Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

“How’s she doing?”

Jinx could practically hear her sister’s responding eye roll over the phone as Vi replied, voice crackling through the speaker. “Perfectly fine. Just like when you dropped her off less than twenty minutes ago.” 

Jinx crossed an arm over her chest to ward off the cool night breeze as she rested her back against the brick exterior of the bar. Harsh, electronic beats thrummed from inside, the volume rising and falling with each open and close of the doors. 

“I don’t know why I let you convince me to do this,” Jinx complained, not for the first time, of the ridiculous blind date Vi had sent her on. “Isha and I are doing fine on our own.” 

She knew her sister meant well, but Jinx couldn’t help but resent how Vi - and the rest of their family - had slowly been pushing her to try dating lately. She hadn’t bothered with it since she’d adopted Isha and didn’t see the need to start now. 

So what if she spent most of her free time entertaining a nine year old? The kid was good company!

And so what if Jinx was maybe a little lonely? If she’d spent more nights than she cared to admit staring at the ceiling and wishing the bed didn’t feel so empty? It didn’t mean she wanted her sister throwing random guys her way. It didn’t mean she believed even for a second that any prospective partner would stick around for a second date. 

“Pow,” Vi began patiently. Jinx bit back a groan, feeling the lecture coming on from a mile away. “It’s just one night, alright? You don’t have to marry the guy, just…give this a chance.” 

“Why?”

Vi just sighed, half exasperated and half fond. “Why not? It couldn’t hurt to put yourself out there for one night, right?

“Unless he’s awful,” Jinx pointed out petulantly. “I mean, you picked him. He’s probably some pretentious little gym rat you found by the weight racks.”

“He’s an associate of Cait’s, actually.”

“Oh, so he’s definitely pretentious.” 

“Guess you’ll have to find out, won’t you?” Vi shot back, though Jinx could hear how she fought back a laugh at her comment. “He’s probably already inside waiting for you.” 

Jinx pulled the phone from her ear, clicking through her contacts to find the number Vi had sent her. There was a small thread of messages between herself and the mystery man, nothing more than a confirmation of date and time. There were no new messages.

She lifted the phone back up to her ear, shrugging. “He hasn’t texted yet.”

“Then wait for him at the bar,” Vi replied, always the problem solver. “My niece is waiting for me, y'know?"

Jinx scoffed, but relented at the mention of her daughter. “Fine. Just call me if-”

“-if anything happens, I know. You know I will,” Vi said seriously, though Jinx could admit it wasn’t needed. There was no one she trusted more with her daughter than Vi. Her sister's voice softened. “I promise, she’s fine. Go have fun, okay?”

Jinx hummed, leaning her head against the wall and allowing a small smile to flicker across her face. “I’ll do my best.”

Once again, Jinx just knew Vi was rolling her eyes at her lackluster response, though this time it felt undeniably affectionate. “I’ll take what I can get.”

The two said their goodbyes, the call ending with a click as Jinx shoved the device into her pocket and took a steadying breath. 

She pushed open the doors, her eyes immediately affronted with a variety of flickering lights and dancing bodies packed tightly together in the space. The bar sat at the opposite end, surrounded by silhouettes as they shouted out orders and watched the muted TVs from wooden stools. 

Off to her right, a pathetic little stage sat tucked into a corner where a single man drunkenly slurred out the words dancing above him on a screen. The song itself was inaudible over the music that had taken control of the crowd. The man didn’t seem to mind, lost in a world of drunken karaoke and taking swigs from a brimming glass every couple seconds before stumbling back against the mic stand to belt out incomprehensible lyrics.

Jinx felt a grin spread over her face. She’d missed this. The bar had been a favorite of hers back in college. She remembers sitting at that very spot on nights she probably could’ve been studying, annoying the bartender who always worked the worst shifts and cackling from her stool after daring her tipsy friends to sing some ridiculous song onstage. 

It felt like a lifetime ago, yet Jinx realized with a start it had been only five years ago. Three since Isha had come into her life. Sometimes, she forgot there had ever been a time they weren’t together. As much as Jinx had loved those reckless days, and still did, she loved her days with Isha so much more. 

Jinx wandered to the bar as she swayed absentmindedly to the blaring music, sliding into one of the few empty stools. A bartender appeared moments later, somehow deciphering her drink request over the roar of the crowd and the deafening bass.

He returned surprisingly fast, setting the glass down in front of her and disappearing just as quickly. Jinx took a small sip as she tugged her phone free from her pocket and checked for an update from her mysterious date.

Not like she cared, of course, but she supposed she should keep an eye out for when he arrived since they were going off only vague descriptions of the other.

The chat thread remained the same, her own message from earlier that night when she’d dropped off Isha sat at the end of their pathetic conversation. 

Headed to bar now. 

Simple. Perhaps a little dry, but Jinx hadn’t had much else to say.

Her eyes dropped to below her message, finding little grey words beneath the chat bubble that announced with cold detachment:

Read 9:23.

Her eyes lifted to the corner of her phone, finding the current time displayed in bold white numbers.

10:03. 

Jinx’s hand clenched around the glass, a sudden bout of nerves burning through her system as she tried to unhelpfully wash it down with another gulp of her slowly diminishing drink.

He was probably just late. It didn’t mean anything. They’d agreed on around nine-thirty, sure, but there was still time. He could still come. 

Minutes ticked by, fingers grasping her beat up phone case a little too hard as she mindlessly scrolled through different apps to pass the time. Cute cat video, dumb meme, some celebrity update she didn’t care to read. Rinse and repeat. 

Her eyes found the time despite herself.

10:27.

Her thumb swiped through her tabs. No new messages. 

Jinx pressed open the chat thread, fingers jamming the keyboard with slightly more force than necessary. Her thumb hovered over send. 

She sighed, her phone emitting a repetitive clicking sound as she held down the back button. She tried again, nail clacking against her screen as she shot off the revised message. 

are you here? 

Immediately, three little dots appeared in the bottom corner. Her spirits lifted ever so slightly. Maybe he’d been held up, or perhaps he’d already arrived and couldn’t find her. 

The dots disappeared. Reappeared. Disappeared. 

And slowly, Jinx’s hope went with it. 

Her phone chimed just as she clicked the off button, the lock screen photo of her and Isha lighting up her face and slightly obscured by the single text in her notification bar.

Sorry. 

No explanation, no offer to reschedule, not even an excuse. Just a shallow, meaningless apology that confirmed what she’d feared most. 

He wasn’t coming.

Jinx had been stood up. She didn’t need to wonder why. The fact he hadn’t even had the guts to say it to her face only confirmed it. 

It’s not like she wasn’t expecting it, but Jinx had to admit it hurt a bit more knowing who’d set this stupid thing up in the first place. She’d thought, at the very least, that Vi would have found someone who didn’t mind her having a kid. She’d have thought Caitlyn would know better than to set her up with some jerk who didn’t even have the decency to show. 

It was no real loss. Jinx doubted she would have enjoyed the date much even if he hadn’t ditched her, but the rejection still stung. 

Jinx blinked back angry tears, shooting off a few choice words before blocking the idiot’s number. She couldn’t bring herself to care at the moment how that made her look. He’s the one who should be embarrassed. 

Her thumb hovered over Vi’s contact, ready to give her dear sister an earful as she got the hell out of this place-

“Another drink?” 

Jinx looked up, watching as the bartender scooped up her empty glass and gave her a classic customer service look, an ingenious mixture of pleasantry and barely masked indifference. She swallowed her feelings, nodding coolly and schooling her own expression into something neutral. 

The douchebag wasn’t showing. Doesn’t mean he’d get the satisfaction of ruining her night.

“Yeah, sure.”

Jinx allowed herself to relax as he returned with her drink sometime later, humming along to the music and sipping at her drink as she entertained the idea of joining the cluster of moving bodies on the dance floor. 

Sure, most of her dance parties these days consisted of songs from Barbie movies, but the chaotic atmosphere around her was doing wonders at loosening her up. 

Jinx spun in her seat, back resting against the counter as her eyes flickered curiously to the man hogging the karaoke machine. If she were about ten times more drunk, she’d consider taking a crack at it. For now, though, she’d enjoy watching him stumble across the small circular stage as he booted up a new song. 

The stage was marginally closer to the bar, making it possible to just barely make out his slurred speech as he squinted at the words displayed on the screen. A barely audible but undeniably familiar melody played beneath the blaring techno beat resounding throughout the bar, allowing Jinx to silently follow along with the lyrics spelled out above the stage, a small dot jumping from word to word with the beat.

“We’re living like giants, yeah, giants…”

The man was doing a damn good job of butchering the song, Jinx had to give him that much. Despite his gaze locked onto the screen, the lyrics that he managed to slur out were not only barely comprehensible but entirely wrong. 

Jinx cringed, hand covering her mouth to stifle her snort as the man struggled to keep up with the rap verse, practically giving up on trying to stay in tune as he tried to keep up with the fast paced lyrics. 

Jinx hummed along to the correct melody, shaking her head in amusement as she remained focused on the one-man show. Someone slid into the stool beside her, though she hardly noticed, even as their shoulders accidentally brushed in the tight space.

“What is your winning scheme?

I got a giant team, big as my self esteem”

“Winning scheme,” Jinx corrected aloud to no one in particular as the man cried out something about a whining scream. She tilted her head in thought. “I’m starting to think he didn’t even know the words when he was sober.”

“True Damage fan, huh?”

Jinx didn’t pay much mind to the voice beside her, shrugging dismissively and wincing at the drunk man’s brutal pronunciation of the chorus. “Isn’t everyone?”

The band had taken the world by storm over the past couple years, their flashy visuals and well crafted songs creating a large and very dedicated fan base. It seemed like every day Jinx opened her social media to find some new headline about an interview or concert that had the world sighing in adoration. 

Jinx would be lying if she said she wasn’t one of those fans, though she hadn’t yet had the opportunity to attend a show. Initially, she’d been drawn in by Akali, already a longtime fan of K/DA, and had found herself - like everyone else - captivated by Senna’s powerful voice, Ekko’s clever lyricism, and the combined musical talent of the group.

“Apparently not this guy.” 

Jinx barked out a laugh, then sighed theatrically. “He’s ruining the best part of the song.” 

“Ah,” the man continued, though Jinx still hadn’t given so much as a glance. He did sound oddly familiar, though she didn’t give the thought much attention. “An Ekko fan, then?”

That was putting it…somewhat mildly. Jinx wasn’t some crazed fangirl with posters glued to her walls, of course, but she could admit a small bias in his favor due to their shared background. 

As a fellow Zaunite, growing up in the poorer districts of the lanes, she’d always respected the rapper's dedication to his roots. Making it big wasn’t easy, especially in the Undercity. Despite that, Ekko had always made a point of performing in his home city and singing Zaun’s praises instead of turning his back as most would. Jinx had always admired that, alongside his clear lyrical talent.

It also didn’t hurt that he was ridiculously hot. Jinx would never admit to something as silly as a celebrity crush, but he certainly cast a striking figure in all of True Damage’s promos, from his deep brown eyes and dark locs to the smooth, pitch perfect vocals that had captured the hearts of all his fans. 

Jinx cleared her throat, finishing off her drink and dispelling the thoughts with a soft shake of her head. 

“He’s cool,” she answered evenly, considering the question as she watched the man finish massacring the hit song and finally turned to her seat mate. “But Akali is probably my fa-”

Jinx stopped short, lips parting in shock and refusing to make a sound as she met the man’s gaze, his deep brown eyes watching curiously as his lips twisted upwards into an amused smile. 

“Ouch,” Ekko commented, leaning against the counter in a similar fashion to herself as he brushed dark brown locs from his eyes; his other hand moved to his heart in a show of faux hurt. “Just when I thought we were getting along, you go and betray me for Akali.” 

Jinx slapped a hand to her forehead, as if checking for signs of fever. “Woah, I’m drunker than I thought I was.” 

He raised a brow, seeming simultaneously confused and amused by the strange display. “You okay?”

“No,” Jinx said flatly. “I’m clearly hallucinating. Keep up.” 

He laughed. “You’re not hallucinating.”

She leveled a finger at what was clearly a figment of her imagination. A very attractive figment, but a figment nonetheless! “See, that’s exactly what a hallucination would say!”

“Well, you got me there,” Ekko - Fake Ekko - replied lightly, then leaned forward. “But how do we know you’re not a hallucination?”

Jinx blanched, frowning indignantly. “I’m not a hallucination!”

“That’s exactly what a hallucination would say!”

She paused, then snorted in realization. “Oh, fuck. You’re real.”

He shrugged, a lopsided grin on his face as he swirled a glass in his hand. “Last time I checked, yeah.” 

Jinx hummed, feeling her cheeks heat up in embarrassment at how ridiculous she’d just been acting. “I know I said I was drunk,” she began, examining her empty glass. “But now I think I’m actually not drunk enough to be dealing with this.”

His mouth quirked, looking away for a moment to signal a nearby bartender. He re-focused his attention on her a moment later. “You just kinda say whatever pops into your head, don’t you?”

“Yeah, pretty much.” 

For some reason, he seemed to like that answer. He tilted his head. “What’s your name?”

She hesitated for a moment, surprised by the question. Ekko had been nice so far, of course, but Jinx hadn’t expected him to prolong the conversation this much. Or to seem interested in her at all. 

“Jinx.”

“Jinx,” he repeated, like he was testing the name. She shivered involuntarily at the way he spoke it. He extended a hand out, like a greeting. “I’m Ekko.”

“No, really?” She said in a flat, wry tone, taking the offered hand in a quick shake. “I never would’ve guessed.” 

He snorted at that. A bartender placed two glasses down in front of them. Ekko smiled, thanking the man before sliding one of the glasses in front of her. 

“Oh, you don’t have to-”

He waved away her protests. “Don’t worry about it,” he assured her, taking a sip from his own glass. “Least I can do after you sat through that karaoke.”

“In that case,” Jinx signaled the bartender again, sliding the drink she received in response over to him. “I owe you a drink for acting like a crazy person.” 

Ekko looked like he wanted to argue, but seemed to decide against it as their eyes met. He knocked their glasses together. “Cheers, Jinx.” 

They both took a long swig. It was definitely needed after hearing him say her name again. It sounded so nice coming from his lips. 

“For what it’s worth,” Ekko continued, clearing his throat. “You seem pretty well adjusted compared to what I’ve seen.”

“Oh, you ain’t seen nothing yet, buster.”

He raised an eyebrow, something like a challenge in his eyes. “Yknow, someone once asked me to sign a thong?”

She snorted. “What’s weird about that?”

“They were still wearing it.”

Jinx slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her laugh, though it was fairly unsuccessful. Once she’d mostly recovered from her fit, she leaned forward conspiratorially. The action made him tilt his head, leaning forward as well to meet her in the middle. 

“Did you do it?”

He barked out a laugh, shaking his head fervently. “No!”

Jinx broke into another fit of giggles. “Your loss, man.”

“Agree to disagree,” he replied flatly, then relaxed further against the bar as he watched her sober up from her laughing fit, his grin a permanent fixture on his face. 

“So,” Ekko continued, sliding his empty glass aside and propping his chin on his hand. “Did you just come here to watch awful karaoke or-?”

Jinx shook her head, smiling lightly at the joke and feeling surprisingly indifferent about what had led her to the bar in the first place. Her would-be date wasn’t worth getting worked up about, especially when she’d found a way better companion for the evening. 

Jinx refused to think too hard on the fact that that companion was a celebrity. A very sweet, hot celebrity at that. She didn’t want to scare him off. Not when she was having such a good time; when he seemed to be as well. 

“Actually,” Jinx mimicked his position and quirked her lips into a sardonic smile. “I was supposed to be on some ridiculous blind date my sister set up.” 

“Supposed to?”

“Yep,” she hummed, popping the p. “He stood me up.”

He frowned, looking somewhat put off by the explanation. “What kind of guy would stand you up?”

Jinx swallowed, trying not to focus on the way he’d emphasized ‘you’. Like she was special. Like someone not wanting to go out with her was completely unthinkable. She’s certain he didn’t mean anything by it; that he was only being sweet, even though the words sent her heart hammering against her rib cage. 

“Oh, y'know how it is,” Jinx replied, trying for humor even as her voice took on a nervous tick. She toyed with her empty glass. “People can be so shallow. Looks, money, the fact you have a nine year old kid-”

“Oh,” Ekko said suddenly at her confession. She fought back a cringe. But instead of appearing put off or uncomfortable as she expected, he leaned forward in polite interest. “I didn’t realize you were a mom.” 

“Uh-huh,” Jinx replied softly,  relaxing slightly at his reaction as she slid over her phone to show him the lock screen photo of the two of them. It was a good picture, the both of them smiling wide in matching twin braids as they played by a swing set at the park closest to their apartment. “Her name is Isha.” 

She watched his face closely as he examined the photo, noting every slight tick and change in expression, polite curiosity bloomed in his dark irises.

“She didn’t come outta me if that’s what you’re wondering.”

Crass? Maybe. But Jinx saw no reason to beat around the bush. She’d had her fair share of these conversations with teachers, other parents, or anyone who couldn’t mind their damn business when they saw a mother and child that didn’t look like clones of each other. 

He coughed, his cheeks coloring. “No! No, I wasn’t-”

“It’s fine,” she dismissed, clicking off the phone once he’d returned it to her. “I don’t mind questions as long as you’re not a dick about it, y’know?”

He smiled at that, regarding her with open curiosity. “How old were you?” He asked cautiously, clearly not wanting to offend her. “When you adopted her, I mean?”

“Twenty-five,” she replied easily. “She was only six, then.”

He hummed. “Is it alright if I ask-?”

“Why?” She finished for him, smiling a bit and shrugging. “It’s kind of a long story.”

He nodded in understanding. “Another time, then?”

Her heart thundered in her chest, breath stolen from her lungs at the implication that this wouldn’t be the last time they crossed paths. That he might even want to see her again. 

She smiled, looking away to hide the heat in her face. “Yeah, maybe.”

He gave her a meaningful look then, something soft and genuine. “That guy’s a real jerk for standing you up like that.”

“Eh, I’m over it,” she shrugged, then grinned. “I’ve found much better company in the meantime.”

His smile widened, cheeks coloring from something Jinx couldn’t pretend was embarrassment this time. “Glad to hear it.”

“Can I ask you something?” She asked a few moments later, after the bartender had swung by and collected their empty glasses. Then, at his responding nod, she continued. “Why does no one seem to care that you’re here?” 

“Okay, ouch.”

“You know what I mean!” She laughed, pushing his shoulder playfully before she could overthink the gesture too much. “You’re all famous and stuff. Why aren’t you being, like, bombarded for autographs?”

“Honestly? I think most people here are too drunk,” Ekko responded lightly, dark eyes roving in amusement over the dancing crowd. “Plus, the lighting in here is shit.” 

Jinx shook her head, offering a teasing smile. “It just doesn’t do you justice.” 

“So,” He smirked, leaning closer in lieu of a direct reply. His brown eyes glittered. “Do you want an autograph?”

“Oh, no. Nowhere for you to write it,” Jinx said dismissively, surprise lighting in his eyes as she gestured to her waist. “Not wearing a thong.” 

His smirk widened, delight shimmering in his eyes as he chuckled. “Good to know.” 

His gaze sent a swarm of butterflies tearing through her stomach, cheeks burning red as she ducked her head and laughed softly. She tried to calm her racing heart before she made a fool of herself. Ekko was only playing along with her jokes. Being sweet. It was attractive as hell, but Jinx knew she needed to pull herself together. 

She focused instead on the music booming around her, the intoxicating beats and the thrumming bass slowly bringing her back to reality. A reality where gorgeous, well-meaning celebrities didn’t look at her the way Jinx thought he may be looking at her now. 

Ekko, however, seemed intent on throwing her off balance. He eyed her, watching with interest as she swayed slightly to the music. He extended out a hand between them. “Dance with me.” 

Jinx couldn’t help the sharp inhale at his words, gazing at him uncertainly like she’d heard wrong. She must have. There was no way Ekko of fucking True Damage wanted to dance with her.  “What?”

“Dance with me,” he repeated softly, slowly taking her hand in his own and tossing money onto the counter behind them with his other as he led them away from the bar top. He seemed to note her hesitation, squeezing her hand reassuringly. “Just one song?”

Jinx bit her lip, considering. “I don’t think I’d look like that great of a dancer next to you.”

Jinx wasn’t self conscious by any means; had never cared what people thought of her, but the thought of dancing next to someone who basically did it professionally seemed more than a little daunting. Ekko had probably seen some of the best dancers in the world. Hell, he was probably friends with them. It seemed like another subtle reminder of how different they were. How unbelievable it was that he was still here talking to her and holding her hand. 

But he pulled her closer anyway, his other hand sliding down to meet hers and lock their fingers together. 

“Just follow my lead.”

She allowed him to lead her onto the floor, the pair quickly finding themselves surrounded on all sides by dancing silhouettes and clashing bodies. Their eyes met through the haze of lights and flailing limbs, their hands tightening to stay together through the crowd. 

It started slow, the two moving hesitantly to the music as they grew accustomed to the energy around them and growing in confidence with each passing second. 

Jinx relaxed into the beat, feeling at home in the crowd with his hands wrapped firmly around her own. Their fingers fell away slowly, but neither went far from the other. Quite the opposite, the pair gliding closer with each roll of their bodies to the music, an irresistible pull. Two magnets drawn together, desperate for proximity. Desperate to meet. To touch. 

She lost herself to it, succumbing entirely to the music’s control. Her eyes fell closed, relying only on her hands to guide her as their bodies met in the dim light, strobes flashing across her closed eyelids and relaxing into his arms as they found her waist. 

Jinx couldn’t say how long it lasted, certainly longer than the single song he’d proposed, only that every touch and press felt like a shock of electricity through her very being. Coming together again and again like puzzle pieces, feeling their bodies collide; feeling how easily they fit together. How every movement just felt right, dancing to a rhythm all their own to a dance made only for each other. 

She panted as another song came and went, a bead of sweat creeping down her neck and still she couldn’t stop. Couldn’t part from him for even a moment, the feeling too intoxicating to let go of now. 

Still, she found herself turning in his grasp until their eyes met. Suddenly, Jinx was all too aware of each point of contact keeping them together. Fronts pressed together, hands gripping at clothes to ensure they stayed that way. And his eyes…the intensity reflected in his dark pupils rooted her firmly in place, soft pants breaching past her lips and mingling in the air between them. 

He tilted his head, noses brushing as the small movement brought them impossibly closer. And Jinx considered it, then. How it had come to this, how it might continue. They’d talked, they’d shared drinks and jokes and flirty lines. They’d danced, crossing lines Jinx found herself desperate to keep crossing. 

Was it crazy? Most definitely. For about a million different reasons, most of which being that Ekko was so far out of her league he might as well be on another planet. He was famous and talented and sexy, the kind of guy who’d probably settle down one day with a supermodel. 

Jinx? Not a supermodel. 

This moment would, at best, go down as the craziest night of her life. The kind she’d tell people about ten years down the line when it was far enough away to not matter anymore. How she’d met a celebrity, how they’d talked and drank and maybe gotten a little handsy on the dance floor. A great fucking story, for sure, but nothing more than that. Jinx wasn’t the girl who got to have more than that. 

But that was ten years down the line. And Ekko was in front of her now. And fuck, did she want to keep crossing that line. 

Vi’s words from earlier that night rang in her head.

It couldn’t hurt to put yourself out there for one night, right?

Jinx’s eyes dropped to his lips. So close. So inviting. What was the harm? She’d come this far, why shy away now? She wanted it. Wanted him. And she suspected the feeling was incredibly mutual. 

Just…one kiss. A hell of a story, a night to look back on and smile when she saw his name in the headlines. One kiss. It’s not like it’d go further. 

It couldn’t hurt. 

His fingers traced her skin, gently lifting her chin while his other hand sifted into her hair to tug her just the tiniest bit closer. She gasped softly, her breath fanning over his parted lips. 

What’s the worst that could happen? 

Jinx leaned forward, sealing their lips together. 

⌛️

Jinx awoke to her ringtone blaring in her ears. She groaned, reaching out blindly for the nightstand and pulling the covers off as she made to sit up- 

Jinx froze, the unanswered call cutting off just as she reached the phone. She slowly looked down at herself, phone slipping back onto the bedside table. 

She was very, very naked.

Jinx’s eyes lifted to the unfamiliar room, memories returning as her fatigue faded. Her hands fisted into the soft sheets, the fabric curled around her pale legs, wrinkled and tossed. She looked to the side, finding the other side of the bed empty, but noticeably slept in. 

Her sluggish mind finally got the hint, flashes of the night before sending a deep red flush crawling down her neck. Ekko. Sitting at the bar, laughing and flirting. A kiss shared in the midst of dancing drunks. They’d stumbled outside, hands wandering beneath street lights and then…

“Holy shit.” 

Jinx would admit to doing a fair share of crazy things in her life, but hooking up with a celebrity was certain to take the cake. She let out a soft squeal, cheeks burning as she hid her face in her hands, though no one was there to see her flustered state. 

It was then that she registered the muffled sound of running water, lifting her gaze to peer at a closed door off to her left that no doubt led to the bathroom. A shower was running, sounds of shuffling coming from inside as someone moved around. 

Her blush deepened. He was still here. 

Jinx thought she might faint from the amount of blood rushing to her head right now, but somehow she persevered. She bit her lip, brushing her mussed blue hair from her eyes and taking a deep breath to hold herself together. 

She should really go. Jinx didn’t even want to imagine how awkward it’d be for him to return to his room and find her sitting there. Jinx hadn’t done the whole one night stand thing in years, but she wasn’t stupid. She’d only embarrass herself trying to make this something it absolutely wasn’t. 

Ekko was…incredible, to say the least, but she doubted he had any interest in continuing whatever this was, sweet as he’d been the night before. 

She was broken from her thoughts by the sudden sound of her ringtone, phone buzzing pointedly against the nightstand as she scrambled for it and tumbled out of the bed, clicking answer before even reading the contact. 

“Where are you?” Vi demanded, voice crackling over the line and forcing Jinx to lift the phone from her ear to cringe at the loud tone. “I’ve called you like five times!”

“I- I overslept!” Jinx stuttered indignantly, fumbling around the floor to find her discarded clothes and keeping the phone pressed against her ear with her shoulder. “I just woke up. What’s wrong? Is Isha-?”

“No, no. Isha’s fine,” Vi replied quickly, still sounding annoyed but slightly more relaxed now that she knew Jinx was fine. “You were supposed to pick her up at ten.”

Jinx paused, tugging the phone from her ear to check the time. 11:23. 

“Shit!” Jinx swore softly, returning the phone to her ear and struggling with the hooks of her bra. “I’m sorry, I was totally knocked out.” 

“Clearly,” Vi hummed on the other end, sounding somewhat amused now. “I’m assuming last night either went really well or really bad, then?” 

“Vi,” she groaned, not even bothering to reply to what was undoubtedly the start to an interrogation about her date. Or lack thereof. 

“Fine, you can tell me later,” Vi conceded with a dramatic sigh. “Are you on your way?”

Jinx grunted, tugging on her shirt and scanning the floor for her bottoms. “Almost. Just- I don’t know, take her to get some food? I’ll meet you there.”

There was silence for a moment, Vi’s voice coming out suspicious when she spoke again. “Why are you being weird?” 

“I’m not being weird,” Jinx denied, searching the bed for her underwear to no avail and freezing at the sound of the water shutting off in the other room. Fuck. “Maybe you’re being weird!”

Vi didn’t let up. “Are you home right now?” 

Jinx opened her mouth to reply as she tugged on her pants, mouth slamming shut in panic as the door clicked open a few feet away. 

“Powder?”

She refused to look, even as Jinx felt eyes watching her. She ducked her head, rolling her eyes and hissing into the phone. “What?”

Vi made another suspicious noise, undoubtedly rolling her eyes at Jinx’s lack of cooperation. She couldn’t find it in her to care, not when was currently standing in the bedroom of the celebrity guy she’d just slept with with said guy staring at her from the doorway. “If you’re at his place right now-”

“Ew, Vi!” She felt herself flush, free hand grasping at the button of her pants with frustration and blush deepening when she heard a soft, amused huff sound a few feet away. “I’m hanging up now!”

“Pow-!”

“Bye!”

She slammed the end call button, jamming the device into her pocket and forcing herself to meet his eyes. 

Jinx regretted it immediately, eyes finding him leaning against the door dressed only in sweatpants; beads of water traveling down his skin in mesmerizing trails. 

“Hey.”

It startled her, the simplicity of the greeting. Like finding his frazzled one night stand arguing on the phone in his bedroom was the most normal thing in the world. She didn’t know what to make of that. 

“Hey, yourself,” she replied with much less confidence, ducking down to grab her boots from the floor and tug them on, hoping he couldn’t see how flustered she was. “You read that in a fortune cookie?”

Ekko laughed, stepping into the room and grabbing a discarded t-shirt off a chair to pull over his head. He kept his eyes on her, deep brown irises regarding her with interest. “Going somewhere?” 

“To meet my sister,” she replied as casually as she could, tugging on her other boot before straightening up in an attempt to seem at least somewhat collected. “She was watching my- um…”

He already knew about Isha, she knew that. But something about mentioning her daughter felt like it’d make this situation infinitely more awkward. Whatever crazy twist of fate had led her into his bed didn’t change how vastly different their lives were. Their night together had been more fun than she’d had in awhile, but Jinx didn’t exactly have high expectations about how this would go. 

“Daughter,” he supplied, surprising her. “Isha, right?”

Jinx nodded softly, allowing herself a small smile at the fact he’d remembered. Not that it meant anything, but she supposed it was nice that Ekko was trying to be polite. 

“I don’t have to, like…” Jinx began after a short stretch of silence, voice ticking up nervously even as she tried for something light-hearted. “Sign an NDA or something, right?”

He tilted his head, his expression turning quizzical before a laugh burst up from his throat, genuine and carefree. 

“No, nothing like that,” Ekko replied with a grin. He took a seat at the edge of the bed, their shoulders brushing. “But uh- I guess I could sign these if you’re interested-?”

A wicked smirk spread across his face as he spoke and Jinx watched in horror as he lifted a pair of mortifyingly familiar black panties from the sheets with a finger and looked at her with a pointed, amused expression.  

Jind stifled a shriek, snatching the undergarment from his hand and shoving it haphazardly in her pocket. She flushed crimson as he laughed freely. “You think you’re real funny, huh?”

“I do, actually.” 

“Keep laughing, buster,” she huffed indignantly, smirking despite herself. “We’ll see if it’s so funny when I go on twitter and tell people you’ve got a third nipple or something.”

He blanched in offense for a moment, expression softening as he laughed. “Yknow what? Go ahead. I could use some interesting rumors.” 

“Maybe I will.”

He smiled at her, genuine and soft. Jinx ducked her head shyly, caught off guard by the intensity in his gaze. “I should probably go,” she murmured mournfully, part of her wanting to stay rooted to this spot, where he could keep looking at her with those gorgeous eyes. 

He captured her wrist in a loose grip as she made to stand from the bed, turning her to face him. 

Ekko looked at her earnestly. “When can I see you again?”

Jinx inhaled sharply, certain she must have heard him wrong. “See me again?” 

“Of course,” Ekko stood, pulling his phone from his pocket and placing it in her hands, looking at her almost hopefully. “Save your number. I’ll call you tonight?”

She stared down at the phone uncertainly, sighing. “You- you don’t have to call me, Ekko.”

He frowned. “Why not?”

“Why would you want to?” She muttered back, then shrugged. “You don’t have to be all gentleman-y, okay? It’s not like I…expect anything.” 

He raised a brow. “Did it occur to you that I just might want to call you?”

Jinx rolled her eyes. “Sure, but when has a guy who said he was gonna call actually called?”

He pulled her in closer by the waist. “Let me be the first.”

Jinx snorted, sobering up as their gazes met. “Why?”

“Why what?” 

“Why would you want to see me again?” She asked slowly, feeling a bit stupid for how insecure she must sound. Jinx wanted so badly to believe him. To believe that someone like him would actually go for someone like her, but it seemed too good to be true. “Ekko, you’re famous. You’ve got like, a million adoring fans and about a million more celebrities who’d probably die to go out with you.”

He furrowed his brow. “So?”

“So…why would you want to go out with someone…ordinary?” Jinx questioned, then huffed out a sigh. “Who, by the way, is kind of a package deal with the whole kid thing, in case you forgot.”

“Maybe I don’t care about that stuff. You consider that?” Ekko replied pointedly, but not unkindly. He softened, lifting her chin with the tips of his finger. “Maybe I don’t think you’re ordinary. Maybe I think you’re amazing, and I want to get to know you.”

Her mouth quirked, red creeping down her neck at his words. “You have to admit,” she murmured, tilting her head. “It does sound kinda unbelievable.” 

“Then let me convince you.”

Their lips met and Jinx melted, pressing into him as he chased her lips again and again; their lips colliding with gentle passion and soft sighs. Each touch light and sweet, languid. Like they had all the time in the world and he wanted to spend every second of it with his lips pressed to hers. 

It didn’t remain chaste for long, Jinx gasping into his mouth and arms circling his neck as they stumbled backwards into the sheets. His body moved against hers, pressing her back firmly into the mattress as he tilted her head up for a better angle. He urged her mouth open further, licking into her mouth and swallowing her soft moans as he explored her fervently. 

Her hands tugged at his hair, trying to draw him impossibly closer as he moved to rest in between her legs; his knee slid into place and she pushed against it desperately, searching for that sweet friction against her clothed core. 

Pleasure surged through her with each brush, head thrown back as she broke free from his lips to whine, loud and unrestrained. Ekko didn’t seem to mind, lips dropping to her exposed neck and sucking on the tender skin.

His lips travelled down her skin, suckling bruises from her neck to her collarbone, then moving lower to mouth just above her chest. His hands moved along her body, snaking beneath her top to pull it up and expose more skin for him to mark-

Her phone buzzed with a string of notifications, loud and insistent as the incessant ding sounded again and again, accompanied by an aggressive vibration that rattled the bed as they broke apart. She fumbled for the phone, grasping it from its place in the sheets and panting softly as she caught her breath. 

fat hands

were at the diner by my place

on ur way?

powpow?

I’m getting you waffles

Jinx groaned, separating reluctantly from Ekko as she sat up to properly read the messages. She frowned as she reached the end, guilt clenching her heart as she read Vi’s final text. 

Isha is asking for you.

It was official. She was the worst mother ever. First, she forgot to pick her own kid up. And she basically ditched her a second time to make out with Ekko. She’d be guilt gifting Isha toys for the next month to make up for this, Jinx was sure of that much.

“Fuck,” Jinx scrambled off the bed, flushed and anxious. “I’m so late. I need to go.” 

“Yeah, yeah. Of course,” Ekko coughed, rubbing the back of his neck a bit sheepishly and looking apologetic. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-”

“No! No, it’s- uh, it’s my fault,” Jinx scanned the bed, scooping up his phone and typing in her contact info as fast as she could before she could overthink it too much. She tossed it back and practically bolted to the door, stopping at the doorway to offer a sheepish smile. “I’ll see you?” 

He nodded, eyes brightening with promise as he smiled. “I’ll call you.” 

Jinx huffed out a soft laugh, typing out a quick message to Vi to assure her she was on the way before lifting her eyes one last time to Ekko. For a moment, she forgot who he was. His reputation, his fame. All the things that defined her perception of him until they’d met last night. 

For one moment, she looked at him and let herself believe that they had a chance in hell at whatever this was. That none of the stupid shit Jinx had been so worried about would matter, not as long as Ekko kept looking at her like that. 

“You better.” 

⌛️

Jinx practically whipped open the door to the diner, scanning the tables for a familiar head of bright red hair. 

“Pow!”

Jinx’s head snapped over, finding Vi squished into a booth with her wife, Caitlyn, on one side and Isha sprawled across the opposing seat. Jinx felt a pang at that, knowing Isha had likely been saving the seat to sit with her. 

Jinx slid into the booth, immediately wrapping Isha in a tight squeeze as she rambled out an explanation about oversleeping and a little white lie about car trouble. 

“Sorry, kiddo,” she said, excuses petering off as she glanced down at her daughter still tucked into her side. “It won’t happen again. Pinky promise!”

Isha eagerly looped their fingers together, nodding in satisfaction as the oath was made. Jinx grinned, pointedly not meeting her sister’s gaze. She didn’t need an interrogation in front of Isha. 

“So!” Jinx continued brightly. “You have fun with Auntie Vi?”

Isha nodded again, hands blurring together as she signed her response. Jinx watched each motion carefully, urging her daughter on as she recounted all the activities they’d done the night before.

“Monopoly, huh?” Jinx commented once Isha had finished, the both of them tucking into their meals laying half forgotten on the table in front of them. “Hope no one lost any limbs.” 

“Fortunately, there were no fatalities,” Caitlyn spoke up, voice light, then glanced at Vi. “Though, not for lack of trying.” 

“Hey, that token slipped from my hand!”

Jinx sipped from her drink, pointedly looking away when Vi looked at her for support. Jinx just shook her head. “You’re the reason board games got banned in high school, sis.”

Vi spluttered. “No way! That was cus Mylo tried to eat a game piece!”

Jinx turned to her daughter, shaking her head again and ruffling Isha’s already unruly brown hair, streaked with blue. “You’re so lucky you’re an only child.”

Isha giggled while Vi squawked in offense. 

A moment later, Isha nudged her. Jinx raised an eyebrow as she watched the girl gesture.

“Bathroom?” Isha nodded. Jinx began scooting out of the seat. “Alright, come on-”

“Oh, let Caitlyn take her,” Vi interrupted casually, moving to let Caitlyn out of the booth before Jinx could protest. “I want to talk to you.”

Jinx narrowed her eyes, but nodded reluctantly to avoid tipping off Isha that something might be wrong. 

“Don’t fall in!” Jinx called after her, Isha’s responding giggle fading out as she turned down a hallway with Caitlyn. A large wooden sign hung above the opening reading restrooms in bold lettering, accompanied by bulky arrows that seemed unnecessary. Jinx kept her eyes fixed on them, stalling as Vi cleared her throat across the table. 

“You didn’t have car trouble.”

Jinx huffed, meeting Vi’s gaze and crossing her arms. “You calling me a liar?”

“Yeah, pretty much,” Vi said evenly, leaning forward. “What happened with that date?”

Jinx rolled her eyes, shuffling food around her plate with her fork. “Nothing happened.”

“Powder.”

“Violet.”

Vi leaned back, arching an unimpressed brow. “Seriously, what’s up with you? You can tell me if something happened between you two, y'know?"

Jinx made a noise of disgust. “Vi-”

“I’m just saying, I’m not gonna judge-”

“I never met him!” Jinx blurted out, ears burning as she dropped her voice down with a short glance around the diner. “He stood me up.”

“He what?”

She waved a dismissive hand. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Doesn’t-?!” Vi cut herself off, shaking her head as her tone softened. “I’m sorry. I never would’ve told you to go out with him if I’d known he’d be such an ass.”

“It’s fine,” Jinx replied genuinely, relaxing into the booth and slightly ducking her head. “It turned out alright.”

She could feel Vi’s inquisitive gaze. “How so?”

Jinx couldn’t tell her about Ekko. Not the full truth, anyway. Not about who’d she spent the night talking with, not about who’s bed she’d woken up in. Jinx isn’t sure Ekko would even care, but it still felt wrong to go blabbing about him to her sister. News like that tended to spread, to spiral out of control and burn like wildfire across gossip sites and social media. She couldn’t take that risk, even if she trusted her sister more than anyone else in the world. 

“It’s nothing, really,” Jinx began, forcing a mask of neutrality. “I just started talking to some guy. We had fun.”

“Is that ‘fun’ the reason you were late today?” 

Jinx bristled. “I dunno, maybe. Why do you care, anyway?”

“Trust me, the last thing I wanna hear about is your love life, Powder,” Vi replied flatly, nose wrinkling. She paused, then shrugged somewhat sheepishly. “I just want to make sure you’re being careful.”

Jinx softened somewhat at that. Her sister could be a damn headache when she got fixated on something, but Jinx could never fault her for caring. Vi had always been there for her. Through the loss of their parents, through stupid teen drama and ridiculous arguments with their brothers, through the decision to adopt Isha. No matter how old she got, Jinx doesn’t think Vi will ever stop seeing her as the little sister that needs protecting. Jinx could admit to herself that she never wanted her to stop either.

“Trust me, he was harmless,” Jinx assured as vaguely as she could. She leaned forward, fixing Vi with a serious look. “And I promise I won’t be late again, okay? It was just…a fluke. Nothing like that will happen again.”

Jinx was well aware she'd never been known for her responsibility, nor for her good decision making, but she couldn’t have Vi thinking she couldn’t care for Isha or that she’d let some guy distract her from her daughter. It made her sick to even think about.

“Hey, I know that,” Vi assured quickly, grabbing her hand reassuringly across the table. “You’re great with her, always have been. One little mistake doesn’t change that.”

“Thanks, Vi,” she replied softly, then laughed humorlessly. “Still feel like an asshole for making you guys wait, though.”

“Eh, we got pancakes out of it,” Vi shrugged, taking a bite of syrupy goodness. “That equals it out for me.” 

Jinx just snorted, digging into her own food. It wasn’t long, though, before Vi dropped her fork, leveling her sister with another one of her curious looks. 

“What now?”

Vi hummed innocently. “Are you gonna see that guy again?” 

Jinx paused for a long moment, hesitating at the question. Surely, there was no harm in talking about it as long as she remained vague enough. It’s not like Vi could figure anything out without his name, after all. 

“Maybe,” she offered after another brief pause. “I dunno. He said he’d call me.” 

Vi raised a brow. “You gave him your number? Must be some guy.”

“He asked for my number,” Jinx defended petulantly, feeling her cheeks heat up. “Said he wanted to see me again.”

There was a glimmer of a smile on her sister's face as Vi picked at her food. “Sounds like he likes you.”

“Maybe.”

“You don’t sound very convinced,” Vi noted. 

“He’s…kind of out of my league.”

Understatement of the fucking century, but sure. 

“I don’t buy that for a second,” Vi said flippantly, shaking her head and waving her fork as she spoke. “And if he knows what’s good for him, he won’t either.”

Jinx snorted. “What, is that like a threat? Gonna beat him down if he doesn’t go out with me?”

Vi rolled her eyes. “No. I’m just saying if he doesn’t see how great you are, then he’s not worth it.”

Jinx worried her lip, considering. She tried for a laugh, but it just came out a breathless sigh. “You really think my random hook up could turn into something?”

Vi’s nose wrinkled at that, but she raised a curious brow regardless. “Do you want it to?”

“I…I don’t know.”

“You liked him, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, of course,” Jinx replied easily, shifting uncertainly. “But-”

“But what?” Vi interrupted, never one for patience. Or tact, really. “You like him, he sounds like he likes you. Do you wanna go out with him or not?”

“I…”

Perhaps it was cynical of her to doubt it at this point, after how open Ekko had been with her, but Jinx couldn’t fully shake that feeling of inferiority when it came to him. She wasn’t insecure by any means, but Jinx also knew she wasn’t anything special compared to the type of girls Ekko must spend his time around. Jinx was decent looking, enough to get by. 

Guys offered to buy her drinks in college, coworkers glanced a little too long at her from their screens during online meetings, even if she was dressed casually in sweats or a t-shirt. Jinx could admit she stood out, at least a little. Jinx was attractive. Attractive in an attainable, normal way. 

Ekko was anything but. Everything about him from his looks to his career to his talent screamed that he wasn’t meant for her. If she looked into it, which she absolutely did not care to, Jinx is sure she’d find some information about his past relationships online. And she’s sure each and every one would be leagues above her. More beautiful, more wealthy, more interesting. 

She didn’t doubt he was interested in her. In fact, Jinx was quite certain he saw something in her that he wanted more of. She was also almost certain it wouldn’t last. How could it? When she had nothing to offer him but skepticism and half way decent looks?

Maybe he’d call. Maybe he wouldn’t. Either way, Jinx doesn’t imagine she’ll hold his interest very long once the intrigue of a hot one night stand wears off. Once she stopped being the mystery girl playing hard to get and started being just some girl he slept with. Someone ordinary. 

Maybe I don’t think you’re ordinary. Maybe I think you’re amazing.

His words came back to her, echoing in her mind and filled with promise. Ekko was the one who’d asked to see her again. And he was the one who’d insisted he’d call when Jinx had assured him he didn’t have to. He’d called her amazing, had told her again and again he had every intention of letting their one night become more. 

Hadn’t he, at this point, more than proven his interest in her was real? 

And hadn’t she, at every step, doubted his intentions? 

Maybe it would end up being a colossal mistake, trying to be something with him. Maybe it’d be the best decision she ever made. Maybe he really did want her the way she knew, deep down, that she wanted him. Or maybe he didn’t, and this whole thing would leave her broken-hearted. 

All Jinx knew for certain is that she wanted the chance to find out. 

She puffed out a long breath, something like a laugh escaping her. 

“Yeah, I really think I do.”

Vi grinned, motioning for their waiter to bring the check as Caitlyn and Isha approached the table, having returned from the bathroom. “See? Easy peasy. Now just tell him that when he calls.”

“Maybe I will.” 

⌛️

Jinx shut Isha’s door with a soft click, padding across the floor on her tiptoes as she made her way into the kitchen to continue cleaning up the mess from dinner.

Her mom guilt was in full swing, resulting in pizza night and about three extra bedtime stories. Jinx is certain the kid knew exactly what she was doing, sweetly asking for more treats and stories with her big amber eyes. She was being hustled. By a nine year old, at that.

Jinx had never felt more proud. 

She stretched her arms above her head, humming a tune she couldn’t remember the name of as she paced about the kitchen cleaning up pizza boxes and setting dishes in the sink.

Her phone buzzed insistently on the counter, near shaking as the device vibrated with a pending phone call. 

Maybe if Jinx hadn’t just gone through three bedtime stories with her very excitable child, she’d remember that she’d been waiting on a call from a certain someone. But she had, so Jinx only glanced up from the dishes with mild curiosity, dropping her sponge to bring the phone to her ear without so much as a glance at the caller ID.

“Hello?”

There was a short stretch of silence on the other end, the line crackling as the mystery caller shifted. Eventually, a chuckle sounded over the line. “Damn, that’s what I was gonna say.”

Jinx’s eyes widened, mouth falling open as the phone very nearly slipped from her grasp. “Ekko?”

He hummed in affirmation. “You sound surprised.”

“Oh, not at all,” Jinx remarked sardonically, voice thick with sarcasm yet still slightly breathless. “I get calls from celebrities, like, all the time.”

“Well, in my defense,” Ekko replied lightly, “I told you I would, didn’t I?”

Jinx felt her cheeks heat. She cleared her throat, pacing the kitchen just for something to do. “I suppose you did.”

He let out another soft laugh on the other end of the phone. “So, have I earned myself a date with you?”

Jinx swallowed hard, fighting the urge to fan herself as she leaned up against the kitchen counter. He sure didn’t waste time, did he? 

She cleared her throat once more, hoping she sounded more confident than she felt. “I dunno, have you?”

Jinx could hear the smile in his voice as he replied. “You tell me. How’s tomorrow night sound?”

“Tomorrow?”

The hesitance in her voice was clear to even herself. She took an involuntary glance down the hallway, where Isha slept peacefully in her room.

She puffed out a long breath. “Uh, Ekko-”

“Or- or not,” Ekko continued sheepishly. “Maybe I’m jumping the gun a bit here-”

“No!” Jinx blurted, then took a short panicked glance at Isha’s room before quieting herself. She exhaled slowly, a shy smile upturning her lips. “No, no. I- I want to go out with you, Ekko.” 

There was silence on the line for a moment, so she continued.

“I just don’t really know when I’ll be free,” Jinx explained, hopping up to sit on the counter and toying absentmindedly with the toaster. “Between Isha and work, it- uh, it could be awhile.”

She bit her lip, feet swinging back and forth as they dangled off the counter. “So, I’d really understand if you didn’t want to wait-”

“I want to go out with you too, Jinx,” Ekko interrupted softly, stopping her before she could spiral too much. “I don’t mind waiting, however long you need. More time to get to know you.”

Her cheeks burned, a breathless laugh escaping her. “Quite the charmer, aren’t you?”

“Depends,” he hummed back. “Is it working?”

Jinx leaned her head back against the cupboards, thinking for a long moment. “Y’know what?”

“Mm-hm?”

“I think I could get my sister to babysit this weekend.”

His smile was audible in his tone, the sound of it bringing a grin to her own face. “Yeah?”

“Definitely,” she shifted on the counter, relieved Isha wasn’t awake to see her flustered state. “How’s Saturday work?”

“Sounds perfect,” he agreed, then added casually. “Any place in mind?” 

Her mouth quirked, a small part of her still reeling that this was happening at all. “Surprise me?”

He sounded pleased by that. “Deal. Dinner, next Saturday. Let’s say…eight o’clock?”

Jinx hummed, her giddiness sending a swarm of butterflies swirling through her stomach at his words. She grinned, anticipation and excitement lighting in her veins in a way unlike she’d ever felt before. 

Next Saturday couldn’t come fast enough.

“It’s a date.”