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One would think peace time would be actually peaceful, but alas, it is not.
With the undercity’s fragile independence, Ekko and the Firelights still have their work cut out for them as they fight aspiring chembarons who try to climb up the crime ladder, antagonize Sevika and her remaining shimmer factories, all while still trying to maintain order and peace within the base.
So yes, enforcers may not roam the streets anymore, but it doesn’t mean he gets to relax now.
His clothes are heavy with dust, gunpowder, and the weight of his responsibilities. The fuel on his hoverboard is running low; it’s a miracle he made it back to the base without it stopping in the middle of the air.
The group is dispersing, glad to finally be back home. The tree seems fuller these days, beating with life all around it. It always was like this, in a way, but nowadays it has a different color.
Maybe it’s just his imagination. Maybe it’s just the little slice of heaven waiting for him at home.
Scar’s heavy hand lands on his shoulder, giving it a friendly squeeze.
“You’re itching to be home, aren’t you?” He asks, a teasing lilt in his voice. Ekko huffs, barely holding back a laugh.
“As if you’re not eager too,” he retorts, shoving him away.
“I am,” Scar easily admits. “Your first is always the most special, but the rest are pretty great, too.” He throws an arm over his shoulders, giving Ekko a shake. “Happy father’s day, dude. Hope Jinx doesn’t blow up the house trying to celebrate this one.”
Ekko laughs good-naturedly, knowing damn well nowadays she’s not capable of setting something on fire in an attempt to surprise him—the twins could get hurt, and that will happen over their dead bodies.
“Happy father’s day, hope Tiana got you something this year,” he teases before they part ways, and Scar just laughs.
It’s dumb, really, how his body feels lighter now that he gets to go home to them.
If there’s a spring to his steps as he approaches their home, well, that’s none of your business. And besides, can’t a man be eager to see his wife and children? Shame on you.
Ekko expects to hear a ruckus going on from the outside, but there’s nothing, only calm. He hasn’t learned to be okay with silence yet; his nervous system still thinks there’s something in the shadows waiting to shoot at him, that the greatest calamities are always preceded by a false sense of calmness.
His hands are already spasming, spine straightening like it’s made of steel, as he grabs the doorknob and opens the door.
The living room is, surprisingly, neat. The twins’ toys are put away in a basket near the rocking chair he built. A smell is coming from the kitchen—something burning, like… Flesh?
In the midst of it all, Jinx and the twins are nowhere to be found.
Ekko tries to repeat to himself that they’re fine, nothing bad happened—the people at the base would’ve told him so, he’s sure of it—but it’s easier said than done.
His heart refuses to slow down its speed as he inspects the inside of the house, noticing that out of all the doors, the only one closed is the one leading to their master bedroom. He tries to not make a sound with his footsteps as he approaches the door, closing his fist around the doorknob.
Calm down, Ekko, they’re okay, they probably fell asleep together. Nothing bad happened.
A shaky exhale escapes his lips, still gripping the doorknob. But before he can push it open, he hears a faint murmur behind the door. Someone is humming.
Ekko recognizes the song. It’s the lullaby they sing to the twins to put them to sleep.
The relief that crashes over him as he opens the door and sees Jinx standing over the bed, with the twins squirming over the sheets, is one he couldn’t describe even if he wanted to.
Jinx turns to look at him, surprise written all over her face. There’s a piece of fabric in her hands—an onesie with daddy’s girl stitched on the tummy all crookedly.
“Look who’s back early,” she says, setting down the onesie on the bed. Ekko is glued to his spot, heart swelling at the sight in front of him. Jinx closes their distance in a jump, clasping her arms behind his head in a swift motion, crashing their lips together with urgency. “I thought I had more time, they’re not ready yet. Shoo, shoo, wait outside!”
He’s too dumbfounded to fight back as Jinx shoves him until he’s out of the room, shutting the door behind her. In the seconds that follow, he hears one of the twins coo loudly and a ruffle of fabric.
Ekko can’t help the laugh that escapes him.
Of course they’re okay. Of course nothing bad happened to them. The base is safe, the home he’s desperately trying to protect day and night so his girls can grow up without fear, that thing that lives inside him since before he knew what it was.
His hands no longer tremble as he sits down on the couch, leg bouncing up and down as he waits for Jinx to come out of their room. He can hear the baby’s sounds from here, and a smile splits his face in half in the blink of an eye. They’re so talkative lately; Livia said her first word and Winona, not wanting to be left behind, immediately started babbling dada to Ekko’s delight.
They could be anywhere in the house or the base, but if either of them started babbling his new name, he’ll drop everything to look for them and kiss all over their fat baby cheeks.
When the door flies open, Jinx has the shiniest smile he’s ever seen on her, carrying one twin in each arm.
“Happy father’s day, boy savior!” She exclaims with joy, bouncing the screeching girls in her arms. Each twin has a pink and purple onesie with the words daddy’s girl in white thread.
Ekko feels himself tear up as Jinx sets them down on his lap. Winona immediately fists the fabric of his jacket in her little hands and tries to climb up on him, while Livia grabs his hands and starts sucking on his thumb.
“When did you learn how to stitch?” He asks, trying to not let his voice tremble as much. Jinx perches herself on the armrest to his right, a self-satisfied smile on her face.
“Ashton’s mother started teaching me, like, a month ago. You have no idea how many times I prickled my fingers trying to finish those.”
“You told me those were mosquito bites.”
“And you believed me, so whose fault is that?” Jinx kisses his cheek and whatever he was about to say regarding taking care of herself vanishes from his tongue.
He is a weak, weak man.
His gaze softens, adoration sweeping all over his expression.
Jinx leans into his touch, a hand tugging on Winona’s onesie to prevent her from falling. She plants a kiss on the side of his head, and Ekko thinks all those years groveling in dirt were worth it if the end result was always going to be this.
“I tried to cook dinner for us,” she starts saying, voice tinged with embarrassment.
Something clicks on Ekko’s mind.
“I thought I smelt burnt flesh,” he jokes, earning a glare from her and a pinch to his cheek.
“Keyword tried. The fucking recipe was too hard to follow, that chicken didn’t stand a chance against the oven.”
“What did we say about curse words in front of the kids?” He sternly reminds her, pointing with his chin towards the cooing babies on his lap.
“What? This time it’s the appropriate word for the recipe.” Ekko rolls his eyes, but lets it go. At least it’s amusing. Jinx nuzzles against him again, with a hand ghosting over his collarbone. “Anyway. So I burnt our dinner, but I did get you something else—well, get implies I bought it. Which I didn’t—”
“You stole me a gift, then?”
“Shush! No! I… I made you something.” Jinx stands up then, fishing something from her back pocket. She hands him a small, black box with a red ribbon, cheeks completely flushed as she looks away.
Ekko tentatively takes it, eyeing her suspiciously.
“Should I open it when the twins are not around or…?”
“What? No! What kind of gift do you think—ugh, you pervert!” She rolls her eyes, flicking his forehead in annoyance. “Just open it before I take it back—”
“It’s mine, no take-backs,” he childishly says, maneuvering himself so he’s able to open it with one hand, since Livia is still sucking on his thumb.
He gets the ribbon off with his teeth, Jinx groans something about her hard work in the background, and in no time he pushes off the top of the box.
When he gets a peek of what’s inside, his heart stills.
Inside there’s silver chains with twin charms decorated with a drawing of the blue rose he gave her on the first night they spent together.
His gaze snaps back to her. Jinx is looking at Livia, caressing her back with feigned nonchalance.
“I’m not going to ask you if you like it, you’re not allowed to say no,” she muses, eyes briefly flickering up at him.
“I love it,” he says quietly, means it.
“I made two because one is for you and the other for me,” she starts saying, still not meeting his gaze. “I thought—I know we didn’t have time to buy rings, and we said it wasn’t really a big deal because everyone at the base knows we’re married, either way. But—my mom and dad didn’t have rings, either, they just shared charms on their necklaces and I thought—I thought maybe it would be better than rings—”
He stops her verbal vomit by grabbing her free hand and kissing her knuckles. “I told you I love it, babe. I’m serious. Can you put mine on for me, please?”
Jinx exhales in relief, nodding as she gingerly takes one of the necklaces and clasps is over his neck. “All mine now,” she says, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
“I’ve always been yours,” he says, chasing her lips.
Jinx kisses him, the twins babble in his lap made up words that only they can understand, and Ekko feels the heaviness of the day vanish in the blink of an eye.
“Happy first father’s day, baby,” Jinx breathes out against his lips, maneuvering the twins so she’s sitting on his lap while holding both babies.
He wraps his arms around his entire world and lets his shoulders sag.
Oh, how he loves them.