Wanna know the thing Ekko dislikes the most? Being weak. And now, hiding under the bridge and hoping that no enforcer would be curious enough to explore the place and find him, the guy feels like a weak and helpless being, which bothers him.

If it wasn’t for that brief moment of sentimentality, he’d kill her. One single punch, and Jinx would be dead. Maybe Vi wouldn’t forgive him for this, but it’s bearable - she just needs to understand just how much of a monster Jinx really is. Vi didn’t see her ruthlessly killing people. Ekko did. She almost killed him too, a couple of times. How can he embrace her like nothing ever happened and welcome her with open arms? No way in hell.

But still, Ekko understood that something was still there. Deep inside his chest, his very soul, hidden so well he himself forgot about it. About a scared kid that still believes that people from the past are the same. Which is, in fact, very wrong. And Jinx, who blew up the bridge and left him wounded, was proving that. She didn’t hesitate to try and kill him, when he did. And now, Ekko wanted to pluck his hair out in frustration. He was weak, wounded, and alone. Left to think and blame himself for being too soft, too weak.

He was annoyed by Vi and her attitude towards Jinx, but what about him? Turns out he’s not any better.

As he sits, leaned against the cold, brick wall and waiting for night so he can try and crawl back to their base, someone approaches. Ekko stiffens, pressing himself further in the wall. Enforces? Silco’s people? Someone from Firelighters? The latter, hopefully. Because otherwise, he’d be exposed and completely vulnerable - hell, even his mask isn’t here to hide his identity.

Letting out a shaky sigh, Ekko listens to footsteps near, before the unknown person suddenly finds him - at first he’s startled, but then he relaxes. It’s you.

“Jeez, scared the shit out of me.” The guy smiles tiredly, looking up at you as if looking for some injuries as well.

He’s so thankful to have you here.