It's a Lovely Day in Piltover (Lux/Jinx)

Chapter 12: Mascara Tears and Vanilla Spice

Rattlerattlethump.

Powder's eyes shot open at the sound and she sat up with a groan, rubbing at her eyes. She'd been... sleeping? Right, right, the homework they'd been assigned. It was just so dry and boring and bland. It was still on the bed next to her head. Why had she woken up? Noise from the window -

Creaaaak, as it slid up on its hinges. Hurried, quiet breaths. The scrambling sound of someone stepping over the sill, feet squelching from dampness in their shoes or boots.

"Um." She frowned and got to her feet, ready to punch whoever thought it would be a good idea to invade her room. "Excuse me? Can I help you?" She couldn't see their face, because of the streetlights behind them, but - damn, when had it gotten dark?

She didn't recognise them at first because whoever it was was wearing some of the trashiest Zaun streetwear she'd seen - it was clearly soaked through but even before then it had been extremely skimpy - beyond even the craziest outfits she'd worn as Jinx. And then they spoke - "Pow, Powder, you're here, you're here - " and launched herself at her and Powder caught her Sunshine and held on tight.

"Whoa there. Are - are you okay? What are you wearing?" More like what she wasn't wearing, gods. There were streaks of red like dried blood that hadn't been washed off properly, but no visible cuts she could find in her frantic searching.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm - " She was wearing makeup too - specific makeup, the kind of makeup worn by a worker at the sort of places Babette didn't even sneer at since she felt too much pity for the girls there. Glittery and running with water and tears and - blood? "I'm sorry, please, please, it's okay if you hate me it's okay I just - I'm sorry and I don't know what to do, I'm sorry - "

Well, Powder was fucking glad Vi and Cait were out late at the office, because them seeing Lux in this state wouldn't be good for anyone. It was barely good for her, honestly, but she - if Lux was upset she had to stay together and help her. "Well, uh. First, we're having a shower and getting you cleaned up. Then we can wrap up in blankets and talk? If - if that's okay with you. I promise I don't hate you." What could Lux even do that would make Powder hate her? She couldn't think of anything short of murdering Cait and Vi.

"You will." She'd curled down so much into Powder, burying the point of her chin in her shoulder. "You should. I'm - I thought I could - I've never known what to do but that's no excuse - "

"Hup!" Powder swept Lux's legs up and started carrying her. "We're having a shower and then cuddling, okay?" Was it terribly over-applied eyeshadow or bags under Lux's eyes? Had she been sleeping okay? Cait and Vi kept making noises in the middle of the night but bad dreams weren't contagious, right? "I've... kinda got something I want to talk to you about too, but it can wait. Whatever it is, unless it's like - I dunno, you found Fishbones, fired the SMDR at me and somehow got here first, in which case we run."

"No. They'd. Probably want me to do that. I couldn't. I wouldn't. I wanted to - to keep a balance but it went wrong."

They? "Work-life balance?" They probably meant her bosses. Whoever was in charge of the Embassy, or... her 'extracurriculars' like Viktor had suggested. Pushing open the bathroom door with her foot, flicking on the lightswitch with her elbow, cuddling Lux closer as she shut the door behind them. Now - now wouldn't be a good time to ask about the possibilities.

Lux's laugh was wet. "Sort of. I. I have to - I have to tell you. I - " Her face crumpled and her hands were suddenly trying to claw at her forearms, little flashing light shapes forming on them so she could dig deeper -

"Hey! Hey, Lux." Putting her down, holding her hands, keeping them away from herself. "Shh. It's okay. Whatever it is, just - please, please don't hurt yourself. It'll be okay. And if it isn't I'll make it okay."