Arcane: Ekko and Powder

The world of Zaun at night was a different kind of beautiful. Under the soft glow of neon signs, the city transformed, revealing its worn edges but also the spirit that held it together. The streets were quieter than usual, the usual noise of machinery and frantic energy giving way to a more subdued, peaceful vibe. Ekko and Powder stood at the rooftop edge, watching as the stars flickered above and the city hummed below.

"So," Powder began, breaking the silence, "what now?"

Ekko looked over at her, his heart light but full of thought. The day had been a welcome break, but he couldn't help but feel the pull of the unfinished work that still lay ahead. Even though they had their moments of carefree joy, the looming challenges of what they were building—and the constant tension between Zaun and Piltover—lingered in the back of his mind.

"What now?" he repeated, his gaze softening as he turned to face her more fully. "Well, I suppose we enjoy the moment."

Powder smiled, her usual fiery energy returning. She nudged him playfully. "Oh, Ekko, you're so serious! What I meant was, what's next for us? This city, this life we're making?"

Ekko took a deep breath. "Next?" He looked down at his hands, suddenly unsure of how to phrase what had been swirling in his mind. "Maybe more of this. More of us. I think we've been running non-stop for a while, and while it's been incredible, it's also been exhausting."

Powder tilted her head, clearly sensing the shift in his tone. "You want us to slow down?"

"Not slow down," Ekko said, his voice firming. "I want us to start living in a way that feels right—not just for the projects or the goals we're chasing. I want us to have a life that's... ours. That's not defined by anything else." He glanced over at Powder. "Together."

For a moment, there was silence, but it wasn't the kind of uncomfortable silence they had shared before. This was an understanding that had woven itself between them over time, deepening with every word, every quiet moment spent in one another's company.

Powder felt her heart skip a beat. They had been through so much—together, alone, with the weight of the world always pressing on them—and yet, in that silence, there was something reassuring. Something that anchored them to this space, to each other.

"Together," Powder echoed, her voice soft. "That's all I've ever wanted. To have someone to share everything with. Not just the crazy moments, but the calm ones too." She stepped closer to him, her eyes bright and steady. "So... what does that mean for us?"

Ekko hesitated, but only for a moment. He took her hand gently, intertwining his fingers with hers. It was a small gesture, but the significance of it was not lost on either of them.

"It means we figure it out," he said simply. "It means we trust each other. Every day."

Powder smiled, squeezing his hand lightly. "I think I can handle that."

The next few weeks passed in a blur. Between their work on improving Zaun's infrastructure and continuing their development of the Green Cycle initiative, Ekko and Powder found themselves with little time to breathe. Yet, in every passing moment, their connection grew more comfortable, more assured. It was as if the chaos around them had become background noise—something they could block out when needed, allowing them to focus on the now.

One afternoon, after a particularly grueling session in the workshop, Ekko pulled away from his desk, stretching his arms above his head. Powder, who had been tinkering with a new contraption beside him, glanced up, catching his movement.

"You're burning yourself out, Ekko," she said, a teasing note in her voice, though the concern behind her words was genuine. "You've been at this for hours."

Ekko rolled his shoulders and gave her a sheepish smile. "Maybe. But we're close, Powder. So close. If I can just get this last part of the plan together, we might be able to shift the balance."

Powder stood and walked over to him, her face softening. "But what about you? You can't keep going at this pace. You're wearing yourself thin."

Ekko met her gaze, his exhaustion evident in the lines around his eyes. He had always been driven, always focused on the bigger picture, but this time, the weight of it all felt different. He knew he wasn't just building something for himself anymore. He was building something for everyone—Zaun, Piltover, Powder. For them.

"I know, Powder. But..." His voice trailed off, and he paused, as if looking for the right words to explain. "It feels like if I don't do this, I'll miss the chance. Everything we've worked for, everything we've dreamed of. It could all fall apart. And I won't let that happen."

Powder's heart ached at the sight of him—so burdened by the weight of his own ambition. She stepped closer and placed a hand on his shoulder, turning him toward her so he would meet her eyes.

"You don't have to do it all alone, Ekko," she said softly, her voice filled with warmth. "We're a team, remember? No matter how big the challenges get, we'll face them together. You and me."

Ekko's gaze softened, and for a moment, he simply stood there, letting her words sink in. Then, as if he couldn't help himself, he pulled her into a tight hug, holding her close. Powder's arms wrapped around him instinctively, and the quiet comfort of the moment filled the space between them.

"I just want to make things better," Ekko murmured into her hair.

"You will," Powder whispered back. "And we'll do it together."

For a few moments, they simply stood there, holding onto each other. The world outside continued to turn, with all its chaos and uncertainty, but here, in this small, quiet corner of their lives, it didn't matter.

Later that evening, as the city lights of Zaun flickered outside, the two of them found themselves back at the workshop, working side by side. The tension that had once been a barrier between them seemed to dissipate, replaced by a sense of mutual understanding. They moved fluidly around the workshop, sometimes speaking, sometimes working in silence, but always with an unspoken bond connecting them.

Powder caught Ekko's eye as she stood over the workbench, and without thinking, she picked up one of the tools he had left behind. Their hands brushed again as they reached for the same wrench, a moment of connection that still sent a spark through her chest.

"Guess we're in sync today," Ekko remarked, his tone light, but there was a depth to his smile that made Powder's heart race.

"I guess so," she replied with a grin, her cheeks flushing slightly.

They shared a quiet laugh before returning to their work, but this time, something felt different. It wasn't just about the gadgets or the projects—it was about them, about the way they were building something deeper than either of them had expected.

Ekko had always believed in his ability to change Zaun, but now, with Powder by his side, he realized that it wasn't just about fixing the broken systems around them. It was about creating something that mattered, something that would last.

"Powder," he said after a moment, his voice steady, "we're not just fixing the world. We're building something new. Together. And I think... I think that's the most important thing we could do."

Powder looked up from her work, meeting his eyes with an intensity that mirrored his own. "Together," she repeated, her smile widening. "Yeah. Together."

And for the first time, Ekko felt that the future they were building was something that was truly theirs—something that was built not just on dreams and inventions, but on trust, love, and the unshakable bond they had formed through it all.