#okay but her and ekko could lead Zaun

[dumpster-fire-sapphic-failgirl]

The fact that Caitlyn and Jinx are able to work together to save Vander gives me hope that Jinx isn’t going to go over the edge with Isha and Vander’s presumed deaths

Jinx had her era of wild flailing that dovetailed with her Silco/Crime boss era. She became the villain she thought she was supposed to be and it never stopped hurting. She had her Vander era, where she hid from the Piltover/Zaun conflict to take care of a family. And she wasn’t able to protect them from the rest of the world.

Silco dreamed of a united and free Zaun. Vander dreamed of a united and free Zaun. Isha dreamed of a united and free Zaun. Ekko dreams of a united and free Zaun.

Jinx might not be a great leader. But she can be a great symbol. And a great weapon. Sevika, like always, will probably end up handling the details. But Jinx can unite Zaun

And the easiest path to freedom is to work with Piltover against a common enemy. The greatest symbol of Piltover in Jinx mind, the topsider that stole her sister, the leader of the strike team that wouldn’t stop hunting her, the leader of Piltover… worked with her. To save her dad. Against the Noxians coming to take him.

Admittedly, the other big symbol of Piltover, the man of progress himself, is responsible for Vander’s glowy meltdown. But! Jinx didn’t see that. And, it wasn’t Jayce that kept her and her family from trying to calm Vander, to help him. It would have been bad without the Noxians, but they might have had a chance. Isha, certainly, would have been safer.

I hope that Jinx joins in the battle against Ambessa, with the condition that Piltover recognize the nation of Zaun.

I also hope she lives through the battle. (she probably won’t, but still) Dying for a cause is easy. Living for one is much, much harder

[moraxine]

Fragments of Us [Ekko]

pairing: ekko x reader

words: 2k

summary: ekko wakes up in an alternate universe where you’re alive and everything feels right—but it’s not his world. torn between love and duty, he must leave to save his reality.

ARCANE SPOILERS!

i.

“Powder. Ugh, she’s so annoying sometimes. I told her that the graffiti on Sevika’s stupid bar wasn’t even that good—like, come on, who even uses pink for a skull?—and she just flipped out ! Called me a ‘wannabe artist.’ Like, okay?”

Ekko’s chest burns as he violently jolts awake, aware , coughing as if he’s been drowning moments before. His head is pounding, all memories flooding his mind and spinning round and round. It takes a few moments for his vision to stabilise and start clearing up.

What the hell happened?

“Hey, are you okay?”

Hearing your voice, familiar yet a voice he never thought his ears would detect ever again, he freezes. His eyes snap open, adjusting to the dim glow of the neon streetlamp. After a while of simply blinking, right hand on his forehead, he dares to turn your way, only to face you in utter shock.

There you are, right beside him, nervously fiddling with a small gadget in your hand while waiting for his answer.

Ekko’s breath gets caught in his throat.

His gaze desperately darts around, taking in the distorted version of Zaun. The buildings look eerily familiar but cleaner, more polished. And then there is you —alive, bright-eyed, rambling as if nothing in the world could ever go wrong.

This isn’t real. This can’t be real.

“You’re staring at me like I’ve got two heads or something. All good in there?” You ask, leaning closer as you gently tap his head.

No, no, no.

This must be some kind of twisted joke, a dream soon to turn into a nightmare, like the ones he experienced after your passing.

A strong wave of dizziness takes over and he loses balance. You’re not fast enough to catch him and he collapses on the floor, tears gleaming in his eyes.

“Shit, Ekko, I told you I’m fine walking home by myself! You need to focus on fixing that sleep schedule of yours. You work too much….”

You kneel down to check on him but as soon as you reach for his arm, he manages to pull himself up, wincing as his muscles protest. “I’m fine,” he mutters, his voice hoarse. “Just… where am I?”

Your brow furrows. “Zaun, duh. Did you hit your head?”

Zaun. But not his Zaun. This is different. Cleaner. Sharper. Brighter. Wrong.

You wave a hand in front of his face when he’s up on his feet again, snapping him out of his thoughts. “Seriously, you’re acting super weird.”

He shakes his head, trying to gather himself. “I’m… just tired.”

“Yeah, no shit,” you say, leaning back on your heels. “Well, you can sleep at my place if you want. It’s a bit of a mess, but it’s better than the middle of the street.”

“Why…Why are you helping me?”

I didn’t protect you. I let you die-

You scoff, crossing your arms. “You have to be kidding me, really.”

He stares at you, his chest tightening. You are so casual, so warm, so alive. This isn’t his world—it is someone else’s. Someone’s whom was able to keep you safe and happy.

You wave a hand in front of his face. “Helloooo? You good, or do I need to drag you there myself?”

He blinks, shaking himself out of his trance. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

“Finally,” you say grabbing his arm. “You’re lucky I’m such a good friend, y’know.”

As you lead him down the street, continuing your pointless rambling about Powder and some argument over graffiti, Ekko follows silently, his mind racing. He doesn’t belong here, but for the first time in years, being near you feels like he is home.

ii.

Ekko is standing in the corner of your cluttered workshop, his fingers trembling slightly as he tightens the final screws on a device he barely understands anymore. Weeks have been spent scavenging parts, tearing apart old tech, and sketching blueprints on scraps of paper. The machine is almost ready—his way out of this world is almost ready.

You, of course, don’t know. In fact, you seem to know nothing about Ekko lately. Ever since that incident outside the bar, he’s been acting strange in a way you can’t pinpoint.

“Hey, genius,” you call from across the room, pulling him out of his thoughts. You’re perched on a high stool, playing with a broken clock. “You’ve been staring at that thing for hours. What is it, anyway?”

He stiffens at your question, keeping his face carefully neutral. “Just… something to help me get around. It’s nothing.”

You narrow your eyes, unconvinced. “Since when do you get all secretive about your projects? You used to brag about your tech every chance you got.”

“Since now,” he mutters, avoiding your gaze.

It’s been this way for quite some time now—Ekko growing quieter, more distant, all while you try to bridge the gap with your usual chatter. You’ve noticed the way he avoids your eyes, the way he flinches whenever you stand too close. It’s not like him.

And it hurts.

“You’re acting weird, Ekko,” you admit, setting the clock down and leaning back on your hands. “Like, even weirder than usual. Did I do something?”

“No,” he says quickly, but his voice sounds strained, and the single word only makes you more assured that there is indeed something going on.

“Then what?” you press, leaning forward slightly. “You’ve been avoiding me for days. Is this about Powder? Because if so, she’s the one being difficult, not me.”

Ekko clenches his jaw, his hands tightening around the tool in his grip. He can’t tell you. You wouldn’t understand—not fully. How could he possibly explain that you’re not even supposed to be here? That this version of you isn’t his you? That in his world, you’re just a memory he carries like a scar?

“It’s nothing,” he says finally, his voice low. “Just… drop it, okay?”

You flinch at the coldness in his tone, but you force a laugh, trying to mask the sting. “Fine. Be mysterious, then. See if I care.”

Turning away, you pretend to focus on the clock again, but your heart isn’t in it. You want to push him, demand answers, but something in his expression stops you. There’s a pain in his eyes that you can’t quite place, and for the first time, you wonder if this is bigger than any conflict he might have had with people in the past.

Ekko exhales slowly, his shoulders sagging. He hates doing this—pushing you away. But if he lets you in, it’ll only make leaving harder.

Because he is leaving. As much as he wants to stay, to pretend this is his life, he knows it isn’t real. He doesn’t belong here. And the longer he stays, the harder it’ll be to say goodbye. Especially to you.

“Hey,” you say suddenly, breaking the silence. “For what it’s worth, you’re still my favorite nerd. Even if you’re being a jerk.”

He looks up at you, startled by the softness in your voice. For a moment, he wants to tell you everything—to explain why he can’t let himself get too close. To tell you he loves you. But that would be partially true as you’re not his. Instead, he just nods. “Thank you.”

You offer him a small yet warm smile and his resolve falters for a moment. But then his gaze falls on the machine again—his way out—and he reminds himself why he has to do this.

It’s almost done. Just a little longer.

iii.

Ekko stands in the middle of the workshop, his hand resting on the activation lever of the machine. The room hums faintly with power, the cobbled-together contraption sparking faintly as it waits for his final command. It’s ready. After days of work, this is it—it’s time to go back to the people who need him.

But his chest feels tight, and it’s not just from the lingering ache of exhaustion. It’s because of you.

The door creaks open, and his heart sinks. You’re standing there, your expression caught somewhere between confusion and anger. “What the hell is this?” you ask, stepping inside. “Ekko, what’s going on?”

He doesn’t look at you. He can’t. “It’s… nothing.”

“Nothing?” you snap, gesturing at the machine. “You’ve been shutting me out for God knows how long, and now I find you messing with… whatever this is you’ve made? Don’t lie to me, Ekko.”

He finally meets your eyes, and the raw emotion there almost makes him crumble. But he takes a deep breath and steadies himself. “I can’t explain it.”

You take a step closer, your frustration giving way to hurt. “Why? Why can’t you just tell me? I’m not mad—I just… I don’t understand why you’ve been acting like this.”

Ekko clenches his fists, his mind racing. He could tell you the truth—about the alternate universe, about the fact that you don’t even exist anymore in his world. But what good would it do?

“It’s better this way,” he replies quietly.

Your hands drop to your sides, and the look in your eyes nearly breaks him. “Better for who? For me? Or for you?”

“Y/n…” His voice cracks, but he quickly swallows it down. “I don’t belong here. I need to leave. That’s all I can say.”

You shake your head, your voice trembling. “You’re lying. You’ve been here all this fucking time, and now you’re just… leaving? Without a word?”

“I don’t have a choice.”

“Yes, you do!” you shout, stepping closer until you’re right in front of him. “Whatever this is, whoever you think you are—you’re my… friend, Ekko. You don’t just get to disappear without telling me why.”

His hands tremble as he reaches up to touch your shoulder, his gaze locked on yours. “You are—” His voice breaks, and he has to force himself to keep going. “You’re amazing. You’re… everything good about this place. You’re the reason I’m still alive. But I can’t stay.”

You stare at him, your heart pounding. His words feel final, and the weight of them crushes you completely. You fail to understand. Nothing makes sense, absolutely nothing. “Why?” you whisper, tears burning at the corners of your eyes. “Why can’t you stay? Is it something I did?”

“No!” he says, more forcefully than he means to. He takes your hands, holding them tightly. “It’s not you. It’s… me. It’s my world. I need to go back to where I came from.”

You can’t comprehend what he’s saying, but the desperation in his voice silences your questions. You nod, swallowing back the lump in your throat. “Fine,” you say, even though it’s anything but fine. “If you have to go… go.”

His hands linger on yours for a moment longer before he lets go. “I wish I could tell you how much you mean to me,” he says softly. “But I can’t. Not here.”

Tears spill over as you watch him turn back to the machine. “Will I ever see you again?” you ask, your voice barely audible.

He hesitates, his hand hovering over the lever. “I don’t know.”

That’s all he can give you.

With one last look at you, his expression filled with regret and longing, he pulls the lever. The machine sparks to life, and the air around him ripples with energy. You take a step back, shielding your eyes as the light grows blinding.

When the light fades, he’s there, his tired body slumped down on the ground. You immediately run to his side, kneeling down and pulling him to your lap. The room falls silent, the only sound the faint hum of the now blown up machine. You gently caress his cheek, tears running down your hot cheeks.

After a while, he wakes up.

And it doesn’t take you very long to realise.

You glance at the remains one last time.

And you hope that wherever he is, he’s doing what he set out to do—saving his people, his world, even if it meant leaving this one behind.

[thenationofzaun]

The way Ekko has been surgically removed from the Vi/Jinx story is criminal. He is the only other surviving member of the family from the Act 1 era, and the closest relation to Vi after Jinx. They keep trying to push the "Vi has nothing left in Zaun/everyone in Vi's life has changed" angle to force Caitvi and her enforcer arc, but Ekko is right fucking there! Leading a tight-knit group just like Vander did, opposing Silco just like Vi does. So what the fuck is Vi talking about, with everyone she loves changing? She should be ecstatic that she still has Ekko right? That she still has someone she knows from her childhood who is alive and fighting Silco? Little Man, the kid she hosed down whenever he got dirty, the little boy she taught how to fight.

They are trying to push the angle that joining the enforcers is her only option, when joining the Firelights is still on the table for her. But nope, for some reason, she doesn't think about or care about him. Doesn't look for him, doesn't care if he survived, doesn't return to the Firelights. This is such a glaring hole in the storytelling but the show thinks it can distract me with pretty visuals and music videos.

First ever thing Vi should have done in Season 2 is look for the Firelights. Reunite with Ekko and talk. About Jinx, about the war, and what they want to do about it. Caitlyn got to talk with Jayce, why not Vi and Ekko? Instead they make Vi get drunk with a nameless new character? Maybe Ekko could invite Vi to join his side, Vi tells him she needs to be there for Caitlyn first during her mother's funeral but she will return. And then Caitlyn gets to Vi. Offers the badge, convinces her joining the Firelights isn't the best option, that the strikeforce is where she truly belongs and can be the most help to prevent collateral damage to innocents in Zaun. Just like how Vander worked with Grayson to prevent collateral damage to innocents. So Vi takes Caitlyn's offer, betraying her promise to join Ekko. Returns to Zaun but in the enforcer uniform. Have Ekko actually react to this. The video game has some lines from Ekko admonishing Vi as a traitor, right? Why aren't they including it in the show? Why isn't Ekko at all involved in Vi's plot, reacting to her enforcer arc?

Oh right, because they added a billion other plot lines into the show and they don't have the time to explore so many character dynamics anymore. Suddenly Ekko is involved with Heimerdinger and now the Arcane is fucking with the tree, and Ekko has to get packed up and sent to another dimension. Okay.

Season 2 makes it seem like Vi and Ekko are complete strangers. Vi has no curiosity about him, and he has no curiosity about her. He fought Jinx so Vi could talk to the Council. Last thing he knows, Jinx blew herself up. Now suddenly it turns out she survived and killed the very Council Vi was supposed to meet. His reaction to this?? What does he think happened to Vi?? Nah, let's have him joke around with fucking Heimerdinger while breaking into Jayce's lab. It's so unnatural.

[birdaquarius]

Nightmares

Summary: Ekko struggles to cope with the relentless nightmares and guilt that haunt him after Powder/Jinx’s death, burdened by the belief that he failed her. As his new girlfriend, you offer him unwavering support, becoming the comforting presence he needs and the shoulder he can lean on when the weight of his grief becomes too much.

SPOILERS FOR ARCANE SEASON 2 FINALE!

Currently taking requests!

Word Count: 3k.

Pairings: Ekko/Female Reader, mentions of Powder/Jinx.

Warnings: Panic attacks, night terrors and mentions of death.

The first time it happened, you thought Ekko was simply restless. A day spent dodging Enforcer patrols, patching up the Firelight base, and leading his people was enough to wear anyone down. Yet, even in exhaustion, Ekko had a knack for staying light on his feet. Sleep should have been his only solace.

But it wasn’t.

That night, you were jolted awake by a muffled sound. It wasn’t loud—just a low groan, followed by a sharp intake of breath. The air felt thicker, charged with tension. Turning your head, you saw him. Ekko, curled up on his mat, chest rising and falling erratically. His fingers twitched as if reaching for something—or someone.

“No... not again,” he muttered, voice raw and broken.

You moved closer instinctively.

“Ekko?” you whispered, brushing a hand lightly over his shoulder. He didn’t respond. Instead, his body stiffened, and his breath quickened.

His voice came again, low and frantic. “Powder, wait! Please, I can’t—”

You froze. Powder. Not Jinx. Not the wild-haired, chaotic force that she had become. No, this was the echo of a name from long ago—a name of innocence and regret, of everything that haunted Ekko.

It broke your heart.

“Ekko, wake up,” you said gently, shaking him now.

It took several moments, but his eyes snapped open, wide and unseeing, panic etched into his features. He sat up abruptly, his breaths shallow, chest heaving as though he’d just run miles.

“Hey, it’s okay,” you said softly, trying to ground him. “It’s just a nightmare.”

But it wasn’t just a nightmare. You knew it. Ekko knew it.

The nightmares came in waves after that, crashing into your shared nights like unwelcome visitors. Sometimes, he would wake silently, his body trembling as he stared at the ceiling. Other times, he thrashed and yelled, desperate pleas spilling from his lips—begging to save her, cursing himself for failing.

You learned to sit beside him, even when he couldn’t speak, offering silent comfort in the dark. You never pressed, never demanded explanations. When he wanted to talk, you would be ready.

One night, he did.

“It’s always her,” he murmured, voice barely audible over the ambient hum of Zaun outside your window. The two of you sat on the edge of the bed, the room dimly lit by the soft glow of a neon lamp. He hadn’t slept since the nightmare.

“Jinx?” you asked, hesitant.

He flinched at the name, his fingers tightening into fists. “Powder,” he corrected, his tone softer now. “Before she... before everything.”

Your heart ached for him. You had seen the fire in his eyes when he talked about the war with Silco, about what Jinx had become. But this—this was the boy beneath the armor, the leader who carried guilt like a second skin.

“I keep seeing her,” he continued. “The way she looked when we were kids. Her laugh, her smile... and then, everything falls apart. The explosion. I try to reach her, but I’m always too late.”

You reached for his hand, lacing your fingers through his. “It wasn’t your fault.”

He shook his head, his jaw tightening. “It doesn’t matter. She’s gone because I couldn’t save her. I... I failed her.”

His voice cracked, and you saw the tears he tried so hard to hide.

“Ekko,” you said, your tone firmer now. “You didn’t fail her. You did everything you could. And what happened—it wasn’t on you. You were a kid too.”

“I was supposed to protect her,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “She was all I had left.”

Your grip on his hand tightened. “You still have people, Ekko. The Firelights. Me. We’re here, and we need you. Powder—Jinx—she made her choices. You can’t carry that weight forever.”

He looked at you then, his gaze searching, desperate. “I don’t know how to let it go.”

Over time, the nightmares didn’t stop, but they softened. Ekko let you in, little by little, until his pain became something you shared, a burden you helped carry together.

When the dreams were too vivid, when the memories of explosions and ash threatened to swallow him, you were there. You would pull him into your arms, your fingers running soothing patterns along his back, whispering reminders of where he was and who he had become.

“It’s okay,” you would say, your voice steady and reassuring. “You’re safe. I’m here.”

Sometimes, he would cry, his tears soaking into your shirt as the weight of the past broke over him. Other times, he just sat quietly, his head resting against your shoulder, his breathing evening out as your presence anchored him.

And when words failed, you stayed silent, letting the rhythm of your heartbeats fill the space between you.

One night, as the two of you sat beneath the stars on the rooftop of the Firelight base, Ekko spoke again, his voice softer, more reflective.

“Do you think she’d forgive me?” he asked, staring at the distant glow of Piltover’s towers.

You hesitated. “I think... if she were here, she’d want you to forgive yourself.”

He frowned, his fingers idly tracing the patterns on the rooftop’s metal surface. “I don’t know if I can.”

“You can,” you said, turning to face him. “It’ll take time, but you can. And I’ll be here for all of it.”

He looked at you then, his eyes filled with something unspoken—a mix of gratitude, affection, and hope. Slowly, he reached out, his hand brushing against yours.

“Thank you,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “For everything.”

You smiled, leaning your head against his shoulder. “Always.”

In time, the nightmares became less frequent. They still came, but Ekko learned to face them—not alone, but with you by his side. Together, you built a future that honored the past without being bound by it. The echoes of pain remained, but they were quieter now, softened by the love and strength you shared.

And for the first time in a long time, Ekko allowed himself to dream—not of what was lost, but of what could be.

[cl-0v3r]

Any hopes or protections for act two or even three!? (Im asking for a friend(totally not just shy))

HIIIIIIIII ♡♡♡

I do infact have hopes and predictions for act two or even three !!! Not a lot of three tho because a week isn't enough time to think 😭

First of all, I think Mel is going to suffer the most in this act out of the other acts, she is in LeBlancs hands and leblanc tends to torture people she finds interesting (aka people w magic), not to mention she's her enemy's daughter. Wether its physical or psychological torture, she will make sure Mel will be on edge if it serves her an advantage. I feel like this act is when Mel sees, hears and learns about things that she'd never known before, so that really tips the cup for her into changing her course of action. As for if she will get out of it or not? I'm not really sure. She has armor, but we don't know how effective it is towards leblancs magic, I really hope she does get out and she most likely will find a way.

For act 3? there is nothing I could think of. I've heard people say something about how the trailers are mostly ~act 1- act 2, and honestly it all makes sense for it to be that way. I feel like act 3 is where everything ends, redemption starts, characters start going back to who they were at their core, characters pay the price, characters go through guilt and what not. So sum it up, its going to be more focused on characters emotional wellbeings rather than actions. I do think there will be an after-shock lf the war too, perhaps its where re-building happens.

Secondly, I think Jayce and Viktor are going to go through the ACTUAL break-up this act, with actual violence, considering there may be a timeskip? Viktor could've became machine herald already, and Jayce has grown a beard so, after sitting through viktors WONDERFUL MOSES SHENANIGANS he met his limit and went to stop him, or viktor finds Jayce in the undercity and approaches him. We also see caitlyn with a new gun so that could mean Jayce is still present on topside rather than completely focusing on ripping viktors head off.

Okay so caitlyn scares me, it scares me that Ekko is not there and caitlyn KNOWS where the firelight base is, I hope not but she might go there for god knows what, and lead the enforcers with her or soldiers or whoever, which could cause abseloute hell in the base.

I think the arcane will start appearing in random yet specific places too, the corruption will affect piltover and zaun negatively which could cause hindrance to everyone.

For ambessa, I feel like the reason she goes against the enforcers/vice versa is either because those aren't actual enforcers, but Inx/people of zaun. We saw vi carrying an enforcer on her back, which i don't think shes an enforcer here.. I think ambessa is going to go THROUGH IT with enemies all over.

Ekko, I think he builds his Z drive from wherever he is, I dont think it will be complete, but its going to be there. And he will actively be trying to find Jinx in admist of it all.

I think Jinx, Sevika and Isha will stay in the undercity for the most part, perhaps for preparation, or taking a rest, or maybe Jinx could be building things for everyone. but once they hear of them all being imprisoned she gets off of her ass and gets them out.

I want to see more character backstories too, that would make things so much more detrimental.

Im honestly not sure whats going to happen, I just hope Mel is safe and im really curious to know where they're going to take Viktor and Jayce, i need to see more of Ambessa aswell. I'm very excited for act 2 this week was LONG ENOUGH

THANK YOU FOR SENDING ME THIS ASK <33333

[space-1z-cool]

spoilers ahead for s1 and 2 of arcane

jinx centered Arcane rambleeee :3

i feel that jinx is the embodiment of getting so close to happiness but having it constantly torn away from her. Usually somewhat by her own doing, but Vi also had a lot to do with her losses when u think abt it.

Ekko Jinx Vi Claggor and. the guy i forget his name. Were all starting to be happy and live a life with Vander and the chill guy who was like ekkos dad. Yea sure they did get involved with shady shit, and crime and all of that. But They didnt have much of a choice while living in Zaun. But then they go on a mission, which the outcome of has a chain reaction to the rest of the series.

(as clearly shown in the AU where vi is dead and everyone else is thriving and hextech doesnt exist bc jayce probably succeeded in his attempt on his life after the explosion killed Vi. And Theres a buncha stuff that could have happened w viktor. maybe his disease progressed too far, or he didnt gain interest because of the outcome of its accidental use killing a young girl frkm the undercity. which could give him moral cause to not support jayce. but anyways back to the main topic)

That mission led to powder/jinx really really needing to feel helpful. So what happens? She gets her bombs to work. But she accidentally "kills" vander in the process. As well as actually killing claggor and the other guy. Therefore getting si close to feeling happy and useful. But it being taken away by her own actions and Vi's influence (imo vi's reaction is what leads her to be taken in by silco. bc silco feels safer now than Vi, who just hit her in the face and called her a jinx after previously reassuring her she wasnt.)

Later on when Jinx is with silco. Silco loves jinx. He's a decent father figure, horrible person (product of environment and never finding the letter) but an ok father. He loves Jinx and wouldn't give her to Piltover even though thats what the council wanted to 'allow' zaun to be its own sovereign state. He trusts her to an extent. She has her fun with her gadgets and explosives and Silco scolds her when needed. etc. I'd argue that Even though it wasn't perfect, and jinx was struggling with untreated mental illness, She was starting to get kinda happy and comfortable.

But what happens next? She kidnaps Vi and Caitlyn, Vi accidentally triggers her into an episode, and jinx accidentally kills silco while she's disoriented and hallucinating. And even after that?? Silco didnt get upset because he Knew that she didnt mean to. ( which EUGH.. their fucked up father daughter duo makes me so emotional) Happiness ripped away p2.

Okay! Maybe third time is the charm. She has Isha! And She's done with the Jinx persona but knows she isnt really powder either. She does her best to be a good older sister and shows isha the ropes of zaun-living kinda. They genuinely have a nice bond and Jinx stops getting involved with as much violence. Also if you notice, most of her hallucinations have stopped (at least on screen).

And Then they meet up w Vi and find Warwick/Vander. They make it to Viktor's Cult and happiness looks so fucking close. They could be a real Family.

And WHAT HAPPENS????? Ambitcha and her army barge in, wanting Warwick for a weapon, Jayce drops in to try to kill his boyfriend who isnt himself fully anymore, and it all goes ti shit! Jinx loses Isha and Vander (again) And its all fucked. That was her last fucking straw. After losing all of that she goes tk prison.

And after EVERYTHING she's endured. All of that kind of finalizes in her brain that she is a Jinx.

In the end, If you look at jinx's facial expressions as she saves Vi and (probably) dooms herself, she's content. She's content dying this way. After losing Everything. After feeling like she was the cause of everything bad. She could do One thing to give her remaining family member happiness. And doing that one thing seemed to give her relief or possibly even her own happiness. And if she died, that final emotion, finally reaching a semblance of being content, couldnt be taken away.

and i dont blame her for choosing to go out like that. was i happy? FUCK NO i was sobbing. but it made sense. ik there's a theory she's probably alive. esp cus she's like a main character in league. but from what ive seen/heard? arcane is based on lol lore but not quite. And Jinx is a far more nuanced character in arcane.

i think thats all for now. prepare for more long ass posts bc this show is pure art. and i loved it.

[greenlightbulbonawire]

Misfits (yeah like the Arcane song)

XLII.

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Summary: From the dark musty cell of Stillwater all the way to the very base of Firelights, but where to from there? Guess you'll just have to let fate lead you.

Author's note: Alright I've got no excuse why this is coming out at the end of this week rather than the beginning, all I can tell you is that I now have over a hundred hours on stardew valley so...

previous chapter: Fourty first chapter

next chapter: Fourty third chapter

Masterlist

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“So where exactly would we get those, professor?�� You tilted your head and waited for Heimerdinger to answer. The hunt for the elements of the list Ekko gave you turned out to be a slightly more difficult task that you firstly realized, and the fact that Heimerdinger seemed to know even less about the layout of the Undercity that you didn’t really help. “I’ve got no idea, my child, normally I’d stop by a shop in Piltover , but that’s not possible as of right now.” A sigh escaped your lips and you stared at the ground in front of you, trying to think of something, a few ideas coming to mind, but most of them being just a plain waste of time. “Maybe we could ask someone?” You looked around the Zaun street that you found yourself on, searching for someone that looked at least a little friendly, but instead of that, you spotted a group of enforcers making a scene nearby.

“Professor.” His attention shifted to the blue dressed men, one of them pushing a middle aged woman, causing her to fall onto the ground, while the other enforcers argued with some other Undercitians. You looked over to the short wise man, but he was already walking towards the commotion. A scoff came out of your mouth and you followed after him, pulling the hood of your cloak over your head and putting a hand on the gun in your pocket, the same one that helped you blow up Silco’s ship before. “What seems to be the problem gentlemen?” “What’s it to you, scrap?” “Dude, that’s Heimerdinger.”

Heimerdinger talked to the enforcers while you helped the woman stand up again. “Are you okay?” “I’m quite okay, but they took my cane, I can’t see without it.” You froze up a little at the words, before you turned to the enforcers, busy explaining the situation to the professor. Your brows furrowed and your lips turned into a frown. “Give me a second then.” As you approached the ground with a pissed off face, their faces turned to you, you couldn’t see their full expression, since they were wearing some devices to breathe better or something, but you couldn't care less in that moment. “Which one of you took the lady’s cane?”

The consequences of your actions were flashing through your mind, but you reminded yourself that you had Heimerdinger with you and the enforcers respected him a lot. “What did you say?” “They took the lady's cane, she’s blind.” The enforcers exchanged glances and one of them stepped forward. “We’ll return it.” “Oh you better.” You stared straight at the younger male and watched him carefully as he picked up the cane, that was kicked a few paces away and brought it back to the lady, you had no idea how Heimerdinger's sole presence managed to change the whole approach of the enforcers, but you sure did like it. “I apologize.” The male enforcer said to the lady and quickly returned to the rest of the group. “You better not cause more trouble, young ones.” The professor scolded them, or whatever it was that he was going and the enforcers slowly walked away, going on about making everyone's lives more difficult than they already were. The lady approached you, the people that argued with the now leaving enforcers joining her by her side.

“Thank you, how can we repay you?” She said to you, taking you by surprise once more, you stared at her for a few moments, trying to figure out if she was really wanting to offer something to you for helping her, a rare occasion in the Undercity. And also one that played right into your cards. “Actually, there is one thing, is there any chance that any of you might know where I can find a junkyard or something?” The people stayed silent for a second, before one of them spoke up. “There is one not far from here, see that tall old building? Take a right turn when you walk past it and you should be able to get there without a problem.”

[cherrybomb107]

Okay, so on the topic of Jinx’s actions, I feel like they’re blown out of proportion for several reasons. (Obligatory I am a certified Jinx stan warning. I love my girl DOWN, so take this with a grain of salt.)

Bootlicking is definitely a reason, as is sexism ofc. But, I think a pretty big reason has to do with the fact that people think killing someone is the worst thing you can do to them, when it’s far from it. It’s about who you kill, why you kill them, how you go about it, what did you do to them beforehand, and what you do to their bodies after. Ofc I wouldn’t defend a psycho killer who just went after people for no reason in real life, but that’s not what Jinx does! I’m not saying you have to like her or defend her actions like I do cause my love for her blinds me sometimes, I can admit it. But if you ARE gonna hate on her, do it for the right reasons yk? Lead with love before you hate🤣🤣🤣

Okay so, the fact that Jinx is an oppressed person. Jinx comes from Zaun, where they didn’t even have clean air to breathe. Not to mention the militarized police force that brutalized her people and killed her parents right in front of her all before she hit double digits. As well as the apathetic Council who could give less of a fuck about her, her family, or the Undercity itself. They don’t give a damn, which leads me to my next point: who you kill.

Jinx kills enforcers, Council members, and Firelights. She does not, nor has she ever killed an innocent person. She doesn’t kill random people for just looking at her wrong, as much as the fandom likes to act like she does. Her targets are very specific. Let’s start with the enforcers. My love for Jinx aside, enforcers are Piltover’s version of cops. I’m Black, queer, female and from the US. Ain’t nothing you could say to me to convince me killing cops is “psycho” or “evil”. If you knew anything about the history of policing here, you’d understand my feelings. Fuck em🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️

Same story with the Council. Fuck em. They sat on their asses for centuries while people were suffering right down the street from them. They chose to ignore the suffering of Zaun. They were unfazed by Caitlyn telling them about how Silco flooded the Lanes with drugs, pinned all his crimes on the Firelights, and had Marcus working for him as a dirty cop. They didn’t care. But when Jayce and Viktor told the Council that they could make a deal with Silco and give Zaun its independence? THAT’S when they cared. THAT’S what got them up out of their seats, yelling and screaming about “policies” and “procedures”. NOT when Vi and countless others were thrown in Stillwater and forgotten about. NOT when enforcers killed people in cold blood on the bridge during the opening sequence back in episode one. They only cared when they wouldn’t be able to oppress and exploit people anymore. So, like I said. Fuck em. Jinx shoulda killed more 🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️

Now, onto the Firelights. I love the Firelights, as well as their ideals. I want the best for them, I do! However, they are by no means “innocent”. They’re literally a gang. I’m not saying that to make a moral judgement, it’s just a fact. They are a gang. If Silco is a kingpin, and Jinx is his daughter, then she’s just protecting the shimmer from their attacks. I agree with them wanting to dismantle shimmer. But I am saying that by engaging in direct combat with Jinx, they are not “innocent”. At that point it’s a street fight. Anything’s fair game. Additionally, the Firelights have been shown to be willing to use lethal force. Scar would’ve speared Vi in the back if Ekko hadn’t stopped him. So Jinx actually succeeding when she uses lethal force isn’t this big deal y’all like to make it out to be.

As for why she kills them, with the Firelights it’s because they were fighting each other. With enforcers, it’s by virtue of who they are and what they represent to Jinx. She sees them as monsters. She doesn’t explicitly kill them for oppressing her, but that doesn’t need to be made explicit imo. Jinx’s actions are very politically charged, whether she realizes it or not. With the Council, it’s both because of what happened at the tea party, as well as what they represent. They did nothing to help her people for centuries. Her firing the rocket was for revenge.

As for how she goes about it, she kills people quickly. She doesn’t gloat, she doesn’t play with her food, nor does she torture them beforehand. She shoots to kill or blows them up. For me, it’d be a different story if she drew things out and made them suffer for a long time before she kills them. Now that’s fucked up! But that’s not what she does; it’s quick. I’m not gonna lie and act like they don’t suffer at all, but it’s very quick. The length of suffering means a lot. To continue that, Jinx doesn’t disrespect the bodies after. She doesn’t take souvenirs (the feathers from the crows aside lol). Nor does she prop them up weirdly or kick or hit them either. She doesn’t relish her killing, she just does it and moves on.

In conclusion, killing is wrong ofc. But it’s not always as black and white as it’s made out to be, especially in a show as complex as Arcane. Now before somebody’s like “Omg how can you hate Caitlyn but defend Jinx like this?!” that’s a different conversation entirely. I didn’t say anything about Caitlyn, and bringing up another character’s actions when it’s time to criticize your fave is both unserious and pathetic. I get wanting to defend your faves! I just think that’s a weak defense and you should come harder

[ruggythebugwithamug]

ARCANE SPOILER FOR ACT 3 SEASON 2

My ramblings and feelings! Enjoy.

Ok thoughts and feelings, I am not super feral for this show but I like it, and I am satisfied with the end. Though, I have one note (right at the end).

happy Ekko is alive and got his cool badass moment (TWICE! Both when all the firelights came to save the day + Sevilla and Zaun pals and he did his time stuff) though I wonder who exactly he wrote the note for- OH HEIMERDINGER? (I am bad at spelling) maybe maybe

Other dimension Zaun-is-a-nation Powder is epic and I am very happy the body switching shenanigans didn’t lead to her actual ekko being poofed out of existence. Also found it very funny that ekko is here like gathering shards of hex crystal from a crime seen he definitely broke into while Powder just straight up has them all in the Vi cabinet. Girl had an *insane* week that week (or month idk the timeline)

I like how Viktor slowly became more radicalised in his cult shit in every transformation. I do not like what Viktor helped do to dad. Leave dad alone.

The big fellow who manned the giant magic gun (I forget his name, but the nice enforcer guy) SHOULD HAVE WORN HIS HELMET. I am sad he is dead, but if he’s actively manning the giant weapon that is definitely a threat to the Noxian warriors, he is a very clear target. AND HE’S NOT WEARING A HELMET, THEY HAVE LITTLE SIDES THAT MIGHT PROTECT THE NECK AND EVERYTHING! Dumb ways to die.

go doctor man, very nice that that woman you care about is seemingly alive again (we love the mad scientist does mad science for a loved one trope)

Hell yeah sorceress Mel, I have no fucking clue what’s going on with her backstory things happened and I comprehend none of it

As for the bigger things that happened, the whole Jayce/Viktor in astral projection thing definitely reminded me that yeah… while a lot of the story is emotionally driven by the relationships between the undercity fam, Viktor and Jayce’s experimentation with hextech was core to the plot and they kind of are the most influential characters in the story. That scene just reminded me of that in a meta-sense.

I’m not a big shipping person, like, gay people on screen kissing is cool, straight people kissing on screen is cool (I am covering the screen, I don’t want to see anyone kissing, but the romance part is nice) I… don’t know what happened with them. Are they soulmates? Why is Viktor old and giving baby jayce a rock?? Did he use Ekko’s funky time machine??? Their relationship is… I don’t really care if they’re meant to be read as just really affectionate lab bros or a thing… I just- what the fuck was that ending in that regard? I guess we’re space people now. (I am not complaining, I am just confused)

Also speaking of viktor’s cult, when I saw the weird robot angel things I asked ‘why is the angel machine doing a backflip?’ They are very acrobatic.

anyways, onto Vi and Caitlyn. At least we are a little bit happy in the end. Not surprised they got back together, ‘s pretty neat though.

Jinx is very much alive to me. There are theories! There are mysterious blueprints! Blueprints with possible escape routes-

So is Isha. I have no proof of this of course, but for my sanity Isha defied the odds and definitely didn’t die from the crazy gun explosion thing.

Okay as for my only negative note on the whole story… why did Maddie betray Caitlyn? Genuinely? I could have totally missed some foreshadowing or whatever, but… she was an enforcer before Ambessa got really involved in everything right? So, it’s not like she was put in as a spy- There was that line about professional relationships but like… that was before Caitlyn went against Ambessa. Who was Maddie on the side of initially?

Did she join Ambessa because she was spiteful that Cait got back with Vi? (I would prefer that not be the reason since that just feels like a shallow reason for you to kill someone?? Maddie’s a background character but she deserves better than that as motive.) OR is she just super into the whole martial law thing? She aligned with Ambessa because her political ideals are more in line with how they lead their country. (I’d prefer this) Anyways, I will wait for the character analysis people to do there thing because like… unless there’s a whole heap of subtle clues foreshadowing Maddie’ betrayal… that feels like a plot hole, it just doesn’t make sense. She’s GOTTA have a reason.

besides that, tiny, tiny thing that’s been gnawing at my mind, this was pretty good. Thanks everyone who worked on the show, you won’t see this, but I am astral-projecting (Viktor style) praises to you.

I am open for chat but I will be asleep so if you talk to me I’ll probably only reply tomorrow.

[kyruiz]

okay i need to talk about arcane season 2

a lot of thoughts and criticisms, mainly about the way stuff was written. i heard someone (i think it was tbskyen?) say that arcane is a 10/10 show, but with a few flaws that make it feel like a 7/10 because of the quality in all other areas, and i couldnt agree more, especially in regards to season 2

elaborations and my ramblings below the cut!

going to start with isha, because i have the most thoughts about her ;

i feel like she wasnt a character beyond her ties to jinx. the fact she doesn’t speak only exemplifies this. arcane usually does SUCH a good job of creating deep and compelling side characters ; marcus or grayson, for example. but isha lacks character or motivation without jinx. her life is defined by jinx and ultimately, i wasnt all that sad about her death, because, well… she felt like a tool for jinx’s development, and it didnt even feel satisfying? like… what came of isha’s death? there is nothing shown abt grieving her, either. shes not mentioned again, to my recollection. what was the point? what did isha fufill that say, sevika couldn’t have? it bothers me a lot, to have her there just to kill her off. iirc the only bits showing she was missed were decor jinx made on that air balloon device in ep 3

maddie’s character was the same for me ; i was so ready to be compelled by another marcus adjacent character, but… her motivations arent even shown, and she’s just kind of… flat? what did ambessa tempt her with? a lot left unanswered, and i feel she could have been a much better character, representing more of that acab theming. im insanely compelled by what bits we did get w her, but i wish there was more

im similarly bothered by the lack of vi development and screentime. for a character that was so prominent and a main character in season 1 she feels kind of sidelined. i wanted to see a bit more of her! it feels so awful she was sidelined, like, this whole season!

and on that same lacking screentime issue i feel the final episode needed more time. i feel like everything i have complains with stems from this issue, its such a glaring flaw. i feel like a lot was done with the time allowed but im left wanting so much more and not in a good way.

more that relates to the lack of time is how piltovers oppression of zaun isnt. acknowledged, or fixed. of course i wouldnt expect the issue to be dismantled fully in the show, but its hardly brushed on in act 3, it feels like? despite so much buildup over the rest of the show, ESPECIALLY with vi. vi is so set up to conquer this herself in season 2, and becoming an enforcer couldve been a great chance for that (for her to realize the DEPTHS of corruption, to renounce being an enforcer, to fight back herself) but. augh. i wish more was done with her. i wish she got to be more of a protector </3

and SEVIKA!!! she got NO LINES in act 3… sevika my girl :( her being on the council feels so… unsatisfying. she’s a character whos always backed the idea more than the person, always more of a follower than a leader, it does not feel… satisfying? for her to be in a position like that, to me. she executes orders and follows the idea, she is not “in charge” herself. she even followed jinx’s lead because jinx had actually stirred the uprising sevika wanted. if this was the intended route i wished we could’ve seen more about why

not to be totally negative; i love what was done with jayce and viktor, vander, and i loved ekkos moments in the show too. heimerdinger my beloved as well, and cait… cait had some real good moments, i am compelled by her. mel and ambessa, too; i’ve always loved mel, and i loved the direction with her and ambessa here, it felt satisfying and like a setup to see more of mel in the future, which im excited for on top of swain reference. and arcane is a masterful show all around ; the small references, the animation, the subtlety. gorgeous show, and i still love it, and these gripes wont stop my enjoyment, but… augh. all of this boils down to a lack of time in the final act, though specific issues like vi’s lack of screentime go a bit deeper i think

[themarvelhorse]

Arcane S2 Act 3 and E9 spoilers

Okay so lots to talk about but I've since settled down a little but wanna bring up some things I don't see talked about enough...

Jinx and Ekko's dance in ep 7 - Ekko saying he was following her lead; following that we have Ekko bringing in the Firelights to follow her lead into the fight - they continue their dance, but they dance together, the way they both know best.

Viktor and Jayce's relationshhip being honestly anything and everything - they defined themselves as lab partners in the beginning but they continue to call themselves simply partners - in this way, it's the ultimate way of saying "it doesn't matter if we're romantic or not, we're two people who find all that we need in each other" it doesn't have to be romantic. It could be platonic, it could be a totally undefined secret third or fifteenth thing. Does it matter? They both had left behind their other 'partners' - Sky and Mel, to be together. A lot of people can call themselves partners - a married/unmarried couple, partners in crime, lab partners, cop partners, a group of cowboys! IT COULD BE ANYTHING AND THAT'S WHY THERE WAS NO KISS AND THAT'S WHY THEY DID IT LIKE THAT! BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY RELATIONSHIP THAT WAS NOT REPRESENTED - THE UNDEFINED! BUT INHERENT TO OUR HUMANITY, UNDERLYING ALL OF VIKTOR'S MONOLOGUING ABOUT LIFE IS THAT WE NEED RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP IT IS (yes I'm referring back to Nier: Automata on this).

Ekko being the one thing different in this universe that ultimately stopped Viktor because he went to a universe that didn't have Hextech, and therefore became the one thing that made the difference?! Hell yeah MY BOY! "Progress" and "development" which ultimately has consequences, but what if there was a world where we did things differently? More carefully (as Heimerdinger said)? What if we developed sustainably and didn't create a world dependent on a technology that ultimately harmed our environment and thus, ourselves as well? It would be what made the difference in the end.

Jinx possibly still being alive but Ekko's still alone??? No Heimerdinger teacher/student relationship, no romance for him, he went back from this utopian happiness knowing he still had people on the other side who needed him, but had to do his duty - and he still does. Sevika is giving Zaun a seat on the council, a vote! But the utopia, while possible, has not been reached. There's so much more work to do.

SEVIKAAAA!!! Joining in the fight last minute! Sevika, that combination of both Silco and Vander's ideals for a free and independent Zaun. She was more of the do-er than the planner and leader, but she looked up to both Vander and Silco, and was the one still left standing who could have learned what was needed to be learned to get that free Zaun. That, and she ended Smeech herself. Chembaron's ain't running the streets, she is. And she's doing it for a free Zaun.

Also - Ekko burning that one paper. I thought it was Jinx but it's likely that Vi or plenty of others put her name in that. But who mourned Heimerdinger? He disappeared, and Ekko was one of the few who knew he was in Zaun, he was still one of the few who knew his fate in the alternate universe too. I think Heimerdinger was on Ekko's paper there.

Also I'm not seeing much of it but that shout out to Singed finally getting his daughter back??? Like, he won't be as much of a problem now bringing random chemicals and drugs in the streets at least.

Mel going to Noxia?! That corvid following her?! I do think the next story will be in Noxia, it's such a good lead in to the rest of this universe. We got that tease regarding Noxian culture, and the threats the Medarda family faced. No doubt there's going to be political turmoil in Ambessa's absence.

Silco and Vander's forgiveness despite everything that happened. Jinx and Caitlyn's forgiveness despite everything that happened!

Piltover finally being the ones to make concessions to the Zaunites by freely opening up their borders again to all Zaunites to come over (yeah they did it as an invite to ask for help, but they did open up. There were no restrictions on asking for help. They finally decided to remove their barriers and let themselves be vulnerable to the Zaunites - a prime time for easy attacks on Piltover as we've seen throughout the season, but worth it in the hopes that they could have the best chance at stopping the Machine Herald and Ambessa.)

The contrast between Loris and Maddie. Maddie a literal spy, pretending to be someone she's not. Loris just being himself, but still being seen as someone else. Both representing these people that Caitlyn and Vi both can't move on from.

Also shout out to that random soldier who got extra screentime and blew up Viktor's sphere when Loris couldn't. I'm sure you got a name and maybe some lore buddy but idk what it is. At the same time, he could be the everyman. Sometimes it could be just anyone who's there in the right place at the right time to make a difference. The important thing is to show up and try.

I'm sure there's more but that's all that's off the top of my head.

[lobster-tales]

Beat the Daylight

Sequel to Face the Noise, an Arcane Rock Band AU

Rating: M

Chapter 13: The Pub Part 3

Summary: Progress Day celebrates their victory in The Lanes || Lux and Jinx have their own celebration in Zaun

CW: Alcohol

This work is available here on AO3. Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12

True to his word, Vander had shooed away his regular clientele, hanging the rarely if ever used ‘Private Party’ sign on the wooden front door. The tables and chairs were stacked neatly, except for a few by the bar where their growing family could all fit. The TVs were off, though apparently the entire pub had been watching the contest rounds: when Progress Day won, they had all cheered and stomped their feet, making such a noise that Vander was afraid they’d break something.

Vi, Caitlyn, and Ekko were the first to arrive. Vander embraced them all, leaving Vi for last and holding her the longest. “I’m so proud of you,” he rumbled. “So proud.”

“Thanks, Dad.” When Vi pulled back, her eyes were damp.

“Where’s the rest of the band?” Vander asked. “I was looking forward to congratulating your lead guitarist. Quite the pipes on her.”

Vi exchanged glances with Caitlyn. “She uh… had something else to do tonight.”

Caitlyn added, “We’ll be sure to pass along your praise though.”

“And Jayce is on his way,” Ekko said, reading his phone messages. “I um… I also invited Zeri?” He gave Vander a hopeful look. “Is that okay?”

“Zeri? Ohh, from the opening band. Sure, I don’t see why not.”

They heard clanging sounds from the kitchen. Benzo, Vander explained, doing the dishes. Then he poured everyone a drink while they waited, asking questions about their band practices and methods.

The door opened, and in walked Senator Mel Medarda, with Jayce in tow.

As soon as they entered, Benzo’s voice resounded off the walls. “There she is!”

Ekko winced at the sound. “Dad, don’t-”

But he was powerless to stop Benzo as he barrelled towards Mel, sweeping her into an enormous hug.

The rest of the room held their breath as the senator was swung around. They were all shocked that Benzo would do such a thing, but even more shocked when Mel laughed. A real, genuine laugh, the way a child laughs when greeted by an overenthusiastic relative.

“Let go!” she giggled. “Set me down, you great thing.”

Caitlyn could tell from the polite wince on Mel’s face that Benzo already reeked of alcohol. He kept a large hand on her shoulders. “Come, let’s get you a drink.”

“Senator Mel Medarda.” Vander’s words were more of a muse than a greeting. “In the flesh. What can I get for you?”

“Ah, this must be the great Vander,” Mel said, ignoring his question. “I’ve heard much about you.”

“All bad, I hope.” He eyed her as she approached the bar. “Let me see… I know.” He moved to retrieve it. Though Vander was an extremely talented musician, his greatest skill was the ability to identify anyone’s favorite kind of drink just by looking at them. Tonight seemed to be no exception when he pulled out a mid-tier bottle of gin, holding it up to display for her.

Mel grinned. “Well done.”

He started pouring a drink for her, adding tonic water. “Welcome to The Last Drop, Senator.”

“Thank you.” She accepted the glass gracefully and toasted him. “And congratulations on the success of your daughters.” The air stilled. Mel immediately recognized her misstep, and said, “Th-that is-”

“It’s alright.” Vander raised his own glass. “Thank you. I’m very proud of them both.”

Clink. Ekko took a seat beside Mel at the bar. “Did you watch us?” he asked, eager.

“Of course, I always watch.” She put an affectionate hand on his shoulder. “Congratulations, Boy Savior.”

Jayce went to sit in the seat beside Mel, but Benzo beat him to it. He lingered at the edge of the group, and Caitlyn joined him there.

“Good job, Talis,” Caitlyn said wryly. “Didn’t think you could pull it off.”

He smiled and shook his head at her pestering. “Please, it was easy. I could drum in my sleep.”

“Well, maybe you should. You might be better at it.”

“Hey!” he laughed, jabbing her with an elbow.

The door opened again, and this time, Zeri entered. Her oversized coat nearly swallowed her, her sharp eyes darting around the room. Ekko contained his excitement, but barely, as he swaggered up to her, hands in his pockets, and gave a casual, “Sup. Glad you could make it.”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Zeri said with a smirk.

Ekko breezed through introductions: Caitlyn and Jayce just gave a simple greeting and wave as Ekko nearly dragged her to the bar to meet the rest of the group. Soon, they were all lost in conversation, swapping band stories, while Caitlyn and Jayce chose to remain on the outside.

“I um,” Caitlyn wasn’t sure where to start. She hadn’t checked in with him for so long. “I meant to ask, how are you doing?”

His expression turned quizzical. “Uh… fine?”

She could tell, though, up close. She knew him for far too long to not know when he was putting on airs. But it hurt to see how good he was at it now, how long he’d been wearing that mask. And the fact that he would try wearing it around her. Of course, she didn’t want him to dissolve into tears tonight, not when he was supposed to be celebrating.

“We should catch up,” Caitlyn said, though it was more of a command than a suggestion. “Get coffee.”

“Sure.” Ekko passed Jayce’s drink to him from the bar: an old fashioned, per usual. Jayce sipped at it, smiling to himself. “You know, I’ve been to a couple different bars in Piltover. Viktor even took me to one or two on the outskirts of Zaun. But Vander’s old fashioneds are the best ones by far.”

Caitlyn was more of a wine drinker herself, but she understood the sentiment. At hearing Viktor’s name, she cocked an eyebrow. “Have you… spoken to him? Viktor?”

Jayce’s broad shoulders drooped, just ever so slightly. “Not really. I send him funny pictures sometimes, but he doesn’t really respond. Not that he ever responded before, but…” He lowered his voice. “You’ve spoken to him, right? For the investigation?”

The rest of the family was too engrossed in storytelling to overhear, so Caitlyn felt comfortable enough to say, “Yes. There’s been a few roadblocks, though. The band takes up a lot of his time.”

“Is he… okay? Like, is he happy?”

The mask had slipped, if not fallen off entirely. He was like a puppy with those big, brown eyes. Caitlyn felt a twinge of guilt on Mel’s behalf: she knew firsthand how emotional Jayce could be during a break up. Especially since she had been there for every other one.

She answered, “He is. He asked about you.” Technically, that was true, even if Viktor only ever asked once. Of course, he was much more offhand, and only offered a cool “Hmm. Good.” when Caitlyn told him. Though she had never been able to guess Viktor’s inner feelings. Jayce’s externality was so much easier to analyze.

He nodded, reassured, though the sadness was still there. Caitlyn decided that when they got coffee, she would walk him to the playground, let him open up there. But for now…

“Buck up, Talis,” she said with a wink. “You’re having fun tonight, whether you like it or not. Come on.” Caitlyn led him to the rest of the group, where Benzo was pointing at Vander.

“You know,” said Benzo. “Vander’s the one who taught them all.”

“That’s right,” Mel said. “I’ve heard you’re quite the musician, Vander.”

Zeri asked, “Really? Will you play for us?”

Vi and Ekko both gasped, then started pleading. “Yeah!”

He took some serious convincing, but eventually gave in. They relocated the party to the basement, where Vander removed his bass from storage. Jayce and Ekko made quick work of setting up Benzo’s drum set and the keyboard, piecing everything together while Vi tuned the electric guitar. Zeri, Mel, and Caitlyn took their seats at a nearby table, Jayce joining them once the band was ready.

Vander and Benzo definitely needed a few songs to warm up, but once they started going, they couldn’t stop. Vander’s voice was slightly hoarse from age, but he still hit all the high notes. They played classic rock, songs that most if not all of them knew.

Every now and then, Benzo would hand off the sticks to Jayce, or Vi and Vander would switch instruments. Even Zeri sang a few songs, hopped behind the keys with Ekko. They asked Caitlyn and Mel over and over again to sing on the mic, but neither wanted to, both self aware and secure enough to recognize their lack of skill.

Between songs, Vi sipped from her whiskey neat. Which is how she ended up much drunker than the rest of them, and eventually staggered to the mic and said, a little too loudly, “I wanna sing one!”

Vander nodded to Ekko, who got her a glass of water. “Which one, Vi?”

She drank deeply, then whispered it to the rest of the band. They exchanged sly grins as Vi returned to the mic, her attention directed at Caitlyn. “This song… is for my girl.”

The rest of the table giggled at the dramatics of it. Zeri was sitting in her chair backwards, straddling the seat. Jayce and Mel began the night sitting apart, but had slowly gravitated closer together. Now, Mel’s legs were resting across his lap, his hand on her thigh.

Vi shouted into the mic, “1, 2, 3, 4!”

Can't count the years on one hand That we've been together

Caitlyn, amused, called out over the noise, “You very much can.”

Vi kept going. Throughout the verse, she started sauntering towards Caitlyn.

I need the other one to hold you Make you feel, make you feel better It's not a walk in the park To love each other But when our fingers interlock Can't deny, can't deny you're worth it

Now Vi was standing right in front of her. She placed her fingers delicately under Caitlyn’s chin, voice sweet.

'Cause after all this time, I'm still into you

Caitlyn leaned up to kiss her, but Vi pulled away at the last second, smirking. She sang the chorus, jumping in time to the beat as Ekko sang backup vocals.

I should be over all the butterflies But I'm into you And baby even on our worst nights I'm into you Let 'em wonder how we got this far 'Cause I don't really need to wonder at all Yeah, after all this time, I'm still into you

When they finished the second chorus, Vi got close to Caitlyn again, swaying forward with each line of the bridge.

Well, some things just, some things just make sense And one of those is you and I Well, some things just, some things just make sense And even after all this time

Vi straddled her on the chair, pressing their foreheads together.

I'm into you Baby, not a day goes by

Her volume started raising, and Caitlyn’s grin morphed into a wince as Vi sang passionately to her face,

That I'm not into you

On the last chorus, Vi leapt on top of the table, dancing as she finished out the song. Her thick boots scraped against the wood. Mel and Jayce leaned back, nervous, but Zeri whooped and cheered her on, pulling out her wallet and tossing crumpled dollar bills on the table. Benzo and Ekko laughed, but Vander was clearly concerned. As the last notes faded out, Caitlyn stood and held out her hand to guide Vi to the floor.

But instead, Vi threw her arms around Caitlyn and practically fell on top of her, kissing her as she did so. Caitlyn barely kept her balance, laughing against Vi’s mouth. She tasted of salt and whisky, her face slick with sweat. And Caitlyn wouldn’t have her any other way.

“Alright then,” Vander called, and they broke apart. “Vi, I think you should sit this next one out.”

And she did, with the caveat that Caitlyn sit on her lap. While Vi sobered up, the rest of them kept drinking, and eventually, Vander announced the last song. “Gotta get this old man to bed,” he added, nodding at Benzo.

“Who you calling old man?” Benzo slurred, pretending to throw a drumstick at Vander.

Zeri grabbed Mel and Caitlyn, insisting they sing the last one together despite their protests.

“Really, Zeri,” Mel said. “I’m quite tone deaf, I assure you.”

“I don’t care!” Zeri sang the words. “We’re all singing.” She whispered the song title to Vander, who grinned. He plucked out the opening notes, practicing a few times before he nodded at Benzo.

As soon as Vander played the opening hook, they all leapt to their feet, crowding around the microphone.

Coming out of my cage And I've been doing just fine Gotta gotta be down Because I want it all It started out with a kiss How did it end up like this? It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss

Mel was, in fact, tone deaf, Caitlyn had her usual tinniness, and Jayce was less than impressive, but their voices were joined in by the others. Ekko harmonized as Vi and Zeri took the lead, and as the chorus began, they all began to jump and dance in time with the music.

Jealousy, turning saints into the sea Swimming through sick lullabies Choking on your alibis But it's just the price I pay Destiny is calling me Open up my eager eyes 'Cause I'm Mr. Brightside

Soon, the microphone was abandoned, all of them spreading around the makeshift stage as they sang the next verse and chorus. Jayce twirled Mel around to the beat, Vi’s hands locked on Caitlyn’s waist. Even Zeri and Ekko held hands as they danced together. And when the bridge came, they all screamed out the final words to the song.

I never I never I never! I never!

As the song faded out, Vi put her hands under Caitlyn’s thighs and lifted her up. Caitlyn wrapped her legs around her waist and kissed her again. The way she kissed her their first time, here in this very basement. Everything else faded out, the cheers of the group, their embraces. All that existed was Vi, her silver eyes, warmer than Caitlyn had seen them in years.

As she was lowered to the floor, Caitlyn took a moment to step back, really take it all in. They were all so happy. Wonderfully, deliriously happy.

She wished the entire band was here. She hoped that Ezreal and Lux were at least okay, regardless of how the evening played out. And maybe it was her talks with Viktor, maybe it was her proximity to this family.

But she really, truly hoped that Jinx was happy.

                                                         ☆ ☆ ☆                                                  

That poor chauffeur. But after the first three clubs, Jinx was starting to get too tipsy to feel bad. At least Silco would pay him well, especially for taking care of his star by driving her around for hours. Or maybe Jinx would push it to days. Maybe the night would never end, and Lux would belong to her forever.

And what a belonging she was. What a bright, beautiful creature to have on her arm. Jinx never used to socialize at the clubs, much less with other celebrities, but she couldn’t resist showing her off. And Lux acclimated well: extremely well. She connected with everyone, asked questions, told stories. And just when people were getting too close to her, just when they began to show a real, intentioned interest, Jinx pulled her away. And Lux let her, gladly. Because Lux was hers tonight.

Jinx kept a hand on her at all times. Her waist, her hand, her shoulder. She claimed every inch that she could, fingers trailing down the shimmery fabric. On Jinx, the dress came down to just above her knee, and had always been too bright and attention-grabbing for her taste. But on Lux, the dress stopped neatly on her upper thigh, barely concealing everything. She did wear a pair of Jinx’s boy shorts underneath, though, since it made her more comfortable. Completed by the white fishnets that laced themselves up Lux’s long legs, the entire outfit made Jinx’s mouth water.

She kept herself under control, though. At each club, she spaced it out: take a shot, socialize, get a drink, dance. The dancing was the best part. And that’s when Jinx would almost lose control.

Jinx had always been graceful, her body moving like water. At first, Lux was stiff, awkward on the dancefloor. After a few drinks, after a few sloppy makeout sessions in the alley, she started figuring it out. She even studied the other dancers, copied the girls who pressed their asses against their partner’s hips.

And that’s what really drove Jinx wild. That’s what caused Jinx to drag her to the bathroom, to shove her up against the wall of the stall, not even bothering to lock the door as she kissed her roughly.

Lux matched her energy, tugging at Jinx’s own dress, pulling off her pinstripe blazer.

Jinx’s hands were everywhere: her back, her arms, her hips, her thighs. Her lips seized the skin around Lux’s neck, sucking each sensitive spot and leaving a mark. She palmed Lux’s chest, and Lux gasped softly. Her fingers went beneath the pad of her strapless bra, pressing against and around her nipples.

Out of the corner of her eye, Jinx saw the stall door slowly swing open towards them. She didn’t let up, just kept kissing Lux while her boot slammed against the plastic, holding it shut. She thought she saw a sparkly gasp and a flash of pink hair, but maybe she imagined it.

Lux started at the sound, and it seemed to rattle her back to reality. “W-wait, Jinx-”

Jinx didn’t want to stop. She knew she had to, but allowed herself one more smatter of small kisses before she pulled back, panting. “What?”

“We-we shouldn’t do this.”

A chill ran down Jinx’s spine. No, no. Was she having second thoughts? “We shouldn’t… do what?”

“Oh, I mean, we can do this,” Lux said, realizing how it may have sounded. “Trust me, I definitely want to do this, I just don’t want to do this… here.” She nodded towards the toilet, the names and swear words scrawled on the walls.

Yeah, it was definitely a less than sexy location. “Hotel?” she asked in a breath.

Lux nodded, stealing another kiss before they left.

They managed to control themselves in the car, though Jinx sat as close as possible, hand on her thigh.

When they entered Jinx’s bedroom, Lux shook out her hair, stretching. “Man, that was fun. I’ve never gone out dancing before. Such good exercise.” She surveyed the room, the wide windows overlooking Zaun, the large bed, the light spilling from the bathroom. The hotel’s housekeepers had been surprised at Jinx’s growing level of cleanliness over the last few weeks, compared to her usual mess. Nowadays, they actually dared to step foot in the room and tidy up, which Jinx had never been so grateful for. “Can I use your shower?” Lux asked. “I’m stinky.”

Jinx came up behind her and pressed her lips to a newly bloomed hickey on Lux’s shoulder. “What if I like the way you stink?”

“You know, you could join me.”

Jinx hadn’t bathed with anyone since she was a child. The idea seemed… vulnerable. Really fucking vulnerable. Way more vulnerable than just sex. At least if they were intertwined, Jinx could hide the ugly parts of her body, the parts she didn’t want her to see.

But as soon as Lux saw the big tub in Jinx’s bathroom, her mind was set on it. “Okay, nevermind. We’re taking a bath.”

Oh. This was worse. So much worse.

Lux undressed, grinning at Jinx as she slowly pulled the dress over her shoulders. She was still a little drunk: not sloppy, just tipsy. Jinx admired the clean lines of Lux’s back. She was so used to seeing tattoos.

“Come on,” Lux said, kicking off her heels. She took Jinx’s arm and guided her to the tub. “How do you turn it on?”

They figured it out together, and soon the water rose and steam filled the room. Jinx’s fingers toyed unsurely with her own clothes. Why was she so nervous?

Lux noticed her hesitation: she still wore her own undergarments, having just removed the white fishnets. “Do you want help?”

Jinx’s instinct was to bite, protect herself. “I don’t need help.”

But Lux was unfazed, just went to her, ran her hands down Jinx’s dress. “Mmm I think you do. Here.” She gently lifted the fabric, distracting Jinx with a kiss as she did so. She was careful to work around Jinx’s braids as she removed the dress, letting it pool on the floor. Then Lux focused on Jinx’s black fishnets, rolling the tights down her thighs. She trailed kisses down her skin as more of it was revealed. Soon, she was kneeling at Jinx’s feet, freeing them one at a time from the nylon.

Lux paused there, on her knees, as she came face to face with Jinx’s underwear. A blush spread across her cheeks, and Jinx thought it may have been because her boy shorts were covered in raccoons and had the words ‘trash panda’ all over them: she probably should have changed beforehand.

But Lux stood, slowly, and muttered, “S-sorry, I’ve never… Not with a… girl.”

Oh. Ohhhhh. “So that’s why you want to take a bath,” Jinx chuckled, entwining her fingers in Lux’s silky hair. “Wanna familiarize yourself with the territory first.”

Lux grinned shyly. “Yeah, survey the landscape.”

“Gotcha.” They kissed again, and this time, Jinx’s hands went to Lux’s bra. She unhooked it without looking, letting it fall to the floor. Lux shivered against the air, but Jinx covered her with warm hands. Her panties were soon to follow, and then Lux was naked. Fully naked. In Jinx’s bathroom.

Life was fucking amazing.

Jinx was so distracted by the sight of Lux’s body that she didn’t even realize she was also naked until the trash panda shorts flew across the room. Their hands wandered over each other’s bodies, exploring, until Lux murmured, “I think the bath is ready.”

As they submerged, facing each other, Jinx wondered why she had never thought to use the tub before. Showers just seemed more convenient. Not to mention dealing with her braids. Which were now drifting in the water. And now one was in Lux’s hands, and she was undoing it.

Knowing how monumental of a task it was, Jinx helped by undoing the other braid. Soon, her loose blue hair floated around them. Lux said, “Damn. You got a lot of hair.”

“Yeah.”

“Like, a LOT of hair.”

Jinx chuckled, “Yeah.”

They exchanged a few more kisses, hands searching for each other under the water. Lux pulled away and reached for a bar of soap and a loofah. “Here, turn around.”

Jinx obeyed. She managed to get most of her hair over one shoulder so Lux had room to scrub. The suds felt sinfully good against her skin. Lux said, “I love your tattoos.”

“Thanks.”

“Why clouds?”

To be honest, Jinx had never really thought about it before. Something about explosions, maybe. But she didn’t have a solid explanation, so she just shrugged. “You ever thought about getting tattoos, Starlight?”

“Mmm maybe. My mom hates the idea though.”

“What would you get? If you want them.”

The loofah disappeared as Lux considered. “Maybe stars. Or music notes. Or animals.”

“You could match your guitar.”

Lux giggled. “I could.” Then her hands were on Jinx’s shoulders, gentle but firm. Lux’s fingertips were calloused from years of guitar playing. Her thumbs pressed against the knot of muscle at the base of Jinx’s neck. They both gasped: Jinx in a pained pleasure, and Lux in surprise. “You’re so tense, Jinx.”

“I got a lot on my- ah. Mind.”

“Yeah… Can I ask you something?” She kept massaging Jinx’s shoulders as she spoke. It felt so good: Jinx wasn’t in a state to deny her anything.

“Sure.”

“What happened to your head?”

Fuck. In all the rapture, Jinx completely forgot about the wound on her temple. She was surprised Lux didn’t ask earlier: maybe she didn’t want to embarrass her. Maybe she was waiting for the right moment, when Jinx was totally and completely at her mercy. Like she was now.

When Jinx didn’t answer right away, Lux followed up with, “I-I mean, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but I didn’t remember you having it at the show.”

Jinx sighed. And she told her the entire story, how Finn lashed out, attacked both her and Viktor.

“He attacked you?” Lux asked, incredulous. “That’s awful. Are you going to press charges?” Jinx’s laugh echoed off the tile floor. It was enough of an answer for Lux, who then moved her hands from Jinx’s shoulders to her neck. “Are you okay?”

It was such an all encompassing question. There was no right answer. But Jinx reached back and kissed Lux’s knuckles, murmuring, “I’m better now.”

Lux’s fingers disappeared briefly, and when they came back, they were cold with shampoo. She massaged the soap into Jinx’s scalp. The sensation was heavenly.

They didn’t speak for a long moment, Jinx too lost in the pleasure to say anything coherent. No one had ever touched her like this, never put this amount of tenderness into her.

There were always thoughts skittering around Jinx’s mind. Even in her moments of greatest peace, they were still there, whispering. But now, her mind was empty. There was no more room for thought, only for feeling. And she felt incredible.

When Lux finished with the conditioner, she pulled back, lowering Jinx’s head back into her lap to wash out the product. Jinx gazed up at her from the water’s surface: she couldn’t stop smiling. She heard the gurgle of water, and realized Lux had unplugged the drain. “I didn’t take care of you, though,” Jinx protested.

“That’s alright,” Lux said, kissing her on the forehead. “You’ll get me next time.”

But Lux wasn’t done. She and Jinx toweled off, threw on matching black robes (provided by the hotel: both had a gold, embroidered eye on the back), then Lux sat her down at the tall, rarely used vanity, and combed out Jinx’s hair. Silco had specially ordered a chair tall enough so that Jinx’s braids were just above the floor, though she realized her hair must have grown since then, because now her locks rested solidly on the ground.

The combing was its own euphoria. Jinx had always just torn through her hair, not patient enough to deal with it. That was part of the appeal of braids: they were easy, and manageable. But Lux worked through every knot, every tangle.

When it was clear her hair was going to be a much larger and longer task, Lux started to sing. Softly, barely above a whisper.

Close your eyes and sleep Ignore all the burdens that you keep Come whatever may They could never harm you anyway

She vocalized in between the verses. The song was haunting and beautiful, the bathroom acoustics elevating the sound. Jinx closed her eyes, pretended she was a sailor and Lux was the siren pulling her in.

Waking from the dream Witnessing the smoke that's rolling in The end is what you fear The scent of embers lingers in the air

Lux finished with one braid, kissing Jinx’s non-wounded temple as she moved to start the next.

It's like a web There is no escape from It’s got you trapped And you long for freedom Every wish, every dream was granted Never knowing what they demanded

Lux stopped singing. Jinx sent her a questioning glance.

“S-sorry,” Lux said, sheepish. “I… forgot how intense that song gets.”

“I like it.”

Encouraged, Lux began to sing again. As the song came to a close, she finished the other braid.

Take your time but not too long Make it worth the time you own You woke a fire inside of me Fanned the flame and made it breathe You woke a fire inside of me Inside of me Inside of me...

Jinx stood and embraced Lux, holding her probably a little too tight. She wanted to thank her, truly and properly thank her for the amount of care she had shown her. Jinx had never felt so clean, so safe, so warm in her entire life. But words would fail. She could go on for hours and never fully express her gratitude.

So instead, she took Lux’s hands, kissing her calloused fingers. She felt a little guilty for roughing her up in the bathroom stall, now, especially after Lux had been so delicate and measured with her. “You know, we don’t… have to go all the way tonight.”

“No, I want to.” Lux rested her arms on Jinx’s shoulders, pressing the tips of their noses together. “I- I don’t know if we’ll get another one, so we should make it count.”

The words stung, even if they were true. Tomorrow was the last thing on Jinx’s mind, and she wanted it to stay that way. So she guided Lux to the massive bed, laying her down among the pillows, which now seemed like a ridiculous amount. To be fair, Jinx had rarely, if ever shared it with anyone.

In fact, the only affairs she had were quick, sloppy, usually fueled by a high. Jinx figured out quickly that those who ended up in her bed didn’t want to stay there. Mostly because she was a celebrity, and they just wanted the clout. Though, she did wonder if the myriad of bruises and bites she left all over them had something to do with it.

But with Lux, this wasn’t about that immediate satisfaction. They weren’t just having sex, they were… making love. Any other time, with any other person, Jinx would have been disgusted with the idea. But there was no other way to describe it.

She was gentle with Lux, since this was her first time. Sure, she sank in her teeth every now and then, unable to totally resist. But her fingers were light, working at her center. Lux let out the most delicious moans, at first shy about being heard, but forgetting all about it when she came the first time.

Lux trembled beneath Jinx’s touch, arching her back as she rode it out. There was not a drug on earth that was so immediately addicting to Jinx, as making Lux orgasm. And she hit that high again and again and again. Whether it was her hands or tongue that broke Lux open over and over, Jinx’s eyes were always glued to her face. The twist of her expression, the flush in her cheeks, her hands and legs shaking.

When Lux recovered each time, she would push against Jinx’s shoulders, insisting it was her turn to please her, but Jinx just held her down. She would hiss into Lux’s ear, fingernails scraping against Lux’s pinned wrists. “You’re mine tonight, Starlight. And I am going to make you cum as many times as I want.”

On orgasm…8? 9? Whatever. On one of her orgasms, Jinx was more intense, fingers working at a faster pace, teeth locked on Lux’s neck so that Lux’s gasps had a direct line into Jinx’s eager ear. Lux’s composure had been unwinding more and more with each climax, her words losing coherency and decency. The sounds that escaped from her now were a string of expletives.

“F-fuck, that feels- Ah! Damn, that feels so fucking good, Powder-”

Jinx jerked back, as if she had just been electrocuted. Lux, still breathless with pleasure, sat upright, horrified at herself. “Oh my god. Oh my god, I-I’m so sorry, Jinx, it was an accident, it just slipped out, I didn’t mean-”

She kept just saying words while Jinx processed it. She wasn’t… offended, just surprised. Sometimes, she forgot that Lux knew about that part of her life.

“It’s okay,” Jinx said, interrupting Lux’s strung out apology. “Really.” She crawled on top of her, trailing kisses down her neck. “It’s okay,” she murmured again, regaining her momentum.

This time when Lux wanted to switch, Jinx let her. If Lux hadn’t told her she had never been with a girl before, Jinx would never have believed it. Lux had her writhing with need in mere seconds, applying just the right amount of pressure. She liked dragging it out, delaying Jinx’s pleasure, seeing just how much begging she could elicit. Lux’s hands and tongue were precise and intentional. Jinx was a whimpering mess by the time she came.

After a few more rounds, the day's events began to wear on the two, and they ended up cuddling, entwined beneath the covers. Lux rested her head on Jinx’s shoulder, fingers tracing the cloud tattoos.

“Do you…” Jinx asked. “Do you want to call me that?”

“What?”

“Powder.”

Lux pulled back, trying to read her face. “Um… am I allowed to?”

Jinx shrugged. “Sure. As long as it’s just us, though.”

“... Okay.” Lux grinned, brushing her lips over Jinx’s skin. “Powder. Powder. I like that name more. Not-not that there’s anything wrong with ‘Jinx’, I mean that’s definitely a better stage name. But Powder is more normal, more… Well, not that ‘normal’ is better-”

She giggled: how could she not? “You’re good, Starlight, I know what you mean.”

A few moments passed. Jinx wondered what time it was. She couldn’t see daylight yet: maybe 4 AM? 5?

“Powder?” Lux asked. “Do you think… you’d ever go home?”

That was the million dollar question. Jinx answered as truthfully as she could. “I don’t know.”

“... They really miss you. And I’m not saying that to make you feel guilty or anything, because, you know, you’re an adult and your choices are valid and all that. But they miss you. I can tell they miss you, because when they talk about you… Well, obviously they didn’t talk about you until after I found out. And it took a while, but eventually Vi and Ekko opened up more.

“And then on girl’s night, when they were both pretty drunk, they told us all kinds of stories. Stories about growing up together, how you and Vi used to pretend you were monsters when you were really little. Ekko told us about all the graffiti you guys would do around town, though Caitlyn covered her ears during that part because she didn’t want to be an accomplice,” Lux giggled before continuing. “And they talked about the band you had, The Firelights. I actually listened to some of your songs the next day. I knew you were a drummer, but I didn’t realize how good you were.”

Jinx scoffed out a chuckle. “Way better than Talis.”

“Way better,” Lux agreed. And then she stopped. The room sounded so empty without the hum of her voice. “Why… Why haven’t you gone home?”

She knew the answer to that one. “Just like you said: they miss me. Except, they don’t miss ‘me’, they miss Powder. They want Powder back, just the way she was. But I’ve changed, Lux. I changed a lot. And if Jinx came home instead of Powder… I don’t know. I don’t know how they’d take it.”

Outside the window, Zaun’s neon lights thrummed. They could hear cars going by every now and then, the distant pulse of music.

Lux finally murmured, “I think… I’m gonna sleep.”

“Me too.” They snuggled in closer together. “Goodnight, Lux.”

Even as she said the words, she drifted off. “Goodnight… Powder…”

Lux was out. She was soon to follow.

And Powder slept.

[ravenkinnie]

On one hand, there was no way they could ever end this series satisfyingly in one 9 episode season, but on the other hand: how does it even Get that bad man… well. at least Mel was really hot. Also not them pulling the rug out like “yeah sorry the sisters, two cities & class struggle aren’t actually the main focus. The show’s actually abt these Not Gay but Totally Gay men’s magic fueled breakup instead.”

I think they just had to go the wildest routes to reach the end they planned and part of it is both time and also the fact that they had so many storylines and they feel connected very shoddily. mels entire arc is very obviously just setting up whatever they want to make next, maybe tease her coming to league eventually. her killing ambessa is like okay!!! they had a minute of screentime together this season, probably like 5-10 across the whole show, who fucking cares about ambessa dying just so mel can have like the most L ending besides ekko JSJSJSJKSKS piltover and zaun storylines were swept to the side for the most part, only leaving the ones that are strictly final battle-relevant, there's no satisfying storytelling in those, everything just kind of..... fixed itself ig. vi and jinxs arc is so baffling not in the idea itself even but in the choices that had to lead them there that I don't even have a joke about it

cait&mel team up was for the dykes tho!! fuck jayce for fumbling, plenty of women on runeterra who could handle all that just fine!!

[ahlore]

10 things i love about you.

ekko x piltover! fem!reader

↳ in which ekko lists ten things he loves exclusively about you.

He loved that you made it easy for him to be vulnerable. You showed him it was okay to feel weak and not be afraid to talk about his struggles. You welcomed him with open arms, ready to be there for him whenever he needed it. You’d wipe away his tears along with your own, so that one day, you both could find lasting peace together.

He loved that you knew a relationship needed both people to put in the same effort, but he felt there was more to it. It wasn’t healthy for you to do everything for him, but it’s not like he doesn’t do anything for you. He sees you as someone who works hard and always tries to be strong for everyone, including him and yourself.

He loved that you weren’t stuck-up or judgmental. You didn’t look down on people because of where they came from. Even though he was from Zaun, you treated him like an equal. You welcomed him completely, both as a friend and as something more.

He loved that you had a great sense of humor and always welcomed his semi-awkward jokes. He adored how you’d get flustered when he made flirty jokes that subtly hinted at his deeper feelings and desires. The way your nose would crinkle when you felt self-conscious, even though you were breathtaking in every way, was endearing to him. And he loved how only you could truly get him riled up, pushing his buttons in the most exciting way.

He loved how you listened to him. How you’d take the time to lend an ear, even for something as small as a fleeting thought he had. He appreciated how you’d hear out his worries about what people might think of you—a woman from Piltover and a [last name]—dating him, a Zaunite. He also appreciated how you listened when he talked about his sadness over his former friend, who had become Jinx. He missed her and hated how things had turned out for them, and your willingness to hear him out meant a lot to him. He was genuinely grateful to have you.

He loved how you faced adversity with confidence. No matter the criticism, you stayed strong and never hesitated to challenge anything if you believed it could lead to a better future.

He loved that you were open to meeting his family and friends from the Under city and welcomed them warmly. He was unsure of how you’d react to Vi or even meeting Scar, his right-hand man. And when he first brought you to the Firelight hideout and all the kids kept saying how pretty you were, he could feel his cheeks heating up. It made him feel like he didn’t deserve you at all.

He loved when you’d sneak him into your manor, also known as the [last name] estate. He was amazed by its grandeur. And when your parents caught you both, you didn’t hesitate to introduce him as your boyfriend, not caring whether they accepted him or not. To your relief, they did. It didn’t take long for you to introduce him as your boyfriend to your friends in Piltover. You introduced Ekko to Caitlyn Kiramman, your childhood friend who you absolutely adored, and then to Jayce Talis, another friend of yours. Jayce was a councilor and inventor like Ekko, so you thought they’d get along well. However, Ekko wasn’t too fond of Jayce (he was jealous of jayce, lol).

He loved when you’d ask to have a self-care night with him, where you’d both do self-care together and you’d pluck his usually untamed eyebrows. He loved how you’d hover over him while he lay in your bed, your body close to his as you worked on his eyebrows. The way you’d stick out your tongue in concentration was just adorable.

But he truly just loved you. You were a gifted painter, with a talent that brought beauty to everything you touched. Your words had a way of captivating and comforting, always knowing just what to say. You had a deep love for your home, Piltover, and a genuine desire to see it flourish. Yet, you were never blinded by the wrongs committed against Zaun; you strived to improve both worlds, aiming to unify Piltover and Zaun. Your compassion for those less fortunate was evident in how you consistently gave back to the community, always seeking to make a difference. Every facet of your character, from your creativity to your noble intentions, made him love you more deeply than he could ever express.

“Guide your hands here, my love,” Ekko whispers, gently directing your fingers to rest against his lips. His gaze locks with yours, intense and tender. “Just like that. I want to savor this moment.”

He leans in closer, his breath warm against your skin. “You always know how to make everything feel special.” With a soft smile, he presses a gentle kiss to your fingertips, his lips lingering for a moment before he pulls back, eyes still holding yours.

Let him cherish these moments with you. It’ll all be worth it in the end.

[archangeldyke-all]

complete nonsense excited rambling below:

okay i'm getting emotional. jinx has lost everything! silco's gone, vi's gone, ekko's gone-- she's the most wanted criminal in piltover, and she's completely fucking alone. and she can't trust any of her new followers because how could she? she doesn't know them. and they don't know her.

but sevika does know her. and sevika doesn't like her. and if sevika decided that she's going to put aside their differences (because ultimately she sees in jinx what she saw in vander and silco before her: an ability to lead zaun to freedom) jinx can trust sevika when she says she wants to help, because she knows sevika hates her too much to not just straight up kill her unless she's telling the truth!

reluctant allies! begrudging respect for each other's ruthlessness! making fun of/fondly remembering silco together! jinx making weapons/arms for sevika! sevika begrudgingly becoming a big sister figure to jinx!

the potential jinx/sevika friendship/alliance is making me CRAZY i'm so EXCITED

[suffering-and-happy-about-it]

The Boy Savior (Shattering the Time, Part 2.)

Description: A long time ago, a peaceful state ruled over the Lanes of Zaun. Yet one day, the protector was murdered by his rival and Lanes had gone to shit ever since, leading to the establishment of an independent Firelight base just out of Zaun. But this peace was to come to an end soon with old friends coming back, rising from the dead, and getting killed.

Part Summary: The kids were saved, yet not entirely safe. You made sure they went to talk with the other colony leader, your oldest friend, somewhat of a lover and local prodigy. And as per usual, you stay for more than just a bit of banter.

A/N: So, regarding the relationship between the reader and Ekko. Due to everything that went down, they found themselves in a stalemate - while Ekko, due to his lighthearted nature set around emotion, is willing to risk it all for a piece of heaven, the reader is reluctant to let go due to all the responsibilities they both have. Even though the Fireflies are the representation of now and the alternate (3rd) answer to every question Arcane asks, it's because of the 'now' that they aren't able to let go and stop pinning. They already know they're each other's endgame but struggle to find the time or ways to just let it happen in their current situation.

A/N: If you know about Ekko’s music career - I love you and I will marry you, consider this my official marriage proposal. Ekko is a rapper inside the universe of LoL bands. The guy's part of a group named True Damage, and his irl counterparts are Thutmose and DUCKWRTH. He shares the band with the hottest rapper ever (Akali), a princess (Quiana), the seventh wonder of the world (my queen Senna), and a local moron and drunk who thinks diving level 1 is okay and that the mighty 0/10 power spike exists (Yasuo).

Word count: 8.8K

Masterlist: H E R E | Ekko’s playlist: the boy who shattered time

The overwhelming feeling of safety never got old, and neither did the sight. As soon as the thick metal trapdoor rolled out of the way and gave you a view of the place, your eyes drowned in all the colors and gentle lights. Finally, you could take a breath. You were home. The kids were safe. Now, throughout the warm summer nights, the former silo got quiet and dark. The only sounds disturbing the serenity were crickets hiding in the grass, occasional peals of laughter coming from the distance, and then, there were firelights emitting gentle green light into the night. A hint of pollen still lingered in the air, making it heavy and sweet.

The ancient tree you build your lives around was standing in the middle of the silo, accommodations built all over its massive trunk. The adults were still out, sitting up in the treehouses and staircases built around the stem, as well as around the wooden paths built in the treetops, drinking some beer you haggled out last week. That was a good sign; it could be shortly after midnight. The other houses were tranquil, Maeve could be seen in the distance as she played the flute while sitting on the doorstep, lulling her kids to sleep. The canteen was still open, candlelight emitting from the inside - given it was Saturday, Firelights gathered around to tell stories until the sun dawn started. Days off were filled with relaxing activities, especially the summer ones - it was up to the people what they wanted to be a part of. Your people were fighters and survivors, but during the summer, you all took things a bit more lightly. Surviving summer wasn't as bad as surviving winter, that was for sure. During summer, there were enough people for everyone, clean water to drink and bathe in, and clothes were drying much faster. There were also way more activities to partake in - older kids were allowed to venture out to swim in the nearby river and cave system under supervision and small children could play around for all they wanted... When they didn't have their classes, of course. Ekko's favorite pastime was to freestyle with your local youngsters'; they'd sneak out (under his supervision) into the Lanes, climb on an advantage point, and bounce bars off each other until the night settled down on the Undercity. You've accompanied them multiple times, these trips were fun. Most importantly, you didn't have to care about the fucking heating that broke every other day or the boiler which was, in your opinion, incredibly fucking moody. Until that day, only Ekko knew how to make this beast of a machine work properly.

Summer was fun for everyone.

Your home wasn't much, but it was honest fucking work. You've manually built every house in sight, the people got together to establish at least small agricultural bases in the form of underground greenhouses (to use for growing plants during winter), just so you wouldn't starve. Bringing actual fresh water into the piping was infuriating as shit and Jesus fucking Christ, the months during which you were struggling with electric circuits were still so freshly in engraved your mind that you wanted to throw something against a wall each time you remembered. After you finally made a functional barn (which took you months of work) you and Bean haggled out of a few cows and a bull; the colony had occasional access to fresh milk and meat. That was, usually, a yearly occasion. Now, years after building the basics, your people got into working on various technological advancements, such as special hoverboards, very dangerous weapons, and things that brought up the quality of life. Ekko made sure his inventions did make your life easier.

The first year after Vander's death was most crucial. During those times, you went through poverty and misery - and this time, it wasn't just in your head. There were months when you couldn't properly bathe, drank from questionable water sources, and stole food just so you'd have something to eat. With each slurp of water, all of you and your people risked getting infected or getting your kidney clogged with dirt... Or the Grey. The Grey... That was what everyone in the Undercity called the mist overtaking the Lanes from time to time, clogging everyone's ability to see or even breathe normally. It wasn't just a regular mist, of course - it was filled with all the pollution and chemicals from all the factories set in the deepest parts of Zaun - needless to say the deeper you went, the more dangerous the toxins became. The Grey was slowly killing everything that breathed, essentially. The pollution quietly smothered one's lungs until they... Stopped working. With each breath, you were getting one step closer to death. Piltoverians were pissed after the first Uprising, so they built even more factories in Zaun's underbelly to ensure the rats of Zaun would slowly get exterminated. In case you wouldn't die to the constant stream of violence from the goons, addicts, Enforcers, uprisings, chem-tech augmentations involved in every fight or get 'removed' by Silco's people... The Grey was sure to finish you off.

Here, in the silo, in the colony, you were safe from it. This space, hidden inside the intricate sewer maze was far enough from the toxic waters, the Grey, violence, and even police brutality. Here, there were no political affairs that would bother you - from the safety of your colony, you could fight for the people. For the Laners, for the Zaunites, or whatever the fuck they wanted to call themselves now. The Firelights had their issues with both Piltoverians and Zaunites, so you remained in the imaginary middle, took the fights you knew you'd win, and took an interest in problems you deemed appropriate. That was who you were - living in the now, living the way you wanted to, taking the fights on your own fucking terms. This was the utopia you created from scratch, the utopia you desperately wished Vander would witness. They'd be so fucking proud, you liked to think, all three of them. You and Ekko found your everything in absolute nothingness.

For the first time that night, you were able to take a long breath and just let your shoulders relax as you unzipped your sweatshirt, stretching your neck. Here in the colony, you didn't have to be worried about being out of place, you always belonged. No matter who you were or how much the outside world hurt you, this community was willing to give you a place to stay and a life worth living. You, in general, were loved by your people. And so was he. It was natural to butt your heads every once in a while, either between the two of you or with the other members, but that was why you implemented democratic elections and general meetings. If the Firelights started disagreeing with how you led things, you'd be stripped off your spot years ago. Both you and Ekko were elected as the leaders way back - you were still just teenagers when the first results came through. At first, you struggled with 'being a leader', but all the Firelights trusted you, eased up the process for you, and helped you make all the wildest fantasies and wishes you and Ekko had come true. Without one another, you wouldn't be able to lead shit - together, you were unstoppable. Sure, you were both forced to mature very quickly, but it was a tax worth paying.

As you walked to the staircase, you nodded at the night watch sitting in the vintage point above the trapdoor. Without waiting around, you started climbing the stairs leading into Ekko's accommodation - his lights were still on, so you knew he was still awake.

Talking about Ekko specifically... A part of you was sure that you completed each other. After years of acting in unison, you oftentimes didn't even have to say your thoughts out loud for Ekko to take them into account. You couldn't imagine letting him leave - your accommodations were built into the highest places of the tree, adjoining. There were countless times when either of you barged into the other's room in the middle of the night to ramble about this new idea of yours and even in deafening silence, you understood each other.

To describe him... He was the most positive person you've bumped into. Next to it, Ekko was always in connection to his emotions and was prone to go into overdrive easily - he also snapped out of his amucks quickly, though. Whenever you felt down, the man knew exactly what to do with you - whether it meant talking, arguing it out, bringing you something to eat, or just taking you for a walk around the perimeter, Ekko always had a solution. Especially at times when you didn't know how to help yourself. The Little Man (Ekko's childhood nickname) loved hearing you laugh, never passed an opportunity to cause havoc and mischief (taking into account all the ground rules you've set for all the youngsters, of course), constantly lived in a state of wonder and excitement about what can he create next, marveled about the world around you and still felt jolts of childish excitement whenever he stumbled upon something new and undiscovered. You hadn't met a messier person than Ekko was - the boy often said it's a sign of his genius, but after ten years of hearing the same excuse, you were sure he was just pulling your sock. Not that he'd live in a dump of random things, he just puts things in random places and... Left the stuff lying there. Therefore, you could often hear the ruckus and silent cursing as he tried to find that one specific small fucking screwdriver that he'd put on the table two days ago, and now it wsan't fucking anywhere... Just to find it lying at the base of his bed. Hid accommodation wasn't even a livable space - it was a chaotic and wast place, a room that was never clean enough yet neither too dirty, with a bed hiding somewhere inside the mess. 'A small excuse of a storage room', was how you called it anyway.

What you wouldn't be able to describe in any way, however, was the relationship between the two of you. Well, you knew what you felt, and Ekko often told what he felt... But you were very hesitant to just... Let go and accept it. His attempts at flirting with you were endless. The man tried wooing you each chance he got, no matter if it was in private or in front of someone else. His attempts, to an outsider, could seem in vain - each time he'd tell you a cheesy pick-up line or even cheesier compliment, you'd shut him down with anything you two had on hand - whether it was 'all the work' you had to do, any sort of a book or your own hand, it didn't really matter. Ekko knew that the outsiders couldn't be more incorrect. The man knew precisely what he was looking for, all the effects he had on you - your pupils widening, a hint of a smirk on your lips, the way you'd shake your head gently and chuckle under your breath. If you were alone, he'd also take your hand in his, slowly entwining his fingers with yours - your heart rate going through, fingers trembling so gently Ekko would miss it if he'd blink, a think layer of cold sweat on your palms, the way you'd scoot closer to him or watched the profile of your face whenever you'd assume he wasn't looking. If you were feeling bold enough, you'd even kiss him. Even though he understood where the hesitancy came from, he wished you'd forget your worries and just let him love you. He'd bring you the sky if you asked to, run every errand you wouldn't want to go on, and 'talk' to anyone who'd disagree or insult you. That's why he promised you he'd never give up on you. No matter the circumstance, he'd always be around and love you from a distance, if that was how you wanted to approach things. On the night he swore it, you started crying in his arms (you were both beyond tipsy by that point) and nodded, simply whispering: - "Don't leave me. Ever."

The inner workings of your relationship didn't matter to the other Firelights. None of them knew how messy it was in reality - people just assumed you were an item. Fair and square, an item. Each member with a functioning set of eyes could see how you pinned after each other, no matter how much you tried to hide it or deny it. Each time Ekko would leave the colony to carry out assaults on Silco's operations, you'd become a bit animated and grew more tired, only lighting up the moment he'd walk through the trap door. Whenever you had nightmares, you could be spotted sneaking into his room, leaving it in the morning. Oftentimes, you didn't need to use words, you only communicated via your expressions - Scar had even witnesses as you argued and made up without a single word. There were no doubts, the two of you were a pair if they ever saw one.

Even though you wanted to wrap your head around Ekko and let the fuzzy feeling bubble inside your chest, you had work to do. Right now, you had two idiots to deal with and then had to get back on your watch. You still haven't said a word regarding the stunt they pulled. Since you and Butcher had 'the talk' (whatever it was about), your expression didn't change a bit. However, if you were taking them to Ekko, shit hit the fan. Now, it was time to panic. Out of the two Firelight leaders, you were always the reasonable one. The one who hated punishing people and preferred talking stuff out, the one who was the voice of reason whenever Ekko got too heated, and someone who'd always done everything just to see the kids thrive and be happy. Not that Ekko wouldn't be sharing this goal, it was on top of your shared priorities, but he could get a bit... Hot-tempered and reckless. The temper got the best of him. That's why you were seen as the voice of reason. The kids planned to avoid the talk and punishment altogether, hoped Butcher had talked you down to some sort of a deal... They planned on doing the puppy eyes until you'd sigh and let them go, telling them to find you the following morning. Well, they were fucking wrong.

"What are you two staring at?" - You asked, making Lorette gulp out loud. She'd already been through enough that night, but... You had to pull through, just this one time. Did Vander feel like this? Torn inside as he watched you goggling your big, innocent eyes at him? Jesus, this sucked shit. - "Did you forget how to talk or something? Should I believe you're brave enough to sneak out in the middle of the night but not brave enough to take the consequences of your actions? Off you go, come on." - You continued, realizing you sounded awfully like Vander. Jesus. Almonder tried to make up an excuse, but the longer he talked, the more uninterested you were - it was Lorette, who actually pushed him towards the stairs, leading the way to Ekko's.

No matter how much trouble these two were giving you, they genuinely thought of you as one of the coolest people they ever met. Even though they mostly realized how young you were back when you and Ekko took over the leadership of the Firelights and acknowledged everything you two were doing for them, the duo couldn't help themselves and tried to make a difference. A few bucks could make a difference - buy a few bottles of cough syrup, ensure material for someone's sweater for the winter, the money could even ensure a few more bags of coal. They just wanted to help, that was all. They thought that as someone who dealt with resources management daily, you'd be the one to understand. Your in-depth understanding and overview of the stocks in your storage were nothing short of impressive to the kids. But... Unfortunately... Their hopes fell short. They picked the wrong approach to things, enraging you instead of making you proud. That realization alone was a good enough punishment to begin with.

While you were a genius regarding resource management and behind-the-scenes detailing, Ekko was 'the leader' in the right sense of the word. His speeches would rail up even the dead, and his fiery spirit brought excitement into everything he was doing. He was an excellent fighter and a so-so strategist, so it was Ekko, who led your troops into fights and various dangerous missions. As you've said, you were the rationality and Ekko was the pumping heart. Both of you had enough on your plates, undoubtedly, that's why you often spent nights rambling and whining about all the duties awaiting your attention. Neither of you, however, could take the other's position. Because Ekko wasn't the one overseeing all the 'daily' chores and events going on in the background, his evolvement in a matter like this meant shit was about to get serious.

The closer to his door you were, the louder the music playing through his opened door and windows. The closer you were to the confrontation you threatened the two youngsters with, the less courage you had - you even almost backed out at one point. Was it worth the turmoil? You could deal with them in the morning after you let it go through your head. No. This way exactly the fucking reason why they snuck out again. You couldn't go easy on them now. You needed to pull through. Wait a minute, though. Cimi took over your patrol until you settled this mess, so not being on the designed spot could mean you'd get in trouble... Hohoho, you stopped yourself for a second. You were a fucking leader, there was no punishment for you anytime soon. Just outside the door, you motioned for the duo to stay put so you could debrief Ekko on the situation.

The door was opened, inviting everyone to come in case he'd be needed... And to let the fresh air and sounds of nature come on. What sounds of nature you genuinely didn't know, because as usual, Ekko was blasting his newest track so loud you couldn't even hear your own damn thoughts. Sitting at his desk, he indulged deeply in his work, dismantling an old watch to pieces and laying all the small parts in front of him. There must've been enough on his mind already - Day of Progress was behind the corner and a bird chirped that Sevika (Silco's right-hand woman) was delivering a bunch of Shimmer to Piltover two days from now. For what purpose you didn't know, but Firelights saw and elected only one solution at the last general meeting - blowing every barrel to pieces. Ekko never could've fallen asleep before a big stunt like this. On top of this incoming event, he was hot on his feet holding a different sort of watch, letting his door open in case anything happened. Since you had a night watch scheduled and Ekko hated bothering you with stuff during those, he was most likely prepared to deal with any and all problems for the night.

Hugging the doorframe, you allowed yourself a few seconds to watch him undoing the screws. You liked everything about this view; his dread-hawk swaying gently each time he moved his head, the silver pieces braided clinking each time they collided. You liked watching the muscles on his shoulders release and tighten as he fidgeted in his chair. One thing you loved dearly was the way he hummed whatever song was playing. You wanted to stay put until he'd notice you, asking the most cliche question you'd ever hear... But there was no time for that. Since you got to work soon, you forcibly broke the little idyll, smoothed his shoulder gently, and lowered the volume on his radio.

"No wonder I have to yell at you whenever we talk, geez." - You muttered, leaning your ass into his desk, staying out of his sight a little longer. - "Soon enough, I'll have to learn sign language." The smile, you thought to yourself, the damn smile. Each time you'd surprise him like that (for example, now you were supposed to be on a watch and instead, you were in his fucking room), a serotonin-filled, blissful expression formed on his face. Trying to act cocky and come up with a well-suited pick-up line, Ekko leaned his elbow into the back of his chair and leaned closer to you.

"Hold your horses, cowboy, I'm not here to deal with personal stuff. We got a situation on our hands." - You tried to stop him, but Ekko clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes. "It's just one pick-up line. You secretly love 'em, girl, come on." - The man whispered, having you sigh in defeat. - "Nature is sure as hell better at inventing wonder than me, because damn, you're living proof." - With that, you had to chuckle; you loved his various attempts at making you flirt with him and sometimes, when your schedule wasn't as tight, you reciprocated his advances. "Wow, that's a new one. Like the sound of that." - You admitted, pushing a strand of hair behind your ear as your cheek got flushed. The boy chuckled breathlessly, seemingly happy with how his advances affected you... For the millionth consecutive time.

"Mhm, heard how Damien told that to Cini earlier today and had to try out. Anyway, yeah, business, beautiful. What can I help you with? Kept the door open like you asked me to, thought they'd come to me in case a problem would arise. You know I don't like it when someone bothers you on your watch." - Ekko explained. "Well, no one came to me with a problem... I discovered one." "Anything I missed?" "Lorette and Almonder snuck out to do business with Butcher. Remember that demon living at the outer edge of the Lanes? That Butcher. Thankfully, they didn't strike any deal with him, he swore they hadn't signed any contract. Asked me if we'd be willing the kids help with his cargo, actually." "Fuck." - This time, Ekko finally put the screwdriver on the table beside him, massaging the root of his nose. The 'fuck' wasn't surprised, however; far from it, actually. With a long exhale, Ekko nodded to himself and got ready for whatever you had in store for him.

"Wait a damn minute... You knew about it." - You wondered, furrowing. So far, you weren't angry, which was good news. You were just confused. - "Did they ask your permission? Was my freak-out unwarranted and redundant? Did I make a fool of myself tonight?" "No, no, no, you got it wrong. They didn't ask me or talk to me about this. I mean..." - Ekko started, catching your forearm as soon as you straightened up. Now, you were getting angry. - "I knew it was going on, Y/N, I won't deny that. But I assumed you had it under control. You've never brought it up and you have enough to stress about as is, so I didn't ask. What do you need from me, did the two do something I need to take care of?" - As your mouth swung open, Ekko licked his lips in anticipation. He had it coming, didn't he?

"Are we acting causal about this? 'What do you need from me'? Are you not even a bit mad at them?" - Oh, great, there you fucking were again. Your tone raised slightly as you mocked his words, throwing your palms in the air in a bewildered gesture. "Of course, I was concerned if that's what you're asking. But as I said - I thought you had it under control." "That I had it under control... Aha." - The implication of him being careless towards the kids in your community was what did for Ekko - the burning flame was set ablaze in his chest as he took a deep breath, bending his head back to quieten the urge to raise his voice. The two of you agreed to guidelines regarding your arguments, laying down a set of basic rules you both did your best to follow - no pointless yelling, throwing stuff around, saying names, or bringing up personal shit (only when you argued about personal shit - in those arguments, however, you agreed on leaving all the colony-related issues aside). The yelling rule was the only part of your agreement you consistently violated.

"Don't give me this tone, Y/N." - Ekko was now standing on his feet as well, looking you in the face with his eyes narrowed. - "Out of all the people around here, I'd think you'd be the one to realize how much shit we needed to prepare for the Progress Day. You know that these days mean the most opportunities to fuck up Silco's businesses. The amount of shit I had to check in the last two days wore me the fuck out - I ensured our tech was in good shape, and that we had everything we'll need, all the food, all the clothes, all the small fucking utensils among other things. Do I look like I had the time to..." "You're so self-absorbed it's ridiculous at times." "And you're saying mean shit just because you're angry." "You didn't have the time to do fucking what?" - You turned to face him, your nostrils widening as you took a deep breath. - "What? To take a moment to step in and talk to them? To help me around with getting them in a lane? Maybe, just maybe, talk about how dangerous their endeavors were? How does that sound to you, you dick? Do I look like Vander you? Because I can't singlehandedly raise everyone around here!"

"We aren't taking this further unless you take that back." - Ekko pointed his finger at you, the vein on his temple becoming prominent. Nodding, you agreed with his point. The pact was established after a very messy and long fight - you've been at it for hours, and when it ended, the fallout could be felt for weeks. It was then that you promised never to spit insults at one another again. It was really hurtful, all the names you came up with just to spite each other. To be fair, it was the harshest winter you've had to face that year and you were both growing desperate, bottling all the anger inside until... It exploded. Now, even during the most heated arguments, you reminded yourselves of the pact and did your best to howl at each other respectfully. "Fine... You're right. Got a bit too heated there." "Almonder, Lorette!" - Ekko called out, pacing around the room, fuming. The two kids immediately stepped inside, pale as the moon; they had to hear you going at it. Well, everyone in the radius surely did. Woah, you thought to yourself, did you look like this back when you were kids and Vander gave you a lecture? Palms trembling as the kids held onto one another, their bright eyes goggling at you, lips slightly parted. Jesus, even though you were mad, you had to bite on your lip not to laugh a bit. - "Start. Talking." - Ekko stated silently, looking at the kid emotionlessly. He was just staring. His demeanor was giving you goosebumps.

"I know you're both mad, like, mad-mad..." - Almonder started, making your heads fly up so you could look at him, narrowing your eyes. You and Ekko looked like disappointed parents, you had to admit. Lorette, whose mental had taken enough toil already, stepped forward to explain the situation because Almonder cracked under pressure easily. "You have every right to be mad. Y/N warned us before and we get it. But, the guy isn't as bad as he seems and we're sneaky enough to make it to his house undetected, there's nothing to worry about, it's safe..." "Yeah, okay, just scratch that bullshit and start that over." - Ekko huffed, his eyes darting between her and Almonder, who was almost fainting behind her. "We didn't do it without thinking it through - Butcher sealed a deal with some Piltoverian steelworks and asked if we'd like to help carry the merchandise inside his house - the ballroom acts as this warehouse of sorts. He promised pretty good money for it." "Is money more important than your life?" - You asked, standing next to Ekko. Both of you were slowly piping down. As they explained, their reasoning wasn't half bad, you could understand it. You were the same. "We... We didn't want to do it for ourselves. We aren't interested in making money, Ekko. We hoped we'd do the work, get paid, and give it to you..." - Lorette explained on the verge of tears. Almonder stepped up next to her, continuing where Lorette left off. - "We heard Scar talking about some medicine rations running low and the need to buy more before winter comes... That's why we snuck out."

As you stared at the two kids, you forgot how to talk. That's why they snuck out, freaking you to death? Because they wanted to help? You had no idea if you were supposed to be frustrated or touched. Ekko, however, didn't waste much time before getting his opinions out there. "All Y/N has asked of you was to ask or tell someone, anyone, if I'm assuming correctly. Does making us aware of where you at sound complicated?" - Ekko asked rhetorically; before Lorette could answer, he was already back to full ramble mode. - "People in the Lanes don't know who you are, not the way they know me or Y/N. They've never seen you. For them, you're intruders, outsiders, someone who doesn't belong. One funny look at the wrong person, someone who takes it personally, and your ass is fucking grass." "We know..." "No. No, you fucking don't. You can't know because you were two years old when shit hit the fan. You may have an idea of the Lanes, but don't know a thing. Believe it or not, but I've been your age and thought I discovered how the world works, but guess what - I was fucking wrong." - The man cut Lorette off immediately, making her lower her head. - "I admire your actions, truly. You're acting heroic and I know you've meant well for the community, but... This is a huge and unnecessary risk for everyone. We worked hard to get where we at. We lived in the streets, we survived poverty, hunger, and thirst just so the kids we'll watch grow up could live in peace... You repay us with this. Let's play pretend for a bit, okay? What if someone noticed you, hm? What then? Dosn't matter if it would be Pilties, Silco's people, or some low-class goons. Everyone out there is an equal threat to us. Not that I wouldn't have faith in you two, but it would be hard to keep your mouth shut with your life on the lane. They'd do horrible things to you just to figure out where you came from, who you work for, what's your goal, and where's the rest of us. Let's pretend for a bit longer - if you'd even get out of this situation alive and managed to drag yourselves back home, your problem would become our problem. Eventually, someone would come to hunt us down - some greedy morons, the Enforcers, or, in the worst case, Silco's goons. We'd have to relocate, burn this to the ground, and leave everything behind. Look around you. Would you like to see your home fall in flames? Because I've seen it already. It crushes your soul. We have newborns whose mothers would be forced to drink the sewage water and breathe in the Grey. We have kids and orphans we need to take care of. If we wouldn't stave to death, we'd be sent to Stillwater or killed by others. As much as we're strong, we could also fall if the ground beneath our feet shakes even so slightly. Do you like the thought of that? Do you see what's at stake here? Do you realize why Y/N always dragged you back home and made sure no one bothered you? " - This was, in your opinion, just enough. Taking in a breath, you caught his forearm in your palm, patted his shoulder, and nodded. Ekko got the message through, you assured him, a bit too well when taking Lorette's horrified expression into account. Just the punishment you asked for.

Trying to steady his breathing, Ekko's palm ghosted over yours as he cleared his throat. "You got it?" - The man asked silently, his voice and expression growing warmer. Both kids nodded in unison and watched Ekko approach them, patting their shoulders. - "You're good kids and even better people, but you need to follow the rules to ensure we're all safe. Together, we are strong; alone, we're an easy target. I'll think about letting you work for Butcher if that's what he's interested in... But it would be under adult supervision and you'd come to tell us anytime you'd be leaving or coming back. We on the same wave?" - Again, the kids nodded in unison. "Come back in the morning. You'll get an additional punishment so you'll really have time to think about what happened. I'll be overseeing it myself." - Ekko smiled, sending you an amused look over his shoulder. - "Run off, you two. Good night."

After the two troublemakers left, you decided to sit down on his messy bed for a bit - he had a book on forcefields opened on his nightstand, a half-empty glass of water right next to it. "Sorry for implying you don't care." - You mumbled, looking up at him as he watched you with an endearing expression. "Sorry for not stepping in sooner. Would've if you hinted at not being cool with their shenanigans." - The man sat back onto his chair, scooting over to you. When he was done with taking in each inch of your face it seemed, he picked up your palm and started playing with your fingers. "It's kinda funny." - Ekko muttered, kissing your knuckles tenderly. "What is?" "... Remembering we were the same. Trying to change the world even though we realistically couldn't do shit against Pilties. Getting ourselves into trouble, getting our asses kicked by Vander, and still thinking we were right, not him. Poor guy had it hard with a bunch of nuisances like us." "We weren't smart kids. In fact, most of us had temper issues and a savior complex." "Not that we'd get much smarter, huh?" - Ekko murmured, placing his fingertips on yours to entangle your fingers together. - "And the savior complex is still here, also. I miss, though." "Hm?" - You wondered, smiling at feeling his warmth indulging you.

"I miss being stupid and not knowing better, thinking the whole world can kiss my damn ass. I miss times when adults solved all our problems by drinking it out in Vander's pub." "Ekko..." - You whispered, licking your lips. Before you could stop yourself a cheesy, stupid joke left your mouth. - "You are still really stupid. You're just lucky I like that in a person." "That's a low blow, girl." - He snickered, leaning back into his chair. There was a bright smile on his lips now, his expression and demeanor relaxed. - "Come 'ere." - The man whispered, tugging on your palm to make you lean into him. You knew what was about to go down - the way his fingers drew circles into your skin, creeping out closer and closer to your elbow, the spark in his eyes... Therefore, you deemed it appropriate to get back on your watch.

"I should go now, Ekko. You seem... Busy and I'm sure you'd appreciate a moment of silence." "Not gonna work on me tonight, girl. Let me apologize properly." - And with that, the boy planted a peck into your palm, his eyes not leaving yours the entire time. Your face got flushed... Just like every time he'd been doing this. In intimate moments like these, you've often found yourself wondering.

In a novel you once read, the term apologize properly implied something entirely different. You've caught yourself pondering about it many times, actually, your imagination is very vivid at helping you imagine what could've been. It didn't leave out a single detail - the muscles on his shoulders moving in unison as he'd get on his knees; he'd have his signature cocky shit-eating grin on his lips, his eyes glued to your expression. Each touch would send a wave of heat through your body, weakening your knees. It would be so hard to breathe, watching the hottest man you've met preparing to eat you out like a dish. Pressing your knees together, you pulled your head out of the gutter. Ekko smirked, knowing exactly what you were thinking about; after taking a whiff of your scent, the man kissed your wrist. - "I'm sorry for acting like an ignorant dick." - Hearing him reiterating what you've said earlier made you chuckle. Dragging his nose on your skin, he pressed his lips into the sweet spot just under your elbow socket. - "Can't say how sorry I am for not stepping in sooner." - Pulling the chair closer, his lips traveled to your upper arm, meeting the hem of your short sleeve. - "I'm so sorry you're overworked with all the people's trouble and thank you for acknowledging I can be a moron when it comes to these issues." Honestly, you expected him to stop with the last kiss, but tonight, Ekko presumably felt a bit bolder. He usually got like that when a big event came up as if he wasn't to come back. Taking hold of his shoulder, you didn't bother covering how your breath hitched when he burrowed his face into the crook of your neck, kissing your collarbone through the fabric, muttering another apology before traveling to your neck.

Imagine being with Ekko was so easy, a given, something bound to happen... In the future. Being with him would be easy, just like breathing. Waking up in one bed, sharing breakfast with him, kisses, and candid touches before leaving to fill your duties. You could imagine coming back home, arguing about what you're gonna have for dinner - after you'd be done, he'd kiss you and tell you he missed you and wants to hear about your day. You'd fall asleep together.

Unfortunately, the past still riddled you. Whatever you had going on you called 'a product of unfortunate circumstances'. If things hadn't turned out like this, if Vander hadn't been murdered, Ekko would have been bound to become a technological prodigy. His creativity would ensure him a prestigious scholarship at the Academy. The two of you would see each other less and less until you'd cut ties altogether. You'd remain living in Lanes until you'd choke on the Grey. One day, you simply wouldn't have woken up. You remember what Ekko felt for Powder when you were kids - seeing this side of him, knowing what lust and hunger did to him, the clues were plastered all over the place. You couldn't shake his love for her out of your head. What if you were just a bandaid? What if his feelings for you weren't even real? What if you were the only choice he was left with? In that universe, you wouldn't even get the chance to get this close. You remembered every single detail of the two of them together - the way he looked at her and laughed at her cheesy jokes, how he was interested in every single itsy bomb she made, how cool Ekko always said Powder was, the way he made certain she was safe and right behind him. You and Ekko were close too, rest assured, but it wasn't like that. You took care of one another as close friends. You've even heard Benzo and Vander joking about it as you served your two-month lasting duty in Last Drop's taproom, you heard it all 'My ward and your daughter... Who would've thought?' Benzo asked Vander, both laughing as they smoked.

You remembered the night Ekko kissed you for the first time, that one lonely night in the middle of a summer five years ago. You've spent years beating around the bush, never overstepping the boundaries of a friendship, never taking the final step over the edge. You've thought about it a few times before he kissed you, of course; you wondered about the taste of his lips, the warmth of his body, and the spark in his voice. The whole time, you hadn't said a word, just continued pretending you weren't hopelessly attracted to your best friend of almost twenty years. That's when your other friends started pointing out all the little things, asking if you 'finally started officially dating'. This was the first time you've ever thought about the possibility of the feelings being reciprocated. At first, it was hard to believe - Cimi tried to convince you there was something about how Ekko acted around you; it had switched quite some time ago, but since you weren't backing out, Ekko was getting more and more courageous. A huge celebration was happening at that time - Firelight managed to shut down one of Silco's biggest operations to date, so of course you've bought enormous supplies of alcohol. While you stuck around the main celebration in the cafeteria, Ekko excused himself to work on his stopwatch. You knew something was off but didn't pry; Akali (a mutual friend) was drunkardly dancing on the tabletops, singing traditional Ionian songs, you wouldn't miss for the world. If something was bugging Ekko off, it was better to let him sort out his thoughts and let him come when he felt the time was right. What you didn't expect was him appearing next to you out of the blue, his ego and courage boosted with liquid courage.

The boy just took your hand, gave your beer to Cimi, and dragged you along. As you asked what was going on, Ekko didn't waste a second answering, hiding behind the corner with you in his arms. He'd never been this close - his hands pressed on the sides of your head, his knee pressed between your knees, his fingers ghosting over your cheeks. "I need to tell you something." - He whispered, staring at your lips. His fingers started playing with your hair as he leaned in, the smell of alcohol giving away how much he'd drank. "Yeah?" - You asked, prompting him to continue. "I... Had a crush. Until she started talking to the gun." - Ekko admitted silently, looking away for a bit. His words stabbed right through your heart; he was talking about Powder. Right when you thought he was about to kiss you. The situation suddenly didn't feel as comfortable. Until he started talking again. - "Look, the thing is... I'm so in love with you that it hurts. Every way I slice it, I was a dick and I should've let you know sooner. I realized it a while back, actually, but never knew how to let you know - the longer you've been around, the more I fell under your spell. Knew I was fucked on the morning when I found you playing with the kids, wearing that damn flower crown that you put on my head later. I should've kissed you right then and there." "That's like... Forever ago." "I was worried you're not feeling it. Even now, I'm not sure if I'm just bothering..." "I do, Ekko. I've been feeling it for a long time." - You whispered, nodding, sliding your palm under his tank top. The boy hissed in reaction to the contact, shivering as you gently dug your nails into the skin on his back. - "I was worried you're not feeling it." "Fuck, we're so stupid." - The boy whispered, smiling widely, fixing his grasp on your jaw. If you'd be looking closely, you'd notice the tears of happiness in his eyes. God, he was the happiest man on the planet. "We're fucking idiots." - Giggling yourself, you finally closed the gap and kissed him.

No matter how happy that memory was, Ekko admitted to crushing on Powder. That was your reality check. Each time you wanted to jump in and let Ekko love you, this realization stopped you. You've never had the balls to outright ask him whether you're the consolation prize or not. You desperately tried to forget it, but it was always with you. Just when he was about to steal a kiss from you, you turned your head away from him. This rejection always froze him for a bit, letting him take a breath with a hint of sorrow crossing his face. There was nothing on Runeterra he'd rather do than kiss you. - "Was that apology enough? I can go on, I'm sure you can make up at least fifty other reasons I should be on my knees now." - Ekko asked, not giving up entirely. His voice dropped as he caressed your cheek with his nose, smirking as he felt your body leaning into his touch. "I'll have to get going soon." - You mumbled, leaning away. You kissed his temple hastily so he'd know you appreciated the intimacy, but then you leaned away definitely. Ekko nodded, knowing better than to push you into things you weren't interested in. - "Wanna tell me about the track? I'm pretty sure I haven't heard this one yet."

"Oh, yeah, Akali popped up for a bit." - Ekko smiled, giving you a piece of paper - a note from her, presumably. Ah, Akali. You met a few years back - the Ionian woman accidentally stumbled into the colony, looking for someone named 'Jhin'. They weren't friends - she had a contract on his head. As you watched each other cluelessly (according to the map of Zaun's sewage system, this place was supposed to be empty) and before you stopped yourself, the silliest question left your mouth. - "Wanna have a lunch with me?" She ended up staying in the colony for a week. Once she lowered he suspicions and started talking with you, you clicked. She was the funniest person you've met, you'd swear and her opinions were refreshing. She'd traveled a big part of Runeterra, so she'd tons of cool stories to share. This was part of the reason behind kids loving her. Their favorite pastime with Akali was playing hide and seek and she was fucking incredible at it. Akali was brought up as an assassin on one of Ionian's oldest orders, so hide-and-seek was a piece of cake for her. Kids looked for her for hours and finding her was always incredibly difficult. The woman was also a self-proclaimed rap protegee, so she and Ekko hit it off immediately. To this day, the duo would freestyle anytime she'd drop by. The duo could make you wholeheartedly laugh with just how they made fun of each other, acting like children in adult bodies. Apparently, she didn't even hang around to say hi... Yikes.

"You should've seen her, haven't seen her this rowdy and happy like... Ever." "I mean, I get it. This track slaps. I could die if I ever created something like this... Of happiness. Don't give me this look, I was joking. " - You agreed, laughing as you leaned over his shoulder. Ekko was now back to working on taking the watch apart, the screwdriver spinning between his fingers. "Imaging you wouldn't be around to pester me isn't fun." - The man mumbled under his breath, pecking your chees before you could lean away from him. Nudging his shoulder, you weren't able to hide the smile breaking on your face. - "The track isn't hers, strictly speaking. It's a mix by this Ionian Ronin dude or whatever she said. But that's not the news - she's dating some Piltoverian chicks and said the girl's a huge pop star. Her name's Seraphine, I think, we should check it out." "Sneaking to a concert?" - You joked, raising your eyebrows. "Thought you'd enjoy that. Akali promised she'd sneak to the backstage." "First on the order is Sevika's delivery. We can talk about other things once that whole fuzz fizzles out." "Ma'am, yes ma'am." - The boy mumbled, chuckling to himself. - "Had a weird dream I wanted to tell you all about."

"What dream?" "I... Dreamt I could travel in time, back and forth, undoing all the wrong things that happened. It was so cool." - The boy whispered, smiling at himself. - "And when I checked my notes this morning... I feel like I can actually do it. There's something wrong with my calculations but I can't find what. It could be anything. Before you start, no, it's not because the dream was so vivid." "I wasn't about to say that." - You reiterated, knowing you were about to say exactly that. "Seen it in your eyes." "Touché." "Does it sound insane? Traveling the time?" - Ekko asked, watching as you picked up one of the pocket watches Ekko proudly displayed on his shelf. This guy was obsessed with pocket watches ever since he was a kid - you've spent countless nights on the junkyard and each time he'd find a cool piece, he'd run to you just so he could show it to you. Each time you entered his room when he wasn't listening to music, it took a bit to get used to the out-of-sync ticking. It used to drive you insane.

"Wouldn't you look at that... Ekko - the boy who shattered time. It has its charm, doesn't it?" - As you smiled at him, a spark twinkled in Ekko's eyes. His theory was probably nothing more but a mad dream, yeah, but who were you to stop him? As long as he had his conviction and passion, you'd trust Ekko could make it. He could figure it out. - "I really gotta go now, though." "Oh, one last thing before you go!" "Yeah? What is it?" - You asked, stopping at the door. "We're leaving at sunset tomorrow. I wondered if you'd be down for some sparring with me before we set out. This shit makes me nervous, all the scenarios of what can fuck up are driving me insane - this would help a lot."

As you thought about Ekko's request, a furrow appeared on your face. He was well aware about how much you hated traveling to the Lanes and yet, he got desperate enough to ask you. You couldn't wrangle inside the colony, no way; you didn't want people to see what you could do, so you took trips into the old warehouses where you spent time playing as kids. His physical strength was impressive. Even though Ekko wasn't the tallest in the colony, he was muscly and strong. The guy spent a considerable amount of time with physical work, fixing stuff around the colony, and dragging materials around. Thanks to being shorter, he was agile, and thanks to his intelligence, he won fights that weren't in his favor. On top, Ekko had stamina and could take a fair bit of beating, especially with adrenalin rushing through his veins. His physical power, however, was nothing in comparison to your arcana. Truth be told, you were the only one who was able to put Ekko in his place. You grounded him in reality, reminding him he was still only human. After a bit, you nodded.

"See you in the morning, after I catch some sleep." "Deal, see you then, girl."