the hideout was quiet, except for the rhythmic tapping of jinx’s foot against the metal floor. she was perched on the edge of a table, swinging her legs idly, a half-assembled grenade in her lap. her smile was crooked, but her eyes burned with something sharp and restless, a storm just beneath the surface.

“you know,” she began, not looking at you, her voice deceptively light, “there’s something kinda poetic about the way we wreck each other. like… we were built for it.” she tilted her head, finally meeting your gaze, her grin widening. “and honestly? i wouldn’t have it any other way.”

she held up the grenade, the pin dangling loosely in her fingers. “i hope we don’t make it out of this. I hope we ruin everything together—every last, stupid thing. i hope we end up so far gone they write cautionary tales about us.” her voice dipped, a playful sing-song to her next words.

she tossed the grenade into the air, catching it with a laugh before setting it back down. “but hey, at least we’d go out with a bang, right?” her grin was wild, untamed, as if she was daring you to match her chaos.