Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Both groups stared at each other. The waves rocked the boat a bit as it sat in the harbor at night. Each one having what the other desired and this was their best deal they could ever get. This deal however brought challenges. 

Debates would be raged over this deal by others, but they couldn’t do much. Soon they would soon be the most powerful union in all of Runtera. 

Silco stared at the woman in front of him. He could feel Sevika shift behind him. She was uneasy about this idea, but was too loyal to the cause for what they would bring. The woman has a smile like a predator staring down its weakened prey. 

She moved and held out a box of Noxus cigars. “I was told you enjoy this blend. I thought you could use them after we've struck out the most wonderful deal here.”

“Thank you.” Silco takes one out as she offers a clip and light. He lets her and he takes a few puffs of it. Its rich smoke fills up his already damaged lungs. “A perfect blend like always general Medarda.”

“Please call me Ambessa.” She laughs a bit as she tosses the clipped part into the trash. “We are to be married after all so calling each other by our names is expected.”

┫⊗⚈┣

Mel placed the floor of her office in her manor. It was a habit she only indulged in due to her brother being here. At sixteen she was young, but not naive. Her mother had sent her here to “grow the family business” in Piltover. An excuse for her exile from Noxus. 

“Mel, I’m sure mother will be here soon to explain what she has done.” Kino placed a hand on her shoulder. 

She huffed, “Right. Like mother will explain why she had summoned you here and went straight to the undercity in her war ship.” Mel wanted to knock off his hand, but didn’t. It felt comforting. Something she hasn’t felt in the last few days since this surprise visit was sprung on her. 

Kino pulls her into a hug. “Whatever it is, I’m sure we can weather it.” He looks down at her and smiles. “I doubt there is anything mother can do that would surprise us.”

Mel smiles back at him and hugs him. The door opens and her mother walks in. Her hair was slightly damp from the rain that had started not too long ago. She had that look and aura about her that meant there was nothing good going to come from this. 

Ambessa smiles warmly at them. A sure fire way that trouble was on the way. “Children, we will be having special guests for dinner tomorrow so I want you to dress up.”

“Special guests? Who are we-“

“Now now. It’s late and you shouldn’t be up.” Her mother grabbed both of their shoulders and began to corral them towards the wing which houses the rooms. “You’ll need plenty of sleep for tomorrow.”

“What is going on?” Kino looked at her dubiously. 

“Nothing you need to worry about for now.” Mel made a noise when she pulled them into a big hug, “I just want you to be prepared for tomorrow.”

“We can be more prepared if you tell us.” Mel huffs as her squirming seemed to make her mother let them go. 

“Where’s the fun in that?” Ambessa smirked. It seems she was in the mood to play one of her games it seems. Mel however didn’t as she went back to pushing them towards bed. “Now get some sleep. I have to handle things on my ship so I won’t be back until a little after noon, but I leave Rictus in charge of getting the dinner ready.”

“But Elora-“

“Can help him, yes yes.” They stop when they get to Mel and Kino’s bedrooms. Ambessa plants a kiss on each of their foreheads. “Now get to bed you’ll need your sleep.”

Mel huffs as she is nearly thrown into her room and the door closes. Her anger was boiling but she knew it would get her nowhere with her mother. Perhaps Elora could find out before this dinner at least. 

She went over to her dresser and pulled out one of her night gowns and sleep bonnet to start getting ready for bed. Whatever her mother was planning had made Ambessa jumpy for some reason and Ambessa was never jumpy. 

Mel felt her mind swirl and thoughts rushed in and left as fast as they appeared. She needed to know what was going on and she would get her answers. 

┫⊗⚈┣

Jinx ran her finger over the dress Silco had brought for her. She had fallen asleep on his bed before he had come back and awoke with him still not there. 

In his place laid a beautiful looking dress. It was a blue, almost a soft purple, with pale yellow and gold. Tracing her fingers along the soft fabric she smiled. Rubbing her eyes she got out of bed and headed down to the bar for breakfast or more like lunch now. There in the nearly empty bar she saw Sevika getting her morning drink from Thieram before she went home to sleep. 

Sevika looked up at her and huffed, “What do you want Jinx?” 

“Where’s Silco?” She stayed at the top of the steps looking down at her just barely above the bars. 

Sevika scoffs, “Probably trying to find something for tonight.”

“What’s tonight?” Jinx leaned on the railing making it creak a bit due to her weight. 

“You’ll see brat.” Sevika smirks and finishes off her drink before leaving. Passing by the two cleaners who probably owed some money to Silco. 

Jinx huffed and hopped down the stairs and to the bar. “Hey chucky!” 

“It’s Thieram.” He said softly as he went to get her plate of food and her special cup filled with juice. “Here’s your lunch kid.” He whispers softly and sits it down in front of her. 

Jinx giggled. Thieram was always scared of her. Could be because he once saw her play with a snake she didn’t know was a venomous Iona rattler, or the bombs she put in his work locker that never worked, or could be because of Silco. Who knows?

When Jinx looked at her plate and couldn’t help but make a face. It was instant mashed potatoes with wiry green vegetables that looked like vomit, and some cooked fish.  The instant mashed potatoes and fish she could handle, but vegetables! Yuk!

“Mr. Silco said you had to eat them.” He mumbles softly as he goes to organize the bottles of alcohol behind the bar. 

Jinx huffs and face plants on the bar avoiding the plate as she did so. “But I hate vegetables like this!” She kicked her feet as she said this. “They make my mouth feel funny.” She poked at them with the fork that was missing a prong making it a little trident. She had a certain texture she liked 

Thieram glances at her as he sets some not so cheap stuff behind the others. What most people come here for when they order shots. “Mr. Silco said he was trying to find some different ones that would fit, but it might be a while.” 

Jinx groaned, but her stomach was demanding food. She ate with her head on the table and very slowly at that which only made the texture worse. Once she was done she propped herself back up as Thierma took the plate and cup away. “Do you know where Silco is?” 

“Sorry kid, but I don’t.” He finished organizing the bar for tonight. “I’m sure he’ll be back soon though.” Thieram looked at her as he wiped down the area she had laid on. “But if you're looking for something to do there’s a new box of scrap by the door.” He smiled softly. 

“You're the best Chuck!” Jinx hopped off her stool and ran towards the back door eager to see what he had brought her. 

Jinx had a soft spot for Thieram. After a while he started leaving her little scraps and such hoping it would distract her from messing with him while he was working. And it did so he started being more and more so Jinx didn’t mess with him. As much. 

Finding the worn cardboard box in the alley way she dragged it into the bar and into her little lab. A cramp storage room Silco had let her use. Jinx eagerly picked through every piece of rusted scrap. It wasn’t much and not as good as she or Ekko- as good as she could have gotten, but it was still nice that he did it. 

After a while she was lost in her mind with all the stuff she could build. Soo. The door opened and Silco stood there. “Having fun?” He asked. 

“Silco!” Jinx stood up and rushed into him. “Where have you been?” 

“I’ve been a bit preoccupied.” He pats her head softly. “Did you see the dress I laid out?”

“Is that for me!?!” Jinx was bouncing as she held onto me. “Really?!”

“For now, yes.” Silco ushered her out of the closet/lab and up towards their rooms. “We’re going to have dinner with some very special people, Jinx and the woman was very nice to lend you one of her old daughter’s dresses for this event.” 

He pats her back as they stop at the bathroom. “I want you to go and get clean. I’ve left some nice soap for you, then we’re gonna see if we can get the dress to properly fit you before we leave.”

“How far away is the place?” Jinx frowned a bit as she looked up at him. 

“A pretty good trip, my dear. Now go on and get cleaned up.” He traces his thumb around her cheek. Pulling it back Silco showed the grease on it. “We can’t have you look like you’ve just come out of the pit fights.” 

Jinx nodded and rushed into the bathroom, closing and locking the door. Resting on the sink was a box of soaps and shampoos Jinx had never even seen or smelt anything like that before. It smelt like topside. Whoever Silco wanted her to meet he must have really wanted her to make a good impression. 

After cleaning up and drying off. Jinx just slipped on her shirt and leggings before going to the bedroom where Silco stood there holding a brush. She sat down on the stool and let him begin to brush her hair. “You're gonna tell me who we're meeting?” She swung her feet a bit. 

“Hmm. I think it’s best left as a surprise for you.” He worked on a particular bad knot that had formed on her head. “Just…” Jinx tried to meet his eyes or his good eye in the mirror but he didn’t. “Try and behave.”

“No promises!” Jinx smiled and giggled a bit. 

Silco just shook his head as he worked on brushing her hair more. He didn’t do the usual two braids and instead tried at first to make two braids at the side of her head. However that didn’t work as they seemed a bit loser and had more fly aways. 

No matter how much he tried he couldn’t get it to work. Eventually he did give up after jinx began to get more and more restless so he gave her the usual bang and two braids. 

Then came the dress. Silco turned around as she slipped it on and it nearly swallowed her whole. Jinx struggled with the sleeves as they were cut at the top and she slipped it through letting the rest of it dangle under her. The neckline was big, as well the rest of the dress that hung off her making her look like she was playing in a grownup's closet. 

Silco grabbed some small safety pins and began to pin the dress up. Folding the bottom of the dress so it didn’t get tangled up in her feet or lay nearly two feet long on the ground. It was made to where it’s nearly two inches off the ground, the slits on the side were pinned up, as was the neckline but not to the point it would choke her, her arms were guided in through the sleeves, and those were rolled up. They still hung off her arms, but not as long as before. The open chest piece that looked like a sunburst couldn’t be pinned together so she got to seeher neon blue shirt underneath it along with her leggings. “There. You look beautiful.” He brushed her small baby hairs back. 

“Are you finally gonna tell me where we’re gonna go?” She bounced a bit as he helped her put on her shoes. 

Silco hums softly as he goes to grab a cape. “We’re going deep into Topside to meet up with them for dinner.”

Jinx huffs and frowns. Her brow wrinkles a bit as she looks at him. “Were Having dinner with Pilties?!”

“No. Not Pilties.” He nudges her off the stool and wraps the cape around her and pins it to where you couldn’t see the dress. “Noxians. We’re having dinner with a Noxian warlord and matriarch of clan Medarda. Her name is Ambessa Medard and we’ll be meeting her children.” Silco tugs the button a bit and goes back to the dresser to start getting himself ready. “A young man named Kino and a teen daughter named Mel.” 

Jinx huffs and jumps on the bed. Its old springs bounce back a bit, but not as bad as most mattresses down here. “So we're gonna play nice with the rice people still?” 

“In a sense.” He took his comb and brushed back his already slick hair back more, making sure it was perfect. 

He was already dressed up really well that he must have done that when she was showering. Jinx looked him over as he pulled out one of his hidden cologne bottles she isn’t allowed to touch after she made a stink bomb with them. “You must really wanna impress them if you're putting that stuff on.” 

She goes to mess with the quilt on the bed as he nodded. “Yes.” Silco went to throw on his long coat and held out his hand to her. “And I hope you’ll do the same.” 

“I’ll try.” Jinx takes his hand and squeezed it. 

“That’s all I ask.” Silco smiles at her and leads her down to the back. 

Jinx quickly hid some of her bombs and smaller weapons before they left and after Silco searched her for them. He got distracted by Sevika talking about whatever was going on. She then followed as they sneakily made their way towards the bridge where a carriage was waiting for them. Jinx jumps in. She’s never rode in a carriage before and was eager to do so. 

‘He’s gonna regret bringing you jinx.’ Mylo hisses. 

‘You killed us. Wasn’t on purpose, but Mylo is right.’ Claggor says softly, ‘you’ll mess it up.’

‘Don’t listen to them!’ The overly sweet Vi said. ‘You can do it!’

‘NO SHE CANT YOU JINX!’ The mean Vi yells. 

Jinx covered her ears. “Shut up! I won’t mess it up, I won't!” She squeezed her fingers, nails digging into skin and pulling her hair. 

“You won’t.” Silco grabbed her shoulder and she jerked her head upward towards him. Silco was smiling softly at her, pulling her close to him. “I know you’ll be good, Jinx. They’ll love you.” 

Nodding Jinx hugged him as the carriage stopped. They get out and jinx looks up in awe. They stood in front of a beautiful castle structure done in white stone with gold, dark blue, and red accents. “Woah! This is amazing! We’re having dinner there?!” 

Jinx bounced as Silco chuckled. “We are.” 

┫⊗⚈┣

Mel looked herself over once more. She was wearing one of her new dresses. A white sheath dress with red and gold accents along the sides running down in straight lines. It went up to her collar bone and wrapped around with glittering gold sheer fabric around her shoulder. 

Red rubies were along the gold fabric in the shape of drops. A white gold pendant in the shape of the Medarda family crest was in the center with diamonds on it. 

“You look stunning as always.” Kino walked in smirking. Unlike her, he just wore his usual suite he wore for these types of events. “I think this new look is good on you.” He tossed an arm around her, messing up her perfectly symmetrical off the shoulder sheer fabric. “We’re matching now.” 

Mel shoved him off and looked at the old suite. “And you could do with a new one. I’m shocked mother hasn’t burned those yet.”

“She wouldn’t.” Kino chuckled and picked up one of her gold hair accessories she forgot to put in. “She still keeps your old outfits.” He puts it in one of her braids that didn’t have it on. 

“She does?” Mel frowned and looked over at him. 

“Yes. However I was sent in here to tell you she did have to lend it out for tonight. Apparently the man we are meeting with, his daughter, didn't have an ‘appropriate dress’ for this.” Kino looked over her hair giving it a final check. 

Mel frowned a bit. How could whoever they are soon to meet not have proper clothing for their child? This was adding to the very small list she knew about who was coming. “Oh?”

“Yes oh.” Kino helped fix the dress. “As well as mother sending one of your less noticeable carriages to the bridge next to the undercity.”

Mel hummed softly. Their mother had taken an interest in the undercity a lot recently. Buying a lot of property down there, sending several groups of “new citizens” when really it's spies and soldiers that slipped past the council, and increasing their trading vessels by a lot when the cargo they should be getting shouldn’t take that many. 

She has often bought a lot of land from Bolbok and Salo that’s near to her’s and is planning her own castle here. something big was happening and Mel hated being out of the loop. “Did you find any more?” 

“No.” Kino rolled his eyes and straightened his already straight tie. “And mother is becoming far more tense than normal. She’s cancelled my ships from coming and picking me up next week. Told all of them not to come until she says so.”

That gave Mel a really big pause. Her mother had never stopped them from leaving. While yes she would question them and make sure they had prepared sufficiently enough. “Odd.”

“Very.” 

They both looked at their mother as she walked in. Ambessa Medarda was decked out in all of her war armor but she was missing weapons. Except her hidden ones that Mel could make out after knowing her mother for so long. “Look at you two.” She smiles. “So perfect as always, except you Kino.” She walked over and brushed off some non-existent dust on his shoulder. “I’m pretty sure I’ve told you to get some new suits.”

“Yes, well.” Kinl chuckled at her annoyed face. “Can’t beat perfection like you’ve called us.”

Ambessa rolled her eyes at that. They all make their way to the dining room where Mel looks over the two people. “Children, this is Silco and his daughter Jinx.” She waved a hand towards them. “Silco, Jinx. This is my son Kino, and my daughter Mel.” 

They wave softly as Mel smiled. “It’s wonderful to meet you all.” The man, Silco she presumed, caught her eye first. She was surprised by him. One, a turquoise green, while the other a black scar with an orange pupil. Analyzing him further, she noticed he was wearing a fine red and black outfit with golden accents. A deep blood red undershirt with a vest type wrapped around his waist. The top was a very nice black leather with gold around it. 

It went down with two leather stripes underneath it. His tie was a soft cream colored. His pants were a matching leather black and gold with a small red stripe down it. His boots were like the rest of him black and red with gold. He also held a small box. It was very undercity while looking especially fine. Much more than the average person down there could afford 

The girl seemed very nervous to be here as she was wearing one of her old dresses that was far too big on her tiny frame. Mel could see the soft shine of silver from where the dress had been pinned at. The bright neon blue of her undershirt stuck out a lot. Not to mention the striped purple and pink leggings and black boots. Her hair was done in two braids at the back.

It was odd that the man was dressed so well and the girl wasn’t. She was young, younger than Mel herself and much younger than Kino. If she was from the Undercity like her mother claimed, it would make sense the little blue haired girl didn’t have a fancy dress. Similar to the man, her father Mel presumed, she was holding a box.

“We’re glad to be here.” The man, Silco, said and nudged the girl. “We brought you and your brother some gifts.” The girl looks up at him and he nods softly. “Go on.” He whispers softly. 

The girl walked over. Her hands shook a bit as she held out the small wooden box. “This is for you Miss. Medarda.”

“Thank you.” Mel took the box and opened it. Inside were several gold looking hair clips. Something her mother had obviously commissioned for her. She glanced over at Kino who got a gold pocket watch, something else commissioned by her mother for them to give to them it seems. “These are very lovely.” She smiled at the girl. “Thank you very much. 

“You’re welcome.” She backed up quickly to cling to the man. He pats her head softly and the girl beams. “You did a good job, Jinx.”

“Thanks Silco.” She mutters back hugging him. 

Ambessa smiled, “Now that we’ve gotten pleasantries out of the way shall we eat.” Her mother turned to the table. 

They all moved towards it when Jinx gasped. “SPIKE SPICE!” She rushed over to the table and jumped on it to get to the peppers in the middle of the table. 

“Jinx!” Silco yelled and quickly pulled her off the table. 

Mel and Kino and her mother stood there in awe as this girl had six in her mouth. Speka sprite peppers are the hottest peppers in all of Runtera. They hold a significance in all of Noxus as being the pepper of choice for the strongest of warriors. It’s said that if you could eat one without succumbing to the heat you were destined for great things. Mel could barely handle eating two with milk and the most she’s ever seen anyone eat is four without milk. 

Jinx swallows them whole and frowns. “They're not as spicy as the ones back home.”

Silco pinched the brow of his nose. “Jinx you can’t just hop on someone’s table like that. It isn’t nice.”

Jinx looked at them and looked ashamed. “I’m sorry.” She mutters softly and kicks her feet. 

“It’s alright.” Mel looked at the bowl of Speka peppers and back at her. “You said they weren’t as spicy as the ones back home. Those should be the spiciest peppers in all of Runtera. How are the ones down there more spicy?”

Jinx shrugs and Slico looks up at them. “We use spices to help us be able to digest the food down there.” He pulls out a chair and Jinx sits down in it. “The food down there isn’t very palatable and would be seen as disgusting up here. We used spices to cover up the bad taste and we’ve been using spicier spices to try and keep the food edible. Speka peppers are one of the few things that can handle the air down there.” 

Silco moved and pulled a chair out for her mother which she took with a smile. “We have to get dirt from the topside for it, but they can grow in the harsh environment if handled right.”

“Jericho can grow them on leftovers!” Jinx bounces a bit as everyone takes their seats. “He’s got the spiciest ones around!” 

“There’s no reason to yell jinx.” He scolds her softly. 

“Let the girl be excited, Sil.” Her mother takes her goblet of blood red wine. Mel and Kino both looked at her when she used that nickname. “After all i'm very interested to hear about how Zaun has spicer Spekas.”

Kino looked back at Mel and she looked back. The servants brought out the plates of food as Jinx messed with several of the silver wear. “Why are there so many utensils?” She didn’t seem so scared now as she held one up in the air before making it fight the spoon. 

“They are for different parts of the meal.” Mel points at one of the forks. “This is the salad fork.” She then points to the one beside it. “Entree fork, fish fork, and the knives are the same. Salad knife, entree knife, fish knife. Then you have the soup spoon and the oyster fork. Each one-“ Mel stops when she sees the bored look on her face. “They all do different things.” 

“That seems like a waste and a lot to clean.” She tries to pick up a knife but Silco takes them all. She pouts, but doesn’t fight it. “Do you Pilties always use them all?”

“Pilties?” Mel raised an eyebrow at that. 

“It’s what we call people on this side of the river.” Silco touched her hand and she sat them down pouting. “And they aren’t Pilties. Ambessa, Kino, and Mel here are Noxians.” 

Kino looked at him as the servants placed down their appetizers, small tea sandwiches, shrimp cocktail, and some spicy crackers.  “And what are people on your side of the river called?”

“Zaunites.” Silco moved back towards his cutlery. “Or for those uncultured they call us trenchers.” He looked disgusted at that. 

Mel did her best to keep herself calm. She hasn’t had much interaction with anyone from the undercity, but she hasn’t heard pleasant things. Granted she hasn’t heard nice things about herself or her family from people, but still. 

Mel looked back at Jinx as she began to chew on some shrimp. “Do you enjoy seafood, Jinx?” 

She nodded and she slurped down a whole bunch. “Yea! It’s the main type of food down there.” Her mouth became full of stuff as she ate like a hungry wolf. 

“And school. How do you enjoy that?”

“I don’t go to school.” She shrugged as she swallowed it all. 

“And why not?” Mel began to eat some of her food. 

“Cause no school down there.” Jinx’s body was shifting as her legs swung in her chair. “And no school you pilties build will take us.”

Mel winced a bit as Silco touched her arm a bit. He whispered what she assumed was they’re Noxians’ from Silco to her. “Ahh, perhaps I could help with that.” She straightens up. Jinx tilted her head as Mel smiled. “I could easily help fund some public schools down there so you and other children could learn.”

“There’s no need for that child.” Ambessa stops her before she could go on. “I have agreed to help fund several schools and even free meals for all the children so they don’t need to worry about breakfast, lunch, and dinner.” 

“So you're doing what you do for your lands then?” Mel raised an eyebrow. 

“Yes.” Ambessa smiled, “I’m funding this personally so we can work on other things.” 

That was something Mel had to give her mother. She did a lot to help families. All schools under the Medarda family offered free meals to students and will even send food home for holidays and such. While nice, Mel knew it was just an easy way to brainwash them into submission and more eager to fight for her. 

┫⊗⚈┣

Saying Kino was a bit surprised as dinner went on was a large understatement. Their mother was apparently doing a lot for the undercity. Much more than a normal partnership should be. She was funding schools, food banks, hospitals, community centers, and a lot more than normal. 

She would normally do this stuff for any territory she conquered in order to make the population more complacent. Perhaps that was her goal. Making those Piltover wasn’t treating right more willing to fight for her. 

But Piltover’s council shouldn’t allow this. How had she’d gotten them to agree? They technically controlled the Undercity and should be able to put a stop to it. Yet the man before them seemed like he was in charge. He wasn’t getting much out of either of them, and the only one really talking about anything other than what their mother was giving them was the young girl, Jinx. 

However she wasn’t saying what their mother was getting in return, nor seemed to understand what was going on. Mel wasn’t getting very far as the girl either didn’t quite get what she was saying or steer the conversation so far off. They were currently talking about bombs and weapons. Something that Kino specialized in. It was shocking to see how many weapons and bombs this girl had on her. Something her father didn’t seem to like much. 

“This one will clamp on and EXPLODE! His name is Chomper!” Jinx held up a colorful looking one with an open metal mouth. Chocolate covered her face as she had eaten a lot of dessert when it was brought out. She placed a fork in between its teeth, then pulled the pin. 

It snapped down, shattering the fork as it rattled. Kino without thinking grabbed Mel and pulled her down under the table expecting an explosion. However there’s a huff and a thud. “Doesn’t work though.” 

They both stood up to see the bomb laying on its side on the table. His body had that survival shake with the adrenaline rushing through him. “Well, that would have been nice to know beforehand.” Mel huffs and gets back in her seat. 

Kino looked at his mother who was smirking and Silco who had his hands in his face. “Perhaps I could help then.” His body was Calming down as he got up. “May I?” 

Jinx shrugged. “You can.” She pulled another metal contraption out and began to mess with it. 

Kino took the bomb and looked it over. Pulling out one of his hidden screw drivers that drives his mother up the wall over he opens it up carefully. 

“It’s very well built.” He looked at it over looking at its very complex components. Kino opens the liquid container and frowns seeing the problem. 

“You don’t have the right metal for it. If you change this.” He points to the metal container holding it. “It’ll go off.”

Jinx was looking at him now. She got on the table to crawl over to him, but Silco pulled her back. “Go around, not over.” 

She huffs, but walks over to him. “What’s wrong with the metal?” 

“The metal is keeping the liquid chilled. It’s stopping your powder” Jinx twitched a bit when he said that. Odd. “From dissolving. If you switch to either a rubber or a plastic metal mix that should help. And depending on the type of plastic you use, it’ll either melt when exploding or become sharp shrapnel.” 

He offered it to her as she nodded. “That makes sense.”

“Perhaps I could help you make it.” Kino felt having an in with this girl would be very beneficial. “If you’d like,” he leans down and whispers softly, “I have some of my equipment up in my room. We can work on it after dinner.” 

Mel huffs as she hears that. Kino smiled at that as Jinx widened her eyes and began to bounce. “Really?!” 

“Yes. If it’s alright with your father.” He looked at Silco who still kept a stone face, but he could faintly see the approving nature of it. 

“It is, but perhaps we should wait till after we say what we have to.” Silco looks at their mother. 

“Children, Silco and I have reached an agreement.” Ambessa straightened up. Everyone looked at her as she and Silco kept exchanging glances. 

“We’ve talked it over and have made the best deal we can for both of our needs.” Silco’s voice was smooth, but had that gravel sound to it of someone who’s a heavy smoker or worked a long time in the mines. 

“In exchange for the Undercity’s freedom from Piltover and creating its own nation of Zaun we will be given Shimmer.” Ambers pulled out a vial of a strange glowing purple liquid. “And in order to secure Zaun’s future Silco and I will be getting married.” 

“What!?” Jinx yelled what he and most likely Mel was thinking. 

“Jinx, it’s alright we-“

“YOU'RE REPLACING ME!” She screeches and backs up. She grabs her head. “YOU PROMISED YOU WOULDN'T!”

“Jinx.” Silco stood up and went to her. “I’m not replacing you.” He reached out but she pulled back. “It’s alright.” 

He tried to grab her but she ran holding her head. “SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP AHHHHH!” She yanks hard on her hair screaming. “YOUR WRONG YOUR WRONG YOUR WRONG YOUR WRONG! ITSNOTITSNOTNOOOYOUCANTICANTAHHH!”

Jinx was running now screaming. Both Kino and Mel stood up unsure of what to do. Silco was trying to grab her and calm her down but Jinx could easily squirm her way out of his grasp. 

Neither of them realized their mother had stood up and scooped Jinx up. She wrapped her thick heavy cape around her, subduing her limbs into them. “Easy child. Take some deep breaths.”

Jinx wasn’t she was trying to thrash but Ambessa’s arms held still. She screamed still. “LIARS ALL OF YOU ARE LIARS!” It was fast and in one breath. 

Ambessa moved to the floor while still holding on to Jinx. It was a comfort hold. Something that she did when they were younger.

“It’s okay. Just follow my breathing child. Deep breath in and out.” She placed one of her scarred hands on Jinx’s chest. “Breath. It’s alright.” 

Jinx was hiccuping as she struggled to breath. 

Mother was holding her tightly as she sat down holding Jinx in her arms. “Shhh deep breaths. It’s alright. You are not replaceable.” Jinx's breath was shaky as she began to calm down.  “It’s okay. Can you tell me five things you see?”

“I- I can’t- I don’t- monsters! I see monsters! I-“

“Shhh deep breath now.” Ambessa held her tightly and looked towards Silco. 

“She can see and hear things that aren’t there.” Silco walked closer and sat beside them. 

“Jinx, what do you feel? Can you tell me four things you feel?” Ambessa kept her face back a bit as Jinx squirming became less. 

“I- I don’t-“ she takes a deep breath. “I can feel your cape fur. Feels funny. The metal of some of my tools, the dress, the hole in my sock.” She was crying, but her tears weren’t coming down like two small waterfalls now. 

“Three things you know about this room.” Ambessa rubbed her back giving her some pats. 

“Too many forks, a stupid looking paint splotch painting, and there’s white crystals on the lights above.” She mumbles softly. 

Kino did steal a glance at the painting. It was some type of gift from councilman Hoskel. Four random colored paint splotches that made no sense. He agreed with her on that. He watches as she moves towards Silco more. They went through the rest and she was given to Silco to hold. 

They silently move to a sitting room and Ambessa nods her head for them to follow. They do so. Mel and Kino sit opposite of them as Silco holds on to Jinx. She was looking off as he rubbed the back of her head. Her braids all messed up as he rests her head on his shoulder. 

“I want to make this very clear.” Ambessa snaps him out of the strange haze he found. “We’re not replacing or getting rid of any of you. This marriage is a marriage of business, but to the outside world it will be a marriage of love.”

“So you plan to take Silco and his daughter with you back to Noxus then?” He leaned back in the plush seat. This sitting room was meant for family and those trusted so it didn’t have that same stiff feeling as the other rooms he’s seen. “Leave some of your armies here to help them and get this shimmer.”

“Not quite.” Ambessa looked over at them. “You see, Silco and his daughter will be staying here in order to make sure Piltover behaves.” she threw her arms over the back of the couch and Silco. “As well making sure shimmer production goes well.”

“So where does that leave us?” Mel raised an eyebrow. She left no pretense she was caring anymore.

“That leaves you two here. You’ll-“

“Wait us two?” Kino leaned in. “Mother, we had an agreement that I was free to travel-“

“Until you are needed and you are.” She nodded towards his sister. “Since I’ll be doing this I doubt Piltover will treat your little sister well so I want you here to help protect her when I have to go.“

“I’m not calling him father.” Mel crossed her arms and leaned back. 

“And I don’t expect you to.” Silco said as Jinx seemed to calm down. “I don’t expect you two to see me as anything more than your mother’s husband if you wish. I will respect your boundaries. All I ask is for some respect out in public.” 

He adjusted Jinx so she’s looking up at him, “The same goes for you Jinx. You don’t have to call Ambessa, mom or Kino and Mel siblings. I just ask that you respect them and their boundaries.”

Kino huffed a bit at that. At least he was saying something good. Kino had no need for a new father and neither did Mel after theirs died. “Is that all?”

“For now, yes.” Silco let Jinx squirm and get out of the cape. “Unless you have anything to add.”

No one said anything. “Now that that’s settled.” Their mother smiled and pulled out a deck of cards. “Shall we play?” The way her mother always tries to defuse tension with them. 

┫⊗⚈┣

Jinx huffed as she cleared them all out once more as she laid her hand down. A flush. Three tens and two kings. No one else came close to that as she pulled all the candy towards her. 

“How are you able to win most of the time?” Mel tossed her hand down to show a two, three, seven, and a king. 

“It’s just math.” Jinx handed her cards to Silco who gave them to Kino. “All card games are. It’s why I’m banned from all of the casinos.” 

“You're banned from casinos?” Kino leaned in with an accusatory look towards Silco. 

“When I was younger Sevie found out I was good with numbers. She took me with her to help her win.” Jinx glared at him. “She said I was her lucky charm when I helped her win a massive tournament.”

“They allowed you to sit with her?” Ambessa gave her cards to Kino.

Jinx shrugged. “Yeah. S’not like they could do anything.” She popped one of those hard candies in her mouth. “Too scared of-“ she cuts herself off. She really didn’t want to think about him right now. 

“Perhaps we should be off to bed then.” Mel looked at everyone. “It’s late and-“

“No it’s not?” Jinx frowned as she looked at the darkness outside. “It’s nearly lunch time.”

“You eat lunch this late at night?” Kino leaned in more looking at some big fancy clock with strange letters instead of numbers. 

“Yeah? Why wouldn’t we?” Jinx huffed a bit. 

“Zaun is prominently more active during the night.” Silco patted her back softly. “We host a lot of clubs and other things you wouldn’t find on this side of the river. So for us we stay up through the night and sleep in the day.” 

“Interesting.” Mel looks at Jinx and she glares at her. The stupid little princess and her family. 

Honestly why was Silco even marrying into this stupid family?! She was enough! Wasn’t she?

No you're not! You’re never enough!

You really think he’ll settle for just you! 

A hand touches her shoulder and she looks at Silco, “Perhaps we should get going.”

“It’s far too late for that.” Ambessa pulled Silco towards her. “I don’t want to risk anything happening to you two. Besides, we need to start planning the wedding.” Ambessa looked at them. “You know, my daughter here has some special glow fish from Noxus here. Why don’t you go with her and Kino out to the gardens to look at them?”

Jinx looks at Silco who nodded at her. “I’ll be alright.”

“Fine.” She huffs. “Let’s go look at the stupid fish.” 

┫⊗⚈┣

Silco took the goblet Ambessa offered him. They both sat on a balcony and could faintly overhear the children as they walked in the gardens. “I do hope the children can get along.” 

Ambessa sat beside him and pulled him into her lap. “I’m sure they will.“ Ambessa nuzzles his neck which shocked him a bit. “We’ve given them a common enemy to unite against.” 

“LETS JUST USE MY BOMBS!” Jinx yelled from down below. 

Silco rubbed his brow. “I feel there will be lots of paint and glitter bombs in our futures.”

“Then we can handle it.” Ambessa smirked as she leaned in. “We are both forged in the fire of suffering and war. I doubt whatever the children get up to will be too much trouble.” 

Silco could feel her teeth against his skin. “That we are.” He watched as they grouped up. Most likely to plan on how to make them split up. “So what was it about your doctors being able to help Jinx?”

Ambessa leaned back and had him against her chest. “Yes. Believe it or not we actually have many programs to help mental illness. War can leave scars on the mind as well as the body.” 

She sat her goblet down and squeezed his hip. “I myself have a few I was able to handle with the help of doctors.”

“I don’t want Jinx changed.” Silco didn’t look at her, just looked ahead. He was trying to ignore how good it felt being against someone’s chest again. “I don’t want her to become some zombie or more pliable. I want Jinx to be Jinx.” 

“And she will be, I can swear on it.” Her hands began to roam his chest. “I don’t want that either. From what you’ve shown me and from the card game I can tell she’s got a mind like no other.” 

She squeezed him tightly. “We can have her meet with a few tomorrow in a low down setting. Not tell them to their doctors, just people who help to ease her into it.”

“She won’t like being lied to.” Silco finally looked at her with his good eye. 

“I’ll take the blame for it.” Ambessa moved his head down. “Now, I have a question for you? I know we agreed nothing too physical till after the wedding, but I would love it if you let me,” she leans down towards his neck. “Sample you.”

Silco leaned his head down more. How bad could it be? “Very well.” he smirked at her thinking it would be a little nibble. 

Silco did not expect her to unhinge her jaw and bite down hard against his neck and all of his shoulder. He gasped out with how hard she was making his body shutter. Janna, he wondered how he got into this. 

Chapter Text

Jinx rubbed her eyes with the soft thing covering her as a light was turned on. “You need to wake up, Jinx.” A hand was shaking her gently. 

“Mmmm five more minutes.” She pulled the soft blanket over her. 

“I’m afraid that can’t happen.” The blanket was pulled back and she was greeted by the soft cool air around her. “I have to head back to the undercity and you have to get fitted for your new clothes.”

Blinking away the sleep Jinx looked around. This wasn’t Silco’s room and this wasn’t the undercity. They were still at the rich people’s house. Sitting up she looks at him. “Wasn’t a dream then?” 

She moves to curl into him as he hugged her. “I’m afraid not.” Silco rubbed her back. He pulled back some loose strands of hair. “But I know you’ll like Ambessa. She enjoys-“ he looks as if he’s trying to find the right word, “Chaos as well. And they talk about Mel and Kino liking art and mechanics. There’s a lot you’ll like about them.” 

“Are you sure I can’t go to the undercity with you?” Jinx pulls back to look at him. 

“I’m sure. I plan to show Kino and Mel the undercity so they can understand you better.” Silco lets her pull back. “And besides I know you always wanted one of those pretty dresses.” 

He brushes his thumbs across her face. “Now shall we get ready for the day?”

Puffing her cheeks out she crawls out of the massive plushed bed wiggling her limbs to get out of the tangle of soft silky blanket and towards the massive vanity covered in jars, sprays, different types of brushes and combs, rubber bands, scrunchies, hair ties, ribbons, and other things that had Jinx look at them. “How can a Pil-Noxian,” she corrects herself before he could. “Have so much stuff?”

“Well, Ambessa is a woman of means who has access to the finer things in life.” Silco takes the bolts and strings used to hold her braids together down and takes them down. “And she wants you to know she can make sure you're taken care of. So she’s gifted all of these to you.” 

Jinx sat down in the chair looking at all the expensive looking stuff unsure. “Really?” She looked at him from the mirror. 

“Really.” Silco picked up a brush. He began to brush her hair out. He worked through her hair, working out the knots. “Perhaps you could let her or Mel help with your hair. They have a lot of knowledge on braiding.”

Jinx just hums softly as he works through her hair. He takes several jars looking through them Before putting a few of the creams and spray in her hair. He keeps going through and Jinx enjoys Silco’s hands as they work on her hair. 

It felt relaxing as they sat there in silence. He pulled a few strands out on the front to get her that front side bang that Jinx had begun to favor more. 

He works carefully through her braids. Silco’s rough calloused hands caught a few strands underneath i's hard skin, but he worked through to make the two braids. “There we go. Now let’s get you dressed in something simple for the day.”

Patting her back Jinx went to get just her striped undershirt and blue shorts. Silco went to change in a side room so she had her privacy to do so. 

She changed and sat back down on the bed as it sank underneath her. 

Her feet were still bare so she grabbed her patchy socks, ignoring her shoes for now. She kicked them a bit as she looked at the large window with its curtains pulled shut. Some light pulled in from the bottom. It was faint and looked odd.

Walking over she pulled it back and shielded her eyes for a bit to look at the sun as it was barely making its way over the horizon. No wonder she still felt so tired. Silco had her wake up when the sun came up, not down. He walks back out dressed in his usual for when he wasn’t trying to impress someone. 

He just held out her hand and she ran over taking it. Letting her feet slide across the floor. “Oh Jinx.” He mutters softly as they leave the room. 

They walked for a long time till they made their way down to the dining room. This time it was covered in foods Jinx didn’t know as well as more fruits. “Woah. That’s a lot of food.” She bound down to the chairs, ignoring the three already sitting there and letting go of Silco’s hand. 

She reached to grab more food and get on the table, but this time she’s lifted up into the air. “Well, it seems the little wolf is hungry.” 

Jinx looked over. It was Ambessa and she was smiling. “I’m glad to see you eager to enjoy a traditional Noxus breakfast.” Ambessa sat her down in a chair next to her. 

A large plate was in front of her and it was picked up. “A good morning to you as well Silco!” She began to pile the plate full of different meats and such before setting it down. 

“Yes. A good morning indeed.” Those words rolled off Silco’s tongue like he doesn’t say them often. Which Jinx knows he doesn’t. After all she couldn’t name a single good thing about morning, but that wasn't Jinx’s main focus right now. 

What was was the massive amount of food she was given. Far more than she’s ever had just for herself. Using fork she picks up a large slab of smoked meat covered in a drippy sauce. 

The conversation happens around her and she doesn’t even respond much more than with a ‘huh’ from a mouth full of this amazing tasting stuff. Her stomach had never felt so full she swore it would explode if she ate more, but she didn’t care! All she wanted was to keep eating and eating while her plate was empty and she still wanted more. 

“Now that is the appetite of a young warrior.” Ambessa pats her back as she wiped her face a napkin.

He had a strange look that left his face when he looked at Jinx, “I’m glad you enjoyed roasted ham slices with Senn sauce. I was worried I was the only one in the family that did.” 

“It’s really good! I’ve never had ham like that before.” Taking one of the rough white napkins her eating things laid she wiped her face with it. “Normally we have to eat around certain parts or it’s all shredded because of the mold or rot on it.” 

“Ahh. Well you won’t have to worry about that here.” Kino finished up his plate. “There will always have food you like.”

“As long as it’s spicy I’ll eat it!” She smiled. 

Kino chuckles as Mel stands up. “If you excuse me, I have work to do.” 

“Not so fast.” Ambessa called out from her spot at the head of the table. “You and Kino are meant to go to Zaun with Silco today.”

“Unfortunately.” Mel didn’t look at her mother. Jinx could tell she was looking slightly above her. “I’ve received a letter that must be responded to with urgency.”

“And what is this letter about?” Ambessa raised an eyebrow. 

Jinx felt like she wanted to sink under the table and crawl away with how tense this was feeling. However perhaps if Mel didn’t go then she could go!

“A factory I am attempting to buy has sent me a letter and-“

“And you won’t get it.” Crossing her arms Ambessa looked proud of herself. “Silco owns half the Undercity and what he doesn’t own is either owned by his ‘chembarons’ or Piltovan industrialists. There is virtually nothing left to gain. Other than those toxic waste dumps you purchased.

Mel was tense and Jinx decided this was her time to try and slip away. Slipping under the table she crawls over to Silco grabbing onto his pants legs. He pats her head and looks down at her with his good eyebrow raised as if asking what she was doing. 

There’s a slam on the table above making her jump. Plates and cups clatter as she clings on to Silco’s legs. “You are going with Silco and that's final young lady.” 

“Very well then. When shall we depart?”

Silco’s gaze moves from her to Mel. “When you get dressed. If I was to take you down there in that state you would be attacked and mugged before you even stepped off that bridge.”

“I can handle myself.” 

“I’m sure you can, but I’d rather not have to deal with those that try. They’re only doing their best to survive the harsh world that we were made to live in.” Silco moved back and Jinx followed, standing up and holding on to him. 

“Can I come! I wanna show the Pi-Noxians Zaun!” She bounced on his toes as she held him. 

“Not this time Jinx. You have appointments to do with Ambessa.” He holds his hands up giving her space to let go, but she doesn’t. 

“But I wanna go home with you!” 

“No Jinx.” This time he moved to grab her arms, but she just held on tighter. 

“But-“

“Not buts.” He took her arms, but didn’t pull them away. “If you would like me to bring back some of your things I can do that.” 

Jinx puffed her cheeks out more, but that look he gave her showed she couldn’t get him to budge. “Fine. Can you bring some of my tools and mister bunny and some Spikes?”

“Anything else?” Silco held onto her as she pulled back. 

“No.” Mumbling softly she stood in front of him. 

“I will be back, Jinx.” Silco reaches out and brushes her face softly. 

“Promise?” Her bottom lip puckers out as she pouts a bit. 

Silco leans in and whispers “With all my heart.” Something he only says when she’s really upset about him leaving. 

Jinx stays there as he goes to help Mel and Kino get changed into something that would end with them getting jumped. Ambessa walked over and patted her back making her stumble a bit. “Come child. We have quite a bit to get through. Why don’t you go and get some of your inventions you’ve brought to the sitting room. I’d love to see them.”

Jinx doesn’t say anything as she goes to get her things.

‘He doesn’t care about you!’

‘Replaceable!’

‘Die already! Filth!’

Jinx tried to ignore them as their scribbles appeared in her field of vision. She went up to the bedroom grabbing some of her stuff. Slowly making her way back down she could see a lot more people than she would have thought. 

Before she knew it she was standing still as people took out measuring tapes and held them up against her body. Fabrics were brought over and she was asked to pick the ones she likes and which ones she didn’t like. 

Colors were next and while it was mostly red, black, and gold. The colors Silco likes and the colors of house Medarda. Jinx did pick out some of the brighter neon colors that were offered. Nothing pastel as they seemed way too dull for her taste. 

It felt very repetitive when you're shown six fabric samples that all looked the same color, but were apparently very different. Snacks were offered all throughout the process at least and Jinx did enjoy the weird stuff that they seemed to cover the crackers in. 

What really confused Jinx were the two older women who seemed to really want to know Jinx a lot. They asked the weirdest question though

“How would you say sleep at night?”

“What do you usually eat?” 

“Do you get three meals a day?”

“What was your schooling like?”

“How much sun did she usually get?”

“When was the last time you went to the doctors?”

It was all very suffocating to her. Jinx felt her head was going to explode at this rate. “Why do I need so many clothes?” She shoved a chart of different types of dresses away. 

“Because you are going to become a Medarda.” Ambessa appeared behind her. She had been quite examining what Jinx had brought down. “And being a Medarda means you have to present yourself in a manner fitting of it.” She waved her hand at everyone. “This is all to ensure you can do that.”

Jinx frowned and turned back towards the people as they began shoved different types of metal at her to figure out which one matched her and her new outfits. ”This all seems so dumb.” She wanted to throw the necklaces they keep hanging around her neck to see which one looked better on her across the room. “Why do outfits have to signify power? Should you be able to do that yourself?”

“Yes, but sometimes having the right outfit can help dismay others.” Ambessa waved her hand and they all backed off. “As well as offer a sort of shield. If people can tell you are a Medarda then they know to fear you and your pack.” 

Jinx rolled her eyes. “I want people to fear me for me. Not because of you and your family. 

“An ambitious goal.” Ambessa turned her so she faced her. “That’s why I am going to give you my best tutors, best doctors, the best everything. When people look at you they’ll know your name.” She held up one of her Chompers. “You do well for a child your age.” She watches as Chomper’s jaw goes down on some piece of decorative wood that Ambessa had shoved in its mouth.   

 ‘She’s gonna sick her dogs on you. You’ll be a dog's chew toy by the end of the day!’

Flinching at Mylo she jumped off the little pedestal they had her on “S’not much.” 

‘JINX!’

“Doesn’t even work properly.” She did her best to ignore Mylo as he clawed at her. 

“But it is, child.” Ambessa sat that down as they got to the chairs. She picked up another one off the table between the couches. A gun prototype she was working on. “I know many people who are inventors and none have made anything quite like this.” She waves the gun around like it was a toy. “This is true ingenuity. With a little tutoring you can be something amazing!”

Mylo scoffed in her head. ‘See that. She keeps mentioning tutors because she thinks you're dumb!’

‘No she’s not guys- be nice to-‘

Nice Vi was cut off by her mean counterpart ‘BUT SHE’S A JINX! ALWAYS A JINX!’

“I don’t need tutoring!” Jinx glares at her. “I don’t need your help.” 

“No? Then take it and use it to your advantage.” Ambessa sat down, but she leaned out spreading her legs out as she did, looking Jinx over. “Learn what you can from my best tutors and use that to further your goals.” 

“And what do you get out of it?” Frowning Jinx sat on the couch staring her down. 

“Nothing.” Shrugging Ambessa sat the gun down. “I get nothing, other than knowing I helped further one of the greatest minds in Runeterra.” 

Jinx sat up and looked her over not believing a word out of her mouth. “That doesn’t sound right.”

“But it is.” She laughs and snaps her fingers. A servant brings over some drinks and snacks. They set them down on the table moving some stuff over. “And you get to impress your father even more by using the knowledge you have attained to help Zaun, making him even prouder.”

Jinx took this as an invitation to lean in towards her, but more closed in how she saf, “And you’re sure you wouldn’t gain anything?”

“Clever thing. My family would gain a higher reputation for having you in it.” Taking the cup she sipped it. “I mean if you join the Medarda family and people hear of your brilliance then they’ll all flock to our family for guidance.” 

Jinx snorted. “That’s dumb.”

“Hmm, how so?” 

“People should go to you because you can do it not because someone in your family did it.” Jinx grabbed one of the snacks laid out. She ate it and it had a strange taste. Spicy yet sweet as it crunched under her teeth. “If you just go by who their family was, that can breed incompetence.”

Jinx tried to use a somewhat big word like Silco does when he tries to get his point across. 

‘Poser!’

‘FAMILY KILLER!’ 

Chuckling, she picks up another bomb. “I would love for you to make weapons for myself and my army when you’ve gotten settled into your own lab up here.”

“My lab?” Jinx moved to sit up now. “It’s just a storage closet right now.” 

“Pfff your smart girl Jinx.” Grabbing a fruit of some kind that Jinx didn’t recognize, she tossed it and caught it. “And smart girls need that ingenuity to be fed. You’ll have a brand new lab filled with everything you could ever want or need when one of your new homes is completed. You can do amazing things Jinx.” 

Taking a bite from the fruit she overlooked Mr. Screecher. “I see great potential in you child.”

“Really?” Jinx leaned in at that. “You really think I could do amazing things?”

“I know it.” Ambessa stood up and finished off her fruit and sat beside her. Holding out her hand Ambessa looked at Jinx in a way that could only be described as "like a mother looking at a child with as much love as they could offer’. “And I can tell no matter what you do it’ll be amazing.”

Jinx reaches out and takes her hand with hers. “You don’t think I’m crazy?”

She responds but Jinx can’t hear her. The scribbles of Mylo come up smiling with such an evil thing on his face with his sharp teeth. ‘YOU ARE CRAZY! YOU REALLY THINK SHE’S GONNA STICK AROUND ONCE SHE FINDS OUT!

Clangor comes out from the side. ‘He’s right. Anything you create wouldn’t work! You’d just blow up her own army and then what?!

Vi comes up squeezing her shoulders. ‘Shhh it’s okay Pow-Pow. I know you didn’t mean to kill us or them. You should just work on things that you're good at.’

Mean Violet shoves her away. “LIKE KILLING US! KILLING HER FAMILY! THAT'S WHAT SHE’S GOOD AT!” 

‘F-A-M-I-L-Y K-I-L-L-E-R JINX!’ Mylo began singing. ‘You’re a family killer! You're a family!‘

“SHUT UP!” She bangs her fist against her head. “JUST SHUT UP!” 

Jinx stands up and goes and tries to get away, but she’s grabbed. Her hands become bound to her side as she’s guided to the floor. Thrashing around as the scribbles become worse. “LET ME GO!” 

Jinx was struggling to breath as she tried to get out of the grasp but she couldn’t. Everything felt sucking as she threw up. 

┫⊗⚈┣

Ambessa didn’t let Jinx go as she struggled against her hold. She was warned Jinx could become physically aggressive to herself and others and after last night she didn’t have any reason to doubt it as she held onto the girl. 

“NO! JUST SHUT UP! LIARS!” Jinx threw her head back several times against her chest. 

It didn’t hurt. Ambessa just held on and began to speak softly. “It’s alright child. No one is going to hurt you. I have you.”

Ambessa moves to a sitting position holding Jinx between her legs as she begins to rock softly and talk to her. She remembered when Mel and Kino were younger and had bad meltdowns. Mel was the worst when she got upset. It always worried Ambessa a bit that it would activate so she was quick to try and calm her down. The puke wasn’t something that bothered her either. 

“There, there you're alright child.” Ambessa holds her tightly. She nods her head for the tailors to leave, leaving only the two doctors in here with them. 

Jinx screams and thrashes. More vomit. But Ambessa still holds her. She holds her through it all, talking to her and trying to calm her down more. 

Eventually her body stops shaking and the girl cries a little as she relaxes. “Worthless little thing.” 

“Child I can assure you, you are not worthless.” Ambessa let go of one hand to reposition Jinx so her head lays on her shoulder. 

“Can’t do anything right. Always Jinx it.” Jinx mumbles and Ambessa moves to lay on the couch having the girl rest against her chest. “Just a worthless little jinx.” 

One of the doctors offers a wet rag so she takes it and wipes Jinx’s mouth off. “When I was younger my father took me to the battlefield. It was after the battle of Hildenard.” Jinx didn’t look at her and began to mess with her fingernails. “He had me go and collect weapons from the dead. As many weapons as I could get. It didn’t matter, the size or materials. They were all worth a single coin.”

Ambessa propped herself up a bit so she was sitting with her legs on the couch. “We had to gather enough  to ensure we could eat that day.”

Jinx glanced up at her with big tired eyes before looking back down. “When I was little I used to go scrap heaps and scavenge. There was this place the miners would discard the explosives that didn’t work that I’d go to.” 

Jinx moves her head to rest it on the cloth covering a part of her shoulder as her tiny fingers reach out to mess with a gold button. “I used to help take them apart to get at the materials so we could eat or I could experiment with them. I saw a man get blown up by one when he clipped the wrong wire.” 

Carefully Ambessa moves to start stroking a bit of her hair. Silco has told her she likes it so perhaps doing this could calm her more. “You and I have a lot in common, child. We’ve both seen death at young ages.” 

Jinx didn’t say anything but silently leaned into her touch. “M’not that special.” 

“That is impressive then.” That got Jinx to move her head to look up at her. 

“How’s that impressive?” Jinx made a face as she said that. 

“Because in all my time and in all my travels I have never met anyone who wasn’t special.” Ambessa smiled softly. She is vulnerable right now and she will use this. “And as far as I know you are one of the most special girls here.” 

“How can you say that?” Jinx pushed herself away a little. Her tiny body was pale and sweaty from her attack. “You don’t even know me.”

“But I know of you child.” Ambessa reached over to the table and picked up a bomb. “And I have seen your work. I don’t think you could be any less special if you tried.” 

Jinx smiled at that. Her gaze looks over her scars and she reaches out but stops. Ambessa doesn’t move with only a slight nod. Jinx lets her fingers dance over her scars. She swallows and looks her in her eyes. Those soft grey meet hers. “How do you become strong?”

Ambessa reaches out with her hands and holds Jinx’s face and smiles. “I shall show you.” 

Before ether could say anything there were several pops as the paint bombs went off splattering them in paint. When it was over Jinx looked up at her terrified but Ambessa just laughed. “As I’ve said before, special. Very special.” 

She stood up still holding Jinx. “Come let’s get you cleaned up.” Ambessa carried her to one of the bathrooms in the manor and sat her down in a sink and went to turn on water. 

“I can clean myself up!” Jinx jumped off the sink.

“Child, you’ve just had a panic attack. I can easily-“ jinx tries and fails to shove her out. 

“I’m fine! I swear! Just get out please!” Jinx was shoving her as hard as her little body could and Ambessa could only laugh at it. 

“Very well. But if you need help. I will be outside the door. Just yell.” Ambessa walked out, giving the child some space. 

The door slammed behind her and she looked at the doctors. Both rushed over as she moved away from the door far enough to where she could hear her but to where she couldn’t hear them. “Your impressions?”

Doctor Sera Karza stepped up first. “She seems to be underweight and possibly lacking in nutritions. I’ll need to get some blood samples to be sure.” She offered Ambessa her clipped board and she looked it over. “I want to get her into a physical so I can get a full work up done.”

Ambessa handed the clipboard back and looked at the other doctor. Mental health specialist Zenn Tall. One of Ambessa’s most trusted therapists and neurologists. “And you Dr. Tall. What is your opinion?” 

“The girl needs help. Her hallucinations seem to be a constant presence from what I’ve seen.” Dr. Tall clicked a pen. A habit of hers when deep in thought. “I’m hesitant to diagnose her with anything after only a brief viewing. I think Dr. Karza would like to see her. Perhaps once a day, maybe.” She writes something down on her board. “I want to get a good sense of her before doing anything including medication. Since she is underweight, assigning medication could do more harm than good if we get the wrong dosage.” 

“That can be arranged into her schedule.” Ambessa was already thinking where to put it. 

“I’d also like to consider getting her a service animal.” Dr. Tall scribbled something else. “If her hallucinations are severe and happen frequently, having one would help her. Something sturdy so she doesn’t hurt herself or the animal.”

“Yes.” Ambessa hummed softly. “My favorite war hound has just given birth to puppies. Perhaps one of them would do.” 

“With training, yes. I can begin looking around for reputable trainers to help with that if you don’t want to bring one in from Noxus.” Dr. Tall was scribbling more. “Would you prefer that, general?” 

“Yes. If you can’t find anyone that can keep quiet I’ll send for a Noxian.” Ambessa turned to the door and listened at the water turning down. “You're dismissed for now.”

They both slam a fist to their chest and leave quickly. 

┫⊗⚈┣

Silco walked the streets with the kids behind him. Sevika joined them on the bridge as extra muscle. They walked through the promenade and down more. Mel and Kino had begun coughing so he gave them adapter masks. 

These masks would help them to adapt to the thick polluted air down here so they wouldn’t just cough their lungs out the whole time. 

He made sure to walk the long way around. Showing them some of the rougher locales in Zaun. They walked over drug addicts, the homeless, starving, garbage, buildings filled with people trying to survive the day before the night came. 

Silco caught them glancing out of the corner of his eye. Kino was holding himself well, giving nothing away. His head was always straight, but even with the thick tinted glass of the masks he could see his eyes drift towards people. 

Mel however was a different story. She would turn her head to look at them. To absorb everything she could. Silent, but he could see the tension in her frame.  

They walked deeper and deeper till they got to a factory. “This was once an orphanage.” He said without turning towards them.

“But this is a factory.” Mel said, moving to stand beside him. 

“Yes. It was both.” Silco moved to walk inside. “Many of the most wealthy Piltovans would build these mixed buildings to house their workers. Easier to keep track of all your workers when there was no home for them to return to. It wasn't out of generosity.” He opened the door and inside where old conveyor belts and machines stood. 

That wasn’t the bad part. The bad part was the several small discarded skeletons that lay scattered around. “Whole families were put to work. Fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters. Orphans would be given the worst, most dangerous jobs because there’d be no one to miss them when they died. Everyone worked brutal hours, but orphans were worked the hardest and were given less breaks.

“Why would they do such a thing?” Kino took his mask off. Taking in a deep slow breath as he did so. Testing to see if his lungs could do so. “I know in times of war many people in power would do this, but Piltover has never been in a war before.”

“Greed.” Silco turns to face them. “This was pure greed. They got a kick back in the form of tax deductions for having an orphanage and they didn’t have to pay the children for their work.” 

They moved deeper and deeper into the factory. 

As they walked Mel asked him “What happened to the children that couldn’t work?” 

Silco stopped at the balcony he wanted to show them last. “Then they were made to leave or were sent down there.” He points moving, letting them see. 

Both looked over and stared into the large pit below. Silco remembered hearing stories that the hole went to the center of Runeterra. 

Mel didn’t even look at him when she then asked. “And how do you know this?”

“Because my sister was one that was sent over the railing when she became sick.” Silco watched them freeze. “She helped me with my work as I was a child and lagging behind.” He moved closer and grabbed the rusty railing. “She was the best worker in the factory. When she got sick she wasn't given medicine or treatment or anything that could help. Instead I was made to watch as they threw her over.” He looks down the hole. 

“How did you get out?”

“I ran because I was a scared and frightened boy.” Silco looked at them and their gazes still hadn't left the hole. “I lived on my own for a time before joining a mining company. A story for another time.” 

They both stayed silent as he turned to leave. “Come there is more to see.” They left the factory. 

“Why hasn't anyone done anything?” Mel moved beside him. “Surely people would have revolted at this type of treatment.”

Silco looks at her and says very quietly, “You don’t think we’ve tried?” 

The look he was giving her must have gotten through to her as she backed up to stand next to her brother. The next place he takes them is to the cage fights. Silco hopes it brings some familiarity to them, but then again he isn’t that knowledgeable on Noxian culture to know if cage fights are the norm there.

People cheer and boo as winners are declared. Blood splattered all over the place making it hard to tell if some of the cages are rusty or just bloody. But it was most likely both. 

The smell of cheap booze and death made his heart ache a bit. He remembered coming here with Vander and Felicia. “This is Zaun’s most popular form of entertainment. One I’m sure you're familiar with.”

“It’s just pit fighting back in Noxus.” Kino moved closer to him ignoring the several scantily clad women who waved at them. Eager to get Silco’s and the people he’s with attention. “Though they're less violent.” People yell out as someone rips out another’s intestinal tract.

Sevika gives them smirks as she walks by. He’d need to correct her on that. “We have that as well.” She says. “Just as bloody.” 

Mel flinches as there’s blood that sprays out into the air from another cage. “Is this all your people have?” 

“We also have drugs, alcohol, and sex.” Sevika nudges Mel forward a bit causing her to stumble but she regains her composure.

Kino huffs a bit. “They lack proper form.” He watches as someone hits another with their mining gauntlet. 

“You think you could do better, little prince?” Sevika looks at him unimpressed. 

“I know I could.” Kino watches as another falls to the ground coughing up blood and possibly some of his organs as well. “I’ve been trained by the best.”

“Is that so?” Sevika towers over him as they stop. “Then you wouldn’t mind fighting me?” 

Kino was looking at her metal arm before nodding. “Not at all.”

Sevika chuckles and grabs Kino by the shoulder with her other arm pulling him to an empty cage. Mel walks up beside Silco. “Aren’t you going to stop them?” 

Silco looks down at the girl. Those eyes look at him with worry even through the glass. “He’ll be fine. Sevika knows not to go too hard on him. Plus it’ll do both of you some good. Show you a different angle of fighting.” 

She looks at him unconvinced as people flock to watch Sevika, his right hand, entering the cage with an unknown person. Cheers and bets were being placed as he watched. He glanced at the few people who tried to pickpocket Mel. 

Silco was glad he had made the girl leave her pouch of coins back at her place. Mel had moved to the front to watch her brother. They were whispering to each other. Most likely trying to talk him out of this. 

Kino was clearly dismissive of her as he went to get ready. Mel walked back towards him as people surged forward to watch. Silco watched as the bell dinged. 

It wasn’t a long fight. 

┫⊗⚈┣

Kino was shaking after the fight. It was rough and brutal. He’d never had to fight like that. Her prosthetic arm was deadly and she bought dirty. While some parts were similar to one he had learned, hers was much rougher. 

She did things he knew weren’t taught by any one culture. He was nearly limping as they walked through more. 

Sevika was holding his back in a near carry as they walked away from the cage fighting. “Come on, I didn't beat you that bad.” 

“You almost killed him.” Mel was glaring hard at her. 

Sevika laughs. “Kid if I wanted your brother dead, we wouldn’t be standing here now.” 

Before he could say anything he was shoved down on some seat at a stall.

“You fought cleanly.” Silco watches him for a moment. “That was your flaw. You fought like your opponent wasn’t going to take the cheap shot and have honor.” He titled his head a bit with a smirk. “That’s something you’ll have to get out of.”

Kino didn’t reply as he looked over the food stall being run by a Mirai Vastayan. There were people sitting down eating out of bowls with their hands. The stove top and bowl were piping hot with the aroma of spices floating in the air.

It covered the thick pollution smell he hadn't grown used to. Silco threw some coins on the counter and the man prepared four bowls and slid them towards them. 

The bowl smelled delicious and so cautiously he dipped his hand in and began to eat it. He coughs a bit at the spices, but it was as amazing tasting as it smelled. “Mm, not bad.”

“It’s the best food in the fissures, kid.” Sevika picked up her bowl and slurped it down. “Don’t worry about the spice. It’s used to cover some of the more delicate aspects of the Pilt”

Kino glanced at Mel as she held up a fish covered in a yellow sauce. She took her mask off and took a few unsure breaths. 

Patting her back times Mel steady under his touch. She looked at him, upset. “It was dumb of you to do that.”

“Yes.” A bowl was placed in front of him and he looked at the bowl. “It was.” He knew he’d hear more of it when they got back to her manor. He followed Sevika’s move and put the bowl up to his face. He took a few sips of the food and was surprised by its flavor. 

He held his chest as the spice hit him. “Wow, that's spicy.”

Silco smirks as he sits his bowl down. “Like Jinx said. Jericho is known for his Spike Spice. It’s famous throughout Zaun.” He pulled out some more gold coins and slid them against the table. He tapped the coins twice. 

The man grabbed a plastic bag and Kino finally noticed the tree-like thing growing in the back of the stall. It was vines that Speka Spirit usually grew on but these were much thicker like tree roots and were growing upwards and not on the ground like normal. 

The leaves were a dark green and seemed more vibrant and larger. He picked several of them before he placed them into a bag. He doesn’t say anything as he slides it to Silco who takes it. Placing them into a pouch in his jacket. 

He’s elbowed by Sevika as she sits her bowl down. “Hurry up and eat. We’ve got places to be.”

Kino looked back down at his bowl the best he could with his forming black eye. He wonders what his mother will say about it. If she says anything at all. Picking it up he begins to eat it once more, getting halfway before it becomes a bit too much for him. 

Mel had somehow managed to finish hers off mostly, but had a slight darkening of her cheeks. “I’m full.” 

As soon as those words were said the Mirai Vastayan took the bowl and dumped the contents into a large pot the vines were growing out of. No wonder they were so thick. They were surrounded by nutrients and fed over and over again.

They leave and keep walking. He becomes more steady as he walks, but Sevika still keeps a hold on him. “So where are we off to now?” Kino tried to get a good look at all the buildings around them. Looking more and more like a party street. 

“The Last Drop.” Silco glances at him. “It’s where most of my business is conducted.” He moves to rub his bad eye. “And my medication. We’ll only be there a moment.”

Kino finally becomes steady enough on his feet that Sevika lets him go. The neon eye down ont them as Silco entered into the closed nightclub. Inside where several workers bustled around and looked like they were getting ready to open. “Welcome back sir!” The bartender yelled as he sat the glasses down.

Silco waved him off. “Stay. It won’t take long.” He went to the stairs and walked up it with Sevika trailing behind. 

Kino sat down at the bar. “So, you work for Silco.” 

The barman looked him over and Kino did the same. “Yeah.” He placed his hands on the bar as he wiped it down. His long sleeved white shirt had the sleeves covered by brown leather around his arm. “Lots of folks do.” 

Kino hummed softly as Mel sat beside him. Judging him silent with that stone cold face she uses when meeting people. 

Taking stock of the man with his wide shoulders, the black suspenders he wore, the leather pulling his shirt together with screws, and his hair shaved at the sides leaving the top part growing out a bit long. 

His face was a bit of a rectangle with sharp angles that gave a nice shape to it. 

“My name is Kino and this is my sister Mel.” He smiled at the man who looked the same age as him. “What’s your name?”

He doesn’t even look at them as he goes to do something else. “Thieram.” He glances at the door as if looking for someone. 

“If you're looking for Jinx, she didn’t come with us.” 

Thieram looked at them. “Do you know where she is?”

“At Medarda manor.” Kino relaxed himself. He could see the worry that flashed across his face. “It’s near the counselor’s home across the river.”

“What is she doing there?” He dropped the box he held. “Is she in trouble?” 

“Jinx is fine.” Kino stretched out his aching joint. “She’s most likely getting a new wardrobe and meeting tutors.” 

“Ahh. I see.” He looked back at the box grabbing some stuff. 

“You care about her then?” 

The man just starts pulling out bottles of booze. “I just have some scrap she might like. She enjoys tinkering a bit and keeps her out of my hair.” 

“Right.” Kino felt Mel push him a bit with her leg, but he didn’t care. He could tell Thieram cared about Jinx the same way he cared about Mel. He smirked as he watched the guy practice some bottle flips, catching the bottle and having it stand up completely straight by its head on the palm of his hand. 

“We can go now.” Silco walks back down holding a beaten up closed box. “Thieram, I’ll be out for a bit. Sevika will be in charge.”

Thieram gulped. “Yes sir.” 

As they walked Silco stopped. “One more place.” They walk towards the edge of a cliff and he points down. “That little Medarda.” He looks at Mel. “Is the land you’ve purchased.”

Mel makes no blatant expression, looking down in cooled indifference. If Silco hadn’t been looking closely he would’ve missed the slight twitch of her lips as they went back to walking. “The next time you wish to purchase land down here, I’ll gladly help you.” He says.  

Kino and Mel follow behind as they silently walk back to the manor. Silco watches as they cross the bridge into the glittering city when it hits Mel all at once on what they’ve both seen.

She’s seen war, death, torture, suffering, starvation, drug addictions, all of it her mother made sure to show her. Yet in all those cases there had been war, famine, corrupt governments, and the like. 

Everyone suffered and very few profited. 

┫⊗⚈┣

Mel was doing her best to control her shaking as they made their way back. Had she truly been blind to all the suffering going on down there? Yes she heard things but never went there herself. She didn’t care. 

One could say many things about her mother, but lack of care for her people wasn’t something anyone dared to say. Her mother made sure there was always food on the table. Made sure children had a safe place to learn and eat. 

It was one of the few things that Mel didn’t disagree about with her mother. She had been told Piltover was the ‘City of Progress’, where everyone flourished. Mel hadn’t bothered to check whether it was true or not. She had bought the lie hook line and sinker.

No wonder Silco was agreeing to marry her mother. Mel would marry someone as powerful as her if it meant helping the oppressed.  

The factory Silco had taken to and talked of his sister. Mel had a strong feeling there were many more factories like that all throughout the Undercity. Her stomach felt tied up in knots. By the time they got back to the manor, Jinx was clearly trying to test her mother as she was on the chandelier throwing down bombs that didn’t explode. 

“Child, this isn’t going to end well.” Her mother hadn't yelled, but it still carried and sent shivers down her spin. 

Jinx responded by throwing another bomb aimed for Ambessa’s face. She stepped out of the way with a raised eyebrow. 

“Jinx.” Silco spoke the same way her mother had. In a tone that carried up their displeasure and would make any child flinch. 

“SILCO!” Jinx gasped and fell from the chandelier. Doing a tuck and roll right to his feet. “YOUR BACK!” She grabbed him in a big hug. 

“I am. And it seems not a moment too soon.” Silco patted her back.

Ambessa chuckles a bit as one of the smoke bombs begins to go off. “Kino, Mel, did you enjoy your time with Silco?”

Mel nodded. “It was informative.”

“It was something.” Kino had rubbed the eye he got hit on trying to get some tears. 

Their mother noticed, but said nothing about it. She looks at the group. “That’s good. Now that we're all here, perhaps a game then?” 

Mel wanted to groan but held it in. Looking around the paint covered room she had a feeling something went wrong and testing her wouldn’t be the right thing. They go towards the sitting room once more where there are several board games sitting on the table. 

Jinx is jumping all over Silco as he holds the bag of Speka Spirits above his head to stop her from getting them. Jinx begins to start climbing him like a tree. “Jinx.” He shook his head as he tried to pull her off. “You’ll get them after dinner.” 

“But I want one now.” Jinx pouts.”please!?”

“If I give you one, will you behave?”

Jinx now had her legs wrapped around his waist leaning back and with one hand holding his arm and the other reaching out. “Yes!” 

Ambessa laughs and pulls her off. Silco pulls one out and gives it to her. She stuffed the whole spiky thing in her mouth and chewed on it. Mel sat down as Silco pulled out Settlers of Nerata. A strategy game where one would try to build the best civilization. A game they played off. “That’s a good one.” Mel commented. 

“Hmm perhaps we should play this then.” He smiles at her. 

The game goes on well. Kino wasn't doing his best. He was thinking of something. She knew what it was as she was thinking the same thing. What she’s seen down there. It was messing with her. 

Ambessa placed down a large house representing a city. “Jinx, would you be willing to trade four wood for a stone and two bricks?” 

Jinx wasn’t really paying attention as she messed with one of her things. “Sure.” Jinx tossed the cards as she pulled out a wire. Mel really looked at it this time. It wasn’t made of high tech gadgetry or the best metal. It was junk and scraps. 

Junk and scraps that were put together by a child who was forced to scavenge around for what they could and do what they must. Her ingenuity was forged by the dark world around her. 

“Jinx, how would you like to go to the academy with me?” 

Jinx looked up at that. “The academy?”

“Yes. I think you would like it.” Mel smiled softly as she went to roll the dice. “You would be surrounded by other children who share your interest and-“

“I won’t let Jinx attend the academy.” Silco looked at her. “She’ll have tutors.”

“Why not?” Mel sat the dice down. “It would be good for her. She could learn and make friends.”

“The academy wouldn’t treat her right. When it comes out that the undercity is vying for independence, everyone topside will be looking for someone to scapegoat.” Silco picked up his glass cup. “They’ll see her as an easy target and take it all out on her. Plus I’ve already contacted an associate of mine. His son will be willing to help teach-“

“VIKTOR! It’s Viktor isn’t it!?” Jinx jumped on the table and bounced. “I get to play with Viktor!”

“You get to learn with Viktor.” He picked her off and sat her back down on her spot on the floor she likes. “I’m not paying him to just play with you.”

Mel stared at him. If this was the same Viktor she knew this was going to become complicated. She had just talked the council into allowing Hextech. While she wasn’t on it and was young she still held some sway with her last name and coins. 

She was the sponsor for Hextech. Funded labs, tools, technology. A lot was going to be riding on this. Yes she was young and an aid to councilor Heimerdinger when he requested her and the Kirammans as well, but still she had some sway. Her coins spoke for that. More so since she had helped give some sway for the other councilors to fund it. Now Jinx would be taking the time away from one of the two scientists so she could learn. 

“And you two.” Her mother starts putting the pieces back on the board. “Will be learning business from Silco. He’s quite excellent at getting a good deal as well as fighting from his people.”

Kino rubbed his face and groaned. Mel slouched a bit. They both knew that their mother liked a certain type of guy. They don’t want to hear about it. “And I’m hoping you can also show Jinx some etiquette.”

All three watched as Jinx was now bouncing around an annoyed looking Silco cheering happily and getting to spend time with Viktor. That was going to be a challenge and half.

There’s a knock and everyone turns to look at the door. Elora walked in holding a silver tray with a letter on it. “Forgive the intrusion, but a letter for Mel had arrived.”

“Who’s it from?” Mel watched her walk over keeping her head held high. 

“Caitlyn Kiramman, ma’am.” Elora held it down so she could grab it and the letter opener. 

Opening up the letter Mel read it over and hummed. “I’ve been invited to tea. Kino is welcome to come as well.”

“That’s wonderful.” Ambessa smiles her predatory smile. “You can tell them about the upcoming wedding and bring Jinx along.”

Jinx paused and looked at her. “What?” 

The bomb she was working on goes off covering everyone in bright pink paint once more.

Chapter Text

“No I don’t wanna to! Please don’t make me go!” Jinx grabbed on to Silco and held him by the legs. 

Mel watched this as Silco was doing his best to try and calm her down. “You’ll be alright Jinx, they won’t hurt you!” 

Mel had watched Jinx scream and cry at the fact she had to go hang out with ‘rich pilites’. It took a lot from Silco to try and calm her. Not even her mother’s glare seemed to affect her as she was threatening just to blow them all up with her paint bombs. 

Eventually she does calm down and seems to accept it. This left her, Kino, and Jinx to go get ready. 

Jinx was wearing another one of her old dresses as her wardrobe won’t be done till next week. Once they had pinned up and given her some under clothing that was worn and neon. She still wore her old shoes as she called Mel’s ‘pinching’ and ‘seemed to be very bad at climbing and running’ to her standards. 

So now she was sitting in the corner sulking with Kino as they worked on some of her paint bombs on a coffee table that was now ruined. 

Mel really didn’t want to handle some sulking child when she needed to have tea with the Kirammans. Honestly it was quite bothersome, but Kino had that look on his face like she deserved this as he finished up a bomb. “And that Jinx is how you make it go.” 

Jinx nodded as she traced her fingers over a bomb. “That makes sense. You're really good at this.”

“As are you.” Kino patted her shoulder with a smile. “I could never have made something like this when I was your age and with the scrap you have.” he grabbed her braid and hummed softly. “You know, Mel could probably braid your hair up fancy if you want.”

Jinx looked at Mel as she stared back. The flashes of the factory they’d visited flashed in her mind. The children starving in the streets with near balding or matted hair. “I can. The Medarda family is known for wearing protective and stylish braids.” 

Mel looked towards Elora. “Could you get me the history of Medarda braids book?” 

“Of course my lady.” Elora turned and walked out. 

Jinx lays her bomb on the table and slowly walks over as Mel swipes off some makeup powder from the chair in front of the vanity. “Does your family wear braids often?”

She sat down as Elora came back with the book. “Thank you.” Mel nodded and flipped through the book. “All the time.” 

Stopping at one page she points to some pictures of braids that had sharp teeth and pointed metal woven stylishly in. “This was once the most popular hairstyle when going out to war. When someone would try to grab our hair the sharp teeth and metal points would stab their hands.” 

“Cool!” Jinx held it up smiling, “Think you could do mine like that?”

“I don’t think your hair has the right texture for it. This however,” Mel flips the pages over to show a bubble braid set, “Would be perfect for your hair. It’s a victory bubble braid set. You would hang some of your war trophies on it.”

“But I don’t have any war trophies.” Jinx huffs before perking up, “I have my first bullet and some bolts tho!” 

Patting her shoulders Mel laughs a bit. “I have some hair trinkets you can use. Elora could you bring them please?”

Elora nodded and left as there was a soft gasp, “I can wear them!?” Jinx was bouncing in the seat. 

“You can. Now let’s see what I can do for your hair.” Mel began working on Jinx’s hair. It was dry, covered in oils, and needed a good trim. It was also very clear Silco had been trying to help and failing. Thankfully a big part of the Medarda family was hair care, so she knew what to do.

Gathering up some other things Mel begins to work on fixing Jinx’s hair. First by toweling out some of the oils before giving it a good brushing. “Do you do your hair everyday?” 

“I do.” Mel was careful with the knots as she brushed. “Well, I don’t braid it every day. Most of the time I sleep with a silk bonnet on my head to help keep my braids together. Then I have Elora help me fix it up.” 

Jinx winced at a slight tug on a pretty good knot. “There’s a lot of braid styles you guys do.” She was flipping through the pages. “What’s with all the abbreviations?”

“Those are secret messages.” Mel finished brushing her hair and ran her fingers through it. “When sneaking into enemy territory, there's a need to send a message without the enemy knowing. We’d use special patterns in our hair to tell them.” Mel begins to separate her hair to start braiding. 

“Woah! What else can hair do?!” 

It was hard to braid her hair as Jinx bounced around. Mel was finding it hard not to roll her eyes or laugh at the insane things she said. “And done.” Mel stepped back letting Jinx look over the braids. “What do you think?”

“I LOVE!” Jinx spins around, “IT'S PERFECT!” She stops and gasps. “WE CAN DO EACH OTHERS NAILS NEXT!” 

Before Mel or Kino could say anything, Jinx bolts and rushes out of the room. As soon as she leaves Kino starts laughing. “Seems you're finally feeling it.”

Mel frowns and looks towards him. “What are you talking about?”

“I recall someone when they were younger who hated parties and called socializing with ‘stuffy people’ boring.” Kino walks over smiling. 

“I was never pouting or causing that much trouble.” Mel crossed her arms and brow pinching together. 

Kino bursts out laughing. “So you didn’t tip a table of food over at one of mother’s banquets when she didn’t let you go play?” 

Mel felt heat rush up to her cheeks as that memory rushed up. “I wasn’t that bad a child.” 

Rolling his eyes, “Like her? But hey look at the bright side” Kino pats her shoulder. “Now you get to be the big sibling.”

“I’m back! And we can start on Kino’s nails first since I got my pink nail polish!” Jinx held up a small paint covered box. “And while we do this,” she closed the door by kicking it with her foot. “We can plan on how to split up Silco and your mom!”

┫⊗⚈┣

Kino looked at his glittery pink and green nails. He had never worn anything like this before and had a deep gut feeling he’ll be wearing it more often. “And that is how we will break them up!” Jinx smiles as she taps her nails. 

“And how do you expect to avoid your father’s wrath?” Mel had an eyebrow raised. She had blue and a glittery purple. 

“He won’t be too mad.” Jinx shrugged as she looked over her own blue and pink nails. “He doesn’t really get mad at me.” 

“Children.” There’s knocking. “Are you ready to go?” Ambessa walked in. She was wearing one of her training outfits. 

“Yes mother.” Kino stood up. “We’re about ready to head out.” 

“Excellent, I’ll walk you to the door.” Ambessa’s eyes moved to Jinx, the painted box holding her nail paints, and bomb parts scattered around the table. “Jinx, your father does want a word with you.”

Jinx looked up at her saying nothing. She moved to the back of the group as they left the room. Kino glances at her. Holding out a hand for her she doesn’t take it but looks up at smiling softly. 

They walk towards the door where Silco, without his coat, stands there waiting. “Jinx.” He walks over and kneels a bit. “Are you feeling alright?”

“I’m fine.” She huffs looking at him. 

Silco stares for a bit. “Jinx, I want you to try and not blow up the Kirammans. We need them to like us.” 

Jinx puffs her cheeks out. “But they’re topsiders!” 

“Yes, but them liking us means they won’t shut off the vents or shoot us when we split.” Silco was kneeling over her a bit. “Remember when you blew up that warehouse I needed for drugs?”

“Yeah.” Jinx pouts as she looks down, “You said I did a really good job.” She looks up with big eyes, “And that you could get a new one.”

“I did. And then you detonated the rest of them drawing more attention to us.” Kino was watching this and could tell those big eyes were working on him. “This is a bit different from Jinx. I can’t get a new person liking us as a lot of people already don’t. No matter how many coins I throw at them.” 

His lips twitch a bit. “So play nice. Alright?”

Jinx groans a bit but seems resigned. “Okay. I’ll try and play nice with the topsiders.” 

Silco’s face softens. “That’s all I ask.” He pats her head careful of the braids. She walks out to join them as there’s a loud bang from somewhere in the house. “Jinx.” Silco turns to her. 

Jinx grabs his and Mel’s hands as they rush out towards the carriage. Kino laughs a bit as he could just make out his mother’s face. She was clearly getting fed up with the amount of bombs that have gone off. 

They get inside and Jinx slams the door shut. “Think I’m annoying your mom?!” She’s beaming at herself. 

“More than you probably should.” Kino glanced as the doors to the manor closed. 

“How far away are the Kirammans?” Jinx asked, picking at her cuticles. 

“Close by. They’re only a few blocks away.” Mel straightened her dress out a bit. “We’ll be dropped off at their front gate where Caitlyn and most likely her mother will be waiting.”

Jinx frowns and looks at her shoes. “Is she mean?”

Mel's smile softens a bit. “No she’s not. Caitlyn is one of the nicest girls at school.” She touches Jinx’s shoulder but she pulls away.

Jinx was looking around the carriage not making eye contact. Kino focuses on her body language. She was curling in on herself and looking around the carriage. She was messing with her nails. “But she’s a Piltie.” It was a near whisper. 

Before they could say anything it stops and the door opens. Kino gave her a reassuring smile as they headed towards the doors. Jinx walked behind them doing her best to not show fear, but clearly being a bit scared of it all. 

He offered his hand behind him towards her. Open and waiting. It’ll stay there for as long as she’s behind him. Something he did when Mel was young to show he was always there for her.

The door opened before they even had the chance to knock and Cassandra Kiramman stood there in one of her fine silk dresses. It was Noxian silk, done in black and a soft trimming of gold with blue swirls around the bottom. 

Her daughter was in a blue and white dress done in Noxian silk as well. Most likely she was wearing the silk to show she enjoys Noxus for what it can bring and trying to seem supportive. 

Supporting his mother was never a really good idea unless one wanted to die or be chained. Something grabs his hand. Kino doesn’t need to look back to know it’s Jinx now hiding behind him a bit. 

Cassandra Kiramman smiles, “Welcome, thank you for joining us on such short notice.”

“It was nothing, councillor Kiramman.” Mel smiles softly. “I’ll always stop by for some tea with you and Caitlyn.” 

“Thank you for inviting me as well.” Kink doesn’t step up as he gives Jinx’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “I hope you don’t mind we brought someone else along.”

Cassandra Kiramman kept her face calm and she nodded softly. Her lip twitched a bit at the sight of the new person, but didn't seem to be bothered by it. “Not at all.” 

Her steely eyes looked towards Jinx. “And who might you be?” 

“Jinx.” She squeezed her hand tightly. “My name is Jinx.”

“Jinx.” She repeated softly. “What a unique name. Please come this way.” Lady Kiramman gestures inside. “Will be having tea outside in the gardens. The Rosetta trees are near full bloom.” 

They followed as Kino watched the young heiress of the family look at Jinx with a warm but practiced smile. “Hello there.”

Jinx doesn’t reply, only staying close to Kino. They enter the gardens with flowers blooming and big fat bumble bees buzzing around. A man, Lady Kiramman’s husband Tobias, was setting down a jar of honey. He smiled when he noticed them entering. “Welcome. I’m glad you kids could make it.” Unlike his wife’s and daughter’s smiles, he had the air of actually being more genuine. “Seems like we have another guest joining us. I’ll set up another cup of tea.” 

“This is Jinx.” Caitlyn bounces a little to her father as they move to sit down. 

He grabs the tea cup with a matching saucer and smiles. “Well it’s nice to meet you Jinx.” He sets it down as they all take their seats on the benches.

Jinx doesn’t lean on him, but is very close. Her eyes scan the area and the little snacks on the silver trays. Kino gives her hand another reassuring squeeze before she pulls away.

“So, Mel.” Cassandra says softly as Caitlyn begins pouring the tea. “How has your business been? I heard you recently bought some land in the undercity.” 

“It’s been going well. I did find out I was lied to about the land I was buying though.” Mel picks up the honey spoon. “Is this from the bees on your grounds?” She adds some to her tea. 

Tobias laughed. “Oh yes, they’ve been very busy this spring. We’ve gotten new blooms this year from Iona.”

Kino listened a bit. He could sense the edge that they held. They wanted to ask, but society standards wouldn’t allow them to ask out right. Which annoyed Kino greatly. 

He sipped his tea. Sweet, like how most in Piltover take it. Glancing towards Jinx she held the cup with both hands and was sniffing it. She was looking at it like it was some foreign object. “How have your travels been, Kino?” 

He looked at Dr. Kiramman as he smiled. “I know you came here straight from Shurima. Did you enjoy it?”

“My travels have been alright.” Kino sat his cup down. “Shurima was a very interesting place to see. I enjoyed its great history.” 

“That’s good. Did you manage to check out any of the ancient sites?”

“I did. I saw the Kalduga ancient capital from when it was its own nation.” 

“Did you see the ancient statue of Kindred?” Caitlyn smiled at him. 

“Yes, before I left. It was striking to see such a thing outside of Noxus.” Kino picked up one of the tea sandwiches. White tea bread with cucumber slices. 

“And what of you Mis. Jinx?” Jinx nearly spilled her tea as she jerked her head towards Tobias. “Did you come with Kino?”

“No.” She answered a bit bluntly. Her eyes were looking around. No, not looking around. She was following something that wasn’t there. 

Kino felt a pit form in his stomach. This wasn’t going to go well most likely. “Jinx has come with her father to be with us.” He said. He needed the tea party to end. 

“Oh?” Cassandra Kiramman leaned forward a bit. “And why is that?” 

“Because our parents are getting married.” Kino just ripped the bandaid off. He could sense the look Mel was giving him from her cool face, but he doubted she noticed Jinx’s eyes following something and not just being a nervous kid not making eye contact. “Her father will be marrying our mother, making her the newest Medarda.”

That left the three Kiramman’s a bit stunned. Kino grabbed one of Jinx’s hands, lightly stroking the back to ground her in the moment and give her physical assurance she was safe and the hallucinations couldn’t hurt her. 

“Well then.” Cassandra regains her composure. “Congratulations are in order to your mother then. Do you know when the wedding will be?” 

“They wish to have it soon.” Mel goes in. Trying to regain control of the conversation. “Sometime in the next month or two.” 

“A pretty fast one then?” Tobias raised an eyebrow. Not out of malice but of curiosity.

“Yes.” Mel went on. “They feel that since she is often at war that marrying as soon as possible would be the best.”

Caitlyn looked at Mel, but unlike her parents’ constant smiles she frowned a bit. “Do you know where they’ll have it?”

“Somewhere in Piltover.” Kino tried to relax his body. His mother’s presence always brought tension no matter where they went. 

“The bridge.” Jinx claimed. “I saw their plans last night when they went to bed.”

“Oh the crystal bridge by the council building? That will be a beautiful place to have it.” Cassandra smiles. “I’m sure that’ll be beautiful and the council would easily agree to host the reception at the council tower and-“

“No. Not there.” Jinx doesn’t look up as she scratches at her cuticles. “The bridge between Piltover and Zaun, they’ll have the main party and reception on both sides of the bridge, Promenade and the other side.” 

Kino sucked in a breath as he watched the three Kirammans tense up at that. “Oh?” Cassandra Kiramman said, sitting her cup down as Jinx grabbed one of the small sandwiches looking it over with an odd face. “If they need help finding a place I can gladly assist.”

Mel was tense as well. Kino could see it. She was finally seeing Jinx become more inward. Her eyes were becoming faster with their movement. “Well, I believe they do want to have it there to show unity between them seeing as Jinx and Silco are from there.”

“Zaun?” Caitlyn frowned a bit. “What's Zaun? We don’t have a bridge connecting us to a place like that.”

“It’s the-“

“It’s the place where you throw your trash.” Jinx hisses a bit as she cuts Mel off. “Where you send your pollution and those you don’t want.” Her fingers scraped the seat she was on. “It’s the undercity. We call it Zaun.” 

The tension was growing thicker. So much so Kino swore it was about to be thick enough to cut with a knife. Looking at Mel she was looking straight ahead trying to contain her shock and composure. This wasn’t going to end very well. 

┫⊗⚈┣

Jinx could clearly see Mylo and Claggor bouncing all around chanting. Kino’s touch was strangely comforting, but not enough. 

Jinx! Jinx! Jinx! Jinx! See how they fear you! They know you're bad! Mylo laughs as he bounces between the two ladies. 

Claggor was resting his head on the table smirking. Can’t even last one little tea party

Squeezing her hand she crushed the small sandwich she forgot was in her hand. Worse, it was just bread and cucumbers! Is this all these stupid rich pities eat!? They boast magnificent feasts while so many starve and this is what they gave them?!

The tea was also very bland and overly sweet. Perhaps she should have put something in it, but she didn’t want to take anything from them. 

She’s trying. Jinx really is trying to behave as she sat the squished sandwich in the stupid little plate the tea cup was on. It was hard. Jinx couldn’t be good. She’s a jinx after all. How can anyone expect her to be good? 

“So you're from the undercity then.” Jinx Looked over to see the girl that she couldn’t remember the name of for the life of her. “That must have been rough. I’m sorry you had to grow up like that.”

Jinx stared at her. “Oh? You're sorry?”

Kino was squeezing her hand and wasn’t letting go. 

Scribbles begin to cover the girl’s face, “Yes.” Cathy, maybe? Said. “Being surrounded by criminals, having to grow up being made to steal by the grownups around you, being made to mess with enforcers, and the like must have been challenging.” 

She held her chin up high as those blue eyes stared down at her with a look she couldn’t make out through the scribbles. “I’m glad your father is marrying up so you can have a better life.” 

If Kino wasn’t holding her hand down she would have reached over and attacked her. “He’s not ’marrying up’. We’re perfectly happy with out that-“

“Her father is a businessman.” Mel grabbed her other hand that was squeezing the bottom of the bench as one of her nails breaks. “It’s how they meet. Through business dinners and such.”

“Oh he’s that Silco.” The old lady said with a smile and sharp pointy purple teeth looking out as the scribbles nearly covered everything. “The industrialist. I’ve seen him around before. A man who pulled himself out of the trenches so they say.” 

Jinx mumbles under her breath, “Name another Silco.” 

“Yes, well they’re doing well together and mother plans to help the undercity.” Kino was trying to pull her to him covertly, but she leaned away hitting Mel. “She plans to open up a few schools and such.”

“I see.” The lady sipped her tea looking down at Jinx. Her heart was beating more and more as her chest tightened. “Well I’ll gladly help with that. I did help with the ventilation system back in the day and pay for its upkeep.”

Her daughter nods along as yellow horns sport from her head. “Yeah. It’s a shame people keep stealing items from it to sell for drugs.”

Jinx was shaking a little. She was going to lose it. Jinx was going to kill them all. “What are you talking about? The vents are never fixed? They haven’t been fixed since before I was born.” 

“Are you saying the money I’ve spent maintaining it hasn’t gone to it?” The old man was touching the lady’s shoulder. His face was covered in blue scribbles. Like he didn’t matter. 

“Yeah.” Jinx spat as Kino finally moved her right beside him. “I am.” 

The two “grown ups” were looking at each other for a bit before they looked at Jinx. “I’ll look into it then. Perhaps you could tell me more about the undercity.”

“I’d love to hear about it.” The girl stared. Her sharp pointy through the scribbles stare her down. “I’ve always wanted to go, but it’s just far too dangerous.”

“Caitlyn.” Mel whispers softly. 

Everyone was looking at her now. Mylo and Claggor where laughing and cheering through it all. Everything was becoming far too much and her head was beginning to hurt. Jinx it! Jinx it! You just jinxed it! They sang to her. 

“Ahh I’m sorry.” Caitlyn said. “I didn’t mean it like that, I just meant it must be a real change going from such a place to coming here and having a different life.” She sat her cup down. “I know how rough those people could be. They nearly ruined my best friend’s life when they robbed and blew up his apartment just so they could have money for drugs.”

The scribbles disappeared as blue flashes filled her eyes. The apartment, the cannery. Vander, Vi, Mylo, Claggor. Everything was hitting her harder and harder as she heard the screams. 

Yanking her hands out of their grasps she stood up and slammed her hands on the table knocking over the tower tray and tea cups. “Or maybe they wanted money for food or medicine! You have no idea what it’s like! What we have to do to live! To SURVIVE!” 

She could see Silco’s face behind them. Jinx bolted before she could be grabbed and ran towards the large brick fence covered in vines and metal spikes that were so far apart it was laughable. 

Grabbing the vines she climbed over humped down. Leaning against the wall she panted as glowing blue specks dancing over her vision. 

Taking deep breaths, Jinx was trying to calm down. Everything was hurting. It all hurts. Ears ringing and vision blurry she stood there leaning against the wall.Faintly she could hear Mel. “I’m sorry about that. Jinx isn’t taking it well.”

“I’m sure it’s hard on her. Having to go through that.” The lady said. “I can send you a list of therapists who might be able to help. I know the children from there ‘struggle’ a bit.” 

Jinx was grinding her teeth as she listened. The scribbles where threatening to become all consuming. She raced into the overly large building they called a house. Once she snuck inside she did what she had to. 

Jinx climbed onto the ceiling and sat against the trimming and statues. She could see Silco and Ambessa surrounded by people as they planned their stupid wedding. Curling up on herself she just sat there and listened. 

┫⊗⚈┣

Wedding planning was much more of a chore than chem-baron meetings. Truly if this wasn’t needed as a way to show the union between Zaun and Noxus he’d just do it the Zaun way. The amount of times he has had to say no in nine different ways was infuriating. Wedding planners are worse than the chembarons. 

At least with them he could scare them. Wedding planners have apparently dealt with bride and groom monsters all the time so his threats mean nothing to them. Much to the amusement of Ambessa it seems. Flower arrangements, seating charts, what food will be served, tables placed where, and things like that. In Zaun none of this mattered, but to Noxus and Piltover it was everything. 

Silco didn’t even want real flowers. He wanted to try and give some support to the people of Zaun in this ridiculous mess and commission a bunch of metal flowers or for them to gather the shining purple flowers since the flowers that are normally used for weddings are rare or cost far more than what anyone could afford. Ambessa agreed to have a mixture of real and metal flowers so there’s that at least. 

Ambessa was working on the seating chart and the way she was doing it would be massive chaos. Smeech and Renni would be sitting with Heimerdinger and the Kiramman family. Chross and Finn would sit with Hoskel and Bolbok. Margot and one of her assistant would be sitting with Shoola and Ferros 

Silco wanted to throw the papers across the room. This was far more tedious than any work he’s done or has to do. He takes a deep breath trying to control himself. A flash of blue hair near the edge of the room around the ceiling caught his eye, but he didn't focus on it. 

He wouldn’t draw attention to it. Something must have happened for her to sneak back in. Jinx had started hiding on the rafters to avoid people he had to work with. She was doing it here as well so she must have wanted to avoid something as well. 

“Silco, what do you think about the idea of getting rid of the flower girls and replacing them with something else.” Ambessa had a smile as she took a sip of her tea. 

“You’ve got my attention.” He looks at her. 

She smiled. “What if we have flower bombs instead? I’m sure Jinx and Kino could make something.“

He hummed softly. “Yes. I think that would be nice.” Silco rubbed his chin. “We would have to be careful of Jinx putting glitter or paint in some of them.”

“Yes we would have to.” Ambessa pours some more tea into his cup. One he wished was a strong whisky or vodka. “But I’m sure we could keep them in check.” 

They work through more work and more coins being thrown for pointless things that had to be done. The bridge would look different. It felt ironic that he would be getting married in the place that led to the fallout and death of many. Silco really wanted to smoke, but Mel had a no smoking rule in her house and he would respect it. It was something that made Sevika really not want to come here. 

They worked through more and more getting at least a good chunk of it done. The door opens, he looks up expecting another wedding person but sees Kino and Mel walk in. Mel looked far more upset than Kino. “Mother, we need to have a chat.” 

Mel was glaring at Kino as he seemed far more relaxed on what happened. Ambessa huffs, “Will take a break then.” Ambessa jerked her head and the wedding planners fled leaving just them in the e room. “What happened?” 

“Jinx got upset, yelled at them, before she hopped over the wall and ran here.” Mel was holding the sides of her dress tightly. Something she did when she felt really embarrassed and was around family.  “I told them I would tell you and pass on the list of therapists she recommended.” 

Silco tried to open his mouth but Ambessa beat him to it. “Will talk to her.”

Kino stepped up, “I don’t think it was entirely her fault in a sense. She became to,” he looked like he was trying to find the words. 

“She was seeing something that wasn't there.” Silco finished for him. He never was one to talk about her mental health but he knew he had to let them know some of it. “We will talk and handle this. Go and get cleaned up.” 

Mel and Kino looked like they wanted to say more but held their tongues. They both left the room leaving just Ambess and Silco. ”It sounds deserved.” Ambessa chuckles a bit. 

Silco shook his head. “Still she needs to learn when and where to do things like this.” he stood up and walked over to where Jinx was curled up behind a statue. “Wanna come down and talk now?”

Ambessa had walked over and held her hands out. “I’ll catch you if you like.” 

Jinx whimpers and he could barely make her curl up a bit more in herself. He just stands there and waits for a bit with Ambessa until she finally comes down. Carefully scaling down the slick walls she stood in front of him. The dress ripped in several spots, but nothing that couldn’t be fixed. 

Dried tears and snot covered her face and parts of the dress. Her eyes were red and a bit swollen. She didn’t make eye contact just looking at the ground. 

“Come on Jinx.” He held her hand out and led her to the couch. She sat down near the edge and curled up. Still not making eye contact with them. 

Ambessa begins to speak. “What is your side story?”

Jinx was picking at her nails. Some of the paint was already off. “It was just too much.” She whispers as more tears roll off her face. “Mylo and Claggor keeps yelling at me, the pilties were turning into monsters, my head was hurting, so was my body, and it all was just to much!” She screams. 

Grabbing her hair she gives it a hard pull but before he could reach out Ambessa did and grabbed ahold of her hands. “Hurting yourself will not help anyone child.” 

Her massive calloused hands held tightly to Jinx’s hands. Jinx whines and kicks a bit but Ambessa works Jinx’s hands free of her hair. “Stop it!” Jinx kicked a bit. 

Silco reached out to try and hold her but she kept kicking and was whining as her eyes looked all over. “JUST SHUT UP! I’M NOT A JINX! I’M NOT!” 

Silco wrapped his arms around her and held Jinx tightly. Ambessa kept holding Jinx’s hands in a way she couldn’t hurt herself or others. “Deep breaths now. Deep breaths.”

Jinx was crying now and shaking her head. “Make them shut up! Please! I’ll be good! I swear I’ll be good! I’ll be good!”

Silco began gently rocking her softly. “Shhh it’s alright. I've got you.” He pats her back till she finally calms down in a series of sobs and hiccups. ”there now. See it’s alright. No one is mad at you.” 

Ambessa let her go as Jinx kept curled up into him. “I tried.” She wiped her nose with her sleeves. “I tried to be good. I did! I really did!” Her head was bobbing around as she looked at him. “Mylo and Claggor just wouldn’t leave me alone and nice Vi wasn’t there and they kept going on and my head was hurting and and and-“ 

“Shhh it’s alright. Just deep breaths for now.” Silco held her tightly as Ambessa slid into the side and pulled both of them into her lap. 

Wrapping her arms around them she squeezed tightly. Almost too tightly for Silco’s liking, but Jinx seemed to ease a bit more with the pressure. They all sit in silence until her sobs calm down and her body relaxes. When her tears slow down Jinx rubs her eyes and takes a deep breath. “Do you feel better now?”

“Yeah.” It's hard to make out from how she mumbles into his shirt, but it’s there.

Ambessa moved and allowed Jinx to sit out. She pulls out one of her cloths and wipes her face. “Do you feel like talking now child?”

“Not really.” She mumbles. Tiredness all over her face. 

“But I think you know you have to.” Ambessa moved a hand and patted the girl’s back. “Now start from the beginning, shall we?”

Silco sits there and listens to her. It was what he expected. Her talking about the voices and scribbles. The Kirammans made off hand remarks that he expected. “I tried.” She mumbles at the end of it. “I tried to be good. I did.”

“And you did your best.” He rubs her face softly. “It’s alright Jinx. I’m not mad.” 

“You're not?”

“I’ll never be mad at you Jinx. You did your best.” 

Jinx leaned into him resting her head on his shoulder. 

She takes a deep breath and relaxes a bit. Well as much as they could while being on Ambessa’s lap. “So I’m not bad?”

“No.” Ambessa says a bit loud. “Never bad. In fact I have a job that I think you would be perfect in.”

“A job? Like a real job?!” Jinx looks over at her unconvinced.  

Silco was looking at her as well not knowing where this was going. Ambessa just smiled. “Yes. I do. Glory, my main hound had her puppies and I need someone trustworthy to help take care of her.” 

Jinx deflated hearing that. “So not a real job.” 

Ambessa snorts, “Trust me child. Anything to do with Noxian hounds, it's a real job you will see.” She stood up holding them both in her massive arms. 

For a moment Silco was reminded of Vander and the way he used to pick him and Felicia and spin them around. Ambessa carried them off to the guest room they had been given and she sat them down on the bed. “I’ll let you two rest. I’m sure you would like to save your father from the nightmare that is wedding planning.” 

Ambessa smiled as Jinx squeezed him tighter. She wasn’t looking at her, but it’s clear her mind was still trying to process everything that’s happened. She pats Jinx’s head and gives him a kiss on the cheek, almost a near bite. She leaves without a single word letting him hold her tight and help her through her storm. 

┫⊗⚈┣

Mel paced her office as the warm orange hues of the day ending made her office seem to glow. She had sent several letters of apology to the Kiramman family and it all seemed to be received well. However bringing Jinx back there was not an option until she had been given something to help her. Whatever was affecting Jinx, the girl clearly needed help. It was shocking that her mother hadn’t already done something seeing as she brought many of her best and most trusted doctors with her. 

Elora smiles softly. “I’m glad to hear the Kirammans aren’t taking it too hard.” She finished brushing her hair. 

Mel had to fight back a snort. It was down and out of its braids. The central part of her hair kept separated as the thick four-C coils were in two low ponytails “Small mercies it seems.” 

Looking out the window she could see Jinx in the garden being chased by the puppies. Glory and the other hounds were out on one of their grueling walks and training sessions. Jinx fell and the puppies surrounded her. Elora stood beside her. “What are you going to do now?”

Mel hums softly as she looks down. “I’m going to try and see what I can do.” 

Mel left the office. Heading down to the gardens she stops at the door and just watches for a bit. Jinx was laughing as she held one of the puppies up as it licked all over her face. “You're funny!” The girl laughed more and fell over as all the puppies bounced onto her lap. 

Slowly Mel walked out and got closer but kept her distance. She didn’t want to frighten Jinx. Jinx noticed her and stood up. “Ms. Medarda.” She stood there and had a remorseful look. 

“It’s just Mel, Jinx.” She took a few steps closer. 

“Are you mad I ruined the tea party?” Jinx looked her over and shuffled back a bit. Careful of the puppies under her feet. 

“A little, but I won’t lie it was the most,” Mel had to think of the word before saying, “exciting party I’ve been to.” 

Jinx kicked her foot when there wasn’t a puppy there before looking up at her. “I’m sorry I yelled and climbed the fence and ran away.” 

The girl seemed truly remorseful as she said that. “It’s alright. I forgive you.” Mel walked closer and placed a hand on her shoulder. “It was forced upon you after all and you clearly didn’t seem comfortable going to it. The dress was also old so it’s no skin off my back.”

Jinx giggled a bit. “What does that even mean?” 

“It means it’s of no consequence to me.” Mel moved closer and glanced at the sky. The sun was setting over the horizon. “Would you like to come see something special with me?”

Looking at her unsure Jinx frowned. “Is this a prank?”

“No prank, I’d just think you might enjoy this. If you’d like to come with me.” Mel held her hand out. 

After a moment the girl nodded. “Okay. Just let me put the puppies up. Your mom said that’s my job now.”

“I’ll help you then. I’ve had my fair share of wrangling up puppies.” With a soft smile she helped Powder put them all back into their crates and cleaned up the toys. The only lights now where the back lights left on. 

Once all that was done Mel headed to the back of the fence where she had a secret exit. “Come with Me.”

Jinx blinked a bit and looked back at the house. “Are we allowed to leave?”

“My house, my rules.” With a wink Mel opened the secret gate and crawled out. Jinx followed and they left the gardens and into the woods. The Kiramman’s technically owned the large woods behind every single manor that was on the Council’s Hill as many had called it. 

The management of the land belonged to the wildlife rangers as there were some endangered species living back there they were helping. 

One normally isn’t allowed back here, but Mel did have permission as she would go hunting from time to time with Caitlyn to weed out any undesirable species that may have made their way. Grabbing Jinx’s hands she led her through the dark forest. 

They both remained quiet. The only sounds being that of their steps walking through the terrain and twigs snapping. Along with the sounds of animals hooting and making noises in the night. 

Mel doesn’t glance back. She can tell Jinx is a bit uneasy but not scared. Her hands weren’t sweaty and she wasn’t grabbing much. “Where are we going?” 

“Somewhere very special to me.” Mel whispers softly. They walk for a while more till they make it. Mel looked back to see her reaction and it was worth it. 

Jin’s eyes grow wide and her mouth turns into a massive smile. “Aha! Woah!” Jinx pulled forward and squeezed her hand tightly. “This is amazing!” 

“It is, inst it?” Mel smiled and looked at what Jinx was looking at. The massive starry sky shone brightly. “The Council’s Hill is far enough away from the city and with my help they installed some streetlight covers to stop as much light pollution near here. And since there’s not many buildings or lights here, coming out here gives you the best look at the stars.” 

Jinx was smiling as she looked at them all over. “I’ve never seen so many stars before!” She was bouncing happily. “It’s far too bright in the city and the fissures block out the sun.”

“Yes.” Mel sat down letting go of Jinx’s hand. Letting her feet hang off the edge not caring if her loose pants or baggy shirt would get dirty. “That's why I like to come here. It’s the best place nearby to see shooting stars.” 

“Those are real?!” Jinx flopped down beside her. “Stars really do fall from the sky!?” 

Mel chuckled. “Not quite.” Looking back at her she smiled at the childlike wonder  beaming from her eyes even in the dark of the night. “Shooting stars are comets, meteorites, or asteroids.”

Her brow pulls together as Jinx’s head tilts. “What’s the difference?”

“Well comets are just balls of ice that have been shot at super fast speeds. They tend to have a white trail and when they get closer to the sun those trails can heat up and can be seen for miles.” Mel stretched her hands out to show a long distance. 

Jinx leaned in more listening to her. 

“Asteroids are made of rock or metal that are also going at super fast speeds. They’re trails can be a variety of colors. Yellow, blue, orange, green, purple depending on what they're made of.” 

“Woah! Really! We could see a blue shoot star?! Like my hair?!” Jinx pulled on one of her braids. 

Laughing Mel nodded. “Exactly. Now meteoroids are what we call them when they break through the layers of the planet and crash land. If you're lucky one will land on your property and you get to keep it.”

“And the wish?” Jinx leaned into her. 

Laughing more Mel ran a hand through her hair. The loose strand that always seemed to come out in the front of her face at an angle. “Yes. And the wish. Want to see if we can see any tonight?” 

“Yeah!” Jinx’s head turned back to the sky and looked ahead. “Think we could get a million wishes?”

“Perhaps.” Mel looked at the sky as well. “Well, just have to see.”

They sit like that for a while. Watching the sky looking for any shooting stars that may wish to race across the sky tonight. After a bit Jinx looks up at her. “I really am sorry about fleeing the tea party. I didn't mean it. I just couldn’t take…” she messes with her nails. The paint chipped off. “I heard her mention a therapist and they kept talking about how I should be grateful that your mom is marrying my dad-“

Mel stops her by holding out her hand. “When I first came here I was terrified.” Mel brushed her face softly. Only moonlight illuminating those grey eyes that looked like the moon. “I had no one but Elora in a new and foreign land. I was invited to this big party and I showed up in one of my dresses from Noxus.” 

Looking down, a melancholy smile came across her face. “Everyone looked at me like I was some strange circus animal brought in to entertain them. They didn’t see me as a person, just a new toy to play with.” 

“How did you make them see you as a person?” Jinx leaned on her side. 

Mel let her and even pulled her closer. “I worked hard. I had to do a lot. Make many deals I’m not proud of looking back. I scratched and clawed my way and even worked hard to become the top

student in the academy.” 

“You didn’t have friends, did you?” 

“No I didn’t.” Letting out a long breath she looked at the sky staring at a massively bright star. 

“I don’t have any friends either. I’m a jinx.” 

”I don’t think you're a jinx.” Mel leaned into Jinx as well. She had doubts that was her real name unless the undercity just had an odd name system. “I think you're just a little girl who had to grow up too fast.” Like me. She wanted to say but didn’t. 

Jinx hummed softly before cuddling her, “Then what did you do?” 

“Eventually I had to change so much my style, the way I talked, walked, and so much just so I could do more, but I still kept my culture close to home.” She smirked. “While I changed I am still me and Piltover can never change that.” 

“But who is that?” Jinx glanced up. “Who are you now?”

Mel hummed softly as she kept brushing her face softly. “I am still Mel Medarda. I am still me but I know how to put on a mask.” She twirled part of her hair. “I know how to sneak in and lull them into a false sense of security and use that against them. I am and will always be Mel Medarda and nothing will change that.” 

“Like nothing will change me being Jinx?” Her voice mumbles as her body relaxes. 

“That’s up to you, but I’ll be here for you.” She smiled softly. “I won’t leave you.” Mel takes her free hand and points towards the sky. “Look at that! A shooting star.”

Both girls looked as a massive purple asteroid lit up the sky. “Woah!” Jinx moves downward, her head laying in Mel’s lap. “That’s so cool.”

“It is.” They watched as it ran through the sky. Mel kept smiling even after it disappeared. They let the beauty of what they had witnessed soak in. 

Jinx lets out a massive yawn as her body is becoming more limp, “Thanks Vi. I love you.” 

Before Mel could say anything Jinx had fallen asleep. Her head fell down as a soft snore left her mouth. 

Mel kept running a hand through her hair as she sat there. Vi. She hadn't heard that name before and no one has bothered to mention it. Was she close to Jinx? Perhaps her mother as she never called Silco her dad so maybe calling parents by their first name was common down there. She’d need to find out. 

A pair of massive hands grab at her and she jumps. “Mother!” She hisses. 

Her mother laughs. “Hush child. You’ll wake her.” She and Jinx were gathered into her arms and carried back to the manor where nearly all the lights were turned out. They were both laid down on her bed and mother brought over two of her bonnets and some oils. 

“I can do that myself.” Mel whispered huffed. 

“And yet you're tied up with something.” Even in the dim lights of the hallway she had turned on Mel could tell she was smirking. Jinx rolled over and curled into her more. 

“Vi.” She mumbles softly in her sleep. 

That name again. Her mother doesn’t say anything as she works some of the oils into her hair before putting it all into her bonnet. She does the same for Jinx. Undoing the braids before stuffing it into a bonnet. Mel doesn’t say anything as her mother gave her a kiss goodnight. 

Something she hadn’t done in a very long time. “Goodnight Mel.” Patting her shoulder her mother leaves her in the room with Jinx. Leaving her to ponder what all had just happened. 

Chapter Text

Mel walked through the hallways of the Academy. Something was off about today. It was like a switch had been flipped. Gone were the discussion of trade routes and the growing wealth for all. Instead, the upper class whispered among each other, shooting hesitant gazes towards Mel and her entourage. As she passed, silence fell, only for the whispering to begin in her absence. This wasn’t the reaction people had originally given when news first broke of her mother’s engagement. In fact, it was quite the opposite. 

Piltover’s news industry ran wild, reporting on her mother, and why she, the feared Noxian warlord, would marry some Undercity industrialists. It was almost as exciting as the founding of Hextech.

Mel however, had enough excitement after the tea party. A few days had passed since the incident. Caitlyn had apologized for her words and wanted to know if Jinx was okay. After confirming she was, Caitlyn had broached the subject of Jinx returning so they could smooth everything over and restart their acquaintanceship. Mel had easily declined, as her mother had filled the entire family’s schedule with activities and lessons.

This had left her little time to discover who the mysterious Vi was. Mel was leaning more and more into Vi being Jinx’s mother after she managed to snoop around the room Jinx was given. Mel had found several journals filled with scribbles, drawings, and what she can only assume were invention ideas. But most concerning were the writings.

Mylo won’t shut up!

They keep trying to hurt me

Why did you leave me! I only wanted to help!

Powder died. She’s fallen down A well. 

I only wanted to help! I’ve only ever  wanted to help!

Claggor is staring at me while I sleep.  No words just STARES. 

It hurts me. They all hurt me. 

Vi Vi Vi Vi Vi Vi Vi Vi. 

Powder and Vi are dead now

END IT ALL JINX! IT’S WHAT YOU DESERVE!!!!

The drawings accompanying the scribbles made Mel’s mind spin. All of them were monsters. People with disfigured faces. Disfigured bodies covered in scribbles. All except one. A pink-haired figure with multiple ‘Xs’ covering her face and body.

Jinx clearly was a disturbed child. No wonder her mother’s best doctors were getting involved. Silco wanted to get her help, but didn’t trust anyone here. She couldn’t blame him. Mel wouldn’t trust anyone in Piltover or Zaun if her child had to live like Jinx does. The journal however gave her more questions than answers. Powder, Claggor, and Mylo. More names she’d need to discover.

Mel wanted to ask Jinx about it. Both girls rode home in the same carriage after Jinx’s lessons in the manor she was taken to the academy to be taught under Viktor. He refused to be carted to and from the academy so Jinx was brought there for two hours, but she knew Jinx wouldn’t speak on it. She always seemed a bit wound up after her lessons, like being there messed with her head. 

Elora was unable to do much as her mother’s men were watching her. Mel wouldn’t be able to find out until her mother and most of her men left. But perhaps there was another solution. Sevika, the woman training her in hand-to-hand combat, often enjoyed a hard drink or a smoke. Maybe if Mel gifted her something along those lines, Sevika would be willing to answer her questions. 

Lost in her thoughts Mel hadn’t realized that several students had walked in front of her until they called out. “Hey Mel.”

Mel finally noticed them. They were acquaintances, their families upper middle class so she knew their names, but they weren’t on first name bases. “Oh greetings, Mr. Vizur, Mr. Rouge, Ms. Zave, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

Analyzing their body language, Mel prepared for a confrontation. The youths in front of her had murder in their eyes and violence in their stance. “Well.” Ms. Zave began as she walked over. “We heard your mother bought nearly half of the factories, mines, refineries, and nearly everything else down there.” 

Mel stood there, waiting for them all to continue. It seemed like her harassers were going for a classic intimidation attempt through finishing each other’s sentences. Maybe this planned confrontation would be intimidating, but to Mel it was a pathetic attempt at instilling fear. Neither Ambessa nor Silco had shared their plans with any of the children, but Mel had a feeling this was occurring considering the chatter in the Undercity. 

Mr. Vizur moved far closer into her space than what was normal or polite. “We want to know if your mother is planning something?” 

He was trying to look down at her, but Mel was two feet taller than him. “I believe she plans to give them to her husband as a wedding gift. He is an industrialist after all.” 

Mr. Vizur puckered his lips. “So she is marrying a trencher then?”

“My mother is marrying a man as far as I know that she is in love with.” Not love for Silco, but love for the Medarda family and the ultimate desire of keeping them safe and the Medarda family strong. 

“We know the truth!” Mr. Rouge forced his way until their bodies were nearly touching. “You’re planning to invade Piltover you Noxian-” 

“Mel.” Everyone turns. Her brother was standing there. His ever imposing nineteen-year-old frame built from his training, stood behind her. “There you are.” 

Kino strolled over and placed a hand on her shoulder. “I was sent to come get you after you left.” He chuckles softly. 

“Kino, what a surprise.” Mel turned to the side, her back not fully facing those who were trying to jump her. She knew better than to do that. “What brings you here?”

“You do.” He smiled and stood beside her. His imposing body made the others flinch backwards and move away. “Mother meant to tell you about the break the academy is giving you.” Kino began to lightly push her forward. “Since everything with the wedding is going on they’re letting you have a break.”

“I see.” Mel followed him out. Not giving her harassers a glance back. He looked like your average Noxian warrior, even if he identified more as a fox than a wolf. “Well, thank you for coming to get me.” 

“It’s nothing.” Kino smiled as they entered their carriage. “Besides, I wanted to see where you were studying.” He laughs a bit. 

As soon as they pulled out of the academy Kino fell back into his older brother routine and grabbed her hands. “Did they hurt you?” 

“No. I’m fine. You came in before they could harm me, and even if you hadn’t, I could’ve easily handled them. They’re Piltovan fops, not trained warriors.” She waved him off a bit. “Why did you come get me?”

“Because mother’s ‘gift’ was leaked.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and slouched downwards. “She was the one buying everything under Piltover’s nose using shell names and organizations so no one would connect the dots. It’s why so much of the Undercity was bought up.”

“And why I ended up buying the worst of it.” Mel rolled her eyes as she relaxed as well. “Perhaps I’ll give it to Silco as well.” 

Kino scoffs a bit. “Perhaps. But now with this break mother has changed your schedule up a bit.” He handed her a rough looking bag. “She intends for you to focus more of your training with Sevika.”

Mel pulled out her outfit and sighed. “Of course.” She looked at Kino as he looked out the window. “But this could be good. Perhaps we could learn more about Jinx and Silco’s family.”

“You’re snooping again.” Raising an eyebrow he looked at her. “Aren’t you?”

Perhaps.” Mel began taking down some of her hair, getting the gold jewelry pieces out of her twists and putting them in her bag, she carefully redid them, reconnected them to the rest of the bun. “She called me Vi the other night.” 

“And this needs to be looked into because?” Kino huffs as he takes off his jacket. 

“I think it might be her mother.” Mel turns to look at the back of the carriage allowing Kino to quickly change. “I also found some of her journals. She mentions Vi a lot, along with the names Powder, Mylo, and Claggor. I think they’re all dead or at least Vi and Powder are from what I’ve read.” 

“Wouldn’t she call her mom then?” Kino huffs as he quickly changes. 

“She doesn’t call Silco dad.” Mel begins to change as well after double checking the curtains covering the window were closed. “Mylo, Powder, and Claggor are probably siblings, she writes about them yelling at her and staring, but since there are no boys in Silco’s household I assume they are also dead, and are part of her hallucinations. This introduces a visual component to the already diagnosed audible hallucinations.”

Mel doesn’t flinch when she could feel her hand brush up against what she thinks is a type of oil stain on her shirt. 

“So you think this is going to help because?”

Once she finished dressing up Mel grabbed the rough strips of fabrics to start wrapping up her stones. “Maybe we can figure out why she hears dead people and see things that aren’t there.” 

Kino shook his head. “Mel, she’s clearly suffering from something. It might be best to just let the doctors handle it.” 

“Perhaps.” The carriage stops at a run down building. “We’re about to get training from Silco right hand. Hopefully she’ll have a greater understanding of mother’s plans because this is more than just a trade deal..” 

The door opened and they stepped out to see Sevika smoking and waiting for them. She huffed and rolled her eyes. “You brats better be ready. I’m not sticking around if you fall behind.” Stretching, Sevika strolled towards the bridge. 

┫⊗⚈┣

Jinx groaned a bit as the paper slid in front of her. The paper had several red marks all over it. Slamming her head on the desk she was given, Jinx just wanted to let a bomb go off. The teachers were all over her and made sure she didn't have anything mechanical when they taught. 

“You did better than last time.” The teacher huffed, trying to be supportive. Her white hair pulled back into four braids and then a bun. 

“It’s just pointless.” Jinx groaned a bit, moving her head to the side. “Why do I have to know the difference between compliment, and complement, and bare and bear? It’s all the same thing!“

The teacher, Mrs. Rilen just looked at her with that look Jinx didn’t even want to think about. “Because you are going to become a Medarda and every single thing you say and write will be scrutinized heavily. People will take any mistake you give them and use it against you.”

Jinxer! Jinxer! Jinxer! 

“So stupid.” She rolled the pen across the desk. The slight incline of it let it roll back down towards her. “People just need to say and write what they mean and that’s just it! Who cares about the little things?!”

“Your enemies, your father’s enemies, Lady Medarda’s enemies, and everyone else that wants to see your downfall.” The teacher huffs a bit and places her hand on the desk holding it. Jinx looks up at her stern face. “You're gonna be a Medarda, Jinx, and I as well and everyone else will make sure you are one.”

Jinx glared back trying to look all tough, but the glare the teacher was giving made her flinch and back down. 

HAHAHAHA So tough, aren’t ya, JINX!

SUCH A WEAKLING!! NO WONDER HE’S REPLACING YOU WITH MEL!

She blinked and looked down as they all laughed at her. Jinx could faintly see them behind the teacher as tears welled in her eyes.  “I’m doing my best.” That's all Jinx could say. Her chest began to tighten. 

“And we will make sure, your best,” She leans in, “Is better than everyone else’s.” Mrs. Rilen huffs a bit. “I’ll talk to Mr. Silco and Lady Medarda. I’ll see if we can increase your English, speaking skills, and etiquette time.”

“But I’m already spending hours on all of this?!” Jinx groaned and flopped back on the desk looking up pleadingly. Perhaps her puppy eyes would work. 

They look unamused as they look at her. “And yet you're still struggling.” There’s a chime from an alarm. “That’s it for now. Head on to Dr. Tall.” 

Jinx left quickly, wanting out of that room. She ran down the hall to her second favorite place behind the lab. Dr. Tall’s room was Jinx’s favorite place to go after having to handle most of the lessons. It was full of toys, paints, books, colors, and a soft rug with a low table so they could just sit and color and play. 

She could also talk about anything and Ms.Tall wouldn’t tell Silco or Ambessa. 

she wouldn't keep secrets from Silco, but Ambessa she would. It didn’t matter, Jinx had to be sure Dr. Tall wouldn’t tell them, she did something. Like hiding some of Ambessa’s weapons and hair stuff. She told Dr. Tall and Ambessa never got mad at her or assumed it was her. “Hi Dr. Tall!” 

Dr. Tall smiled as she opened the door. “Hey Jinx, I got some new art supplies for us to try today.”

“Ya!” Jinx ran to the table and sat down on the carpet. She picked up one of the pencils. 

Dr. Tall sat down on the carpet as well. Smiling softly, “So how has your day been?”

“Fine.” Jinx picks up one of the many shades of pinks, the massive box with layers full of different shades of colors. “Just a bit rough I guess.” 

“Oh?” Dr. Tall handed her some papers. “Do you wanna tell me what happened?”

“I failed another English test.” Jinx frowned as she began doing her little monkey doodles. “I studied for it! Really I did!”

Dr. Tall nodded. “I know you did. You worked really hard on it the day before with me.”

Jinx frowned as she began to draw her monkeys without their cheeky smiles. “She said she wants to hold me back for longer so she can teach me more. But I already spent half the day with her, half training, and barely any time to experiment or hang out with Viktor.” 

“That doesn’t sound nice, does it?” 

“No it doesn’t.” Jinx frowns as her monkeys shift to be sad like her. “This is all stupid. I hate it. Why does Ambessa have to get Silco to agree to make me do all these dumb lessons?” 

With a soft hum Dr. Tall leaned in a bit more. “Do you like having a schedule to follow everyday?” 

Jinx shrugged, “Not really. I miss being able to just run around Zaun, work on my gadgets, and just do whatever.” 

Awe, upset over the fact that they’re making sure you can’t jinx anyone?

Poor little Jinx. Can’t handle the fact they don’t want you around. 

“Just shut up!” She hissed at them. Jinx didn’t care if Dr. Tall saw. She knew after a really bad episode where Mylo kept trying to attack her. 

Dr. Tall reached out her hand. Jinx took it. “Remember your exercises. What are five things you can see?”

“I see the color pencils, my monkeys, the table, you and..” she blinked as Mylo and Claggor hissed from the side. “Ummm your drawing of a flower?”

“Good.” Dr. Tall beams a bit. “You're doing good Jinx.  What are four things you can touch?” 

“The fluffy carpet, wooden table, my pants, shirt, and the top of my shoe where my sock has a hole in it.” Giving a cheeky smile Jinx looks at her. 

Nodding, she continued. “Three things you can hear?”

Closing her eyes Jinx leans her head back. “The aircon, birds, and…” taking a deep breath Jinx focused. “My breath.”

“Two things you can smell?” 

“Pencil shavings and the cream Mel and Silco put in my hair.” Taking her free hand she grabbed one of her braids, messing with the ends that no longer felt dry. 

“And something you can taste?” 

Powder put the end of the pencil in her mouth. “Wood.” She giggled and stuck out her tongue. 

Dr. Tall laughed a bit as well. “Do you feel better?”

“I do.” Jinx went back to drawing her monkeys, letting them become happy again. “I just don’t want any more lessons with Mylo and Claggor harassing me.” picking up a blue she starts coloring it in. “And I can’t believe they canceled my lessons with Viktor. All for what?! Some dumb pilites are mad that we own some of the undercity now.”

“I know.“ Dr. Tall picked up a bright yellow, “It sucks that you can’t be with Viktor for your lessons. He’s your favorite teacher after all.” 

“Yeah, but at least I can play with the puppies.” Jinx laughed a bit. “The runty one’s my favorite. Ambessa said I could name him.” 

“Oh that’s nice. Have you thought of a name?” Ms.Tall kept drawing her sunshine.

“No, but I want it to be super cool!” Jinx smiled as she finished her monkeys. 

Jinx held them up to her. “What do you think?”

“They’re amazing Jinx.” Dr. Tall smiled and took them. “Want me to hang them up?” 

“Yeah!” Jinx began bouncing as Dr. tall stood to hand them up on the wall with the rest of her art. She’s brought Silco in here a few times to look at them as well. 

Once she was done she came back and offered Jinx some more paper. “Now that that’s done, wanna talk about the wedding finally? I know you’ve been putting off that conversation for a bit, but it is coming up soon.”

Jinx puffed out her cheeks as she started drawing Silco, “Fine. I know I can’t break them up now. Too much is riding on it.”

“I know you’ve been bonding well with Mel and Kino. Did Mel braid your hair last night?” 

“Yeah.” Jinx smiled as she paid extra attention to his eye. “She gave me some hair clips as well so I didn’t just use my rifle shells.” She used her free hand to hold up a shining gold monkey making an angry face. “Some kid gave them to Mel as a party gift or something and she didn’t like them. She said I could have them. Oh and Kino gave me this!” Jinx sat down her pencil and pulled out a small metal stick that looked like a pencil from her sock. “He said it’s filled with a toxin that will stun whoever I stab and press the top of!” 

“That’s very nice.” Dr. Tall looked amazed at the silver stick. “I’m sure you like having that.”

“Ya! Since I’m learning how to use knives and guns. Kino thought this would be nice to have.” Jinx tapped the sharp point of it. Pricking her finger a bit. “He said that we should always try to use words first, but just in case they fail.”

Dr. Tall nodded, “That sounds like Kino. What about Ambessa? I heard she gave you some books on chemical reactions and bomb making.”

“She did.” Jinx lol poker at her hands. “I also stabbed her yesterday with the stick.” 

“Wanna talk about what happened?” 

“Not really.” Jinx’s hand began to push down hard as she colored his eye. 

Dr. Tall reached her hand out once more with a gentle smile. “Jinx, we've talked about this. You know I won’t think any less of you with whatever it is you’re going through.”

Blowing the air out through her lips, Jinx stops coloring. “I thought she was a monster. She was covered in scribbles and had massive claws and teeth. I heard a roar and she grabbed me.” 

“Your scribbles have gotten worse then?” 

“Yeah.” Jinx huffs a bit. “I don't know why, just everything feels more-“ she waves her hands a bit. “Ya know.” 

“Perhaps it’s because of all the change that’s happened. You're getting a new family, you have structure, you don’t have to worry about food, clean water, being killed at night or being killed or hurt in general. Your life is shifting from always being afraid to-“

“I'm not afraid.” Jinx hisses. A few scribbles appear on Dr. Tall’s face. 

Dr. Tall says nothing and looks at her for a moment. Taking a deep breath Jinx turns back to her drawing. “Well there's been a lot of change in your life and your mind and body might be struggling to adapt or trust what’s around you.”

“I don’t wanna talk about this anymore.” Jinx angerily slammed her pencil on the table.  It snapped in half when she did so. 

Dr. Tall doesn’t react. “Okay then. Wanna go work on your crafts then? The clay has been heated so they should be able to paint now.”

Jinx nodded and put away the supplies. 

┫⊗⚈┣

Kino sits at the bar as he tries to cool off. Mel was in the basement ‘looking for something’. How she found the energy to snoop after that grueling training in such awful conditions was beyond him. Holding the mask to his face he takes long deep breaths trying to ease his lungs. “You okay?” Therima asks.

He nodded and pulled the mask back. “I’m fine, just did a lot of training with Sevika.”

Thermia winces a bit. “Yeah, that metal arm of hers can be rough to handle.” He grabs a shot glass and pours something. He slides it to him and it’s an orange liquid. “Here. It’s not alcoholic, don't worry.”

Kino smiles, “Thank you.” He takes a sip and it's some type of juice. “That’s nice.” 

“Yeah. Boss keeps it here for Jinx.“ Therima starts cleaning up some of the glasses. “She’s not allowed any alcohol after last time.” 

“Last time?” Kino says the drink down and slips his mask back on. 

“Ahh I shouldn't get into that. Anyway, how is she doing? Haven’t seen her at all and those scraps are piling up.” Therima chuckles a bit. 

Pulling the mask back he answers, “Yeah she’s fine. Jinx really wants to come back here. Oh that reminds me.” Digging into his pocket Kino pulls out some strange disk. “She wanted me to give this to you.” 

Therima sees it, “Oh no.” He takes it and quickly tosses it into a box. It starts making a noise before nothing. Therima sighs in relief. 

Kino rubbed his eyes. Of course Jinx would ask him to carry a bomb. “Does she give you bombs often?” 

“Yeah.” Therima shook his head. “She likes to mess with me, but it’s alright. I don’t mind. What about you?”

“She messes with me as well.” He takes another sip of his drink. “Jinx managed to stain some of my outfits pink and glittery and nothing is getting it out.” 

“Ahhh glitter special then.” Therima chuckled a bit. “Do you mind taking the scrap boxes with you when you go? That should keep her out of your hair for a bit.”

“I will.” Looking around the near empty bar Kino decides that perhaps he should get some info as well. Not to be snoopy but to see if perhaps he could get information to help. “Hey, have you been around here for a while?” 

“Born and raised Zauntie. Why?” Therima glances at him. 

“What can you tell me about Jinx’s mother?” 

The few people in the bar stop and stare. Therima tenses up and looks at him. “We don’t talk about her.” 

“Why though?” Kino leans in. “Did something happen? Is she dead?” 

All the workers are looking at each other wondering what to say. “Yeah she’s no longer with us, but the boss wouldn’t like it if we talked about it. So can we drop it please?”

“Alright we can drop it. How have things been going with the construction of the new schools and hospitals then?” He swirled the juice around. “I know mother and Silco were over the moon when several had been set up to somewhat satisfactory standards.” 

“Oh yeah those have been going great.” Thermia perked up at the change of topic and something that was clearly needed. “I never thought we’d really have those down here! My younger cousin is over the moon at finally getting a chance to learn something. She loves her teacher.”

“I’m glad to hear it. What subject is she enjoying most?”

“Reading and history.” Therima sat down the glasses and leaned on the bar. “She wants to become a historian and write down our history and the amazing changes that are coming with the wedding.” He moved towards a satchel that was sitting down on the ground. “She’s even done several drawings.” He pulled out some rough looking papers and handed them to Kino. 

Taking them Kino couldn’t help but chuckle at the childish drawings. It was showing several images of the “brave Zaunite heroes and Noxian warriors working to fix up Zaun” which was written on top of it in crayon. Some of it was misspelled or written backwards but it was cute. “She’s an artist.”

“Yeah. I’m saving up some of my coins so we can move to the promenade.” Therima hummed softly as he looked at the bar. “I’d do anything for her. She’s like a little sister too.” 

“I feel you. I’d do anything for Mel and it seems now, Jinx as well.” Digging around in one of his hidden pockets in his under clothes he pulls out several golden cogs. “Here.” He slides them over to Therima. 

Therima looks at them in awe for a moment. A hand covering them and pulling them back before he stops. “I can’t.” He slides them back over to Kino. “Mr. Silco is strict with the coins I can collect and I don’t think he’d like to know I’ve taken twenty years of pay from you.”

“I see.” Kino takes them back before tossing down some silver. “Perhaps these then.” 

“That’ll get you some spikes.” Therima chuckles and goes to the vines growing on one of the side walls. He looks for some ripe ones and plucks them. “Here.” 

“Thanks.” Kino takes them and picks one up, taking a big bite from it. He slowly chews trying to get used to the spice. However the coughing gets a chuckle from someone and milk is brought to him. 

Mel is brought up by Sevika who somehow got past him and deposits the girl beside him. Mel looked thoroughly reprimanded if he was to judge by that look on her face. “Keep an eye on your sister.” Sevika growls.  “I’m not paid enough for any of you.”

She walks off leaving Mel beside him. “Have fun on your trip?” He pulls her closer to him by the sleeve of the shirt. The glare she gives makes him laugh more. 

┫⊗⚈┣

Silco placed the sack filled with Spike Spice on the table surrounded by tea and snacks. With chilled glasses of milk beside just in case. The setting sun was casting the room on a soft glow. He could hear Jinx outside through the windows as she worked on training the dog. He hoped it didn’t die any time soon. 

Ambessa walks in with Dr. Tall behind her. “Silco, Dr. Tall here believes she may have a diagnosis for Jinx.” 

“Then let’s hear it.” Silco faced them as he went to sit down. Ambessa joined him as Dr. Tall handed him several drawings. Some done by Jinx. 

“Forgive my notes, but I had to use typography to ensure she didn’t notice.” Dr. Tall was standing in front of them now. “I believe Jinx may be suffering from schizophrenia and post traumatic stress disorder. The way she describes the voices and scribbles are very concerning.”

Silco hummed softly. He knew Jinx had to have been suffering from all her life, but schizophrenia. It worried him as he remembers seeing several people self medicating with drugs on the streets before he even knew the name. “What do you suggest?” 

“Medication.” Dr. Tall flipped through the drawings and stopped on one. Handing it over to them. It was of a flower but Silco could see the writing. “We need to go ahead and start seeing what would work. I wanna try a Quetiapine first. We can start her off with a point five milligram dosage and see how she reacts to it.”

“What are the side effects?” Silco didn’t want to drug up jinx. He thought it was pointless and that she was fine, but was she really? Her nightmares have gotten worse and she wasn’t sleeping as well, or as well as she could have been, this past week. 

“Sleepiness, dizziness, fatigue, increase in appetite and weight gain, nausea and vomiting especially at this age, and increased heart rate.” Dr. Tall pulled out some paper and began writing stuff down. “Will need to keep a closer eye on her during this time.”

“Are you sure this is necessary?” Silco scoffed at this. “Jinx is fine, she doesn’t need medication.”

Ambessa scoffed, “The child attempted to stab me screaming that I was a monster.”

“You made that mistake of picking her up when she was having an episode.” Silco glared. 

“An episode in which she was trying to harm herself by setting off her bombs.” Ambessa glared back. 

Silco said nothing at that as she was just unclipping her bombs and tossing them around herself “Still though, I worry that we’re unnecessarily drugging her. I refuse to have her strung out on the streets!”

“And that’s a good thing.” Dr. Tall said, looking blankly at him. “But you have to look at yourself and make sure you're not doing more harm than good. Or preventing her from getting the help she needs by your fears. Jinx is being monitored nearly twenty four seven at this point. If something does happen we have people all around who will be able to intervene.”

Silco rubbed his eyes, “and for sleep?”

“Trazodone. Half a tablet of point five milligrams should help with sleep.” Dr. Tall responds by writing more stuff down. “Will have it closely monitored and mixed in with vitamin supplements. Her weight gain has been very successful. She’s nearly at a normal weight.” 

Silco sighed. He wasn’t getting out of this. It seemed Jinx's health had already been decided. “Alright then. Anything else?” 

“She’s still very hesitant around Lady Medarda. Which is understandable, but that does need to change. Do you have any bonding activities set up with her?” 

Ambessa nodded. “She’s one of my bridesmaids and will be getting ready for the wedding with me.” 

“Alright then.” Dr. Tall finishes her notes. “That’s all I have for today.”

“Then you're dismissed, Dr. tall.” Ambessa waved her off. 

Dr. Tall bows her head and leaves. Closing the door behind her. Ambessa pulls Silco close to where he’s back against her in her lap. “You're so untrusting Sil.” Her mouth next to his ear letting her warm breath against him.

“Hmpf. Trust is not an easy thing to give when from Zaun.” He wanted to gasp when she began nibbling at his neck, but held it in.

“As it is with Noxians, but I trust you to deliver on your end of the deal.” Her hands run up and down his body. Messing up his outfit as her bites become deeper and harder. Silco wants to groan, but bites his tongue. A hand lands on his pelvis and moves down more. 

“I will.” He grits out through his teeth. Janna help him, this woman will be the death of him. “Singed already has most of the containers ready. He’ll be over quota by the time you leave at this rate.” 

“Excellent.” She purrs and squeezes him. 

The door opens and Kino walks in. “I see I’m early.” Before Silco could say anything he walked out, closing the door. 

Ambessa laughs as she teases with his pants. “Don’t feel embarrassed. Noxians don’t have the same sense of indecency as yours.”

Silco couldn’t help but squirm under her touch. Heat rushed over his body. He gasped as she licked behind his ear. “Less than a week and you’ll be all mine for three days.” 

He didn’t want a reminder for the honeymoon, but all of this was for Zaun. Silco just hoped Jinx would understand why he and Ambessa were sending her and the other two off for a few weeks till things cooled down. Hopefully. 

┫⊗⚈┣

Ambessa had let Silco go after arousing him a bit. She wanted to tease him more until the night he would be all hers and hers alone. The children came in after Jinx got antsy about not seeing Silco. She came in with the puppy as it followed behind her. Tail wagging and all. Kino looked done with everything as he sat down between the girls. Seeing that display of affection clearly didn’t help his mood. Mel looked like she was trying to figure something out. Must be about Silco as she heard from her people that Sevika had to drag her out of the basement of the last drop. 

“So how was your day, children?”

“AWESOME!” Jinx laughed as the puppy sat in her lap licking all over her face. “Fishbones and I ran an obstacle course together!”

“Fishbones?” Ambessa hummed. 

Jinx blushed and looked down at the puppy. “S’what Im calling him, Fishbones.”

“A fitting name then.” She smiled and hoped to ease the child a bit. Her brilliance would be extremely useful to her, all Ambessa needed was her trust. “How have classes been?”

Jinx huffs and leans back. “Lame as always.”

Kino chuckles, “The sentiment amongst all students. Don’t worry.” 

Jinx smiled up at him as she petted the dog. Mel looks over at them. Analyzing her. “And your day, how was it?” 

“The usual it seems. Wedding planning has been completed so soon we will all be one big happy family.” Ambessa clapped her hand. ”Silco and I do have a date planned tomorrow as we must make this seem more real to the outside world.”

None of the children looked happy at that. While they have bonded and accepted each other. Their marriage is not accepted yet. “Why don’t you try some Spikes.” Silco offered them the sack. “I know Kino tried some, but you and your mother have yet to.” 

Ambessa and Mel each took one. While Ambessa took half the thing Mel took a small bite before going into a coughing fit. Juno quickly got her some milk while Ambessa whistled. “It seems we will have to add this to our trade agreement.” 

“Oh?” Silco chuckles watching her. 

“Of course. Our warriors will love this.” She took another bite. It’s been a long time since something has made her sweat and she was enjoying it. “I know I am.” She laughed putting the rest into her mouth. 

“It is quite spicy.” Mel drank her milk. “I didn’t think anything could take on a normal one.” 

“Like I said before, we use them to cover up the rot in our food so we can eat it.” Silco leans back and eats one like it was nothing. “Most Zaunties tastebuds have evolved to be with it,” 

“Oh Jinx, Kino, we have a special thing for you two.” Both look at her as Kino was trying to talk Jinx out of seeing how many she could fit into her mouth. “We want you two to make flower bombs. Instead of the traditional flower girls, we feel something more,” She makes an explosive hand gesture, “Spectacular would be fitting for our wedding.” 

“So wedding bombs!” Jinx bounced up. Fishbones fell to the floor but didn’t seem to mind. 

“Yes jinx.” Silco said softly, “Wedding bombs.” 

“YIPPEE!” Jinx was bouncing. “I promise I won’t jinx it! I won’t!” 

“No you won’t.” Kino laughs a bit seeing her happy. “You're not a jinx, Jinx.”

Jinx stilled a bit and looked down. She sat down and scrunched up her face. Ambessa stood up and walked over placing her hands on the tiny girl's shoulders. “I trust no one else with this.” She kneeled to be not a couple of inches towering over her. “I believe you and Kino will truly make something spectacular. Something all of the topside may try and fail to emulate because they don’t have you.” Poking her nose Jinx giggles.

She looks up at her with those big silver eyes. “I’ll do what I can then.” Jinx said a bit meekly. 

“Then it will be perfect.” Squeezing her far to thin shoulders Ambessa looked proudly at the girl. She responds to positivity so Ambessa will give her positivity to the point Jinx would do anything for her praise. “You will make the most spectacular flower bombs all of Runtera has ever seen.” 

“You really think I can do it?” Jinx looked up in awe. 

“I know it.” Ambessa pulled the girl into a hug. She freezes before returning it. All was going to plan as Jinx was now easing into trusting her. 

Chapter Text

Kino hummed softly as they worked on the flower bombs. Jinx had taken to try and see how many ‘real flower petals’ she could stuff into one for maximum damage. Mel was beside them plucking the petals off of some cheap flowers they’d use as place holders. “Ready for the test my henchman?!” Jinx let out an evil laugh. She picked up the bird looking flower bomb. Its large fat beak made it look like an ugly tulip. 

“Yes oh great one.” Kino smirked at her. “All primed and ready.”

“Then let’s blow it up!” Jinx stood up holding the twelfth protype. This one held more petals and should give it a much larger range. She holds it to him as he pulls the pin. 

Jinx throws it out the open window and into the garden. It rolls with its stabilizers and sits up right. The bird's neck twists as it then goes off. Its beaks open up and a massive amount of petals explode out. It covers half the garden and reaches way above the fence. At least six feet higher than the last one. They all float down and join the rest that are covering everything now.

“Beautiful.” Mel watches the multicolored petals float down. 

Jinx giggles as Kino hugs her by throwing his arm over her shoulders. “You're doing amazing. I mean a bird flower bomb. Truly inventive.” 

“Yeah! Oh that reminds me.” She rushed off to her new bag mother had gotten her and pulled out a notepad. “I have an idea on how to ruin their date today.” She slipped through the pages and held one up. “Mel you’ll ’fix up’ Silco’s hair and Kino and I will do Ambessa’s hair!” 

“You really think mother is gonna let you mess with her hair?” Mel smirked as she leaned against the table. 

“I know she will because I have this.” Jinx goes to do her best little puppy eyes.

Kino and Mel both knew that puppy eyes would never work on her mother, but she was trying to be nice to her so it’s possible she would let her put clips in her hair. “Alright, we can try. Mel, I’m sure you could try and get Silco to agree to you.” 

“Good luck with mother then.” Mel smirked and walked off towards Silco’s room. 

Jinx grabbed his hand and dragged him off to his mother’s room. She doesn’t knock and just barges in. Thankfully she isn’t getting ‘touchy’ with anyone and was just having Rictus helping her with her hair. “HI!” Jinx yells as the door hits the wall. 

Ambessa turned a bit shocked, but she hid it well. Kino could see it in her eyes though. You learn how to read her body language after growing up with her. “Jinx, Kino. What are you two doing here?” 

Her eyebrow raised as Rictus and two of her servants finished with her hair. It was done in two large twists going down the center of her hair. It was separated like one would do for box braids but left the middle section of her hair in two small braids going down and attaching to the scalp. The sides of it that wouldn’t reach the twist were braided tightly to the scalp as well before it went into twists as well. 

Jinx bounces over and steps right in front of the mirror. She placed her hands behind her back and rocked on the balls of her feet. “Can we help with your hair please?” 

Kino couldn’t see her face but knew she was giving puppy eyes to his mother. His mother glances up at him and he does his best to not give anything away. He blinked and stayed back. His mother looked  back at Jinx and crossed her arms. ”I’m afraid there isn’t much left to do, child.“

“We could add charms!” Jinx pulled several hair clips and such she kept in her pockets. Along with gears, screws, and the like. 

Humming softly she moved to face the mirror, “Very well, but we will check for any sharp blades.” 

Jinx pouts, but lets Rictus search her. Once Rictus cleared her Kino walked over. His mother trusted him enough to not have him search him. Jinx takes Kino’s hands, puts them together, and then dumps all her pocket contents into his hands. Of which there were lots of little things Jinx starts putting in his mother’s hair. “So what’s the plan for the date?”

“First we plan to go to the park near the river, then get some sweet ice, and perhaps if there’s time we plan to watch the sunset near the beach.” Ambessa was watching Jinx as she put the small metal flowers she made as well as some bolts she somehow got it on her hair. “Didn’t Silco tell you this?” 

“He did, but I wanted to hear it from you.” Jinx had that look on her face that she was trying to be sneaky, but she wasn’t hiding it well. Kino would have to work on that.

“Jinx also had Mel go work on Silco’s hair.” Kino wanted to change this quickly. He doubted his mother was going to like how her hair was turning out. 

“Hmm then I should expect a two hour delay then.” She snorts. 

“Wait, why a delay?” Jinx blinked confused. 

“Mel likes to take extra care of her hair. Like I’m sure she’s been taking care of you.” Ambessa reached behind and pulled one of Jinx’s bubble braids Mel had done for her since Jinx used too much cream that morning. “I even got something for you child.” She opened one of her drawers and pulled out two slightly large beautiful golden bells with the warrior's blessing from an old Noxus poem inscribed into its metal and the family crest on top holding the study clip. Assassin bells. Noxian assassins would attach bells to them to help try and teach them how to move silently. Kino knew she was trying to mold Jinx into something now. 

 “For persevering in your lessons.” She turned back while pulling the other braid towards her and attached both bells to the ends of her braids. 

Jinx gasped and pulled the braid back. She shakes them and beams as they jingle. “Kino, since you’ve been doing well with your lessons and being a good big brother, this is for you. I figured it’s time for you to have it.” Mother pulled out his father’s old locket. She takes the things in his hands and sets them on the dresser letting them scatter about before giving him the locket. 

Kino takes it and holds it. When his father married his mother he joined her house as Noxus tended to follow the most powerful and she was the most powerful at the time. His father’s family crest was that of the maned wolf. 

An endangered creature that looked like a Piltover red fox with really long legs. It was neither a fox or wolf. While closely related to them it was its own genus of Chrysocyon. All on its own. Like how he felt when his father died. “You kept his locket?” 

“Of course. He wanted you to have it when you were old enough.” His mother was smirking. 

Opening the locket he saw a portrait of him, his father, and baby Mel on the right side, Kino remembered posing for this portrait slightly. It was right after Mel was born and mother had to leave for another battle. On the left was a wedding portrait of his father and his mother. “He saw himself most in you and I do as well.” 

“Do you miss him?” 

“Everyday.” She grabbed his hands and held them. “I know you act like you're taking this well, but I can tell you're struggling.” Cupping his face she squeezed it gently. 

Kino wanted to yell. Pull away. To scream about how she could replace father, but he didn’t. She kept on to this for him. Something like this would have been sent back to his father’s clan or melted and changed. Looking closer at her hands he noticed a simple silver band. One that his father made for her as a gift. She was still wearing it. “You still care about him.”

“With all of the love I had for him when we first wed.” She planted a kiss on his forehead. “Nothing will ever get rid of your father’s memory for us. Azi meant a lot to me and he always will.” 

Kino finally leaned into Ambessa’s touch. He’s quiet as she finally pulls back. She moves to pick up his father’s crest ring. “And for your sister. So she knows I still remember him.” 

Humming softly Kino traces the maned wolf. “Thank you.” His voice is soft. 

“It is nothing, my son.” Ambessa smirks. “I still remember you stealing your father’s favorite war horse and making him chase you around the woods.”

“You stole a war horse!?” Jinx looked up at him. He had nearly forgotten she was here. “Did you cause some chaos with it?” 

Before Kino could say anything his mother laughed more. “He did! You should have seen his father and many of the guards chasing him around, missing a shirt, trying to get out of dancing lessons.” 

Kino blushed as Jinx immediately began asking for more stories. 

┫⊗⚈┣

Mel knocked on the door to Silco’s room. “Mr. Silco, may I come in?”

It’s quiet for a moment before she hears a “You may.” 

Mel walked in to see him dressed up in a new jacket and suit pants done in black with golden details that the threads are made of peacock feathers and small gold strands. His undershirt was a pure blood red, freshly steamed and made of silk that gave it a soft shine. Something her mother must have given him. However his hair was done in the same slick back style. “Hmm it seems mother made the right choice with your outfit.” 

Mel took a few steps forward to him. “Your hair however needs some help.” 

Silco stares at her. Examining her the same way she was examining him. “And you think you can fix my hair like you do for Jinx’s?” 

Mel reached out. Grabbing a strand and pulling back the slick hair to the front of his face. “I know I can. Now come, if you are to go on a date with my mother, the least you can do is fix up the greasy mess you call hair.” 

“A pretty bold statement from you.” Silco glares a bit, but he follows her to the washroom. 

Mel smirked, “Should I be worried?” grabbing a stool she pulled it by the sink. It had a detachable faucet, several attachable heads that could be used to change the pressure, a blow dryer built into the wall that also had several heads that could be changed to adjust the flow, and drawers full of different hair products. Things that she’s used on herself, Powder, and now Silco.

“And why am I letting you do my hair?” Silco raised his good eyebrow at her. 

“Because Jinx and Kino are doing mother’s hair. And if this is to be photographed you’d do well not to bring shame to the Medarda name.” Mel hummed softly as she tested the water. 

She back rinsing out all of the gel and oil he has in his hair, using a special shampoo to help get it all out. “I can tell you haven’t been doing Jinx’s hair for long.“

“And how can you tell that?” Silco had closed his good eye, letting that pulsating orange and black one open. She didn’t know if he could see out of it, but doubted he could. 

“All the loose strands in Jinx’s braids when you do it. Plus it’s uneven and tends to be heavily knotted.” She gave all the hair a good squeeze letting the foaming white soap to rush off. “Who did Jinx’s hair before?” 

Silco opened his eye back up. Looking at her as she took the nozzle and rinsed out the soap. “They are no longer around to help.” 

“Oh?” Mel asked genuinely. Trying to seem more curious than prodding. “Why’s that?” 

“I’m not a fool Mel. I know you asked about Jinx’s mother at the bar.” Silco grabbed her hand as she went for another soap. “It would be wise of you to let this go. Don’t dredge up things that could make her worse.” 

Mel looked at him. Both eyes connect in a silent stare for dominance. “What happened to her?” 

“She’s dead. Topside killed her. That’s all that matters.” Silco let her go. 

He tried to sit up but she held him down more. “I’m not finished and I doubt mother is either.” She grabbed a purple shampoo and quickly dumbed it on his head. “Like I said, you need to look your best, and having hair more oily than an oil spill in the ocean isn’t going to look good standing beside mother.” 

Mel works in silence as she makes sure Silco’s hair turns out with a somewhat healthy shine. As healthy as she can get it with one treatment. But with some nice hair oils and leave-in conditioner it makes it nice and fluffy with a soft shine. Much more in her mother’s preference if she had to guess with all the men she dragged into her bed when father died. “There we go.” She removed the towel around his shoulders and let him look in the mirror. 

Silco stared at himself. The fluffy hairstyle somehow took out some of his fear factor. Her mother was right. Your hair really could affect your fear factor. “It’s fluffy.” 

“Very fluffy.” Mel felt very proud of herself as she heard a loud slam. 

They both looked to the door as it whooshed open and Jinx ran in. Clearly she ran into the door trying to get to him, but that didn’t stop as she ran into his arms. “SILCO! I GOT BELLS!” Holding up her bubble braids she shook them. 

“I see that.” He blinked and ran a hand down one of the braids. “Did Ambessa give you that?”

“Yeah! Oh Mel, your mom has something for you!” Jinx looked up as she curled into Silco’s lap. “Your hair looks like one of those pilty bag dogs.”

“Thank you Jinx.” Silco stands up holding her and clearly struggling as she was a pre teen. Mel turned and walked out to see her brother, mother, and Rictus. Kino was holding something cupped in his hands as a gold chain dangled down. 

“Mel.” Her mother walked over, taking her right hand. “I think you should have this.” She placed something in her palm. 

Mel saw the head of the maned wolf and a sturdy thin gold chair. “Father’s ring.” 

“Yes, I’ve kept them and I think you and your brother will be able to take better care of them now.“ She closed her hand. “I have never and will never forget your father. He will always have a place in my heart no matter what.” 

Mel looked at her mother as she brushed her face. “Thank you.” Her mother took the chain and placed it around her neck. 

Ambessa looked towards Silco who had set Jinx down and smiled. “My my, what lovely hair you have.” She moved towards him and reached out grabbing the soft strands. “I think this is what you should go with for the wedding.” 

“And I think you should go with this hair for the wedding as well.” Silco was looking at all the clips, gears, and glitter that covered her mother’s hair. It was the most color Mel had ever seen on her. 

“Mmm, we do have those glass flowers we’ve commissioned from undercity might do well.” Ambessa grabbed his face and forced him to look up more. 

They nearly kiss, but the door opens and a very annoyed Sevika walks in. “I’m getting paid triple for this.” She snarls at Silco as she glares at them. 

“Yes.“ Silco pulled back and looked at Mel, Kino, and Jinx. “Kids, Sevika is in charge.” 

“WHAT!? NOOOOO!” Jinx whines and runs to him wrapping her arms around his waist. “You can’t leave us with her!”

“She won’t hurt you. You know that.” Silco rubbed her back. 

Jinx whines and squeezes him tightly in her hug. “But I don’t wanna be watched or put under her control!”

“And I don’t wanna watch you, you little brat, but here I am.” Sevika pulls out a cigarette and lights it,  in Mel's house. 

“Just try to behave and I’m sure it’ll be alright.” Silco pats her head. 

┫⊗⚈┣

Jinx huffs as Silco and Ambessa leave to head out on their date. “Well it seems we can’t mess with them now.” Kino pats her shoulder. 

“Will see.” Jinx smirks. She watches as Sevika lets out a long stream of smoke as she was laying on the white couch, or former white couch. Jinx had accidently covered it in chalk and paint and Mel got tired of having cleaners come out so she left it. 

Jinx ran to her room and looked under her bed for a very special bomb, it looked like her normal ones, but with a rat drawn on. Making it look more like a fat angry Smeech. Running back out to meet the others Jinx held it out showing them.

“What does this do,” asked Kino, noting the small differences in design. He leans in a bit. Confused as to what type this was. 

Beaming brightly Jinx stands up a bit taller, “It a fakeout bomb, made for quick get aways, from evil old hags

“Do you really think she fall for it?” Mel frowned. She took the bomb and examined it. Turning it around and running a finger against its fuse. A bit confused as it wasn’t the normal wire used, but a thinner one that was coated in something. She rubs her two fingers together to feel the strange substance before handing it back.

Jinx looks at Mel rolling her eyes,” she will, she always falls for it.”

Mel pinched the bridge of her brow. “I know you don’t like Sevika, but-“

“What are you three doing?” The heavy smell of cigarettes fill the room as they all look to see Sevika standing in the doorway with her arms crossed. Jinx glares back. 

“Sevika.” Mel moved in front of them. “We were just discussing our plans on-“

Jinx turned to Kino giving him a quick thumbs up then ran past Sevika taking her lighter off of her and yelled,” im gonna blow up the living room!”

Sevika didn't waste a minute, and went after Jinx. “What are you trying to do?! You really wanna blow up your new family too, you little psycho!” she shouted, as Mel and Kino ran behind.

Jinx ignored the pit in her stomach as she lit the fakeout bomb as she ran into the living room, jumping over the couch but got caught on the top making her fall face first on the floor. Bouncing back up she ran and turned back before throwing it at Sevika. She quickly throws it away, only for it not to explode. 

A horrible guttural sound like a cat choking being mixed with nails on a chalk board screeches out like a banshee wailing for death. Sevika covers her ears as does Mel and Kino. Jinx, unfazed by it, runs towards them grabbing their hands. “Now our chance, let go,” She made a quick mad dash with them to the front door.

As they ran out the door, Mel contemplated what she had heard, the idea of blowing up one's own family sounded terrifying, but she couldn't bring herself to think Jinx would do something like that, at least not on purpose.

“Jinx!” Kino shouted as he pulled her back. “Stop, you're bleeding!”

“I'm fine!” Jinx huffs and tries to jump down the stairs but is held back. 

“Please we don’t have to talk about what happened right now, we just wanna see that you're okay.” Kino held her head as he moved it from side to side. 

“You mean it?” Jinx frowned and looked at them. When Sevika mentioned blowing up her family really got to her. 

“Promise.” Kino held out his pinky. Jinx took it with her own pinky. “With all my heart.” He pulled her closer and kissed her forehead. Jinx looked up at him funny as he laughed. “Sorry, it’s just after every pinky promise I make with Mel I’d kiss her forehead.” 

“It’s true.” Mel was scratching the back of her head thinking of the memories. “Espically when he caught me doing something bad and I made him promise not to tell.”

“What did you do?” 

Mel looked at Kino who smirked. “I can’t say. I made a pinky promise on my heart. Now how’s your vision?”

“It’s fine. I was just stunned.” Jinx picked at her shoes. “She’s done worse to me whenever I have to train with her so don’t worry.”

“Of course we’re gonna worry.” Mel cupped her face. Her long nails dragging against her skin tingle a bit. “We’re stuck together now, making us a team.”

“Against the grownups?” 

“Exactly.” Kino hugged her. “Now that we’re sure you're gonna be okay, let's talk about what we’re gonna do. We need a plan if we’re gonna ruin their date!”

Jinx nodded. “Right! Well, Ambessa said they were gonna go to the park first. If we get a bunch of seeds and whatever else birds like we can make a swarm of birds attack them!”

“We can also get peanut butter.” Mel hummed softly. “I know plenty of academy students who feed squirrels peanut butter and they can become pretty feral over it.” 

“Perfect!” Jinx smiles, “Then they’re gonna go get sweet ice.” 

“What’s sweet ice?” Kino sat beside her. 

“It’s frozen fruit juice.” Jinx smiles as she remembers her and Vi getting them from time to time. “ that and sweet fruit which is just a thin coat of melted sugar on an old piece of fruit. They’re the closest thing we have to candy we have.” 

Kino nodded, “Well if it’s just frozen juice we can get one of my magnifiers and make a beam of light to melt it.” 

“And then it's sunset on the beach. I can get some of my glow bombs and set them off so they can light up the sky and ruin the sunset!” Jinx jumps up and tries to keep her balance. This was going to be the worst date ever!”

“JINX! YOU LITTLE BRAT!” Sevika roars. 

All the kids quickly bolt off not wanting to stick around. 

┫⊗⚈┣

Ambessa watched the children as they all tried to hide behind some thin trees being surrounded by squirrels and birds. Silco noticed as well, but neither had said anything. She was surprised it took this long for them to show up. 

“It appears there is a small army gathering happening.” Silco hums softly. 

She laughed at that. “So it seems. What do you think their plans are?” 

Silco hummed a bit. “I assume they plan to throw whatever they have at us, so the animals go mad. Perhaps in an attempt to see us attacked.”

Clicking her tongue she looked back ahead. “What should we do then?” She really wanted to gauge more of Silco’s planning. How well he can plan for things outside his control. Such as rowdy children. 

“I doubt they’ll do much other than try to get food from us. Animals topside tend to lack the same amount of fierceness you'll see of the ones in Zaun.” Silco hummed slightly. “You should have seen the magpies and crows Jinx tried to befriend once.”

“I take it that didn’t end well.” Ambers smirked and leaned down to nuzzle his neck. The soft scent of freshly picked fruit lay subtly on his skin from the shampoo her daughter had used. 

“No. It didn’t.” He looked at her with a forced smile. He tried to keep simple and not look forced. “They started chasing people from the club as they tend to be pretty territorial. One of my men lost an eye to them.” They could hear the clicks of the reporters from the lazily fifty feet they kept. 

Truly the reporters here lacked any tack or grace when it comes to getting pictures. In Noxus they would be killed if caught by the people trying to take pictures, but she must play nice. Piltover must see her as nice. 

Silco had to do the same. After all he was to be wed to a ‘woman he loved’ so they both needed to seem as if they were enjoying this. Well she was at least. Watching this man who made a drug that could turn even the weakest fighter to a dangerous beast trying to hide his squirms as she gave him all her attention. 

They could hear Jinx yell something as balls of seeds held together by something sticky were thrown around the park and the animals chasing after them. None of the things they had thrown got close to them. The closer one was Kino who was still about ten feet off. 

The fat animals all went down on the balls of seeds. It was truly surprising many of them could fly or climb with how round they appeared to be. 

Piltover truly spoiled those up here. At least they weren’t very breakable as Ambessa dealt with a sobbing toddler Mel when she accidentally killed the ducks when she got them lots of stale bread from the kitchens. 

She couldn’t hold in her laughter as they watched one particularly round squirrel bounce like a ball as it was shoved back by a bigger bird. Walking over she picks up one of the sticky seed balls as a very fat white dove missing some of its feathers quickly hopped on her hand as well. Pecking at the seeds and peanut butter. 

Walking back over she held out her hand so Silco could see. “Behold a Piltover dove.” She leaned in so the reporters couldn't hear them. “A good representation of the council and particularly one councilor Hoskel.” 

Silco let’s put a soft genuine chuckle. The first she’s ever heard from him. “That it is.” 

They leaned in closer, near kisses but not quite. They wanted to mess with the so-called ‘journalists’ that were treating them as nothing more than a spectacle for their entertainment. Ambessa smiled as she could practically hear them begging for her and Silco to kiss. They touch noses and rub them together. 

Ambessa had to use her training to hold back a laugh from the groan she heard from Jinx. Most likely upset that their plan had failed. 

┫⊗⚈┣

Looking down at the river as they made their way to the sweet ice stand. The only one on this side of the river as most of them were on the other side. Cheap frozen juice that sold for less than a copper coin. Something that most of the people could afford, but many still can’t. Something that was changing. He was holding Ambessa’s hand. 

“Did the river ever used to be crystal clear?” Ambessa ran her thumb over his knuckles. 

“Way before my time.” Silco looked at the sky. Not as clear from the smog, but still leagues better than what was below. “We have a story that Janna herself carved the waterways and pushed the seas to fill them and make the rivers. That she founded Zaun as a refuge from the Rune Wars.” 

Using her free hand she brushed his face gently. “Will you tell me the story?” 

“Perhaps when we’re in private.” He didn’t want to even glance at the cameras anymore as they were becoming far lacking in trying to stay hidden. Going so far as to just get five feet in front of them to take pictures. 

They get to the stand. “Hi there!” The young chipper girl smiles. A girl that worked for Margot that could easily pass for a topsider when clean. They wanted someone like that up here to show that people from Zaun weren’t just coal dust covered people and to actually look somewhat decent for the pictures. “What can I get you two?” 

“What do you suggest, my love?” Ambessa hums slightly and nuzzles his hair. Mel was right, her mother truly loved fluffy hair. 

“We will take a cherry spear and an apple star.” 

“That’ll be two copper pieces!" The girl smiled bright as she turned to get them. Silco tosses four copper coins leaving a small tip. Have to seem generous in front of the cameras. 

When he gets the sweet ice he offers them to Ambessa who takes the cherry. “Do they all come in different shapes?” She looks at the cherry shaped cherry juice. 

“Yes. We value asymmetry. Contrary to Piltover, we do not seek perfection and symmetry in our creations. We are a people built to survive, and that is reflected in our culture. Very few things are symmetrical. Things will look similar, but everything found or created in Zaun will come in different shapes.” Silco quickly put on a smile as someone got far to close for comfort to snap more pictures. Near his face to the point he was fighting the urge to stab them. It was starting to become a bit clearer on why many higher ups had guards follow them around. 

Rictus, Ambessa’s most trusted warrior, was keeping a better distance than these rats. He of course would shove them back after a second or two to make it seem less ‘violent’. ”when I was younger someone got ahold of a small blimp mold. That was my favorite before it went missing during a raid.” 

“I’ll try and find you one then.” Ambessa took a lick of cherry. “I’m sure the kids would love to make their own sweet ice.” 

“I’m sure they would. Jinx would love to mix that special fruit blend from Noxus with grape juice and see if it tastes any better.” Silco saw something with his good eye and frowned. Ambessa's cube had already melted. Turning his head fully he could see a shining light from behind some buildings and could somewhat make out a blur. Kino. 

Ambessa noticed the same time as him and quickly moved to block the light from his sweet ice. “It appears mine has already melted.” 

“Then we should share mine then.” He held it up smiling at her. “I think you’d like sweet apples.”

Ambessa leaned down as he held it up as high as he could without the risk of the kids trying to melt it. She takes a bite off the star’s top. Her jaw shifts as he can see her roll it around. She smirks as her tongue curls back as she opens her mouth with the tip being behind her top teeth. “Delicious.” She swallows it. 

Silco took a bite out of another point and hums softly. “It tastes the same as it did when I was a kid.” He quickly buries the memory of him, Felicia, and Vander getting them in the sweltering summers after scrounging around for weeks to save up for them. Even if it was just a copper piece it took a lot for them to get three coins to get it. 

His face is pulled closer as Ambessa leans down more. Putting the sweet ice on its small little stick up between them as she uses her face to block the kids more. “Shall we finish it before it melts?”

Silco starts taking small bites with Ambessa at the same time. Teasing the reports getting closer and closer to the point someone yells, “JUST KISS ALREADY!” 

That got Ambessa smirking and with a dangerous look in her eyes making their lips ghost together as they finished off the sweet ice. She pulls back and puts her thumb on his chin pulling down his lip. Janna help him, Silco was ready for this date to be over already. Much more so as she pulls him closer to her face showing off her dominance for him. “You have something on your chin.” 

“Oh?” Silco smirked. This felt like one of those cheesy romance novels Felicia liked to dig out of the trash. Something he was praying Jinx wouldn’t like as hearing her mother and Vander read them out loud always made him want to slam his face on whatever surface in front of him. “Perhaps you could get it for me then?” 

He moved closer. Making their bodies touch. She took her other hand and wrapped it around squeezing him. “Gladly.” She leans in more as Ambessa makes it looks as if she’ll kiss him, but just wipes it away with her thumb instead. “There we go.” She was holding his hip but moved her hand down and gave a very very hard squeeze. “Much better.”

Silco laughs softly and smiles. “Shall we begin our walk to the beach? I know the best spot to watch the sunset.”

“Lead the way my,” Ambessa moved towards his ear and whispered softly. “Darling pet.” Silco did not want to think about that more as he began to lead her towards the beach. 

┫⊗⚈┣

Jinx nearly shattered her teeth as they made their way to the beach, or what should be a beach. It was mostly an oil and trash covered strip that the Zaunites were allowed to use. They weren’t allowed to use the normal beaches as topside didn’t want them to use the clean ones as they’ll ’dirty it’. 

Her heart was pounding in her ears as each prank messed up. They somehow turned it all into ‘cute fluffy lovey dovey stuff’ and that wasn’t meant to be like this.

‘Jinx it’ Mylo whispered in her ear. 

Claggor’s eyes were staring her down from behind.  She couldn’t see him, but she could feel them. Not as harshly as usual but still there. 

‘Show them that you need to be replac~ed.’ Mylo hissed the C as his sharp scribbles were in her peripheral. 

She began mixing chemicals as they sat  behind a dune. Jinx always kept some of her stuff on her whenever she went out just in case she got targeted. Which did happen from time to time from disgruntled clients, addicts, rival gangs, or anyone else that wanted to hurt Silco. 

“What is it that you're mixing up there?”  Mel looked at it confused and worriedly. 

“Anti hiding spray!” Jinx huffs as she begins to violently shake it and pulls out her compressed air from the mines. Silco kept some around as many of the chem barons and gang leaders couldn’t handle the thick air. 

Jinx could. Jinx grew up in some of the lowest levels of the undercity so she could handle it all. The thick polluted air was also great for her bombs as it added an extra zing to her traps. The pollution allowed her chemicals to attach and make it harder for it to disappear into the air.   

“And how does it work?” Kino was holding one of the compressed air containers. 

“When lit it glows brightly and makes it harder to hide. It’ll also stick to the skin and will burn them.” Jinx smiled as she finished her formula. 

“And we’re gonna light this at them?” Mel was staring at her.

“Pff no! What do you think I am, crazy?!” She raised an eyebrow looking at Mel like she’s dumb. “No. I’m gonna use the compressed air to shoot it into the sky. The pollution and thickness of the air can make it harder to fade, and it doesn’t fall because the chemical reaction makes a small amount of helium so it floats for longer.” 

“So it’s safe?” 

Jinx just smirked at Kino as he asked that. “You’ll see!” She pulls out the bird bomb and several tools to re adjust it so it can shoot the air and chemicals.

Kino grabs her hands. “Jinx, you need to think this through. You could hurt them or us.” 

“It’ll be fine!” She tries to pull away, but he doesn’t let her. 

“Jinx, this is much more than just messing with them isn’t it?” He held her tightly and moved his face closer. 

“It’s not! I just wanna mess with them!” She tried harder but it didn’t work. Mylo was laughing now. 

Kink took the bomb away and held her closer. “Jinx, what’s wrong? We can’t help fix it if you don’t tell us.” 

“There’s nothing to fix!” She stood up trying to get the bomb back but he held it away. 

“Jinx, please talk to us. We only want to help.” Mel grabbed her shoulders but Jinx reacted before she could and slapped Mel across the face. 

Her heart stopped as it hit her what she’s done. “I’m sorry!” Jinx took a deep breath as everything felt freezing. Mel was holding her face a bit as she looked at her in shock as she suddenly saw Vi. She was angry and holding her face tightly. ‘Mylo was right! You are a jinx!’

“I didn’t mean it!“ She screams out, “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to! I only wanted to help!” 

Two strong arms wrap around her holding her tightly against their warm body. Vi’s face and voice shifted until she saw and heard Mel trying to calm her. To comfort her. “It’s alright Jinx. No one is mad at you. We know you just wanna help.” Mel’s pale green eyes looked at her like she’s trying to analyze her. “I know you're just feeling overwhelmed. We should just head home now.”

Her heart was beating louder as Jinx grabbed the collar of her shirt that felt as if she was choking her. The dirty beach came back to her. Ears ringing and body feeling too flushed and too cold. “We can’t! We have to ruin their date! We have to!” 

“But why tho?” Kino had set the bomb behind him as he sat on his knees. “Why do we need to ruin this date?” 

“Because we have to!” 

“But why?”

“Because he’ll replace me if it does!” Jinx snapped and stared at him. “You two are so much better than me! And Ambessa is well, that!” She pointed to Ambessa throwing a rusted metal sheet, most likely from a ship out of their path. “So if Silco and Ambessa hit it off really well they’ll have a baby and they won’t want me.” Tears prickle at the edge of her eyes as she pulls her braid to the front and messes with the bell. “I know he says he won’t replace me, but he will. Sevika says how I take all of his attention away from Zaun and what he’s doing. So what’s stopping him from having a new non-broken daughter?” 

“Oh Jinx.” Mel cupped her face and brushed it gently. “They won’t replace you. I mean mother didn’t replace me so I know she won’t replace you.” 

“Why would she replace you?” Jinx tilted her head. 

“Because I am not a wolf.” Mel pulled her closer and into her lap. “That's why I’m here in Piltover and not Noxus. Unlike my mother I am not violent and choose the path with less blood and pain. Mother exiled me in all but name here.”

Jinx tilted her head, “What?”

Kino moved to hold Jinx sideways and pulled Mel closer so they were all right next to each other. “In Noxus you are either a fox or a wolf. Being a wolf means that you’ll do whatever it takes to win or be on top through violence. No matter whose blood it is, you'll shed it to win.” Jinx could see him glance at Mel before looking back at her. “Mel and I are both foxes. We don’t use strength to win, we use words and deals. Sneaky as a fox.” 

“But being sneaky is good.” Jinx frowned. “It’s how I’m able to constantly steal your coin purse.” She held up Kino’s and Mel’s coin pouches she managed to swipe. 

“It is.” Mel doesn’t seem to care about her coin pouch as she waves her off. “But mother sees us as too much fox and not enough wolf. Kino was barely able to scrape by before he left to travel while I wasn’t. When I refused to have an enemy killed and wished to send her off to the penal colonies, my mother killed her in front of me. Said I had to kill to spare thousands, but I couldn’t stomach it.”

Grabbing the other braid Mel starts to undo the bottom letting the bell fall. She records the split ends that needed to be cut. “I was sent here.”

Jinx looks down at her hands and the pouches in her lap. “Are you sure they won’t replace us?”

”A thousand percent. Silco has made it very clear he cares about you and would give you the world if he could.” Kino gave her a reassuring tight hug. “And if they do well, you’ll have us. And together we can start our own little revolution.” 

Jinx nodded and took a deep breath. The ringing in her ears was becoming softer. It still hurt, but she didn’t feel like she would go deaf from it. Her heart was slowing as the freezing cold in her body was fading.  Leaning back into Kino and Mel she felt their warmth. Each feeling like a ray of sunshine she’s grown to like from the large window in Mel’s home. “We start our own kingdom.” She whispers.  

“We’ll be the kingdom of replaced children.” Mel finishes fixing her hair and reattaching the bell. “We’ll make sure no other child gets replaced. Everyone will live happy lives.”

Grabbing a button on the coat Kino was wearing she pulled it slightly. Feeling the grooves of its design. “And I can make all the bombs I want?” 

“That can be our main export.” Kino wrapped an arm around Mel and pulled her into their hug. “Will become the main suppliers of fireworks, mining explosives, and everything under that. People will be begging for your explosives.” He pokes her nose making her giggle a bit. 

It’s been so long since Jinx had felt like this. This feeling of safety and warmth. While she felt safe with her si- with others it always had this strange sense of fear that it’ll all come crashing down at any moment and it did. 

This felt sturdy. Like she wouldn’t be able to jinx this up. It was an odd feeling. She didn’t dislike it. “Yeah.” Turning around she faces them. “I’d like that.” Smiling brightly, Jinx stands up. “Let’s go back and plan our perfect kingdom!”

“THERE YOU ARE!” All three of them jump and look to see a very angry Sevika. She looked like a rabid dog covered in sweat and breathing hard as if she’s ran all over Piltover. “YOU LITTLE RATS ARE COMING BACK WITH ME RIGHT NOW OR SO HELP ME JANNA I WILL KILL ALL OF YOU AND DRAG YOUR BODIES TO THE DEEPEST MINES NO ONE WILL FIND YOU!” 

All three stared at her as she quickly forced all of them up. She holds Jinx tightly by the arm with her mechanical arm and in the air. “Ow! Sevika you're hurting me!” Jinx kicks around trying to get out but she shakes her violently like a fish in a plastic bag. Her bells jingling loudly as she does so.   

“LIKE HOW YOUR STUPID BOMB HURT MY EARS TILL THEY BLED!” Sevika yells and grabs the bomb. 

“Wait, Sevika!” Kino tried to grab the bomb back. “You need to be careful that bomb is-“

“What?! Full of your stupid petals?!” Sevika shook it and its beak opened. 

It makes a loud horrible pop. Much worse than shooting petals. Everyone finches as a horrible smell and bright neon green leaves its metal beak as it pops off and one of them hits Mel. Jinx watches as several small explosions happen making several different colors appear. Sevika throws the bombs and shakes her hands as some of the green stuff on her hand. “GAH! I'M GONNA KILL YOU!” She quickly wipes her hand on some dried seaweed as best as she can. 

Sevika growls as soon as she’s done. “All three of you are going back with me right now or I’ll drop all of you off in the mines.” Her voice was cold and gravely. 

Kino and Mel quickly get behind as Sevika just drags Jinx along who’s trying to keep up.

┫⊗⚈┣

By the time Ambessa and Silco got back Mel and Kino were scrubbing the floor with toothbrushes while Jinx was duck taped to a wall pretty high up. ”Well it seems you four had fun.” 

Everyone turns and Sevika walks over and slams Silco to the wall. “Never again and you're paying quadruple for this night.” 

“Very well.” Silco says it calmly. Like this is the most normal thing in the world. 

Ambessa takes note of that. She wonders how hard she’ll have to push to break him. With Sevika gone Mel and Kino stand up. The grim from them chasing them around was sticking to them. Clearly they were refused a shower or a change of clothes. A grumbling from Jinx’s stomach confirms they haven’t eaten anything else. “It seems you three have a very interesting story to tell.” 

Jinx looks away, her face turning red from embarrassment. Her eyes held a sort of tiredness that she had when she suffered an episode. Something must have happened. “Not really.” 

Silco walks over but Ambessa stops him. “I’ve got it.” Pulling a hidden knife from its pocket she cuts her down from the wall. Holding her tightly against her skin. “Now then, let’s get the kids something to eat while they tell us what happened.” 

Carrying Jinx they make their way to the private family dining table. A maid quickly brings up some simple fruit, dry cereal, and unsweetened lemonade. She sits Jinx right beside her on the opposite side of Silco. She looks at Silco a bit worried with her tired eyes. 

Silco glanced back at her with a calmness. Slowly they begin eating as another maid sets down a small porcelain cup of her ‘vitamins.’ Ambessa didn’t watch Jinx take them. Everyone was silent. The children were tense and clearly wondering if the adults would be the one to bring up the fact that it was clear they were there.  Her children were hiding it well. Straight face, loose body language, everything showing they didn’t have anything to hide, say for their slightly tight lips. Jinx however, needed more lessons as she was bouncy, shakey, not making eye contact, biting her inner cheek, and very tense. “So, did you kids have fun with Sevika?” 

Jinx flinched and spilt some of her lemonade. “Umm yeah, fun! Lots of it!”

Swallowing a cracker, Silco didn’t look at her, “Oh? And what did you four do?” 

“We ummm worked on the, uhhh, uhhh, bird bombs! Yeah! We worked on the bird bombs!” Jinx shouted as she looked all over the table and then at Kino and Mel who both didn’t even seem disappointed at her bad lying skills. Ambessa knew they knew Jinx couldn’t lie to save her life. 

“That’s good. Can I expect them done for the wedding?” 

“Yup!” Jinx jerked as she grabbed an orange, “There'll be so many petals falling down it’ll look like a rain storm!” She yawned. 

Ambassador hummed softly as she grabbed the orange out of Jinx’s hand and peeled it for her. “I'm sure the rivers will be full of petals then.” 

“Yeah.” Jinx mumbles as she takes the slices hesitantly. “Everyone will know you two got married.” She shifts in more nibbling on the juicy slices. 

“It’s going to be a party to remember.” Mel spoke up. “A massive display of wealth. Usual for your kind of party.” Her daughter was eying her up trying to find her angle. 

The clock begins to chime. “Oh wow it’s eleven o’clock.” Kino stood up. “I’m sure we should all be off to bed! Jinx wants me to help with your hair?”

“Yes-“

Cutting of Jinx, Ambessa grabbed her shoulder. “I’ll help her with her hair.” Standing up she towers over the tiny girl. “As well as going over some of her duties as one of my bridesmaids.” Smiling down at her she moves her hands under her arms. “Come, let’s get you cleaned up.” Before she could say anything Ambessa picked her up and carried her off to her personal washroom in her daughter’s manor. 

Ringing a bell a maid rushes over and inside the bath. “Yes lady Medarda?”

“Bring me a set of clean sleepwear for Jinx. The soft ones.” Ambessa sat Jinx down on the sink and began taking the ties out of Jinx’s hair as soon as she got the bells out and carefully set them down on a towel. Already one day and they needed to be cleaned. 

“Right away my lady.” The maid rushes off. 

Jinx squirms as Ambessa begins taking her down. “I can do it myself.” 

“I’m aware.” Ambessa grabs a brush and does a few swipes to get any major knots. “But I’m also aware you’ve had Mel and Kino help with it.” She runs her fingers through it. “Which I’m very grateful for. After all you’ll need strong healthy hair to become the blessing catcher.” 

“Blessing catcher?” Jinx frowned as Ambessa moved her to sit on a chair beside the tub. 

Turning on the faucet Ambessa Ambessa checked the temperature till it was just right. “Yes. You dear Jinx, are to go around the wedding and gather the small trinkets the guest will offer.” Grabbing one of the bubble soaps she poured some in before stopping it up. 

Moving closer she goes to take off the clothes that are ruined from all the duck tape covering them. “I can wash myself” Jinx turned away blushing. “I’ve done it before.”

“You’re tired, child.” Ambessa gently stroked her loose hair. “You could easily fall asleep and pass out in the tub and drown. Imagine how Silco would feel if you were found like that.” 

Jinx looked down at her hands. “I wouldn’t.” 

“But you could.” Ambessa held her head tightly. “Look at those bags under your eyes. I’m surprised you're still awake.” 

Grumbling a bit, Jinx shifted back to her. Ambessa smirked as she quickly undressed the girl and placed her in the tub. The medication she had Dr. Tall give to the girl was easily making her more malleable. It was much more than the Quetiapine she needed. 

Watching the girl sink into the tub with a sigh as the bubbles rose more. She shifts a bit as Ambessa turns off the water once it gets high enough. They sat in silence before Jinx leaned her head towards her. “So what is it that they’ll give me? for the blessing stuff.”

“Well, your hair will be braided into a fishnet like style.” Grabbing a rag she pours a whole bunch of soap into it. “When we start letting guests in you will stand at the entrance to greet them. People will have small trinkets or coins and will place them in your hair.” Setting the soap she then scrubs it on Jinx’s body. 

Jinx tries to pull away, but is far too small to escape. “Oh? So what? I just stand there and let them put things in my hair?” She huffs. 

“Not quite. Many of the Noxians will actually test you. They will ask you questions or riddles, some may even challenge you to a small battle.” Ambessa works the soap all over and massages the already loose muscles. 

The medication worked wonders for Jinx as she relaxed more and more into her touch. Something the girl seemed to always seek.  “Nothing big, but just enough to ensure you aren’t weak.” 

“Never weak.” Jinx pouts sticking out her bottom lip. “I bite.” She chomps the air. 

Laughing at the pitiful display ambassador can’t help but compare her to a small kitty trying to act all mighty. “I know that.” She pulls her nose playfully.  “And I don’t have to worry about Silco or I, not getting any blessings. We‘ll have you shake every guest from Noxus, Piltover, and Zaun.” 

Smilingly, Jinx yawed once more as her eyelids closed. “Always fierce.” 

Ambessa hummed softly. “That’s right. Always fierce. So brave and smart. No one can beat you, can they?” Ambessa began just praising the girl as she drifted in and out of consciousness. Once her body was clean Ambessa worked on her hair. She was proud of her daughter as she could feel how softer and stronger. She could easily hold all the blessings, but that wasn’t just what she wanted. 

She needed to be cemented into this girl’s mind. Ambessa didn’t have that much time left, but with Dr. Tall’s help the girl would fall to her. There was more than medication at play. Smell was a big factor. The scent of strong warm earth was what she chose. 

Normally Ambessa was not one for scents. They could be your downfall in battle if you chose something too strong. Your enemy could smell you miles away, but here it would be perfect. Jinx would associate the scent with safety and comfort. Dr. Tall’s little room, Silco’s clothing and bedding, her own room that she hasn’t used but has it in her bedding, the little lab she has, and everything Ambessa has given her would have this earthy scent.

Ambessa finished washing her face and moved on to her hair. Here she made sure to go over every strand of hair. Massaging everything and being impressed at her daughter’s work. Once she was done Ambessa trained the tub and wrapped Jinx up in a towel. Jinx grumbles. “Easy child.” Patting her back Ambessa moved to wrap her hair in a towel as well. “You're alright.”

With bleary eyes Jinx looked at her before burying her head into the crook of her neck. Sleep easily won as her body went limp. When her hair and body was dry she quickly got her into her sleep wear before moving to her room where Silco was waiting. Still dressed as he looked at her. “I can take Jinx back to the room.” 

“No need.” Ambessa grabbed a brush, a hair tie, and a silk bonnet. “She can spend the night here.” Smiling at his clear unease as she began brushing out Jinx’s hair. “As can you.” 

Silco just watches her for a moment as she focuses on Jinx. Being sure to get the knots without hurting her. There’s shuffling as the bed barely dips when Silco gets on the bed. He had taken off his jacket, vest, and shoes. He leaned against the headboard as she finished up Jinx’s hair. Once in a braid and tying the bonnet around her hair she hands her off to Silco who holds the girl tightly. “You're free to take off your clothes. I doubt you’ll be comfortable sleeping like that.” 

She moved to her dresses and started undressing. Silco shifts on the bed laying down. “I’ve slept in worse.” 

“Well you’ll never have to sleep uncomfortable again.” Ambessa looked back as Silco wasn’t looking at her. Eyes on Jinx, but in not long his eyes would be on her.

┫⊗⚈┣

Breakfast that morning was tense. Several tabloids and newspapers scatter the table. Each one has pictures of Ambessa and Silco on their date. However, a few had pictures of Mel, Kino, and Jinx: who were currently sitting at one end of the table Mel on the left Kino right and Jinx in the center; being ‘sneaky’ trying to mess with the date, which they described as trying to push the two adults together. 

Kino was unfazed. After going to battlefields and seeing war first hand, family tension didn’t feel that hard to handle. “Good morning mother, Silco. How was your night?”

“Fine.” She didn’t look that impressed at them before she nodded to the papers on the table,

“Tell me my son, what do you think of the news today?” His mother picked up a tabloid and flipped through the pages. 

“Doesn’t seem that interesting.” Kino places a hand on Jinx’s leg trying to calm her. “I mean it’s all just petty gossip and uninspiring rumors and you're far above that.” 

She looked unimpressed as she leaned in. “Petty gossip and uninspiring rumors run through most of the elite.” Waving the book around she leaned on the table, “Rumors can sway many.” Holding the magazine out on two pages she held it out so they could see three photos of them. One at the park of them making the seed balls, one with him melting the popsicle, and the other of them hugging as Sevika was running over. “And change how you appear to people.”

“Surely the rumors aren’t that bad?” Mel poked as his mother handed the magazine to Silco. 

Silco takes a few seconds to read over the article before he speaks, “‘it appears that the two Medarda children and Silco’s child all work together to make their parents come together. With childish antics such as throwing what looks like clumps of peanut butter and seeds and attracting the local wildlife in the park, melting the sweet ice so they would be forced to share, and creating a dazzling display in the sky over the beach to create a moment for their parents' perfect kiss so they never forget.” Silco makes a face as he continues, “Their children are working hard with their little antics to help their parents’ date.”

“Doesn’t sound that bad.” Jinx mumbled, sinking in her chair. She looked slightly embarrassed as she nibbled on just a normal slice of cut pineapple. Something she didn’t seem to like.  

Ambessa scoffs, “For you perhaps no, but for Mel.” She looks at her and Kino can see her trying hard not to flinch. “She’s been trying so hard to be seen as an adult and worthy to talk to on such levels, but this changes that. Now everyone will see you as the child you are.”

Mel scoffed, “It seems I'm only an adult when convenient for your use.”

Kino reaches out to try and stop this, but his mother slams a fist on the table. “Because you cannot keep up your facade.” Taking a deep breath Ambessa shook her head trying to calm down. “Besides all that, the three of you will be punished for running out and putting yourselves in danger. What if you were captured during your whole ‘expedition’?” 

“We were never in any danger.” Kino found his voice as he straightened up. “As you can see we were in full view of photographers and I carried my knife. So did Mel.” He pulls out his hidden knife and shows her it's still sharpened and ready for anything. 

Mel did the same. “A Medarda is only as good as the weapons they keep.” 

Jinx gasped, “You guys had knives and didn’t tell me?” Sticking out her bottom lip she falls back crossing her arms. “Holding out huh?” Mumbling the last part. 

Silco leaned into the table, elbows on it as head on his locked hands. “Still it's incredibly moronic for you three to have done that. Many people on this side aren’t happy with us and could have easily hurt you to get to us.” 

“Pfff! You act like the fat pigs could even touch us!” Jinx rolled her eyes and began picking at the underside of her nails. 

Grabbing her hands he gave them a comforting squeeze Kino pulled them and her closer to him. “Still we were careful. I kept my eyes open for any dangers.”

“And what about the ones you couldn’t see?” Silco glared, “Snipers? A bomb thrower from a blind spot? All three of you could have been killed in an instant.” He moved back in his chair. “Each one of you ignored our order to stay here.”

“And for that you’ll be punished.” Ambessa tapped the table before moving to pick up something under the table. “Each of you is to go to the wall and hold weights until we tell you to stop.” She puts a box on the table. Inside are three medicine balls. 

“What’s the wall?” Jinx looked up at Kino. 

”There wall sits.” Kino stood up holding Jinx’s hands, before letting go and grabbing two of those balls. “You sit against the wall like you're going to sit in a chair.“ 

“Doesn’t seem so bad.” Jinx follows him and Mel to the corner of the dining room. 

“It can be when you're made to hold the medicine balls out at the same time.” Mel held both hands out as she held it out. “Mother can make us do this for hours. The longest I ever got was ten.” With a mischievous grin she leaned over to Jinx. “I stole one of my mother's favorite hairpieces to go to a party that was being held by commoners.”

Kino huffs, “Longest I got was twelve. Stole a small motor boat to go on a joy ride with a boy.”

Jinx laughs as she takes her ball. Kino looked over her form and knew she wouldn’t last long with how scrawny her arms and legs are and how bad her form was. “That sounded like fun.” 

He hoped mother would go easy on her so he leaned in. “It was, but don’t let the guards who were sent to chase us tell you that.” 

“Quite.” His mother's voice carries out. “You know there's no talking when on the wall.” 

┫⊗⚈┣

Mel didn’t feel much as she zoned out. She was used to this. Being the daughter of a war lord meant a lot of punishments were exercises. The wall was her mother’s favorite to use. 

Both she and Silco decided to stay and watch them as they worked on the wedding. “That looks perfect.” She laughed as she held up something. “I think the girls would look lovely in this.”

“Hmm yes.” Silco, to Mel, looked overly done with all of this. As if nothing could be worse than planning a wedding. “We could easily work in both the Noxus and Zaun symbols on the shoulders and perhaps talk to the designer to have them come together in the center around the collar bone to make your house symbol.” 

“Hmm that sounds nice.” Mother flips through the pages. 

Their conversation was nothing but a bore to Mel and felt more torturous than the wall itself. Glancing towards Kino who also seemed to be zoning out, but then she looks at Jinx. Her face was red and covered in sweat. Arms shaking as she looked ready to pass out. “Jinx, are you feeling okay?” She whispers. 

Nodding Jinx let out a shaky breath. “Fine. I just feel a bit funny.” Some tears come down as she tries so hard to keep her arms up. 

“Are you sure?” She whispered back. 

“It’s fine. Promise I-“ her arms give out as she falls to the ground with a loud thud. She breathes heavily as she looks up to the ceiling. 

“Jinx, come here.” Her mother looks from her documents to Jinx. 

A panic rose from her chest. It’s clear Jinx didn’t meet the time requirement for this. “Mother go easy on-“

“Quiet child.” She looked unimpressed at her. “Jinx, come here.”

With another shaky breath both she and Kino watched her shakily stand up and slowly make her way to the table. As soon as she gets there she tries to prop herself on the table, but her arms and legs give out at the same time letting her fall to the floor at her mother’s feet. 

Silco tried to stand up but her mother pushed him down. “Have you learned the lessons?” 

“Yes.” She said weakly and tried to sit herself up but failed. 

“Yes, what?”  

“Yes ma’am.” Jinx whimpers. Mel could only watch as Ambessa picked her up and sat her in a chair. 

“Mel, Kino, both of you are to go get ready for the day and get to your lessons,” she held up her hand stopping her from speaking, “We will take care of Jinx. Now go, I know it’s your braiding day.” 

Reluctantly she left to go find Elora who was waiting with both her outfit for the day and her hair braiding supplies. “Are you alright, my madly?” 

“I’m fine Elora.” Mel sat down in front of the vanity and took off her silk bonnet. “Let’s just get the braiding over with.”

“Of course. What do you wanna do today?” She grabbed a metal comb and grabbed the small table lighter to start heating it up. 

“Braided halo would probably be best.” Mel quickly went to prepare the several ties that needed to be used. 

“Ohh going for that ‘angelic look’ then?” Elora chuckled as she sat the metal comb in its special holder and quickly grabbed some special gel that would help protect it from the heat. “She must be really mad at you.” 

“You have no idea.” Mel shook her head as she helped Elora make sure it was all coated up. 

Mel listened to all that Elora managed to find out, which sadly wasn’t much, as she braided her hair tightly to the scalp. She did several swirls before they all joined down, ready to be braided into four very tight rope braids. A maid comes in before they could make it a halo, “Lady Medarda, the young Ms. Kiramman has come sealing an audience with you.” 

“See her in, then.” Mel smiled softly as the maid nodded before leaving. Elora worked silently as Caitlyn came in. 

“Hello Ms. Medarda.” Caitlyn smiled her little gap tooth smile as she held a strange box tightly,“Ohh are you braiding your hair?” She walked in eagerly to watch. 

“Please, call me Mel.” She smiled at her hoping to ease her. 

“Okay, Mel.” Caitlyn shifted a bit, seeming a bit happy at the trust Mel placed in her by allowing the use of her first name.

“And yes I am getting my hair braided.” Mel smiled at her through the vanity. “It was time for a change.” 

“It looks amazing!” Caitlyn looked at her hair in awe. “Do you always braid it?” She looked over at Elora. 

“I do.” Elora smiled softly as she applied some more oils. Careful not to make it look too greasy. “I always braid Ms. Medarda’s hair as I’m trained to do many different types of braids.” 

“Well I have to say you always do amazing Ms. Elora!” 

With a laugh Elora starts to work on the rope braids. “Thank you Caitlyn. I’m glad to know someone noticed me for more than my assistant work.” 

“Do I not pay you enough then?” Mel raised an eyebrow with a playful smirk. 

“Oh of course you do, my lady. It’s just nice for someone else to notice the work I do.” Elora began sorting the hair into four even amounts. 

Caitlyn laughs as she begins to shift a bit nervously. “I came to apologize for the tea party.” Mel watched as she went from foot to foot. “I should not have said what I said. I did not mean to upset Jinx or you and your brother.” She held out the box. “I brought Jinx a sorry gift.”

Mel looked at the box wrapped in shiny blue paper with most likely real gold used in the gold details of it just as Elora finished up the rope braids. “It looks beautiful. Did you wrap it yourself?” 

Caitlyn huffed, “No. Mother hired only the best for it."She looked upset as she stared at the shiny silver silked ribbon. “I really am sorry, I didn’t realize how much turmoil was really there. Plus mother found out the company she was using wasn’t keeping up the vent like Jinx said, so she sends her apologies as well.” 

Mel held the pins as Elora worked on making it a halo around her hair. “I doubt your mother told you much.” She tried to meet her eyes, but Caitlyn didn’t look up. “Would you like to hear more about why Jinx was upset?” 

Caitlyn finally looks up at her. Nodding she bit her bottom lip. “I would.” 

Mel held a strand as Elora pinned it down, “The undercity isn’t all what you think it is. Yes it’s full of crime, but it’s not like they have a choice. The toxic air and water makes it impossible for people to live down there.” She moved her hands to hold it down more. “Then there’s the lack of money. The undercity is only paid less than, point eight percent of the Piltover minimum wage, with that it’s hard to buy things like food or clothing. As well as try and get medical help as there are only four hospitals down there and they're all over run and underfunded.” 

Mel was looking at Caitlyn as her face fell as she worked on the math in her head. “That’s less than three silver coins! Hospitals are mostly funded by the government and each one receives a minimum of at least a hundred thousand gold coins. How can they be under funded?”

“Corruption.” Mel didn’t even blink as they were nearly done. “There’s so much going on you don’t understand. To survive in the Undercity takes not only physical strength, but the strength to do whatever is necessary. If that means committing illegal acts to afford another day’s worth of bread, so be it. Morality is a luxury little afforded in the fissures.” They reached the end of the halo. “I know you aren’t as naive as to know that there isn’t any in the council. They looked to where they could cut back and the undercity was it.” They finish it as Mel turns to fully face Caitlyn. 

“That’s not right.” 

“No it’s not, and Jinx has sadly had to grow up like that. She had to scrimp and save. She most likely didn’t have a childhood.” Mel stood up and placed a hand on her shoulder, “When you and your parents made comments about her father marrying up and saying those things about the Undercity, it was as if saying they weren’t real people to you and did not matter until they finally, ‘came up’.”

“I’m so sorry, I did not realize it was coming off like that.” She squeezed the box, “Or how bad it was down there.”

Mel thought back to when she went down there. “It’s much worse than you think. I’ve had the displeasure but I was allowed to go down there and I’ve realized how awful the people of Piltover have been to them. “Even I, who hasn’t been here long nor had my family made any real investments till now, have just ignored them.”  Placing her hand on the younger girl's face, she brushes it. “Jinx didn’t deserve that. No one did.”

Nodding the girl looks at her, “Then I wanna do better, and I hope she can forgive me.” 

 ┫⊗⚈┣

Jinx huffed as she was put in the chair having her hair fixed up by Ambessa and Silco picking out an outfit for her. “Hold still child, I am almost done.” Ambessa was finishing up two twin braids done tightly to her scalp.

“I'm trying.” She huffs as Silco pulls out one of her new outfits from the tailor. “Why am I dressing up?” 

“Because the young Kiramman heiress has come with an apology gift for you.” Ambessa tied them up, giving them a once over to be sure there were no loose strands.

Silco held up a long sleeved button up cream colored shirt. He examined it with his good eye as Jinx could barely make out the small flowers embroiled all over it. “This is important, Jinx.” He laid it on the bed, careful not to wrinkle it. 

“You could use this chance to be your chance to accept that girl's apology and try to become friendly.” He pulled out long black cargo pants with two leather hanging belts on the side. 

“You’ll need to play extra nice with her.” He also grabs black shoes and black socks. 

Standing up she groaned before stomping her bare foot on the cold floor, “Even after all she said?!” Groaning Jinx just throws herself on the bed. Throwing her face down she buries it in the plushed blankets. 

“Yes child, even after all she said.” Silco doesn’t even blink as he sets everything together. He moves beside her and sits on the bed. “Having her be nice and friendly to you can be a great help. You can use that.”  

Yelling while her face was still in the blankets, she shouted, “But she’s a Pilite!”

Ambessa walked over and picked her off the bed, “And you are our spy.“ placing her down on a chair in front of the dresser. “If you truly can’t stand her then use her.” She held her in her arms, “Take the kindness that she’s giving you and use it to your advantage. Use that kindness to get her secrets and knowledge. Gather as much as you can so you can break her.”

Grumbling Jinx looked at Ambessa through the mirror as she attached the accessories, frowning she opened her mouth, “But-“

“But nothing child.” Ambessa worked fast and with the still two perfect braids going down her head added several clips. “You are a spy. And spies must do things they don't want to get what they need.” She attached the bells last. Cleaned and jingled softly once attached. With a shake letting them ring out Ambessa smirked. 

Pouting Jinx slipped out of her sleep wear and into the other clothes. “Fine.” She huffs once she has the shirt and pants on. 

“Jinx.” Ambessa put a hand on her shoulder and turned her around. “We are giving you an important mission. One that can help us greatly.” Squeezing her shoulder Ambessa lifted her head up to face her. “And we know you can do it.”

With a sigh Jinx relented. “Okay, I’ll try and play nice with her.” Getting the sock and shoes on she looked herself over as Ambessa finished adding charms to her hair. 

Silco brushed her face, rubbing off the final bit of sleep that was stuck to the side of her face. Jinx threw herself at him and squeezed him in a hug. He pats her head. “You can do it, Jinx. You’re a smart girl.” He held her. “Just think of her as one of your machines. Ready to take apart and put it back together how you see fit.”

Jinx nodded as Ambessa tugged one of the braids in a strange reaffirming way. “You think I can?”

“I know it.” He pulled back and smiled at her. “Now shall we go find our little house guest then?”

“Yeah.” Jinx stood up. Ambessa patted her head. 

“I’m afraid I can’t watch this as I must be off.” Ambessa headed towards the door. “Wedding planning is never ending it seems.” She opens the door and lets Silco and Jinx out first. 

“I shall join you in a little bit.” Silco followed and before he could leave Ambessa pulled him back and kissed him. 

Sticking her tongue out at this Ambessa let him go. “Don’t be long then.” 

“Yuck!” Jinx quickly turned and left off to a direction away from that. She hated looking at people kissing. Always so gross and so many germs. She didn’t get why Ambessa was being so lovey dovey without the cameras. Maybe she was just practicing for it, but why did she have to do it in front of her!?

Silco eventually caught up as they were nearing a sitting room where she could hear little Miss perfect Piltie talking to Mel. Mel was laughing at something. Was she friends with her? Jinx knows she made some comments about it, but were they friends? Silco stands beside her. “You've got this.” Silco hand brushed against her. 

With a deep breath Jinx walked in holding her head up high. Bells jingled slightly as she did so. Silco follows behind and she can hear him out on his ‘be nice to Pilties voice’ “Ahh young Miss. Kiramman, what a surprise." He moved ahead of her as her steps faulted a bit. “We weren’t expecting you.” 

“Oh Mr. Silco! Ms. Jinx!” She quickly stood up. Her outfit looked perfect and crisp, unlike Jinx’s that’s starting to wrinkle as she tries to untuck her shirt. “Please forgive me for coming over without much notice.”

Looking at her shoulder Jinx could faintly see Mylo’s hand on it. He was peering up slightly, staring at her. Jinx untucked her shirt and messed with the corner. 

Waving his hand he chuckles. “It’s nothing.” Silco smiled, closing his good eye as he did so. “You're welcome any time, though I do hope you don’t mind me asking why you're here.”

“Not at all.” She smiled back. “I came to apologize for the comments my family and I made when Ms. Jinx came over.” Standing a bit taller she shifted. Caitlyn took a few steps closer. “Ms. Jinx, I have come to apologize personally for the comments we made during the tea party. They weren’t called for and highly inappropriate.” Cathy Jinx thinks her name was moved closer. “They were made out of ignorance and lack of understanding of your situation. As such I as well as my family will be trying to learn more about the undercity to ensure we won’t say things like that again.”

Jinx didn’t really even hear half of that as she was staring at Mylo. He was smirking. She knew it! He was calling her a jinx despite not hearing him. It wasn’t until Silco touched her shoulder that she finally looked at her. “Oh um it’s alright.” Bouncing a bit until she was nudged a bit to take a robotic step forward. “Thank you for apologizing, I…” her chest began to hurt as she found herself unable to breath.  Her voice stalled as well as she stared at her. 

“Oh! I also brought you a gift.” She walked to the low coffee table where a decently sized, wrapped box. “From the Kiramman family.” She moved closer and held it out. 

Jinx took the slightly heavy box. The paper felt strange in her hands. It was nice. Far nicer than anything she had ever felt in her life. “Thank you.” She replied a bit roboticly. 

Setting it down on a table she carefully took off the paper careful not to rip it. Jinx didn’t want to just rip it like she normally did as she was starting to worry she might upset her and ruin her mission. 

Operation: befriend stuck up Pilty Kaity or whatever her name is. The scribbles crawl at the edge of her vision as she gets the box open. 

Inside she sees the glittering gemstones that topside love. Gemstones that she had only ever read about or seen from a distance before being snatched out by Piltie overseers. Not even Mel really wore them sticking more to solid gold to match her wicked tattoos. “Thank you. They’re lovely.” Jinx picks one up carefully to examine it, but stops when she sees it. Making her stomach curdle there in the box laid a beautiful crafted Zaunite silver bracelet. 

Setting down the other one she picked the bracelet up as her hands shakes as she can tell this was made in the undercity. The silver twists were hiding the story of Janna’s creation of the undercity. Its overly polished state and smoothed edges made her wonder who’s dead hands this was taken from and ‘fixed’ to Piltie standards. “How…” the words die as she could feel Silco’s hand squeeze her shoulder. She couldn’t tell if it’s him saying to go on or the shock of seeing it. “Lovely.”

Looking over she can see the girl smiles, a flash of Mylo’s scribble smile appears over hers. “I’m glad you like them. We got them from the Sworevikta vault auction. Each one is over a hundred and twenty years old.” She moved closer as Claggor was holding her shoulder. “All of the gold and silver comes from the mines of the undercity as well as some of the stones. My mother wishes to show that she would like for us to have a bond as strong as both sides of the river are.” 

Jinx just sets it back in the box. “I see.” Her heart was beating as the scribbles threatened to rip her apart from the inside. With a pat on the back she sat the box down. The room was starting to become smaller and smaller. Jinx wanted out of here. She wanted to get some air and yelled the only thing she could think of. “WannagoseeFishbones?!”

Caitlyn takes a step back a bit shocked before Mel steps in. “Fishbones. It’s her puppy that mother has gifted her. Would you like to meet him?”

“I’d love to.” She turns back to Jinx. “Will you lead the way?”

Nodding Jinx looks to Silco who steps back, letting her walk towards the back of the Manor. She’s silent as she walks. Only giving a slight nod or two as she talks. Jinx can’t hear any of it over the ringing in her ears. The faint sounds of a screaming woman, her mother maybe or someone close to them when she was little perhaps? As she was forced to give up her family heirloom maybe, it was on a simple small leather rope with a small Zaunite silver tear drop. She was crying into Vi as the enforcers raided their streets again. People were yelling as they took a few shots at the few souls who stood against them. Two enforcers had forced them against the wall and into some trash that had piled up from the last raid. It was all a blurry scribbley mess she didn’t want to think about, but it kept coming back. Her fingertips felt freezing now. 

“Don’t take it personally, Caitlyn. She’s had a rough few days.” 

Mel. Mel had said that. Jinx didn’t even look back as she said that. She was right, but for some reason it made her chest tingle. Trying to control her breathing had worked somewhat into pushing the memory away. As well as help make the scribbles not as vibrant as normal, but they still scratched at her. Still tried to come out of the corners and darken rooms. ‘Just get to Fishbones. Once I do, they can’t touch me.’ She began repeating in her mind. 

Dr. Tall had told her focusing on something that brought her comfort could help. And Fishbones always brought the best comfort to her. Jinx could do this. Once she felt his soft fur and let him cuddle up to her things will be fine. 

“Here we are!” Jinx shouts a bit too loud as they reach the door not even noticing if she caught off their conversation. “I hope they don’t mind us taking Fishbones early.”

“I’m sure they won’t see that we have young Caitlyn Kiramman here.” Mel touched her shoulder. 

Its light weight brought some comfort but not enough for the scribbles to go away. Opening the back door they all looked out to see the puppies training with their trainers. Fishbones was the second to last on the right. Jinx watched as the puppy finally noticed her, perking up and getting ready to run over. “Fishbones, stay.” 

Fishbones stops and looks back at the trainer before looking back to Jinx. Jinx tried to go to him but Mel held her back. “Give them a moment.” 

She was smiling but it didn’t feel right. Scribbles crossed over it and for a moment she didn’t look like Mel. More like a monster ready to devour her. Jinx just looks back at Fishbones, shaking a bit. “Do you have dogs?” 

Not even looking at Caitlyn. “Oh!” She claps her hands. “We do! The Kiramman family has been raising Dobermans for as long as we’ve been in Piltover. I currently take care of two Anika and Romeo.” Caitlyn steps forward to be more in her vision. “Perhaps we can make a doggy play date.” 

“Yeah.” Swallowed hard as things felt blurrier. “That would be nice. Are they nice dogs?” 

“They are. Romeo is a big cuddler and loves to sneak into my room to sleep with me at night.” Caitlyn moved a bit closer. Her smile seemed softer and not as covered in scribbles as Mel’s. “Anika is very smart and has learned how to open doors and trick Romeo into giving her his treats.”

“That sounds cool.” Jinx looked at her. Rubbing her fingers together, trying to keep everything calm. “Think we could train her to steal sweets for us?”

Caitlyn doesn’t even respond before Jinx gets hit by something. She falls down as Fishbones happily bounces all over her. *BARK BARK!* 

“Fishbones!” Jinx cuddles him as she realizes him. “Hey boy! Did ya miss me!?” She held him tightly as his adorable fluffy self made all the scribbles go away. 

Fishbones gives her a few licks to the face, his tail wagging madly as she holds him. *Bark bark!* 

Jinx laughs as Caitlyn and Mel sit down as well. “Awe he's so cute.” Several other puppies get released and run over eager to play with them. 

“You should wait to see what they are when they’re older.” Mel lets one into her lap and scratches its ears. 

Caitlyn laughs as several attack her with playful licks and eagerness. “What do they look like when they are older?” 

There's a loud bark and all the puppies stop. Caitlyn jumps as they all turn to look at the large Noxian hound. “Hi Glory!” Jinx waves at her as she walks over. She was massive, almost as tall as Mel when standing up. Her sleek shiny fur had her thick metal collar around her neck making her look scary. Glory just huffs as she lays beside them. 

“She’s massive.” Caitlyn gasps when she lays down. 

“She is.” Mel chuckles as Glory stared down Caitlyn like she was a prey that somehow got past her. It made Jinx laugh when she tried to pet Glory who sneezed making her jump again. “Noxian hounds are some of the largest hounds in the world.”

“I can see.” Caitlyn scooted back and Flory just leaned in. 

It made Jinx laugh more as Fishbones kept trying to jump up to her face to give her more licks. “They’re awesome! I got to watch Glory train once when I was working with Fishbones and it was so cool to watch her figure out where the rabbit was hiding.”

Caitlyn nodded as she gave scratches to the puppy in her lap. “That sounds very interesting. We train our dogs for guarding purposes.” 

“That sounds interesting.” Mel stood up to grab the toys for the puppies. “Perhaps we could talk with our trainers and see how their methods differ.” 

Caitlyn smiles, “Sounds like a plan. Do you wanna come over and see it?”

Jinx looked at her and nodded, “yeah, I’d like that.” She smiles back at her. The scribbles were disappearing as she did so. 

Mel squeezes a pink ball and all the puppies except Fishbones go to her. She sets the box of toys down and throws the ball. The other puppies go to it while Jinx picks up her own ball.  It was a thick clothed blue pig shaped one that made an oink of squeal sound when squeezed. “Look Fishybones, I’ve got your favorite!” She shakes it. “A blue belly!” 

Fishbones bounces around. “You want it?”

*BARK!*

“Go get it!” She threw the pig as hard as she could. It did not go very far, still Fishbones went after it happily. 

They all just start playing with the puppies. Much to Jinx’s joy and pleasure the Piltie didn’t seem to wanna talk much as most of the puppies played with her and Mel while Fishbones stayed with her mostly bringing back blue belly for her to throw or play tug of war with. 

Everything felt fine. Truly it did. The scribbles didn’t appear any more as several other puppies sat in her lap. She couldn’t hear them or see any of the monsters that lurked around.  Everything was fine, until Fishbones betrayed her. Fishbones brought blue belly to her to throw. It hit her all at once and even gave her a few licks. 

The scribbles consume her all at once. THUD THUD THUD! Her heart threatened to beat out of her chest as she no longer felt like she could get a good amount of air. 

JINX!

KILLER!

ALL YOUR FAULT!

HE WAS RIGHT ABOUT YOU! YOUR NOTHING BUT A JINX!

None of them made any discernible shapes as the colors violently slash at her. Skin burning and feeling as if she’s being cut alive. Jinx could only feel pain as something grabbed at her wrist. Her throat begins to hurt and she doesn’t know why. Without a second thought she turned and ran back inside the manor. 

┫⊗⚈┣

“What happened? Did I do something wrong?” Caitlyn was shaking from what she just saw. 

Mel looked at the young heiress almost helpless like. One moment they were all having a nice moment with the pups, the next Jinx just screamed and started to claw at herself all over. With a glance down at her hand that was slightly covered in blood from where she tried to stop, she didn’t feel real in the moment. “Caitlyn.” Mel stepped closer and she stepped back. 

“Did I do something wrong?” Caitlyn looked at her for something. 

Straightening up Mel quickly grabbed her. “No. No you didn’t do anything wrong.” She stepped around Fishbones who tries to run after Jinx but gets stopped by the door that closed. 

“Then why did she do-“ Caitlyn looked frazzled as she held herself. 

Mel herself was a bit frazzled as well. She’s seen Jinx have an episode, but this was different. This was violent in a way she’d never seen before. Jinx ripped her skin when she had scratched at it, with a scream that rattled her to the bone. The blood that covered the ground was splattered about and led inside. Still though she couldn’t fall to the shock. 

She was a Medarda and Mel needed to get a grip. Quickly gathering herself she moved towards Caitlyn. “I told you she had a rough few days.” 

“But why,” she looked off to the door in alarm, as if this was something from a book brought to life, “that?” 

“I told you Jinx’s life was hard.” Mel moved to grab her upper arm. “And a hard life can leave scars. Many that aren’t seen on the body.” 

Caitlyn looked back and said nothing so Mel continued. “In Noxus we have a condition called ‘Battle Trapped’ . It's where one constantly thinks back in a battle, a war camp, or another traumatic event. Piltover calls it something else.” 

“PTSD.” Caitlyn whispered softly. 

“Yes.” Mel pulled Caitlyn away from the door. “It’s most likely she’s suffering from this from what I can gather.” She hated telling Caitlyn about Jinx’s mental state, but she needed to try and ease her before finding Jinx who was most likely already being taken to her mother and father. 

“She’s so young.” Caitlyn stared at the pond as a fish jumped up to catch a bug on the water. 

Nodding Mel brought her to the pond, “I know. Battle Trapped can affect any one.” 

“Shouldn’t you go to her?” Caitlyn finally looked at her. “Jinx just clawed herself up and ran off screaming.”

Shaking her head softly Mel looked at the pond. “What Jinx needs is professional help. I’m sure by now mother already knows what happened and has her doctors all over it. The best way I can help her right now is by giving her space so they can help her.” Caitlyn looked back at the pond. Her face filled with worry and fear. “Jinx really wanted to be your friend.” A lie, but one that would be needed if she was to try and salvage this. “She was so worried she messed everything up.“

“But she didn’t.” Caitlyn leaned into her a bit. A sign of trusting someone when they need comfort. “She can’t help it. My father had helped several with the condition and he’s talked about it with me. Jinx, just needs help.”

“And she’s getting it.” Mel rubbed Caitlyn’s back. “You didn’t do anything. You coming had helped in a way you don’t see.” And neither do I, Mel repeats softly to herself. 

┫⊗⚈┣

Jinx was crashing into things. Vision covered in scribbles as her body and throat screamed out in pain. Everything was too much. It was all too much! She could tell at some point she was on the ground. Someone was holding her down. Trying to move her hands were being held by someone else. Blinking at the harsh light a live Jinx tried to move, but she couldn’t. 

“It’s going to be okay, breathe with me now.” A voice spoke softly to her. 

Jinx tried moving more, but both the person holding her and her body refused to give much. “Let go.” It cracked as her throat burned. 

“Come on now, deep breaths. In for four out for four.” the voice kept repeating. 

Jinx still struggled, but all of her fight was given. After what felt like days she finally started. Copying the voice’s breathing as they spoke Jinx finally felt the world come back to her, and painfully so. The scribbles moved to the edges, still sharp and painful, but she could see the world. The scratches on her body were red and the blood coming out made small puddles all around her. “Wha? What happened ?” 

“Shhh it’s okay Jinx. It’s okay. Just focus on breathing for right now.” That voice was soft and comforting and very familiar. 

After a while the person lets her go and gets up. “You’ll need bandages. Just stay there and let us work okay.” It was Dr. Tall. She looked so worried as she covered her ears. Yelling something, some more people came in. 

It was two other women. They worked on covering up her scratches all across her body. “Shhh it’s okay darling. It’s all okay.” Dr. Tall begins to hum softly as they work. 

Jinx doesn’t react to them. Her body limped as she felt gave out. Like she was made to work out with Sevika the ogre again. They wrapped her arms up with bandages and her face with some strange clear looking jelly. 

Dr. Tall had her arms wrapped around her chest, holding tightly, but in a good way. 

Like how Vander used to do it. Once they were done they all left and Dr. Tall took her to her room. 

She left the lights off as she brought them over to a plush mat in the corner. Grabbing one of the weighted blankets in the basket Dr. Tall wrapped her up and began to rock. Humming in a Rhythmic pattern all the while patting her like a cat. It was hypnotic to her. Jinx didn’t even realize she had closed her eyes and drifted off until the scent of food brought her back. “Hmm?”

“There you are.” Dr. Tall’s soft voice said. 

“What happened?” She tried to sit up, but the blanket was wrapped too tightly, plus Jinx didn’t want to with how warm and comfortable she felt. 

“Food was brought.” Dr. Tall held a spoon to her mouth. “A nice mild spicy soup.” 

Jinx squirmed wanting to feed herself, but with one look from Dr. Tall, Jinx relented and allowed herself to be fed by her. It wasn’t much, but it just felt strange in her stomach. “What are you feeling right now, Jinx?”

Shrugging Jinx lifted herself up from Dr. Tall’s hold. Letting the weighted blanket fall. “‘Mmmm feel sick.” 

“Yeah.” Dr. Tall didn’t move, staying back but close enough. “What else?”

“Head hurts.” Grabbing her head she pushed hard on it. “Feel like I wanna throw up but can’t.” Jinx curled on the ground not really wanting to be touched as she laid there. “Everything hurts~.” Whining as she pulled her hair.

Dr. Tall stepped in and squeezed her hand making Jinx let go. “Wanna talk about it?”

Shaking her head no as tears welded up in her eyes. Jinx moved her knees to her chest. “No.”

“Want me to lay beside you till you feel ready?” Nodding, Jinx choked back a sob.

“There there.” Dr. Tall rubbed her back as she moved to lay down as well. “Let it all out. You're safe here, no one can hurt you here.” 

A strong earthy scent began to hit her as she sobbed, open and hard for the first time since THAT night. “AHHHHH!” It came out from her lungs and stomach. She screamed openly as Dr. Tall rubbed her back. Open and ugly it all was just hitting her more and more. They stayed like that for what felt like ages as she sobbed on the floor. After a long time her vision came back to her and she looked up at her. “I see them.”

“Oh?” Dr. Tall began to run a hand through her hair. 

“My family. Mylo, Claggor, Vi, Vander. The ones I killed.” *Hiccup* “I see them and the monsters. They claw at me, scream at me, and tell me I’m a jinx, that I need to die, that I’ll kill everyone!”

“The scribbles you’ve mentioned before.” 

Nodding Jinx closed her eyes and leaned over into her. “Yeah. Every single day they hurt me. They started getting better! I thought I was getting better!” Her breath shakes as she starts crying again. “But I’m not! I’m not getting better! I’m just a Jinx!” 

“Is that why you're named Jinx?” 

“Yeah. I changed my name to that after I killed them.” Her head burned in pain as she laid there. “It’s what Mylo called me, what Vi called me. It’s what I am.”

“Oh little one.” Dr. Tall brushed her face. “You are so much more.” Pulling her close Jinx was held close. That strong smell calmed her as she felt her body give out. Everything around her feeling, calm for the first in a long time. 

┫⊗⚈┣

Ambessa watched through the hidden two way mirror. She had taken a few breaks to check up on Jinx when she was notified of what happened. Silco wanted to go to her. To be there, but she stopped him. Making him continue working on the party details of weddings and politics. She would handle it.

Ambessa smirked as she saw Dr. Tall hold Jinx tightly. Hearing them talk. All was going just as she foresaw. Now that she’s been damaged more, she could easily rebuild her into something more. “Give her the correct medication from now on. We’ve succeeded in this phase.” 

Her servant nodded. “Of course lady Medarda.”