Chapter Text
Ekko gripped the older girl's arm as they walked through the grimy and dangerous streets of Zaun, tears staining both of their cheeks. During their mothers last moments she had told them to go to Benzo’s shop and that he would help them.
“M-moms gonna be okay…right..?” Ekko choked out between his sobs, his older sister stayed quiet, unsure of what to say. She only knew one thing for certain, she was going to get her little brother to safety.
A few hours later they two siblings arrived at Benzos pawn shop, Ekko still crying and clinging to his sister as if he let go she would disappear too. Benzos eyes widened as he saw the two children entering his shop, he immediately recognised them. Benzo had been friends with their mother before her breathing condition got worse and she began to stop leaving their small shack they called home.
Benzo knew what this meant, their mothers illness had won and she had passed away. “M-mom told us to come to you..” The older girl choked out as new tears began to fall from her eyes. “Sh-she’s…” The girl wasn’t able to finish her sentence as she kept choking on her words.
“I know..” Benzo sighed as he stepped out from behind the counter to offer the two children a hug. The siblings quickly accepted the offer as they practically jumped into his arms, Ekko’s loud cries being muffled by Benzo’s clothes.
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Benzo had taken the two children in, treating them like his own. He had introduced them to Vander, the undercity’s leader, a few days after they had come to him.
Vander opened the large door at the front of the shop as he entered with his usual heavy steps, everything seemed normal but the large boy that had handed him a box before waiting outside.
“Hi Vander!” Ekko greeted with a smile, he had taken a liking to Vander, well he takes a liking to anyone that’s strong and in his words ‘super cool’.
“Hey Vander” Ekko’s older sister greeted, eyeing the boy that waited outside. “Hey kids” Vander greeted both of the siblings warmly despite his gruff demeanour as he placed the box on a bench. “Where’s Benzo?” “He’s out back” The girl said as she gestured towards the back door with her head. “Do you need anything?” “Just wanted to take you two to meet some people”
Ekko’s head perked up with a smile on his face, he turned around from his spot and yelled out. “Vander needs us for something!”
“Go ahead!” Benzo yelled back from the back room.
The girl and younger boy both leave their seats and follow Vander out of the shop. “This is Claggor” *Vander said gesturing to the boy leaning against the wall. Claggor uncrossed his arms and stood up to follow them, a half smile on his face.
“Who else do you think we’re gonna meet?” Ekko whispered to his sister excitedly. “I bet they're gonna be really cool” His older sister chuckled and ruffled Ekko’s snow white hair. “Yeah me too” she responded fondly.
Eventually the four of them made it to the Last Drop, Vanders bar and home. They all followed Vander through the bar, walking past patrons doing thousands of different activities.
“Don’t be shy” Claggor tells the siblings as they reach a door that presumably leads to the living quarters. Vander opens the door to reveal two girls, one short and skinny with blue hair, the other tall with short pink hair and a boy with tan skin and spiky brown hair.
The awkwardness in the atmosphere is palpable before Vi decides to break the ice. “Uh hi..” the awkwardness in her tone is clear as the other girl avoids eye contact.
“Hi..” the girl from the opposite side of the room said, still avoiding eye contact. Ekko looked at his older sister as a way to ask for permission to speak, Powder doing the same. Ekko’s sister gave him a nod and he spoke. “Umm… my name's Ekko, do you wanna be friends..?” Ekko asked nervously.
Powder's face lit up and she smiled brightly while nodding. “Yeah! My name’s Powder”
Powder took Ekko off to show him some of her gadgets that she had been trying to build while his sister was left with Vi and Mylo.
“Well my name's Violet, just call me Vi” The girl was about to speak before Mylo had cut her off. “And my name’s Mylo” he said as he leaned against Vi, trying to rest his arm on her shoulder. Vi only rolled her eyes before pushing Mylo off of her, causing him to stumble around for a moment before gaining
his footing.
The girl watched their interaction with a small smile before introducing herself. Vi felt a flutter in her chest at the girl's smile, she barely even knew her and yet she would give anything just to see that smile again.
The group spent the rest of the day just getting to know each other, Powder and Ekko mostly just giggling and chatting with themselves. Once the sun started to set the girl stood up and tapped Ekko on the shoulder. “Cmon, we gotta go”
Powder and Ekko both whined and pouted as his sister had to practically drag him away from the rest of the group. Vi’s gaze followed the girl before she quickly called out to her. “See ya sweets!”
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Ekko and his sister quickly walked back to Benzo’s shop, the place they had been calling home for about a week now. They stuck to the shadows, the girl knowing the dangers of Zaun.
“Well you certainly hit it off with Powder” The girl teased as she watched a light blush appear on her younger brother's cheeks. “W-what!” Ekko tried to hide his face from his sister, not wanting her to see the growing blush on his cheeks nor wanting to see the smirk that had most definitely spread across her face.
“What, I don’t mean anything by it” The girl continued her teasing as she watched her brother try to hide his face. “Shut up…” the young boy murmured as he continued to hide his face from his sister.
The girl only giggled before turning her attention back to the streets around them, one thought going through her mind ‘maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all..’