Viktor x Fem!Reader | Slow Burn | Eventual Smut
Summary: Viktor and you have know each other since childhood, growing up in the streets of Zaun together. Seeing Viktor struggle with his disability made you swear to grow up and invent something to help him.
Chapter CW: this chapter take place when you and Viktor are children, sibling like bond, implied neglect from bio families, implied bullying, reader is a bit of a crybaby
The fissures weren't an ideal home. But that's what it was.
You and Viktor had met when you we quite young, and he became similar to an older brother to you. He was kind, dependable, and brave... when it came to you at least.
The day you met you had been told to scram by the older kids you'd often play with. Being the youngest and a girl was challenging. No one wants to befriend someone like that down here...
You are sitting by a small river, feet dipped in, splashing the water slightly, watching the ripples disperse. Your eyes are puffy with remnants of salty tears, but you have calmed. No longer crying. Cause you weren't a baby. You were already 6!
A boy, young and spindly, somewhat resembling a foal, comes into view. Spotting you, before you spot him. You are too entranced by the way the water sounds lapping around your feet to hear the soft and unique pace approaching from behind.
He calls out, "Hello? Are you alright?" He asks with a gentle voice.
You turn and look up at him, shielding your eyes from the sun. He looks a bit older than you. 'He's so pale... and... a cane?' You think to yourself with innocent curiosity.
He notices you slightly damp, red eyes and nose, pulling out a handkerchief he slowly comes down your level, struggling a bit as he slowly sits beside you, "Are you hurt?" He asks gently, holding the back of your head gently to wipe your eyes and nose with his handkerchief. Once he finishes you shake your head no, not wanting to talk yet.
The boy gives a small sad smile and introduces himself, "I'm Viktor. What's your name?" He asks, sitting cross-legged beside you, your feet still in the cool river.
Taking a few seconds, you respond, telling him your name in a soft voice, still distraught from the spat with your usual group from before.
He smiles sweetly, "Nice to meet you." He says your name softly, before he notices you eyeing the small mechanical boat in his hands glancing down at it's and up at him expectantly.
He immediately asks, "Want to see how it works? I made it." He says this all with a proud smile.
You nod and smile a little. He holds out the boat for you to see, twisting the small key to wind it up, as you watch in anticipation, "It will be her maiden voyage." He says with a hopeful lilt. He stands up and you follow suit, standing beside him. He lets the key go and the boat whirs to life, placing it in the water after.
You can't help but grin, bouncing excitedly on your toes as the boat paddles down the river. Squealing and jumping into a mix between running and skipping you follow it downriver.
Viktor is struggling to keep up. Running but realizing quickly the boat was much faster than anticipated. But you are able to stay in pace with it. Splashing a few steps into the river, you grab the boat, a few yards from a drop-off into a dark cave.
Trudging back the few small steps to shore, you smile, having found a sense if safety with Viktor, and in turn, your voice as well.
"I GOT IT!!" You yell excitedly as you hop to shore and run back to him, but still being careful of the boat.
Viktor feels a twinge of anger. Not at you. Of course not. At himself. His leg. He would have lost all his hard work if it had gone in that cave... all because of his leg. He hides this internal anguish well, smiling down at you as you approach, "Great catch there." He says with a smile, taking the boat as you hand it back to him,
You and Viktor had grown quite close over the last year. You had learned pretty much learned everything about one another.
You learned that he was 10 when you met him a year ago. He learned that you have quite a sweet tooth. You also learned about his cane and how he was born like that.
This initially made your eyes well up, lip sticking out in a pout. Viktor was shocked, meekly trying to reassure you that it was ok and he wasn’t in pain all the time.
You were already sympathetic little thing, always crying over small things, needing Viktor to comfort you softly and tell you it’s ok. He got used to this, almost enjoying having someone like a little sister. He had always wanted a sibling and now, he kinda has one.
After some reassurance about his leg and cane, you steel yourself, wiping your nose on your sleeve and huffing,
“I-Im gonna grow up and invent something to fix your leg! I promise!”
You announce this with watery eyes, clearly feeling strong sympathy and worry for Viktor. He smiles and let’s out a quick breath through his nose at your slightly crude but overly sweet sentence.
He smiles, patting your head before saying a sincere, “Thank you, Sestřička.” He feels emotional himself, but holds it back, as to not scare you.
A promise… Seems too good to ever be true…
