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“Flashlight, that’s the dumbest plan I’ve ever heard.”
Lux rubbed her arm, glancing away, “You’re right, that was stupid, neverm-”
“No, I’m absolutely in. Just need you to know how ridiculous of a idea it is.”
“I think it’s… Well, it’s better than the alternatives.”
Jinx laughed, “Pinkie, you are the only person I know who would ask their best friend to fake date them because they’re too much of a fucking people pleaser to just reject a guy who’s hitting on them.”
“I don’t wanna hurt Ez’s feelings! And I don’t know how to reject someone. It would be easier if I liked him, he’s cute, he’s nice, I’m just… not attracted to him in the slightest.”
“I mean, he’s kinda cringe. I don't know why anyone would be attracted to him.”
Lux giggled, and Jinx wished that she could record that sound and listen to it on repeat for the rest of her life.
“So, like, whaddaya want me to do to scare him off? I could bring Shiro and Kuro-”
“Jinx-”
“Chill, I’m kidding! But what should I do? D’you want me to walk up and kiss ya if he tries to flirt with ya or something?”
“Ki-” Lux flushed, “That’s not necessary! Just… Say something like ‘She’s my girlfriend’ or… I don’t know!”
“Got it, Princess. Won’t be that hard to convince people considering half the school already thinks we’re dating.”
“They do? That explains some things.”
“Like how no one ‘cept loverboy is dumb enough to try and flirt with ya?”
“Huh, I just assumed no one was particularly interested in me, or at least saw how busy I was with school work and didn’t want to interrupt me.”
“Pff- Plenty of people’ve tried to interrupt ya studying, but none of ‘em were stupid enough to come near when I was there.”
“Oh,” Lux looked up at Jinx with practically sparkling eyes with appreciation, “You go that far to protect me?”
“W- well I know ya grades’re like the last thread that your mental health is hanging on by so I’m not letting some dumbass kid interfere! Plus it’s not like I’m doing much, just y’know, hanging around you," She shrugged, smiling, "I would anyway.”
Lux pulled Jinx into a bear hug, almost lifting her off of the ground. Her strength was something many people had no idea about, but Jinx had experienced enough bruised ribs through the years to know firsthand.
“No matter how much you downplay it, thank you, Jinx. And thanks for agreeing to be my fake girlfriend too! Apparently we don’t even have to change anything now that we’re ‘going out’ so that’s helpf-”
“Nuh-uh, if you’re my ‘girlfriend’ I gotta make it more special, or what kinda fake girlfriend would I be?”
Lux blushed beside herself, “Well, fine, just d- don’t start making out with me when we’re in class or something.”
Jinx smirked, “The bar is that low? Well, Princess, I was thinking more flowers and buying you lunch, but now I’m curious what you expected. Is little Miss Perfect less innocent than people think?”
“Oh, shut up,” she glanced away, ears much warmer than normal, “I’ve got to set some rules, you’re very unpredictable!”
“That’s what you love about me~”
The next day at school Ezreal predictably sauntered upto Lux, and in what he surely thought was a smooth move leaned against the wall next to her. To Jinx it looked more like he was staggering around like a drunkard but to each their own. Before he could get more than a 'Hey Lux-' out Jinx walked over and slung her arm around Lux.
"What'd'ya want my girlfriend for, pretty boy?"
Ezreal's eyes widened and Jinx had to bite back a laugh at his dumbfounded expression, "Oh! I, uh, sorry, I had no idea Lux was taken. Or gay, my bad!"
Jinx rolled her eyes, "You didn't know she was gay? D'you need glasses or something?"
Lux stifled a giggle with her hand, “Don’t worry about it Ez, we all make mistakes.”
“Yeah, like your mom!”
Ezreal snickered, holding his heart in mock anguish, “Hey, I’ll back off, no need to go for the throat, Jinx."
She stuck out her tongue as he threw up a peace sign and walked away.
"Well, mission accomplished I guess."
Lux let out a sigh of relief, "Thanks, Jinx."
"Y'know he's kinda part of our group so we're gonna have to keep this up for a while, right?"
"...ah, I didn't think about that. Well, I guess it's a little late to take it back so, uh, we'll have to act in front of the rest of the team too?"
"Dibs on not telling Poppy!"
She rolled her eyes, "We can both tell them next time we meet up, if Ez hasn't already."
***
"Fucking knew it," Poppy smirked.
"Language!" Lulu chirped, drawing stick figures.
Janna smiled, "To be honest I'm surprised it took the two of you so long."
"Who asked who out?"
Lux, still a little dumbfounded, replied, "Uh, I asked her."
Poppy pumped a fist in the air, then held out a hand to Janna, who reluctantly placed some money into it.
"You guys, bet on us?" Jinx asked incredulously.
Janna sighed, "In my defense, she wore me down."
I knew there was no way you'd ask Lux out first but Janna was all 'Have more faith' and shit."
"First of all, there was definitely a way I would ask her out first, but second, what! How did you know I- Uh, we like each other?"
Poppy raised an eyebrow, "When we first met you guys I literally thought you two were dating for weeks. I mean have you seen yourselves, you're disgustingly sappy!"
"Name one time-"
"The other day during class you spent the entire period staring at Lux and doodling what I could only assume were hearts in your book."
"Actually, I was drawing her, dumbass!"
She facepalmed, "How does that help your case?"
Lux giggled, and Poppy immediately turned on her too.
"Oh aspects, not to mention you, I could practically hear Girl in Red playing every time you glanced at Jinx from across a room."
Lulu looked up from her drawing, "What does a red girl have to do with this?"
Jinx groaned, "I regret this already."
***
Lux waited patiently by the gates of the school, zoning out as she stared into the distance.
“Hey, Pinkie,” Jinx rested her chin on Lux’s shoulder from behind, knocking her out of it.
“Jinx? Are you alright?”
“Mmmm, just tired,” She grumbled, wrapping her arms around Lux.
She blushed, “Ah, okay, d’you wanna sit down for a bit, or are we walking home?”
“Home… Can I sleep over at yours tonight?”
“Of course you can! Did you not get enough sleep ‘cause of the neighbors again?”
Jinx nodded, which Lux could more feel than see.
“Uh, Jinx, you gotta… let go. So I can walk?”
She very reluctantly released her grip on the other girl, instead walking alongside her. Jinx reached out and clasped Lux’s hand to make up for the lack of contact. Lux found it adorable how clingy she was, despite her ‘bad girl’ exterior.
“Wanna talk or just walk?”
Jinx shrugged, yawning slightly, “You talk, if you wanna.”
She smiled, “Sure thing! Did you know 'Ursa Major' and 'Ursa Minor' are just 'Larger Bear' and 'Smaller Bear' in Latin?"
For the rest of the walk, Lux happily told Jinx some of her favourite random facts, and the other girl listened with a small smile.
A few hours later the two were cuddled on a couch, the end credits of a movie playing.
Jinx laughed, “Man, I don’t think I could name a single character from that film.”
“The characters’ names are literally on screen right now.”
“Bold of you to assume I can read.”
Lux rolled her eyes with a grin. Glancing outside, she could see that the sun was just above the horizon.
She nudged Jinx, “Hey, wanna watch the sunset?”
Jinx stretched, letting out a yawn, “Duh. Roof?”
“Of course.”
Up on the roof, their hands intertwined as they watched the sun lowering.
Holding hands was something with Jinx had always been so natural. They’d done it since they were kids.
But as the sky glowed pink and red and all Lux could hear was Jinx’s gentle breathing… It felt different.
She barely registered the sunset at all, her gaze instead focused on Jinx. She was smiling so softly, something rare for the girl.
Jinx was always big grins or scowls, or laughing her ass off, but sometimes, when she was alone with Lux, she would soften.
Jinx turned to her, and their eyes met.
“Lux? What’s-”
“I think I love you.”
A beat.
“What?”
Lux took a deep breath, too late to take it back now, “I’m in love with you. I think I have been for a really long time.”
Jinx laughed, in the way Lux knew she did when she was scared, “So this was your whole master plan to seduce me?”
“I’m not kidding, Jinx. It’s fine if you don’t like me, but-”
“Starlight, I’ve known I was in love with you for years, that’s why I’m just waiting to wake up.”
Lux brought her hand up to Jinx’s cheek, tenderly staring into her eyes, “Can I prove this is real?”
