Ending the Cycle || A Timebomb Fanfic

XIX

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The streets of Demacia stretched wide and gleaming, lined with pristine stone buildings and bustling with the rigid order of a city steeped in tradition. Lux rode ahead with confidence, her posture straight and noble on her horse, her golden hair catching the sunlight like a beacon. Behind her, Jinx and Ekko followed on their own mounts, their presence a stark contrast to the regimented life around them. Lux had made every effort to blend them into the crowd, dressing them in freshly scavenged Demacian outfits, but the illusion was thin—especially with Jinx.

Lux had done her best, dressing them in the finest garments she could scavenge from the Illuminator temple. Ekko wore a deep navy tunic with silver embroidery along the cuffs and collar, paired with dark, fitted trousers and polished boots. The outfit gave him an air of quiet authority, though the defiant glint in his eyes and his distinctive white dreads betrayed his origins. Jinx, on the other hand, was a different story. Her short, bright blue hair streaked with purple highlights drew curious glances from passersby, and the fiery defiance in her eyes was a sharp counterpoint to the subdued demeanor of the Demacian elite. No amount of fabric could mask her raw, untamed energy. She fidgeted on her horse, tugging at the collar of the white, flowing dress Lux had insisted she wear. The gold trim shimmered elegantly in the sunlight, but to Jinx, it felt like a cage.

That morning, Lux had arrived at their quarters with the garments, her knock startling the pair awake. When the door swung open, the sight had been enough to make her laugh aloud—Ekko and Jinx tangled together in the disheveled bed, bare skin catching the faint glow of dawn streaming through the cracked window. The air in the room was heavy with the unspoken bond between them, a mixture of comfort and tension Lux could practically feel.

"Oh, by the Light," Lux had giggled, covering her eyes with one hand while holding a bundle of clothes in the other. "I'm sorry, didn't mean to interrupt your little love nest."

Jinx had bolted upright, scrambling to grab a nearby blanket and wrap it around herself while Ekko, far less fazed, simply grinned and leaned back against the headboard. "Get out!" she hissed, scrambling to pull on her worn clothes and shoving Lux back into the hallway.

Lux hadn't made it easy for her, laughing and teasing the whole way to her own room. "So, what's it like being rescued by your knight in shining armor, huh? Or should I say, your knight in... very little armor?"

By the time Lux was dragged into her own room, Jinx was still fuming, but Lux's grin hadn't wavered. She laid the garments out on her bed, smoothing the fabric with practiced hands. "You're adorable when you're embarrassed," Lux teased, earning a sharp glare from Jinx.

"I'm not embarrassed," Jinx snapped, crossing her arms. "I just wasn't expecting a lecture from Princess Sparkles first thing in the morning."

Lux laughed, holding up a long white gown with gold embroidery. "No lecture. Just fashion advice. This is for you."

Jinx eyed the dress as though it were a venomous snake. "I'm not wearing that. There's no color. It's too plain."

Lux sighed, her patience evident but wearing thin. "Jinx, you must. Daxen is preoccupied with his family today, and I need you and Ekko to come with me to the Military District. We need to spread the word about the rebellion, I need accompaniments. The Dauntless Vanguard is crucial to our plan. The more soldiers we draw into the district to fight the rebellion, the more chaos we can create. That distraction will give us the chance to lead more people out of the city and to safety."

Jinx's frown deepened, but she didn't interrupt. Lux stepped closer, her tone softening. "The dress isn't about blending in completely—it's about being just noticeable enough to be taken seriously. And right now, I need you to help me be taken seriously."