Ink to Ashes / Arcane Fanfiction Viktor x Reader

9

When you remember the day, you always had a distinct impression of sunlight. Though it had been many, many years since, you still thought of it fondly like you did all childhood memories; sugar-coated and sunkissed. Bare feet and bruised knees. Freckled skin and frizzy hair. Unashamedly ugly and mournfully innocent.

It had been the hottest summer in your short eight years of life. There was no escaping the relentless heat. Inside was hot and stuffy; outside was blistering and bright. Even the nights were unbearable, warmed by the excess heat from the day.

Children flocked to the natural pools along the bay, armed with floppy hats and threadbare towels. You longed to go after being driven mad by the days spent stuck inside searching for nonexistent breezes.

Your mother had fretted over you going out unaccompanied at such a young age, worried that you would get hurt or burnt or swallow dirty water whilst swimming. You still vividly recalled the scent of the protective paste your mother had forcefully smeared on your cheeks and shoulders as you left the house: sweet and cold against the dusty summer air.

The ground was scalding, and after only a few steps you had scurried back inside to retrieve a pair of shoes. You practically ran the short distance and got there even warmer and breathless than you thought possible.

However, it wasn't until you reached the water's edge and tentatively dipped a toe in that you remembered something pretty important: You couldn't swim.

Only slightly deterred, you attempted to paddle around the shallower sections, but found it got much deeper at random intervals. It only took one sudden drop to send you splashing frantically back to the rocks. There you sat for a while, arms wrapped around knees, sulkily watching other children play and laugh in the unreachable waters.

Your mother was surprised to find you home so early. It seemed in the matter of minutes you had been gone, however, she had had a change of tack and was eager for you to 'enjoy the sunshine and your childhood' - whatever that meant. When you told her there was no point, seeing as you couldn't swim like the other kids, she disappear on a short search around the house. After a minute or so, she returned and thrust a yellowing notepad and pen at you.

"There," she had said, satisfied, as you took them from her.

"What do I do with this?" you asked, turning the book over in your small hands, in search of something exciting on the plain exterior.

"You draw," she smiled. "Draw me a picture of something you see. Something interesting."

You frowned. "But how?"

"You'll find a way." She lightly patted you on the back and pressed a kiss to your head. "Now go. It'll be getting dark soon."

Fueled by a new task, you did as she said and braved the midday heat once again. You walked via the market. The streets were crowded and bustling with parched patrons in search of temporary relief from the heat.

You couldn't help snatching an exposed apple from the edge of one of the stands. The shopkeeper was busy, and didn't take notice. Even then, you hurried away, stomach fluttering with giddy exhilaration. You chomped triumphantly on it as you dodged through the crowd.

Once at the pools, you paced around in search of something 'interesting'. The sun was bright and made the water glimmer so violently that your eyes watered - you quickly ruled out drawing anything there.

Between the cracks of the rocks, you spotted a particularly colourful bug. It's shell shone a vivid blue; the colour of sunset sky. As you drew near it scurried away, but you were determined. This would be your Interesting Thing. You chased it over the boulders, following in haste as it scuttled through nooks and crannies.