Arcane: Ekko and Powder

The quiet hum of Zaun surrounded the group as they entered the Last Drop. The place was alive with its usual mix of chatter and clinking glasses, but for Ekko, Powder, Vi, and the sleeping Isha, the warmth of their little family made the rest of the world seem distant.

Vander greeted them from behind the bar, his broad smile softening when he saw Isha cradled in Vi's arms. "Long day, huh?"

Vi nodded, carefully shifting Isha so she could sit down. "We took her to Piltover. The kid's got stamina, but even she has her limits."

Powder slid into a seat beside Vi, her expression glowing with the kind of happiness that only came from a day well spent. "She loved it. I think it's the most fun she's ever had."

Vander looked at the little girl, his gruff demeanor hiding the affection in his eyes. "You've got a good heart, Powder. Taking care of her... It's not something everyone would do."

"She's family now," Powder said simply, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

As the evening wore on, Vi carried Isha upstairs to her small room in the corner of the bar, while Ekko and Powder lingered at a corner table. The dim light cast long shadows across Ekko's face as he leaned back, a thoughtful expression taking over.

"She's special, isn't she?" Ekko said, breaking the silence.

Powder nodded, tracing patterns on the wooden tabletop with her finger. "She reminds me of us when we were kids—before everything got complicated."

Ekko chuckled softly. "Yeah, but she's got something we didn't. A family that's going to protect her from the worst of it."

Powder looked at him, her gaze steady. "That's because of you. You're the one who gave us all something to believe in."

Ekko shook his head. "It's not just me. It's all of us—Vander, Vi, you... We're all working to make Zaun better. For kids like Isha. For everyone."

Powder reached across the table, taking his hand in hers. "We're doing it together. And we're not stopping until we've built something amazing."

After a quick dinner, Powder pulled Ekko aside into the small workshop they had set up in the back of the bar. The room was cluttered with half-finished gadgets and tools of every size.

"I've been working on something," Powder said, her voice tinged with excitement as she rummaged through a pile of parts.

Ekko raised an eyebrow. "You've always got something cooking. What's this one?"

Powder grinned, pulling out a sleek, polished device. It looked like a small bracelet, with intricate patterns etched into its surface.

"It's a shield generator," she explained. "For Isha. It's not perfect yet, but if she ever gets into trouble..."

Ekko's expression softened as he took the device from her hands, turning it over to examine the craftsmanship. "Powder, this is incredible. She'll love it."

"She's a tough kid," Powder said, her voice quieter now. "But I want her to have something... just in case."

Ekko set the device down, pulling Powder into a gentle hug. "You're always looking out for everyone else. It's one of the things I love about you."

Powder leaned into him, her arms wrapping around his waist. "It's because I've got you. You make me feel like I can do anything."

The workshop felt stifling after a while, and Ekko suggested they take a walk. The streets of Zaun were quieter at this hour, the usual hustle and bustle replaced by the occasional sound of machinery or the distant hum of chem-powered lamps.

They strolled hand in hand, their pace slow and unhurried. Powder tilted her head up, gazing at the stars barely visible through the haze of Zaun's skyline.

"Do you ever think about what it'd be like to live somewhere else?" she asked.

Ekko glanced at her, surprised by the question. "You mean, like Piltover?"

Powder shrugged. "Anywhere. Somewhere without all the... heaviness. Where people don't have to fight so hard just to survive."

Ekko's grip on her hand tightened. "Sometimes. But then I think about Zaun and all the people here who don't have the choice to leave. If we go, who's going to fight for them?"

Powder smiled softly. "You always know the right thing to say."

Ekko laughed. "Not always. But I know what matters to me. And that's you. And Zaun."

As they passed a small square, Ekko stopped suddenly, his eyes lighting up as he spotted a group of street performers. They were playing music, a lively tune that echoed through the quiet streets.

"Dance with me," Ekko said, holding out his hand.

Powder blinked in surprise. "Here? Now?"

"Why not?" Ekko grinned, tugging her gently toward the music.

Powder hesitated for a moment, then laughed and let him lead her into the open space. They moved together, their steps clumsy at first but quickly falling into rhythm.

The performers smiled as they played, and a few passersby stopped to watch. Powder's laughter rang out, clear and bright, as Ekko spun her around.

"You're terrible at this," she teased, her cheeks flushed.

"Speak for yourself," Ekko shot back, his grin widening. "But you're having fun, aren't you?"

Powder couldn't deny it. In that moment, with the music filling the air and Ekko's hand in hers, everything else faded away.

As the music slowed, Ekko pulled Powder closer, their movements shifting into something softer, more intimate.

"You know," he said quietly, his forehead resting against hers, "I never thought I'd have something like this. Like us."

Powder's voice was barely above a whisper. "Me neither."

Ekko cupped her face in his hands, his thumb brushing against her cheek. "But now that I do, I'm never letting it go."

Powder's eyes shimmered, her heart pounding in her chest. "Me either."

Their lips met in a gentle kiss, the world around them falling away once more. It wasn't just a kiss—it was a promise, a declaration of everything they felt and everything they hoped for.

When they finally pulled apart, Powder rested her head against Ekko's chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.

"We're going to build something amazing," she said softly.

"We already are," Ekko replied, his arms tightening around her.

And as they stood there, holding each other in the quiet streets of Zaun, they knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together.