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Zaun, The City of Iron and Glass.
They had really made a name for themselves, huh? The Undercity was hardly under anything anymore, to say them and the Pilties up top were on the same level at all would be a flat out lie, but it was good. Zaun was a spot filled with people who helped each other and asked for nothing in return. Hard working people, smart people, wonderful people. Even the likes of Silco had found their way into the good graces of the city again… man, what a world huh? Quite frankly it was still hard to believe for the boy saviour… sat by the bar in the far more lively Last Drop, as many people Ekko recognised in passing cleaned up from the party they held earlier that very night. Looking back at those sweeping up confetti or mopping up paint. The hound of the Underground himself was doing most of the work– somebody like him would. Vander never let the people's love for him let him grow greedy nor complacent. He was never too big to help clean up after a party, he was… kind. Easy to talk to. He was like an uncle, a familiar face you were always excited to see… heh. If only, right? Following from Vander however, Silco - once his arch enemy was laughing, speaking indistinctly with his brother in arms… Along with those two, Silco’s number one was lending a hand– as a matter of fact she lent two, which is always a nice surprise. Of course Mylo was ‘helping’ or, half-assing whatever job had been assigned to him as per usual- just beneath the now powered down ‘INNOVATORS COMPETITION’ sign made by… well, you know.. Ekko hadn't been here for very long but it felt like home. He hadn't had this much love surrounding him in… well, forever- yet all he could think about is how much Vi is gonna freak out when he tells her about this… well- that and, one other thing…
Y’know, after essentially breaking time with a handful of shards and the right runes in the right place you'd think his mind would be on the invention, his… ‘Z-Drive’ heh. Staring down into the cup before him, he watched as the straw swirled around the squeezed mandarin juice one could swear he saw an outline in the random, shifting forms of the drink… Maybe he just needed some rest, but… everything reminded the boy of her.
“Hey, Hey, Little man.”
Huh, Ekko’s head turned faster than he'd likely admit, looking rather disheveled compared to his typically appearance, his hand swiftly dodging away from the straw before him and grabbing at the side of his own neck, heart racing as the floorboards creaked under his friend’s feet, feeling a hard hand against his back, pushing the young man upright. Who else could it be but Claggor. “You enjoy the party?” the older of the two asked informally, grabbing the stool just next to Ekko and placing his behind on it, the pair being the only two by the bar itself from the looks of things. Everyone else had either gone home or was… well, cleaning.
“Uh- Claggor–” Ekko bit his tongue. Even now this was difficult from time to time. It was like staring through a looking glass at what could have been… he looked good. For sure better than Mylo, huh? The boy’s hand squeezed around his own neck, nonchalantly straightening out his shirt as his coffee-stained eyes struggled to face his senior. “Yeah, uh- yeah.” Ekko swallowed his own saliva, rubbing against that one particular spot against his rather skinny neck a little more. A nervous tick perhaps? Who's to say… “It was fun, yeah.” He feigned nonchalantness, a skill that Ekko unfortunately did not carry.
“Since when do you act coy?” Claggor laughed, leaning forward towards the bar more, and getting a better look at Ekko’s face because of it - a face staring straight on due to just how red it may have been. “We all saw you and Powder- hard not to.” He snickered. “Been a long time since I've seen either of you looking so… free .” Claggor, of course, followed this up with yet another pat on the back, a hard one again– since when did he get so damn strong?
“Alright-” Ekko was red in the face, as just about anyone would be, but- he couldn't help but let a small laugh escape after that, dropping his head for a moment, before turning to face his fellow creative. “I mean- are you making fun of me, or-” He had to roll his eyes, a smile unmoving from the boy’s face. That's been the case lately, whenever he thinks about Powder, hell, whenever somebody talks about Powder he can't help but to giggle like a schoolboy. Either way they were both snickering, and Claggor looked to be shaking his head at the implication.
“No- no, I don't mean it bad or anything.” He was being honest, yes - but that smile never left his face. What was that? Pride? Hm, figures. Even back where Ekko was from Claggor was always making jokes about him and Powder, everyone did. The little lad and the little lady, Benzo always used to say. “I think you're good for each other.” Claggor shrugged.
“...Yeah?” God, it was like Ekko turned right back into some over his head eleven year old when talking to this guy. Everything was so different but it all sorta felt the same too. Most guys wouldn't be too into the fact you're dating their sister but hey, who doesn't love Ekko, right?
“Yeah.” From what felt like a nice talk was immediately shifted around by Claggor’s tree trunk of an arm being thrown around Ekko’s shoulder, feeling him have kinda a grasp on his neck, one that reminded him of how they used to rough house as children. “Though, that being said-” All the shifting around in the world couldn't stop what was about to happen, and Ekko knew it - unlike his body back in his home universe, this one lacked muscle- cuz of course it did, right? That's what he gets for being a poinDexter, huh? Ah, he wasn't complaining. Well- maybe a little about the giant man’s wrists digging between the tied back white braids along his head, noogieing the poor boy to no end, despite his slaps and groans. “You ever hurt that girl, I'll put you in the ground– got it?!” He was laughing sure, but Ekko got the distinct feeling he was serious about this–
“AGH, Okay- alright– snrrrk- stop-!”
The leader of the Firelights hadn't been able to just relax and laugh like this in so long, being able to barely push the goliath of a man off of him, squeezing his head out of Claggor’s grip, nearly falling off of the stool as he shook the man away, and of course - finally moving his palm away from that fidgety spot of his neck he's tried oh so hard to hide.
“Heh.” Claggor looked at the Son of Zaun with respect and love, and Ekko did the same. The feeling was bittersweet, knowing that as much as this was all he ever wanted, and yet not his to take. Ekko had to force himself to look away, staring back down at the drink before him, the swirling straw creating a whirlpool within the ceramic cup before him. A cup imperfect in it's craft for sure, a strange shape leading up to the brim, crafted by human hands, Zaunite hands. He wouldn't be surprised if Vander himself hand painted this. Black paint used as a primer with stars drawn around the top, imitating the night sky most of the children of Zaun won't ever get to see. A pink crescent moon, constellations. In all likelihood… this was a kiddie cup, which made sense given that Ekko wasn't a drinker… hm. Between Ekko’s daydreams however, Claggor noticed something. “Hold on–”
Like that, with a swift flick of Claggor’s wrist, he tightly gripped the boy’s collar, both his white undershirt as well as the green overcoat of his, pulling down hard, nearly taking Ekko’s behind off of the stool as Claggor revealed the boy’s worst kept secret. A bright red bruise, following from the top of his neck to his collarbone - certain spots redder, a deep maroon - bite marks spelling out a crime scene down past his chin. The larger boy only got a look for a second, being hit away by the now far more sheepish boy, making a null attempt to cover up the sign of what had occurred earlier that night…
“Ekko, holy shit-!” Claggor couldn't help but laugh, looking around the room at those cleaning up, the boy next to him barely letting Claggor get a word out before getting a quick shut-up from Ekko, eyeing those in the room who may react less calmly to such a find.
“Shhhhh!” the younger of the two asserted, leaning in closer to the older boy, gritting his teeth with a finger over his lips.
“What are you, twelve?” Claggor whispered, still trying to get a look at the mark of Powder left across his neck. “How did you even–” Claggor stammered. “You two were barely gone an hour–”
“I know-!” Ekko snapped back, dealing with Claggor’s held back laughs.
“She sure done a number on you..” He snorted. “The Little Man’s all grown up, huh?”
“It's not like-...”
Looking back at Claggor, he gave him a stare that saw right through this rouse Ekko was crafting in his head about how to explain this away. It's not like he even really had too though, right? After all the ‘Ekko’ from this time was dating the Powder here already, right– so why was he…
“Alright, it's- yeah, it's exactly like that.”
“Good for you, man.”
Yeah, laugh it up… that's all Ekko could think as his heated face stared away from all prying eyes, scratching at the sensitive spot across his neck, being met by a third and final slap on the back from Claggor. Damn, he really never got used to that–... Looking back on it, maybe he should've made a better attempt to hide it but- could you blame him? It's not like he had a very loose schedule here- it was all just… a lot. Earlier that very night, Ekko was damn well at his breaking point. Being around Powder was like- it was like, living in a cloud, does that make sense…? No, of course it doesn't. She was just- like a dream. Like everything that could have been and yet is at the same time. The same girl who's been the reason for the death of any dozens of his firelights and here he was, playing pretend with her below the nights sky, beneath the crescent moon staring down, surrounded by stars and constellations alike… God. He was the worst. It was only a couple hours ago that Ekko found himself on that roof, staring out at it all with Powder, asking her shamefaced;
“Could we just pretend it's the first time?”
That kiss was something out of a dream. It was as if every single one of the poor boy’s senses was dialed up to eleven his heart racing faster and faster with each passing moment, yet at the same time it's like every problem he's ever faced just drifted away, if you asked him back when he was just a kid, playing pretend with his best friend in Benzo’s shop, he'd probably have said this very moment was all he ever wanted. At his age it would've be crazy if he didn't have a crush on Powder, she was just- the best. A fact unchanging between timelines it seemed. Every word he had with getting home, the professor, the Firelights, Hexcore, Jayce; it didn't matter anymore, not when he was in Powder’s embrace, his shivering lips feeling the warmth that the lazuli haired girl offered, her hands across his face feeling like a scalding iron from how sensitive his whole body was to her touch… this kiss, it felt like it lasted forever. If there was any moment that Ekko wanted to keep close to his heart it was this one. This was everything he could've had - and everything he can't… but even for just a moment. Hasn't he earned this moment…?
The slight push of Powder’s free hand against his chest set the boy off, panicking almost immediately, worrying if he had done something wrong, if that was too much, too little– fuck- did he mess up? Her familiar, quiet giggle didn't help his worries, though that hand on his chest moving across his waist might have. Powder moved her body in an effortless fashion, her whole frame sitting between his two partially opened legs, her hands keeping him close, and head of blue hair buried deep between his shoulder and neck, appreciating his warmth for all it's worth.
“Are you… okay?”
Powder’s voice cut through the tension like a knife. As opposed to Ekko she was actually quite calm, her position being more for his sake than hers, showing the compassion she felt, the girl was utterly dripping with empathy. He never wanted to give her the impression he was uncomfortable, just- scared is all. This was his first kiss, with a girl he thought was gone forever. Cut him a little slack, won't you? His breath was still heavy, her taste tingling over his lips like drops of fairy dust. She tasted like raspberry, like bubblegum, like everything sweet in the world. She tasted like the season spring, she felt like evening rain, like a night under the covers during a thunderstorm. Powder was everything right with the world. How could he not see it more before now?
“Y…Yeah.” Ekko swallowed, his trembling hand managing to find itself around Powder’s side, keeping her close as she did to him. “I’m okay.”
“You seem sorta freaked-” Powder snickered.
“I’m not.” The boy fired back, needing her to know just how comfortable he really was, the concept of ‘uncomfortable’ could be thrown out the window for all he cares, he needed that kiss more than air, how else was he supposed to react to something like that? “I just-... I’m-” What was he doing? What was he saying? Ekko bit his tongue, wagering just how much it made sense to do something as ridiculous as this, to tell her the… truth. Even if it sounded ridiculous, it had to be better than lying, didn't it? Or- well… was it even lying?
“Mhn?” her voice was sweet as pudding, moving her body around over the top of his own, his own faltering look trying to find any way to talk about this without seeming insane.. He- he shouldn't tell her, but after something like that? Was he supposed to just leave it be, or-
“Well, I-... The thing is…” with each word he spoke, he felt her soft breaths against his neck, filling him with thoughts, possibly a little… unjust for this moment. The steady motion of her breaths, her smaller hands trailing up his body, painted nails finding their way up his collar whilst he struggled to find his words, since… all he could do in this situation was imagine her laying atop him wearing nothing but that jacket of hers. Ekko truly thought of himself to be absolutely awful.
“Go on.” Powder insisted, even as her body pushed up over his own, her lips travelling up and over from his shoulder to his neck, and placing but one gentle kiss against it, causing the boy utter madness, red in the face and without any train of thought.
“I- I, uh-” Ekko stammered, followed by a few more gentle kisses against him, his face boiling hot as his neck was graced with constant pecks from the girl of his dreams. Somewhere in the universe there might be an ‘Ekko’ stronger than him, one strong enough to tell Powder flat out what's been happening, that he wasn't her Ekko, that he was somewhere else. That he was someone else. Time felt like it was ready to stop as they spoke on this starry night, bustling noise from below and a peaceful silence from above… and up here, with this sight of Piltover before them, Ekko let out a deep sigh. His head finally leaning back, giving the young girl ample space.
“I’m- I’m not… I-”
Before the boy could finish, his old friend was quick to interrupt. “It's alright…” followed by yet another kiss against his neck. He didn't know what Powder meant by this, not really. Did she know what he was going to say? He hadn't done a very good job at hiding it, but– or, or did she just mean… overthinking it won't help anybody, will it? All that mattered was her words did bring a genuine calmness to this madness. Letting the boy sigh, staring out at the stars above, making made up patterns at the beauty above him, out in the open, above it all… he was at the top of the world, up here…
“I… Thank you.” Ekko mumbled quietly. He almost wished this could be the end of his story, book closed and all… but this wasn't where his story ended, that's for sure. In fact it continued effective immediately after, and it continued; with a bite.
“Agh-!” What the fuck- what was-... Powder’s grip tightened around his collar, his rate of breath picking up once again as a feeling of teeth biting down into him went through his body, and based on how she moved it didn't seem like Powder had much intention at all to stop. Call him weak all you want for this, but Ekko couldn't help but let out a weak whimper, a whimper followed up by that hand of the girl’s that had been holding his collar tight moving up to his face, touching across his cheek as a way to remind him of her presence, her warmth, her… affection.
“Heh- sorry…” Powder whispered, giving the spot her teeth dug into a soft peck once more, still finding her place between his legs all the while doing this. “You just seemed pretty tense.” the girl-genius chuckled, letting that familiar feeling of embarrassment take hold.
“W-What-?!” so she decided to bite him-?
“What? I'm not exactly sensing you complaining.”
Like that, both of Powder’s hands found their way onto Ekko’s chest, feeling his heart race, his breathing accelerate, all followed by a shove down, down to the cold roof of The Last Drop, laying down on his back, with the distinct feeling of a smaller figure carrying herself atop. The figure of Powder, having found her spot above Ekko, or- atop Ekko, to be more precise. Her body pressed up against his lap, and legs on either side of the Boy Saviour… Throughout all Ekko’s done in his life, he had a genuine fear that this very moment would be the one he would faint. Her blue violet eyes staring at him, staring at him beneath her, and the red in his face was just palpable. He must've looked pretty pathetic, a thought that was only further conveyed by Powder’s adorable little laugh, her hands still trailing along his frame, adoring him just as he adored her.
“Pow–” Ekko was at a loss for words, with this sight before him, a beautiful girl in a beautiful dress finding her spot on top of him. This was a situation Ekko was no longer in charge here - as if he ever really was, anyway - but it was a point where the boy was essentially at Powder’s mercy. His shirt partially ridden up revealing his skinny stomach, giving the boy a bit of a pathetic look, all things considered, an appearance that Powder herself seemed to be all for giving her expression; one that looked a lot like another blue-haired inventor he knew. In fact, this might have been the most she's resembled her so far, and it was while he was in such a sorry state.
“Shhhh-” The girl effectively immediately quieted Ekko down, in a pretty successful manner all things considered, leaning back down, her soft and fair hands keeping his neck still, her lips tracing around his adam's apple to the fading bite marks she so generously placed around his neck, shivers going down Ekko’s spine while she looked for a good spot to… what, take another bite? He had no idea. He didn't know how any of this worked– he didn't even know she did– if nothing else this was pretty damn embarrassing for—
Ekko’s body froze still, his neck not only bitten once again but now, feeling far more than that too. Her teeth lightly grazed at his skin, her lips bruising away the area as her saliva dripped down to the ground below. His whole body reacting on its own to Powder’s moves. Even if this was all so new to him, not much did he ever want her to stop. The sound made his legs shiver, her tongue twirling around his neck whilst she made sure to… well, mark her territory. A big sign to say ‘Powder’s been here! Do not touch’ as silly as it might have seemed. With each nibble of his neck, he felt her get more and more aggressive, even getting a hand on the opposite end of his neck to keep him totally still for this… God- it was all just- too much. His face as red as a tomato while his longtime crush spent a good while making sure everybody knew just who he belonged to. And to think, Ekko thought he wore the pants in this relationship when he arrived here-! Dammit- he wasn't supposed to be this much of a loser for his first time doing… t-this.
“P-Powder, I…”
“Mh?” By this point, Ekko’s neck was a crime scene, his hair tie coming partially undone with his clothes a mess, wet with sweat and begging to be let off of his body. He could barely look Powder in the face at this point, yet she still acted so casual. “Yeah? What's up, Boy-Genius?”
His palms found themselves atop Powder’s legs, finding them both to be something good to grip as he raised his back up, raising himself upright ever so slightly, just to push his mouth against Powder’s once more - their second kiss of the night yet filled with so much more passion than the first. Once their lips touched, chances are they might not have separated again till God knows how long, moaning and groaning between the pair, their hands exploring each other like it's the first time. They grabbed and pulled so desperately, begging for one another's attention, the first to go was Powder’s leather jacket, second was Ekko’s green overcoat, third was Powder’s shoes, fourth was… well, it didn't matter too much, now did it? Above it all, above everything, on top of the world… These two didn't have a single care, for just a little while.