“What a mess,” Jinx groaned, though her exasperation was undercut by the amused grin tugging at her lips. She glanced at the mess before them and couldn’t help but chuckle. You, standing there perfectly un-blue, looked like the odd one out as the two of them resembled walking canvases for chaos, streaked and splattered with dye like one of Jinx’s bombs had detonated overhead.

Isha had been pestering Jinx for weeks, begging to dye her hair blue just like her idol. Eventually, Jinx gave in—how could she not? The kid’s enthusiasm was relentless, and Jinx secretly enjoyed indulging her.

Seeing her this… light, this carefree, felt foreign. A rarity in a world that had stolen Powder and left Jinx in her place. But here she was, smiling—really smiling. That kind of pure, unguarded joy you hadn’t seen from her in what felt like lifetimes.

“Y’know,” Jinx said, lowering her voice as she crouched down beside Isha, her grin turning mischievous. “I think someone’s looking way too clean. What do you say we fix that, huh?”

Isha’s face lit up like a spark meeting gunpowder, and before you could react, the little girl lunged at you, her small hands smearing cold, sticky streaks of blue across your clothes, your arms, and, unfortunately, your face.

Jinx doubled over with laughter, her usual cackle softened into something warmer, more genuine. “There we go! Doesn’t that look way better?” she teased, wiping a streak of blue from her cheek as she watched you hold Isha at arm’s length, your expression an amusing blend of irritation and defeat.

“Blue really brings out your eyes, though,” she added, grinning ear to ear.