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This was kinda nice.
Ekko thought, setting the cans back up for another round.
Zaun was pretty chaotic right now. The smoke and slums he expected were replaced with a vibrant arcology.
Everyone was busy preparing for the Innovator’s Competition and the ball along with it. But three particular fools decided to run off and play.
"You're so slow!" Powder shouted, catching a hex nut in her palm.
"Yeah, yeah! So slow!" the kid they were watching, Rose, shouted.
Ekko shot them both a look, half a glare, half a smile. "This is hate crimes."
"Maybe you’re just bad." Powder smirked, tossing the bolt up and down.
He raised an eyebrow. "Wanna prove it?"
The kid whistled innocently, but Ekko caught the flicker of mischief between them and Powder a second too late. Thunk.
A bolt hit him square in the head.
"What was that for?!"
Powder gasped, all fake surprise. "Oh nooo, who did that?"
Rose was already whistling louder, eyes wide like she’d never seen a nut in her life.
Ekko rubbed the spot, glaring at both of them. "Cheaters."
Powder leaned in, grinning wolfishly. "You love it."
"...I don't," Ekko mumbled.
"He does!" Rose blurted with a grin.
Powder giggled. "Is our Ekko blushing~?"
"I'm not!"
Powder rolled her eyes. "Step aside, then, spaceboy, I got a game to win!"
Rose bounced on her boots. "I've got some cans to knock down!"
"Yes ma'ams..." Ekko grumbled, walking over to them.
"Can I go first?" Rose asked, eyes sparkling with childish glee.
Ekko stepped aside, gesturing to the cans lined up on the railing.
Powder cheered from the sidelines. "Go girl!"
Rose shut her left eye to aim, winding her arm way too far back.
Ekko stepped behind her. "Don't put it so close to your head. You might hit yourself."
"Oh! I didn't know. Sorry!" Rose giggled.
"Aww, is he playing mother hen now?" Powder teased from the side.
Ekko ignored her jab, adjusting Rose's arm away from her head.
"Just aim for the center of the can," Ekko said.
Rose followed his instructions. "U-uh.. alright.."
Ekko stepped aside, letting her have her turn.
"Aim at Ekko instead!" Powder joked.
Rose's tongue was sticking out in concentration as she aimed at the cans on the railing. Her arm wound back in an exaggerated motion—Ekko would be mad again—and her eyes focused on the target.
The sound of the bolt hitting the can rang out with a loud clang, followed by Rose's joyous whoops and Powder's cheers from the sidelines.
Rose jumped at least 5 feet in the air, giggling and grinning brightly. "Did you see that! I’m a sharpshooter!"
Ekko was chuckling, subconsciously glancing over at Powder. "Good job, Rose."
"You're the best can-hitter I've ever seen!" Powder grinned, swinging Rose around like a doll. "Hey, Ekko, we should make her a sniper rifle!"
"No."
"Aww!" Powder pouted. "See, Rose? He's so evil!"
"Yeah! Big meanie!" Rose parroted.
Ekko rolled his eyes, walking over to get the bolt. "No snipers for a ten-year-old."
"Eleven, excuse me!" Rose harrumphed, crossing her arms.
"Where's the damn bolt..." Ekko muttered, can in one hand as he crouched.
"Over here, Buster!" Powder was crouched down beside him, bolt in hand.
Ekko plucked it right out of her hand. "Show off."
"Obviously."
"Are you two, like, married?"
Ekko sputtered. "What?!"
"We'll never know, Kid." Powder teased.
Rose nodded eagerly. "Ooh, okay!"
If only this could last forever... Ekko smiled ruefully.