Chapter Text
“Silco’s forces have been getting stronger, and their plans are too.” Ekko sat at a round table, leaning on his wooden chair, facing his other Firelights. “We need to find these plans, or else he’ll just keep spreading more and more Shimmer.” The group nodded in unison.
“Well, how’re we gonna get Silco’s plans, like you said he’s getting stronger,” Eve spoke up while sitting in her chair. Ekko glanced over to her as he thought. Placing the front legs of his chair he caressed his chin in thought. “It’s not like we could just walk in and take 'em’.”
“We’d need a man on the inside.” Scar spoke up from across the table as his large body towered over everyone else. “But it would be too risky, also most of our identities are known.” Ekko sighed, his thoughts couldn’t pierce the question, how do they get his plans?
“Well…” He spoke up, “My identity hasn’t been revealed, and I have an old friend of mine in Silco’s ranks, who doesn’t know I’m a Firelight.” The Firelights at the table quickly turned their attention to the boy who glanced up at them, seeing their curiosity. “I’d prefer to keep their name private, but let's say you’ve all met them.”
Eve’s eyes shot open, surprised. “No-no-no,” She said standing up from her chair and sending it to the wooden floor below her. “There is no way you’re talking to her, she almost killed half of us on one mission!” Placing her finger firmly on the table she scolded Ekko.
“Jinx?” Micheal said flipping his green hair out of his eyes. Ekko looked over at him and Eve before clenching his eyes shut. “She’s a monster, how could you be friends with her?!” The man yelled in outrage.
Ekko stood up, his face filled with a newborn rage none of his teammates had seen before. “She’s not a monster! You don’t know her.” He said placing both of his palms on the table. As Ekko’s heart began to slow down, his breaths did too.
“Jinx… she’s truly a good person, but Silco corrupted her mind and turned her into that… soldier.” Ekko pointed out of the room they were sitting in. “The blue-haired girl in the mural is Jinx before Silco got to her.”
Micheal sighed as he and Eve sat back down into their chairs, eyes still pointed at Ekko. Sitting down Ekko cleared his mind with a deep breath before continuing. “She doesn’t know I’m the Firelight she’s been fighting, I can go undercover.”
“But what if she does find out?” Scar asked, looking at Ekko curiously to which the boy shrugged.
“Well, that’s where I’m not sure. But she won’t find out, I promise you.” Looking around the table he nodded to himself before speaking again, “The Last Drop’s last bartender died, maybe I can go for that job.” Though he got a lot of mumbling along the Firelights, they were hesitant to let Ekko go near the Last Drop, and he was allowed to try out for the position after a group vote.
After the meeting and a couple of days of planning Ekko was sent down to the Last Drop, this time not in Firelight uniform, but a regular Zaunite outfit most people wore consisting of brown overalls and a white (Stained) shirt.
Entering the bar was like a flash to the past, it had been so many years since Ekko stepped out of the sanctuary without his mask, let alone the Last Drop. Entering he was immediately hit by the raging music and constant puffs of Shimmer finding their way into his nose.
Walking past the people smoking and playing pools he made his way to the counter where a middle-aged man wearing a nice uniform similar to most high-ranking gang members along with a large black afro... Stepping up he looked at the man who gave him a squinted look.
Taking a big gulp Ekko rested his hands on the golden pipe of the bar. “I heard you guys had a bartender job open?” He said in a rough voice trying to sound tough.
Though the man only laughed his face, leaning over the bar he sighed, “You don’t gotta be tuff to be a bartender boy, you want the job? You got it.” Ekko looked at the man shocked before the old timer made his way around the bar. “Though you gotta talk to the man upstairs first.” He said patting Ekko on the shoulder.
Ekko nodded quickly, the man smiled before nodding for the boy to follow him. Following the man, Ekko watched as two men began to climb and precede to fall off the tables. Without realizing it he was already upstairs on the second story with the well-dressed man.
Walking through a few hallways with bodyguards walking occasionally following them they made their way to a wooden door with golden edges all around it. Ekko recognized the door and its location. It was Vander’s old bedroom, though it now belonged to the crime lord Silco.
Turning around the man faced Ekko, “Alright kid.” He spoke, “Basic tips, don’t talk down to him, don’t talk down about Jinx, and be confident.” Ekko nodded before the man patted him on the shoulder. “You remind me of my son, so I’m hoping you make it out of there alive.”
Ekko shuttered before the man opened the door, looking in he saw something he never expected to see. Silco sat there at his desk, which he expected. But what he didn’t was the colorful drawings covering the man’s face and desk.
Though the shock was quickly interrupted by the old man pulling him in by his shoulder. Now standing in front of Silco, Ekko’s body began to shake ever so slightly, but thankfully the colorful drawings caused him to calm down with how ridiculous he looked.
“What?” Silco said impatiently, clearly unamused by the sudden break-in. “Can’t you tell I’m busy?” Silco looked over, now staring at Ekko. “Who’s the boy?”
The man cleared his throat, “This is Theorem,” he began. “He wants to try out for the bartender position we have open.” Silco nodded, squinting at Ekko he sighed. Standing up he walked around his desk, standing in front of Ekko he stared into the boy’s brown eyes.
“Fine, does he know how to work the equipment.?” Luckily for Ekko, he had always watched Vander work at the bar, even getting little lessons from the man. Ekko quickly nodded to which Silco rolled his eyes. Walking back to his seat he sat down, “Fine, get him situated.”
Flicking the two away, they made their way out of the office. Closing the door the man looked over at Ekko who let out a heavy sigh of relief. Smacking the boy in the back the man laughed. “Don’t get yourself so worked up kid. I’m sure you’ll be fine.”
Ekko looked over at the surprisingly kind man with a genuine smile, “Thanks.” The man nodded before nodding for him to follow him again. Quickly following the man he was brought to a closet where he got a uniform consisting of a black shirt, apron, and jeans.
Now standing behind the bar Ekko sighed as the man walked away after giving him the payment amount and complete details. Now he worked for Silco, sort of.
The following days went quite normal and with that Ekko began to get pretty good at the whole bartending job. With the random appearances of his Firelights without their masks, it was pleasant. That was until he got a new visitor.
The day went like normal, at the end, Ekko cleaned the glasses and various items before the door of the Last Drop swung open. Looking up he saw no one except for the door. With a shrug, he continued drying. That was until a voice spoke up which spooked him to his core.
“HEY CHUCK!” Looking over he was immediately brought to a familiar face, Jinx… Ekko tried to ignore her but Jinx fought back with more taunts. “Chuck, what ya doin'?”
As she spoke Ekko became more and more confused. She knew him right, at least who he was. Did she somehow forget him, they were best friends before Ekko disappeared and joined the Firelights. “Chuck, stop ignoring me!” Jinx spoke up again, her head now laying against her arms as they lay out across the bar.
Ekko looked up unamused. It was silence, he didn’t know what to say. But thankfully for his Jinx did it for him. “I thought you were dead,” Jinx spoke up, though it was as quiet as a whisper. Ekko’s shoulder shrunk down as he set his rag onto the bar.
”Where did you go?” She asked inching closer to him.
“So you do remember?” He asked looking back to her scrunched-up face. “You’re not the only one who thought that.” Jinx squinted at him noticing the frown growing on his lips.
“Why are you here? Silco killed Benzo.” She said poking his cheek. Backing away Ekko rolled his eyes.
“Why are you here? He murdered everyone, Vander, Benzo, Mylo, Claggor, even Vi.” Ekko snapped back causing Jinx to sit back down on her bar stool. “What even happened when you guys left me?” He asked softly, erasing his harsh tone from before she closed her eyes tightly. Ekko immediately recognized her expression, it was something Powder did when she was being bullied by Mylo.
As Ekko leaned in to comfort the traumatized girl, her face swapped to her crazed Jinx look, knocking on the bar she eyed him. “Get me the usual Chuck,” Jinx said staring at him. Ekko looked at her confused before remembering that same juice Vander would get her, as well as the older man warning him about this exact interaction.
Jumping to it, Ekko reached under the bar, grabbing a bottle of juice and the same cup and straw from when they were kids. Pouring the drink he threw the straw in. Jinx giggled before grabbing her cup, reaching over her arms wrapped tightly around Ekko’s body.
Placing her lips up to his ear she sighed, “I missed you, Little Man.” A faint smile appeared on Ekko’s face before she pulled herself away. “By the way…” Jinx giggled more as she slowly backed away. “This is for leaving me asshole.” Her voice deepened with a hint of anger.
Ekko’s eyes flicked open before the sound of a metal pin unclipping from a chomper flew into the air. Frantically reaching behind himself he grabbed the bomb, throwing it the bomb exploded into a giant cloud of pink with spreading across the floor.
As his breaths steadied, Ekko looked upon the floor, now covered in glitter and paint. With a sigh, he walked out of the bar, grabbing his mop and a bucket of water he made his way over to the paint. Dipping the mop into the bucket he began to scrub the floor until the surprisingly easy to clean up paint was sucked into the mop.