Arcane: Ekko and Powder

Ekko's steps were light as he made his way toward Powder's workshop, the weight of the conversation with Vander settling around him like a warm embrace. He had expected something more intense, a confrontation or a moment of hesitation, but instead, there had been understanding, even humor, in Vander's words. It was as if the older man knew that Powder's heart had already been claimed—no one could stop that now. Not even the rough streets of Zaun, with all their danger and unpredictability.

As Ekko reached the workshop door, he paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. The heavy weight of the day's events hung in the air, but he couldn't shake the smile that tugged at his lips. Powder, the girl who had been so wild and unpredictable when they were kids, had turned into something even more extraordinary. She was still wild, but now that wildness was tempered by a fierce loyalty to those she cared about. Ekko, for all his quiet genius, had found in her a partner, a companion, and maybe—just maybe—something deeper than either of them had realized.

He knocked lightly on the door. "Powder? It's me."

A few moments passed before the door creaked open, and there stood Powder, her hands smeared with grease from working on one of her many inventions. She looked up at him with a slight tilt of her head, a small, unsure smile crossing her face.

"So… did it go okay?" she asked, her voice cautious yet hopeful. "You talked to Vander, right?"

Ekko stepped inside, feeling a warmth in his chest as he looked at her. "Yeah," he said, his voice steady, though there was an undeniable excitement in the way he spoke. "It went better than I thought. He already knew, Powder. I think he's been waiting for this to happen."

Powder's eyes widened, and she stepped back a little, her brows knitting together as if trying to process what Ekko had said. "He… knew?"

"Yeah," Ekko replied, his tone light. "I guess it wasn't that hard to see."

For a moment, they stood there, the space between them filled with a mixture of nervousness and relief. Powder let out a soft laugh, the tension that had been holding her tight all day seeming to evaporate.

"Guess I should've known better," Powder said, her voice carrying a hint of self-deprecation. "Vander always sees everything. But… what did he say? Was he mad?"

Ekko shook his head, the smile never leaving his face. "Not at all. In fact, he said he could see it. And he told me to take care of you—just like I promised."

Powder's eyes softened at his words, a look of quiet gratitude crossing her face. She stepped closer to him, her hands moving to fiddle with the tools on her workbench, something she always did when she was nervous. "I don't know what I was expecting," she murmured, almost to herself. "But I didn't think it would be this easy."

Ekko took a few steps toward her, his voice gentle as he spoke. "Powder, it's never going to be easy. But we'll make it work. I promise."

She looked up at him, and for a moment, everything else seemed to fade away. It was just the two of them, standing in the quiet of the workshop, their hearts beating in sync. Powder bit her lip, her eyes searching his face, as if weighing his words, feeling the sincerity behind them.

"You know," Powder said after a long pause, "I never thought I'd end up here. With you. Like this."

Ekko's heart skipped a beat at the softness in her voice. "Me neither," he admitted, his eyes locking with hers. "But I wouldn't change it for anything."

The moment between them was electric, thick with unspoken emotions and shared history. But just as quickly as the silence enveloped them, Powder let out a huff of air and turned back to her workbench, seemingly uncomfortable with the intensity of the moment.

"Well, it's good to know that we're not completely insane for doing this," Powder said, forcing a lightness into her tone as she picked up a wrench. "But I still have a ton of work to do. You know, fixing all the things I've blown up recently."

Ekko chuckled, walking closer to her. "You always have something to fix, Powder. You're always tinkering with something."

"That's the only way to make sure it all works eventually," she said with a grin, though there was a softness to her that Ekko hadn't seen before. Her eyes glanced up at him briefly, and then she shrugged, trying to hide the lingering vulnerability behind her usual bravado. "Anyway, I'm glad it went well with Vander. I don't know what I would've done if he didn't approve."

Ekko's smile widened as he reached out, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Well, he does approve. And I'm not going anywhere, Powder. I'm in this, all the way."

Powder froze at his touch, the simple, unspoken gesture sending a shock through her. She looked up at him again, her expression unreadable, but there was a flicker of something soft in her eyes that he hadn't seen in a long time. Slowly, she placed her own hand over his, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"I don't know what the future holds," she murmured, "but I'm glad it's with you."

Ekko's heart swelled, and he moved a little closer to her, feeling the familiar sense of rightness when they were together. "Me too," he whispered back, his voice full of quiet affection.

The air between them felt charged, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. There was no need for words—just the silent understanding of what they shared. They had always been in sync, ever since childhood, but now, everything felt different in the best way.

Finally, Powder broke the silence, her voice light and teasing. "Well, if we're going to make this work, we'd better start getting our priorities straight. I've got a whole lot of junk to blow up."

Ekko laughed, pulling his hand away from her shoulder with a playful roll of his eyes. "You're unbelievable."

"Tell me something I don't know," she shot back with a grin, moving back to her workbench.

Ekko watched her, the warmth of her presence filling him with a sense of peace. Everything in Zaun seemed to be falling apart around them, but for once, everything felt right. They weren't just surviving in the chaos of their world—they were thriving, together. And no matter what came their way, he would make sure it stayed that way.

As Powder bent over her work, her focus returning to the gadgets scattered across her bench, Ekko stood in the doorway, looking at her with a newfound sense of certainty. This was it. This was home. And he would fight for it, just as he had always fought for her.

"Hey," Powder said, not looking up, but her voice carrying a mischievous tone. "You should help me with this. Two heads are better than one, right?"

Ekko grinned. "You really want my help with fixing your mess?"

"Do you have a better idea?" she asked, finally glancing up at him with a glint of humor in her eyes.

"Not really," he admitted, stepping forward to join her at the workbench.

Together, they returned to their shared world of gears, gadgets, and wild dreams. It was messy, it was unpredictable, and it was perfect. And for the first time in a long time, Ekko felt certain of one thing—he wouldn't be walking this road alone.

He and Powder had started something new, and no matter what came next, they were in it together.