Layla

5 years later...

I sat on one of many tanks of shimmer that was being loaded onto the flying ship. My feet swung back and forth lazily as I watched Sevika talk to the person in charge of the loading deck deliveries.

We've had this job planned out for months now, we're supposed to bring all the buckets of shimmer on to the plane and bring it to the address Silco gave us. We drop it off, get the money from the buyer and come home. Easy peasy. Silco has deals with Marcus, the chief of Enforcers, so we're supposed to go through the system with no trouble.

It would be that easy if I hadn't went to Ekko and the rest of the rebellion about our important mission. They should be arriving any second, coming to burn all the Shimmer just like they've done during all our missions. My favorite blue-haired psycho is downstairs watching over the rest of the cargo, in case we get any surprises.

I giggled to myself in anticipation, I loved the thrill of these missions. The fact I knew exactly when the Firelights would attack and how they'd stop us from delivering the Shimmer, the rest of Silcos goons thinking I'm on their side. Sevika knows I'm only still here with the rest of them because of J, but I kid with her, saying I have a secret crush on her and love to follow her like some lovesick puppy. Her response is a huff as she rolls her eyes, she doesn't find me very funny.

She just doesn't know my brother and I are the leaders of the Firelights and I'm a spy, she'd strangle me with her metal arm if she found out. I always point out choking is a kink of mine and that she could try it on me anytime. J laughs at my jokes while Sevika gives me the finger and pushes me away from her, like a kid having a temper tantrum.

I was brought back to reality as I heard the whoosh coming from right outside the ballon we were sitting in.

Yay, let the fun begin!

I saw Ekko and Scar flying around us, their masks covering their faces making them look mysterious and badass. They flew on their hoverboards with three others, I snarled acting as if they were the enemy. They threw the yellow crystals at Silcos goons, making the crystals exploding all over their bodies and preventing them from moving. I jumped up to try and catch Scar who flew above me, but he turned around to throw a crystal straight at my feet. It traveled all over my body, squeezing me tightly and making it hard to breathe. I yelled angrily after him as he flew away, moving around underneath the yellow rocks to make it seem like I was trying to escape.

I looked over to see Ekko hitting one of the men on the head with his bat before flying straight towards another goon who was shooting arrows at him. I held my breath as I watched him dodge them easily before grabbing the gun and throwing it off to the side. He picked the skinny man up and tossed him off the side of the balloon, sending him screaming as he fell to his death.

Aw, what a shame.

Him, Scar and Eve all hopped off their boards to work on discarding the Shimmer quickly. Ekko pulled out his watch, starting it to make sure it only took them 5 minutes to get in and get out before any Enforcers showed up. Across from me on the floor, I saw Sevika clench her fists in pure anger, as she tried to escape the crystals.

Dodge and Kit climbed down the steps to the bottom deck to find the rest of the Shimmer. They left the hatch open like I told them so they could have an easy escape if Jinx came after them. But suddenly the door, quickly slammed shut, the two pushing at the door to open it up. It barely lifted off the floor, making it impossible for them to get out. Shit. Jinx must've put traps on them without bothering to let us in on her own additional plans in case they showed up.

I rolled my eyes at her antics as Sevika seethed, staring at the door. Probably hoping Jinx kills the asshats that ruined their well thought out plan.

Moments later the plane shook as purple smoke came out from the hatch door, spreading all around the main deck making it impossible to see anything in front of me. It intensified as the door was opened, the smoke sparkling as footsteps walked across the floor.

"Hi." Jinx said blankly, before throwing two of her bombs at Scar and Eve. They fell over the side of the plane, making Ekko falter, I heard his hesitation.

He always hesitated when he was facing her, he saw Powder in her just as much as I did. But unlike me, he fully believes Powder is dead, I'll never give up on the girl. No matter how sick and twisted Silco has made her over the years. He used to have a huge crush on him, loving her kindness and the fact that she could talk to anyone about anything.

But I knew he'd snap out of it, just like usual. Once Jinx goes after him and he no longer see's his Powder in her eyes, she saw him as the enemy because she didn't know who it was under the mask. I think that if she knew it was him, she'd be just as affected by his presence as he gets with hers.

I fought against the tight crystals, wanting to step in and make sure one of them didn't actually end up killing the other in a fit of rage. I heard shuffling and Jinx firing her gun, I saw Scar jump down aiming his spear towards her but missing as she stepped back. I heard Ekko whistle, signaling to Eve to light it up with one of the flares. But I didn't see the fire, I just heard a grunt and the sound of something hitting the ground. Jinx gasped as someone struggled, oh no.

Eve.

I told her to hid her pink hair, I knew if Jinx saw it would freak her out and the voices would scream at her in her head. I moved quickly as I started getting the crystals off of me, hearing Sevika start to do the same as she saw the flare firing through the smoke. I had to get to them, she'd kill her without giving her a second thought if she got too much in her head.

I shoved the crystals away as I say the flare drop to the ground, fire erupted all over the deck, making it easier to see the two through the smoke.

"Jinx, help!" I whined, trying to snap her out of it as she held on to Eve's wrist as she struggled to get away. I saw Eve finally escape her grasp and take off running, only to make it two feet before Jinx fired her pistol aiming straight at Eves heart. I clenched my eyes shut trying not to gasp, she was my friend.

But my eyes moved to Jinx who started breathing heavily as she stared at the girls dead body lying face down. Ekko ran over to Eve, shaking her once before turning to Jinx. He took a deep breath before glancing over at me, I could feel his anger from ten feet away. He pulled out his watch, most likely seeing that the five minutes they had were way over now, before reaching for his bat behind him and running towards Jinx, screaming like a mad man. He pulled back his arm ready to hit the girl, but she reached behind grabbing her personalized machine gun and firing it.

Thank goodness Scar flew down and grabbed him before turning and dodging all of Jinx's bullets, she screamed and turned still firing the gun. I saw Ekko look towards me from his position on Scars shoulder, he was scared I would get accidentally shot during her rage fit. I ducked down, narrowly missing the bullets skimming past my head. I finally broke free of the crystals, jumping up as her machine gun stopped spinning. I went towards her, but Sevika beat me to it and I knew better than to not get in her way when she was pissed.

She roughly grabbed Jinx's shoulder making her turn towards her, "You were supposed to guard the cargo." She angrily spat as the younger girl looked up at her unfazed. J let out a huff of amusement before keeping her face neutral, I rolled my eyes and leaned against a box as I watched them finish out their staring contest. Something screeched in the distance, making Sevika turn, Jinx's face hardened as she glared at the older girl.

She never was fond of Sevika, I always thought they'd be an unstoppable team together. But growing up with Silco made Jinx unstable and unpredictable, she quickly grew out of her kind heart and replaced it with a cold one. Her eyes don't glow like they used to when she talked about a new bomb she made and Silco fed into her delusions that everyone, except him, hated the girl she once was. Making her want to change herself completely, and she succeeded. As she is now known as Silcos psycho daughter who's named Jinx, no one remembers Powder. I do, I always will, but she acts like she never existed.

I pushed off the box, clearing my throat annoyed with their constant bickering. I walked slowly towards the two making them look at me, I put my hand on my chin, holding my face as I pointed to Sevika. "Since you're Silco's pet, you can tell him why we failed to deliver his package...again. Now can you two please kiss and make up so we can get the hell out of her before the Enforcers come?" I asked sweetly, before walking between them and making my way back to the Undercity.

I didn't look back to see if they were following the whole way, but I knew they were, I could hear Jinx muttering to herself as she talked back to the voices in her head.

I stopped once we reached The Last Drop, I only force myself to go in there when I had to, the memories were too strong as I walk through to Silcos office upstairs for our meetings. I saw Vander behind the bar instead of another one of Silcos minions and I heard Mylo and Claggor arguing at our usual table in the corner. I felt close to vomiting after every time I stepped foot in that bar, but thankfully since our job was early in the morning, I had agreed to sing at Nicks' banquet during the day so I had to leave quick to make it on time.

I turned around, facing the two with my eyebrow raised waiting for them to continue walking into the bar to face Silcos wrath.

Sevika grunted as she brushed past me, bumping my shoulder as a goodbye, I looked back at her singing, "I'll miss you sweets!" I got the finger in return before she slammed the door shut, silencing the noise coming from the drunkards inside. I turned back to a silent Jinx, her eyes darted all over the place as she kept her gaze down. I cocked my head waiting to see if she followed Sevika to see Silco or went to her hideaway to be alone, if she needed to talk she'd tell me.

But that happened once in a blue moon, so when she didn't move to leave I walked up to her and forced her into a hug as I whispered, "Thank you for not shooting me."

I unwrapped my arms from around her lanky body before turning to head to Nicks mansion up in Piltover, I spotted the smallest smile sticking out on her face before I walked away from her. My chest warmed and relief flooded my body as I kept thinking she wasn't completely lost in her thoughts as much as before.

I love the girl, deranged issues and all, but she scares the shit out of me. She's like me, reserved and hates talking about herself, but I love that she still lets me stick around.

I pulled up my hood before taking my shortcut up to Piltover, Nicks was having a fundraiser tonight to celebrate Progress Day. The good thing is he's paying me to sing as an introduction before the speeches but then wants me to "mingle" with the snobs.

Who the fuck mingles?

He said tonight was important, so I have to get there early so his personal stylist can make me look like a rich kid rather than keep the dirt on my face while I pretend to be a Piltie for the night. Ekko thinks I'm staying with Jinx for the night and the Topsiders have no idea who I really am thanks to Nicks. He keeps saying many of his friends want to hire me for some of their own events, but I always turn him down. I already have too many things to take care of, and I definitely don't want to come to Piltover more than I have to. I hate coming up here to perform, but Nicks was one of my favorite customers. Since he's rich he pays me big time, more than I would get on a month's salary at my club.

Ekko counts on me to keep everyone in the rebellion safe and they all trust us both, I'll do whatever it takes to keep them all safe.