Marvel: Playing Iron Man, Falling In and Out of Love with Jinx

"Call Duke. Send Jinx away."

Vander grabbed Vi's arm, stopping the slap she was about to deliver. Looking down at the trembling Jinx, crouched on the ground, he sighed quietly.

"She might not belong in Zaun."

"Vander, what are you saying?"

"You're going to send me away? Are you saying... you don't want me anymore?"

Jinx jumped to her feet, fists clenched, her voice frantic.

"I promise I won't mess up again! Really! Just give me one more chance!"

"I'm sorry, Jinx... But compared to Zaun, maybe the topside suits you better."

Vander pointed upward toward Piltover. Vi frowned, this wasn't what they had discussed.

"I'll be good! I swear!"

Jinx threw her arms around Vander's leg, teary-eyed and pleading.

"Don't send me away... please? I don't want to leave you, I don't want to go with Duke, I just... don't want to be alone."

"I won't make any more mistakes, I swear!"

"I'm sorry, kid." Vander crouched, ruffling her blue hair. His gaze was filled with warmth.

"We're not abandoning you. But you need proper guidance. You have talent, Jinx. You've got real potential. Staying here will only hold you back. The topside is your way out."

"Topside…"

Vi looked at Vander, wanting to speak. But then she glanced at the ruined remains of the Frogen Tavern, and the angry eyes staring at Jinx. She knew Vander was right.

Only up there could Jinx receive real education, real direction, and avoid making a mistake she couldn't come back from.

She destroyed the tavern today... what if next time it's something worse?

"Vi, say something! Vi!!"

Jinx let go of Vander, stumbling backward, her voice cracking in panic. To her, this felt like being thrown away.

Vi clenched her fists and looked away.

"This is for your own good... sister."

"Lady Janna," Vander called, taking out a small bluebird talisman. "Please help us contact Duke."

A wind whispered in the air, and a bluebird descended, nodded to Vander, and with a flap of its wings, soared toward Piltover.

"Ow!"

Duke sat up in bed, clutching his head. He immediately noticed a puffed-up bluebird glaring at him, Janna.

"What did you do in Bandle City to end up in this state?" she demanded.

Duke let out a bitter laugh. "My magical potential awakened. Power surged out of control. I collapsed from the backlash."

"Well, you're lucky I was around."

Janna fluffed her feathers proudly.

"I gave you some of my power, restored your mana and cleared the weakness. If I hadn't, you wouldn't have been able to get out of bed for two weeks."

"So that was your ultimate spell, huh?"

Duke raised an eyebrow. "Not just dispelling dizziness, but full-on healing. That's an R ability for sure."

"What are you mumbling now?"

The bluebird landed on his head, pecking lightly.

"You able to go to Zaun?"

"What's going on?"

"Jinx blew up Vander's tavern. The whole thing's rubble now."

"No casualties, right?"

"I was there. You think I'd let anyone die?"

Janna sounded quite proud. Duke got out of bed, dressing quickly.

"So, am I going to help fund Vander's new bar? Or is this about your church again?"

"Neither," she replied, fluttering to the table. "Vander wants to send Jinx to Piltover, with you. He wants her to study under you."

"Piltover?"

Duke pulled on his vest, brows furrowing.

"Is Jinx really suited for that life? And Zaunites aren't exactly welcome up there."

Jinx was a genius, her weapons were her own creations. In terms of raw talent, she ranked among the best in both cities.

But would she ever stick to safe research?

Letting her study Hextech wasn't the issue, but could she handle that kind of structure?

Like forcing an ADC to play AP mid. That's just asking for trouble.

"Maybe Vander has his reasons."

"Fine. Buff me up. I'll head out now."

Duke threw on his trench coat, leapt onto the windowsill, and vaulted out like a panther. Janna closed the window behind him, summoning a wind current to envelop his body.

Feeling the mana flow around him, Duke smirked.

"The perks of awakening magic, huh?"

He soared over rooftops, coat tails flapping, arms tucked in tight.

"If my gift really lets me infuse life into inanimate things... isn't that basically magical AI?"

"Not code-driven AI, but a magical construct. Created by willpower, not logic."

He narrowed his eyes, leaping again, descending toward the great rift that split Zaun.

"Is it... a magic brain? A magic consciousness?"

He landed lightly in a dusty street, walking past cages of stone beetles, one of which had a boy perched atop it.

"You want one?" the boy asked.

"Nah."

Duke moved on, arriving at the ruins of the Frogen Tavern. All that remained were scorched planks, a few salvagers, and Vander, seated on the last intact stool, puffing on a pipe.

"Well, well, Vander. What's this? Starting a new open-air restaurant?" Duke teased.

"Dine among the ashes of Zaun?"

"Very funny."

Vander shook his head with a dry smile.

Duke leaned on the back of his chair.

"So… Why send Jinx to Piltover?"

"You know how they look at us, those from the undercity. With disdain. Like we're filth."

Duke stared at his fingernails. Yeah, he knew that feeling too well. It was a thorn that dug deep into the original Duke's heart.

But to him? Screw their judgment. No one tells him what he can or can't be.

"I know. But she's gifted. She should learn, grow, become someone like you."

"Like me?"

Duke rolled his eyes but took a seat from nearby and plopped down in front of Vander.

"And what if they bully her? Mock her? Push her out?"

"That's why she's with you, isn't it?"

Vander looked him in the eye.

"You won't let them hurt her. I know you."

"You sure have a lot of faith in me."

Vander offered him the pipe.

"So? Deal?"

"Write me as her guardian. And she needs a new name."

Vander nodded. Duke wrinkled his nose.

"Her nickname won't cut it for a proper academy record."

"Fair enough."

"Then it's a deal."

He sniffed the pipe and winced.

"Too strong. I'll bring you something smoother."

"Where is she?"

"In their usual arcade hangout. Clagg will take you."

"Great."

Duke grabbed Clagg by the collar.

"Let's go, tubby. Also, you need to lose some weight."

"I think I'm perfect the way I am."

"Yeah? Then explain that belly."

The two traded jabs as they walked, stopping before a boarded-up game hall.

"She's inside," Clagg said. "Want me to go in with you?"

Duke kicked the boards down.

"What was that?"

"Nothing!" Clagg raised his hands and walked away.

Inside, the place was pitch-black. Duke lit a portable lantern and walked over to the shooting game station. Setting the lantern down, he jumped behind the counter, inspecting the broken wiring.

"Shouldn't be too hard to fix."

Soon, glowing alchemical fluid flowed through the restored tubing, lighting up the whole arcade.

Jinx sat on the counter, arms crossed.

"You're here to take me away?"

"Do you want to come?"

Duke climbed out, spotting two toy guns on the counter. He grabbed one and loaded it with paint pellets.

"I don't want to leave. Not Vi, not everyone."

Jinx's voice was low and heavy.

Duke adjusted the gun's sights with a screwdriver.

"Then what? Blow up the next tavern too?"

"I'll be careful. I'll move my lab where no one gets hurt."

"And make them worry every day? What if they find you dead in your own rubble one day?"

He fired. The tin target spun wildly.

"Stop kidding yourself, Jinx."

"They're doing this because they care. They want you to learn, explore, become something greater."

"But I don't want to go!"

"Then beat me."

Duke tossed her the second toy gun.

"If you're really that talented, prove it. Win, and I'll talk them into letting you stay. Lose, and you come to Piltover. End of story."

"Deal?"

Jinx grabbed the gun.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Duke gave her a confident grin, but deep down, he sighed.

Man, convincing kids these days is way too hard...