Arcane: Ekko and Powder

Ekko wasn't sure when it had started. At first, he thought it was just his imagination—little things he brushed off as coincidence. But as the days turned into weeks, he couldn't ignore the growing knot in his stomach whenever he saw Powder laughing with her new group of friends.

They weren't bad people, at least not as far as Ekko could tell. He recognized some of them from the streets—kids from Zaun who were a little rough around the edges but nothing out of the ordinary. There was Milo, always quick with a sarcastic comment, and Claggor, the quiet one with a knack for fixing things. And then there was Vi, Powder's older sister, whose commanding presence seemed to draw everyone to her orbit.

Powder seemed so happy around them, her laughter louder, her movements freer. It should have made Ekko happy too. After all, wasn't this what he wanted for her? To find her place, to feel like she belonged?

But deep down, he couldn't shake the nagging feeling that he was being left behind.

It started small.

One afternoon, Ekko had stopped by the abandoned warehouse where he and Powder used to hang out. He carried a small contraption in his hands—a clockwork dragonfly he'd built to impress her. It was delicate and intricate, with translucent wings that shimmered in the light.

He found the place empty.

At first, he thought she might be running late, so he waited. Minutes turned into an hour, and still, there was no sign of her. Finally, he left, his chest tight with disappointment.

The next time he saw her, she was with Vi and the others, sitting on a makeshift crate and laughing as Milo reenacted some story with exaggerated gestures. Powder's face lit up with joy, her blue braids bouncing as she clapped her hands together.

Ekko hesitated in the shadows, watching them. He could have walked over, joined the group, but something held him back. He wasn't sure what it was—pride, insecurity, or maybe just the fear that he wouldn't fit in.

"Hey, Ekko!"

Powder's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. She was standing at the edge of the street, waving at him with a wide grin.

"Hey," he said, forcing a smile as he walked over.

"I was wondering where you've been!" she said, her tone light and cheerful. "You should come hang out with us sometime. Vi's got all these cool ideas, and Milo's hilarious. You'd like him."

"Maybe," Ekko said noncommittally.

Powder tilted her head, her smile faltering. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, fine," Ekko said quickly. "Just been busy with... stuff."

"Stuff?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, you know—tinkering, building. The usual."

Powder's grin returned. "You and your gadgets. What are you working on now?"

Ekko hesitated, the clockwork dragonfly flashing in his mind. "Just... something small. Nothing special."

"You'll show me when it's done, right?" she asked, her eyes bright with curiosity.

"Sure," he said, though the words felt hollow.

The days passed, and Ekko couldn't ignore the subtle shifts in their friendship. Powder still made time for him, but it wasn't the same. Their once-endless conversations felt shorter, interrupted by her other commitments. Their secret hideouts were quieter, the laughter they used to share replaced by an awkward silence.

It wasn't her fault, Ekko told himself. She was growing up, finding her place in the world. He should be happy for her.

But the jealousy gnawed at him, an unwelcome presence he couldn't shake.

One evening, Ekko found himself wandering the streets of Zaun, his mind restless. He ended up at the rooftop where he and Powder used to sit and watch the stars. The place felt empty without her.

He pulled out the clockwork dragonfly, turning it over in his hands. Its delicate wings caught the light, casting tiny rainbows on the metal surface. It was one of his best creations, but it felt meaningless now.

"Ekko?"

He looked up, startled to see Powder standing at the edge of the rooftop. Her expression was a mix of surprise and concern.

"Hey," he said, slipping the dragonfly back into his pocket. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," she said, walking over to sit beside him. "You've been... distant lately."

Ekko shrugged, avoiding her gaze. "Just busy."

"Is that all?" she pressed.

He hesitated, the words caught in his throat. How could he explain the tangled mess of emotions inside him? The jealousy, the fear, the loneliness—it all felt too complicated to put into words.

"It's nothing," he said finally.

Powder frowned, her blue eyes searching his face. "You're a terrible liar, you know that?"

Ekko sighed, leaning back against the rooftop's railing. "It's just... you've been spending a lot of time with Vi and the others."

"Yeah," she said slowly, as if testing the waters.

"I guess I just... I miss how things used to be," Ekko admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Powder's expression softened. "Ekko, I'm not trying to leave you out. You know that, right?"

"I know," he said, though the ache in his chest didn't lessen. "It's just... you're so happy with them. And I guess I'm afraid there won't be room for me anymore."

Powder stared at him, her eyes wide. Then, to his surprise, she reached out and grabbed his hand.

"You're my best friend," she said firmly. "Nothing's going to change that."

Ekko looked at her, his heart pounding. "You mean that?"

"Of course," she said, squeezing his hand. "Vi and the others are great, but they're not you, Ekko. You've been there for me when no one else was. That means more to me than you know."

A small, tentative smile crept onto Ekko's face. "Thanks, Powder."

She grinned, her usual mischief returning. "Besides, you're the only one who can keep up with my ideas. I'd be lost without you."

Ekko laughed, the tension in his chest finally easing. For the first time in weeks, he felt like things might actually be okay.

They stayed on the rooftop for hours, talking and laughing like they used to. The clockwork dragonfly never left Ekko's pocket, but he didn't mind. Just having Powder there beside him was enough.

As the stars began to fade and the first light of dawn crept over Zaun, Ekko realized something important.

Jealousy might have crept into their friendship, but it didn't have to define it. What mattered was the bond they shared—the unspoken promise that no matter how much things changed, they would always find their way back to each other.

And for now, that was enough.