Arcane: Ekko and Powder

The evening had settled over Zaun like a heavy blanket, the dim lights of the city flickering like distant stars, casting long shadows across the streets. The air was thick with the scent of smog and oil, the familiar hum of the undercity buzzing in the background. Ekko and Powder found themselves once again at the old factory, though this time it wasn't for tinkering or troublemaking. They were alone in the quiet space, the soft whir of a few half-finished projects filling the air, but their minds were elsewhere.

Powder was perched on a stool, absently fiddling with a small contraption she'd built, but her gaze was fixed on Ekko. He sat on the floor, his back against one of the old factory walls, staring at the mess of wires and gears around him, his hands idle in his lap. The weight of his thoughts had become heavier lately, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something needed to change. Powder's presence was a comfort, as always, but tonight, Ekko felt the urge to share something with her—something that had been building in his chest for far too long.

Powder had always been his confidante, the one person he could count on no matter what. Their bond was unspoken but strong, and for the first time in years, Ekko felt the need to open up in a way he never had before.

"Hey, Powder," Ekko said, his voice quieter than usual, as he finally broke the silence. She turned her head toward him, noticing the shift in his tone. It was unusual for him to sound so serious, so distant, especially when they were together.

"What's up?" Powder asked, her voice light, but she didn't miss the change in his demeanor. She set the gadget down on the workbench and hopped down from the stool, moving closer to him.

Ekko sighed, his fingers running through his hair as he tried to find the right words. This wasn't something he had planned to share, but the need to tell her felt like a pressure building inside of him. Powder had always understood him in ways others didn't—she had always believed in him, even when he didn't believe in himself. Maybe this was the moment to show her what he had been dreaming of all along.

"I've been thinking a lot," he began, his eyes meeting hers. "About Zaun. About the future."

Powder raised an eyebrow, but her expression softened with curiosity. "What about it?" she asked.

Ekko hesitated, his heart pounding a little faster. He had never truly voiced his dreams to anyone—not in this way. Sure, he had built things, invented gadgets, and dreamed of changing the world, but sharing that with someone else, especially Powder, felt different. This wasn't just about fixing things anymore. This was about his heart.

"I want to fix Zaun, Powder," he said, his voice steady but earnest. "I don't just want to tinker around and make gadgets. I want to change things for good. I want to build something that can make life better here. Something that can save people from all this... chaos."

He gestured vaguely around them, as if the city itself could understand what he meant. The smog-filled skies, the broken machines, the endless suffering—everything seemed to weigh on him. Ekko had always dreamed of something bigger, but today, as the words escaped him, he realized just how much it mattered. He wasn't just talking about himself anymore.

Powder stood silently for a moment, her gaze softening as she watched him, taking in his words. She knew that Ekko was different from the others. He was a dreamer, a builder, a thinker. He had always looked at the world and saw the potential for something more, something better. And now, he was telling her what he truly wanted—to change the very fabric of Zaun.

"That's... that's big," Powder said quietly, her eyes meeting his. She paused, as if carefully considering his words. "But... I don't know, Ekko. It's not going to be easy, right? Changing Zaun, I mean. People don't just listen to ideas like that. They're too caught up in surviving."

Ekko nodded, his expression grave. "I know. It's not going to be easy. It's going to take a lot of work. A lot of time. But I believe it's possible."

He looked at her then, and for a brief moment, the world seemed to narrow down to just the two of them. Ekko had always believed in his inventions, but hearing the words out loud, sharing them with Powder, made everything feel more real. His dreams, his hopes—they all seemed so tangible now.

"I've been working on something," Ekko continued, his voice quieter. "Something that could change everything. But it's not ready yet. I'm still figuring it out, still putting it all together."

Powder watched him closely, her lips pressed together in thought. "You always say that," she said with a small grin. "You're always 'figuring it out.'" She raised an eyebrow. "But you always make it work in the end. You'll figure this one out too, won't you?"

Ekko smiled at her teasing tone, though it was bittersweet. "Yeah, I will. I have to. For Zaun. For everyone."

The silence that followed was comfortable, but Ekko couldn't help but notice how much her words meant to him. She believed in him—really, truly believed in him. He wasn't just some dreamer to her. She saw the potential in his ideas, in his heart. And that made everything feel just a little more possible.

Powder stepped closer to him, her hands moving to rest on her hips. "You know, you've always been different, Ekko. From the other kids, from everyone. You've always wanted more. You've always had these big dreams." She smiled then, that familiar mischievous twinkle returning to her eyes. "And that's why I think you're gonna make it happen. You're not gonna just sit around and wait for things to get better. You're gonna make them better."

Ekko felt a warmth spread through him at her words. She wasn't just giving him empty encouragement—she was speaking from the heart, from a place of genuine belief in him. It was the kind of belief that could move mountains.

"I don't know if I can do it alone," Ekko admitted, his voice low. He felt a little vulnerable saying it, but he needed her to know. "I can't do this on my own, Powder. I need help. I need someone who believes in me. Who believes in this."

Powder's eyes softened at his confession, and for the first time in a long while, Ekko felt like he wasn't just carrying the weight of his dreams on his own. She was there with him, right by his side. And that was more than he had ever hoped for.

"You're not alone," she said, her voice fierce and reassuring. "I'm here. I believe in you, Ekko. And whatever happens, I'll be with you. You can do this. I know you can."

Her words hung in the air, and Ekko felt something deep inside him stir—something he couldn't quite name, but it felt like hope. Maybe he didn't have to change Zaun alone. Maybe with Powder's belief in him, with their combined strength, they could make it happen. It wasn't just about fixing things with gadgets anymore—it was about fixing the city, fixing everything that was broken.

Ekko nodded slowly, his heart lightened by her words. "Thanks, Powder," he said quietly, his voice thick with gratitude. "I needed to hear that. I really did."

She grinned, her playful side creeping back into her expression. "Don't mention it. But if you do change the world, don't forget about me, okay? I want to be there when you do."

Ekko chuckled, the weight of his dreams a little easier to bear now. "Of course," he said, a glint of mischief in his own eyes. "Wouldn't want to do it without you."

For a moment, they stood together in the dimly lit factory, their shoulders almost touching as they looked out at the city, each lost in their own thoughts. Ekko's dreams, once a solitary pursuit, now seemed more possible with Powder's encouragement. And maybe—just maybe—this partnership was exactly what Zaun needed to be rebuilt from the ground up.

The future was uncertain, but one thing was clear: Ekko had found someone who truly believed in him. And for the first time in a long time, that felt like enough to change the world.