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The Last Drop was alive with the vibrant hum of conversation, laughter, and the rhythmic sway of bodies moving to the music. There was a heavy scent of spilled drinks on old wood as they enjoyed the party. Ekko had found himself sitting by the bar, his fingers drumming against the countertop. His nerves flared up every few minutes as he watched the door and the crowd. Perhaps to help with his anxiety, Vander slid a drink his way, it was a bright orange fizzing liquid that tasted just as sweet as it looked.
"Relax, kid," Vander said with a smirk, wiping his hands on a rag. "She'll show up. Powder always does.”
Benzo sat next to his son as he nursed his own drink, the older man's sharp eyes catching the younger one's fidgeting brown eyes. "You're looking for the Little Lady, aren't you?" Benzo teased, nudging Ekko lightly with his elbow.
Ekko's cheeks flushed, he was caught again red handed. But, he didn't deny it. His eyes scanned the room, flickering between familiar and unfamiliar faces. "Yeah," he admitted, his voice tinged with worry. "I know she’s usually late, but… this is different. She’s never this late."
From the corner of his eye, he spotted Vi laughing and getting a little too close to a Piltover girl, he could clearly see just how much Vi loved that girl. From how, she caressed her skin and always found a way to have an arm around her. Ekko wasn’t blind to how Vi looked at her, it was the same way he looked at Powder.
Vander chuckled, leaning against the bar. "Powder's a girl, Ekko. They like to take their time getting dolled up. And with her mother helping? Forget it, you're in for a wait."
Benzo snorted, taking a long sip of his drink. "Felicia's involved? Kid, you might as well settle in. It'll be hours. Felicia's a perfectionist—You won’t be seeing the Little Lady, until she deems her ready."
Ekko tried to smile at their playful ribbing, but his worry remained. Powder wasn’t just about making entrances; she loved stealing the show, grabbing everyone’s attention with her unpredictable flair. She’d never stay quiet this long. His mind raced through a dozen scenarios, what if something happened on her way here? What if she got caught up in something?
"Maybe I should check on her," Ekko murmured, more to himself than anyone else. There was a worry clear in his voice as he pushed his glass to the side and began to rise from his seat.
Before he could take another step, his gaze caught a flash of movement near the entrance. There she was, arm in arm with her mother, weaving through the crowd. Powder looked nothing short of stunning.
Her short blue hair, typically pulled up into twin space buns was curled to perfection, framing her face in soft waves. Colorful eyeshadow and sharp black eyeliner made her electric blue eyes pop, and Ekko felt his breath hitch as his gaze followed her. The knee-length dress she wore—an elegantly altered hand-me-down from her mother—hugged her figure, the style suited her. It was clear just who Powder took after now. There were still things that still made the outfit unique to her, like her dark jacket that slung casually over her shoulders and the belt cinched around her waist.
Ekko didn’t even realize he was staring, his drink forgotten in his hand. His mind spun with what he could say to explain how beautiful she looked.
Benzo sighed and leaned over, smirking as he reached out to gently close Ekko’s slightly parted mouth with a firm hand. "Lad, she’s going to catch you staring if you don’t pull yourself together," he teased, though his tone held a hint of amusement.
Vander, watching the exchange, chuckled as he polished a glass. "Let him stare," Vander must’ve sounded overly proud of himself as Benzo cracked. Only offering Benzo an apologetic glance as he made a couple of attempts to stop his own son from making a fool of himself. "Just shows how much he loves her, doesn’t it?"
Benzo grunted, a mix of exasperation and amusement. "Not sure what the Little Lady’s done to my son," he said, his eyes shifting back to Ekko, who was still caught in his trance. "He’s not even aware of his surroundings. I’ve never seen him like this."
"That’s love for you," Vander said with a knowing grin as he looked at Felica. “It makes you a fool.”
As they approached the bar, Powder caught Ekko’s stare and raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a mischievous smirk.
“Honey!” Felicia grinned as she waved over at her husband. “Go have fun honey.” She said with a smile as she kissed Powder’s forehead.
Felicia gave powder a quick squeeze before releasing her and returning to Vander’s side. Leaving Powder to handle her bashful boyfriend who couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her.
“Earth to Little Man!” She teased as she approached and stopped in front of him and glanced up. “Worth the wait?”
Ekko blinked as reality came back to him hard as he looked down at Powder who was right under his nose. “Y-Yeah…” He shammered as Benzo took the drink of his hands before he dropped it. "You just… you look…"
"Stunning? Gorgeous? Absolutely mind-blowing?" She offered, her smirk widening as she leaned in closer. "Go on, I could use a confidence boost."
None of those descriptions suited how angelic she looked. She looked like one of those girls in the Piltoven storybooks who made their love interest breathless. Who was able to make like no one else existed when it was just the two of them. That’s the sort of beautiful she was, the type to make the world melt away.
He laughed at her antics and knew she did that for him and his silly nerves. "All of the above," he admitted, his voice soft but sincere. "You look amazing, Powder."
For a moment, her teasing demeanor softened, and she gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "Thanks, Ekko. You’re looking good yourself.”
Felicia, standing nearby, couldn’t help but giggle softly at the sight of the young lovers. "It’s like they’re in their own little world," She remarked, her gaze softened at how happy Powder looked. Powder looked so in love with Ekko
Benzo, on the other hand, groaned dramatically as he threw his hands up in defeat. "They’re hopeless. Completely hopeless," He declared through a smile and pure amusement. He was really just proud of his son.
"Let 'em be," Vander said, his lips curling into a knowing grin as he poured himself another drink. "Before we know it, wedding planning will be in our futures."
Felicia chuckled at the thought, leaning back slightly to glance at Vander. "As long as my little girl is happy, right, Vander?"
Vander nodded, his voice was raw as he replied to her question. "As long as the kids are happy, it doesn’t matter." He hoped that Powder would stay his little girl for a little longer. He didn’t want to hand her off just yet.
Meanwhile, Powder tugged gently on Ekko’s hand, pulling him toward the center of the room where others were already dancing. Her giggles bubbled up like the fizzy drinks around them. The way she held his hand, her fingers laced with his, it spoke volumes —she held onto his hand for dear life and with every ounce of love she had. Ekko followed her without hesitation, a soft, loving smile spreading across his face as she led him onto the dance floor.
Vander, noticing the moment, leaned over to one of his workers and motioned toward the music setup. “Play their song,” he said, in a singular look. The worker nodded, and soon the lively tune shifted seamlessly into something slower, deeper with a steady beat. The crowd moved into pairs and began to make space, forming a loose circle around the pair.
Powder wasted no time, moving to the beat with a kind of carefree confidence once she heard the song play. She mouthed a quick thank you to her Dad and returned to focusing on the boy in front of her. Ekko placed a steady hand on her waist as they began to dance hand in hand. She followed his movements with ease, her steps light and fluid, a perfect match to his steady rhythm. They broke apart, each showing off playful moves, only to come back together moments later, their laughter and smiles filling the room.
Felicia had clapped and cheered for her daughter as loud as she could. But, for the lovers, the world didn’t matter, not anymore. It had melted away, leaving only the two of them. Powder’s vibrant blue eyes locked with Ekko’s, her gaze brimming with joy and an unrivaled happiness only he could make her feel. Ekko felt himself pulled into her orbit, captivated by her smiles and the way she could make him forget everything—every worry, every burden.
The world didn’t seem to matter when he was with her.
As the song swelled, Ekko spun her around, and when she came back to him, he caught her easily, pulling her close. Powder rested her hands on his shoulders, her grin softening into a gentle smile. “I love you,” She whispered as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I love you more,” Ekko whispered back as he held her close. “How about we give them something to remember?”
Powder tilted her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Or maybe we ditch them? Go somewhere else where it’s just the two of us.”
“Yeah, I’d like that.” Ekko was beyond in love with this woman. Her every expression to herevery gestures. He loved them all.
Powder took him to the door as they weaved through the crowd hand in hand. No one seemed to notice as they slipped out into the cool Zaunite night, leaving the noise and chaos of The Last Drop behind them. By the time they made it out the door Ekko’s lips were already on hers as they walked. Powder pulled him through winding alleys, their laughter echoing against the stone walls, she was enjoying herself and that was more than enough to make him enjoy himself too. The city’s metallic aroma and faintly acrid air faded into the background as they reached an old terrace perched high above the streets. The view was breathtaking. Below them, Zaun's industrial sprawl shimmered with patches of neon and the soft glows of machinery.
Powder turned to him, her mischievous grin framed by the faint glow of nearby streetlights. “Much better,” Powder spoke with a softer tone as satisfaction “Just us.”
Ekko raised a brow, his own smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He extended a hand, his dark eyes glinting with playful charm. “How about a dance, my lady?”
Powder rolled her eyes in mock exasperation but took his hand without hesitation, her fingers curling warmly around his. “You’re such a dork,” She teased.
With no music but the hum of Zaun’s ever-busy heart, they began to move. Ekko’s steps were steady and sure, guiding her in a slow, improvised waltz. Powder followed with surprising grace, her carefree energy softening into something more intimate. The occasional spin here and there earned laughter from both of them, and every now and then, Powder would rest her head against his chest, savoring his heartbeat close to her ears.
As they danced, the world seemed to shrink around them. The distant noises of Zaun, the flickering lights below—it all faded into nothingness. All that mattered was the two of them and that was all they needed.
At one point, Ekko pulled her into a gentle dip, his hand supporting her back. Powder gasped in surprise, then giggled as she looked up at him, her blue eyes shining in the moonlight as he saw his reflection in her eyes. Before she could say anything, he leaned down, and their lips met in a soft, lingering kiss. Powder melted into him, her fingers clutching his shirt as the rest of the world fell away completely.
When they finally broke apart, her cheeks were flushed, and a rare shyness flickered in her gaze. “You’re full of surprises tonight,” She whispered, brushing a strand of her blue hair behind her ear.
Ekko chuckled, his heart racing. “Only for you.” He paused, pulling her closer as the words tumbled out before he could second-guess himself. “Powder… marry me.”
Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she stared at him as if trying to see if he was joking. But Ekko’s expression was serious, his dark eyes searching hers with unwavering sincerity. He sent silent prayers to whatever god would hear him and get her to accept.
“I don’t have a ring,” Ekko admitted quickly, his voice barely above a whisper. “But, if you want one, I’ll get you one. I just… I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I don’t need anything fancy. Just us. Like this.”
Powder blinked, her lips parting as her gaze softened. “You’re serious,” She whispered, more to herself than to him.
“Dead serious,” Ekko corrected as he gave her a longing glance. “Powder, you mean the world to me—no, you’re everything to me. Please, marry me.”
For a moment, there was nothing but the distant hum of Zaun and the faint rustle of the wind. Then, slowly, a smile spread across her face—bright and genuine, the kind that made Ekko’s heart soar.
Powder nodded quickly as she wrapped his arms around him. “Yes!” She accepted with a loud shout. “Yes, Ekko. I’ll marry you!”
That was it.
This was how their story truly ended.