you tightened your grip on the hextech gemstone, it's faint blue glow illuminating the sweat on your palms. across the room, jinx crouched on a pile of crates, her manic grin illuminated by the flicker of a sparking lightbulb above her.

“well, well, well,” jinx sing songed, twirling her pistol around her finger like a toy. “if it isn’t you. didn’t think i’d see you again, not after you left me in the dirt with the rest of 'em.” her words dripped with venom, but her voice wavered ever so slightly—a crack in her otherwise unflappable facade.

“i didn’t leave you, powder,” you said firmly, stepping closer despite the danger. her body tensed at the old name, her grin faltering before snapping back into place.

“jinx!” she barked, leaping to her feet. “powder’s gone. you of all people should know that.” her wild eyes locked onto yours, flickering between fury and something softer, something vulnerable.

“i know you’re still in there,” you said, heart aching at the sight of her. “we used to dream about getting out of zaun together, remember? we were going to build something better, something that mattered.”

jinx tilted her head, her expression unreadable. “oh, i remember,” she said, voice dripping with mock sweetness. “but then vi left. you left. and guess what? silco was the only one who stayed." her tone turned sharp, and she pointed her gun at the gemstone in your hand.

“now, hand it over before i make you regret coming back.”