Chapter Text
So, Jinx decided that Isha and she would stay at the Kiramman house with their big sister.
And Vi was slowly starting to regret her life decisions.
“Please don't get me kicked out,” she muttered. She really missed Jinx's braids. They made her so easy to grab.
Maybe she should invest into one of those child leashes?
She grabbed Isha before she got into the cabinets, then threw her over her shoulder. It was like herding cats.
With that moment of divided attention, she took her eyes off Jinx for a second. Now, she didn't know where she went.
“Can…” Vi looked all around, even up to the high ceiling, just in case. “Can you come to the guest rooms? Please?”
“This place is fucking massive!” Jinx's voice came from a different room, a few doors away. Vi quickly walked towards it and peeked inside.
“Oh my fucking god, Jinx. Get off the chandelier.”
The middle sister was hanging upside down in the massive light fixture, surrounded by dangling crystals. Her bangs swirled in the air as she swung slowly back and forth.
“You're gonna get me killed. Please. It's been only a few weeks, don't–”
“Jinx it for you?” The middle sister dropped down with a flip and landed on the wooden table below with a loud smack. “This is, like… the place to rob–”
“Please don't,” Vi begged.
“–there's so much shit, nobody'd even notice if something went missing,” Jinx mused as she jumped off the table. “Could swipe a bagfull and it wouldn't change anything… Come ‘ere, kiddo,” she took Isha from Vi's shoulder and set her down. “We've some exploring to do–”
The oldest sister grabbed them both by the back of their collars before they managed to run off again.
“You're gonna give me an aneurysm,” she sighed. “Can we… Can we just sit down and catch up? I've been mourning you, y'know?”
Jinx and Isha looked at each other.
“Alright, alright…”
Vi grabbed them both by the hand, just in case, and took them to the guest wing of the mansion. Jinx was looking around, taking note of every door and every interesting item. Isha was stunned by the sheer size of the place. She felt so much smaller than usual.
“How do you not get lost in here?”
“I just know where the places I need are…”
“So you haven't even been to every room?” Jinx cocked her head to the side.
“Nope.”
“That's crazy. This place is like… at least five Last Drops. And it's really just… one family living in here? In this bigass castle?”
“There are, uh… sometimes guests stay here,” Vi was still not used to this place either. It's been nearly a month, and she's barely been outside the main and guest wing. She hasn't seen most of this place yet. “... And there’re people who work here…”
“At a house?” Jinx asked with pure bewilderment. “People work at a fucking house? What do they do, wash your fucking back?”
“Clean, cook…” Vi felt a sort of embarrassment wash over her, being judged by her sister.
“So why're you so worried about making a mess? If there's people to clean it up, I should be allowed to put my boots on the table!”
“That's inconsiderate,” Vi scolded.
“What, are they not getting paid?”
“Of course they are.”
“What's the issue then?”
Vi let go of her hand and started opening door after door, just to glance inside and close it.
“You wouldn't leave a mess at The Last Drop just ‘cause someone'll clean it up, right?”
“Yeah I would?” Jinx wasn’t getting any of Vi's points. “People have jobs to work them, don't they?”
“Well, yeah–”
“Do Pilties get paid for not working? This place is crazier than I am,” she shook her head.
“Right, it's here…”
Vi pushed the door open to reveal a spacious room with a giant bed, a sofa and two plush armchairs around a coffee table, on a fluffy carpet. An open fireplace was on the other side of the table, with a giant bookshelf to the side of it. Fresh flowers on pristine cabinets, a few paintings of nature on the walls, a window with the view of a fountain outside framed by heavy curtains.
“This is like the best guest bedroom,” Vi walked her sisters in, then closed the door behind them.
Isha stuck to Jinx's good leg, looking the spacious place over as if it was full of traps.
“I'm gonna throw up,” Jinx announced.
“Huh? Don't do that,” Vi said, slightly confused. “Why?”
“This place gives me the heebie-jeebies,” she explained, moving towards the bookshelf. “The best guest bedroom implies there are more bedrooms.”
“Yeah.”
“And they're empty.”
“... Yeah?”
“Wherever you go in the Undercity, you'll probably have at least one homeless kid in the field of view at all times.”
Vi didn't answer, she crouched by the fireplace and grabbed the first log. Jinx wasn’t wrong.
“This place is disgusting, just the existence of it. How can you live here?” Jinx started grabbing books, one by one, looking at the titles, skimming through the pages.
“It is… weird to be in here…” Vi said quietly as she started to stack the logs. “It's big, and empty, and quiet. Especially when Cait has to leave, and I'm left here all alone…”
Every time Jinx was done with a book, she handed it to Isha, and the girl stacked them like a house of cards.
“Just grab like fifty people from Zaun and have them live here. There's so many more orphans since Silco…” she trailed off, went silent.
Vi considered her sister's words. Wondered if there was a world in which Cait would even humour that. Maybe she'd bring it up anyways. She saw Jinx’s point.
“Hey,” Vi said when she snapped out of her thoughts. “I'm trusting you not to burn this place down, alright?”
“Ha!” Jinx let out despite herself as she thought about The Last Drop.
“What's that about?” The older sister furrowed her brow and set the matchbox down. She looked towards her sisters, the house of books getting taller than Isha already.
“Nothin,” Jinx put on her innocent voice. “I won't burn it down, promise.”
Jinx and Vi locked eyes, one trying not to look suspicious, the other looking with intense suspicion.
“Can I light it u–”
“You're not getting into the arm's reach of the fireplace.”
“I'd like to see you try and stop me,” Jinx crossed her arms.
The book house collapsed. Isha looked at the messy pile, then at Vi, who pinched the bridge of her nose. She giggled.
There was a moment of silence, in which the oldest sister focused on getting the fire going. The middle one finally took her cloak off and tossed herself onto the sofa. The youngest set off to inspect everything in the room that she could grab.
“You're still covered in paint from a month ago?” Vi asked as she sat on the plush chair next to the sofa. “You stink like shit, too…”
“Woah, one month up top and you can't stand the Undercity smell?” Jinx scoffed. “I take baths, this paint's just hard to get off.”
“Have you tried soap?”
“Have you tried to stop bitching?” The younger sister narrowed her eyes.
“There're showers here,” Vi suggested. “It'd do you good to take one.”
“I know there're showers here, jumped your girlfriend in one of ‘em.”
Vi put her face in her hand with a groan of a person who just got punched in the gut.
“Did you really have to bring that up?” She sighed. “I'm trying to forget it ever happened…”
“And I'm here to make sure you don't,” Jinx stuck her tongue out. Her older sister shook her head.
“... Have you ever experienced getting into a freshly made bed, in clean clothes, after a hot shower?” Vi asked, knowing the answer already.
“Wow. Rub it in, why don't ya?”
“Well, that's your opportunity,” the older one smiled. “C'mon, it feels great. I'll find you something clean to put on?”
Jinx thought in silence for a long while, her brow furrowed.
“... Alright,” she finally said. “But it's for research purposes, not ‘cause you told me to,” she added immediately after.
“Of course,” Vi grinned.
“Don't look so happy about it, weirdo. Isha, c'mon, we're getting the Piltover experience,” Jinx said as she sat up. Her younger sister stuffed a few expensive-looking baubles into her side pocket and ran up to the two with a curious hum.
Vi led them back down the hall and into a bathroom. Not as big as what Jinx had seen before, but still just as fancy; decorated tiles, a stack of fresh, soft towels, multitude of skin care products by the sink, and half as many soaps, shampoos and conditioners.
“Am I supposed to use all of this crap?” Jinx motioned around, already put off.
“Nah, only the stuff you like the smell of,” Vi said. “And this shit here,” she pointed to the sink, “you don't need to bother with. It's moisturizers and such, make your skin nice and soft.”
“I know what a moisturizer is, numbskull.”
“Really? I'd never guess–”
Jinx threw one of them at Vi's head, and she took it to the forehead.
“Hey.”
“Get out.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Vi picked the container off the floor and put it back by the sink. “I'll leave the clothes right outside, have fun.”
Jinx rolled her eyes and shooed her sister away. When alone with Isha, who started to pick up and sniff all the soaps one by one, she looked into the wide mirror over the sink. Her fingers ran down the now fainter, but still visible, green lines on her arms. The Firelight tag…
She rubbed the back of her neck, then moved her hand over her short hair.
It was better that way, with Ekko thinking she's gone. He was a busy man, after all. And she was a busy woman, with soooo much things to do…
Isha'd like him, she thought. He'd like her, too.
She immediately shook her head and hit herself on the forehead a few times. Seeing it, her little sister ran up to her and hugged her with a concerned huff.
“It's nothing,” Jinx assured, taking Isha's hat off. She ruffled her hair and put the hat to the side. “Chose a smell you like yet?”
The girl smiled and nodded.
“Good,” the older sister crouched down and squeezed the little cheeks together. “Just don't get used to that Topside life, kiddo. It'll spoil you rotten.”
It was so much easier and faster to wash hair this short, and Jinx didn't want to linger for long. Done in less than ten minutes, she squeezed the water out of her bangs with a towel and left the water on.
“Your turn– starting a skincare routine, Trouble?” She laughed.
Isha looked up at her with an innocent smile, covered head to toe in a thick layer of creams, and leaving hand marks on everything she touched. Around her lay a bunch of squeezed out tubes, bottles, and mostly empty containers.
“Get yourself cleaned up, little stinker,” she ordered, and herded the girl to the shower.
With some time to herself, she looked in the mirror again. Leaned in close. Then made a bunch of stupid faces at herself.
“Coward. Vi's gonna tell him anyway,” she spoke to herself, then ran her hands down her face, stretching the skin. While her makeup was waterproof, it was mostly faded and washed off by now, especially since the last time she put it on was ages ago. She pressed her fingers to the dark circles under her eyes, then moved her fingertips over the darkened veins around them.
“What a look,” she muttered to herself. She scrutinized the polish on her nails, too. It was getting too chipped, even for her liking, and she was out of her usual stuff… It was hard to keep track of all her belongings when burning one home to the ground, and turning another into a war balloon.
She let out a long sigh. Made another stupid face. Flipped her reflection off with the metal finger.
“If he ever shows up, just do your thing. Jinx the shit out of it,” she said to herself, nearly fooling herself into believing there was conviction behind her words.
Isha didn't take long, either. She took so little time, in fact, that Jinx had to send her back in to fully wash the soap out of her hair.
The clean clothes Vi'd left out for them right beside the door were clearly oversized. Jinx had to roll the sleeves up for Isha, and she tied the straps of her tank top up so it didn't sag. Then she tied the bottom up to have her midriff out, just because. At least the shorts had a drawstring, she thought.
Isha picked up the bathrobe meant for Jinx and ran her fingers over it. It was soft, and fluffy, and she enjoyed the texture so much that she rubbed it on her face with a happy hum.
“You can wear it,” Jinx shrugged. And she cracked up when Isha did so, all but disappearing in the softness. The girl looked at her with a self-conscious pout.
“Nah, I'm not laughing at you. I'm laughing ‘cause it brings me joy to see you like this,” she grinned, and the little one grinned right back.
Vi trusted that her sisters would come back straight to the room. Of course she did. Why wouldn't she? Still, she stood in the doorframe, peeking out into the corridor, just in case they got lost, or something.
She's had a bit of time to prepare some quick snacks, some treats they'd usually go without down in Zaun. Despite their chaotic energy, she'd missed both of them so much. For nearly a month, she thought they gave their lives to protect the family, one after another. She wasn't even close to being done mourning. And suddenly, they were back in her life. She wanted to embrace them and hold them tight in her arms ‘til the end of time.
Her sisters. Alive and well. Or, as well as they could be, considering one of them had lost half a leg in an explosion. Vi felt guilty, mad at herself, for not being able to protect her. Both of them, really. That she, the oldest sister, the one who was supposed to take care of them, let them die for her.
But it hadn't even been half an hour, and those feelings were already being pushed away by pure joy of having them back by her side. The simple thought of holding them while they slept safely and soundly in her arms brought tears to her eyes.
The bathroom door opened. She quickly wiped her eyes with the ball of her hand.
“Awh, really?” Jinx grimaced when she saw Vi leaning out of the bedroom. “You don't trust me to find my way back?”
“Of course I do. But it's so easy to get lost with all these doors… Oh my god,” Vi sister put her hand to her mouth as she watched with delight Isha come out in the oversized bathrobe that trailed behind her.
“Isn't it a great look for her?” Jinx grinned, trying not to step on all that cloth on the floor on the way back to the bedroom. “She likes how soft it is, so we might just keep it. Could sew up something more cuddleable out of it, too.”
Isha hummed gleefully, still rubbing her face on the fabric.
“You know, it reminds me of how you used to wear Vander's jacket…”
“It always smelled like safety…” Her expression softened at the memory.
Vi ruffled Jinx's hair as she passed by her.
“How's that short hair working out for you, by the way?” She asked as her hand was half-assedly swatted away.
“It's… nothing I can do ‘bout it now,” Jinx shrugged and threw herself back on the couch. Then she sprung up immediately. “Holy shit, is that hot chocolate? Like, real hot chocolate?” She reached for one of the mugs on the coffee table and sniffed it for a while. “What's the occasion?”
“Having my sisters back,” Vi answered. “The best occasion to celebrate, really.”
“Aww, you're such a sentimental softie–” she felt strong arms clasp around her shoulders from behind, then Vi's head lean on top of hers. “Hey, you're gonna make me spill it,” she complained half-heartedly as she put the mug down and patted her sister's forearm.
“I have my little baby sister back… I finally get to have my sister,” Vi mumbled, trying not to cry. She felt Isha hug her leg. “Two baby sisters…” she sniffled. “I th– I thought I'd never see you again…”
Jinx reached up and put her hand on her sister's cheek. She felt her lean into the touch.
“Don't get all sappy– urf,” she let out a grunt as the hug tightened. “Okay, you can get sappy, just don't break my bones…”
She wouldn't be surprised if this hug left bruises. At least she had the shimmer healing to her advantage. And if she survived a gauntlet to the gut, she'd survive a little too aggressive affection, too.
“Sorry, I just… I don't wanna lose you ever again, Jinx… I feel like if I let you go, you'll disappear again, you know? Like a fleeting hallucination…”
“Yeah… I get that, sis,” Jinx said softly, her fingers stroking the short pink hair on the side of her head.
They were quiet together for a while, enjoying the warmth of each other's bodies, the closeness, and just the fact of how real it was.
“Alright, that's enough,” the younger one eventually wiggled in the grasp to try and loosen it. “Go bother Isha, I wanna drink that hot chocolate.”
Vi held her for a moment longer, kissed the top of her head. When she let go of her, she immediately grabbed and lifted Isha over her head. The girl let out a surprised but happy gasp, kicking her feet in the air. She reached down, the long sleeves of the bathrobe draping over Vi's face.
“You're great, Isha. Thanks for taking care of Jinx…” she brought her down and hugged her, way gentler than she did the other sister. This one she could actually break if she wasn't careful enough. “She'd be a damn mess without you…”
Isha hummed in agreement and put her arms around Vi's neck, holding tight.
“Hey. I'm still a mess,” Jinx countered as she picked the mug back up and blew at the liquid to cool it off. “Why’d you bring so many sweets? You'll give us a sugar rush,” she motioned to the tray with an assortment of cookies and other baked goods.
“I've been learning to bake,” Vi sat down next to Jinx with Isha in her lap. “Gotta have someone eat it before it goes to waste…”
“You baked these?” The middle sister's eyebrow cocked in surprise, expression teetering on mocking. “Is it even edible?”
“Why don't you tell me, smartass,” Vi's eyes narrowed.
Isha extended her hands towards the table and proceeded to close and open them rapidly in a “gimme” gesture. She'd be the judge.
Vi grabbed the tray and held it between her sisters. The little one scrutinized it all for a while, finally picking a simple chocolate chip cookie. She took the first bite. Then all but stuffed the whole thing in her mouth.
“Isha! You're gonna choke, take smaller bites,” Vi scolded. Isha chewed faster, grabbing another handful of baked goods. “Jinx, look at what you've taught her.”
“Take it as a compliment, why don't ya?” Jinx laughed. She put the empty mug down and wiped the chocolate from her mouth with the back of her hand, only smudging it more. Then she reached for the cookies. “So you're saying it's edible?”
Isha nodded vigorously, already stuffing her mouth again.
“Alright, you gotta stop–” Vi put the tray down in Jinx's lap and took the baked treat out of Isha's hand. The girl pouted and reached for it desperately. “Chew first. It's not a rat, not gonna run away.”
“I dunno what her problem is,” Jinx said to her baby sister as she stuffed her whole mouth herself. “Ath leashth yah'wen’th shpeaking with ya mouth phull,” she added with her mouth full.
“Why’re you like this?” Vi sighed. Jinx grinned at her while chewing. “Blegh. You're gross.”
Isha climbed her arm and snatched the cookie back, then immediately tried to eat it all at once again, but the oldest sister grabbed her by the wrist.
“One bite at a time. You too,” she glared at Jinx. “Or I'm taking it all away.”
Isha let out an upset, frustrated grunt, while Jinx rolled her eyes so hard her whole head moved.
“Gee, okay,” she finally said, picking the tray up from her lap to make space for the little one, who crawled over. “Stop bullying Isha.”
“I just don't want you to choke and die,” Vi said gently as she handed the cookie back. “Glad you like it, though.”
“Yeah, your baking's fine,” Jinx said and Isha nodded, taking a more reasonable bite. “What else've you been up to?”
“Uuh… Cait took me to the opera.”
“Oh? Fancy,” there was that mocking tone again.
“It was kinda boring, so we made out for like a half–”
“Ewww!” Jinx slammed her hand into her big sister’s face and pushed her away. “Didn't need to know that!”
“Oops.”
“You're gross.”
“Speaking of…” Vi glanced at Jinx with the tiniest of smirks. “Ekko found me after the fight, you know?”
“Yeah?” Jinx tried to be nonchalant while starting to nibble on a cookie. Her eyes focused on the fireplace.
“Yeah. We've had a moment to talk…”
“Cool.”
“He spoke about your stay at the Firelight tree…”
“Sure did stay there for a moment.”
“And he mentioned your little deal, something about a date…”
“A dinner at Jericho's. That he'd buy if we both survived.”
“Sooo?” Vi looked at her sister and bumped her with her shoulder.
“So what?”
“How was it?”
“Oh, pretty sure he thinks I'm dead,” she shrugged.
“Wait, what?” Vi's brow immediately furrowed. “I thought you've been staying with him for the past few weeks?”
“Ha! Yeah, fat chance,” Jinx fiddled with the food in her hands, making crumbs go everywhere. “I've been hanging at the old cult spot, waiting for the leg to heal,” she tapped her finger at the slick metal prosthetic connected to her left thigh. “Wanted to get used to it enough before going Topside.”
“He was devastated to learn that you'd blown yourself up, you know? Why didn't you at least visit? Leave him a note?”
Jinx shrugged.
“He's a big Little Man. He'll move on.”
“Are… are you trying to avoid a date–”
“A dinner,” she corrected.
“–so badly that you'd rather he thought you were dead?” Vi snorted. “Didn't take you for a shy one.”
“I'm not shy! I just…” she raised her shoulder and waved her hand around, looking for words. “I've got other things on my plate right now.”
“You sure? Cuz I don't think you're too busy for one free meal…”
“I'm sure,” Jinx snapped. “Got my schedule all packed.”
“You know I'm gonna tell him, right?”
“Do whatever, I don't even care,” she leaned back and focused on ruffling Isha's hair. The girl felt that something was going on, but she wasn't really sure what it was all about. She motioned to Jinx a question about the free meal.
“No free meal. Everything comes at a cost, Isha,” Jinx threw her head back dramatically. “And the cost of this one is too high.”
“You should at least tell him you've made it.”
“Thanks for the tip, sis. As unsolicited as it is.”
“Oh, wow. Your face got so red…”
“That's from the heat of the fireplace.”
“Sure…” Vi snickered. “You're being adorable, you know?”
“Can it,” Jinx pushed her sister's face away again. She was silent for a while. Then perked up. “You remember you owe me for saving your One-Eyed Wonder, right?”
“Don't call her that,” Vi grimaced. “But yeah, why?”
“Don't tell Ekko about me and we're straight.”
Vi shook her head.
“You're breaking his heart, you know?”
“Sucks to be him,” Jinx shrugged again. “I'm probably heading out to Demacia or something after I'm done bothering you.”
“Oh?” Vi straightened out a bit. “Why there?”
“To broaden horizons, shoot mages, I dunno. I'll figure something out,” the middle sister waved her hand dismissively.
“All to avoid one guy…?”
“Drop that, or I'll drop you,” she said in that playful voice that also sounded like a threat. “Another word and you'll be having to sleep with one eye open.”
Vi raised her hands in the gesture of peace. “I'm just saying…”
“Someone really doesn't want to wake up in the morning, huh?” Jinx clicked her tongue.
“Chill out, I'm done. How long are you staying?” Vi changed the topic as a peace offering.
“Hmmm… ‘Til your side piece finally snaps and kicks me out.” She paused. “So I'm probably leaving tomorrow.”
“C'mon, can't you play nice for just a while and stay longer?” Vi pouted.
“Aww, you think you'll want me to stick around for longer?”
“Of course I will. I've missed you,” she answered, throwing her arm around Jinx's shoulders and pulling her close. “I'd say I could show you around town, but I'm pretty sure you're technically still wanted…”
“Tsk,” Jinx shook her head. “No respect for war veterans…”
“You blew up the council.”
“It was soooo long ago…”
“You gassed the city streets…”
“So did you, tit for tat.”
Vi grimaced, but ruffled her sister's hair.
“I dunno if you'd even be interested in most of the shit up here,” she said. “Well, there’s a museum of science right by the Academy. It's interactive, Isha'd probably enjoy it,” she mused.
“Ooh, I could bully some Piltie nerds…” Jinx grinned at the thought.
“See, that's why I don't know if I should even let you outside,” Vi sighed. “We could go shopping–”
“Booooring,” Jinx pretended to yawn.
“You do need some new clothes. Your pants are all ripped up.”
“What's up with people talking crap about my pants?” Jinx huffed, clearly miffed.
“Cait's got a tailor, she can make any clothes for Isha and you…”
“Want new clothes, pipsqueak?” Jinx looked at the youngest sister, who had already eaten half the tray of baked goods single-handedly.
Isha shrugged. She liked her clothes. They were kinda like Jinx's. And she drew all over them, too. They were custom! She grabbed another cookie from the tray. They were tasty, and sweet, and she didn't get to eat much sweet at all.
“Your tummy will hurt from this much sugar,” Vi warned. Isha shrugged again. She didn't care about the consequences, she was, like, eight years old. “Anyway, you could buy new tools…”
“Now you're speaking my language,” Jinx hummed as she set the tray out of her little sister's reach. “I've practically nothing at the moment…”
“Could get Isha some textbooks, too. Y'know, so she actually learns to read and write.”
“She reads and writes just fine, I taught her a bunch. She's good at maths too, she’s got my smarts,” she said as she started to rebraid the still damp hair. “It's growing out fast, hmm?”
Isha lit up at the praise and hugged Jinx. She hadn't figured out all the letters yet, but she was doing her best!
“What about geography? Maybe books about animals…?”
“Aren't there any books here?” She motioned to the half emptied bookcase. “I feel like there’re five separate libraries I've run into just in this house…”
“Guess I'll ask Cait…”
“Maybe we can get you some real hair paint, though,” Jinx twisted the strands together and tied them up as the girl giggled. “And a bunch o’ art supplies. Whatcha say?”
Isha nodded with a big smile on her face. She jumped to the ground, grabbed a few more cookies, and started running laps around the sofa with new-found energy.
“Maybe I could get myself a camera… Or a car. Get me a car, Vi,” Jinx grabbed her older sister by the shoulders and looked into the gray-blue eyes with sudden intensity. “Vi, get me a car. Vi.”
“Whatcha need a car for?” She raised one eyebrow, amused.
“I could add so much cool shit to it. Turn it into a pedestrian-mauling monstrosity…”
“No.”
“I meant to say, I'd just enjoy working on some fun projects…”
“I can get you a camera, probably. And film.”
“Cool!” Jinx grinned. “And a car, right?”
“No.”
“C'mon…”
“No.”
“What if I ask very, very, very nicely, and even say pleeeeease?” She made the sweetest face she could.
“Hmmm,” Vi pretended to consider it for one second. “Still no.”
“Fine, I’ll just steal one.”
“No, you won't. Don't even think about it,” she smacked her younger sister over the head.
“Gee, I'm just kidding,” Jinx muttered, rubbing her scalp.
The two of them turned their heads to the sudden thump and sound of wood squeaking. Isha got into the bed and jumped on it as if it was a trampoline. She grinned at them and waved.
“That's your fault for giving her so much sugar before bed,” Jinx hummed, resting her head on her big sister’s shoulder. “You're wrangling her tonight.”
“She'll tire herself out…”
“This kid’s a little demon when she gets the zoomies. And she's your little demon now.”
“I'm fine with that,” Vi hummed. She rested her cheek against her sister's head.
They sat in silence for a while, just watching the fire lazily lick logs in the fireplace. Vi was so happy to have her sisters back. She was hoping Jinx'd stay for longer… She'd beg Cait on her knees if it meant her sisters could live here for just a while. They'd fill out these empty halls with laughter and mischief… And there was so much she wanted to catch up on. They'd talked in the commune, sure, but it was just a couple of days. She wanted to do so much more than just talk. She wanted to be a sister, no, the best big sister that Jinx missed out on and that Isha deserved.
“Isn't it weird?” Jinx asked all of a sudden, deep in thought.
“What's weird?”
“We're both so much different than before the… You know. And yet, I…” Her hand grabbed at her big sister’s shirt as she trailed off.
“Feel like nothing's changed?” Vi finished for her. Jinx nodded, slowly. “I know you're not the same girl you've used to be,” her hand caressed the tattooed arm. She felt her sister twitch at the gentle touch. “But you're my baby sister just as much. I should’ve never doubted that.”
“I didn't necessarily make it easy for you… I was a complete nutcase when we met.”
“Was?” Vi teased, and Jinx chuckled.
“I s'pose I feel less insane now that you've joined me in the looney town,” she sighed after a short laugh. “Something about sharing the burden, dunno.”
“Plus, there's Isha,” Vi motioned to the girl with her head. “A little anchor, huh?”
There was a long pause.
“She single-handedly keeps me from going off the deep end every single day,” Jinx said softly, quietly so her little sister wouldn't hear. “I was… I was doing real bad after she pulled off that stunt…”
“You mean, when she pulled a Powder?”
Jinx let the air out of her nose, sharply, as if punched in the gut.
“If she'd pulled a Powder, we'd've been the dead ones,” her voice trembled, just slightly.
Vi didn't say anything, just pulled her sister closer in.
“You were just a kid,” she finally spoke again, barely louder than a whisper. “Just like she is. She reminds me of when you were younger, a lot…”
“She's so much more than Powder was,” Jinx bit the inside of her cheek to keep her emotions in check. “She's twice the person already. Braver, more clever… She runs to the front lines, instead of hiding behind a brick wall. She's more like you, really.”
“You were clever. Brave, too–”
“Hah.”
“Kind, caring… Powder was a good egg. Just like Isha is.”
“And they both refuse to stay dead,” Jinx let out a long sigh. She glanced at her sister, whose eyes shone with hope. “Don't look at me like that. Wherever she's hanging on, it's by a thread. She's barely a figment.”
“I dunno, I've been seeing her more and more lately…”
Jinx twitched again, a shiver going through her brain, activating a sort of white noise of murmurs.
“Don't get your hopes up, Meat Hands. I'm still Jinx,” she muttered.
“No matter the past or the future, you're still my baby sister.”
Jinx didn't answer, just nuzzled into her sister's neck.
They didn't talk anymore, simply enjoying each other's company instead. The only sound was Isha, playing on the soft bed so big she could get lost in it by herself. Eventually, Vi heard another sound: a tiny snore came from her little sister. She remembered the times Powder would fall asleep around The Last Drop, leaving Vi to carry her to bed. She'd missed that.
“Psst, Isha,” Vi whispered as she picked her sister up from the sofa with all the gentleness she could, looking fondly at her face. “Jinx fell asleep, it's time to quiet down, alright?”
Isha sat down in the middle of the giant bed and patted it, then moved the covers back so that Vi could lay their sister in the bed.
“Does… uh, does she sleep with that on?” Vi pointed to Jinx's metal leg. She knew her sister slept with the metal finger, but a whole leg… it didn't seem comfortable. Also, she didn't want to get kicked with it at night.
Isha nodded. Jinx didn't take her prosthetic off, though mostly because they'd never know if they'd have to run all of a sudden. When Vi set her down, Isha cuddled up to Jinx immediately.
Jinx cracked one eye open, smiled, and put her arm over her baby sister and turned to her side. She let out a soft hiss of displeasure.
“Fuckin… cold,” she muttered and detached the prosthetic leg with one move. “Put it… Eh, I don't care,” she yawned and nuzzled into Isha's soft, messy hair. As she drifted off again, Vi picked the cold metal leg up and looked it over. She recognized the material to be what they used in the Herald's commune, so fluid and organic-like. But then, there were clear signs of cutting and welding, with a ‘vein’ of green chemtech entangled through the ankle, the calf, then around the knee, and to the part that'd attach to Jinx's thigh. The whole thing was covered in paint top to bottom, she could recognize both Jinx and Isha's drawings, though it looked like the younger one did most of the decorating.
She set the leg gently right beside the bed and sat down on the edge. A part of her wanted to know how big the damage was, and if it healed well. She could easily imagine her sister trying to walk on a practically open wound, and forgetting to take good care of it.
But she had shimmer, Vi thought. She healed faster. It was probably all good.
She moved the covers up to look at the stump, curled up on top of her right leg, and around Isha's. The metal band around the stump, to which the prosthesis would be attached, was secured to her thigh with multiple straps, kind of like a harness. There were some parts, cogs and nuts, that indicated more of a mechanism to it, probably connected to the chemtech in some way.
Vi got fully into the bed, threw the covers back over them and tucked her two sisters in. She spooned Jinx, resting her arm around both her and Isha. Finally, she gave Jinx a soft kiss on the top of her head and rested her chin against it.
She was so glad to have her sisters back, she thought as she listened to their breathing intertwined with snores. She let herself drift off.
“Man, you weren't lying about the whole being clean in a clean bed thing,” Jinx said as she stretched out in the tight spot between her sisters. She glanced at the fancy clock on the side table and gasped. “Holy shit, last I slept this long was from extreme blood loss.”
“Maybe if you sleep like a normal person for a week or two,” Vi let out a long yawn, starting a chain reaction of big yawns amongst her sisters. “Maybe you'd get rid of those bags under your eyes. You could use those as loot caches.”
“Gee, thanks, sis. You really know how to give a girl self esteem issues,” Jinx pretended to be offended.
“As if you care about your looks…”
“Hey. I care a little bit. Speaking of, where's your makeup at? I wanna steal some.”
“You can borrow it, you know?” Vi chuckled.
“Nah, stealing's more fun,” the younger sister grinned.
Isha pushed on her shoulder and pointed at her own face with a huff.
“You don't need that crap, kiddo. You're adorable just as you are,” Jinx squeezed her little sister's cheeks, and she blew a raspberry in response.
“Will you behave if I leave you alone for a while?” Vi lifted herself up on her elbows and looked at the two. “I wanna check up on Cait…”
Jinx booed her, putting her thumbs down, which Isha mimicked.
“Hey, c’mon. I'll grab you the makeup on the way.”
“Fine, we’ll behave.” There was a short pause. “Just can't promise if we'll behave well.”
“Alright, I'm taking your leg with me, then,” Vi threatened.
“Wh– no! That's bullying! I'll break your arms!” Jinx immediately pushed herself up in the bed, a hint of panic on her face. As if on command, Isha slipped down to the floor, located the prosthesis and pulled it to her chest protectively. She huffed and narrowed her eyes at Vi, as if a warning against getting close.
“Okay, okay, I was kidding,” she raised her hands.
“Well, it wasn't funny,” Jinx muttered, taking her leg from Isha and pushing it back in its place with a click.
“Just… rest a bit more, alright? I'll be back soon.”
Vi got out of bed and stood still for a while as she looked at her sisters. She smiled to herself, and eventually headed out. She walked the halls quickly, heading straight for her girlfriend's room, no distractions.
As Vi pushed the door open slowly, in case Cait was still asleep, she heard the unmistakable sound of the hextech rifle snapping into activation.
“Hey, don't point that at me,” she said with a scowl as she walked in and closed the door behind her.
Caitlyn's severe expression immediately softened into embarrassment. She deactivated her weapon and put it down within a second.
“I didn't mean to point it at you,” she muttered, ashamed. “But I won't let Jinx corner me in my house again, I hope you understand…”
“She's changed, Cait…”
“I'm not taking any chances, Vi,” she said, her words more scathing than she intended them to. Her shoulders slumped as she sat on the edge of the bed. “I can't take any chances,” she added, softer.
The two of them were quiet for a moment. Vi leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
“What're you up to today?” She finally asked.
“The usual,” Caitlyn responded with a heavy sigh. “Administration, management… stacks of paperwork.”
Vi strolled towards the bed and sat on the edge, next to her. Cait's head immediately rested on the muscular shoulder.
“You should take more breaks,” Vi said, not hiding her concern. A delicate hand caressed her cheek as Caitlyn let out a tired laugh.
“And who'd do my job then, dear?”
“That’s a good question to keep in mind, since you're planning on overworking yourself to death,” Vi moved a stray strand of dark blue hair from her girlfriend's face and tucked it behind her ear, then placed a soft kiss on her lips.
“I'm…” She was going to say she's fine, but she knew it'd be a lie. “I'll take a day off soon, I promise.”
“You better,” Vi held her close. “Wanna join us for breakfast, Cupcake?”
“So she hasn't left yet?” Caitlyn asked, trying to hide her disappointment.
“I'd like them to stay for a week or two–”
“I don't think I'd be able to handle that, Vi,” she said with utmost sincerity, leaning back slightly to look into her eyes.
“It'd mean the world to me if you tried,” Vi’s voice was soft, nearly pleading. “I've asked her to be nice…”
“And you think she'll listen?” The enforcer couldn't stifle a doubtful scoff.
“She's family, Cait. I've just got my family back…”
The grief Vi was going through was fresh in Caitlyn's mind. The tears, the drinking, the sadness that filled her, emptiness in place of any joy… She bit her lip, then let out a conceding sigh.
“I'll try, for you.”
Vi tossed a set of makeup onto the vanity table in the guest room while studying her sisters for any sign of committed mischief. The overtly innocent look on Jinx's face made her narrow her eyes with suspicion.
“Thanks, sis,” Jinx said in a sing-song voice as she skipped to the table and checked out the cosmetics. “Oh, and it's not as bad as I thought!”
“The hell that's supposed to mean?”
“Just that you've a bad taste,” the younger sister hummed as she leaned closer to the mirror to apply the eyeliner. “But we’ve known that ever since you fell for a cop– hey!” She shouted as Vi pushed her elbow.
“Oops.”
Jinx turned around, a black smudge spanning from the corner of her eye all the way to her ear.
“Asshat,” she scowled.
“Lay off Cait. She's willing to let you stay, as long as you behave,” the older sister crossed her arms while the younger one rolled her eyes.
“Will she also have to behave? Or does it not go both ways?” Jinx turned back to the mirror and started trying to smudge the line until it was faded enough. She glanced up to meet the reflection of her sister's eyes.
“She'll play nice, too,” Vi assured. Jinx sighed loudly and got back to work.
“I'll try to bite my tongue. But sometimes things just get out of my mouth before I even realize… I may blurt something out and anger the Princess…” she noticed her sister's frown. “Not on purpose. Probably a little on purpose. Bear with me.”
“Jinx…” Vi rubbed her hand over her face.
“I said I'll try, can't promise more, or I'd be lying,” she said with a slight shrug.
Isha ran up, climbed onto a chair by the vanity, and pointed to the makeup with a curious hum. She wasn't really paying attention to the conversation, but she saw Jinx apply eye shadow as if it was some sort of arts and crafts. She'd seen her do it before, every now and again. She pointed to the palette.
“I've told you already, you don't need it, kiddo,” Jinx ruffled her hair, but pushed the shadows towards her little sister despite her words.
Isha looked at her, as if gauging if she was allowed to touch it. Not seeing any objections, she grabbed the box and rubbed her fingers over the powdery substance, mixing it all with one another. She brought her fingers to her face and leaned closer to the mirror, trying to parrot her big sister as best as she could.
Jinx's smile widened into a grin as she watched the little one smear the makeup all around her eyes, resembling more of a panda's markings than eyeshadow.
“Oh, I love your style,” she chuckled as Isha smiled with pride.
“You're getting it all mixed together,” Vi complained.
“Shush, you can afford to get a new one. Get your sugar mo–”
Vi put her thumb and middle finger together and flicked Jinx on the ear. “Don't even finish that sentence.”
“Stop bullying me for being funny and right,” Jinx frowned.
“I'm not bullying you. I'm teaching you an important skill of shutting the fuck up,” Vi countered with a serious expression.
The younger sister rolled her eyes, then tapped Isha on the shoulder with the back of her hand.
“C'mon, let's grab some breakfast.”
The table was long, and filled with an incredible array of dishes, from eggs and crispy bacon, through hot toasts and flakey pastries of different shapes and sizes, to fluffy pancakes and bowls of fresh, vibrant fruit. There were pitchers with water and juice, and a pot of freshly brewed coffee. All the food was placed on one half of the table, fresh flowers and tall candelabra filling the other.
At the head of the table sat Caitlyn, dressed in more casual clothes, though still clearly fancy and tailored. She was reading a newspaper, holding it in one hand, with a cup of gently steaming coffee in the other.
“Good morning,” she said in as neutral a voice as she could, her eye locking on Jinx immediately. The hand with the newspaper lowered, then rested on the edge of the table. She glanced at Vi when she came up next to her, though. Her expression softened, and a warm smile entered her previously rigid face.
“Mornin, Cupcake,” Vi greeted her cheerfully as her calloused hand rested on top of the smaller, more delicate one. She squeezed it with affection as she took a seat.
“Mornin,” the moment Jinx spoke, Caitlyn's attention snapped back to her. The Zaunite could feel the cold gaze from the other side of the table, but she just shot her a playful smile. She perched, practically squatted, on the chair opposite to Caitlyn's, a good few yards and a whole table between them. Her feet were on the soft cushion, and she looked at the arrangement from the new vantage point. All the food was so far away, and all the flowers stood in the way… “You've a party or somethin? Didn't think you'd bring people over while I'm here, Peepers,” she chuckled.
Isha stood beside the table, looking from Jinx to Vi. Ideally, she'd sit between the two of them, but they were so far away from each other… She made her way towards Jinx, she was her favourite, after all.
“This breakfast is just for the four of us,” Caitlyn said curtly. Even though Jinx's face scrunched in disgust for less than a second, she noticed it nonetheless.
“We're supposed to eat all that?” Jinx motioned to the table as she tried to keep her face neutral and not to sound judgemental. This ‘breakfast for four’ could fill up three families, she thought.
“I don't know what Isha and you prefer, so I had the kitchen prepare a bit of everything.”
“You'll need to sit closer,” Vi waved Jinx over. “It's not like the food's on that side of the table.”
Jinx rocked back and forth on her feet, observing Caitlyn for any hint of protest. Not seeing anything more hostile than the gaze that burned a hole right through her, she finally jumped back to the floor and made her way towards her big sister. She grabbed Isha’s hand on the way, too.
“Would you like some coffee?” Caitlyn put on the most polite tone she could muster when face to face with a murderer and a terrorist. She tried very hard to trick her brain into seeing Jinx purely as Vi's little sister, but it wasn't quite working.
“I'd say yes, but I'm supposed to be responsible, or somethin,” Jinx perched up on a closer chair, still a few seats away from the two older women. “Coffee and I hadn't mixed well since before shimmer. I'll stick to juice,” she practically stood up on her seat to reach for the stuff on the table. Isha climbed up on the chair beside her, perched practically the same way her big sister did. Her gaze went over the food, then she grabbed the nearest plate and pulled it in. Fresh pastries smelled real good… She dug in, completely disregarding that talk about small bites Vi gave her the evening prior.
“Shimmer,” Cait repeated slowly, studying Jinx's face. Her main focus was on the pink eyes, nearly normal at the moment, other than the unusual color. “From what I understand, its effects diminish after a few hours. Yet you…”
“I'm constantly drugged up,” Jinx flipped the fork between her fingers at an unusual speed before stabbing it into a pancake. “Remember that doc you've brought in to fuck Vander up?”
“Doctor Reveck,” Cait nodded, her interest piqued.
“Didn't know he had a name,” Jinx took a bite of the pancake, then made a point to swallow before speaking again. Vi felt a tickle of pride. “But he worked for Silco–”
“He was the one to create shimmer in the first place,” Cait stated.
Jinx cocked her head to the side with a crooked smirk.
“You know a lot, huh Peepers? Mmhm, he's quite the nutcase, and that's coming from me. Silco got him to fix me after I blew myself up on the bridge. You know. When I shot at you,” her eyes moved to Vi, who looked down instead. “And you walked away. Fun times,” she took another bite, just a tinge of venom to her voice.
“What'd he done to you?” Caitlyn asked, point blank.
“Duhnno,” she swallowed. “Was kinda on the verge of dying. No clue how much of what I remember actually happened. All I know's that my heart's pumping shimmer into my veins round the clock,” she ran her fingers over the dark veins around her eyes. “I'm, like, half-shimmer. It doesn't go away, ever.”
“That sounds… Awful,” the Topsider gave her condolences, which Jinx took as pity.
“It's fine,” she shrugged. “Comes with a lotta perks. Can't complain.”
There was a long stretch of silence as all four focused on their plates.
“So…” Vi finally broke the silence as she squeezed Cait's hand. “Would it be possible to pardon Jinx…?”
“What?” Both women asked in tandem, then glanced at each other.
“I can't do that,” Caitlyn started, her voice betraying her displeasure. “And it isn't up to me anymore.”
“She saved my life during that war. She blew herself up to save me, goddamnit!” Her hand squeezed her girlfriend's just a bit more. “She saved you, too.”
"That's still for the Council to decide,” Caitlyn's eye burrowed a hole into Jinx again. “You'd have a fair trial. But I can't promise a specific outcome.”
Jinx mulled over the words. Finally, she shrugged and stuffed the rest of the pancake in her mouth.
“I don'th cawe,” she said with her mouth full, like she'd forgotten already she was trying not to do that. “Toppers'd be stupid to pardon me, anyway. Cuz, let's be real, I'm gonna keep on blowing shit up.”
“Why?” Caitlyn asked, a sharpness to her voice. “You could make a stand for yourself. Offer your talents to rebuild Zaun, instead of causing destruction. You could lay down your weapons, start a new chapter.”
Jinx threw her head back and laughed.
“Where's the fun in that, Peepers? Sounds boring as fuck,” she leaned back in the chair, balancing it on the two back legs. “Even if you take my weapons, it's so easy to build more. And it's fun, too! Plus, there's so many folks overdue for some new holes, both Topside and Bottom.”
“That is exactly why you're still a wanted criminal,” Cait said, accusatory.
“And that's why yo mama dead,” Jinx responded without missing a beat, with a smile fit for the little shit she was being. “Dead as hell.”
“Jinx–” Vi watched in horror as the knife left her girlfriend's hand and flew right past her sister's ear. Jinx dipped her head to the side just in time thanks to her superhuman reflexes, her eyes glowing bright pink.
“Get out of my house!” Caitlyn shouted as she stood up and slammed her fists on the table.
“Cait–” Vi raised her hands in a ‘please calm down’ gesture, then shot her sister a furious glance.
“Woah, woah, I'm just messin,” Jinx snickered as she dodged again, this time a fork. “Don't get your titties in a twist, lady…”
“Can you shut up?” Vi pleaded as she got up to stand between the two.
“I'm done! I'm done housing a criminal, a terrorist, and a murderer!”
“Damn, sis, which one of us is she talkin’ about?” Jinx jumped out of her chair and used it as a partial cover while Vi tried to gently take a butter knife out of her girlfriend's hand.
“She just– Cait, please, she's just got a fucked up sense of humour–”
“And she can have that sense of humour far away from my home!” The enforcer tried to push past her girlfriend, but was held at bay, for now.
“Gee, pull that stick out your ass, Peepers. You'll enjoy life more,” the moment Cait pushed past Vi, Jinx was behind her sister's back, poking her head over her shoulder and practically using her as a living shield.
“Move, Vi!” Caitlyn demanded.
“She's just a twerp with a fucked up upbringing–”
“Ouch,” Jinx pretended to be hurt, quickly switching to laughter.
“I don't care! Get her out of my sight, and out of my house, before I do so in handcuffs!”
“Please, just… give her a chance–”
“How many chances does she need?!” Cait shouted in rage. “She's crossed the line! Again!”
“It was just a little dig, c'mon,” Jinx ducked behind Vi to avoid being grabbed. “I said I was sorry, I thought we were good now…”
“In… in what mad world does that mean you get to laugh in my face at my mother's expense?!”
“I guess it hits different when it's just one dead parent, huh?” Jinx wondered out loud.
“Jinx, please shut the fuck up,” Vi begged. “For my sake?”
“I mean,” Jinx ignored her sister. “You being with Vi is a way bigger joke at the expense of, like… one mom and two dads of ours? Wait, do we count Vander twice, or…?”
“Why are you like this,” Vi groaned.
“At least I'm not responsible for any of their deaths! And you… you killed my mom all by yourself!” At this point, Caitlyn pushed against Vi, so she tried to immobilize her in a tight hug, all while Jinx stood behind, just out of reach.
“Yeah, but I also killed my dad five minutes before that, wouldn't have done that if you didn't get yourself off the chair…”
“You were trying to have me killed! Was I supposed to, what, just take it?!”
Jinx shrugged.
“I mean you could've…”
“Jinx, holy shit. Just shut your mouth for once...” Vi glared at her over her shoulder. “Please let me handle her, Cupcake?”
“Only if by ‘handling her’ you mean getting her out the front gates…” Cait said it in a tone that suggested an unspoken “or else”. “I don't want to see her face ever again!”
“Jinx, I thought you were going to behave. Didn't you want to spend more time with me?” Vi asked, trying so hard to keep the appearance of being calm.
Jinx tapped her chin.
“I mean, yeah. But, man, is this place getting on my nerves. Why can't we hang out in Zaun?”
“Oh, what a great question,” Caitlyn scoffed. “Why don't you take your sister back to Zaun, dear?”
“Come the fuck on…” Vi wanted to rip her hair out, but was too busy holding Cait.
“Look at the bright side: nobody's got a gun to their head yet, sis. Shouldn't be hard to–”
“I thought you wanted me to be happy!” Vi her frustration out, voice raised to a shout that made Jinx pause. “Why can't you just… Stop being jealous, you little shit?”
“I'm not–”
“Oh, you so are,” Caitlyn interrupted her with an unexpected smugness.
“How is it that you aren't jealous of Isha? That's sisterly love, you dumbass. That's what you gotta actually share. What I feel towards Cait is a completely different type of love! It's not a competition!”
Jinx was silent for a moment, glaring at Caitlyn. Then at Isha, who was looking from one to the other at the sudden shift in the mood, panic in her golden eyes.
“That's… that's fuckin stupid. That's stupid. Isha's a sister. And a cute little squirt. She can do no wrong and she deserves a loving family.”
“Then if Cait was your sister in law–”
“Huh?” The enforcer let out a hitch, taken completely off guard.
“–would she not count as family, too?”
“Sister in… whuh?” Jinx blinked a few times. Caitlyn would be an awful sister to have, probably. “I don't want her as a sister!”
“Well, tough luck. I want to be with Cait, Jinx. And I want to be at my sister's side, Cait,” Vi turned around and grabbed Jinx by the wrist. Then, still holding Caitlyn, she pulled her into a tight hug right beside her girlfriend. “Whatever I've gotta do to keep you both, I will. Because I know I can have both of you. And Isha.” Vi paused, her jaw clenched. “I want to have a family. It doesn't need to be a normal, well-adjusted family. I've been needing one for so long… I'll make you two at least tolerate each other. By force, if I have to.”
“I'd rather eat my leg,” Jinx muttered, trying to shuffle to the side and away from Caitlyn as both of them were stuck in the iron clasp of Vi's arms.
“Vi, darling. I love you, you know that,” Cait started, her voice shaking from anger despite trying to sound calmer. If her arms weren't stuck against her lover's body, she'd be strangling Jinx right now. “But there is no way in hell I'll ever tolerate the fiend that you call a sister.”
“Well, I've promised to never leave her again, and I'm sticking to it. So I'd really love to try and figure this out, okay?”
Cait understood the implication of that statement. She tensed up as she could feel Jinx's smug glare even without looking at her.
“It'd make me happy if you'd try, for me…” Vi's voice softened. She'd asked them both for that separately, yes. But maybe if they were faced with the request in each other's presence…
Jinx let out a loud, annoyed groan. She felt Isha wrap her arms around her and Vi with a nervous grunt that asked for truce.
The idea of sharing her sister with the spoiled rich enforcer, who probably had everything in her life that she ever wanted handed to her on a silver platter, made her stomach churn. But, in the end, she wished for her sister to be happy.
“No promises,” she was the first to speak, a begrudging mumble. “But I'd take a grenade for you, sis. So what's a Piltie Princess, right?”
“I…” Cait turned her head to look at Jinx, brow still furrowed. She scanned her face, trying to read her intentions. But the look the Zaunite was giving her big sister could only mean sincerity. “I suppose…” She looked down at Vi. “I know how much it means to you…” she bit her lip, trying to imagine a world in which Jinx and her could stand each other.
“So… truce?” Jinx asked, far from enthusiastic.
“... Truce,” Caitlyn sighed.
“Thank you,” Vi said with deep appreciation. She kissed Jinx on top of her forehead, then smooched Cait on the lips.
“Ew,” Jinx let out despite herself and finally pushed away.
“Now, apologize,” the older sister nudged her.
“Sorry for having a sense of humour–” there was a loud thump as Vi smacked Jinx over the head. “Sorry for being a little shit, I'll try to tone it down. It'd do you well to lay off on the prissiness, though.”
“Never speak of my mother ever again. I don't find it funny.”
“Sure, you got it, Princess.”
“And get therapy.”
“‘re you calling me a loon?”
“I'm not trying to be rude, Jinx. I think you could benefit from learning to process your trauma in a healthy manner.”
“I'll pass, thanks,” Jinx frowned. “I'm dealing just fine.”
“Clearly, you aren't.”
Jinx opened her mouth to say something, then looked at Vi and thought better of it. She picked Isha up and cuddled her instead, the girl throwing her arms around her big sister’s neck and clinging to her.
At least when holding a kid in her arms with such tenderness and care, Cait could feel a hint of normalcy in her girlfriend's sister. She slumped back into her chair in silence, observing.
“It's fine, Isha,” Jinx assured. “Just a little bit of a spat. But we’re having fun, yeah?” She cradled the girl and blew a raspberry into her cheek, causing a giggle. “Y'know, all this free food's just for us. So we better fill up the tank before it gets cold.”
She placed Isha on the chair again. The girl stood up on the seat and started pulling all the dishes and platters closer. She picked up anything that caught her attention and stacked it on her plate like a block tower, mixing crepes with bacon, oranges tiny sausages and chocolate spread.
Both Isha and Jinx ate with their hands, and Caitlyn tried not to judge, but…
“Does she know how to use silverware?” She asked, though it wasn't meant to be said out loud.
“What's that?” Jinx asked.
Cait pointed to the silver fork in her hand.
“Of course you've got a fancy name for cutlery,” she muttered. “Vi, Isha, or I? Because the answer is different extents of ‘no’.”
“I use it just fine,” Vi scowled.
“Sure you do, sis,” Jinx teased.
Isha grabbed a fork in her fist with the grace one'd expect from a kid her age, or maybe even one a bit younger.
“Could I… show you how to hold it properly?” Caitlyn addressed Isha, who looked at her with mistrust, then shrugged and stabbed the fork into the food on her plate.
Cait got up and stepped closer, which made Jinx's eyes flare up. She didn't mean them to, but the enforcer closing up on her just had that effect.
“Let the girl eat the way she wants to,” Jinx muttered, then filled her mouth up with food to a point where she wouldn't be able to speak clearly. Just in case.
“Are you left or right handed?” Cait asked as she put a pillow down on the seat and motioned for Isha to sit on top of it. The pillow boosted her up enough to be comfortable at the table.
Isha kicked her legs as she sat down and looked at her hands, then shrugged.
“Which hand do you write with?” Her voice was soft and warm, and it made Vi smile to see her like this.
Isha raised her right hand.
“So that is where you hold the knife, and fork goes in the left one,” she motioned to the utensils with an encouraging nod.
The girl grabbed the cutlery in two tight fists, then looked at Caitlyn, ready for more instructions.
“Hold them like this… here,” she adjusted Isha's hold, gentle but firm, to the proper one. “This is where you want your pointing fingers to rest,” she explained. “Too far down and you'll put them in your food, so be mindful of that.”
Isha nodded. And Jinx stuffed a handful of bacon into her mouth, glaring at Caitlyn's hands as if she could harm her little sister just by touch.
“Use the fork to hold the food in place, and cut it with the knife,” Cait instructed. “Move the knife back and forth, like this,” she did a sawing motion with her hand to demonstrate.
With her elbows spread wide, Isha started to cut up her food into small pieces. Awkward at first, but when Cait adjusted her arms it became easier with every other piece.
“Huh, you're quite a fast learner, aren't you?” She was impressed, especially if it was the first time the girl used silverware properly.
Isha nodded with a wide grin and a happy hum.
“She's a real smart kid,” Jinx finally spoke up. “Show her how you hold a knife for stabbing.”
Isha flipped the knife in her hand and held it firmly in a forward grip. Then, she flipped it again into a reverse grip, the edge pointed away from her body. She slashed at the air a few times, adding whooshing sounds for better effect, and smiled when she earned a hair ruffling from her sister.
“That's…” Caitlyn trailed off, trying to find proper words. “That's quite the skill you've got there.”
Isha went back to cutting up her food and eating it, happy noises escaping her mouth every now and again.
The fondness and care in those pink, dangerous eyes was still an unexpected sight for Cait, but welcome nonetheless. It definitely made Jinx feel more like a human rather than a monster.
Jinx fidgeted with her fork, twirling it in her hand absentmindedly, while she watched Isha eat. Maybe teaching her to use cutlery wasn't that much of a waste after all…
“Hey, Peepers, since I'm wanted and all, will you arrest me if I go shopping with Vi?” She spun the fork on her knuckle while glancing up at Cait. “And I actually mean shopping, not stealing. Just to make things clear.”
“Most people don't know your current look, and you are considered dead or missing,” the Topsider's voice was colder than when she spoke to Isha, but not hostile. “Since you haven't got your braids anymore, it will be harder to identify you. And I could lend you a hat to cover the rest of your hair, plain clothes so you can fit in better. Your eyes may be a giveaway if they start shining, though.”
“Maybe you'd come with us, Cupcake?” Vi asked sweetly, raising up the newspaper. “A carnival's in town, apparently. It'd be nice to check it out together.”
Both Jinx and Caitlyn grimaced, and neither hid it well at all.
Isha nudged Jinx, pointed to Vi with a curious look and a sign for “what is that”.
“Carnival’s, uh… Southside? Chaos and debutchery. More than usual, that is. Music, food, more people passed out on the streets. Fun games with prizes. Guessing Topside's different, though,” she shrugged.
“It's… not that far off, I suppose,” Caitlyn said, though not confidently. “Piltover, I'm guessing, is more… family friendly. More orderly, and more–”
“Booooring,” Jinx finished for her.
“I think it'll still be fun, though,” Vi jumped in. Isha nodded in agreement, accentuating it with a huff.
“Well, I've got work today,” Caitlyn said immediately. “And it looks like it's getting late. Enjoy your breakfast,” she came up to Vi and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “You know where the fun money is, darling. Spend it responsibly.”
“Wait, Cait,” Vi grabbed her hand before she managed to get out of her reach. “We’ll be back by five to pick you up.”
“Pick me up…?”
“For the carnival.”
“Vi, I–”
“You can ditch the paperwork for one evening. It's not a rat, it's not gonna run away,” she grinned.
“I… I'll see what I can do,” she sighed.
“Thanks, Cupcake,” she let her go, but not before kissing the top of her hand.
The very moment Cait was out the door, Jinx perched on her chair at the head of the table, the newspaper in her hand.
“Holy shit–” Vi's head snapped to her sister as she all but telepotred from one seat to the other.
“What's up with you thinking it's a good idea to make us spend more time together, huh?” Jinx smacked her with the rolled up paper on the head. “Your brain damage's showin.”
“Ha-ha,” Vi responded dryly. “She's not a bad person, Jinx.”
“She's a Piltie. A fuckoff rich Piltie. There's nothing I could like about her,” Jinx straightened out the newspaper again to actually skim through it.
“C'mon, you've got some things in common–”
“I'm disgusted and I'm offended.”
“You're both sharpshooters,” Vi pointed out. “And you're both really smart. There must be something you can bond over…”
“Not to shit on your parade, Vi, but the longer you expose us to each other, the higher probability that one of us explodes. Possibly literally,” she balanced the chair on its back legs, turning a page after page.
“Jinx…”
“Hey! Look, I'm in the newspaper,” she turned it around and pointed to the page with the ‘be on the lookout’ posters of different criminals. “If she doesn't pardon me, that's fine. Just make her change the poster image, it's shit.”
Vi let out a long sigh, as if trying to decompress herself.
“I'm not asking you to be friends, you know.”
“Yeah, yeah. But even so, she hates my guts. I can see it in the cyclop's eye,” she chuckled. “There's no world in which she doesn't dream of blowing my brains out, and that's not gonna change.”
“If she gets to know you better–”
“Then she'll hate me even more,” Jinx let a burst of air out through her nose in a silent laugh. “I'm not too likeable. Not for Toppers. I've too spicy a personality and they can't handle it.”
“That's not true, you can be sweet and caring if you want to,” Vi disagreed.
“I rarely want to, is the thing. I'd rather blow shit up.”
“You can't just blow everything up, Jinx.”
“Bet?”
“Stop that or I'm gonna sign you up for therapy.”
“You can sign me up, I don't care. Good luck getting me anywhere near a shrink, though.”
Vi ran her fingers through her hair.
“Let's go shopping first, see how that goes for us. Who knows, maybe you'll be arrested by five and unable to join with.”
“That's a brilliant idea, sis… ow,” she rubbed the middle of her forehead, where Vi'd just flicked her. “I'm kidding.”
“Get moving, twerp.”