𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: A timebomb collection

The Fake Dating Mission

Ekko adjusted his collar for the third time, feeling way out of place in the crisp, formal clothes he was wearing. It had been a long time since he’d been forced into anything fancy, and this high-society gala in Piltover was definitely not his scene. The chandeliers sparkled overhead, and the guests all looked like they’d been polished to perfection.

“Remember, we’re here for one reason,” he muttered under his breath as he approached the entrance. “Get in, talk to our target, and get out.”

What he hadn’t expected, however, was the figure waiting by the door—wearing a sleek, black dress that hugged her form, with her blue hair tied up in a surprisingly neat bun. Jinx. She stood there, looking completely at ease, tapping her fingers against her leg as if she hadn’t just broken into a high-class gala like it was no big deal.

Ekko stopped dead in his tracks.

“What... what are you doing here?” he whispered harshly as he reached her.

Jinx grinned, her lips painted a deep red to match her mischievous attitude. “Same reason you are, Timeboy. I’m here for the job.”

Ekko ran a hand over his face. “Great. And what’s the plan now?”

Jinx shrugged, glancing around at the fancy guests sipping champagne and mingling. “Well, I figure since we’re both here, we might as well work together. For old time’s sake, yeah?”

Ekko narrowed his eyes. “You’re not going to blow anything up, right?”

“Me? Blow something up?” Jinx put a hand on her chest, feigning innocence. “Why, I’m here to gather information, same as you.”

Ekko sighed. “This is a mistake.”

Jinx winked. “You love my mistakes.”

Before Ekko could respond, one of the security guards eyed them from across the room. Without missing a beat, Jinx looped her arm through Ekko’s, smiling sweetly. “Looks like we’ve been spotted, darling.”

Ekko tensed. “What are you—?”

“Shhh,” Jinx whispered, pulling him closer. “Play along, honey. You wouldn’t want to blow our cover now, would you?”

Ekko’s face flushed. He shot a nervous glance toward the guard, who was still watching them suspiciously. “Fine,” he muttered. “But after this, we’re never doing this again.”

Jinx leaned in, batting her eyelashes. “We’ll see about that.”

Together, they strolled into the ballroom, arm in arm, blending into the crowd of wealthy, well-dressed people. Ekko couldn’t believe he was doing this—fake dating Jinx of all people—but it was the only way they could move around without raising suspicion. They needed to get to their target, a corrupt businessman who had ties to both Piltover and Zaun, and this was the only way to get close.

As they walked through the crowd, Jinx gave Ekko a sideways glance. “You know, we make a pretty convincing couple.”

Ekko tried not to roll his eyes. “This isn’t a game, Jinx. Focus.”

“Oh, I’m focused. Just... maybe not on what you think.” She smirked, clearly enjoying herself far more than she should.

“Let’s just find our guy and get this over with,” Ekko muttered, scanning the room.

Their target, a wealthy industrialist named Garen Hawke, stood near the bar, chatting with some elites. He was the kind of guy who thought he could control everything with enough money, and Ekko knew Jinx was itching to teach him a lesson. But for now, they had to keep things civil.