Ekko (Academy)

♡♤ ⧼ In this dimension, you’re alive

The world twists violently, colors bleeding together like a shattered kaleidoscope, bending time and space into a chaotic blur. Ekko's legs fail him as his body crashes against the slick cobblestones beneath him. His breath comes in sharp gasps, his vision swimming as he steadies himself against the nearby wall.

Where the hell is he?

Ekko straightens slowly, his gaze darting around. The Undercity stretches out before him, but it’s not his Undercity. It’s too clean. Too bright. The grime that once clung to every surface like a second skin is gone, replaced by smooth, polished walls that glint in the faint light of hovering streetlamps. The airships that glide overhead lack the gritty, patchwork designs he’s used to. Instead, their exteriors are streamlined, their hum too soft, too refined. Even the air feels different—missing the familiar tang of oil and smog, replaced with something he can only describe as sterile.

Ekko glances down, startled to find himself in an outfit that isn’t his. Gone is his patched leather jacket and utility belt; in their place is a sleek, polished ensemble that feels foreign against his skin. He grips the fabric, his fingers trembling. Nothing about this place feels right, but it’s achingly familiar in ways that twist his gut.

Then, he sees you.

It’s only a glimpse at first, caught from the corner of his eye, but it’s enough to make him freeze. His chest tightens. You’re standing across the square, just outside The Last Drop, your silhouette framed by the building’s warm glow. Your movements are unmistakable—the way you tilt your head when you laugh, the way you shift on your feet. For a moment, Ekko can’t breathe. His pulse quickens, disbelief washing over him like a cold wave.

No. That’s not possible.

His hands ball into fists, nails biting into his palms as he fights the urge to run. He doesn’t want to look closer. He doesn’t want to believe his own eyes. But his legs have other ideas, carrying him forward one shaky step at a time.

You turn, and the moment your eyes meet his, the world tilts. His heart sinks and soars all at once. It’s you. Alive. Breathing. Whole.

His throat tightens. He remembers your li