Undertow | Ekko x Reader

16

He nodded, his gaze shifting forward as the tunnels opened into the larger expanse of the Firelight base. "Good," he said simply, his voice low. "We'll work with what we've got."

You couldn't tell if his calm was genuine or forced, but you didn't press further. Instead, you followed him into the heart of the Firelight base, the echoes of your steps swallowed by the hum of hidden machinery and the weight of unspoken truths.

Ekko stopped just past the entrance, turning back toward you as the others carried Caitlyn and Vi further into the base. He gestured toward the two unconscious women with a nod. "I've got to deal with them," he said, his tone clipped but not unkind. "Figure out what to do next. Once that's handled, I'll find you, and you can fill me in on what you know. Sound good?"

You crossed your arms, your expression unreadable, but you nodded. "Yeah, sure. Take your time." 

He gave a slight, distracted smile, already half-turned to leave when the thought struck you. "Ekko." 

He stopped, glancing over his shoulder with a raised brow. 

"How's Alyssandra?" you asked, your voice quieter, softer. "Is she—"

"She's fine," he interrupted, his voice warming slightly, a faint flicker of a grin tugging at his lips. "But she hasn't stopped asking about you all day. Pretty sure she's counting the minutes till she sees you again."

That pulled a small smile from you, a moment of relief cutting through the tension of the past few hours. "Thanks." 

Ekko nodded once, then turned fully and walked off, his figure quickly swallowed by the shadows of the base. The air around you felt heavier without him, the weight of what you still had to explain looming larger. But for now, you pushed it aside. 

You navigated the twisting corridors of the base, your steps instinctive despite its maze-like structure.

And that's when you saw her.

A tiny figure sat perched near the very top, her silhouette outlined by the soft orange glow of the setting sun.

Your heart leaped into your throat, relief flooding you, quickly followed by fear. What was she doing up there?

Without hesitation, you grabbed onto the tree's rough bark and began to climb. The sharp edges bit into your hands, but you didn't care. You pushed higher, the muscles in your arms and legs burning as the wind tugged at the branches above.

The higher you climbed, the more precarious it became. Branches creaked under your weight, swaying with every step. You gritted your teeth and pressed on, your focus narrowing until all that mattered was reaching her.

Finally, you pulled yourself onto the branch where she sat. Alyssandra didn't notice you at first, her legs dangling over the edge as she gazed at the horizon. The setting sun bathed her in golden light, and her black hair shimmered like liquid ink in the soft glow.

The branch groaned under your weight, and she turned, her wide green eyes locking onto yours.

"Y/N!" she gasped, her face lighting up with a mixture of surprise and joy.

"Do you have any idea how scared I was?" you asked, your voice sharper than you intended as you steadied yourself. Relief poured through you, but it did little to dull the edge of your fear. "What are you doing up here?"

Her smile faded, and she glanced back at the horizon. "I just wanted to see the sunset," she murmured, her voice small.

You crouched carefully, gripping the branch for balance. "Alyssandra, you can't just disappear like that. I thought something happened to you."