#jinx arcane

[kchaha888]

sketching for fun out here, crazy girly

[selenelar]

Quick sketch of jinx

[anemona03]

[misspandalily]

abstinence, who?

chapter 8: get me out of here?

What happens when your entire world comes crashing down? You start counting paperclips.

Read the next chapter on AO3 ❤️

Pics credit: pinterest

[lunalba]

[girlbloggingsblog]

[guarddogabby]

Do I look like your girlfriend?

cw: men dni! love triangle between Powder and Jinx , Jinx is manipulative , a bit of violence , jealous Jinx , rough kissing , sooo much yearning

pt1 ←⁠(⁠>⁠▽⁠<⁠)⁠ﾉ part one here

What are you going to do? (⁠;⁠ŏ⁠﹏⁠ŏ⁠)

────୨ৎ────

Your face sank into the softness of your pillow. You pulled the sheet higher over yourself, hugged the little stuffed cat that always kept you company at night a little tighter and snuggled closer to the thin body lying beside you. She held you even tighter and buried her face in your neck. Your hands left the little cat and reached for your girlfriend's comforting arms instead; you took them and pulled them against your chest. You gently kissed her hands before turning around and hugging her.

You buried your face against her chest and felt warmer than ever.

A warmth you had experienced before but hadn't remembered until now.

You felt so comfortable with your girlfriend that it was almost as if you'd known her before, from another life, because those arms holding you right now were the most comfortable thing you'd ever experienced.

"pow..." You whispered, hugging her tighter.

"Is that your new girlfriend?" You heard the question in a voice rougher than the one you were used to. Long fingers ran through your hair.

Silence.

It wasn't difficult to recognize that voice. You knew it better than you knew the voices of your new friends. You could recognize it in a room full of people.

Just like you could recognize the feeling of those arms wrapped around you, the shape of her body, the braids falling over the two of you across the bed so they won't have to be left on the floor because of how long they were.

You pulled away just enough to look up. Your hands were trembling, your whole body was. You prayed with everything you had that it wasn't who you thought it was, that it was just someone who looked like her, like it had been this whole time. You hoped you'd find dark blue eyes in the dim light of the room instead of those bright pink ones.

But you saw it before you'd even finished raising your head.

"Jinx?" You gasped, slowly removing your arms around her waist as though you were afraid that moving too suddenly might make her react badly.

Saying that name out loud again felt surreal. You thought about it all the time, more than you'd ever admit, but you'd thought you'd never say it again, because the person who owned that name wasn't supposed to come back.

"That's me!" She shrugged her shoulders while smiling, just like she used to. As if nothing had happened between the two of you, as if this were just another normal day between you.

You turned on the light. Jinx was thinner than the last time you'd seen her, paler. Her eyes were darker around the edges, so much that worry immediately began eating away at you. You hated that you were worried about her right now, especially because she didn't seem worried at all, she just kept staring at you as if she had some right to.

"I need you to leave." You were standing now, your fists clenched at your sides and your head lowered, unable to look at her. "I never want to see you again."

"Is that right?" chuckle. "I remember you saying you'd do anything to see me again."

You tensed.

"That was a long time ago."

"I don't think it was."

Your hands moved up to your face, rubbing it in frustration. You wanted to cry from how angry you felt. You turned around, not even caring what she might do behind you. She was right, you were stupid for having said that, for acting all day as if that had never happened.

But she hadn't even said much when she answered your call. You hadn't said much either. You thought it didn't matter, you thought you'd dreamed it.

You'd walked hand in hand with Powder and kissed her as if nothing had happened.

"I was wrong, Jinx. I don't want to be with you, I can't. I shouldn't have called you, I'm with Powder now."

"I know."

She paused.

her voice changed slightly, enough to make you shudder.

"I'm sure you know how bad I felt when I found out you'd replaced me. I thought you weren't like that, but when I saw how much she looks like me..."

She didn't even finish the sentence, she simply shrugged. You didn't need to see her face to know it.

"No. Powder isn't like you. She's good. She's... Normal.'

"Normal?"

"Yeah, Jinx. She acts like a normal person, and she wouldn't dare do the half the shit you do."

She took long enough to answer that you turned to look at her again. You noticed her gaze was fixed on her hands, which were resting in her lap. You knew this was affecting her more than she let on, but you couldn't keep worrying about her.

"Whatever." She rolled her eyes. "I still need you to let me stay here."

"No fucking way."

Her hands curled into fists. Jinx tried not to look at you because she knew it would only make things worse. But she couldn't help rolling her eyes again, because she knew you were acting like this because of your new girlfriend, and it made her incredibly angry.

She didn't even understand why you were trying to act so dignified, it wasn't like you hadn't been crying to her the night before.

"Come oooooon. I'll just stay here and I won't go outside. Your girlfriend won't see me."

"It's not just because of her, Jinx. I can't do that."

She stood up and walked toward you. Her hands were clasped behind her back, as if she were trying to show you that she wasn't a threat, that she wouldn't touch you. But she knew that no matter how she approached you, you wouldn't do anything to her.

Because you were incapable of hurting her.

"You're the only person I can trust right now. Please, I need you. I have nowhere else to go." You were a few centimeters taller than her, yet somehow you still felt small beneath her gaze.

"Jinx, I can't..." You whispered, without even lifing your face to look at her.

You didn't need to.

She helped you do it with her hands.

"Please." Her thumbs brushed over your eyelids, feeling how wet they were.

Jinx towered over you with that expression she always used against you whenever she ruined everything between you. You'd like to say you didn't see it often, but you knew it too well. It always worked on you, no matter how terrible she'd made you feel.

"Powder can't see you." You noticed how her eyes darkened, how her fingers trembled against your cheeks.

"She won't." Her voice less gentle this time.

You nodded softly, ending the conversation, giving her what she wanted once again.

You wanted to let yourself stay close to her for a little longer, you didn't even realize your hands were resting on her waist until you pulled away after noticing how she was getting closer and closer.

At least you'd done something good for yourself and you didn't let her have you like that.

She didn't do anything to pull you back, that was your sign to leave. You grabbed your jacket and your keys, trying to get away from the blue-haired girl as quickly as possible. You glanced at her before walking out the door and left without looking back even once, because you knew that if you did, you'd go back.

Because you knew Jinx wouldn't be able to sleep that night either, because you knew perfectly well that she was fighting with that weren't really there.

────୨ৎ────

The walk to your girlfriend's dorm felt longer than usual. You allowed yourself to cry on they way there, but you managed to calm yourself down before arriving. You just hoped you didn't look as bad as you felt.

"Babe?" She sounded sleepy; you had definitely woken her up. You felt a little guilty when you saw her half-lidded eyes and messy hair.

She had so many things to do and you were bothering her.

But you knew it was better than staying with Jinx.

"Hey, pow... can I come in?"

The concern appeared almost immediately.

"Of course, love. Are you okay?"

Powder had never been the type to push too hard. So when you simply hugged her and hid your face in her neck, she stopped asking questions.

She wouldn't press you about it right now, but you knew you wouldn't be able to avoid that conversation forever.

You didn't think about it, you simply focused on the feeling of safety her arms gave you. Soon, you feel a sense of fullness in your chest again.

Powder took your jacket off, guided you to her bed and made sure you were comfortable. She pulled the sheet over you as much as she could before joining you, holding you as tightly as possible and gently kissing your forehead. She whispered sweet words to you until you fell asleep. It didn't take long.

You had never slept so well.

────୨ৎ────

You wake up feeling a familiar weight on your chest, and you can't help but smile. Your hand move up to the blue hair, and you tangle your fingers in it, combing through the rebellious strands. She buries her face even further into your chest, making little sounds in her sleep that only make you smile until your cheeks hurt.

You wish you could see her right now. Surely she'd never looked so peaceful as she did now. And it wasn't the first time the two of you had slept together, but you longed for her company so much in that moment that everything felt different.

You think you've never been this happy, this peaceful. Powder gives you all the peace you feel like you've needed your entire life. Her firm arms wrap around your waist, with just enough strength to keep you in place, to hold you. You think you won't ever need anything else in your life again. Powder is everything you've wanted for so long, everything you wished Jinx could have been.

"Pow... Honey, you have to wake up. I'm sorry, baby." Your voice came out softly, without any real desire to wake the person sleeping so peacefully on your chest.

You felt movement on top of you. She lifted her head, looked at you, lay back down, then looked at you again before lying back down once more.

"You look so pretty in the morning, it's not even fair."

You blushed. "Don't be stupid, wake up. We have class."

The mention of that seemed to make her wake up. She wasn't on top of you anymore, but she was still hugging you. Her eyes wide open now as she stared at you with a smile.

"Hi."

"Hi."

"Wanna tell me what happened last night?"

Your hand went to her cheek, caressing it. What could you tell her? That you called your ex girlfriend and, after a long time, she finally decided to listen to you and come back? That you let her stay in your room? You couldn't do that to her. Besides, if Jinx kept her word, Powder would never see her, would never know about her, and you really wanted to trust Jinx this time.

"I had a nightmare... One where you weren't with me. It was really sad, so I just came to make sure you were still with me."

Her eyes widened in surprise, but then she blushed.

"That's... really sweet, love." She almost seemed embarrassed.

"Luckily, you're still here."

Powder nodded with a smile, leaning toward you to kiss all over your face and make her way to your lips. She kissed you so many times that you laughed, until it was too late and the two of you had to run around everywhere to make it to your respective classes on time. Luckily, you had clothes there, since you used to have sleepovers when you were friends.

Today was better than yesterday. You no longer felt as self-conscious about all the looks on you and Powder with your hands intertwined. You were so happy that you forgot about the person in your room.

"She better not distract you from your finals, I need you for Ambessa's class" Caitlyn groaned, resting against her pink-haired girlfriend's chest.

"I'm definitely not taking responsability for anything."

Ekko smiled. "Powder is free when you start your exams. She won't leave your dear friend alone, Cait, sorry."

"Oh God, please don't tell me that.'

"I'm telling you. They'll be like Chuck and... that girl who's bothering him."

Everyone at the table turned to look at the boy as if he were crazy. You had to hold back a laugh at Caitlyn's expression.

"What are you talking about?" Vi chuckled softly, shaking her head.

"Well, yeah... hey, she looks a lot like you, Powder."

No.

This couldn't be happening

Just like everyone else, you turned your head around, confirming your worst fear. Jinx was there, talking to the guy from the cafeteria, who looked just as uncomfortable as anyone would when having a conversation with her.

"Wow, it is true!"

Your whole body froze. Your eyes were so wide that they felt dry, your throat was dry and little by little you began to turn pale.

She was really doing this to you. She had betrayed your trust again, and you knew perfectly well why she was doing it; she wanted Powder to see her, she wanted everyone to see her, she wanted you to see her. Jinx would never get tired of drawing attention to herself, and you realized it just now. She'd always done that, only this time you were the one she was bothering with her public disturbances.

"Hey, are you okay?" Caitlyn asked, knowing who that girl was.

You turned to look at Caitlyn, realizing that the whole group was looking at you worriedly. Before you could say anything, an explosion echoed throughout the entire cafeteria. The pain in your chest wasn't from fear, because you didn't have to look to know there was only pink smoke everywhere, but because you knew it was all a warning.

"I have to go," you said, letting go of your girlfriend's hand so abruptly that you almost stopped to apologize, but you didn't, because you didn't have time for that.

You ran out of there before they evacuated everyone. You walked quickly through the hallways, tripping a few times. You were terrified because you didn't know where she was, but shouting her name would be far too suspicious. There were still people in the hallways, and the fact that you were practically running was already strange enough.

What bothered you the most about all of this was that, even when you weren't near her, you could feel her everywhere. It was like a game where you had the disadvantage. She could be watching you from anywhere, and you'd never know. She always did that, knowing how crazy it made you every time she did it. You think it's the thing that annoys you the most about her.

With no other choice, you went back to your room. There were things scattered all over the floor, some broken, others not. You didn't even take the time to see if they were important. You just walked carefully toward your bed, making sure not to trip over anything.

You sat down, resting your elbows on your knees, your face hidden between your hands. You had no escape. Jinx wasn't going to leave you alone. She had never left you alone, not even during the months she disappeared. She had probably always been there, and you were stupid for thinking she'd left you alone. Now, you'd have to tell Powder that she'd come back, and if you told her that, you'd also have to tell her that you were the one who called her, and that you probably couldn't be together because your ex was a fucking psychopath who would chase you both until you hated each other.

"Ah, you're back!" Few things startled you when it came to Jinx, since you were already used to her appearing like that. But this time was one of them.

"Jinx." You said, standing up immediately. "What's your fucking problem? I let you stay and you do this?"

"Well! You should've seen it coming, silly."

She was sitting on your window, one leg hanging down, making fun of you.

"You see... I needed time and space to think. You were busy lying and fucking other girls. I had to get a little revenge, don't you think?"

You swallowed, trying to hide how much that had hurt you.

"You have no right to treat me like a slut."

She shrugged, standing up and approaching you in in slow and calculated steps.

"You had no right to replace me." Her face was close to yours, but not in a way you'd like it. It was challenging. She looked angry, almost as angry as You.

It wasn't that which bothered you, but the little shove she gave you.

You pushed her too, harder.

"That wasn't how it happened!"

That seemed to upset her.

"No? Then how did it happen? Tell me."

"I... fell in love."

"No, you didn't"

"Jinx, I...! I love Powder, okay?" You insisted desperately, trying to convince her. Maybe yourself too.

"No, you don't love her. Stop lying to yourself."

"Who says you get to decide what I feel?"

Her breathing became heavier. You kept talking, attacking her, and she couldn't even hear you anymore. You didn't notice how serious things were becoming. It wasn't just you yelling at her, she could her more people too. It was overwhelming, too much. She needed let it out, to do something.

"No... stop." She began to murmur, bringing her hands to her head and squeezing tightly.

"Jinx?"

"Shut up!"

She threw something in your direction, and you dodged it. You didn't know what it was until you heard the glass shatter against the wall.

"Did you just... throw something at me?"

"No... no, no, no, no. It wasn't at you!" She shouted desperately.

She tried to approach you, but you flinched. That stressed her out.

"I think you need to leave, Jinx. I'm serious this time."

Her eyes clouded over and se tried to approach you again.

"No... no. You don't love me? Do you love her more than me?" Her voice sounded truly broken this time, and that hurt you terribly. You had rarely heard her sound like that.

"You're not good for me, Jinx. I'm sorry, you have to leave now."

"No, no, no, no. Please, baby, don't leave me. Love me again, please."

Her hands cupped your face, her nails scratching your cheeks, squeezing you as if she needed you.

Your eyes were closed. You didn't want to see her, you couldn't see her.

"I can't..."

"Yes, you can, yes, you can." Her forehead was against yours now, her breath brushing against your lips. Your hands were gripping her wrists tighly, but you weren't pushing her away. You were just holding her.

"I love you, baby. I love you, I love you, I love you so, so much..."

"I..." You opened your eyes, just a little, enough to look at her. She was really not okay; swollen eyes, smeared mascara, flushed from crying. You hated seeing her like this, it hurt you so much.

You can't push her away, you can't let her leave like this. You're the only thing she has, if you leave, she'll be alone forever, alone with her cruel hallucinations. You don't know what she could do without you, if you leave her, if you abandon her like everyone else. It's always just been the two of you. You promised her you'd never leave before she disappeared.

"I love you." She whimpered against your lips, barely brushing them.

"I love you too, Jinx." You gasped, feeling your whole body become lighter after saying it. Everything heavy inside you disappeared in just a second, and your brain stopped working the moment she kissed you.

Her hands went to the back of your head, her fingers tangling in your hair. She pulled you tightly against her, desperately, as if she were going to die if she didn't have you at that moment. You tightened your hands around her waist, digging your nails in, scratching her, pulling her even closer.

It barely even seemed like a kiss because of how messy it was. Your lips collided with each other and your teeth bumped together. It was wet, too wet, and it even hurt every time your mouths collided again. She nibbled on your lower lip and you let out a soft sound, letting her tongue brush against yours. You bit her too, with anger, with desperation.

"I missed you." Kiss. "So much."

"Why didn't you come back?" You said, pulling away to look at her through your wet lashes.

Before she could answer, three knocks on your door stopped her.

"Sweetie, are you okay?" Your face turned into pure terror. It was Powder's voice, whom you'd completely forgotten about.

You felt like your whole world had fallen apart once again. You became hyper aware of yourself and what you were doing, of how you were betraying her trust, and you hadn't even taken long to do it. You trusted yourself not to run back to Jinx at the first opportunity, that you'd respect Powder, but you didn't, not even now that you had the chance to do the things right, because you immediately pushed Jinx toward your closet to hide her.

You looked at her with pleading eyes after kissing her one last time. You'd never asked her something so seriously like you did it now. She seemed like she wanted to say something, but you didn't let her. You only made her promise that she wouldn't move from that spot, that she wouldn't make any noise, that she wouldn't let Powder see her. She didn't answer with words, but she nodded, and that was all you needed to trust her.

Let me know what u think <3

[vimira0312]

Are You My Enemy ? Ch. 2 (CaitVi x OC) Revamped

(Round 2, baby. Let's go ! Sera's pronouns are She/Her. Men, Minors DNI)

TW : Discussions of Past Trauma, Anxiety, Drugging, Kidnapping, Violence

Chapter 1 Revamped

Sera POV

"The sister. She's back." Sevika's words rang in my head like a cruel mantra, cycling over and over without any hint of stopping. 'How ? Why now ? What does she want ?'

Those questions - among countless others - echoed in my mind as I tried desperately to conceal my presence from the two standing below me.

Once Silco managed to somewhat regain his composure, he ordered Sevika and every thug at his disposal to track Vi down, along with a young enforcer who was apparently accompanying her.

She was evidently the one who had wrecked Sevika's arm, but that meant nothing in comparison to the threat Vi posed. For my part, I had been trying to keep my breathing even for several minutes, hoping that no sound was loud enough for Silco to hear.

It was like walking a tightrope, my lungs & heart balancing precariously between a dangerous feat and certain death. Thankfully, Silco stood, grabbing his coat and quickly leaving the office. He mumbled something about the sheriff, but I couldn't make out everything.

The stillness in the air grew more suffocating as the seconds dragged on. I half-expected the door to slam open again with Silco and his goons yanking me down from the rafters and unceremoniously killing me.

However, as one minute became five, then ten, it seemed that I had avoided an early death. The door then slammed open, and my heart dropped into my stomach. 'Welp, I'm dead. I leave everything to Jinx, and I regret nothing.'

I heard a lighter pair of footsteps than usual, which immediately caught my attention. I cautiously peered over the support beam I'd been laying on and spotted Jinx slouching in Silco's office chair. She had her usual aloof grin, twiddling an enforcer ventilator that she'd clearly painted.

"I know you're there.", She suddenly called, and I jumped, startled at her effortless detection. Nonetheless, I fully looked over and met her gray-blue eyes, a soft smile forming on my face.

"Hey.", I greeted, twiddling my fingers at her. She twiddled hers back before her face morphed, a sense of determination now about her.

She stood, grabbing various parts that were scattered throughout the office as she quickly assembled a makeshift gas-trap, although I couldn't figure out why.

I chose not to ask, opting to simply observe as she secured a trip-wire into place before walking back to the chair & sitting down. She suddenly tossed another ventilator up at me, which I managed to grab just in time.

"Soo, are you gonna tell me what you're up to, or am I gonna have to guess again ?", I asked, to which Jinx smirked. 'Guess again it is.'

A series of heavy footfalls suddenly grew louder, so Jinx gestured for me to be quiet. I nodded, slinking back into the ceiling as she spun the chair away from the door.

Sevika burst in a few moments later, slightly out of breath. "They've lost her.", She panted, not knowing who she was actually addressing.

Jinx swiveled around, lightly clutching a clipboard as she asked, "Lost who ?" Before Sevika could say a word, her foot nudged the tripwire, activating the trap that began quickly filling the room with a green fog.

Sevika tried to cover her mouth as she made a run for the desk, but Jinx remained unbothered, attaching her ventilator as I did the same.

The chemicals quickly did their work, knocking Sevika out as she slumped onto the desk. With her now dispatched, Jinx stood and opened the main window, allowing the room to air out as she cleaned up her little contraption.

I jumped down from the raptors, landing with a deep THUD. As I rose to my feet, Jinx started cleaning up her little contraption, so I lugged Sevika onto my shoulder, throwing her into the office chair.

Jinx produced a rope, and we thoroughly bound Sevika, flourishing it with a dagger being thrust into the bionic arm's shoulder. I spun the chair around out of boredom, letting the weight make it turn over and over.

Eventually, the gas wore off, and Sevika groaned, so I stepped back to let Jinx do whatever it was she had planned. She opened the conversation by slapping Sevika awake, linking her fingers and donning a rather cheerful grin.

"I feel like we got off on the wrong arm. Maybe we should try the other one ?", She said, yanking the dagger out and running it along Sevika's collarbone. She rested the tip against Sevika's other shoulder, the one that would definitely hurt getting stabbed.

Sevika flinched, but she quickly steadied herself. "No need. Your sister's back. She's looking for you.", She quickly said, a smirk growing across her chapped lips as the information took effect.

I pretended to look surprised, but Jinx was totally taken by surprise. She inhaled sharply, her arms instinctively clutching her head despite still gripping the dagger.

Despite this, Sevika apparently wasn't done revealing information. "Actually, she's looking for both of you.", She added, relishing the apparent panic attack that Jinx was having as she pointedly looked at me.

Her words hit their mark, and my vision went out of focus as I struggled to keep breathing naturally. 'Vi is looking for us ? For me ? Why ?', I asked myself, trying to frantically reconcile my confusion with any form of rational explanation.

"She's with some girl enforcer. It's not what you think. I guess she replaced you.", Sevika continued, driving the verbal knife even deeper. Jinx growled, stabbing her dagger into thechair, mere inches from Sevika's ear. "You're lying !", She said, her voice quivering slightly.

"Why bother ?", Sevika scoffed, "With her back in town, it's only a matter of time before you implode, and Silco finally realizes that you're about as good for our cause as you were for your family, Jinx."

"Achoo !", Jinx fake-sneezed, kicking the chair as her persona slid back into place. "Ten outta ten, toots. I think I know the perfect way to deliver that message.", She said, grabbing the chair's back and throwing it into a spin while chuckling.

As it spun faster, Sevika's eyes rolled into her head and she slumped forward, the chair toppling over in response. Jinx chuckled again, then turned to me, and her smile quickly faded.

She clearly saw that I was still a bit rattled, my hands still quaking, and she instantly shifted gears. She cautiously approached me, gently grasping my hands.

"Hey, it's ok. Deep breaths for me, okay ?", She spoke, a calmness in her voice that seemed so foreign, yet so welcoming.

Her thumbs gently ran over my knuckles, a soothing touch to ground me as I tried to level my breathing. Seconds dragged on, the ringing in my ears slowly dulling as I inhaled & exhaled repeatedly, training my heart to beat in rhythm again.

After maybe a minute, I closed my eyes, letting my equilibrium fully restore itself as my breathing came back under control.

My eyes slowly opened, meeting the gray-blue orbs of the only person who truly mattered to me. "What do we do now ?", I asked, my voice surprisingly even. For once, Jinx didn't smirk, letting her true self shine for a brief moment.

"We find Vi.", She replied, leading me by the hand out of the office. I didn't let go, too afraid of what may happen if we were separated.

She paused, turning to face me as she lowered us to the ground. "I'll be right back, okay ? I promise.", She whispered, waiting for my nod before disappearing back into the room.

A disjointed series of bangs & thunks followed, with what sounded like a rope being pulled at one point, but it was not even five minutes later that she appeared again, shutting the door with a resolute THUD.

She extended her hand to me, a wordless 'Are you coming ?' As much as I feared reopening old wounds, I would sooner die than leave Jinx all alone.

I grabbed her hand, letting her pull me up before we left the bar. The air felt unnatural tonight, like even nature itself was holding its breath for whatever we did next.

We made a brief stop at our hideout to collect a few things, namely Jinx's mini-gun and the flare that Vi had given her all those years ago. As it came into view, I realized what Jinx's plan was ... and I was scared.

I think she knew it too, sending a look of sympathy my way before intertwining our hands, leading me back out of the chasm.

With our tools collected, we started scouting for a good location, eventually finding the perfect spot for our plan. It looked like it used to be some sort of outdoor viewing platform, but time and rust had eaten away much of it.

As we climbed the stairs that led to the highest point of the structure, a knot slowly formed in my stomach. 'Would Vi even come ?', I thought, running through every possible scenario in my head.

Was this all a fantasy ? Possibly. Am I crazy for hoping she actually does show up ? Probably. What about the girl enforcer ? Wild card there. How would either of them work with Jinx ? Good frickin' question.

Jinx looked over the edge, staring down at the vast expanse of The Lanes that laid before us. She seemed hesitant, and for a moment I honestly thought that she wouldn't go through with it.

My doubt passed quickly, as she produced the torch that held the key to an unwritten future. She looked at me, a fear in her eyes that I'd never seen before, and I grasped the handle.

"Whatever happens next, we do together.", I said, and she nodded. Our trepidation morphed into confidence, and she gripped the release. "Ready ?", I whispered, and she nodded.

She pulled the pin, hoisting the torch to the sky as the blue flame ignited, the smoke trail quickly rising into the night sky. I felt a shudder pass through me, like a presence had joined us that I couldn't see.

It felt foreign, yet familiar somehow. I looked at Jinx, and she nodded, clearly feeling it as well. She closed her eyes, and I did too, letting the memories flow. Mylo's smile, Claggor's laugh, Vander's warmth ...

They passed like streaks of light, a fleeting presence that was just out of reach. A warmth rested on my shoulder, almost like a guiding hand, and I couldn't help the gasp that left me in response.

The torch's hissing slowly faded away, the last memories of our friends projecting themselves in my head. Seeing them walk out the basement door, a determination in their eyes to rescue Vander, it made me feel like we were invincible.

And then they died. And I lived. I lost my brothers, my father, and there was nothing I could do. I let the built-up tears flow, wanting at least one moment where I didn't have to pretend anymore.

The presence seemed to grip my shoulder slightly, and I let all of my walls crumble, the mask of Sera falling away completely. I was too weak, I failed to protect my family. I'm sorry, Mylo. I'm sorry, Claggor. I'm sorry, Vander ...

The presence vanished, and I sighed, wiping my tears away as I opened my eyes again. The torch's hissing rang in my ears, but it sounded more hollow now, like it was running out of time.

As the torch sputtered, almost like it was coughing, a bitterness slowly grew within me. With a last gasp, the flame died out completely, leaving us all alone again with the jarring silence left by our beacon of hope.

Vi wasn't here. She hadn't come. It was all a lie.

Jinx screamed, throwing the now-dead torch over the edge, a series of CLANKs echoing as it tumbled down into the abyss. I frowned, feeling the brief glimmer of hope be firmly extinguished.

We looked at each other, content to put the matter to bed as Jinx pulled out the gemstone we'd stolen, but a voice suddenly called to us, "Powder ? Seraphim ?"

'That voice ... Could it be ?', I dared to think, the both of us turning to the other side of the platform, where a woman now stood. Her distinctive pink hair blew lightly in the breeze as she tried to catch her breath, a small yet visible VI tattooed on her right cheek.

I gasped, feeling tears rapidly building up again. Jinx voiced my thoughts, "Vi ?" I didn't want to believe it, but it was true. All this time, she was alive.

Vi surged forward, wrapping both of us in a hug, her warmth instantly disarming me. The tears fell, plopping gently against her jacket. I heard something land near us with a TINK, but I was too preoccupied to care.

Jinx hugged Vi back, linking her other arm around my shoulders as the three of us let all of our bottled up emotions finally release. It felt ... euphoric. Finally ... we could be free.

Vi had been blubbering about being arrested and how sorry she was, but it went in one ear and out the other. She was here, that's what mattered. "Are you real ?", Jinx asked, shattering the gentle moment.

Vi backed up, looking both of us in the eyes as she affirmed that she was in-fact real. "Things changed when you left. We changed.", Jinx said, her voice cracking as she gripped my hand.

Vi nodded, "I know, Pow Pow. I know. You did what you had to do to survive." She turned to look at me, and for the first time in almost eight years, I gazed into her brilliant eyes, ones that held such love and such strength.

She felt like home, like comfort. I felt my heart flutter, and my cheeks suddenly burned, but I tried my best to not let it show. "Seraphim ...", Vi whispered, almost like my name was too sacred to utter.

Forgoing any pretenses, I surged into her arms again, sobbing into her chest properly. "I'm sorry, Vi. I'm so so sorry. I should've been there for you, for everyone." , I rambled, pouring out my heart to her.

How often was it that you got to apologize for the biggest mistake of your life to a person who you thought had been dead for so long ?

I debated the question as I laid my heart bare, sobbing into her jacket and just absorbing the blissful knowledge that she was back. "I missed you so much, Vi.", I whispered, leveling my breathing enough to pull away and look her in the eyes again.

She smiled, gently wiping a few stray tears away. "I missed you too. What matters now is that we're together.", She firmly said, but sadly, all good things must inevitably end.

As the three of us hugged again, I heard a set of footsteps rapidly approaching, so I glanced over and spotted the same pair of cerulean orbs from the night we'd stolen the gemstone.

Jinx must've noticed as well, since she wrenched herself free while grabbing her weapon, aiming it right at the newcomer. "Who is she ?", she pointedly asked, and Vi raised her hands, now very nervous.

The girl bit back, a noticeable accent in her voice, "Who are you ?" I rolled my eyes at her diplomacy, but Vi tried to play peacemaker, "It's ok. She's a friend."

Those three words snapped me out of whatever float-y feelings I'd been marinating in, and my survival instincts immediately returned. I drew one of my concealed daggers from my boots as I squared up with Jinx, the two of us prepared for whatever came next.

"Sevika wasn't lying ? You're with an enforcer ?", Jinx asked, a pain now coating her words. I felt the same, after everything we had been through - not even counting the fact that her & Vi's parents had been killed by enforcers.

"Vi, explain. Now.", I growled, no longer in the mood for lovey-dovey nonsense. The newcomer apparently had her own epiphany, "Your sister is Jinx !"

My eyes shot over to her, now very skeptical of her presence. "And you are ?" I bluntly asked, but Vi jumped in, her hands still raised. "Caitlyn, wait. I can explain.", She said, desperately trying to keep the peace that had already abandoned us.

"This is a trick, you're playing me !", Jinx said, her voice rising as her pupils shrank. She suddenly gripped her mini-gun, aiming it right at Caitlyn, "Shut up ! I'm in no mood." I felt a new sense of dread, seeing the telltale signs of her hallucinations.

"We didn't say anything.", Caitlyn snobbishly replied, and Jinx snapped, "I wasn't talking to you !" I sheathed my dagger, raising my hands as Vi had while slowly entering her field of view. "Hey, Jinx ? Look at me, okay ? Just you and me.", I carefully said, hoping she'd listen.

Vi chose then to reinsert herself into the conversation, "Powder, it's okay." I sighed, already feeling things take an even worse turn. "Stop calling me that ! It's Jinx now. Powder fell down a well.", She said, waving her gun around slightly.

Vi attempted to keep going, "You're not a jinx. I never should've-" Jinx cut her off, shoving her mini-gun into Vi's face. "Stop talking to me like I'm a child !", She snapped, and I had to hold my breath, hoping that she wouldn't fire.

"Was that why you came ? For this stupid stone ?", She asked, giggling manically as her eyes darted over to the previously discarded orb. I glanced over as well, catching a brief hint of movement in my peripheral that came from Caitlyn.

Apparently she was quite tense herself, and when we locked eyes, something clicked. I felt myself unable to look away, and it seemed that she couldn't either, since we both just stared at each other, like we were trying to converse with our eyes but we were speaking two different languages.

Vi's shouting broke us out of our stupor, and we both broke our gaze to look over at them as Vi pushed Jinx's gun away, gently resting a hand on her arm. Jinx paused for a brief moment, but then she curled into herself, "Everyone shut up ! I need to think."

She gripped her head, but suddenly sprang up and cocked her weapon. "Did you hear that ?", She asked, and for a brief moment, I wondered if she was still hallucinating. I glanced around us, listening to the groans of old metal, the light dust blown by the breeze, and the crow cawing loudly.

The latter was sat on top of a shaft of metal, but from behind it, a figure emerged. A green glow emanated from his hoverboard, a club in his hand, and the unforgettable white owl mask over his face. 'Shit.'

As soon as Jinx saw the leader of the Firelights, she opened fire, but he was faster. He swerved cleanly around the spray, dodging and weaving like he'd done so many times before.

Unlike this morning, he had a far greater advantage. More Firelights shot out of the pipes, putting everyone on high alert. Vi & Jinx squared up, which left Caitlyn & I to fend for ourselves.

I spotted the orb between Vi & Jinx, but before I could move to retrieve it, the Firelights swarmed us. They stirred up the lingering smoke cloud from Jinx's torch, coating their approach and quickly sewing chaos.

I could hardly see anything, let alone try to fight back, but the spray from Jinx's gun illuminated the area, bright flashes firing almost every second as her cackles grew louder and louder.

I heard a nearby hiss, and I turned just as a Firelight in a crow mask disappeared within a black smoke cloud. When it had cleared, the crow was no longer there, but I didn't see Caitlyn anywhere else. 'Shit, that's not good.'

I scanned the area, but I couldn't find the orb either. 'That's really not good.', I panicked, but the fight wasn't over yet. I glanced over at Vi & Jinx, both of whom were still engaged in spats, the former punching a Firelight down while the latter whacked another Firelight with the body of her gun.

A third Firelight flew by, distracting her, so she shot at them, hitting the board and sending them careening off. They recovered quickly, landing on the platform and sprinting off again, dodging bullets all the while.

The Firelight who'd been knocked down by Jinx moments before sliced her leg with a spear, and she screamed, knocking him down yet again.

Vi had apparently been knocked unconscious, which just left me, Jinx, Owl-Mask, Bat-Mask, and the guy who was facing the business end of Jinx's mini-gun.

Bat-Mask was about to stab Vi with a spear, so I threw myself at him, slamming into his gut with everything I had. He stumbled back as I squared up, ready to take him on.

Sadly, it seems I had forgotten to check my six, since a swift blow to the back of my head sent me falling to the ground. My cheek hit the floor as the pain soared through me, and despite my best efforts, I couldn't keep myself awake.

As my eyes forcibly shut, I heard a hiss of smoke, and as the black cloud enveloped us, I tried to lift myself up. A second strike to my head nipped that in the bud, and as I felt my body shut down, an agonizing "NOOO !" echoed in my ears. 'I'm sorry, Jinx.'

(Woo, that was quite a doozy to rewrite, but I hope you enjoyed ! Comment or send an ask if you'd like to be added to the tag list.)

Taglist : @esop3 @pinkpatheresss