Arcane: Ekko and Powder

The air in Zaun always felt heavy, a mix of industrial fumes, dampness from the underground, and the constant hum of machines. But tonight, the air between Ekko and Powder was different. It wasn't the thick, suffocating air of the Undercity—it was the kind of air that felt like something was about to change, something big. And neither of them could deny that the moment they stood in was a turning point.

They were sitting on the rusted roof of an old building, looking out over the darkened streets below, where the faint glow of lights reflected off the oily surfaces. The whole world seemed distant from here, so far removed from the chaos and noise of the life they knew. It was just the two of them in this quiet moment, surrounded by the night.

Ekko had never felt more uncertain in his life. The last few days had been a blur of emotions, confusion, and silent moments between him and Powder. He could feel the change in their relationship, the subtle shifts in the way they looked at each other, the words they didn't say but both knew were lingering just under the surface.

He had tried to ignore it—tried to brush it off like he had brushed off all their other awkward, fleeting moments in the past. But he couldn't anymore. He couldn't pretend that things were still the same between them, that they were still just two kids running through the streets of Zaun, pulling pranks and sharing gadgets.

No, it was different now. They were different.

Powder's voice broke the silence, soft and quiet, as if she were afraid to speak too loud, afraid of breaking the fragile peace that had settled between them.

"Ekko…" Her voice trembled slightly, and he turned toward her, sensing the weight in her words before she even said them.

He glanced at her, noticing the way her eyes were fixed on the ground, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap. Powder never looked this vulnerable, never showed doubt. She was always the bold one, the one who acted first and thought later. It made Ekko's heart twist to see her like this, exposed in a way he wasn't used to.

"What is it?" he asked gently, leaning forward slightly, as though ready to catch whatever words she might throw his way.

She took a deep breath, and Ekko could see the way her chest rose and fell with the effort. She was struggling with something, struggling to let the words come out. He wasn't sure if it was because of their history together, or because of how complicated everything had become. But he knew one thing for sure: this wasn't something she was going to say lightly.

"I care about you, Ekko," she said, her voice steadying with the confession. "I… I care about you more than I can put into words. You've always been there for me, even when I was… well, when I was a mess. And I can't imagine my life without you in it." She paused, biting her lip, eyes still trained on the ground. "I don't know what that means. I don't know if it means anything at all, but I needed to say it. You deserve to know."

Ekko's heart stopped. For a moment, everything around him went silent—everything but the sound of his own pulse, pounding in his ears. He wasn't sure if it was the words themselves or the way they were spoken—so carefully, so full of emotion—that had made him freeze. Powder had never said anything like this before. She had never let herself be so open, so honest, especially not with him.

He swallowed hard, trying to find his voice. His hands trembled slightly as he reached out, gently placing one hand over hers. "Powder…" he said softly, her name on his lips like a prayer. He wanted to say so much more—so many things he had been holding back for so long—but the words wouldn't come. It was as if her confession had unlocked something inside of him, something he hadn't realized was there until now.

"I care about you too," he finally managed to say, his voice thick with emotion. "I always have. It's just… I didn't know how to say it. Or if I should say it. It feels… I don't know, like we've been dancing around this for a long time, and now we're finally standing in the middle of it, unsure of where to go."

Powder turned her head to meet his gaze, her eyes wide with vulnerability, and for a second, Ekko saw everything. All the years of friendship, of shared memories, of growing up together—they were all in her eyes. But now, there was something more. There was something new. Something neither of them could deny anymore.

"I know," Powder whispered, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "It's like… like we've always been too scared to take the next step. Too scared to see what would happen if we did."

Ekko let out a slow breath, feeling a strange mixture of relief and anticipation wash over him. "Yeah," he said softly, "exactly."

They were both aware of the unspoken truth now, the truth that had been slowly simmering beneath the surface of their relationship. It wasn't just friendship anymore. It hadn't been for a long time. It was something deeper, something more complicated. But what that something was, neither of them could define. Not yet.

Powder shifted closer, her hand still resting under his, and Ekko felt his heart race a little faster. There was a warmth between them now, a warmth that had always been there but had been buried by their fears and insecurities. The walls they had built around themselves were starting to crumble, brick by brick, until all that was left was the raw, honest connection they shared.

"We've been through so much together," Powder continued, her voice barely above a whisper now. "And I… I want to keep going through it with you. No matter what happens. I just want you to know that. No matter how complicated things get."

Ekko nodded, his throat tight. "I want that too," he said, his voice hoarse with emotion. "I've always wanted that."

For a moment, they sat in silence, their fingers intertwined, both lost in the gravity of their words, their confessions. The city below them seemed a world away, and the chaos of their lives—the constant danger, the uncertainties of the Undercity—faded into the background as they focused only on each other.

And in that silence, it felt like the beginning of something new. Something they couldn't yet name, but both of them felt it: a new chapter in their story, one they would write together, no matter where it took them.

"I don't know what this means," Ekko admitted after a long pause, his voice almost inaudible. "But I don't want to lose you. Not like this."

Powder smiled, a soft, bittersweet smile that was both hopeful and full of the weight of everything they had gone through. "You won't lose me," she promised, her voice steady now. "I'll be here. Always."

And in that moment, with the quiet hum of Zaun in the distance, Ekko felt a sense of certainty he hadn't felt in a long time. Whatever came next—whatever the future held—they would face it together. The fear of the unknown no longer seemed so terrifying. Because as long as they had each other, they could handle anything.

The two of them sat there for a while longer, side by side, letting the weight of the moment sink in. There were no more words needed, no more doubts hanging between them. Just the quiet comfort of knowing that they were no longer alone.

And for the first time in a long time, Ekko didn't feel so unsure about the future. He didn't need to know exactly where it would lead, only that they would take the next step together. And maybe that was enough.