── ⟡ ˙ synopsis: you and sevika have been friends since childhood, and the love and care you share for each other have always remained.
── ⟡ ˙ cw: pure fluff, slightly angst, canon-typical violence (non graphic), lesbian awakening (not mentioned, but you can interpret it that way), sevika is 8, reader is 7.
fanart by @kaylasilverfox_x on ig! ♡
small, nimble feet ran as fast as they could through the city, leaving behind faint, dirty marks from their shoes where heels and toes sank in to support their intense running.
a deep, angry male voice shouted after her, but she didn’t stop, didn’t even think of slowing down.
after emerging from yet another dark alley, she found herself in the middle of the bustling city. she didn’t know if this was good or bad — more people, more movement, more chances to lose them, but also more chances to irritate someone with a short fuse. however, considering that the heavy, quick footsteps were getting closer and closer, she had no choice but to run towards the crowd.
“sorry! sorry! excuse me! ah! watch where you’re going!”
despite being taller than most children her age, she was still very small compared to adults, so it was no surprise when she bumped into several of them, almost being squeezed at times, hearing curses or reprimands from afar as she ran.
finally emerging from the crowd, she looked back one more time, her small gray eyes frantically searching for any sign of those men.
and, unfortunately, she saw them. and they saw her too.
a low, frightened sound escaped her throat, her eyes widening. she turned and started running again, entering the alleys she knew.
the girl ran and ran until she found herself trapped in a corridor of dark, locked houses. she looked at the houses, unsure what to do, clutching tightly the strap of her bag, her breath ragged and uneven. the footsteps were getting closer. she turned back to where she had entered and took a few steps back; terrified, terribly frightened, but unable to flee anywhere else, preparing to die, or something worse.
when her hopes were exhausted and the footsteps too close to consider any escape, a pair of tiny hands grabbed her from behind, pulling her down.
a short, high-pitched squeal escaped her before one of the little hands covered her mouth. and then she saw her. you.
sevika was lying on her bottom while you stood right behind her. one hand on her left shoulder and the other on her mouth. you released her shoulder to bring your index finger to the front of your own mouth, making a silent “shhh.”
as soon as the three men reached the hallway, sevika huddled closer to you, pulling her legs towards herself. you crouched behind her, removing your hand from her mouth and now using both hands to hold her close to your chest.
you both peered into the small, dark, narrow space between two houses. the men checked inside trash cans, cardboard boxes, and even between some of the openings similar to the one you were in, but that was all. the oldest of them snorted angrily, spitting out an insult and ordering the other two to go back, saying that “the thing is over.” and then they finally left, but you two only left when you could no longer hear their voices or footsteps, only the familiar hum of zaun.
sevika left first, still hesitant and glancing around before actually pushing her body out of the space, giving you a brief hand gesture indicating it was all clear.
you followed shortly after, running a hand through your disheveled hair.
“who are they?” you asked, approaching her.
“i don’t know… i just know they got really mad when i took this.”
she held the bag she was carrying by the base, showing it to you. you leaned closer, swaying to see what was inside as she unbuttoned it. your eyes widened and you whispered a ‘wooow’ at the sight of the shiny, clearly expensive items inside. surely from piltover.
“where did you get them?” you whispered, still amazed.
“i saw those guys leaving before, and they didn’t have this bag. i was on the bridge when they came back, so i went to look, and then i grabbed it.” she shrugged, buttoning it up again.
“you’re crazy.” you laughed, showing off the tooth that had recently fallen out. she laughed too, revealing her adorable diastema.
the pebble thrown into the sea bounced once, twice, three, four, five, and six times before finally sinking. you stood up from where you were crouching, raising your arms in victory.
“pfff, lucky.” sevika murmured with a smug smile, sitting on the edge of the stone structure.
“lucky? wait until they find out i beat you!”
she rolled her eyes, amused, and you sat down next to her.
you both sat silently for a while, little legs dangling on the edge, hair swaying gently in the pleasant afternoon breeze as you watched the sea in its calm, continuous movement, carrying boats to and fro; some leaving and entering piltover, right there in front, and others going far away from everything you knew.
“do you think she’ll be mad at me?” sevika’s small, insecure voice drew your attention away from the view.
“mom. do you think she’ll be mad if she finds out i stole this?”
“seriously, vika? auntie would never be mad at you. she might say it’s wrong and, yeah, it kinda is… but still.” you shrugged, pressing your lips together. this seemed to calm sevika’s guilty expression for a moment. “but maybe your dad will—”
“i don’t give a shit for what he thinks.”
she spat, immediately frowning, her guilty and worried expression quickly giving way to an angry and stubborn one, accompanied by a pout.
you blinked, your eyes wide as you looked at her, somewhat surprised by her sudden anger. sevika noticed, as she soon crossed her arms and looked away, embarrassed by her little outburst.
“it’s not your fault. he’s just being a jerk again.”
“…he argued with auntie again?” you asked carefully, voice low, knowing it was a sensitive subject for her.
sevika sighed, turning her face slightly so you wouldn’t see how her gray eyes filled with tears. she sniffled softly and quickly ran a hand over her face, trying to hide any signs of pain and weakness.
“yeah. i—i don’t understand. one minute he’s nice, and the next he’s yelling at us for nothing!”
you stayed there silently, swinging your feet and looking at her, not knowing what to say for a moment, just wishing she didn’t have to go through this kind of thing anymore.
her wrist was bandaged, and the small bandage still left a bit of skin showing. you could see a purplish mark there, and having seen her old man hold her wrist during one of his fits of rage, you were sure it was him.
you really didn’t know what to say. you only had your mother, and like sevika’s mother, she was a good, caring person. having a father like hers wasn’t something you knew how to deal with or how to console her about. so you thought about what your mother did when you were sad and didn’t want to talk, or when she herself was too tired after work to say anything.
sevika's eyes widened slightly when you opened your arms to her. she furrowed her brow slightly, silently questioning.
“c’mon. mom says a hug is the best medicine. or… something like that.” you looked up, trying to remember the saying, but shook your head after giving up, offering a sweet smile.
sevika sighed softly, a little shaky from holding back tears. she looked at the floor below, bit her lip, hesitant and thoughtful about whether she should accept or not. but, when you made the slightest move to lower your arms, she quickly moved closer to you, burying herself in your embrace.
your body jolted slightly backward, but you steadyed yourself and held her. sevika settled against your chest, holding you by the waist and back. she sniffled, but you didn’t comment, only used a hand to stroke her back.
you two stayed like that for a while, in silence, only the distant sounds of both cities and the sea below filling the space.
time passed, and soon the sky was orange, the sun setting on the horizon. sevika slowly moved away from you, allowing her to straighten up and stand. when she did, she extended her left hand to you, silently offering it. she didn’t smile, but the gratitude and care on her face were clear. you smiled at her and accepted, taking her hand and allowing her to gently pull you up.
“thanks,” she said softly, lightly brushing the dust off her clothes.
“it’s okay. well, it’s time to go home.”
you two would be going in opposite directions to your respective destinations, so you would have to part ways right there. you were silent again, somewhat unsure how to say goodbye again. so, you were about to offer one last hug when you remembered something.
sevika raised both eyebrows, a little startled by your sudden sound. you reached into one of your pockets, rummaging through the bottom until your eyes widened slightly and you smiled when you found what you wanted.
in your hand was a pink hair clip. it was a simple but cute design.
“vander’s parents were giving these away.”
you approached before she could finish speaking. you tucked a strand of her short hair behind her ear, then opened the clip, securing one side of her bangs there. sevika slightly closed her right eye at the sound and pressure of the accessory on her head, but didn’t move. you smiled broadly when you finished, keeping your little hand on her face.
sevika’s cheeks flushed, and you could swear you felt her face warming where your hand rested.
“thanks,” she murmured again.
still smiling, you leaned on tiptoe and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, feeling your own cheeks warm at the gesture, but showing no regret on your face. her eyes widened, and she apparently froze in place.
“bye, vika,” you waved as you started running in the opposite direction.
she remained silent for a few seconds of your run, only realizing you were leaving when you were almost around a corner.
“b-bye!” she screamed, swallowing hard as you disappeared from sight.
once alone, sevika cautiously reached for the hair clip in her hair, pressing it lightly to feel its texture. it was hard in structure, but the visible top had a thin, soft layer that looked like cotton. cute.
then, she lowered the same hand to her cheek, right where you kissed her. she let out another sigh, keeping her palm there. a shy, excited little smile appeared on her face, accompanied by an unexpected and spontaneous giggle. sevika adjusted her bag on her shoulder and turned, calmly walking towards her own path.
when you arrived home, you were surprised to find in your small bag that you always carried one of the items that had been in sevika’s bag, shining.
when she put it there, you don’t know, but you didn’t sell it or trade it for something better. in fact, you kept the object for years and years, even after you two got married, after that same little girl you’ve always loved got the position of councillor for zaun in piltover.
