Chapter Text
Sometimes life doesn’t give you what you want, but what you need. At least that was Ekko’s case when he was running late to a meeting with his manager, Scar.
Scar was already going to be mad, and Ekko was fucking tired. I mean he was going to get yelled at either way. Why not stop for a coffee? He popped in his AirPods and one of his favorite songs turned on, which did wonders for his mood, which was previously not very good.
Walking has always been Ekko’s preferred method of transportation, he loved the smell of trees, and coffee, and occasionally dog poop but he could ignore that. Walking made him feel more involved, more grounded, more… normal.
He stepped into the cute coffee shop and the bell attached to the door rang, turning off his music and immediately hearing the sound of some woman with long, blue, braids complaining.
“I swear my sister in law is the devil reincarnated. SHE DID THAT ON PURPOSE!” Ekko let out a chuckle and walked up to the counter, she’s cute. A little eccentric and loud, but cute. She stopped yapping when he walked up and then he could see it. Her big, captivating, blue eyes. At first they reminded him of an ocean, then he looked closer and they reminded him of thunder, loud and bright.
“Can I get you something?” Her scratchy voice cut through the moment and he snapped out of it. Ekko was wearing a black hoodie with the hood up and a durag under it so (hopefully) he didn’t get recognized. The fame was great and all, but he was always more involved in the music rather than the attention. But she didn’t seem to know who he was despite looking him right in the eye.
“Uh… yeah can I have a medium blonde roast with hazelnut creamer?” She pressed some buttons and yelled across to the kitchen behind her “MEDIUM BLONDIE WITH HAZELNUT!” then she turned back and I looked at her eyes again. Big mistake.
“What’s the name for the order?” He smirked at that, usually people don’t ask. He hasn’t been asked his name is years, the fact she doesn’t know is… fun. “Ekko. But please spell it with two k’s. Not e-c-h-o. They always spell my name wrong…” he pouts a little at the thought of people spelling his name wrong. He liked his name, but damn… a better spelling would have been nice.
“Okay ekko with two k’s.” She smiled and laughed under her breath at my rant. “Your order will be out in a minute.” I smile and begin to walk away but bump my knee into a bar stool awkwardly. Guess I was daydreaming… she’s just so pretty. Can you blame me?
The she laughs, and her laugh is intoxicating, loud, somewhat obnoxious. Yet the most powerful sound I’ve ever heard. She looks at me and wipes away her tears of laughter “You okay space boy?” I smile and look at her again. “Yeah, just… pretend you didn’t see that.” She nodded and continued giggling under her breath.
I found a seat and as soon as I took my phone out to text Scar my name was called. Guess when she said ‘your order will be out in a minute’ she really meant it.
Walking up to the counter and taking my cup I took a sip, perfect. Actually it was really good coffee. I should come back some time, just for the coffee! Nothing else of course. “Thank you…” I trailed off, not knowing her name. She caught on.
“Jinx! The names jinx” I couldn’t help the smile that came across my face, that was a cool ass name. Cooler than mine, and it perfectly matches her. A badass name for a badass woman. “Okay well… see you around jinx!” I looked at my coffee cup as I left the shop and let out a genuine laugh at the sight. She spelt my name wrong, on purpose.
I know she did it on purpose because she started to write Ekko the scribbled it out and wrote Echo. Cute—or whatever… I guess.
⧖——
I was all giddy and in a good mood until I got to my company building. Scar, Qiyana, and Akali waiting at the door for me. Yassuo picking his nose in the corner (gross) and Senna already sitting down.
“Okay before you yell at me. Remember that I walk everywhere.” Yasu takes his pinky out of his nose when I look at him and Qiyana just sighs. “That’s gonna stop being an excuse pretty fucking soon Ekko” I may or may not have used that excuse every single time I was late.
I smile and take the hood off my head “but not today!” After a small lecture from scar about how important it is to be punctual or whatever—I wasn’t really listening if I’m being so honest. He announces the fact that our makeup artist has quit.
I let out a “oh no” and a fake ass frown but in reality I hated that bitch. She was always smacking snacks out of my hand when I was trying to eat. Who does that? Also she kept spelling my name e-c-h-o. Which we have learned is my biggest pet peeve like—ever.
The rest of the group did the same thing but more genuine. None of them have beef with her like I do, because she never spelt their names wrong. JUST ME. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD ITS E-K-K-O—
Okay… sorry for getting heated. I’m just really passionate.
But then it crossed my mind. “Wait. Who’s gonna be our makeup artist? Because I don’t trust Qiyana with anything, anywhere near my eyes.” Qiyana looked at me and stuck her tongue out, scar looked exasperated. And mumbled something along the lines of “fucking children I swear.”
Then he spoke up again. “We have a temporary makeup artist. She’s not so qualified in the- meeting and having conversations with celebrities- category. But she is good at makeup and that’s all the matters” We all nod along, agreeing with him. Who really cares about having conversations when you’re coughing your lungs out because of all the powder anyways?
“Okay so what’s her name?” Yassuo speaks up. Of course he wants to get to know her… slut- I MEAN WHAT WHO SAID THAT? “It’s none of your business yet.” Scar says sharply. “She hasn’t officially gotten the job yet, but if she does. She’ll be doing your makeup by the time of your next tour.”
We all nod along (because genuinely what else do you say to that?) and the meeting is finished. And so is my coffee- damn… I look down at my cup and pout.—which Qiyana pokes me in the cheek for.
I smack her hand away and she starts yelling “he hit me!” Playfully.
This band was the best thing that ever happened to me. I went from living in the trenches of Zaun to going on tours with my best friends and pursuing my passion.
However—in the words of Tyler the creator— what’s the point of being rich when you wake up alone?