Arcane: Ekko and Powder

The streets of Zaun had taken on a quiet, almost nostalgic air in the days following their heartfelt conversation. The tension that had once seemed to hang thick in the air between Ekko and Powder had lifted, replaced by something more subtle but undeniably real. Their friendship, forged through years of shared adventures, had evolved into something deeper, something unspoken. Ekko couldn't quite put his finger on it, but it felt different now.

It was the little things. The way her smile lingered a little longer when she saw him, the way their conversations now seemed to flow effortlessly, filled with shared secrets and knowing glances. It was more than just friendship—Ekko could feel it in his chest, an unfamiliar flutter whenever he was near her, a warmth that seemed to grow with each passing day.

But it wasn't just that. The more time he spent with Powder, the more he began to realize that his feelings were changing. What had once been a friendship built on trust and mutual respect was slowly transforming into something else.

He tried to ignore it at first, telling himself it was just a phase, that maybe he was just growing up. But the more he thought about it, the more he couldn't deny the truth. There was a pull toward her that wasn't just about companionship. There was a longing in his chest whenever their eyes met, a desire to be close to her in a way that went beyond being her best friend.

And it terrified him.

Ekko was no stranger to complicated feelings, but this was different. This was Powder, the girl who had been by his side through every high and low. He couldn't afford to ruin that, could he?

But the more he saw her, the more it became impossible to ignore. It wasn't just the way she laughed, or the way she always had a plan, even if it was a crazy one. It was the way she cared, the way she poured herself into everything she did, and the way she made him feel like he could do anything with her by his side. She was unpredictable, wild, and brilliant.

But that wasn't the only thing that kept him awake at night. It was the fear that if he acknowledged what he was feeling—if he put it into words—it would change everything. And he wasn't sure if he was ready for that.

It had been a typical afternoon when it hit him. He was in the warehouse again, the familiar clanking of tools echoing around them as he worked on one of his newest inventions. Powder had been playing with some of the scrap metal, building something, as usual, with no particular plan in mind but a spark of excitement in her eyes. The sight was familiar, comforting even.

But then something happened.

She had turned to him, a wide grin on her face, holding up a gadget she'd just rigged together. "Look what I made!" she exclaimed, her voice full of pride.

Ekko glanced over at her, but this time, as he saw her smile, something inside him twisted—familiar, but different. He tried to push it down, brushing it off as just a fleeting thought. After all, they'd been through this routine a hundred times. Why should today be any different?

But it was.

He couldn't stop staring at her, at how the sunlight caught in her hair, casting a halo around her. The way her lips curled up in that infectious grin, how her eyes shone with that unmistakable fire that always made him feel both in awe and… something else. His heart pounded in his chest. The flutter was back, stronger than ever.

"Ekko?" she called, snapping him out of his trance.

He blinked, trying to compose himself. "Yeah?"

"You're staring at me weird," Powder said, her brow furrowing in confusion, though there was a trace of amusement in her voice.

"I—sorry," Ekko muttered, shaking his head and turning back to his workbench. He wasn't sure if it was the heat in his face or the sudden tightness in his chest, but something felt wrong. It wasn't just the usual nerves he'd get when she was around. This was different. And it terrified him.

That night, Ekko found himself sitting alone in his room, the flickering light of his desk lamp casting long shadows on the walls. His thoughts were racing. What was happening to him? Was this just a phase? Was he just reacting to the changing seasons, the way his world was starting to feel bigger, more complicated?

Or was it something more?

His gaze fell on the gears and parts scattered across his desk, his hands itching to build something, anything, just to distract himself. But even the mechanical hum of his work couldn't drown out the thoughts in his head.

It was Powder. Everything came back to her.

The way she always seemed to know how to make him laugh. The way her presence made him feel less alone in a city that often felt like it was trying to swallow them whole. The way her eyes sparkled when she had an idea—whether it was a new invention or a ridiculous plan to sneak past the older kids in the alleys.

Ekko was so used to being with her. So used to the constant whirlwind that was Powder. But now, it was like everything had changed. His thoughts were no longer just about the next invention, or the next big adventure. Now, they were about her. And it scared him.

He couldn't ignore it any longer.

"Am I… falling for her?" Ekko whispered to the empty room. The question hung in the air, unanswered and yet all too clear.

He couldn't deny it anymore. The way his heart skipped when she laughed, the way his chest tightened whenever she was near—it was more than friendship. It was something he wasn't ready for, something that felt too big to handle.

But as much as he tried to push it away, as much as he tried to drown it in work or distractions, it kept coming back.

"I don't know what to do," he muttered, burying his face in his hands. The weight of his feelings felt like it was suffocating him.

The next day, Ekko found himself walking through the alleyways of Zaun, his thoughts consumed by the same question. What if Powder didn't feel the same way? What if she only saw him as a friend? Would it ruin everything between them?

But the more he thought about it, the more he realized he couldn't keep pretending. He couldn't keep denying what he felt. Because it was real.

He had no idea how to handle it, no idea how to approach her with something so fragile. But the first step, he knew, was admitting it to himself. He needed to figure out what his feelings meant before anything else could happen.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the city in a dusky glow, Ekko stood still, watching the familiar chaos of Zaun around him. The hum of machinery, the chatter of voices, the buzz of life—it was all still the same. But for him, nothing would ever be the same again.

It was a defining moment, one that would shape everything to come. And as Ekko looked toward the future, he realized there was no turning back from what he was beginning to understand about his own heart.

He was falling for Powder. And no matter how complicated or scary it might be, he wasn't sure if he could ever stop.

But how would he tell her?

Ekko didn't have the answers yet. But for the first time, he knew he couldn't keep pretending. Not to her, and not to himself.