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eternal-armin · 2 years

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ain't no rest for the wicked. iii

although still suspicious, you agree to help jinx with some plans at her hideout. on your way back home the next day, she walks with you, and you grow a little closer. reader: neutral. i wanted to a little bit of fluffy stuff, but the next chapter will definitely be chalk-full of it. just in that kind of mood yk?

okay, so maybe it wasn't a trap after all. but that wasn't gonna stop you from being on your toes, anticipating one nevertheless.

for the majority of the walk, jinx had either been babbling on about something-or-other or silently observing you with a sharp gaze you... didn't really like. perhaps you were being paranoid, but it was like the look of a general trying to figure out the best way to break into a fortress. it was both confusing and concerning, but there was nothing you could really do.

"so, mystery kid, who's in your family? you really hold 'em high," she asked in a hum.

"my parents, my grandmother, and my little brother." you responded honestly but curtly. few things had changed in your mannerisms.

her pace slowed for just a moment, then picking back up once again. "ooh! you have a little brother? how sweet! you must be one hell of a big sibling!" jinx giggled, though her eyes didn't really show amusement.

"i... guess you could say that. i try."

she wrapped an arm tight around your shoulder, pulling you into a side-hug. "a'course you are! don't say 'i guess' like that, i've known ya for barely a few hours and i know you're an excellent big sib!"

her touch made you tense up, but surprisingly, you relaxed rather quick. a smile even twitched at the corners of your lips. "i hope so."

jinx pat your shoulder a few times, your skin stinging just slightly at the hard touch. then she let go of you, motioning for you to follow her through a metal door, presumably into her hideout. with one hand carefully placed on your gun, should you need to draw it, you did just that. inside, it was rather pretty to look at. a giant fan-like structure, backlit by neon purple lights, what was there not to love?

even though the bottom of the cavern was more than a deadly drop away, you stepped confidently across the blade. born in the undercity, heights were something you had to get used to.

"so! how d'you like your new workspace, toots?" jinx asked, extending her arms to the echoing cave as she plopped down into her chair.

"it's cool."

"simple'n sweet. i'm glad ya like it! not much to really show you around here, what you see is what you get. so, what do you think? will you need to relocate to get here every day, [y/n]?" she tilted her head at you, braids dancing along with the movement.

"u-uh, i don't think so. i'll be alright."

she narrowed her eyes at you. "i've never heard ya stutter before, toots. what's that about? y'know, you don't need to lie or anything. i insisted you come here, probably against your will or whatever, so it's only proper that i help you out and all that!"

"really, jinx, i'm alright. i don't mind a bit of a walk to and from here every day. but thank you for your offer." you bowed your head slightly, just for a second. you caught a glimpse of a grin plastered on her face. whether it was amusement or something else, you couldn't decipher.

"c'mon over, then! i have a few blueprints, sketches and whatever, i want you to have a look at 'em. let's see what your bright mind can come up with, mystery kid!"

at some point during that late-night brainstorm session, you had fallen asleep. you only knew that because you woke up slouched against the hard, wooden desk, cushioned only by your arms. a blanket- or maybe a jacket?- was draped over you. your back and neck ached horribly from the unconventional sleeping situation. but other than that, you actually felt sort of well-rested.

opening your eyes, whatever grogginess you still felt disappeared the moment you saw jinx. barely a few inches away, she greeted you with a smile.

"good morning, toots! well, actually, afternoon. y'slept like a rock!" she giggled through her words. "you looked so cute when you slept. i just couldn't wake you," jinx cooed, cupping your cheek, petting it oh-so gently. her touch felt like that of an angels, which was rather strange to you. knowing that all this happened because you stuck her up for some money, it could've given you whiplash.

"good morning," you mumbled. "sorry for falling asleep on you like that, uhm... that's never happened before. oh. what time is it?" you asked, rubbing your eyes.

"don't worry about it at all, toots!" jinx giggled. "ah! time? likeee... three, i wanna say?"

your eyes widened, sitting up quickly. your head swam uncomfortably for a moment. "shoot. i- uh, i need to go."

"what? why?" jinx sat up with you, pulling the jacket off of your shoulders and slinging it across her chair.

"my grandma probably thinks i'm dead. i need to get home before she burns the undercity down looking for me." you stumbled over your words, standing up, patting yourself down to make sure you had everything.

"lemme walk back with ya! 'ts the least i could do after all you've already done for me!" she sounded extremely excited to accompany you home. you opened your mouth for a moment. your first instinct was to deny her, but a moment later you found yourself rather open to her proposition.

"okay. yeah, that sounds nice." your words were quick, but accented with a little smile that seemed to surprise her, before it disappeared behind your mask.

walking quick beside you, jinx followed your lead. "what's your family like, hm? sorry for askin' so many questions about them, but you already know all about silco and everyone, so might as well even it out! 'sides, i gotta know who raised someone like you!"

you smiled a little again. knowing jinx personally was such a stark contrast to what you thought it would be. this tough, 'insane' ruler of the undercity, infamous for her maliciousness, was treating you with surprising kindness and asking you about your family? maybe she did kill you last night and this is all a hallucination your dying brain concocted in the few seconds before your death. it was one hell of a hallucination, though.

your attention was divided between jinx and between making your way through the undercity. it served you well that you knew this place like the back of your hand.

"we all live with my grandma. she's a tough love kind of person. our home is small, but it functions. my mom is out most of the time, and our dad is rarely ever home. i tell my grandmother that i'm working, too, and... usually i have the money to prove it." the moment you were back somewhere you remembered and could get home from, you slowed down just a little, and were able to pay full attention to jinx and the conversation.

"my little brother basil doesn't go outside much. gram is usually trying her best to teach him since there's no chance of school, but i doubt he's a good student. gram taught me too."

jinx walked directly by your side. even as the people around parted for you both to walk, giving her plenty of room especially, but she chose to basically attach herself to you. it was oddly comforting, in some strange way. "your gram sounds awesome! i noticed you said 'my mom' but 'our dad'. there anythin' about that?"

you hesitated to tell her something that much more personal. you made the mistake of meeting her eyes, and your resolve weakened. "well... our dad isn't the best. slept around a lot, y'know, probably still is, and my mom found out about basil and decided to take him under her wing. in order to support us both she had to take on more jobs, more work, so she hasn't been around."

"jeez. your dad does sound like a prick."

you snorted, glancing down. "yeah. i guess so."

"what d'you think your gram'll say when ya tell her about becoming my little apprentice?" she spoke as if you were her friend of years. for someone so independent as you, it was weird as hell. not all in a bad way, though.

"i, uh... i don't know. it probably won't be the best of reactions." you quieted slightly.

"why?"

"she's pretty adamant about us being moral and ethical. it would break her heart to hear i rob, let alone that i've become buddy-buddy with you and are going to be helping you with your weapons. she might kick me out. i don't... think it would be smart to tell her now." you didn't meet her eyes, her intense gaze. glancing over the cramped buildings in front of you, the familiar apartment you lived in was now in sight. you stopped walking. "is that okay?"

jinx was quiet for a moment. you could feel her piercing gaze. "of course it is, toots! we can tell 'em whenever you feel we can! and remember, my offer still stands- i can find you somewhere to live."

"thank you, but..." you trailed off. "uh, thank you for walking with me here. i'll be back at the hideout tomorrow, as we agreed." you didn't need to remove your mask for her to see your smile twinkle in your eyes.

jinx admired how it looked for a moment. her close proximity had become surprisingly comfortable. "y'look so pretty when you smile! alright, alright, i'll leave ya now so your grandmother doesn't see me. thank you for all your help. oh! speaking of, before i forget," out of one of the pouches on her waist, she produced a semi-small linen bag, tied shut. she pulled your hand out by your wrist and placed it in your palm. "there you are! your first payment!"

the bag felt surprisingly heavy. your eyes widened. this could feed your family for at least a week- two, even- and buy new clothes for basil.

"awww, you look so surprised! i told ya i'd pay y handsomely, didn't i?" jinx giggled. you needn't say anything for her to know how grateful you were. she pressed a quick, chaste kiss to your forehead. "i'll see ya tomorrow, [y/n]. eat somethin' nice with your family tonight, will ya?"

before you could look up from the drawstring pouch, before you could look her in the eye, she was gone. this was a bag filled with gold coins. you were about to cry, this was more than you'd ever gotten at once before.

with a newfound bounce in your step, you raced the rest of the short way to your apartment. for the first time in a long time, maybe you could have a family dinner. you could afford it this time. your mind was abuzz with all the things you could finally do, what you could finally buy for basil, for gram, but also how you could possibly thank jinx.

it wasn't necessary. she had made that clear. but gram raised you to express your gratitude, which is exactly what you were gonna do.

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