AN: Turns out there's a lot more to write about for this fic. Headcanon for this AU goes that this is a-not-so-broken Powder, but have been in many ways sheltered from a lot of things. And with it, she's going through some growing pains with that reality. I worry about how I characterize this version of mid-teen Powder/Jinx when all the grief of canon is almost non-existent. So I don't know how OOC this will turn out, but, I'm trying.

"Here."

Not a second to lose, and Powder shoves the paper bag in front of his face.

"-Vander made me do laundry today, so here's your jackets," she pouted as she let the bag dangle with her two fingers.

The first thing Ekko wanted to do was retaliate, but one look at her glistening eyes, he frowned.

"…That bad, huh," he said as he took the bag from her.

She sniffed, rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand and groaned a sigh; "Augh! I finished writing that essay already, what more do they want from me?"

"Powder!"

Ekko turned to the front door of the house and was greeted with the sight of a very angry, fuming Vi clutching the doorknob a little too tightly.

"I wasn't finished! Can't you just sit down, come back and-" Vi paused when her eyes met Ekko. "-Hey."

"Hey yourself," he returned the greeting, only to receive a slap on his arm from his friend. "What was that for?!"

Vi walked out from the front door, digging her hands into her pockets as she headed their way. The moment she stood within their proximity, she eyed her sister, who refused to even bat an eye at her direction. Ekko already knew that he arrived at a bad time.

"You guys going out again tonight?" she asked.

Ekko shrugged with a nod, "Yeah, I guess."

Powder slapped his arm again.

"Ow! What's wrong with you?" he retaliated.

"Hmph," she folded her arms, turning her back on Vi.

Vi glared at her sister, held a tight lip and gave out an exasperated huff. When she turned to Ekko, she gave him a sympathetic smile. "Sorry, Ekko. You didn't need to be caught up in this."

"Caught up in what?"

He already sensed Powder was going to slap him again and so he side-stepped before she could. This only irritated her further.

"Powder, can you not? He hasn't done anything wrong," Vi chided. "Stop acting like a kid."

"If I'm not a kid, then stop treating me like one!" Powder snapped and started trailing off from the Vander house.

"Powder!"

To no avail, her sister had already disappeared into the corner of the street. Vi drew in a deep breath, shaking her head as she sighed. Ekko remembered how quick-tempered she was years ago, but it still surprised him to see her keep her composure.

"I'm sorry you had to see that," she turned to him.

He'd be lying if he said he's okay with it, but in truth, he did not want to be here in this moment.

"What happened?" he asked.

"I'm… moving out," she said, playing it coolly.

"Moving out?"

"Yeah. I told Vander I'm moving out. I was going to tell everyone else, but, well-"

"-Powder overheard it," he concluded.

"I tried to explain it to her, but she suddenly blew up and started-" She swallowed hard, shaking her head. "-God, why can't I say anything to her without making her upset these days? Or even make her understand?"

He couldn't bring himself to answer the question, and instead turned his gaze to the corner where his friend had disappeared.

"-I'll talk to her," he decided.

"Ekko, I'm not going to drag you into this-"

"I'm worried about her too, y'know," he interjected. "Both of you. I was also part of the Vander rats, remember?"

She narrowed her eyes, then gave a resigning nod. "-Take care of her for me."

Stupid.

Everyone's so stupid.

Powder fumed with every step; her eyes downcast on the pavement. The more she thought back on Vander's words, the more upset she became.

'I'm happy for you, Vi. I'm so proud of you.'

Why is everyone so goddamn happy? Why is everyone happy and yet she isn't okay with it? Her mind whirled into a storm of emotions, unable to think of anything else. Just as she was about to cross the road, the familiar drum of a motorbike drew closer until it swerved right in front of her.

Powder rolled her eyes as soon as she saw Ekko as the rider.

"Hey," he tilted his head to the passenger seat at her.

"I have legs, I can walk," she drawled.

"And we still haven't used up our tokens from the last arcade trip, remember?" he added, holding the second helmet out to her.

She eyed the thing in his hand then turned her attention back to Ekko. He flashed her a smile. With a huff, she grabbed the helmet and put it on, trudging her steps closer to the passenger seat. As soon as she sat into position, reluctantly grabbing onto him like she usually does, he placed his hand over her arm.

"You good?"

"…Yeah."

"Hang on tight."

Powder clung to him as they sped through the road. The same familiar scenery of the same familiar city. Partially one foot in the trenches, yet prospering in its own broken way. Vi's leaving this city. She thought Vi loved it here. And now she wants to leave.

No stupid, I haven't done anything.

With her arms around his waist, she squeezed a little in her embrace, feeling the fear creep up again. The moment they stopped at the traffic lights, she felt the warmth of his hand on hers. There was comfort in that warmth.

If I leave, I won't see them again.

The moment his hand left hers, he resumed their ride taking a turn to the next intersection towards the shopping district. No sooner did he park the bike did she step off, her foot kicking off the loose pebbles on the ground.

"Did Vi tell you to butter me up?" she asked.

He scoffs, "Pff, no?"

"Liar."

"No, really."

She eyed him dubiously, who in turn shrugged at her. "Didn't you say you wanted to even out the score today?"

Powder knew exactly what he was doing. The worst part? It was working.

She gave him a playful shove with her shoulder. "God, Ekko. How do you even put up with me?"

He grinned in obvious satisfaction, "I just do."

"-Vi's leaving town."

Ekko glanced at her profile. After getting his score beaten in the shootout booth and spent the last token on a few more games, the two of them sat on the top of the stone barrier that overlooked the beach line. The sky was clear that night they could see stars.

"Yeah. She told me," he admitted.

"Did she also say that she and her girlfriend's moving in together?"

"No, is that a problem?"

"…Yeah."

Powder let her legs dangle at the edge of the wall, her eyes glazed at the sky without focus.

"You know, Powder," he began. "You can't keep your sister to yourself forever."

She sniffed and blinked to stop herself from the tears.

He knew this was going to hurt her, but he felt the need to say it; "She's got her own life now. Weren't you glad how happier she is since then-"

"I know!" she snapped. "I know. I know that. It's just… I should be happy. Mylo is happy. Claggor was happy. Vander was ready to celebrate but I- I'm not. I don't know, I don't like it."

She clammed up into a ball and hugged her knees. He couldn't help but rest a hand on her shoulder.

"-Why does it feel like everyone's changing?" her words muffled through the fabric of her clothes. "Why do I feel like I'm slowly getting left behind? Everyone's got their own thing now. And I'm… I haven't done anything."

"That's not true-"

"Bullshit."

"Bullshit on that bullshit, you're the top of our year level," he retorted. "You got a scholarship too. Isn't that good enough?"

She huffed, shaking her head. "It's not."

"It's not, what?"

"I'm not good enough!" she then started throwing punches on her leg. "I don't know. I don't know! Getting straight As. Getting a scholarship. Making a mark on something- I… what was it all for? I thought- I thought maybe that would bring it all back but- she's leaving. I should be happy, but I'm not. My mind's all a mess. I'm a mess and I can't even understand anything anymore!"

Ekko sat there, his hand remaining on her shoulder as she began to sob. He didn't know what to say. He knew that things haven't been the same between her and Vi for a while since the incident years ago. He underestimated how much it must've eaten her up after that.

Scooting closer to her till their shoulders touch; he hung his arm around her back and pressed her side so that she could lean on him.

"…Do you remember when my parents first came for me?" he began.

She gave a small nod.

"Remember how we were all talking about getting parents is like winning a lottery? Drawing lots without knowing if we were going to be hen-pecked by a nice family with all the stuff they show in books and movies. When they signed the adoption papers, I was scared."

At this, she lifted her head up to look at him. He gave her a knowing glance and smiled as he continued;

"I thought 'oh shit. This is my life now?' Before I knew it, they took me to shops with them, gave me my own room and shit. They were too nice, it almost felt unreal. And so, I acted like I owed them that much. I owe them for the food, the clothes, and all of that. I cleaned the house, tried fixing the broken shit when they're not around. Did all that and more because if I don't, they're gonna give up on me. But then, my mom said; 'you don't owe us anything. All we're asking is that you live the best life for us.'"

"That… sounds nice," she muttered.

"It is. And when I think about that now, I get it. They were the adults; I was the kid. They did all of that because they want to, even if it meant breaking the budget for my education. They didn't even tell me that; I found out for myself." He then withdrew from her to face her properly- "Vi wants you to be happy, Powder, but she's also got her own life, too. Just because she's moving in with Caitlyn, doesn't mean she's abandoned you. You know that, right?"

She lowered her gaze, pouting like a child as she did.

"I just… wish things were the same as it used to be," she leaned closer to his side. "I'm not talking about that thing that happened, I meant- when she was there. She was there and then she wasn't."

He gave out a sigh, tapping her shoulder in quiet comfort.

"I'm not going to pretend I don't know. I'm not going to say that I do know. What you do know is that you need to sort this shit out with her. Especially now that she's leaving town."

"Hmph, do I really?" she said sardonically.

"Pow Pow-"

"I know, I know."

Ekko didn't want to say it aloud, but he was strangely relieved. Relieved he could coax it out of her chest; not have her force out the wilder, party-animal façade she usually wears. But then again, this is about Vi. Anything with Vi is always sensitive.

Just as the thought leaves him, he felt her lithe arms wrap around his waist; clinging onto him for dear life.

"Thanks," she said against his own clothes. He could feel the warmth of her breath brush past the barrier of fabric.

It flustered him, but decidedly returned the embrace.

"Anytime."

I've seen enough Timebomb fanart to know that in theory, Ekko makes the best hugs :Dbr /

Thank you mush for the inspo :)