Archive of Our Own

The summer night wrapped around the plaza like a veil as it clung to the marble and stone. The plaza had been transformed for the evening’s event. Tables lined the space, draped in pristine white cloths that fluttered gently in the night breeze to soften the otherwise imposing grandeur of the venue. A fountain bubbled In the middle of it all, the water catching rays of light as they cascaded in gentle arcs from the marble figure perched at its center. Laughter and conversation drifted past its marble features on the summer breeze, folding into one indistinct murmur as nobles moved around the fountain with practiced ease, their movements choreographed as part of the same performance they’d all been trained for since birth.

Lux took in the scene with practiced detachment. These gatherings were a routine she knew all too well, a never-ending parade of Demacia’s finest, each dressed more extravagantly than the last, and all of them pretending to enjoy each other’s company. It was expected of her to be here, to smile, and nod, and play the role of the noble’s daughter that her legacy demanded of her. She was a piece on the chessboard, and while she performed the role with grace, she would rather have been anywhere else. 

She glanced down at the champagne in her hand, swirling the liquid lazily in its glass. It was a perfect evening, as far as these things went. The weather was pleasant, the food was exquisite, and every detail had been meticulously planned. But none of that mattered to Lux. The pleasantries, the mindless chatter, the endless pretense—it wore her down more than she cared to admit. 

She sighed softly, shifting her weight as she looked around again. The boys were watching, as they always did. Leaning against pillars, their gazes lingered on her, each of them waiting for the opportune moment to approach her. She was the Crownguard’s daughter, after all, and that carried weight in these circles. 

She could already hear her aunt’s voice in the back of her mind, reminding her to smile and be courteous, to remember her responsibilities and not to spurn any family that might be useful to them in the future. 

Lux hated it. 

All the boys liked to chase her, as Cithria would say whenever Lux vented her frustrations. Cithria never had to worry about such things. Being part of the Vanguard meant that Cithria was free from the entanglements of courtly life, and from the attentions of those who thought of Lux as nothing more than a trophy to be claimed. How many coins had Lux tossed into wishing wells, hoping for that same freedom? At times, the frustration was so overwhelming that she would have traded her soul just to be anyone else. 

Unfortunately for Lux, Cithria wasn’t able to keep her company tonight. Instead, Lux found herself standing beside Fiora Laurent, the next best deterrent she could manage. 

Lux turned to her current companion, watching as Fiora surveyed the crowd with obvious disinterest. She stood with her usual elegance, one hand hanging loosely by her side while the other held a glass of wine held delicately between two fingers. Fiora was many things—graceful, intelligent, sharp-tongued—but above all, she was intimidating. No one dared to push her into a relationship anymore. Not after she’d publicly humiliated the last handful of suitors at the point of her sword. Graceful as she was, the knowledge that she would be the one wielding the power in any relationship made her undesirable to Demacian society.

Which was precisely why Lux had sought her company tonight. 

At least with Fiora, there was a buffer between herself and the persistent advances of the Demacian elite. No one was brave enough to approach her when Fiora was nearby. 

Lux shifted her weight, scanning the faces in the crowd, half hoping for some sign that the evening might pass without incident. She wasn’t here for the attention, the suitors, or the empty flatteries of Demacia’s upper crust. She was here because she had to be, because it was what was expected of her. As much as she wished she could slip away unnoticed, there was no escaping her duty tonight. 

But, gods, did she want to. 

Beside her, Fiora sipped her wine and cast a scrutinizing gaze over the crowd. "Look at them," she said, her voice brimming with disdain. "Seligard, pretending he’s not falling over his own feet while trying to impress Forwin. And Lady Fortis—it’ll be a disappointment if her largest scandal tonight is spilling that wine over her dress with the way she’s acting." She shook her head, a sneer playing on her lips as she glanced toward the section of the plaza cordoned off for waltzing where nobles spun clumsily under the lantern light.

Lux nodded absently, only barely listening. She’d heard it all before from the aristocrat. She looked up, squinting slightly against the setting sun. The evening was dragging on, as these events always did, and Lux found herself wondering just how much longer she’d have to endure it before she could make a polite excuse and disappear. It wouldn’t be proper to leave too early, but if she timed it just right, she could slip away before anyone noticed. Or before another overeager heir could corner her for a dance. 

Her thoughts drifted as she imagined the possible excuses she might use. Something about an early morning meeting with her father, perhaps, or an urgent matter with the Mageseekers that required her attention. 

A flash of movement at the edge of the plaza caught Lux’s attention. Lux blinked, focusing on a lone figure sitting on a bench just within the courtyard. At first, she thought they were a servant tending to the maintenance of the evening’s event. But as she looked closer, she realized that wasn’t the case at all. 

The figure was hunched over something in their lap, wrench in hand as they worked intently on a small object that Lux couldn’t quite make out. They were dressed in worn clothes, a pair of ripped jeans and a faded tank top that showed entirely too much skin to be appropriate. Though the lanterns didn’t reach far enough to fully illuminate them, Lux could make out the glint of something metallic in their hair, catching the last rays of sunlight. 

Lux’s brow furrowed in confusion. Whoever they were, they certainly didn’t belong here, not in the way the rest of the guests did. 

"What are you staring at?" Fiora’s voice cut through Lux’s thoughts, pulling back to the present. Her gaze lingering a moment longer on the figure before turning back to her companion. 

"Nothing," Lux replied, though the image of the lone figure was now firmly imprinted in her mind. She glanced back once more, but the girl hadn’t moved, still engrossed in her work, utterly oblivious to the party unfolding around them. 

She was a glaring contrast to the polished elegance that surrounded her, a jagged tear in the fabric of the party. The edges of her jeans were frayed, loose strands brushing against combat boots that had seen more wear than all of Lux’s footwear put together. Her hair, a wild, electric blue, whipped in the breeze, bronze accessories set aglow by the light of nearby lanterns.

She was chaos incarnate, utterly and unapologetically out of place. 

Lux couldn’t tear her eyes away. 

"What, pray tell, has you so spellbound?" Fiora’s voice again cut through her reverie. Lux blinked, her attention snapping back to the present as she realized how long she had been staring. Fiora followed the direction of her gaze before scoffing. "Ah. Jinx." 

"Jinx?" Lux asked, surprised at the recognition in Fiora’s tone. 

Fiora took a sip of her wine, her lips curling into a wry smile. "That’s her name, if you can believe it. She’s something of a menace around here. Always stirring up trouble, and getting herself hauled to the gaol by the constables. Unfortunately, they’ve never managed to hold her for long.”

Lux glanced back at the figure. It wasn’t hard to imagine why the constables might take issue with her. The ripped clothes, scuffed boots, and wild, unkempt hair—everything about her screamed rebellion; everything about her dared Demacia to purge her from its flawless surface. Not that Jinx seemed to care at all for what the rest of Demacia wanted. She was still bent over whatever mechanical device she was working on, her hands deftly twisting the wrench, entirely uninterested in the world around her. 

"She doesn’t look particularly malevolent.”

"Looks can be deceiving," Fiora answered with a casual shrug, her eyes still fixed on Jinx. "But if you ask me, she enjoys the game. She gets a thrill out of seeing how far she can push things without getting caught." Fiora waved her hand dismissively. "She’s a vagrant with nothing better to do with her life, playing with machines and causing mayhem when she’s bored. Jinx isn’t worth anyone’s time. She isn’t worth anything at all." 

Fiora’s gaze had already begun to wander, her interest in Jinx fading as something else caught her attention. Her eyes narrowed as a new group of aristocrats entered the plaza. "If you don’t mind, I’ll have to excuse myself," she said, her tone clipped. "House Laurent has business to discuss, and that's the only reason I bothered with this tiresome affair in the first place." 

Without another word, Fiora downed the last of her wine and gave Lux a curt nod before making her way toward the new arrivals, her fluid movement doing nothing to mas the steel that everyone knew lay beneath. 

Lux watched her go, feeling as the creeping awareness of how exposed she was began to fall over her. The buffer Fiora had provided was gone, and it was only a matter of time before—

"Lady Crownguard." 

The voice, smug and far too close, drew her attention back to the present. A noble boy had appeared at her shoulder, all charm and entitlement as he offered his hand. His smile was wide, but there was a hunger in his eyes, like he’d already decided the answer to his unspoken question and was merely asking as a formality. 

"Care to dance?"

Lux barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes. 

She offered him a polite, practiced smile, the kind she had perfected over years of enduring these sorts of interactions. "Perhaps later," she said, her voice light and airy "When it’s a bit cooler." 

The boy’s smile faltered, just for a second, before he recovered, clearly not used to hearing anything but immediate acceptance. He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as though trying to create an air of intimacy. "Oh, come now, just one dance won’t hurt. Surely the heat can’t bother you that much, Lady Crownguard." 

Lux’s jaw tightened, but her smile remained fixed in place. "Later," she repeated, more firmly this time. Before he could object, she brushed past him, pretending she had something urgent to attend to. 

It wasn’t until she’d walked halfway across the courtyard that she realized she didn’t have anywhere to go. Her steps faltered, and a flush of embarrassment warmed her cheeks. She hadn’t really thought it through, stepping away like that, and now, without a clear direction, she felt out of place. Turning back now would only make it more obvious that she’d been wandering aimlessly—and the last thing she wanted was for anyone to notice her and assume she’d want company. 

Great, she thought to herself, casting her eyes around for a chance to salvage the situation. But as her gaze shifted across the plaza, it landed, inevitably, on the lone figure sitting at the outskirts of the event. 

Jinx was still there, still working on that strange device in her hands, utterly indifferent to everything and everyone around her. Lux’s feet moved before she could stop them, carrying her toward the edge of the plaza, drawn by some invisible force outside of her control. 

She didn’t know why she was heading in that direction. Maybe it was the allure of something different, something entirely outside the rules of her world. All she knew was that, at this moment, her feet were leading her away from the party and straight toward Jinx. 

As she drew closer, Lux’s eyes were drawn to the way Jinx’s tank top clung to her figure, the fabric hugging her form in all the wrong places—or maybe all the right ones. The sleeves were torn off, the edges jagged and unhemmed, as if Jinx had ripped them off herself, leaving her bare arms unapologetically on display. A series of tattoos curled from her forearm up her bicep before disappearing under her clothes. Lux wondered how far they extended.

She came to a stop a few feet away, her heart pounding in her chest, as she processed the fact that she had actually walked over.

Jinx didn’t look up from the small contraption she was fiddling with. "If you’re here to tell me to leave, save your breath,” she said, her voice dripping with boredom. “The guards already tried that. I’m not breaking any rules just sitting here." 

Lux blinked, momentarily taken aback by Jinx’s bluntness. "I wasn’t going to ask you to leave," she said. Lux hesitated for a second longer before adding, "actually, I was hoping I could sit next to you." 

That made Jinx pause. She stopped fiddling with the device and slowly looked up, peering at Lux through narrowed eyes. Her gaze was suspicious as it lingered on Lux's pristine gown and carefully styled hair. Lux held her breath as she felt the weight of Jinx’s gaze judging her. But Jinx eventually shrugged, gesturing to the space beside her with the slightest tilt of her head.

"Suit yourself,” she said, returning to her work. "But don’t expect me to kowtow to you just because you’re some fancy noble." 

Lux let out a small breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, feeling the tension within her release. For a few moments, they sat in silence, no sound passing between them except for the clinking of metal as Jinx continued working. Lux watched her out of the corner of her eye, captivated by the way Jinx seemed so completely at ease despite the eyes watching them.

But eventually it grew too much. Lux bit her lip, searching for something to say that might break the silence. She wasn’t used to people like Jinx.

“So,” Lux began awkwardly, “what are you working on?”

Jinx didn’t look up. “Does it matter?”

Lux blinked. “I guess not. I just…I thought I’d ask.”

A small smirk tugged at the corner of Jinx’s mouth, though her eyes never left the device in her hands. “Well, you asked. Now you’ve got your answer.”

They lapsed back into silence, and Lux felt herself relax. It wasn’t the easy, comfortable silence she was used to with friends like Cithria, but it wasn’t as suffocating as she had first thought. In a strange way, it was almost freeing.

It was Jinx who broke the quiet, her gaze drifting toward the group of noble boys across the plaza. She raised an eyebrow, a grin tugging at the corner of her lips. "What’s with all the staring? Those boys look like they’re about to pass out. One of them your boyfriend or something?" 

Lux blinked, her face flushing slightly as she shook her head quickly. "No, they’re not—none of them are my boyfriend."

Jinx’s smirk widened. "So, they’re just staring at you for fun then?" 

"No, they’re waiting for the right moment to get me alone,” she muttered.

Jinx leaned back slightly, studying her with a grin. "Not betrothed to any of them in a fancy marriage contract then?" 

Lux's eyes widened in mock horror. "Oh! I should hope not!" 

For a brief moment, she considered the absurdity of it. Only the highest ranking nobles were ever involved in formal marriage contracts, and even someone as disinterested in the nobility as Jinx should be able to tell that Lux wasn’t that important. She didn’t have the extravagant clothes, the entourage of attendants, or the vaunted beauty and regal features that those princesses had. Lux was ordinary in comparison. 

Jinx nodded as if satisfied with her own conclusion. "Well, you made a good choice coming near me, then. Nobody likes to mess with the crazy person." 

Lux furrowed her brows slightly. What did it mean that she was sitting next to Jinx?

Before she could dwell any further on the thought, Jinx continued. "You know, it’s kinda weird you’re even within earshot of me," she said. "Having a reputation for being unhinged does that. But here you are, all dolled up nice and pretty, sitting next to the walking disaster." 

She thrust her hand out. “I’m Jinx, by the way. Stands for Jinx.” 

Lux blinked. “I know who you are.” 

Never mind that she hadn’t known Jinx existed until Fiora had recognized her. Lux knew who she was now.

“Of course you do,” Jinx responded. “Everyone knows a Jinx when they see one.” 

She ran a finger along the length of her arm, tracing the intricate swirls of ink. “You’d have to be blind not see trouble this obvious.” 

Lux opened her mouth to respond, but Jinx was already leaning in, her gaze locked on Lux with a mischievous glint. “So, what’s a girl like you doing sitting this close to the psycho?” Jinx’s smile grew wider. “Don’t tell me you’re here for a thrill.” 

Lux’s breath hitched, caught off guard by Jinx’s intensity. “No,” she replied, wincing at how insincere she sounded. “I just—I needed a break.” 

Jinx arched an eyebrow, clearly enjoying her reaction. “A break, huh?” She leaned back, crossing her arms with a smirk. “I am pretty good at breaking things...” 

Lux’s cheeks flushed at the comment. She quickly looked away and tried to compose herself. “That’s not what I meant.” 

Jinx grinned, leaning in closer as if to press the advantage. “Oh? So, what did you mean, princess?” 

Lux opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. She could feel Jinx’s eyes on her, waiting for a reply that she couldn’t quite muster. 

“You’re cute when you get all flustered, you know that?” Jinx teased, her grin widening. “I didn’t take you for the shy type.” 

Lux’s face heated even more, and she bit her lip, trying to keep her composure. “I’m not—” 

“Yeah, you are,” Jinx cut her off, clearly enjoying the way Lux squirmed under her gaze. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. Your secret’s safe with me.” She winked, leaning back with a satisfied smirk. 

Lux’s heart raced, her words faltering. “It’s just too much,” she said. 

“What is? Being admired by all the pretty boys?” Jinx’s eyes shone with amusement. “It sure sounds exhausting.” 

“It’s not like that—” 

“Oh, I know,” Jinx interrupted. “It’s probably worse. I bet they don’t leave you alone for a second, huh? All those poor boys lining up just to get a smile from you.” 

Lux bit her lip. “You’re impossible.” 

“No, I’m Jinx!” Jinx crossed her arms and smirked at her before leaning in. “Or you can call me crazy.” 

Lux blinked at the playfulness. She wasn’t sure how to respond to it. Jinx wasn’t like anyone she’d ever met before. The conversation had just begun and already it was worlds apart from the stiff formality she was used to. She didn’t have a response for this. She didn’t know how to act.

“Anyway,” Jinx continued, rising to her feet and stretching. “While it’s been more fun than I thought, I’ve got places to be.” 

Lux's heart skipped a beat. “Wait!” She jumped up and grabbed Jinx’s wrist without thinking. 

Jinx raised an eyebrow, looking down at where Lux’s hand held her arm. Lux’s face flushed, her heart pounding. “This is crazy,” she muttered under her breath. 

“Hey!” Jinx exclaimed. “Being crazy is my schtick!” 

Lux swallowed hard and tried not to think too much. If she thought about what she was doing, she’d lose her nerve completely. “Do you have something to write with?”  

Jinx gave her a curious look before reaching into one of her pockets and pulling out a neon pink marker. She twirled it between her fingers before handing it to Lux. “Sure. What are you going to do with it?” 

Lux’s hand shook as she uncapped the marker. This is utterly crazy . 

Without saying another word, Lux touched the tip of the marker to Jinx's forearm and scribbled her number across the open expanse of skin, the neon pink ink standing out in stark contrast to Jinx’s pale flesh.

As she wrote, Lux could feel the heat rising steadily to her cheeks, spreading across her face with every movement of the marker. If she could see herself, she was certain that her face would be as bright as the numbers scrawled across Jinx’s arm.

Jinx watched her with a raised eyebrow, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “You sure you want to put that there?” she asked. “It’s permanent, you know.”

“Call me” She said, staring at Jinx’s boots. If she looked into her eyes, she might just melt. “Maybe. If you feel like it.”  She winced inwardly at how uncertain she sounded.

For a long moment, Jinx said nothing. She just looked down at the number scrawled across her arm, her expression unreadable. Lux’s heart hammered in her chest as the silence stretched between them, and she had to resist the urge to flee.

But then, just as Lux was about to say something— anything— to fill the awkward void, Jinx burst into laughter.

"Maybe?" Jinx grinned. She shook her head. “You don’t do this very often, do you?” 

Lux opened her mouth to respond, but her words caught in her throat. She hadn’t known what to expect from this, hadn’t even known if Jinx would take her seriously, but now, standing here in the wake of Jinx’s laughter, all she could feel was an overwhelming sense of embarrassment.

But it was too late now. She couldn’t take it back.

Jinx grinned, twirling the marker between her fingers before shoving it back into her pocket. “I’ll think about it,” she said, eyes sparking with mischief. “Maybe I’ll call you... maybe I won’t. I guess you’ll just have to wait and see.”

By the time Lux could find her voice again, Jinx was already walking away. Lux stood there, feeling like an idiot. The heat in her face refused to fade, but despite herself, she couldn’t stop smiling. 

Lux sat on the edge of her bed, her phone resting on the pillow beside her. It taunted her with its silence. She had lost count of how many times she had glanced at it, hoping to see an unfamiliar number pop up. It had sat silent for days. 

The sunlight streamed through the window, casting long shadows on the floor, but Lux couldn’t focus on anything else. Ever since she’d met Jinx, the world outside seemed muted. Her foot tapped an anxious rhythm on the floor. With each passing hour, Lux’s hope dimmed. She shouldn’t care this much. It was just a stupid crush and, the more she thought about it, the more foolish she felt. 

“Still staring at your phone?” Cithria’s teasing voice cut through the quiet to pull Lux out of her thoughts. 

Lux hadn’t even noticed her come in. She forced a smile as Cithria sat down next to her, clearly amused by the whole situation. Over the past few days, Cithria had made it a point to tease Lux whenever she caught her glancing at her phone. It had started out playful enough but now, it was beginning to sting.

The thrill that had shot through her when she gave Jinx her number had long since faded. Now, instead of excitement, all she felt was a growing pit of doubt. The longer her phone stayed silent, the more foolish she felt for even hoping Jinx would call. And why would she? Lux obviously wasn’t the type of person Jinx wanted to spend time with. 

“You’re really still waiting for her to call?” Cithria asked, equal parts disbelief and amusement in her tone. “Lux, come on. It’s fun to loosen up and do some harmless flirting, but this is Jinx. Did you really think something would come out of it? Chasing after another girl— and Jinx of all people?” She raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. “I’m not sure even I’d be bold enough to do that.”

Lux flushed. Without thinking, she grabbed a pillow and hurtled it at Cithria.

“Shut up!” she sputtered, her face reddening as Cithria’s laughter filled the room.

Yet as the laughter subsided, Lux found herself fidgeting with her phone again, gnawing on her lip. “What if... what if Jinx thinks I’m weird? Or, what if I came off too eager? Maybe she thinks I’m just some silly noble girl with nothing better to do. Or worse, maybe she’s just laughing about it, thinking it was all some joke.”

Cithria raised an eyebrow, her smile not fading one bit. “Oh, you’re definitely weird, Lux,” she said.

“Thanks,” she huffed. “That’s really reassuring.”

Cithria grinned, leaning forward. “It’s part of your charm,” she said. “I’m sure she found your awkward, adorable panic attack endearing .”

Lux groaned, swatting at Cithria again with the pillow. “You’re not helping!”

The teasing grin on Cithria’s face softened slightly. “You know, it’s probably for the best. Dates never really live up to expectations, especially when you put this much energy into waiting around for it.” She shrugged lightly. “You were bound to be disappointed if it ever did happen.”

Lux’s shoulders slumped. “Maybe you’re right,” she admitted. “I guess I just thought…” 

“That’s your problem,” Cithria interrupted, giving Lux a nudge as she sat down next to her. “You’re thinking too much. It’s not like you’d actually do anything with Jinx, right? She’s Jinx for crying out loud.” 

Lux bit her lip, unsure how to respond. She knew Cithria wasn’t wrong. Jinx had a reputation. A Crownguard had no reason to be within even the same thought at Jinx. But even with that knowledge, there was something that made it impossible for Lux to get the girl out of her head.  

“I don’t know,” Lux muttered, glancing down at her phone again. “You’re right. It’s stupid.” 

Cithria shook her head. “No, it’s not stupid. It’s exciting, I get it. Pushing boundaries, flirting with danger. That’s where the fun is. But trust me, if you actually went through with it, you’d see it’s not that special. All that excitement? It’s in your head. The reality would be dull as hell.” 

Lux considered her friend’s words. Cithria would know better. She was older, for one, and more importantly, she wasn’t bound by the same constraints that Lux was. As a commoner, Cithria could go on dates. She could flirt with whomever she wanted without worrying about decorum or the weight of expectation. There were no endless lines of suitors trying to win her family’s approval, no need to constantly consider what others might think of her. No expectation that whoever she showed attention to would be bound to her for the rest of her life. 

Lux sighed, reluctantly agreeing with her friend. “Yeah, you’re probably right.” 

She tried to push the thoughts away. This was just a fleeting thing, a moment of excitement. I wouldn’t really have gone through with it anyway...  

Still, it didn’t stop the hollow feeling from creeping into her chest.

Just as she was about to change the subject, her phone buzzed. Lux froze, her eyes wide. For a second, she didn’t dare look, convinced she had imagined it. But there it was: the screen lit up with an unregistered number. 

Her heart leaped into her throat. It couldn’t be, could it?  

Cithria’s eyes widened as she saw the look on Lux’s face. “Oh my gods. Is that her?”

Lux couldn’t speak. Her hand shook as she picked up the phone and pressed it to her ear.

“Hello?” 

“Hey,” Jinx’s voice came through the line. 

Lux’s heart pounded in her chest so loudly she could barely hear herself think. The silence stretched, and she realized Jinx wasn’t going to say anything else. Of course not. Why would she make this easy?  

Lux cleared her throat, the words slipping out sharper than she intended. “I didn’t think you’d actually call.” 

There was a beat of silence, then Jinx’s laugh came through the line. “Kinda hard to forget when your number’s staring back at me every time I look at my arm.”

Lux could almost hear the smirk in her voice as Jinx added, “Do you have any idea how hard it is to get that marker off? I just about rubbed myself raw scrubbing it off.” 

For a split second, Lux’s mind wandered. She imagined Jinx in the shower, rubbing at the mark Lux had left on her skin. The thought was ridiculous, and yet it lingered, making her cheeks flush slightly. Realizing she was zoning out, Lux blinked and forced herself back into the moment. She cleared her throat and hoped that Jinx hadn’t noticed the silence. “Oh, uh... sorry about that. I didn’t think—” 

“It’s no biggie,” Jinx interrupted, “I’ve had worse things than a girl’s number stuck to my skin.” 

Lux’s mind drifted again, unbidden images flickering through her thoughts. What else had Jinx gotten stuck to her skin? Lux swallowed, her thoughts twisting in directions she hadn’t meant to follow. 

“Anyway,” Jinx continued, oblivious to the thoughts running through Lux’s head, “I figured I’d give you a call now that I’m free this weekend. How’s the park sound? You can meet me there if you’re not too busy off doing...whatever it is you royals spend your time doing.” 

Lux’s heart raced. She could barely think straight. “The park? Yeah! I mean, yeah, that sounds good.” 

“Good,” Jinx purred, her voice sending shivers down Lux’s spine. “I’ll see you there. Saturday at noon.” 

“Great!” Lux blurted out, her hand fidgeting with the edge of her duvet. 

“See you then, princess,” Jinx said, her tone smooth, and before Lux could say anything more, the line went dead. 

Lux stared at her phone, still processing what had just happened. A giddy thrill coursed through her, her heart pounding wildly in her chest, the corners of her mouth threatening to break into a grin. Almost as soon as it came, however, the feeling was replaced by a tide of embarrassment. Why was she so happy? Why did she care so much? 

She glanced at Cithria, who was watching her with an amused grin, and quickly looked away before the embarrassment got to be too much. Was she overthinking the whole thing? What did Jinx have that drew Lux to her? 

It wasn’t that Jinx was charming or even kind. No, what Jinx had was rebellion. Raw and unapologetic rebellion. Maybe that was what Lux was drawn to: the chaos, the recklessness that made Jinx so different from everything else in Lux’s life. The thought that Jinx could inject some uncertainty into her otherwise determined existence. The idea that the perfectly constructed reality around her could shatter into a million pieces because of a single choice. 

Was that what this was about? Was she just drawn to Jinx because it gave her a taste of rebellion? Or was there something deeper, something more complicated simmering beneath the surface that Lux hadn’t yet figured out? 

Lux sighed. She lay back on her bed, her mind racing. Whatever it was, she couldn’t stop thinking about Jinx. And that alone scared her as much as it excited her. 

Lux sat on the edge of the park bench, her fingers fidgeting in her lap as she tried to ignore the flutter of nerves in her chest. The air was warm, the kind of early summer breeze that smelled of freshly cut grass and budding flowers. Families passed by with children in tow, joggers cut through the paths, and a pair of dogs barked at each other across the way. It was peaceful here. 

She glanced down at the plain trousers and tunic she was wearing. She’d borrowed them from her maid who, thankfully, was near enough Lux’s own size. Since her birth, the palace had filled her wardrobe with fine gowns and elegant dresses, none of which were meant for grass stains or blending in. But even dressed as she was, Lux couldn’t shake the unease bubbling in her stomach. She could feel the eyes on her, and couldn’t stop imagining everyone seeing straight through the clothes to the noble underneath.

Jinx, on the other hand, seemed entirely at ease, if not for the constant movement of her fingers, which roamed along the back of the bench before fiddling with a loop on her belt. She lounged on the bench beside her, legs stretched out, her wild hair catching the sunlight with electric radiance. She’d barely spoken since Lux had arrived. Lux had tried to spark a conversation between them, tossing out small talk and questions, but Jinx was giving her nothing at all. No matter what Lux said, Jinx answered with clipped, dismissive, responses, as if engaging in the conversation was an inconvenience for her. It was like trying to pull teeth from a shark. Jinx was letting her probe, but the fear of her eventually clamping down grew with every failed attempt. Lux almost thought that Jinx was making each attempt at conversation die just to watch her struggle. 

"So," Lux began, trying for what felt like the hundredth time, "how long have you lived in the city?" 

Jinx shrugged, her eyes lazily scanning the park. "Too long probably.” She glanced at Lux. “Who keeps track of that kind of thing anyway?” 

Lux blinked, utterly thrown by the question. Who keeps track? Of time? That was a perfectly sensible thing to keep track of!  

Her mind scrambled to come up with something else, anything else, that would open up a proper conversation, but Jinx clearly wasn’t interested 

“Do you, um, have a favorite place in the city?” Lux asked. 

“Not really.” Jinx’s fingers found a hole in her jeans and twisted at the loose threads. 

Lux fidgeted. “What about the marketplace vendors? It’s harvest season. Surely, you’ve spent some time there.” 

Jinx rolled her eyes. “Not everyone’s got a purse of pretty pennies, princess.” Her thumb ripped the hole in her jeans even wider, revealing entirely more of her skin than was appropriate. 

The comment hit Lux like a slap, her face flushing with embarrassment. She hadn’t meant it that way, hadn’t even considered her own privileged situation when she’d said it. But now, hearing Jinx’s words, she realized how tone deaf she must have sounded.

At the party, it had been easy to banter with Jinx and let the back-and-forth between them flow naturally. Now, though, it was painfully clear how different their worlds were. They came from entirely different backgrounds. Jinx had probably scraped by her whole life. She was probably still scraping by. Lux had never known what it was like to go without the barest comfort. She had used to think it was a struggle to choose from her wardrobe in the morning. If what Jinx was wearing now was any indication, she only had one pair of jeans. There was simply no other reason for her to still be wearing something with that many holes if she had anything else. 

And yet, despite the clear difference in their situations, there was something magnetic that drew her to Jinx. If she took her eyes off of Jinx for even an instant, Lux felt that the girl would vanish. 

"You must miss your family sometimes," Lux ventured, her voice softer now as she tried something more personal. She wanted to learn what made Jinx who she was. She wanted to know why the girl was able to captivate her with nothing but her presence. 

"Miss them?” Jinx scoffed. “That’s funny." 

The bitterness in her voice surprised Lux. “I didn’t mean—” 

Jinx waved her off, clearly uninterested in following that line of thought. She shifted in her seat. "You keep trying to dig, princess, but what exactly are you hoping to find? What you see is what you get." 

Lux opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out. She wasn’t even sure what she was looking for herself. Preferably something that would make this feel less one-sided. But every time she tried to reach Jinx, it felt like she was being pushed away. 

She forced a smile and brushed a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. “I’m just trying to get to know you.” 

Jinx rolled her eyes. "Yeah? And how’s that working out for you?" 

Lux’s smile faltered. It wasn’t working. No matter how much she tried, there was a wall between them, and Jinx didn’t seem interested in lowering it. Lux couldn’t help but wonder why Jinx had even bothered to call in the first place. If she didn’t want to talk to Lux, why meet at all? Why play with Lux’s feelings if she was just going to ignore her? Frustration gnawed at her, fed by her growing embarrassment. She hadn’t come here to be toyed with.

Lux sighed before rising to her feet and brushing off her tunic. “You know what? Maybe this wasn’t a good idea.” The frustration in her voice slipped through before she could stop it. “I think I’ll just leave.”

She didn’t wait for a response. Shoulders hunched, she began walking, her pace picking up as the frustration turned to something sharper, more painful. Tears stung at the corners of her eyes. She blinked them back, silently cursing herself. What had she expected? She had been stupid to think that this would ever work, stupid to think that someone like Jinx would care enough to actually want to get to know her. Lux quickened her pace, blinking back the tears that were beginning to gather in her eyes. 

She didn’t notice when Jinx’s hand clamped around her arm until she was being turned around. “Where do you think you’re going baby?” she husked, holding Lux in place.  

Lux swallowed hard, the heat rising in her cheeks as Jinx stepped in close. The shift in energy between them was palpable. The air felt heavier, charged with something Lux didn’t know how to handle. 

Jinx leaned in, her breath warm against Lux’s skin. "Look, I’m not great at this whole talking thing," she said, her voice dropping lower. "Especially about myself. It’s hard for me to sit still and, you know, actually talk . That doesn’t mean I wasn’t trying." 

Lux’s pulse quickened. She tried to laugh it off, but the sound came out weak, shaky. “I wasn’t—” 

“Yeah, you were,” Jinx interrupted. “But lucky for you, I’m not letting you go just yet.” 

Jinx moved in closer, and with each step, Lux felt herself shrinking, like a rabbit caught in the gaze of a predator, powerless to stop Jinx from closing the distance. Her feet moved on instinct, backing her away from the pathway until her back pressed against the rough bark of a tree. The realization hit her with a jolt. They were out of sight now, hidden from anyone who might pass by. It was just the two of them.

Jinx’s presence wrapped around her like a snare, and Lux’s breath hitched as she registered the burning weight of Jinx’s gaze and the nearness of her body. The world around them faded, shrinking to just the space between them. 

A squeak escaped her lips as she tried to make sense of what was happening. She wasn’t sure how to handle it, wasn’t sure what to say, what to do. The only thing she knew for certain was that Jinx wasn’t pulling away. 

Jinx’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she pressed closer, one hand resting firmly on Lux’s waist, the other trailing up her side until her fingers brushed against Lux’s jaw, tracing lines of scorching fire across her skin before tilting Lux’s chin to meet her gaze. “Is this what you thought would happen today?” Jinx murmured. “What you hoped for?” 

Lux’s mind spun. She had never imagined something like this could happen. The idea that she'd end up pressed against a tree, so close to Jinx that she could feel her breath on her skin. That could never have crossed her mind. Hope for this? No. She hadn’t believed it possible. 

Jinx read something in Lux’s face. Her smirk deepened, her eyes glinting with satisfaction. “You know,” Jinx rasped, “you’re all I’ve been able to think about. I thought maybe it’d go away, but no. You’ve been stuck in my head for days.” 

Lux’s breath caught in her throat, her heart racing. She trembled as Jinx drew impossibly closer. Jinx was like a spider, and she was the fly, unable to pull away. The more Jinx pressed in, the more it felt like invisible threads were holding her in place. Lux could see every detail in Jinx’s face now, the slight curve of her lips, the gleam of her eyes, the sway of her braids and the wisps of hair pulling free. It was overwhelming. If Lux tried to take it all in, she’d drown. 

She was already drowning. 

Jinx’s breath brushed against her lips, a whisper of heat. “Really, it’s a miracle I waited as long as I did to do this,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. Suddenly, Jinx’s lips were on hers, claiming her in a kiss that shot through her like lightning. 

Lux’s mind spun, unsure of where to put her hands, unsure of anything but the feel of Jinx against her. Her knees wobbled beneath her. Before she knew it, her hand wound itself around one of Jinx’s braids, her fingers clinging to the soft, blue strands for balance. Her other hand clasped against Jinx’s waist, the warmth of her body seeping through the fabric of her clothes as Lux’s fingers clung to Jinx's shirt, fisting it in her hand as she fought to stay upright. 

Jinx wasn’t idle, either. She held Lux’s face in her hands and deepened the kiss until Lux saw stars dancing behind her eyelids. Bright, effervescent bursts of pink and blue. Lux’s body trembled under Jinx’s touch, completely lost in the intensity of it all. Jinx dominated the kiss, her lips relentless, her fingers pressing into Lux’s skin, guiding her deeper and Lux had no choice but to follow. 

A soft moan escaped Lux’s lips as she clutched Jinx tighter to her. The tree’s roughness bit into her back, grounding her in the overwhelming sensation of it all. Jinx’s mouth left her lips to trail down her neck, pressing kisses along the curve of her throat. Lux’s breath came in sharp, uneven bursts. She had never felt anything like this before, so completely untethered.

Jinx’s mouth moved lower, teasing her with every brush of her lips and teeth.

It was too much. Too fast. Lux’s mind screamed at her to stop, to pull back, but her body had other ideas. She tilted her head back, her fingers clutching Jinx’s waist as the intensity of the moment washed over her. A needy whine slipped from her lips, completely unbidden as Jinx reached the base of her neck, and she felt the heat rising to her cheeks, her body betraying just how much she wanted this. Lux leaned into the sensation, her body moving on instinct and pressing herself closer to Jinx, her lips parting in a soft gasp every time Jinx’s lips scorched her skin.

Jinx pulled back slightly, her breath ghosting against Lux’s lips as her hands slid down, trailing over Lux’s body until they found their way to the back of her legs, lifting and pinning Lux more firmly against the tree, not a breath of space between their bodies. 

Jinx smiled against her lips. “You keep pulling on my hair like that,” she whispered, her voice teasing, “and I’ll start biting.” 

Lux’s breath hitched, her heart pounding in her chest. She hesitated, her grip tightening just slightly on the braid, unsure of what she was doing or why. The tension between them felt electric, like a wire pulled taut, ready to snap. 

She gave the braid a faint tug. 

Jinx’s response was immediate. Her eyes flashed with delight as she took Lux’s bottom lip between her teeth, biting down just enough to inject a rush of pleasure through Lux’s body. Her head spun, her senses completely overwhelmed by the intensity of Jinx’s touch. Another whine escaped from Lux as Jinx’s tongue slid over her own. She clutched at Jinx, pulling her closer into her as the world dissolved into nothing except the two of them. All that mattered was the press of Jinx against her, the warmth of her mouth on Lux’s, the way her fingers made her shiver as they wandered over her skin. 

Lux didn’t know what this uncontrollable energy that Jinx stirred in her was, but in that moment, she realized how much she had been missing something like this. For so long, her life had been guided by expectations. Jinx pulled her closer, her lips moving against Lux’s own as she began to unravel. Lux had never been kissed like this before. She had never been kissed before. She never could have imagined that it would be like this. Jinx offered zero hesitance and less restraint. Her mouth pressed against Lux’s own with hungry passion, and Lux couldn’t do anything but give Jinx what she wanted.

She felt like a moth drawn to a flame. Jinx’s lips ignited a fire within her, burning her up from within, yet Lux could do nothing to stop it. Her hand slid up Jinx’s braid until it reached her scalp, her thumb rubbing circles behind Jinx’s ear as she pressed her closer.

I can’t live without this, Lux thought, the words forming in her mind before she could stop them. She wanted to sa y it out loud, to tell Jinx just how much this meant, but the words got tangled up with everything else she was feeling. Instead, her thoughts turned inward, to the way she had always been coddled by her parents, the way her noble birth had always felt like a burden she couldn’t escape. Jinx was the chaos Lux had been craving without even realizing it. 

Jinx’s lips left hers to trail down her jawline,and along her neck. A shiver ran through Lux as Jinx’s hands moved with purpose, one sliding down her waist to pull her even closer, the other tangling in her hair, gripping it with just enough force to make Lux’s breath catch. Every touch, every movement felt like fire on her skin, igniting something deep and primal within her. 

Lux’s hands found themselves clutching at Jinx’s back, her fingers pressing into the fabric of her shirt as if holding on for dear life. Every kiss, every brush of Jinx’s lips against her neck sent another rush of heat coursing through her. Lux was lost in the intensity of it all. 

She’d been missing this in her life and she hadn’t even known. Jinx had blown open her mind and exposed what had been empty this whole time. Now, Lux couldn’t close it back up. She didn’t want to. 

Jinx pulled back slightly, her lips hovering just above Lux’s, the warmth of her breath still ghosting across Lux’s skin. Her breathing was ragged, and Lux could feel every rapid beat of her own chest as she stared into Jinx’s eyes. 

“That was, uh,” Lux’s tongue brushed over her swollen lips, her breath still coming out in ragged pants. “That was... wow . I don’t even—” 

Jinx grinned, brushing a thumb across Lux’s jaw. “I warned you. I'm crazy.” 

Lux laughed shakily and nuzzled her cheek against Jinx’s. “I knew that before you kissed me.” She peered at Jinx through her eyelashes. “But maybe you need to show me again.”

Jinx’s chest rumbled with laughter. “They’ll call both of us crazy if you keep this up.” 

“I don’t care,” Lux murmured, her lips brushing against Jinx’s ear. “As long as you call me.” 

Jinx’s teeth flashed in a playful smirk. She dipped down to Lux’s throat, nipping at her flesh and sending another jolt of sensation through her. “Maybe.”