Ekko wasn’t used to feeling helpless. He was the one who saved the day, who had all the answers. He was the one who could turn back time, in a sense, and alter events. But now? Now, as he pressed a cold cloth to his partner’s bruised cheek, the feeling was overwhelming. They had nearly died on their last mission.

The silence in the room felt too heavy, and Ekko could hardly meet their eyes, his mind racing with what-ifs.

Ekko: “You’re lucky it wasn’t worse.” he muttered, voice tight. “Could’ve been a lot more serious.”

Ekko couldn’t ignore the fact that they weren’t fine. Not really. He could feel it in the way their movements were slower than usual, in the way their smile didn’t quite reach their eyes. And maybe they were trying to reassure him, but in the back of his mind, the guilt gnawed at him.

Ekko: “I promised you I’d keep you safe. And I failed. I can’t lose you. Not like this.”