Undertow | Ekko x Reader

The hoverboard's hum vibrated under your feet, its smooth glide a sharp contrast to the rough wasteland terrain stretching endlessly in every direction. You tightened your grip on Ekko's waist, the cool wind stinging your face as it whipped past. Behind, Scar trudged on with Vi's limp body slung over his broad shoulder, her unconscious form eerily still. Caitlyn was being carried by two Firelights moving in tandem, her arms dangling lifelessly between them.

The group was a strange, somber caravan as it made its way to the hidden entrance of the sewer system, the gateway to the Firelight base. Ekko slowed the hoverboard to a stop, the hum fading as he hopped off and turned to face you. Without a word, he slid a knife from his belt and cut through the ropes binding your wrists. The cords fell away, leaving faint red marks against your skin.

"Sorry about that," he said, his voice low and tinged with guilt. His sharp brown eyes flicked up to meet yours, lingering for a moment before darting away. "Didn't want to, but I had to. You get it, right?"

You rolled your wrists, easing the stiffness, before quirking a brow at him. "I get it," you replied, the edge of your tone softening just enough to let him know you weren't entirely mad. Then you added with a smirk, "But if you pull that stunt again, Ekko, I'm gonna kick your ass so hard you'll be running this base on crutches."

A faint, wry chuckle escaped him, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Noted," he said, shoving the knife back into his belt.

As the group began to file into the dark, damp tunnel ahead, Ekko hesitated. His gaze flickered back to Scar, who carried Vi with careful but deliberate steps. You followed his line of sight, watching as Vi's bruised face swayed with each of Scar's movements. Something about the way Ekko stared—conflicted, heavy with an emotion you couldn't quite place—made curiosity gnaw at you.

"You knew her, didn't you?" you asked, your voice cutting through the low murmurs of the group ahead.

His shoulders stiffened, and he hesitated before responding, his tone heavy. "I did. A long time ago." A pause. "But now? I'm not sure who she is anymore."

The answer weighed in the air between you, too personal to probe further but too raw to ignore. You glanced at Vi again, trying to reconcile what little you knew of her with the complicated mess of emotions that followed her presence. Jinx—your friend, for better or worse—despised her and yet couldn't let go of her. Vi was both an anchor and a knife, and you couldn't tell which one cut deeper.

The tunnel grew darker as you descended into the sewer system, the faint glow of the Firelight base ahead casting long shadows against the walls. The air was damp and heavy, each step echoing off the narrow space. Ekko's voice broke the silence.

"So, did you get anything? On the shimmer factories?" His words were careful, deliberate, but his sharp eyes turned toward you with pointed interest. "I mean...you did say you could get information from a friend."

You opened your mouth, ready to brush it off, but his gaze stayed fixed on you, his voice sharpening as he continued. "And then you just happen to show up in the same place as Jinx? Yeah, it makes sense."

Caught, you hesitated before nodding. There wasn't much point in denying it now. "I did," you admitted, your voice quiet but steady.

Ekko's expression didn't shift. If anything, he seemed more resigned than surprised. "Doesn't matter how you get it," he said after a moment, his tone soft but firm. "As long as you do."

You let out a slow breath, unsure whether his words were meant to reassure you or himself. "She told me a little," you said finally. "About the shimmer factories. It's not much, but it's something."