𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐭𝐰𝐨: 𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴

   ╰┈➤ 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: mention of murder (?)

𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐂𝐎 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐃 for Aviva to be a beacon, a flame to ignite the hearts of Zaun's people. A symbol of defiance, resilience, and power. And, she was.

Well—she wasn't. Not her, anyway. But you understand the idea.

For all his cunning, Silco had overlooked one crucial element in building a movement:
He had forgotten to make her a spectacle.

Oh, there were rumors. Whispers darted through Zaun's alleyways like rats, carrying tales of Silco's girls. The one who turned destruction into an art form, chaos wrapped in blue braids and manic laughter. And the other—Aviva—the woman with the plants. They said her creations could devour a man whole, their roots entangling his last breath.

Everyone knew to fear them, to avoid crossing paths with the deadly duo. They were faces to remember, warnings whispered to children. But they weren't legends. Not yet. They were names spoken in hushed tones, shadows that loomed but never fully materialized.

Until now.

Jinx had done what many hadn't. And what many shouldn't. She had attacked the council, leaving a trail of chaos that injured several members and left one dead. As tragic and twisted as it was, the act became a spark—a fire that ignited a revolution. Everywhere Aviva turned, she saw them: people flooding the streets with blue-dyed hair, their faces alight with defiance. "Jinxers," she believed they called themselves, a name both reverent and rebellious.

Jinx was no longer a bad omen whispered about in fear or a cautionary tale. No, now she was a hero. A symbol. In her name, people rose from the depths, their chains broken, their voices loud. They painted her face on walls, a maniacal grin crowned with a halo of neon light. She had become the embodiment of Zaun's fury and hope—chaos turned into purpose, destruction reborn as freedom. Even Isha, the little girl who once cowered in the shadows of Jinx's rampage, had joined in. She crept out into the streets when Aviva wasn't looking, spray-painting murals of her idol and slipping into riots with a smirk that was far too familiar.

And where was Zaun's mighty hero now?

"Ladies and gentlemen. You're in the wrong place," Jinx purred into her makeshift microphone, her grin wide enough to split the room. "Scumbags and scalawags, put your hooks and paws together for the meanest, ugliest, goriest spectacle of your lives!"

The words echoed through the dimly lit hideout, bouncing off the metallic walls like a carnival barker's call. Jinx's voice was alive, dripping with theatrical flair as she paced atop a rickety table, her microphone nothing more than a hollow pipe adorned with mismatched wires and bolts.

"In the grey corner, the undefeated champion, with claws and teeth like sharper daggers. The devilish, the wretched—Stink Maw!"

Aviva sat off to the side, her back resting against a pile of crates as she watched the scene unfold. Isha stood at the edge of the makeshift arena, her small frame taut with excitement, eyes sparkling as Jinx's words filled the air. Aviva couldn't help but smile faintly. It was hard not to, seeing Isha's unrestrained joy radiate in waves.

"And in the other grey corner," Jinx continued, drawing out her words with dramatic glee, "The challenger. A rising star, with mandibles and a face that would make a brood mother squirm. The creepy, the dastardly—Scuttle Butt! Two will enter, and after that, who knows?"

Isha was practically vibrating now, bouncing on the balls of her feet, her hands pressed to her cheeks in an effort to contain the sheer thrill coursing through her. It was futile—her excitement burst forth in little squeals and an eager shuffle of her boots.

"Handlers, release your beasts!"

Aviva knew exactly how this looked. When had Jinx—a menace to society and half the reason the city lived in fear—opened a monster-fighting ring? Around the same time she joined a knitting club or started a Zaunite book club.

She didn't.

But it wasn't far off. Because instead of dealing in monsters, Jinx had roped Isha into a hobby so utterly ridiculous that even Aviva struggled to keep a straight face: beetle battles. Not the tame kind either—oh no. These were spectacles.

Jinx didn't just let two beetles square off and call it a day. No, she built elaborate, neon-lit arenas complete with tiny props, painted flaming skulls on the bugs' shells, and equipped them with fake "weapons" glued to their backs. One poor beetle had tiny chainsaws on its legs. Chainsaws. Though they had refused to hold keep them on.

Aviva pinched the bridge of her nose but couldn't stop herself from smiling. Across the table, Isha was nearly vibrating with excitement, her little hands clasped together like this was the fight of the century.

Jinx didn't open a monster ring, but she had created something equally outrageous. This wasn't chaos in the streets or shimmer-fueled riots. It was Jinx and Isha's version of glory: glittered-up bugs in tiny death matches.

And somehow, somehow, this was still one of the saner things Jinx had come up with.

"No, no. What are you doing? Show some effort," Jinx whined, stomping over to the arena as Stink Maw was promptly knocked out, landing in a sad heap just outside the ring. She groaned dramatically, dragging her hands down her face as Isha burst into delighted cheers, throwing her arms in the air with an infectious laugh.

Jinx crouched down, grabbing Stink Maw by its spindly middle and holding it up like a washed-up prizefighter. "Congratulations on your victory," she muttered, casting a begrudging glance at Isha.

Then her gaze flicked to the beetle dangling from her fingers. "Well, you're past your prime, champ," she said with mock solemnity, letting it dangle dangerously over the edge of the table. "Only thing to do is—"

Before she could finish, Isha tugged firmly at her arm, pointing to the scroll clutched in her little hands.

Jinx blinked, mid-dangle, her manic energy briefly interrupted. "A rematch?" she asked, tilting her head curiously.

Isha tapped the scroll insistently, her expression serious.

Jinx's face brightened, her free hand flying up in excitement. "Return of the titans!" she crowed, her grin widening. "Vengeance, redemption, the inexplicable release of bodily gases!" She gestured with dramatic flair, the words rolling off her tongue with unbridled glee.

From the corner, Isha shot Aviva a deadpan look, silently asking for backup.

Aviva didn't even look up from her book, only shrugging lightly, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "A promise is a promise," her expression seemed to say.

Isha, undeterred, cleared her throat and unrolled the scroll to reveal the wanted poster she and Jinx had painted over. She tapped it again, more firmly this time, her eyes narrowing slightly as if to say, Focus.

Jinx groaned loudly, her face scrunching up like she'd just been asked to eat her vegetables. She glanced at Aviva for a split second, clearly looking for an out. Aviva quirked an eyebrow in response, a silent reminder of the deal they'd made earlier.

"All right, all right," Jinx finally relented, sighing so theatrically it could have been a performance in itself. "I still think it's a dumb idea. But I guess you won, and a deal's a deal." She rolled her eyes, muttering as she scooped up Stink Maw and examined it like a coach sizing up their player. "I guess."

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐁𝐔𝐙𝐙𝐄𝐃 with mischief that night, the bathroom bathed in the flickering glow of a single overhead light. Isha sat cross-legged in the middle of the tub, her tiny hands gripping the edges to keep herself steady. She tilted her head up toward Jinx and Aviva, her wide eyes sparkling with excitement.

"All right, kiddo," Jinx said, balancing a cracked bowl of paint precariously in one hand. "You ready to look like a walking talking blueberry?"

Isha grinned but stayed silent, her excitement showing in the way she wriggled slightly in place.

"Hold still," Aviva instructed gently, kneeling by the edge of the tub. Her white hair fell forward into her face as she mixed the vibrant blue and streaks of purple paint with a battered spoon. "This isn't dye, it's paint, so... don't freak out when it feels colder than it should. And smells weird."

Jinx cackled, already dipping a paintbrush into the concoction. "Cold and messy, the best combination! Trust me, it'll look awesome."

Isha gave a small, enthusiastic nod, tapping the edge of the tub with her fingers as if to say, Get on with it already.

Aviva rolled her eyes at Jinx before reaching into the bowl and scooping out a dollop of paint with her hand. "Okay, head down, kid," she said, her tone soothing but firm.

Isha leaned forward, curling her arms around her knees as Aviva gently worked the paint through her short hair, smoothing it evenly from root to tip. The electric blue and rich purple swirled together, transforming her dark locks into something vibrant and alive.

Meanwhile, Jinx took a less precise approach, slathering paint on with wild abandon. "Oh, yeah, this is gonna be epic," she said, dramatically flicking the brush like she was creating a masterpiece.

"Jinx," Aviva warned, pausing to give her a sharp look, "try not to get it all over her face."

"Relax, Viv," Jinx replied, grinning wickedly as she leaned closer to Isha. "A little extra color never hurt anyone, right?" She gently booped the girl's nose with the edge of the brush, leaving a tiny streak of purple.

Isha let out a silent laugh, her shoulders shaking with glee.

Aviva sighed but couldn't keep the smile off her face. "You're impossible," she muttered, focusing back on spreading the paint evenly.

"Impossible?" Jinx scoffed. "Please. You know what's impossible? That you ever stopped dyeing your hair. We could've all had matching blue hair! We'd be triplets! Imagine it—Team Blue!"

Aviva rolled her eyes, but a small, genuine laugh slipped out. "Pretty dysfunctional team we'd have going on."

"Exactly!" Jinx said triumphantly, throwing her arms in the air.

When they were finally done, Aviva sat back on her heels, examining their work. "Okay, I think that's it," she said, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "But no peeking until it's dry. Got it?"

Isha tilted her head back and pouted silently, her lips forming a clear please?

"Nope," Jinx said, crossing her arms with exaggerated sternness. "Rules are rules. No spoilers until the grand reveal!"

Isha groaned silently, throwing her head back in mock despair, but her bright smile gave her away.

The three of them burst into laughter, the room filled with warmth and a faint chemical tang from the paint. For a moment, the world outside didn't matter. In this little bathroom, smeared with paint and chaos, they weren't rebels or outcasts—they were just a patchwork family, making something beautiful out of nothing.

Though that nothing didn't last long. A day later, Sevika stormed into the hideout, her sharp presence cutting through the haze of music like a thunderclap. Trailing behind her was Celeste, her striking pink-haired girlfriend trailing behind her like an aloof pixie. They both sported new haircuts, though Aviva would admit— out loud if you let her—she liked Sevika's a lot less.

"You could've warned me," Sevika said, her voice cutting through the noise like a blade. She directed her words at the back of a blue-haired head slouched in the corner.

Rock music rattled the walls, a loud, rebellious anthem Jinx had blasted on repeat since morning. Aviva lay flat on her back, staring at the ceiling, futilely chasing sleep. Sevika's disapproving scowl seemed louder than the music, while Celeste's unreadable expression gave away nothing, her sharp gaze taking in the chaotic lair like she was cataloging a disaster site.

"You could've warned me," Sevika snapped, her voice thick with irritation. She glared at the back of a blue-haired head slouched in the corner.

"Fat chance," Jinx replied, spinning her chair around in a lazy arc. Her grin stretched wide, equal parts innocence and malice. "About what?" She propped an elbow on her thigh, cocking her head.

"Your stunt at the checkpoint," Sevika bit out, her tone heavy with accusation.

Jinx's grin widened, infuriatingly casual. "No idea what you're babbling about."

Aviva groaned softly, dragging herself up on her elbows with all the energy of a cat woken mid-nap. Her bleary gaze shifted between Sevika's taut jaw and Jinx's devil-may-care smirk.

"That wasn't you?" Sevika asked, her brows drawing together in suspicion.

Jinx's grin faltered, her gaze flicking to Isha, sitting quietly in the corner, as if the answer was tucked behind the girl's silent lips. Jinx raised her eyebrows in silent question.

Isha shrugged, her response a soft, noncommittal hum.

Aviva's stomach twisted at the exchange. She had always feared it, this creeping inevitability. The chaos she and Jinx lived and breathed—mostly Jinx's chaos—seeping into Isha's quiet, malleable edges. It wasn't just worry now; it was a quiet resignation that she couldn't keep the wildness from spreading.

Sevika's sharp eyes followed Jinx's gaze to Isha, narrowing briefly before snapping back. She exhaled through her nose, an almost imperceptible sigh of frustration. "Well, however it happened, the whole Undercity's buzzing, saying you're back."

"So I'm thinking—" Sevika started.

"Not your strong suit," Jinx interrupted with a wicked smirk, leaning back in her chair, spinning it slightly for effect.

Celeste let out a soft, bell-like laugh that Sevika ignored, her focus unwavering. "Would make a world of difference if you showed up."

Jinx let out an exaggerated sigh, flopping back dramatically as her chair creaked under the strain.

"You're a symbol," Sevika pressed on, her voice cutting through the theatrics.

"Ha. You want a symbol?" Jinx replied, her tone dripping sarcasm. She raised her hand, aiming to flip Sevika off—only to pause, her expression twisting when she remembered the key piece of anatomy lost in her battle with her sister.

Grunting in annoyance, she swiveled back around in her chair, muttering something unintelligible.

Sevika, undeterred, took a step closer. "Silco spent his whole life trying to rally the Undercity together. He wanted to be a symbol of rebellion, even tried to turn Aviva into one. Stupid joke that it is, you've got the chance to pull it off."

Her words hung heavy, settling over the room like a thick fog. The music in the background shifted to a harder, grittier beat, matching the taut energy in the air. Jinx didn't respond, her back to them, her hand absently twisting a loose screw on her workbench. Aviva's gaze drifted to Isha, who sat quietly, her expression unreadable.

"I told you, I'm not interested," Jinx groaned, her voice sharp and dismissive.

Sevika's patience snapped. She stormed forward, slamming her fist onto the table with a loud thud. "Do you know how much he sacrificed to protect you? He believed in your potential!"

"Well, then he shouldn't have died!" Jinx shouted, her voice cracking under the weight of her frustration. She swept the device she was working on off the counter, the clatter of metal echoing through the room.

Aviva sat in the corner, her face unreadable as her thoughts churned. She didn't point out the cruel irony—that Jinx had been the one to kill him. The first person Aviva had ever loved, ripped away by the chaos that seemed to follow Jinx like a shadow. But Aviva had promised herself that she didn't care anymore. The same way Silco had never truly cared about her, no matter how much he claimed otherwise. Yet, deep down, she knew it wasn't apathy she felt—it was something heavier, a grief that never fully healed, simply buried beneath layers of willpower and resolve.

Celeste stood by the door, rocking on the balls of her feet, her lips puffed out in an exaggerated pout. She looked like she wanted to say something, but the weight of the room kept her silent.

Sevika's gaze flicked toward her briefly, catching the impatience in Celeste's eyes, and let out a frustrated sigh before turning back to Jinx. "We're having a rally tonight. Vander's statue. Firelights, your fans..."

Jinx's body stiffened at the word fans. Her breath caught briefly, but she didn't turn around.

"Anyone I can bring to the table," Sevika continued. "Stick your head in the dirt if you want, but this fantasy you've been living out here—it's not gonna last forever."

Her words were meant to strike Jinx, but they pierced Aviva instead, cutting through the fragile cocoon she'd wrapped herself in. If she was honest, this—this strange, imperfect world they'd created—was everything she had ever wanted.

She never thought she'd have it in her to be a mother. It wasn't in the cards for someone like her. Not in Zaun, where survival was the only legacy you could hope to pass down. Not with the life she'd lived and the choices she'd made. But somehow, against all odds, Aviva had found herself trying. Trying to build something more.

She wasn't the best at it—hell, some days she was downright terrible—but she harbored enough love in her fractured heart to fill the cracks of those around her. She could sustain Isha, nurture Jinx on her rare good days, and maybe, just maybe, hold herself together in the process. Love was the one thing she had to give. Not because she wanted to be loved in return, but because giving it felt like the only way to remind herself she was still human.

But Sevika was right. This fragile dream couldn't last. Aviva knew it. She'd always known it. No matter how much she wanted to believe in it, the truth was as clear as the smog-choked skies above Zaun. The fantasy would shatter—it was only a matter of time.

"Don't let the door hit you on the way out," Jinx spat, her back to Sevika as she slumped over her workbench again.

Sevika scoffed, her gaze lingering on the blue-haired girl before turning toward Aviva. "I don't know how you two do it," she muttered, nodding toward her before grabbing Celeste by the waist and striding out of the hideout.

The door slammed shut, leaving an oppressive silence in its wake.

Jinx stared at herself in the cracked mirror for a long moment, her reflection distorted and jagged. She turned away from Isha without meeting her gaze.

"I gotta go bother someone," she mumbled, her voice softer now, tinged with something Aviva couldn't quite place. And with that, she slipped out the door, leaving Aviva and Isha alone in the quiet.

𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐒!

Sevika book up now! We're back in canon now so expect slower chapters. I lowkey forgot about Aviva's stolen from Piltover plot line because I never planned to expand on it. It would be hinted, you were even meant to see two of her brothers but she herself would never meet them. Thats not the case anymore.

I'll address this quickly bc I don't want to bring attention to it but someone commented on a book that had a character with a similar name to Moon from Can't Catch Me's nickname. I don't think they meant harm but apparently that person accused them of being me on a burner because I also admired that book and read it for as well and they weren't accusing them of copying but they assumed it was me on a burner simply because their display name was Moon just like my character. Do not pretend to be me and never accuse me of copying/ falsely accuse me of claiming you copied I won't tolerate it. I have been plagiarized in the past but I'll never just randomly accuse you of plagiarizing that's not how I am. My name is MiLove. This is my only account on any platform.

Sorry for the long note won't be doing this again hopefully. Thank you for 28k reads! Can't Catch Me had been nominated for an award on @aesflms account for much love to yall thank you for the support!