𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 -- 𝐄𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐬𝐚
                    𝟎𝟎𝟕: Distance
         (𝘼𝙧𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙚, Stay Ready)

𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐍 had been distant. She was always distant, her eyes often lost in some far-off thought, as if she longed to be anywhere but here. But lately, it felt different, heavier—like she was avoiding Ekko and Powder on purpose. She still spent time in Piltover, between her biweekly therapy sessions and the internship that was quickly becoming her focus, but when she was around, she wasn't really there with them.

It was subtle at first—small gestures, like her turning her gaze away when Ekko tried to catch her eye or the way she seemed to flinch whenever Powder bounced up to her with the same infectious enthusiasm she always had. It wasn't anger or frustration, just a coldness, a distance that made the space between them feel wider than it ever had before.

Ekko could feel it, even in the way she spoke—like her words were reaching him from somewhere miles away. He hated it, the feeling of helplessness that came with knowing she was slipping farther out of reach, but he didn't know how to pull her back.

He tried to meet her where she was, always trying to be there for her when she needed someone, but it was like she was slipping through his fingers. And he couldn't figure out what had changed. He'd ask her about it, but her responses were always vague, like she didn't want to say anything that might let him in. The distance between them wasn't just physical—it was emotional, and it cut deeper than he was willing to admit.

For the record, Moon was avoiding Ekko.

But it wasn't her fault. Dr. Yarrow had told her to.

"It's best to create some distance from the things that make you uncomfortable," she'd said, before adding, "but in this case, it might be healthier to talk about how you feel."

Yeah, Moon had tuned out after that first part.

It wasn't that she didn't trust Dr. Yarrow. The woman was brilliant and all, but Moon wasn't exactly eager to dissect every fluttering, disorienting feeling Ekko seemed to stir up in her lately. What would she even say? "Hey, sorry for dodging you for weeks—it's just that being around you makes my chest do this weird tight thing, and I don't know how to deal with it?"

No. Absolutely not.

So she stuck to her new routine. Therapy. Internship. Sketching in solitude. Piltover made it easy; the towering buildings and quiet galleries gave her plenty of excuses to stay busy. If Ekko asked why she hadn't been around much, she could always blame her schedule. Not that she thought he'd ask—why would he? He probably hadn't even noticed.

Except he had.

"Powder," Ekko's voice cut through the hum of conversation in the Last Drop. He leaned against the counter, feigning nonchalance, but his tone betrayed him. "Has Moon said anything about, like... avoiding me?"

Powder looked up from tinkering with a new gadget, her brow furrowing. "Avoiding you?" she repeated, tilting her head. "Why would she be avoiding you?"

Ekko shifted uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't know. She just... hasn't been around much. And when she is here, it's like she's trying not to talk to me."

Powder's expression softened, a flicker of understanding crossing her face. "She's been busy," she offered. "Therapy, her internship... you know how she gets when she's focused. And now with us starting at the academy, it's been a lot for everyone."

"Yeah, but it feels different this time." Ekko hesitated, his fingers drumming lightly against the counter. "Like she's deliberately staying away from me."

Powder sighed, setting her gadget down and crossing her arms. "Ekko, if Moon's avoiding you, there's probably a good reason. But you're her friend. Why don't you just ask her what's going on?"

Ekko opened his mouth to respond but closed it again, unsure of what to say. Confronting Moon felt like a minefield—one wrong step, and he might lose whatever fragile connection they still had.

"Right," he said finally, his voice quieter. "Maybe I'll talk to her."

But even as he said it, he couldn't shake the sinking feeling in his chest.

Moon slipped through the door of the Last Drop later that evening, her shoulders slumping under the weight of a long day. Her internship in Piltover had gone well—better than well, actually—but instead of excitement, she felt drained. Therapy had a way of leaving her raw, as if Dr. Yarrow was peeling back layers of her she hadn't realized were so fragile.

It hadn't helped that Powder and Ekko were starting classes at Piltover's renowned academy this week, a prestigious opportunity that was both exciting and daunting. Moon had turned down the chance to join them, preferring the hands-on experience of her internship to the structured lessons of academia. But seeing them throw themselves into this new chapter together only deepened the divide she felt between herself and the people she loved most.

She wasn't expecting to see Ekko leaning against the bar, arms crossed, his usual playful energy dampened by something unreadable in his expression. He looked up the moment the door creaked shut behind her, his eyes locking on hers.

"Moon," he said, his voice softer than usual.

Her stomach twisted, and for a brief moment, she considered turning around and heading right back out the door. But Powder spotted her from across the room and waved, cutting off her escape.

"Hey," Moon said, forcing a casual tone as she made her way to the counter.

Ekko pushed off the bar, standing upright as if he'd been waiting for this exact moment. "You got a minute?"

Her heart skipped. "Uh... yeah, sure."

Powder raised an eyebrow, but a quick glance from Ekko told her to give them space. With a shrug, she grabbed her gadget and headed to the back, leaving the two of them alone in the muted buzz of the bar.

Moon leaned against the counter, trying to keep her distance casual, but Ekko stepped closer. Not too close, but enough that she couldn't pretend she didn't feel his presence.

"You've been busy," he started, his voice careful. "Therapy, Piltover... I get it."

She nodded, already knowing where this was going but wishing it wouldn't.

"But..." Ekko hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "Have I done something to upset you?"

Her eyes widened, and she immediately shook her head. "No! No, it's not like that."

"Then what is it?" he pressed, his gaze searching hers. "Because it feels like you're avoiding me, Moon. And if I did something—if I said something—just tell me, okay? I can take it."

Moon's chest tightened, guilt pooling in her stomach. "You didn't do anything, Ekko," she said softly. "It's not about you. It's... it's me."

He raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth twitching upward in an almost-smile. "That's a pretty cliché line, don't you think?"

She couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her, even as her cheeks flushed. "I'm serious. It's... complicated."

"Complicated how?" he asked, stepping a fraction closer.

Her words caught in her throat. How was she supposed to explain this? That being around him made her feel things she didn't understand, things that terrified her? That she was avoiding him because she didn't trust herself not to ruin everything between them?

"It's hard to explain," she said finally, looking down at her hands.

"Try me," Ekko said, his voice steady but tinged with vulnerability.

Moon hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. But when she looked up and saw the sincerity in his eyes, the way he was holding his breath as if her answer really mattered, she knew she couldn't brush him off.

"I'm scared," she admitted quietly.

Ekko's brows knit together. "Scared of what?"

"Of messing things up," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Of losing you."

His expression softened, the tension in his shoulders easing. "Moon," he said, his voice warm and sure. "You're not gonna lose me. Ever."

She blinked, her throat tightening. "You can't promise that."

"Maybe not," he conceded. "But I can promise that right now, I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere."

For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence between them filled with unspoken emotions. And for the first time in weeks, Moon felt the distance between them start to shrink.

"Okay," she said finally, her voice steady. "I'll try. To stop avoiding you, I mean."

Ekko smiled, a small, lopsided grin that made her chest ache in the best way. "Good. Because I missed you."

Moon felt her cheeks heat, but for once, she didn't shy away from it. "I missed you too."

And just like that, the weight she'd been carrying didn't feel quite so heavy anymore.

Ekko leaned against the counter, the lopsided grin lingering as he tilted his head to study her. "So... does this mean I get to hear all about Piltover?"

Moon raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "Why? So you can make fun of me for hanging out with a bunch of stuffy artists?"

"Stuffy artists?" Ekko smirked. "You're talking to a guy who spent an entire summer tagging walls with Powder. I'm basically an expert."

Moon couldn't help but laugh, the sound easing some of the tension still clinging to her. "Fine. If you must know, it's been... interesting. Busy, but interesting. I've been learning a lot."

"Yeah?" Ekko leaned in slightly, his curiosity genuine. "Like what?"

She hesitated, biting her lip. "Like... how much I don't know. About the world. About myself. About art, even."

"Sounds like a good kind of overwhelming," Ekko said, his tone thoughtful.

"It is," Moon admitted. "But it's also scary. Being around people who seem to have their lives all figured out... it makes me feel like I'm still just a kid playing pretend."

Ekko frowned, shaking his head. "Nah. You're not pretending, Moon. You're doing it. Living it. That's more than a lot of people can say."

His words hit her harder than she expected, and she found herself smiling despite the lump in her throat. "Thanks, Ekko. That... means a lot."

He shrugged, but there was a softness in his eyes that made her heart flutter. "What can I say? I'm good at this whole 'supportive friend' thing."

Moon smirked, rolling her eyes. "You're impossible."

"Yeah, but you still like me," he shot back, his grin widening.

Her face felt flush, and she quickly looked away, but her smile gave her away. "Don't push your luck."

Ekko chuckled, the sound warm and familiar, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Moon felt like things between them might just be okay.

𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐒!

So bad at non-internal dialogue. Moon is 14 Ekko is 16. Thanks for 2k reads!