Did Ekko have a crush on Jinx?

Quick Answers

Ekko and Jinx have a complicated history in the League of Legends universe. There are some hints that Ekko may have had feelings for Jinx when they were younger, before she became fully unhinged. However, it’s unclear if those feelings persisted as adults after Jinx caused massive destruction in Zaun. Ultimately, Ekko seems focused on trying to save Zaun and stop Jinx’s chaos, though remnants of his past affection may remain.

Their Shared History in Zaun

Ekko and Jinx grew up together in the streets of Zaun, scraping by through petty crime and mischief. They were both outcasts – Ekko an orphan, Jinx slightly unhinged even as a child. This shared status as misfits brought them together. They looked out for each other, partnering up for schemes and escapades. Ekko’s innate intelligence and innovation paired well with Jinx’s wild creativity and risk-taking.

In many ways, they balanced each other out. Ekko’s caution and forethought reined in some of Jinx’s more destructive tendencies. And Jinx’s boldness pushed Ekko out of his comfort zone to attempt daring stunts. Their contrasting personalities complemented one another, forging a close bond. They became an inseparable duo – “partners in crime” as youths trying to survive in Zaun’s underbelly.

Signs of Ekko’s Past Affection

There are a few subtle hints that Ekko may have developed feelings for Jinx during their youthful adventures together. When recalling their shared history, Ekko seems to speak about Jinx with a certain wistfulness and tenderness. He remembers the “laughs” they had together and refers to her by the nickname “Jinks”, suggesting intimacy.

In one interaction in Arcane, Ekko calls Jinx “beautiful”, though this may have been partly sarcastic. Nonetheless, it indicates he still recognizes the spirited, vibrant girl he knew before she became entirely consumed by madness.

Ekko also seems pained seeing what Jinx has become, perhaps mourning the loss of the person she used to be. His primary goal is trying to restrain her chaos and destruction. But there are moments where he still tries to reach out and connect with any remnants left of the old Jinx. This could hint at lingering affection from their days together.

The Turning Point

Any fondness Ekko had for Jinx was likely strained after she unleashed the monkey bomb that destroyed a large section of Zaun. This catastrophic act of violence was a turning point.

Though always unstable, Jinx descended fully into madness after this event. She became detached from reality, consumed by chaos. Ekko recognized his old friend was gone, replaced by this highly dangerous, unhinged version of Jinx.

From then on, the bulk of Ekko’s focus was trying to limit the damage Jinx could cause. He transitions from seeing her as a partner to viewing her as a threat that must be stopped. Any previous affection fades into the background of this new mission.

Their Dynamic as Adults

As adults, Ekko and Jinx have a tense, adversarial dynamic. With Jinx unleashing chaos on Zaun, Ekko leads the Firelights resistance to try and restrain her mania and destruction. The two clash frequently, with Ekko trying to thwart Jinx’s plans and pull her back from the brink.

Their interactions are marked by a push-and-pull. Jinx revels in taunting Ekko, while he tries alternately to reason with her and warn her away. Underneath this tension, remnants of their long history together occasionally surface. But any past affection now takes a backseat to their present conflict.

Ekko’s Perspective

From Ekko’s perspective, Jinx is dangerously unstable and threatening the very fabric of Zaun society. His priority is protecting the vulnerable people of Zaun from her violent whims.

Ekko seems saddened and frustrated to see how far Jinx has fallen from the lively but good-hearted girl she once was. But he recognizes this is the reality he has to deal with in the present. When they face off, his goal is ultimately to restrain Jinx and minimize the damage she can inflict.

Any fondness from the past may occasionally show itself in small ways. But Ekko keeps focused on the bigger mission of saving Zaun, pushing aside those remnants of childhood affection for pragmatic reasons. Jinx is too far gone and too great a threat for nostalgia to meaningfully influence Ekko’s actions against her.

Jinx’s Perspective

In Jinx’s warped mindset, Ekko is both a reminder of her past and an annoying obstacle interfering with her chaos. She seems to vaguely recall their shared history, sometimes referring to him by the nickname “Ekkie.” But any positive memories are distorted through the lens of her madness.

Jinx views Ekko as a killjoy trying to control her and limit her freedom. She finds it fun to taunt him with the chaos she causes, showing she can’t be contained. Their back-and-forth exchanges are part of the game to her.

Any previous feelings she may have had for Ekko are not really factor for her. In her fractured mental state, Jinx lives entirely in the moment. Her actions are guided by whims and impulses without regard for the past. Ekko primarily represents a constraints she wants to break free from, not someone connected to her history.

Conclusion

In their youth, Ekko and Jinx were close friends and partners in crime. Ekko may have started developing deeper feelings for Jinx during this time. However, any romance was cut short by Jinx’s descent into instability and violence.

As adults, remnants of affection may occasionally surface in how Ekko tries connecting with Jinx. But pragmatically, he has to focus on viewing her as a threat to Zaun. Likewise, Jinx sees Ekko mainly as an obstacle limiting her chaos.

While Ekko may have had a budding childhood crush, their history is overshadowed by their present adversarial dynamic. Ekko’s primary goal is still to save Zaun from Jinx’s unchecked destruction, pushing any nostalgic crush to the sidelines. Their shared past is important context, but not a major factor driving their interactions as matured enemies.

Visualizing Key Events in a Timeline

Time Period	Key Events
Childhood in Zaun	Ekko and Jinx grow up together as outcasts They bond over shared status as misfits Team up for mischief and survival Ekko may start developing a crush on Jinx
Turning Point	Jinx’s monkey bomb destroys part of Zaun Jinx descends fully into madness Ekko realizes she’s become dangerously unstable
Adulthood	Ekko leads the Firelights to counter Jinx’s chaos They clash frequently as enemies Remnants of shared history surface occasionally But Ekko focuses pragmatically on stopping Jinx’s destruction

Breakdown of Their Adult Interactions

Type of Interaction	Examples
Jinx Taunting Ekko	“Are we having fun yet?” “Come on, Ekkie!” Mocking his efforts to reason with her
Ekko Trying to Restrain Jinx	Using his time manipulation to counter her attacks Trying to talk her down from violent rampages “This has to stop!”
Remnants of Shared History	Ekko calling her “Jinks” Referencing their youthful misadventures His pained reaction to her full transformation

Key Takeaways

• Ekko and Jinx share a history growing up together in Zaun’s underworld
• As kids, Ekko may have started developing a crush on Jinx
• After her monkey bomb, Jinx spiraled into full madness
• Their dynamic shifted from partners to enemies
• As adults focused on clashing, remnants of the past surface occasionally
• But Ekko prioritizes pragmatically stopping Jinx’s chaos over childhood affection