Her Gun to His Head || Jinx x Garou

"I don't know— just sick'a people actin' like they know what I want…" Garou complained.

Isha ran around ahead of them in the darkness of dusk, on the creaking boards of the docks, with one of those toy 'Progress Day' airships Jinx had given her. She held it ahead of herself, making whooshing noises as though she were flying the thing.

"You shouldn't mind stuff like that, when it comes to him," Jinx replied. "It's just the kinda talk he's used'ta using 'round people… we ain't all the most upstanding types, y'know…?" she joked.

"Well, he ain't manipulatin' me into fightin' a whole damn war for him, that's for sure…" he grumbled back.

She stopped walking for a moment.

"Didn'tcha pretty well try to start a war on your own, already? — that one time you'd gone to Topside and took all those enforcers out…?" she pushed.

"That ain't what he's goin' for, Blue," he pushed back. "He's got some kinda political bent…"

She gave his statement some thought.

"Well… I dunno, I think he just doesn't want them to be the only ones holding the stick, y'know…?" she replied.

He paused, before shrugging indignantly and continuing walking.

She skipped back up to his side. "I'm sure that with you helping us, he'll be more… y'know, inclined to listen to your input," she offered, in an attempt to commiserate.

He gave her a look.

"That ain't it…" he grunted. "Look— it don't matter, we can quit talkin' 'bout it, it's fine…"

She hopped in front of him, blocking his path.

"No— I wanna know," she said earnestly. "You can tell me… I ain't gonna judge ya…"

He looked to the side for a moment.

"Y'ever heard of any of the old wars— like, the ones from way before we were born…?" he asked.

She thought about it. "Um, I don't know— not really, I guess…"

"Well— the point is, there've been wars, factions fightin' over whatever they thought belonged to 'em, for as long as people've been around…" he explained. "There ain't ever gonna be a stop to it — it's just how people are…"

She observed his wistful expression as he spoke.

"It's 'cause popularity, adoration— they go to people's heads," he continued, "and then they start actin' scummy, 'cause it's what the people that adore 'em want…"

He paused again.

"If this world's gonna change, then it needs people like us," he said, "to scare 'em all into actin' right — we ain't tryin'ta appoint ourselves rulers of society or nothin', we just know scumbags when we see 'em…"

She found herself the slightest bit amused by the thought.

"So— we take Topside down a couple'a pegs by threatening to blow 'em all up, or something?" she smirked.

He stepped a little closer to her.

"Wouldn't have to threaten 'em," he explained. "If we're strong enough… that nobody can beat us... they'd have no choice but to give up fightin'…"

She noticed Isha pop up beside them all of a sudden, interested in their conversation.

"Hey you," she said, crouching down to her level. "Done with this?" she gestured to the toy airship in her hand.

Isha shrugged.

"Why don'tcha try throwing it in the ocean — see how far you can get it, huh…?" she suggested.

Isha gave a small grin at the idea.

"C'mon— I'll watch ya," Jinx said.

Garou wandered over to lean against the railing of the boardwalk, staring out to sea, while Isha teed up her throw.

It plonked into the water, some yards away from where they were all standing.

"Not bad, kid," she said to her. "Here— high five." She'd taught her how to do it, since last time.

She gave a glance at Garou, while Isha found something else with which to occupy herself.

She thought about what he'd said, again…

'He really thinks I'm that strong, huh…? In spite of the times he's had to come save me…'

She smiled to herself, a little.

"Tell you what," he suddenly said, still gazing out at the sea, "place could hardly look like more of an eyesore with some big hole in it…"

She turned to join him in looking upon the darkened silhouette of Stillwater Hold, off in the distance.

She hummed in agreement. "Used'ta find the thing kinda scary, back when I was little…"

He looked at her, for a moment.

"So— uh," he said, "where're you gonna stand, you think…? With your launcher thing…"

She gave a flick of her head, to behind him. "Probably up on the roof'a that big warehouse… gonna be hard to stay discrete either way," she shrugged, "Fishbones'll certainly make himself known to the world…"

He nodded along, before turning to the ocean again.

"Lady with the metal arm — she any good at fightin', you think…?" he asked.

Jinx gave a funny expression. "Ah, I could probably take her…" she smirked.

He returned a small chuckle.

"You guys'll have an easy time, I'm sure," she added, "just a bunch'a prison guards that are only used'ta pushing around some emaciated wannabes…"

"Mm," he hummed. "Guess we'll see…"

"Oh—" she remembered. "Forgot to put this thing back in…"

She retrieved the Hextech gemstone she'd stashed in her pocket from earlier, popping it back into Zapper and clicking the guide-point over it.

She checked over her shoulder, that Isha wasn't anywhere near the water.

"Check this out," she smirked at him, raising the thing to take a shot out in the direction of the sea.

When she squeezed the trigger, the electric bolt which emanated from the weapon fired off arcs of electricity in every direction as it zipped out ahead into the distance.

The water shimmered in a pretty blue display from each arc which made contact with its surface as the bolt travelled, like some sort of magical light show…

~~~~~

~~~~~

~~~~~

"—What are'ya, some kind of repairman…?" the woman questioned.

Viktor attempted to fix his hair, a little.

"I merely noticed, ma'am," he replied, "that your boiler appears not to be functioning correctly…"

"Oh," she said, "yeah— darned thing started acting up a while ago…"

"I would imagine it to get rather unbearable, in the colder months," he went on.

The gruff, old woman eyed him with suspicion.

"I don't get the angle— I wouldn't have a lot to pay ya with… that's why I haven't had the thing fixed in the first place…"

"I was..." he replied, "more so interested in an exchange of goods type of arrangement…"

He motioned to the gate attached to the side of her dwelling. "I was hoping you might allow me access to some of the scrap metal you keep in that yard of yours…?"

She gave him an odd look. "Oh— really…?" she exclaimed. "Kid— I would'a let you browse around at some of that old junk… there ain't anything valuable in there…"

"I do not mind — truly," he offered again.

The woman took a moment, before giving him a nod. "Well, it'd be strange of me to try to stop ya — have at it, kid," she said. "The gate's unlocked, 'kay? Take all the time you need…"

"You have my thanks," Viktor replied.

He swung a satchel from his shoulder, which contained a rudimentary set of tools, as he strolled over to the exterior wall against which the faulty boiler was mounted.

He took a peek over at the scrap pile, while he worked. He didn't suppose he'd find any rogue canisters of argon gas he could use for his welding torch, but raw material would do for now…

He had some building up to do, but he did seek to eventually replicate his Hex-claw design — it would prove essential for some of the more precise fabrications he hoped to create.

Life was certainly harsher, down here, however he found it all far less bothersome than his previous predicament had been. There'd been times at the Academy where he'd truly felt as though he were on the verge of losing his mind, in his struggles with staving off his mortality…

He removed the front casing from the hot water circulator, examining the motor within.

He thought about what his next step ought be, after setting up his workshop. He found himself inclined to examine the vast ducting system which he knew to lie beneath the city, in a kind of rat's maze — the likely source of the smog which plagued the Fissures…

He gave a knock on the woman's window, as he managed to get the impeller spinning once again. He refastened the face-plate while he heard her approach.

"I believe the valve-control should be inside, yes?" he called out to her.

"That was quick, hun—!" she called back.

He heard the thing buzz and sputter to life, beginning to heat up as normal once more.

"Do tell me, after a few minutes, if the heat is back on…!" he shouted over the noise.

He traipsed over toward his prize heap, hoping to find some rust-free fragments small enough for him to carry back with him.

He pulled his gloves tight over his hands, as he began to rummage.

A question remained, for him — whether his body would now be strong enough to survive another offering to the Hexcore absent the shot of Shimmer he'd given away.

He wasn't sure he dared attempt it, despite how strong he felt. He wondered, in retrospect, whether his decision had in fact been wise…

'A mere calculated delay… that girl…'

He'd begun to find himself increasingly curious about her, though part of him wondered whether she'd ever attempted to apply her evident ingenuity to anything other than deadly weapons…

If there were a way he could acquire the gemstone she possessed for himself, well…

'It would certainly accelerate my progress, down here…'

He shook his head.

'She may well be willing to die, before parting with it… I seek not to spill blood…'

Besides, he had to admit that he found it difficult to view a mere teenager as a murderer, regardless of the truth of it…

'An act in desperation, perhaps — the Piltover square bombing…'

It mattered not, now. He'd left such aspersions behind…

His carry satchel was full, and he fancied cleaning the grease from his clothing sooner rather than later.

He gave a parting wave to the property owner, beginning his trek back.

The sun had disappeared from view, as the late afternoon waned. The cool air that was left in its wake chilled his neck and face.

He found a surprise waiting for him, as he returned…

"Oh— hey, you are still here…" Jinx remarked, leaning up against the locked door.

A behemoth of raw steel lay propped up against the wall beside her.

'Another weapon…?' he figured. It also had the rune engravings…

"Hello— I apologize that you were waiting…" he opened.

"Ah, it's fine — just got here, really," she replied. "Can't stay long, though — somewhere I gotta be tonight…"

"Most understandable," he said, letting them both inside.

"Wonder if we go junkyard-diving in the same spot—?" she joked, as he dumped the contents of his satchel onto the workbench. "What'cha making, anyhow…?"

"As of now— only some more sophisticated tools," he responded, to her disappointment, seemingly.

"I mean," she said, "a welder, and some solder — what else d'ya need?"

He gave another look at the enormous shark-shaped weapon she lugged behind her.

"You appear to be quite the prolific engineer…" he remarked.

She gave him a funny look.

"Well… thanks…" she said. "Ain't that why you asked me down here—? So I could help you out…?"

"Yes— certainly," he replied. "At this time, I seek to design a series of mobile, high capacity air purifiers, so that I may traverse through the city's ducting system."

"Uh, sure…" she said, unenthusiastically. "I guess I've heard people saying their masks usually clog up in there…"

"Well, yes," he responded. "I suppose the problem I may face is the sheer production rate of the fumes — the filters themselves may clog up the same as the masks, before I'm able to venture very far…"

"What're ya supposing you're gonna find in there, anyway — some sort'a treasure?" she jested.

"A shut-off valve, I'd suspect..." he stated. "I could perhaps divert it permanently — Piltover can dispose of their exhaust elsewhere, as they ought to…"

"Hm," she hummed. "…Well, I'd go for building some sort'a robot to go in there, so I wouldn't have to — I wouldn't wanna be smellin' all that…"

He looked at her, for a moment. It was a curious idea…

She suddenly craned over to look at the watch he wore on his wrist.

"Damn— that's me, I think," she said.

"Of course," he nodded.

"Uh, before I forget, actually," she added, pulling out the vial of Shimmer he'd given her the previous day, now half-emptied.

"Only needed some of it, really," she went on, "and, I don't know, I felt bad that I took yours, so, here…"

He found himself surprised at the gesture.

"That's… most helpful, Miss Jinx— thank you," he responded.

She furrowed her brow, a little. "Hey— you're the big sharer…"

He nodded, unbolting the door for her.

"Well… maybe I'll let'cha see my shop next time," she remarked. "Maybe…"

"I… would not mind that," he said pleasantly.

"Oh—" she added, glancing briefly at her shark weapon, "and if ya hear a loud boom later on, I'd just go ahead and ignore it…"

He certainly hoped he'd have the option to…

~~~~~

~~~~~

~~~~~

Drip.

~

Drip.

~

She rolled over onto her side, attempting to block out the sound of it by draping her forearm over her ear.

~

…Drip.

~

She grunted, turning over again to face the corner of the cracked, concrete ceiling from which the water was slowly seeping through. She'd long thought about somehow sticking a piece of gum up there…

~

Drip.

~

She gave a quiet groan, sitting herself up slowly. Her back had begun to ache again lately…

She lumbered over to the vertical bars which formed the fourth wall of her room — there'd be plenty of time for sleeping once the deprivation set in, she figured.

"Hey, Cheese… you up…?" she murmured out into the darkness.

She wrapped one of her arms around the other side of the cell bars, as though it might experience the taste of freedom on her behalf.

She heard her cell neighbor grumble his way into a sitting position.

"I am now, I guess…" he replied, only loudly enough for her to hear. The man sighed. "What's goin' on, Vi…? Bad dreams again…?"

"Nah…" she exhaled. "Just bothering you… just 'cause…"

He gave a quiet chuckle.

"It's that leak in the roof again, ay…?" he guessed. "Can hear it from here too, you know."

She rolled her eyes a little, returning his chuckle. "Well, if you had to sleep in here, it'd be deafening…"

"Probably came about from you punchin' the wall all the time, y'know…" he replied.

She hummed in amusement.

It sounded as though he'd joined her, leaning against the bars of his own cell.

"…You ever still think about gettin' outta here?" he asked. "I don't know if I could bear to add up my count, anymore…"

"Mm," she responded wistfully. "…two thousand, five hundred and ninety one — that's mine, man…"

"So you do still think 'bout it…" he replied.

Vi was silent for a moment.

"…I think it's some of the little things I miss…" she eventually said. "Things I never imagined missing, y'know…? Getting mud on my boots… the smell of liquor I could never stomach… actually— a fella named Jericho ran this street stall in The Lanes, where he'd serve these to-die-for, little, blue rainbowfish with his particular sauce…"

She found herself salivating at the mere thought of the food she'd enjoyed as a child. "God I hope he's still around — I think those are what I miss the most, tell you the truth…"

"That's what you miss the most, huh?" he chuckled.

'…Well, not the most, no…' she grimaced silently.

"Sounds pretty nice," he continued. "Ma always used to feed me stew, as a kid…"

Vi smiled. "Think we've all have our fair share of that… she probably just wanted to make sure you were growing up healthy…"

"Well… I outlived her, so there's that at least…" he murmured morbidly.

"Yeah… same here, I guess…" Vi trailed off.

She let go of the steel bars to her cell, considering giving rest another try.

"Hey— if you'd ever consider swapping cells with me, Cheese, I'd really appreciate it," she joked.

He gave her no response, for a moment.

"—Did you feel that, too?" he suddenly asked.

"What do you mean…?" she wondered.

"There was a weird rumble— didn't sound like a storm…" he returned.

"It's that cursed hearing of yours aga—"

~

BANG.

~

They both stumbled on their feet, as the prison shook all around them.

'Felt it that time, alright… what in the hell…?'

She heard the other prisoners in their block all grumble awake in unison, beginning to chatter amongst themselves.

"…You sure lightning couldn't do that?" she called out to Cheese, in jest.

It was, in fact, a strange development, though…

"Somebody got their hands on some dynamite, maybe?" he suggested. "Makin' their grand escape?"

The alert sirens wailed away outside, however the commotion from inside the prison sounded like more than just the mobilization of the guards — it sounded like a brawl, or something…

Vi found herself cracking her knuckles, as the ruckus drew nearer. She peered around, through the bars of her cell, at the other inmates — they seemed to be displaying an intense enthusiasm, for whatever it was they thought was going on…

'Are we being broken out— from the outside…?'

She searched her weary mind, for a moment — the only faction who would possibly have an interest in setting all of them free, was…

'Does he even know that I'm still alive…?'

She managed to convince herself that nobody would be here looking for her — these prisoners would surely all have been goons for Silco, or for whomever he'd aligned himself with, over these past years…

'Still…'

A collection of dust and dirt had been eternally forming around the crevices of the floor of her cell — she scooped some of it up with her fingers, dashing it through her pink hair, until it sent her coughing.

She couldn't risk being discovered among them, just in case…

The ragged blanket from her bed made her a kind of shawl, too, as she wrapped it around herself.

"Vi— you still there…?" Cheese called to her.

"Hey— I know this sounds weird, but I need you to stop using my name aloud..." she urged him. "I don't know who these guys are…"

"Oh… sure, that's cool," he said. "Sounds like they're gettin' us all out, though…"

The steel door to their block was rammed open, its thud echoing through their halls.

Vi's eyes widened as her cell door clicked open soon after.

She slowly stumbled over to the thing, perhaps still in partial disbelief of it all.

All of the other cells had unlocked, too, it seemed.

She stepped across the threshold.

"Haven't been in labor camp with you for a couple weeks, now," Cheese spoke from beside her. "Almost forgot what your ugly mug looked like."

She grinned warily, quickly stepping over to him and dapping him up.

He returned her a smile which lived up to his name.

"Feels like you've gotten weaker — maybe you don't work as hard without me there to bully you," she retorted.

He chuckled, releasing her hand.

"Gonna head with the others…?" he nodded toward the crowd, filing out through the open door.

"Got no choice for the moment," she murmured back. "C'mon…"

"How'd you get all dirtied up?" he wondered, as they slipped in amongst the rest of the inmates.

"It's nothing…" she replied curtly, keeping her head low.

They reached the main foyer, where what looked like half of the prison staff were tied up, beaten and bloody, laid against the wall.

Vi's heart-rate spiked violently, as she spotted a familiar face, addressing the crowd…

"—All of you, you've done time — years of it, some of you, even decades," Sevika announced, "all time that's been taken from you, stolen, by the real crooks in Topside… what do you say 'bout taking that time back from them…?!"

The woman spoke with fervor, successfully riling the crowd up.

Vi ducked her head, pulling her hood down.

"We've got plans that involve all of you—!" Sevika continued.

She felt Cheese gently tug on her shawl.

"Hey— I don't know that I'm feelin' as indignant as all these other guys…" he said, in a hushed tone.

Vi nodded, spotting an exit which might not arouse too much suspicion.

"C'mon," she commanded him, quietly.

She gave a glance out into the night, through the crumbled, gaping hole that was all that was left of the main prison entrance…

'Would have to have been a lot of dynamite…' she figured.

They couldn't go that way, in any case — the goons with Sevika could attempt to question them if they attempted to head out so soon.

She found them a way into the kitchen.

"There," Cheese pointed. "Delivery door— what'cha think…?"

"I just hope we can find a way off of the island…" she replied, leading them through.

She spotted a lantern, swaying back and forth, dimly lighting up a small, secondary dock.

'No kidding…'

There was a boat — small, only fit for a few people. It was perfect.

As they made their way down however, Vi realized the lantern wasn't a fixture — it was being held by somebody…

She balled up her fist, as she approached, unsure what to expect…

The person turned, managing to hear them over the sound of the sea.

"…Ferry's the other way, aight…?" he scowled.

He sounded young…

"What's two more people…?" she appealed.

He sighed. "Eh, whatever… these things are a pain to operate, anyway…" he said, stepping aside for them to cross over onto the deck.

He had mad looking hair…

"Thanks," Cheese said to him, hauling the gangway in so that they could depart. "You with the crew back there, or…?"

The kid shrugged. "I guess…" he grumbled. "Everythin' went down pretty quick — didn't care to stick around…"

Vi hastily untied the ship's mooring line from the bollard it was coiled around.

She might've still been in disbelief — that fact that she was actually out…

Her home sat only across the bay, so close that she could almost reach out and touch it…

There was only one thing that mattered to her, now… her stomach felt as though it were tied in knots, at the thought…

'I know you're still out there, Powder… god— I hope you're safe…'

She took a breath, dispelling her thoughts for the moment and returning to the task at hand.

"You got the firebox going— good…" Vi remarked at the pointy-haired kid, trudging over to begin shoveling coal inside.

He showed little care, lounging out at the back of the deck.

She shook her head and flipped open the regulator valve, allowing the boat to begin to move.

"Been a while since I've been on one of these…" she remarked. "Cheese— you good with navigation? Just needa get us back to shore…"

She paused, thinking she heard thunder.

'No, there's no storm…'

"Uh, that sounds like it's comin' from Topside…" Cheese commented.

Blue light flashed intermittently through the mist, followed by more rumbling, as the sound reached them.

Her stomach dropped, a little.

'What it the hell is going on, over there…?'

She glanced behind her at the kid, while they chugged along through choppy water.

He seemed to be a bit more attentive toward whatever was going on, all of a sudden...