AN: Mm, couldn't wait to publish from my laptop. Oh well
Ekko sat glum in one of Zaun's many bars. Nobody batted an eye at his age and had simply given him a sad smile. There were many kinds of people in Zaun, but one of the most common was a broken man. And that was what he was.
Ekko was traveling with Jayce and Ezreal when news of what happened to the Institute of War spread across Valoran. When they were told, the caravan was silent as they tried to believe what they were told. They immediately turned around and travelled back to the Institute. What they found... was ruins. Virtually no remnants of the Institute's past glory remained, only its massive set of stairs Alistair once fiercely guarded remained visible. When they approached the central fountain it finally sunk in what had happened. Their friends, their family, gone. Nothing binding them to that place anymore, the trio returned to Piltover and Zaun. Of course over the next few weeks reports of other surviving champions arrived, such as pirates ravaging Bilgewater under Gangplank's flag again or whispers of the Order of Shadows growing. Ekko had contemplated reading out to the other champions but had eventually decided against it. No point opening old wounds.
International relations were slowly changing. Without the League overseeing conflict and keeping the peace, it appeared conquest was in every ruler's minds. There were murmurs of massive battalions being raised from sand in Shurima, and rumours of Noxus reintroducing a draft. Zaun and Piltover's relationship had mainly stayed the same, but it was growing very clear to everyone involved that a new balance of power would need to be struck. Singed ran rampant in the lowest levels of Zaun, and Viktor had returned to rampage across Piltover. Other champions had returned, such as the policewoman duo Vi and Caitlyn and Camille, but Zaun's group of champions remained slim. Only himself and Janna had publicly returned without incident, whereas reports of humongous rat hordes and areas rendered inaccessible by explosive damage surfaced and terrified the populace.
All in all, Ekko knew that the world was well and truly screwed. As imperfect as it was the Institute of War was still the main peacekeeping force and was a place where some of the worst criminals were incarcerated. At the very least people wouldn't have to worry about Khada Jhin killing you or being immolated whenever they left their homes. All of the monsters the League held in check were now roaming the countrysides, slaughtering all that were unfortunate enough to come across them.
Ekko wasn't sure what to do now. He could rejoin his old gang, run with the Lost Boys again, but he had grown past that. It wasn't his life anymore. He could try to move to Piltover and assist Jayce but the very idea of moving away from Zaun brought acid to his throat. But then one day, an offer had appeared. It came in the form of an envelope hand delivered, but the courier had quickly disappeared after that. He read through it, and at very line his eyebrows raised. Someone was gathering the last remaining champions to try and end the threats Valoran is facing. Apparently Braum and Akali has already agreed, and was waiting on some more help. He had almost crumpled the letter right there, but then he saw what he was being offered. Assistance in repairing his Z-Drive. He wasn't sure who the benefactor was, or even if such a thing was possible. But he had to take the chance. So, he decided, maybe. This would be his third day of contemplation, and had finally decided to accept the invitation. Perhaps he would swing by Piltover and check if Jayce wanted to come too. After all, the world could do with more heroes.