𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 || A Timebomb Fanfic

Traces of Trust

·:*¨༺ ♱✮♱ ༻¨*:·

The murmur of Firelights echoed through the halls as they prepped for the next mission. Jinx lingered at the back of the room, watching Ekko move between the ranks, giving instructions and double-checking supplies. She studied the way everyone deferred to him, their trust in his words and guidance clear. It was a strange feeling—seeing him command such respect, like he’d become something larger than life. She had grown up around people who demanded authority, but Ekko wore his quietly, like an old, familiar jacket.

“Pretty different from the Ekko I knew,” she muttered under her breath, a ghost of a smile on her lips.

As if hearing her, he looked over, raising an eyebrow. She quickly looked away, crossing her arms and pretending to be thoroughly engrossed in the nearest Firelight’s backpack.

Ekko finished up with the group and crossed the room to where she stood. “Ready?”

She shifted her weight, eyeing him suspiciously. “For what, exactly?”

“For a walk. Figured you’ve been cooped up in here long enough.” He gestured toward the exit, and with a shrug, she followed him.

They walked through the winding tunnels that led out of the Firelight base, side by side in the dim light. The city above was quieter than usual, the distant sounds of Zaun humming like a heartbeat. Jinx had almost forgotten what it felt like to be outside without a mission or a goal driving her.

Ekko broke the silence first. “You know, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you without a scowl.”

She raised an eyebrow, scoffing. “Maybe I’m just planning how to blow up your base.”

He chuckled. “You wouldn’t be the first to try.”

They stopped at a large mural painted on one of the walls. Vibrant colors burst across the concrete, depicting Zaun’s skyline lit by a thousand lights. But in the middle of it all was a figure in motion—a girl with wild hair, a streak of blue trailing behind her like a comet. The details were soft, but there was no mistaking who it was meant to be.

Jinx stared, speechless, at her painted likeness. She hadn’t expected this. “You… you painted this?”

Ekko nodded. “You’re a part of Zaun’s story, Jinx. Just like me. No matter what’s happened between us, that’s still true.”

She reached out, fingers hovering just above the wall. “I… didn’t know anyone remembered.”

His voice softened. “How could we forget?”

A heavy silence fell between them. The mural stood as a reminder of their shared history, of a time before everything had spiraled into chaos. She could almost hear the echoes of their laughter from years ago, back when things were simpler.

But the quiet was shattered by hurried footsteps and whispered voices behind them. They turned to find a group of Firelight kids standing a few feet away, clearly too curious to stay hidden.

One of the younger ones—a scrappy girl with braids and wide, eager eyes—stepped forward, emboldened by Ekko’s smile. “Jinx… can you tell us about… your fights?”

Jinx blinked, caught off guard. She glanced at Ekko, who gave her a small, encouraging nod. Slowly, she knelt down, eye level with the girl. “Well, I can… but are you sure you’re ready for some explosive stories?”

The kids giggled, crowding closer, their faces bright with anticipation. And just like that, Jinx found herself sharing snippets of her adventures. She kept it light, choosing stories that painted her in the best light and leaving out the darker bits.

Ekko watched her, arms crossed, an amused grin on his face as she spun tales for the Firelight kids. It was strange seeing her like this—unmasked, laughing, without the sharp edge of mistrust. She was the Jinx he remembered, but also someone new, someone who didn’t have to live in the shadow of her own chaos.

One of the boys, barely ten, nudged her arm. “So… are you a Firelight now, Jinx?”

She hesitated, the weight of the question hanging in the air. She looked at Ekko, a question in her eyes. He gave her a small smile, a silent reassurance.

“I’m… figuring it out,” she replied, ruffling the boy’s hair. “Guess I’ll have to see if I fit in with you guys.”

The kids let out a collective cheer, and Ekko chuckled. As they dispersed, heading back to the base, Ekko and Jinx were left alone once again.

“So… maybe you are a Firelight, after all,” he said, his tone playful yet sincere.

She looked away, stuffing her hands in her pockets. “Don’t push your luck. I’m not making any promises.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to,” he replied. “But you’re here. That counts for something.”

They walked back to the base together, side by side, the silence between them no longer as sharp. And though neither of them said it, they both felt it—the beginning of something they didn’t quite have a name for, something that didn’t need words to take root.

·:*¨༺ ♱✮♱ ༻¨*:·