Scene context: The time for preparation is over and war is here. Jinx and Ekko ready themselves to step into the battlefield.

—

As the day finally approached, Ekko arrived with news about the Firelights' readiness. They sat on the floor together, surrounded by blueprints, parts, and sketches, going over the final details of their plan. The air felt different tonight—charged with anticipation and something else neither of them could quite name. The next few hours would change everything, and they both knew it.

Jinx had been unusually quiet as they reviewed the plans, her fingers tracing the lines of their sketches with an almost nervous energy. Then, seemingly coming to a decision, she looked up at him with that familiar glint in her eye—the one that always meant trouble of the best kind.

"Just one last thing," she said, her voice softer than usual. She reached for a small jar of pink paint, her fingers hovering over it for a moment before grasping it with sudden determination. "We need our war paint."

Without warning, she swiped her finger through the paint and drew a bold X across Ekko's chest. The pink streak stood stark against his dark top, like lightning against a night sky. Their eyes met, and something electric passed between them—a spark of their old playfulness, but charged with something new.

Ekko's lips curved into a challenging smile as he reached for the jar of pink paint. "That's how you want to play it?"

Jinx's eyes widened a fraction, recognizing the glint in his eye. She barely had time to react before he grabbed a paint bucket of his own.

"Oh, it's definitely on," she breathed, and suddenly they were both moving, trading marks and streaks of colour. Blue crossed pink, curved lines met sharp angles, each stroke a continuation of their unspoken conversation. Paint splashed across cheeks, necks, arms—their laughter echoing off the workshop walls.

Jinx painted crosses across his knuckles, her fingers lingering on his skin. Ekko responded by painting fierce pink lines beneath her eyes, his touch surprisingly gentle despite the swiftness of the motion. They moved in an almost-dance translated into this new, intimate choreography.

"Ekko," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of machinery around them. The playfulness had evaporated, leaving something heavier, more meaningful in its wake.

Ekko's gaze softened as it flicked over her, catching on her newly cropped hair. Short, razor-edged, with a rebellious fringe framing her face, it was a stark change from the wild braids she once wore. He reached up, brushing a strand aside with paint-streaked fingers, leaving a faint smear of purple in its wake.

"It suits you," he murmured, his voice low but steady. "Bold. Like you."

Jinx blinked, caught off guard by the compliment, and for a moment, she wasn't sure what to say. Time seemed to slow—ironic, given his usual relationship with it—as they drew closer, paint-stained fingers intertwining, the unspoken words between them lingering like the faint scent of paint in the air.

When their lips finally met, it felt inevitable, like the resolution of an equation Jinx had been trying to solve for years. The kiss was gentle at first, then deeper, more urgent, tasting of paint and endless possibilities. Her fingers curled into his jacket as his hand cradled the back of her neck, both of them holding on as if they might slip away otherwise.

When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads rested together, breaths mingling in the small space between them. Paint had smeared where they'd touched, creating a canvas of their shared moment—blue and pink swirled together like dawn breaking over Zaun.

"We should probably..." Ekko started.

"Yeah," Jinx agreed, but neither moved immediately. They stayed there, suspended in that moment until the reality of their imposing doom slowly crept back in.

Finally, Ekko reached for their weapons. "Ready?"

Jinx nodded, her eyes bright with a fire that wasn't just about the upcoming battle. "Let's show them what we're about."

⋆ ⋆ ⋆

Jinx's hideout was chaos incarnate, suspended between cliffs deep in Zaun. The space exuded her unmistakable energy: reckless ingenuity blended with childlike whimsy. Neon lights bathed the area in hues of pink, blue, and green, their soft glow reflecting off metallic surfaces and casting erratic shadows on the surrounding rock walls.

The central structure, a hollowed-out industrial ventilation tower, served as the core of her lair. Its circular platform was cluttered with scavenged Zaunite tech, mechanical tools, and mismatched parts, every inch of it layered with personal touches. 

The contraption was drenched in her signature style: graffiti sprawled across every available surface, vibrant scribbles of robots, stars, and cryptic phrases and formulas that seemed pulled from the depths of Jinx's chaotic mind. Drawings, some messy and spontaneous, others surprisingly detailed, spilt across every available surface. Interwoven with her own creations were new additions from Isha, an unmistakable collaboration born of late nights and shared secrets, creating a strange harmony only they understood. 

The system itself was unmistakably the ventilation fan system from some sort of old industrial tower. The blades, large and worn, were still attached to a massive tunnel-like structure, designed to push air, not lift a balloon. But Jinx, with her unyielding creativity and knack for turning scrap into something functional, had found a way to make it fly. She had cut off the top of the tower, turning the once-immense fan system into a sort of makeshift propulsion. The rest of the apparatus? It had all been rigged with whatever Ekko could scavenge. The giant parachute—now attached to the top—had been repurposed to provide lift, adding an odd yet effective buoyancy to the machine. 

The result was something that looked more like a cross between a flying fan and a blimp than any sleek, traditional hot air balloon.

Ekko squinted up at the patchwork canopy and down at the precariously bolted fan system. He ran his hand along one of the support beams he'd helped reinforce, recognizing parts from a dozen different expeditions. "You know, when you first showed me these plans, I thought you'd finally lost it completely," He teased, sarcasm dripping from his voice. "And now, I see I was definitely right in thinking that."

"Please," Jinx scoffed, playfully. "Don't tell me you're chickening out right before we get to the best part—the part where we finally take this baby out for a ride."

"You realize this thing is still basically held together by chewing gum and luck, right?" He said, but his tone was more affectionate than critical. He'd watched her work, seen the brilliant method behind her apparent madness.

"No, actually, it's held together by genius, duct tape, and sheer willpower. That's the secret formula." Jinx shrugged nonchalantly, her voice full of pride. 

They climbed into the cockpit, a mess of mismatched tech and pipes. Jinx pulled a lever, and the fans whirred to life with a deafening roar. The ground shook as the blades spun, and slowly the hideout began to lift. The patchwork canopy strained against its tethers, catching the wind.

"You're seriously telling me this thing is going to fly?" 

"Fly? Nah, it's gonna soar. Zaun-style, baby!" Jinx threw her arms wide, her confidence unshaken as the machine wobbled off the ground like a drunken bird.

"This is insane. You're insane."

Ekko couldn't stop the laugh that escaped him, shaking his head in disbelief. It was reckless, absurd, and so completely her. 

For the first time in what felt like ages, Jinx's eyes gleamed with unbridled energy, her contagious grin brighter than the neon glow around them. The shadows that had clung to her—dark and suffocating—seemed to have lifted, replaced by the unrelenting force of her raw, chaotic spirit.

"Duh," Jinx shot him a mischievous look as she tugged at a lever. "You think boring people build flying hideouts? Now quit whining and grab that lever over there."

Ekko did as she asked, and the machine stabilized, its janky mechanisms somehow working in harmony. "See? Told you it'd work. Now buckle up, time boy. We've got a city to save."

They set course for the heart of the Firelight territory, where the massive tree that housed their base spread its branches like protective arms. As they approached, Jinx fell quiet, her eyes drinking in the sight she'd only heard whispers about. Lanterns swayed between the branches, casting warm light on the platforms and walkways that wound through the leaves. It was beautiful in a way she hadn't expected—organic and mechanical existing in perfect harmony.

The Firelights spotted them before they landed, gathering in curious clusters as the machine descended. Ekko guided them to a landing platform, the impact sending tremors through the wooden boards. Before the propellers had fully stopped spinning, they were surrounded by wide-eyed rebels, some pointing, others whispering in amazement.

A tall figure emerged from the crowd. "I'm Scar, second in command," he said, extending a hand toward Jinx. "Looks like you've brought us something interesting."

Jinx hesitated for just a moment before taking his hand. "Just a little invention for our war effort," she replied, her usual bravado softened by uncertainty. "Thought you guys might need a bird's-eye view of the battlefield. Plus, this baby can carry enough firepower to make Ambessa think twice."

"We do," Scar nodded, a slight smile breaking through his serious demeanour. "But I've got to admit, this is something else. Never thought I'd see the day when Jinx's chaos would be working for us instead of against us."

The other Firelights pressed closer, their initial wariness giving way to excitement as they examined the flying machine. Questions flew faster than Jinx could answer them, and she found herself drawn into animated discussions debating tactical advantages and pointing out potential combat formations they could use with both in the air.

Ekko took in the scene before him from a distance, letting her mingle with the Firelights. It was a pleasant sight seeing her engage so lively with everyone—a glimpse of what could have been if things had gone differently years ago. But the moment was cut short as a scout rushed toward him, breathing hard.

"They're moving," the scout reported between breaths. "Noxian forces spotted approaching the Piltover Bridge. They're earlier than expected."

The news rippled through the gathering like electricity. Ekko's command rang out clear and sharp, and the Firelights scattered with practised efficiency, gathering weapons and mounting hoverboards. The playful atmosphere evaporated, replaced by the tense focus of warriors preparing for battle.

Before they boarded, Ekko pulled something from his pack—a jacket he'd been working on, his jacket, modified with touches of both their styles. "Here," he said, holding it out to her. "Thought you might need this."

Jinx ran her fingers over the worn fabric, taking in the familiar scuffs and patches that told the story of countless missions, now interwoven with details that were uniquely her. She slipped it on, the fabric still smelling of him, like it had been waiting for her all along.

Dawn broke over Zaun, casting long shadows through the tree's branches as Jinx's machine rumbled to life. As they rose higher, the distant skyline of the city began to take shape, the battle ahead looming on the horizon. Behind them, the Firelights formed up in tight formation, their hoverboards humming with barely contained energy.

Jinx caught Ekko's eye and grinned—that wild, fearless grin he remembered from their childhood, now framed by her newly cropped hair that seemed to emphasize every sharp angle of her face. But now it wasn't just chaos behind that smile. It was purpose.

Into battle they went, toward a war that would decide the fate of both their cities.

—

Author's note:

Hey everyone! This marks the end of the story within the specified timeline gap. These chapters reflect what I wish we could've seen glimpses of in the season finale. What they delivered to us this season pales in comparison to what this very show gave us just one season ago. While I understand the pacing and story decisions were likely impacted by budget constraints, I can't help but feel other unnecessary scenes could've been trimmed to make room for more meaningful Jinx and Ekko content. Their arcs deserved more attention in this final act, and I truly believe scenes like the ones I've written here would have added depth and impact to their story.

Thank you for reading!💙