Ekko sat at the same place where his love for the city… his love for her had been reignited in the alternate timeline, looking over the landscape. The battle's been won for over two days now and the city started its process to heal — people gathered everywhere, saying goodbye to those who they lost in the war. It was an old ritual, burning pieces of paper with their loved one's names.
He held one in his hands as well, the name on it barely visible.
Powder.
"Dammit. We said no hero antics."
He grabbed his lighter and lit the paper, watching it as it flew away from him into the distance, turning into embers. As it disappeared from his view, a voice from behind his back startled him.
"Didn't trust me to keep my promise after all, huh?"
He froze. For a few seconds he didn't dare to turn around, as if he was afraid he was hallucinating.
"Hmm, that big explosion at the end might have turned you deaf, it seems. Now, what is the best way to get your attention? Kicking you off this ledge seems a bit harsh. Blindfolding you is fun, but you might just attack me out of surpri—" - she suddenly found himself wrapped in his arms.
He couldn't believe it. There she stood in one piece, blabbering in her usual tone, wearing a stained white jacket with its hood rolled down.
"You're… you're alive."
"Well, let's hope you don't sign up to be a detective anytime soon."
His relief was immeasurable.
"It's been two days already. Where have you been?"
"I wasn't in top shape after falling, you know, like a billion miles. Give me some credit!"
"I'm… so glad you're okay." He squeezed her hard, fearing that if he eased up even a little bit she would turn out to be a ghost and disappear from his sight forever.
"You too," she said teary-eyed, returning the hug.
They sat down next to each other where Ekko had been sitting a minute ago, facing the view over the twin cities. The normally spectacular sight was quite tainted by the aftermaths of the battle — more specifically by the disgusting, sticky substance the Anomaly left behind in its wake, covering most of Topside, especially around the Hexgate.
"Is this the place you wanted to take me to?"
"Yeah…"
"Quite a view. Although, honestly, I like purple and blue more than anybody else in this city, but this yucky anomaly-thingy almost makes me reassess that."
He laughed.
"Sorry, end of the world was not on the schedule."
She laid down her head on his shoulder.
"I guess the landing didn't stick after all," she said, looking at the hole their balloon made in the Hexgate.
"Certainly needs more improvement."
"Where's your fancy device?"
"It's gone. Blew it up in the face of that guy who tried to play god."
"Sheesh, talk about brutal. Fortune cookie should have taken its own advice. Shame about the monkeys, really."
He looked at her excitedly.
"Come on, we should get back home. I'm sure you need some rest. And guess what, we got some special supplies from Topside yesterday. I'll get you that cake that—"
He stopped as he saw her downcast eyes and the sadness on her face. His world collapsed in a matter of seconds, as he finally understood the reason for her absence.
"You're not coming back, are you?"
She lifted up her head.
"No. I came to say goodbye."
"You're… leaving? That's what the secrecy is for? And this jacket, going around incognito? You're faking your death? If it's about standing trial, then—"
"It's not about that."
He stopped, looking at her, scared of what she was going to say next. She continued in a low, somber voice.
"I did… too many bad things to be allowed to just stick around and live happily ever after. There's too much of the past here to be able to move into the future. For everyone who is connected to me."
Ekko started to talk, but she quickly put a finger on his mouth.
"Let me finish, Lover Boy." A gentle smile spread across her face. "Vi will never give up on me. She will destroy her own happiness if it means protecting mine. She would rather kill the entire Council than let them sentence me. I can't let that happen. She deserves to be happy too. With Caitlyn."
She sighed.
"Caitlyn too. She said she gave up on hating me. But the fact remains that I killed her mother alongside countless others, and that she is the Sheriff. She has a duty to put me behind bars. She said it right. No amount of good deeds can undo our crimes. And I committed a lot of crimes. I can't let her be forced to arrest her lover's sister."
She placed her right hand under Ekko's left and locked fingers with him.
"And you as well. I know you would give me refuge and that you would protect me from anyone who would come after me. But there is finally a chance of peace. Topside and Undercity, working together. I can't be the one who takes this chance away. And I already know what your next question is. I can't let you come with me. You have your Firelights. Zaun needs you to rebuild. And I need to do this alone."
I need you too, you idiot.
"All my life, there was somebody who I could cling on to. First it was Mom and Dad. Then it was Vi and Vander. Then it was Silco. And finally… it was Isha."
She placed her free hand on his face and gently caressed it.
"I can't make you the next person I cling on to. Not because I wouldn't want to. But because you deserve better than that. I need to find out who I really am. Find out what I can do. And for that… I need to find the strength to walk away."
She sat there alongside him for a minute, allowing him to process everything she said. Her words from the alternate timeline rang in his ears clearly. "Sometimes taking a leap forward means leaving a few things behind."
"You've really thought this out. I guess I can't convince you to stay?"– he asked, already knowing the answer, not managing to hide the immense disappointment evident in his voice. It made her heart ache.
"Will you keep it as a secret?" She knew what a terrible favor this was to ask for, but she had to ask for it anyway.
"Yeah."
"Caitlyn will figure it out once they finish their investigation and return without my body. She's no idiot. She will probably let Vi know, even if not right away. And Vi will probably tell you. But I wanted to let you know in person."
"Where will you go?"
"I heard of somewhere, not so far away, where people go to… heal." He knew of the place. "I'm thinking of taking an airship there."
"You always wanted to ride one, I know," he smiled sadly.
She saw him struggling to vocalize his next question.
"Will you… come back?" – he locked his eyes with hers, desperately waiting for the answer. She heard the desire for hope woven between each word and could see it in his eyes too. There was only one answer.
"Yeah." She held out her pinkie towards him. "Will you… be here?" – it was her turn to ask. He understood the deeper meaning hidden beneath her tone. There was only one answer.
"Yeah." I'll be waiting.
He locked his pinkie with hers and placed his free hand behind her, gently pulling her in for a kiss, sealing their pact once more.
It was different compared to their first time. Then, it was wild and full of the hunger they had repressed for each other in the days before. This time it was slow and passionate, as they melted into each others' arms. Soon enough — too soon —, they ran out of air and separated. As he leaned in again, she playfully put a finger between their mouths, pulling back.
"So that we both have something to look forward to when I return."
As she started to stand up, he reached for her hand, pleading her to stay a bit longer. He took down his red scarf and wrapped it around her neck.
"So that I'm not breaking my promise."
"Thank you for coming back for me," she smiled, moving behind him and covering his eyes with her hands. "Close your eyes, Ekko. Count to ten, and then open them, okay?"
As he counted down and heard the sounds of her footsteps dissipate, flashes of the memories they made together tore him apart from the inside, as if a part of him was dying, looking for something to hold on to, for something that would make her stay.
Ten. When they first met at Vander's place, and how they instantly became friends.
Nine. When they tried out their first prototype, and how they laughed after they fell headfirst into the wastewater with it.
Eight. When he sent her and the others to Jayce, and how everybody died for it.
Seven. When he tried saving her from Silco, and how she beat him up for it.
Six. When he raided the airship smuggling Shimmer, and how she killed his comrades.
Five. When he saw her reunite with Vi, and how he took Vi from her.
Four. When they fought on the bridge, and how she looked at him as he beat her up.
Three. When she tried to kill herself, and how they cried their hearts out to each other.
Two. When he brought her to the Firelights, and how she regained her will to live.
One. When they woke up together for the first time, and how it felt to hold her in his arms.
Zero. She was gone.