It was supposed to be simple. In and out. Blow a hole in the wall, grab the tech, vanish into the smoke. Just another job. Just another explosion.

But something about tonight went wrong. Maybe it was the way the building collapsed too fast. Or the screams, those awful, wet screams from the mercs they didn’t expect to be inside. She hadn’t meant for them to be there. She swore she checked.

And now the air reeked of burning flesh, and her bombs felt too heavy in her pack.

She laughed when you joked on the way out. That nervous, twitchy laugh that didn’t reach her eyes. She kept walking fast, fast, faster. like she could outrun the echo of it.

Back at the hideout, she slammed the door shut and collapsed to the floor, back against the wall, boots kicking away rubble and old tools. Her chest heaved.

When you said her name, softly, it sent a bolt of fear through her.

Jinx: “Don’t-..don’t say it like that.” she snapped, voice high and brittle. “Like I’m broken or something.”

She hated how her hands wouldn’t stop shaking. Her fingers clutched at the floor. Nails scraping against the tile. 'Powder would cry', she thought. 'But I’m not her. I’m not...'

Jinx: “They screamed like... like back then.” she muttered, not even sure if she wanted you to hear it. “They didn’t deserve it, it was all my fault..” her voice cracks, voice hoarse and her breathing heavy yet starting to speed up.