Arcane: Ekko and Powder

The next morning in Zaun dawned with the dull hum of machinery and the faint glow of chemical lights. In the Last Drop, a soft warmth lingered. Powder sat on the couch, watching the little girl sleep soundly. Her face was serene, a far cry from the frightened expression she had worn when Vander first brought her in. Powder's heart swelled as she thought about how much this new addition mirrored her own arrival into Vander's care years ago.

Vi entered the room with two steaming mugs in her hands, setting one down beside Powder before taking a seat. She nodded toward the girl, her voice low. "She's a tough one, huh? Looks like she's been through the ringer."

Powder took a sip of the tea Vi had brought. "Yeah, but she'll be okay. I can tell."

Vi leaned back, crossing her legs. "You sound so sure."

"Because I've been there," Powder replied, glancing at her sister. "We both have. And we had Vander to pull us out of it. She's got him now too—and us."

The little girl stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She looked around the room, momentarily disoriented, until her gaze landed on Powder. Powder offered her a warm smile.

"Morning, sleepyhead," Powder said softly.

The girl sat up, clutching the blanket around her shoulders. "Is it okay that I...fell asleep here?" she asked timidly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Of course," Vi said, her tone reassuring. "This place is yours now, as much as it is ours."

Powder slid closer, her voice gentle. "You don't have to be scared anymore. We're gonna take care of you."

The girl nodded slowly, her small hands fidgeting with the edge of the blanket. "What...what happens now?"

Powder exchanged a glance with Vi before replying. "Now, we figure out what you like. What makes you happy. And we go from there."

Later that day, Powder and Vi brought the girl to meet Ekko. He was perched atop one of his hoverboards, tinkering with a small contraption. When he saw them approach, he immediately hopped down, his face lighting up.

"Hey, what's this?" Ekko asked, nodding toward the little girl.

"This," Powder said, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder, "is the newest member of the family."

Ekko crouched down, his expression softening. "Hey there, kiddo. I'm Ekko."

The girl looked at him cautiously but didn't shy away. "Hi," she said quietly.

"She's still warming up to all this," Vi said. "But we figured she should meet everyone."

Ekko grinned. "Well, you picked a good day. We've got some fun stuff going on at the Firelights' hideout. Wanna come see?"

The girl hesitated, glancing up at Powder.

"It's safe," Powder reassured her. "And you'll like it, I promise."

The hideout was bustling with activity when they arrived. Firelights zipped around on hoverboards, delivering supplies and sharing updates on their projects. The girl's eyes widened as she took it all in.

Ekko led her to a quieter corner where a few young Firelights were working on a mural. "We like to let everyone pitch in here," he explained. "You good with a paintbrush?"

The girl hesitated before nodding. Powder knelt beside her, handing her a brush. "You can paint whatever you want. No rules."

As the girl dipped her brush into a pot of bright blue paint, a small smile played on her lips. Powder and Ekko watched as she added careful strokes to the mural, her expression growing more confident with each one.

"She's got an eye for this," Ekko whispered to Powder.

"She's got more than that," Powder replied, her voice filled with pride. "She's got a spark."

That evening, Vander gathered everyone for dinner at the Last Drop. The room was filled with laughter and the clatter of dishes as the little family shared a meal. The girl sat between Powder and Vi, her cheeks flushed from the excitement of the day.

As Vander served up plates of stew, he paused to ruffle the girl's hair. "How's it feel, being part of all this?"

The girl looked up at him, her eyes shining. "It feels...nice," she said softly.

Vander chuckled. "Good. 'Cause you're stuck with us now."

Powder leaned over, whispering conspiratorially to the girl. "He's like this all the time. You'll get used to it."

The girl giggled, a sound that warmed everyone's hearts.

Over the next few weeks, the little girl began to settle into her new life. She helped Powder with small projects, often displaying a surprising knack for fixing things. She followed Vi around on patrols, learning how to navigate the streets of Zaun. And she grew particularly close to Vander, who always seemed to know exactly how to make her feel safe.

One evening, as Powder was tinkering with a new invention, the girl sat beside her, watching intently.

"Can I help?" she asked, her voice tentative.

Powder looked at her, surprised but pleased. "Of course. Here, hold this."

As they worked together, the girl's confidence grew. Powder couldn't help but marvel at how quickly she was coming out of her shell.

"You're a natural at this," Powder said, nudging her playfully.

The girl beamed. "Maybe I can make things like you someday."

Powder smiled, her heart swelling. "You already can."

One night, Vander gathered everyone in the back room of the Last Drop. The table was laden with a feast, and the air was filled with the warm glow of lanterns.

"I've been thinking," Vander said, raising his glass. "This family of ours—it's not just about blood. It's about choice. About looking out for each other, no matter what."

He glanced at the little girl, who was seated beside him. "And tonight, we're officially welcoming the newest member of our family."

Everyone raised their glasses, cheering. The girl's eyes filled with tears, but she quickly wiped them away, a smile breaking across her face.

As the night wore on, the family laughed, shared stories, and celebrated the bonds that held them together. And for the first time in a long time, the little girl felt truly at home.

Later, as the girl drifted off to sleep in her new room, Powder stood in the doorway, watching over her.

"She's gonna be okay," Vander said, coming up beside her.

Powder nodded. "Because she's got us."

Vander placed a hand on her shoulder. "And we've got her. That's what family's for."

In that moment, Powder knew that their family—messy, unconventional, and ever-growing—was exactly what the girl needed. And as she closed the door softly behind her, she felt a deep sense of gratitude for the love that bound them all together.