For Better Or Worse
Pow walked down the streets of Piltover beside Caitlyn and Vi. Ekko was at the Kiramman house with the kids, resting after the several hours of walking he’d done. Caitlyn had told her earlier about the plan to find her a dress for the wedding in a few days and hope that no alterations were needed. She had immediately asked for a hot pink dress. She was also immediately denied.
“Our color theme is blue and gold,” Caitlyn explained. “A match with House Kiramman. You can deviate from the theme, of course, but no neons. Sorry.”
“You’re such a party pooper,” Pow whined.
“It’s my wedding!”
“And it’s my dress!”
Vi mediated, despite the obvious fact that the bickering was all in good fun. Pow could confidently say she and Caitlyn had gotten closer these last few days. Still not quite friends, but infinitely better than they’d been. “Pow Pow, why don’t you get a different shade of pink? Maybe pastel, or a dark pink or something?”
“Hmm…what if I just wear the sluttiest gold dress I can find? That’ll fit your color scheme.”
“Shit, Powder, are you trying to make our lives more difficult?” Vi groaned.
“You said you had a color theme!”
“And I hoped it was implied that no extra little bits were to be hanging out!”
“Did you just call my beautiful ass bits?”
“Bits will be what I turn the two of you into if you don’t shut your traps and stop making fools of yourselves!” Caitlyn groaned.
Pow sighed. “At least Ekko likes my bits.” She muttered. Vi managed to hear her anyway, and Pow ducked just in time to avoid the hand that swatted for her head.
“Hey, here’s a good shop,” Caitlyn said. Sure enough, beside the three of them was a small building with a large window, displaying a variety of lavish dresses of many cuts and colors. “Mother used to bring me here when I needed something formal for a council event.”
Pow nodded. She had to admit, some of the dresses in the window were pretty cute. A short, lavender tea dress with one cross body strap emblazoned with glittering rhinestones and embroidered lilacs. A long scarlet ball gown coated in several pounds of authentic pearls. A fitted pantsuit the perfect pale orange of an autumn sunset. Pow almost felt out of place, just standing in its presence in her scuffed up overalls and threadbare halter top. Caitlyn led her inside anyway.
“Feel free to look around, it’s on me, but no neons,” Caitlyn emphasized.
Pow nodded, the walk down the entry aisle overwhelming. Racks full of dresses lined each side of her, each one alone costing more than what it was to feed her and her family for a month back in Zaun. But what was more overwhelming, she had to pick one. And she had to wear it. Even now, the idea of wealth bothered her. It was likely the way she had grown up, but even with Zaun being on the map and slowly clawing its way above the poverty line, things like this seemed unfair. The idea that she would be wearing six months of meals on her body for one day. It was absurd.
“You’re allowed to look at other dresses if these few aren’t doing it for ya,” Vi said. Pow hadn’t noticed her show up.
“It’s not that, just…look at the price tags on these. This shop has been here for how many years? A dress like this could have fed us,” she explained to her sister.
Vi nodded empathetically. “It took me a while to adjust to the way of living up here. Everything being so glamorous. But Caitlyn, Sevika and I have been working on bridging the financial gap. And think about it this way: what use is a fancy dress in Zaun? Buying this may not help feed the Undercity, but it’s feeding the family of the seamstress who made it and paid for the materials.”
Pow nodded. She knew Vi was right, but the idea still made her gut twist. Vi had lived in Piltover for years already, who’s to say it didn’t take her as long or even longer to adjust than it currently is for Pow? She made her way down the aisle way, looking for a dress that suited her style.
Everything she found was emblazoned with something shiny or decorated in fancy florals. Was Piltover allergic to simple? Did everything they wore need to be over the top? Even the simpler dresses looked to be worth their weight in gold by the quantity of gemstones sewn on. A few racks over, Caitlyn was simply enjoying the chance to look at all the dresses, talking about which would look cutest on Idina and Lora. Did they even need fancy dresses too? Shit, they were seven and five, there was no need to spend a fat fortune on them for dresses they’d stain the moment they sat down for dinner. Pow secretly wished for Cait to come help her out, she had no idea where to even start.
“Any luck yet, Pow Pow?” Vi asked. She held a small sky blue tea dress in her hand that would be perfect for Idina. Why couldn’t Pow get that lucky? Something simple, practical, and cute?
“I’d prefer something that doesn’t look like it’s covered in leprechaun shit,” she replied. “But no luck yet.”
“Check over here, there’s some plainer options,” Vi said, gesturing to the rack where the small blue dress came from.
Any that fit me? She thought to herself, but decided not to speak it. The rack beside Vi held several dresses, all in varying shades of blue. Pow moved her way past frilly, glittery ceruleans, deep, rich indigo dresses that looked like they walked out of her grandma’s attic, violet sausage casing dresses that Pow believed could flatter no one. She decided against the blues and found the blacks and purples instead. Maybe they would be more her style.
She found one almost immediately. A short black and pink dress that fell to mid thigh and came with minimal extra frill. The only added flair lay in two satin bows over the shoulders and the laced low-cut chest piece. She decided to take it. It was the first nice piece she’d found and she didn’t want to spend any more time in this fancy pants shop than was necessary. She took it off the rack and over to Vi and Caitlyn.
“How’s this for your color scheme?” She asked, sticking her tongue out to Cait in a teasing expression.
Caitlyn nodded. “It’s muted enough. It’ll work.”
“Thanks Caity! How much do I owe ya?”
“Two hundred notes, if you call me that again,” Caitlyn groaned. “It’s on me.”
In Vi’s hands were two dresses; the blue one, and a smaller gold one. Caitlyn held two small suits, and Pow had no idea where they could’ve possibly come from. Pow hated to think about the further dent on Caitlyn’s wallet, but figured it would be near bottomless given her status, so she didn’t let herself worry too much.
“I’m just going to get them as rentals, and pray to whoever’s out there that nothing ends up stained,” Caitlyn continued. “No one in your family seems the formal type, so no use in getting these to keep.”
Pow sighed. Finally. She never thought she would hate having rich privileges.
———————————
Back at the house, Pow found Ekko and all four kids passed out on Caitlyn’s fancy couch. She had gotten another sandwich from Yvette’s, since Ekko hadn’t eaten a bite today. Rather than give it to him then to eat, she left it in Caitlyn’s cooler. Caitlyn and Vi had gone upstairs upon returning home, to put the clothes away and likely do other things that Pow preferred not to think about. So, she decided, she would join Ekko for his nap. There hadn’t been much calm since the family had gotten here, and Pow was ready to enjoy a peaceful afternoon.
Curled up beside Ekko, Pow had nothing to do but think, drowning out the ever present hum of her ghosts. Caitlyn had told her on the way back home that she would need to give a speech at the wedding, as Vi’s matron of honor. She had dumped a whole lot of to do’s on her shoulders, from sharing all their fun memories, to a testament to the (icky) emotional stuff, and toasting to Cait specifically. All things she didn’t want to do. And that didn’t include all her other duties, like planning a party for the night before the wedding, helping set up, and worst of all by far: being a point of contact for the guests. Nothing quite like putting the old jinx in charge of a huge ceremony and sending all the guests directly to her. Guests who very likely still hated her. But, it was what Vi wanted. And Pow had years to make up for.
Pow thought back as far as she could, but even then, she felt like there was hardly a thing for her to work with. Her earliest memories were of flames and scrawled out faces, her most prevalent were gunshots and words dripping in blood and hatred. She had the past few days to work with, but she was supposed to be Vi’s sister, she was supposed to come with a full arsenal. She buried her face in Ekko’s shoulder, listened to him mumbling uselessly in his sleep to try and ground herself. Digging through her memories may not be the best idea; that was where her ghosts lived. But she would have to. For Vi.
The living room grew chilly as the hours went by, the afternoon breeze carrying the cold in through the opened windows. It would be an adventure worthy of the pits of hell, getting the kids to sleep tonight after this nap. The suspicious noises Pow had vaguely registered from the next floor up had stopped long ago, and Ekko had already calmed and returned to sleep after waking up from another nightmare. He had talked to her, then, which she decided was an improvement. She supposed she had slept a while as well; the change in daylight seemed to indicate a much lengthier passage of time than she had expected. Now, there was nothing but sleepy, empty space. Pow stood carefully, staying silent to avoid waking Ekko or Argus, who lay on his lap, and went to the kitchen. Maybe a change of scenery would help her think.
It didn’t.
It was another several long minutes of frustration and silence before Vi entered the kitchen, ruffled from sleep and wearing that grossly optimistic glow that only confirmed what Pow already knew. She sat down beside Pow at the table, staring down at her hands.
“You feeling alright?” Vi asked, eventually. “Haven’t seen you quiet in a while.”
“Yeah,” Pow whispered. “Just didn’t realize what exactly I’d be coming back to when I got on that airship.”
Vi turned to face her. It had been a long time since Pow had truly gotten a good look at her sister. She was just as Pow remembered, but the changes were there. Her hair had been hacked short again, shorter than it was even when she left Stillwater. Her lower lip had been pierced, directly parallel to the scar above it. She counted even more freckles on her sister’s cheeks, a result of access to real sunlight. And her face was fuller, her prominent cheekbones softened by plump buccal tissue. All in all, she looked healthier. They all did, she supposed.
“I know it’s been a rough few days for you and Little Man,” Vi agreed. “I’m sure having all of this dropped on you after everything didn’t help. I already talked to Caitlyn, and she’s willing to help with some of your work to lighten the load a little.”
“I appreciate that, I really do. But… how am I supposed to get a speech done? It’s been well over a decade since we’ve gotten to really be sisters, let alone love each other like it.”
Vi hummed, and Pow figured that was all the response she would get. Vi had never been good with words, only fists, and this was not a situation that called for them. Pow sipped at the water that she had poured herself prior, once cold but now mildly tepid.
Vi looked over to the living room where Ekko and the kids still slept—how long did they all have to sleep??— and back at Pow. “Cait’s still sleeping as well, and it seems like no one’s waking up anytime soon, so why don’t we walk around a while, spend some time in Zaun, just the two of us? Maybe find something to do or a place to eat?”
Pow nodded. All she had seen of Zaun was in her frenzied trip to drag Ekko back home, then passing through just to visit the new Firelight base. She hadn’t gotten a true look around. Maybe she would find Sevika in the process; she wouldn’t ever admit it aloud, but she missed the woman dearly.
The two made their way outside silently, Vi locking the door behind them. They walked in silence for several minutes, Pow just taking the time to drink in the sights of the rebuilt bridge, reinforced with industrial grade steel, the nation of Zaun, now well lit even in the furthest corners. Clean, less trash and drugs on the streets. It was everything Pow could have wanted. Even in her years with Silco, she had just wanted prosperity for Zaun, but she knew now that Silco had gone about it all wrong, and had conditioned her to do the same. But now her father was gone, and the Undercity was thriving.
“The air down here was cleaned up only months after you left,” Vi said by way of initiating conversation. “Caitlyn led the effort. Said it was the least she could do after…after she was the one to poison it in the first place.”
“Good on her, I guess. Owning up to her mistakes.” Pow kicked a few stray pebbles as she continued walking. She thought carefully, aiming to speak her mind in a kind way—as kind as was possible for her, that was. “You and her must have had a lot to talk about, huh? After all the shit she did to you. To us.”
“Do you still hate her? Powder it’s been eight years—” Vi began, but Pow quickly cut her off.
“She fucked you up, is what she did.” She said. “I know how it goes. Ekko and I tried to kill each other multiple times, we both saw each other at our worst. But we figured it out. You and Caity must’ve been the same, if not moreso, with her being a Piltie and all. Not to mention you two don’t have history like Ekko and I.”
Vi hummed. “You’re right. Yeah, there was a lot to talk about. Spent some time apart in the mix of everything. Lots of screaming matches. Otherwise, maybe we would have been married a long time by now. But we made it work.”
“She’s not the Caitlyn I remember. Thank goodness for that, the old one was a bitch.”
“She was grieving, I’ll give her that—”
“She tried to put bullets in my head. Not that I blame her. Shit, back then I woulda let her. But I never targeted civilians and gassed them out. We all made mistakes back then. I’m just glad we’re better people now—Vi?”
Vi had stopped several paces back, Pow noticed. Her arms shook even as they wrapped themselves around her own torso. The look on her face, nothing short of raw terror.
“What the fuck does that mean?” She whispered. Somehow, Pow still caught it.
“It means exactly what it sounds, she went after innocent people just to get to me and I just—”
“No, Pow Pow. What do you mean you would have let her? You know I would never let her kill you, I wouldn’t let anyone ever even touch you, what do you mean you would let her shoot you?!” Vi caught up with Pow again, led her to a nearby bench in an alley, once dark now lit in shades of green.
Oh, she had said that, hadn’t she? She swore to herself, to Ekko, that those parts of her would be laid to rest along with Jinx, that no one would ever know just how far she had fallen. That she had been prepared and ready to take her own life, had taken her own life. The one detail even Ekko hadn’t known: she’d remembered every attempt. Every time her body blew apart, had stitched itself back together. The shimmer in her blood keeping her mind moving one direction—forward, even as her body moved back and forth on the timeline, a pendulum on a metronome. She had thought the glitches part of her false reality, had thought Ekko a ghost. But he had been real. Had been whole, then bleeding, yet she hadn’t even blinked. Her mind remembered the explosions, and her body had ached with the phantom pains of every time she had been shattered and rebuilt. She hadn’t thought it real, but even her hallucinations lived on in her mind. Her memory didn’t differentiate between reality and falsity. Pow remembered all of that, and she had intended to leave it in the past where it belonged. But she had slipped up, and Vi had caught her.
“Powder! Answer me!”
“I meant exactly what I said. Back then, I would have let her kill me. Would’ve let you kill me.”
“I wouldn’t have let her though, so you don’t have to worry about anyone hurting you. You didn’t deserve to be in pain, you never deserved to die, why didn’t you tell me you felt that way?” Oh, Pow hated seeing her cry, why did she have to go opening her big mouth?
“We weren’t exactly close.” Pow reminded her. She had made lots of passing comments then, had made it clear that she hadn’t wanted to be there anymore. She knew the Vi of back then hardly would’ve cared. Maybe she would have, now that Pow looked back. Vi had always loved her, but in those moments, those heated fights, Vi hadn’t looked at her as her, but as a complete stranger. “It wasn’t exactly the kind of thing you just drop from thin air.
“I don’t feel that way anymore,” Pow assured her, when the rest of her words hadn’t seemed to help. “I’m still here. We have Ekko to thank for that.”
“I’m glad,” Vi said. “However the connotation of that sentence has me worried.”
Pow leaned her head back against the wall. It was clean, unfamiliar. Time to bite the bullet, she supposed. “How do you think Ekko found me, when he mysteriously came back from his little vacation?”
“Powder…”
“Went off to some fancy, Arcane fueled acid trip of a vacation, came back with a little time machine and managed to find me just in time to keep me from blowing my own head off with mouser. Man, shit was wild. Very confusing series of events, I tell ya.”
Pow wasn’t prepared for Vi to all but throw herself at her, burying her head in Pow’s bony shoulder. “You—Pow Pow, I’m so sorry—I promise I—”
“It’s okay, sis, it was a long time ago. I’m alright now. More than alright.”
“You’re not alright, Pow Pow, alright people don’t attempt suicide!” The word sent a sharp tang through Pow’s gut, she hoped her sister would avoid using it again. It wasn’t a word she liked to hear; it made that night feel too real. Too poisonous. “I can’t believe I left you alone to fall that far! I never should’ve left you.”
“It wasn’t really you. I never stopped loving you, even when we were enemies. I wanted to hate you, but honestly I was just so caught up in the idea that you hated me and that everything was out to take you away from me. It was moreso when I…when I killed Silco. It got rough. Then Isha came along, and she made everything better. Then, she died too. And I guess, by that point, I was just done living.”
Vi sat silently, clutching Pow as if she would fade the second she let go. “When?” She finally asked. “When did you do it?”
Pow scooted herself back a few inches, giving herself and her sister a little breathing room. She was feeling a bit smothered. “The night I locked you in that cell.”
Vi buried her head in her knees, bent harshly at the waist. “I can’t fucking believe myself. I should’ve known something was wrong when I saw you with half your clothes gone, braids out and shit. I should’ve known something would happen but instead I sat there like a moron.”
“Yeah, I still to this day don’t understand why they wanted my belt and shirt strap so badly. And the braids? Come on man, that was my thing!”
“Cait mentioned it offhand once.” Vi’s voice was so flat, so devoid of her usual spunk. It unnerved Pow terribly. “They’ll remove any potentially risky clothing items from prisoners they’ve put on suicide watch. Can’t have the inmates killing themselves before they get the information they want.”
“Sounds about right. But the braids, man! Why?!”
Pow knew she was deflecting, it was something Ekko had sat her down and discussed with her, but right now, she just wanted to wipe that devastated look off of Vi’s face. It wasn’t working, anyway.
“I still can’t believe I just let you walk off to your own death! Hell, Cait even unlocked the door and I didn’t go after you, I was too busy riding her. Some sister I am.”
“What’s done is done, Fat Hands. If I’m being honest…I’m glad things happened like they did. Not to mention, if it makes you feel any better, Ekko and I also fucked that same night, so you don’t have to feel guilty for getting some action.”
“Oh my shit,” Vi groaned, giggling slightly, and Pow knew she had won. “I don’t know why that does help. Even if I wasn’t there for you, I’m glad he was. The two of you are good for each other.”
“Yeah, some days I’m just not sure how I got so lucky, to get to spend my life with him. Wouldn’t trade it for anything, though.”
Vi grinned. “Never thought you’d be the mushy type. Though I suppose you could say the same for me. Not sure how you share a bed with him every night, but I guess you get used to it.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Did you not hear him at all? The bastard’s constantly talking in his sleep, not to mention he snores like a damn chainsaw.”
“Okay, he’s not anywhere near that bad! And it was probably just all the stress of the day, wiped him out good. It’s not normal for him, not to that extent.”
“Alright, maybe I was exaggerating slightly, but my point still stands. I enjoyed my own bed much more after having to share with you two.”
“I’m sure you did, sis. You two aren’t quiet at all, just so you’re aware.”
Vi’s face lit redder than her hair. Pow loved seeing her big, tough sister go weak at just the mention of Caitlyn. Even if she had a lot to hate about her, she made Vi happy, so Pow could put her animosity aside.
“Now, enough about me,” Pow continued. “Tell me more about you and Caity Lady.”
“You know she’s going to demolish you the second she hears any of those nicknames leave your mouth?” Vi asked. “We’ve been steady for a couple years now. Like I told you, we fought a lot at first, but we’ve worked through all that.”
“Even when she dumped you because you refused to kill Isha?”
“How the hell do you know about that? Stalker,” Vi laughed. “Yes, even that.”
“I have my ways,” Pow grinned. “Now, spill. I aired out my dirty laundry, now it’s your turn. I can see it on your face, something’s eating at you. Let’s keep walking and you can tell me about it.”
The two stood up from their creaky bench and resumed their trek down the sidewalks of Zaun as Pow listened to Vi ramble. She told her of the weeks following Pow and Ekko’s departure; that Vi swore it was her fault they’d left, that she failed in her job as a big sister to keep them safe. Had drank herself nearly to death to escape the pain, and that Caitlyn had left her after about a month of that, as she would not engage in a relationship with someone who couldn’t care for themselves, because she was too busy with her work to come home and play nanny. Vi had talked about the weeks she’d spent homeless following that night, still continuously drinking and picking fights with street cons, until she had a few too many drinks one night and found herself in an emergency clinic with a near deadly case of alcohol poisoning. Caitlyn had come back that night with roses and apologies both endless, and had taken the following weeks to work with Vi, to help her escape her addiction and remind her that she hadn’t hurt anyone but herself.
“She told me about Ekko’s disappearing act, you know?” Vi said, when the story was all said and done. “I didnt realize, until I saw that note under the bed, that you went with him.”
“Yeah, that was a bit of a spur of the moment decision, that note,” Pow replied. “I wanted to just disappear, I wanted you to be happy and I knew the only way you could do that…was to be free from me. But then I heard you and Ekko talking, and I realized that maybe it wasn’t for the best. I still had to leave, me being around wouldn’t have done anyone any good, but I couldn’t bear the thought of you being in pain, thinking I had died. I just…I did exactly as I had done for Ekko back when I was Jinx: I made sure you could love me from a safe distance.”
“You’re such a little shithead, but I love you, no matter how close or how far you are.”
“Of course. Once you’ve set your stubborn little pea brain to something, there’s no stopping you.”
“Oh, fuck off, pigtails. Once a rotten baby sister, always a rotten baby sister, I guess.”
“Damn right! I’ll show you rotten!”
———————————
The two walked for another thirty minutes, just exchanging stories good and bad, stopping by new shops and revisiting long standing ones, and making up for years of banter. The early evening sun scorched the world, dulled considerably by the chill wind. It was always windy here, Pow remembered, that much had not changed.
The two of them made it eventually to a little antique shop, one that was not unlike Benzo’s, but rather than useless gadgets and tinker toys, it was full of quality goods and little trinkets, some older than both girls and their parents combined. Classical rock music played from an ancient phonograph in one corner, and not a speck of dust could be found, despite the musty smell of the room. This shop was as far from Pow's style as any shop could possibly get, but Vi seemed to be really enjoying the displays and oddities lying around, so she just followed along quietly.
“Can I help you all find something?” An accented voice asked from across the shop, likely hearing Vi’s muttered appreciation towards various items. “Oh, Vi! It’s good to see you here! And you as well, Powder.”
Out from seemingly nowhere came Mel Medarda, holding a small, rusted-as-hell typewriter in her perfectly manicured hands. She wasn’t dressed for the council, not down here, rather she wore more casual clothing. A pair of pale, fitted slacks paired with a worn jade green tank top, showing off the gold filigree decorating her skin. Pow never thought she’d see the richest woman in Piltover down in the slums, running a shop and wearing anything not bedazzled in jewels. Even her hair had been let down, falling to her waist in kinky coils tighter even than Ekko’s with miniature braids in the mix, making her hair worthy of a goddess.
“Mel, didn’t think I’d see you here!” Vi smiled. “Taking a break from council life?”
“Not necessarily. My partner and I both take turns running this place, though she does most of the work. Says it brings her something to do, now that her fighting days are over,” Mel replied. “She’s actually been looking for you both; I mentioned you were back in Piltover, Powder, and she’s been excited to see you.”
“Ha!” Pow exclaimed, rather dryly, though she hadn’t intended for such. “Who’d be excited to see me?”
“That’s what I said too. I wasn’t excited for shit, but somehow you always find a way to piss me off.”
Pow turned quickly, looking up at the world weary face of Sevika behind her. The woman, despite the tired look on her face, the pissed off tone of her voice, spared a smile for her. Pow launched herself up into the woman’s single arm, knowing she could manage her weight with ease.
“Yeah, yeah, don’t get too cozy, kid.”
“I’ve been looking for you! You’ve been down here this whole time?!”
Sevika grinned. “One can only handle being a posh little Piltie for so long before she loses what’s left of her sanity.”
“Never took you for the type to work at an antique shop,” Vi commented. “Losing your edge so soon?”
“Yeah, Vika, what’s got you so tame nowadays?” Pow asked, hopping down from her little perch in Sevika’s arm.
“I told you what would happen if you called me that again.”
“It’s been eight years, can’t you give me a pass?”
“No.” Sevika turned her attention back to Vi. “The shop was Mel’s idea. She needed something to do with her mother’s vast, useless collection of shit, and figured it would be best enjoyed by the people here who could actually use it. I’ve just been along for the ride.”
“Makes sense, Cait and I weren’t much different,” Vi said. “Never thought I’d see you of all people settling down with a Piltie, let alone a councilor.”
“Still not sure what she sees in you,” Pow added. “She’s a queen among women, and in the literal sense I suppose, and you’re still just as much of an ogre as you always were.”
“I should have let you die eight years ago.”
“We aren’t actually a pair,” Mel interrupted, before Sevika started something she couldn’t finish, even though Pow knew deep down Sevika could probably crush her, especially after Pow’s years of slacking off in her training. “We did give it a shot, but it’s not our style. We just work together as close friends.”
“Close friends,” Vi smirked. “Okay Jayce. Whatever you say.”
“What does that mean?” Sevika grumbled.
“It means you can lie about being partners all you want but there’s too much sexual tension to ignore.”
“Okayyy, changing the subject,” Pow drawled. “We need to find some time to catch up while we’re in town, Vika. I got some people you might wanna meet.”
“You two can go if you want, I just need to find something for Caitlyn,” Vi said.
“I said sometime, not today,” Pow retaliated. “We’ve had enough deep conversations for one day. I think I’ll find something for Ekko while we’re already here. He’s still collecting his little clocks, so if there’s any around, I could buy it off you?”
“There’s a few back here, I’ll show ya,” Sevika said.
Pow followed the woman back towards a dark corner of the shop. Her hair was gone, completely buzzed off, and Pow decided it suited her. She had never been one to enjoy caring for it, always hacking it shorter and shorter. She figured the day would eventually come when she’d shave it off altogether.
The corner she was led to was dusty, the one place in this shop that had been ignored. A small shelf sat before her, lined with clocks of varying shapes and sizes, from small wristwatches to a six foot grandfather clock seated beside the display. Most were alike to what Ekko had already collected, all brass and tin, ticking quietly as the gears chugged along ceaselessly. But there was one, Pow noticed, that he didn’t have. It was lined with various golds and alloys, gears half exposed, damaged, yet it still ticked. A familiar red dash marked one of the undamaged faces, the face of four. Its accompanying chain lay beside it, permanently cleaved from the contraption but never far away. This was Ekko’s. He had cried the morning following their departure from Piltover, when he reached for his pocket and felt its distinct absence. He hadn’t been apart from it since the day he’d been unofficially adopted by Benzo. But he had lost it during the war, when he’d sent his z drive barreling for Viktor the Machine Herald. Often, Pow would catch him subconsciously reaching for it, seeking its comfort, even in recent days, as if he’d never truly recovered from its loss. She picked it up delicately in one hand, the chain in the other.
“How much for this?” She asked.
“For you? It’s on me,” Sevika said. “Welcome home kid.”
“For all I picked at you,” Pow said, “I really did miss you. It’s good to see you again.”
“I could say the same. Life gets boring without a cute little brat to wrangle.”
“I think I can help you with that.” Pow grinned up at Sevika. “We got a few of ‘em at the house for you to meet.”
“You’re still stealing kids off the street, I take it?”
“No, not quite.” Vi approached the two, holding an antique photo album in her hands. Empty, so she and Caitlyn could fill it. “Pow Pow must’ve been quite bored without having things to blow up every waking moment, and Little Man just couldn’t keep his dick out of her, so there’s three Mini Ekkos back home and a fourth that I can already see will be a mini Powder.”
Sevika howled, punching Pow playfully with her mechanical right arm. It was still the same one she had made for her all those years ago, she was pleased to notice. “You just have a way with kids, dontcha? Always gotta have your little entourage following you around huh?”
Pow sighed fondly. “Yeah, they’re little cuties. Come back with us, you can meet them. If they’ve woken up from their naps.”
Sevika nodded. “More unofficial grandkids for me to wrangle. Sure, why not?”
———————————
“I was wondering where you two had gone,” Caitlyn said by way of greeting.
Pow and Vi had walked inside, Sevika in tow, to see Caitlyn at the stove preparing late lunches for the kids while Ekko munched on his sandwich contentedly, still bleary eyed. He smiled as he looked over at Pow, at the tall woman behind her. He waved a hand in greeting, before returning to his food. Pow found herself quite hungry as well. She walked over to where Caitlyn stood at the stove, plucking a broccoli floret from the pot before her and popped it in her mouth.
“Keep that up and there won’t be any left for dinner,” Caitlyn groaned.
Pow rolled her eyes. “Okay, Ekko, I apologize if the singular bite of food I snatched ruined your elaborate meal plan.”
“I hope you choke on that broccoli,” Caitlyn replied, completely straight faced.
Pow did, in fact, choke on that broccoli. She had never expected that kind of sarcasm from Caitlyn of all people. Pow swore Idina carried more sarcasm in her left pinky toe than Caitlyn did all throughout.
“Vi, quit being a bad influence, you’ve ruined Caity,” she groaned once she had finished coughing. She could hear everyone else laughing, and a grin of her own made its way onto her face.
“It’s a good thing I cooked extra,” Caitlyn continued. “Are you staying for dinner, Sevika?”
“I doubt it,” she replied. “I still have some work to do with Scar and the Firelights. Something about repairs at the water treatment plant. But I was told I had some little grandkids here to visit?”
“Are you dad’s mom?” Idina asked.
Ekko froze, barely a split second, only enough to catch Pow's attention before he shook his head. “No, this is mama’s adoptive mom, Sevika.”
“What does atoptive mean?” Lora asked. She stared up at Sevika with wide, elated eyes.
“It means my real mama isn’t here anymore, so Sevika showed up to take care of me instead until I got big enough to take care of myself,” Pow explained. Similar to how I adopted Isha she thought. She wouldn’t tell the kids about their sister until they got much older, she had decided that when they were still tots. “She’s scary looking, and annoying as hell, but she’s real sweet and she was really excited to meet you guys.”
“Don’t listen to your mother,” Sevika grumbled. “She’s the reason I have wrinkles.”
“Are you sure you didn’t get those from Silco? Pain in the ass would’ve given me wrinkles at the ripe age of fifteen. I’ll take credit where I’ve earned it: I didn’t give you shit. I took your arm though.”
“Yeah, that’s definitely your mom,” Idina grumbled.
Sevika cackled, giving Pow’s shoulder a heavy pat. “You’ve raised them well, I see.”
Pow grinned. “They all got their cute looks from Ekko. They had to get something from me.”
Sevika shook her head. “No, that one definitely has your face. And the tiny one there is Felicia reborn. Can’t give Ekko all the credit.”
“I thought so too,” Vi said. “You wouldn’t remember her, Pow Pow, but he really is mom 2.0.”
“I figured the purple hair had to come from someone. Can’t say I’m shocked.”
“Is it true that you and mom used to be crime lords?” Idina asked.
Sevika choked on nothing, turning to face Pow. “What the fuck have you been telling her?”
Pow laughed hysterically at her daughter. She was really coming into herself again today. The past few days had been an unwelcome transition for her, but it seemed she was starting to settle in. “No, Ina, the man who raised me was a crime lord. We worked for him, but we weren’t him.”
Idina nodded, as if that made complete sense. Pow added Silco to the list of things to explain when the kids were older.
“Hey kids, I have some lethal, illegally acquired weapons back home, who wants to play with ‘em first?” Sevika grinned. The three older kids all shot up while Rashi continued to babble idly at his blueberries.
“Sevika, please don’t do anything that’ll put my kids on a list,” Ekko groaned.
“What can I do? I’m a councilwoman now, I am the law.” Sevika replied half heartedly. “But I promise they won’t be in any danger. I’ll keep Mel nearby on the off chance one little squirt does something they shouldn’t. You guys have fun, ya hear?” Sevika led the three kids outside, the fourth in hand, already shouting something about not taking advantage of an old cripple.
Ekko finished his sandwich, wiping his face with a paper napkin. “I’m going to get to work, I have something fun planned for your wedding day and I’m kinda running out of time to finish it.”
“I’ll get the cooking finished. Vi, can I trust you to dice an onion without removing any fingers?” Cait asked.
“No you cannot, but I’ll do my best anyway,” the redhead replied.
With nothing else to do, Pow followed Ekko upstairs, keeping a hold on his waist to help him up the steps. She had no more of an idea what he was planning than Caitlyn and Vi themselves, but knowing Ekko, it would be something elaborate and heartfelt. She would just sit on the bed and watch him tinker while she finished writing up her fancy speech. She had a couple ideas come to her throughout the day, and though it wasn’t anything spectacular, she hoped it was enough to make Vi happy.
It wasn’t long before Ekko gave up on his tinkering and joined Pow on the bed. She could barely tell what it was he had been working on, but it was rather large, metallic, and capped with steeply pitched blades.
“Thank you, for being with me last night,” he whispered, leaning his head on her shoulder. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”
“Stop being sorry, Big Man. It’s my job to help you out. I’m your wife.” She leaned into him further, the two of them meshing perfectly with one another, two pieces of different puzzles that still managed to fit. Six years had gone by, and Pow still loved nothing more than to be able to call herself his wife. “Besides, you’ve done more than your fair share of dealing with my shit. It’s only fair I return the favor.”
Ekko held her hand in his, squeezing it gently. “We’ve come a long way, haven’t we?”
“Absolutely.” Pow sat up once more. She had nearly forgotten about the stopwatch in her pocket. She reached it and took a gentle hold of it, not removing it just yet. “I got you something, while Vi and I were out.”
Ekko looked down at her pocket, where her hand rested, then back up at her again. His eyes were so warm, they made Pow melt. “Is that so?”
Pow smiled gently, taking her other hand out of his, so she could hold it open. With barely a sound, she placed the stopwatch carefully in his hand. “I found it at Sevika’s shop. Just sitting on one of the shelves in the back. Like it was waiting for you to come get it.”
Ekko sighed, a wave of peace rushing over his face as if a missing piece of himself had finally been filled. He held the pocket watch gingerly, clutching it to his chest. When his eyes met Pow’s again, they were full with so much love that the excess had poured out in the shape of tears down his cheek.
“Thank you, I didn’t think this was even still out there.”
“Neither did I. But I knew it as soon as I saw it. I figured it would help make the past few days a little less painful.”
Ekko stood, placing the watch on the wooden dresser gently, then made his way immediately back to her. He kissed her softly, holding her like she were made of glass. “Just being with you makes everything better.”
Pow was overcome with the need for him in that moment. His touch, his kind words, his warmth, him. The past few days had been nothing but going and going, heartache to heartache. Happy reunion to less than happy reunion. But now, she just wanted to bathe in his presence. She leaned forward again, holding his hands in hers, lips hovering over his, tasting his savory breath.
“Is that so?”
She relished in the way he was quick to flush, as he always had been when it came to her. She leaned impossibly closer, still not quite touching, giving him the opportunity to make the first move.
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Rather than respond, he dove into her embrace, lips locking onto hers, sliding into place perfectly as they had done many times before. Rather than the quick exchange of affection they’d limited themselves to in the past week, rather than the delicate show of love from just a moment ago, the air around them was charged with something more. Something alive.
The kiss started gentle, quickly gaining intensity as the two of them mutually wished for more, more, more. They were sloppy, a mess of clashing teeth and eager tongues exploring each other’s mouths, Pow relishing in the feel of him. She let go of his hands, moving on autopilot as she lifted the hem of his shirt, pulling the fabric over his head and casting it to the side, not caring to see where it landed. She pushed even closer, impossibly closer, as if she could meld with his body, become one with him in flesh and blood, easing him down on the bed, shifting so she was fully on top of him, legs straddling his narrow hips. Her body sparked with a new surge of energy as she leaned down into him, moving from his soft, swollen lips to run hers along his jaw, kissing a trail along the sharp bone. A pleased sound escaped him as her teeth found their way to the soft hollow of his neck, nibbling greedily. Her core hummed with that familiar, delicious tingle as he ran his large hands under her halter top and over her back, leaving sparks in their wake. She had missed this, missed the taste of him, the feel of him beneath her, her tongue traveling his soft neck. She was sure to pour every bit of love into her every move, every touch. She wanted Ekko to know just how perfect he was, just how much she treasured him, flaws and all, because the gods knew he’d done the same for her.
Pow hummed with rich pleasure when Ekko’s hands grew braver, reciprocating what she had given, easing first her top over her head quickly, then her jeans off her legs, neither wanting to spare even a single taste of the other. His body leaned further into her, as if he could see into her soul, wishing to convey the very same unspoken message she had to him. He found the small clasp of her bra and made quick work of it, doing away with it as he bucked his hips up to meet hers. She met him halfway, cherishing the feel of his warm chest on hers, lips finding his once again as his hands returned to her bare back, undoing the clasp of her braid. She let him undo her hair as she continued making eager work of his neck and down his chest. He had come undone for her, just the night before, and now she would let him be her undoing, leaving her the bare, imperfectly perfect version of herself that he had helped her learn to love.
Pow sighed as he bucked against her once more, feeling the hardened length of him brush along her inner thigh. Her hair fell in wavy, aquamarine sheets around the two of them as Ekko maneuvered her beneath him, capturing her lips in his, taking his turn to be in control, to offer the love she had shown him right back to her, a mutual affection that only he could provide her. She greedily accepted every kiss, every sweep of his tongue in her mouth, the hammer of his jackrabbit pulse as her hands explored his chest. She could stay in this moment forever, where all she saw, all she felt, and tasted and smelled and thought was Ekko. She yelped suddenly when his teeth found their own place, that one little spot on her neck that he knew riled her up, while his busy hands ran along the supple curve of her breasts, sending butterflies loose under her skin. Her hands moved themselves to his waist, running along the skin of his hips, inching lower and lower, finding his trousers and fumbling with their brass clasps, she couldn’t undo them fast enough.
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“Hey, dinner is—oh my god!”
Ekko jumped back quickly enough to send him nearly across the large bed. Pow had heard the creaking, had assumed it was the bed below her, but it was the door swinging open, and Caitlyn had all but invited herself in. Pow scrambled for the blankets, covering her bare chest as Cait stumbled back out of the doorway with hands hiding her scarlet face. Pow looked to Ekko in shock, both flushed and pink, skin bruised to match. She smiled, and he broke, laughing silently, the two of them left giggling like school kids caught skipping class.
“We can consider that moment ruined,” Pow sighed, smile still lingering long after the laughter had faded.
Ekko caught her lips in one last kiss, licking at the corner of her mouth where her lipstick had smeared. “I quite enjoyed that, actually. But we should probably go out there before she sends Vi in after us.”
“She wouldn’t dare, her posh little rich girl eyes have been scalded for life.” Pow took the discarded shirt and bra that Ekko held out to her, easing them back on as she calmed the excited racing of her heart. Ekko would be the death of her, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.