The workshop was a chaotic mess of wires, gears, and half-finished gadgets scattered across every available surface. Powder sat cross-legged on the floor, her blue braids falling over her face as she hunched over a small contraption in her lap. Her fingers moved frantically, tinkering with the device as if sheer determination alone could force it to work.
The contraption itself was a confusing amalgamation of components—cogs and springs salvaged from broken clocks, a jagged shard of a mana crystal, and several pieces Ekko immediately recognized as scavenged from one of Zaun's larger industrial machines. It looked volatile, and Ekko wasn't sure if it was meant to be a toy or a weapon.
Powder muttered under her breath, her brow furrowed in concentration. She reached for a screwdriver, only to knock over a jar of screws that clattered loudly across the floor.
"Powder," Ekko said from the doorway, watching her with a mixture of amusement and concern. "What are you doing?"
She jumped, startled by his voice. The device slipped from her hands, and she scrambled to catch it before it hit the ground.
"Ekko! Don't sneak up on me like that!" she said, clutching the contraption to her chest.
"Sorry," he said, though he couldn't hide the smirk tugging at his lips. "But seriously, what is that thing? It looks like it's about to explode."
"It's... a project," Powder said defensively, her grip tightening on the gadget.
"Uh-huh," Ekko said, stepping into the room. "And what kind of project exactly?"
Powder hesitated, her eyes darting to the side. "It's just something I'm working on. Nothing big."
"Powder, it's glowing," Ekko pointed out, gesturing to the faint blue light emanating from the mana crystal embedded in the device.
"It's supposed to do that!" she snapped, though her tone lacked conviction.
Ekko crouched down beside her, his sharp eyes scanning the contraption. "You're trying to make a bomb, aren't you?"
Powder's cheeks flushed. "It's not a bomb," she said quickly. "It's... a distraction device. For emergencies."
Ekko raised an eyebrow. "Powder, this thing looks like it could level half a block if it goes off wrong."
She glared at him, crossing her arms. "I can handle it."
"Clearly," Ekko said dryly, nodding to the singed wires and melted components scattered around her workspace.
Powder's frustration boiled over, and she stood abruptly, her hands clenched into fists. "Why do you always have to act like I can't do anything on my own? I'm not a kid anymore, Ekko!"
Her words stung, but Ekko forced himself to stay calm. He stood as well, meeting her fiery gaze. "I know you're not a kid, Powder. But this? This is dangerous. And if something went wrong, I don't even want to think about what could happen to you."
Powder's shoulders slumped, the fight draining out of her. She looked down at the gadget in her hands, her fingers tracing the edges of the mana crystal. "I just... I wanted to prove I could do it."
Ekko's expression softened. He reached out, gently taking the contraption from her hands. "You don't have to prove anything to me," he said quietly. "But if this is important to you, let me help."
Powder hesitated, her lips pressing into a thin line. Finally, she nodded, stepping aside to let him work.
For the next few hours, the workshop was filled with the soft hum of tools and the occasional burst of sparks. Ekko worked methodically, his hands steady as he adjusted the delicate components of Powder's device.
Powder hovered nearby, watching him with a mix of awe and irritation. She hated that she needed his help, but she couldn't deny that he was good—better than her, even.
"Why did you use a mana crystal?" Ekko asked, glancing at her.
Powder shrugged. "I thought it would make the device more powerful."
"It will," Ekko said, carefully disconnecting the crystal. "But it's also unstable. You need a stabilizer to control the energy flow, or it'll blow up in your face."
Powder winced, realizing how close she'd come to disaster. "Oh."
Ekko smiled faintly, shaking his head. "You've got good instincts, Powder. You just need to think things through a little more."
She pouted, crossing her arms. "I was thinking things through. Just... not all the way."
He chuckled, sliding a small metal ring over the crystal to stabilize it. "That's what I'm here for. To make sure you don't blow yourself up."
Powder rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips. "You're so smug, you know that?"
"Only because I'm right," Ekko said, giving her a playful grin.
By the time the device was finished, the sun had begun to set, casting a warm orange glow over the workshop. Ekko held up the gadget, examining it carefully. It was smaller now, more compact, with reinforced casing and a proper stabilizer for the mana crystal.
"Here," he said, handing it back to Powder. "Try it now."
Powder took the device, her hands trembling slightly. She pressed the activation button, and the gadget hummed to life. A soft, pulsating light emanated from the crystal, and a faint whirring sound filled the room.
"It works," she whispered, her eyes wide with amazement.
"Of course it works," Ekko said, leaning against the workbench with a satisfied smile.
Powder turned to him, her expression a mixture of gratitude and frustration. "Thanks, Ekko. But... I wish I didn't need your help."
"You didn't need my help," Ekko said gently. "You just needed someone to guide you. There's a difference."
She looked at him, her blue eyes searching his face. "You really think I can do this? Be good at this?"
"I don't think it," Ekko said firmly. "I know it. You've got more talent and creativity than anyone I've ever met. You just need to believe in yourself as much as I believe in you."
Powder's cheeks flushed, and she looked away, fiddling with the gadget in her hands. "You're too nice, you know that?"
"Only to you," Ekko said with a grin.
Powder laughed, the sound light and genuine. "You're impossible."
"And you're brilliant," Ekko countered.
They stood there for a moment, the tension between them easing into something warmer. Powder held the gadget close to her chest, her expression soft.
"Thanks, Ekko," she said quietly.
"Anytime," he replied.
And he meant it. Whatever Powder needed, whatever challenges lay ahead, Ekko would always be there to help her through them. Because that's what friends did.
And for Ekko, Powder was so much more than just a friend.