Ending the Cycle || A Timebomb Fanfic

XIII

Happy Santacon for the college students out there that celebrate LMAO

Drinking tonight (again) for these cuties <3

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Days passed, and as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the sanctuary in hues of orange and gold, Jinx and Lux found themselves perched atop one of the tallest broken buildings in Terbisia. The crumbling structure had become a quiet refuge amidst the chaos, its jagged edges silhouetted against the evening sky. From their vantage point, they could see the patchwork of rebuilt homes, tents, and campfires that made up the sanctuary below—a place of survival, but also hope.

The two sat side by side, legs dangling over the edge, the cool evening breeze brushing past them. It was a rare moment of peace, a chance to reflect on the weight of their pasts and the uncertainty of their futures. Their conversation drifted between topics, lighthearted one moment and heavy the next, as they shared pieces of themselves in the waning light.

Jinx leaned back, propping herself up on her hands. Her eyes shimmered faintly in the dimming light, but her gaze was distant, her mind drifting to memories she rarely allowed to surface. The soft murmur of life below filled the air—voices, laughter, the faint crackle of fires being stoked for the afternoon.

Her wandering thoughts stilled when her eyes caught sight of Ekko in the distance, down among the bustling sanctuary. He was surrounded by a group of children, their giggles carrying up to where she sat. Her lips curved into a soft, unguarded smile as she watched him. He moved with an easy confidence, chasing the kids as they squealed with delight. When he scooped up a little girl, her laughter pealed out like music as he tossed her gently into the air before catching her again. The sight tugged at something deep within Jinx, a flicker of warmth in the chaos she so often carried.

"He quiets the voices," she murmured, her voice soft and unsteady, as though the admission cost her something. Her eyes stayed fixed on him, watching as he crouched to ruffle the hair of one of the kids before chasing after another. "Just like Isha did. When I lost her..." Her voice faltered, and she swallowed hard, her fingers curling against the edge of the roof. "I never thought I'd feel that again. That calm, that... safety. But I do, with him."

Her words lingered in the air, a rare moment of vulnerability that felt almost sacred. Lux, sitting beside her with her knees drawn up to her chest, turned to look at her, her sapphire eyes thoughtful. She said nothing, letting Jinx's words settle between them, unbroken by commentary or judgment.

For Jinx, the sight below wasn't just heartwarming; it was a reminder that, despite everything—despite the scars, the chaos, and the weight of her past—there were still moments of light, still people who made her feel like she could belong. And in that moment, the voices in her head that so often taunted her seemed quieter, almost silent, replaced by the sound of Ekko's laughter and the soft, fleeting comfort of hope.

"He cares for you a lot," she said gently, her tone not probing but affirming, as though stating an undeniable truth.

Jinx let out a soft, almost bitter laugh, her gaze flicking to the horizon. "I know," she admitted, the words quiet but laced with an edge of disbelief. "I don't get it, though. I don't get why. After everything I've done... everything I am. He should hate me. He should've left me behind a long time ago. But he didn't."

Lux shifted, drawing her knees up to her chest and resting her chin on them as she considered her response. "Maybe he sees something in you that you don't," she said after a moment, her voice steady but kind. "Maybe he sees the parts of you you're too scared to look at—the parts that deserve to be loved."

Jinx was silent for a long moment, her fingers absently tugging at the frayed hem of her worn-out shirt. Her gaze drifted to the horizon, but her thoughts were clearly elsewhere. "It's scary, you know?" she said at last, her voice barely above a whisper. "Letting someone in like that. Trusting them not to leave. It's easier to push them away... to make them hate me before they get the chance to hurt me."