The Sixth | Ekko

Chapter Forty-Three

The cold season had officially begun, the plummeting temperatures causing any precipitation to freeze and combust into frozen fluff that floated graciously to the ground, where it collected to form a blanket of white.

While the snow in topside was clear like purity, the flakes that managed to reach the undercity were heavier with moisture and collected bits of soot as they fell, marking the city's floor and architecture in wet white that was tainted like sin.

The two of them had fallen asleep on the couch at some point during the night.

Six's eyes opened when she woke, which quickly fell shut again to keep the light from the window out of them. There was a peculiar scent radiating from whatever she was laying on. Was that tree sap? She turned her head slightly, her face nearly fully concealed now. She smelled oil too. And something musky. Then she heard heartbeats—heartbeats that weren't her own.

Slowly, she lifted her head, her gaze connecting with Ekko's, which didn't let up.

A moment passed, and it gave her mind time to catch up to where she was.

She recalled their conversations from the night prior and a small smile formed on her face, one that Ekko promptly returned.

Ekko was the first the break the silence between them. "Morning."

She blinked as he spoke and then sat up, being careful not to elbow him or hurt him as she did so. "Yeah, morning."

Ekko scooted back and pushed himself up to sit, his back resting against the armrest of the couch.

"Did you—uh—sleep good?"

"I think so," she said before tilting her head back and rolling her neck, her back arching as she stretched.

Ekko watched and swallowed hard, Adam's apple visibly jumping. A fire caught under his skin, and he rapidly averted his gaze.

Six stood moments later and caught sight of white outside the sole window in the room.

"Is that..." She walked over to the door and opened it. The slant of snow that'd been resting against it tumbled inside, piling onto the floor and the tips of her boots.

She released a sigh.

The first snowfall of winter was supposed to be something joyous, as it marked the annual tradition known as 'Snowdown', where people would gift their family and friends items that they knew the other person needed. It was something the city of Osha Va'Zaun had adopted from Freljord before the city broke in half to form Piltover and its underbelly. While it was heftily celebrated in Piltover, the people of Zaun saw the day as an escalation to their suffering. The cold temperatures and wet snow that surrounded them made survival far more difficult for those on the streets, while the circulation of food slowed down. Piltovian's ability to gift expensive items contrasted those who resided underneath the city, where gifts were often pieces of fabric off each other's clothes to signify how important the receiver was to the giver.

Ekko noticed the change in scenery from outside through the window. His hairs rose when he felt the biting chill of the breeze that wafted into the room from the ajar door, rustling his clothes and dreadlocks.

Six swiftly closed the door, pinching the rush of air to death until it stilled. The difference in temperatures between the inside and outside of the safehouse made her realize something.

"Did you fix the heating system in here?"

Ekko leaned against the window ledge, the palms of his hands resting on the sill and baring the weight of his upper half.

"Yeah. Figured it would be better not to freeze to death during our lessons."

Six's hand dropped from the doorknob. The heating system had been repaired by Nan on multiple occasions when the group temporarily stayed there. It was old, and Nan said if she had the proper materials she would've replaced it with something better.