Ending the Cycle || A Timebomb Fanfic

XVIII

HEAVY HEAVY SMUT IN THIS CHAPTER PLEASE BE ADVISED!!!

Please forgive me for the VERY long chapter, I needed to make sure everything was perfect for them to have their moment at last :,)

I've never been more proud of a chapter in my life tbh, so please please please enjoy <3

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Lux led Jinx and Ekko through the dimly lit corridors beneath the temple, their footsteps echoing softly against the stone walls. The underground passages stretched endlessly, some lined with shelves overflowing with ancient books and scrolls, while others were cloaked in shadows, untouched and heavy with the scent of dust and time. Flickering lanterns cast uneven light, creating shifting patterns that danced across the cracked stone.

Jinx's pace began to falter as they passed an empty, darkened room. The faint chill that seeped from the doorway caught her attention, and she slowed to peer into the black void. Something about the room tugged at her, a pull she couldn't quite place. Her steps grew hesitant, her body leaning toward the threshold as she gazed into the shadows.

"Jinx?" Ekko's voice broke through the quiet, gentle but tinged with concern. He had stopped a few paces ahead, turning back to find her lingering at the doorway.

But Jinx didn't respond. Her breath hitched as her eyes adjusted to the darkness, catching faint traces of neon pink and orange streaking through the void like phantom flames. The colors pulsed faintly, their glow a stark contrast to the oppressive blackness. Her heart quickened, and in the center of the room, silhouetted by the eerie hues, stood a figure she thought she'd buried in her memories.

Silco.

He was there—or at least, some manifestation of him. His tall, lean frame, his sharp, calculating gaze. His presence radiated the same twisted confidence she had once been drawn to, the same authority that had ruled her life. His expression was inscrutable, hovering somewhere between pride and disdain, and though she knew it wasn't real, it felt all too vivid.

Her teeth sank into her lip as she stood frozen, caught between disbelief and anger. He wasn't real. He couldn't be. But still, his shadowy form seemed to shift, as if mocking her—taunting her with everything she had become, everything she was trying to leave behind. The memory of his words echoed in her mind, sharp and cutting. You're my masterpiece. Was he proud? Disappointed? The questions gnawed at her, pulling her deeper into the weight of her own doubts.

Jinx's hands trembled as she clenched them into fists, trying to steady herself. She wasn't the girl Silco had molded anymore. She was breaking free of the cycle he had reveled in—fighting for something good, something real. Saving lives instead of taking them. But even now, in the safety of this temple, his phantom held power over her, a cruel reminder of the chaos she carried.

"Jinx," Ekko said again, stepping closer, his voice cutting through the haze of her thoughts.

She blinked rapidly, tearing her gaze away from the room. The faint glow faded as the shadows reclaimed the space, leaving only darkness behind. Her breath was uneven as she ran a hand through her hair, trying to shake the vision from her mind.

"I'm okay," she said at last, though her voice was quieter than she intended. She forced a small smile, rubbing her temple as if to dispel the lingering tension. "Sorry... just got lost for a second."

Ekko studied her, his brow furrowed, but he didn't press. Instead, he offered a faint nod, his concern clear in his eyes. "Alright," he said softly. "But you'd tell me if something was wrong, yeah?"

Jinx hesitated, then gave a short nod. "Yeah. Let's just keep moving."

Lux had paused further down the corridor, watching them with a curious but understanding expression. Jinx straightened her posture and caught up, brushing past the doorway as if leaving the weight of the vision behind. But as they continued through the underground halls, she couldn't help but glance over her shoulder once, half-expecting the glow to return.