𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐱: happy progress day

╰┈➤ 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: implied murder, jinx likes
aviva a little too much

JINX DIDN'T HAVE MANY GOOD IDEAS.

Interesting ones? Sure but great, no. And this has to be Aviva's least favorite.

"Do you actually loathe Progress Day that much?" Aviva questioned, her eyes narrowing as she watched Jinx meticulously prepare whatever strange contraption she was toying with this time.

Jinx grinned, her smile almost too wide, like a cat who'd gotten into the cream. "You could say that." Her voice had that offbeat rhythm to it—jittery, excited, but with a tinge of mania creeping under the surface. "It's all about celebration for the people who think they're winning. But we're the ones left in the dust, right? They've got their shiny city, their little progress, while we rot away here." Her eyes glinted dangerously.

Aviva sighed, rubbing her temples. She was getting better at hiding her irritation, but Jinx always found ways to push her limits. "I don't think it's about that. It's about remembering what we're fighting for."

Jinx laughed darkly, shaking her head. "Fighting for what, exactly? A shiny city? For what? More power for them? So they can stand taller while we're buried under their feet?"

Aviva hesitated, her gaze flickering over Jinx's setup, trying to distract herself from the chaos in her mind. "You're not really interested in Progress Day, are you? You just want to make it... memorable." Her voice was dry, but the edge of curiosity lingered.

"Oh, I love making memories." Jinx's grin widened, eyes flickering with a dangerous gleam. "Just not the kind they want us to remember."

Aviva rolled her eyes, folding her arms as she leaned against the workbench. "And what exactly is your grand plan this time? Exploding balloons? A rain of confetti laced with something toxic? Or are you just going to set Piltover's rooftops on fire and call it performance art?" 

Jinx's laugh was sharp and wild, her hands busy with the device in front of her. "Oh, Viva, you wound me. No faith in my creativity? It's something special, I promise. Big, bold, boomy.*" She punctuated the words by miming an explosion with her hands, her grin stretching wide enough to show her teeth. 

Aviva stared at her, unimpressed. "Boomy. How eloquent." She tilted her head slightly, her voice dropping into a sultry drawl. "And when Silco finds out? What's the plan for that little fireworks show?" 

Jinx's grin faltered for the briefest second before snapping back, manic and unrelenting. "Silco will understand. He'll see. It's for us, for Zaun!" She gestured dramatically, spinning in place as her braids twirled. 

Aviva raised an eyebrow, her composure sharp as ever. "Mmm, sure. Because he's always such a fan of your—how'd Celeste put it—freelance projects." 

Jinx pouted, glancing at Aviva from under her lashes, the corner of her mouth twitching into a playful smirk. "Why do you always gotta be such a downer?" she asked, her voice taking on a lilting, almost teasing quality. 

"I'm not a downer," Aviva replied, her tone calm but cutting. "I'm just realistic. Which is something one of us needs to be." 

Jinx leaned closer, her violet eyes glinting with something more than her usual mischief. "You know what your problem is? You think too small." Her grin turned sly, her manic energy bubbling just beneath the surface. "If you just let go, stopped thinking for once, you might actually enjoy this." 

Aviva's lips twitched into a small, knowing smile. "Let go? Coming from the girl who hasn't let go of that grudge against Piltover since she was ten?" 

Jinx flinched, her smirk faltering for the briefest moment before she recovered, brushing off the jab with a laugh. But there was a flicker of something in her expression—hurt, yes, but also something deeper, more vulnerable. 

"Touché," Jinx said, wagging a finger at her. "But admit it, you're at least a little curious about what I've cooked up." 

Aviva sighed dramatically, running a hand through her dark blue hair. "Curious? Maybe. Concerned? Absolutely." 

Jinx stepped closer, her voice softening, the manic edge slipping away for a moment. "You should be curious. You should be concerned. That's what makes this fun." Her grin stretched wider, but her gaze lingered on Aviva, as if trying to savor every detail, every curve.

Aviva stood a few inches shorter than Jinx, her dark skin glowing in the dim light like polished mahogany, a striking contrast to her freshly cut, very dark blue hair. It was cropped sharply, the ends angled just enough to frame her face with a touch of rebellious elegance. Her gold eyes gleamed with a quiet intensity, flickering like molten metal, a spark that seemed to dare anyone to look away.

The way she moved—fluid, almost effortless—was at once graceful and grounded, as if every step carried a secret, a quiet power hidden beneath a composed exterior. Her outfit clung to her like it was designed to celebrate every line, every curve, without ever needing to shout about it. The soft, sleek fabric hinted at the delicate arc of her waist and the subtle dip of her stomach, exposing just enough to tease without revealing too much. Jinx found herself wanting to trace the soft contours of Aviva's body with her eyes, imagining what it would feel like to follow those lines with her fingers, if only she dared.

It was in the way Aviva stood—poised, unfazed—that Jinx felt an ache, something she couldn't quite place. Her admiration grew with every passing second, each detail of Aviva's presence more intoxicating than the last, pulling Jinx in like a magnet, drawn to the curves and edges that made Aviva all the more impossible to ignore.

"You're staring," Aviva said bluntly, her voice deadpan, though a faint smirk tugged at her lips. 

"Am I?" Jinx said, not looking away. There was a flicker of something in her tone, an almost shy undercurrent buried beneath her usual manic energy. "Guess I can't help it. You're just so..." Her words trailed off, and she waved her hand vaguely in the air. "You know. Distracting." 

Aviva raised an eyebrow, her expression equal parts amused and wary. "Distracting? That's new. Usually, you're too busy tinkering with explosives to notice I'm even in the room." 

Jinx laughed, though it came out a little too loud, a little too forced. "Yeah, well, maybe you're growing on me," she said, nudging Aviva's arm with her elbow. 

"Growing on you like a rash," Aviva quipped, rolling her eyes. 

"Maybe," Jinx shot back, grinning despite herself. But as Aviva turned her attention back to the device, Jinx's smile softened, her gaze lingering just a moment longer than it should have. 

For once, it wasn't the chaos or the explosions that were keeping her attention—it was Aviva. And that, more than anything, scared her.

Aviva sighed dramatically, running a hand through her dark blue hair. "Curious? Maybe. Concerned? Absolutely."
Jinx's laughter filled the room, echoing against the walls. "That's the spirit!" she declared, grabbing Aviva's arm and pulling her closer to the device. "Come on, don't be boring. I promise you're gonna love it."

As Aviva allowed herself to be dragged along, she couldn't help but notice the spark in Jinx's eyes—a mix of chaotic brilliance and something softer, more human. It was unnerving and oddly endearing, like watching a storm roll in from the safety of a window.

Jinx caught her staring and tilted her head, a sly smile playing on her lips. "You're not scared, are you?"
"Of your ideas?" Aviva smirked, her tone dry. "Terrified."
"Good," Jinx said, her voice almost purring. "You should be."

"JINX!" 

Silco's voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding, but his words were swallowed by the blaring music. Jinx's world was alive with chaos, the speakers in her corner blasting a cacophony of sound that drowned out everything else. Aviva, nestled comfortably in her little sanctuary—a corner of Jinx's hideout adorned with old books, trinkets, and a hint of dim, flickering light—sat with her legs tucked beneath her. She wasn't interested in Silco's ranting. She never had been. His presence, always looming like a storm cloud, never managed to rattle her.

"JINX!" Silco shouted again, his patience clearly thinning, his voice rising in fury. With a violent shove, he sent Jinx's recorder player crashing to the ground, the room falling into silence for a brief moment.

That's me!" Jinx chirped, her voice dripping with manic amusement as she flicked a glance toward Silco, her lips curving into a wicked grin. "Half a dozen enforcers dead. Enforcers. Dead!" She giggled, the sound barely audible over the rush of her manic energy. 

"Yeah," Jinx added lazily, her voice trailing off, as if the carnage didn't matter in the slightest.

"A building blown to pieces." 

"Oh, yeah," Jinx repeated, her head resting casually on one hand, the other lazily twirling a stray lock of hair. 

"And you!" Silco yelled across the platform, the words sharper, more desperate now. Aviva, still immersed in her book, didn't even bother to look up at him. Her eyes danced across the pages, a faint, knowing smile playing at the corner of her lips. She'd never been his biggest fan. Not even close. His temper, his threats—none of it fazed her anymore. 

"You knew about this," Silco accused, his voice growing tighter with every word. 

"Possibly." Aviva's response was smooth, almost detached. She didn't need to explain herself to him. The truth, as far as she was concerned, was irrelevant. 

"And you didn't stop her!" 

Aviva blinked slowly, her golden eyes lifting just slightly from her book, the question hanging between them like a challenge. "Was I supposed to?" she asked, her voice low but sharp, a touch of amusement threading through the words. 

Silco groaned, rubbing his temples in frustration, before turning his attention back to Jinx. "Do you have any idea what you've done?" he snarled, his words thick with exasperation. 

"Actually, I do," Jinx said, her voice tinged with a wicked kind of delight. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small, smooth blue ball, the color shimmering in the dim light. She handed it to Silco with a mischievous grin.

Silco took the pearl from her hand, his fingers grazing the cool surface as he examined it closely, his eyes narrowing with cautious interest. The ball pulsed in his palm, as if it held the weight of something far more dangerous than its small size suggested. He looked up at Jinx, the tension between them thickening.

Jinx, undeterred by his scrutiny, pushed herself up from her desk with a giggle, her eyes glinting with excitement. Without another word, she pulled a hidden lever on the wall, and the silence was broken by a series of small fireworks and explosions that erupted throughout the hideout, shaking the very air with the force of each burst. The sound was deafening, but to Jinx, it was music to her ears.

"Happy Progress Day!" she cheered, her voice ringing out with the exuberance of someone who had just set the world on fire—figuratively, of course.

Aviva, who had been watching the chaos unfold from her seat, rolled her eyes playfully, the corners of her lips lifting in a bemused smile. She wasn't impressed, but she wasn't surprised either. She turned the page of her book, letting the noise fade into the background as she carried on, completely unfazed by the mayhem Jinx had just unleashed.

"YOU SAID YOU COULD CONTROL THEM."

The officer's voice was harsh, his frustration bubbling over as he glared at Silco. His words were sharp, cutting through the tension in the room like a knife.

Silco, however, remained as unflappable as ever. He leaned back casually on his couch, his fingers drumming lightly on the armrest, his expression blank but far from concerned. He seemed almost bored by the officer's tirade, unfazed by the mounting pressure.

"I lost six officers. Six!" the officer continued, his voice rising with anger. The loss of his men was clearly weighing on him, but Silco showed no sign of remorse. Instead, he gave a slight shrug, as though the officer's loss was little more than a minor inconvenience. 

"You said you had it under control when 'Iva' sent sentient murder plants into Piltover. You said you had it under control when Jinx blew up a cargo ship. You said you had it under control when those vines began to attack the Academy," the officer went on, each example dripping with frustration. "But they've pushed it too far this time. The Council's up in arms."

Silco didn't flinch, his cold gaze never leaving the officer. He was used to the complaints, used to the failure, and used to the chaos. To him, it was all just part of the game. 

The officer, sensing he wasn't getting through, leaned in slightly, his voice low but edged with desperation. "I can't make this go away for you unless you give me something to work with." 

"Arresting them would be doing you a favor. Just one of them, you don't even have to give up both," Marcus bargained, his tone sharp but offering a slim thread of compromise. His eyes flicked to Silco, calculating the cost of his next words.

Silco's lips curled into a thin, humorless smile as he flicked the lighter open, the small metallic click echoing through the quiet room. "I don't need favors," he said, his voice steady, cold. "I need you to do your job." The air seemed to grow heavier with his words as he held the lighter to the tip of his cigar, the slow flame licking at it until it ignited, casting a faint glow across his sharp features.

The first drag was deliberate, the smoke swirling around him like a cloak. He exhaled slowly, watching the officer with calculated detachment. "The Firelights have been a thorn in both our sides," he continued, his voice almost casual. "They ambushed my ship at Hexgates on the same day as the attack. It seems to me the council has its culprit."

Marcus scoffed, clearly unconvinced. "Oh, that's tidy for you. And what if I'm not interested in playing along?" His arms crossed over his chest, his stance defiant, though it was clear he was on the edge of a dangerous line.

Silco, unfazed, took another slow drag of his cigar, the embers glowing faintly as he exhaled a thick plume of smoke into the air. "We've accomplished a lot together, Marcus," he said, his voice smooth, measured. "Sheriff," he added, gesturing toward the man's badge with a slight nod. "And there is more yet to achieve." Silco leaned in ever so slightly, his eyes narrowing, his words laced with intent.

"I hope you can remain a part of it." His voice dropped to a softer, but more threatening tone.

With a casual flick of his wrist, Silco motioned to one of his henchmen. The man immediately grabbed a heavy bag of coins from the table, shoving it into Marcus's chest. "For their families. From an anonymous, concerned citizen."

Marcus grunted, clearly annoyed but also pragmatic. He scraped his chair back against the floor with a screech, standing up and heading toward the door. His footsteps were heavy, but the coins in his hand weighed far less than the decision he'd just made.

Silco leaned back into his chair, blowing another puff of smoke into the air, the tension in the room thickening.

As much as he cared for them, they truly were a thorn in his side—a thorn that he had to have for the sake of Zaun, but a stubborn one nonetheless. Aviva and Jinx had their uses, but their unpredictability was becoming a complication. Their chaotic presence—no matter how valuable—was growing harder to manage, even for him.

Silco had built this empire with careful precision, laying each brick in place, but these two... these two didn't fit neatly into the plan. They were messy. They were dangerous. But they were his. And he would bend the world to keep them, even if it was a battle every day.

He could admit to himself—just barely—that without them, a part of him would wither. Jinx's madness, Aviva's quiet resolve—it all fueled him in ways he didn't fully understand. But it also terrified him, because for all their strength, they could burn him if they wanted to.

But as much as they were a thorn, they were also his only hope of taking Zaun to the heights he dreamed of. He couldn't afford to lose them.

JINX LEANED BACK ON HER HEELS,

her wide grin stretching across her face as she surveyed the room. The walls were overrun with vines, thick and pulsating, their dark green hues threaded with streaks of shimmering purple. They twisted and coiled like living things, responding to even the faintest movement. But as mesmerizing as the vines were, they weren't what held Jinx's attention.

It was Aviva.

Aviva didn't look up right away, but the corner of her mouth curved into a faint smile. The vine around her wrist slithered free, retreating toward the windowsill to join the others. Without breaking her composure, Aviva set the book aside and leaned back, meeting Jinx's eyes at last.

Jinx swallowed, her grin faltering just enough to betray her. She wasn't used to this—this pull, this heat. She stepped closer, her fingers trailing along Aviva's arm, brushing over bare skin with deliberate slowness. "Soft," she whispered, the word escaping her lips before she could stop it.

Aviva arched a brow, tilting her head slightly. The faintest glint of amusement flickered in her eyes, but her expression remained steady, unreadable.

"You've really outdone yourself," Jinx said, her tone half-admiring, half-teasing. "You've turned your whole room into a death trap. What's next? A tree that spits acid?"

Aviva didn't respond, her fingers idly stroking a smaller vine that had crept onto her lap like a pet. It curled around her wrist, docile for the moment, but Jinx knew better than to underestimate it. These plants weren't just alive—they were predators.

"You've seen them already," Aviva said dryly. "Not much left to surprise you."

Jinx's grin softened slightly, a strange glint of admiration in her eyes. "Yeah, I know. But you've been adding to them, haven't you?" She gestured to the vines that had overtaken every corner of the room, creeping along the ceiling and even slipping under the doorframe. "Every time I visit, there's more. I'm starting to wonder if they're going to start taking over *you* next."

Aviva smirked, closing her book with a quiet snap. "I'm not that easy to take over." She stood up, letting the vine around her wrist slither back toward the window sill, where it mingled with the other, more aggressive-looking plants. "These ones listen to me. They know who's in charge."

Jinx stepped closer, her eyes flicking between Aviva and the writhing vines. She knew what these plants were capable of; she'd seen it before. But still, the sight of them always unsettled her—how they seemed to breathe with a life of their own, how they shifted in response to Aviva's movements.

"They're... they're alive, Aviva," Jinx said softly, a little awed. "Like really alive. Don't that ever mess with your head?"

Aviva turned to look at her, a strange, almost sultry calmness in her gaze. "It doesn't mess with mine." She walked toward the far wall, where a large vine stretched up to the ceiling, its purple tendrils swaying in the air. It likely did, in order to get them this way shimmer wasn't the only component used. Aviva has spent years creating and testing subtabces after substances on her plants, even going as far as injecting them into herself. While the physical effect was definitely present so was the mental. It was clear to everyone that as bright as she was, her calmness didn't come from serenity like it had in the past, it came from a sense the energy these creations stole everytime they entered her bloodstream. "I made them what they are. They're my creations. My... companions."

Jinx couldn't help the shiver that ran down her spine at the word. Companions? The way Aviva spoke of them like that made her seem... so much more dangerous. But it was different than before, the way Aviva's voice had shifted over the past few years. That sweetness, that kindness—so different from the calm, collected woman standing before her now. The shimmer had changed her, turned her into something more intoxicating, more elusive.

"Y'know, I've seen what they can do," Jinx said, trying to shake off the creeping unease in her chest. "They're like... predators. You really let them get that strong?"

Aviva's lips quirked up in a slight smile. "They can be anything I want them to be. And I've been giving them what they need." She paused, turning to face Jinx fully. "They're weapons, Jinx. And Silco knows it."

Jinx tilted her head, her manic grin returning. "Weapons, huh? Guess you really do love making things... dangerous."

"You like it, don't you?" Jinx whispered, her voice barely audible. Her lips brushed against Aviva's ear, not quite touching, but close enough to feel the warmth. Her eyes traced her face, flickering down to her plush mauve lips. "The power, the control. It suits you."

Aviva didn't answer immediately. She let her gaze wander over the plants, the semi-sentient growths that she had poured so much of herself into. She had become part of them, just as they had become part of her. There was something comforting in the way they responded to her, how they bent and swayed at her will, without question.

"Power's a funny thing," Aviva said at last, her voice low. "Some people spend their whole lives chasing it. I don't need to chase it. It comes to me, whether I want it or not." "Yeah but I admire that about you. Sets you apart from the rest." Jinx teased

Aviva turned to face her fully, the soft fall of her hair framing her face like a portrait. For a moment, she didn't say anything, her gaze holding Jinx's with an intensity that was impossible to look away from. Then, slowly, she let her hand rise to meet Jinx's, tangling their fingers together softly.

"You should be careful what you admire," Aviva said softly, her voice carrying a dangerous edge.

Jinx laughed, though the sound was shakier than she intended. Her grin returned, manic and wild as ever, but her heart was still racing in her chest. "Careful's not really my thing," she said, stepping back, though the heat between them lingered.

Jinx bit her lip, her eyes glimmering with a mix of amusement and something else—something deeper, more dangerous. "I really should be worried about you, shouldn't I?" she said, her voice barely more than a whisper, as if she didn't quite want to admit it.

Aviva looked back at her, her dark blue hair falling slightly over her eyes, casting a shadow over her face. "Maybe."

For a moment, the two of them just stood there, the tension between them thick and electric. The vines shifted ever so slightly, responding to the charge in the air, curling tighter around the room as if they could sense the unspoken words hanging between them.

The vines shifted again, their movements slow and deliberate, as though they were watching, waiting. Jinx turned toward the door, her fingers brushing the wood before glancing over her shoulder one last time.

Jinx watched her for a moment, the way Aviva's demeanor shifted, the way the shimmer seemed to glow just beneath her skin. It was intoxicating, unsettling—and entirely too captivating.

"Alright Crazy Plant Lady," Jinx said, her voice softening into something more tender than she intended, "don't think this is over."

Aviva didn't respond, her focus shifting to one of the larger vines that was inching its way toward the door, its barbed tendrils scraping the wood. She didn't need to say anything. Her silence spoke volumes.

Jinx grinned and backed toward the door, her heart pounding in a strange, unfamiliar rhythm. "Alright, alright. I'll go. But just remember—I'm watching you."

The door clicked shut behind her, leaving Aviva alone in the vibrant, writhing room. The vines moved closer, curling around her like old friends, their shimmering hues reflecting the light in soft waves.

Yes, they had plans. But for now, Aviva let herself bask in the quiet power of her creations—and in the knowledge that Jinx's attention was exactly where she wanted it.

𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐒!

"Crazy Plant Lady" Pot calling a Kettle black.

Someone mentioned that Aviva and Jinx are giving Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy and I always had Aviva's whole plot in mind orginally this would have been an Ekko book but it didn't make much sense at all so I switched the Jinx. It's a happy coincidence and I love that for them. (Edit: thank you @/wackerofwenuses)

Yes Aviva acts so calm because she tries the substances she uses on her plants on herself. It affects her heavily making her constantly calm and drowsy. She'll be back to normal next chapter just for the sake of plot and you all understanding what changes she's undergone over the last three years.

Not proofread but also this is the worst chapter I've written so far and I apologize.