The Sixth | Ekko

Chapter Thirty-Three

Ekko's return to the Firelight hideout had sparked life into the place again, his people having settled into a still desolation during his disappearance. They hadn't painted him in the mural again like he had previously wondered about, but his absence was still felt as if it were a passing.

Scar had questions. A lot of them. But Ekko didn't have time to answer them all right now. Instead, he answered the more pressing ones before revealing his intentions to the chirean.

Scar was unsure of his stance on teaming up with the Vitalia fighters. They had started off as enemies, which later progressed into a forced civilness as they became bounded by a trading agreement. Ultimately, he didn't have much say in the matter and would follow Ekko's lead no matter what.

Ekko had lost his z-drive and aeroglider when he and Momo fell into the canyon. While he had fought countless battles before without his z-drive, his aeroglider was an important component to his fighting style. Without it, it felt as though a limb had been severed.

Luckily, he was able to borrow Daz's board, since he wouldn't be joining them on today's mission. In the long run, Ekko planned on making a new board for himself. Even had some new features in mind. But for now, Daz's glider would do.

He successfully readied the Firelights for the impending mission with the Vitalia fighters. With there being a traitor amongst the Vitalia, Ekko was absolute on his stance of not allowing them to know where the Firelight hideout was. The only exceptions were Momo and the scavengers. And with the Vitalia limiting the entry to women only (despite his apparent ability to enter as a man without much repercussion) their options for a meeting place were limited. In the end, Ms. LeLock's shop was chosen as their meet-up destination.

According to Derora, the fighters were hesitant when it came to the team up, especially with their leader out of commission. With Derora set on keeping the details of Momo's condition a secret, they were left unknowing as to why they were going out with the Firelights to steal shimmer, especially given the fact they would be teaming up with a group they had faced off with countless times in the past. Derora tried her best to settle their concerns, instead remaining adamant that the mission was necessary, even if they didn't know why.

Ekko had excused himself momentarily before the plan briefing could begin, having forgotten his coat—which Momo had still been wearing.

Ekko stared down at Momo, standing next to her bedside.

She seized in the middle of his taking his coat off her, causing his heart to twist and his movements to come to an abrupt stop. Unshed tears pooled in his eyes, bringing forth a salty sting that clouded his vision.

She was incredibly fragile, more so than he initially thought. Her frailty was pervasive. Her physical body suffering from weaknesses and seizures, while her mind struggled with the traumas she had endured. Her entirety was a mass entanglement of affliction.

The tears fell finally, making their silent descent down his cheeks.

He slid his arms through the sleeves of his coat, shrugging his shoulders to make the fit more comfortable. Then his gaze was back to her again, never wanting to stray from her for too long.

He had to go.

He knew he did.

But parting from her now felt like abandonment. He wanted to be present to observe every twitch. Every breath. Drink in the signs that she was still alive. A peace of mind that leaving would diminish.

He checked his pockets, trying to see if anything had fallen out during their time in the caves. He paused when he felt something silky lace between his fingers when searching one of the outer pockets. He pulled it out, discovering it to be Momo's hair ribbon. He remembered watching her free her hair from her ponytail and then shoving it in his coat pocket back in the cave before her 'bath'.