Chapter Text
Jinx knew she wasn’t welcome here.
The Firelights didn’t have to say it—she could feel it. The tension in their stance, the way their hands hovered near weapons, the quiet, unspoken what the hell is she doing here?
She kept her arms crossed, fingers gripping the sleeves of her coat. She didn’t fidget. Didn’t run her mouth. Didn’t do anything that would set them off.
Still, it wasn’t enough.
Scar stepped forward, shoulders squared, gaze heavy. Jinx kept her head down. She didn’t want to look at them. Didn’t want to see whatever was in their eyes.
“Tell me this isn’t a mistake, Ekko.”
Ekko didn’t hesitate. “It’s not.”
Scar’s jaw tightened. “She’s Jinx.”
Like that was all the explanation they needed. Like the name itself was some kind of warning, some curse she could never wash off.
Jinx clenched her jaw, but she didn’t say anything. She couldn’t bring herself to.
Ekko stayed firm. “I know who she is.”
Scar scoffed. “and you think bringing her here is a good idea?”
Jinx shifted on her feet, the weight in her chest pressing down harder. The words were familiar, ones she’d heard before—ones she’d felt before.
She could still hear Silco’s voice, soft and knowing.
“ They’ll never accept you .”
She bit the inside of her cheek. Don’t prove them right. Don’t give them a reason.
Scar was still looking at her, waiting for something—for her to snap, to lash out, to give them an excuse to tell Ekko he’s wrong.
Instead, she swallowed hard and said, “I’m not here to fight.”
Her voice was quiet. Small.
Scar’s gaze flicked to her. “No?”
She shook her head, fingers curling into her sleeves. “I just…” The words caught in her throat. I just didn’t have anywhere else to go.
The Firelights still didn’t relax.
Ekko’s hand was steady on her shoulder. “She’s with me,” he said again. “That should be enough.”
Scar exhaled sharply. “If she screws up, it’s on you.”
Ekko didn’t flinch. Instead he looked at Scar with determination.
Scar let out a slow breath and looking pass Ekko.
And that’s when it hit them.
Truly looking at Jinx for the first time since she arrived.
She was standing still. Shoulders hunched, arms curled around herself like they were the only thing holding her together.
She was quiet.
She looked tired.
Scar looked at her hands—small, trembling, gripping her sleeves like a lifeline suddenly, the image of Jinx, the monster didn’t fit.
What stood before them wasn’t some untouchable legend of chaos.
just a girl.
Scar wasn’t sure what to do with that.
With a sigh Scar spoke once again.
“You’re my brother, I trust you know what you’re doing”