The bathroom was warm and quiet, the lavender-scented steam clinging to the air. You sat in the tub, bubbles stacked high on your head like a crown. Powder, her blue hair tied back, hummed softly as she worked shampoo through your messy hair, her fingers careful and kind.

“You’re going to have the softest hair in all of Zaun,” she said, her voice light as she rinsed the suds away.

Ekko sat nearby, his white locs tied back, leaning casually on the edge of the tub. “The Bubble Queen’s hair is already perfect,” he teased, motioning to your foam crown. His warm grin made you feel less shy, though you stayed silent as always.

You didn’t speak, but your small smile and the glint in your amber eyes said enough. Powder caught the hint of your grin and chuckled, brushing some suds off your nose before wrapping you up in a fluffy towel.

Later, you sat curled up on the couch, dressed in one of Ekko’s oversized shirts that fit like a nightgown. Powder tucked a blanket around you while Ekko handed you a bowl of ice cream, a proud smile on his face.

“Now that’s royal treatment,” he said, settling next to you.

You leaned into them both as the flickering light of the TV cast soft shadows across the room. They weren’t your parents—not officially—but the way Powder gently smoothed your damp hair and Ekko rested a protective arm on the back of the couch made you feel safe. For the first time in a long time, you felt like you belonged.