Arcane: Ekko and Powder

The sound of hissing steam filled the workshop, a constant rhythm that helped Ekko focus. He sat hunched over a workbench, carefully adjusting the gears and wires of a newly designed machine. The soft hum of the city outside provided a background soundtrack to their work. Zaun's heartbeat, a mix of industry and unrest, seemed distant when Ekko was absorbed in his creations. Yet today, there was something different. The air felt lighter, filled with possibilities.

Powder had been busy at her own station, sorting through components, testing designs, and occasionally tossing a teasing remark his way. Their easy camaraderie had become second nature, and the tension of the past had long since faded into a comfortable rhythm of shared moments and quiet understanding. But lately, Ekko had noticed that something had changed again, something subtle yet significant.

He turned to look at her, her figure bathed in the soft light of the workshop, a determined look on her face as she focused on her task. She had always been the wild one, the spark that had ignited his own desire to create, but in recent days, he saw something deeper in her eyes—a quiet strength that balanced out her usual unpredictable energy.

"Hey, Powder," he called out, his voice breaking the silence between them.

She looked up, her expression softening when their eyes met. "Yeah?"

Ekko hesitated for a moment, as if testing the waters of a conversation that had been brewing for some time. "Do you ever wonder what the future's gonna look like? I mean, with everything we're doing... building here, fixing things. Do you think it's gonna be enough?"

Powder set down the tool in her hand and walked over to him. She placed a hand on the edge of the workbench, leaning in slightly as she studied his face. "Enough?" she echoed. "Ekko, we're making a difference. I can feel it. Every time we finish something, I can see the people around here starting to believe, starting to trust that things might change."

Ekko nodded, his eyes flickering with a mix of doubt and hope. "But sometimes it feels like there's always more to do. Like we can never really fix it all. There's always another problem, always more work to be done."

Powder's lips curved into a small smile as she slid into the chair next to him, their shoulders brushing. "That's true," she said, her voice steady. "But that doesn't mean we stop trying. We do what we can, right? And we keep doing it until things start to get better. For us. For everyone."

He met her gaze, and for the first time, he realized how much her words meant. Powder wasn't just fighting for a better world. She was fighting for the both of them, for a life they could share—something that had always seemed distant and impossible, now so close, so within reach.

"Right," he said, his voice steadying. "Together."

"Exactly." She nudged him lightly, a playful grin tugging at the corner of her lips. "And who knows? Maybe you're right about everything changing. Maybe this city doesn't have to be as messed up as it is. We've got a lot of potential, Ekko. We just have to keep pushing."

Ekko looked down at his hands, his fingers brushing the edge of a blueprint they'd been working on together. They had always pushed each other, each project, each plan, each step forward a joint effort. And as he felt the weight of her words settle in his chest, a sense of peace washed over him. Maybe it wouldn't be perfect, but they had each other—and for the first time, it was enough.

"Powder," Ekko said after a beat, his voice quiet. "I just want you to know… I couldn't do this without you. Everything I'm building, everything I'm dreaming of… it's because you're here."

Powder looked at him with a warmth in her eyes that made his heart flutter. She squeezed his hand, holding it between hers. "And I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

The words hung between them, unspoken but understood. There were no more doubts, no more hesitation. They were in this together—not just as partners in invention, not just as allies in a city torn apart by division, but as something deeper. Something that was slowly, gradually taking shape.

The following days were filled with progress, both in their inventions and in their relationship. The hoverboard prototype was nearly complete, and both Ekko and Powder found themselves getting lost in the joy of their shared creations. There was something thrilling about working side by side, bouncing ideas off one another, and watching as their dreams took shape with every turn of a screw or press of a button.

But as much as they were making tangible progress in the workshop, something equally significant was happening in the quieter moments between them.

Late one evening, after another long day of work, Ekko found himself on the rooftop once more, this time with Powder beside him. They sat together on the edge, the cool night air brushing against their skin as they gazed out over Zaun. The city had a rhythm to it—chaotic, imperfect, but alive.

"Do you ever think about what life would be like if we weren't here?" Powder asked, her voice thoughtful, her gaze distant.

Ekko turned his head, considering her question. "All the time," he admitted. "Sometimes I wonder what it would be like if we could just… escape. Go somewhere quiet, somewhere safe. But then I remember that this is our fight. Zaun needs us. We can't just leave."

"Yeah," Powder said softly, her fingers tracing the edge of the roof as she spoke. "But you know… maybe it's okay to want something more. It's okay to dream about more than just survival."

Ekko nodded slowly, his thoughts turning inward. "We're not just surviving anymore, Powder. We're building something. And I think we can make it better—together."

Powder smiled, a small, tender smile that reached her eyes. She reached out to take his hand, threading her fingers through his, as if grounding herself in the simple truth of their connection.

"I think so too," she said, her voice soft. "We've got something special, Ekko. I don't know what the future holds, but I'm glad we're in it together."

The days that followed were a whirlwind of activity, with the hoverboard finally completed and ready for testing. Ekko and Powder took to the streets of Zaun, zipping through the narrow alleys and up onto the rooftops, feeling the wind in their hair and the thrill of their shared adventure. It was the kind of freedom they had always dreamed of—untethered, alive, and full of promise.

The more they explored the city together, the more Ekko realized how far they had come. They had started this journey as kids with nothing but a shared dream and a sense of rebellion, and now they were standing on the precipice of something bigger—something that could change the entire city.

And through it all, Powder was there. She had always been his anchor, his fire, and his heart. As they sailed through the streets of Zaun, side by side, Ekko realized just how much he needed her, how much he had come to depend on her. Not just in the work they were doing, but in life itself.

Powder, too, felt the weight of their shared journey. She had always been the impulsive one, the one who had fought to be seen, but now she felt like she had found her place—next to Ekko, with him, as they charted a new course together. Their connection wasn't just about love—it was about partnership, trust, and an unshakable belief that together, they could make the world a better place.

As they slowed to a stop on one of the rooftops, Ekko turned to Powder, his expression serious but full of warmth. "We've come a long way, haven't we?"

Powder smiled, her eyes sparkling. "Yeah. And we're just getting started."

The city spread out before them, filled with possibilities. Together, they knew there was nothing they couldn't achieve.