Chapter Text
When Jinx thinks about going to the dentist, she usually envisions the face of balding old man covered by a mask and a pair of magnifying goggles, with his weird power tools scraping around her mouth as she sits there awkwardly struggling for air.
It’s been what - three, or four years since she last went?
Don’t blame her - it’s not exactly her idea of a good time when the outcome of her last visit was an amalgamation of pain, blood and tears. Every time she runs her tongue along one of her chipped teeth and thinks about getting it sorted out for once, that smell - that mix of bleach and decaying mouths - gets to her. It makes her nose wrinkle in abject disgust.
Let’s not even talk about the needles.
Jinx hates going to the dentist. Well, it’s not the dentist, per se, it’s just that the entire experience is grotesque. She can’t imagine how anyone in their right mind would want to base their entire career off of looking into people’s mouths when they’re smart and skilled enough with their hands to be like - engineers, or something.
All this to say, she needs to get to one - stat. Isha’s school had rung up reporting a broken a tooth after falling off the monkey bars at lunch, and now there’s a noticeable chip in her smile.
Jinx goes into full panic mode. Her first port of call on the way to pick her up is Vi, who tells her to calm down while she sends over her dentist’s practice details and makes the call to book on their behalf. Jinx barely registers what Vi is saying - something to do with how lovely they are, and how they’re actually pretty cool and understanding.
Her car skids to a halt and parks slightly ajar to the curb once Isha’s school finally comes into view. She runs in and finds Isha sitting in the reception area with a miserable look on her face. Jinx kneels before her, gently lifting her chin to assess the damage.
It’s not too bad. Just a bit of a cut on her lip from the fall, and maybe a little bruising around the impact zone. “Hey, kid, give me a smile?”
Isha gives her a watery smile, wincing as she tries to reveal her broken tooth as gently as possible. The front tooth is chipped - not a large one, thank goodness, but enough for Jinx’s eyes to immediately hone in. Isha makes a face, signing ‘sensitive’ before closing her lips again.
“It’s okay,” Jinx exhales, though the tension doesn’t quite leave her shoulders. “We’re going to get that all fixed up, okay?”
‘How?’ Isha asks curiously.
Jinx gently hoists her out of the chair and grabs her hand. She quickly signs the parental leave slip at the front desk, barely giving them a wave goodbye as she pushes open the office doors. “We’re going to the dentist.”
Isha doesn’t know the word. Her head tilts at Jinx curiously. ‘What’s that?’
It’s a good question. Her immediate thought is: evil man with a pointy stick, but somehow it doesn’t seem pertinent to evoke this kind of image when Isha is probably seconds away from getting it today. “A dentist looks at your teeth,” Jinx starts carefully, “And fixes them when they’re broken.”
The words seem to cheer her up. Isha points to the broken tooth. ‘This will get fixed?’
“Yeah, kiddo,” Jinx gives her a small smile. “It sure will.”
There’s a skip to Isha’s steps when they reach the car. Jinx buckles her in, satisfied that she’s safe, before loading up Vi’s directions. It’s a clinic located just a few blocks down the road from school, nestled in a small health complex with ample parking and an abundance of leafy trees and bushes.
The greenery soothes her - just a fraction - though she still feels the tension ticking away as they check in with the receptionist. It gnaws at her when they take their seats, her arm protectively wrapping against Isha’s side even as the girl pushes herself happily onto a cushioned chair and swings her legs around.
This clinic is…not bad. It’s homey, with its comfortable, earth-toned furnishings and big windows that let in plenty of natural light. There’s stacks of magazines sitting neatly on the centred coffee table, a water dispenser in the corner, and several potted plants stationed throughout the room. The sound of old classics filters through the air softly, and Jinx swears she can catch a whiff of something nice and citrusy cutting through the usual scent of dentist.
It’s nice - soothing, even. She feels herself relaxing a bit.
An old man rounds the corner with one of his patients. From her very quick skim through of the images on the search engine, Jinx recognises him as the owner. He’s wearing the classic attire - a large white coat neatly buttoned up, with a name badge bearing ‘Dr Benzo’, and a pair of those weird magnifying goggles attached to a string around his neck.
The mini telescopes are comically huge for how small those frames are. Quietly, she ponders the magnification strength, and how zoomed in it can get. When he looks through it, how much of her mouth does he actually see?
Isha tugs at her sleeve, pointing to him very unsubtly. Dr Benzo notices, a twinkle of amusement in his eye. ‘Is this the tooth doctor?’
Jinx nods. “That’s Dr Benzo - he’ll fix your tooth right up.” She gives her a playful tickle, which earns her a small giggle. The man comes over with a big smile on his face.
Dr. Benzo approaches with a wide smile, crouching down to Isha’s level. He pulls out a squishy green tooth-shaped toy, holding it out to her. “You must be Isha!” Dr Benzo says warmly. “I’ve got something special for you.”
Isha’s eyes light up as she accepts the toy, squishing it with a look of pure wonder.
He chuckles, watching Isha with a warm smile. “I hear it’s your first time at the dentist?” Isha, still fascinated by the squishy toy, looks up and offers him a shy, toothy smile. “What a beautiful smile you have!”
Dr. Benzo’s voice softens as he shoots Jinx a quick, apologetic glance. “You’ll be seeing Dr Ekko to take care of that. He’s brilliant, really - you’ll be in great hands.” He stands up with a groan, sending Isha a small wave before he disappears around the corner.
Smiling tightly in return, a wave of anxiety begins to rise within her—she hadn't seen Dr. Ekko in the image search, and Vi had only mentioned Dr. Benzo in the texts. He must be new to the practice. Jinx's grip on Isha tightens ever so slightly, a subtle instinct to keep her close.
As if on cue, she hears the tread of steady footsteps coming down the hall, even in their pacing. He rounds the corner, and her eyes widen.
First, it’s the shoes—casual sneakers—then her gaze drifts upward, tracing the lines of muscular legs in dark green scrubs, a toned midsection, and a broad chest. The sleeves of his scrub shirt stretch over defined arms, his posture flawless and confident. Finally, her eyes reach his face. If Jinx had to describe the kind of face that could make her knees weak with a single glance, it would be his—strong jawline, high cheekbones, the gentle slope of his nose, and those warm, amber eyes. His white dreadlocks are neatly tied back, loose strands tucked behind his ears, and he greets them with a warm smile.
Good Lord, this dentist is hot.
…Why was she so tense again?
Isha leaps out of her seat, waving enthusiastically and showing him her new toy, which snaps Jinx out of her trance. She barely hears herself mumble her name when he asks for it - she probably says “Jinx,” who knows? He repeats it, and she immediately zeroes in on how his lips form her name.
Come on, Jinx. Be normal.
He turns on his heel to guide them down the hall, and it's a terrible decision - because now Jinx is staring at the planes of his back and the shape of his ass. Isha skips ahead, tugging on Jinx’s sleeve. "Tooth doctor?”
"Tooth doctor," Jinx replies, almost distracted. Ekko glances over his shoulder with a small smile.
"Tooth doctor," he affirms, with a nod. “But you can just call me Ekko.” Isha beams.
She has to pinch herself to remind herself to focus. They’re here for Isha, even if she definitely wants to run a hand up his biceps…in a totally, non-creepy way.
They reach the room, and it’s pleasantly bright. There’s those large windows taking up an entire wall again, with a view of the leafy trees and bushes outside like a mini sanctuary. Isha’s eyes widen in delight as she takes in the view, pointing out a few little birds flying around as Jinx lifts her into the chair with a grin.
The tense feeling is considerably more dulled than earlier, but her heart is still hammering in her chest as Ekko tries his best to make small talk with Isha. It’s a valiant effort, even if he’s relying purely on her body language to gauge the story. There’s only so much information he can glean, though, so his eyes turn to Jinx.
Her stomach flips.
“She fell off the monkey bars at lunch,” Jinx clarifies, “Chipped her tooth.”
“Does it hurt?” Ekko asks Isha, who signs her answer back to Jinx.
“Bit sensitive. Her lip’s a bit sore too.”
Ekko makes a little tutting sound. “Alright, let’s have a look, shall we?”
A tall man enters the room with a mask over his face. Ekko introduces him as Scar, the dental nurse, as he gives Isha a demonstration of the gloves and masks and all his weird tools and suction tips.
She barely pays attention, her focus now razor-sharp on Isha and the way she’s eyeing the tools curiously. The goggles land on her face first, followed by the bib. They’re both way too big for her. She grins, taking a quick picture with her phone.
Jinx is relieved that Isha’s taking well to her first dental visit. Admittedly, she’d been too afraid of stepping foot back into a dental office to bite the bullet for Isha after her adoption. That’s not to say she isn’t keeping a firm eye on Isha’s brushing habits - they stand in front of the mirror every day brushing together, and Jinx has even started to floss through Isha’s teeth!
She tells Ekko as such, to which he nods at her approvingly. It shouldn’t feel this good, given he’s another health professional happy that she’s not being completely dentally negligent to her child, but it does fill her with a sense of pride.
“It looks like a small chip,” he says through his mask. There’re those weird goggles again - she can’t help but stare at them when he’s talking. “We can repair it today with a filling, but she’ll need a bit of numbing juice or it’ll be too sensitive for us to do it.”
“And by numbing juice you mean,” she makes a hidden gesture to indicate the needle, and he nods. Jinx inhales deeply, again trying to choose her words carefully. She doesn’t want to say anything alarming - just in case - but the question is practically aching to be let out.
Ekko, to his credit, seems to already know what she’s worried about. “We’ll apply some gel to the area and let it sink in. It should only be a small pinch at most.”
Isha, from her supine position, tilts her head up, the sunglasses falling just under her nostrils in the process. Scar pushes it back up gently, though Jinx doesn’t miss the questioning expression. “It’s okay, kid,” she forces out, despite the panic rising in her throat. “Just a pinch - then it’ll be all fuzzy and you wont feel sensitive anymore.”
The words seem reassuring enough for Isha to lie back down, content to let Ekko stretch out her lips and apply the gel. A minute passes before Jinx spots Ekko unsheathing the cap of his syringe, away from Isha’s line of sight.
His eyes wrinkle in an attempt to reassure her, and when Jinx moves forward to gently clasp Isha’s shin, her thumb rubbing back and forth in what she hopes is soothing motions, Ekko seems to understand.
It’s the last thing she wants to do - witness her child being stabbed with a needle - especially when she has front row tickets to the entire show. Still rubbing circles on Isha’s leg, Jinx squeezes her eyes shut and looks away. She’s expecting a cry, maybe even a whimper, of pain. The memories start flooding back behind her closed eyes, so she opens them instead.
There’s no needle in sight. Ekko has his back facing her, completely obscuring her view, and for that she is incredibly grateful. Jinx breathes out a sigh of relief, catching Scar give her an encouraging nod as Ekko finishes up with the anaesthetic. It’s done.
She sits back in the corner chair with a relieved slump. Isha is being sat up to rinse the bitter taste out of her mouth, her tongue poking out from the yucky taste. She looks at Jinx and gives her a cheeky grin and a thumbs up. Her little hand immediately shoots up to her mouth after she tries to smile normally, her fingers pawing at her upper lip as she adjusts to the sensation.
Ekko chuckles, pressing the button to lower the chair again. “It’s the weirdest feeling, isn’t it?”
Isha nods, signing ‘fuzzy’. Jinx translates it.
She keeps translating Isha’s hands as Ekko starts cleaning up her lips with some saline and gauze, and tucks the little cotton rolls into Isha’s mouth to do the filling. There’s the deafening sound of the drill whirring, the suction loudly echoing in her ears and a series of weird beeps from a blue light. Jinx feels her breathing slow down as the procedure winds on.
Isha doesn’t let out a single peep as they work. She just shuffles her feet around every now and then and wriggles her fingers out of pure boredom. Certain that Isha is managing well, Jinx leans back and crosses her arms, content with just watching Ekko work. The goggles still bewilder her.
“What are those for?” She asks, gesturing towards his face. Ekko takes a moment to layer on the filling material before Scar starts setting it.
“Sorry?” He’s looking at her from above the little eyepieces this time. Jinx forms binoculars over her eyes with her hands to reiterate her point. It’s really hard to tell what he’s thinking, on account of the mask and glasses, but she hopes it’s amusement.
“Oh, they’re loupes,” Ekko replies, continuing his work with focus. “They just help me zoom in without having to lean over.”
Without missing a beat, he dives back into his routine, leaving no opening for further questions.
“Right,” Jinx mutters, leaning back in the chair. She can’t help but notice how his biceps flex as he moves, their size in stark contrast to the delicate precision with which his fingers work. Her gaze lingers a little too long, and her mind immediately starts to spiral down a very tempting path.
She shakes herself out of it, her attention snapping back to the moment when the chair rises and Isha flashes her a grin on her way up.
‘Yay!’ She signs, giggling.
“It’ll take a few hours to wear off,” Ekko says with a smile, “Try not to bite too much on your lip - it won’t be going anywhere.” Jinx doesn’t miss Scar’s eye-roll when Ekko chuckles at his inside joke, as though he’s telling it for the thousandth time today.
Isha leaps off the chair, her tooth looking the same as ever. Jinx inspects it closely, and decides she is happy with the result.
“She did well,” Ekko says with a warm smile. Jinx reminds herself that it’s just his nature—he’s a professional, and being kind is part of the job. “It wouldn’t hurt to bring her back for a checkup, but if anything comes up, we’re just a phone call away.”
“Thanks,” Jinx replies, her voice a little scratchy. “You’ve been great, Ekko.”
And she means it - genuinely. This is the best dental experience she’s had in a long time, even if it hadn’t been a direct one. While Jinx is relieved that it’s over for today, she can’t deny the small, unexpected comfort she feels being here, at this dentist’s office. Even if it is just a little bit.
“How was your visit today?” Eve, the receptionist, smiles at her brightly from behind the desk.
Jinx looks at Ekko’s retreating back and smiles. “It was…good, actually.” She turns back to Eve, a sense of calm finally washing over. “Really good.”
When an extrovert talks, they add a coin to their pile. When an introvert talks, they give one away. Ekko’s pile is huge, but it’s all for work.
It’s the same routine every day. People walk in with dirty teeth and leave with clean ones. Some are pleasant, others…not so much. And yet, he grits his teeth through the tough ones, silently hoping that, next time, they’ll opt for Benzo or some other dentist in Piltover who’s more than willing to meet their demanding standards. It’s not that he’s not capable, but sometimes, he just doesn’t have the patience for the entitled ones.
Working with his hands comes naturally - Ekko’s a builder, a sculptor. He likes the artistry of it all, and he likes the science of how everything comes together to make it work. The career makes sense. It’s all fine detailing and careful analyses of how teeth need to meet to stay comfortable for his patients. The most rewarding cases are the ones that start from nothing.
It’s the way everything needs to interlock at just the right angulation to work with the patients’ biting patterns. It’s the meticulous planning required to rebuild an entire mouth from scratch. He has a mini work station at home with a heating machine and wax to sculpt and plan out the restoration of a broken down smile. Ekko finds it therapeutic, the way the wax melts onto the models and shines as he polishes it down.
It’s also the fact that he’s capable of alleviating pain. At the end of the day, that’s why he’s here. He loves his job - he’s covered in saliva all the time, but still - Ekko really loves his job.
That’s what he tells himself when a random online booking comes through for the very last appointment slot of the day, just when he’d been about to pack up to go home. Scar pauses when the bright yellow appointment box pops up, the wipes still clutched in his hands as he groans.
“We need to abolish online booking systems,” Scar grumbles, still switching gears to set up the room anyway. “Bloody pain sometimes.”
Ekko silently agrees, though he’s a bit distracted by the name. Jinx. It sounds vaguely familiar. “Do you remember a Jinx, by any chance?”
There’s a pause. “Somewhat? We’ll find out when they get here.”
She’s completely new to the practice, so he has nothing to go on except her phone number and a few other personal details from the booking form. There’s a lot of people he treats throughout the week, but he’s pretty sure someone with a name like Jinx wouldn’t be too hard to remember.
The name hovers in the back of his mind, gnawing at him, until he hears the bell above the door ringing. There’s a few murmured voices out the front, followed by Eve’s chipper tone greeting Jinx, no doubt. Ekko walks out immediately, eager to finally put a face to the name, and stops just short of the corner when she just comes into view.
Blue hair, long braids—she's the woman who brought her daughter in with the chipped tooth the other day. The memory rushes back in an instant.
Right.
Ekko pushes aside the thoughts that try to sneak their way into his head, like the way her legs seem to go on for miles or the way she moves with that feline grace that feels both dangerous and captivating. She’s exactly his type, which is exactly why he forces himself to shut down those thoughts, reminding himself it’s all about the job - professional boundaries and what-not.
“Jinx?” Ekko calls out, his voice breaking through the quiet hum of the clinic.
She looks up, startled, and for a split second, he can see the tension in her features before she smooths it over.
“That’s me,” her voice comes out a little strained, almost like she’s trying to play it cool. Ekko remembers the way she’d barely kept it together when her daughter Isha was getting a filling, and it clicks. She’s anxious - very anxious - and that’s something he can work with.
“Come on in,” he smiles warmly, not missing the way her fingers tighten on the armrests as she stands. “How’s Isha been?”
Bingo. The mention of her daughter brings a flicker of relief in her eyes. “She’s been really good, actually. Keeps raving about how awesome you are.”
Ekko grins back, feeling that familiar warmth of pride. “She’s a good kid—very curious, and also very brave.”
It’s like the words hit just right. Jinx finally eases into the room, the weight of her nerves starting to lift. “Hey, Scar,” she waves as she takes a seat. Scar acknowledges her with a polite nod, a flicker of recognition passing through his eyes as he sets her up in the chair.
Ekko rolls up next to her, mentally preparing himself. He knows the drill - he needs to make her comfortable enough to trust him with her mouth. The balance between professionalism and making her feel at ease is something he’s perfected over the years.
“I hate dentists,” is the first thing she blurts out. “Not you, just dentists as a whole.”
Ekko closes his eyes, taking a steadying breath. He’s heard it a thousand times, but somehow, it always stings just a little. He opens his eyes, offering her a reassuring smile. “It’s okay,” he says, his tone warm and measured, “Everyone’s had a bad experience. What matters is you’re here now.”
Jinx offers a sheepish smile, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. “Sorry, just nervous.”
Ekko gives her a gentle smile in return. “It’s totally fine to be nervous. Now, tell me, how can I help you today?”
The moment the words leave his mouth, it’s like the floodgates open. Jinx starts listing off all her dental grievances, her voice picking up momentum as she recounts everything from past bad experiences to her frustrations with certain procedures. Scar, ever the professional, types everything into the system, taking note of each complaint with quick, practiced keystrokes.
One complaint makes her flinch more than the others. “I had to get a tooth removed a while ago. The needle hurt like a bitch, and they still couldn’t get me numb. I had to just grit through it.” She winces again at the memory. “Been scared ever since.”
“I’m really sorry you had to go through that,” Ekko says, his voice gentle, hoping his smile offers some comfort. It seems to, as the tension in her shoulders eases. “We’re going to take it slow today and stick to a pace you’re comfortable with. Any time you need a break at all, just let me know.”
Jinx nods, relief evident in her expression as she gives him a small smile. The safety glasses pop on, and from there it’s a flurry of charting and gentle poking and prodding to record his findings. Jinx takes it like a champion. There’s the occasional flinch when the probe makes a sound, and she raises her hand only once when they’re cleaning her teeth - just to give her a chance breathe through all the water.
He sits her up slowly, and she eagerly rinses the paste from her mouth, spitting it into the sink several times. Her tongue sticks out at the lingering taste - a small gesture that reminds him of Isha. Ekko chuckles to himself, amused. “You did well.”
They briefly discuss her treatment plan - several fillings, mostly due to older ones failing over time rather than anything too severe. Her oral care is excellent, which is likely the only reason she’s got almost no signs of decay. Jinx beams at the praise.
“We’ll go at your pace,” Ekko reassures her. “Whether you want to knock them all out in one go or space them out, it’s entirely up to you.”
He leads her back to the front desk, where he hands her a quote and his business card. “Remember, I’m just a phone call away if you need anything.”
It’s really just the practice’s number. His personal contact information is firmly tucked away for family, friends, and colleagues, but she’ll no doubt reach him once she calls anyway. Jinx accepts it with a nod of gratitude.
“Thanks for today, Ekko,” she says. “You were gentle. It actually wasn’t bad at all.”
He offers a soft, genuine smile. “Good. I’m glad to hear that. Take care of yourself, Jinx.”
As Ekko turns to walk away, he feels her gaze lingering on his back, the weight of it pressing against him. She’s a patient - albeit a very gorgeous one who, chances are, is probably not single if she has a kid - and he knows he needs to let it go.
…Right?
“Remind me again,” Jinx mutters, her lips puckering up to apply a coat of deep, berry lipstick, “Why are you so adamant that I come to this gig with you?”
Vi throws on her red bomber jacket, and shrugs, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “It’s True Damage.”
“Who’s that?”
“Who-Who’s that?” Vi stares at her, aghast. “Once again, I am shocked - nay, scandalised - that we are related by blood.”
“Please, Vi,” Jinx feels her brows creasing together. She presses her fingers against her temples in exhaustion. “Just spit it out.”
“Oh, okay,” Vi makes an incredulous face. “Let me tell you five reasons why you need to be here tonight: One: Isha is with Silco, so you have free time - finally,” Vi starts listing out the reasons with her fingers, “Two: they’re only the coolest collaboration to hit the streets since - ever. Three: I think you’ll really like their music. Four: they’re only playing at The Last Drop tonight. And,” there’s a pregnant pause.
Caitlyn calls out ‘And you miss her!’ from the other room. “Five: been a while since we hung out.”
Jinx stares at her. “You really had to think about that last one, huh?”
“Whatever,” Vi scowls, “You’re coming.”
“Hey,” she holds up two hands in the air, “Never said I wasn’t.”
“Shut up and get dressed.” Vi rolls her eyes and stalks out of the room. Jinx makes a face as repeats Vi’s words silently.
“I am dressed,” she mutters grumpily. She’d walked out with her usual attire before - the striped pants and skull-bones crop-top had seemed very fit for the occasion - and promptly gained the consternation of her sister and her sister’s girlfriend. Jinx shreds off the outfit anyway.
Her hands sift through the closet impatiently. She pulls out a short leather skirt, and her eyes immediately drift to a sleeveless white bandaged top. She throws it all on, loops a belt around her waist and examines herself in the mirror. Jinx tilts her head to the side.
That’ll probably do it.
She ignores Vi’s sarcastic mutter of, “Took you long enough,” and, not long after, hops into the ride-share with them. The drive isn’t too long - she hadn’t moved too far away from Vander’s old bar since he sold it off (early retirement does wonders for stress, apparently).
When they arrive, The Last Drop is packed. There’s lines upon lines of people queueing up at the entrance to see True Damage, and only then does Jinx fully realises the pull they have on Zaun’s populace. They’re lucky to be Vander’s daughters, thereby always snagging VIP passes to every gig at the bar. The ticketer recognises them and lets them through before they even manage a ‘hello’.
Jinx elbows her way through the crowd, the buzz of anticipation already thick in the air. The gig hasn’t even started yet, but the venue’s packed with people waving glowsticks and wearing clothes splattered in neon paint. Someone bumps into her, and she shoves them aside, frustration bubbling up. She’s really not a fan of crowds.
As soon as they reach their seats, the lights dim. An announcer steps onstage to whip up the crowd, and the energy is infectious - electric. The lights go out, except for a blue spotlight that falls on the band. Jinx nods along to the opening track, amazed by the synths firing off, the drums and guitar pulsing perfectly in sync.
Despite herself, she stands up and starts dancing, her head bopping to the rhythm. Vi catches her eye and grins. “Good, right?” she shouts over the music. Jinx gives her a thumbs-up, still caught in the moment.
It’s when the second song starts that she pauses. Her gaze locks onto the stage - specifically the figure at the keyboard. Something about him feels familiar - his flawless posture, the way his muscles flex as he moves his arms, and the white dreadlocks that fall into his face.
Jinx freezes, squinting. Is that -
Before she can finish the thought, Vi touches her shoulder, her expression clouded with concern.
Jinx leans in close, shouting over the music.
“Vi, I think that’s my dentist!”