Disclaimer: I do not own League of Legends in any way, shape, or form.

Sorry for the long wait for chapter 3! I'm not sure how often I'll get to update.


Chapter 3: The boy who Shattered Time

"...I can't believe this! That stupid bastard!" Ezreal yelled out loud, stomping his foot on the ground. He, Lux, and Karma were out on the slums of Zaun.

"Ezreal, calm down-" Lux started, but Ezreal cursed again.

"I don't understand! We're offering to help him; why won't he just take it? Just because I'm Piltovian?!"

"Well, why are you offering to help him?" Ezreal's eyes widened as Karma spoke up. There was silence before Karma's face broke out into a warm smile.

"You are very kind, Ezreal. However, the people of Zaun are very prideful. Ekko is no different. He is also a champion; he wants to be able to-and is able to-do things on his own." Lux nodded, placing her hand on Ezreal's shoulder.

"Karma is right, Ezreal. There's no reason to beat yourself up over any of this; if he doesn't want help then so be it. Ekko's the one taking care of those kids and the situation. You can't give help where help isn't wanted." Ezreal sighed.

"It just...makes me angry. If he actually wanted to accomplish whatever he wanted to accomplish, he would take the route with the best chance of success; meaning he would accept our help. The more the merrier, right?"

"Except he doesn't know this is the route with the best chance of success. He doesn't trust us, even if we are fellow champions." Lux pointed out.

"That's even more stupid!" Ezreal yelled, ruffling his hands through his hair. Lux and Karma looked at each other with a sigh.

"Let's head to the relief program's headquarters, shall we?" Karma suggested. Lux nodded.

"Come on, Ez. Let's forget about this whole encounter." Ezreal seemed to hesitate before finally sighing.

"Alright. I suppose you're right." The three of them began walking in a direction with Karma in the lead. Lux was saying something to him about how she was going to convince the Institute Magus to let them form their team, but Ezreal wasn't listening. His mind was on the Ekko situation.

You aren't your friend, you aren't the sheriff

I'm not looking for the help of some Pilty

Ezreal clenched his fist in frustration, making sure Lux wouldn't notice as she continued to ramble on to him. Something doesn't feel right. Ezreal thought to himself.

"Ez! Ezreal! Are you even listening to me?!" Lux yelled, waving her hand in front of his face. He blinked at her before nodding quickly.

"Y-yeah! About that Toren guy, right?" Lux looked at him suspiciously, but continued talking anyways.

"Well, as I was saying…" Ezreal found his mind wandering away immediately once again. Isn't he a champion? What's he doing running around the slums of Zaun anyways? Why is he just going around getting himself into trouble like this? Talk about a reckless kid…

"Oh yeah, I'm sure. He'll be back tomorrow morning." Ezreal's ears perked, and out of the corner of his eye he saw two officers speaking to each other.

"Tch, that delinquent. I heard he actually has a life?" At this comment, the other officer began to laugh.

"Him? A life? I don't know where you heard that rumor. Kid's a champion of the League, but that doesn't mean he has a life. And he knows he doesn't have a life, too. He's a troublemaking delinquent with no life at heart, you see. Runs around getting himself in trouble here in Zaun, and when that ain't enough for him, he runs around getting to cause trouble at the League. He ruined his life. Ain't no second chances for that kid no matter how many times he rewinds." The two officers began laughing as Ezreal narrowed his eyes. They're talking about Ekko.

"So what should we do about a kid who can control time like that anyways?"

"Well, we have the advantage; he thinks he'll have the element of surprise. Set up all the officers on duty to get him. We're putting that stray down for good this time. Even the Institute of War won't be able to say anything about us dealing with a criminal."

"Yes, sir. I'll have all the officers standby to catch him and take him out once and for all."

"Ezreal! Gods, Ezreal, stop zoning out like that!" Ezreal turned to Lux, who was fuming at him. She grabbed a hold of his sleeve, pulling him along. "Honestly…" She sighed.

"S-sorry." Ezreal apologized distractedly.

"Well uh...I...didn't get them. But I will! I will! I promise! I'll go back and get them! I'll sneak back in tomorrow morning, just at the break of dawn."

Ezreal's eyes began focusing. They'll be waiting for him...expecting him. With a lot of people, too.

"Just over here." Karma said as they began walking towards a building.

I have to warn him. Ezreal decided. It wouldn't be right. I don't feel right not doing anything.

"Eeeeeeez!" Lux complained. She put on a pouty face.

"What? You don't want to make a team with me anymore? Was all that stuff you said on the train a lie? You idiot!" Ezreal laughed nervously.

"N-no! Of course I want to form this team still! Sorry." She continued to pout, but turned to follow Karma.

Ezreal sighed. Lux'll kill me if she knew I was still getting myself involved in this, so I have to wait to give her and Karma the slip. I'll warn him tonight.

"So, gonna show us around?" He said, walking up to stand beside Karma. She smiled.

"If you would like me to. You don't want to look for your man immediately?" Lux laughed.

"Oh, Karma! You're our friend! Show us around!" Karma's eyes seemed to widen a fraction when Lux said that before a smile appeared on her face.

"Alright then. Just this way!" Karma began walking in a direction, and Lux and Ezreal followed.

"Kid's a champion of the League, but that doesn't mean he has a life. And he knows he doesn't have a life, too...He ruined his life. Ain't no second chances for that kid no matter how many times he rewinds."

The words the officer had spoken replayed in Ezreal's mind over and over again, and he wasn't sure why.

"Ezreal, Lux, this is the co-manager of the relief programs." Karma introduced them to a short, fat man with a mustache. He outstretched his hand, and Ezreal and Lux took turns shaking it.

"Pleased to meet you two, although I of course know who you are. I'm a magus at the Institute of War, you see. My name is Toren." There was a pause before Lux gasped.

"You're Toren?! Ezreal, Ezreal, it's him! Oh, I never thought we would run into you so soon! But then again, he did say you were over in Zaun for a project. I suppose that was the Zaun relief project." Toren looked at Karma questioningly, and she immediately caught on.

"Ah, I see. Toren, my friends would like to speak with you."

"With me? About what?" Toren said, turning to Lux.

"Well, Ezreal and I were hoping to form a team!" Toren scratched his head.

"Then you could've just gone to the desk at the Institute." Lux chuckled nervously.

"W-well, you see...the team only consists of Ezreal and I. For now! For now. We're going to recruit three more members eventually, obviously before we participate in any matches. But we want to create our team right away, with a cool team name and all to get ourselves out there! After all, nobody knows how long it could take us to recruit members." Toren stroked his mustache.

"I see...that still doesn't explain why you couldn't just go to the desk, though." There was a pause. A long pause. Lux laughed nervously(borderline insanely).

"I-I'm sorry, sir, but I don't understand? The man named Celio who we encountered at the desk told us we had to speak to you, but that you were all the way in Zaun?" Toren sighed.

"That would explain it. Celio, that lazy magus...well, I'll get straight to the point. You didn't need to come talk to me; you could've made your team over at the institute." There was another long pause. A very long pause.

"S-s-s-so...you mean t-to tell me…" Lux started, shaking in anger. She couldn't even finish her sentence because she was so angry, but her message got across. Toren coughed.

"I-I'll deal with Celio...appropriately. And of course, I'll help you form the team, too! I mean, I'll approve it! I'll get you the form to fill out! But not right now. Maybe tomorrow? I'd like to focus on Zaun right now. Karma?" Karma nodded.

"Would you mind waiting until then?" Lux continued her nervous breakdown laughter.

"Ha, hahaha! Of course we don't mind! I mean we didn't even need to come all this way but we already have! So might as well! Right?! Am I right Ezreal?!"

"If we never came we never would've met Karma." Ezreal said simply. That seemed to begin calming Lux down, but Ezreal still wasn't paying full attention to them. His eyes narrowed in thought.

"Ain't no second chances for that kid no matter how many times he rewinds."

Night came quickly. Lux and Ezreal had been given rooms to use at the Relief Corps Headquarters, but Ezreal was currently closing the door to his room behind him as he snuck out. He walked through a set of hallways until he reached the main floor, quietly opening the door that lead outside. He shut the door behind him even more softly before quickly heading for the slums of Zaun.

Being the Prodigal Explorer that he was, he was easily able to relocate the shelter Ekko had been in. He sighed softly as he slowly walked towards it.

"I'm sure he already expects to run into some resistance, so he'll probably just tell me I wasted my time...tch. Even so…" Ezreal didn't finish his sentence, quickly stopping all forms of sound as he peered through the entrance of the shelter. He saw all the kids sleeping on makeshift mattresses of sorts on the floor. He looked all around the room, looking for Ekko.

It can't be that hard to spot a guy with a white mohawk. Ezreal thought frustratedly. Maybe he saw me and is trying to knock me out from behind?! Ezreal quickly whipped around, but saw no one. He sighed. Well, I guess better safe than sorry. When he turned back to look inside the shelter, he came face to face with one of the kids, who was now awake and standing right in front of him.

"Ah-!" Ezreal slapped a hand over his mouth as he fell backwards onto the ground. The kid tilted his head, and Ezreal gulped.

"You're...that guy from earlier this morning?" Ezreal sat in silence, deciding what to do, before he nodded.

"Right. That's me. Do you know where Ekko is?" The little boy looked down at his shoes, and Ezreal leaned in a bit.

"Hey, it's okay, I'm here to help him. I'm not going to do any harm to Ekko, so you can tell me where he is." The little boy still said nothing, looking away. Ezreal sighed.

"Alright, we'll do this another way. You know where he is, right?" The boy nodded.

"Can you give him a message for me? You don't have to tell him it's a message from me though." The boy nodded again, and Ezreal smiled. This would work. This way, Ekko wouldn't even know Ezreal was ever here.

"Alright. Some officers were talking, and they're setting up a surprise trap for Ekko for when he raids their place tomorrow morning. They wanna take him out once and for all. So tell him he can't go. Okay?" Ezreal stood up and turned to walk away, but the boy gripped Ezreal's shirt, and his grip was shaking so fearfully that Ezreal whipped back around immediately.

"What's wrong?" He asked, alarmed. The little boy's eyes were wide.

"Are they...are they really setting a trap for Ekko? Are they really planning to have all their officers take him out?" Ezreal mentally slapped himself for telling this stuff to a kid, but he nodded.

"Yeah, so you have to tell Ekko before tomorrow morning, alright?" Ezreal was about to turn to leave again, but the kid's grip got even tighter.

"You said you were here to help Ekko right? You want to help Ekko right? Please! Please help Ekko! Ekko is…" Ezreal's eyes became concentrated as he squatted down to the kid's eye level.

"Ekko is what?" The kid looked away, but finally answered after Ezreal prompted him once more.

"Ekko is already going to the police station!" Ezreal's eyes widened.

"He's what?" The kid gulped.

"The officers...they don't care about the kids on the slums...so we were playing with some of our dolls and toys and they...they stole them from us for fun. So Ekko has been trying to get our toys back, but he...please! Ekko always does this! He always tries to act like our hero, like the hero of Zaun, but really he's just putting himself in danger! He doesn't even care if he gets hurt! He just says things like, 'I'll just rewind if I get hurt', or 'They can kill me, but they better do it more than once', as if he doesn't care about himself! Ekko is always doing these things for us like he doesn't care about his own life! Please help Ekko! Please don't let Ekko hurt anymore! Please don't let Ekko die!" Ezreal's eyes were wide at the kid's sudden outburst. He was gripping Ezreal's shirt in both of his hands now, crying.

"He ruined his life. Ain't no second chances for that kid no matter how many times he rewinds."

Ezreal's fists were clenched tightly as he began shaking in anger.

"What an idiot…" He muttered. The kid slowly looked up at Ezreal's angry and determined face.

"What an absolute idiot...not accepting help, not considering himself or those around him and how they might feel about him…" Ezreal looked down at the kid and flashed him a smile.

"Alright. Go back in the shelter. Protect everyone here. I'll come back with Ekko. I'll…" Ezreal turned around.

"I'll...save Ekko. So, kid. Which direction is the station at?"

"Hah! Hahaha!" Ekko laughed out as he swatted at another officer with the clock hand, sending him sliding on his back.

"I'll admit, I came here expecting to have to be sneaky, but I'm glad I can be as loud as ever since no one's asleep here! Way more fun!" The officers around him began grumbling in annoyance before shooting at him. He smirked and slammed the clock hand into the ground, and immediately, time around him froze. Every bullet that came within a certain vicinity of him froze. Ekko grabbed one of the bullets between two fingers with a provocative smirk.

"What, are you trying to kill me?" He said sarcastically. They began shooting some more, so Ekko jumped to the side before running along the wall.

"Hahhhh!" He shouted out as he held the large clock hand out as he ran, hitting a bunch of the officers that he passed by.

"And...hah!" He leapt off of the wall and into the middle of all the officers, and as soon as his clock hand slammed into the floor, a large ringing noise sounded. Then, a gravitational field began spreading out with Ekko as the center. When it was done expanding, every officer in the room was paralyzed.

"...parallel convergence." He said. He stood up, wiping a trickle of sweat before knocking out all the stunned officers with a swing of the clock hand.

"...all in a night's work. Heh." He chuckled to himself before continuing forward. The moment he entered another hallway, gunshots began being fired at him, so he went back around the corner he had came from, back pressed against the wall. Slowly, a smirk spread itself onto his face.

"So they wanted to shoot me down as soon as I came into view, huh. Alright. 1…2...3! Timewinder!" Ekko unhooked a device from his belt and tossed it around the corner. Immediately, he heard gunshots, followed by yells as his timewinder flew down the hallway, gradually expanding in size as it knocked everything it touched aside. It began slowing down before immediately boomeranging back to him, catching the officers by surprise by its sudden speed.

"Now!" He jumped around the corner right in time to catch his timewinder and ran straight for the disarrayed officers. They began shooting at him, so he used the clock hand to swat away the bullets that he was also slowing down...until he felt a sharp pain in his knee.

"Agh! God!" He gasped out as he tripped, clutching his leg.

"Got him! Now!" The officers yelled, shooting more. Ekko's eyes narrowed and, without a second thought, he grabbed a hold of the z-drive and twisted the knob on his hand, rewinding.

"...Now!" He jumped around the corner right in time to catch his timewinder and ran straight for the disarrayed officers. He set up a field around him, slowing all incoming bullets as he zeroed in on them.

"Hah!" He did a jump off of the wall, dodging a bullet that had been aimed for his knee, and made contact with the officers, spinning in a circle and hitting them all aside. Suddenly, he felt a pain in his shoulder.

"Ah!" He gasped as he fell onto his knees, gripping his shoulder, which was steaming. He widened his eyes as he looked up to see laser shooters attached to the wall. Zaun had top notch techmaturgy, after all. More laser shooters appeared out of the ceiling and began pointing at him, readying to fire. He looked from the messy room around him, to his shoulder, and to the lasers. No good. Gritting his teeth, he grabbed a hold of the knob of his z-drive, twisting it.

Ekko's breathing was heavy now as he burst into another room, gripping onto one arm. Damn…! Immediately, bullets were fired at him. He slammed his clock hand into the ground, and a parallel convergence began spreading throughout the room. Lasers from the ceiling began raining down at him. He shut an eye, grimacing in pain as one connected with his arm. He gasped in pain as more began raining down on him. Again! He internally screamed, moving his hand forward for the knob of the z-drive. However, he hesitated before twisting it. He looked at his hand in front of his face. His eyes were emotionless. Again...but why… Lasers shot all around him, and he grit his teeth, turning the z-drive.

Ekko burst into the room and immediately put down the parallel convergence. Then, without hesitation, he tossed his timewinder at the ceiling, making quick work of the laser technology. Got it!

"Finally." He hadn't even noticed he said that out loud as he rushed down the middle of the hallway, dispatching the officers who were unable to move.

"Hahhhhh!" He yelled as he burst into the next room. Immediately more bullets came at him, and he slowed them down, running forward. More lasers shot from the ceiling, but he was expecting them and tossed his timewinder up. However, there was too much he was trying to focus on at once, and he gasped as he felt a pain in his leg, and he fell over. Ekko panted hard as he struggled to get to his feet. I have to stand up... he thought, gritting his teeth together as his legs shook. I have to keep going...everybody, they...they're counting on me... There was a loud noise as countless guns went off. Ekko's eyes widened as a rain of bullets soared over him. The hourglass on his back began to illuminate as time slowed down; but the hundreds of bullets were still coming towards Ekko. Think...think...! However, even with time slowed down, Ekko was out of luck. He was out of time. There were too many bullets for him to possibly dodge given the state his body was in.

"Guh!" Ekko yelled as he fell to one knee, looking up at the bullets that were beginning to regain their speed as he lost power. I have to...get up...this is my duty...I have to...for them...even if it kills me, I have to at least...do this much... Ekko began struggling hard just to breathe as he strained his muscles to move, but the result was inevitable.

Is this how I...go out? His eyes were wide as he didn't even move to try and turn back time. At the end of the day, unable to get their toys back, huh… His head lifted to look at the onslaught of bullets coming towards him. Then, his head drooped down, looking at the floor.

Well that's alright, I guess...it was inevitable. All of this. The z-drive glowed, as if reminding him that it was still a thing, but he ignored it as he let his legs slump beneath him. Giving up in the end, are we? No… His eyes remained dead as they stared at the floor. Given up since the beginning, is it? Ahh….ah...time travel...is so tiring… His thoughts began getting fuzzy like this as his eyes grew smaller and smaller. Time travel...having multiple lives...is...so...so...tiring… There was a loud noise suddenly from behind Ekko.

"TRUESHOT BARRAGE!" The darkness that had begun to fill Ekko's mind and vision was immediately replaced with a burning, warm golden light. Ekko's eyes immediately shot open as he watched all the bullets burn away to nothingness as a massive wave of energy flew overhead.

What…? He was in awe as he watched a large explosion knock all the officers in the room out cold. Confusion washed over him, quickly replaced by fury and another emotion that Ekko couldn't name. He probably could have, maybe, but he didn't want to.

"You…!" He croaked out. Ezreal turned to him. He was clearly trying to look cool, but he was letting too much of a weird smirk creep onto his face, so he just looked like an idiot trying to be heroic. But really, which one of us is the idiot trying to be heroic here? Ekko's inner mind scolded himself.

"Hi. Happy to see me?" Ezreal said. Ekko slowly managed to stand up, somehow finding power in his muscles again and pointing at Ezreal accusingly.

"Wh-what're you doing here?" God, his voice sounded awful right now. Ezreal took a step forward, looking pointedly at Ekko.

"I think the better question is, what are you doing, period? You didn't even try rewinding." Ekko grit his teeth, looking to the side.

"Shut up. I don't need some Pilty trying to tell me how to use my z-drive."

"Telling you? I was just asking you." Ezreal said. Ekko looked at him annoyedly.

"I just…!" I just wanted to die, this time. I didn't want to rewind. I didn't want to do it over. I didn't feel like trying again, anymore. Ekko was at a loss for words as his knees began shaking. Ezreal watched as Ekko backed up, but before he fell over, he leaned against the wall for support.

"I…" Ekko croaked out, but both he and Ezreal knew he wasn't going to finish his sentences. Ezreal sighed.

"Stupid. So stupid." Ekko clenched his fists, shutting his eyes and letting Ezreal berate him. "Honestly, why are you even here right now?" Ekko's eyes opened wide. Ezreal crossed his arms, looking at Ekko's confused face. The Zaun boy gulped.

"I...I'm...trying to get their toys back." He said hesitantly.

"Really? It looked to me like you were trying to die." Ekko's eyes widened even more, but this time with a tint of anger as his face scrunched up at Ezreal furiously. He took a step forward, grabbing Ezreal by the collar of his shirt.

"What did you just say?" He threatened, but Ezreal kept his cool, looking at Ekko evenly.

"Tell me I'm wrong." There was a pause. A long pause. Ekko found himself frozen in time as Ezreal's gaze burned into him.

"..."

"Tell me I'm wrong, then, Ekko."

"..." The two of them stood frozen in time for even longer before Ekko let go of his collar, looking downcast with his arms hanging heavily at his sides. Ezreal sighed, looking ahead.

"Did you even have a plan? Do you even know where the toys are being kept?"

"Of course I know. This isn't the first time I've tried to get them. I know exactly where they have the toys; it's just a few rooms ahead." Ekko said quietly. Ezreal seemed to tighten his gauntlet before moving forward.

"Well then, what're we waiting for?"

"..." Ezreal stopped walking when he realized Ekko wasn't following, and he looked back at him.

"Are you coming? If you can't tell me I'm wrong with words, then tell me I'm wrong with actions." Without waiting for a reply, Ezreal turned back around to go down another hallway.

He peeked around a corner to see a number of officers waiting for Ekko. His eyes narrowed. They set up a formation, filling each hallway up with an overwhelming amount of officers, but they spread it evenly at the same time, so that if Ekko wasted energy rewinding in one hallway, he would just be met with the same number of officers in the next hallway. It makes it so that it's even more repetitive work for him. The drawback to this strategy is that it's so linear, if you can make it through one hallway it basically means you'll have no trouble with the rest. The problem was that Ekko broke. One can only relive a world like ours so many times, I guess that's what happened, even if he won't admit it. I guess the boy who shattered time...became the boy who shattered himself. It's the burden of time travel. Well that's okay. I suppose I'll finish the mission. Karma must be right about me. Ezreal turned the corner. I am too soft.

"Hyah!" Ezreal shouted as he began launching bolts from around the corner. Each of his attacks found their mark accurately while he stayed safe from behind the corner. The shouting of officers rang out. Ezreal smirked. Once he deemed most of them had been shot down, he arcane shifted from around the corner straight into the middle of the hallway, shooting. However, a sudden barrage of lasers rained down on him from the ceiling, causing his eyes to widen in surprise. But right before the lasers hit him, they froze up, until Ezreal saw a bunch of motionless lasers in front of him.

"What're you just standing there for?" Ezreal's eyes widened as Ekko appeared behind him.

"Ekko?" Ezreal said. Ekko rolled his eyes.

"Did you really think I was going to throw in the towel, especially after being forced to witness some Pilty like you coming in here to steal my glory? Honestly, that's all you Pilties ever try and do. Besides, you don't know exactly where the toys are. I'd hate for you to have to admit to needing a map." Ezreal wasn't sure to be happy or annoyed, so instead he just turned back to the task at hand.

"Alright, I guess. I'm more than happy to have you watching my back, but-" Ekko chuckled as he stepped in front of Ezreal, causing the blonde's eyes to widen a fraction more.

"No, no, no. You see, that's the problem with you Pilties. Oh, no. You...are the one watching my back." Ekko turned to grin back at Ezreal, who, after a moment of not knowing how to react, grinned back at him with a sigh.

"That's the problem with you Zaun people. Alright then, boy who shattered time," Ezreal got in a stance, his gauntlets pointed forward. "Let's wreak havoc."

The kid Ezreal had talked to was poking his head out of the shelter nervously. It was clear he was on high alert, and also that he was highly stressed.

"...please…" He whispered to himself. He clasped his hands together, closing his eyes. "Ekko's rewinded too many times...please...save him…" He slowly opened his eyes again, and he saw two figures walking towards the shelter.

"Oh please, you wouldn't have lasted a single minute if I didn't have my time field around you."

"Oh really? But last I checked you were literally seconds away from kissing death when I arrived, just in time might I add." Ekko rolled his eyes at Ezreal.

"You really like talking yourself up, huh? Classic Pilty. Don't think you saved anyone; I coulda rewinded at any time."

"But you didn't."

"But I could've. You don't know what was going to happen. Even I can't see the future, technically."

"We both know-"

"EKKO!" Ezreal and Ekko's argument was interrupted as they turned to the shelter. Both of them gave a smirk.

"Guess who's back." Ekko said. They quickly made their way over to the shelter, toys of all sort in their arms.

"Hey, get everyone up." Ekko said. The boy nodded and ran into the shelter as Ezreal sighed.

"Seriously, though. All that for this." He looked down at the assortment of toys. Ekko smirked.

"Worth?"

"EKKO!" A bunch of kids yelled, and he walked into the shelter. Ezreal followed, and all the kids were immediately crowding them.

"He got them back! He really got them back!"

"Ekko is the best!"

"Of course he got them back! Of course he's the best!" The kids yelled as they ran around with their toys and hugged Ekko. Ezreal couldn't help but smile at the scene. Suddenly, the boy he had talked to tugged on him, and he looked down. The boy smiled.

"Thank you." Ezreal's eyes widened. More kids walked up to him, thanking him and tugging at him. Ezreal's smile widened, and he looked up, eyes making contact with Ekko's.

"Yeah." He said. "Worth."