Undertow | Ekko x Reader

The war room was suffocating. What had once felt like a vast space, a place where strategies were born and victories planned, now seemed far too small for Ekko's liking. The weight of the room pressed down on him—walls closing in, the air thick with anticipation. Every inch was occupied by the expectant faces of the Firelights, all the ones who could fight. He could feel their eyes on him, could feel their hope, their fear, their uncertainty.

Ekko crossed his arms, trying to steady his nerves. His voice was steady, though his heart raced as he spoke. "We invade the Shimmer facility tonight," he said, the words falling heavy in the room. He went over the plan they had meticulously calculated, but even as the details flowed from his mouth, his mind wasn't fully there. He had a role to play, a plan to execute, and yet, all he could think of was the weight of the situation pressing down on him, each second drawing closer to a point of no return.

"We hit them hard and fast," Ekko continued, his voice cutting through the silence. "The primary goal is to destroy their Shimmer production, disrupt their supply chains, and make sure the operation collapses. But we're not going in guns blazing. We can't risk hurting the innocent people inside, the workers—especially the kids. The Shimmer facility has layers of security, but it's also a labyrinth. We'll need to be tactical about this."

He turned to the map on the wall, the facility's layout spread out in front of them. "We've identified three main entrances: the front, the service tunnels, and the air vents." Ekko paused, his finger tracing the lines on the map. "Scar, you're on the front line. Get in quick, take out the guards, but avoid drawing too much attention. We need to buy time for the rest of us to infiltrate."

"Once you're in," Ekko continued, addressing the rest of the group, "Y/N and I will move through the service tunnels. We've got explosives set up at key points—especially at the Shimmer vats and storage areas. But here's the crucial part—we need to disable the vents, shut down their filtration systems first. We're hitting their power grid, but we don't want to make it a total bloodbath. The fewer people exposed to the Shimmer fumes, the better."

Y/N met his gaze for a moment, her brow furrowed. She understood the weight of it all. No one wanted to hurt the workers who'd been forced into the life they were living. "We have to time the shutdowns perfectly," she said, voice low but steady. "If we overload the facility's systems all at once, we risk a massive explosion. If we do it in stages, it could cripple their operation without triggering anything catastrophic."

Ekko nodded, his jaw tight. "Right. We'll use the timing of the power shutdowns as our cover. We hit the lights and the security cams first. That'll give us a window to plant charges without anyone knowing what hit them." He glanced around the room, making sure everyone understood their roles. "Then, we hit the Shimmer vats last. That's the heart of it all. If we destroy those, we bring the entire operation down."

There was a brief silence before Scar spoke again, his voice steady, though he didn't hide the edge of concern. "And the workers? The kids inside? What happens if they're in the wrong place at the wrong time?"

Ekko's gaze softened, but his expression remained determined. "We avoid casualties at all costs. Y/N, you and I will make sure the workers are evacuated as we move through. We're not in this for bloodshed—we're in this to shut them down, to take away the resources they've been exploiting. Any workers we find on the lower floors, we get them out. We disable the transport systems, lock down the upper levels. The last thing we want is for them to be used as pawns in Silco's game."

Y/N folded her arms over her chest and met his eyes. "It's not going to be easy," she said quietly, "but it's the only way."

Ekko's voice was firm, resolute. "We move quickly. We move quietly. And we make sure we're out before the Shimmer falls apart. Everyone has two hours to prepare." He turned toward the door, feeling the gravity of the plan sink in. "This isn't just about taking down Silco. This is about stopping the abuse. The suffering. For everyone. We can't afford to fail."