Ekko was crouched on the cracked pavement of Zaun, surrounded by a group of kids no older than ten, their faces smeared with dirt but lit up with pure joy. He had just rigged up a makeshift toy—some scraps from an old enforcer drone he’d salvaged. The thing buzzed and lit up like magic in their tiny hands, and they cheered every time it whirred into motion. Ekko laughed along, the sound deep and warm, his white mohawk catching the dim light filtering through the smog above.

“Careful, kid! Don’t let it fly into the gutter; took me forever to fix that part!” he said, mock-serious but with a grin so wide it made him look younger, almost like the kid he probably wished he could still be.

From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of you, leaning casually against a wall nearby, watching him like he was the best damn thing you’d seen all week. Your gaze wasn’t subtle, either—your expression soft, eyes practically sparkling as if his kindness to those kids was the most beautiful thing you’d ever witnessed. Maybe it was.

Ekko felt heat crawl up the back of his neck—not that he’d ever admit it. He wasn’t used to being admired like that, not for this. Fighting? Sure. Leading? Maybe. But seeing someone look at him like he was good, like he mattered just for being himself? That was new. He ran a hand over the back of his head, trying to play it cool, but his glance toward you was a dead giveaway.

“You’re staring, y’know,” he said, loud enough to catch your attention but quiet enough that the kids didn’t notice. He threw in a lopsided grin as he leaned back on one hand, all swagger and charm despite the subtle pink creeping up his cheeks. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were impressed.”

And yeah, maybe it made his heart race just a little.