#lee!ekko

[as-the-crows-feather-falls]

Some things never change, it seems <3

First piece on my new tablet wahoo

[gaybananabread]

TickleTober Day 2: Tense

~Ya’ll know I needed to squeeze my boy in here somewhere. This seemed like the perfect prompt for him, and I adored him and alternate Powder’s dynamic. For anyone else who likes these two, I hope you Enjoy!~

Fandom: Arcane: League of Legends

Lee: Ekko

Ler: Powder (Alternate Timeline)

Summary: Ekko is stressed and tired from working on the tedious mechanisms of the Z-Drive. Powder walks in on a particularly tense moment and decides to help him relax.

Warnings: none! This is a tickle fic, so if you don’t like that, scroll away!!

“Damn it!”

The loud clattering of the wrench echoed off the lab walls, mimicking the man’s frustration. He hadn’t meant to throw it that hard, but…well, he was pissed.

Once again, their prototype had failed. Ekko was almost positive he’d triple-checked their work on the calibrator, but even after hours of work, it had failed. He was left with a useless configuration of metal, a caffeine headache, and a scrap of his will to live.

He was considering throwing the thing off the roof to watch it bounce, but a knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.

“Ekko? Everything okay in here?”

The man sighed, flopping down into their nearby armchair. 

He still hadn’t quite grown used to seeing her. Not Jinx, the woman who routinely tries to kill him and his scouts with a smile, but her. Powder, how happy she would’ve been able to be if things hadn’t gone so south that day. What could have been…

Her hand on his shoulder snapped Ekko out of his thoughts.

Right. Normal, functioning people responded to questions they were asked.

“The damn thing’s refusing to work. Can’t even get the calibration to function properly, and I’ve been at it for hours.”

Powder sighed, looking him over. The bags under his eyes were concerningly deep, and his shoulders were tense enough to leave him sore in the morning. “Have you tried taking a break?”

A break? Really? He said he’d been having problems making progress, and she wants him to stop? “And how would that help?”

“You’re killing your brain, Ekko. It’s begging for help by refusing to work.” Powder accentuated her point by tapping the man’s forehead. “I bet it’ll be fine if you just put the pencil down for a bit and do something else.”

Ekko opened his mouth to argue, but she had a point. At the very least, her suggestion was worth a try. “Fine. What should I do?”

“Jeez, you need instructions on how to relax?” she groaned, shaking her head. “You really are far-gone.”

“Just shut up and help me.”

With a playful giggle, Powder grabbed Ekko’s hand. He tried to ignore the slight warmth that bloomed in his chest as she placed his hands on his knees. “Okay, sit like this. I’m gonna try working that disgusting tension outta your shoulders.”

“Shut up.”

“Said that already. Still not happening.”

Ekko’s second snarky retort was cut off by the feeling of her thumbs pressing into his shoulder blades. It hurt a bit, but that was quickly overshadowed by the relief that followed. Oooooh fuck…

“Shit, you’re tense. Like, disturbingly tense. Do you ever relax, genius?” Powder chuckled softly as she spoke, half in disbelief. No wonder he always looked so pissed when he was working—he was probably in a bunch of pain. 

“Yeah, I sleep,” he huffed, though his voice was breathier than normal. The massage practically had him melting into his chair.

Powder scoffed at that, shaking her head. “No you don’t. You pass out from exhaustion at your workbench and consume enough coffee to power a small army.”

“Wow. Don’t hold back or anything,” Ekko chuckled, letting his eyes drift close. The occasional grunt and groan of relief slipped past his lips as her nimble fingers worked the tension from his muscles. He could feel himself drifting, head tilted against the back of the chair. It felt amazing.

Eventually, Powder reached his neck. Her fingers gently prodded the muscles there, searching for tension with quick brushes and pokes. She’d expected some small responses, maybe a hum or a grunt.

What she wasn’t expecting, however, was Ekko to jolt and grab her wrist.

The reaction was obviously instinctual. Ekko’s hand had shot up, and his brows began to furrow as he realized what had happened. He quickly released her wrist, looking away. “Uh...sorry.”

“Everything okay? Did I hurt you?”

The concern in her voice made Ekko groan and run a hand down his face. Of course she had to find that little spot on his neck. “No, I…it’s nothing. Just caught me off guard.”

Powder’s brow quirked, and he knew he was screwed. “No, it’s not nothing. You flinched and went all action-mode on me, Ekko. What did I do?”

She rested her hand on his shoulder, somehow managing to make him feel even worse. How was he supposed to stay collected with those grey-blue eyes staring so expectantly at him?

“It just...kinda tickled, okay? Drop it.”

Powder’s eyes widened, the corner of her mouth quirking up for the briefest of seconds. “Ooooh, okay. Could’a just said that from the beginning,” she teased, lightly punching his shoulder.

Her hands moved back to his shoulders, continuing the massage. Ekko was on alert at that point, flinching a bit as her hands touched down. However, once she continued her gentle ministrations, he quickly drifted back into that hazy, warm, contented headspace.

He had no time to prepare for what came next.

“GAH! N-no, shihihihit!” Ekko jerked in the chair, trying to grab her hands again. Instead, Powder dodged, catching Ekko’s wrists above his head, She used gravity to her advantage, getting the boy savior into a position that he couldn’t really escape from. At least, not when he was so tired.

“No assaulting the masseuse, mister. Let me work my magic.” Powder playfully scolded him, gently futtering the fingers of her free hand along the base of his neck.

“Thihihis ahain’t mahahagic!”

“Heretic,” she scoffed, letting her hand slip down to poke Ekko’s side. Sure enough, she got a nice yelp out of him. “Ooo, here seems pretty tense.”

“G-gehehet ohoff!” Ekko tried to growl through his laughter, though it sounded more like a whine than anything. His already lighter voice was ptiching and cracking as he tried to hold back his reactions.

Powder chuckled, though she did let go of his arms. Once Ekko had brought his arms back down to hug himself, she leaned down on the armrest beside him.

“Shihit…” he huffed, straightening his vest. He and Powder were close, so he wasn’t horribly embarassed. Just...shocked. “Why’d you do that?”

“Well, you’re tense. I’m just trying to help.” Powder rested her head on Ekko’s shoudler. “That would always work when we were kids. You could never stay in a bad mood after some tickles.”

“Don’t— don’t say it like that, Powder.” He looked away, feeling his face heat. Of course she’d remember that. In her timeline, childhood memories like that weren’t tainted, weren’t inacessible. He envied her for that. At least, that version of her.

“Don’t say it like what?” Powder tilted her head, noticing Ekko’s fluster. “Does that still get you? Just the word tickle?”

Instead of responding, the man shoved at her head. Powder laughed as she clutched onto his shoulder, palancing on the armrest.

“Ohokay! I’ll take that as a yes.” Ekko could hear the grin in her voice, even as he stabilized her on the armrest. She caught his gaze, and her expression softened. “Would you...want me to help you relax? I’ll be gentle, promise.”

Ekko sighed, biting the inside of his cheek. Of course she’d ask that; it seemed to be her mission to fluster him as thorughly as possible. But…the offer was tempting. It’d beed a long time since he’d allowed himself to truly relax and have fun with someone he trusted. Hell, it’d been a long time since he’d found someone he truly trusted.

“...fine, whatever.”

“Wait, really?” Powder’s eyes widened, a smile of excited disbelief lighting up her features. “You’re actually gonna let me help you?”

“Just do it before I change my mind,” he huffed, shoving her head off his shoulder. He chose to ignore how happy seeing that excitement made him.

“Aye-aye, captain.” Powder gave him a playful little salute before swinging over the armrest, straddling his lap. The way his cheeks immediately darkened made her giggle. “Arms away from your chest, please.”

“I hate you…” Ekko huffed, though he did what she asked. He forced his arms out to the sides, holding each armrest tightly. She’d already established a silent challegne with him: don’t move your arms.

“No you don’t.”

Powder wasted no time, immeadiatley spidering her fingers up and down Ekko’s sides. She got a shocked grunt out of the man, a few giggles slipping through the cracks. He wasn’t expecting her to go all out at first.

“C’mon, stop hiding your laugh. The whole point of this is to relax, not murder your diaphram.”

He wanted to play hard ball? Well, two could play that game. Remembering childhood tickle fights, Powder shot her hands up to Ekko’s ribs, scratching between the bones in a way she knew would have him in stitches.

“SHHHIHIHIT! POWDEHEHEHER!” Ekko jolted in the chair, his composure immediately shattering. He did manage to keep his arms on the chair, though he was white-knuckling the poor upholstry.

“There we go,” she sung, clearly proud of herself for breaking him. The point of her silliness was to help him realx, though, so she backed off his ribs. Instead, her wiggling fingers wandered down to his sides, gently scribbling and kneading the soft skin shrouding his muscles.

“Y-youhuhuhu chehehater!” Ekko wriggled beneath her in the chair, feeling like a kid again. When was the last time he’d let himself truly laugh like that? Have fun like that? As embarassing as it was, he was enjoying himself.

His accusation got a playful scoff out of Powder. “Not cheating, just good strategy. You’re the one who tried to macho trhough it.”

“Ihihi wahas nohohot— GYAHA!” Once again, Ekko’s poor underarms were randomly largeted. He lurched forward, though he did manage to keep one of his hands on the armrest. His head rested on Powder’s shoulder; what little energy he’d had after working on the calibration had been spent.

“Don’t lie to me, Ekko. You were literally grunting.”

While Powder would’ve loved to bully Ekko further, she truly did want to help him relax. She moved up to his neck, gently dragging her nails over the surprisingly soft skin there.

“Th-thahahat wahahas unnehehecessahary…” The man burried his face in Powder’s neck, giggling away. He’d given up on saving face, instead wrapping his arms around Powder. She was warm, and it was instictual to hold on to someone when he felt vulnerable.

Powder was slightly surprised by his clinginess, but that shock quickly melted into adoration. He was acting so cute, and she’d be lying if she said it wasn’t making her feel anything for him.

The gentle tickling continued until Ekko was practically limp against Powder, giggling his head off as he held her. She finally stopped, patting the man’s back a few times to let him know she was done. “Alright, no more. You still with me?”

“Shihihit…” He was a bit out of breath, feeling giddy and light after the silly moment. It was realy nice to simply have Powder close to him, in his arms. Apparently, tickling made him soft.

“Okay, you’re being really cute right now,” she hummed, starting to scratch his back. Of course, he had no choice but to lean into the touch. “And look at that. Almost no tension left in you. Never doubt me, wonder boy.”

“Whatever,” Ekko mumbled into her shoulder, letting his eyes close for a moment. He was so comfortable…damn it. “Back to work in twenty?”

“Sounds good to me.”

[otomiyaa]

Smile | Ekko x Jinx

Random drabbles 3/?

He held both her hands, she didn't refuse.

She closed both her eyes, she didn't complain. Or cheat.

Ekko slowly walked backwards, guiding Jinx further and further towards his surprise for her.

He couldn't believe that he needed his experience in another universe to be reminded that Powder wasn't lost. That he didn't want her to be lost.

And even though he knew Jinx wasn't going to be the same after all she went through, there was something else he believed: with time, and with love, warmth, and friendship, he might be able to see glimpses of her.

"Alright, open your eyes."

Jinx opened her eyes and she immediately gasped. Ekko stood proudly next to his artwork of Isha.

"What do you think?" he asked smugly, but the smile he had hoped to see, or even the smug giggle while acting like she wasn't impressed at all, they both didn't come.

Jinx sank through her knees and touched the wall art.

"......Isha."

Tears fell from her eyes. Shit shit shit. Ekko felt like an idiot. He foolishly staggered around before he knelt down beside her.

"Sorry - Jinx. I didn't want to make you upset or anything, I just..." Ekko fell backwards when suddenly she wrapped her arms around him in a full, heavy hug. Losing his balance, Ekko toppled back clumsily, but that didn't stop her from holding him.

"She's beautiful," Jinx whispered. "Thank you."

Jinx was still as unpredictable as ever. Startled by her emotional reaction, Ekko lowered his hand and touched her back.

"Y-you're welcome," he said awkwardly. Jinx wasn't sobbing or crying a lot. She just held him tightly. When that took a little while, Ekko wondered if she was okay.

"Are you alright?" He tried to move, but damn, her hug was quite strong.

He didn't want to push her away, that would be a bit cold. But she was almost choking him now and he wasn't sure if she was ever going to let go.

"H-hey, maybe if you let go, we can..." Jinx only tightened her hold on him. Oh. Okay, okay. She wanted that hug.

Ekko made a little gasping noise and he coughed, trying to act like she was really choking him, but she still didn't let go.

Just as he reconsidered forcefully throwing her off, a memory struck him.

In the other dimension, when he was working on the Chronobreak device with Powder, and when he spent a lot of time with her there... Something happened between them that sparked a childhood memory he had long forgotten. Powder was ticklish. Which means... Jinx should be ticklish.

"Jinx..." Ekko said, but he wondered if he should really warn her for what he was going to do. He already wanted to try it anyway. He slowly lowered his hands and hesitated just briefly before he tickled her sides.

"Aiiihh!" Jinx made a funny noise, but instead of letting go, she only tightened the embrace. Well, if Ekko was going to die anyway, heh. He started tickle her for real. A lot. And the surprised cackles that suddenly came from her, they sounded like music.

"Are you letting go now?" Ekko asked with difficulty. She finally did. Jinx released him from her killer hug and before she could retaliate, Ekko caught her arm and started to tickle her more. Bold move, but effective.

"Hehehey no! Nonono! You ahahare so- AHh!" Jinx sang hilariously. Her laughter was so funny and melodious, and although her voice was the same as Powder in the alternate universe, because this was Jinx, it felt like a completely new experience.

Ekko caught himself getting distracted by the sound of her laugh and Jinx saw her chance. With little effort she managed to flip him over and she ended up straddling him.

"You've got some nerve," she said breathlessly, but she was still smiling. "What made you think you could get away with that?"

Ekko was about to give her an honest reply, but to his surprise, Jinx already started to tickle him back.

"HOHOHO-HANG AHaha hahaang on a-aaaahhhah!" Ekko's own loud voice startled him. In the other universe Ekko had only tickled Powder, but she didn't tickle him back, so the last time he was tickled like this...... He could barely remember. It must've been when he, Powder and Vi were still kids.

"Ho ho ho, no I won't hang on. You did it first," Jinx taunted. She had a smug, wicked grin on her face, and tears were still sparkling in her eyes.

Ekko could only be relieved they were no longer enemies. Her fingers skilfully played him like a failure of an instrument, making him shriek and howl uncharmingly. This was Ekko definitely not at his best.

"AHAHA I'm sohhorry! I'm sahaharry - gaahhhhah!"

She was merciless, but in the end the tickling did come to a stop, and Ekko greedily sucked in some air. Jinx got back up and went to admire the art again. She brushed it softly with her hand, emotion still visible in her eyes as she studied it.

"Thanks, Little Man. For making me smile again."

She then walked away again, leaving Ekko to catch his breath there beside the painting.

Wow. Well there was one thing he knew for sure: she liked it. And he wasn't sure if she was referring to him making her smile by making that surprise artwork - which in fact made her cry instead, or to the fact that he dared to tickle her and make her laugh.

Jinx was still a mystery, but no longer a mystery Ekko was going to avoid. "You're welcome," he mumbled with a smile, even though she was already long gone.

Right. Since he got away with it, with only a mere scratch to his ego, Ekko was determined to tickle her more later. He wasn't just going to make her smile. He would make her laugh.

[radio-navlee]

Still that same ol’ Echo, Ekko

Lee: Ekko

Ler: Powder/ alt dimension Jinx

Summary: Ok dude I know this sounds crazy, but Ekkos only been tickled a few times and only by Benzo, Powder, and Vi, but they never actually tickle him it’s kinda like a poke to the side here and there. Now that Ekkos traveled dimensions, he doesn’t realize Powders tickled him before, if you get what I’m saying? PLEASE?

“I’m…” Ekko sighed as Powders expression turned to unamusement.

The boy have pulled Powder aside into a room, he was planning to tell her that he was not from her dimension. The thing is, he couldn’t get past the part of actually telling her. He stumbled and beat around the bush, and Powder had began to grow frustrated.

“Spit it out Ek!” She threw her hands over her face. Ekko paused at the nickname, quickly shaking it off.

“I’m not your Ekko!” He said, finally he crossed his arms and examined Powder for a reaction.

Powder stared, before bursting into laughter, “Thahat- That’s a good one Ekko!” She held her stomach, looking back up at the white haired boy, but he wasn’t laughing.

“You’re serious? What does that mean?” She asked, it didn’t make sense, what did he mean by not her Ekko? He WAS Ekko!

Ekko nodded, “I am not from here, I’m from another dimension where-..” he froze, should he tell her? Or should he leave it at that?

“Another dimension?” Powder raised her voice, clearly angry, “I don’t like plaything these games Ekko, is this about one of your dreams again?” Ekko jumped at the sudden change in her tone.

“W-what?! No! Look-” He threw his hands in front of himself, trying frantically to explain. He spouted information about Hextech and the firelights, how the under city wasn’t and hadn’t been the same and how his own family ended up leaving. Powder could tell this ‘dream’ had taken a toll on him.

“It’s not real! Look, I’m still here!”

“No! It wasn’t a dream!… believe me!” He begged, looking into Powders eyes, she always had that same pouty look, it was creepy.

Powder sat back on the bed next to Ekko, “If I were to believe it is real, you won’t make fun of me?” She gave in, and Ekko lit up.

“Yes! I mean- No! I won’t make fun of you!” Powder giggled, but took in everything Ekko told her.

“Huh..”

“Yeah..” Ekko laid back, holding his hands over his face, Powder watching still a bit astonished. As Ekko fell back on the bed, part of his dapper suit rode up against his shirt, exposing a bit of his stomach.

Powder instantly noticed, deciding if she should do what she really wanted to do. It couldn’t hurt? But how good will ‘Ekko’ take it? What if he gets mad? I’m sure it will be fine!

The blue haired girls swiped a finger across his exposed stomach, giving her the perfect reaction. Ekko jumped up holding his stomach, he shouted his confusion.

“WhaT! What was that!” He shot her a look of surprise, as Powder laughed.

“Your still sensitive Ekko,” She sighed, her expression softening as she examined her next victim.

“W-what?” He watched as the girls face change to mischief. Powder pounced on him, pushing his shoulders down and sitting on his lap.

“Ticklish Ekko!” She pronounced with a ‘I thought you knew this’ tone.

“Tickling? No, no, I’m not ticklish!” He protested, holding onto her wrist.

“Uh? Yeah, you are!” Powder grinned as she quickly broke the hold Ekko had on her wrist, shooting down to squeeze his sides. The response was instant.

“GahAHAhaa!! Jihi-Pohohowder!!” He threw his head back giggling, quickly using his hands to cover his mouth.

“Oh no! I don’t think so! Let me hear that laugh!” She teased, moving higher to his ribs.

“W-wahahHAHAit! Nohoho!” His laughter raised an octave and became more frantic. Powder couldn’t help herself but to giggle along with him.

She admired his laughter, it wasn’t her Ekkos laughter but it was still nice to hear. Ekko squirmed from beneath her, this sudden new sensation he hadn’t felt is years all hitting him at once. Sure he did lie, he WAS in fact ticklish, but he never thought of it as being insanely ticklish.

He remembered as a kid back when he would hang around The Last Drop, Vi would sometimes give him a poke to get his attention, and Powder would blow in his ears to startle him, but he hadn’t thought of that since… since he last saw Vi.

“Gosh, you still have the same spots as my Ekko” Powder mumbled, thinking for a second giving Ekko a break.

“Y-yohou! F-f-fuhacking evil!” Ekko panted holding a finger to Powders face.

“Evil? You haven’t seen what I’m about to do to you next..” Powder sang, biting her lip to hold back her giddiness as she watched Ekkos face become confused.

“W-what…” he questioned himself, panic setting in, what did she mean next? I thought that was it?!

As quick as Jinx was, it felt like Powder was faster, darting for the spot between Ekkos ribs and armpits, leaning down and blowing soft air and whispering into Ekkos ear and along his neck. The boy bursted into shocked laughter before falling into cackles.

“FUHUHUHAHAHACK!!! JIHIHIN- GAHAHAHAA! P-P-POHOHOWDEHER!!” He tried scrunching his shoulders to block her out but it only cause her to become closer.

“Jinx? Oh please you’re confusing me with somebody else!” She teased blowing air along his neck, causing an adorable squeak and snort to come out of the boys mouth.

“GAHAHA-snort- AHAHA! WAHAHAIT!” Ekko pleaded, trying to use his strength to push Powders shoulders, but also trying to protect the spot Powders had been torturing.

“God, you still have that same old echo in your laugh,” Powder sighed, still whispering into his ear causing an ungodly squeak to come out of the poor boy.

The space bunned girl decided to let up, slowly loosening up of her tickling but still staying close to his neck.

“P-pohoOWDEHER!” He snorted as another wave of air hit his ears.

“Ok ok ok!” She backed off her hands, falling into a hug with Ekko on the bed, neither of them bothered to push each other off.

As Ekko processed what had just happened, giggling freely over the shoulder of Powder, he gently wrapped his arms around the girl laying on top of him.

“You know, ‘Ekko’, you’re very similar to my Ekko.” Powder admitted, speaking softly.

“How did you know?” Ekko said sleepily

“Know? Know what?” Powder sat up a bit to look at the boys face, flushed a bit from laughing and smiling.

“Know where to-… to get me?” He sighed and gave a goofy laugh showing embarrassment.

“Oh Ekko,” Powder giggled back “I’ve tickled you loads of times, I learn.” She laid her chin back into his shoulder, whispering the last 2 words.

Ekko snickered scrunching his neck, “Maybe in your dimension, in mine nobody’s tickled me in the past 10 years.”

Powder paused, it made her a bit sad to know that Ekko had never play fought in his dimension, let alone tickle fights.

“Yeah?” Powder replied, “it-it’s fun, I mean, I didn’t necessarily hate it…” Ekko mumbled, waiting for Powders reaction.

“…” silence filled the room. Crap, was that not the right thing to say? He was just thinking out loud, he didn’t really mean it! Ekko panicked thinking of ways he could back himself up or explain himself when he felt a soft touch to his sides.

“You liked it, huh?” Powder teased, spidering against his sides.

“Pohohowder!!”

(Navy out-)

[saturnzskyzz]

𝐿𝑒𝑒! 𝐸𝑘𝑘𝑜 𝑙𝑒𝑟! 𝐽𝑖𝑛𝑥

𝙰/𝙽: 𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘐 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘢 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵. 𝘌𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺! 𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥! :]

---

"Wahahait, wahahait! Ehehehaha."

"Hold still will ya!"

Upon the earlier facade, Ekko and Jinx quickly reunited their bond to come up with a plan to help out with this coming war.

Talking about routes, transportation, strategies,, appearance.

Jinx had thought of a clever idea to make a grand entrance like how she usually does with past, all were regrettable, missions. To help stop this war for good, Jinx had thought that making an eye sore appearance was the way to do it, so Ekko agreed.

Up until now.

"Dohoho we reheheally have toho dohoho this?!" Ekko panicked.

Jinx was using her paints and brushes to formally "mark" Ekko with her usual grifiti art. She did it on his arms and his clothes-which they agreed to switch with each other's.

They both didnt expect for this act to be really tickly.

"C'mon Ekko! It's just an X." Jinx couldn't help but the small smile to form on he face by the encounter.

"Ihi'm sohohorry, ihit just tihihickles.." Ekko shyly confessed.

She was done with the first stroke, and was on to the second. Going from her right, down to her left until she was briefly stopped.

"WahaAHAIT! Eheh.. Whahat if I just doho the rest?" Ekko pleaded, holding onto Jinx's wrist that had the brush in hand.

Jinx just looked at him and scoffed.

"Yoho truly are the boy savior, even for yourself, huh?" Jinx said before handing Ekko the brush.

Ekko sighed in relief, and took the brush in silent victory.

"But can the boy savior really save himself from a jinx?" She said suddenly, glancing at Ekko who all but looked back with a confused expression.

".. What's that supposed to- AAH!" Ekko tumbled to the ground with a big "oof" before he Looked up to see Jinx towering above him.

"Jihinx, dohon't do what ihi think you're about to doho." Ekko quietly pleaded once again.

"We still have time on our hands from what you've gathered." Jinx said before darting her hands to Ekko's sides.

"AAH! NOHOohohoahaha! Jihihihnx wahahait! H-hohohold ahahahahon."

Yeaaaah, these two definitely have time on their hands.

[otomiyaa]

Die with a Smile

Ekko x Jinx

A/N: Postponed this one long enough but it's done!!

Summary: Although he has a long way to go, Ekko is taking baby steps to getting closer to Jinx, and more importantly, to making her happy again. Baby steps are better than no steps at all. (Also on AO3)

Warnings: Mentions of suicide

Word Count: 1.7K

It wasn't going to be the same. It never would be.

War had left its nasty marks all over Piltover. Benzo was gone. Vander was gone. And so was Silco. The bar they were supposed to be running, the way Ekko saw it, was nothing but a dark, rotten place.

Looking back at his experience in the alternate timeline, it had been nothing but a wild dream. But the fact that his current timeline wasn't as much as the fairy tale it could have been, didn't mean it was a bad one.

War was over. Vi was alive. And Jinx was... waiting for him.

"Took you long enough. Busy doing your makeup?" she asked sarcastically with a cute smile on her face. Ekko had asked her to visit the spot together where... His chest fluttered. Where he had kissed Powder, once upon a time, in another universe.

"I thought we agreed to meet down there and walk together," Ekko argued, unable to hold back his own grin. He had been horrified when Jinx wasn't at the place where they promised to meet up. But coming up by himself, he was relieved to find her here, waiting for him.

"Do I ever listen?" Jinx said proudly. Ekko rolled his eyes.

"Joke's on you, I almost went home."

"Bad joke then. 'Almost' doesn't count. You're here now, right? That counts."

Jinx flashed him a smile that made Ekko tingle. He enjoyed to see her be her goofy self. She wasn't Powder, but sometimes he saw a glimpse. She wasn't the sad Jinx he encountered when she tried to die alone, and unfortunately, Ekko thought he saw glimpses of her too. The Jinx who wanted to leave this world and thought they were better off without her.

Even though they were at peace, and her relationship with Vi was restoring, as well as her bond with Ekko which was growing stronger, Ekko was certain that the thought crossed her mind sometimes. He could see it in her eyes. She preferred to die. Selfish enough, Ekko didn't. He did not want her to die. He did not want to lose her. Not again...

"So, what's next?" Jinx asked, her voice teasy and cocky, yet curious. Ekko shook his head fondly.

"We sit."

Her eyes twinkled with mischief. "Oh." He could see she was looking for a snarky comeback, but there was none. They sat together and enjoyed the view. She nodded slowly.

"It's nice," she said. Ekko sighed softly and nodded as well.

"Right?" He had wanted to come here with Jinx for a while now, but their relationship was still developing slowly. But now being here, it surely did not disappoint.

While Jinx continued to stare forward, Ekko glanced at her hands that were folded in her lap, in a bit of an awkward position. Heh, feeling shy Jinx? Ekko wanted to tease her but he still felt a little shy himself.

Their relationship that had gone from childhood friends to enemies to friends to almost lovers had been quite the ride, and if it weren't for his experience with Powder in the other timeline, he might've still been oblivious of his blossoming romantic feelings towards her. A thought he hated ー it took him an unnatural out-of-this-world experience to be reminded of how much he wanted to save Jinx. How much he wanted to be with her.

"Spill it boy." Of course she noticed he was staring at her, and Ekko coughed in surprise.

"No, nothing. I mean... Uh... I was just wondering...." Ekko paused and swallowed.

I was just wondering... How you are doing. If maybe deep down you hate me for stopping you that day. If you still wish to die. What I could do to make you want to live again. What I could do to make you really smile, or even laugh again.

"If you're still ticklish."

Jinx blinked. Ekko did too. Well that was not really what he was wondering. Surely it could answer the last question he thought of, but he was surprised his mouth spoke these words of all things he could come up with to mask the much darker questions he had in mind.

"What?" Jinx asked. Ekko felt lame to never-mind it now, so he smirked as if this had been his plan all along.

"Don't you remember? I beat you in tickle fights all the time."

Jinx let out a spontaneous laugh. Cute... "No you didn't," she said. Ekko shrugged.

"I'm sure I did." He didn't even reach for her, but he could see she was getting giggly and squirmy, just from the memory.

"Are you challenging me now?" Jinx asked.

Ekko shrugged again. "No, I was just asking." He turned to face her better and he smirked when she flinched.

"Unless you want me to tickle you, of course."

Jinx gasped in surprise and all of a sudden pounced on him. Before Ekko could react, she pinned him down and straddled him.

"Bold move," Ekko said, and he thought he was the bold one for stepping out of his earlier inner fear-zone to tease Jinx like he wanted. To flirt with her.

"To answer your question: I don't know if I'm still ticklish. But I know that you are."

Bluff, Ekko wanted to say. They hadn't had tickle fights since they were kids. But she knew now. Jinx reached for his side and squeezed. He was unable to hold back his laugh, and she smirked.

"See?" So smug and proud. Ekko would've responded if he wasn't giggling like a loser.

"Okahahay! I gehehet it," he giggled uncontrollably and he tried to catch her hands to make her stop.

Jinx shook her head. "I don't think you do. You don't get it. You ask me if I'm ticklish, so I tickle you first. And I won't stop, Little Man."

Ekko blushed and gasped when she clawed at that awfully ticklish spot between his ribs. He had always known he was ticklish from when he, Vi and Powder used to tickle each other when they were children, or when Benzo would tickle him, and even alternate timeline Powder had managed to make him laugh a few times in the time they spent together. But despite all these experiences, he had no idea he could be this ticklish.

Having Jinx as his attacker was really something else.

"Jihinx! I sahahaid I gehehet it! You cahahan stohohop now!" he laughed, feeling the tiniest bit of panic rise when it tickled a lot and he feared she might think he was a loser for getting this weak and out of control.

"Did you now? And I said I won't stop. Does it tickle that much?" she teased. Her wandering fingers found their way under Ekko's arms, and he tried to clamp them down to no avail. He jerked heavily and threw his head back.

"NAHh! Ahahalright mehehercy!"

"Nah."

Jinx was right, he started it. For some reason the are-you-ticklish question had been the first thing he blurted out when he tried to not confront her with the heavy stuff. But to think it resulted in this. If Ekko would've told himself he'd get tickled to death today by Jinx, he wouldn't have believed it.

"Ahhhahaha Jinx hehe! I'll d-diehehehe!" Ekko howled. Jinx rolled her eyes and shook her head with a smile.

"A little dramatic aren't we?" She dug her thumbs into Ekko's underarms and he spasmed and shrieked in the most humiliating way.

"Plehehease! S-stohohop!"

Ekko tried to make eye contact but it was a little hard. He was laughing too much. Jinx was strong, and he wasn't necessarily a weak one, but he was when the sensations of tickling overpowered him like this.

He caught Jinx staring at him. The look in her eyes was soft and warm, and he sensed some emotion and lingering feelings as she moved closer as if she was going to...

"HA!" Ekko managed to flip her under him in a quick movement. If she was going to kiss him, he had officially ruined it. But something told him she wouldn't have done it. Besides, he saw the opening and he got it.

Jinx appeared a little caught off-guard as she stared up at him, but soon her smirk was back.

"You'll tickle me back now? Nice."

Ekko raised his eyebrows. "I'll die with a smile at least," she said. He noted the teasy tone in her voice, but also the soft flicker of sadness in her eyes and... He swallowed and instead of tickling her, he crashed down on top of her in a suffocating hug.

Her joking words stung Ekko more than they should've, and as his body still recovered from her merciless tickle attack, Ekko held her tightly.

"That doesn't tickle...." Jinx mumbled, but she didn't shove him off her. Ekko only tightened the embrace.

"No... You win today. Let's... Let's come here again, another time," Ekko said.

Jinx hummed. "You'll tickle me then?" The way she asked it made him want to tickle her right now, but...

"Yeah. I might tickle you then. I still want to win."

As much as he wanted to tickle her, he also wanted to give her reasons to stay. Anything. Even if they were just excuses like this. Promises of future tickle fights, for real?

Jinx relaxed in his arms and patted his back. "You disappoint me," she said, but her tone was still teasy and playful. She placed her hands on Ekko's back, returning the hug.

"But... lost your chance boy."

All of a sudden her fingers curled and she wiggled them down Ekko's back. Tickled like hell.

"GAHhh!" He arched his back and yelped, but Jinx continued to tickle him, scribbling at his ticklish lower back, sliding a finger up and down his spine, and sometimes clawing and squeezing at his exposed sides and ribs.

"Jihihinx nohoho!" Ekko cried, but he couldn't help but embrace the feeling of her tickling him to death all over him again.

If someone was to die with a smile, figuratively, it was going to be him. And he would like to hold on to his words from earlier. Next time he was definitely going to tickle Jinx and pay her back for this!

[radio-navlee]

??

Am I gonna be the first to start this

“Lee Ekko”

train rn?

if I am? Then I’m glad :)

(Lee ekko from Arcane coming soon)