Work Text:
The long, blue hair rested on top of her head. The long strands flowed softly past her neck and down her slim back. Her slender frame wandered through the white void as if she knew exactly where she was going.
He knew her.
He didn't know how, but he recognized her.
Her serene blue hair and the graceful yet meticulous movements she made were all familiar to him; his heart ached with familiarity. He just needed to see her face.
He began to approach her slowly and soon began picking up speed.
From slow steps, he sped up and began running. But it seemed that no matter how fast his legs moved, he could never get closer - instead, it appeared he was getting further away.
An unseen force, a supernatural wave, pushed him further and further away from her. But he couldn't just let her get away - he had to see her, to get her attention: so he screamed. And just before she turned around after hearing his cry, just before his eyes met hers,
that's when Ekko woke up.
He heavily sucked in air as he sat up in his bed, feeling the damp bed sheets under his hands as his covers clung to his cold sweaty skin. He looked at the alarm clock on his nightstand: 2 hours till the alarm would ring. After a few more shallow breaths, he peeled the blankets off, wiped his face, and moved over to the edge of his bed, replaying the dream he had been having for months. As Ekko attempted to gather his bearings, he put on his sleeveless undershirt that clung to his skinny, lean body and a pair of baggy joggers. He walked toward the kitchen, where empty water bottles littered the countertops and kitchen tiles. The sink was filled with week-old dirty plates. He hadn't eaten in days, yet he felt no need to. He believed that he didn't have the right to.
Not until he could see her face.
Ekko wasn't sure what had first caused him to begin having dreams of this mystery muse. He just knew that until then, he had been absolutely drained. The creative juices that once seemed to flood out of his fingertips were now dry, with not even a drop left in the reserves. He was weeks, almost months, behind his self-assigned schedule. But he was now closer than ever to creating something worth something.
He began to move away from the kitchen and into his studio, or rather, what used to be the living area. What once harbored couches of different sizes was now littered with empty paint bottles akin to the waters in the kitchen. What stood in the center was a tall, chipped, and discolored wooden easel, a single painting canvas upon it. A slender feminine figure, the same as in his dream, was hugging one of her legs as the other hung off the invisible chair she was sitting on. Leading down the right side of her body were pastel blue clouds that complimented her complexion. Resting on her shoulders and flowing down the frame of her body was her brilliant azure hair that Ekko had spent an entire day trying to get correct. A few messy strands partially covered her face.
Or rather, what would be her face.
Where her eyes, nose, and essentially every other facial feature should be was instead replaced by blank canvas fabric. But soon, that would change. Ekko wasn't sure how or why, but he just felt deep inside that he would finally be able to see her today. He placed his hand on the negative space of the canvas, the rough material slightly stretching under the force of his fingertips. Getting closer revealed the thin layers of paint adding up to create a unique texture, striving for a perfection that Ekko had many questions about.
Who was she? Why does she haunt his dreams so? Why did his heart ache whenever he thought of her?
Ekko grabbed the other side of the piece, bringing his face closer to the canvas as if he was going to kiss his painting subject. Placing his forehead on the top of the canvas, he stared at the blank space where her eyes would be, closed his, and softly pleaded:
"Please. Let me see you. Just once."
A tear welled out of the corner of his eye and gently rolled down his cheek - a symbol of his desire. As the tear fell off his face and hit the ground next to his foot, Ekko felt the air begin to violently whisk around him, his unkempt dreads flailing in the sudden force. Ekko's feet no longer sensed the familiar laminated wood flooring under them, and he could feel his pant ends being shaken by the winds as well. He had no idea what was happening, but he could hear a soft voice telling him to keep his eyes closed: so he did. His hands gripped tightly onto the sides of his work, refusing to even risk losing the only evidence of his muse. His knuckles began to pale as he clenched even tighter to the canvas, where he heard its wooden frame begin to splinter.
He gasped, and reflexively, not wanting to actually cause damage to the piece, he unclenched and loosed his grip, but that was enough opportunity for the wind to snatch it away. He wanted to open his eyes and chasse after it, but the voice once again demanded to keep his eyes shut. Doing his best, he flailed his arms widely in a failing, desperate attempt to regain his grip on the canvas, but it was much too late. He couldn't bear the despair any longer and shouted, forcing his eyes open as tears poured down his face. Nothing could have prepared him for what he saw now: the same white void he found himself in whenever he dreamed. But more importantly than that was the mystery woman crouching before him with a warm, kind smile as her outstretched open palm offered to pick him up.
"Hi." She said in a soft voice. The same voice that told him to keep his eyes closed.
Ekko stared slackjawed, soft sobs escaping as he slowly processed what his eyes were seeing.
Ekko was finally able to force out words. "I-it's. It's you... You're real."
"As real as I'll ever be." She giggled. "Sooo... you gonna take my hand or keep lying on the floor, Ekko?"
He blinked a couple of times before realizing he had been on the floor and staring like a dope.
"Oh, right. My bad." Ekko replied, sitting upright and taking her hand.
Standing up, Ekko was able to get an unobstructed look at her. She was wearing the black baggy joggers as him, though it was apparent that she was smaller as they didn't fit her sides correctly. The white undershirt somehow seemed brighter than her pale skin and left the part of the tattoo on her arm untouched.
Looking back up, Ekko locked eyes with her, and they stared into each other's eyes. Ekko wasn't sure if it was a trick of the light, but her eyes seemed to flash between purple and blue - though that was less important than the fact that the literal girl of his dreams was actually standing before him. The deeper he got lost in her eyes, the more at peace he felt. He would be content if he could stay like this forever.
She looked away bashfully as her face glowed red as she tried to change the subject. "So, how much do you remember about me?"
The happy, bewildered look on Ekko's face quickly contorted into confusion.
"Remember? What do you mean?"
Slight fear took over her face. "C-come on. Dont j-joke like that Ekko."
"Uh, I don't know how to say this, but I don't know what you're talking about or remember anything. This is my first time meeting you."
Her gaze darkened as she directed her eyes to the floor, striking a pang of guilt in Ekkos heart.
"Oh. I see." She said with her eyes downcast. She dropped to the floor, hugging her knees close to her chest, and hid her face. Ekko stood above her, unsure and hesitant. Ekko was lost, confused about what to do next. He had never seen the woman before, save from dreams he had been having for the past few weeks, but now she was here before him: sitting distraught because he couldn't recall memories that didn't happen.
With some soft breaths, he made his way over to her and sat beside her.
Grasping her hand in silence, Ekko couldn't think of anything to say, but he felt that the silence was all that was appropriate. He felt a weight on his shoulder, her soft hair slightly tickling his skin. Ekko felt his heart beating against his chest, exhilarated as if it did remember. He gave in to the feeling and closed his eyes, feeling the emotions engraved in his body wash over him. Another heartbeat resonated with his, the two souls dancing a story transcending lifetimes. He had no idea how much time had passed - or if time even flowed here - but he knew this was where he wanted to be. Where he needed to be.
Soft skin graced his cheek as he opened his eyes, a thumb softly wiping away the tears that he had never noticed. There she was, rosy cheeks shining against her pale skin as blue strands of hair fell in front of her face. Shuddered gasps leaked from his mouth; Ekko never realized he was holding his breath.
Before he could even get a word out, she jumped into his arms sobbing - Ekko could feel her tears bleed through his undershirt and dampen his skin. She pulled him tighter and tighter, and Ekko reciprocated the action. Wrapping the other in their warmth, Ekko joined her tears as they quietly sobbed. She finally moved back, her serene azure eyes softly beckoning Ekko. He began to lean in, moving his hand to her cheek and caressing her freckles; she closed her eyes. Ekko shut his and embraced her.
His hands slammed against the faux wood tile of his apartment. The faint sound of the cars below buzzed through his window as he opened his eyes in shock. Ekko whipped his head around, scanning the room for her desperately and failing to find her silhouette. An intense pressure began to build up in Ekkos body as he felt his world slowly fall apart piece by piece. Tears swelled as he sensed a pained cry scratching - clawing - out of his throat. Pure frustration coursed through his veins as he repeatedly slammed his fists against the floor to the point of swelling.
He had finally found her, his muse, and just as fast as he met her; she was taken away. The urge to give up everything beckoned him from the back of his mind - its arms open and ready to drag even deeper into despair in its embrace.
Feeling himself to give up and sink into his demons, Ekko swore he had heard a voice call out to him. Ekko looked and saw his canvas. Layers of paint overlapped each other, leaving texture that shined and reflected the light from his window. Reaching out to it, Ekko felt the rough canvas on his skin, clutched it to his chest, and whispered.
"Powder"