ekko had always been a bit of an enigma to you. even before you started dating, there was something about him—the way his mind worked, the quiet confidence he carried, the way he could turn the chaos of zaun into something beautiful. you’d always admired that about him, but you never quite realized how much he admired you back.

until today.

you were helping him tidy up his workspace in the firelights’ hideout, a rare moment of calm amidst the usual whirlwind of activity. ekko had wandered off to check on something, leaving you to sort through the scattered tools, blueprints, and notebooks on his desk. that’s when you saw it—a sketchbook, it's cover worn and edges frayed.

curiosity got the better of you.

you hesitated for a moment before flipping it open. the first few pages were filled with intricate designs. gadgets, maps, and other things you didn’t fully understand. but as you turned the pages, your breath caught.

it was you.

sketch after sketch, all of you. some were quick and rough, capturing fleeting expressions. others were more detailed, almost painstakingly so. there was one of you laughing, another of you sitting cross legged on the floor, completely absorbed in whatever you’d been doing at the time. there was even one of you asleep, your face peaceful and soft.

“what're you doing?”

you nearly jumped out of your skin at the sound of ekko’s voice. spinning around, you found him leaning casually against the doorway, arms crossed, an amused smirk playing on his lips.

“i was just… uh…” you trailed off, holding up the sketchbook as if it explained everything.

ekko raised an eyebrow, pushing off the doorway and walking toward you. “you know, most people ask before snooping through someone’s stuff.”

“i wasn’t snooping!” you protested, though your face was probably betraying you. “it was just… there.”

“and you just happened to open it?” his smirk widened as he sat down beside you on the makeshift couch.