章 9: It Draws Near
[Zaun/Undercity](A few years later)
Benzo's shop was not a place where you could find it packed with customers. It was either visited by street rats looking to sell whatever loot they have, Vander's men dropping off the month's protection money or by tinkerers who knew the shop's reputation.
The person who came through the door was none of them. In fact, they weren't even a Zaunite. The clothes too nice, the face too clean and judging by the wary glances, they were realizing they didn't fit in too.
Ekko just didn't care. He knew who the person is. He knew who he is. Jayce Talis. The future Man of Progress.
Brown eyes peaked out from the cloak the man was wearing. The man swallowed thickly with nervousness before addressing the young man infront of him.
"Hello there. I'm-"
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The rest of the day passed in a blur as Ekko was lost in his head. Only one thought going through his mind. Making him look after Benzo's shop absentmindedly.
'Canon is here.'
'Canon is here.'
'Canon is here.'
'Canon is here, it past right through my doorstep and I let it.' Ekko thought with a sigh. Part anxious, part relieved. The canon train has officially started and he let it go without any rails.
He's not gonna follow the script, he realized it long ago.
'But making a decision and following through it are two different.' One was easy. Another? Not so much. Ekko was just glad he didn't lose his shit when Jayce walked into the store a few hours ago. The old man was resting today so it's only Ekko but he was kinda regretting the decision now.
He want to find the others, not for anything but just to confirm that they're there, at the Last Drop or the Playground. That they're not running after the Piltie and to calm his troubled heart. He knew the only reason they went after Jayce in canon is because of his tip but he was still anxious.
"Fuuuuck Man..." Ekko groaned out as he layed his head on the counter. He bit his lips in indecision before getting up, deciding to ease his mind and just hang out with his friends today. He closed up the shop and took his bag with him.
Time to see the gang.
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It was crowded in the Lanes. Progress day was near, so people from around the world are coming to see what fresh ideas or inventions the city of Piltover would have. And with them came merchants, thieves, bandits, mercenaries and everything in between.
The latter part of them falling in place with the various locations in Zaun. Mostly brothels and bars. They were packed with businesses around this time of the year.
Ekko passed through a wide variety of people before coming to a stop at the entrance of the Last Drop. He could see the inside through the glass. The place was not an exception to the progress day's business blooming.
Ekko took a deep breath, steeling his nerves before pushing the door open and walking in. The people barely passed him a glance before continue minding their own business.
Inside, he saw Vander and quickly made his way to him. When he arrived at the bar, he saw Huck, a well dressed guy with a stutter, talking to Vander about something. Vander waved Huck off with a nod when he saw Ekko.
"Hey kid? Looking for Pow?" Vander said as he pour him a mug of juice. Ekko shook his head before taking the mug.
"For the whole gang actually." He took a sip,
"Hmm nice taste. New recipe?" Ekko smacked his lips.
"Heh No. Got some from a merchant from Demacia. Said he got it from the Ionians." Vander said as he also poured himself a cup.
"The kids are downstairs. Want me to call them up?" Vander asked.
"Nah, it's fine. I'll head down." Ekko replied as he finished his drink.
"So what's the occasion? Normally you're here early in the morning or after you close shop. Not in the middle of the day. Got a job or something." Vander looked at Ekko curiously.
"Or something. I'm just here to hang out and maybe ask them if they want to visit topside with me." Ekko replied as he lean on the counter.
"Hmm. Well that depends. Is it a vist or a 'visit'." Vander frowned at the boy, making Ekko placate the man
"Visit. I've got money saved up and I want to just hang out. No funny business. Though I can't guarantee the sticky fingers." He finished with a grin. Vander contemplate for a moment before nodding.
"You keep them safe a'ight?"Ekko nodded in response.
"Good. Now get going lad. You're gonna miss the big speech." Vander joked.
"Pfff- Who even listen to that stuff anyways?" Ekko replied as he went down the basement. When he arrived at the door, he listened in before knocking. His hearing is normally kept at just above average levels to not disorient himself with loud noises but he can dial it up anytime.
He closed his eyes and listened. The first thing he could hear is Mylo's ball bouncing, the guy has been playing with it non-stop these days. And Claggor's tinkering and finally Vi and Powder. The former telling the latter something that happened on her job yesterday.
'They're all here.' Ekko took a deep breath before knocking.
"Guys? It's me Ekko." There was a beat. Before Ekko heard feet scrambling and leaping over stuff.
"Little Man!" Powder yelled as she glomped him with a jump, nearly making him off balance. Vi came into view soon after, just watching the scene with an amused smirk.
Mylo waved from the couch. Claggor from his bed where he was working on something.
"Hey Powder. Hey Vi. Hey guys. Wanna come to topside with me?" Ekko asked as he put Powder down.
"Topside? What? You got a gig up there?" Vi asked evenly but there's no mistaking the eagerness in her voice.
"No. Just asking to hang out. I've got some money saved and wanted to treat you guys something up there." Ekko said as Vi lost some ot the eagerness but perked up when she heard about free food. Free Topside Food.
"Huh? No way! You paying? What are we waiting for? Claggor lets go! C'mon man!" Mylo said as he unsuccessfully tried to move the larger boy before Claggor decided to move on his own, the prospect of food winning over what ever project he was doing.
"Oh! Oh! Can we get cupcakes?" Powder asked with her eyes sparkling.
"Sure. And bring your gear. I promised Vander no funny business buuuut even I couldn't stop some sticky fingers." Ekko said with a grin while wiggling his fingers. Though
"Ehhh? Should we? I mean we're bringing Powder along after all. And she could Jinx even pickpocketing." Mylo asked half joking but they were not impressed.
" We don't have to. It's a precaution if one of you get caught and you might need your gadgets. But since you make such a good point, how bout you stay here and I'll just take Powder? That seems a fair trade." Ekko threatened with a glare.
"Whoa whoa. Just joking little man. No need for extreme measures." Mylo backed down without much fight at the prospect of being left behind. Powder just stuck her tongue out to Mylo, making him muttet a quiet, brat.
Ekko took a deep deep breath before exhaling.
'Why do I want to save him again? Oh yeah! So Powder doesn't have to suffer the thought of killing her family. And he's a friend. A very reluctant friend.' Claggor just smacked Mylo on the head while Ekko was thinking of ways to dispose of Mylo without making Powder feel guilty.
"Whatever, let's go guys. We're burning daylight." Vi said with a shake of her head. Taking her sister's hand, she walked upstairs. The rest followed them.
On the way out, they waved Vander goodbye, the man waving them back but not before throwing a pouch of money at Ekko.
"Just in case they ate more than you could pay Ekko." Vander clarified as he waved the boy off. Ekko counted about 200 full copper cogs.
"Thanks Vander." Ekko waved back before catching up to the gang.
"Sooo whatchu guys wanna eat first besides cupcake?" There was a silence before everyone pitched their choices. The rest of the walk to the bridge was just a symphony of food that Vander's kids composed.
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[Topside/Piltover]
"A SILVER!" Vi shouted again for the umpteenth time in the last 10 minutes since they passed the gates.
She had been ranting about their entrance fee to topside for a while now. It was never shown in the show whether people have to pay to cross the bridge. Or rather Undercity People.
"This is bullshit! They're making us pay just to cross to their side?"
'She's really mad about it isn't she.'
Were their collective thoughts.
"Fuck the Pilties. Fuck the Enforcers. Fuck their ivory towers and Fuck the Council." Some of the Pilties were giving them side eyes
'Carrful there Vi. It's like you're spoiling your own future. And are you trying to get arrested? Want to start your origin story that much?.' Ekko thought, amused before he called out.
"Vi c'mon. Just forget about it. Besides, I don't think they normally chage it. But I think they want to keep Zaun outta topside before Progress Day." His explaination just make Vi madder.
Just when he thought she was about to have an another tirage, she sighed, deflated.
"I'm sorry, it's just... nevermind. I ruined today didn't I?" She said a little guiltily.
"Nah we still haven't got food yet. And I see a cupcake stand right there. Let's go check it out." As soon as he finished his sentence, Powder was already zooming towards the direction he just pointed.
"I swear that girl..." Ekko muttered in exasperation before jogging after her. The rest of Vander's kids following.
When he finally found her, the scene was hilarious. He found her stuffing cupcakes and sweets with the vendor lady looking a little worried she might dine and dash. Powder got a sweet tooth. And it showed.
"Hello there ma'm. It's alright. We're with her. How much for a piece?" Ekko asked with an easygoing smile. That smile died an ugly death when the lady spoke.
"Oh, it's a silver a piece dear." That's... a lot for a cupcake. To gave you an example, you can get a decent meal for 2-3 copper. 4 to 5 if you're eating Jericho's seafood filled bowl.
For reference, in Piltover and Zaun, they used cogs. They are divided into three values. Copper, which is the lowest. The second, silver which is worth, 50 Copper cogs with no holes or 100 with holes. Gold which is worth 100 Silver with holes and 50 without.
The average Zaunite could go their whole life without ever seeing a gold coin. A silver is worth like 10 meals at Jericho's.
Now if you're seeing the picture, let's go back to the cupcake stand. Ekko looked at Powder, who when hearing the price, stopped stuffing her face with cupcakes. Eyes wide and lips trembling. Claggor gulped and Mylo rolled his eyes in a typical fashion.
The lady also narrowed her eyes at the sudden silence. Before looking over their attires and an uneasy look came over her eyes, distrust full in them. Vi, Mylo and Claggor are watching from the side, ready to bolt if need to. Their postures stiff, their eyes shifting around, searching for any enforcers lurking nearby.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"...Of course. Here you go ma'm"
"!?!?" Surprise colored the eyes of everyone present when Ekko pulled out 20 silvers.
"I-uh *Ahem!* You only owe me 4 silvers young man." The lady nearly tripped over herself but she recovered quickly. And there's no mistaking the quiet sigh she let out at not being robbed today.
"I know. But all of us came to eat. We can't go back with just one full stomach." Making others blink at him in surprise.
"A-ah well, help yourselves." The lady said before turning her gaze somewhere else.
"E-ekko?" Vi asked still looking dazed.
"Hmm?"
"When did you get so much money?" The others looked curious too. Powder was still not finishing her fourth cupcake. The shock that she nearly cost Ekko so much money still affecting her.
Ekko just sighed and pull out a napkin, which looked too clean and like it belong to a Piltie nobel before cleaning the cream and crumbs on Powder's face. The girl scrunching up at the feel of the impossibly soft material before blushing, ducking her head down.
"5 minutes ago."
"Huh?" Mylo was confused.
Ekko leaned in to whisper and the group couldn't help but crowd around him, burning with curiosity, no matter how comedic it looked.
"I have that kind money as of 5 minutes ago. When Vi was ranting about fucking the Enforcers, I swiped some snotty looking people." He teased the eldest of Vander's kids as she spluttered in embarassment and indignation.
"Pfff. You stole it!!?" Mylo whispered to confrim.
"Yep!"
"How much?"? It was Claggor this time.
"Haven't count it yet. So are you gonna keep asking or are you going to eat." His question make everyone broke off, rushing to eating whatever thing that caught their eyes.
They spent the rest of the day, eating whatever they want to, watching performers and played games at the festival. It's safe to say that they spend every cog Ekko stole, down to the copper. The lighthearted atmosphere made the storm in Ekko's heart calm down a little.
The future was uncertain but the present was good enough for Ekko. He decided to just burn the bridge when he get to it. Burn it with everything he have.
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A/N: Hey there. Just wanna say this chapter took a completely different route than what I was planning. It was supposed to be a dark/psychological thing but it became a filler.
But we're in canon territory now. Canon officially starts next chap. For charcter ages, if you're confused, they are the same as the show. And man I got a surprise for you lot. That's all have a nice day.
P.S:I told you guys if you made it 100 powerstones before Sunday I'll mass release but sorry to say, you're not getting it this week.😁😁 Better luck next time.
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