't far behind. We have to keep moving," Caitlyn said, a reminder for both of them.

 

They spent most of the day running around and the wound Vi had seemed to get worse as she lost her strength, she was severely injured and need to rest. Caitlyn was exhausted from dragging her around and also desperately wanted to take a break. Unfortunately they couldn't afford to, Silco's people were everywhere.

 

Vi had told Caitlyn she knew a place they could hide out for a while, so here they were, on the side of a cliff, doing their best to hurry to the place Vi had mentioned.

 

"What the hell is that?" Vi asked as they approached the nearby structure, with a giant neon sign attached to it.

 

"The sign?" Caitlyn questioned.

 

If Vi didn't know this sign was here, it didn't bode well for the hiding place she had selected.

 

"Never mind, just help me to the edge."

 

Caitlyn did in fact help Vi to the edge, but what happened next is not her fault. Vi pulled her arm off from around her neck, as Caitlyn stared skeptically down at the giant drop before them.

At the last second she realized what Vi was planning to do, "Can you do this on your-"

 

Vi jumped, and to Caitlyn's shock, she actually landed alright. She then proceeded to fumble the next jump she took and fell down the rest of the way, nearly taking down the entire unstable structure with her.

 

"Shit."

 

Did Vi really have to try and do everything by herself? Didn't Caitlyn just prove she was here to help Vi by shooting that mad woman she was fighting and dragging her to safety across half the Undercity?! What more would she have to do before Vi finally trusted her and let her help?

 

Caitlyn jumped her way down, just in time too, Silco's goons ran past her and kept heading down the path in front of them.

 

Caitlyn finished climbing her way down and ran over to Vi, she was ready to make a snappy remark on the fall she had taken, but was stopped when she looked at what was in front of her. What must have been hundreds of worn tents, cots, and boxes were packed in together to form a makeshift town. The sound of coughing and crying carrying in the wind.

 

"What is this place?" She whispered as she hoisted Vi up again.

 

"It's where the kind of people you topsiders don't want to know about, wind up."

 

The more Caitlyn looked, the more depressing the scene became. Caitlyn heard a whimper, as hands appeared from out of the dark before her, she quickly pulled out her flashlight and shone it at the person, he hissed at her, pulling the hood of his cape down over his face before fleeing.

 

Another sound made her sweep her flashlight in front of her. As the light landed on another man, he fled faster than the last. Her light found another, but this one didn't run, he merely stared back at Caitlyn. This man also had a hooded cape wrapped around him, seemingly to cover whatever was wrong with his discolored skin.

 

Caitlyn turned off her flashlight, and Vi continued to speak, "It was never this big, though," Caitlyn was ready to venture into the makeshift camp, but Vi turned, "There."

 

Caitlyn craned her neck as she kept looking back at the people in the camp. How awful was life down here that this kind of thing was just natural.

 

Vi led them into the structure that was underneath the giant sign they had climbed down. It was dark and eerie inside, everything broken and torn. Caitlyn did a quick sweep of the place with her flashlight before stepping in with Vi. She set her down on a plank of wood that looked the most comfortable before taking in the rest of the place. It was truly nothing special, the place was falling apart. So she pulled out another one of her handkerchiefs crouching down to put it on a bleeding wound for the second time this week. Vi stopped her and threw her arm off.

 

"I know you have your reservations about me," Caitlyn said standing back up, "But this only works if we trust each other."

 

"It doesn't work. It never has. You Topsiders always find a way to screw us."

 

"I suppose Topside is to blame for all your misfortunes," she commented, sitting herself down next to her.

 

Caitlyn both believed it was true and it wasn't at the same time. After all, with just one look down here you could see how terrible all these people's lives were.

 

"No. Not all of them."

 

"We aren't monsters, you know. We're people, just like you."

 

Vi grimaced, "You don't know anything about me."

 

Not for lack of trying but any time she had tried for conversation Vi brushed her off or just stormed off.

 

"I shouldn't have left you," Vi said looking away ashamed.

 

It was funny, that one little admission of guilt seemed to melt away any anger she had over the whole matter. Probably had something to do with how helpless she looked crumpled up on the floor.

 

"It's all right. Despite it all, I can tell," she moved Vi's jacket and placed down her handkerchief on the wound, goddess it was bleeding quite a lot, "You have a good heart."

 

Caitlyn had no idea if Vi had heard her or not, because when she looked up she was passed out.

 

She stood, worry beginning to build, Vi hadn't looked that bad, she was walking around just fine a moment ago! But of course it was that bad, Vi was just being a stubborn idiot and wasn't letting on how much it was hurting her.

 

Caitlyn made the decision to leave Vi in hopes of finding some medicine. She walked out the door, lifting her hood as she did. She sighed as she looked out into the nothingness before her, how was she ever going to find help down here?

 

She closed the door, "Is she all right?"

 

Caitlyn let out a gasp before grabbing her gun out of its pack and pointing it at the mystery assailant.

 

One of the men from before fell to the ground in shock, crawling backwards in an attempt to escape, "W-Wait, wait, wait! Easy. Easy. T-th-that's Vi, right?"

 

If he thought that would ease Caitlyn's worries he was sorely mistaken, she pulled her gun up so she was now looking through the scope not just aiming blind.

 

He backed up once again, his hood falling off, "I-I-I-I'm a friend."

 

Caitlyn let out a gasp at the sight before her, the man's head had a grotesque, inflamed, bubble of flesh bulging out of him. It had a terrible purple look to it, even more so than the rest of him. You could even see the purple veins pulsating inside.

 

"Or at least I was. I-I mean, I… I owe her old man and sister my life," he chuckled nervously, "And more."

 

Caitlyn stared down at him, she didn't necessarily trust this man, but it's not like she had much choice, "She's bleeding. She needs a doctor."

 

He laughed, "Oh, uh, Not so simple to come by around here," he said laughing some more.

 

He proceeded to shimmy his way up, apologizing as he passed by her. Caitlyn watched him gun raised.

 

"Oh, oh. But, ah, I do know someone-"

 

A low whistling cut him off.

 

Caitlyn trained her gun at where the noise was coming from. A young woman emerged from the darkness, covered head to toe in all black, a hood covering her face, but nothing covered up the shining blade she held in her hand, or the way everyone in the entire camp across the way cowered at her presence.

 

"J-j-jinx?"

 

Jinx?! As in the Jinx that attacked the airship, started the fire in the square, and stole the Hexgem from Jayce and Viktor's lab? She hardly looked like she was capable of such things, she was short and she looked as skinny as a twig.

 

Jinx stopped at the man's words and looked over at him, confusion clear in her eyes, her gaze then shifted to Caitlyn.

 

Caitlyn's grip on her gun tightened as their eyes met. The girl's face was as pale as a ghosts, it was also far too skinny, but it was her eyes that held Caitlyn's attention. They were a radioactive pink, in fact they practically seemed to glow in the darkness, the dark bags under her eyes only adding to the effect.

 

Jinx seemed particularly interested in Caitlyn, her eyes lingered on her, examining her. Once she was done she scowled at her, before taking another step forward.

 

Caitlyn fired off a warning shot at her feet. She didn't flinch, she merely glared at the bullet hole in the ground, and then Caitlyn.

 

"Don't move!"

 

"W-wait! Don't shoot," The man cried.

 

Jinx completely ignored her, she began to take another step.

 

Bang!

 

Caitlyn grazed her arm, another warning shot.

 

Jinx didn't bother stopping this time, she kept walking as she started whistling the same tune again.

 

Caitlyn reloaded, preparing for another shot.

 

"STOP!" The man yelled, jumped in between the two.

 

To Caitlyn's surprise, Jinx did.

 

"Move," Jinx hissed.

 

Jinx's voice was odd. There was a slight accent to it that Caitlyn couldn't place, and she had heard them all at her mother's parties, well, at least that's what she had thought.

 

"Please, j-just listen."

 

"I've done you enough favors," she said as she was about to take another step forward, completely unfazed by Caitlyn, who was still aiming at her.

 

"Vi!" Jinx froze, "I-It's Vi, sh-she's hurt"

 

Absolute fury passed over her face. She almost seemed… worried? But that didn't make sense, Jinx didn't know Vi. Right? Well she clearly knew this man, and Vi did react when she heard Jinx's name. Was it possible?

 

"How do you know her?" Caitlyn said, questioning the man.

 

He looked over at her, "S-she's Vi's sister. She s-saved m-m-my life."

 

Caitlyn had to do a double take of Jinx when he said that. Jinx truly looked nothing like Vi, she was skinny with no muscle, short, and gloomy. Well they were both gloomy, but Vi had this light in her that just seemed to shine through all the gloom, Jinx didn't.

 

"Where?" Jinx said, cutting off Caitlyn's conversation.

 

"W-well-"

 

"She was stabbed in the stomach." Caitlyn said, finally addressing her.

 

Jinx looked over at her, distaste clear on her face, before hissing, "Sevika."

 

Panic seemed to strike the man at the name. Vi had told her that the woman who attacked her was named Sevika, Caitlyn didn't like that Jinx seemed to know who attacked Vi.

When the man flinched it seemed to catch Jinx's attention.

 

"You," in an instant, Jinx was in front of the man, knife held to his throat.

 

Caitlyn quickly changed her aim, baffled as to what just happened, "Let him go!"

 

"Why are you here?"

 

"I-I w-w-wanted to h-help."

 

Jinx looked at him, unconvinced.

 

"He was going to take me to a doctor before you showed up," Caitlyn said, confirming his story.

 

Jinx let out a short laugh, "Only thing he was going to do was sell you out for shimmer."

 

"And how would you know that?" Caitlyn questioned.

 

Seems trust issues run in the family.

 

"I-I only wanted to repay you!"

 

"See, now let him go." Caitlyn ordered.

 

She couldn't understand why Jinx became so hostile towards him all of the sudden, she seemed to have a history with him, and she had saved his life in the past. Why become suspicious and violent now?

Jinx just shook her head before she brought the blade down, Caitlyn didn't even got a chance to react, only she didn't strike the man, Jinx sliced open her own arm instead. Caitlyn blinked absolutely baffled, she couldn't keep up with what was happening.

 

She held the blade out as it dripped pink blood onto the ground, "Take it and leave."

 

He stared at the blade, pure hunger in his eyes in them, "I-I couldn't."

 

"Take it or I'll kill you."

 

He didn't hesitate after that, he grabbed the blade, staring at the pink blood. Caitlyn just watched the whole affair, unsure what to do.

 

The man turned to leave, but Jinx grabbed him and brought his face inches from her's, "If you tell one soul about what you saw, I swear I will kill you."

 

She pushed him away, the man practically running away when he was finally free.

 

"The same goes for the rest of you!" She called out into the darkness, Caitlyn heard others get up and flee as well.

 

Jinx turned back to Caitlyn, and walked towards her, "Stop!"

 

She stopped, "What now?" she spat.

 

"What?! Do you honestly expect me to just let you go do whatever you want! Your the one who attacked the airship and the square! You stole the Hexgem."

 

She just blankly stared at her, "I'm here for Vi. I don't care about you."

 

"Well whether you like it or not, I'm the one protecting her right now, if you want to see her, you need to get through me."

 

Jinx cocked her head to the side, "Do you really want to die that badly?"

 

She scoffed, "Just answer my questions."

 

She sighed before shrugging, "You get three before I just kill you."

 

Caitlyn licked her lips, mind desperately trying to pick out the best questions to asks, "Do you work for Silco?"

 

"No."

 

No? Vi said her witness had worked for Silco, and her witness had said Jinx was the one who had attacked him. Is it possible Jinx was trying to stop the smuggling? She was Vi's sister, and Vi seemed to hate Silco's guts, so it was plausible.

 

She needed to confirm so many things she had no real clue where to start.

 

"Did Vi know about the attacks on Piltover?"

 

"No."

 

That was a relief, even if Vi knew about Jinx, she wasn't a part of whatever she was up to. Which meant Vi was most likely withholding information about Jinx in order to protect her sister. Something Caitlyn could overlook, for now. She could use her last question to ask about Silco, but she already had an idea about how far his reach extended. What she had no idea about was Jinx and her part in all of this.

 

"The Hexgem, why did you steal it if not for Silco?"

 

"…..I wanted it gone. No one should have that much power."

 

"Gone? Did you destroy it."

 

"Your out of questions," Jinx said walking past her, and through the door.

 

Caitlyn watched her go before letting out a huff and lowering her gun.

 

Just how many criminals was she going to team up with?

 

Notes:

Yay! Jinx and Caitlyn are friends, sorta.

Next chapter Jinx finally gets to see her sister again, so look forward to that.

Chapter 12: I Love The Thought Of You

The moment Jinx stepped inside, her eyes landed on Vi.

 

She laid awkwardly on the floor while also leaning against the wall of their old home.

 

Of course Vi had to pick this place to hide out in. Jinx had looked at least five other places before coming here. Mostly because it was an extremely stupid place to hide, the people down here would sell you out for practically nothing. That man from earlier being a prime example.

 

Jinx was sent to kill the guy a long time ago. She was going to do it too, she hadn’t particularly remembered the guy, but she didn’t have her shimmer upgrades then so he got the chance to catch her off guard. When he called her Powder after he caught a glimpse of her hair she lost her nerve. He had told her he used to come to the Last Drop and that he owed Vander his life, that was the last excuse she needed to just let him go.

 

She was a fool for letting him go, she paid dearly for it, it was actually the reason Singed gave her a speed boost, so she could get the killings done before anyone could speak, but he had said he knew Vander and her from before. She just couldn’t bring herself to kill him.

 

Jinx made many stupid mistakes like that when she was younger, but this one was the dumbest, he did nothing to change, proof in the way he looked at her blood like a man starved, he was still an addict that was chasing a high. Jinx would just have to wait and see if he would be satisfied with what he had given her.

 

Jinx crouched down and looked at the sleeping form of Vi.

 

She was…. different. Her hair was now longer, still worn in a similar style as before. Her face had some scars decorating it, but nothing too bad, Jinx had plenty worse, along with some piercings in her nose and ears, tattoos peeking out from beneath her jacket. She looked badass.

 

She still wore her trademark wraps around her hands. The same ones that hit her all those years ago.

 

“Why did you leave me!?”

 

“Because you’re a JINX! You hear me! Mylo was right!”

 

Jinx shook her head.

 

Later.

 

Lose your shit later.

 

“So you’re Vi’s sister?” The enforcer asked.

 

Jinx didn’t like this girl. She was tall, and pretty but the gun in her hands was a reminder of what she really was. Jinx didn’t particularly care if people were from Topside or Zaun, Jinx stopped caring about that shit years ago, people were people, she only gave a shit if she had to kill ‘em or if she held a personal grudge. Enforcers killed Jinx’s parents, she hardly remembered them, but still. Not to mention she knew Silco had the chief of the enforcers on his payroll, so yeah they fell into the personal grudge category.

 

Vi was a different story though, from what she could remember, Vi hated anything and everything about Topside. Especially enforcers. She didn’t need a special reason, she just did. Though, the killing their parents thing probably didn’t help their cause.

 

Jinx couldn’t understand why this girl was the exception, and it pissed her off. Why would Vi disappear for years only to come back looking for Jinx with an enforcer in tow.

 

“Obviously,” she said as she moved in to examine the wound.

 

Believe it or not, Jinx actually learned some medical stuff from the doctor over the years. She lifted Vi’s shirt and jacket, (and a napkin??), underneath was a gaping hole where flesh should have been.

 

The enforcer girl let out a gasp, “I had no idea it was that bad. She didn’t say anything.”

 

Of course she didn’t, that was just how Vi was, but all things considered it really wasn’t that bad. Sevika missed all the important parts normal people needed to function, only thing Vi needed to worry about was infection and blood loss.

 

Jinx pulled her hands away from Vi, they were now stick with her blood.

 

Ok, mainly blood loss.

 

“We should go find that doctor that man was going to take me too.”

 

Jinx let out a snort, “He wasn’t taking you to any doctor. He was taking you to a shimmer dealer.”

 

Jinx had come down here to collect money and drop off shimmer shipments occasionally, the woman who worked here called herself a “healer”, when she was really just a glorified drug dealer.

 

“Why would people take something that does that to them?”

 

“How the fuck should I know, go out and ask ’em yourself.”

 

“Don’t you take shimmer?”

 

“No,” she spat.

 

Jinx could understand the assumption, but every fucking time someone asks her that she gets the urge to rip their throat out. Because Jinx doesn’t “take” shimmer, it’s forced down her throat or stabbed into her veins.

 

“Well, how are we supposed to help Vi?”

 

God how does Vi put up with her insufferable fucking accent.

 

If it wasn’t for Powder’s whining she would have just killed the girl. However Powder insisted Vi would be mad if they did it. Jinx didn’t understand why she was worried about that, Vi was going to be mad at her either way, kind of the whole reason she was gone for seven years. But Jinx decided it would be better to just shove her feelings so far down until she might actually believe they were gone.

 

“Simple,” Jinx pulled out a knife, the enforcer raised her gun in response, “Relax. It’s for me,” Jinx said with a roll of her eyes.

 

She sliced open her palm, this was her second time doing this today and it was getting annoying.

 

“Must you keep doing that?!” She said lowering her gun.

 

Jinx wiped off the blade before scraping off a rough estimate of how much would be needed to heal Vi’s wound, well, what would be enough to stop the bleeding. Jinx wasn’t a fan of having to use her shimmer blood, but Vi didn’t have enough time and had made far too many other enemies for Jinx to use normal methods.

 

Jinx’s blood was an extremely concentrated dose of what was sold on the streets, it was the reason Jinx’s wounds healed themselves so quickly, the cut she had just made was already gone. This also meant it was more addictive, she had to be careful how much she gave Vi.

 

The doctor had run experiments on some things using her blood, and they ended up dying extremely quickly compared to the people who used the normal Shimmer sold on the streets.

 

“If you want her to live, then yes. Now,” She bit the inside of her cheek before uttering the words she had never thought she would say, “hold her down, this won’t be pleasant.”

 

Her more potent blood meant it gave twice the kick when ingested, plus, as far as Jinx knows, this would be Vi’s first time taking shimmer. It was safe to say this would be unpleasant.

 

“Just what are you going to do to her??”

 

“Just shut up and do it,” Jinx gritted out.

 

The enforcer didn’t move, giving her a skeptical look.

 

Jinx stood and turned to face her, “Look, I don’t really care if you hold her down or not, but Vi’s gonna freak the fuck out and I don’t feel like finding out what her right hook feels like now that she’s all buff.”

 

“You’re sure you can save her?”

 

Jinx took a deep breath, and did her best to not let it show how badly she wanted to strangle the woman, “Yes.”

 

She folded her gun closed, (Jinx may or may not have found that feature cool), and put it in her bag, before positioning herself behind Vi, holding her arms down.

 

Jinx watched, the woman moved Vi with such care, as if Vi would break should she jostle her to much. Such care was foreign to Jinx, especially when it came to things like this, and seeing it hurt her more than she thought it would.

 

Jinx kneeled down and tipped Vi’s head back, wiping the blood off into her mouth. When Vi swallowed, she awoke with a scream. She would have rammed right into Jinx had the girl not been holding her down.

 

She grabbed onto Vi’s face and made her look into her eyes, “Easy, easy, easy.”

 

Vi relaxed at her words, so the girl kept whispering assurances into her ear as Vi drifted back off into sleep, completely unaware of the world around her.

 

The girl held onto Vi long after she had passed out again.

 

Too long.

 

Jinx stood and walked herself into the farthest corner away from her sister and the girl, and sat down, bringing her knees up, curling into herself.

 

She watched as the enforcer gently removed herself from behind Vi and laid her down to rest.

 

Jinx didn’t like this. It was getting to be too much. Jinx knew how to ignore her feelings for the sake of missions and when the doctor operated on her, but her sister was always a weak spot for her. Vi was the one piece of her past that never really had any resolution. Jinx knew where she stood with everything and everyone else from her past. With Vander, she just need to protect him, Ekko hated her so their was nothing to cling to when it came to him, Mylo was dead and so was Claggor, no point in trying to appease the dead, but Vi….

 

Vi had left seven years ago and disappeared without a trace. She left this void in Jinx, where all her promises laid waiting to be fulfilled. Soon every promise proved to be nothing but meaningless words as the years went on and they broke with time, along with her heart.

 

Then Vi came back. Not just that, but she was looking for Jinx. It confused Jinx, she couldn’t understand the sudden contradiction in her actions. If Vi wanted to find her she would have come back sooner, the same logic applied if she wanted her dead. Not to mention the enforcer. Vi was acting wrong and Jinx didn’t know how to handle it.

 

The voices had opinions, they always did.

 

Mylo thinks Vi came back to kill her after she found out what she had been doing.

 

Powder thought she was here to save her, to finally free her from the shackles she chained around herself all those years ago.

 

Claggor says she just wanted to show Jinx how much better she was doing now, and that she had actually replaced her with the enforcer girl.

 

Jinx didn’t know who was right, or what to listen too. She hadn’t thought this far ahead, and Vi wasn’t even awake right now. How could she decide what to do if Vi wasn’t awake to help her figure it out?

 

So Jinx decided to sit and wait as far away from the happy couple as possible.

 

A loud creaking and the walls of the building shaking snapped Jinx from her thoughts. Jinx’s hand pulled out a blade as she located the source of the noise. The enforcer girl stood near a support beam looking shocked as she stared up at the swaying tower.

 

Jinx let out a huff as she dropped her knife back into its designated pocket. This girl was going to get them all killed.

 

“You two used to live here?”

 

Jinx looked up at her blinking in confusion at the random question. The girl was examining the support beam seemingly reading something on it.

 

“Who’s Powder?”

 

The voices reacted like hungry lions at the old name being spoken.

 

“Poor stupid Powder, she killed all her family and lost all her friends, now she’s here making nice with her parents murders!!! Tell her that! See how long she it takes for her to try and kill you!” Mylo cackled loudly.

 

“No, tell her she’s dead, tell her you lied, Powders Vi’s sister. Not you.” Claggor whispered from afar.

 

“Me, I’m here, tell her we’re here. Tell her it’s you.” Powder whined.

 

Jinx dug her nails into her palm, “The person who started this mess,” she responded plainly.

 

The truth and a lie.

 

She gave her a curious look, “You know, Vi never mentioned having a sister, let alone this Powder person.”

 

Jinx shrugged, “She’s not my biggest fan.”

 

“How… how long has it been since you’ve seen each other.”

 

Jinx shrunk into herself further.

 

“Why did you leave me!?”

 

“Seven years," she whispered.

 

“Seven! But that-“

 

“SHUT UP!!! JUST. SHUT. UP!” she said, hood slipping off as she yanked on her hair.

 

Mylo howled with laughter, “There she goes, losing her shit again. What’s the matter? Can’t handle talking about all the times you screwed us over? Or the one time you finally “proved” yourself.”

 

“Did you see? My monkey bomb finally worked!!”

 

“You did this?”

 

“YOU DID THIS!!”

 

“No…”

 

“YES. YOU. D-“

 

“Powder?”

Notes:

If it wasn't very clear Jinx is keeping herself in check right now and not just straight up killing Caitlyn, but it's really starting to wear her out.

See you next chapter :)

Chapter 13: What Have They Done To You?

Everything hurt.

 

Vi felt like she got hit by a building, and all she wanted to do was sleep, but there was this energy pulsing through her. It was like her body just wanted to get up and go while her mind wanted to slip back into the comfortable silence. Vi couldn’t really bring herself to do either.

 

So after looking into Caitlyn’s eyes for an embarrassingly long time she just shut her eyes and drifted into the weird in between.

 

Vi could heard the building shake, she hoped the thing wouldn’t collapse on top of them. The place was more run down than Vi remember, then again it had been seven years, time had a funny way of changing things like that.

 

Vi heard Caitlyn speaking to someone, a girl with a weird accent by the sounds of it, she asked if Vi and the girl had lived here, which made no sense, only people who lived in this place was Vi, Powder, and their mom and dad. The person didn’t respond, but Caitlyn didn’t let that stop her, she continued anyway.

 

“Who’s Powder?”

 

Wait, Powder? How did Caitlyn know about her?

 

“The person who started this mess.”

 

No, they were wrong. Who the fuck thought they could talk about Powder that way.

 

Vi tried to move, but her body still wasn’t cooperating.

 

“You know, Vi never mentioned having a sister, let alone this Powder person.”

 

“She’s not my biggest fan.”

 

Wait, wait, wait. Vi didn’t understand this conversation. Why were both these people acting like Powder and her sister were two completely different people.

 

Vi was now desperately trying to get herself to move.

 

“How… how long has it been since you’ve seen each other.”

 

“Seven years.”

 

Seven years too long, and she’d be damned if she was going to wait any longer to find her sister just because she was tired.

 

“Seven! But that-“

 

“SHUT UP!!! JUST. SHUT. UP!”

 

Whatever Caitlyn had said set the girl off, and threat of that mystery woman attacking her and Caitlyn was the last thing Vi needed to open her eyes and sit herself up.

 

She took the sight in the sight before her, Caitlyn was stood with her back to Vi and arms up in an attempt to calm the situation down, and curled up in the corner was a girl.

 

She was skinny, her skin pale, with practically glowing pink eyes. But non of that was what drew Vi’s attention. What Vi’s eyes locked onto was the electric blue hair the girl seemed to be trying her best to rip out.

 

Vi spoke as recognition struck, “Powder?”

 

Her eyes shot to Vi’s locking onto hers.

 

The moment she reacted Vi knew with absolute certainty that she was her sister.

 

“Oh, Powder!” Vi tried to stand, but she stumbled.

 

Caitlyn caught her, “Careful, you’re still hurt.”

 

Powder’s eyes darted around, clearly uncomfortable.

 

Vi ignored Caitlyn and stumbled her way to Powder, embracing her with a bone crushing hug. Well, as bone crushing as she could with her injuries.

 

Powder didn’t react well to this. At first she sat there frozen, but the shock quickly turned to something else. She shoved Vi off her with surprising strength, before viciously scratching and rubbing her skin.

 

“Don’t touch me,” she snarled.

 

Caitlyn rushed over to Vi, “What is wrong with you!? She your sister!”

 

Powder froze, and looked at Vi on the floor, fear and regret instantly flooded her face.

 

“I-I, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry-“

 

She was staring to spiral.

 

“No! It’s my fault. I-,” she sighed, “I’m so sorry Powder, I tried to come back. I promise, I did. But I… I got arrested.”

 

Powder's face fell, “Marcus?”

 

“I don’t know. I… It doesn’t matter. I just… I never thought I’d see you again.”

 

Powder stared at her, pink tears falling from her eyes, “Are you real?”

 

The question crushed Vi because she knew exactly what she meant. All those years in that cell, she had dreamed of this moment so many different times and so, so many times she had actually believed it was happening. Only to wake up and find herself back in a pit of despair.

 

“Yes, of course. It’s me, Vi, your sister. I-I’m here. I’m right here.”

 

At that Powder let out a sob, every bone in her body wanted to go hug her, but she held herself back trying to respect Powder’s wishes.

 

“Things changed when you left. I changed,” She said as she looked away in fear.

 

Powder was actually afraid of her and what she would say. And that hurt Vi more than all the broken bones and stab wounds she's had over the years.

 

“I know, Pow-Pow, I know. You did what you had to do to survive. Me too. It’s okay. What matters is we’re together.”

 

“But-“

 

A metal clanging caught all their attention.

 

They all sat in silence as they listened to more noise and commotion come from outside.

 

“I told you.” Powder spat, her whole demeanor changing in an instant.

 

“You don’t mean-“ Caitlyn asked surprised.

 

“Yes.”

 

Powder stood, a knife clenched in her hand, as she made her way out the door.

 

“Wait!”

 

Vi scrambled to get up, Caitlyn swooping in and helping her as they followed Powder outside.

 

They were greeted with the sight of Silco, standing as a crowd of addicts groveled at his feet, desperate for the shimmer he held in his hands. He was flanked by two goons.

 

He let out a chuckle at the sight of them, “Vander’s prodigy, and Vander’s greatest failure.”

 

Powder scowled.

 

One of the men on the ground tried to grab a vial of shimmer, Silco chuckled as he moved it out of his grasp, “I’ve regretted we’ve never had the opportunity to speak, Violet.”

 

Vi stared daggers at him, but movement to his right caught her attention. Huck, a man that used to do business at the last drop grabbed a vial of shimmer Silco extended out to him.

 

Powder let out a growl, “You traitorous son of a bitch.”

 

He turned away and ran.

 

“Now, now. We both know this isn’t his fault. Haven’t you learned to own up to your mistakes? Though I will admit, attacking Sevika was a rather unexpected move on your part.”

 

Vi blinked in surprise, she didn’t know Powder had done that. Or how for that matter, Sevika was a mountain compared to her.

 

Jinx let out a huff of laughter, “Spare me. You knew exactly what would happen when I found out about my sister. You should’ve ran the second you found out, not that it matters, there’s no where you could hide that I couldn’t track you down.”

 

He laughed, “You don’t know your limits, girl. It’s what got Vander killed. What drove your sister away. And it’s why I’m here right now.”

 

Powder looked down in shame, “Your right.”

 

“Pow-pow…” Vi whispered.

 

She didn’t actually believe that did she? Non of this was her fault, Vi was the one to blame.

 

“But it doesn’t matter. Even if I lose, you’re going down with me,” she said as she pulled something off her pants.

 

She turned and shoved the thing into Caitlyn’s hands before turning to Vi, “Go.”

 

“What? Powder no! I’m not leaving you, not again,” she reached out and brushed her hand along her arm.

 

She didn’t pull away, but her face twisted into a grimace of pain.

 

She then turned to Caitlyn, who was still supporting Vi, “Take her and leave.”

 

Caitlyn stared at Powder.

 

“No!” Vi tried to pull away but her body was still too weak to fight off Caitlyn’s surprising killer grip.

 

“Are you sure?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Caitlyn sighed, before gripping Vi even tighter and turning away.

 

Vi twisted as kicked in an attempt to escape, craning her neck back to look at her little sister, “Powder! Powder no!”

 

It was too late, Powder had already turned her back on her and was readying herself for the fight as Silco began dropping vials of shimmer onto the floor.

 

The people around him downed the things in seconds, turning into grotesque monsters as they made their way towards Powder.

 

The last thing Vi heard was the start of Powders old lullaby.

Notes:


Jinx didn't give Vi alot of shimmer, she basically only gave her enough to close the wound up and stop any bleeding. Vi still has to recover from the blood loss and her stomach will still feel sore for a good while, so that stuff will take a little longer to heal. Which is why Vi couldn't fight Caitlyn off.

Caitlyn left because she knows what Jinx is capable of.

Big fight scene next episode!! See you then 🤗

Chapter 14: Your Out Of Time, My Move Now

Notes:

-Warning!!-

This chapter is going to be more violent than normal, nothing terrible but more than what's normal.

Vomit warning as well!

If you don’t want to read any of this I'll include a short summary at the start of next chapter so don't force yourself :)

“Powder! Powder no!”

 

Jinx didn’t look back to watch as her sister got dragged away, thankfully too weak from her injuries to fight back.

 

“There she goes again, wonder how long until we see her again? 7? 10? Maybe 20, years?”

 

“No, we can’t lose Vi again!” Powder said panicked.

 

“You’re going to die,” Claggor stated plainly.

 

Jinx squeezed her eyes closed and took a deep breath, when she exhaled and opened them again, there was no Mylo, no Claggor, or Powder.

 

Just Jinx and the monsters Silco created.

Jinx didn’t wait for them to gain more ground, she started

 

“~Dear friend-“

 

She jumped on the first monster closest to her and jammed her knife through his neck. He reached up and clutched at it as he let out a strangling breath. He had yet to completely transform, so he died quickly.

 

“-across the river,~”

 

She made quick work of the next two that jumped in front of her, slicing through their windpipes in one fell swoop.

 

“~My hands-“

 

She was ready to attack the next one, but she failed to see the one coming at her from the side, he managed to grab and twist Jinx’s arm, which made sickening crunching sounds. She bit back a scream and jammed a knife into his fingers, she swept the knife across the rest of them while also cutting into her own crushed arms flesh, all four of his fingers fell to the floor leaving him with only a thumb. Jinx’s arm now freely hung limply at her side. It hurt like hell, the knife she held in that hand fell to the floor.

 

She turned back to the beast that broke her arm and slammed her remaining knife into his heart before he got a chance to recover from her last attack.

 

  “-are cold and bear,~”

 

The next ones came to attack her together. Jinx jumped into the air and threw two knives into their skulls before they even knew what was happening.

 

“~Dear friend across the river,~”

 

She locked eyes with Silco.

 

She pulled out another knife and cut down another shimmer monster, slowly but surely making her way towards him.

 

“~I’ll take what you can spare,~”

 

The smugness fell from his face as he realized Jinx was going to win this fight.

 

“~I ask-“

 

Another attacked, only this one quite literally tried to jump on her. She jumped as well, using the momentum to jam a blade completely through his eye and up into his brain. She pushed off him mid-air and jumped to the right to avoid getting crushed under his dead body when they landed.

 

“-of you a penny, 

my fortune it will be,~”

 

Silco glared at her as he snapped some orders to his goons, they took out their own vials of shimmer and downed them.

 

Silco turned and walked away.

 

“~I ask you without envy,~”

 

Jinx tried to advance and chase after Silco but another shimmer monster punched her to the ground when she was about to make a run for it.

 

She hissed as she landed on her bad arm and probably broke a finger or two on her good one.

 

She gripped her knife and threw it at the monster who attacked her, he stumbled a little but kept advancing. Jinx stood quickly and jumped on top of the guy's shoulders, she squeezed her legs around his throat and pulled out a knife. She stabbed him repeatedly in the side of his head, using the handle to break through his skull beforehand.

 

When he fell, she didn’t react quickly enough and got one of her legs stuck under him, ankle twisting at an odd angle.

 

She hefted the guy off her as fast as she could with one working arm, and stood, her ankle was throbbing in pain.

 

Severely sprained, but not broken.

 

“~We raise no mighty towers,~”

 

Jinx sang as she continued her slaughter, her voice slurring and turning into wincing at times until the two goons that Silco brought with him were the only ones left standing.

 

They seemed to be smarter than the others, they began to circle her, working together to try and kill her.

 

“~Our homes are built of stone,~”

 

She sang, pulling out one of her last blades.

 

Her head was beginning to pound with pain, and her limbs becoming heavy. Her shimmer was starting to fail her, she could feel it struggling to keep up with the cuts and broken bones while also trying to fuel her super speed. If she didn’t finish this quickly she would most likely die.

 

She jumped up on one of them and wrapped her legs around their neck, this move being the safest option when dealing with brutes like this.

 

She learned it when she was 12, she was sent to kill a mountain of a man, the fight dragged on forever, but she managed to climb up on him at one point and then she just squeezed and stabbed till he stopped moving.

 

It was harder to grab her up here, especially when you were big, stupid, and being deprived of oxygen.

 

Unfortunately for her, these two weren’t completely stupid.

 

Jinx didn’t even get the chance to completely break the guy’s skull before the other one ripped her off him and threw her against a wall.

 

Jinx felt the world spin and heard an odd popping sound that sure as hell made breathing painful as fuck.

 

She quickly forced herself to move and ignored the new stinging pains across her body.

 

The two brutes advanced on her, Jinx breathed in and out quickly and heavily, before smirking at the two. She turned and planted her good foot on the wall, flinging herself into the air so that she would flip and land behind them, but Jinx cut the jump short and attacked the guy whose skull she had half bashed in. She landed on his back before stabbing and sawing at his spine, jumping off him and onto her feet as soon as she felt satisfied with the damage she had done.

 

He screamed out in pain as he collapsed to the floor, not dead, but left with a severe spinal injury. Not something you can recover from easily.

 

The woman looked at him in horror and when she turned to Jinx, total and completely furry.

 

Jinx smiled a toothy grin.

 

“~So come across the river,~”

 

The woman advanced, blinded by anger, completely forgetting that in a one-on-one, she stood no chance whatsoever.

 

Jinx took one last deep breath before charging at them as well.

 

Jinx danced circles around her as she struck the air wildly. Jinx landed deep, painful cuts all across their body as she zipped in and out of range, waiting for an opportunity to land the killing blow.

 

Jinx panted as she continued the dance, losing her speed little by little. Jinx went in again but this time the monstrous woman grabbed hold of her and slammed her to the ground.

 

Jinx gasped for breath as blood blurred her vision. She heard a low growl from behind her, so Jinx spun herself around and slammed her knife into whatever she could with one last surge of shimmer power. A hand grabbed her around her throat, Jinx didn’t stop stabbing, she sliced and cut blindly, she even began biting chunks of flesh off of the woman’s hand.

 

The woman howled in pain and began squeezing Jinx’s throat.

 

Jinx felt all the air from her body began to leave her as the world started turning black, the woman brought her in close, wanting to watch as the life fled from Jinx’s eyes, but that was a mistake.

 

Jinx shoved her blade through her throat.

 

The woman let Jinx go as she clutched at the blade logged in her throat.

 

Jinx fell to the ground sputtering for breath as she tried not to lose consciousness. Jinx forced herself to her feet, and she stumbled, catching herself on the rocky wall.

 

She looked down and watched as the woman gasped for air and blood splattered everywhere every time she let out a hacking cough.

 

Jinx watched her fall on her face while Jinx caught her breath.

 

When the woman finally stopped twitching Jinx rasped out the last line of her song.

 

“~And find the world below~”

 

Everything felt broken and hurt like hell.

 

Jinx hadn’t been hurt this badly since she was 13, and back then she didn’t have the same healing powers she does now.

 

Not that it was of much help right now. Jinx had been using too much of her shimmer powers these last few days. On the airship, the theft and fire Topside, her visit to Sevika, healing Vi, and killing all these monsters. Jinx didn’t have a chance to rest and recharge, not to mention the mental toll all of this shit was taking on her.

 

Jinx looked down to check out her injuries. Her arm was in terrible shape, it looked like all the bones in it were crushed into a fine dust. Her other arm was fine, it was her hand that was the problem, she had definitely broken at least two of her fingers in that hand. Jinx’s ankle was probably the biggest issue right now, it was starting to hurt like a son of a bitch, and Jinx really, really needed to be able to walk right now, and her breathing was really bothering her as well. She probably broke a couple of ribs somewhere along the way.

 

Jinx had several other cuts and bruises along her body that weren’t healed by shimmer yet, in a way it felt nice, being almost normal, not being able to heal, but Jinx couldn’t deal with this right now she had too many other things to do.

 

Jinx pushed herself off the wall with a grunt, limping her way through the shimmer addicts camp. The place was practically empty now, any survivors likely hiding like the cowards they were.

 

Speaking of cowards….

 

Jinx’s eyes swept every corner and scanned every inch of the camp until she spotted him. He was sat in the farthest corner of the camp away from the fight that just happened. He hadn’t fled, probably assuming Jinx was dead, or she had more important things to worry about. That was technically true, but Jinx made a promise, and Jinx doesn’t break a promise.

 

Jinx stumbled her way over knife in hand, as soon as he turned to look at her she plunged her blade into his stomach.

 

He let out a cry of pain, “No, n-no. Please forgive me.”

 

Jinx stared into his eyes, “I warned you.”

 

She twisted the blade, he let out another cry, “P-p-ple-ase.”

 

She pulled the blade out and then struck again, “Why couldn’t you just be satisfied with what you had? I gave you EVERY opportunity to change.”

 

“I-I,” he coughed and blood spilled from his mouth.

 

Jinx continued to stab him, he had died long before Jinx was done.

 

Anger fueled every strike she took. Why had he done it? He said he wanted to help. He OWED her, he owed Vander. She even gave him shimmer, stronger than anything he’s ever had. So why?

 

Whywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhy

 

Why wasn’t it enough?

 

Why wasn’t she enough?

 

Jinx stopped stabbing, shimmering tears falling on his sliced-up corpse.

 

Jinx needed to head back to the lab soon or the doctor would start to get suspicious, but heading back like this wouldn’t be good, and it would at least take a day or two for everything to heal up completely.

 

Something rolled out of the dead guy's hand.

 

The vial of shimmer Silco had given him.

 

Jinx grabbed it. Jinx hated Shimmer, but she needed to heal. She opened the vial and slowly tipped the contents into her mouth. As soon as it touched her tongue she spat it out. This was not the right variation of shimmer, it was the old unstable version. The taste lingered on her tongue making her gag, and unfortunately for her, she had eaten recently so she threw up what little food she had in her stomach onto the ground.

 

She spat, it had been ages since she last vomited, and with her stomach usually empty she did her best to keep what she did have inside of her. She glared at the now mostly empty vial, before throwing it to the ground and shattering it.

 

She stood and limped her way to the weird little shop of the glorified drug dealer. Like she had said, she needs shimmer.

 

Nothing on the streets is as advanced as what was pumping through her veins so she’ll have to take what she can get.

 

Jinx pounded on the metal gated window, “Open up, unless you want me to kill you too.”

 

The woman reluctantly slid the metal plate aside, “What do you want?”

 

Jinx let out a chuckle, “What everyone who visits this sorry place does. Shimmer. And lots of it.”

 

The woman scowled, “And your payment?”

 

Jinx’s smile fell, “Your life.”

 

The woman didn’t move for a while, before grunting and heading to the back. She returned with a glass full of purple liquid.

 

“This is all I have right now. We are in need of a restock.”

 

“I’ll make sure to let the doctor know,” Jinx replied, grabbing the glass and downing it in one go.

 

Jinx’s eyes shot open and a gasp escaped through her lips as she felt her cuts and bruises vanish, while all the pain in her ankle completely disappeared. The bones in her fingers felt better, probably only fractured now, but her arm hardly felt any better.

 

She scowled, most of her wounds were gone, only the severe ones remained, and she still felt like the world was spinning meaning she was still extremely low on energy. Unfortunately, she’d just have to deal with it.

 

She turned and made her way out of the pit of despair she used to live in.

 

---

 

Jinx panted as she finally arrived at the top, definitely lacking her normal speed and energy.

 

She had to get herself back to the lab. She was going to be cutting it too close if she went and searched for Vi again. Not to mention the fact that she hadn’t even gotten her targets yet, or the fact she just made an enemy out of Silco. She couldn’t let the doctor think she was betraying him.

 

She couldn’t abandon Vander.

 

She took a deep breath, which still hurt like hell, and turned her eyes to the sky. Besides, Vi had that girl to watch out for her, and Jinx couldn’t waste time combing the streets for them.

 

That was when she saw it.

A pink flare painting the night sky.

 

The flare Jinx had fixed in hopes of finding Vi again.

 

“You should just leave her. Not like she came to find us when we lit it up.” Claggor muttered.

 

“No, you should go. Leave Vander to die to go see a sister who abandoned you, it’ll be one of your ideas that goes down in history.” Mylo chuckled.

 

“We can’t leave Vi. She still loves us. Go find her. We still have time.”

 

Jinx stared at the pink smoke for a long time, before taking off at full speed towards it.

Notes:

(Please Read!!)

Finals are starting up next week and I already have a bunch of homework, so the uploading schedule is going to be changing for a while.

I'm not going to be uploading every other day anymore, I will be trying my best to upload two chapters on the weekends instead. This will give me more time to write and make sure I can actually study during the weekdays.

I'm not going to have as much time to write and my chapters seem to be getting longer so I won't have as many chapters being made. Don't worry though, I have a backlog of finished chapters so upload won't be too big a deal.

I ask you guys to bear with me on this, I know I'm doing this when things are finally getting exciting in the fic but it's just the way things turned out. I'll still upload the next chapter this Sunday, but after that this schedule change will be happening.
Thank you for reading ! See you next time :)

Chapter 15: Would You Please Come Back?

Notes:

(Summary of the last chapter.)

Jinx began fighting the Shimmer monsters trying to get to Silco so she could kill him, but after Silco realized Jinx was actually going to win the fight he ran. Jinx survived and killed all the Shimmer monsters, but was severely injured in the fight, She had her arm crushed, and her ribs broken. She's also running low on energy from being sent out so often with no breaks and using her abilities so often these past couple of days. Jinx also ends up killing Huck for betraying her.

After the fight, Jinx saw pink smoke coming from the flare she had given Vi and decided that she still had enough time to see her sister and make it back to the doctor before he got suspicious.

“Caitlyn stop! We need to go back!”

 

She didn’t even look at her.

 

Vi had given up trying to fight her a while ago and just did her best to weigh her down, but Caitlyn just gritted her teeth and kept going.

 

“Cait! Will you just stop for a second and listen to me!”

 

She huffed before turning into an alleyway and set Vi down, “What? And you better not ask to go back, because we are not.”

 

“Why did you leave!? How could you possibly expect her to fight all those Shimmer-infused people by herself!!”

 

She sighed, “Believe it or not Vi, she’s more capable than she looks. Besides I doubt she’s actually going to fight them all, she was just giving us a way out before escaping herself. Have you seen how fast she is?”

 

Vi grit her teeth, “You have no idea what you’re talking about. She’s my sister! I can’t just leave her behind!”

 

“Oh? Then would you care to explain why you failed to mention sister in the first place? Or how about the fact that your sister is Jinx!? And as far as I’m aware you did leave, for seven years!”

 

Vi stood, swaying slightly as she did so, “I. Didn’t. Leave. I was arrested!! By some enforcer scum too scared to show his face!!”

 

Her eyes widened.

 

“And you want to know why I didn’t tell you about her?! She’s my sister who has been living down here on her own, so yeah, maybe I thought she was that Jinx person you were talking about, but whatever she’s done has been so she could survive! I wasn’t about to sell her out to an enforcer who was hell-bent on catching her and throwing her in a cell like me!!”

 

“She’s been living down here alone? Don’t you two have parents?”

 

“No! They were killed by enforcers!!” Vi yelled.

 

She gasped, silence playing for a beat before she responded, “I-I’m sorry. No one deserves to lose those they love. I don’t know what I would do if…”

 

She trailed off.

 

Vi sighed.

 

This girl was so odd. She was one of them, the people who oppressed her entire city and destroyed her childhood. But unlike them, she cared. She actually took the time to look at them and listened, to hear their pleas for help and try to do something. She didn’t even mind admitting she was wrong at times. Something Vi struggled to do on a daily basis.

 

“How old were you and your sister when you were separated?”

 

Vi looked away, “I was 15. She was 11.”

 

Caitlyn tackled her with a hug, “That is terrible,” she breathed into her ear, voice shaking with emotion.

 

Vi reluctantly hugged her back and chuckled, “Why are you the one about to cry? I’m the one who had to go through it.”

 

She pulled away and looked at her offended, “Forgive me for having a heart.”

 

She smiled at her, “You really are as sweet as a cupcake.”

 

Caitlyn blushed and turned away.

 

Jenna help her, she might actually be starting to like this girl a lot more than she should.

 

“Y-your sister gave me this before we left, do you, uh, know what it is?” Caitlyn asked changing the topic.

 

Vi looked over at what Caitlyn held in her hand. It was the flare Vi had given Powder before she left her to save Vander!

 

Vi snatched out of Caitlyn’s hand.

 

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Caitlyn huffed.

 

Vi carefully began to examine it. It was beaten up and dented, but it was definitely the flare she had given her.

 

A smile formed on her lips, “This is how Powders going to find us.”

 

---

 

“Come on Cait, could you be walking any slower?”

 

Caitlyn was still supporting Vi, but this time Vi was the one practically dragging her along.

“You know for someone who’s supposed to be injured you sure move around well.”

 

Vi smirked, “All part of my charm.”

Caitlyn was right though, Vi was starting to feel better. Her stomach was still sore where she was stabbed but the initial shock was gone and she no longer felt lightheaded from blood loss. Vi could probably walk on her own now, but Caitlyn wouldn’t even let Vi suggest it before grabbing onto her. Besides Vi kept moving through worse, in comparison, this injury was truly nothing special.

 

Vi led Caitlyn to the tallest tower she could spot, and they were currently faced with the challenge of the never-ending stairs that they needed to climb to reach the top. By the time they did, they were both leaning heavily against each other and panting.

 

“Come on,” Vi said after a moment's rest.

 

She pulled Caitlyn towards the edge of the tower.

 

“Dear lord, don’t tell me you’re going to jump again.”

 

Vi smiled at her as she unraveled herself from Caitlyn, Caitlyn holding on a little longer than necessary before finally releasing her.

 

Vi pulled out the old flare Powder had given them, “Not this time cupcake.”

 

She hesitated a little before pulling the pin out of the bottom of the flare. Vi couldn’t believe Powder had kept this thing for so long, it was sweet, but Vi had to wonder if the thing still worked. It did look kind of beat up.

 

Well, only one way to find out.

 

Vi pulled the pin and lifted the thing into the air.

 

Pink smoke poured out of the flare, which surprised Vi, the flare she had given Powder had blue smoke inside, not pink.

 

“Vi!? What are you doing, you’re going to attract the entire Undercity!”

 

“Kinda the point cupcake,” Vi said as she stared into the streets in hopes of seeing her sister running towards them.

 

Vi continued to stare as the smoke began to thin out and Caitlyn pulled out her gun in preparation for attack.

 

“Come on Powder, where are you?” Vi whispered as the flare let out a sputter, singling it was almost out.

 

“Vi…. We should go,” Caitlyn said putting a hand gently on her shoulder.

 

Vi shrugged her off, “Just a little longer.”

 

So they waited….

 

and waited….

 

When the flare ran out of smoke and there was still no sign of Powder, Vi let out a frustrated yell, before throwing the thing off the tower.

 

Caitlyn squeezed her shoulder, “V-“

 

“Vi!!”

 

Vi turned around, relief flooding through her at the sound of her sister’s voice, only to be replaced with complete horror at her appearance.

 

Powder was covered in blood, there was even blood in her teeth. Her clothes were ripped up at some parts but overall ok, besides being blood-soaked that is. What really worried Vi was her arm that hung limply at her side and the way her face seemed to be stuck in a permanent grimace.

 

Seeing Powder like this rocked Vi to her core.

 

What happened to her little sister who ran from a fight the second trouble started?

 

“Janna… Powder what the hell happened?”

 

What little happiness that lingered on her face vanished as soon as Vi spoke.

 

“D- did you kill all those people?” Caitlyn asked shocked.

 

Powder blinked seemingly confused at the question, “Yes? I had to! They wanted to kill us, and they sold us out!!”

 

Vi just stared at her sister, trying to comprehend what could have changed for her to become like this.

 

“Wait, don’t tell me you killed that guy that was going to help us as well.”

 

Vi turned to look at her, “Of course she didn’t! He ran before the fight even started. Right Powder?”

 

She looked between the two, all emotion suddenly leaving her face, “I killed him.”

 

Vi couldn’t understand, why would Powder kill Huck. Sure he sold them out and maybe Vi would have hit him a couple of times, but he wasn’t a threat, and they knew him.

 

“Why?”

 

Powder let out a small laugh, “Of course you don’t understand. No one ever understands,” she said as she slammed her good fist into her head.

 

A single tear fell from her face.

 

“Powder-“

 

Vi tried to take a step forward but was cut off.

 

“Why did you come back, Vi?”

 

“For you! I’ve spent these last seven years trying to get back to you.”

 

Powder shook her head, “Liar,” she pointed at Caitlyn, “Why are you with an enforcer? You hate enforcers.”

 

Vi looked over at Caitlyn, who actually seemed just as interested in Vi’s answer.

 

“She helped me get out of Stillwater Powder, I needed her help-“

 

“Liar. What did she want in return?”

 

“……She wanted proof Silco was running the Undercity.”

 

Powder shook her head, “You're lying,” she spat.

 

“I wanted to know about you,” Caitlyn said stepping forward, “and why you stole the Hexgem.”

 

Powder looked at her, then at Vi, “You tricked me….”

 

“No! Powder, no. I thought it might have been you who stole the Hexgem but I would never give you to them. Not for anything.”

 

“…..Liar. If that were the truth you would have left her behind the second you got the chance,” Powder pulled out a shining blue stone out of her pocket, “You came for this stupid stone.”

 

Caitlyn let out a gasp, “The Hexgem! I thought you destroyed it?”

 

“Pow-“

 

“Stop calling me that! It’s Jinx now.”

 

That broke Vi’s heart to hear.

 

“You’re not a jinx. Janna, I never should have-“

 

“Stop talking to me like I’m a child!!” Powder yelled, “You’re a class act, sister,” she said with a laugh, “Sister. Thought I missed her. Bet you wouldn’t miss her.”

 

“Powder! I’m here for you. Only you. I’m not going anywhere, I’m not going to abandon you again.”

 

Powder’s eyes narrowed before darting around, “Everyone shut up! I need to think,” she said as she turned away clutching her head with her good arm.

 

Caitlyn glanced at Vi, questions and concerns clear in her gaze, “We didn’t say anything.”

 

“I’m not talking to you,” she sneered, Powder’s head suddenly shot to the side, a knife now held in her hand, as the Hexgem clattered to the floor, “Did you hear that?”

 

Vi and Caitlyn both looked around listening for the mystery noise Powder mentioned.

 

A loud squealing noise echoed through the air, Powder gripped her knife tighter while Caitlyn pulled out her gun and aimed in the direction Powder was glaring at.

 

Some pipes in the wall seemed to be where the noise was coming from, and eventually, a glowing green light appeared in one of the tunnels. A man with a bird mask came out floating on a hoverboard.

 

Powder didn’t hesitate, she flung a knife at him with surprising accuracy, but the guy dogged, kicking his board into full speed. Suddenly there were more people on hoverboards flying out of the other pipes.

 

Great, another fight.

 

Some of them tried to swoop down and hit Caitlyn, but she turned and fired, hitting their hoverboards and sending them tumbling to the floor. 

Powder wasted no time before jumping on the people Caitlyn shot down and killing them, all in the blink of an eye.

 

Cait was right, Powder was fast as fuck now.

 

Vi punched a guy out of the air when he swooped down to try and attack, it was an instant knockout. Another came in and swung a long pole with a knife attached to the end but she ducked and they flew right by.

 

One zipped in to attack Powder but Pow-Pow was too quick for them, she spun, letting them miss her and then completed her spin by slamming the handle of her blade into their head. They thudded on the ground as Powder readied herself to kill them, only to fling her knife behind her, setting off a bomb of some kind mid-air and ducking as the person who threw it came at her.

 

Powder stood up the second they passed over her and kicked their board shifting them off balance and making them fall off the edge of the tower. Luckily for them, someone caught ‘em in the nick of time.

 

Vi continued punching the ones that swung low or jumped down, as Caitlyn fired off shots that sent people flying to the floor, for either Vi or Powder to pick off.

 

Vi was in the middle of a brawl when she accidentally kicked that gem Caitlyn and Powder were so concerned about, rolling it towards edge. Vi was about to yell a warning when Cait ran over and grabbed it just before it fell. Vi smirked to herself before continuing with her fight, she landed a barrage of punches on the guy, to the stomach and the face. The pain in her own stomach slowing her down a bit, but nothing she couldn’t handle.

 

Caitlyn continued to shoot down as many of the people as she could, but while she was distracted a girl moved in behind her.

 

“Cait, behind you!”

 

Caitlyn whirled around, making the girl's kick miss Cait’s head, but hit her hands instead. Caitlyn dropped the gem she held in her hands in favor of keeping hold of her gun. While Caitlyn was busy backing away from the person, they grabbed the gem off the floor and sprinted away lighting a flare as they went, black smoke engulfing the person preventing any further attacks from Caitlyn.

 

Powder turned just in time to see the smoke clear and the person vanish. Powder then cocked her head to the right as a man came flying down from the sky trying to slice her in half. If Powder hadn’t moved he most certainly would have succeeded.

 

Powder turned and kicked the guy in the stomach and then round housed him in the head, successfully knocking him out.

 

Vi also finished pummeling the guy she was in a fight with and turned her full attention to Powder. She had stabbed and killed the guy she had just knocked out, before standing back up.

 

“Powder….”

 

Vi couldn’t believe her little sister was really killing people or the fact that it looked so easy for her.

 

Powder stood, panting and sagging a little, her arm still hanging limply at her side while a guy flew around her on a hoverboard. Powder looked exhausted and this guy was using that to his advantage, he would sweep in close, strike, and then dart away. Powder was starting to struggle to keep up. 

“Powder!”

 

Unfortunately for Vi, she was so focused on Powder she failed to see the guy behind her that she thought she had taken out, (Guess she’s still a little weak from the blood loss.), stand back up. He took a mental pole and slammed it into Vi’s head.

 

Successfully knocking her out cold.

 

---

 

Jinx was not thrilled with how things were turning out.

 

The Firebrats had found her and Vi and decided to attack, which was kind of like adding salt to an infected wound, sure Ekko hated Jinx’s guts, but didn’t he see Vi? What reason could he have to attack her except for the fact that she was with Jinx?

 

Oh and her shimmer was at, what felt like, a new low. Her mind was getting foggy and she wasn’t even healing the simplest wounds anymore. The pain in her arm was now getting to the point of being unbearable, and these stupid people weren’t making things any better. Not to mention she couldn’t use her super speed unless she really wanted to have a fun time finding out what happens when she doesn’t have enough shimmer to keep up with the natural demands of her body, like keeping her heart pumping.

 

Jinx’s eyes watched her latest attacker circled her, readying themselves to swoop in again, using the fact that Jinx was now incredibly slower to their advantage. What Jinx failed to notice was that one of the guys she had thought she killed wasn’t actually dead, he used his knife on a stick to slice through her leg. 

Jinx let out a cry of pain as she felt the blade rip through her flesh without any shimmer to numb it.

 

She turned and slammed her blade into him making sure he was dead for certain this time.

 

“Vi!!”

 

Jinx turned at the enforcer girl's yell, eyes searching for Vi. She was draped over the shoulders of one of The Boy Savior’s junkie friends, and the Little Man himself was standing next to him.

 

Jinx glared at him before charging in.

“Wait!” The enforcer cried out.

 

It was too late to stop, The Boy Savior set off another black smoke bomb. Jinx tried to use her advanced sight to see through the smog but it seemed even that wasn’t working. Jinx slashed blindly in the smoke, praying to hit the guy carrying Vi and force them to drop her, but as the smoke cleared, Vi and the others were nowhere to be found.

 

Jinx spun in a circle and searched for any signs of them, the only other person there was the enforcer.

 

“Vi?” Jinx called out softly.

 

“She’s gone!”

 

“You lost her!!”

 

“Your fault!!!”

 

“All your fault!!!!”

 

“No!!”

Notes:

Shout out to princevanilj for the name Firebrats, thanks for the idea :)

Chapter 16: Bury Your Scars Deep, I Still See Them

 

“No!!”

 

Vi had been taken. Along with the Hexgem Jinx had originally stolen.

 

Jinx stood in the center of the platform banging on her head with the one good hand she had.

 

“Enough,” Caitlyn said walking over to her, “you’re going to hurt yourself.”

 

She looked up at her, pink shimmering tears leaving trails through the blood that covered her face, “You,” she hissed, “Why didn’t you shoot him!!”

 

“What?”

 

“You saw them taking her, and you just stood there!!” She was screaming now.

 

“I was going to shoot, but you decided to jump in the way! And what about you!? You’re the one with the super speed and all that nonsense. And as far as I’m aware you were the one too busy killing people to even notice your own sister getting kidnapped!”

 

She flinched back, once again grasping her head in her hand, “It wasn’t my fault, I did my best. I didn’t lose her!” She yelled at no one in particular, “They took her,” she turned and glared at Caitlyn, “She was here for me! Not her,” she spun around to face whatever voice she was talking to, “Why would I remember her name? She’s just some stupid Topsider!”

 

Caitlyn didn’t know what to do, the girl was clearly spiraling and it was seemingly taking a concerning turn towards Caitlyn. Slowly she lowered her gun back into her bag and put her hands up to try and show she wasn’t a threat.

 

“You’re right. Your sister came for you, not me.”

 

Jinx’s head snapped towards her, “I know that!”

 

“Exactly. So there’s no need to argue about it.”

 

She looked at her confused.

 

“Besides we need to get moving, they could come back at any moment, and we aren’t exactly battle-ready.”

 

Her brows furrowed, “I’m not leaving Vi.”

 

“No one said you had to, we just need to regroup and maybe take a look at your injuries. Would you happen to know a place we can lay low?”

 

Jinx stared at her for a long moment, before turning and limping her way toward some of the bodies of the people she killed and ripped off three of the people’s masks.

 

“Yeah, I know a place.”

 

Caitlyn followed behind Jinx as she limped her way through the streets.

 

 

---

 

 

Though Caitlyn was worried for Vi, she knew showing it would do no good in this situation. Jinx seemed to be rather unstable and Cait was pretty sure she was only tolerating her presence because of Vi. With her gone, it would only be a matter of time before she gets sick of her. All the more reason to find and rescue Vi before that happened. Plus Caitlyn was just getting used to Vi and her rough exterior, she might even go as far as saying she missed her.

 

Though what she said up on the tower was true, neither of them were at their best right now, and Jinx was in extremely rough shape. One of her arms was completely broken beyond use, and she had a deep cut in her leg that was leaving a trail of blood behind her and she seemed like she was about ready to faint with how tired she looked.

 

“Are you sure you don’t need help walking?”

 

Caitlyn had offered at least three times now, worried Jinx would collapse in the middle of the street leaving her completely alone without a clue on what to do.

 

“No.” She gritted out.

 

Caitlyn sighed, “Suit yourself…… Say, who were those people who attacked us? More of Silco’s goons?

 

“Worse. They’re the dying lights of the Undercity, plant-loving pests who think they’re better than the rest of us,” Jinx let out a snort, “Hey they’re kind of like the knockoff version of you Pilties.”

 

Caitlyn rolled her eyes, “And why exactly did they attack us?”

 

Jinx shrugged with her good arm, “Who knows why the Boy Savior does anything.”

 

“Boy Savior?”

 

Jinx huffed, “Yeah he’s the leader of those guys, he’s a real pain in my ass.”

 

“You know him?”

 

“About as well as I know you.”

 

Caitlyn sighed, “Do you know what they want with Vi?”

 

Jinx scrunched up her face in thought, “No, though doubt he wants to kill her, maybe he’s going to try and use her to get to me? But that’s not his style. I think he just wanted a chat.”

 

“Well, he has some way of asking,” Caitlyn scoffed.

 

It sounds like Jinx knew this “Boy Savior” a little better than she let on.

 

“Hey, it’s the Undercity, and Vi was walking around with an enforcer, you two shouldn’t have expected a warm welcome. Hell, you should never expect a warm welcome down here, unless you want to end up bleeding out in an alleyway somewhere.”

 

“How lovely.”

 

Honestly, Caitlyn didn’t think it was possible but somehow Vi’s sister was even more crass than her.

 

Jinx limped her way down a small side path Caitlyn would have never noticed if Jinx hadn’t walked towards it. Jinx made her way down it until they reached an old rusty door. She pushed it open with a grunt as the door squealed in protest.

 

The door led into a small room that had some ancient furniture stuffed inside, a table with some chairs around it, a small sofa, and a small sink that seemed rather out of place. The place was extremely dusty and somehow seemed worse off then the last place Vi and Caitlyn went to hid out in.

 

“What is this place?”

 

“Probably someone’s home at some point.”

 

“And you just… took it?”

 

Jinx clicked her tongue in annoyance, “No. I just found it.”

 

Caitlyn looked around at the place. It was moldy and the furniture looked like it had been there for about a hundred years.

 

Jinx beelined for the couch and keeled down, she pulled out a bag from underneath the sofa. She unzipped it and pulled out a vial of shimmer.

 

“I thought you said you don’t take shimmer?”

 

She glared at her, “Go fuck yourself.”

 

Jinx uncorked the vial and downed it, head flinging back and breath hitching at the aftershock that came with the drug.

 

Jinx’s eyes opened, dazed and unfocused. Slowly she looked down at her leg. It had stopped bleeding but it was still a gaping wound on her leg. She then turned her gaze to her broken arm, it still didn’t look much better.

 

Jinx flung the now empty bottle into a wall.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

“No. Obviously,” she said standing back up, she was still limping.

 

“You should really let me take a look at that leg of yours. And that arm.”

 

She turned and glared daggers at her, “If you take one fucking step towards me I’ll cut your prissy little head off.”

 

Caitlyn scowled at her, “Does everyone in your family have trust issues?? I just want to help you!”

Jinx sneered at her, “How could you possibly help me?”

 

“Oh I don’t know, maybe I could stitch up that wound on your leg. Or maybe help you put your arm in a splint?”

 

Jinx scoffed, “Please, I could do that myself when I was 11.”

 

Caitlyn sighed and sat herself on the lumpy couch, “Dear lord, what couldn’t you do when you were young,” she muttered, “Let me guess, learning that is something everyone down here has to do?”

 

Jinx’s gaze darkened, “….no.”

 

Caitlyn blinked in surprise, “Then…. why?”

 

Jinx ignored her and snatched the bag that contained the shimmer off the floor, pulling out some thread and a needle from it. She sat herself down on one of the chairs around the table and turned away from Caitlyn.

 

Jinx’s answer surprised Caitlyn, but it shouldn’t have. As far as she was aware Jinx had been living alone down here for seven years, doing whatever she had to do to survive. It made Caitlyn shuddered to think of why she had to learn to stitch up her own wounds and splint her own broken limbs at such a young age, not to mention the fact she had a secret hideout just for her medical supplies. Just how often did she need to do this for her to have a secret stash for this exact scenario?

 

“You’re really going to do that by yourself? You can’t even use both hands.”

 

“I’ll be fine,” She said rolling up her pant leg.

 

When Caitlyn got a look at Jinx’s leg she let out a small gasp.

 

“What happened to you?!”

 

Jinx’s leg was covered in scars. Long ones, thin ones, some an angry red, others you could hardly tell were there. The most concerning ones were the ones that looked like scratch marks, and knowing what Jinx tends to do when she was stressed, it was more than likely she was the one who did it to herself.

 

Jinx shoved her pant leg down immediately, and stood, “Do you ever stop asking questions! Janna knows how Vi put up with you and your fucking accent!”

 

Caitlyn realized immediately that the topic of her scars was not something she wanted to discuss, and one that she shouldn’t have brought up.

 

“I’m sorry. I was just surprised.”

 

Jinx just stood there glaring at her.

 

Caitlyn thought for a moment before pulling up her own pant leg, revealing a small thin scar that you could hardly see, “I got this when I was a child at one of my shooting competitions. I hid it from my mother for a week. I thought it would just heal on its own, little did I know I actually needed stitches. It ended up getting infected, and when my mother found out she was absolutely furious,” Caitlyn let out a little laugh before bitterly adding, “With the way she acted you would think I was on death's door. She refused to let me do any more shooting competitions after that.”

 

“Your mom sounds infuriating. Does she have the same accent as you?”

 

“Yes,” Caitlyn said slightly amused.

 

“Yeesh. I would’ve hung myself ages ago if I was you.”

 

“You know, you keep making fun of my accent, may I ask why?”

 

Jinx shrugged, “It’s annoying as hell. You’re like one of the voices, only your fucking accent makes you ten times worse.”

 

She heard voices. That explained all the times she yelled at nothing.

 

“What about your accent? I’ve never heard it before. Where’s it from?”

 

Jinx cocked her head in confusion, “What accent?”

 

“The- never mind.”

 

If she didn’t know it was probably best to leave it alone.

 

“You still shoot," Jinx commented.

 

“What?”

 

“You said your mom didn’t let you compete again, but you still shoot.”

 

Caitlyn chuckled, “I still do a lot of things my mother disapproves of, but shooting is one of the only things I do that she actually likes, believe it or not.”

 

“I used to shoot,” Jinx whispered.

 

Caitlyn blinked in surprise, “Really? Why’d you stop?”

 

Jinx didn’t reply, she just stared at the floor.

 

Caitlyn quickly went to change the subject, “You know I lied to you,” Jinx’s eyes snapped to hers and narrowed in suspicion, “Your sister did mention you once. I simply dismissed it and forgot all about it,” she stared at her curiously, “Vi told me that you could do that crazy climb down to the Undercity by yourself when you were seven! I on the other hand nearly died at every other step.”

 

A shiver ran down her spine thinking of all the times she nearly fell to her death.

 

“…..She lied. I couldn’t do that alone until I was 12.”

 

“Ha! That hardly makes me feel better, ‘Oh it was actually a twelve-year-old who beat you, not seven.’”

 

“Well, it should. Everyone else can do it by the time they turn 8 at the latest,” She said bitterly.

 

“Well then, I suppose we’re both a couple of slow learners.”

 

“…….yeah ……guess so.”

 

“You know, you should really get that leg fixed up.”

 

Jinx turned and looked at the thread and needle, a tired sigh escaping her lips.

 

“…..I really wouldn’t mind helping you,” Caitlyn added hesitantly.

 

Jinx just shook her head, “No. I- I can’t stand it when other people touch me.”

 

“Oh…”

 

No wonder she threw Vi off her when she hugged her. It also explains why she didn’t want help walking.

 

Jinx dropped herself into the chair once more, pulling up her pant leg, looking at the thread and needle with some annoyance, “Wouldn’t mind you threading this though.”

 

“Of course!”

 

Caitlyn stood and grabbed the needle and thread. Jinx turned her eyes away and began to grip the edge of the chair tightly.

 

“Can I ask you a question?”

 

“Can I stop you?” Jinx said, irritation clear in her voice.

 

Caitlyn chuckled softly, “What exactly happened back in that pit with Silco?”

 

A frown crossed face, “I killed them all. What else do you need to know?”

 

“Actually, I meant what happened to Silco.”

 

Jinx’s eyes narrowed in anger, “He ran like a fucking coward.”

 

“I see,” Caitlyn said as she set down the now threaded needle, “There, all done.”

 

Jinx turned and looked at it for a moment, still not moving to start stitching her leg up, “I-“ Caitlyn looked at her, Jinx looked away, her grip on the chair tightening, “I can’t do it,” she whispered, “Not with my arm like this.”

 

“Do you want me to help?”

 

“No, but the alternative is worse.”

 

Caitlyn nodded in understanding, “I’ll do my best to be quick.”

 

Caitlyn could tell this was extremely hard for Jinx.

 

Caitlyn reached for the needle but Jinx slammed her hand down over it. Caitlyn looked up at her in surprise, she could immediately see the intense panic and fear in her eyes.

 

She looked absolutely petrified.

 

“This…. I-I might kill you,” Caitlyn did her best not to react, “You-“ Jinx’s voice broke as tears filled her eyes, “You might have to restrain me.”

 

“What!? Absolutely not!”

 

“I don’t think I can hold myself back,” she said, voice shaking as tears fell down her face, “There’s rope in the bag,” Caitlyn didn’t move, “Hurry up before I change my mind.”

 

Caitlyn hesitated.

 

“…..please. I rather it’d be you.”

 

Caitlyn slowly stood and grabbed the bag from off the floor. Caitlyn was nervous, yes she knew how to stitch up a wound, but never did she have to restrain someone to do it. Hell, she’s never even really done it for real before. Sure her father had drilled it into her head, but she never had the occasion to actually do it!

 

And now here she was, about to do it to Vi’s little sister no less, who for the first time since she had meant her actually l looked like the scared kid she was. Jinx was what? 18? She was only 5 years younger than her! To be completely honest when she first met her she looked 10 years older than Caitlyn with the scowl that normally resided on her face.

 

Caitlyn opened the bag, surprised to find there were quite a bit of medical-related items inside. The rope was easy enough to spot, it seemed to be the only thing that didn’t really belong, she grabbed it and pulled it out and turned to back to Jinx.

 

Only Jinx wasn’t at the table anymore, the only thing at the table was her knives. Jinx was sitting on the floor, face now vacant of all emotion.

 

“Jinx?” Caitlyn called out walking over.

 

“Make sure the knots are tight. Wouldn’t want them getting away,” Her voice sounded far away and hollow.

 

Caitlyn thought it best to stop asking questions and just get on with it. She looked around for a good spot to tie her up and spotted two metal loops sticking out of the wall Jinx was closest to and two on the floor near her feet.

 

“...Jinx? Just what exactly do you use this place for?”

 

“Tie them up. Make sure they don’t die till he needs them. Don’t let them leave. You won’t like what happens when they leave.”

 

She was responding to Caitlyn’s questions but she didn’t seem like she was entirely here.

Caitlyn didn’t need to ask anything else to know what this place was. Jinx kept the people she kidnapped here until she was told otherwise by…. someone. Though it hardly seemed like she did it willingly, whoever ordered all this seemed to severely punish Jinx should she fail to keep the person locked up or alive. Which explained all the medical supplies and rope. Maybe even the myriad of scars that decorated her leg, and most likely the rest of her body.

 

Anger exploded within Caitlyn, “Jinx, who is doing all this?”

 

Jinx shook her head, “I chose this. No turning back now. Too late to regret. Too late to change.”

 

Caitlyn grit her teeth, she would never get anything out of her when she was like this, and her leg needed treatment.

 

“Can you…. Let me see your arm?”

 

Jinx flinched and let out a small whimper but did as she was told. Caitlyn did her best to not touch her too much as she tied her up.

 

“Now your leg please,” she moved her leg over and Caitlyn tied it, “The other one next.”

Caitlyn removed her hands from Jinx as soon as she was done, extremely uncomfortable with the entire situation.

 

Jinx’s face scrunched up in confusion, “The arm.”

 

“Oh no. I am not tying up your broken arm.”

 

“Can’t let them go, you have to, even if it hurts.”

 

“Jinx, I said no.”

 

“You did it before, you know what happens when you listen to their cries. They run and you get to suffer in their place.”

 

“Jinx-“

 

“You won’t like what happens if they get out.”

 

Caitlyn sighed, “You're not letting this go, are you?”

 

“Never let them go.”

 

Begrudgingly she kneeled down and tied up her limp broken arm, not as tight as her other limbs, but it still looked painful. Although it was hard to tell, Jinx didn’t react to her doing it at all. Once she secured the knots she went over and grabbed the needle. She looked down at Jinx, she was looking off into nothing, she seemed to be completely gone at this point.

 

Caitlyn sighed and grabbed the bag again. She searched it for anything that would help with the pain, but unfortunately she found nothing. She let out a huff, was she really going to have to give Jinx stitches without any pain killers?

 

She walked over to Jinx and crouched down next to her, “Jinx I’m going to start now.”

Jinx didn’t respond. She just kept staring.

 

Caitlyn ripped off a part of her uniform and put it into Jinx’s mouth, “This is going to hurt and I couldn’t find any painkillers, so you're just going to have to bite on this. Ok?”

 

No response.

 

She sighed, and made her way down to her injured leg, “Here we go….”

 

Notes:

Shout out to JKenobie99 for the name dying lights. Thanks for reading and commenting :)

Chapter 17: Don't Ask Me, I’ll Never Tell

Jinx didn't remember anything after she asked the enforcer girl to stitch up her leg. Jinx's body just went through the motions.

 

Put her knives on the table.

 

Go wait by the operation table.

 

Let him tie her down.

 

Let him do whatever he was going to do.

 

Let him untie her.

 

And DO NOT attack.

 

Thankfully today was a simple fix. Just some stitches, and a splint for her arm.

 

Splint?

 

Jinx didn't remember asking the enforcer for a splint.

 

Jinx stood, the pain she felt in her leg was still there, the small vial of Shimmer not doing much for her injuries. She would probably need an operation to get the Shimmer she needed to fix her bones. Something she would have to do when she saw the doctor.

 

Jinx had taken Caitlyn to one of the many places the doctor had bought for his own purposes, well, Silco bought it in return for the doctor's help. The doctor had given her permission to use them because he certainly wasn't going to, Jinx had ended up using them as a place to crash whenever she was running on empty and also as a place to fix herself up before heading back to the lab in hopes of avoiding the doctor's form of "help", but as the years went by she didn't need places like this often, so they rotted away, there supplies hardly ever replenished. The only time Jinx ever came here anymore was if the doctor needed Jinx to keep someone locked up for a while because he ran out of space to store his experiments in his lab.

 

After all of the doctor's upgrades Jinx hardly ever worked until she was burnt out anymore, however, this week was definitely a stain on her spotless record. Jinx still felt extremely weak, her shimmer still at an all-time low and without the adrenaline to keep her going, she would probably fall flat on her face soon. She'd have to sleep for the night before that would change.

 

"Thank goodness, You're awake! How are you feeling?" The enforcer girl said beaming at her.

 

Hearing that was.... unnerving. Jinx hadn't been asked how she was feeling since... well since seven years ago.

 

"I'm fine."

 

"Fine? You look like you're about to pass out, go sit down and get some more sleep. I'll keep watch."

 

Jinx blinked in confusion, her fog-filled mind struggling to keep up with all these odd changes.

 

Part of her still thought all of this was a hallucination, the other part thought she was either dead or dying and this was some strange in-between state.

 

"How long has it been?"

 

"Hmm? Oh! Well, it's hard to tell because you all don't seem to have clocks around here, but that sun has completely set. It seems like finding Vi will just have to wait until tomorrow."

 

Oh right.

 

Vi came back.

 

Then she disappeared again.

 

Now she had to go find her.

 

Janna, she was tired.

 

Let's see, this would be the second day out on the mission to kill the glowin' pests, so it should be fine if she slept for the night. Besides she picked up some masks from the ones she killed at her last fight which should dismiss any doubts the doctor would have about her completing her mission.

 

"....yeah, tomorrow," Jinx said slowly agreeing.

 

Fucking hell her throat hurt.

 

How long had it been since she's talked this much?

 

"Seven years. Duh."

 

Right, seven years.

 

Funny, even Mylo sounded tired. That was rare, that only happens when Jinx is REALLY tired.

 

Well, Jinx sure was tired.

 

She should probably sleep.

 

How long had it been since she slept?

 

Maybe.... a week?

 

Two?

 

Who knows.

 

Who cares.

 

Sleep.

 

Sleep always resets everything to how it was. All her physical pain always vanishes after sleep, and Jinx was definitely in pain.

 

Fucking hell.

 

Everything really, really, REALLY hurts.

 

Especially her arm.

 

That hurt like a son of a bitch.

 

"Jinx?"

 

"Hmm?"

 

"Go lay down."

 

".....Say, what's your name?"

 

The girl sighed, "Caitlyn."

 

"That's pretty," Jinx commented absentmindedly.

 

"Seriously, go to bed. You are starting to scare me."

 

Scare?

 

Jinx didn't want to scare people.

 

What should she do?

 

Oh yeah!

 

"~Dear friend across the river,

My hands are cold and bear,"

"Jinx? Are you.... singing?"

"~Dear friend across the river,

I'll take what you can spare,

I ask of you a penny,

my fortune it will be,

I ask you without envy,

We raise no mighty towers,

Our homes are built of stone,

So come across the river,

And find the world below~"

 

Caitlyn blinked at her.

 

"Are you still scared? Should I sing it again?" Jinx asked at her confused expression.

 

"No! I- uh- I mean, thank you, but no. Please just go to bed."

 

"Alright....." Jinx made her way to the couch, "Caitlyn?"

 

"Yes, Jinx?"

 

"Did you like the song?"

 

"Yes, it was a lovely song."

 

"My mom made that song. She used to sing it for me whenever I was scared, then it was Vi. Now I have to sing it all the time. I miss......." Her mom, her dad, Vi, Vander, Mylo, Claggor, Ekko, Benzo, everyone, "Never mind."

 

"Alright."

 

Jinx laid down on the couch, sleep pulling her in, "You know... you.... kinda..... look...... like......."

Jinx never got to finish that thought, sleep taking her away.

 

---

 

Jinx was back at the lab, at Vander's side, talking about what had happened as usual.

 

"Vi came back! Vander, she's back!"

 

Jinx was doing something she hadn't done in ages. She was smiling as she spoke, hell, she was practically giddy with excitement.

 

Jinx didn't expect a response but Vander's voice rumbled from behind her, "What will you do now?"

 

Jinx turned, suddenly back on that bridge with the blood and smoke, Vander standing in front of her.

 

"Who will you choose?"

 

"Powder!"

 

Jinx looked behind her, it was Vi. She was standing on the other end of the bridge smiling at her.

 

Jinx turned back to Vander, "I don't have to choose! If I just tell Vi why I'm doing all this she'll understand. She'll save us both!"

 

"You said you would save me."

 

Jinx blinked baffled at his words, "I-I tried, but Vi's back now. She can save us. Just like she has before."

 

"How did you expect her to save us? She's scared of us."

 

Jinx turned back, "She's not scared-"

 

Vi was a teenager again, and she was petrified of the sight before her.

 

Jinx couldn't understand why until she looked down at her feet. Around her were hundreds of bodies, all of them had their throats cut or their heads bashed in, and Jinx held a blood-soaked knife in her hand. Jinx looked back towards Vander, his hands now inside the bloody, mechanical, fighting gloves he had given up all those years ago on this very bridge.

 

"You can't have both."

 

"B-but- No! Vi would understand," she turned to Vi, "Vi, please. You have to understand. I'm doing this to save Vander! You have to help me!!"

 

"Powder....." Vi whispered, eyes wide and filled with terror, "What have you done....."

 

Jinx turned back around to talk to Vander again, but he was gone. Panic set in as she spun to face Vi once more, but she too was gone. Leaving Jinx completely alone with the mess she had made.

 

"VANDER!! VI!! Please, don't leave me! Not again! I don't know how to fix this!!! Please help me fix this!!"

 

---

 

Jinx woke up on the floor with her teeth biting into her good arm. Something she learned to do to keep herself from screaming, something the doctor was not a fan of.

 

Jinx bolted up onto her feet, eyes scanning for Vander, panicking when she couldn't find him, "Vander!! VANDER!!!!"

 

The enforcer girl, who had been asleep in a chair she had moved by the door, awoke with a start and pulled out her gun, "Who- Jinx?"

 

Jinx panted, her brain finally catching up with what was happening. She wasn't at the lab right now, she was at one of the hideouts because she got seriously injured, and she was here with Caitlyn, the enforcer girl Vi brought down here with her.

 

Caitlyn lowered her gun, "Are you alright?"

 

Jinx blinked, still not used to the question. She did feel better, her head was no longer throbbing and she could feel shimmer coursing through her veins again. Breathing still hurt from her broken ribs, and her arm wasn't getting any better anytime soon, but her leg was feeling much better. It no longer hurt and honestly would be fine after a couple hours.

 

Jinx had almost forgotten what it felt to be injured for more than a few seconds. It wasn't exactly pleasant, but it did remind her she was still actually human, not some mindless monster.

 

It was almost nice.

 

It was surprising though, Jinx hadn't fallen asleep in the same room as someone else besides Vander since the incident, Jinx had slept surprisingly well. Jinx always had nightmares when she slept, that was normal. They were usually about Vander dying or regaining consciousness, both ended with him extremely disappointed in her. Or maybe they would be about the doctor and his needles and his cold metal table that she somehow never managed to get off of. Of course, there was always the classic one about the explosion she had caused seven years ago that started this whole mess. (That one was Mylo's favorite.)

 

The nightmares were always terrible, leaving her reeling for hours, they were part of the reason she avoided sleep like the plague, but over the years they had become predictable. Always the same, or about the same things, nothing new, no surprise. Today was different though, today her own mind had presented her with the problem she faced before her.

 

Vi or Vander.

 

Jinx took a breath, "I'm fine," she said as she made her way to the table she had left the last of her knives on and began to place them back in her pockets.

 

Jinx had a lot to get done and very little time to do it. First things first she needed to get back to the doctor to report in, then she'd have to get her arm and ribs fixed, check in on Vander, and then she could figure out what to do afterward.

 

"Who's Vander?"

 

Jinx stiffened, "What," she spat.

 

"Ah, well, that was the name you were screaming just now, right?"

 

"....right."

 

"So? Who is he?"

 

Jinx glared at her, fat chance she was about to spill her guts to an enforcer when she never even told her best friend, or anyone else for that matter, about this.

 

"Doesn't matter."

 

"Are you sure you don't want to talk-"

 

"I have more important things to do than sit here and talk to you about my fucked up past," Jinx said shoving the bag of supplies she kept here back under the couch.

 

She'd have to remember to resupply the Shimmer here at some point. Jinx stood and pushed past Caitlyn and made her way to the door.

 

"Right, we need to go help Vi."

 

Jinx paused, "No, not yet," she said as she made her way out of the safe house.

 

"Wait, what do you mean no?" Caitlyn said falling into step next to her, as she shoved her gun back into her bag, pulling up her hood.

 

"I mean I've got other shit I need to take care of," Jinx said turning onto the main road, pulling up her hood.

 

"You can't be serious. Vi's your sister, and she was kidnapped! You can't just leave her."

 

"Wow, look at that. An enforcer has more morals than you."

 

Well, seems Mylo was back to his old self. How lovely.

 

"Like I told you, The Boy Savior isn't going to do shit. He just wanted to talk."

 

"You know him," she accused.

 

"Uh, yeah. Kinda hard to not know the guy who tries to kill you constantly."

 

"I mean personally, and so does Vi. Why else would he kidnap her just to talk."

 

"Think what you want toots, I already told you all I have to say about the guy."

 

She sighed, "So where are we going?"

 

"Me? I'm going to take care of some business. You? I don't know, and I don't care."

 

"Uh excuse me? I didn't help you out last night for you to just abandon me on the street!" She yelled.

 

People turned and gave them some odd looks.

 

Jinx scowled as she turned to face Caitlyn, "I never wanted your help in the first place. Vi's the one who kept you around for Janna knows why, but I don't have the luxury of being able to just walk around with an enforcer without worrying about the consequences. If you want to follow me around there's nothing I can do to stop you, but I'm not going to be helping you with your little side quest of finding Vi or taking down Silco."

 

"I don't understand you. First, you act like you can't live without Vi and then you just turn around and leave her the first chance you get."

 

"Maybe you should keep this girl around, she sure makes my job a whole lot easier," Mylo said with a giggle.

 

Jinx shook her head, "I can't help Vi. The Flickering fools took her."

 

"Can't? Or won't. Seems like you've already picked who you're going to save. Poor Vi. It would have been kinder to just kill her in that explosion 7 years ago."

 

"So! You took down dozens of Shimmer-enhanced people, why can't you do this?"

 

"You don't know anything," Jinx growled, "Those assholes have been a thorn in my side for ages. No one knows where their little hideout is, and no one can seem to just get rid of them either. Even if I went out and looked for Vi, I wouldn't be able to find her."

 

"So you're just giving up!?"

 

"Of course she is!!! She's a pathetic coward!" Mylo yelled.

 

"Your sister spent seven years in a cell trying to get out and find you, and this is how you repay her?"

 

"Hear that! She lost everyone she loves and she still wanted you, only for you to go spit in her face. Again!"

 

"ENOUGH!!" Jinx screamed.

 

Caitlyn's mouth snapped closed as Jinx stood there panting. All she wanted was to see Vander and regroup. Was that so much to ask?

 

"You really are like another fucking voice in my head...." Jinx muttered taking a deep breath, "Fine. I'll see if I can find Vi-" Caitlyn's eyes lit up, "But like I've said a hundred times before, I've got other shit I need to do."

 

Caitlyn smiled at her, "Thank you, Jinx."

 

Jinx just scowled back as she turned around and made her way to the doctor's lab.

 

---

 

They had finally arrived at the opening of the cave that led to the doctor's lab.

 

"Stay here," Jinx said as she took a step forward.

 

"Wait, you're actually going in there?"

 

Jinx looked back at her, "You want me to help you find Vi?" Caitlyn nodded, "Then you stay here. No matter what you hear, no matter how long I'm gone."

 

"Just what's-"

 

"If you see ANYONE beside me coming in or out, you run and never look back. Understand?"

 

"Jinx, just what is in there?"

 

"You don't want to know," Jinx said darkly.

 

"Will you be ok?"

 

Funny, Jinx still couldn't comprehend someone asking about her well-being.

 

"......"

 

"Jinx?"

 

"I'll live."

 

Jinx didn't give her an opportunity to respond, she just turned and walked her way into the depths of her own living hell.

 

---

 

"Ah, Jinx. You've finally returned."

 

Today the doctor was at his desk, scribbling down notes. Seemingly having no clue about anything that had happened the last few days. Silco hadn't gotten to him yet, Jinx had made it first.

 

He turned to look at her, his eyes narrowing, "My, my, no wonder you were out for so long, what happened?"

 

"The firelights were expecting me. I took too long hunting them down, so they ambushed me."

 

Jinx did her best to look and sound normal. She hadn't lied to the doctor since she was maybe 14, and every time she had, he ended up finding out at some point. It was safe to say nothing good ever happened when she lied to the doctor.

 

"But it appears you were successful?" He said nodding at the masks she had hanging on her pants.

 

"Yes," she said detaching them and laying them on his table for him to examine.

 

She brought the masks along to make sure he would have no doubt that she did in fact kill three of the Flashy failures.

 

"How odd," Jinx felt her heart stop, "You normally aren't one for trophies."

 

She swallowed down her fear, "He was there. He let this happen to me, so I made sure to make him hurt too."

 

"Hmmm."

 

Jinx usually left the dead as they were, only doing her job and then leaving, taking the masks showed spite and anger. It was also disrespectful to them, it was like taking a part of their identity, the part that connected them to The Boy Savior. That wasn't terribly unusual, Jinx always did odd things when it involved him.

 

"Once again, you've allowed emotions to interfere with your missions. Haven't I told you? Your emotions will only hinder you. If you hadn't cared so much you and your father wouldn't have been in this situation."

 

"Like you can talk," she spat.

 

Jinx froze, realizing what she had done.

 

He let out a low chuckle, "Right you are child, right you are," he said as he stood, "You seem to be rather riled up today."

 

"Just... tired," she said as she watched him walk over to the bloody metal table.

 

"Come child, those injuries seem rather serious," She walked over and laid down, unnerved by the way he was acting, as he tightened the straps around her, "I haven't seen you this lively in years. Since you were a small thing. You always came up with such colorful insults."

 

He spoke with a fondness that made Jinx want to rip her skin off and gut herself.

 

"We hardly talk anymore."

 

Suddenly the restraints felt a little too tight.

 

"Tell me, how have you been doing?" He said, pulling out a rather large syringe containing Shimmer.

 

She felt her stomach lurch, the way he asked how she was feeling was so different from Caitlyn, "I'm fine."

 

"Still having nightmares?"

 

"Yes."

 

"How unfortunate. You know, sometimes I wonder if my daughter can still dream, I am aware your father does, but I am uncertain about my Orianna. What do you think?"

 

Jinx blinked, the doctor never talked about his daughter, why was he doing so now?

 

He stabbed the needle into her broken arm, and a scream escaped her lips, as she thrashed against her restrains.

 

"My apologies. I know how much this must hurt."

 

Jinx panted, head spinning from the sheer amount of Shimmer that was just put into her.

 

"I know we do not discuss personal matters, I have avoided all unnecessary discussions over the years due to your reluctance on the matter, however, I would truly like your opinion on this. It is something I have not been able to discern for myself."

 

"I- I guess," Jinx puffed out.

 

"May I ask why?"

 

Jinx had no fucking clue, she was just trying to not start screaming at him, "It's just nice to think."

 

"I'm afraid I don't understand."

 

Jinx sighed, "If she doesn't dream and she just laying there, it's kind of depressing. I think it's better to imagine she isn't just gone. Plus it makes them feel more alive."

 

"I see. An interesting hypothesis."

 

".......why are you asking me this?"

 

He looked down at her, "I've been thinking about that little experiment we did before you left," Jinx's heart dropped, "I thought as you grew older your visions and.... other problems would decrease. However that was not the case, in fact, it, seemed to worsen over the years," he said as he pulled out another syringe, "I know you may not appreciate this sentiment but you are the only real human contact I've had over the years, I rather enjoyed watching you grow over the years," he was right she didn't appreciate it, "I wanted to give you something in return for that little joy you gave me," Jinx bit down hard on the inside of her cheek to keep herself in check, "But I fear I won't have enough time for it."

 

Her brows scrunched together, "Wh-" he slammed another injection into her arm, this time she felt her bones beginning to snap back together, and a scream ripped through her body.

 

"You see, I believe I have found the answer to my daughter's condition. I merely need to have a chat with an old pupil of mine."

 

She blinked trying to get herself to focus, "What... is it?"

 

He smiled down at her, "A small jewel my pupil helped create. A Hexgem," Jinx's eyes widened, "Do you know of it?" He asked rather surprised at her reaction.

 

"What about Vander?" She asked avoiding his question.

 

"Ah, yes. Once everything is set I will happily heal him for you."

 

"You know how?" She asked confused.

 

"Of course I do."

 

No.

 

"I've known ever since you two were brought to me."

 

No.

 

"It was a rather simple fix, especially with all I have at my disposal."

 

No.

 

"However I needed him so you wouldn't leave."

 

No.

 

"You do understand don't you?"

 

"No."

 

"Pity, I really did hope you of all people would understand, but" he pulled out another syringe, "I suppose this was inevitable."

 

He stabbed her again, fusing the last of her bones together.

Notes:

Another shout-out to princevanilj for the name Glowin' Pests!

Chapter 18: Got A Secret, Can You Keep It?

Cassandra Kiramman considered herself a patient woman, especially when it came to her daughter.

 

She didn't get angry when she refused to wear dresses to parties, She didn't yell when she snuck out to meet with Jayce Talis, She allowed her to be an enforcer even though she took the test without permission, and she allowed her to have her space when she was being especially stubborn.

 

However, even she had her limits, and her daughter disappearing for 2 days without so much as a note was one of them.

 

She was marching her way down the corridor to Jayce Talis's room, ready to drag her daughter back home should she have to. She gave a sharp knock on his door and awaited an answer. When none came, she knocked again.

 

She clicked her tongue in annoyance at the lack of an answer, but it should have been expected, Jayce had a tendency to spend far too much time at his lab. Honestly, she should have gone there first, but she had been holding out hope Caitlyn had gone to Jayce's to stay awhile because she was angry about who knows what this time and decided to blow the entire thing out of proportion by staging her own disappearance. It wouldn't have been the first time.

 

Cassandra made her way to Jayce Talis's lab which thankfully wasn't far from his room, something he insisted upon. When she arrived she wasted no time knocking, she merely let herself in.

 

"Do you think this Jinx person could crack Hextech?" Jayce asked, completely oblivious to Cassandra's presence.

 

Jayce, his partner Viktor, and Mel Medarda were all huddled together at a table discussing the character known as Jinx. It wasn't the first time Cassandra had heard the name, Jayce had told the Council the troubling news the night of the attack, someone named Jinx and a group of her associates, the "Firelights", were the ones behind the theft of the new and improved version on the Hexgem Jayce had created, along with one of his journals.

 

"Hmmm. No, all the methods they use are primitive. I have seen no evidence to suggest they have any idea of how to construct the devices needed to make Hextech work. However, the way they started such a fire with hardly anything to burn is still a mystery, as well as how they managed to take the Hexgem so quickly. The guards returned to their stations relatively quickly all things considered."

 

"Yes, the fire was put out in record time thanks to my daughter," Cassandra added, deciding waiting any longer would do no good.

 

Jayce and his partner jumped at the sound of her voice, while Mel Medarda merely turned to face her, not a hair out of place.

 

She didn't particularly like Mel Medarda, after all, she had taken her most promising investment right out from under her, Jayce Talis. Though she didn't like the woman, she respected her, they were rather similar, the two of them. Only difference being Mel Medarda had something to prove. What it was, Cassandra had no idea, but it was rather obvious to any who bothered to look, she was desperate for success.

 

"Counselor Kiramman, what a surprise," Mel Medarda replied smoothly.

 

"M-mrs. Kiramman! What can I do for you?" Jayce stuttered taking a step forward.

 

She glanced between the three, "I was wondering about my daughter, has been spending her time with you lately."

 

"Ah, ummm- well..." Jayce stammered.

 

"As you can see Mrs. Kiramman, your daughter isn't here right now, and Jayce has been rather busy as of late, being a new Councilor and all."

 

She gave a tight smile, "Yes, but my daughter rarely spends so much time away from home without telling Mr. Talis first."

 

"Well, it seems this time is the exception."

 

"Actually-"

 

Mel Medarda turned and fixed Jayce with a look, but she was too late, Cassandra stepped around her and faced Jayce.

 

"Just where did my daughter go Jayce?"

 

"Well you see....," he looked between his partner and Mel Medarda for a way out, when he saw none he replied defeated, "Last I heard she had a prisoner released from Stillwater. I believe she went to the Undercity to investigate Jinx."

 

"The Undercity!" She replied taken aback, "And what do you mean she had a prisoner released!? You can't do that unless you have permission from a Council!"

 

He looked away guilty, as Mel Medarda and Viktor looked at him, surprised at his confession.

 

"You gave her your signature!? She left two days ago, you were only a Councilor for few hours by the time she was gone!"

 

He looked at her sheepishly, "I never thought she would go to the Undercity."

 

"Oh, good lord!" She replied exasperated, "She would go to the depths of hell if she thought I disapproved of it. How could you not know that by now?"

 

Mel Medarda let out a small chuckle and turned away when Cassandra went to fix her with a glare.

 

"If I may," Viktor said standing, looking much paler than the last time she had seen him, "From what I've seen, your daughter is perfectly capable of taking care of herself down there."

 

"Viktor.... While I appreciate the sentiment, I do believe she's in over her head this time. I mean, running an unauthorized investigation in the Undercity could have disastrous consequences, especially now, with everyone searching for this Jinx person."

 

"Mrs. Kiramman, while I know you're worried, Cait is perfectly capable of making decisions on this matter herself. After all, if it wasn't for her I wouldn't have known this Jinx was behind the fires. She was the one to discover it after all," Jayce tried to reason.

 

"I beg your pardon? You failed to mention my daughter was the one to make the discovery of this Jinx and her crimes. As a matter of fact, you stated it was Officer Marcus who told you told you of the assailants."

 

He sighed, "I-"

 

"Mrs. Kiramman how about we continue this later, perhaps over a cup of tea?" Mel Medarda said cutting him off.

 

"I think not. Jayce, you will tell me this instant what you have been up to because it is clear to me you haven't been entirely transparent."

 

Jayce once again looked between his two co-conspirators for assistance, and once again he found none.

 

"Alright, alright. Everyone sit down and we'll talk."

 

So they all pulled up chairs and discussed.

 

Jayce went over what exactly happened between Caitlyn and him, and it's safe to say she was more than taken aback by how far he had gone for her. Honestly, if Cassandra didn't know Caitlyn preferred women she would have to seriously consider this man as a possible candidate for her future son-in-law.

 

Mel Medarda and Viktor were both surprised at this news as well, Medarda kept her anger in check and most likely set it aside for another time, but Viktor didn't have the same self-control it seemed.

 

"Why would you risk your career, everything we have worked on, for a child! Without even discussing it with me first."

 

Cassandra would normally take offense to such comments about her daughter but she saw it as acceptable in this case, after all, Jayce wasn't just throwing his own career away, he would have taken down every single person in this room with him. It was stupid decisions like this that led to that most unfortunate accident all those years ago when he was first developing Hextech. It was the main reason Cassandra had cut him off the moment it happened, of course, the bad publicity wasn't something she was going to endure for him, but it was mostly the fact that he had withheld such important and life-altering information from her. If the man was incapable of communicating he would never make for a good business partner. That, however, was a risk Mel Medarda was willing to take.

 

"Viktor you have to understand, she's like my sister, I had to help her."

 

"Jayce. I must agree with Viktor on this, it was incredibly selfish to pull such a big move without even a word to us," Mel Medarda added coolly.

 

"You- I-," he sighed, "She needed me. I had to be there for her."

 

"Jayce," Cassandra interrupted, "If I may, the problem was not the action itself, but the lack of communication with the people who would also be affected by the consequences of it."

 

"I'm your partner Jayce, out of everyone in this room I would have understood and supported you," Viktor said, disappointed.

 

He hung his head in defeat, "I know. I'm sorry," he looked back up at Viktor, "do you forgive me?"

 

Viktor gave a huff, "Only if you swear to never do it again."

 

Jayce's eyes lit up, "I swear!"

 

"Uh-hum," Mel Medarda cleared her throat as she tapped her foot impatiently, awaiting her fair share of groveling.

 

"Mel... I'm truly, truly, sorry for not consulting you on this. Please. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?"

 

She stared at him for a long moment, "You owe me Jayce Talis."

 

"More than I can ever imagine," he replied with a smile.

 

Cassandra watched the interactions between the three and realized she had missed something else besides what had been happening with her daughter. While she had been busy focusing on her own endeavors, she had been completely cut out of the loop when it came to Hextech and Jayce Talis. That was something she would have to remedy.

 

"Pardon me, but I do believe it was my daughter you put in needless danger?"

 

"Ah, yes of course Mrs. Kiramman. I sin-"

 

She held up her hand to cut him off, "Please don't waste your time, it's not your apology I'm after."

 

"Then what exactly is it that you want?" Mel Medarda asked.

 

"I want in," she replied smoothly.

 

"In?" Viktor questioned.

 

"Yes, in. It seems I've been neglecting you Jayce, and because of that I seem to be very out of the loop with your recent escapades."

 

"Now wait just a moment-" Mel Medarda said.

 

"I will not be taking no for an answer, so talk. Should you even think to lie to me, I will report your little ongoing investigation you have going on in the Undercity."

 

"You'd be reporting your own daughter," Mel countered.

 

"My daughter will get off with a slap on the wrist, it's Jayce that will bare the brunt of this scandal. Besides the worst case scenario for Caitlyn here is she loses her job, and that's something I've been trying to accomplish ever since she was admitted into the academy. If anything I have a lot to be gain from telling the Council.

 

All three of them glanced at each other, "What do you want to know?"

 

 

---

 

 

The four of them discuss everything that happened over the last few days for hours.

 

Mel and Jayce revealed they were in a relationship of sorts, much to Cassandra's and Viktor's surprise. Cassandra suspected Mel was using this to control Jayce, which she found rather underhanded, but not unbelievable.

 

Viktor announced that his illness had taken a rather unfortunate turn and that he and Jayce were working on a cure using Hextech.

 

"Is such a thing possible?" Cassandra asked.

 

Viktor stood and walked his way over to a dying plant, "Watch," he activated an odd-looking version of Hextech, and the dying plant came back to life, bursting with life, "It responds to organic matter."

 

"This is incredible," Mel said in awe, who was also apparently unaware of this little discovery, "Do you know how many lives we can save with this!"

 

"Now just a moment," Cassandra replied, "what exactly is the catch?"

 

As if answering her question the plant withered and died in a matter of seconds.

 

"They're rejecting the transmutation," Viktor said as he made his way back and sat down, Jayce giving him a reassuring look as he did so, "All the experiments have died. I am unsure as to why."

 

Cassandra thought for a moment, "Will you be able to complete this experiment in time for..."

 

"No," Jayce answered for him, "If we go about this as we usually do we won't be able to save Viktor."

 

A solemn silence filled the room.

 

"If you would allow me, I would like to pay for any treatments you will need. I also know some doctors who could provide some insight on your condition which may be of some help with this," Cassandra said gesturing at the dead plant and odd Hexgem.

 

"That's very kind, but I already have someone I would like to consult with," Viktor said.

 

"Who is he, I'm sure we can work something out."

 

"Well, he's from the Undercity," He said, his tone of voice clearly showing that he assumed that would be enough to scare Cassandra away.

 

He was wrong.

 

"Well seeing as how there are blockades being set up-"

 

"A blockade?" He asked confused.

 

Cassandra lifted a brow, "Yes because of recent events Jayce here ordered a blockade on all bridges leading to the Undercity," Cassandra replied, "Were you not made aware?

 

Jayce looked away guilty.

 

"No. I was not," He said glaring at Jayce.

 

She and Mel shared a look as Jayce began to fumble for an explanation.

 

"They were getting out of control! We had to do something."

 

"Jayce," He pinched his brow, "I know you believe this will help, but it will only make things worse."

 

"If I may," Cassandra interjected, "I would like to know why you are so against the idea."

 

Viktor looked over at her and shook his head with exasperation, "All of you have never even set foot on the other side of those bridges, I am from there. The Undercity was my home. You do not know the atrocities we faced, and to now be denied the simple right of crossing the bridge without being treated like a criminal, it's like spitting in their face after already robbing them blind. It may very well be the last straw for some," He explained calmly, but you could feel the frustration in his voice.

 

"This was the only option we had," Mel tried to explain.

 

He sent her a look full of disdain, "There is always another choice."

 

Silence filled the room for a moment.

 

"We shall take the barricades away," Cassandra stated.

 

"I beg your pardon!" Mel yelled.

 

"Mrs. Kiramman, while I appreciate-" Jayce started.

 

Cassandra held up a hand to halt all further conversation, "I do not want a revolt on our hands when they still have the Hexgem."

 

"Then what do you suggest we do? This was our way of trying to find the gem in the first place," Mel asked arms crossed.

 

She shrugged, "I'm not sure. But preferably it would be something that wouldn't start a civil war. Perhaps Viktor here could be of help," she said gesturing at him, "He is from there, and we need to handle this situation with care as to not let the entire thing blow up in our faces."

 

"I don't think-" Mel began before Jayce interrupted her.

 

"I agree," He looked over at Viktor, "We need a solution that doesn't hurt people."

 

Viktor took a breath, "In that case, I would be happy to provide some insight on the matter."

 

Mel pursed her lips and sat quietly, accepting the fact she had been overruled with some bitterness clear in her expression.

 

Cassandra smiled, "Of course that will only happen after you are better, until then you are to stay here and focus on yourself. Also, it would be best for me to send a messenger instead of you or I going down ourselves to meet that friend of yours. Simply write the letter and I'll have someone come by and deliver it. You'll have to provide an address of course."

 

"He doesn't exactly have one."

 

"Just who is this man?" Jayce questioned.

 

"He's an old friend who has some insight into these types of situations."

 

"Well, then I'll make sure our delivery boy is one more... Well-versed in dealing with the unordinary."

 

"Mrs. Kiramman, I think it would be easier for me to go-"

 

"You are sick. I will hear nothing of you going anywhere."

 

"Yes I have to agree, so please don't worry about anything that's happening with the council, me and Mrs. Kiramman will handle it all. You two focus on yourselves," Mel added.

 

Cassandra nodded in agreement with the proposal Mel put forth.

 

"We couldn't possibly-" Viktor started.

 

Cassandra stood cutting him off, "I won't take no for an answer, and I'm sure Miss. Medarda will agree."

 

Mel nodded as she also stood, "Leave everything else to us. Focus on this."

 

With that, both Mel and Cassandra left the lab.

 

 

---

 

 

"That was rather shocking," Cassandra commented as they walked.

 

"Yes, though I did notice you were the one person in there who didn't share what she had been up to these last few days," Mel said suspicion clear as day in her voice.

 

Cassandra gave a small smile, "Observant as ever dear," she inhaled and sighed, "I've decided to take a look at what's been happening beyond our borders after Jayce led that little investigation on the other councilors and their use of the Hexgates. He made quite a mess with that."

 

"Yes, I am aware."

 

Cassandra chuckled, "No dear you're not. See, while you have been so focused on what's happening within these walls I have made sure to manage our relationships outside them. There have been whispers of unrest, and I fear your golden boy brought some unnecessary attention to us by withholding shipments."

 

One of Mel's perfectly groomed brows raised, "What are you trying to say?"

 

Cassandra turned to face her, "When you first arrived here everyone was less than welcoming."

 

"Yes, I remember," she replied bitterly.

 

"What you don't know is why. Everyone isn't exactly fond of strangers here, that is true, but we were all more worried that your mother would follow you to our city."

 

Mel's face became icy at the mention of her mother, "Just what are you getting at."

 

"It seems your mother has been having troubles of her own, and she intends to come and make it your problem."

 

Mel's face paled, "She's coming here."

 

Cassandra nodded, "That's the word that's been traveling around."

 

Quite honestly, Cassandra had no intention of sharing this information with Mel, but seeing as how Mel and the others had just spilled their guts to her it only seemed fair to spill a secret or two of her own. Besides keeping that woman out of the city right now seemed for the best.

 

"Apparently your brother has passed, that is her excuse for the sudden need to visit you."

 

Mel blinked at the news in disbelief, "Dead?"

 

Cassandra nodded solemnly, "My condolences."

 

Mel nodded in response.

 

"Dear, I now fear your mother may be a bigger problem than I anticipated, especially with all that's going on. May I suggest denying her entry?"

 

"How? Doing so without reason will never pass as acceptable."

 

"The Hexgates dear, Jayce controls them. Simply say you fear the situation with the Undercity is becoming out of hand and we cannot accept visitors right now. Jayce has already ordered a blockade on every bridge in the city that connects to the Undercity, it would not seem too far-fetched, besides with a little persuasion from the two of us the rest of the council will easily agree."

 

"You would help me keep my mother out of the city?" She questioned skeptically.

 

"Yes. As I said, I fear your mother will present a far bigger problem than I originally thought."

 

She thought for a moment, "Alright, I'll go along with this."

 

Mel seemed rather reluctant agreeing to have Cassandra help, but as she already knew, she had little choice in the matter.

 

Notes:

Just to clear up any confusion, this is set before the last chapter. This explains how the doctor found out about the Hexgem and what it could do without having to leave the lab, the messenger had already delivered the letter by the time Jinx got back.

Chapter 19: I Know Your Gone, But I'll Still Try

Vi woke up with a splitting headache, and a bag over her head.

 

She was chained to something so she couldn't move much. Vi wondered for a second if these were more of Silco's goons that had kidnapped her but she dismissed the thought almost immediately, if it was actually them she would have been dead already. She sighed as she thumped her head lightly against whatever she was chained to, waiting for something to happen.

 

Powder.

 

She was so big now, not bigger than Vi, but she was a full-grown adult now, and it was freaky. So much about her sister had changed, for starters she looked skinnier than she was when they were kids, and that was saying something. Even when they lived with their mom and dad and were dirt poor they always had enough food to get by, but man oh man where they skinny little twerps when they were little, but Powder looked like she didn't eat at all now. Her clothes hung off her like they were too big for her little frame, and her cute chubby cheeks she had as a little kid were long gone, replaced with sharp cheekbones that showed because of malnutrition, something Vi saw far too often down here.

 

Powder's eyes were a completely different color now, a shimmering pink as opposed to the grayish blue Vi remembered. And Janna how empty they looked, Vi couldn't remember a single time she saw her sister look so cold and emotionless. It sent shivers down her spine. If Vi had to guess, Powder had gotten herself addicted to shimmer, which would explain her eyes and the new super speed she now had. Part of Vi was grateful she had it, it made Powder strong, but the rest of her couldn't stomach the thought of her sister being hooked on drugs.

 

Vi had seen people who were addicts, hell she lived with them for a time, and their lives were complete shit. If Powder was an addict it was most likely Silco who got her hooked, seeing how he controlled the supply and all, he probably got her addicted and then forced her to kill for him to pay off her never-ending debt.

 

Vi still couldn't comprehend the fact that her sister was a hitman now, not to mention the way she looked when she came back from fighting and killing all of those shimmer addicts. The way the pink-tinted blood clung to every inch of her, or the way her broken arm hung limply at her side as she looked like she was ready to pass out. Vi should have run over and helped her, but she was just so shocked her sister had actually killed all those people.

 

It still felt like it was only yesterday Powder would have to run from fights because she couldn't last and Vi would have to save her. Now if Powder wanted to she could kill Vi in a millisecond, or anyone for that matter. Babette was right, Jinx wasn't someone she wanted to mess with.

 

It's funny though, when Babette had described Powder she would have never in a million years guessed it was her, but now all of it made sense, even the song the mystery killer sings. It was Powder's lullaby that their mother used to sing to her, she heard the start of it when she was being dragged away.

 

Honestly, Powder's hair was the only thing that didn't radically change. It was still the same old electric blue, a little duller and a little longer, but still the same.

 

The sound of a door opening cut off Vi's thoughts. The sound of footsteps approached her as a pair of hands roughly grabbed her.

 

"Hey, stop! Get your hands off of me!" Vi tried to fight the guy off but he was too strong, "let me go!"

 

The guy had dragged her into a new room and had locked her up once again. He then reached over and pulled off the hood that was over her head. The guy that had dragged her here was big and lean, he had bat-like features and he didn't exactly seem happy to see Vi. The guy let out a growl before turning and tapping another guy who was sitting all comfy and cross-legged on a chair, the guy in the chair gave the bat guy a nod and the bat guy left with a shrug.

 

Vi turned her attention to the guy in the chair, he wore a mask unlike the other guy, and he seemed cocky. Probably the ringleader. If Vi took him down, the rest would be easy, so she started working on the handcuff lock as she talked hoping to distract him long enough.

 

"You shy? Or just ugly?"

 

The guy stood, and walked over, taking off his mask and hood.

 

Vi's eyes widened.

 

"You look good for a dead girl."

 

"Ekko?"

 

It was him clear as day. Same white hair, same face. However he also grew up, he was tall now maybe the same height as her, his hair was longer and Vi could tell, even through his big baggy jacket, that he was buff now. He looked so much older but with his face painted with a white hourglass he still reminded her of when he was a kid and he would play war games with Powder.

 

"You have to look cool before you kick someone's ass, otherwise it's no fun."

 

That was something Powder would always say, seems Little Man took it to heart.

 

"What do you know about this?"

 

He pulled over some sort of contraption he had attached to a sling, he twisted the top and the thing opened up revealing that weird blue gem Powder had stolen and Caitlyn had wanted back.

 

"Nothing. What the hell is this all about?"

 

He let out a small breath, "What were you doing with Jinx?"

 

Alright, this was starting to piss her the fuck off.

 

"Her name is Powder!" Vi said standing, "And I just found her again when you and your goons showed up," Vi said before taking a breath, getting angry wouldn't do her any good, "It's me. Vi. The same person who used to take you down to the junk heap and hose you down when you got covered in grease."

 

Vi pulled against her restates as Ekko just stood there with a grim expression.

 

"That was a long time ago," he looked over at her, "People change."

 

"Yeah. I'm getting that," she replied bitterly.

 

"Are you working for Silco?"

 

Vi blinked in surprise at the question before scoffing, "Fuck. You."

 

"I-I thought you were dead!" He stammered, "Now you show up with a Piltie and give her a tour of the Lanes?"

 

"You were following us? Why didn't you say something?" She asked angrily.

 

"I didn't know if I could trust you."

 

"So... so you just come out swinging?"

 

"Gee, I wonder who I learned that from?"

 

Ok that's it, no chance in hell is she staying in these cuffs any longer.

 

"Yea, well, you shoulda' learned more. You still punch like a little boy."

 

"And you still block with your face," he said angrily getting up in her face.

 

Vi smiled as she felt the lock beginning to give on her cuffs, "I remember when you wouldn't stand up to me."

 

The lock on the cuffs finally gave way, and Vi grabbed Little Man and pulled him in for a hug.

 

"I missed you, Little Man," she whispered, defiantly not tearing up.

 

"How long have you had those off?" He asked voice wavering.

 

"How long have you been whining?" She retorted pulling him in closer.

 

He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. Both of them stood there in each other's embrace for a long time. Not sharing a word, not needing to.

 

Ekko pulled away first, "Come on. There's something I want to show you."

 

He walked out the door and Vi followed.

 

When she stepped out Vi saw something that she couldn't comprehend. There was a tree, a giant tree growing in the middle of Ekko's new home, and sunlight! She could actually see real sunlight down in the Undercity!

 

There were children and adults of all kinds laughing and having fun, or simply relaxing and bathing in the light of the sun for the day. The walls were covered in paintings and drawings similar to the ones that were on the back of Ekko's jacket.

 

The entire place was breathtaking.

 

"Is that a real tree?" Vi asked still in awe.

 

"Pretty cool, huh? When I first saw it, I knew this was the place. If a single seed could make it down here, so could we."

 

"You built all this?" Vi asked pride and amazement clear in her voice.

 

Who knew Little Man would come so far.

 

"Not alone. After Vander..." A wave of sadness washed over them both at the mere mention of him, "...died, Silco flooded the lanes with Shimmer. He didn't care what it did to people. Everyone here was an addict or a victim."

 

Vi looked down at a group of kids playing and talking, they sat by the guy who dragged Vi around earlier only now he was holding a baby. The kids looked up at them and smiled, the bat guy just looked at her with a scowl.

 

Vi looked away ashamed, "I should have been there. For you. For everyone."

 

"That's a good way to drive yourself crazy."

 

Vi stared down at a firelight that flew down and landed in front of her as Ekko kept talking.

 

"If I just went with you that day, maybe none of this would have happened."

 

Vi turned away, "Or maybe you'd be dead. Or.... Changed."

 

Like Powder.

 

Vi didn't say it out loud, but she didn't need to. Ekko knew who she meant.

 

"Powder's gone, Vi. All that's left is Jinx and she belongs to Silco."

 

How could he say that! Powder was his best friend, how could he have possibly given up on her.

 

"You're wrong. She's still in there. I can reach her."

 

"You can't," he said voice filled with such pain and remorse it almost made Vi question herself.

 

"I know my sister."

 

Who Vi was trying to convince, she didn't know.

 

"I got one more thing to show you."

 

They made their way down and Ekko led her to a wall that had more colors than anywhere else. On the wall were dozens of drawings of people, handprints, or just pined up photos. At the base there were candles, picture frames, toys, and other trinkets. Vi didn't have to ask to know what it was. This wall was filled with pictures and people of the past, people who were dead. And smack dab in the center of it all was Vi and her family.

 

Powder, Milo, Claggor, Vander, and Benzo.

 

They all sat there exactly how Vi remembered them all. The world Vi thought she knew, the one she thought she was coming back to, immortalized in paint. The only thing left of them all.

 

"This is everyone we've lost," he said as Vi just stared and stared, "The price of our freedom. Some of it was enforcers. Most was Silco."

 

Vi clenched her jaw readying herself for what she knew was coming next.

 

"Your sister works for him, not because she has to, but because she wants to. I'm sorry but that's who she is now."

 

She took a deep breath and looked up at the painting of Powder. It didn't make sense, if she really was willingly working for Silco she wouldn't have attacked him.

 

"No. You're wrong."

 

He sighed, "Vi-"

 

"Ekko, you didn't see her. If she was working for Silco why did she attack him down at the old house? If she was doing all of this by choice why does she look so fucking miserable!"

 

"How should I know Vi? All I know is that she has killed more of my people than any enforcer. She hunts us down Vi, and she's never shown any signs of wanting to stop, and trust me," he said cutting her off before she could protest, "She could if she wanted to."

 

Vi scowled, "Yeah about that, what the hell happened to her? Why are her eyes pink and how the hell is she so fast?"

 

He shook his head, "No clue. The first time I saw her was two years after the accident. I thought she was dead, but she was definitely still alive, pink eyes and all."

 

Vi thought for a moment, "Does she take Shimmer?"

 

He looked over at her, "Vi, I really don't know, and if she is taking, it's a very different version than what's sold on the streets. But like I said, we don't see each other often, even when we're fighting, she's in and out. Only thing I hear from her is her song."

 

"The lullaby?"

 

He nodded, "Yeah. Her calling card or something," he replied bitterly.

 

"There's got to be an explanation," Vi said racking her brain.

 

"Well if there is, Jinx isn't telling. Look, Vi, you got more things to explain than just your sister, like who the hell is the Topsider you brought down here?"

 

Vi sighed, "She's a friend," he gave her a look, "She broke me out of Stillwater-"

 

His eyes widened in surprise, "You got arrested!"

 

"Yes. Some enforcer grabbed me and the next thing I knew I was in a cell for seven years. Caitlyn, she got me out and helped me when I got stabbed by Sevika."

 

"You went after Sevika!? Do you have a death wish?"

 

"No. I just wasn't aware she had a fancy new arm otherwise I would have won."

 

He laughed, "Sure."

 

She glared at him, "Speaking of Caitlyn, what'd you do with her?"

 

"We let Jinx and her go. We were only after you, but one of my guys did score that gem thing from her. Seriously, what is it?"

 

"Honestly I don't know. Powder had it, and Caitlyn wanted it. If you want to know more then you have to help me find her."

 

"You're joking?"

 

"No."

 

"The only way you're going to find anything out about that thing is Caitlyn, and I need to find Powder, so I suggest we work together."

 

"And why would I do that?"

 

"Because whether you like it or not, you need my help. Topside is probably going crazy looking for that thing and Powder won't let you anywhere near Caitlyn unless I'm with you."

 

"You actually think she's still with the enforcer?"

 

"Yes, and from what I've seen Powder won't let you get a word in edgewise before she goes for your head."

 

He stood there looking at her unhappily, "I can handle her."

 

"Is that why she's still around? Because from the looks of it, Powder has been running circles around you for years."

 

He glared at her.

 

She glared back.

 

"Fine," he spat, "We'll help you find your enforcer girlfriend."

 

Notes:

Once again, to clear up any confusion about the timeline, this is Vi's pov of what's been going on the past day. Next chapter we get back to Jinx :)

Chapter 20: Always Someone. Never Me.

Notes:

Just so you guys know the voices in Jinx's head will have a specific look to each of them from now on.

Mylo - Bold and Italic

Powder - Italic

Claggor - Bold

Buckle up, were in for a long one :)

He knew.

 

He knew how to save Vander the whole time and he just let him lay there asleep for years. All this time and she never questioned it.

 

Of course, Vander would be in a coma, he nearly died after all. Of course, he wouldn't wake up after treatment, he nearly died after all. Of course, he didn't wake up after years of care and medication, he nearly died after all.

 

Jinx had waved away all suspicion and chalked it all up to Vander's poor health and her abysmal luck. Never once did she think the doctor would stoop so low. Not when it came to Vander.

 

He screwed Jinx over plenty. Hell, she nearly died every single day because of him, but Vander was different. She had made a deal and stupidly she just expected him to honor it, despite him not having an honorable bone in his body. He had no obligation to actually help Vander, if he really wanted to he could just leave him asleep after he fixed his daughter. He would run off and get his happy ending leaving Vander and her for dead.

 

Jinx clutched Vander's hand in her freshly repaired one, she couldn't let that happen. She had to find some way to make sure the doctor wouldn't betray her.

 

The Hexgem.

 

He couldn't do anything without it.

 

Jinx began searching her multitude of pockets for the damn thing and let out a frustrated growl when she came up with nothing.

 

"She lost it! She lost it! She actually lost it," Mylo cackled.

 

"Go to hell," she snapped back as she began racking her brain to try and remember where she left it.

 

It was in her pocket when she was looking for Vi, and it was still there when she found her. Actually, Jinx hadn't touched the thing until she was up on that tower and the Flyin' idiots attacked her.

 

Jinx pulled it out, and then she heard the hoverboards, after that she....

 

She dropped it.

 

She fucking dropped the thing that could power a nuke!

 

"Shame the building didn't explode this time, it would have been really funny if you killed Vi right after finding her," He snickered.

 

That's right, the thing didn't explode. It just rolled around on the floor.

 

Jinx shut her eyes and reimagined the fight. She was cutting up some guy Caitlyn shot down, and then there was someone running and Vi shouted something so Jinx turned to look, but it was just Caitlyn, who was now on the floor, hand extended and grasping something tightly.

 

Jinx's eyes flew open, that was it. Caitlyn had the gem! She grabbed it during the fight.

 

"She won't give it to you," Mylo sneered, "not that it matters. You're not leaving this place for a long time, the doctor won't be sending you out anytime soon after you got totally crushed by a couple of nobodies."

 

Jinx huffed, she wanted to tell him off but he was right. The doctor had no reason to send her out right now.

 

"Jinx."

 

She nearly jumped out of her skin when the doctor spoke, she quickly ran over to Vander gave him a kiss on the cheek, and whispered a promise to return and an apology before walking out to see the doctor.

 

"I need you to go Topside and deliver this note for me," he said extending a piece of paper towards her.

 

"Topside?" She asked grabbing the paper and dropping it into a pocket.

 

"Yes. I was surprised, but it seems my old pupil now resides there. He sent me a rather intriguing letter about the Hexgem I mentioned to you."

 

"How do you expect me to get this to them?" Jinx asked, taking no interest in the doctor's new pen pal.

 

"Just hand the note over to the Chief of Police and tell him to give it to Viktor, he'll know what to do with it. If there are any issues, talk to Silco, he'll straighten him out."

 

".....You haven't been speaking to Silco lately," Jinx said.

 

"Is that a question or a statement?"

 

"Both."

 

He looked over at her, "No I have not. In all honesty, we haven't truly spoken in years. He sends his things through messengers or you, I have no need to speak with him."

 

"Don't you want to know what's going on down here?" Jinx questioned.

 

"No. I have no need for all the drama that people bring."

 

It was almost too perfect, the way things were working out. If the doctor never speaks to Silco, he'll never find out about what she's been up to, and now she has an excuse to go see Caitlyn. If she was crazy she might even say she was lucky.

 

"Besides, we both know you're the most reliable source of information. Well, you are now."

 

Jinx felt her skin crawl at the implication of his sentence.

 

"I need more knives," Jinx said, with every intention of taking more than just knives.

 

"Take what you will. Just hurry back this time, I have some more tests I need to run."

 

Jinx didn't respond, she just turned and got ready for her trip.

 

---

 

Jinx was walking her way out of the lab and towards Caitlyn when she caught sight of Caitlyn holding up her gun and pointing it at her.

 

"Put that thing away," Jinx growled.

 

"Jinx?" She asked.

 

"Who else," Jinx said walking out fully into view.

 

The shock was clear on her face when she finally got a good look at Jinx.

 

"You're.... better!"

 

"Of course I'm better, I told you I'd be fine."

 

Jinx could understand why seeing her completely healed would be odd. Jinx was so used to being completely battered and then just not that it hadn't occurred to her that this would be odd to Caitlyn. Jinx had also grabbed some new clothes that weren't covered in so much blood as to avoid attention, then again everything Jinx owned was covered in blood at this point, whether it was her own or somebody else's, so it wasn't as if this was all that inconspicuous. Thank Janna she only wore black.

 

"I heard screaming," Caitlyn said as Jinx made her way over.

 

Jinx's stomach twisted at the reminder of the injections, "Yeah well, having a broken arm isn't fun."

 

"How did you heal it so quickly?" Caitlyn asked baffled.

 

Jinx gritted her teeth, Caitlyn was asking too many questions about the operation, it was starting to remind her of the doctor and his interrogations after his tests.

 

"Doesn't matter," Caitlyn opened her mouth to reply but Jinx cut her off, "Where's the crystal."

 

Caitlyn blinked baffled, "What crystal?"

 

"See, she won't give you the stone. She's gonna keep it and give it back to the Topsiders. Making everything you've done these past few days meaningless," Mylo snickered.

 

"Don't play dumb," Jinx snapped, "I know you grabbed it during the fight."

 

"You mean the Hexgem? Those people got it when they attacked us and took Vi."

 

"The Boy Savior got it!?"

 

"Yes?"

 

Jinx let out a growl of frustration and ran her hand through her hair. If The Boy Savior got the gem then technically it was safe all things considered, Jinx doubted he would hand the thing over if he found out both Jinx and the Topsiders wanted it.

 

"Oh don't be so sure. If he knows you want it he would probably go hand it back to the Pilties personally," Mylo said grinning at the thought.

 

"He wouldn't," Jinx snapped.

 

"Jinx?"

 

That wasn't how The Boy Savior worked. He had a bone to pick with the whole world not just her.

 

"Wrong again. He still has people he likes, and people that like him. Normal people call them friends."

 

"Shut up, I'm thinking." She spat.

 

The biggest problem she had to worry about was The Boy Savior figuring out what the stone was and using it to fight his battles down here. Jinx wasn't sure if she could fight the blue gem and all the awful memories it brought with it.

 

"Got to get it back...." She mumbled.

 

"Why do you want the Hexgem so badly?"

 

Jinx's eyes snapped to Caitlyn, she had forgotten she was here, "I've answered that already."

 

"Yes, but you seem so concerned about it. I don't understand why you're scared of the Hexgem and what people are going to do with it. Do you even know what it does?"

 

Mylo howled with laughter, "She doesn't think you know what that gem does! Go on tell her, tell you know EXACTLY what that thing is capable of."

 

Jinx stared into Caitlyn's eyes.

 

It had only been about a day since she met her but she was the only person in seven years who looked at her like she was a human being. If she knew....

 

"She'd hate you." Mylo hissed.

 

"She'd forgive you," Powder whispered, "just like Vi did."

 

Jinx shook her head and brushed her way past Caitlyn, "Let's go. I don't have a lot of time."

 

---

 

 

"So how are we going to find these people? You said no one knows where they are?" Caitlyn asked as she followed behind Jinx.

 

"That's the best part about the Glow-in-the-dark losers, most of them are just junkies pretending to be normal again. The only problem with junkies is, they never know when to quit."

 

Jinx had stolen something from the doctor to help with finding Vi and, luckily for her, the stone as well.

 

"Why do you call them junkies?"

 

"Because practically all of The Boy Saviors people were once addicted to Shimmer."

 

"Really?" She asked shocked, "Do they still take it?"

 

"Depends who you're asking, The Boy Savior swears up and down that all of them are clean."

 

"Well, I'm asking you."

 

Jinx paused and looked back at Caitlyn, who genuinely seemed interested in her opinion.

 

What an odd person.

 

"Once an addict, always an addict," Jinx replied plainly.

 

"You don't think people can change?"

 

Jinx shrugged as she kept moving through the crowd, "That guy with the glasses didn't, and every single person I've ever met has just been the same old story sung in a different key. People are all the same."

 

Caitlyn went quiet.

 

"She hates you now."

 

Jinx shot Mylo a glare.

 

"I used to think the same thing about the criminals in Stillwater, then I met your sister. Not everyone is the same."

 

"Aww look at that, the enforcer is in love with a criminal."

 

"Please," Jinx scoffed, "the only reason you want my sister around is because she agreed to help you catch Silco."

 

"Well, yes, but after a while, I realized she's not all bad," she retorted sounding slightly offended.

 

"Yeah right. You liked Vi more after she got herself stabbed and nearly died?"

 

"As a matter of fact, I did! Unlike you, your sister has a good heart underneath her rough exterior."

 

Jinx flinched at her words.

 

"She's right. There's no good version of you," Claggor muttered.

 

"Are you actually hurt by what she said? Why would you get your hopes up? She's here for Vi. Not you."

 

"Hey. Jinx, I don't mean that. I-"

 

"Shut up. I know exactly what you meant." Jinx sneered.

 

"Ji-"

 

"It's like I said," Jinx spat, "People are all the same. Especially enforcers."

 

---

 

Jinx and Caitlyn had continued their walk down the street in bitter silence. Until Jinx discreetly snagged a passerby's coins in one swift movement, the only person who noticed was Caitlyn.

 

"What are you doing?!" She scream-whispered.

 

Jinx didn't respond, she just slid the coins into her pocket and walked her way to the marketplace where all the stands were set up.

 

Jinx had a plan to get the location of The Boy Saviors hideout, she would simply find one of the guys she was sent out to kill earlier and offer them a deal. Tell her where Vi and the stone were or die. However, to do that she would have to find one of them. She'd had no luck finding them herself over the last few days and she doubted Sevika would be getting back to her with those locations anytime soon, so she'd have to go to the only other source of information she trusted.

 

Jinx and Caitlyn walked up to the fish guy's stand.

 

"Oh sweet lord not again," Caitlyn murmured as they approached.

 

Jinx sent her an odd look as she took her seat.

 

"YOUR BACK!" He blubbered out happily.

 

"What can I say, you're just too good to give up," Jinx said as she slid over the coins she stole.

 

"IT SEEMS YOU AND VI MADE UP! GOOD FOR YOU POWDER!" He said as he turned around to make the food.

 

Powder.

 

He knows.

 

Jinx's hand slid into her pocket and grasped a knife, "I never told you my name, and I never said a word about Vi."

 

He turned and looked at her from over his shoulder, "OF COURSE YOU DIDN'T, BUT I SUSPECTED IT WAS YOU THE SECOND I SAW THAT BLUE HAIR OF YOURS!" Jinx instinctively reached up and pulled her hood down further over her face, "AND YOU ONLY CONFIRMED MY SUSPICIONS BY WALKING IN HERE WITH VI'S FRIEND," He said with a chuckle.

 

Jinx looked over at Caitlyn, "You and Vi came here?"

 

Caitlyn huffed, "Yes, apparently it's the only place you can get any information around here," she said rather unhappily.

 

"YOU GOT THAT RIGHT!" He said slamming down two bowls of food in front of them.

 

Jinx sighed frustrated.

 

"ARE YOU UPSET I FIGURED YOU OUT? BECAUSE IF ANYONE SHOULD BE MAD HERE IT'S ME. HOW COULD YOU NOT TELL ME IT WAS YOU? OR NOT COME AROUND SOONER?"

 

"No, I'm not mad at you. I just can't believe my sister would be stupid enough to show her face around the busiest stand in the Undercity. And just so you know it's Jinx now."

 

"OH, SO THAT'S YOU?"

 

Her head snapped up, "What do you mean?"

 

"NOPE, SORRY. I LET YOU OFF THE HOOK LAST TIME. THIS TIME I'M NOT TALKING 'TILL I SEE CLEAN PLATES."

 

Jinx leaned back in her seat, so he was going to play hardball, huh? Jinx looked down at her bowl of food, the sight of it was enough to make her queasy.

 

Jinx slid her bowl over to Caitlyn, "Eat up."

 

"What!? Absolutely not!"

 

"COME ON JINX. YOUR STARTING TO HURT MY FEELINGS."

 

She looked over at him, "Sorry, but I'm...," She paused trying to find a good way of saying she was technically starving herself, "on a diet. Besides you said clean plates, never specified who had to clean 'em."

 

He let out a hearty chuckle, "STILL A CLEVER LITTLE DEVIL, HUH? ALRIGHT, AS LONG AS BOTH PLATES ARE EMPTY I'LL TELL YA' WHATEVER YOU WANT TO KNOW."

 

Jinx gave him a nod as he turned and went back to work.

 

"Jinx. I am not eating this," Caitlyn said plainly.

 

Jinx raised a brow at her, "You've already been here with Vi, so what's the problem?"

 

"For your information, I didn't eat any of this slop when I was with her either."

 

Jinx rolled her eyes, "And for your information, this slop is some of the best food the Undercity has to offer."

 

"Then you eat it!"

 

"Ha! No can do."

 

"Why not?"

 

"Like I said, I'm on a diet."

 

Caitlyn gave her a look.

 

"Besides you're the one who wants the info," Jinx quickly added, avoiding the topic.

 

"I want to find Vi."

 

"Exactly. So eat up."

 

She looked down at the bowls of food and scrunched up her nose in disgust.

 

"Come on," Jinx said rolling her eyes, "Weren't you the one who was just preaching about being open-minded?"

 

"That is not even close to being the same thing!"

 

"Fine. If you eat it, I'll answer one of your dumb questions," Jinx snapped growing impatient.

 

She considered it for a moment, "I'm eating two bowls." She replied pointedly.

 

Jinx scoffed, "Are you trying to haggle me right now?"

 

Caitlyn shrugged.

 

"Eat and I'll consider forgiving you for your stupid comment earlier," Jinx snapped back.

 

Caitlyn crossed her arms, "Two questions and you forgive me."

 

The fish guy let out a bark of laughter, clearing his throat immediately afterward in an attempt to cover it up.

 

"Just who do you think you're talking to?" Jinx growled.

 

Caitlyn didn't respond, she just sat there arms crossed.

 

Jinx scowled, "One question, I forgive you, and I tell you all about the stuffed bunny Vi used to have."

 

Better to throw Vi under the bus than let this enforcer make her look like a chump, and Vi brought this on herself, bringing this girl down here.

 

Caitlyn stuck out her hand for Jinx to shake a little too enthusiastically after hearing Jinx's new offer, "Deal."

 

Jinx gave her hand a light flick, "Not a fan of handshakes, remember?"

 

"Oh," she said embarrassed as she retracted her hand, "I forgot, sorry."

 

Jinx waved her hand in the air in dismissal, "Just hurry up and eat."

 

Caitlyn turned to face her food like a woman about to go to war. She grabbed a tentacle and held it up, a flicker of disgust crossing her face as it dripped grease into the bowl.

 

A small smile tugged at Jinx's lips as she watched.

 

Caitlyn took a deep breath and popped the tentacle in her mouth. Her face twisted in disgust as she tried her best to not spit the thing out. Her face twisted into more and more ridiculous expressions as she chewed, eliciting small snorts and chuckles from Jinx.

 

Caitlyn finally swallowed and sent a glare full of hatred directly at her. Jinx burst out laughing as soon as their eyes met.

 

"This is not funny, that was an absolutely horrid experience."

 

That just made Jinx laugh more, in fact, Jinx kept laughing until her stomach hurt, Caitlyn joining in at some point.

 

"You know," Caitlyn said as they both calmed down, "this is the first time I've seen you laugh, or smile for that matter."

 

Jinx turned away in an attempt to hide her face in embarrassment.

 

Caitlyn leaned over to get a better look at Jinx, "It looks good on you."

 

Jinx chuckled awkwardly and looked back at her, "Yeah right. I probably look like a psychopath," she said trying to dismiss her.

 

Jinx hadn't laughed, really laughed, in a long time, but there were the occasional times when she found her miserable situation so completely fucked it was practically funny, so she laughed. She had been told more than once she both sounded and looked crazy, so this shouldn't have been any different.

 

Caitlyn gave her a concerned look, "Did someone tell you that's what you sound like when you laugh?"

 

Jinx shrugged.

 

Caitlyn sighed, "You know, there's this guy I know, Jayce, he's like my brother, but when I was younger he always teased me about my laugh. Said I sounded like a strangled mongoose! Well, he never met any harm by it, but it still hurt my feelings. I spent hours practicing how to laugh because of one stupid little comment. The point is, sometimes people don't mean what they say-"

 

Jinx doubted that was the case with the people who told her she sounded like a maniac, seems a little odd to use your dying breath on such a worthless lie.

 

"-and even if they are telling the truth you can't let them get you down."

 

"Please, even if your laugh did sound remotely normal, what right do you have to be sitting here laughing anyway? Do you know how many lives you've ended with your bare hands?" Mylo hissed into her ear.

 

".....You should have just kicked his ass," Jinx said as she shoved a piece of food into her mouth, her smile long gone.

 

Caitlyn blinked taken aback, "What?"

 

"The guy," Jinx said as she chewed, "you should have kicked his ass."

 

"Oh! he really didn't mean anything by it, besides, it's like I said, he's like my brother."

 

Like that was any reason to not do it, if anything it just reinforced the idea for Jinx. What she would give to kick Mylo's ass.

 

"The feelings mutual," He sneered.

 

Jinx shrugged, "I'm just saying," she said, grabbing another piece of food out of one of the bowls, "Now hurry up toots," she popped it into her mouth and swallowed, "I ain't got all day."

 

---

 

 

Caitlyn finished the rest of the food with surprising speed, if she really wanted to she could've given Vi a run for her money when it came to practically swallowing her food like a snake. Though, Jinx felt Caitlyn was only doing that to avoid having the food in her mouth for too long.

 

Caitlyn let out a loud groan as she planted her head in the palm of her hands.

 

"Nice job. You actually managed to eat it all," Jinx said genuinely impressed.

 

"Go to hell," she grunted out.

 

Fish guy let out a chuckle as he picked up the plates, "WELL, NOW THAT THAT'S OUT OF THE WAY, WHAT CAN I DO FOR YA'?"

 

"I need to know where I can find these people," Jinx said sliding over a piece of paper she had torn out of one of the doctor's record books.

 

Luckily for her, the doctor keeps extensive records of everything he did, so Jinx could just steal the names from the latest file he had written and not worry about having to remember the names of the two rondos she was sent to kill.

 

He grabbed the paper and unfolded it, staring at it for a long time, "YOU DO KNOW WHO THESE GUYS ARE, RIGHT?"

 

Jinx shrugged, "Yeah, what about it?"

 

"JINX... THE FIRELIGHTS ARE-"

 

"Oh, I'm well aware of what, or rather, who they are."

 

Jinx knew where this was headed. This guy knew who The Boy Savior was and Jinx had the sinking feeling that he wasn't about to help Jinx find him.

 

He gave her a pitying look.

 

"Don't you start this shit," Jinx growled.

 

"I KNOW THINGS HAVE BEEN ROUGH, BUT EK-"

 

Jinx slammed her hands down on the stand as she stood, "You don't know jack shit about me," Jinx hissed, "People like you go around preaching about The Boy Savior and all his good deeds, but you don't know jack shit about him either! He's a fucking fraud who gets off on playing hero. A little boy playing pretend with all his doped-up friends."

 

"Woah, let's all just calm down," Caitlyn said standing as well.

 

"Mind your own damn business Piltie," Jinx spat.

 

Caitlyn gave her a stern look, "Jinx. Sit down. I'll handle this."

 

Jinx held her gaze.

 

Jinx was fed up with people taking someone else's side over hers. This guy hadn't seen her in years, he still thought of her as little Powder, Jinx liked him. He was like a sanctuary in the brutal storm that was her life, one she had only recently found, but as soon as the time came to pick between her or someone else, he abandoned her, leaving her out in the storm again, colder and more depressed than ever.

 

"Janna Jinx, you'd think you'd learn by now, no one actually cares about you. And even if they do, they eventually find out the truth about you. You're a monster. Not only that, but you're the worst kind of monster, you're the monster that refuses to accept the fact that you're a no-good piece of shit and takes everyone around you down with you because you felt like you had the right to," Mylo said calmly.

 

"Jinx. Sit down, please."

 

"You're a self-righteous bitch that no one can even bring  themselves to pretend to like."

 

"Jinx, sit."

 

Jinx knew Mylo was full of shit, but that didn't stop his words from burrowing their sharp, pointed claws into her heart.

 

Jinx sat back down with a thud.

 

It didn't matter anymore, this guy was never going to help Jinx again. This tiny little sanctuary she had found was now just another bitter and painful reminder of the girl she no longer was.

 

"Thank you," Caitlyn said before turning her attention back to the fish guy.

 

Jinx never did learn his name, not that it matters anymore.

 

"Now, I do believe me and Jinx met all the requirements you set for the exchanging of information."

 

"WELL NOW, I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS GOING TO ASK ME ABOUT EKKO AND THE FIRELIGHTS."

 

"I don't believe that matters. Jinx paid you and she cleared the plates just like you asked-"

 

"NOW I-"

 

"-you said, and I quote, "As long as both plates are empty I'll tell ya' whatever you want to know." And I do believe she met your requirements."

 

"I DIDN'T MEAN-"

 

"It doesn't matter what you meant, that is what you said."

 

"I CAN'T JUST-"

 

"Nowhere in your conversation did you state that you had the right to regulate the questions asked, and you also never said anything about being able to pick and choose what questions you will answer. You accepted Jinx's money fully aware of this, therefore you are required to answer whatever questions Jinx asks you, no matter your personal feelings on the matter."

 

"HA," he said with a sigh, "YOU AND VI SURE KNOW HOW TO PICK 'EM. ALRIGHT, FINE, I DON'T KNOW THIS JAXSON GUY, BUT RONAN COMES HERE OFTEN, HE'S THE KINDA GUY WHO LIKES TO PARTY. YOUR BEST BET IS FINDING HIM AT THE RUSTED FANG."

 

"Thank you," Caitlyn said sweetly, "come on Jinx let's go."

 

Jinx stood, mind already doing its best to numb the pain by hyper-fixating on her new mission and forgetting all about the fish guy and his food stand.

 

"JINX," the guy called out.

 

Her eyes flicked over to him.

 

"YOU SHOULD KNOW SILCO IS OUT FOR YOUR HEAD. HE'S GOT GUYS EVERYWHERE LOOKING FOR YOU."

 

Jinx didn't respond she just turned, ready to leave.

 

"IT WAS GOOD SEEING YA'. HOPE YOU COME BACK SOMEDAY."

 

Jinx walked off towards The Rusted Fang, Caitlyn following close behind.

 

That guy's hope wouldn't be coming true. Jinx was never going back.

Chapter 21: Out Of All The People In The World

Jinx and Caitlyn were up on a roof that was across from The Rusted Fang, checking out the area.

 

 

"Just what is this place?"

 

 

"A nightclub," Jinx said as she watched people trickle in and out of the doors.

 

 

"And what are we watching for?"

 

 

"The Rusted Fang is owned by one of the chem barons, and since I'm no longer tolerated by Silco, we can't just go waltzing in. I need to see what the rules are and what they kick people out for," Jinx said as she watched a guy slip something to one of the bouncers.

 

 

Jinx could easily slip in unnoticed by herself, but the enforcer girl complimented things. Jinx highly doubted Caitlyn would let her go it alone, so she would have to find some way to get them both in the normal way. The only problem was people didn't even need to look at Caitlyn for two seconds before they could tell she was a topsider.

 

 

"Any chance you'd let me go in there by myself?" Jinx asked in hopes of being able to avoid what she planned to do next.

 

 

"Nope," she replied immediately.

 

 

Jinx sighed as another person got stopped by a bouncer, "Well then, time for a makeover toots."

 

---

 

 

Caitlyn needed a serious makeover and Jinx didn't have the money or the time to do it herself. So Jinx had to rely on the age-old tactic of bullying people into doing it for her.

 

 

And Jinx knew just the person for the job.

 

 

Jinx and Caitlyn were making a quick detour to Babette's, in fact, it was so quick they that were nearly there already. It definitely didn't hurt that The Rusted Fang was practically next to Babette's.

 

 

As they were approaching the door when Caitlyn suddenly stopped dead in her tracks.

 

 

Jinx turned to look at her, "What are you doing?"

 

 

"Please tell me we are not going to that….. brothel," she said and Jinx could swear she was blushing.

 

 

"Uh, if you mean Babette's, then yes, yes we are."

 

 

"Oh, absolutely not!"

 

 

"Excuse me? What exactly is your problem with Babette's."

 

 

"Me and Vi came here-"

 

 

Of course they did, Jinx thought as she rolled her eyes.

 

 

"-and, well, your sister may have gotten me to…."

 

 

Caitlyn didn't finish her sentence she just stood there, face as red as a tomato.

 

 

"Look I don't know what exactly Vi pulled with you," Vi was always a flirt, and Jinx could only imagine what she said to the enforcer while they were in there, "But we're here on business, and, if it makes you feel better I'm not exactly thrilled to go in either."

 

 

Jinx highly doubted Babette would remain civil once she realized who exactly Jinx was.

 

 

"Then why are we going? Let's just go back to the club."

 

 

Jinx stared at her for a moment, "Ok toots, listen real close because I'm not going to repeat myself. You and me are going to go in there and you are going to do exactly what I tell you without one word of complaint."

 

 

"But-"

 

 

"If you don't, I'm leaving you here and finding Vi myself."

 

 

"….Fine," she said begrudgingly.

 

 

Jinx smiled, satisfied.

 

 

They walked their way over to the back of the place, Jinx knocking sharply on the door.

 

 

A guy opened pulled back the metal that covered the peephole, and stared out at them, narrowing his eyes when they landed on Caitlyn, probably in recognition, not every day you get a topsider down here. After an extremely long time he opened the door and let them in.

 

 

Jinx had never been in Babette's as a kid. Vi and Vander never let her, but she had to come here more and more often nowadays. Babette's people were mostly old addicts that Babette found and rescued off the streets, meaning they eventually ended up on the doctor's list. She was a lot like The Boy Savior in that way, the difference between them being that Babette didn't sit on her throne of morals claiming her people were all clean and we all should strive to be them. Babette knew what kind of business she was in and what kind of people she hired, and she had no problem admitting it. Jinx appreciated that quality in her.

 

 

Jinx didn't really know all that much about Babette, she couldn't remember anything about her except for the times she teased Claggor. Basically, everything she knew about her was from her reputation.

 

 

When Jinx first came to this place she had made the mistake of coming in during business hours, plenty of Babette's people confused her for a customer. It was…. odd. Jinx never did anything, but she sure as hell found out why Vi and Vander didn't want her setting foot in here, and why Claggor turned into a blubbering mess every time Babette waved at him.

 

 

Personally, Jinx thought sex was gross and insufferable. There was so much touching, just the thought was enough to make Jinx's skin crawl. Jinx hated it when people touched her. Their hands felt like too much like the restraints the doctor used on her. When someone did touch Jinx, it felt like searing hot metal being clamped on her, it made her want to rip her skin off. Clothes also irritated her, (less than others touching her), but it was worse having all her scars on display, so she just wore as much clothing as she could and learned to deal with the constant irritation on her skin.

 

 

Caitlyn seemed to suffer from the same problem Claggor had with sex, her face was currently beet red and she was desperately trying not to look into any of the rooms.

 

 

A smirk danced across Jinx's lips. The poor girl, Vi really did a number on her.

 

 

As they walked Jinx could feel eyes on her, the bouncer was suspicious and he made sure to tell each and every person in here.

 

 

"Hey there."

 

 

Jinx's head snapped back and she was met with the sight of some random woman with their hand on Caitlyn's shoulder.

 

 

Jinx walked over and yanked the girl's hand off and threw it back at her, "Go find someone else to fuck. She's already got a girl."

 

 

"I don't mind sharing," she said moving close to rub her hand along Jinx's shoulder.

 

 

"Yeah well, my sister does. So get lost," Jinx spat as she ripped the girl's hand off her, viscously rubbing at the spot her hand had touched.

 

 

The girl scoffed, "Whatever, I don't do three."

 

 

Jinx rolled her eyes as she turned and walked away.

 

 

"Umm, Jinx?"

 

 

"What," Jinx snarled, still in a foul mood from the interaction.

 

 

"You are aware that me and your sister are just friends, right?"

 

 

Jinx paused and looked back at her, "Friends?"

 

 

"Friends?" Claggor repeated, just as confused.

 

 

"I thought she was Vi's girlfriend," Powder squeaked out sounding slightly disappointed.

 

 

" Man Vi's lost her touch," Mylo commented.

 

 

"Yes! There is absolutely nothing going on between us." Caitlyn said flustered.

 

 

"Janna, prison must have really screwed Vi up. She never falls first," Jinx said thrown by the news.

 

 

"You can say that again," Calggor muttered in agreement.

 

 

"And with an enforcer too ," Mylo said in disgust.

 

 

"She really changed," Powder chimed in.

 

 

"Excuse me?" Caitlyn asked confused.

 

 

"I'm sure you'll find out soon enough," Jinx said waving her off, then she muttered under her breath, "Vi's not one for taking things slow,"

 

 

They made their way down the rest of the hall. She turned into Babette's office, the Yordle sat at her desk scribbling notes onto a piece of paper, "Please sit down," she said without looking up.

 

 

Clearly, someone had informed her she had guests.

 

 

Jinx plopped herself down on the nearest sofa and Caitlyn reluctantly followed.

 

 

Babette folded up the piece of paper and looked over at the two, "I'm happy to see you again Powder."

 

 

"Let's skip the pleasantries," Jinx said deciding it best to just get straight to the point, "I'm Jinx."

 

 

A flicker of surprise and betrayal flashed across her face before she schooled it back to normal, "Is this about Vi?"

 

 

Jinx chuckled, "Observant as ever Babette, but no, you're wrong, I need a favor from you."

 

 

Her eyes narrowed, "You expect me to help you after you've been killing my people and clients?"

 

 

"Why not, you had no problem helping Vi," Jinx said calmly as she pulled out a blade and started spinning it in her hand, "and I have so much more to offer."

 

 

"Jinx," Caitlyn whispered sharply.

 

 

Both Babette and Jinx ignored her, "Does your sister know you're here?"

 

 

Jinx shook her head as she stood and walked her way over to her, "I'm not a child anymore Babette. You can't go ratting me out to Vi and Vander every time I do something you don't like."

 

 

They held each other's gaze for a long time.

 

 

"I want immunity for all under my protection," she said breaking the silence.

 

 

"That's not how this works."

 

 

"Then what are you offering?"

 

 

"You get to live," Jinx said cheerfully before adding, "For now."

 

 

Babette scowled, "That's hardly an offer."

 

 

"Well think of it like this, you live and I don't have to kill everyone else in this place who would get the stupid idea to try and avenge you."

 

 

Babette glared at her.

 

 

"Come on, I'm not even asking for something crazy, it's honestly not worth your life and all theirs," Jinx said gesturing at the rest of the building.

 

 

She thought in silence for a moment before pulling out her pipe and taking a drag, "What can I do for you."

 

 

That's what Jinx liked about Babette, she understood this was just business, nothing personal.

 

 

Jinx slipped the knife she was carrying back into its designated pocket and went over and pulled Caitlyn forward to Babette's desk, "We're going clubbing and she needs a change of clothes."

 

---

 

 

Jinx sat in Babette's office staring at the ceiling, inhaling the overly perfumed air as she waited for Caitlyn to get her head-to-toe makeover.

 

 

Some guys were standing at the door to Babette's office keeping an eye on her, but overall Jinx had been left to her own devices. Not that she was doing much, she just sat there waiting. Kinda like she did back at the lab, only she got to sit on a halfway decent couch this time.

 

 

Jinx heard Caitlyn before she saw her. She was complaining rather loudly about how her new outfit was far too revealing and that she would like her old outfit back immediately. When Caitlyn finally made her way into the office Jinx had to do a double take.

 

 

Caitlyn came in wearing a deep blue halter top with a corset-like style to the part underneath the plunging V-neck, she had on tight black pants that made her figure even more prominent and a pair of shiny black boots. Her makeup was now a smoky black eyeshadow with a deep red lip and her hair was down, finally out of that ridiculous ponytail. It was simple but classy. They must have given Caitlyn some of the best stuff they had hoping to appease Jinx.

 

 

Jinx gave Caitlyn a wolf whistle after she took in the outfit, "If Vi could see you now."

 

 

Caitlyn sent her a withering glare, "Why exactly do I have to wear this?"

 

 

"Because," Jinx said standing, "now you don't look like a Topsider."

 

 

"Jinx, if you're satisfied I request that you leave immediately," Babette said, cutting off the conversation.

 

 

Jinx looked down at Babette "Sure thing."

 

 

She walked straight out of Babette's leaving Caitlyn scrambling after her.

 

---

 

 

"This is absolutely mortifying," Caitlyn complained as they were making their way to the front door of The Rusted Fang.

 

 

"Just suck it up," Jinx said.

 

 

Jinx had spotted a guy that matched the description she had been given walking into the club.

 

 

Both Jinx and Caitlyn approached the doors that were guarded by one buff guy and an even buffer woman.

 

 

"Payment," the guy asked as the woman blocked them from entering.

 

 

Jinx pulled out a bag of coins she had nabbed from a guy who was at Babette's place and placed it in the guy's hand. He opened it up and gave Jinx an odd look.

 

 

"We plan on staying awhile, the extra is so you don't come in and start bothering us," Jinx replied simply.

 

 

He gave a grunt as he pocketed the money and the woman moved aside allowing them to enter.

 

 

As soon as Jinx pushed the door open she was greeted with the classic pounding music that was enough to blow out someone's eardrums, coupled with strobing lights, Shimmer infused smoke from people's pipes that they were smoking, and the heat from all the packed in dancing body's.

 

 

Jinx had been in plenty of clubs, and she knew the best place to get information from was the bartender, who was, as usual, on the other side of the dance floor. Getting through dancing crowds used to be a problem but Jinx got rather good at it over the years. Barging your way through never got you anywhere and it made far too much of a scene. The obvious secret to getting through discretely was that everyone was moving to the same beat, so just had to dance your way through. Jinx rather liked having to get a target in clubs for this particular reason, dancing was like fighting but only with the things Jinx was good at. Being quick on your feet and agile. It was one of the very few things Jinx got to enjoy on her outings.

 

 

Jinx started getting a feel of the beat as she began to sway to it.

 

 

"Where to now!?" Caitlyn screamed over the music.

 

 

"The bar," Jinx said gesturing at the other side of the club, "Try to keep up," she said as she stepped into the dancing mob.

 

 

Jinx let all her thoughts be replaced by the pounding beat of the song as her body moved out of pure instinct. She spun and twisted her way through the crowd, the music drowning out the cries of outrage her mind had at the occasional times people brushed against her.

 

 

Her body moved to the rhythm, rocking back, shifting forward, never missing a beat. Jinx didn't even need her shimmer-enhanced speed for this, she easily pivoted her movements if her path was blocked. There was no hesitation. No stiffness. No unbearably loud voices telling her what to do. It was just her and the music.

 

 

Sweat collected at her brow as she made her way through the crowd, her body easily moving around all the others, it wasn't long before she reached the end of the dance floor and found herself at a small clearing left for people to gather around the bar.

 

 

Jinx panted as the music still thumped in her skull, eyes landing on the female bartender. She wasn't buff per se, but Jinx could tell she was experienced. She just had that look about her, like she would kick your ass in a second flat if you step out of line. Nothing at all like that pushover at the Last Drop.

 

 

Jinx approached the bar, not bothering to wait for Caitlyn who was probably caught in the crowd somewhere. The girl ignored Jinx when she arrived at the bar, a way of saying she wasn't going to pour drinks to someone she didn't think was important enough.

 

 

Jinx let out a loud sharp whistle before she flung a coin at the girl's head. She turned and caught it before it hit her without so much as a flinch.

 

 

The bartender looked down at the coin and gave Jinx a nod of acknowledgment as she walked over to her, "What can I get ya'"

 

 

Simple rule down here, respect can be earned or bought, which also applied to practically everything else as well, it just depended on what you were trying to get.

 

 

Jinx didn't hesitate for a second before responding, "Juice."

 

 

The bartender blinked in confusion, "Uhh…"

 

 

"Of the orange variety."

 

 

"Look kid we don't serve that here."

 

 

"Then you hardly qualify as a bar," Jinx said pointedly, "but since you guys only have suck ass drinks, how 'bout some info."

 

 

The bartender rolled her eyes, "Go find your babysitter little girl," she said as she turned around to tend to someone else.

 

 

Jinx flung another coin at the back of her head, once again she caught it in the nick of time.

 

 

Impressive.

 

 

She huffed and walked back over, "What do you want."

 

 

"I'm in the market for a guy. Ronan."

 

 

The bartender raised a brow, "You know him or something."

 

 

"Or something," Jinx replied smoothly.

 

 

She stared at Jinx skeptically.

 

 

Jinx flung another coin at her.

 

 

She caught it and then nodded towards one of the few tables stuffed in this place, "Second table to your right. Don't start a fight."

 

 

Just as Jinx said, everyone and everything could be bought.

 

 

Jinx gave a nod of appreciation as the girl moved on to her next customer. Jinx decided to loiter at the bar while she scoped the guy out (and waited for Caitlyn).

 

 

Jinx watched the guy as he played a round of cards with some other people, by the looks of it he was winning by a landslide, and he was cheating to do it. It was practically impossible to see in this lighting, but Jinx had her enhanced eyesight to help. It was subtle but you could see it in the way he shuffled the cards or how he would occasionally "lose" a card that somehow ended up back in the deck. Clearly, this guy's specialty is sleight of hand, a pastime The Boy Savior was not exactly fond of.

 

 

Jinx watched him play a few more rounds (he actually lost some on purpose to keep up appearances) when Caitlyn came barreling over, shoving past a dancing couple who gave her some colorful words in return.

 

 

Caitlyn was panting as she came over looking rather disheveled, "How could you leave me in that mob!"

 

 

Jinx cocked her head to the side, "You survived didn't you?"

 

 

"I nearly got trampled, and plenty of people tried to hit on me, multiple times!"

 

 

"Hey, no need to brag," Jinx said pushing herself off the bar, "Say, you know anything 'bout cards?"

 

 

"No?" She replied confused.

 

 

"Me neither. Let's go play."

 

---

 

 

"Got room for two more?"

 

 

Jinx and Caitlyn had walked over to the guy's table.

 

 

"Sorry we're out of seats," Ronan said as he flung his hand of cards on the table, "I win."

 

 

One of the guys at the table let out a grunt, "Screw this," he and the rest of the people at the table got up and left.

 

 

Jinx sat herself down, "Well would you look at that. Now all the seats in the world are open."

 

 

He looked up at Jinx and Caitlyn before a lopsided grin spread across his face, "Then by all means sit, as long as you can afford it that is," he said as he grabbed the mountain of money he won off the table.

 

 

Caitlyn sat and then leaned over to whisper in Jinx's ear, "Can you afford this?"

 

 

Jinx arched her brow at her, "After all we've been through you still doubt me?" Jinx said discreetly pulling out her bag of stolen coins to show to Caitlyn.

 

 

Babette's people sure carried a lot of cash.

 

 

"All right ladies, I'm assuming you know the rules?"

 

 

Caitlyn opened her mouth to reply but Jinx cut her off, "Obviously."

 

 

Caitlyn turned to look at Jinx as the guy began shuffling.

 

 

He handed out the cards to Jinx and Caitlyn and then placed his money for the round on the table.

 

 

Jinx followed in suit, "I'm paying for us both," she said setting down a fist full of money that looked to be about double of what he had bet.

 

 

Jinx had no real idea how to spend money correctly, she hadn't actually spent money all that much if she was completely honest. She never got the opportunity to when Vi and Vander were still around, they had always just handed her coins and she spent it as she was told. That was when they had money to spare of course, and with the doctor, it was rare for her to have any actual need to buy anything. So Jinx usually just grabbed whatever cash was available and spent however much looked about right, or she just stole the thing she wanted. After all, it wasn't like the money was hers, and she could always get more if she wanted.

 

 

This guy was nothing special, just another scrawny-looking kid who was probably younger than Jinx, having some fun behind The Boy Saviors back, so Jinx wasn't worried about getting him to cooperate.

 

 

Jinx picked up her hand, and she was greeted with the sight of a bunch of meaningless shapes and symbols, "So you're a gambler huh?" Jinx said as she randomly reorganized her cards.

 

 

He let out a chuckle, "Uh, sure."

 

 

"Not much of a gamble if you know the outcome," Jinx said grabbing two random cards and setting them facedown on the table.

 

 

He narrowed his eyes at her, "You trying to accuse me of something?" He said grabbing a card from the deck.

 

 

Jinx shrugged, kicking Caitlyn under the table to get her to do something. She just grabbed a card off the deck, copying the guy's move.

 

 

"Should I be?" She asked setting down another card and picking up two from the deck.

 

 

He leaned back in his seat, "Not without proof, no," He grabbed a card from off the top of the deck and placed it face up on the table.

 

 

Caitlyn just set a card down on the table uncertainly.

 

 

"Don't need proof to get people worked up," Jinx said grabbing one of Caitlyn's and one of his discarded cards off the table, adding it to her deck.

 

 

He scrunched his brows up in confusion at the move, "Threatening me isn't a smart idea."

 

 

He laid down another two cards on the table face up.

 

 

Caitlyn just repeated her move of discarding a card.

 

 

Jinx looked up at him, "Honestly, cheating at card games to scam people out of money is nothing to be ashamed of. I just wasn't aware The Boy Savior let you Glowhead Clowns do stuff like this."

 

 

He froze, recognition clear in the way all humor fell from his face, "Jinx."

 

 

She placed her entire hand down on the table face up, "That's me."

 

 

He leaned back in his chair, suddenly becoming eerily calm, "What do you want."

 

 

Jinx was surprised. She had expected the guy to take off running as soon as he figured her out, but he just sat there.

 

 

"The Boy Savior's location."

 

 

The guy didn't gasp or start yelling, he just kept staring her down. Something in his eyes setting Jinx on edge.

 

 

Caitlyn shifted uncomfortably in her seat as her eyes flicked between the two.

 

 

"….You know Ekko thinks you work for Silco."

 

 

Jinx blinked at the sudden pivot in conversation, "I'm well aware of what The Boy Savior thinks of me," Jinx spat.

 

 

"I never bothered to correct him. I just told myself if you actually wanted him to know he would," he said, ignoring Jinx.

 

 

Jinx pulled out a knife, "Shut the hell up and tell me where your dumb ass hideout is."

 

 

What the hell did this kid think he was doing?

 

 

"Jinx! Put that away," Caitlyn hissed as she checked to make sure no one was looking at them.

 

 

"Do you remember me?"

 

 

Jinx froze.

 

 

She didn't know him.

 

 

Did she?

 

 

"I don't know you," she hissed.

 

 

"I remember you. You saved my life."

 

 

Jinx slammed her fist on the table, "Do you want to die!"

 

 

"And I know you actually work for the doctor."

 

 

Jinx was on him in a millisecond, blade pressed against his throat, "Who the fuck are you."

 

 

"The name's Ronan, it's nice to see you again."

Chapter 22: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

Notes:

(Warning!!)

 

We will be getting into some of the things the doctor does to Jinx in the (Experiment Notes), skip to (Experiment Concluded) if you don't want to read.

 

Also, sorry for posting so late, I was super busy today.

Ronan.

 

Jinx didn't know a Ronan. The name didn't ring any bells when she read it off the list. He didn't stand out to her when she first saw him. He was just another guy.

 

A guy who knows about the doctor.

 

Jinx pushed on the blade harder, creating a cut that began to bleed. "How do you know me?"

 

He didn't flinch or wince; he kept his gaze steady and responded evenly, "I met you 5 years ago, when I was 10."

 

10?

 

This guy said Jinx had saved his life, but Jinx never saved any 10-year-olds.

 

"Don't lie to me," Jinx snarled.

 

"Jinx! Let him go," Caitlyn said, walking over until she was next to Jinx.

 

"Shut the hell up."

 

"Jinx, we need him alive," Caitlyn whispered into her ear, "and you're attracting too much attention."

 

Jinx still didn't move.

 

"The bartender looks like she's getting ready to call security."

 

Jinx grit her teeth.

 

"We need him to save Vi."

 

Jinx pulled the knife away because Caitlyn had said the magic word.

 

Vi.

 

"It doesn't matter if this knife is on your throat or not. I can still kill you faster than you can blink."

 

"I'm well aware," he said, rubbing the cut Jinx made.

 

Caitlyn and Jinx sat down. Jinx was still holding her knife with a vice grip, prepared to strike at any moment.

 

"I don't go around saving kids. I'm not The Boy Savior."

 

"Yeah, I know that too."

 

"Alright jackass what else do you know?" Jinx growled.

 

"I know you're not the heartless monster Ekko makes you out to be. Well, at least you weren't 5 years ago."

 

"Just what kind of fucked up delusional did you create in that twisted head of yours?"

 

No one thought Jinx had a heart. Let alone one of The Boy Saviors people.

 

"5 years ago, you were sent to kill a man named Orrin, he was my father."

 

"....."

 

Jinx was 13 back then, she had spared a few people by then, but if this was going where she thought it was....

 

"You spared his life, and then you saved mine."

 

Jinx knew exactly who this guy was. He was the last life she ever spared.

 

---

 

The doctor sent Jinx out again.

 

It had been two years since she started staying with him, and each second was pure agony, but Vander was getting better. He still hadn't woken up, but he just looked so much better than he did when they first arrived at the doctor's place.

 

So Jinx kept doing the doctor's dirty work.

 

Today's target was another Shimmer addict, Orrin. Thankfully, this one had an actual address, and she didn't have to wander the streets looking for him. Walking around was exhausting, especially because the doctor hardly fed her. Honestly, Jinx couldn't understand how that man was still alive; he never took care of himself. Jinx half hoped he would just keel over and die from starvation.

 

"Why? So Vander can die with him?" Mylo sneered.

 

Jinx did her best and tried to ignore him. The doctor had made it very clear how he felt about Jinx indulging her delusions yesterday when she got so pissed at Mylo that she started throwing things at him. She still had the stitches from the operation, which made walking that much harder.

 

Jinx approached the dingy, crooked, practically falling-apart apartment complex that looked so small and cramped, Jinx actually thought her room might be bigger than one of these places. There was no lock on the front door to the place, so Jinx just let herself in. It stunk of mold and garbage inside, and all the walls were just stone, along with the floors. There were no windows, so the only light came from some flickering bulbs. Honestly, the place was so similar to the doctor's lab it was downright creepy.

 

Jinx made her way up the rickety, unstable wooden stairs, half expecting to fall through them, and she probably would have if she were any heavier. Jinx seriously hoped this guy wouldn't run and make a whole chase out of it, Jinx's stitches would probably tear, and she was uncertain if this building could take it. Unfortunately, it was probably going to be a chase; it usually was, unless it was a fight. Those were even less fun.

 

"Because you always lose," Mylo snickered.

 

Once again, she ignored him.

 

It surprised her that this guy lived on the top floor of this place; any self-respecting person living in the Undercity knew that living on the ground floor was better, as it made for an easier escape.

 

Jinx approached the door of the apartment she had listed on her paper, slipping out a knife as she knocked on the door. It was quiet and there was no response, so she knocked again, harder this time.

 

A small voice called out, "W-who is i-it?"

 

Jinx froze. That didn't sound like the voice of a drug addict; that was the voice of a kid.

 

"I'm a friend of your dad's," Jinx responded, trying her best to shake off her doubts.

 

She needed to kill this guy.

 

The sound of the lock clicking signaled the kid opening up the door and peeking out.

 

His eyes widened comically at the sight of her, "Hey! You're just a kid."

 

The little rug rat looked younger than Jinx by a couple of years at least.

 

"Yeah. So why don't you let me in?" Jinx said, tucking her knife back into a pocket and out of sight.

 

"....Dad said not to let people in."

 

"It's fine. Like I said, I know your dad. Besides, I'm just a kid, what harm could I possibly do?"

 

People always dismissed her for her young age and small frame, so she knew how to use that to her advantage.

 

He looked around nervously, "Ok...."

 

He opened up the door and let Jinx inside.

 

The poor kid had no idea he had just signed his father's death warrant.

 

Jinx's eyes wandered around the tiny one-room apartment. There was a small twin bed in a corner, a couple of toys scattered on the floor, and a dresser with a photo in a frame on top. The only other thing in the place was a door that probably led to the bathroom and a two-burner stove that looked like it would burst into flames the second someone tried to use it.

 

"What's your name?" The kid asked her.

 

Jinx looked over at him. he really was a tiny thing. He looked about as well fed as Jinx, his clothes ragged and dirty. He had one thing going for him, though, he was adorable. He had big, round, brown eyes that seemed to shine with emotion, and he had a messy mop of curly black hair that looked like it was impossible to get under control.

 

"Jinx."

 

He scrunched up his nose, "That's weird."

 

Jinx shrugged as she turned and walked over to examine the picture on the dresser. It was of the kid, a guy (Presumably her target), and a woman.

 

"That's my mom and dad, and me!" The kid said, running over, "Mom died three years ago, isn't she pretty!"

 

She was, Jinx thought as she set down the photo. She had the same bright eyes as the kid.

 

The kid was lucky, most people didn't have photos of their dead parents to remember them by. Jinx would give almost anything to have one of her parents, she can't remember them at all.

 

"When's your dad coming home?"

 

"He said he'd be back as soon as possible."

 

Great, that was real specific, "When did he leave?"

 

"I don't know, it was like forever ago."

 

Jinx clicked her tongue in annoyance.

 

"Hey, you wanna play?" He said, scrambling over to the two toys on the floor.

 

He grabbed them and turned to hold them up to Jinx. One was a doll that was missing a hand and had an absolutely terrible haircut, the other was a car that was missing a wheel and two doors.

 

"Please," he said, bouncing up and down, "I never have anyone to play with."

 

Jinx shifted uncomfortably. She hadn't played in two years, and any time she had tried to in the lab, the doctor got extremely angry because she would make too much noise.

 

"You can pick which toy you get," he said, trying to tempt her.

 

It was working.

 

"Oh, please, please, please let us play!" Powder begged, "The dad isn't even here, we have to wait anyway."

 

Jinx's hand reached forward and grabbed the doll before she even knew what she was doing.

 

The kid grinned from ear to ear as he plopped down on the floor, "Yay!"

 

Jinx settled herself down next to him, examining the doll, "What happened to her hair?" She asked, trying and failing to get it to look nice.

 

"Dad could only find a girl doll, so he tried to make her look like a guy by cutting her hair but he just made her ugly, and she still has to wear a dress cause we don't have any boy clothes," he said as he rolled the car around on the floor.

 

Jinx ran her hand over the doll's hair and her dress, "I can try and fix her."

 

His eyes lit up, "Really!!"

 

"Sure," Jinx said, pulling out her smallest blade to cut the hair, "and if you give me a needle and thread, I'll even make her a new outfit."

 

He jumped up and ran over to the dresser, pulling out the thread and needle Jinx had asked for, and handed it to her.

 

"Dad uses it to sew up our clothes. He's no good at it."

 

Jinx chuckled at that.

 

The kid sat really quietly and watched as Jinx cut the doll's hair even shorter to try and make it look like a guy, rather successfully, might she add.

 

"Wow! You're awesome at that!!"

 

Jinx shrugged as she grabbed the needle and thread. She had gotten rather good at using knives over the years.

 

"You don't talk much, do you?"

 

Jinx blinked and looked up at him, "Not really, no."

 

"That's ok! I'll talk for you."

 

Jinx shook her head as a small smile pulled at her lips. She cut off the dress that was on the doll.

 

"What are you going to use for the clothes?" He asked curiously.

 

"Hmmm," Jinx looked around the place. There really wasn't anything she could use, so she cut off a part of her pants.

 

His eyes widened in shock, "You're going to use your pants!"

 

Jinx nodded as she threaded the needle, "Not like you got anything better 'round here."

 

"So cool!"

 

Jinx's hands shook slightly as she began working on a t-shirt for the doll. The doctor had forced Jinx to sew up her own wounds every now and then, so she knew how to sew. This wasn't any different, just fabric instead of flesh.

 

It was fabric, not flesh.

 

She had to keep reminding herself of that because she could swear every time she inserted the needle, she could feel it stabbing into her.

 

She held the doll out in front of her when she was done.

 

They both stared at it for a moment, "You are so awesome!!" The kid said, grabbing the new and improved doll.

 

It was hardly all that good-looking, but at least you could tell it wasn't supposed to be a girl anymore.

 

The sound of keys unlocking the door made Jinx's head snap up.

 

"Ronan, I'm home!"

 

The boy, Ronan, ran over and jumped on his dad, "Dad! Guess what, guess what!"

 

He spun the kid around in the air, not noticing Jinx as she pulled out a blade, "What?"

 

"Jinx made my doll into a real boy!"

 

Confusion filled the dad's expression as he looked at the doll in the kid's hands, "Jinx?" He asked as he looked over at her, confusion morphing into horror as he realized someone else was in the apartment.

 

He held his kid tighter as Jinx stood, blade held obviously in her hand.

 

"Dad? What's the matter?"

 

"Who are you? What do you want?" He said, taking a step back, hand reaching for the door.

 

Jinx flung her knife, narrowly missing the guy's hand and lodging it into the door.

 

The kid screamed.

 

"Don't make this harder than it has to be," she said, pulling out another knife.

 

The kid squirmed, "Jinx! No! Don't hurt my dad!!"

 

"Ohh, killing a parent in front of their kid, that's a new low."

 

Jinx squeezed her eyes shut.

 

"He was so nice to us, we shouldn't do this."

 

Jinx's hand shook, "Put the kid down."

 

"Please don't do this. I've done nothing wrong," The guy begged.

 

Jinx's breath hitched, "You bought Shimmer and didn't pay. Unless you've got the money, I have no choice."

 

"I-I have some money stored away, it's not much, but you could take it to show I'm good for the rest," he said, trying to reason with her.

 

Jinx clenched her jaw, "I'm sorry, but that's not going to cut it. Now put the kid down and get him out of here before I scar him for life."

 

"Please, my son won't survive without me. He's sick, that's the only reason I bought the Shimmer. I've been working nonstop to try and pay it off. I swear."

 

"Would you look at that, a good, hard-working guy. That you're going to kill. What a shame, we really don't get many of those down here." Mylo said, clicking his tongue in disappointment.

 

"Don't kill him. That kid doesn't deserve this."

 

"What about Vander? The doctor might hurt him," Claggor added.

 

"Jinx. Don't hurt my dad. He's all I have left."

 

Jinx's blade clattered to the floor. Jinx couldn't go through with it, she couldn't kill that kid's father.

 

The dad let out a sigh of relief, "Thank you, thank you so much. Here," he walked over to the dresser still carrying his son close and pulled out a small stack of money, "take it. Tell Silco that I'll pay him back."

 

"No," Jinx said, walking over to the door, "Keep the money and run. If the doctor ever finds out I let you live, we will both regret it for the rest of our lives. For both our sakes, you have to disappear."

 

He stared into her eyes, "You don't work for Silco, do you?"

 

"No. The person I work for is much, much worse. You have to make sure they never find out about this."

 

He nodded, "We'll leave immediately, and we'll change our names. No one will see or hear from us again."

 

Jinx sighed, she could only hope so.

 

She turned around to leave, but she paused, "Under no circumstances can you buy Shimmer again. If you do, the doctor will know what I did and we'll both be a couple of dead people walking."

 

"Of course. I won't ever touch the stuff again."

 

With that, Jinx turned and left. She returned to the doctor, who was none the wiser, and she kept living her life.

 

Until one year later.

 

---

 

Jinx hadn't even remembered the incident, she thought it was over and done with, but she should have known that her luck never lasts.

 

"Jinx."

 

Jinx had just returned from doing a Shimmer delivery, but for some reason, the doctor sounded angry.

 

"Someone's in trouble," Mylo teased.

 

"No! I don't want to go on the table again," Powder cried.

 

"Yes?"

 

"Come here, I have a question for you."

 

Jinx walked over, nerves buzzing.

 

"I received a record of all the Shimmer purchases to find some people for you to take care of, when I came across the name Orrin," Jinx felt her heart drop, "That name sounded familiar to me, so I checked some of my old records and Lo and behold I found his name in the files under one of the people you had supposedly killed. Care to explain?"

 

"I-It's p-p-probably just s-someone with the same-"

 

"Don't lie to me Jinx," he said as he stood, voice colder than normal.

 

Words failed Jinx as she stumbled backwards, afraid of the consequences this would have.

 

"You are going to tell me exactly what happened. Right now."

 

"H-he had a k-kid, h-he was sick! That's why he b-bought the Shimmer. That's-s why I let him go! Surely you understand, he has a kid just like y-"

 

He slapped her, hard.

 

Jinx fell to the floor in shock.

 

"How many times must I tell you not to let your emotions interfere with your work."

 

Jinx cupped her cheek, shaking like a leaf. She had done it this time, the doctor never lost his cool enough to actually hit her.

 

He took a deep breath before turning to his lab table and pulled out a syringe. Jinx's eyes went wide with panic at the thought of what he was about to do.

 

"Kill Vander."

 

"Kill you."

 

"Kill the boy's dad."

 

He turned back to Jinx and grabbed her arm. Jinx flinched back, ready to feel a needle stab into her flesh. Only calming down when she felt him place the needle into the palm of her hand.

 

"You will take this sedative, and you will inject it into the man. Then you will kill his child in front of him."

 

Jinx's eyes snapped up to his, "W-what!"

 

"After that, you will kill the man."

 

Jinx scrambled up onto her feet, "Doctor-"

 

"You have made a grave mistake Jinx. Now you must suffer the consequences of your own actions."

 

"It was a mistake, I'm sorry. Punish me, not them!"

 

"Don't worry, I will."

 

"B-but I've done this before, and you've let me take the punishment instead! Why is this different!!"

 

"Because this time you lied!" He yelled, "All the other times I've allowed you to suffer in the person's place because I thought that would be enough to teach you a lesson, but now you've gone even farther and lied about what you did. You weren't even the one to tell me about your indiscretion, I had to discover it myself, and what's worse, you continued to lie when confronted. You have failed me far beyond my expectations this time, and I must make sure you never even think of straying again."

 

Jinx trembled, pure fear coursing through her.

 

The doctor never yelled.

 

"Now go."

 

Jinx practically sprinted out of the lab.

 

---

 

She found them in record time, her new super speed that she had acquired at the end of last year being the main reason for the quick search.

 

It would be the first time she's killed a child. She'd just get this over with quickly. Then cry silently about it later.

 

Jinx caught the dad as he was waking out of the front of another crappy apartment that he probably bought using the money Jinx had told him to keep last time.

 

The dad turned and looked at her with an expression of absolute horror and fear on his face, "Jinx."

 

A tear slid down her face as she started her song.

 

~Dear friend across the river,

My hands are cold and bare,~"

 

"Jinx, please, you have to understand, I only bought the Shimmer because Ronan got sick again!"

 

~Dear friend across the river,

I'll take what you can spare,~"

 

As Jinx moved in closer, something else replaced his fear, "Alright! Just- let me say goodbye. Please, I don't want him to think I just abandoned him."

 

".....I warned you what would happen if the doctor found out," Jinx whispered.

 

"I know, I'm sorry you got punished because of me. Just let me have this one last thing before you kill me."

 

Jinx closed her eyes, sending more tears down her face, "You're not the only one I'm here for."

 

Jinx watched as realization dawned on him, "No," he whispered, "I won't let you."

 

Jinx shook her head, "I'm sorry, I'll make it quick."

 

She used her Shimmer speed and jabbed the needle into his neck. His eyes widened in surprise at her speed.

 

He clutched at his neck as Jinx walked over and grabbed the guy, marching him inside.

 

"Please, there must be something I can do."

 

Jinx started to shake her head no, but Powder cut off her thoughts with an absolutely absurd idea.

 

"He could be a lab rat like us."

 

"There is!" He shouted, stumbling as he turned around to face her, the sedative kicking in, "Tell me, I'll do anything."

 

"You don't want this. It is a fate far worse than death."

 

"I don't care," he slurred, "anything if my son will get to live."

 

Jinx sighed as she remembered the scrawny little kid, even if she did let him live, he probably wouldn't survive on the streets.

 

"He won't live without you. Killing you two now would be-"

 

"He's only just turned 11. Don't kill him just because he was unlucky and was born weak and sick," he said as he stumbled backwards into a wall, the sedative now coming in at full force.

 

Jinx just watched the guy silently as he begged for his son's life.

 

"He... loves you..."

Jinx wanted to laugh. A kid that she almost killed the father of loved her? What a ridiculous notion.

 

The father slid down the wall and sat down heavily as he fumbled for something out of his bag.

 

Jinx half worried that he would pull a knife or a gun, but that worry quickly vanished as she watched him struggle with the zipper on the bag.

 

Once he finally opened the bag, he pulled something out that made Jinx freeze on the spot.

 

"It's... his birthday," he said, slurring his words so badly Jinx almost couldn't understand him, "Was... fix arm... for him."

 

"Why do you still have that?" Jinx whispered.

 

"Begged... me. Only thing.... wanted," he said as he tried to keep his eyes on her.

 

"....what about the picture?" Jinx whispered.

 

"Had to.... leave it. Everyone needed think... dead."

 

Jinx's eyes widened. The kid left behind the only picture of his dead mother he would ever have to keep a cheap plastic toy.

 

"Why? Why would he do that?"

 

He blinked up at her, "You save.... Him. He never........... forget. You... hero to... him."

 

Hero?

 

Jinx was no hero.

 

"He..... loves you."

 

Any resolve Jinx had completely vanished after hearing that.

 

She crouched down and slapped the dad in the face as hard as she could, "Wake the hell up. I'm about to tell you what your future is going to be like if you actually go through with this deal, and I need you to be one thousand percent certain you want it."

 

Jinx went on to explain in grotesque detail exactly what this man would be signing up for.

 

"You'll be his lab rat just like me if you agree to this."

 

He blinked groggily at her, "Whatever... it takes..."

 

"Are you sure?"

 

He nodded.

 

"You can't change your mind."

 

"I... sure..." he slurred.

 

"I won't save you."

 

"...don't ........ care."

 

Jinx sighed, "Fine. Where's your apartment? I'll get the kid and let him say goodbye."

 

"...fif...teen."

 

Jinx wasted no time, she ran up the steps three at a time, moving fast so she didn't lose her nerve.

 

She pounded on the door, "Open up kid! It's me!!"

 

"Jinx!?" He screeched joyfully as he threw open the door, "You came back!!"

 

She grabbed his arm and started dragging him downstairs, "No time."

 

She didn't want to see his stupidly happy face, knowing full well she was about to destroy his life.

 

"Dad!!" He yelled as soon as he spotted his dad on the floor.

 

"Say goodbye to your dad, you won't see him again."

 

"B-but-" he stuttered.

 

The dad reached up and grabbed his face, "It's.... alright. She's saving...... you..... again."

 

He looked over at her with his wide brown eyes that he got from his mother and whispered, "Really?"

 

She clenched her jaw and looked away.

 

"This time..... she can only save..... one."

 

"No!" He cried as he hugged his father, "Don't go!"

 

He rubbed his head, "Got....to. Sorry..."

 

He sniffled, "No! Don't let her take you!!"

 

"It.... alright. She's.... your hero.... Remember?" He said as he held up the doll to him.

 

Reluctantly, the kid grabbed it and then looked over at her, "He's going to die, isn't he?"

 

Jinx shut her eyes and looked away before mumbling, "Yes. So say goodbye."

 

Jinx turned away to give them some privacy. It was a long, sad, tear-filled goodbye that Jinx had no business listening to.

 

"We're done," the boy said, sniffling.

 

Jinx turned back around and went to heave the dad up and drag him back to the lab.

 

"Thank you," the kid muttered.

 

Jinx paused and turned to face him, "You can't tell a soul about this."

 

He nodded numbly.

 

She stared at the scrawny-looking kid with his father's face and his mother's eyes.

 

"You'll never make it out here," she stated plainly.

 

He didn't argue, he just stared at the floor, "Probably not."

 

Jinx set the dad down and walked over to the kid. She couldn't just let him die, "There's a group of people called the Firelights who will take you in."

 

He looked up at her in surprise.

 

"Go to Babette's place and tell her Jinx killed your father-"

 

"But-"

 

"Shut the hell up and listen. Tell her a guy with an owl mask named Ekko saved you from me, and he told you to find her and wanted her to take you to another Firelight immediately. When Ekko and the others find out you're lying, tell them your father was the one who made the story up and told you about the Firelights when he found out I was after him, and you were just desperate to get away from me. If they ask how you escaped me, tell them I just walked away and left you there. If they ask how you knew my name, you say your dad told you that too. If they ask how your dad knew, you tell them he said he knew a guy that they tried to recruit once, some alcoholic he worked with. Do you understand me?"

 

He nodded.

 

"Then run. Don't you stop till you're at the Firelight hideout. Because if you ever see me again it means I'm going to kill you. No more favors."

 

He nodded again.

 

"If you understand then start running you dumbass."

 

He blinked.

 

"Go!!" Jinx yelled.

 

He turned and sprinted away.

 

Jinx watched him go until she could no longer make him out in the crowd. She then turned and heaved the dad up again.

 

"T...ank... y....."

 

He was completely out of it.

 

"What can I say," she muttered bitterly, "I'm your big fat hero."

 

---

 

Jinx dragged the man into the lab where the doctor was waiting for her.

 

His eyes narrowed, "Jinx," he growled, "what have you done."

 

Jinx set the guy down and collapsed to her knees, ready to grovel, "He made a deal, just like I did. His life for his son's."

 

He walked towards her, "I told you what I wanted you to do. You disobeyed me. Again."

 

"It's too late to go back. The kid's gone and he's here. Just let him do this, and I'll never do anything like this again. Please," Jinx begged.

 

He crouched down so he was eye level with her, "Sometimes I wonder how much you truly love Vander."

 

She blinked, confused.

 

"I could kill him for this."

 

Panic filled Jinx, "No! I-"

 

"Oh, don't worry, dear. I know how rebellious teenagers can be. Besides, we've truly been making progress on your experiments. What a waste it would be to throw you away."

 

Pure, absolute dread filled Jinx.

 

"No," he said, standing, "killing Vander will teach you nothing about the consequences for this particular action." he walked over to the man, "I will be keeping him and using him, just like you suggested."

 

A small part of Jinx felt some sort of relief at that.

 

"However, because you were the one who decided to strike this deal, you should be the one to follow through. Don't you think?"

 

Jinx's brows furrowed in confusion, "I-I don't u-understand."

 

"You will be the one running the experiments on him."

 

"I don't know how to do that!" Jinx practically yelled, horrified at the thought.

 

"Oh, don't you worry. I will teach you."

 

And so he did.

 

For the next five weeks, the doctor forced Jinx to run the experiments on the man completely on her own, and afterwards, Jinx would be forced to recount every little excruciating detail back to the doctor for his records. Should she have missed something in the retelling or made a mistake in the experiment, which happened far too often, he would then do the experiment over and over again on her, until she could tell him exactly what she did wrong.

 

Jinx was not allowed to leave the lab until the man was dead. So for three weeks, she stayed in that lab and did god awful experiments on him. She did so many awful things.

 

And the doctor kept careful track of it all.

 

---

(Experiment Notes)

---

 

Shallow cuts to the body (Shimmer variant 2.34):

- Healed in 30 seconds.

- No additional notes needed.

 

Stab wound to the stomach (Shimmer variant 3.1):

- Healed in 2 minutes.

- Cried out in pain.

- *More notes needed, experiment recreated on Jinx.

 

Broken legs (Shimmer variant 3.67):

- Healed in 27 minutes.

- The healing process was extremely painful and slow. Bones weren't reset on the first leg, the leg healed incorrectly, and bones had to be reset on the second leg for it to heal correctly. No additional notes needed.

 

Ripped out toenails (Shimmer variant 5):

- Healed in 1 hour.

- Bleeding stopped after 10 minutes, nails growing back in were extremely painful.

- *More notes needed, experiment recreated on Jinx.

 

Burned off skin (Shimmer variant 5.5):

- Time unknown.

- Description not provided.

- *More notes needed, experiment recreated on Jinx.

 

Poison #1:

- Reacted for 4 hours and 51 minutes.

- Started having a seizure at hour 2, stopped 30 minutes later. Unknown if there was further mental damage due to the seizure. No additional notes needed.

 

Poison #2:

- Reacted for 7 hours and 23 minutes.

- Began to drown in own blood, was removed from restraints, and flipped onto stomach.

- *Not conducted correctly, experiment recreated on Jinx.

 

Sawed off fingers (Shimmer variant 7):

- Did not recover

- Blood stopped after 10 minutes. Fingers did not grow back. Fingers did not reattach themselves after being sewn back on. No following notes.

 

Burn out retinas (Shimmer variant 10.11):

- Time unknown

- Description unknown

- *Experiment not conducted, experiment recreated on Jinx.

- **Experiment redone on the subject after successful results on Jinx. Results were not recreated on new subject. The subject is now blind.

 

Poison #3:

- Unknown

- Subject died.

- *More notes needed, experiment recreated on Jinx.

 

---

(Experiment Concluded)

---

 

Sure enough, just as the doctor intended, Jinx never let another target go again.

 

Notes:

Question for you all!!

Is there something you want to see from Jinx's past or some event that I've already mentioned that you want me to dive deeper on? (no promises that I will write about it, but I will certainly try to.)

(Warning!! This is about the experiments, read if you want.)

 

The stab wound to the stomach experiment was a bullshit, the doctor was going to do on Jinx no matter what she said.

 

The ripped out toenails experiment was another bullshit one that he just made Jinx do because he wanted to punish her. He knew it would do no permanent damage, and she would recover quickly.

 

On the burning flesh experiment, Jinx had done it, but was so traumatized by what happened, she refused to speak a word afterwards. It wasn't just small burns. The doctor basically had Jinx cook off the guy's flesh multiple times and inject him with the Shimmer directly on the burns afterwards.

 

The burning retinas experiment was one that the doctor was going to let Jinx get away with because he didn't want to damage her eyesight, but when she refused to even do the experiment, he "had" to do it to Jinx, to teach her a lesson. This experiment actually led Jinx to have the advanced eyesight she has now, which is why the doctor went back and re-did the experiment on Orrin himself.

 

The poison experiments were not as risky to be done on Jinx, she had been building a resistance to the poisons for 3 years at this point because the doctor had run similar experiments on her before, and the poison #3 only killed Orrin because he was in such terrible shape by then, it was actually much less harmful then the others. Of course, there were still terrible side effects for Jinx, but the doctor knew she wouldn't die.

Chapter 23: No Accolades For The Unworthy

Notes:

I told you guys all the way back when we first started this schedule change that I was writing longer chapters, well, here's your proof. This is by far my longest chapter that I have written 😅

 

We're definitely getting a break from the long chapters after this.

Caitlyn and Jinx sat in complete and utter silence as the boy told his story, but Jinx was probably quiet for a completely different reason than Caitlyn.

 

Caitlyn had been rather shocked when this guy said he knew Jinx personally, especially when he didn't seem to have some sort of vendetta against her, as most other people did. Jinx, however, got mad, especially when he mentioned "the doctor", who Caitlyn assumed was the person who fixed Jinx's arm, but when the guy said Jinx had saved his father and him, she became deathly silent.

 

As he started the story, Jinx didn't even look like she was listening anymore. Not that Caitlyn noticed all that much, she was far too enthralled with the story and how Jinx and this boy had actually played together as children. Jinx had even been nice and fixed his doll for him!

 

He went on to explain how poorly the boy's father reacted to seeing Jinx in their home and how confused he was by the sudden hostility from both his father and Jinx, honestly Caitlyn was also surprised at the sudden change in behavior that Jinx displayed, until the boy explained how Jinx had told his father she was there to kill him for not being able to pay for the Shimmer the father had purchased to heal his sickly son, who apparently suffered from an all to common disease in the Undercity, that weakened his lungs so he couldn't handle the harsh Undercity air.

 

After some convincing, the father and the kid talked Jinx down, and she agreed to let them go if they agreed to disappear. He also spoke of how Jinx had refused the money offered and gave them the ominous warning about "the doctor".

 

"Dad always felt awful that he sent you back to that place. I never really understood. I was so stupid, I just assumed it was normal that you were as skinny as a dying kid, and I thought you were just quiet by nature. Dad knew after a 2-minute conversation that you had a rough go of it."

 

That was like a slap to the face for Caitlyn, she too had completely forgotten how much Jinx must have been going through at this time, simply because she was distracted by the happy moments and to busy worrying about the kid and father to think about Jinx and what letting them go must have cost her.

 

Jinx had been malnourished as a child and very obviously had been abused. She had apparently been forced to work as a hitman at the far too young age of 13, maybe even sooner. She couldn't handle human touch, and she spoke so little that she developed an accent of sorts. This "doctor" person clearly was forcing Jinx to do his dirty work, but he was so unknown, people just assumed Silco was the one behind all of it, probably because he was the one behind almost everything in this place.

 

But what Caitlyn couldn't understand was why Jinx allowed such assumptions to spread. Maybe this "doctor" person told her to not say anything, but if that was the case, why would she just tell Caitlyn flat out that she didn't work for Silco? Caitlyn also couldn't understand why Jinx stayed. It wasn't like she was trapped in that cave, unable to escape, and it's clear she isn't happy, so why didn't she just walk away?

 

"I didn't get it until you found us a year later. You looked so much worse than the last time we met."

 

Jinx's hands clenched into fists, the only sign that she had been listening to the conversation that was happening.

 

He then talked about getting sick again and having to buy Shimmer.

 

"I begged Dad not to, but he wouldn't listen to me. Then the seller found out Dad was using a fake name, and he had to turn over his real one to get the Shimmer. He told me that night he would probably be dead soon, and I would have to fend for myself."

 

Caitlyn turned away in shame. How could Piltover possibly let things get so bad down here?

 

The next part of the story brought tears to Caitlyn's eyes.

 

"Imagine my surprise when you knocked on my door again and told me you were here to kill my father," He sighed tiredly, "I was so stupid back then. I didn't even realize how much you were doing for me."

 

Neither did Caitlyn. If those scars she saw were any indication of what had been done to Jinx, she most certainly didn't get off with a slap on the wrist for this.

 

"And even after everything you'd already done for us, you still went out of your way to make sure I'd actually live." He leaned forward in his chair and stared Jinx in the eyes, "Jinx."

 

Her eyes reluctantly met his.

 

"I found Ekko. I'm still alive and it's all thanks to you."

 

Jinx suddenly stood up, breathing quickening, and eyes darting back and forth in panic. Caitlyn stood as well, ready to stop her from attacking the guy.

 

He wasn't fazed by the sudden outburst, he just kept talking, "Of course I'll take you to the Firelights' hideout."

 

Jinx sprinted out of the club at full speed, toppling over quite a few people as she did so.

 

Caitlyn looked back and forth between the guy and the exit of the club where Jinx just bolted out of. She wanted to chase after her, but she didn't want to just let their best chance of finding Vi sit here with every opportunity to escape.

 

"Go after her. I'm not going anywhere."

 

Caitlyn gave him a nod of appreciation as she took off, shoving her way through the crowd and bursting her way out the door.

 

Jinx was sitting on the curb rocking back and forth with her head in her hands, muttering harshly to the voices only she could hear.

 

Caitlyn walked over, "Jinx? Are you alright?"

 

Jinx threw her head back and laughed, not her real laugh, but a hurt and broken one, "How could I not be?! I just got everything I wanted," she stood and turned, "you heard him! He'll take us straight to The Boy Savior, he thanked me. Me!" Her voice became sharp and bitter, "He doesn't even know what I did."

 

"You saved him-"

 

"BUT AT WHAT COST!!!" She screamed, cutting Caitlyn off. Her shaking hands reached up and clutched her head again, "at what cost...." She whispered, sitting down again.

 

Slowly, Caitlyn lowered herself down next to her, "What happened to you after you killed that guy's father?"

 

A sob escaped her lips, "I told him it wasn't worth it. I told him he would rather be dead."

 

"You didn't kill him?" Caitlyn asked, confused.

 

Jinx shook her head no, "It had to be different this time. Had to be worse."

 

"What did you do instead?" She asked, slightly afraid of the answer.

 

"I took him back," she said, sobbing, "I took him to that hell hole. To the doctor."

 

Caitlyn paused.

 

Jinx had taken the kids' father to the doctor. The same doctor who did all of this to Jinx in the first place.

 

"The doctor tortured him. That was the deal you two made, wasn't it? Him for the kid."

 

She nodded miserably before she started yelling again, "He made me! I didn't want to."

 

"What did he make you do?" Caitlyn asked gently.

 

Jinx looked up at her, tears falling freely, "He was so mad," she whispered quietly, "I thought-" her voice broke and she shook her head, "he made sure I'd never do it again. He made me...."

 

She trailed off, eyes glued to her hands as if seeing something Caitlyn couldn't.

 

"Jinx, whatever happened, it's not your fault, and you saved that kid's life. He's grateful."

 

"That's the problem," she said, still staring at her hands, "he's so grateful and he doesn't even know what I did."

 

"There is nothing you could have possibly-"

 

"I'm the one who experimented on his dad! Not the doctor."

 

The admission short-circuited Caitlyn's brain. Jinx had been the one who did it? That didn't make sense.

 

"He made me.... anything I didn't do to him he'd do to me,"

 

Caitlyn's eyes widened in shock.

 

Her voice started shaking, "I'd watch him suffer for hours, trying to remind myself that he did this to himself, that he wanted it," she swallowed, "but every time I had to suffer because of what I did for him and that kid, I couldn't help but wish," she buried her face in her hands, "I wished I killed that man and that kid. I heard him screaming, and all I wanted was for him to die."

 

Jinx sobbed as Caitlyn sat there trying to wrap her head around all this.

 

Jinx worked for a man known as the doctor, who would experiment on her, which explained her unnatural speed and scars, ever since she was a child, most likely since Vi was arrested. That's why she was so upset when Caitlyn had asked if she took Shimmer when they first met, she did, but it wasn't her choice. Jinx went around killing people who owed the doctor money or did other jobs he asked her to do, which explained why she had been on that airship. She had gotten so angry during that fight because of Ekko (or The Boy Savior, according to Jinx), the leader of the Firelights, a group of people who tried to make the Undercity better, showed up, proving that they really did have much more history than Jinx let on. Jinx had spared this man's father, Orrin, knowing full well that there would be consequences for it, she hadn't known that she herself would be forced to do the experiments. At the young, innocent age of 14, Jinx was forced to torture the very man she had been hoping to save.

 

Everything was starting to make sense. Why Jinx was the way she was, why she acted the way she did, and why she did everything she did. But there was still the missing piece of the puzzle, why didn't she just leave? What was stopping her from just running away and never looking back? Why, after everything this "doctor" did, did she return and allow him to do these awful things to both her and others when she very clearly didn't want him to?

 

"Jinx, can I use that question you promised to answer now?"

 

Jinx hiccuped, "That's what you're worried about right now?"

 

Caitlyn gave her a soft smile, "I know this is an absolutely terrible time, but I just need you to answer one thing before I can say what I want to say to you."

 

Jinx reluctantly nodded.

 

"Why are you doing all of this?"

 

Jinx went rigid, her face paled, eyes flying around.

 

"Please. I just want to understand."

 

"......."

 

Caitlyn didn't speak, she just waited patiently for her to answer.

 

"V..der"

 

Caitlyn furrowed her brows, trying to catch what she had said, "I'm sorry I didn't hear you. Can you say it again?"

 

"Va...d..."

 

Caitlyn bit her lip, clearly, this was hard for Jinx, but she just couldn't make out the word she was saying.

 

"Just one more time."

 

"Vander! I stay for Vander!" She said before slapping a hand over her mouth, eyes as wide as dinner plates.

 

"Vander. That was the name of the guy you were calling out for when you woke up from your nightmare. Right?"

 

Jinx slowly nodded.

 

"Who is he?"

Jinx licked her lip, eyes darting around and at an alarming rate, "You only get one question."

 

"Come on, Jinx. I basically know everything already, this is the last thing, the most important thing!" Caitlyn reasoned, "Whatever you're so afraid of probably would have happened already, unless this is somehow worse than murdering and torturing people."

 

Jinx started chewing on her nails in worry as her eyes continued to wander.

 

Caitlyn grit her teeth, she didn't know how else to get through to her.

 

"I've never... said it out loud," Jinx whispered, eyes still landing on everything but Caitlyn.

 

"I won't tell a soul. I promise."

 

Her eyes flicked to Caitlyn's for a split second before darting away, "Those mean nothing to me anymore."

 

Caitlyn opened her mouth to reassure her, but Jinx cut her off.

 

"Vander is mine and Vi's adoptive father. 7 years ago.... I-" She grabbed a rock off the ground and flung it with an incredible and surprising amount of force at a wall.

 

Caitlyn could swear she saw a crack in the brick.

 

"Shut the hell up," she hissed before taking a deep breath, "I did something... incredibly stupid. Vander and our adoptive brothers died."

 

Caitlyn did her absolute best not to react. It explained so much. Jinx had done something that led to the death of her and Vi's adoptive family, which is why Vi left. But if Vander was dead, why was Jinx staying with that doctor person?

 

"Vi left me. I guess she got arrested later, but she left on her own first. She was real mad," Jinx said as she let out a small whimper before she started chewing on her nails again, "Silco found me with Vander's body. He took us to the doctor. Just gave us to him like he was getting rid of some piece of trash," she said her leg bouncing up and down faster than what seemed normal, "Then the doctor said..." she took a breath to stop a sob from escaping, "Said Vander was alive. I was so happy," her eyes shone with unshed tears, "Until he told me he would be using Vander like all the other twisted shit he kept on display. I- I panicked, I wanted to fix what I had done. I told the doctor he could have me instead if he helped Vander. He accepted. The rest.... The rest of the shit that happened to me would take years to explain," Jinx said making it clear that this was all she was going to say.

 

"....That's it? That's the reason you do all of this?"

 

She sat there chewing on a nail, getting dangerously close to her skin, bouncing her leg up and down, eyes flying all over the place, "Yeah. That's why I kill people, that's why I sit back and let him torture people. Awful, right?" She looked over at Caitlyn, eyes focusing on hers for the first time, "I'm a sick, twisted monster who deserves to die a horrible death."

 

It wasn't a question, and there wasn't a shadow of a doubt in her words. Jinx truly believed she was an unlovable monster.

 

"Jinx. You listen to me very carefully. Not the voices in your head, just me. You were a child. You did everything you could in an absolutely terrible situation that you should have never had to go through. You are so strong and incredibly brave."

 

Jinx's eyes filled with fresh tears as she shook head to toe with emotion.

 

"It wasn't your fault."

 

Jinx flung herself at Caitlyn, sobbing uncontrollably into her shoulder as she dug her nails into Caitlyn's back.

 

Caitlyn did her best not to wince or move, because the impossible was happening right now.

 

Jinx was hugging her.

 

Caitlyn, unsure what to do, reluctantly rubbed Jinx's back as lightly as possible in case she was uncomfortable with the touch, and whispered the same lines over and over again.

 

"You did everything you could."

 

"You were so brave."

 

But there was one line she made sure to say more than the others.

 

"It wasn't your fault."

 

Every time she said this, Jinx let out a wailing sob and hugged Caitlyn even closer.

 

---

 

Jinx and Caitlyn sat like that for much longer than Caitlyn had expected before Jinx pulled away.

 

She rubbed away the tears and snot on her face onto the sleeve of her shirt, "Sorry. Didn't mean to get snot all over you," she said, face turned away as she continued to wipe away the tears.

 

Caitlyn looked over at her shoulder and pulled a face that she quickly turned back to a neutral expression. Her shoulder was coated in a layer of snot and tears, which could have been avoided if Jinx hadn't insisted on her wearing this ridiculous outfit. Thankfully, Caitlyn had swiped a handkerchief from the brothel before they started parading her around. Honestly, at this point, Caitlyn had to admit her mother was right about always needing to have one handy, they had a lot more uses than just dabbing up sweat.

 

Caitlyn began mopping up the mess Jinx had made on her shoulder, trying her very hardest to not look completely disgusted.

 

Jinx let out a small sniffle, "You look like you just had your nose shoved in a pile of shit."

 

Caitlyn opened her mouth, appalled at the comparison, "I was trying to be nice and not show how grossed out I am by the snot puddle you left behind!"

 

"Well you're doing a suck ass job," Jinx said setting her chin on her knees that were now hugged close to her chest, watching as Caitlyn clean up, ".....You're really weird. You know that?"

 

"You know, Jinx, if all you're going to do is insult me, I'd prefer silence," Caitlyn replied with a sigh.

 

"S'not meant to be an insult. I just mean..... maybe people can change," she muttered, "Even enforcers."

 

Caitlyn smiled at that, "Thank you." Caitlyn paused and thought for a moment, "Could I ask you another question?"

 

Jinx let out another sniff before replying, "Shoot."

 

"I believe I was promised a story about Vi and her stuffed bunny," Caitlyn said, clearing her throat and doing her very best not to let it show how much she had been looking forward to this.

 

The thought of big, tough Vi holding a stuffed bunny rabbit was far too good a story to pass up. Caitlyn would have demanded to hear it as soon as she was done eating that foul food, but she was rather certain that if she had opened her mouth to speak, she would have let out more than just words.

 

"Oh, that. Well, when Vi was a kid, she had a stuffed bunny. The end."

 

Caitlyn blinked, "What!? That's it!!"

 

"Well Vi did tell me some long winded story about how some asshole threw it up into these wires and she would go out and stare at it hoping the wind or a bird would knock it down, but that's it."

 

"That can't be it!" Caitlyn said aghast, "You promised me a story in return for eating all that food."

 

Jinx shrugged, "Vi had that rabbit way before me, I didn't even know it existed until she showed me it hanging on those wires. Apparently, it was her favorite toy."

 

"Well, what happened to it? Did she ever get it back?"

 

Jinx grew quiet for a moment before she answered, "She got it down, and then she gave it to me. I haven't seen it since that night," she said wistfully, "Silco probably threw it out with the rest of our stuff when he moved into the Last Drop," she added bitterly.

 

"Did you used to live there?" Caitlyn asked, taken aback by the new fact.

 

"Yup. Me, Vi, Vander, Mylo, and Claggor. One big happy family," She said sarcastically.

 

That sent a jolt of shock and embarrassment through her. That bar Vi had stopped to look at was her old home with her old family, and Caitlyn had basically spat in her face by saying it looked like a place riddled with crime.

 

Caitlyn ran a hand down her face and let out a groan of embarrassment and frustration, she seemed to keep screwing up with Vi.

 

"Jeez, who knew you'd get so bent out of shape about being tricked?"

 

Caitlyn looked up at Jinx, "That is not what that was about, but yes, I am upset you tricked me."

 

Jinx shrugged a playful smirk dancing across her lips, "Not my fault you basically jumped at the chance to hear that little tidbit about Vi."

 

Caitlyn scowled as her face flushed, "I did not! And I do not like your sister!!"

 

Jinx snickered, "Whatever you say, toots."

 

Caitlyn just continued to scowl at her and her teasing tone.

 

Sure, Vi was.... interesting, and muscular, with tattoos that seemed to go all the way down her back. But she was also rude, unpleasant, crude, and had no clue what personal space was!

 

So, no, Caitlyn did not have any desire to get into a relationship with an adult who had anger problems and was only sweet and vulnerable with the people she trusted, while doing absolutely everything in her power to help and protect those she loves.

 

....What exactly was Caitlyn's problem with dating her again?

 

"Speaking of Vi, you aren't allowed to tell her a word about what I said to you."

 

Caitlyn blinked as she was pulling out of her spiraling thoughts of Vi upon hearing the ludicrous request Jinx was making, "She's your sister! You have to tell her!"

 

"Never said I wouldn't. Just said you're not allowed to," Jinx said, fixing her with a look.

 

"Well, when exactly are you planning on telling her? She's been worrying herself into an early grave trying to figure out why you changed so much."

 

Jinx took a deep breath, "I don't know yet. There's still some stuff that needs to get sorted out."

 

"Oh no, no, no. I will not be a part of keeping this from Vi."

 

Jinx narrowed her eyes at her, "Caitlyn, let me set this out in real simple terms for you. No one knows about Vander except you, me, and the doctor, and only a handful of people know about me and the doctor. Silco is out for my head right now, and if he finds out about Vander, he'll use him to get to me. If the doctor tries to fight him on it, that'll start a whole other problem I don't want to deal with, but it's more then likely when the doctor finds out about my little outings with you and my sister he'll kill Vander or just hand him over to Silco so he can kill him."

 

"Vi wouldn't let that happen, she'd be careful."

 

Jinx raised a brow at her, "You mean my wreaking ball of a sister, who thought the best move when she came down here after seven years was to take on Sevika, Silco's number two, which then led to Silco personally leading a manhunt for the two of you?"

 

"Well....."

 

"I love my sister, but she thinks with her fists, not her brain. If I tell her the doctor is holding Vander hostage, she'll go barreling down there with no plan except to kill him, and if Vi kills the doctor, Vander won't be waking up from his coma."

 

"I can help with that," Caitlyn interjected, "We have plenty of doctors in Piltover that could help!"

 

Jinx shook her head, "No offense, but you Pilties know nothing about Shimmer, and that stuff has been what kept Vander alive when he was at death's door. The doctor already knows what's wrong, Vander, if I just hold out a little longer, he'll wake him up."

 

"Jinx..."

 

"Look, I can't explain it all right now, but I have a plan, ok?"

 

Caitlyn bit her lip, unconvinced.

 

"I can't believe I'm saying this," She said, taking a deep breath, "but I'm trusting you. Please don't make me regret it."

 

This sounded like a terrible idea to Caitlyn, this doctor person didn't sound like he would be waking Vander up, but it wasn't like Caitlyn could argue with Jinx's logic. Telling Vi would be like putting a bull in a china shop, you won't know what she'll break or when, but you could be certain something would be breaking. Besides, Jinx was also right about Vander's injuries, the doctors her mother would hire would have no clue how to treat Shimmer-related injuries or whatever else that was going on with him.

 

Caitlyn reluctantly agreed, "Fine. Just- you have to tell her as soon as possible. She has a right to know, he's her father too."

 

Jinx furrowed her brows, "I know that."

 

"Alright then, let's go find Vi."

 

---

 

Jinx and Caitlyn both went back in to grab the guy, who was, as he said, still sitting right where they left him.

 

"I assume this means we're good?" He asked, question directed towards Jinx.

 

Jinx didn't respond, she just bared her teeth and probably let out a noise of disgust that couldn't be heard over the music.

 

Jinx didn't seem particularly pleased to see this kid again, but she didn't seem angry either. She just seemed uncomfortable and unsure how to act.

 

He stood, "I'll take that as a yes."

 

They made their way out of the club, Jinx and the guy taking the lead as Caitlyn did her best to not get lost in the crowd.

 

"Why exactly do you want Ekko's location all of a sudden?" He asked as soon as they were out of the club.

 

Jinx didn't reply, she merely kept walking.

 

"Still not much of a talker?"

 

Jinx scowled at him, "I've been after The Boy Savior and you Burnt out Buffoons heads for years. If you're dumb enough to actually agree to take me straight to your hideout, you don't get to go around questioning me."

 

"We're looking for Jinx's sister," Caitlyn said after Jinx got done rambling, "we're not going to hurt anyone."

 

Jinx turned and fixed her with a gaze that burned with pure fury.

 

"You mean Vi? I thought she was dead??"

 

"No, she was just arrested. She came back a few days ago. I'm surprised you didn't know, seeing as your crew and Ekko are the ones who kidnapped her."

 

"Oh, I had no part of that. I usually just hang around the hideout for a day or two, helping out here and there before heading out again. The whole living like a saint isn't really my vibe. Unfortunately, that means they don't really trust me with the big stuff, like kidnapping Vi."

 

Jinx stopped in her tracks, then she looked over at the guy, "How the hell do you know about me and Vi being sisters?"

 

He looked over at her, "What do you mean, Ekko tells all sorts of stories about you guys?"

 

Jinx clenched her jaw, "Maybe, but he sure as hell doesn't go around telling anyone that I'm the girl in those stories." Jinx pulled out a blade, "Doesn't look too good when the person trying to kill you and your people is your childhood bestie."

 

He held up his hands, "You're right, he never mentioned you directly, but he's got this mural thing with your face on it. Anyone who's actually seen you knows exactly who you used to be."

 

Well that sure pissed Jinx off. Her jaw was clenched, and her grip on the blade was now iron tight.

 

"He painted my face on a mural," she growled out.

 

Ronan looked over at Caitlyn for some guidance, and Caitlyn just shrugged. She had no idea about the history between Ekko and Jinx, so she didn't exactly know how to navigate this.

 

"Yes?"

 

Jinx stood there mulling that information over.

 

"Hey! You actually look really good if that's what you're worried about."

 

That was a stupid thing to say, obviously this mural thing was pissing Jinx off for some reason. Joking about it wasn't about to fix that.

 

Jinx gave him a look that made him shut his mouth real quick, then she turned to Caitlyn.

 

"If you want to keep blabbing about our business to a complete stranger, be my guest, just leave me the hell out of it," she said as she gestured for them to start walking.

 

They did so as quickly as possible, leaving Jinx walking a few steps behind them, where she seemed rather content to stay.

 

"So," Caitlyn whispered to Ronan, "Jinx and Ekko were friends?"

 

He nodded his head and whispered back, "Oh yeah. Ekko never really talks about the two of them, but you can tell from the small things he says that the two of them were practically inseparable when they were younger."

 

"Well, if they were so close, why are they at each other's throats now?" Caitlyn questioned.

 

"Well, it's like I said back at the club, Ekko thinks Jinx works for Silco, and he is not a Silco fan."

 

"Why didn't Jinx ever correct him? Or you, for that matter?"

 

"Jinx saved my life, I wasn't about to go telling her secrets from the rooftops. Besides, like I said in the club, if Jinx wanted him to know then he would know. As for why Jinx didn't tell Ekko anything? I don't have a clue."

 

She thought about it for a moment, surely things couldn't have been so dire back then as they are now, that Jinx still refused to tell her best friend about what was going on. Or at least explain that she wasn't with Silco but this doctor person. Caitlyn was still missing something.

 

"I can see why that would lead Ekko to be angry with her, but wouldn't he question things when Jinx was refusing to kill him and his friends?"

 

"Well, that's the thing, as far as I'm aware, Jinx has never spared a Firelight beside me. If anything, she's more ruthless when it comes to killing them. It's one of the reasons I try not to hang out with the Firelights too often. Jinx probably would have killed me ages ago if I went out on missions with them."

 

"What do you mean? I was under the impression Jinx only killed those she was told to or had to."

 

"Well, you're right, but most of the Firelights are old addicts or were related to one, so Jinx targeting them is pretty common. They also try to intervene when they can, and Jinx will kill those who get in her way. More Firelights end up dying to Jinx than Silco. That's more than enough reason for Ekko's hatred of her, but to add fuel to the fire, Jinx makes sure to kill every single Firelight in the same way, so Ekko knows who did it. She stabs them in the throat and twists the blade until they're dead. It's a lot more painful than her go-to attack, which is usually just to stab the heart."

 

Why would Jinx do that!? Jinx clearly didn't take any pleasure in killing her targets, so why did she make killing the Firelights so personal?

 

"Ok, well, I can see why Ekko is so angry with Jinx, but what I don't get is why Jinx is angry with him? Wouldn't she have been against killing his people, not trying to add some personal flair to it?"

 

He shrugged, "Honestly, you'd have a better shot of answering that than me. I've hung around the Firelights and Ekko for years, but I've only met Jinx twice. All I know is that she keeps her secrets to herself and, whether or not she wants me to know it, she's got a good heart. I don't know what happened between Ekko and her, but I got a feeling he hurt her, so she tried to hurt him, and then things just spiraled from there."

 

Caitlyn sighed. This complicated relationship would probably create a lot of issues when it came to getting Vi back.

 

"I can't believe you're actually just going to lead Jinx straight to Ekko and his hideout. Won't they kick you out for good?"

 

He chuckled, "Probably, but Jinx saved my life at her own expense, and she gave me a home. I owe her a lot more than I owe Ekko and the others."

 

"They provide you with a home and food, and you grew up with them. I'm just surprised you agreed to this so easily."

 

He was quiet for a moment before responding, "You know, I still have that doll she made me. I gave up a photo of my dead parents for that doll, and it's been the one thing in my life that a perfect stranger gave to me with absolutely no ulterior motives except for the simple fact that they wanted to. She sat and listened to me, a sick kid who didn't have any friends and spent most of his time home alone, waiting for his father to come home and pass out because he was so tired from working to feed me. To me, Jinx was the only light in my entirely too bleak life. She gave me something I never thought I thought I would have, a will to live. No amount of food or shelter will ever compare."

 

Caitlyn silently contemplated his words. Jinx had truly helped this kid, and she still thought she had ruined his life.

 

"Whatever happened to the doll?"

 

A small smile crossed his face, "I gave it to this little girl who needed it a lot more than me."

 

Caitlyn blinked, surprised at that, "You must really like her if you gave her your doll."

 

His smile widened. "That kid is by far my favorite thing in the hideout."

 

"Well, you'll have to introduce us."

 

His smile then grew out into a full-out grin, "Oh, that was always the plan."

 

Caitlyn had the feeling he had done something Jinx was going to hate.

 

He clapped his hands together loudly, officially ending their conversation, "Well, here we are!"

 

Jinx and Caitlyn looked over at the giant pipe that was in front of them.

 

"The Boy Savior is living in the vents like a rat?" Jinx said, eyebrow raised.

 

"Oh, trust me, what's inside is much more than just vents."

 

Caitlyn sighed as Ronan began to climb into the pipe and began to heave herself in as well, accepting Ronan's extended hand. Caitlyn stood and turned, ready to watch Jinx climb in with ease, making her look pathetic for needing help, but Jinx didn't move, she just stood there.

 

"Jinx?" She called.

 

She didn't move.

 

"Come on, Jinx. I know you don't trust the guy, but we've come this far," Caitlyn called out.

 

She still didn't move.

 

Caitlyn turned to Ronan, "Just give us a second."

 

He nodded as Caitlyn jumped down and walked over to Jinx.

 

"Hey, what are you doing?"

 

Jinx stared at the pipe, "You know I could hear everything you two were saying during our walk?"

 

Caitlyn felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment, "I was just curious-"

 

"I put myself through a lot to give that kid a home."

 

"....Jinx, where are you going with this?"

 

"The Boy Savior won't listen to a word we say if I'm there."

 

"We'll make him listen! And before you keep going with this, Vi won't let Ekko anywhere near you, and I'll be there to make sure of that too."

 

"We'll be in their turf, no shot we'll make it with just the three of us, but that's not the entire problem either," she looked over at Caitlyn, "The doctor didn't just let me leave the lab for shits and giggles," she pulled out a folded up piece of paper, "I got a job to do before I have to head back."

 

"Why in the world didn't you tell me before!!"

 

Jinx sighed, "because I still hadn't decided what I was going to do by then."

 

"Well, I can grab Vi and then you can meet up with us after you're done-"

 

"Caitlyn."

 

Caitlyn stopped talking and looked at Jinx.

 

"I didn't come for Vi."

 

She blinked in surprise, "Then why..." Jinx didn't need to answer for Caitlyn to understand, "You just wanted the Hexgem!!" Caitlyn accused.

 

Jinx didn't deny it, "I realized I wouldn't be able to take it with you and Vi in the way as we were walking over. Not to mention it'll screw up the kid's life here. So I'm leaving."

 

Anger filled Caitlyn, "Just like that!? You're going to up and leave your sister without so much as a goodbye?"

 

"She never said goodbye to me!" She spat, "And I don't need you to start looking down on me, I'm doing this for Vander. I told you that."

 

"Vi came back for you. And you're leaving her," Caitlyn stated plainly.

 

"If I stay with her, Vander dies! I can't have both Caitlyn, that's not how my life works. I don't get to have it all!"

 

"You can't fix all of this on your own! You've tried that already, and look how you ended up!" Caitlyn yelled exasperated, "Vi is your sister. She will help you."

 

Jinx closed the gap between them, furry clear in her eyes, "And Vander is my father. I have sacrificed too much to risk Vi messing this up. So either you're with me or against me, but either way, this is happening."

 

Caitlyn stared down at her, "I won't stand by as you destroy your guy's life again just because you're scared of what might happen."

 

There was a change in Jinx's expression, so tiny and subtle that most wouldn't notice, Caitlyn wouldn't have if she hadn't been toe to toe with her. It was the type of thing you don't notice until it's gone, the small warmth that was in her eyes vanished and shifted back to the cold, emotionless gaze she had back when they first met. Caitlyn could now tell, Jinx had been looking through her all this time, until recently, to Jinx, Caitlyn was now nothing more than a minuscule nuisance she could easily take care of if she wanted to.

 

"I was stupid to think you'd be any different. People never change, especially people like you," Jinx said, voice vacant of any emotion.

 

With those final words, Jinx simply turned around and left. Leaving Caitlyn wondering if she'd ever see her again, before she also turned and made her way back into the tunnel.

 

"Where's she going?" Ronan asked.

 

"Who knows," Caitlyn replied, "but she's not coming back."

Notes:

I know some of you are probably screaming at your screens at Caitlyn for letting Jinx leave, especially after finding out what Jinx is going through, but she knows there's nothing she can really do to stop her, even if she tried. Please don't think she doesn't care about Jinx, she does, but she also knows that this gamble Jinx is making is a bad one. She's not supporting her on it.

 

Now, onto Jinx, who is probably the other person you're mad at. Jinx's plan from the beginning was to get the Hexgem, not Vi, so yeah, she left her. Now, yes, trusting the doctor with Vander is a bad idea, and yes, he has already proven that he will betray Jinx, but here's the thing, Jinx sees him as the only option. Yes, Vi is another option available to her, but Jinx doesn't trust her either. Vi broke that trust a long time ago. And at the end of the day, Vander is Jinx's top priority, so unless Vi and Caitlyn provide a way to wake him up, then she's not risking betraying the doctor who she believes holds the key to Vander's recovery. No, Jinx doesn't trust the doctor, but she fears him, and that's enough of a reason to stick by him.

 

Also, please remember that Jinx doesn't make logical decisions, she makes emotional ones, it's the whole reason she's in this mess to begin with.

 

Welp, that's it for this weekend. Please leave a comment if you have any questions.  

Chapter 24: Oublie-Moi

Ekko had reluctantly agreed to Vi's demand to find her enforcer friend and Jinx.

 

Ekko knew it was a bad idea, but the enforcers were getting more and more vicious as the days went by. He needed to make a move, and this one was as good as any. He had left Vi in a spare room to "think of a plan," which was just his way of making her sit still while he put together a team for this mission. He would never actually put Vi in charge of thinking of a plan of attack, that was always Ekko and Pow-

 

He shook his head. Ever since Vi came back, he'd been thinking of the past, something that would drive him mad if he kept doing it.

 

He walked over to Scar, who was hanging out with some of the kids and taking care of his now six-month-old son, Callous. Scar's wife had died during labor, and they didn't have the supplies needed to help. Ekko had even tried to get his hands on shimmer when he was told there were complications with the delivery, but it was too late by then, and Scar wanted him to stay with him. So Ekko stayed by his side, helped him plan the funeral, and gave him plenty of space on the wall to paint his wife whenever he was ready to.

 

The spot still sat empty.

 

"Scar."

 

"Ekko," He said, nodding his head in greeting.

 

"I got a question for you."

 

Ekko hadn't let Vi know, but he couldn't help but be curious about something she had said about Jinx.

 

"Did Jinx kill Silco?"

 

He knows Vi only said attacked, but if Jinx attacked someone on purpose, they never made it out alive. He knew that for a fact.

 

Scar gave him a look, "Don't tell me the girl got to you."

 

"No, she didn't."

 

"Good, because I wouldn't want to have to remind you of every single person Jinx has killed."

 

"Scar," Ekko said, the warning clear in his voice, "I never need to be reminded. I'm well aware of how many of our people she's killed."

 

He nodded, seemingly satisfied with his answer.

 

"I still need you to look into it."

 

Scar sighed, "Why? We both know it's not true."

 

"Because Vi said she saw her do it, and whether you like it or not, I trust Vi."

 

"She's been gone for years, she has no idea about what's been happening down here. If Silco was killed by his own people, we would have heard about it by now. Or someone else would have."

 

Ekko sighed. Scar was right, and he knew that. Part of him just wanted to believe...

 

Scar placed a hand on his shoulder, "I know this is hard on you, but you can't fall back into bad habits. It's like you tell the guys in recovery, it may feel good to indulge at first, but it won't be long before it leaves you feeling worse than before. The high isn't worth it."

 

Ekko wanted to laugh at the comparison. Jinx, Ekko's drug. But there was too much truth in the comment for it to be funny.

 

He could still remember what the first few years were like after Jinx's first attack. All the heartache that followed, and how hard it was to still care for her as he watched her kill all his friends. It took him about 3 years to completely accept the fact that Powder was gone and Jinx was here to stay, of course that's not what his people thought, after that first kill Ekko had to put on a strong act and pretend that having his best friend killing his new friends didn't tear him apart inside. That he was completely fine having to promise to kill her every time she killed someone new.

 

After their first meeting, Ekko spent all his time trying to figure out an explanation for her behavior, why she went over to Silco, why she actually stayed by choice, and if she didn't, then why would she be killing? Janna did Jinx never stop killing. Every time he thought she was gone, she came back, leaving a fresh trail of bodies in her wake. Ekko had even tried to talk to her, convince her to stop, but it never took, and Jinx never responded. She just kept killing, making sure Ekko knew for a fact that it was her doing it by killing every one of his crew the same way she did the first time.

 

A knife to the neck, twisted, just to make sure it hurt that much more.

 

Scar was the one who finally forced Ekko to accept the truth, after Jinx killed their old friend who used to run the hideout with them, Scar threatened to leave if Ekko didn't get serious about taking Jinx down and protecting the rest of them from her, and Ekko knew if Scar left he'd take half of the people here with him. So Ekko stopped longing for Jinx to become someone she wasn't and made sure to save as many people as he could from her.

 

No, Jinx wasn't worth the price she came with, but she was truly the most beautiful of curses.

 

"I like making things blow up because there's something so frighteningly beautiful about watching something being ripped apart and obliterated into a million pieces. And if you still don't see it, Little Man, I'm going to make you one day."

 

He supposed she did. Only it wasn't the explosions he was captivated by.

 

"It's not even the way the explosions look!! It's trying to figure them out, you know?  Trying to see what makes them tick. That's the real beauty, Little Man, and one day you're going to see it. I'll make sure of it."

 

He saw it now, in Jinx.

 

The sickening beauty of her slowly being more and more destroyed every time they met. The twisted game of trying to find the reason for every little action she took that kept him up for days on end.

 

Yes, Powder had kept her promise. Ekko finally saw the frighteningly beautiful things she did in her explosions. Only he saw them all in Jinx.

 

"Just get someone to watch what's happening with Silco for a while. We need to check and make sure nothing's going on anyway."

 

Scar sighed, "Alright."

 

"Hey who's that??" One of the kids asked, pointing towards the entrance of the hideout where a crowd seemed to be gathering.

 

Ekko looked over to try and see what was going on, but the people were blocking out what was causing the commotion.

 

"Scar."

 

"On it," he said as he began rounding up the kids and leading them inside.

 

Ekko made his way over to the crowd and walked his way through as people created a path for him when they realized he was there.

 

"What's going on?" He asked as he arrived at the center.

 

Two people stood at the door of the hideout, one was Ronan, a kid who they had taken in about 5 years back, and the other was the enforcer girl that Vi had been traveling with, who was now dressed like she was about to go out for a night of drinking and clubbing.

 

"Ekko-" Ronan started before the girl interrupted him.

 

"We're here for Vi. You know the girl you kidnapped?"

 

The crowd around them let out some shouts of anger and whispers of distrust.

 

Ekko pinched his brow before letting out a sharp, high whistle, letting Scar know he was needed.

 

"Ronan, what the hell have you done?" Ekko asked, frustrated.

 

Plenty of people in the hideout had voiced concerns about Ronan and how he came to them under suspicious circumstances. Ronan had tricked Babette into getting one of his crew to take him to the hideout without any permission. He had told Babette Ekko sent him, but Ekko had never seen the boy before, and when he was asked to explain why he lied, he said his dad had told him to before Jinx killed him. He had told them a whole story about Jinx killing his dad because he couldn't afford to pay for the Shimmer medicine he needed, and how his dad had heard of the firelights from an old coworker that they had tried to recruit.

 

The story had plenty of holes in it and many people, like Scar, pointed them out constantly, but Ekko wasn't going to turn away a person in need. So Ronan got to stay, he grew up here, where the air was better and his lungs could recover properly, but as soon as he was old enough, he spent his days back in the Lanes, only coming back at night and staying to help when asked. None of the adults trusted him, he had no friends, and he only spent his time with the kids, so him bringing a perfect stranger straight into the hideout, no blindfold, and an enforcer no less, was basically confirming everyone's doubts about him. Honestly, the only thing he could have done worse was bring Jinx herself here.

 

Scar pushed his way through the crowd and Vi was right behind him.

 

What a headache this was going to turn out to be.

 

"Caitlyn? The hell happened to you?"

 

The girl, Caitlyn, turned at the sound of Vi's voice, "Vi! Thank goodness you're alright."

 

Scar walked over and grabbed Ronan by the shoulder, to anyone just looking, they wouldn't be able to guess it wasn't a friendly gesture of greeting, but a way of making sure he didn't run.

 

Vi walked over to Caitlyn, "Man, Cait, you really had a blast without me, huh?" Vi said, gesturing at her outfit.

 

Caitlyn looked down at it and blushed, "I'll have you know this was not my idea."

 

Vi just smirked, before her eyes wandered to the people around and her smile fell, "Where's Powder?"

 

The enforcer's expression shifted into one of pity.

 

"Alright," Ekko interrupted before this went any further, "Vi, Scar, Ronan, and you," Ekko said, gesturing at the enforcer, disgust clear in his voice, "Come with me. Now."

 

They all made their way through the crowd of people who regarded the new additions to the hideout with distrust.

 

Ekko lead them to the meeting room, a place where they could have some privacy. Scar marched everyone inside and shut the door behind them all.

 

"Alright, you two, start talking," Ekko demanded.

 

Ronan opened his mouth to speak, but once again the girl interrupted him, "Look, I'm sorry I just barged in here, but you hardly gave me much of a choice."

 

Ekko glared at her before looking over at Scar, giving him the signal to search the two of them.

 

Scar did, Ronan didn't fight, but the enforcer sure did.

 

"W-what do you think you're doing!" She called out as Scar pulled her backpack off her and emptied the gun onto the floor along with the bullets in it.

 

"Ekko, the hell are you doing!?" Vi growled out, going over to check on the enforcer.

 

"Ronan. You led an enforcer straight to us while she was armed," pure anger and disappointment laced his words.

 

Ronan sighed, "Look, if I could just get two seconds to explain-"

 

Once again, he was cut off, only this time it was because Scar punched him across the face.

 

"You filthy traitor," he spat.

 

"Scar," Ekko scolded, but made no move to help the kid.

 

The enforcer, on the other hand, was quick to run over and check on him, "Are you alright?"

 

Ekko held no love for the enforcer girl Vi claimed was on their side. No enforcer was ever on their side.

 

He rubbed his jaw, "Fine," he gritted out, sending a glare Scar's way.

 

"No more interruptions. You," Ekko said, nodding at the enforcer girl, "What happened after we grabbed Vi, and where's Jinx."

 

The room got quiet as Caitlyn began to speak, "After you kidnapped Vi, Jinx and I went to get some rest and take care of her injuries."

 

"Take care?" Scar questioned, "The psycho heals on her own."

 

Ekko knew what was going to happen as soon as the words left Scar's mouth. Vi walked over and clocked him in the face, sending him falling to the ground.

 

"Say that again, I dare you," she spat.

 

Ekko stood and grabbed Vi by the arm before she kept going, and gave Scar a look to tell him to let it go.

 

Vi shrugged him off and went to brood in the corner as the enforcer continued the story.

 

"Jinx's injuries were severe. She needed rest and stitches in her leg after that stunt you people pulled."

 

That was interesting. Ekko had seen that Jinx was in rough shape, some of his people had even commented that she was slow that day, and Jinx was never slow, nor did she ever need time to recover.

 

"What happened to her before we got there?" Ekko questioned.

 

Caitlyn gave him a confused look, "Vi didn't tell you?"

 

"Oh I told him," Vi said with a growl, "He's just too thick in the head and refuses to believe me."

 

Ekko shook his head in exasperation.

 

"Well, as Vi has probably told you, Jinx had just come from fighting Silco and a couple dozen Shimmer monsters. She was practically dead on her feet when you got there, it's a miracle you didn't kill her."

 

Scar locked eyes with Ekko as he opened his mouth to ask the question that now buzzed in his brain nonstop, "Did she kill Silco?"

 

Was Ekko wrong? Had he been misunderstanding what was happening? Had he abandoned Powder when she needed him most?

 

"No. She told me Silco ran before she got to him."

 

Not even a second later, all his hope that what Vi had been saying was true shattered. You'd think it would stop hurting so much after going through it so many times.

 

Scar let out a scoff, "Of course he did."

 

Vi shifted, "The hell's that supposed to mean?"

 

"It means your nut job of a sister let him go on purpose," Scar responded, fully ready to take Vi on this time.

 

"My sister was practically dead after that fight. You think she just had a nice chat with Silco before letting him run off!?"

 

Ekko could tell Vi was already planning on how to land the first blow.

 

"ENOUGH!" Ekko yelled, slamming his fist onto the table, "Silco's alive, whether Jinx wanted him to be or not. Now you," he said, pointing at the enforcer, "are going to cut to the chase and tell us how you found Ronan and where Jinx went."

 

She narrowed her eyes at him, "Jinx found Ronan, then she left."

 

"Left? You expect us to believe Jinx, the person who's been trying to kill us for years, just left?" Scar asked, unconvinced.

 

"You're wrong, Cait. Powder wouldn't just leave." Vi said, voice wavering.

 

Not even Vi believed what she was saying anymore.

 

The enforcer sighed, "I'm sorry Vi."

 

Vi stood in the corner, looking like her entire world had just flipped upside down. She had just gone through something Ekko had thousands of times before, she realized Jinx didn't care about her. At least not enough to leave Silco, or whatever it was that was keeping her with him.

 

"What did Jinx hope to get out of finding us?" Ekko asked, trying to stay on topic.

 

"She wanted the Hexgem. But she realized that she wouldn't be able to get it with Vi and me here."

 

"That's why my sister came looking for me? For that stupid stone?" Vi asked, the betrayal she felt, clear in her voice.

 

"Vi-" The enforcer said softly.

 

Vi didn't give her a chance to finish her sentence, she walked out. The enforcer stood and followed her.

 

Scar was about to go and grab her, but Ekko held up a hand to stop him, "Let them talk. Just keep an eye on the enforcer."

 

Scar nodded before he headed out the door.

 

Ekko let out a tired sigh.

 

"Ekko. You don't know the whole story," Ronan said, knowing his sigh meant nothing good for him.

 

"Why'd you do it? How could you risk all our lives? Just what does Jinx have on you?"

 

He shook his head, "I know you don't want to hear this, but Jinx isn't the monster you are so determined to make her out to be."

 

"She killed your father."

 

"Yes, but-"

 

"She killed Lilith."

 

"I know-"

 

"She killed Lazz, and Nina, and Kamil, and Shiv, and so many other people that are painted on our walls. Do you need me to name them all?"

 

He looked at Ekko for a long time before he took a deep breath and sighed, "I heard you were after the enforcer girl. I never planned on bringing Jinx here. I had a plan to lose her in the tunnels, but then she just left on her own. There, that explanation fit into your neat little box?"

 

Ekko ran a hand down his tired face. "I know you have trouble fitting in here, but that's no reason to start acting out. Despite what you think, I'm trying to help you out here. The people out there need to know that you're not going to betray them."

 

"Let me clear something up for you Ekko. I don't want to be here, and the only reason I stay is because that's what my father wanted for me. I don't care if you kick me out or not."

 

The silence in the room stretched out for a long time. Ekko understood that the kid didn't like all the rules they had set in place, but he couldn't let his people be afraid of living here. He also couldn't just leave him to fend for himself on the streets either.

 

"Just stay at the hideout for a while and help out. No more mistakes, ok?"

 

The kid stood in silence for a long time before responding, "....Not everyone wants to be saved by you," and turning around to leave.

Chapter 25: Can You Love What No Longer Exists?

Powder had left her.

 

 

She knew where Vi was, she had a way to get to her, and she chose just to leave.

 

 

"Vi!"

 

 

She had been trying to get to Powder for seven years, and Powder just left her.

 

 

"Vi," Caitlyn said as she grabbed her shoulder, finally catching up to her.

 

 

"What!" Vi yelled as she turned to face her.

 

 

Caitlyn looked into her eyes, "I'm sorry. I know how much you've done to find your sister."

 

 

"No. You don't."

 

 

Caitlyn would never truly know just how much Vi had been through these past seven years. No matter how long Vi tried to explain it to her. All the beatings, calling out for her sister, only to be called an addict, living her days in solitary, fighting every single day of her life, never letting the anger leave her because she knew if she did, she would end up like all the others in that rat-infested hell hole. Broken.

 

 

And she would do it all again for Powder. 

 

 

"I know you don't understand why your sister-"

 

 

"Caitlyn. Don't. I know that you're going to try and defend her, and I can't handle it right now."

 

 

Caitlyn reluctantly closed her mouth and allowed Vi to speak.

 

 

"She's just- so different from what I expected."

 

 

A flicker of something flashed across her face, but Caitlyn continued to listen silently.

 

 

"She was so young and sweet when I left her. Now I hear she's been running around killing people, like a hitman! She talks to herself when there's no one else there, she looks like a half-dead corpse, she even sounds different!! She's completely alienated herself from everyone we used to know, and I honestly don't even know what to think of her anymore."

 

 

Once again, a look passed over Caitlyn's face like she wanted to say something but chose not to.

 

 

"You want to know the worst part? I would have forgiven it all! If she had just come with you and apologized, I would have forgiven everything. No explanation necessary. No matter what Ekko or anyone else said about her. If she had just chosen to stay, if she had just picked me over.... I don't even know what!" Vi laughed, "Isn't that funny? I don't even know what my baby sister left me behind for."

 

 

"Vi," Caitlyn whispered, "Your sister-"

 

 

"Hey! Enforcer girl!!" The guy Caitlyn had come with yelled and waved her down.

 

 

Caitlyn looked over at him, then back at Vi.

 

 

"Go," Vi said, "I need to be alone for a minute."

 

 

After a moment of hesitation, she said, "Fine, but I'll be back in two seconds, so don't move. We need to talk about your sister."

 

 

Vi just watched as Caitlyn walked away, noticing something on the skin of her back she hadn't before.

 

 

---

 

 

Caitlyn walked over to Ronan.

 

 

 "What?" Caitlyn snapped at him.

 

 

Caitlyn was rather upset that he interrupted the conversation she was having with Vi, she was just about to explain why Jinx was doing what she had been doing all these years.

 

 

"How much did you tell her?" He asked, nodding toward Vi.

 

 

"What?" She asked, confused.

 

 

"About Jinx. How much did you tell her?" He whispered.

 

 

Caitlyn blinked at him, "I don't see how that's any of your business."

 

 

He growled, frustrated, "Look, I know you and Jinx had a talk after you left the club, but you can't just go telling everyone about it."

 

 

"I'm not." Caitlyn said, crossing her arms, "I'm telling Vi, Jinx's sister, who has every right to know what her sister has been up to."

 

 

"But you have no right to be the one telling her," he half yelled, "She trusted you with this!"

 

 

Caitlyn narrowed her eyes at him, "Jinx had the opportunity to tell her herself, but she turned around and left. I'm telling Vi"

 

 

He took a deep breath and then sighed, "Do you think telling people she's working for the doctor and not Silco is going to change anything?"

 

 

This kid didn't know what was actually going on with Jinx, so Caitlyn didn't expect him to understand the moral dilemma she was going through. Yes, Jinx had trusted her with this information in the strictest confidence, but Caitlyn had only agreed to keep quiet because Jinx agreed to tell Vi herself. All bets were off when she turned around and walked away.

 

 

"Vi would go save her. She would do everything in her power to save her sister."

 

 

He shook his head, exasperated. "She doesn't want to be saved! And if you tell Vi about the doctor, then soon enough Ekko is going to know, and then half the Undercity."

 

 

"Silco is out for my head right now, and if he finds out about Vander, he'll use him to get to me."

 

 

Caitlyn shook her head, "Vi wouldn't let that happen," she stated firmly.

 

 

"Fine, say everything happens just how you want it to go. What happens when Jinx starts fighting you?"

 

 

"Jinx wouldn't-"

 

 

"There's a reason Ekko and her aren't friends anymore. Jinx doesn't want him to save her from the doctor or Silco. She stays with the doctor because she wants to. Telling Vi about this isn't going to do anything but betray the faith Jinx put in you. She won't accept your help."

 

 

... that wasn't right. Was it? If Vi went to help Jinx, she would accept, wouldn't she?

 

 

"And he's my father. I have sacrificed too much to risk Vi messing this up."

 

 

If Vi's involvement endangered Vander, Jinx would do whatever it took to make sure he lived, and Caitlyn couldn't be sure if that included fighting off Vi's attempts to help her.

 

 

"Caitlyn."

 

 

Caitlyn jumped at the sound of Vi's voice.

 

 

"Vi," Caitlyn said, turning to face her, "you scared me. What-"

 

 

Vi grabbed her shoulder and spun her around so Caitlyn had her back to her.

 

 

"What are you-" Caitlyn began asking, completely mortified at her sudden outburst.

 

 

"Who the hell did this to you?" She growled out.

 

 

Caitlyn's brows furrowed in confusion at the question until she remembered the hug Jinx had given her. Jinx must have left several claw marks on Caitlyn's back.

 

 

Caitlyn turned back around to look at her, "Oh, it's ok, your sister just-" Caitlyn began, but once again, Vi cut her off.

 

 

"My sister did this," She said, shocked and furious.

 

 

"Yes, but-"

 

 

Vi turned and stormed off.

 

 

---

 

 

Her sister hurt Caitlyn.

 

 

She actually hurt her.

 

 

This wasn't just some story Ekko was telling her, this was real, and she had the proof right in front of her.

 

 

"Vi!! Where are you going?!"

 

 

Vi didn't know. Anywhere. Nowhere. 

 

 

"Vi, would you stop and listen to me!?" Caitlyn said as she grabbed her arm.

 

 

"What!? What could you possibly say that would explain this away?"

 

 

"Your sister wasn't trying to hurt me-"

 

 

"But she did, and that's the problem. She's. Not. The. Same."

 

 

"Vi," Caitlyn whispered.

 

 

Vi felt tears threatening to fall, "I don't know what to believe anymore, Cait. I had this image in my head of how she would be, and then when she wasn't, I was ok with that, because I know people change. I know they have to grow up, especially down here, no one can be a kid forever. I was fine with her being mad at me as long as she didn't make me leave, because I had spent seven years doing everything in my power to be with her," Vi said voice breaking, "But then Silco attacked us and I saw her with all that blood on her my mind didn't know what I was even looking at anymore. Then Ekko attacks, and she starts killing people in front of me. My little sister was killing people without even batting an eye," Vi shut her eyes and took a breath, tears falling as she did, "Now Ekko's telling me all this stuff about her and I-" She sighed as she looked into Caitlyn's eyes, "Babette told me about the mystery killer named Jinx, not once did I think she was my sister. As a matter of fact, I used her description as a way of reassuring myself it wasn't her. I want to defend her, but the truth is I don't know her anymore. I'm defending someone that doesn't even exist, I'm defending a ghost."

 

 

"Vi, there is an explanation. If you just-"

 

 

"Not now. I can't handle having my world flipped upside down right now."

 

 

"Vi-"

 

 

"Please. I just need time to accept what she's become before I can even start to forgive her."

 

 

Caitlyn opened her mouth to protest again, but Vi cut her off, "Please."

 

 

Vi truly didn't think her heart could take finding out what reason Powder had for doing all of this. She was at her emotional shock limit back when Caitlyn actually let her out of Stillwater. She couldn't process anything else.

 

 

Caitlyn paused in contemplation, "Alright. I'll give you a day," Vi leaned in and hugged her, "but this can't wait any longer than that. I won't let it," Caitlyn said gently, as she hugged her back.

 

 

"Thank you," she whispered as silent tears fell from her eyes.

 

 

---

 

 

As Caitlyn hugged Vi, she let the burning need to explain her sister's actions subside for a moment. Caitlyn knew that there would be consequences for withholding this information, even if it was just for a day. She knew there would be consequences when she did tell Vi. But no matter what happens, she would tell her, because she deserved to know.

 

 

But for now, she hugged Vi close, allowing herself to realize just how much she cared for her. Allowing her to sob her pain away silently on her shoulder, as Caitlyn realized something she never would have considered as an option a few days ago. 

 

 

She was falling in love with Vi.

Notes:

Before all of you get mad at her, Vi needs time to process all that has happened. She’s been through a lot these past few days and she just wants to process the fact that her sister is a completely different person now. She doesn’t just want to immediately forgive Jinx after finding out she actually did some fucked up shit to the people they used to know. And Vi knows she would forgive it all as soon as Caitlyn provides an excuse for Jinx actions, so she decided to just take a breath for a moment.

How was she supposed to know Vander is actually alive and Jinx is being tortured?

Plus Vi’s not in the best mental state right now, she probably would have asked for the explanation after a good night’s sleep. But, hey, Caitlyn set her on a time limit, so she’s finding out whether she likes it or not.

Chapter 26: Pride And Ignorance Are A Costly Attire

Ekko took a small break as Vi took the time to calm down. He was getting tired of things being continuously thrown at him. He was tired of having to fight with his friends. Would it be too much to ask for a break every now and then?

Ekko watched as Vi and the enforcer hugged. He didn't like how long it lasted, the two of them were way too close with each other to just be friends. Ekko was starting to worry that Vi's loyalties were getting mixed up. Never had Vi even let an enforcer pass her by without getting pissed as fuck, now she was hugging one?

Ekko shook his head in disbelief. You'd think that after spending time in Stillwater, Vi would hate the enforcers even more.

Ekko made his way over to them after the hug continued for far too long, "Ahem," he cleared his throat as he approached to let them know it was time to break it up.

"Little Man, you've seriously got the worst timing in the world," Vi growled, as the enforcer jumped away from the hug in embarrassment.

"We still got things to talk about," Ekko said, respectfully ignoring Vi wiping away her tears, because she probably would have punched him if he brought it up.

Vi sniffed, "Yeah, yeah. Your blue rock."

"What?" The enforcer asked, confused.

Ekko rolled his eyes as he opened the containment unit he had made years ago to carry the energy source of the hoverboards when he first made them, you'd be surprised at how hot that stuff got if not contained correctly.

He grabbed the gem out from the carrier and held it up for the enforcer to see.

"You really got it," she said, relieved, "You have to let me take that back."

Ekko pulled the gem back in case she tried to take it.

She sighed at his distrust.

"What is it?" Vi asked Caitlyn.

"It's a Gemstone. It was stolen during the attack on Piltover," she said before reluctantly adding, "by your sister."

Vi scoffed at her, "You just forgot to mention that?"

Caitlyn looked away from her and back to Ekko, "With this, someone with the right knowledge could build.... any Hextech device. And your sister seems particularly obsessed with it," she added, looking back over to Vi.

Ekko held the gem that gave Topside all its power in the palm of his hand. Funny, something so tiny created such a gigantic gap between Ekko's people and the Pilties that created it. No wonder Jinx wanted it.

"We could beat Silco with this," Ekko stated, looking over at Vi, who he knew had a vendetta against him.

The enforcer shook her head, "That won't solve things."

"Easy for you to say," Ekko sneered, pointing a finger at her, "Your people aren't dying all around you," anger bubbled inside him, "If your people had your way, all of this," he gestured around to the home he had worked so hard to build, "would be rubble and ash."

"It's a misunderstanding," she countered, "they think you work for Silco."

Ekko barred his teeth and stepped forward, getting in her face, "Your people hunt us. Like animals. Silco pays them to do it," He spat.

Her eyes widened in shock and anger at the accusation, "That's not possible. You're wrong," she said plainly.

Ekko wanted to rip her head off. How many people would these enforcers have to kill before they finally saw it?

"Say that one more time."

"Ekko," Vi shoved him back, "she believes what she's saying, okay? She's not your enemy."

Ekko wanted to laugh. Vi, the one who always hated enforcers with a burning passion, was defending one.

"Ekko," the enforcer started, "it's wrong what's been done to you," he looked over at her, "you'd be well within your rights to keep the Hexgem. I couldn't blame you," she said pausing, a look of shame and regret passing over her, "I know we've failed you and this city. But... if you do keep it, the cycle of violence will never stop. That gem is why enforcers have been becoming more aggressive. Returning it is our best shot at setting the record straight. This city needs healing. More than I ever realized. Please, let me help you."

Ekko looked at the girl, and then at Vi. Vi had stars in her eyes as she looked at Caitlyn, she had completely fallen for her and her misguided rich girl act.

Ekko wanted to say no, to spit in her face, but as he watched Vi, a girl so full of hatred and anger, fall in love with the very thing she despised, he felt his resolve crumbling.

He looked over at the wall of people he had lost. If there was a chance he could stop this, he could get over his stubborn pride and accept the enforcer girl's, Caitlyn's, help.

"You got a plan?" He asked, looking back at her.

"I have a friend on the council. Let me take the Gemstone to him. He'll listen to me. Your people wouldn't have to hide anymore."

He thought about the offer, and while he liked the idea, he still didn't trust Caitlyn completely.

"One condition," He said, tightening his grip on the gem, "I'm the one who gives it to them."

Caitlyn looked over at Vi with a questioning look. Vi gave her a nod of encouragement.

"Alright," she agreed.

Ekko nodded in acknowledgement before letting out a loud, sharp whistle, signaling for Scar.

Scar appeared at his side moments later, having been nearby watching Caitlyn, like he was told.

"I'm heading out. Watch over the place for me."

Scar gave him a confused look, but Ekko just gave him a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder before walking off to his workshop to grab his weapon, his watch, and his hoverboard.

---

The detour to Piltover gave Caitlyn a pause.

She would be leaving the Undercity, and so would Vi. In other words, they'd be leaving Jinx and Vander. Vi didn't even know that Vander was still around, and she certainly wouldn't leave if she did know. Caitlyn had been thinking about it non-stop as soon as they all agreed to leave.

They needed to save Jinx and Vander, but they also needed to stop the looming war that was brewing between Piltover and the Undercity.

There was nothing her and Vi could do down here for Jinx and Vander, but Caitlyn had lots of resources in Piltover, and it would accomplish their goal of returning the Hexgem and setting things straight. If they could just make it up there, she could ask others who were far more qualified for help with this complex issue. And she wouldn't just be throwing Vi into the deep end to drown when she told her what was going on, she would be able to offer her a way out, a way to save her family.

Caitlyn sighed, looks like she would be keeping this secret for Jinx after all, but only until she had an actual plan of sorts to offer Vi. Otherwise, Caitlyn knew for a fact they would rush back down here completely unprepared.

Notes:

Caitlyn's got a plan now, let's hope it works out for her.

We'll be going back to Jinx next chapter!

Chapter 27: I Will Sing No Requiem

Notes:

Just as a reminder, since there's are is a lot of dialogue with them in today's chapter, each voice has a specific look to it:

Mylo - Bold and Italic

Powder - Italic

Claggor - Bold

The voices wouldn't leave Jinx alone.

"Look at that! She actually picked one of 'em!" Mylo giggled.

"No! Don't leave Vi! We need her! Please, don't leave her," Powder said as she sobbed.

"Of course she picked Vander," Claggor stated plainly, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, "She's too scared to see what would happen if she defied the doctor."

Jinx used all her methods to try and get rid of them, closing her eyes and taking some deep breaths, yelling at them, throwing things at them, hitting her head on a wall till things started getting fuzzy, but none of them worked. Not even trying to smash her head in, which worked 99% of the time. This time, it just left her with a throbbing headache. So she just settled for the last resort method that hardly ever worked and just tended to encourage them.

She ignored them.

"Oh look, Jinx is trying to be the bigger person and ignore us," Mylo said with fake shock, "Why don't you try hitting your head on a random alley wall some more, that's a lot more fun for us."

"If she honestly wanted us to be quiet, she should kill herself. She can't hear us if she's dead," Claggor pointed out.

"Geez Claggor don't go giving her ideas, it's been fun tormenting her. Besides, she's too much of a coward to do that, though it would be funny to watch her try," Mylo said, grin spreading across his face at the thought.

"No! I don't want to die," Powder whispered, terrified.

"News flash, you already did," Mylo spat.

"Not really. Technically, she's still alive because she and Jinx are the same person. Jinx just banished her up here with us."

Mylo clicked his tongue in annoyance, "I guess. What a shitty thing to do Jinx," Mylo called out, "Say, was this your way of punishing us? Because if it is, I got to give you props, Powder here is annoying as hell."

Powder let out a whimper, and Mylo cackled.

Jinx walked down the road that led to the bridge, the crowd thinning out the closer she got.

Jinx half wondered if killing herself would really quiet the voices, they were dead themselves, so would they really go away? Well, no point in thinking about it, she'd never actually go through with it.

"See, I told you. Too much of a coward."

"I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die," Powder repeated over and over again.

"Do you always have to be so stupid, Mylo? She's obviously just sticking around for Vander, it's her reason for literally everything she does."

"Ugh, you're no fun," Mylo snapped back at him, "I wonder what she'll do when Vander's gone," Mylo wondered absentmindedly, "Only a matter of time before she gets him killed too."

"She'll probably kill herself," Claggor replied simply.

Powder let out a strangled sob as she continued to mutter about not wanting to die and how much she wanted Vi back.

"Janna, do you ever shut up?!" Mylo yelled, "We're trying to have a conversation here!"

Powder just sobbed harder.

Mylo clicked his tongue in irritation, "Damn brat. Jinx, can't you do something about her!?"

"Once again Mylo, must you be such a moron. Jinx can control her as well as she can control us. Besides, you know yelling at Powder just makes her worse," Claggor said with an annoyed huff.

"Yeah but she's just so damn annoying," Mylo complained.

Jinx sighed, she didn't know what was triggering this sudden free range conversation she had no control over, but it was getting annoying.

"Jinx, don't start acting as stupid as Mylo. It's obviously because you left Vi and destroyed the only friendship you've had in seven years," Claggor said.

"And all of that in a day and a half! Must be a new record of some kind," Mylo chimed in.

"You just realized you're going to be all alone again. You're spiraling, Jinx, and you don't even know it."

Jinx stopped walking.

She wasn't spiraling. Jinx knew what spiraling looked like. She would panic, she would be angry or sad or stressed, and she wouldn't be able to focus because of the voices yelling at her. The voices aren't yelling, they were talking, having a less-than-pleasant conversation about how dumb and stupid everything she was doing was. They were pointing out how she had just made a life-altering decision and how it was too late to change it. Or about how she had told all her secrets to someone just to have them throw it back in her face, because they were in love with Vi, and she knew that, so she should have known that if Caitlyn had to choose, she would have picked Vi, not her.

It will never be her.

"That's what I've been saying," Mylo sighed, "Glad it's finally getting through."

No, Jinx wasn't spiraling, because if she was, she would feel.... something. Right now, there was this nothingness that was honestly scary, and when Jinx spiraled, there was always something, so this was definitely not that.

"You're spiraling," Claggor repeated, "Only difference is this time you only have Vander left. No more Vi. No more unfinished past. Everything's been settled. This is it."

Jinx decided she didn't like Claggor talking. Because unlike Mylo there was no anger or spite in his words, there was just the plain honest truth that Jinx didn't want to face.

Powder sobbed, "I love Vi. Why did we have to leave her? Why did we have to choose? Can't we just be happy for once?"

Jinx didn't know. Jinx wanted that too, so why did Powder act like she chose this? She didn't want this.

Jinx stopped in front of the bridge, and she just stared at the sight before her.

Enforcers were lined up, blocking people from crossing as the people rioted, threw things, yelled, and charged forward against the barriers. It was far too similar to the day her parents died for Jinx's comfort.

"Yeah, only this time you don't have your big sister holding your hand and protecting you. You threw that all away," Mylo sneered.

Jinx looked down at her empty hand. She could still feel Vi's hand, warm and rough, and wrapped around her's if she thought hard enough.

"I want Vi!" Powder wailed.

Jinx closed her hand into a fist.

There was no Vi. Not anymore. Jinx destroyed that relationship just like all the others. It was like Claggor said, this was all that was left. Just her and Vander.

No more distractions.

 

---

 

Jinx decided that rushing past the enforcers and the angry mob would be a bad idea.

"All your ideas are bad ideas," Mylo commented.

Jinx had no clue what this blockade thing was or how far they were taking it. Sure, she could run past them but how tight was security going to be once she got Topside? Besides Jinx needed to go to the chief of police, and with all the enforcers out and about it was more than likely Marcus was out here too.

"Probably in the front, just waiting for someone like you to try something," Claggor said lazily.

"So he can shoot you," Mylo snickered.

Mylo's comment made Powder start up her chant about not wanting to die again.

He let out a growl of annoyance, "It's called a joke, you big baby."

Jinx climbed up the nearest pillar of the bridge using her super speed to hopefully avoid being detected.

"Knowing your luck, the entire Undercity saw you."

She settled herself in and used her advanced sight to take in the scene before her. Enforcers were everywhere and armed to the teeth, barricades were lined up along the whole bridge and there were giant lights that were shut off, probably until the sun set completely. Not that it would help much, because the fog was starting to roll in, and those bright lights would just make everything harder to see.

"Making it nice and easy to kill them all," Mylo said with a giggle.

No, making it nice and easy to slip past and wait in the Chief of Police's office, which she could find once she crossed over, she thought, finally relaxing a little. Having a plan always set her mind at ease.

Jinx shifted into a sitting position that allowed her to rest her back on the big metal tower, watching as enforcers escorted people off the bridge and attacked them if they didn't comply. Soon enough the entire bridge was empty, munis her and the enforcers. The fog was rolling in, just as she had thought it would. All that was left was for them to turn the blinding lights on and she'd make her move.

"Are you really not going to kill anyone?"

"Obviously not," Claggor responded for her.

"That's lame," Mylo grumbled in disappointment.

Jinx continued to watch as the enforcers just walked around, waiting, just like her, for something to happen.

And wait, they did.

The fog had now settled and the sun was completely gone. Jinx had been listening to Mylo, Claggor, and Powder exchange insults about her to pass the time, when suddenly she spotted movement.

Someone was using the maintenance tunnels on the bridge to sneak on, which meant it was someone from the Undercity. No one Topside knew about the tunnels in the bridge because they were created by the builders of the bridge, not the designers. Vander had told Vi and Jinx all about it.

It took Jinx two seconds to recognize the first person climbing onto the path of the bridge, his neon green lights giving him away, it was The Boy Savior, and following right behind him were Vi and Caitlyn.

"They're leaving you!" Mylo said doubled over in laughter, "All the people you've ever cared about, all walking away in one neat little line."

Jinx scowled as she moved herself into a crouched position, watching them closely.

"No," Claggor whispered, "Something's off."

Claggor was right. The Boy Savior didn't like enforcers, so why was he traveling with one hand in hand up Topside?

"Not that," Claggor said, "He'd probably leave if it meant he didn't have to see you again, but he wouldn't leave the Firelights. He's up to something."

Mylo looked at them from over Jinx's shoulder, a grin spreading on his face. "You think he's actually going to give that gem back to the Topsiders just to spite you?"

Jinx growled.

"Ekko wouldn't do that," Powder whispered, "He's my friend."

"Not anymore, he hates you now," Mylo sneered.

"No! Ekko. Is. My. Friend," Powder screamed.

"Shut up. Something's happening," Jinx hissed.

The three of them kept walking, not noticing the enforcers who were all in position to intercept and stop them. The giant lights came on and lit up the bridge like the sun itself had fallen down on top of them.

Jinx turned away and rubbed at her eyes, which were not ready for the dramatic change in lighting.

Jinx's eyes were extra sensitive to things like that, normally she could manage, but the lights had come on too suddenly and she was staring right at them when they did, she'd need a moment to readjust.

"Halt!" A voice cried out.

Jinx slowly opened her eyes, they weren't at there best, but they were working, she squinted at the ground where Vi, Caitlyn, and The Boy Savior all stood, arms up to shield their eyes.

Not a bad idea, Jinx thought as she put up a hand to do the same.

"Yeah and if you weren't such a moron you'd have thought of it yourself," Mylo sneered.

All the enforcers stood with their guns trained on them, while someone moved to the front, hands neatly held behind their back.

Jinx didn't need to see his face to understand who he was, "Marcus," she whispered to herself.

"You can tell by how portentous he is."

"Where did you learn that word?" Claggor asked, baffled at the fact that Mylo used an insult that wasn't a cuss word.

"The doctor. He uses all kinds of fancy words, right, Jinx?"

Jinx clenched her jaw.

"Sir!" Caitlyn called out, "I have proof. Silco's behind everything."

Jinx's eyes widened. That dumb bitch was about to try and sell Silco out to one of his own men. She would get them all killed.

"What do you care? They were about to leave you."

....True.

"No! Save them! Save Vi!"

Powder was starting to become angry, Jinx could feel it. She would start fighting for control soon.

"Her way of throwing a tantrum," Claggor supplied.

Marcus walked forward, pushing down one of the enforcer's gun, signaling him and the others to stand down.

"Show me," He called out, walking toward them.

Jinx's brows furrowed. What was he doing?

Caitlyn looked toward The Boy Savior, he said something Jinx couldn't hear, and shook his head. Then Vi smacked him on the arm.

He gave a sigh of frustration before he cussing rather loudly, "Shit," and reaching down to a weird bag he had.

He clicked it open to reveal the Hexgem.

"There it is!" Mylo whispered with greed in his voice.

"If you get it, we can save Vander!" Powder said hopefully.

"You'd probably have to kill Ekko," Claggor said darkly.

"Time to pick Jinx. Ekko or Vander."

Jinx sat there frozen.

"Don't think too hard. You left Vi behind easily enough."

"Yes, but she didn't have to kill her." Claggor countered.

"Then let's make a bet!" Mylo yelled, "All those who think she's going to pick Ekko, raise your hand."

No one raised their hand, not even Powder.

Mylo grinned, "Vander?"

Mylo and Claggor both raised their hands in the air.

"Looks like we have a winner," Mylo whispered as he watched Jinx pull out a blade.

What happened next flashed by quicker than Jinx could comprehend.

The Boy Savior shut his contraption and pulled it away, suspicion getting the better of him. He was right to doubt Marcus, he pulled out a gun and shot him square in the heart.

"EKKO!"

Powder's scream was so loud, Jinx nearly fell off the pillar in shock.

Ekko was dead.

Just like that.

Just one bullet.

"Way to ruin all the fun," Mylo sneered.

"Ekko!" Vi screamed.

Caitlyn just flinched from the shock of it all.

Vi started to make a move towards Marcus, but he quickly pointed his gun at Caitlyn's face, which made Vi freeze on the spot. The rest of the enforcers were quick to rack their guns and move in, ready to kill.

Jinx watched this all as the shock of losing her oldest friend wore off, leaving behind this grief she didn't know she would feel, and a burning hole of anger inside her.

Stupid Marcus.

He had just given her exactly what she needed to win this fight.

Anger.

Screw the doctor. Screw the overwhelming odds against her. No one killed Jinx's family.

"Except Jinx," Mylo added, a hint of sadness in his voice despite the insult.

"Except Jinx," Claggor repeated with a bite of anger in his words.

Powder sobbed and screamed and clawed in pain and rage.

None of them would admit it except Powder, but there was a part of her that still cared about Ekko.

And that part would make Marcus pay.

Jinx pulled out her biggest blade, watching as Marcus reached down and picked up the case containing the Hexgem.

"You son of a bitch!" Vi snarled, the anger in her voice revealing her grief.

"I told you to leave this alone," He said, gun shakily pointing at Caitlyn, ignoring Vi.

Jinx climbed down the pillar, jumping too early, making her ankles hiss in protest, but she didn't notice. She just pulled out another blade.

"Kill him!" Powder screamed.

Jinx took a deep breath.

"KILL THEM ALL!"

And just as Marcus was about to shoot, Jinx started singing.

Notes:

Evil cliffhanger 😈

Chapter 28: What Have You Done?

It was as if the whole world was playing a cruel trick on Vi.

First, her sister leaves her. Then this enforcer bastard killed Little Man right in front of her and she couldn't do anything about it.

The enforcer was holding Caitlyn at gunpoint and the other enforcers were closing in around her, if she attacked now, both she and Caitlyn would be killed.

Shakily he held the gun to her head, "I told you to leave this alone."

He was about to pull the trigger, and Vi was about to attack him despite the risks when she heard the song that she had last heard on this very bridge a lifetime ago when her parents died. Only this time it was bitter and angry.

Everyone froze.

"~Dear friend across the river,~"

Out of the fog Powder appeared, two blades held in one hand each, a look of pure hatred carved onto her face. Powder was completely fixed, not so much as a scratch on her, completely different from the last time Vi had seen her.

How was she better? Vi knew how long it took to heal broken bones, and it was not one night.

Vi blinked, that wasn't the problem right now, Powder was singing the song which meant she was here to kill. Did that mean she came back for Vi? Was she here to help them escape?

"~I'll take what you can spare,~"

What happened next was straight out of a nightmare.

Powder used her super speed and attacked the nearest enforcer that wasn't Marcus. The enforcer collapsed to the ground with his throat slit, but he wasn't dead, he laid on the floor gasping like a fish as blood poured out of the large gash in his throat.

Powder stopped and looked down at the man, tilting her head slightly before looking over at the rest of the enforcers. She threw a blade into his head, killing him, without breaking eye contact with the others.

Powder started singing again.

"~I ask of you a penny,~"

Panic settled into Vi as she realized what Powder was about to do, "Powder, NO!"

If Powder had heard her she didn't care, she burst forth with a speed that was practically imperceptible to the human eye, leaving only a flash of pink behind, as she began to kill enforcers left and right in the blink of an eye.

The terrified enforcers began to fire their weapons at random in hopes of hitting Powder.

They all missed every shot.

"~my fortune it will be,~"

More bullets flew through the air, and a cry of pain sounded to the right of her. Vi's head shot to the side and saw Caitlyn grabbing her leg in pain. A stray bullet had hit her.

The enforcer man was no longer pointing his gun at her but towards the mass saluter.

"Caitlyn!" Vi shouted as she ran over to her.

"~I ask you without envy,~"

Vi shoved Caitlyn to the ground as soon as she heard the next line of Powder's song start. Knowing perfectly well that more bullets were about to rain down on them as the enforcers uselessly shot at nothing, trying and failing to save their own lives.

"~We raise no mighty towers,~"

Screams and gunfire filled the air as Powder continued to ruthlessly murder enforcers.

No, not enforcers.

People.

"Please," Someone screamed into the air as people died all around them, "I have a chil-"

She never finished her sentence.

"~Our homes are built of stone,~"

"The bombs! THROW THE-"

Though he never finished his sentence, the message was received loud and clear. The enforcers began to throw hand grenades out onto the bridge.

Vi pushed down on Caitlyn harder, praying that nothing hit them, as explosions sounded around them.

"~So come across the river,~"

"It didn't work!"

"RUN!"

They ran, but none made it very far.

"~And find the world below.~"

Silence filled the air as soon as Powder finished her song.

Vi shook with fear as she raised her head and saw the sight before her. Powder stood, blood covering her once again, with anger and rage still clearly painted on her face.

She stood over the slumped figure of the enforcer that had shot Ekko across the way.

"P-please, I have a daughter," He pleaded.

"That's a shame. Worthless parents like you make for such stupid kids," She crouched down, "You know I was sent here to deliver a letter to you," She pulled out a piece of paper and then pressed it into an open wound he had on his stomach.

He screamed in pain as she pressed and twisted it around in the wound.

"The doctor wanted me to tell you to deliver it to some guy named Viktor. Would you do that for me?"

"Y-y-yes. Anything you want. J-just stop!"

Powder stopped shoving the letter further into the wound in his stomach and smiled sweetly, "Good. Then I did my job."

Powder pulled out a blade and stabbed him in the gut. He died after a few seconds.

Vi stood, legs shaking as she pulled Caitlyn up with her, Caitlyn had hurt her leg pretty badly and couldn't stand on her own. As Vi stood the extent of the damage Powder had done became apparent. Bodies laid everywhere, with their throats cut open, and stab wounds to their hearts that probably killed them instantly, some of the bodies were unrecognizable after all the bombs had splattered them across the bridge.

It was disgustingly similar to the night her parents died, only this time it was Powder doing the killing.

How could Powder do this? Why did she do this?

Powder stood, grabbing the bag that contained the Hexgem, and then looked over at Vi.

The Hexgem. Of course, that's what she was here for.

She stared at Powder for a long time, her eyes wide and filled with terror, before whispering, "Powder….. what have you done….."

Notes:

Bonus points to you if you figured this out on your own, but the line Vi says at the end here is exactly what she said to Jinx in the nightmare she had in chapter 17, Don't Ask Me I'll Never Tell.

A quick reminder of what the dream was so you don't have to go and reread: Jinx was on the bridge having to choose between Vi and Vander, Vander said that Vi wouldn't help them because Vi was terrified of what they had become. Jinx doesn't understand what he means until she looks down to see an endless number of bodies around her and a knife in her hand. Vi then proceeds to say "Powder….. what have you done….."

This will definitely have zero effect on Jinx's mental health (I say with complete sarcasm).

Chapter 29: Le Pire C'est Toi Et Moi

Notes:

(Warning!)

I probably should have included this at the beginning of this entire fanfic, but Jinx is severely depressed. So there will be mentions of suicide throughout this fanfic. It is especially big in this chapter, so if you struggle with this please be careful when reading. And if this is a major problem for you I'm sorry to say but this fanfic isn't a good idea for you. Jinx has a lot of issues and they're not going away anytime soon.

It was a sick twisted joke, Jinx's life, all of it was just a sick twisted joke that someone was playing on her. It had to be, because if her sister uttering the very words that she had dreamed of, while wearing the exact same expression, as she stood on the exact bridge she had been standing on somehow wasn't a joke, she would lose her mind.

But it was a joke, so that's why she laughed, and laughed, and laughed, and laughed. Jinx laughed until it wasn't funny anymore.

"How is it that you know exactly what to say to make me want to bash my head in."

Vi didn't answer, she just kept looking at her like she did in the dream, eyes wide and filled with terror.

"Every. Fucking. Time. You manage to say the exact thing that kills me inside. It's like you're trying to make me miserable," Jinx spat.

"You left me," Vi said softly.

"Why did you leave me!?"

"Yeah, well maybe now you know how it feels!" Jinx yelled.

Vi tightened her grip on Caitlyn.

"Look at that, she loves the enforcer more than you," Mylo said with humor lacing his voice.

Caitlyn spoke out, "Jinx, don't do this. We can help you!"

Jinx looked at her, watching as a smile flashed over Caitlyn's face and then disappeared again.

Jinx squeezed her eyes shut, she knew it wasn't real. It was all just a sick twisted joke.

"She's laughing at you. She doesn't want to help you. She was never your friend."

Jinx didn't want to believe it, but she heard it, clear as day. Caitlyn was laughing at her.

Then, suddenly, Jinx heard something else, the buzzing of a metal blade, one that sounded exactly like one of the Glow stick genus's hoverboards.

Yes, this was all a sick twisted joke, because what happened next was just too good to be true. As if just to spite her, Ekko had come back from the dead.

He flew in on his hoverboard, his club raised, over Vi and Caitlyn's heads, straight at Jinx.

"Ekko!" Powder squealed with joy.

While Jinx just watched him come at her, this numbness spreading through her. When he got close Jinx dogged using her super speed and using the moment of chaos that Ekko had created to open his odd contraption that held the Hexgem and snagged it before snapping it back shut. All in a matter of a few seconds.

Ekko swung around quickly on his hoverboard while Jinx pulled out and threw blades at him, not truly caring if they hit or not. He dodged the halfhearted throws easily, before charging in head-first at her. Jinx wondered what his plan was, coming in so close would mean Jinx's blades would hit without question, at the last moment of his approach he pulled his hoverboard up and used it as a shield, allowing Jinx's blades to loge themselves into the fan blades making his board completely useless now.

Jinx's eyes widen slightly in surprise at the move, brain finally clicking together that he was actually about to hit her. She flinched away arms raising to protect her face, but the action was unnecessary, Ekko wasn't aiming for her, he didn't care about her, he grabbed the bag she had hung around her instead.

He crashed and fell to the floor, tumbling over to where Vi and Caitlyn stood, rolling so that he landed in a crouched position, bag in hand.

Vi and Caitlyn watched in awe as he threw the bag back at them, Caitlyn catching it.

"Go!" He yelled.

Vi turned ready to walk away as Jinx also turned back around to face the group. Vi looked back and locked eyes with Jinx before turning to leave.

"Probably for good this time," Claggor stated.

Jinx watched her turn and leave, she would have kept watching if Ekko hadn't stepped in the way.

Suddenly a giggle escaped Jinx's lips.

Ekko had come back from the dead. Not for Jinx, not even to kill her. No. He came back to save them.

A full, complement, manic laugh burst out of Jinx, "OH, LOOK WHO IT IS. THE BOY SAVIOR," She yelled at the top of her lungs.

It was just like the day they first met again all over again. Only this time he wasn't going to walk away. This time things were ending here.

Once again, anger came to replace Jinx's numbness. Because someone was playing a sick, twisted joke on her, and she was getting tired of laughing.

The Boy Savior took a breath and looked away for a moment before he smiled and looked back up at her. He leaned down and grabbed a pistol from a dead enforcer and slid it across the ground to her. Her brows came together in confusion, she looked back up at him and he pulled out that dumb watch of his, swinging it back and forth.

It was an invitation.

One last game, before one of them did something they'd regret.

One last trip down memory lane before they cemented one of their bodies into it.

"You're not actually going to do it, are you? It's clearly a trap," Mylo said aghast as Jinx stared down at the gun at her feet.

"You haven't shot in years. No, scratch that, you've never shot an actual gun. Ever." Claggor said just as taken aback.

"Doesn't matter," Powder said grinning ear to ear, "I always win."

"You pick that gun up you're dead," Claggor said sternly.

Jinx bent down and grabbed it, a scoff escaping her lips as she got herself into position.

"Jinx," Claggor warned, "this isn't a game. He'll kill you."

Jinx sighed and looked at The Boy Savior, a smirk pulling at her lips. She racked the gun, resetting it just like she used to do with the old paintball one.

She took a breath ready for what was about to come. The Boy Savior charged as she brought her gun around and shot at him, the gun had a lot more kick than the paintball one she used to use, but she was strong enough to hold it steady if she used her Shimmer.

As always, the first shot missed, The Boy Savior ducking under it, Jinx aimed again and then fired twice, once again they missed as expected, The Boy Savior jumping them both. Then Jinx went to fire the finishing blow, to win as she always did, finally ending this game for good, but she froze.

"No."

It was just for a mere millisecond, but Powder took over and stopped her from pulling the trigger. By the time she did pull it, The Boy Savior saw how she was aiming and changed trajectory. She didn't even have time to react before he was on top of her, metal club smashing her across the face.

She fell to the floor, quickly turning and aiming at him again, but he just hit the gun out of her hand and sent it flying. Jinx tried to stand using her super speed but it didn't work.

Mylo sneered, "I knew you were too much of a coward to do it yourself."

Ekko pinned Jinx down, with his metal club pressing down on her throat as he brought his fits down, raining blows on her face.

Jinx let out yelps of pain as she felt his fist connect. She wasn't exactly sure why, she had felt plenty more painful things in her life, all things considered, this was rather gentle, but it hurt. It hurt her more than she could handle.

She felt her nose break and blood begin to pour out, if he noticed, he didn't let it stop him, he kept whaling on her. Panic began to rise in Jinx as she realized she was about to die. She was actually going to die.

"I don't want to die," Powder said softly.

Jinx tried to call for her inhuman strength but it still wouldn't come. Why wouldn't it come?

Another and another blow landed on her as she struggled. Jinx didn't want to die.

Then a small tiny voice rung in her ear, "That's a lie."

Bam!

Another blow landed.

"You never wanted to live."

Bam!

Then another.

"You agreed to this game because you knew you would lose. It's time to say goodbye Jinx. It's over. This is what you wanted. You chose this."

Bam!

No. What about Vander? She wouldn't leave him. She thought as she pushed against the club that was blocking off her airflow.

"Enough with Vander. Let him go. He can't be saved, and neither can you. This is the end, Jinx."

Bam!

Jinx felt her grip on the club loosen.

This was it huh?

"What good would living even do now? For either of you. You'd just be bringing Vander into this living hell with you. It's time to die. This way you are spared the one that you never wanted to see, Vander's death. One last selfish act to seal the deal."

Funny, Jinx thought she would care more when she was at death's door, but letting go seemed so easy now. It was so hard living in this world, walking along the streets she grew up on without a soul acknowledging her existence, or watching them avoid eye contact because they were scared of her, not recognizing her after she had changed so much. Having everything she ever loved vanish before her eyes. All Jinx had ever done for her whole life was fight for survival, she was tired of it. Maybe if she died she could finally rest. If there was nothing to fight or protect, maybe she could finally be free. If she could just lay her head down and rest for once.

She had been strong every day of her life, she held on as long as she could, for Vander, but she was sick of it.

She ran out of hope that things would ever get better for her a long time ago, but now she was just out of strength.

Jinx knew she was here because of her own stupidity, her naïve innocence having consequences that she still couldn't comprehend. She thought she was in control of her life, but the doctor just twisted and manipulated her. She thought she was the one who chose to hold the knife, but it had never been her choice. She killed without sympathy ignoring that nagging voice in her head because the doctor told her to. The doctor told her fucking nonsense knowing full well she would listen as long as he held Vander hostage. He took advantage of the fact that Jinx was a young and stupid fool who would happily dig her own grave if he simply said it wasn't for her.

Jinx, the fool, stayed and did what she was told, lulled into a false sense of bliss because of her self-inflicted ignorance. She killed as she sung a forgotten tune while trying to forget it all herself because she'd rather be the hunter than think for a moment that she was actually the prey all along. Every day she stayed with the doctor she lost another piece of herself, leaving her with the broken shell that she was now.

Jinx's grip on the pipe fell completely, allowing The Boy Savior to begin truly choking the life out of her.

Jinx didn't fight anymore, because what was she fighting for? A life where she was stuck between the ones she loved and the ones she missed, where she was desperate for freedom but forced to wait, where she lived in places where eyes avoided, and broke things people swore to protect. What fate could be worse than that?

Death had to be better.

Suddenly, The Boy Savior stopped hitting her. His fist stayed raised in the air as he looked down at her bloody broken form.

Jinx absentmindedly wondered what he was seeing, the hollow shell of a girl that no longer exists, or the happy child he used to know? Jinx or Powder? Which one did she want him to see? Was there a difference? Weren't they the same person? Wasn't Jinx the one who was happy once? Wasn't Powder the one who killed all those people in the name of love? Did Ekko know they were one and the same? Did he care? Could he care about Jinx as much as he cared about Powder?

A smile, a real, genuine smile crossed her lips at that sweet, delusional, thought.

Her and Ekko.

A thought that would never be spoken. A thought that would most likely die with her. A beautiful dream that wouldn't, couldn't, be real because they had hurt each other to much. Because even if Ekko forgave her she didn't think she could forgive him.

Jinx knows that everything that's happened is her fault. She chose this life. She knows that. But would it have been so hard for him to just play along with her? Indulge her like she had indulged him in her final moments?

Jinx loved Ekko. She loved him in so many different ways she couldn't even comprehend it, but she also hated him in just as many. Ekko pulled Jinx apart and left her in pieces, so she had to try and hate him so she would survive. That's why she never called him his name, not even in her head, that's why she refused to take the Firelights seriously, because then she'd have to admit she was wrong, and she would rather crash and burn rather than admit that. But Jinx was tired of it, the endless back and forth, it was destroying her beyond repair.

A sudden clanging sound clinked beside them, interrupting their long everlasting look into each other's eyes, filled with unspoken and unanswered questions. The clang was followed by a clicking, one that came from an enforcer's bomb, one of them must have survived and thrown it at them. Ekko realized what was happening, eyes widening in shock, and right before the bomb blew, he got up and ran.

The Boy Savior, refusing to save Jinx one last time.

What a fitting end to the two of them.

To her.

"Powder?"

"Yeah?" She looked over at him.

"We're best friends, right?"

"Of course we are stupid."

Click.

"Even when you're mad at me and tell me you hate my guts?"

She thought about it for a moment, "No."

"No!?" He screeched, shocked and offended.

"If we're that mad at each other then we can't be friends. Let alone best friends," She said rolling her eyes at his ludicrous reaction.

"Then what will we be?" He whispered softly.

That made Powder pause, before the most obvious answer appeared inside her head, "You'll be my best enemy,"

Click.

He gave her an odd look, "Your best enemy? Is that even a thing?"

"Not yet. But it will be, and it'll be me and you. We'll show the world how to hate each other like no one else. They'll wish they could hate each other like we do."

He laughed at that, "Alright, we'll be best enemies."

She smiled, content with the new promise they had made each other, before adding on, "But no matter what happens, it'll always be me and you."

Click.

It was time to break that promise.

Yes, Jinx loved Ekko. That is why she still smiled as he ran to save himself, leaving her for dead. But this was the end of it. This is the last time she would watch him flee from her in fear. The last time she would wish she could burn him from her memories.

Click.

Even if it was her last few seconds she decided she was done with him. This doomed love that never even began would end with her, not because she died, but because she chose to let him go. This was the end because she said so.

Click.

The bomb let off one final click of warning.

Jinx let her eyes flutter close, but she didn't stop smiling. Because for once she had decided something completely for herself. She was dying on her own terms, no one else's.

This was her choice.

Boom.

That was her final thought before the bomb exploded next to her.

Notes:

To those who don't understand why Jinx would kill herself and leave Vander behind, let me say this, Jinx has just been abandoned by Vi and Caitlyn. Both are people she cares about, Vi for obvious reasons but Caitlyn is also extremely significant for Jinx, she is the first and only person who has given her a chance since she has been with the doctor, and she is the only real human contact she has had in a long time. Her leaving is basically proof to Jinx that she is completely and totally unredeemable and unlovable at this point. Then Ekko, who she thought was dead, came back to life to help them escape.

Jinx has had to deal with more emotional whiplash and strain in such concentrated doses over the last few days than she has really had too over the last seven years. (Yes she has dealt with a lot before, but never all back to back.)

And as I hinted at but never really stated plainly in the chapter, Jinx can't bring herself to kill Ekko which is part of the reason Jinx let him win. Yes, Vander is the only reason she has kept living for all these years, but she is just so mentally exhausted and tired of this life, she doesn't think it's worth it anymore, so she just lets Ekko kill her. Also as Mylo and Claggor discussed last chapter, Jinx would never actually straight up kill herself, but she wasn't going to fight for her life anymore. If Ekko had let her go and there was no bomb then Jinx probably would've lived and just gone back to the doctor.

But there was a bomb, and Ekko left her again.

She is so done with it all, can you really blame her for it?

Chapter 30: An Impromptu Conspiracy

Vi took Caitlyn to the end of the bridge where they had a small set of gates that led into a tunnel before opening up into the rest of the city, the Piltie version of an alleyway she supposed.

Vi set Caitlyn on a wall, she let out a hiss of pain as she slid down onto the floor.

"Will you be ok?" Vi asked concerned.

Vi looked down at her wound, it was a rather large gash from where a bullet likely grazed her, that seemed to have something else lodged inside of it. If Vi had to guess she would say it was a piece of shrapnel from one of the hand grenades.

Caitlyn looked at Vi, "We have to talk," she whispered.

"I know," Vi said resting a hand on her shoulder, "but I need to help Ekko, if Powder…."

If her sister had done the unthinkable and killed Ekko, Vi didn't know what she would do.

"I'll be right back," She reassured Caitlyn before standing.

"Vi!" Caitlyn whispered.

Caitlyn ignored her as she started to run out to the bridge, stopping when a group of enforcers ran past, guns held in their hands.

Vi pressed herself against the wall until the last enforcer passed, she finally stuck her head out and looked down towards the bridge worrying building as she watched the enforcers storm down the bridge, Ekko nowhere in sight.

Vi heard the click of the container that Ekko used to carry the gem opening, and looked back when Caitlyn called out, "It's gone."

"What!?" Vi whispered-yelled.

How had Powder managed to get it? Then it hit her, Powder was fast as fuck now, she only needed a second to grab the thing without anyone noticing.

"It was all for nothing," Caitlyn said bitterly.

No. Little Man didn't sacrifice himself for nothing.

Vi looked out to the bridge, watching as the smoke from all the explosions twisted in the air. What were the chances Little Man actually made it out unscathed? And what about her sister?

Vi knew deep down that one of them was gone. She couldn't figure out which one would be better, not that it was worth thinking about all that much, Powder was practically unstoppable now. It was unlikely Ekko survived.

Vi bit back her tears and chose to hold on to the small hope that they both were fine and turned back to Caitlyn, "Come on. We can't stay here," She pulled Caitlyn up, "So where are we headed Cupcake?"

Caitlyn shook her head in exasperation, "Any chance I can get a new nickname?"

Vi smirked, "Nope."

---

Caitlyn led Vi through a rich ass town that had houses bigger than entire neighborhoods in the Undercity. Imagine Vi's surprise when Caitlyn stopped at one of 'em and said it was her's.

"This," Vi said craning her neck up to take it all in, "is your place?"

"Yes," Caitlyn said, "and we're going to have to break in. I don't want my mother finding out we're here."

"You got mommy issues?" Vi said with a brow raised.

"I don't think you get to judge my family issues right now."

Vi gave a half-hearted laugh, "Yeah, guess not," she whispered softly.

Caitlyn gave her shoulder a squeeze, "We really need to talk."

Vi sighed, "I know we do, but can't it wait till after I break into your house? It's a long climb up, and I'm assuming you got a room at the very top."

Vi wanted to know why Powder had done it all, she wanted to hear the excuse Caitlyn would provide, but Vi knew as soon as she said it, she would go running back down to the Undercity for her sister, and right now, she couldn't do that, not after what her sister had just done. Caitlyn needed her help, and she had to fix things between the Undercity and Topside. If things broke out into a war with her friends taking the blame for all the shit Silco was doing they would be crushed and Slico would be left standing with no one in his way to stop him.

Caitlyn raised a brow at her, "Well you'd be wrong, I'm smack dab in the middle, the upper rooms are reserved for activities."

Vi rolled her eyes, "Well excuse me, your highness."

The climb up was difficult when she was holding onto Caitlyn. She had to put her down as they got to her window to open it up, because of course, the Piltie left it unlocked. Vi jumped inside easily before reaching down to haul Caitlyn in.

Vi draped her arm across her shoulder again, ready to drag her over to her bed.

Vi finally got to take a look at Caitlyn's room. It was giant, practically the size of the Last Drop, attic and basement included.

"I knew you were rich Cupcake, but damn."

Suddenly the door flew open, kicked down by a woman in an expressive-ass-looking dress who was holding a shotgun in her hands, which she pointed directly at Vi and Caitlyn.

Vi stared wide-eyed and open-mouthed at the fancy Piltie lady who just busted in like she was a team of heavily armed enforcers.

She put the gun down after a second, "Caitlyn!" She said in a surprised and exasperated voice, then her eyes narrowed, "What are you wearing?"

A man ran over behind the woman stopping and putting his hands on his knees out of breath, probably from having to run in this 500-mile-long house.

"Oh. We were so worried," He exclaimed happily as he ran forward and pulled Caitlyn into a hug, "Thank goodness you're safe!"

"And you found a stray," The woman added as she gave Vi a once-over.

Vi would have flipped the lady off but clearly, these two were Caitlyn's parents, and that meant the woman got a free pass. Just this once.

"This is Vi," Caitlyn said, putting more emphasis on her name as a not-so-subtle warning to be nice, "She's from the Undercity."

"So I see," Her mom said with a strained smile.

No wonder Caitlyn has mommy issues. She was a bitch.

"Could we have a word, Caitlyn? In private," She added as she gave Vi a look.

Caitlyn looked at her dad, who gave her a nod of confirmation, and then she gave a frustrated sigh before walking out following her mom, leaning on her dad for support.

Caitlyn's dad turned to look at Vi before they made their way out, "Please make yourself comfortable, we'll just be a moment."

What an odd couple, they were like the complete opposite of each other. But neither of them were very smart considering they just left a complete stranger alone in their mansion of a house. If Vi ever got caught bringing a girl home, that girl would never be left alone again, her siblings would make sure of that.

As Vi spun around to get a complete look at Caitlyn's room she felt a flush of embarrassment, shame, and anger.

Embarrassment because Vi had shown Caitlyn her falling apart toolshed of a house, shame because she felt embarrassed by the house her parents had worked so hard for, and anger because it took one look at this room to make her feel ashamed of her home and all she had ever had.

Vi sat herself on the plush bed that was so large Vi, Mylo, Claggor, Powder, and Vander could have all slept comfortably on it all at the same time. Even if it was crowded who would've complained, this thing felt like heaven compared to anything they ever slept on, they would've loved it.

Powder would have loved it.

Vi ran a hand over her face, she couldn't go down this road of thinking again, she had almost been ready to turn around on the bridge because of it. Then her sister attacked and any doubt about her choice to leave and try to clean up the mess that had been made with topside left her again, but now she was alone with her thoughts and she couldn't help but want to go back.

But there were these nagging questions that left her stomach churning. Who was the doctor that Jinx was talking about? Why did she heal so quickly? What was that note?

Vi loved her sister, no matter how much she knew she couldn't right now. She still wanted to protect her, to drag her here and force her to listen to reason and ask her what the hell was going on. But she had a feeling it would be a pointless endeavor because there was such hatred in her eyes when Vi turned and left. It was more than likely Powder hated her completely now.

Janna, that was hard to say, even just in her head, but Vi would just have to get used to it because that was her reality now.

---

Mel Medarda had practically ran over when word of the bridge incident got to her. It was a horrible sight to take in, all the bodies, sliced into ribbons. It was a horrid reminder of what her home was like and an ominous warning of what Piltover could become.

Thankfully Jayce was still locked away in his lab and was spared the gruesome sight, Mel had no idea how he would react to this, especially since they were just about to have the barricade ended. If only Marcos hadn't been so stubborn and hadn't insisted on leaving them up until sunrise. But she supposed it would have been pointless either way, the damage had already been done the moment those enforcers set foot on the bridge, it was as Viktor said, they had spat in the Undercity's face with this blockade and they made sure not to take it sitting down.

Mel sighed as she continued to look at all the bodies on the floor and the chunks of what used to be bodies. Apparently, some of the last enforcers had fought back by throwing explosives, but clearly whoever did this was not slowed down by them whatsoever. There was only one person who survived the massacre, and they died due to blood loss not 30 minutes later. All the first responding officers managed to get out of them was that there was some kind of inhumane monster that flew through the smoke, singing some kind of song as they did so.

The Reapers lullaby.

That was the new nickname among the enforcers and townspeople. The Reaper would kill you with their blade faster than you could blink, a quick painless death, but if you upset them, that's when you would hear their song, a song inviting you to the depths of hell, and all it would cost you was a penny.

Apparently, this Reaper also had friends, because the dying guard had said after they threw a grenade at it and killed it for good a group of demons came and took them back home to hell so they could heal.

Ah yes, and to top it all off, this Reaper came in the form of a helpless-looking girl.

A ludicrous story if you ask Mel, but if the people were willing to believe that this "Reaper" came to kill them for their crimes perhaps she could use this to sway the public.

Yes, a tale about the Reaper who came to punish the rich and powerful should they overstep, and a hero for the poor and helpless was just what the Undercity needed. This Reaper was the key to fixing all of their problems.

"Ma'am, we've secured the area. I've got orders to escort you back to the city," Called out a sergeant from behind Mel.

She turned, "Wonderful job, sergeant…"

"Arlic. Arlic Dax."

Mel smiled sweetly at him, "Well you've done wonderfully here Arlic Dax," she said as she made her way over to him, allowing him to escort her back.

He smiled back at her, "Thank you, ma'am."

"Though I do have to wonder about all these rumors flying around about this… Reaper person."

"Ah, I wouldn't worry about that. It's just the story of a dying man who lost far too much blood."

"Hmm, yes. I suppose," she said looking off into the sun-kissed sky, "but it was certainly a curious tale to weave. I mean, a young girl with a blade that comes to kill those who have wronged the Undercity, it is practically ludicrous," she looked over at him, "wouldn't you agree?"

He looked over at her, "People are saying she killed all these enforcers because she was defending the Undercity?"

"Oh yes," Mel purred, "Apparently this wasn't even the first time. They say she appeared after that unfortunate explosion that happened seven years ago."

His brows furrowed, "Why then?"

"Oh, you haven't heard?"

"About what?"

"All that funny business that happened in the Undercity after that explosion. Everyone was up in arms because the sheriff had just died down there and everybody wanted someone arrested and killed for it," She sighed, "Well everything seemed to be becoming just as big a mess as it was now, but then, as if by magic, everything settled into place. All guilty parties were found dead," she snapped her finger, "and just like that, no more talk of storming the Undercity. Everyone was happy."

He let out a low whistle, "That's some story."

"Yes," she said breathlessly, "Almost believable."

"Yeah. If this girl really exists she's really is looking out for the Undercity."

"Oh, not just them," Mel exclaimed, "If this mysterious Reaper truly does exist, she is making sure we don't overstep. She is showing us when our citizens are unhappy, and clearly," she turned and gestured back at the bridge, "they are not happy."

He nodded, "Yeah, you got a point."

She smiled, "Well, every tail has some meaning behind it. Even the most ludicrous. It simply depends on how you choose to view its contents."

The man nodded once again, the gears in his head turning in exactly the direction she wanted, "That's true, I wonder what's got the Undercity so unhappy that they would be led to doing something like this. Got to be something."

"Yes, there's got to be."

Mel would have to do some damage control before this spiraled too far, but for now, she had gotten the ball rolling in the right direction. It would be much harder to justify a full-out attack in the Undercity if the people were sympathetic. As long as she found a good excuse for the Undercity's unrest and the reason for the anger of this Reaper, then she could twist and manipulate this story however she pleased.

Both the Undercity and the council would have to listen if she had the simplest solution to end all this fighting. Point the blame at some outlying problem and then fix the rest behind the scenes. Simple and easy.

Especially if she got her two other councilors, who were now dear friends and more, to go along with it. All she needed to do was pay Councilor Cassandra a visit and invite Jayce and Viktor along. They could all settle this before it blew up in everyone's faces.

---

Cassandra Kiramman's patience was certainly being tested.

Her daughter had come home with an Undercity criminal who, unfortunately for her, was exactly her daughter's type, while wearing an outfit that would have Cassandra's mother rolling in her grave.

She had led her family to one of the waiting rooms so they could have some privacy and discuss things, her ever forgiving husband, Tobias, sent for medical supplies so he could fix up Caitlyn's leg as they spoke. While Cassandra simply requested a cup of soothing tea, and a little something extra in Caitlyn's cup for the pain. Cassandra may have been upset but she wasn't about to let her daughter get stitches without something to numb the pain. She wasn't a monster.

"Caitlyn. What in the world were you thinking," Cassandra snapped as soon as the maid left to fetch the requested items.

"Mother please," She sighed exasperated, "Just let me explain."

"Oh please do. I would love to hear all about how you sprung that girl from prison to frolic around the Undercity with her while wearing… that," she said gesturing at her outfit.

Honestly, how could she go around wearing something like that?

"I did not "frolic around"! I was heading an important investigation."

"Yes," Cassandra said rolling her eyes, "the one where the whole Undercity's problems can be pinned on one single person. I heard."

"What? From who!?"

"From Jayce of course," Cassandra answered simply, "Did you honestly think I wouldn't ask about what you've been up to when you disappeared?"

She sighed frustrated, "I found proof when I was down there. Real proof. The bridge attack that happened tonight, me and Vi were there! We saw who did it. I saw who did it. For once I actually got to see what was happening with the people, not just hear about it from those who don't care!"

Tobias looked between his daughter and his wife, wide-eyed and shocked to hear that Caitlyn had been on the bridge during the incident.

"I want to talk to the council," Caitlyn demanded as the maid returned with the tea and the medical supplies.

Cassandra was ready to rebuke her, when the maid leaned in and whispered into her ear, "Councilor Medarda and Jayce Talis are here, along with Viktor. They are requesting an audience, they said it's urgent. Councilor Medarda also asked me to remind you of the agreement between you two."

Cassandra sighed, and then a thought occurred to her. She could nip this whole going to the council idea in the bud right here and now.

"Let them in. And bring some more tea after you fetch them."

Tobias raised his brow in question at her, and she merely replied, "We have guests."

"But mother-"

Cassandra held her hand up to silence her, "Go ahead and start on that leg of hers dear."

He nodded and opened up the case with the scissors, needle, thread, and tweezers, "Leg up please darling."

Caitlyn begrudgingly complied, as Tobias grabbed her tea cup and handed it to her, while he grabbed his own and took a sip. Caitlyn downed hers in one gulp, pulling a face as she did so, the pain medicine most likely adding an unpleasant flavor to the tea. Cassandra picked up her own cup and mixed in some sugar before taking a small sip as her husband set his cup down on the table and grabbed the saucer that was underneath placing it in the medical box, mostly likely to use it to put anything he took out of Caitlyn's leg.

Cassandra would have to remember to tell the maids to throw that one out.

"Ready sweetheart?"

Caitlyn gritted her teeth and nodded.

As Tobias started his work, Caitlyn started up her complaints.

"Mother you have to speak to the Council."

Cassandra just rolled her eyes and took another sip of tea, "You understand you've broken several laws?"

"She was doing what she thought was right," Tobias chimed in as he pulled out a piece of shrapnel from Caitlyn's leg with the utmost care.

Caitlyn let out a groan of pain as she dug her fingers into the couch cushion, "I'll take responsibility."

Cassandra fixed her with a look, "I will not be taking you to the Council."

"Mother, they need to know about what's going on in their own city," she said before letting out a loud hiss of pain as Tobias pulled out another chunk of metal.

"Yes. I've come to realize this past few days that there are far too many secrets among us. Which is why I'm going to rectify that."

"What do you-"

The door to the lounge opened and a maid held it as Mel, Jayce, and Viktor walked their way inside.

Cassandra set her cup down, "Welcome. I'm sure all of you remember my husband, Tobias, and my daughter, Caitlyn?"

Jayce's eyes widened in shock, "Caitlyn! What the hell happened to you?!" He rushed over to check her out.

Viktor followed after him with much less gusto and sat himself down on the sofa as soon as he got the chance.

Mel nodded her head in greeting, "Nice to see you again," before settling herself in the seat next to Cassandra, "And I'm glad to see you made it back home Caitlyn Kiramman."

Caitlyn let out a grunt of pain as her father pulled out the last of the metal.

"Are you alright Cait?" Jayce asked concerned.

"I'm fine," she gritted out before looking back at her mother, "What are they doing here?"

"Your little adventure made us realize that we truly have no idea what goes on outside our walls. We have decided to ease each other burdens by being more open with our situations." Cassandra explained.

"Yes," Mel agreed, "but I don't believe I remember our agreement included your husband and daughter," she said giving Cassandra a look.

"Well, my daughter here," Caitlyn let out a yelp of pain as Tobias began the stitches, "Claims to have pivotal information on the going ons of the Undercity."

"You found what you were looking for," Jayce asked with enthusiasm.

"Yes. Thanks for selling me out by the way," she snapped.

He shrugged with embarrassment, "Sorry, she cornered me."

Caitlyn rolled her eyes, "If I'm going to discuss this I want Vi here."

"Vi?" Viktor commented confused.

"I don't think so," Cassandra quickly replied.

Caitlyn sucked in a breath as Tobias finished off the stitches, "You'll have to be gentle on that leg for a while. Alright?"

Caitlyn nodded.

"Excuse me," Mel interjected, "Who is this Vi person?"

"No one," Cassandra dismissed.

"Vi is from the Undercity. Born and raised. She assisted me in the investigation I was running and pointed me in the right direction. She risked everything to show me what life is really like down there and I will not be having this discussion without her," Caitlyn snapped back.

"Is she the one you had released from Stillwater?" Jayce asked.

"Yes."

Mel shared a glance with Jayce.

"As I said," Cassandra interrupted, "there is no need to have that girl here. You are perfectly capable of pleading your own case. You don't need to drag around a charity project to get us to listen."

"Mother!" Caitlyn screeched.

It's not as if Cassandra hated the girl for no reason. And no, she did not dislike her just for being from the Undercity, it was just glaringly obvious that Caitlyn was getting far too close with this girl and she had no desire to have a criminal as her daughter-in-law.

"Mrs. Kiramman, I believe you yourself stated that we should listen to the voices of those from the Undercity. You heeded my request to take down the barriers, now I ask you to give the same opportunity to the young girl you're so blatantly dismissing," Viktor interjected.

Jayce nodded, "I agree. I want to hear both sides of this story."

Mel folded her hands, "It would be best to have all the facts."

"I did not-"

"Cassandra, dear, I believe you have lost this one," Tobias said softly cutting her off.

Cassandra sighed, "Fine. Caitlyn, you will fetch her. Me and the others still have things to discuss."

"Thank you," she said as she stood, Jayce helping her.

Jayce passed Caitlyn over to her father and allowed him to help her to her room.

The two left the room and Jayce sat himself back down.

Cassandra waited for a moment before turning to address Mel, "While this visit was perfectly timed for me, I don't believe you came over to discuss politics with my daughter."

"Yes," Viktor added, "Why did you drag me and Jayce over here with such urgency?"

Cassandra raised a brow at that, "You didn't even tell Jayce and Viktor?"

"No, she didn't," Jayce confirmed.

"I wished for all of us to discuss it," Mel took a breath, "There was an incident on the bridge."

"What kind of incident?" Jayce asked, voice growing with concern.

Cassandra had heard what had happened, the great bridge massacre that had happened many years ago had been repeated last night, and dozens of enforcers died.

"There was an attack on the bridge. Dozens of enforcers were killed."

Jayce's eyes went wide, "How could they? We were going to get rid of the barriers!"

"They didn't know that," Mel replied somberly, "And Marcus had used his station to keep them in place till sunrise. They were angry. Viktor was right, the damage was done as soon as the decree was passed."

Viktor was quiet for a moment before replying, "How many Undercity citizens died?"

"None," Mel replied simply.

"None?" Cassandra replied shocked.

"How is that possible," Viktor asked.

"Well, in reality, we don't know. By the time others arrived, there were only the bodies of the enforcers. I suspect Jinx was behind this, the deaths on the bridge resembled her work, but there are rumors flying around about a reaper that has come for revenge."

"Reaper?" Cassandra questioned.

"Yes, this is actually what I wished to discuss. I want to use this rumor to stop any discussion of taking action against the Undercity. I want to turn this vengeful Reaper into a hero for the Undercity."

Jayce narrowed his eyes at her, "What are you talking about?"

"The rumors about this Reaper are that they are a vengeful soul from the Undercity who has come to kill all those who have wronged them. But I wish to turn this into a positive, say she came to set things back on track-"

"She?" Cassandra asked.

"Yes, they say the reaper is a young girl, who sings to the ones she is going to kill," Mel explained hurriedly before returning to her former point, "I want to use her to mend the rift that is growing between our cities. She will be a hero for the Undercity, and someone who called out the council on our ignorant behavior. We can use their deaths as an excuse to stop all this violence."

"The Undercity will demand justice for what's been taking place," Viktor murmured as he considered the proposal.

"And the Council will never agree to overlook the tragedy that happened today," Cassandra stated plainly.

"We can't just let them get away with what they did!" Jayce practically yelled.

"I am well aware of all of this," she said giving Jayce and the others a look, "But you three do not know war. I do. It must be our last resort. This is our chance for a diplomatic solution. The Undercity needs to accept the deaths of those enforcers as the justice along with an apology from the Council. The Council will have to listen to reason if we reinforce this idea enough and the public sides with us as well."

"You would only have 3 votes," Viktor said, "And the Undercity will hardly accept a worthless apology."

"We can get more votes," Cassandra replied for her, "But Viktor is right, the Undercity won't accept the apology as compensation."

"Then they will accept the deaths that someone took in their name, this is why we must spread the rumor of the Reaper. She will soothe the anger, hopefully for long enough that we are able to fix what is becoming more and more broken."

"And we're just supposed to accept the fact that this person killed so many? Make the deaths of the men and woman who died on that bridge sound like it was for good reason?!" Jayce asked.

"Yes," Mel replied, "For peace, we will forget. Are we all in agreement?"

Cassandra looked over at the others, Viktor seemed unconvinced but he nodded his head in agreement. Jayce seemed angry, he didn't move to voice his opinion, he just waited to see where the chips would land.

Cassandra knew this plan would work, at least the part about the Council, she was unsure how swayed the Undercity would be by this ridiculous rumor Mel was suggesting, but it wasn't like the Undercity would attack them flat out. This plan would buy them time, which they needed.

"I am in agreement with Mel," Cassandra stated.

All three of them looked over at Jayce.

He stayed silent for a long time before huffing out, "Fine. We'll go with Mel's plan."

Notes:

Get ready guys, some big stuff is about to go down next chapter ;)

And I got a surprise for you all at the end!

Chapter 31: I'd Really Appreciate If You'd Intervene.

Notes:

Hey, I guess double surprise for you guys, I’m uploading this chapter early.

Technically it’s 12:29 for me so this still counts as uploading Sunday (I just don’t feel like doing this in the morning, lol)

Have fun, it’s an important chapter today 😉

Vi laid on Caitlyn's big comfy bed looking down at her extensive and obsessive collection of evidence that she had splayed out on the floor. It surprised Vi that there was so much, that Caitlyn actually, truly, cared about this. Vi had assumed that asking around Stillwater about Powder was just some hare-brained idea that she came up with after her sister made a huge mess Topside. But looking down at all she had laid out, this thing must have taken her years to make, and maybe it was the Powder, well Jinx, incident that motivated her to actually take action, but this wasn't something she had done on a whim.

A Topsider, scratch that, an enforcer, actually took the time to notice something wasn't right with what was happening to the Undercity and decided to do something about it.

As if Vi needed another reason to like this girl.

Suddenly the door to the room opened, Caitlyn stepping through.

Vi looked up at her.

"My mother wants us to talk to some of the Council members downstairs," she said sounding slightly shocked and annoyed at the same time.

When Vi made no attempt to move she added a slightly more annoyed, "Now."

"You did all this yourself?" Vi asked ignoring her, "Without even going down there?"

Vi wasn't ready to go down and talk to those rich snobs. She wasn't ready to have to sell out her sister.

"And I thought Powder could get obsessed," Vi whispered softly, mostly to herself.

Vi would have to call her sister Jinx in front of a bunch of strangers soon, but for now, Powder would have to do.

Caitlyn walked over and sighed, "Vi, I think it's time we had that talk."

Vi flipped herself onto her back, "You know when my parents were still alive… me and Powder used to share a bedroom like this."

Caitlyn looked down at her, "Vi-"

"Except, maybe, half the size."

"V-"

"We played a game where we pretended to be bigger and bigger monsters. So she would say, "I'm a slug monster with venom for ooze." And I would say, "Well I'm a slug-eating crab with razor spikes.""

"Vi. I know-"

"Sometimes, I… I'd get carried away and she'd get scared. I didn't want her to start crying and wake my parents up, so… I'd pretend to chase my own monsters away."

"…"

"I'd say, "No monsters gonna get you when I'm here." Then a real monster showed up. And I just ran away. I left her."

Gently Caitlyn sat on the bed and ran a hand down her cheek. Vi grabbed onto her, closing her eyes and taking in the warmth of another person. Something she hadn't let herself feel for a long time.

Vi opened her eyes, "Just give me more time," Vi whispered, "Please."

Caitlyn looked torn, "You're gonna hate me for not telling you."

"Whatever the reason, it's waited seven years. It can wait a few more hours."

Caitlyn still didn't look convinced.

"Or at least until after we go talk to those stuck-up snobs."

Caitlyn sighed, "Fine. But that's it, Vi. I'm not taking no for an answer after this."

Vi smiled up at her and whispered, "Thanks."

They both sat there for a long time, just staring into each other's eyes. Caitlyn had bright blue eyes that reminded her of Powder. Blue was Powder's favorite color, she declared it after Vi had taken her to the upper levels of the Undercity and she saw a clear blue sky for the first time.

"It's so big." Powder whispered after gazing at the never-ending blue sky, "It looks like it goes on forever."

"You know the Piltes made some fancy clunky thing that flies up there?" Vi said nudging her.

Powder turned to look at her with those big grayish-blue eyes and said with the utmost certainty, "Then I'm gonna ride in one," she looked back at the sky, "even if I gotta build it myself."

Vi pushed herself up and out of bed, those days were long gone, and she needed to stop dwelling on the past and fix the future.

"Come on Cupcake. Let's go tell some rich snobs my sob story."

---

Vi followed Caitlyn into a room full of rich Piltes who were all sitting and sipping tea in silence. Not having a care in the world.

"Mel, Jayce, Viktor. As you know my daughter has spent the last few days down in the Undercity. Her and her…" She paused looking for a word to describe Vi, "Friend, have a unique point of view on our situation."

Caitlyn inhaled ready to deliver a speech as Vi's eyes scanned the room.

There were a total of five other people in the room. Two being Caitlyn's parents, and the other three were, well, Vi assumed they were Councilors. There was the woman who was decorated in gold and looked so sophisticated and snooty Vi couldn't picture her being anything but a stuck-up bitch. The other two looked more down to earth, there was one guy who had on nice fancy clothes but had this roughness to him that let you know he did some kind of manual labor no matter how hard he tried to cover it up with fancy Topsider clothes. The other guy stuck out like a sore thumb to Vi, he was slouching, his skinny frame drooping onto the couch as if he himself couldn't hold it up. There was this tiredness that seemed to be ingrained into his very bones, but this hunger in his eyes that wouldn't let him rest. Yes, Vi could tell immediately upon seeing him, he was from the Undercity, and he had all the classic signs of the common illness that plague the people down there. He looked to be in the later stages of it, he would probably be dead soon.

"This is Vi. She was born in the Undercity. Even though we failed her in countless ways," Caitlyn began, "She risked everything to help me."

Vi looked over at her. Never in her life did she think she'd hear these words coming out of the mouth of an enforcer.

"People are starving," Caitlyn continued, voice stronger and more sure, "Sick."

The rich people's eyes shifted to the Undercity guy, the dude next to him even went as far as to put a comforting hand on his leg. The sick guy didn't acknowledge them, he merely kept his eyes trained on Caitlyn as she continued to speak.

"Ravaged by Shimmer. They live in constant fear of the coordinated efforts of violent crime lords. One man leads these efforts. Silco."

Silence played for a beat before Caitlyn's mother spoke up, "The Council has run investigations on Silco. They never found anything implying such level of organization."

"Yes," Caitlyn said inhaling deeply, "And Marcus was the one who led these investigations."

"Yes," The Topsider guy spoke up, "what about it?"

"Marcus attacked us on the bridge."

Utter silence fell upon the room.

"I presented him with evidence and he pointed a gun at my face. He would have killed me if not for…"

Powder. Vi finished the sentence in her mind.

"You're saying Marcus is working for Silco." The shiny woman in gold asked.

"Yes."

A quiet fell over them as they digested this new information.

"You said you were at the bridge last night," The Topside guy asked, when Caitlyn nodded in confirmation he spoke again, "Then you saw who attacked the enforcers. Who was it?"

The golden girl shot him a look before Caitlyn started speaking again.

Vi braced herself for what was to come.

"W-well-"

Vi grabbed Caitlyn's hand and stepped forward. She wasn't going to make her do what was Vi's responsibility just because it was hard to say.

"Her name is Jinx," Vi said, finally getting the nerve to say it out loud.

"Jinx. As in the one who set fire to the airship and stole the gemstone?" He said pushing the topic.

Once again the woman in gold gave him a look.

"Yes."

"So she's the Reaper people have been talking about?" He pressed.

Vi blinked confused, "Reaper?"

"Jayce. That's enough," The woman in gold said, "We have more pressing issues to get to, like what this Silco wants from us."

"He believes the Undercity should be independent," Caitlyn said, "He calls it the nation of Zaun."

"And Jinx works for him," the Topsider guy said.

Neither of them got a chance to answer.

"Jayce. We have discussed this," Cassandra said calmly but sternly.

"No, you three discussed it. I cannot just allow all those people to die in vain."

"Wait," Vi interjected, "What exactly have you four "discussed"?"

"Yes, what are you talking about dear?" Caitlyn's father asked.

The woman in gold answered, "We are letting this indiscretion go in favor of keeping the peace," she turned her attention back to the others, "And I believe this little chat we had just given us an idea of how to get the council on board. If Marcus was a traitor then we can assume the others on that bridge were as well, releasing a statement that the reaper killed traitors in our midst that had taken extreme action against the Undercity by their own accord will clear up everyone's grievances over the matter. The council can't defend traitors."

"Yes," Cassandra replied curtly, "I will run this city into the ground before I let them get away with attacking my child."

The woman in gold sighed satisfied, "Besides, we now know who we should be directing our apologies to."

"What? You want to apologize to Silco?!" Vi said temper getting the better of her.

"It may be the only way to avoid further bloodshed," Caitlyn's mom said plainly.

"This is insane. Did you learn nothing?!" Vi said voice raising as she looked at each of them, "You can't talk to him! He hates you."

Just like Powder.

"Everything you stand for. He will never back down."

She will never forgive you.

"If there is a chance for peace, then we must do everything in our power to achieve it," the woman in gold said softly after a moment of silence, "There are far too many good people on both sides of that bridge to simply waste their lives in a pointless battle that could have been avoided."

Vi stared into her eyes, anger beginning to consume her.

Why wouldn't these people listen?

How many more had to die before they finally realized what was really going on?

How many more people was Vi going to lose to that sick twisted man before someone finally puts an end to it?

"Forget this," she snapped as she turned and walked away.

Caitlyn reached out to her, but Vi brushed past her, slamming the doors on her way out.

Vi stormed out of Caitlyn's fancy house, slamming her fancy doors, and scaring away anyone in the vicinity. She marched her way out the front doors and into the rain, it was seconds before she was completely soaked through.

Of course, it had to be raining Vi thought bitterly.

"It only counts as dramatic if it happens in the rain." Powder giggled.

The memory mocked her as she heard a voice call from behind her.

"Vi. Wait! Where are you going?" Caitlyn called as she ran into the rain after her.

Vi clenched her jaw. She wished Caitlyn had just stayed inside, she wasn't any good at goodbyes.

"I don't know. Back where I came from?" She snapped, "Seems that's what everyone up here wants," part of her meant it, the other part hoped it would scare Caitlyn off.

But of course, it didn't.

"I can fix this."

That was the wrong thing to say, it just made Vi angrier. Not that she even knew why.

"You can't!" Vi yelled as she turned to face her, "This is how things are. How they've always been. I was so stupid to think it could change."

"There must be something else we can do. Some other way. We'll make a new plan. We have to try."

"We tried. Ok? It wasn't enough. Topside and bottom. Oil and water. That's all there is," she spat angrily.

Then Caitlyn asked that dreaded question that had been left unspoken between the two of them.

"What about us?"

What about them?

What were they?

What could they ever be?

They were just a wish made by a stupid, desperate girl who needed something to hold onto as her whole world changed.

"Oil and water," Vi said softly, " it wasn't meant to be," she said as she turned her head away.

"You're just saying that," she said, a slight tremble in her voice.

"Do yourself a favor, Cupcake. Go back to that big, shiny house of yours and just… forget me, okay?"

Vi pulled her hood up and began to walk off, but then Caitlyn yelled something that stopped her dead in her tracks.

"Vander is alive."

Vi's head snapped back to look at her faster than she thought possible, "What did you say?"

"I told you that I would tell you no matter what happened. I told you I wouldn't take no for an answer."

Vi's brain was like a broken record, questions stuttered and stopped, and finally, one formed and made its way out of her mouth, "Where did you hear that name?"

How the hell had Caitlyn known the name of her long-dead adoptive father? And where the hell did she get off telling her that he was alive?

"Sounds like you're finally ready for that talk."

---

Caitlyn had refused to say anything else until Vi came back inside and calmed down. Not that that was going to happen after what she had just said.

Vander, alive.

It wasn't possible, and yet Vi had to hear what Caitlyn said, because how the actual hell had she heard about Vander?

Jinx would have never brought that topic up with Caitlyn.

Vi walked behind a calm and collected Caitlyn towards her room.

"Caitlyn! Vi! You two are soaked," Caitlyn's dad called out stopping them as he walked over to them with two fluffy towels, "I thought you'd be needing these when I saw you make your way outside despite the rain."

"Thank you," Caitlyn said grabbing a towel for herself and throwing one back at Vi.

Caitlyn's father raised a brow at her sudden coldness towards Vi, but Vi couldn't care less about all her theatrics. She needed to hear what she had to say. Now.

"You two should take a shower. Wouldn't want you catching a cold on top of your injury," Her father said.

"Yes, wouldn't that just be awful," Caitlyn said as she began to rub her hair dry.

Vi stood there for about two more seconds before she grabbed Caitlyn by the arm and dragged her off into her room calling out over her shoulder, "Thanks for the towels."

Vi slammed the door shut, "If you think you can say the shit you did and then not explain yourself then you're in for a surprise."

Caitlyn ripped her arm out of Vi's grasp, "Excuse me for not being too pleased with you at the moment," she snapped back.

"Cait," Vi growled out in warning.

She huffed, "In my defense, I have been trying to tell you for the past day."

"Cait!" Vi yelled, "This is serious. You can be mad all you want later, just tell me what the hell you're talking about! What do you mean Vander's alive? And how do you know about him?"

Caitlyn sighed, "You are going to want to sit down. This isn't a pleasant story."

Vi walked over to Cait's bed, dragging Cait with her, and plopped them both down, "Talk. Now."

Caitlyn took a deep breath before she began speaking, "Your sister doesn't work for Silco. She never has."

Vi scrunched up her face in confusion, "How do you even know that?"

Caitlyn looked her dead in the eyes, "Your sister told me."

Vi blinked confused, running a hand through her hair, "My sister talked about this with you?"

"Yes."

Vi scoffed, still not believing her, "You have this heart-to-heart before or after she attacked you?"

Her sister was totally different now, but even back when Vi still knew her, she would have never spilled her guts to a perfect stranger, especially not one that she hated.

"Before."

Then again, what did Vi know?

"And she didn't attack me. She hugged me."

"My sister hugged you?"

"Yes."

Now that Vi thought about it even before all of this happened there were times when Powder would wake up from nightmares and become violent. Not outright, she wouldn't attack anyone, but she would yank on her hair or unintentionally dig her nails into the person who found her as she latched herself onto them for comfort.

"What does all of this have to do with Vander?" Vi asked.

"I'm getting there, so why don't you save all your questions until the end," she said slightly annoyed at all the interruptions.

"Alright," Vi said throwing up her hands in surrender.

"Seven years ago after you left-"

Vi opened her mouth to protest, but Caitlyn fixed her with a look.

"Silco found your sister, but that part you already knew, what you don't know is that Silco didn't keep her. He gave her to someone else, someone far, far worse."

It was that night all over again, the dread as she watched a threat loom over her scared, helpless sister, and her not being able to do a thing about it.

"Jinx calls him the doctor," Caitlyn said, spitting his name out as if the very thing cursed her tongue as soon as she spoke it, "a title that is so far from describing this man that it makes me sick that he actually makes people address him as such."

Every word that came out of her mouth filled Vi with this sickening dread that she had done something far worse than just leaving her sister to become a junky hitman.

Caitlyn looked away from Vi, hands clenched together so tightly her fingers were white, "He does awful things to her Vi. She didn't tell me anything specific, but she has these scars…" Caitlyn pursed her lips, "There are so many I couldn't even tell where some began and others ended."

Vi felt sick.

Never in her life had she hated herself more.

Tears formed in her eyes and her voice broke as she spoke, "Her speed?"

Caitlyn turned to face her, she grasped her face in her hands and wiped away a tear that fell, "Yes, I assume so. She didn't get into details."

Vi felt her vision blur and her breath quicken, "Why the hell didn't she leave," she asked voice trembling uncontrollably as her mind ran through thousands of scenarios of her sister being hit and beaten, or stabbed with a needle forcing shimmer into her veins, turning her into what she was now.

"Vander," Caitlyn said softly, "Your father."

Vander.

Vi had forgotten all about him as Caitlyn told her story.

"B-but he d-d-died. The e-explosion-"

"No. That's what everyone thought. Silco didn't just take Jinx to that man, he took what he thought was Vander's corpse as well."

Silco. After everything he did, killing Vander, destroying her family, he took Vander's corpse too!?

"After he left your sister and Vander with that man, he told Jinx that Vander wasn't dead."

No.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Vi had a terrible feeling she knew exactly where this was heading.

"Your sister was scared, she didn't know what was happening, but the man threatened to experiment on Vander."

Janna no.

Please no.

"She offered herself in his place."

Vi stood and slammed her fist through the nearest wall. (Whatever Pilties made their wall out of sure as hell didn't hold a candle to the stone in Stillwater.) Vi continued to smash her fists through the wall, the paper-thin stuff provided no solace to her pain.

"Vi!" Caitlyn shouted.

"Why the hell didn't you tell me!" She turned and shouted, knowing full well that this was entirely her fault.

"You asked me not to!" She countered.

"Why the fuck did you leave her alone! If you knew all of this you should've stayed!" Vi advanced on Caitlyn, "YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE!"

Caitlyn stood there saying nothing. A sad look plastered on her face.

"How could you leave her alone! She's just a kid! Anything she did wasn't her fault! You fucking price of shit, how the hell could you blame a child! This is your fault! You hear me!" She screamed into her face, "Everything that happened, happened because of you! You should have died that night! Not them!"

Caitlyn didn't utter a word.

"You are a fucking useless piece of shit that deserves to be in that hellhole they call a jail!"

The thudding of footsteps echoed in the hall before the door slammed open.

"Caitlyn!" A man called out.

"Just what do you think you're doing!" Called a woman.

"No. Let her," Caitlyn said looking over at whoever entered the room with a firm look.

"You're a pathetic, weak, spineless coward who should have had their brains blown out by an enforcer as a child!"

"Why you-"

"MOTHER," Caitlyn said with such authority everyone in the room fell silent except for Vi.

Vi wasn't done yet.

"No wonder she hates your guts. There's nothing worth loving there."

The room stayed silent.

"You could never do anything right, you were a screw-up from the day you were born."

Not a sound.

"You left her," she spat with venom.

Caitlyn merely stared at her.

Vi felt her anger crumble, "I left her…"

Not a soul moved as Vi began to sob uncontrollably.

"I left her with that man," Vi said in between sobs, "What kind of sister-?"

Caitlyn stepped forward and wrapped her into a hug that enveloped her so completely she felt sheltered from the world.

Vi started screaming into Caitlyn's shoulder as she held her close, whispering false words of comfort like,

"Everything will be alright."

"There was nothing you could have done."

And the worst lie of them all.

"It wasn't your fault."

---

Vi sat silently on Caitlyn's bed as she held a cup of tea that Caitlyn's father brought her in her trembling hands.

She listened silently as Caitlyn and her parents discussed her in hushed tones in the hall, in hopes of not disturbing her.

"She's unstable," Caitlyn's mom hissed, "She almost attacked you!"

"Mother she is not going anywhere. She just learned something awful happened to her sister and I expect you to show her some compassion."

"That is no excuse-"

"This isn't a discussion. She's staying whether you like it or not."

"Caitlyn! Show some respect!" She snapped.

"Cassandra, darling, that's enough. Let the girls rest. They've clearly had a hard day," Caitlyn's dad said softly.

Cassandra sighed, "Just- be careful."

The sound of footsteps echoed in the big hall as Vi just stared blankly at the teacup in her hands.

She had left her little sister to be tortured.

She had left her to be experimented on.

She left more than just her sister behind.

She left Vander.

Vi clutched the teacup in her hands tightly, how could she have been so fucking stupid? Of course, Powder had a good reason for all of this. Why the hell didn't she let Caitlyn tell her!?

"Vi?" Caitlyn whispered gently as she crouched down to get a good look at her face, "How are you feeling?"

Vi couldn't bring herself to speak. Everything she wanted to say was just a spew of cuss words that were directed at herself.

Vander was ALIVE. This whole time. And she had no clue.

"Vi, I know this is hard-"

"Why the hell didn't you say something," Vi asked despite herself.

Vi wanted to understand, she wanted to say that she only blamed herself for asking Caitlyn not to tell her what was going on. But another part of her couldn't understand why she actually did it.

Caitlyn was silent for a moment before answering, "At first I didn't see any reason to rush you when you had asked me not to tell you. Like you said, it had been seven years what more could happen in a day? Besides I would've told you first thing in the morning had we stayed at the Firelight's hideout."

"But we didn't stay. You let me walk away from my sister and my father," Vi accused.

Caitlyn sighed, "Vi….. your sister isn't going to let you help her."

"And how would you know that?" She whispered bitterly, "You spent a day with her."

Caitlyn stared into her eyes, "She left us completely of her own accord, and when she did…. She told me that she didn't want you to get involved. She sees you as a liability."

Vi stood, "The fuck she does."

Caitlyn stood too, "This is why Vi! You get so angry you forget to think things through!"

"So you think I'm a liability too?!" Vi asked angrily.

"No! I think you need to hear me out before you go storming off because there are a lot of different factors in play right now and if we are going to go down and help your sister then we're going to need a real plan."

Vi blinked in surprise, "You want to go save her?"

Caitlyn huffed, "Of course I do! Despite how infuriatingly stubborn she can be, which seems to be a family trait, I like her. That's the main reason I didn't tell you when we all decided to go Topside. Up here there is less of a chance of anyone hearing about what we're up to, plus if the word does get out it will hopefully take too long to get to Silco, and by the time he does hear he won't be able to do anything about us."

"Silco? What does he have to do with us coming all the way up here?"

"Not us," Caitlyn said, "But your sister. Silco doesn't know that Vander is alive, and the doctor doesn't know that Jinx has been in communication with us. We cannot let them discover what is happening before we make a move. Otherwise, Vander could lose his life, along with your sister."

The information sunk its way into Vi's head. This was why her sister didn't want her to know. She knew Vi would go in guns blazing without so much as a thought, which could have led the entire precarious situation her sister was in to blow up in their faces.

"Now there's also the fact that your sister herself won't be on our side unless we can guarantee Vander's safety."

Vi clenched her jaw, and then asked a question she dread, "What happens if we can't guarantee Vander's safety?"

Caitlyn paused before she answered, "I'm afraid that your sister won't help us, or worse, she will try and stop us. And there's another problem with that."

"What?" Vi said looking up.

Just how much worse could this get?

"Vander is in a coma, and according to Jinx the doctor is the only one who can wake him up."

Vi stared at her in disbelief, "Are you fucking kidding me!?"

Caitlyn sighed, "Unfortunately no, and I have no idea if that's true or not, and it will be difficult for me to verify without a detailed description of his current condition, or even what his initial injuries were in the first place."

Vi set her teacup down on the floor, "What are we gonna do!? If Vander supposedly dies as soon as that doctor guy figures us out or after we get rid of him how the hell are we supposed to save him!?"

"Now you know what your sister has been dealing with all these years," Caitlyn said sitting down on the bed, "She's completely relying on this doctor person for information regarding Vander's condition and blindly trusting him to uphold his end of the bargain."

Vi thought for a moment, "Don't you guys have fancy-ass doctors up here? Can't we ask one of them to take care of Vander?"

"In theory, yes. There are no guarantees that the doctors here will know how to deal with his injuries, but that's why we came back up here, to find out," she added quickly at Vi's furious look, "However there is one more thing to take into consideration," she added.

"What?" Vi snapped.

Like she needs more reasons to sit here and not help her sister.

"Your sister said the doctor plans to wake Vander up soon."

"And you actually believe this guy will go through with it?" Vi asked with disbelief.

Whoever this doctor person was he didn't sound trustworthy, she highly doubted he would just let her sister go after all this time. Which made the fact her sister decided to put faith in him and not her sting even more. Did she really have that little faith in Vi?

"No," Caitlyn said immediately, "Which is why I wanted to come back and consult some doctors. I just need a better understanding of what Vander's injuries are," she paused and looked at Vi, "If you would be willing to discuss what happened to him the night you and your sister were separated it would be extremely helpful."

Vi froze.

She hadn't spoken about that night since it happened. Now Caitlyn wanted her to tell a bunch of strangers?

"Vi, I know a lot of things happen back then. But you only need to talk about what pertains to Vander's injuries. Everything else would be completely up to you."

She still didn't respond.

How could she? Caitlyn was asking her to relive that night and have others judge her for it.

"You are the only one who knows what happened that night. If I knew anything that was helpful I wouldn't ask this of you. Please, Vi. This may be the only chance we have of saving both your sister and father."

"…..Ok."

If it meant she got Vander and Powder back, she would do whatever it takes.

Caitlyn stood, "Then let's get started. We have a lot to do before we can save your family."

Notes:

Schedule Update!!

I'm finally out of school! So I have time to upload more :)

Starting this week I will be uploading an extra chapter on Wednesdays.

Just as an overview and for anyone wondering here's the upload schedule from now on: One chapter every Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday.

See you guys Wednesday :)

Chapter 32: Welcome To The Life Of Jinx

Notes:

You know what, shout out to everyone who has been reading and commenting so consistently, and to all you new readers as well. You have no idea how much I appreciate you all ❤️❤️❤️

Anyway that’s it, you guys have just been so nice and supportive lately this had to be said, enjoy. 😊

Hello :)

The doctor gave me this old journal of his to write in, isn't that cool! It's like the first nice thing he's done. He also had to get me a, ummm, hold on let me see how you spell it.

A dictionary!

He got me a dictionary too.

It's this thing Topsiders made that has all the words in the world in it! The doctor found one in the trash and got it for me after I told him I couldn't spell.

I never had to learn how to write down here. I do know how to read though! (Vander made me learn) So I just look up the words I want and write them down. It's kinda hard and takes a long time, but it gives me something to do while I'm stuck in here. So yay big boring book that some stupid Topsider made.

This is my first time writing in this thing, it's kinda weird writing to myself. I guess someone could find this and read it one day, but that would be embarrassing.

But if you are someone else reading this, Hi! My names Powder, I'm 12. (please don't make fun of me)

I don't really know what else to write, so I guess I'll just write about why the doctor gave me this thing.

He caught me playing again the other day and was all like "mY eQuIpMEnt iSNt a tOy, blah, blah, big word I don't know, blah."

It’d be funny if he wasn't so scary.

Yesterday he just called me into the lab and instead of experimenting on me he handed me this! And now I'm writing in it because he got me the dictionary today :)

He also gave me a pencil I can use to write. If I ever need to sharpen it I just use one of the knives he's got around here. (Don't tell him that)

Oops, gotta go, apparently the doctor was calling for me. (Fingers crossed he just got me another present to shut me up)

---

Hey, I'm back.

Sorry for not writing as soon as the doctor let me go, but today's injections really hurt. So I decided to try and sleep.

It didn't really work, the voices were too loud.

Have I told you about the voices?

Guess not.

Welp, I've got Mylo, Claggor, (my brothers) and someone else in my head. My brothers aren't nice anymore. All they do is yell at me and make fun of me, I kinda hate them now. (Don't tell them that- wait, can you tell them? Whatever, just don't.)

Apparently only I can see and hear them. Maybe because I killed them? Anyway the doctor says I'm crazy. Well he actually said I've got this weird thingamajig going on in my head. Like I'm sick, but in my brain. Does that make sense? If it does could you explain it to me, cause I don't have a clue what he's saying.

Anywho the doctor says they aren't real. But I still see and hear them so that doesn't really help me.

Vander sometimes talks to people who aren't here, but I think he's just dreaming.

I got another voice in my head, her name is Jinx.

She no fun.

And she's mean. All she does is yell at me and the others. She tells me I'm weak and stupid. Like right now, she just said I'm….

Hold on. Let me find the word.

Melodramatic.

What a weird word for an insult. Maybe I've been reading this dictionary too much.

But it's not like I have anything else to do, the doctor won't let me leave this cave. It's so boring :(

Oh yea, I should probably tell you about that huh?

After I told the doctor I'd let him experiment on me, he set me and Vander (he's my dad by the way) up in one of his experimenting rooms, he told me I wasn't allowed to leave the cave. Ever. After that he gave Vander a whole bed and a bunch of beeping machines. He also gave him a shit load of Shimmer. Said the stuff would help him recover, and that it was a different kind from the stuff that made his body all weird.

I told him he could go shove that Shimmer where the sun don't shine because I wasn't believing a word of his bullshit.

He then proceeded to make cuts with a knife all over my body and gave me some of his fancy new shimmer to prove that he was telling the truth.

I've only been here a couple months but I found out real quick that the doctor seriously doesn't like me telling him off. I'm not stopping though, cause it's the only form of rebellion I got. How am I supposed to pass up the opportunity to tell him he's an eggheaded fuckface?

I know I shouldn't cuss. Vander always gets mad at me for it, but what else am I supposed to do when he's running those dumb test?

Besides, Vi-

---

Sorry, I can't talk about Vi without-

---

The doctor made me sew up my own leg today.

Said he was too busy.

The fucking asshole.

I hope he gets his eyes and tongue pulled out while someone shoves his head into a burning furnace.

I hope I get to do it.

---

My leg really, really hurts.

I don't think I did the stitches right.

It really itches too.

I can't stop crying.

It hurts.

I want it to stop.

I thought writing would help, but it didn't.

---

It's bleeding again.

I don't know what to do.

I tried asking the doctor but he said he'd shown me hundreds of times. Said I should know how.

---

I put more stitches in.

I hope it works this time.

---

I'm sick.

Really sick.

The doctor says I got an infection because I did such an…. Abysmal, (had to look that up), job with the stitches.

He made me cut open my other leg and practice.

Let's just say I now know how to stitch up my own leg.

---

I'm still sick.

Not that the doctor cares, he still runs his experiments.

The voices are so loud and the visions are so strong I'm starting to think they're real.

I can't sleep. I think this is the longest I've gone awake, one whole week.

---

Something new happened today.

I don't know how to explain it.

I guess you could say Jinx took over and I was the one of the voices.

It was like I wasn't myself. Like I was angry, but completely in control. Like I was perfectly calm even though I wanted to scream and cry.

Does that make sense?

It kept me out of trouble with the doctor but I didn't like the way it felt. I hope it doesn't happen again.

---

I think I've read the dictionary 73 times now.

Which is hard because it's so dark in this cave. I have to read and write by Vander's machine that gives off the most light in my room.

The doctor likes it dark for some reason. He does have a couple bright lights around the metal table he uses to cut into me and the others, probably best to be able to see what you're doing when you experiment on something, but not in my room. It's just dark in here.

I don't like the dark.

Especially not here. This place has so many monsters, real monsters, not just the made up ones I see. He keeps them in tanks filled with weird liquids. I hate them, but I also feel bad for them. They didn't ask to be monsters.

I think that's like the only good thing this place has taught me, just because monsters are mean and scary doesn't mean they don't feel things too.

I hear them cry, like me. I hear them yell at him, like me. And I hear them beg him to stop, just like me.

Does that mean that they're people like me underneath all that?

Or that I'm becoming a monster like them?

---

HE BROKE MY FINGERS.

I can't move them.

The Shimmer wasn't strong enough to fix it.

He said make a splint.

I TRIED.

I looked up the word and everything.

IT.

STILL.

HURTS.

---

The doctor told me I'm not allowed to talk unless it was with him from now on.

To distracting.

I wish Vi would come and save me already.

I don't know how much longer I can stand this.

---

I find her last entry funny.

It's been less than a year and she's already calling it quits.

We're not even 12 yet.

How is she supposed to do this if she can't even handle a couple broken bones.

It's funny that someone as weak as Powder made this stupid deal but needs me to help her follow through.

That's right, she needs me.

Me.

The Jinx.

---

I figured something out today.

There are 26 different things that make up all the different words we use.

I don't really understand why, but I was reading the dictionary for the…. 112 time I think, when I decided to count the… hold on, let me see if there's a word for it…. letters.

Which can be either "A symbol in an alphabet, and literature. It can also refer to a piece of printing type, a formal document"

I don't know what an alphabet is so let me look that up too.

Apparently it's "a set of letters or symbols in a fixed order, used to represent the basic sounds of a language; in particular, the set of letters from A to Z."

Weird.

I guess I figured out that there are 26 letters in the alphabet.

Good for me.

---

I still have the flare Vi left me.

I keep imagining the day I get out of here and use it.

I hope she finds me soon, I want her to fix this mess I made.

---

Better to be a Jinx then weak.

---

I'm so hungry.

The doctor doesn't feed me enough, he goes out once a week and brings me the same loaf of bread to eat every single time. And sometimes it's moldy!

I have to make it last a whole week. I try to, I really do, but I was just so hungry after the doctor injected me with this weird new serum he made that I just ate the rest of it two days ago.

Now I'm so hungry it's all I can think about, and Mylo keeps making fun of me by bringing up a bunch of different foods to make me even hungrier.

My stomach is hurting so bad, I begged the doctor for more food, but he said he wasn't due to go out until tomorrow night. He said I would get more food then, and that I should learn to control my urges and ration my food accordingly.

Jinx agrees with him. She says I'm a big baby for crying all day because of my stomach, and that I should just let her take over because she could actually handle the pain.

I told her no.

So I guess I'll be like this until tomorrow night.

---

It's weird, when I write in here the voices get all quiet and faded.

That's why I like this journal so much. It chase the voices away like Vi used to do.

I wish she would come back and do it herself, but until then I'll just keep writing in this.

---

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to have your bones magically snap back into place?

Well don't.

The doctor got his new Shimmer working. He broke my fingers, foot, hand, arm, leg, and even a rib.

Multiple different times.

He wanted to see if he could heal multiple broken bones at the same time so he even broke them all at once one time.

Somehow the healing of the bones is worse than the breaking.

---

Jinx takes over so much now I feel like I'm the one who's intruding when I come out now.

She's quiet, calm, and calculating.

She's everything I'm not.

She's angry, bitter, and spiteful.

She's a monster.

And I'm afraid of becoming her.

---

She called me a monster.

They call me a Jinx.

Call me what suits your taste but there's no better version of us I could pretend to be.

---

I had another nightmare.

Honestly I don't think there's been a time I've fallen asleep that I haven't had one.

I woke up and sung the song mom taught me but it only helped a little. It's just not the same without someone singing it to me.

---

I have so many scars now.

I used to tell Vi and the others that there scars were cool, and that I wanted some of my own.

Mylo told me I would actually have to fight to get one.

Claggor said that it would probably hurt.

Vi told me I would get some when I got older.

Vander said if he had it his way, I would never have any.

Now I have a total of 89 completely different and totally visible scars.

The worst ones were from when I did my own stitches. They're big and ugly.

I have the most scaring on my wrists and ankles, from pulling against the restraints the doctor puts on me.

I used to think scars were so cool.

Now I hate the way they look.

---

I sit here for days, waiting around for an answer to appear. Staring at that flare Vi gave me as if it will proved it.

There's this annoying thought in my head that won't leave me alone.

"Just leave, light the flare and find Vi. She'll save Vander."

It's getting harder and harder to tell it to shut up.

---

I'm sorry.

I can't do this anymore.

If you're reading this Vander please know I never meant to hurt you, or to lie straight to your face.

Consider this my apology, even though it's probably years in advance.

I know if you are alive to read this I will most likely be able to apologize in person. But I'd rather say it now in case I never get the chance.

I'm not the hero I pretend to be.

Vi's the hero of this family, not me. I should've never tried to be her. I'll never be like her.

I'll be back, with Vi.

She'll save you.

She'll save us both, just like she always does.

---

Vi never came.

I lit the flare.

I waited.

SHE NEVER CAME.

I thought she loved me more than this.

---

I'm 12 now.

The doctor said if I'm so desperate to leave this cave then I'm certainly old enough now.

He's making me deliver shimmer for him.

I'm scared, and excited.

Finally some freedom. I just wish I didn't have to leave Vander.

---

I DID THE JUMP!

I was getting chased by some losers who wanted the Shimmer money I got, and then I finally just did it without even thinking!

It was my first time all by myself :)

I already told Vander all about it.

It was AMAZING. Not even the voices can bring me down by comparing me to Vi. Because Vi's not here, and I did this totally by myself.

Whether she likes it or not.

---

I just realized I probably will never have another birthday party, not for a long time.

It's not like I had the biggest birthdays in the world before, it was just small get togethers and eating a dinner I got to pick out, but it was still nice.

My best friend Ekko would always make me something for me on my birthdays, and I would do the same for him. Our special tradition.

I miss Ekko. He was the best.

He must still be out there somewhere, maybe I'll go look for him one day.

Until then I'll just draw a cake in the dirt and blow out the imaginary candles until it disappears.

---

The doctor has told me to do something I don't think I can.

He wants me to kill someone.

I'm 12! How am I supposed to kill someone?

I think I'm going to let Jinx do this. I can't stomach it, this is too far for me.

---

I was dead.

I swear I was.

The guy I tried to kill basically killed me, but somehow Jinx managed to get us out alive. Barely.

Apparently I crawled my way to the Last Drop. Silco's people found me. They saved me from bleeding out because apparently Sevika recognized me. The doctor said I would have died if she didn't take pity on me.

I don't want their pity. They're the ones that did this to me.

All my clothes had to be thrown out because of how much blood I got on them. Not a drop of it was from the guy I was sent to kill.

The doctor has given me the locations of some safe houses in the area that I'm supposed to go to instead of Silco's place. Because the Last Drop is his now, and I'm not to set foot in it again. The son of a bitch.

I have to go back out again tomorrow to kill the guy, I'll have an emergency vial of Shimmer this time should I fuck it up again.

If this goes any better than last time, maybe I'll see you in five weeks instead of seven.

---

I killed him.

---

I keep washing my hands but the blood won't come off.

I scrub until I'm bleeding but his blood won't get off of my skin.

His voice won't stop echoing in my head.

I haven't slept for a month.

Why won't his screams stop?

---

She's a coward.

I've said this a thousand times, and I'll say it a thousand more.

She ran away today, left me in charge while she sobbed and sobbed about the guy she killed.

She needs to get over it, she needs to learn to live with the unimaginable.

Because there's no room for fear here.

---

Jinx say if I ignore the fear I'll be fine.

The doctor says soon enough the deaths will become meaningless to me.

I hope the deaths of people will never become meaningless to me. They are people too, no matter what they've done.

I've decided Jinx is better at this stuff so I'm letting her do it, under one condition.

I get to sing my song.

We both agreed to this.

---

I've never liked the quiet before.

I always filled the air with useless noise. Humming, snapping, tapping something against something else relentlessly.

Anything and everything to avoid the deafening silence I always feared.

Now all I pray for is a quiet moment.

Because the voices NEVER STOP.

---

I've been sent out to kill 19 people, out of that I've only successfully killed 5.

Out of the 14 that survived I spared 8, the other simply beat me within an inch of my life before I fled.

I tell the doctor every time I let someone go, and every time I'm punished, and then he tells me he's proud of me. He says that I came forward with the truth and that what's important, and should I ever not tell him I let someone go the punishment for me would be far, far worse.

I don't want to know what's worse than this.

Then he sends me out to kill those people I let go again.

Nothing ever changes.

It's the same old story every single day.

I spend my days hunting people and laying in a pools of my own blood.

I wonder if will Vander still love me when he sees what I've become?

---

I'm not entirely here.

I'm not entirely me.

I don't even know who me is anymore.

I am Powder.

I am Jinx.

I am both.

I am neither.

---

I broke out of my restraints today.

I snapped them in half and apparently attacked the doctor with a knife.

He says I've gotten stronger as a mutation from the Shimmer.

I don't feel strong.

He told me I would have to control it.

He said if I couldn't he would make me.

I don't think I'll be able to control it.

---

For once I agree with Powder.

There is nothing worse than having your bones magically snapped together.

I failed to control my strength, so the doctor concocted a terrible way to get me to learn how.

The day after I escaped the restraints the second time he called me into the lab, then he shot me in my legs and arms.

It was terrible.

I have never had a gunshot wound before.

After I was rendered immobile he picked me up and strapped me down. Then he proceeded to systematically brake my limbs, insuring I was unable to use my new strength to escape.

I passed out from the pain many times, he just waited for me to wake up before proceeding to the next step.

He began to dig out the bullets from my arms and legs while I was still awake to feel it all.

Patiently waiting for me to get my wits about me before continuing to dig into my flesh.

After he successfully got all four bullets, he explained to me in aggravating detail exactly why he did this, and that he would continue to do so every time I decided to escape.

Then he pumped me full of Shimmer.

Out of all the things he did I hated feeling my bones regrow and snap together the most. It's sickening and unnatural.

I would rather break my bones into thousands of tiny pieces than have to use Shimmer to reform them.

---

Apparently I'm 13 now.

Heard some guy on the street say it was October 16th and my birthday is October 10th so I guess happy late birthday to me.

I try to keep track of time but it's hard without the sun. The most reliable way is info from the outside, but sometimes I sneak a peek into the doctor's files. He always writes down the date in there.

I'm better at killing now, maybe that was my birthday present, I always get my targets now even if I end up with plenty of injuries to show for it. It still takes me ages, and I'm constantly out of the cave.

I think the longest I've been gone was two months, (with the occasional check in so the doctor would know I hadn't gone rogue) I was trying to track this guy and for the life of me I couldn't find him.

The doctor had told me after a while that I was to go get help from Silco. Let's just say that went poorly. He completely changed the Last Drop, he even hired a new bartender (who I killed for trying to kick me out).

But this life has now become something I never thought it would be, somewhat bearable.

---

The voices are still never ending.

Usually it's not a problem because I'm not in the lab a lot, but when I'm stuck in here I can't ignore there constant badgering.

The doctor punishes me every time he catches me talking to them, but what am I supposed to do?

They never leave me alone, not even in my dreams.

---

Guilt, the idiot cousin of remorse.

That's a line the doctor used once that Jinx really likes to quote.

She says it every time I start feeling bad about killing people.

She acts like feeling things like that isn't normal, she acts like feeling things is stupid.

Well you know what? I think that's stupid. So go fuck yourself Jinx, I'm going to feel as bad as I want about murdering people.

---

She thinks I'm emotionless.

I'm not.

I see the blood that will never wash off of us, I hear the screaming sobs of the people we killed echoing around our head, I feel our knife sink into their flesh and bleed them dry of their life.

But love is a game for fools to play. Feeling things like love and care is a terrible burden. And what a cruel thing it is to self inflict a pain that terrible.

I won't do it.

Call me what you want but I refuse to care for complete strangers and suffer for it.

---

I've done something.

I don't know if it was right or not, but I did it.

I let Orrin, my target, go, (that's not new, I do that so often it's expected to happen at least once every 5 mission), but this time I did something else.

I lied about it.

The doctor doesn't know.

And as long as the dad and his kid don't fuck it up, he never will.

---

Powder is panicking.

She wrote her admission of guilt down here in black and white.

She won't stop think that the doctor is going to find out, so I told her to leave, that I would take care of everything. She agreed instantly, that's how I know she's completely out of her depth this time.

She thinks I can take care of all of this, she thinks I'll make this all go away, but the scary truth is, I'm making all of this up as I go.

---

I did it again.

I let someone go AGAIN.

This time I told the doctor immediately, I couldn't do it twice.

He's getting sick of me doing this, he going to punish me severely this time.

I'm so scared of what's going to happen when he finds out what I've done.

---

I'm fast now.

Like, can't even see me as I move, fast!

It makes my life so much easier, this combined with my super strength and new healing abilities, I'm basically unstoppable : D

---

It's so easy now.

They all fall like flies when I come at them, only reason they even know I'm there is because of Powder's song.

I don't need to spend days out looking for people, I get it done in two quick seconds. I have to hide and finish my song before I kill people now, because if I attack they're dead before I can even start.

Now that there's no challenge to killing people, I've stopped caring about them all together.

They're just scarecrows with extremely short lifespans.

---

How could he leave me? How could he think I work for Silco? How could he pick that GUY over ME?

I'm his friend.

ME.

I'm his BEST FRIEND.

Now his best enemy.

Just like I promised I would be all those years ago. He won't get rid of me that easily, I'm gonna burn myself into him like a brand.

Every time someone mentions his fucking name mines going to be the next one on their tongue.

Me and The Boy Savior.

We're going down in history.

I'm making sure of that.

---

I've run out of people.

That's funny right?

There's no one left from my past left.

At the end of the day all I have is myself.

Shouldn't that be enough?

---

At the age of 14 no one remembers my name anymore, it's all Jinx, if they even know that much.

I've devolved into nothing but ghost.

I'm a shadow so thin that you don't see me.

I'm a stranger to everyone, including myself.

---

The doctor found out about my terrible secret.

I'm never speaking of this again. May this follow me to my grave and burn its way out of my head.

But know this,

I will never lie to him again.

I will never spare another soul.

I will do whatever it takes to survive.

I will do whatever it takes to save Vander.

I've earned the right to be like this.

---

I didn't want to talk about this because it's related to the incident, but this is something that will never leave me no matter how hard I try to forget.

My two weeks being blind were the worst days of my existence.

The voices had so much power in the never ending darkness, they never stopped when I was like that, I would constantly see them even if they weren't speaking.

I was terrified that I would never see Vander's face again, that my brain would change it into a monstrosity like it did to everyone else.

I felt like a helpless child.

The worst thing of it all was the fact that I would be useless to the doctor like that.

So I took things into my own hands, I stole Shimmer and drank vials upon vials of the stuff. I drank until I couldn't physically do it anymore.

And then I injected myself with more.

I stabbed blindly at my skin and pushed in the syringes of Shimmer into my bloodstream.

I didn't sleep for 4 months.

And I would do it all again, because it worked, I can see again. So much better than I ever did before.

---

This eyesight is a blessing and a curse.

Everything is so clear now, I can read the doctor's documents from the operation table, I can count the freckles on someone's face from a rooftop, I can write in this journal in the pitch black room I'm in now.

But light, it burns my eyes like searing hot metal, I can't go outside in the daytime, the doctor can't turn on any lights, I can't even handle to low glow of Vander's machines, I had to use my crappy blankets to cover them up.

The doctor says with conditioning I'll be seeing better than ever.

I can't tell if this is a good thing or not, because at this point I don't think I qualify as a human being anymore.

I'm too much of a freak.

---

It's my birthday today, I'm 15 now.

I don't know why I feel the need to tell you my age or about my birthday.

It's not like you care.

You're a book.

---

Days and years meld together.

Time means nothing to me now, I only keep track of the years for Vander.

You would be surprised if I told you all the things that I have allowed to become nothing to me.

This book for example, I write words upon words in it, but my mind never retains them.

I have to flip through that dumb dictionary every time for almost every word. I've read it front to back hundreds of times but nothing sticks. I write words down and then I forgot them.

Because what's the point of actually learning to write?

This cave is my life, and there's no end in sight.

---

Today I'm contemplating suicide.

A thought occurred to me, the voices in this fucked up head of mine are going to die with me. And that made me think that maybe I should end this twisted thing I call life early.

But then I look at Vander, and while I can accept a world without me, I can't accept one without him.

So I'll stay for him.

Only for him.

---

Do you know what it feels like to only be able to be injured for a second?

Nothing more, nothing less.

Just a mere second of humanity.

I have to slit my wrists open 137 times before I lose the same amount of blood a normal person would in 30 seconds.

…..I think I'm losing my mind.

---

Is this entertaining?

Reading this and watching me slowly unravel?

Well I hope you enjoyed it because I'm about done with this.

---

Do you want to die?

Well tell me your sins, and I'll sharpen my knife.

Because I am a god without a prayer.

Because I am life without death.

Because I am darkness masquerading as enlightenment.

Because there is no escape.

Least of all for me.

---

I'm sick of this.

I'm done with you.

I'm throwing you out tomorrow.

---

I suppose I owe you an explanation before I do this, I suppose I should give you some grand words that will stick with you for life.

But I have nothing to offer you, reading this was meaningless.

This was a waste of time for both of us.

Notes:

More insight into what Jinx has been going through, or more specifically, feeling over these last 7 years.

Also some more information on what happened to Jinx after she had the burn out retinas experiment done to her. And also why the experiment could not be recreated on Orrin, Jinx probably gave herself ten times the amount of Shimmer Orrin was given.

Jinx has contemplated suicide lots of times, but as I’ve explained before she would never go through with it herself, even though she has come close many different times.

At the age of 15 Jinx could no longer handle thinking about her feelings, so she got rid of the book all together. Choosing to throw herself into the deep end completely instead of trying to hang onto that part of herself.

Chapter 33: I'm Just Finishing What You Began

Notes:

Oh man, the last chapter was a bigger hit than I expected. I'm glad because I loved writing it. (Please ignore what that says about me as a person 😅.) So you know what? Yes, someone will be reading the diary since that's all everyone wants to know. I am not saying who; you people get far too many spoilers out of me as is.

Caitlyn would lead a strike team into the Undercity with three objectives:

Locate Jinx.

Stop the doctor.

And save Vander.

Yes, that was the plan, but first, she would need to get all the pieces set in place.

First, she would go to Jayce and Viktor. She would ask Jayce to make her and Vi special Hextech-powered weapons. This would eliminate any questions as to who had the upper hand when it came to a fight with Silco or the unknown variable that was the doctor.

Then she would consult with Viktor on ways to heal Vander, she knows he has insight on this particular situation because he was always a man who was interested in the healing properties of science. He also works closely with many different doctors. If anyone had a chance of helping Vander it was him.

She would then need to collect the three other team members she had in mind.

The first member was a junior officer on the force, Maddie. She had joined the enforcers about the same time Caitlyn had, she was one of the only people who didn't treat Caitlyn like a rich snob who was slumming it for fun. She was also young and eager to please, she was a guaranteed yes. Which is what Caitlyn needed right now.

The other she had in mind was a completely fresh recruit that had joined a month ago, Steb. He was a level-headed medic who looked promising. He was also young and eager to please, making him more likely to say yes to the sudden, unprompted, unauthorized trip to the Undercity. Caitlyn had only seen him in action once, at the fire Jinx had started, but he handled the situation perfectly. There couldn't be a better option.

The last person was the trickiest. He was an old commander who clawed his way up the chain despite being from the Undercity himself, Loris. He was also a close friend of the former sheriff Grayson. After she died he was immediately targeted and lost his high position in the force, he was demoted to a street patrolman and quickly turned to alcohol to deal with his problems. After several infractions, he was fired from the force. His current location is unknown because he lost his apartment about a month after being fired.

Caitlyn would have to ask her mother to track him and the others down and gather them, while she went to talk to Jayce and Viktor.

While Caitlyn had complete faith in her plan she was worried about the time constraint surrounding it. So much time had already been lost, it was midday now, so she needed this plan to work quickly and efficiently, there could be no roadblocks. Things were in far too precarious of a position to be left that way for long, this whole thing was just a powder keg waiting to explode at the smallest hint of trouble.

There was also the unpredictable variable that was Jinx to take into account. She had no complete loyalty to anyone on either side of this dilemma, so Caitlyn could not guarantee anyone's safety on this strike team, because, to Jinx, everyone was fair game. She was rather confident that Vi was the only exception to that rule, and perhaps some leniency on it for Caitlyn herself, but the way things were left between the three of them made Caitlyn question even those exceptions. Jinx held no loyalty except to one person.

Vander.

Caitlyn hoped to turn Jinx over to their side and take the doctor down quickly that way, but should things go wrong then she would have to be prepared to neutralize Jinx before she became a problem.

---

Caitlyn walked her way right into Jayce and Viktor's lab, Vi close behind, not wasting time on knocking.

"I need your help, and I'm not taking no for an answer," Caitlyn announced as soon as she stepped into the room.

Both Jayce and Viktor looked up from a chalkboard covered in various equations to look at them shocked at the sudden intrusion.

"Caitlyn!" He rushed over to her and pulled her off to the side away from both Vi and Viktor, "Look I know that meeting didn't exactly go the way we wanted but we're really busy here."

"This is more important," she stated firmly.

He gave her a look, "Cait-"

"This is about Jinx."

He grew serious and thought for a moment, "…..Alright."

He led her back over to the others.

Vi raised a brow at her, Caitlyn merely gave her a reassuring look before she went to make her speech to her two old friends.

"First things first, Jinx is Vi's sister."

Jayce's mouth fell open.

"Excuse me?!" Jayce asked aghast.

"And here's the kicker, you're both going to help us save her life," she added swiftly.

Jayce opened and closed his mouth like a gaping fish as he looked at everyone in the room, before repeating himself, "Excuse me?!"

Vi stepped forward, "My sister has done some fucked up shit-"

"No fucking duh!" Jayce exclaimed, "Caitlyn," he turned to look at her, "You can't be serious with this!"

Viktor cleared his throat, "Jayce. She is completely serious. So shut the hell up and let her explain."

Jayce blinked at him taken aback, and so did Caitlyn.

Viktor wasn't one to be so straightforward and harsh, at least not for as long as Caitlyn knew him.

Vi however was completely unfazed and used this opportunity to march forward, "My sister is being held against her will and being forced to do all of this," she stated plainly and firmly despite the shaking in her hands that betrayed her stoic demeanor.

Caitlyn grabbed her hand, "Their father, who is in a coma, is being held hostage by a man known as the doctor."

Viktor dropped his cane with a resounding clatter.

Jayce went to pick it up as Viktor spoke, "Your sister is being held captive by the doctor?" He whispered.

Vi scrunched up her face confused, "Yes?" And then turned to whisper in Caitlyn's ear, "Is he going deaf on top of dying?"

Caitlyn gave her an odd look. Why did she think Viktor was dying?

She had no time to contemplate that before Jayce spoke.

Jayce looked over at Viktor confused, "You know this doctor guy?"

"That man is sick and twisted. Janna help anyone he crosses paths with," he replied harshly.

"He lives in the Undercity in a cave," Caitlyn said taken aback by the fact Viktor knew of this man, "how in the world do you know him?"

Everyone stared at him waiting for his explanation.

"When I was a boy I crossed his path. It was an encounter I will never forget."

"If you met this guy as a kid then you know what we're dealing with!" Vi said jumping at the chance to have any information on the one unknown variable in this messy equation, "You have to tell us."

Viktor was silent for a while before speaking, "When I was a boy, he had an animal named Rio. She was incredible, I fell in love with her quickly, but she was dying. I wanted to help him keep her alive, I thought that was what he wanted as well, but I was wrong. One day I came and found her hooked up to these-" he paused looking for the right word to describe it, "tubes," he spat bitterly, "She was being pumped full of chemicals, clearly suffering, but he had the audacity to claim that he was saving her. But it was not her life he wanted to save, it was the mutation he created within her."

A heavy silence fell across them all.

Vi squeezed Caitlyn's hand betraying the stone face that she was wearing and revealing the fear she felt on her sister's and father's behalf.

"It is no surprise that your sister is capable of the feats she has accomplished. I can only imagine what he has done to her," he said with disgust in his voice.

Vi squeezed Caitlyn's hand harder.

"That is why we need your help," Caitlyn said breaking the silence they all held, "Vi's father is in a coma and we need to get him out safely to be able to save Jinx from him as well."

Viktor looked at her before standing, "You have my complete su-" he broke down into a fit of coughs and nearly fell over.

Jayce was quick to step in and hold him up, "Viktor, we don't have time to help them. We need to figure out how to save you."

"Are you alright Viktor?" Caitlyn said rushing over to his side.

"He's dying," Vi said plainly.

"Vi!" Caitlyn scolded.

Caitlyn was aware that Viktor was a sickly looking man, but that was no excuse for such rude remarks.

"It's alright Caitlyn," Viktor said, sitting back down in his seat with assistance from both Jayce and Caitlyn, "It's the truth."

"What?" She whispered, looking at him in a whole new light.

He was thinner, too thin, and he was paler too.

"It's from the air in the Undercity," Vi supplied.

Caitlyn looked over at her.

"How did you know?" Jayce asked.

"It's everywhere down there. If you didn't get lucky and got a weak set of lungs you wouldn't survive in the lanes. It's just how it works for us fissure folk."

Just like Ronan, Caitlyn thought.

"Ronan…." Caitlyn whispered before she shot up, "The firelight kid! He had the same thing, but he got better after taking Shimmer! If we just get you some of that then-"

"Cait," Caitlyn looked over at Vi, "He's too far along for that to help."

Viktor chuckled softly, "You saw right through me the moment you laid eyes on me, didn't you?"

Vi shrugged, "Not much to see though. I grew up around people like you, I know the signs like the back of my hand."

Caitlyn felt tears prickle at her eyes, "There has to be something we can do."

Jayce sighed, "We've been trying. But nothing worked."

"Oh, Viktor," Caitlyn whispered as she gave him a hug, "I'm so sorry."

"Perhaps I can ease your pity by telling you a secret of mine."

She pulled back and looked at him.

"I sent a letter to the doctor not too long ago."

Caitlyn gasped softly.

"You what!" Vi yelled.

"Viktor. What are you talking about?" Jayce asked just as confused.

"That colleague from the Undercity I told you and the others I wanted to consult? That was him."

"You wanted to consult that- that- monster on your condition!" Jayce yelled.

"Jayce," he said sharply, "I am dying. I was desperate. Never did I imagine he would stoop so low as to hold a child hostage using their sickly father. Obviously, I would never condone such a thing." He turned to look at Vi and Caitlyn, "I will be honored to assist you in helping your sister and father. We both would."

Jayce grabbed his shoulder, "Viktor are you sure, we're running out of time."

Viktor sighed and looked over at him, "Jayce, we were never going to figure this out. It's over. Let my last act be to save these people."

"…Alright. If this is what you want, I won't stand in your way," Jayce turned to look at them, "how can we help?"

"Hold up, if you think for a second-" Vi began angrily.

Caitlyn interrupted, "Vi we don't have time or options to hold the moral high ground right now. He was desperate, he didn't know about Jinx, for now, that has to be enough for you."

She clenched and unclenched her jaw before spitting out, "Fine."

Caitlyn cleared her throat and put her tears and anger on hold. She had to hold it together, there would be time to be upset and mourn later.

"We need weapons. Hextech weapons."

"You want us to build weapons!?" Jayce said taken aback.

"Absolutely not," Viktor said immediately, "That is not why we invented Hextech."

"This man is a monster," Vi said, "You said so yourself!"

"Please, Jayce, Viktor. He is torturing her, threatening to kill her father, and forcing her to kill people for him. She needs help, and to do that we need to be able to take on anything that comes at us. We need these weapons," Caitlyn pleaded.

"Viktor, what do you think?" Jayce asked.

He looked up at Caitlyn and then Vi, "If that man has her, then they will need all the help they can get. We'll do it."

Vi looked over at Caitlyn and beamed at her.

"Thank you," Caitlyn said, with relief flooding through her

"Of course, I'll get started on it right away," Jayce said, "Viktor you stay here and work on some of these formulas, yeah?"

Viktor nodded as Jayce took off to go make the Hextech weapons.

"There is one more thing," Caitlyn added before Viktor asked them to leave, "We will need some doctors to help with Vander. And we were hoping you would assist in that department Viktor."

He furrowed his brows, "Me? What help would I be?"

Caitlyn gestured at the wall of unending equations, "This is exactly the kind of help we need. Jinx is convinced that the doctor holds the key to fixing Vander, we need to know if that's true or not."

Viktor thought for a moment, "It is hard to know. You said he is in a coma, yes?"

Caitlyn nodded.

"Well, if I had to guess, I would think the doctor is the one keeping him like that. It would make things easier to manipulate with the father unable to voice an opinion. As to whether or not he is the only one able to fix him…. I would say it's unlikely. But not impossible."

"Could you help him?" Vi asked.

He looked over at the extensive equations that were written out before him, "Perhaps, but I would need to know more about his condition to be able to be certain."

Caitlyn looked over at Vi.

She took a deep breath, "I could help with that."

Viktor looked over at her.

"Seven years ago, there was an…. Incident. Silco attacked us. Took Vander."

This surprised Caitlyn, she hadn't known that there was even more history between Vi's family and Silco.

"When me and my brothers got to him he was pretty banged up. Nothing bad, just a black eye and some cuts and bruises from being roughed up," Vi shut her eyes tight, "but then some stuff happened. Things got worse, and Powder…"

"I did something… incredibly stupid. Vander and our adoptive brothers died."

Jinx killed her family, Caitlyn thought sadly.

Vi shook her head, "there was an explosion. Vander got stuck under a bunch of rubble," Vi's voice shook with emotion as she relieved her worst moments.

Caitlyn walked over and gently grasped her hand in hers and whispered, "You're doing great."

"He…. He went to fight some guys off. This- thing," she spat, "that was full of shimmer attacked him. Then Silco helped the thing. He was stabbed and fell. But he lived," A single tear fell from her eyes, "He took Shimmer and he survived until he went and saved me."

Vi turned away and hugged Caitlyn.

Caitlyn hugged her close and whispered reassurance into her ear.

"Hmmm, well clearly the Shimmer is what kept him alive. I really can't make a call on this before I see him, but I will tell you this, I will do everything in my power to make sure he will live. You two should go. We'll contact you when the weapons are ready."

Caitlyn nodded her head in thanks and gently led Vi out of the room.

---

The way back to Caitlyn's room was quiet and Vi still didn't speak as she sat on Caitlyn's bed.

"Do you want to get some sleep?" Caitlyn asked softly.

It was almost sundown and neither of them had gotten any rest. As far as Caitlyn knew Vi hadn't slept in two days now, at least Caitlyn got to sleep through the night with Jinx yesterday.

"Do you think we'll save them?" Vi asked, ignoring the question.

Caitlyn carefully thought out her answer, "I think we're going to give it our best shot. As long as everything goes well, then both of them will be back here, safe and sound."

"Do… do you think she'll ever forgive me?" She asked voice shaking.

"Of course, she will. She loves you," Caitlyn said immediately, "she told me so herself."

Ok, there was a talk of what a moron Jinx thought her sister was after the statement, but Vi didn't need to know that.

After a long moment of silence, there was a sharp knock on the door before it opened, revealing Caitlyn's mom, "They're here."

Caitlyn stood, "Thank you, mother. We'll be right down."

Caitlyn had asked her mother to collect all the people she needed from the force, which took a bit of convincing and lying, but ultimately she got her to do it.

Caitlyn's mom looked her up and down, "After you change of course," she said pointedly before turning and leaving without giving her any chance to argue.

Caitlyn looked down at her clothes and groaned, just how many people had seen her in this thing?

She rushed over to her wardrobe and pulled out an outfit to throw on, pausing and looking back at Vi who was watching with a raised brow.

"Don't stop on my account, Cupcake."

Caitlyn glared at her, "Turn around this instant!"

Vi chuckled, "If you're that shy just go change in that fancy bathroom of yours."

Caitlyn huffed as she marched over to the restroom "Don't you dare try and come here."

"Please, who do you think I am."

"A delinquent with no sense of personal space," she replied plainly.

"Ouch."

Caitlyn rolled her eyes, as she closed the door and quickly began to change. She didn't want to keep the recruits waiting, she needed to be on their good side if she was going to ask for such a big favor from them all.

"I don't even know why you're changing," Vi called out, "My sister somehow managed to make you even hotter with that outfit. And that's saying something!"

"Oh, shut up!" Caitlyn yelled back.

Despite the frustrated tone she used, she was blushing furiously. Did Vi have to be so brazen with her compliments?

After she got her new outfit on, a set of formal pants and a long-sleeved black shirt, she took a look at herself in the mirror.

The makeup that the girl at the brothel had applied had smudged no end after the day she had. Caitlyn turned on the tap and began to use product to get it off, scrubbing every inch of her face to ensure none remained.

So much had happened these last couple days. This felt like the first real breather she got.

She cupped her hands and filled them with lukewarm water, leaning down to splash her face.

What she would give to just take a warm shower and go to bed.

With her eyes squeezed shut her hands fumbled around and grabbed a towel to pat her face dry.

But that wasn't an option, she had to stay focused and finish this.

She was enjoying the soft sensation of the towel wiping away all the water when a noise from behind her startled her. She pulled the towel off her face and let out a loud gasp as she looked in the mirror and saw a face behind her.

Notes:

Watched the Worlds Collide video, and I can’t believe we almost got a kiss!!

Wish we got the original animation, but I still loved the video.

Chapter 34: Hate The Sin Love The Sinner.

Notes:

Is it too late to warn you this is going to be a long-ass fanfic?

Well, it's long, and it's too late to back out now! (Seriously, I blinked and I've written over 30 chapters. How does that happen?)

It wasn't supposed to happen like that.

He had made it out, so she should have too.

Why the hell didn't she run?

She was faster than him, she should've made it.

Ekko hadn't stopped thinking about that look that Jinx had given him while he hobbled his way through the maintenance tunnels.

Why hadn't she fought back?

She just laid there and took it, while Ekko pounded on her without hesitation.

He made his way down the long ladder that felt even longer with his ankle like this.

Everything about Jinx was wrong on that bridge.

He stumbled his way over to the wall of the pillar he climbed down that also had some boxes for cover, while he took a moment to try and figure out how to get home without his broad, which Jinx had broken, and his ankle being sprained.

But that was it.

That was the extent of his injuries.

He got into a fight with Jinx and got out of it with nothing more than a sprained ankle, and Jinx hadn't even been the one to do it!

He had sprained it in his rush to get away from the bomb that landed next to them.

Jinx hadn't laid a finger on him the entire fight.

She had just thrown knives without any real care, only making contact when Ekko was too close to excuse missing, and that's when Ekko just threw up his board to protect himself.

It was only after that, that Jinx seemed to finally snap out of whatever funk she was in.

She got angry and became the Jinx he knew. Not that strange empty shell she was before he got there.

He then did something he never thought would work, he offered to play their old game, and she accepted.

He didn't think she would do it, but he offered anyway because Ekko couldn't stand to see that strange empty look on her face that still seemed to stick even though she now had that anger as well.

When she accepted Ekko formed a plan immediately, he would make a different move at the last second before Jinx made the final shot that always got him.

But that didn't go as planned either.

Jinx paused.

It was for a fraction of a second, but Ekko saw it.

That moment of hesitation didn't actually save him, but it certainly helped him dodge the bullet completely, instead of the narrow miss that he had planned to happen.

Ekko couldn't understand why she had paused, she never hesitated when it came to taking the kill.

Never.

So why did she do it then?

Not to mention when he pinned her down she didn't escape.

Jinx hated it when she got pinned, Ekko had expected her to shove him off immediately, so he stuck quick and hard. No hesitation, because if he did then he would've missed his chance.

But as he hit her, and hit her, and hit her, she didn't escape. She just struggled against him, as if she was incapable of getting him off.

Ekko didn't get it, so he just kept hitting, breaking her nose at some point, only stopping when she stopped struggling.

He looked into the eyes of the murderer who was once his friend.

She didn't try to flee.

She didn't try to attack.

She just laid there looking back up at him, a soft, sweet, genuine smile painting itself over her lips as she looked at him.

Ekko smacked his head lightly against the wall he was leaning on, "Why?"

Why did she look so empty and broken?

Why didn't she actually try to kill him?

Why did he see his old friend in her face again?

And why, Janna why, didn't she run?

He had heard it, he had seen it.

They both had, he was sure of it.

The bomb some enforcer threw at them.

He did the most logical thing next, he got off of Jinx, setting her free, and ran, fully expecting her to do the same.

Only when he spared a second to look back at her did he realize she hadn't moved an inch. She was still on the ground right next to the bomb, eyes fluttering closed, smile still on her face.

"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck." He whispered.

Had she wanted this?

Did she want to die?

Is that why she let Ekko win so easily?

Did she want him to kill her?

And he hadn't even been the one to do it, it was the fucking bomb of some enforcer that did her in.

Well, maybe.

Silco had grabbed her. So she was probably still alive.

Jinx had been through a lot of beatings and she always came back better than ever, why should this be any different?

Silco saved her once again.

She had her hero, she didn't need him, didn't want him.

That's why she used that stupid nickname she gave him after that night. To remind him that he was never going to be her savior, that, try as he might, she would never take his hand and accept his help.

So he closed his hand and turned it into a fist.

What other choice did he have?

He looked down at his hands that were covered in her blood and wondered what she would be like the next time they saw each other.

He didn't care, he thought as he took his hoverboard off his back and placed it beside him while he leaned into the wall to rest up, as long as she wasn't like the emotionless doll he saw today.

He shut his eyes and fell into a restless sleep filled with dreams haunted by the lifeless corpse of Jinx that still held that cursed smile of acceptance and eyes that held nothing at all, plastered on her face.

---

The sound of someone's footsteps approaching startled Ekko awake. He had let himself sleep too long, the sun was high in the sky and people were out and about.

He quickly shrunk into the wall and readied himself for a fight.

A Yordle in a cloak walked over and picked up his hoverboard, "Oh!" He exclaimed, "Ingenious."

Ekko let himself relax a little, the guy hardly seemed like he was here for a fight.

"Though these blades seem improperly pitched," he said out loud to no one but himself.

He didn't even seem to realize Ekko was there.

Ekko sighed before calling out, "You're wrong."

He jumped a little before turning around to look at him.

"It's designed for the fissures, the air is denser," Ekko explained, recognition striking him as he saw the guy's face.

"Oh," He said softly as he took a step toward him, "Are you all right, lad?" He asked concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine, I just-" had the worst sleep of my life because I may or may not have just let my best friend commit suicide/killed her myself, "-sprained my ankle."

He looked at him, eyes filled with worry.

"Are you… Councilor Heimerdinger?"

"It's just… Heimerdinger now," he said with an awkward chuckle.

"What are you doing on this side of the river?"

Even if the guy got canned from his fancy Councilor job, they wouldn't have thrown him over to the Undercity.

"I wanted to offer my assistance to the citizens of the Undercity, but… it seems I'm unwelcome."

Ekko chuckled at that.

He knew what it was like to try and help people, only to be met with judgment and mistrust.

"What is it?"

"We're having the exact same day."

He hummed in consideration, "That sprain of yours looks pretty bad."

He was right, it seemed the thing got worse after resting, not better.

Ekko sighed, "I have to get home. It isn't safe for me here. It's gonna be hard to do that with my ankle like this, and, well… you're holding my ride."

He looked down at the hoverboard he was carrying, before saying, "Would you… like some assistance getting home?"

Ekko cocked his head to the side, "Sure. But I don't know how you're going to get me there, you're kinda small to be helping me walk."

"Just a moment," he said as he shuffled away.

He shook his head at the guy.

Who knew Ekko would be making friends with two Piltes in a day, let alone a counselor?

The image of Jinx's smiling face flashed its way into his brain.

He sighed, guess this would just be one of their moments that never left him, and wouldn't let him sleep for months.

The quick and sure footsteps of the old councilor alerted Ekko that the guy was back, and when he came into view, he saw he was carrying a cane with him.

He handed the cane over to Ekko, "There you are my boy. That should be enough to get you where you want to go."

Ekko looked down at the thing, it was very clearly just cobbled together from some junk he had found, "You made this just now?"

Heimerdinger hummed in acknowledgment, "You'd be surprised how easily you can make things out of old scrap!"

"Oh please, here's enough junk down here to make all of Topside! You just gotta know how to use it."

Ekko shook his head to try and rid himself of the memory, but all it did was replace it with the one of Jinx lying on that bridge smiling up at him with those empty eyes.

Ekko stood, he really didn't need the cane, which would only help him walk, not climb, which was the real problem he was looking to solve, but he didn't have it in him to tell the guy that so he just leaned on the thing. It definitely eased the pain of his severely sprained ankle.

"Come on," Ekko said.

"You- want me to come with you?" Heimerdinger asked.

"Unless you got somewhere better to be?"

"Oh! No. No, I don't believe I do," he said as he shuffled forward to walk alongside Ekko.

---

Ekko pounded on the hideout door, which was soon opened by Scar to reveal the soft lighting of the candles and the setting sun. (It had taken ages to get here with his ankle and Heimerdinger, who couldn't climb anything for the life of him.)

"Astounding," Heimerdinger said as he took in the view.

Watching new people see the hideout for the first time was his favorite thing to do, there was always this look of pure awe and amazement. It's what let him know that everything he was doing was worth it.

Scar looked over Ekko's injuries, "You good?" He asked.

Ekko nodded as he sat himself down, "Just a sprain."

"You say all this came about in your brief lifespan? How were you able to accomplish so much so quickly?" Heimerdinger asked.

Ekko had to admit, it felt good to hear a guy who helped found Piltover give him props for what he was doing.

"You'd be surprised what you can pull off when your life depends on it," Ekko responded.

"Uh, why this form? Surely, there are more efficient and safer methods of transportation," He said gesturing at the broken hoverboard he carried all the way back down here.

It was funny hearing this guy talk. To him there was no such thing as a time restraint, there was always time to wait and improve on things.

"Why wait? There ain't ever going to be a "perfect" moment."

Powder would've had so much fun showing this guy the joys of doing things without a care in the world.

The loud metallic bang of Scar's staff hitting the floor, interrupted his thoughts.

A sudden clanging sound clinked beside them, interrupting their long everlasting look into each other's eyes, filled with unspoken and unanswered questions.

The sound of Scar yelling quickly cut off that train of thought.

"FIRELIGHTS!"

Once everyone was looking at them Scar began to howl like a wolf, something he really liked to do which was what earned him his wolf-like mask.

Ekko raised a fist in the air in greeting to his people.

All of them erupted into cheers and shouts.

"It's not enough to give people what they need to survive-"

"I don't want to just survive Ekko."

"You have to give them what they need to live."

"I want to LIVE."

If that's what you wanted then why didn't you run?

"Ekko," Scar said tapping him on the shoulder, "I got news for you."

Ekko looked up at him, "Shoot."

Scar glanced over at Heimerdinger, who was now being surrounded by curious children and some teens, "In front of the new guy?"

Ekko waved him off, Scar had always been too suspicious of others, "He's fine, just say it already."

He huffed, "Well, you were right."

"As usual," Ekko added with a grin, "What about?"

"Silco. He's up to something."

Ekko paused.

Something was up with Silco.

The same Silco who took Jinx after she got blown up.

"What'd he do?" Ekko asked quickly, mind already racing with possibilities.

"That's the thing, man, we don't know. He just vanished."

"Vanished?" Ekko said, worry growing.

"Yeah. We had a guy keeping an eye on his movements like you asked, and he alerted us late last night that Silco and some goons were heading out after he got into some big argument with Sevika."

"Silco never goes out," Ekko said.

"Exactly. He and his guys apparently headed for the bridge, someone tipped them off that they spotted Jinx down there. Silco's had his guys swarming the Undercity looking for her, seems like Vi and the enforcer were telling the truth."

Ekko stood, "Fuck. How the hell didn't we know he was combing the Undercity for her?"

"He kept it quiet, only a select few were sent out. Guessing he doesn't want word spreading that both of Vander's daughters decided to come back from the dead."

"Fuck, fuck, fuck."

Why the hell didn't Ekko listen to Vi?

Jinx had gone rogue, and then she tried to kill herself. Only to be caught by the very person she was trying to escape from while Ekko just watched.

"Where's Silco now?" Ekko asked trying to form a plan to get Jinx away from him.

"Like I said, he just disappeared. No one knows where he is."

"The guy runs the whole Undercity, how the hell can he vanish? Everyone knows his name and face."

"I don't know. The guys that he took with him to the bridge came back alone. Someone said Silco told them to head back by themselves and that he had other things to do."

Ekko ran a hand through his hair, whatever was happening with Silco wasn't good for Jinx.

Her smile and empty eyes flashed through his head again.

"Are you afraid of dying Ekko?"

"Uhh, duh. Aren't you?"

She looked off into the smog-filled sky, and shrugged, "Not really."

"Why not?" He asked confused.

"Because I've always known I'm gonna die young," she whispered.

"Hey! Why the hell would you say that!"

She looked over at him, "Come on Little Man, no one down here makes it for long, and with my dumb luck I'll end up dead by the time I'm 18."

Ekko grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her, "If you think I'm gonna let you die then you got another thing coming. Ya' hear!"

She gave him a small grin, "If you say so."

He scowled, "You repeat after me, "I will not die at 18."

"I will not die at 18," she repeated earnestly.

"I will live till I'm old and wrinkly and everyone thinks I'm gross."

"I will live till I'm old and wrinkly and everyone thinks I'm gross!" She shouted back before adding her own part, "And Ekko otherwise known as Little Man is gonna be with me every step of the way!"

"You got that right!" He said crossing his arms.

She grinned at him before cupping her hands around her mouth and screaming at the top of her lungs, "We're gonna live till we're ninety fucking three!"

Ekko grinned like a moron and shouted out, "You bet your ass we are!"

"Ekko?" Scar hit him on the shoulder, "You good?"

"No. I fucked up."

How could he have given up on her?

How could he have not seen it?

"If she was doing all of this by choice why does she look so fucking miserable!"

No, he saw it. Saw exactly the same thing Vi did and more. He just chose to pretend he didn't because that was easier than admitting he had no clue how to help her.

Or that he couldn't.

Because somewhere along the way, all the late nights they spent talking faded into nothingness, and all the promises they made became broken, empty words.

His eyes scanned the crowd until he spotted the guy he wanted.

Ronan.

Ekko was done sticking his head in the sand. He was going to find out what the hell was going on.

Ekko shoved his way through the crowd and spun Ronan around so they were face to face, everyone grew quiet and looked at them.

"Ekko-" Ronan began, but he cut him off.

"What do you know about Jinx?"

He chuckled nervously as he looked around at the others in the crowd, who had all backed away to watch the scene at a safe distance, "I don't know anything. I've told you that a hundred times."

"Bullshit," he growled, "We all know your story about escaping Jinx as a kid was a load of crap. So you're gonna tell me right now what you know about Jinx."

"I don't know anything," he growled, all humor dropping from his face.

Ekko clenched his jaw and took a breath to calm himself, getting angry never did anyone any good, "She's in trouble."

A flicker of something crossed his face, before turning back into his laidback demeanor, "Well isn't that a good thing? She's killed countless of our people that are painted on our walls. Do you need me to name them all?" He sneered, throwing Ekko's own words back at him.

"Ronan! This is serious. She injured, and I mean seriously injured!"

He froze at that.

The rest of the crowd broke into whispers, all confused as to why Ekko was concerned for Jinx.

Scar walked his way through the crowd to Ekko, "What are you doing?" He hissed into Ekko's ear.

Ekko ignored him and continued to press Ronan, "She could die. You hear me!? If you don't tell me what the hell you know and let me help, then she's gonna die!"

If she isn't already dead.

His eyes went wide, "You're serious," he whispered, "Jinx is in trouble."

"Yes. So please, help me help her."

After a moment of silence, he responded, "She doesn't work for Silco."

A round of gasps echoed throughout the crowd and whispers broke out like wildfire.

Ekko was also taken aback, "What are you talking about?"

He sighed, "Jinx did kill my father, but she also saved him."

Everyone fell into silence as Ronan finally revealed the truth of his past.

"You already know I was a sick kid, my dad bought Shimmer to make me better but he couldn't afford it, no matter how many hours he worked. When Jinx came to collect he managed to talk her out of killing him."

Ekko's brows furrowed in question, but Scar was the one who voiced his disbelief.

"You mean your dad just talked Jinx out of killing him?"

Ronan gave him a look of distaste, "Yeah. He did."

Ekko held a hand up before this went any further, "What else."

"Well, before Jinx left, Dad offered her money to pay off Silco, but she refused. She told us that she didn't work for Silco, but for some guy, she called the doctor."

Ekko looked to Scar to see if he recognized the name but he just shrugged, also unsure of who he was.

To everyone's surprise, it was Heimerdinger who spoke up, "Could you be referring to Doctor Corin Reveck?"

Ronan looked over at him, "I never got a name, she just called him the doctor."

"Do you know this guy Heimerdinger?" Ekko asked.

"Well, I can't be certain, but many years ago I had a student that showed much promise. Unfortunately, it was revealed that he was using… distasteful methods to conduct his work. He was expelled from the academy, and banished from Piltover."

"And you think he's this doctor guy?" Ekko asked confused at the correlation.

"You see when we were investigating him we discovered he sold medication to those who didn't need it to make extra money, on top of other things, we found that there were people who didn't know him by his name, they referred to him as "the doctor" or if they were long term customers, Singed," Heimerdinger explained.

"So, what? Jinx actually works for a drug dealer, not a crime lord?" Scar asked.

Ekko shook his head, "There has to be more to it. There's something missing."

Then something clicked in his head.

"This doctor," he said addressing Heimerdinger, "Was he a chemist?"

"Yes, chemistry was one of his many studies."

"Shimmer," he said snapping his fingers.

"Shimmer?" Scar repeated.

"It's so fucking obvious," he said turning to look at Scar, "Silco isn't one to actually do things himself, he outsources! He didn't make Shimmer. This doctor guy did!"

"That is a logical conclusion," Heimerdinger said, agreeing with him.

"Alright… so Jinx works for the guy who makes Shimmer. How the hell does that change anything?"

"Scar, don't you see?" Ekko asked, "If we missed this what the hell else did we not see?"

"Ekko-" he started, voice full of uncertainty.

"No. I'm done being satisfied with imaginary conclusions that I created in my own head. I'm getting to the bottom of this," he said politely, "I'm saving Jinx."

Ekko dropped the news like a nuke and left the crowd to whisper in shock.

Ekko didn't care if the others didn't support him on this, he was going to do it.

"Ekko!" Scar yelled running up to him and stopping him, "You can't be serious about this!? After everything she's done, you're just gonna forgive her?"

"You know what," Ekko snarled, "I listened to you all those years ago when you told me, scratch that, blackmailed me into letting her go. I'm not doing it again."

"Ekko, all you have is theories. None of the stuff you heard today changes what she did! All of it was still her choice!"

"And what if it wasn't!" Ekko yelled back, "What the hell do you fucking know about her?"

"I know she killed our friends! Our people! She turned her back on you and she doesn't care about anyone but herself!"

Ekko clenched his hands into fists, "Yeah? Well I know that she has the mind of a genius underneath all that pain and anger, her favorite color is blue because the first time she saw the sky she actually felt hopeful for the future, and that she hates getting hurt because she always ends up crying."

"I don't want to cry. Crying makes me look weak."

"Janna Ekko, when are you going to let it go?!" He said jabbing a finger at him, "It was a childhood crush! She's changed! She doesn't care about you! She will hurt you, and she will kill you and your people. She will do whatever it takes to survive!"

"THEN WHY DID SHE KILL HERSELF!"

Absolute silence fell between them.

"She committed suicide?" He asked softly.

Ekko knew that suicide was a sore subject for Scar. His father, who was the one taking care of him for most of his life, had decided to take his own life after the bills stacked up too high, leaving Scar on his own.

"I don't know," Ekko said shaking his head, "There was a bomb, she was next to it…"

"…why do think that counts as suicide? If someone threw it at her then-"

"She didn't run Scar. She saw it and she stayed. I fought her and all I got was a sprained ankle! She wasn't even the one to give it to me!" Ekko yelled at him.

Empty eyes and an accepting smile. Ekko couldn't remember her face with another expression.

He was quiet for a moment before speaking, "I'm sorry for your loss. I know what this feels like."

"But that's the thing, I don't even know if she's dead!"

He furrowed his brows, "I know she's strong man, but surviving a bomb that was right next to her?"

"Well whether she was alive or dead, Silco still grabbed her."

Scar's eyes widened.

"And then he just disappears off the face of the earth? No. Something's going down, and Jinx is in the middle of it all."

"Do you really think you can save her from this?" Scar asked after a moment.

"I have to try."

Scar slowly nodded, "Alright. I'll get a team together, I'll tell our informants to keep their eye out, you go get ready. And do something about that ankle of yours."

Ekko looked down, he had forgotten all about it in his rush to find out what was going on, but it was throbbing with pain.

Ekko nodded, "Sounds like a plan."

Notes:

Hey, guess what, apparently I’ve written over 100k words for this fanfic. Dear god, when I say I have only stuck with this for so long because of all of you, I mean it. You all are the only reason this project of mine is actually happening. I am so grateful to each and every one of you ❤️❤️

(I know I just gave you a shout-out like two chapters ago, but just roll with it)

Chapter 35: Help Me Disassociate

"Jesus fucking Christ Vi!" Caitlyn yelled as she put a hand over her heart.

Apparently, Vi had snuck into the bathroom unnoticed and decided to lurk behind her to try and give her a heart attack.

"What the actual fuck!?" Caitlyn screeched.

Vi chuckled as she held her hands up in surrender, "I knocked. It's not my fault you didn't hear me. Plus you left the door unlocked, you were asking for trouble."

Caitlyn glared at her with the fury of a thousand suns, "I told you not to come in here! What if I was in the middle of changing!?"

Vi shrugged, "I'm familiar with what girls look like without clothes."

Caitlyn opened and closed her mouth, "Th-that is not the point! And where do you get off flirting with me when you were the one who was just ready to throw us away not a day ago!" Caitlyn said allowing her anger to resurface.

Vi reached up and scratched her head, "I was angry, alright? I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that stuff."

"Vi, you can't just let your anger override you and lead you to making stupid decisions!"

"I know," she said looking at the floor, "it's just-," she sighed, "This anger has been all that's kept me going for years. I don't know how to live without it."

Caitlyn sighed, she walked toward her and grabbed her hand, Vi looked up into her eyes, "Look, I don't care if you punch walls or scream at me. I don't care if you burn every political bridge my family has ever created just because you felt slighted by someone. I can handle that. Just never try to leave me again, because I can honestly say, I don't know how I would live my life without you."

As soon as Caitlyn was done speaking Vi leaned in and kissed her.

She kissed her like she was a woman starved. No hesitation, no restraint.

But as soon as Caitlyn understood what was happening it was over.

Vi rested her forehead on hers, "Alright Cupcake, you got yourself a deal."

Caitlyn blinked, shocked at what had just happened.

Vi pulled away, "Now we should go, your mom came back up here earlier saying that we were being rude or something."

With that Vi walked out of the bathroom like nothing ever happened, leaving a completely star-struck Caitlyn blinking in disbelief in the bathroom.

---

Vi had actually done it. She had plucked up the nerve to kiss Caitlyn!

Vi fidgeted nervously as she and Caitlyn walked down the giant halls of her home. Not that she was letting it show how big a deal this was to her. To the untrained eye, Vi would look like her normal self, maybe a little happier, but overall normal.

"You just kissed someone didn't you?" Powder asked as soon as Vi set foot in their room.

"What!" Mylo yelled looking up at her.

Because of course, all her siblings were gathered in one spot to ambush her.

"No," Vi said crossing her arms.

Powder grinned that devilish grin of hers, "Oh you totally did."

Claggor chuckled, "She's got you pegged Vi, no point in denying it."

Vi huffed before sitting on the bed next to Powder who was working on some new contraption, "How'd you even know?"

Powder grinned up at her, "It's all over your face."

"Really?" Mylo asked walking up and looking at Vi's face, "Looks like the same ugly mug to me."

Vi shoved his face away from her, "Guess you're just a moron."

"Yeah right, and Powder's a genius," Mylo said with a roll of his eyes.

"That's right," Vi said grabbing Powder and squeezing her into a hug while she squirmed, "My baby sister is the greatest genius of all time."

"Viiii," Powder whined as she tried to get out of her hug.

"Whaaaaaat," Vi mocked as she planted a kiss on her head.

"You're just doing this because I ratted you out," She said with a huff as she decided to just accept the hug and reciprocate with one of her own.

"Damn," Vi said letting her go, "You really do know me too well," Vi said ruffling Powder's hair as she pulled away.

"Of course I do," Powder said fixing her hair, "I'm your sister."

Yes, to anyone else Vi would seem completely normal. The only one who would have known how ecstatic she was would have been Powder.

And Vi couldn't wait to have her back.

---

Caitlyn and Vi didn't talk about it, no matter how much Caitlyn wanted to bring it up she just couldn't get the nerve to do it, and it certainly didn't help that Vi looked completely unfazed by all of it.

The kiss was still buzzing in her head by the time she arrived at the meeting room filled with the people she asked her mother to collect.

Maddie, Steb, and Loris.

Maddie and Steb were holding a polite conversation on the couch when they entered, while Loris was downing a bottle of alcohol and splayed out on the other couch.

Maddie was the first to notice them.

She beamed as she stood, "Caitlyn!"

The others looked over at her.

Steb also stood and nodded his head in greeting.

Loris didn't bother to move he just raised his bottle and grumbled, "B'out time."

Vi walked over to the guy, "So sorry we kept you from your busy, busy life."

He looked up at her, "Hey… you ain't no Piltie."

"You got that right. Now," she slapped his legs, "move over, and pass me a drink."

He arched his brow at her but did what he was told.

Caitlyn rolled her eyes at Vi as she grabbed a drink and downed half of it in one go. While Caitlyn didn't approve of the drinking, she was secretly grateful she seemed to be making a good impression on him.

"Ahem," everyone turned to look at her, "I'm sure you're all curious as to why you've been gathered here."

"More like why you dragged us here," Loris said.

"Oi! Shut up, she's trying to talk," Vi said smacking him upside the head.

He rubbed the spot she hit, and muttered under his breath, "The hell?"

Vi just took a long swig from the bottle she had been given before gesturing for Caitlyn to continue.

Caitlyn sighed, "I need your help."

"You need our help?" Maddie asked shocked.

"Yes. I have hand-picked all of you to assist me on a mission to go to the Undercity on a rescue mission."

"Rescue mission?" Steb asked.

"Yes. For Vi's sister."

Maddie and Steb shared a glance, "Umm, who's Vi? And why are we rescuing her sister?"

Vi stood, "I'm Vi since you couldn't tell from it being tattooed on my face," She said as she downed the rest of the bottle, "And we're rescuing my sister because she got herself into a bit of a situation."

"Your sister get herself into trouble with the chem barons or something'?" Loris asked bringing a new bottle he had acquired from lord knows where to his lips.

"No. She got into trouble with Silco," Vi said pointedly.

He spat out his drink, "Well damn. No wonder you need a Piltie's help."

"Your sister is in trouble with the industrialist Silco?" Steb asked.

"No," Caitlyn said speaking up, "she's in trouble with Silco, the kingpin of the Undercity."

"But-" Steb began.

Loris interrupted him, "What the fuck your sister do to get on his bad side?"

Vi locked eyes with him, "She kicked the shit out of his dumb goons."

His mouth fell open, "Fuckin' hell, your sister sounds badass."

Vi smiled proudly, "You bet she is."

Caitlyn slapped a hand on her forehead, "Vi. Could you please take this seriously?"

Vi shrugged, as she walked over to stand next to her, "I am."

"This isn't a sanctioned operation is it?" Maddie asked.

Caitlyn looked over at Vi, who just shrugged.

"No. It isn't."

"Well then count me in," Loris said standing and walking over to them, stumbling a little as he did so.

He walked over and Vi grinned at him, "Better sober up before we go down there," she said nudging him.

Well, that was one, Caitlyn thought. She looked over at the others who seemed less excited about going on an unauthorized mission.

"I'll make sure if things get hairy none of the blame falls on you, you have my word," Caitlyn said.

Maddie shared a look with Steb before shrugging, "That's good enough for me," she walked over to them with a smile on her face.

Steb still stood uncertainly.

"Please Steb. We need your help. I will owe you after this, you can ask for anything. I'll get it for you," Caitlyn pleaded.

"I want my schooling paid for, the whole year," he replied immediately.

"Done!" Caitlyn said practically jumping at the chance to get him on their team.

"How's that fair? We're doing this crappy job for free," Loris complained.

"Well you did agree to join immediately," Maddie said.

"Hump," he replied grumpily.

"Wonderful," Caitlyn said clapping her hands together, "Everyone go home and get ready, we leave first thing in the morning."

"First thing!" Loris yelled appalled.

"Yup, so don't be late!" Caitlyn hummed as she left the room.

Vi followed after her, only after yelling back, "Better sober up fast big guy!"

---

Vi plopped down on Caitlyn's bed, alcohol and happiness from their kiss buzzing through her.

The more Vi thought about it, the more she realized that the kiss was completely different from all her others, and by that, she means that it actually meant something.

It wasn't just physical attraction, or lust, like all her other ones. This one was emotional and real. Vi actually cared what happened after the kiss, she was worried about Caitlyn and what she was feeling while it was happening. Not like all those times she hooked up with someone in Stillwater, those were over as soon as they started, or when she was a kid and had the occasional interest in a girl and actually decided to act on it. Those were all fake and selfish. This was real, and she wanted it to last. In fact, it scared her to think what would happen when it ended.

"Do you think we should have told them your sister is Jinx?" Caitlyn asked as she sat down next to Vi.

Well, that was a sobering thought.

"Does it matter?" Vi asked, knowing full well that if they had told them it was more than likely they would have refused to help.

"Vi… I know Jinx had her reasons but she still killed a lot of people."

Vi huffed, "Caitlyn it's already been done. Let it go."

"I know," she said clutching her hands together, "But they're putting their lives at risk for us. Don't they have a right to know how dangerous this is going to be?"

"Dangerous why? Because of Silco and the doctor? Or because of my sister?" Vi spat.

"Vi, that is not what I said."

"But it's what you meant," Vi said standing.

"Vi. Don't be like this, we both know what your sister is capable of. You can't just ignore what she's done because she had a good reason for it. Or the fact that she would do it again."

Vi glared at her but said nothing.

Because what could she say? Caitlyn was right, no matter how badly she wanted to excuse everything her sister did, she couldn't. Powder hurt a lot of people, Ekko and the Firelights being a prime example. People suffered because of her actions, and Powder was still willing to continue to do these awful things. Whether Vi liked it or not.

Caitlyn sighed, "Just think about it, please. They should know that when they go down there, the person they're trying to save may be hostile towards them, and that they will receive no praise from Jinx for what they've decided to do."

Vi huffed as she laid down on the bed, "Fine, I'll think about it. After I take a short nap."

Vi was tired, and even though her mind was buzzing with a thousand different thoughts about a thousand different things, her body was feeling the exhaustion from the long days she'd had.

Caitlyn laid down with her and grabbed Vi's hand, she planted a light kiss on her knuckles, "Alright. Rest up, tomorrow is going to be a long day."

She got up to leave but Vi held onto her hand, "Stay? Just till I fall asleep."

Caitlyn smiled softly as she laid down again, "Of course."

And there they laid together, hand in hand, until Vi fell into a restless sleep with shifting dreams of thousands of different things.

---

Caitlyn awoke with a start.

She lifted her head up from her desk where she had fallen asleep after making many more rounds to see how things were progressing.

Caitlyn had come back to the room in the pitch black and used a lamp, to not interrupt Vi's sleep, to go over her plans again.

The route they were using to the Undercity had to be modified many times. First by Vi, who knew at least a hundred different ways that would have been faster than the way Caitlyn had selected, and then it had to be changed again by Caitlyn after she reminded Vi that not all of them could climb buildings like a monkey on Shimmer, after that she showed the plan to Viktor last night while Vi was asleep to see if he had any suggestions and he corrected the location Caitlyn had selected as the doctor's lab, which meant Caitlyn had to redo the whole route they were supposed to take to get there to begin with.

She must have fallen asleep at some point.

Caitlyn looked over at her bed, surprised to see Vi wasn't in it. She went to stand but stopped when she saw the note that was stuck onto the wall in front of her.

She grabbed it and read:

Dear Cupcake,

Hope you're not mad, but I stole your shower.

Woke up and couldn't go back to sleep, and you were snoozing so peacefully I didn't want to wake you. (You're adorable when you snore by the way)

Anyway, don't freak out thinking I left, I'm just in the bathroom.

You can tell because I locked the door. You should try it out sometime, it's very effective at keeping weirdos out.

From your favorite criminal,

Vi.

Caitlyn rolled her eyes at the note as she put it down on the desk.

She does not snore.

Caitlyn stretched and yawned before looking back down at the new plans for when they headed down to the Undercity. She would need to have Vi check over them, but after that, everything should be good.

Jayce said the weapons he had planned were well on their way. He would just need a few more hours to finish them.

Viktor had also come up with a variety of plans to help heal Vander, he gave her a rundown on what to do should Vander need to be moved and what she should do if he was on some form of life support. Under no circumstances was she to inject anything into him, it was unknown what the doctor had already put into him, and trying to add a medication to what was already pumping through his system would only end poorly.

A soft knock pulled Caitlyn away from her thoughts, she turned to see her father walking through the door.

"Father!" She said surprised at his presence.

"I see you haven't slept," he said softly as he stepped inside and closed the door.

"Actually I just woke up. Why are you up?"

He walked over, "I'm worried about you. Your mother told me you were up to something again."

"Oh…." She said looking away.

How could she explain to her father that she was going to risk her life for Jinx, the mass murder?

He gently cupped his hand to her cheek and made her look at him, "Is this important to you?"

"Yes, I can't even begin to describe how much this matters."

He smiled softly, "Is there any way I can talk you out of it?"

She shut her eyes and took a breath before responding evenly, "No."

He sighed, "Alright. Then there's just one more question I have before you go and risk your life. Do you love her?"

Caitlyn blinked, "What?"

"Do you think me a fool sweetheart? I know you're doing this for Vi. I just want to know if you're doing it for the right reasons."

"Father, while I may have feelings for her that is not why I'm doing this."

He gave her a look, before saying, "Perhaps not entirely," he sighed and removed his hand from her face, "Forgive me. That question was far too much."

"It's alright. You have every right to want to know why I'm doing this," she took a breath, "Vi's sister is in trouble."

"And you're going to help her?"

Caitlyn nodded, "But you should know…. Vi's sister is Jinx."

He stood there in shock.

"I know how it must seem, but I swear Jinx only did those things because she was forced to!" Caitlyn rushed to explain.

He held up his hand to stop her, "No need to defend your decision to me. You should already know that I will support you no matter what you decide to do in life."

Caitlyn smiled, "Thank-"

"-But. I don't want you doing this just because Vi asked you to."

"Father," Caitlyn said shaking her head, "I can't explain it all now, but what they're doing to Jinx-," Caitlyn paused to try and find the words to describe the horrible situation Jinx was in, "it's unspeakable what they're doing to her."

He looked at her sadly, "How old is she?"

"That's the worst part," Caitlyn whispered, tears threatening to fall, "She's only 18."

"My god."

Caitlyn looked at the floor, "I'm so scared that this won't work Father. There are so many different factors, I'm not sure I can pull it off."

Caitlyn hadn't voiced it, but there were so many holes in her plan that it was hardly staying together. What if the doctor discovered them? What if Jinx found them out and decided to kill them? What if Vander died? What if Jinx died?

It terrified her to think of what Vi would think should this fail.

It terrified her to think what Jinx might do.

"Darling, if anyone has a chance of pulling off the impossible, it's you."

She hugged him, "Thank you, father. For everything."

He returned the hug, "Anytime."

---

Vi listened to the conversation Caitlyn and her father had silently.

Caitlyn was scared.

Of course, she was, this entire situation was fucked up. Her sister tortured, and her father back from the dead. The whole thing was fucked.

Vi thudded her head against the wall. If only she hadn't been arrested, if only she had stayed, if only she hadn't been such a stubborn piece of shit.

Vi sighed, she had hoped the shower would somehow get rid of the thousands of thoughts that buzzed in her brain, but it only added to them.

Her sister was down there getting tortured while she took a shower with warm water and shampoo that made her smell like lavender.

Vi wanted to kill herself, she had willingly stayed ignorant to what was happening all because of her dumb feelings, but Vi would never do that.

At least not until after she saved Powder and Vander.

---

At last, it was time.

Vi and Caitlyn walked to Jayce and Viktor's lab where they had arranged to meet the others so they could get their weapons and head out.

Everyone was already in the room by the time they arrived.

"Ah, there they are!" Jayce said rushing over to them, "Come on, come on!" He said grabbing both of them and dragging them along.

Jayce had clearly been running off of coffee, he was practically bouncing off the walls, and the bags under his eyes showed just how tired he really was from working all day and night.

Jayce led them into line with the others, who Caitlyn exchanged polite greetings with. They all stood in front of a table covered with a sheet.

Jayce bounced up and down with excitement as Viktor made his way over.

Once he arrived, Jayce turned and grinned at them all, "May I present you," he grabbed the sheet and pulled it off, "your Hextech weapons!"

Maddie gasped when she saw the assortment of weapons lying on the table.

There was a pair of gauntlets, which Vi immediately ran over to claim, a sniper rifle, which Caitlyn knew was made for her, a small pistol, that Maddie grabbed and examined, along with a giant shield, which Loris had to take on account of him being the only one who was able to lift it.

Everyone oohed and ahhed at the new weapons that were in their hands. Except for Steb who insisted he was fine without one, he was a medic, not a soldier, and there were only four weapons anyway.

"I already had the gauntlets so they were the easiest to make, I just needed to tweak some things," he said as Vi put them on excitedly.

"The hell did you need these things for? So people notice you when you raise your hand in the boardroom?" Vi joked, examining them as she wiggled her fingers around.

"No," Jayce said unamused.

"We built them for mining the fissures," Viktor supplied.

"Someone close to me had a pair of these," Vi said as she continued to look at them, her intense fascination with the gauntlets suddenly explained.

Jayce moved onto Caitlyn's weapon, "Now this one took ages," he said with a smile.

Caitlyn examined it, and she saw a switch on the side of the gun, "What does this do?" She asked.

"Press it and find out," Jayce said.

She pushed the small button and three scopes popped out of the gun.

Caitlyn blinked in surprise.

"No chance of missing anything with those," he said with a wink.

"Thank you," she said as she took the rest of the gun in, "It's perfect."

"It should be, after all the times you talked my ear off about how you would want your dream gun to look like," he said with a roll of his eyes, then he leaned in and whispered, "It still folds up like your other one by the way."

She grinned up at him, "What would I do without you?"

He shrugged, "Walk around with only the entirety of the Kiramman family's influence and funding behind you."

"How would you survive," Vi said dramatically.

She slapped him on the shoulder, "Shut up. The both of you!"

"How does this one work," Maddie asked gesturing at the pistol in her hand.

He walked over, "This one is just a basic pistol but enhanced to fire more of a blast of energy instead of bullets."

She gave a curious look at it, "It looks a lot more cobbled together than the others."

"Yes, well I didn't have a lot of time to make the weapons. Which also means these are mostly untested," he said looking around at the others, "There may be malfunctions or other unpredicted side effects."

Caitlyn nodded, "We'll be careful."

"What about this brick," Loris asked lifting up his shield.

"That," Jayce said, "is a reinforced shield. It will take hits like nothing else. And," Jayce walked over behind the shield with Loris and suddenly a giant blue orb appeared around them, "it can protect you and the others," he said grinning at Caitlyn from inside the orb.

Viktor stepped forward with a pen in hand, putting on his goggles, "You may want to take a step back."

Everyone took a giant step back, and Viktor lifted the pen and threw it full force at Jayce. The pen hit the blue orb and hovered there for a moment before flinging itself away at three times the speed. It whizzed by Maddie, who ducked just in time and lodged itself into the wall with a thud.

"Woah," Vi said as she stared at the pen which was now stuck inside the wall.

"Are you alright?" Steb asked Maddie who was staring wide-eyed at the pen that nearly impaled her.

"Yeah. I'm good," she said as she took his offered hand and stood.

"That," Viktor said as he took off the goggles, "is why all of you would want to be inside the bubble."

"Noted," Caitlyn said as she imagined what would happen if the pen was a bullet and Maddie had failed to duck in time.

"Now!" Jayce said as he shut off the bubble, "The same thing will happen should someone try to hit anything outside the bubble while they're inside. Except the item will continue to ricochet inside until it most likely hits and kills one of you."

Loris looked at the shield again, "Damn. This thing is a death trap."

Viktor sighed, "They all are, that is why we have not made weapons like this before. And why we will be collecting them from you as soon as you're back."

"We understand," Caitlyn said as she stepped forward, "and before we go there is one more thing we need to tell you all."

Caitlyn looked at Vi, asking for permission to continue. Vi nodded.

"Vi's sister is Jinx."

Steb spoke first, "What!?"

"Jinx. Like the one who started that fire and stole the Hextech?" Maddie asked.

"Yes," Caitlyn confirmed.

"Man Vi, I knew your sister was badass but not stealing the Topsider's prize right out from under their noses badass. She must've kicked your ass when you were kids."

"Oi! I'll have you know she looks up to me! But yes, she is crazy awesome," Vi said smugly.

Caitlyn had a feeling Jinx would have slapped her upside the head if she was here being forced to listen to this, so she decided to honor her wishes and do it for her.

"Ow! What was that for!?" Vi asked.

"Think of it as a gift from me to your sister," Caitlyn said before turning to address the others, "I know this is a lot. If you choose to leave the team then we will understand."

"And if you don't want to help my sister now just because you found out who she is, then we don't want you here anyway," Vi said pointedly.

Both Maddie and Steb were silent for a while.

To Caitlyn's surprise, Steb spoke up first, "I want two years paid for then."

"What?" Caitlyn asked.

"Considering the new conditions, I want you to pay for two years of my schooling instead."

"Janna damn it all," Loris swore, "I should've asked for something before yapping about how cool your sister is," he said slapping his hand to his forehead.

"Hey," Vi said smirking, "I'm sure if you ask her nicely, Pow-Pow will sign your shirt or something."

"Oh go drown in a bottle of ale," he muttered.

"Of course, I'll pay for your tuition," Caitlyn said relieved that he had decided to stay.

"I just have one question," Maddie said, finally speaking up.

"Of course, go ahead," Caitlyn said immediately.

"Why'd you call Jinx, Pow-Pow?" She asked Vi.

"Well her name is actually Powder. I used to call her Pow-Pow when she was a kid."

"Awwww," Maddie said, "That is sooo cute!"

"Hey! Don't call Jinx cute," Loris said grumpily, "it ruins my whole image of her."

Caitlyn slapped a hand to her head.

"I'm totally going to call her Powder!" Maddie said happily, "It's so much nicer than Jinx."

"Oh no," Caitlyn said putting a stop to that thought process immediately, "None of you, under any circumstances, will call Jinx Powder."

Caitlyn could already imagine the look on Jinx's face when three complete strangers called her Powder. Hell, she had seen the face back when she made that mistake at their first meeting. It was not one you wanted directed at you.

"What," Maddie complained, "but it's so adorable."

"Sorry, but that right is reserved for me and me alone," Vi said smugly.

Caitlyn once again took it upon herself to smack her on Jinx's behalf.

"Ouch. Geez cupcake, you're kinda mean."

"Cupcake?" Steb asked with a brow raised.

"Do you just give everyone stupid nicknames to make them look worse when you talk about them?" Loris asked as he shook his head in disbelief.

"I like them!" Maddie said happily.

Caitlyn slapped her hand to her forehead again, it was going to be a long trip to the Undercity.

---

Despite the unpleasant foreshadowing that took place in Jayce and Viktor's lab, everyone grew eerily serious as they made their way into the Undercity.

Everything worked according to plan. The path they had chosen was clear of any people that would pose a problem, and no one gave them any trouble.

They were as quick and efficient as Caitlyn wanted them to be. They reached the cave that Jinx had brought Caitlyn to in record time. It was midday by the time they arrived, and Caitlyn had predicted they would have arrived by nightfall because of the large group they had to try and hide from the public.

This next part was going to be difficult. There was a fifty-fifty chance that Jinx would be inside the cave, and either option posed a problem. If Jinx was inside the cave then she would take them entering as a threat, and would probably kill them before she even realized who they were, but if she wasn't there then they would have to try and find her. And Caitlyn had a feeling that if Jinx had even the smallest of feelings things weren't right then she would vanish. Because no one finds Jinx, Jinx finds you.

Caitlyn took a breath, she shouldn't spiral, she had a plan for both scenarios. She was prepared for this.

Caitlyn turned to Vi to check on her. She had a look on her face that Caitlyn couldn't read. She was tense but there was also this focus.

"You alright?" Caitlyn whispered.

"Fine," Vi replied curtly, "let's get this over with."

Caitlyn nodded, she turned to the others, "Remember the plan, we're heading in."

Everyone nodded to show they were ready.

Vi took the front, in hopes of stopping any attacks from Jinx should she be here. Caitlyn followed behind her ready to take action should anything come at Vi, even Jinx. Loris took the middle, ready to activate the shield. They had all agreed that he was to give a three-second warning before activating it in hopes of stopping any unfortunate accidents from taking place. Steb was directly behind Loris due to his lack of weapons, and because Loris was assigned the task of keeping him safe and assisting him in getting to the places he needed to go. Maddie took the rear, watching for anyone trying to attack while their backs were turned.

They went into the cave slowly, the slippery rocks that made the path hindering their movement, stopping only when they reached the open cavern that held the door to the doctor's lab.

They all surrounded the door, Caitlyn looking at each of her team members in turn, each gave a nod giving Caitlyn the go. Like they planned Caitlyn threw the door open and allowed the others to rush in before entering the lab herself.

Caitlyn held her gun up and scanned the area. The place reeked of chemicals and blood, it was also a mess, a liquid coated the ground, and papers were scattered everywhere. There were vats that had been broken open and the animals and other things, that presumably, were once held inside them laid dead and forgotten on the floor. A room with an odd chamber-looking thing was in the back, that place seemed to be gutted out completely though. Some papers were still pinned to the walls and some of the many, large, metallic file drawers were just completely missing from their section of their metal frames.

But the worst part of it all was the fact that it was completely empty.

"This is horrible," Maddie whispered as she looked around the room.

This place was truly sickening, Caitlyn couldn't imagine having to grow up here. Not to mention with Jinx's tendency to see things that weren't there. The bodies on the floor were awful enough as they were, they didn't need the sick twist that Jinx's mind probably provided.

Caitlyn's eyes continued to scan the area, "Spread out and search the place. Don't let your guard down," she said to the others as she followed Vi into what looked to be a separate room.

Vi had already made her way inside, she stood by an empty hospital bed that was surrounded by machines that were all powered off.

"We're too late," Vi whispered as tears streamed down her face.

How!?

Everything had gone so well.

"Caitlyn! Vi!" Maddie called out.

Both of them rushed into the main room.

"What!?" Caitlyn yelled gun raised.

Maddie gestured to a metal table that stood in the center of the room, it had crusted blood painted all over it.

Purplish pinkish blood.

Jinx's blood.

On top of the table was a journal, and on top of that journal was a handwritten note.

Vi walked forward and grabbed the note. Her eyes scanned over it quickly before she spat out, "He's gone."

Caitlyn stepped forward and grabbed the note to read:

After all the years we've known each other did you truly think I would actually stay here, Jinx?

I'm disappointed in you.

But since you've gone to the trouble of returning I may as well give you this, I have no need for it anymore.

It's such a shame you stopped writing. It made knowing what you were up to so much easier.

Caitlyn read and reread the note.

The doctor had found out.

They lost.

Notes:

Haha, made you think Jinx was kidnapping Caitlyn. Little did you know it was just Vi looking for a smooch. Also if you think this is an inappropriate time for a kiss, at least they didn't do it in the jail cell Jinx was in after she literally decided and (basically) told Vi that she was going to kill herself. So if you think this was out of character, think again.

Ahem, anyway back to the stuff you care about, the journal. If you remember, Jinx wrote down that she let Orrin go and that she lied to the doctor in her journal. He didn't find out because he recognized his name on the list of buyers, like he said he did, he found out because he would occasionally read through Jinx's journal when she was out.

We get to see what's up with Jinx next chapter!

Also, just cause I'm curious, who has been here since I first started uploading?

Chapter 36: My Wretched Heart

Notes:

Time for Jinx's pov of the last few days!

Death hurts.

That was the first thought that occurred to Jinx after she died.

Of course, death hurt. Why did she expect the pain to stop? It never stopped.

That had been her one hope when that bomb went off. She just wanted the pain to stop. But after it went off and ripped her skin off of her bones while it bit its sharp metallic teeth into her as she felt her flesh curl from the searing heat of it all, the pain didn't stop.

If anything, it hurt more.

She was as if she still felt the jagged metal pieces in her flesh and the holes that were most likely left in her body. And there was this constant jostling that worsened the pain.

If Jinx didn't know any better, she would say she was still alive, but there was the one sure thing that only death could prove that proved to her she was actually, truly, dead.

The sweet, sweet, silence.

That's right, it was just her in this eternal abyss, and she couldn't be more grateful.

Death was less scary than she had always imagined it, but then again it was hard to be scared of something you knew was coming and had imagined an endless amount of times.

After all, Jinx was born to be destroyed. Why should it be such a surprise when she finally was?

Jinx found her death funny. It was so fucking boring and predictable that even Powder knew it was gonna happen when she was a kid, Jinx was dead at the age of 18. Just as she said she would.

In a sense, Jinx was just a self-fulfilling prophecy. Nothing more, nothing less.

She had unremarkably died at the age of 18 just as she said she would, and she lived her life in the shadows, so there wouldn't even be someone to light a pathetic little candle to remember her. There would be no funeral for her. Her body would be unceremoniously dumped in some hole and that would be that.

That would be the end of the unkillable monster named Jinx.

What a joyous story.

She supposed that was another thing she found funny, out of her entire life, the best part of it happened when she was under the age of 11. The highlight of her life was being a tiny, useless, good-for-nothing human being who bled her family dry.

Another fact that was ironically funny is that it would be Jinx who would fade into nothingness, not Powder.

Jinx was just an unpleasant blip in everyone's lives, but Powder? Oh, Powder would be on their minds forever.

Such a great sister and wonderful friend. Don't the tears pour? Don't you miss her already? What a shame she was fucked in the head.

Yes, every vision of her would be dead and buried, but Powder would be the one to live on in their memories.

A part of Jinx wondered if Ekko would be the exception to that.

Ekko.

Her first friend, her last enemy.

The last face she ever saw.

When she missed that shot, was that enough to change how he remembered her?

Was that one bullet enough to change what she was in his eyes?

Not that it matters, because what's one man's opinion of her against all the others who say she's a monster?

If there was one thing she was certain of, it was that death doesn't discriminate. It had killed and taken thousands before her, and it would continue to do so after her corpse rotted away.

You know, no one tells you where you went wrong. No one says where the first mistake that led to all the other terrible things happened. They just shame you for not being able to fix it.

But what could she say, she had tried her best, gave it her best shot, and she failed.

That's the best part about being dead, she couldn't slip up if she just slipped away.

There were no nagging voices telling her what she did was wrong, or the fact that she simply existed was a crime. No father who needed saving. No sister to look at her with disgust and fear.

It was just her and the never-ending silence.

But the silence led to thinking and thinking led her back to the living.

Or more specifically, Caitlyn.

Does Caitlyn mean Vi forgot about her?

She was the one who put Vi back into play. She was the one who pushed them both. She was the one who cared. She cared far too much.

All her life Jinx had been frozen, but when Vi came back she shoved everything into motion. She forced Jinx to move while she stubbornly dug her heels into the ground.

They did leave Jinx behind together, so maybe Jinx was the problem, not them. Maybe Vi should forget her.

Maybe now that she was gone Vi could finally stop worrying about her, maybe she wouldn't feel guilty about being happy. After all, Caitlyn was nice. Out of all the enforcers, somehow Vi managed to find a good one. She deserved to be with her.

Still, Jinx wished Vi never met Caitlyn.

It was selfish, but it was the truth.

That was another funny thing, when all meaning was stripped away, there was this clarity.

Jinx could actually think here. She could really see things for what they were, not what the voices wanted her to see them as.

And the great truth Jinx had discovered was that all things end.

All that people intend are just words scrawled in sand, easily erased and forgotten.

It was a comforting truth. Because Jinx couldn't handle it if Vander and Vi were left with the mess Jinx had made forever. At least it would end one day.

Janna, Vander.

She could never truly express how sorry she was for all of his pointless pain and suffering. How she wished she had had the strength to end it all back when she still had the chance.

Jinx never cared much how long she lived, but she had never wanted Vander to suffer because of that. She knew when that bomb exploded she would die, but she also knew Vander would be the one to pay for it.

She died and Vander would have to pay for it.

Another casualty of the mistakes she could never undo.

But she had tried the world, and Janna it wasn't for her. Hopefully, Vander could forgive her for calling it quits, and if not….

Well, she had already given herself the ultimate punishment, death.

Everything she did always turned into some form of punishment.

Such was her life, and such is her death.

Notes:

It’s 5:30 in the morning and my dog woke me up. 😒

Guess I may as well make you people happy by uploading.

Chapter 37: All I Hear Are Screams

Notes:

(Please read!)

Let me clarify a few things going into this.

Things that are not really happening or that are not being said are going to be italicized, things that happened in the past will also be italicized, and Powder's words will also be italicized like normal.

I wish there were more font options but there aren't, so we're going to make do.

If the words are in a normal font then they are actually being said by someone. Even if it's not the person who said to be speaking (that will make sense after you start reading)

Even if things aren't really happening, Jinx is still reacting to it all. This means if she can't breathe because of something she's experiencing then she can't actually breathe.

Things may get a bit confusing, but if that happens just think how confusing shit must be for Jinx.

Also, just assume Jinx's head always feels like it's being split open and stabbed, while her body is also always searing with pain. I don't want to state that every other line, that would just get redundant and annoying, so just know that the pain is not, and will not, be going away.

Dead.

That's what she was.

The constant pain was just an illusion, a punishment.

That's what she told herself.

But after she had drifted off into the nothingness that surrounded her, the pain seemed to triple when her consciousness came back to her.

And then the worst thing that could have ever happened, happened.

She came back to life.

Because she was a Jinx.

Because she was an unkillable monster.

Jinx awoke feeling worse than ever before. Her mouth felt like it was full of ash, there was this ringing in her head, and her entire body ached and seared with pain. She felt things under her skin bite at her every time she breathed. Her head was swimming, making it impossible to think. Whenever she did manage to create a thought, it felt like someone took their long, sharp nails and dug them into her brain, twisting and tearing until the thought vanished from her head.

Jinx tried to open her eyes, but the moment she tried it felt as though thousands of needles stabbed themselves into her head, and they just wouldn't stop.

She wanted to cry, or scream, or anything, but even thinking of attempting any of those actions just added more pain.

She longed for that abyss that she was floating around in not moments before, she longed for death. But it wouldn't come. It was just more and more pain.

The longer she was aware of herself the more pain she felt. She now understood that her body had severe burns all over and that the things she felt bitting at her underneath her skin must have been shrapnel from the bomb that had been lodged into her flesh, and since it was left there, her skin had healed while it was still inside of her.

Jinx had to wake up, she had to open her eyes.

It was as if she was back to when the doctor had blinded her. Even the slightest crack of her eyes being open sent unbearable pain into her head.

It took her ages, but at last, she managed to open her eyes.

Oh, how she regretted it.

Stars decorated her vision and everything was spinning, or too close, or far, or pulsing in and out of existence.

If Jinx had been anywhere else she wouldn't have been able to determine her location from the spinning cacophony of images in front of her, but she had been on this table so many times she was merely surprised she hadn't realized where she was sooner.

The doctor's lab.

She was on his table again.

This wretched place that won't let her live or die.

Jinx needed to get up. She couldn't feel the straps on her, so she just needed to move. She moved a finger, and it sent a stream of agonizing pain all the way through her entire body, she let out a strangled noise that was supposed to be a scream. Jinx laid there and panted for a long time, waiting for the pain to subside, before trying again.

At last, Jinx got her limbs working, and the pain became bearable. She rolled onto her side, which pressed on some of the pieces of shrapnel under her skin, distracting her and making her fall flat on her face onto the floor.

Mylo's laughter rang so strongly throughout her skull that she almost sounded like he was right next to her. The pain his voice brought was worse than when she herself tried to think, it was overwhelming and completely overtook her, she had no hopes of seeing, thinking, or feeling when his voice was in her head.

Jinx let out a strangled sob, as she laid on the ground.

Everything hurt, so, so much.

Why couldn't she have just died?

She just wanted to die.

Was that so wrong?

"You were actually able to move. Incredible."

The doctor's voice was both sharp and dull, loud and silent, sweet and curdled.

Jinx couldn't comprehend what was happening to her. Her consciousness felt as though it was stuck behind fogged glass, nothing was clear, but at the same time, she felt too present as if her senses had been dialed up to a thousand.

The doctor's voice also hurt her more than her own thoughts, listening to him felt like he had grabbed her brain in his hands and squeezed it until it was about to burst.

"Honestly, you are an incredible specimen. I never would have thought you would actually survive all these years."

"You know Powder, you're stronger than you think," Vi whispered.

Jinx curled into herself, clutching her head, despite the agony it brought to her body. Every word spoken was like an ear-splitting scream dulled and muddled by water, yet the scream somehow still sliced its way into her mind.

Suddenly Jinx was next to the distorted broken form of Vander.

"It's unfortunate for the two of you, but this is the future that awaits you."

Jinx blinked and she was back at the current lab, not the one from the past.

What was this? Why were the voices so loud? So clear and real? Why was she seeing things like that? That was just a memory, she knew they were words of the past, images that had long since passed, but they sounded as though they came from his very mouth. Not her head.

"Tell me, Jinx, was it worth it?"

"Do you know what you're agreeing to?"

She was now seeing two doctors. One from her childhood and the one she knew. The one from the past stood over her, looking down at her curiously. While her doctor just looked at her from his chair, not bothering to stand.

What had he done to her? This wasn't normal. Why was this happening?

"Are you even hearing me right now?" He asked.

When her eyes met his one, he spoke, "Are you awake now?"

She was strapped to the table, and he was watching her while she struggled.

Why was this happening? What was happening?

Jinx pulled against the restraints only to have her hand fly freely through the air. She wasn't on the table, she was on the floor, with no straps on her whatsoever.

The doctor walked around with his recorder in hand, "Subject Jinx seems to be reacting poorly to the new Shimmer variant, she is spasming. The cure I gave her to stop the reaction seems to be failing due to all the Shimmer in her veins. It remains to be seen if she survives this."

Jinx took a deep inhale of air that felt like it set her lungs on fire. She wasn't spasming, she was fine. That doctor wasn't real.

"All these years I thought my control over you was ironclad, but I should have known better. The only thing stronger than fear is curiosity."

"Curiosity killed the Jinx, the Shimmer in her veins brought her back!"

Jinx writhed on the ground, the voices, everyone's voices cutting into her skull as gently as a sledgehammer.

"You should have known Jinx, the most dangerous thing is to love."

"I love you Powder."

"Vi?"

"Yes," Vi said as she sat in the chair where the doctor had been moments ago, eyes staring at her while she squirmed on the floor, "You destroyed everything for her. Only to be abandoned again."

Caitlyn walked down the wooden stairs of her childhood bedroom. She was next to Vi.

"Caitlyn?" Jinx whispered, confused at her presence.

Hadn't she scared her off? Why was she here?

Her face curled with disgust, "Your sister is, Jinx?"

"No one came for YOU. She's here for VI."

Jinx crawled her way up into a sitting position.

Caitlyn pulled out a gun, "Sometimes death is a mercy."

Jinx's eyes widened as she pointed the gun at her, "Wait-"

BANG!

Jinx jumped back and slammed into a wall that she could have sworn she wasn't next to her a second ago. Her hands flew up to try and stop the bullet from hitting her.

Jinx panted, she felt no pain. Well, no new and different pain. Slowly she lowered her arms and looked around at the now empty room.

Empty until Vi appeared next to her.

Jinx looked up at her.

"I told you to stay away," She spat.

"Vi, please-"

"I told you to STAY AWAY!"

Her hand struck her, and Jinx slammed into the floor, head smacking the ground with a resounding thud.

"I understand this must be painful."

Jinx's eyes half heartedly found the voice that had spoken, it was the doctor, or Caitlyn, or a monster with both their faces attached.

"But I'm afraid this will only get worse."

Mylo appeared before her, grinning.

What she would give to kick Mylo's ass, her own voice rang in her ear.

"Well here's your chance," he sneered, "Go on. Get. Up."

Jinx began to move, but Mylo kicked in her stomach. Hard.

She collapsed and clutched her stomach.

"GET UP AND FIGHT!" He screamed as he continued to pummel on her.

"You see, when I discovered you betrayed me I knew that this was the end of our deal."

"Take me instead!"

Jinx's eyes rolled over to find the new voice.

It was her, Powder, she stood near the entrance of the lab in front of Vander's twisted form.

"I'll do whatever you want, just…. leave him alone."

"Vander…" Jinx whispered.

"Yes, I'm getting there."

"You left him here," hissed Claggor.

"You see, when Silco brought you here I was rather surprised to hear what you had been up to."

A monstrous man loomed over her, one of his eyes normal, the other wrong.

"What should do with her boss?" A voice from behind asked.

"Take her."

Rough hands grabbed her and lifted her to her feet.

"It was like the first time. Him bringing you here."

"Besides she's Vander's child, I need her gone."

"He demanded I save you. Can you believe the fool actually thought you were dying? Well, he was so beside himself that he let it slip that you had been reunited with your long-lost sister, and with your strange behavior these past few days, well, I could piece together the rest."

Jinx's eyes swiveled and landed on the slumped, tied-up, form of the man who had put her here.

The Eye of Zuan, tied down onto a chair.

His one wrong eye still open.

"I was so disappointed with you Jinx. I was going to kill you."

"Are you afraid of dying Ekko?"

Jinx looked over and there they were, Powder and Ekko. Sitting side by side, unbothered by the world, on the table she had been tortured on for the past 7 years.

"But I decided a different punishment for you. One much crueler."

"You don't want this. It is a fate far worse than death."

"I took that injection I gave you last time and modified it. Made it stronger."

An infinite cacophony of voices rattled inside her skull.

Jinx shook her head, trying to focus.

"Because you see, out of all my other experiments, I can honestly say, you were the closest I ever got to perfection."

As the doctor would say, Jinx was perfect.

Jinx tried to stand as he continued to speak.

"But there was always one thing that was destined to destroy you. Your tormented mind."

"Loneliness is often a byproduct of a gifted mind."

"So I decided that I would let you live, and I would inject you with the new version of the serum. Then, once I was sure you were completely helpless, I would tell you the thing that would finally put the last nail in your coffin."

But then I look at Vander, and while I can accept a world without me, I can't accept one without him.

So I'll stay for him.

Only for him.

No.

That was the only thought in Jinx's head as she pulled herself up using the metal operating table as support.

"I've decided to go back on our deal. You're free to go, but Vander? Vander is mine now."

So she'll keep going back, keep killing, keep dying on the inside, keep feeling the intolerable pain the doctor brought with his needles and knives. As long as he stayed away from him.

Vander.

Powder didn't understand what was happening, she didn't know who this man was or what he was getting at, but if Vander was alive she wasn't about to let this guy touch him.

Vander.

Maybe she could use it to save Vander!

Vander.

Save Vander.

Vander.

Vander, she just needed to protect him.

Vander.

She couldn't abandon Vander.

Vander.

"Leave Vander to die to go see a sister who abandoned you, it'll be one of your ideas that goes down in history." Mylo chuckled.

Vander.

"You have to understand, I'm doing this to save Vander! You have to help me!"

Vander.

Vi or Vander.

Vander.

She quickly ran over to Vander gave him a kiss on the cheek and whispered a promise to return and an apology before walking out to see the doctor.

Vander.

Vander was getting better. So she kept doing the doctor's dirty work.

Vander.

"Vander! I stay for Vander!"

Vander.

"The doctor already knows what's wrong Vander, if I just hold out a little longer he'll wake him up."

Vander.

"Vander is my father. I have sacrificed too much to risk Vi messing this up."

Vander.

Just her and Vander.

Vander.

What about Vander? She wouldn't leave him.

Vander.

Finally some freedom. I just wish I didn't have to leave Vander.

Vander.

I will do whatever it takes to save Vander.

Vander.

I was terrified that I would never see Vander's face again.

Vander.

Time means nothing to me now, I only keep track of the years for Vander.

Vander.

Jinx never cared much how long she lived, but she had never wanted Vander to suffer because of that.

Vander.

She died and Vander would have to pay for it.

Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander. Vander.

Her whole life was lived for Vander.

"Please," she whispered.

"You just couldn't let Powder die. Now look at the mess you've created."

"Please, I'm sorry!" Jinx screamed as she sank to her knees, tears falling freely.

"You're pathetic," Mylo spat, "He just told you he's keeping Vander and all you can do is sit there and cry?! You deserve what's happening to you."

"Don't cry, you were very helpful to me. In fact, despite your betrayal, you still managed to excel past all my expectations," he said pulling out that cursed stone.

Powder hopped off the metal table, leaving Ekko, and stood in front of Jinx. She pulled out a fist full of those cursed blue gems from her pack and held them up.

Mylo, Claggor, Vi, and Vander, walked up and joined her.

"You see, despite all that you've done, you gave me the very thing I needed to save my daughter. The Hexgem."

"I can help them," Powder said with a smile as she began to tip her hand over.

Jinx's eyes widened, "NO!" she screamed as she reached out to try and stop her.

But she was too late, the gems fell to the floor and the explosion threw her back.

Jinx groaned from the unbearable pain that coursed through her with every beat of her heart. She lifted her head and looked around the room. It was untouched, unscathed. As if the explosion that had thrown her to the ground never happened.

"So I've decided to give you something as a gift in return. Silco, he's all yours. I have no need for him anymore, do what you will with him."

"Those," Silco said waving at them absentmindedly, "are my gift to you. Do with them what you will. I have no need for them."

All this pain and suffering, and for what?

For the doctor to get exactly what he wanted while she rots and dies and Vander suffers for eternity because of her.

He would run off and get his happy ending leaving Vander and her for dead.

"You think I'm going to let you get away with this?" Jinx growled, forcing her body that was betraying her to function as tears flowed freely, "You should have killed me when you had the chance."

I hope he gets his eyes and tongue pulled out while someone shoves his head into a burning furnace.

I hope I get to do it.

Well, today was the day. Today he would die by her hand for what he had done.

And it would be painful.

Jinx stood on her shaking legs, as images swam before her.

A version of her was strapped to the table that was beside her.

Vi watched her in horror.

Mylo sneered at her.

Claggor shook his head in shame.

Powder clutched that stupid stuffed rabbit while she sobbed.

Caitlyn looked down on her with her lips curled in distaste.

Vander loomed in the background.

Her parent's fuzzy distorted images flashing in the corner.

"Yes," the doctor said as Jinx took a step toward him.

She didn't even have a weapon.

She didn't need one, her bare hands would do.

"But that is why that serum was so important."

She took another step and ignored the feeling of the gnawing pain throughout her body.

"Because now I can stop you with a few simple words."

Jinx panted heavily as she took another step.

"Mylo."

He was in front of her, but he was no longer himself. His features were distorted, fingers sharp with claws, and pointy jagged teeth.

Jinx flinched but she didn't falter, she knew he was fake. A figment of her imagination. He couldn't hurt her.

She tried to take another step, but Mylo surged forward, hands wrapping around her neck. And Jinx felt it. She actually felt his hand wrap around her neck and squeeze as she kicked at him and clawed at his hands.

"Claggor."

Mylo vanished, and now Jinx was hanging off the edge of a roof. Claggor being the one holding onto her.

Jinx tried to scramble back up to safety, but as soon as she did, Claggor opened his hand and let her fall to her death.

"Vi."

Bam!

Jinx had fallen and when she looked up, Vi was standing there, flames surrounded them both, and a mound of flesh that Jinx recognized as Vander was behind her.

Vi grabbed her by the face, "Mylo was right. You're a Jinx."

"Vander."

No longer was Vi holding on to her, and no longer was there fire, but the smell of smoke was so strong it managed to drown out everything else. Jinx was surrounded by bodies, and the man responsible for all the death was walking towards her, metal gloves clenched and ready to strike.

"Vander. Vander it's me, J- Powder!" She yelled as she scrambled backward.

He showed no signs of stopping, if anything his stride quickened.

Now Jinx understood why Vi was afraid of him that night.

"No, no, no!" Jinx shrunk into a ball as Vander lifted his mechanical fist into the air, ready to crush her bones into dust.

"Powder."

She was now curled up next to a wall, holding a bag of loot they had stolen, watching as her siblings fought some thugs who tried to ambush them.

She sat there, wide-eyed and terrified at all the violence, too weak to be of any help.

"Stick with us take a punch or two!" Mylo shouted at her, appearing before her face.

Jinx gasped and tried to flee, but when she turned she was met with the form of Claggor.

"All of this happened because of you. You're a coward."

She stumbled backward into Vi.

"What have you done?" She sneered, "You don't deserve to be happy."

Vi shoved her away and into Vander.

"You promised to save me."

Jinx looked up at him wide-eyed and terrified.

"You lied."

Suddenly it was dark. Suddenly there was only laughter.

Her laughter.

Caitlyn.

She appeared holding her gun, Jinx's whole family stood behind her grinning and giggling as they watched.

Caitlyn lifted the gun.

Jinx's eyes widened, "No! Please-"

"Unlike you, your sister has a good heart underneath her rough exterior," she said as she racked the gun, "I won't stand by you as you destroy your guy's life again just because you're scared of what might happen."

"VI! HELP ME!"

Vi and the others just stood there laughing their brains out as Caitlyn trained her sights on Jinx.

Bang!

Jinx expected the bullet to be fake, like before, but as Jinx looked down at herself, blood was seeping out of a bullet wound in her heart.

"Ekko or, I suppose, The Boy Savior."

Ekko walked forward from behind Caitlyn and kneeled down so he was face-to-face with her.

"Look at that, you actually have a heart."

Jinx pressed her hand to the wound trying to stop the bleeding, but the wound wouldn't heal.

Ekko gently pushed a strand of hair behind her ear and let his warm hand linger on her cheek.

Her and Ekko.

He leaned in, and whispered, "Why would you ever think I would love a hideous monster like you?"

Click.

Jinx looked down at the thing Ekko placed in her hands, an active bomb.

"Do us all a favor and actually die this time," he said as he stood and walked away.

The rest of her family and friends followed after him, laughing and hollering while she sat there numbly watching.

"You see Jinx, this offer is the best one you're going to get. You can't beat me, you never could. So do yourself a favor, ignore all those sad, terrible feelings you have, and settle for revenge on Silco instead."

Jinx watched as the doctor grabbed Slico from the chair he was tied up in and dumped him in front of her.

He laughed, "You don't know your limits, girl. It's what got Vander killed. What drove your sister away. And it's why I'm here right now."

Jinx stared at him.

The man who started it all.

The one who left her to this fate.

"Silco found me with Vander's body. He took us to the doctor. Just gave us to him like he was getting rid of some piece of trash."

"Hey Claggor. I think you were wrong," Mylo said grinning.

"About what?"

"She ain't going to kill herself. Not yet."

Jinx grabbed Silco by the collar and stood, "One day I'll see you again," she hissed, voice shaking, "And that day will be the one that I leave you more broken than me."

"I'm afraid you're wrong child. But I'm sure that won't stop you from trying."

Jinx looked into his one good eye, "Oh doctor, it may be in hell, it may be in limbo because even hell deemed us unworthy, but trust me, I will see you again. And you will suffer. I promise."

Jinx made a promise, and Jinx doesn't break a promise.

With that said she turned and dragged Silco out with her, stumbling every step of the way.

The doctor smiling as she did so.

Notes:

Another musical is referenced in today and Wednesday’s chapter titles, can you figure it out 👀

Chapter 38: Drown In Your Sorrows And Fears

Notes:

Dear lord when I tell you this part of the story kicked my ass, I wrote and rewrote this shit so many times I can't even tell you how many different versions I've made 😓

I have like 10 chapters in the trash right now, and I have made so many edits to other chapters to make things fit. All of them being completely different ways this could have gone, (and I mean completely) ONE OF THEM WAS LIKE 6,000 WORDS! And the one I'm publishing is what 1,000? Like what??

Honestly, I'm sorry if this turns out to be ass, I just can't look at it anymore.

(Bonus chapter for you all because I didn’t want this to be the standalone chapter for the week.)

Thoughts fizzled out, and all that was left was pain.

Agonizing pain.

"Jinx-"

Her eyes snapped up to meet his one good one, all the voices fled when she met his gaze.

"Fucking coward."

She stumbled into a wall. Blinding pain shooting through her as shrapnel pressed itself into her.

She took her blade and jammed it into the guy's throat, and twisted until he stopped screaming.

No blade this time.

Just her fingernails and her own flesh.

And the screaming wouldn't stop.

Jinx's blade clattered to the floor.

Tiny metal fragments fell harmlessly to the floor.

Blood coating her hands.

I scrub until I'm bleeding but his blood won't get off of my skin.

"Murderer."

I've been sent out to kill 19 people.

20

38

59

72

189

478

656

5:88"/224

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Help.

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Me.

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Collect, return, collect, return, kill, collect, return, kill some more, return, return, kill, collect, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill,...and return. The order didn't matter, as long as it ended with return.

"But you didn't return. You took the easy way out and died."

The bomb let off one final click of warning.

Jinx let her eyes flutter close, but she didn't stop smiling. Because for once she had decided something completely for herself. She was dying on her own terms, no one else's.

This was her choice.

"This was your choice. Now live with it."

Jinx grabbed onto Silco and dragged him along, destination unknown, a single tear falling as she walked.

---

Numb feet dragged her to the place where it all started.

Where it all would end.

"-Jinx?"

Vi grabbed her by the face, "Mylo was right. You're a Jinx."

"I can't believe you have the fucking audacity to bring us all here," Mylo spat.

"You have to work, for me. Ok?" Powder whispered as she touched her forehead to the mechanical monkey.

Oh, how it worked.

All around was rubble, laced with veins of Shimmer, because apparently the doctor was here when it happened.

The man who spoke was just as terrifying as the other monsters in the room, his face was covered in bandages, and from what she could tell angry red burns covered what was left of his exposed flesh.

"The only time you'll ever actually hurt him."

Fire roared all around her, in front of her was her sister and Vander's twisted bloated corpse.

Wish it could've been me.

"But it wasn't."

"He's gone because of YOU!"

Jinx threw Silco into a pile of rocks, and he let out a grunt.

The explosion threw her back, it was so much bigger than she had ever anticipated. She flew through the air for what felt like hours, admiring the first working bomb she had ever created.

"Jinx, what are we doing here?"

"Well, well, well. Look who's awake."

It would be their first interaction since the incident at the airship, and as far as Jinx knew, he had yet to get his revenge for it, so Jinx would surely have to listen to his blood-curtailing voice today.

"Tell me Silco, do you remember this place?"

"I only wanted to help… I only wanted to help,"

"Do the memories of that night burn through your head like acid?"

"I told you to stay away."

"Cut into your soul."

"Please-"

"Feast on your sanity."

"I told you to STAY AWAY!"

"I remember."

"Why did you leave me!?"

"Because this is where it all began. Where I was born."

"Because you're a JINX! You hear me! Mylo was right!"

"It is only fitting the end of all this is decided here," Jinx said looking at all the rubble around her, ghosts and images flooding her mind.

"What are you going to do?"

"Please," Someone screamed into the air as people died all around them, "I have a chil-"

"I have been tortured and beaten, I have died countless times in countless different ways, I have committed acts so despicable even you would find them beneath you."

"You will be the one running the experiments on him."

She shot forward and grabbed his face, "You brought me to that- place," she spat.

The torture she's had to endure since she was 11 when the two-eyed monster took her away and shipped her off to the living hell that was the doctor's…home? Lab? She didn't know.

"And when I was finally free, you took me back."

The doctor's lab.

She was on his table again.

This wretched place that won't let her live or die.

"Jinx, I never thought he would use you like this. I never thought you would live."

"She's the one who caused the explosion believe it or not," Powder flinched at that, "besides she's Vander's child, I need her gone."

She sneered at him, "So him using me as a private experiment is perfectly fine, but as soon as it inconveniences you it's a problem?"

"No!" He yelled, frustrated, "He was just meant to kill you, I never-"

She yanked his face forward, her nails cutting into him, "Is that supposed to make me feel better? That you sentenced me to death instead of this fucked up fate." She pulled his face inches from hers, "Tell me, why the hell did you do it? Why give me to him? Why hunt me down just to take me back and beg for him to save me?"

"Why does anyone commit acts others seem unspeakable?" The doctor said answering with a question do his own.

"For-"

"Łøvę"

"-power."

Jinx threw her head back and laughed, all her pain, all her suffering, for power, "Well, here you are," she said gesturing at the ruins of her past, "The most powerful man in the Undercity, tied up and about to die at the hands of a person that was declared dead years ago. A god dying at the hands of a ghost. How does that feel?"

"I never thought he would take it so far."

"You always take things too far Powder! Why can't we just do things normally for once!" Ekko yelled.

She pushed him away as she turned around, "After all you've done, that's all you have to say?"

Jinx's eyes swept the floor, searching, scanning for the one thing that would at last finish the job she had started all those years ago.

"You have to work, for me. Ok?" Powder whispered.

"Jinx-"

She found a long sharp piece of glass and picked it up.

She wound up the monkey and then set it on the floor, so it could do what it was made for.

"All the times you would sit in that chair of yours and lecture me about everything I have done wrong and how I'm pathetic and stupid and weak."

The monkey's symbols clanged making the blue gem spark. Releasing its destructive energy.

"And now," she turned to face him, "now you have nothing to say?"

It marched forward, unstoppable, clanging away, attracting the attention of the monster before it geared up for the last clap of its symbols.

"He made you worse than I could have ever imagined-"

But it grounded to a stop. All it needed was one last tiny spin of its dial and it would have worked. If only she had spun it,

One.

Last.

Time.

In the blink of an eye, Jinx jammed the glass into his heart.

Tick!

He let out a rattling breath before coughing up blood.

The monkey's hands came clashing together.

She leaned back and watched as he died.

Boom!

She looked down and watched as the woman gasped for air and blood splattered everywhere every time she let out a hacking cough.

As the life left his eye, he muttered one last thing, "He- turned you into a-a monster. For that I a-am…."

He coughed again, sending blood to splatter on his nice clothes.

"…s-sorr-y."

"Monster."

"Monster."

"Monster."

"Monster?"

She threw her head back and laughed as he slumped over, dead at last.

"You finally apologized and you call me a monster."

"If the biggest backstabbing snake of the Undercity thought you a monster, what a monster you must be."

Jinx stared at his lifeless body for a while longer, looking into his fake eye that never closed.

The Eye of Zuan.

…

….

…..

"What a pathetic piece of shit."

Jinx was ready to get up and leave this fucked up place behind, but as she stood and began to walk away she tripped on a piece of rubble, but instead of hitting the rock-hard ground, Jinx was in the filth-infested river, Vander's hand around her throat.

Jinx tried to scream, but all that escaped were bubbles.

She kicked, scratched, and ripped into Vander's arm.

What the hell!?

What the actual hell had the doctor done!

Water mixed with blood entered Jinx's lungs. The river toxins burned her eyes.

She remembered this, Vander spoke of it in his dreams. He had drowned Silco, and then Silco…

Jinx reached into her pocket thinking she would find a blade to stab him with, but there was nothing there.

She pounded on his arm uselessly.

"Vander is mine now."

The doctor stood just above the water, laughing at Jinx as she struggled, strength leaving her body.

It wasn't real.

sgnul reh ni ria tup t'ndid taht tub ,that wenk ehS

"But there was always one thing that was destined to destroy you. Your tormented mind."

VVVVVVVV

"Such a shame you don't put up a fight."

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

"You should have never come here."

Jinx made one last desperate gasp for air before her entire world faded to black, the last thing she saw being Vander's hulking figure holding her down.

Notes:

This fanfic has become so much longer than I could have ever imagined, and if I stuck to the road I planned to go down it would have been even longer and it just would have gotten repetitive. So you know what, screw it all, I'm going off book and cutting out a bunch of unnecessary shit. Time for people to actually be happy in this fic. That also means Silco's death scene gets cut down to like nothing, but whatever.

Chapter 39: Pull The Pin And Watch It Blow

Notes:

I want to make it clear that this fanfic is nowhere near ending. I just cut out some stuff so we can get to the next stage of this (Jinx learning to be happy with everyone) faster. So don't worry, this fanfic isn't going anywhere.

They were too late.

They were too fucking late.

Vi felt helpless in the endless sea that was her emotions. There was so much anger but there was also just so much fucking sadness.

Caitlyn set a hand on Vi's shoulder, "I am so, so, sorry."

She didn't have to say for what. Vander was gone. His bed was empty. The machines that he was most likely hooked up to were powered off. He was probably dead.

And the fucking doctor got away scot-free.

"Vi, I know this is hard, but you need to breathe."

Breathe?

Vi suddenly became aware of her surroundings and body. She had taken off the gloves Jayce had given her and she was holding onto that blood-coated table like her life depended on it.

Vi couldn't breathe.

She would try to but every breath was too shallow. Not enough. Like her.

She desperately began to try to suck in a breath, but it still wasn't enough. No matter what she did, it wasn't enough.

Suddenly a new voice came into play, Steb.

"Vi I need you to look at me."

Vi turned her eyes to him.

"Good. That was good. Now I need you to count with me. Ready?"

Vi blinked at him, as her whole body shook.

"One."

One.

"Two."

Two.

"Three."

Three.

Four.

Five.

Six.

Seven.

Eight.

Nine.

Ten.

"Good job. Now, why don't you tell me something about yourself? Like… what's your favorite food?"

Vi licked her lips, "A-anyt-thing at Je-jericho's," she studded out, voice failing her.

Like you failed them.

"That's great, but I've never been there before, tell me what kind of food they have."

The best kind, Vi thought, the kind that you would take your dead brothers and dead father to celebrate the big important things.

Vi felt her breath come short again, her vision felt like it was tunneling.

Caitlyn chimed in, "The gross greasy kind. The kind that tastes like rubber when you chew it."

Vi looked at her confused, "H-ho-w wou-ld y-y-you know-w?"

"Because your sister forced me to eat it! Honestly I don't know how she is somehow more stubborn and cunning than you."

Vi took a shaky breath.

"And she laughed at me while I ate it! Can you believe that?"

She could, she couldn't picture it so clearly, her little sister's laughter as Caitlyn made the stupidest faces while she chewed.

"You should be grateful she made you eat that stuff!" Loris bellowed, "It'll probably be the greatest meal you ever taste!"

"I would love to try it someday," Maddie chimed in

"No. No, you wouldn't," Caitlyn said.

Vi chuckled weakly.

"I say we all go and get some after this!" Maddie said, not put off by what Caitlyn said at all.

"You hear that Vi? We get to show these Piltes what real food tastes like!" Loris said happily.

"And if you bring your sister along, Loris could get that autograph he's so desperate for," Steb said.

Everyone laughed, even Vi.

Vi pushed herself off the table.

Caitlyn lightly rubbed her back, "Are you alright?"

No.

"Y-yeah. I'll be fine."

Everyone else seemed to suddenly be extremely busy doing anything but being around the two of them.

Caitlyn smiled at her, "Good."

As Vi stared into her eyes, she couldn't help but want to kiss her. And that made her sick.

She was literally in the room where her sister was tortured, and she was thinking about making out with Caitlyn.

Vi sighed, "Cait. I'm sorry but- this, us? It can't happen right now."

Caitlyn pulled her hand back to herself, "That's alright Vi. I understand."

"I m-mean I want to, but…"

Caitlyn smiled, "Vi. I'm willing to wait."

Vi looked at her.

"Besides, we made a deal. I'm holding you to it."

Vi smiled, "Thanks Cupcake."

"Anytime."

Vi sighed heavily, "What now?"

"Vi," Caitlyn started, "This isn't over yet. We can still save your sister."

Vi furrowed her brows, "What are you talking about?"

Caitlyn held up the note, "It's addressed to her. The doctor didn't kill her. She free."

Vi grabbed the note. She read it, carefully this time, and then turned to grab the notebook that was left on the table.

"What is it?" Caitlyn asked.

Vi ran her hand over the cover that was littered with long dried stains of what looked to be blood.

Hundreds of different drawings decorated the front, all the little doodles framing the poorly scribbled words in big bold letters on the front.

THE LIFE OF POWDER.

And underneath Powder's scribbled-out name was another.

JINX.

Vi opened the book and read the first entry.

"A dairy," Vi whispered as she flipped through the pages.

She stopped when she read her name. Powder hadn't finished her entries that included her, it was as if she was interrupted every time.

The next entry made her blood boil, Powder talked about the doctor making her sew up her own leg after cutting her open. The next couple pages were smeared with blood, and the handwriting was so shaky it was hard to read, but Vi pieced it together.

Every new entry killed a part of Vi because it wasn't just something she was imagining, it was what really happened to her baby sister.

Vi read and read. She read about how her sister struggled with the voices, how she saw Jinx as a completely different person trying to steal her place, how the doctor broke her fingers to test out a new Shimmer variant, how her sister was just waiting for her to come and fix all of it.

One entry gave her pause, it was one that spoke of Powder like another person, it was Jinx's first entry. Vi took her time and reread that part, it showed how much Powder hated the fact that she was so helpless.

Vi managed to hold back her tears as she read, she didn't want to draw attention and have one of the others try and read this, (Caitlyn had walked away to examine some papers and give Vi space at some point), but when she read the entry talking about lighting the flare Vi had given her and Vi never showing up, she broke down completely. The tears that had welled up flowed down freely as she read how betrayed her sister felt when Vi didn't show.

She sobbed loudly when she read about her having to kill someone for the first time, she didn't stop crying as she read, and read, and read about all the terrible things she went through, about how her sister slowly changed over the years.

Jinx felt things, she was human.

She felt the need to write that, to justify her own actions to a piece of paper, to herself. She lost herself in this terrible world, using Jinx as a way of disassociating so the guilt didn't tear her apart.

At some point Vi had slid down onto the floor, still sobbing uncontrollably as she read the final words in the diary.

I suppose I owe you an explanation before I do this, I suppose I should give you some grand words that will stick with you for life.

But I have nothing to offer you, reading this was meaningless.

This was a waste of time for both of us.

A waste of time. That is what Powder saw her emotions, her life, as.

Janna help her find the words to begin to apologize when Vi finally finds her.

Vi took a moment to compose herself, she still needed to save her. This wasn't over yet. She wouldn't let it be.

---

Caitlyn examined the room thoroughly, she read and snapped pictures of every paper she could get her hands on, she searched every drawer and cabinet, and she ordered the others to do the same.

All of them respectfully ignored Vi as she read through Jinx's diary, something else she had ordered them to do, but Caitlyn made sure to keep an eye on her.

"Just who was this Singed person?" Maddie asked softly.

The others looked over, also curious.

"Well," Caitlyn began as she looked down at some files about an experiment he had run on someone, "he worked for Silco. Seems like he's the one responsible for creating Shimmer and all its variants as well."

Steb looked at some papers he had in his hand, "Jinx had to live with this guy?"

Caitlyn nodded.

She genuinely couldn't imagine it, a child, here.

"That's awful," Maddie whispered.

Caitlyn looked back at Vi who was now on the floor with a hand over her mouth, "Yes… it is."

What unfathomable horrors she must be reading.

Caitlyn left the others and made her way back to Vander's old bed. She looked over the equipment and snapped some pictures with the camera. Maybe this could help Viktor get a better idea of what Vander's condition was. Not that it truly mattered anymore.

What would Jinx be like now? She just lost the one constant she had her whole life, what kind of condition would that leave her in?

Dear god, did Jinx even know?

If the doctor left a note for her then maybe he hadn't seen her, maybe Jinx was still out there completely unaware.

"Caitlyn."

Caitlyn turned at the sound of Vi's gravelly voice, "Vi. Are you finished reading?"

Vi clutched the book in her hands, "Yeah," she whispered.

"Did it say anything about where Jinx might be now?"

Vi sniffed, "Said some stuff about safe houses she's got around here."

"Of course!" Caitlyn exclaimed.

Vi gave her a confused look.

"Jinx took me to one when we spent the day together," Caitlyn explained, "If she didn't come back here, she definitely going to be in one of those."

"So we got a new plan?" Vi asked.

"Yup. Though we might have to leave the others here. I want to keep all the stuff he left behind safe and in our possession," Caitlyn said thoughtfully.

He had left in a hurry, only grabbing things he deemed important enough.

Vi nodded, "Besides, it'll be hard to find these places without any address."

"We could always start with the one Jinx took me to," Caitlyn suggested as they walked their way back into the main room.

"You even remember where that is?" Vi questioned.

Caitlyn opened her mouth to say yes, but, she couldn't. There had been too many twists and turns.

"In an alley?"

Vi shook her head, "How bout we go talk to Babette, she's got good info."

"Do we have to?" Caitlyn asked embarrassed.

She had gone from never stepping foot into a brothel to going to one twice in a week. She had no desire to make it three.

"Yes," Vi said plainly.

She was in no mood for playing games.

"Alright, I'll tell the others."

---

Vi waited for Caitlyn to speak to the others impatiently. She was sick of standing around, she needed to punch someone.

Caitlyn walked over to her, "All good. Let's head out."

Both of them made their way out of the fucked up cave Vi had no desire to set foot in again. But once they were outside a voice, one Vi had fully expected to never hear again, spoke, "Is leading enforcers into the Undercity your new thing or something?"

Vi turned to look at Ekko, who stood surrounded by Scar and 5 other Firelights.

Vi smiled, released the gauntlets from her hands, and ran forward, wrapping him in a hug, "You look pretty good for a dead guy."

Ekko snorted, as Vi pulled away to look at him. She pulled off that big dumb mask he had on and looked into his eyes.

"She didn't hurt you," Vi whispered as she looked him over.

He didn't need clarification, he knew who she was talking about.

"No. She didn't."

Another thing Vi was wrong about.

Caitlyn stepped forward, "What are you doing here Ekko?"

"Could ask the same of you," Scar snapped.

Ekko fixed him with a withering look. Scar shut his mouth immediately.

"We came because my people said they saw you and your team in the area," Ekko explained.

"So you just followed us without saying hi again?" Vi said grumpily.

Ekko shook his head, "Yeah, but this time we got good reason."

"What is it?" Caitlyn asked.

Ekko took a breath, "I was wrong Vi. Something's going on with Jinx. Something big."

Vi and Caitlyn exchanged a look.

"We know," Vi said.

Janna, how was she supposed to tell Little Man about all this shit?

Ekko looked between the two of them, "You know about Silco?"

"What?" Vi asked.

"What about Silco," Caitlyn pressed.

"Well," Ekko looked away before stealing himself, and looking back at them, "After you all left the bridge me and Jinx fought."

Vi looked at him confused, "The hell you talking about, you don't have a scratch on you."

If he had actually fought with Powder he would be dead on his feet. If he wasn't just dead.

Ekko closed his eyes, "I know. She didn't fight back."

Vi was on him in a millisecond, "You fucking didn't."

Scar pushed her off, well, he tried, and said, "You can't get information out of us if he's dead."

Vi held Ekko close and growled, "What did you do to her?"

"I didn't kill her," He stated firmly, but then his expression softened, "…but she-" he took a breath, "there was a bomb."

Vi let him go and stumbled back, "No."

She did not just lose her sister and her father in one single day after just getting them back.

Caitlyn was quick to jump in and cut off any miscommunication at the pass, "Is she alive?"

"Yes. I believe so."

Vi took a shaky breath, "thank Janna," she muttered.

"Then what happened to her? And what do you mean you believe so?" Caitlyn asked.

"Well, she was next to a bomb, and it exploded. But-" he added quickly, "Jinx has been through a lot before, and she's survived. I think she lived through this."

"Why aren't you sure?" Vi growled softly.

"Because Silco took her."

"Fuck," Caitlyn swore immediately.

"What do you guys know that we don't?" Scar asked, "What's in the cave?"

Caitlyn opened her mouth to explain, but Vi cut her off, she should be the one to do it. She wasn't going to let a practical stranger that Ekko hated break the news to him.

"Powder wasn't working for Silco."

"We know," Ekko said, "She was working for Doctor Corin Reveck, the person who made Shimmer."

So the guy actually had a name.

Vi and Caitlyn gave him a confused look, "How'd you find out?"

"Ronan," Scar supplied, "and Heimerdinger."

"Heimerdinger knows the doctor!" Caitlyn asked shocked, probably deciding to skip over the fact about the two of them being in contact with him in favor of asking the bigger question.

"Apparently," Ekko sighed, "He was a student at the University or something. They kicked him out after they found him selling prescriptions for money and some other shit."

"Ronan knew?" Vi asked.

"No, he only knew about the doctor," Caitlyn said immediately.

Vi gave her a look but decided to shelf that conversation for later.

"What else is there?" Ekko asked.

Vi took a breath, "Ekko, it wasn't just Jinx with the doctor."

His brows furrowed in confusion, "Who else was with her?"

Vi shut her eyes and did her best not to let her voice waver, she wanted to be strong for him, "Vander was alive."

The people behind Ekko gasped and so did Scar, Ekko just stared blankly.

"The doctor was using Vander to keep Powder under control. She was working for him to save Vander."

After a long time he finally spoke, "You said was. What happened to him?"

Vi did her best not to cry as she shakily said the horrible words she never wanted to voice, "He's dead."

Once again the people behind Ekko were the ones with the grand reaction while Ekko just stood there like a statue.

"We need to save Jinx," Ekko whispered.

"We know," Caitlyn said, "that's what we were on our way to do, but now that we know she's with Silco…"

"It changes things," Ekko finished for her, "But not for us," he said looking at the others, "we have teams all over, trying to find out where Silco and Jinx went."

"Then we'll join them-"

"No," Vi said.

They turned to look at her.

"I'm sick of waiting around, it's time to drag Silco out."

"What are you talking about?" Ekko asked.

"We hit him where it hurts. His money. His Shimmer."

"You want to go and destroy his factories?" Scar asked shocked.

"Yes."

"Vi, I don't think that's a good-" Caitlyn began.

"What other choice do we have!? Wait around for something to happen and just react? I'm tired of letting them hit us first, it's time to hit them. And we're not backing down till they're done. We have the weapons," Vi said gesturing at the gauntlets she left on the ground, "and we have the people," she said pointing at everyone behind Ekko.

Everyone looked around at each other, unsure of what to do.

And to everyone's surprise, it was Scar who spoke up, "I think we should do it. We have been waiting for a chance to hit Silco hard and this is it. It's like she said, we've got the people, and if they got weapons they think are strong enough to take on Silco then I don't see a point in waiting around anymore." Scar turned to Ekko, "I know I'm not your favorite person right now, but I have always looked out for our people. I believe this will help, not only us but Jinx as well. Silco can't sit back and let us destroy his empire. The Chem-Barons won't let him."

Ekko thought silently for a moment before looking at Caitlyn, "What do you think? Can your weapons really beat Silco?"

Caitlyn looked at Vi, eyes searching her's.

Caitlyn didn't even have to speak for Vi to understand the question, was she sure she wanted to go down this path?

Vi gave her a nod.

Caitlyn turned away and looked back to Ekko, "Our weapons are better than anything they could have. If it's a fight, we will win."

Ekko nodded, "Alright then, go get your people. We're gonna need all your fancy Piltie weapons."

---

"This is where she was stuck all these years?" Ekko asked as he stepped into the lab.

After some discussion, they decided that two of Ekko's men would stay and watch over the lab, and Scar would go and collect the other teams out looking for Jinx and Silco, giving them the numbers they needed to win. So they all went in to get the others.

Vi nodded.

"There's more to this, isn't there?" He asked looking at her.

Vi stared off into the distance, "Yeah, Little Man, there are so many more fucking things we need to talk about."

"Well, we're here now. Why not talk now?"

She looked over at him, "Because I may just kill you or myself."

He looked at her for a long moment, "I'm sorry," he whispered, voice wavering, "I didn't think she would let that bomb hit her."

Vi clenched her fists, "Ekko," she warned.

Vi was pissed at him for that, but it's not like she could outright hate him for it. Both he and Vi had left Jinx, he may have had a more hands-on role in her being hurt but Vi held just as much responsibility for what happened that night.

"…just-" he sighed, "I'm just sorry, ok?"

She sighed and looked at him, "If you think earning my forgiveness is your biggest worry you have another thing coming."

"We fucked up," he said after a moment of silence.

"We fucked up so fucking royally it would be easier to throw ourselves off the bridge than ask for forgiveness from her."

"But we can do that. Not until after we save her from the mess we put her in," he supplied.

"Yeah," Vi whispered.

Caitlyn finished discussing things with the others and started walking towards them with the rest of the team in tow.

Ekko turned and placed a hand on her shoulder, "I get what you're feeling right now, better than anyone, but, don't you dare actually go through with this suicide thing you keep bringing up. Your death won't fix anything. It's just the easy way out."

Vi looked at him. He actually thought she was serious about killing herself. She wanted to argue with him, tell him that she was just being dramatic and exaggerating things, but…

A part of her actually meant it. She felt bad enough to kill herself. She wanted someone to punish her for what she had done, and if that punishment ended up being death, then so be it. She would never do it herself, but she would happily die trying to save her sister if that's what it came to.

And she could see that Ekko felt the exact same way.

Once Caitlyn and the others joined them they went to wait outside the cave for Ekko's scouts. Talking to pass the time, Ekko filled them in about Heimerdinger, and how he was now staying at the hideout.

"You know for someone who gave me so much shit about bringing an enforcer down here-" Vi began.

"I know, I know. I was wrong alright?" He said waving her and her teasing off.

"Ekko!"

It was Scar, running over with a few teams in tow. He was frantically waving them down.

"Scar? What happened?" Ekko asked concerned.

"Jinx. They spotted her-"

"Where," Vi said reacting immediately.

"The old cannery."

Vi's eyes widened, "What!?"

Powder would never in a million years go back there willingly. Something was terribly wrong.

"But that's where…" Ekko mumbled, "Why the hell?"

"Think it's a trap?" Scar asked.

"Wait, what's the big deal about this place?" Caitlyn asked.

"It's where my family died," Vi growled out.

"Hey! You didn't even let us tell you what she had with her," said one of the Firelights.

"What," Ekko said.

"Silco," chimed in another one.

They all looked at each other, but Caitlyn was the one to speak, "Sounds like Jinx woke up before Silco got to do whatever he was going to do."

"Enough talking, if that son of a bitch is anywhere near my sister she still isn't safe."

Ekko nodded in agreement, "Let's head out, you guys fill us in on anything else you saw on the way," he said gesturing to the Firelights that told them about Silco.

---

The Cannery was eerily silent.

"Hey," Caitlyn whispered, "Are you ok?"

Vi must have been making a face of some kind, but it all just felt wrong here. All that happened and now they were back, as if it was all the same, even though it wasn't.

Vi could see it all as it was back then clear as day. The fire, the rubble, Powder on the ground in tears, Vander on the ground behind her, Vi turning her back on them both.

It all was gone but the ghosts still remained.

"As long as I get my sister back I'll be fine," she muttered.

Ekko also had a faraway and distant look on his face, "Maybe I should hang back," he whispered.

Vi looked over at him, "What!?"

"Calm down Vi. I just mean if it really is just Jinx in there then me tagging along may not be the best idea. She kinda hates me right now."

"Yeah well she's not exactly my biggest fan right now either, but now you can't just-"

"Vi," Caitlyn said cutting her off, "Her and Ekko are on really bad terms, bringing him in while we don't even know what she's like could prove disastrous."

"Well, what about us? Not like she likes us much right now," Vi said softly.

The last time she saw her sister she had abandoned her for the second time.

"Yes, but she still cares about you Vi. More than she knows. As for me, I know how the voices in her head work more or less, I can try to calm her down and manage the situation," Caitlyn explained gently.

"Me and the Firelights could keep a perimeter, while you, Caitlyn, and the others go in," Ekko offered.

Vi nodded, "Alright fine."

"Actually, why don't Maddie and Steb stay here."

"Why us?" Maddie asked.

"Jinx doesn't normally need a doctor, and she certainly doesn't need more strangers with guns around. Honestly, I only want Loris around so he can peacefully stop any attacks that may happen."

Loris nodded, "I can do that. Still do the three-second rule?"

"No. If you sense something wrong then you activate immediately, Jinx only needs one second to do whatever she wants."

"Fine," Vi said getting frustrated, "Can we go now?"

"Just one last thing," Caitlyn said.

Vi huffed, annoyed.

"Do not mention Vander."

"Why?" Loris asked.

Vi didn't need to be told why. Powder was currently sitting in the very place this whole mess started, and with the man who started it all. It wouldn't take much to trigger her, talking about Vander, after he just died, would be like lighting a match in a gas-filled room.

"Any little thing can set Jinx off. Talking about something so fresh and sore will destroy our chances of resolving anything peacefully."

Ekko nodded in agreement, "Jinx is unstable on a good day, today she's probably just waiting for someone to give her a reason to level the city."

"Ok, ok! No Vander. Let's just go already," Vi couldn't stand not doing anything anymore.

Cait nodded and they all turned to leave.

Ekko grabbed Vi's arm.

"Ekko, I swear-"

"You can't lose her this time."

She looked at him, his eyes were full of worry and unshed tears.

She softened at his pitiful expression, "I'm gonna fix this Little Man. I'm going to get her back, I swear."

He nodded.

She pulled him into a hug, dropping the gauntlets before doing so, "You know she'll forgive you, right?" She whispered.

He pulled away and gave her a sad smile, then said, "Good luck," not answering the question.

Vi turned away and walked to where the others were waiting for her.

Ekko didn't think Powder could forgive him, and that made her worry, would Powder forgive her?

"Everything alright Vi?"

Vi nodded, Caitlyn was far too worried about her, she needed to get a grip before she saw her sister. She needed to be brave for her.

They all walked through one of the rubble-filled alleyways, Vi leading the way.

She thought of all the things she would say to Powder when she finally saw her. How much she loved her, how sorry she was, how she knows why she did it all and she forgives her, beg her for forgiveness.

Vi stopped, something under a rock catching her attention. Two little bunny ears.

"Vi? What's-"

Vi went over and picked the rock off of it, and sure enough, there it was. Her- Powder's- stuffed bunny.

"Is that your bunny?" Caitlyn asked shocked.

Vi was going to ask how she knew, but then she remembered her and Powder talked a lot in their day together, out of all the things Pow-Pow shared, this stuffed bunny was hardly anything important.

"I didn't know it was here," Vi whispered.

"Jinx said Silco threw it out."

"Guess she was wrong," Loris said as he walked up next to Vi, "Want me to hold onto it for ya'?"

Vi looked up at him, she had expected some snappy remark about her having a stuffed bunny but he was serious.

She handed it over after a moment, "Keep it out of sight, I don't know how Powder will react to that."

He nodded and tucked it away as Vi stood and made her way towards a hole in the bricks that looked big enough to squeeze through.

Vi stepped inside, memories flooding back as she looked around at the strangely empty place.

"Powder!" Vi called out.

"Hey!" Loris hissed, "What are you doing?"

"If you think sneaking up on Powder is going to help us you're wrong," Vi said as she got ready to yell again, "It's me, Vi! I brought Caitlyn and another friend with me!"

Her voice echoed around the empty place. No response coming to cut it off.

Vi kept making her way forward to see if she was in another room.

"I know I left again, I'm so, so sorry!"

Loris looked around, skeptical and nervous.

Caitlyn's eyes also searched the place, ready to retrieve the gun she had stashed away in her bag to not alarm Powder.

"Do you want these guys to leave!? Just ask and they will!"

Still no response.

"I just want to talk Powder! Please!"

Caitlyn tapped her lightly on the shoulder and singled her to be quiet for a moment, "Jinx, I told Vi what's been going on! We came to help!"

After another round of silence, they continued their way forward.

Had Ekko's scout been wrong? Was Powder even here?

They slowly searched as Vi kept yelling out for Powder until they came across the biggest room, where the ceiling was completely gone and so were most of the walls.

"Powder, I can't even begin to describe-"

"Vi," Caitlyn whispered cutting her off, "look."

Vi looked at where she was pointing and found the body of Silco. He was tied up, his normally slicked-back hair disheveled, blood stained his fancy clothes where a piece of glass stuck out of his chest, and his freaky eye was still open while the other was closed.

Panic settled in Vi as she realized that Powder may have left after killing Silco, "Powder!?"

They were all making their way forward toward Silco's body when Vi spotted her, crumpled on the floor behind a pile of rocks was her sister's body.

"POWDER!" Vi screamed when she saw her collapsed on the floor.

She dropped her gauntlets instantly and went to check if she was still alive.

Powder was splayed out on the ground, hands resting near her throat which had her dried blood on it, as if she had been scratching at her throat. She looked awful, her skin paler than before and it was sticky with sweat, her clothes were destroyed, probably from the bomb Ekko mentioned. The extensive holes in the fabric revealed the multitude of scars that Cait had mentioned, and crusted blood was still on her skin from the attack on the bridge.

Vi cradled her in her arms, "Pow-Pow, wake up. Please, please, please wake up."

"Oh Janna, what happened to her?" Loris whispered.

"Loris get Steb now!" Caitlyn yelled as she crouched next to Vi.

He wasted no time and ran screaming for him.

"Don't die, don't die, don't die," Vi whispered as she rocked Powder's stiff body in her arms.

"Let me see her Vi," Caitlyn said as she pushed her hands through the wall Vi had created around Powder with her body, "I need to see if she's breathing."

Vi gave Caitlyn a little room to examine her, but she did not let Powder go.

She would never let her go again.

Caitlyn pressed her fingers on her neck and her brows furrowed.

"What!?" Vi yelled concerned at her expression.

"Shh," she said as she put her ear to her chest.

Vi watched in horror, waiting for her to say the dreaded words that would destroy Vi's world, she waited for her to say Powder was dead.

"Vi!" Ekko yelled as he, Scar, and Caitlyn's team ran inside.

Steb was quick, he was next to them within seconds, "How is she?"

"I can't get a heartbeat," Caitlyn replied.

Vi felt her heart drop into her stomach, "No, no, no, no. Powder!" Vi cried as she clutched her close.

"I need her off of Jinx," Steb snapped.

A hand grabbed her shoulder, and Vi smacked it off, "I'm not leaving her!"

"Vi if you don't let him work then she's going to die!" Ekko yelled.

She flinched as she clung to her little sister.

"Vi, we are trying to help her. Let us, please," Caitlyn said softly.

Vi looked down at her motionless sister, tears falling on her face as Vi sobbed.

"Vi-" Ekko started, but it was unnecessary.

Vi gently pushed some hair out of Powder's face and laid her on the ground, before standing to get out of their way.

Steb was on her instantly with a stethoscope checking for a heartbeat.

They all waited in terrified silence.

Had it all been for nothing?

Had Vi just lost the one person she swore to protect?

Ekko grabbed Vi's hand. She didn't look at him, too scared to take her eyes off Powder, but she gave a him squeeze to show she was here with him.

Steb pulled back after looking for a heartbeat for far too long, "She's alive," he said before moving on to shine a light into her eyes.

Vi let out a shaky breath of relief as tears fell freely down her face.

"Thank Janna," Ekko whispered as he rubbed away tears that tracked down his face, the grip he had on Vi's hand loosening a little.

"But not by much."

The relief was quickly gone.

"What's wrong with her?" Caitlyn asked.

"She's on something," he said as he began to look over the rest of her body.

"What are you talking about?" Vi asked.

"Drugs. She's on drugs right now and she is not handling it well. She needs a hospital immediately."

"She overdosed?" Scar whispered to Ekko.

"No," Steb supplied as he stood, "I highly doubt it considering what that man who has been keeping her all these years has been doing to her. This is probably something he made, something extremely dangerous and experimental."

Ekko made a face but did not say anything.

"Let's just get her to a hospital. I can't diagnose her here. Loris would you-"

Vi let Ekko's hand go and moved forward and picked Powder up. She hated how easy it was.

"That works too I guess. Keep her steady, do not jostle her, and make sure to check her breathing constantly. It's extremely shallow right now, any less and I don't think it'll be enough to keep her alive."

Vi adjusted Powder as gently and carefully as she possibly could, "Hold on Powder, it's almost over," she whispered to her as she and the others began to make their way back to Topside.

Chapter 40: Your Love’s Too Good To Lose

Notes:

12 a.m. upload cause why not?

Also, I am not a doctor. I have no idea if the stuff I wrote for this chapter is medically sound, I just did some very basic research on Google. So all the hospital junk is probably inaccurate and all kinds of wrong, just roll with it.

Jinx was getting increasingly worse as they traveled, her breath now coming to concerning halts at various different times. Steb was a godsend, he kept calm the entire time and stabilized Jinx when she stopped breathing.

While Caitlyn's worry for Jinx was at an all-time high, so was her worry for Vi. She looked so scared, she refused to let anyone else carry Jinx even for a moment, she also refused to let anyone take a break for even a second.

So they all kept moving through the Undercity and made their way to Piltover, Caitlyn making sure to keep a constant eye on Vi.

At the bridge, Ekko told Scar to head back to the hideout and inform everyone of the situation. He also told him that he was to run the Firelights in his absence and that he didn't know when he would be coming back. Scar and him shared a couple more words before he left with the other Firelights in tow.

Once they crossed the bridge, they took Jinx to Viktor and Jayce. They were expecting a patient, Vander, so they awaited their return in the hospital.

It was like pandemonium as soon as they were spotted, people ran up and began to ask a million questions while trying to pry Jinx from Vi's arms, it did not go well.

"Don't touch her!" Vi yelled.

"Vi, they just want her on the bed to wheel her inside," Caitlyn tried to reason.

"I can carry her!" Vi snapped.

"VI!" Ekko yelled, shocking them all.

He had been deathly silent on the way here, his solemn mood understood by the others and ignored in all of their worry for Jinx.

"Let her go."

Vi looked into his eyes, and he stared back, unblinking and unwavering.

Reluctantly she placed Jinx on the gurney.

That was all the doctors needed to get snapped back into action.

"Get a breathing machine for this girl now!"

"What's her condition?"

"Drug usage seems to be causing various problems."

"Get her an IV she's severely dehydrated!"

"We know what drug?" Someone new called out.

"No. It's something experimental and untested."

"Damn."

"What the hell happened to this girl? Look at her."

"No time. Treat the main issue, deal with the rest later."

Vi, Caitlyn, and Ekko closely followed behind the mob of chattering doctors and nurses, the others staying behind in the lobby.

"What are our options here?"

"She needs blood, look at how much she's lost."

"Do we know a blood type?"

"Unknown."

"Any family members to donate?"

"Me," Vi yelled immediately, "I'm her sister!"

"Good. Get her blood and we'll give some to-"

"That's not necessary," Caitlyn said before they could drag Vi away, "Most of that blood isn't her's, and she has the ability to heal any superficial wounds like that easily."

They all stopped and looked at her.

"Miss Kirammn, while we appreciate-"

"No. Shut the hell up and listen," Caitlyn wasn't about to waste time on this, "You fix the drug issue, and she will be fine. You can run tests and decide what's next after that."

They all look at each other.

"I will pull every last one of your hospital's funding this very second if you don't do as I say and save this girl."

They all snapped back to work immediately, wheeling her into a room where her, Vi, and Ekko were asked to wait outside. As if that was going to work.

"We are going in. End of discussion," Caitlyn said as she shoved past the orderly.

She could have sat there and explained that Caitlyn knew more about how Jinx healed than any of these doctors and that if Jinx ended up regaining consciousness they would all probably be killed if Vi wasn't in the room, but she didn't have the patience.

"Cait!" Jayce exclaimed as they entered the room.

"Later, for now, all you need to know is that she is on some kind of drug," she said as the doctors began to hook Jinx up to machines to monitor her heartbeat and breathing.

Ekko made Vi stand in the back with him while everyone worked so they were out of the way.

Viktor hobbled forward, somehow glaringly worse than when they left him. He would probably be dead soon.

"What else do we need to know?" He asked.

"Well she has a bunch of Shimmer in her that allows her to heal wounds basically instantly," she said ignoring the sinking feeling of despair at the thought of Viktor dying.

"Hmmm," he hummed as he went over to examine her.

"How should we proceed Viktor?" A doctor asked.

"Was the drug injected or ingested?" He asked.

"We don't know," Ekko said.

"Then do a blanket sweep of all treatments. Pump her stomach and get her ready to start dialysis."

"Yes sir!" They all called as they began to wheel in a bunch of machines and wheel out others.

Viktor walked back over to them, "You all should take a seat in the hall. I will stay and keep an eye on her for you."

"No," Vi said, "I'm staying with her."

"Do you think she'll wake up?" Caitlyn asked before demanding to be let to stay.

To be perfectly honest she didn't want Vi to stay here. Caitlyn had heard of how things worked in these rooms from her father and she had no desire to have Vi watch as it happened to her sister.

"It is unlikely," he said, "she seems to almost be comatose. Like her mind is trying to shut itself down."

Vi and Ekko both let out small gasps.

Jayce kicked him lightly.

"What was that for?" He asked offended.

Dear god, could Viktor learn to read a room and not deliver horrible news like he's discussing the weather?

"Alright, alright. All of you head out and me and Vi will join you in a moment," Caitlyn said as Jayce and Ekko began to file out of the room.

"I am not leaving-" Vi began.

"Vi," Caitlyn said grabbing her hands, "I swear to you these people will take the best care of her. She will pull through this."

"But-"

"As soon as they're done I will get you right back in here and you can stay for as long as you want. No one will kick you out."

Vi looked over at Jinx, they were getting her ready for her stomach to be pumped.

"What if-"

"It won't happen," Caitlyn said before Vi had the chance to voice her concerns out loud, "They will save her, no matter what."

Vi reluctantly moved out of the room. Once outside she sat herself right next to the door instead of one of the chairs on the opposite wall, Caitlyn thought about trying to get her to sit on one, but thought better of it.

Caitlyn looked over at Ekko who was sitting in a chair, leg bouncing up and down incessantly as he glared a hole into the floor in front of him.

She walked over to him, "Hey."

He gave her a nod but otherwise ignored her.

She sat in the chair next to him, "She going to pull through. You know that right?"

He looked over at her, "I know she's as strong as they get, and I know she's not giving up without a fight."

Caitlyn gave him a small smile, "You know I heard you two were friends back in the day"

"That was a long time ago. Things change."

"Yeah. But maybe some things don't have to," she said looking at the door to the operating room, "Lord knows Jinx could use a good friend right now."

He sighed, "I'm not planning on going anywhere Caitlyn, but please don't get my hopes up. She and I- I don't think we can ever be like we used to be. I don't think she'll forgive me for this one."

Caitlyn grabbed his shoulder, "You're a great guy Ekko, and you didn't know. I'm sure you can fix this, after all, you created a whole community with nothing but hard work and dedication, I'm sure you can manage to earn her forgiveness."

He sighed heavily and shook his head, "Whatever you say."

Caitlyn wished she could do more for him, but he seemed to be rather convinced Jinx would hate him forever, and maybe she would. She was so angry with him when they lasted talked, it was definitely a strong possibility. But Caitlyn believed that there was still something there for Jinx, after all, the opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. And if there was one thing Caitlyn could say about Ekko and Jinx it was that they hated each other's guts, well at least Jinx did. Ekko's hatred always felt more forced.

Jayce walked over, "Cait."

"Jayce," Caitlyn said looking up at him.

"Mind if we talk for a moment?"

"No, of course not," she said as she stood, but before she left with Jayce she turned to Ekko, "Would you mind keeping an eye on her for me?" She said gesturing at Vi who was still sitting on the floor.

"Yeah, go ahead and leave. I've got her," He said standing and walking over to her.

Caitlyn gave him a grateful smile before walking over to Jayce who stood further down the hall.

"I'm assuming you're wondering what happened," she said as she got close.

"Yeah," he said softly, "I thought Vander was the one who needed the hospital, what the hell happened?"

Caitlyn sighed, "Well, might as well just rip off the bandage, Vander is dead."

He let out a gasp, "How?"

Caitlyn shook her head, "Somehow the doctor found out what Jinx had been up to. He was gone by the time we got there along with Vander and Jinx."

"Gone? Meaning you didn't find his body?" He asked.

"No. No body, but all his machines were shut down and what we think was his bed was empty. Look we don't know what happened exactly but from what I've seen and what Jinx has told me, this man isn't the type to let people off the hook so easily. Vander is most likely dead."

He nodded, "So it's just Jinx, huh?"

Caitlyn nodded solemnly.

"What happened to her? She looks-"

Awful, sick, tired, dead, abused?

"-so young."

A tear fell down her face at his words, and then more until she was sobbing.

"Oh Cait," he said pulling into a hug.

She had been trying to hold it together for Vi and Ekko, but she just couldn't anymore.

Jinx was her friend.

She didn't need to hear the stories about how sweet and kind she was as a child to see it for herself. Underneath all that pain and sadness was just a lost child, someone who just wanted to be loved.

Jinx showed Caitlyn what unwavering kindness looked like. She showed her that just because you did a terrible thing it didn't mean you were a terrible person, that redemption was not something you could simply ask for, it was something you needed to want with your whole soul.

She was an incredible person that Caitlyn hadn't even gotten a chance to say goodbye to.

She sobbed into Jayce's shoulder, "T-the last time I-I saw her was-s on that br-bridge. The l-la-last thing she s-saw me do was w-w-walk away."

"Hey, hey, hey. I'm sure she'll understand. You saved her."

Caitlyn pulled back and looked him in the eyes, "I should have done m-more. Vander-"

"Shhh," he said pulling her back in, "No one is to blame for this besides that man."

Caitlyn hugged him back before whispering her biggest fear, "What if she dies?"

He didn't respond, he probably didn't know what to say, so he just pulled her in closer.

---

Ekko sat himself next to Vi.

He didn't speak, he just sat there with her as he stared at a wall and she stared at the door.

"Remember when me and her snuck out to the junkyard in the middle of the night and gave all you guys a panic attack?"

Vi sat there silently for a while before speaking, "Yeah. I thought someone kidnapped her until I found out you were gone too."

"She woke me up in the middle of the night and said she was bored out of her mind and needed to fight someone. We had a fucking blast."

"Meanwhile all of us were waking up half the Undercity looking for the two of you."

He gave a half hearted smile, "She told me the two of you had a fight, you remember what it was about?"

"She ruined my new shoes that I got for my birthday with a failed paint bomb. I was pissed."

He scoffed, "If you were half as pissed as Powder was then you probably would've scared off an armada of enforcers with just a look."

Vi looked over at him, "She was mad?"

"You think that paint bomb was an accident?" He asked with a raised brow.

She blinked at him baffled, "She did that on purpose!?"

He looked up at the ceiling, "Oh yeah."

"What! Why!?"

"You forgot you promised to come and watch her newest gadget, which was actually just code for she had a big ol' surprise for you. Apparently, you blew her off to go hang out with Mylo and Claggor who splurged and bought you new shoes you wouldn't shut up about."

Vi smacked her hand to her face, "Why didn't she say something."

"Because she thought her gift was lame after they actually bought you new shoes," he said looking over at Vi.

Vi sighed heavily, "What'd she make me?"

"She made you a whole scrapbook of hand-drawn pictures of the two of you."

Vi sat there with her mouth hanging open, "And she just never gave them to me!"

"Nope, she tore the thing up, and she spent months on it," he added.

"You know Little Man you suck ass at making people feel better," she snapped.

"Point is," he said with a roll of his eyes, "she was pissed, but after she chilled out she went back and made those lame-ass shoes of yours better by fixing her paint job, and then that was her gift."

"What are you getting at Ekko?"

"She may be out of your reach right now, but she's gonna come back and, even if she shouldn't be the one apologizing, she will. Then the two of you will be closer than ever. It's just the way you two work."

Vi yanked him into a hug, "Thank you."

He hugged her back with full force, "Anytime Vi."

Ekko wished he could offer himself the same comfort and assurances but he had so much to make up for, so much more than anything Vi did. He also had a sinking feeling that something between them broke on that night on the bridge, or maybe that was just Jinx.

Either way, he would need to do so much more than just show he was sorry.

How could he have missed it? Jinx was protecting Vander this whole time and being put through hell, and apparently, there was more to all of this that Vi had yet to tell him.

"Ekko?"

"Yeah?" He said pulling away.

"Remember the time you and Powder hated each other's guts for a whole summer?"

"Trying to use my own methods against me?" He asked exasperated.

Vi shrugged, "I'm no good at being original. So you remember or not?"

"Yeah, yeah. I remember. She got mad at me because she got stuck helping Vander at the bar and I got to go on a job with you guys."

Vi nodded, "She was mad cause she thought we replaced her. Didn't help that Mylo kept saying you were so much better than her practically every time he saw her. Anyway, after that, you got mad at Powder for being mad at you, and then she was mad 'cause you were mad at her, and so on, and so on."

"Can you make your point?" He said.

"My point," she said nudging him, "is that you two were angry at each other for so long that we all forgot what even started the fight by the end of the summer."

"Uh, me and Powder didn't," he pointed out.

"Jeez you two sure hold grudges," Vi said with a roll of her eyes.

No. Ekko just remembered because it was her. If it was anyone else he would have just ended the friendship.

"Look what I'm trying to say is that after a while you apologized, not for all the dumb shit that happened that summer, or all the names you called her, but for what started the whole thing."

"So-"

"Don't start apologizing for all the dumb unimportant shit that happened because you two were fighting, apologize for what started the fight to begin with," Vi said flicking him on the forehead, "You do know what started this fight between the two of you, right?"

How could he forget? He relived the night they had met for the first time after everything constantly. How she looked when she had her knife in her friend, how she had refused to help him, how she still killed him even when she asked her not to.

Though now he looked at it with a new light. She had been so happy to see him but he blew right past her, she looked scared when he asked her to help him save his friend, she was angry at him for not understanding.

That was the start, but everything after that just hammered that nail further and further into their coffin. He tried to help her after, but she refused. She killed his friends so he attacked her. He abandoned her so she attacked him. And so on, and so on.

Only this time it wasn't a childish feud where he could just say sorry.

Vi nudged him, "Just start at the beginning Little Man. Let the rest play out from there."

He sighed, "Alright."

She wrapped an arm around his shoulders and they both stayed there on the ground silently comforting one another.

---

The door opened and Viktor stepped out.

Vi stood immediately, waking Ekko who had managed to fall into a restless sleep on her shoulder.

"Is she-"

"She is stable," He said cutting her off.

She ran over and hugged him fiercely, "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

"Umm, yes. Of course," he said awkwardly.

Caitlyn cleared her throat and Vi moved off the poor guy.

"Could we see her?" She asked as she rubbed sleep from her eyes.

It had gotten late, and Vi was the only one of them to stay awake, (Jayce having left hours ago). Worry eating away at her and keeping her from sleeping.

"Yes-"

Vi didn't need to hear anything else, she shoved her way into the room.

Her sister laid on a bed with machines attached to her, beeping and hissing. She still looked sickly, and with the harsh lighting of the hospital she looked so much weaker, the new hospital gown she wore only adding to it.

"I know it looks scary, but she is doing incredibly well," Viktor said as he and the others followed Vi in.

Vi pulled up a chair and sat herself right next to Powder's bed, grabbing her hand and rubbing it gently.

"Hey sis, told you you'd be ok," she whispered.

"Does she still need all these machines?" Ekko asked.

"Her breathing is still irregular," he explained, "and since she was in critical condition we are monitoring her heartbeat for now. The IV is because she is severely lacking liquids. Say, do any of you know why she had metal fragments in her skin?" He asked.

Vi looked over at Ekko who had his hands clenched.

"She got hit by a bomb," he said ashamed.

"Ah, well, we took all that out. Which took far too long because of her healing abilities."

"What do you mean?" Caitlyn asked.

"Well, the fragments had become merged to her skin, as if they had been left there for years. And every time we made an incision it would heal almost instantly, before we were able to do anything. It was incredibly frustrating."

Vi looked at Powder as she slept, breathing mask covering most of her face, "When will she wake up?"

"That is unknown. As I said before, whatever that drug forced her mind to attack itself. She saw herself as a threat and tried to eliminate- well, herself."

"So she tried to kill herself," Vi whispered softly.

"Hmmm, technically? It is difficult to explain. She most likely had no idea what she was doing, and she didn't really do it to herself, it was more like her body just stopped functioning at times. Or it would convince her that she was in a dangerous situation despite her being perfectly fine."

Vi's grip tightened on Powder's hand. She had almost lost her, if she had been any later-

"Well, I will be heading to bed. Please alert me if anything happens," Viktor said before yawning.

They all sat in the room quietly, waiting for Powder to open her eyes.

"Vi. Would you like something to eat? Maybe drink?" Caitlyn asked as she grabbed her shoulder, "I'm heading down to the Cafeteria."

Vi shook her head, "Don't think I could eat even if I wanted to."

"Alright, I'll just grab you some water then. Ekko, can I get you anything?"

"Water's fine," He said from the little couch that was in the hospital room.

Caitlyn left to go grab their waters.

"The scars," Ekko said as soon as the door was closed, "the hell haven't you told me Vi?"

With Powder's hospital gown, you could see the scars that decorated her skin, creeping up her neck and angrily sprawled all over her arms, which were resting on top of her plush hospital blanket.

Vi looked back at him, "I don't want to talk about that right-"

"Well, I don't want to be left in the dark again!" He hissed.

Vi sighed, "Alright. Quiet down would ya'?" She said glancing at Powder's sleeping form, "You know about the doctor."

"Yeah."

"And you saw his lab-"

"I get it alright, he was doing stuff to her, but this," he said as he stood and gestured at Powder, "Just what the hell was going on?"

Vi pulled out the journal she had got from the lab and held it up for Ekko to see.

"What is that?"

"Her diary," Vi whispered.

He stared at her wide-eyed, "Where-"

"The doctor gave her this journal, he left it for her if she ended up coming back to that place. But she didn't return, we came and found it, and I read it."

"…What does it say?" He asked softly.

"She wrote about how he would break her bones just to see if his newest Shimmer worked, how he would starve her just because he couldn't be bothered to go out and get more food, and how he would just inject her with unknown shit."

Ekko stood silently.

Vi ran a hand down her face, "I don't even think she knew half the shit he did to her. Just that he pumped her full of something. Of course, he did a lot more things, but I'm not talking about that, that stuff is hers to share, not mine."

"All her speed and super healing was because of him?" He asked softly.

Vi nodded, "... you know she thought she wasn't human. Thought all that stuff made her a monster."

Ekko sat down with a thud, "How could I? I never bothered to ask."

"Once she wakes up we're fixing it all, you hear me?" Vi said grabbing Powder's hand again after she set the journal in the drawer of the bedside table.

"Yeah," he muttered hand covering his face, and from what it sounded like, tears, "We'll fix it all."

Chapter 41: What Could Have Been

Notes:

Just realized that I made a confusing chapter considering the last one ended with Ekko and Vi both in the room, basically this is a bit of a time skip (which will be explained in the next chapter which is why this one doesn’t have one) Vi is asleep at Jinx’s side and Caitlyn and Ekko both left the room.

I realized that all of you would assume Ekko would still be in the room after I posted the last chapter so it was too late to change it. My bad. (And sorry to all of you looking forward to Ekko and Jinx talking)

The steady hissing and beeping of Vander's machines, his rough hand entangled with hers, this is what let Jinx know that she had just fallen asleep at his side. That everything else was just a cruel nightmare. That she was still in the lab, Vander at her side.

But if she was asleep next to him, why was she the one lying down?

Why was there something on top of her?

Why was there something on her face?

Why was Vander's hand smaller than she remembered?

Why was that incessant beeping getting faster and faster?

Why couldn't she feel the normal irritation of her clothing?

Jinx's eyes snapped open.

Where was she?! What is this place!?

She ripped off the mask she had on over her face and all the other cables she had on her, making the machines freak out and start blaring.

"Powder!?"

Ignore it.

It's fake, a voice in her head.

She went to run but when she tried a machine that was still attached to her dragged her back, making her fall.

"Powder! It's ok! It's me, Vi!"

Lies.

Jinx ripped whatever was stabbed into her veins and went to try and make a run for it again when the fake Vi said something that stopped her dead in her tracks.

"I know about Vander!"

Vander.

Gone.

Lost.

Left to be tortured.

Jinx turned to look at this delusion that claimed to be her sister. She looked disheveled, her hair a mess, drool caked onto the side of her face, and red-rimmed eyes.

"Powder, please don't leave. I'm so, so, so, so sorry. Janna, I will never be able to tell you how sorry I am."

Jinx took a trembling step back, "What?"

She knew about Vander, she knew how Jinx failed him, and she was apologizing?

"I never should have left you, not when we were kids, not on that bridge."

A storm of voices flooded her head.

"Ha! As if she'd ever forgive you!"

"This must be a trick."

"You're probably dead!"

"She's probably going to throw you in Stillwater."

“None of this was your fault, and I am so proud of you for trying to fix it all.”

Jinx shook her head and grabbed her hair as she stumbled her way into a wall.

All of it was wrong.

"Please Powder, you don't have to forgive me. Just- let me help you."

She slid down the wall, "Help me?"

"Yes. That's all I want," She said taking a step toward her.

"Can't help someone like you," Mylo spat.

"You're too late," Jinx whispered, "I lost him. After everything, I lost him."

"I know, I know. That's why I need you more than ever Powder," she said taking another step, "it's just us now. And I want to fix the mess I made between us."

Pow- Jinx shook her head, "Don't you hate me?"

"Oh Janna Powder, I could never hate you."

"Then-" Jinx began, voice breaking, "why did you leave me?"

"Because I'm a fucking stubborn moron," she said, her voice wavering as well.

Tears fell down Jinx's face, "I just wanted to help."

"I know."

"That's all I ever wanted," she sobbed pulling her knees up and hugging them.

Vi walked over slowly and crouched down next to her, pulling her into a hug, Jinx flinched and curled into herself more, her touch searing itself onto her far to exposed skin.

"Please let me help you," she said softly, "That's all I want."

Jinx whimpered, but she did not run. Because Vi was all she had left, and for once Vi actually wanted her.

---

Jinx didn't shove Vi off initially, but when she heard the sound of the door slamming open she pushed her off immediately.

She stood and was ready to rip the eyes out of whoever was standing there but Vi luckily yelled for her to stop before she got the chance.

"It's a doc- I mean, he- they- just let them go please?"

Jinx glared down at the person she had slammed onto the floor, hands around their neck.

"Leave," she hissed digging her nails into their skin to show she was ready to kill them if they didn't.

He nodded frantically and sprinted out of the room when she let him up.

Vi walked over, "Are you ok?" She asked panicked as she looked over Jinx as if she was just shot or something.

Jinx, suddenly very aware that she wasn't wearing her normal clothing, pulled back and shrunk into herself.

"Janna your hurt! He hurt you! I'll, uh, I'll go get help-"

"Vi," Jinx hissed.

She looked over at her.

"Shut up."

Vi blinked, baffled but she didn't say another word.

Jinx walked over to the bed she had apparently been on earlier and ripped the blanket off of it. She wrapped it around herself and settled into the plush sofa chair that still irritated her, but not as much as the bed.

Jinx didn't like this blanket either, it was suffocating.

"Better keep it on if you don't want Vi to see those disgusting scars of yours."

Jinx clutched the blanket tighter.

"Don't you want to lay down?" Vi asked.

"No," Jinx snapped, before flinching realizing how she sounded, "sorry," she muttered.

"It's ok, you can yell at me," Vi said walking over to her.

Jinx shifted, uncomfortable with how nice she was being.

She decided to change the conversation to something that involved less emotions, "Where are we?"

"Topside, in a hospital."

Jinx's brows furrowed, "Topside? Aren't they out for my head after… I…"

"Painted the bridge red with the enforcer's blood?"

"Oh, not really. Not that it matters, Caitlyn is helping us out," Vi said with a grin, "She's going to make sure you have the best doctors in the world."

Doctors and Caitlyn. Two words she had no desire to hear more about.

Jinx clutched the blanket tighter and scowled but didn't say a word.

"Hey, what's wrong?" She asked.

"Nothing," Jinx dismissed, but Vi was never one to let things go.

"Pow-Pow come on, it's me. I can't help you if you don't let me."

Jinx just sunk into the blanket some more.

So many different things were going through her head, which was still throbbing in pain, and she didn't want to snap at Vi.

"Please Pow-"

"Will you stop calling me that!" She yelled before letting out a frustrated growl.

She didn't mean to yell, she didn't want to yell.

"But you just can't help but fuck it up," Mylo sneered.

"…ok, do you want me to call you Ji-"

"No!" She yelled cutting her off before she could finish.

She heard younger Vi say it enough as is, she didn't need this Vi doing it too.

"…"

Jinx sighed heavily, "Just- Powder is fine, but stop calling me Pow-Pow. It's too much."

"Alright. I'm sorry."

"Aghh! And stop apologizing! Just stop all of it! Stop talking to me like that, stop looking at me like that, just stop!"

Vi sat there looking completely confused and unsure of what to do.

Mylo cackled at her.

"Well, what a lovely family reunion," Claggor said dryly after they had sat there in silence for a minute or two.

Jinx squirmed before finally deciding to talk, not about emotions, but something more straightforward, her condition.

"The hell happened to me? I never need a hospital."

Vi gave her a soft smile that made Jinx want to ram herself into a wall, "You were unconscious when we found you at…"

Vi didn't finish her sentence and Jinx regarded her oddly.

She looked almost scared of saying where she was found. What was Vi afraid to say?

Jinx thought about it and then she remembered what she had done before she was drowned by Vander, or more specifically where she had been.

"…Oh," she said softly, "Typical."

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Vi said.

"It means of course I went there," she said yanking on her hair.

"Mylo was right. You're a Jinx."

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't do that, you're going to hurt yourself."

Jinx scoffed, "I can't be hurt, Vi. In case they haven't told you I'm a freak-"

Vi grabbed Jinx's hands and forcefully ripped them away from Jinx's head, and she refused to let her go.

"What the hell!" Jinx screeched.

"Nobody and I mean nobody talks about my sister like that, ya' hear?"

Jinx ripped her hands away from Vi, "Don't fucking touch me!"

Jinx sat there scratching viciously at her wrists where she could still feel Vi's hands on her.

Where she always felt the straps on her.

"Powder please stop that. You're going to hurt yourself."

Jinx froze before she kept scratching, "…I can't."

"Powder-"

"I can't stand it when people touch me, ok!? It- it just-" Jinx tried to find the words to explain but she didn't know how, "I just have to scratch," she ended up whispering.

"Cause I grabbed your wrists," Vi said slapping a hand to her forehead, "Shit I'm sorry. I should've known."

How was she supposed to know? Jinx never told her, and it wasn't as if this was something normal people dealt with.

"Can I ask you a question," Vi said after a long moment.

Jinx shrugged.

"Well… can I ask what the hell happened to you?"

Jinx stopped scratching and gripped the blanket tightly before pulling it up and burying her face in the flowery-smelling fabric.

"You don't have to tell me," Vi said immediately backtracking.

"No," she said her voice most likely muffled by the fact her face was in the blanket, "It's fine. You have a right to know."

"Are you sure cause-"

"Silco got me. He took me to the doctor because he thought I was dying or something," she said quickly, "The doctor gave me this- stuff. I'm not exactly sure what happened, but basically he told me he was done with me and as punishment for tricking him he was keeping Vander," she spewed out as quickly as possible.

A part of Jinx wanted to run out of this room and go back to that cave to get Vander back, she could tell whatever the doctor had given her had run its course, but she knew that the doctor was gone.

"He's smart. He would never stay where you could find him."

"Wait, Vander is… alive!?"

Jinx looked up at her, "I thought you knew that already?"

"Well I do, I mean I did, but I thought he died! When we went to that cave his bed was empty and all the equipment was shut off-"

"You went to the lab!" Jinx yelled in outrage, standing up.

"Yeah-"

"Have you lost your mind! What if the doctor was there-"

"We had a plan-"

"What plan Vi!? You never have a plan, except to punch something! If he had been there do you know what he would've done to you!" She screamed.

If the doctor had gotten Vi…

Jinx clutched her head and kicked the armchair in frustration.

"He should be grateful he wasn't there, if he was I would have grounded his bones to dust," Vi growled angrily.

Jinx turned to her, "He. Could. Have. Hurt. You," she spat, "he would have done a lot more than hurt you!"

"He DID hurt YOU!" Vi yelled exasperated, "Powder you cannot just think that you can go and get yourself toured by a crazy guy and expect me to just shrug it off!"

"I'm not a kid anymore, I don't need you to protect me," she said jabbing a finger at her.

"Powder you were kidnapped and tortured! I don't care if you're five or five hundred! I'm going to protect you from that!"

"Ha! Well, you did a bang-up job. Take a good look sis, this is where your "protection" got me," Jinx spat at her.

Vi's anger melted and tears formed in her eyes, "I know. All of this is my fault, I left and I ruined everything. But I'm here now and I'm trying to fix it."

Jinx knew that was a low blow, but it was the truth. Her heavy reliance on Vi had been part of why all of this happened, that's why she tried to rip that part of her out, she was scared of letting Vi back in and having her destroy all the walls she had built to protect herself. She was scared of getting hurt by her again.

Vi stood there with tears threatening to fall.

Jinx sighed, she decided to screw it all and just let herself say and do what she wanted.

She walked over to the corner of the room, grabbed the blanket as she went, and sat herself down where she felt most comfortable, on the cold hard ground with something to hide herself with.

"I'm gonna do something I don't like to do."

Vi perked up.

"I'm going to talk about my feelings, and," she quickly added before Vi could say or do anything, "you are going to stand there and listen without moving or talking. Ok?"

Vi sat down on the ground and nodded.

Jinx took a deep breath and finally let herself think about all the shit she had running through her head.

"When we were kids I needed you, Vi. It was like cutting my heart out every time you weren't there, and it only got worse after Mom and Dad. I was always so scared of just losing people after that, every time you were out of my sight even for just a second I was scared you would just leave me like they did," Jinx said twisting the blanket in her hands, "It feels silly thinking about it now, I don't even remember mom and dad, but I guess a part of me just knew that I was supposed to miss them. After a while that fierce need to be around you spread to," she swallowed down the grief that came with his name, "Vander. You and him didn't know how to help me, you tried it all, but none of it helped. I still had nightmares and couldn't be left alone without at least one of you around. Then Vander brought home Claggor, I hated him at first, he took away both of your attention from me. But he was the new kid who needed us to be understanding and nice, and you two begged me to be nice to him, so I tried for you. Despite my best efforts, he knew I didn't like him, so he tried talking to me."

"You were such a brat."

Jinx ignored him and continued, "He was the only one who had ever just straight up asked me if I missed Mom and Dad. You never talked about them, and Vander always felt so guilty whenever he spoke about 'em that we all just came to the understanding that we were to never bring them up without special reason. But Claggor was different, he had no weird emotional attachment to them, and he didn't care if I talked about them, so I spilled my guts to him. Told him that I was scared you and Vander would leave me like they did, and he explained to me that Mom and Dad didn't leave and it wasn't a choice. He told me all that sappy bullshit about how people have their time and when it comes Janna comes and leads them to a better place. I lapped up every word and just like that I was "cured", or at least better than before. But my need to be with you never faded."

A tear rolled down Vi's face but as promised she didn't speak.

"Then came Mylo. I don't know where it all went wrong, but it wasn't always bad with him."

"I can't believe there was ever a time we were friends," he sneered.

"He was awkward and didn't know how to act, so we helped him, forced open that shell of his. I wish I didn't," Jinx spat.

"Yeah? How bout you take more of that crazy juice and we'll see what's what when I kick your ass again," he snarled.

"He became this nagging voice in my head telling me I was worthless, and you were the only one who could cure it. Another reason I needed you."

Jinx inhaled and sighed heavily as her eyes drifted to the ceiling.

She was so pathetic back then.

"I always knew you had a temper, but," Jinx's voice broke, "I guess I thought I was immune. When you left me I broke, my mind hasn't been silent since. All these voices, Mylo, Claggor, Powder, they have been there ever since that day. And without you there to chase them away they stayed and they grew. Now they're here all the time, telling me that I'm not good enough, that I can't do it, and all these years I have hoped and prayed that you would come back and make them stop," tears blurred her vision, "and somewhere along the way, I realized you weren't coming. That you had actually left me. That did more than rip my heart out, that destroyed me so completely I tried to kill myself."

"But you're too much of a coward."

"If it wasn't for Vander I would've done it. I had nothing else left, it was just me and him, and he was in that coma so fucking blissfully unaware. In reality, all had was myself, and that has never been enough for me, no matter how much you and Vander tried to convince me. I've spent years hating you. Hating myself. "

Jinx clenched her jaw and took a shuddering breath.

"The doctor thinks he made Jinx, with all his Shimmer, and his hard-won lessons he taught me. "Excise your emotions, Jinx." "Sympathy is a luxury, Jinx." Like I could be him, but he didn't make Jinx. You did."

The words hung heavy in the air.

An accusation.

The truth.

"And you know, I wish you had truly left me. I wish I could have destroyed you from my mind for good, but you never left. I always heard you. Shadows in the streets, prickles on the back of my neck. Your voice. Pushing me. Picking me up when all the colors were black. Another voice in my head, one I never wanted to admit existed. Because despite all of it, all the Shimmer, all the anger, all the speed boosts, and strength upgrades, it was still you. Always you. You were the reason I chose to live. You were, are, the reason I'm still alive."

It was a cruel joke.

An accusation.

The truth.

"But then you came back," she whispered, "I thought you were gone, maybe dead, but I should have known better. Nothing ever stays dead. I was so ready to just let you take all the problems, to collapse into your arms and sob until I couldn't breathe, but then you left again. And to top it all off you did it with him," she hissed.

Little Man.

The Boy Savior.

Ekko.

"And her."

Caitlyn.

Enforcer.

Topsider.

"You broke me again Vi. This time I didn't care about Vander, no matter what, I just couldn't bring myself to care. So I gave up. I died."

She shut her eyes and remembered that blissful silence that she would never experience again.

"Then I came back."

"Cause you're a freak."

"I doomed Vander to my fate, and at last got some pathetic revenge that gave me no satisfaction or relief. Then I died again."

This time Jinx didn't even get the chance to experience the blissful silence, just a hollow rest before being spat back into the cruel, relentless world.

"And now you're here, asking me to forgive you. And the worst fucking part is that I want to, I want to collapse into your arms and let you worry about what comes next, but I am so afraid, terrified, that you will break me again. I'm so afraid because I honestly don't know what will happen to me if you do it again."

Jinx opened her eyes.

"I want to believe that you can love me like you used to. Even though I'm… different."

"Monster."

"Freak."

"Naïve."

"But you've changed too."

Caitlyn.

Friend.

Thief.

Vi loved Caitlyn, Jinx could see it clear as day. They were going to happen whether Jinx liked it or not.

She looked at Vi, who sat there, tears streaming down her face.

"So tell me Vi, how are you going to fix this? How can you make the monsters go away when I'm the monster?"

"Powder, you are not a monster. I will never say it enough, but I'm sorry. I never meant to leave you when we were kids, and then even though I knew it was a mistake, I did it again. Nothing I say will ever fix the past, no matter how badly I want it to," she blinked and sent more tears down her face.

Jinx had never seen her cry so much, not since Mom and Dad.

"I spent so many nights in that shitty prison. On that freezing floor, hungry, bloody, counting the hours."

Scratching the days into the walls, weeping silently to hide your weakness, praying to gods that had long since forsaken you.

"The only thing…" she took a breath and then repeated herself with more fortitude and strength, "The only thing that kept me going was the thought-"

Of you.

"-of getting back to you."

She understood.

After all her pain and suffering, at last, Jinx had found someone who understood.

Jinx shut her, eyes tears cascading down her face, and whispered out the one question that she had wanted to ask after that night at the cannery, after Vi came back and she found her, after Vi looked at her in horror as she stood covered in blood, after Vi had walked away on that bridge.

"Are we… still sisters?"

"Nothing is ever going to change that."

And out of all the answers, all the horrible things that the voices concocted, all the sweet sugar-coated words she wished would be said, none of them could compare to hearing Vi actually say the words she had dreamed of hearing for seven long years.

Jinx took a shuddering breath and then laughed.

She laughed, and laughed, and laughed, and when she was done laughing she looked at Vi and smiled, "Promise?"

"If I ever say we're not you kill me, understand? Because whatever that thing is it is not me."

"Deal."

Vi stood and went to hug her but Jinx held up a hand.

"I can't. The touch thing remember?"

Vi backed off immediately, "Sorry! I forgot."

Jinx shrugged as she began to wipe away her tears, "Why would you remember? It's a weird thing to hate."

Vi sighed, "It's not weird. It's completely understandable considering everything you've been through. It may take me some time but I'm gonna remember, but you know how slow I can be so you'll just have to remind me sometimes, ok?"

"Ok," Jinx whispered, "…would you do me a favor?"

"Anything," Vi replied immediately.

"Go and get me some real clothes. Whatever the hell I'm wearing isn't what I would call comfortable."

It exposed too much, you could see all her scars.

"Yeah, of course. …I would have to leave though," she said looking at Jinx like a kicked Poro.

Jinx sighed, her frustration coming back to her, "And?"

She looked at Jinx like she had just told her to go kill herself or something.

"Vi stop being clingy and go get me clothes. I can survive five minutes by myself."

She didn't look convinced.

Jinx rolled her eyes, "I promise to stay here and stay out of trouble."

Vi sighed, "Alright."

She left, giving Jinx some much-needed space so she could try to process what had just happened.

Notes:

Oh wow, you guys are so much further along in the story than I thought you were. It’s weird, I still feel like these chapters are just drafts, not fully edited and published. I better get to writing, you people aren’t giving me anytime to rethink things and fill in all my plot holes 😅

Chapter 42: The Boy Savior

Hold it together.

 

That had been the one thing he repeated to himself over and over.

 

Jinx was missing and with Silco.

 

Hold it together.

 

Vander had been alive the whole time.

 

Hold it together.

 

Jinx lived in that fucked up cave for seven Janna forsaken years.

 

Hold it together.

 

Jinx was spotted at the old cannery.

 

Hold it together.

 

Something was wrong with Jinx and they needed Steb immediately.

 

Hold it together.

 

Jinx was on the ground, not moving, not breathing.

 

...

 

Vi is losing it and isn't thinking clearly. Someone needs to get her off Jinx so Steb can help her.

 

Get it together, he can still help her.

 

Jinx is alive, barely.

 

Hold it together.

 

Jinx needs to go topside.

 

Hold it together.

 

Say goodbye to Scar, he'll take care of the Firelights while he tried to-

 

Hold it together.

 

Waiting impatiently while Jinx's life hangs in the balance.

 

Still holding it together.

 

Comforting Vi cause she's Jinx's sister and he's just... well, he's nothing now. Probably less than that.

 

Hold it together.

 

Vi tells you that Jinx was tortured and experimented on for seven years because she was trying to protect Vander. 

 

...

 

.......

 

...............

 

..............................

 

Try not to fall apart because he was right there watching it happen and did nothing to stop it. 

 

Try not to break down into tears right here and now because he actually made life harder for her that whole time.

 

Try not to yell and scream at every single person in existence because he had realized his mistakes far too late.

 

Try not to draw attention because if someone tried to comfort him right now he may just snap.

 

Try not to think about every time they met and Jinx looked worse than before.

 

Try to remember what she looked like happy, because that was getting harder and harder to do.

 

Try not to think about-

 

"Ekko," Caitlyn whispered, gently shaking his shoulder, "Mind walking me to the cafeteria?"

 

---

Caitlyn had dragged Ekko to the cafeteria to go grab food so Vi could "sleep in peace".

 

Ekko didn't understand what Caitlyn was so worried about, Vi has always slept like a rock, and it wasn't like he planned to make a bunch of noise. He just wanted to sit there and make sure Jinx was ok while he slowly spiraled thinking about everything she had been through.

 

She was looking better, her breathing leveled out and so did her heart rate. The relief seemed to hit Vi the hardest, she was the only one of them who didn't get any sleep in the hall, so after the impending doom left she basically passed out by Jinx's side.

 

Terrified wouldn't be the word Ekko would use to describe how he had been feeling, it wasn't nearly drastic enough. When they ran in and found Jinx in Vi's arms he could have sworn he felt his heart stop. It was as if the world had lost all meaning. It wasn't like he had lived his life without her before, but he had always known she was out there. When he thought she was gone he felt as if everything was worthless, as if all the color had decided to leave the world with Jinx.

 

All he had done, all the joy he had brought, he would have traded it all right then and there if it meant she came back to him. If he could see that smile of hers one last time.

 

Caitlyn huffed, "Ekko, you not eating isn't going to make her wake up any faster," she said settling her fork down mid-bite.

 

Caitlyn had apparently taken it upon herself to get Ekko to eat, which, if Scar were here, he could tell her that was a losing battle. As Scar would say, when he was in a mood because of Jinx he was not one to think of his own wellbeing, and Janna help you if you tried to tell him that.

 

"I'm just not hungry alright?" He said with a glare, "And I already ate half to appease you."

 

He had hoped she would just drop it and let him go back to the room. He had screwed up a lot of shit but he could at least be there when Jinx woke up.

 

"Oh? And this would be your first meal since when?" Caitlyn asked with a raised brow.

 

He clenched his jaw, before muttering, "None of your business."

 

He genuinely couldn't remember, his disastrous sleep schedule he had from keeping the Firelights and the hideout up and running had led him to skip meals constantly. At the very least he snacked occasionally so it wasn't like he was starving himself, just not eating as much as he should, especially since he actually had the food to eat. That was more than most people could say down there.

 

Jinx was so skinny, how often did she eat? When was her last meal? How was he supposed to eat when she was lying in a hospital bed hooked up to a bunch of machines?

 

Caitlyn sighed defeated, "Fine. Let's head back."

 

Ekko didn't waste any time standing and leaving, heading back to the room and Jinx's side, but as they approached he realized something had happened.

 

A horde of doctors surrounded the door to the room.

 

Ekko broke into a full sprint, absolute dread filling him, "What's happening!!"

 

Caitlyn arrived behind him.

 

"Oh, Miss. Kiramman," the doctor said ignoring Ekko, pissing him off.

 

"You heard him, what is happening here?" Caitlyn snapped, clearly also aware of his rudeness.

 

"W-well, you see."

 

"She's awake."

 

Caitlyn and Ekko turned to look at Viktor who was now in a wheelchair being pushed by Jayce.

 

Awake.

 

She was awake, and of course, he had missed it.

 

Damn it all, why couldn't he get one thing right with Jinx?

 

"If she's awake then why are all of you out here?" Caitlyn asked.

 

A beat of awkward silence played and Ekko knew what had happened.

 

"Who'd she attack?" Ekko asked with a sigh.

 

Jinx had probably freaked at being in a strange room with stuff attached to her, especially considering everything she had been through.

 

"A doctor who had run in after all her vitals went into the red," Viktor answered, "they alerted me and I told them not to let anyone into that room."

 

"Vi's in there," Caitlyn said worried.

 

"Vi will be fine," Ekko assured, "Jinx probably flipped out when she woke up, and having a perfect stranger barge in on her didn't help. She knows Vi, she won't hurt her."

 

He didn't want to admit it, but this was probably the best outcome, Jinx and Vi alone. Because despite it all Jinx would never hurt Vi. 

 

Him? 

 

Yes. 

 

Caitlyn? 

 

Probably. 

 

Vi? 

 

Never in a zillion years.

 

But all this build up to seeing her again was wearing him down.

 

"Yes," Victor said in agreement, "I came to the same conclusion. Which is why I told them to stay away."

 

"But sir, the girl was in critical condition not a day ago! If she's awake she will need medical attention immediately!!"

 

"She attacked a doctor, I think it's safe to say she's out of the woods," Caitlyn said crossing her arms.

 

"I'm just surprised she stayed in there," Jayce commented, "I thought for sure she would lose it and break out."

 

It was funny hearing how all these people saw Jinx. An uncontrollable force of mass chaos. He supposed it was right in a sense, because that's what she was on the surface, but underneath it she was just as human and broken as the rest of them. Probably more.

 

"You guys don't know them like I do. Vi has always been enough to stop Jinx," Ekko replied as he sat down, "They'll be talking it out for a while, so I recommend getting comfortable."

 

Jinx and Vi had a lot to discuss, probably going to be a while, but somehow they would come out of that room with their relationship still intact. Something Ekko could only hope to accomplish.

 

Caitlyn blinked at him before shrugging and sitting down next to him.

 

The doctors still protested but after about thirty minutes they all gave up and went back to wherever they came from.

 

Jayce and Viktor settled themselves in alongside Ekko and Caitlyn.

 

"So, the great and mysterious Jinx, what's she like?" Jayce asked.

 

Ekko gave him a look, this guy sounded so conceited, if he wasn't Caitlyn's friend he would've hit him already.

 

Caitlyn gave Ekko an apologetic smile.

 

"She's a girl who has been tortured throughout her childhood, what do you expect her to be?" Viktor said.

 

Jayce blinked, "I was just making small talk!!"

 

Viktor rolled his eyes, "Consider yourself lucky Mel took pity on you and led you through all your social interactions."

 

Caitlyn snorted, "He's got you there Jayce."

 

He scowled, "Like you two are any better! Viktor broods in the corner the entire time we're at parties and Caitlyn you are always telling people how stuck up they are."

 

"I do not brood," Viktor huffed.

 

"I do not call them stuck up!" Caitlyn snapped.

 

It surprised Ekko. All these people Caitlyn managed to pull together to help Jinx. This guy who had apparently invented Hextech and for some reason looked oddly familiar to Ekko, and this other sickly man who was clearly from the Undercity who had apparently also invented Hextech and just reminded Ekko of the countless people on the streets.

 

Both of them were big important people who should've stuck their noses up at them, but instead they took the time to actually help them.

 

Ekko sighed, "So this is life Topside, huh?"

 

They all looked at him.

 

"I expected you all to be more..."

 

"Snooty?" Caitlyn offered.

 

"Pompous?" Said Jayce.

 

"Conceited?" Added Viktor.

 

"All of the above," Ekko replied with a smirk.

 

"Careful Ekko, you almost sound like you like us snooty, pompous, conceited, Topsiders," Caitlyn said nudging him.

 

He rolled his eyes, "Like that'll ever happen."

 

It probably would. Hell, it probably already did considering he led Heimerdinger right into his hideout.

 

"Ok, seriously though, Jinx," Jayce said, "Just how worried should we be?"

 

Just when Ekko had chosen to give him the benefit of the doubt he had to go and say some stupid shit.

 

"Jayce would you relax?" Caitlyn said with a huff, "I have already explained to you what she has been through."

 

"Well yes but-"

 

"She's an 18-year-old who loves the color blue and loves to doodle on literally anything. Her all-time favorite pastime is inventing things out of scrap she finds. Her favorite food is Jericho's and that's all she wants to eat when we ask her to pick her dinner for her birthday. She doesn't care where she lives or how much money she has, as long as her family and friends are there she's happy. Is that good enough for you?" Ekko snapped angrily.

 

Jayce stood there awkwardly, "I didn't mean anything by it, just wanted to know if we should be worried that's all," he muttered.

 

He pissed Ekko off. He pissed him off because he reminded him of himself, always questioning Jinx and every little thing she did. Doubting her every intention, and judging her without knowing anything whatsoever.

 

He understood Jayce's hesitation, he understood his doubts, and that pissed him off to no end.

 

"Jayce, she's a good person. A bit prickly, but good," Caitlyn said, "and she's my friend, so whether you like it or not she's staying. Also, if you are so worried, perhaps don't go around talking shit about her. She tends to get a bit hostile when people do that."

 

"You may very well end up being her next victim if you keep talking like that Jayce," Viktor hummed in consideration.

 

He gaped at him in horror while Caitlyn snickered.

 

Ekko just shook his head while he leaned back, his mind now trying to prepare a speech to recite to Jinx when they finally saw each other again.

 

---

It was ages before Vi came out of the room.

 

Ekko stood immediately followed closely by Caitlyn.

 

"Vi, how is she?" Ekko asked.

 

"She's fine Little Man," Vi assured.

 

"Are you ok?" Caitlyn asked.

 

Vi seemed frazzled and tear tracks still painted her face. Considering the conversation they most likely just had it wasn't unusual but Caitlyn was worried about her.

 

Vi gave her a smile, "I have my little sister back, I'm better than fine."

 

Caitlyn gave a sigh of relief, it was just like Ekko had said, the two of them would be just fine.

 

Perhaps that meant Caitlyn should start worrying about her own relationship with Jinx. It wasn't exactly a happy goodbye between the two of them, and she had ended up going back on her word by telling Vi about the doctor and Vander. She didn't regret it, but she still worried that she would hold it against her.

 

"What are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be with her?" Ekko asked.

 

"Ah, well I wanted to but she asked me for some clothes. Cait you wouldn't happen to have something would you?"

 

"Well not on me but I can go get some, but she seriously only wanted some clothes?" Caitlyn asked slightly confused.

 

Vi shrugged, "That's what she asked for. Oh and I should probably tell you all before you see her, she doesn't like to be touched."

 

"Oh yeah, I probably should have told you," Caitlyn said embarrassed at having forgotten to let them know.

 

"You knew!!" Vi screeched, "You should have said something!"

 

"Well I was a bit busy trying to save everyone," Caitlyn said crossing her arms.

 

"Is she willing to speak with us," Viktor interjected.

 

"Oh, umm, I haven't exactly mentioned all of you guys."

 

Caitlyn gave her a look.

 

"Ok, before you start I actually have a good excuse!" She said with a huff, "I was busy trying to earn her trust and forgiveness."

 

"Vi, I need to see her," Ekko said.

 

"I know Little Man, I want her to see you too but I haven't even gotten very far with her yet, I mean apparently Vander is still alive!!"

 

"What!" They all cried out together.

 

"I know, I know!! I wanted to press but she's not exactly in the best mood and I just didn't want her to freak out. Talking about him is hard on her. I'll try to talk to her but I need those clothes, it's the one thing she asked for," Vi said trying to calm them all down.

 

"I'll get the clothes, you find out what the hell she's talking about with Vander. If he's still out there then we can still save him," Caitlyn said turning to leave before calling out, "And see if she's willing to see us, or at least a doctor!"

 

---

Vi walked back into the room eyes immediately finding Powder who was still in the corner with her blanket wrapped tightly around her.

 

"Hey sis."

 

Powder's eyes, which were staring off into nothingness, snapped to hers.

 

Her brows furrowed, "Am I losing it more than normal or were you just gone for like two minutes?"

 

Vi chuckled, "Yeah, I uh, well here's the thing-"

 

Powder narrowed her eyes at her, "What did you do?"

 

"Nothing! I sent someone to get you clothes that's all!" Vi said, backing out of telling her about the others immediately.

 

She looked pissed enough as is, she didn't need all the stress. Caitlyn would just have to understand.

 

"Asked who?" She pressed.

 

Uh oh.

 

"Uhhhh..."

 

"Vi. Who's out there?"

 

"Ok, ok, but promise you won't get mad!"

 

"Vi!"

 

"Caitlyn and Ekko!!" She spat out.

 

She braced for Powder to start yelling at her but she just sat there.

 

"Powder? You ok?" Vi asked gently as she walked over, sitting down next to her, "You know you don't have to see them if you don't-"

 

"Tell him to leave."

 

Vi blinked, taken aback, "What?"

 

"Tell Ekko to leave. Now," she spat.

 

"Powder, I know-"

 

"No, you don't. You will never know how much that asshole hurt me," she growled, "I want him gone. I never want to see him again, understand?"

 

Vi was torn. How could she tell Ekko to leave? He wanted redemption just as badly as she did. But Powder was so adamant, and he had left her for dead on the bridge.

 

"You have to face him eventually Powder," Vi said trying to reason with her.

 

She stood, letting the blanket she was clinging to so tightly fall to the ground, "Whose side are you on?!? He hurt me. You want to protect me? Protect me from him!! Make him go away now!!!!" She yelled harshly.

 

Vi held up her hands, "Ok! If that's what you want I'll tell him to go."

 

Powder stood there panting, "Now."

 

Vi sighed.

 

"NOW!!!"

 

Vi stood and walked out.

 

---

Vi hadn't been in the room long, but the yelling that could be heard in the hall was not a good sign.

 

Jayce tapped his foot nervously, "Listen to that, we need to go in there!"

 

"And do what?" Ekko asked annoyed, "She hates me, and you two are perfect strangers. Vi will take care of it so sit your ass down and relax."

 

Jayce scoffed but before he could reply Viktor cut him off, "Jayce do me a favor and wheel me down to the cafeteria."

 

"What why!?"

 

"I'm hungry and you're the one who insisted I come in this ridiculous chair," he said plainly.

 

"You were coughing up a storm all last night! And you could barely stand this morning!!"

 

"Perhaps, but you are still to blame for this chair, so unless you want me to get up and-"

 

"Fine, fine. To the cafeteria."

 

Viktor gave Ekko a wink as Jayce started to roll him away.

 

Ekko gave a grateful nod that he probably didn't even see. He didn't need Jayce sitting here and adding to his nervousness, he was already on edge as it was.

 

"NOW!!!"

 

Ekko stood, that didn't sound good.

 

Not a moment later Vi came out of the room looking torn.

 

"Vi! What happened!?"

 

Vi gave him a sad look, "I told her about you guys."

 

Ekko felt his heart drop, "Please tell me that yelling was about Caitlyn."

 

She sighed, "I'm sorry. She wants you out."

 

He stood there for a moment.

 

He could leave, take the easy way out, go back to the Firelights and just stay in his hole in shame until Jinx decided to give him some sort of leniency and allow him to see her and apologize.

 

But how many times had he taken the easy way out? That's what got him into this mess in the first place. He wasn't about to do it again.

 

"No."

 

"Ekko-"

 

"I am not leaving her again," he said as he went to push past Vi.

 

Vi grabbed him and shoved him back, "She needs time, and with the way things went down the last time you saw her I think she has every right to ask for it."

 

"Vi," he growled.

 

"Ekko," she said firmly.

 

He clenched his fists, "I just want the chance to apologize."

 

"I know that," she said softly.

 

"Then-"

 

She shook her head, "Ekko, no. If you want to see her you have to get through me."

 

He thought about it, if he charged her then maybe-

 

"You won our fight last time cause you had a team and time to plan, you really think you can take me in a one-on-one?"

 

He contemplated it for about two more seconds before huffing in frustration.

 

All he wanted was to apologize!!! Why was that too much to ask?!? Had he truly lost her for good?

 

He shut his eyes and took a deep breath before walking away leaving Vi standing there.

 

He went up to the first doctor, or nurse, or whatever, and yanked away their clipboard of papers and a pen from them.

 

"Hey!"

 

"I'm not in the mood. Fuck off or I'm kicking your ass."

 

The person stood there for a second before scrambling off.

 

Ekko made his way back over to Vi and sat himself in a chair, pen already scratching away on the blank side of the papers.

 

"Ekko what are you doing?" Vi asked after a moment.

 

He didn't respond he just kept writing and writing and writing.

 

He wrote about what a fucking moron he was, how sorry he felt, how he now knew what she had been through, and how he would never stop trying to make it up to her.

 

When he was finished he grabbed the papers he had written on and folded them up before handing them to Vi.

 

"I'll find a place to stay up here."

 

"E-"

 

"I'm not leaving her, and I am not giving up. I'll earn the right to beg for her forgiveness in person. But until then give her this, it's not nearly enough, or close to what I need to say to her but it's a start."

 

Vi took it after a moment, "I don't think she's going to read it."

 

"Then I'll send her another."

 

She looked at him concerned.

 

He looked away, "I fucked up. I always knew this would be hard, I knew her forgiveness would be something I would have to work for. But I carved out happiness during the worst time the Undercity has faced in years, I created a community, and accomplished more than most down there do in three lifetimes."

 

He had done so much with so little. He would be damned if he gave up on her, on them.

 

 "I am The Boy Savior."

 

It was the name she gave him the night he failed to save her, a name he had failed to understand the true meaning of back then.

 

It was a brand of shame that would follow him around for the rest of his life, one he would twist into one of pride if it was the last thing he did.

 

"And I will never stop trying to save us."

 

With that, he walked away to go and find a place to stay, and more paper for his next letter.

Notes:

Sorry if the formatting is a bit different in this chapter, I had to do all the editing and transferring on my phone this time.

Chapter 43: The Craziest Friend You’ve Ever Had.

Ekko.

She loves him.

Ekko.

She hates him.

Ekko.

She's proud of him.

Ekko.

She loathes him.

The Boy Savior.

He left her.

Little Man.

She left him.

Ekko.

…

"Powder?"

Jinx jumped, Vi had come back, and she was crouched down in front of her.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to scare you, but you weren't answering," she said concerned.

"Is he gone?"

"Yeah, he left, but he wanted me to let you-"

"I don't want to hear it," she said shooting Vi a glare.

She didn't want anything from him anymore. Let him rot, let him flourish. She didn't care, as long as he did it away from her.

Vi sighed, "Look I'll just leave this on the bedside table and you look at it or throw it away or whatever you want to do with it later. Ok?"

Jinx looked at the thing she had in her hand, folded-up papers with a bunch of weird charts on them.

"The doctor had stuff like that. Remember?"

Jinx curled up in the blanket as Vi walked over to the dresser and set the papers on top of it.

"Are you going to make me see a doctor?" Jinx whispered, sounding so pathetic it made her skin crawl.

She had never shown so much weakness in front of someone like this before. Not in years.

"Well-"

Jinx whimpered and hid herself under the blanket.

"What a big baby," Mylo sneered.

Why was she acting like this, she could handle one pathetic doctor. It wasn't like it was… him.

Dread began to fill her at the thought of him and his needles that brought nothing but endless pain and misery.

Her breath fell short as the memories of him started to overwhelm her. She was suffocating in this blanket that made the air warm and heavy, but the world outside it was so big and scary. There was nothing for her out there, if she just stayed under here and passed out maybe she would just never wake up. Maybe she could finally-

"Powder!" Vi yelled ripping the blanket off of her.

Jinx slammed her fist into her stomach and sprinted into another corner, shaking as she slid down onto the floor.

She watched Vi doubled over on the floor coughing from the full force punch Jinx had landed.

"Oh look at that, not even a day and you already fucked shit up."

"Why are you freaking out Jinx?"

Jinx clutched her head, she didn't know. It was all too overwhelming, Vi, Ekko, this room.

This room was all wrong, all clean and happy. Like it wasn't a place where people come to die. A place where they didn't cut into you while you watched unable to do anything about it. As if such a place existed.

"Alright- that was… my fault. I'm sorry for… scaring you," Vi said in between breaths, "but that uppercut of yours has definitely improved."

She was lying on the ground trying to catch her breath, Jinx just watching her silently.

After a while she spoke again, "You don't have to see a doctor. You don't have to see anyone you don't want to, hell," she said sitting up to look at her, "you don't even have to see me if you don't want to. You could stay here for as long as you want. Or leave and go somewhere else. Powder, all you have to do is ask and I'll make it happen for you."

Jinx didn't like it. The sudden, overwhelming freedom. It left so much unknown, so much unplanned.

A firm knock sounded on the door.

Both her and Vi looked over.

"That's probably your clothes," Vi said standing giving letting out one last cough, "I'll get them and tell Cait to leave-"

"Let her in."

Vi looked over at Jinx in shock, "A-are you sure?"

Jinx didn't want to talk to Vi anymore, too many emotions that she didn't know how to deal with. She knew how she felt with Caitlyn.

"I told you to let her in so just do it," she snapped, wincing at her own tone after the fact.

Vi walked over to the door reluctantly, looking at Jinx with every step, as if waiting for her to change her mind, but Jinx just sat there.

After an entirely far too long Vi slowly opened the door, and sure enough there she was in all her Topsider glory.

Caitlyn.

---

Caitlyn was surprised to find the hall empty upon her return.

She assumed the others went to get something to eat, or maybe just chat. Perhaps Jayce and Viktor went to distract Ekko, lord knows he could use it, he was far too stressed.

Caitlyn had run home to grab some clothes and to let her parents know she had returned safely. Her mother wasn't home, apparently caught in an endless loop of council meetings. The council was desperately trying to keep up with all of the new developments going on, there was still no decision made about who would be the new Sheriff due to may concerns about corruption, and all the enforcers were pulled from the bridges due to a previous decree that they now all wanted to go back on which was a whole mess on its own. Not to mention there were people attempting to travel who were being blocked for some reason and that was causing even more political issues.

Honestly, it made Caitlyn's head hurt to think about the giant mess that would be left to clean up once all of this was over.

Once Caitlyn told her father what had been happening with her, he insisted upon letting Vi and Jinx stay in their home when she had recovered. It was sweet of him, but Caitlyn worried her mother would make a big fuss and ruin it. Oh well, she would cross that bridge when she came to it.

They were so far away from that future, Jinx was still having problems and apparently Vander was still around, another problem that needed fixing.

Caitlyn decided to knock on the door to let Vi know the clothes were here, she had picked out a long-sleeved black shirt and some long black pants. She decided to keep things as similar to what Jinx normally wore as possible, no need to set her off with clothing, which she apparently had a big issue with. It still surprised Caitlyn that this was the first thing Jinx requested.

Caitlyn wasn't surprised when the door opened, she had knocked after all, but what did leave her shocked was Vi opening the door all the way and gesturing for her to enter.

She reluctantly took a step inside eyes sweeping the room, trying to understand what the situation was like. After a moment she spotted Jinx. She was curled up with a blanket in the corner, eyes fixed on Caitlyn, her signature scowl still in place.

She smiled, she was ok. She knows that Vi had said she was fine and that she was awake, but it was different finally seeing it for herself.

"Vi, leave," Jinx growled.

Vi froze, "What?"

Jinx turned her glare to her, "Why do you make me repeat myself? What, do you think I'm gonna do something?"

"No! I just…"

"She survived a whole day with me, I'm sure she can handle a conversation," Jinx said looking at Caitlyn.

Caitlyn stared back, "Alright. Vi please leave."

"Cait-"

"Jinx is right, you make people repeat themselves far too often. Please just leave, I will be fine."

Vi sighed before leaving and shutting the door.

"You told her," Jinx said as soon as the door shut.

"Yes. It wasn't like you were going to," Caitlyn said.

"I asked you not to," she spat, "You promised."

Caitlyn sighed, "You were stuck in an endless cycle, Jinx. You need help getting out."

Jinx stood, "Well, congratulations, I'm done running in circles."

"That's a good thing! Now you're free to do what you want!"

Jinx shook her head before scoffing, "I'm free and Vander's stuck. What a great trade off," she growled.

So Vander was alive, and he was with the doctor.

"Jinx I'm sorry Vander is still with the doctor but we can still save him!"

Jinx clenched her hands into fists before letting out a bark of laughter, "You wanna know a secret? Everyone who gets close to me dies. It's always me, whether I'm the one holding the knife or not."

"Vander is still out there, I'm still here, and so is Vi, and Ekko!"

She walked up and looked into her eyes, inches from her face, "And that's the funny part. It's almost as if you all are alive just to mock me. Why, out of all the people I've killed, do you two get to survive?"

Us two? If Caitlyn had it guess, out of the people she just listed Jinx was probably referring to her and Ekko. Which probably meant Jinx knew about Ekko, giving her the sinking feeling that Ekko wasn't hanging out with Viktor and Jayce.

"We are here to help you," Caitlyn stated firmly, on behalf of both her and Ekko, "We went down to the Undercity to help you and we did. We saved you from dying because of what the doctor gave you."

She grabbed the clothes in Caitlyn's hands and turned away, "And that's the worst part, no matter what I do, I just can't seem to die," she muttered.

"Jinx, Ekko told us-"

She scoffed interrupting her, "Told you what? Hmmm? Say it, Caitlyn."

"You tried to kill yourself."

Silence.

"All we want-"

"I used to say I could fix anything," she said softly, "before I broke everything."

Caitlyn fell silent and listened.

"And there were so many fools who told me I could. I've lost our parents, Vander, killed countless people, this can't go on."

"Exactly. Let us help you put an end to it."

She stood there silently before speaking again, "When I was a child I heard voices, I had no idea what they were, all I knew was that they would scream their words in my head endlessly. Soon I realized these voices die with me."

"Jinx, death is not the answer," Caitlyn said, uncomfortable with the dark turn this was taking.

"When I was 15 I tried to end it. I sliced my wrists till I wouldn't bleed."

Caitlyn didn't know how to respond.

"But I knew that fear would always rule me, and that I could never leave. The doctor knew it too."

She looked back at Caitlyn.

"I thought it finally ended on that bridge, but my death would never be accepted. Not with Vander still with him."

"So the doctor took Vander, we have a team with weapons so advanced he has nothing on us. We'll track him down and get Vander back and then you'll both be free."

"…my peace has always depended, on whose life I was willing to take. These shackles I've made in an attempt to be free are something I will never truly be able to get rid of," she said looking down at her hands, as if she had actual shackles on them.

"Stop talking like there is no redemption for you!" Caitlyn yelled, frustrated with her constant self-deprecation and the fact that she had no faith in her and Vi.

Jinx laughed softly, "Redemption? There's no good version of me to redeem, not anymore, she's lost with Vander."

"You know what, you're right," Caitlyn said taking a breath, "No amount of good deeds can undo our crimes. But don't you dare say that there is no good version of you, because I've seen her! I've met her. She is incredible and she is my friend. You are my friend."

Jinx was a good person, she just needed to let herself see it. It killed her that Jinx refused to even try to look.

She scoffed, "And what happens when you realize you don't like how far I'm willing to go, or when you decide you're sick of me like you did before?"

Caitlyn stood silently for a moment, "I made a decision I thought was right, one I thought would help you, not leave you hurt and abandoned. You have no idea how scared I was for you, how much I missed you and your snappy comments."

"You know what, I think you're crazy," Jinx said softly, "Why else would you have liked me?"

Caitlyn chuckled lightly, "Maybe."

They both stood there silently before Caitlyn decided to speak.

"It's ok to hurt and grieve, but, Jinx, don't suffer alone. Not when you have so many people who care about you. You may feel no purpose or point of existence but that's just thoughts that man put in your head. You are worth so much, and have so many reasons to keep living. Even if you don't want to accept my help you still have other people in your life, like Vi."

"Hating you… I've hated myself. I just don't have the energy for it anymore," Jinx whispered, "And it's not even that I don't like you. I'm just scared, because it wouldn't be the first time I've given so much away to be with someone who just won't stay."

She was so scared of people leaving her she didn't want to open up, she didn't want to give them the benefit of the doubt, and Caitlyn didn't help that by walking away that day on the bridge.

"I'm sorry. I never should have left you alone in the Undercity, I may have come back but it was too late and not enough, and I'm sorry I told Vi about Vander and the doctor."

"…I just wish you hadn't promised," Jinx said softly, "I really thought you would be the one to keep it," she muttered mostly to herself.

"Jinx, I wanted to, but sometimes things become so complicated you have no choice but to go back on your word," Caitlyn tried to reason, "I just wanted to help you out of that situation, even if it meant you hated me. As long as you were safe I could live with your hatred."

"…you're never going to give up on me, are you?" She asked.

"No. Because despite what you think of me, I care about you and want you to be happy."

She sighed softly, "Fine, I forgive you."

Caitlyn smiled, "Th-"

She held her hand up, "Don't thank me. Not yet."

She gave her an odd look, "Then when?"

"You can decide if you still want to say it after this is all over," she said as she walked over to the bathroom.

Caitlyn's brows furrowed, "What are you going to do?"

Jinx looked at her and smirked, "I'm going to change, duh," She shut the door and then called out, "Hey! Tell Vi she can come back."

Caitlyn stood there, unsure. Jinx was up to something, and she wasn't excited to find out what it was.

Chapter 44: Oh Spare The Sympathy.

Notes:

Buckle up people, the time for healing is over.

Vi waited impatiently outside, straining to hear what was going on, but she couldn't hear anything more than incoherent mumbling.

Thankfully it wasn't long before Caitlyn opened the door and let Vi back in.

"What happened? Where's Powder?" Vi asked immediately upon entering.

"Relax sis," Jinx said opening the bathroom door, "I didn't touch a hair on her head."

Powder now wore a pair of black pants and a black long-sleeved shirt that were too big for her, and she even seemed to be in a slightly better mood.

"Oh, I thought for sure they would fit," Caitlyn huffed disappointedly.

Powder waved her off, "Nothing fits me, I'm used to it."

If she thought that would set Vi's mind at ease she was wrong. She was too skinny, how could clothes just not fit her? Pow-Pow had always been on the thin side, due to lack of food for the most part, but this was just too much.

"Powder that isn't a good thing! You need to eat and gain some weight."

Caitlyn nodded in agreement, "She's right. I'll have someone bring food for-"

"Or we can talk about something important, like how we're getting Vander back," she said with a raised brow.

Vi blinked, taken aback at how casually she talked about him. She could have sworn Powder would've flipped out when she discussed Vander.

"You are actually going to talk about this with us?" Caitlyn said voicing both of their disbelief.

Powder crossed her arms, "Look I want him back, I don't care how it happens."

It was at this point that Vi noticed Powder was avoiding her gaze.

"Just what do you have planned?" Caitlyn asked suspiciously.

"I think I know where the doctor went, or at least who has his location."

"Who?" Vi asked.

"Silco," she said plainly.

Vi and Caitlyn shared a look.

"Umm, Jinx, you do know he's dead right?" Caitlyn asked gently.

Powder rolled her eyes, "I know that, I was the one who killed him."

"So how do you expect him to give us the doctor's location?" Vi asked confused.

"Simple," Powder said with a smirk, "Who's the one bitch in the Undercity who knows every little detail of Silco's operations?"

Realization dawned on Vi.

"Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no. Absolutely not!"

"Vi she's the only one who would know! And we don't even need her, we could just get the files from Silco's office!"

"What?" Caitlyn asked still not understanding.

"Sevika! She wants to go after Sevika in the smack dab middle of Silco's turf!" Vi yelled in frustration.

"Sevika. As in the person who stabbed Vi?" Caitlyn asked.

"No, Sevika as in the one whose arm I blew off when I was 11," Powder said with a humph.

"Oh come on! That was a total fluke!" Vi snapped.

"Well, I don't see you claiming to have ever beaten her, fluke or no. Face it sis, I finally outrank you when it comes to a fight."

"Powder you are still a kid! Sevika is a beast, she will tear you apart," Vi said throwing her hands up.

"She didn't lay a finger on me when I went after her when I found out you were still around," she said pointedly.

"I am not letting you go after her!" Vi yelled, frustrated.

"It seems you're confused, me telling you my plan was not me asking for your permission. It was me being nice and letting you tag along!" She spat back.

"Everybody calm down!" Caitlyn yelled, "Nobody is going anywhere until we come up with more of a plan than just going after Sevika for info she may or may not have."

"Like I said this wasn't me looking for your permission," Powder said shooting a glare at Caitlyn.

"And like you said, going after Silco's number two guns blazing is a moronic move," Caitlyn replied evenly.

Powder paused at that, "I said it was moronic for Vi to do it," she muttered bitterly, upset she was bested by Cait.

"Did you guys do anything else but talk shit about me that whole time you were together," Vi said with a sigh.

"Yeah. We also talked about you and your stuffed bunny," Powder said with a smirk, "and your girlfriend here was real interested."

Vi turned to Cait, "You were?"

"Oh yeah, she even ate two whole bowls of that Fish guy's food just to hear more."

"Fish guy?" Vi asked slightly confused.

"Dear god could you two focus!" Caitlyn said blushing slightly, "The doctor's location, why do you think Sevika has it? Or I guess Silco."

"The doctor had a ton of hideouts, but all of them had been bought for him by Silco," Powder explained.

"So you think he has records of these places, and that Sevika knows of these records?" Caitlyn asked.

Powder nodded.

"But why would the doctor bother sticking around? Why wouldn't he just leave for good?" Vi asked confused.

"For the same reason he does everything," Powder said darkly, "Orianna."

"Who?" Caitlyn asked confused.

"His daughter," Powder spat.

"The doctor has a daughter!" Vi gasped.

He had a daughter and he still did all of this to Powder and Vander. What a sick fuck.

"She's his reason for everything. She's sick or something and he wants her back. He's been looking for a cure for basically his entire life, and unfortunately, I handed it to him on a silver platter," she said bitterly.

"What are you talking about?" Pressed Caitlyn.

"The gem. Apparently some asshole up here told him all about it and he knows how to use it to fix his daughter."

Vi shot Caitlyn a glare, "Wonder who that could have been."

She sighed, "Later, please. Jinx continue."

Powder gave them both a look before shrugging deciding to ignore the mysterious exchange, "Anyway, because I had the gem on me when I…" she shifted awkwardly before just skipping over what happened at the bridge and continuing, "He got it when I was in the lab. So now he just has to make it work to get his daughter back."

"And you think that's enough reason for him to stay?" Caitlyn asked.

"And even if he did stay what makes you think he used a place Silco bought him?" Vi added.

"The doctor has his daughter on intense life support. She can't be moved around too much, and if he can't figure out how to make the gem work the person he needs is here. If he left he would risk never getting his daughter back, and that's not a risk he's willing to take. As for why he would use a place snake eye got him? He's a cave dweller, I'm the one who did the work outside. He had no other connections, he didn't want them. He needs a place to hold up and I'm betting Silco provided him with plenty of other labs he never used," Powder said, "and Sevika holds the paperwork saying where."

"Alright, but doesn't he have hundreds of these places? How would we figure out which ones to search?" Caitlyn asked.

"Simple. The doctor talked constantly about what conditions his daughter needs to survive into that fucking tape recorder. I know exactly what he would need in a location to keep her alive, and that's not exactly something you come by every day, not to mention him needing to keep Vander alive. And here's the best part, the doctor has no one now that I'm gone and I took out Silco. He knows I'll be looking for him so he'll avoid the Chem-Barons, the only other people who would help him, so he would have had to move all his stuff in a tight time frame. Before word got out about Silco, and after I left. He needed people to help him move, they're probably dead, but the person who would have okayed sending off some lackeys when Silco isn't around would be-"

"Sevika," Cait said finishing the thought for her.

"Exactly."

"No," Vi snapped.

"Vi-" Caitlyn began.

"I don't care, I don't want you back in danger," Vi said firmly, "Now that Silco's gone there's going to be a turf war and I don't want you anywhere near it."

Powder scowled, "Vi I'm not a kid. I have been through worse."

"And that is exactly my point! You shouldn't be going through things like that, you should stay up here and be happy and safe!"

"Happy how?! Happy knowing you would be taking my place down there? Happy knowing I just left Vander even though I'm the best shot he has at being saved?"

"I'm the older sister, I'm the one who takes on the responsibility when shit hits the fan, not you!" Vi yelled.

Powder shook her head, "I am trying Vi, I really am, but you are getting on my last nerve. I told you about this because I didn't want to run off and leave you behind, but now you just want to cut me out of MY plan completely."

"I'm trying too! But you are still insisting on putting yourself in needless danger!"

Powder clenched her jaw, "It is always the same thing with you," she hissed.

"Powder-"

"Back when we were kids you told me to stay behind. You said I wasn't ready."

Vi's anger ebbed away, she knew how much that had hurt her feelings, "That is not what I'm trying to say-"

"Now I'm stronger than you, faster, smarter, and I have all the information we need, but it's still not enough. I'm still not good enough for you."

"I don't want to lose you!" Vi yelled, "That's the reason I left you behind that night. That's why I don't want you to go down there. It was never you who wasn't ready, it was me. I will never be ready to lose you," Vi whispered.

Powder stared at her, "B-but you said-"

"I know what I said. You weren't backing down and we were running out of time back then. I said what I knew would hurt you to make you back off," Vi admitted, ashamed.

Vi had hated saying it. She hated the way Powder's little face looked at her when they were kids after she had done it. Vi had done it telling herself that she could apologize for it later, but that was a pathetic excuse. She had known what saying that would do to Powder's self-esteem. She knew Powder would never forget that, but she did it anyway, because all she wanted was for her sister to be safe, and she would do it again if it meant Powder lived.

"…"

"Why don't we take a break?" Caitlyn said softly breaking the heavy silence, "Vi you go get some food, you haven't eaten yet. I'll stay with Jinx."

Vi looked at Powder who was staring off into space, "Powder, I'm sorry."

"Just leave," she hissed, "That's the only thing you're good at anyway."

Vi clenched her jaw before turning to leave, pausing at the door, "I really am sorry."

"…I know."

---

Vi made her way down to the cafeteria in a huff, a stupid plan forming in her head. But to be able to pull it off she would need those gauntlets, and Jayce had taken them from her after they had arrived at the hospital. How was she supposed-

"Viktor would you put the notebook down and eat?" Jayce sighed, "You were the one who said they wanted to come here in the first place."

Perfect.

"Jayce!" Vi called.

He looked over, "Vi? Shouldn't you be with Jinx?"

Vi pursed her lips, before plastering on a fake smile, "I would be but we needed your help."

"Has something happened?" Viktor asked concerned.

"Yeah, we came up with a plan to get Vander back!"

"So he is alive after all," Viktor said with a low whistle, "Forgive me for the crudeness but your father seems to have a knack for coming back from the dead."

Vi sighed, "Tell me about it."

Vi was never going to think someone was dead from now on. Honestly how many of her family members were just going to magically spring back to life? Not that she was complaining, it was just wearing her down.

"Anyway, for this to work, I need my gauntlets," Vi said getting back on track.

Jayce and Viktor shared a look.

"We told you when we gave you the weapons that it was a one-time thing," Viktor said.

Vi clenched her hands, trying to keep calm, "Well things happen, we need them again."

"Look Vi, we didn't make Hextech to-" Jayce started.

"Yeah but you did," Vi snapped before jabbing a finger towards Viktor, "and you're the one who told the doctor all about it."

"Hey!" Jayce yelled standing up.

Viktor held up a hand, "I made a mistake. I wanted a way out, I wanted to twist my destiny, I wanted to save myself despite the costs."

"You screwed up and put my sister in danger."

"He didn't know about your sister. How could he have possibly put her in danger?" Jayce huffed.

"He let that man walk around free. He knew what he was capable of and he left him to his own devices," Vi accused.

"He was a kid! What did you want him to do!?" He yelled exasperated.

"He was a kid then but he's not now. What's your excuse for sitting here and refusing to help me stop him now?" Vi asked.

Viktor looked up at her, "You think you can manipulate me?"

"I'm not manipulating, I'm telling you the truth. You failed to stop him before, now's your chance to make sure it doesn't happen again. Now's the chance to make sure he doesn't hurt anyone ever again."

He didn't respond he just looked at her skeptically.

"You wanna make the doctor pay for what he's done?"

"…what he has done is nothing short of unethical."

A yes in disguise.

"Well, I want him gone. And for that to happen I need you."

"You mean my weapons," he said dryly.

"You're the first person Caitlyn thought of when she knew Vander and my sister needed help. Out of everyone up here, you're the one she trusted to put things right," Vi reasoned.

He drummed his fingers on the table, still not entirely convinced.

"When I found out you knew about this doctor guy, I wanted to bash your face in, and now that I have my sister back and seen what she's been through I want to do it even more."

"Alright that's enough out of you," Jayce said moving towards her.

Viktor held his hand up to signal him to stop.

Vi pressed on, "But I know what it's like to make a mistake. And over these last few days I've come to realize it isn't the mistake that matters, it's what you do to fix it."

Ekko had also done so many things he regretted, but he was trying his fucking hardest to fix things and that was enough for Vi to give him the benefit of the doubt.

She had made plenty of mistakes of her own that had landed them all in this situation, but she was gonna do her fucking best to set it all back on track. She was gonna get her family back no matter the cost,

"Chaos and bloodshed are not a solution," Viktor said.

"Chaos and bloodshed already haunt us, what's a little more gonna change?" Vi replied.

He looked at her thoughtfully, before pulling out a set of keys, "Lab number 48 on the second floor of the science academy."

"Viktor!" Jayce cried.

"No one is going to be there for a while, so no one will notice if something goes missing. As long as no one realizes what happened before we go into destroy the weapons next week I see no cause for alarm," He said sliding the key ring over.

Vi nodded, "You got it," she said reaching for the keys.

He slammed his hand over them, "Do be careful, and don't forget to lock the door on your way out. Wouldn't want anyone stealing anything."

Vi scoffed as she grabbed the keys after he lifted his hand off them, "Yeah, what a disaster that would be."

---

Sneaking in was easier than she thought, minus the time she nearly got caught cause she couldn't find the right key, it was smooth sailing.

Once she got the gauntlets and she locked the door she only had one last thing to do before she left for the Undercity to take down Sevika, write a letter to Powder.

She couldn't let Powder go back to the Undercity and start getting involved with a big turf war, she also didn't want her anywhere near the doctor again. She was finally away from him, and that's how Vi wanted it to stay, but Vi knew that leaving without a goodbye again would damage their relationship beyond repair. If it were up to Vi she would do it in person but she could only offer her a letter, because if she tried for an in-person goodbye Powder would see right through her and would try to stop her. And with how strong she was now she would probably succeed.

So she went to the apartment that Caitlyn had provided for Loris and knocked.

He opened the door after a moment, "Vi? The hell are you doing here?"

"I need a favor," Vi said shoving past him and heading inside.

"Did something happen with Jinx? I thought she was doing better?" He asked concerned.

"No, she's fine. I- I just need you to deliver a letter for me," she said scanning for some paper and a pen.

"What's happening? Why do you have the gauntlets, I thought they took all that stuff back and were getting rid of it?"

"Loris, you're my friend right?" Vi asked as she went to grab the pen and paper she had found.

"Yeah?"

"Then stop asking so many god damned questions," she snapped as she began to write.

After she finished she slammed the pen down and folded up the paper scrawling Powder's name down on the front.

Vi had been lucky. When she was in Stillwater this chick she hooked up with taught her to write so they could send letters to one another. It was actually one of Vi's longer flings, she had enjoyed learning to write so Vi kept the girl around longer than normal. It ended when the girl apparently got caught with contraband and was killed by some enforcer, who Vi then tracked down and killed. The chick was nice, she didn't deserve to die like that.

Vi walked over and handed the letter to Loris, "Give me thirty minutes, and then give that to Powder."

He took the letter and then gave her a look, "You're doing something stupid aren't ya'?"

Vi went and picked up her gauntlets before looking back at him, "Here's something about me you should know, considering we're friends and all, I am always doing something stupid."

Vi turned and left, finally ready to get Vander back.

---

Jinx and Caitlyn sat in silence for a long time.

"Vi was trying to hurt you. She knew exactly what to say too," Mylo laughed.

"Wonder if that's better than her thinking you weren't ready for a fight?"

Jinx didn't know either.

One scenario Vi thought her worthless and lied to her. The other Vi purposely hurt her and destroyed her self-esteem so she wouldn't go with her.

Both crushed Jinx's heart, just in different ways.

"Don't you want to sit on the bed?" Caitlyn asked, breaking the silence.

Jinx looked over at her, she sat in one of the plush chairs that were in the room while Jinx had gone back to her spot in the corner.

"No," she responded dryly.

"Can I ask why?"

Jinx sighed, "I forgot how annoying you and your damned question are."

"Don't forget my accent that gets on your nerves for some reason," she chimed in.

Jinx snorted, "How could I? It's your most infuriating feature."

Caitlyn smirked, "Good to know."

After a moment Jinx decided to humor her, "I never had a bed in the lab, though, I guess you already know that since you and Vi went there and all."

"Well, I did notice the lack of furniture, yes."

Jinx snorted, how did she manage to sound so stuck up even when she was describing that fucked up cave she called home for seven years.

"But I don't see the correlation between that and not wanting to even sit in this bed. Wouldn't not having one for seven years mean you would jump at the chance to be in one?"

Jinx shrugged, "I already told you I don't like people touching me."

Caitlyn nodded.

"Well the same goes for clothes and stuff," Jinx admitted avoiding her gaze in embarrassment.

"What a freak."

"If that's the case why do you always wear so much clothing?" Caitlyn asked confused.

"The scars," she whispered softly, fingers tracing some that decorated her exposed neck, "I hate them. More than the feeling of the clothes."

She didn't respond to that.

"Anyway, the bed is just… overstimulating? I don't know how to describe it, I'm just more comfortable on the ground."

While it was true the bed was just uncomfortable to her, there was also the fact that in her mind, Vander was the one who was meant to be in the bed, not her. But she wasn't going to say that, not to her.

"Well that's fine," Caitlyn said, "As long as you're comfortable."

Jinx stood and stretched, "I'm never comfortable, but thanks for trying."

"What are you doing now?" Caitlyn asked as Jinx began to walk around.

"If I'm going to be stuck in this place, I may as well get familiar with it," Jinx said as she began her examination of the room.

In reality, she just wanted to know the best escape plan and what would make for the best weapons if she needed to attack someone.

"You do know that this arrangement isn't permanent?"

Jinx shrugged, "If you say so."

The last arrangement she told herself wasn't permanent ending up lasting seven years, she didn't think that would happen here but why get her hopes up?

Jinx looked down and regarded the tipped-over, powered-off equipment with disgust.

"The hell was this shit for anyway?" Jinx asked kicking at the machines.

"To make sure you didn't die on us. You were in pretty bad shape you know."

Jinx scowled, "Doesn't sound like me."

Caitlyn snorted, "You know, in all at time I've known you I don't think I've seen you in good shape for more than a few hours, max."

Jinx opened her mouth to argue but then closed it again. She was right, these past few days she had been in the roughest shape she had been in, in a long time.

"Guess you think I'm pretty weak," Jinx muttered.

"Why wouldn't she? You're pathetic and-"

"Weak!?" Caitlyn said taken aback, "Jinx I have seen you single-handedly take down armies! That is the last word I would ever use to describe you."

Jinx smiled a bit at that as she continued her examination of the room.

"Doesn't matter what she thinks. Vi still thinks you're weak," Mylo hissed.

Jinx huffed, annoyed that Mylo, as usual, spoiled the mood.

"Well, who else is going to remind you that you're good for nothing?"

"Just shut up," Jinx grumbled as she walked over to the bedside table.

"Did you say something?" Caitlyn asked.

"I wouldn't tell her you were talking to yourself, people tend to hate that. Remember the doctor?" Claggor reminded.

"Forget it," Jinx snapped as she yanked open a drawer.

Her blood froze in her veins.

Time grounded to a halt.

How?

She got rid of it.

She dropped it off the edge of the tallest tower she could find. She threw it off the edge instead of herself.

She remembered, she had climbed up there that day to jump because the voices had been nonstop all day and had gotten to her again, but then she threw that instead, fulfilling the need to kill a part of herself while still sticking around to save Vander.

"Jinx? Are you ok?"

Jinx shakily reached out, hesitating before lightly brushing her fingers against the journal, snatching her hand back when the thing didn't disappear.

"Jinx!?" Caitlyn called out worriedly as she stood and began to make her way over.

"Why is this here?" She whispered, eyes refusing to look away from the thing, captivated in horror.

Caitlyn walked over and looked at what she was referring to, "What- …oh. Vi must have-"

"Vi?"

How could Vi have this?

Why did Vi have this?

She got rid of it. It was supposed to be gone for good.

"Well, when we went to the lab this was sitting on the… Um, it was just out in the open with a letter on it."

"What letter?" Jinx whispered, still horrified at the journal's presence.

"…Jinx why don't you sit down? We don't-"

"Answer the fucking question," she hissed.

"I- are you sure you-"

"ANSWER THE FUCKING QUESTION!"

"The doctor left you a note, along with that journal," she answered.

It was the doctor?

"Isn't it always?"

"What did the note say?" Jinx asked after a moment.

"I don't think-" Caitlyn started but quickly decided to just give in after Jinx gave her a look that would be enough to scare a warlord, "He said that he didn't expect you to come back but that he supposed he should give you something for returning."

The journal.

Mylo laughed, "Man that guy sure knows how to fuck with you."

"What else?" Jinx asked, knowing full well that the doctor had a specific reason for leaving this for her.

"Well, nothing really. He just said he wished you had kept writing."

That gave Jinx pause. The doctor hated emotions, Jinx getting rid of the Janna forsaken journal was her way of showing that she was moving past her emotions. Why would he want her to keep it?

"Why?"

"He said it made knowing what you were doing easier," Caitlyn explained.

"Ah, there it is. The sweet, sweet irony."

"He- he read it?" Jinx whispered horrified.

"Makes sense, how else did he find out about Ronan and his dad," Claggor hummed, "As if he would actually remember a customer's name."

That meant…

"You were the reason they got caught!" Mylo said howling with laughter.

Jinx began to shake and her breath began to quicken. It wasn't the dad's fault, it was her's.

"Isn't it always?"

"Don't worry he can't hurt you anymore. Besides you have the journal back now, that's what matters, right?"

"I never wanted it back!" Jinx yelled, "It was supposed to be gone! Now it's here, why the hell is it here?!"

"Well after Vi read it she-"

"She what?" Jinx hissed.

Caitlyn immediately realized her mistake and attempted to backtrack, "We thought you were dead-"

"So that makes it ok!?" She screamed, "I wrote that stuff for me! Not for the doctor, not for Vi!"

It was never meant to be read. It was a stupid side project she used to keep herself distracted.

"Who else read this!?" She yelled grabbing the journal and waving it around, "Did you read it?" She growled.

"Oh please say yes," Mylo begged.

"No! I would never!" She defended.

"Then who!? Who else-"Then a terrible, terrible thought popped into her head, "Did he read it?"

"He?" Caitlyn asked confused.

"Ekko! The Boy Savior! He was here, he talked to Vi! Did she let him read it?!"

"I don't know!" Caitlyn yelled back, "But I doubt it, Vi was sitting in this room right next to you the whole time. She wasn't exactly concerned with getting Ekko to read your diary."

Jinx clutched the book in her hands, "Vi shouldn't have read this, it was supposed to be gone."

"Ok, well, she didn't know that, and we were worried about you when you were missing. That's why she read it."

Jinx just gripped the book tighter, before turning towards the door to leave.

"Wait! Where are you going?!"

"To make sure this is gone for good," Jinx growled as she swung the door open, only to be stopped by a hulking figure loitering in the hallway.

His build, his frame, the way he looked larger than life itself. It wasn't possible, yet…

"Vander?" Jinx whispered.

The guy, who was definitely not Vander, turned around to face her fully.

"Ah, Jinx, it's so nice to finally meet you!" He bellowed.

Mylo cackled in her ear, "You actually thought-" he couldn't finish his sentence due to how hard he was laughing.

"Jinx, just wait- Loris?" Caitlyn said as she came up next to Jinx.

Jinx bit down hard on her quivering lip, drawing blood that left the bitter taste of Shimmer in her mouth.

It wasn't Vander.

Vander was with the doctor.

"Oh, umm, hey Caitlyn," the guy, Loris, said awkwardly.

"I'm assuming he's here for you," Jinx grumbled as she retreated back into the room.

"Well!" He called, "Actually I came cause Vi asked me to give you something," he said scrambling after Jinx, "And cause I wanted to meet you of course."

"My sister sent you?" Jinx snarled, regarding him with a withering glare.

"Wow, with glares like that you could make Janna herself tremble in her boots!" He chuffed.

"Tell me about it," Caitlyn snorted.

Jinx just growled before snapping, "Just give me whatever the fuck Vi sent and leave!"

"Alright," he said as he fumbled around attempting to grab whatever he had out of his bag.

Honestly, it was embarrassing how long it took him.

"Are you drunk," Jinx sneered, at his fumbling attempts to pull shit out of his bag.

"Please, I know how to hold my alcohol, I ain't drunk!" He defended passionately before muttering, "…least not yet"

"And-and y-you thought HE! Vander!" Mylo said howling with laughter.

When the blithering buffoon finally managed to pull out what he was looking for Jinx snatched it out of his hands. Not even realizing what she had grabbed.

Jinx opened her mouth to yell at the guy to get lost when her eyes landed on the thing in her hands.

Another relic from the past, her stuffed bunny.

"How?" Jinx whispered.

"Oops, well that isn't what she wanted me to give you, but it's yours anyway so might as well," Loris said, absolutely oblivious to the significance of what he had just handed to her.

"Vi found that at the old cannery," Caitlyn explained, "it was under some rocks."

Jinx looked at the poor ripped-up up and discolored thing before running a hand down its frayed and dirty fabric. She had forgotten she had taken it with her that night. It probably fell when the explosion hit her, getting left in an alley for the rain and rubble to have its way.

It stayed right where she left it, it stayed but it still changed, ever so slightly but yet so drastically.

Just like her.

"Ah! Here you are Jinx, this is what she wanted me to give ya'," he said holding out a letter.

Jinx eventually took the letter, eyes still glued onto the rabbit in her hands.

"Look! I made them for the enforcers. These are smoke bombs, and those two are full of nails," Powder chuckled as she held them up to Vi, the thought of the enforcers getting hit with them making her giggle, "They're gonna work this time, I know it."

Jinx looked at the folded-up piece of paper that was in her hands, her name messily scribbled on the front.

"Me too," Vi said as she scooted in close.

She opened it and began to read.

- Powder, I'm so sorry.

How many times would Vi apologize to her?

Vi ran a hand over her cheek and placed the rabbit in her lap.

How many times would Jinx need to forgive her?

- I know you're strong, I know you're fast, I know you could do this better than me in three seconds flat.

"You know, Powder, what makes you different makes you strong."

- But I can't let you go back to that man. I can't let you get in the middle of a turf war.

Jinx squeezed her eyes closed and a single tear fell, she knew what was happening. She knew because it happened so fucking often.

- I left a long time ago so don't bother coming after me. I will fix all of this, I'll bring Vander back, and we can finally be happy together.

Vi left her.

Again.

- I'm sorry. I hope you can forgive me for this, but if not, at least you're safe. That's enough for me. I swear I'll be back, so just wait for me, ok?

"Always remember that. Ok?"

Jinx clutched the rabbit in her hand tightly.

It was a goodbye, this mangled stuffed toy.

She knew it when she was a kid, and she knows it now.

Vi never planned to stay with her, she was always destined to leave, and this rabbit was a representation of that.

It came back to mock her.

Jinx crumpled up the letter and dropped it, and the dumb bunny onto the floor, along with that damned journal.

She was done being left behind, she was done being the screw up of the family, she was done letting Vi run her life.

She was stronger.

She was faster.

She was smarter.

She had the plan and the information.

She was going to fix this mess that she had made if it was the last thing she did.

And with that Jinx used her speed to race down to the Undercity, straight to the Last Drop, straight to Vi.

Notes:

I’ve been so fucking busy this weekend, sorry if I don’t get to your comments today.

Chapter 45: Everybody Wants To Be My Enemy

Vi walked down the streets her old home in sight, the Last Drop.

Things were different, the people seemed more on edge than usual and there wasn't nearly as much foot traffic around as a few days ago when she came down here with Caitlyn. It was obvious that Silco's death was already having effects.

She received odd looks as she approached the last drop, most likely due to her large, glowing gauntlet she wore.

The place was different than when she was a kid, a large green neon sign that seemed to resemble an eye was now fixed onto the front, and the place seemed to be crawling with security, big ugly bots with Shimmer clearly pumping through them, and a guy or two making sure they didn't go rogue.

Vi was right to have left Powder in the hospital while she handled this, there was already trouble promising to be made with the amount of security that was watching the place.

The bar seemed quiet as she approached the door, already attracting the attention of most of the guards. (She wasn't exactly going for subtle with this.)

She walked forward with no hesitation and as soon as a guy approached her opening his big mouth she slammed him into the ground with a single punch. The blood splatter he left behind most likely indicating he was dead.

Vi rolled her shoulders and continued to walk towards the door.

"Get her!" Yelled one of the guards.

The bots rushed her with surprising speed, but they had nothing on Powder.

Vi predicted what they were going to do easily, these things truly did not hold a candle to her sister, their clunky metal bodies limiting them to only short bursts of speed, without much consistency.

Vi jumped forward and slammed her fist into one of the things' faces, the Hextech boost pushing her fist all the way through and sending the guy hurtling into a wall, making him explode on contact, because she probably broke something important in his suit.

Vi had never felt such power.

Vi took off running with a yell, gauntlets hissing as they charged up, giving her a huge boost in confidence.

The bot swung at Vi, and she ducked and hit them in the side. They tried to hit her but Vi backed away from their bladed arm before it cut her. She came forward blocking the arm that came down to try and hit her with her gauntlet and hit them hard in the stomach, sending them reeling back. Vi took her chance and grabbed their glass helmet by the face and slammed them into the ground, smashing through with the extra push her gauntlets gave, and crushing their head.

Vi didn't get a chance to breathe, another bot came running at her. She twisted out of the way of its blade just in time, she grabbed the thing's blades, anger coursing through her veins, and shattered it with her hands.

These gauntlets were incredible, they made up for anything Vi lacked. She felt invincible.

Vi kicked the guy away from her and slammed him with a right hook, blocking his weak attempts to fight back and overwhelming him with a barrage of different punches. She dodged a swing of his arm aimed at her head and kicked her gauntlets into overdrive for her next punch to his gut. As she made contact she felt his rib cage shatter underneath all the metal before he went flying into a pile of barrels.

Officially killing the last bot.

Bang!

A bullet whizzed past Vi's face. She looked over at the last goon she had yet to take care of, and he stared back terrified.

Vi scoffed as she walked towards him.

His eyes went comically wide as he took a stumbling step back, raising his gun as he called out, "I-I'll s-s-shoot!"

Vi walked straight up to him and leaned into his face, "You really wanna see how that ends?"

He stared at her for a moment, considering his options, before he dropped the gun and took off.

Vi watched him go with a sneer, what a fucking coward.

Vi then took a deep breath and walked up to the door of the bar, her old home.

---

"Welcome to the Last Drop girls," Vander said as they walked inside.

"Haven't we been here before though?" Powder, who had clutched onto Vi's hand and refused to let go, whispered to her.

Vander had set them down a long time ago, saying it was better not to be seen as weak by being carried around.

Vi didn't think he meant them, she was rather positive he wanted to preserve his own image.

"I know it ain't much but we'll get it fixed up," he said looking at them.

The dark cloud of death still hung over them, Vi and Powder had just lost their parents and now they were going to live… here?

The place stunk of alcohol and vomit, the floors were sticky with Janna knows what, and there hardly seemed to be a place for them here.

Vi lightly tugged on Powder's hand and led them to the bar, so they could sit down. Vi picked Powder up and plopped her down in a chair, before taking a seat next to her.

Vander walked over, taking his place behind the bar, "What can I get for ya'?"

Vi looked at him unamused, but Powder was quick to respond.

"Juice! Of the orange variety," she said reciting the words their mother had taught her.

Vander smiled softly, "Coming right up."

They sat there in silence as Vander prepared Powder's drink. Powder humming a random tune to fill the silence like she always did.

When Vander was done, he slid over Mom's cup and plopped her straw in as well.

Vi gripped her hands into fists and scowled at Vander when she saw the cup but said nothing, she didn't want to yell in front of Powder.

Powder also regarded the cup oddly, "But that's Mama's cup."

Tears stung in Vi's eyes.

Mom was gone.

It couldn't be her cup anymore.

"Well, it's yours now."

Powder just frowned at the cup, still not understanding what was happening. To her, the cup still belonged to their dead mother, she couldn't understand that she was now gone for good.

Vi took a deep breath and steadied herself, "It's ok Pow-Pow. Mom doesn't need it anymore, she wants you to put it to good use."

Powder looked up at her, "Why doesn't Mama want it anymore?"

Tears fell down Vi's face despite her best attempts to keep it together, "'Cause mom is dead!" She yelled before running into the closest room she could find and slamming the door closed behind her.

Vi collapsed to her knees and sobbed, she didn't mean to yell at Powder, she didn't know what was happening. She needed Vi to be strong, but she just couldn't right now.

Vi had lost her family too, Vi didn't want to be left in charge. She wanted Mom and Dad to come home and clean up the mess, she wanted to stay a kid for a little longer.

Vi knew that this stuff happened, she knew that kids were forced to step up and fight for their lives on the streets because their parents died, but she had never thought it would happen to her. She had both her parents, and mom and dad were as healthy as you could get down here. They should have lived.

If only they never went to that damned bridge.

A panicked knock sounded at the door, "Violet?" It was Vander.

"Go away!" Vi yelled.

She wasn't ready to face Powder, but a part of her also felt like it was being stabbed, because she knew Powder needed her right now. She knew she needed to step up and help her little sister through this, but Janna, that was the last thing she wanted to do.

"I would love to, but-"

The sound of shattering glass and her little sister's screams made Vi shoot to her feet and run back out to the bar.

"Powder, it's ok! I'm not going to hurt you."

"NO! I WANT VI!" Powder screamed at the top of her lungs.

Powder had a glass cup in her hand, raised and ready to throw at Vander who stood on top of some already broken glass. Powder was hunched up in a corner face painted with tears and snot.

Vander took a step forward, but that just got Powder started again.

"I WANT VI!" Powder yelled before she flung the glass cup at Vander, who dodged her weak little throw easily.

Now that she was officially unarmed Vander rushed forward and scooped up her screaming, whaling sister, who punched and kicked at Vander like there was no tomorrow.

"Pow- You're gonna hurt yourself!" He said as he tried not to drop her wriggling sister.

When her attempts to escape Vander failed she proceeded to bite his arm, hard. Vi saw blood pool where she bit down.

"Pow-Pow!" Vi yelled, finally snapping out of her trance.

Powder released her killer bite and lit up like the sun when she saw Vi.

Vander didn't hesitate to let her go once Powder began to wildly swing at him again for freedom.

As soon as she was released, Powder sprinted full speed into Vi, toppling her over, "Where were you?!" She sobbed.

Vi wrapped her arms around her, "I was just in the other room," she said softly.

Powder clung to her harder, "You can't leave me! Don't leave me."

"Ok. I'm sorry, I won't leave you," Vi whispered baffled at her sister's outburst.

Vi looked up at Vander who looked at the two with just as a confused look.

"How 'bout we head to bed? It's been a long day for the two of you," he said after a moment.

Powder peeked her face out and looked at Vander, "Vi and me share a bed!" She declared adamantly.

He sighed, "Of course you do. Come on now, let Vi up."

Powder scowled at him.

"It's alright Powder, let's go up and get to bed."

After convincing Powder, they all climbed up the stairs and got settled into bed. Well, Vander tried to leave, but Powder wasn't happy with that.

"You're leaving us?"

"Pow-Pow, this bed is kinda small, plus you have me. Let Vander go do some work," Vi tried to reason.

Powder wormed her way out of Vi's arms and went over and tugged furiously on Vander's arm, "Mama and papa always sleep with us!"

"Powder he's not-" Vi began, upset that Powder was comparing Vander to their parents.

Vander scooped Powder up, "Alright you crazy little monkey. I'll stay with you guys."

"Yay!" She squealed before she jumped out of his arms and back into Vi's.

"You really don't have to do this," Vi muttered as Powder snuggled in close.

Vander shrugged as he sat on the end of the bed, "Unless we want another incident like the one downstairs then I think I do."

Vi gave him a glare but didn't argue as she tugged Powder in close. Powder was acting strangely, sure she had always been clingy but never to this extent, probably best to agree to her crazy demands for now. She would calm down eventually, she always did. As long as Vi stayed with her and kept close Powder would be fine, she would be safe and happy like nothing ever happened.

…if only Vi could do the same.

Vander stayed sitting on the end of the bed, leaning over to try and turn off the lamp that was on the dresser.

Vi knew what would happen as soon as he started reaching for the light, especially since Powder was so sensitive right now.

"Nooooooo!" Powder screeched into Vi's ear, making her pull back and grimace.

Vander froze right where he was and looked over at Powder, "What's the matter now?" He asked softly, but Vi could hear the underlying annoyance and worry, he had no clue how to deal with Powder.

Vander couldn't calm Powder down when she was like this. Powder needed her, whether Vi was ready for that responsibility or not.

Vi shifted to look at him, "She's not a fan of the dark. Best to leave the lights on."

Powder buried herself into Vi who turned back around and rubbed her back gently.

It was just the two of them now, and Powder was so scared, how could Vi even begin to try and fix that?

"Want me to sing the song?" Vi whispered softly.

It was what their mother did to comfort her, and it was all Vi could think of to try and ease her little sister's worries, and hopefully fend off any nightmares.

She felt Powder nod her little head against her so she started singing her lullaby.

~Dear friend across the river,

My hands are cold and bare,

Dear friend across the river,

I'll take what you can spare,

I ask of you a penny,

My fortune it will be,

I ask you without envy,

We raise no mighty towers,

Our homes are built of stone,

So come across the river,

And find the world below~"

Soon Powder's little snores filled the room, signaling that she had at last fallen asleep.

Vi sighed heavily, what was she going to do with her? She was so tiny and fragile, how was she supposed to survive in this ruthless world? She could hardly stand being away from Vi for 10 seconds.

"That song…" Vander whispered.

"Mom made it for her," Vi whispered back as she continued to gently stroke Powder's head.

"Mhhh, no. That's a miner's song. People sang it all the time when we were down in the mines digging."

Vi furrowed her brows, "Mom told Powder it would take all her fears away. Why'd she lie and say she made it?"

Vander looked over at her, "Your mom probably just wanted to give Powder something to help her with all those pesky nightmares. I doubt a song a bunch of dirty miners sang would ease her worries, but one her mom made especially for her would definitely do the trick."

Vi looked down at Powder's sleeping form, "Well she picked a real fucked up song for that."

Vi never liked the song and what it implied, but Powder enjoyed it, so she wasn't about to ruin it for her.

Vander chuckled softly, "She sure did. Me and Si-" he cleared his throat, "I always thought that song was as dumb as they get. It was actually your dad who liked it the most, though he never actually bothered to learn the words, he just liked the tune."

Vi smiled softly, "Sounds like dad."

"…I know this is hard on you, both of you, but I ain't here to try and force something on ya'. If you want I can arrange for you two to live somewhere else. Or you could stay here until you're older and then we could figure something out then."

Vi silently ran her hands through Powder's hair and thought about it for a moment before speaking.

"I've never seen her act like that before," Vi muttered.

"…I'm sorry?" He said slightly confused.

"Downstairs. I've never seen Powder get so hostile and angry. She's always been clingy but she never freaked out so much when I left before."

"She's had a hard day," he supplied.

Vi nodded, "Yeah, but… she hurt you."

"What are you talking about Vi?" He asked softly, "Those little hands couldn't hurt a fly, let alone me."

Vi looked over at him, "But those little teeth are as sharp as a shark's," Vi replied pointedly, "and she got you good with them."

He looked down at the little bite mark on his arm, before smiling, "The little piranha did get me good, huh?"

Vi raised a brow at him, "You know that's probably gonna scar right? She used to bite us all the time when she was younger, and those marks don't tend to go away."

Vander chucked, "Well now I just feel honored to receive the family treatment. Plus, it'll be like a tattoo, a reminder of our first night together."

Vi snorted, "Well be prepared to receive a lot more of those."

"…so. Is that a yes to staying here?" He asked softly.

Vi took a breath, "Despite the biting, Powder seems to like you a lot. She doesn't just ask anyone to sleep with us."

He looked down at Powder and smiled before looking up at Vi, "What about you? What do you want?"

"Does it matter? Powder likes it here so-" Vi began, a hint of bitterness in her voice.

"Stop right there. It's your life too. Your to damn young to start sacrificing things for others. So, I want to know how you feel, do you want to stay here with me or not?"

Vi looked at him.

Vi had known Vander all her life, but she hadn't really known him. He was just this story she knew about and occasionally got to be a part of. She never disliked him, and he always treated them good. Vi looked up to him in a sense, she always thought his metal gloves were the coolest thing she had ever seen and he always seemed so heroic. And despite the initial fear she had for him on that bridge, he was kicking the enforcers asses, and that was cool as shit.

She wouldn't mind growing up with someone like that.

Besides, he actually wanted to hear her opinion, maybe if she stayed she could cling to her fleeting childhood a little longer.

"Will you teach me how to beat the shit out of people?" Vi asked.

He snorted, "How 'bout I show you how to hit a target first?"

Vi smiled at him, "Sounds good to me, long as we get to the kicking the shit out of people stuff eventually."

He chuckled, "We'll see how you do."

With that, they fell into a comfortable silence that was only interrupted by Powder's mumbling and snoring, (she never could let there be silence for more than two seconds) before Vi fell asleep hugging her sister close. The promise of a new future with Vander chasing away any nightmares that threatened to haunt her dreams that night.

---

Vi pushed the door open, the memories of Powder's and her first night here fading as she took in the bar as it was now.

It no longer held a comfortable inviting mood, but a dark and eerie one. Overall it was the same, but there neon lights hung everywhere and all the tables had been crammed by the walls or into corners.

But the most infuriating thing that was in this place was the bitch who sat unbothered at one of the tables, with what appeared to be the new staff, playing cards.

Everyone looked up when Vi entered, her gauntlets primed and ready for the fight, everyone except one guy, who was probably on drugs.

He was to the right of Vi, messing with the jukebox, selecting a familiar song, and he didn't even notice Vi.

Vi and Sevika exchanged glares as the guy backed away from the jukebox, whistling along to the open notes like the oblivious idiot he was, right next to Vi.

Vi recognized the song as it got going, a song called When Everything Went Wrong. Looks like she would have a sound track as she beat the asses of these people. Vi began to count the number of people she would have to take as the guy who unwittingly stood next to her jumped back in surprise and pulling out a knife.

Definitely on drugs, Vi noted.

Sevika let out a sharp whistle, grabbing everyone's attention, "Everyone out."

The people stood and began to file their way out the door, Vi making her gloves hiss to make them think twice before attempting a sneak attack.

Sevika smirked as she walked her way in front of Vi's line of sight, pulling out Shimmer vials as she went.

Vi cracked her neck, anger beginning to course through her with every beating of her heart as memories of her childhood flooded through her mind.

This bitch betrayed Vander, she helped Silco destroy her life, she let Powder be tortured and abused.

She would die.

…after she gave her the doctor's location.

Sevika placed her Shimmer vials in her fancy fucked up arm, not breaking eye contact with Vi once.

As the music swelled both of them powered up their gear and began the fight.

Vi charged forward and Sevika flung a chair at her, Vi destroyed the thing easily and continued to charge. Once she was close enough she threw a hook at Sevika's head, but she missed, Sevika dodging her punch.

Vi fell back and readied herself to strike again. When Sevika took a step forward she ducked under her attempted hit and slammed her open hand into her stomach.

Vi didn't want to kill the bitch, just fuck her up.

Sevika went flying back as intended and slammed into the bar, putting a massive dent into it. Which just pissed Vi off more.

Sevika shook off the surprise at the attack and stood with a growl, charging at her.

It was a flurry of movement, Vi and her exchanged blow after blow. Vi head-butting her, and Sevika punching her across the face.

For every strike Vi got in Sevika got one too. They flung each other around the bar until both of them were worn down.

They stood at opposite ends, Sevika busy heaving her lungs up due to lack of air, and Vi sweating like a pig as blood pooled in her mouth from one of Sevika's hits.

Vi turned and walked up to the bar, where a lone drink somehow managed to survive the massive beating that caused the whole building to shake.

"You know you ain't supposed to be drinking."

Vi winced as she turned around to face the music. She had been trying to sneak a drink in the middle of the night, but she should have known Vander would be up, the guy never slept.

"I thought it was juice?" Vi said meekly.

He scoffed before yanking the drink out of her hand, "And I thought you were smarter than this."

Vi huffed, "Come on! I'm 14, plenty of people start drinking way younger!"

"Alright, fine," he said holding the drink out for her.

Vi lit up as she went to grab it but before she could Vander pulled it up out of her reach.

"But before you do, mind telling me what the hell makes you think you deserve one?"

"Deserve?" Vi asked confused.

"Yeah. What fucked up thing happen to you tonight that makes you want to drown your problems in liquor? Hmmm?"

"…"

"Thought so," he said as he tipped the cup upside down and spilled it onto the ground, "You can have a drink when you have a day so shitty you can't even fake a smile for Powder."

Vi scowled.

"Now, go get the mop. You've got a mess to clean up."

Vi picked up the glass, today was definitely shit and she definitely deserved the fucking drink, and downed it.

The alcohol provided little comfort.

"Why do I have to wait till I'm old and miserable like you to drink," Vi grumbled as she mopped up the floor.

"Cause, when you're old and miserable you can drink ten gallons of ale and still need more."

Vi looked up at him confused, "I don't get it."

"And it's my job to make sure you never do."

Vi yelled, frustrated, and flung the empty glass and Sevika's head.

She understood what he meant now, no amount of alcohol could drown out her sorrows.

Vander was out of her reach now because of this woman, the one person who took away some of this crushing weight of responsibility was lost for seven years because of her.

Sevika dodged the cup easily and growled in annoyance as she stood, ready for round two.

Vi paced around, anger and frustration bubbling up inside of her.

"Viiiii~"

Vi looked over at Powder, who was supposed to be asleep, as she entered the room.

"You broke rule number one. You. Got. Caught."

Vi walked over and flicked her on her forehead, "shut up you little-"

"Ah, ah, ah! You know what happens when you break the rules."

Vi huffed plopping herself down on Powder's bed, who jumped up and scrambled to go grab her markers.

"You do know you're supposed to be asleep, right?"

Powder spun around, markers in hand, "And you know you're not supposed to steal alcohol from Vander. That was like, the first thing he told us when we moved in here," Powder said as she hopped back into the bed, uncapping the first marker.

Vi rolled her eyes, "Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Let's just get this over with," Vi grumbled pulling her hair back from her face to give Pow-Pow a clear canvas.

"What'd he say to you?" Powder asked as she began to doodle all over Vi's face.

"Said I could only drink when I have a shitty enough day."

"Huh," Powder said as she switched markers, "Well don't you worry Vi, we got forever to make you have a shitty day. You'll be drinking in no time!"

"Whatever you weirdo," Vi said shaking her head.

"Hey! You messed me up! Now I get to draw on your arms too."

Vi smirked, "Oh really?"

"Yup. Rules are rules."

Vi tackled her and started tickling her, "Too bad I like to break 'em."

Vi screamed in rage.

The pathetic fragile happiness they managed to carve out in this fucked up city they called a home was gone, ripped away.

But she was going to get it back, if it was the last thing she did.

Vi picked up the pool table she was in front of and threw it into the air before punching it at Sevika.

The table stuck itself into the wall, effectively pinning Sevika underneath. She then ran and went to deal the finishing blow but stopped just in time to not get impaled by a glowing red blade that stabbed its way through the table.

The thing continued to slice the table, Vi dodging the blade as it cut. She jumped back as it opened up a hole, revealing Sevika, who now wielded a sword in her metal hand.

She walked forward out from behind the table and swung her blade at Vi, sending a pulse of energy that cut into the wall behind her.

Panicked, Vi threw her arms up to protect her face, praying that the gauntlets would withstand the beating. Thankfully, whatever Jayce made them out of protected Vi from being hit, but it didn't stop her from losing her footing every time the energy blast hit.

Unfortunately, Vi soon missed the energy blasts, Sevika slammed her sword down onto Vi. Vi blocked with her gauntlet but the heat felt like it was cooking her hand. She screamed in pain, and to her surprise, Sevika pulled back. Only to hit her with a fist to the face, followed by another, and another, and another.

Vi threw out a punch to try and hit back, but Sevika dodged easily. And then as if straight or of a horror movie, Sevika's blade stabbed through her gauntlet.

Vi stared wide-eyed at the fizzing hole left in her glove.

Vi was in such shock she didn't even register how lucky she was Sevika didn't hit her arm or hand. She had somehow missed and only struck her gauntlet, which became as heavy as a building in the next second, causing Vi to fall to her knees, where Sevika yanked her up and kneed her in the stomach.

Sevika then punched her in the face with her mental hand, sending Vi stumbling back towards the bar like a drunkard before she fell to the floor face first.

"Well, your guard needs working."

Vi's half-closed eyes slid back open, trying to find the source of that voice. Because she could swear it sounded like…

But when she heard that heavy, disappointed sigh she knew for a fact it was him.

Vander.

He sat on a stool, looking down on her splayed out form on the ground.

"I wish I could say it gets easier, kiddo. But I'd be lying."

Vi laid there listening silently, really listening to his words, for the first time in her life.

"What I can say is… She still needs you."

Vi heard the clinking of Sevika's arm in the background as tears formed in her eyes and Powder's face flashed before her.

"They all do."

Mylo and Claggor joined Powder, before smiling and leaving, making room for Caitlyn, Loris, Maddie, and Steb. Who all grinned and laughed in the background.

But not Powder, she was still watching Vi, she never stopped watching Vi, her eyes sad and full of worry.

"So what do you say?" Vander asked.

Vi huffed before forcing her aching body to stand, spitting out a tooth that Sevika knocked loose onto the ground.

Powder needed her to win.

Vander needed her to win.

Mylo needed her to win.

Claggor needed her to win.

Caitlyn needed her to win.

Steb needed her to win.

Loris needed her to win.

Maddie needed her to win.

Her family needed her to win.

That's why she did all of this.

Her whole life, fighting, screaming, clawing her way up from the bottom. She had done it all for her family. That's why she was here now. To spare Powder from being the one face down on the floor.

As she stood she came face to face with Vander, who smiled at her, "That's my girl."

Vi bit the tears back and turned around to face Sevika, ready to end it. She dropped her useless glove onto the floor and clenched her working one into a fist.

Sevika growled, annoyed that Vi had managed to survive, as Vi took a stance and powdered up her glove.

Sevika shot out her sword and yelled, charging forward as Vi started up as well.

They both collided at the same time, sending a massive explosion of light flying out, shutting down all the power in the area.

They didn't let that stop them, they continued to exchange blows, the only light coming from their weapons when they struck.

At one point Sevika flung herself into the air and came down on Vi, but Vi put her gauntlet up to defend, and a strange clicking noise sounded from it as she did so.

Before Sevika could hit her, a large blue bubble formed around Vi.

"Your gauntlets actually have a similar feature Vi, but that won't be activated unless they are pushed to near destruction. Which, I hope will not happen."

Looks like she managed to push them to near destruction after all.

Sevika stayed suspended in the air before being flung back at three times the speed, just like the pen in the lab. Only, Vi wasn't about the let her fly through the air, she grabbed onto Sevika's fake arm mid-air and yanked it off, officially destroying it.

Vi wasted no time using her moment of weakness to pummel Sevika. She hit her with punch after punch after punch, before flinging her off into the air with a scream.

Sevika slammed through chairs as she flew, before stopping when she slammed through the jukebox, landing upside down, spilling her Shimmer fuel onto the floor.

Vi wobbled on her feet before collapsing onto her knees, a feral, guttural scream erupting out of her.

She had won.

She had won but she still felt the never-ending pain and sadness inside herself.

Sevika was the one upside down in a Jukebox but Vi was still the one suffering.

All the memories, all the happiness and joy.

Just gone.

Even with Powder back, it wasn't the same, she didn't laugh anymore, she didn't smile.

She had lost her baby sister.

"I'm not a kid anymore, I don't need you to protect me."

She had lost those precious moments of innocence.

"Vi I'm not a kid. I have been through worse."

And she could never get them back.

"Just leave," she hissed, "That's the only thing you're good at anyway."

She had failed to save her from this fucked up world. Vi turned her back once and it gotten her little sister.

Vi stood, but she could forget all that for now, because there was still one son of a bitch that needed to be taken care of, one last person to get rid of for her sister before she could go back and start picking up the pieces.

"The doctor," Vi spat before standing, leaning on the bar for support.

A sizzling and sparking noise attracted her attention, it was the broken gauntlet.

Vi leaned down to pick up the discarded gauntlet, she had promised to get it back to Viktor after all, when a voice sounded from behind her.

"Bravo, sis."

Bam!

Notes:

Fun fact, the whole part where Vi fought the Chem bots in front of the Last Drop was from one of the chapters I wrote that got cut out when I decided to switch up my ending for this fic.

Originally Vi, Ekko, Caitlyn, and the others were supposed to go and attack the shimmer factory like in the show. But that all got thrown out, so I'm recycling it here. Honestly I'm bummed out I had to throw that part out, it actually turned out super cool 😔

But what can you do? Sometimes things just don't make the cut.

Also, that's why there was like nothing done with the Hextech weapons, even though I went through all the trouble of having them made in this universe, (Jinx was even going to steal Maddie's gun, which is why it was a pistol!) the big fight scene got cut. They might come back later but it's unlikely, so this is basically the only time they're shown off.

Chapter 46: Here’s To The New Us

Pissed.

That was a good fucking word to describe how Jinx felt.

Abandoned.

Another winner that seemed to capture her emotions perfectly.

Vi had fucking left, she had up and left after Jinx poured her heart out.

"Here we go again," Mylo said rolling his eyes.

"Shouldn't we be more focused on Vander?"

"I can kick my sister's ass and save Vander at the same time Claggor. It's called multitasking."

"Whatever you say," he said rolling his eyes.

Jinx was at the Last Drop in record time, panting from exhaustion, the stuff the doctor gave her having lingering effects.

It was strangely dark around the Last Drop. Normally there was neon lighting flashing everywhere but it seemed as if the power had gone out or something. Which was weird, not that it didn't happen all the time down here, but it would never happen to the business place of the ruler of the Undercity. That's just not how shit works down here.

Jinx slowed down to a stop at the front door of the place, bodies of Chem bots decorated the floor, their electric pink blood oozing onto the ground.

Jinx kicked at one, seems like Vi had been busy.

A flicker of movement in an alleyway attracted Jinx's attention, she was on the guy who was spying on her in two milliseconds flat. (One millisecond slower than normal, the doctor seriously fucked her up with that injection)

"Who are you and why shouldn't I kill you?" she growled.

He trembled in fear, a knife he apparently had in his hand tumbling to the ground, "I'm s-sorry! I'll leave. I won't tell a soul about you and that angry girl, I swear!"

Jinx hummed, "Did the angry girl have pink hair?"

He nodded frantically, "She went in and started a f-f-fight with-"

"Sevika," Jinx finished for him.

Sounded like Vi was in the middle of a showdown. How embarrassing for her that Jinx had gotten here before she was even done, but, then again, Sevika was one tough bitch.

….and Vi lost the last fight they had.

Damn it Vi, she always bites off more than she can chew.

Jinx threw the guy onto the floor and sped into the Last Drop. As soon as she opened the door a loud gluteal scream sounded from inside.

Jinx pressed herself against the wall, hiding.

Vi was on the ground, panting and screaming, but Sevika was the one smashed into the jukebox.

Jinx felt anger flood through her, had Vi fucking killed her!?

Jinx explained that they would need Sevika to narrow down the search, so why the hell did she kill her!?

"The doctor," Vi spat.

Jinx thought she might have been talking to her, but quickly dismissed the idea when Vi hobbled her way to the bar, completely unaware of her presence.

The doctor? She wanted to fight him while she was like that? Honestly, was her sister always such a fucking moron?

Vi stood there and looked down at a big metal gauntlet (where did Vi get that?) that reminded Jinx of Vander's old pair as Jinx walked over behind Vi.

Jinx could tell, even from a distance, that Vi was out of it. So Jinx walked on as much glass and broken wood as she wanted, Vi couldn't hear it, Jinx knew the tunnel vision that you got after a big fight like this one. Jinx couldn't be more invisible if she were a ghost.

As Vi leaned down to pick up the glove Jinx decided the perfect way to fix this mess her sister had created.

Jinx picked up a big chunk of wood that had broken off the bar and raised it.

"Bravo, sis."

Bam!

Vi was out cold before she hit the floor.

"Talk about rusty," Jinx muttered as she poked at Vi's slumped-over form with her foot.

"I know. I mean YOU knocked her out in one hit! How embarrassing."

Jinx held up her middle finger, "Go fuck yourself."

"Ooohh, someone's testy today," Mylo mocked.

Jinx looked down at her sister, and then she kicked her in the stomach, hard.

"That is for leaving me. Again," Jinx spat before crouching down next to her.

Gently, Jinx brushed Vi's hair out of her face, she was beaten up pretty badly. Sevika wasn't someone who played around.

Jinx wanted to stay mad at Vi, but it was hard when she looked so fucking pathetic.

Jinx sighed, she could be mad when Vi was actually up to yell at, "Why can't you be more careful with that stupid face of yours? Caitlyn won't love you if you're ugly," Jinx whispered as she wiped away some blood that was caked on her.

Vi had always been protective of her, but Jinx had never really realized how much she tried to protect from until now. Powder had always been quick to scare and even quicker to run from trouble, but Powder grew up, she got tougher, and learned to take a punch or two.

Why couldn't Vi see that?

Why does she have to be the same?

How could they be closer to each other than they have ever been these past seven years but somehow even further apart than ever?

Jinx sighed as she heaved Vi up, disarming and pocketing the gems from her over designed bitchmittens that she was lugging around, (seriously, where the fuck did she get those?), and moved her to a booth so she could lay down somewhat comfortably.

Jinx then decided to go over her injuries, she may have been mad but she didn't want her to die from blood loss. Thankfully there was nothing fatal, hopefully no brain damage, and overall just basic wounds that would hurt like a son of a bitch when she woke up.

"Yeah, like the lump you left on her head."

Jinx rolled her eyes, "She's had worse."

She then turned around to take in the room, letting out a low whistle as she did so.

"You just had to go and make a big mess didn't you Vi?"

Jinx remember how much Vi and the others tended to break in brawls back in the day, it always got so messy, but this one had to take the cake. Probably because of her fancy new toys that seemed to be powered by the gems.

Jinx took a gems out and examined them, they were the refined version, but there was a large crack in each of them, whatever Vi hand done in here she damn near broke her power source during the fight. No wonder all the lights in the area were down, the gems would be releasing energy blasts left and right if they were this damaged, Vi was just lucky she didn't blow up.

Jinx sighed as she put the gems back into her pocket, she didn't want to keep them, but once again, leaving them here was just asking for trouble.

She looked around at the rest of the place, parts of the bar was smashed in, basically all the tables were broken, the pool table was literally stuck to the wall with parts of it cut off, glass and wood littered the floor, and the big glaring problem, Sevika, in the jukebox.

Jinx huffed, she loved that jukebox.

"I'll forgive you for that one Vi," Jinx said as she walked over to Sevika, "but only because Sevika looks fucking hilarious upside down."

"You do know Vi is knocked out and can't hear you right?"

"And you do know I literally talk to voices in my head like you guys all the time? At least Vi is actually real."

"She's got you there man," Claggor said with a snort.

"Fuck off," Mylo snapped bitterly.

As Jinx got up close to Sevika she realized she was actually still alive, just really, really unconscious.

"Man oh man did Vi kick your ass," Jinx snorted as she bent down and tipped her head around so she could look at Sevika eye to eye.

Well, eye to eye if she was, you know, awake.

"Welp, time to make sure you don't wake up and start doing shit."

Jinx went and rummaged around for some rope, finding some rather quickly when she looked in, what used to be, the utility closet.

Jinx then went and dragged Sevika over to a metal pipe and tied her up.

"I'll be back for you," Jinx said as she tightened the knot, "So be good and don't make me kick the shit out of you. I'm not as nice as my sister."

Jinx then walked over to Vi who was still sound asleep in the booth.

"Sorry sis, but fair is fair."

Jinx tied Vi up to the table, no chance she was risking Vi coming after her when she woke up.

Jinx then went behind the bar rummaged through the drinks, she was thirsty as fuck from running all the way down here, most having been knocked over or shattered by the two bozos snoring it up behind her.

When Jinx found her prize she lifted it up triumphantly, her juice! (Of the orange variety)

"Hmmm," she hummed.

Jinx looked around for a glass, which were once again all broken because of the sleeping uglies behind her. (Vi's face didn't exactly get prettier after her time in jail.)

Jinx's eyes landed on one of the cupboards that was slightly ajar. It had a lock on it but it must've gotten broken when someone slammed into the bar. Jinx reached for it, intrigued at the need for a lock on a cupboard, but nothing could have prepared her for what she found.

Jinx, ever so gently, reached forward and grabbed the old dented metal cup and straw that stood alone in the cupboard.

She just stared at the cup in her hands with utter disbelief.

Why was it here? She thought Silco threw everything out after he took over.

She ran her thumb over her old doodles that still remained on the cup, as if left untouched in all the years it had been here.

"What are you doing? Pour the juice!"

Powder had been unusually quiet these days, especially considering her proximity to Vi, but she seemed happy enough now.

Jinx stood and grabbed a towel, wiping down the thick layer of dust from the cup and straw, letting her take in her old drawings in their full glory.

Jinx would never forget the day she had drawn her doodles on this cup. It was one of her favorite memories.

---

"What are you doing behind the bar? You know it's off limits," Vander said as he walked up behind Powder, who was rummaging through the cabinets.

"I need juice and you weren't here!" Powder yelled in frustration as she continued to riffle through bottles of alcohol.

"Alright little missy, that's enough sass out of you," Vander said picking her up.

"Hey!"

He plopped her down in her seat before reaching under the counter and pulling out the bottle of juice.

Powder stuck her lip out, "I looked there a hundred times," she grumbled.

Vander chuckled as he poured the drink, "Well you don't have the bartender magic."

Powder didn't laugh at his joke like she normally would have, she just snatched her drink from off the counter before Vander had the chance to hand it over.

He raised a brow at her as she sipped unhappily at her drink.

"Ok. What's up?"

"Nothing," she snapped before going back to sipping.

Not nothing, Powder was in a mood today.

Vander grabbed the drink from out of her hands, leaving Powder with only a straw in her mouth.

She opened her mouth, making the straw clatter to the floor, "Hey! Give it back!"

He did his best not to laugh at the straw bit, "Not until you start talking."

"Fuck you!" Powder yelled.

Vander gave her a stern look, "Watch it."

That was unusual, Powder wasn't one to get mouthy, Vi was the one who specialized in colorful insults. Though, Powder could dish out some mean ones when in the right mood.

Powder opened and closed her mouth, before scrunching her face up in anger, "I said give it back!"

"No," he replied firmly.

Powder sat there, lip beginning to quiver, tears starting to form, "I don't wanna talk about it, just give it back!"

Vander shook his head, "You know things don't get better if you keep your feelings all bottled up."

Powder had a tendency to keep things to herself until she blew a gasket on some poor unsuspecting victim.

"Talking about them never makes them go away!" Powder screamed as tears fell.

Vander softened instantly.

"They're back huh?" He said softly.

He knew she was talking about the monsters she always saw.

Powder curled into a ball in her chair, "I just wanted some juice," she sobbed.

He put the cup down and went to grab and wash the straw that had fallen on the floor hurriedly, plopping it into the cup. Only Powder didn't grab the cup, she just continued to cry.

Vander sighed and went to pick her up. Powder didn't resist, she buried herself into him as soon as she was settled, continuing to bawl.

"I'm sorry, I should've known today was a bad day."

Powder had days where she would see things more than normal, monsters as she would call them, and she would be in a testy mood. Prone to throwing fits and crying her eyes out.

Vander should have picked up on it sooner, instead, he just made the situation worse by taking away her comfort method.

They had a system for when Powder was having a bad day. She should first try deep breaths and being around people, which normally got rid of the monsters for her, but if that doesn't work she should go find something soothing to do, like making something, coloring, or holding one of her stuffed toys.

If things still aren't better then she should try singing her song, or going to drink some juice. Both were things that helped her relax, and both coincidentally were something her mother taught her to do.

Vander, being the dense moron he was, snatched the comfort right from her tiny fingers.

He bounced Powder up and down, sighing at his own stupidity, he had just been so tired from being up all night handling some business down near the docks that he had lost his patience with her.

A bad mistake to make on her good days, but on her bad ones? Well, he may have just made this an all-day problem instead of just an afternoon one.

Powder sniffled, "C-can I have m-my juice now?"

"Of course you can," he said setting her down so she could drink in peace.

Powder slurped down the juice silently, refusing to make eye contact with Vander as he wiped the bar down.

Powder had two more glasses, silently requesting refills by holding her cup up to him, before she spoke again.

"Sorry for getting mad at you," she whispered meekly.

"That's alright," he replied, giving her a smile.

She offered a halfhearted one back.

"Still bothering you?" Vander asked.

Powder nodded, "They've been at it all night."

He threw his rag on his shoulder and leaned his elbows on the bar, "Didn't ask Vi for help with these ones?"

She shook her head, "Vi was tired from running around all day yesterday. I didn't want to wake her."

Vander ruffled her hair, "That was nice of you."

She gave a small smile before taking another long sip from her cup.

"Say… that cup of yours is pretty plain. I thought you colored on everything?"

Powder looked down at the cup, "But this is Mom's I can't color on it."

"Since when have you respected other people's property?" Vander said pulling out a stash of emergency markers Powder had hid out from behind the bar.

He held one out for Powder to take, but she still looked uncertain.

"Won't Vi be mad?"

"You remember what Vi told you the night you two first got here?"

Powder shook her head no.

"She said that your mom ain't gonna need that cup anymore, so you should put it to good use."

Powder still didn't take the marker.

"Alright, how about this? You don't color on it for you, you color on it as a gift for your mom."

Powder perked up at that, "I can do that?"

"Course you can," Vander said, "All you gotta do is tell her about it when you're done."

"She can hear me?" Powder whispered as she glanced around the room, as if Felicia was actually somewhere in the room eavesdropping.

He smiled at her, "Only if you want her too."

Best not get it in her head that her dead parents were always watching and listening to her, Powder saw enough things in the shadows as is.

Powder wiggled in her seat before snagging the marker Vander was holding out, "Ok!"

She then spent the next several hours designing and coloring on her cup, talking about how much her mom would love every little detail the whole time.

---

A tear slid down Jinx's face as she recalled the memory of her coloring her mom's cup.

Vander had hung out with her all day because he felt bad about taking her drink from her, she appreciated it, it was rare for them to have a day completely to themselves. There was always someone else who needed attention more than her.

Vander was the leader of the Undercity at the time after all, not like he could just get a personal day whenever he wanted.

But that day was special, it was just the two of them, coloring and talking about mom and dad. That was the day Jinx learned her dad had been the one to fall in love with Mom first and had to try and win her over.

After a long moment of just staring at the cup, Jinx poured the juice and dropped the straw in. She picked up the cup and set it in front of her old seat, where Powder grinned ear to ear as she bounced in her stool excitedly.

Jinx gave her a sad smile, "Enjoy it kid. Never know when it's gonna be your last."

After that Jinx decided to see what all the fuss was about with alcohol, the juice being reserved for Powder and all, Vi said Vander told her she wasn't allowed to drink until she had a shit day, well Jinx had plenty of those she needed to cash in.

Jinx grabbed the nearest, unbroken, bottle and took a swig.

Her lips curled up in disgust as soon as the drink touched her lips, it was truly a foul concoction, if she hadn't been forced fed Shimmer for seven years she would've spat it out. But Jinx was thirsty, and there wasn't much to drink in a bar that wasn't alcohol, so she just downed the rest of the bottle throwing it over her shoulder when she was done.

"Janna sis, the hell was your rush to try that shit," Jinx mumbled as she pulled a face at the thought of it's foul taste.

The stuff made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside for about two seconds before the normal buzz of the Shimmer returned, hardly a high worth chasing, she thought as she made her way towards the stairs.

She walked up them, and over a couple of broken chairs that blocked her path, following the way she had taken last time she had been led into Silco's office.

He had needed her to root out a rat in one of his factories that was stealing money from the great Eye of Zuan. Apparently, his people were incompetent and unable to handle the job, Jinx assumed calling her in was his way of warning them they were easily expendable considering he gave their job to a 16-year-old, but to Jinx it was just a big waste of her time.

She just locked down the factory and threatened to kill everyone by rigging on of the Shimmer pumps to blow (it's actually really easy, they basically explode themselves) if they didn't tell her who was stealing the money, and sure enough all of the guy's accomplices fessed up after like two seconds. Jinx then proceeded to just kill the guy and bring his head to Silco as a little gift (she wanted to see if he would scream like a little girl when he saw a severed head… he didn't.)

Silco was pissed that she didn't do the job all discretely and sneakily, but she wasn't about to go on the hunt for a rat when she had Vander waiting for her back at the lab. She wasn't a puppet to be pulled out and made to dance whenever he wanted. Which he seemed to have learned considering he never asked her to handle such a high-stakes job again.

Jinx opened the door to his office, which was now just cold and empty, like his corpse.

She walked around eyes scanning for anything that would lead her to the doctor, or just something interesting. Silco had known Vander after all, it piqued Jinx's curiosity, how could two people who hated each other so much have been friends in the past?

"Same way you and Ekko were."

"Talk about him again and I'll down some of that stuff the doctor gave me just to kick your ass," Jinx growled.

Ekko and her were done, her coming back to life wasn't going to change that, she made that clear when that bomb went off.

Jinx began to search through stacks of papers, looking for anything with mentions of the doctor or anything related to him but she came up empty.

Jinx scowled as she made her way to his desk.

"…I finally killed you. Did you ever think it would happen? I mean, you always saw yourself as so high and mighty, you would never think someone as insignificant as me could take you down."

His empty chair just sat there.

"I sat in your chair a few days ago you know, bet that pisses you off. The peasant sitting on the king's throne, how scandalous," she taunted.

His empty throne proved no response.

"Still just as fucking annoying even when you don't talk," she muttered as she made her way to the other side of the desk.

Jinx sat herself in the chair, trying to imagine what it was like, holding so much power and still not giving a shit about anyone.

It was actually kind of easy.

If Vi and Vander were dead and she was a power-hungry psycho she would have all the qualities needed to fulfill the role.

"You already got the psycho part down," Mylo sneered.

"I already criticized myself, you don't need to pile on," Jinx spat back.

"Don't take away his one purpose in life Jinx, that's just cruel."

"Whose side are you on!"

Claggor shrugged as Jinx rolled her eyes.

Jinx sighed as she spun herself around in the chair, she would probably have to go drag the info on the doctor out of Sevika, Silco's office was just too big. If only Vi hadn't knocked her out she could've started torturing the location out of her.

She huffed as she stopped the chair from spinning, her vision slowly coming to a standstill. Her examined the papers on his desk, all a bunch of mumbo jumbo about new buildings and factories, nothing about the doctor or his hideouts.

Jinx threw the papers into the air, drumming her fingers on the desk as she watched them float down to the floor.

She needed that location. Systematically searching the buildings in the Undercity would take ages, even for her, plus by building number 342 the doctor would probably have heard she was out searching for him and moved to somewhere more secure.

Jinx chewed on her lip in contemplation, she would have to go and wake up Sevika if her search through his office turned up nothing. But, before she was forced to deal with the ogre she still had drawers to search.

She pulled the first one open and was met with boring normal objects, like a case of cigars, pens, a lighter, a knife (that she pocketed), and so on. But there was one item in there that drew her attention, an old out of date metal injection device.

Jinx pulled it out and examined it. Sure enough, that old cobbled-together thing was definitely from the doctor. It appeared to be an advanced version of the prototype he used on Jinx and Orrin when he did that eye experiment on them, she remembered how painfully slow and inaccurate that one was, but this one, though still old-looking, was definitely more advanced.

She flicked the lever on the side, causing the needle to shoot down and back up in a mere second. A definite improvement on the one that was used on her.

She set the device back in the drawer and shut it, seemed that Silco and the doctor had a closer relationship than she thought. Who knew the doctor had such important test subjects out there? Silco, the Eye of Zuan, kept functioning by the very scum of the earth she was controlled by. What irony.

It almost made up for the fact that she and Orrin were most likely tested on to see if the doctor could fix Silco's eye.

Almost.

She moved on to the next drawer which seemed infinitely more promising, it was full of letters and notes. Jinx pulled out the stack and began to search through it.

Most were from Chem barons that were complaining about one thing or another, but there was one letter that stopped her dead in her tracks, a black envelope that had her name written on it in big loopy golden letters.

The letter was addressed to her.

Notes:

Fun fact, Jinx can't actually get drunk. She feels the effects for like two seconds before the Shimmer counteracts the alcohol. That's why she literally downed a whole full-sized bottle of alcohol and only felt a little buzz. She has no clue that she can't get drunk though.

Also, I ended up writing that flashback in Vander's perspective and not Jinx's because I liked how it came out better. Even though it is technically Vander's first real chapter there's no deeper meaning to it other than me wanting to write that scene in his pov.

Chapter 47: The Power To Forgive

I write this letter knowing full well that my end is near. I write this letter for completely selfish reasons. I write this letter under the guise of righteousness to explain away my emotions and my weaknesses. I write this letter for the person who is soon to be my murderer.

For Jinx, or as you were formerly known, Powder.

My righteous reason for putting this pen to this paper is that you deserve to know why I condemned you to the most terrible fate I could have imagined, one that was far worse than I ever had expected. To accomplish this goal I must first tell you of my tale of how, I, The Eye Of Zaun, the monster you've come to know, came to be.

I, like most who are born down here, came from nothing. Only back then things were much worse than they are now, the air was thick with what we came to know as The Gray, a poison that laced your lungs with a thick coat of grime and burned away at your eyes. At the time people's only options were to work in the mines where The Gray was the thickest and choke to death as we put money in the pockets of the wealthy, or fall to the mercy of the old Chem-Barons. The Chem-Barons of old were far worse than those who take up their chairs now, they fought constantly, none of them willing to work with the other. People had to swear their loyalty to one and work themselves to death for them, should anyone step foot on one of their territories without permission, they would be killed. There were no laws down here back then, people killed and stole whoever and whatever they pleased.

This led to constant arrests and brutality from enforcers, and soon enough it became normal to be beaten to death for nothing more than existing in the Undercity. No one down here ever expected to live past their 20s. If the gangs didn't get you, then the mines would, or the enforcers.

I was born weak and alone, abandoned by some women who didn't want to deal with the chore of raising a child. Like you, no one saw anything special in me. Except Vander that is. I began working the mines at the age of 6, knowing full well that was the best way to end up in one of the many sectioned-off body dumping zones, I took actions to ensure my health would be preserved. I stole from the other children, I bought off the biggest guy in my team for protection, I convinced the enforcers I was completely harmless, and let the others take the fall for things in my place. I worked the rigged system to get the best I could out of it, and it worked. Three months later I was the lone survivor of my team.

They put me on a new team, and another one when I outlived all those people as well. It was the same old story for years, moving from one team to the next, using and manipulating others to get extra food, or shorter shifts, until I was the only one left. I became the "Fun hating pessimist", as Sevika puts it, that I still am to this day. The death of everyone you've ever known tends to do that to you, something I'm sure you can relate to.

When I turned 16 I was put on a large team that included Connol, your father, Felicia, your mother, and Vander. Connol was the first to befriend me, well, more like wear me down. He was constantly badgering me and hung around me simply because we were of the same age, as if that in itself was reason enough for us to be attached at the hip. I dislike him, he just drew unnecessary attention to me, but eventually, I grew accustomed to his never-ending chatter and accepted the fact that he was someone I could not control.

Like I feared, Connol drew the unwanted attention of a young girl to us. Well, unwanted on my part, your father had no problem with it. In fact, he was so infatuated with the girl, who just so happened to be your mother, Felicia, that it was painful to watch, especially since she shot him down every time. Felicia was curious about me, so she too hung around, using Connol as an excuse anytime I attempted to get rid of her. Felicia brought with her another person, Vander. They were, and I quote, "A package deal." I had heard of Vander, he was notoriously violent towards the guards but he got away with it because he was a mountain of a man that got plenty of work done for the blood sucking vultures who needed the resources he collected to sell for more money any of us would ever see in a lifetime.

I had no interest in Felicia, but I knew Vander could be useful, so I allowed them to stay. The four of us became a tightly knit group, and I soon came to enjoy everyone's company more than expected. Vander had an anger in him that I respected and understood and Felicia had the dreams that we all lacked. Your mother was something that none of us had seen a long, long time.

Hopeful.

She talked of a world where everyone could be happy, she talked about a future that all could enjoy. It was nothing like the hateful violence that had always been peddled as justice down here. It was an actual future for all of us.

Unbeknownst to Felicia, I had grabbed onto this dream of hers and twisted it into something conceivable. Something I could achieve. Something we could achieve.

Our Nation Of Zaun.

Well the years passed, and while this was Felicia's dream, Vander and I seemed to be the ones obsessed with making it happen. I used that unbridled rage in Vander and gave it a refined point, one I used to kill those I deemed our enemies. Felicia became the face of our operation, turning and convincing others that our dreams would soon be a reality. Connol infused our members with his never-ending joy, whether it was welcomed or not.

Believed it or not, it was your mother who got Sevika to believe in our cause. Before Sevika came to work with us, she had been an errand girl for one of the top chem barons at the time. It was a major blow to them when they lost her, because Sevika had been running practically everything for them. She knew every detail of how their business worked, which in turn allowed us to finally get our first big win that made people realize we were more than a couple of stupid kids.

This was both a blessing and a curse, as things started taking off, our group became more and more separated. Vander and I kept in touch constantly, mainly because I was the one running everything behind the scenes, and he was doing all the grunt work, but despite the reason, we became inseparable.

We became brothers.

I had never had a family, Vander was the first person I truly trusted. The first I was sure would be around forever, the first I actually wanted to be. He admitted to me the night we finally had enough cash to buy The Last Drop that he had always known there was something special about me, he said he could see it in my eyes when we first met. Then again, he was blackout drunk from the celebration party we held with just ourselves, so perhaps I shouldn't have taken such pride in those words, but it was the first time someone told me they thought I was capable of something other than being a mindless worker down in some mine. It was like I had wings, I believed nothing could bring me down.

We all thought that.

As the years went on, Vander and I had become who everyone knew as the future of the Undercity. We were so caught up in things that we hadn't even seen the blossoming love between your parents. Your mother walked into the bar one day, happy as could be playing that song she loved so much, (that she used to say made her gag with how nauseatingly romantic it was), and blatantly announced that she was, and these were her words exactly, "Knocked up."

Vander and I practically spat our drinks out into her face. You see, your mother wasn't a romantic person, she never wanted anything more than a good time, and she certainly didn't want a child. I could see it in Vander's eyes, the concern and anger on Felicia's behalf. I'm ashamed to admit that I too was concerned and angry, but not for Felicia, but for what this would do to our cause. I was already making plans as Vander served her up the only non alcoholic drink he kept in stock, in that old dented metal cup and straw he bestowed upon you after he took you in. The one I could not bring myself to get rid of.

She knew that the baby in her belly was a girl. I don't know how, but she did. She told us about Violet, a name Vander selected on her behalf, before she even told Connol, whom she had been seeing on and off for the past couple of years. That day she announced that she was quitting the cause in the most Felicia way she possibly could. She went on and on about how she couldn't be a mother and a revolutionary fighter at the same time, and then she said she realized she didn't have to be. She said "The second I told you I put you on the hook. You two are going to figure this Zaun thing out. I don't care if you have to carve it out of bedrock, covered in blisters."

That became our new motto, Blisters and Bedrock.

We were young and happy. Everything seemed to be going our way. Even without Felicia and Connol, our cause thrived. Vander became the new face, leading with anger, not the hope only Felicia carried.

However, soon things became… worse.

Vander and I felt untouchable, we thought we could take on the world.

We were wrong.

We overstepped, took too much. Topside became angry, and they sent enforcer after enforcer.

And then we became angry, and that anger and frustration created a ticking time bomb. A self-made army went to the bridge to fight back using our cause, which was now fueled by anger, as their motivation. The people of the Undercity would not take this disrespect sitting down. Vander and I didn't do anything to stop it, if anything we encouraged it.

Once your parents discovered what was happening they were furious, they said hundreds would be killed by sending them out there. I didn't care. I wanted our Nation Of Zaun.

The people rioted, stormed the bridge, welding whatever they could get their hands on. I didn't start the frenzy, but I egged it on.

Your parents were never meant to be there. That wasn't part of the plan I made. But it didn't matter what I wanted, they went to try and stop it despite my and Vander's warnings.

Vander knew of my plan to start a riot at the bridge, he supported it, but once your parents took off for the bridge he suddenly lost his nerve, saying that I was stepping too far, that I should have never suggested this. As if I was the only one responsible for all that was happening, as if he wasn't next to me every step of the way voicing his support the entire time, telling me that I wasn't taking it far enough, that I should have killed and taken more. He was the one who said that the riot on that bridge wasn't something we should intervene with, and I agreed.

I may be a terrible person, but at least I admit to the atrocities I've committed, and I do not cower from them.

We shared a vision, Vander and I, of respect, opportunity. Not just for the lanes, but for the whole of the underground, united as one. Our Nation Of Zaun.

I trusted him, and he betrayed me.

The Vander I knew was very different from the one you did. He carried this anger in him. It was such a blaze of fury that everyone who saw it got swept up in it. No one usually survives that burning blaze. I, however, did.

My brother turned his back on me, and his anger. I saw the signs, and I tried to flee from him. But like our past, I could not outrun him. He eventually found me, I was attempting to cross the river hoping to escape his wrath when he finally caught me. He then drowned me in those waters.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to drown? Imagine, your blood mixes with the filth and the river toxins eat through your nerves. But drowning is not just a story of pain, it's a story of opposites. There's peace in water. Like it's holding you, whisperin' in low tones to let it in. And every problem in the world will fade away. But then there's this thing, in your head, and it's raging. Lighting every nerve with madness. To fight. To survive. And all the while this question lingers before you.

"Have you had enough?"

I hated him for what he'd done, but as time passed so did my hate. And I was left with an understanding. The only way to defeat a superior enemy is to stop at nothing. To become what they fear. He changed me forever. For that I was grateful. Because that day, I let a weak man die. And another was reborn.

Betrayal, that pain that feels like it'll eat you from the inside out, can either break you or forge you into something greater. This is something we have in common, you and I. You let Powder die, so the fear of pain no longer controlled you. So you could be strong. I too used my anger to fuel my recovery and my revenge. I'll spare you the details of all I went through after Vander tried to drown me. Though you should know I would have happily stayed in the shadows if I had not received word that Vander had taken a deal with Topside's newest sheriff. At least that is what I tell myself.

I made plans, that's what I was good at after all, and led an attack on everything Vander ever cared for.

His people and you, his children.

After the battle at the old cannery, I found you. You sat there on the ground crying, hugging Vander like he was a lifeline. I will never forget what you looked like back then. I saw myself in you. You were alone, abandoned, like me. And that scared me. You, a small insignificant child, scared me. You terrified me so, because I foresaw the future where I ended up realizing why Vander gave it all up. Why he made the ultimate sacrifice. Because there is nothing so undoing as a daughter.

The selfishness that I disguise in my long-winded explanation is that I was a coward. I knew I did not have the heart to get rid of you, so I had another do it for me.

I should have known the doctor would not simply kill you after a week or so.

The plan had always been to take Vander's corpse to the doctor, payment for all he had done, so I just added you to the list. I tossed you aside without looking back. Because I knew if I did, you would capture my heart in a far deadlier trap than any of the people down here could create. I knew I would come to care for you. Perhaps love you. And that child, is something that still strikes the fear of Janna into me. For the only ones I have ever loved have left me in far worse a state than I could have ever dreamed. Imagine what you would have done.

The base violence necessary for change.

That was my righteous reason back then. I told myself that Topside wouldn't listen to anything else. I told myself that I was doing this for us. All of us. The sons and daughters of Zaun.

At some point, Our Nation Of Zaun became My Nation Of Zaun. And I did all I could to protect it. Which included handing you over to the doctor. Because power, real power doesn't come to those who are born strongest, or fastest, or smartest. It comes to those who would do anything to achieve it.

I wanted to show them. I wanted to show them all so badly I cut part of myself off. I let that part leave me with you, out of the simple fear that you would stop me from achieving that.

Even when I had seen what the doctor was in the midst of creating the first time I laid eyes on you after that night, I couldn't let you distract me from my goals. I allowed you to slip away again, all out of the simple fear that you would destroy all I had worked so hard to create with your mere existence.

Fear haunts us all, child.

It says something about Marcus that he found imprisoning your sister to be a greater mercy than killing her. I always thought killing was a far greater mercy than forcing someone into a cage, forcing them to watch a world they could never be a part of.

But I was wrong.

Killing is a cycle. One that started long before Vander and me. And it will continue long after you and your sister. We build our own prisons. Bars forged of oaths, codes, commitments. Walls of self-doubt and accepted limitation. We inhabit these cells, these identities, and call them us. I thought I could break free by eliminating those I deemed my jailers. But, Jinx, I think the cycle only ends when you find the will to walk away.

Even as I come to this epiphany, I know I will never be strong enough to walk away. That is a strength reserved for those like Vander. And, I hope, like you.

There's a monster inside us all Jinx. I have spent my life forcing that monster out of others. Out of myself.

I never intended to force it out of you. I never wanted to let the doctor sharpen that hope you carried into a deadly point, twisting it into something awful, like I did with Vander.

Vander, the old Vander, was my monster. One that I made from anger and resentment. You child, are the doctor's, one he made of twisted love and dreams for the future. One I had a hand in creating.

I never should have given you to him. Not for anything.

As the days went by, and you and I grew older, I found myself wishing more and more often that I let you become my weakness, or allowed myself to listen to those pesky thoughts of saving you from that man. I wish that I had let you destroy me and strip away all my righteous reasons. Because you, Jinx, Powder, whichever you prefer, whoever you choose to be, is perfect.

Do not let them tell you otherwise.

As I sit here writing my final words, I've come to realize that I was never meant to see the great Nation of Zaun I worked so hard to create. None of us are. That world is the one we will constantly be working to create for our children, and our children's children. You, Jinx, and your sister were the ones who showed all of us this truth. Me, Vander, Connol, and Felicia. And for that, I will always be grateful.

For everything else, I will never have the words to apologize.

Chapter 48: Watch It All Burn

Notes:

(Warning!)

Some not-so-fun parts of Jinx beating people up. If you don't want to read stop at:

"STOP!" (bolded) Jinx yelled.

And keep reading when you see

*Squeak* (also bolded)

(Please read!)

You know what, yeah I'm making all of you read this because it is a crime the whole fandom hasn't listened to these songs.

Last chapter there was a comment made by Heyhxh. They have linked two songs that you are required to listen to if you want to keep reading this fanfic. Do it before you read this, do it after, I don't care. Just get it done 😡

/3iq7VrpPn0Y?si=Coonxxomp4-fFnfi&utm_source=ZTQxO

/wWiwx0Q0NF0?si=4SxcpyrWugu1ggh-&utm_source=ZTQxO

Heyhxh has the whole translation of the songs written for you in their comment from last chapter if you want to read while you listen! Watch the videos!

Tears fell onto the letter as she read.

Tears of anger, of frustration, of sadness, of betrayal, of hatred, of grief, of love, of disgust, of every swirling emotion that raged inside her.

At long last she received her explanation for the reason behind all of this man's actions, and it infuriated her. The fucking coward used the excuse of not knowing, of being scared of loving someone, to justify his sins.

He was truly an awful man.

But a terrible thing she had learned from this letter was the reason for his and Vander's relationship being destroyed. He and Vander were responsible for the raid that led to her parent's death.

She didn't know how to feel about that information. Vander had backed out but he was still responsible for it happening in the first place, even if it wasn't directly, and then he just turned around and blamed Silco for it all.

…kinda like what happened with her and Vi.

Jinx shook her head, dismissing that idea immediately. She could discuss all this with Vander later, for now, she just had to save him, whatever came after was still left unknown.

Jinx sighed as she looked back down at the letter, as much as she wanted to ignore everything the bastard had written she couldn't help but think of how different things would have been if Silco had taken her in that night. Because if he had offered her a home in all of the chaos that was that night seven years ago she would've taken it.

She fucking hated admitting it, it felt like swallowing glass, but she remembered what she was feeling back then. She remembered the pain and loneliness, anyone would have been better than the empty spot she had in her heart.

Things would have been so different… but that wasn't her world, this one was, and he gave her up.

He was dead.

Gone.

This note providing little comfort or answers to her hundreds of questions. Apparently, even if it was just a minuscule amount, he had felt bad about what happened to her. It made sense, in a sick, twisted sort of way, he was friends with her mom after all. So him keeping the cup all locked up and safe wasn't that much of a stretch either, it was her mom's before Vander gave it to Jinx.

Even though it disgusted her, she could understand his sentimentality. What she couldn't understand however was his actions over the past few days.

The letter was written after the confrontation at Vi and Jinx's old home, but if that was the case, why the manhunt for her after the fact? He said he accepted death, so why the fuck was the dead man trying to kill his would-be murderer?

Could it be that after writing all this sentimental bullshit he just up and changed his mind? But if that's what happened then why quote-unquote "try to save her life" by taking her back to the doctor?

He was a walking contradiction. His actions were all over the place and made no sense, and the worst fucking part of it all was that he was dead, so there was no questioning him on any of it.

"But there's one person who knows," Mylo whispered gleefully.

"The one person in the Undercity who would know exactly what was running through his head at the time."

"The very same person I have tied up downstairs," Jinx whispered as she set the letter down onto the desk with a thud.

---

Squeak.

Squeak.

Squeak.

Squeak.

Round and round she goes.

Squeak.

Squeak.

Squeak.

Squeak.

Wonder when she'll finally wake up.

Squeak.

Squeak.

Squeak.

Squeak.

Jinx had tried waking her multiple times.

Squeak.

Squeak.

Squeak.

Squeak.

Even gave her a bit of her blood to get her going.

Squeak.

Squeak.

Squeak.

Squeak.

But unfortunately for her, she just passed out again after two seconds of delirious muttering.

Squeak.

Squeak.

Squeak.

Squeak.

An incoherent groan sound from the breathing corpse.

Slap!

She awoke with a start, shaking her head before her eyes landed on Jinx, who was happily sitting atop the desk spinning the knife she had found in her hands while her feet held the chair steady.

Sevika glared at her.

Jinx inhaled and sighed heavily, "I feel like you and I got off on the wrong arm," Jinx said wheeling her in close with her feet, brushing her knife along her face all the way to her good arm as she spoke, "Maybe we should try the other?" She said digging the point of the blade into her shoulder.

She took in a sharp breath as Jinx pressed, before letting out a laugh, "So you've come to kill me now, is that it?"

Jinx pulled her knife back and frowned at her, "Oh Sevika, haven't we already made it clear to each other how much we don't give a shit about one another?"

She thumped her head against the chair, "Just do it already. I'm in no mood for your games."

Jinx hummed before reaching down and pulling up the letter she had received from Silco.

She held it up in Sevika's face, "Explain. Or we play my favorite game of Cat interrogating the half-eaten rat."

She looked at the letter before scoffing, "Son of a bitch, the motherfucker actually wrote you a fucking letter."

Jinx stabbed her knife into Sevika's leg, "Language ogre, I'm only 18."

She let out a grunt of pain before laughing, "An 18-year-old mass murderer."

Jinx twisted the blade.

She jumped against her restraints.

"Don't bother, I've tied up people ten times your size with half the rope," Jinx said as she leaned back, pulling the knife out of her leg.

"Why are you here?!" Sevika yelled, "Was it for that bitch you call a sister?"

Slap!

"You really have a foul mouth, you know that?" Jinx said as she stood and began to pace around the chair and desk.

"I don't know where she is," Sevika hissed.

"I do," Jinx said in a sing-songy voice, "But that's not what I want. I want you to answer my previous question, why did he write the letter?"

Sevika glared at her, "Since when do you care about Silco?"

Jinx stabbed the knife through Sevika's hand, "Since when did you get stupid enough to make me ask twice?"

She screamed in pain as Jinx pulled the blade out of her hand.

"You wanna know about him?! Fine, not like I give a shit about the son of a bitch anymore!" She snarled, "After you went psycho he freaked out, saying you were going to kill him. He said you were coming after him, so I sent out people to kill you, but after he stopped pissing his pants he got all existential and said to call them off. I thought he had officially lost it, he was talking about surrendering, just letting you kill him without even trying to fight."

"Still not making sense, he showed up at the bridge. He got my location from somewhere, and I'm betting it was from one of his trusty lackeys who had been looking for me," Jinx said narrowing her eyes at her while she spun her knife around.

"Oh we got your location, but it wasn't thanks to him. I sent out a small party to keep the search going-"

"Well, well, well, look who went rogue," Jinx hissed, her lips curling up in disgust.

Sevika shook her head, "he was ready to give it all up. He was always soft when it came to you," she sneered.

"Soft? He gave me to that devil disguised as a human," Jinx snarled.

"Oh, but when he found out you were alive all those years ago he started acting all weird. Having people follow you around, keeping tabs on you, and whatever you were up to. He actually said he was going to go and take you from the doctor once," she scoffed.

"So what changed? He wasn't all sweet and nice when we talked for the first time all those years ago."

"The doctor figured him out. Realized he had been following you around, so he went to him and demanded all the papers and info he collected on you. He said he would stop producing Shimmer for him if he didn't."

"…and Silco wasn't willing to lose his empire for someone like me," Jinx whispered.

"Back when he was sane," Sevika sneered, "He handed over all the shit we had to the doctor-"

"What did you have?" Jinx questioned.

"Names, dates, locations, every little detail about the people you were killing. All up till you were 13 when you got that speed of yours and became practically impossible to track."

"…that's all?"

"Well at the time yeah, one of our guys did manage to find a journal of yours years after we stopped following you around that we turned over to the doctor-"

Jinx shoved her knife into her stomach, twisting and pushing as she screamed and squirmed.

They were the ones responsible for him getting his hands on it.

"It's really your own fault, I mean, you just threw it off a tower as if that would destroy it," Claggor pointed out.

Jinx watched as she slowly stopped thrashing and the life in her eyes slowly began to fade as blood poured out of the stab wound.

Once she looked like she was truly about to die Jinx pulled back and sliced open her arm and shoved her own blood down Sevika's throat, causing her to come back to life with a scream.

She sat there slumped forward for a long moment before growling, "What. The. Fuck."

Jinx wiped off her bloody hands on her clothes, "Oh, did I not mention that little party trick of mine? It makes for real fun torture sessions, I can literally do anything I want and then just give you some of my blood to make you survive."

Sevika spat onto the floor, "You're insane."

"That's beside the point. Now, be a dear and skip ahead to the part where Silco goes to the bridge."

"…he found out I kept looking for you despite his orders, and he knew I had found you too, so he demanded to know your location. When he found out you had gone to the bridge despite the blockades he lost his shit, started yammering about your parents of all things," She scoffed, "He was ready to run out the door and drag you back here himself. I managed to convince him to take a team, but he ditched them as soon as he got you. I assume things went poorly when the moron took you back to the doctor."

"How do you know where he took me?" Jinx asked.

"Well, the guys told me you got blown up and that Silco told them to head back cause he had somewhere else to be. He knew there would only be one person who could save you when you were at death's door, and I knew it too. He actually took you back to the doctor after everything," Sevika laughed, "He was that desperate to keep you alive."

"…he was a fool to think he would help me," Jinx spat.

"He's always been a fool. He just hid it better than most," Sevika sneered.

Jinx regarded her oddly, "For being his loyal slave you sure sound resentful."

"He abandoned everything to try and save you," she hissed, "Everything we've done for the past seven years all for nothing because he felt bad about the fucking decision HE made. I told him giving you to that man was a bad idea, I told him he should have just killed you himself, but he didn't care," she snarled, "He just went ahead with his own plans and left me to deal with the mess he left behind. I can't believe he's dead and I'm still left mopping up his messes. That man couldn't do shit himself, if he was still here he would have me all over the Lanes running his collections-"

Selling his shimmer, Jinx added silently.

"Making his deals-"

Killing his enemies…

She had never thought about it before, Sevika was like her in a sense, she just worked for a different cave dweller. She had no say about what went on with Jinx. She was unconscious when Silco handed her to Singed. She was the middleman, just the messenger, the lackey.

A lackey that hated her guts and wanted her dead from the moment they laid eyes on each other, but a lackey nonetheless.

"He dips out, the whole world flips over. The Chem barons are down my neck because of the mess he left behind, and I don't even know what to say. All his plans. Everything WE built… he threw it all away. He left us to rot," She spat.

"Sounds like you should've killed him yourself years ago," Jinx muttered as she listened to Sevika spiral.

"He never cared about us, always doing things to give himself more power instead of working to set us free. The asshole lost his charm years ago, but he was also the only fucking one with any chance at succeeding in making Zuan a reality. All the other Chem-Barons are complete morons, they would never get anywhere with anything. They would just leave us to die in our own shit, but I guess Silco just did the same thing anyway so what does it matter anymore,'" she said bitterly, "What am I supposed to do now?"

She was as much a ghost as Jinx, the only difference being that she got to live in the spotlight.

"Watch it all burn," Jinx supplied, "Or you know, try to fix it. But in my experience that never ends well."

She scoffed before sighing, "If you're going to finish me off just do it, get your fucking revenge, I'm so sick of cleaning up people's mess for them."

Jinx was silent for a moment. The offer was tempting, killing her, Jinx had never liked Sevika so it would be easy. But unfortunately for Jinx, despite Sevika's vast annoyingness, she was still useful.

"Haven't I done you enough favors? Besides I still need you to help mop up my mess."

She glared at Jinx, "I already told you what I know about Silco," she snapped.

Jinx snorted, "Silco has always been second on my list, I need your help to take out the first."

She narrowed her eyes at her, "You killed Silco but not the doctor?"

Jinx crossed her arms, "Yeah, well, you got beat up by my sister," she snapped back.

She shook her head, "If you don't know where the doctor is then how the hell would I?"

"Silco provided him safe houses and labs, I need all their locations."

"You think the doctor would be dumb enough to go to a place you know exists when you're still running around looking for him?" She asked with a scoff.

"No," she sneered, "I think he's alone and desperate, and I think you rented out some people to him not too long ago," Jinx said pointedly.

"I didn't give him shit. I need all the people I can get right now, the Chem-Barons have been up my ass-"

"I don't give a shit," Jinx said slamming the knife in between Sevika's fingers as a warning, "He needed someone to help him drag his shit to his new place, and he wouldn't risk going to anyone else."

She was quiet for a moment before responding, "…I lost some guys up near the factories, I assumed it was the Chem barons getting ahead of themselves, but-"

"He wouldn't need to go through you if he just grabbed the guys off the street," Jinx muttered.

"And since I haven't told people he's no longer with us-"

"They went along with it completely unaware," Jinx spat.

A loud crashing sound came from downstairs.

Jinx's head snapped towards the door as a voice sounded from below, "BABY BLUE! I know you're in here! Come out come out wherever you are~"

There was only one piece of shit in this universe who had the nerve to call her that, the rat guy with all the fancy parts.

"Smeech," Sevika growled.

Jinx grabbed her by the throat, "Why is he here?"

"I don't know," she gasped, "Probably cause of the racket your sister made."

Jinx's heart fell into her stomach.

Vi.

She was still tied up downstairs.

Jinx slammed her way through the office door and sped down the steps like lightning, frantically looking around for Vi.

"Well, well, well. Look at who finally decided to show," The rat said as he stepped out of the darkness.

Jinx was about to kill him when she caught sight of what was behind him. Some guy holding Vi's knocked out form with a knife pressed against her neck.

"Ah, ah, ah. Don't go trying anything or your dear sister here finally gets that gravestone she was supposed to have seven years ago."

"You think messing with me is a good idea?" Jinx growled.

He flicked a metal finger and some guys of his stepped out and went in to grab her, she ripped her arm out of their reach when one of their fingers brushed against her skin.

"Get. Your. Hands. Off. Me," Jinx growled.

"You think you have a choice right now?" He nodded his head at the guy holding Vi pressed the knife in so blood began to fall from the cut.

"STOP!" Jinx yelled.

She couldn't lose Vi.

If she attacked the guy holding Vi, even with her super speed, she risked Vi having her throat sliced open, and Jinx didn't know if she could get her blood into her sister fast enough to save her from that.

She couldn't risk losing Vi.

Jinx put her hands up, "Put another scratch on her and I'll rip out your eyes and shove them down your throat so you can watch as I rip your stomach open," she growled as three guys grabbed onto her and shoved her onto her knees.

He laughed, "Always so dramatic with you. Honestly, I was surprised to hear you and your sister attacked the Last Drop."

Jinx bared her teeth, the son of a bitch she let go in the alley must've run off and ratted her out, to a rat no less.

He walked forward with his weird body of his and extended one of his freaky fingers until a needle was inches from Jinx's eye.

"Maybe I should skewer out those peepers. Make you nice and useless."

A slight dread filled Jinx at the thought of being blind again.

"Look at that, your eyes are all red, were you blubbering? Never thought I'd see the day, wonder if Silco ever got the chance to see that?" He said with a laugh.

"Twice," Jinx said interrupting his manic laughter, "When he met me… and when I killed him," she whispered a small manic grin of her own slipping through.

He pulled his finger back and looked at her, almost as if reexamining her, "So he is dead. But I'm surprised it was you."

Jinx chuckled darkly, "It's always me," she whispered bitterly.

"No matter," he said waving her off, "That just makes things easier. Now I can finally take control of this place, and you're going to help me."

"And what makes you-" Jinx began.

He gestured at Vi with his head, "It's kinda obvious, no?"

Panic began to flood Jinx as she saw her new future as his slave in her mind. Her sister trapped and held hostage while she was forced to kill, it would be the doctor all over again.

And she would lose Vander for good.

Everything would be over, she would be stuck, again.

Her eyes flew to every corner of the room, desperately looking for a way out. All she needed was the guy holding Vi to be distracted for one second and she could kill everyone before they even knew what happened.

But how was she supposed to do that!?

Bang!

The rat's stupid hat fell to the floor as the guy holding Vi cried out in pain, his hand pressed on his shoulder, a bullet now lodged in it.

"Don't let her go you-" Smeech began, but he was far too late.

Jinx slammed her head into one of the guys who was holding her, freeing her hand which picked up a shard of glass that she used to kill the others holding her before bolting to the guy holding Vi.

She killed him instantly breaking his neck for good measure.

Jinx crouched down and cradled Vi, checking to make sure she was ok, breathing a sigh of relief when Vi started snoring.

Jinx set her onto the floor and picked up the knife the guy holding Vi was using and was on Smeech instantly, avoiding his wild arm he had activated, as if that would be enough to save him from her.

Jinx grabbed him and ripped off his spinning blade of an arm using her Shimmer strength. He screamed with his annoying ass voice but Jinx was far from done. She took the long blade that she procured from the rat's old arm and slammed it through one of the few fleshy parts the rat had left, effectively stabbing through him and pinning him to the floor so he couldn't escape.

He tried to fight back using his other arm but Jinx was quick to tear that one off too, sending acidic green goo flying everywhere. She then sawed off any other mechanical parts off of him, leaving him as a twitching stump pinned to the floor beneath her.

"Okay, wait, wait, wait, wait! There's a deal to be struck here."

Jinx stood and grabbed his old arm, the one he had used to threaten her eyes with, and snapped off one of the fingers extending it until it was the delicate needle she had inches from her eye not long ago.

"I HATE making deals," she spat as she slammed the needle into his eye.

Jinx then spent the next several minutes fulfilling her promise of ripping out his eyes and shoving them down his throat before gutting him like a pig.

*Squeak*

"Moron never could keep his damn mouth shut."

Jinx's head snapped up, hand with a blade raised and ready to kill whoever else was there like she had with all the others.

Sevika, who was standing on the stairs, held her hand up, which was holding a stack of papers, "I'm not looking to end up like him," she said.

Jinx panted as she still held up the blade, "How?" She growled.

Sevika should have been tied up in the chair upstairs.

"How do you think? You left a knife next to my hand," she scoffed, "I'm not that incompetent."

"Debatable," Jinx said, spitting out some of the nasty green goo that got into her mouth at one point.

Jinx stood, blocking Vi from Sevika's view, her teeth bared and knife clutched tightly in her hand.

"Well I'm certainly competent enough not to try and go after your sister after seeing what you did to him," Sevika said with a roll of her eyes at Jinx's hostility.

"Then get rid of the gun," Jinx snapped, "It won't help you regardless."

Sevika looked at the gun she had tucked into her pants as if she had forgotten it was even there before pulling it out and flinging it away from herself.

Jinx raised a brow at her eagerness to comply.

"Like you said, it wouldn't help me anyway," she said with a shrug.

"You're the one who shot at the guy," Jinx said putting two and two together, "Why?"

Sevika shrugged, "I could've just let you eat it, but then again, I figured I've done you enough favors," she said as she flung a stack of papers at her.

Jinx regarded the stack of papers skeptically.

"And I had no desire to have you running around as that guy's number two," she added dryly at her skepticism.

Jinx relaxed a bit, Sevika didn't need Jinx helping the rat take over the Undercity, her reason seemed valid enough.

She walked over and picked up the stack of papers she had dropped on the ground, which had long lists of locations with their descriptions and sell dates.

Jinx pocketed the knife and began to hungrily read through them.

"I went and got them while you were… busy," she said eyeing the corpse of the rat man wearily.

Jinx ignored her as her eyes hurriedly scanned over every listing in the papers.

"The doctor sure as hell picked a bad person to make an enemy out of," Sevika commented as she watched Jinx flip through page after page.

"He's a special kind of moron," Jinx muttered as she found a place that matched the necessary requirements.

A lab buried underneath the old Chem-Baron Ruins.

Jinx walked over and heaved Vi up onto her shoulder, before looking back at Sevika.

"Change your mind about killing me?" She asked.

Jinx stared at her for a long time, "…I have some friends who will be tracking me down. Stay here and tell them I'm heading to Babette's."

"…you actually think I'll stay here and help you out?" Sevika said giving her a look.

"I killed Silco, by Undercity law I'm the new king. So that means you're my new lap dog."

Sevika just looked at her like she was nuts.

Jinx sighed, "I don't particularly care what you do anymore, cause you're not stupid enough to try and fuck with me, but Vi won't be so apathetic to your continued existence. This is your one shot a keeping your head on your shoulders, stay here and help me."

"What's the catch?" She asked skeptically.

"You spend the rest of your days in Stillwater," Jinx responded evenly.

"I'd rather die," she spat back.

Jinx shrugged, "Me or Vi will be happy to oblige."

She glared at her, "So you make friends Topside and suddenly you think it's fun to have people thrown into that shit hole they call a prison?"

"No. I think it's a nice opportunity I'm giving you to make up for all the shit you put me through."

She opened her mouth to argue but Jinx cut her off.

"I don't care that you weren't directly involved with having me work for the doctor, you still sat and watched it all happen. You're getting off easy because A, I don't have time to deal with you, and B, you helped me out today when you didn't have to. So stay here and help me before getting your ass thrown in jail, or run and live your days in terror knowing I'm coming after you, because that," Jinx said gesturing at the torn up remains of the rat man, "is a fraction of the horrors I will unleash upon you."

With that, she left Sevika to make her decision while Jinx went to kill her last target.

Notes:

Silco's story came out a bit clunkier than I expected when I explained it through Sevika so here's a full breakdown:

As Silco said in the letter he was afraid of growing attached to Jinx so he sent her to the doctor fully expecting her to be killed after a week or so, little did he know Vander was also alive which led to the whole situation we're in now. He then threw everything out as he took over the Last Drop minus the cup due to sentimental reasons. He threw everything out to try and forget about Jinx and everything she represented. But then Sevika found Jinx half dead outside the Last Drop after Jinx's first time trying to kill someone and Silco saw that Jinx was very much alive and being used by the doctor.

He then slowly started to spiral, despite his best attempts, he kept thinking about Jinx, so he had people start following her around and keeping tabs on her under the guise of him making sure she wasn't a danger to him. After a while he started talking about taking her from the doctor, telling Sevika she would be useful on their side, that she would be the perfect weapon to get everyone in line. (Sevika didn't buy his bullshit)

The doctor eventually caught on to him because Jinx kept saying she had to kill extra people or that she saw someone hanging around and watching her. The doctor then went and confronted Silco telling him that they had made a deal and he was to stay away from Jinx or he would stop producing Shimmer for him. That set Silco straight, along with some "encouragement" from Sevika who never supported his impulsive actions when it came to Jinx. After that he learned to live with the fact that Jinx was out there and turned a blind eye to it all, becoming frustrated with Jinx for the times she ruined some of his plans, and the fact that she was so strong.

Their relationship just deteriorated over the years and they just hated each other from a distance, until Jinx confronted him at Vi and Jinx's old home. Silco knew that Jinx was going to kill him and he began to panic, he ran to the Last Drop, explained the situation to Sevika, and then locked himself up in his office. He spent time coming to terms with his inevitable death and decided to just accept his fate, he told Sevika to call off the search (which Sevika did not do) and went to make plans for what would happen when he died. After more time alone with his thoughts he ended up writing a letter to Jinx, explaining his side of the story and apologizing for how things happened.

Once he went to talk to Sevika on how to proceed with things he overheard her getting Jinx's location on the bridge. He stormed in and flipped out on her, saying that she betrayed him. He demanded to be taken to Jinx, whom he was now determined to save from the panic that was currently happening at the bridge in a pathetic attempt to stop history from repeating itself. (He didn't want her to die like her parents) So he rushed down to the bridge with some people, because Sevika insisted, and found a practically dead Jinx on the bridge.

All he could think about was Felicia and Connol and how miserably he had failed them, he was desperate to fix a mistake he had made so long ago that he panicked and took a supposedly dying Jinx to the only person he knew could fix her, the doctor. He had no idea that Jinx would have been fine if she had just had enough time to rest and heal. He went to the doctor alone in a panic, he demanded to have her fixed and when the doctor asked what had happened, Silco let it slip that Vi was back. The doctor, putting two and two together, knocked Silco out and tied him up.

You guys know the rest.

Chapter 49: A Promise Made Is A Debt Unpaid.

Notes:

(Please read!)

Warwick is not Vander in this!

Warwick is just the name of the two-headed wolf in this universe, so don't get confused by that.

Jinx pounded on the metal door.

"Open the fucking door before I kick it down," Jinx snarled.

The back door to Babette's opened with a squeak, the big burly guard glaring at her from behind the small frame of Babbette herself.

"How can I help you?" She asked sharply.

Jinx's reputation must've gotten worse in the last few days. Honestly, she didn't understand how she wasn't public enemy number one with both the Undercity and Topside right now.

She had murdered a bridge full of enforcers, killed the king of the Undercity, and just eliminated one of the Chem barons.

She had done more than enough to enlist full-blown war over her capture, so Babette's newfound hostility was not surprising, but it sure as hell was annoying.

Jinx shoved her way inside, the guard reaching out to try and stop her before Babette held up a hand to stop him.

"You're taking care of Vi for me," Jinx said as she set her sister down.

"Jinx, after recent… events-"

"We both know how this will end up going down, you refuse, I threaten, you accept. Let's skip to the part where you say yes and I leave," Jinx said, standing and looking Babette in the eyes.

"…"

"Why you little-" growled the guard.

"Don't fuck with me," Jinx hissed, not breaking eye contact with Babette, "I can make room in my schedule for a mass slaughter."

"Jacob, please go make some tea for our old friend Vi," Babette said calmly.

Jinx sighed relieved, she may have threatened to do it, but killing all these people right now would be a pain in her ass, and despite her hostility, Babette was an old family friend. She didn't want her dead.

Jinx gave her a nod of appreciation as she made her way towards the door.

"Wait."

Jinx looked back at her.

"What should I tell her when she wakes up?" Babette asked.

Jinx looked at Vi's sleeping figure, "…you got a pen and paper?"

Babette snapped her fingers, and a woman who resembled a cat appeared from the shadows.

"Lest, if you would be so kind."

The woman produced a pen and paper as if by magic.

Jinx regarded the woman with a glare. Jinx didn't trust her, she looked like the type to butter you up with honey-coated words before spilling all your secrets to the highest bidder.

"Here you are," Babette said, handing over the supplies.

Jinx felt a flush of embarrassment run through her, before regaining her composure and growling out, "Have her write it," she said, gesturing at the cat woman.

Babette looked at her confused before sighing and handing the stuff back to the cat woman, "Humor her?"

Jinx had written before, in her journal, but she was slow at it, and she didn't know how to spell most words. Having to sit there and try to do it in front of an audience would be mortifying.

The woman smiled, "It would be my pleasure to write for the infamous Reaper," she purred.

Jinx barred her teeth at her, "The fuck you call me?"

Babette cleared her throat, "Apologies, she will write the letter now if you're ready," she said, fixing the woman with a look.

Reaper.

That was a new one. Jinx had been called lots of things before, the devil, a psychopath, a monster, a bitch, and many more colorful insults, but reaper was new.

It was a bad name for her, it made her killing sound clean and meaningful. It made her sound important and mysterious, and she was hardly any of those things.

Jinx gave her the address that she was going to search for the doctor at the Chem-Barron ruins, and then told her to add a note telling Vi to just go back Topside if Jinx wasn't there.

No matter how badly Jinx wanted to handle everything on her own, she knew that if things went south, she would need backup. Meaning she needed Caitlyn and Vi to know where to go to find her.

"Jinx, that place-" Babette began.

"My business is none of your concern," Jinx snapped.

The cat woman folded up the letter and handed it to Babette, turning to leave, but whispering in Jinx's ear, "Plenty of people can't write, it's nothing to be ashamed of."

Jinx turned to yell at her, but the woman was gone.

"Forgive her, she likes to stir the pot," Babette said, tucking the letter away.

Jinx huffed, "Whatever, but you should know I've got people coming over later. Let them handle Vi."

Babette nodded her head in understanding.

Jinx turned to leave before pausing and looking back at Babette, "And… take care of her… please."

Babette sighed, "I would be more worried about yourself. The old Chem-Baron ruins are not a place for the faint of heart."

"Babette, my heart has been through a lot."

She smiled sadly, "I am aware."

Jinx turned away from the sad-looking Yordle, whose expression left Jinx feeling odd, and left to hunt down the doctor.

---

The old Chem-Baron Ruins, a place Jinx was told to never set foot in as a child.

It was littered with traps, toxic gases that were worse than the Gray, old explosives that had yet to be set off, mutated animals that eat the flesh off of anything they could sink their teeth into, and plants that oozed out poison to kill anything foolish enough to touch them.

The place was a death trap created by the Chem-Barons of old.

The story Jinx heard from Vander and the others was that the old Chem-Barons were the merciless type, killing anything and everything. If they wanted something and they couldn't have it, they would destroy it, which was the case for this very land. Apparently, someone discovered that this piece of dirt held rare materials, and every Chem-Baron wanted to get their greedy little hands on it. They started killing the people who lived here, destroying their homes and anything else they had tried to build down here. Once the people were out of the way, the only thing left to do was to decide who got the land, which was something no one was willing to give up.

It broke out into a full-scale war that lasted for years and years. No one won anything, no one managed to dig up the stupid ore they so desperately wanted. The only thing they accomplished was creating a place so decimated that it became uninhabitable.

They used chemical warfare, which killed people for miles when they lost control of it, they placed mines anywhere they could, so much so that not even the armies of the Chem-Barons didn't know where they were buried anymore. Soon, it was impossible to be within a 100-yard radius without smelling the stench of rotting corpses.

Then one day, one of the people actually managed to get what they had been fighting so desperately for, fool's gold. That's right, after all of that, the thing they were fighting so hard for turned out to be fake and worthless.

All of the Chem-Barons just up and abandoned the place after that, their meaningless war suddenly over. Some people tried to move in and build things, but they soon found that doing that was just a good way of ending up six feet under.

Mines were still buried everywhere, traps of all kinds were set up for unsuspecting fools to trip, the animals that had managed to "adapt" to the environment were viscous and dangerous, the air was still more poisonous than anything you could find in a mine, and to top it all off, if you stayed, you would soon develop a terrible, incurable disease that made your flesh rot.

The place was abandoned for the rest of time, and no one was stupid enough to set foot in it again. But it seemed the doctor didn't get the memo.

The warnings Jinx had received about this place were clear, never go near it, never set foot in it, and if you do, pray to Janna for a quick death.

But Jinx doesn't believe in praying to a god that fucked her over so many times, it would be a waste of everybody's time.

Jinx walked past the hundreds of warning signs and climbed the large fence with barbed wire at the top. She hung onto the fence as she looked over at the vast, decimated town that was still about half a mile out. The field before her was laced with unseen traps, mines, and hungry animals, all waiting for a chance to kill her.

Jinx was fast, outrunning animals would be easy, so would outrunning any gas traps she came upon, her only concern was the mines. Sure, she was fast, but she doubted she could outrun an explosion, the last one she had been in didn't end too well for her.

She scanned the area. The doctor had gotten through it all somehow, despite having to carry his daughter and Vander along with him and having a bunch of morons trailing behind him. He had to know of a completely clear path to go down.

Jinx scowled as she looked around at the barren wasteland. She saw nothing-

A loud shrieking noise snapped Jinx from her thoughts. She looked over at the source of the noise and spotted a lone bird, a rather large bird, swooping down and snatching up a small animal, leaving behind deep claw marks in the rock that was beneath the poor animal the bird had just killed.

But the bird didn't fly off, instead, it circled around before landing with the corpse of the animal smack dab in the middle of the field, where there was already some other half-eaten corpse that looked suspiciously like a human.

Jinx sighed heavily at the thought of dealing with the bird, because that was just what she needed, that thing hunting her down in a minefield.

…something hunting her down in a minefield.

Jinx's eyes scanned the ground, and sure enough, the claw marks of where the bird swooped down were carved into the very stones. There were distinct places where you could see claw marks in the ground where they had caught their prey.

Jinx smirked, oh, the doctor must've felt so clever figuring out his secret pathway, she thought as she jumped down onto the first clawed up chunk of ground.

Jinx didn't need to figure out how to avoid the mines in the ground, whatever lived here had already done it for her, and the bird that ate them marked the path they took. After all, most fresh meat wouldn't make it past this initial hurdle, the animals here had to learn to hunt and survive in this place to get their food.

Jinx looked around for her next spot, it was farther away than it looked to be from up on the fence.

Jinx could make the jump, she would just need to use her strength to get higher. The only problem with that was that if she overshot it, she would be in just as much trouble.

Jinx edged her way back as far as she dared and then took a running start before flinging herself forward.

"Oh, please land on a mine," Mylo begged.

Jinx landed with a stumble, very nearly stepping out of her safety zone, but she twisted herself so she slammed her head into a safe pile of rocks and not an explosive set.

Jinx panted as she laid on the ground.

This was going to be a long trip.

She stood ready for the next jump, but was underwhelmed when she realized this one was noticeably closer than the last. After many more jumps and steps, she realized that this couldn't have been the path the doctor had taken, he was hauling too much stuff to make these kinds of jumps.

Jinx looked over at the bird that was definitely eating a part of a human, and then scanned the field again until she saw what she was looking for. A splatter of blood decorated a small section of the ground not too far away. That was where that guy died, so that's where she needed to go.

Jinx continued to do the jumps, but slower and with far less haste. Her eyes scanned the perimeter constantly, searching for signs of a trap set for any intruders.

Caw!

Jinx's head snapped up, and to her frustration, she saw the bird circling her. She had just become its newest target.

Jinx began to make her jumps hurriedly, desperately trying to avoid a fight in a minefield with an enemy that had wings. Because Jinx could do everything but fly.

Unfortunately for Jinx, she had abysmal luck. The bird hit her mid-jump, tearing a chunk of her skin off her back and making her land off course.

Jinx hissed in pain as she sat up, the lovely new injury on her back not healing as fast as she would have liked. But Jinx didn't have time to worry about that, the sound of an active bomb was a bigger concern for her.

Jinx immediately activated her speed and took off, desperate not to get blown up. (Been there, done that.)

The shaking of an explosion shook the ground behind her, the heat searing off some exposed skin and throwing Jinx forward, thankfully onto the safe spot she had been running towards.

Standing up was a painful experience, her burnt skin getting aggravated at every movement, but she had to endure if she wanted to escape that damned bird.

Jinx continued to jump from spot to spot as the shrieking of the bird approached her again, only this time Jinx was ready for the son of a bitch. She stopped running just in time to let the bird grab nothing but rocks, and she used her speed to grab onto its leg before it took off again. The bird was not a fan of the action, it began to try to snap at her with its razor-sharp beak, but Jinx had other plans that didn't involve getting eaten by a bird.

She pulled out the knife she had snagged from the Last Drop and stabbed it into the bird's leg, causing it to shriek in pain while Jinx climbed her way onto its back. The bird began to do crazy maneuvers to try and get Jinx off of them, but Jinx was latched on tight. She yanked on its feathers and caused the thing to veer to the right in the direction Jinx wanted. And when Jinx spotted her landing sight, she began to stab at the thing's wings. It was even less of a fan of that, it had had enough, it took its eyes off the sky and began to try and grab Jinx with its beak. Jinx tried her best to avoid being bitten, but that was hard to do when you were also riding on a bird and trying desperately not to fall off. The bird managed to make a deep cut into Jinx's arm, making her slip and fall. She narrowly caught herself on the bird's leg, which once again didn't go over well with the bird, but it didn't matter.

Before the bird could snap at Jinx, she looked up at it and smirked, "You really should watch where you're flying."

Jinx let go of the bird's leg and rolled right onto the safe spot she had been aiming for as the stupid bird continued to fly off into the mine-infested ground, setting off an ear-splitting explosion that Jinx was lucky enough to be far enough away from to avoid getting injured.

She had actually managed to make the bird explode itself.

She allowed herself a moment to feel proud of herself before she reminded herself of the task at hand, saving Vander.

---

Jinx arrived at the blood splatter and spent far too long trying to figure out where to head next.

The guy seemed to have been hit, but wasn't grabbed by the bird immediately. He crawled his way forward for a while before the bird probably grabbed him and made him into a new snack. There were claw marks that Jinx followed that seemed to be fresher than the others, but overall, nothing stood out to her.

Maybe the doctor headed into town, but that felt unlikely. How did he manage to get past the bird when it clearly had a taste for human flesh? If Jinx had to guess, the doctor sent the poor fool that ended up as a bird snack out as a distraction before leading the rest of his crew into whatever secret pathway he had around here.

Jinx examined the field again and decided to head to the mangled corpse of the man. When she arrived, she nearly gagged at the smell. Jinx had been around a lot of dead bodies, but at least the doctor had the decency to keep them fresh. This guy had been gutted a while ago, so his body extruded the oh so lovely scent of rotten flesh.

Jinx had no desire to touch the guy, but it wasn't like she had much of a choice in the matter, so she steeled herself and started poking around what seemed to be a leg of his. When she found nothing on that, she moved to the next body part and continued to search through all of him systematically, eventually turning up a blood-coated sheet of paper.

The whole damn thing was soaked in old dried blood, making it practically impossible to read, but Jinx had gotten plenty of experience reading blood-soaked documents over the years, and after some deciphering, she realized it was a hand-drawn map of the minefield. It had a basic layout of where mines were and paths that this guy could have taken, with a big old X right about where this guy first got attacked by the bird. Meaning the doctor handed him a map that led him straight to his death, so the bird would be distracted while he got where he was going.

Jinx sighed as she looked around the field. This guy was useless, just a distraction who received no good information.

She was desperately trying to think of her next move as she sat down in a huff, trying to see if there was more to the map that she was missing.

Mylo cackled, "You're never going to find him. Just walk off into the sunset and let yourself get blown up by a mine."

"She'll survive that," Claggor said dryly, "or did you forget about the whole bridge thing?"

"Fine! Then go and blow your brains out with that gun! What do I care, as long as you're dead," he spat.

…gun?

Jinx squinted off into the distance, and sure enough, right near the far end of the fencing was a gun, she wasted no time getting to it.

Jinx picked up the revolver and checked the bullets, it seemed to have only been fired once, so she pocketed it.

"You can't even shoot, you lost to Ekko," Mylo sneered.

"Better to have a gun to use shittily than not have one at all," Jinx said, tucking it into her pants.

Besides, her Shimmer upgrades made her a better shot than most people could ever hope to be.

She examined the area where she found the gun, there were some fresh claw marks nearby that indicated the bird had attacked the doctor and his crew, so that's why the gun had been fired before being dropped to the ground. She looked around and found some vague footprints that seemed to be from a group of people who were in a hurry. She followed them until they just disappeared.

The fuck? Footprints didn't just disappear, they need to end up somewhere.

She spun around, and her eyes landed on a slightly out-of-place-looking rock. It just had a look to it, maybe Jinx was going crazy from the blood she lost in her fight with the bird, (her wounds had already closed, but she still lost a good amount of blood), or maybe her enhanced eyesight was picking up on something her mind couldn't place.

As she got closer to the rock on the ground, she found that she was right, the thing was just far too fake-looking for her liking. Its ridges looked too clean and predictable, its cut looked manufactured. Yes, Jinx could tell now that this rock was human-made, the only question was if she should mess with it. Chances were that this was a trap set by someone a long time ago, the thing being a secret bomb in disguise, but Jinx had no other leads, so she would just have to risk it.

Jinx prepped herself to get the fuck out of there before she went and tried to pick the rock up. Nothing happened when she touched it, but the thing wasn't budging, it was as if it was built into the ground.

"Hey Ekko, if you had to make a secret base, how would you hide the entrance?"

"I would make a maze with hundreds of fake entrances so no one could ever find me. You?"

"I would make people have to solve like a gazillion puzzles to get in and then set hundreds of different traps for each one!"

"How would anyone ever get through that?"

"They won't. That's the whole idea," Powder said with a roll of her eyes.

"Well, how will you get through? It would take forever!"

"Well, that's not how you actually get into my hideout, duh."

"Then how?"

"You just pull a lever or push some button I disguised as a rock."

"Wouldn't people notice the lever? Or the random rock?"

"Not if they're distracted with the puzzles, you dummy!"

Jinx carefully pushed on the rock.

A loud clunking sound rang out as a trap door opened up while the rock sank down.

Jinx smirked, the people who made this probably thought everyone would be so busy trying to cross the minefield and survive the bird that no one would notice a plain, innocent rock sitting perfectly camouflaged all by its lonesome at the start.

Unfortunately for them, Jinx already had this idea as a kid.

She jumped into the hole, the loud grinding of the trapdoor closing sounding above her.

Well, looks like she would need another way out. Either that or come back and find out how to open the thing again.

The place was pitch black, but she could see easily with her advanced vision, and the air was heavy with something she couldn't place. Probably an old toxic gas that was lingering in the air. She had a feeling that staying down here for too long would quickly lead to her death.

She began to walk her way forward eyes sweeping and scanning the place, it was what appeared to be a long tunnel system that ran throughout the whole minefield and then some.

This was the way the doctor had come.

Jinx pulled out her knife and began to periodically carve large X's into the walls, showing which way she headed, she was somewhat grateful for the task, walking around down here got old fast. There were dead ends and cave-ins at every other turn she took, which meant she had to backtrack and scribble out her markings so she would know not to go that way again.

"Well this is boring as hell," Mylo grumbled.

"Already mentioned that," Jinx whispered back.

The place felt too big, she was uncomfortable with how many twists this place had, she was honestly glad she had marked the way through otherwise she would have no clue if she was just walking around in one giant circle.

"Is it really just a big maze?" Claggor asked skeptically.

Jinx was confused about that as well, sure a maze was effective at keeping people out, maybe even killing them by starving them, but it wasn't like the doctor to just leave things up to chance. He would want to take action to ensure his safety was guaranteed.

Click.

Jinx looked down just in time to see that she had stepped on a pressure plate before gas started pouring out of the walls.

Fuck.

The shit was burning her skin, so she wasted no time taking off with her speed to outrun the gas. Unfortunately for her, she managed to trigger another trap by hitting a trip wire, but fortunately for her, the trip wire made her faceplate onto the floor saving her from the needles that shot out of the wall.

"Looks like someone combined yours and Ekko's idea. You got yourself a maze with a shit load of traps."

"That's what I get for complaining about this being boring," Jinx muttered into the floor.

She stood and dusted herself off, she took a closer look at the needles that shot out of the wall and realized they were coated in something, probably something that was poisonous or toxic for living things.

Jinx now walked through the tunnels with much more care, pausing to mark her location as she continued to walk, triggering similar traps every now and then that she evaded using her speed for the most part.

"Not the fire," Mylo snickered.

"Shut up," Jinx growled.

The fire was unexpected and it was only her clothes that caught fire, not her.

Jinx had made her way rather far in, but she still didn't see anything worth noting.

Crunch.

"You just had to say something."

Jinx looked down to see what she had stepped in and her eyes went wide in shock.

Beneath her foot was someone's spine.

She took her foot off the thing and crouched down to examine it, and to her surprise, the thing was still fresh. Only a few days old max. Whatever got to this poor fool licked him clean of anything he had on his bones, well, spine.

She continued forward, finding more and more bones as she walked. Not all of them were human, and not all of them were as fresh as the spine she had found previously.

She was not a fan of this. Bones meant something was eating people down here, which probably meant that the thing wanted to eat her.

As she walked she felt more and more uncomfortable in the underground tunnels, they were so creepy and wrong. She just didn't like them.

Clunk.

"Shit."

She had stepped on a pressure plate and she didn't want to stick around to find out what it did, the gases she had already inhaled previously were making her woozy enough as is. She started running, the sound of rumbling making her even more sure of her decision to book it.

Jinx, however, didn't make it very far until the thundering thuds that shook the walls set her fumbling to the floor. Jinx instantly curled up into a ball and did her best to avoid any projectiles that were possibly going to be thrown at her, only standing when the shaking stopped.

When she looked back at where she came from she saw that the ceiling had completely collapsed in on itself. Completely blocking off any hope of getting back out of the trapdoor she had previously used.

…that's a problem for future Jinx, she thought as she turned right around and decided to ignore the nagging thoughts of worry.

She had more important things to worry about.

Jinx continued to mark her way, avoiding any unnecessary detours she would've taken by walking in circles.

Her footsteps were the only sound that filled the tunnels as she walked, coming across traps every now and then, getting hit by a dart laced with a poison that made her cough up blood for a few minutes, but otherwise nothing happened.

She walked and walked, feeling the madness slowly creeping in on her from the silence and darkness. She fended it off with thoughts of finally getting Vander back and reuniting with Vi.

Though reuniting with Vi wasn't exactly the best thought to help her get through this, because of all the mess that Vi brought with her.

A sound made Jinx pause, a loud far-away growl, followed by the thumping of footsteps that thundered through the cave.

Shit.

Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit.

She had to get out of here, whatever that thing was sounded big and mad, and all she had to defend herself was a pathetic handgun, a knife, and some glowing rocks she didn't know how to use.

Jinx was about to run, but it was too late.

The thing was fast, fast like her.

Jinx managed to dodge the attack of sharp claws aimed at her face by slamming herself into the cave wall, the thing only missing by mere inches.

Jinx's eyes widened in terror as she realized what this thing was.

Warwick.

A two-headed wolf, one that the doctor had kept for years. She had only heard of the thing from the doctor's ramblings, she had never seen it, he said that it was an interesting specimen that had a genetic mutation creating a second head on its body. He told Jinx once that he had considered killing the thing and using its corpse to advance Vander should she die, but that never happened. So instead he began to try new things with this wolf outside of the lab, the doctor wanted to see how far he could push the senses of the animal, how much he could "improve" it. The poor beast was basically Jinx but pushed to the extreme because it wasn't needed to run errands.

The doctor was always weirdly obsessed with the thing considering the testing had no real results. When Jinx grew curious enough to ask him, he said it was an insurance policy he needed in case of emergencies. Jinx didn't get it then, but now, now she understood.

The doctor had a plan in place should Jinx ever betray him, and this was it. A beast he put all the same mutations in as he did with Jinx, only this thing was already stronger than Jinx when it was born, maybe Jinx would have held up if it were a normal wolf but a mutated wolf with the same abilities as her? No, scratch that, better abilities than her?

No. Fucking. Shot.

Jinx pulled out her gun and fired at the thing, hitting it square in the chest where Jinx assumed its heart was, but the beast didn't even flinch, the hole closed up as soon as the bullet hit. All Jinx managed to accomplish was making the thing angrier.

It charged at her, and Jinx took aim again, only this time for one of its heads. Once again she did hit her target, but it was a hollow victory because after a second of shaking off the pain, it went right back to attacking.

What the actual fuck was she meant to do here!?

The thing healed faster than her, its speed was just as good as hers. This thing was Jinx turned into a giant wolf, she didn't know how to beat that!

She fired again, and struck true again, but this time the thing wasn't even fazed, it kept going right for her.

It slammed right into her, claws digging into her skin as it dragged her along while it sprinted full speed down the tunnels. It was trying to take her somewhere, and she had no desire to find out where that was.

She used her strength to kick off of the beast and fling herself into the air, making the thing's claws rip all the way down her body. (So much for the new clothes) As Jinx was flying through the air she aimed her gun at it again, shooting it may have seemed to have no effect but the bullets were still hitting and damaging it, besides it wasn't like she had much else she could do right now. Jinx fired three bullets off into one of the heads, making the thing roar out in pain.

As soon as Jinx landed on the ground the game of who's faster started. Jinx began dodging its blows that it rained down on her by mere inches.

Its claws nearly stabbing into her eyes, or her stomach, or her chest, or any other body part you could think of.

Jinx slammed into a wall knocking all the air out of her lungs but she didn't dare stop moving, the thing chased after her with its sharp claws and teeth that threatened to rip her into shreds.

Think, think, think, think, think.

This gun was useless, she needed something stronger.

Jinx's hand instinctively found her pocket where the gemstones were.

…they were damaged. It wouldn't take much for them-

Jinx tripped and fell, her leg getting caught in a snare that lifted her up into the air and hung her upside down.

She had fallen into a trap.

Jinx immediately went to cut herself down but it was already too late, the wolf grabbed her by the arm, ripping her out of the trap and dislocating her shoulder, and roared right into her face.

Jinx struggled, fear pumping through her, and she suddenly realized that she truly had no choice but to use the forbidden gemstones.

Its face was inches from hers and Jinx let out a small scoff.

"You got me hairball."

It growled in her face as she tried to pull out the gem, her fingers slipping and sending it tumbling to the floor.

"But just remember, I made a promise."

She may have dropped the gem but she still had her gun, she'd just have to pray that her enhancements were enough to make up for lack of shooting practice.

One of the heads opened its jaws.

"And I-"

She took aim as the teeth of one of the heads began to poke through the skin of her leg.

"-never break a promise."

Bang!

Jinx fired and thankfully hit her target.

A blinding light flooded the cave, making the two heads howl in protest. The wolf dropped Jinx and began to slam into the walls as it clawed at its eyes.

Jinx herself was writhing on the ground from the enormous blast of light. It sent searing pain into her eyes because of her advanced sight. But Jinx forced herself to stand and move away from the noises of the beasts' screams of pain.

Unlike the wolf, she had been blind before. She knew how to navigate without using her eyes.

She felt her way around the tunnels and kept walking and walking until her eyesight began to return.

She sighed heavily as she slid down the cave wall until she was sitting on the floor.

What were the chances the gem didn't blow up and kill them both? All things considered, it was a more stable version of the originals, and it was only cracked, so hitting it thankfully wasn't enough to make it explode. Just release an enormous amount of energy and light officially blinding her and the wolf.

The wolf was a more advanced version of her in many different ways, but that also just made the thing more useless. It had better vision like Jinx, but it never left its cave, it never had its eyes forced open so it would have to stare into a light until it could see like normal. Its eyes were extremely sensitive, such a large blast of light without any warning would destroy its eyes without any hope of getting them back.

She knew this because Jinx had experienced this before, the doctor didn't force her immediately into the sun as soon as her vision returned, he knew that such an intense blast would destroy her vision permanently. Jinx had just unintentionally used a weakness she and the wolf shared to her advantage. She had blinded the wolf.

Perhaps one day it would grow used to being blind, but that wouldn't happen for a long time. As long as Jinx avoided running into it then she would be safe from the two-headed wolf.

Jinx examined her wounds that were starting to close up. The teeth marks in her leg were practically gone already, but the long cut in her side that she got from its claws was still an open wound, it had stopped bleeding but it wasn't exactly all better yet. Jinx winced as she grabbed her dislocated arm, she would have to shove it back into place.

She shut her eyes and took a deep breath.

Three.

Two.

One.

"Agghhhh!" She screamed as her arm clicked back into place and she slammed her head into the wall of the cave.

She sat there and panted for a minute before standing and continuing to walk, her eyesight slowly coming back into focus.

Jinx continued to find bones of people but she only stopped when she saw a pile of bloody clothes. She went to examine them and found another map, but this one was for the cave system.

She looked over it and managed to pinpoint her location on the map, and she even spotted a location that was circled.

Jinx smirked, "Ready or not, here I come."

---

She approached a makeshift door, quietly, silently, not a soul would hear her even if they tried.

Jinx's heart pounded as she came up next to it, This was it, her whole life had led to this moment.

She took one last deep breath before slamming through the door, where, sure enough, the doctor laid in wait.

Bang!

The doctor managed to graze her with a bullet before she slammed his head into the wall with a loud, resounding, thud making him fall unconscious.

Jinx looked at the pathetic scratch he made on her arm and then down at the crumpled-up form of the man who destroyed her entire life.

Tears formed in her eyes as she looked down at him, "…You're so fucking lucky I still need you alive," Jinx spat as she kicked him in the stomach at full force.

She kept doing that a few more times before she stopped herself, she couldn't kill him yet, she needed to see what Vander was like. Then she could have her revenge.

Jinx looked around the room and spotted the perfect place to hold the doctor while she looked over Vander, a metal operating table.

Jinx threw the doctor onto the table and strapped him down, removing anything and everything he had on him, which included the stolen Hexgem. She wasn't going to risk him escaping, especially not with the gem.

Jinx took a step back and let the image of him on the table sear itself into her head.

Eventually, she tore her eyes away from him and went to search the place. In the center of the room was the containment unit his daughter stayed in, and all around her were the notes of a madman. Thousands of scribblings about the Hexgem and how he might be able to use it, despite only having the thing for a few days.

Jinx had a thought as she gazed at the hundreds of meaningless notes spread out everywhere. One so evil and cruel she only thought of it because of everything the doctor had put her through.

…but she couldn't go through with it. Despite everything he had done, that would be a step too far.

Jinx walked away from his daughter and over to a curtained-off area and pulled back the drapes.

Absolute disgust and horror filled her as she saw what was before her. Vander was hung from the ceiling, like some sort of twisted chandelier. Chains held him up as something pumped him full of Shimmer and other chemicals. Jinx immediately ran and got him down and took out the tubes that were running into him.

Jinx cradled Vander's head in her lap.

How could the doctor do something like this? She knew he said that he was keeping Vander, but to start his experiments on him already?!

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Jinx said as tears fell down, "I should've come back. I never should have-"

Jinx couldn't finish the sentence due to her hiccuping sobs, so she just muttered apologies incorrectly as she hugged him close.

She didn't know how long she sat there crying, but by the time she was done, she felt lightheaded and short of breath from how much she had been sobbing.

Once her tears dried and the sadness and regret faded away, all she could feel was this intense, burning wrath inside her.

"No shot she actually goes through with that," Mylo whispered.

"…I think he crossed the line. She will destroy him."

"Yeah, but- I mean even I think that's a bit far."

"Shut up," Jinx growled.

Jinx then cut herself and gave Vander as much of her blood as she dared, after that she gave him a makeshift pillow she had made from her shirt, leaving her with only some bandages she had wrapped around her chest for some reason. (They had put them on her in the hospital and she had been too lazy to take them off.).

She then planted a kiss on Vander's forehead,

"Don't worry. I just have one last person to kill and then this will all be over," she whispered before getting up and walking over to the doctor.

She stared down at him.

All her suffering.

All her pain.

All he had done to her.

This was the end.

This was the end because she made a promise.

And he would end up far more broken than her, just like she said he would.

Chapter 50: I Am The Monster You Created

Notes:

(Warning!!)

Jinx caught the doctor, things aren’t going to be pretty for him this chapter.

Shink.

Shink.

Shink.

Sharpen the knife until the skin is nothing but air.

Shink.

Shink.

Shink.

Keep sharpening until you’re numb.

Shink.

Shink.

Sh-

The doctor let out a loud cough.

Jinx smiled.

His eye looked over at her, before he let out a dark chuckle, “It seems you have beaten me.”

“…”

“And I see you like to have some irony to your victory,” he said tugging at his restraints.

She stood, knife in hand, grabbing onto his hand, arranging it so his tendons were under her blade.

Slice.

“Aghhhhh!!!” He screamed.

No more moving that hand, she thought as she walked to the other one.

Slice.

His screaming filled the room once again.

She moved down to his legs, knife carving a path down his body as she went.

She slammed her elbow into his knee, making it bend sideways until his shattered bone stuck out of his flesh.

He didn’t scream at that. She looked over to make sure he hadn’t somehow died yet, but he was only unconscious from the pain.

She would fix that.

She then grabbed his ankle, tracing her blade around it until she found that lovely Achilles tendon. She knew all about that lovely part of the body because he once cut hers in half for taking too long to kill someone. Sure her shimmer healed it, but having that cut was a pain so terrible she could still feel it to this day.

Slice.

“Ahhhhagggg!!!!!” He cried as he awoke.

She smiled at the lovely sound as she went to his other ankle.

Slice.

She took a step back and admired her work, his screams making the experience that much more magical.

After a long time Jinx walked up to him, breaking his other knee and his arm just for fun before giving him exactly two drops of her blood, stopping his excessive bleeding.

Once that was taken care of she walked over to the table humming a random tune as she picked up a needle and pocketed her knife.

Him tied to the table, her torturing him.

Yes, that fate would be ironic, poetic even, but this irony was not nearly cruel enough, this justice not nearly poetic enough.

Jinx turned, gun now in hand, absentmindedly flicking the hammer back and forth.

He watched her as she circled the table, tapping the gun on it every now and then, making a loud clanging noise.

“…do you remember when you told me we were the same?” Jinx asked as she walked away from him and went to his lab table.

“Yes,” he rasped out, “and if I remember correctly you were not pleased with the comparison,” he responded.

Jinx held up the needle filled with a sedative that turned your limbs into useless slabs of meat and spun it around, and around, and around, and around, and around, and around, and around, and around, and around, and around, until she was seeing double.

She stopped spinning it, “But you were right, you and I are the same.”

She looked at him and he just stared back, because he couldn’t do anything else. His restraints allowed her complete and absolute freedom and his newly adjusted body practically made him a useless blob of skin and rearranged bones. But for what she had planned she needed absolute certainty that he had no chance of escaping.

“That’s why I know just the thing to accomplish my goal of making you worse than I am.”

He narrowed his eyes at her.

She sighed happily, “You see out of everything you’ve done there was just one thing that absolutely destroyed me more than everything else. More than the broken bones, more than the surgeries while I was awake, more than the Shimmer stabbed into my veins, more than that injection you gave me when we last met.”

“…what are you going to do?” He asked, a hint of worry in his voice.

Jinx smiled.

“I’m going to do what you never let me. Play a game!”

Jinx stabbed the needle into his neck and pumped him full of the serum. After that, she took the gun and spun the cylinder round, and round, and round.

“This gun has one bullet left out of six total chambers. I will be aiming this gun at the target you select. Each target may only be selected once, once all three have been selected you may pick anyone of the three again. This will continue until I have shot all six rounds, or till someone dies, whichever comes first.”

“Who can I shoot,” he asked.

Jinx smiled at him, “You have three options of who I aim at, me,” Jinx said pointing the gun at her own head, “you,” she said changing her aim so the gun was pointed at his head, “or…” Jinx moved the gun so it was pointing at his daughters chamber, “Her.”

Panic struck him instantly, and he started yanking against the restraints and screaming, “LAY A FINGER ON HER-“

“And you’ll what? Lay there like a bum on a log because I just injected you with a fun little concoction that makes you completely useless for hours? Yes, yes you will.”

He seemed to realize how hopeless fighting to escape was so he switched tactics, “Jinx, I am the one who did all this, not her. Leave her out of this. Kill me, torture me. Whatever you want to do, do it to me. Not her, she is innocent, she is-“

“Your heart beating outside of your chest. I know,” Jinx said leaning in close, “I know because you and me are the same. Vander is my heart and she is yours. You took my heart and strung it up like a dead animal, only fair I get to mess with yours a little, right?”

“She has done nothing to you,” he growled.

"And what did Vander do to you!?" She screamed, "What did I do?! What did any of the people you kept in tanks do!? What did the man you skinned alive do?! Or the one whose head you put in a jar!? What terrible crime did we all commit?"

He didn't answer.

Jinx pulled her hair back and took a deep breath, "I wouldn't worry doctor. Her life is still in your hands, all you have to do is not fuck this up. So go on and pick someone. Who do I shoot?"

He glared daggers into her before spitting out, "You."

Jinx smiled as she placed the barrel of the gun on her head, pulled the hammer back, and pulled the trigger.

Click.

"Empty. Choose again."

Anger boiled inside of the doctor, Jinx could see it, and it was the most lovely thing she had ever laid eyes on.

"Me."

Jinx pressed the barrel into his head, "Better hope you die," Jinx whispered before she pulled the hammer back and pulled the trigger.

Click.

A smile danced across Jinx's lips as she looked at the absolute horror on his face.

"Looks like there's only one person left," Jinx said taking aim at his daughter's chamber.

"STOP!" He screamed as she tried to rip his way out of the restraints to no avail.

"If I remember correctly your daughter won't survive in the normal world, so that chamber has to keep everything out, wonder how long she'll last with a bullet in her chest and a gaping hole in her chamber," Jinx said as she pulled the hammer back.

"SHOOT ME! KILL-"

Click.

"Blank. Lucky you."

He laid there panting with all the rage and fear one man could contain.

"Come on now, we still have three more shots left, pick again."

"You," he rasped out after a moment of silence.

Jinx laughed softly as she raised the gun to her head, "For someone who preached about forsaking all emotions, you sure are a blubbering mess right now," she said as she pulled the hammer back.

"Shut up and die," he spat.

Jinx just grinned at him as she pulled the trigger.

Click.

"Me!" He screamed immediately, "Shoot me!"

"Gladly," Jinx said pulling back the hammer and pulling the trigger.

Click.

"Uh oh, looks like you chose poorly," Jinx said taking aim at her last target.

If Jinx thought the doctor was mad before, it had nothing on the way he was now. He thrashed and screamed and spat and yelled.

He was a complete mess as Jinx pulled back the hammer.

"You should really should have been saying your goodbyes instead of yelling at me," Jinx said as she pulled the trigger.

Click.

"…what?" He rasped out.

Jinx turned to the doctor and smiled.

"T-the gun was-s empty?"

Jinx cackled at his dumbfounded expression.

"Of course the gun was empty you moron!" Jinx said as she flung the gun onto the ground, "Like I would actually leave my life in your hands," she spat.

"Then, why-"

"Because I wanted to see you squirm," she hissed, "And unfortunately for me I need you to tell me how to get out of this place along with how to cure Vander."

He laughed, "And we've come full circle. Let me go and I will save Vand-"

"No. I'm not playing your games anymore."

Jinx walked over to Orianna's contaminant unit and grabbed one of the tubes that fed into the thing.

"What are you doing. You still need me, if you hurt her-"

Jinx pulled and ripped the tube out and let whatever gas it was pouring into her chamber spill out onto the floor.

He slammed against his restraints and Jinx grabbed another tube, "Stop!"

Jinx ripped the second tube out, making some machines start beeping.

"Spot it!"

Jinx grabbed the next one and started to pull on it.

"Ok!" He yelled, "I'll give you what you want."

She stopped and looked at him.

"Just stop this."

Jinx let go of the tube, "Speak. Before I change my mind."

"There is a button hidden as the largest stone in the wall behind Orianna, it will open a secret entrance that will lead you out of here safely."

"And Vander?"

He glared at her, "You know you won't make it out of this, don't you?"

"Vander. How do I save him?"

"That bullet I-"

Jinx ripped out another tube and made the machines blare and flash.

"Alright! Everything you need on Vander is in that box on the floor."

Jinx walked over to it, and it contained file after file on Vander's condition.

She looked at the doctor, "This holds the key to waking him up?"

"Check the red folder."

Jinx pulled out an old red folder, and in it was a full listing of Vander's issues, it stated that he was put into a coma due to Shimmer overdose, but it was an injury to his brain that was keeping him like that. It even listed the surgery that Vander would need to wake up again.

Jinx ran her hand down the page and whispered, "Finally."

"Now take Vander and your folder and let me go."

Jinx snapped the folder shut, safely tucking it away, and stood.

She walked over to the wall and pushed on the stone, a loud rumbling sounded as the secret passage revealed itself.

Jinx walked over and pulled Vander up using her strength to drag him over to the entrance and setting him down, before walking over in between the doctor and Orianna.

"Let me go, I need to fix her capsule before she dies," he snapped.

"…"

"I gave you what you wanted! So let me go!"

"…"

"Jinx!"

"You were right doctor. Me and you are the same."

"What are you-"

"Which means I know exactly what will destroy you entirely, because I know what would destroy me."

Jinx walked over to Orianna's glass coffin and slid her fingers along it.

"No! You said-"

"I say a lot of things."

He began to uselessly tug against his restraints.

"She never did anything to me, that's why I never even considered this before today."

He screamed as Jinx looked at the girl behind the glass.

"She really is beautiful. Must've gotten that from her mother. You never talk about her, what was she like?"

"I'll kill you!" He screamed as he thrashed.

"No, no you won't. Want to know why?"

He didn't respond, he just kept struggling.

"Because she is your reason. For living, for breathing, for loving, for everything. Once she's gone…"

Jinx looked over at Vander.

She had almost lost him, and she couldn't fathom what it would be like for him to be dead with her still alive to see that.

"You will be less than nothing," Jinx said as she walked over to the largest tube and pulled out her knife.

"Please," he cried, "Stop this!"

Jinx looked over at him.

"Just kill me! I'd rather be dead-"

"Don't worry, you will be. You see that injection I gave you was more than a paralyzing agent. It will slowly start to shut down your muscles and organs one by one giving you one of the most agonizing deaths you can imagine, and the slowest. You will be here for days, thinking about how miserably you failed your daughter, before you finally die," Jinx said as she watched him squirm.

He slammed against his restraints some more in response.

He would lie there for days, feeling his body slowly start to deteriorate, his mind being unraveled as his body loses the strength to keep it functioning, all the while hunger and thirst would eat away at him.

"That my dear doctor, that will be your punishment. Because a normal death is too good for you."

Jinx stabbed her blade into the large tube that was pumping a liquid into her container.

"NO!"

Jinx continued to cut and the doctor continued to scream, and at some point, Jinx began to sing.

"~Dear friend across the river,~"

"STOP!"

"~My hands are cold and bare,~"

"PLEASE!"

"~Dear friend across the river,~"

"I'LL DO ANYTHING!"

"~I'll take what you can spare,~"

"SPARE HER!"

"~I ask of you a penny,~"

"SHE'S JUST A CHILD!"

"~my fortune it will be,~"

"I'M BEGGING YOU!"

"~I ask you without envy,~"

"PLEASE!"

"~We raise no mighty towers,~"

"I'M SORRY! IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT!?"

"~Our homes are built of stone,~"

"ANYTHING BUT HER, ANYTHING!"

"~So come across the river,~"

"Please," he sobbed as Jinx finished cutting the tubes and they both sat there watching Orianna slowly die.

Jinx looked over at him, tied up and pathetic, just like she was for the last seven years.

She looked away and smashed open the glass that made up the containment unit, sealing her fate.

"NOOOO! PLEASE NO! ANYTHING PLEASE, I'LL DO ANYTHING! STOP! NO!"

Jinx wiped away the glass on Orianna's face and leaned down to whisper in her ear, "I'm sorry."

Jinx pulled away and went over to pick Vander up, she lifted him and began to walk her way out of the lab.

"YOU FUCKING MONSTER!" The doctor screamed at the top of his lungs before returning to plea's for mercy.

Yes, she thought to herself, I am a monster.

I am the monster you created.

Without looking back Jinx sang the last verse of her song as the mechanics attached to Orianna continued to blare their warnings and the doctor continued to scream and cry for Jinx to set him free so he could try and save her.

"~And find the world below.~"

Chapter 51: Trust Me Not

Notes:

(WARNING!!!)

Vomiting is mentioned in this chapter, and some not-so-pleasant mentions of what Smeech's body looks like now.

If you want to skip over this, then stop reading when you see **** (underlined) and start when you see **** (underlined) again.

"Jinx!" Caitlyn cried as she bolted out of the room, but it was hopeless, she was long gone by the time she started yelling.

"Damn, she's fast," Loris said with a low whistle.

Caitlyn turned and glared at him, "Just what did you give her?" She growled.

He shrugged, "Vi wrote her a letter and asked me to deliver it, so I did. How was I supposed to know Jinx would go chasing after her when she read it?"

"…chasing after?" Caitlyn said, narrowing her eyes at him, "Where. Is. Vi."

He held up his hands, "I'm just the messenger, alright."

Caitlyn ran a hand through her hair, frustrated, "Don't fucking tell me she went to get Sevika by herself."

"Well…"

Caitlyn grunted in frustration as she went over to grab the note Jinx dropped and read it.

"That-" Caitlyn cut herself off and took a deep breath.

Vi had left.

She had flown off the handle and gone rogue, despite their promise, despite Jinx being willing to work with them for once, despite all of it.

She just left.

"Loris, get the team."

"I'm assuming we're going after them?"

Caitlyn fixed him with a look, "Seeing as how you let Vi leave and delivered this letter to Jinx without using a single brain cell of yours to think that maybe you should try and stop them, yes, yes we are going after them," Caitlyn snapped harshly.

He took a stumbling step towards the door.

"And I swear to god if you're drunk right now, Loris, I will throw you in Stillwater for a week!" Caitlyn yelled at him.

He chuckled awkwardly, "I'll uh, just get the others then, yeah?"

Caitlyn glared at him.

"Hey, you could give Jinx a run for her money with a glare like that."

"GO!"

"Going!" He yelped.

Caitlyn stuck her head out of the door and called out, "Meet at the science academy in 20 minutes! Don't you dare be late!"

---

Caitlyn was seething as she walked through the halls to where a nurse said Viktor and Jayce were.

Vi may be moronic enough to run off on her own, but she wouldn't be fucking stupid enough to challenge Sevika to a rematch without her new gauntlets to even the playing field. At least Caitlyn hoped she wasn't that fucking stupid.

…

Dear God, do not let her have fallen in love with a complete moron.

Caitlyn slammed open the hospital room's door open, "Jayce, you son of a bitch!"

Jayce's head snapped up, and he immediately put a finger to his lips.

Caitlyn opened her mouth to snap at him, but her eyes landed on a pale, unconscious Viktor with a breathing mask on as he slept.

Jayce rushed over and ushered Caitlyn out of the room.

"…my god is he-" Caitlyn began, the worst running through her mind.

"He will be fine, he's just been pushing himself way too much lately. I just managed to get him to sleep," Jayce said.

The anger Caitlyn felt quickly turned to shame. She had been so preoccupied with everything that she hadn't even thought about Viktor.

"Jayce, I'm so sorry. I should've realized, I never should have asked him to do all this after finding out he was sick. I should've-"

"Stop," Jayce said, placing a hand on her shoulder, "He wanted to do this, and despite my reservations on the matter, I think this is honestly the best thing that could've happened for us."

She gave him a confused look.

"Before all of this, me and him were… we were losing ourselves. In our endless pursuit of great, we were failing to do good."

Caitlyn sighed, "But still, I haven't been here for you. You've done me such incredible favors these past few days, and all I've done is leave you with my mess to clean up. You had so many plans, the two of you, but now…"

"Plans change, and don't beat yourself up over not being here, Cait, you've had your hands full with all of this, and I will always be there to support you. Whether that means forging a council signature or helping you save a bunch of criminals. I'm here for you."

She hugged him, "Thank you. As soon as this is over, I swear I'll be all yours for as long as you need me."

He patted her on the back, "I appreciate it."

They stayed like that for a long time before Jayce spoke again.

"At the risk of getting my head bit off, wasn't there something you wanted to talk to me about?"

"…I'm trying to be nice to you right now," Caitlyn grumbled.

"Well, the new claw marks I have on my back now say you're failing."

She huffed as she pulled away from him, "Did you give Vi access to her gauntlets again?"

He sighed, "Yes, and I'm guessing you had no idea about it?"

"No. I did not."

Jayce shook his head, "She came to us all hot and bothered, convinced us to go along with her plan. She never said she was going solo though."

Caitlyn ran a hand through her hair in frustration, "She took off, Jayce! Left me and Jinx behind without so much as a word!"

Caitlyn knows that it's wrong to be worried about her romantic relationship with Vi, considering everything, but Vi had made her a promise.

Was Caitlyn the fool for thinking she'd keep it?

"…it wouldn't be the first time I've given so much away to be with someone who just won't stay."

She supposed she now understood what Jinx meant with those words. Vi had a track record for leaving, but was Caitlyn ok with that? Was she ok with being left out of the loop and dropped as soon as Vi felt things became too risky? Was this something she could learn to live with?

"Careful, Cait," Jayce said, interrupting her train of thought, "You're getting in way too deep, way too fast with this girl."

Caitlyn looked up at him, "What?"

"You think I'm that dense? I see the way you look at her, you're falling in deep."

"I- we- nothing is happening with us," Caitlyn defended, "And I know how to take care of myself!"

"I'm just saying, Cait, Vi has a shit ton of her own issues right now. Trying to start a relationship with her while all of this is going on is only going to lead to someone getting hurt, and with the way you're acting after she took off, I have a feeling that someone is going to be you."

"…"

Was Caitlyn getting herself in too deep with Vi?

Caitlyn said she would wait until Vi was ready for her, but that was such a large commitment for someone who seemed to be perfectly ok with just walking away. And it wasn't the first time either, she had tried to do it when they first came Topside too.

How many times would Vi do this? How much of this could Caitlyn stand? Was she willing to hand over her heart to a girl who seemed hellbent on breaking it?

"I'm just saying, Cait, Vi comes with baggage, don't overlook that just cause you're smitten."

"…Jayce?"

"Yes?"

"You sound like my mother," Caitlyn replied dryly.

He snorted, "My apologies."

Caitlyn rolled her eyes and cleared her throat, "Look, Jinx went after Vi, and now I need to go after both of them."

"So you'll be needing these?" Jayce said, holding up a pair of keys, which Caitlyn knew were to the lab with the Hextech weapons.

"Yes!" Caitlyn said, grabbing them.

"Viktor gave Vi his set, but I have my own. The weapons are being held in lab number 48 on the second floor of the academy."

"Thank you!" Caitlyn said as she turned around to go to the academy.

"Get them back by next week! That's when we're destroying them!"

"Got it!" Caitlyn called back as she sprinted down the halls.

---

Caitlyn walked to the front doors of the science academy, where the team was gathered and waiting.

"Oh man, you guys should've seen it, she's small like you, Maddie, but fucking hell, she looks badass!" Loris bellowed.

"Loris, we all saw her," Steb said dryly, "remember the whole mission where we brought her up here?"

"You saw her, but you didn't SEE her. She's like a bullet when she runs! It's mind-blowing," he said wistfully.

"Sounds like Jinx has her first official fan," Maddie said with a giggle.

"Sounds like Jinx has her hands full," Steb added.

"Ahhh, you guys just don't understand what it's like to meet her. Be nice and maybe I'll introduce you," he said smugly.

"You seem awfully happy for a guy I'm throwing in a cell once we come back," Caitlyn said as she walked up to them.

Maddie snickered, "Someone's in trouble."

"But I'm sober, I swear!" Loris said as Caitlyn walked by him.

"You don't smell like it," Steb commented.

Caitlyn gave Loris a look, "You're the reason this mess is happening in the first place, and just cause you managed to get your shit together doesn't mean you're out of the woods."

"How the hell is it my fault Vi took off?" Loris grumbled, kicking a rock.

"It's not," Caitlyn said as she pushed the doors open and started leading the way to the lab, "But it sure as hell is your fault Jinx found out about it," she snapped.

"Hold up, you told Jinx, the hospital patient with loads of trauma, that Vi, her sister, who she just reconnected with, went to the Undercity and left her behind?" Steb said, giving him a look of absolute disbelief.

"No! I… gave her a letter that said all that shit," he mumbled.

"Loris! How drunk were you to think that was a good idea?!" Maddie yelled, also taken aback by his lack of intelligence.

Caitlyn stopped in front of the lab number 48's doors and pulled out her keys to unlock them, "Still think you deserve to be let off the hook?" She asked as she threw the doors open.

"I just don't understand why I'm getting all the blame when Vi's the one who left!" Loris complained.

"Oh, don't worry, Vi's going to get what's coming to her," Caitlyn said as she picked up her weapon and threw Maddie her pistol.

"And now you got Vi in trouble, nice going, Loris," Maddie said, shaking her head.

"Seriously, man, now you're throwing your friend under the bus to try and save yourself? Not cool," Steb said.

"Stupid Vi," Loris grumbled, "Making me help her stupid self by turning me into a stupid delivery boy," he muttered as he picked up his shield.

"You mean, thank you, Vi, for letting me get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of meeting your totally awesome sister Jinx, who I now totally worship even though I'm an alcoholic with no ambitions in life?" Steb said with a raised brow.

Loris gave him a withering glare.

Caitlyn gave Steb a small gun she was carrying as a backup before looking at Loris and saying, "With a glare like that, you could give Jinx a run for her money."

He didn't seem to appreciate her callback, but the others, though not appreciating the irony, found it hilarious.

"So where are we going?" Maddie asked as they walked their way out of the academy.

"A bar called the Last Drop," Caitlyn said.

"Whoa! Wait a minute, that's Silco's lair! No one gets in there without his say so," Loris pointed out.

"Well, considering Vi is probably already there with her Hextech-powered gauntlets and all of the anger of a drugged-up bull, along with a pissed as fuck Jinx, it's probably safe to assume the place is just ashes covered in blood by now," Caitlyn said dryly.

She and her team were so far behind them it was more than likely Jinx and Vi were long gone already, but the Last Drop is the only place she could think to go, so that's where they would start.

"I hope the place is still standing, that building must be as old as the city itself, plus it's got the best ale in town," Loris added.

"So your city's historic building is a bar?" Steb asked.

"That's how the Undercity works, man," he replied, "It doesn't matter what the building is used for, if it's got the history and is around long enough, it becomes historical."

"That's kinda cool," Maddie said, "we just have a bunch of statues and museums up here."

"Yeah, your junk pales in comparison to what we have," he said proudly, "That bar was actually owned by the last leader of the Undercity himself! Vand-" Loris suddenly cut himself off, brows furrowing in confusion, "Hey, wait a minute."

"What?" Maddie asked, concerned.

"Think he overworked his brain trying to remember the old leader's name?" Steb asked.

"Vi's got red hair and Jinx has got blue…" he muttered.

They all looked at him oddly.

"Yes, Loris, we are aware of their hair color," Steb said with a roll of his eyes.

"And Jinx's name used to be Powder…"

"Don't call her that," Caitlyn reminded.

"And the name of their father that we were trying to save was-"

"Vander," Steb said, cutting him off before whispering to Caitlyn and Maddie, "Do you think he's still drunk?"

"Wait a fucking minute, are you saying that those two are actually THAT Vander's kids!" He cried out.

Caitlyn looked back at him, "Yeah? They're Vander's kids, you seriously just realized this?"

He gaped at her, "You're fucking lying, the two of them were dead! Vander was dead!"

"Are we missing something here?" Maddie asked Steb, confused.

"Yes, that's what everyone thought, but Jinx and Vander have been with the doctor, and Vi was in Stillwater. Welcome to what's been happening for the last few days," Caitlyn replied with a roll of her eyes.

"Apparently," Steb whispered back.

"Then what about the other two!? The- umm, you know," Loris said, snapping his fingers, "The two boys Vander had, are they alive too?!"

Caitlyn sighed, how was Loris just realizing this information? They had been pretty clear about everything from the beginning, or at least that was what Caitlyn thought. Although it was kind of weird that he knew about Jinx's and Vi's adoptive brothers, she didn't think she had mentioned them.

"No, and I will actually throw you into Stillwater on sight if you bring them up to Jinx or Vi."

"Fucking shit," Loris muttered, "I can't fucking believe it's actually them…"

"Umm, Loris, Caitlyn? Can I ask what you're talking about, because me and Steb are totally lost," Maddie asked.

Caitlyn opened her mouth to explain, but closed it again. She actually had no idea why Loris was reacting the way he was to finding out about Vander… actually, why was Loris acting like this at all?

"Well, I thought I knew, but now I'm lost as well. Loris, why are you freaking out over this?"

"Why am I- you don't know!?" He asked, completely taken aback.

"No," Caitlyn said, confused.

Caitlyn had never really gotten to many details on Jinx's and Vi's family. All she knew was that their birth parents were killed by enforcers, and they got adopted by Vander, along with two other kids who were their brothers. Silco attacked them and kidnapped Vander, Vi and her brothers went to get him, Jinx being told to stay behind. Jinx didn't listen and somehow caused an explosion, which killed her brothers. After that, Vi left her, and Silco found Jinx. The rest was history, but nothing that warranted such a grand reaction from Loris.

"Janna, you Pilties," he said exasperated.

"Well, feel free to enlighten us," Steb chimed in.

"Man, where do I start?" He said, running a hand through his hair, "Ok, well, first off, Vander. That man is an absolute legend, he was just a kid when he and some others made a big ol' name for themselves. Lots of people say he was the best leader the Undercity had ever had," he said wistfully.

"Wait, wait, wait, you're saying Vi and Jinx's dad used to be a well-respected leader of the whole Undercity?" Maddie asked in disbelief.

"Hell yeah, I mean I was just a little snot nosed kid when he first became well known, but even I knew he was an absolute beast! Pounding people into the dirt," he said with complete awe in his voice.

"So Silco 2.0?" Steb said.

"Fuck no!" Loris said angrily, "he was the best. 'Course things changed after all his team members died in that whole bridge incident years back."

"…so he wasn't running the Undercity alone until then?" Caitlyn asked, completely enthralled in this story.

"Nope, he and some other people were all doing it together. Think there were four of them to start with, but two of 'em left for some reason, and then the last guy was killed. If you believe the rumors, it was Vander who did it, but I think that's a load of bull."

"Who were the others?" Maddie asked curiously.

"I'm not sure. Like I said, I was just a kid back then, 14 maybe 15. My folks weren't exactly making ends meet, so I was too busy making money to help out to be paying attention to all the politics. But I knew about Vander, he was kinda like the first Ekko, you know?"

Maddie and Steb looked at each other, "No?"

"Fucking hell, you all don't even know about Ekko and the Firelights?" Loris said, annoyed, "You two literally came face to face with the one guy who managed to give the Chem-Barons and Silco a run for their money!"

"No one hears about what happens in the Undercity Loris," Caitlyn said softly, "All the news is filtered and fake up here. I had no clue what it was like before I actually saw it for myself, and trust me, I was trying to find out."

He sighed heavily, "I can't believe I actually joined you shit heads," he muttered.

That also confused Caitlyn, Loris was actually a high-ranking officer before, but now he couldn't stand anything to do with Topside.

"Can I ask you something personal?" Caitlyn asked.

"Can I not get thrown into a cell when we come back?" He replied.

Caitlyn rolled her eyes, "Fine."

"Then shoot."

"Why did you become an enforcer if you didn't support what they stood for?"

"It was my way out," he replied, his eyes gazing off into the distance, "Us folks from the Undercity are stuck down there until we die, unless we sell out and join your army and earn the lowest title in the whole system, where we are treated like dog shit in return for getting to stay in the living quarters you people offer, and then we get to stay there for the rest of our lives. Making less money than everyone else, even the ones who are the same rank as us, and working for practically nothing."

All of them were silent as Loris told his story, all ashamed of themselves.

"But I made a promise to my folks before they died that I would make it out of the city and make a better life for myself, so I signed up anyway. After that, I didn't really belong anywhere, my people thought I was a traitor, and Topside thought I was trash. It was only because of Commander Grayson that I made it as far as I did, and well, once she was gone, so was anything I ever worked for," he spat bitterly.

"I'm sorry," Caitlyn said softly, "I promise you that I'll fix things with the enforcers once I get the chance."

Loris chuckled, "You sure got some big dreams. I get why Sheriff Grayson liked you."

Caitlyn looked at him, "She talked about me?"

Caitlyn respected Grayson, hell, she was her role model, but Caitlyn never thought Grayson actually saw her as anything more than a kid she was entertaining.

He smiled at her, "She knew you'd be a great officer one day. Why else do you think I agreed to meet with you, or to any of this?" He said, gesturing at the group.

Tears formed in Caitlyn's eyes, that had always been the one thing she had wondered about for her whole career, was she making Grayson proud?

Was she shooting for the right reason?

"I thought you joined cause you wanted Jinx's autograph," Maddie said, nudging Loris.

He chuckled, "I know all of you think it's funny that I'm so obsessed with her, but you have no idea how big of a deal someone like her is for people like me. She's a one-woman army doing shit that I have only dreamed of doing my whole life, she stuck it to both Silco and you, Topsiders completely on her own, and now that I know she's Vander's kid, it just makes it that much more incredible."

"Yeah, you never finished telling us about that," Steb said, "What's up with that? Why does it make her so special?"

"Man, it makes her Undercity royalty! Think Caitlyn, but even more important!"

They all looked over at Caitlyn, whose face was flushed in embarrassment.

"Anyway, where was I? Oh right, Vander was then the sole ruler of the Undercity, and word got around that he took in these two kids-"

"Jinx and Vi!" Maddie said excitedly.

"Exactly!" Loris said.

"How did you not realize who they were when you meant Vi?!" Steb asked, taken aback.

"Well, let me finish my story!" He bellowed before clearing his throat, "Vander started cleaning things up, and he even ended up adopting some more kids, can't remember their names for the life of me though," he said thoughtfully.

Probably for the best, Caitlyn thought, Loris would probably let their names slip in front of Vi, or worse, Jinx. Yeah, best to avoid that disaster.

"Anyways, it was around that time I left to join the enforcers so I didn't know much about what was going on down there for a while, but overall it was just some good years of Vander running things, out of the Last Drop I may add," Loris said pointedly, "But things happened and I was pretty close with Sheriff Grayson, she told me about a deal she had going with Vander, some top secret stuff."

Grayson knew Vander!? Not only that, she was working with Vander! Dear god, Vi and Jinx's adoptive father was important, and apparently so were Jinx and Vi by association.

Vi, Undercity royalty, who would have thought?

"What was the deal?" Maddie asked.

"Sheriff Grayson kept the enforcers out of the Undercity, and Vander kept the people from the Undercity from causing trouble Topside."

"But that didn't last," Steb said, "there was that incident with the prototype Hextech all those years ago."

"…the explosion," Caitlyn whispered.

So that's where it all went wrong for Jinx and Vi.

And Caitlyn was just on the other side of the door from the people who caused it all to fall apart.

"Yeah," Loris said, "the council was furious at Sheriff Grayson for not making an arrest. Things were in total chaos. Anyway, after Sheriff Grayson died in the Undercity and things started going to shit, I ended up back down there for a while. I found out the Undercity was under new management, Vander and his family were supposedly killed by Silco in some explosion. I never even thought to assume Vi was THE Vi or that Jinx was actually THAT Powder. They were all dead. How was I supposed to know that you were actually talking about THAT Vander?"

"Wow," Maddie whispered, "No wonder you didn't realize."

"Yeah," Loris said, "They were all just stories for so long I would've never thought they were actually real. Besides, it's not like I knew them personally, all I knew about Powder and Vi was that they were sisters with blue and pink hair."

It was incredible how important Jinx and Vi were. These two people who seemed so insignificant were actually the stuff of legends. Loris was right to compare Jinx and Vi to Caitlyn, if they had the same family history Topside, they would be respected for miles around. The only difference between Caitlyn and them was where they grew up.

Caitlyn sighed, "Well then, looks like we're going to be storming Vi and Jinx's old home. The stuff of legends," She muttered as she spotted the Undercity in the distance.

---

This trip to the Undercity was very different from their last one, it was far from quiet. The Undercity seemed to be more crime-ridden than before, the sounds of gunfights could be heard in the distance, and absolutely everyone was on edge. Shops were closed all over, and the few people who walked the streets moved quickly and kept their heads down.

Caitlyn actually spotted many Firelights flying around in the sky, a few groups coming down due to recognition, and exchanged a few words with them.

"What are you doing back down here?" A girl with a crow-like mask asked as she and her people landed, two of them sharing a board for some reason.

"Jinx and Vi both went rogue," Caitlyn supplied.

"Again?" Said a different Firelight.

"Does that mean we're back to taking Jinx down on sight?" Asked another.

"No!" Loris called, "Why the hell would you jump straight to that?!"

"She's Jinx, why the hell wouldn't we jump straight to that?" Said the girl with the crow mask.

"Look," Caitlyn said, interrupting, "Can you just keep your eye out for those two?"

The girl shrugged, "We can try, but we've got a lot of our own shit happening right now. We've been taking down Silco's old Shimmer empire to make sure none of the other Chem-Barons get their hands on it. We don't need another dictator taking over. We even managed to take out a human trafficking route run by Chross, thanks to a little girl we rescued a ways back," she said proudly.

"You guys are making your move, huh?" Caitlyn said.

"Yup! No time like the present," said the girl.

"Well, maybe after everything settles down, we can talk about the future of the Undercity and Topside," Caitlyn said, sticking her hand out for a handshake.

The girl examined it for a moment before shrugging, "That's up to Scar, or Ekko if he ever manages to come back."

Caitlyn retracted her hand, slightly embarrassed, "Ahem, well yes, I'll uh, I'll talk to them."

She gave a nod before pulling out her hoverboard, "See you around, Pilties."

She and the other Firelights took to the skies with loud whoops and hollers.

"Well, they were… nice?" Maddie said as she watched them fly off.

"If by nice you mean rude, then yes, they were practically sweethearts," Steb said as he too watched them fly away.

"Come on, guys, let's keep moving," Caitlyn said, tearing her eyes away from the green lights dancing in the sky.

While they did keep moving, her group also decided to keep moving their mouths as well.

"I swear the only place you should ever get your beard cut is at Tony's! Anyone else scams you right out of your money, if they don't just slit your throat for it," Loris said as they passed by a shop that resembled a barber's, maybe, if you squinted.

Honestly, they were more of a tour group than an elite force.

"How much money did people scam you out of?" Maddie asked.

"Probably all of it, knowing him," Steb said.

Caitlyn sighed, "Loris, Maddie, Steb. Would you please focus! Jinx and Vi are at the Last Drop, and we need to find them and…"

Help them?

Take them down?

Stop Jinx from killing Vi?

Go ahead and kill Vi herself?

She huffed, "Just take us to the Last Drop Loris."

"You heard the lady, to the Last Drop we go!" Loris hollered.

"Woohoo!" Called Maddie as she followed.

"Woohoo," Steb said with a layer of sarcasm and an eye roll.

Caitlyn just shook her head and followed the group, people on the streets looking at them all like they were aliens with two heads.

---

It took them a while, but they finally made it to the Last Drop.

The place was dead silent, people rushing past it without daring to look inside. All the lights were out, and some smashed mechanical things laid out front that Caitlyn didn't recognize.

She went to walk towards the bar, but Loris put up a hand to stop her, "This place is no joke, Caitlyn. I know Silco is dead, but there are still a lot of other people out there who are just as bad, waiting to take his place. See all that pink goo and metal?" He asked.

Everyone nodded their heads.

"Those were what is known as Chem-Bots, which are basically people in big metal suits that are shoved full of shimmer. They are fucking fast and dangerous as shit, they normally are in the factories, them being out here means Sevika isn't playing around."

Caitlyn scanned the area, "Looks like Vi or Jinx didn't give a shit about her little guard dogs, they're all smashed to pieces."

"My money's on Vi," Steb said, "smashing things isn't Jinx's style, she's quick with her work, and she isn't this sloppy."

Everyone looked at him with surprise.

"What? You think I just go after targets without doing my research on them first?" Steb said, crossing his arms, "Don't tell me none of you studied her attack on the bridge to see what we were up against?"

They all looked at one another.

"Looks like you have some competition, Loris," Maddie said with a snicker.

Steb rolled his eyes, "It's called being prepared, not obsessed like someone we know."

"Alright, alright. Let's stop wasting time and head in," Caitlyn said as she pulled out her gun.

They all pulled up their weapons and got into formation, rushing the door and doing a sweep of the area.

The place was an absolute mess, bodies laid everywhere, and everything was smashed and destroyed. Whatever happened in here was not pretty.

When Caitlyn's eyes landed on Vi's gauntlets that were by the bar and powered off, her heart sank, but before she got a chance to freak out, Caitlyn heard Maddie gasp loudly.

"Oh god!" Maddie said.

Caitlyn looked over at her to see what the problem was, but she had run off to a corner where she could now be heard vomiting.

Caitlyn looked around to see what made her react like that and saw the body of what looked to be a Yordle of some sort that had been completely ripped apart limb from limb. His eyes were gone, and his guts were spilling out all over the floor, where his detached eyes could also be found.

Caitlyn gaged as she quickly looked away.

She had seen a lot of dead bodies in the last few days, but fucking hell, that was too much.

Steb had walked over to check on Maddie, who was still busy in the corner, the image of the Yordle providing many reasons to warrant such a reaction, as Loris walked over to the body.

"This is Smeech," Loris said as he was crouched down next to the body.

"Who?" Caitlyn asked, still refusing to look anywhere in that direction, she had already seen enough to give herself nightmares for years to come.

"A Chem-Baron. He makes robotically enhanced limbs," Loris explained.

"W-why is he l-like th-that," Maddie asked, also not looking anywhere near him.

Steb handed Maddie a glass of water, using a cup he found on the counter that he clean before filling with water from the sink, "If I had to guess I would say whoever did it was someone with almost surgical experience due to the precision of the cuts. They made sure he stayed alive for as long as possible," he said with a grimace.

"You'd be right," Called out a voice.

Everyone raised their weapons in the direction of the voice, and out of the shadows appeared Sevika, a bottle of liquor in her one hand.

She was as big a mess as the building. Cuts and bruises all over, limping as she walked, covered in bandages, and her fake arm completely gone.

"I would put my hands up, but," she gestured at the empty air where her mechanical arm should have been.

"Don't move! Where are Vi and Jinx!" Caitlyn yelled, gun raised.

Sevika snorted and took a swig of her drink, "Those two made this mess and then left," she said as she continued to hobble her way forward.

Bang!

"I said, don't move!" Caitlyn yelled after firing off a warning shot that was much more powerful than Caitlyn expected.

She hissed in pain and clutched her face where the bullet grazed her, "I wouldn't do that if I were you, princess," she spat, "otherwise you're never finding out where those two went."

Caitlyn growled.

She wanted to shoot Sevika and be done with her, but she was the only one who knew where Jinx and Vi were.

"I don't have to shoot to kill," Caitlyn threatened, taking aim at her kneecaps, Maddie and Steb keeping their guns aimed at her head.

Sevika snorted as she continued to walk, "You think you scare me? I was watching as Jinx ripped into that funny-looking rat. Nothing you do will compare."

"Jinx did that?" Maddie whispered in horror.

Sevika threw her head back and laughed, "Oh, you have no idea what that kid is capable of. That? That is nothing. She could do so much more," she said, sitting herself down in a booth, downing more alcohol.

Steb and Maddie looked at each other with looks of doubt. Caitlyn didn't need to hear their thoughts to know they were losing faith in Jinx.

"Why'd she do it?" Caitlyn asked.

Caitlyn knew Jinx. She knows she would never go so far when killing someone without a good reason.

Sevika looked up at her, "Fucking moron tried to threaten her using her sister," she chuckled darkly, "How'd that work out for you asshole?"

Caitlyn knew there was a reason.

"Smeech was always a scumbag," Loris said, "I'd say Jinx didn't do enough to him."

That seemed to be enough to dismiss the doubts Maddie and Steb had.

"Try and threaten to take over the Undercity now, you son of a bitch," Sevika growled as she took another long drink, lost in her own world.

Sevika was clearly drunk, her words were slurring together, and she was now talking to a corpse.

Bang!

"The fuck is wrong with you!" She yelled.

Caitlyn had fired a bullet straight through her glass bottle, shattering it and spilling her alcohol everywhere.

Caitlyn slammed her hands on the table, "Tell me what happened, or we all wait here for Jinx to come back and gut you like that rat."

She glared at her, "You wanna know what happened? Vi happened," she growled, "Came in here with those things," she said, gesturing at the powered-down gauntlets, "and destroyed everything, including my arm. Next thing I know, I'm tied up in Silco's old chair with the nut job asking me about a bunch of different bullshit. Then that shithead comes in and thinks he can just do whatever the fuck he wants!" She yelled, pointing to Smeech's body.

"And?" Caitlyn growled.

"And Jinx gutted him like a fish!" She said, gesturing at him.

"No, I mean what happened to Vi? And where is Jinx now?"

"Oh, Vi," Sevika said with a smirk, "Jinx may have saved her knocked-out ass, but she sure as hell wasn't too happy with her. Otherwise, they would've come here together."

"Where did they go!" Caitlyn yelled.

Caitlyn didn't like the fact that Vi's gauntlets were left behind. Clearly, Jinx had gotten to her, but still, she wasn't ok with having their fates up in the air.

"…I can't believe that little blue-headed shit face is actually making me help her," Sevika grumbled.

"What?" Caitlyn asked.

She leaned back, "Think Jinx just let me get away? Ha! No one gets away from her," she said bitterly, "I stayed here cause she asked me too, said I could help her and then get locked up for life, or I could run and… well, that," she said pointing at the Chem-Baron on the ground.

Loris laughed, "Jinx actually got you to work for her!? How much cooler can one chick be?!"

Sevika growled, "Think you've been drinking too much, you traitorous son of a bitch."

"Like you can talk, you two-faced snake," he spat back.

"ENOUGH!" Caitlyn yelled, slamming her fist on the table, "Tell me where they went. NOW."

"…Jinx said to tell you she went to Babette's."

"Babette's? You expect me to believe Jinx went there when she was looking for the doctor?" Caitlyn snapped.

Sevika shrugged, "That's the message I was told to deliver. I delivered it, so my job is done," she said as she pulled out a hip flask and took a drink.

Caitlyn grabbed her arm and snapped handcuffs on her before attaching her to the table.

"Well, now that you've done your job, you can sit here and wait for your personal escort to Stillwater," Caitlyn sneered.

Loris reached forward and snagged her flask, "Can't let you have too much fun while you wait," he said, downing her drink right in front of her.

"Fucking drunkard," she spat as they all filed out the door, Loris grabbing the powered-down gauntlets beforehand.

"Ok," Caitlyn said as the door closed, "To Babette's."

"Not surprising Jinx went to her," Loris commented.

"Why's that?" Maddie asked.

"Well, Babette is one of Vander's oldest supporters," Loris said thoughtfully, "she's been doing business down here for ages."

"That's interesting," Steb said, "What's her business?"

"Sex and secrets," he replied.

Caitlyn didn't have to look to see all of their embarrassment, she couldn't hear it all in the silence that followed the comment.

Babette seemed nice enough. Caitlyn would have pegged her as more of a business partner than an old family friend, considering the way she acted with Jinx, but then again, Jinx had apparently killed her people and customers, so a warm welcome wasn't exactly expected.

They all walked up to the building, which was completely sealed up and closed down. Another sign of the disastrous state the city was currently in.

"Babette never closes," Loris whispered.

Caitlyn narrowed her eyes, "Do you think Jinx made her shut down?"

Jinx had a tendency to get what she wanted, one way or another.

"Why would she want to do that?" Steb asked, "She's looking for the doctor, not a place to hide out."

"…true," Caitlyn whispered.

But Caitlyn still couldn't shake the feeling that this was a trap somehow.

"Loris, take Steb and go around back. You're from around here, so they should know you. Try to get inside and see what's going on and meet us back in that alley in 10, understand?"

"Got it," Loris said, "I should leave the shield and the gloves though, right?"

"Yes, obviously leave the shield and gloves," Caitlyn sighed.

The two of them walked off and left Caitlyn and Maddie to settle down in the alley.

"…Caitlyn?"

"Yes, Maddie?" Caitlyn replied as she still watched the building.

"Are you and Vi going to be ok?"

Caitlyn looked over at her, "Excuse me?"

Maddie gave a sheepish smile, "I don't mean to assume, but you two seemed… more than friends?"

Caitlyn felt her face flush, was Jayce right? Was it really that obvious?

"Don't get me wrong, I think it's great! But…"

Caitlyn looked back up at her, "If you're about to say something about Vi being from the Undercity and that somehow makes her not good enough for me, then I am extremely disappointed in you. I thought you were better than that," Caitlyn said, disapproval lacing her voice.

"No! I would never say something like that!" She defended, "I was just going to say that if you two were really an item, it's surprising that she left you behind!"

Caitlyn opened her mouth to defend Vi, but she couldn't. Caitlyn didn't understand it either. Vi had made her a promise, but why did she break it? It was the only thing she asked of her in return for everything, not that it was an exchange, but Caitlyn had been bending over backwards to help her. Why was it too much to ask to be involved with what Vi was planning? If Vi just wanted to leave Jinx behind, she still could have taken Caitlyn.

God, what a terrible thing to think, Caitlyn thought as she lightly tapped the back of her head against the wall.

"I'm sorry, I upset you. I really shouldn't have said anything, it's none of my business," Maddie said, backtracking.

"No, it's ok. Honestly, Maddie, you're right, Vi up and left without consulting me despite…"

Despite the kiss and the promise and everything else they had been through.

"Well, it's her loss, you would've totally been a huge help in finding the doctor!" Maddie replied.

Caitlyn gave her a smile, "Thanks, Maddie. I appreciate it."

She smiled back, "Of course! This may be overstepping, but feel free to talk to me about stuff like this anytime. Loris is kind of obsessed with Jinx and is friends with Vi, and Steb is a great guy, but he's very blunt and career-oriented, he isn't exactly the best person to consult with personal feelings on things. That's why I'm so glad you picked me to join this team!" She said happily, "I've never really had a girl I could just talk to and hang out with. Honestly, I feel like you're my first real friend!"

Caitlyn blinked, taken aback at the sudden admission, "What are you talking about, Maddie? You have tons of friends, everyone in the force thinks you're great!"

She chuckled awkwardly, "I know, but… they're not real? I mean, I like all of them fine, but they all complain about everything all the time and look down at everyone constantly, it's disgusting and I don't agree with any of it."

Caitlyn knew what she was talking about, the people who like to judge her, and those who picked on Loris just because they were different. It was sad that those were the majority of people who made up the ranks of the enforcers.

"If that's true, then why hang out with them?" Caitlyn asked.

She gave a small smile before looking at her feet, "It's hard being the new guy. I just moved to this city not too long ago because I was looking to prove myself. So I wanted to fit in and be liked, but I soon realized that it wasn't all it was cracked up to be. That's why I'm so grateful you asked me to join you guys, you all are the first people I actually respect and want to work with, especially you."

"That's sweet of you," Caitlyn said with a smile, "And I picked you for this because I knew you had a good heart, you were basically the only person who didn't think I was a stuck-up rich kid."

Now that Caitlyn really thought about it, this group she formed was her first real set of friends. Everyone she had met and talked to before was just looking for a way to get in good with her family. Before Vi and Jinx came into her life, the only friend she had to talk to was Jayce, she's never had another girl to talk with. It was kind of nice.

"…can I-" Caitlyn paused before steeling herself and continuing, "Can I get your opinion on some stuff with me and Vi?"

"Of course!" Maddie replied.

"Well… me and her haven't exactly gotten very far, there was just a kiss."

"A kiss! That's incredible!" She giggled, "I thought you two were still in the completely oblivious morons stage, but good to know you actually figured out you like each other."

Caitlyn laughed, "Vi's been the one who's taking the lead really. It's not like I don't want to, but I just didn't want to push anything on her while all this stuff was going on. You know?"

Maddie nodded, "Makes sense, she's got a lot to deal with."

"See that the thing! I know she's going through a lot, and I made it clear that I was ok with all of that and waiting until she was ready, but-"

"She left," Maddie said, finishing the thought for her.

"Exactly!" Caitlyn huffed, "Now I'm not sure where we stand. I'm not sure I want to get involved with her if she's just going to treat me like this."

"That's fair," Maddie said, "you two are still starting out, I think you're putting too much into this when you haven't even committed to anything yet. I mean, I get you wanna see where things go, and that's great, but Vi's emotionally unavailable right now. You agreed to put your relationship aside for now, so that's what you need to do, focus on being a commander and saving Vander and Jinx, not Vi running off without you. You need to do whatever is best for the success of the team."

"You don't think I'm doing that?" Caitlyn asked, slightly hurt that she seemed to be failing in the eyes of her team members.

"Kind of," she said softly, "I just mean that you seem really worried about Vi when we should be more worried about Jinx and Vander. And also…"

"What?" Caitlyn asked.

"No," she said, shaking her head, "I shouldn't."

"Maddie," Caitlyn said, placing a hand on her shoulder, "if you think something I'm doing is making the team suffer, then you have every right to tell me, I want you to tell me!"

"Well… I just know if me or one of the others went rogue, you would kick us off the mission immediately," Maddie said.

Caitlyn pulled her hand back, "You want me to kick Vi off the team?" Caitlyn said, taken aback, "Maddie, this whole thing is about saving HER family!"

"Exactly! She's too close to all of this to think clearly!" Maddie defended, "She's gone off completely on her own once, what makes you think she won't do it again? How are me and the others supposed to put our lives in her hands if she's ready to just leave us at the drop of a hat?"

Caitlyn hated to admit it, but she had a point. Vi had betrayed the most important rule in a team, she abandoned her team members, if she actually saw herself as one of them, she would have never done that.

Maddie sighed, "I'm sorry, Caitlyn, that was too far, I never should have brought it up."

"No… it's ok," Caitlyn mumbled as she continued to think.

"Caitlyn! Maddie!" Loris called before Steb elbowed him in the stomach and shushed him to try and stop him from drawing even more attention to himself.

"How'd it go?" Caitlyn said, straightening up and setting her thoughts of Vi aside.

"Well, Loris did his best, but they wouldn't let us in," Steb said.

"We tried asking why they were closed, and all I managed to get out of the guy was that they were waiting on some people."

"Who?" Asked Maddie.

"Not sure," Steb answered, "They weren't willing to talk."

Caitlyn sighed, "Well, if I had to guess, I would say it has to be me."

Jinx knew that Caitlyn had been seen at Babette's before, and Jinx didn't even know anyone else Topside, so Caitlyn was kinda the only option.

"So we're all going in then?" Steb asked.

"Yes," Caitlyn said with a sigh.

She really hoped this would be the last time she would have to come here.

Caitlyn and the others walked to the door, where Caitlyn knocked.

The guard slid the metal back and looked out at them before the sound of locks clicking came from the other side of the door.

"Guess you were right," Loris said as the door swung open and they all walked in.

The place was very different when it wasn't business hours. All the mood lighting was gone and replaced by lights that had normal coloring to them, and the workers were nowhere to be found.

"It seems we keep meeting," Babette said as she leaned against a wall of the hall and looked at Caitlyn and her team smoking her pipe, "and yet, I still don't know your real name. Or would you prefer I keep calling you Matilda?"

Caitlyn felt her face burst into flames at the very mention of the name.

"Matilda?" Loris asked, completely confused.

Caitlyn struggled to form words for what felt like hours before grunting out, "It was an alias," and then to Babette, "My name is Caitlyn."

Babette nodded, "Jinx's friend and Vi's…"

"Friend," Caitlyn stated plainly.

"Yes, well, I assume you came to pick your 'friend' up," she said as she pushed off the wall and began to walk down the hallway.

Caitlyn followed, "Vi is here?" She asked.

"Jinx didn't tell you?" Babette said, looking up at her.

"Jinx and Vi ran off, we are trying to catch up to them," Caitlyn explained, "but as you can tell, we are very far behind."

Babette sighed shaking her head, "These girls, always getting themselves into trouble. Well I suppose I will tell you what I know about what Jinx has been up to," she said as she stepped into her office and walked behind her desk, "Jinx came here about an hour or two ago with Vi tied up and slung over her shoulder. Jinx looked a bit rough, all things considered, emotional even, but overall fine. Vi is the one who had all the bruises and cuts."

Babette pulled out a key and walked back out the door to her office, and walked to a shut door at the end of the long hall.

"Jinx didn't say what happened to Vi, but she did demand that we keep Vi here until you all arrived," she explained, "I had her patched up while she was still asleep."

Babette slipped the key into the lock on the door and turned it, the click of the lock sounding as she did so.

Babette turned to look at all of them, "Caitlyn, Vi will be through this door in the second room to your right. She woke up a while ago and has been rather upset since."

Caitlyn looked at Babette, "…you didn't let her go?"

"No," Babette said, "that's not what Jinx asked of me."

"Why can't we go with her?" Maddie asked.

Babette looked over at her, "I'm sorry, I don't believe you're Jinx's friend's, therefore you don't qualify. And Jinx was very clear what would happen if I failed to comply with her request."

"We are here to help her," Steb said, offended.

"Yeah!" Loris added.

Caitlyn looked back at them, "Guys, it's alright, I'll be back in a minute."

They looked unconvinced.

"But Caitlyn-" Maddie started.

"It's ok, Maddie, just trust me."

With that, Caitlyn opened the door and walked into the back rooms of the building. A few people milled around, but it became clear rather quickly what room Vi was being held in.

"LET ME FUCKING GO! BABETTE YOU FUCKING BITCH!"

Caitlyn winced a bit at her loud, brazen tone.

"She's a joy, isn't she?" Said a woman who had a cat-like appearance, who was standing next to Vi's door.

"…who are you?" Caitlyn asked suspiciously.

She smiled, "Name's Lest. I've been making sure that one didn't rip her restraints in half," she said, nodding towards the door where Vi could be heard spewing out more vulgar comments.

"Oh, well, thanks for that," Caitlyn said, running a hand through her hair.

Lest pushed herself off the wall and circled around Caitlyn, "She's quite the handful."

"I'm aware," Caitlyn said, shooting a glare at the suspicious woman.

She chuckled, "She's also one of the few good ones we've got left down here."

Caitlyn furrowed her brows, "What are you getting at?"

"You're having doubts. Don't," she said.

"How do you-" Caitlyn started.

"Violet is misguided at times, but she has a big heart. I've been listening to what's been happening around this city, and if you really want to fix things, then you need to stop doubting yourself and her," Lest said, cutting Caitlyn off.

"And how could you possibly tell what I'm feeling?" Caitlyn asked defensively.

She didn't think this woman was talking about Vi and Caitlyn in a romantic sense, but it felt rather targeted, and she didn't like it.

"I see it in your eyes. You're torn between what you want to do and what others expect of you."

"…how could you possibly know that?"

"I know a lot of things," she purred, "but before you go in there and rip things apart past repair, let me ask you something. What got you this far, listening to what others told you to do? Or doing what you thought was right despite the ridicule?"

"…"

Caitlyn didn't know how to respond. She had gotten this far because she had refused to take no for an answer her entire life. She forged ahead despite all the nasty comments and all the people who said she would never make it. But if she ignored the worries of her teammates, then what good was having them around? She had selected them because she respected them and valued their opinions, but what good was all of that if she just dismissed them?

Caitlyn opened her mouth to reply, but the woman started speaking before she got the chance.

"Jinx is at the Old Chem-Baron ruins. Loris will know where that is," she said at Caitlyn's confused expression, "So you don't need Vi to lead you there."

"Why are you telling me this?" Caitlyn asked.

"I'm telling you this because our city is on the brink of imploding. And the choice you make here today will be the thing that determines whether that happens or not. So now you have a question to ask yourself, keep doing what you have for your whole life and trust yourself, or start changing and listening to the people who have refused to hear people's suffering. The choice is yours."

With that, the woman turned around and left, leaving Caitlyn with only her thoughts and Vi's yelling.

She turned to look at the shut door and reached out to grab the handle. She wasn't sure what choice she was going to make, but she sure as hell knew it wasn't going to happen out in the hallway.

"BABETTE YOU-" Vi screamed until her eyes landed on Caitlyn in the doorway, "…Cait?"

Caitlyn didn't speak, but worry did shoot through her when she saw the bandages wrapped around her arms and the ones on her face.

"Oh Cait! Thank goodness, you got to get me out of here. Jinx went to the old Chem-Baron ruins! We need to stop her-"

"It's been too long, Vi, she's probably already there," Caitlyn said softly as she watched Vi struggling against her restraints.

She was tied up to a pillar that took up the center of the room.

"Well, we can still help her! Come on, let me go!"

"Vi… after what you did, that's all you have to say?" Caitlyn asked.

"What?" She said, confused.

"What?" Caitlyn repeated with a scoff, "You up and left Vi!"

Vi blinked at her, "I left because I was protecting my sister."

"God, when are you going to stop using that excuse!?" Caitlyn said, frustrated, "Vi, she isn't a child, she doesn't need your protection!"

"So what? You wanted me to let her run off and put herself back in danger by letting her run right back to the man who was torturing her for years!?" Vi yelled.

"No, I wanted you to let us come up with a plan so we could be with her when she came face to face with the doctor again!" Caitlyn yelled back.

"I don't want her anywhere near that man!"

"Well, it doesn't matter what you want because it's happening whether you like it or not!" Caitlyn said angrily, "Only difference is that now she's all alone again and you've probably managed to ruin your relationship with her because you keep doing the same damn thing over and over again!"

"I was trying to protect her!" Vi hissed.

"Well, you failed!" Caitlyn snapped back.

Silence fell.

"You've got to let me out, Cait. I need to stop her before she gets hurt," she whispered.

"Vi, why can't you get this!? She. Is. Already. Gone!"

Vi but her lip as tears began to fall, "I was stuck in a cell for seven years waiting to get back to her. She can't be gone. She can't be all grown up and not need me anymore. She can't have already gotten hurt. I can't have failed at protecting her already," she whispered as she cried, "All those years, they can't all have been for nothing."

Caitlyn closed her eyes and clenched her fists, "Well, I'm sorry, but she is, and you have. She doesn't need you to protect her from things anymore, Vi, she needs you to help her get through them. You can't shield her from this world, she's already seen the worst it has to offer. She gave you an olive branch by including you in her plans, but you didn't take it, and I'm worried you ruined your relationship by doing that."

Vi just shook her head, "I should've been faster."

"No!" Caitlyn yelled, "You should never have done it! All you had to do was stay, Vi, that would have been enough!"

Vi looked up at her, "What if I don't know how? What if all I can do is fuck shit up? How do I fix that?"

"…I don't know Vi. But you need to, for Jinx's sake… and for ours." She added softly.

Vi furrowed her brows, "What?"

Caitlyn looked over at her, "Vi, you didn't just leave Jinx, you left me."

She opened her mouth to reply, but Caitlyn didn't let her.

"Did you honestly not even consider what I would feel when you decided that you were just going to do all of this by yourself? It was the one thing I asked of you, Vi. I asked you to stay."

"I- I was just-"

"Being a moron? Destroying your relationships left and right without any consideration of the consequences? Yes, yes you were," Caitlyn took a breath, "And now I need you to give me one good fucking reason I shouldn't leave you tied up."

"Wait. You want to leave me here?" Vi said, taken aback, "Cait, she's my sister! You can't just make me sit here while you go after her! You don't even know where the old ruins are!"

Caitlyn shook her head, "Loris will tell me, and I'm sure I can convince Babette to keep you safe here. So I'll ask you again, why shouldn't I leave you?"

"Cait- Caitlyn, please. I'm begging you, don't do this."

"That isn't a reason," Caitlyn whispered.

"They're my family. I need to help them. I-"

"Stop. Stop using the same excuse over and over again and making the same mistake, and learning nothing from it. Stop fucking leaving, Vi," Caitlyn growled.

"…I'm sorry."

Caitlyn shook her head, "I'm sorry can only be said so many times before it becomes meaningless. You've exceeded your limit."

"…I was 10 when they died," Vi whispered.

"What?" Caitlyn asked with a sigh.

"My parents," she elaborated.

Caitlyn fell silent, Vi wasn't one to talk about her parents.

"I- I knew as soon as I held Powders' hand that night that I would be the only one left to take care of her. I was so fucking scared, so fucking sad, but I couldn't show it because Powder was watching me. She was always looking to me for everything once they were gone. She was such a fucking mess after our parents died, nightmares constantly, never wanting to leave my side for even a second… me and her became inseparable. Me helping her through the day, and her holding on to me for dear life. Vander helped me, made sure I got enough sleep, and somehow getting Powder distracted while I got a moment to myself for a while before I snapped. But despite Vander being there, it was still just the two of us. And now she just expects me to let her run headfirst into danger even though I know that this shit is going to fucking destroy her."

"Vi, this isn't something you get to just decide for her. She isn't that scared little girl anymore."

A tear rolled down Vi's face, "You don't think I know that? When I'm with her, I could tell that there was this distance between us, and I had no idea how to cross it, it's like we're together, but we're not. She's different now, and it's fucking scary. I have no idea what to say to her or how to help her through this emotional shit that she's going through. But I also know that despite her being older and having been through more shit than all of us combined, she is still just a scared kid. I know you think that's me just wishing she was, but you don't see how terrified she looks under all that anger. I know how terrified she is because I know that anger, I know that look in her eyes, I know because it's the same look I have in mine. I know how fucked up this is all going to leave her because I know how this world breaks you. I never wanted to see it break her, not like it broke me," she said softly.

Caitlyn stood silently for a moment before replying, "I don't claim to know her like you do, Vi, but this is something she needs to do for herself. She has spent her entire life trying to save Vander, trying to take that from her, whatever baggage and pain comes with the task, that was going too far, Vi. She needed this, and you tried to take it from her when you should've been helping her."

"How do I help when all I can do is break things?"

"What do you mean, Vi?" Caitlyn asked.

"I can slam my fists into someone's face for information, that's like the one thing I'm good at. I know I'm not smart like her, and Janna knows I don't have you or Ekko's resources, but I can take a fucking beating for her. I can kill all of the assholes who hurt her so she doesn't have to, because I know how it feels when you kill somebody, that's not something you just get used to, Caitlyn. I didn't want her to have to deal with more on top of everything else. I wanted to use the one fucking skill I had to spare her this last fight," Vi whispered, "but I guess I failed at that too."

"…Vi, stop selling yourself so short. You are more than your fists," Caitlyn said softly, "and that's a big part of the problem you're having right now. You don't realize that your anger and protection isn't what Jinx needs, she just needs your love and support."

Vi looked up at her, "I don't know how to give that," she whispered softly, "It's been so long since I've done that, I'm scared of fucking it up. Especially now that she's so different."

Caitlyn softened at her heartbreaking words, "Then you need to explain that to Jinx, otherwise she is never going to understand. Jinx has a lot of issues and needs our help, but goddess Vi, you have been through a lot these seven years as well. Stop trying to run away from your feelings and talk about them, even if it's hard," Caitlyn said as she kneeled down in front of her.

"…I'm sorry. I broke my promise to you."

"I want to say that I forgive you, but I think I need some more time before I can do that."

Vi nodded.

"…but I think keeping you here would just cause more problems than I can handle right now, so I'm letting you come with us."

Vi perked up.

"-But, know that this is your last chance, Vi. If you do something like this again, me and you are done. For good," Caitlyn said pointedly.

Vi nodded her head vigorously, "Of course, that is more than fair."

"…and you're completely on your own with Jinx on this one. I'm not defending you on this."

Vi nodded again.

"And you are talking to someone when this is all over, that is nonnegotiable," Caitlyn stated firmly.

Vi was such a mess, she needed therapy whether she wanted it or not. Caitlyn's father knew many people in the field, and finding someone for Vi shouldn't be an issue.

Caitlyn's father had spent a few years studying to be a therapist before switching over to becoming a doctor. He still enjoyed the practice, but he said his true calling was being a doctor, saving lives, and knowing how to help people emotionally would always be a useful skill he would never regret learning about.

"…Cait-"

"A nonnegotiable," Caitlyn repeated.

After a long moment, Vi sighed, "Alright, I'll… talk to someone," she said begrudgingly, "But I get to pick them."

"Fine," Caitlyn sighed as she untied the knots around her wrists and then the ones on her ankles.

The ones on her ankles were extremely tight, she almost couldn't get them undone.

"Why were those so tight?" Caitlyn asked as she finally managed to undo the knot.

"Powder may or may not be super pissed at me," Vi said as she rubbed her ankles, "They redid the ones on my hands because they had to tie me up onto that," Vi said gesturing at the pillar, "but the ones on my ankles were still the ones Powder did after she knocked me out."

"So Jinx was the one who knocked you out," Caitlyn said with a raised brow.

"Yeah… pissed may be too tame a word for how she's feeling," Vi said, grimacing and rubbing the back of her head.

They both walked out of the room and met up with the others.

"Hey guys," Vi said sheepishly.

"So just Vi?" Steb asked, completely ignoring Vi.

"Does she at least know where Jinx is?" Loris said.

Vi sighed, "Guess everyone is mad?"

"Not mad," Maddie said, eyes meeting Caitlyn's, "Just extremely disappointed."

Caitlyn looked away and cleared her throat, "Look, all of us are upset with Vi right now, but save it for later. For now, we need to get to the old Chem-Baron ruins."

Loris's mouth fell open, "Jinx went there!" He cried.

"Yeah," Vi said, "And she went alone."

"Because of you," Steb supplied.

Vi shot him a glare before grumbling, "Yeah, cause of me."

"Alright, people, walk and talk. We don't have the time to stand around," Caitlyn said as she started to usher them out.

"Vi," Babette called as she walked out of her office.

Vi looked over.

"No hard feelings?"

Vi sighed, "Be kind of a dick move for me to hold this against you when I know it was my sister who asked you to do it."

"Yes," she said, "that would be a dick move."

Vi chuckled, "Besides, I'm kinda running low on friends."

"Best fix that," Babette said, looking at the group, "It would be a shame to lose this group. They seem like good ones," she said with a smile.

"They are," Vi said, looking back at them, "They really are."

"…fucking hell, how am I supposed to stay mad at you when you say shit like that," Loris mumbled.

Vi chuckled before hooking her arm around his neck as they started walking, "That means you forgive me, you big lug?"

He huffed and crossed his arms, "Maybe."

"I'll take it," Vi said, throwing her arms up in victory.

"Talk about spineless," Steb said.

"As if you're going to be mad at her for more than a day," Loris snapped back.

Caitlyn smiled softly at the group's jokes as Maddie fell into step beside her.

"So you decided to forgive her?" She asked quietly.

Caitlyn glanced over at her, "No, I decided to give her another chance at redemption."

"…people never really change, Cait," Maddie said.

"Who decides who gets a second chance?" Caitlyn asked as she looked at Vi talking to Loris and Steb, "Who gets to be the judge of what is unforgivable if not ourselves? I made a choice for myself, Maddie. I'm sorry if you disagree, but this is what I believe is best. I don't think she's too far gone."

Maddie walked silently next to her for a while before speaking again, "Let's hope she thinks the same of you."

Caitlyn went to respond, but Maddie quickened her pace and rejoined the others, melding into their conversation easily, leaving Caitlyn slightly confused at her odd behavior.

---

As they walked, Vi and Loris began to explain what they were getting themselves into with the Chem-Baron ruins.

"Traps everywhere-" Vi said.

"-air that leaves a nasty taste in your mouth-" Loris added.

"-crazy mutant animals that want to eat you-"

"- and don't forget the minefield," Loris said, finishing off their long list of terrible things that would be down there.

"…fuck, just fuck," Steb said after a moment.

"Agreed," Caitlyn muttered, gears clearly turning in her head as she tried to come up with a plan.

"How do we deal with any of that stuff?" Maddie asked, "Jinx has that speed and healing stuff, but us?"

"We got these bad boys," Loris said, holding up his shield proudly.

"Eh," Steb said, "they will only help us out with the rabid animals, all the other stuff is still a big issue. Especially if we have to drag this stuff around."

Vi looked down at her gauntlets that were now nothing more than dead weight and sighed, "I know one of them was broken, but did Powder have to take the crystal out of them? Now they weigh like five hundred pounds," she complained.

Caitlyn looked over at her, "Consider it punishment for leaving."

"You're really in for it when we get back," Loris whispered to Vi, "She is royally pissed at you."

Vi looked up at him, "…how was Powder?"

"Awesome as hell, I mean, have you seen her run? She's like a bullet! I can only imagine how fucking incredible she would be in a real fight," he said with awe in his voice.

Vi rolled her eyes, "I meant how was she emotionally, you thick-headed fucker. I already know how awesome my sister is."

Vi had a feeling that angry was a good guess considering the big ass bump on the back of her head, and she was pretty sure she had a cracked rib that wasn't there before she was knocked out, but she wasn't exactly sure.

"Oh… she looked, um, upset?"

Vi gave him a look.

He held up his hands, "I don't know Vi, she kinda always looks angry, but when she was reading your letter, she just looked sad and lost, before looking pissed again."

Vi sighed, how the hell was she going to fix this one?

She had planned to save Vander for Powder and kill the doctor, but that was all out the window.

"Ok, so do you two have any clue how to get through the place?" Caitlyn asked, getting the conversation back on track.

"No," Vi said, "No one is stupid enough to try and go into that place. And anyone who does never makes it out to tell their story."

Caitlyn sighed, frustrated, as they approached the ruins. Made clear by the lack of buildings that were around as they got closer.

"So what do we do?" Caitlyn asked.

They all looked at one another.

"We get as far as we can and pray to Janna for luck," Vi said.

"Lovely," Steb said dryly, "Vi's the one coming up with the plan, we may as well start digging our own graves."

They all walked up the large fence that went around the whole town and then some.

All of them were looking around for any way inside other than climbing over the fence and therefore the barbed wire on top.

"Let's walk around the fence until we find a good place to enter," Caitlyn said.

No one argued, they all just walked and walked, waiting until they found a good place to begin the damned journey of searching this place for Powder and Vander.

They had walked around practically half the fencing, and at last, someone spotted something.

"Wait," Maddie said, pointing off into the distance, "What is that?"

A large hole was in the ground, and just on the edge of that hole was the knocked-out figure of a rather large person.

…a large person who looked slightly mutated from shimmer.

…

….

…...

"Vander," Vi whispered before she started sprinting towards his body.

Powder being nowhere in sight.

Notes:

You all order the longest chapter I have written, right?

Chapter 52: Genius And Madness

Finding a place to stay Topside turned out to be harder than expected.

Ekko first went to Jayce and Viktor.

"You need a place to stay?" Jayce asked, confused, "Why not stay at the Kiramman manor? I thought for sure Cait was inviting you all there for the time being."

"Well…" Ekko didn't know how to explain that he was currently not allowed within a 100-foot radius of Jinx, which in turn applied to Vi and, because of that, Caitlyn as well.

So the Kiramman manor was a no-go.

Maybe it could have worked temporarily, while Jinx was in the hospital, but he needed something more permanent.

"I just can't stay there. So can you guys help me out?" Ekko said, avoiding the topic.

"I don't know, the room they gave me at the academy is kinda small. I'm not exactly there every night, but still, it will be a tight squeeze when I am," he said, rubbing the back of his head.

"Well, he could stay at my place," Viktor said to Jayce, "Not like I'll be needing it for much longer."

"Viktor!" Jayce said, "Don't say things like that!"

Ekko stood there awkwardly. What was he supposed to say to that? Oh yeah, he would love to use his place that Victor isn't using because he was sticking around the hospital to help Jinx get better before he died.

Viktor sighed, "It's true, isn't it? When I'm not here, we're in the lab where you spend all your time hovering over me as if I am about to suddenly stop existing all at once."

"Yeah, but-"

"Hey, look, I didn't mean to cause trouble for you guys, I just need a place to crash," Ekko interrupted.

"Like I said, just use my apartment," Viktor said, pulling out his keys.

"Viktor!" Jayce said once again.

"I appreciate that, but it wouldn't feel right," Ekko said, declining the offer.

It really would be weird, living in a dying man's home. Taking his place would make Ekko feel like a blood sucking vulture using his death for his own needs.

"Are you sure?" Viktor asked, "I really don't mind."

"You already are helping us out so much, taking your home from you would be too far, and it wouldn't sit right with me. I'll find somewhere else," Ekko said, giving him a grateful smile before turning to leave and searching elsewhere.

His next stop was Loris, whose location he got from Steb, who was hanging around the hospital and sharing his knowledge of Jinx's condition with the doctors.

Ekko had heard of Loris before. An Undercity citizen who actually made it really high in the ranks of the enforcers, a man who was equally hated and respected for earning such a title. Ekko had only ever heard of him in passing, he had never considered actually meeting him one day. He was very different from what Ekko imagined. Ekko had pictured someone great or evil, but he was just a man. It was jarring seeing the people from stories in real life, it makes you realize how fake people's words are sometimes, and how much the mind can run away with things.

Well, no matter what he was like, Ekko just hoped he'd be willing to help out a fellow citizen of the Undercity.

Ekko knocked on his door.

"I swear, Vi, if you're here to ask me for another favor-" he cut himself off as he opened the door and saw Ekko standing there, "Ekko!? What's up?"

"Hey… why'd you think I was Vi?" Ekko asked, confused at the rambling he was doing before he opened the door.

"Oh, uhhh, you know me, I'm just too fucking drunk to think straight," he said, chuckling awkwardly.

"…ok," Ekko said, not believing him at all, "Can I come in for a second?"

"Oh, umm, just-just a second," he said before shutting the door in his face.

Ekko stood outside listening to him fumbling around his apartment and slamming a bunch of drawers and cabinets before he opened the door again, only this time wearing a bag that he slung around his shoulder.

"Ahem, come in," he said, slightly out of breath.

Ekko walked in and looked around at the place. It was nice. Big kitchen and living room with a TV and all the other appliances fully there and functioning. Probably a whole separate bedroom behind one of the three doors down the hall, away from everything else. It was practically a palace compared to anything you could get in the Undercity.

Loris seemed to be making the least of his new home by all the empty alcohol bottles lying around and the blanket he had on the couch, meaning he didn't even use the room he had been given, he just slept in front of the TV.

"So, what can I do for you?" Loris asked.

"…I was kinda hoping you would let me stay with you for a while," Ekko said as he finished taking his place in.

"Whoa, why do you wanna stay here? Don't you have a whole secret place that you and all you Firelights stay in?" He asked.

"Yeah, we do, but I need to be Topside, and I don't exactly have a hideout up here," he explained.

"Well, shit, you're actually staying up here? What about your whole Firelight thing? You're their leader, you're just gonna up and leave them?"

"My people can handle themselves," Ekko said, crossing his arms defensively, "I would be a complete failure as a leader if they didn't know how to manage themselves without me around."

Loris chuckled, "You go me there," he then looked around the room, "Well, I guess you can crash with me, I've got a room down there somewhere," he said, gesturing down the hall, "I don't use it, but you're more than welcome too."

Ekko nodded his head, "Thank you, you have no idea how much this means to me."

"Sure thing man, who am I to turn down a living legend?"

Ekko raised a brow, "That's a bit much, don't you think?"

"Na, give yourself some credit. You've made a name for yourself and managed to rival the Chem-Barons, you've earned the title and respect," he said.

Ekko gave a halfhearted smile at the compliments. While he was proud of all he had done, it now felt tainted. All his victories meant a loss for Jinx, and a loss for Jinx was a lot more than just crushed morale, it was her getting thrown onto that fucked up table and having that motherfucker do whatever he pleased to her. His victories were her losses, and she lost so much in the first year they were fighting each other.

"Hey, can I ask you something?" Loris asked, snapping Ekko out of his thoughts.

Ekko shrugged, "Sure."

"How do you know Jinx? Or is it just Vi you know?"

That gave Ekko pause, he never even thought how odd his presence must seem to a stranger.

How to explain it? Should he say they were enemies? Or maybe that they were old friends? He could always say he's just Vi's friend and leave it at that.

"…we all knew each other as kids, before… before things went to shit," Ekko said eventually.

Loris nodded his head, "Wild, you're going to have to tell me all about what Jinx was like as a kid when I get back.

"Back?" Ekko repeated, confused, "Where are you going?"

"Ah, I'm going to visit Jinx!" He said happily.

"Oh, yeah, that isn't a good idea. She's not exactly a fan of strangers," Ekko said.

"I just gotta give her something, I don't plan on hanging around," he said as he reached for the handle.

"Give her what? You don't even know her?" Ekko asked suspiciously.

"Ah, well… uhhh, just a letter," he said, avoiding his gaze.

Ekko narrowed his eyes at him, "A letter from who?"

"…me?"

Ekko raised his brow at him.

"I'm- a big fan, alright?" He said before turning and rushing out the door, slamming it behind him.

Ekko looked at the door he had just left through with confusion. He was supposedly delivering his own fan mail to Jinx while she was still in the hospital on bed rest. Could he have come up with a more obvious lie?

Clearly, he was going to see Jinx, that was at least the truth, but why a letter? Who would be sending Jinx a letter through Loris?

…maybe the same person he thought was knocking on his door, looking for another favor on top of asking him to deliver a letter to her hospitalized sister.

Vi.

Why was Vi sending Jinx letters when she could just talk to her? Obviously, Vi was about to tell Jinx something she couldn't do in person, but why?

Maybe whatever was in the letter would make Jinx angry, and Vi didn't want to be around to get killed for it. But Vi just got Jinx back, what could be so bad that she would risk making Jinx that angry?

He looked around the apartment for clues as to what the letter might be about, but he couldn't find anything of note.

"Damn it," Ekko said as he sat on the couch, head in between his hands.

Things would be so much easier if he could be in the hospital room with all of them, or at least in the hall.

As Ekko sat there getting frustrated, he noticed an odd impression left on the carpet. Almost what seemed to be a large imprint of a fist.

…

….

…..

….

"Vi's gauntlet's" Ekko said, standing.

Vi had her gauntlets back, which meant she was about to go fight someone, which meant she had left Jinx.

That explains the letter. Jinx was going to lose it once she found out Vi was gone. But gone where? What would make Vi leave Jinx behind after all the work they had done to get her back?

The answer came to him instantly, Vander.

Vi had said that Jinx mentioned he was still alive, so she must have found him and gone after him. Or, knowing her, just decided to run down to the Undercity to find him with any plan to do that whatsoever.

…but maybe there was a way Ekko could find him.

Logically, Ekko could assume the doctor still had Vander, which meant they were down in the Undercity somewhere, and the Undercity was where he had a whole team of people that had been sweeping the Undercity for Jinx not too long ago. Whatever was happening, they must have seen something.

Ekko stood and made his way out the door, ready to help a moronic Vi fix her probably incredibly stupid plan she didn't think through to find Vander.

---

Ekko was now wandering through the Undercity hood up and mask on after realizing things had changed since he had last been down here.

It had only been a couple of days, but everyone was more on edge than normal. Pulling their kids along hurriedly down the streets and keeping their heads down, desperately avoiding any and all eye contact.

The news of Silco must have spread, and the Chem-Barons must have been starting trouble on the streets.

Ekko was now wondering if his choice of staying Topside for a while was a bad idea with all that was happening.

"Ekko!?" A familiar voice from above called out.

A group of firelights dropped down from off their hoverboards next to Ekko.

"Kaia," a girl who joined a few years ago, who got her bird-like mask for how much she moved like one, and how much she loved to fly, "What are you guys doing here?"

"Well, we've been doing a shit load of work since we found out Silco is taking a dirt nap while you've been off with your new Topsider friends. Seriously, Ekko, did you have to go and make friends with all the people we used to hate? It makes things totally confusing."

Ekko chuckled, "My bad."

"Anyway, what are you doing down here?" She asked, "Is it cause of Jinx again?"

"Yeah, how'd you know?" He asked, confused.

"She was spotted down by Babettes not too long ago," she said.

He sighed, "She's down here?"

He shouldn't have been surprised that Jinx managed to beat him down here, he was nowhere near as fast as her.

But he sure as hell was upset that she wasn't in the hospital anymore. She needed to rest, she had almost just died, but now she was running around down here, probably hunting down the doctor.

"Yeah, they saw her running towards the old ruins last I heard. None of us was stupid enough to try and-"

"STOP LEANING FORWARD!" Yelled a Firelight as they crashed into the alleyway.

"Dax!" Kaia yelled as he sat up, rubbing his head, Heimerdinger popping up right next to him, "What the hell? Didn't you tell him not to lean because of the weight balance!?"

"He wouldn't listen! I told him a hundred times that the steering is sensitive, and he just kept leaning every which way, pointing out the stupidest stuff. He didn't even care that he was making us crash!"

"I did, however, make us crash in the correct direction this time!" Heimerdinger said happily as he stood.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself," Ekko said with a smile.

"Ah! Ekko, my boy, how have you been?" He asked happily.

Ekko shrugged, "Could always be better, could always be worse."

"Such is life, my boy, such is life."

"Ahem, can we get back to the important stuff?" Kaia said.

"Yeah, Jinx. Where is she, and more importantly, how is she?" Ekko said, focusing in.

"As I was saying before I was so stupidly interrupted," she said, glaring at Heimerdinger and Dax, "She was spotted leaving Babette's and then down in the lower south region."

"…but there's nothing down there except-"

"The Chem-Baron ruins," she finished for him, "Any idea why she'd be dumb enough to head down there?"

Ekko thought about it, maybe the doctor had headed down there, and Jinx was going after him, but that seemed like a long shot. Then again, Jinx wasn't stupid, she knew what the place was like, and she wouldn't waste her time with it if she didn't think there was something worth checking out.

"Would you perhaps be referring to the old war zone that your people fought over for years despite there being nothing but fool's gold there?" Heimerdinger asked.

"Yeah, why?" Asked Ekko.

"I remember how much chaos that little town of yours caused," he said, "I managed to get the council to agree to let me visit the town afterwards with a group of enforcers. We tried to clean up all the traps, but our efforts were… less than successful."

"You've actually been there?" Said Kaia.

"Oh yes, there were many interesting specimens created there. Such a shame they were all hostile," he replied.

Ekko and Kaia looked at each other.

"You do know that no one in the Undercity has ever set foot in that place and managed to get out alive?" Ekko asked, "The fact that you actually survived is incredible!"

"Well as long as you follow the paths the wild life has made for you it is rather easy to get in," Heimerdinger explained, "But getting rid of the traps without setting them off is practically impossible. I will say this about your predecessors, they were extremely skilled at crafting land mines," he said with a slight shudder at the memory.

"…would you be able to get me inside the town?" Ekko asked.

"Whoa! Ekko, you want to go in that place!?" Said Kaia, taken aback, "It's one big death trap!"

"Jinx needs me," Ekko said.

"I'm pretty sure she's capable of handling herself," she said, crossing her arms.

Ekko opened his mouth to argue that Jinx needed help with things as much as the next person, but Heimerdinger interrupted.

"All of us need help from time to time, my dear," he said, "Even the strongest of us have bad days."

She looked like she wanted to retort that statement, but she just sighed, "Fine, take the fluffy rat and go get yourself killed for the girl you're supposed to be sworn enemies with. What do I care, it's not like you're our leader and friend that we all need and care about."

"Kaia-," Ekko began, putting a hand on her shoulder.

She shrugged him off and walked over to Dax, snagging his hoverboard.

"Hey!" He called out.

"Take it," she said, shoving it into Ekko's chest, "And don't fucking die."

Ekko took the hoverboard, "Thanks."

She didn't reply, "For what? Not like I'm dropping our mission to help you out, I'm just giving you a board that you invented cause you broke yours like a moron."

Ekko chuckled, "Yeah, what a dumbass I was. And I know better than to ask you guys to stop helping people for this."

Ekko was the one who fucked shit up with Jinx, he needed to be the one to fix it. Besides, leading a whole team of his friends into a death trap probably wouldn't end well.

Ekko and Heimerdinger waved goodbye as the group took off into the skies again. Ekko and Heimerdinger not being far behind.

"So you can actually navigate through the Chem-Baron ruins?" Ekko asked as they flew.

"Of course I can, my boy!" He said, "All you have to do is follow the animals and you'll be fine."

Fine until the animal turns around and eats you, Ekko thought silently.

Ekko slowed down his board as they approached the fencing, looking for signs of Jinx.

"Look over there," Heimerdinger said, pointing off into the distance where a large hole was blown into the ground and many meat chucks decorated the floor.

Panic struck Ekko, and he flew over at full speed.

Jinx didn't die.

Jinx didn't die.

Jinx didn't die.

Jinx didn't die.

He repeated to himself over and over again.

"Appears to have been an animal of some sort," Heimerdinger said, leaning over and causing the board to swerve at the sudden shift in weight.

"Heimerdinger!" Ekko said straightening out the board, "You can't do that on-"

"Oh, look down there my boy, a rather large lizard seems to be-" Heimerdinger said as he leaned even further, making the board even more unstable.

"Heimer-"

Ekko couldn't even finish his sentence before a loud grinding noise distracted him. he looked over, and not too far away, he spotted a large hole that opened up in the ground. Something that was definitely not there before.

"My goodness, that must have been your lady friend!" Heimerdinger said as he leaned his way all the way over to the other side of the board to look at the new hole in the ground.

He completely threw them off balance and made the board freak out, sending them crashing toward the floor.

"Heimerdinger!" Ekko yelled in anger before they were sent plummeting towards the ground.

---

Ok, so maybe Jinx overestimated her Shimmer strength.

Carrying Vander was harder than she thought, it was like he got heavier with every step, and he was already pretty damn heavy to begin with. It also didn't help that Jinx had been pushing her Shimmer to its limits these past few days, the only thing to contradict her constant use of her powers was that she actually got a shit load of sleep lately. Which was probably why she was able to keep giving Vander her blood to keep him alive without much repercussions to her own health right now.

"Come on," she muttered as she readjusted Vander.

She had been walking for ages in this one long tunnel that seemed to have no ending to it. She was getting tired, and it was getting harder to see for some reason.

Maybe she really had pushed herself up to the limit and her Shimmer powers were starting to fail, but her eyesight was usually the last thing to get affected by her running out of energy.

Whatever, she just needed to make it to the surface, and then she could wait for Caitlyn and the others to find her and help her get Vander back to Topside. Then Vander would get the surgery he needed, and they could finally be happy.

But dear Janna, what she would give for a glass of water right now, she was sweating like a pig.

"You're never going to make it," Mylo snickered.

"Shut up," she muttered as she continued to walk through the never-ending darkness.

"Why? Cause you know I'm right and you can't handle it?"

"No, cause you're annoying as fuck," she growled, sweat falling into her eyes.

"Not nearly as annoying as you," he snarled back.

"Fucking hell, would you just-"

A flicker of light distracted Jinx.

She squinted at it before letting out a beaming grin, "Finally."

With the end of the tunnel in sight, she began to move even faster, carefully pulling Vander along with her.

"Hold on, Vander, we're almost free."

And they were.

Jinx was now standing outside on the complete opposite side of the town she had entered from, which explained the long ass walk that she needed to do in the tunnel to get here.

Jinx laughed as she felt the breeze on her face, and she at last saw something more than rocks and darkness.

"I did it," she whispered, tears and sweat mixing as she cried.

She wiped the tears out of her eyes and readjusted Vander one last time before starting her last journey towards the fence.

Click.

Jinx's heart sank as she looked down.

She had taken a single fucking step outside the cave, and she had immediately set off a trap.

An extremely loud grinding sound started all around Jinx. Panicked, she looked around and tried to identify what was happening.

The ground beneath her was sinking.

That's right, she was starting to go down, and she had a terrible feeling that whatever happened when this thing got to the bottom was not good.

Immediately, she took off running, but it was no good. Her speed betrayed her, and she was now so much slower than she should have been. That, on top of carrying Vander, meant she was just running slightly faster than a normal person.

The floor now suddenly had walls that seemed to be getting far too big, far too fast. If she didn't make it to the wall in the next three seconds, she wouldn't be able to reach the top anymore.

Jinx was screaming for her super speed to kick in, she needed it now more than ever, and it felt like it was just out of reach, as if there was something in her way.

"You're never going to make it," Mylo hissed with joy.

Jinx bit down on her lip. He was right, if she didn't do something now, she wasn't going to make it.

So, instead of using her shimmer for speed, she redirected her strength and pushed everything she had into her legs.

She was going to jump for it.

She didn't even have time to take a deep breath before she launched herself into the air with what felt like the last of her strength.

She was flying for about two seconds before she slammed into the rock wall. She had managed to grab the edge of the top, if she could only pull herself up, then she would be fine.

Jinx only had one hand available, the other now holding onto a dangling Vander. She held onto the edge of the wall with everything she had, she was not letting this go.

Her freedom, Vander's freedom.

Their lives.

Below them was now a rather large drop, but not just that, some sort of animal's awaited their fall with bated breath. Jinx had no desire to find out what they were.

Jinx groaned as she tried to pull herself and Vander up, nearly losing her grip in the process.

"Fuck," she whispered as she looked down at Vander and the fall beneath her, her sweaty palms slowly losing their grip on both Vander and the ledge.

She couldn't hold on much longer.

"If you let Vander go, you could live," Claggor said.

No.

She would sooner go back to the doctor than do that.

"Could be arranged. Technically, he won't be dead for a few more days."

Jinx's grip slipped some more, and she suddenly only had the tips of her fingers left on the ledge. Vander's hand was also now only barely in her grasp.

Jinx tried to think of a way out of this, but nothing came to mind, it was all she could do to keep herself from falling.

"Wonder what those things are? Wonder how fast they'll eat you."

Jinx let out a scream as she desperately tried to stop herself from losing her grip, but it was all pointless.

She was a jinx, nothing good ever happened to her.

Her fingers slipped off the rock, and she started to fall down into the pit with Vander.

---

Ekko grabbed Heimerdinger and flung them both off the spiraling board towards the direction of the pit that opened up.

They both rolled to a crashing stop as an explosion sounded behind them.

"…well, that may have been my fault," Heimerdinger said meekly.

"Might! Ekko yelled, "Do you have any idea what you've done!? We are now stuck in the middle of a minefield without any way of knowing how to get through! And Jinx is Janna knows where in Janna knows what trouble!" He yelled angrily.

"Actually, if you would just turn your attention to that lizard over-"

"Again with the fucking lizard!? Heimerdinger the lizard is the reason we're in this mess in the first place! I brought you here because I thought you could help me, not make me crash the only thing I had as an advantage!"

"Ekko, if you would-"

"No!" He screamed, "Have been keeping my shit together for so fucking long, but I'm sick of it! How the fuck could you be so stupid!? I told you to stop leaning, but you kept-"

"EKKO!" He said sharply before clearing his throat, "While I hate to interrupt a well-deserved ranting session, I am losing track of where the lizard jumped. So if you want to get to that pit, I suggest yelling while you jump," he said, shuffling past Ekko and jumping to a different spot.

Ekko blinked at him.

He had actually been trying to help. He was tracking the lizard's movements and using that to navigate the minefield.

"Come on, my boy! We haven't the time for dilly-dallying!" He called as he continued to jump.

Ekko quickly followed.

They both had almost made it safely to the big pit that opened up in the ground when a scream pierced the air.

Jinx, Ekko thought immediately.

And then he saw her. She was on the edge, dangling over the pit with one hand holding both her and Vander up.

Ekko broke into a full sprint, ignoring Heimerdinger's calls of warning about the mines, and he was lucky he did. If he had been a second later, he wouldn't have caught Jinx's hand before she fell into the pit.

The first thing Ekko noticed was her lack of shirt (which did not make him blush), the only thing covering her being some bandages wrapped around her chest. She had some blood on her, but overall, she looked ok.

Her wide eyes met his as his hand gripped onto her with all the strength he had in himself to keep them both from falling.

"You," she growled.

Ekko opened his mouth to reply, but before he could say anything, Heimerdinger called out.

"Ekko, you must be more careful! What if you- Dear me!" He exclaimed when he saw Jinx and Vander dangling off the edge.

"Help me out here," Ekko grunted as he tried to lift them up with no success.

Heimerdinger grabbed onto him and began to pull, but his little arms were of no help.

"Hold on," he said as he tugged to no avail.

"The fuck do you think I'm doing?" Jinx snapped back.

Jinx's hands were sweaty, and she seemed to be losing her grip on both him and Vander. Ekko had to find some way to get them up fast before she fell.

"I don't think this is working, dear boy," said Heimerdinger.

"I can see that," Ekko said, looking down at the drop Jinx and Vander were facing.

It wasn't the fall itself that worried him, it was whatever was waiting for them down below. Lots of little animal-looking things were milling around, just waiting for Jinx and Vander to fall.

Ekko tried his best to pull them up, but all he could manage was not letting them fall. Vander was just too heavy, it was a miracle that Jinx hadn't already dropped him.

It was a miracle that Ekko hadn't dropped them.

Jinx was also looking down at the drop and then Vander before letting out a frustrated grunt.

"I can't believe I have to trust you with this," Jinx growled.

Ekko looked back at Jinx in confusion, "What?"

She took a breath, "Listen up asshole, you take Vander Topside and keep him alive. He dies, you die, understand?"

"Wait a minute, what are you-" he began.

Jinx didn't let him get a word in edgewise. She kicked off the wall to send both her and Vander swinging outwards, making Ekko's shaky grip on her release, but before they could both fall, Jinx swung Vander up using her momentum and a scream of pure rage and determination.

As Jinx fell, Vander managed to land high enough for Ekko to grab onto and pull up onto safe ground.

"JINX!" Ekko cried as she fell.

She had pulled another self-sacrificing move. Saving Vander and letting herself fall in his place.

Jinx locked eyes with him for a mere second before turning herself mid-air so her back was facing him.

She wanted nothing to do with him.

Jinx landed with a thud before rolling onto her feet and facing the animals that were now all starting to surround her.

---

Fucking Ekko, Jinx thought as she fell and locked eyes with him. Whatever, as long as he kept Vander alive, she could let this one go.

Jinx spun herself around mid-air and rolled onto her feet as she landed, standing to face off with whatever she now had to fight.

As she took in her new enemy, a surge of anger filled her. It was another one of the doctor's fucking pets.

A long time ago, the doctor experimented on Poro's. They became little devils that only craved one thing, Shimmer. She discovered that when she was told to move his little experiment, it managed to escape and nearly chewed off one of her legs before Jinx managed to snap its neck, which went over swimmingly with the doctor once he found out she killed it.

Jinx thought he was done with them after the attack, but clearly, she wasn't. There were dozens of them down here, all coming out of some holes dug into the wall that got opened when the floor sank down. Which meant Warwick wasn't the only insurance the doctor had, he covered both entrances with overpowered beasts specifically designed to kill Jinx.

This whole back exit was just a giant trap for her. She was never supposed to make it out alive, and neither was Vander.

Jinx smiled slightly to herself, but Vander was safe, she may be fucked, but at least she managed to get him to safety.

The Poro's snarled and growled, showing off their large, pointy teeth that were a side effect of the mutations they developed.

"Any chance you won't eat me?" Jinx asked as they all began to approach her, their noses smelling the large amounts of Shimmer pumping through her veins.

Jinx slowly backed up until she bumped into a wall, all of them following closely.

"Guessing that's a no," Jinx said as she dodged the first one that attacked her.

It tried to take a chunk of her leg, but Jinx saw it before it managed to sink its teeth into her. After Jinx moved out of its range, she kicked the damned thing into the distance.

They may be angry flesh-eating monsters, but they were tiny flesh-eating monsters. She could kick them off into oblivion easily.

Jinx huffed as she realized that the others were all also about to take their chances and try to rip their teeth into her flesh, the little blood sucking monsters ready to rip her limb from limb to get to the Shimmer inside her.

She cracked her knuckles and smiled, "Bring it on, fluff balls."

One of the ones up front took the challenge and sprinted towards her, but before it even got the chance to try and bite her, Ekko fell out of the sky and slammed a metal pole into its skull.

---

Ekko watched as the animals began to back Jinx up against a wall. She did nothing to try to escape, she didn't even use her speed to avoid one of the animals that tried to attack her. She just kicked it and started readying herself to fight the others.

"Heimerdinger," Ekko said, looking back at him.

"Yes?" He answered.

Ekko pulled back from the edge and gave Vander a once-over to make sure he was ok. He seemed fine overall, just a bit distorted from Shimmer.

It had been years since Ekko had seen him, and it was overwhelming. He was like a memory come to life, the one thing that had been truly untouched and unchanged throughout these last seven years. At least that's what Ekko hoped.

"I need you to protect Vander with your life. Understand?"

"What-"

"Understand?" Ekko repeated more firmly.

He had let Jinx go before, he wasn't going to do it again. Not when he could still help her.

"Alright, but-"

That was all Ekko needed.

He stood and pulled out his club before taking a running start and jumping straight into the fray. He even managed to smash what he now understood to be some sort of Poro that was going to attack Jinx.

Ekko spun his club and held it up, ready to attack again. He smashed a few more of the deranged Poro's away, but all the other Poro's hissed and snapped, tightening their circle until Ekko was next to Jinx, back pressed against the wall.

"What. The. Fuck," Jinx growled.

"I'm here to help you," Ekko said, "You-"

She shoved him to the floor, letting the Poro that was aiming for his head sail over them.

"What happened to Vander?" Jinx snapped, standing back up immediately, kicking a Poro that got too close for comfort.

"He's fine, Heimerdinger-"

"You left him with a total stranger?!" She shrieked.

Ekko's eyes widened as a Poro tried to jump her while she was distracted. Ekko pushed her to the side and felt sharp teeth sink into his shoulder, making him drop his club onto the floor.

He let out a yelp of pain as he tried to get it off of him, but the little fucker wouldn't budge.

Thud.

Jinx had picked up his club and slammed it into the thing's head at full force, making it release its wicked bite just enough for him to peel it off.

He threw the thing to the ground, where Jinx beat the living shit out of it, before turning back to look at Ekko.

Ekko pressed a hand to his shoulder and hissed in pain. That thing took off a good chunk of his skin and left behind a bloody mess.

"Oh, grow a pair," Jinx snapped at him before throwing his club back at him, "If you didn't want to get bitten, you should've kept your ass up top like I fucking told you to do."

Ekko caught the club with his good arm, "So what, you just wanted to leave you here to die?" He said as he hit another Poro.

"Wouldn't have been the first time," she spat venomously, stomping on a Poro that had the unfortunate luck of being in her way.

"Jinx-" he said, looking over at her, ready to start his speech about how sorry he was, but she cut him off.

"Shut up and fight," she snarled, smashing another Poro that attacked her into the ground.

It was at this point that Ekko realized the Poro's were more focused on Jinx, not him. Actually, they only seemed concerned with attacking Jinx. They only looked at him wearily and hissed, they wanted to get their teeth into Jinx.

"Why aren't they attacking me?" He asked, smacking one out of the air that tried to bite Jinx.

"They want Shimmer," Jinx said, dodging an attack.

Ekko looked at her, confused, "Why-"

"Janna, do I have to explain everything to you?! The doctor made them to kill me. I have Shimmer in me, and they are hungry as fuck," she explained angrily, kicking and punching a Poro every now and then.

"So why in the world would you let yourself fall down here!?" He replied, smacking a Poro.

"I didn't fucking know what they were when I was up there," she snapped, "and I don't fucking care. Saving Vander was the goal, and you're the one who fucked up my plan by jumping down here."

"What plan!" He yelled, "Getting yourself killed?"

Her hollow smile and empty eyes flashed through his head.

Why did she keep trying to kill herself, he thought angrily, why didn't she fight for herself for once?

She turned on him, absolute fury radiating off of her, "Don't you EVER lecture me, Boy Savior. I do what I do for my own damn reasons. You lost your fucking right to have an opinion on my life a long fucking time ago."

"What's the point of saving Vander if you aren't around to be with him?" he said, because he knew the real reason she did it, she didn't have to tell him.

All she had done for the past seven years was for Vander. All she had ever done her whole life was sacrifice for her family.

She opened her mouth to yell at him some more, but instead she let out a grunt of pain.

A Poro had its jaws around her leg, viciously ripping into her and drawing out blood.

Jinx let out a mere wince at the action before reaching down and trying to pry the thing off of herself. Ekko smashed his club into the thing, but unlike the one that bit into him, this one held on tight. Ravenously biting into her flesh.

Jinx growled as she pulled out a knife and began to stab the thing, "Stop the other ones!" She spat as she saw him watching.

Ekko kept swinging at Poro after Poro, but the Poro's seemed more determined than ever to get to Jinx, whose injured leg was not giving much support.

"Why aren't you healing?" Ekko asked, bashing in a Poro's skull.

Jinx sneered at him as she sliced into a Poro, "Worry about yourself."

"Jinx, why don't you use your speed?" He said as he hit another Poro, a new one taking its place.

"Why don't you mind your own damn business!" She snapped angrily before another Poro clamped its jaw into her arm.

This time, Jinx let out a mangled scream when the pain struck, the little devil greedily drinking up the blood that poured out of her wound.

Ekko slammed his club right into its face, making it retreat with a loud yelp of pain.

Jinx sank to the ground, clutching her arm while also shakily holding up her knife.

"Jinx, what is wrong with you?!" Ekko asked as he continued to slam his club into Poro's, defending Jinx as best he could.

"I-" she looked at her blood-stained hands, "I don't know," she whispered.

Ekko went to reply, but a Poro chomped into his arm, making him scream in pain.

He managed to get it off, but there were still dozens of Poro's left. They were never going to make it.

"Jinx…" Ekko said as he continued to kill Poro's, Jinx taking care of any that slipped past.

"…I'm guessing you don't have one of those hoverboards on you?" She panted.

"No," he said.

"Figures," she said with a scoff before falling silent.

…

It was the end.

"No," she whispered, "Just a little longer."

"What?"

She stood up, "I said, keep your ass alive a little longer."

"But-"

"For once could you just have some fucking faith in me?" she said locking eyes with him, "These things aren't going to kill us. Because if killing you were easy I would have done it already," she growled knife slicing through a Poro's flesh, "and if I were easy to kill you would have done it already. So I'll be damned if we both lose to these glorified dust bunnies," she spat.

Ekko scoffed, "All right. Let's kick some Poro ass."

They both sliced and smashed Poro's to death, but more just came out from the tunnels in the walls to take the dead ones' places.

Both Ekko and Jinx were getting tired. He didn't know how much longer they could keep this up.

Ekko looked over at Jinx, her arm and leg injury still dripping blood onto the floor, making the animals even more ravenous.

Jinx caught Ekko staring and opened her mouth to most likely tell him to fuck off, but as she did, she failed to notice a Poro making a jump at her.

"Ji-" Ekko began to yell in warning.

BANG!

The Poro now laid dead with a clean, circular hole cut clean through it.

Ekko looked up, and he saw the source of the crazy, powerful bullet.

Caitlyn.

The Poro's didn't take nicely to the new additions. As if sensing their chance at their meal slipping away, they all began to attack at once.

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

Caitlyn fired off shot after shot, Maddie joining in at some point.

Jinx grinned up at Caitlyn, "See? I told you to have some faith."

He looked over at her, smacking away a Poro, "You got them here?"

"Yeah, that was always the plan. If you had just stayed with Vander, everything would have been fine. But you've never believed in me, I don't know why I expected you to start now," she said bitterly.

Once again, he tried to reply but was interrupted when the rather angry Poro's came at them in one large group.

Despite all of Caitlyn's and Maddie's efforts, the things still had huge numbers, no shot Jinx and Ekko could defend all of them by themselves.

"One!"

Jinx and Ekko looked over, it was Loris with his shield.

"Two!"

And right behind him was Vi.

"Three!"

Just when the swarm was about to get to them, they both slid in front of them, a large blue bubble forming around all of them, stopping all of the Poro's in their tracks.

Vi turned to look at them, a smile on her face, "Powder."

Chapter 53: Mission "Die A Legend" Is A Go.

Notes:

I saw this chapter's title in the lyrics of 'Come Play' when I was listening to the Arcane soundtrack, and I just had to use it. It's just such a cool line, and a depressing one when you think about it. But mostly cool! Focus on the cool, not the cruel irony this had in the show.

Vi ran towards Vander's body at full speed, not even noticing the cuts she got on herself from the barbed wire as she climbed the fence.

"Vi!" Loris bellowed as she was about to jump down off the fence, "The mines! Don't jump!" He called.

Vi bit her lip as she looked out at the empty field. She had forgotten about the mines, she just wanted to get to Vander.

"Hello?" Called a voice from off in the distance.

Vi craned her neck until she spotted the person calling out. It was a Yordle, he was standing next to Vander.

"Who is that?" Loris asked as the group caught up to Vi and looked over at the Yordle.

"Professor Heimerdinger!?" Caitlyn called as she recognized him.

Vi looked down at her, "As in that councilor dude Ekko found hanging around the Undercity?" She asked.

"Yes," Caitlyn said.

"Oh, is that you, Caitlyn?!" He asked.

"Yes!" She replied, "What are you doing here!?"

"Well, Ekko was in need of some assistance finding Jinx, so I-"

"Did he find her?!" Vi interjected.

As much as she was grateful that Vander was here and safe, she was worried that her sister wasn't with him. Powder would never let Vander out of her sight willingly.

"Yes, but she jumped down into the pit and Ekko followed, telling me to take care of this man-"

"She's in the hole!?" Vi exclaimed worriedly.

"Yes, my dear, but-"

"I'm coming over there," she said, about to jump down.

"Hey!" Caitlyn yelled, climbing the fence, the others following, "You aren't going anywhere until we find a safe way over."

"But Powder-"

"Can handle herself for a little longer," she snapped before turning to call out to Heimerdinger, "How do we get over?!"

"Follow the lizard!" He said.

They all looked at each other, confused.

"Did he say lizard?" Steb asked.

"And they say we're crazy," Loris muttered to Vi.

"Look, there!" Maddie called, pointing at a rather large-looking lizard that jumped high into the air before landing in a new location.

"Of course!" Cait exclaimed, "The animals here know where to step, if we just follow them, then we can make it over!"

"What if the lizard doesn't go over to the hole?" Steb asked.

"That's a problem for later," Vi said as she jumped onto the first safe spot.

After that, it was a long game of following one lizard or another until they were finally close to the pit. Unfortunately for them, the lizard had no interest in leading them there anymore. It left them with a gap that was too large to make. They would have to make at least one jump into a spot they had no idea of knowing was safe or not.

"I'm jumping," Vi said.

"No, you are not!" Caitlyn snapped.

"Cait-"

"We don't know if it's safe, and you are never making it to the edge of the pit from here," she said, planting her hands on her hips.

"Cait, we don't have time for this," Vi said, frustrated.

"We could wait for another lizard," Maddie suggested.

"We don't have that long!" Vi yelled.

"Yes," Heimerdinger added, "They seem to be in a bit of trouble down there."

"We need to take the chance. Let me be the one to take that chance," Vi begged.

Caitlyn pursed her lips.

"I need to save her," she said.

Caitlyn huffed, "Fine, but don't you dare get yourself and all of us killed by blowing up."

Vi gave her a nod and readied herself to jump. She scanned, looking for the best place to land. She eventually settled on a spot that looked to have been clawed up by some animal at some point. Meaning it most likely didn't have an explosive buried under it.

She took as much of a running start as she dared, landing with her breath held. When she didn't blow up, she let out a loud sigh of relief before turning to smile at Caitlyn.

"Told you," she said with a wink, "Now come on, all of you jump."

"Don't you want to get to Vander and Jinx?" Caitlyn asked.

They were only one jump away from the pit. If Vi wanted to, she could jump over to them right now, but she knew that wouldn't help anybody. She was done trying to do everything by herself.

"If I don't stay, you won't know where to jump, and besides, you're the one with all the weapons. If I want to save them, I'm gonna need you. All of you."

Caitlyn smiled at her.

Steb cleared his throat, "I'll go first then."

He jumped and landed safely next to Vi.

"I'll take care of Vander, so don't worry about him," he said softly.

Vi gave him a nod of appreciation before he jumped over to Vander and Heimerdinger. He immediately went to work and started checking on Vander and asked Heimerdinger a ton of questions.

One by one, the others jumped across until Caitlyn was the only one left.

"Come on, Cait, jump."

She chuckled nervously, "You know I've never been very good at jumping across things, Vi. Remember when you took me down to the Undercity?"

"It'll be fine, Cait, if they could do it, you can too," Vi said, gesturing at the others.

"Rude," Loris called out.

"I don't know…" she said uncertainty.

"Cait, you are one of the bravest people I know, you can't let this get to you."

She still didn't look convinced.

"Look, I know stuff like this isn't your strong suit, but it is mine. So trust me when I tell you you're going to make it," Vi said.

She took a breath, "Promise?"

"I swear."

Caitlyn steeled herself and took a running start at the jump. She managed to land right on the edge of the safety zone, but she landed off balance.

Caitlyn's eyes widened as she began to fall, but Vi grabbed onto her waist and yanked her back to safety.

"Told you you'd make it," Vi said with a grin.

"I nearly died," Caitlyn gasped.

"Nearly means you didn't, therefore, I was right."

Caitlyn rolled her eyes and shoved Vi off of her, taking the next jump without hesitation, it being much closer than the last.

Vi followed right behind her.

Immediately, she went to Vander.

She crouched down next to him and gently ran a hand down his face. He looked like he did that night, only his skin color was back to normal now, and she could see the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed.

She pressed her forehead to his, "You're alive," she whispered, "We're all alive."

All of it was worth it.

All she had done and sacrificed.

Just one person left to save.

Just one person missing.

Vi pulled back as she pushed a hair out of Vander's face, before wiping away the tears that had fallen onto him.

She stood, "Take care of him," Vi said to Steb.

He nodded, "Of course."

Vi turned over to Caitlyn, who was already busy firing off shots into the pit.

Vi walked over, "What are they?" she asked, squinting down at the things her sister and Ekko were killing.

"Poro's of some kind," Caitlyn said as she nailed one right in the head.

"…I'm going down with Loris," Vi said after a moment.

Caitlyn looked up at her, "Be careful, and-" she turned to Maddie, gesturing for her to hand over her gun, she did, "-tell Jinx to fuck them up," Cait said as she gave the gun to Vi.

She wasn't going to ask how Cait knew Powder was a shooter like her, maybe she didn't and just wanted to give Powder something to fight with, but Vi had a feeling the two of them were closer than she originally thought.

Vi gave her a nod as she stashed the gun and looked to Loris, "Ready big guy?"

"To fight next to Jinx? Hell yeah," he said with a grin as he adjusted his shield.

"Remember the three-second rule!" Maddie reminded as she ran over to Steb, asking to borrow his handgun to use while he focused on Vander.

Loris nodded in acknowledgment before both of them jumped down into the pit.

Vi's gauntlets may have been reduced to just giant hunks of metal, but she could still use them to kill these little fuckers.

The little beasts had purple fur, their horns all snapped off, and their teeth like razors. Whatever happened to them was not pretty.

Vi was ready for a big fight, but the Poro's hardly looked at Vi and Loris, they were focused on Powder and Ekko.

"Loris!" Vi called at they ran, "Start counting!"

"One!"

Jinx and Ekko looked over at them.

"Two!"

The Poro's were charging them.

"Three!"

Just when the swarm was about to get to Powder and Ekko, they both slid in front of them as Loris's shield activated, stopping all of the Poro's in their tracks.

Vi turned to look at them, a smile on her face, "Powder."

---

Jinx looked at Vi for a second before turning away, looking to the big guy with the shield she had met at the hospital, "Thanks for the save."

Apparently, he wasn't a completely useless drunkard. Whatever this shield thing was, it was incredibly cool and useful. The Poro's were completely blocked by the blue power shield, seemingly powered by Hextech, if Jinx had to guess, which left her wondering who was making all these weapons from the gems.

Whoever they were, they were total morons for weaponizing such a dangerous and unstable power source, but they also seem to have succeeded where Jinx had failed.

They had successfully created weapons using Hextech.

"Not blowing up and killing all of their family members," Mylo hissed.

Jinx shook her head as the man with the shield spoke again.

"Of course!" he said proudly, "Just make sure to not attack while you're in this thing, it won't end well for us," he warned.

"Powder your hurt!" Vi exclaimed, interjecting herself into the conversation.

Jinx pressed on the wound on her arm harder, trying desperately to make it go away. While she was grateful for the rescue, she was pissed things didn't go how she wanted them to.

"When do they ever?" Asked Mylo with a sneer.

Jinx had wanted to wait for Caitlyn and Vi to help her get back to Topside after she got Vander to the fence, saving him all on her own. Finally proving to Vi that she could actually do this and that she didn't need her help. But instead, she managed to end up in a hole about to get eaten when her sister had to come save her, and to top it all off, her powers weren't working, so she was injured too.

Vi went to check on Jinx, but Jinx stepped out of her reach.

"…oh right, the touch thing, sorry. I told you I was dense and you would-" Vi began, as if the reason Jinx didn't want her to check on her was because she didn't want to be touched.

As if that was the biggest issue between the two of them right now.

"What the fuck are you trying to do?" Jinx hissed, "Do you just think you can pretend you didn't leave me after I poured my heart out to you?" she spat.

An awkward silence fell between the others as Jinx seethed, the only sound interrupting them being the hissing and snapping of the Poro's outside the bubble.

"I'm-" Vi started.

Sorry.

Sorry, I left you.

Sorry, I hit you.

Sorry, I didn't understand.

Sorry, I didn't help.

Sorry, I got mad.

Sorry.

Sorry.

Sorry.

Sorry.

Over and over and over until it becomes nothing but a meaningless word.

Sorry.

Sorry.

Sorry.

Sorry.

Until the word feels wrong on your tongue.

Sorry.

Sorry.

Sorry.

Sorry.

Until you're blue in the face from saying it.

Sorry.

Sorry.

Sorry.

Sorry.

Until you convince yourself you mean it.

"Stop. I don't want your meaningless apologies," Jinx snapped, cutting her off, "So just focus on getting out of here because nothing you say right now will stop me from being pissed at you."

She needed to get back to Vander, Vi didn't matter right now.

Ekko didn't matter either, all his sad looks and apologetic smiles-

Jinx dug her nails into her wound, cutting her thoughts off, because she would not go back to that place. She was not entertaining him and his words, which were nothing but lies.

Vi looked at her sadly but didn't argue, because she knew there was nothing she could say.

Not after what she did.

"…so what are these things?" Loris asked, getting them all back on topic, gesturing at the Poro's.

"The doctor made them," Jinx explained, shoving her emotions and thoughts to the side, "All they eat is Shimmer."

"Your blood," Vi whispered.

"Yeah," Jinx said, sending a glare Vi's way.

Couldn't she just shut up and let her finish her sentences?

"They want to get to my blood because of the Shimmer in me," Jinx finished explaining.

The perfect beast to destroy her.

"Just how many did he make?" Ekko asked as he looked out at all the animals that milled around and growled angrily at them through the shield.

Jinx wasn't sure how the doctor managed to make so many of the things, he only had a few when she was younger.

"I don't know," she admitted, "he's had years to work on them. He had been planning this most likely since Silco gave me to him," she said, glaring at the Poro's, "They were his insurance if I ever came after him. This whole place was."

"But you beat it," Loris said proudly.

Jinx gave the guy an odd look, "Are you still drunk or something?"

Why the hell was he acting so weird? Like he was an excited kid or something.

"Nope!" He said happily.

"…ok?" Jinx responded after a moment of him just grinning at her as if he was waiting for some sort of response from her.

"Well, did he do something to you? Is that why you can't heal?" Ekko asked.

Jinx sneered at him, "He didn't lay a finger on me, I'm the one who killed him and fucked him over."

Why didn't one person think she could have saved Vander without there being some sort of major repercussion?

"No one said you didn't Powder-" Vi began.

"Right," she snapped, "Just like you weren't saying that I'm not capable when you took off. Well, guess what, Vi? I did it. I saved Vander," she said, pointing where Vander and the others were.

"I know-" Vi said, but Jinx just cut her off again.

"Do you? Do you also know that I found the secret maze he hid in this minefield and then survived all his traps that he set for me before I defeated Warwick, a two-headed wolf he made to kill me, and then I found him and finally made him pay for everything he's done to me? Did you know that Vi? Or did you think I just got lucky and stumbled across Vander as I was walking by after I managed to get the files from Sevika?" Jinx said angrily.

Jinx had successfully done so much, she only tripped up at the end, and now they all thought she was weak because of it.

"Pathetic," Mylo sneered, "doesn't matter how much good you do, you always just end up making more of a mess in the end."

"If you had just stayed behind, then everything would have been fine. If you just got over yourself, then Vi could have fixed the mess you made once and for all, but now you're just stuck in a pit, and so is everyone else. You're a mess, you're the problem," Claggor said.

Jinx bit down on her lip, hard. She just wanted to prove herself. Why did it always have to go so wrong? Why did she always manage to show Vi the worst of herself?

Vi waited for a moment before answering, "That's incredible," Vi said, taking Jinx by surprise, "You were right to have come after me and stop me, I…" Vi took a deep breath before speaking again, "I never could have done that. You didn't need my help," Vi said, biting back tears.

Jinx looked at her like she had just grown a second head, "…did you just admit you were wrong?" She whispered.

Vi never admitted that.

Not unless it was something big and undeniable.

"Yes," Vi said, "I was wrong."

She wasn't supposed to say that. She was supposed to coddle Jinx and tell her how irresponsible it was for her to have tried to do this on her own.

She was supposed to yell at her for ending up hurt at the bottom of a pit.

"And… did you… admit that I didn't need you?"Jinx whispered, still taken aback.

"Yes," Vi said again, "I realized that I was clinging to the past, but it's like you said, Powder, we're different now. Things have changed, and I can't keep treating you like a kid because that's not what you are. I should have let you do this, it was your fight, and you were doing me a favor by telling me about your plans. Even though I thought I was doing the right thing, I shouldn't have stemmed rolled you and refused to let you help. You have every right to make decisions like that by yourself now, you're not the same kid I left behind. You're stronger and more capable than ever."

Jinx felt tears form in her eyes. Vi didn't see her as weak for this mess up, and she thinks that Jinx was right to do this by herself. She actually thought she was capable of handling things by herself.

"This is really sweet guys, but these things are getting more aggressive," Shield guy said, interrupting them.

They all looked over and saw that the things were now taking running charges at the shield, not that it did them any good, they just got flung away from the shield, in a rather hilarious manner, actually.

"Ok," Jinx said, clearing her throat and swallowing down all the words she wanted to say, there would be time for that later, for now she needed to get back to Vander, "Enough emotional shit. I'm willing to shelve all my fucking issues with you shitheads for the time being as long as you two stop trying to fucking apologize or have some deep meaningful conversation with me while we're down here," she said, looking up at Vi and Ekko.

Jinx was willing to have it out with Vi on what happened and maybe fix whatever fucked up mess their relationship was in, but she had no intention of doing it down here while they were in the middle of fighting.

She had no desire to hear anything Ekko had to say, now or ever.

It had been years since Jinx actually fought alongside someone, but she knew adding emotions into it while she was trying to focus would only end in disaster for her. She needed to focus.

Both of them nodded in agreement to the terms she had set out.

"Wait, you aren't mad at me, are you?" Asked shield guy.

"No?" Jinx said, confused as to where he had gotten that from, "I don't fucking know you, why the hell would anything I just said apply to you?"

His face fell as if he were sad, "Well, you could have been talking to me," he muttered bitterly.

Jinx hadn't a fucking clue how to respond to that nonsense. Why did he act like he was emotionally invested in her opinion of him? That made absolutely no sense whatsoever. He was clearly an enforcer of some kind, and Jinx had slaughtered a bunch of them a few days ago. Why would he care about her opinion at all?

"Where the fuck do you find these people, Vi?" Jinx asked, deciding to ignore the guy and his weirdness, "They literally get weirder and weirder every time I meet a new one."

First, Caitlyn, who acted like she actually gave a shit about how Jinx was feeling when they first met, and then this man, who seemed far too interested in what she had to say despite her reputation.

Vi sighed, "He's a moron, ignore him."

"Don't listen to her, I'm actually a bit of a legend. I was the first Undercity citizen to become a high-ranking officer in the enforcers," he said proudly.

Jinx just looked at him with utter bewilderment, before shaking her head, "You're right, he's an absolute moron, I'm ignoring him."

"W-" Loris said, trying to interject.

Jinx just cut him off and pressed on, "Here's the situation right now. All my powers are gone, and I don't know why."

She didn't want to admit it, but something was up with her, and she needed all the cards on the table to come up with a plan.

"I know you don't want to hear this, but is it maybe possible that it was the doctor?" Vi asked.

Jinx pursed her lips, but instead of denying it, she actually thought about it for a second.

Had the doctor done something to her? She wouldn't put it past him, he was a clever son of a bitch. But when would he have done it?

Maybe one of the traps in the maze?

She had gotten hit a few times, maybe one of them had something to neutralize her powers.

But it couldn't have been one of those because she didn't feel the effects until she was walking through the exit.

So what could've-

Jinx looked down at a tiny cut on her arm that wasn't healed.

"…son of bitch," she swore after a moment.

"It was him?" Ekko said.

"He grazed me with a bullet," she snapped angrily, "he was trying to monologue about it, but I cut him off. The mother fucker probably laced it with something that neutralized my powers."

Of course, the one little hit he got on her would leave her fucked despite him being the one tied up and suffering. Somehow, he always managed to get his revenge on her.

"I swear to Janna if you didn't get to that man first, I would've broken every bone in his body," Vi growled.

"Jinx?" Ekko said.

Jinx sneered at him, "What?" she spat.

"Just asking if you were ok?" He said, "Without your powers-"

"I'm fine," she said defensively, "Now back on topic-"

"Will you get your powers back?" Shield guy asked.

Jinx looked at him, "Of course I-"

Jinx paused, she wasn't sure. Maybe whatever he gave her was permanent, maybe all of that inhuman power was gone.

"I don't think they're gone for good," Ekko said, "The Shimmer is still in your body, and your abilities aren't something you can just magically get rid of or suppress forever, they are a physical part of you. As long as Shimmer pumps through your veins, then you can still use your powers."

Jinx looked down at her bloodstained hands, her unnaturally colored blood painted all over her.

"You can't stop being a freak. It's a part of you. Not even the doctor can undo it."

"That's good," Vi said, relieved, "That means she's going to be able to heal again, right?"

"And run like crazy!" Shield guy added.

"…yeah," Jinx muttered under her breath, "good for me."

Ekko looked like he was about to say something to her, but Shield Guy cut him off.

"What are they doing?" He asked, looking out at the Poro's

Jinx looked out, and they all seemed to be pawing at the ground, some of them actually managing to dig up a lot of dirt and get pretty far down into the ground.

"….the tunnels," Jinx whispered as she looked over at the holes in the walls that the Poro's originally came out of, "the doctor didn't make those, they did! They can dig underground!"

"Wait, so they're trying to-"

"Dig under us," Jinx said, looking down at the floor under them.

"Tell me this shield goes under us as well," Ekko said, also looking down.

Vi and Shield Guy looked at each other.

"Maybe we should come up with a plan before we find out," Vi said, looking back at the others.

Think, think, think.

How to kill them or how to escape?

"Don't you have magic flying skateboards, Ekko?" Shield guy asked.

"They aren't magic or skateboards," Ekko said, confused at his stupidity, "they're hoverboards, and no, I don't have one."

"He decided that today was the one day he wouldn't bring the only thing that makes his whole group somewhat interesting," Jinx said, glaring at him.

"I brought one! But Heimerdinger crashed it," he said, crossing his arms.

"Why would you let that guy drive one of those things?!" Vi yelled.

Jinx rubbed her forehead, trying to think of a solution through all their yammering. Good thing she got plenty of training listening to the never-ending voices in her head.

They could climb out of here easily, escaping the hole isn't the problem. The Poro's were.

"I didn't, he was just riding with me and he kept shifting his weight, making us spin out of control!" He defended.

They wanted her, her blood, that's what they were chasing.

"You didn't tell him to stop?" Shield guy asked.

So she could distract them and get them all in one spot. The problem was how to make sure there weren't more in the caves and how to actually kill them all at once.

"I did!" He said, exasperated, "Why are we still talking about this!?"

Someone would have to go in and get the Poro's running out of the caves into the open, some of the openings were big enough for people to enter, probably the ones the doctor made for them before they started digging their own.

"Ok then, what do we do?!" Vi asked.

Having someone go in alone would be a bad idea though. They would split off into teams of two, her and shield guy would stay out here and gather the Poro's. Vi and Ekko would go in and clear out the caves.

"We need to find some way out," Ekko said, "Or find some way to kill all of them."

Now all she needed was a plan to kill them.

"Guys, they're getting closer!" Shield guy said.

One by one was easy, but ineffective. They needed to take them out all at once.

"How do we kill them all? There are dozens of them out here alone, not to mention the ones in the cave!" Vi yelled.

How to kill them, that was the question.

Jinx could get them gathered, the shield guy protecting her from unseen attacks, while Vi and Ekko cleared out the caves, but how to kill them?

"Well, what about those gauntlets of yours?" Ekko asked.

Gauntlets, yes, that was it.

Jinx pulled out the damage gem, "This is how we kill them."

"Yes!" Vi exclaimed, "If you just give it to me, I can put it in my gauntlet and-"

"No," Jinx said, clutching it in her hand, "Listen up people, we don't have much time, and this is the plan."

They all looked at her, all of them waiting for her to tell them what to do, even Vi.

"Now's your chance to fuck shit up."

"Now's your chance to prove yourself."

Jinx cleared her throat, "We are going to split into two teams. Vi and Ekko, and me and shield guy."

"Actually, my name is-" he began.

"Your shield guy, end of discussion," Jinx snapped.

Now was not the time to try to force her to remember someone's name.

"Ok," he said, slightly disappointed, before adding on happily, "at least I get to work with you!"

What a strange man.

"You and Ekko will be going into the caves and forcing them out," Jinx said, looking at Vi and continuing to explain, "Me and him will be out here gathering all of them into a group."

"How?" Vi asked.

"Her blood, they want her, not us. She'd be turning herself into bait," Ekko said, anger in his voice.

"Pow-"

"Don't, Vi," Jinx warned, "I have a plan, so just listen for once."

Vi closed her mouth, but she didn't look very happy.

"Once they are all gathered, we need an explosion, which we will create with this," Jinx said, holding up the gem, "It's damaged, but it will still need some serious power to get it to-"

"Wait," Vi said, cutting her off, "You want to use the gem to make a bomb!? Powder, I love you, but you can't be serious. Take it from someone who has repeated the worst mistake of her life over and over again, this is not a good idea."

"You're not listening-" Jinx tried to explain.

"Powder, last time-"

"I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME!" She screamed.

No one knows better than her.

No one would ever know better than her.

She took a breath, "I don't have three gems this time, the explosion will be big but smaller than last time. And last time he wasn't here," Jinx said, looking at shield guy.

"Loris?" Vi said, confused.

"…his shield," Ekko muttered, understanding what she was getting at.

"Yes," Jinx said, "he will protect me from any damage the bomb does, and you two will be out of the way, so you'll be safe. As long as you stay away," Jinx said, "No matter what."

Vi clenched her jaw before rubbing her forehead, "Ok, for the sake of time, let's say I agree to let all this happen, how would you make that thing explode?" Vi asked.

"We need something stronger than a normal bullet to make it blow," Jinx said.

"…what about a Hextech-powered bullet?" Vi said as she pulled out a pistol, "If we shot it with this, would it explode?"

"Yes!" Jinx exclaimed, "That is perfect, and this way I can fire at a distance using my sight to aim," Jinx said, grabbing and examining the gun.

It was a simple pistol with a circular chamber right above the handle where the gem went. It was clean and put together, the complete opposite of Jinx, but it would get the job done.

"Hitting the gem with a Hextech-powered bullet could make the explosion bigger. And you would have to fire from outside the shield. You lose your protection."

"Or in other words, you die," Mylo grinned.

"They're here!" Shield guy said, looking down at the ground.

"There isn't time for another plan, Vi," Jinx said, locking eyes with her, ignoring the voices' taunts and warnings, "So are you with me in this or not?"

She was quiet for a moment, Ekko smashing in the head of a Poro that came up through the ground.

"…you aren't allowed to die, I don't care if it means leaving all of us behind to get eaten alive, you save yourself if things go south, understand?" Vi said.

"Well, if you could maybe help us out if we're getting eaten alive, that would be nice," shield guy said.

Jinx nodded in response to Vi, "Fine."

"Lair," Mylo snarled.

This plan may have risked her life, but it kept everyone else safe. It completed the task that needed to be taken care of. She never died before, she wasn't going to start now.

"Then let's do this," Vi said

Jinx smiled slightly. She had done it, Vi was actually letting her go through with her plan for once.

This was Jinx's mission.

"Alright, you and Ekko go for the caves and-" Jinx began.

"Wait," Ekko said.

Jinx huffed, "What?" She snapped.

"What aren't you telling us?" He said.

"…what?" She responded.

"There is more to this plan that you aren't saying. I can tell."

Jinx scoffed, "Right, cause you know me so well," she spat.

Ekko walked forward, "I know how you fight."

Jinx narrowed her eyes at him, "What are you trying to say, Boy Savior? Think I'm going to go off book and leave you bleeding out on the ground after the explosion? Oh, wait! I'm sorry, that's your specialty, not mine," she growled.

"How do you plan to shoot when you can't attack anything while the shield is up?" He whispered, only Jinx hearing him.

Jinx pulled back, shocked that he had seen right through her.

"Guys!" Vi yelled, "We don't have time for arguing! Are we doing this or not?!"

A Poro burst out of the floor, nearly grabbing Jinx, but she fell back onto the floor just in time. Unfortunately, Jinx had dropped the Hexgem and her pistol in her shock, thankfully, Vi was quick to kill the thing before it attacked her.

Jinx stood, eyes looking for her equipment.

"Here," Ekko said, holding them both out for her.

She snatched them out of his hands, eyes watching him suspiciously.

Ekko looked at her oddly, a weird look in his eyes, before turning away, "Let's go," he said.

"Everyone ready!?" Vi asked.

"Ready," said Ekko.

"All good here, just say the word," said shield guy.

"Powder?" Vi said, looking back at her.

She looked at Ekko for a moment longer before stuffing her items into her pockets, "Let's do this."

---

Shield guy lowered the barrier, and all of them sprinted to their set destinations.

As planned, Ekko and Vi peeled off from them and ran into the tunnels, all of the Poro's still following Jinx, who had the strong scent of Shimmer on her.

"All right, we need to find a place to stop so they can start gathering," Jinx said.

"Just say when," he replied.

They led the Poro's on for a bit longer to give Vi and Ekko a chance to get the ones in the cave taken care of.

When Jinx saw a ton of them starting to flee from the cave systems, she knew Vi and Ekko had done their part.

"Alright!" Jinx called, "Put the shield up!"

"Three, two, one!" He counted before activating.

Little did he know, Jinx ran out of the protective zone before she could trap her inside.

"Hey!" He yelled as soon as he realized she wasn't inside.

Jinx didn't waste time, she pulled out the gun and the gem, and then she-

Wait.

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

She looked at the compartment of the gun that should've contained the Hexgem, but it was empty.

She looked at the gem she had in her hand and realized with horror that the thing was completely fine, no crack in it at all.

The shield guy slammed into Jinx and activated his shield immediately, "What the fuck was that!?" He said angrily.

Jinx stared down at the gem.

How had this happened? She had it in her hands when-

Her eyes widened, "Ekko."

---

The plan to get the Poro's out of the cave was working just fine, all of them fleeing from a fight in favor of trying to go get the meal that was waiting for them outside.

"I hope Powder is doing ok," Vi said as they made the last sweep through the tunnels.

"I'm sure she's fine," Ekko said as he clutched the broken gem he had inside his pocket that he stole from Jinx.

He had taken it from her when she dropped it, replacing it with the gem inside the gun she had, leaving her with a weapon to defend herself with, but not the bomb she had planned to risk her life to set off.

"Hey, Vi?" Ekko said.

He still needed to get the gem to explode, the Poro's were still gathered outside, waiting to die.

"Yeah?" She said, looking back at him.

"Can I see one of your gauntlets?"

"What? Why?" She asked, confused.

"I just think a big ass metal fist will be a hell of a lot more effective than a metal pole when it comes to killing these things," he said, waving his pipe in the air.

"…they weigh like 500 pounds without a gem in them, man," she said, looking back at him, "I don't think you can handle them."

"Well, at least let me try to fix them real quick," he said, trying a new tactic.

"You can do that?" Vi asked.

"Maybe," he said.

"…fine," she said, dropping one of them to the ground, "Just hurry up, I want to go help Powder if I can."

Ekko kneeled down and began to work on the gauntlet, just not in the way Vi thought he was.

He was removing the safety system that stopped it from overcharging, which was inside of it, making it so that it would blow on its own once it was turned on.

All he had to do now was place it in the middle of the hoard of Poro's and set it up.

"Well?" Vi asked, looking over his shoulder, "Any luck?"

"Yeah," Ekko said as he worked.

"Really!?" She said, shocked, "That's fucking awesome, Little Man!"

"But this is going to take a minute. Why don't you go ahead, and I'll stay here to finish this up, come back after you clear out the last of this tunnel," he said.

Vi, completely unaware of what he really planned to do, nodded before slapping him on the back, "You got it, and hey, in case I haven't said it yet, I'm really proud of you."

He smiled at her sadly, "Thanks, Vi, that means a lot."

She grinned at him, completely unaware, before turning away and leaving him.

"…"

He didn't plan on dying with this explosion, but it was a strong possibility that it would turn out that way despite his best intentions.

But if it stopped Jinx from committing another self-sacrifice, then he would gladly do it.

He picked up the gauntlet and made his way to the exit of the cave.

He looked out and saw Jinx and Loris inside the bubble, Jinx holding up the gun, ready to fire if anything entered, and Loris keeping the shield steady.

Ekko took a breath and began to run.

Slowly at first, but then he picked up speed.

As he ran towards the snapping, angry mob of Poro's surrounding Jinx, memories of their childhood flooded his brain.

The two of them sitting side by side at the Last Drop as they watched people dance.

Jinx talking about how she was never going to cut her hair so she could have some actual braids in it for once.

Jinx and him coloring beatles before making them fight one another, betting their scrap metal on the fights.

The two of them running on top of buildings as practice for when they went out with Vi and the others, laughing and smiling the whole time, not having a single care in the world.

Coming up with the ultimate super-secret handshake together.

Spray painting walls all over the Undercity with green and blue lines.

Jumping into the river despite how nasty it was, just because they wanted to play.

Sneaking up on one another to see who could make the other scream the loudest.

Jinx dumping a bucket of blue paint on his head and then a bucket of white on her own so they could switch hair colors for the day.

All of the happy, silly memories of the two of them.

How he hoped it wasn't too late to make more.

He feet carried him into the middle of the snapping hoard, eyes locking with Jinx's as she watched him through the shield.

Ekko smiled at her. He wouldn't mind dying if it meant she could finally find some happiness with Vander and the rest of her family and friends.

She deserved to be happy for once.

He put the gemstone into the compartment, Jinx's eyes widening with understanding as soon as he did.

She started yelling at Loris as Ekko twisted a nob and activated the system that would set off the explosion.

He dropped the gauntlet and started running, all the starving Poro's completely apathetic to his presence.

"EKKO!"

BOOM.

Notes:

Guess the title had cruel irony here too.

Oops.

Chapter 54: Click-Boom And It Happened

BOOM.

A silence fell after the explosion.

Jinx stared at the spot where Ekko had been, mind blank.

"POWDER!?" Vi yelled at the top of her lungs as she sprinted out into the open.

This snapped Jinx out of it.

"The shield," she said, voice cracking slightly, "Lower it. Now."

The shield guy did what he was told, silently staring out, just as shocked at what had happened.

Jinx began to sprint. Past the destroyed gauntlet, past the mangled bodies of the Poro's, eyes scanning, looking for Ekko.

He had stolen the gem and taken her plan, but she was the one with the powers, she was the jinx that never died. Him? He could die. There was nothing stopping him from dying and leaving.

"Powder!" Vi called as she approached, "What-"

Jinx shoved past her, still searching.

Jinx would have survived, she would have been further away than he was because she just wanted to shoot the gem. He was right next to it, only able to run in hopes of escaping.

But Jinx knew you could never outrun an explosion like that one, those explosions destroyed anything and everything they touched. Obliterating all the good that was ever there.

"Vi," the shield guy said as he approached before being to explain what happened.

Jinx looked and looked until she spotted him collapsed facedown on the ground. He had managed to run a good distance away from the gauntlet before it went off, but he was still hit, his back had been exposed from the explosion, his clothes ripped to shreds, and he had angry, bleeding burns on his skin. She dropped down and flipped him over, her hands hovering over him uncertainly.

She couldn't tell if he was alive or not.

"Ekko!" Vi called as she too fell down next to him.

Vi started to shake him as she called out his name.

He remained unresponsive.

Jinx just watched.

"Your fault."

"Told you not to do it."

"I told you to STAY AWAY!"

"Always your fault."

"You never listen."

"Your-"

"Told-"

"Always-"

"Should've-"

"Never-"

"Loved-"

"Hated-"

"Abandoned-"

"Alone-"

"Forgotten-"

"Killed-"

"Murdered-"

"Tortured-"

"Freak-"

"Crazy-"

"Special-"

"M- on- st-er"

Jinx looked down at the blood on her hands.

The unnatural purple and pink hue to it.

The Shimmer inside her veins splattered all over her for the world to see.

…

He said that it was a part of her, that it couldn't be taken away.

She tried to reach for it, the speed, the strength, the sight, the healing, but something was blocking her like a barrier stopping the blazing fury inside of her.

If she could just push past the barrier she felt inside of her, then maybe she could make it work again.

"Maybe you can save him," Powder whispered.

She tried to pull the Shimmer powers out, like she had to do when she was a kid. Back then, they never worked how she wanted, always coming and going at the worst times, but if there was enough panic and dread, then it worked.

They always worked when she needed them.

Jinx tried to pull it out of herself, but she kept running into this wall. She felt the buzz beneath her skin start, but it wouldn't kick in.

Like a flickering bulb, it wouldn't turn on.

She ran into that wall over and over, but this time she didn't stop when she felt it. She pushed past the exhaustion and pain, she pushed past the limits of her body, she pushed and pushed and pushed.

She pushed until she felt that barrier inside her shatter.

She felt as if someone had grabbed onto her heart and was trying to squeeze it until it burst. Her lungs felt like they had been punctured and refused to keep in any air. Her blood felt as if it was boiling inside her, ravaging and raging to get out, but kept underneath by some invisible force.

She had called for the power, and now it was stuck inside of her.

"POWDER?!"

Vi.

She was concerned.

Jinx felt blood pooling in her mouth, she felt this immense pressure inside of her begging to be released.

She felt it push against her eyes, her skin, her very bones. She felt like her own skin was a trap she was stuck inside of, her flesh somehow containing the giant monster underneath that needed to escape.

Jinx dug at her chest, trying to release the overwhelming pressure inside of her.

"Powder stop!" Vi yelled as she grabbed onto her uncertainly.

Jinx began to scream, blood that had been in her mouth pouring out, as she felt her blood rushing and ripping through her veins, trying to find an escape from her far too small shell.

Vi tried to pin her down, but she wasn't strong enough, so Shield Guy also tried to stop her, but Jinx was too powerful, she kept ripping away at her skin to try and free herself from her misery.

But no matter how much she dug into herself, the wounds wouldn't stay open. Her blood was trapped in a cage of its own making. It stitched her back together every time she tried to free it.

The incredible power held beneath her skin could not be contained, but it also could never be free.

It was exactly like when she was younger, before she had grown accustomed to the thundering electric feel of her supercharged blood.

She remembered the agony when she was a kid, when she stopped running with her speed, the Shimmer had nowhere to go, so it just burned inside her. She felt like she had eaten the sun, but soon the pain became normal, the never-ending energy pumping through her no longer bothered her, and she even failed to notice it at times.

Jinx slowly stopped digging at her chest. This pain was just an increased version of what she normally felt because she called too much power forward without giving it a release. She looked down at herself, because the blood had nothing to do, she unconsciously made wounds for it to heal, and she didn't have a scratch on her.

Vi and Shield Guy still clung to her, hands clamped down on her, burning their way into her skin.

Jinx ripped herself away from them, using her speed to get away and stand.

Both of them fumbled as they tried to hold onto nothing but air. They turned to look at her as soon as they realized where she was.

"Powder? What the hell was that!? Are you ok?!" Vi yelled, terror in her eyes.

Jinx panted, looking at where her injuries were before, they were gone, and her powers were back.

It had worked.

She kneeled down next to Ekko and gave him blood, so much blood, until he woke up screaming.

---

Ekko had never had Shimmer before, if he had to describe it, he would say it felt like eating lightning.

He felt it as it charged through his system, shocking everything back into working order. He couldn't stop himself from letting out a guttural scream as it coursed through him.

He didn't even get a moment before something collided with him, making him fall to the ground.

"Ow," he coughed out.

"Janna, sorry," Vi said as she pulled away from her tackle of a hug, "but you were fucking dead."

"How the hell are you still alive?" Loris asked.

Ekko groaned at his throbbing headache that increased in pain every time his heart pounded against his rib cage. How could he be so wired and fucking exhausted at the same time?

"Which one of you gave me Shimmer?" He muttered.

He never wanted to use the stuff. He had told Scar that he would rather die than have to use it.

He sat up and looked at all of them, "Which-" he began again, anger slipping into his voice.

Then he met her eyes, her bloodshot eyes.

Her own blood was coating her chest, her hands, and her face. It looked as if it had come from everywhere, her eyes, her nose, her mouth, her ears, as if she had just had her blood shoved out of her.

But most of all, he saw the fear in her eyes.

"Ji-"

"Vander," she said, cutting him off, standing, "He needs to get to the hospital now," she said, turning and walking away.

Vi turned to Ekko, "Are you ok to walk?" She asked.

Ekko watched Jinx for a while longer before nodding and standing, legs shaking like crazy under him.

Vi grabbed him and slung his arm over her shoulder, "Take it easy, you almost died."

"Yeah, I still don't understand how you aren't with Janna right now," Loris said, looking over at him.

Ekko watched Jinx as she walked ahead of them, "Yeah… me too."

---

"You saved him."

"I thought you were done with Ekko?"

"Said you didn't care if he died."

"Said you would kill him."

"Kill-"

"Kill-"

"Kill-"

"Kill-"

"Jinx!"

She looked up at Caitlyn, who was rushing over to her as soon as she finished climbing up the wall.

"Are you alright?" she asked, looking over her, hands held firmly at her side as if to stop herself from trying to touch her.

"I'm…"

Tired.

Sad.

Angry.

Upset.

"-fine," she said instead, as she turned away from Caitlyn.

"Are you sure-" she began.

"Just help Vi," Jinx muttered.

She sighed, "Fine, but just know I'm here if you wanna talk about it."

Talk about it.

That's what Vander always said to do, but what good would talking to Ekko do? She couldn't forgive him, and he would never forgive her.

Both were unredeemable.

Both were villains.

Both were victims.

Both were unable to let go.

Jinx's eyes slowly gazed around at the mess that was still left to deal with.

"My dear boy, that was quite the scar you gave us!" The fluff ball said to Ekko as he clambered up with Vi and shield guys' help.

Jinx watched him, watched as he walked and breathed like he wasn't basically dead a few minutes ago.

Why did he take the gem? Why didn't he let her take the risk?

…why did he save her from herself?

He met her eyes, and Jinx quickly looked away.

He left you.

He thought you worked for Silco.

He tried to kill you.

He didn't care that you were suffering.

"-Vander?"

Vi saying his name was like dumping a bucket of cold water onto her. Here she was thinking about useless shit when she should have been with him.

Jinx looked, and she spotted him immediately, some stranger at his side instead of her.

"Move," she growled as she approached the man.

The fish guy- wait, he can't be fish guy. Fish guy was the guy with the food, there couldn't be two of them. She huffed, annoyed at the lack of a name for him.

"I'm sorry for intruding, but I'm trying to keep him alive. I know you don't know me, but-"

"You're right," she snapped, "I don't know you fish guy number 2, and I don't want to."

She ignored his confused look and shoved him over before she cut open her hand with her knife, gently tipping Vander's head up to give him Shimmer. He hadn't had a dose of it for a while, she was extremely lucky he didn't die.

"Hey, you can't give him blood!" He cried out.

"It's alright, Steb," Caitlyn called from behind them, "Her blood is infused with Shimmer, it will help him."

"Your blood can heal people!?" Vi said, shocked.

Jinx rolled her eyes as she placed Vander's head back on the ground gently, moving some hair out of his face, "Yes."

"So that's how you lived," Shield guy said to Ekko, making Jinx tense up.

She felt his eyes on her, but she didn't dare look back at him.

"Wait, Cait, you knew she could do this?" Vi thankfully interjected before Ekko could say anything.

"Yeah, how do you think you got healed up from that stab wound Sevika gave you?" Caitlyn replied.

"So you're saying I drank my sister's blood?" She said, slightly disgusted, making Jinx flinch.

"Freak."

"Be grateful, Vi," shield guy said, "she totally saved you, doesn't matter how."

Jinx sighed in frustration. These people were so damn noisy about the stupidest shit.

She stood up, "We need to get Vander to the hospital," she said, looking at the group.

"Well, alright then," said the fluff ball, "we'll just wait for the lizard to come by and then-"

"Lizard?" Jinx said, confused.

"It may sound weird, but he's right, if we just jump where the lizard does, then we know the ground is safe to walk on," Caitlyn explained.

"Why not just jump on the claw marks?" Jinx asked.

"Claw marks?" Said a girl that Jinx hadn't even realized was here.

"The ones on the ground that the bird made," Jinx said, gesturing at them.

"Hey, I saw those!" Vi exclaimed, "…did you say bird?" She added after a moment.

"Of course!" Said the fluff ball, interrupting Jinx's response to Vi, "How clever of you, dear," he said as he leaned down and examined a claw markings in the rock floor.

"Don't call me dear," Jinx said, unamused at the name.

"Why not? You called me fish guy number 2," said fish guy number 2.

She glared at him, "Just keep talking, I'll be happy to only have one fish guy again."

"Guys don't fight," interjected that one girl, "We're all friends here."

Jinx sneered at her, "What the hell have you been smoking?"

"Hey, back off. She never did anything to you," fish guy number 2 snapped.

Sure, she hadn't done anything to Jinx, but she was weird. Not weird like the others, but weird in a bad way. There was something about her that just rubbed Jinx wrong. Maybe it was her stupid ponytail (her hair was like two inches long, how the hell did she even get it into a ponytail?) or maybe her fake ass smile. Whatever it was, she didn't like it, she didn't like her.

"Jinx, come on, play nice," Caitlyn said, stepping into the conversation to calm everyone down, "I know people aren't your thing, but they are my friends."

"So?" Jinx said.

"So don't be such a bitch," fish guy number 2 said plainly.

"Aw, look, the fish has teeth," Jinx mocked.

He scoffed, "Are you kidding me right now? After everything we've done to help you, you're going to act like this?"

"I'm sorry, what possibly made you think that I would be nice to you just cause you followed Caitlyn's orders?" Jinx asked.

"I didn't have to be here," he growled.

"Then why are you?" She snapped back.

"Whoa! Powder, Steb, cool it, ok? We need to get Vander Topside, something we'll need Jinx for," Vi said, looking at Steb.

Jinx smirked at him, "See how my presence has a purpose? You should take notes."

"-and," Vi said, "We need Steb to help with Vander. He's our medic, Jinx."

He smirked back at her, "Look who has a purpose now."

Jinx crossed her arms and glared at him.

He glared back.

"Put one fucking scratch on him and I'll have your head on a plate faster than you can say "fish guy number 2," she growled.

"Get in my way of treating him and I'll throw you back in the pit," he replied sharply.

Jinx glared at him for a moment longer before letting out a snort, "You're a fucking asshole, Steb."

He was an asshole, and she had never met an asshole from Topside before, well, not one like him. She could tolerate him, besides, he didn't get all bent out of shape when she insulted him like Caitlyn did.

"Me?" He said, leaning down, packing up his medical gear, "You're the one refusing to learn people's names just to fuck with them."

Jinx shrugged, "I don't have time to waste on learning useless information."

"Wait!" Shield guy said, "You just said his name, so that means-"

"Means he's an asshole who's got a fucking name," Jinx said, "what high standards he's met," she said, rolling her eyes.

"Well then, what about me!?" He complained.

"Loris, why do you care if she calls you by your name? She clearly doesn't care either way," Steb said.

Jinx caught Ekko looking at her when he said that. She quickly looked elsewhere. He was putting some deeper meaning into her calling him Ekko instead of the Boy Savior now, but there was nothing to that. If she were still calling him Boy Savior, then he should read into that. That name had so much weight and meaning to it, he didn't deserve a name that held so much importance.

He was just Ekko now.

Unlike Ekko, Steb wasn't looking to get something from Jinx, he was just here for himself. She could respect that.

"She said your name!" He whined.

Unlike Shield Guy, she would never respect Shield Guy.

"Sorry, big guy," Vi said, patting his shoulder, "You lost this one."

Caitlyn laughed at them as the group continued to go back and forth between themselves.

Jinx looked over at Caitlyn before walking over and tapping on her shoulder, "I could use that talk now," Jinx whispered.

Caitlyn blinked in surprise before joining her next to Vander, away from the others.

"What's up?" Caitlyn asked.

"Sevika," Jinx said, fingers entangling with Vander's as she sat down next to him.

Caitlyn joined her on the ground, "Yeah… I saw her, she told us that you were having her sent to Stillwater."

Jinx looked down as she fiddled with Vander's hand, "Yeah, I just… I've heard stories about Stillwater," she whispered.

"Vi has told me a few as well, there is a lot that needs to be fixed there."

"Don't get me wrong," Jinx said, "I hate Sevika, but throwing someone in there knowing what they do to people-"

"You want me to have her protected?" Caitlyn asked.

Jinx furrowed her brows, "That makes it sound like you're going to make her stay there tolerable. I just want you to keep your people out of her business," Jinx said.

Jinx didn't like Sevika, but she did her a favor by giving her the location of the doctor. Jinx was sure that Sevika would survive that place no problem, she and Vi were similar in that way, but Jinx didn't feel right condemning someone to that fate after all the horrible things she'd heard happened in there.

She wasn't an enforcer.

"Alright, but I'll need to get someone to take her in-"

"Hey!"

It was that weird girl. She approached with that fake smile of hers plastered on, as if it was actually real.

"Maddie!" Caitlyn exclaimed.

"Sorry if I'm interrupting, I just wanted to introduce myself to Jinx properly," she said, directing her fake ass smile at Jinx.

Jinx wrapped her arms around herself, this girl's look made her suddenly very aware of her lack of clothing and her scars having been on display for all these people to see.

"No, no, no. Your timing is actually perfect!" Caitlyn said happily, "I need you to do something for me."

"Hold up, Caitlyn, you can't be serious, I asked you to do this, not- her," Jinx spat.

"Jinx, I know you aren't a fan of trusting new people, but have faith in me," Caitlyn said, "I just want to help you."

"I get that but-"

"She's a part of this team, and I hand-picked her. If you put your faith in me, then you're putting your faith in her as well. You're putting your faith in all of these people."

Jinx looked at the girl who just grinned like a moron.

"…but-"

"No one else can do this right now, Jinx, I swear she'll take care of this for you."

"…."

She looked at the girl, her mind still refusing to trust her, but then she looked at Caitlyn. Caitlyn had been trying her best to help her since she met her. If Caitlyn was giving her the benefit of the doubt, then she should just tell this suspicious nagging voice to go to hell.

"…fine," Jinx said reluctantly, "fill her in, and get me a jacket," she snapped.

"Here!" Ponytail said, taking off her's and holding it out for Jinx, "You can have mine!" She said happily, as she continued to grin at her.

Jinx's lips curled up in disgust.

"Jinx, trust her. Besides, it's just a jacket," Caitlyn said.

Jinx huffed before snatching it away from her and quickly pulling it on, anything was better than her scars being on display for everyone.

As the two of them talked about how Ponytail was to go get Sevika and how to handle everything with the guards at Stillwater, Jinx still couldn't get herself to shake her dislike of the girl.

Notes:

Is there anything you want to see when we get to the healing arc?? Like, for example, a Vi gets sick. Just things that would be in some fun one shot ideas that you want to see these guys experience.

Chapter 55: Bien Conoces Mis Errores

Notes:

I am not a doctor! All of this medical stuff is complete bullshit I got from TV and the internet. And the surgery they want to give Vander isn't a real thing, just a variation of something that exists.

The trip to Topside was a long one.

They all made it through the minefield perfectly fine. Maddie had left the group to run an errand for Cait, but Cait refused to say what it was.

Jinx was carrying Vander the whole time, receiving assistance from both Vi and Loris at times.

"He looks good," Vi said, such raw emotion in her voice as she looked at Vander.

She was the one currently helping Jinx carry Vander, not because she couldn't handle his weight, but because they just wanted to make sure he didn't bump into anything. Vander was always a pretty big guy. He truly did look better than the day she left him in that alley. Not healthy, but at least alive.

Jinx looked at him too, "Yeah, he got somewhat better with the doctor."

"…so he's really been asleep this whole time?"

Jinx nodded, "2,615 days, 18 hours, and 33 seconds."

Vi blinked in surprise at the count. She knew from experience what she was doing, counting the seconds until she was free, but Vi was surprised that she was still doing it. Not because she was free now, but because Vi herself had stopped after three years in. Powder was still going.

"You're still counting?" Vi asked.

Powder shrugged, "I tried stopping, but… they wouldn't let me."

They.

The voices most likely. It broke Vi's heart that Powder had to suffer because of them. She wished she could take away that pain for her, but that was impossible.

"Do you-," Powder started before shaking her head, "never mind."

"If you're asking about my count, I stopped after about three years," Vi said.

Powder didn't respond to that, her brows were furrowed, and her gaze was fixed on the floor.

She was still mad, Vi could see it as clear as day. She didn't want to interact with her, she didn't want to talk.

"…I'm gonna be going to therapy," Vi said after a moment.

Powder looked over at her, "What?"

"Cait thinks I need to. Says I have a lot of shit wrong with me because of Stillwater and… everything," she said, looking over at Powder, "I'm stuck in the past, Powder, and I don't think I can get out alone."

Powder was silent for a long time before she spoke again, "I'm mad at you."

"I know," Vi said.

"It can't be like we're kids again, I'm too different," she said, eyes fixed on the ground.

"I am too, but I'm also not. Does that make sense?"

"No," Powder said.

Vi sighed, "Yeah, I don't get it either. I'm sorry, I know that's kinda worthless now, but I am. I haven't managed to do one single damn thing since I got out of that prison. I've tried helping, but I just feel lost in the chaos, or just in the way. It's been you and Caitlyn saving my ass these last few days, all I've managed to do is get kidnapped, stabbed, and repeat stupid mistakes for stupid reasons."

Powder still didn't speak.

"Honestly, Powder, I don't know who I am if I can't be helpful, if I can't fight your battles for you, what good am I to you?"

"That is the stupidest bullshit I have ever heard in my life," Powder snapped.

Vi looked up at her in shock.

Powder glared at her, "You are literally the strongest person I have ever known. You do everything better than I ever could, and I can't even level up to you with all this extra bullshit I've got going on."

"Are you kidding me!?" Vi huffed, "Look at everything you did without me, you're incredible!"

"Yeah," Powder said, rolling her eyes, "Look at how I got tortured and brutally murdered people for years."

"No," Vi said sternly, "look at how you kept going and managed to survive while keeping Vander safe for seven whole years without anyone's help. Look at everything you overcame, look at how you succeeded, and accomplish your goal."

"…"

"If I ever had to go through the shit you did, I don't think I would have pulled out on the other side," Vi admitted.

Vi had suffered, but it was nothing compared to what her sister went through.

"That's a load of shit. You are the only person I know who can take a beating until they're a bloody mess and still somehow win the fight. You're a tank who packs a punch that feels like a ton of bricks. Those fists of yours have always been your ticket to success," she said.

"You're not hearing me. That path," Vander said before he reached forward and grabbed her bloody fist, "This? It's not going to solve your problems. Just makes more of them."

Vi never understood his words. She thought of her fists, like Powder, where her ticket to freedom. Her one guarantee in life that things would be better, because she had the strength to make them better with her own two hands.

"You're wrong, Powder. These," Vi said, looking at her free hand, "these will get me nowhere in life."

Powder opened up her mouth to argue, but Vi cut her off.

"Can't tell me I'm wrong here, Powder, just look at all they've done for me so far."

"You mean get you back to me?" She rebuked.

"I mean, how they took me away from you for years and then fucked shit over with you all over again," Vi said tiredly.

She didn't have a response for that.

"This fight or die mentality has cost me so much. Vander was right to have given up on that path, it doesn't get you anywhere but broken and alone."

Powder looked at Vi for a long time before speaking again, "From my experience, a lot of things make you wind up broken and alone."

Vi chuckled darkly at that, "Yeah, ain't that fucked up?"

"…I don't want us to be broken and alone again," she whispered.

"Me neither," Vi said tiredly, "but I'm not exactly sure how to make that happen. Everything I've done so far just pushed us further apart."

"…yeah, I don't know either," Powder whispered softly.

Neither of them had an answer for their problems, but they would figure it out.

Together.

---

Jinx and the others dragged Vander back Topside. Making the occasional stop to check on Vander and his condition.

"His pulse is getting weaker," Steb muttered.

"Should I give him more Shimmer?" Jinx asked.

She had been explaining to him how dangerous her blood could be as they made their way through the streets, how it could cause severe addiction and death if given in too high a dosage or too frequently.

"I don't want to risk it when we're so close to the hospital," he said, pulling back from Vander.

"If he dies-" Jinx began to growl.

"I die," he said with a roll of his eyes, "This is the 9th time you've threatened that. I am aware of the punishment for failing on this," he said, putting his equipment away.

Jinx and Shield Guy were carrying Vander as they walked this time around.

"Pretty high stakes, man," shield guy said, "I mean, you've seen what she does to the people she doesn't like."

"She's not much kinder to the people she tolerates," Caitlyn added.

"Well fuck you too," Jinx snapped at her.

Vi chuckled, "Good to know you two still get along just fine."

"What? You think you leaving me behind and recreating my childhood trauma would affect our relationship?" Jinx said with a raised brow.

"If anything, Jinx and I now have more in common than ever with my newfound hatred of you," Caitlyn said.

"Oh?" Jinx said, "Did you two break up without even telling me about it?"

"Ekko?" The fluff ball chirped.

"Yeah, Heimerdinger?" He replied.

"Were you aware Miss Caitlyn was in a relationship with that other young lady?" He asked.

"We are not-" Caitlyn started.

"Yeah, it was kinda obvious," he said to the fluff ball.

"We are not dating!" Caitlyn huffed.

"Really? You seemed so pissed at Vi when she left that I totally thought the two of you were hooking up," Shield guy said.

"How mad was she?" Jinx questioned.

Jinx wanted to know how serious this relationship had developed since she last checked in.

"Vi, would you please step in here!?" Caitlyn said angrily.

Vi looked over, "Well, how mad was she?"

"So mad!" Shield guy exclaimed.

Caitlyn smacked Vi, "I meant stop them, not encourage them!

"Like strangle someone mad or break something mad?" Jinx pressed.

"Is there a reason you're trying to decipher her anger level?" Asked the fluff ball.

"Jinx has this thing where she can read Vi like a book," Ekko said, earning a glare from Jinx that he ignored and continued to talk, "She's trying to figure out how far the two of them are in their relationship."

"Really!" The fluff ball said, sounding far too impressed, "Well then, please continue, I would like to see if you're truly able to come to an accurate conclusion with such minimal data."

"Why are all of you entering this?!" Caitlyn snapped.

"Because this is interesting, now tell Jinx what she wants to know, Loris," Steb said.

"I'd definitely say strangle someone mad, though it was a coin toss between who she'd be strangling. Me or Vi," shield guy said.

"Vi," Caitlyn muttered, "It was never a coin toss, I would've strangled Vi."

In other words, she loved Vi, and she got her heart broken by her when she left.

"But she didn't," Vi said smugly.

"Never say never," Caitlyn snapped at her.

Jinx looked at the two of them, the glares and cocky smiles, the longing behind their gazes. Janna, it was so obvious they loved one another.

"Come on, Cupcake, you know you'd never do that to me," Vi said.

"Cupcake?" Jinx said, nose scrunching up in disgust at the sickeningly sweet name.

"Her nickname for Caitlyn," Steb supplied.

"Yeah, her nicknames are the absolute worst," Shield guy said.

"I've told her to stop calling me that a million times," Caitlyn huffed.

"Sorry, Cupcake, never going to happen," Vi shrugged.

"Meh," Jinx said, "It's accurate, so it's acceptable."

"How is Cupcake an accurate representation of me!?" Caitlyn asked angrily.

"Because you're disgustingly sweet," Jinx replied, "Obviously."

"Excuse me," Heimerdinger interjected, "But I would like to hear your conclusion on the two of them. I'm truly interested in your ability to decipher their romantic status with such merger data."

"Well… they aren't dating, though that's definitely because of Caitlyn, if it were up to Vi, the two of them would've already been married by now," Jinx said as she stared at the two of them.

That made Caitlyn blush furiously, and Vi just smiled to herself.

"Oh, duh," Jinx said after seeing their reactions, "They've kissed, and like two lovesick morons, they haven't taken it any further," Jinx said, rolling her eyes and looking away from them as Caitlyn absolutely lost it.

"I- how- you!" She stammered angrily.

"Still got it, Powder. Seriously, it's freaky how easy that is for you," Vi said with a smile.

"Vi!" Caitlyn shrieked as she hit her again, "Don't admit she's right!"

"Wow, you were right, Ekko," Steb said, "she can read her sister like a book."

"I told you," he replied.

"Jinx, you never stop getting cooler, do you?" Shield guy said.

"Impressive young lady!" Exclaimed the fluff ball.

"You are aware you can call me Jinx?" She said to him.

"Are you offended by my calling you a young lady?" He asked.

"No, it's just… weird," she said.

He was acting all respectful, and she wasn't someone who should be respected.

"Well then, I will try my best to only refer to you as Jinx from now on," he said, "I would hate to seem odd to you."

"I think that ship has sailed, fluff ball," Jinx said.

Seriously, who was this guy?

"Hmm, how unfortunate. Also, my name is Cecil B. Heimerdinger, but you can just call me Heimerdinger," he said.

"Yeahhhh, I'm not doing that, I'll call you Cecil though," Jinx said.

"Oh, come on!" Shield guy grumbled, "You'll say his name but not mine!?"

"Alright then," Cecil said, ignoring shield guy, "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Jinx."

"Back at you, Cecil," Jinx said, chuckling at the weird oddball.

---

Jinx had never been happier to see a hospital and doctors in her life.

"They're back!" Someone called.

"Get the gurney," said another.

"Same patient?" Asked someone new.

"No different one this time," replied another.

"Fucking move," Jinx snapped as she got Vander onto the gurney, "Anyone fond of their fingers won't lay a hand on him without my permission," she growled, making everyone in the room retreat with fear.

"Jinx, Vander needs help, they need to-" Caitlyn said.

"No," Jinx snapped, "I know what he needs, not them. Get life support for him, and an IV, and prep a room for surgery."

No one moved.

"NOW," Jinx snarled.

They all set into a flurry of movement.

"Steb," Jinx said.

"Yes?" He said, stepping up next to her.

"I need your opinion on something," she said as she began to push Vander into the room, where doctors were running in and out with lots of equipment.

She assumed that was the room where they were setting everything she asked for up.

"Vi, Caitlyn, you come too, the rest of you," she looked back at them, eyes locking with Ekko's, "You can fuck off," she said before slamming the door shut behind her.

She and Ekko were done.

So what she saved him? He was the one who deviated from the plan first. She was just making sure he didn't hold him for taking that bomb for her over her head.

Jinx turned around and faced the group, Vi at Vander's side, Steb hooking Vander up to the machines, and Caitlyn at Vi's side.

Jinx pulled out the file she got from the doctor and held it out to Steb, "Will this save him?" She asked.

Steb stopped what he was doing with Vander and grabbed the file, starting to read through it.

"Wait, what is that?" Vi asked.

"What the doctor said would cure Vander," Jinx responded, eyes glued to Steb as he read through it, trying to gauge his reaction.

"Do you trust this?" Caitlyn said, "I mean that man was the one who gave it to you."

Jinx shrugged as she began to bite on her nails, "I will never trust anything that man gives me, that's why I gave it to him," she said, nodding at Steb, "Besides, it's all I could get," she muttered.

They all waited until Steb shut the file and looked up at them.

"Well?" Vi said impatiently.

"The surgery would work-"

They all sighed in relief, Jinx turning to grin at Vi and Vander. They would finally be together again.

"-theoretically."

All the joy was instantly sucked out of the room.

"What do you mean theoretically? Can you people save him or not!?" Jinx yelled.

"This surgery is extremely dangerous," Steb said, "and the equipment needed doesn't even exist!" He exclaimed.

"But the doctor said he could do it!" Jinx yelled.

"Not without severe repercussions," Steb snapped back, "Anyone who would try to do something like this without the correct equipment, which doesn't exist, is a psychopath that should never be allowed near a patient again."

"Are you sure you can't do this," Vi asked, "or do a safer version?"

"This "doctor's" solution to Vander's coma is doing a surgery where we go into his brain and electrically stimulate it until he wakes up. Which would mean him waking up DURING the surgery!" He yelled in outrage, "There is nothing that could possibly make something like that safer."

"Ok, but you said theoretically you could do this if you had the necessary equipment," Caitlyn said, "Which means you already did come up with an alternative."

"…yes," he sighed, "To do something like this safely, you wouldn't start randomly zapping his brain until something happens, that's so fucking stupid and-"

"He's a disgusting fuck who didn't give a shit about the people he experimented on, we got that already. Get to the point," Vi snapped.

"If you placed a device that regulates and controls the electrical current and what part of the brain it would hit, then this would be much safer," he explained, "If we put the device in him then there isn't a risk of him waking up while we're still operating on him, we would send the electrical currents after we were done, but like I said, that equipment doesn't exist."

"So you can't save him?" Jinx whispered.

"There are other treatments we can try that-"

"You can't save him," Jinx repeated, tears forming.

"This surgery wouldn't save him, Jinx, it would just kill him faster. We can't do it-"

"Maybe we can," Caitlyn said.

They all looked to her.

"What are you talking about, Cait?" Vi asked.

"The equipment we need may not exist right now, but I happen to know two inventors who make the impossible real."

---

The group practically ran down to the hospital room where Jayce and Viktor were staying.

Caitlyn was surprised that the two of them hadn't come to see them yet, but considering how sick Viktor was when she left, it wasn't surprising.

"Jayce!" Caitlyn called as she opened the hospital room door.

He was sitting at Viktor's side, hand clinging to his limp one as he sobbed loudly.

"…oh god, is he?" Caitlyn whispered, voice breaking.

"What are we doing here?" Jinx whispered to Vi, "These two are hardly going to be helpful."

"Powder," Vi reprimanded quietly, "Show some respect."

Jayce looked up, tears falling freely down his face, "H-he's still a-alive," he stammered, "but-" he didn't finish his sentence, he just broke down into another fit of tears.

Caitlyn quickly rushed to his side and hugged him, "I'm so sorry."

He turned and grabbed onto her, sobbing uncontrollably.

She hugged him close as her own tears fell.

Viktor was a great man that she never spent enough time with. He was so committed to his work and trying to make this world a better place, Caitlyn had never met someone like him. How she regretted not being able to know him better.

How unfair it was that people like him had to die while others, so much worse, got to survive.

"Look, I'm sorry about your boyfriend, but we're here for Vander," Jinx said.

"Powder!" Vi yelled, "His friend is dying!"

"So is Vander!" She yelled back, "Except I'm not going to stand here and just wait for it to happen!"

"Jinx," Caitlyn growled, "Considering these two people were the ones who were going to help you, I suggest you stop thinking about yourself and show some compassion."

Jinx's eyes widened slightly, "You mean…" she looked at Viktor, "If he dies, then you can't help Vander?"

Jayce stood and stormed forward, getting in Jinx's face, "Even if he was going to live, I would never help such a self-centered piece of shit like you," he said as he shoved her.

Jinx didn't even move at his shove.

"Touch me again and I'll break every bone in your body," Jinx growled, her entire demeanor changing instantly.

Vi stepped in between them, "Jayce, back off, she's not messing around."

"Of course she isn't," he yelled, "She's a fucking nut job. A murderer that we are suddenly worshipping and protecting for some fucking reason!"

"Jayce, you better shut the fuck up," Vi snapped.

Caitlyn could tell she was getting angry at him as well.

"Why? Gonna run and get your gauntlets and punch me? Makes sense, it's the only fucking thing you know how to do."

"Jayce, calm down!" Caitlyn said, walking over to try to intervene.

"Listen, man, you're grieving, so I'm letting that go, but do yourself a favor and shut the fuck up before you get yourself killed," Vi said sternly.

"Oh, is your sister gonna do it? 'Cause that's all she does, right? Run around and kill people cause she thinks that's somehow gonna bring back the family she murdered-"

Bam!

"Jayce!" Caitlyn screamed.

Jayce was on the floor, Jinx over him, holding his face inches from hers. His nose was a bloody mess, and more blood was coming from where Jinx's nails bit into his skin.

"You are only alive right now because you're Caitlyn's friend, and you're not thinking clearly," Jinx hissed as Jayce cried out in pain, "But listen carefully because you're about to get the only warning you will ever receive from me. If you EVER talk about my family again, I will rip out your tongue and feed it to you like a dog. And then I will go and murder whatever unfortunate souls got stuck as your family as I pry your eyes open so you can watch every second."

"Pow-"

"Do you understand me?!" She growled.

Jayce didn't respond immediately.

Jinx slammed his head into the floor, "I asked you a question," she snarled as she dug her nails into him further.

"Jinx, stop!" Caitlyn cried.

"Y-yes. I understand," he whimpered.

Jinx stared into his eyes for a few more seconds before shoving his face away as she stood and walked out of the room, Vi rushing after her.

Caitlyn rushed over to him, "Are you ok?"

He clutched his nose, "She broke my fucking nose," he spat.

"You talked about her dead family members," Steb said as he kneeled down and began to help Jayce, "you should be grateful you're not minced meat right now."

"You're taking her side!" He said angrily, "She's the one who-"

"Has a fuck ton of issues that we all warned you about Jayce," Caitlyn said sternly, "I'm not saying she was in the right, she wasn't being considerate of your situation, but Jayce using information that you were in trusted with on good faith to try and get back at her is just as fucked up," Caitlyn reprimanded.

The anger in Jayce melted, "I know, I just-" he began to cry again.

Caitlyn sighed as she hugged him, "It's ok. It's going to be ok."

---

"Powder wait!" Vi called.

Anger pounded through Jinx, if she had stayed in that room for a second longer, she would've killed that man.

"He was telling you the truth," Mylo snarled, "it's not his fault you still can't admit how fucked up you are."

"You were the one who antagonized him," Claggor added.

"He was an asshole," she snapped, "he's lucky he's still alive."

"Yeah, he was a moronic jerk," Vi said as she caught up.

Jinx looked back at her, confused, before realizing she thought Jinx was talking to her, not the voices.

"She still doesn't understand what a freak you are."

"Shut up," she growled.

"Powder, what he said was out of line, but you were being rude too," Vi tried to reason.

"…I need to help Vander," Jinx said, avoiding that conversation and changing topics.

Vi sighed, giving in immediately, "We could go see what alternatives Steb has-"

"No," Jinx said, clutching her hands into fists, "We are getting him the surgery he needs."

"How? Viktor isn't at death's door, and Jayce is an emotional wreck right now. Neither of them can help us anymore," Vi said, sadness creeping into her voice.

"I've been out running death my whole life, Vi, that man in there isn't going to die, not while I have something to say about it," Jinx said, moving past her and opening the door back into the hospital room again.

Everyone looked up at her.

"Jinx," Caitlyn said, standing blocking Jayce from her, "You should go. Now," she said sternly.

Jinx looked down at the man whose nose she broke, "You want him to live?" She asked.

He looked up at her, paper stuffed up his nose to stop the bleeding, "What the hell are you talking about?"

Jinx walked past Caitlyn and crouched down and stared him in the eyes, "I need him alive, and I need you to stop being a fucking emotional mess. I can save him."

His eyes widened, "But the doctor's said-"

"Fuck doctors," Jinx spat, "I can save him."

"Jinx, he is barely alive right now," Steb said, "Even you have limits."

"I've beaten the overwhelming odds against me so many times I couldn't even count that high if I tried. If I say someone lives, they live," she said, standing.

"Then do it," Jayce whispered, "whatever it is, whatever it takes, do it."

Jinx nodded, "Then get me a tourniquet, lots of syringes, and make sure to tie him down," Jinx said, gesturing at the guy on the bed, "This isn't going to be pretty."

---

"So what's the plan here, Jinx?" Steb asked as he tied the tourniquet on her arm.

"Yeah, I thought Viktor was too far gone for Shimmer to help?" Caitlyn said as Jinx took a syringe from Steb.

"Normal Shimmer has limits, my blood is different. It can heal anything, anything except death. You've all seen what it can do firsthand," she said as she drew her own blood, Steb taking the full syringe and giving her another to fill.

"Yes, but Shimmer is Shimmer," nosebleed said (because how was his nose still bleeding?), "It can't just magically fix everything wrong with him. His disease has progressed extremely far, and completely getting rid of it with just Shimmer will never work," said Nosebleed.

"My blood is what you could call the ultimate form of Shimmer. Something so strong and well adapted to heal anything and everything wrong with the human body," Jinx said as she finished filling another syringe, "Normally, simply ingesting my blood will cure a wound, but you're right, a terminal illness is a different story. Injecting my blood into a living creature will cure its wounds, illnesses, you name it. But this method leads to extreme side effects," she said.

Nosebleed furrowed his brows, "What are they?"

"Normally, ingesting my blood can lead to addiction or, in extreme cases, death. Injecting it directly into the bloodstream will amplify its effects tenfold, he will be addicted, and that isn't something that you can prevent. My blood may be a miracle drug, but it's still a drug, one with extreme repercussions," Jinx said, filling another syringe.

"Will he… end up like that man you killed when I first met you?" Caitlyn asked.

Jinx furrowed her brows until she realized who she was talking about, the man who sold them out to Silco for Shimmer down at their old home.

"If you mean deformed, then no," Jinx said, "That was one of the very first versions Shimmer that does that. That version is unstable and completely unreliable, my blood won't turn people who drink it into deformed beasts."

Caitlyn sighed, relieved.

"So is addiction the only side effect to worry about?" Nosebleed asked.

Jinx shook her head, "It's just the only one I can warn you about," she said.

"What does that mean?" Nosebleed asked as Jinx continued to fill up syringes.

"Shimmer gives people mutations, it's what the doctor created it for. With me, it responded to the extreme physical strain that I put on my body constantly, but I don't know what Shimmer will create in him. He will feel the effects, he may stop sleeping or eating because the Shimmer learns to make up for it, or it may give him the strongest immune system known to man. It is impossible to know what he will become after getting injected with so much advanced Shimmer," Jinx said as she looked down at the vials of her blood.

Even she hadn't been given such advanced Shimmer when she developed her powers, the Shimmer she was given was a normal variant, so surely the effects of this would be different from what happened to her. No one could possibly predict what this man was about to experience.

Jinx stood and then looked at Nosebleed, "Knowing all this, do you still want me to do this?"

He was quiet for a long time before looking back up at her, "Do it."

She sighed before nodding.

"Vi, Caitlyn, nosebleed, come hold him down. Steb, you help me inject him," Jinx said as she picked up a couple of syringes.

"Wait, did she just call me nosebleed?" Nosebleed said, confused.

Vi patted him on the back, "Your nose has been bleeding for a ridiculously long time," she said before she walked over to the man in the bed.

"She broke my nose! Of course it's still bleeding!" He said as he followed her over.

Caitlyn sighed as she too walked over, but Jinx stopped her before she walked past.

"He's gonna live," Jinx said to try to ease the worry that was so clearly painted all over her face.

"I know… but at what cost?" She said before walking away.

Jinx watched as they all held him down.

Images of herself in that man's position flashed through her mind.

"Ready?" Asked Steb.

Jinx looked over at him, the doctor's cold, heartless face taking his place.

Jinx clenched the syringe in her hand before nodding and walking up to him.

She had done things like this before, she just had to shut her heart off and remind herself that she was helping him.

"But at what cost?"

"On three?" Asked Steb.

Jinx nodded, her hands starting to shake.

"One."

"You will soon learn to ignore their screams," the doctor said.

"Two."

"Everyone else is meaningless when it comes to saving those we love," he said as he placed a knife in her hand.

"Three."

"Because we both know you will do whatever it takes to survive."

Jinx pressed the needle into his vein and pushed her blood into him.

His reaction was immediate, he awoke with a blood-curdling scream as he thrashed against his restraints and tried to escape from the other's hands.

"Keep him still!" Steb cried.

"Don't you dare free them," growled the doctor, "This one will withstand the process and keep the mutation alive."

Once her syringe was empty, she quickly replaced it with a new one, and continued to give him more blood, Steb following in suit.

A strange purple color began to creep its way into his leg, his skin changing both color and texture.

"What is happening to him!?" Nosebleed yelled in panic.

"Mutation in subject 3.9A is beginning to take effect. Jinx, do not stop giving him Shimmer."

"Jinx, is this normal!?" Steb asked.

"Subject 3.9A vitals are starting to fluctuate. I will not be slowing down with the injections, Jinx. Keep going. You know what happens if you stop."

"Powder? Do we keep going or not?!" Vi yelled over the man's screams.

His leg was not the only thing starting to turn, his hand also started to become a strange, deep purple color and take on an odd texture.

"Jinx!" Caitlyn yelled, "Stop giving him more blood! He's had enough!"

"The mutation must survive. No matter the cost, and you know the cost."

She couldn't stop, not unless she wanted to take his place. It was just… one more syringe.

"No!" Nosebleed cried as she gave him the last of the blood.

Steb tackled her to the ground, but it was pointless by then, all the blood had been used.

"Viktor!? Viktor, are you ok?" Nosebleed yelled as the man in the bed coughed up Shimmer and blood.

"Jinx, that was out of line!" Steb yelled, "After everything you've been through, you should know better than anyone how fucking dangerous that was!" He screamed.

Jinx panted, tears blurring her vision.

Nosebleed untied the restraints.

"You freed him. I told you there would be consequences, so don't blame me. You did this to yourself."

The man in the bed sat up and pulled up his shirt. There was a huge purple mark over his heart, like the stuff on his hand and leg. It spread across to where his lungs were and shot out in lines like lightning that were now painted all over his body.

"You're lucky, the mutation took. Subject 3.9A was a success. How unfortunate you disobeyed me, we could have avoided all this unnecessary suffering."

Jinx's breath quickened, vision blurring, as she began to tremble in fear.

"Powder?"

"Your defiance only leads to suffering for both you and those around you."

Jinx stood and ran, desperate to escape.

But escaping was impossible, because her freedom meant his death.

"Remember, your father's fate is in your hands. If anything happens to him, you will only have yourself to blame."

Vander.

She stared at him as he slept, listening to the never-ending beeping of his machines.

Her breathing wouldn't slow, her vision just blurred more, and she couldn't stop shaking.

She collapsed to her knees, looking down at her bloody hands.

"You can't outrun your sins."

"You can't escape who you are."

"You will never be free of your guilt."

"Powder!?"

"You think the doctor is the one who forced you to do all those things? Well, who told you to kill the Firelights in the worst way you could think of?"

"Who said to free Ronan and give the dad to the doctor?"

"Who said to kill his innocent daughter?"

"Powder, can you hear me?"

The doctor grabbed her face and pried open her mouth, shoving some experimental pill down her throat.

Jinx clutched her head, "NO!" She screamed, "Please, no. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. It was a mistake, I didn't mean to."

"Powder, it's ok, it's just me."

"Do you think setting my experiments free before I'm done with them is ok? You must suffer to learn."

"Please!" She begged, grabbing onto him as she sobbed, "I won't do it again, I've learned, I'll be better. I won't listen to them anymore. I'll let them suffer if that's what you want, just stop this."

"Did you learn when I trusted you to stay in this cave alone, or did you use my trust to try to escape? Did you learn when I gave you leniency when you set someone free despite my orders to kill them? You, Jinx, are one of the most brilliant things I have ever created, but you are also the most stubborn. If I do not show you the consequences for your disobedience, you will think that you can get away with it. And I have no room in my lab for someone who betrays me."

Jinx sobbed so hard she couldn't breathe at his words, but then she felt arms slowly wrap around her.

Jinx flinched, but did not move, fear of being punished for it too great.

"He's gone, Powder. He can't get you anymore."

That voice…

"Vi?" Jinx whispered.

"Shhh, it's ok now, Powder. He's never gonna lay a finger on you again," Vi said, her hands gently running through her hair.

"B-but I let him go," Jinx whispered, "I'm n-not allowed to let th-them go."

Her grip on Jinx wasn't tight and fierce like normal, it was loose and gentle. She didn't feel trapped in her embrace.

"You did everything just right. No one is angry, no one is going to hurt you."

"That's a lie, everyone was mad. They're all going to get you, they just need to find you."

Jinx pulled away, "Liar," she hissed, "This is a trick. You're playing me."

"No, I'm not," she responded evenly, "I'm here for you, I'm here to help you."

"I'm always going to be here for you, Pow-Pow. I love you."

Jinx shook her head, "You're not real, you left. You always leave," she snarled.

"Not this time, I'm done trying to fix everything alone," she said.

Jinx pressed the heels of her hands into her eyes, trying to relieve the never-ending headache.

"Powder… you're safe here. Vander is safe. You're free, we all are. No one can make you do anything anymore."

"She's not real, this is all a lie. She doesn't love you, she will never love you," Mylo spat.

"It's like Ekko said, who could love a monster like you?"

Jinx clutched her head and fell forward until her forehead hit the floor, tears falling.

It wasn't real.

Vi wasn't here.

She was alone.

She was trapped.

She would never be free of that man.

"~Dear friend across the river,

My hands are cold and bare~"

Jinx looked up at Vi.

"~Dear friend across the river,

I'll take what you can spare~"

"Powder, if you're ever scared, sing this song."

"~I ask of you a penny,

My fortune it will be,~"

"I promise as long as you believe, it will make you feel better."

"~I ask you without envy,

We raise no mighty towers,~"

"Vi?"

"Yeah, Pow-Pow?"

"Do you believe Mom's song is magic?"

"…I believe it's magic for you," she whispered as she planted a kiss on her head, "and that's good enough for me."

"~Our homes are built of stone,

So come across the river,

And find the world below~"

Jinx stared at Vi as she finished the song.

Slowly, Vi reached for her face, but she paused before touching her, as if asking for permission.

Jinx leaned into her hand, letting her rub away her tears before laying her head into her lap, where Vi continued to sing the lullaby and gently run her hands through Jinx's hair as she silently cried, voices and memories slowly fading from her mind.

Chapter 56: How Do You Say, I Love You?

"Viktor, are you ok?" Caitlyn asked, deciding to let Vi handle Jinx.

Viktor looked at himself, or more precisely, at the new parts of himself. His right leg and right hand were completely different now, a strange deep purple color to them and an odd-looking texture to his skin. Not to mention that it was on his chest as well, a large spot over his heart reached all the way to his lungs, the spot then branching out with jagged lines that crept all over his body.

"How?" Viktor asked as he looked at himself.

"Jinx," Jayce began angrily, "she did this. I swear I'll take care of her-"

"She… did this? How?" He asked, shock and awe clear in his face and voice.

"Her blood is an advanced version of Shimmer," Steb supplied, "She gave you it, but she wouldn't stop," Steb said, a scowl on his face.

Caitlyn squeezed Viktor's shoulder, "She was… confused."

Something happened with Jinx, she had that same distant look that she had when Caitlyn stitched up her leg. Caitlyn should have known better than to let her perform an operation with all her trauma from the doctor. Of course, she would freak out and lose control. After everything she's been through, it would be a miracle if she didn't.

"Confused?" Jayce yelled, "She was trying to kill him!"

"Jayce, she was not trying to kill him," Caitlyn hissed, "She's been through a lot and-"

"You know, you keep using that excuse, eventually she has to stop getting a free pass because of it," he snapped.

Caitlyn blinked at him, "She was tortured for her whole life, Jayce. I think that gets her a free pass sometimes."

"How many!?" He yelled, "How many times can she just outright murder and hurt people before she stops getting to blame all of her actions on someone else?!"

"Oh yeah? Well, I'd love for you to experience a millisecond of what she has been through and still say that kind of bullshit to my face," Caitlyn yelled back.

Jinx had done some terrible things, but they were not done by choice. She had every right to act bitchy and lose her focus. She had experienced the worst humanity has to offer and somehow managed to retain a shred of her sanity. Caitlyn was not going to sit here and let Jayce dismiss all of it just because he didn't like her manners or the fact that she struggled with being completely present at times.

"Hey!" Steb yelled, "If you wanna fight, you can take it outside. He's been through a lot and needs to rest."

"No," Viktor muttered as he still looked at himself in complete awe, "I am more rested than I have ever been in my entire life," he said before he swung his legs over the edge.

"Whoa, Viktor," Jayce said, rushing to his side, "Take it easy, you were just in critical condition."

"I am fine, Jayce. I am more than fine," he said as he stood, Jayce helping him.

"Viktor, he's right," Steb said, "You shouldn't be moving around like this."

He waved them off before trying to pull himself away from Jayce.

"Hey, calm down," Jayce said, keeping his grip on him, "Caitlyn, can you please grab his cane-"

"Jayce, you aren't hearing me," Viktor said, "That girl did more than just wake me up."

"What are you talking about, Viktor?"

"Just let me go and I will show you," he said.

Reluctantly, Jayce let him go, ready to catch him, but Viktor was standing just fine on his own.

"Viktor," Jayce said, amazed, "Your- you're standing!"

"Incredible," Steb whispered.

Viktor took a step with a laugh, "I can walk!"

"You can walk!" Jayce exclaimed as he rushed in and hugged him, lifting him and spinning him in a circle.

"Still think Jinx was trying to murder him," Caitlyn snapped as Jayce put Viktor down.

He looked over at her, "…she kept going after we told her to stop. She was-"

"Trying to save him," Caitlyn said sternly, "and she did. I don't care about whatever moral high ground you're clinging to, Jayce. Get over it. And do it fast before she loses her patience with you, because I'm not always going to be there to help you out of that situation."

He looked down at the floor, "You're right, I'll try and fix it."

"Well, you can start by saving her father," Caitlyn said, gesturing for Steb to show them the file.

Viktor stepped forward and took the file, "What is this?" he asked as he read, "Such an operation is beyond unethical, if you are asking us to do this for you, I'm afraid-"

"No, no, no," Caitlyn said, "We would never do this to anyone. We want you to make the equipment for an alternative to this surgery, one that isn't as risky."

"It is hardly safe," Steb said, "And we would be working with untested equipment."

"What are you two talking about?" Jayce said as he, too looked over the file.

"Steb," Caitlyn said, "Please explain this to them."

He sighed, "We have decided to do a modified version of this surgery, one where we instead put a device in him that we can then send a controlled electrical current to the part of the brain we want to help activate."

"So instead of having the risk of him waking up during the procedure-" Viktor started.

"-We could wake him up after," Jayce finished for him.

"But such a device doesn't exist," Viktor said.

"That's what we were hoping you two would help with," Caitlyn said.

"Yes," Viktor said immediately, "Whatever you need. We will have this made for you as soon as possible."

Caitlyn looked to Jayce.

He nodded his head in agreement, "I owe her, of course, I'll do this. But it may take a few days," Jayce said.

"Whatever it takes, please just make it happen," Caitlyn said as she turned to leave, Steb staying behind and beginning to discuss things with Jayce.

"Caitlyn! Just a moment, please," Viktor called as he walked up to her, "I was hoping to meet Jinx and thank her."

"Oh," Caitlyn said as she imagined Jinx meeting Viktor while she was still in her condition, "I don't think she's up for meeting people right now."

"Ah," he said disappointedly, "Well, that makes sense… Say, would you happen to know what happened to Jayce's nose? I would ask him, but he has always taken my inquiries on such things as an insult."

"Why?" Caitlyn asked.

"Perhaps because the three times he has ever gotten into a fight, I have teased him relentlessly on the matter because he always lost," he said, "though in my defense, one of the fights he lost was with a cat, so," he said with a shrug.

"Ah," Caitlyn said with a chuckle, "Well, he may or may not have said something that pissed Jinx off royally."

Viktor sighed, "Of course he did."

Caitlyn shrugged, "He always gets himself into trouble when you're not around, Viktor."

He laughed softly, "Yes, this is why I can't die, he would get into so many fights he could never win."

Caitlyn hugged him, and he let out a grunt of surprise.

"I know we aren't exactly close friends," Caitlyn said as she hugged him tightly, "But I hope that changes."

He lightly patted her on the back, "That would be nice."

She smiled, "I'm so glad you're ok."

"Me too."

---

Powder laid silently on Vi's lap as she hummed her lullaby to her while gently combing through her hair with her fingers.

Powder had her eyes closed, face still sticky with tears.

Vi watched her as she slept, a smile on her face.

"I can feel you staring," Powder grumbled.

"I thought you were asleep," Vi said as Powder sat up and rubbed at her face.

"I don't really do that anymore."

"Sleep?" Vi said, confused.

"Yeah, me and sleep have never been the best of friends, and after everything we seemed to have lost touch completely," she said as she stood and stretched.

The nightmares must have gotten worse, Vi thought. Of course, they got worse. With her living in that cave, it would be considered a miracle if Powder ever went to sleep.

"…I'm sorry," Powder said after a moment.

"Sorry? What for?" Vi said, taken aback.

"I- I lost it in there. I shouldn't have-" Powder cut herself off and clutched her head.

"Hey, Powder, it's ok. No one expects you to be ok after all the things you've gone through," Vi said gently.

Powder shook her head, "That isn't an excuse. I should've held it together, told them to shut up and go away, and focused on the task."

"Powder, you are being too hard on yourself-" Vi began.

"Well, you're not being hard enough!" She snapped.

Vi sighed, "I'm screwing this up again, aren't I?"

"…no. Yes?"

"Maybe," Vi offered.

"Maybe," Powder repeated as she sat down again.

"I really don't want to screw it up, but I just don't know how to treat you anymore," Vi admitted.

Powder nodded, "Guess I haven't exactly made that easy on you," she muttered.

"Powder, this isn't your fault," Vi said, "It's on me, if I didn't have so many fucking issues then-"

"Then I'd be the only one with issues, and that'd be annoying as hell," she said.

Vi snorted, "True."

"…so what now? How do we still be sisters without being like we were before?" Powder asked, looking up at her.

"Well," Vi said as she thought it over, "What exactly is it that you need from me now?" Vi asked.

Powder blinked at her, confused, "What are you talking about?"

"I mean, what do you want from me as your sister? Like when you were young, you liked me treating you like a kid, you liked me protecting you, you wanted that from me. What do you want from me now?" Vi said.

Powder thought about it for a while, "I don't know, I just want you to see me as… well, as capable, I guess."

It hurt Vi that Powder thought she believed she was incapable, that was never what she thought of her little sister.

Vi smiled at her, "Well, I already do, so that's an easy one."

Powder frowned at that, "So you think I'm so capable that you need to run off and handle things on your own?" She said, anger seeping into her voice.

Vi sighed, "Ok, how about this, from now on I won't interfere with a plan of yours unless you ask me to, or if I get the ok from at least one other agreed-upon person."

"Why are you adding on that last part?" Powder asked, sounding offended.

"Because I'm a moron and I make stupid decisions, but so do you, Powder."

Powder scowled at her and opened her mouth to argue.

"You were going to set off that bomb instead of Ekko and risk your life despite your promise to me," Vi stated plainly.

Powder closed her mouth immediately.

When Vi heard about what happened from Loris, she knew what Powder had planned to do, and that Ekko had done what he did to protect her. She didn't talk to Powder about it because they already had so much to be angry about, why would she complicate things by adding more?

"Powder, we are so caught up in what we think is right that we both end up steamrolling others. I don't want to do that anymore," Vi said.

"…"

"From now on we run things by each other, which is something we both need to work on, and if we think one of us is acting stupid and don't want to go along with their plan then we ask a third party for their opinion," Vi said, "One that makes a decision that we both need to promise to respect."

Powder thought about it for a moment, "You really think that's going to fix our issues with each other?"

"I think it's a start," Vi said with a shrug.

"I guess," Powder muttered.

"Ok, then we've got ourselves a deal. The only thing left to figure out is who gets to be the third party," Vi said as she thought about it.

Her first instinct was to ask Cait, but Powder might not think that's fair, but anyone else just felt like they would be intruding on them.

"How about Vander," Vi suggested.

"Vander? As in the man who has absolutely no idea what's happened in the past seven years? Who would still see both of us as little kids when he wakes up?" Powder said with a raised brow.

"Ok, not Vander," Vi said.

"Why not, Caitlyn?" Powder said as she began to fiddle with her hair.

"You would actually want her to do that?" Vi asked.

"Janna Vi," Powder said, rolling her eyes, "me and her are friends. And she's not a dense moron with rocks for brains like you, I trust her to make the smart decision and not play favorites."

Vi chuckled, "That's true."

"…..Vi?" Powder whispered.

"Yeah, Powder?"

"Do you… still have nightmares about Stillwater?"

Vi froze at that. Why was Powder wondering about that?

"Yeah," Vi admitted, "I don't think that will ever go away."

"…what was it like?" She asked.

This entire conversation was a complete surprise to Vi. Powder has shown no interest in knowing about Stillwater before, so why did she want to know now?

"I wasn't alone but it sure felt like I was," Vi whispered, "but that could also be because I got thrown in solitary so much," she added with a chuckle before clearing her throat, "The guards were assholes who would beat on you without any real reason. They especially liked doing it to me because I glared at them all the time," she said with a strained smile.

"Vi," Powder said sternly, "Stop trying to be brave for me, I want to know, I want to know all of it."

She looked at her, "Why? I mean it's nothing interesting, just-"

"You read my journal," Powder said.

It wasn't a question or an accusation, it was a statement.

"How did you-"

"You're the one who read all about my private thoughts without my permission, I think I have the right to ask you some questions about what you went through," Powder said, "And I want to know, I want to know what happened to you."

Vi looked at her, "What do you wanna know?"

Powder reached forward and lightly brushed her fingers against the scar on her eyebrow, "How'd you get that one?" She asked.

"…Oh that," Vi said as she felt at it with her fingers, "There was this guy, he worked for Silco. I was trying to get him to tell me where they were keeping you. The son of a bitch had a shiv on him and got me pretty good before I put him on his ass. Damn thing wouldn't stop bleeding."

"Did they stitch you up?" Powder asked, though Vi had a feeling she already knew the answer.

"Na, they weren't exactly looking to help me out after I picked another fight," Vi said before she decided to add the not so fun part to the story, "After you cause a bunch of trouble like I did they take you down to solitary and have what they like to call "chats", which is just code for beating you until you half dead."

"Did you fight back?" Powder asked.

Vi shrugged, "Sometimes, when I was feeling particularly pissed. I did do it that day, they ended up getting backup and pulling out the batons," Vi said as she clenched her hands into fists at the memory, "Not exactly what you would call a fair fight."

"It never is," Powder whispered before asking another question, "Do you remember the story behind all your scars?"

"Yeah," Vi said with a shrug, "For the most part, don't you?" Vi asked before she realized what she had said, "Shit! Sorry, you don't have to-"

"No," Powder said evenly, cutting Vi off, "After the first dozen, I lost track. And after he started sending me out, it was basically impossible."

They were quiet for a moment, allowing that information to sink in before Vi spoke again.

"You know they didn't even use my name in there. I was just a number, prisoner 516," Vi said, making her voice deep to imitate the warden, "some of the guards started calling me Pink, or some of the prisoners would even call me the 'red fury'," Vi said with a snort.

She laughed now, but that number still felt as if it was burned into her back, like a brand.

"Those are the dumbest nicknames I have ever heard," Powder said plainly.

Vi chuckled, "Yeah, you could've given me a better one in a second flat."

"Fat hands, there one second," Powder said.

"What?"

"Fat hands, new nickname, and in one second," Powder said with a smirk.

"Why fat hands!?" Vi said offended.

"1, because your hands are big as hell for no reason, and 2, because you literally have giant mechanical fat hands," she said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Vi just scoffed, "Whatever, I think I should've stuck with red fury."

Powder smiled before looking down at her hands, "I had a number too, you know."

Vi looked at her, "Really?"

Powder nodded, "Experiment number 107. But that didn't stick. Guess Jinx was less of a mouthful," she said, pulling her knees to her chest.

"At least you didn't get stuck with a stupid nickname like the blue fury," Vi said.

"…guess that's true, might've just had to call it quits if I had such a dumb nickname," Powder said with a smirk.

Vi laughed, "Oh yeah, I don't know how I ever survived such embarrassment."

Powder was going to respond, but a light knock sounded at the door.

"Vi? Jinx? It's me, Caitlyn, I have news about Vander," she called out.

Powder was on her feet and opening the door in an instant.

Caitlyn looked between the two of them, "Everything alright?"

"We're fine, now you said you had news about Vander," Powder said, forcing her to stay on topic as Vi stood up, "What is it?"

"Viktor and Jayce have agreed to make the device, Steb will be working with them and informing the other doctors about the surgery," Caitlyn said with a smile.

Powder was absolutely beaming at the news.

She turned to Vi, the largest smile she had ever seen spread across her face, "They're going to do it! Vander's going to live!"

"He's going to do more than live, Powder," Vi said, grinning back at her, "he's going to wake up!"

A flicker of something passed over Powder's face at that, but it was gone as suddenly as it had arrived.

Powder walked over to Vander and held his hand before saying, "Hear that, Vander? You're finally going to be awake."

Vi walked up to him as well, holding his other hand, "We are finally going to all be together again."

"It's going to take a few days to make the device," Caitlyn said.

"I've waited seven years, I can handle a few days," Powder said as she stared down at Vander.

---

Waiting was harder than Jinx thought it would be, well, at least for Vi it was.

Jinx sat at Vander's side, fidgeting with his hands and tracing circles on his arm as Vi paced around for what had to be the 500th time today.

"Is it just impossible for you to stand still?" Jinx asked with a sigh.

"More like how is it possible that you don't move at all?" Vi said, brows furrowing, "Seriously, I haven't seen you leave that chair once in the past three days."

Jinx rolled her eyes, "I've moved, see the fancy new clothes I have on?" Jinx said, gesturing at the new, still all black, outfit Caitlyn got for her, "had to move to put these on."

"You know what I mean," Vi sighed.

Jinx just shrugged and went back to messing with Vander's arm. It was one of her favorite pastimes, well, that and shaving his beard. Shaving him was always fun, it was a task that gave her a nice long distraction from whatever the hell else was going on at the time.

He had a bit of stubble growing, she probably should give him a shave soon, or if she was really feeling crazy, a haircut. Those were harder, though. Jinx wasn't exactly the best at hair maintenance. She just sawed off her own hair when it started to get in the way without much thought. She tried to take better care of Vander's, but it was hard to make hair look nice when all you had was a knife.

Jinx sighed at the constant sound of footsteps. She didn't exactly mind the noise, but after being completely alone for seven years, sharing a room with her sister again was harder than she thought.

Vi kept nagging and telling her to sleep or eat, and then she would try to act all tough and say that she wouldn't eat or sleep until Jinx did, and well, that just ended with a pissed off Caitlyn that stayed the night and forced Vi to eat.

Caitlyn tried to get Jinx to eat but quickly realized that it was a fruitless endeavor, and the same thing with sleeping.

A knock sounded at the door, "Vi? Come on, it's time for lunch," Caitlyn said as she stuck her head in.

"Thank Janna," Jinx muttered.

"I heard that," Vi said, shooting a glare at Jinx.

Jinx shrugged, "You're annoying, now go away."

Vi just shook her head as she walked off with Caitlyn, who gave Jinx a wave and once again asked if Jinx wanted to join them.

Jinx once again told her no, before they shut the door and left.

Jinx chuckled to herself as she laid her head down on Vander's arm. Those two were such lovesick morons.

As Jinx sat in the silence with Vander, she couldn't help but want to fill the empty space with something, anything.

"…hi. I know we haven't talked for a while. That's entirely my fault, I'm sorry. I just-"

Jinx took a deep breath to stop herself from falling apart.

"I just gave up there for a minute, and I know I shouldn't have, I know I'm the one who promised to hold this all together, but I just couldn't do it anymore. But now the doctor is gone and you're safe and I have Vi back… and I know I should be happy but for some reason I just can't be."

She and Vi were doing… okay, and the poison would have killed the doctor by now, if he hadn't died because of thirst first.

She had gotten everything she had ever wanted, but there was still this never-ending bitterness inside of her. She was so skeptical of everything and couldn't enjoy anything.

"It's like I've forgotten how," she muttered, "and I'm just so scared I'm gonna wake up and everything is going to be a dream."

He didn't respond.

He never responds.

Tears begin to slip down her face as she clutched his hand tightly, "I'm so scared you won't wake up, I'm petrified that I'm going to lose you," Jinx took a breath before admitting the one thing she had yet to voice, "but most of all I'm so, so, so terrified of you finally opening your eyes. All I want is for us to be happy and together again, but what if you can't love me after you've seen what I've become?"

How was Vander ever going to understand? How would she ever explain it to him?

She sniffled and wiped away the tears that coated her face.

"…I haven't really told you about my day in a while, so I think I'm just gonna do that, ok? I've been hanging out with Vi and Caitlyn a lot. Have I told you about Caitlyn? She's Vi's girlfriend, even though they won't admit it, she's sickeningly sweet but also kinda badass when she wants to be. But, and try not to hate her for this, she's an enforcer. I was kinda surprised that Vi even acknowledged her existence, but you'd be surprised at how stupid in love she is with her. I don't mind Cait so much anymore, she's the only one who sees me the way I want to be seen. Not as Jinx or Powder, just me."

Jinx turned to look up at him.

"I want to say things are going just as good with Vi, but it's harder to be around her than I thought. She still thinks of me as a kid, as Powder, which is fine, but I just wish she wouldn't look at me like…"

She never knows the word to describe the way Vi looked at her. It was so full of emotions and care that it made Jinx's stomach twist, it was sad and longing, but happy and hopeful, and just everything all at once. Jinx hated it. Whenever Vi looked at her like that, it made Jinx feel too much, so much that it hurt her heart.

If she had to describe it…

"Love: an intense feeling of deep affection"

Powder smiled as she read that out of her dictionary before making little doodles of all her family members next to the word.

Why? Because she loved and missed them all.

"…guess her love hurts me," she whispered softly, "it hurts because I'm not sure if it's real. Does she love me, or does she just love the memories?"

Jinx looked down at Vander's hand, that was still so much bigger than hers.

"Will you love me, or will you only want Powder?" She whispered softly.

The sound of the door opening made Jinx jump up and pull out a knife she had kept.

The man Jinx injected with her blood walked through the door, Steb and nosebleed following behind him.

"Yes, I am aware-" The man said (Jinx had yet to come up with a name for him), before stopping when he saw Jinx.

"Jinx," the man said, "Our apologies, we were told everyone had left the room."

The two of them had never officially met, they hadn't even actually seen each other since Jinx nearly killed him.

"I don't leave this room," Jinx said as she moved to block Vander from them.

"Jinx, we are just here to get some last-minute data before we finish up the device," Steb said, sensing her unease.

"Well, why are they here?" Jinx said, looking at the other two wearily, "You always come alone."

"Viktor wanted to get the numbers himself this time," said Nosebleed, stepping forward, making Jinx scowl.

He held his hands up in surrender.

"Jinx, I know the last time we met we didn't exactly-"

"I broke your nose before almost killing you, and you called me a psychopathic murderer. What else is there to say?" Jinx growled.

Before he answered, the man stepped forward, "He is a moron who often lets his mouth speak before his brain has had a chance to form a thought."

Jinx tensed up at his presence, she didn't know how to feel about the guy. On the one hand, she lost her shit and nearly killed him, on the other, he was a complete stranger who now had a vendetta against her.

"I realize I have never gotten the chance to thank you, Jinx," he said.

"For what?" Jinx snapped.

"For saving me," he said with a smile.

Jinx scowled at him, "Just… get what you came here to get and leave," she snapped.

"Perfect, we'll be out of your hair in a second," Steb said, ushering the others forward hurriedly.

He knew that Jinx was not a fan of people in Vander's room. Shield guy tried to visit with that ponytail girl, and Jinx was quick to shut that down. She wasn't putting up with people while she was still dealing with Vander.

Though there was one person who seemed to worm his way through and deliver letter after letter to her door despite her very clear denials of his attempts to talk.

Ekko continued to sneak his way in and leave a letter for her on a daily basis.

Jinx tore them up and then left the shredded remains on the ground for him to find when he returned. Though now that she thought about it, one of the workers probably cleaned that up before he found it.

"Ok, done," Steb said, snapping Jinx from her thoughts.

"Good, then get out," Jinx said, slightly surprised at how quickly they were done.

"You know I heard of your father when he was running the Undercity," said the strange man as he looked down at Vander, "I heard of the vision of Zaun as it could have been, how he wanted it to be, it was… beautiful."

Jinx narrowed her eyes at him, "Great, thanks a lot for the grand words of wisdom, you can go now."

He smiled, before looking up at her, "I will do all in my power to save your father. However," Jinx clenched her jaw, of course, he wanted something from her in return, everyone did, "I have one condition."

"Really?" She hissed, "From what I saw, it looked like you have a couple."

"Jinx!" Steb reprimanded.

"He is helping you," said Nosebleed, "why can't you just-"

Jinx gave him a look that made him shut his mouth instantly.

The man let out a soft laugh before continuing with fear, "Your talents can be used to build instead of destroy," he said.

"….fortune cookie," she said after a moment.

He blinked, "Excuse me?"

"Fortune cookie, that's your name," Jinx said before turning away from him and looking back at Vander, "I was having a hard time picking one for you, so thanks for the chat, really helped narrow things down."

He smiled, "I see. Well, I suppose we should leave you alone. The device should be ready soon. Thank you for your cooperation."

They all left the room, leaving Jinx alone once again.

---

By the next day, the device was ready for surgery.

"Jinx, you can't stay in the room while the surgery is happening," Caitlyn said.

"Why?" Jinx snapped, "I know what it looks like, and what if something goes wrong!? Those morons might fuck something up and need my blood to fix it!"

"Those 'morons' are the best brain surgeons in all of Piltover," Caitlyn said, crossing her arms.

"Exactly, morons," Jinx said.

Caitlyn sighed. Jinx had made some ridiculous demands the past few days, but this one took the cake.

"Vi, will you please talk some sense into your sister?" Caitlyn said tiredly.

Vi looked at Jinx for a moment before saying, "I think she's right, let her be with him."

"Or go ahead and completely undermine me," Caitlyn said, throwing up her hands, "that works too."

"Cait, she's right," Vi said, "If the doctors need her, then she'll be right there. And she has seen things like this before."

Caitlyn rubbed her head, "Vi-"

"Caitlyn, if you think you can keep me out of that room, you're crazier than me," Jinx said, cutting her off.

Caitlyn sighed, "I'll… see what I can do."

These days, Caitlyn was using all of her family's influence to keep things running. She would have to do something serious spending after all the people she had bribed to help them out, her mother would be furious.

Not to mention the political mess that was suddenly dumped on her the other day.

Her mother had found out that her father wanted to let Vi and her family stay here. Caitlyn expected there to be more yelling, but her mother instead forced her into a corner. She said that Caitlyn needed to get Jinx to agree to make a public appearance as "The Reaper" and say that she was fully supporting Piltover and all their endeavors, in return for them staying here.

She wanted to turn Jinx into a show pony the council could use whenever they need to gain the Undercity's support.

Caitlyn didn't want a damn part in her mother's scheming, but she said she wouldn't let Caitlyn use a dime of the family's money if she didn't do as she was told, which would mean all of Vander's hospital bills would fall on Vi and Jinx to pay, and any power Caitlyn had over these doctors would be completely gone.

Caitlyn sighed in anticipation of the future headache that was approaching her with that conversation.

"Caitlyn!" Jayce called as he approached.

Whatever, she needed to focus on the current situation, she could worry about that later.

"Jayce," Caitlyn said tiredly.

"Let me guess, Vi?" He said.

"Nope, Jinx," Caitlyn said with a halfhearted smile, "I need to go tell the surgeons that she will be sitting in with them as they perform the surgery."

"Oof," he said, "I don't envy you."

"Gee," Caitlyn said, "How supportive."

He shrugged as he walked off, "You know me, always there for you!"

"Right, that's why you're walking away!" She called after him.

Caitlyn sighed as she approached the surgeons who were busy prepping for the surgery.

"Oh, please tell me you're here because everything is perfectly fine and you just wanted to wish us luck?" Said Steb, the person watching over the team of surgeons at Jinx's demand.

Jinx wasn't a fan of total strangers operating on Vander, so she said she wouldn't let anyone touch them unless someone made sure they weren't up to anything. So Steb, being the only one with any medical credentials whatsoever, was elected to the position.

"More like Jinx has a new request," Caitlyn said.

All the doctors present had been forced to sign an NDA and had been bribed with quite a lot of money to keep their mouths shut about Jinx being here.

She was a wanted criminal a few days prior, her being completely free in a hospital in Piltover would raise a lot of alarm in the public.

Steb sighed, "What is it this time?"

"She wants to be in the operating room."

Everyone broke out with cries of outrage at that.

"Caitlyn, you're joking. I'm not even going to be in the operating room!" Steb said.

Caitlyn sighed, "Yeah, about that, I was thinking you go in to keep an eye on her?"

More cries of outrage.

Steb walked forward and pulled Caitlyn aside, "Caitlyn, these people are already mad that they have to have a field medic in charge of them. This is absolutely absurd. You and I both know Jinx is asking for too much this time."

"You know she never lets Vander out of her sight. Do you really think she's going to leave him when he's going to have his brain cut into?" Caitlyn said back, "Besides, she will be there with her blood if anything goes wrong."

"And if she loses it in the middle of the surgery?" Steb snapped back, "And if she starts using her blood in front of all those people, they are all going to want to dissect her!"

Caitlyn sighed tiredly, "Ok, fine, let me put it this way, you can either break it to the doctors that Jinx is going into surgery with them, or you can tell Jinx that she is not."

He stood there for about two seconds before turning around and walking back to the doctors, "Sorry guys, looks like you all are going to have an audience."

---

Jinx stood next to Steb as the doctors all stood around Vander like vultures, their knives and machines all around, and their gloved hands moving as they cut into him.

All of it was disgusting.

"You ok?" Steb asked.

"Fine," Jinx said as she chewed on her nails, watching them work anxiously.

"He's going to be fine," he said.

"I am aware, thank you," she snapped.

"All in all, it's a rather quick procedure, in fact, they'll be done soon," he added.

"Steb, do you want me to break your neck?"

"Considering I'm about three months behind in homework and studying for my classes, and I'm going to have to retake probably all of my classes when I get back to school after this? Yeah, I wouldn't mind," he said with a shrug.

"Why do you think I care again?" Jinx hissed.

"'Cause it's literally all your fault?" He said with a raised brow.

"Once again, why do you think I care?" Jinx asked, watching Vander closely.

"Ah, forgive me, I forgot all you care about is yourself," he said, rolling his eyes.

"Exactly, so keep your issues to yourself," She said before narrowing her eyes, "Hey, wait, what are they doing?" Jinx asked.

"They are closing him up," Steb said, "I told you this was a quick surgery. Now all that's left is to administer the shock and then operate one more time to remove the device."

Jinx stared in shock, it was truly about to happen.

She was finally going to see Vander again, and she had never been more terrified of anything in her life.

Chapter 57: Dissect My Insecurities

Vi stood as soon as the doors opened, Jinx coming out, followed by the doctors who were wheeling Vander back to his room and Steb.

"How'd it go?" Vi asked, Jayce and Viktor also standing.

"Fine," Jinx said, an odd look on her face.

"Better than fine," Steb corrected, "Everything happened with any complications whatsoever, all that's left to do is administer the shock and wake him up," He said, holding up the control to the device.

Viktor grabbed it and thanked Steb.

"Sure thing, but I haven't slept for the past three days, so I'm going to go collapse on my sofa, let me know if you need me, and how things go," He said as he turned and waved goodbye to them all.

"Ok, so what now?" Vi asked as she looked excitedly at Viktor.

She was going to see Vander again, at long last, her broken family would be together again.

"We will join you all in Vander's room in a minute, we just need to run some final calculations and then we will be set to wake him up," Viktor said, Jayce nodding in agreement.

"Then we'll see you soon," Caitlyn said as she ushered Vi and Jinx away into Vander's room.

Caitlyn shut the door behind them all and grinned at them, "Can you believe it? Just a few more minutes and Vander will be awake again!"

"I know," Vi exclaimed, "Janna, I can't wait."

"I can't wait to finally meet him," Caitlyn said, "After everything I've heard, I'm almost intimidated," she said as she chuckled awkwardly.

"What? Why would you be intimidated by him?" Vi asked.

"Well, you did fail to mention that you all are Undercity royalty," Cait said with a raised brow.

"What? Where in the world did you get that garbage from?" Vi asked with a scoff.

"Oh, don't act all modest. I heard all about Vander and how he was the leader of the Undercity!" Cait said, rolling her eyes.

"Ok…" Vi said, "1, that wasn't a secret and 2, why does that make us Undercity royalty?"

"Well, you should've told me if it wasn't a secret because that's a big deal! Did you know he had a deal going with the old Sheriff Grayson?"

Vi grinned at her and her ridiculous reaction to this, "Yeah, I knew that, but that was a long time ago, Cait. Now he's just an ordinary citizen like the rest of us."

"Well, you should have given me more warning. I've hardly gotten a wink of sleep trying to think of what to say to him," she huffed.

"Stop worrying, Cait, he's gonna love you," she said as she grabbed her hand and smiled, "I mean, you won Powder over, Vander should be easy. Right Powder?" Vi said, looking over at her.

Powder didn't respond, she just sat in her normal chair next to Vander nails, digging into her cuticles, making blood drip onto the floor.

"Powder!" Vi cried.

Powder jumped and blinked, as if confused at her yelling, "What?" She asked.

"What are you doing?" Vi said, gesturing at her hands, "You're hurting yourself!"

Jinx looked down at her hands, confused, "I… I didn't-," she said, brows furrowing.

"Jinx, are you feeling ok? This must be a lot for you," Caitlyn said.

Cait was right, Powder must be overwhelmed with emotions right now. She was finally getting Vander back, the one thing she had been fighting for those miserable seven years.

"Why wouldn't I be ok?" She snapped, "I'm getting everything I have ever wanted my entire life? What's left to be upset over?"

Vi and Caitlyn shared a look.

What in the world was up with Powder? With the way she was acting, Vi would almost say she wasn't happy that Vander was waking up, but that was absolutely ridiculous, she was thrilled.

…right?

"Powder, do you… not want Vander to wake up?" Vi asked.

Powder hadn't looked happy since she first heard that Vander was going to be ok. After that, she almost seemed distant. Sure, she never left Vander's side, but she never said a word when Vi would talk to Caitlyn about the things Vi wanted to do with Vander when he woke up.

"Vi!" Cait said before smacking her on the arm, "Why would you say that!"

Vi ignored her and watched Powder.

She didn't respond, she sat there, jaw clenched and anger bubbling underneath the surface. But no matter how long Vi waited for a response, Powder didn't give one.

Eventually, Powder stood and stormed out, slamming the door behind her, making the door shudder in its frame.

"Wha-" Cait began, but Vi quickly ran out after Powder.

"Powder!" Vi called as she followed behind her, "Powder stop-"

She spun around, "I love him!" She yelled.

Vi sighed, "I never said you didn't. I just… You don't seem too thrilled about having Vander back."

She stood there, seething with anger, before she just started crying.

Vi blinked in surprise, "Powder, clearly something's going on with you, please talk to me. I want to help."

"How?" she whimpered, "How am I going to look him in the eye and tell him what I've done?"

"What?" Vi asked gently, "Powder, you have nothing to worry about, he won't care-"

"You did," she replied through her sobs, "the way you looked at me when you saw how far gone I was, I can't ever forget that. If he- if he looked at me like that-" she couldn't even finish her sentence, it just devolved into incoherent blubbering.

"Oh, Powder," Vi whispered.

She hadn't even thought about it, explaining what Powder had been doing the past few years would be hard on everyone. But not for the reasons Powder feared. Vander would never forgive himself for being the reason she had to experience all that. Vi knows she can hardly stand the guilt for her part in all that happened.

"First of all, I didn't know everything back then, but I do now, and I know that you were just doing what you had to do to survive. And secondly," Vi said sternly, "Vander could never stop loving you, no matter what you do."

"You don't know that," she whispered.

"I do," Vi said, "I know because even after I thought you were too far gone, I couldn't, no matter how much I told myself I shouldn't, stop loving you with every fiber of my being. Vander won't be any different."

Powder shook her head, "I can't. I can't tell him, please don't make me tell him," she sobbed.

"I could do it if you-"

"Or we don't tell him anything," she said quietly.

"What? Powder, no, you can't just lie to him about everything," Vi said, taken aback at her outrageous request.

"Why not!? He'll never know, we can just pretend none of it ever happened. We can just be happy," she said, such raw desperation in her voice.

"You mean we can pretend to be happy," Vi said.

Powder's face shifted instantly, the pleading and sorrow gone, replaced by a cold anger.

"Look, if you want, we can wait a few days before getting into things-" Vi began as she tried to find a middle ground.

"Shut up. I never should have asked you for anything. We both know you can't do anything but abandon me," Powder sneered at her.

"Pow-" Vi tried, but she was gone before she even started talking.

---

Ekko was sitting at Loris's dining table, trying to figure out something to say in his newest letter to Jinx.

A lot had happened between them since the first letter he gave her. She had Vander back, Ekko stopped her from killing herself with that bomb, and then she saved him from dying because of said bomb.

Jinx had refused to have anything to do with him after that had happened. So he had gone back to writing letters, ones that were gone the day after he left them at the hospital room's door, so maybe she had read them.

…yeah, not even he believed that.

Loris had been trying to help him out. Making suggestions on what to write and how to apologize, but Ekko told him that this was something he had to do on his own.

"Hey! Guess who has got us dinner!" Loris said as he barreled through the door with big paper bags, kicking the door shut behind him.

Ekko leaned back in his chair and looked at him, "What'd you get?"

"Nothing special," he said, setting the bags down, "Some cheap ass Piltie food Caitlyn recommended," he snorted.

Ekko sighed, "Guess it's better than-"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Both Ekko and Loris looked at the door, confused.

No one visited them. Steb was way too busy at the hospital with Vander, Himerdinger had gone back to the Firelights, and Maddie was busy dealing with the errand Caitlyn had her running in the Undercity.

She had come back Topside a couple of hours after they had, but she was out the door again after a quick check-in. Saying that she had to finish up the errand Caitlyn had her doing.

"Who's that?" Ekko asked.

Loris shrugged, "I don't know, but you should go find out."

"Me?" He scoffed, "It's your apartment."

"I got dinner to attend to," he said, pulling out his food and a case of beers.

Ekko rolled his eyes as he stood, "Yeah, yeah, no one gets in the way of you and your beer."

BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Oi, hurry up before they bust the door down!" Loris called.

Ekko flipped him off as he unlocked the door.

"Yea-" Ekko began as he pulled open the door, practically choking on his words when he came face to face with Jinx.

Jinx was standing at the door, tears streaming down her face. Ekko didn't even have time to process her being there before she shoved her way past him and walked inside, and into the bedroom, slamming the door shut without a word.

"Was that-" Loris said, staring wide-eyed at the room Jinx had walked into.

"Jinx," Ekko whispered, also staring at the door to the room like a moron.

"Why is she here!?" He whispered-yelled, immediately rushing around trying to pick up his mess, as if Jinx was here to judge his housekeeping skills.

"Something happened," Ekko muttered as he closed the door and stared down the hallway.

Jinx was a mess. Either she didn't notice Ekko was there, or she just didn't care. Either way, it wasn't a good sign.

"Yeah, clearly, but why is she here?" Loris said as he hurriedly emptied out all his liquor bottles into the sink.

"….did she follow you?" Ekko asked.

"Why would she follow me!?" Loris exclaimed, "She won't even remember my name!" He said as he shoved a bunch of shit into the trash.

"She needed a place to hide out," Ekko said, "She doesn't exactly have anywhere else to go, and she knows you won't kick her out."

"Well, great," he grumbled as he washed the pile of dishes he had as quickly as physically possible, "I would have invited her in if she just asked."

Ekko slowly approached the door to the room.

"Hey! What are you doing!?" He asked.

Ekko waved him off, "Go back to trying to make yourself look like less of a slob."

Ekko wasn't exactly the best person to talk to Jinx when she was an emotional wreck, well, actually, more like he wasn't the best person to talk to her ever.

But who else is going to do it?

Loris?

"Hey, is it a bad thing if I shoved a bunch of shit in the garbage disposal and it won't turn on anymore?" He called out.

Definitely had to be Ekko.

He knocked lightly on the door, "Jinx? It's me, Ekko."

Silence.

"I know you hate my very existence," Ekko said, "but I'm worried about you."

More silence.

"Can I… come in?"

No response whatsoever.

"Ok, I'm taking that as a yes," Ekko called as he turned the doorknob.

As soon as he opened the door, something was thrown at his head. He managed to duck just in time to let, what he now realized was a lamp, shatter on the wall instead of his head.

"Ok, so not exactly up for a chart," he said as he looked at the shattered lamp.

Before he even got the chance to say anything else, Jinx grabbed him by the collar, yanking him into the room and slamming the door shut, and slammed him into the wall before she punched him square in the face.

Ekko's eyes widened as he tried to dodge the next punch, but that was a futile effort considering Jinx just used her speed to adjust accordingly.

Ekko went to try to talk Jinx out of pummeling him, but then he caught sight of her face. She looked so lost and afraid, so angry and alone, she had no other way of getting rid of that pain. So Ekko just decided to sit there and take it, letting her take out all her issues on him.

She hit him a few more times before she wound up and locked eyes with him, tears streaming down, teeth gritted. She stared at him, as if just waiting for him to say something or try to escape, but he didn't do anything besides look back at her. Well, look was a strong word considering his eye was already swelling shut and his other eye was watering like crazy from the hit she got on his nose.

When he didn't move, she let out a scream before slamming her fist into the wall, collapsing onto her knees and clutching her chest as she sobbed.

Ekko released a breath of relief, somehow, he had managed to survive. Sure, his nose was probably broken, and he would definitely have at least one black eye on top of the hundreds of other bruises he would have all over the rest of his face and the split lip he had, but he was alive.

That was far more of a mercy than he had expected from her.

"Jinx-"

"Why are you here?!" She yelled, "Just leave me alone already!"

He slid down and sat on the floor with her.

"Can't leave you alone when you're like this," he said, the metallic taste of blood strong in his mouth.

"It never stopped you before," she spat.

He looked over at her, she was sitting, head clutched in her hands as the tears continued to pour.

"Yeah, but I want things to be different. I want to do better," he said.

"Why," she hissed, "Why, after everything, are you trying to fix this?"

"Because I gave up on us before, and look how that turned out," he said softly, "I don't want to do that again."

She just shook her head, "You're too late."

"Probably," he said as he looked up at the ceiling.

Jinx no longer wanted anything to do with him, he had pushed and pushed her away until she turned around and never looked back.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" He asked after a moment of silence.

"Why would I talk to you about anything?" She snarled.

"Well, seeing that you came here, and are still here even after finding out that I'm living here, I'm assuming you don't have anywhere else to go," he said, looking over at her.

She didn't argue, she just began to cry again.

He sighed, "Did something happen with Vander?"

She just sobbed harder at that.

Ekko's eyes widened, "Janna, what happened!?"

Of course, she was a wreck, if something happened to Vander, she had every reason to lose her shit.

She didn't respond to him.

"Did the surgery not go well? Or did the device not work?" He asked in a panic.

"You hate me," she whispered, "right?"

"…what?" He said, baffled at the sudden change in conversation.

"After everything I did, you hate me," she said, looking at him, "that's how everybody feels when they find out, right?"

At that point, it clicked in Ekko's head what was happening. Jinx thought Vander was going to hate her once he found out what had happened over the past seven years. Not that he would ever say it to Jinx, but that was a ridiculous worry to have. Vander couldn't hate her even if he tried. He knew that one from experience.

"I never hated you," he said firmly.

She laughed, "Right."

"I mean it, there was never a time I truly hated you."

Smack!

"You ever say some bullshit like that to me again, I'll fucking kill you," she hissed.

That clearly rubbed her wrong, he thought as he clutched his stinging cheek that she had slapped. She wasn't pulling her punches with him.

"Ok," he said, switching tactics, "Then how about this, did you hate Vi after she left you?"

She blinked at him, "What the fuck does that have to do with anything?" She snarled.

"She did something a lot of people would consider unforgivable," he said, still massaging his sore cheek, "But did you hate her for it?"

Jinx sat there, thinking it over, but she never responded to him.

"You know," Ekko said, "Maybe you should have a little faith in Vander."

She scowled at him, "The fuck does that mean?" she spat.

"It means," he said as he looked at her, "give Vander a chance to show that he loves you more than you think, instead of just assuming he will automatically hate you for what happened."

Jinx didn't reply to that either, she just fell into another long bout of silence. Both sat there quietly for a long time, listening to Loris fumbling around in the living room.

"You need to leave," Jinx said, breaking the silence.

"What?" He said, looking at her.

"Go back to the glow stick geniuses, that's where you belong," she said as she stood.

"No, I'm not leaving y-" Ekko said, standing as well.

"Ekko," Jinx warned, "this is me giving you the opportunity to do this yourself. Do not make me ask again."

He looked at her, "but-"

"I have nothing to say to you anymore. So leave," she said as she walked to the doorway before pausing and looking back at him, "…I-" she started before shaking her head, "I'll know where to find you if I ever want to, so just leave me alone."

Jinx then turned and walked away, Ekko getting up and watching her go.

"Jinx!" Loris said happily, panting with dish soap all over his arms and water all down the front of his clothes, "I'm so glad-"

She walked out and slammed the door in his face.

"…well, at least she didn't see what I did to the kitchen," he said with a sigh.

Ekko stared at the door. He didn't want to leave, but he had talked to Jinx, staying up here would get him nothing but into more trouble with her. And he didn't doubt Jinx would force him to leave, if not just flat out destroy his ass, when she found out he hadn't left.

"Whoa! What the fuck happened to your face!" Loris yelled, "Janna, you're getting blood everywhere! And your face is already puffing up like a balloon! How can you just stand there!?" He cried out.

He would have to leave, but he wouldn't go without saying goodbye, he thought as he walked over and sat down at the dinner table. He crumbled up the letter he was working on and started a new one, his last one.

He could only hope she would read it.

---

Jinx walked back to the hospital slowly, mind trying to decide whether or not Ekko and Vi were right.

"I know because even after I thought you were too far gone, I couldn't, no matter how much I told myself I shouldn't, stop loving you with every fiber of my being."

"You turned into a murderer, there is nothing there to love," Claggor muttered.

"Then how about this, did you hate Vi after she left you?"

…she didn't hate Vi.

"Please, Vander will hate your guts," Mylo sneered.

Vi had done the worst thing she could've, she left Jinx when she was at her worst, but no matter how hard she tried to rid herself of it, she still loved her deep down.

Maybe it would be the same with Vander, maybe he could look past the disgust and hatred and find it in him to forgive her.

Maybe he deserved the chance to show her that he loved her no matter what.

Jinx stopped outside the door to Vander's room.

She was scared, she didn't want to face him and tell him all the terrible awful things she had done. She didn't want to see his image of her change before her eyes.

But she also didn't want to lie to him, or not allow him to… well, love her. All of her. Not just the parts he remembered.

Not just Powder.

She pushed the door open and was greeted with the sight of Vi, Caitlyn, nosebleed, and fortune cookie all standing around and talking.

"Powder!" Vi exclaimed as soon as she stepped through the door.

"Jinx, are you ok? We couldn't find you anywhere," Caitlyn said as soon as Vi was done speaking.

"Yes," said fortune cookie, "the whole hospital was in quite a frenzy."

"I almost went to get the street officers out looking for you," added nosebleed.

Jinx shrugged awkwardly, "I, uh, just need to think about something for a while," she said as she locked eyes with Vi, "but it's ok now."

"You sure?" Vi asked.

Jinx nodded, "Just… stay with me while I do it?" She asked meekly.

Vi smiled at her, "Of course, you'd have to drag me out kicking and screaming for me not to be," she replied immediately.

The others all gave each other odd looks.

"Are we just supposed to pretend we know what they're talking about or…?" Nosebleed said to the other two.

"I am not certain, perhaps we should ask them," said fortune cookie.

"Don't bother," Caitlyn said, "Those two will just ignore the question until you give up on asking."

"Right you are, toots," Jinx said, looking at the group.

"Toots?" Vi asked with a raised brow.

"You call her Cupcake," Jinx replied, "Let me have toots."

"How about neither of you call me either of those?" Caitlyn said.

Vi and Jinx looked at each other.

"Na," they both said at the same time as they looked back at Caitlyn.

"Ahem," fortune cookie cleared his throat, "since we are all here now, are you all ready to proceed?" He said, holding up the device that would tell the thing and Vander's brain to send out a zap and wake him up.

Caitlyn looked to Vi for a response, and Vi looked to Jinx.

"Freak!"

"Murderer."

"Bitch!"

"Heartless."

"Psycho!"

"Jinx."

Jinx walked over to Vander, grabbing his hand before taking a deep breath.

"Ready."

Viktor pushed the button on the control, making Vander let out a grunt as he spasmed from the shock that was delivered.

After the shock had been delivered, everything went silent, the only sound being his machines.

"Did it… work?" Caitlyn whispered as they all waited with bated breath.

"Why won't he wake up?" Vi asked after a long moment of silence.

Jinx felt tears forming in her eyes. Of course, he wouldn't wake up despite all they had done, he never woke up.

---

The day was a hard and long one, and she was tired and covered in blood.

She stumbled her way into her room and just stood and stared at Vander's sleeping form.

"…I had to fight Ekko again," Jinx said after a long moment of just listening to his hissing and beeping machines.

His normal silence replied to her.

"It's been six years and I am still here, fighting my best friend and waiting for you to come back to me."

His steady breathing was the only thing showing that he was possibly listening to her.

"What did I do to deserve this?" she whispered, "I constantly feel like everyone's against me, I'm losing my mind, and the one person who seemed to always make me feel better in times like this… isn't really here anymore," she whispered bitterly.

She bit down hard on her lip before slamming the back of her head into the wall and sliding down onto the floor.

"And that's not fair," she whispered as tears began to fall, "Because I really need you."

She looked at his sleeping face that gave no reaction, and began to sob.

"Could you just- like, snap out of this? Or make it all go away or something?" She said before her sobs filled the room.

She sat there crying for a long time, trying to regain her composure.

"Please, would you at least try?" She whimpered, "'Cause I don't know who I am or what I'm doing anymore," Jinx said in between sobs.

But no matter how hard she cried or how much she begged, he never woke up and answered her.

---

She felt his hand squeeze her's.

"…pow…der?"

Notes:

You know what, I don’t want to hear ONE WORD about this cliffhanger!!! You all deserve it after ALL of you thought I was going to make something terrible happen.

Chapter 58: I Just Wanna Be More Than A Memory

"…pow…der."

Jinx felt her whole body shake, and tears began to fall.

Seven long years.

Seven excruciating years.

She would do it all again if it truly meant he had come back to her.

But despite her doubts, he didn't vanish before her eyes, he was still there, and he was still awake.

"Dad," she whispered, voice cracking and shaking.

She threw herself into his arms, holding onto him like her life depended on it as she sobbed. She didn't care if it hurt her to hold him, she was never going to let go of him again.

Slowly, she felt his arms wrap around her, gently patting her, like he had done when she was a child. She felt his chest rise and fall beneath her, and she smelled that never-fading smell of alcohol that clung to him despite all the years in the cave.

Jinx opened her eyes for a moment and spotted Vi. She hadn't rushed forward yet, she was just waiting at the foot of his bed, uncertainty lacing her expression.

Jinx lifted her head off of Vander and extended her arm out, "What are you waiting for?" She whispered, "He's your dad too."

Tears that were already in her eyes fell as she let out a shuddering gasp, as if she truly didn't think Jinx would have welcomed her into this beautiful moment.

Jinx smiled at her as she rushed forward and slammed into them, her arms encasing Jinx fully in this hug.

With that one moment, Jinx felt complete.

No doctor, no voice, no tyrant, no soul in this entire world could destroy this complete and utter joy that she had inside of her.

Her entire life was worth it.

All her pain.

All her suffering.

All the misery.

All the mistakes.

All the hatred.

All the loneliness.

All of it was worth it.

She pulled Vander and Vi closer, as if she could just force time to freeze if she held onto them tight enough.

But time was a fickle bitch that never liked to listen to anyone.

"..Vi?… Pow-" Vander started before he broke down into a fit of coughs.

Both Jinx and Vi pulled back.

"Vander!" Jinx said worriedly, "What's the matter?"

"Cait, get him water!" Vi snapped.

"Of course," she said before literally running out of the room.

Fortune Cookie came forward and began to examine him.

"I- I'm… alright-" he said in between coughs.

Jinx clutched his hand tightly as she debated giving him her blood to help him.

"Viktor, is he ok?" Vi asked as she too held onto Vander, worry etched into her face.

"His vitals are normal," he said, "he has been asleep for a long time, he just needs-"

"Water!" Caitlyn exclaimed as she barreled through the door, cup in hand, "Water," she repeated out of breath, handing the cup to Vi as she placed her hands on her knees and tried to catch her breath.

Vi handed the cup to Vander, who tried to grab it, but it slipped from his hand. Jinx was quick to catch the cup before it spilled, using her speed.

Vi sighed, relieved, "Sorry, Vander, I should've been more careful handing it to you."

"Powder, did you just-" once again, he broke down into a fit of coughs.

"Here," Jinx said as she put the cup to his lips, "Drink."

He did as he was told and greedily slurped down the glass of water, some spilling, but Vi was quick to wipe that away.

"Cait-" Jinx began as she pulled the empty cup away from his lips.

"On it," Caitlyn said before Jinx even finished.

Caitlyn smacked nosebleed on the shoulder and told him to come with her.

They both left, and fortune cookie spoke again, "Don't be too worried, things like mortar skills are impacted after being in your condition for so long," he said as he messed with the machines next to Vander.

"M-my condition?" Vander said slowly, Jinx only now noticing that his words sounded a bit off.

Jinx flinched at that. This would mark the beginning of the never-ending slew of questions he would have.

"Vander," Vi said softly, "You have been in a coma for the past seven years."

Vander's face scrunched up, "What-t? No th-that can't be r-right," he said as he looked at the two of them.

His eyes seemed to be taking in their faces, really taking in their faces for the first time, confusion slowly passing over him as he realized how much older they looked.

Jinx gently pushed back a hair that was in his face and mustered up a small smile for him, "It's true," she whispered, "It's been seven years."

He sat there in silence for a long time before looking back up at them, opening his mouth to ask a question, but Caitlyn and nosebleed coming in interrupted him.

"Here you go," Caitlyn said as she wheeled in a cart with a pitcher of water and three different plates of food on it.

"We didn't know what you would like, so we got you options," Nosebleed said proudly as he gestured at the plates of food.

"Thanks," Vi said as she gave him a nod of appreciation.

"H-hold on-n," Vander said, rubbing his head, "Wh-where are we?"

"Topside," Vi explained, "It's kinda a long story," she said at his bewildered expression.

"Alright, well after going over all his vitals, I can say he is doing fine," fortune cookie said, "We just got to get him back into surgery and he'll be all set."

"Surgery?" Vander said, confused.

"Can't that wait?" Vi asked, "he just woke up."

"Well-" started fortune cookie.

"Of course it can wait," interrupted nosebleed.

"Thanks," Vi said before adding on, "and could you… give us a minute?"

"Sure thing," said Caitlyn as she ushered the other two out, "Just call if you need anything."

Vi smiled at her as she left, and Jinx went back to her favorite pastime of fiddling with Vander's hand, letting out a little gasp when his hand moved and grabbed her's back.

She had been so used to him never reacting that she didn't even realize that she was now messing with him as he was awake to feel it.

"Sorry," she muttered as she pulled her hand away and stood, walking over to the cart of food.

"You don't need to apologize," he said, as Jinx poured him another glass of water, her hands shaking.

He was here.

He was real.

"He will hate you."

Jinx slammed the cup down, "You're wrong!"

"….Powder? Everything ok?" Vi asked.

Jinx felt embarrassment flush through her, "Fine," she grumbled as she began to fix Vander a plate of food as well.

She could feel their eyes on her.

She could feel him watching her.

"Judging you."

Jinx gripped the cup tightly until her knuckles turned white and she could feel the glass starting to crack under her fingers.

"Shut. Up," she hissed quietly.

"Powder."

Jinx practically jumped out of her skin at Vi's voice. She looked over at her, she looked concerned. Jinx was acting wrong.

"Freak."

Jinx set the cup and plate down with a clatter and glared at Mylo.

"Hey, look at me," Vi whispered.

Jinx's eyes met her's.

"It's just us here, ok? No one else, just us," she said calmly.

Jinx took a breath before nodding, "Just us," she whispered back.

Her, Vi, and Vander.

Happy and together.

That's all.

That's it.

"Wonder what happened to the rest of the family? Oh, wait," Mylo hissed.

Jinx clenched her jaw.

"Look at you two," Vander said, grabbing both of their attention, "you got so big."

Vi smiled at him, "Right back at ya'," she said, walking over to him, "just look at how old you got," she said as she ran her hand down his face.

He lifted his hand and returned the gesture with some help from Vi due to his lack of motor skills, which made him miss a few times, "Look how beautiful you are," he whispered, tears pooling in his eyes.

Vi leaned down and pressed her forehead to his, "I missed you."

"Me too," he replied as he held her close.

After they finished having their moment, Vander looked over at Jinx.

"Come here, you crazy monkey," he said, waving her over.

Jinx felt a tear fall as she walked over and stood next to him. He grabbed her hand, which was still so much bigger than hers, and then ran his hand down her face as well, wiping away her tears as he went.

"You," he said, "are so gorgeous."

Jinx grimaced at the words before turning her head away from his touch.

Jinx was a lot of things, but she wasn't gorgeous, she wasn't even pretty. Her hair was half-hazardously cut, her nose had been bashed in more times than she could count, she was far too skinny, her complexion was too pale to ever be considered normal, not to mention the bags under her eyes, which made her disgustingly colored eyes look even more acidicly pink than they actually were.

Vi cleared her throat, "So, how are you feeling?" she said, gently removing Vander's hand from Jinx.

She had thought Jinx didn't like the physical touch, so she got Vander to let go of her without telling Vander about it. Jinx appreciated that, even if it was a small gesture that wasn't actually solving the issue, it showed that Vi actually remembered her problem with physical touch and wanted to help her.

"I'm alright, Vi. Just a bit confused," he said.

"That's understandable," Vi said with a chuckle, "you have missed a lot."

"….what happened?" He asked after a slight pause.

Jinx swallowed, the anxiety building inside of her.

"How much do you remember?" Vi asked.

His brow furrowed, "Well, I remember Silco getting me… then you, Mylo, and Claggor showed up and then-"

"You happened," Mylo sneered.

"You ruined everything."

"Your fault."

"Your fault."

"AL-L YOU-R- FAU-LT!!!!"

"-after I talked to you, Vi, I woke up here," Vander finished.

Vi gave him a small smile, "Well, at least you remember that," she whispered.

She was right, if he didn't, then they would be left with telling him how both of those two were dead.

"Can't say our names?"

"Ashamed of what you did?"

"Can you please tell me what happened?" He asked, "Why are we Topside, and what happened with Silco?"

Vi looked over at Jinx, "Do you want me to tell him?" She asked softly.

Jinx clenched her hands as she stared at her feet before shaking her head no.

"Ok," Vi said, "Take your time, no one is going to rush you."

Jinx glanced at Vander.

She wanted to tell him, but she didn't know how, she didn't know how to tell such a thing to the one person in this world who still saw her as innocent.

He didn't even know that Jinx was the one responsible for the explosion at the Canary.

"Tell him, Jinx," Mylo snarled, his twisted, distorted image flashing at her side, "tell him what you did."

"Tell him."

"Tell him."

"Tell him."

"Tell him."

"Tell him."

"Tell him."

"Tell him."

"Tell him."

"Tell him."

"Tell him."

"Tell him your-"

"I left Powder."

Jinx's head snapped up and looked at Vi.

"What?" Vander said as he looked at her, shocked.

"After you told me to look after her, I hit her and then left her for seven years," Vi said, trying to act strong, but there was a trembling in her voice that betrayed her.

"Vi," he said, disbelief so clear in his voice.

A tear rolled down Vi's face, "We just found each other recently, but I fucked up again and left her, completely disregarding her feelings and steamrolling her even though she was perfectly capable because of my own stupid feelings."

"Vi?" Jinx whispered, confused at the sudden confession.

"Do you hate me?" Vi asked.

Vander sat there for a moment, "Why would you ever ask me something like that? I could never hate you," he said, "but clearly you have some things you need to apologize for," he said sternly, "because whatever the hell happened doesn't make it ok for you to up and leave your sister for seven years," he said firmly.

She nodded, "I know, but do you still love me despite what I just told you?"

Ah, Jinx thought, so that's what she was doing. Vi was trying to show Jinx that Vander wouldn't hate her when she told him what she had done.

"Violet," he said firmly, "there will never be a damn thing you could do that would ever make me stop loving you. You know that."

Despite the admission being for Jinx's sake, Vi began to bawl at his words before she pulled him into a hug. The words clearly lifting some heavy weight off her shoulders and relieving her conscience of some guilt.

"Vi," Jinx whispered, "Could you… give us a minute?"

Vi wiped away some snot from her face and looked at her, "Are you sure, you said-"

"I know, but this is something I need to do alone," Jinx said, not a shadow of doubt in her voice.

And if it wasn't for her trembling hands and teary eyes, Vi probably would have believed her brave act.

"Alright, but if you need anything," she said, locking eyes with her, "anything at all, you call and I will be in here faster than you can blink."

Jinx nodded as Vi gave Vander another long hug, also telling him to push the button that would call a nurse if he needed anything whatsoever.

Vi shut the door behind her, and a silence fell between Vander and her.

"…I missed you," Jinx whispered.

"I missed you too," he replied instantly, "You must have something pretty big to tell me if you sent Vi out, huh?"

Jinx fiddled with her fingers.

"Whatever it is, I promise I won't be angry with you."

She picked at her cuticles.

"You know me, Powder, I can't ever be mad at anyone for long. It's like you say, I'm just a big softie."

She dug her nail under her cuticle, just to try and distract herself from the overwhelming feelings inside of her.

"…there was a reason Vi left me," She said, so softly, so quietly, eyes refusing to ever meet his.

"Ok," he said, "What was it?"

Blood dripped onto the floor.

Boom.

The explosion threw her back, it was so much bigger than she had ever anticipated. She flew through the air for what felt like hours, admiring the first working bomb she had ever created.

"…the…explosion."

He went quiet.

She could practically hear the gears in his head turning.

She clutched her hands together in hopes of stopping the violent shaking.

"…Vi…. She told me to-"

"I told you to STAY AWAY!"

"…but I-"

"I only wanted to help… I only wanted to help,"

"…it was a-"

"It was a mistake, I didn't mean to."

Her voice was tiny and weak.

She was nothing but a helpless child once again, only this time, instead of Vi being the one to cast judgment on her for this action, it would be Vander.

"I see," he said before becoming silent for a long time.

"He HATES you."

"He knows what you are now."

"He will never love you again."

"Monster."

"We all make mistakes Powder," he said, suddenly sounding so tired and so much older, "Mistake that can cost the lives of those we care about. I'm just sorry you had to learn that lesson at such a young age, both me and your sister hoped you would never have to," then he added something on softy, "I hoped that neither of you would learn that lesson of betrayal."

Jinx didn't stop shaking, and tears didn't stop falling.

A part of her registered that he was referring to Silco and what he did to him, but the rest of her didn't care to approach that topic.

"…there's more," she said, even her words were shaking now.

He looked at her, hand lightly falling on her shoulder, "It's ok, tell me. I promise to listen, I promise to understand."

She let out a meek whimper.

"No matter what you've done, you can't stop me from loving you. You can never stop the love a father has for his daughter."

She clutched her head, hiding her face in her hands, "After V-Vi left… S-S-Silco found me. F-found us."

She felt his finger twitch in response to his name.

"He-e gave u-u-us to this man," she stuttered out.

She felt her breath quicken, her chest tighten, and her already blurred vision became more impaired.

"Powder… what in the world did Silco do to you?" he growled.

There was such anger in his voice, such hate.

"Hate for you."

"N-n-no-not Silco," she sputtered, "The doctor."

Despite the tears and fear, she still spat his name like venom.

The devil in the form of a man.

The person who did all of this to her.

The one who turned her into this monstrosity.

"He was going to hurt you," she hissed, her voice suddenly finding its way back to her, "He was going to turn you into a monster."

Like me.

"Powder…. Please tell me you escaped. Tell me you ran, and I have been with that man this whole time because you ran and saved yourself," Vander said, a panic rising in his voice.

"…..I couldn't let him hurt you."

He retracted his hand from her, it falling limply at his side, "You don't mean-"

"It was me or you," she said through gritted teeth, "So I told him to take me."

"Janna, Powder no," he whispered.

"See? No one can love a monster."

Jinx felt a lump in her throat as her fears slowly came to life.

Sure, Vander was back, but what good was that if he hated her guts?

"Powder, you should have never done that," he said angrily.

Mylo cackled like a banshee in her ear, "HE HATES YOU!"

"HE WILL NEVER LOVE A MONSTER!"

"HE'S GOING TO KILL YOU!"

"You should have let me die."

Jinx froze.

"What?" She whispered.

"Powder, I am the adult, I make the sacrifices for you! You do not EVER sacrifice yourself to save me, your life is worth so much more than mine!" He yelled angrily, "Do you understand me?!"

Jinx blinked at him.

…He was mad at her because she saved him?

Suddenly, anger bubbled up inside her as well.

She stood, "The only fucking reason you were like that was because of MY monkey bomb!" She yelled.

"You think this is your fault?! Powder, it was Silco who started all of this, not you!" He yelled back.

"I know that! That's why I killed the son of a bitch!"

A silence fell over them.

Jinx stood there panting, and he sat in his bed.

"…you killed him?" He asked quietly.

Jinx swallowed, "…I've killed a lot of people, Vander. I….. I was trying to explain," she whispered.

"You're right, I'm sorry," he said as he patted the bed, signaling her to sit down, "Tell me, I won't interrupt again."

Jinx reluctantly sat down, eyes glued to the ground so she wouldn't have to look at him.

"The doctor," she said, returning to where she left off, "he let me take your place. He kept you alive while he…"

"Gave you those disgusting scars," Mylo spat.

"Turned you into a freak of nature," Claggor added.

"He experimented on me, made me… different," she whispered.

"So I wasn't seeing things when you caught that cup," he said, finally understanding what she was getting at.

She nodded, "The speed, the strength, the healing, the sight, all of it."

He gently grabbed her hand, "It must have hurt," he said softly.

Jinx's lip quivered.

He lightly tugged on her, making her lie down with him, her ear on his chest, listening to the strong sound of his beating heart.

"Thank you for saving me," he said as he hugged her, "That was very brave of you. Is there anything else you want to tell me?" He asked.

"H-he made me k-k-kill people," she said as she started crying again.

"Hmmm," he hummed, the sound rumbling through his chest, "That must have been hard."

"I-I-I c-can't even g-get th-their b-b-blood to-to come off-f" she said in between hiccuping sobs, as she lifted up her hands and looked at them, "W-why won't it-t come off?"

Her hands were never clean, always her blood or someone else's on them.

"I don't know. I've tried to get rid of it, but nothing seems to work," he said as he held up his own hand.

Jinx furrowed her brows, "I-I do-don't see anything-g."

"Well that's the thing about this blood Powder, no one but you will ever see it, and no one but you can get rid of it," he said as he set his hand down, "but it's my experience that only the people who see the blood are the ones who truly deserve to be forgiven for what they have done."

Jinx didn't understand, why did he see blood on his hands?

"W-why do y-you see it?" She asked.

He took a deep breath, "I was… a different man when I was younger. I thought the only way to achieve peace was through war. I thought violence was a sure path to victory. But violence only creates more violence."

"…I did so many terrible things, Vander," she whispered.

He looked down at her, "I forgive you for them."

"Why?" She asked, "You don't even know what I've done."

"Because I see how much those things eat you alive. I see how much you wish you could undo those things. I see that sweet little girl that you still are underneath all that overwhelming pain. You," he said, moving her head so she was looking at him, "are my daughter. It is my job to love you despite the many mistakes you make in life, even when you can't love yourself."

She buried her face in him as she sobbed and sobbed, Vander rubbing her back and whispering assurances to her.

Doing everything she had wanted him to do for the last seven years, as she cried herself to sleep, safely wrapped in his arms.

---

"How are you feeling?" Cait asked.

Vi shifted and looked at her. She was sitting in the chair next to Vi, Jayce and Viktor a bit further away, chatting about science stuff.

"Vander's ok and so is my sister, I feel like I'm dreaming," she said, grinning like a moron.

Cait chuckled, "I'm glad, you deserve to finally have some happiness. Do you think Jinx is ok?"

Vi looked over at the hospital room's door, "She's tough, and Vander is with her, so she'll make it through this."

"Yes, but she's had a rough go of it lately," Cait said worriedly, "Making her talk about this might be too much for her."

Vi sighed, "Powder asked me to have some faith in her, so that's what I'm gonna do. If she thinks she can handle this, then I'll let her handle it, besides," Vi said, looking back at Cait, "we're right out here if she needs anything."

"True," Cait said, relaxing a bit at that.

Vi chuckled, before her face settled back into the smile she was wearing before, "You know, Cait, Powder and me were actually hoping you would do us a favor."

Cait raised a brow at her, "Saving all your asses isn't enough for you people?"

"Ha, ha, ha," Vi said as she rolled her eyes, "and I'd like to think the ass saving was mutual."

"Oh yeah? When did you save my ass exactly? Was it before I stopped you from getting brutally murdered by Sevika, or after I freed you from Babette's?" She asked.

"….ok fine, you saved my ass. But you also smacked me on the head a bunch in between all that, so I get another favor," Vi said with a humph.

"Ok, fine, what can I do for the two of you?" Cait said, humoring her.

"Would you be our third party?" Vi asked.

"What?" She said, confused.

"Look, you know I'm a fucking hothead and I love Powder to death, but she's not nearly concerned enough about her own well-being."

A look passed over Cait's face, "Has she been talking about… committing suicide again?"

Vi's eyes widened, "What the fuck, no!? Has she mentioned that to you!?"

"First off, calm down. Second off, it was mentioned once in a conversation before, but that's all I'm saying because it was said to me in confidence," Cait said.

Vi sighed as she leaned back in her chair again and rubbed at her forehead, she was starting to get a headache, "She tried to pull a self-sacrifice move when we were fighting those Poro's. She just doesn't seem to care if she lives or not, and with what you just said-"

Cait put a hand on her shoulder, "She's got Vander now, and there shouldn't be any more danger for her to throw herself into. For now, I think it would be best to tread around that topic carefully."

"Yeah," Vi said with a sigh, "Yeah I know, I'll just add it to the list of the things I need to talk to her about. Anyway," she said before Cait could press the topic anymore, "me and Powder were talking and we want you to be the tie breaker in case we come to a situation like before where we don't agree with each other on how to handle things."

"That's… actually not a terrible idea, as long as you two actually respect the choice I make," Cait said.

"We will, or at least I will," Vi promised, "I've made too many bad judgment calls lately, and I value your opinion," Vi said, nudging her.

"If you're trying to sweet-talk me into forgiving you for the little disappearing act you pulled, you got another thing coming," Cait said, "but I will agree to be your third party. How could I pass up the opportunity to call you a moron?"

Vi shook her head and chuckled.

"Ahem," Viktor said as he walked up to them, "Pardon the interruption, but your father pushed the button to request a nurse. Would you like me to get one or-"

"No, it's ok, I'll go," Vi said as she stood and walked to the door, opening it, "Vander are-"

He pressed a finger to his lips as Vi's eyes landed on the sleeping form of Powder.

She was curled up into him, a grimace on her face as her chest rose and fell at an even rhythm.

Vi smiled at the sight.

Powder hadn't gotten a wink of sleep since she got here, and it was such a relief to see her comfortable enough to finally go to bed. Though it did surprise Vi that she was letting Vander touch her so much. She had said others touching her wasn't something she was comfortable with. Janna knows how she managed to fall asleep with someone's arms wrapped around her.

Vi walked over desperately trying to be as quiet as possible, she didn't want anything interrupting Powder's sleep, and sat down in the chair next to Vander's bed.

"…is the man who did this to her dead?" Vander asked, his voice low, nothing but a whisper, but somehow still sending a bone-chilling growl into his voice.

He had heard about the doctor and was fucking pissed, rightfully so.

"Yeah, Powder took care of him when she went to get you back," Vi whispered, still taking in the sight of her sleeping sister.

Despite her being sound asleep, she still looked as if she was in pain, brows furrowing at times, shifting constantly to try and get comfortable, and her breathing becoming uneven at times before Vander gently rubbed his hand on her back, making her settle back down.

"Good," Vander growled with such anger and hatred in his voice.

Vi understood his feelings on the matter, Vi's only regret for that man being dead was the fact that she didn't get to kill him herself.

"How much did Powder tell you?" Vi asked in a whisper.

"She told me that Silco was the one who gave her to that man, and that the son of a bitch would experiment on her and make her kill people," he spat, "If I was awake-" he took a deep breath.

"Vander, you can't blame yourself," Vi said, knowing exactly where his mind was going.

He clenched his jaw, but didn't respond.

"You want to blame someone for what happened? Blame me, I'm the one who left her to get taken by Silco!" Vi snapped.

Powder whimpered as she began to curl into herself.

Vander was quick to soothe her.

Both Vi and Vander stayed silent for a long time to make sure Powder didn't wake up. She needed to sleep.

"…what happened to you, Vi? Because I know for a fact that you wouldn't leave her for seven years, even if she caused that explosion. You would have come back," he asked, voice low and soft.

Vi clenched her hands together as she looked at the floor. Powder had told him about her monkey bomb, which was good, but now Vi would have to tell Vander that she ended up in Stillwater. The one thing he was trying to fucking prevent when he got caught by Silco.

"Vi," he said, "tell me the truth."

"I was going to come back when I saw Silco standing over her, but I… got caught," she admitted.

"By who?" He asked.

"An enforcer," she said, "I got caught and sent to Stillwater."

He was quiet, so Vi looked up at him, his head was leaning back, and tears were falling down his face.

"Vander," Vi whispered gently.

"I never wanted that for you," he said, "I wanted to protect you from that."

"It isn't your fault-" Vi started.

"Vi, I know blaming myself will get me nowhere. And sitting here trying to pin the blame on others won't lead to anything good either," he said, "Just let me process this."

Vi's shoulders slumped forward sadly. How she wished she could give him some good news instead of adding more problems to his plate, but everything was fucked in this entire situation.

"How are you?" He asked.

She looked up at him, "Vander, I'm fine, please don't worry about me. Powder is the one-"

"Vi, I know what that place does to people, I have seen it, you're not fine," he said firmly, "Your sister has suffered, I am not dismissing that, but so have you. Do not try to brush this off with me."

Vi felt tears prickle at her eyes, "It was… awful. If I didn't have Powder to think about and fight for, I don't think I would have made it," she said, her voice cracking.

"I'm so sorry."

"But I did make it, and I got Powder and you back," Vi said, smiling at him, "We have each other back."

He smiled back at her and then at Powder's sleeping form, "Yeah… you know I love you two more than anything in this entire world, right?"

"How could I not?" She said with a smile.

He sighed, "You should get some rest, Vi. I'm sure it's been a long day for you."

"Could say the same to you," Vi replied as she stretched.

"I've been asleep for seven years, I don't think I could be more well rested if I tried," he responded.

Vi snorted as she stood, "I'll be back, need to tell the others that they can leave until tomorrow, and then we can discuss who should be napping."

Vander smiled at her as she walked towards the door, stopping for a moment to take in the sight of her happy little family one more time.

---

Jinx sighed happily as she went to hug Vander closer and continue to sleep, but as she felt around for him, she quickly realized that he wasn't there.

Her eyes snapped open, and all she saw was an empty bed that she was lying in.

"Vander?" She whispered, hands frantically pulling the blankets and sheets off the bed as if he were somehow hiding in them.

Jinx looked around the room for Vi, or anyone.

"Vi!" Jinx called as she moved off the bed.

The lights were off in the room for some reason, and everything was dead silent.

"Vi?!" Jinx called again, "Vander!? Where are you!?"

She walked over to the door and opened it. No one was in the halls, which were also dark and quiet.

She took a step outside and felt something under her foot. She looked down and realized it was a letter.

She picked it up, expecting it to be from Ekko again, but as she brought it up, she recognized the golden loopy letters on the front that spelled out her name.

Silco.

She opened it, and there was only one word, one word written over and over again in blood-red letters.

MONSTER

Jinx dropped the letter, but the blood had already stained her hands.

She tried to wipe it off, but it just spread.

She kept wiping in a panic as she stumbled backwards, trying to escape herself.

A hand clamped over Jinx's.

She looked up in shock, it was her.

Jinx.

"What are you doing?" The other her spat.

Jinx furrowed her brows, "What?"

"They aren't dead yet," she said, pointing at a body on the floor.

Jinx looked at them, confused, "But-"

She shoved a knife into her hand, "Stop thinking. Thinking hurts, and we both know we don't do pain."

She then shoved Jinx towards the half-dead person.

It was Orianna.

She stared at her, her glassy blue eyes piercing through her soul.

"Why?" She asked, "What did I do?"

"I- nothing," Jinx said, dropping the knife, backing away, "I don't want to kill you."

The other Jinx was now standing on the other side of Orianna, blade in her hand.

"What are you doing?" Jinx asked as the other her held the blade tightly.

"Finish this," she said as she held the blade up.

"No!" Jinx yelled, "She didn't do anything!"

"But he did," she said, pointing behind Jinx.

She turned to look, and the doctor was there, in the lab, hunched over the metal table that she could never escape.

He didn't look at her as she stood there watching him, he was too busy hacking away at what unfortunate soul got itself caught in his claws.

The other her passed her and walked up to the doctor.

He turned to look at her, "Did you get the money?"

The other her held up a pouch full of cash.

"Set the bag on the table, but hand me some coins, I need to head out later to get some material."

She didn't respond, she just did as she was told, setting the bag down and handing over the money into his bloody hands. One coin fell to the floor and rolled its way to Jinx, until it hit her feet.

She looked at it, and it was covered in blood.

Blood that could never be washed off.

Click.

Jinx looked up, and the other her was holding a gun to her head.

"What are you doing?" Jinx asked… herself?

"I told you to end it," she growled, "but you didn't listen."

"So what? Now you're gonna kill me?" Jinx snarled back at her, "What is that going to solve?"

"I'll finally kill off my weakness," she said, aiming at her head, "Kill you."

"You know that killing isn't right," Jinx said, "We could've done something else. We could've done things the right way."

She scoffed, "Would things be easier for you if there were a right way?" She asked before growling out, "There is no right way."

Bang!

The other her fired, but it didn't hit Jinx, instead, it hit a random stranger whose face haunted her nightmares long ago after she had been sent to kill them, but had long since faded into nonexistence.

"You think killing will lead to your freedom!?" She yelled, "All it will do is make you more alone than ever! You heartless monster!"

She snorted, "If your heart is still intact, then clearly you didn't do this right," she said, firing the gun again.

This time it hit a Firelight.

"Stop hurting people! You think you're sparing yourself the pain of your emotions, but you're just destroying everything and everyone around you!" Jinx yelled at her.

"We can't change who we are," she said, another bullet hitting another target.

Orrin.

"What have you done!?" Jinx screamed.

The other her had this far away look on her face, her hand shaking slightly, before aiming again.

Jinx looked at her next target, Ronan.

"No! After everything his father did, you can't!" Jinx yelled, trying to get through to her.

"What's the matter, Jinx? Can't finish the job?" Mylo said as he appeared from the shadows and began to circle the other her.

"You're going to get Vander killed," spat Claggor as he too appeared and began to circle.

"She doesn't care about Vander, she's just a selfish bitch who's too weak to accept that she failed," Snarled Mylo.

"Too stupid to think about all of the consequences," hissed Claggor.

"Stop," Jinx said meekly.

"Can't handle the truth, pretends to not see what she really is," he spat.

"That's not true-"

"Needs someone's hand to hold to get the job done."

"I can do it-"

"Can't stomach what needs to be done, so she just lets everyone else pay the price."

"No, I don't!"

"Just like we did."

"I'm still here, I'm not a-"

"Monster!"

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Jinx looked down, she had a gunshot wound in her chest, the other her had shot her, but Jinx wasn't Jinx anymore.

She was Powder.

Her tiny hands pressed against the wound that didn't heal as she cried from the pain, calling out for Vi to save her before she collapsed and died.

Jinx blinked, and suddenly she was now the one holding the smoking gun.

Mylo and Claggor both fell down and died from their wounds as well.

She dropped it, letting it clatter to the floor, "I-I didn't-"

"Stop pretending all of this is my fault," spat the other Jinx, who now stood in front of her.

Mylo, Claggor, and Powder's bodies were all in a line, the other Jinx at the end of the line up.

"You can't run away from this," she hissed, "You can't blame me, you can't blame them."

Suddenly, hundreds of people joined the line, some faces strikingly familiar, others lost to time. All of them were people Jinx had killed over the years.

Jinx looked down at her shaking hands, covered in blood, always covered in blood.

"I know because even after I thought you were too far gone, I couldn't, no matter how much I told myself I shouldn't, stop loving you with every fiber of my being."

"You are my daughter. It is my job to love you despite the many mistakes you make in life, even when you can't love yourself."

The other Jinx grabbed her wrist, making Jinx look up at her, "Doesn't matter if they forgive you," Jinx hissed, "You'll never forgive yourself."

---

Jinx awoke with a gasp.

Vander's arms were still wrapping around her as he slept, and she could hear Vi snoring softly.

Both of them were here, neither of them had left, everything was fine.

It was just a dream.

…

Gently, Jinx moved her way out of the safety of Vander's arms and sat on the edge of the bed.

She ran her hands down her face. She had Vander back, she had Vi with her, and she killed the doctor. She had everything she had ever wanted.

So why the fuck couldn't she just be happy for once?

Jinx got up off the bed, glancing at Vi, who was asleep in the chair next to Vander's bed, head on the bed as she snoozed peacefully.

Jinx turned away from her and poured herself a glass of water from the cart, drinking two full glasses, giving some relief to the headache she couldn't seem to get rid of.

She looked back at her sleeping family, and then at the clock on the wall. 3 a.m., neither of them would be waking up soon.

She walked over to the door and opened it, like her dream, everything was quiet, but the lights were still on. Jinx looked down at the ground, and sure enough, a letter with her name on it awaited her.

She stared down at it.

It must have been from Ekko, she had told him to leave, but it seemed the son of a bitch didn't bother listening.

She leaned down and picked it up. On the front was her name as normal, but there was a note on the front of this one, unlike the others.

It read,

Don't worry, I'm gone.

-Ekko

Jinx just stared at the letter.

She had no reason to read it.

No obligation.

No debt she had to repay.

No emotional closure needed.

She had absolutely no reason to open this and read it.

…

She shut the hospital room door and sat down on the floor, ripping the envelope open and reading his letter.

I must have written you dozens of letters by now, but I've only sent you a few, and if I had to guess, you read a total of zero.

Benzo told me once, when I was trying to fix an old clock, that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different outcome.

But the alternative is giving up, and I've done that way too much in my life and gotten nothing but pain, so I think I prefer the insanity.

"Fucking moron," Jinx whispered as she read that.

She knew insanity.

It was not something you should embrace. If anyone actually preferred the madness over what they had, then they were the mad ones.

She would know.

I still haven't been able to apologize to you. Unless you read my other letters, then I guess I apologized to you in at least 20 different ways.

I know my apology won't change anything, but it's the least I can do. It's the bare minimum, and I should at least do that before I go back to the Firelights.

Or the Glow stick geniuses, Sparkle duds, Burnt out buffoons, Glowhead clowns, Glow in the dark losers, Flashy failures, Flickering fools, Dying lights, The Boy Savior's junkie friends, earth lovers, fire twerps, firepests, tree fuckers, Flyin' Idiots, Glowin' Pests, Firelight wackos, sparkly simpletons, glow in the dark environmentalists, squeaky clean rebels, Sparkle squad, shiny showoffs, neon losers, Firebrats, plant loving pests, rag tag group of do gooders, as you like to call us.

Jinx blinked in surprise at the list of names. All of them were ones she had used in the past. Honestly, that might be all the ones she used in the past, at least in front of him.

How did he remember all of them?

You never called us the same name twice. I always wondered why. At one point, I thought you were trying to send me a secret message, so I wrote them all down and spent weeks trying to decode it. Eventually, I gave up.

If I had kept going, would I have found something?

No, Jinx thought, she had only called them those names to spite him.

There was never a hidden message in her words.

I guess I'll never know because I never tried.

Out of all the things I've done in my life, all the stupid decisions I've made that cost me so much, I mourn the most for all the things I never said.

All the words that I had trapped in my mind, all because I was afraid. Afraid because I don't know who I am without you.

How could he say that? He was fine without her.

Hell, without her, he was a hero.

I wanted to tell you it all so badly, all that was left unsaid between us, every time I saw your face, but what do you do when there's this great divide?

You have always known my heart better than I do. You still know all my deepest, darkest secrets, and you haven't even really spoken to me for years.

You were my enemy, but somehow my best friend at the same time.

My best enemy, Jinx thought to herself.

Seems she had succeeded in keeping that promise.

We were the greatest, me and you.

Her and him together? Great?

No, he was wrong, nothing was worse.

So how did we fall apart faster than a hairpin trigger?

Jinx didn't know either.

She had relieved that day a zillion times, but all of it still didn't make sense. If only one of them just stopped and said something, then maybe…

There were so many times I thought of looking for you, but I let other people's words and my own doubts take over.

I thought you chose Silco over me.

So I lied and said that there was no way to save you anymore, because I knew the Firelights would never accept a leader who cared for a person that wanted them dead.

He was right. He would have never been able to save her, even if he knew the truth, but it killed her that he never even tried.

It killed her that he chose those people over her.

I got so good at lying that even I fell for the lies I told.

I started to forget that I still had you, that it was still you under all that pain, and unfortunately, the consequence was hurting you far more than I thought I was.

I saw your pain, but denial seems to be my greatest skill, so I buried my head in the sand in hopes to get you out of my head and out of my heart.

I tried so hard to hate you.

No matter what she did, she could never hate him. Not entirely, not like she should have. No matter how hard she tried, she could never get him out of her head.

I couldn't understand why you didn't want to listen to me? Why let all the chaos drown you?

I told myself that I did what I could to try and reach you, and that you were the one who was in the wrong for not accepting my help.

A part of her regrets never telling him about the doctor sooner, but it never should have mattered who she worked for.

He never should have believed she would ever become something so awful for such pathetic reasons.

I was a selfish moron who didn't want to see how miserably I had failed you.

Forgive me for not saving you, forgive me for giving everything I had to try and stop you.

Maybe in other universes, there's still you and me.

A version of us that isn't so fucked.

A version where I didn't give up.

A version where I stopped running and listened.

A version where time didn't destroy us.

What a world that would be, she thought.

Maybe I'll go to that other universe one day, hoping to find you again, but whatever version of you I find, I know I won't find another who makes me feel like you do.

What a moron. If she ever found herself in such a world, there would be nothing that could drag her back to this one.

Nothing.

I can't say I'm innocent, but I'm sorry, for all of it. I will never give up on you again.

Because despite it all, it has always been you and me.

Little Man and Powder.

The Boy Savior and Jinx.

Genius and madness.

The worst of all blessings, the best of all curses.

Jinx folded the letter shut after she finished reading, a single tear falling down her cheek as she tucked it safely away.

Notes:

Like Ekko’s note? Well, a good chunk of it was taken from the song “Entre Universo” made by JPR.

Once again, shout out to Heyhxh. They have linked this song and another in a comment made in chapter 47, The Power To Forgive. They also wrote out the whole translation for the songs.

Here’s the link to the song referenced in this chapter: https://youtu.be/wWiwx0Q0NF0?si=4SxcpyrWugu1ggh-&utm_source=ZTQxO

Seriously, go listen to it and the other song, they are very good.

Chapter 59: A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing

Jinx sat quietly through the night, waiting for everyone to wake up.

Unfortunately, neither Vi nor Vander seemed to want to wake up from their deep slumber. Both of them were practically the deepest sleepers she had ever met. They didn't even wake up when someone knocked on the door.

Jinx opened the door and was greeted with an anxious-looking Caitlyn.

"Jinx!" She exclaimed, "You're awake!"

"Yeah, unlike some people," she said, nodding at the snoozing pair behind her.

"Oh," Caitlyn said, immediately lowering her voice to a whisper, "Should I come back later?"

"Janna, no," Jinx said, stepping out and shutting the door behind her, "I'm gonna lose if I have to sit in there for much longer."

Jinx was used to sitting alone in a room for hours on end, but for some reason, she felt strange doing it, knowing Vander and Vi could wake up any minute. It left her feeling on edge constantly, and she hated it.

Caitlyn blinked at her, "I didn't think you would want to leave Vander," she said, sounding confused.

Jinx shrugged, "I haven't moved around for days, I feel… suffocated."

Jinx hadn't been using her powers, so she could feel the buzzing in her veins more than normal. She was starting to feel like she was getting overcharged, she needed to find a release soon.

With the doctor, she was always doing something with her Shimmer blood, healing from experiments, hunting a new target, collecting money, or running other errands for him. She didn't sit around and do nothing for days, she, at the very least, used her speed on the daily.

She might have to resort to injuring herself just to use some power up.

"Well then, let's go on a walk," Caitlyn said, pulling Jinx from her thoughts.

"I was thinking more of a run," Jinx said.

Caitlyn raised a brow at her, "Right, like I'll ever be able to keep up with you. Besides, I was hoping to talk to you."

Jinx huffed, "Fine, we can walk."

She would just have to cut herself open a few times later, because this pent-up Shimmer was seriously starting to bug her.

They walked around for a while, Caitlyn talking about random bullshit that Jinx mostly tuned out.

"Are you even listening to a word I'm saying?" She asked.

Jinx looked over at her, "Would you believe me if I said yes?"

"No."

"Then no," Jinx said, not bothering to lie.

She sighed, "You are aware that's rude?"

Jinx gave her a look.

She rolled her eyes, "Yes, I'm aware you don't care."

Jinx smirked at her, "Look at you, you're finally starting to understand me."

"More like I'm starting to learn how to decipher your multitude of scowls," she grumbled.

"Look, can we stop beating around the bush? Just tell me whatever the fuck you wanted to tell me," Jinx said, glaring at some rondos that were staring at her.

"Alright, well first off, Vi told me you two wanted me to be your third-party tie breaker for when you two are disagreeing," Caitlyn said, "I agreed, but I wanted to make sure you were ok with that."

"Ok? I'm the one who told Vi to ask you," Jinx said.

Caitlyn blinked in surprise, "Really?"

"Yeah, really. Why is everyone so shocked when I say that?" Jinx said with an annoyed click of her tongue.

"Probably because everyone assumes you hate my guts," Caitlyn said.

"I hate everyone's guts. You're not special."

Caitlyn snorted, "That there, Jinx, is why everyone assumes you hate me."

Jinx shrugged, before voicing a nagging thought that formed in the back of her head, "You don't think I hate you… right?"

"Don't worry, Jinx, I know you love me," Caitlyn said with a smirk.

"Oh, get over yourself," Jinx said as she picked up her pace, she didn't want Caitlyn to see the embarrassment on her face, making Caitlyn scramble to catch up.

Caitlyn laughed at Jinx's reaction as she studied the clear blue sky.

She had always loved the sky, she had seen so little of it, and there was so fucking much.

"Ok, now on to a more boring topic that I'm going to need you to please focus on while I'm talking," Caitlyn said as she finished laughing.

"That's a big ask, toots. What's the topic?" Jinx said, looking at her.

"Politics," she said plainly.

"Oh, Janna, I'd rather you shoot me," Jinx said as soon as the word left her mouth.

"Well, actually, that is the correct response," Caitlyn said, a clear grimace on her face.

Honestly, this shouldn't have been surprising for Jinx, she had set fire to one of the Piltes buildings, stolen their prized invention (which she returned by the way), and killed a bridge full of enforcers. Jinx should've been in a cell by now.

"Ok, so what, people want to lock me up or something?" Jinx asked.

"What? No!" Caitlyn exclaimed, "Actually, it's kinda… the opposite?" She said uncertainly as she looked at Jinx.

Jinx narrowed her eyes at her, "What the fuck did you do?"

"I didn't do anything! It was all my mother and Mel," she said bitterly.

"Who?" Jinx asked.

"Mel is a councilor-"

"Ah, a stuck-up bitch who thinks she can push me around, got it," Jinx said, interrupting her.

"No!" Caitlyn said, before pausing and then adding, "Kinda?"

"Get to the point," Jinx said, stopping and facing Caitlyn, "What do they want from me?"

Caitlyn let out a sigh, "Look, the thing is, someone recently told everyone that you were up here, and they want to turn you into a hero before the Council makes you into a villain."

Jinx crossed her arms, "Who told? I thought you had that shit under wraps?" Jinx asked suspiciously.

"I don't know Jinx, but the thing is that I didn't want to do this but now you really don't have much of a choice anymore," Caitlyn said tiredly, "Mother and Mel made up this big story about "The Reaper" some goddess of vengeance or whatever, who killed all the corrupted enforcers on the bridge."

Jinx blinked in surprise. So that's where the cat girl got the name from, some councilor bitch made it up. But why was the real question, making Jinx into the hero did nothing for Topside, so what did she hope to gain from such a bold-faced lie?

"They want you to go public with your support of Piltover."

Jinx scowled at that. They wanted to turn her into a pawn for their own personal use.

"You don't have to do it now!" Caitlyn rushed to say, "But… you do have to do it as soon as you move in with me and my family."

Jinx clenched her jaw, "Let me guess, a condition your mom added onto our living arrangements?"

Caitlyn had offered to let Jinx, Vi, and Vander come live at her house, which Vi eagerly agreed to. Jinx didn't care, a house was a house, as long as Vander was in it and safe, she didn't give a fuck whose it was.

"Yes," Caitlyn said sadly, "Jinx, I am so sorry, I was trying to figure out a way around this, but then someone let it slip that you were up here and-"

"Say… I killed the sheriff on the bridge, right?" Jinx asked, cutting her off.

"Y-yes?" Caitlyn said, confused at the sudden shift in topic.

"Sooooo, there's an opening available?" Jinx asked with a raised brow.

"Umm, yes, they haven't filled the position yet-"

"And you said your mom has a big fat issue with you being an enforcer, right?"

"Yes, but I don't see-"

Jinx smirked, "You know what, Caitlyn? I'll do it."

"You… will?" She said in complete shock.

"Oh yeah, I love being a big fat hero. It's the best," she said, a fun little plan forming in her mind.

"Ok, well… I'll tell my mother, I guess," she said, still shocked at Jinx's reaction.

"Oh, how about we keep this conversation between us?" Jinx said, looking over at her.

Caitlyn narrowed her eyes, "What are you planning?"

"A fun surprise that you would ruin if you told mommy dearest about my eagerness to comply," Jinx said as she began to walk again, "So just tell her that she needs to grow a pair and ask me herself."

"…you are aware I cannot say that to my mother?" Caitlyn said as she walked next to her.

"Then maybe you're the one who needs to grow a pair," Jinx hummed.

"Goodness, sometimes I forget how infuriating you can be," she muttered.

"Always happy to remind you!" She said happily.

Caitlyn sighed, "I do have one more thing to discuss with you," she said.

Jinx looked over at her, "Well, I'm in a particularly good mood, so go ahead and do your damnedest to ruin it."

"Your journal-"

"Welp, you ruined it," Jinx said, scowling at her, "Why the fuck are we talking about that again?"

She pulled the thing out and held it up.

Jinx snatched it away from her, "Did you-"

"No, I did not read it. Not a single word," she said patiently.

Jinx scowled, "Why do you have it?"

"The nurses found it on the ground in your old room, because that's where you left it," I took it back and made sure not a single person opened it," she assured.

Jinx clutched the thing close. She needed it fucking gone, for good this time.

"You gonna throw it off another building?" Mylo said mockingly.

No, this time she would do something more permanent.

"You got a lighter?" Jinx asked.

Caitlyn raised a brow, "No, would you like me to get you one?"

"Yes. Yes, I would," she said.

Caitlyn sighed and walked up to a man lighting a cigar. She asked if she could borrow his lighter for a moment. He agreed, and Caitlyn handed it to Jinx.

Jinx took the thing, it was a fancy piece of shit that overcomplicated itself for no reason whatsoever. Jinx then pulled out a knife, making Caitlyn gasp because she probably didn't know Jinx had that on her, and made a cut on her thumb. She smeared her blood onto the cover of the journal and then opened it up and did the same to the pages.

But if you are someone else reading this, Hi! My name's Powd-

She covered her words in blood and then flipped a few pages forward.

It hurts.

I want it to stop.

I thought writing would-

More blood and more flipping.

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to have your bones magically-

Blood, flip, repeat.

I miss Ekko. He was the best.

Pause…

He must still be out there somewhere, maybe I'll go look for him one day.

…blood, flip.

I am Powder.

I am Jinx.

I am both.

I am-

Blood, flip.

Me and The Boy Sav-

Blood, flip.

"Jinx, what are you-"

I can't tell if this is a good thing or not, because at this point I don't think I qualify as a human being anymore.

I'm too much of a-

Blood, flip, flip, flip.

But I have nothing to offer you, reading this was meaningless.

This was a waste of time for both of us.

Blood.

After she finished coating the thing in her blood, she flicked on the lighter, holding the book over it.

She watched as the flame reached up and curled around the book, reaching and growing as it ate away at her words, at the person who wrote them, the memories pressed into its pages.

When the flame reached her blood, it flared up into a blaze, consuming the paper faster and faster as it got more and more of her blood in its hungry jaws.

"Jinx! Let it go, you're going to burn yourself!" Caitlyn cried out in a panic.

She tried to get Jinx to let go, but Jinx didn't budge, she just watched as the flames consumed all her misery and began to erase it. She barely felt her flesh cooking.

Caitlyn then made a stupid move and tried to take the book, but she let out a loud yelp of pain as soon as her hands touched the burning flames.

The flames were quick with her blood fueling them, and soon the journal was nothing but ash after a minute.

Jinx flipped her hand over, letting the ashes fly away in the wind, something she should have done years ago.

Caitlyn shoved Jinx, making her stumble a few steps in shock.

Jinx whirled around and went to yell at her, but froze at the tears in her eyes and her holding her hand close to her chest.

"What the fuck, Jinx," she hissed, "Why can't you get it through your thick fucking skull!? You matter! Stop fucking hurting yourself!"

Jinx blinked at her, confused, "I wasn't doing that to hurt myself-"

She reached out and yanked Jinx's hand forward, revealing the burns that were already healing on her hand from the fire.

Jinx ripped her hand away, "Don't fucking touch-"

"Don't fucking burn yourself alive!" She screamed.

"Why do you care? I'll heal-" Jinx began.

"You'll heal, but you still feel the pain," she spat.

She held up her own hand that had a burn on it as well.

Jinx grimaced, "Sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"Sorry? Jinx, your hand is a hundred times worse than mine! Why can't you see that!?" She yelled, "I feel how bad this hurts, how can you possibly think it's ok to put yourself through something like that, even if it's not going to last."

She didn't understand.

Jinx hated pain, but she also needed it, without that small moment of unbearable agony, she would never feel. That small time frame of suffering was her time to be a person again. It was the only time she was normal.

Her one second of humanity.

"…I'm sorry you got burned. I'll be more careful next time," Jinx said, turning to leave to avoid the question.

Because how could she ever explain that to someone like Caitlyn? Her life was nothing but happiness, she couldn't possibly understand what it was like to feel like such a fucking freak.

"Stop right there," Caitlyn said, "you and I are going to get this checked out."

Jinx looked back at her, "Caitlyn, my hand will be healed by then, it's basically healed now-"

"You're the one who did this to me, so you owe me," Caitlyn snapped.

"More like you did it to yourself," Jinx muttered as she started following Caitlyn.

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing," Jinx said, rolling her eyes, "lead the way."

---

Caitlyn had forced Jinx to get her hand treated and had the doctor wrap it up in a bandage as well.

"How long would she need to wear these if she's severely burnt?" Caitlyn asked.

"Caitlyn-" Jinx started.

"How long?" Caitlyn repeated firmly.

"Uhhh, a few weeks, but she isn't hurt-" the doctor started.

"Great, then you're wearing those for a few weeks and applying the cream every few hours as instructed," Caitlyn said as she shoved the bandages and cream into Jinx's arms.

Jinx looked down at the stuff, "Why would I do that? I'm. Not. Hurt," she said slowly as if Caitlyn was struggling to understand the concept.

Caitlyn gave her a look, "You wanna go around injuring yourself? Then you get to experience the recovery process for every damn injury you get," she snapped.

Jinx was going to learn that her life was just as important and precious as anyone else's, even if it meant Caitlyn had to force her to do treatments like this on the daily.

"What? That's stupid," Jinx said, dropping the stuff on the floor, "No fucking way I'm doing all that-"

"Oh, you're going to do it," Caitlyn said, sticking a finger in her face.

"Or what?" Jinx hissed, narrowing her eyes at her.

"Or I'm telling Vander," Caitlyn said, raising a brow and crossing her arms.

"You wouldn't dare," she growled.

"Try me," she growled back.

Jinx sat there, debating whether she should call her bluff or not.

Honestly, Caitlyn would go to Vander if she had to, but she also didn't even know the guy, so it would be kinda awkward if their first conversation was about how Jinx was self-harming.

"Fine," she spat out, "I'll wear the stupid bandages."

Caitlyn smiled, "Lovely, and we can help you reapply your cream when I do mine! That way you don't forget."

More like so Jinx didn't just not do it at all.

Jinx scowled at her, completely understanding the true meaning of her words.

Caitlyn just smiled at her before Jinx got up and began to walk out.

Caitlyn quickly asked the doctor to send the medicine and wraps to the hospital room and went after Jinx.

They walked side by side through the halls silently. Caitlyn wanted to talk to her, but Jinx seemed kinda fed up with her for today.

So she instead busied herself with thinking about what to say when she met Vander. Like, how should she introduce herself?

Hi, I'm the girl your daughter likes, but we aren't actually together because she's an emotional train wreck.

Or she could go with the classic.

Hi, I'm Caitlyn Kiramman. Yes, that Kiramman. The one whose mother is on the council, who has ignored and caused your whole city's pain and suffering. Also, I kissed your daughter, so that's probably a thing.

She sighed. How was she supposed to make a good impression on this man? She had no idea how to talk to him.

"You look stupid," Jinx said dryly, "stop scrunching up your face like that."

"Well, excuse me," Caitlyn snapped.

"What are you sighing about anyway? I'm the one stuck looking like a mummy for a week," Jinx asked, glancing at her.

"Weeks," Caitlyn corrected.

"That's what I said, days," Jinx said, changing the time frame for wearing the badges again, "Now talk while I'm still pretending to give a shit."

"Well, if you must know, I'm nervous to meet your father," Caitlyn admitted, trying not to sound as embarrassed as she felt.

"Why?" Jinx asked, "He's like, the biggest softy ever."

"Ha!" Caitlyn said with a snort, "You mean the guy who was one of the most well-respected leaders of the Undercity for years is supposedly a softy? He is basically Undercity royalty, and here I am, the daughter of one of the people who has been keeping his people oppressed for generations!"

"Oh yeah, I forgot you did that," Jinx said, "yeah, he'll totally hate your guts for that one."

Caitlyn scowled at her.

"That or, ya know, totally love you after he hears that you saved my and Vi's asses more times than we can count. Oh, and don't forget how you are literally the only reason Vander isn't still in a coma right now," she said before giving Caitlyn a look, "but what the hell do I know, he'll definitely hold your family's mistakes against you. Not like he's one of the most forgiving people on this planet."

"Ha, ha," Caitlyn said as she scowled, "Just because you say all that doesn't make this any easier."

"Welp, ready or not, here we are," Jinx said as she walked over to the room door and threw it open, making it slam against the wall and wake both Vi and Vander up with a start.

"Morning!" Jinx said happily, walking over and planting a kiss on Vander's cheek, looking happier than Caitlyn had ever seen before.

"Morn'n," Vander muttered, "When did you get up?"

"Before you," Jinx said as she walked over to Caitlyn, who stood awkwardly by the door.

"By that she means hours ago," Vi added before she yawned.

"Shut up, Vi," Jinx snapped before clearing her throat, "Vander, meet Caitlyn," she said, shoving Caitlyn forward, "Vi's kinda girlfriend."

Caitlyn turned and glared at Jinx with the fury of a thousand suns.

Jinx just winked at her.

Vander looked at Vi with a raised brow, "Girlfriend?"

"She calls her cupcake," Jinx snickered.

"Jinx!" Caitlyn screeched.

Jinx cackled as she went and hid behind Vi and Vander, happily settling into her chair.

"Jinx?" Vander asked, looking at Vi and Jinx.

"Oh- well, umm," Vi began stumbling over her words.

"It's fine, Vander, that's what people call me now," Jinx muttered, that happiness she had just moments ago fading.

"Hmmm, well, I can still call you Powder, right?" He asked.

Jinx shrugged as she silently fiddled with her bandages.

"Hey, what happened there?" Vi asked.

"Ask your girlfriend," Jinx said as she sent a glare her way.

Both Vi and Vander looked over at her.

"W-well, uh-"

"She burnt herself, so I'm wearing this stuff because I'm particularly responsible for it," Jinx interrupted, clearly noting Caitlyn's lack of an excuse.

"You got burnt!" Vi said, standing up and walking over, grabbing her hands and looking sadly at the one with the wrap on it.

"It's really not that bad," she said, embarrassed.

"I'm sorry about her," Vander said, giving Jinx a stern look, "Powder, did you apologize?"

"I'm wearing the bandages, aren't I?" Jinx said defensively.

"Oh, it's ok, Sir," Caitlyn said, "She already apologized for it and, like she said, she is wearing the bandages."

"Sir?" Vi muttered to her, a smile pulling at her lips.

"Shut it," she hissed back.

Vander laughed, "Relax, Caitlyn, you can just call me Vander."

"Yeah, Cupcake, stop being such a stick in the mud," Vi said, nudging her.

"She was born as a stick in the mud," Jinx said, "Can't get that girl to do anything fun," Jinx said to Vander.

"That's not true!" Caitlyn said defensively.

"Oh yeah? Name one fun thing you've done that me or Vi didn't force you to do?"

She pursed her lips.

"Ha!" Jinx said, "I knew it."

"Whatever, just means I get to be the one to show you what a good time is," Vi said.

"Gag!" Jinx said before leaning over towards Vander, "Your dad's in the room, Vi, have you no shame?"

"Do you really have to ask?" Vander said, "She's made out with that one girl for like three minutes straight in front of me."

"What!" Caitlyn exclaimed, "Vi, why would you do something like that!?"

"'Cause she was mad that Vander told her she couldn't be alone in her room with girls anymore," Jinx said with a smirk.

"Hey, to be fair, that trick would have worked with anyone sane. It isn't my fault Vander here didn't give a shit," Vi said with a snort as she hooked her arm around Caitlyn's neck and led her over to Vander's bedside.

"That isn't an excuse for making out with someone in front of your father!" Caitlyn exclaimed, absolutely mortified at the thought.

Her father would probably die in the spot if she did that, and her mother would burst into flames.

"Oh, come on, like you wouldn't do it," Vi said, rolling her eyes.

"As a matter of fact," Caitlyn said, elbowing her in the stomach, making her pull her arm off her shoulders, "I wouldn't."

Vander smiled, "I like this one, don't fuck this up, Vi."

Vi smiled back, "I'm trying."

Caitlyn felt her face flush as they continued to talk.

---

Stillwater.

A place they throw the people they don't want to see again, because they're too fucking weak to just get rid of them for good.

It was a shame that brute didn't provide any new information on Jinx, not that it matters. Maddie knew exactly where Caitlyn was storing the files they had taken from Singed's lab.

All she had to do was gain access to it and find the right files, and then she was set.

A pity the City didn't turn on Jinx after she let it slip that she was being secretly hidden away by the Kiranmman family. It would have made turning her so much easier if she were isolated and alone, but luckily for Jinx, she seemed to have some friends in high places.

No matter, soon all the pieces would fall into place.

There were cracks in Vi and Caitlyn's oh-so-perfect blooming love, all she had to do was make them bigger, until it all came tumbling down.

Ambessa would not have to wait much longer, she would soon have her ultimate weapon.

Jinx.

Notes:

PLEASE READ!!! (IMPORTANT SCHEDULE UPDATE)

Thus ends part one of The Monster He Created!

I'm going to take a break from uploading for a week, because I got to get my backlog built back up and I need to figure a few other things out with the plot, but feel free to leave suggestions for one shot chapters you want to see, because there will be a lot of that in the next part.

When we come back, we will get to have much more happiness and healing moments for Jinx and everyone, with just a sprinkle of Ambessa nonsense to keep everyone on their toes 😉

Also, I'm starting school again soon, but they're being assholes about phones (which is where I do all my writing), so we'll have to see how that all works out. I'll keep you updated on how that will end up looking for you guys.

See you soon 🤗

Chapter 60: Don’t Come For Me, I’ll Fight Right Back.

Notes:

Did ya miss me?

Vander's second surgery went by swimmingly, Jinx was at his side the entire time he was in the operating room.

Both Vi and Jinx were with him when he woke up, and so was Caitlyn, who had gotten over her weird fear of Vander and just hung out with Vi like a normal person now.

Unfortunately, the biggest side effect of being in a coma for so long was his motor skills. He would have to go to physical therapy to help him walk again and move like normal. Right now, he struggles the most with small movements and keeping himself steady, but Steb assured them that with time, things would get better.

But before any of that could happen, Vander would have to remain in the hospital for a few more days, which gave Jinx just enough time to set up the plan she had in mind for Caitlyn's control freak of a mother.

Jinx slipped out of the room when both Vi and Vander fell asleep, Vi explaining to Vander that Jinx didn't sleep much when he tried to get her to go to bed. Jinx had told Vi that she could explain little things like that to Vander, she didn't care, plus it saved her from having to talk about all of that.

Jinx walked her way to the one other place she had been to while she was up here and knocked on the door.

She had to knock many more times before the door opened.

"What the fuc-" Loris began groggily, until he realized it was Jinx, then his eyes bugged out and all of the sleep left him instantly, "Jinx!"

She walked in, shoving past him, "You said you're a high-ranking enforcer, right?"

He blinked before closing the door quickly and rushing over to the sofa, scooping up a bunch of takeout containers and alcohol bottles and shoving them into the trash.

Jinx rolled her eyes as he grabbed the pillow and blanket from off the couch and threw them down the hallway, as if that somehow magically got rid of them and made her forget she ever saw them in the first place.

He then cleared his throat and looked at Jinx, "I was a high-ranking officer in the past, yes."

Jinx raised a brow at him, "And what are you now?"

"…a patrolman," he admitted.

Well fuck her, she was banking on him having some sort of high-level clearance. She needed someone on the inside to get her the dirt she needed.

"It was the only position Caitlyn could manage to get me, but if there's something you need then-" he said as she turned to leave.

"Would you be able to dig into a councilor's files and spending records?" She asked dryly.

"…no. But" he said quickly before Jinx could walk out, "If it's dirt on the councilors you want, I know that Jayce was causing quite a stir with the old sheriff, and that some enforcers went to some councilors' homes."

Jinx paused and looked back at him, "You mean to tell me nosebleed has the dirt I'm looking for?"

"If by nosebleed you mean Jayce, then yeah," shield guy said, sounding slightly confused at nosebleed's name.

Jinx stood there and considered that for a moment, "Alright, let's go then."

"Y-you actually want me to come with you?" He asked.

"Well, A, you're the one who knows where he lives-"

He opened his mouth as if to say something about that.

"-and if you don't, then you're sure as hell going to find out," she added.

He shut his mouth.

"B, he probably likes you a lot more than he likes me," she said, as she opened the door and began walking.

He scrambled after her, "Actually, you've talked to him more than me-"

"Yeah, well, I broke his nose, so I think you still qualify as more liked," Jinx said dryly.

"Broke his nose!?" He exclaimed loudly.

Jinx scowled as she prepared herself to listen to the stupid lecture about how violence is wrong and how she shouldn't kick people's asses just because they're acting like fucking morons.

"Awesome," he said as he grinned like an idiot.

Jinx looked at him, utterly bewildered at his behavior. She couldn't understand him, he wasn't like Caitlyn, who was interested in her well-being for some reason, but he also wasn't like Steb, who was just himself with Jinx despite all the stories and things he had heard about her.

Shield guy? He seemed invested in everything she did and what she thought. Like if she said the sky was pink, then he would actually believe her, it was fucking bizarre. Not to mention the fact that he didn't question her actions, if anything, she would say he supported them all, putting such a large and deep meaning into them that it made her uncomfortable.

Because everything she did was mostly done on a whim without much thought behind it. Someone putting such grand meaning to them felt weird.

It felt wrong to be held in such high esteem.

"Just- lead the way, would you?" Jinx grumbled.

"Sure! Also, what happened to your hand!? Did you-"

Jinx scowled in utter frustration at his meaningless chatter as they walked.

It took them a minute, but eventually they found themselves at some sort of lab that nosebleed was supposedly at.

Shield guy knocked, and Jinx tapped her foot as she waited impatiently. The door opened and revealed fortune cookie, not nosebleed.

"Oh, hey Viktor!" Shield guy said.

"Loris, Jinx," he replied, eyes lingering suspiciously long on Jinx.

"Say, Viktor, is Jayce here?" Shield guy asked.

"No, he went to bed," he said, eyes still glued to Jinx.

Jinx growled in annoyance. She could already see it, the hunger in his eyes, the slight sheen of sweat, the way his fingers wouldn't stop incessantly moving. The guy was crashing from the high her blood gave him, and he would do anything to go back up.

"Let's get out of here," Jinx said.

She had absolutely no interest in dealing with an addict. She remembered the hordes of them that would come out of the woodworks when she delivered Shimmer. When she was a child, like a fool, she fell for their stupid sob stories of desperately needing some and gave them a vial or two.

She did that a few times before learning that those fucking assholes were nothing but filthy liars. It didn't matter how much Shimmer she gave them or how many times they promised to get better, they always came back for more.

"Wait!" Exclaimed fortune cookie.

Jinx clenched her jaw and looked back at him, "What?" she spat.

"…perhaps I can assist you instead," he said, trying to sound composed.

Jinx still wasn't having it, she could see through his pathetic display.

"And how could you possibly help me?" She sneered.

"I have access to all of Jayce's work, all his files. I could get whatever you want from him for you. And if it's an invention you want, then I can-" he began to ramble.

"And let me guess," Jinx said, turning back to look at him, "you want more Shimmer in exchange."

He flinched before going back to his facade, "There are so many opportunities to study your blood, if you would just allow me a sample. Think of the lives you would save-"

"Do you know the side effects my blood has?" Jinx asked, cutting off his bullshit.

"Side effects? Look at me, I'm perfectly fine-"

"Addiction is most common, but I'm sure you're all too familiar with that already."

He opened his mouth to speak, but Jinx cut him off and just pressed on.

"There's the mutation aspect to it as well of course," she said before giving him a look, "But once again, you've probably discovered the joy of that."

"My mutation has allowed me to walk and live my life again. How could you think any of that is a downside?" He replied sharply.

Jinx raised her brow at him, "Oh? You mean that nothing has happened with that leg or whatever else got turned?"

He clenched his jaw, but didn't respond.

She scoffed, "You- 'Scientists'," Jinx said, adding air quotes around the word, "always think that you can cheat your way through life-"

"I want to improve-" he began angrily.

"YOU WANT TO PLAY GOD!" she spat, "You know what happens when you play god? You'll strike a spark thinking you're forging a future, but all you'll build is a pyre," she hissed.

"The world would never change if there were no one brave enough to jump into the flames," he replied.

She scoffed, "Fine, jump. I'll laugh at your ashes."

"You have much to offer this world, Powder-"

Like a match lit in a gas-filled room, the explosion of voices was instantaneous.

"Powder!"

"Weak!"

"Useless!"

"Stupid!"

"Worthless!"

Slam!

"Shit! Jinx, let him go, I'm sure he didn't-" shield guy began.

"SAY IT AGAIN!" She spat viscously as she choked the life out of fortune cookie, "SAY IT!"

Bam!

Jinx snarled as she shoved fortune cookie to the floor and elbowed whoever had punched her in the stomach.

She wiped off the blood that fell out of her nose from the punch, and went to murder whoever attacked her. Her rage blinding her to anything happening around her, so she couldn't even resister who had hit her.

Before she got the chance to jump the attacker, a large man blocked her, but that didn't stop her, she pulled out her knife and-

"JINX!"

She froze, panting as she tightly held her blade, eyes recognizing the face in front of her.

"…Shield guy?" She asked, slightly confused.

"Yeah," he said, calmer than she had ever seen him before, "So how about we put the knife away," he said, nodding at it.

Jinx furrowed her brows, "But there was someone…" she said, looking around.

"That would be me," replied a familiarly irritating voice.

Nosebleed.

"And I, too, would appreciate it if you put the damned knife away," he grumbled as he wearily eyed her.

"Remember what they say, respect is earned or bought."

"But fear works too," Mlyo laughed, "After all, fear and respect are basically the same, no?"

"They were for Silco."

She blinked before putting the knife away.

"What are you doing here?" Nosebleed asked.

Jinx didn't respond, she just stood there, mind lost as she tried to pull herself together. She wasn't Silco, she didn't want people to fear her.

"Bit late for that," Mylo snorted, "Look at them, all of them are scared of you."

"They will never respect you," Claggor said, "you'll just have to be satisfied with their fear.

"We were hoping for a favor from you," shield guy replied for her.

"Then why were you talking to Viktor?" He asked suspiciously.

"He was the only one here when we knocked," shield guy explained.

Nosebleed got up and checked on fortune cookie, but fortune cookie wasn't in the mood. He slapped nosebleed's concerned hand off of him and stormed off into the lab, slamming the door behind him.

Nosebleed sighed, " I'm sorry about him. He's been acting… strangely."

"He was trying to get his hands on Jinx's blood earlier. Does that have something to do with him acting all screwy?" Shield guy asked.

Nosebleed nodded, "He's been so odd as of late. Refusing to sleep and working nonstop for hours on end, honestly, he had been doing that for days, practically unstoppable. I couldn't keep up anymore and had to go take a nap. I was just coming back to check on him when I saw the three of you having it out. He had only just started acting strangely yesterday. He began to get extremely irritable, complaining about the pain in his leg all the time, not being able to focus on anything whatsoever," he said sadly, "I tried to figure out what was going on with him, and then he began to bring you up practically every other word," he said gesturing at Jinx, "I figured you had been right about the addiction warning you gave me," he said looking up at her.

Jinx looked away from him, "Yeah, he's crashing from the high. Meaning he'll be a pain in my ass for a while."

Nosebleed sighed, "I want to get mad at you for nearly killing him, but I can only imagine what he said to you."

"Ha, you should be grateful Jinx didn't do anything more than choke him!" Said shield guy.

Jinx just shook her head.

How? She had nearly just killed Fortune Cookie and stabbed shield guy, yet he still wouldn't stop complimenting her as if she was in the right for what just happened.

Which made no sense, because Jinx was always wrong.

Nosebleed sighed, "I'll find some way to deal with him, I promise, he won't bother you anymore," he said to Jinx, "Anyway, there was something you needed from me?"

"I want the files you have on the councilors," Jinx said plainly.

He blinked at her, "What? Why?"

"Because you people want me to be your little puppet you get to parade around, and for that to happen, I'm going to need to get to know the people holding the strings," Jinx said with a little smile.

"Oh," Jayce said tiredly, "I'm sorry about that. I tried to talk Mel out of the whole Reaper thing when she first came up with it, but no one listened. Now you're apparently going to have to learn to deal with those crooks who sit around on their asses without doing shit."

Jinx raised a brow, "Excuse me? What do you mean you tried talking to Mel? Why would your opinion change hers?"

"Oh!" He said with awkward chuckling and trying to look elsewhere, "We, umm, we were good friends," he said with a cough.

"He's on the council," shield guy explained, "and Mel was his biggest sponsor, she was the one who got Hextech off the ground and got him his seat on the council."

"Ah," Jinx said as she understood what was happening.

Mel, whoever the bitch was, had nosebleed wrapped around her delicate little finger. She had all the people on that council wrapped around her finger.

"Well, I want the files, I like to do my research on people before I-"

Obliterate them and destroy absolutely all their political images in their entirety.

"-am forced to interact with them," she said instead.

"I get that. I had to deal with the council, completely unaware of anything. Thankfully, Mel was there to help me out," he said, "Anyway, I'll get you those files so you know what you're getting yourself into. Though if you want a word of advice, don't go attacking them if they say stupid shit. They won't like that."

Jinx pursed her lips before giving him her best attempt at a fake ass smile, "Gee, thanks. I'll make sure to remember that."

Like fuck she would, if one of those son of bitches even looked at her wrong, she'd shove her foot so far up there stuck up asses they'd taste it for weeks to come.

"Just send shield guy here the files," she said, gesturing at Loris, "I got to get back," she said as she turned and walked off back to the hospital room, only stopping to enjoy the night air and sky for a moment.

She hadn't even seen the moon before, at least not more than mere glimpses. She had only ventured to Topside during the day for the most part, and when she had been high up enough to see the sky at night, it wasn't a night where she was forced on taking in the sights.

"Like that night on the bridge with Ekko?"

She flinched at that and then quickly went back to the room.

---

Jinx stared up at the ceiling silently, waiting for the world to start up.

It was funny waiting around like this, it was like she was at the doctor's. Only it lasted far longer, happened with more consistency and frequency, and while it should have been better somehow, it felt much worse than with the doctor.

Well, worse was a bad word to describe it, what would suit this odd feeling better? Boring, she supposed?

All Jinx could feel was pent up. Like a wild tiger in a circus, not allowed to attack, but forced to perform.

She sighed.

"That's a lot of noise for a girl who's supposed to be sleeping," Vander said, making Jinx jump.

"I could say the same to you," Jinx said back as she stood and walked over.

He chuckled before looking at her, "So you really didn't sleep? Aren't you tired?"

Jinx shrugged, "I told you I'm different now," she whispered.

She was the opposite of tired, she was so awake it fucking hurt.

"Hmmm," he hummed as he looked at her, "Not that different," he said with a small smile.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"You still got that short, messy hair," he said.

She reached up and gently touched the edges of her hair, looking at it. She supposed he was right, her hair was practically the same length.

"You know what, Ekko, one of these days I'm gonna have my hair so long that I can finally have real braids!"

She had forgotten all about her wish to have long hair and her real braids.

"…..would you braid it?" She asked softly.

He raised a brow, "It's been a few years, afraid I might be out of practice."

Jinx shrugged as she plopped herself down, "That's ok, I don't care how it looks. Just wanna feel you do it again."

So, as requested, Vander began to braid. His hands were no good at the small movements necessary for making the braids with his lack of motor skills, and Jinx's hair was what you could call a bird's nest from how tangled it was but, eventually, Jinx had her braids.

---

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

"Come in," called Vi, who was just completing Powder's new braids that Vander had done while she was sleeping.

They were terrible and sloppy, and there wasn't a hair tie to keep them in place, so they were practically already undone, but Powder seemed to enjoy them, and Vander had been the one to make them, so she would never say that they didn't look good.

Loris stepped through the door, "Hey, guys," he said, slightly hesitant.

"Loris? What are you doing here?" Vi asked, waving him inside.

"Oh, uhhh," he said, stepping through the door and looking awkwardly between all of them.

"He's here for me," Powder said as she hopped up and waltzed over, "You got what I asked for, shield guy?"

"Course!" He said as he handed over some vanilla folders to Powder.

Powder opened up one of the files and smiled at the contents before snapping it shut, "Great, hold onto these for me, would ya'?" She said as she handed them back to Loris.

Vi raised a brow at them, "Ok, what are you up to, Powder?"

"Whatever do you mean?" She asked, turning back to look at her, the look of mischief painted all over her face.

"You two aren't friends, so why in the world are you hanging out?" she said, looking at the two suspiciously.

"Vi, you're always so suspicious," she said with a tisk of her tongue, "Shield guy and me are totally cool, right?" She asked, looking up at him.

He was stood there looking absolutely star-struck as he looked at Vander happily, completely ignoring Powder.

Powder's eyes glanced between Vander and Loris, "Would you like to meet him?" She asked.

Loris blinked before grinning, "Can I?"

She shrugged, "I mean, you're already in the room, it'd be kinda awkward if you didn't."

He approached Vander, suddenly becoming serious and then snapping into a salute, "It is an honor, Sir."

Vi shook her head at Loris's ridiculous behavior.

Vander was also taken aback by the action, "Geez, kid, you gotta relax, calling me sir like that makes me feel old."

"He's weird like that," Powder said as she walked over, "Anyway, Vander, this is shield guy-"

"Loris," Vi corrected.

"-and shield guy, this is my dad, Vander."

"He's one of the guys who helps us save you," Vi said proudly as she went over and slapped Loris on the back, "An old enforcer, but he still kicks butt!"

Vander furrowed his brows, "Now wait a minute, you would happen to be that Loris, would you?"

"Yes, I am, sir," he said, still standing at attention, but he dropped the salute.

"You've heard of shield guy?" Powder asked Vander.

"Yes," Vander said, "and show some respect, Powder. This man was the first and only Undercity citizen to make it to such a high rank in the enforcers. He is a legend."

Powder blinked, "Shield guy!?" She said, absolutely taken aback.

Honestly, Vi was too, she didn't know he was so well known. He must have been hated back in the day for being an enforcer and all that.

"Yes, Powder. Now stop calling him that this instant," Vander said sternly.

"No, sir, that's alright. I want her to earn the privilege of having your daughter call me my name on her own," he said with a small smile, "Besides, it's her I should be showing respect to, not the other way around. She has done some spectacular things for us Undercity folk."

Powder scowled, "Ok, enough of that. Thanks for the stuff, but get lost."

Vander chuckled, "Don't mind her, sit, stay, and talk for a minute. If you have the time to spare, of course."

Loris was practically beaming when he said that. He quickly snagged a chair and sat himself right down.

"Nowhere else I'd rather be," he said as she grinned like a moron.

Powder rolled her eyes practically the entire time they talked. But after a while, she settled down, still quiet like normal, but a small smile was tugging at her lips.

Notes:

Important schedule update!!

Ok, my school is being a total asshole about phones. Unfortunately that means I can’t keep uploading 3 days a week. I’m going to go back to only posting on the weekends. Thank you for understanding, this chapter will officially be the last Wednesday chapter.

Chapter 61: The Fox And The Wolf

Vi and her family's time at the hospital flew by. Next thing Caitlyn knew, they were all walking up to her home, Jinx wheeling Vander along in his wheelchair because he couldn't stand on his own yet.

"Fucking hell," Jinx said as she looked at Caitlyn's house, "I thought this was your house, not your palace!"

"I told you!" Vi said, "She is rich as hell."

Caitlyn blushed, "It's really not that big a deal, guys."

She would add on that her summer home was far more impressive than this place, but she had a feeling saying that would get her smacked.

And she was probably right, judging by the way both Jinx and Vi looked at her after her last comment.

"She does know that the dump you took her to with all those addicts was our old home, right?" Jinx asked Vi.

Vi shrugged, "I thought so."

"Quite down, you two, we got company," Vander said as he nodded toward Caitlyn's parents standing at the front steps.

Her father smiled brightly as they all approached, while her mother, on the other hand, looked rather unhappy with all of them, fake smile or no.

"Welcome!" Father called happily as they grew closer, "My name is Tobias Kiramman, and this is my wife, Cassandra Kiramman. It is an honor to finally meet you."

"Father, mother, this is Vander and Jinx. And of course, you already know Vi," Caitlyn said, introducing them.

"Nice to meet you, thank you for all the help," Vander said, sticking his hand out, which her father took.

"It's the least we could do," her father said as he shook his hand, "we're just glad all of you are alright. And just so you know, we had an elevator installed for your convenience, as well as this ramp," Father said, gesturing at the new ramp that had been added to the front steps.

"Wow, you guys seriously went out of your way, thanks," Vi said as she looked at the ramp, impressed.

Jinx was much less enthusiastic about meeting Caitlyn's parents. Her glare fixed on her mother, as her mother gave a look back.

"Powder, say hello," Vander prompted softly.

"Hello," Jinx said, a thick mocking tone in her voice, eyes still locked onto her mother.

"Welcome," Her mother replied, just as much venom in her voice.

"Ok, can we just be civil for five minutes? Then the two of you will never need to speak to each other again," Caitlyn said, desperately trying to stop this incoming fight.

"I would love to do that Caitlyn, however, there is the matter that is yet to be settled before they come inside," Mother said, fixing her with a look.

"Cassandra must you-" Her father began.

"Relax, people," Jinx said as she handed Vander over to Vi and walked up to her mother, no fear, no hesitation.

It was like watching two storms colliding, neither backing down, both a giant force that should be feared.

"If you got something to ask me, do it your fucking self instead of inserting your daughter into your business," Jinx spat, her mother having no reaction to her whatsoever.

Her face of stone remained as she looked down at Jinx, "I thought it best not to overwhelm you by insisting on visiting, because you are such a fragile little thing who has been through so much. How awful do you think I am to make you meet with me when you were so distraught?"

Jinx laughed right in her face, before stifling it into giggles, "Oh, I'm sorry, it's just-" she let out a snort of laughter, "YOU'RE calling ME fragile? I've killed bugs more fragile than you," she said as she looked her mother up and down.

Mother's lip twitched in irritation, "Yes, I'm sure you've killed many things, that's your specialty after all."

Jinx's amusement fell from her face in a millisecond.

"Cass!" Father cried, "Jinx, please forgive-"

Jinx held a hand up, "Don't apologize for her, she can do it herself."

"Yes, I am more than capable of handling this little girl, Tobias," said Mother, eyes still locked with Jinx's.

"Lots of people say that, you know, before they die," Jinx said as she cocked her head to the side.

"Hm," she replied curtly, "Seems they should've been more aware of their limitations."

Jinx gave her an unamused smirk back, "Wasn't there something you wanted from me?"

"Yes," mother replied smoothly, "Jinx it would be in yours, and your family's, best interest to make a public announcement tomorrow as The Reaper declaring your full and complete support of Piltover and its council."

"Now just wait one moment!" Vander snarled, outraged.

"You fucking bitch, you're trying to use my sister to-" Vi began.

Jinx once again held up her hand to tell them all to quiet down, "You know, lady, that sounds an awful lot like a threat."

"Not a threat, dear, an opportunity," she replied calmly.

Jinx stared at her, making Caitlyn worried. Dear god, what if Jinx attacked her mother!? What was she supposed to do then?!

"Ok then, let's do it," Jinx said as she spun around and went back to Vander and wheeled him forward.

Mother blinked, "Y-you're agreeing? Just like that?"

Jinx looked at her as she wheeled Vander inside, "Yup!"

Caitlyn snorted at her mother's slightly furrowed brows and pursed lips. You wouldn't know it by looking at her, but Jinx had gotten to her.

Jinx had managed to crack her mother's unbreakable mask.

---

"Powder, mind telling us what that was all about?" Vi asked, annoyed.

"Yes," Vander added, "I am rather interested in what exactly you got yourself into as well."

Jinx looked over at them, "You two trust me, right?"

They both shared a look before Vander answered, "Yes, of course we do."

"Then let me deal with this," Jinx said, a small smile dancing across her lips.

"Jinx has a plan of some sort," Caitlyn said as she led the way through her giant maze of a house.

"When doesn't she?" Vi asked, humor intended to come through, but it couldn't outdo the worry in her voice.

Jinx sighed. She wanted to tell them, but they might try to stop her. After all, what she had in store was big. She had already picked her poor, pathetic targets that would best suit her agenda, and she knew things would go exactly as she planned.

If these people wanted to try to push her into this role of the Reaper, then she would gladly take the reins and show them what happens when she's driving.

All she wanted to do was show them how much destruction a jinx could really cause, no harm in that, right?

"Here we go," Caitlyn said as she pushed open a gigantic set of doors, which led into an even bigger room.

All three of them looked at the room with large, round eyes. One big plush bed sat in the center of the room, dozens of pillows that were probably bigger than one of Jinx's old beds were casually plopped on top, and a huge, incredibly soft-looking blanket spread over the cushioned mattress.

The huge room even had a sofa, desk, table, and a bathroom as well.

"This is Vander's room," Caitlyn said looking back at them, "those two doors," she said gesturing at two mysteriously shut doors, "lead to your bedrooms," she said as she walked over and opened one, Vi walking through with her head on a swivel, "and of course there are doors leading to the hallway in your guys room's as well, I just thought you would enjoy seeing these connecting doors first," she said to Vi and Jinx.

Vi was so excited she was like a kid, it was ridiculous.

"You mean to tell me I get this entire room to myself!?" Such genuine joy on her face as she said those words.

"Why wouldn't she be happy?"

"She's been forced to share everything with you since you were born."

"You're like a blood sucking leech."

"She had to sacrifice so much for you, finally, she's got something back."

"All thanks to the Pilte."

Jinx let her nails bite into her arm, trying to silence the voices, but she couldn't help but feel they were right every time she caught sight of the genuine smile on Vi's face as she looked all around the room.

"Powder?" Vander said softly.

"Hm?" She responded curtly, not really feeling up for the chat.

"You know Vi loves you, you two sleeping in separate rooms isn't going to change that."

Jinx shrugged, "Obviously, what kind of fucking moron would I have to be to think that?" She said as she walked away, leaving Vander to be pushed by someone else.

She sat on Vander's new couch and waited for Vi to be done with her tour with her knees hugged to her chest.

So much new.

So much change.

She hated all of it.

"Jinx, follow me," Caitlyn said, smiling at her, "You don't think I forgot about you, did you?" She said as she opened up the door to Jinx's room.

Jinx looked in, the setup was similar to Vander's, big bed, big couch, tinyish table, random ass desk, and bathroom.

"Andddddd," Caitlyn said excitedly as she went over to the bed and grabbed something off of it, hiding it behind her back as she walked over to Jinx again, "Surprise!"

She pulled out her old stuffed rabbit, only it wasn't so old anymore.

Jinx gently took it out of her hands and examined it. The tears had been sewn shut, any holes patched up, and the fabric had been cleaned up. It was no longer a dirty, shabby mess of a toy, it honestly looked better than it originally had.

"Oh shoot," Vi said as she came in, pushing Vander in with her, "I missed it."

Jinx looked at her, "You knew about this?"

Vi grinned at her as she went over and hooked her arm around Caitlyn, "Cait came up with the idea, and I jumped at the chance to help as soon as she told me about it!"

They both smiled at her as she just stood there, not knowing what to say.

"I know that this bunny means a lot to the two of you, so I wanted to have it fixed up for you," Caitlyn said, "Vi even learned how to sew so she could help out."

"It's true!" Vi exclaimed, "I must have stabbed myself with that needle a million times, and Cait had to basically fix all of the stitches I made, but I picked out the stuff she used to patch it, so technically I did help!" She said proudly.

Jinx shook her head at her ridiculousness as she smiled, "You are such a weirdo."

"A weirdo you love!" She said as she went back over to Vander, "Let's get you settled so you don't have to sit in this chair anymore, Vander."

They both left, leaving just Caitlyn and Jinx.

Jinx ran a hand down the bunny, a smile tugging at her lips as she went over to the bed and placed it down where it rightfully belonged.

"So, what do you think?" Caitlyn asked as she looked to Jinx with excitement, "I know you've never had your own room with the doctor, but now you have all the space you could ever want, and it connects directly to Vander's room!" She said proudly.

She really had thought this through, the whole connecting rooms thing and the bunny, all of it was a nice personal touch that wouldn't have been there if it wasn't for Caitlyn. And while Caitlyn didn't know it, this would be Jinx's first time having a room to herself, period.

Her whole life, she had shared a space with other people, Vi, her parents, Vander, Mylo, or Claggor. There was always someone with her when she slept, except for the nights she spent at some random hideout in severe pain as she nursed whatever injuries she had.

…now all she would have is a stuffed rabbit.

"…yeah," Jinx muttered, "it's cool, thanks," she said, walking back to Vander's room.

She didn't want to sleep alone.

She didn't want to live apart from her family.

She wanted to be next to Vander forever.

She wanted to keep him safe forever.

How could she do that if she was forced to leave him?

"Alright then, I'll leave you to get settled," Caitlyn said as they all gathered back in Vander's room, "My room is right down the hall and to the left. I'll be right there if you need anything, anything at all."

With that, she left and shut the door behind her, waving at them, Vi and Vander waving back.

Jinx unhappily stood and watching her go.

---

"Ok, Vander, you're all set for the night. Me and Powder are going to head to our rooms. Just give a shout if you need anything, anything at all," Vi said as she hugged him goodnight.

Jinx just stood there, unmoving, watching the whole interaction.

"Powder? Can I get a hug?" He asked, raising his arms up.

Vi looked at Jinx, as if asking if this was alright, but Jinx slinked into his arms without protest, ignoring her stupid skin that greeted his touch with protest.

She curled into him as he planted a kiss on her head.

"Will you be alright?" He asked softly.

Jinx peeked up at him, "You're the sick one, I should be asking you that."

He smiled, "It's ok to need some attention too, Pow-Pow."

Jinx winced and retreated from his embrace at the nickname.

"Well, look at the pathetic Pow-Pow," Mylo mocked, "can't even let these people go one night without needing them."

"I-I'll be fine," she said as she walked to her room and shut the door behind her after telling them both goodnight.

She looked around the dark room, eyes landing on the plush bed that Vi and Vander couldn't get enough of, where her rabbit sat on top of. It looked so lonely in that big, empty bed.

She looked away from the bed and bunny and slid down to the floor, curling up next to the door leading to Vander's room, tears in her eyes as the voices began to attack her relentlessly.

She didn't want to be alone in this room, she wanted to be with Vander.

"Aww, is the little baby gonna cry?" Mylo teased.

"She always cries," Claggor spat.

She stood and began to examine the room in hopes of getting the stupid voice to go away.

She sat on the plush bed, skin confused at the soft fabric that rubbed against her skin.

Jinx didn't have her normal clothes, her neck was exposed, and she didn't have her gloves, so her hands were out as well. As her hands gripped the blanket on the bed, she slowly remembered what it was like to feel things so completely without having something in between her and the object.

Jinx tried to enjoy the sensation, but in the end, she nearly had to scratch her skin off because of all the time she spent "enjoying" the bed.

She got up and went to walk into the bathroom, but paused as she looked at the bedside table, ignoring everything else in the large room.

She went over and pulled open the drawer. It was empty inside, just waiting to be of use. Jinx's hand slowly went to the pocket where she was keeping Ekko's letter.

She pulled it out, held it up, looking at it, and her name, that was scrawled across the front in his handwriting, which was slightly messy but legible.

Jinx

And then at the words beneath it.

Don't worry, I'm gone.

-Ekko

Lightly, she ran her fingers across the ink, lingering on the word gone for a moment.

Gone.

She had asked him to leave, so it was good that he listened and left.

…

He was gone, and so was all the messy emotions he brought with him. She never had to see him again if she didn't want to, the only thing that was left to remind her of him was this dumb letter.

She should just tear it up, throw the scraps in the trash, and then set fire to the trash can so she could be done with him for good.

…

She gently placed the letter in the drawer and looked at it for a moment longer before sliding the drawer closed and turning away from it and going to explore the bathroom like she had intended to do before getting sidetracked.

The sink and shower's ornateness couldn't even be dimmed by the lack of lights in the room.

She walked up to the shower and stared at it. She had heard Topsiders had a fancy ass contraption that made it rain so you could bathe, instead of having to fill up a tub.

Jinx had never understood why you would do that, it felt pointless, but it did sound like a lot less work than a bath.

When was the last time she actually took a bath?

Like most things, the answer was seven years ago, obviously, but when did she last clean herself? Like, really cleaned herself?

In the lab, she had to use the sink in the room she shared with Vander to clean herself up, but that wasn't very effective. Especially when she was trying to wash off blood, which was impossible to get out of her hair.

Jinx lightly touched her once braided hair that had already come undone. Maybe she should clean up, it wasn't like she had anything better to do.

So Jinx took off her clothes and figured out how to work the water (they had hot water that came out on command!) and then how to turn on the shower feature. She felt water hot enough to burn fall on her face as she shut her eyes.

The hot water ran down her scar-covered body, that she hid with shame constantly, before it hit the floor and swirled its way down the drain, a slight red hue to it because of the blood that would never truly wash off her.

A shower felt far different than a bath. A bath was like a hug of warmth that enveloped her before releasing her after taking all the things that stained her skin before, but a shower was different, the water didn't linger, it kissed her skin before leaving, taking a small piece of filth with it.

Jinx ran her hands through her tangled hair, allowing water to trickle down her scalp, pumping a glob of something that smelled strongly of flowers in her hand, and washing herself with it.

So many things she wanted to wash away, so many things that would stick to her no matter how hard she scrubbed.

Jinx thoroughly scrubbed every inch of herself, and then sat down and let hot water beat down on her for what felt like hours before turning the shower off and stepping out feeling so much cleaner than she ever had in her entire life.

No one from the Undercity ever had something so nice. They were lucky if they even had half-decent ice-cold water to wash their hands with, let alone bathe with.

Jinx examined the rest of the bathroom as she dripped water everywhere.

She found bottles of products and liquids in the cabinets, and makeup in the drawers, before discovering a hairbrush that she took and began to use to try and untangle her hair.

She sat there brushing and brushing, hissing as she ripped out knots of hair, she barreled through the tangled mess. Eventually, she finished her hair, being able to run her hands through it without any resistance whatsoever for the first time in years.

She stood up from her perch she had on the toilet, and walked over to the mirror that was still slightly foggy from her shower. She wiped off the leftover smoke, ignoring the urge to doodle something in it, and looked at herself, really looked at herself, for the first time in seven years.

While the shower did miracles for her, getting rid of years of dirt and filth, she still couldn't stand what she saw in the mirror. The skinny twig of a body, the hideous scars that showed the world what she truly was, and the dark bags that only made her acidic pink eyes stand out even more.

Jinx quickly turned away from the mirror and shoved her clothes back on.

"Because nobody wants to see that," Mylo spat.

Jinx wiped away a tear that fell and rushed out of the bathroom and her room, wandering aimlessly through the halls of Caitlyn's home. She couldn't stand to be alone in that room anymore.

There was what appeared to be an endless number of rooms in every direction, Jinx poking her head into a few. Most of them were more big bedrooms that seemed empty, because apparently, Piltes like just having wasted space lying around everywhere.

Jinx paused and examined a painting hanging in the hall. It was a painting of what looked to be Caitlyn as a child, just sitting in a chair, sipping on some drink from some fancy cup. It was a pointless painting that held no substance beyond just showing how superior this family was to all others. They didn't need a grand reason to have a painting of themselves made, they just did it.

Though it was interesting to see Caitlyn as a child, even in the photo, she seemed so serious and poised.

She sure hadn't changed much, Jinx thought with a snort as she turned and walked away, freezing when she heard a clatter in the distance.

She looked over and saw a room with a light flooding into the hall. She carefully crept towards it, mind already running through the dozens of ways she could kill this intruder.

She didn't know the setup of the room, so that was a disadvantage, but she did have a knife on her, if she-

"Jinx?"

---

Tobias was in the kitchen making tea for Cassandra.

Cass said not to bother, but she hadn't gotten any good sleep in weeks due to the relentless hounding the council had been doing. Honestly, despite how terrible he felt for asking her, he was grateful Jinx had agreed to do the announcement, it would settle so many issues.

The rumor of The Reaper had spread like wildfire. Jinx had gone from a murderer to a hero practically overnight. Tobias didn't mind it, unlike Cassandra, who thought such a thing was outrageous. Jinx had saved his daughter from Marcus after all.

He turned off the faucet and went to the stove to put the kettle on when an odd shadow outside the door caught his attention.

The staff had been sent home early for the night, so it wouldn't overwhelm Jinx and her family, so it was just them for the night, meaning it had to be one of them out there.

Caitlyn had warned them that Jinx didn't sleep, or eat for that matter, so he wasn't very surprised when he saw it was her standing outside the door.

"Jinx?"

She jumped back in surprise, pulling out a knife as she did so.

"Hello," he said softly with a smile, "Can I help you with something?"

Best to stay calm and not alarm Jinx any further.

Jinx's strikingly blue hair was wet, as if she had just gotten out of the shower. And he thought this when he first saw her, but now that he got an even better look, she really was far too skinny for it to be considered healthy. Her clothes hung off her small frame because not even the smallest size that they could offer her was good enough, and if he looked closely, he could see a variety of scars decorating her exposed skin.

Caitlyn was right, whatever this child had done could never justify the state she was currently in. It was disgusting that someone could actually do something like this, to a child, no less.

May that man burn in hell, and suffer all the agony he put this child through, and so much more.

"…just like her," Jinx said after a long time of just staring at him.

She certainly had an odd way of speaking, as if with an accent, but not quite. He had picked up on it when he first met her, but he wasn't sure of it until now.

"I beg your pardon?" He said, not understanding the meaning of her words.

"Your hair," she said as she walked past him and into the kitchen.

"Ah. I see," he said, turning and following her into the kitchen, where she aimlessly wandered and messed with random appliances.

Jinx most likely meant that his hair color looked like Caitlyn's, he had gotten that many times before. He enjoyed the compliment every time, though as time passed, Caitlyn enjoyed the comparison less and less. Such was the joy of having a child.

"What can I do for you, dear?" He asked after letting her wander around for a moment.

She flinched.

He had made a mistake. He went to apologize, but she cut him off.

"My name is Jinx," she said firmly, "Call me Jinx."

"Of course, that was entirely my fault. Forgive me," he said as he realized that his calling her dear was what caused that reaction.

Her eyes flicked to his before she glared at a wall and muttered something under her breath.

That gave him a bit of a pause. It appeared that Jinx was seeing and talking to things that weren't there, something that could be a very dangerous combination in certain situations.

He considered trying to approach her, but he had had his time working with some rather troubled people when he was an apprentice for a well-known doctor, approaching without consent or sudden movements always escalated the situation into something far greater than what he was handling currently. Plus, with the way Jinx single-handedly managed to kill all those enforcers on that bridge, he was not eager for this situation to turn violent.

"That's not what I'm doing!" She snapped.

She wasn't talking to him. She was still seeing and hearing things, he needed to grab her attention again.

He composed himself and cleared his throat, "Would you like some tea?"

She grabbed an appliance off the metal island and threw it at whatever she was seeing, "Shut up!"

He looked at the now probably broken electric whisk and then decided to try something different, "Jinx, I apologize for the hassle my wife is putting you through."

Jinx's eyes snapped over to him, looking at him as if she had completely forgotten that he was here, "Why are you here?" She sneered, as if he were the one who intruded on her.

"I was going to make some tea for my wife, would you like some?" He asked.

"Tea?" Jinx said, confused, "What is that? Some fancy ass drink you Piltes have up here?"

He blinked, surprised. He had no clue that people in the Undercity didn't even have tea. How bad must it be for her to be completely unfamiliar with even the word.

"It is a drink, yes," Tobias said as she walked over to the stove and turned the kettle on, "It requires boiled water to make it, then you seep the tea leaves in this bag in the water to get the flavor out," he said at Jinx's curious look when he put the tea bags in the cups.

Jinx walked over, eyeing the kettle, "That boils the water? Why not just use a pot?"

"This is faster," he explained, "and it will let me know when the water is ready."

"How?" She asked, confused.

"When the steam pressure builds up enough because of how hot the water is, the kettle will then start to whistle, and I will know to take it off the stove," he said as she curiously examined the kettle, opening and closing the top as she looked in at the water.

"You know, there is a saying," he said after a round of silence as Jinx just continued to mess with the kettle, "a watched pot never boils."

She looked at him and scowled, "Could just tell me to fuck off, I can take a hint, you know," she said, walking away from the kettle and moving towards the door to leave.

"Now just a moment," he said before she took off, "I simply meant that I could make you a snack while we wait."

She paused and looked back at him, "I'm not hungry."

The kettle began to whistle.

He walked back to it and poured the water into the cups, "Well, please at least stay for tea, it will be ready soon," he said as he set a timer.

She stood in the doorway, uncertain, but she didn't leave, so Tobias supposed that was all he could ask for.

"So, Jinx, if you aren't hungry, why did you come to the kitchen in the dead of night?" He asked.

"There was a light on, thought you rich assholes were getting robbed," she said as she watched the timer he set tick down.

"Ah, I see. Well, thank you for trying to defend us," he said, giving her a smile.

She raised a brow at him, "You? Ha! Right."

"Well, whoever you were defending," he said, "I'm sure they appreciate it."

She didn't reply to that, she just went back to watching the timer.

"Are you enjoying your new room?" He asked, breaking the silence, "I see you tried the shower out," he said, gesturing at her hair.

She looked down at her wet hair and then shrugged, "It's fine."

He was expecting more of a reaction, but it seemed as though she wasn't easily impressed by all their things.

"Hmm, well, I must say it is a pleasure to have you and your family living here," he said.

"A pleasure," she said with a scoff, "You know who I am, what I've done, why the hell would you be pleased to live with a monster?"

"If you truly think a complete stranger would deem you a monster after a mere minute of knowing you, perhaps it is you who condemns yourself as a monster, not them," he said, watching her.

"I've killed hundreds, I've subjected people to unspeakable torture for my own benefit, I'm a monster," she spat, "I don't need to wait and see if you think that."

"Really? You did all that?" He commented as he turned back to the cups of tea, the alarm going off.

She scowled, "What? Think I'm helpless just because I'm small?"

"Oh no!" He exclaimed, "My wife and daughter both look harmless, and they both are far more capable than I am. Besides, after what Caitlyn told me about you, I know you are an incredible girl," he said with a smile as he pulled out the jar of sugar.

She stood there and glared at him, "Yeah, well, your daughter is weird."

He chuckled at that, "Yes, she is different from what people expect. But that is what makes her so spectacular, she is her own person completely and wholly, no matter what others try to tell her."

Jinx seemed to almost smile at that, "Yeah, she's as odd as they come."

"May I ask you something?" He said, turning to look at her.

She looked at him for a moment, an odd look on her face, as if she was remembering something, before she muttered, "Can I stop you?"

He smiled slightly, "Yes. All you have to do is say the word."

She chuckled lightly at his response but waved him on to continue.

"Is it true you saved my daughter from Marcus and the other enforcers on that bridge single-handedly?"

"Is that how Caitlyn told that story?" Jinx asked as she walked over.

"Yes, is that not what happened?" He said as he watched her grab a cup of tea.

"…not how I remember it going down, no," she said, taking a sip before he could warn her about how hot it would be.

She, however, didn't seem bothered by the heat, she just chugged the mug full of scalding hot liquid down.

After she finished, she pulled a face and set the empty cup down, "Gross."

"…well," he said, recovering from the shock, "You do normally add sugar to it before drinking," he said, gesturing at the jar.

Jinx looked at it before grumbling, "Well, you shoulda said something."

He smiled and shook his head, "Would you like me to make you another cup?"

She seemed to consider it for a moment before replying, "Na, I got something else I need to do before tomorrow."

Jinx turned and went to make her way out the door, but she paused and looked back at him.

"Thanks for the tea… and the talk."

With that, she turned around and vanished down the hall.

---

The warmth of the tea still swirled around inside of her as she returned to her room after picking up the files from shield guy that she had asked him to hold onto, and making sure he made several copies of the papers to hand out when the time came.

She had already decided which of the councilors to go for, so she just pulled out their files and tucked the others away for insurance.

She looked down at the names of the people she was going to destroy first thing in the morning.

Councilor Amara:

A merchant who enjoyed certain leniencies with her trade in exchange for her big ass "donations" to the academy.

A woman who does many dealings with both Mel and Caitlyn's mom, whose absence would be a major blow to both of them.

Councilor Torman Hoskel:

Illegally imports Noxian alcohol that has a much stronger kick to it than what is sold to the public.

He is also known to be easily manipulated by this Mel woman, considering he has voted in her favor almost every single time.

Mel Medarda would lose an easy vote in her favor with him gone.

Councilor Irius Bolbok:

Doesn't pay shipping fees for his products going through the Hexgates because his factories provide parts to the company that makes the airships.

A man who also provides lots of equipment to the enforcers, meaning he had no problems getting his voice heard by whoever he wanted in their ranks.

With him gone, there would be one less voice trying to control what happens with the enforcers, or more specifically, who's in charge of the enforcers.

Jinx smiled as she shut the folders and happily waited for the big announcement that Caitlyn's mother had planned.

Because this was about to be quite the show.

---

Cassandra was surprised at Jinx's eagerness to comply with this. After Caitlyn had told her that Jinx wanted her to ask her, she assumed Jinx would turn the whole thing into a big fiasco.

But Jinx was actually the first to be ready, and the first one at the door.

"Well, what took you so long?" She said as Cassandra walked down the steps, Tobias in step next to her.

Jinx was lying in wait with her whole family, and Caitlyn as well, all of them smiling and having a good time. All the while, Jinx just wanted to make her look the fool for being late for her own engagement.

Cassandra gave a curt good morning before brushing past them and out the door. She had no desire to participate in these childish games of hers.

The group met up with Mel, who awaited them at the gates, along with Jayce, Viktor, and their guard detail, two enforcers Caitlyn selected.

She said there were to be three, but it seemed that the third decided not to show. Something Cassandra would make a point to remember.

Cassandra wanted more enforcers who were more qualified than these two, but Caitlyn said that even if there was to be a problem, they would have the best guard in all of Piltover, Jinx, right next to them.

As if that would set Cassandra's mind at ease.

"Hello everyone," Mel said as they reached them, "I am Mel Medarda. An honor to finally meet you all," she said with a dazzling smile in the direction of Jinx and Vander.

Jinx did a once-over of Mel and then smirked, "Yeah, we'll see about that," before she pushed Vander on, not allowing him the chance to get a word in edgewise.

Cassandra regarded Jinx with distaste as Mel fell into step next to her.

"She seems rather… interesting," Mel said as they both watched the group chatting ahead of them.

"More like rude and disrespectful," Cassandra said dryly.

"Come on, Cassandra," Tobias said, "She is rather kind when you just give her a chance."

"You do realize you think that of everyone, don't you, dear?" She said to him.

He shrugged, "Best to give people the benefit of the doubt, it's the only way they will ever be able to show you how much they can offer you."

"Your husband makes a good point," Mel said, "besides, what choice do we have in this matter? We need Jinx to get the public on our side."

"Yes," said Cassandra as she watched Jinx walk and talk, "Yes, we do."

They all arrived at the stage, Caitlyn, Vi, and Vander being escorted into the front of the crowd by the enforcers they brought after Jinx assured them that she was ok.

"Ready, Jinx?" Jayce asked as Jinx looked at the other council members on the stage, a look in her eyes that Cassandra could not decipher.

"Of course," she said with a smile.

"Well then, just follow our lead," Mel said as she walked up onto the stage, applause erupting at her presence.

Cassandra followed after her, Jinx a step behind, and Jayce taking the rear. Both Viktor and Tobias left to watch from backstage.

The people in the audience were ecstatic at everyone's presence, it had been a while since the whole council had been together to make such an announcement after all.

Jinx was eyeing the crowd wearily, fingers twitching at her side.

Cassandra walked up to her and spoke through her smile as she waved, "Do not make a scene. You will not enjoy the consequences."

Jinx looked at her, "Isn't my whole job here to make a scene? What's the point of a show pony if she has no tricks?"

Cassandra narrowed her eyes at her and went to speak, but the amplified voice of Mel Medarda cut her off.

"Welcome! Welcome! We all know you have gathered here today for some rather exciting news. We all know you have heard of our savior from the bridge, The Reaper, and we have made sure to find that hero and give them the praise they deserve!" She said, the crowd cheering and hollering, "Please give a warm welcome to our Reaper, Jinx!" She said as she too joined in the applause as Jinx walked up to the microphone, Mel elegantly rejoining the other Council members.

Jinx grabbed the mic, and a loud screeching noise that made people wince rang out, but she paid it no mind, "Here I am, your big fat hero!" She called loudly, throwing her hands in the air.

After a small pause, the crowd absolutely exploded with cheers, some even began to chant her name, Jinx smirking through it all.

"Now I heard some of you people aren't too happy with the way things are going down around here," she said as she grabbed the mic off the stand and began to walk around, "Well, that's just silly. Our great, incredibly smart, not at all corrupt, Council here has all of your best interests at heart."

The crowd was eating all of her words up, she was their champion, and it didn't matter what came out of her mouth, all of them would believe it.

Cassandra smiled at Mel, who returned the look with a dip of her head.

She truly had created the perfect spokesperson for the people. The council couldn't be questioned ever again with Jinx around.

"Well… some of them."

Cassandra's head snapped over to her, absolute fury radiating off of her as she fixed Jinx with the most scathing look.

Jinx locked eyes with her and grinned.

"As you all will see from the papers you are being handed," she said as Cassandra spotted the last man from Caitlyn's team that was supposed to be in escort duty this morning handing out papers to the crowd, "A few of our oh so wonderful council people aren't quite oh so wonderful," Jinx said turning her back to the crowd and looking at the line up of councilors like a lion looking at an injured gazelle.

You could practically see her licking her lips as they all so helplessly stood there, none of them having any clue if they were going to be the ones eaten.

The crowd began to mutter in outrage, some becoming more and more agitated as they all read through what Jinx had given them.

Cassandra burned holes into Jinx with the fury in her gaze. She had planned all this, she was planning all of their downfalls from the very beginning.

Jinx walked forward, towards Cassandra, eyes locked, "They lied to you, used you! Manipulated you into believing them and their righteous cause."

Cassandra clenched her jaw and prepared herself for Jinx to single her out, but instead, Jinx turned right at the last moment and grabbed Councilor Amara, who was next to her, and shoved her forward. The crowd was hissing and booing as Amara looked around, demanding to be left alone.

"They think their money can buy their way out of anything," she said as she flung papers at Amara's feet, Amara's eyes widening in shock as she saw them.

Jinx then was suddenly behind Councilor Irius and shoved him forward, the crowd spewing absolute hatred at him.

"They think they're above the law, above you," Jinx spat, throwing papers at him as well.

All the others looked to each other, terrified of being the next one she shoved to the front, the next lamb to the slaughter.

Jinx walked the line of councilors, "They believe they can get away with whatever they please without having to pay the price."

She used that inhuman speed of her's to pull Councilor Torman to the front and throw his papers into the air, letting them flutter down all around him.

"But they forgot that they can't pay off the Reaper, not like they paid off the old Sheriff."

The crowd was hysterical, throwing things, spewing pure poison at them, demanding that they be thrown in Stillwater.

"Stillwater?" Jinx said as she faced the crowd once more, "Well, that sounds like a wonderful solution for this mess. But how can we throw people in Stillwater when there's no Sheriff to do that?" She asked.

Cassandra did not like the way this was going.

"What we need is a strong candidate, one who isn't afraid of doing the right thing. Maybe the person who was brave enough to investigate these spineless cowards and bring the lawbreakers to my attention?"

The crowd voiced their agreement, asking who had done such a thing. Who would Jinx appoint as Sheriff?

A smile spread across her lips as she looked back at Cassandra.

"The only person possibly suited to be Sheriff in these trying times, the only person who had the courage to be her own person, completely and wholly, no matter what others try to tell her-"

Jinx turned to the crowd, eyes locking with someone in the very front, arm extending and gesturing to her, all eyes turning to look at the person Jinx had selected to be the next Sheriff of Piltover.

"-Caitlyn Kiramman!"

Caitlyn's eyes widened in shock as she looked around, completely confused.

Absolute fury exploded in Cassandra. She went to step forward and put a stop to this, but Mel grabbed her shoulder and shook her head no.

"Speak out now, and you'll be ruined. We shall deal with this out of the public's eyes," she whispered as Cassandra stood begrudgingly in place.

The silence in the crowd at the announcement was such a stark difference from the anger and cheering from before, but soon a single voice spoke up.

"Caitlyn!" Called out the ginger enforcer that escorted them here, "Caitlyn! Caitlyn! Caitlyn!"

Others began to join in, Vi, the other enforcer that escorted them, Vander, and slowly but surely, the rest of the crowd took to it.

Caitlyn slowly walked up to the stage, the crowd chanting her name, Jinx joining in as well as she approached.

Caitlyn looked at her mother, who scowled at her, before turning to Jinx, who grabbed her hand and lifted it into the air.

"Give it up for your new Sheriff!" Jinx called.

The crowd went absolutely wild as some enforcers came up and arrested the council members, and they were led by the enforcer who had been handing out the files in the crowd earlier.

Jinx grinning as it all happened.

---

"Jinx!" Caitlyn cried as they all walked off the stage, enforcers dragging councilors with them.

She was absolutely clueless as to what had just happened. Jinx had completely flipped everything on its head and basically threw shit at the fan just to watch the mess it would make.

All of the council members were fuming, her mother more so, and everyone behind the scenes, like her father, had not a clue what was what.

"Let them go this instant!" Mother snarled at the enforcers.

"I will not stand for this!" Exclaimed one of the arrested councilors, "I will have you and your family thrown out of this city!"

"Cassandra, what is the meaning of all this! You vouched for this girl, and now half of our people are in cuffs!" Said a councilor that walked off stage.

"Mel, this was you, wasn't it!" Hissed councilwoman Amara, who was in cuffs.

"No, I assure you it was not," she replied tartly, "Officers take these cuffs off this instant."

"Ah, ah, ah," Jinx said, "Caitlyn is Sheriff, not you. She decides if they get arrested."

"The Sheriff answers to us!" Snarled Councilor Irius, who was also in cuffs.

"She isn't the Sheriff!" Snapped mother, "She will have no part in this scheme of yours."

"Oh yeah? Just try and make someone else Sheriff," Jinx spat, "see what happens."

"You think you're so invincible?" Mother said as she got in Jinx's face, "We created you, we can destroy you."

Jinx scoffed, "That little theory didn't exactly work out for the doctor, but by all means, go ahead and try. I'm sure your people won't riot when you tell them that the one person you had them all put their faith in turned out to be another traitor or whatever the fuck you try and call me. I'm sure they will have complete and total faith in you after they hear that, not only were the Sheriff and a shit load of your enforcers corrupt along with your own council, but then me as well! All you'll accomplish is showing them how incompetent you fucking are!" She said with a laugh, "Oh, and not to mention I have plenty more files on all of you other council members that I would be more than happy to share if you get any stupid ideas."

Mother went to yell at her again, but Caitlyn cut her off, absolute frustration exploding out of her.

"ENOUGH!" Caitlyn yelled, "Mother, you have absolutely no say in whether I'm Sheriff or not! And Jinx, you should have discussed this with me instead of completely blindsiding me!" She snapped angrily, "I am not a political puppet you get to put into play for your own benefit! You should know how shitty that feels!"

She should know because she had been the one to ask Jinx to do the same thing for her mother. And while it felt awful to do it, she didn't think Jinx would turn around and do the same to her.

"Caitlyn, I am not doing this because I want a political advantage," Jinx said, "I am doing this because there is not a single other person in this world who comes close to being a better fit for this job than you!" She exclaimed.

"Oh, please," mother snapped, "The only reason you want my daughter as Sheriff is because you want to turn her and the entirety of the enforcers against us! You want to destroy our city!"

Jinx rounded on her, "No, you stuck up bitch, I want what's best for the people living in both our cities, not just yours," she spat.

"And that's my daughter!?" She screeched.

"YEA! It's your fucking daughter," Jinx snarled, "She is the only one in this entire fucking city that hasn't been corrupted by you and your fucked up council! She's the only person who gives a shit about the starving children on the streets, the drugged up homeless people, or the people who are trapped in an endless cycle they can never escape!" She said a bit more bite in those last words.

Caitlyn understood she was talking about herself, she could see that these words were genuine, not just for show.

"She is my friend and she is the only person who won't let shit headed, corrupted assholes like you tell her what to do!" Jinx exclaimed as she turned to look at everyone in the room, "You think I'm a hero because I murdered your corrupt Sheriff? Well, she's the one who knew he was corrupt!" She said, pointing at Caitlyn, "She's the one who saw through the money Silco was throwing at your feet that you all greedily scrambled to grab, not caring whose blood was painted on it. She is the only person willing to spit in your faces and do what needs to be done, not what you want done."

Everyone fell silent at her words.

"You think I wanted her as Sheriff because I thought she would do whatever I told her? No! I made her Sheriff because I knew she wouldn't give a shit about what I say," she said before looking at her mother, "What any of you say."

Caitlyn felt tears well up in her eyes at her words. Jinx truly thought Caitlyn was the right person for this job, she believed in her.

"She is the one person that actually gives a shit about the people she throws into cells for years and years, the only one who listens to headstrong meat heads with muscles for brains because she believes they actually have something worth hearing," Jinx said locking eyes with Caitlyn, "She's the only fucking person who listens to a misguided murder who is traped and alone. She is the only one allowed to stand on her moral fucking high ground because she's the only one who isn't a Janna damned hypocrite!"

Jinx walked towards Caitlyn and stood in front of her before continuing with her speech.

"You are the only Piltie I will ever admit to tolerating. Because you're a good person, Caitlyn."

A tear rolled down her cheek, which she quickly wiped away.

"This job is yours if you want it, Caitlyn," Jinx said, "Only if you want it, and only if you don't listen to a fucking word anyone says. No one can force you to do anything, not while you have my support."

Nobody could take this away from her. Not her mother, who had been trying to control her her entire life, not the bloodsucking vultures that were the council members, not the general public that had been judging her every breath since the day she had been conceived.

Not with Jinx supporting her.

Not with Jinx as her friend.

"…are you sure you want me doing this?" Caitlyn asked.

"I did just make a whole speech about how I wanted you to do this, it'd be kinda awkward if I changed my mind now," she said with a small smile.

"Now just a minute! You will be doing no such-" Mother began.

"Cassandra dear," her father spoke, "I do believe Jinx has gotten you in quite the political ensnarment here. You truly have no choice but to accept this."

Her face scrunched up in absolute fury, "I will throw you to the streets for this!" She hissed at Jinx.

Caitlyn stepped in front of Jinx, "You will do no such thing, mother."

Her eyes widened, "How dare you!"

"Councilor Kiramman," Mel interjected, "please calm yourself. Keeping Jinx as a close companion would be in your best interest here."

Jinx smirked, "Of course you figured it out, Mel," she said, such venom in her voice as she said her name, "I thought you would be the one to appreciate the intricacy of this political ensnarement I have all of you in."

"What is she talking about?" Jayce asked, the other councilors curious as well.

Mel looked at Jinx, a newfound respect in her eyes, "She has just given you quite the political advantage here, Cassandra. You now have control over the enforcers, and a name with quite the weight behind it to throw around whenever you please."

"Not to mention that I just took out three of your political opponents," Jinx said, gesturing at the three locked-up councilors.

"Yes," said Mel, "She has basically handed you a golden opportunity on a silver platter."

"My name to use wherever you so please," Jinx said, "and a daughter who's now sheriff who is known to be friends with me," she said as she stepped forward, "But the only way you get to keep such lovely advantages is if me and my family continue to live under your roof. Can you imagine the power? THE Reaper living with you? Well, who would ever want to disagree with you ever again?"

"W-wait just a moment," said a councilor, "we can not allow such blatant-"

"May I remind you that I also have files on every single person on this council with similar contents to the ones that were handed out earlier?" Jinx said, still looking at Caitlyn's mother, but her words were meant as a warning to the other councilors present.

"No one can oppose you without risking absolute ruin," Mel said, true awe in her voice, "You have truly ensnared every single one of us in your trap," she said, impressed.

Jinx smiled before giving a theatrical bow, "It was a pleasure fucking all of you over. Next time," she said, looking up at her mother, "leave me the fuck alone."

Jinx then turned on her heel and walked to Caitlyn.

"What now?" Caitlyn asked quietly.

"Now you do whatever the fuck you want with these hypocritical pieces of shit," she said, gesturing at the council members in cuffs, "and then we go home," she said with a smile.

---

Jinx and everyone left for the Kiramman manor, the three councilors being sent to the station for holding and processing. Caitlyn wanted to review the files Jinx had given as evidence of their illegal activities.

Jinx.

Mel watched the girl go with intrigue. She had never expected to meet such a person in her lifetime.

She was truly both the fox and the wolf.

Mel shook her head as she made her way back to her home, Elora greeting her at the door.

"Miss Medarda, are you alright?" She asked as soon as she walked through the door.

"How many times must I tell you, Elora? Mel is fine," she sighed tiredly as she walked over to the bar and poured herself a drink.

"Ah, yes, pardon me, Miss-"

Mel fixed her with a look.

"Mel," she corrected as she dipped her head.

"Ah," Mel sighed as she sat herself on her large and luxurious couch, kicking off her incredibly uncomfortable shoes and allowing herself to enjoy the sensation of the lush carpet on her feet as she took a long sip from her drink, "It seems the game has once again been changed, my dear Elora."

So many shifting variables, all constantly on the move, it was exhausting trying to account for them all.

She had been so completely absorbed into her work as a councilor that she hadn't any time for literally anything else. Or to be more specific, anyone else.

She and Jayce had drifted.

She had spoken to him a day ago (or maybe two days ago? She could not remember.), but they both had come to the conclusion that whatever was developing between the two of them wasn't something that either of them could afford to pursue now.

Or perhaps that was just what she said?

He had spoken a lot about Viktor in their conversation, saying that he should be the top priority while he was recovering, and then that he wanted to focus on making the world a better place once more, not politics.

He had basically announced the end of their relationship and the end of his time on the council in the same sentence. Though his stepping down would be much more of a headache after today's events.

It was honestly funny. Jayce was kind and handsome, but she and him never truly had a future. All she did was bring out the worst in him, force him into unwanted roles, and unnecessary drama.

She had seen him as a lovely distraction from her own life, she supposed. Something to focus on as she slowly rotted away from boredom from the same endless routines she walked through on the daily.

She took another long sip of her drink as she watched Elora start a fire.

She had become stagnant. No real challenges around for her anymore, so she began to become lulled into the monotone life of simply playing the same game of chess against those playing checkers over and over.

But then this new, completely insane player walked in and began to play her own game.

Not checkers, not chess.

Her own game with her own rules.

She didn't control a damn thing on the board. No, as a matter of fact, she hated controlling the pieces. She wanted them to be free to do what they wanted, because that's how she won.

She just bathed in the absolute chaos that others brought with them and then added her own to the mix, sending all other players spiraling off into oblivion as she happily sat in the storm she created.

Consequences be damned.

She is everything mother ever wanted, whispered a nasty little voice in her head.

She pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Mel?" Elora asked gently, "Will you be alright?"

Mel sighed heavily and looked at the woman before her.

Elora was a kind woman, one who had no part or family.

Elora and Mel met when she was 15 in Noxis. The two of them became close friends, and Elora had even followed her to Piltover, where her mother had banished her. Elora then became her assistant, giving up all her own hopes and aspirations to help Mel through her miserable life.

Elora had always wanted a family, but being the friend of the banished daughter wasn't exactly something that helped with that endeavor.

Mel owed Elora everything. Her debt to her would never be repaid.

Elora insisted that she was happy, that she didn't need a family, but Mel caught her staring at children as they happily played with their mothers and fathers. How badly she longed for a child, a companion in her life, someone to hold close in the nights.

"You needn't worry for me, Elora, I will persevere. I always do," Mel said tiredly, looping her fingers into hers.

"Yes," Elora whispered, "Yes, you do, Mel," she said, squeezing her hand back.

They both sat there watching the fire for a long time before Elora spoke again.

"Mel?"

"Yes, Elora?" She said, eyelids beginning to droop from her exhaustion.

"I truly regret to inform you of this, but your mother seems to refuse to give up on seeing you," she said sadly as she looked at her.

And just like that, a new complex situation called for her attention, forcing sleep to wait a bit longer.

"She is still refusing to move from her hold up at the gates?" She asked.

Elora nodded.

"She will soon tire of this," Mel said, waving her hand in dismissal.

Elora looked at her skeptically, "…let us hope."

Hope.

A truly useless weapon against her mother.

Chapter 62: Healing Isn't Always Graceful

The whole Reaper fiasco seemed to stick around for much longer than Jinx had expected.

Both Vander and Vi had serious thoughts on it.

"Powder that was crazy awesome! Getting rid of those councilors AND making Cait Sheriff! Why didn't you tell me about it!?" Vi exclaimed happily.

Ok… maybe it was only Vander who had a serious opinion about what she had done.

Vander kept quiet until it was time for all of them to go to bed. He requested that Jinx explain the function of his medication to him, which sounded so boring to Vi that she wasted no time hurrying to her room and bidding them goodnight.

"…"

"…"

"So the blue pill makes sure your brain doesn't completely shut down on itself-"

"Powder, you know that isn't what I wanted to discuss," he said cutting her off calmly.

She crossed her arms and pouted, "Well look at you, you big fat liar," she grumbled.

He chuckled softly before patting the bed for her to sit down.

She plopped down, arms still crossed and lip still sticking out as she pouted.

"What you did today was a very big move," he said.

She knew that, she had just gotten three councils thrown in a cell, or wherever they "held" people in while they were "processed".

"There may be some very serious ramifications because of what you did," he said gently, "Do you understand that?"

"Of course I do!" She huffed, "I got all my blackmail on those snobby people lined up, they can't lay a finger on us without kissing their whole career goodbye."

"Well that's good," he said, "but as I understand it, you have just made yourself the spokesperson of both the Undercity and Piltover," he said giving her a look.

"I didn't do that. They did!" She said waving her hand in the general direction of Caitlyn's stupid parents.

Well, her dad was actually pretty ok, so just her stupid mom she supposed.

"But you accepted," he pointed out, "so now that is your responsibility."

"I don't want that!" Jinx cried, "I just wanted to get back at the stuck-up bitch and show her that trying to control me is a bad idea."

Vander sighed, "I'm going to tell you something I told your sister a long time ago Powder," he said seriously, "These people look up to you now, and when people look up to you, don't get to be selfish."

Jinx clenched her jaw.

Selfish, that's what he saw this as.

How was this selfish? All she did was accept the role everyone was trying to push on her to put some people back in their place so no one messed with them anymore.

She didn't ask for the fame. She didn't ask them to look up to her.

"You say run, they run." Vander continued, "You say swim, they dive in. You say light a fire, they show up with oil. But whatever happens from now on Powder, it's on you."

She didn't want this responsibility.

"Powder," he said softly.

She looked up at him.

"These people are going to try and tear you apart because of what you pulled up there today. But you're strong, and you're smart," he said, pride clear in his voice, "They won't be able to touch a hair on your head if you can get some people on your side up here."

Jinx furrowed her brows, "Like you did with that old Sheriff?"

Vander gave a small smile at that, "Yeah. Believe it or not, she was actually alright."

Jinx believed it, Caitlyn had mentioned some stuff about her, and she sounded somewhat decent.

Or at the very least, better than the rest.

"You proved to the Undercity that you aren't taking shit from Topside, they'll respect that, but people up here need to trust you too," he said.

Jinx could practically hear the experience in his voice from dealing with this kind of stuff when she was a kid.

Jinx thought about it for a moment and then decided exactly how she would accomplish this goal.

She smiled at Vander and then gave him a kiss on the cheek, "Ok, I'll think about it."

"I can always help you-"

"Nope!" Jinx said as she walked over towards her room, "Your job is to relax for the rest of your life and heal up. Let me worry about the stupid politics now," she said as she flicked off the light and walked into her room.

She then went over to her bedside table and pulled out a walky-talky that shield guy insisted on giving Jinx just in case she needed his help again.

"Yo, shield guy. Get your drunk ass up, I need a ride to Stillwater," Jinx called into the radio.

---

Stillwater.

Hell on earth.

The place where dreams go to die.

A place full of walking corpses.

"What exactly are we doing here again?" Shield guy asked as he tried to intimidate the inmates they walked past in their cells so they wouldn't bother them.

The inmates were not impressed by his efforts.

"Hey there little girl, you lost?"

"Look at the fresh meat!"

"Get a good look sweetheart, because we're about to eat you alive."

Apparently, they assumed she was a new prisoner, and that shield guy was her escort.

Shield guy did his best to get them to shut up, but as predicted these people didn't give a shit about what he said.

Jinx let out a low piercing whistle, the first note of her song.

It was only a few at first, but soon the whole cell block became quiet as she whistled and walked.

Due to her recent popularity, they recognized who she was.

As they approached the cell Jinx was in search of, she signaled for shield guy to stay where he was.

Jinx pulled out a cigar and a hip flask as she neared the cell, a loud scoff coming from the person in it as she whistled the last note of her song.

Sevika turned and looked at Jinx as she stepped into view, completely ignoring the stupid red line painted on the floor.

"I thought you had done me enough favors," she said as Jinx threw the drink and cigar at her.

Sevika had never looked worse.

Her face fucked up and bruised, no fancy arm or any arm to replace her old one, and she just looked as if the life had been sucked out of her.

It had only been a few weeks since her admission to the jail, but that was more than enough time to break a person.

The tiny stone room with no light, the old cobbled together bed that looked as if the springs in it would stab you in your sleep, a toilet and sink shoved into a corner that took what was left of your personal space and that was it.

It was a slightly better version of the cave she used to live in.

Sevika got her own special cell because Jinx had asked for her to be taken care of, but seeing the state she was in it seemed that request didn't do much.

"What'd you do? Pick a fight as soon as you got in here?" Jinx asked as she gestured at her face.

"That supposed to be some kind of joke?" she spat, "You think I don't know what you did?"

Jinx raised a brow at her, "What I did? I didn't do shit to you."

Sevika scoffed and began to ignore Jinx's existence. Lying back down on her Janna awful bed.

Jinx couldn't fathom being here for seven years, with all these people. Jinx would never understand how Vi managed to remain so similar to when they were children. She couldn't comprehend how she didn't lose herself in this madness.

"Glad to see you're enjoying your new room," Jinx said.

"Fuck. You," she hissed as she sat up at Jinx's words.

"I see you've managed to keep that sunshiny personality of yours intact, good for you," Jinx said as she watched Sevika stand and walk over to the bars, towering over Jinx.

"What do you want?" She growled.

"I made a mess, I need your help cleaning it up," Jinx said looking at her.

She snorted, "Oh I've heard about the shit you've been up to, Reaper," she said with a mocking laugh.

Jinx scoffed, "Well then, you understand that I-"

"That you have effectively turned the entirety of Topside into your enemy? Oh yeah," she said as she walked back over to her bed and sat down with a thud, "Didn't know you had that in you. You never struck me as the political type."

Jinx laughed at that, "No, I'm not the political type."

"Yeah, that explains why you're down here," Sevika said as she picked up the flask that was on the ground and took a long swig before she grabbed the cigar, "So what? You're here for advice or something?"

"Advice from who? You?" Jinx scoffed, "Please, I'd sooner go to the rats in the sewers."

"Why not your old man?" She said as she put the cigar in her mouth, before taking it out and frowning, realizing that she didn't have a lighter, "Vander was always good at making friends with Pilties," she sneered.

Jinx looked at her suspiciously, "How did you-"

"You expect Vander to come back from the dead and no one to notice?" She asked, "Everyone knows now. Everyone wants him back."

"Well good for them," Jinx said as she crossed her arms, "But they can now go suck a dick because he's not gonna be doing shit for the ungrateful pigs."

Sevika gave a halfhearted snort at that, "Good for him. He actually managed to get out," she said softly before taking another drink of alcohol.

They both remained quiet for a long time.

"…was he with the doctor that whole time?" She asked, her voice gruff.

"What do you think?" Jinx spat.

She sighed, "Well who da guessed. The guy I thought I killed is still walking around, and the one kid I never saw amounting to anything became the greatest hero known to man. What a world."

"Why'd you do it? Why betray Vander for that man?" Jinx asked in spite of herself.

Vi was the one who hated Sevika for betraying Vander with her whole soul, but Sevika wasn't like the other rats she'd met before.

No, if anything Jinx would describe her as loyal.

Loyal to a fault.

"…I thought I was doing the right thing. Thought I was fixing shit, but turns out I was just making a bigger mess of things," she said as she stared at the wall across from her.

Jinx understood that sentiment. She understood it so well it made her hate Sevika that much more.

"All of us have reasons for what we do Jinx. But the only one who can deem the reason worthy is ourselves. No one else will ever understand."

Jinx dug her nails into her palms until she bled. She didn't want to hear the doctor's voice in her head. She had killed him so he should just give her the mercy of just shutting up.

"You know, people are turning you into a symbol," Sevika said looking at her.

"You wanna symbol?" Jinx asked before flipping Sevika off, "Try that on for size."

"Vander spent his whole life trying to rally the Undercity together," Sevika said, ignoring her hilarious joke.

"Right, and he never got the chance because of you," Jinx spat.

Sevika shook her head, "Look, stupid joke that it is, you actually have the chance to pull it off."

Jinx scoffed, "Yeah, I'm aware. Why the fuck else would I be here? But I'm aiming higher," Jinx said eyeing her, "I'm aiming for peace, or some semblance of it."

Sevika looked at her, "No one will go for that. Not the Undercity, not Topside."

Jinx shrugged, "Well then, let's just say I want the Undercity under new management."

"What are you planning?" Sevika asked suspiciously.

"To watch it all burn," Jinx said as she pulled out a lighter she stole from shield guy, "Wanna join?"

After a long moment, Sevika stood downing the rest of her drink and walking over, cigar in hand, and allowed Jinx to light it before she took a puff.

"What the hell, not like I got anything better to do," she said as she blew the smoke out into the air, "So what's the plan?"

"I need you to tell me how to kill every single Chem-Baron."

"…that is a dangerous task, even for you," she said as she examined Jinx, "You're good kid, but not even you can be everywhere at once. And if they get even one whiff that something is up they will disappear faster than you can run."

"Well I got the new Sheriff on my side," Jinx said proudly, "That should give me the numbers I need."

"Oh yeah," Sevika said with a snort, "A hoard of enforcers marching through the streets without so much as a clue on how to act when they're in the Undercity. No one is going to notice that," she said as she went back to her bed and sat down.

"Just give me the info," Jinx snapped, "I'll worry about the execution."

Sevika looked at her, "You know that old boy toy of yours-"

"Do you want me to cut that other arm of yours off!" Jinx hissed, "Because that can be arranged."

Boy toy, ugh.

Sevika always called Ekko that when she found out there was history between them, always saying that Jinx was weak and letting Shiny dorks go on purpose because of Ekko.

Sevika shrugged, "Whatever. Do what you want."

Jinx scowled at her, "Just give me the information," she hissed.

---

Getting the information from Sevika took ages.

"Janna, how many escape plans can people have?" Jinx said tiredly.

"These are the worst people the Undercity has to offer, do you think killing them is going to be easy?" Sevika scoffed.

"I killed one, not to mention their ringleader," Jinx replied, "Wasn't exactly difficult."

"You are so spoiled," she hissed.

Jinx went to respond but Sevika was quick to press on.

"Things have changed Jinx," Sevika said slamming her hand against the bars, "people know you're out there now. They know you exist. You can't take them by surprise anymore, you can't just expect to overwhelm them with unknown variables. They know what to expect and they know how to escape," she said as she pulled back and began to pace, "You like operating from the shadows, but you can't do that with people this big. If it was one? Sure, you could go crazy and murder them without any worries whatsoever, but you have to take down four this time. And they won't be coming to you-"

"Yes, we've been over this," Jinx said exasperated, "They will be locked up in their little kingdoms with their airtight security that only you, kinda, know how to get past."

"And if one of them hears about another death of a Chem-Baron they'll-"

"Run like the scared cowards they all are," Jinx said with a fake smile, "that about sums it all up?"

Sevika sighed, "Can't believe we are all putting our faith in you," she said as she flopped down on her bed, arm draping over her eyes.

"Yeah, me neither," Jinx muttered quietly.

How had she become some big ass hero? She was a nobody, less than a nobody, she was nothing. Now? Now she was the one person everyone wanted to save them, fix them. How was she supposed to do that when she couldn't fix herself?

"Welp," Jinx said turning around to leave, "Thanks for the info Ogre, don't die or whatever," she said giving her a halfhearted wave without looking back.

"…you're the one who did it, right?" She called before Jinx left.

Jinx turned to look at her, "No idea what you're babbling about."

She narrowed her eyes at Jinx, "You mean that wasn't you?"

"You get hit over the head or something?" Jinx asked giving her a look, "I haven't thought about your ugly ass since I had you thrown in here."

She was quiet for a while before speaking again, "You know a ginger?"

"I know a girl with a stupid ass ponytail," Jinx said, "why?"

Sevika looked at her seriously, "She seems real interested in you. And she didn't exactly like it when I was refusing to talk," she said as she gestured at her bruised up face, "I'd take care of that if I were you."

Stupid ass ponytail.

Why the fuck was she trying to dig up dirt on her, and from Sevika no less?

"Got it," Jinx said as she walked out.

---

This ponytail bitch was raising too many damn red flags for Jinx's liking.

While Caitlyn may trust her she had just pushed past the leniency Jinx had given her because of that. Seems like Jinx and ponytail were due to have a chat.

Jinx squinted at the rays from the rising sun that blinded her as Shield Guy yawned loudly while they walked home.

Jinx looked back at him, "…hey. What do you know about ponytail?"

"Huh? You talking about Maddie? Oh, she's great!" He said happily, "She's as nice as they come."

"I was hoping for some background information, not you complementing her personality," Jinx sneered.

"Well, from what I know she moved here about a year or two ago. Passed her training with flying colors but has been stuck as a low-level enforcer because she's from outside the city. They aren't exactly fans of having strangers in high positions 'round here," he said bitterly.

All of that just sounded so fucking plain and fake.

Honestly, this girl felt like the most generic nice person that has ever existed. She had no other personality traits except that she was kind, and she didn't have a strong background either. No family that has been mentioned, no talk about her life outside the city.

Ponytail began and ended in Topside.

Her life was about as unique as a rock on the side of the road.

"Jinx!" Caitlyn whispered yelled as they opened the gates to her fancy ass home, "What the hell?!" She hissed.

"Hey Caitlyn, glad you're up, I actually have something I wanted to talk to you about," Jinx said as they walked towards each other.

"Do you have any idea how worried I have been!" She screeched.

Jinx winced at her tone, "Keep it down will ya'? People are trying to sleep around here."

That set her off good.

"Sleep!? You want to talk to me about sleep!? I haven't gotten a wink of rest all night because I have been trying to figure out how to handle the council members you want arrested and when I went to talk to you about it I find your room COMPLETELY EMPTY!"

"Well you found me, so can we save us both some time and move on?" Jinx asked, desperately wanting to avoid this little fit.

"MOVE ON!? I was worrying myself sick, wondering if I should wake up my parents, or your family for that matter!" She yelled, "What in the world could you possibly be doing all night that required you to leave without telling anyone whatsoever!?"

"Well first off I told shield guy," Jinx said pointing at him, he waved meekly and Caitlyn gave him the glare of a lifetime, "And second off I was out getting you the highlight of your career," Jinx declared proudly.

"What are you talking about?" She asked tiredly.

"We're taking down the Chem-Barons!" She said happily.

Caitlyn was not nearly as excited about the news as expected.

---

"Ok, hold up," Vi said running her hands down her face, "You want to go after the four remaining Chem-Barons?"

Vi had been awoken by a furious Cait, a seemingly unbothered Powder, and Loris who looked like he was ready to get the yelling of a lifetime, and then was dragged into some random kitchen where she was now being told a shitload of information at far too fucking early in the morning.

"Yes," Cait said, practically seething, "apparently she already has a whole plan drafted up and everything!" She said throwing down a notebook.

"I had shield guy here make it on our trip back," Powder said proudly, "I think he actually did a bang-up job on it."

Loris smiled, "Thanks!"

"Nope!" Caitlyn snapped, "No smiling, no stupid happy faces, tell Vi exactly where you went on your little trip!"

"…shield guy go right ahead-" Powder said as she avoided Vi's confused look.

"No, no, no, no," Caitlyn hissed, "Don't throw this on him, you're telling her."

"Ok! Sheesh take a chill pill," Jinx said before drumming her fingers on the counter, "I may have gone to… see Sevika in Stillwater to get the info on the Chem-Barons," she said to Vi's horror before quickly adding, "But before you get mad I was always planing on telling you about my plan. Look," she said as she quickly flipped to a page where a very poorly drawn stick figure of her wearing what she assumed was her gauntlets was displayed next to a long list of plans, "Ok that's not exactly the best example, I'm out of practice," she said as she looked at the drawing before snapping the notebook closed, "but the point is-"

"Powder," Vi said as she pinched the bridge of her nose, "are you fucking kidding me with this?"

"Vi I know you're not a fan of Sevika, who is, but it's a good plan!"

"You think my issue with this is the plan?!" Vi said standing up, "Powder you WENT TO STILLWATER! I don't fucking care who you were visiting, or how good your plan is, you don't go there! Ever!"

"I had shield guy with me, and I can take care of myself," Powder said crossing her arms, "I mean you survived it, how bad can it be?"

Vi walked over to the nearest wall and slammed her fist through it before growling, "Everyone out."

"Vi-" Cait said gently as she approached.

"OUT!"

Loris and Cait left, Cait looking at both Vi and Powder worriedly.

When the door shut Powder was the first to speak.

"Sorry, that was a bad joke," Powder said meekly.

Vi took a deep breath and forced herself not to yell and think about the next words she said carefully.

She needed to get through to Powder, and yelling was not the way to do that.

"…you remember how pissed you were when I told you I went to that lab?" She asked, trying to sound calm.

"Yeah," Powder said begrudgingly, "but this isn't the same-" she stopped talking as soon as she saw the look Vi gave her.

"That- place," Vi spat, "that is my lab."

She knows Powder went through hell and that Stillwater didn't compare to that pain, but that place…

Vi never wanted her sister to see it.

Powder didn't have a response for that, she just stood there frowning.

Vi took another breath, "We had an agreement. You and me tell each other our plans, and then we discuss them."

"I knew you would never agree to this! You wouldn't let me go there," Powder exclaimed, "and Sevika would never talk to anyone but me."

"Then we go together!" Vi spat, "or we come up with something else! Because this doesn't work if we both aren't willing to put in the work."

"…but I was being careful," she said, still not getting it, "I even brought shield guy with me-"

Vi grabbed a mug that was on the counter and flung it at the wall, smashing it, before taking another breath.

She was scaring Powder, she saw it and she didn't mean to, but she was doing her absolute best not to completely lose her shit right now, and the only way that would happen is if she could smash things.

Vi still managed not to yell as she spoke, the only restraint she was managing to have right now, "You know I let the whole Reaper council thing go because, yeah fine whatever you wanted to handle it and nothing bad happened and I was right there in the front row if anything did, but do you know how it felt when I realized you told Loris about it instead of me?"

Powder looked up at her with teary eyes.

"You don't even know him, and I'm your sister. But I let it go!" She said desperately trying to make her understand why she was so upset with all of this, "Because I fucked up and I understand that you don't trust me fully yet. But this?" Vi ran a hand down her face, "How could you go to a complete stranger about this instead of me?"

"I'm perfectly capable-" Powder began but Vi held her hand up and cut her off.

Vi couldn't do it, she was just too mad and Powder wasn't listening, and she didn't want to make things worse.

"I can't do this right now, I need some air," Vi said turning around and leaving the room before she did or said something she regretted.

---

The sound of glass shattering made Caitlyn extremely worried, but there wasn't much of a screaming match, which was what she had been expecting so that was probably a good thing… right?

It took a while, but eventually Vi stormed out, soon followed by Jinx who went the opposite direction towards her room.

Caitlyn could swear Jinx was crying, but it was hard to tell with how quickly she rushed by.

Caitlyn looked between the two sisters. Both of them needed someone right now, and she couldn't be in two places at once.

Caitlyn bit her lip before Loris spoke.

"Go get Vi, I'll make sure Jinx is ok," he told her.

Normally Caitlyn wouldn't let that happen, Jinx needed someone to talk to, and as much as she loved Loris, he wasn't someone Jinx would talk to about something like this. But Jinx was going to her bedroom, which meant she was also going to go to Vander.

Vander could handle her better than Caitlyn ever could.

"Just make sure she gets to her room, if she doesn't then have someone come and get me," Caitlyn said as she ran to catch up to Vi.

She didn't have to go far, she just followed the sound of objects getting smashed.

Caitlyn stepped into the room, making sure not to get hit by a flying table or chair.

"…guessing the talk didn't go well?" She said when Vi stopped throwing things for a moment.

She had completely trashed the tea room, mother would probably be furious, but that didn't matter right now.

Vi didn't respond to her, she just picked up a book from off the floor and threw it through a window.

Well, that would certainly be fun to explain when her mother heard about this.

"What happened Vi?" Caitlyn asked.

Vi panted as she stood there looking at the broken window, "Get out. I don't feel like talking."

Caitlyn sighed, "Well I'm not going anywhere, but feel free to break some more things."

Vi glared at her, "I said-"

"And I said I'm staying," Caitlyn retorted as she leaned down and picked up a chipped teacup and then handed it to Vi, "This one is still intact, you must be losing your edge."

Vi looked down at the cup before sighing heavily and running her hands down her face, "Shit sorry. First the kitchen wall and now this."

"It's fine Vi," Caitlyn said gently grabbing her hands, "It's just stuff. What's important is that you're ok."

"And what if I'm not?" She asked.

"Then I guess we'll just need to find some more stuff for you to break," Caitlyn said with a smile.

Vi snorted softly at that before that sad, tired look of her's returned.

"Why can't she listen to me? I was trying, really trying, to talk to her but it didn't matter, she never fucking listens," Vi said angrily.

Caitlyn sighed, "She… can be very stubborn and frustrating at times."

"Ha!" Vi scoffed, "Don't I know it."

"Yeah, well where exactly do you think she gets it from?" Caitlyn asked her with a raised brow.

Vi pulled a face and looked at her confused, "What are you talking about?"

"Vi," Caitlyn said with a sigh as she walked over to her and placed a hand on her back, "No matter how old or how much she says she doesn't need you, she still looks up to you. Unfortunately, that means that she learns to deal with things the way you do, alone."

Vi frowned at that, "But we had an agreement."

"Yes," Caitlyn said softly, "Unfortunately completely changing the way you handle difficult situations doesn't happen overnight. She thought including you in her plan was enough to honor that agreement while also still being able to do what she wanted. She didn't mean to break the deal and hurt your feelings."

"…what the fuck do I do now?" Vi asked tiredly, "I fucking scared the shit out of her."

"She'll forgive you," Caitlyn assured.

"How do you know?" Vi asked.

"You're her sister," Caitlyn said with a smile, "If only you could see how she looks at you, how much she still loves you, how much we all do."

Jinx wouldn't ever admit it, but there is this longing in her gaze. She loved her sister to death, and not even her scowl could hide it.

Because Vi was truly an incredible person. She believed in things with her whole soul, she loved things with all of herself. She wasn't afraid of loving others, she didn't care about what people thought of her, and she just did whatever she wanted. She just followed her heart, consequences be damned.

…and maybe Caitlyn should listen to her and start loosening up.

Vi scoffed softly, "Right, you care about me so much that you haven't looked at me once since I left you all behind."

Caitlyn blinked at her, "Vi-"

"Forgot it," Vi said with a sigh, "I know we talked about all this, we were gonna wait until Vander got better and I was in therapy. I know all that, I just… I'm getting sick and tired of waiting," she whispered softly.

Caitlyn had been so scared of admitting her feelings to Vi, for so many different fucking reasons, but Vi was truly the best thing that ever happened to her. Caitlyn had never been happier to be around someone in her life.

All the dull bleak moments, her seeing this world in one color, all of it changed as soon as she set eyes on her.

Vi was crazy, a hothead that brought more problems into her life than solutions, and she hadn't had one day of peace since she let her out of that cell.

But Caitlyn couldn't live a fucking day without her madness anymore.

"Vi," Caitlyn said softly, grabbing her hand, "I know things are a bit of a mess right now but… I also want to give this another try," Caitlyn said as she looked into her eyes.

Vi looked at her, shocked, "I just demolished this entire room, and you really still want to be with me after that?"

Caitlyn leaned in and planted a kiss on Vi's lips before pulling away, "Yes," she whispered.

Vi then returned the action with just as much enthusiasm, if not more.

Vi broke away, grinning like an idiot, "So does that mean you forgive me?"

"Shut up," Caitlyn said as she went in and kissed her again.

---

Jinx rushed into Vander's room without thinking.

He was sleeping.

He was always sleeping.

Never awake.

Never there.

It was always her responsibility to fix things, always her job to make sure he was ok. Why the hell couldn't he just wake the fuck up for once!?

"What's the matter Jinx can't handle the pressure?"

Jinx growled in frustration as she grabbed her hair.

Why was Vi the one who was mad? Jinx got the info, and she survived without a scratch. Vi didn't have to go to Stillwater, she did.

"Big sis still doesn't think you can do anything yourself."

Jinx thought she was being considerate because she didn't ask Vi to come. Why would her sister want to go back to the place she was stuck for seven years?

"You're forgetting your place. She protects you, not the other way around."

Jinx screamed in frustration, grabbing some dumb trinket that was decorating the room and smashing it against the wall.

"Look who's just like her sister."

"Shut up!" She hissed as she began to pace.

"Just lucky she hit that wall instead of you this time."

"Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up!" She screamed, picking up another random object and flinging it at them.

"Do you remember what it felt like?"

"Must have hurt."

"I bet it would hurt so much more now," he laughed.

"SHUT! UP!" She screamed as she pressed her hands to her ears.

"Powder!"

Thud!

Jinx's eyes snapped to the noise.

Her eyes widened, Vander was on the floor.

She rushed over to him, panicking, "What happened? Are you ok? Did you hit your head? Can you move? Should I get Steb? How-"

"Powder," he interrupted, "I am fine, I just fell."

Jinx sighed with relief, hugging him close as she allowed herself to feel the beating of his heart and the strong steady feeling of his breathing against her.

He returned the hug and then whispered in her ear, "Are you alright?"

She pulled back and looked at him confused, "I'm fine, why?"

He looked at her oddly, "Just now I was trying to get your attention, but you seemed… distracted."

Jinx pulled away from him completely at that, shrinking into herself. Vander didn't know about the voices, she hadn't told him.

"Well, now he knows. He got to see what a freak you are firsthand."

"We don't have to talk about it," he grunted as he tried to readjust himself.

Jinx scrambled back over to him and helped him back into the bed, "You can't walk, remember? You need to be more careful."

He sighed, before rubbing his hand along her cheek studying her face, "I still remember when you couldn't walk. You had the chubbiest cheeks," he said with a smile.

"Now you're just skin and bone."

Jinx offered a small smile back.

"What's the matter Pow-Pow?"

"Little baby Pow-Pow comes running to daddy for help, what a surprise."

Jinx closed her eyes and tried not to let it show how badly hearing that nickname burned her. She wanted to be normal for him.

"You're not normal."

"You've never been normal."

"You know you can talk to me right?" He said gently.

Jinx nodded.

"Then please tell me what's wrong."

Gently Jinx pulled his hand off her face and then looked at him.

There was still so much she hadn't told him. She hadn't mentioned anything about her hatred of touch, or the voices. Not to mention he probably had no idea the extent of her killings. She hadn't even brought up Silco with him yet… or Ekko.

She didn't want to break this fragile peace, she didn't want him to look at her like the others did. With fear, because she might go too far. With distrust, because they know how much she has done. With pity, because they know how stupidly fragile she is.

No.

Vander could never know.

"I got in a fight with Vi," she said, avoiding all the other hundreds of conversations she refused to have with him.

"Ah," he said, "Can I ask why?"

Jinx fidgeted with his fingers, "I… did something without telling her about it because I knew she wouldn't like it."

"Hmm," he hummed, "Well I can see why she got mad."

Jinx frowned.

"But I'm sure you had your reasons for not telling her," he added.

"I did!" She said with a huff, "But she never listens! She just thinks I'm a child who can't do a thing for herself!"

"Did Vi say that?" He asked.

"She doesn't have to, I see it in the way she looks at me!" Jinx spat.

"Powder, calm down," Vander said gently, "Instead of putting words in Vi's mouth, how about you ask her why she got so upset?"

"She already told me her dumb excuse," Jinx huffed.

"Ok," Vander said, "but did you listen when she told you?"

"Uh, duh? How else would I be able to tell you they were stupid?"

"Powder," he said giving her a look.

"Uhhggg," she whined, "Ok, fine maybe I could've listened better, but it's kinda hard to hear things when she goes around punching holes in walls, smashing cups, and storming out before I could talk."

Vander raised a brow, "I'm sorry, what exactly was this fight about again?"

Jinx looked away from him, "Not telling."

He gave her a look.

She gave him one back.

"Ok fine," He said, caving, "but I will say this, Vi had a tendency to get mad and do things without thinking. If she stormed out, it may be because she needed a minute to cool off so the two of you could have a real conversation."

Jinx shrugged, "Maybe."

He smiled at her, "Powder, I know things aren't the same between you two anymore. But here's the tricky thing about relationships, they only work if you're willing to meet the other person halfway."

"So…"

"So cut your sister some slack with this one and go have a proper conversation with her," Vander said, laying it out plainly for her, "and tell her why you did what you did."

"Fine," Jinx said before planting a kiss on his forehead, "I'll be back as soon as I can, promise."

He smiled as she walked out, "I know you will."

Jinx walked out of the room, nearly running into shield guy.

"Jinx! You ok?" He asked.

"Yeah I'm fine," Jinx said waving him off, "but I need you to do me a favor."

"Sure thing!" He replied happily.

"Keep an eye on Vander for me while I'm away," Jinx said.

She didn't want Vander stuck on the floor because he couldn't move and he fell again. However he fell, she didn't want it to happen again while no one was around to help him.

"You got it," he said with a smile as Jinx walked back to the kitchen.

Vi was still gone when she got back to the kitchen, so she sat herself down on the counter and waited.

It took ages but eventually Vi came back, and this time with Caitlyn.

"Powder," Vi said shocked that she was here.

"Yo," she said offering a little wave, "You punch enough walls to get all that anger out yet?"

Vi sighed and gave her a small smile, "Sorry I flipped out."

She sounded exhausted, and the bandages on her fists had some fresh blood on them, meaning Vi did go off and let some steam off.

"Whatever," Jinx said shrugging, "It was a totally lame flip out honestly. Not your best work sis," she said gesturing at the wall and mug.

"Wish I could say the same for the tea room," Caitlyn muttered.

Caitlyn seemed to be ok. Vi didn't freak her out, which is good. If Caitlyn wanted to get with her sister, she would have to learn to have some tough skin. (Also, was it just her, or did Vi totally kiss Caitlyn again while they were gone?) This flip out of Vi's was truly nothing compared to some of the bad ones she's had in the past.

Jinx still shudders to think of what happened to the guy who stole her birthday present that one year. No furniture was safe from Vi's rage when Jinx told her about that.

"…so we gonna talk about it or not?" Jinx said as Vi just continued to stand there.

Vi took a deep breath, "I don't appreciate you not telling me about you going to Stillwater."

Jinx wanted to say that she didn't need Vi there, and that her telling Vi about it would have just led to a bigger mess but instead she took a breath and tried to remember what Vi had said before.

"You're mad because I didn't follow our deal," Jinx said, trying to see if that was accurate.

"Yeah," Vi said, "I thought we had an understanding."

"We do, and that's why I was going to tell you about the Chem-Baron stuff," Jinx said as she gestured at the notebook that was left abandoned on the counter.

"Yeah but all the plan Powder, not just the fighting. If you want to go to Stillwater then I have a right to know about it!" Vi said, frustration creeping into her voice.

"I didn't want you to come with me Vi," Jinx said, trying to explain.

"Why? Do you honestly have more faith in Loris than me!?"

"Hell no, Vi!" Jinx replied instantly, "I just didn't want to put you in the position where you would have to go back to that place because of me."

Vi blinked at that, "…you didn't tell me because-"

"Because I know how fucked that place is, and how fucked it left you," Jinx said, "I know what it's like to have a place that haunts your nightmares," she said bitterly.

Stillwater was Vi's lab, Jinx would never make her go back.

"I didn't want you to go back there because you felt you needed to protect me," Jinx muttered.

Vi sighed, "Ok, that's a good reason," she said, "but next time still tell me. Like we said, Cait can help us decide stuff like who goes and who doesn't. And Powder?"

Jinx looked at her.

"Thanks for looking out for me, that was nice of you."

Jinx felt her cheeks flush, "Whatever," she muttered before clearing her throat, "So now that we're good can we focus on this?" Jinx said grabbing the notebook.

"Sure," Caitlyn said taking the notebook, "First off, what do you hope to get out of catching all the Chem-Barons? It's not like you to care about stuff like this."

"I'm the Reaper now," Jinx said with some annoyance, "I need to level the playing field after my last little escapade with the councilors. This?" she said tapping the notebook, "This is how I do that. Plus it will look great as the new Sheriff's first operation."

Vi grabbed the notebook and flipped through it, "Ok, these plans look great and all but we don't have the right manpower for this. Enforcers don't have any clue how to navigate the Undercity, this whole thing would collapse within the first minute."

"She's right Jinx," Caitlyn said, "I mean, only you, Vi, and Loris would be able to lead a team through this, but we will need more than three teams."

A knock sounded at the door.

All of them looked over, Caitlyn calling out for them to enter.

Some guy in a stupid-looking uniform opened the door, "Ma'am, there is a young man at the gates who is claiming to know you and to being a friend of the Reaper's," he said with a bow.

Jinx raised a brow at that, but Caitlyn spoke before she could.

"Did they give a name?" She asked.

"They say their name is Ronan ma'am. Should I turn them away?"

"No, let them in," Caitlyn said, turning to Jinx with a grin.

"Who said I wanted to see that guy?" Jinx said crossing her arms.

"We'll seeing as how he's going to lead us to the answer to our little problem here? I'd say you should be very happy to see him."

Any semblance of amusement fell from Jinx's face immediately.

"If you're saying what I think you're saying-" Jinx started.

"Yup!" Caitlyn said clapping her hands together, "We're getting help from the Firelights!"

Chapter 63: 这样很好

"We don't need the help from the Burnt Out Glow Sticks, we can do this ourselves!" Jinx yelled as they walked to the room where they were going to meet Ronan in.

"Jinx," Caitlyn said as she opened the door for Vi and her, "No, we can't. We need them and their knowledge of the Undercity. The only other person who could even compare is you, and you can't lead all of the teams."

"I have literally come to you with the opportunity of a lifetime to take the Undercity's crime bosses down, and you're outsourcing it!?" Jinx yelled as Vi plopped down on the sofa and picked up a cookie from the plate that had been set out.

"Yes," Caitlyn said, closing the door, "Plus this will be a huge opportunity to make connections with people in the Undercity."

"Ok, so now this is like a permanent thing?! I didn't agree to that at all!" She said angrily.

"Jinx, it will be a one-time thing for you," Caitlyn assured, "and you don't even have to talk to the Firelights on the mission, your team can just be enforcers."

"Right, because that's so much better," she said before flopping down next to Vi and stealing her half-eaten cookie.

"Hey!" Vi exclaimed.

Jinx stuck her tongue out at her and then proceeded to eat the rest of the cookie in one bite.

"Cait!" Vi yelled as she looked over at her.

Dear lord, it was like dealing with children.

"There are other cookies, Vi, just get another," she said tiredly as she sat down.

"But that one was mine," she whined before grabbing another cookie as she was told and taking a bite grumpily.

"Look, Jinx," Caitlyn said, ignoring Vi, "it's like I said, it's a one-time thing, and you don't even need to interact with them."

Knock, Knock, Knock.

The servant from before opened the door, a wide-eyed Ronan behind him.

"Have to interact with that one," Jinx muttered bitterly as she once again stole a cookie from Vi's hand.

"Powder what the fuck!? The plate is right here!" Vi yelled as she grabbed the plate and held it up for Jinx so she could take a cookie.

"Thanks for offering, sis, but I'm kinda full," she said as she licked some smudged chocolate from the cookie off her thumb.

Caitlyn ignored that mess and stood. "Ronan, good to see you again."

"Wait! Wait!" Called out Heimerdinger as he ran into the room, "I-" he said huffing tiredly, "-am here as well."

"Heimerdinger!" Caitlyn exclaimed.

"Cecil!" Jinx said happily, "You're here too?"

Apparently, Jinx liked Heimerdinger, who would've guessed?

"Forgive me, ma'am, he only arrived after I returned to get the young gentleman," the servant said with an apologetic bow.

"Yeah, he's kinda slow, so I just went ahead to speed things up," Ronan said with a shrug.

"Oh, that's alright," Caitlyn said, ushering them in, "What brings you two here?"

"Just visiting my dear," Heimerdinger replied as he waddled in and walked up to Jinx, "visiting this one more specifically," he said as he went to shake her hand.

Jinx smirked at him, "Well, I'm honored, Cecil, but I don't do handshakes. You know how needy fans can be, can't give them a shred of attention without them wanting you to suddenly go live with them. I mean, just look at what happened when I gave Caitlyn the time of day."

"Really, Jinx?" Caitlyn said, unamused.

Jinx shrugged, "You were the one who was oh so desperate to hang out with me when we met."

"Good to see you're doing ok here," Ronan said, smiling at Jinx.

Jinx looked over at him, "You know me, I'm good wherever," her tone became more distant, and her smile slipped from her face.

Jinx was still uncomfortable around Ronan. Which was understandable, considering all that had happened with him in the past.

"You know your timing is actually perfect, Ronan," Caitlyn said as everyone sat down, "We need a favor from you, or more specifically, the Firelights."

Ronan blinked in surprise at that and then looked to Jinx, "You're gonna ask Ekko for a favor? Didn't you just kick him out of Topside?"

Jinx scowled at him, "I'm not asking for anything, you are," she sneered.

"Well, whatever it is, we would most certainly be happy to help!" Heimerdinger exclaimed.

"We wanna take down the Chem-Barons," Vi said.

Ronan's jaw dropped, "Wait, hold up, for real? Didn't you just get rid of some Councilor's Jinx?"

"Yes, well, Jinx is hardly done making big, shocking moves," Caitlyn said with a slight laugh.

Ronan grinned at that, "Well damn, of course we'll help you take those sons of bitches down!" He said, standing, "It's like all we've been trying to do since you killed Silco. Totally badass by the way," he added on.

"Why are you standing?" Jinx growled, "Sit your loud ass down."

"Why would I do that when we're all about to leave?" He asked.

Jinx gave him a look, "Excuse me?"

"Well, you got a favor to ask the Firelights, and I've got someone who's been dying to meet you," he said with a wink.

Jinx was not amused by that news.

---

"Remind me again how you got me down here?" Jinx grumbled angrily as they approached the pipe entrance that Ronan led them to.

"Oh come on, Powder," Vi said, nudging her, "You love surprises."

"I hate surprises," she muttered, glaring at the floor.

She was literally walking into a hideout full of people who hated her guts with only a single knife on her. It was a stupid move.

…not to mention he would be there.

"Stay close," Ronan called as they walked into the pipe, "It's real easy to get lost down here."

"Yes," Cecil said, "I made the mistake of going alone once, and I only got out because Ekko was kind enough to fetch me."

Jinx glared at the walls as she walked, hugging herself close.

She didn't like it.

She had been warned as a kid that these tunnels were never-ending, twisting death traps. Considering her recent experience with tunnels, this wasn't a pleasant experience.

Not to mention all of this was enemy territory.

"Jeez, I'm glad they knocked me out the first time, this walk takes ages!" Vi complained.

"Yes," Caitlyn said, "honestly, it takes far too long."

"Wouldn't be much of a secret hideout if the entrance was easy to find," Ronan said, turning the corner.

Jinx had forgotten that literally everyone but her had been to the hideout. Guess that made things even more awkward for her.

Though this maze was disorienting. Even being able to see everything, she lost track of where she was about three turns ago.

"It'll be ok, Powder," Vi said, probably sensing her unease.

Ok?

She had murdered so many of these people, taken away their lives without remorse or mercy. They wouldn't be kind to her entering their home.

"Here we are!" Ronan said as he then went and knocked on the door in a specific pattern.

Soon the door opened, revealing… sunlight?

But… there was no sunlight down here.

The girl who opened the door let out a gasp as she saw who she had just opened the door for.

Jinx tensed, waiting for the screams of both terror and anger, but none came. Just silence as more and more people realized she was here.

"Welcome to the hideout!" Ronan said, walking in, as if completely oblivious to everything around them.

He may not have noticed, but Vi and Caitlyn sure did. They both got closer to Jinx, forming almost a barrier around her.

"Stay close, Powder," Vi whispered.

"We can leave if you're uncomfortable," Caitlyn added quietly.

"A bit late for that," Jinx said, eyeing everyone, fingers hovering around where her knife was.

The entire place fell into silence, all eyes on them. Everyone stopped what they were doing and just stared and stared.

A man with bat-like features stepped out into the open, walking towards them.

Everyone tensed, Jinx's fingers itching to pull her knife, Vi's hands were already formed into tight fists, and Caitlyn seemed ready to pull her gun that she packed in her bag at a moment's notice.

The guy stopped a few steps from them.

"Scar, I know you're probably pissed that I led Jinx here, but-" Ronan said quickly.

The guy ignored him. He took the mask he had attached to his waist and placed it on the ground in front of him as he kneeled down in front of her. His hand a fist over his heart, and his head bowed.

Stillfall.

That was the name of this action. Jinx had only seen it done once before in her life. Babette had done for Vander after the bridge incident.

"You kneel in a Stillfall only for the broken who keep going," Vander explained as they left Babettes' shop.

"Are you broken, Vander?" Powder asked.

He never answered the question.

Soon others followed in suit, placing their masks on the ground in front of them, kneeling down, and placing their fist over their hearts.

The kneeling and the fist over the heart was Stillfall, but the masks that was their personal touch to the action. Their way of saying that it was them doing this, that they meant it.

"Oh my!" Exclaimed Cecil as he watched everyone kneel.

There were some who didn't participate, scowling at those who did, but practically the entire hideout was doing it. Old men who needed help getting to their knees, young children who probably didn't know the significance of the action, women and men of all kinds were giving her one of the greatest honors known to their people.

She looked out at all the people who kneeled before her, paying her respect and acknowledging her suffering.

After a moment, Jinx stepped forward, moving past the barrier Vi and Caitlyn created. Caitlyn tried to call out, but Vi stopped her. Vi knew the significance of this action, no one here would try to hurt her after this.

Jinx walked out into the open until she was in front of the first man who kneeled.

She then sat in front of him, cross-legged, pulling out the knife that she had brought.

Some people gasped, scared, fearful, terrified that she would kill again, but she was done killing.

Jinx held out the knife and then grabbed the blade and pushed with all her strength until the metal blade snapped in two.

Jinx's hand bled from grabbing the blade, so when she dropped the pieces to the floor, they had her Shimmer blood coating them.

The man looked at the broken blade and then at her, before bowing his head once more, "Welcome to the hideout, Jinx."

---

Everyone stood. Vi, Caitlyn, Cecil, and Ronan all joining Jinx.

"Way to upstage me, Scar," Ronan complained as he walked up.

Vi smiled at Jinx before whispering to her, "Told you it'd be ok."

Jinx gave her a small smile back.

"You're not exactly hard to upstage," Bat guy said.

"Well, I get to show them around!" Ronan declared.

"Excuse me, may I ask what that was?" Cecil asked, "I have never seen such a display before."

"Yeah," Caitlyn added, "Why was everyone kneeling?"

"It's called Stillfall," Vi said, "It was actually invented for people who got out of Stillwater, hence the name, to acknowledge all the pain and suffering they experienced."

"But the occasion to use such a thing became less and less common," Scar said dryly, giving Caitlyn a look, "So it evolved. Now it is just to acknowledge someone who has gone through unimaginable suffering."

"Ah," Caitlyn said softly.

It was almost funny. It was more common to run into someone who went through unimaginable suffering down here than someone who survived Stillwater.

Jinx looked over to Vi. She had received no Stillfall, no acknowledgment for what she had been through. Not that many knew, but still. She deserved Stillfall just as much as Jinx did. That was the very reason it was invented after all.

"I... have other things to attend to," Bat guy said, glancing at Jinx, "Once you're ready, just call and I'll take you to a room where we can talk."

Jinx raised a brow, "Who said we want to talk?"

He looked at her, "You wouldn't have come here if you didn't," he said before he left, whispering something to Ronan before he did.

But Jinx had a feeling he wasn't headed far. He may have bowed to her, but she still saw distrust in his eyes. He wasn't fully ok with her being here.

"Ok, before we go anywhere, there is-" Ronan began.

Jinx's eyes gazed around the place the Firelights called home as Ronan continued to talk. Sunlight streamed down, drawings of all kinds decorated the walls, and kids playing with hoverboards and other toys.

"They probably gave Ronan better toys than that ugly ass doll you actually thought was a good present," Mylo hissed.

Jinx scowled and continued to look at the place, eyes finally landing on the biggest, most shocking thing in this place.

A real live tree.

In the Undercity.

It was huge, its roots poking out of the ground everywhere. It was sticking out of a building with-

…

Jinx brushed past a rambling Ronan and walked up to the painted wall she had spotted.

A Firelight who was at the wall quickly walked away, in either respect or fear, or both.

Jinx stared up at the wall covered in faces.

Or more specifically, her face.

Right there, smack dab in the middle of all painted ghosts from the past was her.

Powder.

She clenched her hands into fists. Had he truly refused to acknowledge her existence to the extent of painting a memorial of Powder?

"She is dead. You said so yourself."

Yes, but… she never wanted him to believe that.

Next to her was them.

All of them.

Vi, Mylo, Claggor, Vander.

…Benzo.

She had never known what happened to him. She just knew he was gone. Like the rest of them.

Next to all of them were more faces. Faces that she didn't know, or worse, ones that she did. All of them looked happy and proud.

Beautiful memories forever kept alive by paint.

Candles lined the wall, with photos and some food that was left to appease the dead.

Jinx couldn't look away, and she couldn't stop finding new faces to see.

"Wonder how many of them you killed?"

As soon as he spoke, she saw the face of a girl with pink hair. One who otherwise bared no resemblance to Vi, but that didn't matter, her hair was reason enough to condemn her.

That was the girl she had killed that day on the airship.

"And now you're here standin-"

Thud!

Mylo was interrupted when something literally fell on top of Jinx.

"What the fu-" Jinx began before she saw what exactly fell on her head.

A little girl with short, choppy brown hair wearing a gapped-tooth grin had quite literally fallen out of the sky.

She sat up, wiping her nose that might have been bleeding because of the fall, before looking at Jinx with wide, excited, honey colored eyes.

Jinx huffed, annoyed at the little rug rat, "Watch where you're falling, kid," Jinx said as she stood and dusted herself off.

The girl didn't say anything, she just looked up at Jinx.

"Probably scared," Claggor said pointedly.

Jinx sighed at that as she picked up the old miner's helmet that she spotted on the ground, "Just be more careful, you might not land on such a nice person next time," Jinx said as she plopped the girl's hat back on her.

The thing was too big for her, so it fell over her eyes, but she quickly lifted it and looked up at Jinx once more, still not saying a word.

"I see you met Isha!" Ronan said as he and the others walked over.

Jinx looked over at him, "More like Isha met my head."

"Least you got a hard head, I'm sure it softened the fall," Vi said with a snort.

"Hardy har har," Jinx said with a glare.

"The girl seems to have a particular liking for climbing," Cecil said, looking up at the branch on the tree Isha most likely fell from.

"Are you ok, Isha?" Caitlyn asked, concerned as she went over and kneeled down next to her.

Isha didn't answer her, she just jumped up and rushed over to Ronan, tugging on his shirt incessantly.

"What's up with the kid?" Jinx said, looking at her as she furiously tried to get Ronan's attention, "Don't tell me you got some chick knocked up while you were down here?"

"What!? No!" He said, sounding absolutely mortified at the thought.

Jinx shrugged, "Wouldn't be the first time it happened."

"Ronan, she is trying to tell you something," Caitlyn said.

The kid was truly about to rip off Ronan's shirt with how hard she was yanking on it.

"Yeah, I'm aware," he said as he tried to pry Isha's hands off his shirt, "What's up, Isha?"

Isha didn't speak, instead, she began to move her hands in a flurry of movement.

"What's she doing?" Caitlyn asked, confused.

"It's called sign language," Jinx said as she watched Isha continue to talk to Ronan.

"I… don't understand? Why doesn't she speak?" Caitlyn said.

If anyone else had said it, Jinx would have smacked the living shit out of them.

There were tons of people who used sign language down here, especially recently. Kids who were born deaf, or a more common ailment, losing their hearing as a result of their job.

Working in factories wasn't exactly quiet work, and without the right equipment to protect your ears, you would quickly lose your hearing listening to those machines chugging away.

There was also the rare selective mute, Jinx had basically become one when she was living with the doctor.

Jinx had always thought sign language was fascinating. She had considered trying it and just communicating that way when she was younger, but that was a short-lived thought.

Most people didn't know any sign language, and the doctor sure as hell didn't. He wouldn't be amused if she came in and refused to speak to him unless she was using sign language.

"She just quiet," Ronan said as he looked up at them, Isha having finished whatever speech she was giving him, "Like you, Jinx," he said with a smile.

A selective mute, then, Jinx thought as she looked down at the kid. Isha looked back, grinning and bouncing on the balls of her feet.

"Anyway, she's the person I wanted to introduce you to," he said, flicking her helmet, making it tip to the side.

"Oh!" Caitlyn exclaimed, "Is this the girl you said you gave your doll to?"

He grinned, "Yup."

Caitlyn looked so excited to hear that.

"What doll?" Vi asked.

Before Ronan could reply, Isha elbowed him in the side and then signed something else to him.

"Ok, ok, I'll tell her," he said before looking at Jinx, "Isha here says she wants to show you her room."

Isha then stomped her foot.

"And-" he let out a snort, before covering it up with a cough, "and she was, um, wondering if you could teach her how to be a big fat hero like you," he said, fighting back laughter.

Vi let out a snort of laughter.

"Aww," Caitlyn cooed.

Jinx felt her face flush in embarrassment, "Ronan," she growled.

"I'm sorry," Cecil said, looking at all of them, "I apparently am unaware of the context behind this situation. Caitlyn, do you know what's happening?"

"I'll… explain later," Caitlyn whispered.

"What!?" He said, holding his hands up, ignoring the side conversation, "Isha said it, not me!"

"Yeah, but she sure as hell didn't get that from sitting around here all day," she said, pointing an accusing finger at him.

"Well, to be fair, Powder, you did say that to a whole crowd," Vi said as she laughed, "Anyone could've told the kid about it."

"Right," Jinx said, glaring at a guilty-looking Ronan, "So you're trying to tell me this weirdo wasn't the one who told her the exact words I used in that little speech of mine?"

"Nope!" Ronan exclaimed, "Wasn't me."

"Uh huh, so if I asked the kid-"

"Would you look at the time!" Ronan said, ushering them away, "We'd better get to that tour!"

Isha rushed to follow them, helmet falling to the ground in her hurry, making her have to run back and pick it up before she ran to Ronan and stuck by him as she stared at Jinx.

The little ankle biter was actually kinda cute. A tiny, wide-eyed thing that looked like she would pick a fight with someone twice her size. She also looked like the type who was good at disappearing. A fast little thing that was probably slippery as an eel.

"So where'd you get her from?" Vi asked Ronan.

"Vi, that makes it sound like he stole her," Caitlyn sighed.

"Probably did," Jinx said, "Blink if you need help, kid, I'll happily kick this guy's ass for you," Jinx said with a wink, making the girl giggle.

That totally didn't make Jinx feel all warm and mushy inside.

"Why do you two think the worst of me?" Ronan huffed, "I didn't steal her, and I didn't get a girl pregnant. I saved her," he said proudly.

"From what? A dead mouse?" Jinx said, unimpressed.

"Hey! I'll have you know I saved her and two other kids from Chross's guys!" He snapped back.

"Oh? I don't believe I've heard this story," Cecil said, looking over at him.

That gave Jinx pause. She looked down at the smiling kid who didn't look to have a care in the world. Jinx had completely forgotten what life was like for orphans down here. Forced into factories, never getting to see the smog-filled sky of the Undercity, not to mention the actual sky.

"Yeah, well, apparently she was working in his factory her whole life, but when they were transferring her and two other kids to a new one, I found them and fought the guys off," he said proudly.

The kid was so sweet and happy, Jinx would have never known she had been born in one of those horrible factories.

"Good job, kid," Jinx said to Ronan.

No child deserves to grow up like that. Jinx was proud of him for saving her and the others.

He beamed at her when she said that and then said, "Well, if you're gonna hand out compliments like that, you should be giving some to Isha here, she helped us take down a whole child trafficking route Chross had just a few days ago," He said, grinning down at her.

"Oh yeah?" Jinx said, looking down at her.

Isha grinned that gap-tooth grin and nodded eagerly.

"Well, who needs lessons on how to be a big fat hero? Sounds to me you already are one pipsqueak."

Somehow, Isha's eyes became even bigger, and so did her smile. She then furiously began to sign to Ronan again.

"She said she still isn't nearly as big a hero as you," Ronan translated.

Jinx paused and then kneeled down in front of Isha, "Who wants another me walking around? The world needs an Isha, so do me a favor and just keep being a hero in your own way. Kay?"

Isha nodded, helmet tipping over her eyes as she did so.

Jinx snorted before lifting up the helmet for her, "And get yourself some style, kid. You have to look cool before you kick someone's ass, otherwise it's no fun."

"Jinx."

Jinx flinched at the sound of his voice.

How to feel?

How to act?

…how to forgive?

Because she could never forget.

"The helmet's cool. Just needs some color," Jinx whispered to Isha before she stood and turned to face Ekko.

He looked better than he did the night she nearly killed him. No blood dripping all over his face, and the bruises seemed mostly healed, but the cuts were still there. Not to mention his nose.

"Damn little man, what happened to you?" Vi exclaimed as she saw him.

He glanced over at Jinx before looking back to Vi, "Just got in a fight," he said with a shrug.

"Should I see the other guy, or is it safe to assume you lost?" Vi said as she went over and smacked him on the shoulder.

He chuckled as he shook his head, "Yeah, I got my ass handed to me, what of it?"

"He showed up like that when he returned to the hideout. He refuses to elaborate on the matter," Cecil supplied.

Jinx looked away from him.

He hadn't told them it was her.

"We were hoping to talk to you about something," Caitlyn said, bringing the conversation back to the topic.

"Sure, we can go talk in the meeting room," he said as he turned to lead them to the room, Heimerdinger excusing himself, saying he had an unfinished bubble machine to attend to, whatever that meant.

Jinx went to go with Vi and the others, but something tugged on her shirt. She looked down and saw Isha holding onto her.

Isha signed something, and Jinx looked to Ronan for translation.

"She says she wants you to come look at her room," he explained, looking back at her.

Jinx looked down at the kid and then back at the others.

"It's ok, Powder," Vi said, smiling at her, "Go, me and Cait can handle this."

"But it's my-" Jinx began.

"Yeah, and you'll still be a part of it," Vi assured, "Just let us talk to Ekko, you take a break."

Jinx opened her mouth to protest, but Vi lightly shoved her towards Ronan and Isha.

"Go have some fun for once, let me step up this time."

Jinx huffed, still not fully convinced, but when she looked at Ekko, she decided it was better not to interact with him.

"Alright, kid, lead the way," Jinx said as she turned to Isha.

---

Ekko was disappointed that Jinx didn't join him and the others. He was also extremely disappointed that he had missed her walking into the hideout.

Ronan had told him that he was going to visit Jinx. Heimerdinger also requested to join when he heard, but he never imagined that she would end up coming here.

All the years they had been apart, there was always one thought in his head every time he looked down at the home that he had built.

Would Jinx like it?

He never admitted it, but he always wanted to build something she would be proud of, something she would want to be a part of. A part of him thought if she saw all the good he had done, then maybe, just maybe, she would choose to stay for once.

But the opportunity to show her never happened, and he had just missed her walking in, so that dream was dead.

If only he hadn't been so absorbed in his latest project of trying to get the Undercity under control once more.

…ok, that was a lie, he was just staring at old plans, trying to concentrate and not think about Jinx all the time. Which was a complete and utter failure.

Ekko led them to the meeting room and shut the door behind them.

He couldn't help but wonder what the history was behind Jinx and Ronan. Sure, he knew the basics. She saved him and told him about the Firelights, but what else was there?

The only thing Ronan had told them was about the time Jinx let both him and his dad go. But there was more to that story, Ronan said Jinx had killed his father, but they never got to that part. Ekko never brought the topic up again with Ronan, he was too embarrassed. All the times Ekko had told him he was wrong and that Jinx was the enemy. What right did he have to ask him about such a personal topic after all that he said and did?

"That's one cute kid you were hiding," Vi said as she walked in.

"Huh?" Ekko said, looking back at her.

"Isha," Caitlyn supplied, "She's absolutely adorable, and I think Jinx has taken a liking to her."

"Oh," Ekko said as he remembered the look on Jinx's face when she looked at Isha.

It certainly was different than her normal scowl.

"I haven't seen her be that nice to someone except when she's around Vander," Caitlyn added.

Vi nodded her head in agreement, "I'm just glad she's not refusing to interact with people, she was really quiet on the way here."

"Yeah, but that's understandable considering…"

Caitlyn awkwardly trailed off as she glanced at Ekko.

"Subtle, Cait. Real subtle," Vi said with a snort.

"Isn't there something you guys wanted?" Ekko asked, clearing his throat and trying to get his mind back on work and not Jinx.

"Yes," Caitlyn said as she pulled out a notebook, "As you may have heard, Jinx has made some big moves lately."

"I have," Ekko said, looking up at her, "Congratulations on your promotion, Sheriff."

Caitlyn smiled, "Thank you."

Vi tapped the notebook, "Well, now Powder has some big plans for you guys."

Ekko furrowed his brows, "What did you mean?"

"We need the Firelights' help to take down the Chem-Barons."

"…what?" Ekko said, certainly having misheard what she had just said, "You mean A Chem-Baron, right?"

"Nope," Vi said as she gestured for him to take the notebook, "she wants to take them all down."

Ekko grabbed the notebook and then began to flip through it. It contained intimate knowledge of Chem-Baron factories, hideouts, trade routes, anything and everything he and the Firelights had been fighting to get their hands on for years.

"How in the fuck did she get these? Was it the doctor?" He asked as he read, noticing the little doodles he knew were made by Jinx.

"No, Sevika," Caitlyn corrected.

"I thought-"

"Well, you thought wrong. Sevika is in Stillwater right now, and Jinx managed to get this information out of her," Vi said, crossing her arms.

"So?" Caitlyn said as she watched Ekko, "Will you help us?"

"I mean… the plan is great," Ekko said, "but I'm just surprised you're going along with this, Vi," he said, looking up at her.

Vi had always been the protective type. Her allowing Jinx to run with this was crazy to him.

"I already went down that route once," Vi said, "I'm trusting her to do this. Besides, I am not leaving her side for a second."

There it was.

"Well," Ekko said as he read over more of the plan, "I'm all for this. I'll just have someone verify the info, and we're set."

"Wonderful," Caitlyn said, "And I'm hoping this means relationships between Piltover and the Undercity won't be as difficult?"

Ekko closed the notebook, "I would be honored to be working with the newest Sheriff if it means we save our city from these people."

Caitlyn smiled, "And it would be my honor to work with you, Ekko."

---

Isha's room was small but fun.

She had no door, just a curtain that led into her little room. A messy bed with all kinds of junk on it was in the corner, hand-drawn pictures were taped up on the walls, and some fun little homemade trinkets littered the floor.

"If you couldn't tell, she likes to color and try to make things," Ronan said as they walked in.

"Mhmm!" Isha grunted out as she rushed over to Jinx, holding up a drawing to her that she had pulled out from underneath her pillow.

"For me?" Jinx asked, confused.

Isha nodded excitedly, watching her with her honey colored eyes.

Jinx gently took the drawing and unfolded it. It was of her.

It was crude, but she could tell. Besides, who else had blue hair like hers in the Undercity?

Stick figure Jinx was holding the other stick figure's hand, who must have been Isha, judging by the helmet the little character wore.

The two of them were both in the hideout, smiling and standing together.

Isha began to sign as Jinx took in the drawing, Ronan translating for her.

"She says, I have always wanted to meet you. I drew that my first week here, I was scared and didn't know what was going to happen to me. I was scared I would end up back with those people, but then I heard about you, and I just knew everything would be ok. So I made that and kept it under my pillow to remind myself to be brave and to survive. Because I knew you would be out there to protect me."

Jinx quickly rubbed away tears that were threatening to fall. She wouldn't let her tears fall on the drawing and ruin it.

"Just how long have you known about me?" Jinx whispered.

She signed, and Ronan spoke for her, "It was my third night here when Ronan told me all about you and how you saved him."

Jinx looked over at him, and he smiled at her.

"He told me that the others didn't understand why you hurt other people, and that he didn't either. But he told me that you still saved others. You save them and give them homes. If it wasn't for you, then Ronan couldn't have saved me, so that means you also saved me and gave me a home. You saved me! This is my thank you!"

Isha then tapped the drawing to show Jinx that she was, in fact, referring to the picture.

"You can have it because I don't need the picture anymore, because now I have the real thing!"

Jinx was trying her fucking best not to start sobbing, or screaming, or both. But this little girl just kept going, barreling her way through all the walls she had built around her heart as if they were merely air.

Why did these two assholes think of her as some sort of hero? Why did they so genuinely believe her to be a good person? They were complete strangers, Ronan only spoke to her about three times in her life, and he knew nothing about her. But despite it all, he never stopped believing in her.

All the murders she committed, all the terror she inflicted on his people, he still thought she was good underneath it all.

"And…" Ronan paused as Isha turned around and grabbed something else before she held it up, "I have this doll! You should really make another for Ronan, he gave me his because he wanted to help me, but I can tell he misses it."

Jinx let out a sob before she turned around and covered her mouth to try and shut herself up.

"Jinx?" Ronan said, concerned, "Are you ok? What's the matter?"

"I… I'm fine," she said, trying to get herself under control.

How could she be ok when these two somehow knew all the ways to somehow make her think for a split second that she had done something good in the midst of all the horrible?

They made her think that maybe she wasn't all bad, and that perhaps a part of her that wasn't completely fucked had survived all those years in that cave.

And maybe, just maybe, that part of her wasn't tied to Vander.

"What? Isha, no! Of course, she's not upset about the present!" Ronan said to Isha, who was probably also worried.

That just made Jinx want to cry more, but she told her feelings to fuck off. She wasn't going to lose her shit here of all places. Not in front of the kid.

Jinx turned back around and cleared her throat, "I was just… taken by surprise at how awesome your drawing is, kid, so don't worry, ok?"

Isha signed something, and Ronan said, "So you like your present?"

…present.

Jinx hadn't had a present from anyone in seven years. It was just a stupid drawing that meant nothing to her at all, from a kid she had only met today.

But Janna, she would be lying if she said this drawing wasn't now her most prized possession.

Jinx felt her swirling emotions bubbling up again, so she tipped the kid's hat over her eyes so that she couldn't see her cry.

"Yeah, kid. I like the present," Jinx said, her voice having a slight shake to it as a tear slipped down her face despite her best efforts.

Notes:

I saw a TikTok saying that Jinx pushes Isha's helmet over her eyes every time she gets upset because she doesn't want Isha to see her get emotional. So now I can't unsee that, and I will be using that in this fanfic :)

Chapter 64: Don’t Let Me Let Myself Down

Vi and the others walked into Isha's room, Ekko leading them there.

"What, no way! Your tiger can't eat my robot!" Powder snapped at Ronan, who was holding up a stuffed tiger, "Tigers can't eat metal!"

"They can if your robot fell into the barbecue sauce pit and now smells like a home-cooked dinner," he said, plucking the robot toy Powder had out of her hand, and proceeded to pretend to have the stuffed tiger eat it.

"Isha! Help me out here, he's totally cheating his way to victory," Powder said as she wildly gestured at Ronan, who was still having his tiger eat Powder's robot.

Isha looked to be in serious thought as she looked down at the scattered toys before her.

Vi walked over, "Have the buff guy with the sword take the tiger down!" Vi exclaimed, gesturing at the abandoned toy that laid on the sidelines.

"We can't use him! He died back at the never-ending forest because he ate mushrooms growing on the side of a tree. Hence, the tiny gave stone and flowers," Powder said, waving Vi off.

Vi looked over at the doll and, sure enough, there actually was a gravestone with flowers by it that she had failed to notice.

"Well, what are you gonna do?! The tiger is totally gonna kill you!" Vi said, pointing at the stuffed tiger.

"You should just give up already," Ronan said, "my tiger has basically already ripped you in two."

"I still got time!" Powder yelled, "I made him super reinforced metal armor with that garbage from that beetle swarm," she said smugly.

"Use the girl with the laser gun!" Caitlyn exclaimed as she came over and sat down with them.

"She was arrested at the last cargo shipping yard for carrying illegal arms into unauthorized airspace," Powder said before pointing at a piece of paper behind the toy that had a cage drawn on it with JAIL written on it in big bold letters, "Our other team is planning a jail break, but they'll never make it in time!"

"What about the guy with the skateboard?" Ekko said, joining in, "He isn't trapped anywhere."

"Blah," Powder said, flicking the doll holding the skateboard over, "He's useless. He just gets in our way."

"Useless is a strong word," Ekko said, picking him back up and setting him on his feet.

Powder scowled at him, "Well, regardless, mister skateboard can't do anything because he lost his skateboard. He let his cat ride it down a hill, and the cat hit a landmine, making him totally useless," she said, pulling the skateboard out of the doll's hand and snapping it in two.

"I don't remember that happening," Ronan said with a raised brow.

"Shut up, it happened," Powder snapped back.

"Come on, I did not let Heimerdinger drive my hoverboard!" Ekko said, throwing his hands up.

"Yet, somehow, it still got blown up," Powder retorted, crossing her arms.

"My tiger has almost eaten through your armor," Ronan teased, "Better stop bickering and come up with something."

"Can we use the cat the guy let drive the skateboard into the landmine to do something?" Caitlyn asked.

"I did not let Heimerdinger drive my Hoverboard!" Ekko exclaimed again.

"What's a cat supposed to do against a tiger?" Vi asked, looking over at Cait.

"They're… both cats, maybe the cat talk to him?" Cait said, not even sounding convinced in her own explanation.

Isha let out a loud noise of excitement as she scooped up an out-of-place doll.

It's had on an all black outfit that appeared to be homemade, and its haircut made it seem like someone tried to make it look like a guy, but the fake plastic lipstick on the doll's lips made it pretty clear it was originally a girl.

"She says she uses super regular guy's, can only be used once in a lifetime, totally awesome power of heroism, to save Cupcake from jail and transport her over here," Ronan said as Isha began to sign and as she grabbed the doll named Cupcake and brought her over.

Vi broke down into a fit of laughter when she heard that the doll had been named Cupcake.

"JINX!" Cait screeched.

"What? She needed a codename, and she has a gun and she's a girl, so I named her after you," Powder said with a shrug, "And you should be flattered, because Sally Mcscopeface is badass. She only got stuck with that name because Sir Flex-a-lot," Powder said, pointing at the dead buff guy with the sword, "wanted to make her look bad in front of the Swamp queen. She is way too good for that name," Powder said, crossing her arms.

Vi literally couldn't breathe with how hard she was laughing right now.

"You could have just called her CAITLYN!" She exclaimed.

"Eww, no," Powder said, pulling a face, "what kind of name is that?"

Tears were rolling down Vi's face as she held her stomach, because it was starting to hurt from how much she was laughing right now.

Cait smacked her, "Shut up! The character based on you died because they were so stupid they ate mushrooms off the side of a tree!"

"B-but," Vi said in between heaving laughter, "She- Cupcake!"

That was all she could get out before returning to her fit of laughter.

"MMMMHHH!" Isha exclaimed, waving her hands in the air, grabbing everyone's attention and pointing at the robot toy getting eaten by the tiger.

"Yeah, Cupcake! Get your act together and save 'Splodey Joe!" Powder said as she shoved the doll into her hands.

Cait huffed, "Fine. I aim at the tiger and fire."

"That's it?" Powder said, completely and totally unimpressed, "Jeez, prison sucks all the fun out of people."

"Hey!" Vi called.

"I said what I said," Powder said as she turned to Ronan, "Now you heard the lady, you got shot! Put the robot down!"

"The tiger does drop 'Splodey Joe, but your gun doesn't kill him, you just pissed him off and he charges the group now instead."

"Uggh, look what you did, Cupcake!" Powder said, smacking Cait on the shoulder, "Quick, super regular guy, throw that bomb I gave you at the Rat King's nest!"

Isha nodded and grabbed a small metal trinket colored blue, and threw it at the stuffed tiger.

"Well, that would have worked if you threw the right bomb," Ronan said, picking up the metal toy, "but the bomb you just threw was a glitter bomb."

"Curse me and my need to give you so many different bombs!" Powder huffed as she slammed her fist to the floor.

"But that tiger is disoriented from the glitter! We have time to throw another before it attacks us," Ekko called out as he picked up the skateboard character and then grabbed a piece of metal that was colored pink and threw it.

Ronan made exploding noises as the metal piece hit. Letting the tiger flop over after he was done.

"You did it!" Cait said as she shook Ekko by the shoulders.

Isha threw her hands up in victory.

Powder scowled at Ekko and crossed her arms before muttering, "Who would've guessed? He saved you," she said, rolling her eyes.

"He saved you, too," Vi said, nudging her.

"Uh, no," Powder said pointedly, "The tiger was charging you people, not 'Splodey Joe. Cupcake saved me. He," Powder said, jabbing her thumb towards the toy Ekko was holding, "save them."

Ekko sighed, a bittersweet smile on his face at her words.

"And speaking of me, is no one going to check if I'm ok?" Powder said, looking at the group, "I literally just got almost eaten by a tiger. Some friends you are," she scoffed.

"Mmhhmm!" Isha said before rushing over and grabbing the robot off the floor and handing it to Jinx.

Powder took it and then looked at Isha with her eyes narrowed, "Fine," she said, rolling her eyes, "You're forgiven, but the rest of you are still on my list," Jinx said, glaring at them.

"Consider it payback for the Cupcake thing," Cait snapped back.

Vi chucked at that.

Cait cracked a smile as well, "Ok, I admit, that was fun, but we should go now," she said, standing.

"Wait, what? Why?" Powder said, looking up at her.

Vi stood up too, "Well, Ekko agreed to help us out, he'll be meeting us Topside in a week after he and Cait get the supplies and people together for the raids."

"…oh," Powder said, looking down at the robot toy in her hands.

"We could stay longer if you'd like," Cait said, "we just assumed you wanted to leave as soon as possible."

Powder looked up at her as if she was going to respond, but then she looked down at the toy again, frowning.

Isha looked between all of them and then tapped on Jinx's shoulder.

Ronan spoke for her as she signed something to Jinx, "She says that we need 'Splodey Joe if we want to make it through the forest of fairies."

"Aren't fairies… nice? Why do they need help getting through that?" Cait whispered to Vi.

"Nice? They are tiny flesh-eating people with wings, what's nice about that?" Vi responded, giving her a look.

"What!? No, they are magical creatures who sprinkle glitter on everything and literally are the embodiment of joy!" She replied, giving Vi a weird look.

"Man, you Piltes are weird," Vi muttered, shaking her head, turning her attention back to the conversation.

"You know, you are all more than welcome to stay," Ekko said.

Jinx looked at him, still not having said a word yet.

"Yeah, Powder, we can stay and hang out longer if-"

"No," Powder said, standing, handing the robot back to Isha, who looked up at her sadly, "Let's head home," she said before muttering, "I don't belong here anyway," as she walked out of the room.

Isha went to try to follow her, but Ronan caught her by the arm and turned her around so she was facing him.

"Mhmm!" Isha grunted as she tried to pull away.

Instead of speaking, Ronan began to sign something to her.

Vi had no idea what he was saying, but Isha stopped trying to get away. She stuck her lip out and then signed something back.

Ronan sighed and shook his head, signing something before he picked up that doll with the odd haircut and handed it to her.

Isha looked down at the doll, and then over at the curtain her sister had walked out of, before sadly nodding and walking over to her bed. Sitting herself down on the edge sadly as she fidgeted with the doll.

"Aww," Cait said, looking at her sadly, "poor thing. There must be something we can do."

"She'll be ok," Ronan said as he stood, "She was just so excited that she finally got to meet Jinx that she forgot that that also meant she'd have to say goodbye to her for the first time as well."

"It's my fault," Ekko said, standing with them, "She won't stay cause of me."

"It's not just you, Ekko," Vi said, patting him on the back, "It's this whole place. She hasn't been all that excited to come to begin with. Just give her some time to adjust."

"Yeah…" Ekko sighed, "Time. The supposed healer of all."

Cait gave him a small smile, "She came, that's a good sign, right?"

"Yeah," he said before taking a deep breath and repeating himself more firmly this time, "Yeah. She would've never done that before. This is progress."

"It was cool having you guys here," Ronan said, "Maybe we could do it again sometime?"

"Of course," Cait said immediately, "We'd be happy to come. Jinx may need some convincing, but I'm sure she'll come around."

Vi thought about it for a moment before walking over to Isha. Isha looked up at Vi. She seemed to tense up as she approached, so Vi held up her hands and smiled at her.

"Sorry to bother you, but I was just wondering if you'd do me a favor?"

Isha glanced over at Ronan, who gave her a nod of encouragement, before looking back at Vi and nodding.

"Well, my sister can be a bit dense when it comes to her feelings sometimes. Especially when she really likes someone."

Isha's eyes became wide as Vi spoke, and then she signed something.

Vi looked to Ronan, Isha repeating what she had said for him to translate, "She is asking if you're really Jinx's sister," he said with a smile.

Vi turned back to her, "The one and only," Vi said with a grin.

Isha's mouth fell open in shock, and she let out a little squeal of joy.

Vi chuckled, "Yeah, pretty cool, huh? Anyway, I was hoping you would do us a favor and stop by Cait here's house," Vi said, pointing to Cait, who waved at Isha.

Isha looked at her and then signed something.

Ronan let out a snort before saying, "You mean Cupcake, right?" He said, earning himself a glare from Cait.

Vi let out a bark of laughter at that, "Sorry, kid, but that nickname is reserved for me and me alone. Got it?"

Isha nodded.

Vi would have to tell Powder that as well, though she seriously doubts that will stop her from using it on occasion to annoy Cait.

"So, would you be willing to come over sometime and visit me and my sister?" Vi asked her.

Isha blinked at her, pure joy spreading over her face. She jumped off the bed and rushed over to Ronan and Ekko, signing as fast as a bullet.

"She wants to-" Ronan began, but Ekko held up his hand.

"I understood her just fine," he said, looking down at Isha with a smile, "If you wanna visit Jinx, you go for it. Just ask and we'll have someone take you up."

Isha squealed with joy, and she jumped up and down with excitement before tackling Ekko with a hug.

Ekko smiled as Isha pulled away and rushed over and hugged Vi as well.

"Whoa!" Vi said as she stumbled from her hug, "Quite the grip you got there," she said as Isha let go and rushed off picking up toys of all kinds.

"Well, you just made her day with that," Ronan said with a chuckle before adding, "You are aware you just got yourselves a new permanent resident, right?"

Vi looked to Cait, "I hope that's ok."

Cait smiled at her, grabbing her hand, "I think I can manage," she said as she looked at the joy-filled kid who seemed to already be packing for her trip.

Hopefully, this little ball of joy could help her sister find some joy of her own.

---

Jinx walked around outside, trying not to cry.

She didn't even know why she was feeling like this, there wasn't a damn thing here to cry over.

It's not like she was literally walking around in the literal place she was hellbent on destroying not a month ago. Not like she felt like a complete fraud being here because of all the shit she gave Ekko for wanting to protect this beautiful place full of incredible people like Ronan and Isha.

"You know it's no fun when you belittle yourself," Mylo snapped, "leaves us with absolutely nothing to do."

"Excuse me?" Said an older woman.

Jinx cleared her throat, "What?" She snapped.

She bit her lip. Why did she have to be such a bitch to everyone?

"You are Vander's daughter, aren't you?" She said, squinting at Jinx.

Jinx inhaled sharply, "My name is Jinx," she said firmly.

She smiled at Jinx softly, "No, it's not… but, that's alright. Here," she said, placing an old bent coin in Jinx's hand, "Please give this to Vander and tell him I wish him well."

Jinx looked down at the coin, "Wait, who are you? How do you know Vander?"

"Just give that to Vander, he'll know who it's from," she said, patting Jinx on the shoulder.

Jinx watched as the woman walked off.

"There you are, Powder!" Vi said, walking up to her with the others in tow.

Ronan stepped forward, "Hey, thanks for coming today."

Jinx pocketed the coin and looked over at him, shrugging, "Whatever, I expect you to return the favor by leaving me alone from now on."

He laughed and then looked into her eyes, "Thank you, Jinx. For all of it."

Jinx felt guilt stab her at his words.

"He still doesn't know what you did."

Caitlyn cleared her throat, "Well, we should be getting back, there's a lot to get done."

"Yeah, thanks for having us and helping us out, guys," Vi said as she gave Ekko a hug.

"Sure thing," he said, returning the hug, "Anything you guys need, I'll help get it for you, just say the word," his eyes meeting Jinx's when he said that.

Jinx shook her head before walking over to the entrance, followed by the others after they finished up with their goodbyes, Ronan offering to lead all of them out.

They all left, Vi and Caitlyn waving goodbye as they did.

"Well, that was fun," Vi said with a smile as she walked up front with Ronan and Caitlyn.

"Definitely," Ronan replied, "Can't wait to do it again."

Vi and Ronan continued to chat as Caitlyn slowed her pace until she was walking next to Jinx.

"Janna," Jinx said, rolling her eyes, "What do you want this time?"

Caitlyn gave her a look, "I was going to ask if you were ok, but clearly my worries were unnecessary considering the amount of sass you're giving me right now."

"Why wouldn't I be ok, Caitlyn? Everything is fine."

"Oh, you mean you being a complete fraud and lying to everyone constantly? That kind of fine?"

"Are you sure, because I know there's still some stuff with Ronan that-"

"Everything," Jinx said through gritted teeth, "Is. Fine."

Caitlyn sighed, "If you say so. But I'm here if you need to talk, ok?"

"Yeah, sure. Thanks," Jinx said dismissively.

---

Jinx was the only one who headed back to Vander's room. Caitlyn went to plan things out, and Vi went to take a bath, something that was now her favorite thing to do, before heading to bed.

Jinx had spent the last half hour talking to Vander about taking down the Chem-Barons. He was kinda angry that they didn't tell him, and he thought it was too dangerous, but after hearing the whole plan, he calmed down when he realized there would be a big team, and Jinx and Vi would be together. She also filled him in on her day, like she normally does when she leaves. Leaving out many, many details. Like Ekko, and everything that conversation would entail.

She had absolutely no desire to tell him all the shit that was going on there.

"Oh!" Jinx exclaimed as she pulled out the coin she had been given from her pocket, "Some lady at the hideout wanted me to give this to you and said that she hoped you were doing ok," Jinx said, handing it over, "she said that you would know who she was and what this whole coin thing was about."

Vander was silent as he stared down at the coin.

"Vander?" Jinx asked.

"You said… a woman gave this to you," he muttered, still examining the coin.

"Yeah," Jinx said, "She acted like she and you were friends, so I just thought you would want the coin. If I was wrong, I could get rid of it for you-"

"No," Vander said closing his hand around the coin, "No, it's fine, I do know her. It's just been so long," he said pocketing the coin, "She was the woman who sold us the Last Drop," he explained at Jinx's confused look, "When we were buying it we handed over the coins, but one of them was bent. She told us the Topsiders wouldn't take the coin now that it was damaged and that she would need more payment. We were flat broke at the time, and when she realized we didn't have enough money to make up for the coin, she just gave us the keys and said she would be expecting free drinks for life," he said with a nostalgic smile.

"Us?" Jinx said darkly.

"Me," Vander said, trying to sound dismissive, "I meant me."

"…no, you meant you and Silco," Jinx spat out without thinking.

Vander looked at her, shocked.

Jinx blinked, "I- shit, um. Never mind, forget I said that. I shouldn't have said that," Jinx said as she stood up, getting ready to leave.

She didn't want to have this discussion. She was fine not knowing, she was fine keeping this to herself. Vander had enough issues as is, Jinx didn't need to add the whole Silco shit onto it.

"He told you," Vander said tiredly, "Just how much do you know?" He asked.

Jinx didn't respond, but something in her expression must have given it away, because he immediately began to freak out.

"Oh, Janna, Powder look-"

"Nope! It's fine, I'm fine, all of it's fine," Jinx said as she turned and walked towards her room.

No fucking way was she having this conversation right now. That was not what she had planned.

"Powder, you can't just pretend this didn't happen-" Vander started.

"Watch me," she said, slamming her door shut before he could say another word.

---

Jinx wasted no time exiting her room to make sure she got away from that entire situation.

Now wasn't the time to discuss all of that. Actually, she was hoping to never discuss that at all, but of course, she just had to bring it up. It was stupid, because what would that conversation change? Sure, Jinx was upset that Vander was a part of making the plan that got her parents killed, and maybe she wanted to know why Vander blamed the entire thing on Silco and tried to kill him, but it didn't matter. Jinx loved Vander, this wasn't going to change that, so why did they need to talk about it? They would just both be upset with each other for no reason until they eventually forgave one another.

Jinx sighed as she turned the corner in the hallway. She must have been walking for an hour or something, because she was terrified of going back, but how had she still not run out of house to walk through? Seriously, she hadn't had to walk the same hallway once this entire time.

Click.

Jinx froze as her eyes spotted someone walking out of a room, someone who quickly made her blood boil.

Little Miss Ponytail was in the Kramman manor, and here's the cherry on top, she was currently stealing files from the room.

Just the excuse she needed.

Jinx used her speed and slammed ponytail into the wall, hand on her throat.

"What are you doing here?" Jinx growled as Ponytail let out a gasp, the file in her hand falling to the floor, the papers inside falling out everywhere.

Jinx looked down at them and sneered. She was stealing files on the Chem-Barons, the exact people Jinx was currently going after.

The bitch was probably working for them.

Jinx tightened her grip on her neck as she looked back up at her, "I asked you a fucking question."

"C-Caitl-lyn," ponytail choked out, trying to pull Jinx's hand off her throat.

That just made Jinx squeeze tighter.

"Right," Jinx said as she tipped her head to the side, looking at her face that was slowly draining of color, "Caitlyn just asked you to come here and steal a file from her. Let me guess, she also asked you to try to dig up information about me from Sevika?"

She let a gagging noise as she smacked at Jinx's hands.

"Yeah, didn't think so," Jinx said dryly, "Now, be a dear and tell me who sen-"

"JINX!" Caitlyn screamed as she sprinted down the hall, "LET HER GO!"

Jinx looked over as Caitlyn ran over, "Caitlyn, I-"

"LET HER FUCKING GO!" She shrieked, trying to pry Jinx's finger off her throat.

Jinx dropped the girl, who collapsed to her knees, coughing and hacking, before turning to Caitlyn to explain.

"Maddie? Maddie, oh my god, are you ok?" She asked worriedly as she dropped down next to her.

Ponytail tried to nod, but she just ended up letting out another slew of coughs.

"Jinx," Caitlyn growled, looking up at her, "What. The. Fuck."

"She was stealing documents from you," Jinx exclaimed, "I was just-"

"I asked her to get me the file!" Caitlyn yelled at Jinx, "I had her come here to help me get ready for the raid!"

"Wha- but she was sneaking around in the dark!" Jinx exclaimed.

"I," Caitlyn said through gritted teeth, "didn't want to wake anyone up by turning on all the lights," she spat.

"…ok, fine," Jinx huffed, "but she still interrogated Sevika for information about me when she took her to Stillwater. How the hell do you explain that!?"

"Oh, I don't know," Caitlyn said, absolute furry in her every word, "Maybe she did it because I ASKED HER TO?!" She yelled furiously.

"Well, who would have guessed. You were wrong. Again."

Jinx went to reply, but the lights flicked on in the hall and a bunch of workers came rushing down the hallway.

"My word! What happened, miss?"

Caitlyn glared up at Jinx before turning away, "She had an accident, take her to the infirmary and keep this quiet. No one else is to hear a word of what's happened tonight, understand?"

They all nodded before rushing a crying and coughing ponytail to the infirmary.

Caitlyn stood, running her hands through her hair, angrily pacing back and forth.

"…what do you mean you had her look into me?" Jinx asked.

"That's what you're worried about!" She said, whipping around to face her.

"Yeah, so answer the question!" Jinx yelled back.

Caitlyn scoffed in disbelief, "I wanted her to find out as much as she could about Sevika and what she knew."

"No, no, that's not what Sevika told me," Jinx said, "She said that girl was trying to get information about me, SPECIFICALLY. She tortured her to try and get it!," she yelled, pointing down the hall where they had taken ponytail.

Sevika had warned her. She wouldn't have done that if it were just a normal investigation. Something was wrong with that girl, Jinx just knew it.

"Are you fucking kidding me with this shit right now!?" Caitlyn yelled, running her hands down her face, "You nearly just killed someone because SEVIKA TOLD YOU TO?!"

Mylo laughed in her ear, "Look who's finally realizing what a fucked up bitch you are."

"Ok, first of all, watch that fucking mouth of yours," Jinx said, getting angry as well, "I don't take kindly to self-righteous bitches."

"Oh my fucking god Jinx!" She yelled, infuriated, "Are you seriously going to listen to Sevika over me?! Is that actually what is happening right now!? Because that would be some of the dumbest bullshit you have ever done."

"Caitlyn, Sevika warned me that-"

"She doesn't give a shit about you!" Caitlyn yelled, interrupting her, "Sevika isn't the one who saved you and your entire family, she's quite literally one of the people who condemned you and your family! I can't possibly fathom why you actually believed her about this bullshit after I explicitly told you that Maddie is my friend and she is here to not only help me, but HELP YOU!"

"I heard she was trying to dig up dirt on me, and I saw the bruises she left on Sevika! How was I supposed to react?!" Jinx yelled back, "And I hate to break it to you, Caitlyn, but not everyone is always as nice as they seem."

She let out a frustrated scream before speaking again, "If you have an issue with someone on my team, or you suspect them of something, then YOU COME TO ME! You don't fucking try to KILL THEM!"

Jinx didn't reply to that.

Caitlyn took a deep breath, "Jinx. This is completely and totally unacceptable behavior. Maddie took Sevika to Stillwater as a favor to both of us," she said pointedly, "AND interrogated her because I asked her to make sure she wasn't up to anything! Maddie never hit Sevika, she lied to you to try and fuck you over!" She yelled.

"Then where'd she get the bruises?" Jinx snapped.

"I can't fucking believe you're going to trust SEVIKA over ME," Caitlyn yelled exasperated," You want an explanation for those bruises? Fine, how about this? Sevika got into a fight a week ago with some old members of Silco's gang that got left behind and sent to Stillwater. Don't believe me? Well, I have the file if you want to take a look," she spat, "They report everything that happens with her directly to me!"

That wasn't right. Sevika hadn't lied to her… had she?

"I don't know what the fuck is up with you right now but you're pissing me off," Caitlyn hissed before taking a deep breath, "You better get your act together before I see you again. And if I were you, I would remember who my friends are, because it certainly isn't Sevika," she spat before walking away.

Jinx just watched, fists clenched and eyes teary, before turning around and storming back to her room, where she then locked herself inside for the rest of the week.

---

Caitlyn felt awful.

Jinx had locked herself up in her room and absolutely refused to speak to her about anything whatsoever.

Caitlyn sighed, "Do you think I was too hard on her?"

Vi looked at Caitlyn, they were sitting in her office, working on the plan to take down the Chem-Barons.

Vi drummed her fingers on the desk, "Powder was in the wrong. She never should've hurt Maddie like that. But…"

"Oh lord," Caitlyn said as she planted her face in her hands, "What if she never comes out of there? I mean, it's been almost an entire week, and she hasn't said a word to me. What if I ruined our entire relationship? What if she never speaks to me again?"

Sure, Jinx was completely out of line with what she did, but Caitlyn didn't have to lose her shit like that. God, Jinx hates being yelled at. She was probably in her room right now, twisting all her words around and convincing herself that Caitlyn hated her and wanted nothing to do with her anymore.

"Cait, calm down," Vi said, walking over and wrapping her arms around her, "As a personal expert in pissing off my little sister, I can tell you for certain that she will come around."

Caitlyn looked up at her, "Really?"

Caitlyn had fully expected this to just be a stunt on Jinx's part when she first found out she had locked herself up, until she actually went and stayed in her room for more than a day, even refusing to speak to Vander. Because, of course, somehow Caitlyn had gotten him in trouble with Jinx as well, no matter how much he insisted the entire situation was his fault.

"Yes, really," Vi said, rubbing her shoulders, "just don't stray too far and eventually she'll come to you when you're ready."

"If you say so," she sighed.

"I know so, so just focus on the plan you were working on and stop worrying," she said, handing Caitlyn a pencil.

Caitlyn gave her a strained smile and took the pencil, but her mind never stopped worrying about Jinx.

She spent the entire day muddling through paperwork and plans, unable to completely focus on anything.

A soft knock drew her from her thoughts.

"Come in," she called.

Maddie walked through the door, a large bruise in the shape of a handprint on her neck, "I know you said to take some time off, but honestly, I'm too worried about you."

"Maddie," Caitlyn said, setting her pencil down, "Really, I am fine, please go back to the infirmary and relax."

Caitlyn had insisted on Maddie staying here while she recovered. She would have been mortified if she had made her go back to her empty apartment in her condition.

Granted, the damage was actually rather minor considering… well, considering Jinx. She had major bruising on her throat, which would make things like swallowing and speaking painful. But otherwise she was fine.

"…you're fine? Really?" Maddie said with a raised brow.

"Yes, perfectly fine!" Caitlyn exclaimed.

"So that's why you have five dozen coffee cups around you and at least three times the amount of broken pencils?" She said, eyeing her messy desk wearily.

Caitlyn sighed heavily, "Ok, maybe fine is being a bit generous. I may be a total wreck, and I also may be three days behind on paperwork that needs to be filed by tomorrow because… well, because that's when the mission is happening!" She said, letting her head fall on her desk with a thud.

She had thought she was so on top of things, but suddenly the papers started to pile up, and hours turned into days, and all she could think about was how worried she was for Jinx.

"I thought I was ready for all of this responsibility, but it's too much!" She exclaimed, sitting back up, "How is one person supposed to read through and authorize all this?!"

Maddie gave her a sympathetic smile, "Yeah… Jinx definitely gave you the harder end of the bargain."

"What?" Caitlyn said, confused.

"Well, she gets to sit around and declare that she's taking down the Chem-Barons and the council, but you're the one left with the paperwork and mess," she said as she walked over and flipped through some papers, "Honestly, she never thinks about how her actions affect others, does she?"

"Hey," Caitlyn said, "I know she and you aren't exactly… on good terms, but she's just trying to figure all this out. Honestly, it's my fault for not telling her about me having you question Sevika. I should have known she would absolutely freak about having someone poking around about her, after everything-"

"No, hey, I get it!" Maddie said cheerfully, "It was all one big misunderstanding. It's totally fine, don't worry."

"Are you sure, because you have every right to-" Caitlyn began.

"Na, no serious damage done," she said with a smile, "Anyway, about all this work…"

"Oh, don't remind me," Caitlyn groaned.

"I could do it for you," she offered.

"Oh no! I couldn't possibly-"

"It's the least I can do considering you saved my life," she said as she began to usher Caitlyn out of her seat.

"But you don't even know what to do-"

"I am a low-ranking enforcer, my whole life is paperwork," she said with a snort as she pushed Caitlyn out of the room.

"I could stay and help you," Caitlyn offered, feeling extremely guilty.

"You need to rest, the mission is tomorrow, and all of this will have been for nothing if you're out of commission because you're sleep deprived," Maddie said, "Trust me, Caitlyn, just go to bed and relax, I'll make sure everything is taken care of."

"Are you sure?" Caitlyn asked again as she began to close the door.

"I'm certain, Caitlyn, so please just go home and relax, and let me feel helpful," she said before closing the door.

Caitlyn stood there for a little longer before sighing and walking to her room.

How tired she must be to have actually let Maddie take over for her, while she was still injured, no less.

She sighed again as she shook her head.

Caitlyn paused as she walked by Jinx's bedroom door. Just like it had been for the past few days, the door was shut and locked.

Caitlyn approached and knocked lightly, "Jinx? It's me, Caitlyn."

The normal silence greeted her.

"Jinx, I'm sorry, alright?" Caitlyn said, caving in, "I'm sorry for yelling at you and just losing it. I was upset, but I should have talked to you, not yelled."

Not a peep.

"Can you at least let me know if we're ok?" Caitlyn asked, "Because I am so terrified I've lost your friendship."

Caitlyn heard a slight shuffling and saw a shadow under the doorway.

"It was an honest mistake, Jinx, I should've understood that, but I was just so frustrated that I lashed out," Caitlyn said, hoping that she was getting somewhere.

Click.

The sound of the lock being undone sounded, but nothing else happened.

Slowly, Caitlyn reached for the doorknob and called out, "I'm coming in," as she slowly pushed the door open.

As she entered, she immediately stepped on broken glass. The room was a disaster, things smashed, tipped over, ripped in two. Everything that could be thrown or destroyed was.

And Jinx was curled up in a ball in the center of the bed, which had ripped up pillows decorating it, along with a shredded blanket and bedsheets. Even the mattress was ripped open. The only thing that remained intact was her stuffed bunny, which she was hugging closely to her chest.

"Oh, Jinx," Caitlyn whispered softly as she took in the room.

Jinx didn't respond, she just curled up more.

Gently, Caitlyn approached and sat down on the edge of the bed, giving Jinx plenty of space.

"Wanna talk about it?" She asked after a long moment of silence.

"What's to talk about?" she croaked out, her voice raw and gravelly, "You hate me."

"I have never hated you," Caitlyn said firmly.

"Stop lying. We all know I just make people miserable, everyone would be better off if I just disappeared," she muttered into the bed.

"Jinx, no one hates you," Caitlyn assured, "You just need to apologize and everything will be fine! Maddie's not even mad-"

Jinx turned and glared at her.

Jinx's face was an absolute wreck. Tear tracks painted themselves all over, and her eyes were extremely bloodshot. But the more concerning aspect was her blood decorating her neck.

"Jinx!" Caitlyn cried, "What the hell did you do!?"

Jinx quickly covered her neck and turned away, hiding herself as she curled back up into a ball.

"Jinx, don't tell me you've been in here hurting yourself this entire time," Caitlyn said sadly.

"It was just my neck," she whispered bitterly.

Caitlyn sighed as she stood and walked into the bathroom, where a first aid kit was placed. She was rather shocked when she came in and saw the cracked mirror. A hole was made on the right side where the cracks all spread from. As Caitlyn gazed in the mirror, the hole was actually right over her eye, making her appear as if she had lost it.

She shook her head as she bent down, opened the cabinet, pulled out the first aid kit, and grabbed a cloth that she wetted in warm water to clean Jinx up with.

She returned and sat down next to Jinx, "Come on, let's see the damage."

Jinx slowly sat up, uncurling herself but still clinging tightly to her bunny, revealing her neck to Caitlyn completely, "Why did you get that? We both know I don't need it," she whispered as she caught sight of the first aid kit.

"Just in case," Caitlyn said, holding up the cloth, "May I?"

"I'd better do it," she said, taking it from Caitlyn's hands.

Caitlyn didn't fight her on it. She was an emotional wreck right now, trying to force physical touch on her wouldn't be a good idea.

Jinx began to rub harshly at her neck with the cloth, leaving her skin angry red.

Caitlyn watched her sadly, "Jinx, why do you keep doing this to yourself?"

Jinx looked over at her, "…why do you care?" She asked instead of answering.

That was always Jinx's response when someone asked her about her well-being. Either that or the dismissive response of saying she was fine even when she clearly wasn't.

Caitlyn gave her a look, "I believe we've discussed this," she said plainly.

Jinx shrugged as she looked down at the cloth she had in her hands, fidgeting with it, "I… felt bad," she whispered, "and this," she said, gesturing at her neck, "is how I make that feeling go away."

Caitlyn looked at her, confused, "Jinx, what are you talking about?"

"When I… hurt someone," she whispered, voice shaking, "I couldn't get rid of that guilt, so I let myself feel what they did," she said, wiping away a tear that fell.

Caitlyn sighed heavily at that. Jinx hurt herself in the way she hurt other people to try to relieve herself of the guilt back when she was with the doctor, so that's what she was doing now.

"You don't have to do that anymore, Jinx," Caitlyn whispered, "Just apologize and-"

Jinx clenched her hands into fists. "Can we not talk about this right now?"

Caitlyn sighed, "Jinx, you can't just avoid-"

Jinx stood, "Yes, yes, I can. Get out."

"Jinx-"

"Get out!" She snapped.

Caitlyn shook her head as she went to leave the room, "You know if you just discussed those feelings you keep bottling up and shoving down inside of yourself instead of telling everyone you're fine constantly, then maybe you wouldn't feel so guilty all the time," she said before walking out.

Jinx slammed and locked the door behind her.

---

Ekko and his crew all snuck their way up Topside to avoid alerting the Chem-Barons about what was happening.

They were meeting Caitlyn at her house, which was basically the size of the hideout by itself. Everyone on the team was both shocked and impressed as they walked up.

Ekko had brought 9 total people, including himself. 3 Firelights and 3 enforcers for each team. Vi, Jinx, Caitlyn, and the rest of their crew would be forming their own separate team to make a total of four. They were going to be the strike teams, meanwhile, the enforcers still up here would be creating small diversions to grab the Chem-Barons' attention as the strike teams went in and arrested any and all of the Chem-Barons.

The other Firelights would then sweep in and take out all the factories and other people loyal to the Chem-Barons.

Each strike team was assigned a specific target.

Jinx's team was taking down Finn.

Niko's team was taking Margot.

Rosa's team was taking Renni.

And Ekko's was taking Chross, Ronan insisting on joining once he found out about it.

"Where's Jinx?" Ronan asked as soon as they approached Caitlyn's house.

"Can't you think about one other thing besides Jinx for once?" Scar said with a sigh.

"No, he's right," Ekko said, looking around at the people gathered, "Where is Jinx? She's not here."

It was odd. Jinx didn't like leaving things to other people, if anything, Ekko expected her to be the first one here to make sure everyone wasn't fucking around.

Ekko spotted Caitlyn talking to Maddie in the distance, but Vi walked up to them first.

"Hey guys, how'd the trip go? Anyone spot you?" She asked as she gave Ekko a hug.

"Na," Ekko said, pulling away, "Not one person knows we're up here right now."

"Our other teams are ready to start storming buildings when given the signal," Scar added, "how about you all?"

"The distractions are already up and running," Vi assured.

"Hey, what about Jinx? I thought she was coming?" Ronan asked.

Vi looked over towards the doors of the house, an uneasy look on her face, "She, uh, she's just saying goodbye to Vander right now."

That was an obvious lie, but the others seemed to buy it.

"Cool! Can't wait to see her again," Ronan said cheerfully, "Just too bad we couldn't be on the same team."

Ekko whistled to get the Firelight's attention. "Everyone, go ahead and relax while we wait to get assigned to our teams."

They all muttered their agreement as they started to mill around, not straying far from one another. Well, except for Ronan, who was quick to jump into conversations with enforcers.

Ekko pulled Vi aside, "Ok, what's up?"

"What are you-"

"Come on, Vi," he said, exasperated, "I know you and Jinx, we both know she isn't saying goodbye to Vander. So what's up?"

Vi sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, "Ok, fine. A few days ago, Jinx attacked Maddie."

Ekko blinked, "What? Why!?"

"She thought Maddie was digging up information on her or something," Vi said with a shrug, "But that isn't the issue, the problem is that Cait was the one who caught her, and she was rightfully pissed."

"And she hurt Jinx's feelings," he said, understanding what the situation was now.

"Yeah," Vi said tiredly, "Powder locked herself in her room for the entire week, refusing to talk to Cait and, get this, Vander."

"What!?" He exclaimed, taken aback, "But- it's Vander!"

"Yeah!" She said, throwing her hands up, "I just have no fucking clue what she's thinking. Maybe she's ashamed? I mean, it's not like she was talking to me all that much, but still, she just flat out refused to talk to Vander whatsoever."

"That's really not like her," Ekko said, growing worried.

Jinx would always crack for Vander. No matter what the situation was, he was the only thing that got through to her. For her to be refusing to see him-

Loud applause started up all around them.

Ekko looked around in confusion, but he understood what was happening as soon as he spotted Jinx.

Even from here, he could see the drastic difference in her. She didn't look at Caitlyn at all, she kept her distance, and that little amount of joy she carried with her when she was down at the hideout seemed to be completely gone now.

Jinx held her hand up to silence the crowd before speaking, her voice flat and monotone, "Thanks for coming. Today we're taking down the Chem-Barons once and for all, and we owe it all to our friends from the Undercity and the new Sheriff for coming up with this plan," she said dryly, gesturing at Caitlyn without looking at her.

Apparently, the crowd didn't pick up on her lack of enthusiasm, either that or they just didn't care, because they all let out a roar of applause as she walked off the main steps, completely ignoring Caitlyn, who seemed to be calling for her.

Ekko pushed his way through the crowd, trailing her with his eyes, making sure not to lose her as Caitlyn began to make her own speech about how this marked the start of a new era of peace and collaboration and assigned people to their teams, her voice also lacking a certain joy to it.

Eventually, he made it in front of Jinx, who was leaning against the large fence around the house, eyes meeting his as he approached.

"Oh, look who it is," she whispered, attempting a joke, but her heart just wasn't in it.

"The Boy Savior," he finished for her.

She let out a small scoff at that before tipping her head back and looking up at the sky, "What now? You gonna suggest a rematch?" She whispered bitterly.

He joined her and leaned on the fence as well, "No. I'm done playing games."

She glanced over at him, "That's a shame, I quite liked ours."

He looked up at the cloudless sky, "Even if it meant we both ended up miserable?"

Her eyes went back to the sky as well, "That's what made it fun."

He chuckled sadly, "How fucked is that?"

"How fucked indeed," she whispered back.

They both gazed into the endless blue.

"…what do you want, Ekko?" She asked after a moment.

He looked over at her, her eyes were bloodshot, and she seemed like she was dragging around this weight with her.

"Come back to the hideout," he said without thinking.

She was so happy there, even if it was just for a moment. He wanted her to have that all the time.

"What?" She spat, her anger reminding Ekko that they weren't exactly friends anymore.

"For Isha," he said, redirecting, "…or if there's ever something you want to get away from-"

"Oh fucking hell," she growled, pushing herself off the fence and walking away.

Ekko quickly followed, "Ok, wrong thing to say, I see that now."

She spun around and faced him, "I can't believe one of those assholes told you, but you know what? Doesn't fucking matter, I'm not talking about this, not with you, not with Vi, or Caitlyn, or Vander!" She yelled, "So leave me the fuck alone and just let me do this dumbass mission without forcing me to talk about all this bullshit!"

"Jinx, you can't avoid talking about it forever!" He called after her as she stormed off.

Her reply was just her flipping him off.

---

"Vi," Cait said as she approached, "Where is Jinx?"

"I don't know, Cait, Ekko ran off after her, but I lost them in the crowd," Vi said tiredly.

"Oh, this is a disaster!" She exclaimed, "How are we supposed to do this mission while all this nonsense is going on?"

"Simple toots, you ignore it all," Powder said as she walked up to them.

"Oh, Powder! Thank goodness," Vi said, relieved, "Are you ok-"

Powder held up her hand, "I came to do one thing and one thing only, take down the Chem-Barons, so that's what I'm gonna do. If any of you try to talk to me about what's been happening, I will leave and join a different team," she said plainly, "We understand each other?"

Both Cait and Vi opened their mouths to reply, but Powder didn't let them.

"Good. I'll be waiting at the gate," she said, walking off.

"That," Vi said, "Could have gone worse."

Cait gave her a look, "What? That was awful! How could you possibly see this as a good thing?"

"She's here, isn't she?" Vi exclaimed.

Cait didn't seem to be soothed by that at all.

"Ok," Vi said, grabbing her by the shoulders, "I'm gonna tell you a story."

"Right now?" Cait said.

"Yes," Vi said with a smirk, "Right now. When me and Powder were younger, there were a bunch of times we hurt each other's feelings, but there was this one time that I really fucked up. Powder broke our bed because she was messing around even after I explicitly told her to calm down and get off the bed."

"Vi", she huffed, "this is hardly-"

"You wanna know what I did when I found out? I fucking yelled and screamed at her. I asked her how she could be so stupid and how she expected to fix the bed because we had absolutely no money whatsoever," Vi said with a halfhearted smile. "I yelled until Powder ran right out the door."

Cait looked at her, shocked, "What did you do?"

"Well, she was like five at the time and it was the Undercity, so I lost my shit and ran around screaming her name like a headless chicken," Vi said with a shrug.

Cait let out a small snort at the mental image that conjured up for her.

"Look point is, I spent all day looking for her feeling miserable for myself and thinking I had literally gotten my sister killed because I was mad over a stupid bed," Vi said looking at Cait, "But when I came home she was there with a plank she got from Janna knows where to put under the bed so it wouldn't be broken anymore, and we never spoke about it again."

"What are you saying, Vi?" Cait asked.

"She doesn't like admitting she's wrong. And she sure as hell doesn't like it when you try to force her to take accountability," Vi said with a soft chuckle, "But even if you yell and scream at her, she understands what you're telling her, and she will do her best to fix it. You just have to let her do it on her own time. Trying to force her just makes her retreat further into herself."

Cait was quiet for a moment, "…while I appreciate the advice, this isn't a broken bed, Vi. And you can't just let her avoid confrontation because she doesn't like it. Just because she eventually does the right thing doesn't mean that method of handling things is healthy. She thinks she doesn't have to talk about things because you never push."

"Cait, she's been through a lot, I don't want to push her-" Vi began.

"Vi, I don't mean shove her straight into the deep end and just let her flounder for life as you watch," she exclaimed, "I just mean you need to stop letting her get away with not discussing issues, serious issues, just because she doesn't want to."

Vi sighed, "Ok. Ok, I'll try to talk to her, but after this."

Cait sighed but agreed, "Alright. Come on, let's go and take down these Chem-Barons."

Vi and Cait went and met Powder by the gates, where Loris and Steb were already gathered.

Loris seemed to be trying to make small talk with Powder, but she wasn't having it.

"Just leave her alone, Loris, if she wants to act like a child, let her," Steb snapped.

Powder scowled and glared at the empty air next to her, still refusing to engage with anyone.

"Guys," Vi said, walking over, "Drop it. We got a mission to get through, then we can be as pissed as we want. Ok?"

All of them reluctantly agreed.

"Let's go then," Powder said as she began to walk, all the teams heading off in their own directions.

"So what path are we taking?" Vi asked.

"Yeah," Loris said, "How about we go through the marketplace? It's crowded, but we'll save a ton of time," he suggested.

"No," Powder said, pulling her hood up on the black hoodie she was wearing, "We go the long way and stick to the shadows. First sign of trouble, we split up before regrouping, no one can know we're down there, no one can know we're in this together. Raise one red flag, and our target will vanish and our chance to take them out will be gone forever."

"Oh come on," Loris said, "Finn is easy pickings. He has no regard for his own safety, he thinks he's better than everyone and untouchable. He goes out to clubs without any guards whatsoever."

"True," Powder said, head kept down and eyes constantly sweeping the crowd, "He's the kind of guy who got used to having people like Silco protecting him, but unfortunately, he's also a coward. If he senses trouble, he will flee."

As they continued to walk, Vi recognized where they were.

"Hold up, we're taking the bathysphere?" Steb asked.

"No," Cait said, also realizing what was happening, "No, no, no, no, no! No way!"

"Wait, what's happening here?" Loris asked Vi.

Powder climbed up on the railing that was protecting the Piltes from falling off the steep drop-off that led to the Undercity and turned to look at them as she stood atop it, "Do try and keep up," she said before falling backwards off the cliff, hands still in her pockets.

Vi grinned and looked over at Cait, who looked horrified, "You heard her, keep up, Cupcake," she said with a wink before vaulting off the edge after Powder.

Powder was just landing as Vi fell through the sky. Powder paused and looked up as Vi landed next to her.

"Can't believe you remember this path," Vi said, grinning at her.

"I didn't, but Caitlyn reminded me of it during one of our chats the first time I met her," Powder said with a smirk.

"Wow!" Vi exclaimed, "Making us take this route just to get back at her is petty as fuck, Powder."

Powder shrugged, "This is a good path, the fact that Caitlyn can't climb it is just an added bonus," she said, winking before taking off again.

Vi laughed as she chased after her.

The two of them ran and vaulted off poles and roofs next to each other. It was just like they were kids again, only this time Powder held a strong lead in the race, and she wasn't even using her powers.

They were about to come up to the jump. Vi looked to Powder, who looked over at Vi with a smirk, as if saying, Watch this.

Powder took off with a burst of speed, throwing herself high into the air. Almost hovering midair for a moment. But she then began to fall straight down.

Vi's eyes widened in horror, "Pow-" she began to yell.

But before she could finish, Powder used a burst of power to close the gap and launch herself to the other side.

Relief flooded her as Powder landed safely and happily on the other side, but, unfortunately for Vi, that stunt made her lose her footing as she went to jump, and she ended up missing the jump by a few inches.

Vi did, however, manage to catch the edge of the cliff and stop herself from plummeting to her death.

Powder walked up to her and smiled down at her, "Geez, Vi, talk about rusty."

"Oh shut up and help me," Vi said, holding out her hand.

Powder grabbed her hand and pulled her up with ease, still giving her that stupid cocky smile.

"Aren't we gonna keep going?" Vi asked as Powder continued to stand there.

"No, we're close to Mister Metal Jaw's favorite place to party."

"The Chem-Barons are at war and he's at a club!?" Vi said, shocked.

Powder shrugged, "He's always been the stupidest Chem-Baron in my opinion. Don't know why Silco even humored the fuck face, he was a pain in the ass."

"What's he even do?" Vi asked.

She had heard about Chem-Barons, she knew they had their hands in everything in the Undercity, especially the crimes. But she also knew each had their own specialties.

"He likes taking over businesses, more particularly clubs. He sells a shit load of drugs at all of them, and by charging an entry fee, he makes a small fortune every day," she said.

"Huh," Vi said as she looked out at the jump, waiting for the others to get here.

They both fell into a comfortable silence, both waiting for the others.

This was probably going to ruin absolutely everything, but Cait had gotten in her head, and now she couldn't stop thinking about it.

"…Powder, why won't you apologize to Maddie?"

"I fucking told-" she growled.

"I know, I know, Powder, but come on! This one was 100% your bad, if you just apologize then-"

"I don't want to talk about it!" She yelled, "I told you that, why can't you just leave me alone!"

"Powder, you can't go through your whole life avoiding things! That's just gonna make you miserable and alone!" Vi said, trying to get through to her.

"Shut up! Shut up! I'm fine!" She spat, not at Vi, but to whoever she heard in her head.

"Powder, you are not-"

"I'll make sure the others aren't dead," she spat before taking off back across the jump, leaving Vi by herself.

---

Jinx led the others through the route and made sure they didn't die when they did the jump.

"Look at you being helpful," Mylo sneered, "No one would expect that from you."

"Trying to ease the guilt you feel? We all know that never works. You'll break soon, you always do," Claggor said dryly.

"Shut up," she hissed, "I won't break."

"Jinx?" Loris said, sounding concerned.

"What!" She spat at him.

"I asked where we were going now?" He said gently.

She blinked and looked around at the others who were all staring at her, waiting for her to respond. Jinx could have sworn they were still waiting for one other person to do the jump.

"Just… follow me," she said, pushing past the others.

"You were right, Claggor, she's cracking. Can't wait to see what kind of crazy this one brings," Mylo snickered.

"I'm always right, it shouldn't be surprising anymore."

"Powder, hey, can we please talk-" Vi said as she walked up next to her.

"Leave me alone," she spat before quickening her pace.

"Ooooh, I wonder if she's gonna ruin her relationship with Vi," Mylo said gleefully.

"With the way things are going, it's more likely that it will happen with Vander," Claggor said.

Jinx stopped and looked out at the bar Finn called his home base. He was truly nothing more than a pathetic knock-off of Silco. Killing him would be easy.

"Ah, ah, ah!" Mylo sang in her ear, "We're not killing him."

"You're not killing anyone. You're a hero now, remember?" Claggor sneered in her ear, "Heroes aren't murderers."

Mylo let out a howl of laughter at that, "Not that it stopped you from trying to kill what's her face."

"Caitlyn even had to cover for you," Claggor said, sounding disgusted, "How many more problems are you going to give her?"

Jinx squeezed her eyes shut.

Too many damn emotions.

Too fucking much.

"What's too much? You being friends with the kid whose dad you brutally tortured for weeks? The people you attacked and killed for fun, respecting you now? Vander being one of the reasons your parents were murdered? You being unable to trust Caitlyn's and Vi's friends because you're so fuck up? You not hating Ekko with your whole soul anymore? Come on, Jinx, what's the problem? Which one is too much for you?" Claggor hissed in her ear.

"Yeah, Jinx, I don't get it, which one are you having trouble processing?" Mylo sneered.

"Why can't you talk about it, Jinx?"

"Why can't you just say you're sorry, Jinx?"

"Why can't you just stop running away from your emotions?"

"Why can't you just act fucking normal for once?"

"Powder?" Vi said, gently placing a hand on her shoulder.

Jinx whirled around and slapped her hand off her, "WHAT!? WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT THIS TIME?!"

"…we were just wondering if you were ready," Vi said softly as she looked at her with wide eyes.

Mylo's laughter rang through her skull.

Jinx clutched her head, dug her nails into her scalp, resisting the urge to rip her hair out.

All of them looked at one another, concerned.

"Maybe you should sit this one out," Caitlyn suggested, concern lacing her words.

"NO!" Jinx yelled furiously, "I'll be fine. I am fine. I just… I just need one second."

She just needed to shut it off. All the stupid feelings and crazy thoughts, just shut them down, and she would be fine.

Just put it all in a bottle and shove it so far down inside herself that she forgets it exists. Just stop thinking about it and force on the task. Focus on getting back to Vander.

Jinx took a deep breath before steeling herself, "Let's go."

---

Jinx was quiet as she led them through the secret side entrance that Sevika told them about.

After her outburst, she didn't say so much as a word. Both Caitlyn and Vi were concerned for Jinx. Sure, right now she seemed focused and calm, but there was so much just bubbling under the surface.

Her refusing to acknowledge it all wasn't good.

They all arrived at the door that would lead to the secret exit of the tunnel that Sevika told them about, Jinx doing a silent countdown from three, all of them getting ready for a big fight.

Jinx kicked down the door, all of them flooding out. Two guards went to cry out in alarm, but Vi quickly got one in a chokehold, and Caitlyn hit the other across the face, allowing Steb to knock him out by placing a cloth over his mouth that had some sort of chemical on it that made the man fall asleep within seconds.

Jinx was meant to handle Finn, a quick and easy takedown, but when Caitlyn turned to look at her, Jinx was beating the living shit out of him.

"Jinx!" Caitlyn hissed as she rushed over and shoved her off of Finn, "We're here to arrest him, not kill him!" She said as she looked down at the man whose face was a bloody mess, metal jaw dented from Jinx's blows.

Jinx didn't respond, she just stared down at Finn like a hungry wolf, desperate to finish the job and rip him limb from limb.

Steb went over to Finn and injected him with a sedative, ensuring he would wake up as they got him back to Piltover.

Caitlyn sent the all clear for her team, and as soon as the rest sent theirs, the Firelights, along with some assistance from the Enforcers, would take down their scrambling workers later.

Cait turned to talk to Jinx, but she had moved farther away, and her breathing seemed erratic, eyes darting around.

Slowly, Caitlyn approached, "Jinx, are you ok?"

Whatever that was just now with Finn wasn't normal. She was trying to kill him, and he couldn't even put up a fight. That wasn't Jinx.

Jinx's empty eyes found hers, and she instantly became calm, her whole body becoming still.

As she spoke, her voice wasn't exactly all there. "I'm fine," she said before turning away and leaving the room, leaving the others to follow.

Caitlyn watched her walk out worriedly, because whatever Jinx was right now, it was not fine.

---

Unbeknownst to Maddie, the files on Jinx were moved to a secure room in the enforcer's station instead of the room in Caitlyn's home where they previously were.

The bitch moved everything around as soon as she got that fucking bullshit promotion. But in the end, it worked out in Maddie's favor. If Jinx had caught her with those files when she was walking out of the room, there would have been no way to explain that away. She would be dead.

No matter, the whole incident went perfectly for her. Despite how fucked up her neck was, Jinx got caught attacking her because Caitlyn had come to see what was taking Maddie so long to find the file. Jinx's attack provided her the perfect excuse to escape all questions of her taking so much time finding the file. Not to mention Jinx and Caitlyn were now fighting.

Jinx may have gotten a tip from that ape of a woman she interrogated, but it didn't matter. No matter what Jinx suspected, she couldn't do a damn thing about it as long as Caitlyn believed her. And any credibility Jinx had was now thrown out the window.

No one believes the girl who cries wolf twice.

And thanks to that entire incident, she was able to get Caitlyn out of her office to make a mold of her keys. It may take her a while to get them made without attracting suspicion, but she now had her way of getting to Jinx's files.

No more setbacks.

Chapter 65: Welcome! Everything is fine.

Bottling shit up and shoving it down into the endless void wasn't stupid. What good would talking about all the shit going on in her brain do anyone? No one wants to hear that, Jinx thought as they walked their way through the streets of Topside, Loris dragging the fuck face of a Chem-Baron with them.

All the others were walking ahead, talking to one another endlessly about random garbage. There was some extra sickening love in Vi and Caitlyn's voices and their gazes. Something totally developed with their relationship that she had missed.

Why not talk about that? That was something she could make fun of that people care about.

Jinx would say something like, "So what the hell is happening with you two? Did one of you finally pull their head out of their ass and make a move?"

Loris would agree with her.

And then Caitlyn would be all, "How rude, blah, stupid rude Jinx, I'm British, blah."

And then Vi would laugh and say something dumb.

Steb would then say something insulting, but true.

And then they would all keep talking and laughing until they got to Vander's room, where they would then talk and laugh some more, and everything would be perfectly fine, not at all awkward because Jinx wasn't talking to Vander right now. But don't think about that! Because everything is fine, and so was Jinx, because that's what Jinx is, fine. Jinx is always fine, perfectly fine and normal and totally ok even when one by one everyone starts to leave the room and suddenly it's just Jinx and Vander and then Vander would want to talk again but then Jinx would run away again and go hid in her room that she hates, and then she would just lay on the floor by the door because she wants to be with Vander even though she can't be because she's a freak, but don't think about that! Because she still has a whole night of hoping and praying that someone wakes up or the sun comes up or someone needs her to do something or or or or or or or or or or or or or or or or or or or or or or or or or or or or or-

"-right Powder?"

"Hmm?" Jinx said, looking over at Vi, who apparently wanted to include her in the conversation for some reason.

"I should totally get a gym set in my room, right?" Vi said.

"Yeah, because if you lose those muscles of yours, you'll truly be left with nothing," Jinx said with a snort.

Loris laughed, "She got you there."

"Oh come on-"

-or just hoping to fall asleep because that had to be better than the endless night ahead of her! So stop thinking, Jinx, focus on something else, Jinx. Like how she successfully took down the Chem-Barons, that's fun! That's right, it was her first successful mission with the team! She couldn't wait to go tell Vander all about it! ….oh wait. She can't do that because Vander would want to talk, and she doesn't want to talk. She can't talk because if she talks, then she starts to think, and thinking leads to feelings, and feelings lead to the voices. Another secret thing she didn't want to talk about! But that's no fun, so let's not think about it! Think about something else! Anything else! Literally, brain, come up with something else that isn't about how she was a fucking fraud and all her friends would hate her for eternity if she told them all the things she was hiding from them! Come on, it can't be that hard, not everything in her life was shit! Right! Right? …come on, someone say she's right. She has to be right about something… right?

"-der?"

"Hmm?" Jinx said, looking over at Vander.

…when did she get to Vander's room?

"I said now that your sister went to bed, I was wondering if we could talk about-"

"Oh, ok then. I'll just leave you alone so you can sleep," she said, standing.

"Powder, would you please just talk to-"

"Talk about what? Everything is fine," Jinx said with a smile as she planted a kiss on his forehead and told him goodnight, ignoring him as he kept calling for her.

Ok, that's over with now she can start counting the seconds until the sun rises! That's fun! Everyone loves that game, so let's count. One, everything is fine, two, everyone is happy so she totally was too, three, everyone has a life and was living it, four, her suffering had absolutely no place here, five, she literally had everything she has ever wanted and somehow it still wasn't enough for her, six, why does time have to pass so slowly, seven, she should just start thinking about something else, eight, because this was no fun, nine, and no one likes someone who's no fun, ten, Isha's fun, eleven, she likes Isha, twelve, that's why she put her drawing she gave her safely in the drawer in her bedside table, thirteen, so why doesn't she just hang with her, fourteen, because being around her means being around Ronan and Ekko, fifteen, and everybody knows them and Jinx don't mix, sixteen, who would like to hang out with their friends and families murderer, seventeen, just like Caitlyn doesn't want to hang out with the person who tried to kill her friend, eighteen, or how Jinx doesn't want to hang out with Vander, nineteen, or Ekko, twenty, so it would just be her, twenty one, nobody but Jinx and her thoughts, twenty two, she can do that, twenty three, because Jinx was fin-

"-der!?" Vi called as she knocked on the door.

Jinx sat up, wiping away all the tears before opening the locked door.

"Powder! Thank goodness, are you okay?" Vi asked worriedly as she rushed forward and examined her.

"I'm fine," Jinx said, giving Vi a look. "Why are you here? Didn't you just go to bed?"

Vi looked at her, confused.

"Jinx… It's tomorrow, and it's the middle of the afternoon."

"What? No, it's not!" Jinx said with a scoff, "It's the middle of the-"

Vi walked past Jinx and pulled back the curtains on her windows, the afternoon sun shining through.

"...huh," Jinx said as she looked at the sunlight streaming in.

"Powder, I was worried. You weren't answering, and I know you're probably mad at me right now, but I had to at least know if you were ok because last time you locked yourself up, at least you talked to me-"

"Vi," Jinx said, placing her hands on her shoulders, "Relax. Everything is fine. I just fell asleep."

"Sleep? You never sleep for that long," Vi said, confused.

Jinx rolled her eyes, "Yeah, except for the times where I go so long without sleep, I basically take a nap for, what could be, days on end."

Either that or she's doing the thing where she completely retreats into her own head because everything is getting to be too much, and she starts to lose all sense of time. But why would she do that? Everything is fine!

"Why didn't you tell me about that?" Vi said as she breathed a sigh of relief, "You scared the shit out of me."

Jinx shrugged, "Because it doesn't happen often, and I forgot about it."

And also, she didn't want to talk about it. She didn't want to tell her sister that she's actually even weirder than she thought, and that wasn't something she wanted to think about. That was a stupid thing to think about. Vi loved her, and she was right here. No need to worry about a thing, everything was fine. No need to worry that everyone in her life secretly hates her guts because she was a disgusting, lying pig.

Ha!

Haha!

Hahaha!

Hahahahaha!

Hahahahhahahahahahahahhahahaahahahahahahahahahahhahahaahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahaaaahahaahhaaahahaahah!

What a stupid thought she should rip out of her skull. Yup, just dig right in there and pull it-

"-Jinx!"

Shield guy was grabbing onto her arm, yanking on it.

Jinx ripped it out of his grasp, "What the fuck are you doing?!" She yelled angrily, scratching at her arm where he grabbed her.

"Me!?" He yelled back, "You were the one trying to rip open your own skull!"

Jinx looked at him, confused, "What are you talking-" she said as she looked down at her hands.

She stopped speaking when she saw her blood on her hands. She then reached up and touched the side of her head, fingers coming away sticky with blood.

…she did that?

She didn't remember doing that.

"I was just coming by to check on you and Vander, but Vander said you were hanging out in your room. Is everything ok?" shield guy asked, concerned.

"Everything… is fine…" she whispered.

Everything is always fine. She was always fine. Even if she didn't want to be. Even if she felt like screaming till her lungs bled. She was fine. Fine. Fine. Fine. Vander murdered her parents and blamed it on someone else? Fine. Everyone she ever hated now looked at her with respect and admiration? Fine. She met someone she actually really liked for the first time in years, that didn't make her feel like complete shit to be around? Fine. She nearly murdered someone, and she's never had to deal with the consequences of coming face-to-face with the people she used to do that to, but all of a sudden, Caitlyn just expects her to apologize as if it's that easy? Fine. She maybe possibly didn't totally completely utterly hate Ekko anymore, but she didn't even know how to feel or act around him now that their entire world had flipped upside down in a millisecond? Fine. She actually wanted to be friends with Ronan, but she didn't feel like she had the right to even think such a thing because he still didn't know that she tortured his dad for weeks after she let Ronan go? Fine. She felt like her head was exploding because all she knew to do when faced with a problem she couldn't kill was to flee in terror? Fine. All of it was f-

"Jinx?"

It was Caitlyn's dad.

She looked around, and she appeared to have made her way to the kitchen. She was curled up in a corner, tears rolling down her face.

"Jinx, are you alright?" He asked gently, crouching down next to her.

"I'm…"

Jinx was fine.

"I…"

Jinx was always fine.

"I-I'm…"

She should just say she was fine.

"…"

It wasn't that hard.

"…I'm-"

She could say it.

"…."

She had to say it.

"I'm…"

The doctor was always mad if she said anything else.

"I'm… not fine," she said with a sob, "I don't know what's wrong with me."

He looked at her sadly, "Would you like to talk about it?"

"I don't know," she choked out before devolving into a crying mess.

He sat himself down next to her, "That's alright. But I'll be here if you change your mind."

She sat there a long time just crying and crying, Caitlyn's dad getting up at one point and moving around the kitchen.

Jinx looked up and watched as he began to put a bunch of stuff into a bowl and mix it all together.

He didn't speak to her, he let her cry in peace, but he was also making something. She didn't know what.

Jinx sniffled as she stood and walked over, hovering on the other end of the table, trying to see what he was doing.

"Would you like to see?" He asked, looking over at her.

Jinx wiped away some snot on her sleeve and nodded as she reluctantly shuffled over. She looked in the bowl, and it was some brown slug-looking stuff with some dark spots in it.

"What is it?" She asked, tilting her head, trying to understand.

"It's called cookie dough," he explained as he pulled out a large sheet pan and a spoon.

"So…"

"So I'm making cookies," he said as he took the bowl and began to scoop some of the dough onto it in the shape of little balls.

Cookies, she thought, she had stolen one from Vi not too long ago. They tasted pretty good. It wasn't like Fish guy's food good, it was a different type of good.

"What are the chunks?" Jinx asked, pointing to the odd out-of-place dots.

"Those are chocolate chips," he said before pausing and turning to pull something out from a cabinet.

Chocolate.

Yeah, she knew that word. She had tried it once. A candy bar, she and the others split among themselves once, because Vi managed to get it from some Pilte kid who wandered too far from their parents.

"Would you like to try some?" Caitlyn's dad asked, holding out a bag of the chocolate chips.

She reached out and grabbed some. She looked at the little tear-drop-shaped chocolates in her hand, picking up a single one and popping it in her mouth.

It was delicious. Just like the cookie she stole from Vi.

She then proceeded to eat the rest of the ones she had in her hand, licking off the remaining chocolate that had melted on her hands.

Caitlyn's dad chuckled, "Would you like some more?" He asked, offering her the bag.

Jinx didn't grab it right away. She had to be careful about eating too much, she didn't want to feel the pain that came afterwards.

"Jinx, you are more than welcome to eat them if you want. Though I do wish you would eat healthier meals than just chocolate and cookies," he said, setting the bag down and nudging it towards her before going back to scooping out dough onto the sheet.

Jinx watched him for a while before hopping up on the table and grabbing the bag of chocolate chips as she continued to watch him work.

"…these for your wife?" She asked after a moment.

He looked up at her, "No, why?"

"Last time you came to make tea for her, but now you're making cookies," she said as he walked over and put the cookies in the oven.

"Ah," he said as he set a timer, "No, this time I came here because I heard you, and the cookies are for you as well."

"Oh," she muttered, embarrassed that he was doing all of this for her.

"May I ask why you came here of all places tonight?" He asked curiously.

Jinx shrugged.

She truly didn't know. She was doing the thing where she completely lost control of herself and just went on autopilot because her emotions had become too much.

Why had she come here? She would have expected herself to just hide herself somewhere in her room.

"Well, I know you do not wish to discuss it, but Caitlyn has told me you have been having a difficult time lately," he said, looking at her.

Jinx popped a chocolate chip in her mouth as she scowled at the floor.

"I understand you have a hard time discussing these things-"

"Right, because you know so much about me," she sneered.

"No," he replied evenly, "I don't know much about you, Jinx. I would like that to change, however, if you'd be willing to share."

She scowled at him.

This man was just as weird as his daughter.

"What's there to know?" She muttered.

He thought about it for a moment, "Well, how about something simple. What's your favorite color?"

"…blue."

"That's nice. Any particular reason for that?" He asked.

"…cause of the sky," she muttered, embarrassed.

"Ah. Well, mine is yellow," he said happily, "because of the sun. It's rather beautiful."

Jinx tilted her head to the side and looked at the strange man, "Why are you sitting here talking to me in the middle of the night? You don't know me. You don't owe me anything."

He sighed, "I'm here talking to you because you looked lost. And I don't need to know someone to want to help them."

"…and what if that someone can't be helped?" She muttered.

"All people can be helped, but only if they want to be," he said gently.

She looked up at him, "…really?"

"Really."

She fidgeted with her fingernails, "But I don't even know where to start."

"That's ok. Just start with something small and simple, like when I asked you what your favorite color was. That was easy to answer, right?" He said.

She slowly nodded, "I guess."

"Ok, then why don't you just tell me something small that's been bothering you?"

She fidgeted some more before huffing angrily, "I don't fucking know!"

"How about an example?" He offered, "You see, we hired a new chef recently, and she never puts the sugar back where it's supposed to be."

Jinx gave him a look, "That's a stupid problem to have. Just tell the person to put the fucking sugar back correctly," she huffed.

He chuckled, "I suppose that would be a simple solution, thank you for the advice."

She shrugged, "That was a dumb problem, so it hardly counts as advice."

"It may seem dumb to you," he said, "but for me, I was truly worried and frustrated over it. Problems seem easy to solve for some people, but for others, it is like climbing a mountain."

"…I think I get it," she said, thinking about it.

There were so many things she found difficult that others just seemed to be able to do without thinking. She always hated it when that happened.

"Is there a specific instance that you can relate to my issues?" He asked her.

Jinx thought about it before she muttered, "My room."

"What about your room specifically is the issue?"

Jinx frowned, "All of it? I just hate it, I hate how…" she struggled to find the right word for it.

The room itself was nice. Bunch of fancy things stuffed inside its four walls, but when she was in it, she just felt empty and alone.

"Lonely," she finally said, "Being in that room makes me feel lonely."

"I see," he said, not sounding judgmental or critical over her stupidity. He genuinely sounded interested in what she had to say, "Have you talked to your family about this feeling you have when you're in your room?"

"No," she spat.

Why was she getting mad at him? He didn't do anything wrong.

"May I ask why not?"

She shrugged, "I don't know."

"Hmm, ok, how about this. If you told them, wouldn't they be able to help you feel less lonely?" He said gently.

"…how could they do that?" She whispered.

"They could stay with you until you fall asleep, or maybe you could stay with them if you preferred," he offered.

She frowned at that, "But…"

"Do you not want to be with them?" He asked.

"I do!" She hissed, "Why wouldn't I want to be around them? I love them."

"Of course you do, but you can love someone and not want them around all the time."

"Exactly!" She shouted, "They don't want me around! Why would I ask to stay if they don't want me!"

"Why would they not want you?" He asked.

"Because I'm a fucking liar!" She yelled angrily, "All I do is lie to them! They don't know half the things wrong with me, and everyone knows something different. It's exhausting and I can't do it anymore!"

"Then talk to them," he said.

That was always what people told her to do.

Talk.

Talk about how she feels.

Talk about what she wants.

Talk if she's upset.

Talk if she's happy.

Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk.

As if it's fucking easy.

"I can't!" She hissed, "Why can't anyone understand that!"

"You can't talk with them? Is that because you feel scared of hearing how they respond when you do talk to them?" He asked.

"No!" She exclaimed, "I just don't know how to fucking do it! All you people say is to just talk, but I don't talk! I never talk, I'm not supposed to! All these fucking feelings are supposed to go away if I ignore them for long enough, but you all won't let me! You keep trying to ask me what's wrong and want me to talk about it, but I don't want to. I don't want to talk about my feelings because I'm fucking scared to face them. Because I don't know how to fucking deal with them," she said, choking up as tears began to well up in her eyes.

"…Jinx," he said softly, "Your life has been a hard one. You learned to kill and destroy people who wanted to hurt you, but you never learned to deal with your feelings. All these things you're experiencing are normal. It's ok to feel overwhelmed and upset."

"No, it's not!" She yelled, "Because he fucking hates it when I'm like this! I'm supposed to be fine! But no one will let me," she sobbed.

"You aren't with the doctor anymore, Jinx. It's ok to not be fine all the time."

"But I don't know how," she whispered, "I don't know how to get rid of all these feelings if I can't ignore them."

"You deal with them," he said, "You stop running away and avoiding them, and you talk about them. Because that is the only way you will ever get rid of them for good."

The timer went off, and Caitlyn's dad went and took the cookies out of the oven.

The cookies were piping hot, a golden brown color with a delicious smell that filled the room.

"…how do I talk to them?" She asked as she watched him begin to remove the cookies from the sheet and place them on a separate rack.

He looked up at her and gave her a small smile, "You start small, and work your way up from there."

She bit her lip, still uncertain.

"And don't be afraid to set rules for the people you're talking to," he said.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"For example, if you want all of them not to ask questions while you're talking, simply ask them," he said as he began to clean up.

"…I can do that?" She said quietly.

"Yes," he said, giving her a small smile, "all you have to do is ask. People aren't mind readers, Jinx. You have to communicate with them if you want them to do something."

"I… don't know if I can explain it all," she said meekly, "Some of the stuff, I don't even know why it bothers me."

"Then you try to figure it out together," he said as he grabbed a cookie, "What you do and say doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be said."

He offered the cookie to her.

She took it, "Ok. I'll try."

---

Vi, Cait, and Vander were all gathered in Vander's room.

"So Jinx really asked all of us to come here?" Cait said, sounding slightly confused.

"Yes," Vander responded, "She said she had something she wanted to talk about."

"That's all she said to me, too," Vi said with a shrug.

Vi was honestly extremely worried about Powder lately. She walked around the halls randomly, muttering to herself, and she never seemed completely there. Vander and Cait had shared similar worries, that she hardly talks anymore, and she doesn't seem present when she does.

All of them had tried to have a discussion with her, but she brushed them off and then disappeared off to Janna knows where.

Powder walked through the door, stuffing the last of a half-eaten cookie in her mouth.

"Powder," Vander said as she entered and sat down in a chair she pulled up so she was facing all of them.

"Is everything ok, Powder?" Vi asked.

She took a deep breath and then sighed, "No."

They all looked at each other, concerned.

"Is there something we can do to help?" Cait asked.

"…I've been lying to you all," she said.

Ok, well, worried was now not nearly as drastic a word to describe the absolute dread building up inside her.

"Powder, what are you talking about?" Vi asked, concerned.

"I hate my room," she said, face dead serious.

Vi let out a huge sigh of relief, "Janna Powder, you really need to work on your delivery. I thought you were dying or something."

"Why didn't you say something sooner?" Cait said, "We can have it changed. Which will be much easier considering you basically already demolished half of it," Cait muttered.

Yeah, Vi saw what Powder did to her room, and it wasn't pretty. Everything was broken and smashed, and to top it all off, she refused to let anyone in to clean up the mess.

"That's not what I'm trying to say," Powder said, clenching her hands into fists.

She was getting frustrated with them.

"Ok, sorry, Powder," Vi said immediately, sensing there was more to this than she was letting on, "We didn't mean to be dismissive."

"If there's an issue, just tell us and we will help you fix it," Vander assured.

Cait nodded her head in agreement.

"I've never… been alone before," she said, trying to sound strong, but her hands shook a bit as she spoke.

That felt like a slap to the face. She hadn't even thought of that. Powder always hated being alone, so her having to be in her own room at night, when she couldn't sleep, and all she had done for the past seven years was lay next to Vander, of fucking course, she hated that room.

"Oh, Powder, why didn't you say something sooner?" Vi asked sadly.

She shrugged, "You were so happy to have that room to yourself… why would I want to ruin that for you?"

"Powder," Vander said sternly, "you know that you are more than welcome to stay with me. Both of you are."

"And if you want me to stay, I can sleep in here too," Vi added immediately.

Powder gave them a shaky smile, "Thanks."

"Of course," Vi said, smiling at her.

A silence fell over them as Powder nervously drummed her fingers against her leg and bit her lip.

"There's more, isn't there?" Cait softly prompted.

She took another deep breath and then locked eyes with Vander, "I hear voices," she stated plainly, "and they aren't just random ones. They're… Mylo, Claggor, and Powder."

Vander blinked in shock.

Well shit. Vi didn't even think about this, Vander had no clue about Powder's voices. And how the hell was she meant to explain the Powder voice? When she read it in the journal, it was like they were two different people, but that wasn't true. Powder and Jinx were the same person, she just needed to create a new personality to avoid feeling all that fucking guilt that she had for killing and hurting people.

"I… assumed there was something going on with you," he said, trying to recover and find the right words to say, "but I thought it was the monsters like before."

"It's… different now," she whispered, "they're not monsters. They're…" she sat there, struggling to describe them, "Voices. I don't know how else to describe it."

"That's alright," he assured her, "I think I understand."

She nodded, hands clenched together and eyes fixed on the floor, worry still clear in her expression.

"We don't think of you differently because of this," Vi said, understanding where her mind was heading. "We still love you, and we want to help you deal with these problems you're having."

"Powder, when I told you that first day that there isn't a damn thing you could tell me that would make me stop loving you, I fucking meant it," Vander said, tears threatening to fall, "Please, please, please don't be afraid to tell me things because you think I'll react poorly. All I want is for you girls to be happy."

Powder smiled at him and then at Vi, "Thank you," she whispered.

"And Jinx," Cait said, drawing her attention, "I know you and I have been having a rough time lately, but I want you to know that no matter what happens, no matter how angry I may be, I will always be there to listen if you need it."

Powder looked at her for a while before speaking again, "I haven't ever had to… apologize to someone like that before," she whispered meekly.

"Are you talking about Maddie?" Cait asked.

Powder huffed before nodding, "The people I… attack," she said reluctantly, "don't usually make it out of that experience. And even if they do, I never had to… talk to them afterwards," she admitted.

Cait sighed, "Maddie isn't going to hold a grudge, Jinx. She understands that you were confused and that you didn't mean to hurt her. I promise, if you just apologize for the misunderstanding, everything will be fine."

"And you don't think that's wei-" Powder cut herself off, shaking her head, "Never mind. Just… talking is hard for me. I know I have to apologize, and I will, just- stop asking me to do it. Every time you do, I just feel worse about the whole thing, and the more I can't find the fucking nerve to talk to her."

Cait considered that for a moment.

Vi was afraid she was going to tell Powder that she was being rude and childish for not being able to apologize immediately, and for her not wanting to be told to do it, but she was worried for nothing.

"Alright. Just come to me when you're ready, and I'll take you to her apartment so you can talk."

Powder nodded.

"Is there anything else you wanted to talk about, Powder?" Vander asked.

"Well… there is some more stuff I need to tell you," Powder said, looking at him.

"Go ahead," Vander said, seemingly steeling himself for what was to come.

"I can't handle it when you call me… Pow-Pow," she said, wincing as she said the name, "and I don't like to be touched," Powder said.

Now this was actually something Vi wanted to discuss with Powder. She let Vander hug her and touch her constantly, not bothering to correct him when he called her Pow-Pow, but there were times when she seemed extremely uncomfortable with it, but didn't pull away. Vi didn't want to say anything since Powder clearly hadn't told Vander about it, but she truly wasn't sure what was happening with that.

"Shit," Vander swore immediately.

Vander never used to swear around them much, but considering the recent events, it seemed he didn't care if they heard anymore.

"I'm sorry," he said quickly, "I thought something was wrong, but I didn't know it was that. I'll stop-"

"No!" Powder snapped, surprising them all.

She cleared her throat, embarrassed at her own outburst.

"I mean, I don't want you to stop," she said softly, "At least, not with the hugs. I just… I wanted you to know that when I pull away, it's not because of you. It's me."

Vander sighed but smiled at her, "That's a relief. I thought I was doing something wrong."

Powder shook her head, "I want to hug you and be completely ok with it, but sometimes I just can't. Nothing is wrong with you."

"And nothing is wrong with you either," Vi said immediately.

Last time Powder discussed this with her, she kept acting like this was some disgusting, weird trait that she was a freak for having. Honestly, after all she had to go through, it was a fucking miracle that she didn't have more issues.

Powder looked at her and gave her a halfhearted smile, "Look at you, getting better at talking to me and shit."

Vi scoffed, "I know how that brain of yours works. There is nothing wrong with you, and me and Vander love you. No matter what."

Powder nodded her head, wiping away tears that threatened to fall.

"Anything else you want to tell us, Jinx?" Cait asked.

Powder looked over at Vander, and then at Vi.

"Actually, there's some stuff we need to talk about alone."

Something in Vander's expression darkened at her words, and Vi furrowed her brows.

"Thanks for coming, Caitlyn," Powder said as Caitlyn stood.

"Of course," she said, "Like I said, no matter what's happening, you can always talk to me."

Cait then gave Vi a kiss on the cheek and told her to meet her later. Vi gave her a smile as she left.

Vi expected Powder to make some kind of joke about the display, but the room fell into a heavy silence.

Vi looked between Vander and Powder, "Ok, now you both are freaking me out. What's up?"

Powder was still looking at Vander, "She has a right to know."

Vander squeezed his eyes shut, "I know."

"Seriously," Vi said, panic starting to rise, "What is happening?"

Powder stood and moved over to sit next to Vi, lacing her fingers through hers, "Vander has something to tell us," she said gently.

Panic had definitely settled. Powder was holding her hand and trying to comfort her. Whatever this was, it wasn't good.

"When I was younger, I worked in the mines," Vander said, starting his story.

Vi still had no idea where this was headed.

"Me and your mom had met each other when I was transferred to a bigger mine once the overseers thought my big frame could be put to better use there. They also thought the people at the bigger facility would be able to control me better somehow," he said with a scoff, "When I got to the new mine, they worked me like a dog. Anytime I got into a minuscule amount of trouble, they would throw me back into the mine to work to try and straighten me out."

Vi clenched her jaw. She knew what that felt like, it was the same in Stillwater. When she first got there, all they wanted to do was break her. Beating her every time she looked at a guard wrong, throwing her in solitary for days without a meal, just to fuck with her. People like that always thought they had the power, always thinking they could break the people who cause them trouble.

"I didn't give a fuck how much they made me work, I kept doing whatever I wanted," Vander growled.

But the morons never seemed to account for people like her and Vander. Because it never mattered what they did, their will to live was just too damn strong.

"But unfortunately, I was not immune to death. I nearly got myself killed hundreds of times just because I was too stubborn and stupid to keep my head down. Your mom was the one who saved my ass in the mines when I passed out from exhaustion down there. Soon enough, I asked her why she kept helping me, and she just told me that she found me intriguing. She said that most others who got treated like me would have called it quits ages ago, she liked that my very existence was a giant middle finger to the assholes who put us in those mines in the first place."

Vi smiled at that. She hadn't heard about her mom in so fucking long, it was nice to hear new stories.

"Me and her soon became a package deal. I'd do whatever the fuck I wanted, and she would keep my ass from ending up six feet under."

Vi wonder if Powder remembered mom and dad. She seemed interested in the story, but she also looked upset, as if waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"Soon, enough people died on our team that they needed to pull more from other facilities. That's when we met your dad…"

Powder squeezed Vi's hand as her scowl deepened.

Vi looked over at her, confused. Why was Powder so upset and nervous? Clearly, this seemed to be a story about their parents, so what was there to be-

"…and Silco."

Vi felt her brain stop, "…what?"

She had to have misheard. Because there was no fucking way he was saying what she thought he was.

Powder squeezed her hand even harder as Vander spoke again.

"I knew Silco, and so did your parents," he repeated softly.

Vi couldn't understand what she was hearing. She assumed Vander knew Silco, considering he attacked them all, but her parents? That man knew her parents and still did all of this shit to her family? And Powder knew about this?

"Silco was friends with your dad at the time, they hung out together all the time."

Vi wanted to laugh. How the fuck could any of this be true? How could that man have been friends with her family?

"Your mom was the one who approached them, and your dad fell head over heels for her immediately, but your mom wasn't exactly as keen about him. Soon enough, we all started to hang out," Vander said, sounding both nostalgic and exhausted at the same time, "Your mother had this dream that she shared with us one day. She wanted to create a world where all of us could live equally, where children weren't forced to work themselves to death in mines, a world where everyone had the opportunity to live their lives. Silco came to us later and told us that he had a plan to make it real. He called it-"

"Zuan," Powder finished for him.

"Zuan," Vander repeated in conformation.

"Wait, wait, wait. What the actual fuck is happening right now?" Vi said, looking at the two of them, "Are you trying to tell me you actually helped that son of a bitch?!"

"Vi," Powder said gently, "I know this is a lot, but let him tell the rest. There is still a lot you don't know."

Vi looked at Powder, "And how do you know?"

"…Silco liked to hear himself talk. Not even death changed that," she said darkly, "Apparently, he wrote me a letter before he died."

"And you read it!?" She exclaimed.

"Yeah, I read it," Powder snapped.

"Girls," Vander interrupted, "I know both of you have questions, but Powder is right. Let me explain, and then you can ask me whatever you want."

"Fine," Vi huffed.

"We all worked together to make this dream a reality. I was a different man back then. I was the one who scared people straight, kept them in line."

Beat the shit out of people when he wasn't just straight up killing them.

"Silco made the plans, but I was the one who saw them through," he explained, "Your parents were the ones who recruited people to our cause. Until your mom got pregnant with you," Vander said, nodding at Vi, "After that, they went back to living normal lives, leaving me and Silco to finish what we had begun."

"He knew me as a kid?" Vi whispered, disgusted.

"Yes," Vander said, "Not well, but he did see you a few times after you were born, you and Powder both."

A look crossed Powder's face, but she didn't speak, she just held Vi's hand tighter.

Vi didn't remember ever seeing the guy, but maybe she was too young. Maybe he truly didn't see them often enough to be a memory for her.

"Soon, we got ahead of ourselves, took too much from Topside, so they sent enforcers."

Once again, Powder's expression grew grim, and that made Vi terrified for what was going to happen next.

"People were upset. They were getting murdered left and right, beaten half to death for merely existing, or arrested and sent to Stillwater for crimes they had supposedly committed," he said, growing serious.

Vi had heard this story before. This is what led to the riot at the bridge, but never did she imagine that things would become this bad because of what Vander was doing.

"Everyone wanted retribution… I wanted retribution," he added, sounding completely ashamed of himself.

Powder took a sharp inhale at his words, her hands starting to shake.

Vi gently squeezed her hand, trying to let her know that it would be ok. But she gave Vi as sad a look as Vander began to speak again.

"We weren't the ones who told people to go to the bridge, but we didn't stop them," Vander said sadly, "If anything, we encourage them. I encourage them."

Vi felt as if her world was shattering before her.

He couldn't mean…

"Silco went along with it all, but I was the one who taught them to fight violence with more violence. So when they set off to storm the bridge, taking whatever they could get their hands on as weapons, we both sat back and let it happen."

No.

No, no, no, no.

This couldn't be right, because if it was, then… then he…

Powder squeezed her hand, and that was all the confirmation she needed.

"Your parents discovered what we had done. They were disgusted with us, saying that we had lost sight of who we were. They left to stop the raid, and we couldn't stop them."

Vi had never felt such betrayal before.

Never once did she think Vander was responsible for what happened to her parents. Never in a million years would she have thought such a thing.

"I was so angry when I saw they were dead," he growled, hands clenched, "I was so angry, but I was too much of a coward to take responsibility. I blamed Silco for it all, and I tried to kill him for it."

A tear fell down Vi's face as she felt her hands shake in pure rage, Powder holding onto her being the only thing that was keeping her from completely exploding.

"So all of it," Vi growled, "Silco, our parents, the raid. It was you?" She spat.

"Vi-" he said, voice shaking with emotion.

"ALL OF THIS WAS BECAUSE OF YOU!?" She yelled, standing, letting Powder's hand go.

Powder was quick to stand as well, grabbing Vi by the shoulders, "Calm down before you do something you regret," she said evenly.

"How can you defend him!?" She spat, pulling herself out of her grasp.

"BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO KILL THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE!" She yelled, a single tear falling as she did.

Vi fell silent at that.

She clenched her hands into fists, "I won't let you make the same mistake you did seven years ago. Either talk to him, or walk away and come back when you can."

That was like a slap to the face. How could Powder think she would do something like that again?

…how could she not?

Vi was so fucking angry right now, she couldn't listen to another word Vander said. She couldn't be here right now.

Vi looked at him, silent tears fell down his face as he sat there looking at them sadly.

She could see he was sorry, but she just couldn't bring herself to forgive him right now.

So she turned around and left.

---

Jinx watched as Vi walked out, slamming the door behind her.

A part of her hated that she walked out, but another part knew that she would come back. Because that's what Vi always did, she got angry, she left, and then she came back.

"Powder… thank-"

"I'm mad too," she said without looking back at him, "Just because I understand what happened with mom and dad was a mistake doesn't make what you did after ok."

They were both quiet for a long time before Jinx spoke again.

"Why did you do it?" She whispered, "You blamed it all on him and then take us in, why?"

"The guilt," he said, voice breaking, "The guilt when I saw you two standing on that bridge… never have I felt such shame and disgust. All the people I killed… it took everyone I had ever cared for dying at my hands for me to realize how deep in it I was," he whispered.

Jinx couldn't see him, but she knew he was crying.

Vander never cries.

Not even on that day on the bridge.

"At first I was angry at the world, and when I lost your parents I just took it out on the first person I could blame that wasn't me," he said as his voice broke, "You will never know how much I regret that day."

But she did.

Vi knew that anger he had, that need to find someone to blame and destroy, but she knew that shame and disgust. She knew because she still felt it herself.

But she still couldn't look at him, not yet.

"How could you take us in after what you did?" She asked, her voice also shaking.

"…I wanted to fix the mess I made. I thought I could do that by helping you two," he replied after a moment of silence, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Powder," he said before he began to sob quietly.

Ronan.

She always felt so guilty when she saw him, so ashamed for what she had done. If it were a possibility, she would never have been strong enough to take him in after what she did.

She could never do something like that.

...and she would never be brave enough to tell him what she did if she had.

Tears fell down Jinx's face as she turned and walked over to Vander.

"Someone I love very much told me once that we all make mistakes," she said, trying to stop herself from completely breaking down and sobbing, "Mistakes that can cost the lives of those we care about."

He looked at her and just sobbed harder as she spoke.

She fell to her knees and grabbed his hands in her's, "He also told me that the people who see the blood on their hands are the ones who truly deserve to be forgiven for what they have done," she whispered as more tears fell, "I forgive you, Vander. For this, and anything else you may have done. I forgive you because I can see how fucking sorry you are. And I forgive you because, despite it all, I still love you. Because you can never stop the love a daughter has for her father."

Vander let out a loud sob before her pulled her close and hugged her tightly, "Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you," he sobbed.

She hugged him back, "No, thank you. Thank you for it all," she whispered, repeating the words Ronan had said to her not long ago, as they both sat there and cried into each other's arms.

Chapter 66: Break The Cycle

Notes:

I totally didn’t think I already posted this and then got upset I wasn’t getting any comments on it, only to realize I in fact did not post it at all.

Like what kind of idiot would do that 🙄

Vi had no desire to do anything but try to drink her problems away.

So she stole a shit ton of bottles from the liquor cabinet she had spotted in some random ass room she walked into once and set off to the only person who would down all of this fancy shit with her.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Loris opened the door, "Jinx, if this is another-" he stopped talking when he saw Vi standing outside his door, "Oh, Vi. What-"

She shoved a bottle in his hands, "Try and keep up," she said as she walked in and began to down her first bottle.

---

Caitlyn stared at the ceiling of her home office. (She had her main one at the enforcer's station, but she was working from home for now.)

Vi agreed to see her after Jinx had discussed whatever it was that she wanted to talk about, but it had been hours, and she still wasn't here.

Had Vi blown her off?

Maybe she just got caught up because Jinx needed her. Whatever Jinx wanted to talk about did seem pretty serious.

…

Screw it, she was going to check.

Caitlyn marched her way down to Vander's room and knocked on the door.

Jinx opened it after a moment, "What's up?" She whispered quietly.

"What's up? What's going on? Where's Vi?" She asked, trying to look inside the room.

Jinx shushed her and stepped outside, closing the door behind her, "Vi's not here, and Vander's asleep."

"Well, where did she go?" Caitlyn asked, concerned.

"…ugh," she said before sighing, "Fine. Look, Vi just got a lot of shit thrown at her-"

"What exactly did you all talk about?"

"Family stuff," Jinx replied vaguely, "It really isn't my secret to tell. Anyway, Vi stormed off hours ago, and I haven't seen her since."

"You didn't go look for her!" Caitlyn exclaimed.

Jinx shrugged, "I had my own issues to deal with… and I thought she'd come back by now."

"If she hasn't come back, why haven't you left this room and gone out to look for her!" Caitlyn snapped.

"Because Vander isn't exactly doing great right now either," she hissed back, "I just calmed him down enough so he could fall asleep! I haven't had the time to-"

"Excuse me, Madams?" Said a servant who walked up.

"What!?" They both snapped at him.

Caitlyn cleaned her throat, a flush of embarrassment running through her at the outburst. "Forgive me, how can we help you?"

"Well, Vi and Loris have been reported drinking excessively in public," He said, looking at them both, "They assumed you would want to handle."

Caitlyn smacked her hand to her forehead, and Jinx growled in frustration.

"Where are they?" Jinx asked.

"Down in the square-"

Caitlyn was quick to take off, Jinx close behind her.

"What exactly did you say to her?" Caitlyn asked irritably as they both rushed down to the square.

"It was… some stuff about our parents," Jinx said, once again avoiding details, "I knew she would take this poorly, but nothing good happens when she gets drunk."

"Why? Is she a bad drunk?" Caitlyn asked.

What was she saying? It was Vi, of course, she's a bad drunk.

"She's been drinking since she was like 12, normally she can keep her shit together no matter how fucked up she is," Jinx said, "but she's drunk and emotional? Hell, we're about to see how much you really love my sister, toots, because this will be ugly."

They both practically ran into the square, where both Vi and Loris were lying around the fountain, Vi on the edge with her foot in the water, and Loris sat on the ground, both surrounded by at least a dozen empty bottles. Vi literally finishing off another bottle as they arrived and letting it roll away from her.

Caitlyn stopped the bottle with her foot, catching Vi's attention.

She looked up at Caitlyn, who was scowling at her, and grinned up at her like a moron.

"Hey!" She yelled loudly, "…I know you," she then added with a snort.

"Oh, Janna, Vi," Jinx hissed as she went over and yanked her up onto her feet, "This is absolutely ridiculous-"

Vi then proceeded to throw up on her shoes.

Jinx stood there looking like she wanted to explode with anger.

"Ooooooooooohhh," Loris said, pointing at Vi, "You're in big trouble, Vi, your sister is gonna- hiccup- kick your ass."

"What! You take that back, asshole!" Vi yelled, taking a stumbling swing at the empty air in his general direction, Jinx having to make sure she didn't fall, "My sister is a sweet innocent flower who wouldn't hurt a fly! Right, Pow-Pow?"

Jinx winced when she called her that, but otherwise she held it together, "Yeah, sis, whatever you say. Here-" she said, handing her over to Caitlyn, "go puke on your girlfriend."

"I have a girlfriend?" She said, squinting at Caitlyn.

"Kinda," Jinx exclaimed as she heaved Loris up.

"Jinx is carrying me!" He bellowed happily, "BEST DAY EVER!"

"Janna, shut up," Jinx spat, "I'm only doing this because my sister totally dragged you into this whole mess."

"Awwwww," he said, as he then proceeded to put all his weight on her. "She's even nice," he said tearfully. "How much cooler can you get?" He sobbed onto her.

Jinx looked thoroughly unamused.

"Hey…" Vi said, grabbing Caitlyn by the face and squishing her cheeks, "You're hot."

"Mhak fou," Caitlyn replied before removing Vi's hand from her face, "How about we take you back home where you can sober up and I can yell at you?"

Vi grinned at her, "One line and you're already taking me home? Hear that, Powder!? I still got it!" She yelled happily, pumping her fist in the air.

"Yeah, yeah," Jinx grumbled as she began to drag Loris through the streets, "You give the phrase fuck the police a whole new meaning, good for you."

Caitlyn's face flushed with utter embarrassment at her words.

"Hey, look," Vi said, poking her, "Her face looks like my hair now."

"Shut up," Caitlyn hissed as she, too, began to drag Vi back home.

"Jinx?" Loris called.

"What shield guy?" Jinx snapped.

"Will you sign my shirt?"

"That's it," Jinx said, dropping him on the ground, "You got drunk on your own, you can sober up on your own."

"Nooooooooooooo," he sobbed, "Please!"

"Jinx, just carry him before he causes more of a scene," Caitlyn snapped as she watched Loris roll around on the floor, clutching at Jinx's pants, and begged her to take him with her.

Jinx growled in utter frustration as she hauled Loris up again, "Stupid drunk sister making me take care of her and her stupid drunk friends. I am so kicking your ass when you sober up, Vi!" She yelled furiously as she walked.

"Yeah! Kick their asses, Powder!" Vi yelled in support.

"I'm kicking your ass, moron!" Jinx yelled back.

"Oh…" Vi said, considering that information for a moment before speaking again, "Yeah! Kick my ass!" She yelled even louder and with more gusto.

Caitlyn snorted.

"Don't cheer for that!" Jinx snapped.

"Whooo! Go Jinx! -hiccup- kick Vi's ass!" Loris also yelled in support.

"I will leave you passed out in a gutter!" Jinx spat at him.

"Don't threaten him with a good time, am I right?" Vi said, nudging Caitlyn with a snort, as if this was a joke she was meant to understand.

Caitlyn gave her a confused look.

"No, Vi, she doesn't get your stupid music references," Jinx said dryly.

"Oooooh, I know that one," Loris said.

"No, shut up. No one knows it, and none of you will be singing it," Jinx said quickly.

"But it's your favorite Powder!" Vi exclaimed.

"No. It's not," she replied bitterly.

"Whatttt?" Vi complained, "But there was definitely someone who always sang that with me? Who was it again?"

Jinx grew very quiet at that, giving Caitlyn the feeling that this was not a very good topic.

"Oh, Yeah! It was M-"

"We have a stable full of horses, we should all go riding sometime!" Caitlyn quickly exclaimed to stop Vi from saying something very, very stupid that would only lead to Jinx having a panic attack.

All of them looked at her.

"You're," Vi said, narrowing her eyes at her, "RICH!?" She yelled very loudly into her ear.

"Ow," Caitlyn said as she rubbed at her ear, "Stop yelling like a maniac, would you?"

"Loris!" Vi exclaimed, "Loris!"

"What!?" He yelled back at her.

"I have a girlfriend and she's rich!" Vi said as she pointed at Caitlyn.

"You know, technically, you aren't girlfriends yet," Jinx said.

Vi's mouth fell open, "What?"

"Yeah, you live together, kiss each other on the cheek AND the mouth, and something else happened between the two of you that I still haven't heard about, very offended that you haven't told me by the way, and yet, nothing," Jinx said with a shrug, "Still just friends with benefits."

"Jinx!" Caitlyn screeched

"What kind of benefits?" Vi asked with a mischievous smirk.

Caitlyn smacked her over the head.

"Owww," she whined.

"Oh you're not having sex with her if that's what you were implying," Jinx said casually, leaving Caitlyn sputtering with utter disbelief, "We all just live in her mansion for free… though you could have had sex with her, maybe that's what you didn't tell me," Jinx looked back at Caitlyn, "Say, did you two-"

Caitlyn took off her shoe and threw it at her, "SHUT THE FUCK UP!" She spat.

Jinx snorted, "No need to get so mad," she said as she dodged the shoe, "I was just asking if you got the chance to… you know," she said, wiggling her eyebrows at her.

"Oooh," Vi said, "Did we?"

"Are we still talking about Vi and Caitlyn having sex?" Loris asked, confused.

Caitlyn stood there silently, absolutely fuming with anger.

"Uh oh," Jinx said, "Think I may have gone a bit too far. Better hold on tight, guys, this may get a bit bumpy."

"Bumpy? Why would- WHOAH!" Loris exclaimed as Jinx sprinted away from Caitlyn, who chased after her, yelling a slew of curse words at her as she did.

---

Jinx stood at the top of the steps as a panting, exhausted, still furious Caitlyn arrived at the gates, still dragging Vi with her.

"Have a good run!?" Jinx called to the slumped-over form of Caitlyn, who was leaning on the gate in pure exhaustion.

Caitlyn looked up and glared at her.

Caitlyn had surprisingly good cardio, Jinx had to run her around half of Piltover to ensure that she didn't have enough energy to rip into Jinx when they got back (the sun was already starting to set!), plus it was fun watching her struggle to keep up, but it was probably best to keep that to herself for now.

"When… I… get… you…" she panted, as she hefted Vi up and started to walk towards her, "…I'm gonna… kill you…"

Jinx did her best to take her seriously as she struggled to make it to the stairs that led up to her house, "Sure you don't want some help with my sister? She's pretty heavy… not as heavy as Loris here, but definitely heavy for your delicate Piltes."

She looked at Jinx, glaring at her with pure hatred.

Jinx cackled with laughter at her stupid face that was dripping with sweat.

"I can walk, you know," Vi interjected, sounding much more sober than before.

"Shut up!" Caitlyn spat, "I'm gonna get you, and I don't need any handouts to do it!"

"Really?" Jinx said as she watched her struggle to take the first step up the staircase, "because I would hate to have to drag you into the house as well."

"I," she growled out, walking up the steps, "Can. Do. It."

"Great!" Jinx said happily, "Then you should be totally fine to get to the second floor of your house, where all our rooms are!"

Caitlyn gave up right then and there. She collapsed on the steps, "Mhmhnmmm!" She sobbed into her hands.

"What was that?" Jinx asked.

She looked up at her with a furious glare before spitting, "I give up."

Jinx smiled and shrugged, "Cool. Vi," she said, snapping her fingers, "help your kinda girlfriend inside, and Loris," she said, shoving him off her, "You were sober 5 streets ago, get off me!"

"Aww, but that was fun," he said, standing, "and you got us those drinks, they were actually decent for Pilte drinks."

"What!? You got drinks!" Vi said, walking up the steps with an exhausted Caitlyn leaning on her, "Why didn't we get drinks?" She asked Caitlyn.

"I will murder all of you," she hissed in response.

"Well, as fun as that sounds," Loris chuckled, "I'd better get going, oh, but Jinx, could I talk to you for a second?" he said before he left.

Jinx rolled her eyes, "I am not autographing your shirt, I don't care how many times you ask me," she replied dryly as Vi dragged Caitlyn inside.

"No, it's not about that… did I really mention it that often?" He asked.

"Yes," she replied, unamused.

"Oh, oops, guess I really did go a bit overboard with the drinking today," he chuckled awkwardly before he grew serious and looked around to make sure no one was nearby, "I didn't want to say anything in front of Vi, but… she's not doing so hot. Everything ok?"

Jinx sighed. She had hoped Vi wouldn't take this news so hard, but that was a stupid thing to hope for. Vi had always had so many unresolved issues when it came to their parents' deaths, Vander being partially responsible for that must be an ultimate betrayal for her, and that was even considering the Silco stuff.

"I'll take care of it," Jinx said, "Thanks for humoring her today."

"No problem," he said with a smile before leaving.

---

It was funny that Caitlyn ended up being the one carried inside after all the alcohol Vi had downed. She didn't even remember how she and Loris ended up by that fountain, hell, she barely remembered the fountain!

The only thing she knew was that her foot was wet, and Caitlyn came and dragged her all over town while she chased after Powder.

Sober was probably a strong word for her condition, but she definitely had cleared her head a bit. At least enough to remember why she got so wasted in the first place.

"Why are you going this way?" Cait asked, confused, "Your room's over there?"

"Well, we're not going to my room," Vi said as she opened the door to Cait's room instead.

Vi had no desire to be in her room, not when it was so close to Vander.

"…ok," Cait said eyeing Vi suspiciously, "Well, I think I can manage from here so- Woah!"

Vi picked Cait up and carried her over to the bed, "Can never be too careful," she whispered before kissing her.

Cait pulled away, "What are you doing?" She asked breathlessly.

"Making things official," she said before kissing her again.

Cait hesitated for a moment before she kissed her back.

Janna, fuck alcohol. Nothing could make her lose her mind like she did when she kissed Cait. She had never felt anything like it, she really was perfect in every fucking way.

Vi went to take her jacket off, but Cait quickly shoved her away, "Wait-"

"I'm sick of waiting," Vi said before going in for another kiss.

This time, Cait shoved her away immediately and jumped off the bed, "Vi, what is wrong with you!" She yelled, "I said no!"

Anger bubbled up inside Vi, "So, what? That's it?"

"That's it? Vi, you can't be serious," she said, exasperated.

"Unbelievable," Vi scoffed as she got off the bed, "You know what, let me ask you something? What am I to you, huh? A fling? Someone you can string along for fun? Is that all I am to you?!" She yelled.

"What!?" Cait exclaimed, offended, "You think just because I won't sleep with you while you're drunk and hurting that I'm 'stringing you along'? What kind of fucked up logic is that!" She yelled back.

"I am so sick of all your bullshit!" Vi spat as she ran her hands through her hair and began to pace, "All your rules for whatever the fuck this is, that isn't a relationship, that's some fucked up game you get off on playing," she hissed.

Cait scoffed, "You want someone to blame for me drawing so many lines in the sand? Why don't you look in a fucking mirror! I'm not the one running around and getting drunk in the middle of the day and prancing around for the entire city to see!" She yelled.

"Oh, and there it is," Vi spat, "Finally the truth, you don't think I'm good enough for you!"

"I never said that!" She yelled, frustrated, "Why the fuck are you acting like this!?"

"Because everyone in my life keeps fucking changing!" Vi screamed, "and I know you're going to do it too," she hissed, tears stinging her eyes, "Well, guess what? I'm not sitting back and watching as you fuck me over this time, no, you know what? I'm gonna leave before you get a fucking chance! Because apparently that's all I'm fucking good for!" She yelled, not even at Cait this time, just at the universe, "I am sick of everything being so fucking complicated all the time. Can't one thing in my life be exactly what I thought it was? My relationship with Powder was apparently just hurting her constantly throughout her childhood, everything I have ever tried to do to make things better only made everything so much fucking worse, somehow Silco wasn't the guilty party in all of this," Cait gave her a confused look when she said that but Vi didn't stop to explain, "and everything I have ever known about Vander was just a big fucking lie!" She sat down on the bed and buried her face in her hands, "…everything and everyone keeps changing when all I wanted was for things to go back to being the way they were," she whispered bitterly, "Why is that so hard? Why can't everyone just be exactly how I remember them being? Why is everything so fucking different?"

Silence hung in the room for a long time before Cait slowly walked over and sat down next to her, eyes looking at the wall in front of her.

"…because things change, Vi. That's just how life works," she said softly, "Sometimes it's for the better… and sometimes it's for the worse. But, Vi, just because it can be bad, it doesn't mean it has to be."

"Then tell me, Cait, how, how can any of this possibly be good?" Vi asked miserably.

Cait looked back at her, "Because it can't all be suffering, can it? All of this change and hardship you have gone through brought us together. And I know that's a selfish thing to say but Vi," she grabbed her hand, "If I was stuck with the life I had I would have never been happy, not really, not without you. I know you have lost a lot, but through that loss, you have also gained so much. New friends, Steb, Loris, Maddie, a new understanding of your sister, and a whole life that you can now change and mold anyway you want. You have changed your destiny, Vi, and you did it with your own two hands. Not only that, you have given all the people in the Undercity that same opportunity!" She exclaimed, "You, Vi, are the only reason our cities are starting to hear and listen to each other, the only reason we can all finally begin to heal."

Vi scoffed, "I didn't do anything. It was all you and Powder. She's the hero. She's the one who united all of the Undercity and Topside while I'm sitting here, passed out at the bottom of a mug," she said bitterly.

"All of this," Cait said, gently moving her face so she was looking at her, "only happened because of you. If it wasn't for you, I would have never found Jinx-"

"Yes, you would have," Vi said dismissively, "You're smart, you would have found her eventually."

"Oh? And then what?" She asked, "I would try to arrest her because I thought she was the mastermind behind all of the Undercity's crimes, and then she would kill me before I could even blink, and then just go on about her day, because neither one of us would trust the other. Not without you," she said with a smile, "You are the only reason this whole mess works, Vi. You are the middle ground, and if it wasn't for you, all we would have left is a big gaping hole."

Vi didn't have a reply for that.

"I don't know what's going on with you right now, Vi, but I do know this, you are what I have been missing my whole life," she said gently, "I know I'm not as… outgoing," she said before clearing her throat awkwardly, "as your previous girlfriends, but I-"

"Girlfriend?" Vi repeated.

"…what?" She said.

"You said you aren't as outgoing as my previous girlfriends, which means you're saying that we're…"

Cait's face flushed before she cleared her throat, "Yes. If you're ok with it, I would like to start officially dating."

Vi looked at her, absolutely stunned.

"If you don't want to, we can keep-" she then began to add on hurriedly.

"No!" Vi spat out quickly, "You already asked, so you're my girlfriend now, no shot I'm letting you take that back."

Cait smiled, embarrassed, "Well, ok then. Glad to know your sister won't be able to call us kinda girlfriends anymore."

Vi smirked, "Why? Did that bother you?"

"It made it sound like we were in some sort of messy and overly complicated relationship!" She huffed.

"Isn't that exactly what we were in, though?" Vi asked with a raised brow.

"No!" She yelled.

Vi gave her a look.

"Shut up!" She snapped, cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Vi chuckled before sighing heavily as she remembered how she was acting earlier, "What I did earlier was totally fucked, I'm sorry. You had every right to push me away, and I never want to pressure you into that. I'm drunk and not thinking straight, but that's not an excuse. If I ever do that again, you are totally allowed to smack the shit out of me," she said firmly.

Acting like that is completely fucked up. She shouldn't have tried to pressure her into sleeping with her just because she wanted to disassociate for a while. If that was how the two of them ended up sleeping with each other, she would've regretted it for the rest of her life.

"Like I need your permission to do that," Cait scoffed before adding on, "but I would appreciate it if you refrain from acting like that again, I am not a big fan of you like that."

"Yeah," Vi said, hanging her head in shame, "I'm sorry. Alcohol and emotions don't mix for me."

"If you're sorry, make it up to me," Cait said softly.

Vi looked at her, she was blushing, but she didn't look embarrassed like she normally did.

Vi gently tipped her face towards her, "May I?"

Cait smiled softly, "Of course, thank you for asking."

Vi leaned in to kiss her, but right before their lips met, Powder threw the door open, making Cait shove Vi away from her quickly, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Powder raised a brow at the sight, "Am I interrupting?"

"Yes," Vi said.

"No!" Cait exclaimed at the same time.

Powder just shrugged and walked in anyway.

"What's up, Powder?" Vi said, sitting up on the bed.

"We both know exactly what's up," She said, crossing her arms and looking at her sternly.

"….haha, yeah. Sorry for getting so wasted today," she said, looking away.

Vi knew that was not what she was talking about, but she didn't want to hear Powder yell at her for what was happening with Vander.

"That's not what I'm talking about, but yeah, that was stupid," she said.

"Well, you know me, Powder, always causing some sort of trouble-"

"Enough, Vi," Jinx snapped, "We both know what that whole stunt was about, and it wasn't the normal trouble you go starting up."

"…what do you want me to say here, Powder?" Vi whispered.

She had been avoiding this the whole day. She didn't want to accept the fact that Vander was not only friends with that one-eyed son of a bitch, but that he was also responsible for what happened to her parents. Not only that, he then took both her and Powder in and lied to both of them for years! He always preached about not handling things by punching people in the face, only to find out that he went and did exactly that his whole life, and that it cost her parents' lives. Then he goes and blames the whole fucking thing on Silco because… because he was too much of a coward to admit that he had a part in all of it!

"You know, for someone who was telling me to stop running away from my problems not a day ago, you are being a real bitch about this whole thing," Powder hissed.

Vi stood up angrily, "And for someone who's been running from her problems her whole life, you're being a real ass."

"Vi-" Cait said, standing as well, but Powder cut her off.

"Yeah, I'm being an ass. Got a problem with that?" Powder snapped at her.

"Yeah! Yeah, I do!" Vi yelled, "Out of everyone, you should understand what I'm feeling right now better than anyone! I can't understand how you're defending him after he lied to us our whole life!"

"And I don't know how you're not understanding what he did in the slightest," Powder replied, "he was mad and pissed off that his life was shit because of the Piltes, so he went and did something about it. Sound familiar?"

"Don't compare me to him. I didn't get our parents killed," she hissed.

"Oh come on, Vi!" she yelled, "Don't stand there and pretend like you don't understand that what happened that night was a mistake."

"Maybe, but it sure as hell wasn't a mistake when he kept it from us for years," she spat back.

"What was he supposed to say? Hi, I'm Vander, and I accidentally got your parents killed. Wanna come live with me?" She snapped, "That's not something that's easy to admit, Vi, especially not to the people who are stuck living with your mistakes," she said, a sadness coating her voice.

Vi registered that she was talking about herself. Maybe Powder did have more experience in this, maybe she could relate to Vander on this. She had killed hundreds of people, but, like she admitted earlier that day, she never dealt with the consequences. What if those Shimmer addicts had kids? What about their parents? Their sisters, brothers, cousins, friends, or any person who cared about them whatsoever?

Powder had been in Vander's shoes. She was quick to forgive because she knew what it felt like to rob someone of their parents and regret that for the rest of her life.

But no matter how much Vi wanted to, she couldn't understand. She couldn't understand how he could do that and then pretend not to know. How could he not tell them? How could he blame it all on someone else?

"…and you should know better than anyone why he blamed Silco for it all," Powder whispered.

Vi clenched her jaw. She was talking about that night. Vi had blamed everything on Powder and then left. How was that any different than what Vander did?

"I was gonna come back," Vi said through gritted teeth, trying to defend herself.

"But you didn't," she spat before sighing tiredly, "Look, I'm not asking you to forgive him, I know that this isn't something you forgive people for," she said sadly.

Vi wanted to say something to her, but what? She was mad at Vander for things Powder had done herself in the past.

"But I am telling you, as a person really skilled at avoiding her problems and emotions, stop running from this. Let him explain, whether you understand his reasons or not," she said before turning to leave, "You've already missed seven years because of my mistake, how much more time are you willing to waste on this?" she asked quietly.

"Powder," Vi called before she left.

She paused and looked back at her.

"…none of the things you did were your fault," she said, trying desperately to ease the pain she could see so clearly in her eyes.

Powder went quiet for a long time before whispering, "…maybe. But it was my choice."

She then turned back around and left, closing the door behind her.

Her choice.

What choice did she have? Stuck in that cave with that man, desperate to save Vander and get some semblance of a life back. What other option did she have?

She never had a choice, not a real one anyway.

"…so Vander is the reason for your little expedition tonight?" Cait asked softly.

Vi had almost forgotten she was here.

"Yeah… turns out that he and Silco came up with the plan to raid the bridge all those years ago. He's the reason that attack happened, he's the reason they're gone, and then he had the nerve to take us in," Vi spat.

Cait went quiet for a while before responding gently, "…isn't that a bit harsh?"

"Harsh?" Vi snapped back, "He lied to me my entire life!"

"Yes, well, that part is pretty bad," she admitted, "but… You can't honestly put all the blame on him for what happened to your parents."

"He's the one who riled people up! If it wasn't for him, there wouldn't have been a great bridge massacre for my parents to go and try to stop!" She yelled.

"Vi, that's not fair," Cait said softly, "Everyone knows how bad relations between Topside and the Undercity were back then. Something like that was bound to happen one way or another."

"Not if he left well enough alone!" She snapped, "If he had just stayed out of Piltover's business-"

Vi stopped talking.

"Vi?" Cait said, confused at her sudden pause.

She had had this exact conversation with Vander. She could practically hear her younger self now.

"Stay out of Piltover's business? Why? They've got plenty, while we're down here scraping together coins. When did you get so comfortable living in someone else's shadow?"

Vi clenched her hands into fists.

He wasn't comfortable living in their shadow, he just knew the cost of trying to escape it.

Powder was right, she did understand his anger. She knew what it was like to be young and stupid, head full of notions of righteousness and justice, or what she thought was justice.

Vander had tried to steer her away from all that, but she was too foolish to listen.

Vander told her stories of what the Undercity was like before, gray so thick you couldn't breathe, crime chasing you at every step, forced to kill just to live one more minute, enforcers breathing down your neck as they watched your every move. Life back then, it wasn't a choice if you would live without committing a crime, hell, just being born was a crime.

Everyone was an orphan. No one had family to cling to, it was merely those who did what it took to survive… and those who could live with surviving.

No matter how badly she wanted to avoid this, she needed to talk to him.

"Sorry, Cupcake, I have to go," Vi said before giving her a kiss and leaving to go talk to Vander.

---

Vi took a deep breath and then knocked on Vander's door.

"Come in," he called.

Vi opened the bedroom door and was greeted with the sight of Vander reading a book to Powder, who was snuggled up next to him, holding the book up for him and waiting to flip the page.

They both looked up at Vi.

"Vi," Vander said, taken aback.

Powder also looked slightly surprised to see her, but she didn't object. She just dog-eared the page of the book they were reading from (something called The Very Hungry Caterpillar), and then said she had to go do something before she left the two of them alone, giving Vi a squeeze on the shoulder before she walked out.

"…I didn't think you'd be back so soon," Vander said softly.

"Wasn't planning on it, but everyone seems to think we should talk," Vi said.

"I wish… I wish I could tell you that there was a good reason I never told you," he whispered, "but I was just too much of a coward to face you two."

"…I want to understand this so badly, Vander," she said as tears pooling in her eyes, "but how can I? All those times we stayed up talking and you just sat there and fed me lies-"

"They weren't lies. Everything I said was true," he interrupted, "All those stories about your parents, they were all real. I loved them like family."

"That just makes it worse!" Vi yelled, "How could you possibly have the nerve to keep us after being responsible for what happened to them?"

He went quiet, head hung in shame, before he spoke again.

His voice was soft and shaky, "My world back then was your parents and Silco. There were other people I talked to and shared drinks with, but they were my family. We shared a dream, we shared a life. You and Powder were instantly added to that list the moment I knew you existed, but it wasn't like that for Silco, to him, it was still the four of us. He never understood what it meant to love someone so wholeheartedly and unconditionally. Not when they had yet to prove their worth. That was the difference between us, that is what broke us."

"What does this have to do with anything?" Vi asked bitterly.

She didn't want to hear about that man, he was a miserable son of a bitch, and she was glad he's dead.

He looked up at her, "I loved you two kids, even before I first laid eyes on you, and I hated myself for ripping away your parents from you." He took a shaky breath, "When I saw you on that bridge… I can't describe the way I broke when I saw you realize what had happened."

…she knew that feeling. The joy slowly disappearing from Powder's little face when she realized what her explosion had done was seared into her mind forever. At the time, she was too angry to register it then, but she still saw the pain and guilt that would never be erased set in.

It was devastating to watch.

"I thought I could make amends by taking you in. I thought… I thought it was my responsibility to fix the mess I had left the two of you in by giving you a home," he as a tear fell down his face, "That first night with the two of you… I thought you would want to leave, but then you stayed, and I watched you grow. You went from the child of my best friends to becoming my children," he took in a shuttering breath, "And I was too scared to lose you to admit to what I had done. I'm sorry."

Vi felt tears roll down her face.

"You've already missed seven years because of my mistake. How much more time are you willing to waste on this?"

Vander made a mistake that cost the lives of all his closest friends, her parents, and Silco's. He was scared of losing Vi and Powder because of that same mistake.

Vi didn't want to keep repeating history, she didn't want to be stuck in an endless cycle. She had turned her back on Powder because of her mistake, and it cost all of them far too much, she couldn't do the same to Vander. She couldn't lose more time with him because of her stubborn pride and hot-tempered anger.

"I forgive you," she said before she walked over and hugged him close.

He may have lied, and he may have hurt her, but he loved her.

That was the one thing she was sure would never change.