Work Text:
"Powder- Powder, what is that?!" Vi's shouting was probably loud enough for the whole building to hear. That made Jinx, who to that moment was drawing in her sketchbook with headphones on, turn in the direction of the flat entrance.
"What is what?" She asked, clearly confused. She was supposed to leave soon, and from what she remembered, Vi just finished her shift.
"Did you and Ekko proke up? What happened?"
"Not from what I know, no. Why would we?" They were supposed to actually meet in an hour and Vi was making her nervous.
As an answer, Vi showed her her phone with an open discussion forum. Jinx took it and started scrolling, smiling wider and wider with every sentence. At the end she burst out laughing, leaving Vi confused in turn.
"Oh god, okay, that's the best one yet, so detailed. I'm surprised they got you too tho, I thought cops were supposed to be better at detecting bullshit."
"Really? I'm concerned for you, and you just laugh at me?" Vi couldn't stop a sigh when Jinx just nodded in return.
"Well, I can always check it, because I'm actually getting ready to meet with my boyfriend and all of his girlfriends. Also, Akali is juggling two top bands and is in a relationship. I don't know if she has much time left for a side romance."
Jinx talked as she was walking around the room, gathering up her tablet and sketchbook. There were a lot of things lying around, paints and canvas that looked like they walked out of the studio on their own, sheets of paper with lyrics, empty cups, probably left after a late night sessions of practice. It looked really lived in.
"I appreciate that you stopped by, but I have to go. If you want, you can stay, but we'll be back late." She walked to Vi, still a little confused, hugged her quickly and left the flat.
~:~
When Jinx got to the studio True Damage occupied, everyone was already there. It wasn't really a training, they were supposed to just talk about their next music video. Even though she wasn't a group member, she was their coworker in a way. Especially with that one, where they wanted to go all in for fancy costumes and animation.
A few beanbags were scattered across the floor, with Senna, Yasuo, Akali and Ekko on them and Qiyana on her aerial hoop.
Jinx decided to immediately start with the rumor Vi showed her.
"Ekko, why didn't you tell me about having an affair?" she started off-handedly while flopping onto the beanbag next to him. Everyone immediately turned to her. "Well, not one. Four."
Somehow that addition got everyone to relax.
"Don't tell me you saw that article too..." Ekko said, resignation written on his face.
"I think everyone saw it already." Senna commented. "I was in the studio since nine am and my husband sent it to me at, like, twelve? His coworker showed him."
"I'm starting to think I was the last one to see it..." Jinx mumbled, sinking down into her beanbag. "Vi showed me just before I left home."
"Then I don't know who's better: actual Ekko's girlfriend, or his alleged boyfriend who found out by death threats sent to him by his fangirls." Akali chuckled. "I swear, the moment Ezreal finds himself someone, that person will have a bounty on their head."
"I just wish they would stop shipping me with any of you." of course it was the first thing Qiyana said in the whole discussion. "No offence."
As it was said with that kind of disgust only Qiyana was able to put in words, silence fell onto the studio for a longer moment.
"Maybe we should just, you know, come out? It would be easier..." Ekko started again.
"You just say that because my dad would be furious with you if he saw that article." Jinx giggled.
"That's not true!"
"Okay, okay." Jinx waved her hand in the air, more or less signing to cut it. "We were supposed to discuss my propositions for your outfits in the next video. I want you to remember that I'm not a costume designer, but I do make the animations, so I hope I have a say in the matter."
~:~
It was late when Jinx and Ekko returned to their home. They were talking for a long time, adjusting everything and looking for the right artist to hire for the costumes. It was over the top, but it was supposed to be an anniversary piece, so the whole team agreed on splashing out on preparations.
Jinx sat on the counter in the kitchen while Ekko turned on the kettle to make tea. It was mostly for Jinx in the beginning, to help her sleep, but he got into the nightly habit himself too.
"You know, maybe you're right... I even have an idea for that." The woman started. Ekko turned to her with questions written all over his face. It was really random, hours already passed since their conversation about the article. "I'm talking about your idea to stop hiding us, dumbass." She said with slight amusement in her voice. His eyes brightened at that.
"Really? You're sure?"
"Yeah."
"How? I mean, there's a lot of things going on for both of us right now, so what's your idea for that?" It was a big announcement and they were both recognisable, but in different ways.
"That's what we can use. I have my first proper exhibition soon - I still can't belive a museum picked me for that - and I can with no problem ask for an additional pass for a plus one." A glint of mischief blinked in her eyes as she spoke. It made Ekko a bit worried, but he prompted her to explain further.
"Of course Akali and Yasuo have to agree, because with the amount of reporters that will be there it will be fast news, but I think they won't be against it."
"But it's subtle. You don't really do subtle. Me neither if we're honest."
"Well, I can make a graffiti with us on a big wall, but I'm pretty sure I'll just be labeled as a crazy fan. Which I am, but a bit differently."
He slowly nodded and gave her the cup with tea.
"Picture this: you put on something nice, post about supporting your girlfriend and then they see you with me in the gallery. Maybe they interview us, maybe not, but the fans will go crazy." Jinx paused for a moment after she almost spilled the hot tea all over herself. Her mood shifted slightly, but for Ekko the difference was easily visible. Especially with the way she stopped looking at him. "I know it isn't something big, but I don't really know how to make it big. This is the one time I have no idea."
"I think it's a great idea. Just didn't expect it."
"Really?" She turned to him again, hope in her voice.
"Yes. I also think Akali and Yasuo will agree, but I'll ask them."
Jinx smiled, this time a lot softer than a few minutes before. Then a giggle left her lips.
"I'm lucky to work without anyone on top of me."
"As if you were to say no to working with the most popular person in the field as your leader." Ekko returned the jab, in response to which Jinx just rolled her eyes. Working for someone wasn't her style at all.
They both sent their questions to people they had to ask, hoping they won't wake up anyone. Mugs sitting beside them quickly got empty, so they started getting ready to bed, while planning their moves for the exhibition.
~:~
The day came. Everything was set and ready and there were only two hours to the whole event.
Jinx was giddily running around home, make-up half done, the same with hair. She woke up at four am and couldn't fall asleep again. Stress mixed with excitement, leaving her unable to focus on anything for longer. She also managed to drink at least two coffees before Ekko get out of bed and was able to stop her from making another cup.
When she finally got ready, she was gorgeous. Aside from the media chaos they wanted to start, it was her big day after all.
Even though Jinx has already seen the exhibition, as she was there to help set it up earlier that week, she still couldn't believe her eyes when they got there. It was amazing to see her works in an actual gallery.
As she greeted the organizers and other artists sharing the hall for the event, Ekko did a quick photo of the whole room and wrote a simple "Supporting my girlfriend on her big day" as a caption. He talked about it with both Jinx and the group, to make it really work.
There were people already gathering outside, so he decided to post it already. He also immediately turned off his phone, but the first notifications were there quicker. Ekko smiled at that and walked up towards Jinx.
"Done. How are you feeling?" He asked, bumping her slightly with an elbow.
"Nervous. But good, very." Jinx answered, fully turning to face him, nervous smile on her lips.
"It'll be alright." Ekko said and put his forehead to hers.
In the background a gallery worker informed them about opening the event. It was a little surprising to see so many people there, especially reporters. Jinx was fully aware that it wasn't a small event, but it still overwhelmed her slightly.
Time flew very fast. Her phone was also turned off and in Ekko's bag, so it wouldn't distract her. People came in and out for the whole day, Jinx even got interviewed. She got to talk about her works, while Ekko walked around the whole event. Luckily, even though there were a few questions about them, nobody focused on the subject.
It was completely different on the internet. Jinx was still the topic of the discussion, but in a different way. Somehow, people managed to piece together almost full story from the scraps given by the oldest fans. Ekko and Jinx were all oblivious to it, but the True Damage team had a ton of fun looking at the new theories surrounding them.
The event finished around the time the sun started setting. Jinx was exhausted after getting so much attention. She was always more on the anonymous side, maybe not fully, but it was strange to suddenly be so tied to her work. There was an idea of an afterparty, but she preferred to just go home.
In the car both Jinx and Ekko decided to finally check their phones. She wasn't sure if she'd ever seen so many notifications at once. Her phone looked like it could blow up. Ekko's wasn't much better.
At first she just read all the texts she got from people she knew; one from her dads, congratulating her and apologising for not showing and Vi sending her memes during her lunchbreak. Then there were a ton of direct messages from people she didn't know. Questions about her life, from both her and True Damage's fans. Most weren't bad, but there were some distasteful ones.
They managed to get home before she really got into reading all that. As soon as they went inside, Jinx threw herself onto the couch.
"Finally over..." She murmured into the fabric.
"You did great." Ekko reassured her, stroking her back as he sat beside her.