Arcane: Ekko and Powder

The atmosphere in Zaun had changed in the days following the successful alliance with the Kiramman family. Ekko and Powder were still riding high on the excitement of securing the support of one of Piltover's most influential families. They had finally earned the resources and influence they needed to build something truly special for Zaun, but little did they know, there was more to the story than they had initially realized.

One evening, as Ekko and Powder were finishing up work on their latest project at the Firelight base, a familiar voice called out to them from the entrance.

"Got a minute?" Vi's voice echoed through the cavernous room, causing Ekko to look up and Powder to spin around in surprise.

"Vi!" Powder exclaimed, jumping to her feet. She hadn't seen her older sister in weeks, ever since their last big mission together. She ran over to give her a hug. Vi, a little taller and more weathered since they had last seen each other, smiled warmly and embraced her.

"Good to see you, kid," Vi said softly, ruffling Powder's hair. She then turned her attention to Ekko, offering him a nod of acknowledgment. "Ekko, always good to see you, too."

Ekko returned the nod, sensing that something was different about Vi's demeanor. She looked both calm and uncertain at the same time, as though she had something important to share but wasn't sure how to bring it up.

"What's going on, Vi?" Ekko asked, stepping forward. "You look like you've got something on your mind."

Vi glanced at Powder, and then back at Ekko. Her gaze softened. "I've been seeing someone for a while now… and I think it's time you two knew the full story."

Powder raised an eyebrow. "Seeing someone? Who?"

Vi hesitated for just a moment before exhaling deeply. "Caitlyn Kiramman."

The words hung in the air like an unexpected storm, their impact immediate. Ekko's brow furrowed, and Powder froze in place, eyes wide.

"Caitlyn… as in, the Kiramman family from Piltover?" Ekko asked, his voice tinged with surprise. He had no idea what to say. Caitlyn Kiramman was the daughter of Tobias and Cassandra Kiramman, the very people Ekko and Powder had just been negotiating with for the future of Zaun.

Powder blinked several times, her eyes darting back and forth between Ekko and Vi, trying to process the new information. "Wait, you're telling me... you and Caitlyn?" she asked incredulously.

Vi sighed, sitting down at the table and running a hand through her hair. She looked both exhausted and relieved, like the weight of a secret had finally been lifted off her shoulders. "Yeah, for a while now. Caitlyn and I… we've been seeing each other, and that's actually why the Kirammans agreed to help you two so easily."

Ekko stood silent, his mind racing. He had known Vi and Caitlyn were friends—he had even seen the two of them share a few casual conversations—but he never expected them to be involved romantically. His surprise was quickly followed by realization. He had known there was something off about the Kiramman family's sudden interest in their cause, but he hadn't connected the dots until now.

"So... you're saying the Kirammans agreed to back us because of you and Caitlyn?" Ekko asked, piecing everything together.

Vi nodded, her expression serious. "That's exactly it. Caitlyn knew how important this was to you, Ekko. She knew how much you and Powder wanted to change things in Zaun, and she wanted to help—on her own terms. It wasn't just about politics for her; it was personal. The Kirammans are more likely to support you because they want to support her."

Powder blinked a few more times, still trying to come to terms with everything. "So all of this—our deal with the Kirammans—is because of you two?"

Vi gave a small, apologetic shrug. "I didn't want to keep it from you, but I also didn't want to distract you from your mission. Caitlyn and I have been keeping it quiet, partly for our own safety, partly because we didn't want anyone to think this was about personal gain. But now that we're moving forward, it seemed like it was time to tell you."

Ekko was quiet for a long moment, his mind spinning. There were so many layers to this story. The Kirammans' support for them wasn't just about the business side of things; it was personal. Vi's relationship with Caitlyn had directly influenced how easily they had gained their backing. It was a complicated web of politics, love, and shared ideals. The weight of it all settled on Ekko's shoulders, but he also realized something important—Caitlyn's involvement meant they had someone in Piltover with genuine influence, someone who cared about Zaun beyond the usual political maneuvering.

"We've been lucky, then," Ekko said finally, glancing at Powder, who had now joined him at the table, her eyes wide but thoughtful. "Having someone on the inside of Piltover who genuinely wants change, not just for Zaun, but for Piltover too... that's huge."

Vi nodded. "Exactly. Caitlyn wants the same things you do, Ekko. She's not like the rest of them up there. She doesn't care about power or status. She wants to see a world where Piltover and Zaun aren't divided anymore. And that's why she's willing to fight for you—because she believes in what you're doing."

Powder's expression softened as she considered this new perspective. "I guess that makes sense. Caitlyn's always been different. She wants what's best for everyone, not just the rich folks in Piltover. I never really got why her family would care so much about us, but if Caitlyn's been fighting for us, then... I guess I can see it."

Ekko turned to Vi, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You really kept that from us for a long time, huh?"

Vi shrugged, a sheepish grin on her face. "Had to keep my cards close to the chest, didn't I? Besides, I wasn't sure how you'd take it. This whole thing has always been a bit of a tightrope walk, you know?"

Powder let out a laugh, shaking her head. "You're crazy, Vi. Keeping secrets like that."

Vi raised an eyebrow. "Coming from you? You've got plenty of your own secrets."

Powder's face flushed a little, but she didn't deny it. "Fair enough. So... Caitlyn's been fighting for us all along. And her family's going to back us because of it. Does this mean we get to meet her?"

Vi's grin widened. "Actually, Caitlyn's been looking forward to that. She's been a little busy with her family, but now that the groundwork is laid, she's ready to step up. I think you two will get along just fine."

Ekko glanced at Powder, seeing the curious gleam in her eyes. They had worked so hard to get to this point, and the idea that they now had someone from Piltover—someone with real influence—on their side was both comforting and exciting. This was the start of something big, something that had the potential to change everything.

"I think it's time we meet Caitlyn, then," Ekko said. "We've got a lot of work ahead of us."

Vi stood up, a confident look in her eyes. "I think you'll be glad you did."

Over the next few days, Ekko, Powder, and Vi made plans to meet Caitlyn. The atmosphere in Zaun was shifting; the promise of real change was beginning to feel like a tangible reality. They knew the road ahead would be difficult, that there would be obstacles and forces working against them—but for the first time in a long while, they had the support they needed to succeed.

As Ekko looked out over the city of Zaun, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope deep within him. The firelights were spreading, and the fire of change was burning brighter than ever before. This was only the beginning.

And this time, they weren't fighting alone.