Firelights
Admittedly, the evidence for Jinx's survival was pretty thin. Both Vi and Sevika were right: Finding no remains was not nearly enough. In the end, nothing was found of Vander either - apart from a few pieces of metal that could not be positively identified. And it could be argued both ways. She had read all the reports and investigations.
But it was hard for Caitlyn to turn her focus back to the investigation she had just started. Her conversation with Sevika still weighed heavily on her mind as she walked through the streets of Zaun. And it refused to let go off her. Seeing Sevika devastated when she heard the news of Isha's death was hard to swallow. Was it, because it seemed strange to see someone like Sevika actually have a heart, maybe even a soft side? Or was it because she'd grown accustomed to seeing Sevika as an antagonist? But most likely, like everyone else, she was just black and white. Not perfect, but far from being a monster.
The search for Jinx had just begun. But the trail was lukewarm. At best. It still felt strange and surreal that she had actually decided to do this. "But sometimes desperation makes you do strange things..." a voice argued in her head. A few months ago, never in her wildest dreams would she have thought that she would ever seek out Jinx for any reason other than revenge and justice. Instead, it was solely because of her love for Vi.
But the truth was, she had no idea what she would do if Jinx really did become part of her life again. She really had no plan. No plan because, from any reasonably sane point of view, the idea that Jinx could have survived seemed utterly insane. Yet there she was, making her way through the Undercity, believing in the unthinkable. Every rational thought in her head screamed at her to turn back and abandon this probably doomed pursuit, while something deeper urged her to press on - for Vi's sake, but perhaps also because she truly missed the thrill of detective work. So - for the time being - she clung to the foolish hope that, when the time came, the problem would somehow resolve itself.
In the end it probably wouldn't even matter, her love for Vi was far stronger than her hatred for Jinx, even though that hatred had once nearly torn them apart. That had been their lowest point, and Caitlyn had vowed never to let it happen again. She had made that silent promise to Vi, and she was determined to make it up to her - for that, and for jumping into bed with Maddie at the first opportunity. This was, without a doubt, the biggest mistake she had ever made—and that alone was reason enough to endure it all for Vi, no matter how painful or exhausting it might be.
The change, was omnipresent. As she walked through the streets, she began to notice the slow but steady transformation - not just of Zaun itself, but in its people as well. The artworks of Jinx and the monuments erected in her honor cast a morbid shadow over Caitlyn as she paused for a moment and looked at the work in progress of an unfinished Jinx statue. Her torso was too unique to be unrecognizable. At least for those who knew her a little. And this artist clearly did.
"Who was even building all of those statues?" She wondered as she hesitantly moved away and continued her way through the depths of Zaun. "What would future generations even think of this young hero of freedom?"
A cold shiver ran down her spine. "Jinx as an icon and symbol of freedom: What a crazy world..." She shook her head, but couldn't help but smile a little. "At least this way she won't be forgotten. Either way..."
And still, just hearing her name was at times enough to make Caitlyn's heart jump. Even though she had forgiven Jinx, she still had no idea how she would react if she ever saw the blue-haired girl again, if she would face those piercing, paralyzing pink irises once again. The haunting images of her, lurking like a hungry predator on its prey, just before she was kidnapped and tied to the chair in that old factory. Just before she lost her mind and did the unthinkable.
The last time she spoke to Jinx, she was a shadow of herself. A hurt creature that was hiding in grief. The way Jinx didn't seemed to care for her life was... frightening. Caitlyn had imagined this moment countless times—finally extinguishing the light in those menacing eyes. But seeing Jinx like that had stirred something deep within her. Was it her love for Vi, knowing that Vi would never forgive her if she had killed Jinx or brought her to justice? Or was it... mercy?
It was ironic, in a way, how Jinx—dead or alive—had managed to cause her and Vi so much pain. Just in completely different ways.
And then there was that moment—just as Riktus learned of her betrayal of Ambessa—when Jinx appeared at exactly the right time and took up the fight. A fight she could barely withstand against his overwhelming strength. She had almost paid for it with her life, if not for Vander, who throw himself in to protect his daughter. Maybe, beneath all the crusted layers of darkness and pain, she was a hero after all. She had given her life for Vi. Without her, Vi might not be here. In that world, she wouldn’t have just lost her mother—but also the love of her life.
The path leading to the Firelights' little community inside Zaun looked different from the last time she had been here. In fact, this was the first time she had visited without being handcuffed and blindfolded. Though the scars of the past remained, the place somehow felt brighter—more hopeful. It wasn’t just in the way people acted or how things appeared; it was as if a strange, yet warm and comforting aura had quietly settled over the area. A narrow alcove finally led her to their destination: the enclave of the Firelights. The first thing that caught her eye was the tree at the heart of their community—majestic, imposing, and almost intimidating in its breathtaking beauty. Caitlyn couldn't help but pause, taking in the awe-inspiring sight. This was undoubtedly Caitlyn's favorite place in all of Zaun. Her eyes wandered in fascination over the intricate garlands and twinkling lights that only added to the unique charm of this place. But her gaze soon returned to the cluster of treehouses, perched on different levels and connected by small bridges. Ekko had to be here somewhere.
If what Sevika and the others she had asked along the way were true, he still spent most of his time in Zaun—leading the Firelights and continuing to expand their enclave. A noble and selfless goal. It was late afternoon and Caitlyn knew she would have to return to Vi soon. The mere thought of what she might have done made her stomach clench and her heart ache. "Please be okay, Vi... I'll do everything I can for you. Just be okay... I'll fix everything for you."
Caitlyn remembered their first encounter all too well. What might now pass as a funny anecdote to share over dinner had once been a moment of genuine fear—for her life, and for Vi’s. Only later did she realize that Ekko had been one of Vi’s childhood friends all along. Unlike Jinx, he hadn’t changed for the worse. Quite the opposite, in fact.
A small child stared at her curiously, almost fascinated, pulling her out of her thoughts. The boy's expression suggested he recognized her. "Hi," Caitlyn greeted him softly, putting on her best picture-perfect smile—the same one she used back in her early days as an officer, when elementary school classes visited the sheriff's office. But the boy just kept staring at her with that same curious expression. "I'm looking for Ekko. Do you know him? Do you know where I can find him?" Caitlyn asked, her voice gentle as she took a cautious step closer. But just when she thought she had succeded, he child suddenly turned and walked away toward the bridges leading to the tree houses. Frustrated, she glanced around once more. Having Vi by her side would have made things a thousand times easier—but right now, that simply wasn’t an option. Caitlyn knew she stood out here. Not just because of her Piltover clothes, but also because of the way she carried herself. She simply didn’t belong. It was ironic, really—of all places, this should be the one to accept everyone. Especially those in need.
What else could she have said? “I don’t bite?” or “I come in peace?” The thought made her chuckle softly to herself as her gaze fell on a group of children playing tag beneath the tree. It was a wholesome sight, stirring memories of her own childhood—playing with Jayce in far simpler, happier times. A bittersweet ache settled in her chest as nostalgia washed over her. "Wherever you are, Jayce... Take care of yourself. And please come back someday..."
"What brings you here?" A voice shouted at her from the distance, snapping her out of her thoughts. When Caitlyn glanced to her side, she spotted a familiar face: Ekko. He emerged from a small building, the young boy from before at his side, pointing in her direction. His expression was curious, but as he approached, a warm smile spread across his face, as if greeting an old friend. "I was looking for you", Caitlyn greeted him back with a friendly smile. "I see. So you returned from Noxus?" Ekko replied, his expression stell keeping its genuine curiosity about this unexpectedly late afternoon visit. "Yes, one week ago" She said, noticing the flicker of disappointment on his face. Clearly, he had expected Vi to get in touch with him once she returned. "Vi?" Ekko asked her, concerned about Vi's absence and confirming her initial suspicion. Caitlyn sighed, "That's why I'm here. That and-"
"Is she okay?" The question came straight away, worry clouding his face and swallowing the cheerful expression he had worn just moments ago. "She's fine. At least physically..." Caitlyn assured him, just in case he'd pictured another fallen or maimed war hero. But as the words left her mouth, she realized they probably weren't the best choice to describe Vi's situation. Ekko's raised eyebrow silently but insistingly urged her to give him a more detailed explanation. She took a deep breath, already knowing that Vi wouldn’t be too fond of finding out that she shared their problems with Ekko. Made them his 'problem'. But since Vi had chosen to spend the afternoon drowning in alcohol on their bed, she had no choice. "She's falling apart without her sister. She blames herself for her death..." For a brief moment, Ekko's eyes lit up as she told him, but soon his expression darkened - tinged with sadness.
"Same for me..." Ekko said dejectedly, his face emptying of all emotion leaving only sadness and bitterness. "It's my fault too. I was the one who convinced her to join this fight..." He paused, visibly struggling to keep his emotions in check. "But what choice did I have? When I found her, she was about to..." He stopped suddenly, and Caitlyn could see his anguished struggle as dark memories rose within him, forcing him to relive the moment before her eyes. "It wasn't easy to convince her to not give herself up and... to kill herself..." His voice cracked as he forced the words out, the weight of the memory etched into his face. Caitlyn's eyes widened in shock as his words struck her. She exhaled deeply, her voice barely above a whisper. "Shit" Only then did she realize, to her horror and embarrassment, that the words had slipped out before she could stop them. She knew Jinx was troubled, and what she had seen in that prison cell wasn’t the chaotic, vibrant, and feared Jinx she had once wanted dead for so long. No, what she had seen was a broken, wounded creature—a shadow of her former self. The realization twisted painfully in her stomach.
Neither she nor Vi had seen it coming. Vi’s excuse was that she was still overwhelmed by finally having her sister back—by the fact that Jinx had survived the encounter at Viktor’s enclave. When she went to see Jinx, the only thought occupying her mind was freeing her sister, even though she knew it might upset Caitlyn. Or worse. What Vi didn’t know was that her girlfriend had already anticipated this move, knowing Vi would follow her heart to save her sister, no matter the cost.
That was one of the countless reasons she loved Vi for. Because she seemed to care so endlessly and unconditionally for those she truly loved with all her heart. Watching her struggle with pain and heartbreak was probably the main reason Caitlyn even considered actively searching for Jinx. Vi couldn't see it herself, blinded as she was by her "overwhelming mixture of joy and fear. That excuse only applied to Vi. Caitlyn, however, should have seen it herself.
"She did what?" Caitlyn asked, once she had somewhat regained her composure—though this revelation had just made everything infinitely more complicated. Until now, she had expected to find a chaotic, unstable, but perhaps redeemed Jinx—not one who was unstable and possibly suicidal. Three months had passed since the battle. 'What if it’s already too late?' A heavy lump formed in her throat.
"Tried," Ekko corrected her firmly. For some reason it was important for him to emphasise this particular detail. "Does Vi know?" The words leaving her mouth instinctively, before she could even try to stop them. But much to her reliev Ekko shook his head firmly. "No. I swore to myself never to reopen that barrel again. Especially not with Vi."
"Then why did you tell me?" Caitlyn asked, confused, yet curious and somewhat surprised. Her eyes locked onto him expectantly - almost intimidatingly - as if she were trying to extract a confession from a suspect. "Maybe it's because you're neither too deep nor too far out," Ekko mused as he picked up a small Fireflight resting on a small but beautiful plant. The fragile insect didn't seem at all afraid of him. In fact, it began to hum softly as it clung to his index finger. As she watched him, Caitlyn couldn't help but wonder if engaging with this little Firelight was Ekko's way of coping with everything.
The moment the little creature willingly accepted his touch and wrapped its tiny fingers around his, something in Ekko’s demeanor shifted. And not just his. Caitlyn, too, felt a weight lifting from her shoulders. Maybe it was true. Maybe this place really was magical—or at least more than just special. Or perhaps exhaustion was finally catching up with her. After all, she hadn’t taken a real break herself, aside from the occasional tea with her father. But she knew she couldn't afford a break as long as Vi was still a walking mess.
"You know, the thing that really struck me... I don't think that the person I saved was Jinx," Ekko said, gently guiding the little Firelight to step onto his other forefinger. "You're talking about Powder… not Jinx, right?" Caitlyn asked curiously. For some reason, she was starting to become more interested in Jinx’s - or rather Powder’s - past. A past that still remained a mystery to her, except for a few scattered fragments Vi had shared, like their little bug fights.
"I’m not so sure anymore. I’ve seen many versions of her—some that neither you nor even Vi have probably ever seen," He said thoughtfully. And in that moment, Caitlyn knew thar Ekko had witnessed something neither she nor Vi had. Something they had yet to uncover. "What do you mean by that?" Caitlyn asked, her curiosity laced with concern. It was obvious that Ekko knew more than he was letting on. Her instincts as an officer made it easy to see through his barely existent facade.
"It's complicated. There's something I never told anyone... not even Jinx. But now she's gone anyway, so it doens't matter...", He explained with a sigh, his expression clouded by pain and regret as he let the Firelight drift back onto the grass. Ekko looked up and met her gaze. He knew it was a lie—he had told Jinx about his journey into the past, though he had left out a few crucial details. Like the fact that Vi had died in that alternate reality. In the end, it probably didn’t matter. She was gone anyway, and in her near-suicidal state, she likely hadn’t fully grasped what he meant.
"Maybe not..." Caitlyn said and Ekko's eyebrows immediately raised, silently but expectantly daring her to elaborate on her point. "Maybe she's not dead," She revealed her suspicion after taking a brief moment to gather the confidence to involve Ekko to this 'case'. "What do you mean?" Ekko asked, his expression turning serious. He knew she wasn’t joking, so his mind raced to double-check what his ears had just heard.
"That's crazy..." He commented with widened eyes, more to himself than her actually. "Then again, probably not as crazy as what I went through..."
"I know... But I think there's a chance," Caitlyn replied, her voice calm yet determined.
"Hey, listen. I know it's hard to accept the truth. But why are you looking for it? You...", Ekko's voice was soft, but his eyes betrayed a deep exhaustion she hadn't noticed before. "I don't want to hunt her..." Caitlyn clarified, a hint of annoyance in her voice. It seemed like everyone assumed she was trying to start yet another manhunt for the blue-haired terrorist—who also happened to be her girlfriend’s beloved sister.
"Okay, okay, I believe you." He raised his hands in surrender. "But you have to admit—this is crazy"
"I know..." Caitlyn sighed frustrated. She lowered her eyes to her foot and bit back a cry of frustration. What was she trying to achieve? All she had done was reopen old wounds - first Sevika's and now Ekko's. "I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I shouldn't have come..."
"No, wait," Ekko stopped her immediately, "I'm glad you came. Believe it or not, this has been one of the more interesting days in a long time" A smile found its way back to his face, this time carrying something that Caitlyn easily recognised: confidence. "Like I said—absolutely not crazy..." He continued after a brief pause, one that they both seemed to need. "Then again... She's proven more than once that she's hard to kill. After our fight on the bridge, I thought I had killed her. I hated myself. I screamed. And even though I knew she was a threat, I was relieved when I found out she had survived. Completely insane, right?"
"No, not really," Caitlyn said thoughtfully. "Funny how a few months could change everything..." a cheeky voice teased from the back of her mind. "Who are you telling?' Ekko laughed. And he seemed to understand her only too well. "She was one of my childhoods closest friends. Almost like a sister. But... different... When I saw her at her workshop, it was as if the last seven years had never happened. I really thought I had her back..."
"You love her, don't you?" His face instantly froze, sending cold and hot shivers down his spine at the same time. "Of course I do. She's my friend. We've been through so much together and I love Vi for the same reason... But not in the way you think," he added quickly, trying to dispel any false assumptions with a nervous, yet somehow genuine and endearing smile. Caitlyn smiled tiredly and slightly amused, knowing that he'd never be any real competition in this matter. But she dared herself not to think too much about it. After all, Vi was the one who had every right to be jealous after her ill-fated Maddie stunt. Still, it was reassuring to know that he seemed to respect her relationship.
"Why are you so eager to find her?" he asked, curiosity evident in his voice. For a moment, his eyes and tone almost mirrored Vi's. Caitlyn sighed. "Vi is drowning in grief. I'm doing this for her - not for me, not for revenge. I'm tired of that concept..."
"That sounds familiar..." Ekko murmured, more to himself than to her. "What do you mean by that?" Caitlyn, who overheard his little self-talk, looked at him expectantly. "Like I said, I haven't told anyone about this," Ekko said, making Caitlyn instantly perk up. Her instincts told her that this could be important.
"But now isn't the time to tell" He said firmly. The confidence in his voice left no room for doubt. "I'm coming with you. I want to visit an old friend"
"Allright" Caitlyn agreed with a shallow smile. She may not have found the answers she wanted - or needed - but she had certainly gained a new ally in her efforts to save Vi from herself. Caitlyn knew that sooner or later she would get the full story from Ekko. Even if it meant relying on Vi's incomparable charm and talent for convincing people.