Undertow | Ekko x Reader

16

"I didn't mean to scare you," she said softly, her shoulders hunching as she fiddled with the hem of her shirt.

The vulnerability in her posture made your heart ache. She was so small, so fragile, and yet there was something about her quiet determination that reminded you of yourself.

She hesitated, then added, "My mama used to take me to watch the sunset. She'd braid my hair while we sat together, and... and she said it made me look beautiful." Her voice cracked, and she clenched her fists in her lap. "I miss her so much."

Tears welled in her green eyes, and she sniffled, blinking rapidly to keep them from falling.

Your chest tightened. You'd only known her for a day, but seeing her like this—lost, alone, and carrying a grief far too heavy for someone her age—hit you harder than you expected.

Gently, you reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her face. "Turn around," you said softly.

She looked at you, confused, but obeyed.

You pulled a knife from your belt and cut a strip of leather from your holster before gathering her thick, dark hair. Your hands moved slowly, carefully weaving the strands into a neat braid. The motion was almost soothing, and when you finished, you tied the end with the leather strip.

"There," you said, tucking the braid over her shoulder. "How's that?"

She reached back to touch it, her fingers brushing over the plait. Then she turned to face you, her green eyes wide and filled with something that looked like awe.

"You're amazing," she whispered, her voice trembling with sincerity.

You blinked, taken aback by the raw admiration in her gaze. Before you could respond, her expression shifted, her small frame straightening with determination.

"Teach me to fight," she said suddenly.

"What?"

"I want to fight like you," she repeated, her green eyes blazing with resolve. "I don't want to be scared anymore."

The conviction in her voice left you momentarily speechless. She was barely more than a child, and yet that fire in her eyes was unmistakable—the same fire that had once driven you to stand up when the world tried to knock you down.

A small smile tugged at your lips. "Alright," you said after a moment. "I'll teach you the basics. But for now, let's get down from here, okay?"

She nodded eagerly, her fear replaced by a spark of hope. As you and Alyssandra made your way down from the tree, the sun now dipping below the horizon and casting a warm, golden light across the base, a sense of calm began to settle over you. The tension that had coiled in your chest was slowly unravelling, but there was still a flicker of unease deep inside. You could sense that Alyssandra wasn't completely free from her past, from the ache of what she'd lost. But the spark in her eyes as she followed you, the way she moved with a newfound determination, made your heart swell with something close to hope.

When you reached the bottom of the tree, Alyssandra glanced around, her small feet scuffing the dirt as she walked beside you. You could feel her curiosity bubbling up again, her earlier sadness dissipating into the quiet excitement of exploring the base and the world beyond.

The wood beneath your feet gave way to soft grass, stretching far out before you. The wind rustled the leaves in the distance, and the air felt fresh against your skin, a peaceful contrast to the bustling, murky environment of inside Firelights' tree.

You glanced down at Alyssandra, noticing how her eyes widened as she took in the open space. The girl looked almost... free.

As you both walked, you suddenly remembered something you hadn't asked earlier.