𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 -- 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐆
                  𝟎𝟎𝟖: In the Trees
       (𝘼𝙧𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙚, Stay Ready)

𝐄𝐊𝐊𝐎 was always there.

Literally. Moon saw him in her home more than his own—sprawled on the couch, raiding their pantry, tinkering with gadgets at the kitchen table like he owned the place. Not that she minded. Ekko had a way of blending in, making himself part of the chaos without adding to it. He was practically family at this point.

But between Vander, her three siblings, Ekko, Silco, and his "daughter's" occasional visits, the house was starting to feel suffocating.

Usually, it wasn't a problem. Vander was often out working, Claggor, Mylo, Powder, and Ekko were busy bettering Zaun, Silco had his shady dealings, and Viva—or whatever Silco's daughter called herself these days—mostly stayed with her family in Topside. Their comings and goings kept the house in a manageable state of organized chaos.

But today? Today, they had all simultaneously decided to be home. At the same time.

The air buzzed with overlapping voices. Vander's deep laugh rumbled from the kitchen as he attempted to wrangle together a meal. Mylo and Claggor were in the hallway, loudly debating who cheated during their last card game. Powder tinkered with one of her gadgets in the corner, the occasional clink of metal punctuating the noise. And then there was Ekko, perched on the arm of the couch, laser-focused on some device Moon didn't recognize.

Moon leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching the chaos unfold. She loved her family. She really did. But this? This was too much.

"You look like you're about to lose it," Ekko said without looking up from his work.

Moon narrowed her eyes at him. "And you're not helping."

He grinned, finally glancing up. "I'm not the one yelling about cards or blowing stuff up in the corner. I'm the calm one here."

"Calm, sure," Moon deadpanned, pushing off the doorframe. "You've been here all day, Ekko. Don't you have a home to go to?"

"This is my home," he shot back with a smirk.

Moon rolled her eyes, grabbing a pillow and chucking it at him. He caught it effortlessly, his grin widening.

"You're gonna miss me when I'm gone," he teased, leaning back like he had all the time in the world.

"Yeah but you'll never leave," Moon muttered, though a small smile tugged at her lips.

She sighed, letting her gaze sweep over the room. Vander was now scolding Mylo and Claggor. Powder's gadget let out a loud pop. Silco had just walked in, brooding as usual.

Yeah, she loved them. But right now? She was loving the idea of solitude a whole lot more.

Sensing her discomfort, Ekko set his device down. "Wanna get out of here?"

Moon's brows lifted, her lips twitching into a smile. "Yeah. Been meaning to show you something, anyway."

𝐓𝐇𝐄 sun had long dipped behind the horizon, leaving the sky painted in soft hues of purple and blue as Moon led Ekko through the quieter streets of Zaun. The city hummed in the distance, but the closer they got to their destination, the more muted it became.

"Come on, Ekko! It's just around this way," Moon called, her voice brimming with excitement.

Ekko frowned but followed, his curiosity outweighing his skepticism. "You keep saying that. What exactly are you dragging me to?"

Moon threw a mischievous grin over her shoulder. "You'll see. Trust me. It's worth it."

He rolled his eyes, hands stuffed in his pockets. "What am I, a puppy on a leash?"

She laughed, light and unbothered, the sound making him grin despite himself. She always had this way of pulling him into her world, making everything feel lighter.

She led him through narrow alleyways, past old warehouses and hidden courtyards. There was a quiet thrill in the secrecy, a sense of discovery that only Moon could conjure. Finally, they emerged into a small clearing hidden behind overgrowth and shadows.

And there it was: a tree.

But not just any tree. This one was colossal, its trunk thick and gnarled with age, roots sprawling across the cracked ground like something out of a storybook. The branches reached wide, twisting toward the sky in a maze of wood and leaves, the tips shimmering faintly in the fading light.

"Whoa." Ekko stopped in his tracks, staring up at the tree. "I didn't even know something like this existed in Zaun."

Moon smiled, pleased by his reaction. "Most people don't. I found it on my own. It's been here forever, hidden. It's perfect, Ekko. You have to see this."

He stepped closer, still in awe. "This is insane. How did you even—?"

"Magic," Moon cut him off, her tone teasing as she stepped toward the tree. "There's so much more to Zaun than people realize. Most don't bother looking. But I saw it. I just knew it was something special."

Ekko nodded, his fingers brushing the rough bark. "Special doesn't even cover it. This feels like... like it's from another world."

Moon grinned, already circling the tree. "No one knows about this place. It could be ours, you know? A place to get away from everything. We could make it... magical."

Ekko's heart skipped at the word "ours," but he played it cool. "Magical, huh? Got big plans for it already?"

"Obviously," she said, her tone full of certainty. "Lights, paint, maybe even a hideout at the top. You're good at building things. Help me?"

Ekko smirked, leaning against the tree. "You know I can't say no to you."

"Good." Moon beamed, already looking for a way to climb. "Come on, I'll show you the view from the top. It's amazing."

He hesitated for a second before following. She scrambled up the first low branch with ease, and he wasn't far behind. The climb wasn't easy, but the view at the top was worth it.

They perched on a sturdy branch, the world sprawling beneath them. The faint glow of Zaun's lamps looked like stars, and the wind swept through the leaves, carrying with it a peaceful stillness.

Moon exhaled softly, her gaze locked on the horizon. "See? Told you it was worth it."

Ekko wasn't looking at the view. "Yeah," he said, his voice soft. "It's perfect."

She turned her head to look at him, her face illuminated by the soft glow of the city below. Her expression was thoughtful, almost shy, a rare look for her. Ekko's breath caught, his heart hammering in his chest.

"Moon..." he began, his voice quiet.

Her brow furrowed slightly, but she didn't look away. "Yeah?"

He hesitated, the words catching in his throat. His hand inched closer to hers on the branch, their fingers brushing lightly. The touch sent a jolt through him, and he leaned forward without fully thinking, drawn in by the warmth of her presence.

Moon's lips parted slightly, her breath hitching as she realized what was happening. Her pulse quickened, but she didn't move away.

The space between them dwindled, the air heavy with unspoken tension. His gaze flicked to her lips, and for a heartbeat, the world seemed to stop.

But then, as if the weight of the moment became too much, Ekko faltered. He pulled back slightly, his hand retreating from hers.

"I—" He swallowed hard, shaking his head. "Sorry, I didn't mean to—"

Moon blinked, her face softening as she reached out, her hand resting lightly on his arm. "Ekko," she said, her voice steady, "you don't have to apologize."

Her words gave him the courage to meet her gaze again, but the confession he'd been so close to making now felt tangled in his chest. He opened his mouth, struggling to find the right words, but nothing came.

Moon offered him a small, understanding smile, her fingers brushing his sleeve. "Let's just... enjoy this, okay?"

He nodded, his heart aching with everything left unsaid. "Yeah. Okay."

They sat in silence, the tension between them easing into something gentler. For now, Ekko told himself, it was enough just to be here with her. But deep down, he knew the feelings he was holding back wouldn't stay hidden forever.

𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐒!

If you read the imagine where part of this chapter is from you (from the start aka; the five times ekko tried to confess and the one time he did) you'll know the almost kiss wasn't meant to happen yet. Yeah, I've decided that imagine is only semi-canon. Technically the second scenario happened in this story and the fourth one is meant to be their almost kiss not the third but I changed it.

Ekko is 16, Moon is 15