Chapter Text
"You're gonna be spending a long time in Stillwater, Clocktower," one of the enforcers said with more malice than was appropriate.
Clocktower shrugged, then flashed a wide grin as he shuffled into a dilapidated carriage. His chains swayed vigorously with each labored footstep.
The sheriff had presented the case that Clocktower was behind several murders that lead to the fight at Danton's tower. Caitlyn withheld most of the relevant information, including Salo's involvement, his connection to radicite, and Danton's connection to the whole business. Even in the face of such glaring holes in the narrative, the council believed it. Which was a testament to how dumb they actually were.
Dumb. Dumb. Dumb.
None of it mattered. There were still a few loose ends that needed to be taken care of.
The carriage rolled slowly along a lonely dusty road. Two enforcers in front of the carriage seemed to be chatting about something entertaining while the one in the back sat quietly with his gun on his lap. Eventually, they stopped as they neared the dock where the boat was waiting to take Clocktower to Stillwater.
One of the enforcers in front hopped down, walked to the guard at the back of the carriage, and patted him on the shoulder. "I gotta piss. Keep an eye on that shithead, will ya?"
"Sure. He ain't goin' anywhere."
The enforcer strolled casually to one of the nearby bushes to do his thing. Failing to contain her boredom, the female enforcer at the front walked back to chat up the enforcer at the rear, casually keeping an eye on the surrounding area while they waited.
There was rustling in one of the nearby bushes. The soft, yet calculated footfalls of someone staking out the area. Lying in wait for the perfect opportunity to do something nefarious. They were difficult to see under the darkness of the night, yet it was clear what their intentions were.
Carefully, they took aim at their unsuspecting targets and fired two shots, incapacitating them. Their limp bodies slumped to the cold ground. Everything was going according to plan.
A strong whistle pierced the ghostly veil of silence that had suddenly overtaken the surrounding area. Alerting the prisoner inside the carriage he was free to make his escape. The rustling of chains and the subtle shake of the vehicle signaled the other the message was received and being acted upon.
Swiftly, the door swung open with the prisoner's chains swaying to and fro, their jingling breaking the uneasy silence with their ominous chatter.
Clocktower hobbled down the short steps unto the cold ground and uncharacteristically shivered. He looked down at the two unconscious guards with disdain, then spit on the one who was guarding the door to his temporary cell.
"Fuckin' piece of trash," he muttered under his breath.
Quickly, he ran as fast as he could towards the direction where the whistle originated from. His desperation was evident in every step, every breath, and every nervous look thrown across the barren landscape. Once he had reached the designated area, he began lightly whistling to alert his contact.
After a few moments of no answer, he called, "Roam."
He stood quietly waiting for an answer and when there wasn't one, he whispered again, "Roam?"
More precious seconds passed with no response sending Clocktower into a mild panic. He didn't waste more time and moved further away from the enforcers and his portable prison cell. His chains hampered his ability to move as efficiently as he would have liked.
He didn't make it far before he tripped on something immediately unrecognizable, sending him tumbling hard into the dirt and bramble. As he recovered himself, he seemed to notice the obstacle that had impeded his progress. The body of someone he recognized. Their face contorted in fear, hand clutching their throat, and completely lifeless.
Scrambling backwards, a dark female figure stepped from behind a nearby rock formation. She stared at him with her gun held steady and a flat smile on her face. Her magenta eyes glittered in the moonlight against the backdrop of a desolate terrain.
"Tsk, tsk. Look at you. All chained up with nowhere to go," she quipped with a laugh.
Clocktower's eyes narrowed. "They didn't tell me you were coming to my rescue," he said.
She giggled sweetly as she approached. "Of course, they didn't, silly. They had no idea."
He looked around the area nervously while slowly backing away from her. "What do you want?"
"What do you think?" she asked before winking at him.
Clocktower turned to scramble away from her only to be taken down by a gunshot to the back. He tried to recover himself, but was too slow as another shot penetrated his skull sending his limp body to the ground.
Jinx walked over to his now lifeless body and looked down at his corpse. It had taken a lot of planning and research to find out when Clocktower's extraction would take place. The principal players weren't as forthcoming with information as she had expected, either.
She dropped the borrowed weapon next to his body, then faded once more into the stillness of the night with a grin on her face and a quiet appreciation for a job well done.
Under her breath, she uttered with a laugh, "So long, Clocktower, we hardly knew ya."
* * * * * * * * * *
Ekko sat in his office with Scar as they covered the day's activities. Many plans that needed to be hashed over and with Roni busy with new recruits, they were largely in the hands of the two of them. Not that he minded. In a lot of ways, he welcomed the return to normalcy. A return to how the world was before they unraveled the plans of two rich megalomaniacs and all of the deaths that surrounded those plans.
They had finished adding Goto and Pepo to their mural and even that gesture failed to capture the true horror of the whole ordeal. The number of bodies left in their wake was staggering. No side walked away unscathed. There were days he'd ask himself if it was worth it. Were those deaths in vain? He had no answers. Danton didn't make it onto the Piltover Council and Branc didn't take over Zaun.
Was that some sort of consolation?
He shook his head at the thought. Maybe it was, but deep down it didn't feel that way. Stenyl, Regina's brother, Pepo, Goto, Ardin, and even the woman who fell to her death deserved better than they got. That thought kept him awake at night.
The only real consolation for Danny and Shari was the amount of coin they inherited from the ordeal. True to his word, Danton had provided him with an extra 150,000 hexes. As much as he didn't want to take Danton's money, he wasn't dumb enough to toss away something earned on top of relieving a dumb-ass rich Piltie of their coin. The whole thing stunk, but he wouldn't let coin donated, even by a bastard like Danton, go unused. They had too many projects and needs that could be better put to use than whatever Danton was going to use it on.
Ekko had given five percent of the total to them. He had no idea what they could do with 11,250 hexes, but it would set them up for the rest of their lives. They wouldn't have to live in Zaun anymore and could finally afford a nice place outside of the city with better living conditions. Shari was considering a quieter life, even if Danny was planning to stay. He could understand Shari's desire to escape the uncertainty of the Lanes and wouldn't hold it against her for doing so.
As for the rest of the coin, its use was still a strong topic for discussion. They were also awarded another 15,000 hexes by the Piltover Council for their assistance in the case as well as some real estate he was planning to use to build a real hospital in Zaun. Caitlyn had convinced officials in Piltover to assist in its development as well. Ekko was worried about who would ultimately control access to it, but the fact it was even becoming a reality was a miracle. One more step in Zaun gaining its real independence.
The case regarding Danton and Branc was nonexistent. Neither of their names were added to the report the sheriff filed with the council. Ekko wasn't happy with the arrangement, however, he did his best to keep his end of the bargain. Danton went back to his normal activities and Branc disappeared from the public eye. Ekko hoped that whatever damage the Firelights had done to them both socially and monetarily was enough to curb their desire for power. At least their desire for power on such a grand scale. The people of Piltover and Zaun had their own problems and definitely didn't need more of them.
Clocktower ended up being the main scapegoat for the whole operation. Caitlyn's report presented him as the main mastermind behind the deaths and the destruction of Danton's building. Jinx wasn't absolved of her crimes, however, she was still held accountable for what she had done. Her role was seen as less severe when weighed against the crimes of Clocktower who had supposedly goaded her into action.
The council swiftly leveled a twenty-five-year prison sentence on him and called it a day. Salo's involvement went unmentioned as well as any mention of radicite. Politics at its worst.
"That's it for today," Ekko told Scar as he closed his notebook.
"You gonna be okay?" Scar asked worriedly.
"I'll be fine. I'm looking forward to starting up this hospital project and setting up an actual judicator is going to take some of the burdens off of us."
Scar stood and headed for the door. "It is, but you've been too quiet recently and we haven't seen Jinx, either."
Ekko sighed as he leaned back in his chair. "I have no idea where she is. I assume she's busy these days."
Scar paused at the door before opening it, staring at Ekko curiously. "How do you feel about that?" he asked.
Ekko shrugged. "How should I feel? She has her own life to live."
"Is that how it is?" his friend asked with a light smirk on his face.
"Are you trying to say something?"
"It's been over a month and from the outside looking in, it seems like you two are fighting or drifting apart..."
Ekko began rubbing his beard subconsciously. "Is that what you think?"
Scar nonchalantly shrugged as he opened the door to the office letting in the semi-cold air. "What should I think?" he asked. Once he stepped through the doorway, he added, "I don't think I matters that much in this situation, boss. I'm only making an observation."
He then left, leaving Ekko alone in his office.
Something unknown transpired between him and Jinx or maybe their relationship stalled. He wasn't sure what, but they hadn't spent much time together in over a month. There were a lot of tasks that required his attention and that didn't leave much room for Jinx since she found those tasks generally boring. Which led to her being absent from his life most of the time.
On some level, he missed having her around. Even with her being away, there were still remnants of her influence everywhere in his office. She was still around, though. He would notice shirts missing or objects in his apartment moved or put away. Sometimes he'd return home to see an indention on his pillow where she had been sleeping.
Much like how it was before the case started and another reminder of how life had returned to normal. Only now he was left with a longing for a woman he was unable to properly communicate his feelings with. He would make sure to find it in his heart to talk to her properly again. To break down the newly formed barrier that had arisen between them.
He reached into one of the drawers on his desk, procured a small slip of paper, wrote a note to himself, and stared at it for a moment. It would be a reminder of what he'd have to do and say the next time he saw her. He smiled to himself, then folded the piece of paper and placed it in his pocket.
Changing things between him and Jinx would be his new goal going forward. He'd find a way to add her light to his world of darkness. He'd only need to summon the courage to be able to do so...
* * * * * * * * * *
"Danton? Who the hell invited his ass here," Sevika bellowed.
"I don't know, but he's on his way up," Renni grumbled.
Smeech took a drag from his pipe, then asked, "Why do we have to deal with him?"
Sevika folded her hands in front of her on the table, then rolled her eyes. "Let's figure it out when he gets here, then get rid of him."
Steka grumbled something unintelligible as she rapped her fingers on the table waiting for whatever was about to happen. She was throwing casual glances at Renata who, like Sevika, was more relaxed than everyone else in the room.
"It's good he's joining us," Renata stated dryly. "I have a few things to discuss with him."
"I believe we all do," Renni added. "The investments he made regarding Starlight Clothing are curious. I'd like to have his thoughts on that."
Renata nodded in agreement. "That, among other things."
Some moments passed before a light hiss interrupted the fidgeting. There was confusion on their faces before they realized something was amiss. Unfortunately, by the time they had attempted to react, it was too late. One by one they all sloppily slumped onto the table at the center of the room or leaned back in their chairs unconscious.
Jinx briefly examined them to make sure everyone was out of commission. It took everything she had to fight the temptation to draw something profound on Sevika's face. Once she was satisfied, she readied a small syringe filled with clear liquid, then took her place next to the main entrance. Patiently waiting for her target to make his entrance.
There was a brief knock on the door before it opened allowing Danton to stroll in unfettered and unannounced. As soon as he entered the room, the smell made him gag, then turn to exit from whence he came in a panic. He wasn't able to make a full turn before Jinx was on him, jabbing the needle into his neck with surgical precision. The shock of it caused him to gurgle on his own spit. Jinx led him to an empty chair at the end of the table, sat him down forcefully, then waved her hand in front of his face.
"Hiya, Danton. Remember me?" she asked playfully while removing her mask.
"You..." he croaked. He tried to say more, only to reach up to grab his throat as the words wouldn't come.
"Don't bother talking. The poison constricts your throat causing you to choke to death," she said as she patted him on the shoulder. "There isn't much time, so I'll be quick. I bet when you entered this room you thought you were so safe. That's how it goes sometimes.
"I was going to respect the agreement you had with The Firelights, I even ignored your idiotic attempt to break out our friend Clocktower. But I just had to draw the line at trying to assassinate the leader of the Firelights. I know you think you were being soooo careful, but you know, people do talk if you ask the right questions." She propped herself up on the table and smiled at him as he did his best to futilely gasp for what little air he could.
"THAT breaks our agreement, you know? Remember that? It's a good thing I didn't trust you. Unfortunately, that doesn't work out so well for you. Where does that leave you now? Dead, obviously, but what happens next?" She waved her hand towards the unconscious chem-barons. "These guys are assholes and to die in a place where they can control the narrative may not bode so well for your estate or even your family. And to think there's not a damn thing you can do about it."
Jinx hopped down from the table and started cleaning up as Danton's eyes slowly glazed over. "See ya," she said with a wave.
Danton's body slumped further in the chair as he took his last breath.
Not wasting any time, she gathered up whatever evidence she could, saluted Danton's corpse, and reattached her mask. She then retrieved a separate syringe from her backpack and placed it in Steka's hand before she stealthily exited the room.
The chem-barons would try their best to smooth the situation over with Piltover as well as the sheriff and she was fine with that. The Piltie bastard wouldn't be getting in Ekko's hair anymore and that was her gift to him and the world. It wouldn't put an end to threats against him and his band of misfits, but it would give them one more day of peace and that was enough.
* * * * * * * * * *
Jinx watched Ekko from afar with sad eyes as he performed his daily jog around the sanctuary. Her mind was troubled and lost as to how to close the rift that had manifested itself so quickly between them. Try as she might, she couldn't figure out where everything went wrong. How she became more distant than usual, falling into old habits of being Ekko's protector. A lonely someone who admired him from the shadows.
Some of it was partially her fault. She had spent more time than she had expected investigating, planning, and executing plans to neutralize threats against him. After a failed assassination attempt on him a week after the conclusion of their case, she was even more on edge, vowing to find those involved and make them pay.
She had managed to intercept the assassin before Ekko knew what happened. To end a threat before it became a serious one. It was one more mark on her jacket. One more reminder of the job she had to do.
A job she took seriously.
It didn't stop her from dreaming of being with him. Nor did it stop her from wishing they could finally move in together like she wanted. She had even packed up most of her belongings for the eventuality he would ask her to formally move in with him.
The problem: he was constantly depressed and every so often she would catch him staring at a piece of paper for a moment, then slip it back in his pocket. No one understood. Everyone worried. Especially her and his parents. He was lost to them, barely functioning socially.
She would try to visit him on some days if for no other reason than to work on the project they had started together. They would make a small amount of progress, only to be stalled by Ekko's overwhelming depression. She couldn't help but feel there was something he wanted to say, something that was on his mind that he couldn't articulate properly and all attempts to pry it out of him went nowhere.
The strained back and forth had been driving her crazy, leading her to settle on a piece of advice she was given to stay away from him. Maybe if he missed her enough he would break out of the funk he was in. It was a long shot and the only card she had left to play since she was completely out of ideas.
Weeks later and she was tired of waiting. As she sat in the shadows and watched him go about his daily routine without her, she felt even more helpless. She missed him terribly and could feel her will faltering by the day. Vi told her time and again that all she had to do was wait and Ekko would accept her. Every day that passed without any movement would cause her confidence to waver. There was no way she was waiting ten years for Ekko to come around.
Where did that leave her?
Lost. Completely lost.
She was still a wanted criminal. She still couldn't roam the city in the open like she used to under Silco. And...she still didn't have the love of the man she wanted...at least not completely.
With her head in her hands, she sighed to herself, then stood with new resolve. She'd find a way to help Ekko even if it killed her. At the very least, she could be happy with the progress she had made and no matter what happened in the coming days and months, Ekko would still be an important part of her life. That thought made all of the efforts she had expended worth it.
She loved him and he loved her. That knowledge would be the glue to hold her together going forward. It had been a long journey and she would see it through until the end.
Was she still afraid of what her love for him would mean?
No, she wasn't. This case had taught her how beautiful their life could be together. Thoughts and feelings that were like seeds implanted in her brain that had taken root. There was no way she was going to give that up now. Before she was a blind woman, staggering through life without understanding the world around her. Now that she had tasted the fruit, there would be no going back, and no shedding the memories of that experience.
Was she happy?
She chuckled under her breath at the thought. She wasn't quite happy...yet. Her life was more complicated, messy, sad, frustrating, tiring, fun, comfortable, and different. She had a new purpose and even friends. No matter what, she would do her best to make Ekko happy. To be there for him like he was for her.
Would that make her happy?
Of course, it would. More than anything else in the world.