Viktor x Reader

Four

The thing that filled the sewers and ocean of the Lanes couldn't really be considered water. It was some sort of stinky, milky liquid that was awfully colourful.

Chemicals and a heavily stench of burned plastic made the air taste sour and yet statistic.

Taking a deep breath in, you let both of your hands rest on the railing of the pier and looked out to the sea.

In the distance, huge ships blew thick clouds of black into the air and created a veil of pollution that slowly sank back to the surface of the sea.

The smell of coal was carried across the city.

Strangely enough, the wind always blew the bad things down to the Lanes. It only ever blew into the direction of Piltover when the smell of freshly bloomed mountain flowers traveled across the land.

It was as if Topside always managed to steal from the people of Zaun.

Luck just wasn't something to count on when being born in the Undercity.

Viktor's gloomy reflection appeared on the surface of the water.

With a thin smile and a shake of your head, you gave him a gentle bump to the shoulder.

"Cheer up.", you said and gifted him a peck on the cheek. "It's your birthday, silly."

A sigh made his narrow chest quiver.

His gaze wandered down to the shimmering water.

"Birthdays shouldn't be celebrated.", he mumbled, both confused as to why this was important to you and also a bit depressed. "They are days like any other."

"You're downplaying this, Viktor. How many people do you know that make it to twenty-three?"

From the corner of his eyes, he gifted you some kind of bitter look and pulled a face.

"I heard that up in Piltover, every child makes it to twenty-three.", he leaned over the railing to be able to let his fingers dance through an oily film on the water.

All the colours of the rainbow curled under his touch.

"Piltover is different from the Undercity.", you said and crossed both arms in front of your chest. "They are just..."

"Lucky? Spoiled?", he locked eyes with you. "Privileged."

"Many of them were people of Zaun."

He shrugged.

"Maybe...", he pulled back and started to rub the oil stuck to the tips of his fingers. "But they forgot. They don't want to be like us anymore."

"You will be better, won't you?", with a smile, you walked past him, but didn't miss the chance to flip two fingers against the back of his head.

A chuckle escaped him.

"You still dream about getting up top?", he asked and followed you to the other side, where the sunlight hit the water just right.

A wall of colourful glass rose into the air.

The building itself was old and deserted, with many broken windows and cracks inside its washed out facade.

But the people of Zaun had morals and enough decency to keep one part of it untouched.

It was the large side, covered from top to bottom in a colourful glass mosaic.

Flowers lay in front of it and candles were lit. It smelled of perfume.

A few toys had been placed as well.

Your eyes wandered up to the mosaic to meet the eyes of a woman bathed in light and feathers.

She was heavenly, her body language being the one of a person who knew what it was like to laugh the gods in the face and win.

Out of everything the Undercity had to offer, this was your favourite thing.

It was like an embodiment of hope.

Viktor, on the other hand, couldn't look at it the same way you did.

With his eyes lowered, he approached one of the candles.

It was a strange little thing, made from metal and many screws to form the shape of a boat. The flame never died, no matter how windy or cold it was. It probably would even keep burning when it got flooded.

Viktor had build it to honour his parents. Oil kept the flame alive.

Sometimes, his genius really did frighten you because he made the simplest of things turn out to be masterpieces of perfection.

Shaky, he managed to lower himself to his knees so that he could check on his creation.

"Mother.", he nodded towards the flowers that stood left to the candle and then to the ones at the right. "Father. It is time again. My birthday is today."

His eyes checked all the small details. With ease, he found a flaw, even though it would have been perfect to anybody else's gaze.

With nimble fingers, he fixed the issue.

For a moment, you let him talk to his parents while watching from afar.

You had never had the pleasure of meeting his mother. She had passed weeks after Viktor had turned one. His father had welcomed you not only as his sons best friend but also as an additional family member.

He had tragically been murdered by an enforcer who had taken him for a criminal as he had tried to pass the bridge to get Viktor the medical attention he needed for his right leg.

Both you and Viktor had seen him die that day and shared that trauma ever since.

Your family had taken Viktor in after that, but it wasn't the same.

He had always seen himself as just another burden on your mothers life.

As he had proposed to make it on his own a few years back, you had mor hesitated to leave with him.

Whenever his birthday came around you made him come to this place.

He insisted he hated it and deemed it unnecessary, but with each year that passed it seemed to be easier for him.
He healed.

It was just a matter of time.

"Happy birthday, Viktor.", you keeled down behind him, both hands on his shoulders. "I got something for you."

Surprised, he threw a glance over his shoulder, eyebrows raised.

"Really?", an excited smirk was on his pale lips.

An amused smirk appeared on your face.

Ever since he had been a child Viktor had proclaimed he hated gifts.

It amused you to see the boyish shimmer in his eyes.

"Close your eyes.", you whispered into his ear.