Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

THERE WAS AN OLD LEGEND THAT HER FATHER TOLD HER WHILE WATCHING THE SUNSET.

However, Jinx didn’t think much about legends or sad stories. She was living a happy love story. And anyone who saw them could affirm that what they had was a connection, call it what you want, but those two fit together like pieces of a puzzle.

"See you later, boy savior. I'll be backstage after the show."

Ekko laughed as Jinx pulled him, fixing his hair, shaking her head a bit tiredly. And despite all Jinx's complaints about him trying to go out looking disheveled, Ekko simply laughed, pulling her by the waist and planting a kiss on her lips that silenced any other sound.

"That doesn't change the fact that you're going out looking messy," she added as they separated. "How are we together?"

"Please, princess," he smiled against her lips. "You think I'm sexier this way. And you've had enough time to try to get rid of me, so it's too late."

Jinx wrapped her arms around his neck, separating with a somewhat dangerous smile that many found unsettling.

"I know," she affirmed. "But I also think you're sexier without clothes, and I don't see you naked giving a concert."

Ekko blushed, laughing.

"Already speechless?"

"Can you blame me?" she hugged him by the shoulders. "This situation was much cooler in my head because I had control."

"Aw, you dreamed you had control."

"I thought we were on the same terms."

Jinx smiled, winking at him.

"Almost."

"I love the type of woman who can kick my ass and leave me breathless."

"You’re slow and a bit stupid," she shrugged. "I love that in a man."

"Our tastes are excellent."

"Of course, it's my taste," she pushed him away a bit. "Now go, and try not to fall like you did in Paris."

"Laugh all you want, but it became iconic."

"So did the ice on your face, come on. Or I'll have to push you."

Ekko tilted his head for a moment.

"I know you can, but..." he took her hand. "Maybe you can give me a good luck kiss."

"Maybe I'll give you a good luck kick. Now go, or I'll call Pinkie."

"Vi hates that nickname."

"Good thing we're sisters. Go."

Ekko grumbled. And then he walked to the edge of the stage, stopping for a moment. Jinx was about to ask him what was wrong, but he simply turned around, giving her a surprise kiss to give a triumphant smile as he went toward the stage where the audience's screams were almost immediate for his euphoric smile as if he had just eaten two kilos of sugar and six sodas.

He was an idiot.

Jinx shook her head as the staff greeted her cordially. She was not known for being affectionate, especially charming, or the kind of girl who easily wins people over, but it wasn't just that Ekko made her as cordial as possible with everyone because she genuinely liked him; it was because that whole team knew that Jinx Zaunite was not a girl of words, but of actions. And she loved Ekko, so she did unexpected and good things for all the members of their intense world tour.

She hadn't promised anything; she had earned it through what she had done.

Jinx checked something for the concert while moving toward the stadium with a VIP pass around her neck, although it was almost unnecessary. Everyone knew her. She reached the private area above the middle-class section where there were girls and boys dressed for the occasion with posters, outrageous makeup, and a lot of enthusiasm. Ivy was not particularly the sweetest person, but somehow, her boyfriend's huge fandom loved her a lot. Even she couldn't explain it because honestly, Jinx was the classic villain of all stories that could exist.

To begin with, her name was Jinx. Powder was a stuff she doesnt want to remember. She had been a bad girl in her high school days; hard things had happened to her to get on the right path, but sometimes when she was among the crowd that discreetly filmed her to post that she was there at all her important concerts, she wondered if a villain without a backstory like her deserved the life of a heroine. She had deserved Ekko's justified hatred, and he, in a way, hers, but at that moment she just wanted to bury everything that had happened in her life when she was an idiot.

And seeing Caitlyn by her side, her nemesis and best friend of the boy she now loved madly (and the girlfriend of her own sister), was like a joke from the universe to her young self.

"Jinx, come here, I saved this for you!" she exclaimed. "Did you kick it?"

"Almost, thanks," Jinx replied. "I hope not..."

"And this song is dedicated to my favorite villain!" she exclaimed, pointing in her direction with a mocking smile. "Who turned out to be my most exasperating princess, but also my favorite."

Jinx rolled her eyes with a small smile on her face as the screams in the arena exploded just as the chords of that song, "My best enemy," began to play. Ekko winked at her as he started singing, to which her sister-in-law burst into laughter, giving her a friendly elbow.

"I think he just did it."

"I should have kicked him."

"He's getting revenge," Cait mocked. "And since you have to go study, someone wants to annoy you."

Jinx shook her head while following the song with a barely visible smile as her boyfriend stood out on stage in blue colors. It was like being in the ocean during the performance, one that she adored. And she had learned to love. She didn't talk much with her sister-in-law; she wasn't one for many words, but she was simply comfortable.

Only watching Ekko.

The penultimate song arrived as Ekko took his sweaty guitar, but with a smile on his face after the euphoric performance where he adjusted the microphone, laughing a bit at seeing it yielding too much. Ivy shook her head, amused. And then he cleared his throat, starting a blue filled with gray. Everything had a somewhat old vibe, with the band behind leaving that vivid dark blue to turn white and gray as if the color had been drained. His life.

"Alright, how are you all doing?" the euphoric screams made him laugh. "I'm glad. You know? I think we all love being happy; we all seek that happiness that makes us get out of bed every day and say, 'Maybe for this, I'll give a kidney.' Right?"

Laughter was immediate, including Cait's. The light bracelets turned gray as the audience became colorful dots like fireflies in the dark before Ekko, who played a random chord.

"But for that, we have to be sad, and this song is undoubtedly my saddest song," he laughed. "Now I might be laughing, but I spent weeks, months, and almost a year suffering over this. Because I was in love; I had the butterflies, I had all the chemical signals you see and know about really liking this girl except that feeling of giving a kidney to be here."

Another chord, Jinx followed him with her gaze as Ekko adjusted the microphone more until he was happy with the height.

"But I believe that 'liking' and 'falling in love' are totally different," he explained. "Because when I think back, listening to this song that basically was me being left in a horrible way, more than hurting, I feel liberated. Because I didn't love her, nor did she love me. I liked her a lot," he affirmed, without hesitation, "and I fell in love with the idea that I liked her, but not with her."

Another burst of screams and cheers filled the arena as Ekko smiled for a moment.

"Now," he joked, "you can create unrealistic scenarios with me while we suffer over a girl from years ago who broke my heart. A little pain is never bad."

"The idea of the girl I loved" began to play through a couple of calm and melancholic chords, narrating how this girl was perfect, how Ekko would die for her to feel proud to take his hand down the school hallway and smile publicly as he passed by. As the song progressed, it became clear how both wanted more than they really wanted, how she didn't see him as enough, but still, she was there. Jinx had always wanted to kill that girl since she met her again, and she still hated her to this day; she would always hate that damn line that made her want to drown her in acid while she slowly suffocated, which just happened to come in the chorus.

Ekko did a guitar solo, focused with small interventions from his team behind. Jinx wanted to kill that girl. She still remembered the damage she had done to him. A six-minute song entirely about what had happened between them. She could see people in the audience crying, shouting at the top of their lungs, and simply letting themselves be immersed in the private lyrics of their favorite singer in his first worldwide hit.

"...Cause when you look me with "yes" you mouth says "no" and ends ," Ekko finished, with a bit of guitar while the backup singers interceded for the finale.

The idea (the idea of the girl)
I loved you (the idea)
The idea (the illusion)
I loved you (the idea)
I loved her
The idea of the girl I loved.

The song ended. Cait cursed. And she shared that with her sister-in-law.

"I'll kill her! You'll see, I will."

"I'll go with you."

"Every time I hear it, I want to..."

Jinx glanced sideways as she made strangling gestures, to which she smiled slyly. Oh, she would be more macabre. But she also had to set a good example. Her eyes went to Ekko, who set the guitar aside, talking about the next song he would play to close the show. An upbeat, hopeful number a thousand times less depressing than the one he had just presented, which had shifted the vibe of the place.

They soaked them. They threw water from various points in the sand while the ocean-themed concert floated on that slight smell of saltwater that Ekko always had and, by Jinx's idea, had ended up in the concert. She would never tell him, but it was because she wanted to smell him from where she was because his scent was as good as going to the beach at sunset.

He said goodbye to his audience, and Jinx watched him one last moment there. The tour ended in two weeks. Eight more concerts, and he would have a long break. They would meet after finishing his concert since this week Jinx would have a thousand exams at university to finally graduate.

Jinx smiled, unable to contain herself as she watched her boyfriend playing with a water gun on stage until he almost drowned from laughter. And she followed Caitlyn after the concert, where the security team was announcing where she had to go.

"Your car is ready, Miss Jinx," Jerincho informed her. "You need to hurry; there are two hours left."

"I'll be ready."

"But..."

"Jerincho," she began. "You're worried about a flight that will surely be delayed a few minutes instead of a stadium full of distractions and fans."

Jerincho huffed, nodding reluctantly while giving her a meaningful look.

"Your peace is enviable."

"Keep my boyfriend for a week; that will be the answer."

"Still, Miss Jinx," Jerincho insisted. "I don't like you arriving late; you're going to lose hours of sleep because of the time changes."

"I know, that's why I'll study on the plane," she replied. "And if anything, I'll sleep a week."

"Time changes aren't good."

"Maybe a trap on the exam would be better."

Jerincho shook his head as Jinx stopped in front of him, giving him a twenty-dollar bill.

"Buy something to drink or eat, please," she insisted. "Andrew will take a while to say goodbye; do that for me."

"Are you sure? My duty..."

"It's the car," Jinx finished, handing him the bill. "And mine to treat you right. Get a snack."

Jerincho hesitated but eventually accepted. Ivy turned just before feeling herself lifted into the air by her boyfriend's strong arms as she shook her head. He had his hands on her waist with an innocent smile while she had hers wrapped around his neck.

"Princess," he started. "Maybe we can..."

Jinx shook her head as he set her down, drawing him in for a quick kiss. There was something about that salty aroma, his lips tasting like coffee, and that damn freshness that had her all mixed up. And she hated him so much for making her love those little details that made her blood boil.

Ekko laughed as he pulled away, seeing her with an arched eyebrow.

"Okay. I see."

"I have to go."

"Or be the best lawyer you already are by negotiating to take your exams after the tour."

"The best lawyer," Jinx repeated. "I like that."

"I'm just stating truths."

"But I can't," she replied. "It's important."

"I'll give everyone a new TV if they let you stay here two more weeks."

"Saviour boy," Jinx replied. "Our independent worlds can't end because of each other. It's only two weeks."

Ekko hugged her tightly.

"I love you so much, did you know?"

"I know," Jinx admitted. "Even though I’m more of a hater."

"It's exasperating how I just want you close to me, or to hear you," he huffed. "Witch."

"At least charming," she winked. "You're a werewolf who hasn't bathed."

Ekko laughed out loud as Jinx smiled a little. His laugh. Damn his laugh. She hated it. There was no other logical explanation. She hated all those emotions that Ekko made her feel, leaving her defenseless and at his mercy. It was more exasperating than he had described.

"Call me before you get on the plane and when you land."

"Yes, savior," Jinx replied. "You'll know the second I'm on the ground."

"It's just that I'm worried."

"Snakes on board is fiction."

"But it could happen!" Ekko insisted. "And it would be so cool and so terrible."

Jinx rolled her eyes.

"I promise if there’s a snake on the plane, a terrorist attack, or a vampire, I’ll record it, send you a message, and follow the extensive list you have."

"Also say a pretty epic phrase at the end when everything goes well."

Jinx nodded.

"Or yes, the epic phrase," she mocked. "Most importantly, anything else, savior boy?"

"I'll miss you," he hugged her shoulders. "I love you, don’t forget."

"I won't."

"Are you sure? Not even for a guy who acts like a hero on the avi...?"

Jinx kissed him while her hands were intertwined behind his hair. There was something about the way they kissed that felt like all the pieces fell exactly into place. She felt like she was burning. Everything around her was black, and only Ekko existed. His touch was cold, and it was a way to extinguish her fire that made her relax. Anything could happen, and she would simply relax at his touch as if it were some kind of painkiller.

Ekko hugged her by the waist, continuing the kiss in a friendly competition between them to see who had control of that kiss until they separated, their foreheads still touching.

And Ekko laughed.

"This would have been cooler in the final shot of an action movie."

"Idiot," Jinx muttered. "I hope this is all just a dream of his."

"Oh, but what a fantasy."

Jinx shook her head. Ekko hugged her a little tighter.

"Miss Jinx," Jerincho insisted, arriving. "You need to catch your flight."

"I'm on my way," she observed Ekko for a moment while giving him a hug, whispering the two precious words in his ear. "I love you."

Ekko cradled her in his arms, giving her a kiss on the head.

"I love you too, princess. Remember that."

Jinx pulled away, waving goodbye to the rest of the staff as she watched Ekko walk away toward his dressing room with a hint of sadness on his face. He would go to the VIP area, which would lift his spirits; he would be fine. However, Jinx watched him a little longer while smiling slightly.

She was delighted to know him.

She was thrilled that everyone wanted to know what it was like to be loved by him, and she was living it.

She was in love with Ekko. And it was mutual. Because they knew each other.

But that was the big flaw of love; it is built on memories. It is a feeling, perhaps the most complex, that is solely constituted by our memories. So if we forget something, we can no longer love it. We can be happy and sad about everything, but with love, it is only those little memories that form a whole.

And without them, there was not much to do, because love was gone.

Just like it happened in this story.

Chapter Text

"TO LOVE IS SO SHORT. TO FORGET IS SO LONG."

That was said by Pablo Neruda. And both could not disagree more. Loving was a quite long period at that moment, but forgetting it was just a second of her life. Yes, a second. In just one moment, the memory could vanish like the flame of a candle that dies irrevocably despite desperate attempts to keep it alive. Maybe that was how love was too, but she could only think that the best years of her life had faded in a second.

Jinx turned off her phone as she entered her last exam, taking a seat in the front while barely observing her surroundings. She had no friends, just a girl she occasionally talked to about university topics. Ivy nodded at her when she smiled in her direction. She waited with a pen on her desk; she was smart and quite determined, perhaps her parents had influenced her too much, but she had learned to do every exam with a pen. Something simple. But it showed that once she made a decision, it was her final word. For better or worse, she had done it.

Her eyes went to the blank board as she glanced at some latecomers arriving to take the exam. She looked at her freshly painted black nails. And she mentally reviewed everything she had studied for weeks. She had to pass this last exam, and she would be free. She would finally be a lawyer. She was calm. Nerves wouldn’t help at all. Ekko used to tell her that her nerves were made of titanium.

And he was right; rarely did anything manage to disturb her.

After everything she had to deal when she was a child, she became strong.

She curled a strand of her blue hair around her finger as Professor Star entered the classroom, closing the door behind him. He began distributing the papers amidst words of encouragement, rules, and a bit of humor that made no one laugh. Ivy took her exam and passed the next one to the back while holding the pen between her fingers, starting to look at the sheet.

"You may begin your exam," Professor Star exclaimed, arriving at her seat. "Good luck."

Jinx barely paid attention to him. Her luck wouldn’t affect anything if she hadn’t studied. She was tough. Also she never was good in luck. She wasn’t a particularly compassionate, kind, or affectionate person, but at least she admitted it and warned with some caution; she was what she was and what she sold without falsehoods. So she simply nodded, starting to write her name while filling in all the basic identification information. She reached the first question and then smiled a little, remembering that Andrew had asked her about it while playing the chords of "Time to Clock."

"Savior boy."

And she continued answering the questions, taking some time on a few to formulate a better response with her mind filled with memories of how she had studied each answer beforehand. She had a good memory. Ivy finished writing an answer while realizing which question she was on.

Fifty-eight out of seventy. She was on a good pace.

Jinx continued answering confidently while in her mind, like a selection of chapters, she recalled some things through slight objects or actions she had been doing while studying. And before she realized it, her pen lifted after finishing the last question.

She had finished.

JInx stood up, handing her exam to Professor Star, who looked at her somewhat surprised but with a small smile.

"Are you sure you don’t want to review your exam, Miss Jinx?" he insisted. "You can have a second chance."

"No," she replied, realizing she had been curt. "Thank you. I did it with a pen; I can’t spend my life looking back regretting what I did, don’t you think?"

Professor Star set her paper aside while intertwining his fingers on the desk.

"Wise decision."

Jinx left the room, glancing at the girl she always talked to, who nodded. She had just finished all her exams; she wanted an espresso. She walked through the faculty while adjusting her black skirt when she started to hear the usual murmurs recognizing her. She had gotten used to it. However, this time she heard silence as she passed.

She didn’t pay attention; she just continued crossing the street as a car sped by. And finally, she arrived at her destination in that café where she ordered an espresso, pulling out her credit card when the boy took her card.

"Oh God. I’m sorry," he mumbled. "I just saw it, damn, I’m sorry."

"Uh?"

"Uh...," he fell silent. Maybe realizing that she didn’t know anything. "I’ll treat the espresso."

"Hey," she called, sounding a bit brusque. "What happened?"

The boy hesitated.

"Your phone," he blurted out. "You should check it and sit down."

Jinx turned it on immediately while looking at the almost desolate people in the café. She had finished in record time. Still undecided whether to curse the boy who looked pale when her phone finally turned on correctly, an incoming call made her sister.

"Vi?" she greeted. "What happened?"

"Are you sitting?"

"If you don’t tell me what you have to say now, I’ll sit you down myself for a long time."

The line went silent; Jinx glared threateningly at the boy who was still frozen with his steaming coffee at the counter. She had abruptly turned off the TV. Jinx wanted to kill him.

"Vi?" she repeated. "Sis, just say..."

"Ekko had a car accident," his sister blurted out, holding back a sob. "It’s serious. He’s in the hospital in Toronto, Canada. We don’t know when he’ll wake up... And..."

Jinx blinked slowly.

"Who died?"

She heard Vi swallow.

"The driver, Mr. Heimerdinger," she murmured, holding back a sob. "It was a drunk driver; I think he was a truck driver. Jinx, I’m sorry, you have to relax..."

"Send me the name of the hospital," she cut him off. "Before ten, I’ll be there. And where is Isha?."

" She doesn't know anything is with Sevika. "

" Good. Keep her like that. "

She hung up. Her sister said something else, but honestly, she didn’t even hear it. She only watched the boy who instinctively stepped back. And she took the coffee, taking a sip.

"Where are there taxis or buses?"

"I’ll order you an Uber. Where are you going?"

"To get a damn plane," she muttered as she approached him to pay for her coffee. "I need to go to the airport."

"Don’t worry about it, really," the boy insisted, pointing to the Uber number. "It’ll take five minutes to arrive."

"Thanks."

The boy nodded. Jinx left him five crumpled dollars. The next thing she knew, she was in the car giving directions to go to her apartment, where she ran—she hated running—to her floor, grabbing a change of clothes, money, a brush, and a cookie she found lying around into a bag she had, then ran back to pay the driver while they sped to the airport. She must have had a killer look not to receive any questions; she didn’t even hear what was happening around her; she only realized where she was when she arrived in front of the airline girl with a cold voice.

"Toronto, Canada," she muttered. "I don’t care how, just there. Now."

"Uh..." the girl cleared her throat. "M-Miss, there’s only one vacancy on the direct flight leaving in fifteen minutes, and I don’t think..."

Jinx swiped her card while placing it there along with two hundred fifty dollars in cash from her personal savings. She didn’t grunt, didn’t make any sudden movements; she simply conveyed her urgency through her gaze.

"Done."

"Miss...?"

Jinx moved to push the nurse aside as she rushed down the hall looking like a madwoman. Her hair half-done in a bun, her black shirt with a strap fallen, and her jacket tied around her waist as she rushed through all the halls until the nurse stopped her again.

"Miss, you can’t!"

"I just crossed a country, a city, asked in six hospitals, ran two blocks, and climbed eight floors," she threatened, her voice terribly cold. "Where is Ekko?"

"Just..."

"I’m his girlfriend," she muttered. "Where is he?"

Her eyes were wide, her appearance probably giving off the right vibes of her mental state, so the woman nodded.

"Restricted area," she mumbled. "B-but I think there’s no problem; follow me."

"If you try to take me to the exit or to security," she threatened, "I’ll make you regret being born."

The woman nodded. Jinx followed her through the halls where paparazzi were prohibited. No one knew which hospital he was in; her phone had died. She had her bag strapped to her back as if she had run a marathon. She had never been this sweaty in her life. She would have never done this. But she simply felt horrible.

She had spent the entire trip in a trance, her eyes wide, her throat tight, and her stomach in knots. She could barely move on the plane. She didn’t even ask for water. She was the last to board and the first to disembark. She had received very diverse looks. And she was one comment away from becoming violent.

But then, they opened the curtains where she saw Vi, and she rushed to her, grabbing her by the neck as everyone alerted at this.

"Where is he?"

Her voice sounded deep. Hoarse. Pained and threatening. Vi’s eyes widened at seeing her like this, so she simply pointed to some curtains behind her while nodding at the medical staff. Jinx told them to fuck off as she moved to pull the curtain open with one yank, where she found the only thing she had thought about.

Ekko.

He was covered in bruises, one black eye, several tubes in his body, and a neck brace. His eyes were closed, and his hand was limp as she moved to his side, her heart beating as fast as a thoroughbred.

"You," she growled, taking his hand while shaking her head. "You idiot savior boy, what were you thinking?"

"Miss," a doctor warned. "He needs to go into surgery; it must be urgent."

"Do it," Jinx cut in. "I can pay for his admission upfront; what do you need?"

"Jinx," Vi began, placing her hands on her shoulder. "Come on, relax."

"Miss," the doctor repeated, more kindly. Her name was Allison. "Your boyfriend’s condition is delicate, but I need you to calm down; take a sedative, go eat, and rest. We’ll take care of it."

Eat?

Jinx noticed it was two in the morning. And that her exam had been at nine. She hadn’t eaten anything all day. She simply stared at the doctor with sharp eyes.

"Save him," she insisted. "I’m his blood type; I can donate anything. Just save that idiot so I can kill him myself."

Doctor Allison nodded, somewhat impressed.

And then they took him away while Jinx remained in the hallway watching him go so injured into surgery. Vi was by her side; she could hear her like a painful echo, but she didn’t know what to do. She hadn’t cried since she was a child. And it was a topic of debate. She simply turned, looking at her bag thrown on the floor, which she picked up while moving to reception, hearing Vi’s calls behind her, but she didn’t care. Nothing mattered at that moment.

She simply arrived like a zombie, giving her details, her card, which literally emptied her, and paid the initial hospital fee. The receptionist simply nodded. If he recognized Jinx, she didn’t notice, and if he didn’t, he simply noted her state to watch how she gave all the money she had to ensure good treatment for her boyfriend.

The next thing she knew, she was sitting in a chair with her gaze fixed on the floor. Vi extended something to her, but she simply didn’t notice.

"Jinx," she whispered. "Here, you need to eat something."

It was a bag of chips with a mineral water. The restaurant was closed. Still, Jinx accepted it while nodding slowly.

"Did you tell Caitlyn? Or Jace?"

"Jace is taking care of all the legal stuff for the tour," Vi replied. "And Cait is on her way."

Jinx nodded.

"I paid for the hospital," she cut in. "Go rest; there are two hours left of surgery."

"Less," Vi corrected. "The scans reported no broken bones, just sprains. And you should sleep; I’ll take care of it."

"I slept on the plane," she affirmed, using that lying ability again. "Did the truck driver die or is he here?"

Vi looked at her for a moment while unsuccessfully hiding a yawn.

"No. And thankfully, because I am capable of killing him."

"Where is he?"

"We’re going to sue him," Vi assured. "There are witnesses, and also the police. Trust me. How did your exam go?"

Vi knew his sister didn’t handle her emotions very well, so she tried to get to the point where she would let go. She had cried. The crew for this tour had also been anxious and trembling, but his sister simply had her eyes quite dark with a lost gaze. She could bet her life that she hadn’t shed a single tear; she was already sure she didn’t know how to cry, but she simply wanted her not to hold back.

Too bad the only person who could really make her show what she felt was the one who was in the operating room.

"Vi," Jinx muttered in a demanding voice. "I’m not a child; go rest because I slept on the plane and took a sedative."

"Are you sure?"

Jinx nodded. Lying perfectly, though she hated herself for it; she had to do it.

"Go."

"I hate that you can’t tell when you’re lying."

"Go away, Vi."

Vi sighed. Defeated. Jinx said goodbye to her and the other security guard as they left while she discreetly threw the sedative pill into a trash can near the coffe along with the empty package of cookies her sister had given her. Jinx returned to the same room, where she didn’t move at all unless it was to go to the bathroom.

Four hours passed exactly when the doctor came out. Jinx stood up, reaching her side while she nodded, beginning to lead her to a room.

"The CT scan of your boyfriend indicates intracranial bleeding," she explained as they walked. "We try to keep patients with head injuries in a comatose state so that the body can relax and allow the brain to heal while the inflammation decreases."

"And after?"

"We wake them up slowly," she affirmed while continuing to explain all of her boyfriend’s medical condition. "We moved him to room A237. We also wanted to inform you that his stay here is still private information, but paparazzi are prohibited."

Jinx nodded.

"I also wanted to talk to you about the detailed report you gave when you registered him," Doctor Allison added. "It was remarkably impressive."

"I forgot a couple of details; I’ll look for them later."

"No, no. It was incredible," the doctor admitted. "You really know your boyfriend quite well; through that, we were able to rule out several injuries and act faster. He will be fine."

Jinx nodded. The truth was that Ekko knew her a thousand times better, and the only reason she had learned various details about herself was because of him. It wasn’t a compliment; it was something she simply had to know.

"When will he wake up approximately?"

"Miss Zaunite..."

"Jinx," she insisted. "Just Jinx, and please tell me when he’ll be better."

The doctor sighed.

"It wasn’t a benign accident; it was quite serious, but by using the seatbelt and being affected only in his head, it has been the least affected possible," she explained. "I would give it a week, or two. He’s a healthy guy."

"Due to the money, Jace, his manager, is already on his way, which will sort out the costs of security, accommodation, and any other necessary medical expenses," Jinx replied. "I’ve already taken care of everything; we just need the money. Will there be consequences? Physical therapy? A wheelchair?"

Doctor Allison stopped her.

"For now, no, Jinx; we’ll sort that out later," she affirmed. "Ekko is in his room, resting, and you’ve already covered the initial medical expenses as well as his insurance. Think about this moment."

Jinx didn’t know how to explain that she needed to make her boyfriend feel good and comfortable. She could tell everyone to fuck off at that moment just to ensure he received good treatment.

"Will he really be okay?"

Doctor Allison nodded.

"He will be, and much faster with people like you around him," she added. "You can see him in his room; you should also sleep a little. The nurse..."

"I’m fine; I just need to go."

The doctor nodded. While stopping Jinx for a moment. Jinx noticed her slight wrinkles, her slightly maternal expression, and her patience when speaking. She was someone who could truly associate medicine with vocation.

"Jinx," she began. "Your boyfriend is going to be fine; we just need to do a few more CT scans in addition to constant checks. He’s no longer in intensive care; you can relax."

She nodded. Still looking terrible as she arrived at the room where her boyfriend was with a tube connecting him to a machine along with some cables. Jinx sat down next to him while intertwining her fingers.

The doctor simply nodded, sighing as she left them alone. Jinx looked at the glass marks on his face while carefully running her fingers over them.

"You’re an idiot," she whispered. "I told you not to travel so late."

Ekko didn’t respond. Jinx felt a knot in her stomach as she swallowed hard. They had cut his hair; that ponytail with shaved sides had turned into three inches of hair cascading around him. They had also shaved him. But those band-aids and scars made the whole situation evident.

"I love you, saviour boy," Jinx whispered as she kissed his forehead. "And I’ll love you even more when you wake up so I can kill you for being dumb."

Jinx waited barely twenty minutes alone when Jace, Caitlyn and Vi entered, completely shocked, as Jinx explained everything the doctor had said as slowly as possible while Cait cried by her side. Calls came in from famous artists who were friends with Ekko, even producers, songwriters, and casual friends. The news went viral like the only one in the world covering the greatest visibility on social media.

Jinx didn’t leave his side for the next seven hours as she ate from a tray Vi forcibly brought her. And when night fell again, Cait forced her to shower while giving her a change of clothes that she hadn’t even remembered to bring at that point. She returned immediately to the hospital where the paparazzi were already lined up, but she didn’t care, as her friends gave her a short hug, more calm in solidarity.

Cait smiled a little as she began to read and play with her phone. Jinx closed her eyes for a moment in that uncomfortable chair while managing to sleep a little. And before she realized it, after sleeping for half an hour, she came to understand the truth. One that she wouldn’t yet know, but was evident.

She was going to wish to wake up with amnesia to forget all the stupid things in her life, like telling Pablo Neruda to go to hell and realizing that forgetting is very quick, but truly loving something is quite long and painful.

Chapter Text

"JINX," CAITLYN WHISPERED. "GO GET A COFFEE."

She shook her head. Instinctively, she just sat up straight in her seat. She was going to refuse when she saw Caitlyn looking at her carefully; she had been there for an entire week. In the room. Barely using the bathroom to shower. And then she nodded cautiously.

"It will be a moment."

Jinx stood up while taking a couple of bills, walking through the halls quickly until she finally reached the cafe where she ordered a simple coffee. She stretched. In the background, she could hear the crowd of reporters, paparazzi, and fans outside the hospital who hadn’t moved for even a second during that time. At least they agreed on that.

Both of their friends arrived the next day, worried, only for Jinx to boldly lie to them to make them rest a bit in the hotel. They believed her lie so fervently that she felt a bit guilty. Kalani was in charge of going with Benzo to inform him that everything was fine and to ensure he didn’t take a flight from Hawaii to where they were. Still, Jinx never left Ekko’s side.

She already knew the nurse. Her name was Elizabeth, and she noticed that she had rubbed her the wrong way at first, but something had made her kinder now. Doctor Allison simply passed by for her regular checks while giving Jinx a sympathetic look.

When she was completely alone, Jinx would speak softly to Ekko about anything.

"Here, have a nice day."

Jinx nodded, murmuring a thank you as she climbed back up the stairs, taking a deep breath to enter her room. She had received a message from that girl from university who asked how she was, if Ekko was okay, and that the grades would be available in a month and a half due to a problem. Jinx thanked her; her name was Marilyn. And she simply told Ekko about it, hoping for a response.

One that didn’t come.

Jinx entered the room while nodding at Kalani, who had a somber look filled with tears. Sometimes she wondered what it would be like to have such ease in crying and expressing herself; it would undoubtedly be much easier to relate that way. But she wasn’t like that.

She intertwined her hand with Ekko's while taking a sip of her coffee, leaving it on the nightstand.

"It’s been tough days," Caitlyn began. "Thank you for taking care of him."

"It was nothing."

"You flew halfway across the world, walked through five hospitals, paid for the hospital," she shook her head, forcing a small smile. "Remember, he’s a millionaire?"

"It’s still not too much; I could have done it with his funds."

"It’s in your name and on your card," she replied. "I think you forgot he was a millionaire; thank you for doing it."

"It was stupid."

Cait smiled more kindly.

"It was a miracle," she murmured, "that you are his girlfriend."

Jinx choked on her words. Caitlyn had never recognized her as Ekko's girlfriend for all the terrible things she had done in the past. And that overwhelmed her so much that she squeezed Ekko's hand.

She was going to try to respond when she felt a squeeze in her hand.

"Ca-Cait?"

"EKKO!" she exclaimed. "Nurse! Doctor! He’s awake!"

Jinx stood up, smiling with relief. Had he been breathing less, or had he just finally taken a breath? Jinx felt a strange wave that she had never experienced in her life, where her legs wobbled, and she felt like crying, but she held back.

She had wanted to cry just seeing him inhale deeply with those tubes in his nose moving. Jinx kept her hands intertwined while leaving her other hand on his cheek.

"I'm going to kill you, you idiot saviour boy," she threatened. "I love you."

Ekko inhaled deeply. As his eyes fluttered open, Caitlyn arrived with the doctor, causing Jinx to step back a little while still holding their hands.

"He needs to stay calm," the doctor ordered. "He’s going to be a bit dizzy; his first impression will mostly be guided by his emotions. So, give him a little space."

Ekko's eyes opened a bit; they were clear. He looked somewhat drowsy and first observed Caitlyn while she smiled.

"Hey, man."

Ekko opened and closed his eyes while shifting a bit as he swallowed hard. He moved his hand, slowly scanning the room with his eyes.

"I think it was a good hit."

"It doesn’t compare to the one I’m going to give you for worrying me," Jinx threatened as Ekko looked at her. "I missed you..."

"What are you doing here? Where am I?"

Jinx was going to kill him. What did he mean, "what are you doing here" if he had an accident? He would have gone to Saturn if he had a cold.

"Ekko, it's okay," the doctor assured. "You’re in the hospital in Toronto, Canada. You had a car accident; you suffered a head injury, but you’re fine. We just put you to sleep for a while."

"My head hurts."

Jinx looked at the doctor.

"That’s perfectly normal," she assured. "I’ll bring something for the pain."

"You’re an idiot," Jinx muttered, earning a direct look from Ekko. "I missed you a lot."

"What are you doing here?" he repeated brusquely. "Stay away from my people. I don’t know what you’re doing here, but leave."

Ekko abruptly let go of her hand while giving her a confused look.

"What?" Caitlyn asked, glancing at Jinx for a moment. "What are you talking about? It’s Jinx. It’s your Jinx."

"Were you in the accident?" Ekko asked. "What do you mean 'my Jinx'? She’s your bully. She’s a thief. Are you here to mock my people?"

Jinx slowly shook her head. She looked at Ekko, searching for any trace of his usual gaze, but found hatred and revulsion.

"Ekko," she began, dazed. As the doctor returned, somewhat confused. "What are you talking about? That was years ago. Do you remember who I am?"

"Years? I only remember everything you’ve done to others, especially to my friends, to your sister and me," he hissed. "And Maddie, my girlfriend."

Maybe if he had told her he didn’t recognize her, she would have reacted better.

Jinx looked at Doctor Allison, who swallowed hard. Caitlyn moved closer to her brother.

"Ekko, no..."

"Leave," he ordered Jinx. "Are you a resident or something? I don’t want you near."

"Ekko," Caitlyn called more insistently, giving a look to Jinx, who inadvertently stepped back. "I’m sorry. Just... just let me explain everything."

Jinx didn’t know if a second would fix that look of hatred. However, she didn’t know whether to move or stay.

"What do you have to explain to me?"

"I’m your girlfriend," Jinx blurted out. "We’ve been together for four years, minus the year and a half when we were adrift. Because of me."

Ekko yanked his hand away, even though Jinx hadn’t even reached for it. He simply looked at her as if she had said something stupid, shaking his head.

"You’re lying," he insisted. "What? No, no. How did this happen?"

"Ekko, she’s telling the truth," Caitlyn assured. "Your happy; they love each other."

"No," Ekko shook his head, holding his head. "No. No... It can’t be possible."

"Jinx," Doctor Allison began. "You should get something from the café; I’ll treat you. Just a moment."

Ekko grunted, glancing sideways at the girl, somewhat terrified and filled with hatred. He hadn’t had that look in so long that it made her want to disappear. She nodded, moving toward the door where their friends entered, along with her sister, Ekko's best friend, Vi.

"EKKO, YOU’RE AWAKE!"

Jinx turned as he lifted his head, looking at his friends while holding his breath.

"Do you remember them?" Doctor Allison asked. "To..."

"Yeah, everyone," he assured, still frowning. "Vi?"

"Ekko was so worried about you!" she said, giving him a quick hug. "If Jinx doesn’t kill you before I do, you can be sure you’ll give me a heart attack."

Ekko grunted unintentionally upon hearing her name while Jace turned to Jinx, smiling.

"What happened? Why aren’t you kissing her?"

"I would never do that," Ekko snapped. "No, no. We can’t be a couple."

There was a tense silence in the room. While Vi watched their friend closely, almost as if she had heard wrong.

"Don’t... don’t you remember Jinx?"

"Why should I? This... this is a mistake. We all hate her. She kill your father and stole you!."

He muttered a curse, holding his head in his hands while Jinx left the room and went to a bathroom where she stopped for a moment. She had never felt so lost. And she could only stay there for a long time.

She remembered. Yes. She remembered how she hated her.

"How did this happen?"

"The same way you’re a famous superstar," Cait whispered. "By loving her. And being happy."

( . . . )

"Here."

Ekko lifted his head abruptly while looking disoriented until he saw her. Jinx pointed to the food cart while giving a glance at Caitlyn.

"Go to the hotel."

"Okay, but..."

"There’s a car at the side entrance waiting," she cut in. "Vi will stay today too."

Caitlyn nodded, giving Ekko a hug while glancing at Jinx for a second, giving her another hug suddenly that made her boyfriend—or maybe ex-boyfriend—slightly part his lips in a grimace. It seemed he could never have imagined such a thing, not even in his nightmares.

As Caitlyn left, they both fell silent while Jinx brought the food cart closer. She already had the tray on her lap.

Ekko reached for his plate, examining it a bit as if evaluating something that seemed imperceptible.

"It doesn’t have carrots, and for now, it’s not oregano; it’s parsley. They say it’s not recommended right now since it can give you gas."

Ekko nodded. A bit brusque. While he continued looking at the plate, taking a bite that he swallowed almost immediately.

"How did this...?" he began, pointing at them. "This? Us?"

"It’s not what you expected for your future, I know."

It wasn’t a question; it was a statement. And she watched Ekko hesitate while nodding.

"I don’t want to be cruel, because that’s your thing, but..."

Jinx nodded slowly.

"I’m sorry," she mumbled. "This is too confusing; I just woke up, and I’m a world superstar on my third world tour, besides being with you, the last thing I remember is that you’re the worst person I know."

"You love being a singer," Jinx assured. "In fact, your fans are outside the hospital. You also have flowers and letters from other famous artists."

"They’re outside the hospital for me?"

Jinx nodded.

"The news came out two days later; you were in a car after the concert in Toronto," she explained. "There were three people in the car. It was a drunk truck driver who crashed into the car you were in, and two others. There was one fatality and five serious injuries."

"Who died?"

"The head of security," Jinx admitted, giving him a somewhat gentle look. "It wasn’t your fault, and before you say it, all the expenses for any funeral services that his family wants are covered, as well as a sum that will reach them daily."

Ekko looked at her, confused; he was going to say something more. But then he simply fell silent, twisting his response.

"Did he have family?"

"No, just siblings and parents," Jinx replied. "It really wasn’t your fault; you weren’t even driving. You had just done a double concert at three and one in the morning."

Ekko simply remained silent.

"About us..." he began, hesitating with a nearly nonexistent melody but marking it with his fingers on his leg. "How and when? This is..."

"Like your worst nightmare," Jinx finished, stopping to look at his fingers marking that rhythm while focusing on his eyes. "We used that word a lot when we hated each other."

"For me, it still is," he shot back. "I’m sorry, or not. This is confusing."

"I know."

"My friends love you!" Ekko exclaimed. "And Vi, she hated you."

"I know that too," Jinx insisted. "You might have amnesia, but right now I have hyperthymesia."

"Sure, because you remember in great detail everything I don’t know," he grunted through clenched teeth, looking at her, somewhat impressed. "How do you know that word?"

Jinx looked him in the eyes. And again, he didn’t remember her. She should have known, but she just held on to the possibility that it was a nightmare.

"You told me, along with all the ones that end in 'mesia.'"

"And you were interested? It’s boring!"

"I loved it," Jinx shot back. "I don’t think you do anything boring; I’ve never believed that."

"I do," he grunted. "When..."

"When did I tell you that you were an idiot?" she asked. "I haven’t stopped thinking that, but I like it in a guy. That’s why I like you."

Ekko looked at her almost growling, seeing that she had never called him boring. And also, for what she had just said, he sighed in frustration.

"That’s the most passive-aggressive thing I’ve heard in my life."

"It’s also a compliment."

"It doesn’t seem like a compliment."

"It is," she shot back. "I said I like you even being an idiot; what more compliment is there than saying I love you for your flaws?"

"You just said I have flaws."

"And that I love them," she twisted. "Anything else?"

Ekko glared at her, grunting for her delight, and then he sighed. He looked like a steaming kettle.

"You’re particularly good with words; are you a politician?"

"No," she admitted. "And thanks for the compliment I’ll take. I’m a lawyer."

"That explains a lot."

"And some say I’m the best lawyer in the world."

"Who would say something like that?" Ekko asked, looking at her skeptically. "You must have tricked them."

Jinx looked at him for a moment, forcing a toothless smile that Ekko found strange.

"Someone very annoying, but honest."

Ekko realized that it was probably something he should know, but his mind was blank. And that made him clear his throat while recalling the disheveled appearance of the most glamorous girl from his high school days.

"You look horrible," he blurted out, blushing as he saw her frown. "I mean, you should go sleep wherever you’re staying."

"I suppose."

"You suppose?" Ekko repeated. "I can be alone for one night; go sleep. I can’t hate you looking miserable."

"I look amazing," Jinx insisted. "You have sleep in your eyes, and you drool when you sleep deeply."

"That doesn’t...!"

Jinx raised an eyebrow. Ekko sighed; he wasn’t liking this conversation at all. Still, Jinx stood up, ready to leave. She turned as she reached the exit while Ekko took another bite of his food when he noticed she had frozen there.

"Is something wrong?"

Jinx turned, crossing immense pain in her gaze that faded when she saw him while nodding slowly.

"Until tomorrow, Ekko."

She left. Ekko felt again that something had just happened that he knew, but he didn’t know what. And that made him miserable.

What kind of life was this?

"Oh, you’re awake," Doctor Allison greeted, smiling. "You finally managed to get Jinx to sleep somewhere else; the poor girl deserved it."

"Why? Didn’t she rent another luxurious room with all this money?"

Doctor Allison stopped writing the signs appearing on the machines while giving him a confused look.

"Rent something? She paid your hospital admission out of her own pocket; I’ve never seen anyone forget that their partner is a millionaire like her," she laughed softly. "She hasn’t left the hospital for a single day; she’s slept on that couch."

Ekko looked at the sofa next to him, grimacing at how uncomfortable it looked.

"She can’t be telling the truth."

"I’m afraid she is," she finished noting something while sighing, reaching his face with a small flashlight. "You’re lucky she’s your girlfriend, kid. I hope you give her a chance to remember her; she deserves it."

Ekko remained silent, not knowing how to tell her that the only person he remembered loving wasn’t there.

They had been hopeless romantics with a beautiful love that was now tragic. And from Ekko's side, he couldn’t feel any of what his friends and family claimed he felt.

He couldn’t see himself in love with anyone else, no one but Maddie.

Chapter Text

JINX GRUNTED AS SHE FINISHED BRUSHING HER TEETH.

Four days had passed since Ekko woke up. And she was tired. Still, she took another brush while starting to style her hair with two onions, leaving her blue bangs framing her face. She looked terrible. It was as if her state from years ago had returned.

But that was no longer her.

That day, in Vi's room, they had made an intervention where she was beginning to lose patience over the kidnapping that had happened as soon as she left her room.

“ If only you remembered how much he hated you, and you were the strongest one to start a relationship,” began Jace, excited. “You can start over with all the skills that made him stop hating you and seduce him.”

“ Excellent, it's a trial I must win and lose.”

“ Exactly!” Caitlyn roared. “Please, he is in love with you. If it were the other way around, we would be lost.”

Jinx rolled her eyes at her friends' laughter; the idea that Ekko was sitting there desperate because Jinx wouldn’t remember anything beyond her hatred comforted her in a selfish way. But deep down, she couldn’t do that to him.

“ I know it may seem impossible, sister,” intervened Vi. “But you are stubborn enough for this.”

“ Sure.”

Jinx laughed maliciously, like a wretched villain. However, she remained firm.

“ Is he going to live with you again?” Viktor asked in a whisper. “In his big house and with Isha?”

“ I don’t know,” Jinx admitted. “It’s not like I want to live with my worst enemy while being a millionaire. Besides, he hasn’t mentioned her.”

“ He must remember her little,” added Caitlyn. “Remember that it was when she was about two years old. We still don’t know exactly how far back he remembers.”

Vi sighed, playing with her nails.

“ Sevika said she is fine.”

“ You can go with her for a few days,” Viktor added; “or let her come. I think it would be prudent for his mind.”

“ It’s just that...” Jinx started, hesitating. “I don’t know if he can remember me.”

“ He will,” Vi assured, placing her hand on her sister's shoulder. “He will remember, you’ll see.”

Jinx nodded somewhat distantly.

“ He asked Cait about her,” she confessed. “He even asked for her address. He doesn’t remember me.”

That didn’t sit well with anyone. And the silence was proof of that. For everyone present, Ekko had been their friend long before she was, and they all knew how much that good boy had suffered because of that indecisive girl. He was a ghost from the past that no one wanted to relive.

A few years ago, they would have resigned themselves with sour faces and preferred that girl a thousand times over her with all her problems, but just as the seasons changed, so did people. At least, most of them. And once they had seen their close friend be genuinely happy and loved as he deserved, they could not allow their friend to enter another toxic and harmful relationship that had left him with so many scars.

It surprised her. Even though she had been with them for years. The affection and support they gave her at that moment, despite everything.

“ We need to give him another hit,” Vi intervened. “Because he needs it, more than usual.”

“ He could fall at another concert,” Jace proposed. “And he definitely deserved it.”

Jinx tried to smile, but that smile didn’t reach her eyes. She didn’t know how to explain her feelings; the only time she needed him, he just knew.

“ I’ve tried for five days to be as nice as I can, but there’s nothing,” she confessed again. “He just...”

Loves her.

And hates me.

Caitlyn extended her hand to her sister-in-law while giving her a firm look. It was her first intervention the whole time, but she was honest. Despite their old grievances and all the harm Jinx had done to her, she was just helping her.

Maybe that punishment was hers, and she had to learn that everything good she had before was not something she deserved.

“ Ekko loves you,” Caitlyn assured. “Not the memories he has of you, not those he has of her. He is in love with you. And love is not a bunch of memories; love is a feeling that ignites another person. And he will feel it with you again because he loves you.”

“ Out of everyone, I think I’m the one you’d want least by his side.”

Caitlyn nodded, agreeing.

“ And also the only one who loves him as he deserves to be loved,” she affirmed, giving her a squeeze on the shoulder. “Besides, we hated each other; there’s some hatred in all relationships.”

“ Mainly towards Viktor for not letting us spend money freely.”

“ I take care of the finances!”

“ You restrict stupid decisions,” Jace retorted. “And I love the stupid decisions of spending all my money on clothes and food.”

Jinx laughed at the collective laughter, thinking about what Caitlyn had said, who took her hand, looking at her with some compassion. She hated that look so much because it made her feel weak, but at that moment, it was exactly what she was.

She heard her friends laughing, thinking dreamily that just over a week ago they would have been opening a bottle of champagne celebrating the end of Ekko's most successful tour. But now, seeing them laugh and joke, she realized that no one was celebrating because they had lost a part of their friend.

But Jinx had lost her partner unless she got moving to make him remember her.

( . . . )

Jinx entered through the side door, dressed in blue with a box of orange and coconut sodas that was simply an auditory abomination that tasted horrifically good, and it was the boy's favorite drink. She hurriedly walked in and took the elevator where the nurse greeted her kindly.

What would she have done to make him love her? Jinx constantly asked herself that. How did people love? She didn’t see much to love, and yet, people constantly fell in love, even her.

And that’s why she was going after Ekko.

The doors opened as she rushed out of the elevator and entered Ekko's room with a slight smile when it crumbled upon seeing who was there. Damn.

“ Wyeth,” she muttered.

The man turned around, having a barely visible tattoo on his jaw extending to his shoulder. The room was empty; there was no trace of nurses, Vi, Caitlyn, or anyone else besides Ekko and his confused gaze.

“ Couldn’t you have the decency to call me to tell me that my own son had suffered a car accident?” he spat, in a bad mood turning away. “It wasn’t enough that Benzo was good with this behavior. But of course, you’ve always been a bad influence on him who never had the courage to introduce me.”

Ekko frowned.

“ How?” he asked. “Don’t you know my dad?”

“ It’s complicated that you didn’t want to include me in,” Jinx responded. “Ekko told him about me, don’t act surprised. And he had a million chances to buy a ticket to see him, so let’s leave all that drama behind to remember why Ekko left Hawaii, and you.”

“ What?” Ekko repeated. “Did I leave Hawaii? My whole life was there, why?”

Jinx observed the man who clenched his jaw tightly. She wasn’t going to scare her or get tangled in silly traps; it was the only thing her family had left her, that intelligent Machiavellian who could warn her about those things. Still, Wyeth looked at her with much hatred for long seconds.

“ Ekko,” she began. “I acknowledge that I haven’t been the most affectionate father regarding your decision to be a musician, but I want you to know that I am proud of you. And I want you to come back to Hawaii for a while; I want what’s best for you.”

“ Did I leave just for that? Just for that?” Ekko asked. “Did I leave Hawaii for music? I...”

“ Yes,” Wyeth whispered. “You left Hawaii over an argument we had; please, stay this time.”

“ No,” Jinx blurted out without realizing, while watching Ekko. “You... I know you hate me, okay? But we have a house together in the United States. Just try.”

Ekko looked at both of them. He was confused; his enemy was now his girlfriend, and his father, whom he didn’t want in his life. It was like a head-spinning dream, a premise of a 00's movie where he learns that he shouldn’t follow that path or end up like this. Ekko didn’t know if there was some magical being watching over him to change or if when he woke up, he would have the chance to do everything over again to not end up like this.

But he knew that this moment was happening and that he had to decide.

“ I...”

“ Ekko, I don’t know what she told you, but if there’s one thing I won’t allow, it’s that you go with him to Hawaii,” exclaimed Vi, entering. “Neither Benzo. Nor Vander, nor Silco, nor I will ever let you go back with this man again.”

“ It’s best for him.”

“ No, it’s not.”

“ And what will he do?” Wyeth asked. “Go to an empty mansion in America? With her?”

“ He will do more by making his own decision,” Jinx shot back, with that sharp and cutting tone that Ekko did remember. “Or does he still think that Ekko is a dog and you pull the leash?”

Did she just defend him with a good argument?

Her fourteen-year-old self was screaming in horror inside him.

“ Maybe going home will help me remember things,” Ekko whispered. “If it didn’t work once, it might not work again. I remember Hawaii.”

“ Ekko...”

“ Vi, I have no proof of seeing myself in love with her or leaving Hawaii because I wanted to be a singer,” Ekko confessed, overwhelmed. “I’m just trying to think of going home; even if it’s not mine, it's the only thing I remember.”

Jinx watched him for a moment, leaving those sodas by her side, which Ekko noticed immediately. He loved those things, even if everyone hated them. She was about to ask when she took his phone, unlocking it while handing it to him slightly irritated.

It wasn’t her phone. It was his.

“ Look at the gallery,” she requested, though it sounded like an order, it was a plea. “Or notes. Or wherever you want. Even those weird videos on YouTube where you say you’re in love or thinking about me, whatever. But this is yours. The one who appears there is you. Make your decision based on that.”

Wyeth grunted, resigned, while Vi smiled, taking the man down the hall to continue arguing. Jinx watched him, and for the first time, he saw that she was desperate. Ekko felt guilty; even if he hated her, no one deserved to suffer in such a torturous way.

“ Why did you bring this?” he asked softly. “If I remember you used to mock it.”

“ And I still hate it,” she confessed. “But it’s your favorite drink; you say...”

“ Fireflights,” both pronounced, while Ekko looked at her somewhat confused.

“ I remember that,” he assured. “I remember there were many fireflies in Kansas with Benzo when we were on the street at night.”

Jinx nodded.

“ I remember that too,” she affirmed, handing him the phone while their hands brushed slightly. “Just give it a chance; it was a decision you made long before being with me.”

“ I will.”

Ekko pulled his hand away, entering the gallery while Jinx nodded, leaving the room. It was time to finally see how happy he was. He opened the gallery on the phone while beginning to be surprised.

There were behind-the-scenes photos from the tour with the crew, one he had met two days ago when they came to give him flowers and chocolates, wishing him a speedy recovery with tears in their eyes. He seemed like a good boss. And he looked very happy in every photo or video until he reached one from two weeks ago where he was taking a selfie with Jinx, rolling her eyes.

And for any omnipresent being, what a huge smile he had.

There was a small section of photos where he had even taken a picture of giving her a kiss on the cheek while she didn’t return the affection but didn’t pull away either; she just had a playful look. There was a photo of him making a funny face that made him laugh, until he found a video from the day before rehearsing.

“ There it is; the most macabre yet incredibly sexy specimen of the Human Kingdom.”

He focused on Jinx, who was in her jacket; he knew it. He wasn’t even sure if it was hers, but something told him it was.

“ Animal.”

“ Princess, don’t insult yourself,” was his voice, with evident amusement. “I love you that way, remember.”

The camera moved because Jinx threw a pillow at him while he burst into laughter.

Ekko paused it.

And continued to look at more things in the gallery until he felt dizzy, which led his search to YouTube. Somehow, he remembered how to use it, just not how to search for exactly. He simply typed in his name and Jinx’s, not even knowing her last name until the search bar completed it for him.

“ Ekko Shannon complete, crazy and adorably in love with his girlfriend Jinx for nine minutes and fifty-nine seconds straight.”

Well. Maybe he was already regretting this.

He watched himself talking about her in an interview, in something called: “I answer the most searched questions about me.”

“ Who is Ekko’s wife?” he laughed, looking at the camera. Not knowing that he was watching his future self. “Easy: Jinx. It’s funny because I’m constantly asked for love advice or how to have a lasting partner. And I have no idea how to answer that.”

He was laughing. He looked like an idiot. He had his long hair in a short Hawaiian-style ponytail with a necklace of white corals. He looked ridiculously happy.

“ Honestly, I don’t know how we do it, besides the fact that obviously, I love her very much and hope she remembers,” he smiled, amused. “I hope she doesn’t hear this, or she’ll kill me. Anyway! I think the most important thing is to find your best friend in your partner; to have trust, respect each other, have small gestures. Every couple is different, but... But I think at least I made it, even if it took me a while.”

He laughed again. The video editing put hearts next to it with messages about how cute he was.

Ekko was startled. It was like seeing his best self.

The video continued showing small snippets where he referred to her as “she, princess, girlfriend.” He even called her “Villain” and burst into laughter. Ekko thought he was a bit crazy until he reached a fan video during a concert where he dedicated it to Jinx, who hid her face behind her hands. Even in the comments, they wanted them as a couple and talked about various titles he didn’t know but claimed were his songs dedicated to or inspired by Jinx.

And with every second, Ekko felt more like he was in a strange movie where he didn’t know what he should do or change.

He observed a photo of them. In a glasses store. Jinx with tiny blue glasses while he had sunglasses in a picture that made them look cool. He looked so ridiculous that it was funny. And then another one at a concert where he had pointed at her, annoying her, and she simply walked up to the stage, planting a kiss on him in front of everyone while the audience exploded.

Had he really kissed someone in front of at least twenty-five thousand people?

Ekko stopped watching; he was so confused. His heart raced with nerves, and his hands were sweating. The only thing he knew was that an hour had passed when his father, his best friend, and even Jinx, who came in without too much emotion. But there. He had to acknowledge her tenacity.

The three waited in silence for his response until Dr. Allison entered, oblivious to all conflict, with a smile.

“ Good afternoon!” she greeted. “Or morning, it’s barely noon. It’s confusing. Anyway, tomorrow you’ll be discharged, Ekko. Have you decided where you’re going?”

“ He’s deciding,” Wyeth intervened. “In Hawaii, he will have the best possible care; I’ll take care of it.”

Dr. Allison looked at him, as if it were a surprise.

“ My personal recommendation, although a bit meddlesome, is that you return to your daily routine to help your memory come back easier,” she suggested. “I don’t recommend a new environment; even a smell could help you remember everything.”

“ But...”

“ In the whole world, he will have good medical service,” Jinx interjected, somewhat irritated. “Let him decide; if he’s sure, don’t be so scared.”

“ You’re so od...”

“ Odious?” Jinx asked. “I know. Get over it. And let Ekko speak for himself; he hasn’t lost that ability.”

“ How will you let him talk to me like that, Ekko?”

She was about to intervene when Vi smiled.

“ I allow him to do so,” she mumbled. “She's more reasonable than me, I wanna kick your ass so let Ekko speak.”

Her father grunted under his breath. Ekko looked at everyone in the room with the phone still in his hand, his mouth dry even though he had just drunk a can that Jinx had brought, but feeling lost. Jinx hadn’t changed her temperament at least. But now it turns out that he was so messed up that he had wanted her.

He looked at Dr. Allison, impartial although having a clear inclination towards Jinx. Even his nurse had told him that his girlfriend looked so pretentious, odious, and arrogant that she thought she was unbearable; nothing further from the reality he faced in the following days when she didn’t leave his side and even was kinder to him than regular patients.

And then, he made a decision, nodding.

“ I’ll go for a few days with... her,” he decided, looking at the three until settling on Jinx. “If I fell in love with you, it must have been for something. After that, I can stay with you for a few days... Dad.”

The simple world was strange in his lips.

Weird.

Wyeth nodded, though not too happily. Ekko didn’t dare to look too much at Jinx at that moment because he simply didn’t know how to love her right now. And he really wished that version of himself with the bubbly laughter he had seen had given some useful advice because he really needed it.

Chapter Text

EKKO OUT OF DANGER AND DISCHARGED IN TORONTO!

By: Variety

The music superstar was involved in a car accident early Wednesday morning after finishing his show that night. The car he was in was directly hit by a truck driven by an intoxicated driver. In the tragic incident, two other cars were affected, six people were injured, and there was one fatality.

Amid all the silence from the singer's team, it has finally been confirmed by his manager, Jace Tails, that the singer is out of danger and has been discharged to continue his recovery in the apartment he shares with his partner, Jinx Zaunite, who has also not made any statements. However, from reliable sources and many photos circulating online, it has been reported that she took an emergency flight upon learning of the news and didn’t leave the hospital until just six days ago. Poor girl.

The tour has been canceled for good reason, and refunds have been issued to fans who were filled with donations and messages of support for the star's swift recovery. From here, we wish to see him shine on stage again and send our best wishes.

Chapter Text

EKKO WAS SPEECHLESS WHEN HE SAW THE PRIVATE JET IN FRONT OF HIM.

He felt a nostalgia and a distant affection for everything happening as people looked at him. It was as if, deep in his mind, he remembered it so well and with such pleasure that the nostalgia felt good, even though it remained strange.

Ekko greeted all the staff who greeted him as best as he could; it was a disconnection and such a strange feeling to be the center of attention and concern of a bunch of strangers while also feeling familiar. However, what surprised him the most were the warm and genuine smiles that Jinx received despite her nodding with not-too-long greetings.

How could they be so warm with someone like that?

He didn’t judge her for long; he was too focused on everything around him. It felt unreal. He felt like he was going to fall at any moment until he was inside the jet under the not-so-disguised gazes of everyone present. They observed a space between him and Jinx that he couldn’t quite understand, but again he had the feeling it was something obvious he should know, yet he couldn’t figure out what it was.

He climbed the stairs to enter the jet, giving a somewhat dizzy glance around the place, feeling the sun in his eyes and the breeze tousling his hair. It was impressive. He could live like this. And unintentionally, he smiled.

He glanced at Jinx, who was two steps below him, looking at him over her sunglasses. She didn’t rush him; she simply watched him with something more, but then the same cough advanced as he entered the jet where a man with a defined beard stopped him.

“Sir, I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Thank you,” he nodded, doing his best. “But you can call me Ekko; ‘sir’ is too formal.”

The man nodded, smiling with a hint of distance.

“I know, Ekko. Some things never change.”

The man went to the cockpit, while Ekko slightly frowned, taking a seat by the window while still marveling at the whole place.

“You always say the same thing.”

“Really?” Ekko asked, watching Jinx take a seat across from him as she lowered her sunglasses. “The full phrase or...?”

“The full phrase; you think you’re younger than you are.”

Ekko scoffed.

“I’m young.”

“If you say so.”

“I’m very young,” he retorted, observing how a flight attendant whispered with another while looking at him. “Why is everyone looking at us weird? Did I act too badly?”

Maybe he shouldn’t have asked her so directly.

No one knew about his amnesia, beyond his close circle, so he had to act as usual. However, it seemed like a complete fraud if everyone was watching him waiting for something he wasn’t doing, causing so much confusion.

“You’re doing fine; maybe...” she observed him for long seconds. “Maybe they expected a wheelchair or something.”

“Oh.”

But he didn’t feel like she was telling him the truth. He didn’t press further, although when Mako arrived talking on the phone, he had to ask why the flight attendant had asked if he was going to order for Jinx, who was in the bathroom, but he had no idea, which made him look at her questioningly. When he asked Jace, he looked at him hanging in the same way.

“It’s just that you always have your arm around Jinx’s shoulders or hold her hand,” he explained softly, though sounding somewhat obvious. “You’re very physically affectionate with her in public, without being so cheesy that it makes me want to vomit.”

Ekko frowned.

“But I’m not that... like that.”

“You are, even with us, always,” Jace assured, giving him a somewhat doubtful glance. “Maybe you just needed the right person to make you be yourself.”

He didn’t speak further. He hated not knowing what else to say, even when Jinx returned asking for water while they remained silent. Jace exchanged words with her, and something he thought sounded wrong made him laugh like an inside joke. Again, he didn’t know why anyone would want her.

The last thing he remembered was that she was bad.

She wasn’t Jinx. She was...

Powder.

He remembered the little girl, in that place. Yes, he remembered. He... he was a boy somewhat estranged from his father. But Benzo had taken him in; he was like a father to him. He remembered Vi and Powder’s family; Vander and Silco. They were good; he used to play a lot with them until they were nine when she went off the rails; the fire, the escape, Vi screaming and crying while Benzo held her, and how Powder ran away. He remembered something about drugs, about fights, about everything that had happened. But he didn’t remember it as clearly as a movie, but then he recalled a time when she attacked him.

And she cut him on his arm.

Ekko looked at his arm where a nearly forgotten line was, in fact, if he hadn’t remembered it, he would have never seen it. It was impossible to see. His fingers brushed over the old scar, confused.

How could he be so in love with someone who had hurt him?

He remembered her eyes when she was on drugs. Also her violence. The fights with Vi. They were all from a poor neighborhood, until he managed to earn a scholarship and met Caitlyn. And Powder had been a... Jinx. For everyone; always needing money, care, violence. She was chaos. And now she was the woman everyone loved, including him.

It felt like a nightmare.

As if he had died and this was the punishment in hell.

“Do you want some privacy?” Jinx commented, looking at him with those big blue eyes that seemed to know every thought of his. Ekko instinctively hid his arm. “It’s a great mansion; I’m not bragging, but you can have the master bedroom. There’s hardly any staff, you know, discretion.”

“Whatever.”

Jinx tapped her fingers on her lap. Her nails were painted dark blue. She still looked somewhat sick.

“Have you...?” she started, somewhat hesitant. She didn’t seem threatening, looking nervous. “Have you remembered anyone else? Someone important?”

“You?” he retorted, inadvertently sounding somewhat rude.

Jinx stopped tapping her fingers.

She straightened up. And Ekko cursed a little in his mind. That had been very rude, even for him. In the girl’s eyes crossed pain, while she blinked to push it away as if that would magically make him remember something about this life he had.

“No... I didn’t mean me,” she murmured, sounding hurt but trying to hide it. “I have to tell you because they asked me to be the one to do it.”

“Tell me what?”

Jinx looked at him.

“Do you remember Isha?”

His mind was blank for long seconds.

Nothing.

Empty.

But then, something in him recalled a little girl. Almost a baby. He couldn’t remember much beyond a blue helmet, hazel eyes, and brown hair. Although he tried to dig into his mind as much as possible, he couldn’t remember more. Just that.

“Do we have a daughter?”

The thought made him sick. How could he forget his own daughter? It even made him jump out of his seat, causing Jinx to jump from her seat. Everything spun around him. He was a terrible father.

“No, savior boy,” Jinx laughed. “It’s your little sister; we’re both... we’re both her legal guardians.”

“What? And why isn’t she with my dad?”

“Because she’s not his daughter,” she replied. “It’s complicated.”

“It seems like this whole life is complicated.”

Jinx laughed softly, nodding.

“I can’t contradict you,” she explained. “You... you gave Isha a home from the streets; remember you were always here and not in Hawaii? You lived with Benzo and Vi; she was a child, almost a baby. She’s a sweetheart, but she doesn’t talk. Not yet.”

“Why not?”

Something in Jinx tensed, looking away.

“She lived on the streets; it’s not easy to survive there,” she replied sharply. “Listen, she adores you. She’s twelve now. Sevika was taking care of her; she’s a friend of ours; a bit rough but good at looking after us.”

“Does she know that I don’t...?”

“Yes, Sevika and I told her,” she explained. “The doctor thinks that because of your bond, she could help your memory; you love her a lot. She’s the person who could make you remember something.”

Ekko nodded; it was a lot to process. He wanted to ask more but refrained, so he simply nodded, looking out the window while processing everything he had discovered.

They had been flying for a good while, with Jace snoring loudly when Ekko decided he couldn’t sleep.

“You can use your phone and a headset if you can’t sleep.”

“I thought you were asleep,” Ekko exclaimed honestly, seeing Jinx with a book. “What are you reading?”

“A book on financial mathematics.”

“Ugh.”

“Yes, you don’t like math or economics.”

“Boring,” Ekko replied, somewhat interested. “What semester are you in?”

“Tenth,” she admitted. “I’m almost done with my thesis.”

“Congratulations.”

Their conversation died. Ekko felt guilty about his poor responses, so after a long sigh, he insisted.

“I... I would like to go over some things about us, about me,” he explained, absentmindedly touching the necklace around her neck. “I’ve acted quite badly; I don’t want to mess it up. If you don’t mind, of course.”

“Not at all,” Jinx assured, closing her book with an elegant and attentive posture but sitting somewhat uncomfortably with her legs crossed. “I’ll tell you everything you need.”

Ekko nodded.

“Okay,” he began. “We’ve been a couple for four years, right?”

“Yes. Since your fame began, or well, before.”

“‘Before’ as in?”

“We ‘reconnected’ a year before you released the demo of your first worldwide hit; we became friends and started dating about two months before,” Jinx explained. “And since then, we’ve been a couple. You were persistent.”

Well, his theory that she was with him for money went out the window. She had wanted him poor; daam.

“And I had my hair in dreads,” he repeated. “Like a hippie.”

“That’s a partial view,” Jinx admitted. “You liked it that way.”

“But I look like a hippie.”

“And?” Jinx pointed out. “It’s not someone else’s hair; it’s yours, and you like it that way.”

“And you...?” he began, feeling pathetic. “Do you like it?”

Jinx imagined curling her fingers in it multiple times, her hair wet on the beach or after a shower, her white hair after a concert mixed with sweat and water from the stage. She had gotten so used to his long hair that she didn’t know if she liked it or not; she just loved seeing her boyfriend being himself.

“You loved it, so I liked it,” she replied. “Plus, in guitar solos, it was an excuse to shake it around.”

“How did the music thing come about?”

“Before me,” she assured. “I know you’ve liked writing songs your whole life, and then...,” she hesitated, her posture wavering, “something made you want to vent by writing; I gave you the idea to stop crying and turn it into a song. It was good, very good. You were proud, so with twenty dollars in your pocket, you went to the radio to play; a producer heard you, and in less than a month, everyone knew you. You won a Grammy with your second studio album; you have three albums: ‘Saudade,’ ‘Limerencia,’ and ‘Lechuza.’ And from what I know, you were about to start writing your fourth album right now; you have a couple of lyrics. You’re a very good songwriter.”

Ekko looked at her somewhat confused; he knew the meanings of those words. The point is, why would he use them?

“Do you know what they mean?”

“The first is to feel longing, desire, or nostalgia for something you don’t have. The second is the state of being in love,” she explained, without too much concern. “And I know the last one is Serendipity, which is when you find something you weren’t looking for, and Lechuza is in Spanish; you wanted to make an album about owls.”

“Why did I do that?”

“What?”

“Name the albums with those stupid words.”

“Because you love those weird words,” Jinx explained. “Always have; you told me yourself. It’s your trademark. And always having references to a clock.”

“Yes, but it’s stupid.”

“No, it’s not,” Jinx scolded. “What do you think, that your tastes are stupid now because they’re yours?”

Ekko said nothing, tempted to say ‘yes,’ which would be too cruel to pronounce.

They both fell silent for a while, with the sound of snoring starting to diminish from Jace, along with the airplane engines. The flight attendants were far away; no one could hear them. Ekko noticed that Jinx looked impeccable, both made up and dressed; she was glamorous, though before she was barely decent. He imagined her in a courtroom winning any case, no matter how implausible. He thought the conversation had died, but she resumed speaking.

“I know you really only remember that I’m a bad person, and I was; I never sought either your forgiveness or Vi’s, but I know you love me,” she assured, chilling Ekko’s blood. “I know you love me and that I love you, and you can’t remember it, but I know you love music, your whole life, and you chose this for you and by you. I just ask you to be yourself and know that you were happy.”

Ekko didn’t respond to her; soon, Jinx truly fell asleep. Minutes passed in his insomnia, leading him to search for more videos that evidenced that he loved the girl in front of him. There were thousands of videos, including stories he preferred not to touch, and he came across one of the songs that most clearly talked about Jinx.

“The Hateful Villain”

The rhythm was soft, without guitars; it reminded him of the ocean for some reason. His voice was serene, the instrumental perfectly accompanying his tone.

“For a long time, I see your face as that of an enemy;

it’s hard to forgive, harder to forget, ‘it’s impossible,’ whisper my ears.

The fire consumed you and burned you;

the water drowned me and mistreated me.

The fire burns inside you; the ocean rises in my heart.

A great romance, a great enmity,

The hate leaves my lips accusing you of tearing others apart, I hit the ground and curse the sky, it burns in my soul and hardens your life.

Is it less hard for both of us that there’s no refuge to return to after each battle?
There’s no dark plan behind the villainess; there’s no promised victory for the hero at dawn.

You don’t know which is worse, but you don’t know which is better.

For a long time, I only see a hateful villainess,
I curse your life, I curse everything you give.
We meet on the battlefield,
The hero wins in the rematch,
The villainess loses in every round.
Is it hard for the villainess not to return home?
Is it worse for the hero to accompany her until dawn?

Would it be enough?
If the villainess and the hero were decent?
Would it be the best?
Or has my heart already broken?

For a long time, the hateful villainess reunites with the hero at dawn.
Everyone talks; she’s the only one who’s silent.
She doesn’t let me fall; everything falls apart.
I break my bones trying to win.
The fire rises and makes me stagger,
knees on the ground, the ocean in the sky,
another battle culminates, culminates with nothing.
There’s no dark plan behind the villainess; there’s no promised victory for the hero at dawn.

You don’t know which is worse, but you don’t know which is better.
It’s just you and me.
It’s just a hero who has left the ocean
And a hateful villainess who has lost the fire.

You don’t know which is worse because neither is better.

Oh, villainess, if I could take us back in time,
Tell the “Once upon a time” without a prize,
Break our bones, dry my
ocean and extinguish your fire.
Would it be worse for us?
Would it be better for us?
Believe me, when I can’t sleep,
Awake without being able to breathe,
You’re the only one who can lift me,
And everything falls into the sea,
Screaming: “I hate you.”
“I hate you.”
“Tell me, do you hate me?” Oh.

Because there’s nothing between us anymore,
The war is over; the white flag has been raised.
And there’s a bittersweet victory that belongs to neither of us.
Your fire burns, and it doesn’t hurt me anymore.
My ocean drowns, but it has lifted you from beyond.
The silence breaks the tension.
I wait in silence for your next action.
The hate moves all your attention.
And before losing, your face changes already.
It’s not the enemy I see anymore.
I hope to die and end it already.
But I only find freedom.
There’s no dark plan behind the villainess; there’s no promised victory for the hero at dawn.

Neither is worse; both are better.
It’s just you and me.
It’s just a hero who has left the ocean
And a hateful villainess who has lost the fire.

It’s just you and me.
It’s the villainess and the hero at the edge.
It’s the fire and ocean.
It’s just you and me.

Neither is worse, but honestly, nothing would be better.

It’s just you and me.”

For a moment, he freezes.

Maybe it’s the impact of knowing he wrote a song that, according to the Spotify counter, has over six hundred million streams and is a lyric entirely of his authorship.

But he knows the biggest impact is knowing that this song, that villainess, is dedicated to the girl sleeping a few meters away from him.

Something in the way his feelings intertwine with his lived memories of what that girl was in high school makes him identify with a line from the song. He doesn’t know if it’s worse or better. Because although there’s something that exists between them, he can’t help but remember the only thing he knows.

All the hell that Jinx put others through.

Chapter Text

EKKO COULDN'T HELP BUT DREAM OF EVERYTHING HE COULD REMEMBER CLEARLY.

He had met Powder when he was five years old. It was his first summer with Benzo; his mother had sent him there. She had died a year later, sick with cancer. And since then, he spent almost all his time in Kansas, with Benzos.

He liked to fix things.

And read.

But he had never written. He had only learned a few chords on a piano and a guitar that Benzo had in the back of his house.

Powder was a cheerful girl, once. He had played many times with her as kids on the street, he had learned to ride a bike with her behind him. There were also two boys; Claggor and Mylo. They used to play together as a gang, with Vi as the leader.

Both were orphans.

Silco and Vander had taken care of them. He adored them. And when things got worse with his father's relationship while he spent more time there, almost living with Benzo, they were all a family. He had lost his first tooth in that place; Vi had taught him everything like an older sister. And whenever he needed advice that he was too embarrassed to ask Benzo, Vander would help him.

And he had always been with Powder.

They were the same age.

She was a good girl. She was cheerful. She loved to paint. She was smart. She used to do crafts. They were inseparable. Even if she sometimes tried too hard.

Everything had been perfect.

Until it wasn't.

Until the fire.

They were ten. Vi was thirteen. They were all just kids.

But it was then that Powder killed her parents, Mylo and Claggor. In a fire. She had locked them in. She had let them burn alive. Besides causing an explosion, leaving a gas burner open.

He didn't remember everything exactly, just that he was with Vi when they heard the sirens. Benzo held them, Vi cried a lot, she burned her arm trying to get in while no one found Powder. No one understood what had happened. Until she appeared, no one believed it.

She was just a girl.

But she said she had locked them in. That was all she kept repeating. She had cried. Vi hit her, broke her nose. The only thing Powder kept repeating was that she had locked them in, like a broken record that had shattered. Ekko thought he was confused, but he never stopped repeating it.

They let her go. He never knew why.

Then it was when she started in the world of drugs. With a kind of pink flash in her eyes when she was under that influence. That was when she attacked him. And Vi. She lived on the streets. She was a threat. A true Jinx.

The next thing he knew was that was her name.

Jinx.

Just like her.

Everyone had held a grudge against her for it. Too much. Now that he remembered, she hadn't even finished high school and now she was a lawyer. The only one who had always been kind, even with some resentment, had been Benzo.

How could Vi have forgiven her?

How had he done it?

Every time he closed his eyes; he remembered Vander, his intimidating appearance but soft, caring, and warm personality, even Silco, who had scared him with his very marked and stretched features, had always had a toothless smile for him. And for Jinx. He adored Jinx. He couldn't recall a moment when they weren't together and the focus of the man was always the blue-haired girl.

He would braid her hair. She would sit on his lap. He used to listen to her. He had healed her when they fell off the bike with love shining in his eyes, humming a song and making her feel better. He had even kissed her wound, buying her an ice cream.

And she had locked him in.

None of this made sense to him.

“Sir, miss,” announced the driver. “We have arrived.”

It was a mansion. A large, luxurious, very expensive mansion.

“Thank you,” Ekko mumbled breathlessly. “I didn't remember it being so... wow.”

He received a jab in the shoulder as they got out of the car.

“Disguise it,” Jinx grunted. “the dumb savior.”

Before he could insult her, he was surprised by the driver’s laughter as he got out of the car, taking the opportunity to glare at her.

“It’s normal between us.”

“How is it normal to insult each other?”

“We're good at arguing, I don’t know, it’s never serious,” Jinx explained. “I didn’t want to, but the owner of the record label is there, he doesn’t know about your memory and we have to pretend. Can you handle that or should I say you’re unwell?”

“I can handle it,” Ekko assured. “What do I do?”

“Interlace our hands,” she began, taking his left hand as they intertwined. “Put your arm over my shoulders, like this, and don’t separate too much.”

“How do I know you’re not taking advantage of this situation?”

“I think you already know,” Jinx assured. “I’ve never lied to you.”

Ekko was going to refute, but it was true, cruelly.

“Just...” she added, insecure. “You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to, and I know you don’t want to.”

Again, she didn’t lie to him.

Ekko nodded, determined to do it anyway while taking a sip of the cold coffee that was in the cup holder of the car. He didn’t even like black coffee, so he had no idea why it was there. At least it was consistent with his bad decisions.

When they got out, he thought Jinx would attack him by interlacing their hands or kissing him. Anything she could do to invade his personal space, but she didn’t. They both entered the mansion, which, although luxurious, had something warm about it. Ekko noticed there was a white wall full of scribbles, drawings, graffiti, and all kinds of decorations. It was strange, such an odd wall next to so many luxuries.

But it was beautiful.

Ekko found himself hypnotized, stretching his fingers to the wall until he touched a drawing of a pink monkey, somewhat childish. He scanned the drawings with his eyes; most didn’t make sense, but somehow strangely (like everything in this new life of his) it made sense.

“Isha did this,” Jinx replied, beside him. “Others I did. And others you did. The three of us painted here often.”

Her voice startled him a bit.

He didn’t remember she was there.

Well, in fact, he didn’t remember her at all. However, he nodded still with his hand on the drawing. It was strangely familiar and comforting.

“This one was made by her, right?”

“Yes,” Jinx nodded, smiling. “She wants a monkey for Christmas, a mochaccino monkey.”

“Capuchin.”

“That’s it, you were the one who swore you would talk to Santa to bring it and that it wouldn’t be ‘endangered species’,” she teased. “You said you would ask for a special permit at the North Pole to show that here it would be treated with love, respect, and with a whole yard just for him.”

Ekko couldn’t help but emit a sort of whistle and a laugh, turning to meet Jinx’s big eyes. She looked at him patiently, but also with something quick, with affection and a kind of darkness that was already part of them but also seemed less dark than he remembered. It was hard to explain.

It also didn’t go unnoticed the loving tone she used when referring to Isha, it was as if she spoke of something sweet. That made him happy.

“There’s no way we’re getting a monkey in the house.”

“You’re the one she loves to buy,” she teased, raising her arms. “The boy savior saving a monkey. I’ve really resigned myself to it happening.”

“We’re not having one.”

Jinx smiled.

“Wait until you see her, then you’ll ask for the darn monkey. Trust me.”

Ekko shook his head. No way.

However, a voice pulled him from his thoughts, startling both of them.

“My boy!” a man bellowed as he approached to hug him. “You’re unharmed! What a miracle!”

Ekko barely reacted to return the hug while the burly but chubby red-haired man hugged him happily. Behind him, he saw Jace giving him a thumbs up along with Jinx, who nodded, smiling. She mouthed the word: “Heimerdinger.”

“It’s a pleasure, Heimerdinger.”

“The pleasure is mine, boy!” the man sniffed, stepping back. He had several tears in his eyes. “When I heard the news, I almost had a heart attack. How was I going to lose my best artist? Do you know the paperwork that causes? And with the album almost finished! And then no one answered me, I thought Jinx had gone with you out of grief and I would be next!”

The man shook his head, genuinely worried. And before he noticed anything, Jinx came up behind Ekko, slinging an arm around his shoulders and pulling him to her without kissing him, just smiling. There was something strange about her closeness; his brain told him to move away.

But his body reacted automatically, getting a little closer.

“Well, you know what they say, bad weeds never die,” he laughed, joking. “He’s too stubborn to die like that.”

“But they said that if it had been four more seconds without reviving you, you would have died!”

Four seconds.

“Lucky it didn’t happen,” Ekko commented, trying to look normal. “I’m sorry about canceling the tour. And the album. I’m on rest.”

“Nonsense, boy! If you weren’t resting, there wouldn’t be a tour or album,” he shook his head. “Or do you want Jinx to suffer more? Poor thing, now they deserve all the time in the world. Six months for a honeymoon, poor things!”

Next to him, with her body pressed against his, she laughed. Everything in her vibrated, even his heart. There was something tense in her body despite how relaxed she looked that he doubted if anyone else had noticed, or if it was because of the closeness.

Still, everything was more overwhelming than noticing that.

“Thank you, Herms,” she smiled at him. “He’ll be as good as new in six months.”

“Oh, Jinx, how sweet of you.”

Jinx stepped away. And it was something liberating. Ekko shifted a bit in his place, wanting to wake up from this strange dream without having to deal with anything else, but while he looked again at the mural, he felt another hug from the chubby man he distinguished as having gray hair.

This time it was gentler. So it was easier to reciprocate.

“Oh boy, what a second chance life has given you,” he commented, smiling at him with sincere affection. “You deserve these six months with your family; it’s beautiful, after all... Every minute counts.”

“Thank you.”

Heimerdinger smiled.

While Jinx guided him with jokes, smiles, and distractions away from him and that house, Ekko couldn’t help but look at the mural again as he walked away to delve deeper into what was his home.

And it was ridiculously huge.

There were photos of him, mostly with Jinx over the years. There were his records; platinum in different countries. There was a Grammy. And photos of him, Jinx, and a brown-haired girl with blue and white streaks, hazel eyes, and a crooked smile. Isha. Despite the luxuries, and his artistic achievements that many would kill to have, what stood out most in the whole place were family photos.

Of him with Jinx.

She kissed him on the cheek many times; there were also pink markers in several photos painting hearts or phrases like a kind of highlighter for important data. It was all so familiar, adorable, and perfect that if Ekko didn’t have any memory of Jinx as such, this would have been enough to buy it, shut up, and be a happy family with her without blinking.

But he knew the truth.

She was a Jinx.

Anyways, his thoughts were interrupted by another hug. One warmer, less suffocating, and more... familiar. Looking down, he found who must be Isha. She had shoulder-length brown hair, equally blue and white streaks, reaching her waist, wearing a brown overalls with a white shirt underneath, and hugged him as if she hadn’t seen him in years.

Ekko froze a bit. He couldn’t react. It was a different hug than all the others he had received previously.

“What, no hugs for me either?”

Isha lifted her face, revealing her freckles and hazel eyes. And smiled, throwing herself toward Jinx, who caught her as they hugged each other with much affection.

The air escaped from Ekko’s lungs upon seeing the scene. He had seen her in the hospital being kind to everyone, even Vi giving her a hug, but it was different from this. She couldn’t be Powder, but she was.

Jinx whispered things to her, filling her face with kisses and running her slender fingers through the little girl’s hair while smiling with the closest thing she had to absolute happiness. And Ekko stood there, frozen like an idiot, watching the scene, scandalized, confused, fascinated, and with something more burning in his chest that he couldn’t name appropriately.

The little girl released Jinx, turned to him, and made signs so quickly that in the blink of an eye, it ended. Ekko was left speechless while the girl looked at him expectantly with her big shining eyes.

“I... I don’t know sign language.”

Isha frowned, making more movements with her hands.

“I don’t understand you, I’m sorry.”

Isha emitted a sort of grunt, making a short sign.

“Alright Isha, let him rest; it’s been a long journey,” Jinx intervened, looking at him. “It’s okay; it’s been a long day.”

Ekko nodded, going away without knowing very well what to say while practically fleeing the room until he locked himself in said room. Meanwhile, Isha watched him with a furrowed brow as Jinx approached, ruffling her hair.

He didn’t seem like Dad, Isha mentioned in sign language. I thought he would be more like that without remembering us, but he’s... different.

“I know, but he’s still him,” she assured, smiling a little. “He just needs time.”

He needs the kiss of true love.

Jinx laughed. Shaking her head as she stood up.

“That’s not how things work, little troublemaker,” she teased, smiling. “Come on, let’s make something to eat. How about a brownie with ice cream?”

Chapter Text

“1024?” JINX REPEATED, FROWNING. “THAT'S FOUR RAISED TO FIVE.”

Isha huffed.

“What? I’m not the one doing your homework,” added the blue-haired girl. “Although it is difficult. Better just learn the tables. Let’s see, what’s 5 times 6?”

Isha showed her fingers; three and zero.

“Excellent. But I won’t help you with chemistry or biology.”

“Hello, good morning,” Ekko greeted, entering the kitchen.

Isha was at the table with her notebook, a pencil case, and a couple of pencils doing what she presumed was her homework. In the background, the TV was on with the news while Jinx was in the kitchen creating a disaster behind her, doing what he theorized was breakfast. The sink was full of dishes, there was some flour on the floor and the counter, and he was sure there was more food everywhere than on the plate she was finishing serving.

However, she gave him a small smile.

“Morning,” she greeted. “Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes.”

Ekko nodded, greeting Isha as he took a seat next to her. She shook her head, pointing at Jinx, taking advantage of the fact that she turned around while explaining with her hands that it wouldn’t be ready in a few minutes.

There were many parts he didn’t understand in detail, but he could grasp the main message: Jinx couldn’t cook, and breakfast wouldn’t be on time.

He laughed a little, sharing a moment with Isha, who got overly excited, making gestures he couldn’t understand. He shook his head, and she understood, nodding as she moved on and wrote in her notebook. He still felt a bit guilty for not understanding her, even if she pretended it didn’t hurt; there was a hint of pain in her soft hazel eyes, like candy.

In all those who saw it.

Three days had passed since he arrived at his “home.” And his mind still couldn’t remember significant things. However, what surprised Ekko the most was missing the ability to understand Isha; he didn’t remember any sign language. Nothing. Everything was empty. And frustrating. The girl adored him, always trying to talk to him, but he understood absolutely nothing of what she said. The only things he had understood from her were things she quickly typed on her phone or wrote down on paper. It was embarrassing to stand there like an idiot while she typed or scribbled furiously to convey three words to someone she supposedly knew her whole life, loved, and the least he could do was understand her. At least when Jinx was around, the conversation was more fluid.

But he hated how everything seemed to orbit around Jinx.

He didn’t trust her even to tell him the time, even if there was a clock behind her. And still, she had insisted all these days. He slept in what used to be his room. She excused herself, sleeping in a guest room next door. The house was big enough that this awkward situation shouldn’t arise, yet Ekko couldn’t truly rest these days. He just stared at the ceiling. And he got up, observing the photos surrounding what was his bed. The first night, he tried not to snoop, but he found himself taking the flashlight of his phone, as they had explained, and rummaging through the room.

“Why is this place so pretty?” he murmured to himself before shaking his head. As if he had allowed Jinx to overshadow the place where he lived. I mean, everything was so well-structured that the pink, blue, and apparently erratic drawings made sense and gave an odd life to the place.

There were pictures on the walls, his signature at the bottom, and Jinx writing in the upper corner that said “for Jinx.” All the pictures on the wall did that. Pictures of music, time, pocket watches.

Ekko’s heart skipped.

There was a small book on a shelf far from the bed, next to a wardrobe, and Ekko took it, sitting on the floor with his back against the bed and crossing his legs.

It was a soft brown leather book with pink hearts drawn with a marker that he had seen before, which, when opened, revealed a photo album of him and Jinx. Pictures of children, pictures from university, pictures of them together. He remembered some, like the one they took during Vi’s sixth birthday when they were kids, even Silco and Vander were in the photo. He didn’t remember most, like one where they appeared taking a selfie in the park. Kissing.

“Well, that’s enough,” Ekko murmured, closing the book with more force than necessary. He watched the moon filter through the window as he sighed; he only wished to wake up in another life where he could understand or wake up with his memory.

Neither happened.

“Here you go,” Jinx announced, pulling him out of his thoughts. She had flour on her cheek and a bit in her hair. However, she had a bright smile as she extended pancakes to them. “The chef sends her regards; no tips required. Enjoy.”

Her voice startled him.

Isha ignored him, making some signs that must have been thanks while she began to devour the pancakes under Jinx’s watchful gaze, who kept smiling. She scared him. Every time he heard her voice and didn’t know what was around, it startled him. However, he tried to disguise it. But Jinx had never been stupid.

“Ekko?” she called him, pulling him out of his trance. “Are you going to eat?”

“Oh, yeah. I’m going.”

She didn’t say anything. Ekko wished he could fight with her; it would be easier.

He took a bite, swallowed, and it tasted good. Not excellent, but decent.

“Did you like it?”

“Uh, yeah,” he replied, avoiding looking at her. “It’s good.”

“Great,” she laughed, relaxing at the counter. “Not to prolong it, but you’re the one with the chef genes; I try my best, but it’s not my thing. You cook, I wash. But I’ve learned several recipes.”

“Do we...?” Ekko began, still struggling to assimilate that he had to speak in plural with her. It was a kind of nightmare. “Do we always eat together like...?”

Like a family.

Jinx knew. She wasn’t stupid.

Maybe a bit evil.

“Often,” she replied. “Whenever we’re all together, I study, and you have the tours. But we try to be together often.”

Ekko nodded. And breakfast seemed to go peacefully for a while.

“Is Benzo...?” he blurted out almost involuntarily, looking for an answer. “Why has no one mentioned him?”

“He’s in Hawaii, retired; he’s an older man,” Jinx mentioned. “He’s fine; it’s just that we didn’t want to worry you. We told him everything. Maybe... maybe next month we’ll go see him, or he’ll come.”

“Did he support us?”

“Yes.”

Ekko nodded. Isha seemed to intervene, pulling him by the arm as she finished eating. He barely had time to react while she waved her hands hurriedly, pointing to the living room. Something sounded; as always, he didn’t know what it was. Ekko nodded, getting up a bit, but the little girl disappeared into the living room before his gaze.

How did they end up... like this?

“Come on, she’s not very patient.”

Jinx pulled him by the arm with an overwhelming familiarity, causing him to pull his arm away as if it had burned. It was a reflex, more like an insistence. But he couldn’t disguise it even if he wanted to.

There was a long moment where they stood still. Frozen.

From his impulse, a glass that was next to him fell, staining the table with orange juice. Jinx focused her attention on it; he wanted to apologize, but he didn’t know what to say. Everything felt so weird.

“I’ll take care of it,” she murmured, giving him a look. Something hurt. “Go, or Isha will drag you.”

Ekko nodded, fleeing. It was all he did these days.

Upon reaching the living room, he found a tall, muscular, dark-skinned man giving Isha a few pats on the head. He recognized him instantly, relieved. It was as if this nightmare finally rewarded him a little.

“Scar?”

“Hey little man,” he greeted, taking his attention away from Isha while looking at him with his green eyes. “You really scared me, but now I’m a bit disappointed.”

That hurt.

“But…”

“I thought you were going to lose that ugly face instead of your memory.”

Ekko laughed.

And Scar did too.

For the first time, he felt like himself again after waking up in that hospital room. The man strode over with strong, long strides and hugged him. Ekko felt as if he was on the road home finally. Scar smelled like salt. This time, it was Ekko who hugged him first, holding on a bit.

“Well, maybe he’ll lose a muscle if you cut off the circulation that way of him.”

Both separated while a laugh erupted from Scar’s chest, looking at his side.

“Jealous?”

“Worry,” he corrected, while Ekko looked at Steb; his short hair meticulously styled, his fine and sharp features, and his green eyes. “Hey man, good to see you.”

They exchanged a small hug. And Ekko felt happy to see him while observing their closeness.

“Are you finally together?”

“Second time you discover it, and second time you say it,” Scar laughed. “We weren’t that obvious.”

“You were,” Steb pointed out. “I was the difficult one.”

Scar laughed, loud and boisterous.

“We’re not into you, babe,” he teased, refocusing his attention on Ekko, who looked at him with a smile. “I thought you’d look worse; Isha told me you look like a pubescent teenager.”

“She didn’t say that; she’s an angel.”

“I paraphrased.”

The two men laughed. Ekko felt as if his world slapped him again.

Of course, they understood Isha, but he didn’t.

“Where is...?”

“Hey, you guys just in time for pancakes,” Jinx mentioned, arriving while greeting him with an affection that not only confused him as usual these days but also annoyed him. They were part of his life without her. They were somehow his. “Stay there; I’ll bring them.”

“You had to almost die for the poor girl to cook,” Scar joked, giving him a friendly nudge. As Jinx went back to the kitchen, his friend looked at him, smiling, while Ekko felt somewhat disoriented. “Oh little man, what would you do without her?”

That made his head hurt.

The whole atmosphere suddenly didn’t please him anymore.

His face turned somber. It gave him a migraine. And he wanted this stupid nightmare to end; he couldn’t stand anyone else adoring Jinx, the killer.

Scar noticed. And Steb. Both men exchanged glances while Steb took Isha to the kitchen, chatting with her about a children’s series or a movie; Ekko had no idea. And at that moment, Scar looked at him seriously while nodding his head toward a door leading to the patio as they began to move away from the house.

The path was like the tick-tock of a bomb about to explode. And when they were finally far enough, Ekko exploded.

“How could you let me be with her?” he raged, angry. He was the first he could reproach for this stupidity. “She’s Jinx!”

“Because... you love her.”

“She’s a killer!”

Finally, he said it out loud.

Ekko awaited that look of understanding from his best friend in the world. He knew. He was the only one who could understand him; he always did. But as he awaited that look that could relax him, he only found Scar’s completely bewildered, confused, and almost angry gaze. His slanted green eyes analyzed him as if he couldn’t comprehend what had just happened; as if it weren’t rational for Ekko to have that thought, let alone say it out loud with such conviction.

Silence was all that followed.

Scar analyzed him, as if searching for something or thinking something while his jaw was tense. Ekko bet that if he moved it, it would break like dry pasta. He must not understand anything until suddenly he frowned, as if he understood all at once. Ekko hated that everyone knew something he didn’t.

“What’s the last thing you remember?”

“What?” Ekko repeated, feeling like he wanted to vomit. “Did you hear what I just said? How could you...?”

“I heard you, loud and clear, man,” Scar repeated. “And you better hope that Isha never hears that crap in your life, or you’ll really lose a leg.”

Scar threatened him so seriously that he didn’t doubt he would, leaving him even more confused; what the hell?

“Ekko,” Scar insisted, agitated but trying to remain calm. “What’s the last thing you remember?”

They had asked him that question in the hospital. Several times, but however, Ekko answered vaguely.

However, by the look on Ekko’s face, he grunted, looking down, trying to coordinate his memories as if it were a puzzle he was finally trying to piece together blindly. At first, there was nothing really substantial. Everything was monotonous, like data from his life he remembered; where he lived, what he studied, his parents' names, his friends, Benzo. And then he remembered.

“You told me you had a secret, at the bonfire, we went to the rooftop to drink a bit. You were... confused, almost terrified,” he began, his gaze lost. “You said that if your parents were alive, they would kill you. And I knew, I hugged you; you were talking about Steb. About you. Then, I can’t remember much, but I invited you to a party with Caitlyn and Jace; the rich kids. You saw it was normal, we laughed and joked about that.”

“I can’t believe the last thing you remember is how I came out of the closet at sixteen,” Scar scoffed, a bit softer. “Anything else?”

“I remember we went to the beach, all of us. It was night, we went in with our clothes on,” he laughed, looking at him. And it was as if a light bulb turned on. “And there was... there was Maddie.”

Scar grunted.

“Oh little man,” Scar pondered. “You really hit your head hard; you forgot a lot.”

“What happened to her? Where is she?”

“It’s complicated.”

“But it’s easier to explain that now I’m practically married to...?” Ekko grunted, unable to say it out loud. “Her? I only remember Maddie; I loved her.”

“You thought that.”

“It’s what I remember.”

Scar sighed, running his hands over his face. Tired. Ekko felt irritated; he wanted this situation less than anyone and only seemed to tire everyone.

“Listen, Ekko, it’s complicated to explain,” Scar began. “You remember mostly when you were seventeen. We were kids. And now you’re twenty-five; a lot has changed since then. I’ll explain as much as possible, just... just take it little by little. It’s a lot to process.”

“Is she alive?” Ekko asked, worried. “Is Maddie okay?”

“Yes,” Scar replied, bluntly. “It’s stupid to ask you this, but... don’t you remember anything good about Jinx?”

“No.”

Scar nodded, although his expression was as if Ekko had hit him. The burly man sighed, combing his long hair while patting Ekko gently on the shoulder.

“Be kind to her,” he replied. “I know how you are. I know you. Maybe you don’t remember anything, but I do. And listen to me, hardhead; I’m telling you this before you regret it; be kind to her. She’s doing her best, just like you.”

Ekko didn’t respond, looking at the ground.

“Come on, little man,” he encouraged. “You have to listen now to stories from Steb and me, plus try those pancakes. I know you might feel a bit lost, but we’re here for you; give yourself time.”

But Ekko didn’t want time; he wanted his life.

Chapter Text

SCAR ADORES JINX.

They laugh. Loudly. They even have inside jokes. Steb even joins in; they laugh a lot. They talk about many things, many stories. Isha adores them. So Ekko is left out of the conversation several times, disoriented as if they switched languages in the blink of an eye. At one point, Scar leaves with Jinx to talk about laws regarding a topic he doesn’t understand; they spend about half an hour talking. When they return, they leave shortly after, giving both of them a strong hug. Ekko wants to feel like he’s their best friend.

But Scar hugs Jinx tightly and whispers something to her; she looks at him with her almost crystalline eyes, shaking her head, but he looks at her sternly, giving her another hug.

“Remember what we talked about,” Scar observes her, wanting to say something. “You know how the legal system is, always with the truth upfront.”

“I know.”

Scar barely sees her when he says goodbye with a hug. In his gaze, only the phrase 'Be kind to her' is written, and that irritates him even more. As they leave, Jinx cleans up in silence while Isha finishes her homework, leaving him alone in the living room.

Jinx has kidnapped his life.

Ekko couldn’t shake the feeling of unease after Scar and Steb’s visit. As the memories of his old life organized in his mind like pieces of a broken puzzle, he realized he felt like a stranger in his own home, a place that had been warm and welcoming but now felt cold and distant, like an echo of a past he couldn’t reach. Jinx had made an undeniable effort to reintegrate him into everyday life, but every smile and every joke she threw his way only seemed to deepen the chasm between them. While she tried to chat, he settled for short, curt responses, almost like barks. He tried to force a conversation, but Jinx’s voice startled him, reminding him that he was trapped in this nightmare of amnesia, where she was an absent memory of his former life.

The next day, the silence in the house became heavy. Jinx hid her frustration behind her usual enthusiasm, also pretending as best as she could in front of Isha, but Ekko could see the sting in her eyes every time he looked at her with disdain. She tried to talk to him, to make him feel better, but he responded with monosyllables, his words filled with a tension he couldn’t fully understand. He felt like a monster, as if every kind gesture from her only fueled the fire of his resentment.

Ekko sighed that night in his room.

He couldn’t sleep, so he thought maybe wandering around could be good for him. He didn’t take many steps before reaching Isha’s room, from which a dim light emanated; the door was ajar, allowing him to see Jinx from behind, playing with the little girl. The child’s room was full of colors, and it seemed they were having a good time.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Jinx began, with a presenter’s voice, putting too much excitement into it. “You are in the wrong place, bandits, scoundrels, teddy bears, and Monster High dolls; welcome to the most wicked, horrifying, bloody, and fierce show you’ve ever seen in your life!”

Isha clapped, excited. Ekko frowned, what the hell was going on?

“On this side, we have our invited champion with claws like knives and teeth sharper than blades, the diabolical, the great 'Stink Maw,'” she presented, showcasing an action figure resembling a crab. It was a collectible. “And in the other corner, the contender who is here by mistake, his name is a mystery, but he knows how to wield a sword and is here today fighting for what he calls love. Scuttle Butt!”

Isha made sounds resembling laughter while Jinx showed a Captain America toy. The blue-haired girl mimicked the sounds of a cheering crowd.

“Who will come out alive?” she asked in an intriguing voice. “Scuttle Butt, or wait, he says his name is... Pedro? Oh, he’s here to defeat the invited beast and reclaim the love of his beloved, Princess Mara. Whatever, let the duel begin!”

Jinx moved the toys with conviction while Ekko watched, somewhat intrigued. The blue-haired girl made gestures, sounds, and entertained Isha very well. The fight was good, but then, Scuttle Butt or Pedro, attacked the beast, dominating it.

“And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen, Scuttle Butt has tamed the beast!” she whistled. “You can’t believe it, his journey, everything he’s been through to reclaim his princess, and now he just has to land the final blow on the horrible beast, but then... Pedro sees her eyes, they are gray, they remind him of the princess. The beast is beneath him; he just has to deliver the final thrust, and then... he lowers his weapon. The beast... is the princess.”

Isha raised her arms in astonishment, making gestures that made Jinx laugh while she continued crafting her story.

“That’s right, little one,” she assured. “Pedro could recognize those eyes anywhere. He was in love with them. So he lowered his weapon, and then, he knew that all this time he thought he had to kill that horrible beast to reclaim his beloved when he just had to look beyond the curse. So, and here it applies."

Isha made a sound that made Jinx laugh.

“With the kiss of true love, or in this case, pressing their foreheads together, anatomy didn’t allow for a kiss like that,” Jinx continued. “Pedro reversed the curse; the princess returned to her human form. And they lived happily ever after. The end. Now, time for bed.”

Isha must have protested, but Jinx put away the toys while the little girl kept talking in sign language, to which the blue-haired girl sometimes responded either verbally or in her own language. Anyway, soon Jinx laughed, sitting on the bed while she tucked her in and gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead.

“I love you, with all my heart.”

That was the last straw.

Ekko stepped back, returning to his room. He needed to remember or understand.

The next day, they dropped Isha off at school, and Jinx and Ekko headed to the doctor’s office. In an armored truck, like a routine appointment. The ride was marked by suffocating silence, where only the noise of the road and the murmur of Ekko’s dark thoughts filled the atmosphere. The driver was very into his own world, sometimes talking to Jinx, but he couldn’t integrate into the conversation.

Upon arrival, the consultation was brief and direct. The doctor reminded him of what he already knew: his memory was fragile and affected; it could remain this way for months. Ekko tried to ask about any experimental procedures, but there were none.

“You have to stick to your usual routine,” the doctor replied. “The brain is a fragile organ. It heals itself. I can’t guarantee anything; depends on you.”

“Any recommendations, Doc?”

“Take it easy; I also don’t suggest learning everything you don’t remember all at once; it can overload your brain and cause damage,” the Doc explained, looking at Ekko. “You have to be patient, adapt. Rely on the people you loved.”

Despair tightened his chest, and as they returned home, his thoughts swirled in his head.

“Do you want to eat something when we get back?” Jinx asked in an upbeat tone, trying to break the silence. “We could try that place you like…”

“No.”

The response was curt, and Ekko felt the weight of his words impact between them.

She opened her mouth to say something in reply but ended up closing it, biting her lip, a sign of her frustration. When they got home, Jinx tried to prepare something simple, a lunch they could share, but Ekko locked himself in his own world, ignoring her effort. Finally, she approached him, with a small smile that barely concealed her disappointment.

“Don’t you want to talk?” she asked, her voice a broken whisper, as if each word cost her a personal effort. “Maybe if we go through year by year, backwards, watch videos. Do you...?”

“About what? About how you had to come rescue me again?” he retorted, unable to contain himself, letting his anger overflow. “You’re always there, aren’t you? Like a shadow, doing everything for me.”

Her biting tone darkened Jinx’s expression. She stood still, blinking as she struggled to process his words.

“That... that’s not fair, Ekko. I’m just trying to help you. Please, try to remember...” Her voice faltered, and Ekko noticed tears welling in her eyes. “I want to help you be you again.”

“Help me?” he laughed bitterly. “And what about me? What about my ability to decide about my own life? I don’t need your pity or your sympathy.”

“It’s not pity; I want to help you. Really.”

“It seems there’s no solution.”

“Well, Vander used to say that even if there isn’t always a solution, there’s something to improve,” Jinx added, smiling weakly. “We can…”

“Don’t you dare say his name again!”

He shouted. Loudly. That made them both fall silent.

Anger erupted between them like a whirlwind. Jinx tried to find her words, but Ekko had crossed a line, and he knew it. Words began to fly like arrows. He couldn’t think clearly.

“I don’t want you to mention their names again,” Ekko cut in. “You killed them.”

She let out a nervous laugh, filled with disbelief.

“Do you really think that’s what I am?”

“And what are you?” Ekko asked. “You locked them up. They were like family to me.”

“They were my parents,” Jinx replied, angrily. “And I loved them. And I’m doing the best I can for you.”

“For me?” he yelled. “I can’t even recognize myself in this life. I see you, and I can only see the darkness surrounding us, you and this stupid chaos. You being a jinx. A murderer.”

She looked like she was going to say something, but she fell silent, looking at him in disbelief. Hurt. Ekko was so angry that he didn’t think rationally about the weight of his words.

“The police never…”

“You’re a murderer,” Ekko growled. “They might have let you go, but I know what you are. That’s why you’re Jinx, not Powder.”

That definitely hit her hard.

The atmosphere was charged, and Jinx, hurt, turned away. Leaving the house without looking back, something in Ekko had the malice to hope she wouldn’t return, though he found himself not adoring the idea either. He didn’t know how to feel. Feeling like the lowest of men, Ekko dashed to his room, feeling guilt devouring him from within.

He wasn’t like this.

I mean, he hated her. But he had never been so hostile, so cruel and diabolical with her. It just happened. Ekko tried to organize his thoughts while searching online for anything that could help him remember: from magic, medicine, to natural exercises. That night, Isha came home with her private driver. Ekko ordered dinner. The little girl asked about Jinx, but without looking at her, Ekko just replied that she had to go out for university.

Isha believed him. They both watched a movie, although it was more her than him, since he just sat in the living room waiting for Jinx to return. Frustration invaded him again at not being able to communicate with her, so their interactions were limited, almost counted on one hand.

At the end of the movie, she went to sleep.

Jinx didn’t come back.

Ekko waited another hour, but she didn’t return. And finally, he went to sleep, hoping to find relief in finally getting rid of her, but finding a guilt worse than he could have imagined. So, without wanting to think more about his nightmare, Ekko fell exhausted into a dream.

Chapter Text

IT WAS FOUR GOOD DAYS FOR EKKO.

At least, they were supposed to be.

Jinx was back. When he woke up the next day, she was there. She had ordered food. And she was with Isha, helping her with a task. He barely greeted them, and both left for school. Finally, he was alone with his thoughts, trying to rebuild his own life; however, he found himself somewhat lost. He didn’t even know what to look for. So he simply left his house to where his private driver, Jhin, said the record label was. It was close to home, so he thought to himself: "Why not?"

Upon arrival, Eve, a secretary, greeted him almost in tears, assuring him that she was happy he was alive. No one knew about his amnesia, so he acted as best as he could, assuring her that since he was still somewhat sore, he needed help getting to where he always went. She didn’t suspect anything. She guided him to his studio, and soon he was alone. Completely alone, observing the platinum records on the wall, his accolades with the label, and of course, a photo of Jinx, Isha, and him next to a scribbled drawing that he assumed was the little one drawing their family.

However, Ekko approached the diamond record.

"My best enemy."

It was a title that repeated constantly, so he placed it on a vinyl nearby, sitting in the studio as the soft lyrics began. It said that it had been one of his first big hits, maybe the first. The music was soft, pleasant. Ekko liked it; even his chest swelled with pride.

I love you, I'll wait  
I love us, I'll stay

You're the best thing that happened to me  
but also the worst version of me  
The day I met you, I'd wish it was easy to rewind  
and avoid that our ways never collide

The best shade of blue,  
the worst kind of grudge  
I must give it up in us,  
but I still see the good in you

My best enemy is you  
take my soul  
the worst is you and I  
You're the best blessing  
and my worst curse

If you hear my voice in the wind  
forget that  
the worst is you and I  
If you think of my name sometimes  
let it dry  
The worst is you and I

Don't you know we were meant to be?  
It's written in the stars,  
down below our bad paths,  
you know I see what others didn't,  
what's hard to describe,  
now I see for who you are  
and it led you to me

My best enemy is you  
take my soul  
the worst is you and I  
My best enemy is you  
steal my soul 
the best is you and I

If you hear my voice in the wind  
take it one  
the worst is you and I  
If you forget me sometimes  
Let me die  
The best is you and I

I love you, I'll wait  
I love us, I'll stay  
I love you, I'll wait  
I love us, I'll stay

He no longer knew if he liked it that much, but he couldn’t help but reflect a bit on the lyrics. Even repeating them once or twice. "I love us, I'll stay." What a shitty joke right now. However, Ekko listened to a couple more songs; "Fireflights," "The Boy Savior," and one that was a collaboration. More pop. Upbeat, it didn’t have as much emotional weight in its lyrics, which relieved him.

He also didn’t find anything about his next album that Heimerdinger had talked so much about. That confused him a bit, but he had time to see what to do with it. He no longer had much to do in that place; he had no inspiration, even if he forced himself. With the melody of "My Best Enemy" resonating in his head, Ekko adjusted his cap and put on his sunglasses. The soft breeze of the city caressed his face as he took firm and determined steps toward the street; the streets were full of life, people, and a mosaic of sounds intertwining like an eclectic musical background. The sun shone high, but with his dark glasses, he felt protected, as if the world couldn’t see the emptiness surrounding him after his recent amnesia.

For being so famous, he passed by quite unnoticed.

As he walked, his mind played with the nuances of this new reality he was just beginning to understand. Turning a corner, he stopped at a café. The small terrace was filled with people, some smiling, others deeply focused on their screens. A smile formed on his face when he decided to go inside.

The café had a cozy atmosphere, with the aroma of fresh coffee filling the air. As he approached the counter, his gaze drifted to one of the decorative walls and stopped at a large advertisement featuring his own image.

The image showed him well-dressed; it was an advertisement for digital watches, and he was wearing a blue one, smiling confidently. "Every minute counts" read the advertisement for the digital watch. Despite his current situation, a slight flush of pride washed over him as he recognized himself in that poster. He would have to find out why his life had turned into a puzzle. After buying a black coffee, the barista looked at him with a mix of curiosity and admiration, which made Ekko feel slightly uncomfortable. However, that didn’t matter. He had to learn to adapt to the world around him.

He left the café and, while absorbing the city's energy, let himself be carried away by the rhythm of his own thoughts. A few steps ahead, he suddenly stopped upon hearing the melody of "My Best Enemy" coming from a karaoke on the street. Two girls were singing at the top of their lungs, one with a raspy voice cutting through the murmur of the crowd. Their faces were lit up by the pure excitement of being in a scene that gave them a sense of belonging. Both moved to the rhythm of the music, completely absorbed in the lyrics, as if every word connected them to something deeper. Silently, Ekko stood on the sidewalk, respecting their moment.

I love us, I'll stay

As the voices resonated, his mind began to wander. He moved on, continuing with his day. A nearby alley caught his attention; it was in sight of the street's joy but completely away from the hustle and bustle. He unconsciously approached, each step taking him to something he felt but couldn’t name.

There, in the dark shadow of the alley, he saw a girl with blue hair leaning against the wall, as if she were part of the place. A lit cigarette dangled between her fingers, while her eyes shone unsettlingly under the dim light. Instinctively, Ekko felt his heart sink, as if Jinx’s image appeared before him. The overflowing laughter, the sparkle in her eyes… and then, that ominous look she sometimes showed, conjuring automatic memories. For a moment, she wasn’t that girl; she was Jinx, it was night, they were teenagers, everything was darker.

"Oh look who it is" Jinx mocked, with a raspy, mocking voice, laughing uncontrollably. And with her eyes glowing pink. "The boy savior".

Her voice laden with contempt and mockery, as if she were truly laughing at him. The echo of her words resonated in his mind, trapping him in that feeling of disdain that often followed Jinx when she wasn’t well. In those days, her skin was pale, she was malnourished and almost skeletal; her hair was long and unkempt. She was a nightmare. There was something sinister in the way she moved; Jinx had mocked him in the memory.

"Am I not good enough to save?"she mocked, laughing. It smelled like drugs; it was late. It was dangerous. "C'mon, the boy savior is too good to be here".

"It's late."

She mocked him.

"Benzo says..."

"Benzo can go to hell," she roared, cutting off something. Barely showing any signs that it affected her, with her wide eyes. "You can come too. Get out of here!"

The deal, she shouted.

He didn’t insist; she stayed.

And he left.

Ekko in the present, paralyzed by the flashback, found himself trapped in that moment. Jinx’s distorted laughter seized his thoughts: it was an image that had tormented him through his amnesia. He blinked a few times, as if he could shake off the images. With a start, he realized he had been grappling with that memory, modifying what had once been, but now made him feel lost. The weight of reality became evident when a group of people passed by him, breaking the moment. He returned to the reality of the city, full of lights and shadows, full of fervor and pain. He let out a sigh, leaving behind the figure of the blue-haired girl who looked at him disdainfully, ready to tell him to leave, but he left before he could be kicked out.

He continued on his way, this time more aware of the fragility of his world. Despite the vibrant colors and the contagious rhythm of life around him, his mind remained restless, searching for answers that seemed more elusive than ever. Picking up his pace, he observed the fleeting images of everyday life, ordinary places where he might have left his mark without thinking; now they were simply part of the landscape.

As the afternoon turned to night, lucidity and confusion began to intertwine in an ancient yet enveloping context. And among thoughts, the city lights began to flicker at him, as if they too were trying to remind him of his place on the canvas of the world. A parade of lights and music followed him with every step, while the memories of who they had been intertwined with the unknown.

Before it got too late, he called a taxi and returned home. He found that Jinx and Isha were already there. He thought the blue-haired girl would give him a advice or something, but she simply indicated that dinner was ready. And when Ekko looked into her eyes, they flickered in his mind with that pink that had once cursed him.

When he blinked, they were blue again.

That night, while Isha tried to explain something with her hands, her eyes shining with excitement, Ekko realized he was alone. Adrift. Jinx had retreated to her room, and he couldn’t understand Isha. The same silence that had initially been a relief now felt like a veil of loneliness. And when he went to sleep, the weight of his nightmare overwhelmed him, wishing the darkness would swallow him whole and never let him out again. His mind transported him to a place he knew all too well, a place where the past and present intertwined in painful ways.

Ekko was in a dark alley, the air heavy with the smell of smoke and disillusionment. The neon lights flickered in the distance, creating an unreal atmosphere. There was Jinx, with her messy blue hair and intense gaze, but in this memory, there was something more. Her skin was pale, her eyes wide, and the sparkle that used to be there had faded; it wasn’t blue, just pink.

“Why can’t you understand?” Jinx screamed at him, her voice echoing in the alley like a distant echo. “You always have to save me, you always have to be the hero. But I don’t need a hero.”

Ekko felt his heart sink.

“It’s not about saving you, Powder,” he replied, trying to be a good negotiator. “It’s about you taking care of yourself.”

She laughed, a cold and bitter laugh.

“Take care of me? And what about you? Always so worried about others,” she mocked, “but you never look inward. You’re a fool, Ekko.”

“I’m not a fool!” he protested, feeling frustration bubbling inside him. “I just want to help you.”

“Help me?” Jinx stepped closer, her face inches from his, her eyes filled with rage. “Help me with what? You’re not here for you, just for that idiot Benzo.”

Ekko took a step back, feeling how desperation enveloped him.

“We’re trying to…”

“You’re shit, Ekko. You’re a fucking kid, you’re a fake, all of you.”

Tears began to form in Ekko’s eyes, but he held them back.

“If you could explain to us, maybe we could change…”

“Change?” Jinx laughed again, this time with a heartbreaking laugh. “You can’t change what I am. I’m a loser, and I always will be. And you, you’re just a kid playing savior.”

“I’m not a kid!” Ekko shouted, feeling his voice crack. “I was your friend.”

“Friend?” Jinx crossed her arms, her mocking gaze piercing. “You left me alone! How could you? I’m Jinx!”

“You’re Powder,” the desperation in his voice was palpable. “If you could explain to us, maybe it wouldn’t be your fault…”

“I killed them, boy savior,” she said, her tone scornful. “Let me go.” Her voice became a whisper, but disdain was still present. “I kill them.”

"Go ahead,” Ekko whispered. “Lose yourself; you’re good at that.”

“No, I’m good at having nothing.”

Ekko woke up suddenly, sweat soaking his forehead. The confusion and pain from his dream overwhelmed him, and he sat up in bed, trying to calm his breathing. Jinx’s words echoed in his mind, and the weight of his memories crushed him.

He got up and dressed quickly, feeling that the real world was calling him. As he went down the stairs, the aroma of fresh coffee enveloped him. Entering the kitchen, there was Jinx, with her bright blue hair, frowning as she tried to follow a recipe. Ekko sighed, somewhat relieved, and it was the first time he managed to realize how different she was from what he remembered at sixteen; Jinx now had shoulder-length hair, well-kept and healthy, her skin slightly tanned with muscle, she had cloud tattoos on her left arm that were almost unnoticeable under her clothing. She looked healthy. In his memories, she was more like a corpse with pink eyes than a person.

However, the tangible Jinx was quite well.

Maybe for him.

“Ekko?” she asked, not looking at him. “Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes; it’s in the oven.”

Her voice was different; despite sounding apathetic about the words he had said to her, there was something alive in her. Something soft. Ekko paused, watching how she moved gracefully, as if the nightmare from the night before had never happened, but it hadn’t been a nightmare; it had been a memory.

That corpse was this woman in front of him.

“Yeah, thanks,” he replied, his voice barely a whisper.

Jinx looked at him for the first time, and her eyes were blue, bright, and without a trace of the pain he had seen in his dream.

“Wait there; I’ll go wake up Isha.”

Ekko nodded as he let her slip away again. He liked, in part, that silence, but there was something about it that felt wrong.

And he could only think of what he himself had written about her: "I love us, I'll wait."

Chapter Text

ISHA ISN'T STUPID.

Ekko can't blame her either. It's evident. They've only been talking for a week, if you can even call it that, barely sharing five words. And for a clever girl like Isha, the obvious doesn't even last a day.

Despite everything, his memory doesn’t come back like magic. He doesn't wake up at fifteen to know what future he needs to prevent.

He just continues the same, worse, because now he’s just existing.

And worse.

He has gotten lost in the city like three times. It's a miracle that no one has recognized him. He barely knows how to orient himself after a moment because everything is different. He resigns himself the fourth time, staying home while watching television and understanding his phone and all the technology completely. However, after almost mastering it by not going out, he can't help but observe Jinx.

She is strange. She always has been. But now she is gentle, which is worse. And better.

Only now she studies, besides almost never being home. Ekko has no idea where she goes, but one moment she’s there and the next she’s gone. At first, he thought she was leaving the mansion, but then he found the cars untouched. So, to be honest, he has no idea what she’s doing.

He should feel good about it, but he doesn’t. Not when he feels miserable for having treated her so badly despite all the history he remembers having together.

Isha doesn’t give up on him. Even though he doesn’t understand her, she tries to learn sign language, but it’s confusing. He can’t achieve the agility that Jinx has to communicate, but the girl doesn’t care. And she keeps trying. The most they do that week is sit in silence watching television, all the Monster High movies, while she writes in a notebook what she can so he can understand her.

It’s embarrassing for him to be so useless.

A week later, Jinx leaves early. Ekko hears her tell Isha that she won’t be back for dinner because she has many things to do; they hug and she leaves. Ekko is ready to try to cook something, but after starting to check the fridge, the little girl pulls on his arm, showing him the date. It’s the sixteenth. Ekko doesn’t understand what she means, but she pulls on his arm.

"Okay, okay, where are we going?"

Isha signs, he doesn’t understand. She grabs a notebook and a marker while dragging him out of the house towards the vast backyard of the mansion; it’s enormous. Full of trees, even with a kind of abandoned structure that stands out in the brush, which fills him with curiosity, but they don’t go that way; Isha pulls him along quickly, watching the little girl almost run. She’s fast. And her hand is warm.

In his mind, he remembers the love with which Jinx treats her and understands it; he doesn’t remember her, but he also cares a lot for this girl.

Finally, they arrive at an abandoned house by the lake that seems to mark the limit of the vast property. There, Ekko watches the sea. However, before he can detail the landscape more, Isha pulls him into the little abandoned house that looks more like a tent when detailed; it has candle lights decorating it, as well as many things that seem to be treasures, including drawings, coins, buttons, papers. Everything. There are two dolls, like stuffed animals, of two people he recognizes very well. And just in case there were any doubts, there’s a painting of each one, with some candles in front.

It’s an altar.

Isha drops down sitting in front of the altar while lighting a candle, the one for Silco, and extends the lit stick to Ekko, who is too stunned to react. What the hell? However, he takes it, watching the painting of Vander so detailed that it’s as if he were about to come out of the paper at any moment to smile at him and call him "Little Man."

"It’s mom’s altar," Isha writes, showing him her notebook. It was already written; this was planned. The girl moves to another page. "Today is the anniversary of them not being here; every sixteenth we light a candle."

Isha points to Vander’s candle, almost in a trance, and Ekko lights it. He watches their faces.

"How is this possible?" Ekko asks, looking at Isha. "Do you know who they are?"

Isha nods, showing him a page.

"Mum's parents," she reads, and then she writes something on the same page hurriedly. "They died in an accident; that makes her sad. They were family."

"They were the... best," Ekko whispers. "Especially Vander; he called me Little Man."

"You call me Little Girl," Isha writes, looking at him. "You come with mom whenever we’re here, and if we’re far away, you buy her a blue candle and a pink one. You like making mom feel good."

Ekko holds his head; this is... This is overwhelming.

"I think it was a mistake to come here."

Before he can get up, he sees what Isha shows him. She hasn’t finished writing; she already had it written.

"Why don’t you love me anymore?"

"What? No, I... It’s complicated," Ekko replies, alarmed, looking at her. "It’s just that all this is overwhelming, strange; I don’t remember anything."

"But you don’t talk to me, or to mom," Isha writes. "You ignore us; you’re angry. I’m sorry."

"No, no. You didn’t do anything wrong; it has nothing to do with you."

Isha goes back to the previous page.

"Why don’t you love me anymore?"

Well, Ekko was being a jerk.

He was so focused on his memories that he didn’t realize that Isha wasn’t just a girl; she was his daughter. Not legally, but she was. And he was just ignoring everything, doing nothing important with his life except lamenting, sinking into misery, and filling himself with resentment.

Something breaks inside him.

"I’ve been an idiot; I’m sorry," Ekko admits. "It’s just that... I don’t know anything. My mind is blank."

Isha places a hand on his chest, right where his heart is beating.

"I’m sorry for everything," Ekko apologizes sincerely. "It’s just that I hate not being able to understand you; it’s something I should know, and I don’t. And I don’t know anything about my life, and I..."

Isha writes quickly.

"Still you."

Ekko takes time to respond. Isha writes a question mark.

Something breaks in Ekko as he still can’t pronounce any words.

And Isha cries.

Ekko realizes that it hurts him too much; maybe in his memory, he only knows Isha from less than a month ago, but seeing her cry is like being stabbed with needles all over his body. The little girl trembles with spasms, and he instinctively hugs her, pulling her to his chest while comforting her. She still trembles, crying hard. And a couple of tears slide from his own eyes.

Maybe it’s the first time Isha cries about the whole situation.

And it’s then that Ekko realizes something he hadn’t considered; he lost his memory, but someone else really died. Isha almost lost her father figure, but somehow, a kind of miracle, he’s there in front of her, unharmed except for his memory, acting like a complete idiot.

Oh crap. They should have hit him harder.

"I’m sorry, I’m sorry," he apologizes, hugging her. "I care about you; you’re my family."

Isha pulls away, wiping her tears with the back of her hand while scribbling something but breaks down crying again, tears still falling from her hazel eyes. Ekko extends his finger, wiping a tear while Isha looks directly at him with her big expectant eyes.

"What if you... if you want," he starts, "how about you teach me everything about my life? About who I was; I promise I’ll be better."

Isha writes something in her notebook.

"You promise not to get angry again?"

"No," he assures, smiling a little. "Maybe I’ll get the capuchin monkey you want; I can go to the North Pole to talk to Santa. He’s kinda a friend of mine."

Isha smiles, hugging him. And Ekko doesn’t feel so lost.

"Has this always been here?" he asks, looking at Vander’s image. "It’s far from the mansion."

"You built it for mom."

Ekko nods. Looking at Silco, or rather, the stuffed animal of him. It’s somewhat unsettling, but also warm. He can’t help but take it in his hands with a thoughtful gesture under the attentive gaze of the little girl.

"He adored Jinx," he whispers, remembering the man. "Sometimes, his appearance scared me. He looked like a villain, but he never scared her; he braided her hair; she had it long. He told her bedtime stories."

Isha doesn’t write anything; she just listens.

"Vander was like an uncle to me," he confesses, looking at her. He puts down the Silco stuffed animal, looking at Vander’s. "He was tall. Tough. He would have loved you. He was like Vi; he was gentle, strong, and he was the most badass person I’ve ever known. He had been a professional fighter."

Ekko leaves the stuffed animal exactly where he found it; the atmosphere is nostalgic, reminding him of a melody like a soft flute, something like the beginning of a song that feels magical with just the singer’s voice and a couple of chords giving a sense of longing. Of distant, yet close. Ekko finds himself remembering when he was a child.

"I was a somewhat restless kid," he laughs. "Vander accused me of giving Vi information to get into trouble; we were a gang. We walked on the rooftops. And we saw the entire city from the top of a building that was almost abandoned; once the police almost caught us."

Isha blinks at him, resting her face in her hands, attentive to his story. And that makes him feel good, so he continues more animated.

"One day, Michael Jackson came," he confesses. "It’s the most vivid memory; it was June. There was a parade and the gang. And a crowd of thousands. Vi guided us through the ocean of euphoric people; we climbed over buildings, garbage cans, ourselves. I remember how they cheered and how we had no permission to be there. There were too many people, but we went; it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

In his mind, he remembered the sun that day. The heat. And how at that moment, everything seemed so easy.

"So, when we were close, I almost fell, but...," he swallows hard, "Powder. Jinx. She saved me from falling; she pushed me, giving me her place and I reached out with my hand and looked up, and there was Michael Jackson. Then, he smiled at me. I froze; I could barely breathe when he shook my hand, laughing. With the sun in my eyes, he was gone, but I met him... It was incredible. We got scolded a lot; Benzo punished me, but it was the best day of my life; I didn’t stop talking about it for months; I barely even washed my hand."

Isha sighed, enchanted. And finally, she wrote something in her notebook.

"So, why don’t you like mom?"

"It’s complicated."

"Why?"

"After that, many things happened that made us distant. She was... hard," he explained, avoiding looking at her. He couldn’t tell the little girl that her mother was a murderer. "She did something; we took different paths. And as far as my memory goes, we hadn’t reconnected. But we got along very poorly."

Isha looked at him for a long time. Ekko didn’t know what else to say.

"You know how we...?," he began, looking at her. "How did it happen?"

Isha made a face suggesting that she knew part of the story. Great.

"You became friends," she wrote, thoughtful while frowning. "You became friends, and one day, you realized you were always in love."

"Did you already know me?"

"More or less," Isha explained, with signs that at least Ekko managed to understand. "They don’t talk much about it. But... maybe it was."

Maybe.

Well, that was better than nothing at all.

Ekko nodded.

"Do you like your life?" he asked, looking at the little girl. "With us, am I a good... kind of father?"

"The best. Yes."

"I’m sorry I haven’t been that way these days; I’m really sorry."

Isha made a gesture as if dismissing the importance while placing her small hand on his heart. And Ekko understood what she was referring to.

Still you.

He was still Ekko.

"I really wish I could wake up with all my memories back or know how to start."

Isha watched him, writing carefully until she smiled softly. And Ekko watched what she had written.

"Sometimes taking a leap forward means leaving a few things behind."

Ekko smiled.

"Who says that?"

Isha points to him. And writes that in a song, making him laugh. Maybe he was right. It seemed he was very wise, so they both stayed silent for a moment while Ekko reflected on it.

To be Ekko again, he had to leave his own life behind. And start as if he didn’t remember anything, as if this were the first time he was living this.

Ekko pats Isha on the head, smiling at her sincerely.

"Well, now it’s your turn, little girl," he begins, while her eyes shine at the nickname. "Tell me stories about our life; talk to me."

Chapter Text

AT NIGHT, EKKO CONTEMPLATES NOT BEING AN JERK FOR ONCE SINCE HE WOKE UP.

At night, he watches Jinx arrive late. She is noticeably tired with a book in her hand, her blue bag, and is tense. Now that he thinks about it, he has no idea where she studies, who she was with, or anything. She closes the door behind her, curses softly, and takes a long sigh, even more exhausted. Everything about her inspires tension.

Ekko doesn’t quite know what to do as she heads straight to the kitchen.

“There’s... there’s food in the oven,” he informs, clearing his throat. “And brownies in the fridge.”

Jinx nods, watching him while he sits on the living room sofa with a wide view of the kitchen. There’s a movie playing behind him; Isha is sleeping upstairs. He urged her when he saw she had fallen asleep, so he took a seat without much to do besides watching the movie. Although he’s really just been there for two hours reflecting on everything he learned that day.

“Isha is upstairs,” Ekko adds, seeing that she doesn’t respond. “She had dinner, did her homework, and brushed her teeth.”

“Fine.”

Silence.

He deserved it.

The blue-haired girl rummages in the kitchen until she turns on the oven while washing her hands. Ekko considers all the probabilities of his next moves, ranging from swallowing his pride to continuing to be miserable in that mansion. However, while watching Jinx lost in her moral debates, she sees him. And he tries to smile a little, waving at her, trying to look friendly after having called her the murderer of his parents.

Yes, he’s a total jerk.

Jinx watches him, somewhat confused, just as the oven beeps, so she goes to get her food. Ekko curses under his breath, turning to look at the television while frowning, hiding his face with his hand.

“Aren’t you going to eat here?” Ekko asks as he sees her take her plate while heading for the stairs. “I can leave, it’s fine. It’s not...”

“I have to study,” Jinx replies, uncomfortable. “I have an important exam, it’s okay.”

But this doesn’t feel right.

“But...” Ekko begins, rummaging through his useless brain that seems to have died in the accident. “You don’t have a table.”

“It’s a study room,” Jinx explains. “I usually eat there when I study because it has tables.”

Of course, that makes perfect sense.

Ekko nods. And Jinx begins to climb the stairs.

“Goodnight,” Ekko says, still looking at her. But she doesn’t meet his gaze, although she stops, with her plate in hand and her bag on her shoulder.

He can’t see her expression, just her back.

“Night, Ekko.”

And she leaves.

Well, that was what he wanted. She has left him alone. But Ekko finds himself alone with that stupid television feeling miserable. He still doesn’t love her; in his mind, all those bad memories are still there, but after hearing domestic stories from Isha, maybe he can be a little kind to her. After all, maybe he won’t fall in love with her (he hopes he has finally reacted), but at least being nice means she hasn’t done anything to deserve how he has treated her since he woke up.

She was just kind. And he is a piece of shit.

You and mum become friends.

Well, that was something he could negotiate.

The next day, Jinx leaves before he can stop her, or at least try to, leaving breakfast made for him and Isha to eat. The little girl continues telling him all about her life; according to her, the kitchen was a family space, although in his memory, it was little of that. He sat at the table waiting for Isha to join him. While he contemplatively looked at his plate of pancakes, he remembered what it was like to have breakfast together when he was with Benzo.

After a while, Isha joined him, smiling as she waved at him. He served the plates while she drew something while eating.

“What are you drawing?” Ekko asked, taking a spoonful to his mouth. Isha lifted her notebook and showed him a colorful drawing of a house with a big tree and bright suns.

“Treehouse,” she wrote enthusiastically.

“It’s beautiful,” Ekko told her, genuinely smiling. “Would you like to have a tree like that in our backyard?”

Isha pointed to her drawing and then looked at him with an inquisitive expression.

“Will you do it?” she wrote.

“Of course, we’ll do it together,” Ekko replied, feeling her warmth and sincerity. “We could plant flowers too. Make it pretty. I used to be good at creating things.”

Isha nodded, her face lighting up as her little mind imagined what they could do, even though sign language was still a challenge for Ekko.

After breakfast, Ekko decided to help Isha with her homework. They realized she had to work on a school project about the local flora of the city. Everything was new to him, but Isha’s energy inspired him. They started searching online for information about the plants and trees in the area. Besides, he was still intelligent despite his amnesia; if it weren’t for his mind, he wouldn’t have won that scholarship to get out of where he was.

Although it hadn’t been much help, it seemed he was now a singer.

“Look at this,” Ekko said, pointing to an image of a fruit tree. “We could plant one of these.”

Isha clapped, filled with excitement, as she began to write quickly. Each page they turned filled with images and curiosities, turning the project into an adventure that brought them closer, to the point that Ekko enjoyed letting Isha lead the lesson.

Over the days, that routine repeated. He helped Isha with her homework while learning about her life; she guided him through aspects of her character, her laughter, and even a bit of the previous life that Ekko barely remembered. At least technology now seemed familiar to him while he learned about the world; news, gossip, politics, and everyday things.

One afternoon, they decided to take a walk in the large backyard of the mansion. As they strolled among the trees, Ekko noticed the small abandoned building at the back, now with a different air.

“Isha, do you want to go there?” he asked, pointing to the place.

She nodded, her eyes shining with energy. They both ran toward the building, and once there, Isha began to knock on the old door. The door creaked open, and they both looked inside. The sunlight illuminated the dust in the air, creating a magical atmosphere. So many things were inside: old toys, paintings, and lost objects that somehow awakened Ekko’s past. However, as they moved forward, there was a kind of dome where sunlight came in, guiding them to a fenced courtyard filled with water like an old lake reminiscent of New Orleans, or Princess and the Frog as Isha had shown him days before, with a tree in the middle.

An oak.

“This is incredible,” he murmured, touching the tree with his hand. It was an abandoned paradise. “Why hadn’t we come here? Has it always been here?”

Isha reached his side, excitement shining on her face, shaking her head at his words but too stimulated to answer, showing him a letter she found while smiling and pointing at it. He nodded.

“Sure, let’s see what it says, little girl.” They sat on a small wooden edge surrounding the tree, letting their feet dangle above the water below. The letter was just a request for materials for what Ekko assumed was this place, a kind of greenhouse that had been abandoned.

They both planned a little to remodel that place. Isha drew a treehouse while Ekko observed the area. He could do something with it.

On the other hand, Jinx was a constant yet distant presence. She always arrived late and always seemed to be in her world, carrying an unrelenting pressure on her shoulders. However, Ekko began to notice small moments: when Jinx paused to watch Isha laugh, her face softened, though not enough to break the ice between her and Ekko. Moreover, he found himself every night, when he heard her arriving and would go to Isha, staying in the hallway to hear what story she would tell her that day.

It was quite entertaining, against his will.

One day, he gathered the courage to approach Isha after an afternoon in that greenhouse. While she was drawing in her notebook, and he had a letter of tools starting to fix that beautiful but neglected place. He had already spent a week and a half there.

“Is there any way I can apologize to your mother?” he asked, trying to look relaxed while fixing a handle he had in his hands. “I said... not very nice things.”

Isha looked at her father, her deep hazel eyes seeming to understand the complexity of life. She wrote carefully:

“Be kind. Give flowers.”

Ekko had to laugh.

“Flowers? I don’t think that will fix it,” he replied despondently, but he knew it was a good start. After all, Isha was wise beyond her years, and he had to keep faith in her advice; she was like his encyclopedia of life. “I... want to be nice to her.”

“She’s studying; when she’s done...”

“Didn’t she ask for permission?” Ekko asked, watching her write in her notebook. Playing with his handle. “His kind of husband almost died.”

“She did. But she has to present that exam to only have to present something and the thesis.”

“Do you know...? he started. “Do you know how or why she decided to become a lawyer?”

Isha shook her head, shrugging. And she pointed to what she had written earlier: Be kind. He almost laughed or hit himself; Scar must be laughing at him somewhere in the world.

The next day, he decided to act. When Jinx arrived, Ekko couldn’t help but feel nervous. She walked in, frowning, but stopped when she saw him in the kitchen with dinner made.

“Hey,” he greeted, balancing on his heels. “I made dinner.”

“Hey, yes... You—you did it.”

Jinx stopped, surprised to see the small gesture. Her expression was confused, but Ekko could see the slight tremble in her mouth that indicated she was struggling to maintain a neutral expression.

“You don’t have to do this,” she said while looking at the dinner.

“I live here too, and you’re tired,” Ekko continued. “Isha said this is good, I mean, it turned out well, or tasty.”

The words seemed to flow from his mouth as he scratched the back of his neck. Jinx looked at him intensely for a moment. As the silence stretched, a small smile finally appeared on her face.

“Thank you, Ekko,” she murmured.

“I’ll be in my room,” Ekko replied, almost fleeing. “Good.”

It was a small step, like a light in the darkness.

Days passed as Ekko continued his routine with Isha, even taking walks around the city with her. She explained how to get around, showed him places, costumes, and how to go unnoticed. They also spent time in that greenhouse while he continued to repair it with her help; however, he still couldn’t understand her with her sign language. Jinx also invited him to eat, leaving her spot at the table, although she always moved away to study. Nevertheless, her presence was more relaxed, without the suffocating tension from before.

Though he admitted he loved spending time with Isha.

They spent afternoons exploring the yard, making "treasures" and discovering their own world. Isha told him simple things: she taught him words in sign language and shared how she used to play with her friends at school.

He had also learned that she adored rabbits. Maybe he should get her one.

“Well, so you want a new story. Fine,” Jinx began, sitting on the bed watching Isha. “Go ahead, kid. What do you want?”

Ekko only heard silence as Jinx sighed heavily.

“Mmm, I had one for you. There were two sisters; the older one was named Pink; the bravest girl in the whole kingdom, everyone loved her, and she was kind. Easy to love. And then there was the younger one, Blue; she just wanted to be like her sister, so she did everything to impress her,” Jinx started, without much excitement as on other nights. “They had lost their parents, the kings of another kingdom when they were younger; Blue barely remembered the smell of her mother... Though over time, she forgot.

Oh, Ekko might know this story better.

“When their parents died, the royal guard took them under his wing like a father, along with his beloved, both shining knights. And they went to another kingdom, keeping a low profile to protect them,” she continued. “They loved them, Orange and Red; they were a happy family. All of them. But Blue was a little... hard. You can say she was naive to the ways of the world, but she... I mean, she used to think the best of everyone and everything. And she was cheerful; she was in love with fairy tales, the idea of love; she used to hear it, her parents loved each other. So she inadvertently fell in love too, with Grey.”

Jinx sighed, showing another doll while the atmosphere felt strange, almost melancholic.

“He was not naive like her. He was the coolest boy she ever met. She fell in love with him almost at first sight. The son of the most powerful warrior of that kingdom,” she explained. “He was kind to her; her sister, Pink, became a huge friend of his. Then, there were more in their little group, but Blue was just in love with him. She tried to impress him; for the record, Blue tried to impress everyone. Except Red, he used to said... ‘Don’t be hard. You’re perfect.’ But Blue knew she could do more, so that’s what she did.”

Isha leaned in closer, as did Ekko, watching the silhouette of the lamp. Jinx’s back, imagining in her own mind the words she was telling.

“Anyways, when Blue turned sixteen, she was quite sure she knew the world. She had lived well, with friends and a family that adored her, but she was naive even about her own naivety, so she really didn’t know the world,” she commented in a monotone voice. “And you know what happens to naive people, so one day, a wizard came into her life, directly to her without letting himself be seen by others, like a shadow in the back of her mind; she even thought she had imagined him. He said: ‘I know you’re a princess from a kingdom beyond this that has lost its crown; let me help you get it back and find the love of the guy you loved, little poor princess.’”

By the light of the lamp, Isha shook her head. But the story continued.

“Blue was a naive young girl, a little girl who tried to impress those she loved more than anything in the world. She should have said no, but the wizard deceived her; he had magic, tricks beyond her poor and naive understanding, so he took advantage of that,” Jinx continued. “Before she knew it, she was wrapped up in those deceptions. But she didn’t know; I told you, she was so naive that she didn’t even know what deceptions she was in. But the wizard assured her that she was close to getting her crown back; all she had to do was not tell anyone. No friends. No family. No Grey. No one. If she told anyone about him, she would lose her kingdom forever.”

There was a pause as Ekko observed through the door how Jinx took another doll, one with pink hair.

“Blue might have been naive, but she was good at keeping quiet; she was so... good. She knew how to obey, maybe too much,” she grumbled. “Anyways, Blue was tired. The wizard’s magic left her exhausted, too much; it drained her energy, but she was close to getting her crown. Blue heard every day how her parents longed for their kingdom, even though they were happy here; they wanted that, and Blue wanted to help them. Even Grey noticed her more, despite everything; although it was too much, it was working. She was so close; she even met other princes like her. They were all going to reclaim their thrones. But... Red was a smart man. Probably the most cunning and intelligent man she had ever known, so one day, Red noticed something in her eyes... Blue never knew what, but he knew. She tried to explain to him, but the wizard had been quite clear; no one could know about him.”

Ekko felt something in his lungs, like a breath caught, immersed in this story more than he would like to admit.

“What Blue didn’t know, like the naive girl she was, was that Red told Orange. Both were angry. The wizard had been clear in his words, but he had also been dark with his consequences; if anyone knew, the magic would turn against her. So there was only one way to defeat the wizard and reclaim her crown; she had to deceive him,” she explained. “Red, Orange, and Blue devised a plan against him. Blue was good at obeying. Blue could handle this; besides, if she deceived the wizard, she would finally achieve what she had always wanted in the first place... Impress them. So the day Blue was to meet the wizard alone, she planned for Red and Orange to know where she would be. The plan was infallible, but Blue was a stranger to the ways of the world, even her parents. So when the wizard arrived, unintentionally, the princes she had met came along with him. The plan was simple; she had to trap him with one of his own deceptions, but poor naive Blue, the princes were not like the wizard. She hadn’t counted on that...”

An alarm rang. The three jumped.

“Well, it seems we’ll leave the story for tomorrow; it’s late,” Isha protested, to Jinx’s laughter as she put away the dolls. “Come on, it’s a good story. But it’s almost midnight; tomorrow is Monday. Go to sleep. I love you.”

Ekko pulled away from the wall; he hadn’t even realized he was leaning against it with his head using it as a pillow; he was immersed in Blue’s story. However, in the danger of being discovered, he almost ran to lock himself in his room while getting into bed as if Jinx were going to check if he was asleep too. However, as he fell asleep, he couldn’t help but wonder what would become of naive Blue in that vaguely familiar story.

Chapter Text

THE NEXT DAY, EVERYTHING HAPPENS AS IT HAS BEEN FOR THOSE WEEKS.

At night, he waits in the hallway to finish the story of Blue, but Isha is too tired, so he puts her to bed simply while telling her a quick story. Ekko hides in the bathroom, waiting for Jinx to go to her own room to sleep, but he is surprised when she goes downstairs toward the vast yard of the mansion. He knows where she’s going. But it’s too late for her to go alone.

Ekko grabs his cellphone, a lighter, and a stick that Isha taught him to light the candles, a bit of brownie in a plastic container, and decides not to be an idiot.

The path is even stranger at night. It’s dark. The moon looms like a silent witness. He barely notices that there are no lights except for fireflies. Although there are also lights on the ground, he deduces that he must have built this path for nights like these when he would go to the altar to be with his parents. It’s a small detail, but it’s something he did.

When he arrives, Jinx is sitting with her knees to her chest, lighting Vander’s candle in silence, unaware of him, too absorbed in the moment. She looks somewhat weak, tired as she has been, but somehow with a greater weight on her shoulders. She looks miserable; she has been since he said the most hurtful thing he could have said, but it’s the first time he allows himself to admit it and take full responsibility, feeling guilty for having done it. Ekko evaluates what he should do, besides being gentle.

He sighs; he just needs to be himself.

Ekko lights the stick, crouches down, and lights Silco’s candle before Jinx, who jumps a little at the sight of him. Ekko sits beside her, maintaining a courteous distance. As the candle in front of Silco finally lights up, along with the others around it.

Jinx sniffles a bit; it seems she was about to cry, but seeing him makes her hold it back. Ekko extinguishes the stick by waving it in the air while watching her.

It feels strange. Not familiar, but not bad either. So, Ekko continues, not listening to his mind, just to something else that acts for him.

“I’m sorry,” he admits, looking at her. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

“It’s okay, you… you don’t remember.”

“But I shouldn’t have done it,” Ekko insists. “You’ve been so kind to me while I’ve been so angry with everything, with everyone, but I shouldn’t have crossed that line. I really am sorry.”

Jinx nods, both sharing a moment of silence while observing the paintings of both men. It seems she wants to talk; she has always been more talkative than him, but he can’t blame her for not wanting to do so and ruin everything.

“Did you paint it?” he starts, testing the waters.

“No, you did,” Jinx admits, looking at him. “I just decorated, but I made the… uh, dolls.”

“They’re cute.”

“Thanks.”

They both return to silence.

What should they talk about in a situation like this?

“Is there something…? Is there something you’d like to tell me about the life we had?” he asks. Jinx’s look surprises him, but then she sighs with a melancholic smile. “Isha told me some things; they were nice. Maybe you… if you wanna.”

“I’d like to tell you everything; it’s full of memories.”

“Happy memories?” Ekko inquires, interested.

“Some,” Jinx admits. “Much later after… after things happened.”

Silence fills the space as she plays with her hands.

“Why don’t you tell me the whole story?” Ekko asks, somewhat anxious. “You know, how we became friends and then this. That would be easier. I’d understand everything.”

“Yeah, that would be much easier,” she laughs, but doesn’t seem happy at the idea. “The Doctor told me I can’t, not yet. Too much information could cause you lessons; maybe your memory wouldn’t come back.”

“I can handle it.”

“Sure you can, the boy savior.”

She laughs, but stops soon. She seems tense and frustrated. He feels the same.

“What happened?” he asks honestly. “I mean, it’s a lot of time from my life. It’s just… blank. And no one wants to tell me.”

“Believe me, it’s a lot. And I remember it.”

Ekko exhales.

“I’ve been a real idiot; I’m sorry,” he insists. “Look, I… I don’t love you like my old me did, but I don’t want to keep hating you. Isha needs us; we are her parents in a way. Maybe… maybe we can start over, as friends.”

Sometimes taking a leap forward means leaving a few things behind.

“Deal. Friends,” she smiles, although he knows it must hurt her that he just told her he doesn’t love her. “Just one thing… could you cook every day? I really can’t anymore; I hate it, please.”

Ekko can’t help it and bursts out laughing, contagious to her. The tense atmosphere lightens a bit. Her laughter is soft but somewhat loud in sound; it’s strange. It’s like her. Her laughter is literally Jinx.

“Deal, it shows.”

“Excuse me? It turned out very delicious!”

“Yes, but Isha told me the truth,” she laughs. “Some were delivery. Still, it’s okay; I liked cooking.”

“Betrayals only come from those you love the most, for real,” he laments, laughing a bit. “Even the food came on time; I was good. But please, cook.”

“I will, I promise,” she laughs, looking at him. “Maybe… I cook, and you teach me sign language. I don’t know how to start, but I want to understand Isha. I really do.”

Jinx smiled.

Her eyes softened; the blue in them was strong. Maybe like the ocean in its depths, or the blue of the sky in a storm. He wasn’t sure, but it shone. A shine he was sure he hadn’t seen in years, besides a smile full of enthusiasm.

“Deal.”

Also, Ekko wanted to ask her about the story he had told Isha the night before; about Blue, the wizard, and how naive the girl was. But he stopped; he couldn’t expose himself like that. Besides, it was just a fable; he could ask little Isha later without embarrassing himself too much.

So, they both remain silent for a while with the candles illuminating the place until Jinx suggests they should leave. Ekko doesn’t object and follows her in silence. Maybe he could try to converse more with her, but it had already been more than enough of what he could offer at that moment.

The next morning, Ekko woke up with a new determination, as if he had finally taken a hot bath. He decided to prepare breakfast, trying to create a friendly atmosphere. When Isha and Jinx arrived, the TV was playing in the background with a “Good Morning, America.” Seeing him, something in Jinx’s eyes changed; despite her disheveled appearance, there was a light in her eyes that Ekko hadn’t seen in a long time.

“What’s for breakfast?” she asks, taking a seat next to Isha.

“Scrambled eggs, toast, and a bit of fruit. I hope you like it.”

Both Ekko and Jinx exchanged a few words, barely a few, but there was something kind, almost gentle, in their interactions that made Isha smile. The morning continued normally as the little girl left for school. Jinx didn’t have to go to university today, so they were left alone.

“Do you want…?” Jinx begins, looking nervous. He rarely sees her like this. “I mean, if you change your mind. It’s okay.”

“Yes, I want to,” Ekko interrupts her. “Please.”

“Alright, let’s start with the basics,” she begins with her selfless optimism. “This is the sign for ‘hello.’”

Jinx raises her hand and moves her fingers in a friendly gesture. She does it so naturally, with such delicacy and skill, that Ekko furrows his brow trying to imitate her, but his gesture is rougher.

“Like this?”

“Almost, but you need to move your fingers a bit more. Try again.”

She shows him the sign slowly, and Ekko focuses on her movements; her nails are indigo blue, maybe she has that skill when moving her hands from the years she spent painting or sewing. It’s somewhat enviable.

“Okay, like this…”

“That’s it! Very good!” she nods, seeing his gesture. “Now, let’s try ‘thank you.’ It’s a simple gesture.”

Jinx places one hand on her chin and moves it forward.

“Like this?”

“Not bad, but try to keep your hand closer to your face at first.”

Jinx gently corrects his position, stretching her hand to touch him but hesitating halfway. Ekko isn’t sure if he wants her to touch him, but he knows that her reaction gives him some guilt.

“Is this better?”

“Not pretty bad. Very good, Ekko.”

“And what about ‘sorry’?”

“It’s a bit more complicated. It’s done like this…”

The gesture is somewhat hypnotizing, placing one hand on her chest and moving it forward. He tries to copy it, but his movement is a bit clumsy, a bit faster and less patient. He insists that it doesn’t make sense how elegant and delicate Jinx’s gestures seem.

“That looked horrible.”

“Almost, but you need to do it slower,” she assures, repeating it. “Try again.”

“Like this?”

“Be more… gentle,” Jinx suggests. “You’re talking to Isha; your movements, how you do them, would be your tone of voice. If you do it fast and roughly, it will be like being angry.”

“Gotcha.”

After repeating it several times, Ekko gives his best attempt until he gets as close as possible. He needs to practice a lot. But time slips away quickly, like grains of sand in the palm of his hand as he practices, learns, and repeats each gesture Jinx teaches him. He does it with the patience and determination he uses to tell stories to Isha at night.

Blue was a naive young girl. You can say she was naive to the ways of the world, but she… I mean, she used to think the best of everyone and everything.

Ekko still doesn’t know how that story ends. Nor why he’s so interested in it, but something in the way the blue-haired girl told the story felt different from the others he had heard; there was something more mystical about it. And he could almost hear a mournful chant in the back of her words indicating that Blue didn’t end very well.

“Now, let’s try some simple phrases,” Jinx continued, pulling him a bit out of his thoughts. “Let’s go with ‘How are you?’”

“Is it difficult?”

“No, it’s pretty much easier than ‘sorry.’ First, you make the sign for ‘how.’”

Her hands spin in circles. He imitates her, but his gesture is a bit crooked, and Jinx corrects him patiently.

“Almost, but make sure your hands are more open. Good! Now, ‘are’ is like this…”

“That was easier.”

“Now you have to add ‘you.’”

Ekko exhales. Jinx laughs. And for the rest of the afternoon, which is about forty minutes before Isha arrives, starving while telling them about her day, with Jinx patiently translating, Ekko feels good, although something inside him still burns with hatred toward Jinx, no matter how much he wants to deny it.

Chapter Text

"OH GREAT," VI SNORTS AS THE DOOR OPENS. "THIS IS THE FIRST THING I SEE WHEN I ARRIVE AT THIS HOUSE, WHAT AN AWFUL VIEW."

"Really?" the annoyed Jinx replies. "I didn't know we had put a mirror at the entrance, my bad."

Caitlyn laughs loudly. Vi accepts her defeat.

"Funny ya."

"And I didn't even charge you for breaking it when you saw it," Jinx mocks. "You owe me like fifty dollars."

Vi snorts even louder. Indignant, however, she hugs Jinx.

Ekko watches, somewhat puzzled; it’s like a dream.

Although he has learned that this life is like a dream constantly intertwined with a nightmare. But the last thing he remembers is that if there was one person who truly hated Jinx, it was Vi. They hated each other. For a moment, their faces transform into what he remembers of them arguing, hatred dripping from their eyes like flames. Even Vi's pink hair turns black while Jinx's eyes turn pink with the malice he recalls.

When he blinks, they are laughing. Although Jinx is a bit tense, Ekko has discovered that when she is alone with Isha or with him, she is completely relaxed. If not, even when she is happy, there is something in her shoulders. A rigidity. Ekko doesn't know why he notices it.

"Hey, little man," Vi greets him, smiling. "How are you?"

Without memory.

"Fine, I guess."

"Well, I bet you are," she insists. "Where's that little kid?"

Isha hugs her before blinking while Vi laughs, picking her up. In her eyes, she finishes observing Caitlyn greeting Jinx while wrapping him in a hug. This confuses him a bit, besides the fact that they don't seem very close, but he remembers that Caitlyn had never met Powder; she understood him, so he doesn't know how to take it. He remembers how she smelled. And she still smells the same; fresh. Maybe some time has passed, but something in her always smells new, like money.

"Ekko! It's good to see you," she assures. "I'm sorry I didn't come earlier; we wanted to give you some space to breathe. You look good."

"Thanks, Cait."

She smiles at him.

Ekko is about to speak but is interrupted by Vi's laughter as she carries Isha along with Jinx. The three seem to have entered a unique world for them while Jinx and Vi joke a bit with Isha. Also, Ekko tries to ignore the fact that obviously, Vi also knows sign language. For sure. He is the only idiot still trying to remember how to say 'Hello.'

"Isha is like a break for us," adds Caitlyn at his side, her British accent shining. "What do you think of her?"

"She's an amazing little girl."

"She is."

Caitlyn watches Jinx. And she wants to ask the same question, but she stops.

"Does she have you in the palm of her hand?" she asks, looking at him softly. "She's like the man of the house."

"Ha, funny," Ekko laughs. "We're a team."

"Has she asked you for a kangaroo yet?"

"What?" Ekko asks. "I thought it was a monkey; I even thought about a rabbit."

Cait bursts into laughter while patting his back.

"In the palm of her hand."

The afternoon continued its course leisurely, illuminating the room with soft beams of light entering through the windows. Ekko settled on the sofa, watching how Vi, Jinx, and Isha moved with the vibrant energy of youth and joy. Although the atmosphere was warm, there was something in the air that he felt, a subtle distance separating him from the family bustle around him.

"And how's everything with being a singer?" Caitlyn asked while arranging some cushions on the sofa, making them more comfortable for everyone. Her British accent had a sweet charm that made the words even cozier. "You know... Have you seen your face in an advertisement?"

"Oh god, if I see your face again on that daam watch," Vi grumbled, momentarily focused on Isha while Jinx had stepped away; he doesn't know why and he doesn't ask about it. "Enough."

"Nothing too exciting, and I look pretty good in it, Vi," Ekko replied, shrugging as he played with the straps of a sofa made of luxurious fabric. "I went to the studio, I've been out with Isha, but no one recognized us; it's been normal."

"Wait until they recognize you," Caitlyn insists. "People love you. And if you can, take advantage and give us a bit of your new album."

"I can't."

"Boo, little man," Vi interjects. "Same old shit."

"Don't say that in front of Isha."

"Sorry, cupcake," Vi glances at the little girl, something tells Ekko that she isn't very sorry. "Don't repeat that."

Jinx entered through the kitchen door, bringing with her a bowl of chocolate chip cookies. The cookies crunched in the mouth, and the smell was irresistible.

"Look what I found!" she announced excitedly, as if she had discovered a treasure, while she began to distribute them. "You’re lucky; Isha begged for cookies yesterday."

"Thanks for the cookie, Jinx," Vi replied, stretching her hand to catch one before Isha could put it in her mouth. The little girl clapped in amusement. "Stay there, kid. I have to make sure it's not poisoned."

"Vi!"

Isha complained alongside Caitlyn when Vi stole it, but she couldn't help but follow the joke as they distributed more cookies. Ekko observed that Vi seemed to adore the little girl; she was a good aunt. While everyone laughed and enjoyed the atmosphere, Ekko, despite his attempts to participate, felt like there was an invisible thread tying him to sadness, even though he intervened several times.

However, Vi watched Jinx apart. Almost like a ghost barely laughing, she was probably the least bright in the room, but a single look with her girlfriend confirmed it. Vi approached Jinx, her sparkling eyes revealing a plan in motion.

"Hey, Jinx," she started, as if the matter were trivial. "Do you want to help me look for something?"

Jinx looked at her with curiosity.

"Something specific?"

"Yes, something that might be in the car," Vi said. "C'mon, help your big sis. It's just a moment."

Somewhat reluctant, maybe because Jinx wasn't naive, she reluctantly agreed, following her sister out the front door, leaving Ekko and Caitlyn alone with Isha. So when they were far enough from anything, Jinx put her hands on her hips, looking at her seriously.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Let's go see them."

Without protest, they both walk over there. Upon arriving, Vi observes the altar while Jinx keeps her distance for a few minutes while the elder kneels. Jinx wants to see, but something in her always holds back, looking at the ground or the ocean; now the ocean seems much more interesting than it ever did.

"Cait wants to have kids."

Jinx looks at her, Vi stands up, watching the ocean alongside her. She almost chokes on her saliva from the news.

"That's great," she responds, smiling a bit. "Congrats."

"I don't think it's a good idea."

Jinx furrows her brow.

"Why?"

"Because I wasn't a good sister; maybe now I’m trying, besides being a good aunt," she admits, finally looking at her. And in her eyes, guilt flashes. "But I can't be a mother, not when I was a bad sister to you."

"That's the past."

"Jinx..." Vi insists. "I was also a bad sister to you. We’ve gotten over it."

"Past."

Vi looks at her.

"How are you?"

"How do you think?" she replies sarcastically. "He just... hates me, even if he pretends. It's there."

"He doesn't hate you."

"Trust me, he does," she assures, looking at the ocean. "I can't blame him."

"Jinx, he doesn't," Vi insists. "Maybe he doesn't remember a damn thing, and he deserves a punch, but he loves you. He doesn't love the memories he has of you. He loves you."

Jinx looks at the ocean.

Murdered.

"I thought that..." she started, sounding uncertain, even doubting her own tone of voice. "When you and Caitlyn, you know, started, that you wouldn't love me anymore. And then I couldn't understand how you could love her so much and me still; what a karma, right?"

"I love you, Jinx," Vi assured. "You're my sister."

"I know."

"And he does," Vi assured. "But tell me, really, how are you doing?"

Jinx wants to be honest with her; she really wants to break down and cry. Maybe even curse life, break something. She wants to react. She wants to feel. But the more she turns to look at her sister, her fucking sis, the actions don't reach her body; they get lost between her brain and her body. It's a cruel joke how she can joke with her sister all she wants, even laugh, stand in front of their parents' altar, and still not be able to be sincere about her emotions.

She is really messed up.

That makes her miss Ekko even more; she knew he was the only person who would make her cry. He would make her feel. The only one who turns off her brain, makes her body react, and her heart pump, making her a normal person. But he is the only person she has lost.

So against her will, as if she were enchanted, she sighs, smiling without showing her teeth. Although she just wants to cry.

"Fine; he loves Isha, I mean, who doesn't," she responds, as if talking about Isha would save her. She makes her feel too. "He even asked me to teach him sign language; he's cooking; he's trying."

Vi hesitates. Jinx knew, but she lets it pass.

Something in Jinx appreciates it. Another part hates it; Ekko would push her to the max; he knew when to push to make her feel; he doesn't see her fragile.

"She is the cutest thing in this house."

"Ouch," Jinx mentions. "Ironic that Caitlyn is here; I'll tell her."

"Jinx!"

"Your words, not mine."

"Delusional."

"Me? Come on, don't make me start."

"See what I mean?" Vi repeats. "Delusional."

Vi gives her a little shove; Jinx laughs softly, looking at her. There is something playful, sincere, and even pure in the moment that mixes with the shining sun and salty air. She wants to hug her, collapse in her arms, but that invisible wall will always hold her back.

"We should go back."

"Yes," Vi nods, giving her one last look. "Just... You're not alone, Jinx. Really. You can count on me, really."

Jinx knows she can, so she just nods.

Both sisters leave the place feeling somewhat lighter, but Jinx turns around for a moment. Sometimes she feels like an invisible shackle binds her to the altar. And she deserves it.

The rest of the afternoon is dreamy.

Caitlyn and Vi stay with them in the guest room across the second hallway. They also help with dinner; even everyone plays a card game. Isha is good, but Caitlyn wins. Ekko fits in quite well with the whole vibe, but there is something distant in Jinx since she returned with Vi, almost thoughtful. However, she laughs, plays, and even washes the dishes, although he insists on helping.

Maybe he needs a moment.

Later that night, quite late, Caitlyn is with Vi in her room. They have already said goodbye to them; she even thinks she can hear Vi snoring. They took a long flight. Ekko stays downstairs organizing some things until he goes up to find Jinx in the religious hour of telling a story to Isha; he can't help it, but he stays in the hallway.

"Okay, I was thinking of a new story," Jinx starts. "What do you think about using that doll of the Scarlet Witch?"

Isha shakes her head, complaining. Ekko watches their shadows as usual, focused on Jinx's back.

"But it's been a week," Jinx insists. "I don't know. Blue isn't even that interesting."

Again, Isha complains. And hands her the doll.

Yes, Ekko confirms that Isha deserves a birthday rabbit. Or a monkey. A kangaroo is a bit excessive as a first pet.

"Fine, but you know it won't end well," Jinx huffs, taking the doll in her hands. Ekko sees her caressing its hair; she seems to regret starting this story in the first place. "Do you remember where I left off?"

Blue was a naive young girl.

Isha quickly explains with her hands, to which Jinx nods, takes a deep breath, and continues, immersing the three in the story of the naive Blue once again.

"Blue had to deceive the wizard. She told Red and Orange; the three had devised a plan, Blue thought, as naive as she was, that if Red had designed it, it was infallible. Red was a smart man. So, she trusted them. But the princes that Blue had met were not part of the plan," she explained. "And it ain't because I'm kind, but they were just kids. So without being able to warn the princes, Blue began the plan. She thought they wouldn't affect anything, but she was wrong. Poor Blue girl, isn't she? Nothing was going as she wanted. Blue was good at obeying, but she had a worse flaw than being so naive; Blue tried to impress everyone she loved. So imagine, Blue thought that if she deceived the wizard and saved the princes, Red and Orange would finally see what she was worth. And Pink... Well, Pink would be proud to have her as a sister."

Jinx sighed, taking a new doll.

"But the wizard was a wizard for a reason, not just for his magic but for his cunning. He was not a stranger to the ways of the world; he was the world. He used his deceptions on Blue, but she thought she knew them all, just not in that way. So when Blue thought she had him in the palm of her hand, she was really the one in the palm of his hand," she narrated, almost swallowing thickly. "The wizard spoke of the magic he used on Blue in ways she couldn't understand; even though everyone wanted their kingdom, he had to act with one at a time, one by one. So when he went to Blue, who was first, she pretended she needed to go to the bathroom. It was hard to convince him, even harder for him to believe her. But she managed. And she found a way for Red and Orange to enter the wizard's cave; they were clear with her; she had to leave because they would take care of it. Oh poor Blue, that broke her heart. What Blue wanted most was to impress them."

Isha shook her head, as if sensing it. Jinx didn't stop narrating the story.

"Blue left, at least she tried, but she stopped; how was she going to impress them if she fled like a damsel in distress? What would her sister think of her?" she laughed, as the atmosphere darkened a bit. "Blue was an obedient girl. But she was more of a naive girl. So instead of leaving, she returned to the cave. What had happened before she returned was beyond her knowledge, but she knew the cave; she had been there countless times to be deceived by the wizard. Blue heard rumblings. Blue heard the sound of a fight on the second floor, so she climbed up there. The princes were there, as scared as she was; Blue might have been a naive girl, but she wasn't... mean. She assured them they would be fine; Blue told them to hide in a part of the cave she knew well. One where if the wizard fled, he would never find them. They trusted her. Blue guided them to where they would be safe. And left them there, safe."

Jinx paused.

Ekko held his breath. Jinx seemed to have a moment of introspection, as if she remembered something; he couldn't see her face, but her tone was heavy, like a pessimistic song.

"Sorry. Anyway, when Blue returned thinking how clever and smart she was, the wizard caught her; Blue was weak, in mind and body, but she fought with all her strength. She kicked, scratched, screamed, but she was weak. Oh, Blue was a lamentable protagonist. So the wizard; powerful and strong, dragged her through the cave. She kicked some torches, tried to flee. But the wizard was the wizard; it was his home," she narrated. "He took her to a strange place she had never been, but she could see the moon; the moon shone the color of Grey's hair. She remembered it before giving up while the wizard used his magic on her; Blue remembered how she always played with Grey and a trick to win when they played knights when they were younger. So Blue used it, and finally, deceived the wizard, but she couldn't escape through the way she had come. And if she saw the moon, she could fit through there; she was quite agile. So like a snake, Blue used the cave's passages guided by the moon to get out of there. If she could reach Grey, she would be fine."

Something really darkened in the room.

"Now, if you have been paying attention, you will notice the lack of mention of Red and Orange," Jinx recalled. "Well, it's not because I forgot about them; it's just that Blue didn't know where they were; she knew the plan, but the details escaped her poor, silly brain. Orange was the strongest knight; he should have defeated the wizard, but I told you, the wizard was a wizard not for his magic but for his cunning. So really, Blue never knew what happened, but the wizard had deceived them. Blue was a naive, stupid, predictable young girl. He must have seen it coming; he knew the entire plan. Blue had been deceived once again. But that wasn't the worst part; upon leaving the cave, she hit her head, and she was weak. She felt dizzy. Everything was spinning. Everything was dark. There was no moon to guide her. No Grey. Just her. All alone in the middle of nowhere she knew. Blue thought she knew the world; she had lived in that kingdom almost her whole life and had traveled it like the veins of her own body... But there are parts of us that we don't even reach to know ourselves."

Ekko took a deep breath; his chest felt heavy as he listened to Jinx's words flow like a dark river through the hallway. Blue was a lost girl in the darkness, just like him. That feeling of being a stranger in his own world, of being unable to return home, spun around in his head.

"Blue walked blindly through what she thought she saw, fell several times, and whined the little way she managed. The trees were tall, the moon nonexistent. Everything was dark, so for a long, long time, she just sat and cried, waiting for Red and Orange to come for her; 'They're coming,' she repeated to herself, 'They’re knights. Red was a smart man. Orange was the badass one. They're comin'.' She waited a long time, but the darkness consumed her more and more," Jinx explained. "When time passed, Blue finally did something for her own good for god's sake. And she walked in the dark; she used to be terrified of the darkness, but there she was. Trying to get home. After a while, even longer, the sun seemed to begin to rise, but what guided Blue was her sense of smell, something... strange. By the time Blue emerged from the darkness, she discovered where her sense of smell had led her; the wizard's cave consumed by flames, now dark as coal. No traces of Orange, Red, or the princes. Blue ran home; they must be looking for her. However, on the way, Blue forgot what the wizard had told her; he had been clear about what he wanted from her, but darker about its consequences. And she forgot. Oh, poor naive girl. The magic had turned against her; now Blue had to pay the consequences not only for being a clever girl but for being a disobedient one. And we all know what happens to people like that..."

The story continued, and the deeper Jinx delved into Blue's struggle, the easier it became for Ekko to lose himself in his thoughts. His heart squeezed as he listened to how desperation and loneliness enveloped Blue.

"When... When Blue got home. Pink hated her. Now, Pink was a badass girl, but she had always been sweet, gentle, and loving toward Blue. Pink was a good big sis, but Pink was a daughter too; and there's a line between sisters and parents," Jinx assured. "Blue didn't understand it, but Pink shouted, insulted her, and asked for help. Blue really didn't understand it, not until... Well, quite shocking, but Grey hates her too. I mean, what? Grey hates her? Grey was the kindest person towards her! Blue didn't understand anything, especially why they called her a monster. And then, she knew... When Blue tried to get closer, she saw her reflection in a mirror. The wizard's words finally reached her mind; the magic had turned against her, now Blue was a monster. So awful. So repulsive. She fled before those who once loved her could lock her away for not recognizing her. Blue couldn't recognize herself either. She was so... ugly. And Blue learned that Red, Orange, the Wizard, and the Princes had appeared dead, and people blamed the monster. It was her. It was her fault."

The idea that someone familiar, someone who had loved, could turn into a monster haunted him. But more so, the dark tone of Jinx as she narrated the story.

"Blue tried to explain what had happened, but she could no longer speak, only emit ugly growls. She was a monster, and people hunt, hate, and kill monsters. So she fled. And her sister... Well, her sister was left alone. That's what happens to foolish people sometimes, especially the naive; what they cause affects others more than themselves pay the price," she laughed, but there was no life in her laughter. "Now, Blue learned the lesson. In the end, Blue was a runaway from everywhere she'd ever been. She couldn't stay in any place too long, but now she was no stranger to the ways of the world anymore. No stranger to the wind, less so to the moon. Her only companion. Anyway, Blue was cursed. Whenever this monster went, the dark was close behind. In the kingdom she arrived at, the land became barren, the plague ravaged the people, and the weather seemed to remind her of what she truly was. So in the end, Blue confined herself to the most remote, dark, and desolate forest she could find, where she remained forever unable to amend her mistake. And one day, she could rest about what she truly was: a child."

"Ekko? What are you doing awake?"

At that moment, Caitlyn appeared in the hallway and surprised him. She noticed something in his expression, a mix of confusion and sadness, but in her gaze, there was a spark of concern.

"Is everything okay, Ekko?" she asked softly, but he smiled, the expression false on his face.

"Yeah, just... looking for a glass of water," he mumbled, trying to convince himself and her that everything was fine. He moved away from Isha's door like a spring. However, Caitlyn wasn't stupid. She had seen the shine in his eyes, the way his gaze got lost in the void.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," she said, but something in her tone made it clear that she knew.

"No, I'm fine, really," Ekko insisted. "Goodnight, Cait."

Chapter Text

JINX WATCHES EKKO.

She watches him as he drinks his tea. She notices the way his hand muscles flex when he brings the glass of fresh lemonade to his lips, the same glass he always chooses when he comes. She watches his mouth as it opens slightly, allowing the liquid to flow over his tongue. And how he pushes the ice aside. She hates biting the ice; she does it sometimes to irritate him, and he usually tickles her to make her stop.

She observes the movement of his throat as he swallows. She sees his eyes close for a fraction of a second as he enjoys his drink. Jinx watches Ekko look at Isha, beside him. When he’s not drinking his lemonade, he clasps his hands on the table in front of him. His back is relaxed, warm. She watches him laugh softly as he corrects something Isha is writing; she is doing something Jinx can’t see. He seems unsure of what he just said but rummages in his brain to help her, but Jinx knows he isn’t sure because the corner of his lip twitches very slightly.

Jinx knows this because she is always watching him. She always has, and she fears she always will.

Also because she loves him.

Jinx watches Ekko turn his head. He is looking at her. He barely attempts a smile as she smiles back, but he looks away, focused on what Isha is explaining in her notebook. Jinx watches him for a few more seconds before focusing on her studies. He needs to pass this to finally finish his degree, but she doesn’t feel any passion for it, not when it hurts inside her.

Jinx loves Ekko’s eyes; they are as dark as chocolate. And they are soft. Even rigid. It’s almost embarrassing to admit how much she loves his eyes. She loves them when they look at her with love, but she also loves them when they look at her with whatever it is that Ekko feels now.

“Mum!” Isha calls her, catching her gaze while gesturing. “I’m done; can I go to the beach?”

“I need to change and…”

“Dad is coming with me,” she points, pulling on her arm. “And Aunt Vi and Cait.”

Jinx nods.

“Great. Use sunscreen,” she orders, now looking at Ekko, who hasn’t looked at her, focused on Isha’s hands. He is still learning. “Ekko, make sure you use sunscreen. And don’t go into the deep part; it’s wave season. Right?”

“Okay, got it.”

Isha runs off to find something while Ekko pauses to review what’s missing. With Vi and Caitlyn visiting, they decided to go to the beach house they have on the coast. According to Vi, that place is full of good memories, so it would be good for Ekko. Still, both would only spend one night there since they had to return to their normal lives soon.

“Are you going?” Ekko asks, looking at her. Jinx can’t help but feel her heart finally start to pump. “You should take a break.”

“I’ll go in half an hour.”

“Sure?”

“Excited to see me in a swimsuit?”

Jinx curses as soon as the words escape her mouth, watching the red creep onto Ekko’s cheeks. He looks cute. But she couldn’t help saying it, not even thinking.

“Oh shit!” she apologizes. “I’m sorry.”

“Ye-yeah, no problem.”

“Sorry, I wasn’t…”

“It’s okay,” Ekko reassures her. “And for the record, that was playing dirty.”

“Oops,” Jinx apologizes, seeing how far she can go. “But I look pretty good in one.”

“Modest.”

“I’m proud of it,” Jinx laughs. “Not to raise expectations, but it’s even a particularly nice bikini; even your memory might come rushing back.”

Jinx thinks she might have messed it up, but Ekko laughs. His laugh is soft, as if he hadn’t thought about it either.

Hearing him laugh is like giving her oxygen.

“You’re giving yourself too much credit.”

“Trust me,” she smiles. “Or you’ll ruin my self-esteem for a long time.”

Ekko smiles at her.

It seems they are going to talk more; Jinx is excited, but Isha arrives like a whirlwind, dragging him straight to the beach without being able to protest. It disappoints her a little, but at least she did something. He joked with her. That ignites all the spark she needed as she continues studying.

It’s as if her brain can finally learn information, so she understands what she needs in less time than necessary. And upon arriving at the beach, she is in shorts, with her towel and a basket of food while watching everyone in the ocean. She is good at this mothering thing, taking care of things and all that, but Ekko was better. No doubt.

The sun was shining brightly as Jinx walked on the sand, feeling the warmth on her bare feet. She could already hear the laughter and bustle coming from the shore. Vi spotted her first, raising her voice above the sound of the waves.

“Jinx! Finally, you deign to show up! Were you memorizing the constitution or what?”

Jinx rolled her eyes affectionately.

“Shut up, Vi. I was studying. Someone has to keep the brain functioning in this family.”

Vi let out a laugh and playfully nudged her shoulder.

“Yeah, right. And I’m the queen of England. Come on, let me introduce you to the ocean. It’s free and doesn’t require a college degree!”

Caitlyn, with her characteristic elegance, approached with a smile.

“Vi,” she scolded, watching her girlfriend who was laughing while taking her by the waist. “I’m glad you could join; Isha was explaining the whole routine to Ekko with us.”

“She’s a whirlwind,” Jinx replied, smiling as she watched her daughter splashing in the water with Ekko. “I needed a break anyway; what did she say?”

“Cheesy stuff.”

Jinx rolled her eyes as she approached the shore, noticing that Ekko and Isha were building a sandcastle, with Isha laughing heartily while Ekko patiently explained how to reinforce the towers. Ekko was kneeling in the sand, his hair loose in its usual white braids but blowing a little in the wind, and the sun shining on his skin. It was an image that filled her with an inexplicable warmth, a sweet and bitter longing that tormented her constantly.

As soon as Ekko saw her, something inside her melted.

“Jinx! Look, Isha is making an incredible castle,” he explained, looking at Isha who was making quick gestures until she hit him in the chest and pointed to her mother. Ekko understood. “Do you want to help us?”

“Of course,” she replied, trying to hide the tremor in her voice. She sat on the sand next to them and began to help with the construction, feeling the cold sand between her fingers.

The afternoon passed in laughter, games in the water, and salty sea breeze. After finishing the castle, Isha dragged them into the ocean where Jinx took off her shorts so that Ekko would finally see the blue swimsuit she had. His eyes watched her, perhaps longer than necessary. And that inflated her ego. But nonetheless, neither of them said anything.

After a while, Ekko came out of the ocean, leaving them alone. Isha, exhausted from all the activity, ended up curled up in Vi’s arms, who was telling her stories about being a plane pilot. Jinx watched them alongside Caitlyn, feeling strangely distant. She loved her family, loved the warmth and happiness they shared, but the shadow of Ekko’s amnesia always loomed over them, like an invisible barrier separating them.

If he were himself, he would be with his arms wrapped around her, he would have kissed her many times, even carried her into the water.

But he didn’t remember any of that.

Jinx recalled how he used to carry her in the water, with her legs wrapped around his thighs as his strong arms held her above the water, and they would talk nonsense. He would joke. She would try to dunk him in vain until she managed to trick him. Both playing like children.

As she blinked, he was sitting in a chair in the shade, far from the ocean, far from his memories, far from her.

After a while, Isha, Vi, and Caitlyn ventured further into the ocean, leaving Jinx on the shore. The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. Jinx watched Ekko, his gaze fixed on the horizon. He looked thoughtful, almost melancholic.

Jinx sighed and got up, walking out of the water to talk to him. She approached Ekko and sat in the chair beside him.

“Everything okay?” she asked, trying to sound casual.

Ekko jumped slightly, as if he hadn’t realized she was there.

“Oh, hi,” he said, with a forced smile. “Yeah, everything’s fine. Just thinking.”

“What about?”

“A lot.”

They both sat in silence, watching the sun set on the horizon. And the waves crashed against the shore like an eternal hypnotic dance. Jinx decided to speak a little.

“Litoreus.”

“What?”

“It’s Latin,” she replied, looking at him. “It means something like belonging to the shore; the sandy area where the beach meets the edge of the ocean.”

“For… For real?”

“Totally,” she assures. “You told me that.”

“Yes, I do,” he insists, looking at her. “I hadn’t heard that; it’s… nice. I love the sea.”

“It’s calm.”

“It reminds me of Hawaii,” Ekko admits, looking at the ocean again. “Mom always took me to the ocean; we lived nearby. It’s part of everything I remember.”

Jinx nods; she obviously knows that. She knows he learned to swim at two years old. She knows that once, he almost lost an arm to a shark. She knows that at one point he wanted to study something related to marine biology. She also knows that scar Ekko has on the palm of his left foot, shaped like a lightbulb, was from a jellyfish when he was five, that Benzo took care of him, and that he had to pee on it to ease the pain in one of the most embarrassing moments of his life.

She knows it, as if it were material for a life-or-death exam, but she chooses to remain silent. She just wants to hear him talk.

“Did you know another word?”

“A lot,” Jinx confesses, looking at him. She can’t take her eyes off him, even if she wanted to. “But that’s my favorite.”

“I like Reverie; it’s Spanish, means ‘Daydream,’” Ekko explains. “It’s the state of being lost in your own thoughts; a dream.”

“It’s nice.”

“You already knew it, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” she admits, a little embarrassed.

“I told you everything and then some, right?”

“Yes,” she admits, not knowing how to feel. “We talked a lot. That’s why you’re good at writing songs; you know what to say and how to say it.”

Ekko looks at her, finally. Indecisive. Hesitant. Jinx can read him as easily as an extension of her body; he’s hesitating about what to say, but his curiosity wins, and he lets it out.

“Why are you studying to be a lawyer?”

That surprises her.

Jinx is left speechless for a long moment. She wasn’t expecting that specific question.

“I think the legal system needs better lawyers,” she responds, a bit tense without meaning to. “I like helping, I guess; I’ve done some pro bono cases at a professor’s firm for my grades.”

“I thought…”

“What?”

“I always saw you as an artist,” he admits. “Shit, I mean. Painting. You were always painting.”

Jinx nods. That’s true. At least he remembers a small good part of her.

“I thought about it,” she confessed. “But I can help more people as a lawyer. Plus, I love it. I didn’t think I would like it so much.”

“Isha says you’re good at it.”

Jinx smiles a little.

“Isha thinks I’m great,” she jokes. “She’s our... For the record, she thinks the best of us. We’re like her superheroes until she hates us a little at thirteen. Damn age.”

Ekko nods, showing her a small smile. It’s the longest conversation they’ve had since he got amnesia. Ekko looks at the ocean, then at the sky turning shades of orange, and thinks about how many times he must have been in that same spot with what was his family, living what seems to be a perfect life.

“How were we?” he asked, his voice trembling. “How were we before... before all this happened?”

Jinx felt a knot in her throat. It was the first time Ekko spoke so openly about his amnesia with her. She knew this was a conversation they would have to have sooner or later.

“We were... complicated but perfect,” she began, with a melancholic smile. “We were a beautiful chaos. We were two soulmates who found each other in the most unlikely place.”

“Chaos?”

“Yes,” Jinx replied. “We were impulsive, unpredictable, always on the brink of disaster. But we were also loyal, passionate, and deeply in love.”

“Who gave in first?”

Jinx hesitated for a moment.

“You.”

“Me?”

“Yes,” Jinx replied.

“But I…”

“Had you given up on me?” Jinx asked, knowing what he was going to say.

Ekko felt terrible; flushed and shifting uncomfortably. It wasn’t something he wanted to say, especially out loud; it was awful.

“It’s not what…”

“I thought you had given up on me too; I had given up on myself,” she admitted, ignoring him. “But I’ve never seen you give up on anything. And I wasn’t easy at all. If this were reversed, you’d be lost.”

“I really didn’t give up.”

“No, I told you,” Jinx assures. “I never lie to you.”

“I was very happy with you,” Ekko replied, after a long moment of silence. “We were in love.”

Jinx laughed, but it wasn’t with much strength.

“It was as if we had our time counted.”

The sun had set. At least, almost entirely. It was a lovely sunset. Ekko felt as if he had seen it before, in that same place, with Jinx. He had tried to deny it, but it seemed this life he didn’t want was everything he needed and more.

Jinx hoped he would say something more; she wanted to keep him talking, but Ekko didn’t say anything else. The sun sets. And Isha arrives to climb on her, tired, almost falling asleep in twenty minutes while Jinx braids her hair. She gets up, carrying her in her arms to her room. Jinx gives Ekko one last look, who seems absorbed in his thoughts, and for the rest of her stay at the house, he remains in that state as if upon hearing the word Reverie, he had found a new purpose to pursue.

Chapter Text

EKKO TRIES TO UNDERSTAND THINGS.

Something in him seems to awaken. It’s not his memories. It’s something more about him. And for the rest of the week they are on vacation, Ekko is kinder to Jinx. Especially after Vi and Cait leave, leaving them alone. Maybe it’s the environment, but something in him gives in.

Now, Ekko watches Jinx.

She doesn’t say anything at all in that moment while she is on the beach, but he can feel the care in her gestures.

He can feel the affection.

He knows she isn’t as ruthless as he’s sure, not when these small gestures of comfort seem very natural for her. Something in him continues to expect the monster he remembers to surface, but that part of him becomes more nonexistent each day. And Ekko finds himself watching her.

Be kind with her.

He hates Scar so much.

She seems to dance on the tightrope of their relationship, seeing how much she can do and what she can’t. Throughout the week, he watches her thoughtfully while she enjoys herself with Isha. The girl is a breath of fresh air for him. At night, as is the routine, Jinx teaches him more about sign language while he can already express sentences but sounds like a caveman according to her.

Jinx corrects him, raises her hand as if to touch him but hesitates. Ekko knows why; he knows he flees from her as if she were burning, that fact feels so distant and close that it overwhelms him a bit.

He still can’t love her.

They are friends.

But he has really treated her badly.

They return home a couple of days later; the next day Ekko is alone at home; Isha has school and Jinx has a class before her big exam. Ekko goes to that secret place with the tree while thinking about what else to do with the place, but he also reflects on his own situation. It’s ironic that all his life he thought what he needed was money, always having a bad mood about it, like a vibe on his neck that wouldn’t leave him, and now that he’s full of money, he can’t buy his memory. But what a relief. And something in the conversation he had with the blue-haired girl comes back to his mind.

If this were reversed; you would be lost.

If this were reversed, this Ekko would give up. But then, he remembers the other thing Jinx told him with such certainty that it left him breathless:

I've never seen you give up on anything.

He didn’t give up on her.

The fantasy of a Jinx who remembers nothing envelops him; a Powder. He wonders what she wouldn’t remember and what he would do. God, he knows he would go to hell and back to make her fall in love with him again. As Jinx. He reflects on how if this situation were reversed, he surely wouldn’t have half the patience she is having with him, especially because if Jinx lost her memory, she would be kind to him and not a little shit like he is.

That gives him an idea.

“Do you think she’ll like it?”

Isha nods, smiling.

“I told you flowers.”

“I told you that,” Ekko begins, using sign language in front of the words written in Isha’s notebook. “Too much.”

The way Isha’s eyes light up is worth all the dedication he has put into this. She does something like squeal, alternating between sign language and her notebook.

Sometimes Ekko still doesn’t understand, but he already has something basic. And she helps him.

They both go shopping; he needs materials. However, it’s the first time they are recognized on the street. They stop him for photos, autographs, a girl cried upon seeing him while hugging him. Ekko was as cordial as possible but the situation overwhelmed him a bit. Isha supported him. And then the paparazzi arrived.

“Ekko! Ekko! How are you?”

“Is it true that you had to have facial surgery because your face was disfigured?” a reporter asks, Ekko frowns as Isha pulls on his hand trying to get to the car.

“No? What the fuck?”

“Ekko! Ekko! Where's Jinx?”

“Broke up?”

“Ekko, what do you think about the rumor that you lost your memory completely?”

Ha. If they actually knew the joke.

“Ekko! Ekko!”

“Is the album coming out soon?”

“Where's Jinx?”

“Are you two going to get married?”

“Ekko! Ekko!”

That’s exhausting. And the flashes mixed with his memories made his head hurt.

Ekko reaches the car with Isha while the driver manages to get out of there as he holds his head, feeling like he’s blinking. When he gets home, he should do what he planned, but his head hurts too much, so he lies down, unable to keep his eyes open to the light. It hurts. He takes about three pills and waits for the pain to pass.

After sleeping a bit, Ekko dreams of a crowd; a concert, a guitar, and a microphone. And it’s overwhelming.

When he wakes up, Jinx is worried about him: all the newspapers have almost the same headline, his photo floods social media with too many titles: “First photos of Ekko Shannon after his fatal accident,” “Check out the first images of superstar Ekko Shannon after his fatal accident,” “This is how singer Ekko Shannon looks after a fatal car accident.”

“You ok?” she questions. “Isha told me what happened.”

“Yes, my head just hurts.”

“The doctor said something about that,” she quickly responds, handing him some medicine with coffee. “Here, it’s the one he recommended; it will relieve the pain. And it’s cold coffee, I read something that caffeine helps the medicine work better. Especially for headaches.”

Ekko barely speaks, nodding. Jinx seems really worried. And that’s what he means when he says his mind doesn’t seem to align with his heart to love her once and for all. He feels the love in her gestures like a kiss on the forehead, but still feels like something is holding him back.

He knows exactly why.

“Did you remember something?”

He watches the doctor. Jinx called him; she really worried. Ekko shakes his head at the doctor’s words.

“Just... I just dreamed of something, but I don’t feel it’s mine,” he explains. “It was a concert, but I don’t remember anything. Just the lights. The people. The chaos.”

“Anything relevant?”

Ekko wants to tell her yes and share something essential, but he shakes his head.

“No.”

“That’s okay, you’ve already taken a big step by having that little dream, even if you don’t feel that way,” the doctor explains, he sighs. “Anything else you’ve felt these days?”

“No.”

The doctor looks at him. And nods.

“Keep going, man.”

Ekko watches him walk away as he goes to the secret place of the tree, cursing life. He’s done. He’s clean. But then, while sitting under it, cursing his useless brain, he has an idea.

And decides to do something kind for real once.

“Watch your step,” Ekko mentions, observing the surroundings. “We’re almost there.”

“Ekko?” Jinx asks, walking blindly but trusting him to guide her. “I don’t know what this is about, but you should be resting...”

Ekko removes his hand from her eyes, showing her the place as she stops talking, giving way to a long silence while her own memories of what he has done in those weeks flow back.

It’s simple but it’s his.

He fixed up the whole place; he couldn’t unclog the pipes, so the water now gives the impression of a lake; with the leaves and everything on the ground. The tree is in the middle, it’s a mighty oak with a thick trunk that violently broke through what used to be that place. And under its roots, there’s a circle that serves as wooden seats to sit in its lap with feet hanging.

There are vines everywhere, it’s still dirty and neglected, but it reminds him a lot of what his home was; Ekko hadn’t been a rich kid. Benzo was far from being rich. He remembered well how he was always counting to pay for things just like Vander and Silco. They came from a poor place, but they were happy, at least most of the time. Although there were times Ekko remembered not having any protein for a couple of days, but at least there was bread on the table.

“Did you paint this?”

Jinx’s voice pulls him from his thoughts, from his reverie, there he watches her marvel at everything. Jinx has big eyes, expressive eyes that tell him everything she is thinking. So Ekko decides to move forward, trying to explain himself.

“I remember that.”

It’s a mural of all of them, from when they were kids; there’s Vi, Benzo, Vander, Silco, Mylo, Claggor, and her... Powder. Something in Jinx’s eyes seems to hesitate as she approaches to see them all as if she were seeing ghosts. Her expression changes, something more tense.

Maybe Ekko just ruined it.

“So this is how you remember everything?”

“We used to be happy,” Ekko responds, watching her. “A family. Maybe if I remember the past well, I can remember the future.”

Jinx looks at the image of Powder.

They are years apart. They are years of understanding. That Powder has blue hair like her but that’s where the resemblance ends; she’s paler, her eyes are brighter. She has short, uneven hair and slightly separated front teeth. Jinx is a bit more tanned, with long hair in two braids. Her eyes are warm but there’s darkness in them from the weight of growing up and the things she’s seen.

Powder is in the mural. Jinx is by her side, alive and breathing.

“Is this what it’s about, buster?” Jinx begins. “You... want me to change?”

“No, really no”

“It’s beautiful,” Jinx responds. “Why aren’t you here?”

“I didn’t think it was necessary.”

“But you are a big part of this,” she sighs. “I haven’t seen her in years, how did you paint her so well?”

“I had help.”

Jinx laughs a bit.

“A whirlwind,” she responds, referring to Isha. “It’s beautiful, but... I don’t know what you want with it. I’m not Powder.”

“Yes, I know that.”

“Then?”

“Always a dance with you,” Ekko responds, sitting down with his back to the tree not quite knowing how to answer. Damn, why did he do this? “I’m not sure. I think... I don’t know, it’s the only thing I’m really sure of.”

Ekko looks at the ground, he ruined it. He shouldn’t have done this.

“At least I know your ability to impress me hasn’t faded,” she jokes, sitting down next to him. Ekko watches her from below, doubtful. “You’re a jerk, you make it impossible not to want to kiss you this whole damn time.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize,” she scolds him, “you make me want to do it more.”

Ekko sighs.

He wants to love her.

Ekko watches her, with eyes that vaguely remind him of Powder but are different. Everything is different whether he likes it or not. They both fell in love, but it was mutual, it was a long time between them for the love they now have to emerge. And time takes a heavy toll.

“How can I, you know?”

“Do what?”

“Start this,” he admits. “We should have gone on some dates, something.”

“I told you, we talk too much.”

“Didn’t I even take you to dinner? What a loser I am.”

“You hate restaurants,” Jinx responds, smiling a bit. “We don’t go to the movies much either.”

“And what do we talk about?”

“About everything.”

Ekko scoffs.

“Does your favorite color still pink?”

“Yes,” Jinx admits, smiling. “Yours is orange.”

“Your favorite song?” Ekko asks. “What is it?”

“You wouldn’t know it.”

“Oh.”

Jinx gives him a little push.

“It’s by a little-known guy, I don’t think you’d know him,” she mocks. “My best enemy. Who knows who he is.”

“Who could it be?”

They both laugh for a moment, Ekko wants to do more but something stops him. Something holds him back. And he decides to say it, before the oak and the sun, before that sanctuary.

“What if I never recover my memory?”

“Six months haven’t even passed yet,” Jinx reminds him, “only a month.”

“And what if I can never remember?” Ekko insists, his voice tinged with fear. “What would happen then?”

“I’d still be here,” Jinx responds simply, looking at him. “Waiting.”

Waiting for love.

Ekko assumes that. And they both sit in silence for the rest of the afternoon, side by side, looking at the place, there are dragonflies. And some birds. Sometimes he watches Jinx. But he doesn’t know what else to say; he thinks there really isn’t much to say in a situation like this.

Before dusk, they both return home just in time for Isha to arrive. They share a good dinner, talk a bit, and finally go to sleep.

Ekko decides not to listen to Jinx’s story to Isha that night.

The next morning, they both leave. That day, Ekko wishes the blue-haired girl good luck on her exam. It’s today. And she’s nervous, so he prepares a delicious breakfast while he hears her chatter about law with Isha, who nods and claps excitedly.

They look quite like a family.

He wishes her good luck, she smiles at him as if he had revealed the answers to the exam.

After leaving him alone, Ekko receives a visit that he lets in after passing security. He doesn’t know who it is, and it has interrupted his series marathon. He thinks it’s Viktor, maybe Jace; both talked about coming to visit. Ekko then opens the door, looking at the person there. And his heart races, finally, as if it were the engine of a Formula One car.

“Hi, Ekko,” she smiled. “It’s good to see you.” 

“Maddie, you’re... you’re here."

Chapter Text

EKKO IS LAUGHING.

"Seriously, do you remember that?" Maddie laughs, looking at him with something soft shining in her eyes. "That was ages ago."

"My bad, but I've only been stuck in an elevator once in my life."

"You weren't stuck."

"Sure," he repeats. "I was just between floors."

Maddie laughs just like he does, like two internal friends who understand a joke.

"Oh, Ekko," she insists. "You haven't changed a bit."

Ekko laughs a little, but it hurts him. At the same time, it makes him happy; she is the first person since he woke up who doesn't look at him with disappointment or frustration. Besides, he doesn't have to prove anything to her; his memories are the same. Not even a hint of sadness is in Maddie's eyes. Ekko has gotten used to everyone around him looking at him with a hint of sadness. Even Isha, with her, it hurts more; she is the one who hides it best.

He shouldn't have told her that he has no memory, but it slipped out; I mean, it's Maddie. Despite everything that might have happened between them, she knows him. She's good at keeping secrets.

Looking at her, Maddie hasn't changed much; her hair is still short, like Snow White's cut but as orange as carrots, her skin remains white and smooth. And her eyes are blue, clear, with a hint of green in them. There's nothing that reminds him of that exact shade of blue, not like with Jinx.

Jinx's eyes are blue like lightning in a storm, like the choppy ocean, like the deep part of the sea where it's dangerous to go.

The thought of Jinx makes him stop laughing completely as he gazes at the sky through the window, lost in his thoughts. So Reverie, huh?. As he thinks of her, the clouds disperse, and the sun comes out again, making the patio bright again. However, Maddie notices and places her hand on his arm to pull him back from his own mind.

He doesn't pull away. He doesn't even flinch.

"How has everything been?" she asks, her voice soft and understanding. "I'm sorry I didn't go to the hospital; I followed the news closely. I thought about going, but I didn't think I'd be welcomed."

"Did we end that badly?"

"No," she replied, her eyes scanning the room. "It's complicated; I was stupid. And well, Jinx was there."

"What does she have to do with it?"

Maddie watches him.

"Nothing," he replies, measuring that his tone came out a bit rougher than he could control. He can't help it. It's Jinx. "From everything you told me, she was always in love with you."

"Jinx? We were just best friends," he explains. "Although I think you might be right."

Maddie laughs, looking at him again.

"She was smarter than me, I admit; she wasn't blind like I was," she explains, her eyes scanning the room. "I never apologized for everything. I was stupid."

"What happened?"

Ekko watches Maddie's face turn sad at his words, but not because he doesn't remember; he is already getting used to that sad look when he asks something he should know. This look is of her own sadness, of her own actions, and Ekko feels a breath of the disappointment he has been carrying on his shoulders all this time.

"What's the last thing you remember about us?" Maddie asks honestly. "I hope it's a good one."

"Are you real?"

Maddie laughs with a hint of mockery while Ekko smiles sincerely at her during a free hour for both of them in the middle of the hallway. They both studied at the same prestigious school with Caitlyn. He remembered that.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know," Ekko admitted as he grabbed his skateboard. "Sometimes I feel like you're too good to be true."

"You're so ridiculous."

"It's just that I feel like I made you up."

Maddie shook her head.

"God, Ekko, you talk like an old man sometimes," she said, taking his words as jokes. "Enough."

He smiled half-heartedly, taking note: he shouldn't be cheesy, or he would ruin it. Ekko always took note of everything he shouldn't do, which was a long list he tried to shorten as much as possible. He didn't want to mess it up. They had been seeing each other secretly for two years because Maddie refused to even show a friendship with someone like Ekko when she was sixteen; it could ruin her social life, but she couldn't stop seeing him because she had no idea how much she needed him. Always behind the school in the parking lot, while Ekko canceled plans to see her and waited as anxiously as a college acceptance letter for a message from Maddie, even if it was just asking for something.

"I brought you a gift."

Ekko looked at her confused as they arrived at the parking lot.

"Is it a special occasion?" he tried to joke. "It won't be anything formal, right?"

Ekko shook his head while showing her the necklace with that inscription carved into the beads. It was a beach-style necklace.

"Eunoia?" Maddie asked. "Who is that?"

"It means 'beautiful thinking,'" he replied shortly. "Do you like it?"

"I love it."

"Would you like to go to the movies later?"

"Yes," Maddie cut in. "We should see that movie everyone is talking about."

"I was thinking of something like ''The amethyst beast.'"

"But it'sfiction and depressing."

"It's not that depressing," Ekko insisted. "It's even a love story."

Maddie shook her head.

"No way. Plus, it hasn't even premiered yet."

"Fine, the famous one it is," he smiled, taking her hand. "A milkshake?"

"Strawberry."

Maddie nodded. They both walked to that little-visited café, but before entering, she broke their hands pretending to open the door. She glanced at all the tables looking for someone she knew, and unintentionally, a sigh of relief escaped her lips upon seeing that there was no one there except for two elderly people. Ekko didn't want to say anything to avoid a fight, but being a secret wasn't what he liked the most; although if it meant staying with Maddie, it was enough.

A few months later, it turned out that the movie everyone was talking about was pretty bad, and 'The amethys beat' was a box office success. But his friends didn't even let him see the movie, claiming it was for idiots and nerds.

Ekko had seen it had become a saga; recognized and admired. Even Isha had a plush beast from the movie.

"We had a secret relationship," Ekko responded, somewhat uncomfortable as he remembered. "You were embarrassed of me."

"No!" Maddie denied, looking at him again before letting her eyes travel around the room. Ekko noticed, unintentionally, that Maddie doesn't look him in the eyes for long, while Jinx never stops doing so. Even she doesn't realize it, but her eyes always follow him like a crow stalking its prey. "I wasn't embarrassed of you; I was embarrassed of myself. I was a stupid girl."

"How did we...?"

"I did it," Maddie admitted. "I'm sorry. That's why everyone hates me. And your father."

"What about him?"

Maddie shook her head, her eyes fluttering around the room.

"Everyone hates me because I supported him when you introduced us," she explained. "He wanted you to study something at Columbia. It made total sense to me, but you had this dream of music, and I couldn't see it. You shouldn't mention to anyone your father and I; they still hate me a lot for it."

"I don't remember when this music thing started."

"Neither do I," Maddie added. "Listen, Ekko, it was really my fault for everything that happened, and I don't know if you can forgive me, but I'm here for you."

Maddie takes his hand.

And he watches.

Jinx hasn't touched him even close to there; it's always on the forearm, and she asks with her eyes how much she can or cannot do. Maddie's touch is soft, her fingers are smooth, her skin is soft. Jinx's skin is cold, there's something in her touch that isn't smooth but doesn't bother him either, even if he wants to take it as an excuse. He also observes Maddie's simple but reserved clothing; she doesn't have a single tattoo. Jinx has a whole collection of blue clouds with a thin white border that goes from her abdomen to her shoulder, being as obvious as they are eye-catching; she can't hide them even if she wanted to. However, Ekko stays frozen without squeezing her hand or pulling away, lost in his thoughts.

"Today we'll celebrate with ice cream and brownie," Jinx announces. "Isha got a perfect ten, and hey, it's not to brag, but I think I could also have gotten a perfect score..."

Her expression changed completely when she entered the room, observing them.

Watching Maddie's hand.

It's as if a switch had been turned off in her; her eyes widen, darken a bit, and her lip tightens. All the light she radiated has vanished. Even the sun goes away; there are clouds now, and the room seems grayer.

Despite his memory, Ekko pulls away from Maddie, clearing his throat a bit, and he can remember that it’s the first time he has separated when surprised. She doesn't react more than watching him, but Ekko's eyes go to Jinx.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Maddie, I was leaving," she replies, smiling. "I'll leave you my number for what we talked about; take care."

"Thank you."

"How did you get in?" Jinx asked, almost growling. "And who the hell is 'Maddie'?"

"I'm Ekko's friend."

"No idea," Jinx huffed. "How did you get in?"

Jinx's tone is annoying, somewhat mocking. He recognizes it a bit... Like the Jinx he hates.

"It's okay, it's..." the word hangs in the air, but Ekko decides not to say it; "she's fine. You can leave your information at the entrance; they're strict about that."

"Got it. Although I already left my ID."

"I guess that's enough," Ekko smiles, not showing his teeth. Maddie looks at him; now she is really looking him in the eyes.

"You were leaving."

"Yes, I was," Maddie confirms, giving him a meaningful look and a paper with her number. "It was good to see you, Ekko."

"Bye, Maddie."

She leaves under Jinx's gaze, who could very well be throwing daggers at her. The blue-haired girl types something on her phone while still angry. Ekko watches Jinx; as Maddie passes by her side, the difference between them is obvious, from the evident physical attributes to their personalities.

Maddie was never jealous, I mean, of whom? Jinx is... And there he understands.

"Are you jealous?"

Jinx growls, avoiding looking at him until she turns around.

"You know the fuckin' answer."

"You didn't know her?" Ekko asked, something in her possessive, angry, and almost childish tone makes him find it somewhat funny. "I thought you knew who she was; you said we started after she left me."

"I had nothing to do with why you two broke up; I didn't even ask properly," Jinx growled. "I didn't like her. And I don't know how she got in; I hope she doesn't come back."

"She's Maddie; she'll be fine. And she's good."

Jinx huffed. She's dying of jealousy.

"If you two broke up, it was for a reason."

"But you don't know what it was," Ekko shot back. "Neither do I."

Something tenses in Jinx; she clenches her jaw as if she were going to break it.

"Did you tell her anything about your memory?" she asked. "Ekko, I know you're getting used to this, but in this world of fame, you can't go telling everyone everything."

"I didn't tell her anything."

He lies. And he feels bad about it, but he doesn't want to feel like a naive kid being scolded by his mom.

"Caitlyn hates her," Jinx adds. "And Vi. But more Caitlyn; be careful with her."

"I know her."

"It's been a while."

"Like with you," Ekko retorted. "And look at us."

Maybe Ekko has gone too far again. But Jinx just try to keep calm.

"The fact that you two broke up had nothing to do with me," Jinx growled. "But I know it was bad."

"I know; I'm just trying to understand everything."

"You look happy," she said, looking at him. "Calm."

She hasn't stopped looking at him since she arrived; the deepest ocean agitating in waves in her gaze.

"Jinx, I..."

"Let Isha not know that she came," she cut him off. "I’ll go take a shower."

"Jinx, wait..." he tries to say, but she goes to her room.

And Ekko is left there. In that mansion, with Maddie's number in his right hand while he has it clenched into a fist and his left hand extended to go after Jinx. He knows he hurt her, whether he wants to or not, but something in him neither goes after her nor calls the orange-haired girl.

However, he keeps her number under his pillow. And he makes a special brownie with ice cream for Jinx.

Chapter Text

YOU CAN SAY THAT JINX WASN'T AN EASY GIRL.

She was... her.

Ekko had been too good or too foolish, the boy savior, when he gave in so they could both be who they were. Even when she rejected him, several times, or ran away. Even when she yelled at him, fought him, stood him up. Jinx had never been an easy girl in her life; she had been intense since she was born. Silco used to tell her she was like a typhoon; a strange force, as powerful as a hurricane or a cyclone, but leaving nothing in her wake unscathed.

So when she was truly at her worst, she had been more than just a difficult girl. She had been a damn typhoon. And only the boy savior had been able to navigate through the strong winds, the torrential rains, the landslides that destroyed cities swimming through the floods to reach her. To bring Jinx back.

"What are you doing here?" Ekko asked from behind her, sitting down next to her without leaving any space. Thigh to thigh. Skin to skin. "You should sleep; I read a study that says women need more sleep than men."

"No shit," Jinx laughed, while Ekko looked at her with something soft in his gaze. "What a day, huh? Ready for tomorrow?"

"I guess so."

"Come on, don’t be humble," Jinx replied. "Not everyone has their first concert almost sold out. You know they’re probably going to throw panties, bras... Can you imagine if one has your name written on her breasts?"

Ekko groaned, running a hand over his face.

"Seriously?"

"I'm just saying!" she joked, elbowing him emphatically, though she was nervous. "Don’t tell me you’re not a little excited about this famous life, everyone loves you, there are thousands of pretty girls who are now fantasizing about a romance with you."

He shook his head, exasperated.

"Damn."

"What?" she asked, pretending innocence, though she knew very well what he meant. She couldn’t stop thinking about it. But her smile faded when she added softly, "I wouldn’t blame you if after tomorrow, an actress or a fan catches your attention."

Ekko took her hand, even his face looking at her seriously.

"Already one girl occupies all my attention, forever."

Jinx let out a soft snort and looked down at her hands.

"I wouldn’t blame you if..."

Her voice softened.

"You’re my girl," Ekko assured her confidently. "Maybe tomorrow the world or a couple of teenagers will thank me, but I’m in love with you."

She lifted her head sharply and squinted her eyes.

"Don’t say those things," she grumbled. "I know I’m complicated, and god look at me. I’m not a sweet girl, I’m not..."

Powder.

She fell silent, and a knot formed in her throat from guilt, along with some embarrassment. Everything felt so unreal, being next to him, and she didn’t want to hurt him, not anymore. She knew that tomorrow Ekko would become a global star; they had already tasted glimpses of that world filled with money, models, and beautiful actresses who didn’t have Jinx’s dark past. She loved him, but it was impossible not to doubt.

He didn’t flinch, didn’t look away, didn’t loosen his grip on her face or stop intertwining their hands.

"I mean it. You’re my Jinx."

She wanted to argue, laugh, tell him he was an idiot, but the weight of his gaze made it impossible. He read her too easily, and she hated that. Besides, she knew when he was lying; it was a talent, and there wasn’t a single drop of deceit in his eyes. A knot formed in her throat, and she felt a lump she couldn’t swallow.

"You’re a jerk," she whispered, her voice breaking.

"Maybe," he admitted with a slight smile. "But I’m your jerk for eternity."

She snorted, with a trembling and insecure sound.

"You don’t know what you’re getting into, the boy savior," Jinx assured him. "Isha, me... You’re going to be a global star; this is a burden."

"I don’t care," he replied firmly. "And you all are my family; Isha is my daughter, and you are my Jinx. You will never be a burden to me; you are my world."

She smiled. He leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers. Her lips returned the kiss with the same fervor. The kiss was desperate, needy, demanding, but above all tender and adoring.

It felt like an eternity, as time froze, but then it seemed to last only an instant as soon as their lips parted. His face remained just inches from hers, his warm breath brushing against her skin.

"I hate you," she murmured, burying her face in the space between his jaw and shoulder. "And don’t think this softens me, okay?"

He laughed softly.

"Not a chance."

His arm wrapped around her gently, pulling her closer as he placed a soft kiss on her hair. They spent a good hour on the rooftop of that hotel before the big day. After a while, they both returned embraced to their room, where they shared a bed.

Ekko traced his fingers over her cloud tattoos as if he were playing the strings of his guitar before the most important song of his life; his fingers were warm and sent a short circuit of electricity through her body. But they also calmed her.

He hadn’t said a word, but she could feel the love in his gestures, in the way his body was next to hers, in his fingers brushing her skin, and in his breath on her neck.

"Can you promise me something?"

"Whatever."

"Don’t ever let them change your hair," Jinx replied, looking at it. "Or straighten it."

Ekko looked at her, searching for the joke in it.

"I promise."

"I’m serious," Jinx insisted. "Or I’ll shave it."

"I promise, I swear."

Jinx looked at his thick white hair. He styled it into bundled locks on top of his head, with the sides buzzed short. He had once been shaved when they were kids; in fact, most of his childhood was like that until a guy with the same thick hair explained to him how he could take care of it. Jinx knew it was part of his identity, just like her long blue hair that she hadn’t cut since that day, as if by doing so, she always kept a part of them with her.

Something about her parents caressing that hair made her reluctant to cut it; it was as if she would lose that almost nonexistent part of them.

"Aren’t you going to ask why I’m asking you that?"

"No, if you’re asking it must be important."

"Oh, you’re such a jerk," Jinx teased. "This isn’t fair."

"I know, now sleep."

"Are you going to make me?"

A deep laugh escaped Ekko’s throat while she was on his chest. It made her vibrate. And he looked at her from below with his dark eyes.

"You know I can do it."

"Ha," she mocked. "I bet you can try, the boy savior."

They looked at each other with the challenge shining in their eyes.

They loved to challenge each other. To play. To push each other a little to the limit. And Jinx could take it.

However, Ekko simply turned her around, hugging her at the waist while they were face to face. She expected him to do something, but he just held her firmly yet gently. Jinx was a bit immobilized, but if she wanted, she could move.

"Now, rest."

Jinx wanted to fight.

She was a typhoon.

She had fought for so long, had been alert for much longer, had been lost for so long that she couldn’t rest. But for that night, and for the rest of her days, Ekko would take care of her. Now there was a place in the world where the typhoon was just a girl, where she could sleep, rest, and be vulnerable.

So against her instincts, she just relaxed next to him while he held her tighter without letting her go.

And everything was perfect.

The next day, the whole world fell in love with Ekko Shannon as the new music promise. His concert went viral. People screamed his name. Teenagers lost their heads over him, buying posters, t-shirts, and fantasizing about being his partner. Everyone wanted some attention from him.

And yet, at the end of his first concert, he took a chair and a guitar. The lights dimmed, illuminating only him.

"How are you all doing?" he asked, smiling with his guitar in hand. "You know, this is my first time here. And I wanted, I want, to sing an important song. This is my first tour."

The audience went wild as Ekko tuned the chords of his guitar.

"I think we all know love; at least we’ve heard of it, but it’s really complicated," he explained, adjusting and playing small chords. "I had given up. I was really done with the whole idea of it; I was tired. And then it hit me. I understood that sometimes taking a step forward means leaving something behind. I didn’t understand that until I let go of the hate for the most wonderful girl I’ve ever met. And now we are happy; now I’m where I should be."

Ekko looked at the audience, knowing where she was while Jinx stood frozen. Maybe it would hit her later, but in that moment, her brain stopped responding.

"This is a special song; I composed it a couple of days ago," he admitted. "It’s called 'the boy savior.' I hope you like it, Jinx."

I saw her in the stormy sky  
her eyes like two sapphire collide  
Laughing while she hit me hard  
And she's blue, so blue  

And then, she came up to my dreams  
Fighting, laughing, would you please?  
She says: "Save your life leaving a few things behind  
like me, oh me"  

Can you kiss me with your blue  
and enlighten me the view?  
Can you forget about your nightmares  
and wake up with my prayers?  
Can you let me heal your wounds  
and love you with my tunes?  

And lately, I've tried other cyan  
But nothing can capture blue bright  
Of the midnights blue now feels right  
just now, oh now  

Can you kiss me with your blue  
and enlighten me the view?  
Can you forget about your nightmares  
and wake up with my prayers?  
Can you let me heal your wounds  
and love you with my tunes?  

I know that you've been black, but you're getting color back  
And when we're getting dirty, I forget all that is wrong  
You fight for me in the darkest night  
but save me in the shining start  
and now you're my savior  

Can you kiss me with your blue  
and enlighten me the view?  
Can you forget about your nightmares  
and wake up with my prayers?  
Can you let me heal your wounds  
and love you with my tunes?  

Once I thought about you as a curse  
and now your name's like my home  
and when the time's just come  
you're still being my savior  
and I'm your boy savior  

The lights illuminated her with a planned blue tone. It was the exact shade of her eyes. However, Jinx could only laugh as she saw Ekko with a toothless smile in his chair winking at her while throwing a guitar pick to the ecstatic audience. It was the first time, but it became a tradition that he always dedicated a song to her if she was present.

Because Ekko was a simple guy. Not easy. Simple. And he had loved her, he loved her.

And Jinx knew as she woke up in the middle of the night in her room that the boy savior could return to her. She just needed time. And she could wait.

Chapter Text

EKKO CURSED AS HE WOKE UP, REALIZING IT WASN’T A DREAM.

Under his pillow was Maddie's number. And Ekko cursed again when he took it in his hands, bringing his hands to his head as he recalled every detail from just a few hours ago.

What the hell did he do?

Ekko is an idiot. He’s no longer surprised, but this feels like infidelity toward Jinx, even though he doesn’t really love her as he should. They’re a damn couple with a beautiful daughter, and he’s just an idiot who keeps messing things up more each day. Fuck.

He discards the paper, tossing it into the toilet while closing his eyes for a moment, noticing that it’s still night. And he had a nightmare. Great.

"Could you help me," he murmurs, gazing at the moon. "Enlighten me. Just something. Tell me what she wants to hear and what she wants me to do."

The moon doesn’t respond, only shines in the sky. It’s a full moon. Ekko sighs, sitting on the floor, looking out from the large balcony.

"Help me," he pleads. "Make me fall in love with her, please. Please."

Ekko isn’t aware that he’s crying until he can’t contain himself any longer, trying to make as little noise as possible. He feels exhausted, drained, and just wants to do the right thing, but he keeps hurting the people who love him. The weight on his shoulders is too much.

And if Ekko had the chance to choose who to fall in love with, he would choose Jinx without hesitation. Really. He just wants to be good; he wants to be that incredible Ekko.

After a while, there are no more tears to shed as he continues to gaze at the moon. It must be three in the morning at the most. He’s no longer sleepy or particularly motivated, so he simply looks around as if his memories were somewhere in that room. His eyes scan the dim room he has already memorized, but when it seems there’s nothing new, he decides to look under the bed.

At first glance, there’s nothing.

But Ekko knows one of his old tricks, so he lies down, feeling around the ceiling until he finds something: a book. Ekko picks it up, noticing it’s leather like the one resting on the nightstand, but this is a notebook without drawings, indicating it hasn’t passed through Jinx’s hands, only his. He decides to flip through it a bit.

It’s filled with song lyrics; he recognizes his handwriting. They’re ideas.

Some are about heartbreak. Others about love. Some are just concepts; how it should sound, how he visualizes it, and some metaphors. It’s all him. And Ekko finds himself fascinated by this side of himself he doesn’t recognize but is simply incredible. He has talent.

Ekko looks at the moon. And he takes a pen, observing a note he wrote in parentheses.

(The moon is the one
hopeless romantic ask
for help, we don't know why
but sure she hears you well)

"Funny me," he whispers softly, looking at the star that is his only company. "You can help me too; you’re invited."

For a moment, there’s nothing.

It’s like his memory; blank.

Ekko grunts but forces his mind to do something. And as he looks at the moon, he notices the sky isn’t completely black; it’s a dull navy blue that reveals the clouds still drifting in the sky. Something in him takes the pen, sighs, and writes something.

Dearest moon
can you enlighten me?
tell me what she wants to hear

That’s quite decent. Ekko reflects a bit while digging into his brain, unsure of what he wants to express; he just wants to vent.

I feel hatred

Ekko stares at that line for a while. Not knowing how he’s supposed to feel but unable to avoid expressing it. However, he remembers Blue, and God and the moon know he has no damn idea why, but he does, and with that, he writes another line that continues with another he doesn’t even think about, imagining a soft rhythm, like a whisper, as he feels in that moment; almost like a lullaby that becomes a conversation with the moon itself.

I was naive
but now, she is so dear to me

Is it true?

Ekko doesn’t want to delve into it. But he has something. At least it’s like he’s jumped into the ocean when he should be diving into the depths. Something is something.

Now he thinks about what else to say, but nothing comes to mind. Blank. Again.

He grunts and can’t avoid the one responsible for all this, so he decides to continue.

now if you,
can show me
what to do?

Ekko avoids writing "please."

cast your spell
show me how
make her feel
love

There he stops, staring at what he just wrote in a burst of inspiration at three in the morning with his damn amnesia toward what is supposed to be his greatest enemy. Love. He’s imploring the moon to help him fall in love with her. Life is mysterious. It’s strange. A part of him mocks, saying he could never write something so beautiful about Maddie; all he’s heard are songs about heartbreak that, while good, lack something. Maybe that’s why he always listens to "My Best Enemy" because it’s intense, because it’s a song full of feeling, because it makes you feel.

He wants to stop, but he can’t. And he writes a couple more lines.

Dearest moon
can you guide me?
tell me what’s happening to me
I feel lost
She is all

There Ekko stops. He knows what he thinks; his artistic mind knows the words that rhyme, but he stops, unable to write them because they would be a lie. However, everything he has written is true. Jinx is everything. Jinx is all his new life; whether he wants it or not. Jinx is the mother of his child. Jinx is the inspiration for most of the songs he has heard. Jinx is the one who has decorated the house he calls home. Jinx was the oxygen for his former self. And he’s just a poor lost idiot unable to remember anything.

"You gotta be kidding," he mutters, reading his words. "This must be a great lesson I need to learn."

Ekko reflects a bit; Jinx is like the moon, not just for her physical appearance but because she has something that makes him relate her to it. And with the stars. Ekko stops when his mind can’t take anymore but rereads the words he wrote until he memorizes them, even humming them quite proudly. He doesn’t remember why he started composing, but it seems he still has the talent.

He jots down a bit of how he imagines the song sounds; it’s soft and slow, feeling like a lullaby. And in that process, Ekko realizes the moon has gone as the sun begins to rise, so he decides to go down to prepare a good breakfast, where he immerses himself in cooking, feeling a breath of relief. In it, he is useful.

He even finds himself humming a bit of what he wrote when Jinx appears.

"What are you doing here?" she asks, yawning a bit. "You should sleep."

"Good morning," he greets. "I know, but I can catch up on sleep later."

"That’s not how sleep works."

"It’s just one day," Ekko replies, watching her. She seems a bit distant, analyzing everything he’s doing. "I wanted... I wanted to talk to you before Isha wakes up."

"Oh," Jinx mentions, with a hint of fear in her eyes but hiding it. "What is it?"

"Maddie left her phone number on a piece of paper."

Jinx barely blinks.

"Oh," she mutters, weighing what to say. Ekko can see she’s angry but doesn’t know how to react. Also hurt. "Damn. I mean, oh."

"I flushed it down the toilet."

"Oh," was all Jinx said.

They both fell silent for a moment, looking at each other across the room.

"I don’t understand..."

"I’m sorry..."

They both fall silent again upon realizing they spoke at the same time, Ekko’s cheeks turning red. He shouldn’t have started the day by saying this; he should have at least practiced it first.

"You go first."

"No, I insist, you."

"You started," Jinx added, looking at him. "You go first, really."

It’s a point.

Ekko sighs.

"I’m sorry; it’s a kind of emotional infidelity," he explains, remorseful. "I flushed it down the toilet. I don’t know if I was planning to call her, but I’m really sorry. I should have told you yesterday, and I also shouldn’t have accepted her number because we’re a couple and..."

"You just said we’re a couple?"

"We are one," Ekko affirms. "I’m really sorry."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because we are a couple," Ekko repeats, remorseful but somewhat confused. "Isn’t that what couples do?"

"I mean, yes, but..."

Jinx falls silent for a moment as if she really doesn’t know what to say, but all traces of sleep have vanished. And Ekko isn’t sure how to proceed. He clears his throat, trying to maintain composure in light of what his words might imply.

"I... disrespected you," he continues. "I’m sorry. Really. And I disrespected our home."

"No shit you just said that," Jinx laughs, but then stops, though she’s visibly nervous. "Sorry."

"Take it easy."

"You really are the boy savior, huh?" she laughs nervously. "Too good. I mean, I really want to punch you in the face."

"I deserve it."

"Oh, you," Jinx points at him, laughing until her laughter turns into a sort of grunt with a squeak. "Stop it. You can’t be so good and so stupid at the same time. Stop it."

"Sorry."

Jinx points at him. Ekko falls silent.

And they both laugh for a moment.

"You’re a jerk."

"Totally."

"Good thing you know it," Jinx mentions. "I know you kept her number; I saw the paper in your hand."

"Why didn’t you say anything?"

"What could I say?"

"Do you think if you hit me hard enough, I could remember something?"

Jinx laughs mockingly.

"Don’t tempt me," she smiles. "I’ve thought about it. But with my luck, you’d forget these months and we’d start over."

"I'd hit myself if that happened."

"You’d be in line."

They both laugh for a moment as Jinx gets closer to the countertop that separates them.

"Is this your way of apologizing to me?" Jinx asks, glancing at the spread. "Giving me diabetes while you have insomnia?"

"It’s worth it."

"The boy savior," she repeats. "Look, I know this can’t be easy for you, but I vaguely know what you remember and feel. And yes, I’m dying of jealousy. And yes, Caitlyn hates Maddie with all her soul, but... whatever you want to do, or whatever you do, do it for you. It’s your life."

"I don’t think it’s a good life if I’m just hurting those who love me."

Jinx nods, with something melancholic in her memory.

"I told you that."

"What?"

"You told me what I told you, and I replied that," she explains. "I said exactly that."

They share a long look.

"So it means I’m still here."

"You’ve always been here," Jinx replies, looking at him intently.

"Still..." he begins hesitantly, as if he’s about to say a number to win the lottery. "I mean, do you like dates?"

"Are you asking me out?"

"It depends on your answer."

"It depends on where you take me."

"To a nice place," Ekko replies. "I want to do things right, with you, with us."

Before Jinx can respond, Isha appears like a whirlwind, stealing a bit of whipped cream from breakfast along with a strawberry. She gives each of them a kiss on the cheek while starting to ask what the occasion is, to which Ekko tries unsuccessfully to explain in sign language while Jinx laughs, until he decides it’s just because they woke up in a good mood.

Jinx watches him. Ekko watches her.

There’s something soft in their eyes, in both, but something more that Ekko can’t decipher but feels familiar, so he decides to let it go, even though her smile comforts him a bit. It reminds him of moonlight; dim, soft, but present. The three joke around while having breakfast, as Isha explains a dream she had where she had superpowers, sometimes Jinx translates some missing sentences, but Ekko is more open to this life, to enjoying it.

Chapter Text

SOMETHING IN EKKO AWAKENS.

As the days go by, they both grow closer; besides their religious sign language classes every noon, they talk. A lot. Ekko discovers that Jinx is smarter than he thought, and he believed a lot in her intelligence because no one builds a robot monkey at eight years old with junkyard parts. It's fascinating to talk to her.

"Ukiyo."

"I'm almost sure you told me that."

"I think you're cheating."

"Me? You're the bad loser here."

"Well," Ekko insists, "tell me what it means."

Jinx snorts, amused.

"Something about living in the moment without worries; it's almost like hakuna matata in Japanese."

Ekko shakes his head, unable to believe she remembers that word. And the other thirty-five she has said that he told her. Jinx laughs, teasing him.

"Cheater."

"Bad loser," she mocks. "I'm pretty sure there must be a word for that."

"Let's change the subject, please."

Jinx bursts out laughing next to him, pulling a small smile from him as he watches her. They are both sitting in the lap of the tree; they usually hang out there when they're home. It's warm. And cool. It feels like another world, almost another dimension. And Ekko feels that being in a new environment puts him on equal footing with her.

It's silly. But he feels comfortable there.

"Alright, bad loser," she jokes; "What do you want to talk about?"

"Everything."

"Well, let's do something," Jinx starts, looking at him with a smile. "Let's say random facts. There must be many you haven't told me."

"You go first."

Jinx thinks, observing the place.

"There's a place where there are even complete eight-hour cycles of thunderstorms and sixty lightning strikes per minute."

"You're kidding."

"Really," Jinx insisted, in a somewhat awkward pose she always did. Ekko watched her with all his attention. "It's called the Catatumbo lightning. It's in South America, I don't remember the name of the country, but it’s a sight to see."

"So, you're an expert in nature?"

Jinx laughed.

"I'm not an expert, but I've always been fascinated by how nature works," she explained. "Besides, you always talk about storms in your songs, I try to understand why."

"I never told you?"

Jinx shook her head.

"No, it’s your own world," she pushed him a little. "What about you?"

"Uh..." he started. "We technically can never go to the future."

"What do you mean?"

"If we traveled to the future, it would be our present," he explained, watching her. "We can go to the past, but never to the future because it always changes to be our present."

Jinx looked at him.

"Sorry, that was ra..."

"Amazing," Jinx interrupted. "But what happens if we could see the future? Would it be seeing our present?"

Ekko looked at her, somewhat surprised that she followed his oddity, even looking fascinated. I mean, he knows she doesn't scare easily, but with Maddie, he could never talk about these topics. People sometimes aren't interested, which is fine, but Ekko found it fascinating.

"Well, technically, you'd only be seeing a possibility of what could be your future."

"So that's really the only thing we can never reach."

"What?"

"If you die, they can revive you," Jinx explained. "If your heart stops beating, it can start again. But you can never go to the future, only to the past. It’s easier to revive a dead person than to travel to the future."

Ekko nodded.

"Yes. Exactly."

"Well, that was really good," she huffed. "Excellent, now whatever I say is going to suck; I was just going to tell you that your height will always be due to your wingspan."

"That's a good fact."

Jinx rolled her eyes, making a face.

"Liar."

"Bad loser."

Jinx rolled her eyes again as they laughed a little. As friends. They both continue in that routine. That place becomes their daily date; they talk about politics, history, astronomy, weather, movies, music, everything. Absolutely everything. Ekko can easily reconnect because they were best friends as kids, beyond being the smallest.

There’s something about Jinx that simply fits with him. They can't stop talking when they're discussing something, and if they do, the silence is comfortable. Ekko finds himself enjoying her company more than he expected, he doesn’t even have to try; it just happens.

Isha is bad at hiding how happy this is making her, but Ekko has become hopelessly enchanted with her. He hasn't called her daughter yet, but he loves spending time with her. And he sometimes finds himself watching Jinx help her with homework, or how she looks at him when he does it. And he finds himself outside her room, listening to the stories that Jinx's imagination has to tell.

None of them are about Blue.

All of them are happy. And that stings a little; Blue also deserved a happy ending with Grey. Even with Pink. Ekko writes a couple of lines in his notebook about Blue, but none seem to do her justice.

Two and a half months have passed since the accident before he finds himself with his memory still blank. Time is running. It’s fast. And it shows no mercy; the Doctor insists he continue his routine because soon there will be advances, but nothing seems to bring back his memory.

He also can't take Jinx on a date; they plan for the weekend after she finishes some things at the university. At first, Ekko lets her go, but that day he insists on accompanying her without knowing very well why. Or what to do. He just insists that tomorrow they will go together.

"Do you really have no idea where we’re going to dinner?"

Isha shakes her head.

"First date?"

She shakes her head. He grunts.

"Don't we ever go out?" Ekko asks, sitting on his bed. "I thought we'd be more about going out; Jinx is loud. And I don’t know, not loud in a bad way, you know? I just thought we were like couples who always go to the movies, to restaurants, and to galas."

Isha shakes her head, writing on her board quickly.

"Mum and you went out sometimes to the beach, but you just talked; you painted," she explains. "Cafés. Sometimes we watch movies."

"Yeah, but we already do that."

"But that's what you do."

Ekko nods. More than a couple as he imagines, they seem like simple best friends who are in love; he can't explain it, but his vision of love at that moment was luxurious restaurants, romantic, and significant places, but apparently, that’s not what they did. And that makes him question his idea of love he has, along with Maddie; they both had a secret relationship, but there were dates. And now that he's with Jinx, there are no dates. It’s confusing.

Amid his thoughts, Ekko looks at the blue-haired doll and picks it up.

"Do you think Blue...?"

His voice falls silent. He doesn’t know what to ask specifically; he just wanted to bring up Blue, and he’s not even sure why. Isha sits next to him, pointing at the doll.

"What?" Ekko asks. "I’m just trying to do things right."

Isha places a hand on her heart while pointing at the doll. They both look directly into each other’s eyes, and the girl insists, guiding the doll to her heart. Ekko doesn’t understand what she means, but before he can ask, Jinx arrives, so she leaves, leaving him thoughtful.

The next day, Jinx insisted that Ekko didn't need to accompany her. He wouldn't hear it. He wasn't sure why, but the idea of her going alone, especially after the unsettling feeling he had yesterday, made him uneasy. He didn't let her protest, just grabbed his jacket and followed her out the door.

"Really, Ekko, it's fine," she said as they walked towards the car. "It's just a few meetings, nothing exciting."

"I know, I know," he replied, trying to sound casual. "Just thought I'd get out of the house. Plus, I could use some... intellectual stimulation." He grinned, hoping it would lighten the mood.

Jinx rolled her eyes but didn't push it further. The car ride was quiet, filled with the unspoken tension that had been simmering between them since his memory loss. But with something softer, Ekko relaxed so much that even though he knew Jinx was sitting next to him, he could fall asleep without worrying.

When they arrived, Ekko was immediately struck by the grandeur of the university. It was a sprawling campus of ivy-covered buildings, manicured lawns, and imposing statues. He could almost taste the prestige in the air. The architecture was classic, almost intimidating, with towering columns and intricate carvings.

"Damn," he muttered, "this place is intense."

"It's alright," Jinx said, a hint of pride in her voice. "You get used to it."

As they walked through the campus, Ekko noticed that Jinx greeted a few people with a quick nod or a brief "Hey." But there were no lingering conversations, no genuine smiles. It was as if she was an outsider, just passing through. It was unsettling. Ekko felt a little strange; he had seen her be warm with everyone, like a friend, but there was still something distant about her towards the world.

He didn’t know why.

"So, what's first on the agenda?" Ekko asked, trying to break the awkward silence.

"Meeting with Professor Elara," Jinx said, checking her phone. "It's about... some legal loophole I found in a case study. Apparently, it could rewrite some precedents."

"Sounds... complicated," Ekko admitted.

"Maybe."

They made their way to a modern-looking building with glass walls and sleek designs. Inside, the atmosphere was hushed and serious. Students hurried past, clutching thick textbooks and looking stressed. Jinx informed him where she would be while he stayed there, wandering around, although he got bored quickly.

Everything is so straight. White. He still couldn’t understand why Jinx chose this career. Is so... No Jinx at all.

After a while, Ekko became a little worried. Just a little, and asking around, he managed to get to a hallway where he overheard two voices, recognizing Jinx's. And another. A young man with slicked-back hair and an expensive suit was leaning against the desk, talking to Jinx with an intensity that made Ekko bristle. He was too close, invading her personal space.

Jinx is one to invade personal spaces easily. She even invaded Jace and Caitlyn’s; he saw it. But something about seeing that guy up close he didn't like. Not one bit. It made him move forward without even realizing it. Annoyed. Confused.

No. The word is jealous.

"... and I'm just saying, Jinx, you have a brilliant mind," the guy was saying, his voice smooth and oily. "You shouldn't waste it on these obscure cases. You could be working for the top firms in the city, making real money."

Jinx crossed her arms, her expression guarded.

"I'm doing what I want to do, Marcus. Thanks for the advice, though."

Marcus noticed Ekko and gave him a dismissive glance.

"And who's this?"

"This is Ekko," Jinx said, her voice a little sharper. "He's a... friend."

"A friend?" Marcus echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Well, 'friend,' I was just trying to offer Jinx some career guidance."

Ekko stepped forward, his eyes narrowed.

"She doesn't need your guidance. She's doing just fine."

Before the situation could escalate, another figure entered the office. He was tall and lanky, with messy hair and glasses perched on his nose. He was carrying a stack of papers that looked like they were about to topple over.

"Jinx, I've been looking everywhere for you!" he exclaimed, his voice high-pitched and frantic. "Professor Elara wants to see you immediately. Something about your analysis of the... uh..." He trailed off, peering at the papers. "...the 'obscure case,' as someone so eloquently put it." He shot a glare at Marcus.

"Relax, Liam," Jinx said, a hint of amusement in her voice. "I'm here. Marcus was just leaving."

Marcus, looking annoyed, straightened his suit and gave Jinx a curt nod.

"We'll talk later, Jinx. Don't forget what I said." He sauntered out of the office, leaving a lingering scent of expensive cologne.

Liam turned to Ekko, his eyes wide.

"Oh, sorry! I'm Liam. You must be...?"

"Ekko," he replied, shaking Liam's hand. "I'm... here to support Jinx."

Liam smiled.

"That's great! She needs all the support she can get around here." He paused. "Well, Jinx, Professor Elara's waiting. Good luck!"

Jinx gave Ekko a quick smile before following Liam out of the office. Ekko watched them go, a knot of unease twisting in his stomach. He didn't like the way Marcus was talking to her, and the way Liam seemed so frantic.

He decided to wait outside.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl as Ekko sat on a bench, watching the students stream by. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Besides, he was grateful that no one recognized him because his mind wasn’t up for it. The university was cold. And he was restless.

After what felt like an eternity, Jinx finally emerged from the building. Her expression was unreadable.

"Everything okay?" Ekko asked, standing up.

"Yeah, fine," she said, avoiding his gaze. "Just... a lot to think about."

Ekko hesitated.

"I’ll buy you an ice cream," he announced, seeing that Jinx was going to refuse. "I've been wanting one for an hour, wait here. Mm, vanilla with Oreo?"

Jinx smiled, nodding. Ekko felt like he had hit the lottery number as he walked away, ordering two ice creams from a stand near what he assumed was the entrance of a fair with even more students. It didn't take him more than five minutes to return. Jinx was tense.

A group of students blocked her path. As she actively tried to leave, they were older, maybe in their late twenties, and they all wore smug, condescending expressions.

"Well, well, well," one of them said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "If it isn't the resident killer."

Jinx stiffened, her hands clenching into fists.

"What do you want?" she asked, her voice low.

"Just wondering," another student sneered. "How does it feel, knowing you got away with murder? Must be nice to have the system on your side."

Ekko stopped abruptly upon hearing them.

Murder.

Jinx seemed to destabilize as she took a step back, causing the others to laugh. And Ekko got angry. He couldn’t allow anyone who wasn’t him to dare think of hating Jinx; they didn’t even know Vander or Silco. And they would never know. And certainly, they weren’t going to get into that matter in front of him. They shouldn’t even know about it.

Ekko cleared his throat, moving behind them, his eyes blazing.

"Back off," he said, his voice dangerously quiet.

"Oh, look, she brought her bodyguard," one of the students chuckled. "Trying to protect her from the truth?"

"The truth is," Ekko said, his voice rising, "you don't know anything about what happened. You weren't there. You have no right to judge her."

"Oh, we know enough," the first student said, stepping closer. "We know she's a danger to society. A case like you in a lawyer's gown. Disgusting."

"Victim. Victimizer. And now, lawyer."

That was it. Something snapped inside Ekko. But before he could move to do something stupid, Jinx stopped him from moving but not from speaking.

"Listen to me," he snarled, his face inches from the student's. "She's trying to make a difference, trying to atone for things she didn't even do. And you, you're just a bunch of pathetic bullies who get off on kicking people when they're down."

The other students surged forward, but Ekko didn't flinch. He was ready to fight. He didn't care about the consequences. He wouldn't let anyone disrespect Jinx like that.

"Ekko, stop!" Jinx says, grabbing his arm. "It's not worth it."

He hesitated, his gaze locked on the student in his grip. He could feel the anger coursing through him, the primal urge to protect... to protect Jinx at any cost.

Where did that come from?

Finally, he stepped away from the guy. With a dark look. He could feel the murmurs around him.

"Just leave her alone," Ekko said, his voice shaking with rage. "Or you'll have to deal with me."

The students, surprised by his intensity, backed down. They muttered insults under their breath as they dispersed, leaving Ekko and Jinx standing alone in the middle of the campus.

Ekko turned to Jinx, his face etched with concern.

"Is that normal?"

Jinx didn't answer. She just stared at him, her eyes wide and unreadable.

"Jinx?" he said softly, reaching out to touch her arm.

She flinched, pulling away.

"Don't," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

"What's wrong?" Ekko asked, his heart sinking.

"You shouldn't have done that," she said, her voice rising. "You made it worse. You just drew more attention to me."

"But they were being assholes," Ekko protested. "I couldn't just stand there and let them—"

"Yes, you could have!" Jinx snapped. "It's not..." She groaned, inhaling deeply. He remembers the strength and anger in her eyes, always, but looking at him, she is just drained. Exhausted. Her voice is barely a whisper. "Just let’s go home; I don’t want to talk about it."

Ekko wants to protest, but he nods.

She barely touches her ice cream on the way home. When they arrive home, Jinx murmurs something about going to shower while she distractedly greets, Ekko finds Isha sitting on the porch, swinging her legs. When she saw him, she immediately grabbed her whiteboard.

"How was it?" she asked, writing the words quickly.

Ekko simply shook his head. He opened the door and went inside, walking directly to his room. He sat on the bed and stared at the ceiling. He didn’t understand what he did wrong. Nor what had happened.

As he changes into something more comfortable, he wonders about that big detail he doesn't know. They seemed to do more than just accuse Jinx; they mocked her. Ekko doesn't understand, and he remembers how he called her that himself.

He is ready to apologize when he finds Jinx with Isha as if nothing happened. Pretending. He joins them, but something inside him questions how many times Jinx had to face this at her college to come back as if nothing happened.

And why did everyone know about what she had done?

Chapter Text

THE INCIDENT WAS FORGOTTEN, A LITTLE.

The next day, the sun filtered through Isha's window, painting the room in shades of orange and gold. Ekko was sitting on the edge of her bed, fiddling with a small gear he had rescued from one of her discarded toys. Isha was a whirlwind of energy even at that early hour, meticulously styling Ekko's hair with some clips to make him even more presentable.

“Almost... almost... perfect!” she smiled, and he could understand that, stepping back to evaluate her work. Then she took a board and wrote the following: “Now, Papa, you can’t wear that.” She gestured disdainfully at Ekko's worn leather jacket hanging on the back of the chair. “It needs... sparkle!”

Ekko laughed, allowing Isha to lead him to his wardrobe. He knew it was better not to argue with her when she was in "Stylist Isha" mode. Jinx watched from the door, a cup of coffee in hand, amusement shining in her eyes.

“She has you wrapped around her little finger, huh?” she joked.

“And I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Ekko replied, smiling. “Besides, if I'm going to impress her mother, I need all the help I can get.” He winked at Jinx, who rolled her eyes but couldn’t help but smile. It was a joke, but it felt warm.

Isha rummaged through Ekko's closet, pulling out increasingly extravagant outfits. A sequined vest? A bright pink shirt? A jacket with flashing LED lights? Ekko politely declined each suggestion, wondering why he still had those things until Isha finally unearthed a simple, well-tailored navy blazer.

“Alright, that works,” he conceded, gesturing to explain himself, nodding in approval. “But we need something... more.”

She disappeared into her own room, returning moments later with a handful of colorful, hand-drawn pins.

“These! For good luck!” She carefully pinned them to Ekko’s lapel, creating a whimsical collage of stars, robots, and lightning bolts.

Ekko looked at himself in the mirror, a mix of amusement and tenderness washing over him.

“Do you think Jinx will like it?”

Isha jumped over to Jinx, tugging at her hand.

“Mum! You have to help! Make Papa look nice!”

Jinx sighed dramatically, but a hint of excitement flickered in her expression.

“Alright, alright. But no glitter. I draw the line at glitter.”

With Isha and Jinx working as a tag team, Ekko was soon transformed. The blazer was paired with a crisp white shirt and dark jeans. Jinx had tamed his unruly hair into a slightly more presentable style, and Isha's pins added a touch of playful personality.

“Alright,” Jinx said, stepping back to admire her work.

“Not bad. You look good, for being a mechanic.”

“Ouch,” protested Ekko, feigning offense. “I’ll have you know I’m a very sophisticated mechanic.”

“And don’t forget,” Isha interrupted, hugging Ekko. “Tell Mommy about the sea turtles! They’re my favorite!”

As Ekko stepped out the door, he couldn’t help but feel a wave of nervous excitement. He had no idea what awaited him that night, but he knew he was ready to face it, armed with his daughter’s good luck charms and Jinx’s encouragement.

As he stepped out, he saw Sevika patting Isha on the head while talking to Jinx, who was giving her some instructions. There was something familiar between them, but he didn’t know who she was or why she was the one taking care of the little girl. However, it seemed like a rule that couldn’t be broken.

He noted it for later as he stepped out with Jinx towards her car; she looked beautiful. Jinx had a unique way of dressing, but now she wore an outfit that revealed her shoulders and her notable tattoos, with her two braids loose. Her hair reached her waist. Before he knew it, they had arrived at their destination.

The aquarium was a world of silent wonder, the only light emanating from the bright tanks that adorned the walls. Ekko and Jinx strolled side by side, their footsteps echoing softly on the polished floors.

“I’ve never been to a place like this,” Jinx confessed, looking at a huge tank full of colorful fish.

“It looks like you.”

“Well, that’s new,” Jinx remarked, amused. “No one’s ever told me I look like a fish.”

“No, I mean you remind me of an aquarium; full of vibrant colors, predominantly blue.”

They stopped in front of a tank filled with graceful jellyfish, their translucent bodies pulsing rhythmically.

“They’re mesmerizing,” Jinx murmured, her eyes fixed on the ethereal creatures. “An aquarium, huh? Nice.”

“They are,” Ekko agreed. “I told you I’d surprise you.”

Jinx turned to him, a curious expression on her face alongside a bright smile.

“Idiot.”

“Don’t talk to your tour guide like that,” Ekko mentioned. “Now you won’t know anything about sharks.”

“Oh, the boy savior, save me.”

They both laughed a little. They continued their tour, marveling at the vibrant coral reefs, playful sea otters, and imposing sharks. Ekko shared fascinating facts about each creature, immersing Jinx deeper into his world of knowledge and wonder. She was good at paying attention, retaining every detail carefully, and her questions were fascinating.

While they stood in front of a tank full of sea turtles talking about the animals, Ekko fell silent, watching Jinx’s face as she explained something about algae; her eyes seemed to hold the secrets of the ocean, reminding him too much of the blue tone the aquarium tried to imitate but that she had so easily in her gaze. Jinx spoke softly, noticing he had zoned out.

“Isha told you about them, didn’t she?”

“Ah, yes, the sea turtles,” Ekko said, his eyes shining, clearing his throat a little. “Did you know they can live over a hundred years? They’ve seen so much change in the world, so much history unfold.”

“It’s hard to imagine,” Jinx said, her voice filled with wonder. “Living that long, witnessing all that.”

“It makes you think about legacy, right?” Ekko said, his gaze sliding toward Jinx. “What we leave behind. The impact we have on the world.”

“Sometimes it’s not the world, just the people.”

“What do you mean?”

Jinx shrugged.

“There are famous people in history, yes, and we know them. Even from thousands of years ago like Cleopatra or Alexander the Great, but others... didn’t do anything in history. We don’t know more about most of the people who have lived in history,” she explained, lost in her thoughts. “But those people existed, marked their own lives and the lives of those around them.”

“And that was enough for that moment.”

“You get it, buster.”

“It was their life,” Ekko continued, watching her. “It was their story. They were... they were their world.”

A moment of silence hung between them, thick with unexpressed emotions. Then, Jinx broke the spell with a playful shove.

“Alright, deep thoughts over. Let’s go find the penguins. I heard they’re little bastards.”

“They’re cute.”

“They’re little shits,” Jinx insisted as they moved on. “Did you know they push each other to see if there are predators? If I had one behind me, it would push me into the tank to see what happens, and if I don’t die, it would jump in. Little piece of shit.”

Ekko snorted.

“They looked cute.”

“Little shits,” Jinx shook her head. “Short people are dangerous. Look at Napoleon, and me. Fuckin’ crazy.”

Ekko couldn’t help but laugh heartily as they spent the rest of the day at the aquarium, marveling at the place without being recognized. In the afternoon, almost at night, they decided to eat somewhere nearby while continuing to talk. There was karaoke there. They talked about more topics, politics, and science, while drinking and eating. Ekko found himself admiring the blue-haired girl while they talked, truly enjoying her company as time seemed to pass more slowly but at the same time faster by her side.

“What do you think she’s going to sing?”

Ekko observed the girl heading to the karaoke; she was brunette, with thick hair like his, with several piercings on her face. She was dressed in black.

“Something rock,” Ekko replied; “maybe My Immortal?”

“Oh, we’re betting on songs and everything,” Jinx laughed. “Hmm, I say she’s going to sing ABBA.”

“No way.”

“Or she’s going to sing Lady Gaga,” Jinx insisted. “A milkshake that it’s Bad Romance.”

“Deal.”

They both watched the girl get on stage as the music track started; she sang Be My Baby by The Ronettes. Her voice fit well with the song, and despite not being a good singer, she brought the place to life. They both cheered and clapped. Ekko watched Jinx drink her shake while they continued talking about trivialities when a boy got up; he was skinny with glasses. He almost tripped. And he was shaking slightly.

“I think he’s going to sing one of Ed Sheeran’s.”

“I’ll take a risk,” Jinx replied, excitement dancing in her eyes. “Arctic Monkeys.”

“Thinking Out Loud.”

“Do I Wanna Know.”

“Go ahead.”

The boy got up, almost dropping the microphone, and started singing with a deep voice completely different from his appearance, “I Wanna Be Yours,” silencing the entire place. The surprise was so great that both of them stayed silent, their mouths slightly open for a minute at the boy’s deep voice until Jinx squealed with excitement, elbowing Ekko as she shook him in excitement at seeing she had won. Ekko simply rolled his eyes until they locked eyes.

Crawling back to... you.

Ekko swallowed hard, watching their closeness. Jinx had slid from the other side of the table that was in a corner without chairs, just a semicircular seat connecting the table. Four people could be squeezed in there, but only the two of them were there. And somehow, they were both in the middle, almost on top of each other, or well, Jinx was on top of him. He could feel her breath on his neck if she breathed heavily.

“Sorry,” she apologized, pulling away a little.

“It's okay.”

Only it didn’t bother him that much. And he discovered that Jinx's eyes seemed to shine in the light, something in them appeared darker under the lights, but with the play of other lights, they sparkled with something silver in them. Or maybe he was just hallucinating.

“I think James Blunt,” Jinx cleared her throat, watching the next girl. “Always Hate Me.”

Ekko barely reacted.

“I, uh...” he cleared his throat, seeming unable to speak. “Taylor Swift. You Belong With Me.”

They were both wrong.

“Hopelessly Devoted to You” by Olivia Newton-John played with the girl’s incredible voice.

They both watched the girl sing while Ekko felt he could identify with the lyrics. And as he watched her, she had a sad look watching the couples dance, swaying back and forth totally in love while the song’s lyrics flooded the place.

I know I’m just a fool who’s willing
To sit around and wait for you
But baby, can’t you see there’s nothing else for me to do?
I’m hopelessly devoted to you

Ekko swallowed hard.

“She sings well,” he commented, unsure why the hell he spoke. “She has a future.”

“Yeah.”

She barely noticed him, not even looking, focused on the dance floor.

My head is saying, ‘Fool, forget him’
My heart is saying, ‘Don’t let go
Hold on to the end’, that’s what I intend to do
I’m hopelessly devoted to you

Ekko wanted to curse. And maybe sink into his seat until he reached the center of the earth.

But he realized that what hurt him the most, or pained him, was Jinx’s melancholic gaze at the lyrics while she was lost in her thoughts, her eyes fixed on some point on the dance floor while the girl gave her all in her cover of the iconic song, oblivious to what she had just provoked between them.

The song fit so perfectly in Jinx's situation that it was almost funny. Almost. It was her state of being in love but her heart was broken, whether she wanted it or not, and not for normal reasons, but because his memory had vanished. It was as if she had been dumped without warning.

He wanted to take her out to dance to make her feel better.

Or not.

He wasn’t sure, he stretched his fingers to touch her arm without her noticing, ready to take the risk when someone interrupted him.

“Oh my God, it’s Ekko Shanon!”

“What?”

“Come on, come on,” the boy repeated. “Please sing something. I can’t believe you’re here! Let’s take a picture!”

Ekko was barely aware that he was being dragged out of his seat as he took a picture with the guy. And he cursed loudly, Jinx stood up to stop him, but Ekko shook his head, trying to free himself from the situation until he was in front of the microphone, completely frozen. And seeing him, most of the crowd emitted squeals of excitement.

“It’s Ekko!”

“Oh my God!”

“Ekko, we love you!”

He swallowed hard, watching the crowd as Jinx reached his side with a worried expression. She took his arm.

“We’re leaving,” she announced, looking at the sound guy. “We were just going, let’s hurry…”

“But it’s Ekko Shanon!” the guy shouted. “Come on, a song, a cover at least. Please.”

“It’ll be another time,” Jinx replied. “We’re leaving.”

Ekko didn’t know what to say because people started cheering, encouraging him to sing, a light blinded him as he blinked with one hand covering it. The noise grew. It was overwhelming. Something in his head began to pound. He even felt his brain throb. His breathing increased. Everything was too much.

“Ekko, Ekko!”

“Sing ‘The Idea of Her’!”

“Sing ‘The Boy Savior!’” a girl shouted. “Please!”

He vaguely remembers a crowd. Him playing the guitar. And at the same time, he remembers nothing.

“Sing ‘My Best Enemy,’ please!”

“My best enemy, my best enemy!”

Ekko gasped, his head hurt more.

“I love you so much, did you know?”

“I know,” Jinx admitted. “Even though I’m more of a hater.”

His head hurt more; he could no longer see very well what was happening. The light overwhelmed him; he couldn’t see the audience. Just the white light. And the roar of the crowd like caged lions.

“I promise if there’s a snake on the plane, a terrorist attack, or a vampire, I’ll record it, send you a message, and follow the extensive list you have.”

“Also say a pretty epic phrase at the end when everything goes well.”

“Or yes, the epic phrase,” she mocked. “Most importantly, anything else, savior boy?”

“I’ll miss you,” he said. “I love you, don’t forget.”

Everything spun around him. His head was going to explode.

“Ekko, Ekko...” they called him, but he couldn’t focus his eyes well, he felt his head was going to explode. “Ekko!”

“My... My head.”

“I love you too, princess. Remember that.”

“Ekko!”

And the next thing was complete darkness.

Chapter Text

EKKO SHANNON VIOLENT AND ALSO COLLAPSES AT A LOCAL KARAOKE!*

By: Pop Chart

Ekko Shannon has recently been seen following his fatal accident that claimed the life of his driver, Jerincho Blunt (52), in Toronto, which left him in the hospital for several weeks and forced the cancellation of his third world tour. Through social media, it was announced that the artist was out of danger, with no serious sequelae, and would be resting in his mansion in the USA with his family.

It is worth noting that the world-renowned singer has kept his private life away from media attention, even refraining from using social media. However, his girlfriend, Jinx Zaunite, was photographed several times in the hospital. It is presumed that they have a daughter whose identity remains unknown.

Now, last Tuesday, the singer was spotted for the first time in a local supermarket. He did not make any statements, but he appeared to be doing well, although he quickly rejected paparazzi and left the place.

However, the day before, a purported video circulated on social media showing the singer of 'My Best Enemy' having a violent and angry argument with a university student at the prestigious Piltover Law University. The video was taken by several students, and according to witnesses, the singer raised his voice and exhibited behaviors that suggested he had "violent intentions; to hit him." However, neither the singer nor the alleged victim have commented on the matter, so no further details are available.

On the same day, a video went viral from the bar 'The Last Drop,' showing the singer collapsing in the karaoke area. Authorities arrived shortly after to transport him to the nearest hospital. More details are still unknown, but Ekko's team, led by his manager Jace Tails, has already reported that he is out of danger.

The reasons that led the singer to collapse in such a manner remain unclear. According to a source present at the venue, they stated to Variety, "He was paralyzed. Under the spotlight. And his eyes lost focus; the next thing we knew, he was on the floor." Several witnesses commented that his girlfriend, Jinx Zaunite, was also present and assisted him, but neither appeared to have consumed substances. However, a waiter at the venue claimed to have brought three rounds of alcohol to both of them, stating, "They arrived at the venue happy, too happy, but then they became serious, as if something had flipped the switch."

There is no known history of illicit drug use by the singer, but recent usage cannot be ruled out. It is also speculated that these might be sequelae from his accident, about which exact details are still unknown. What we do know is that the singer's erratic, strange, and incomprehensible behavior is concerning. Here at Pop Chart, we send all our strength to Ekko Shannon for a recovery; these have been tough times for him.

And we hope he is not another music star who fades away due to substance abuse.

Chapter Text

EKKO SIGHS, LISTENING TO THE DOCTORS AND WATCHING THROUGH THE WINDOW THE SILHOUETTE OF JINX AND JACE TALKING.

It seems Jace is upset, while Viktor appears calm. Rarely, if ever, does he lose his composure. He intervenes in the conversation, seemingly scolding Jinx.

Because of him.

"Mr. Shannon," the doctor calls him. "Can you follow the light of the flashlight?"

Ekko nods. But his eyes once again drift to Jinx talking with her two old friends. He feels like a dog that made a mess and is now scolded by its owner who wasn’t at fault.

He barely follows the light of the flashlight with a hint of guilt. He follows the instructions, takes a pill, and continues watching through the glass at Jinx talking with the others. She’s moving her arms and has pulled her hair several times in exasperation, but she hasn’t looked in his direction even once.

"Do you remember anything?"

Ekko looks at the doctor, paying attention for the first time to everything he has said. This also gives him a bit of guilt, but he is serious. His voice comes out rougher than he intends.

"Not much."

"Well, it seems your brain remembered something but blocked the information," the doctor explains, sighing as he notes something in his notebook. "Being in a stressful situation similar to your previous life, your brain got overwhelmed with what it remembers and what it doesn’t."

"Are you saying my brain can’t handle what my life was?"

"No, no," he rushes to deny. "Think of your memories like a pipe. A river. Right now, it’s flowing at half its normal capacity. When trying to access maximum power, it didn’t know how to regulate the flow, and well, it got overwhelmed. That’s why it’s recommended to go slowly, gradually increasing the power."

"I haven’t been able to remember anything, absolutely nothing in two months."

The doctor clears his throat, fidgeting with his hands. He reminds Ekko of Jinx beside him, but she looks more genuine.

"Well, the process is different for everyone and..."

"Be honest," Ekko growls. "I won’t get my memories back, will I?"

The doctor swallows hard. But he shakes his head.

"Listen, Mr. Shannon, we say six months because it’s the highest probability that your memories will return; the shorter the time, the more likely it is," he explains, waving his hands in the air for emphasis. "After six months, the probability decreases. Yes, but it never disappears. There have been cases where, after ten years, memories return because someone smells bread they used to eat as a child, and bam! Memories back."

"But there’s also a chance they never come back."

The doctor stops moving his hands, finally. They were starting to make him dizzy. Ekko notices he has a cross necklace next to the device doctors use to listen to heartbeats.

And no matter how hard he tries, he can’t remember the name of that stupid medical implement, even though it’s one of the most basic.

"Everything is a probability," he admits. "We’ll discharge you in a few hours, I’ll prescribe some pills for the dizziness. And if there are any side effects, come immediately."

Ekko nods, watching him leave. He wants to remember the name of that stupid object, but he can’t even come remotely close to the correct answer. He doesn’t want to look it up. He doesn’t want to be told. He wants to remember it because he knows what it’s called.

But the name doesn’t come to his tongue.

Looking back into the hallway, the doctor talks to the three; he sees Jinx crossing her arms while she speaks quickly, but the doctor shakes his head, makes a couple of gestures, and leaves them. Jinx growls. Jace too. They seem to be arguing, but then Viktor intervenes, raising an arm.

For some reason, Jinx leaves reluctantly; Ekko notices by her way of walking, how she tilts her head slightly to one side and wrinkles her nose with her mouth like one crumples a piece of paper. She didn’t find it funny to have been... whatever it was they did to her, but she accepts leaving, almost steaming.

Ekko can almost hear her cursing under her breath as she disappears down the hallway.

He barely observes when Jace enters the room with Viktor behind him.

"How are you, man?" Jace starts, sniffling while rubbing his hands in the air. "Bruises, something broken?"

"Not more than what’s already there," Ekko replies, lacking enthusiasm. "What happened?"

"No, but seriously. Are you okay? Wasn’t it..."

"Spilled out, Jace."

He sighs, running his hand over his face while pacing in circles around his spot. It’s as if he’s dancing in a three-by-three block.

"Listen, I understand that all this is new. And intense. And everything," Jace explains. "But you’re forgetting the biggest detail of your life right now; you are world-famous. Your life depends a bit too much on what others think of you."

"And what does that have to do with anything?"

Jace makes a sound similar to a sarcastic laugh.

"Well, usually everything," he simplifies. "But right now, Pop Chart called you violent and said you might have a drug problem."

"What?" Ekko growls. "I literally passed out at karaoke with kids present!"

"I know, but that’s how things are around here," he laments. "And with what you did at Jinx's college..."

"They were being idiots with her!" Ekko retorts, indignant. "I just put a stop to it."

"I know, I know, I know. I trust you, man, I know," Jace insists. "But I know it, right? But all the journalists, the tabloid press, the fans, and anyone who reads that article won’t know."

"We can tell them."

"''We can tell them'?" Jace replies, almost shouting while rubbing his face in exasperation. "I really hope you’re joking because that hasn’t..."

"Jace," Viktor interrupts, who had been standing in a corner silently analyzing everything with an impassive expression. "Could you bring us something to eat? Ekko hasn’t eaten since last night."

"I think we’re in the middle of a more important matter."

"He won’t last much longer without eating," Viktor replies, giving a significant look to the man. "Jace. Please."

Jace puts his hands to his head; Ekko thinks he might pull his hair out from stress but decides to omit saying that out loud. However, reluctantly, he leaves the room in search of something to eat, leaving them alone. Ekko growls, looking away, feeling more like a scolded dog.

"I know I messed it up."

"I know that, and if you didn’t know, you’ve sensed it since you saw us talking to Jinx," Viktor twists, in his enigmatic but calm tone. "And you certainly confirmed it with Jace."

"So you’re here to scold me?"

"What would I gain from that?"

"I don’t know."

Ekko growls, angry with life. But Viktor just watches him from his corner; he’s a calm man, even rigid, but there’s something gentle about him that invites peace. At least, it’s as if he doesn’t judge him. Even if he knows he’s going to scold him.

"So," Ekko insisted, unable to help himself. "What are you going to tell me? Why did you send Jace away?"

"Ah, because you must be hungry," he replies simply. "And well, you need some silence after so much noise."

"What game are you playing?"

"Nothing in particular."

Ekko huffs. Excellent.

"Why were you scolding Jinx?" he asks, unable to contain himself. "She had nothing to do with it; she just helped me, and I went alone to her college."

"We know, but we weren’t 'scolding' her."

"They were speaking harshly to her," Ekko growls. "You made her talk fast. She moves her arms like that when she’s stressed."

Viktor nods, looking at him with something unperturbed.

"So you’ve improved your relationship," he comments. "Do you love her now?"

"No."

"So you hate her."

"No," he rushes to deny, observing Viktor’s expression. It seems he’s playing with him. "It’s complicated."

"I know."

"You know everything, I see."

"Not everything, I fear," he admits, shrugging. "We weren’t scolding her; it’s just that given your condition, the state has put a special permit on Jinx as a kind of legal guardian. We didn’t tell you because it doesn’t limit or bind you to her in any way, but with the recent accusations, it could harm her."

"Jinx is my legal guardian?" Ekko asks. "Why didn’t she tell me?"

"Yes. Not. Kinda?" Viktor replies, hesitating. "I told you, with the fact that you hate her, we didn’t want to bother you. And as I said, it doesn’t limit or bind you to her."

"But you didn’t tell me."

"Well, it expires in three months," he added. "But if there are these... rumors of violence but especially illicit substances you’re consuming, she would be seriously affected. More with her history."

"But that wasn’t true. We didn’t even drink more than one beer."

"Jace was right that you forget you’re famous; everything you do or don’t do is different from others," he explained gently. "Listen, Ekko, we’re friends, but I’m also your lawyer. And sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to at work; that’s adult life."

"What kind of things?"

"An interview," he commented. "We’ll practice. I’ll see with whom, not with just anyone who might say counterproductive things. You’ll just clarify things, and we’ll go back to being unnoticed."

"Jinx won’t be in trouble?"

"Not if you do it right," Viktor commented. "They haven’t opened an investigation; they’re just rumors, but it wouldn’t be prudent for them to spread."

Ekko nodded, the weight of the situation beginning to settle on his shoulders. Viktor sighed, straightening up.

"Okay. I’ll explain more detailed when..."

The door swung open abruptly, revealing Jinx standing in the doorway, her face flushed and her hair even more tousled than usual.

"What’s going on? Why is Jace running like the world is ending?" she asked, her voice trembling with a mix of emotions. "Ekko? Are you okay?"

Viktor turned to her calmly, although Ekko noticed a slight tightening in his jaw.

"Jinx, we were just discussing the best way to approach the current situation."

"And what would that 'best way' be?"

"An interview."

"'An interview'?" Jinx repeated, incredulous. "Seriously? After all this shit?"

Jinx looked at Ekko, her eyes bloodshot. He could see the confusion and fear mixed with the anger that always seemed to bubble beneath her surface.

"Jinx, this is to protect you," Ekko intervened, feeling the need to defend himself. "I don’t want you to be affected by my mistakes."

"Your mistakes?" Jinx spat. "No way. It’s dangerous. You need to rest; people will forget."

"Or not," Viktor interjected. "Just one. I’ll find the best."

The tension in the room was palpable, almost cutting. Ekko and Jinx stared at each other, with all the unspoken words floating between them like ghosts. Just when the situation threatened to explode, the door swung open once more, but this time it wasn’t Jace, but a woman with blue eyes. Her slightly disheveled orange hair and her face showed genuine concern.

"Ekko, darling, are you okay?" she asked, stepping toward the bed. "I heard on the news and..."

"Maddie," Jinx growled, interrupting her before she could finish her sentence. "What are you doing here?"

Maddie turned to Jinx, with a tense smile.

"I just came to see how Ekko was. I was worried about him."

"Well, you’ve seen him," Jinx said, crossing her arms. "Now you can go."

The tension in the room rose even further. Viktor watched the scene with an evaluative look, without intervening. Ekko felt trapped in the middle of a perfect storm, not knowing what to say or do.

"Jinx, you don’t have to be rude," Ekko said, trying to ease the situation.

"I’m not being rude," Jinx replied, her voice sharp as a knife. "She saw you; now she can leave. We were talking about something important."

"Just one moment," Ekko asked, starting to feel exasperated. "And we already decided."

"No, we hadn’t decided anything."

Maddie sighed, shaking her head.

"I’m not going to argue with you, Jinx," she intervened. "I just want to make sure Ekko is okay." she turned to Ekko, her eyes filled with a silent plea. "Are you okay, Ekko? Do you need anything?"

Ekko hesitated, but shook his head. The last thing he needed, to be honest, was Maddie here along with Jinx in a hospital room.

"I’m fine, thanks," he finally said, his voice soft. Though tense, his heart was pounding, like a teenager, but he was a man of his word; he wouldn’t disrespect Jinx again. They were together. "I just need to rest."

Maddie nodded, with a disappointed expression on her face.

"I was very worried about you."

She reached out and gave him a handshake. Ekko felt a slight chill at the contact, as if an electric current ran through his body. He let go quickly, feeling uncomfortable.

Just then, the door swung open once more, revealing Jace, panting and holding a bag of food.

"Here’s the food!" he announced, with a forced smile. "I hope you like pizza, man. From what I..."

Jace’s arrival broke the tension in the room, if only for a moment. Although the man’s face twisted at seeing the two women in the room, as if he couldn’t believe it.

"Jace, can you come with me for a second?" Viktor said, with a significant look.

"Is that...?"

Jace growled, leaving the pizza behind while grumbling under his breath but following Viktor. Ekko was left alone with Jinx and Maddie, with the tension still palpable in the air.

"Jinx, can you go sign the discharge papers?" Jace said before leaving the room, blinking several times. "So Ekko can go home, please."

Jinx looked him in the eyes. Ekko couldn’t determine what she was thinking until she nodded.

"Okay," Jinx said, turning to Ekko. "I'm comin' for you."

She left the room, leaving Ekko alone with Maddie.

Maddie hesitated, as if she didn’t know what to say. Finally, she reached out once more and gave him a handshake.

"Take care, Ekko," she said softly. "And don’t hesitate to call me if you need anything."

Ekko nodded, feeling a strange mix of confusion and curiosity. Maddie gave him one last look before turning around and leaving the room, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

The chaos had calmed, but the storm still raged inside Ekko’s head. He felt like he was trapped in a maze of lost memories and confusing emotions, not knowing where to go or whom to believe. And worst of all, Jinx would be involved, whether he liked it or not, and he had to resolve that as soon as possible.

As he waited for Jinx to return, Ekko reflected on everything that had happened. He knew his life had changed forever, but he wasn’t sure if it was for better or worse. He only knew he had to find a way to recover his memories and discover the truth about himself and the people around him. Above all, Jinx, without a doubt.

As he closed his eyes, he still remembered those vague lines he had heard before passing out.

"I love you too, princess. Remember that."

While he thought, he couldn’t help but let his mind drift back to Jinx. He had seen her stressed, furious, even scared. He had seen her in many ways, but in all of them, there was always a spark of something more. He sighed, feeling overwhelmed by the complexity of the situation. He only knew he couldn’t let Jinx suffer the consequences of his actions. He had to find a way to protect her, even if it meant sacrificing himself.

Because, despite everything that had happened, despite all the lost memories and confusing emotions, Ekko knew deep down in his heart that Jinx was important to him. He didn’t know exactly why, but he knew it. And he was willing to do whatever it took to keep her safe.

When Jinx returned, with the discharge papers in hand, Ekko got out of bed and followed her out of the room, feeling like a ship adrift in a stormy sea. But at least he knew he had a lighthouse to cling to: the rebellious and explosive figure of Jinx, who somehow had become his anchor amid the chaos. Only sometimes, the anchor sank the ship with its weight.

Chapter Text

IT'S LIKE A CRACK ALONG THE WALL.

Jinx sighed and turned away from the important papers of that case. Her mind couldn't focus. She had more important things to worry about. Like keeping Ekko sane.

He was holed up in his room, as he had been for days, the blinds drawn, the world shut out. She knew he was online, obsessively monitoring the news, even though he'd sworn he wouldn't. He was a moth to a flame, drawn to the poisonous glow of public opinion.

Jinx said nothing. Instead, she actively blocked celebrity news channels on the TV they used. He could still sneak peeks online, a battle she knew she couldn't win entirely. But she had managed to restrict access to searches for his own name. The less he saw, the better. Even Isha. But she's a kid. And kids always manage to filter through whether they want to or not; still, Jinx explains to her in detail that they are lies.

What he did manage to see was enough. Every click, every comment, every scathing article chipped away at him, leaving him raw and bleeding. He was being called violent. A drug addict. The most insidious theory, the one that wormed its way into the darkest corners of the internet, was that he had been high when the accident happened.

Lies. All lies. She hadn't touched drugs in years, not since they were kids scraping by on the streets. Ekko hadn't touched a drug in his damn life, but no one seems to remember that. But the accusations stuck, a stain that wouldn't wash clean. The court of public opinion had already delivered its verdict: guilty.

He had stopped eating properly. He barely slept. His hands trembled constantly. He had always carried the weight of the world on his shoulders, but this was crushing him.

Jinx felt a surge of protective fury. She wanted to lash out, to destroy everything and everyone that was hurting him. But she knew that wouldn't help. What Ekko needed wasn't destruction, but reassurance. Support. A lifeline in the storm.

She took a deep breath and walked to his door, knocking softly. No answer. She knocked again, a little louder.

"Ekko?" she called out, her voice laced with concern.

"I'm coming out, just a moment."

"No," she said firmly. "I'm coming in."

She pushed the door open and stepped into the gloom. The room was partially organized, but she could see his computer still lit up despite being closed. Ekko was avoiding looking at her. He had been avoiding her a bit, but he hadn't been rude like he once was; now he just seemed nervous. She walked over to the bed and sat down gently, careful not to jostle him too much.

"Hey," she said softly.

"Hey."

"I brought you some tea," she said, holding up a chipped mug filled with steaming liquid. "Your favorite. Ginger and honey."

He stirred slightly, but didn't move.

"I don't want tea," he mumbled.

"Yes, you do," Jinx insisted. "It'll make you feel better."

She placed the mug on the bedside table and reached out. Ekko was sitting with his back against the wall wearing a white t-shirt, his thick hair slightly disheveled. He looked worried. Older. Even when he hated her, though he still does a bit, he never looked so... unhappy.

"Leave me alone, Jinx," he said, his voice hoarse. "Please."

"I'm not going anywhere," she said, her voice firm but gentle.

He looked at her, his eyes filled with pain.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he whispered.

"Doesn't matter."

"Yeah, but I wouldn't have been so stupid."

"They're just words; Viktor exaggerates..."

"You could go to jail," Ekko shot back, looking at her. He was so worried that Jinx fell silent, watching him. "I looked it up; you could go for at least ten years. That idiot from college could report you for intimidation and open an investigation, and you could go..."

"But I won't," Jinx replied. "And he didn't. It's not that serious."

"It is. And it's my fault."

"I am the legal guardian," Jinx stated, trying to sound more confident than she felt. The words hung in the air, a flimsy shield against the tidal wave of Ekko's worry.

He sat up straighter, pulling away from the wall.

"That doesn't matter, Jinx! Being a legal guardian doesn't give you immunity! If they decide to pursue it..." He ran a hand through his already disheveled hair. "God, I was such an idiot. I should have known better than to let things escalate like that."

Jinx frowned.

"Hey, none of this is your fault. Viktor was being a prick, okay? And I handled it. End of story."

"But what if it's not the end?" Ekko insisted, his voice rising. "What if he decides to press charges? Intimidation, harassment... they could twist it any way they want."

"Then we'll fight it," Jinx said, her voice hardening. "We'll hire a lawyer, we'll get Isha's social worker involved. We'll do whatever it takes. But I am not going to let you sit here and torture yourself over something that hasn't even happened yet."

She reached out and took his hand. His skin was clammy, his fingers trembling. She squeezed gently, trying to transmit some of her own strength.

"Look at me, Ekko."

He hesitated, then met her gaze. His eyes were bloodshot and filled with anxiety. And although he thought Jinx's touch would be cold, dark, and somehow uncomfortable, it felt like a pillow, like a cold and soft pillow against his exhaustion.

"It's gonna be okay," she said softly. "I promise. We'll figure it out. Together."

A small, hesitant smile flickered across his lips.

"Together," he echoed.

"Yeah, together. Like always." She squeezed his hand again. "Now, how about that tea?"

He wrinkled his nose.

"Still don't want it."

"Too bad. I made it for you. Besides, you haven't eaten anything all day. You need something in your stomach." She picked up the mug and held it out to him. "Come on, just a few sips."

He reluctantly took the mug, cradling it in his hands. He took a tentative sip, then another. A faint glimmer of appreciation appeared in his eyes.

"It's...actually pretty good."

"Told ya," Jinx said, grinning. "I'm practically a master herbalist now."

He chuckled softly, a sound that warmed her from the inside out. It had been too long since she'd heard him laugh.

"So," she said, trying to lighten the mood. "While you're busy saving the world with your ginger-honey concoction, I'm going to tell you a joke."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, really? Since when are you telling jokes?"

"Since right now. What do you call a fish with no eyes?"

He rolled his eyes.

"I don't know, Jinx. What?"

"Fsh!" she exclaimed, grinning.

He groaned.

"That's terrible."

"I know! That's why it's funny." She nudged him playfully. "Come on, admit it. You laughed."

He shook his head, but a smile was playing on his lips.

"Maybe a little."

"See? I'm good for something."

"With that joke, I now have a reason to save the world."

They sat in silence for a moment, the tension in the room slowly dissipating. The only sound was the gentle clinking of the mug as Ekko finished his tea.

"Thanks," he said quietly, handing the empty mug back to her.

"Anytime," she replied. She set the mug back on the bedside table and turned back to him. "So, what's the plan? Are you going to stay holed up in here forever, or are you going to face the world?"

He sighed.

"I don't know. I just...everything's so messed up, Jinx. I can't seem to do anything right."

"Hey, that's not true," she said firmly. "You're amazing, Ekko. You're smart, you're talented, and you have a bigger heart than anyone I know. Don't let a bunch of internet trolls tell you otherwise."

"It's not just the internet," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "It's...the accident. People are hurt."

Ekko means that all this is hurting her specifically but is silent, he knows that she will deny it. However true it is.

"Accidents happen, Ekko. You can't control everything. And you certainly can't control what other people think."

"I know," he said. "But it's hard not to feel responsible."

"I get it," she said, reaching out to squeeze his hand again. "But you can't let it destroy you. You have to keep fighting, keep moving forward. For yourself, for Isha..."

His eyes widened slightly at the mention of Isha.

"Yeah," he said softly. "For Isha." A new thought seemed to strike him. "Hey, how is Isha doing with all this? Has she been saying anything?"

Jinx hesitated for a moment.

"She's fine. A little confused, maybe. Kids hear things, you know? But I've been explaining it to her. Telling her that it's all just lies."

"You're good with her," Ekko blurted out. A silent expression of gratitude. Jinx was a good mother and guardian, an active and warm presence in Isha's life.

Jinx was so good.

She just was good.

"I try," Jinx shrugged, feeling a warmth spread across her. "She's family, right?"

Ekko suddenly stiffened.

"Jinx..." he began, his voice hesitant. "That day, during the accident..."

Jinx's stomach twisted.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"It didn't seem important."

"Not important? Jinx, you're my guardian! That is a giant commitment"

"I just did what anyone would have done," she mumbled, avoiding his gaze.

"That's bullshit, and you know it," he said, his voice rising again. "You risked everything to protect me, and you didn't even tell me about it? Why?"

She sighed.

"Because I didn't want you to feel like you owed me anything," she said, finally meeting his gaze. "I didn't want you to feel like you had to be grateful."

He stared at her in disbelief.

"Jinx, I am grateful! I'm grateful for everything you've done for me, for Isha, for everyone. You're the most selfless person I know."

"Don't be ridiculous."

"I'm serious!" He grabbed her other hand, holding both of them tightly. "You always put everyone else first, even when it hurts you. You need to start taking care of yourself, Jinx."

Her face softened.

"I'm trying," she said quietly.

"I know you are," he said, squeezing her hands. "And I'm going to help you."

They sat in silence for a moment, their hands intertwined. The air crackled with unspoken emotions.

"Hey, Ekko?" Jinx said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah?"

"It's been a long time since...you know..." She trailed off, suddenly feeling awkward.

He frowned.

"How long has it been since what?"

"Since...since I used," she mumbled, looking down at their hands. "Since drugs."

He hesitated for a moment, then his expression softened.

"It doesn't matter."

She nodded.

"It matters to me. A long time." She took a deep breath and looked up at him. "It's been...it's been since around when Isha came into the picture. Maybe a little before that."

His eyes widened slightly.

"Really? You haven't...not even once?"

She shook her head.

"Nope. Not even once."

He stared at her in amazement.

"That's...that's incredible, Jinx. I'm so proud of you."

She shrugged, trying to downplay it.

"It's not a big deal. I just...I wanted to be a good mom, you know? I couldn't do that if I was still messed up. It was a promise; I wanted you to know that was a long, long time ago."

"It is a big deal," he insisted. "Thank you for telling me, and that's something to be really proud of. I am proud of you."

"Thanks," she said, smiling shyly.

"So, what changed?" he asked, his voice curious. "What made you decide to quit?"

"Isha," she said without hesitation. "She needed me. And I realized that I needed her too. I didn't want to mess things up for her. I didn't want her to grow up with a junkie for a mom."

"You're a great mom, Jinx," he said, squeezing her hands again. "Isha's lucky to have you."

"I'm lucky to have her too," she said softly.

They sat in silence for a moment, their eyes locked. The connection between them was palpable, a silent understanding that transcended words.

"Hey, Jinx?" Ekko said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah?"

"I'm...I'm really glad we're...this," he said, gesturing vaguely between them.

Jinx frowned slightly.

"This? What's 'this'?"

He hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath.

"I don't know," he said. "Friends? More than friends? I'm not really sure. But whatever it is, I'm glad it's happening."

Her heart skipped a beat.

"Me too," she said softly.

They stared at each other for a long moment, their hands still intertwined. The air was thick with unspoken emotions, with a tentative hope that flickered in their eyes.

Jinx licked her lips, feeling suddenly nervous.

"So," she said, breaking the silence. "What do we do now?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe...maybe we just keep doing what we're doing. Keep supporting each other, keep being there for each other, keep...holding hands?" He blushed slightly as he said the last part.

Jinx giggled.

"Yeah," she said. "You knew you were going to beg me."

"I regret it."

"C'mon! See this nail, I also want to take them."

"God."

"You're loving it."

"Yes," Ekko whispered. "Maybe I do."

They sat in silence for a few minutes with their hands slightly intertwined on the mattress. It's warm. But something in Ekko feels strange, with a feeling he had never experienced before, but it burns with the bittersweetness of everything surrounding Jinx in his memories. Eventually, Ekko spoke again, his voice a little stronger this time.

"I have an interview today," he said.

Jinx's eyes widened.

"What? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to," he said. "I didn't want to do it at all. But my manager said it was important. That I need to clear my name."

Jinx frowned.

"I don't like this," she said. "They're just going to try to twist your words."

"I know," he said. "But I have to try. I have to tell my side of the story."

Jinx looked at him, her heart aching.

"Okay," she said finally. "But I'm going with you."

Ekko looked surprised.

"You don't have to do that."

"I want to," Jinx said. "I want to be there for you. To make sure they don't try to pull anything."

He smiled weakly.

"Thanks, Jinx."

"Don't mention it," she said, squeezing his hand again. "Now, get up. You need to get ready."

He groaned, but reluctantly sat up in bed.

"I'll make you some breakfast," he said. "Something healthy. And then we'll figure out what you're going to wear."

She nodded, his eyes still filled with apprehension.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it."

Jinx left him to shower and went to the kitchen. Ekko arrived in the kitchen shortly after; he rummaged through the cupboards, finding some oats, fruit, and honey. He quickly whipped up a bowl of porridge and brought it to her. She ate in silence, picking at the food. Ekko watched her, his eyes filled with concern.

"You need to eat more," he said.

"I'm not hungry," she said. "We're talking about you; I had breakfast."

"I don't care," he said. "You need to keep your strength up."

She sighed and took another bite.

And the next thing they knew, they were in the car waiting to go to the famous interview.

Chapter Text

EVERYTHING WAS SISTERATIC.

A woman with a stressed appearance worried about Ekko's look, wiping his forehead with a powder puff and adjusting his microphone. Meanwhile, another person had changed his shirt. And many strangers had invaded his personal space to make sure he looked good for the cameras, as well as having a microphone and a couple of compliments.

"Five minutes!" someone shouted.

Ekko closed his eyes and tried to visualize a calm and peaceful place. He saw Isha's smiling face, that refuge in his home, with the tree that provided shade and the sound of animals, plus Jinx there, silently smiling. He had to do it, not just for himself, but for them.

"You can do this," Jinx whispered, squeezing his hand again. "It's not harder than the tricks you did on that board."

He opened his eyes, looked into her eyes, and nodded.

"Alright, funny you," he said, this time with a stronger voice. "Let's do it."

The woman with the headphones led him to the set. The studio lights were blinding, and the atmosphere was charged with expectation. He sat in front of Lest, a woman whose reputation preceded her. She was known for her penetrating questions, her ability to exploit vulnerabilities, and her unyielding quest for a good story.

Lest smiled, but her smile didn't reach her eyes.

Someone shouted "cut," and it was as if the world had completely restarted.

"Welcome, Ekko. Thank you for joining us."

"Thank you for having me," Ekko replied, trying to project an air of confidence he didn't feel.

"It's been a while, hasn't it?" Lest asked, smiling to the side.

"Yes," Ekko nodded. "Time flies."

"Indeed. Let's remember that the last time we had the pleasure of having you was a year and a half ago. Production, let's see the footage."

Ekko was already regretting it. He instinctively knew this wouldn't be a pleasant journey down the road of his nonexistent memories. He braced himself, feeling a cold terror wash over him.

The screen lit up, showing Ekko in a very different light than he remembered. He was laughing, carefree, joking with the camera. He seemed... well, he was younger, more vibrant, like a completely different person. Then, a close-up of him holding a drawing: a cartoon heart with the words "Ekko <3 Jinx" scribbled inside while he laughed with an uncharacteristic tenderness.

He didn't recognize himself.

"Oh, the youth of today!" Lest laughed, looking back at Ekko. "You seemed quite in love with your girlfriend back then, didn't you? Your fans were obsessed!"

Ekko forced a smile, feeling increasingly uncomfortable. That was the last thing on his mind at that moment.

"Jinx has always been an important part of my life," he managed to say, trying to sound sincere. He wanted to remember all that, but his mind stubbornly remained blank. The clip ended, and he felt a strange disconnection, as if he were watching someone else's life unfold. "We're still in love."

Lest watched him, laughing. Ekko knew he had messed up, but at least it went unnoticed.

"Well," Lest began with a soft, deceptively friendly voice, "you've been through a tough time these past few weeks. Accusations of drug use, allegations of violence... It must be hard for your name to be dragged through the mud like this."

Ekko swallowed, trying to maintain his composure.

"It's been a challenge, yes, but the truth will always come to light."

"And what is the truth, Ekko?" Lest leaned forward, with a penetrating and scrutinizing gaze. "The truth, as I understand it, is that you were involved in a violent altercation at a rather prestigious university. Eyewitnesses claim you were acting erratically, under the influence of some substance. Is that true?"

"Not at all," Ekko said firmly. "I was defending someone who was being harassed. I've never touched drugs in my life, and I certainly wasn't under the influence that day."

"But there were witnesses," Lest insisted. "Students, professors... They all paint a similar picture. And let's not forget your history, Ekko. You've spoken incredibly openly about how negative substances are."

Ekko shuddered. The spotlight felt even more intense now, bearing down on him with relentless intensity.

"That's right. Because I know the damage it can cause. That's why I dedicate part of my time to foundations and campaigns that seek to pull people out of that dark path."

"So you understand the gravity of those accusations," Lest pressed with a firm voice. "And yet, the rumors persist. There are whispers of erratic behavior, a complete personality change that day. Can you offer any explanation for that?"

Ekko's mind raced, searching for an answer.

"I don't know what to tell you. I was angry, upset. I saw someone being mistreated and reacted. That's all."

"But the whispers continue, Ekko," Lest insisted, with a tone full of insinuations. "Whispers of something more. Something you're not telling us."

Ekko clenched his fists, trying to maintain his composure.

"There's nothing more to tell."

"Then let's talk about your activism," Lest continued, smoothly changing tactics. "You've been a staunch advocate for a drug-free life, a role model for countless young people. How do you think these accusations will affect your credibility?"

Ekko felt a wave of frustration.

"I don't see why a couple of lies would affect something I've fought for, and will fight for my entire life."

"However, the accusations are damaging," Lest smiled slightly and turned to the camera. "Ekko, you're famous. What should we take from this?"

"I can't control what people think. But that doesn't define me."

"However, there are facts. Let's check the documents. Do you remember having a car accident some time ago, Ekko? It was brutally violent," Lest recalled, as if savoring the words, seeing what wound she could touch to elicit a louder cry. "It cost a life. And you've always been a reserved person, but what can you tell us about this accident? It was all very mysterious."

Ekko's head throbbed, and a sudden sharp pain shot through his temples. Images flashed before his eyes: a heap of twisted metal, flashing lights, a dizzying sense of disorientation. But they were fleeting, fragmented, like pieces of a broken mirror. And he couldn't properly retain any of them.

"I wouldn't want to talk about it," he stammered, his voice barely a whisper. "I'm sorry."

Lest narrowed her eyes, and in her gaze, there was a glimmer of triumph.

"Are you sure about that, Ekko? Because now the evidence suggests that the reason the clinical details weren't revealed to the public is that you tested positive for illicit substances. Is that true?"

"That's not true," Ekko insisted, raising his voice in desperation. "It's not true. I almost died in that accident, a person I trusted died, and they want to fill that tragedy with lies."

"Then you deny all the accusations?"

"I completely deny them."

Lest paused, her expression thoughtful.

"And about your girlfriend, Jinx," Lest repeated, as if savoring the name. "An enigmatic figure. What can you tell us about her that we don't already know? She was seen many times at the hospital during your accident. Now, Ekko, tell us."

"She's an incredible person," Ekko said defensively. "And a good person."

"Of course," Lest said softly. "But is it possible that, perhaps unintentionally, she may have aggravated the situation of your incident at her university?"

Ekko clenched his fists, trying to control his anger.

"Jinx did nothing wrong. She was the victim in this situation. And I'm not going to let you try to blame her for someone else's actions."

Lest smiled with a predatory glint in her eyes. 

"So you're very protective of her."

"Yes, I am," Ekko said firmly.

"And what is the nature of your relationship with Jinx?" Lest asked, her voice laden with insinuations. "For years we've wanted you to tell us her story. Will today finally be the day you confirm who she is?"

Ekko hesitated. He knew that anything he said could be used against him, against Jinx. He had to be careful.

"We're a couple," he finally said. "We care for each other."

"Couple," Lest repeated, smiling more and more. "Is that all?"

Ekko refused to provide more details.

"That's all I'm going to say about it."

"Not even a wedding soon?"

"No," Ekko replied, clearing his throat. "I mean, it's not necessary if you're already with the right person. We don't see it as close."

Lest shrugged, as if she hadn't expected anything more.

"Thank you, Ekko. That was very... revealing."

"Thank you," Ekko replied, getting up.

The interview was over. They went to commercials while Ekko nodded. It hadn't been that bad.

"Well, that was disappointing."

"What?"

Ekko looked at Lest as she sighed, looking at him with some amusement, but like a predator looks at its helpless prey, even with annoyance at how stupid he was.

"You're usually more interesting when you talk about your little girlfriend," she commented casually. "But this? Basic. Problems in paradise, if I have to guess."

"She's my girlfriend."

Lest laughed, but with something malicious in her laughter.

"Sure," she mocked. "You know? It makes me sad; I usually talk to so many people who pretend that when you talked about her, it sounded real. I thought it was, but well," she shrugged as they arrived to touch up her makeup. "Love doesn't last forever."

"But I..."

He couldn't finish his sentence; Lest touched up her lipstick while spreading it over her lips, moving them somewhat exaggeratedly.

"Sure, man, whatever makes you sleep at night," she replied, dripping with mockery. "My name was known before you knew how to write, and this world is fake, filled with the best performances without a camera nearby, but you had been one of my favorites; a lovesick boy. Funny. Weird. And yet, the love's got a way."

"I still love her."

Lest stopped applying her makeup, looking at him with that amusement but also seriousness that characterized her. As if she could read Ekko better than he could read himself.

"Fake it until you believe it, but kid, don't try to lie to a woman who made all her money lying," she replied. "I hope you at least manage to make a good album about it and not be a jerk with the other."

"I love her, I do, I just..."

Lest laughed.

"The interview's over," she cut in. "Goodbye, Ekko Shannon."

Before Ekko could protest, they ushered him out while Lest smiled as if nothing happened, talking about different entertainment news. And something offended him; he cared about Jinx. I mean, he was... Ekko shook his head; it was just the media. But it was something he couldn't stop thinking about as he walked away from the set.

Love doesn't last forever.

Well, he wasn't completely in love, but... Ekko shook his head and hated himself for it. He always held back, as if he were on a cliff he had to jump off, but there was a wall to climb, one that had no end, something holding him back from jumping. From achieving it. From loving Jinx.

Though he had to do it.

He was supposed to love her.

And he was starting to believe he could love her; he saw no reason why not, but Lest telling him that he basically wasn't in love hit him hard. Their whole conversation was like a slap in the face. One he didn't know how to fight.

As they moved away after finding his blue-haired girl, they chatted about some trivialities, and Ekko looked at her, whose face was illuminated by the passing streetlights. He realized that she did love him. A lot. Maybe too much for her own good, but he couldn't respond with the same fervor. What was worse. But he knew he cared deeply for her and would do anything to protect her, only that...

"Ekko? Did something happen?"

He shook his head, pretending. But it hurt.

What did he feel for Jinx? It was strange. Odd. Different from anything he had ever felt in his life before. And he couldn't put a name to it. Nor have a manual to follow, a wish to make, or a moon to illuminate him.

He just wished someone could tell him how he had fallen in love with her before.

And could tell him what to feel.

Later that night, after Isha had fallen asleep, Ekko and Jinx were sitting in the kitchen, drinking tea. The television was on in the background, but neither of them was paying attention. They were somewhat close, talking. For a moment, Ekko felt the urge to run to her, hug her tightly, and shout to the world that yes, he loved her, that he would always love her. An impulsive act to prove to Lest that she was wrong. But Jinx was too expectant, too full of a faith he wasn't sure he deserved.

And he didn't want to hurt her.

"I want..."

"What happened?"

He stopped short, the smile freezing on his face. Reality hit him like a bucket of cold water: Was he lying to himself? Was he simply playing a role? The chasm between what he felt he should feel and what he really felt became too large to ignore. He couldn't pretend.

Jinx noticed his hesitation. Her eyes darkened, a glimmer of doubt replacing her initial enthusiasm. She knew him too well. She knew when he wasn't entirely sincere. Ekko looked down, unable to hold her gaze. Guilt gnawed at him.

"Nothing, I just..." he murmured, but he couldn't find the words.

Jinx sighed, a sad smile curving her lips.

"Don't worry, Ekko," she said softly. "I understand."

"I'm sorry," he said desperately. "I..."

She raised a hand to stop him.

"It's okay," she repeated. "You don't have to explain it." She gave him a pat on the arm, a painfully understanding look in her eyes. "I'll go see Isha, goodnight."

He nodded, feeling more miserable than ever. He had disappointed Jinx, and what was worse, he had disappointed himself. She gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek as she disappeared up the stairs.

And he wished he had the courage to follow her and kiss her.

But he didn't want to hurt her with something he wasn't sure he wanted; he only knew it was what he was supposed to do.

Suddenly, his phone rang, cursing even more, but he answered feeling just as bad.

"Viktor?" Ekko asked, surprised. "What's up?"

"I need to talk to you," Viktor said, grunting. "It's about your father."

Ekko's heart sank.

"What about him?" Ekko asked.

"He wants to see you," Viktor said. "He has organized a family meeting for next week. He wants you, Jinx, and Isha to be there."

"Why?"

"I don't know," Viktor said. "But he insisted. He said it was important, and if you don't go, he could sue Jinx for negligence."

Chapter Text

EKKO ALMOST HIT HIMSELF REMEMBERING THAT HE WAS PRACTICALLY RICH.

The roar of the private jet's engines made Ekko's bones vibrate, in stark contrast to the dull pain of fear that settled in his stomach. He glanced at the cabin. Isha, curled up by the window, was tracing shapes in the condensation with a small, ink-stained finger. Jinx, reclining in the seat next to her, was braiding a vibrant blue strand into Isha's hair, sticking out her tongue in concentration.

For a brief and precious moment, the chaos of the interview, Lest's virulent words, and the impending confrontation with his father faded away. This was his family. His chosen family.

And he was happy here.

But you don't love Jinx.

Isha signed a question to Ekko, her brow furrowed in innocent curiosity. Her hands moved quickly, forming the familiar shapes:

"Grandpa... how?"

Ekko hesitated. How would he describe a man he barely knew, a man who had been significant in his life but remained a distant, almost mythical figure? A man who had the power to potentially destroy the fragile peace they had worked so hard to build?

He ran a hand through his thick hair, searching for the right words. Digging through his memories as a young man. They weren't close, he wasn't Benzo, but he wanted to love his father. I mean, he was his father.

"He's... ambitious," he began slowly, choosing his words carefully. "He has worked very hard to get where he is. He's powerful. He likes things to be done a certain way."

Isha tilted her head, her expressive eyes conveying a mix of wonder and apprehension. She responded with signs that Ekko essentially understood as her questions:

"Is he fun? Is he like Papa Benzo?"

"He can be, but he's nothing like Benzo. It's complicated, Isha. He just wants the best, or so he says—" Ekko forced a smile. He avoided adding that what his father considered "best" often came at a very high price. He didn't want to tarnish her innocent perception with his own complicated story.

Jinx finished braiding Isha's hair and gave her a few pats on the head; her blue eyes turned to Ekko with a conspiratorial glint.

"He's... old-fashioned," she signed to Isha, simplifying Ekko's careful explanation. "He likes... rules and important things. Like..." she paused, searching for the right sign—"... fancy parties," she pretended to hold a champagne glass with an exaggerated pinky extension.

Isha chuckled, and her face understood the situation. She mimicked Jinx's pose, causing the older girl to laugh. Ekko felt a knot of tension in his chest loosen. Jinx had a way of cutting through the nonsense and making even the most overwhelming situations seem manageable.

Ekko laughed as Isha yawned, and he opened his arms to hold her. It was something new that, as far as he understood, happened often; Isha falling asleep in his lap. It was still strange, but familiar in some way. Ekko made sure she was comfortable while Jinx followed his gaze until the young man awaited her approval, which she gave.

Isha hugged his neck as he embraced her a bit to prevent her from falling. He still couldn't believe how easily these things came to him. At least he was still good with kids.

And with Isha, he felt that things made sense; she was the one he least wanted to disappoint.

"Are you okay?"

Jinx finally looked him in the eyes and sought his gaze. A flash of vulnerability crossed her face before she quickly masked it with a playful smile.

"You always have it; it's my turn."

"Well, she's my little daughter."

"She's mine too."

Jinx laughed.

"Are we competing?"

"No, god, no," Ekko denied. "You would win."

Jinx laughed louder as silence settled between them; they were already stable. The flight would last a couple of hours. The flight attendant who had promised to bring them a snack hadn't arrived yet, but Ekko didn't mind. However, looking at the clouds, he couldn't help but have more questions besides his nerves.

"So," he said, turning to Jinx, a genuine smile spreading across his face, "tell me about my father. What do you see when you look at him?"

Jinx squinted thoughtfully. She tapped her chin, considering the question.

"I guess he's... organized. Like everything has to be perfect. And—" she wrinkled her nose—"he likes fancy things. Lots of expensive suits and shiny cars. I don't think he likes me."

Ekko laughed.

"You'll please him, and you're spot on."

"But," Jinx continued, softening her voice, "I also see someone who cares about you, Ekko. Even if he doesn't always show it in the best way."

Ekko's smile faltered. Did she really believe that? Or was she just trying to make him feel better?

"He was worried about you in the hospital," Jinx added, looking at Isha, who was already leaning against his chest. "I don't know what happened for you to drift apart, but at least he was there."

"And if his idea of my life is different from what I have?" Ekko challenged with a tone of bitterness.

Jinx shrugged, her expression inscrutable.

"Then you'll have to find out, right?"

She fell silent, and the cabin filled with the soft hum of the engines once more.

"I love him," Ekko admitted, looking at her. "I don't know why I wouldn't introduce him to my family, to Isha. She must be the most special thing I have; it's almost impossible for him not to know her."

"There are things that happened before we were anything," Jinx confessed. "You were a bit lost when we reconnected. And well, I was really lost, but I didn't want you to be lost too."

"Did I never tell you?"

Jinx shook her head.

"You said you didn't want to remember it."

"Sure," Ekko replied, shaking his head. "But when I said I wanted a dinosaur as a kid, I didn't even get a stuffed animal."

Jinx's laughter burst like a spark, an unexpectedly melodic sound that filled the cabin of the jet. It was a carefree laugh, but something frantic resonated with an almost childlike joy, a surprising contrast to the palpable tension that had permeated the atmosphere just moments before. It wasn't the hysterical and unhinged laughter that sometimes consumed her, but a genuine expression of fun, a laugh that radiated a contagious warmth.

Ekko couldn't help but join in. His own laughter bubbled up, soft at first, then growing in volume until it harmonized with hers. It was a conspiratorial laugh, a silent celebration of their connection, a tacit reminder of the deep bonds that tied them together despite all the complexities and scars that marked their lives. It was a laugh that spoke of trust, of unconditional acceptance, of a shared history that only the two of them could fully understand.

In that moment, as their laughter resonated in the confined space of the jet, Ekko felt a profound sense of peace, a calm he hadn't experienced in a long time. It was as if, for a brief and precious instant, all the worries and anxieties that had tormented him had faded away, leaving only the pure joy of Jinx's company.

As the laughter began to subside, a soft smile remained on Ekko's lips. He turned his head to look at Jinx, his eyes shining with a mix of affection and admiration. She was also smiling, her blue eyes sparkling with a mischievous light.

In that instant, as their gazes met, Ekko murmured his name almost breathlessly, unable to contain himself.

"Jinx..."

She raised an eyebrow, curious.

"Yes?"

"I called you princess?"

Jinx frowned, confused.

"Who told you that?"

"When I fainted, I heard—or I don't know how to describe it, but there were phrases I heard," he explained, looking at her. "Did I call you princess?"

Jinx smiled softly, her eyes shining with affection.

"Yes, although it's so cliché."

"Hey," Ekko protested. "It's cute."

"Yes, but 'the boy savior' is a thousand times more creative," Jinx added. "I hated you calling me that."

"Really?"

"Yes, but that..." she sighed. "... I loved it after a while; it was something of yours towards me."

"Well, this time I'll think of something more creative."

"Any idea?"

"I could call you bunny."

Jinx laughed.

"Bunny?" she repeated. "Like a playboy or bunny what?"

"No, god no," he denied. "I don't know; it's just that you remind me of two animals: a crow and a bunny, and the second one can be cuter."

"My dear crow," Jinx repeated, with some teasing but her gaze bright. "That's definitely creative."

The word "agape" came to his mind as they laughed at what he had just said. The highest form of love, he thought, selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional, which persists regardless of the circumstances. A love that is not based on physical attraction or personal gratification but on a deep concern for the other's well-being.

Looking at Jinx, Ekko realized that was the type of love she felt for him. It was a love that had gradually grown over the years, a love forged in the crucible of adversity, a love that had withstood the test of time. It was a love that defined her, a love that gave her purpose. It was the love she felt for him.

"You know?" Ekko said, interrupting the comfortable silence that had settled between them.

"Did you change it to kangaroo?"

"No," he denied, laughing. "I think... I think you feel agape for me."

Jinx blinked, surprised by the sudden revelation. Her lips curved into a playful smile.

"Agape? What is that, a new spray paint brand?"

Ekko laughed.

"No, no, it's... it's a type of love. The purest there is. Unconditional, selfless, always seeking the best for the other."

Jinx looked at him intently, considering his words. Then her face lit up with sudden understanding.

"Oh. Yeah... yes. I care about you, Ekko. A lot. I love you."

"I know," Ekko replied, feeling his heart swell with emotion. "And I care about you too, Jinx. More than words can say."

"Don't get sentimental, okay?" Jinx said, although her smile betrayed her.

"Never."

As silence settled between them, a comfortable atmosphere flooded the cabin. Jinx had leaned back in her seat, her eyes closed and a serene expression on her face. Ekko allowed himself to watch her in silence, appreciating her unique and captivating beauty.

But feeling guilty for not being able to tell her that he loved her back.

Her eyes, which at that moment were hidden, were a deep navy blue, like the surface of a mysterious ocean. A blue that evoked the depth of the night sky, dotted with bright stars. A blue that seemed to contain an entire universe within itself.

Her hair, a softer yet still intense blue, framed her face like an abstract work of art. The rebellious strands scattered across her forehead and cheeks, adding a touch of carefree charm to her appearance.

Her skin, pale with a slight golden tan, seemed to radiate a soft glow under the dim light of the jet. It was skin that told a story, a story of pain, of love, of a life lived to the fullest.

Her nose, slightly crooked to one side, was a small imperfection that enhanced her unique beauty. Ekko had accidentally hit her when they were kids. It wasn't the perfect nose seen in magazines but a nose that had character, a nose that reflected her individual personality.

Her lips, thin and delicate, were slightly parted, revealing a glimmer of white teeth. They were lips that had spoken words of love, of friendship, of comfort. They were lips that had kissed Ekko with passion, with tenderness, with a love that consumed him completely for years but that he couldn't, or didn't want to, kiss without feeling that agape love.

He watched her for a few minutes until he noticed that Jinx had moved; she was no longer resting in her seat. She was leaning on his shoulder and asleep, and he felt warmth in his heart having her so close.

Carefully, Ekko freed his right hand from Isha, who was deeply asleep in his lap, and gently slid it over Jinx's hair. His fingers sank into the soft, silky strands, feeling the delicate texture against his skin. He stroked her hair gently, enjoying the sensation of her presence near him.

Then, with a slow and deliberate movement, he adjusted Jinx a bit on his shoulder, making sure she was comfortable and safe. She snuggled closer to him, instinctively seeking his warmth and protection.

In that moment, Ekko felt immense tenderness toward Jinx. He loved her, a lot. And he swore he wouldn't hurt her again, not this time. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the sweet and familiar scent of Jinx. It was a scent of wildflowers, smoke, and gunpowder, a strange yet intoxicating mix that made him feel at home.

Jinx was kinda home.

Because she was navy blue, but lately he made her so blue.

Chapter Text

THEY ARRIVED BY MORNING WITH THE SUN HIGH, NO CLOUDS IN THE SKY.

Five days.

They would be with Ekko's father for five days.

The plane landed smoothly on a private runway, the turquoise waters of the Pacific sparkling in the distance. Hawaii. Ekko hadn’t returned in... well, he wasn’t sure. Five days. They landed and his father wasn’t waiting for them at the airport. They had sent a driver to pick them up and take them to their destination.

The airport door when it opened caused to enter the warm, fragrant air of the islands rushed in, smelling of plumeria and salt. It was a familiar, comforting scent, but it didn’t calm his anxiety. His mother would have loved it.

The road was cut. And before realizing, they were in his father's two -story house. The doors of the house opened, revealing his father.

“Ekko,” he said in a deep, resonant voice.

He was a man in his fifties, with skin as tanned as Ekko’s. He was bald and had a neatly trimmed beard with gray streaks. They resembled each other, but they were different. No one could deny they were father and son. Wyeth stepped forward and gave Ekko a strong hug.

“Welcome home, son.”

Ekko returned the embrace, feeling a mix of relief and apprehension.

“It’s good to be back in Hawaii,” he said, though his words sounded empty. This wasn’t his home. Not even close to the area where he had lived before.

Wyeth stepped back and looked at Jinx and Isha. His expression was hard to interpret.

“And these are...?” he asked, in a carefully neutral tone.

Ekko took a deep breath.

“Dad, this is Jinx, my mate. And this is Isha.”

Isha, who had clung to Ekko’s leg, peeked out from behind him with wide, curious eyes. Jinx offered a small, hesitant smile. Ekko noticed how tense she was, more than usual around new people.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you again, sir,” Jinx said, extending a hand.

Wyeth hesitated for a moment before shaking her hand. He gripped it firmly and assessed her with his gaze.

“The pleasure is mine,” he said, his voice still reserved. He then turned his attention to Isha and crouched down to her level. “Hello,” he said, softening his voice a bit. “What’s your name?”

“Isha,” Ekko answered for her. “She’s mute.”

Wyeth nodded, though he didn’t seem surprised.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Isha. Welcome to Hawaii.”

The tension in Ekko’s shoulders eased a little. At least he was trying, even though Isha looked at him with hazel eyes tinged with caution.

“Come in,” Wyeth said, straightening up. “I have rooms prepared for you. Well, three.”

The house itself looked nothing like the small apartment they had lived in when he was a child. It was a spacious, modern structure with panoramic views of the ocean. The architecture was sleek, with clean lines and large windows that let in plenty of natural light. It was a stark contrast to the colorful chaos of Zaun.

“Wow,” Jinx said, her eyes wide as she took in the surroundings. “This is... elegant.”

Wyeth chuckled softly.

“I’ve done well,” he said, a hint of pride in his voice.

The interior of the house was even more impressive than the exterior. The living room was large and airy, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering stunning views of the ocean. The furniture was modern and stylish, and the walls were adorned with artwork from around the world.

As he spoke, Ekko couldn’t help but notice Wyeth’s subtle reactions. His eyes narrowed slightly when Ekko mentioned Jinx, and his jaw tightened when he spoke about his work. It was clear that Wyeth had a certain vision for Ekko’s life, and Ekko wasn’t sure if he was living up to it.

“So, have you remembered anything yet?” Wyeth asked, his voice tinged with skepticism.

“It’s complicated,” Ekko said, grimacing in pain. “But no, I haven’t remembered anything.”

Wyeth shook his head, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

“Eventually,” he said. “It’s not important to remember, just to look toward the future.”

“Yes, the future,” Ekko said, forcing a smile.

They continued talking, but every time, he seemed unintentionally irritating his father when talking about anecdotes.

“Do you remember that Christmas alsoo?” Wyeth asked. “You wanted to become a scientist to manipulate time, because of that silly movie, In Time.”

Ekko paused, fiddling with the glass in his hands. It wasn’t the first question, as if he hadn’t forgotten much of his life, but he kept bombarding him with them.

“I was?”

“It wasn’t very famous. Do you remember what happened, though? You started looking into getting into a science and technology university, an engineer. What an honor.”

“I wanted to be an engineer?”

“I can’t believe you don’t remember. You signed up for robotics classes and everything at that school with the scholarship; you were one of the best students.”

Ekko paused, feeling guilty.

“I didn’t know that.”

“You were brilliant; I even thought you’d make it to NASA.”

“I’m sure I would have,” Ekko said, as if he were being punished.

Ekko noticed how his father was frustrated by his mental gaps; most people were kind to him about it, but the one who struggled the most with his lapses was Jinx. I mean, Ekko remembered nothing about her, absolutely nothing, so even though he was frustrated, she was patient and kept inviting him to question everything.

His father got angry, frustrated, and thought that if he kept repeating the same things, he would remember.

Ekko pretended he had an idea of what he was talking about more than once.

As the conversation continued, Ekko noticed that Isha was paying special attention to his father. She would raise her hand or tug at him to intervene. She asked him several things, but his father had no idea how to talk to her, so Ekko acted as a translator, supported by Jinx, who didn’t intervene much.

She was more of a spectator. Ekko found himself missing her voice, her comments, and simply that she was comfortable. But she was tense, as usual, as with every human being that was not part of her near circle.

“So, Isha,” his father said softly after she interrupted the conversation again, “what do you like to do for fun?”

“I like to draw,” Ekko replied, watching the little girl’s movements. “And read. Or listen to stories like the ones Mom used to tell.”

“That’s wonderful,” Wyeth said, his eyes shining with warmth. “Maybe we can draw together sometime.”

Isha’s face lit up.

“Really?” Ekko asked for her.

“Really,” Wyeth said, smiling.

Ekko felt a wave of relief wash over him. It seemed that Wyeth was genuinely trying to connect with Isha, and she was responding positively. Maybe this visit wouldn’t be as disastrous as he feared.

Although the man avoided talking to him too much, uncomfortable with not understanding what she was saying, at least he was asking questions out of courtesy. However, when Wyeth turned his attention to Jinx, the atmosphere changed dramatically. His gaze became cold and evaluative, his voice distant and formal.

“And you, Jinx,” he said, “what are you doing now?”

Jinx shrugged, her eyes cautious.

“I’m a lawyer,” she said. “I’m almost graduated.”

“Interesting,” Wyeth said with disdain. “What kind of cases do you handle?”

Jinx hesitated, unsure of what to answer.

“Pro bono,” she said. “Sometimes they’re easy, sometimes not.”

Wyeth raised an eyebrow with a skeptical expression.

“I see,” he said. “So how did you get into university without finishing high school? Is it public?”

Jinx became a bit irritated.

“I finished high school,” she said. “It’s private; I got a scholarship.”

Wyeth nodded slowly, looking her up and down.

“I see,” he repeated. “Well, it’s certainly... something admirable.”

The tension in the room was palpable. Ekko could feel Jinx’s anger boiling beneath the surface, and he knew she was about to explode. He had to do something to calm the situation before it escalated.

“Dad,” he said firmly. “Jinx is a great lawyer; she’s working on an important case right now as her internship. In fact, because of something she discovered, they could redefine the whole case.”

Jinx looked at him slightly surprised. Wyeth turned to Ekko with an inscrutable expression.

“Maybe,” he said. “Although pro bono cases are usually just for guilty people.”

“Dad” Ekko protested, raising his voice. “That’s not fair!”

“Ekko,” Wyeth said in a stern voice. “Please, don’t start.”

The two men stared at each other, locked in a silent battle of wills. Ekko knew he was walking on thin ice and didn’t want to jeopardize his relationship with his father, but he couldn’t just stand by and let Wyeth belittle Jinx.

At that moment, Wyeth’s wife entered with a cheerful voice. She was a woman who introduced herself as Olivia. They had been married for three years; she was so different from his father but very refined.

“Enough with business!” she said. “Let’s eat! I’m starving!”

She got up from her seat and led them to the dining room. Her presence eased the tension that had been building in the room. Ekko sighed in relief.

Dinner was a lavish affair, with an apparently endless array of dishes spread across the table. There were fresh seafood, exotic fruits, and a variety of local delicacies. Wyeth, however, remained distant and reserved. He spoke politely with Jinx and Isha but didn’t engage with them on a personal level. He seemed to tolerate them rather than accept them.

As the evening drew to a close, Ekko couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. He had hoped this visit would bring him closer to his father, but it seemed to be pushing them further apart.

“Thank you for dinner,” he said to Olivia, smiling. “It was wonderful.”

“You’re welcome, dear,” she said, smiling back. “I hope you’ll be here more often.”

When they were getting ready for bed, Wyeth stopped Ekko at the door.

“I’m glad you came,” he said in surprisingly sincere voice. “It’s good to see you, and since you’re going to stay a week, I thought we could go out tomorrow, just the two of us. Father and son.”

“I’m glad to see you too, Dad,” Ekko said. “But they're my family; they are important to me.”

Wyeth hesitated for a moment, his eyes scrutinizing Ekko’s face.

“Ekko,” he said quietly, “I want you to know that I’m proud of you. I know you’re doing things your way, and I respect that. I just want to regain some time with you.”

Ekko nodded, his heart swelling with emotion.

“Alright,” he said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

As they left their things and Jinx decided to sleep with Isha, who asked for it, Ekko couldn’t help but remember how different and even false this house looked. He lived in a mansion, but he had gotten used to it feeling small with Isha and Jinx constantly moving around in it. Besides the drawings on the walls, the photos, the life in it.

Here there was only a photo of his father’s wedding to Olivia. And an abstract painting; there were no photos of him or his mother. It felt more like a furniture exhibition than a home.

Ekko said goodbye to both, kissing Isha on the head, as he went to a monotonous room to sleep. It was so quiet.

The next morning, after a breakfast of fresh pineapple and mangoes, Wyeth invited Ekko to join him for a walk on the beach while Isha and Jinx watched television.

“So,” Wyeth said as they walked along the sand, “tell me more about this... work. As a singer. Are you going to release another album? If there are no albums, there’s no money.”

Ekko hesitated, unsure of what to reveal.

“Not really,” he said. “It’s only been months since the accident; I haven’t been able to compose.”

Wyeth raised an eyebrow.

“Isn’t it easier to pay someone and be done with it?” he asked.

Ekko squirmed uncomfortably.

“Jinx says I write everything,” he said. “And I like it.”

“All those cheesy lyrics are yours?” Wyeth mocked. “You’ve barely won a Grammy; people don’t care who wrote what, just how it sounds.”

Ekko got angry.

“Actually, I like to convey something,” he said. “I earn quite well to live a decent life doing something I enjoy.”

“There’s nothing wrong with being successful, Ekko,” Wyeth said, softening his voice a bit. “I understand you still don’t remember much; there aren’t many cases where they manage to get their memories back.”

“But there’s a possibility.”

“You’ve already given up,” his father replied. “I see it in your eyes. And I don’t blame you; you can invest the money you have in stocks, in the market. At least have that secured.”

“I’ll think about it, but I don’t like that life.”

Wyeth shook his head sadly.

“You’re still young, Ekko,” he said. “One day you’ll understand. Money is what makes the world go round. How do you expect to survive without it? How do you expect to take care of your family if something happens to you?”

“I’ll have a plan,” Ekko replied. “And they’ll be fine; Jinx is a good lawyer. You already called them my family.”

“I see you’ve found your family,” Wyeth added quietly. “I accept them. But what if...?”

“I think I’m capable, Dad,” Ekko cut in sternly. “They are my family; if something happens, I’ll have a plan, but I like this life.”

“I don’t think you understand; stocks and investments are permanent, and fame is fleeting. One day you’ll come down from there,” Wyeth paused. “How do you expect to leave a legacy? You have to do something permanent.”

“Maybe that’s not what I want,” Ekko said. “Maybe I don’t need to leave something permanent.”

The two men stood in silence for a moment as the waves crashed against the shore.

“Think about it, Ekko,” Wyeth finally said. “That’s all I ask of you.”

“Mum would be very sad to hear you say that,” Ekko said. “You don’t have a single photo of her.”

“It hurts me to remember her.”

“But it’s as if she never existed.”

“Everyone grieves differently, son,” his father replied, not wanting to delve into the topic. “Come on, they must be wondering about us. I can’t change your mind.”

Ekko sighed, watching him walk away.

“In which stocks do you want me to invest?”

“How much do you want to earn?”

“I don’t care about money,” Ekko replied softly, looking at him. “But there’s a lot; maybe I can start: which one do you recommend?”

His father smiled, patting his back with renewed affection. And for at least a moment, it was like having his father back as when he was a child. Even if it was with something that didn’t truly make him happy.

Chapter Text

AT SIX-THIRTY IN THE MORNING, EKKO WAS ALREADY JOGGING OUTSIDE HIS HOUSE, HAPPY TO BE IN HIS HOMELAND.

It was more or less as he remembered.

The Hawaiian sun, still painting the sky with soft shades of pink and orange, promised a warm day as Ekko's sneakers hit the pavement. Six-thirty in the morning. An hour he would normally associate with continuing to sleep at home, but today it was a gateway to nostalgia, a ritual of coming home. He took a deep breath, the salty scent of ocean air filling his lungs, a marked contrast to the sterile, recycled air of his university dorm room. He felt... relieved.

The rhythmic pounding of his feet was a constant drumbeat amidst the silence of the waking city. It was familiar, comforting. He moved through the streets with an ease that surprised even him. The muscle memory of childhood, from countless runs to the local bakery or the beach, guided him. He remembered every shortcut, every little quirky detail: the hibiscus bush overflowing in Mrs. Kapule's garden, the faded mural depicting ancient Hawaiian legends on the side of the community center.

His mission: breakfast. Not just any breakfast, but a champion's breakfast, Hawaiian style. Steaming, savory dumplings that practically melted in his mouth, and a vibrant mountain of shaved ice, a kaleidoscope of flavors and textures. He recalled the agonizingly long lines to get shaved ice. He remembered a particularly sweltering summer day when he and his friends waited nearly four hours, only for their precious ice sculptures to melt into sticky puddles before they could find a shady spot. He smiled, and the memory was a warm blanket against the morning chill.

He arrived at the dumpling shop, a small, modest place that hid the culinary magic within. The aroma wafting from the open door was intoxicating: a heady mix of ginger, soy sauce, and steamed dough. He ordered enough for Jinx, Isha, and himself. The cashier, a woman with a warm smile and wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, kindly attended to him.

"Happy day, boy, enjoy it."

He chuckled softly and accepted the dumplings wrapped in steaming paper.

"Thanks, happy day to you too."

His next stop was the shaved ice stand. Even at that hour, a small line had formed, a testament to the enduring popularity of this treat. He resigned himself to the wait, mentally preparing for the sugar avalanche. While he stood there, observing the faces in the crowd, a familiar voice cut through the murmur of conversation.

"Ekko? Is that really you?"

He turned around, and his heart skipped a beat. There, framed by the morning light, stood Maddie. She wore a simple summer dress, her hair loose, and a small cup of coffee in hand. She looked... good.

"Maddie! Wow, I... didn’t expect to see you here," he stammered, surprised.

A bright smile lit up her face.

"Yeah, it’s good to see you back home."

"Yeah, you... what are you doing in Hawaii?"

"I live here, just travel a lot for work," she explained, smiling. "When I visited you, I was on a work trip, but it seems like we keep running into each other."

He shifted uncomfortably. His heart raced a bit; he felt a cold chill creeping into his bones, and his hands were sweating a little; he wouldn’t do anything stupid.

"So, what brings you back to the island?" she asked, searching for him with her gaze.

"I'm visiting my dad... you know, the usual. Jinx and Isha are with me," he said, deliberately mentioning Jinx, a gentle reminder to himself, and maybe to Maddie, of the current state of things in his life.

"Oh, Jinx. How is she?" There was a subtle shift in her tone, a flicker of something he couldn’t decipher.

"She’s great, really great. She’s excited to be here and see where I come from," he replied, perhaps with too much enthusiasm. He felt a pang of guilt. He hadn’t meant to be defensive, but the words had slipped out anyway. "I’m bringing breakfast; I hope they like it. Although Jinx loves all the food she doesn’t cook, so it’s not that hard to impress her. But also I want to impress her"

"That’s wonderful. There’s no more beautiful place than where one comes from," Maddie said with a soft laugh, half-following his incessant chatter about Jinx. "Full of history, of legacy."

"Oh, yeah? That’s... well."

He struggled to find the right words. He hadn’t considered the possibility that Maddie would still be around. He had partly hoped she had moved on, that she had built a life somewhere else, far from the memories they shared.

"Yeah, you know what they say: 'Home is where the heart is,'" she said, looking at him intently for a moment before quickly looking away. "Actually, I have a coffe shop just around the corner. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s mine. It’s like a side business."

"That’s amazing, Maddie. I always knew you’d do something great," he said sincerely. He meant it. Even back then, he had admired her ambition, her determination.

"Thanks, Ekko. That means a lot to me." She paused and took a sip of coffee. "Listen, I know it’s been a long time and we couldn’t talk much in the hospital, but... would you like to stop by the coffe shop one day? We could catch up properly. I still care about you."

His heart raced. It was an innocent invitation, a friendly gesture, but it felt like so much more. He looked at the bag of dumplings in his hand, a tangible reminder of his responsibilities, of his commitment to Jinx.

And he found himself not dying to accept her invitation. His younger self would have hit him, but there was something in him that didn’t want to. This was like accepting her number again. And he wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

"That sounds... nice, Maddie, really. But I’m with Jinx, and I don’t want her to feel uncomfortable if I’m alone with you. Jinx and I, we're together," he said gently, choosing his words carefully. He wanted to be honest, set boundaries, without hurting her. He wanted to save their friendship, but not at the expense of his relationship. "In fact, I have a family with her, a daughter. Isha. And I don’t think it’s appropriate."

A flicker of disappointment crossed her face, but it was quickly replaced by a kind smile.

"I understand, Ekko. I respect that. I just wanted to be friends." She extended her hand. "Friends?"

He took her hand, and the contact sent a strange tingle up his arm.

"Friends." He squeezed her hand gently and then let go.

"Great! Well, about catching up... how about now? I can invite Jinx and Isha. They’re just across the street, after all."

He felt a wave of relief.

"Maybe another time. I promised I’d bring them breakfast home. They’re probably already hungry."

"Alright. How about tomorrow? There’s an annual festival in the square, a big tradition here. Live music, food stalls, the whole thing. Remember?"

Ekko cursed in his mind.

His brain couldn’t give him a single memory of being in love with Jinx, but he did remember how he had kissed Maddie for the first time at that festival. It really was a stupid organ.

He swallowed hard, and the memory hit him like a wave. The vibrant colors of the festival, the intoxicating aroma of roasted nuts, the electric charge in the air... and Maddie's lips on his. It felt like it had happened a lifetime ago, a completely different life.

"Yeah, I remember," he said softly, his voice barely more than a whisper.

"It starts in the afternoon. You, Jinx, and Isha could go together. Like old times... but, you know, with Jinx and Isha," he added hurriedly, a hint of nervousness in his voice. "I have to attend, you know."

He hesitated. He wanted to leave, a part of him longed to relive those carefree days, to enjoy the nostalgia. But he knew it was a dangerous path, a slippery slope. He knew that spending time with Maddie, even in a group setting, would awaken emotions, complicate things, and despite everything, Ekko found himself not wanting to do it. Maybe he didn’t love Jinx, but there was something about her...

It wasn’t the same shade of blue.

Ekko blinked, watching the blue in Maddie’s eyes; a soft, bright blue but gentle. He used to think it was the most beautiful shade, but now he saw it as somewhat ordinary. It wasn’t the same shade as Jinx’s. Now it seemed that every time he looked at the orange-haired girl, he found something that was so common in contrast to Jinx.

"I don’t know, Maddie. It sounds fun, but I’ll have to see how Jinx feels." It was an evasive answer, a way to buy some time. "Maybe I’ll go, with my daughter. I’m sure she’d love it."

Her smile widened, and a spark of hope shone in her eyes.

"That’s fine. Just let me know. I’d love for you to come." She turned to leave but stopped and looked at him. "It was good to see you, Ekko."

"You too, Maddie." He watched her walk away, his mind filled with conflicting emotions. He felt a sense of guilt, a pang of nostalgia, and a renewed determination to protect his relationship with Jinx.

Even if he didn’t love her.

But it was strange, I mean, when one falls in love, they make what they love a religion and themselves a faithful devotee. They make it an altar. And he remembered those blue eyes as the most beautiful thing he had ever seen in his life, but now he felt nothing when he looked at them. They were nice. But they weren’t the shade of blue he loved; they weren’t the shade of... Jinx.

He picked up his shaved ice, and suddenly, the colorful syrups seemed less appealing. As he turned toward his house, the warmth of the Hawaiian sun felt less like a welcoming embrace and more like an uncomfortable spotlight highlighting the complexities of his past and the uncertainties of his present.

Ekko arrived at the front door of his father's house, the shaved ice dripping slightly in his hand. The paper bag of manapua was hot and damp. He sighed, trying to shake off the confusion that engulfed him. The encounter with Maddie had unsettled him more than he wanted to admit. It didn’t matter that... Ekko couldn’t say it. A month ago, he could, but now he couldn’t. He didn’t love her; he just... cared for her, yes, but he didn’t love her.

Great, now he didn’t know how to love.

He opened the door, and the familiar aroma of his childhood home enveloped him: a mix of incense, spices, and the unmistakable fragrance of plumeria growing in the garden. He heard his father's voice coming from the kitchen. Jinx, presumably, would be somewhere nearby, probably causing some calculated chaos.

"I'm home!" Ekko shouted as he entered.

"Ekko! You're back. What took you so long? Isha has been asking about you every five minutes."

Isha ran toward him and hugged his leg as he placed the things on the table.

"Papa! Did you bring breakfast?"

Ekko laughed and lifted her into his arms.

"Of course! Manapua and shaved ice; you have to try this, little girl."

"Yes!" Isha shouted, waving her arms. "Pink manapua! Pink manapua!"

Jinx was watching everything, sitting next to where Isha had been, stifling a yawn and stretching like a cat with a sleepy smile.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," Ekko said.

"Don’t call me sleepyhead," Jinx replied, though there was a smile in her voice. "Isha wanted to be awake very early; I heard you leave at six-thirty-seven thanks to this little monster."

"Ah, yeah? Sorry," Ekko replied. "But you could have kept sleeping; Isha would have been fine waking up a little early with Dad."

Something in Jinx's expression flickered, terrified and as if he had hit her, but it quickly returned to normal. Though Ekko noticed how she swallowed heavily.

"More like explain what you brought," she changed the subject, avoiding his gaze. "Is that a dumpling?"

Ekko took a moment to respond, noticing that change in her demeanor; he watched her so much that he noticed those shifts in her face, but he didn’t understand why she had reacted that way. Or what he had said to make her feel that way. And before he could ask her, Isha snatched the remaining bag from his hands.

"Eh, these are manapua. And some special shaved ice," he explained, somewhat lost.

Jinx straightened up.

"Let’s eat then; I’m starving."

They headed to the kitchen, Isha leading the way, where Ekko's father was already setting the table. The shaved ice, with its vibrant colors, looked tempting in the morning light. Isha couldn’t wait to dig in and was already begging for the first bite.

As they had breakfast, Ekko tried to erase that strange reaction from Jinx’s mind. It had confused him so much that it completely overshadowed Maddie. He told stories about his time here as a child, about his friends, and about some local places. Jinx listened attentively, asking clever questions and commenting with her characteristic sarcasm. Isha, with her face covered in shaved ice syrup, chimed in happily.

After breakfast, Isha began insisting on going to the beach, writing it on her board that she now carried everywhere.

"Please, Dad, please! I want to build a giant sandcastle!"

Ekko looked at Jinx, seeking her opinion. She shrugged.

"I don’t mind. The sun feels good, and I need a tan."

So, after putting on sunscreen and packing towels, beach toys, and a water bottle, the three of them headed toward the nearby beach, crossing the street. The sun shone brightly, the sky was a deep blue, and the sea breeze was refreshing. It was a perfect day for a trip to the beach.

The beach was full of people: families, surfers, and tourists enjoying the sun and the sea. Isha ran toward the shore, shouting with joy as the waves lapped at her feet. Ekko and Jinx followed, laughing as they tried to keep her from getting soaked.

"Let’s build a sandcastle!" Isha shouted, pointing to a spot in the sand near the water.

Ekko and Jinx nodded and got to work. Ekko was the architect, designing the structure and overseeing the construction. Jinx was the decorator, embellishing the castle with shells, seaweed, and stones. Isha was the supervisor, making sure everything was done according to her specifications. They made a good team.

They worked together, digging, stacking, and molding the sand. Soon, an impressive sandcastle began to take shape, with towers, walls, and an intricate moat. Isha was delighted with their creation and kept running around, giving orders and pointing out mistakes.

There was a pause in their hard work when they jumped into the ocean, the waves being somewhat strong. Ekko taught Isha to dive under the waves as they came. However, at one moment, a wave caught them by surprise, especially Jinx, who almost got swept away, but in an instinctive act, Ekko grabbed her by the waist, preventing the ocean from pulling her in.

She gasped in surprise, placing her hands on his bare chest, but didn’t pull away. Ekko felt the warmth of her body against his, the softness of her skin under his fingers. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. He looked into her eyes and saw a spark of surprise and something else he couldn’t decipher. The waves crashed against his back, but he didn’t care.

He was a kind of shield for her against that slightly choppy sea.

They stared at each other for a moment, frozen like statues. Ekko didn’t feel uncomfortable. He didn’t even want to move, to be honest. However, he quickly pulled away, feeling embarrassed.

"I'm sorry," he murmured. "I didn’t mean to..."

"Don't worry," Jinx said, her voice a bit hoarse. "It’s fine."

But it wasn’t fine. The contact, though brief, had left a mark. Ekko couldn’t stop thinking about it.

It was different.

After the sandcastle was finished and they came out of the ocean, which was definitely choppy, the three of them sat in the sand, watching the waves crash on the shore. Isha was busy playing with her toys, creating elaborate stories about princesses, dragons, and brave knights. Ekko and Jinx sat in silence, enjoying the tranquility of the moment.

"Thanks for bringing me here, Ekko," Jinx suddenly said. "I’m having a great time."

Ekko looked at her.

"I am too. I needed this."

They sat in silence for a while, watching the sun begin to set on the horizon. The sky had ignited with vibrant colors: orange, pink, purple, and gold. It was a stunning view. Ekko was reminded of how a month ago they had almost watched a sunset like this at that beach house, but this one felt purer. Maybe because it was Hawaii, and he was protective.

However, he watched Jinx being fascinated by the sunset of her native island. The colors mingled with her skin like a painting displayed in a museum. Her hair lost its blue hue under the orange light of the sunset, turning darker. And her eyes, that shade stolen from the ocean, became dark. He couldn’t decide if the light turned them chestnut brown, black, dark blue like indigo, cobalt, or blueberry. Maybe midnight blue?

"It’s beautiful," Jinx said softly.

"Yeah," he replied, almost immediately watching her, deciding what exact shade her eyes were. "It is."

He continued to watch her, and for the first time, he truly saw her. Not as the girl from his troubled past, not as Isha’s mother, not as something distant, but as a woman. He saw the beauty in her unique features, the intelligence in her eyes, and the strength in her smile. And he realized that maybe he had been wrong all along.

Maybe he didn’t love Jinx in the way he was supposed to, but he loved her in some way. He loved her as a friend, as a partner, as part of his family. And maybe, over time, that love could grow into something more someday.

Jinx noticed his gaze and raised an eyebrow.

"What’s up?" she asked. "Do I have something on my face?"

Ekko smiled and shook his head, grateful for the vibrant colors surrounding them that could hide his blush.

"No. Nothing. I was just thinking..."

"What were you thinking about?" Jinx insisted.

Ekko hesitated.

"Tomorrow there’s a local festival."

"Really?" Jinx asked, looking at him. "Cool."

"I wanted us to go, the three of us," Ekko replied; "like a family."

"Careful," Jinx warned, amused, but Ekko knew it wasn’t sarcasm. She was genuinely confused. "I might think you don’t hate me at all anymore."

"I don’t hate you."

His tone was harsher than he intended, betraying his feelings. Jinx studied him, almost speechless.

"So am I your best friend now?"

He shrugged.

"I don’t know," he confessed. "I just know that... if you or Isha don’t go, I wouldn’t have any reason to go."

"Oh, now you’re being dramatic."

"I’m serious," Ekko insisted, watching her laugh. "It could be our second date."

She thought for a long moment.

"Why do you want to go?"

He didn’t know why, and that scared him. He had never had to process his emotions before.

"I don’t know. I think it could be fun. Isha would definitely love it. Maybe there’s something there that I haven’t tried before. I don’t know." He shrugged. "But I want to go with you."

"Okay, we’ll go," Jinx replied, smiling a bit. "Will there be good food?"

"The best you’ve ever had."

"Surprise me, the boy savior."

Jinx smiled. Ekko felt something inside him. There was something there with Jinx. He didn’t know what. But he wanted to find out. The two of them watched Isha play in the sand for a long time, in comfortable silence, looking forward to tomorrow.

Suddenly, the world didn’t seem so confusing.

Chapter Text

JINX COULDN'T SLEEP MUCH THAT NIGHT.

She found herself sitting on the bed, her back against the wall, with Isha sleeping peacefully beside her. She estimated it must be around four in the morning. She was in this position after two or three hours of tossing and turning in bed, eyes closed, trying in vain to fall asleep.

Her brain wouldn’t shut up.

Jinx was no stranger to the fact that her brain was one of her worst enemies, if not the worst, but it seemed particularly intent on reminding her of her crappy situation: Ekko's amnesia. And Jinx was doing her best; maybe if someone rewarded patience, she would get an award. But all Jinx wanted at that moment was silence to sleep.

But her mind wouldn’t stop talking.

And she was hungry.

But she didn’t move. This wasn’t her house. It wasn’t one of her friends' houses, where she would hesitate a bit but at least make it to the hallway, and it wasn’t a hotel where she could be one of those weirdos who earn a scolding for ordering room service at that hour. So, since she wasn’t in any of those places, Jinx remained in bed, insomnia-ridden, without moving; she wasn’t going to leave her daughter alone.

Insomnia and amnesia sound almost the same. They’re spelled similarly, she thought, like one more of all the things her brain had thrown up at her since ten o'clock that night when she touched that bed.

She sighed heavily.

She was so damn tired.

And yet, she couldn’t even close her eyes.

She couldn’t stop thinking. Mostly in general. It had been two, three if you counted that it was the early morning of the last one, nice days. Although she hadn’t had a good time. Well, Jinx hadn’t had a good time since her boyfriend had a damn accident because he scared the crap out of her thinking he would die, and she swore that if that had happened, she had no idea how she would have moved on. But he didn’t die; he just had a damn amnesia that only affected the one person in her current life, of course, it was her.

Jinx hated the world many times; she had held a grudge since she was young, but she had gotten over it. Even that.

And well, Jinx knew it was better than Ekko being dead. Only some omnipotent entity would know that she would have really died with him, and she couldn’t do that to Isha. But it was hard. Well, more than hard. She doubted there was a word appropriate to describe that the love of your life, your anchor, not only doesn’t remember a damn thing about you but also hates you as if you were a monster. It’s complicated to explain that yes and no you are. It’s so much that Jinx knew that only someone as damn emotional as she was could partially handle it.

“Damn it,” she muttered aloud, unable to suppress something more.

She was never patient. Ekko always told her she was, but it was a lie; she just repressed herself. More than once, she had wanted to hit him, yell at him, or kiss Ekko in his amnesiac state. And today at the damn beach, she had to grab her by the waist—she would have let him drown to get two minutes of peace—and that was like getting fresh air after getting used to polluted air.

She loved him.

It now seemed like a stupid thing to say considering everything that had happened. It was obvious that she loved him. Everyone knew it. He knew it.

Agape.

The only thing was that no matter how much she loved him, Jinx had no other arms to cry on. She barely had his. And it was in those three days there that she realized how mentally and physically exhausted she was from the whole situation; she wanted to cry. She really wanted to. But nothing came out when she tried.

She just stared at the ceiling, wishing that Ekko loved her or remembered her, which was really the same thing.

Before continuing her monologue about how she was a bomb that would eventually explode due to the pressure, like some gas leak, someone tugged at her. Looking over, it was Isha, who was watching her sleepily in the dark.

“Go back to sleep, kid,” she smiled, gently stroking the girl’s hair. “Shh, sleep.”

Isha yawned, looking at her. There was light coming from the city and the moon, and after about five hours in the dark, her eyes had adjusted to it. Therefore, she distinguished Jinx’s vague movements in the darkness.

“Are you nervous about the date with Dad?” she asked. “He looks more like him. He loves us.”

“I know. I just haven’t been able to sleep.”

“Worried?”

“Something like that,” she admitted. “Go to sleep; if you don’t sleep, you’re going to stay small. Look at me.”

They both laughed, but Isha settled in better to talk to her. Maybe she was small, although at that age, Jinx swore she knew the world and that it was hers; at least Isha wasn’t as naïve as she was. She was smart, much smarter than Jinx, so hiding the truth from her was complicated even for her young age.

It was terrifying.

“Papa is going to love you,” Isha insisted, as if she knew exactly what was keeping her awake, pointing at her. “Because I love you.”

Jinx smiled genuinely.

“Did we get sentimental, huh?” she replied, avoiding thinking about it. “I know he loves me; you don’t have to worry about that.”

“But you’re my mom,” Isha debated. “We worry about each other.”

“Yes, we do,” the older one assured. “Isha, before I had you... My life was chaos; I don’t blame your dad for doubting so much. But when you came into my life, it was like putting on glasses and finally being able to see things. And no matter what happens, I’ll be with you, daughter.”

They both hugged while the older one placed a kiss on the younger one’s head, cuddling her against her.

“Dad loves you,” Isha insisted, looking at her. “He sees you like before.”

Jinx smiled, giving her another kiss while cuddling her to sleep. And something hurt her. Because when you love someone, it’s because you know them; you can only love or hate if you truly know what those overwhelming feelings are directed at.

And it’s because she loves Ekko that she isn’t sure he truly loves her.

But at least she managed to fall asleep.

The first rays of the Hawaiian sun filtered through the gaps in the bamboo blinds, painting stripes on Jinx’s face. She groaned and buried her head deeper into the pillow. Sleep had finally come, but it felt too brief, too fragile. She was still tied to the anxieties of the night, to the incessant whirl of her thoughts.

Beside her, Isha stirred, her small hand reaching out to grasp her arm. Jinx forced a smile, trying to shake off the persistent fatigue.

“Yes, kiddo. Go back to sleep a bit more.”

Isha snuggled closer. Jinx watched her daughter. She had said the night before that Ekko saw her, Jinx, just like before. Jinx was desperate to believe her.

The sounds of the house were beginning to stir: footsteps upstairs, the clinking of dishes, the murmur of voices. She knew she couldn’t stay in bed forever, hiding from the day. With a sigh, Jinx sat up; her muscles ached from the tension she had endured all night.

She found Ekko in the kitchen, already dressed and drinking coffee. He looked attractive, the morning light reflecting off his golden skin. He was talking to his father, and in the background, she could hear his wife almost like an echo from the place.

“Good morning, Jinx, you’re awake,” Ekko said, smiling at her. “And Isha?”

“Good, sleeping like a rock,” she replied, looking at her boyfriend’s father. “Good morning.”

His father turned, his gaze sweeping over Jinx with undisguised disapproval that sent a shiver down her spine. His eyes were cold, assessing, and... judging.

“Morning,” he said, his voice clipped. He turned to Ekko and dismissed her as if she were an unwanted guest. “I’ve already arranged everything for the festival. I expect you to arrive early.”

Ekko nodded, his expression carefully neutral. Jinx felt a pang of compassion for him. He was caught between his old life and his new life, struggling to navigate unfamiliar territory.

“I’ll be there, Dad,” he looked at Jinx with a flash of something unreadable in his eyes. “Jinx and Isha will come with us, right?”

Wyeth clenched his jaw.

“Of course. I suppose the more, the merrier.” He said it with a blatant lack of sincerity. He didn’t even look at her while he spoke.

Jinx knew she should ignore the man’s passive aggression for Ekko’s and Isha’s sake. It was subtle, only someone who had been dismissed too many times in their life could notice that tone, so she doubted Ekko even noticed it.

“We’ll be there,” she said, her voice cheerful despite the knot in her stomach. “Isha is very excited about the festival.”

Wyeth smiled tightly, the smile not even reaching his lips, and turned back to his coffee. Jinx excused herself, grabbing a piece of fruit from the counter. She needed to get Isha up and ready. When she turned around, Ekko looked her in the eyes. There was a question in his gaze, a silent apology. Jinx offered a small smile, hoping to assure him that she wasn’t bothered. But deep down, she was hurt. She hated that his father clearly didn’t want her around.

In fact, she hated the whole damn situation.

The preparations were a whirlwind of activity. Isha, once she woke up completely, was thrilled about the festival. Jinx chose a simple white summer dress, its soft fabric contrasting sharply with the chaos that reigned in her mind. She accentuated it with a touch of blue eyeshadow, a subtle nod to her own style.

As she finished her makeup, Ekko appeared in the doorway. He stopped dead and opened his eyes slightly. He stood there, watching her in silence, and Jinx’s heart skipped a beat.

“Wow,” he said softly. “You look... incredible.”

Jinx felt a blush creep up her neck. It was just a simple dress and some makeup, but the way he said it, the genuine admiration in his eyes, made her feel... beautiful.

“Thank you,” she murmured, trying to hide her embarrassment. “It’s just... a dress.”

He stepped a little closer, and his gaze lingered on her face.

“The blue... looks great on you.” He reached out and gently touched a strand of her hair. “Everything looks good on you.”

The air crackled between them, a tangible energy that sent shivers down Jinx’s spine. It was like a glimpse of the old Ekko, the one who knew her, the one who loved her. The one she was desperately trying to get back.

Isha chose that moment to burst into the room, breaking the fragile spell that had settled over them as she tugged at both of them like they were horses.

“Mom, are you ready? Let’s go! Let’s go!”

Ekko stepped back, looking embarrassed.

“Alright,” he said, clearing his throat. “Let’s go. The festival is waiting for us.”

The trip to the festival was brief, but it felt like an eternity. Wyeth drove ahead with his wife as co-pilot; Jinx didn’t even remember this woman’s name, but she was the most unmemorable person she had ever met in her life, offering only brief directions to Ekko and deliberately ignoring Jinx and Isha, who were in the back. She didn’t care, but Isha insisted and insisted, so eventually, the man would respond to the little one. Jinx tried to focus on Isha’s excitement, pointing out the vibrant scenery and colorful stalls along the roadside.

As they approached the festival grounds, the air filled with music, laughter, and the fragrant aroma of tropical flowers and kalua pig. The scene was a kaleidoscope of colors, with people dressed in traditional Hawaiian attire, vendors selling handmade goods, and children running with fragrant plumeria flower leis.

Wyeth parked the car, and they all got out. As soon as they stepped onto the festival grounds, Ekko seemed to transform. He was no longer the cautious, reserved man she had been living with for the past few days. He was animated, engaged, his eyes sparkling with a familiar light. This was his home, his community, and he was clearly happy to be back.

He took Isha’s hand and began to guide them through the crowd, pointing out different sights and sounds.

“Over there is where they’re holding the hula dance competition. We should go watch it later.”

As they walked, people called out to Ekko and greeted him with warm smiles and hugs. They spoke to him in a rapid Hawaiian dialect that Jinx couldn’t understand, but the affection in their voices was unmistakable.

“Hey, Ekko! Welcome back, brother!” a man said, giving him a hearty slap on the back. “Long time no see!”

Ekko smiled.

“Good to see you too, Kai! This is my...”—he hesitated and looked at Jinx. She was ready to brace herself for another stab in the hundreds she had received since the love of her life had completely forgotten her when something in Ekko's expression changed—“This is Jinx, my girlfriend, and this is my daughter, Isha.”

Kai’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Your daughter? Damn! You’ve been hiding something, brother!” He laughed and extended his hand to Jinx. “Welcome to the ohana, Jinx! It’s good to have you here.”

Jinx shook his hand and felt a wave of warmth, still confused by her boyfriend's recent display of affection.

“Thank you,” she said. “It’s great to be here.”

Ekko introduced them to several of his childhood friends, and they all greeted him with the same enthusiasm. They all seemed genuinely happy to see Ekko, and their acceptance eased some of Jinx’s anxieties. Maybe, just maybe, she could fit in there.

As they wandered through the festival, Ekko explained the meanings of different traditions and customs. He showed them how to make flower leis, taught them some basic phrases in Hawaiian, and even let Isha try her hand at hitting poi. He was patient, engaged, and clearly having fun. Jinx watched him, her heart aching with a mix of love and longing. He was so close, and yet so far. He was there with her, but he really wasn’t hers. Not yet.

After a while, Isha began to fidget.

“Mum, I’m hungry!” she complained, tugging at Jinx’s dress.

“Alright, little one,” she replied. “Let’s find something to eat.”

Ekko led them to a food stall brimming with local delights. They ordered plates of kalua pig, poi, and lomi salmon, and searched for a shady spot under a palm tree to eat. As they ate, Jinx noticed Ekko watching her with a thoughtful expression.

“It looks like you’re having fun,” he said softly.

“I am,” she smiled. “It’s beautiful here. And everyone is so... welcoming.”

“This is my home,” he said. “These are my people. I want you both to feel at home too.”

His words were like balm to her soul. She knew they were just words, that he didn’t fully remember her, but still, they gave her hope. Maybe, in time, he would remember. Maybe, in time, they could rebuild what they had lost.

Maybe one day Ekko would love her a quarter of what he had.

After they finished eating, Ekko suggested they watch the hula dance competition. They found a spot near the stage, and Isha settled in his lap, her eyes wide with wonder as the dancers took the stage. The music began, a hypnotic rhythm of drums and chants. The dancers moved with grace and fluidity, their bodies telling stories of ancient legends and the beauty of the islands. Jinx watched, mesmerized, as the dancers swayed and twirled, their hands moving in intricate patterns that seemed to weave magic in the air. She felt a sense of peace wash over her, a brief respite from the confusion in her mind.

When the dance ended, the crowd erupted in applause. Ekko turned to Jinx with bright eyes.

“Wasn’t that incredible?”

Jinx nodded, speechless.

“Come on,” he said, taking her hand. “Let’s dance.”

“Dance? I don’t know, Ekko...”

“Come on,” he insisted, pulling her up. “It’ll be fun. You just have to follow my lead.”

He led her to an open space near the stage, where other couples were already dancing to the music. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and she cautiously placed her hands on his shoulders.

The music was lively, cheerful, and full of emotion, a traditional Hawaiian love song. Ekko began to sway, guiding her gently toward him. At first, Jinx felt awkward and shy, but as she relaxed in his arms, she began to feel the rhythm of the music. They moved together, slowly, gracefully, their bodies swaying to the beat. Ekko’s eyes were locked on hers, his gaze intense and steady.

Jinx felt lost in the moment, forgetting everything else. It was just them, Ekko and Jinx, and the music. They danced, not as strangers, but as two souls deeply connected.

It was as if they were the only two people in the world, lost in a sea of music and emotion. The sun was sinking in the sky, painting it in shades of orange, pink, and violet. The air was filled with the scent of flowers and the sound of laughter.

They danced until the music faded away, and the silence was broken only by the gentle lapping of the waves on the shore. Ekko held her close, his breath warm against her ear. They stayed there for a moment, looking into each other’s eyes, lost in their own world. The distance between them seemed to shrink, the invisible barrier that had separated them for so long began to crumble.

But the spell was broken when Wyeth's gruff voice cut through the evening air.

“Ekko! Look who I found, come quick.”

The named one jumped and broke eye contact with Jinx. The warmth in his eyes seemed to vanish and was replaced by a flash of obligation.

“Alright, Dad. Just... give me a minute.”

Wyeth insisted. Ekko sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

“Probably should go.”

Jinx nodded, feeling a knot of disappointment in her chest.

“Yes, of course.”

“I’ll be right back, just... just give me a couple of seconds.”

Before Jinx could respond, Isha came running toward them, her face flushed with excitement.

“Mum! Papa! Look what I won!” She held up a small, hand-carved wooden turtle.

“Wow, that’s amazing, little girl,” Ekko said, ruffling her hair. “I’ll be right back, stay close to mom.”

As Ekko and his father disappeared into the crowd, Jinx found herself surrounded by a group of Ekko’s childhood friends: Kai and a few others she had met before. Isha immediately got caught up in a game of tag with the other kids.

“So,” Kai said, smiling at Jinx, “we owe you a lot of money.”

Jinx frowned, confused.

“Money? What are you talking about?”

Another friend, a woman named Leilani, chuckled softly.

“We had a bet, you see? About whether Ekko would finally realize he was hopelessly in love with you.”

Jinx’s eyes widened in surprise as she laughed nervously.

“You bet on us?”

“Hey, it’s been a long time,” Kai said, raising his hands in defense. “We’ve heard him sigh about ‘that crazy Jinx’ since we were kids. But he was too stubborn to admit he liked you. Leilani said that thick-headed guy didn’t even suspect he loved you.”

Leilani nodded.

“Seriously, that guy was hopeless. We’re glad he finally regained his common sense, or that someone pointed out the obvious to him.”

A wave of warmth washed over Jinx.

“He... did he talk about me when we were kids?”

“Talk? He practically built a shrine for you in his head!” Kai exclaimed, earning a playful shove from Leilani. “Well, maybe not a shrine, but he always drew you, talked about your inventions, your spirit... He just didn’t understand it was love. I think he’s the type of idiot who doesn’t know he’s in love until someone tells him.”

“We’re so happy for you two,” Leilani said, squeezing Jinx’s arm. “He deserves someone like you. Someone who understands him.”

“And that he finally admitted it,” another added. “My respect, I wouldn’t have the patience.”

“Neither would I,” Jinx replied, laughing a little. “But here we are.”

As the night went on, Jinx relaxed in the company of Ekko’s friends. They shared stories about him as a child, his passion for inventing, his unwavering loyalty. It was like catching a glimpse of another facet of him, a facet that amnesia couldn’t erase.

Just when she started to feel like she belonged to the family, Ekko reappeared, smiling at her, but as soon as he saw her smile back, Wyeth intervened, dragging him by the arm to point out someone. And it was like hitting her again in the same spot once more.

Because that person his father pointed out was Maddie.

Chapter Text

THE HEADACHE IS GOING TO KILL EKKO.

His head threatened to split his skull in two. With every heartbeat, it felt like a hammer blow; each thought was a stab. And that damn sound... plink... plink... A drop falling, relentless, torturing him in the haze of waking up.

"He's awake," whispered a voice he barely recognized. "Ekko, can you hear me? Can you open your eyes?"

The light. God, the fucking light. It filtered through his closed eyelids, a white torture drilling into his brain. He groaned, gritting his teeth, clinging to the darkness. He couldn't stand his head. He wanted to rip it off in one go.

"Where am I?" he asked, dragging the words out, hurting even to think about pronouncing them. "My... my head."

"Yes, it must hurt," replied that voice, now clearer. "Do you know who you are?"

He took a deep breath, trying to focus his mind. A name... floated on the surface, unstable, like a raft about to sink.

"Ekko. My name is Ekko."

Finally, with superhuman effort, he opened his eyes.

A woman. A doctor, perhaps, with chocolate-colored skin and a worried look. She was sitting beside him, holding a piece of medical paper and a small flashlight. She seemed relieved. Relieved about what? Ekko had no idea. He had no idea who she was, or where he was, or why he felt so damn alone.

No, not alone. Something was missing. Someone was missing.

"Where is Jinx?" The question shot out, a primal instinct. "Where is Isha? Where am I? Are they okay?"

The doctor fell silent. A heavy, uncomfortable silence resonated in the room like the echo of an explosion.

"Ekko," she began, her voice soft, cautious. "You’re in a hospital. You had a severe concussion. You’ve been unconscious for five days."

Five days

Five days of what? The information crashed against his brain like a giant wave, threatening to drown him.

"I'm Dr. Mel Medarda. I don’t think you remember me, but I treated you in Canada four months ago, " the doctor added, observing him. "I came in an emergency. They needed your history; do you remember me?"

"Somewhat," Ekko confessed, disoriented. "A concussion? What are you talking about? What happened to Jinx? And to Isha?"

"Your brain has been under a lot of pressure, Ekko," Mel continued, her voice professional but tinged with concern. "For the past few days, your brain activity has been... intense. It's as if your mind is struggling to process an avalanche of information. The original shock, combined with new information and attempts to recover your memory... all of that triggered an overload." She paused, observing his reactions. "Think of it as a binge of memories. Too much information at once, and your brain couldn’t handle it. It caused inflammation, a kind of 'overheating.' It was serious, Ekko. You were very close to a stroke..."

Mel explained medical details that he barely understood: spikes in neuronal activity, neurotransmitters firing out of control, the need to induce a coma to allow his brain to rest and recover. She spoke about the fragility of the brain, how easy it was to damage it, and how difficult it was to repair.

Ekko nodded, trying to process the information. Words like "cerebral edema" and "intracranial pressure" echoed in his head, but they couldn’t penetrate the fog of confusion and anxiety. He didn’t care about the medical details. He just wanted to know one thing.

"And my family?" he asked, interrupting her. "Jinx... Isha... are they okay? Where are they?" The need to know was a powerful force, a magnet pulling him toward the truth, no matter how painful it was. "Please, they must know that I’m okay."

The doctor looked at him hesitantly, but before she could respond, the door opened.

A man. An older man, with a face marked by worry, a stern look, and hunched shoulders. His father.

"Son," he said, his voice tinged with forced relief. "You’re awake, thank goodness. How do you feel?"

Ekko stared at him, trying to decipher the expression on his face. Genuine concern? Or just fulfilling a duty?

"What’s going on, Dad? Where is Jinx? Where is my family?" His voice was a thread, tense, on the verge of breaking.

His father hesitated, avoiding his gaze.

"Ekko, calm down. You’re in the hospital. You had a problem..."

"A problem! Don’t tell me I had a problem! Tell me where Jinx and Isha are!" Frustration rose like a tide, flooding his patience.

The doctor intervened, trying to calm the situation.

"Ekko, please, calm down. You need to rest. Your memory..."

"My memory is messed up, I know!" he roared, interrupting her. "But what does that have to do with Jinx and Isha? Tell me where they are!"

"Isha is fine," the doctor Mel interjected. "She’s in the hospital’s children’s playroom. She’s safe and being cared for."

"And Jinx?" The question was a whisper, laden with fear. She wouldn’t leave Isha alone, not without care. She doesn’t like it.

Another silence. An even heavier silence than the previous one.

"Where is Jinx?" he repeated, his voice now a broken thread.

His father finally lifted his gaze. His eyes, usually cold, were clouded with a mix of pity and... guilt?.

"Ekko," he began, his voice soft, as if fearing to break something fragile. "Jinx... Jinx isn’t here."

The world stopped. The headache, the buzzing in his ears, the rapid beating of his heart... everything went silent. Only the void remained. An absolute, terrifying void that consumed him from within.

"What do you mean she’s not here?" he asked, his voice barely audible.

His father swallowed hard.

"Jinx... she left, Ekko. She left before you collapsed."

The words hit him like a punch to the stomach. She left. Jinx had gone. She had abandoned him.

"Why?" The question was a moan, a lament. "Why would she leave?"

His father sighed.

"I don’t know, son. I don’t know. I suppose that... I suppose she couldn’t handle it anymore. Your amnesia, your... rejection. It was too much for her."

The world began to spin. His head was spinning, his stomach churning. Jinx had left him because he had forgotten her. The irony was cruel, relentless.

But it wasn’t tangible.

They could tell him he was the damn president of China, and it would make more sense than Jinx simply leaving him.

"No," he murmured, shaking his head. "No, that can’t be. She... she loves me. She loves Isha; she wouldn’t leave."

"I know, son," said his father, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I know. But sometimes, love isn’t enough. Sometimes, you have to let go."

"I need to get out of here," he said, trying to get up from the bed. "I need to find Jinx."

"Ekko, you can’t," Mel said, gently pushing him back. "You’re too weak. You need to rest. I need to do more tests. Your memory..."

"My memory doesn’t matter!" he shouted, pushing her hand away. "Jinx matters! I need to find her. And Isha."

Mel sighed.

"Ekko, I understand how you feel. But you can’t help her if you don’t help yourself. You need to be strong; you need to be clear."

"Isha," he murmured, his voice now a whisper. "I need to see Isha."

Mel nodded.

"Of course. I’ll bring her here. But first, you need to promise me that you’ll calm down. You need to promise me that you’ll rest."

Ekko nodded, too weak to argue. He needed to see his daughter. He needed to feel her embrace, to have something of his life back. He needed to know that at least one part of his life was still intact.

A few minutes later, the door opened, and Isha ran into the room. Her eyes lit up when she saw him, and she rushed into his arms.

"Dad!" she exclaimed, hugging him tightly.

Ekko hugged her back fiercely, inhaling her scent of sunshine and innocence. In that moment, everything else disappeared. The pain, the confusion, the desperation... all faded away in the presence of his daughter.

"I’m here, little girl," he murmured, kissing her hair. "I’m here."

"Are you okay?"

"Like new," he smiled, watching the little girl. "You... you’re okay? How have you been?"

"Good, she let me sleep here," she pointed to Dr. Mel. "You..."

Ekko frowned.

"No... I don’t remember that word," he admitted, embarrassed. "What happened?"

Isha pointed to her own head and pretended to hit it.

And no one would believe it, but of course, Ekko didn’t remember anything she was talking about.

"Where is Jinx, little girl?"

He couldn’t help it. It was what he really wanted to know; little mattered to him how he ended up in the hospital if it had nothing to do with Jinx.

Isha explained quickly, seeming agitated. But Ekko barely registered half of what she said. Foreign words, indecipherable hieroglyphics to him. The frustration of not understanding was gnawing at him. What was she trying to tell him? Why couldn’t he connect the dots? Why couldn’t he recognize the gestures she made?

"Isha, Isha, slow down," he intervened. "You say she left..."

"Before," Isha replied, seemingly frustrated that he didn’t understand the details of what she wanted to tell him. "After dinner."

"What dinner?"

Isha explained. But Ekko had never practiced those words. He tried to decipher their meaning, to find some logical sense, but his mind was a maze of fog. Each attempt to understand her was like trying to catch smoke with his hands. He understood loose words like 'mum,' 'talk,' 'dinner,' 'travel.'

"No... I don’t understand what you’re saying."

Isha seemed to reach her limit of frustration as she got off the bed, making gestures that Ekko recognized as 'paper and pencil,' but she was interrupted by her father, who stopped her.

"Isha, let him rest," insisted her father. "You could provoke another concussion."

The girl stopped, looking at him scared.

"Don’t say those things, Dad," Ekko growled. "Isha, I’ll be fine."

"I’m just telling the truth," Wyeth insisted. "You need to rest; we’ll leave you alone..."

"No," Ekko intervened. "Isha can stay, can’t she?"

Dr. Mel sighed.

"I need to do more tests," she replied, looking at the girl. "Sweetheart, go back with the other kids. I’ll call you when I’m done."

"I can take care of myself," Wyeth mumbled. "She’s my granddaughter."

"Of course, Mr. Shannon, but you should take her to lunch; it’s getting late."

"Oh, yes, of course," Wyeth looked at Isha. "Come on, does the cafeteria come with insurance or...?"

"I’ll pay," Ekko added. "Put it on my tab; Isha eats well."

"Thank you, son. Come on, dear granddaughter."

Both disappeared down the hallway, leaving them alone.

"Mr. Ekko," Dr. Mel added, now that they were alone. "I usually don’t do this, but you don’t have another contact family member."

"No," Ekko admitted. "Doctor, please... what happened to Jinx?"

The doctor looked at him, sighing.

"I don’t know, but it’s strange."

"She would never leave Isha alone."

"Trust me, I know. Remember, she threatened me twice to treat you," she joked lightly. "Ekko, your memory suffered severe damage. You are a patient who needs to be surrounded by the people who love you the most and want the best for you; it’s very easy to take advantage of your state."

Ekko growled.

"I have my dad; he’s... he’s my dad."

"Indeed," Mel replied. "But you forgot two days; I can tell you that in those two days, you conquered Mars, and you wouldn’t be sure of it. You need to keep close to the people who would tell you the truth, the people you believe with all your heart about what happened in that time."

Ekko thought about it. Who, besides Jinx, fit that description? It was a cruel irony; the first time he woke up so confused, she was the last person he would think of for his care, and yet she was his emergency contact.

"There’s someone," he confessed, looking at the doctor. "I’ll give her money; tell her where I am. Please."

"I’ll do it."

"Take care of Isha," Ekko added, looking at her pleadingly. "Has she slept here?"

"Not a second has she left your side."

"Good. She won’t."

"Now..." the doctor began. "What’s the last thing you remember clearly?"

Ekko closed his eyes, searching through the weeds of his mind. Fragments, flashes... A clear memory emerges. And he only remembers the festival.

At his dance with Jinx. The light of the lanterns, the warmth of her hand in his, the silent promise in her eyes.

"I promise, I’ll never forget this."

"You better not."

But then he also remembers the rain. A lot of rain. And a car. A piercing feeling of panic.

"I’m just so tired of disappointing you."

"You don’t love me anymore; I get it. But let me love you on the way home and the rest of my life, and then I’ll leave you forever."

A wall rises, blocking the way. Blurry images, confusing sensations. It’s like trying to remember a dream from which only blurry traces remain. He remembers Jinx, her face twisted with rage and sadness, but he cannot retain the sequence of events. He cannot understand what led them to that point. He cannot understand anything.

"The festival, I remember dancing with Jinx."

Mel nodded slowly.

"That was two days before your accident, Ekko."

Silence hung over the room, dense and oppressive. Ekko tried to piece together the puzzle, but it was incomplete. Key pieces were missing, crucial moments that could explain Jinx’s absence. And even more so, he had two complete days where he remembered absolutely nothing.

What happened during those lost two days? What words were spoken, what actions taken, that led Jinx to abandon him? Frustration invaded him, a dull rage that threatened to explode. He felt trapped in a nightmare from which he could not awaken.

Mel stood up, her face reflecting deep concern.

"Ekko, you need to rest. You need to allow your brain to recover."

"When will they discharge me?"

"Tomorrow morning," she replied, heading for the door, but before leaving, she stopped and looked him in the eyes. "It wasn’t Jinx who called me; it was Isha."

"How did Isha have your number?"

"Jinx," Mel replied, looking at him sternly. "Take care, Mr. Shannon."

Ekko nodded, confused.

"Thank you; you too."

Dr. Mel Medarda left the room, leaving Ekko alone with his thoughts. His eyes were fixed on the ceiling, trying to reconstruct the fragments of his memory. The festival, the rain, the arguments... Everything mixed and confused in an indecipherable chaos.

What the hell happened this time for Jinx not to be there? What did he forget? The answer slips through his fingers like quicksand. The question consumes him, an obsessive obsession that torments him ceaselessly.

And worst of all, he has the terrible certainty that the answer, whatever it is, will completely destroy him.

Apparently the truth, already destroy it once.

Chapter Text

HOW DID IT END?

Ekko has no idea how it all ended.

The next day, he is at his father's house, clinging to Isha as if she were a lifeline. Isha has half-told him what happened, but the pieces don't fit. There are gaps, omissions, and a persistent feeling that something crucial is being kept from him. His father, usually distant, is unusually happy and attentive, showering both Ekko and Isha with affection. It’s weird, out of place.

Later, after a quiet dinner, Ekko realizes he can't sleep. He sits at the desk, with an open notebook in front of him, drawing and absentmindedly scribbling letters that don’t quite form. He tries to force the memories, to cling to the missing pieces, but it’s like trying to catch smoke.

I see the waves crash the shore
they keep coming back for long
I know I'm always by the ocean
I'm keep comin', yearning for the waves

Shitty.

"And when the music ends, 
I still holding each other instead, 
still swaying to the slow heal
rhythm of our breaths"
It is this the worst way
to made this song ends?

More shitty. Ekko sighs; there's no inspiration for him. And he's right about the crap he just wrote; it’s the worst thing he has ever written. He only remembers flashes of what happened at the end of the festival, like a dream, and he isn’t sure if he knows the truth. Is it him or his memory? Did it happen, or does he wish it had happened? 

He's interrupted by a light in the hallway. He gets up to check and sees Isha standing there, her small figure silhouetted in the doorway.

"Can’t you sleep?" Ekko asks softly, kneeling to her height.

Isha shakes her head, her eyes wide and worried. Ekko sighs and hugs her.

"Me neither," he gently leads her to his room. "Do you want to sleep here?" he offers.

She nods, and he helps her get comfortable in bed next to him. He wishes he could tell her a story, like Jinx used to do, telling fantastic tales of daring adventures and impossible feats.

"I'm sorry," he whispers, stroking her hair. "I wish I could tell you a story like Jinx's."

Isha looks at him with understanding in her eyes. She takes her board and writes: "It’s okay. You’re here."

Ekko's heart fills with gratitude and guilt. He pulls her closer and hugs her tightly. He may not have all the answers, may not remember everything, but he knows one thing: he will be there for her, always.

Slowly, Isha's breathing evens out, and she drifts off to sleep. Ekko watches her, his gaze filled with love and determination. At least Isha is something certain. And the next day, he doesn’t leave her side, giving his best.

"How are you, Ekko?"

Ekko barely registers Maddie in front of him. For some reason beyond his comprehension, his father allowed her to visit, and she has been here all morning, her voice soft and concerned. That simple question hits him like a slap. It’s strange. Everything is strange.

A pang of distrust runs down his spine. Something is wrong, very wrong. But what? Why is Maddie acting like this? And why is his father being so... nice?

What made Jinx leave?

"Fine," Ekko replies tersely, trying to hide his confusion. "Just a little tired."

"I was thinking of asking for something to eat," she begins. "Your father is going out; he could bring something."

Ekko decides he needs fresh air, to get away from the suffocating atmosphere of the house.

"Isha and I were going out," he says, looking at Maddie. "I promised to take her to a park; we’re going to eat there."

Maddie nods with a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes.

"Are you sure? I could join you."

"Just the two of us, thanks."

"Enjoy."

Ekko doesn’t bother to respond. He takes Isha's hand and leaves the house, leaving Maddie and his father behind. The feeling that something is wrong intensifies with every step he takes. And it hurts even more that Isha carries her board and erasable marker everywhere. They walk aimlessly.

His head still aches a bit, but it’s better than being at home. Ekko walks with Isha, taking a bus that takes them to where the festival was, leading them to a hidden spot nearby. From there, they can see the whole city stretched out under the evening sky. The sun is radiant, and the green landscape swallows the entire city, but Ekko can’t appreciate the beauty. His mind is elsewhere, tormented by unanswered questions and the certainty that the truth is hiding in plain sight.

Isha sighs, marveling at the city.

The air is fresh and carries a slight scent of salt and plumeria. Ekko leads Isha to the edge, where they sit on the low ledge, legs dangling. He remains silent for a moment, simply contemplating the view.

"Beautiful," Isha points out, while Ekko watches her.

"Yeah," Ekko agrees. "Jinx and I used to look at a similar view in Zaun, back home, only it was more..." Ekko searches his mind for the right word, but like most things in his life lately, it slips away. "I don’t know."

Ekko curses the world. He didn’t mean for his voice to sound so full of resentment, but it did. He’s frustrated. He hates everything. He hates his memory. He hates not knowing.

He hates not knowing how much he likes this life.

He was ready to continue cursing a bit when Isha tugged at his arm, pointing to her board where it read 'Poor.' And that made him laugh.

"I wasn’t poor, well, maybe a little," he confesses, reflecting on his home. "But it was beautiful, even though it was poor, it was chaotic, it was strange, it was... really dark, but I was happy there."

Ekko had been damn happy in Zaun.

Hawaii too. But the more he remembered Zaun during every summer with Benzo, everything filled with colors, laughter, and love. Benzo himself was his home. He remembered the rooftops, the races, the days without light that turned into candle shows. Vi being a fighter, holding a record at that practically ruined arcade in the city. Zaun was far from being what Hawaii was; in architecture, history, and wealth. But it had something this place didn’t have: heart.

And not because the place itself was ugly as hell, but because of the people who lived there.

He looks at Isha, and a sudden wave of guilt washes over him. He hasn’t been present, not really. He’s so consumed by his fragmented memories and the unsettling feeling that something is wrong that he has forgotten who is by his side.

"Isha," he says softly. "What happened to Jinx?"

Isha's face darkens, and she looks away. She takes her board and writes a single word: 

"Better."

"Better?" Ekko repeats, his heart sinking. "Where did she go, Isha? Do you know? I don’t think that’s better."

Isha shakes her head, her eyes filling with tears. She writes again: 

"She said it was better. Papa of Papa said to tell you later."

Ekko understands.

"She looks sad?" Isha shakes her head while Ekko watches her. "It really hasn’t been easy for you, has it? I’m sorry about all this."

"Mama said we would be okay," she replied with her hands. Then she looked at him. "I believe it."

"I hope so."

"You..." Isha hesitates, writing it better in her notebook. "You don’t love her anymore?"

Ekko doesn’t know how to respond to that, hesitating.

He doesn’t want to break his nine-year-old daughter’s heart.

"I love her as a friend," Ekko replies, uncertain. "It’s complicated, it’s like... I don’t know how to love her like... like they expect me to."

"You don’t love her," Isha repeats, erasing the question mark. And she stares at the paper for a long while, until she writes: "You still care about her?"

"Yes, she’s your mother."

Isha nods. And Ekko feels like the worst piece of shit in the world.

"Did I ever tell you how I loved her?"

His daughter nods almost before he finishes the question, which, contrary to the warmth he should feel, hurts him more.

"Well, that was silly. I wrote too many songs not to doubt that I didn’t love talking about how I loved her," he tells himself under Isha’s watchful gaze. "She loves you very much, don’t doubt that for a second."

"I know," Isha replies, but with a sad look. "But you..." she points at him, hesitating whether to write it or not. "You used to loved her too."

That breaks his heart.

And makes the tears flow, unable to stop, like rain in a storm. They both cry, a lot. Ekko wraps her in a hug while Isha cries against his chest, but they both know who is crying more. The world seems dark.

There’s something cruel about memory that lacks the absence of other organs or accidents. He hasn’t lost anything physical, but he lost something more important, and it’s a part of his being.

One is made of memories, of lived experiences shaped by feelings, but Ekko doesn’t have the last six or seven years of his life. He doesn’t even have the last week, but everyone around him does. It’s cruel. Because it not only hurts him, it hurts everyone around him because love arises from experiences, but Ekko doesn’t have those experiences, only blind faith with his best attempts.

And he’s tired.

And Isha is exhausted.

It’s cruel how memory is what makes us who we are, and without it, we are a completely different person. For ourselves. For others. Ekko sees Isha dealing with him like one searches for a song they often heard but never knew its name, then searching everywhere humming the melody they remember but without getting its name or knowing if what they hum is the right melody, just trying. And with each passing day, getting a little more disappointed for not finding the name of this, even though they know the damn melody.

It’s not fair. It’s just cruel. For both.

Ekko hugs Isha tighter, his tears soaking her hair. The view of the city, the vibrant colors of the sunset, all fade into insignificance. The weight of his fractured memories, the missing pieces crushes him. He feels like he’s failing, that he’s disappointing Isha, and that he has lost something irreplaceable within himself.

"I’m sorry, Isha," he says, his voice choked with emotion. "I’m so sorry."

Isha pulls away a bit and wipes her tears with the back of her hand. She looks at him, her young face reflecting concern and a wisdom that surpasses her years. She knows, somehow, that this is more important than Jinx, more important than a broken family. It’s about her father, who he is, and who he’s trying to be.

She takes her board again and writes carefully: "It’s not your fault."

Ekko shakes his head, unable to look her in the eyes.

"But it is, Isha. It is. I can’t remember... I can’t even remember how I felt about her. And that’s not fair to you. Or to her. Or... anyone"

He struggles to find the words to explain the chaotic confusion swirling in his head. The love he felt, the loss he feels, the guilt that gnaws at him. It’s a whirlwind of emotions that consumes him.

"Maybe I won’t manage to be half the good father I was, but I want to try. You’re my daughter."

Isha leans in and takes his hand, wrapping her small fingers around his. Her touch is reassuring, a tangible reminder of the present.

"It’s not your fault," she writes, her brow furrowed with determination.

Ekko manages to muster a weak smile. He doesn’t really believe it. But he appreciates the sentiment, the unwavering faith she has in him.

They sit in silence for a long while, as their tears slowly dry on their faces. The sun sets, tinting the sky with orange and purple hues. The cool breeze carries the scent of plumeria, a bittersweet fragrance that reminds Ekko of happier times.

Finally, he takes a deep breath and stands up, dragging Isha with him.

"Let’s go," he says, his voice a little firmer now. "Let’s go home."

The bus ride back passes in silence. Isha leans against him, her eyes closed. Ekko stares out the window, watching how the city lights blur. He feels exhausted, emotionally and physically. All he wants is to crawl into bed and sleep for a week.

When they arrive home, Ekko tries to smile at Isha. He wants to protect her from the darkness threatening to engulf him.

"We're home," he says cheerfully, taking her hand. "How about we play with your dolls before dinner?"

Isha looks at him and scrutinizes his face. She sees the effort he’s making, the cracks in his facade. She slowly nods, and a small smile forms on her lips.

Inside, the house feels strangely silent. Maddie is gone, and Ekko’s father is sitting in the living room, reading a newspaper. He looks up when they enter, and his expression softens when he sees Isha.

"Hello, everyone," he says as he folds the newspaper. "How was your day?"

"Good," Ekko responds, trying to sound convincing. "We went to the park."

"That’s nice," his father replies, his gaze fixed on Ekko's face. He seems to notice the redness in his eyes, the lingering sadness in his expression. But he doesn’t say anything, doesn’t insist.

Ekko quickly takes Isha to her room. He pulls out her dollhouse and her collection of dolls, trying to distract her from the somber atmosphere. They play in comfortable silence for a while, creating elaborate scenarios and silly voices. Ekko finds a small measure of peace in the simple act of playing with his daughter.

At dinner, Ekko’s father is unusually attentive, making sure Isha has everything she needs. He even tells a few jokes that elicit genuine laughter from her. Ekko watches, a mix of suspicion and gratitude swirling inside him. He doesn’t understand this sudden change in his father’s behavior, but he appreciates the effort.

After dinner, while Isha prepares for bed, Ekko’s father stops him in the hallway.

"Ekko, can we talk for a minute?" he asks in a serious tone.

Ekko hesitates. He’s exhausted and doesn’t want to deal with what his father has to say. But he knows he can’t avoid it forever.

"Sure," he says, following his father into the living room.

His father gestures for him to sit.

"I wanted to talk to you about... your investments," he says, carefully avoiding looking Ekko in the eyes. "Things are going very well. In fact, they’re exceeding all expectations."

Ekko raises an eyebrow. He knows his father has been managing his money, but he’s never been particularly forthcoming with the details.

"That’s good to hear," he says.

"Yes," his father replies, nodding. "Very good. I think it’s time we discussed your long-term financial strategy."

Ekko sighs. He’s not interested in talking about money right now. He just wants to sleep.

"Can we do it another time?" he asks in a dull voice. "I’m really tired."

His father looks at him with an unreadable glimmer in his eyes.

"This is important, Ekko. It’s about your future."

"My future will be fine," Ekko says, standing up. "Isha is in good hands."

He turns to leave, but his father stops him.

"Ekko," he says pleadingly. "Stay and talk for a while. I want to help you."

Ekko hesitates. He wants to trust his father, to believe he’s looking out for his interests. But something feels off. He can’t shake the feeling that he’s being manipulated.

"I’m leaving," he finally says firmly. "Isha is waiting for me."

He walks away, leaving his father standing alone in the living room. He can feel his father’s gaze on his back, but he doesn’t turn around. Back in Isha’s room, he finds her sitting on the bed, hugging her favorite doll. She looks at him with eyes full of concern.

Ekko kneels beside her and ruffles her hair affectionately.

"Everything is fine," he says, forcing a smile. "How about we read a story?"

He grabs a book from the shelf and starts reading, his voice soothing and calm. Isha snuggles closer to him, relaxing her body against his. The book doesn’t resemble one of Jinx’s fantastic stories, but it works well enough for Isha to fall asleep before he finishes. Ekko tucks her in, feeling like he did something right.

Then he can’t sleep. For a long time.

Something isn’t right.

He tries to remain still, focusing on Isha’s soft breathing, but the feeling of unease gnaws at him. His father’s sudden interest in his "financial strategy," Maddie’s forced cheerfulness, Jinx’s abrupt departure... everything seems connected, part of a puzzle he can’t piece together.

Finally, he gives up. He gets out of bed, careful not to wake Isha, and quietly leaves the room. The house is dark and silent; the only sound is the soft hum of the refrigerator.

He wanders aimlessly through the hallways, softly stepping on the carpet with his bare feet. He passes the living room, where his father had been reading just a few hours ago. The newspaper is still there, neatly folded on the coffee table.

Ekko impulsively picks it up. He reads the headlines, looking for something that might shed light on his unease, but it’s nothing more than the usual mix of local news and world events. He throws the newspaper back on the table, feeling a wave of frustration.

He continues his restless journey, drawn to his father’s study. He knows he shouldn’t be snooping, but the persistent feeling that something is wrong dominates his consciousness.

The study door is ajar, and a beam of light spills into the hallway. He slowly opens it and looks inside. The room is empty, and the desk is cluttered with papers and files.

His father's computer sits on the desk, the screen off. Ekko hesitates, his hand hovering over the mouse. He knows he shouldn’t do this, but he can’t resist the temptation. He needs to know. He clicks the mouse, and the screen lights up, revealing the familiar Windows login screen. A password is required.

Ekko curses under his breath. He tries a few obvious passwords (his father's name, his birthday), but none work. He could try to force his way in, but he doesn’t have the time or the experience.

He sighs, defeated. He’s about to give up when he notices a small notebook next to the keyboard. He picks it up and flips through the pages. It’s filled with his father’s handwriting, a mix of notes and calculations.

His gaze lands on a section titled "Investments." He begins to read, frowning in confusion. The notes are filled with jargon he doesn’t understand: stocks, bonds, options, derivatives. It’s like reading a foreign language.

He turns to another page, and his heart skips a beat. This section is titled "Cryptocurrencies." The notes are even more cryptic, filled with abbreviations and technical terms. But one word stands out: "HexCoin."

Ekko freezes, his mind racing. HexCoin? What the hell is HexCoin? And why is his father investing in it?

He continues reading, piecing together fragments of information. It seems his father has been making a lot of money trading HexCoin. A lot of money.

He turns to another page, and his stomach sinks. This section is titled "Offshore Accounts." The notes are brief and cryptic, but he can make out references to banks in the Cayman Islands and Panama.

Ekko's mind is spinning. His father, a serious and conservative businessman, is involved in cryptocurrencies, offshore accounts, and... possibly something even murkier.

He closes the notebook with trembling hands. He doesn’t know what all this means, but he knows it’s not good. He looks back at the computer screen, the password request mocking him. He wants to dig deeper, uncover the truth, but he knows he can’t. He doesn’t have the necessary skills and doesn’t want to risk getting caught.

He sighs, a wave of exhaustion washing over him. He carefully places the notebook back where he found it. He turns off the computer and quietly leaves the study, closing the door behind him.

Back in his room, he crawls back into bed, his mind still racing. He stares at the ceiling, his paranoia reaching new heights. What is his father involved in? And what does it have to do with Jinx’s disappearance?

He brushes the hair from Isha’s face as he tucks her blanket around her. He watches her with affection; she is truly the only certainty he knows in his own life.

Chapter Text

MADDIE STILL HERE.

He has no idea how, but she is there.

He walks into the kitchen hoping to find some coffee. To him surprise, Maddie is already there, sitting at the table with a cup in her hand. She looks up when he enters, and her face lights up with a warm smile as she looks perfect; her pastel-colored clothes, wrinkle-free, nothing wrong with her.

"Good morning," she says softly. "I didn’t want to wake you. I hope you slept well."

Ekko nods, forcing a smile.

"Yeah, it’s fine," he says, grabbing the coffee pot. "So, um... I don’t want to sound rude, but... what are you doing here and so early?"

"I live nearby."

She is so close. He can only think about how coincidental that is.

He pours himself a cup and takes a cautious sip. The caffeine helps clear his head a bit, but the underlying discomfort remains.

"So," Maddie says casually, "how are you feeling? Really?"

Ekko hesitates. He doesn’t want to open up to Maddie, but he also doesn’t want to be rude. He tries to change the subject, looking for something to distract from the tension in the air.

"You know, I was thinking... have you ever heard of the word 'chronostasis'?"

"No?"

"Well, it’s that illusion you have when you look at the second hand of a clock, and the first second seems to last longer than it actually does."

Maddie blinks, visibly confused.

"Uh... no, I’ve never heard of that. What does it have to do with anything?"

Ekko shrugs, feeling a bit silly. He thought maybe she would understand; in his mind, his analogy made sense. And he can’t help but wonder if Jinx would understand it; he knows she would and say something even weirder that would be fascinating.

"I don’t know. It just seemed interesting."

Maddie grimaces slightly, showing some distaste.

"It sounds... complicated."

Silence settles between them, this time dense and heavy. Ekko takes another sip of coffee, feeling the discomfort grow. It was so easy to talk to Jinx. They could spend hours discussing time paradoxes, the hidden poetry in the smell of rain, whether a monkey would be more capable of playing a piano or a xylophone, or any other strange idea that came to mind. Ekko reflects on how easy it was to talk to Jinx, and how easy it was not to talk to her, like when they were in the secret greenhouse for hours without saying a word but comfortable knowing they didn’t need to fill the void with words. Just being there.

But Jinx isn’t here, and this silence is uncomfortable as hell.

"Well, I guess," he says, shrugging, "I’m just tired."

"I can imagine," Maddie says, her eyes filled with concern. "It must be really hard dealing with all this. With... everything."

Ekko avoids her gaze and focuses on his coffee.

"It is what it is," he says monotonously.

Is Jinx okay? Where is she? Did she pass the semester? Did they approve her thesis idea? And the buffet? His mind can’t stop thinking about her, even if he tries. He hasn’t even been able to contact her. Or Isha. She just left him with some instructions for Isha that she doesn’t want to tell Ekko.

Maddie sighs and reaches out to take his hand.

"I just want you to know I’m here to help you. If you need anything, anything at all, you can always count on me."

Ekko gently pulls his hand away, his discomfort increasing. Did I do something with Maddie that caused Jinx to leave? It can’t be; surely not. And he finds himself basically pleading with any god or divine entity that he wasn’t that stupid, but something tells him that not even in his most stupid state could he have done that.

"Thanks, Maddie," he says, "I appreciate it."

A silence settles between them, loaded with unspoken words. Ekko can feel Maddie’s gaze on him, searching him, probing him. He knows what she wants, what she hopes for. But he isn’t sure about it.

Could it have been his fault that Jinx left?

"Do you remember that time we drove to the valley?" Maddie asks with a melancholic voice. "We were so young back then."

Ekko closes his eyes for a moment, and the memory floods back to him. It was a perfect day, full of sun and laughter. They had driven for hours, listening to music and talking about their dreams.

"Yeah," he says softly, "I remember."

"We were so happy," Maddie says, her voice barely a whisper. "We could have had it all."

Ekko opens his eyes, his heart aching with a mix of remorse and guilt. He knows Maddie is right. They could have had a wonderful life together, but for reasons beyond his understanding, they didn’t. But it’s not entirely his fault; he used to think it was, but the more he sees the life he has now, the more incompatible it is with Maddie.

Maybe it was for the best for both of them. Love isn’t everything.

"Things change, Maddie," he says tensely. "People change."

"Not always," Maddie says, her eyes fixed on him. "Some things don’t change."

Ekko can see the longing in her eyes, the unspoken desire for a second chance. He knows he can’t give her what she wants. Not now, not ever.

"Maddie," he says gently, "we can’t go back. It’s over. You have to move on."

She shakes her head, tears filling her eyes.

"I can’t," she says, her voice choked with emotion. "I still love you, Ekko. I always have. I lost you once, but this time can be different."

Ekko feels a pang of compassion, but he knows he can’t let himself be dragged into her drama. He needs to protect himself and Isha.

"Maddie, please," he says firmly. "Don’t do this. You’re making things even harder."

She wipes her tears and takes a deep breath.

"I’m sorry," she says, her voice trembling. "I didn’t mean to upset you."

Ekko stands up, and his patience is wearing thin.

"It’s fine," he says. "I have to go. I promised Isha I’d take her to the mall."

He turns to leave, but Maddie stops him again.

"Ekko," she says, her voice pleading, "I love you, I just... I’m sorry."

"It’s fine, I’ll pass."

Maddie hesitates and looks away.

"I don’t think so," she says, her voice evasive. "Have fun."

Ekko nods slowly, and his unease increases. Did I do something... with her?

"Goodbye, Maddie," he says. "See you later."

He turns and walks away, leaving Maddie alone in the kitchen, her eyes filled with sadness and regret. As he gathers Isha for the trip, his certainty that something is wrong has turned into a tangible feeling he can’t ignore.

He decides to go to the beach. It always helps him think, and it can take him away from Maddie’s words: her declaration of love... was like a punch in the stomach. A wave of memories washed over him: laughter, shared dreams, the naive certainty of youth. But those memories were now stained, covered by a layer of bitterness. He had built a life since then.

And especially since he doesn’t know if he did something with Maddie that caused Jinx to leave.

Upon arriving at the beach, Ekko spread out a colorful towel and took out the frisbee. Isha clapped with joy and dashed to catch it. Ekko threw the disc carefully, enjoying the way Isha ran, with fierce determination in her little eyes.

They played for hours. They built sandcastles, which the waves mercilessly destroyed. They chased each other through the waves, splashing water everywhere. Ekko felt the sand between his toes, the sun warming his face, and for a moment, the world reduced to that small circle of joy with Isha.

"Throw it higher!" Isha begged, reaching her little hands toward the sky.

"Okay, but be careful of the rocks."

Ekko smiled and threw the frisbee harder. The disc flew high, tracing a perfect arc against the blue sky. But the playful wind caught it and veered it off course. The frisbee kept flying, away from them, until it landed near a group of people sitting under an umbrella.

Isha looked at him accusingly while Ekko chuckled a bit; the little one was about to go get it, but he stopped her.

"No, wait here," he said, feeling a sudden pang of apprehension. "I’ll go get it; whoever loses it, finds it."

Ekko walked toward the group of people, his heart beating a little faster than normal. As he got closer, he recognized one of the men. It was someone from his past, someone he thought he had left behind long ago: Moni Calixte.

Moni was the very image of privilege. Perfectly styled hair, designer clothes, and an aura of self-confidence that only money can buy. They had been classmates in elementary and high school, though they were never really friends. Moni always belonged to the elite circle, while Ekko had moved in the margins, watching from a distance.

Ekko approached Moni with a forced smile.

"Moni, right?" Ekko said, extending a hand. "It’s been a while."

Moni looked at him in surprise, his brown eyes scanning Ekko’s face not as if he were trying to remember who he was, but as if he knew perfectly well who he was and more. A shadow of discomfort crossed his face. Ekko remembered they were friends, not the best, but at least distant friends. Besides, Moni was Kai’s best friend, so he was always around one way or another.

"Ekko…" Moni said, shaking his hand hesitantly. "I didn’t know you were here; I thought... Well, I thought you were in America."

"I took a vacation," Ekko said, trying to keep his tone light and friendly. "I was playing with my daughter," he pointed to Isha, who was watching them from a distance, curious. "The frisbee got away from us."

Moni followed his gaze to Isha, and a look of surprise crossed his face, many expressions crossing his features as if it were a revelation.

"You have a daughter?" Moni asked, his tone a mix of disbelief and almost guilt. Ekko didn’t understand what was happening, although it had become a constant in his new life, but now he had no idea why Moni was reacting this way to his life.

"Yeah," he replied, confused. "Her name is Isha. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me."

Moni didn’t respond. He just looked at Ekko with an expression he couldn’t decipher. After a long, uncomfortable pause, Moni sighed and said quietly:

"Ekko, I’m sorry."

The mentioned frowned, but he couldn’t speak because Moni’s voice filtered through before he could even blink to stop him.

"I’ve always felt guilty about what happened between Maddie and me," Moni said, his voice barely audible. "We were young, we were stupid, and I... I was an idiot. I knew you were together; it was a damn open secret, and you were my friend, and yet I did that to you. I’m sorry, really, I’m sorry."

Ekko’s world seemed to stop. The sand beneath his feet felt unstable. Moni’s words echoed in his mind, like a bell ringing over and over, illuminating the darkness surrounding his previous relationship with Maddie. Moni avoided his gaze, staring intently at the sand, while he continued speaking.

"I know you’re happy now, but I shouldn’t have done it. I just thought... well, that we loved each other, at least that I loved her, and I was wrong; she just wanted that internship she got with my dad," he laughed bitterly, looking at him with pain. "But karma came, I guess; what starts wrong ends worse, and after leaving you, she left me too. But I’m really sorry for what I did to you. You were my friend."

Ekko felt as if he had been punched in the stomach. Betrayal, humiliation, anger—all mixed in a whirlwind of emotions that threatened to consume him.

"Why are you telling me this now?" Ekko asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"I’ve regretted it for years," Moni said, his eyes filled with remorse. "I’ve followed your career; I’ve seen everything you’ve achieved. Damn, I’m your fan, and even my ex-wife was because you have talent. And when I heard about the accident... I thought maybe I’d never get the chance to apologize to you, maybe that would bring you closer to your girlfriend, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t hurt you. I’m sorry."

Moni paused, taking a deep breath, looking at him with guilt in his eyes.

"It was good to see you; I hope you enjoy your vacation with your beautiful family. I’m sorry, man."

Moni left, leaving Ekko alone in the sand with his confused thoughts as if finally, things were falling into place. The letters made more sense now. And why would he decide to leave Hawaii if one of his friends, the best friend of several of those who introduced him to Jinx, had done that with Maddie. He walked back toward Isha, his heart heavy and his mind confused.

Isha ran to meet him, the frisbee in her hand.

"Who was that?"

"No one important."

"Can we play more?" Isha asked, her eyes filled with pleading.

Ekko hesitated. He wanted to stay there with Isha; he wanted to keep pretending everything was fine. But he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t ignore the storm of emotions swirling inside him.

"I’m sorry, little girl," Ekko said. "We have to go home."

"Why?"

"I have to take care of some things. I promise we’ll come back soon."

Ekko took Isha’s hand and led her back to the towel. He collected their things, feeling Isha’s inquisitive gaze on him as she silently asked what had happened. Upon arriving, Ekko noticed that Maddie was still there. 

"Isha, I want you to take your headphones and go to my room and listen to music at full volume," he ordered, looking at her with some severity. "Don’t come down until I tell you, okay?"

"Are you upset?"

Ekko smiled, ruffling her hair a bit.

"A little, but not with you," he admitted. "Now, go. Dad needs to talk to someone who has lied to him."

Chapter Text

"EKKO, YOU'RE BACK!" EXCLAIMED MADDIE, HER VOICE SWEET AND MELODIOUS. "I SAW ISHA RUN UP, THAT'S GREAT, SO WE HAVE A MOMENT ALONE FOR THIS PLAN I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT."

She didn't wait for a response and continued chattering, her overflowing energy as always.

"Oh, guess what! I ordered Thai food. I know you love pad thai, so I thought it would be a nice way to relax after a day at the beach. It's not a date, technically" she added with a nervous giggle, "just two old friends sharing dinner. What do you think?"

Ekko stood there, paralyzed by a mix of disbelief and anger. How could she be so happy and ignorant after all this time? Her facade of happiness irritated him more than anything else. He needed to confront her, face her with the truth he had discovered, but Maddie's artificial serenity destabilized him as if everything that had happened less than two hours ago were a lie.

But even though he remembered nothing, he knew what Moni had told him was true.

"Sounds great, Maddie" Ekko replied, his voice tense, almost a growl. "But we need to talk."

Maddie frowned slightly, her smile fading a bit.

"Talk? About what? Your memory?"

"No, my memory is still perfectly blank" Ekko responded, holding back his impatience. "But this is convenient for you, isn't it?"

The discomfort became palpable in the air. Maddie stopped smiling altogether and looked at him warily.

"I don't like your tone" she said, her voice losing its usual sweetness. "What's going on?"

Ekko took a deep breath, trying to calm the whirlwind of emotions that invaded him.

"When were you going to tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

"I'm giving you a chance, Maddie" he insisted, almost growling. "When were you planning to tell me the truth?"

Maddie stood firm, looking at him with confusion, but he noticed the truth vibrating in her eyes. She already knew what he meant.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"We both know you’re many things, but stupid has never been one of them, Maddie" Ekko shot back, his patience reaching its limit. "And I can guess several times that you were definitely with him, even once Abril told me she saw you with a guy. Do you remember that? I do. And I swore I had seen you wrong and acted like I didn't care because I was a damn secret, wasn't I? But I see he wasn't."

"That's not true" she said, her voice trembling. "Moni is lying. He has always tried to ruin my life."

"And you think I'm stupid enough to believe you?" Ekko replied, his voice rising. "Do you think if I ask anyone here, they would support your lie?"

"I... I was going to tell you" she said, her voice choked with tears. "But I was scared. I was scared of losing you."

"You were going to tell me?" Ekko repeated, with sarcasm. "When? When my memory came back or never if that never happens? When was the right time to reveal to me that you had been cheating on me with one of my supposed friends?"

"We were young, Ekko" Maddie pleaded, desperately seeking justification. "We were stupid. We made mistakes."

"Yes, we were young" Ekko conceded, his voice now filled with bitterness. "But that doesn't justify the betrayal. It doesn't justify the lie. And you took advantage of me. Why did you do that?"

"I'm sorry" Maddie sobbed, covering her face with her hands. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't tell you with Jinx around; you would have left me without letting me explain."

"And what the hell does that have to do with anything!?"

"That it’s all Jinx!" she exploded, in pain. "I made a mistake, okay? And I regret it so much, but I was young. And you forgave her, why not me?"

"This has nothing to do with her" Ekko growled. "You cheated on me with my friend for an internship!"

"And yet the one you forgave was that crazy drug addict!" 

"Don't talk about her like that" Ekko threatened, his voice filling with darkness and seriousness. "Don't you dare."

"You love her?"

Ekko hesitated. But he looked away, unable to say it out loud, which made Maddie let out a bitter laugh, a smirk of superiority that didn't suit her.

"You're fuckin' awesome" she repeated. "How can you forgive that and not an infidelity that wasn't even for love?"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"That if that crazy girl hadn't killed four people when she was a kid, you would have forgiven her by now" Maddie shouted, confronting him. "It's right in your face; if you didn't know why the hell you forgave her the first time, you'd be with her now. She has you in the palm of her hand; how is that possible, huh? You can forgive a murderer but not me?" 

Ekko stepped back at the magnitude of her words.

The silence that followed Maddie's words was an oppressive wall. Ekko felt as if the air around him had become denser, laden with poison and unexpected revelations. The mention of Jinx and the crimes of her past hit him like a punch in the stomach, shaking the foundations of his reality.

"How do you know about...?"

"Do you think I don't know?" Maddie mocked, her words sharp as knives against his trembling, whispering tone. "Really? I'm very good at my work. And I want to know how the hell you forgave a murderer. It's not fair, I love you. I really do. Why her and not me?"

"What do you mean by 'good at my work'?" Ekko asked, almost as a whisper.

"I investigated, Ekko," she replied, her voice soft but relentless. "I wanted to understand why you forgave her. I wanted to know what made her so special." Maddie took a step forward, closing the distance between them. Her eyes were filled with a mix of compassion and reproach. "I found out what she did," she said, her voice heavy with emotion. "I discovered that those people were her adoptive parents and two small children, that she locked the latter in some kind of attic while her parents were trapped in another room. And that she testified herself. It happened, even if it was an accident or whatever; she did it. I know everything."

Ekko's world swayed. The information hit him with the force of a tsunami, threatening to drag him into darkness. It also destroyed a hope he didn't know he still harbored within himself, which hurt.

"Did you think it was a misunderstanding?" Maddie asked. "I thought so too; I told myself it had to be, but it is what it is. I wanted to believe there was a reason to forgive her. But there isn't. There can't be."

Tears began to well up in Ekko's eyes. He felt as if a part of him was dying, as if his faith in humanity was fading away.

"Don't..."

"I see it in your eyes," Maddie whispered, her voice barely audible. "I see that you still love her; it's in you. That if it weren't for what she did, you'd be in her arms right now. And I wouldn't have a chance, but I do."

Maddie's words struck him like thunder. It was true. If Jinx hadn't committed those crimes, if her past weren't so dark, Ekko wouldn't have hesitated to throw himself into her arms since he woke up, even if the feeling weren't completely real.

But he couldn't.

Because of that.

"It's true," Ekko admitted, his voice now filled with resignation.

Maddie smiled sadly, as if she had been waiting for that confession.

"I know, Ekko," she said, her voice soft. "That's why I'm here. To help you get through this. To help you move on."

Ekko opened his eyes and looked at Maddie in disbelief.

"Move on?" he repeated, his voice full of sarcasm. "Get through this?"

"I'm not saying it's easy," Maddie replied, her voice now filled with patience. "But I believe it's possible. I believe we can rebuild what we lost. I believe we can be happy together. Love comes; it will come to us."

"No, Maddie," he said, his voice soft but firm. "We can't. What we had ended a long time ago. And what you've done today has destroyed it completely. It has nothing to do with Jinx; I let you go before her."

Maddie frowned, her face filled with confusion.

"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice full of uncertainty.

"I no longer trust you, Maddie," Ekko replied, his voice now laden with disdain. "You lied to me. You manipulated me. You hid the truth from me. How can I trust you again?"

"I did it out of love, Ekko," Maddie pleaded, desperately seeking justification. "I did it because I love you."

"You didn't love me enough to be honest with me," Ekko replied, his voice heavy with bitterness. "You loved me enough to lie to me and manipulate me."

"I was going to tell you; it's just that..."

"It's my life!" Ekko exclaimed. "Not yours. And I could decide that perfectly. I don't think something like yours would cause damage to my brain."

"Are you calling me small?"

"Aren't you in my life?" Ekko debated. "Even what I remember about you isn't that important because we were a damn secret that was almost never together, and we didn't talk about anything. We're strangers. You're a stranger to my life."

Maddie stepped back, as if Ekko's words were a physical blow.

"That's not true," she protested, her voice filled with desperation. "We were something."

"We were young and stupid," he used her own words. "That was a long time ago."

Silence fell over them again, dense and oppressive. Maddie continued to cry silently, while Ekko watched her with a mix of pity and repulsion. He was angry. Hurt. And furious. How could he have even considered it?

"Why did you come here, Maddie?" Ekko asked, his voice now cold and impersonal. "What did you hope to achieve?"

"I wanted a second chance," her voice barely audible. "I wanted to show you that I've changed. I wanted to show you that we can be happy together."

"No, you don't want that," he said, his voice soft but firm. "The difference between us is that I did come to love you, a lot, and I paid too much attention to you. And even though you're damn boring, I remember it."

"What the fuck are you saying?"

"What is my favorite color, Maddie?"

She didn't respond, unable to answer. Ekko laughed, but there was nothing funny about it.

"Yours is fuckin' gold," Ekko replied for her. "And you wanted to be a journalist, a gossip columnist; your favorite was Vogue or one of those many magazines because you loved gossip. So be honest for once; are you a fuckin' journalist?"

"I can..."

"Journalist," Ekko repeated, more confidently. "And I am your subject, I guess, or do you want to help me be more exact?"

Ekko stared at her, his eyes filled with distrust. Everything fit now. How close she always was, their convenient meetings, her words, how the rumor had sprung out of nowhere that he had lost his memory after she told him, and her enthusiasm for him to vent to her... Maddie was a journalist, and he had been her story.

He cursed the world.

Jinx had warned him, but he had assured her that it wasn't because Maddie was good at keeping secrets. And he was right; it was just that the secrets she kept were from him.

"That's not it, Ekko," she said, her voice trembling. "I... I was going to tell you. In fact, I was going to give you the scoop because you were part of the scoop; that way, you'd understand everything and forgive me."

"I don't believe you," he replied coldly. "You're a damn liar, Maddie. And a manipulator. Get out of my house."

"Wait, Ekko..."

"Or what?" Ekko asked. "Are you going to write something about me? I think you already did."

"You don't get it."

"I get it, very well," he repeated, irritated. "I thought Jinx, at some point, wanted me for my money, but that description sounds more like you. I bet if we managed to be together, you'd have a nice life with my money."

Maddie growled.

"You deserved your psycho girl."

"No," Ekko replied. "She's smarter than me; you never appealed to her."

"You'll regret this if you throw me out," Maddie insisted. "We can still be happy, just... just think about it."

"I did. We're over, again."

Maddie growled.

"I'm going to..."

"No, you don't," he denied, glancing behind her. "I recorded the whole conversation; if you dare say anything about Jinx, Isha, or me, I'm going to sue you. I'll make sure you get fired. And you don't want to meet an angry Viktor, so just leave for the sake of peace."

It's a lie, but he sounds so convinced of it that even he believes it, even though he's just disappointed.

"You might be right: I stalked you, I pursued you, and if I wrote all that shit about you," she admitted. "For years, and I told everyone, including I paid to spread the rumor of your amnesia. And I was going to pay those idiots at the university to file charges, but they didn't want to, cowards; I only managed to hire a couple of actors for the statements. And I want you to know that every bad thing they wrote about you over the years, it was me."

Maddie's voice dripped with venom, spitting the word like a curse.

"Do it," Ekko replied, his voice a dead calm. She laughed, taking her things, now genuinely laughing as if she had heard a joke.

"It doesn't matter what I did to you; now you're with someone a thousand times worse than me! Someone who's a damn threat," she laughed, pointing at him with hatred overflowing in her eyes. "And now without your crazy girlfriend, and maybe I pray without your daughter. But believe me, if I was bad, you've ended up in the arms of the devil."

Ekko tilted his head, confused.

"What are you talking about?"

Maddie laughed, a high, brittle sound.

"Figure it out yourself since you're so smart, darling. And I hope, really hope, that that psycho breaks your heart," she mocked. "It wouldn't be fun who, but come on, you can do it. You couldn't even write me a good fucking song."

"You're not inspirational material; I tried."

"You’re going to regret it so much with your damn crazy girl, and I hope, I pray, that you broke her heart and she never forgives you again." She spat on the floor near his feet, turned on her heel, and slammed the door with a force that rattled the walls.

The sound echoed in the sudden silence. Ekko sighed, angry, but there were no tears. There was a liberating sensation washing over him, even as anger simmered. He headed to the living room but stopped, turning back to the door for a moment.

"Maddie, wait! Did... did you do anything to make Jinx leave? Anything... anything that would make her forget? Did we do something?"

Maddie paused, her hand on the doorknob. She turned, her gaze unwavering, unreadable.

"I'll let you figure it out," she said, a cruel smile playing on her lips. "But at least I remember everything perfectly."

He felt a lurch in his stomach. A cold dread started to creep in. He searched her face for any sign of a lie but found nothing. Does that mean...?

"You're lying," Ekko said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "You're trying to mess with my head."

Maddie just smiled, a slow, satisfied curve of her lips, and finally left.

Ekko stood there for a long moment, the silence pressing in on him. Had they done something? Something terrible he didn't even remember? The thought clawed at him. Did he screw something up? He clung to the idea that he didn't, that it's just another one of Maddie's twisted games. He had to believe that. He tried to force himself to recall the moments before Jinx disappeared, searching for any clue, any slip-up.

Isha appeared at the top of the stairs, her expression troubled. Ekko ran a hand through his hair, a wave of exhaustion washing over him.

"I am so sorry you had to hear that, but she's gone," he looked up at her, pleading for understanding. "Forever."

Isha descended a few steps but didn't get closer. She was holding up a small, rectangular device—her phone. And she smiled, replaying a part of the video that was on the screen:

"... and I was going to pay those idiots at the university to file charges, but they didn't want to, cowards; I only managed to hire a couple of actors for the statements..."

Ekko stopped, watching her with his mouth slightly open in disbelief as he looked at the phone in Isha's hand.

"I love you so much, daughter."

"I know," Isha replied, smiling as she handed him the phone. "I don't like her."

"For the record, me neither," he admitted, laughing. "So, what name would you give a rabbit if you had one?"

Chapter Text

EKKO CALLS JINX SO MANY TIMES THAT HE MEMORIZES THE NUMBER AS IF IT WERE THE PRAYER OF A RELIGION.

None of those times does she respond.

Sometimes she talks to Isha, but never with him. And on those days, his mind still fails to remember absolutely anything. Just small things from those two days, although it really isn’t much; in fact, it’s almost nothing, just a fragment that goes something like this:

Her cold, icy skin etched itself in his mind like an imperfect photograph.

"I promise, I'll never forget this."

The voice, was it hers? It sounded distant, almost like a faulty recording.

A laugh. Was it his own laugh? Something hollow, resonating in an empty space. He remembered the touch. The hand on his cheek. Cold. The temperature enveloped everything, a chill that penetrated to the bone. Why was it so cold? A vague idea fluttered in his mind; he didn’t know why, but he was only thinking about how his life had ended twice because of a car. The tone of Jinx's voice was soft, broken, like the sound of someone walking over the shards of shattered glass.

"You better not."

Ekko woke up, bathed in sweat. It's one in the morning. And Isha is sleeping peacefully beside him, unaware of what he just dreamed. The dream, that ghostly echo, kept him awake for the third time that week. He groped for the forgotten notebook and, in the dim light of his phone, reviewed the nonsensical scribbles he had been jotting down there. He tried to reconstruct the dream, but it was like trying to assemble a puzzle with missing pieces and others that didn’t fit. He remembered absurd details: the red fuel light of the car, the smell of rain, the rough texture of a fabric. But the center, the essence of the dream, slipped through his fingers.

And Jinx. She was there, diffuse like a faded watercolor. A feeling of... connection? Loss? Happiness? The image of her face, blurry yet present, tormented him. He tried to hold on to her, to the emotion she provoked, but it was like trying to catch smoke.

He sighed, looking at the attempts at songs in his notebook.

There still wasn’t a single one finished, nor did he even plan to... Ekko didn’t know why he did it, but he just did. It gave some sense, some record. And while observing the dark moon, it wasn’t shining as brightly as in the mansion, but it was still there. In the whole world, he could see it, and a part of him hoped that like in that Bruno Mars song, Jinx was looking at the same moon thinking of him as he was thinking of her right now.

And with that, he wrote something.

I woke up in the oblivion  
amnesia in my eyes  
I couldn't recognize my own life  
but you were there  
and I can't reach your light.

Ekko smiled a little, but he didn’t have much to think about it. At least, if Jinx were here, she would know what oblivion means. It was confusing. Almost like a joke, that he had wished so much for her to leave when he woke up and now he was writing again in his notebook, more or less begging her to come back.

It seemed that Jinx generated inspiration.

And that made him think of a metaphor, something strange, but that worked for him.

I tried to bargain with the stars  
'don't let her have my heart'  
and they just laughed in my fate  
'cause I was the fool  
who wants you there.

If Ekko were just a spectator, he could almost say it was a love song. But it wasn’t. He was just asking the stars not to let him feel this affection, this sincere fondness for her when he woke up, but there she was, missing her friendship.

He contemplated the lines he had just written. "I couldn't recognize my own life / but you were there / and I can't reach your light." It was... cheesy? Too direct. Too... vulnerable. He furiously erased the last line, leaving a dark stain on the paper. It was frustrating. He wanted to capture that feeling, that void and that ghostly presence, but the words resisted. As if Jinx, even in her absence, were playing a cruel trick on him.

He tried something else:

I woke up in the oblivion  
amnesia in my eyes  
I tried to forget  
the sound of your name  
but every echo  
whispers it the same.

He blinked. It wasn’t much better. Too dark. Too... desperate. He sighed, giving up. It wasn’t his night. Nor his life. The words wouldn’t flow. Maybe he needed to sleep, reset his mind, and start over. He closed the notebook, turned off his phone, and slid under the sheets while Isha snuggled into his arm. His daughter was a good presence; at least he was proud of that and felt real.

He closed his eyes, trying to empty his mind, but the image of Jinx's blurry face persisted, like a stain on his retina.

"I tried to bargain with the stars 'don't let her have my heart.'"

Ekko couldn’t stop thinking about that phrase; first, because it made him very proud, it was like "fuck, I wrote that? Damn." It was good. He really liked that phrase. And a melody almost magical came to him, mixed a bit with electric guitars. Something grand and mysterious. And second, because it was for Jinx, because it suggested that he was speaking to the stars, to cosmic entities, not to let her have his heart, as if he knew that he could give it to him without thinking about what only these cosmic entities could make sure he did not do it.

He kept thinking about that phrase or humming it even when he got out of bed before the sun was fully eclipsed by his own words while making breakfast. While preparing coffee, he heard footsteps in the hallway. His father entered the kitchen, his face full of excitement as if he had won the lottery.

"Investments are going great!" he exclaimed, without even greeting.

Ekko tried to smile, but he couldn’t even move his lips to make it look like a tremor. His father was being very good. When he first told him about Maddie, he had lamented, but then he had supported him, arguing that everything he said from then on would be a lie and that was the life of celebrities.

He was so kind and good that Ekko couldn’t see his father completely in him.

"Good morning," Ekko replied, pointing to the food. "It will be ready in a few..."

"And look at these numbers!" his dad insisted, coming to his side while smiling. "If we keep this up, we’ll be rich in less than a year. The currency has remained stable, and..."

"That sounds great, but..."

"But what, son?"

Ekko hesitated, looking at him while finishing cooking.

"All that money comes from a person who isn’t me, who made those albums and gave those concerts, and now that money you’re earning, I didn’t make it either," he explained, somewhat downcast. "I'm just... I just don’t know who I am anymore, dad."

"If you don’t know who you are, just ask the press," he replied, laughing. "Or who cares who you are? You're rich!"

"But I care who I am."

His father sighed, finally focusing on him as he took the steaming coffee. The acrid aroma mixed with the sweet smell of the pastries he had prepared himself.

"It's about her, isn’t it?"

"If you can tell me if some..."

"She abandon you," his father cut in, waving his hand dismissively. "Look on the bright side, now you can write plenty of breakup songs that people love and fill a couple of concerts. Think about going to Manchester!"

"I thought you didn’t support this life."

"Well, it's your life," he smiled, showing overly white teeth. "Look at all the money you made with it; you just have to write a bit and sing over there. I was thinking about you reinventing yourself."

"Reinventing myself?"

"Yes! Something more, I don’t know, eye-catching," he insisted, noticing the strange glint in his father's eyes as he tapped the table with his finger. "You could even promote Hexcoin and everything. Imagine if more people invest in it, the stocks will rise!"

His father had rarely, or really never, spoken to him with such enthusiasm about something he had done, which felt like giving a hug to the little boy who had been sent almost as excess baggage to his Uncle Benzo to take care of him since school had vacation for his father's pain. And although it felt good, he didn’t completely like it.

"I... I don't know, dad."

"What do you mean with 'I don't know'?"

"I told you: I don't know who I am; I just can't write something good," he explained, feeling pressured. The air became dense and oppressive again as his father's bright smile faded with every word from Ekko, only disappointing him more. "And I won’t write about heartbreak."

"That’s what all singers do."

"Well, I want to do something that’s about me," Ekko cut in, looking at him hard before breaking eye contact. "And I can’t do it if I don’t know who I am."

His father sighed, touching his chest with a bony finger.

"Nobody cares who you are, Ekko," he pointed out, his voice as hard as steel. "People just care about what you do: good songs, good numbers, and a good scandal or two that isn’t serious."

Ekko stood still for a moment, feeling sad. He remembered that Jinx had said something similar but different. Something about how he was worth it, but he couldn’t recall the exact words she had used; they slipped away even though they were on the tip of his tongue, and that made him sadder.

He was just the shadow of a man who had been great.

"Now, we’ll start plan two with cryptocurrencies. I’ll take care of it; leave your cards and codes while you go with Isha to see that new movie that came out."

"You could come with us," Ekko offered, in a low voice. "Isha asks a lot about you."

"One day, my boy," his father replied, patting his shoulder as he took some of what Ekko had prepared. "Oh, this is really good!"

"That one day can be today."

"I'm busy," he insisted. "All this I’m doing is to secure our future. Don’t you...?"

"I thought you were going to bring Benzo with that money too; that’s why I gave you the cards and codes."

Ekko's voice trembled slightly.

His father sighed, eating. He wasn’t expecting anyone for lunch, not even his wife, although Ekko hadn’t seen her much since he woke up in the hospital. The house was practically just for Isha and him.

"I'm working on that, son."

"How much longer? He’s in the country."

"And we want him to come home comfortably," he retorted. "Ekko, let me work, and you go with Isha. Actually, I'm late."

Ekko grunted but finished the meal.

"You said he’d be here with us in three days."

"Ekko, don’t start."

"It’s Benzo!"

"And you’re being a burden!" his father shouted, dropping the cutlery as he shook his head. The noise resonated in the kitchen. "Great. Make me a villain, great. Just great!"

"That’s not what I..."

"I’m working really hard for you; I’m trying to rebuild our bond," his father insisted, looking at him with pain. "You left the country for that girl; you didn’t call me, you just left, and then you were with the other one and had a daughter, and you never called me."

"I already told you I’m sorry, and I don’t know why I did that!"

It was true. His father had told him that because of Maddie, he had left Hawaii for good; the dates matched, and his crazy friends had confirmed this when he asked them. And although it sounded logical to leave after such a painful breakup he must have gone through, it didn’t explain why he would just erase his father from his life when he had nothing to do with it.

It didn’t make sense, but he had no other reason to think of anything else.

While he reflected, his father placed his hand on his shoulder, pulling him from his thoughts. He looked at him affectionately; he must care for him. And his attitude only showed concern, not affection like Jinx's, but he was his father, his own father.

"I'm going to a meeting with the investors," his father explained, softening his tone. "Look, son, I know I’ve been tough, but don’t think I don’t love you; I just want the best for you."

"I know," Ekko replied. "You could come up to say goodbye to Isha."

"I don’t want to wake her," he excused himself, patting him. "See you later; things are getting better, my boy."

And he left.

Ekko sighed, looking at the dirty plates half-eaten; the coffee half-finished, the cutlery out of the tablecloth he had set for lunch, and the plate itself a disaster. Not even half-eaten, just destroyed and then half-ingested in completely random parts.

Before picking up, he saw Isha with her stuffed toy in the kitchen doorway, watching the same scene he was:

"He didn’t say goodbye," she pointed out.

"He's busy, but I’ll let you know," Ekko smiled, trying to sound convincing. "Come on, breakfast is ready: did you brush your teeth?"

Isha nodded, taking a seat in front of him, away from the chaos left by her father while Ekko served two plates for their breakfast together. It was a custom of Benzo's that he had followed with Jinx. But he had never remembered having family meals in his own home, not even with his father.

However, breakfast was friendly and magical between father and daughter as they watched television. Isha washed the dishes with Ekko’s help until they ended up in front of the TV watching a movie that Isha loved but in which Ekko wasn’t completely engaged.

He just thought about everything.

And that made him take his notebook while Isha was focused on the television, and he began to write with some anger:

I tried to act like I used to do  
but everything I do is not what he does  
so I failed in the shadow of men  
and someway their wish I was dead  
because it’s more easy instead  

Everyone. Absolutely everyone, maybe with the exception of Isha, feels that way about Ekko. Because it’s better to have their grief than to deal with this new person who is him with the face of what was his father, friend, or lover. It would be easier if he didn’t remember anything because they could mold him more easily. Everything would be easier, really, more than his situation.

Not like whatever it is his memories of something from sixteen with his life of almost twenty-six intertwined. And that makes him write.

Now I'm just someone  
in the middle of some point  
in the sixteen  
but everyone else  
is everyone else at her own age  
in the right time  
and it's just me caught in time  
trying to reach their life  

Well. This is the shittiest thing he’ve written, he closed the notebook and everything while sighing. And everything was like the other days until noon when the doorbell rang, many times. Ekko had learned not to answer for the paparazzi or because it could be Maddie, until he approached to hear what the guard was saying.

"Sir, I’ll call security..."

"No, you’re going to call Ekko Shannon," insisted that familiar voice. "Listen to me, you don’t know what it cost me..."

Ekko almost instinctively stepped out, observing the scene while reaching the guard's booth that was arguing intensely with the intruder who wanted to see him.

"These are Mr. Wyeth's rules."

"I don’t even know who the hell that guy is," he growled. "Call Ekko Shannon, now."

"For the last time, these are the rules of..."

"Scar?" Ekko asked, arriving at the booth. "You can let him in, please."

"These are the rules of..."

"I’m his son; let him in."

The guard hesitated, glancing at Ekko and then at Scar. Finally, with a gesture of resignation, he opened the barrier and let Scar in, who entered giving the guard a terrible look. Ekko smiled, ready to hug him when Scar hit him on the head.

"Ouch!" he complained. "What? I just helped you!"

"I spent all my savings to come here to Hawaii, you idiot," he scolded, as they walked toward his father's house. "I don’t know if your stupid ass knows how expensive it is to come here so fast. And for a false alarm, I hope Jinx is there so she can stop me from hitting you in front of Isha."

That made Ekko stop, extending Scar; he looked tired, with barely a suitcase in his hand and an irritated expression.

"Jinx isn’t here."

"Great, when she arrives, she’ll see your ass turned to mush," he muttered, irritated. "Do you know how worried I was, idiot? Oh, man. I don’t even know where I found the money to come, then that doctor called me and..."

"Scar, Jinx's gone," Ekko repeated, his voice as dull as a candle that had just been blown out. "It’s been more than a week, like two. I... I’m not sure."

"What?"

"What are you doing here?"

"A doctor told me something happened to you, and you needed an emergency contact," he explained, confused. "I called you, Jinx, and Isha, but none of you answered or gave me directions. I managed to get to the clinic the day before yesterday, but they didn’t want to give me this address. But what the hell happened?"

"I don’t know."

"Be more specific, man; you’re going to buy the gift for my anniversary now."

Ekko sighed, holding his head.

"I woke up about a week ago; they said I suffered a collapse that was almost a stroke because of my memory, and I was unconscious for five days."

"Where's Jinx?"

"I don’t know," Ekko insisted. "When I woke up, they said she had left before those five days. And Isha doesn’t want to give me details; she just says 'better.' And I don’t remember anything from the last two days before the collapse; I just remember that everything was fine."

Scar blinked slowly.

He opened and closed his mouth many times.

If the question mark were a person, it would definitely be Scar at this moment.

"Whose house is this?"

"Is that what you’re going to ask?" Ekko debated, frustrated. "How do you not know this? Jace is supposed to know."

"I’m pretty sure Jace doesn’t know shit about what’s going on here; you’re supposed to be home," he growled. "Ekko, whose house is this, and where is Isha?"

"She’s been with me the whole time, or in the hospital," he replied defensively. 

Scar’s face changed colors like a disco ball. A mix of disbelief and panic took over his expression.

"And you say that Jinx left Isha alone with you?"

"I’m her father too," Ekko growled, feeling a bit annoyed by the tone Scar used.

"No, I know, but you don’t get it," he shook his head, as if this were madness. "Jinx never, ever leaves Isha alone unless it’s only with you or someone she knows very well."

"Well, it’s my father, I guess."

"Your father?" Scar repeated, as if all this were a poorly told joke. "Ekko, we’re leaving."

"No, you don’t tell me anything."

"We’re leaving," he insisted. "Then you’ll thank me, man."

"No, tell me what the hell is going on."

"I’ll tell you later; let’s go. Find Isha, and we’re leaving."

"Scar," Ekko insisted, angry. "Tell me what the hell is going on here, or I’m not going anywhere."

Before either could speak, a deep voice interrupted the tension.

"What’s going on here?"

Ekko and Scar turned to see a tall man, dressed in a sharp suit, standing in the main entrance. His gaze was cold and calculating. It was Wyeth. He had arrived early.

"Mr. Wyeth," the guard said, bowing. "This man was trying to enter without authorization."

Wyeth ignored the guard and focused on Ekko.

"Ekko, is there a problem?" he asked, with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

Scar tensed, his eyes fixed on Wyeth.

"Who is this?" Wyeth asked, looking Scar up and down.

"It’s my best friend, Scar," Ekko replied, trying to stay calm. "I thought you would know him."

"I must have forgotten," Wyeth said, extending a hand. "Anyone who is a friend of Ekko is a friend of mine. Please, stay for dinner."

"No, thanks," Scar said, his voice tense. "We really have to go."

"I insist. It would be a shame for a friend of Ekko to feel uncomfortable here. Please."

Scar looked at him intently, incredulously, while he took his hand in confusion. And without shaking his hand, he advanced into the house, leaving Ekko confused about what was really happening.

Chapter Text

"ISHA!"

Scar embraced Isha tightly, with affection and great delicacy. Ekko observed nearby as they communicated in sign language: he asked how she was, if she was okay, and if she knew where Jinx was. Isha looked at her father, Wyeth, for a couple of seconds before shaking her head, glancing back at Scar, who frowned. Wyeth remained silent, his face impassive, but Ekko could see the annoyance and discomfort that engulfed him.

His friend was confused. Irritated and hurt as well. But he had that disappointed look that Ekko hated, and at least his father hadn’t given him that look from his memories. However, he felt something bitter in his throat at the whole scene.

Wyeth cleared his throat, breaking the moment.

"Scar, right? Please, come with me to the living room. We have a lot to discuss while Ekko spends time with Isha."

"I don’t think we have anything to talk about."

"Nonsense. I need to get to know you, kid. That makes us more than just acquaintances. Plus, I have a special bottle of single malt Scotch that I think you’d appreciate. It’s not easy to find."

"I’d prefer a straightforward answer: Where is Jinx?"

Wyeth’s smile faded slightly.

"Scar, I don’t think it’s appropriate to talk about Isha’s mother with the girl present," he replied, laughing as he looked at Isha with something in his eyes that Ekko noticed as a silent plea. "Let’s go to the living room and talk like civilized men. Girl, why don’t you go to your room? The men need to talk about boring adult things."

Isha looked at Ekko, seeking approval. Ekko nodded slowly, feeling a weight in his chest.

"Go, sweetheart. I’ll be there in a minute."

The little girl, still unsure, gave one last glance at Scar before heading to her room. The silence that followed was thick, charged with tension.

"Now," Scar said, crossing his arms. "Where is Jinx?"

Wyeth sighed.

"Scar, I don’t know where Jinx is. She left. She didn’t give me any explanations. She just... left."

"Lies." Scar's voice was a low growl. "Jinx would never leave Isha like this. Never. What happened?"

"I don’t know. You know, Ekko’s collapse, his amnesia. Maybe it was too much for her. Maybe she needed time for herself."

"Dad," murmured Ekko, feeling his mind spinning. "Just tell the truth, please."

"Time for herself away from her daughter? I don’t believe a word of it." Scar stepped forward, approaching Wyeth. "Tell me the truth, or have you...?"

"Ekko almost had a stroke," his father interrupted, looking at him warningly. "His mind is fragile; that’s what happens when you try to make him remember and she just left him."

That halted Scar and his anger, looking at Ekko with concern.

"Watch what you say," Wyeth insisted. "His brain can’t process another traumatic event; I’ve taken good care of my boy. Do you want him to suffer a permanent lesson?"

"Stop talking about me like I’m not here," Ekko growled. "And tell me the truth."

Scar stepped back, the anger consuming him overshadowed by the concern radiating from him. He looked at Ekko with an intensity that made him feel exposed, vulnerable. He could see the storm of questions in his friend’s eyes, the conflict between loyalty and the need to know.

Ekko felt like a spectator in his own life. It was as if his body were a battlefield where two opposing forces fought for control. On one side was the desperate need to understand, to fill the gaps in his memory, to find Jinx. On the other, the paralyzing fear of the consequences, of unleashing a truth that could shatter what little remained of his mind, which they had already warned wouldn’t withstand another episode like the last one.

Wyeth seized the moment of hesitation from Scar. His eyes shone with an almost feverish intensity.

"Scar, I understand your concern," he said, in a tone meant to be reassuring but that sounded hollow to Ekko. "But this is not the time or place to talk about this. Ekko needs peace; he needs stability. We can discuss all this calmly later when he’s stronger."

"Stronger?" Scar let out a bitter laugh. "Do you think he’ll be stronger if you keep hiding the truth from him? Do you think he’ll be okay if you keep manipulating him like a puppet?"

Wyeth frowned.

"You’re crossing the line. You have no right to speak to me like this in my own house."

"No right? You know what? You’re right. I have no right. But I have an obligation. He doesn’t remember, but I do. I’m his best friend; I know who you are."

The tension in the air was palpable. Ekko could feel the cold sweat trickling down his back. Wyeth’s gaze had turned dark, almost threatening.

"Scar, you’re making a mistake about who's your enemy," Wyeth warned, in a low voice.

"Enemy? I’m not your enemy, Wyeth. You are your own."

"What do you mean?" Ekko interjected, feeling confusion and frustration wash over him. "Scar, what are you talking about?"

"Ekko, I need you to trust me. He’s a manipulator, Ekko. And he’s hiding something. Something big. Something that will destroy you if you find out for yourself."

"Enough," Ekko shouted, angry. "Enough! I can’t take this anymore. I can’t take the lies, the secrets, the insinuations. Just tell me the truth! Tell me what’s going on! Please!"

Wyeth stepped closer to Ekko and grabbed him by the shoulders, looking him straight in the eyes.

"Ekko, calm down. Don’t let Scar upset you. I promise you this all has an explanation. I promise I’ll tell you everything you need to know. But not now. Not when you’re so vulnerable. You need time to process all this. You need time to recover."

"I don’t need time," Ekko replied, pulling away brusquely from his father, his heart racing. "I need answers. And I need them now."

He turned to Scar, with pleading eyes.

"Scar, please. Tell me the truth."

"If Ekko dies this time," his father began, almost desperately pointing at Scar as if he were a pastor accusing a witch in the Salem trials, "it will be your fault! Or if he loses his memory completely."

"He deserves to know the truth."

"Dad," Ekko interjected, looking at him pleadingly. "Tell me the truth, please."

"Ekko, I already told you."

"You're lying." The words slipped out of Ekko's mouth before he could stop them.

Wyeth's expression didn't change.

"Ekko, you’re delusional. You need to rest."

"I'm not delusional. I know you're lying. I've known since I woke up. There’s something off about all this. Something doesn’t add up." Ekko continued, now more serious and irritated, his head starting to throb with the pain of the truth piercing his chest. "All my life, I've wanted you to love something other than money, and I've been ignoring it as best I can, but we both know that plays a role in this."

"Ekko, don’t say nonsense."

"It’s not nonsense," Ekko said, almost whispering. "I feel it inside me. There’s something you’re not telling me. Something about you."

Wyeth's smile completely faded. His gaze turned cold and hard.

"Ekko," he said, his voice low, almost like a threat. "I warn you. Don’t go down this path. You could end up in the hospital again."

Silence fell again, heavier than ever. Ekko stared at Wyeth, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Are you threatening me?" he asked, his voice barely audible.

Wyeth didn’t respond. He simply stared at him with an expression that chilled his blood.

"Ekko, don’t let our relationship die a third time."

"I think it will die when you find out that the card I gave you was blocked today due to theft," Ekko replied, his voice monotone, no longer listening to him. "Or that all the accounts were suspended because you’re not my legal guardian."

"What are you talking about?"

"Scar, tell me..." Ekko looked at his friend, already out of strength, his voice almost breaking.

"Ekko..."

"Can someone please tell me the damn truth about my own life?" he shouted, feeling rage burning him from the inside. "It's my life! And you are my best friend! You could at least have some compassion for seeing me so ignorant, any of you..."

Chapter Text

EKKO WAS AT THE HOTEL WITH SCAR, ALL HIS CARDS BLOCKED.

And the world seemed dark.

Everything seemed meaningless.

Ekko lay on the bed in the hotel room, his eyes fixed on the ceiling, not blinking. The outside world felt distant, a blur of colors and sounds that didn’t reach him. The weight of the past few days had settled over him like a dense fog, suffocating and inescapable. The betrayal from his father, Jinx refusing to talk to him, the truth about everything he had once believed—everything spun in his mind, too much to process, too heavy to bear.

He felt a bit like Blue; he was quite sure he knew the world, his own world, but it turned out he was just a stranger clinging to illusions, only to discover that his own wizard had deceived him, except in this story, the wizard was his father.

That made him hate fame.

He hated everything. If he weren’t famous, he would have discovered this once, would be miserable on a minimum wage, but wouldn’t have to suffer this kind of pain twice. And he wouldn’t... He wasn’t sure what he wouldn’t have, but it would be easier.

Beside him, Scar paced back and forth, trying to console his friend, but nothing seemed to work. He had tried everything: jokes, distractions, even small talks about future projects, but Ekko had barely responded to any of them. The same dull look was in his eyes as it had been for hours, and his silence spoke volumes.

Isha sat at the edge of the bed, her small body almost invisible against the large, messy blankets. She hadn’t said much either, her usual energy contained, watching Ekko with the kind of concern that made Scar feel guilty. The weight of the situation didn’t escape either of them.

Ekko checked his phone again, the ping of the notification sounding as his bank informed him that his cards had been blocked. The money was being held. He couldn’t leave Hawaii even if he wanted to. His thoughts sank deeper into the well of despair. He felt betrayed by his father, by the world, and now the only thing anchoring him—the small fraction of hope he had left—was slipping away.

Maybe he was right; maybe... maybe he should have died because it would be easier.

Scar noticed Ekko's sudden shift in mood. He walked over to the bed and sat beside him, trying to catch his eye.

"Hey, man... look, I know you're hurting. But you've gotta start thinking about what's next. You've got projects lined up, new things coming your way. You can't let this destroy you."

Ekko didn’t move. He didn’t look at Scar. His fingers played absentmindedly with the edge of the blanket, as if they were the only thing in the room that made sense beside Isha.

"What's the point, Scar? Everything... everything's a lie. What's the point of any of it if it's all built on lies?"

Scar sighed, running a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. "I get it. I do. But you've got to snap out of it. I'm here, Isha's here... we're all here for you."

But not his own daam father.

Or Jinx.

Ekko didn’t respond, still lost in his thoughts. Scar exchanged a glance with Isha, but before he could say anything more, there was a knock on the door. Scar hesitated before opening it, and when he did, he found the calm yet authoritative presence of Heimerdinger.

"Good evening, gentlemen," Heimerdinger said gently, stepping into the room. "Oh, hello Isha, I brought you some chocolate."

Ekko blinked, quickly drying his face to hide the evidence of his tears, feeling embarrassed by his emotional breakdown. He forced a small, tense smile.

"H-hi, sorry. What’s going on?"

Heimerdinger didn’t waste a second, walking over to Ekko and placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I’ve paid for your hotel bill. You have enough on your plate without worrying about money right now."

Ekko blinked, unsure how to respond. He didn’t feel worthy of any kind of kindness at that moment.

"I can explain everything," he insisted, stammering as he tried to sound convincing. "I’m sorry. It was something..."

"I want you to come with me," Heimerdinger continued, his tone firm but gentle. "I’ve organized something for you, something that will help. I know you’re suffering, but you need a change of scenery."

Scar shot Ekko a look, and Ekko found his eyes, silently asking for permission. He hesitated, but something in Heimerdinger’s presence, his authority, made him feel like he had no other choice. And that he had screwed up. He wasn’t even going to see a music career; he was messed up. And he was messing up everyone around him.

"Where are we going?" Ekko asked, his voice hoarse.

Heimerdinger smiled, but it was an understanding smile.

"You need a moment to reconnect with yourself."

Ekko frowned, confusion taking over the last vestiges of his disbelief.

"And where is that?"

Isha’s eyes turned to Scar, her face showing concern, but Scar simply nodded, getting up to grab their bags.

"Come on, man. You deserve a break. You deserve to heal."

Ekko stood still for a moment, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. But in the end, there was something inside him, a glimmer of hope, that made him rise. He already believed there couldn’t be anything worse than this, even if there was; he just felt empty. He followed Heimerdinger out the door along with his daughter and his friend, barely paying attention to the path.

The private plane slowly ascended into the air as they boarded it; it was much more luxurious than his, taking them away from the city and everything Ekko knew. Although the flight was short, Ekko could hardly concentrate on the view sliding past the window. Beside him, Isha remained silent, holding her board in her hands. Scar, sitting across from him, stayed vigilant, but Ekko noticed the worry in his eyes.

"I don't understand..." Ekko suddenly said, his voice broken. "I don't understand why you are doing all this for me."

"Because you deserve it, man."

Ekko was going to protest, but when he met Isha's eyes, he decided to stay silent. There wouldn’t be any difference whether he protested or not; they were already a thousand feet above the sky.

The plane landed at a small airport, and from there, Heimerdinger drove them in a private car to the coast. The place was idyllic: a small clinic by the sea, surrounded by trees and lush vegetation. The relaxing sound of the waves crashing against the rocks filled the air, and the cool ocean breeze seemed to calm Ekko's nerves, even though he still felt the weight of confusion and sadness on his shoulders.

"Isha and I will go eat," Scar intervened, giving Ekko a look. "Good luck."

Ekko nodded, lacking enthusiasm. He was sure they would go for a talk about how his memory would come back, even though four months had already passed.

Before he could continue cursing the world, Isha hugged him around the waist, just like when he first met her. Ekko returned the hug with sincere affection, now truly feeling her as his daughter. The little girl pulled away after a moment and made a gesture that Ekko recognized perfectly:

"I love you too."

And then they left.

"She's a lovely girl."

"She is."

"Come on," insisted Heimerdinger, patting his back. "I've already messed up my schedule for the next year; we need to move quickly. If not, what are we alive for?"

Ekko wanted to respond with something pessimistic, something as gloomy and dark as his own feelings, but he remained silent as he let himself be guided through the hallways of the place.

The clinic was a place that seemed straight out of a dream. Its architecture was modern but harmoniously integrated with the nature surrounding it. The glass walls let in soft light that filtered through the palms and tropical trees, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Inside, the air was infused with the fresh scent of exotic flowers and the gentle salty perfume of the sea. Every corner seemed designed to promote tranquility, with polished wooden furniture and soft shades of blue and white evoking serenity.

The hallway that led to the beach was adorned with large aquariums filled with colorful corals and fish swimming gently, as if time itself had slowed down. The sunlight reflected off the water in the aquariums, creating flashes of bright colors that gave the sensation of being surrounded by an inner ocean. The walls were decorated with marine details, such as shells and starfish, adding a natural and harmonious touch.

Upon arriving at the beach, Ekko paused for a moment, unable to help but be amazed. It was a place of pure peace. The golden sand stretched out before him, soft and warm under his feet, while the relaxing sound of the waves crashing against the rocks filled the air. The ocean, a vast tapestry of crystal-clear waters, extended as far as the eye could see, merging with the blue sky in a perfect horizon.

In the middle of the beach, there was a wooden bridge that seemed to float above the water. It was simple but impressive in its minimalist design, with low railings that didn’t obstruct the view of the ocean. The bridge was covered with a light layer of moss, which slid softly underfoot, giving it an air of mystique. In the center of this bridge, a solitary figure sat cross-legged, gazing at the sea as if waiting for something or someone. The gentle afternoon breeze lightly tousled their hair as the sun was setting, painting everything in golden and orange hues.

Heimerdinger approached Ekko and, with a kind but firm smile, pointed to the bridge.

"Go," he said in a voice that allowed no doubt.

Ekko, although still burdened by his thoughts, nodded slowly. Without saying a word, he crossed the wooden structure, each step resonating in his ears as a reminder of his bewilderment, until he reached the solitary figure at the end.

For a moment, he thought that maybe he had made a mistake by following without asking more, feeling angrier and more depressed with life than he had ever been. But when he recognized the person there, he almost ran to them, nearly falling.

It was Benzo.

In his rush, he nearly stumbled on the ground, but it didn’t matter. All he could do was hug him, and that’s what he did. He crashed against his chest with all the force of his pain, frustration, and confusion. Benzo welcomed him without hesitation, wrapping him in his strong arms. There were no words for a few seconds, just the sound of the waves and the wind whispering around them.

"Benzo..." Ekko murmured, his voice broken. "I... I didn’t know..."

He held him tighter against his body, as if he wanted to transmit all the calm that he himself seemed to possess. Ekko's sadness seemed to dissipate, at least for that brief moment. The embrace gave him a peace he hadn’t known in days.

"Oh, what’s wrong, kid? Did someone die? Or did they?"

Ekko laughed softly, even though the feeling of emptiness still weighed on him.

The sound of the waves, the scent of the ocean, and the softness of the wind seemed to envelop them, creating a bubble of calm amidst all the chaos Ekko had experienced. In that moment, all the pain, betrayal, fear... everything seemed to dissolve, at least for a few seconds.

"I miss you."

"I miss you too, kid," Benzo replied, hugging him affectionately as they pulled apart. "How have you been? You look at me like I'm a ghost."

Ekko laughed a little.

"Fine, but what about you?" Ekko asked. "Are you okay? How have you been?"

"No younger, and definitely not thinner," they laughed, as Benzo gave him a friendly punch on the shoulder. "Where's the little lady?"

"I don’t know, I think I mess it up" Ekko admitted. "Lately, everything feels... like I’m disappointing everyone; my life is a mess."

Benzo watched him for a few moments in silence, as if contemplating Ekko's words. Then he gave him a friendly punch on the shoulder, pulling him out of his thoughts.

"That’s nothing new, right? Look, kid, no matter how many times you fall, what matters is that you always get back up, even when you don’t feel like you can."

"Yeah... but sometimes I wonder if there’s anything worth it. Like everything is a cycle that repeats, no matter how hard you try to change things."

Benzo looked at him intently, as if he understood his pain perfectly. However, after a brief silence, another question occurred to him, as if it were a fleeting thought.

"Hey, what about Jinx? Is she still around?"

Ekko froze for a moment, confused. He looked at Benzo, searching for any sign that he hadn't understood correctly.

"Jinx? I don't know... Jinx... she... she is..."

But Benzo didn’t seem to have caught the doubt in his voice.

"Yeah, yeah, her. Are you okay with her? Isn't she your wife yet?"

Ekko blinked, completely bewildered.

"Wife? What... what are you saying? No, we’re not..."

"Did you propose to her? You couldn't stop talking about that ring and everything."

"No... I didn't, but... What are you talking about?"

Benzo smiled, but his gaze had a touch of sadness.

"Oh, kid, you and Jinx. You must be together, right? I always knew it, since you two were kids."

Ekko looked at him, still not fully understanding.

"Are you sure you're listening to me? No... I'm not married to her. And... don't you...?"

Benzo shook his head, but with a slight smile, as if it were something silly.

"Oh, maybe I'm getting old, but I don't forget the really important things. Those... the ones that are felt in the heart, they aren't memories; they're connections." He pointed to his chest, where his heart beat rhythmically but weakly, as if struggling to stay strong.

Ekko pondered for a moment, Benzo's words resonating in his mind.

"The things that aren't memories but connections...?" he repeated softly. Something in those words struck a chord within him, but he wasn't sure what exactly. He looked out at the ocean, trying to understand.

"What I mean," Benzo continued, still smiling, "is that everything else can be confusing. Life, love, loss. But when it comes to what really matters, the heart knows. You feel it. You will be happy."

Ekko, still burdened by confusion and the pain of his thoughts, nodded slowly.

"Yeah... that makes sense. Somewhere in all this chaos, I guess I feel something... but I don't know what."

Benzo looked at him affectionately and then gave him another friendly punch on the shoulder.

"Don't be so sad, kid. At least you're surrounded by the people you love, right? That's what matters."

"Yeah, that's... what matters most, although... how do you know when you love someone?"

"Well, kid, when you ask yourself that question, deep down, you already know the answer."

The sun began to set, painting the sky in golden and orange hues, creating an almost magical atmosphere around them. Ekko wished he could hold onto that feeling of peace for longer, but he knew the storm inside him had not yet dissipated.

"Benzo..." he started, but when he looked up, he realized something was wrong. There was something in Benzo's eyes that made him feel uneasy. Perhaps it was the way he looked at him, a little empty, as if he were searching for something but couldn't find it.

"What's wrong, Ekko?" Benzo asked with a smile, but he didn't seem to truly grasp the intensity of his gaze.

Ekko hesitated, his mind spinning as the pain and sadness began to take hold of him again.

"Nothing... it's just that... I don't know. Everything feels so strange."

Benzo looked at him for a long moment, and finally, he let out a small sigh.

"I told you, kid, don’t be so sad. Things aren’t always going to be easy. But if you surround yourself with what matters to you, everything becomes more bearable."

Ekko took a deep breath, trying to find some comfort in Benzo's words. Finally, he looked up at the sky, watching as the sun began to disappear behind the horizon.

"I'll try," he murmured, but deep down, he knew it wouldn't be easy.

"Yes," Benzo repeated, laughing. "Hey, isn't Jinx your wife already? And how's your career going?"

Ekko was going to ask what the hell was happening, but then he understood. He recognized that look. And it was as if everything finally fell into place for once.

"Well, I haven't asked her yet," he smiled, genuinely. "And my career is going well."

"Excellent, kid, do what makes you happy," he laughed, looking at the horizon. "You’ve been okay, right?"

"Yeah, I've been... okay."

"The important thing is to be surrounded by those we love."

Ekko smiled, watching the sun before looking at Benzo, who seemed absorbed in his own world.

"Hey, Benzo."

"Yes, kid?"

"I love you," he admitted. "You've always been someone very important to me, and you have no idea how much you've done for me."

Benzo finally looked at him, his eyes returning to normal for a moment. He was left speechless, his eyes glistening.

"Oh, kid, I...," he stammered, then gave him a small friendly nudge. "You're not going to make me cry, you know I love you."

"I think I saw a little tear over there."

"Well, you saw wrong."

They both laughed, watching the horizon in what felt like an eternity of silence. After a long while, Benzo turned to look at him again.

"Alright, go to bed; you'll be late for class tomorrow," he scolded. "Rest, kid."

Ekko smiled, a bit sadly, but nodded, giving him a hug as he stood up, leaving the man alone on that dock watching the sunset. Ekko turned towards Benzo, who seemed to be gazing at the sunset, completely oblivious to the passage of time. Without saying another word, Ekko took a step towards the path that would lead him back to the clinic until he found Heimerdinger, sitting in a chair by the beach at the clinic. He was watching the sea, with a calm expression, almost as if everything that had happened was just part of a much larger plan.

"Since?"

"Few years," Heimerdinger admitted, looking at him as Ekko took a seat next to him in the empty chair facing the same horizon. "You come almost every month when you're free with Jinx. You built that bridge; well, you had it made. He doesn't remember Isha, but he treats her very nicely; she spends almost every day there, watching the ocean."

"Is there a cure?"

"No."

The sun began to set, and Ekko felt lost. At least he remembered almost everything from these months. He was going to confess the truth to the man about everything, as well as ask for forgiveness and possibly be dismissed, but to his surprise, he spoke first.

"I loved my wife for fifty years, but in the last years... sometimes she did, sometimes she didn't," he began, with his distant gaze lost in his memories. "She had Alzheimer's too, and when you know that look of love... you know it. And when I saw you in your house, you didn't. Like her. But now, you have it."

"I'm not the same man I was months ago, the one who you knew," he admitted, defeated. "I hurt everyone, and I’ll understand if you don’t want to continue with the contracts."

Heimerdinger chuckled softly.

"Don't you think I knew something was wrong with your memory after my own experience?" he teased. "Anyone who saw you with Jinx knew; you’re the only one who thought no one would notice."

"And why didn’t you say anything?"

"Would it have changed anything?"

The answer hung in the air.

"It’s hard with any illness, but memory...," he shook his head. "Sometimes one wishes for death because it's easier, right? It becomes exhausting; it consumes you a little. We are memories; memories are to our being what blood is to the body."

Ekko nodded, feeling tired, exhausted.

"But I loved her, and she loved me, and what is love if not what persists in those times, huh?" he added. "She didn’t remember sometimes, but she always felt it. Because, well, you don’t fall in love slowly; that comes later. Love is just that inexplicable connection we have with someone, and we ourselves make it last."

"I think Jinx got tired and left."

"Always a dance with you guys, huh?" Heimerdinger asked. "You know, Ekko, I love all my singers a lot, but you... You are special to me; you are my friend. Not just because you understood what happened with my wife, but because you know what love is."

"I don’t think I know anymore."

"I'll tell you something; everyone thinks you sang 'the idea of you' for me, and that bought me, and it’s half true," he began. "But you were wrong; you had that look of pain, of being lost, and I told you to sing something that made me feel. And there you sang 'my best enemy' about her, and I think that made me know to bet on you: what is love if not something that makes us appreciate the pain?"

Ekko felt guilty, tired. Heimerdinger sighed, getting up.

"This is what you had from your last album," he handed him a memory. "It's called 'owl.'"

"Why?"

"Because owls are the only animals capable of seeing blue, your own words," Heimerdinger replied, standing up while looking at something on his phone, busy. And he gave him a look filled with feeling. "Look, my boy, whatever your heart decides, you have my support. After all, what good is this second chance that life has given you if you don’t enjoy the time you have?"

Chapter Text

THE JOURNEY HOME IS QUIETER THAN THE TRIP THERE.

Ekko stayed with Benzo for two more days, explaining everything to him again and introducing him to Isha twice. However, it was one of the happiest moments he had ever experienced in his life seeing his father with his daughter, even if neither was really blood-related.

It's tiring, which makes him feel more sympathy for Jinx because even though Benzo instinctively loves Isha, he doesn’t remember her. Like him. And sometimes he has to explain things several times, translate for him, and so on.

What a twist of fate, isn’t it?

On the third day, he finally returns with Scar on the plane and pays for everything he spent with his now-unlocked cards. He also discovers that his father invested in a ghost cryptocurrency and in companies that make no sense, spending a good few thousand dollars, but that's it. He won’t get that money back or his father, but it seems the most sensible thing to do, even though the pain remains in his heart.

It's been rough days, to say the least.

And now he knows the whole truth.

The fluorescent light in the anonymous hotel room buzzed. Ekko stood by the window on the small balcony that the room shared with the three of them, with Isha already fast asleep and Scar sitting at the balcony table, the city lights fading into a misty glow, reflecting the confusion that enveloped him inside.

"So..." Ekko began, his voice hoarse, "That was... a lot."

Scar nodded slowly, his eyes holding a mix of sympathy and something more.

"Yeah, man. It was."

Ekko scrunched his face, looking out at the city, the gesture betraying his unease.

"Don’t do that, Ekko," Scar said, his voice firm. "You did what you had to do. You can’t blame yourself for his decisions."

Ekko knew Scar was right, logically. But guilt gnawed at him, a persistent pain in his chest. He had left his father behind, and now he would never have the chance to make things right. He sat on the edge of the other chair, the springs creaking under his weight.

"There's something else, isn’t there?" he asked, his eyes searching Scar's face. "Something you’re not telling me."

Scar hesitated, his gaze drifting away. He rubbed his chin, his expression unreadable, but his green eyes shone with some concern.

"It’s about when you left," Scar finally said, his voice low. "What happened to you afterward."

Ekko frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Scar took a deep breath, his eyes meeting Ekko's.

"When you left Hawaii, things went bad for you; you loved Maddie, you fought with all your friends here, she was gone, then your father, there was no money, and you were just in nothingness, financially and emotionally."

Ekko's heart tightened. If he felt this bad now, he couldn't imagine how his sixteen-year-old self must have felt learning all of that at once. A knot formed in his throat thinking of that scared, lonely boy he used to be, unable to bear the weight of the world.

"You didn’t tell anyone, as is your way, so you moved states to see if you could find an opportunity," Scar continued, his voice heavy with some pain. "The pain, the loneliness, the feeling that you had failed them both... it was too much." He paused, his gaze fixed on his hands. "You started using. Drugs, mainly. Anything to numb the pain. And you mixed with the wrong people; you needed money, and your life went to hell."

Ekko stared at him, his mind spinning. He had always seen himself as strong; he couldn't even imagine what he had done, how low he had fallen. He had judged Jinx so much, and he had fallen just as badly, if not worse. The irony hit him like a punch.

"I..I didn’t know," Ekko said, his voice barely audible. "I had no idea."

Scar shook his head.

"I didn’t want you to know. It’s not something to be proud of."

A wave of guilt flooded over Ekko, stronger than before, filled with pain. But a slight smile touched Scar's lips.

"I didn’t know either, until one day, like this time almost, someone called me," he said softly. "Jinx found you."

Ekko's eyes widened in surprise.

"Jinx? How?"

"I don't know how, but she found you; you were a mess, but she was where you were staying," Scar said. "She made me go, kick your stubborn ass, and get you back on track. That’s how you two reconnected."

He paused, his voice filled with gratitude.

"I dragged you to rehab; it wasn’t that hard because you were just starting, but it was tough. That’s when the serious music era began for you when you started composing to occupy your mind and found a job," Scar explained. "You haven’t touched any of that shit in years."

Ekko was left speechless. Jinx, his Jinx, had saved him. The idea was almost incomprehensible. How could someone who had struggled so much in her own life have the strength to save him? A warm yet painful feeling settled in his chest. He had always known Jinx was fiercely loyal and protective of those she cared about, but he hadn’t realized the depth of her devotion to him.

"She never told me," Ekko said, his voice muted. "She never said anything about this."

"She wouldn’t," Scar said. "That’s how she is. She doesn’t want the credit. She just wants to help."

He leaned forward, his eyes locking with Ekko's.

"But you were determined to pull her out of drugs too," Scar said. "You took her to rehab, Isha came along, you stayed for her withdrawal, which was much tougher, you really gave it your all to pull her out of that world, and you succeeded; you saved her."

The boy savior.

The two men fell silent for a moment, the weight of the past heavy in the air. Then Ekko spoke again, his voice thoughtful.

"Why didn’t you tell me? You could have told me Jinx helped me; I thought so poorly of her."

"It wasn’t my story to tell. And Jinx never wanted you to know. She said you had enough with your own stuff; I told you to be kind with her," Scar commented, scratching his chin while sharing a look with his old friend. "And... to be honest, she wasn’t entirely aware either, Ekko. She barely understood what she was doing at that time. But even in that state, she cared about you. She saw you falling apart, and I don’t even think she knows she pulled you out of there."

Ekko returned the smile, a warmth spreading through his body. He wondered if he could ever repay Jinx for everything.

"I'm going to talk to her," Ekko said, his voice firm. "I’m going to thank her for everything she’s done."

Scar nodded.

"I think she’d appreciate it. But be kind to her, stubborn; I know you."

"I will," Ekko replied, feeling his words. "I promise."

The abrupt thud of the landing gear against the runway jolted Ekko from his dream. He blinked, disoriented, as the cabin lights came on. He had fallen asleep at some point during the transatlantic flight, his mind still spinning with the revelations from the night before.

Scar was already awake, stretching in his seat.

"We're here," he said, his voice rough from sleep. "Back in the good old United States of America."

Ekko nodded, his gaze fixed on the window. The vast urban landscape of New York sparkled in the distance, a stark contrast to the sunny beaches of Hawaii. He felt a mix of excitement and apprehension as he prepared to return to the life he had left behind so many years ago.

As they disembarked from the plane and made their way through the bustling airport, which was a symphony of reunions, a chaotic ballet of tears, laughter, and hurried steps, Ekko followed Scar through the crowd, his senses still reeling from the revelations on the plane. A particular sign caught his attention held by a child: Are you happy to be home!

He didn’t know the answer.

Then he saw her. A flash of blue hair amidst the mundane grays and blacks, a beacon in the sensory overload of the airport. Isha, propelled by her own force, broke ranks and ran toward the familiar figure.

Jinx.

Ekko's feet were glued to the ground. The noise of the airport faded away, faces blurred once more, and all that remained was the image of Jinx, bending down to catch Isha in a tight embrace. He hadn’t seen her in... how long had it been? Twenty days? Seventeen? He didn’t exactly know when she had left or why.

Jinx's face, usually a canvas of mischief and manic energy, was softer now. A genuine smile spread across her lips as she pulled back to look at Isha, kissing the top of her head. Isha laughed, her hands flying in response. The easy camaraderie between them was a sharp pang in Ekko's chest.

Scar, ever the observant friend, gave Ekko a nudge.

"Come on, man. She’s not going to bite."

Ekko swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. He took a hesitant step forward, then another, until he was close enough to hear their voices, to feel the warmth radiating from their embrace.

Scar stepped closer, extending a hand toward Jinx.

"Hey, Jinx. Good to see you, little girl."

Jinx's eyes sparkled, a genuine warmth replacing the professional courtesy she usually reserved for strangers. She pulled back from Isha enough to hug Scar tightly.

"Hey, God, I hope Isha doesn’t get as tall as you; it seems like you grow ten centimeters every time I see you."

Isha tugged at Jinx's sleeve, signing something urgently. Jinx laughed and signed back, then turned to Ekko.

A funny laugh escaped his friend, and at that moment, their eyes met, and the world seemed to tilt on its axis. He had forgotten the intensity of her gaze, the way her eyes could hold both mischief and an unbreakable deep sadness. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words got caught in his throat.

"Hi, Ekko," she said softly, her voice a familiar balm.

"Hi," he managed to say, the single syllable a pathetic offering. He made a vague gesture toward Isha. "She... I missed you a lot."

Jinx smiled, but there was something so sad in her expression.

"Yeah, me too." She smiled at Isha, who nodded enthusiastically and reached out to take Ekko's hand.

"And I," Ekko added, unable to contain himself and looking like an idiot. "I missed you too."

He wanted to tell her everything: how sorry he was, how grateful he was, how much he regretted how he had treated her. But the words remained trapped inside him, suffocated by the weight of their shared history.

"I'm sorry," he suddenly blurted out, the words sounding hollow even to his own ears. "For everything. If I hurt you, if I did something with Maddie..."

Jinx raised a hand, stopping him.

"You didn’t do anything wrong, Ekko."

"But..."

"We talked, that’s all. And you told me it was better to end things, that I shouldn’t stay and wait for you to love me when you weren’t sure you could." A shadow of sadness crossed her face, a grimace contrasting the pain in her voice and eyes. "You said it was cruel, and... you weren’t sure how you felt."

He looked at her, a wave of confusion washing over him. It felt like a punch to his stomach.

"I... said that?"

She nodded, her gaze unwavering.

"You said it was cruel to make me wait. You were trying to be kind."

The memory flickered in his mind, but he still felt completely blank; he barely registered the two lines that had tormented him since he woke up. And all he could think was that it must have been in a damn car because that was the only thing he could vaguely remember.

"I..." He struggled to find the right words.

She shrugged, a gesture that was both dismissive and forgiving.

"It doesn’t matter; we... we talked about it, didn’t we? It’s not like you’ve changed your mind, right?"

The question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken longings. He wanted to say it, tell her that yes, he had changed his mind. That he loved her, that he had always loved her. But the words wouldn’t come out.

What if he told her he loved her and it was a lie? What if what he felt was just guilt?

Jinx's eyes softened, a glimmer of compassion in their depths. And it was as if she was waiting for him, but at the same time, they both hoped that like in a Hollywood movie, he would know he loved her, kiss her, and his memories would return. But that didn’t happen.

"Well, I have to go." She straightened, her gaze hardening slightly. "Good to see you, Ekko."

"Can we still be friends? "

It was almost like a plea as Jinx looked at him with something intense, like hot oil was being poured over him.

"Sure," he whispered.

"Did my father make you leave without Isha?"

"I...," Jinx began, a hint of sadness in her eyes as she looked at Isha, who had wandered off with Scar to look for their bags on the conveyor belt. "Well, sort of; he said he would sue me because Isha technically can’t leave the country due to her adoption issue. So, I had to leave, and also because... it was good for her at least."

"I had no idea, and he’s a..." he growled, frustrated. "We’re done; you shouldn’t have left because of that."

"I didn’t leave just for that," Jinx replied, looking at him with pain. "I was there until you woke up; I called Dr. Medarda, and I thought about coming back to you, but... you made your decision; I have to respect it. And well, at least this way, you could save your relationship with Isha; you two have always connected; she’s easier than I am, and I think... it worked."

"Did you stay?" Ekko whispered, filled with guilt. "Why?"

Jinx shrugged.

"You would have done the same for me," she replied, her voice a thread. And then she added quietly, "And well, you’ll always matter to me."

Isha returned, hugging Ekko one last time, pressing a kiss to his cheek. Then, taking Jinx's hand, she turned and walked away, leaving Ekko standing alone in the bustling airport, the weight of her unspoken words crushing him.

It was what his self from four months and twenty-three days ago had wished for with all his being.

And it was what he had obtained.

And it didn’t make him feel better; in fact, he felt horrible.

Scar placed a hand on his shoulder, his touch a silent offer of support.

"Are you okay, man?"

Ekko shook his head, unable to speak. He looked down, his hands clenching into fists. The weight of his guilt pressed down on him, suffocating him. He had hurt Jinx, not just once but multiple times. He had theorized so much about why she had left that he never considered he had pushed her away, had... hurt her one last time.

"Come on," Scar said gently, guiding him toward the exit. "I’ll take you home."

"And where would they stay?"

"Jinx came to pick up Isha for the art summer camp that was paid for months ago," Scar explained. "Jinx is going to her student apartment."

"Oh, right. Isha... she told me."

"Come on, man," Scar patted him. "It’s been tough days; come rest."

Ekko nodded, his mind numb. He followed Scar through the airport, his feet moving on autopilot. He didn’t know where he was going or what he was going to do. All he knew was that he had made a mistake, a terrible mistake.

And he didn’t know how to fix it.

Chapter Text

JINX IS LOUD IN MOST THINGS.

Except for one: her pain.

That is silent. Almost quiet. Like a soft whisper. If she doesn’t think about it, it’s almost as if it doesn’t exist.

For a week, she didn’t crumble, even with everything that had happened to her. Even with the loneliness her apartment offered, she doesn’t cry. And it’s as if she somehow returns to her normal routine when she’s filled with exams and Ekko is on tour, so Isha is with Sevika.

But it’s not that routine.

Jinx can only remember, and that makes her envious of Ekko for not even remembering one of the worst nights of her life, and what a shitty night Jinx has lived. But this one was cruel because it wasn’t her fault; it was because she was too good. And because the inevitable came.

If Jinx could just limit herself to remembering that moment at the festival when he led her to that hideout where they could see the whole city, everything was less painful; they had laughed, joked, and he had told her that place reminded him of Zaun. Of his childhood. It was an intimate moment for both, filled with anecdotes, silences, and the hope that they were falling in love again.

But Jinx was never good at waiting.

And they had a scene the next day; they talked, they tried, and then they couldn’t kiss when they tried. She understood, what more was left? And he felt suffocated; they fought. And everything went to hell.

“What if I don’t love you?” he asked in the middle of their argument, in the parking lot. “What if you waste your life with me and I can’t feel even half the love you feel for me?”

She shook her head, letting out a nervous laugh.

“That doesn’t matter…”

“It matters to me.”

“It doesn’t matter to me!” she insisted. “We’ll figure it out later, I don’t know, that doesn’t matter.”

“I can’t tie you to this.”

“You’re not tying me.”

“This is cruel, and you know it.”

She had denied it, clinging to the illusion.

“It’s only been three months; your memories can come back in six, or even later,” she tried to explain, to find a solution, to not let him go. “And we… we can do this. I can do this. I love you.”

“And what if this goes beyond my memories?” he debated. “What if I… what if I can’t fall in love with you and you waste your life thinking that one day I would?”

The blood in Jinx was made of all the mistakes she had made in her life, and there were many, some unforgivable even if they were accidents. She couldn’t let him go; she couldn’t make that mistake.

“I already know that you don’t love me,” she said. “You don’t have to. Not now.”

Ekko debated it. They argued more; it didn’t matter what they remembered saying and what not, but each appreciated having many or few arguments. They were just tired. Overwhelmed.

He even said something about when she reached eighty years old, looking back on her life and seeing those wasted years. Jinx wanted to joke that she didn’t think she would live that long with all the shit she got into as a young, but the joke didn’t even reach the edge of her tongue. She was too sad and overwhelmed to joke.

“I’m just…” Ekko began, on the verge of tears breaking his heart, “tired of disappointing you.”

“I know, but you’re not disappointing me.”

“I am,” he insisted. “I’ve seen how you look at me, you expect me to do many things that I don’t do, and that hurts you; it’s killing you, and you don’t want to admit it.”

“No.”

Neither believed it, but it was their first instinct.

They kept insisting, a lot. And eventually, he knew. Jinx was many things, too many; one of them was that she wasn't a stranger to the ways of the world. She didn’t believe in fairy tales; she once did, but when you know the world, the magic goes with the knowledge. With it, she observed the white flag in the middle of the war.

They had surrendered.

“Let’s go home, then.”

“Jinx…”

“You don’t love me anymore; I get it,” she cut in, looking at him intensely while pointing to the car they had rented for the day. “But… but let me love you on the way home and for the rest of my life, and then I’ll leave you forever.”

Silence floated between them, with pain like the rain that threatened to fall, covering them until it soaked every inch of their being. And Jinx decided that this was too serious, gloomy, and sad to end what they had been.

“I mean, now I know I can write songs because you infected me with the cheesy stuff,” she tried to joke, “it’s good to get rid of… of that.”

“I think that already came with you.”

“Don’t kid around.”

“I always knew you’d be a softie.”

They both smiled, tried to laugh, but the humor didn’t reach their eyes. Only their mouths. And they got into the car, in silence, and of course, it started to rain. Jinx reflected that it had rained several times; she didn’t think it rained that much in Hawaii, but hoped it wouldn’t rain at that precise moment. She held a grudge against the rain; it had rained when the fire happened. It had rained the first time she was away from something she could call home. It had rained during Ekko’s accident; that had facilitated the car sliding and crashing faster. It had rained those days when Ekko was debating between life and death. And of course, it was raining as if the sky lamented this when she and Ekko ended.

She barely recalled how long the trip lasted; she only knew they stayed parked in the parking lot. Once one of them got out, it would be the end.

“I’m…”

“Don’t.”

Both returned to silence.

Jinx had lived a turbulent life almost since she was born; it was almost pity towards herself to call herself Jinx because that was what she seemed to be. She really had talent or a curse for things to go wrong in her life. She hadn’t had faith or a reason in a long time, but then she had Ekko. And with him, her life was fixed; it was like… having a second chance at life.

And there he was, yet deep down, she was afraid that something would go wrong with Isha, with Vi, but she never thought this would go wrong with them. Not like this. For some reason, Jinx never contemplated that for once, Ekko could give up on her.

But there they were.

If it were a song, it would be something like “The Winner Takes It All” by ABBA. Now she understood every damn word of that song, as if it were unveiled before her. It was strange. And ironic. Because the day it all began, when it finally felt like the universe smiled at her, she was the one who stayed because he asked her to. And now she was leaving because he had asked her to.

Ekko was so high. Like her. Although after so many years, the effect is easier to carry and makes her somewhat more aware of everything.

“Ekko,” she whispered softly, looking at him with a softness they hadn’t looked at each other with since they were kids despite the pink glow in her once ocean-blue eyes. Her murmur reached him like a choked sigh, and he looked at her, somewhat lost. “Go home.”

“Come with me.”

He insisted, almost without thinking, something in his broken voice, a plea he didn’t know how to disguise. Jinx looked at him for a second before laughing, a bitter laugh that cut her soul. And Ekko realized that it was the first time in years since they were kids that they had a conversation, and she had just sent him home.

“It’s late for me.”

“Never is it too late,” he replied, the insistence in his words broken by the effects of the substances already taking their toll on him. “This… shuts up everything. It’s peaceful.”

“What are you even considering this?”

“Why are you doing it?”

Jinx looked at him with empty eyes, as if there was nothing left of the person she once was.

“Ekko, go home,” Jinx insisted, both looking at each other on that old piece of furniture, sitting completely high. Her words were like a painful reminder of what they were now. But Ekko couldn’t stand the thought of her being alone. “You can’t end up in this shit.”

“You either,” he replied, like an empty echo.

“I am this shit.”

“Come with me,” Ekko insisted, taking her hand. “Let’s go home.”

“Are you trying to be a savior boy?”

“Aren’t you?”

But Jinx laughed, this time with more contempt, and stood up. Her body was thin, pale, as if time had swallowed her essence. The weight of years of abuse was evident on her skin, in her movements, in the way she avoided any contact. But even so, she kept going, as if the drugs couldn’t completely take away her will to keep functioning, to keep existing, and to prevent him from ending up like her or worse.

Ekko didn’t know how, but he let himself be carried away. His legs didn’t respond as they should, and at some point, the distance between them began to fade as they walked aimlessly, the nighttime streets of that place he didn’t even know surrounded them, indifferent to their miseries. Time diluted, and although they might have walked kilometers, maybe only a few minutes passed, the moment came when they finally reached Ekko’s apartment, and he, completely gone, lost control and vomited uncontrollably. The mess was uncontrollable. The broken dishes fell to the floor, and the noise dragged them back to a reality that, despite their disdain, still existed.

He fell onto the couch, exhausted, vomited, lost, and beside him, Jinx threw herself down without energy. The space between them was filled with a dense silence. Neither spoke. Ekko, completely overwhelmed by intoxication, couldn’t even look at Jinx without feeling that everything was wrong, that the world was wrong. She was there, in her own agony, and even physical contact didn’t seem to matter to them.

“Stay,” Ekko murmured with a raspy voice. It was a sigh, a plea. Something in him didn’t want to be alone. Didn’t want to lose her. Not today.

“What?”

Ekko insisted, pleading, with a bit more desperation in his voice.

“Stay. Just for tonight.”

“I can’t.”

“Just one night.”

“No,” she replied firmly, her tone cold, distant. “I need to go.”

The words came from her mouth with the same indifference she had learned to cultivate over years of pain and destruction. The need to escape was stronger than any hint of empathy.

“Please,” Ekko whispered, his voice breaking as he said it, as if that were the only thing that could save him. “I can’t… I can’t do this alone. Just tonight. Stay, Jinx.”

A sigh of resignation escaped her lips, and for an instant, Ekko thought he would lose her again. But then he saw something in her eyes, something that broke.

“Why do you care so much?” Jinx murmured, not moving a muscle, as if the question were more of a self-investigation than a true inquiry directed at him. She didn’t expect an answer; she didn’t want an answer.

Ekko looked at her with absolute sincerity, even though his body was on the verge of collapse.

“Because… even if we’re fucked up, we still have each other. Just for tonight. Please.” His voice became softer, almost a whisper, but the pain behind those words was clear as water. “Stay with me. You don’t have to say anything. Just… don’t go.”

Jinx remained silent, as if Ekko’s words weighed heavily on her. One more second, and maybe she would have turned around, she would have left. But then, in an almost imperceptible movement, her fingers touched his. A small contact, but it spoke more than any word. It was like a signal, a silent surrender.

She let out a breath, and for a brief moment, the hardness in her face softened. She didn’t smile. There was nothing to smile about. But the gesture of taking his hand, even if it was a momentary need, said it all.

“Fine,” she finally said, her voice as low as a whisper. “Just for tonight.”

And despite everything, she gave in. Not for him, not for anything. But something inside her broke, maybe for the need not to be completely alone in her misery. Maybe for the same reason Ekko wouldn’t let her go. They were both broken souls who, on that dark night, found each other once more.

They both lay in the same bed, but the distance between them was infinite. There were no hugs, no comfort, no words. Just fallen bodies under the weight of their own decisions, drugged and deteriorated, seeking something they didn’t know what it was. And although she stayed that night, in the morning, she called Scar and left.

She saved him that time.

And Ekko the ones that followed.

And there they were.

Years apart. Without a single damn substance in their systems for years, but instead of staying once more, now they would leave forever. And that hurt Jinx’s soul like a stab to her heart.

“Jinx.”

They both looked at each other; there was so much they wanted to talk about, but nothing seemed to fill the void. There was nothing Jinx could think of, and boy, she was good at breaking tense moments as she was at creating them, but for once, she was too tired to even try.

It had rained for an hour while they were in the car, and it was just starting to clear up, and against all odds, Jinx decided to take that step.

“I…” she began, looking at Ekko, who looked at her with those eyes she loved, destroyed and could die from guilt if one could die from that. So Jinx swallowed hard, forcing herself to smile. “I promise, I’ll never forget this.”

He laughed, but it sounded hollow. And she dared to place her hand on Ekko’s cheek once more. His skin was warm. Although with the car’s air conditioning, they were both freezing.

“You better not.”

He tried to joke, but everything sounded too damn sad. Jinx caressed his cheek with her thumb while smiling. And she hated this. She hated it with all her soul because it wasn’t fair; it was damn cruel. And with the little strength she had left, she got out of the car.

Everything that followed was confusing. Isha sent her a desperate message when Jinx was in a café reflecting on her life. And somehow, she brought that doctor to treat Ekko. And she was there with Isha those five days until he woke up. And when she saw him at her house, she let him go. She got on a plane, went to the United States, and went to damn school.

That’s where her routine happened.

That’s where he came back. And he didn’t remember anything of what she was remembering that was suffocating her soul.

And there, now, Jinx was in front of the house of a person she hadn’t turned to in years. Maybe, never.

“Jinx?”

She looked at her sister, her throat tight, the words about to escape, but at the same time, feeling like they were stuck like a stone. She needed to say something. Something that would at least relieve a bit of the tension, as she always did, as she always did… But this time, the jokes didn’t come.

“Wow! Look who shows up…” she laughed. “What an awful vie…”

Jinx tried, but her voice cut off mid-sentence. She smiled awkwardly, but the laughter didn’t come. Only an empty air floated between them.

Vi’s expression didn’t change, although her gaze softened when she noticed how Jinx tried to maintain the facade. Vi took a step toward her, and in the next moment, Jinx felt trapped in a hug. There were no words, just the warmth of her sister surrounding her, holding her slowly, without expecting answers.

Jinx did nothing at first. She didn’t even try to pull away. But in that embrace, the weight of everything she had been holding, what she had tried to avoid, overflowed immediately. Her body collapsed, and finally, she let the tears flow. She said nothing; there was nothing she could say at that moment.

Vi held her tightly, without speaking, without trying to fix things, just allowing Jinx to cry. She knew she didn’t need to ask, didn’t need Jinx to explain anything. She was there, with her. And that was enough.

Jinx didn’t pull away, just let the moment envelop her, let the sadness flow through her until all that remained in her chest was a void that, for once, she didn’t fear.

Vi whispered, softly recognizing that pain, with the warmth only she could offer.

“It’s okay.”

Jinx couldn’t stop crying, nor could she let go of the fragility of that moment. Ekko’s words continued to resonate in her mind, and the sadness of everything lost completely engulfed her. It was the weight of years. Even of the unresolved issues between them that floated to the surface. Everything. But in that embrace, something inside her broke, and for a moment, she didn’t care that nothing was okay.

Chapter Text

THE MANSION SEEMS HAUNTED WITHOUT ISHA AND WITHOUT JINX.

In the quiet solitude of this mansion, Ekko sat in his room, looking out at the vast expanse of the property. The silence pressed down on him, heavier than any noise. The outside world felt like a distant dream, fading and unreachable. The weight of everything that had happened, everything he had lost, settled heavily in his chest. Now he was alone in this big empty house. Scar had returned with Steb for a couple of days; they deserved it.

It was the life he had somehow wished for when he woke up and saw that same view; to have his life back, without Jinx and Isha. And although they were still there, and surely he had been alone because of their tours, this time felt different.

He felt heavy; he didn’t want to sleep in such a silent place. And he already wished for Isha to come back.

Ekko’s fingers traced the cold surface of the windowsill. The mansion, with its imposing walls and empty hallways, felt as vast and desolate as the sky outside. The grandeur of the house only emphasized its emptiness, as if the walls were closing in on him, reminding him how alone he truly was.

The house was too quiet, too empty. He needed to get out, breathe, escape this feeling that had settled in his bones like a cold winter.

Ekko stood up, walking slowly before grabbing his jacket and heading out the door. And that leather notebook he had left there. He didn’t know exactly why, but his feet seemed to lead him to a place he hadn’t visited in a long time. The old sanctuary, the place he had gone to seek comfort in the past. The place where he had spent hours, lost in his thoughts, trying to understand the mess that was his life and that he had rebuilt.

He sat under the branches, his back against the trunk, and closed his eyes. The stillness of the night surrounded him, and he let himself sink into it. He couldn’t help but think about everything that had happened—the way he had pushed Jinx away, how things had crumbled, how he had never fully understood what she meant to him.

His fingers rested on the notebook he had left. But when he opened it to the first page, he saw something that caught his attention—a line he had written a long time ago, long before all of this. A fragment of a song. A song about the moon. A song, more or less, about Jinx.

(The moon is the one
hopeless romantic ask 
for help, we don't know why 
but sure she hears you well)

Dearest moon can you enlighten me?
tell me what she wants to hear 
I feel hatred 
I was naive 
but now, she is so dear to me

Ekko looked at the words for a moment. He had written them for her. And now he was, once again, under the moon, without her. Feeling her words more than ever. He could almost hear the melody in his head, soft and moving, like moonlight filtering through the trees. Slowly, he began to write, the words flowing from him easily as if they had been waiting to be released. And he fixed what he had already written.

(The moon is the one 
hopeless soul ask 
for help, we don't know why 
but sure she hears it well)

Dearest moon can you enlighten me? 
tell me what she wants to hear 
I've felt bitterness 
I've been blind before 
but now, she is so dear to me

now if you 
can show me 
what to do? 
cast your spell 
teach me how 
make her feel 
love

Dearest moon can you guide me? 
tell me what's happening to me? 
I feel lost 
She is all 
without her, my life is incomplete

He paused for a moment, looking at the lines he had just written. There was something raw about it, something vulnerable. He had always been good at hiding his feelings, keeping them locked inside. But now, as he sat under the tree, he couldn’t hold them back any longer. The pain, the guilt, the longing—everything was here, on the page. And the line he had previously left unwritten now resonated the most because... because without Jinx, life seemed incomplete.

And now, looking back at everything that had happened, he realized how much he had taken for granted. How much Jinx had done for him, how much she had cared, even when he hadn’t been able to see it.

now if you 
can show me 
what to do? 
cast your spell 
teach me how 
make her feel 
love

He wrote the words slowly, carefully. Each line felt like a prayer, a plea for guidance, for understanding. It wasn’t just about Jinx. It was about him—about his journey, his mistakes, and his desire to make things right.

I used to walk, 
to the sun 
and pass away 
from the moon 
now I beg you 
I implore you 
show me how 
I can don't jinx it

Ekko paused for a moment, the words hitting him harder than he expected. The metaphor was clear now. Even placing the name he had once thought was a curse as a plea. He had always chased the sun, the bright and obvious things, those that seemed to promise warmth and light; his stable, secure life that wasn’t chaotic like Jinx. But he had neglected the moon, the calm and constant presence that had always been there for him; Jinx. And in the end, his life alone was more chaotic than hers. The irony. And now, he was begging for a chance to make things right, to not ruin the only thing that had always meant so much to him.

she's my sun 
she's my moon 
all of my universe 
and my blue

He smiled softly as he wrote those lines. The connection between the two of them, the way their lives had intertwined, was undeniable. He had never fully understood it until now. Jinx was both his sun and his moon—the light that guided him through the darkest moments, and the calm, comforting presence that kept him grounded. And she was blue. That’s why he mentioned that color so much in his songs, because blue was Jinx, and that was love.

dearest moon, 
can you make it 
that she is happy
 in the end?

Ekko leaned back against the tree, the song complete. A deep sigh escaped his lips as he felt the weight of what he had written. The lyrics had touched him in a strange way, as if those words, those melodies, had been waiting to come to light since the moment he had begun walking down this tortuous path.

After a while, he slowly got up from the ground and tucked the notebook into his jacket. There was something in the air that night, something that pushed him to move forward, as if the universe itself were guiding him. The song he had written resonated in his chest, and he felt it was the right moment to bring those words to life, to give them sound, a soul of their own.

He climbed the stairs to his room, the one he knew so well, but this time it was different. There was something in the air, something in his heart, telling him he couldn’t just sit and let his laments consume him. No. He had to move forward. He had to play the song.

When he entered his room, he turned on the lamp over his desk, the warm light softly illuminating the room. In the corner, his old guitar rested, covered in a layer of dust, as if it too had been waiting to be used again. Ekko took it in his hands gently, as if it were an old friend he hadn’t seen in a long time.

He sat in his chair in front of the desk and began to strum the guitar strings. The notes came out soft, almost hesitant at first, but as his fingers glided over the strings, the music began to take shape. The melody that emerged had an ethereal quality, as if he were in a dream, but with an electric touch that gave it a sense of modernity, of something present and palpable.

The guitar wept a soft song, almost like a lullaby, but with a hint of distortion in the background, like an electric murmur that recalled the electricity that had always existed between him and Jinx. The music seemed to sway in the air, wrapping him in a bittersweet feeling of nostalgia, of longing. It was as if each chord was saying something he couldn’t express in words. The sound became a whisper that joined the stars in the sky, as if his heart were echoing the moonlight that still illuminated the mansion.

Ekko closed his eyes, lost in the music, his fingers moving with a familiarity that surprised him. The lullaby blended with the electric distortion, creating an atmosphere where he could feel love and pain, hope and despair, fused into a single sound. The lyrics of the song filled his mind as he played, and the melody transformed into something that swept him away, as if it were a current pushing him toward an unknown but inevitable destiny.

dearest moon, 
can you make it 
that she is happy
 in the end?

The notes rose and fell, soft as the night breeze, but with the electric force of his desire to change, to find an answer, to heal. Each chord resonated in the room, in his soul, shaping what he felt, what he needed. He couldn’t change the past, but he had the feeling that, somehow, he could start to rebuild what had been destroyed.

The melody began to grow more complex, adding layers, like a painting coming to life. Ekko’s voice joined the music, soft at first, as if he didn’t want to break the silence of the night, but then stronger, clearer, as if the words had finally been released and he had found his own voice.

And there he knew, as he paused, gently caressing the chords of his guitar. The music was the only thing in which he could drain everything he was feeling, so with enthusiasm, he took his notebook and began to jot down everything he had done and to record things.

And for once, Ekko didn’t feel lost in his own life; he knew exactly what he had to do.

Chapter Text

"CAN YOU IMAGINE LIVING HERE, SCAR?"

"I prefer our apartment; it's less to clean and pay," replied Scar, surveying the place. "But Ekko is a mess without Jinx, so here we are."

The front door creaked open, revealing Ekko. But this wasn't the downcast and lonely Ekko they expected. His hair was more disheveled than usual, half-tied in a ponytail, his eyes shone with a feverish intensity, and his hands were stained with ink. The entryway, usually immaculate, was a chaos of papers, cables, and music equipment.

"Ekko?" Scar asked cautiously.

His friend blinked, as if waking from a trance.

"Scar, Steb... You're here! Awesome, awesome."

"Awesome?" Scar raised an eyebrow. "What the hell is going on here, man? It looks like a tornado hit your mansion."

Ekko made a vague gesture toward the mess.

"I'm... working. I'm creating."

"Creating... what?"

But Ekko had already lost himself again. He pointed to a corner where a guitar rested on a stand, surrounded by microphones and computers.

"The music. I have to get it out. It has to come out."

Scar and Steb exchanged worried glances as the latter shrugged, clearing his throat to ask gently:

"Ekko, have you slept at all?"

"It doesn't matter," he replied, brushing it off with his hand. "I have to finish this. I need... I need her to hear it."

Scar approached the white-haired young man, trying to make eye contact.

"Ekko, stop. Breathe. You haven't answered your phone in days. We were worried."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," said Ekko, not sounding particularly remorseful. "But this is important. More important than anything."

"More important than your friends and everything?" Scar asked, a hint of resentment in his voice.

"I didn't mean that. But you don't understand. No one understands."

Steb intervened, trying to ease the situation.

"Maybe we can understand, Ekko. Just explain it to us."

He hesitated, then relented.

"It's... it's a song. For Jinx. A way to say everything I couldn't say."

"And the mess?" Scar asked, pointing to the chaos around him.

"The mess is... part of the process," Ekko replied, shrugging. "I can't create in a clean and orderly environment."

"Have you even eaten?"

"Yeah, I had dinner."

"Man," Scar grunted, "It's eleven in the morning. What day of the week is it?"

"Friday?"

"It's Tuesday!"

Before both friends could continue arguing, Steb walked through the mess, picking up a random paper from the floor. He read it silently, then looked up with a smile.

"This is... really beautiful, Ekko."

"Really?" Ekko seemed genuinely surprised.

Steb nodded.

"Yes. Look at this: 'This isn't how I've thought it was supposed to be / But sometimes love will fail in the hands of the reckless / So I'm almost pretty sure / My karma got the worst of me.'"

Scar scoffed.

"Sounds depressing."

"It's honest," replied Steb, looking at his boyfriend, almost holding back an eye roll. "It has... depth."

Ekko approached, taking the sheet of paper from Steb's hand. He read it again, feeling a pang of pride and emotion.

"Yeah... that's how I feel."

"Can you sing it?" Steb asked softly. "I'd like to hear it."

Ekko hesitated, then picked up his guitar. He sat in an improvised chair among the mess, took a deep breath, and began to strum the strings. His voice, hoarse from lack of sleep, filled the room.

"Once, far away and long ago  
Woke up, in the oblivion  
I couldn't knew my own life  
and I can't reach your light  

This isn't how I've thought it was supposed to be  
But sometimes love will fail in the hands of the reckless  
So I'm almost pretty sure  
My karma got the worst of me  

I tried to bargain with the stars 'don't let her have my heart'  
and they just laughed in my fate
 'cause I was the fool who wants you there.."

Scar, who was seriously judging his best friend and ready to give him a tremendous scolding for whatever he was doing, found a lump in his throat. The song was raw, vulnerable, and somewhat moving. He could feel Ekko's pain, his regret, his desperate need for redemption.

When Ekko finished singing, there was silence in the room. Then, Steb clapped softly.

"That was... incredible, Ekko. Really."

Scar nodded, albeit reluctantly.

"Yeah, you have talent, man. But if this is for Jinx; why not just tell her?"

"Because it's not that simple," he replied, looking at the floor like a small child.

"That you love her?"

"That's the problem," Ekko grunted. "I don't."

Scar looked at his boyfriend with wide eyes, but Steb shook his head; they shouldn't get involved, let their friend figure it out. So before Scar could say something, he patted Ekko to ease the situation or he'd end up a widower.

"We support you," he assured, smiling at the brunette. "But you can't keep living like this."

Ekko sighed.

"I know. I've already called Heimerdinger; tomorrow I'll go record," he confessed, looking at them with better energy. "And I hired someone; they'll come clean this up tomorrow."

"Really?" Scar seemed relieved.

"Yeah. And I also promised to get some sleep. But... I need to keep working on the song. I need it to be perfect."

"Alright," said Scar, exchanging glances with his boyfriend. "We'll help you. But first, you need a shower and something to eat."

Ekko smiled weakly.

"Thanks, guys. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Probably die of starvation in the middle of this mess," Scar joked, but there was affection in his voice. "Is that all you have? Do you even remember how to play a guitar?"

"Eh... something," he confessed, a bit embarrassed. "I've been watching tutorials."

Scar shook his head, like a father.

"Tutorials," he repeated. "Go shower; you stink."

"Hey!"

The sound of running water echoed through the mansion as Scar pushed Ekko toward the bathroom, not without receiving a couple of theatrical complaints and promises that "he didn't stink that much." Steb, watching the scene, smiled wearily. The dynamic between Scar and Ekko was a show in itself: a mix of brotherly affection and constant exasperation. Once alone, Steb sighed and began picking up some of the scattered papers from the floor, organizing them into more manageable piles.

Soon after, a rejuvenated Ekko emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel and with his hair still damp. He no longer emanated the feverish exhaustion from before. Scar was waiting for him with a plate of sandwiches and a cup of coffee.

"Eat something," Scar ordered, pushing the plate toward him. "And then we’ll get back to this."

Ekko obeyed, devouring the sandwich eagerly. The food and the shower seemed to have revived him completely. He finished the coffee in one gulp and turned to Steb and Scar with a renewed spark in his eyes.

"Okay, I have some ideas," he said, walking toward the music corner. "But I need help. Steb, can you help me with the lyrics? Scar, I need your opinion on the rhythms. I know you have an incredible ear."

Thus began an improvised afternoon of musical collaboration. Ekko immersed himself in his music, scribbling lyrics on scraps of paper, experimenting with melodies on his guitar, and testing rhythms on his computer. Steb, with his lyrical sensitivity, helped him refine the lyrics, finding the exact words to express the confusion and longing that tormented Ekko. Scar, for his part, contributed his innate sense of rhythm and harmony, polishing the arrangements and ensuring that the music conveyed the right emotion.

"What about this?" Ekko asked, playing a sequence of chords on the piano. "I want it to sound... like time is crumbling. Like I'm trapped in a loop, reliving the same moments over and over."

Steb furrowed his brow, concentrating.

"Maybe a bit more dissonant. Something that conveys the feeling of... being out of sync."

Scar nodded.

"Yeah, and maybe add a rhythm that’s like a constant tick-tock, but suddenly speeds up or slows down. Like time is playing with you."

Ekko absorbed their suggestions, adjusting the chords and rhythm until the music began to sound like he imagined it.

"Yes, that's it. That's exactly what I want."

As they worked, Ekko talked about what he wanted to reflect in the song, trying to verbalize the storm of emotions that overwhelmed him.

"I don't want it to be just a love album," he explained. "It's more than that. It's about regret, about missed opportunities, about guilt. But it's also about hope... the hope that maybe, somehow, I can make it right."

"Make right what, Ekko?" Steb asked softly, knowing he was touching on a delicate topic.

Ekko hesitated, looking at the floor.

"Make right... everything. Everything that went wrong. All the things I said and didn't say. All the decisions I made."

"But it's not your fault, Ekko," Scar interjected. "You didn't choose to lose your memory."

"I know," Ekko replied, though his voice didn't sound very convinced. "But still... I feel like I could have done something different. That I could have avoided all this."

Steb approached and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't torture yourself like that, Ekko. You can't change the past."

Ekko nodded, feeling a bit relieved by Steb's words. But the feeling of guilt remained, persistent like a shadow.

"But I can create a better future; I want the song to convey all that," he continued. "I want people to understand how I feel. I want Jinx to understand it, even I myself."

As night fell, the atmosphere in the room became quieter and more contemplative. The feverish energy of the morning had given way to a sense of creative fatigue.

"I think we should stop for today," suggested Steb, stretching. "We need to rest."

Ekko nodded, albeit reluctantly.

"I guess you're right. But I'm so close... I can feel it."

"It will be there tomorrow," Scar assured him. "And so will we."

After ordering some food for dinner, Scar and Steb headed to the guest room, leaving Ekko alone with his thoughts. He sat on his bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. His mind was filled with melodies, lyrics, and images of Jinx.

Sighing, Ekko got up from the bed. He wasn't ready to face sleep, not yet. He needed to channel this energy, give it form. Maybe if he could write a few more lines, fix a few more chords, he could finally silence the chaos in his head.

Ekko sat down at his desk, the guitar resting in his lap, the melody floating in his mind like a raging river. The room was silent, with the shadows of the night enveloping the space. His mind kept spinning, as if a whirlwind of questions and feelings swirled inside him. Everything seemed out of place, as if something was missing or broken.

And so, without thinking too much, he began to strum the guitar strings. He didn't know what he was searching for; he just knew he needed to find something, something that connected him to reality, that shook him, that made him feel alive.

"Why are my memories lost?" The question slipped from his lips like a whisper, as if the words were floating in the air, searching for an answer that would never come. His fingers continued to play as his mind traveled through time, revisiting all those lost moments, all those instances he couldn't remember but felt so deeply in his chest.

"Could I have loved this life before?"

The melody began to take shape, a sad yet beautiful tune, like a gentle drizzle in the midst of a storm. The lyrics kept flowing, like a torrent that couldn't be stopped.

"Could I have been someone else in time?"

"Is this the life that I would choose to find?"

The questions kept arising, one after another, without answers, but it didn't matter. It was as if the words and the music were his only way to confront the confusion he felt. It was so natural. So... good. He loved this, expressing things this way; it made more sense to him than saying them normally. Rhyming. It was all so logical to him. He loved it.

He really enjoyed composing.

"Tell me why I can't find rest, and my heart is leaping inside me."

"Could this be one of those times when your feelings decide?"

His fingers moved faster now, playing the guitar with force, as if he were trying to seize something, as if he could control the chaos within him through music. But he couldn't control it. No one could. It was like waves from a storm.

"Why does she still torment me?"

The image of Jinx appeared in his mind again, like a fleeting flash that vanished as quickly as it came. But the pain of her absence remained, constant, piercing.

"Why does she haunt my mind?"

"Why can't I feel what we once had?"

"Was it real or just a fad?"

The questions kept coming, like an unstoppable torrent. But deep down, Ekko knew there was something more, something that kept him trapped in this endless cycle. It was more than pain, more than confusion. There was something inside him that he couldn't deny, something that kept him playing, writing, searching relentlessly.

"What did she see when she first looked?"

"Could she be the love I once mistook?"

Ekko sighed, looking at the floor, lost in his thoughts. What had she seen in him? What had been so special to her that she helped him that time and stayed when he treated her so badly? The answers always slipped away from him, as if the words he sought could never describe what he felt.

"All these questions keep swirling and twirling and aching inside me."

"What are these feelings I feel when she was here beside me?"

His eyes closed, and for a moment, he allowed himself to remember. Remember her laughter, her eyes, the way she made him feel.

The melody began to soften, becoming more introspective. Ekko took a deep breath, and looking at his notebook, he saw the scattered notes everywhere, questions, lyrics, incomplete words. He had been writing them for months, accumulating thoughts and emotions that he had never known how to express. Now, before him, the words seemed to make more sense than ever.

"I need to love her deeply," he whispered, as if it were a confession, a truth he was just beginning to accept. "Without the past to guide." The words were soft but powerful. "Love her for who she is, not just for where we start."

Ekko dropped the guitar into his lap and sighed. He knew something inside him was changing, but he didn't fully understand what it was.

"I need to show her feelings, not lost in yesterday," he sang, almost as if he were convincing himself. "Can't wait for tomorrow, for in her eyes I'm lost forever."

The melody was becoming clearer now, more precise, as if everything finally made sense.

"In this endless reverie litoreous."

The word came to him like a whisper, and for a moment, Ekko stopped, feeling the strange sensation that everything was connected. Litoreous. Reverie. A state of daydreaming, of love, of memory. But he didn't know if it was a dream or reality.

Was that what he felt for Jinx? Was this what he had been searching for all this time, without even knowing it?

He fell silent, lost in his thoughts, playing the final notes in a perfect chord. It was then that the door swung open.

"That doesn't sound so depressing," Scar said from the threshold, with a teasing smile.

Ekko looked up, finding a mix of relief and frustration on his friend's face.

"You think?" he replied, not really wanting to continue talking.

Scar approached, crossing his arms.

"We went from not knowing your life to wanting to love someone regardless of that; we're making progress."

"What if this is in vain? What if... what if it's too late?"

"It's never too late, man."

"I mean... what if this isn't genuine? What if it's just guilt? What if I'm deceiving her by thinking it is but it isn't?" he grunted, tired of his doubts, of his own questions. "What if I can't be half the Ekko I used to be?"

"You've always been Ekko, before the accident, now, tomorrow, always," Scar insisted with a compassionate voice. "And as for the other thing, I guess we never know."

"But you love Steb."

"Yeah, well, it took me a long time," he admitted, half-laughing. "And I would have never known if I hadn't dared to face rejection; that's all it is, trying. You won't know until you do it."

"And what if I'm right and I don't...?"

His words got lost in his throat, unable to reveal his deepest fear. And Scar knew it without him saying a word.

"Well, life will go on. In fact, life will go on whether you try or not because time passes damn quickly," he replied. "But at least the question won't linger in your mind, and you'll know that you feel, even if it hurts, you'll know."

"Thank you."

"No problem, bro," he smiled, sharing a silence to support Ekko's doubts that seemed louder than the melody he had played earlier. "But first, you should sleep. You're not going to compose anything if you're too exhausted to think."

Ekko smiled slightly, still thinking about the words he had written, but feeling less heavy. And maybe knowing what they really meant, only wanting to tell one person.

"I guess you're right."

"Go to sleep. And, Ekko..."

"What?"

"Why that word?"

"Which one?"

"Reverie lit... that."

"Reverie Litoreous," Ekko repeated, more confidently. "Well, uh, reverie means something like being lost in your thoughts, and litoreous is from the shore of the sea. So, well... I was thinking it could refer to that state of being lost in your own thoughts that have to do with the ocean, with the sand that has met a bit of the ocean and has become completely enchanted by it, dreaming of touching the ocean again with every wave."

"You lost me, bro."

"What I'm trying to say," Ekko explained, a bit embarrassed, "is that it's like when you're afraid of the ocean, but it turns out to be wonderful even though it still scares you, and now you just want to go back to the beach. I don't know, it's something interpretive, poetic?"

"Poetic," Scar repeated, smiling. "Well man, good night. You should name the song that, reverie litoreous."

Chapter Text

VI HAS A LOT OF BOOKS.

Classics. New ones. Political. Everything. She has a wall full of books, unlimited collections. It's like a miniature library.

“Take.”

“What the hell is that?” Jinx asked, pointing at whatever it was that her sister was bringing her. “How have you not died poisoned without Caitlyn?”

“What’s wrong with you? It’s good,” Vi replied, sitting down next to her. “I won’t cook anything for you again.”

Jinx made a face at the yellowish color of it. Had she added mustard to the soup?

“Thanks, I guess.”

Vi hit her on the back of the head, causing Jinx to rub it begrudgingly while taking that thing that, although it didn’t taste as bad as it looked, was still very curious. The light comment managed to relax the atmosphere a bit. Jinx glanced around the apartment, stopping at the wall full of books once more as they both sipped their soup on the sofa.

“You have more books than I’ve seen in a bookstore,” Jinx commented, moving closer to the shelf. “Those weren’t there last time; you should make a bed with them. I saw something like that on Instagram.”

Vi shrugged.

“It helps me disconnect and learn new things. Some are a bit dense, I admit.”

Jinx touched the spine of a random book.

“‘Doña Bárbara.’ Isn’t that the one Ekko gave you?”

Vi nodded.

“Yeah. A special edition he found in Spain. It cost him an arm and a leg, according to him.”

Jinx remembered the story of Ekko telling Vi about the Venezuelan lady in the bookstore and how they both avoided discussing the harsher themes of the book. A dull pain settled in her chest.

“I remember you got excited when I told you about the plot,” Jinx said, trying to keep the conversation light.

“Yeah, I was surprised you knew so much,” Vi replied with a smile. “Though now I suspect Ekko spilled the beans.”

Jinx sat back on the sofa, feeling exhausted, managing a sad smile that was more of a grimace. She had been there for a week, taking advantage of Caitlyn being away in England visiting her parents, which Jinx appreciated even though she liked the girl; she just didn’t want to deal with anyone, barely with her sister. And in this week, they had reconnected a bit.

It was the first time they were alone since they were kids, living together.

Since that day.

Looking at the book in her hands, she recalled the plot. Vaguely, of course. Jinx remembered more the smells than anything else, and for some reason, the coffe with milk she had drunk with Ekko while listening to the plot of that book had stuck in her mind. Besides, of course, several sensitive topics from it, to say the least.

“Why didn’t you tell Ekko?” Vi asked, as direct as always, looking at her. “You know he wouldn’t have hated you if you told him the truth.”

“He’d feel something worse: pity.”

“Jinx…”

“It’s not important.”

“He deserves to know,” Vi pointed out. “And he wouldn’t feel pity.”

“Of course he would. I mean, who wouldn’t? And how the hell was I going to tell him the truth?”

Vi sighed heavily.

“I don’t know, but… well, I thought you’d tell him after the month.”

“No,” Jinx shook her head. “Scar wanted to tell him; he begged me to do it when he visited us. He said I should tell him because he’s an idiot, but I don’t want to. He almost tell him in Hawaii, but he didn't.”

“Why? You know that if he knows, he wouldn’t have that stupid hatred, and that was what…”

“I don’t want him to look at me with pity,” Jinx interrupted, harshly. “He’s the only one who never looked at me with pity for that; he just… understood.”

“I don’t see you with pity.”

“When you found out, you did.”

Vi fell silent. Guilty. The silence became thick, as it always did when the topic came up, which almost never, really never, happened. But those who knew the details had told her she should tell Ekko the truth, but she hadn’t been able to.

Even Caitlyn, who had never discussed that with her, suggested doing it. And Jinx completely refused. No, she could bear that look of pity from everyone for that, but not from Ekko. Not from him.

And that made her feel a bit guilty toward her sister, who, ironically, felt guilty for herself regarding her situation with this. They had never talked about this in years, not since Vi found out and they made amends. It was one of those topics that were never touched, and over time, it was forgotten enough to almost pretend it didn’t happen.

“It was never your fault that I didn’t tell you.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked, almost in a whisper, her sister almost cutting her off.

Vi looked at her, her expression softening as she noticed the internal storm she was going through. Jinx raised her gaze, finding her sister’s eyes with a mix of pain and frustration. It was a question that had been on both their minds for years.

“I don’t know,” she murmured. “It’s like it was all a bad dream I couldn’t get out of my head. I barely managed to say it out loud, twice, and those were the only times I really understood it.”

Vi frowned but didn’t interrupt Jinx. She knew her sister was processing something deep, something that needed to come to light.

“But… why didn’t you tell anyone? Me. Silco. Vander. They didn’t even tell me when they found out.”

“With them, it was something that just… happened.”

Jinx let out a long sigh, staring ahead without really seeing anything. She had been asked that question many times, at least by those who knew, and she always answered the same: that she didn’t know. But deep down, she knew exactly why. Or at least had an idea. That made her go silent, as if those words were too heavy to process. Finally, she spoke with a broken voice.

“And because if had tricked me in such a stupid way, then everyone was lying to me. Everyone told me I was the smartest, that I could understand everything, that I would never let myself be fooled. And it turns out that… he fooled me. And I couldn’t deal with that.”

The words came out with brutal weight, as if everything she had kept in her chest for so long was finally overflowing. Jinx looked at her sister, the terrifying truth shining in her eyes.

“I felt small. And I didn’t want anyone to see me as a fool.”

Vi slowly moved closer, saying nothing for a moment. Then she leaned toward her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“You were never a fool, Jinx. And I don’t blame you for it; we were kids.”

“But you weren’t naive like me.”

“I was,” Vi assured, something more vulnerable. “But I was the oldest, so I had to act like I knew everything, even though I didn’t.”

“They never told me; we never talked about it,” Jinx added. “Claggor was, I think, the one who understood the most.”

A horn honked in the distance. And the sound of a washing machine upstairs was like the fifth round that day; Jinx assumed there must be many.

“Did you feel scared?”

“No, but Mylo scared me, or annoyed me,” she admitted, sounding a bit sad. “He cried a lot when he was around; Claggor used to play music, or well, turn it up. But I was never scared.”

Vi nodded, though it hurt her; it was visible in her eyes and in her hunched but tense posture. They didn’t touch the subject anymore; they rarely, or almost never, did. And she hoped that was it, but Vi took her hand, looking at her with something soft in it.

“It wasn’t your fault; not then, nor now; it’s not your fault either with Ekko.”

A long silence settled between them. Understanding, shared sadness floated in the air, wrapping around them like a heavy blanket. They were both prisoners of their own fears, of their own insecurities. Both had been searching for something to hold onto, something that made them feel they could move forward.

Jinx lowered her head, letting her sister’s words sink in. It hadn’t been her fault, and she knew it. For once in her life, she knew it wasn’t, but that didn’t make it hurt any less.

“I knew Ekko didn’t love me since he woke up, but… I thought in these last weeks that he might come to love me,” she confessed, looking at the collection of books. “I thought I was no longer naive, but I really thought… I thought he might have come to love me a little.”

Vi said nothing; she simply hugged her sister tighter. She didn’t need answers; she didn’t need further explanation. She was there. Vi’s embrace tightened, as if she wanted all of Jinx’s doubts and fears to vanish in that moment. The feeling of her sister’s warmth, her ragged breath, and the sound of her breathing gave Jinx a small reprieve from the chaos her mind usually was.

Jinx could feel the unspoken love in that gesture, the unconditional love of someone who had always been there for her, even if not always in the right way. Vi had made mistakes, but she never stopped being by her side. Jinx was aware of it, but sometimes the shadows of memories and insecurities became so large that they made her doubt the obvious.

“Always with you, sister,” Vi murmured, her voice soft, almost inaudible. The words were like balm for the deepest wound of Jinx. “No matter what happens, I’ll be there for you.”

Jinx lifted her gaze, her eyes shining with something between gratitude and contained emotion, and saw in Vi’s the same understanding she had always found in her.

“I feel like…” Jinx began, but she couldn’t find the right words to describe everything she felt in that moment. The emotions came out and turned into knots in her throat. “And now what?”

Vi gave her a tighter squeeze.

“I don’t know, sis.”

Suddenly, the sound of Jinx’s phone interrupted the moment, and she looked at her sister at what was in the message; updates on the case she was working on, plus Liam, again, inviting her to dinner to discuss something urgent about the case. Jinx rolled her eyes.

“Looks like it’s important.”

Jinx sighed.

“Let he handle it alone.”

“Let’s talk about… about Liam,” Vi said with a playful smile.

“Liam?” Jinx replied, her voice low, looking at her as if oxygen had finally stopped reaching her brain.

Vi made an exaggerated, mocking face.

“Yeah, Liam. He’s handsome, Jinx, and it seems like he’s looking for you all the time! This is the third time he’s texted you this week.”

Jinx frowned, a bit uncomfortable.

“I don’t like him.”

“I know that. But… would you like Ekko to get jealous?”

Jinx leaned back on the sofa, shaking her head quickly.

“No. I don’t like Liam, and Ekko wouldn’t get jealous. What the f...?”

“Sure, sure,” Vi said, giving her a playful nudge on the shoulder. “But it wouldn’t hurt to go out and have a little fun, right? A night where you and I forget the world.”

Jinx laughed, although it was a contained laugh.

“You’re not going to convince me, Vi. I don’t want to do that to Ekko, nor do I want to go out with Liam.”

Vi leaned forward, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“Oh, come on. Either that or I’ll make you my special guest on my next flight, and I’ll dedicate the flight to you.”

Jinx nudged her shoulder, laughing.

“Don’t be funny. I know what you’re trying to do. You’re trying to distract me, right?”

“Of course!” Vi made a dramatic gesture with her hands. “That’s what I do. I’m the older sister; it’s my duty to keep you afloat, even if my method is a bit… peculiar.”

Jinx settled back on the sofa, looking at the walls full of books. Her mind was no longer so filled with the worries and memories that had been haunting her. She was starting to feel that she could, perhaps, relax a little. She could let the night be just that: a night with her sister, without the pressure of unresolved feelings, of old memories.

“I really don’t understand why Liam,” Jinx said suddenly “It's boring as hell,” with a mix of disdain and amusement in her tone.

Vi let out a soft laugh, enjoying the moment.

“Do you really see it that way?” Vi asked, giving her a little nudge on the arm. “Maybe he must have some charm.”

Jinx looked at her as if she were speaking another language.

“Charm? Vi, the guy looks like he walked out of a cheap perfume commercial, with his 'mysterious and dark' face and his 'I have something important to say' conversation. You’re not fooling me. I don’t want a Liam in my life. Even in my work.”

Vi laughed heartily, enjoying how defensive her sister was getting.

“I see you’re very critical, but I’m pretty sure you’d have a crush too if you let yourself go.”

“Not him; he also seems gay.”

Vi nodded.

“Yeah, I noticed that a bit.”

"He doesn't yet."

"Yes, he's like closet type."

Jinx snorted and settled back on the sofa, watching TV while pondering the conversation. Finally, she let out a sigh and looked at her sister.

“Pizza?” she said suddenly, changing the subject as if nothing had happened.

Vi, who had stopped arguing, smiled widely and nodded.

“Pizza! Just you, me, and junk food. Now that’s a plan!”

Jinx nodded, feeling for the first time that day a weight lift off her shoulders.

“Yeah… pizza sounds good. Hey, what if we order an extra-large so we have leftovers? That way we don’t have to cook tomorrow!”

“That offends me because you’re suggesting that.”

“I hate how you cook.”

“You don’t even like cooking.”

“But it tastes more decent than adding mustard to the soup.”

“Boo, taste good” Vi grunted. “Nevermind, I want pizza, we’ll order several.”

The two sisters leaned back on the sofa, enjoying the moment. And for the first time that night, Jinx let out a small smile, free from the memories or worries that had been weighing her down.

Chapter Text

"ALRIGHT, EKKO, LET'S TAKE IT FROM THE TOP ONE MORE TIME," GERT'S VOICE CRACKLED THROUGH THE HEADPHONES. "REMEMBER WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT. A LITTLE MORE... OOMPH. SELL IT TO ME. CONVINCE ME YOU ACTUALLY FEEL THIS."

The sterile, padded walls of the recording booth felt a universe away from the chaotic comfort of Ekko's mansion. Gert, a woman de tez morena con cabello espeso como el, muchos piercings and sharp eyes belied a surprising well of patience, adjusted the dials on the mixing board, a landscape of knobs and sliders stretching before her like a metallic mountain range.

Ekko nodded, swallowing nervously. The red light above the booth door blinked on, bathing him in its crimson glow. He took a deep breath, focusing on the lyrics scrawled on the music stand before him. 

He began to sing, his voice a little shaky at first, but gaining strength as he delved deeper into the melody.

"Once, far away and long ago / Woke up in the oblivion / I couldn't knew my own life / and I can't reach your light..."

He poured his heart into the words, each syllable laced with regret and longing. He tried to channel the raw emotion he'd felt in the depths of his sleepless nights, the desperate yearning to understand what he'd lost.

But somewhere in the second verse, his voice faltered. He stumbled over a line, the carefully constructed emotion dissolving into a mumble. He stopped abruptly, letting the last chord ring out in the silent booth.

"Cut!" Gert's voice echoed in his ears.

He pulled off his headphones, sighing in frustration. 

"Sorry, Gert. I keep messing up that line."

Gert's face appeared behind the glass, her expression a mixture of concern and professional detachment. 

"It's okay, man. It happens. What's tripping you up?"

"I don't know. I'm trying to force it, I guess."

Gert tapped a pen against her clipboard. 

"Well, forcing it never works. Think about what the song's about. What do you want people to feel when they hear it?"

He pondered for a moment. 

"I want them to feel... the confusion. The desperation. The feeling of being lost in the past, like a bad dream."

"Okay," Gert said, nodding slowly. "Now, when you sing that line, don't just sing the words. Feel the confusion. Feel the desperation. Let it come from here," she tapped her chest. "Not just from your head."

Ekko nodded, absorbing her advice. He knew she was right. He was getting too caught up in the technicalities, the perfect pronunciation, the flawless pitch. He needed to let go and just be in the song.

"Alright," he said, taking a deep breath. "Let's try it again."

He put his headphones back on, adjusted his guitar, and closed his eyes once more. This time, he didn't focus on the lyrics. He focused on Jinx. He remembered the way her eyes sparkled when she was creating something, the fierce protectiveness she displayed towards those she cared about, the way she could make him laugh even when he felt like the world was collapsing around him.

He opened his eyes, the red light blinking its silent command. He strummed the opening chords, and this time, the music flowed effortlessly from his soul.

"Once, far away and long ago / Woke up in the oblivion / I couldn't knew my own life / and I can't reach your light..."

His voice was raw, vulnerable, filled with a palpable sense of longing. He sang about the pain of lost memories, the struggle to find his place in a world that felt alien and unfamiliar. He sang about the hope that, somehow, he could find his way back to the person he used to be, the person Jinx had loved.

As he sang the line that had tripped him up before, he didn't stumble. He let the emotion wash over him, letting the confusion and desperation fill his voice.

"If I am a prisoner and fear is my captor / In a nightmare of a world / It's bringing out the worst in me / Shook me to the core / My karma got the worst of me..."

He continued to sing, his voice building in intensity as the song progressed. By the time he reached the final chorus, his voice was hoarse. He poured every ounce of his being into the final notes, letting the music express the depth of his pain and the unwavering flicker of hope that still burned within him.

"I tried to bargain with the stars /  'don't let her steal my heart' / they just laughed in my face / 'cause you were my true fate "

The last chord faded away, leaving a profound silence in the booth. Ekko stood there, breathing heavily, his heart pounding in his chest. He didn't move, afraid to break the spell.

Finally, Gert's voice broke the silence. 

"Wow," she said softly. "That was... that was something."

He pulled off his headphones, a tentative smile spreading across his face. 

"You think so?"

"I know so," Gert replied. "That was the take. That's the one we're using."

Relief washed over him, a wave of exhaustion threatening to pull him under. He'd done it. He'd finally managed to capture the raw emotion he'd been searching for.

"Alright," Gert said, clapping her hands together. "Let's take a break. I'll get some coffee. You deserve it."

As Gert bustled off to the break room, Ekko sank into a chair, feeling the tension slowly drain from his body. He closed his eyes, replaying the song in his mind. He knew it wasn't perfect, but it was honest. It was real. And that was all that mattered.

A few minutes later, Gert returned with two steaming mugs of coffee. She handed one to Ekko, then settled into the chair across from him.

"So," she said, taking a sip of her coffee. "We've got a solid track here. Now we need to talk about the rest of the album. You said you had a few other songs ready to go?"

Ekko nodded. 

"Yeah, I've been working on a few different things. Some are... similar to this one, I guess. Reflecting on Jinx."

"And the others?" Gert prompted.

"The others are... different. More about losing your best memories. Trying to find who I am, y'know?"

Gert nodded understandingly. 

"Sounds like a journey. A raw one. That can be powerful."

"That's what I'm hoping for," Ekko replied.

"So," Gert said, setting down her coffee mug. "We need to decide which track to release as the single. That is, unless you've decided to drop them all at the same time."

Ekko grimaced and scratched his head. 

"Haven't fully decided. I know this, Sideral, feels like a good introduction to where I am now, but I also want to introduce Moon since it's the first one I wrote, and it probably sucks, but it's mine." he continued, playing with him fingers. "So, how does an album really work?"

Gert chuckled, swirling the coffee in her mug. He had confessed the truth about him amnesia, so it was easier to work. It was strange because it was as if he didn't need much of him old memories to work, so it had hardly affected him performance.

Or maybe it was no longer important what he remembered or whatever, only what he did.

"That's the beauty of it, Ekko. There's no one right way to do it. It's entirely up to you. Some artists like to craft a cohesive narrative, where each song builds upon the last, telling a complete story. Others prefer to just throw a bunch of their best tracks together, hoping that the overall quality will carry the album."

Ekko frowned, lost in thought. 

"So, I could just... do whatever I want?"

"Pretty much," Gert confirmed. "But you have to think about what you want to achieve with the album. What message do you want to send? What feeling or vibe do you want to leave the listener with?"

He tapped his fingers against his knee, his brow furrowed in concentration. 

"I think... I think I want to tell a story. About loss, and healing, and trying to find yourself again. I want the album to be a journey, y'know?"

Gert nodded approvingly. 

"I like it. So, in that case, the order of the songs becomes even more important. You need to think about how each track contributes to the overall narrative."

Ekko leaned forward, his eyes lighting up with inspiration. 

"I think I know which song should be first. It's kind of... depressing, though."

"Depressing can be good," Gert said with a shrug. "What's the song?"

"It's called Shade of blue," Ekko replied. "It's about waking up after the accident and realizing that everything I knew was gone. And Jinx. It's like a summary of the album. It's pretty bleak."

"Okay," Gert said, grabbing a notepad and pen. "Let's write that down. Shades of blue - track one. What about track two?"

As they continued to discuss the track list, Ekko started to feel a sense of excitement building within him. He could see the album taking shape in his mind, a mosaic of emotions and experiences that would capture the essence of his journey.

"You know," he said, pausing thoughtfully. "There's a part in another song that I think could be really powerful if we used it as an interlude, or something. It's from this old song, My Best Enemy. It's kind of... corny, now that I think about it."

"What's the line?" Gert asked, intrigued.

Ekko hesitated for a moment, feeling a blush creep up his neck. "It's the beginning of the chorus," he mumbled. " 'I love you, I'll wait.''I love you, I'll stay.' At first ... and in the end." 

Gert's eyes widened slightly, a knowing smile playing on her lips. 

"I see what you're going for," she said softly. "That could be really effective. Juxtaposing that old, innocent sentiment with the darkness of the rest of the album. It would add a layer of complexity, a sense of... irony, maybe?"

Ekko nodded eagerly. 

"Exactly! It would be like... a ghost of the past, haunting the present. A reminder of what I lost, and what I'm still trying to find."

Gert scribbled something in her notepad, her mind clearly working at full speed. 

"Okay," she said, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "I'm liking this more and more. We're building something really special here, Ekko."

As the afternoon wore on, Ekko and Gert continued to brainstorm, fleshing out the track list and discussing the overall tone and direction of the album. They debated the merits of different song titles, the best ways to transition between tracks, and the overall arc of the story they were trying to tell.

Ekko looked at the clock on the wall, the soft tick-tock reminding him that time was slipping away faster than he had anticipated. Excitement and creative energy had enveloped him, but he knew he couldn't stay much longer. He pulled his phone from his pocket, checked the time, and frowned.

"I have to go, Gert. I need to pick up Isha."

Gert looked up from her notebook, raising an eyebrow but smiling at him sympathetically. She understood that Isha was a producer he had collaborated with on his previous album, but they weren't that close, although they were friendly. And she hadn't treated him any differently because of his amnesia in the month they had been working together.

"Don't worry, Ekko. You've done a great job today. We're in a solid place."

Ekko nodded, feeling a pinch of satisfaction in his chest.

"Thanks, Gert. This is... it feels good."

She stood up and stretched.

"Alright, I'll see you later. Let me know if you need help with the tracklist. I'm here."

Ekko grabbed his jacket, slinging it over his shoulder as he headed for the door. As he left the booth, his mind wandered to Isha and Jinx, wondering how the afternoon would unfold with them. He hurried to his car, his thoughts less focused on music and more on the two people he was about to see.

( . . . )

By the time Ekko arrived at the mall, the afternoon sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows over the bustling shopping center. He first spotted Isha, her small figure standing near a clothing store, patiently waiting at the entrance. Jinx was a few steps away, looking more relaxed than usual, as if she were enjoying the chaos of the world around them.

Isha's eyes locked onto him as soon as he approached, and without hesitation, she ran toward him. Her smile was wide, and her arms opened as she closed the distance between them. Ekko bent down, catching her in a strong hug, feeling her small, soft figure against him. She had always been a presence, despite her quiet nature.

"I missed you too," Ekko said, his voice gentle. He pulled back just enough to look her in the eyes. Her hands moved in quick, fluid gestures, and Ekko nodded in understanding. He smiled, stroking her hair.

"Yeah, I'm sorry for making you wait," he said. "Let's find something fun to do." He gave her a squeeze on the shoulder as she nodded in agreement.

Jinx watched from the side, a loving smile on her face. There was warmth in her eyes, but it was hard to read. Ekko stood up, directing his attention toward her. His smile faltered for a moment, a wave of nerves settling in his chest that he hadn't expected. Jinx had always been a bit unpredictable, but today there was something different about her. He remembered every little detail of her face, the way the sun hit her features. He thought she looked more beautiful than usual today, although she always looked stunning. His heart gave a little flutter as she approached, and her smile only made it harder to ignore.

The word that came to him upon seeing her was: mesmerize.

"Wow, almost tackled you," she said, her voice light and easy. "Hi, Ekko. How's it going?"

Ekko cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure.

"Fine, fine. And you?" he replied, trying to sound casual, his heart rate spiking slightly. He felt a jolt of warmth spread through him, a familiar longing he thought he'd buried long ago.

Isha tugged on Ekko's hand, signing impatiently.

"Play! Please!"

Ekko looked at Jinx, a silent question in his eyes. Jinx chuckled.

"Go ahead, Isha. To the arcade. Just for one hour."

Both of them went with her, buying enough tickets for an hour as they took a seat at a table while Isha wandered around each machine, happy. Ekko watched Jinx leave her phone on the table while they ordered something simple. He noted each of her gestures, the sound of her voice, and it felt familiar.

He had missed her.

Ekko hesitated, then took the plunge.

"So, how's the act coming along? You nervous?"

Jinx laughed, a genuine, unrestrained sound. 

"Terrified. But excited too. It's... a big deal, you know? Five days, and I'll finally be done."

"Five days, huh?" Ekko echoed, a plan forming in his mind. He hesitated, then decided to keep his surprise under wraps. "Well, I wouldn't miss it for the world. I'll be there, front row seat."

Jinx raised an eyebrow, a look of surprise on her face.

"Are you going to come?"

"Yes, of course," Ekko said, almost by incercia. "I wouldn't miss it. I'm... I'm proud of you, Jinx. Well, obviously if you want me there."

"You'll have your front-row seat, buster."

She smiled at that, and for a moment, there was warmth between them, an unspoken understanding that perhaps they both needed to hear.

He wanted to tell her about the album, about how he was pouring all his pain and longing into the music, about how "Sideral" was a direct reflection of his feelings for her. He also thought about "Reverie Litoreous," the song that spoke of their future together. And about "Moon." And about all of them. Really, every song, lyric, and chord of the album was for her; everything was about her. She was everything. He wanted to tell her everything.

In fact, he just wanted to talk to her because she was the only person he had wanted to have a conversation with in a long time, even just to not talk. It was simply about enjoying her company. And for her to understand, because Jinx would understand. And she would be fascinated. And... he just wanted that, her.

He reached into his back pocket: he was going to show her the lyrics.

But then his gaze fell on Jinx's phone, lying face up on the table. A message notification popped up: 

"Liam: Can't wait to see you. I'm on my way. Should I pick you up?"

A wave of disappointment washed over Ekko, a sharp pang of jealousy twisting in his gut. It felt like a punch, even if it gave him heartburn. He swallowed hard, forcing a smile. He put his phone back in his pocket.

"And you?" Jinx insisted, unaware of the notification, looking at him with those eyes drawn from the ocean. "How are you doing?"

"I'm working on some new music. It's...coming along."

Jinx looked up, her eyes bright. 

"That's awesome, Ekko. You always have such a way with lyrics. I can't wait to hear it."

Ekko stood still for a moment, his mind in conflict. He knew he should tell Jinx about the album, that it was for her, or at least a reflection of what had happened. But something about the moment didn't feel right. Maybe it was the way her phone vibrated constantly, or perhaps it was the strange distance that had persisted between them these days, a distance he himself had created.

What an irony of life, what a cruel joke of fate, and what karma for him.

Jinx stood up before he could say anything, looking at her phone.

"Well, it was great catching up, Ekko. Thank you so much for coming. I'll see you in five days."

Ekko stood as well, feeling a pang of sadness as the moment drew to a close. 

"Yeah, it was... great. It was a pleasure seeing you again, Jinx. I'll definitely be there for graduation."

Jinx simply smiled, a hint of something unreadable flickering in her eyes. She walked towards the exit, leaving Ekko standing alone by the table, the ghost of what could have been hanging heavy in the air. He watched her disappear into the crowd, his heart aching with a mixture of longing and resignation. 

He watched Isha continue in the arcade; she had already said goodbye to her mother, so now she was at a claw machine game. Ekko noticed that there were about fifty minutes left, so he took out his phone, rereading the lyrics to "Reverie Litoreous."

He needed to clear his head, to get out of this swirling vortex of regret and unspoken feelings. He found an empty corner near a flashing, buzzing game, and pulled out a small notebook and pen he always carried with him. He needed to capture the feeling, the almost painful beauty of seeing Jinx again.

He started to write, in his notes, the lyrics flowing from his fingertips:

Isn't she just mesmerizing?
Graceful and strong, so bright,

He paused, the image of Jinx's laughter echoing in his mind. He continued:

Could I fall for her all over again?
would she still feel the same?
All these questions keep turning and churning and burning inside me
What are these feelings I feel when she's here by my side?

He wrote furiously, channeling the conflicting emotions into the words, the lyrics becoming a raw and honest expression of his inner turmoil. The sounds of the arcade faded into the background, replaced by the rhythm of his thoughts and the beat of his heart.

He looked up again, the words echoing on his head. Jinx was nowhere in sight, but in somehow she was still there; inspire him, be a part of everything he does.

The hour was up. Isha approached, looking at him with that smile that made him smile unconsciously; he was completely sure of her. Ekko blinked and smiled. He knelt down, gently asking:

"Did you have fun?"

She nodded, laughing, her eyes sparkling with joy. Ekko smiled. Something was missing from the picture. And he knew exactly what it was; even his heart already knew.

Chapter Text

LIFE GO ON.

The graduation day dawned bright and clear, a stark contrast to the turmoil swirling within Ekko. He stood near the entrance of the university auditorium, feeling strangely out of place in his tailored suit. He hadn't worn one since... well, he couldn't quite remember. The amnesia still loomed, a shadowy void in his past.

He clutched the small bouquet of wildflowers he'd picked out for Jinx, their vibrant colors a small attempt to match her vibrant spirit. They were Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, or Chinese roses, and a couple of aconites, as he understood. They were blue and pink. He had reserved them three days ago. Moreover, not only had he researched flowers that reminded him of Jinx, but he had also spoken with Isha about it, both of them conducting thorough research together.

Well, quite a bit had happened in five days, more or less, but he had already ordered several songs from the album. All inspired by Jinx. All playing with the intensity of a feeling that was so obvious it made his heart race. And each day, he sporadically chatted with her through messages, talking about things related to Isha as an excuse, followed by quick conversations on any topic, although there hadn’t been many times since it had only been five days and she was busy.

But they had talked.

And Ekko felt as if that was enough; it was like the feeling of eating your favorite food after a long time and a tiring day. It was incredible. She had even responded to messages in the early morning, waking up to the notification.

He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see Vi, her pink almost fuchsia hair a beacon in the crowd, wearing an elegant tuxedo.

"Well, look at you, Little Man," Vi said, a wide grin spreading across her face. She pulled him into a warm, sisterly hug, squeezing him tight. "Looking sharp! Graduation suit? More like a businessman."

"Hey, Vi," Ekko said, returning the hug with a grateful smile. "It's good to see you. Yeah, I wanted to look good."

Vi raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk playing on her lips.

"Look good? Did I miss something that made you want to look particularly good?"

"It's complicated," Ekko mumbled, avoiding her gaze. He spotted Scar and Steb approaching, their faces lit up with excitement. Isha, bouncing with energy, was holding Scar's hand. "By the way, I’ve booked a limousine in addition to a restaurant; Jace, Viktor, and Caitlyn are on their way. And I've ordered everything."

"You've outdone yourself, little man. She's going to love it."

Ekko smiled nervously as he watched his friends get closer.

"I hope so."

He had really gone all out for the graduation celebration, booking a not-so-luxurious restaurant near the ocean. He had scheduled his friends' flights, chosen the food based on Jinx's tastes, and even arranged for live music, inviting several classmates from both study and the blue-haired girl's buffet. He had even done decorations, hired a party agency, and told them in great detail—including a sketch—how the hall should be decorated with blue, pink, and neon lights.

Yes, he was so normal about Jinx.

"She's going to love it; it’s like you’re preparing for the Queen of England with how much effort you put in."

"It’s Jinx," Ekko replied, as if it were obvious, looking at his friend. "She deserves the best; I even feel like I should have tried harder."

"Yes, I know, it's just..."

"What?"

"You sound like when I was looking for the engagement ring for Cupcake."

"Are you two getting married?"

"Well, not yet," Vi replied, smiling to the side. "Someone had an accident, I won't say who, a week before proposing."

Ekko smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry."

"Nevermind, I’ll do it in a month," she explained. "But relax, little man; it’s Jinx; she’ll love anything that comes from us, except my food. Psycho."

"Yes, but..." Ekko hesitated. "What’s the point if she doesn’t have the best? I mean, with all this money, I could bring Michael Jackson back to life just to sing a song for her."

"That's so sweet, it almost gives me diabetes."

"Hahaha."

"Really; what the fuck? I know you..." Vi cut herself off. "Sorry."

"What? What were you going to say?"

"Nothing. Just... something like 'I know you loved her,' but forget it. Sorry."

Ekko thought about those words. And something felt strange, wrong to deny it. While watching the pink-haired girl.

"Jinx... she was happy with me? I mean, like happier?"

"Sure."

"Really," Ekko insisted. "Like she was having the damn time of her life with me? Because she deserves nothing less; I really made her that happy?"

"A million percent sure," Vi replied. "Why the question?"

"Because..."

Ekko couldn’t respond. Maybe because he knew that Jinx only deserved the best of the best, and if he couldn’t give it to her, he would break his back trying. But why was he thinking that? That only meant that he... that he...

"Ekko! Glad you could make it," Scar said, clapping him on the back.

Steb nodded enthusiastically, meanwhile Isha ran to Ekko, wrapping her arms around his legs. She signed rapidly, her excitement bubbling over.

"She says she saved you a seat right up front," Scar said, smiling.

"Thanks, little girl," Ekko signed back, giving her a playful nudge.

As they made their way through the crowded auditorium, Ekko scanned the sea of faces, his eyes searching for one in particular. And then he saw her.

Jinx was standing across the room, talking to a tall, handsome man. He recognized him instantly from the message on her phone: Liam. She was wearing her graduation gown and cap, a picture of radiant accomplishment. Even from this distance, Ekko could see the happiness in her eyes. And the beauty of her.

But it wasn't happiness directed at him. It was happiness directed at Liam.

A pang of jealousy, sharp and visceral, twisted in Ekko's chest. He barely registered Vi, Scar, and Steb settling into their seats. Isha tugged on his hand, pointing towards the stage, but his focus was entirely on Jinx.

He watched as Liam had his arm against the wall, leaning like a shadow towards Jinx. He watched as she leaned into him, her smile widening. He watched as they laughed together, a private joke shared between them.

Ekko felt the weight of the jealousy pressing against his ribs, a dark, suffocating thing that twisted his stomach into knots. His gaze was locked on Jinx and Liam, and every movement, every laugh they shared, felt like a slap to the face. He tried to look away, but his eyes betrayed him, unable to escape the magnetic pull of her. He hated how much it hurt, hated the frustration bubbling in his chest. It was his fault. He knew it was his fault. If he had acted sooner, if he had just been honest, maybe this wouldn't be happening. Maybe she wouldn't be smiling at Liam like that.

But no. Here he was, watching her from a distance, a silent spectator in the story of her life, and the more he tried to ignore it, the deeper the jealousy sank. It was like a bitter tide, rising higher and higher, crashing over his mind until he couldn't think of anything else. How could she be so happy with someone else? Why did he let it go on this long without saying anything?

It was his fault. His fault for being so scared, so unsure. He wanted to reach out, to yell at himself, to tell himself to stop. But the truth was, even in that moment, even in all that agony, there was something in him that couldn't look away. He was angry, angry at himself. 

He was so focused on Jinx and Liam that he barely noticed the opening remarks from the university president.

"Earth to Ekko!" Vi said, nudging him hard in the ribs.

Ekko jumped, startled. Almost growling.

"What?"

Vi leaned in close, her eyes narrowed with amusement. 

"You're drooling, Little Man. You gonna stare a hole through them or are you actually going to watch the ceremony?"

"I wasn't drooling," Ekko protested, flushing with embarrassment.

"Sure, you weren't," Vi chuckled. "But seriously, you're completely fixated. You haven't said a word to any of us since we sat down. Still hung up on her, huh?"

Ekko opened his mouth to deny it, but the words caught in his throat. He glanced back at Jinx, who was now walking towards the special seats for the graduates with Liam, finally leaving her alone. And something burned inside him.

He sighed, defeated. 

"Shit man. Sorry. Again."

"Yeah, Vi. I guess I am."

"What? For real?"

Ekko shrugged, his gaze distant. 

"I dunno, just... feels that way."

Vi opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again, unsure of how to respond. She just stared at him for a moment, the usual teasing spark gone from her eyes.

It was as if he had told her that he believed that the earth was flat.

The ceremony continued, the university president's voice ringing out, but Ekko didn't hear a word. His focus was entirely on Jinx as they called her name to graduate. He watched as she stood, her name echoing in the auditorium, and his heart swelled with pride. Even with the ache of jealousy gnawing at him, his chest swelled with something else, something pure and undeniable.

The applause started, and he joined in automatically, clapping harder than anyone else. His eyes were glued to her as she walked up to the stage, her gown swaying as she moved, her smile brighter than any star. And then, as she accepted her diploma, her eyes found his. She locked onto him for just a moment, her gaze warm and genuine, before it flicked over to Isha, who was jumping up and down with excitement.

And there it was. In that brief moment, everything clicked. The jealousy, the anger, the silences, the songs, the lyrics, the conversations, the dreams, the time, the frustration—they all fell away, replaced by something he couldn't even begin to comprehend.

He loved her.

It hit him like a wave crashing against the shore, consuming him with a force he couldn't escape. He loved her. Y no era que lo notaba ahora, era que ya lo había consumido. It wasn't just a fleeting feeling, something to be ignored or pushed aside. It was agape—a love that didn't demand anything in return, something unconditional, something infinite. It was the pull of the moon on the ocean, the mangata, the way the water rises and falls, forever drawn to the light even when it can't touch it.

It consumed him, filled the empty spaces where his doubts used to live, and now all he could do was watch her. Watch her, knowing, with every cell of his being, that he couldn't take back the time he'd wasted.

He didn't have the words, but he didn't need them. Not anymore. The love he felt for her was as vast as the sea, and though he couldn't change the past, maybe—just maybe—he could find a way to swim toward her.

Because he had fallen in love with her again.

The rest of the ceremony became a blur, a muted echo in the theater of his mind. He vaguely registered other names being called, other graduates walking across the stage, but his gaze never strayed far from Jinx. He saw her receive her diploma, a proud and confident figure, and a smile bloomed on his face without his conscious command. It was a genuine smile, born not of politeness but of pure, unadulterated joy for her accomplishment.

He barely noticed when she returned to her seat, her face radiating happiness. The weight of her achievement seemed to settle around her like a golden aura, making her even more captivating. Ekko was lost in a daze, his senses overwhelmed by the simple act of watching her. He felt like he was seeing her for the very first time, truly seeing her. All the past doubts, the uncertainties, the fear of rejection, seemed to melt away, leaving behind only this boundless, unwavering love.

The next thing he knew, Vi was engulfing Jinx in a bear hug, her congratulations booming across the small group. Isha, her eyes sparkling with adoration, was jumping up and down, signing furiously and pulling at Jinx's gown. Jinx laughed, a bright, melodic sound that resonated deep within Ekko's chest.

He found himself standing, drawn forward by an invisible force. As Jinx disentangled herself from Vi's embrace and turned, her eyes met his. It was a fleeting moment, but in that shared glance, the world seemed to fall away. Everything around them – the cheering crowd, the formal setting, the weight of expectations – vanished, leaving only the two of them suspended in a silent, unspoken understanding.

Ekko felt his heart in his hands, as if he finally had glasses to see the world clearly and not blurry like he had been seeing it.

"Jinx," he said, his voice a little hoarse.

One.

She smiled, a soft, genuine smile that reached her eyes.

"Ekko," she replied, her voice equally soft.

Two.

"I'm very proud of you," he said, the words tumbling out in a rush. "Really, really proud. You did it. And I..."

Three.

He wanted to say more, to tell her everything he was feeling, to confess the torrent of emotions that had been unleashed within him. And hug her, spin her around, because he was so happy and proud of her. She was going to be the best lawyer in the country, maybe in the world. But the words seemed inadequate, too small to contain the vastness of his love. He simply stood there, gazing at her, lost in the depths of her eyes. In those eyes, he saw not just happiness, but also a flicker of something else... a question, perhaps, or a hint of longing.

For a heartbeat, they were alone, suspended in that shared moment. But the bubble quickly burst. A voice called out.

Four.

"Jinx! Photos!" and the spell was broken.

Jinx's smile widened, but there was a hint of regret in her eyes as she turned back towards the voice. They had been in that small interaction for four seconds.

"That's me," she said, a touch of apology in her tone. "Graduation photos. I have to go."

"Of course," Ekko said, trying to sound nonchalant, though his heart was pounding in his chest. "Go. Congratulations again, Jinx. I am... I am proud of you."

"Gracias, Ekko," she said, her eyes lingering on his for a moment longer before she turned and walked away. Her departure left a void in his chest, but it was a bittersweet ache, tinged with the promise of something more.

As he watched her go, Vi clapped him on the shoulder. 

"Well, that was awkward," she said, her voice laced with amusement. "But progress, I guess?"

Ekko barely heard her. His mind was still reeling from the revelation, his thoughts consumed by the image of Jinx. He was vaguely aware of Vi, Scar, Steb, and Isha gathering around him, but their voices seemed distant, muffled by the fog in his brain.

Scar stepped forward, a look of sympathy on his face. 

"Hey, Ekko," he said, his voice gentle. "I know this is probably a tough day for you, man."

Ekko blinked, trying to focus on Scar's words. 

"Tough?" he repeated, his voice sounding strangely detached.

"Six months," he said quietly. "Today marks six months since your accident. You forget it?."

The words registered in Ekko's mind, but they held no weight. The information, which would have been devastating just a few months ago, now seemed utterly insignificant. His past, the lost memories, the void in his life – none of it mattered anymore. He had found something far more important, something worth fighting for: his love for this life.

"It's okay," Ekko said, waving his hand dismissively. "It doesn't matter, Scar."

Scar looked surprised. 

"What do you mean it doesn't matter? It's all you wanted, I'm really sorry, man."

"It's okay, I'm not dead."

"Ekko..."

"It's okay, really," he insisted, watching his friend. "It's never too late to build something new, for someone worth fighting for."

Scar placed a hand on his shoulder, his eyes filled with encouragement.

"You're right," he said. "Still, I regret that you can't remember some things; they were really nice memories."

Ekko nodded, mourning them too without knowing them. However, he got distracted thanks to Isha as she pointed at something, finally pulling his focus onto her.

But there was Liam.

He was holding a bouquet of fresh flowers, a mix of bright colors that contrasted with the small, humble bouquet he had chosen. Ekko's heart stopped for a second, and the feeling of discomfort grew again in his chest.

Liam, so confident, handed the bouquet over with a warm smile. Jinx accepted the flowers, her eyes shining with happiness. Ekko couldn't hear what they were saying, but the gestures said it all. He could feel the affection in his gestures that she did not reject.

Ekko couldn't help but make a comparison, how he had been paralyzed, how the words never came out of his mouth. Those four seconds when he spoke to her... those four seconds when he chose not to act, not to confess what he felt, stretched like an eternity in his mind. And those seconds when he should not have let her go in Hawaii. If he had taken a step forward, if he had spoken, maybe that smile from Jinx would have been for him, not for Liam. Maybe the bouquet of flowers in her hands would have been his, not a stranger's.

Those damned four seconds.

The knot in his throat tightened, making him look away. The pain of inaction tormented him like an unyielding shadow. The four seconds that change everything.

She was out of touch.

He was out of time.

But he was sure of one thing: he wouldn't give up again, not with Jinx, not with them.

Chapter Text

EKKO SHANNON BREAKS SILENCE AFTER SIX MONTHS, ANNOUNCES WORLD TOUR AND NEW ALBUM!

By: Take a Note

After a harrowing six-month recovery following his tragic car accident that claimed the life of his driver, Jerincho Blunt, Ekko Shannon is ready to face the world once again. The internationally renowned singer, who had been keeping a low profile since the crash, has shocked fans with an unexpected announcement. In a brief but powerful statement posted online, Ekko revealed that he is returning to the stage for a world tour and is set to release a new album—though the title remains under wraps for now.

For those who have been following the singer's journey, it's no surprise that this announcement comes after months of silence. Throughout his recovery, Ekko remained out of the public eye, with only a few fleeting glimpses of him shared by his girlfriend, Jinx Zaunite, who was seen frequently by his side during hospital visits. But despite all the rumors and speculations, the singer has kept his personal life shrouded in mystery—until now.

The past few months have been particularly tough for Ekko, as he was spotted in Hawaii just a few weeks ago in an emotional state. Photographs surfaced of him sitting alone on a beach, wiping away tears, leading many to wonder whether the weight of his past was catching up with him. Insiders claim that the singer has been struggling to find balance, with reports circulating of substance abuse rumors that Ekko has firmly denied, though they continue to linger in the shadows.

Yet despite the personal turmoil, his decision to return to the spotlight is a testament to his resilience. According to close sources, the singer is determined to push through his struggles and give his fans the experience they've been waiting for. "It's been a rough road, but Ekko's passion for music has never wavered," says one anonymous source close to the artist. "This new album? It's a reflection of everything he's been through. Expect something raw, unfiltered, and real."

The speculation surrounding the album has only fueled anticipation, with fans and critics alike eagerly awaiting any hint about its content. Some believe it will address the turmoil of the past months, while others are curious if Ekko will continue his signature blend of anthemic pop and introspective lyrics.

Of course, no comeback is without its challenges. While Ekko Shannon's return to the stage is a moment of triumph, it also raises questions. Can he overcome the personal demons that have haunted him? Will his return to the limelight be smooth, or will the pressures of fame once again prove overwhelming?

As of now, all eyes are on Ekko. His upcoming tour and new album may well mark the next chapter in his storied career, but the road ahead remains uncertain. One thing is clear, though—the comeback is going to be one for the books. And as we await more details, Take A Note continues to wish Ekko Shannon strength on his journey back to the top. Here's hoping the spotlight only shines brighter for the troubled yet resilient star.

Chapter Text

EKKO NURSED HIS THIRD WHISKEY SOUR. 

The cloying sweetness doing little to mask the bitterness churning in his gut. The restaurant buzzed with a celebratory energy that felt both familiar and alien. He'd orchestrated this whole thing, a grand gesture meant to honor Jinx, yet he felt like a stranger in his own production, an extra on a set he'd meticulously designed.

He watched her from across the crowded room, a radiant figure in a simple summer blue dress. The neon-accented decorations he’d so carefully curated seemed to amplify the glow emanating from her. She was surrounded by friends and classmates, laughing, posing for photos, utterly in her element. And yet… her eyes kept flitting in his direction, a fleeting glance, a half-smile, a silent acknowledgment that resonated through the celebratory din.

The weight of the revelation he’d had in the auditorium still pressed on him. He loved her. Not as a friend, not as a confidante, but with a depth and intensity that eclipsed anything he'd ever felt. It was a love that transcended the amnesia, the lost years, the uncertainty of the present. It was a love that felt both brand new and ancient, a recognition of a connection that had always been there, waiting to be rediscovered.

He loved her.

He can't stop repeating it.

He loved her. He just... he just loved her.

The problem was, she was with Liam. Or, at least, she seemed to be with Liam. The flowers, the easy laughter, the casual intimacy… it all pointed to a connection Ekko desperately wanted to sever, but had no right to.

He swirled the remaining liquor in his glass, the ice clinking softly. The panoramic view of the ocean, usually a source of tranquility, only amplified the turbulent emotions within him. The rhythmic crash of the waves felt like a relentless reminder of the time he'd wasted, the opportunities he'd missed. And once again, they remind him of Jinx. Without thinking, he has used the metaphor of the ocean to refer to her in every song he has composed for the album.

"Hey," a voice said, cutting through his brooding.

Ekko looked up, his heart skipping a beat. Jinx stood before him, her expression a mix of amusement and something else he couldn't quite decipher.

"Mind if I steal you for a minute? Vi's threatening to make me dance with Jace, and I'd rather face a firing squad."

Ekko managed a weak smile. "Always happy to rescue you from Vi's… enthusiastic dance moves." He stood, abandoning his drink without a second thought. "Where to?"

"The terrace," Jinx said, gesturing towards a set of glass doors that led to an outdoor patio overlooking the ocean. "I need some air. This place is starting to feel like a pressure cooker."

The terrace was quieter, the music a distant hum. A gentle sea breeze carried the scent of salt and brine, a welcome contrast to the stuffy atmosphere inside. A few scattered tables were occupied by couples whispering intimately, lost in their own worlds.

Jinx leaned against the railing, gazing out at the moonlit water. The moonlight painted silver streaks across the waves, creating a mesmerizing display.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" she murmured, her voice barely audible above the sound of the waves.

"Yeah," Ekko said, his eyes fixed on her. "Beautiful."

A comfortable silence settled between them, broken only by the rhythmic crash of the waves. Ekko felt a strange mix of peace and anxiety. He was alone with Jinx, finally, but the distance between them felt vast, an ocean he couldn't seem to cross.

But this is what he talks about; he loves the silences with her because they are... understandable. They don't need to talk, they don't have to explain themselves, there doesn't have to be a reason. Just the two of them. Just her.

"So," Jinx said, breaking the silence. "You really outdid yourself with this party. You know, the blue and pink decorations really reminds of me. A lot." She laughed, a nervous tremor in her voice. "You always had a knack for knowing exactly what I liked, didn't you?"

Ekko's heart clenched. 

"I just wanted to celebrate you. You deserve all of this, and more."

"Thanks, Ekko. Really. But you didn’t have to go to all this trouble." She shrugged, then met his eyes. "I'm just a lawyer."

"A damn good lawyer," Ekko corrected, a genuine smile gracing his lips. "The best lawyer. You're going to change the world, Jinx. I know it."

Her expression softened, a hint of vulnerability flickering in her eyes. 

"You always did believe in me, even when I didn't believe in myself."

"Still do," Ekko said, his voice barely a whisper.

Another silence descended, thicker and more charged than before. Ekko wanted to reach out, to take her hand, to tell her everything he was feeling, but the fear of rejection held him back. He saw the doubt warring in her eyes, the same doubt that had plagued him for so long.

They should have hit him stronger in the crash.

"Jinx...," Ekko said, breaking the silence, the question has been itching in his mind since he saw her smile with that man. "Why didn’t you told me?"

Jinx arched one delicate eyebrow, her eyes like an aquamarine ocean, the kind that steals your soul because they are so hypnotizing. 

“About what?"

Ekko sighed. It was now or never. 

"About what you did for me back in the day. The drugs, that hell I was going through." He stared intently at her, like a diver that is about to jump. "Why you help me? I was a jerk with you, I left you."

"Oh," she said, her tone becoming lighter, like a ballerina dancing in the stars. "That. I don’t know, Ekko. I guess you always have been an idiot, but an idiot worth saving."

Ekko laughed, feeling the tension dissipate a little. 

"I still am one, probably."

"Definitely" Jinx said, a small smile playing on her lips, like a mermaid showing itself at the ocean.

"Really, I owe you a lot. Probably my life," Ekko said, trying to convey every ounce of gratitude. "You saved me, Jinx. From myself." He paused, hesitating. "Why didn't you tell me? About any of it? My dad... Maddie..."

Jinx shrugged, the gesture almost too casual. 

"It was the past, Ekko. Water under the bridge. Besides," a flicker of something vulnerable crossed her face, "I thought... I thought maybe you could reconnect with your dad, in your own, you know?" She let out a nervous breath, finally letting her eyes find his. "And Maddie, it just seemed like a burden, a past that was better left in the past."

She attempted a lighthearted tone, a familiar defense mechanism. 

"Plus, I can’t exactly take credit for getting you off drugs. I was kind of a hazard with that stuff myself, wasn’t I?" She winced, "That day I found you? I barely remember it. It’s all… hazy."

Ekko frowned, a pang of protectiveness surging through him. 

"Don't do that, Jinx. Don't act like you were a burden, or that what you did was nothing. You saved my life, okay? You are good, Jinx. Genuinely good. And being around you… you made me want to be good too, to show you I could be."

"I just made a call."

"But you were there," Ekko replied. "When I needed you, you were there; I would be nothing without you, none of this... incredible life would have happened if you hadn't been there."

Chapter Text

SIX MONTH AND SIXTEEN DAYS.

Ekko has not been able to find peace in four days, and it’s not because of his memories; it’s because of her. It’s as if ever since the revelation hit him, everything became clearer; she was everything. He had noticed it since he woke up, even though it annoyed him, but over time, that thought just lingered in the back of his mind. I mean, he had cried to the moon and written a song about how to love her; it should have been obvious, but that feeling was so overwhelming.

He just loved her.

"I want a more magical chorus," he commented, watching Gert while he was in the booth. "Another take, it must sound more enigmatic."

And it’s strange. I mean, he had loved Maddie; good or bad, he had. But with Jinx, it was so different; it was like breathing, it was with the intensity with which the waves crash on the shore. And he wasn’t one to go crazy over love, at least that’s what he remembered. He was supposed to be the commander of his destiny, that he could control it. He learned the truth too late. He just hadn’t fallen in love; he had only thought he had, but this was love.

"You can sing more... 'Blue was a naive young girl / A princess from a life she'd never keep?'" Gert asked, stopping once more. "I need one more take where you hold 'young girl' more, you get it?"

"Sure," Ekko repeated. "The beginning must sound mysterious; it’s a story."

"Shoot me, man."

If he closed his eyes, Jinx was there. Even if he had them open. She was everywhere, her presence seeping into every corner, every shadow, every flash of light. The blue. That color. The blue. It was like a constant that surrounded him, devoured him, but also attracted him. In every corner, even in the song, the very melody seemed to have something of her. That tint of chaos, of destruction, of something so beautiful and so dangerous that could only be felt with all his being.

The brush of her fingers, her defiant laugh, those eyes overflowing with madness and at the same time a vulnerability so great that it made everything in him overflow.

She met the shadows, the wizard’s game,  
A promise bright, but a heart full of shame,

The worst part was that he didn’t want to let her go. He tried, of course. But every time he thought about how it would be without her, something inside him died. She wasn’t a story that could be closed, not a song that could be stopped.

He said, "The crown, it’s just one step away,  
But silence is your price to pay."

The laughter. That laughter that had been both a threat and a blessing. When Jinx laughed, there was no way the world around him wouldn’t crumble. It was a dangerous laugh, but at the same time so free, so authentic, so her. It was like an echo that wouldn’t stop resonating in his mind. No matter how many days passed, how many months, or how many times he told himself he had to move on, he couldn’t.

She couldn’t see, couldn’t feel the cost,  
Her love for them, forever lost,  
So she danced with lies, a fool in the dark.

His skin burned at the memory of those small gestures, those moments when he felt closer to her than anyone else. When Jinx looked at him, no matter what was happening in the world around them, Ekko felt that everything he had been searching for in his life had been there, in her eyes. That defiant look, but at the same time so laden with a deep sadness that only he could see. And that he had caused by being an idiot.

Oh, Blue, don’t you see the cost?  
Grey will find you, through the night,  
Even if the world’s lost its light.

Ekko looked at the glass that separated the recording booth from the rest of the studio. Through it, he saw Gert watching, waiting for the next cue. But his gaze was distracted by something else. In the reflection of the glass, a familiar figure appeared. Caitlyn. He hadn’t seen her enter, but instantly her face lit up, an involuntary smile formed on his lips as she smiled at him with pride, giving him a thumbs up.

"Wait. That... That was good," Ekko exclaimed, stopping the recording. "Did you get it?"

Gert, who had been adjusting the mixes on his console, looked up, nodding.

"Yeah, I think I can generate some more echo here. Do you want to add background vocals?" Gert asked while pressing a button to stop the recording.

"Yeah, I like it," he nodded. "Let’s take a break; I’ll be back in about... an hour and a half."

"Sure, man."

Ekko quickly walked toward the door of the booth, noticing how his legs moved with a speed he wasn’t used to in situations like this. His thoughts tangled, his chest beat faster than normal. When he stepped out of the studio, the fresh afternoon air hit him, a change of environment that always helped him think. Caitlyn was there, standing near the entrance, as if she had been waiting for him to come out. Their eyes met, and the familiarity of her presence gave him a sense of relief, even if just for a second.

"Ekko!" Caitlyn exclaimed with a smile, quickly crossing the distance between them to hug him.

"Caitlyn," Ekko said, smiling slightly. "I didn’t know you were coming."

"I passed by here and thought I’d stop. How’s everything going?" Caitlyn asked, her voice soft but filled with genuine interest, resonating more with her British accent. "That sounded really good."

"Yes, I think I like doing this song stuff."

Caitlyn let out a small laugh.

"You call those songs? Those are love letters drenched in metaphor, darling. And you're not exactly subtle."

"So... you know who I’m talking about?" he asked, trying to sound indifferent but defeated as he took a seat with her in the booth. They were alone.

"Ekko," she said, with her British accent more pronounced, "Everyone knows 'Blue' is Jinx. Goodness me, you look like you're about to confess love for her on your sleeve."

"Yes, I know, I know," he grumbled. "But... I mean, the whole album is for her."

"And she's the muse," Caitlyn stated, a small smile playing on her lips. "God, you are completely head over heels in love with her."

Ekko grunted, rubbing his head.

"I'm a jerk."

"Don't say that."

"But I am," he insisted, sighing heavily, turning in that swivel chair, looking at his friend. "Though, this isn’t specifically for Jinx."

"Blue? Grey? Sounds like you two," Caitlyn said, her brow furrowing slightly. She’d always been perceptive, and Ekko knew she wouldn’t let him off the hook easily.

Ekko sighed, running a hand through his already messy hair.

"It's… complicated. The whole album, yeah, it's… inspired by her. By everything that's happened. But 'Blue' is not about her…" He trailed off, hesitant to explain further.

"So," Caitlyn said, breaking the silence, "if 'Blue' isn't specifically about Jinx, what is it about?"

Ekko hesitated. He wasn't sure he was ready to share the full story, the vulnerability it exposed. But he trusted Caitlyn, and he knew she wouldn't judge him.

"It's… a story," he said finally. "A story Jinx told Isha a long time ago. A twisted fairy tale."

"A fairy tale?" Caitlyn raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Yeah. About a princess who is deceived by a wizard and ends up being a monster, but it wasn’t her fault; the wizard tricked her, and everything went wrong." Ekko felt a wave of emotion wash over him. "Jinx told it to Isha one night, and since then... I haven't been able to get it out of my head. And in what Jinx said, the princess ends up badly, and I don’t know, I want to give her a good ending; Blue deserves it."

"Why don't you show me the lyrics?" Caitlyn suggested. "Maybe I can understand it better."

Ekko nodded, relieved. He pulled out his worn notebook from his backpack, flipping through the pages until he found the lyrics for "Blue." He tore out the page and handed it to Caitlyn.

Caitlyn took the page, her brow furrowed in concentration as she read the lyrics:

Blue was a naive young girl  
A princess from a life she'd never keep,  
with dreams so sweet,  
fell for the magic at her feet.  
she danced with shadows in the breeze.  
But what she didn't know, she couldn't see,  
Was the price of love and the price of dreams.  

Oh, Blue, don’t you see the cost?  
The crown you seek, you’ve almost lost.  
The monster that you’ve come to be,  
Was born from love, from naivety.  
And there ain’t a thing that she could do,  
When the world turned its back on you.  
Grey will find you, through the night,  
Even if the world’s lost its light.  

She read it over a couple of times, her expression unreadable. When she finished, she looked up at Ekko, her eyes filled with confusion.

"It's beautiful, Ekko. And haunting, kinda sad. But… what was the real ending?"

Ekko took a deep breath. This was the part that made him uneasy, the part that dredged up buried memories and unanswered questions. He was not sure if he could really tell it; he hated this part.

"It's about a princess named Blue," he began, his voice low and hesitant. "She had a sister named Pink, who ran away with some knights Orange and Red to another kingdom where she met Grey and fell in love. They lived hidden, and wanted to return to their kingdom but couldn’t until a wizard promised Blue he could return her kingdom."

"And?" Caitlyn prompted, urging him to continue.

"The wizard made her a deal," Ekko continued. "But he tricked her, and made her swear she wouldn’t tell anyone. Also, a couple of princes. They were like tricks, or something like that; I didn’t understand well."

Caitlyn frowned.

"Tricks? Why?"

"So that no one would know about him," a cold voice finished. Ekko paused, his voice barely a whisper. "So he silenced her, trapped her in a web of lies and manipulation. But Red discovered it, went with Orange to the wizard's lair; he thought he had defeated him, but it turns out he tricked them, there were some explosions, and everyone died. Blue was left alone in the forest, but when she returned, the wizard transformed her into a monster that neither Pink nor Grey recognized, so she had to listen."

Caitlyn was silent for a moment, processing the story.

"And why wouldn’t they recognize Blue?"

Ekko shook his head.

"I don’t know. Jinx told Isha that she ended up alone and cursed. But Blue deserves more, that’s why I want Grey to find her, at least to be with her."

As he said the words, a cold dread washed over him. Ekko frowned, his mind filled with questions. The story, although seemingly pulled from Jinx's imagination, had a peculiar resonance, as if there was something in it that touched him deeply, something… familiar. He could feel it. Something inside him, a dark part he couldn’t understand, told him that this story was more than just a simple tale. It was personal.

Caitlyn, for her part, seemed to step back, her expression subtly changing, as if something within her was about to burst.

"Wait a moment. I know this story," Caitlyn said, the incredulity in her voice barely disguised by her usual calm.

Ekko looked at her intently, unable to comprehend.

"You know this story? Why?"

Caitlyn tensed instantly, her eyes avoiding his gaze. The confusion and incredulity Ekko felt seemed to be reflected on her face, but there was also something more. Something that kept her cautious. Ekko watched her closely: the questions piled up in his mind, crushing him. Every time he tried to formulate one, another interrupted him, one more urgent than the last. His head spun, but his mouth remained shut, fearful that the answer would be worse than silence.

"I mean, no," Caitlyn murmured, lowering her voice, almost as if she were weighing her words carefully.

"You know this story."

"Sounds like the plot of a movie."

"Caitlyn..."

"I heard it that day we visited you, that’s all."

"You’re a terrible liar," Ekko muttered. "Cait, please. Tell me."

"I can’t explain it now. Jinx and Vi will kill me."

Ekko looked at her with a mix of bewilderment and desperation, leaning closer, sweat soaking his hands.

"Caitlyn, please... Why? Why can’t you just tell me?"

A long silence, as if her words couldn’t find a way out. Finally, Caitlyn looked up, her voice breaking.

"I can’t."

She hesitated, clearly struggling with her thoughts. Ekko watched her, his anxiety growing. He knew something important was about to come to light, but the fear in Caitlyn’s eyes chilled his blood.

"Jinx… Jinx would never forgive me if she found out," Caitlyn said, her voice trembling. "She doesn’t like it when people talk about the past. And this is… it’s dense. It's not just a story, Ekko, I can’t tell you."

Ekko's heart raced. There was something more behind those words, something Caitlyn wasn’t saying. The intrigue turned into an urgent need. He couldn’t let it go.

"Please," Ekko whispered, leaning in a bit, his voice breaking. "I need to understand. I need to know why… why I can’t forget it. This story, it’s… it’s too much like everything I’ve been feeling. Like… like I know it, but I don’t."

"Ekko..."

"It's my life too."

"But Ekko..."

"Please," he insisted. "If you were in my position, I’d tell you the truth, no matter how ugly it is."

Caitlyn looked at him, and for a moment, her eyes shone with a mix of pity and doubt.

"You’re not ready to know," she replied softly, as if each word was a weight. "But I promise you, Ekko, it’s not something you want to hear right now. If you truly care for Jinx, then don’t ask her."

Ekko didn’t say anything for a long moment. His mind was spinning. Why couldn’t he stop thinking about that story? Why did it give him that feeling of déjà vu? It was as if the tale held some kind of key, something that connected to his own life, to his own pain. Something Jinx had been trying to tell him without words.

"If you don’t tell me, I’ll ask her."

"No," she exclaimed, sitting up straight. "Ekko, don’t... Don’t ask her, please. Forget this."

"It’s not just a story, is it?" Ekko asked, analyzing his friend’s face. "It’s something that happened, something from the past. It’s... about Jinx and something she did, isn’t it? About... the fire..."

Caitlyn stood up, looking around, completely red as she did so. She looked like she had swallowed a handful of needles.

"I can’t tell you here," she said, lowering her head. "Vi is going to kill me."

"Then what now?" Ekko asked, his voice filled with desperation, pointing to the door. "I have a room at the label. No one’s there right now, so we’ll be alone. Come with me."

Something in his chest, something deep, told him that this story was connected to something bigger than just a lost fairy tale. There was something dark in that tale, something that touched his soul in an unsettling way. When they arrived at the private room in the studio, they closed the door gently. Ekko sat in a chair near the window, watching Caitlyn as she took a seat in front of him, her face pale from anxiety. The atmosphere was charged, dense, as if everything was about to collapse.

Caitlyn took a deep breath, her nervous gaze unable to hold Ekko’s.

"I… I don’t know how to say this," she began, her voice low and hesitant. "But Ekko, this story… Please, don’t make me say it."

"I don’t want any more lies about my life."

"I know! And I begged them to tell you," she insisted, desperate. "I told them that this way you wouldn’t hate her, you wouldn’t have that stupid hatred and..."

"What do you mean?"

"Please, Ekko, don’t make me do this."

"Cait..."

And she brought her hand to her face, stifling a scream. Then, she took a deep breath, looking at him with her lip slightly trembling. Caitlyn pressed her lips together, avoiding looking directly at him.

"You really don’t get it, do you?"

Her voice trembled at the end.

"Blue. She... it’s not just a story, Ekko. It’s... her."

"What do you mean?"

"The wizard's name is Hugo."

"Hugo?" Ekko repeated, frowning. "That was the guy Vander and Silco worked for, the owner of the whole block."

"It’s him."

"What do you mean? What does that have to do with Jinx?"

"The wizard who deceived Blue," Caitlyn repeated, her voice ghostly. "It’s not a fable, and the wizard... he wasn’t a wizard, and he didn’t deceive Jinx with magic. I'm sorry..."

Chapter Text

EKKO FEELS SICK WHILE CAITLYN SPEAKS.

He even vomited when he was alone, and the weight of Caitlyn's words haunted his mind.

His eyes were fixed on his friend's lips, watching them move, telling him details that resolved his doubts and unveiled the last piece of the riddle of his life. But at some point, maybe when he realized it wasn't a dream and that this was real, his mind disconnected, hearing each word distantly yet present.

For Ekko, it was as if the whole story suddenly made sense, every metaphor, every color, and every fantastic element of a story of magic and knights brought to the mundane of everyday life where there were monsters crueler than fiction. It was as if finally, someone had drawn back the curtains of a play that had already ended, and he, the late audience member, was observing the remnants of the stage, not knowing whether to applaud or cry.

Blue was a naive young girl
A princess from a life she'd never keep,
with dreams so sweet,  
fell for the magic at her feet.  
she danced with shadows in the breeze.  
But what she didn't know, she couldn't see,  
Was the price of love and the price of dreams.

"How come no one knew about this?"

"I'm not sure," Caitlyn confessed, her expression hardening before softening into something resembling guilt. "When... when you discovered it, it was almost by accident. And she... she was just a girl. Maybe they didn't take her seriously, or maybe there was a legal loophole. I don't know. Maybe that's why they didn't even press charges for the fire."

Ekko felt something twist in his stomach.

"But it wasn't her fault."

"It kinda was," his friend whispered, looking down. "That's the worst part; it was an accident."

Oh, Blue, don’t you see the cost?  
The crown you seek, you’ve almost lost.  
The monster that you’ve come to be,  
Was born from love, from naivety.  
And there ain’t a thing that she could do,
When the world turned its back on you.  
Grey will find you, through the night,  
Even if the world’s lost its light.

"Why didn't anyone tell me?" he asked, his anger growing with each syllable. He looked at Caitlyn with a mix of pain and rage. "I... I could've... Everything would have been different, everything..."

"She didn't want to," Caitlyn replied calmly.

"Jinx is too good for that, but someone else could have told me!"

"Ekko, it was her decision," Caitlyn cut through the air with her response, as if it pained her to say it. "It was enough... everything that happened. Maybe she didn't want you to see her like that, with pity."

"I would never pity her," he shot back, almost defensively.

Caitlyn sighed.

"You would, Ekko," she said, holding his gaze. "And then... would you have been with her because you loved her or for that?"

Ekko felt his world tilt. He opened his mouth. Nothing came out. His heart beat like a mismatched drum. The answer was there, but it was too painful to utter. Until he surrendered to the only thing he knew for sure:

"I love her."

Caitlyn didn't respond immediately. Instead, she took his hand and squeezed it, firmly, with understanding.

"You know that now," she finally said, her voice so soft it almost sounded like an apology. "But she doesn't."

Ekko lowered his head, closing his eyes.

"I'm sorry," Caitlyn whispered.

And for the first time in the whole conversation, Ekko didn't know if she was speaking for him... or for Jinx.

"Anything else?"

"No," she admitted, without a trace of emotion, like an extinguished candle. "It's over; you already know everything."

She met the shadows, the wizard’s game,
A promise bright, but a heart full of shame,
He said, "The crown, it’s just one step away,
But silence is your price to pay."
She couldn’t see, couldn’t feel the cost,
Her love for Grey, forever lost,
So she danced with lies, a fool in the dark

The air smelled of dust and burnt wax, of memories. The photos of Vander and Silco were where they always were, but today they seemed different. No older, no newer. Just different. As if they had absorbed all the pain that floated in the air. They were worn by the years but surprisingly cared for with much love, they almost seemed new. Or maybe they were, maybe they were scanned and eventually printed again. Ekko didn't know; he wished he did. Although he no longer felt as much emotion and frustration for not knowing all of his previous life, now it was more ambiguous; now he just wanted to know about Jinx.

Even if what he knew had made him vomit, not because of her, but because of everything she had suffered.

There were hand-carved dolls, small figures of them and of Mylo and Claggor almost hidden, which always seemed on the verge of moving, of fleeing. Everything was arranged in a chaotic but evident order: as if someone who knew each story behind each object had placed everything there with an intimate logic. He hadn't questioned it; he hadn't really detailed it much when he first met her, but now he understood.

Ekko knelt. With trembling hands, he took two candles he had bought.

One blue. One pink.

It was the first time he lit both by himself.

He lit both candles carefully, as if by doing so he were touching an open wound. The flame danced, timid. And the smoke drew spirals in the air, as if his thoughts were seeking an escape.

He felt tears welling up in his eyes. He didn't let them fall. He wouldn't allow himself the luxury of weakness. He had to be strong. It was the past. But look at what the will of fate had done; just that day was the sixteenth, so he wasn't surprised when he felt her presence behind him, and even less when he knew that she knew that he already knew. He didn't turn around. He didn't need to. It was the sixteenth day, after all. And something inside him knew she would be there.

They both looked at the altar in silence. There was no need for words at first. Not yet.

"I don't want your pity, Ekko," she said.

Her voice was sharp but brittle. Like a crystal still hot, about to break.

He turned slowly. He looked her in the eyes. There was fire in them. And pain. And a weariness that only comes when the soul has fought for too long; it was the weariness he had noticed since they were young, since after the accident and the tense shoulders he always had.

"It's not pity," he said. "It's..."

"What? Understanding? Guilt? I don't need any of that, I don't want it, not from you," Jinx interrupted, her voice rising a bit. "That's why I didn't tell you. That's why I kept all this a secret. I knew you would react like this. That you would blame yourself; 'oh, what an idiot, I should have told you what happened to me as a child and that I killed them, but they were also aware of it because it was their plan and...'."

Ekko took a step forward and hugged her.

Oh, Blue, don’t you see the cost?  
Grey will find you, through the night,  
Even if the world’s lost its light.

At first, Jinx remained still. Like a statue. Like an undetonated bomb. Then, very slowly, her arms hung at her sides. She didn't respond. She didn't reciprocate. She didn't pull away either.

Ekko felt he had made a mistake, that he had crossed a line, that like every day for the past six months he had messed things up completely. Maybe she didn't want his comfort. It was an empty reaction. And she, as usual, was right, since his actions were driven by guilt. I mean, how could he not be? But also by love; everything that related to Jinx and came from Ekko was out of love.

But then, he felt Jinx's body relax a little. Her shoulders stopped being tense. Her breathing, before irregular like the flicker of a candle in a storm, became less agitated, more human, more alive.

And slowly, losing the battle against her own walls, she returned the hug.

It was as if the world grew quieter. Ekko held her tightly, with just the right strength, not that of a savior or a martyr, but that of someone who knows the language of pain and is not afraid of it. He clung to her as if she were the last anchor tying him to sanity. He said nothing. He didn't need to. Words were unnecessary, useless, a hindrance when the heart already screamed it all.

In that moment, there were only the two of them, embraced in the twilight of the forest, sharing the weight of their past, the uncertainty of their future, and the hope, faint but persistent, that maybe, just maybe, they could find a way to heal together.

Jinx cried silently, her tears soaking Ekko's shirt. He held her, unhurried, without judgment, without seeking to change her or save her. Just being there, present, whole, with an open heart.

Minutes passed, or hours, or an eternity. Time lost its shape.

Finally, Jinx's tears began to diminish. She pulled away just enough to see his face, to dry her face with the back of her trembling hand.

"I'm sorry," she said, her voice hoarse.

"You have nothing to apologize for," Ekko said without hesitation, with a tenderness that contained not a drop of pity, only a deep acceptance.

"Yes, yes, I do," she insisted, looking down. "I didn't tell you. And I know it would have changed things, but... I didn't want to say it. I couldn't."

"It doesn't matter anymore," Ekko said, gently taking her face in both hands to make her look him in the eyes. "You’re not alone. Not anymore."

Jinx nodded slightly, swallowing hard.

Now the trees grow tall and dark,  
And Blue is running from the sparks.  
The wizard’s game, a cruel design,  
But in her heart, Grey still shines.  
For even monsters have their worth,  
And love will find its place on Earth.  
So, Blue, don’t hide from what you’ve become,  
Grey will see you, the moon and sun.

"Caitlyn told you, didn't she?"

"It doesn't matter."

"It matters. To us," she replied firmly, as if she needed to establish a boundary, not between them, but between what they had been and what they could become.

They sat together, in front of the altar. Ekko stayed by her side, in silence. Their knees brushed against each other, and the warmth of their bodies was an invisible shield against the cold of the forest. The candles remained lit: the blue one, the pink one. The words echoed in the air.

"It wasn't as bad as everyone thinks, at least, with me. It was just..." Jinx started, without him asking, her voice lower, more controlled. "Anyways. Silco was the one who realized, I don't know how, but... then he told Vander, they got angry, I had never seen them so angry, and they wanted to, you know, teach him a lesson."

Ekko turned his head slightly toward her, signaling that he was listening, that he wouldn't interrupt.

"I really don't remember much of what happened; it hurt a little, but I remember they agreed to teach him a lesson; he was a fat guy, full of money, and he could mess with them. Oh, he always talked about that, I suppose that's how he tricked me; he was good at talking, and I guess I thought what he said was true, that all the economic problems were because of him and that he could help them, imagine, food on the table every day because of me."

"He said that?" Ekko asked softly, without pressure.

"I believed that," she said, with a small sad smile. "I don't know if he was right; I just wanted to help. Then I didn't know how to get out. I didn't know what to do; I didn't even know what was happening."

There was a long silence. Ekko didn't dare to break it. He simply extended a hand toward her, which Jinx took without thinking.

"I told everyone not to tell you when you woke up, and well, you forgot this," she continued, in a lower voice. "Not because you shouldn't know, because you're entirely within your rights. But because I was afraid that by telling you, you'd hate me a little less, maybe that you wouldn't hate me at all. And I don't know if I could handle that. That you would feel guilty about this. That you would feel... obligated to love me."

Ekko squeezed her hand tighter.

"It was never out of obligation," he said, barely a whisper. "It was always for you."

Jinx didn't respond, but her hand didn't let go. She leaned forward, looking at the figures on the altar.

"I killed them, Ekko," she confessed, her voice dry like autumn. "Not with my hands. But yes, with my decisions. They told me to leave, to stay away, but I thought I could help; I locked Mylo and Claggor... I kicked that stupid pan, I didn't even notice the fire, I just fled, and ran. I didn't think they were still locked inside; I mean, in my mind, it was in case he tried to hit them like he sometimes did when he got angry, and I thought... I don't know why I thought running would be fine, I didn't even seek help when I saw the fire."

Ekko didn't try to contradict her. He didn't say, "It wasn't your fault." He didn't say, "You were just a girl." He didn't offer cheap redemption. He just listened, and that act, that reverent silence, was the greatest comfort Jinx had received in years.

"Sometimes, when I close my eyes, it's like their scent is here," she said. "A trace, but it has faded over time; I barely remember their voices. It's worse this way, you know? Because that's what is lost forever. Not the big moments. But the small things."

"I know," Ekko said, his voice also laden with memories. "I'm here, for you."

And so they remained. Two figures sitting in front of an altar of the dead and of memories, of lit candles and of nameless love. The forest surrounded them, but it didn't squeeze them. The wind blew, but it didn't push them. For the first time in a long time, the world wasn't trying to separate them. Ekko thought, almost like a whisper, that he could confess at that moment too, but he saw no need; he just wanted to make her feel good. And they were like friends.

He liked to imagine that this was how he had supported her when he discovered it for the first time, that in Caitlyn's words, it arose when he was forcing Jinx to go to rehab and encountered a police officer who recognized her and explained the truth to him, in addition to the fact that the man had survived. They both fought hard; Jinx began her legal journey to send him to prison, using Sevika, who was someone from that rehabilitation center who guided Jinx like a mentor, to ensure Hugo went to jail. It was a long and hard process, but there he was, with the maximum penalty he could rot in prison behind cement without seeing the sunlight.

According to Cait, that had given Jinx a purpose beyond everything that had happened to her, and Isha, who had also, as if she were not good enough, been rescued from a dysfunctional couple consuming drugs and on the same path as Jinx but who had gone further. It was another case she won, and there she decided to become a lawyer. And Ekko already had a name, so he paid for her initial studies, everything. It was hard. Because there were tours, recordings, high school and college classes, taking care of Isha as a baby, and going to weekly sign language classes, but they had made it, against all odds, they had made it.

And in the end, Blue, you’ll see,  
Grey still loves you, come back to him.  
The moon will guide you, even when,  
You’re lost, you’re found, again, again.  
And no matter what the world may say,  
You’ll find your way...  
Grey will find you... someday. 

When night fell completely, Ekko put his arm around the blue-haired girl's shoulders, and Jinx rested her head on his shoulder.

"Will you come next month?" she asked.

"I'll come every time you want," he replied without hesitation.

And she, for the first time in a long time, smiled for real.

Chapter Text

EKKO CAN'T HELP BUT DREAM.

The sound of metal against the floor. A frying pan. Then a lamp. Childish laughter that distorts until it turns into screams. Crying. The smell of old dust and humidity. He doesn’t know where he is. But he recognizes it.

It’s Hugo's house.

He shouldn’t be there, but he is. Not as Ekko.

He is Powder.

Small. Trembling. Scared.

Her bare feet run down the hallway. She is locking the children behind a swollen wooden door. Her little hands struggle to turn the rusty doorknob.

“Here he won’t be able to come,” she whispers. Her voice isn’t hers. It’s childish. Tremulous. Too daam young. “I’m going to come back. I swear.”

“Be careful, Pow…”

“Don’t make noise.”

And she leaves. She closes the door. The hallway is long, and the house creaks as if it were breathing. A constant lament among the walls. The stained floor. The bottles scattered. The scream of a male voice, deformed by rage.

Powder hides. She accidentally kicks a frying pan. Damn frying pan. She shudders. He sees her, she tries to run, but the house is a labyrinth.

She screams.

“Vander! Silco!” she calls with a desperate voice, hoarse from smoke that hasn’t arrived yet. But no one answers.

The man lunges. Ekko stumbles. She tries to bite, to kick. She has no strength. She has no body. She is just a thin girl with scraped knees and dirty nails.

His hands are big. Too big. They grip her arm violently. Then her waist. He drags her.

“No, no, no!” Powder shrieks, but her voice is swallowed. As if it doesn’t matter. As if no one can hear her.

The floor burns under her skin. Her pants slip down a bit as she is dragged. A hand goes where it shouldn’t. Ekko convulses. He wants to escape his body, his mind, this dream. This memory that isn’t his but hurts as if it were.

He can’t.

She can’t.

She screams again, but now only air comes out. She breaks. She sinks.

As they pass through the kitchen, her foot—Powder’s foot—kicks a stove, kicks everything; she never gives up and just keeps fighting. Fire. First timid. Then fierce.

The flames grow as Hugo laughs. As his hands return to her skin. And then... the smoke. Blind. Dense. It covers everything. First timid. Then hungry. The curtains. The wood. The kitchen. Everything burns, everything is smoke and fire.

Powder stands paralyzed. Fear pins her to the ground. He drags her. Everything is too much; she is small and she is a girl.

The house roars and collapses in flames.

Ekko wakes up in his bed with a spasm, as if something had thrown him back into the real world. His chest rises and falls. Sweat soaks his neck. He looks at his hands. They are his.

But he doesn’t feel safe.

He can still feel the magician’s hands on his body.

And deep down, he knows it wasn’t his dream.

Then, soft footsteps.

Ekko sits up abruptly, but upon seeing who it is, his expression changes completely. It’s Isha, who is at the door rubbing her eyes with a sleepy expression while holding a rabbit in her hands, a real one, as white as chalk, moving its tiny nose as if sniffing out his nightmare.

The dawn barely peeks through, and the warm light enters through the open curtains. He extends his arms, and she walks toward him, hugging him without fear, while he pets the little bunny he has named Bunny, and then tousles his daughter’s hair a bit.

“You had a nightmare,” she replies, as if she knows everything, moving her hands.

“Yeah…” Ekko whispers, somewhat thoughtful. “But it’s over now.”

They go down to the kitchen. The modern kitchen resonates with a quiet activity. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the air, struggling to overpower the earthier smell of carrots. Ekko, with his thick hair slightly tousled, moves with a natural comfort through the space, a marked contrast to the nightmare that had woken him. He cuts carrots into perfect little squares, his attention focused on the task. Beside him, Isha sits on a tall chair, her big eyes shining. She gives pieces of carrot to a snow-white bunny, one at a time. The bunny’s nose moves with each offering, a little motor of constant movement.

The automatic coffee maker Viktor brought a few days ago bubbles, and Ekko skillfully prepares some sandwiches. A sense of domesticity, still relatively new, settles around him. He can almost ignore the persistent annoyance of the nightmare, pushing it aside with the comforting routine of breakfast. It’s strange that just a few months ago he was a stranger in this immense, modern, and sophisticated kitchen, but now he moves in it as naturally as if he had built it himself.

A soft knock sounds at the door.

“Mum?” Isha asks, tilting her head.

“Jayce and Viktor,” Ekko replies, a small smile appearing on his lips. He quickly dries his hands, remembering to repeat his advice to Isha. “Wash your hands after feeding Bunny!”

The door opens, and Jayce bursts in like a whirlwind, radiating energy. Viktor follows him, moving with a quieter but equally palpable excitement. Both men are armed with tablets and folders overflowing with papers. Jayce, with headphones precariously placed over his ear, looks like he hasn’t slept in days, but his eyes shine with a manic brightness; he hasn’t even shaved recently.

“The album is ready! Mastered, finalized, ready to go!” Jayce exclaims, slamming a thick folder onto the shiny countertop. The thud makes Isha jump a little, and Ekko shoots Jayce a warning look.

“And we’ve confirmed the tour dates in Kansas and Los Angeles, and some other cities beyond!” Viktor adds, his voice soft but laced with undeniable pride. “The promoter is eager to get everything rolling.”

Ekko’s smile widens.

“That’s… incredible.”

His gaze quickly sweeps across the kitchen, almost an involuntary act. He expects to see Jinx sitting on the countertop, ready to unleash a flurry of chaotic comments. But the space is empty, save for Isha, Bunny, and the remnants of breakfast preparation. Jinx is in her apartment, or working now if she’s full-time at the law firm where she was recently promoted.

In anywhere but here with him.

He shakes off the thought and focuses on the present. Although it hurts, like a stab of air in his chest that makes it hard to breathe, it even makes the news not as wonderful as it should be because what’s the point of celebrating having created an album he is proud of, reuniting for a tour across the country, and if all goes well, making it global if the main reason for the album’s existence, his inspiration and the backbone of his life isn’t there because of him to celebrate it.

Oh, love is like one of those tornadoes in the ocean that he can’t remember the name of, but they’re in the movies and they spin the boat in circles until they swallow it up. That’s how love feels, more or less; he is spinning and spinning in that circle while sinking deeper each time. Ekko struggles to remember what it’s called, if it has a name, but his head is empty, as usual. But it doesn’t bother him as much anymore; it only bothers him that he didn’t realize it sooner.

“Well, let’s eat something, then we’ll dive right into the plans.” He gestures toward the sandwiches, trying to ignore the bitter taste that invades him at the reality of his life. “I made your favorites – tuna salad with extra pickles, Jayce. And Viktor, I remembered to get that imported cheese you like so much.”

As Ekko sets the food out, Jayce begins to overflow with ideas.

“Okay, then we have to capitalize on this momentum. We’re thinking of a staggered release – first the single, the video a week later, then the full album. We need to saturate the market! Interviews, radio play, maybe even a pop-up shop in LA!”

Ekko laughs, shaking his head.

“Whoa, hold on there, Jayce. Step by step. What about the single? Any ideas?”

Jayce grins, rubbing his hands together.

“That’s where it gets interesting. We’re divided. We have ‘Sideral’ – the one with that huge synthesizer riff, guaranteed to get everyone moving. Or we have ‘Moon,’ which is more atmospheric, a bit more introspective, but has an incredible emotional resonance.”

Viktor nods in agreement.

“Both are strong contenders. ‘Sideral’ is the obvious choice for immediate impact, but ‘Moon’ could have more longevity. And then there’s ‘Reverie Litoreous,’ but… that’s… too much, it’s more like a conclusion, although it could encapsulate the whole album.”

As Jayce continues to lay out his marketing strategies, Ekko watches Isha. She is sitting quietly, observing the adults with an unsettlingly perceptive gaze. Her attention is drawn to Viktor’s tablet, resting on the table, displaying the album cover – a vibrant and almost chaotic explosion of colors and shapes that somehow combine into a coherent whole.

Viktor notices Isha’s interest and brings the tablet a little closer to her.

“Do you like the cover, Isha? It was designed by one of the new stars of Zaun.”

Isha nods slowly, her eyes glued to the screen, though something in her hesitates as she nods. She extends a small hand and gently touches the image, tracing the intertwining lines with her finger. Then, almost imperceptibly, she begins to tap the screen.

Meanwhile, Jayce is still talking non-stop.

“… and then we can get some influencers, maybe do a TikTok challenge with one of the dance songs. We need to boost those numbers, Ekko! This could be huge!”

Ekko nods, only half-listening. His attention is split between Jayce’s speeches and the quiet interaction between Isha and Viktor. The lawyer is now distracted, playing with Bunny, whose tiny paws rest in his open palm. He is distracted. He takes the rabbit and plays with it.

Without anyone noticing, Isha navigates the tablet interface. Her fingers, surprisingly skilled for her age, move with purpose. The album is there. Even the launch button stands out the most.

A little while later, Ekko guides Isha away from the tablet, washing her hands afterward while Jayce sets the table. The coffee is served, the sandwiches are arranged on a tray, and everyone sits down at the table for breakfast. Jayce continues to expound on the merits of ‘Sideral’ when they finally sit.

“… I told you, Ekko, that opening riff is pure fire! It’ll be in every club in the country in a week! It’s the perfect summer anthem!”

Ekko smiles, taking a bite of his sandwich.

“Okay, okay, I get it. You’re passionate about ‘Sideral.’ We’ll think about it.”

“I also like ‘Out of Time,’” Viktor adds. “It’s a good first glimpse; it has a nostalgic vibe.”

The conversation continues, jumping between the choice of single, concepts for the music video, and the logistics of the tour. Isha, sitting between Ekko and Viktor, eats her sandwich in silence, occasionally offering a piece of carrot to Bunny, who is now comfortably curled up in her lap.

After a while, when everyone has finished eating, Ekko stands up to clear the table.

“Alright, let’s get started.”

“First, we’ll do a study of how you’re doing on X and Instagram, come on,” Jayce begins, projecting the apps onto the television, first entering X. “We need to see how active you are in the conversation… Look, you’re trending, wait a second, why are you trending…?”

The noise in the kitchen fades as Ekko turns to see why he is trending on social media.

“… and in other news, singer Ekko Shannon has just released an album. The same, titled ‘Owl,’ appeared on major streaming platforms this morning, seemingly out of nowhere. No prior announcements, no promotional singles, the full album, available to everyone!”

Everyone in the kitchen freezes, staring at the television in silence. Ekko’s jaw drops. Jayce’s eyes widen. Viktor nearly chokes on his coffee. And the cover is not what they had agreed upon; no, it’s a white background with something in the middle—a kind of flower emerging, carved in relief—a flower with spiral petals, dense, as if it contained a secret trapped between the layers. At first glance, it was simply that: a beautiful flower, precisely designed, glazed in cool tones, whites with bluish reflections. But upon closer inspection, one noticed something more. Something hidden in the symmetry.

Among the folds of the petals, the curves became silhouettes. Two human figures, barely outlined by the play of light and shadow, facing each other or perhaps embracing, like ghosts trapped in the flower. It wasn’t obvious—one had to look two, three times—but once you saw it, you could never unsee it. The petals were also backs, shoulders, intertwined hair. As if the flower were made with the bodies of two people, fused in a frozen moment, sealed in glaze.

Ekko curses because he knows that drawing.

And those silhouettes are Jinx and him.

But he has no idea how a doodle he made a couple of days ago on a napkin is now the cover of his album.

Ekko looks at Jayce and Viktor, his expression a mix of disbelief and amusement.

“Did you… did you do this? Some kind of underground marketing trick?”

Jayce vigorously shakes his head.

“No way! We were just talking about the single launch! I swear, I had nothing to do with this!”

Viktor, still recovering from the near-asphyxiation, manages to stammer:

“I can assure you, it wasn’t me either. I was too busy worrying about the optimal lighting for Bunny’s photos. I was planning to do a blitz on social media! So no!”

Everyone looks at Isha, who is sitting quietly at the table, petting Bunny’s soft fur. She lifts her gaze, her big innocent eyes. Ekko kneels in front of her, speaking softly.

“Little girl, did you… did you put the album on the internet?”

Isha nods slowly, a small smile appearing on her lips.

“Bunny told me,” she says. “And I also fixed it; I like the drawing you did better.”

“How did you see it?”

“Bunny took it and didn’t destroy it; I think it’s a sign.”

Sure, a sign.

The room erupts into a cacophony of laughter and bewildered questions. Jayce, finally regaining his composure, raises his hands in the air.

“Well, damn! What a surprise launch! We’re trending before lunch!”

Viktor, shaking his head in disbelief, looks at Isha with newfound respect.

“It seems our little friend has a talent for marketing. A true chaotic brilliance.”

Ekko watches Isha, a mix of pride and amazement swirling within him. He knows he should feel annoyed, maybe even a bit angry. But all he can feel is a wave of affection for his daughter and a sense of wonder at her unexpected act of rebellion.

He tousles her hair and smiles, although now he feels insecure that everyone will know his most vulnerable, fragile moments, and that Jinx will hear it.

“Well, Isha, it looks like you just made us famous.”

Chapter Text

TRACK ONE:   SHADE OF BLUE

I love us, I'll stay
I love you, I know,
I love us, I'll stay
I love you, you're gone.

(...)

You hold your breath
All my memories just disappear
We tried our best
Now we lay this to rest

The hate I had
through our hearts like sand
Do you ever think we had a chance?
Now I see it when I'm looking back

We were a greek's tragedy
Sick with madness
Once a story, now a tragic chapter
We were a orpheo and eurydice
tried our best, but failed in the evening
But I can't imagine
Falling in love with other shade of blue,
other shade of blue

Feels like a joke
I wanna hear your laugh in the empty room
When we say goodbye
I don't wanna see you cry or put up a fight
I try to write
how in my memories I make you laugh
but then are gone, I only see a empty blank
And you see it when you're looking back

We were a greek's tragedy
Filled with dreams
Once a story, now a tragic
We were a orpheo and eurydice
tried our best, but failed in the evening
But I can't imagine
Falling in love with other shade of blue,
other shade of blue

I push too much
The hatred consume my soul
We didn't know when to go
Now we're touching down
I deserved that you're gone
But now what I love you
It makes sense to me now

We were a greek's tragedy
Sick with madness
Once a story, now a tragic
We were a orpheo and eurydice
tried our best, but failed in the evening
But I can't imagine
Falling in love with other shade of blue,
other shade of blue

other shade of blue
other shade of blue

I hold my breath,
meanwhile I see you left
but I love you, I'll wait
I love us, I'll stay

TRACK TWO:  SIDERAL

Once, far away and long ago
Woke up, in the oblivion
I couldn't knew my own life
and I can't reach your ligh

This isn't how I've thought it was supposed to be
But some times love will fail in the hands of the reckless
So I'm almost pretty sure
My karma got the worst of me

I tried to bargain with the stars  
'don't let her have my heart'  
and they just laughed in my fate  
'cause I was the fool  
who wants you there

If I am a prisoner and fear is my captor
In a nightmare of a world
It's bringing out the worst in me
My karma got the best of me

I tried to bargain with the stars  
'don't let her have my heart'  
and they just laughed in my fate  
'cause I was the fool  
who wants you there.

I tried to bargain with the stars  
'don't let her have my heart'  
I tried to bargain with the stars  
'don't let her have my heart'  

I tried to bargain with the stars  
'don't let her have my heart'  
and they just laughed in my fate  
'cause I was the fool  
who wants you there

I tried to bargain with the stars  
'don't let her have my heart'  
they just laughed in my face
cause you were my my fate

TRACK THREE: WHO OR WAS

silent room and force smile
I feel their dissapoined eyes
they cheer over i'm not dead
but i wish i was cause is easy instead

I tried to act like I used to do
but everything I do is no what he does
so I failed in the shadow of men
and someway their wish I was dead
because is more easy instead

Now I'm just someone
in the middle of some point
in the sixteen
but everyone else
is everyone else at her own age
in the right time
and it's just me caught in time
trynna to reach their life

Tell me, does he speaks?
Like I'm trynna do
Feels like I'm gonna lose
about the man I used to

No feeling al'right
in my own perfect life
But can you blame me?
I'm sixteen again
You're twenty five
we're worlds apart
And I can't make it right

I feel their dissapoined eyes
they pray over i'm not dead
But I wish I was instead
I will more easy
But not for you

Now I'm just someone
in the middle of some point
in the sixteen
but everyone else
is everyone else at her own age
in the right time
and it's just me caught in time
trynna to reach their life

Now I'm just someone
in the middle of some point
in the sixteen
but everyone else
is everyone else at her own age
in the right time
and it's just me 
wasting him time
for a one life

TRACK FOUR: MOON

(The moon is the one 
hopeless soul ask
for help, we don't know why
but sure she hears it trough)

Dearest moon
can you enlight me?
tell me what she wants to hear
I've feel bitterness
I've been blind before
but now, she is so dear to me

now if you, 
can show me
what to do?
cast your spell
teach me how
make her feel
love

Dearest moon
can you guide me?
tell me whats happen to me?
I feel lost
She's all
without her, my life is dark

now if you, 
can show me
what to do?
cast your spell
teach me how
make her feel
love

( . . .)

I used to walk, 
to the sun
and pass away
from the moon
now i beg you
i implore you
show me how
i can don't jinx it

she's my sun
she's my moon
all of my universe
and my blue

dearest moon,
can you make it
that she is happy
in the end?

TRACK FIVE: OUT OF TIME

The clock just run mark his time
He demands all the road of your life
I wake up in the end, thought about pretend
But he was sold my life to highest price

I'm was out of love
You're were out of touch
when we reach the storm 
 it strike the chords

and the clock just stop

I was in love but the love was gone
I try to run away but it was a blow
when I see the sky, I was gonna die
Then the blue light saved my life

but the clock just stop

I'm out of love
You're out of time
I thought 4 seconds
could save our life

You're out of touch
I'm out of love
when we reach the storm 
 it strike the chords

I'm out of time
You're out of touch
I thought 4 seconds
could save our life

The clock just stop demanding the end
Fool me, it was just the begin
now the seconds fall from my left hand
But I was sold my own life for the dumbest price

You're out of 
Out of
Out of 
Out of

I'm out of time
You're out of touch
I thought 4 seconds
could save our life

You're out of 
Out of
Out of 
Out of

I'm full of love
You're full of shine
when I see the storm, 
it was the same color 
as your eyes
I knew I couldn't die

You're out of 
Out of
Out of 
Out of

I'm out of 
Out of
Out of 
Out of

when I see the storm, 
it was the same color 
as your eyes
I knew I couldn't die

TRACK SIX: THE OWL AND THE CROW

Oh, oh, oh
(always a dance with you, huh)

In the twilight, the crow takes flight,  
A monochrome specter against the night.  
While the owl, a sage in silver hue,  
Watches the world with a knowing view.
Owls love the quiet,  
Crows chase the day’s gleam.  
But deep down, they’re just birds,  
With wings that long to dream.

A dance with the dead, oh woah
A dance with the dead, oh woah (Oh woah)
Yet nature's decree carved their way of life  
Instincts entwined in a cosmic ballet, ballet, ballet
Ballet, oh woah (Oh woah)
Ballet

The owl, a sentinel of the silent wood,  
Finds solace in shadows, where few have stood.  
The crow, a harbinger of tales untold,  
Dances with mischief, both brazen and bold
Looking back, we didn’t want to clash,  
But nature made us this way
Sometimes instinct weighs more than love,  
Than the bond we hold above.

A dance with the dead, oh woah
A dance with the dead, oh woah (Oh woah)
Yet nature's decree carved their way of life  
Instincts entwined in a cosmic ballet, ballet, ballet
Ballet, oh woah (Oh woah)
Ballet

Ballet, oh-oh-oh

A dance with you, oh woah (Oh woah)
Yet nature's decree carved their way of life  
Instincts entwined in a cosmic ballet, ballet, ballet
Ballet, oh woah (Oh woah)
Ballet

TRACK SEVEN: CLOUDS TATTOES

she is, she's in the room
her gaze so cold
deep as the ocean unknown

she is, she's in my fate
ceruleans dreams
my life as her clouds tattoes

and she is navy blue
but I made her so blue
and she's navy blue
but she now is a blurr

she's a Powder blue
but she made me so blur

(ulaulau, ulaulau)

And she's, she's navy blue
Deep, indingo, azul
and all the shades of...
And she's, she's navy blue
she is the blue
but she's is my blurr

(ulaulau, ulaulau)

and she is, she is navy blue
but she became a blurr
and she is, she is so blue
and she is , she is azul

(ulaulau, ulaulau)

She is, she's is a blur
so far from the view
She's got away (she's navy blue)
she fade away (she's blue)
she's a blurr (she's ulaulau)

TRACK EIGHT:  REVERIE LITOREOUS

Why my memories are lost?
What if I've loved this life before?
Could I have been someone else in time?
Is this the life that I would choose to find?
Tell me why I can't find rest, and my heart is leaping inside me
Could this be one of those times when your feelings decide?

Why does she's still torment me?
Why does she haunt my mind?
Why can't I feel what we once had?
Was it real or just a fad?
What did she see when she first looked?
Could she be the love I once mistook?
All these questions keep swirling and twirling and aching inside me
What are these feelings I feel when she's was here beside me?

I need to love her deeply,
without the past to guide
Love her for who she is,
Not just for where we start.
I need to show her feelings,
Not lost in yesterday,
Can't wait for tomorrow,
For in her eyes I’m lost forever,
In this endless reverie litoreous.

Isn't she just mesmerizing?
Graceful and strong, so bright,
Could I fall for her all over again tonight?
Do you think she’ll see me now?
All these questions keep turning and churning and burning inside me
What are these feelings I feel when she's here by my side?

I need to love her truly,
Beyond the past, so free,
Not just what she once means to me.
I need to feel the moments,
Not lost in shades of gray,
For tomorrow's not promised,
But in her eyes, I’ll stay.
In this love, I find my story,
In this endless reverie litoreous.

TRACK NINE: BLUE

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

Blue was a naive young girl
A princess from a life she'd never keep,
with dreams so sweet,  
fell for the magic at her feet.  
she danced with shadows in the breeze.  
But what she didn't know, she couldn't see,  
Was the price of love and the price of dreams.

Oh, Blue, don’t you see the cost?  
The crown you seek, you’ve almost lost.  
The monster that you’ve come to be,  
Was born from love, from naivety.  
And there ain’t a thing that she could do,
When the world turned its back on you.  
Grey will find you, through the night,  
Even if the world’s lost its light.

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

She met the shadows, the wizard’s game,
A promise bright, but a heart full of shame,
He said, "The crown, it’s just one step away,
But silence is your price to pay."
She couldn’t see, couldn’t feel the cost,
Her love for Grey, forever lost,
So she danced with lies, a fool in the dark

Oh, Blue, don’t you see the cost?  
Grey will find you, through the night,  
Even if the world’s lost its light.

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

Now the trees grow tall and dark,  
And Blue is running from the sparks.  
The wizard’s game, a cruel design,  
But in her heart, Grey still shines.  
For even monsters have their worth,  
And love will find its place on Earth.  
So, Blue, don’t hide from what you’ve become,  
Grey will see you, the moon and sun.

And in the end, Blue, you’ll see,  
Grey still loves you, come back to him.  
The moon will guide you, even when,  
You’re lost, you’re found, again, again.  
And no matter what the world may say,  
You’ll find your way...  
Grey will find you... someday.  

TRACK TEN: A FEW THINGS BEHIND

Waves crash the shore
I’m still waiting for more
The tide pulls me in
Like you did back then

You're the breath I steal
Each inhale too real
I drown in your eyes
Where silence still cries

The sand’s in sight
We lost the fight
But I still feel
Your warmth at night

I’m drawn to you
Like oceans to the moon
Two hearts in motion
Breaking too soon

Drown me slow
Let the dream flow
Reverie, I see
You and me by the sea

I had a dream
You married me
Soft arms, soft light
Our foreheads right

You made me laugh
In silent space
Under that tree
You were my grace

I was cruel
You were kind
I mess up
You stayed behind

Still drawn to you
Like oceans to the moon
Two hearts in motion
Ending too soon

Drown me slow
Let the dream flow
Litoreus, I see
You and me by the sea

And when the music ends
We’re still holding each other instead
Still swaying to the slow-heal
Rhythm of our breaths

Is this the worst way
To let the song end?
I don’t care—
Because I love us, I’ll stay
And I love you, I’ll wait