Renegade

"You didn't really think I used the stairs each and every time?" Ekko's voice was laced with a hint of playful malice when he grabbed Jinx by the waist, pulling her close so she could step onto his hoverboard with him.

They were standing on the last level of the tree, where, just moments before, something seemed to shatter between them. However, Ekko seemed hellbent on moving past it—even if, she was still replaying the conversation in her head; which was why, although she hadn't resisted him, she was standing stiff like a door by his side.

On the left side of the balcony, the railing ended abruptly, giving way to a small takeoff ramp clearly designed with the Firelights' hoverboards in mind.

With Ekko's arm still wrapped around her, she looked down. Her chest tightened and she wrapped one arm around his back too, gripping his shirt tightly.

Good to know I'm still Powder in some ways. She thought, ironically.

"Don't tell me you're afraid of heights?" Ekko teased. "Your lair is way higher than this!" He gestured toward the sky, laughing. "We used part of it to literally fly off to battle!"

"But I never jumped from it!" Jinx shot back, biting her lip to stifle a grin threatening to form at the corner of her mouth. It was too soon for jokes.

"You're right…" Ekko's smirk turned devilish. "Best not give you too much time to think about it."

He immediately launched them off the platform toward the void in front of them. For a few seconds they were free-falling; her stomach dropped and she clung to him for dear life.

Ekko laughed out loud with delight as he tilted the hoverboard up and accelerated away from the ground. The cold wind brushed her cheeks as they circled the tree, in wide, swooping laps.

"Is this your idea of revenge?" she tried to yell over the roar of the wind.

"Revenge for what?" he shouted back, swirling above the tents. "Isn't this the best feeling?" His voice was light, genuine, filled with unrestrained glee.

The curiosity it sparked in her outgrew the panic, and she shifted her gaze from the ground below to his face. He was looking straight ahead, a glint shining in his eyes while he boasted a smile. He appeared radiant, the sun reflecting on his skin and the wind brushing his locks of hair.

There was no denying that he loved that feeling, and for a fleeting moment, she forgot about her fear and allowed his glee to infect her. She could feel the freedom it allowed them, the weight it lifted from their chests.

They were lightweight, feathers on the breeze, no worries could catch them this high—as long as they kept moving forward. She loosened her grip on him and spread her other arm out into the rushing air, appreciating the sensation of the wind passing through her fingers as she wiggled them.

Ekko glanced at her and chuckled with joy, shifting the hoverboard slightly because of the distraction—it seemed. Her whole body sunk and she let out a startled yelp, grasping him tightly again. It only made him laugh louder. He steadied the hoverboard and raised it higher, swirling a few more times around the compound.

"Nice view, huh?" he shouted.

"The highest!"

Ekko smirked, starting their descent toward the base of the tree. Somehow, going down was worse than taking off—the anticipation of hitting the ground, the feeling as if she was falling once again. They slowed down before coming to a steady halt near the bottom of the stairs.

"So?" He hopped off the hoverboard, a cold void replacing the pressure she'd felt from his arm around her. "Better than taking the stairs, right?" He was glowing.

"Better cardio, for sure," she said, placing her hand above her still throbbing heart. Ekko chuckled as if he had no worries on his mind.

"What are you in the mood for? They make some bomb eggs over there," he pointed at a small red tent where a line of people waited. Nearby, a dozen others sat at scattered tables, eating and chatting.

She inhaled the aroma, following its scent with her nose, trying to see if it was the same she had captured before. It made her mouth water.

"Eggs it is!" he declared, smiling as he marched toward the tent.

They crossed the distance, always a few steps apart from each other, ignoring the stares until they reached tables.

"You can sit here while I grab the food," he offered.

"I can go get my own food!"

"Just sit down and shut up." His tone was commanding but playful. "Can't I do one nice thing for you without you whining?" He left before she could reply, sticking out his tongue and pulling an ugly face at her.

Jinx slumped into the chair, flashing her metallic finger.

"I don't whine," she mumbled to herself, brow furrowing and mouth puckering.

The people who sat near her seemed to stop paying attention to their own food, glancing at her and whispering between them. She could feel her judgment, even on her back. It felt like a thousand eyes were staring at her, getting closer and closer.

Thankfully, Ekko quickly returned with their food. "Perks of being the leader." He winked, dropping the food tray on the table with a clatter.

"You cut the line!"

"You're welcome."

The eggs on the plate were steaming and the smell was even better up close, rich with layers—butter and something else… spices? Vander had taught her how to cook the basics and she had caught a few things here and there when she helped out on The Last Drop, but—her stomach growled loudly, stealing a chuckle from Ekko.

"What are you waiting for?" he asked, gesturing at the plate. "Dig in."

He attacked his own eggs with a fury that made it seem he hadn't eaten in ages. She wondered if he hadn't eaten the day before.

Nah! Just because I didn't see it…

She lifted the fork to her mouth and immediately melted on the chair, the strong flavor of oreganos invading her taste buds.

"They good, right?"

Her mouth was so full she could only nod. "Mm-hmm".

"Told you." He was eating at a slower pace now, his lips curling while he observed her.

"Stop staring at me like that."

"Like what?" His lips curled more.

She pointed with her chin to the tables next to her, trying to avoid eye contact with them. "I have enough people staring at me already."

Ekko lowered his tone, his glee gone from his face. "They're just curious…"

"Really, Ekko?" she raised an eyebrow. "You're going with that?"

"You're right…" He looked down at his plate. "I'm sorry."

"For what? It's not your fault." She stabbed her fork into the eggs. "It's mine."

Ekko spoke in a low voice, as if afraid of someone listening in. "No, it's not! It's just… a difficult situation." He shrugged lightly. "You're going to remind them of difficult things. It's inevitable."

"I'm starting to think it's also inevitable that I'm going to punch someone," she said loudly, glaring at a man sitting behind Ekko, who was now bluntly pointing at her while talking to someone facing the other way.

Ekko shushed her. "Jeez, Jinx! Lower your voice."

She widened her eyes, pointing back at the stranger who reminded her of Scar."He's the one starting it."

The man stood up and began walking toward them. She could feel the familiar itch spreading across her skin. She'd been ignoring it for too long now. She clenched her jaw and smiled at the stranger, feeling like a cat ready to tackle its prey; her butt almost wiggling.

Oh, it's on.

She shot up from her chair, ready to lunge, when the other stranger appeared from behind Ekko and broke her spell.

"Mind if we sit?" Scar asked in a monotone voice.

"You got a bit of an anger problem, don't you?" The stranger snickered.

"Oh, hey guys. Scar, Dash." Ekko said, introducing them. "You know Powd—Jinx." He quickly corrected himself.

They casually sat down, joining them as if Jinx wasn't ready to tackle the idiot.

"I prefer Jinx," she said sharply, biting her own tongue and sitting back down, dragging the chair loudly while keeping her gaze on Ekko. "And I don't have an anger problem." Her eyes snapped from Ekko to Dash.

"I've heard quite differently," Dash said.

Jinx clenched her fists and straightened her back, turning to Dash slowly. "Are you trying to provoke me?"

Ekko widened his eyes, shifting between them both.

Jinx exposed her teeth, an aggressive smile growing on her face."Cause if ya want, we can dance."

"Jinx…" Ekko whispered.

She snapped, her fiery gaze switching to him. "What?"

"Chill, lovebirds," Dash said.

Ekko started. "We're not—"

"We can dance later," Dash interrupted, winking at her and smirking. He only got further under her skin. Ekko stared at him, his mouth pressed together.

Dash ignored him and continued. "For now, I have an idea."