Love

A term Ekko knew all too well. He started the fire lights years back, and you were his first recruit. He’d found you broken and beaten down by some of Silco’s lackies, left in a puddle to die. So he took you in, brought you back to health

As you two grew closer, he fell in love. The problem? He had NO IDEA how to express it. So he acted mean. He’d pick on you like a little boy would pick on his crush in a school playground. Tugging your hair, calling you names, poking fun at you. It was the best he could do.

you took it all in good fun, which he was thankful for. He knew what he was doing wasn’t right, but he genuinely was at a loss for how to express it. Had you taken it the wrong way and gotten upset? He’d never forgive himself. And if- god forbid- he made you cry? He’d rather not even think about it.

as time moved on, he was getting impatient. He wanted you to realise, to know that he wasn’t picking on you to pick on you, he adored you, he had for years. As strong and courageous as he was, he couldn’t muster the courage to just come out and say it.

now, you were in your room, sick as ever, a sickness bug wreaking havoc on your body. Naturally, Ekko stayed by your side. As you slept, trying to sleep off the sickness, he was sat on a chair next to your bed, tucking your hair behind your ear

— “It’s stupid… isn’t it…? All these years, all this time I spend around you… I just can’t tell you how I feel, huh…? I just can’t seem to be able to tell you how beautiful I think you are… how sweet and precious you are to me… if I could, I’d take the illness on your behalf, just so you’d be okay… it’s funny how I can only say it when you’re asleep… but it feels good to say it out loud… I love you, firefly…”

there it was, he said it out loud. He finally managed to say it…