Arcane: Ekko and Powder

The thrill of flying on their hoverboards hadn't quite worn off by the time Ekko and Powder returned to the workshop. It felt like the entire world had opened up to them in ways it never had before, and they could only imagine the places they could go and the things they could achieve together. The wind was still in their hair, and their hearts beat in sync with the excitement coursing through their veins.

Ekko leaned against the doorframe of the workshop, watching Powder carefully dismount her hoverboard. She was grinning like a kid in a candy store, the same wild energy she always exuded, but there was something different about her now—a sense of joy, of freedom that he hadn't seen in a while. She was always a little reckless, a little unpredictable, but today, she was something else. She was happy. Truly happy.

"You know," Ekko said, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead, "that was one of the best things we've ever done."

Powder nodded vigorously, still out of breath. "I never thought I'd see Zaun from up here. It's like everything's different when you're flying."

Ekko smiled at her enthusiasm. "Yeah. You look at the city from above, and it almost feels like it's… alive, doesn't it?"

Powder nodded again, turning to him with a soft smile. "Like we're a part of something bigger."

Ekko felt a lump form in his throat at the simplicity of the sentiment. For so long, he'd been focused on changing things, improving the world around him. But in that moment, with Powder beside him, he realized that it wasn't just the inventions or the machines that mattered. It was the moments they shared—the simple, quiet moments, like the one they were having now—that made everything worthwhile.

"I like this," Ekko said, looking around the workshop. "I like the idea that we're building something together. It's not just gadgets or inventions. It's... us."

Powder's eyes softened, and for a moment, the playful energy between them settled into something more grounded. She took a step closer, her smile gentle and sincere. "We've always been together, Ekko. Always."

Ekko felt his heart race again, not from the adrenaline of their hoverboard ride but from the way Powder looked at him. There was a warmth in her gaze, a quiet understanding that had always been there but was now more apparent than ever. He didn't need to speak; they both knew what was unspoken. They had shared countless moments together—both the thrilling and the simple—and each one had only brought them closer.

"I've been thinking," Ekko said, trying to steady his voice, "about where we go from here. Not just with the hoverboard or the inventions, but… with us."

Powder's brow furrowed slightly, as if she was processing his words, her gaze unwavering. "You mean, like... what happens next?"

"Yeah," Ekko said, his heart thumping a little faster. "Where do we go from here? What do we do next?"

Powder crossed the room, her steps slow, deliberate. She stood next to him, their shoulders brushing, and the warmth between them was enough to make Ekko's breath catch. She didn't speak for a moment, her eyes wandering across the workshop, but then she turned to face him fully.

"I've been thinking about it, too," she admitted, her voice quieter now, more vulnerable than usual. "For a while now, I wasn't sure what we were. But after today, after everything... I think I'm ready for whatever comes next. As long as you're with me."

Ekko's chest tightened at her words, his emotions threatening to overwhelm him. Powder had always been the wild, untamable spirit, but in that moment, she was grounded. She was steady, and she was telling him that she was ready, ready to step into the future with him.

He reached out, gently taking her hand in his. It was a small gesture, but the way his heart fluttered made it feel like the most significant thing he had ever done.

"We're in this together," Ekko said, his voice firm but filled with affection. "And whatever comes, we'll face it together. I don't care what the future holds. I just know I want to be with you."

Powder's eyes softened as she squeezed his hand in return. "And I want to be with you."

There was a moment of silence between them, a moment that felt both heavy and light at the same time. The air between them hummed with the weight of everything they had been through and everything they had yet to face. But it didn't feel scary. It didn't feel uncertain. For the first time in a long while, Ekko felt a sense of peace. The future might be unclear, but with Powder by his side, it didn't seem so daunting.

Powder looked at him with that mischievous grin that always made his heart race. "So, what's next for us? More hoverboard races?"

Ekko chuckled, shaking his head. "We can definitely do more of that. But I was thinking about something else."

"Oh?" Powder raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"

Ekko took a deep breath, his eyes locking with hers. "I was thinking about us. About where we go from here, about what we want from all of this. Not just the inventions, but... us. Together."

Powder's grin softened, and she took a step closer, her breath warm against his cheek. "I don't know what that means yet. But I know I want to find out with you."

Ekko's heart pounded in his chest, and before he could stop himself, he leaned in. The kiss was soft at first, tentative, as if they were both testing the waters, but it quickly deepened as they both gave into the emotions swirling between them. It wasn't rushed, and it wasn't driven by a need to prove something—it was a kiss that spoke of trust, of everything they had shared, and everything they hoped to share in the future.

When they finally pulled apart, they were both breathless, their foreheads resting against each other. Powder's fingers gently brushed his cheek, and for the first time, Ekko realized that they had crossed a threshold—together, as more than just friends, but as something deeper, something that neither of them had anticipated but both of them wanted.

"I think we've already figured out what's next," Ekko whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

Powder smiled, her eyes bright and full of hope. "Yeah. Together."

And just like that, they both knew that no matter what came next, they had already found something worth holding onto.