(Non-)Fatal Attraction

by ArchFaye

Summary:

Frankly, this wasn't anywhere near the most dangerous or uncomfortable situation Lux had been in as bait for one of Jinx's plans. She wasn't sitting on a giant bomb, like when she first met Ekko. They weren't in a building that was on fire and filled with toxic gas like when they tried to pull that stunt on Veraza and Glasc, although it was her own idea to be bait that time when things went south. Then there was that time Vi and Caitlyn "rescued" her from a pack of robotic hyenas that replicated Jinx's signature cackle and exploded into glitter.

She wasn't even tied up this time like -well- when she first met Ekko, or with the robo-hyenas, or when she first met Zeri. Jinx at least mixed it up with that last one, as there was a shark involved that time, but Ekko had spoiled the surprise by revealing their relationship to the electric mage beforehand.

Or: Lux contemplates Jinx using her as bait in many of her plans...as she's acting as bait in the latest of Jinx's plans.

Lightcannon Week 2025 Day 3: The things I do for love

Notes:

CW: Snakes!

A half dozen pairs of black, beady eyes met Lux's, causing her to still her breath as she sat cross-legged in the dirt clearing.

Stay as still as you can, Jinx had told her when they became aware of the carnivorous predators approaching from deeper in the brush. Lux had put herself into this situation as bait willingly, trusting that Jinx would follow through with the plan- ridiculous as it was- regardless of what happened.

The irrational, anxious part of her mind flashed back to the handful of times she had seen the aftermath of bites from venomous snakes back in Demacia. Blackened veins, convulsions, fever- not to mention death, although that was hardly the gnarliest way Lux had seen someone die.

Yet she gave herself to whatever fate awaited her in this pit because she loved that pale, erratic, unbound woman and loved her almost as much to show it. Jinx had certainly grown less afraid of being abandoned again in the year now they had been together, but Lux was more than happy to continue reinforcing how committed she was.

Frankly, this wasn't anywhere near the most dangerous or uncomfortable situation Lux had been in as bait for one of Jinx's plans. She wasn't sitting on a giant bomb, like when she first met Ekko. They weren't in a building that was on fire and filled with toxic gas like when they tried to pull that stunt on Veraza and Glasc, although it was her own idea to be bait that time when things went south. Then there was that time Vi and Caitlyn "rescued" her from a pack of robotic hyenas that replicated Jinx's signature cackle and exploded into glitter, which her girlfriend had somehow both designed and built because she's a mechanical genius!

She wasn't even tied up this time like -well- when she first met Ekko, or with the robo-hyenas, or when she first met Zeri. Jinx at least mixed it up with that last one, as there was a shark involved that time, but Ekko had spoiled the surprise by revealing their relationship to the electric mage beforehand.

Speaking of the cute little void-spawn, Lux could just barely make out the sounds behind her of Jinx readying herself, just as six long, rope-like forms fully exited the underbrush towards the blonde. They must be starving, Lux thought, seeing the eyes of the snakes dart between her and the sash of dead rodents that Jinx had draped over her. She had done some very messed up stuff for Demacia, including more than a few extrajudicial killings, but this had to rank high on some kind of list of extraordinary things she's done. If only her family could see her now.

The look on her mother's face alone would probably satisfy both Jinx's birthday and Snowdown gifts this year.

Zeri, Ekko, and even Jinx herself had all asked her at one point or another why she was always so willing to play this part for Jinx's schemes. Aspects knew, she'd asked herself that question more than once. The answer was simple though: she liked spending time with Jinx and seeing her girlfriend happy and in her element. Their relationship of nearly a year had, up to that point, been a relatively well-kept secret for a few reasons, so it was how they got to spend time together in public.

Lux also frankly enjoyed seeing the hilarious looks on people's faces when Jinx's plans came together, but she'd never admit that to anyone other than herself and Jinx.

A light hissing and brush against her legs pulled Lux's focus back to the snakes that had now encircled her. The largest had already begun pulling at a mouse on the sash at her back, while another slithered under her leg and a third climbed up into her lap, eying a rodent of it's own.

Lux's furrowed her brows slightly as the hissing grew much more intense, still trying to keep as still as possible. What was taking Jinx so long? Had she lost sight of the snakes and didn't realize they were all over her? This isn't a prank on me, is i-

A comically large butterfly net swooped down and enveloped Lux, and by extension the snakes, right before the flash of a camera blinded her for a moment. As her eyes refocused, she could make out Jinx walking towards her, a reptile carrier in one hand while the other shook a still developing photo. Lux also took in the net for the first time, sighing as she saw that the snakes could easily just slip through the comparatively massive gaps in the netting. Jinx herself even reached her whole arm through the net instead of removing it to pull them out before she deposited the venomless garter snakes into the tank.

"I can't believe the zoo keeps perfectly harmless snakes," Jinx lamented. "You'd think everything in here would be dangerous if they need the cages and tanks."

Lux snorted, still sitting legs-crossed under the massive butterfly net. "Yeah, that's the most unbelievable thing about all of this."

"I know, right? At least now we have the snakes for Operation Topple Big Hat and I got this awesome photo of you!" Jinx grinned, handing Lux the photo through the gap. Between the net, the dead rodent sash, the positions of the snakes on her, and her eyes looking about as dead as the rats, Lux looked downright unhinged.

Oh yes, Lux thought, smirking, I am definitely going to show this to Mother when Jinx finally meets her.

Jinx finally pulled the net up and off of her before extending a hand. Lux used the photo to mark her place in the novel she had been reading while waiting for the snakes, then took Jinx's hand and hoisted herself up. "So if this was the plan all along, why did you need me as bait this time?" Lux quizzed. "It seemed like the rats held their attention just fine on their own and they easily could have gotten out of the net."

Jinx's grin grew even more devious as her eyes lidded slightly. Sidling up to the blonde, she purred, "The net was just because it's been a while since you were the one snared up."

Lux narrowed her eyes and hummed before suddenly grabbing Jinx by the ear and growling, "Guess I'll need to come up with an adequate punishment for bad girls later tonight, aye Trouble?"

Jinx went ramrod stiff as her normally pale skin went almost purple with blush. Lux let go of her ear before continuing, "And that still doesn't explain why you wanted me as bait in the first place this time."

Cocking her head, as if the answer was obvious, Jinx looked Lux up and down. "Well, we needed to attract the snakes first before they'd get busy with the rats, and you're the most attractive thing I know!"

Lux giggled for a moment before it struck her that Jinx hadn't started laughing or giggling with her. The mad bomber hadn't even snickered. Scanning her face, Lux found nothing but earnestness in the small smile Jinx was giving her. She wasn't making a joke.

"Is that why you have me be the bait so often?"

"Well, yeah! They'd have to be crazier than me not to find you attractive."

Lux's mouth dropped open before she smiled softly, taking in the adoration that Jinx's eyes held at that moment. Aspects, this girl was perfect. Cupping her girlfriend's face in her hands, Lux leaned down and kissed Jinx softly before pulling back slightly. "I love you Jinx," she murmured, stroking Jinx's cheek with her thumb.

"Love you too, Starlight," Jinx responded, leaning into the touch with closed eyes. After a few moments, her eyes shot back open and she skipped over to start gathering the rest of her things with manic energy.

"So what's next Jinx?" Lux said as she followed. "I assume you're not just going to dump these in Caitlyn's bed."

They had finally agreed to let Caitlyn and Vi in on their relationship, and Jinx had come to her a week ago saying that she had a idea for how. The fact that it lined up perfectly with their one year anniversary surely wasn't a coincidence.

A mischievous look crept onto the bluenette that was definitely doing something to Lux's --- focus, girl --- before Jinx chuckled. "Sparkles, I love you, but you need to start thinking more explosively! We should still have leftover paint from tagging the bridge a few weeks ago and I'm pretty sure I hid my glitter in the Drop well enough that even Auntie Ogre hasn't found it yet." She narrowed her eyes and tapped her chin a few times. "We do need to think of a more creative way to get them into her office beside just breaking and entering though."

Right, Lux thought, it's not like Jinx is friendly enough with the Wardens to just dro- Wait, that's it!

"I have an idea for that actually!" Lux crowed before grinning mischievously herself. "I'll pay her a visit at work with a thank-you gift."

Jinx's face lit back up with excitement. Although Lux had normally just went along with the ride when they first met, she had actively been trying to offer up her own ideas and creativity more lately, which Jinx seemed to love. The bluenette's schemes had awakened a playful side of Lux, and if they were going public with their relationship, she'd have to take a different role than just bait.

The mad bomber had said more than once that Lux made boring beautiful, but Jinx's chaos let Lux finally have a chance to be free and have fun. She would happily spend the rest of her life doing whatever she could to show Jinx how much she loved her for that, even if it did sometimes result in her being netted.

Notes:

Discovering this ship at the start of this year post-Arcane inspired me to pick creative writing back up and I'm excited to share it! This is my first piece ever on AO3 and it's been a long time since I wrote creatively, so feedback is, of course, welcome and appreciated.

I have two other fics coming for Lightcannon Week, including the context and execution of their plans for the snakes, so if that sounds interesting, stay tuned!

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 3 of Lightcannon Week 2025