Viktor Vektor x Reader

Thirty-Two

Guilt tied your throat as you found yourself in Vik's clinic once more. Not as a patient this time but something close enough.

After your rescue he had insisted to take you with him. He wasn't willing to let you live in one of the ruins of Pacifica any longer.

You wanted to decline but ultimately he had managed to peruse you. Not only because he offered actual help but also because he hadn't hesitated to offer to treat your sister as well.

Wrapped in a blanket, your hair wet from a shower, you sat in a corner of his clinic and watched how he ran a few test on Julie.

It was mesmerising to watch him do his thing, with that stern look on his face, the tattoos that danced over his biceps whenever he did a gesture.

At your first meeting, you had thought that the blood on his shirt was an indicator that he was a total psychopath of a ripper. But now they seemed to be a part of who he was.

A stained man with the dedication to do better. What a noble thing to be in Night City.

Way too good for you.

Still a little crushed that he had rejected you, you took a sip from the juice box he had given you. You didn't know how he managed to know, but it was your favourite flavour.

Brought you back right to childhood. One of the few good days you remembered, just you and your family out in the park.

A sigh rolled off your lips as you snuggled further into the blanket that was wrapped around your shoulders. It was warm and cozy. So calming.

You would have drifted off into sleep if only there wouldn't have been this guilt that ate away on you. You had nothing to offer and yet Viktor helped you out.

Again.

This started to turn into a habit.

"What a whole load of trash...", you smiled to yourself and tried to close your eyes.

The new optics were great but you could feel how they started to irritate your eyelids. It was time to rest them.

"You tired?", Viktor asked from afar.

You couldn't tell but every now and again he would let his eyes wander over to you. The thought that you could be hurt and he had missed it was killing him.

He wanted to know you safe. Not passed out in his clinic. The fist time he had seen you this way was enough for a million more years.

Now he just wanted to protect.

It was a stupid thought from a stupid old man. But he couldn't help it. In the end, the boxer in him was still alive. And he wanted to fight every evil off of you.

"I'm fine.", you sighed, already struggling to keep your eyes open. "How is Julie?"

His lips pressed into a thin line and a low hum escaped him. How you loved that sound, the vibration of his throat.

Like the melody of a cello.

"She's... well...", he shrugged, unable to find the right words.

"Deep fried?", you asked with a bitter smile. "Yeah, I know."

Again, you sighed. But this time it was so heavy that it made your heart pull together. It hurt to hear it out of his mouth.

It wasn't a surprise, you've known this for ages. But it hurt. More than anything you could imagine.

Viktor noticed the regret that was written all over your face. With a sorry look and his eyebrows drawn together, he rolled with his chair to your side to pat your head.

"I'm sorry.", he said it so softly that it kept your soul from shattering.

"It's fine.", you huffed, close to loosing all hope. "It's not like I didn't know. I just... hoped that someone with your skills... I don't blame ya, Vik. Please know that."

A deep breath escaped him and formed a smile on his lips. Everything about him seemed so lovable you wanted to grab his face and...

And do what?

You weren't quite sure yourself but you knew that you wanted to be close to him in this moment. Closer than he would allow.

"Honestly, I'm a bit impressed.", Viktor tried to loosen the tension that was in the air with a chuckle. "Her brain activity is close to zero and yet she breathes. Her eyes still move and she seems to react to others. She's aware."

"But her implants are double fried like Korean chicken. There's no way she'll ever be her old self, is it?"

Guilt chased across his face. His lips moved as he struggled to find the right words.

With a soft smile you placed a hand on his arm to give it a squeeze.

"I fear not.", he finally admitted. "I could replace the implants. Easy work. But her brain is irreversibly damaged."

"So she's a lost cause. How much longer does she have?"

Now Viktor couldn't help but move away from you. It seemed like he was scared to answer that question. He knew how painful it was and he could see the despair in your eyes.

"It's fine.", you whispered and reached out to grab his glasses with two fingers. "Give it to me straight. I'm used to pain."

Gently, you pulled off the glasses from his nose.

Cyanide.

A perfect colour mix of green and blue, not as green as turquoise, not as blue as lazuli. Just something in between that captured both the intelligence of green eyes and the softness of blue ones.

He was a perfect mix. And those eyes were perfect for him. Somehow, you couldn't help but fall in love with that sight.

Who would have know that in a world of technological wonders, that eyes crafted by nature were the most beautiful thing to find?

You allowed yourself to get lost in the sight, melt with the emotions that he couldn't hide no longer behind his tinted glasses.

"She's... alive but not really. And she'll never be like us again. Not even half of what we are. She won't ever walk again, or eat on her own.", Viktor wiped a tear from your cheek that you hadn't noticed. "Her organs keep her alive, the cyberware supports them on a minimal basis. But it's a vicious cycle. She won't die naturally. There's too much chrome in her for that. She might... need a push. If... If that is what you need... to set her free."