Arcane: Bond Beyond Death

Bael shot up from his makeshift cot, heart pounding as the cacophony of gunfire reverberated through their lair. His mechanical arm instinctively clenched as the unmistakable sound of Pow-Pow Zeta—now Eta—rattled violently.

"What the FUCK, Jinx?!" he bellowed, stumbling into the main room, his mind still hazy from sleep.

There she was, standing in the middle of the chaos, laughing maniacally as she fired round after round into the cavern's walls.

"HAHAHAHA!! IT'S SO MUCH BETTER! WHAT DID YOU DO TO IT?!" Jinx shouted, her wild grin stretching from ear to ear. She held Pow-Pow Eta like it was an extension of herself.

Bael's eyes widened in horror as he noticed the weapon beginning to overheat. The release button, a new feature he'd painstakingly designed yesterday to channel the shimmer-infused reaction, began to flash in red, and Jinx saw it and was gonna press it.

"Jinx, stop! Don't press that—"

But before she could slam the button, Bael's mechanical arm snapped forward, the magnetic grip activating. The hextech orb powering the weapon flew out of Pow-Pow's energy reserve chamber and into his palm.

Jinx froze for a moment, staring at the now-lifeless weapon in her hands. Then her pout deepened, and she looked at him with mock betrayal. "Hey! I was having fun!"

"Fun?!" Bael barked, holding the orb up like a scolding parent. "You were about to trigger an unstable shimmer reaction! Do you have any idea what would've happened if you'd fired that thing at full capacity?!"

Jinx shrugged, her carefree grin returning. "Well, no... but that's part of the fun, right? I mean, look at these walls! I've never seen it pack such a punch before!"

Bael groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Jinx, listen to me. This isn't like your regular toys. That shimmer reserve in Pow-Pow Eta is experimental—it's unstable and poisonous. One wrong move, and this entire place could've turned into a toxic hellhole!"

Jinx cocked her head, twirling the weapon lazily. "Toxic hellhole? Sounds like home to me."

"This isn't a joke, Jinx!" Bael snapped, stepping closer, his voice laced with frustration and concern. "You can't just go firing off something you don't understand. I haven't even finished testing the damn thing yet!"

Jinx's playful expression faltered for a moment. She glanced at the orb in his hand, then back at Pow-Pow Eta. "...But it's so cool, Bael. You really outdid yourself this time."

"...This is a new technology that relies on both Hextech and Shimmer at the same time." He declared.

She asks him if he has a new name for it yet; SHEMTECH.

"Cool!" Jinx exclaimed.

Bael sighed, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "Yeah, well, it's only cool if it doesn't kill you in the process."

She grinned again, setting the weapon down carefully. "Fine, fine. You win, nerd. I'll wait until you say it's safe. Happy?"

"For now," Bael muttered, returning the hextech orb to his workbench. "But seriously, Jinx... no more shooting up the place while I'm asleep."

Jinx gave him a mock salute. "No promises!" she teased, skipping off with a playful laugh.

As Jinx leaned against the desk, fiddling absentmindedly with one of her gadgets, she looked at Bael with a sly yet unusually soft smile. "Hey..." she said in a voice quieter than her usual excitable tone.

Bael glanced up from his work, raising an eyebrow. "What is it now?"

She twirled a loose strand of her hair, her cheeks tinged ever so slightly pink. "Where's my morning kiss?"

"Uh..." he started, unsure if she was being serious or teasing him.

Jinx narrowed her eyes, a playful pout forming on her lips. "Don't tell me you're gonna make me beg for it, Vict– I mean, Bael."

He sighed, shaking his head, but there was a faint smile on his face. "You're impossible," he muttered, stepping closer to her.

Leaning down, he placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "Happy now?" he asked, pulling back to gauge her reaction.

Jinx tilted her head up, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. "That's cute and all, but you know that's not what I meant..."

Bael felt the heat rise to his face as she leaned closer, her lips brushing against his. "Guess I'll just have to take it myself," she whispered before closing the distance.

For a moment, Bael forgot about Shemtech, Hextech, or anything else. It was just the two of them, lost in their own little world, the chaos of Zaun fading into the background.

They both kissed, and it was magical.

"What a way to start the day..." Bael says, receiving a nod from his partner.

...

Meanwhile, in the towering heights of Piltover, the two brightest minds of the city were hard at work in the pristine halls of the Academy. Jayce Talis, the man of progress himself.

And of course, Viktor, his quieter yet equally brilliant partner, sat at a desk nearby, leaning heavily on his cane for support as he adjusted the final pieces of their latest invention.

"This year's Progress Day is going to be monumental," Jayce said, breaking the silence. "Imagine the look on everyone's faces when they see what we've accomplished. Hexgates have already revolutionized trade, and now…"

"And now," Viktor interrupted softly, his voice calm but carrying weight, "we push the boundaries once more. But… we must be cautious, Jayce." He looked up from his work, his golden eyes meeting Jayce's. "The power we harness is growing faster than the safeguards we implement. If we do not control it, it will control us."

Jayce sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I know, Viktor. But Progress Day isn't just about innovation; it's about hope. Piltover needs something to believe in, something to rally behind. Especially now, with tensions rising between the city and Zaun."

"Hope..." Viktor murmured, his gaze fixed on the device. "Yes… but hope can be fragile, Jayce. And sometimes, it can be dangerous."

The rhythmic tapping of Heimerdinger's small shoes echoed against the polished floors of the laboratory as the genius founder of Piltover made his way inside

"Good morning, my children!" Heimerdinger greeted, his voice carrying a warmth that belied his age. "Your associate, young Sky, said something truly marvelous was brewing in here, and I simply couldn't resist coming to see the next great leap in Hextech!" He said.

Jayce turned around, smiling brightly. "Good morning, Professor! You're just in time to see it." He gestured toward the gauntlet with a dramatic flair.

"Allow me to introduce… the Hextech Gauntlet!" He shouts, gesturing for him to see the fruit of their labor.

"Hmmmm..." Heimerdinger hummed.

"It—It was designed specifically for Zaun's miners! It makes any weight feel like nothing at all. Perfect for reducing strain and improving efficiency." Jayce made a quick demonstration of the tool.

Heimerdinger waddled closer, his golden eyes sparkling with curiosity. He examined the gauntlet carefully, his furry hands running along its smooth, glowing surface. "Oh, remarkable! Such intricate craftsmanship. And to think—a tool built not for war, but for the betterment of daily life! Truly, this is the spirit of Progress Day."

"A noble invention, Jayce. But tell me—have you considered the durability of the Hexcrystals under sustained pressure? Mining can be quite unforgiving."

Jayce stepped forward confidently. "We've stress-tested it extensively. The Hexcrystals are reinforced with a secondary lattice to ensure they won't crack or degrade under pressure. Plus, the gauntlet's power output is regulated to prevent overloading."

The yordle stroked his beard, clearly impressed. "Hmm, most impressive. But let me ask—have you accounted for human error? Even the finest tools can become dangerous in the wrong hands."

Viktor glanced at Heimerdinger, a hint of vindication in his gaze. "I have expressed similar concerns," he said. "But the gauntlet has been coded with restrictions to prevent misuse. It cannot be modified into a weapon easily."

Heimerdinger tilted his head, his ears twitching as he considered their words. "Excellent precautions, my children. However, I must remind you—history has taught us that no invention is ever truly foolproof. Progress is a double-edged sword, as much a force for good as it is for unintended consequences."

Jayce's enthusiasm dimmed slightly, but he nodded. "We'll keep that in mind, Professor."

Heimerdinger smiled warmly, patting Jayce on the arm. "Do not take my caution as criticism. You've both done extraordinary work here. The Hextech Gauntlet will undoubtedly inspire hope and innovation. Just… always be mindful of the responsibility that comes with such creations."

The trio stood in contemplative silence for a moment, the soft hum of the gauntlet filling the air. Then, with a bright grin, Heimerdinger clapped his hands together.

"Now then! I must go, oh and Jayce... YOU will be delivering the opening speech this year." Heimerdinger announces, whcih shocks Jayce.

As the yordle shuffled out of the lab, Jayce turned to Viktor, his expression determined. "We've come too far to let this fail. Tomorrow, we show the world what Hextech can truly do."

Viktor simply nodded, his gaze fixed on the gauntlet, the faintest shadow of doubt flickering in his golden eyes.

...

Jinx and Bael ascended to Piltover under the cover of twilight, their new disguises carefully crafted to ensure anonymity. Jinx had once again taken the lead in designing their looks, reveling in the opportunity to experiment with exaggerated styles that rendered them unrecognizable.

"Think they'll figure us out this time?" Jinx whispered, her voice brimming with excitement as they emerged from one of the many secret pathways leading to the city.

"Not if we stick to the plan," Bael replied, his mechanical arm hidden beneath the folds of his cloak. His gaze swept over the bustling streets of Piltover, now adorned with banners and lights in preparation for Progress Day. The air was electric with anticipation, and the city seemed more alive than ever.

Jinx smirked, her mischievous nature barely contained. "I bet we could stir up a little chaos and still slip away unnoticed. What do you think?"

Bael gave her a warning look. "We're not here for chaos, Jinx. We're here to gather intel. Stick to the shadows and keep your gadgets tucked away."

Jinx pouted but nodded, though the glint in her eye suggested she had her own ideas. "Fine, fine. But if I see something too tempting, I can't promise I won't have a little fun,"

"Look at them," Jinx muttered, her tone laced with bitterness. "Clueless little sheep, basking in their fancy lights and shiny toys. They wouldn't last a day in the Undercity."

Bael placed a hand on her shoulder, grounding her. "Focus, Jinx. Remember why we're here."

They moved closer to the central square, where a grand stage had been erected for Progress Day's main event. From a safe distance, they spotted banners showcasing Jayce and Viktor, the stars of Piltover's scientific renaissance.

"So, they're the big brains behind Hextech, huh?" Jinx asked, her voice dripping with disdain.

"Yeah," Bael replied, narrowing his eyes. "And they're the key to understanding the gap between their technology and ours."

As they walked side by side, Jinx suddenly turned to Bael with a teasing grin. "Hey, since we're role-playing as Viktor the genius and his wife, shouldn't you, y'know… call me something to make it believable?"

Bael glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

Jinx's grin widened. "Call me 'babe.' You know, for credibility. If we're acting, we gotta sell it!"

Bael froze at her sudden demand, the word feeling far too out of character for him. But after a moment of consideration, her idea wasn't entirely delusional. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose before muttering, "Fine… Babe."

Jinx's laugh was light and melodic as she bumped into his side. "Now that's the spirit! You're a natural, babe."

Bael shook his head, but even he couldn't hide the faint smirk tugging at his lips. This mission was going to be interesting.

As the people gathered up for the start of the speech, Bael notices Caitlyn in the distance. He needs to keep on guard from her, or else he might just have to kill her in order to end her threat. She was the only one who knew exactly whom he was.

Just as he itched his steam gun, the speech started as Jayce Talice got on scene and Mel finished the introductions.

This was the storm.