Arcane: Ekko and Powder

The next few weeks passed in a blur of busy streets, late-night tinkering, and moments of quiet that Ekko and Powder shared together. Their relationship, still fresh and tender, was marked by the tender moments between heartbeats—those subtle exchanges of looks and gestures that spoke louder than any words could. They were no longer just two kids from Zaun—two survivors who had fought their way through the streets. They were partners now, navigating the world in ways they never had before.

Despite the comfort they had in each other's company, there was a quiet unease that sometimes crept into their thoughts. They both knew that their world wasn't simple, and the lives they had built, though more meaningful now, were still surrounded by the same chaos that had always threatened to tear them apart. Powder had been reckless once, pushing the boundaries of the world she lived in. Ekko had been cautious, always trying to find a way to control the chaos. But now, they had learned to find a balance.

At least, that's what they told themselves.

It was late one evening when Ekko found himself in the workshop, working on a new invention. His mind wasn't entirely focused, though. He had been turning over the events of the past few days in his head—small moments that had grown larger in his thoughts. He glanced over at Powder, who had perched herself on the edge of the counter, watching him intently, eyes gleaming with interest as she observed his every move.

"Something on your mind?" Powder asked, noticing his distracted gaze.

Ekko blinked, not realizing he had been staring off into space. He rubbed his face in frustration and gave her a sheepish smile. "Just thinking about the future."

Powder's lips twitched into a small smile, as though she knew exactly where his thoughts had gone. "I thought we weren't supposed to worry about that. We're supposed to just… keep moving forward."

"I know, but…" Ekko hesitated, unsure of how to put his thoughts into words. "It feels like we're getting closer to something, but I'm not sure what it is. It's like the whole world is shifting around us."

Powder hopped down from the counter, walking toward him. "You're overthinking it, Ekko. We've been through worse, and we're still standing. We'll figure it out—together, like we always do."

He smiled, grateful for her confidence in him. Her belief in their partnership, in their future, had always been unwavering. But a nagging feeling in his chest remained—a feeling that no amount of tinkering could fix. The city of Zaun was still a dangerous, unpredictable place. And he was starting to realize that the danger wasn't just external anymore. The shift between them was real, and it was only a matter of time before they would have to confront what it meant for their relationship.

"Yeah," he said softly, looking down at the invention in front of him. "Together."

Powder grinned, her typical mischievous spark returning to her eyes. "Speaking of together," she said with a wink, "I've been thinking. Maybe we should finally go for that big adventure we've been talking about. No machines, no inventions—just you and me, seeing what the world has to offer."

Ekko chuckled at the idea. The thought of running off with her on some wild, spontaneous adventure was tempting. But the timing wasn't right—not yet. "We'll get to that," he said with a grin. "But I think I've got one more project to finish first. Maybe we can talk about our 'big adventure' after I finally get this thing right."

Powder gave an exaggerated groan. "Always with the machines. You're no fun," she teased, though there was affection in her voice. "Fine, I'll let you finish your little project. But don't expect me to keep my hands to myself when you're done."

Ekko laughed, knowing that meant trouble. But it was the kind of trouble that always made life with Powder exciting. He was learning that even in the mess of Zaun's chaos, it was moments like these that made everything worth it.

The next few days were a whirlwind of activity, each moment slipping into the next. Powder's "adventures" had become more frequent—pulling him along for one reckless escapade after another. But there was always something in the back of Ekko's mind, a growing sense of unease. It wasn't just the adrenaline of their adventures anymore. It was the growing realization that they were changing, and sometimes, he couldn't quite catch up.

One evening, after another wild stunt they had pulled, Powder and Ekko found themselves sitting side by side on a rooftop, overlooking the city of Zaun. The sun had long since dipped below the horizon, leaving only the glow of distant fires and lights to illuminate the skyline. The cool air of night swept past them, carrying with it the sounds of the city—the clatter of the factories, the distant murmurs of people, and the hum of machinery.

For a moment, neither of them said anything. They simply sat there, each caught in their own thoughts.

Powder, as always, was the first to break the silence. "You know," she said slowly, "sometimes I think we're crazy."

Ekko raised an eyebrow, glancing over at her. "Crazy?"

She shrugged, her gaze fixed on the city below. "Not in the way you think. I mean… we're doing everything we can to survive, right? But at the same time, we're constantly running into more trouble. And I don't think I've really stopped to think about why."

Ekko's expression softened. "You don't have to figure everything out right now," he said quietly. "I don't think anyone has all the answers. But we've been through everything together, and that's what matters."

Powder smiled, but there was a sadness in her eyes that Ekko hadn't noticed before. "Yeah," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Together."

The words felt heavy between them, as though the weight of everything they had been through was suddenly pressing down on both of them. The adventures, the fights, the risks—they had always seemed like part of their story. But now, as they sat side by side on that rooftop, there was a new kind of uncertainty.

"What happens when we can't outrun it anymore?" Powder asked, the question hanging in the air.

Ekko turned to her, his heart aching at the vulnerability in her eyes. He had always tried to shield her from the worst of the world, to protect her from the dangers of Zaun. But now, sitting there with her, he realized that they were both in this together. There was no running away anymore. There was only facing the future.

"We face it," he said firmly. "Together."

The words settled between them, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop. The weight of everything that was coming wasn't something they could escape, but at least they had each other. And for both of them, that meant everything.

The next few weeks were a whirlwind of change. Powder continued to lead them on wild adventures, pulling Ekko into one mess after another. But something was different now. The stakes had changed, and they both knew it. Their connection was deeper than ever, but so were the risks. And though Ekko was still uncertain of what the future held, he knew one thing for sure: as long as they were together, they could face whatever came their way. The world may have been uncertain, but at least they weren't alone anymore.

For Ekko and Powder, that was more than enough.