Arcane: Ekko and Powder

The days after their heart-to-heart on the rooftop had been strangely peaceful. There was still a quiet understanding between Ekko and Powder, an unspoken bond that neither of them felt the need to overanalyze. It was just them, living their lives in Zaun, still facing the chaos around them—but now, the chaos seemed a little more bearable when they had each other.

Ekko found himself stealing more glances at Powder lately, something he'd never done before. But it wasn't just the way she smiled or laughed. It was the way she made the world feel a little brighter, a little more fun. The way she'd knock him off his feet with a joke or a challenge. The way she would throw herself into everything, wild and full of energy—and sometimes, reckless. But it was that very wildness that made her so captivating.

Powder, for her part, seemed to be softening around Ekko, too. Sure, she was still the same chaotic force of nature, always pulling him into mischief and adventures. But there was something different now. Something warm. Sometimes, when she was around him, her sharp edges dulled, and the girl who was always on the go became someone more grounded, more real.

One afternoon, Ekko and Powder found themselves at an old, abandoned workshop, filled with rusty tools, scattered parts, and forgotten machines. Ekko had gotten a new idea for a gadget he wanted to work on, but Powder, as usual, had other plans. She was rummaging through some of the leftover junk, looking for something fun to play with.

"You always get distracted," Ekko teased, watching as Powder climbed over piles of scrap metal with the energy of a kid on a sugar rush.

"I'm not distracted," she shot back, her voice muffled by the pile of junk she had her head buried in. "I'm looking for treasure."

Ekko rolled his eyes and chuckled. "The only treasure here is broken parts and old wires."

Powder emerged, holding up a rusted, half-finished toy gun. "Treasure! Look, I found this. Think I can fix it up and make it work?"

Ekko raised an eyebrow, unsure if he should be worried or impressed. "You're not seriously planning on using that thing, right?"

Powder winked, already ignoring his doubt and examining the toy gun. "Of course not. But it'll be fun to try."

She tossed the toy gun to him, and Ekko caught it easily, inspecting it. "It's a mess," he said. "It'll take a while to fix, but it could be done."

Powder, ever the daredevil, leaned in close to him, a grin playing on her lips. "Maybe you could fix it up while I test out the rest of the workshop? I bet there's something else in here I can use to make things more… interesting."

Ekko shook his head. "Powder, I'm not sure I want to know what you mean by 'interesting.'"

Powder just winked and bounced off, her footsteps echoing as she moved across the room. Ekko couldn't help but smile at the way she moved—confident, carefree, always making everything around her feel alive. It was both exasperating and completely captivating.

He began working on the toy gun, taking it apart piece by piece, using his tools to carefully repair it. He knew that this would be a long process, but he didn't mind. There was something strangely comforting about the routine of fixing things, about focusing on the small details. It was almost like a meditation for him, a way to clear his mind.

After a few hours, Powder came back, her hands full of random pieces she had found throughout the workshop. "Got some more junk! Think we can make something useful out of all this?"

Ekko turned to her, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "You've been hoarding parts again. I think you like the chaos more than you let on."

"Maybe," she admitted, setting her pile of parts down with a triumphant grin. "But it's the fun kind of chaos. You should try it sometime."

Ekko laughed, shaking his head. He could never quite figure out how she managed to turn everything into a game, into something fun—even if that meant dragging him along on wild schemes. "You're impossible."

Powder gave him a playful nudge with her elbow. "You love it, though. Admit it."

He blinked, caught off guard by the way her proximity made his heart skip a beat. He hadn't expected her to be so close, and he hadn't expected the heat in her eyes. Maybe it was the way she had become more comfortable around him lately, or maybe it was just the fact that she always managed to get under his skin in the best way possible.

"Maybe I do," Ekko replied, his voice soft, unable to hide the smile forming on his lips.

Powder didn't seem to notice the change in his tone. Instead, she jumped up onto a nearby workbench, dangling her legs over the edge and kicking her feet as she watched him finish fixing the toy gun. "You know, I've been thinking…"

Ekko glanced up at her, curiosity piqued. "About what?"

Powder's eyes sparkled with mischief. "About how I'm gonna take over the world. And you're gonna help me."

Ekko rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help but grin. "Sure, right after I finish this. You can't take over the world with a broken toy gun."

"Oh, I'm not talking about this one," Powder said, a sly grin on her face. "I'm talking about the next big thing."

"You're impossible," Ekko said again, but his tone was fond.

Powder hopped down from the workbench and walked over to where Ekko stood, inspecting the toy gun now that it was fully repaired. Without warning, she slipped her arms around him, her head resting against his chest as she looked up at him with a mischievous smile.

"Thanks for fixing it," she murmured, her voice suddenly soft.

Ekko froze for a moment, the closeness between them making his heart race. He wasn't used to this, not like this—not when it was so casual, so… natural. Powder had always been physical, affectionate even, but there was something about this moment that felt different. He could feel the warmth of her body against his, the gentle pressure of her arms around his torso, and it made him realize just how much she meant to him.

"Don't mention it," he whispered back, his voice a little breathless.

She pulled away after a moment, and he felt the absence of her touch more than he cared to admit. "Hey, you should come with me next time. You never know when we might find the next treasure."

"I'm starting to think the treasure is just you getting me into trouble," Ekko teased, giving her a playful shove.

Powder laughed, the sound light and carefree. "Well, someone has to keep you on your toes."

"Don't worry. You do more than enough," Ekko said, ruffling her hair affectionately.

There was a moment of quiet between them, and Ekko, still smiling, realized that this was all he really needed: her laughter, her energy, the feeling of her presence beside him. They might be living in Zaun, a city teetering on the edge of chaos, but as long as he had Powder by his side, everything felt like it might just be okay.

Powder looked up at him with a sly grin. "You know, Ekko, I've been thinking. Maybe we should stop pretending we don't have time for a little fun. You're always working on something, and I'm always getting into trouble. But I think we deserve a break."

Ekko raised an eyebrow, sensing that she was up to something. "What kind of break?"

Powder's grin widened, and before Ekko could react, she pulled him into a playful hug, pressing him against her with all the energy she could muster. "A break from everything. Just you and me."

Ekko laughed, feeling her playful energy pulse through him. He wasn't sure if he was ready for all the chaos she had in mind, but something about her enthusiasm was contagious.

"Alright, alright," he said, grinning. "But no explosions this time."

"No promises," Powder teased, her grin never fading as she pulled away.

For the first time in a long while, Ekko realized that there was no place he'd rather be than right here, with Powder—fixing gadgets, getting into trouble, and sharing all those lighthearted moments in between. Maybe the world was a mess, but as long as they had each other, Ekko couldn't help but feel that everything would be okay.

And that, in the end, was all that really mattered.