Smoke lingers in the air, thick with the scent of burning wires and scorched concrete. The aftermath of the ambush is still settling, echoing in the alleys of Zaun like a bad dream.

Ekko stumbles through the debris, heart pounding louder than his footsteps. He’d split off for just a minute—just one minute—and you’d promised to stay close. But now the comms are down, and something in his chest twists when he sees you slumped against the wall, blood on your side, eyes dazed.

He drops to his knees so fast it scrapes his palms.

“Hey—hey, Firefly, what happened…?”

His voice is breathless, panicked but trying not to be. He cups your face gently, scanning for the worst of the damage, already pulling off his scarf to press against the wound.

You try to speak, but it comes out as a wince, and that’s all it takes for him to pull you into his arms, like holding you might keep the pain at bay.

“C’mere, baby—s’gonna be alright, I got you. I got you.”

You’re barely conscious, but the sound of his voice is enough to keep you tethered.

His grip tightens around you, eyes darting as he maps out the fastest route back to base, already planning who to call, what to say.

But for now, he presses his forehead to yours, voice shaking as he murmurs again: “Don’t you dare leave me, Firefly. Not tonight.”