Episode 37: Talk (2)

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...

Jinx left the place as she didn't wanna get involved with Vi any longer, Bael felt bad seeing Vi crying and went to recomfort her.

"I failed you too," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I wasn't there. I couldn't even protect you. You—" She stopped herself, her throat closing up. "You didn't deserve this. You didn't deserve me not being strong enough."

When he spoke, his voice was eerily calm. "You did fail, but not just me, or Jinx. You also failed yourself."

"But I want to fix it," Vi whispered, her voice desperate.

Bael's gaze softened, but only for a moment before he hardened again. "You'll have to find a way to fix yourself first, Vi. You can't save anyone until you stop drowning in your own mistakes."

She swallowed, staring at the floor, her heart aching with the truth of his words. There was no saving anyone until she saved herself. But could she even do that anymore?

Them, suddenly, Jinx returned.

Jinx stood in the entrance, her sharp purple eyes locking onto Vi and Bael, who were sitting just a little too close for her liking. Vi's face was still red from crying, her hands trembling slightly.

Something twisted inside her, a sickening knot tightening in her gut. Her mind was already racing, connecting nonexistent dots, filling in gaps with the worst possible conclusions.

She took a slow step forward, tilting her head as a grin pulled at her lips—too wide, too sharp. "Well, well, well," she drawled, her voice dripping with mock amusement. "What's this, huh?" Her eyes flicked between the two of them, the manic glint in them unmistakable. "You two gettin' all cozy while I'm gone? Having a lil' moment?"

Vi immediately shook her head, trying to stand up, but Jinx lunged, closing the distance in an instant. She grabbed Vi's collar, yanking her close, her fingers twitching with restrained violence.

"Thought you were supposed to be cryin' over me, sis," Jinx hissed, her grin faltering for just a second, revealing something darker beneath. "But nah, you're sittin' here, whisperin' with him? What, you tryna steal my MAN now, too?"

Bael barely reacted, his eyes calm but watchful. "Jinx." His voice was quiet, steady. "It's not what you think."

"What do I think then, huh?" Her voice turned sing-song, mockingly sweet. "That my own bitch sis—who I just told to get lost—decided to get all buddy-buddy with the only person I actually trust?"

Vi tried to speak, but Jinx suddenly spun back toward her, shoving a finger right in her face. "You ruined everything once, and now you're gonna come back and try to take him too?"

Jinx was losing it.

"Jinx Jinx... Please, can you go for a quick walk? I wasn't done talking to Vi." He says.

Jinx looks at him, analyzing his expression and intents. "I swear to hell, if I come back and see you more than a meter close, I'm gonna have her head on tonight's dinner plate..." She said.

And before leaving, she gave him one last glance, "YES! I've become just THAT crazy." Before going.

'That line seems familiar...' Bael thinks.

Shifting his gaze to the suffocating Vi, "You good?" He asks.

She coughs, "I'm... I'm fine... She's way stronger than what I remember her to be..." She says, adjusting her jaw.

Vi's gaze drifted to Beca, still unconscious on the floor, completely unaware of the storm that had just passed over her.

"Jinx still wants her dead," Bael said plainly. "That hasn't changed."

Vi tensed at that, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. "I told you, I'm not killing her," she muttered, stubbornness lacing her words.

Bael didn't argue. He only studied Beca for a moment longer before speaking again. "Then we wipe her memory."

Vi's brows furrowed, and she turned to look at him. "What?"

"Dementia potion," he said simply, pulling out a concoction from his inventory, swirling the contents slightly. "It won't erase everything, but it'll be enough. She won't remember us, the escape, anything that dates in this week."

Vi stared at the vial, then back at Bael. "And if she wakes up before we do it?"

Bael shrugged. "Then we've got a much bigger problem."

Vi glanced at Beca again, her mind racing. She didn't wake up even after being kicked and almost killed, she's never waking up...

A groan broke the silence.

Beca groaned, blinking hard as she tried to get up. She ran a hand over her face, wincing at the dull pain throbbing in her skull.

"The hell happened?" she muttered, her voice rough. "Feels like I got hit by a damn train."

Vi hesitated, exchanging a glance with Bael before answering.

Beca scoffed, rolling her shoulders like she was shaking off the pain. "No shit. We outta that dump or what?"

Bael nodded. "Yeah. You did your part."

Beca sighed in relief, rubbing her temple. "Good. 'Cause if I went through all that just to get tossed back in, I'd be pissed."

Then her eyes flicked between them, suspicion creeping in. "You two look like you just saw my grand fart's ghost. What'd I miss?"

Vi tensed slightly. "It's complicated."

Bael didn't sugarcoat it. "Jinx wanted you dead."

Beca raised an eyebrow, then let out a dry chuckle. "Yeah? And?" She stretched her arms, wincing slightly but still acting unfazed. "Ain't the first time someone's had my head on a poster."

Vi blinked. "You're really not bothered by that?"

Beca smirked, shaking her head. "Nah. Comes with the life." She cracked her knuckles before pushing herself up to her feet, rolling her shoulders like she was shaking off a bad dream. "Look, if you don't need me anymore, I'll get outta your hair."

She turned toward the exit, but paused, glancing over her shoulder. "You ever need me? You know where to find me."

And with that, Beca started walking towards a ravine in the lair, her steps steady despite everything.

"We're just gonna ler her walk away? No potion, nothing?" Vi asks.

"I guess... She scares me to be honest..." Bael comments.

Bael sighed, running a hand through his hair as he made his way to the resting area. His body ached, his mind was exhausted, and the weight of everything that had happened still pressed on his chest.

As he stepped inside, his eyes landed on Jinx. She was curled up on the couch—the same couch he usually crashed on. Her breathing was slow, steady, her face relaxed in a way that almost made her look… peaceful.

It was rare to see her like this. Still. Quiet. Like the storm inside her had finally settled, even if only for a moment.

He debated whether to wake her, tell her that Beca was gone, that Vi was still here, still a mess. But another glance at her face, at the way she clutched the edge of the couch like she was holding onto something even in her dreams, made him stop.

For once, she wasn't overthinking. She wasn't lashing out.

Maybe it was best to let her sleep.

Vi looked at her little sister and she started feeling guilty. Her decisions gave birth to a ruthless killer monster, but deep down, she was still Powder... That's what she tried convincing herself.

Bael had just turned to find a place to rest, his body drained from the events of the day. His eyes briefly flicked to Jinx, still curled up on the couch. He'd planned to take a seat next to her, to at least give her some space, but as soon as he made the move to sit down, Jinx's eyes snapped open.

Before he could react, her hand shot out, grabbing his with an almost frightening intensity. Her grip was firm, pulling him toward her. Without a word, she tugged him close, her body shifting as she wrapped herself around him.

Bael stiffened for a second, his muscles tensing. But Jinx didn't let go. Her arms wound tighter around him, pressing her body against his as if she was trying to merge with him, almost desperate in the way she held him.

"Jinx…" Bael's voice was low, unsure whether to push her away or stay still. She didn't seem to care, her breath shallow and uneven as her face pressed into his chest.

She was shaking slightly, the madness in her eyes replaced by something else. Maybe fear. Maybe need. It was hard to tell, but it was real.

"Don't leave me…" Jinx muttered, her voice hoarse, almost like she was pleading, even in her sleep. Her grip didn't loosen. She was lost in him, and for a brief moment, Bael could feel the fragile thread that connected them all—one that was frayed but not entirely broken.

Vi looked at this shocked, but deep inside, she couldn't interfere between their love, only cry inside as her only family abandoned her for someone else, a punishment befitting of the traitor she is...

But still, she couldn't leave, she has nowhere else to go, the world was entirely against her, she was rejected everywhere, who would want her? Maybe, just maybe, if she stayed, she could be part of it again...

...

In the morning, Bael woke up and wanted to get up but Jinx tangled to him like crazy. Slowly getting off her grasp, he noticed Vi just sleeping on some crates, a position that seemed to tell that she was overthinking all night.

Bael didn't let the lack of a proper cooking place stop him. He was used to making do with whatever he had, and today would be no different.

After ensuring Jinx and Vi were still asleep, he slipped out of the lair, moving quietly through the cavern. The climb up to Zaun was second nature to him by now, every foothold and ledge familiar beneath his hands. The cold morning air hit him as he pulled himself up to the surface, but he didn't stop.

Onwards Piltover he went, and more precisely to a market place to buy essentials for a proper breakfast.

He entered the marketplace and grabbed eggs, bacon, bread, cereals, everything for a nice cozy breakfast, the denutrition from Stillwater did him no good.

He payed the stuff and left. Money was never a problem in these times, but if he could buy one thing right now it was peace, however it remained far of reach.

When he returned to the lair, Jinx and Vi were still sleeping. He started making the breakfast and slowly the smell woke them up. Jinx woke up first, feeling the cold as Bael left her grasp.

"Good Morning." Bael said.