RIVER

         Since Jinx realised how she felt about River she wasn't sure how to act around her, which River noticed instantly. "Hey buddy" River greeted Rio from her spot on the couch, Rio groaned dramatically "i'm so tired" Rio muttered before flopping onto the couch River was on, flinging his legs on to River who immediately pushed them off.

"How are you always tired when you have ten naps a day" River quirked her brow with the corners of her lips twitched up in to a faint smile. "Having ten naps a day is an extreme sport and very tiring!" Rio exclaimed, laughing at his own words. River shook her head with a small laugh "yeah, whatever" she muttered, "where's J?" Rio looked around for her.

"In my room, she's been acting bit weird around me though" River shrugged, her face twisted with slight confusion, then Jinx walked out of the room, saying hi to Rio before sitting at one of the chair's for the kitchen counter instead of next to River which she usually did, River shrugging it off. Assuming that maybe she just wanted a bit off space.

But that couldn't be farther from the truth, Jinx was creating space between them because she was unsure if she could control herself whilst being so close to River at the same time... all those strong feelings that had come upon Jinx were all new and sudden.

They scared the absolute shit out of her, she wasn't sure what to do with them, wasn't sure how to go about them, was she supposed to act on them or leave it alone until River did something first? she was clueless. "River" Rio mumbled, River humming as she looked at him as she fidgeted with her bracelet absentmindedly and would wring her hands around each finger, Jinx's eyes focused on her tics.

Rio stared at River for a second "you're ugly" he said with a straight face, River stared at him with a blank expression on her face, the two having a staring contest, River's face blank while Rio's lips quivered as he held back a laugh, suddenly he burst out laughing "jus' kiddin" he said between laughs.

River fake laughed at him "wow you're so funny" River said sarcastically "ok ok, sorry. I do actually have a question though" Rio sat up against the couch with a small breathy laugh. "It's a really serious question, i am not joking around" his voice high pitched as he spoke, his front tooth that had half way grown, noticeable every time he smiled.

"Can you make food please" he asked her, River snorted and started laughing, her hand over her mouth as she tried to contain herself "no please! i'm hungry! I will eat people soon but it would like eating bones" Rio exclaimed passionately as he tried to beg River to make them some food.

"ok fine i will, you fat sook" River said before getting up and moving to the kitchen, Rio scoffed dramatically "please! if i was fat i wouldn't be begging you to make food" he crossed his arms over his chest, River shaking her head with a small smile, sparing Jinx a glance who had been watching them converse with a soft smile.

River started to make what she could with what she had, having next to nothing in the cabinets and fridge. Eventually finding enough ingredients to make sandwiches for them, River quickly made them up, cutting the crust off and handing both Jinx and Rio a sandwich "make one for yourself" Jinx practically demanded, River raising her brows "nah, i'm good" River replied.

Jinx put her own food down "If you're not eating then neither am I" Jinx crossed her arms stubbornly "I promise i'm not hungry, you can eat" River urged, Jinx huffing in return "I'll eat later, promise" River leant on the counter, looking at Rio who had his cheeks stuffed with half the sandwich, Jinx said nothing as she continued to glare at River with a pout.

"fine but I will force feed you if I have to" Jinx said with a serious tone, giving River a pointed look who put both her hands up in surrender before dropping them to her sides. "I wanna go out" Rio said once he'd swallowed all his food, both River and Jinx focusing their attention on him.

"huh?" River spoke, "i wanna go out of the apartment by myself" the seven year old clarified "why" Rivers face scrunched up, "cause i'm always bored" Rio groaned dramatically "how, we're always out doin' stuff or your out with Caspian or J" River stated. Rio groaned dramatically "pleaseee" he dragged the 'e' out, "if you wanna get kidnapped and die then go ahead!" River said sarcastically, Rio grumbled "never mind" he muttered before going into his bedroom.

"he's probably gonna start sneaking out" River muttered to herself, looking at Jinx once again who was now finished her food "you good?" River asked Jinx, Jinx nodding her head instantly "yeah why wouldn't i be?" Jinx asked with a slight panicked look etched onto her face.

River stared at Jinx in suspicion "you've been acting weird" River deadpanned, Jinx scoffed and rolled her eyes, looking away from River. River furrowed her brows, walking around the counter and in front of Jinx, grabbing Jinx's chin firmly, turning Jinx's head and tilting it up to look at her "why don't you drop the attitude and tell me what's going on in that pretty head of your's, hm?" River's tone was demanding yet gentle.

Jinx's heart raced within her chest, she held eye contact with the blonde girl until she finally looked away from River's endearing, icy blue eyes. River's gaze darted across Jinx's features, trying to understand what was going through her mind.

Jinx looked back up at River's intense gaze, biting her lip and sighing "nothin' don't worry bout' it" Jinx reassured, River's hand moved from Jinx's chin to cup her cheek gently, the firm look in her eyes switching to something soft and comforting, her thumb stroking Jinx cheek for a moment before dropping her hand to her side.

"You know you can tell me anything, yeah?" River continued to stare at Jinx, trying to decipher what she was thinking. "Yeah i know" Jinx gave her a tight lipped smile, her cheeks heating up with her heart thumping in her chest.

"She doesn't feel the same way about you, Jinx." Mylo spoke from behind River, Jinx's eye twitching, trying to ignore him "if you told her how you felt she would leave you"  Mylo said to her side "come on Powder... you remember what Caspian said? River is a horrible person when she's in relationship's. What happened to that girl huh? what happened to the girl Caspian said that she was in a relationship with?" Claggors voice soft and comforting from behind her.

"Hey" River spoke softly, breaking Jinx out of her trance, picking her up before she would fall deeper into the hole of insecurity and overthinking. "Talk to me" River murmured, giving Jinx's knee a gentle squeeze.

"Seriously, nothing wrong" Jinx replied, "i've gotta help Silco with something, i'll see you later" Jinx put her hand of River's arm who took a step away from her, Jinx's hand slipping as she did so. Jinx frowned for a moment "mmk, see ya later" River muttered, her head tilted as she watched Jinx slowly nod her head before walking out of the apartment.

River didn't understand why Jinx was pushing her away, she thought maybe she was being too much for her, that she was overbearing for Jinx and needed to give her some space.

She looked out the window, seeing that the sun was setting, neon lights and flickering lamps lighting up Zaun, River sighed before putting on shoes and her oversized leather jacket "Rio" River called "i'm going out" she told him, "k" he yelled back, "don't open the door for anyone ok" River had now opened Rio's door to look at him, "yes I know, I won't" he said with a sassy tone and a role of his eyes.

"I'll bring you food" River told him, earning a small hum in response before she left the apartment, locking the door behind her and shaking it to make sure it was locked properly.

River left the apartment building and started to walk to the last drop, she didn't know why she was going there, she didn't think about it, her legs having a mind of there own and taking her to her old home.

Walking into the last drop she was instantly met with an array of colourful flashing lights, loud music and the sight of drunken bodies dancing together, rubbing against each other, making out or stumbling around and starting fights. As River pushed through the crowd of dancing bodies, someone fell into her, River instantly pushing them away causing them to fall to the ground, River's nose crinkling in disgust at the smell of alcohol, sweat, drugs and smoke clouded her senses before she finally sat down at the bar.

She gestured for a drink to the bartender, he nodded his head nervously, quickly pouring the cup with the orange liquid before sliding it over to her, River instantly took the drink, taking a sip of it, enjoying the feeling of the burning liquid travel down her throat, leaving a painful but pleasant sensation behind it.

River chugged the rest of the drink, her eye's scrunching at the burning yet she asked for another drink immediately after. River's problem with drinking was that once she started, she couldn't stop. She relied on it heavily to numb all of her emotions and be the cure for all of her uneasiness and overthinking.

Although since Jinx had entered her life once again it was almost as if you was replacing those craving's with herself, like she was what stopped River's endless dark thoughts and replaced anger and misery with content and love, something she wasn't used to feeling.

But the addiction stayed deeply routed within River, every second, every minute, every hour, every day, River couldn't get rid of that nagging pull towards picking up a bottle of alcohol and let all her internal thoughts melt away with each sip. So she gave in to the temptation's and submitted to the problem instead of fighting against it. With every sip she became unpredictable, a loose canon.

The type of person that dimmed the liveliness in the room and dragged everyone around her into a state of uncomfortable feeling's swirling through the mind and bodies of drug crazed minds.

people. River's shoulders tensed as she felt the eyes of the crowd on her, the noise of the club becoming a hum that faded into the background. But the pull of the alcohol was stronger than her need to escape. She pushed the emptiness deeper, swallowed more of the fiery burn, and tried to force herself to feel something besides the internal chaos that refused to settle.

She didn't know how long she had been sitting there when a familiar face appeared beside her.

"You're looking for trouble," Jinx said quietly, her voice barely rising above the noise of the bar.

River turned to look at her, her gaze sharp and unfocused. Jinx looked different tonight—more serious, more guarded, yet still the same firecracker she had always been. River's heart skipped. She hadn't expected Jinx to show up, especially not here, not now. But a small, quiet part of her was relieved that she did.

Jinx didn't sit next to River but stood at her side, leaning against the bar. They exchanged a silent moment, the tension between them thick like smoke. River knew she wasn't fooling Jinx, not with the way her hand kept twitching toward the glass, eager for another drink.

"Jinx," River finally spoke, her voice raw and quieter than usual. "You shouldn't be here."

Jinx raised a brow, crossing her arms over her chest. "And why is that?"

River bit her lip, looking down at her empty glass before pushing it away, as if the distance might help her regain some control. "Because... I don't want you to see me like this. I don't want you to see me—the real me," River admitted, the words stinging like the alcohol in her veins.

Jinx hesitated, and in that pause, River felt the weight of their unspoken words, the deep divide that had settled between them. The last few days had been a whirlwind of emotions, pushing and pulling them apart in ways River wasn't prepared for.

"I don't need saving, River," Jinx's voice was sharp, but there was a softness behind it that tugged at River's chest. "I know you want to protect me, but I'm not a fragile little thing. I can handle myself."

River met her gaze, her heart pounding. "It's not about protecting you. It's about... us." She swallowed hard. "I've been fighting this... whatever this is between us. And I don't know what it is anymore, but I can't fight it any longer. I care about you, Jinx. More than I should."

Jinx's eyes softened, but the walls around her were still firmly in place. "I care about you too," she said quietly, but there was something more underneath her words, something deeper and rawer than just affection.

River took a step closer, her breath shaky, her pulse racing. "You don't get it, do you? You have no idea what you do to me." Her voice cracked on the last sentence, and before she could stop herself, she reached out and cupped Jinx's face, her touch trembling.

Jinx stood frozen for a moment, the shock of River's touch evident in her eyes. Her pulse quickened, her breath shallow. And yet, she didn't pull away. Instead, her hands slowly rose to rest on River's waist, the delicate tension of the moment hanging between them.

The world seemed to stop when their eyes locked. River could feel the weight of her own confession lingering in the air, could feel the storm of emotions that both of them had been avoiding for too long.

"I need you," River whispered, her voice barely audible.

Without thinking, Jinx closed the distance between them, her lips crashing against River's in a kiss that felt like fire. Raw, urgent, and desperate. River responded without hesitation, her hands finding their way to Jinx's hair, pulling her closer, deepening the kiss. Every touch, every movement was filled with a longing they could no longer ignore.

The kiss was all-consuming, a mix of confusion, passion, and desperate yearning. As they pulled apart for a brief moment, River's hand found Jinx's neck, her thumb brushing her pulse. "Jinx," she breathed, her voice thick with emotion. "I need to know you're here with me. That you feel this too."

Jinx didn't answer immediately. Instead, she kissed River again, but this time slower, softer, as if savoring the moment. Jinx's hands roamed down to River's waist, tugging her closer, guiding her body to fit against hers in a way that felt impossibly right.

It was raw. Vulnerable. But for the first time in a long while, River felt at peace, like she wasn't fighting against herself anymore.

Jinx pulled back just enough to meet River's gaze, her eyes wide and uncertain. "I'm not like you, River," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what I'm doing."

River smiled softly, her fingers tracing the side of Jinx's face, the words coming easier now. "You don't have to know. I'm here. I'll guide you."

Jinx swallowed, her own fears rising to the surface, but she nodded, her hand slipping to the back of River's neck, pulling her in for another kiss. It was different this time—gentler, more patient.

⸻

As the night pressed on, River couldn't shake the weight of her confession. Her heart still pounded in her chest, and though the words had left her mouth, they seemed to hang in the air, unspoken, like a weight between them. The rawness of it — the honesty — was both liberating and terrifying. But as she stole a glance at Jinx, she could see the uncertainty flickering in her eyes. Neither of them had an answer, not yet.

They made their way through the dark streets of Zaun, the hum of neon lights and distant shouts from the lower districts filling the air. The familiar path to Jinx's hideout was always lined with danger, and tonight, it felt like an unspoken tension lingered between them, a distance neither one wanted, yet neither knew how to cross.

River's breath was steady but sharp. She could feel the pull of Jinx's presence beside her, like a magnetic force, but it was tempered with hesitation. There was a distance in Jinx's steps, the space she'd put between them earlier still lingering in her body language.

"You don't have to say anything right now," River spoke quietly, her voice almost drowned by the buzzing city noises. "I just... needed to say it. To stop pretending."

Jinx didn't respond right away. Her silence was a mix of contemplation and inner turmoil. She stopped walking for a brief moment, glancing at River, her blue hair falling in messy waves around her face. There was something fragile about the way she stood, like she was on the edge of a precipice, teetering between desire and fear.

"I don't know how to..." Jinx's voice trailed off, a quiet vulnerability creeping into her tone. "How to deal with this, River. I don't know what to do with myself... with us."

River took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her own conflicted emotions. She stepped closer to Jinx, closing the space between them. The air between them crackled, charged with more than just the confession that had passed between them. It was the unspoken understanding of two people who were too broken, too lost to truly know what love should look like. But in that moment, there was something real. Something genuine.

"I'm not asking for perfection, Jinx. I just... I don't want to pretend anymore." River's voice softened, a gentle pleading that only Jinx could hear. "We don't need answers right now. We don't need to figure it all out. But I want you. I want this... whatever this is."

Jinx met River's eyes, searching for something, some kind of answer in the depths of her icy blue gaze. And for a fleeting moment, the world around them seemed to fall away. It was just them — two broken souls standing in the middle of a city full of chaos, yet somehow managing to find a sense of clarity in the mess they'd made of themselves.

Jinx took a step closer, her breath catching in her throat. Her fingers twitched, longing to reach out, to pull River in, but the fear still held her back. Fear of the unknown. Fear of the emotions she didn't understand.

"I don't want to hurt you," Jinx whispered, her voice barely audible.

River's heart ached at the words, but she knew that this was just Jinx's way of saying she was afraid — afraid of opening herself up, afraid of letting someone else in. River reached out, her fingers brushing lightly against Jinx's cheek, and Jinx stiffened at the contact. But River's touch was gentle, a promise of understanding.

"You're not going to hurt me," River whispered back, her voice a steady anchor. "But if you keep pushing me away... it's not going to make anything easier. We can't keep hiding from each other, Jinx. Not like this."

There was a long pause, and then, without warning, Jinx moved. She reached up and grabbed River's face, pulling her in, her lips crashing into River's with an intensity that took River by surprise. It was desperate, raw — the kiss was not gentle or perfect, but it was real, the heat of their emotions fueling the connection between them.

For a moment, everything else ceased to exist. The city, the past, the fear. All of it faded into the background as they gave in to the rush of emotions they'd been hiding from for far too long.

When they finally pulled apart, breathless and flushed, River couldn't help but smile softly. But Jinx's face remained unreadable, her eyes distant as though she were lost in her own thoughts.

"I don't know what I'm doing," Jinx admitted quietly, her voice laced with uncertainty. "But I'm here. I want to try... with you."

River nodded, her fingers tracing the edge of Jinx's jawline as she tried to ground her, to remind both of them that this wasn't about knowing everything. It was about trusting each other to figure it out.

"We'll figure it out," River said, her voice firm and calm. "Together."

Jinx's eyes softened, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she let herself believe it. Let herself believe that maybe, just maybe, she could find something real — something that didn't break her down or tear her apart.

They continued their walk to Jinx's hideout, the silence between them no longer heavy, but comfortable. There was still uncertainty, but there was also a quiet understanding. They didn't need to have everything figured out right away. For once, it was okay to just be.

When they arrived at Jinx's hideout, the air shifted. The intensity that had built between them hadn't gone away, but now, it was tempered by something softer. Something more tender.

The door clicked shut behind them, and the world outside seemed to vanish as River and Jinx stood facing each other in the dim light of Jinx's hideout. There was no more hesitation, no more doubt. The space between them, which had once felt like an unbridgeable gap, had closed in a way neither of them could have predicted.

River's heart pounded in her chest, the tension in the air palpable. Their eyes locked, both of them knowing what had shifted, what had finally come to the surface. All the suppressed emotions — fear, desire, confusion — everything they had been holding back now seemed to boil over, desperate to be released.

Jinx's breath was shallow, her chest rising and falling as she moved closer to River. Her hands shook slightly as she reached out, running her fingers over River's arm, the touch electric. There was no more pretending, no more playing it safe. This was raw, unfiltered, and something neither of them had ever truly experienced before.

River bit her lip, trying to hold herself before she just couldn't anymore. River grabbed the back of Jinx's neck and smashed their lips together, Jinx instantly kissing her back.

River's hands slid over Jinx's back, feeling the softness of her skin, the curve of her smaller frame. Jinx was shorter, more delicate in comparison to River's taller, more muscular frame, but there was something about the way Jinx seemed to fit perfectly in her arms. Every touch felt like it held an unspoken promise — a connection that wasn't just physical but emotional, something deeper and more raw.

Jinx's hands wandered up River's torso, feeling the firm muscle beneath her fingertips. She hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do with the raw strength that radiated from River's frame. It was foreign to her, but as she explored, she found herself fascinated by the contrast between them. Her own smaller body felt fragile in comparison, but with River's touch, she felt anything but fragile. She felt seen.

Jinx's fingers traced the lines of River's chest, the soft press of her hands against the slope of her breast, the feel of warmth and strength beneath her touch. River's body was solid, comforting, a quiet presence that allowed Jinx to let go of everything she had been holding onto. As Jinx ran her hands down River's sides, feeling the way her body tensed with each touch, it was clear that River was holding back, trying to be gentle, but there was a fire in her that had been waiting for release.

River's breath hitched as Jinx's hands moved lower, brushing against the edges of her waistband before sliding around to her back. River's heart raced — this was different than anything she had experienced before. Jinx's touch was softer, almost tentative, but there was something in the way she moved, in the way she explored River's body that made River feel like she was finally being understood. Jinx was learning how to touch, how to reach River in a way that words couldn't explain. She wasn't just exploring her body — she was uncovering layers of herself that River had buried deep.

River's hands returned to Jinx's waist, feeling the slight curve of her hips, the softness of her skin beneath her fingers. River loved how she felt in her arms, how everything about her was soft but strong, fragile yet fierce. River's lips found Jinx's neck, her hands guiding Jinx's hips forward, pulling their bodies even closer. There was a tension, a pull between them that neither could deny any longer.

Jinx's head fell back as River kissed down her neck, her breath coming out in sharp gasps. The feel of River's lips on her skin sent jolts of electricity through her body, and she couldn't help but respond, her hands moving to River's shoulders, to the back of her neck, drawing her closer as if she couldn't get enough.

"River..." Jinx whispered, her voice trembling with something she couldn't quite name. There was a fire in her chest, something primal, something that made her want more. She didn't know what it was or why it felt so overwhelming, but she couldn't stop herself.

River responded by pulling Jinx even closer, her large hands firmly gripping Jinx's hips, guiding her. Her lips found Jinx's ear, her breath hot against her skin. "Let go, Jinx. Let me take care of you," River murmured, her voice rough with desire, yet soft with the care she'd always wanted to give Jinx.

Jinx's pulse raced. The way River spoke to her — it was more than just physical attraction. It was a promise. River was in control, experienced, and it was clear that she knew what she was doing. She made Jinx feel safe in her vulnerability, something she had never felt before. Jinx didn't know what it was, but she trusted River completely, allowing herself to let go of the uncertainty and the fear that had kept her on edge for so long.

As River kissed her again, deep and intense, Jinx's hands moved to the back of River's neck, pulling her even closer. She wanted this, wanted River in a way that felt both like an awakening and an explosion all at once. Her body was completely in River's hands, and she didn't mind — she wanted to feel River's strength, wanted to surrender to the rawness between them.

River's hands roamed lower again, feeling her slopes and curves, feeling how delicate she was. Jinx let out a soft gasp as River's touch found the places that made her lose herself, her breath growing quicker with each touch. River could feel it — the way Jinx's body responded, the way she melted under her hands, the way her heart raced. River was in control, yet with every movement, she felt Jinx trusting her more, letting herself be vulnerable in a way she hadn't before.

"Are you okay?" River asked, her voice low, but filled with an intensity that made Jinx's breath catch. Her eyes searched Jinx's face, making sure she was still there, still with her. Jinx nodded, her hands trembling slightly as she reached up to pull River back in for a kiss.

"I trust you," Jinx whispered, her lips against River's. "I... I want this."

River's heart swelled at the words. It was more than just the physical connection; it was the raw trust, the unspoken understanding between them that made everything feel so much more intense.

River took her time, her hands sliding gently over Jinx's body, exploring every inch of her, learning what made her shiver, what made her gasp, what made her feel truly alive. The heat between them was undeniable, but it was the emotional connection that made everything feel so much more profound.

Jinx let out a soft moan, her hands moving over River's shoulders, pulling her down as she deepened the kiss, feeling her own walls crumble as River took charge, guiding her, showing her a tenderness she had never experienced.

A shiver ran down River's back at that sound, Jinx grabbed the hem of River's shirt, lifting it over her head. River smiled gently at her, lifting Jinx's head up slightly to trail hungry kisses down her neck and chest, River's hands reached Jinx's pants, before she made any move she looked at at Jinx "can i?" she asked her.

Jinx nodded, "i need words pretty" River murmured "yes" Jinx's voice was breathy.

River slowly and carefully took her pants off, along with her underwear. Jin's felt safe and confident with River-she didn't feel the need to hide from her. River gently picked Jinx up, walking over to the couch and carefully placed her down.

River's kissed Jinx deeply and longingly, her hand reaching Jinx's core, Jinx let out a soft gasp when River's hand made contact. River pulled back for a moment, her eyes dark and lustful "if you want me to stop just tell me ok?" River made sure.

"I will" Jinx smiled at her, she loved that River was holding herself back to make sure that she was comfortable and completely wanted this.

River moved her fingers tentatively, Jinx letting her self let go under River's touch.
Everything they had kept hidden, everything they had pushed down, was finally being released. And as they explored each other, in every touch, in every kiss, they were no longer two people caught in a web of fear and confusion. They were just two souls, finally letting go, finally finding each other in the most intimate way possible.

AUTHORS NOTE
soooo... what do you guys thinkkk?
I promise i did actually try to write a detailed version but I just could not do it, i hope this was still good, i tried my hardest to write it with enough detail i was comfortable with.
Anyways i'm sorry it's taking me ages to write chapters,  I promise i'm trying.
Anyways what are your theories? predictions? hopes?
and don't forget to comment and vote!