Undertow | Ekko x Reader

16

"Alyssandra..." you began, pausing for a moment to study her face. "Did you eat today?"

The girl's head whipped toward you, her big green eyes wide in surprise. Without missing a beat, she nodded enthusiastically, her straight black braid swishing behind her as she moved.

"Yup! Ekko brought me food," she explained, puffing out her chest with pride. "At first, I thought he was really scary 'cause of all the stuff he carries around, y'know? But he's actually not so bad. He makes these really funny faces when he talks, and he said I looked like I could eat an entire pile of food in one go. I dunno why, but that made me laugh."

You couldn't help but let out a soft laugh at her excitement, your lips curling into a smile. Alyssandra was talking more freely now, her voice light and her words coming faster with every passing second. The shy, reserved girl you'd first met was gradually unraveling in front of you, and you couldn't help but feel a growing affection for her.

Watching her finally come out of her shell—her eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief as she described Ekko's humor—was like a weight lifting from your chest. You couldn't imagine the kind of trauma she'd lived through, the heaviness of the loss she'd suffered, and yet here she was, starting to show her true colors. That, in itself, was a victory.

"That's good to hear," you said, a smile still lingering on your face as you walked beside her. "I'm glad Ekko made you laugh."

Alyssandra smiled brightly at the praise, clearly proud of herself. "He's nice, but he can be a bit weird sometimes. I think he's always thinking of something." Her smile faded slightly, as if the mention of Ekko's thoughtful expression reminded her of the times she'd seen him lost in his own thoughts. But then she perked up again, her curiosity returning. "But hey, what about you, Y/N? Have you ate?"

The question caught you off guard, and you blinked, suddenly realizing how long it had been since you'd last had a proper meal. But you quickly brushed it off, offering a small, dismissive shrug.

"I'm fine," you said with a wave of your hand. "We'll get something later."

Alyssandra didn't seem entirely convinced, but she didn't press the matter. Instead, she skipped ahead a few paces, eager to reach the open patch of ground where you'd be teaching her.

Once you arrived at the clearing, you stopped and turned toward her. It was time to begin.

"Alright, let's get started." You crouched down, making sure to face her with a serious expression, even though the little smirk tugging at your lips threatened to give you away. "We're going to start with the basics. First thing's first: stance."

Alyssandra immediately straightened up, her posture surprisingly sharp for her age. "Like this?" she asked, spreading her feet slightly and bending her knees a little, hands loosely held in front of her.

You nodded, impressed. "Exactly. You've got the right idea. But—" You moved in closer, adjusting her posture with a light touch to her shoulders. "A little more balance, like this. Keep your weight low, your hands ready, but don't tense up. If you're too stiff, you'll have trouble reacting quickly."

Alyssandra focused intently, her green eyes narrowing in concentration as she followed your instructions. You gave her a moment to settle into the stance before nodding approvingly.

"Good. Now, let's practice some simple moves. We'll start with dodging. It's important to always stay light on your feet, especially when you're up against someone who's bigger or stronger." You threw a quick, light jab at her, just a test, to see how she reacted.

Alyssandra's eyes widened, but she reacted quickly, sidestepping the punch with surprising agility. You couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"Not bad," you said, impressed by her quick reflexes. "Let's try again. This time, when I come in, I want you to step to the side and then counter."

She nodded, taking a deep breath before bracing herself for the next move. This time, when you threw a series of slow punches, Alyssandra's movements were smoother, more fluid, her small frame dodging each hit with ease before she swept her arm in a swift, defensive motion, as if trying to push your hand away.

You stepped back, watching her carefully. She was sharp—quick and nimble, her body flowing with the kind of grace you didn't expect from someone so young.

"See that?" you said, a smile tugging at the corner of your mouth. "You're already doing it. That's what you need to do—use your speed, your agility. You've got the right instincts."

Alyssandra beamed up at you, clearly thrilled with the praise. "Really? I did good?" she asked, her voice laced with excitement.

"Yeah," you said, tapping her lightly on the shoulder. "You did great. Now let's work on a few more basic moves. After that, you'll be ready for anything."

As the two of you continued to work through the basics, the sun dipped lower, and the world around you began to quieten, a sense of peace settling in the air. The feeling of this moment, this simple bond forming between the two of you, made everything seem a little less heavy, a little less uncertain. For a little while, it was just you and Alyssandra, sharing a connection, and teaching her the basics of survival in a world that had already tried to take too much from both of you.

A/N:

i may be a day late but i don't care, merry christmas to all my lovely readers who celebrate it!! i hope you got everything you wanted :)

actually i want to ask you all what your favorite gift was this year if your comfortable with sharing!

i'll go first, my parents surprised me with concert tickets to see tyler, the creator this summer!!! when i tell y'all i bawled of joy i mean it with all seriousness, i genuinely cannot wait to go

oh and don't worry, there will be much more y/n and ekko next chapter!! but please bare with me as i try to progress other aspects of this fics and, as always, let me know any thoughts you have