Viktor x Reader

Twenty-Four

With bated breath and the sweet taste of Viktor still on your lips, you stared into those familiar brown eyes.

There was a small hint of blood shimmering on his pale lips.

It was yours.

The feeling of liquid dripping from your lips crawled over your skin. It tasted of iron.

Struck by shock, you tried to back away.

His hand wrapped around your wrist.

"Why do you bleed?", there was so much worry in his voice.

Quickly, you wiped the trail of red away with the back of your hand. But a deep dark stain remained on your face.

You had to swallow hard.

The way he looked at you made you feel like the world was caving in.

"I...", you had to close your eyes to fight back the desperation that slowly started to make your vision watery. "I'll be fine."

Slowly, he shook his head.

"That's a lie.", he said without doubt.

It was, but there was no need to put him in more distress.
He was already visibly in enough pain and panic. Telling him the entire truth wouldn't have crushed all the process you had made in the past few days.

But what were you supposed to tell him instead?

Something in the back of your mind stirred.

It was a manipulative, dark thought. Yet, it would serve the bigger purpose.

Maybe it could be the final push for him to make a final decision.

Taking a deep breath in, you had to push the little voice of reasoning into the back of your mind to feel less guilty.

"Once we get up to Piltover we can look for a doctor.",
you grabbed his hands to lock his fingers with yours. "Viktor, do you understand now why you need to get into the academy?"

His eyebrows knitted together to form an expression of desperation.

His fingers cramped so hard that a sharp pain chased through your bones.

"Are you... is it serious?"

You couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"No.", you breathed. "No, I still have... possibilities."

"Possibilities that need money."

"And Piltover's privilege...", you had to take a moment to swallow the disgust for yourself that crawled up your throat. "Viktor, I'm not smart nor skilled enough to get a place in Piltover's society."

"Neither do I!"

"But you're smart. You're a genius, you can make things, you'll... You have something to offer that they might be interested in."

Hesitantly, his lips twitched.

His gaze jumped through the streets, over the surface of the contaminated water and back to you.

"I...", visibly in pain, he squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. "So we have to go back to Silco. I'll work for Singed."

You pulled at face.

This wasn't what you had wanted. But at least he was now willing to try and get into the academy without arguing about it.

And even though you were relieved that your plan worked out, you didn't want to put the weight of another burden on his shoulders.

Yes, you needed money to get him to the Topside, but you didn't want to force him to work for a man he despised with every cell of his existence.

On the other hand, you knew exactly that he wouldn't let you go back to work for Silco. Not after he had tasted blood on your lips.

"Actually...", you pulled back to hide the expression on your face from him. "I know how to get some money."

His hand lay on your cheek to gently force you to look at him.

"It's nothing stupid, is it?!", he asked.

You chuckled.

"No."

"Dangerous?"

You shook your head.

"Not more than what happens to my body right now."

A painful expression crossed his eyes.

"I can help.", he insisted and placed another gentle kiss on your lips.

You returned it, both feeling sickened by the fact that you managed to lie to him so easily and relieved that it turned out just the way you wanted.

For the longest time you had thought that it was impossible for you to betray Viktor. And yet it didn't feel as terrible as you had expected.

At least it served a bigger purpose.

Maybe if you told yourself often enough it would turn out to be true and the feeling of guilt stopped stabbing your heart.

"Don't worry...", you kissed him again, greedily chasing the warm feeling that his lips caused. "It will be quick. Just one more job."

"One more?", his fingers wrapped around your cheek as if it was his only possibility to keep you in his life.

It felt like he feared you'd slip from his fingers and disappear for all eternity.

You couldn't bare to see him look at you this way.

It felt like a lie.

It felt like the worst kind of betrayal you had ever done.

One simple robbery wouldn't be enough to cover the costs of the academy. No matter what you'd steal, it wouldn't be enough for one time.

And yet.

In the end it was all for the better.

It was for him.

With a soft smile, you raised a hand and offered him your little finger.

"One last job.", you said, voice weak. "I promise."

His eyes lit up.

But there was still this small hint of doubt. Knowing that some kind of mistrust sat in his chest was like a knife they cut deeper than you had ever experienced.

For a moment his gaze lingered on your finger. He seemed to see the lack of honesty.

Your heart beat wildly inside your chest.

Scratchy pain crawled up your throat again.

You could already feel the iron taste of blood on your tongue again.

Viktor locked his little finger with yours and gave it a firm yet warning squeeze.

"One last job.", he said and locked eyes with you. "Don't lie to me again. Even if it is for me. Even if it means you'll get a cure."

Taken by surprise, you couldn't help but huff.

"If I don't take this risk there won't be a cure.", you said. "Silly..."

"Neither will there be when you're dead, my love."