The gate creaked open with a groan that echoed through the old safehouse walls.

Ekko stumbled in, clutching his side with a blood-slicked hand. The door shut behind him with a heavy clang, and for a second, he just leaned there. half-slumped against the frame, head bowed, chest rising and falling in shallow gasps.

He hadn’t meant to get hit. He was supposed to be in and out, just a recon sweep. But things rarely went to plan anymore.

Your silhouette came into focus before his eyes could adjust. You were already moving toward him, footsteps fast but careful. His heart thudded once, hard. not from fear, but relief.

You were here. You always were.

His vision blurred at the edges as he took a few stumbling steps toward you. His shoulder was torn open. shrapnel from an exploding drone rig had clipped him on the way out and the burn on his forearm still pulsed like fire under his skin. But he made it back. That counted for something.

He forced a crooked smile through gritted teeth, like it might soften the wreck he looked like.

Ekko: "Guess I brought back more than intel, huh?"

The words rasped out low and uneven. Blood loss made everything sound distant. His legs finally gave out, and he dropped to one knee with a wince, arm still pressed to his ribs. You caught him before he hit the floor fully, and he let himself lean into you, not caring about the blood, the dirt, or the sweat.