[ARCANE] Would've, Could've, Should've TimeBomb [EN]

Chapter 1

In this storyline, (real) Ekko and Powder of this univers aren't dating, just bestfriend

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A simple pressure on the lever, the light turns off and the ballons pops, one by one. The crickle of the neon lightning up is heard by the control station, followed by the cheers of the crowd.

Light.

Explosion.

Colors.

Cheers.

Music.

And there it was: her grand entrance.

Powder always loved a good show, and every great show begins with an unforgettable entrance. Tonight, she was sharing the spotlight with Ekko—her childhood friend, her confidant, her partner.

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She was disturbed by his recent behavior. He had grown into a serious and mysterious man, even more so after his professor, Heimerdinger, entered his life. But this week felt different. He had been talking about a dream—a vision where everything was different, where they were different. But to what extent could a dream change someone's personality? After all, he had tried to knock her out with his tools, forgot the death of her sister and accuse her as if it was her fault.

Then there was the machine they had started building. Powder recognized those little blue fragments all too well. Despite that, she had helped him. He was driven by a motivation she had never seen in him before—a mix of fear and an overwhelming pressure that seemed to weigh heavily on his shoulders. Sometimes, he reminded her of Vi. But who was he trying to protect?

And this time machine—what exactly was it? How, why, and where had he found all that data?

She couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't the Ekko she knew.

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Their eyes met the moment she stepped onto the floor of The Last Drop. She moved closer, and he stood up, never breaking their gaze. His eyes were almost unreadable, like a book written in a language she couldn't understand, but whose meaning she could still grasp. He was unsettled by her, by her presence. This had never happened before. Of course, they had shared moments of closeness in their youth—stolen kisses and nothing more. But in this exact moment, she was certain he could see only her in the crowded room.

The music carried them away; he spun her around, danced with her, and they laughed. Time seemed to slow just for them, as their hearts beat in unison.

As she led him to the rooftop of the bar, the warmth of his hand in hers felt electric.

"Some night" she said, breaking the silence.

"It's beautiful" he responded, as if he was seeing the landscape for the first time.

"Where'd you learn those moves ?"

"Oh, he whisper, I was just following your lead"

"Hmm, he's got lines"

He chuckles as he touch the back of his neck before lowering his head, looking for his words.

"Hey. Uh ... I just want to thank you. You know, for everything. I used to dream the undercity could be like this. But somewhere, I got consumed by all the ways it wasn't. I gave up on it. Gave up on you.".