Glue Song -- Beabadoobee
                        𝟎𝟎1 : Pierced Hearts
                      (𝘼𝙧𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙚, Stay Ready)

IT might have been creepy. Ekko knew that—and he'd never say it out loud—but Moon had the kind of lips that made it impossible to look away.

Soft-looking, plump, with a natural gloss that caught the light just enough to make them seem... well, perfect.

See what he means? You're judging him already.

But seriously, there was something about them. The way they pressed together when she was deep in thought, or curved into the kind of smile that made the world feel just a little less bleak. They moved with purpose, whether she was muttering something sarcastic or gnawing absently on a pencil.

They weren't just lips; they were alive, expressive. And Ekko had no business noticing them as much as he did.

He sighed, running a hand over his face. What is wrong with you? There was a whole industrial revolution  to think about, a thousand problems to solve—and here he was, distracted by something as ridiculous as Moon's lips.

But then she'd do something—bite her lip when she was nervous, or lick them while she was trying to figure out what to say—and suddenly, his focus was gone. Completely shot.

Not that it mattered. Moon had bigger things to deal with. Real, heavy things. The kind of problems that made any passing thought about her lips seem, well, stupid.

And yet, sometimes he caught himself staring, like a complete fool. Thank God no one ever noticed. Because if anyone, especially Moon, knew... he'd never live it down.

So he tried his best to look her in the eyes, ever the gentleman, as she spoke to him about God knows what. Moon talking for more than five minutes was an anomaly on its own, one he cherished enough to give his undivided attention. He could listen to her ramble all day, her soft voice carrying the kind of warmth that made the whole room feel smaller, more intimate.

But, man, was it hard.

When did she start using brown lip gloss?

He'd noticed it the second she walked in, the subtle sheen catching the dim light of the hideout, making her already-plump lips look even more tempting. They were soft-looking too, glossy enough to make him wonder if they tasted as sweet as they looked. Not that he'd ever—God, focus, Ekko.

She was saying something about the sketchbook she'd filled, her hands gesturing animatedly as she talked. Ekko nodded along, forcing his gaze back to her eyes, trying to tune in. Something about shading techniques? He couldn't tell—his mind kept wandering back to her lips, to the way the gloss caught on the faint curve of her smile.

It was impossible not to look.

"I'm so happy you agree."

Maybe he should have tried harder.

Ekko blinked, the haze of his distraction lifting as confusion crept in. "Agree with what?" he asked, finally forcing his eyes away from her lips—glossy and soft, catching the light in a way that should've been illegal—and up to her face.

"That you should let me pierce your ears!" Moon said brightly, her smile teasing but earnest, like she'd been waiting forever to spring the idea on him.

He stared at her, dumbfounded. "Wait, what? When did I agree to that?"

"Just now," she said, tilting her head with a mischievous glint in her eye. "You were nodding along while I was talking, so I figured you were on board."

"I wasn't nodding," Ekko shot back, though even as he said it, doubt crept in. Had he been nodding? He'd been too caught up in the curve of her smile and the way she leaned closer when she got excited—like whatever she was saying had to be the most important thing in the world.

Moon smirked, resting her chin on her hand. "You totally were. And you know what? You'd look good with earrings. Something subtle—maybe a stud. Or bold, like a hoop."

He gave her a wary look. "You just want an excuse to stab me with a needle."

"Not true," she replied, lifting her chin indignantly. "I'd use an ice cube and a safety pin. I'm not a savage."

Ekko groaned, dragging a hand down his face, though he couldn't help but laugh under his breath. "That's not making your case any better."

"C'mon," she urged, her voice warm and coaxing, like the soft hum of a favorite song. "Live a little! You'd look so cool with earrings. Powder thinks so too!"

"Powder's idea of cool is not one I align with," he muttered, though his resistance was already crumbling.

"But I did hers just last week!" she countered, her eyes alight with mischief. "I'm practically a professional."

Ekko gave her a dubious look. "Powder lets you do a lot of questionable things. That doesn't mean I should."

Moon grinned, leaning closer, her energy as contagious as ever. "Yeah, but you trust me, don't you?"

That caught him off guard. His words stuck somewhere between his throat and his chest, caught under the weight of her gaze.

Moon laughed, breaking the tension with a sound that felt like a soft ripple across a still pond. It wasn't the loud, cackling laughter of Powder or Vi, but something lighter, something rarer, like it had snuck out before she could stop it. It broke through her usual guarded demeanor, and it hit him harder than it should've—like sunlight warming a place he hadn't realized was cold.

She was still laughing when she added, "You'd look good, Ekko. Trust me."

And that was the thing. He did trust her, more than anyone. She could've suggested just about anything in that moment, and he'd probably say yes—just to see her smile like that again.

"Fine," he said at last, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. "But if you mess it up, I'm holding it against you forever."

Her grin widened, triumphant and dazzling. "Deal."

And with that, she grabbed his wrist, tugging him out of the room. He followed without protest, a soft, helpless smile tugging at his lips.

She had no idea how easily she could make him bend, no idea how much he'd give just to see her happy. That laugh, that smile—it was gravity, pulling him closer whether he wanted it or not.

Ekko followed, his chest tight with the bittersweet ache of her presence. She could ask anything of him, and he'd say yes—because every moment with her, every glance, every laugh, felt like gravity didn't apply.

He was so far gone, and he didn't even mind.

MOON'S bedroom felt like stepping into her world—intimate and alive, chaotic but somehow warm. The walls were a collage of memories and imagination: sketches taped unevenly beside faded photographs, string lights casting a soft glow over everything. Her bed, piled with mismatched blankets, sat invitingly in the corner, while the desk where Ekko now sat bore the evidence of her creative chaos—doodles on scraps of paper, stray pencils, and the faint scent of lavender oil from a small diffuser.

He shifted in the chair, painfully aware of how close she was. Moon stood behind him, her fingers brushing his jaw as she gently turned his head to one side. "Alright, hold still," she murmured, her tone light but focused.

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" he asked, trying to sound teasing, but the tightness in his throat betrayed him.

"Would you relax?" Moon laughed softly, the sound so effortless it sent his pulse racing. "I told you, Powder said I did hers perfectly. I'm basically a pro."

"Powder's idea of professional is questionable," Ekko muttered, though the joke barely landed. He was too distracted—by her voice, her scent, the faint glow of the string lights catching in her hair.

"If you're uncomfortable, I promise to stop," Moon said, her voice soft but insistent, as if sensing the tension radiating off him.

Ekko shook his head quickly, his words a little too rushed. "I'm not uncomfortable." It wasn't entirely a lie, but it wasn't the full truth either.

Moon's eyes softened, and she leaned in a little closer, her hand finding its place on his jaw to gently tilt his chin. The sudden warmth of her touch made him freeze, every muscle in his body locking up. He swallowed, trying to steady his breathing, but his heart wasn't having it.

Her scent hit him then—vanilla, delicate and sweet, like fresh-baked pastries on a lazy morning. It was intoxicating, and for a second, he wondered if she could hear the thud of his pulse. He tried not to look up at her, but it was impossible. She was right there, so close that he could see every detail—the way her hair fell in soft waves around her face, the gentle arch of her brow as she concentrated.

She looked so... ethereal, like she didn't quite belong to this world, and yet here she was, so real, so tangible in front of him. He felt a flicker of warmth that made his stomach twist.

"I thought you said you weren't uncomfortable," she pouted, her eyes flicking to his.

"I'm not," he stammered quickly, gripping the desk to steady himself.

"Then why can't you breathe properly?" she teased, a playful smirk tugging at her lips.

He chuckled nervously, glancing away. "You're so close. I'm... nervous."

Moon's smile softened, and for a moment, her teasing faded into something quieter, something warmer. "Relax, Ekko," she murmured, her voice almost a whisper. "It's just me."

Just her. Like that made it easier.

"Okay," she said, shifting slightly as she readied the needle. "Deep breath in... and out."

He obeyed, exhaling just as the needle pressed through. The sting was sharp but fleeting, and yet it couldn't compete with the ache in his chest from being so close to her.

"And done!" she announced, stepping back with a triumphant grin.

Ekko blinked, reaching up to touch his newly pierced ear. "That's it?"

"That's it," Moon replied, bending down slightly to meet his gaze. Her face was so close to his now, he could count the tiny freckles scattered across her nose. "Told you I wouldn't mess it up."

"You didn't," he murmured, his voice quieter than he intended.

Moon smiled again, softer this time, as if she'd caught the edge of his thoughts. She leaned in to secure the tiny stud in his ear, her fingers brushing his skin, and Ekko thought for sure his heart might give out.

"There," she said finally, her voice quieter now too. "Perfect."

He wasn't sure if she meant the piercing or something else, but in that moment, he didn't care.

"AT this point, I can't tell if Moon is just that persuasive, or if you're just ridiculously easy to convince," Mylo teased, a playful grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

The five of them were gathered at a table in the back of the bar, the warm glow of the lanterns casting soft shadows across the room. Powder watched her sister intently, noticing how Moon pushed her food around her plate, her expression unreadable.

Ekko shrugged, taking a casual bite of his meal. "Not sure what you mean."

"You let her pierce your ears?" Claggor chimed in, raising an eyebrow. "Really?"

Ekko paused, mid-bite, and shot Claggor a glare. "It's not a big deal," he muttered, trying to brush it off.

Powder raised an eyebrow, her gaze flicking between him and Moon, who was still pushing her food around with a distracted look. "It's not the piercing I'm worried about," she said, her voice light but pointed. "It's how you let her get away with everything else."

Mylo smirked, leaning back in his chair as he crossed his arms. "You're scared of needles Ekko. And you still let her pierce them. You're such a pushover."

Ekko rolled his eyes, though a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "I'm not a pushover. I just... don't see the harm in letting her do something she's been begging for."

"Begging for?" Claggor snorted. "She barely asked you. She coerced you."

Ekko shifted in his seat, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks. "It's not like that," he muttered, but his words lacked conviction. He couldn't exactly argue with them—Moon had definitely found her way past his usual defenses, in more ways than one.

Powder gave him a teasing smile, her lips quirking up at one side. "Sure, sure. You just let her get whatever she wants, huh?"

"Only when it's harmless," Ekko replied, a little too quickly. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, trying to ignore the way Moon's silence was making the conversation feel even more awkward. She was still avoiding eye contact, pushing her food around without actually eating it.

"You know, I think you're starting to develop a pattern," Mylo added, clearly enjoying Ekko's discomfort. "First it was the gadgets, now it's Moon's constant stream of 'Ekko, can you help me with this?' And before long, you'll be wearing a matching tattoo with her, I bet."

Ekko groaned, resting his head in his hands. "I'm not getting a matching tattoo with her," he said flatly, though the image of them both sporting some ridiculous set of friendship tattoos made his stomach twist in an oddly warm way.

"Sure, just wait until she asks," Claggor teased.

Moon finally looked up from her plate, her expression thoughtful. "If he ever asks for matching tattoos," she said softly, "I'll smack him."

Ekko looked at her, blinking in surprise. She was smiling just a little, the hint of a joke in her voice making his chest feel lighter. She could tease him all she wanted, but at least it felt like things were—finally—returning to normal between them. Even if that meant they'd be hearing about this ridiculous piercing for weeks.

"Great," Ekko muttered, trying to hide the grin pulling at his lips. "Now I'm officially a project."

Moon snorted, shaking her head. "Just make sure you don't become a walking cautionary tale," she said dryly.

Powder laughed, taking a bite of her food. "You two are ridiculous."

Ekko couldn't help but agree.

LOVE SPEAKS!

I don't love that last part I just kept it in so the chapter would feel longer. I also don't love my song choice so if you could please suggest one that fits this chapter better it'd be very appreciated. Also I saw a thing on TikTok where someone gave AU Ekko glasses and he looked so fine I wrote this chapter. He will now have glasses in this universe at some point during this book I don't make the rules (I do.)Vote and Comment I love to hear from you!