Arcane: Ekko and Powder

The streets of Zaun had always been chaotic—loud, dangerous, and filled with tension. But tonight, something felt different. Ekko could feel it in his bones. The air was thicker, more oppressive, as if the entire city was holding its breath. He walked through the familiar alleyways, his thoughts occupied by a thousand different things. Powder had been distant lately, ever since their conversation about their feelings, and Ekko didn't know how to bridge the gap that had formed between them. It was as though the unspoken tension between them had gotten worse, pulling them further apart. But tonight, everything would change.

They had gotten word about a shipment—a dangerous one—making its way through the city, one that the older kids were planning to intercept for their own purposes. Ekko didn't like the idea of getting involved, especially with everything that had happened recently, but he couldn't ignore it. Powder had insisted on helping, just like old times, and there was no way Ekko could let her go alone.

He was used to working alone, to handling things himself, but tonight he knew that if he wanted to make it out alive—and if he wanted Powder to make it out too—he would have to rely on her. And she would have to rely on him.

Ekko turned the corner, his eyes scanning the dark alleyways, his mind racing through all the plans and contingencies. He couldn't afford to make a mistake. The mission was dangerous, and there was no telling who they would run into along the way.

When he reached their usual meeting spot, he found Powder already waiting, her face lit by the faint glow of a makeshift lantern. She was fidgeting with a small contraption, her brow furrowed in concentration.

"Ready?" Ekko asked, his voice softer than he intended, betraying the nerves gnawing at his insides.

Powder glanced up, her face lighting up with a grin. "Always," she said with a wink, her usual confidence shining through despite the tension in the air between them.

Ekko couldn't help but smile in return. He was used to this side of Powder—the fearless, reckless, adventurous side. The one that didn't hesitate, the one who always had his back. He just wished he could shake the feeling that their bond had changed. That they were both trying too hard to pretend things were normal.

Still, he pushed that thought aside as he checked his gear. He'd brought his usual assortment of gadgets—his portable disruptor, a few smoke bombs, and the multi-tool he'd crafted just for situations like this. The older kids they were up against were dangerous, and the last thing Ekko wanted was to be caught off guard.

"Let's do this," Ekko said, clapping his hands together and trying to muster some of his old enthusiasm.

Powder's eyes gleamed with excitement. "I love it when you get all serious. Makes me feel like we're really on the same team."

Ekko didn't know if he wanted to laugh or groan at that. It was just like Powder to take a moment of tension and turn it into something lighthearted. And yet, somehow, it worked.

They moved quickly through the city, sticking to the shadows and avoiding any attention. Ekko's mind remained focused on the task at hand, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Powder. He couldn't shake the feeling that she was still on edge around him, that there was something she wasn't telling him. He wanted to talk to her, to clear the air, but this wasn't the time. They were in dangerous territory, and they had to stay sharp.

As they approached the location of the shipment—a hidden warehouse near the edge of Zaun—Ekko felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Something didn't feel right. The usual sounds of the city were muted here, as if the whole area was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

He glanced at Powder, who was already scanning the area, her eyes darting from one shadow to another. She wasn't smiling now. She was focused, alert. And that made Ekko feel a little more at ease.

"Stay close," Ekko murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Powder nodded, her expression serious. "Got it."

They crept closer to the warehouse, their movements fluid and practiced. They knew what to do—Ekko would disable the security system while Powder kept watch, just like they'd done dozens of times before. They were a team, and there was no one else Ekko trusted more in situations like this. But as they got closer, Ekko could feel his heart racing. The closer they got to their goal, the more the weight of their recent conversations seemed to press down on him.

He reached for his tool belt, his fingers brushing the familiar tools, when suddenly, a loud noise shattered the silence. A thud, followed by the unmistakable sound of footsteps.

Ekko froze, his heart pounding in his chest. He motioned for Powder to stay quiet, but she had already begun to move, slipping into the shadows as quietly as a ghost. Ekko followed, his mind racing as he tried to figure out who or what had made the noise.

They rounded the corner of the warehouse just as a group of older kids appeared, their faces obscured by hoods and masks. Ekko's blood ran cold. These weren't just any kids. These were the ones who had been running wild in the streets lately—the ones with a reputation for causing trouble.

And now they were in their way.

Ekko's mind raced, but before he could think of a plan, one of the older kids spotted them.

"Hey!" a voice shouted, sharp and demanding. "What do you think you're doing here?"

Without thinking, Ekko grabbed Powder's wrist and pulled her back into the shadows. He motioned for her to stay down and then turned to face the threat. There were at least five of them, all armed with crude weapons—sticks, metal pipes, anything they could find. Ekko's hand instinctively went to his disruptor, but he knew he couldn't use it yet. He didn't want to draw more attention to them than necessary.

"We're just passing through," Ekko called out, trying to keep his voice steady.

The kid who had shouted sneered, taking a step forward. "No one passes through here without a reason. You've got one?"

Ekko didn't have time to think. He stepped forward, his mind working quickly. Powder was behind him, watching, waiting, and he knew they had to act fast. He could feel her tension, her readiness to fight, but he also knew she would follow his lead.

"You know what?" Ekko said suddenly, a grin spreading across his face. "I do have a reason. But if you want it, you're gonna have to catch us first."

Without another word, Ekko bolted toward the side of the warehouse, pulling Powder with him. She didn't hesitate. Together, they dashed into the shadows, narrowly avoiding the kids' pursuit. Ekko's heart pounded in his chest as he heard the shouts of their pursuers grow fainter.

They were getting away.

But the chase was far from over.

"We need to split up," Ekko said, turning to Powder. "You go left, I'll take the right. Meet back at the gate in five minutes."

Powder hesitated, a look of uncertainty flashing across her face. But then she nodded, her eyes locking with his.

"Be careful," she said, her voice softer than it had been in weeks.

Ekko gave her a small smile, though his heart was racing. "You too."

With that, they split, each moving in a different direction, relying on the skills they had honed over the years. As Ekko darted through the maze of alleyways, his mind was focused on the mission—but a part of him couldn't help but think about Powder, about how they'd always had each other's backs, no matter what. The rush of adrenaline flooded his veins, making everything else feel distant.

And then, a loud crash echoed through the alleyway. Ekko froze.

"Powder?" he called out, his voice trembling with fear.

There was no response.

"Powder!" he shouted, louder this time, his pulse racing.

His mind flashed to the worst-case scenario—the older kids had caught her, they had done something to her.

Without another thought, Ekko turned and sprinted toward the sound of the crash, panic coursing through his veins. The world seemed to blur around him as he pushed himself harder, faster, praying that Powder was okay.

He reached the corner just in time to see Powder struggling with one of the older kids, her back pressed against a wall as she fought to break free. Ekko didn't hesitate.

"Let her go!" Ekko shouted, charging forward.

The older kid turned, his eyes wide with surprise, just as Ekko slammed into him, knocking him to the ground. Powder's captor cursed, scrambling to get back on his feet, but Ekko was already moving, his hand reaching for the disruptor on his belt.

The fight was quick, but brutal. Ekko moved with precision, using his gadgets to disable the older kid's weapon and knocking him out cold. But he didn't stop there.

He turned to Powder, his heart pounding in his chest, relief flooding through him as he saw her standing, unharmed but shaken.

"You okay?" Ekko asked, his voice shaky with emotion.

Powder nodded, her breath coming in quick gasps. She looked at Ekko with wide eyes, a mixture of gratitude and something else—something he couldn't quite name—swimming in her gaze.

"Yeah. Thanks," she said quietly.

For a long moment, they stood there in the quiet aftermath, the sounds of the city distant, the danger temporarily forgotten. They had survived. Together.

Ekko could feel the bond between them growing stronger than ever. Whatever had changed between them in the past weeks—it didn't matter anymore. Because in this moment, in the heat of the fight, they were a team. And nothing else mattered.