Chapter Text
(Zaun)
Society is balanced between order and chaos. Many great civilizations, kingdoms, and empires have thrived because of order; their territories expand, and their influence grows, inviting new prospects and opportunities. However, chaos has led many to the ash heap of history, and the downfall of these civilizations has been recorded so that the future can learn from their mistakes and ensure that history doesn't repeat itself.
Humans, however, have the tendency to forsake history, because, in their hubris, they believe they will not make the mistakes of rulers past. And because of that hubris, mankind always seems to find itself in a constant state of order and chaos.
Those in positions of power may rise with righteous intentions, but in time, they are corrupted by the power they wield and it leads them to commit unfathomable atrocities for the sake of progress. Such is the case for the governing council of Piltover.
Piltover, otherwise known as the City of Progress, is a well renowned city-state for its innovations, Academy that breeds promising sentients who wish to contribute their intellectual gifts to society, and for its Hexgates, which has revolutionized travel and trade for the rest of the world, having now become a global shipping lane, and thus making Piltover exceedingly wealthy.
However, the wealth and opulence of Piltover are just one side of the coin.
On the other side is Zaun, the underground, which is mired in rot, filth, and decay. A cesspool of gangsters, undesirables, and low-class citizens who simply cannot afford the luxuries of topside. Down here, it's eat or be eaten. Weakness is a commodity that cannot be afforded in Zaun, even for the children who are forced to grow up far too quickly in such a harsh environment.
Jinx moved through the dimly lit alleyways of Zaun with practiced ease, her hood pulled low over her pale face, shadows danced with the flickering neon and lights. Silco had sent her off on another assignment, and stealth would need to be imperative. Not that Jinx minded, especially since she was able to move like a phantom and get the drop on most people she encountered, this would be child's play.
Around her, the streets were alive with the fetid stench of rot and decay, as well as poverty and pollution, a constant reminder that those who govern Piltover prefer to leave Zaun in such a miserable state, rather than be decent human beings and lend a hand to those who are in need. Fight clubs, brothels, illicit dealings of weapons, Shimmer, and other products whether they be sentient beings or otherwise flourished in the underbelly of Zaun, filling not just Silco's pockets with a figurative and literal ocean of wealth, but also the Chem-Barons who follow Silco and acknowledge him as the kingpin of the Lanes. All of these illegal business transactions and the money that came with them funded Silco's war with Piltover, and kept his enforcers and goons in line, as well as Piltover's Enforcers who worked for Silco.
All of this in the name of the nation of Zaun. Perhaps a noble dream, at first, but such a dream would now be tainted by bloodshed, duplicity, and pride if it were ever going to be achieved.
For Jinx, it was just noise. Something to scoff and roll her eyes at, especially when it came out of Silco's mouth day after day. However, she wasn't opposed to a Zaun that would be free from poverty, the yoke of authoritarianism, and brutality.
"Pffft, like that's gonna happen."
She snickered to herself. The last thing she needed was more voices tormenting her every waking moment.
Ever since she lost Vander, Vi, and her adoptive brothers, she had never been the same. Tormented by the ghosts of Mylo and Claggor, renouncing Vi as her sister, and forced to do unthinkable things to survive while under Silco's "generosity." Of course, she could've run, but where would she go? Who would she go to? All she had left was Silco, and many assumed that that made her his most loyal enforcer.
"People always jump to stupid conclusions," Jinx said to herself as she drew near to her destination. "I don't owe him everything," she continued to rant. "Sure, I owe him for protection, a roof over my head, and food. But anyone can do that. I'm stronger than I look! Hehe, besides, without me, where would he be?" Her frantic musing drew the attention of onlookers and those wandering the streets, but Jinx ignored them as she finally reached her destination.
She had been sent to meet a new ally that was rumored to have been from Zaun, but was taken to the powerful empire of Noxus, only to escape and then forge a formidable fighting force down in the Lanes.
But that was just rumors. Noise to tickle the ears.
Lowering her hood, Jinx approached the abandoned warehouse that was supposedly where she was going to meet this new crime boss before knocking on the door. The slide peephole opened, and a pair of eyes looked down at Jinx, who smiled sweetly before flashing them the middle finger.
"Here I am! The one and only Jinx!" She exclaimed while bowing curtly. "Silco sent me here to meet your new boss." She then flashed one of the chomper grenades. "You gonna let me in? Or do I need to blow my way in?"
The peephole closed and the sounds of locks being unlocked filled her ears until the large metallic doors groaned loudly as they were opened. Greeting Jinx was a man with dark skin, cleanly cut hair, and dressed in well-tailored black and gilded dress attire.
"Come on in."
Their accent suggested that they weren't from Zaun. Regardless, Jinx stepped inside and was then approached by another well-dressed lackey, or what she assumed was a foot soldier who worked for this crime boss. "You must be Jinx," they said eyeing her from head to toe. "I am Karra." She was a light-skinned woman with butterscotch dyed hair, which was curly and over her right shoulder. "Please, follow me." She urged before leading Jinx to where the boss of this faction resided.
She could see these criminals arming themselves and preparing for something big, though what that was, Jinx wasn't sure. Many were dressed well, while others appeared to be Bedouins in attire only.
"Try not to wet your pants."
Mylo taunted her, Jinx shook her head, ignoring the twisted, haunted image of her adoptive brother, and kept a stern face as Karra led Jinx through a door and found herself staring at a tall light light-skinned man with ebony, curly hair with the sides of his head cut in a clean fade. He was lean, and toned, not to mention handsome. His brown eyes burned like scarlet coals as he loomed over a basin of fire, illuminating his face and causing the shadows of the flames to dance along his face.
"Ah, you must be Jinx."
The crime boss said with a smile as he extended his arms out in greetings. Jinx, with her arms crossed, smiled. "Yep. That's me," emphasizing the "p," she then raised an eyebrow. "You're not from around here, are you?"
Her question was rhetorical, and the foreign crime boss smiled. "I am from Shurima," he said as he walked over to a desk to pour himself and Jinx a drink. "Forgive me, but most of my crew are from the desert, so we are no strangers to hardship. If malnourishment won't kill you, then exposure will." He offered one of the beverages he had poured to Jinx.
Reluctantly taking it, Jinx's sapphire eyes observed the liquid before looking back up at him. "What is it?" She took an inquisitive sniff before grimacing.
"Tea," was his reply. "It's my own blend, I call it the Serpent's Elixir." Before taking a drink, he grinned at her. "It's good for your health." He then took a slow, yet deep drink.
Looking at the dark liquid in her cup, Jinx shrugged before daring to take a drink. She coughed and gagged violently after swallowing what she had drunk. "Whooo! That's strong!" She exclaimed, clearing her throat before handing the cup back to her host.
"Perhaps I should've mentioned that the first time you drink the Elixir, it does tend to have a kick," he chuckled before setting his cup down on his desk. "Now, with the pleasantries made, let's get down to business, hmm?" Clasping his arms behind his back, he raised an eyebrow. "Silco discovered me and my people, and as you well know, he sent his overeager lackeys back to him in pieces. Now, he has sent the one he views as his daughter to ease tensions between us."
Jinx, who approached a shelf that held artifacts and antiques from bygone eras of Shurima, nodded. "Yeah. I mean, he would do it," she began to explain while chuckling, "but he's a very busy man. Trying to overthrow an authoritarian government that wants to crush the likes of us like insects."
"I see."
The soft, yet subtle sound of footsteps filled the air as the foreign crime boss sat down on a nearby couch and hummed softly. "Your people, from what I have seen upon arriving at this... dung heap of a civilization, fight for a very noble cause. However, you need more than just Shimmer, body enhancements, and the abominations you have concocted down here," he observed Jinx playing around with a handheld gilded statue, noting her childlike behavior and her innocence, despite knowing full well that blood stained her hands. "Silco wants me to join his Chem-Barons," he stated before tilting his head. "Tell me, why should I join him and his crusade against Piltover?"
Setting the gilded statue down on one of the shelves, Jinx looked over her shoulder. "Well, you have the opportunity to make new friends for starters," she giggled before skipping over to another shelf and examining the antique weapons. "That, and you'll have the opportunity to fatten your purse with coins—"
"Monetary value has meaning, true," he was interrupted. "But I must admit, I was expecting more from Silco than this." Gesturing with his hands, he clarified. "Having you, his champion, stand in his stead, rather than meet with me himself."
Jinx frowned. By his tone, it seemed he was insinuating that she was nothing but a pawn to Silco. Of course, she wasn't stupid and knew he didn't take her under his wing by the goodness of his heart.
"They don't respect you. They never have, and they never will."
Mylo laughed in her ear, his twisted form causing Jinx to fidget and mewl softly, trying to ignore her ghosts. Taking note of this, the crime lord cocked his head. "Who haunts you, girl?" Turning sharply back at him, Jinx watched as he then stood up. "I had heard you were... unhinged, maundering to yourself, and psychologically tormented." He then began to circle her, and Jinx could see the haunting forms of Mylo and Claggor circling her as well.
"Stop."
Jinx said as she heard her inner demons laughing and taunting her. Hugging herself, the blue-haired girl crumpled to her knees and began clutching her head.
"Jinx. That's all you are. You'll never rise above the filth. Never rise above Silco's shadow. And you certainly won't rise above me."
"SHUT UP!"
Jinx screamed at Mylo's cruel, smiling face. The crime lord watched with curiosity and concern. He then looked to Karra and spoke in a language Jinx couldn't catch due to her breaking down. Moments later, Karra returned with a bowl of burning sage, the ingredients mixed within the bowl caused a pleasant odor to fill the senses, and the crime lord watched as Karra knelt before Jinx.
"Here," she placed a hand on the troubled young woman's shoulder. "Inhale this."
Jinx, despite her reluctance to accept the offering, took it anyway. Inhaling the smoke deeply, she saw her dead brothers vanish from her mind's eye and could no longer hear their voices. Panting deeply, Jinx began hyperventilating, unable to calm down, despite gaining momentary respite from her demons.
"Calm yourself, child," the crime lord cooed as he loomed over Jinx. "You are safe. Just breathe."
She did. And it calmed her, that, and the pleasant scent of the sage burning before her. Once she had composed herself, Jinx sniffled before looking up at the crime lord. She was expecting someone greedy, deformed, and menacing. Instead, this man was handsome, compassionate, and hospitable. There was more to him, Jinx was certain, but for the moment, she was just glad Mylo had finally stopped talking.
"Who are you?"
Jinx finally asked, her curiosity was child-like and genuine. The crime lord smiled as he offered her a hand. Taking it, Jinx stood up and noted how the man gave a nod in proper greetings. "I am Kaiden. And I want to make a true difference in this world," walking to a shelf that held herbs, medicine, and drugs used for healing purposes, he began placing a little bit of everything in a pouch one would use to place coins in while also writing down what each item was and how to use them. "I see that you are a victim of brutality, regret, and abandonment. You are not alone in that regard, however, your trauma eats you alive like a serpent devouring its prey." Turning back around to face her, Kaiden extended the pouch for her. "Consider this a token of my good will."
Slowly taking the pouch from Kaiden and opening it to take stock of its contents, and the small, yet neatly folded instructions, Jinx raised a confused eyebrow. "This is for me?" Kaiden nodded. "Why give this to me, when you don't even know me?"
"Where I come from, I too was once haunted by demons from past mistakes, and it nearly drove me to end my life," his confession caused Jinx to stand up straighter, tensing at the mention of suicide, because she too flirted between the thin line of life and death daily. "Silco uses your trauma for his benefit," he said firmly. "I have seen it."
"How do you—?"
"Men such as he tend to do so," Kaiden interrupted. "I give you this gift not for Silco, but for you. Because I know what it's like to be devoured by inner darkness and demons." He stroked his neatly trimmed beard before continuing. "Today is Progress Day for those in Piltover. And I believe there is no greater progress than breaking free from the chains of trauma and regret, hmm?"
Examining the pouch again, Jinx looked back up at Kaiden and nodded softly. "Yeah," she murmured. "I guess so."
Nodding, Kaiden began to lead her out of his safe house. "You can think whatever you want of me, Jinx," he said before looking at her. "Tell Silco if he wants me to join his crusade, he'll need to meet me in person next time. The fact that he sent you tells me what I need to know about him for the moment."
As they reached the doors, a mountain of a man was waiting for Kaiden, and the crime boss extended his arms out in greetings. "Ah, K'sante!" Patting one of the man's large arms, Kaiden raised an eyebrow. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Our merchants and inventors are about to begin their demonstrations to Piltover's people," he said, his accent thick and booming. "The elite of their civilization will be expecting you."
"Thank you, my friend," Kaiden said as he turned to Jinx. "Shall we?"
As they stepped outside, K'sante was close behind and soon they were met by six enforcers and a tanned woman in a black and gilded dress that hugged her form deliciously. "Sivir," Kaiden greeted as he acknowledged her and the security detail accompanying them topside. "Piltover may be opulent and its leaders foolish and arrogant, but your chosen warriors to accompany me is unnecessary."
"I beg to differ, sir," Sivir objected. "We know that topside views us as little more than street rats. And in civilizations, rats are exterminated," she said before smirking. "I would hate for them to try and exterminate us."
"Fair enough."
Jinx, with her lips pursed, suddenly clapped her hands together. "Well, I will get out of your hair now," she said. "Silco will be disappointed that he has to meet you himself, what with his busy schedule and all, but I'll relay your message regardless." She said before giving Kaiden a look from head to toe and tilting her head. "Am I gonna see you again?"
"Count on it, Blue."
Kaiden winked before he, Sivir, K'sante, and the six enforcers of his syndicate stepped into a large, gleaming ebony limousine before driving off.
"Nice wheels."
Jinx whistled before throwing her hood back over her head and making her way back to Silco's territory.
(The Last Drop)
"So, this... Kaiden refuses to broach the topic of a potential alliance unless I meet him face-to-face?"
Silco, who was in his office asked while going over Shimmer production, profit margins, and shipping routes on his clipboard.
"Sure did," Jinx, who was hanging from the office rafters. "If it makes you feel any better, I think he's an ally worth gaining. Especially since he's able to go to topside—"
"What?" Setting his clipboard down, Silco looked up at Jinx. "What business does he have there?"
Blowing a raspberry, Jinx shrugged. "He has people presenting their inventive ideas for Progress Day," looking down from her perch, she smiled. "I guess he's got more connections than you, huh?"
"Hmmm," Silco pursed his lips in thought before smiling. "If he can walk the streets of topside without repercussions, then he'll know what else they have developed aside from the Hexgates." Leaning in his chair, he drew a cigar from the pack he had on hand and took the cutter before cutting off the end of it. "Knowledge is power," he stated before putting the cigar in his mouth and lighting it. "And such knowledge is worth a fortune." As he said after exhaling a thick cloud of smoke.
"Yeah, well, he's not interested in coins," Jinx said. "And all that crap about him being from Noxus was not true. He's not even from Zaun." Allowing her limbs to dangle, she sighed. "He said he was from Shurima, a desert."
Silco, still smoking, looked up at Jinx with a nod. "I see," before he could speak about the topic of this new crime boss, the doors to his office opened. "Sevika," Silco greeted. "Are you and your group ready to deliver my shipment of Shimmer?"
"We're ready," she affirmed. "Everyone topside will be too distracted to notice us."
"Good," Silco then looked up at the rafters briefly before looking back at Sevika. "I'm sending Jinx to support you."
Grimacing subtly, Sevika objected. "With all due respect, sir," she began. "I can handle this just fine on my own—"
"I'm aware," Silco said dismissively. "But my word is final. Jinx is supporting you. This shipment needs to be delivered to its destination. I don't want any complications." Pursing her lips, Sevika sighed before nodding in both submission and understanding. "Good. Now get everyone ready, Jinx will join you shortly."
As Sevika left, Jinx descended from the rafters like a feral cat, landing on her feet with ease. "So, I'm babysitting your Shimmer shipment, is that it?" She asked in obvious disdain. "I had things I wanted to do—"
"They can wait," Silco said firmly. "I need you to do this for me, Jinx." Before she could object further, he gave her a dismissive wave of his hand. "You had best get going."
Jinx groaned before she too left Silco's office. As she closed the door behind her, she couldn't help but recall Kaiden's words about how Silco was only using her for his benefit alone.
"Ugh, he may be right," she mumbled to herself. "But where would you go if you left Silco?" It was a valid question. "It's not like you have family left. Parents are dead. The adoptive family is dead. And sister..." she recalled how Vi abandoned her that fateful night seven years ago. It made Jinx close her eyes and mewl softly. "Vi is gone, stupid," she scolded herself. "She created Jinx, not Silco. And besides, she left me. I don't need her anymore." Her conviction was fractured as she mumbled further. "But... it would be nice to see her again. Assuming she didn't get herself killed."
Despite telling herself she no longer needed Vi anymore, Jinx still missed her, terribly. And she hoped that one day, Vi would find her. She still had the flare she had given her the night everything changed.
Maybe, just maybe, Vi would find her.
"We'll see, won't we?"
Jinx chuckled meekly before leaving The Last Drop with Sevika and the others before making their way to Hexgates.