Pretty little lamb
Ekko jolted awake to the blaring sound of his alarm. Except it wasn’t his alarm at all. It was his phone vibrating aggressively against his nightstand, Scar’s name flashing across the screen.
"Ekko ! Where the hell are you ? School started, like, ten minutes ago !"
"Shit" he muttered, scrambling out of bed, his sheets tangled around his legs. His room was a mess, blueprints, unfinished gadgets, magazines, and yesterday’s clothes strewn across every surface. A half-eaten protein bar sat on his desk next to his picture of Powder, the one he always caught himself staring at for too long. But there was no time for that now.
"I'm up, I'm up !" He grabbed his hoodie, moving fast and trying to put on an outfit that made some sense.
Halfway out the door of his room, Ekko skidded to a stop, eyes darting to the small glass bottle on his desk. He hesitated for half a second then snatched it up, spritzing a bit onto his hoodie. Not too much, just enough. Just in case.
Because Powder might be there.
And yeah, she probably wouldn’t even notice. But if she did ? He wasn’t about to smell like sweat and engine grease the first time they saw each other again.
practically leapt down the trapdoor leading to the main part of the house.
Scar’s voice crackled through the phone speaker again. "Dude, you better run. I ain't covering for you again."
Ekko stuffed a notebook into his backpack."Relax, I got this !"
"You’re still at home, aren’t you ?"
"...Shut up." He did not have Time to speak further so he hung up. Scar would understand. Or hit him.
As Ekko dashed down the stairs, slinging his backpack over one shoulder, a gruff voice called out from the kitchen
"Running late again ?" Benzo leaned against the counter, a steaming cup of coffee in one hand, the morning newspaper in the other. His sharp eyes barely glanced up, but the knowing smirk on his face said enough.
Ekko skidded to a stop, halfway through stuffing a piece of toast into his mouth. "Nope….Just... testing how fast I can get to school !"
Benzo snorted. "Uh-huh. That’s why you look like you just fell outta bed ?"
Ekko rolled his eyes, hopping on one foot as he struggled to put on his sneakers. "Don’t worry about it, old man, I got this !"
Benzo raised an eyebrow. "That’s what you said last week. And the week before that." He took a slow sip of his coffee. "Next time, I’m dragging your ass out of bed myself."
Ekko finally got his shoes on and bolted for the door. "Love you too !" he called over his shoulder.
Benzo shook his head, exhaling as he turned the page of his newspaper, a small smile curling on his lips. "That boy’s gonna be the death of me..."
With a deep breath, Ekko took off sprinting through the streets of Paris, weaving through early-morning pedestrians, dodging bikes, and nearly tripping over a street vendor’s crate. He moved fast, he had to.
Ekko sprinted through the school gates, barely slowing down as he weaved past students lingering in the halls. His heart pounded, not just from the run but from the thought that any second now, he’d be caught sneaking in late. Again.
Reaching his classroom, he pressed himself against the doorframe, peeking inside. Jayce, their professor, was nowhere to be seen. His desk was empty, a few papers left unattended. The students were chatting among themselves, some barely paying attention, others looking toward the open door where Mel, the school director, stood talking to Jayce just outside.
Ekko exhaled in relief. Perfect timing.
Moving fast, he slid inside the room, ducking between desks as casually as possible, pretending like he’d been there the whole time. He dropped into his seat, pushing his hoodie back and catching his breath. No one seemed to care. Well except for Scar, who shot him a knowing smirk from across the room.
Ekko just shrugged, as if to say, What else is new ?
Then his eyes drifted across the classroom, toward her.
For a moment, time slowed. She sat near the window, the sunlight catching the soft blue of her hair, her expression as calm and unreadable as ever.
His fingers brushed over the edge of his desk, heart pounding for an entirely different reason now.
He made it. But the real challenge ?
Figuring out how to talk to her again.
Scar leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, a smug grin creeping across his face as he eyed Ekko from the side. He waited, observing him before leaning over just enough to whisper.
“So... that’s why you actually decided to show up today” he murmured, his voice dripping with amusement.
Ekko barely glanced at him. “Shut up.”
Scar chuckled. “Man, you’ve had that picture of her on your wall for years, and now she’s sitting right there. What’s the plan ? Gonna ask for an autograph ?”
Ekko shot him a glare. “I swear, Scar—”
He just smirked, propping his chin on his hand. “Relax, lover boy, I’m just saying. She’s even prettier in person, huh ?” He nudged Ekko’s arm. “You need a minute to fix your hair ? Oh wait, you already did the whole perfume thing”
Ekko hissed under his breath, shoving Scar’s arm away. “Keep your voice down !”
Scar chuckled again, but before he could push further, Jayce stepped back inside, clapping his hands together to regain the class’s attention. Ekko straightened up, pretending to focus, but his eyes drifted back to Powder just once more.
Scar muttered one last comment under his breath. “Man you are so doomed.”
Jayce strode back into the classroom, rolling up his sleeves as he clapped his hands together. “Alright, everyone, let’s get back on track. Open your books to page 132 we’re diving into some algebra today.”
A collective groan rippled through the room, but Jayce ignored it, already scribbling equations onto the board with a confident sweep of his hand. “Come on, math isn’t that bad. Think of it like a puzzle. Find the missing piece, solve the problem. Easy, right ?”
Ekko barely heard a word. His pen tapped idly against his notebook before he flipped to an empty page and, almost without thinking, started sketching.
His hand moved on autopilot, tracing the familiar curve of a smile, the way her hair framed her face just so. Powder. Or rather, the girl who had been just a memory for so long. The girl who was now sitting just a few desks away, impossibly real.
She looked exactly the same, yet completely different. The blue in her hair seemed softer now, her hair longer, her features sharper, more refined. But that calm, composed look on her face—that was new. She used to be so expressive, so full of life. He wondered what had changed.
“Ekko ?”
His head snapped up. Jayce was staring at him expectantly, arms crossed, chalk in hand.
Ekko quickly slammed his notebook shut, heat creeping up his neck. “Uh- yeah ?”
Jayce raised an eyebrow. “Since you seem so focused, why don’t you come up and solve this equation?”
Scar snickered beside him. Ekko groaned internally before dragging himself up to the board. Algebra was the least of his problems today.
Ekko sighed, stepping up to the board. The equation wasn’t too hard, his brain was wired for numbers and patterns, after all. With a few quick calculations, he scribbled down the answer, stepping back with a small smirk.
Jayce nodded, arms crossed. “Not bad, Ekko. But let’s switch it up a bit.” He reached out and adjusted one of the numbers, tweaking the equation just enough to make it unfamiliar. “How about this ?”
Ekko stared at the new equation Jayce had written, trying to work it out, but something wasn’t clicking. He ran the numbers in his head, tapped the chalk against the board, but the answer just wouldn’t come.
Jayce, ever patient, glanced around the room. “Anyone else know the answer ?”
A calm, steady voice broke through the silence.
“The answer is 7x - 3.”
Ekko turned his head just as Powder stood up from her seat, her expression unreadable. Jayce nodded in approval. “Alright, Powder, come show us.”
She walked to the front of the class, her every movement smooth and controlled, like she had done this a hundred times before. Taking the chalk from Jayce, she quickly worked through the equation on the board, her handwriting neat, her answer flawless.
Jayce clapped his hands together. “Perfect. Well done, Powder.”
She gave him a polite nod before turning back to her seat. Their eyes met for the briefest second before she walked past. But as she passed, he caught the faint scent of her perfume, carefree, dreamy, subtle, but enough to stir something in his chest.
He watched as she sat down, his grip tightening around the chalk.
Jayce, completely unaware of the small moment, turned back to the class. “Alright, that’s all for today. Don’t forget your homework ! Pages 134 to 137.”
The bell rang, signaling the end of the lesson. Students immediately started packing up, chatting as they filed out the door. Ekko remained still for a second longer before Scar leaned in, voice low and teasing.
“Damn. Never talked to her and she already saved your ass.”
Ekko huffed, tossing his notebook into his bag. Yeah. She did. And for some reason, that made his heart beat faster.
As the bell rang, the classroom buzzed with movement. Chairs scraped against the floor, students grabbed their bags, and conversations picked up as everyone spilled into the hall for their break.
Powder walked out alongside Lux, her usual composed demeanor softening just a bit as they idly chatted.
“I still can’t believe you’re actually here” Lux said, grinning as she hugged her books to her chest. “I mean, you, in a normal school ? It’s kinda surreal.”
Powder chuckled lightly. “Yeah, tell me about it. I’ve been homeschooled for so long, I almost forgot what it’s like to be in an actual classroom.” She glanced around at the bustling hall, taking in the energy, the noise, the life of it all. “Sevika was a good teacher, but let’s just say she wasn’t exactly patient when it came to math.”
Lux giggled. “I can imagine. So, do you like it so far ?”
Powder gave a small, thoughtful nod. “It’s... different. But I think I’ll manage.”
As they made their way outside to the courtyard, Lux nudged her playfully. “Well, if you need a guide to surviving high school, you’ve got me.”
Powder smirked, adjusting the strap of her bag. “Noted.”
Behind them, Ekko and Scar walked out of the classroom as well, Scar still teasing him under his breath. But Ekko’s eyes unconsciously drifted toward Powder, watching as she disappeared into the crowd, her laughter blending with the sounds of the school. As they weaved through the crowded hallway, Lux kept the conversation going, her energy infectious.
“So, are you gonna join any clubs ?” she asked, tilting her head. “I bet the photography club would love to have you. Imagine, Powder, the famous model, behind the camera for once.”
Powder let out a small laugh, shaking her head. “I think I’ve had enough cameras in my face for a lifetime.”
Lux grinned. “Fair. But if you change your mind, I am in the club. Just saying.”
Before Powder could respond, Lux suddenly gasped, grabbing her arm. “Oh ! Speaking of exciting things—have you heard about the “heroes” in town ?”
Powder’s breath caught for half a second, but she played it cool. “You mean like the guy with the Firefly costume ?”
“Yes ! Isn’t he so cool ? And the girl, she seems so pretty too !” Lux gushed, practically bouncing as they stepped into the courtyard. “The way he moves, the way he just shows up out of nowhere and takes down those akumatized villains like it’s nothing ? He’s amazing ! And kind of mysterious, too.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “Bet he’s super handsome under that mask.”
Powder hummed, looking away to hide the tiny smirk tugging at her lips. “Maybe.”
Lux nudged her. “Ohhh, don’t tell me you have a crush on him too ?”
Powder scoffed lightly. “What ? No.”
Lux gasped dramatically. “Liar. I saw a picture of him in your gallery.”
Powder rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the faint warmth rising to her cheeks. “I just think he’s… interesting, that’s all.”
Lux grinned knowingly. “Mhm. Sure.”
As they strolled across the courtyard, the conversation shifted, but Powder’s thoughts lingered for a moment longer on him. If only Lux knew just how interesting he really was. She felt her phone buzz in her pocket. Pulling it out, she glanced at the screen and saw a message from her father.
Remember, you have a photoshoot this afternoon. Don’t be late. I’ll have the driver pick you up after school.
She sighed softly, already anticipating the long hours of posing. Not that she hated it, modeling had been part of her life for years, and Silco never forced it on her. But sometimes, she wished she had more time to just be a normal student.
Lux peeked at her screen. “Oh ? Work stuff ?”
Powder nodded, slipping the phone back into her pocket. “Yeah, photoshoot after school.”
Lux pouted. “Already ? You just got here !”
Powder smirked slightly. “The glamorous life waits for no one.”
Lux chuckled. “Well, don’t let them work you too hard. We still have to get snacks after school sometime.”
Powder gave a small nod, but her thoughts were already shifting. Balancing school, her career, and her secret life as Jinx was going to be tricky. But she had managed worse before. As Powder slipped her phone back into her pocket, her gaze wandered across the courtyard, landing on Ekko.
He was standing with another boy, a certain Scar, if she remembered right, laughing at something he said. He looked so different from the boy she had once known, taller, more confident, his dreadlocks a little longer. But his energy… that was still the same. Yet, there was no flicker of recognition in his eyes when he glanced in her direction. No spark of memory, no hesitation.
He didn’t remember her.
Powder felt a strange pang in her chest, but she quickly pushed it down, keeping her expression as composed as ever. It wasn’t surprising. They had been kids back then, and she had disappeared for years. Still…she had hoped. But hope only ever leads to disappointment.
Lux suddenly perked up and waved in their direction. “Oh, hey ! Ekko, Scar !”
Ekko and Scar both looked over, Scar giving a casual nod while Ekko seemed mildly surprised to be acknowledged.
Lux grinned, looping her arm through Powder’s. “You guys should meet Powder ! She’s new here, and—well, you probably know who she is already.” She nudged Powder playfully. “World-famous model and all.”
Scar let out a low whistle. “Damn, fancy.”
Ekko, still staring at Powder, blinked once before offering a small, polite smile. “Uh, yeah, nice to meet you.”
Powder held his gaze for a second longer before giving a small nod. “You too.”
Lux, oblivious to the weight behind the moment, beamed. “Great ! Now that you guys know each other, we should totally all hang out sometime.”
Powder didn’t respond right away. She wasn’t sure she could handle the idea of spending more time around Ekko if he truly didn’t remember her. But then, he tilted his head, brow furrowing slightly, like something about her was just familiar enough to make him think.
Maybe… just maybe, it wasn’t completely lost.
Ekko felt his stomach drop the second Lux called his name.
He hadn’t even realized he’d been staring at Powder until she turned to look at him. Cool, composed, effortlessly elegant in a way that made his brain short-circuit.
Scar elbowed him lightly. “Dude, act normal.”
Act normal ? How was he supposed to do that when she was looking at him like that ?
Lux’s grin was bright as she looped her arm through Powder’s. “You guys should meet Powder! She’s new here, and—well, you probably know who she is already.” She nudged Powder playfully. “World-famous model and all.”
Ekko’s brain completely blanked.
Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.
He knew Powder they were in the same class. He had seen her. But now that she was standing right there, staring at him with those piercing blue eyes, he suddenly forgot how words worked.
Scar covered for him with a low whistle. “Damn, fancy.”
Ekko forced himself to speak, but his voice came out way too stiff. “Uh, yeah, nice to meet you.”
Nice to meet you??? What was that??? Why did he sound like some awkward businessman at a networking event???
Powder just nodded, her expression unreadable. “You too.”
Lux, blissfully unaware of the internal meltdown happening in real-time, giggled. “Great ! Now that you guys know each other, we should totally all hang out sometime.”
Ekko could barely process the words because his entire system was still rebooting from being this close to Powder. Then, just when he thought he might survive this moment, she tilted her head slightly, like she was studying him.
Like maybe, just maybe, she recognized him too.
And that was it. Full panic mode engaged.
As the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Powder slipped her phone out of her pocket and saw another message from Silco.
The car is waiting. Be careful and good luck for your photoshoot.
With a quiet sigh, she adjusted her bag and made her way toward the school gates, Lux walking beside her.
“You sure you can’t come hang out ?” Lux pouted. “We were gonna grab snacks.”
Powder shook her head. “Can’t. Work calls.”
Lux groaned dramatically. “Ugh, modeling is so inconvenient.”
Powder smirked. “Tell me about it.”
As they stepped outside, a sleek black car was already waiting. The driver, one of Silco’s employees, held the door open for her.
“I’ll text you later” Powder told Lux before slipping inside.
The ride was quiet, just the hum of the city passing by as she gazed out the window. By the time they reached the park, the sun was starting to dip, casting a golden glow over the scene. The crew was already setting up cameras and lighting, equipment in place and ready.
Powder stepped out of the car, her composed demeanor slipping effortlessly into place. This was routine.
As the stylist adjusted her outfit and the photographer gave directions, she pushed aside the lingering thoughts of school, of Lux, of Ekko.
For now, she was Powder, the model. And the camera was waiting.
Powder stood near the grand fountain, the soft light of the setting sun casting a golden shimmer over the water. Her unbraided hair fell in delicate waves down her shoulders, each strand catching the glow of the evening light. The stylists had gone for an ethereal, doll-like look. Her dress was light and airy, pastel pink with subtle lace details, cinched at the waist to enhance the delicate silhouette.
Her makeup was fresh and luminous, with a soft blush on her cheeks and a hint of glitter on her eyes, making them sparkle like reflections on water. In her hands, she held a cluster of pastel-colored balloons, their ribbons trailing between her fingers as they swayed gently in the breeze.
The photographer called out directions, guiding her movements, but Powder barely needed them. She knew how to tilt her head just right, how to let her expression shift between playful and serene. She had done this a hundred times before, it was second nature.
Meanwhile, across town, Lux sat at an outdoor café with Scar and Ekko, sipping on an iced drink. “I still feel kinda bad for Powder,” she mused, stirring her straw absentmindedly. “She just started school and already has to work. She didn’t even get to eat anything before leaving.”
Scar shrugged. “Model life. Bet she’s used to it.”
Ekko, who had been silent for most of the conversation, finally spoke up. “Still, it sucks. If I had to smile for cameras all day, I’d lose my mind.”
Lux suddenly perked up, an idea sparking. “You know what ? I should bring her a snack !”
Scar raised a brow. “And how exactly are you gonna find her ?”
Lux grinned, already pulling out her phone. “Easy. Twitter. People always post when they see her. Watch.” She quickly typed Powder’s name into the search bar, and sure enough, multiple posts popped up.
@ZauniteBby : OMG, just saw Powder doing a photoshoot at the park ! She looks like an actual fairy. ✨
@SilcoChair : She’s by the fountain ! If I get a good pic, I’m framing it.
Lux beamed, shoving her phone in their faces. “See ? She’s at the park.”
Scar chuckled. “Damn, the internet works fast.”
Ekko stood up, stretching. “Guess we’re making a snack run, then ?”
Lux nodded eagerly. “Yep ! Let’s go surprise her.”
And with that, they grabbed their things and headed off, completely unaware that they were about to crash Powder’s perfect, carefully curated world of modeling with their completely unscripted visit. As the photoshoot continued, Powder remained poised, shifting effortlessly between delicate poses. The soft lace of her dress caught the light, and the pastel balloons bobbed gently in the breeze.
Between takes, as the photographer adjusted the camera settings, her gaze drifted past the equipment, and that’s when she noticed her.
A small girl lingering nearby, her round, curious eyes fixed on the pastel balloons. She had dark, curly hair that framed her face and soft brown skin. Unlike other kids who might have bounced excitedly or called out, she was completely silent, just watching, wide-eyed, her hands gently gripping the hem of her sweater.
Powder exhaled softly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. It’s the balloons, huh ?
“Alright, that’s perfect !” the photographer called out after a few more shots. “We got everything we need.”
There was something delicate about her presence, like she was hesitant to step too close. When the shoot wrapped up, Powder approached her with a soft smile, kneeling to her level. She held out the balloons, the ribbons trailing between her fingers.
“You want them ?” she asked gently.
The little girl blinked up at her, then nodded, her hands hesitating before reaching out.
Powder placed the ribbons into her small fingers, watching as she held them tightly, her lips pressing together in silent gratitude.
A small, warm feeling settled in Powder’s chest as she watched the little girl turn and hurry back toward an older woman, likely her guardian.
Even without words, the joy in her expression said enough. For all the artificiality of photoshoots, sometimes, little moments like this made it feel just a bit more real.
Powder stood still for a moment, watching as she clutched the balloons close, but the little girl’s gaze never left her. Even as the ribbons bobbed in the wind, her wide, starry-eyed admiration remained fixed on Powder, as if she were something out of a dream.
It made something in Powder’s chest tighten, a feeling she couldn’t quite place. She wasn’t used to being looked at like that, not outside of the cameras and staged perfection. This was different. It was real.
Meanwhile, at the edge of the park, Ekko, Lux, and Scar had just arrived, snack bag in hand.
“There she is” Lux announced, pointing toward the fountain.
But Ekko wasn’t listening. His steps slowed as he took in the scene before him, Powder, standing there with the sunset at her back, hair cascading in soft waves, a gentle smile lingering on her lips as she watched the small girl. The light caught the subtle shimmer in her eyeshadow, making her look almost ethereal. And it wasn’t just that she was beautiful, she was kind. The way she had knelt down to give the little girl those balloons, the way she watched over her even now… it was too much. She was perfect.
Ekko felt his heart do a stupid little flip. She’s too good to be real.
Scar, noticing his dazed expression, smirked. “You’re staring, loverboy.”
Ekko snapped out of it, scowling. “Shut up.”
But his gaze still flickered back to Powder, unable to help himself.
Lux's face lit up with mischief as she dashed toward Powder, leaving the guys in mid-stride along the park's winding path. With a sudden burst of energy, Lux swept Powder into a warm, playful hug. Powder blinked in surprise, her composed demeanor momentarily replaced by a genuine smile as she looked up at her friend.
"Lux ! What are you—?" she began, her voice catching slightly in the unexpected embrace.
Lux laughed softly, pulling back just enough to meet Powder's eyes. "I couldn't let you be all model and no fun today," she teased, a sparkle of delight in her gaze.
Meanwhile, Ekko and Scar exchanged amused glances as they continued walking, their chatter fading into the background as they watched the reunion. Powder, still a bit taken aback, adjusted her wavy hair and allowed a small, genuine smile to linger, the moment softening the rigid perfection of her photoshoot persona with the warmth of friendship.
As the little girl reached her mother, she hesitated for a moment, then turned back. Powder caught her eye and lifted a hand in a gentle wave.
Her face brightened, and though she didn’t speak, she waved back enthusiastically before turning to leave.
Powder exhaled softly, shifting her attention to Lux. “Thanks for coming, by the way,” she said with a small smile. “You guys didn’t have to.”
“Of course we did,” Lux replied with a grin. “You know me, can’t let my favorite superstar go hungry.”
As Powder turned her attention to Lux and the others, a soft smile still lingering on her lips, the little girl she had just waved goodbye to took slow steps toward the park’s exit, her mother walking just ahead.
And then—
A careless passerby, moving too fast, not paying attention, bumped into the small girl.
She stumbled, her fingers slipping from the delicate ribbons she had been holding so tightly.
The balloons lurched upward in an instant, caught in a gust of wind.
For a fleeting second, they lingered just above her reach. Her hands shot up instinctively, trying to grasp them before they floated too far. But it was useless. The pastel colors swirled higher and higher, slipping into the sky, vanishing beyond the treetops.
She stood motionless. No cry, no wail, just silent devastation.
No one stopped. The person who had bumped into her didn’t even look back.
The world moved on, unaware.
But in the shadows, something else had seen. Something that never ignored the cracks in a fragile heart.
And it was coming, his evil intentions hidden behind the flutter of a butterfly.