A/N: This story takes place during Episode 5 in a timeline if Sevika died from Vander/Warwick, and I imagine that without Sevika, a lot of people could have overtaken Silco's crime empire from Jinx because a lot of Silco's crew vanished after Season 1. And Jinx doesn't want to go back to the "Jinx Life" since she doesn't want to risk Isha's life, so a fun idea is that Jinx seeks the Firelights' help for Isha. Everything else should be canon.

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Isha's POV

Isha struggled as someone threw her to the ground. A land was thrown to her ribs, and Isha let out a raspy cry. She was kicked to the curb, left for dead. Isha clutched her bruised purple eye as she glanced over to see the bad men do the same to Jinx. The blue-haired girl sprang to her feet, shooting bullets at whoever she could. Jinx roared with rage, throwing up punches and kicks when the bullets ran out. Jinx, no! Isha scrambled up, throwing herself onto one of the men.

She smacked his head, wrestling him and even bit his ear. He threw her off and elbowed her nose. Blood oozed out as she tried to wipe away the red liquid. "Isha!" Jinx threw away the empty gun, staggering to Isha's side. She grabbed her, inspecting the damage done. A bloody nose, one left black eye, and a few cuts along the arms. Jinx growled, glaring at the people who had ambushed them. "Leave the girl out of this, fellas. If you touch another blue hair on her head... I swear I'll make sure you'll suffer until every last drop of blood is spilled," she shouted.

The ringleader stepped forward, a scruffy old man. "Silco's dead, and now Sevika is too. Jinx, you're weak now, you haven't got anyone to protect you no more. We want Silco's crime empire, we'll be the new kingpins." He picked up Jinx's gun, giving it a lookover. Isha rubbed her eyes raw, wincing in pain. "You have until sunrise to decide what to do. If you don't give us Silco's empire, we'll come for her." The old man threw the useless gun at Isha's feet.

Once the men left, Jinx cradled Isha, smoothing her dyed blue hair. "Still got all your insides?" Isha nodded and Jinx smiled softly, setting her on her feet. They held hands as they wandered past the Last Drop, heading towards her workshop.

Who were they? Isha signed to Jinx.

"Some of Silco's old enemies. When he died, they must have heard the news. But Sevika and I took over his empire, so they couldn't do much. Now that she's gone... They want the upper hand. Ha, funny, isn't it? Hand." Jinx was deflecting her feelings again, Isha noticed. The strange beast in the prison had killed Sevika, and if it wasn't for Jinx, they both would be dead too. "This isn't good, bugger."

Isha liked the nickname bugger.

"We'll need more guns, more bullets, and more manpower. The only problem is that a lot of Silco's loyalists only stayed because they trusted Sevika over time. They're ditching their loyalty now that I'm the only head of his empire. They don't want to trust a jinx." Jinx's brows were knit together, deep in thought. "We might be fucked, Isha. Oh God." She stopped, glancing down at her. "You're hurt so badly, kiddo."

Isha shrugged, she didn't want to upset Jinx. Isha yawned, rubbing her bruised eye as Jinx tore a piece of her shirt to wrap up her wounds. She also wiped away the blood smeared on Isha's nose. "Don't fret, Isha. I've got a plan, just rest up."

"Mhm," Isha mumbled as Jinx picked up Isha in her arms. She rested her head against Jinx's shoulder as she walked. She felt Jinx's hand rubbing her back as she hummed an old tune, lulling her to slumber.

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Ekko's POV

"Ekko, it's Jinx!" A Firelight burst into Ekko's workshop, catching him in mid-sentence with Scar. Jinx? Ekko and Scar rushed out of the workshop as Firelights ran from their chambers. What would Jinx be doing around the Firelight Base? An attack? A bombing? Ekko wasn't sure, but he had to see her himself.

"Should we sound the alarm?" Scar asked, matching Ekko's stride.

Ekko debated. "No, I don't want to wake the children. We'll be quiet and discreet about it." Everyone had arrived at the entrance, hoverboards and weapons drawn. It was a foggy night in Zaun that day, but there was a figure slowly emerging from the shadows. Ekko's grip tightened around his mace as he eyed the other Firelights. They didn't like Jinx, they'd die for a chance to kill her.

"I don't have any weapons. No guns, no bombs." The fog revealed Jinx, blue braids draped over her shoulder. In her arms, she carried a small girl no older than ten. She had poorly blue-dyed hair and a black eye. She was clearly hurt, perhaps from a fight. The child slept soundly, snoring as Jinx shifted her weight to carry her.

"Weapons down."

Scar widened his eyes. "Ekko, but—"

"Weapons down, we don't want to wake up any of the children." The Firelights did so, but they glared at Jinx. She stepped forward, glancing around. She let out an exasperated sigh, shaking her head. Ekko eyed her carefully, picking up her body language. "What do you need, Jinx?"

"A spot here."

Scar pointed an accusing finger at her. "After what you did?!"

"Not for me, but for Isha." Isha. So that was the sleeping girl's name. Jinx glanced towards Ekko, rolling her eyes. "I'm all for publicity, but I need to discuss this shit with your leader. I come in... peace. Bleh, that sounds so weird."

Ekko nodded towards the other Firelights, deeming Jinx's claim true. Hesitantly, the other Firelights left them alone, heading up to their cabins. Scar was more hesitant to leave, but he whispered in Ekko's ear, "Remember that she is still our enemy." Then he disappeared into the shadows, leaving him alone with Jinx and Isha.

"What do you need?" Ekko asked carefully.

Jinx let out another sigh, she was more vulnerable than when Ekko last remembered her. "At the Stillwater Prison, there was some strange beast that killed dozens, including Sevika." She drew a sharp breath, as if the realization had finally dawned on her. Ekko didn't like Sevika much, or much of Silco's crew, but Jinx was a slight exception. "Silco's enemies are closing in on us, and without Sevika, Silco's old pals are leaving their loyalty to his crime empire behind. Today, we got ambushed by them, they won't stop."

Ekko glanced down at Isha, seeing her battered body. The girl was so young and small, she looked like another version of Powder. "She's alive if you care," Jinx snapped, catching Ekko's expression. "I don't want to see her dead, I've already lost Silco and Sevika, but not Isha."

"Of course not."

"I can't protect her anymore." Jinx's voice was strained and shaky, showing more emotion than Ekko had ever seen other than self-destruction. She brushed the hair out of Isha's hair, shaking her head. "I need you and your other shitty Firelights to look after her. Quickly, now, I want to be gone by the time she wakes up. It's better if she doesn't realize I'm not there with her."

"Wait... You want the Firelights to look after her?"

"I hate you." The words drip with anger and fiery, but they don't sound genuine. Jinx pursued her chapped lips. "And your Firelights." She rocked Isha in her arms gently, almost caring after a baby. "But I don't hate Isha, I don't hate her enough to let her get destroyed in the process of my sins, of my mistakes. She deserves a safe, loving home."

"Something you can't give her if Silco's enemies are after you and the empire," Ekko mumbled, feeling over his head. Should he let Isha stay with the Firelights? It's Jinx they hate, they won't hold it against the child. But there was a better question in place. "Are you sure she's okay with you leaving?"

Jinx sniffled, tears welling in her eyes. "She'll be safer without me."

Ekko just realized how hard it was for Jinx to say that to him. She believed she had been abandoned by Vi all her life, and now she had to do the same to Isha. It wasn't an easy decision, especially because Isha was already injured. "When Isha wakes up..." Ekko said slowly, his hand on Jinx's shoulder, "She'll realize you're gone. That you've left her. Is that what you truly want from this?"

"No," Jinx admitted, a deep scowl on her face. But it morphed into a sad smile as she choked out a manic laugh. "Because Isha will feel what I felt when I thought Vi left me for dead. And she'll never forgive me, I won't be able to either." She held Isha closer to her chest, breathing heavily. "I can't leave her, what the hell was I thinking? This was stupid. Stupid, stupid."

Jinx turned to leave, but Ekko grabbed her hand. "Wait, Jinx." He couldn't believe he was going to tell her this—the Firelights would despise him for it too—but he spoke to her in a soft voice. "You can stay here with Isha, I'll allow it. Clearly, you've changed for this kid. You're still Jinx, but not the one I remember back on the bridge."

She narrowed her eyes. "You're letting me stay here? You're the Firelights' leader."

"I'm not going to break up a family, Jinx."

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Jinx's POV

She held Isha's hand as they explored the Firelights Base. They had visited the medical clinic shortly after Isha woke up, getting her the right treatment. Now, they both walked around with colourful bandages to show off their awesomeness, as she told Isha. "We'll stay here until I get Silco's loyal goons back," Jinx said, sweeping her fingers through her hair. "And Ekko will look after you while I'm gone."

Isha tugged on her hand, clearly saying no. "It's not like I'm leaving you forever." Though that could have been the case if Ekko had not convinced her hours ago. "I need to go find people to fight back against Silco's enemies. Then I'll come back and we can re-dye that hair of yours, it looks botched." As they travelled, some Firelights gave Jinx the stink-eye. She had killed many of their comrades before, though she didn't want them to bring Isha into it.

Jinx was dead.

"Oh, look at that mural." Jinx's jaw dropped as her eyes fell upon the mural that had all of the fallen citizens of Zaun. Mylo, Claggor, Vander, and more. Even Vi and Powder were up there. "Oh, that's wicked cool, huh?" She let go of Isha's hand as the mute girl ran up to the wall, gazing in awe.

That's something new, Jinx thought, staring at all of the colours there were. Many of the people painted were ones that Jinx had murdered during her panic attacks, one of which was Eve, the pink-haired girl. She's not Vi. Shame that Jinx had only realized the depth of her actions too late.

You're growing softer and weaker, Silco's voice entered Jinx's mind. She grumbled unhappily, banging her hand against her head. Shut up, Silco, she wasn't soft nor weak. She was just taking a break from being Powder and Jinx. So she was... something. "Isha," she called out, "let's go to breakfast."

When they arrived in the Mess Hall, all of the Firelights' attention shifted to them. Jinx ignored all of the glares, grasping Isha's hand as she led to a bar that reminded her of the Last Drop. Maybe Ekko intended for it to look like that. The cook growled at Jinx, shaking their head. "No meal for the Loose Canon," they spat.

"That's a rather inspiring title," Jinx retorted, slamming her fist on the bar's deck. The impact caused the bowls and plates to rattle. "But the meal ain't for me, it's for the little lady, and I suggest you give her something to eat after what she's been through. Got it, spitter?"

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Ekko dropped a tray of food onto Jinx's desk. "The cook told me that you caused an uproar, and that one of the Firelight punched you because of what you said." In the cabin, there was nothing but two beds and one desk. No windows either, because Scar insisted that if Jinx and Isha were to stay, they'd get the worst rooms. "Where's the girl?"

"I sent her away to play with the other Firelight kids." Jinx rolled back her neck, stretching her arms. She scooped a piece of the mush on the tray, licking her finger clean. Her face puckered and she rolled her eyes. "I've had better," she said, "give my insults to the chef."

"You're not the easiest person to work with either, Jinx." Ekko sighed, pushing the tray away. "Alright, let me see the damage." While Jinx first smacked his hand away, he brushed her bangs out of the way. Her cheekbone was slightly swollen, but she'd recover soon. What bothered her was that she had multiple other wounds, like bruises or cuts so deep that they would need stitches. "What happened to you?"

Jinx scowled, hugging her knees on her bed. "The fight with Silco's enemies."

"I sent you to the medical bay."

"The healer gave treatment to Isha, that's all they were willing to do for me. It's not a big deal anyway, they'll heal eventually." Before Jinx could leave the room, Ekko grabbed her hand again. Like the night before, when he convinced her to stay with the Firelights. He let out a sigh, but steadied Jinx's shoulders. "You're intolerable and insufferable," she told him flatly.

"Sit down and wait." Ekko unpacked a pouch of sterile needles and silk, eyeing a deep cut on Jinx's shoulder that needed stitches. "Hold still and don't move." He threaded the silk through the needle's hole before pricking the sharp point into Jinx's skin. She winced, picking at her nail beds. They sat on her bed, cross-legged as Ekko waved the silk to close up the wound. "Just tell me if—"

"I've faced worse," she cut him off abruptly. "Like the time you tried to beat the shit out of me on the bridge." So Jinx hadn't forgotten about their battle, Ekko hadn't either. She glanced at the open door, which showed the Firelights' mural. "I'm sorry about the Firelights you've lost." She averted her gaze, it wasn't easy for her to apologize to Ekko out of all people considering their history. "I didn't want to mention it in front of Isha, but this seems like a shitty time, so it's the right time."

Ekko shook his head, rage rising and falling quickly. "I can't blame you when you were under Silco's influence. And even without it, we were all kids then. Still are. Plus, the Firelights have killed many of Silco's goons, some of which you know. We've all got our flaws and faults."

"Sounds real poetic, Little Man. Your crew will never forgive me, you know that?"

Ekko's grip on the needle almost slipped. Delicately, he continued to weave through her skin. The cut was deeper than he realized. "I don't expect them to, but I also didn't expect to see you change. For Isha and Zaun, you really left Jinx behind. You're still her... But different, I guess. You just have to show the Firelights that, then they'll come around." He didn't know how else to explain it. "I'm done with the stitches."

She glanced at her peeling nail polish once the stitches were done. "You've got paint?"

"Only the chemical kind."

"I'll take my chances."

Ekko gave her an estranged look. "I was kidding, you crazy lady."

Jinx grinned. "I wasn't." She glanced at her arm, inspecting it. Her fingers glided over the bumps and her blue cloud tattoos. "You did a pretty botched job of stitching me up, but it isn't the worst. Thanks, Little Man."

"Are you ever going to stop calling me that? I'm taller now."

"Barely. Plus if you're going to keep calling me Powder, I may as well call you Little Man or Boy Saviour. Or do you prefer Firefly?" Jinx stood up on her bed, kicking off her shoes. She started jumping on her bed, bouncing on the mattress. A wicked smile grew on her face. "Aren't you going to join me?"

Ekko scoffed. "It's above me to—"

Jinx pulled Ekko up to his feet, causing him to wobble on the unstable mattress. There's no point in saying no to her, he convinced himself. They jumped up and down on the bed, bringing back sweeter and perhaps kinder memories of their childhood. They'd do this all the time, whether it was in the Last Drop or at Benzo's workshop. Jinx laughed, her blue braids moving along with the bob of her head.

For a split second, they were not at the Firelight Base. Instead, they were back at the Last Drop's basement with nothing but a spring mattress. They were jumping up and down until their legs grew tired. After resting, they would continue to repeat the cycle. Ekko closed his eyes briefly, relishing the brief memories of Powder and himself.

"See? So much fun if you relax!" Jinx said, jumping off the bed and rolling onto the floor. She made a pew-pew motion with her fingers, the other hand on her hip. She gave him a toothy smile that made Ekko's heart skip a beat. "C'mon, let's go find that chemical and deadly nail polish of yours."