#zaunguard

       Biting back his retrot of your sister since he knows what sort of reaction that might provoke, Ekko merely rolls his shoulder back and winces as muscles scream in protest. Yep, most likely dislocated it after being shot right off his hoverboard while flying thirty feet in the air. Sure he landed in an open field but it still wasn’t the softest landing he’s ever had. Instead the Firelight leader takes Vi’s offered hand to help him stand up again and sighs heavily. 

       “No one... It was my fault, I wasn’t paying close enough attention up there.” He pauses before sighing. “Can your Piltie take a look at it?”

“If you couldn’t then I wouldn’t keep offering every time you come by the hideout. We got an actual bungalow set up for you across the way from where we held you and your Piltie princess.There’s a cot, small kitchen and there’s some sheets and blankets folded in the chest.” He waves his nonchalantly as he eased himself back into his chair, tipping his head while he scrutinized Vi’s shifty movements. 

Discomfort written all over her face and... a touch of shame? News of Jinx’s stunt with the council spread like wildfire and since then he’s dispatched the Firelights on double shifts to keep the peace. It only took two days before Vi came limping in here with her hood on and looking like she was pulled through the actual gutter. It hurt to see her look so small, worn out. She was always the pillar of resilience between the lot of them.

Ekko pauses and points his crutch to an open entryway on the opposite side of the meeting room. “If you want to clean up we have communal showers. Towels and soap are left in baskets. No hot water but it’s clean. Leftovers from dinner should still be in the mess hall on the first floor.”

When she doesn’t budge he musters up enough strength to smile. “It’s okay to relax, you know? Take care of yourself tonight and tomorrow we’ll figure things out. Go clean up.”

"Oh you mean when you and Mylo sat on me until Vander pulled you both off? Yeah, kinda of hard to forget." Even if he had deserved it for not keeping his sticky fingers to himself. He about nine? Ten? Same age as Powder and he had stumbled across the pair with Mylo and Claggor in tow at the makeshift arade Vander has set up.

Benzo had sent him over with clear instructions to introduce himself to the quartet in hopes of them all becoming friends. Long story short he saw one of Powder's wind up toys in pile in the corner and attempted to make off with it in his pocket only ten minutes he was there. He almost made it to the top of the stairs too before Vi caught him and wrestled him back down until he apologized to Powder. Not his smartest decision but it's the day Vi earned his respect and he their interest since their later "extra curricular" activities proved to need his skillset. To this day Ekko swore up and down if Vi hadn't caught him off guard he would have put up more than a fight but... he rather not test her.

"... Things were simpler back then, huh? One punch and things were considered even and settled."