Chapter Text
“Move it a little to the left!”
“How’s that?”
“Mmm… a little to the right?” Ekko rolled his eyes. His arms ached from being up for so long. He placed the slightest pressure on the back end of his hoverboard, inching the sign backward.
“Good?”
“Well-”
“Great job, Ekko! Thanks for helping me with this stupid sign that I’m too lazy to hang myself! You’re so helpful!” Ekko mimicked Caitlyn’s posh tone, reveling in the agitated look she responded with.
“Sorry, you’re right. That’s fine. Thank you, Ekko,” she conceded with a displeased huff. Ekko pressed the sign into the wall with a satisfied smile. He leaned back on his hoverboard to admire his work. Remembrance Day, the sign read in sharp, clean letters. The design screamed Piltover: neat, muted, and polished to a fault. Ekko imagined pulling out his spray paint and dousing it in color. Blue, green, pink–anything with life.
Ekko adjusted the sign instead. It didn’t matter. Things were changing–slowly. The spotless streets below were more crowded than they used to be, dotted with faces that didn’t all belong to snooty aristocrats. Ekko spotted a Zaunite shopkeeper wiping down a stall on the corner, her tattered clothes a stark contrast to the pristine building she worked beside. He’d seen workers like her rebuilding the Undercity, a sign of the reforms Caitlyn was always talking about.
They weren’t just words either. The Undercity had real jobs to offer its citizens. Taxes from the rich were redirected to new infrastructure. Enforcers seemed to be keeping their distance, or at least pretended not to sneer. Ekko wasn’t sure if he trusted Piltover to fulfill their promises, but he couldn’t deny the progress that was underway.
He looked back at the sign. It was dull, lifeless, and painfully Piltovian. But he wasn’t going to argue. He was too tired to argue. The war had burned through his fight, leaving only embers where his ambition used to be.
“Good enough,” he mused. Ekko descended, hopping off his board and onto the pavement.
“Indeed,” Caitlyn smiled, looking up at his handiwork. “You did a wonderful job, even if it’s a bit off-center.” Ekko gaped at her in mock fury. In his periphery, he spotted a familiar splash of pink hair.
“Vi, do me a favor and chat with your girlfriend,” Ekko waved at Vi, who diverted her path to approach the pair, “She’s being mean again.”
“Oh, really?” Vi threw her arm over Caitlyn’s shoulder, pulling their faces close. “Don’t you know you’re not allowed to hate on scary Undercity goons anymore? It’s basically against the law.”
“Wow, you’re taking his side? What of your poor, innocent girlfriend?”
“Kinda insensitive to bully me on Remembrance Day. This is the one day a year where you legally have to be nice to me.” Ekko tucked his hands into his pockets and smirked. “I did save your ass, remember?” Vi barked out a laugh, much to Caitlyn’s chagrin.
“Like you’ll ever let me forget. When will you let that bit go?” she grumbled. Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t stifle her smile. Vi released Caitlyn with a quick peck on the temple and approached Ekko.
“Never change, Little Man,” She said, though her smile wavered, as if she knew better than anyone how much they both already had. “The damn Piltie event planners can’t do shit without me. I gotta go. I’ll see you tonight?” He nodded, and Vi gripped his shoulder affirmingly before letting go. Ekko watched as she chased after a group of volunteers.
It was an unusual sight, to put it lightly. He wasn’t sure if he would ever get used to this version of Vi. The one who planned parties and smiled kindly at the same Pilties that oppressed them as children. He wanted to resent her for falling in line so easily, but couldn’t. She was tired. Vi had fought her whole life. Ekko understood the need to rest. At least she kept one of the things she was fighting for. The thought was bitter, and Ekko was quick to shake it off. He was happy for her, truly.
“Listen, Ekko…” Caitlyn began, and Ekko turned to face her, “...I know I’ve been a little…high-strung. It’s just really important to me that things go well today.” She fumbled with the clipboard in her hands, eye fixed downwards. “Vi’s been pouring herself into helping me, which I’m grateful for, but I don’t think she is doing it to be virtuous.”
“Yeah, Vi’s never been the party-planning type.” They shared a chuckle.
“Hardly. She hates these sorts of things. It makes me wonder if she’s trying to distract herself.” Ekko’s smile fell as he looked out towards the crowd.
“I can’t believe it’s been a year. Feels like just yesterday,” he murmured. He shook his head, fighting off the thickness that built in his throat. “Vi must be taking it hard.”
“That’s the thing. She must be, I know she is, but she won’t tell me any of it! I don’t want to force her to talk before she’s ready, but it can’t be easy.” Caitlyn sighed, looking upwards towards the decorations that lined the streets of Piltover. Portraits of the fallen hung as far as the eye could see. Each was adorned with an obituary, a small memento of a life wasted.
“She asked me if Jinx would be up there.”
Ekko paused, jaw clenching as he pushed down the memories of her. The good, the bad, the ugly. He didn’t want any of it right now. “She should be up there.”
“I know,” she replied, though Ekko doubted she did. “It’s just… too controversial. My relationship with Jinx isn’t unique. Many in Piltover have experienced loss at her hands.”
“It’s-!”
“Complicated. I understand.” Caitlyn stepped closer and took Ekko’s hand in hers. Her blue eyes bored into his, oozing with sympathy so sweet it nearly made him gag. “But I have to think of those who would feel betrayed if I let that happen. Surely, you can understand that?”
Ekko looked at their joined hands, gripping her tighter. “Yeah. I do.” And he did. He did know just how conflictual Jinx was. He knew that better than anybody. It didn’t stop the frustration that bubbled within him. Was she truly being altruistic, or was she just incapable of looking past her vendetta? “What did Vi have to say about it?”
“She was…upset, for a long time. After she blew off some steam, she appeared to come to terms with it, but she’s been acting off since.” Ekko was shocked to hear Vi had accepted it so easily. It was completely out of character for her. Then again, Vi hadn’t talked about Jinx with him at all. Maybe she just wants to forget about her. The frustration within Ekko nearly reached a boiling point.
Caitlyn seemed to sense the change in his mood as she pulled him into a hug, patting his head. “I am sorry. I really am,” she said. Caitlyn wanted to soothe him, but Ekko wasn’t sure if she ever could. When they pulled apart, he offered her a smile anyway.
“Thanks.” She smiled back, rubbing his shoulders comfortingly.
“All of this to say, I’m sorry I’ve been a bit tough to deal with in this whole preparation process. I think you’ve earned a break. Go home, get ready for tonight.”
“You sure?”
“Yes, of course! You’ve done more than enough. Go home, take care of Ekko for once.” Caitlyn lightly pushed him away, waving him off. Ekko chuckled as he hopped onto his hoverboard and took off.
The setting sun bathed the Undercity in a warm orange glow as Ekko descended, his board humming softly beneath him. The air grew thicker, tinged with spices and metal, but it carried a freshness he didn’t remember from years past.
Shadows danced across the street where vendors managed their stalls, brimming with fresh produce, handmade trinkets, and artistic weaponry. The buildings which towered above were a patchwork tapestry of the old and the new. Nestled between condemned factories and age-old bars stood hospitals, schools, and community centers. The progress had not forsaken the city’s charm, however. Neon signs still shone bright, and the streets still reverberated it’s citizens’ boisterous laughter. It was only in this messy, vibrant, imperfect place where Ekko could breathe.
He descended a long alleyway and checked his periphery for any onlookers. It was unnecessary nowadays, but old habits die hard. Ekko left behind the empty alley and traversed the maze of tunnels with practiced ease. He wound around corners–too quickly for any stalkers to keep up–until he was in front of a vault-style door.
An intentional knocking pattern granted Ekko access to the Firelight base. He squinted against the light that poured in from the tunnel. He didn’t need sight to know who let him in, though.
“Welcome back, Ekko!” Scar’s hand came to rest on his shoulder. Ekko blinked against the burning light, a weak attempt to find his friend’s gaze. “How are the preparations coming along?”
Ekko let out an exaggerated groan. “Caitlyn was on my ass today.” Scar smirked.
“So nothing new?”
“Nope,” Ekko replied, popping the ‘p’ for added effect. “Anything happen while I was gone?” The question was reflexive, and he already knew the answer.
“All is well.” Scar’s smile faded minutely as he failed to hide the bitterness in his tone. As he scanned the base, Ekko’s heart twisted. He remembered when the field beneath the tree was full of children playing and friends commiserating. They were nearing capacity, and Shimmer was rampaging the Undercity, but none of it mattered in their little refuge. Beneath the beacon of light that filtered between the leaves was an impervious community, or Ekko thought.
Now, they lived in a world that no longer needed a beacon. Opportunity was growing in abundance, and the Firelights were thrilled to explore this new world. They were finally permitted to settle where they chose and start their new lives, just as they had fought valiantly for. It was their right to leave. Still, the emptiness made Ekko ache.
A squeal shattered the quiet atmosphere. Ekko only now noticed that, strapped to Scar’s chest, was his daughter, Vine. She reached out with chubby arms and a grin. Ekko giggled–a sound reserved just for this little girl–and leaned down to hold her hands. Her warmth and joy flushed through her fingertips and into his. Vine was one of the only children born in the Firelight base. She was a living reminder of the safety and security the community had bestowed. The ache inside Ekko eased.
“Nice to see you too, Vinny!” Ekko pulled her arms in silly motions, eliciting gleeful noises from Vine. “She’s got moves, Scar! Check this out!”
Scar chuckled. “She must get that from her mother.” Ekko had seen Scar dance. He had to agree. Ekko pulled away from the baby, trying to maintain his smile.
“Are you coming to the party tonight?” It felt wrong to call it a party. It was technically a memorial, but then again, it had all the hallmarks of an Undercity party. Caitlyn had told him there would be music, drinks, and some type of show. That’s as close to the definition of a party as you could get. It didn’t sit right.
Scar looked away, idly rubbing his daughter’s hand between two fingers. “No, not this time. Vine’s too young. And, well…” he looked down at his daughter, gaze soft and sad, “...we have our own plans.”
Ekko nodded, shoving down his disappointment. He guessed Scar would want to memorialize his loved ones on his terms, rather than watch whatever Piltover could conjure up. Still, this event was giving him heart palpitations, so any support from his friends would have been appreciated.
Scar leaned down so he was at eye level with Ekko. He gripped Ekko’s shoulder tighter as he offered a comforting smile. “You’ll have a great time. You’ve earned it. Don’t worry so much.”
Scar could read him like a book. It was a side effect of fighting a rebellion together. It was a quality Ekko appreciated but it did little to quell his fears. He looked out at the hideout, searching for something to fix. Something to prove the voices in his head wrong. Ekko found nothing but blissful silence.