Chapter Text
Viktor didn't know how he got to this point, caring for a child that reminded him almost to much of himself
It was strange, yet mildly comforting, the only drawbacks where the foreing panic he felt when Ekko would do something dangerous (as hypocritical as that was) and the stress he felt when the child was gone for maybe a few hours or a few days late, yes, it hindered his work abit
But it was worth it
And Viktor couldn't find himself regretting his choice….
Viktor wasn't expecting anything, but the undercities recent tragedy seemed to call to him, almost like a siren song that he couldn't ignore no matter how hard he tried or much he wanted to
From what he heard it was just an accident
Nothing more nothing less
And that was all he needed to know, as he walked to the bridge that connected piltover to his home he couldn't figure out why he even felt like going back.
Until…
He caught sight of it, of him, to be specific
A small boy sat by the docks looking dejected into the waters below, it wasn't a rare sight by any means but with how skinny he was Viktor felt a rare wave of concern wash over him
He hesitated for only a few moments before he walked over
"Hey, are you alright?" He asked as softly as he could, the boy flinched, turning to him but not completely backing away, and that was where it started…
—
The second time he saw the child the boy was more trusting, not letting him get to close to him but not running far away from him either, Viktor sat and watched as the child eat all the food in his bowl quickly, Viktor couldn’t help but chuckle
Once he was done eating Viktor noticed the subtle hesitation of the boy when he needed to return back to piltover
“Would you like to accompany me?” he asked, the boy seemed to think about it for awhile before he shrugged “alright, someone needs to make sure you don’t get killed down here” The boy said, Viktor rolled his eyes as he made his way back
He couldn’t help but smirk when he realized that the boy was practically sticking by his side.
They walked in silence until they where about half the way “how do you even know your way around here? I don’t remember seeing much pilties down here” the body said, Viktor hummed “well, i grew up here” Viktor said simply
The boy paused obviously shocked at the new information “wait your from zaun?” he asked after awhile, catching up to the older man once he realized that he hadn’t stopped walking to his destination
Viktor nodded “yes, i did grow up here, not much has changed since i was back, now i work for councilor Heimerdinger as his right hand man” Viktor said, the boy was surprised and was obviously curious, but he didn’t voice anything, just staying silent as he thought stayed in his own thoughts
It wasn’t long before they reached the bridge that connected zaun and piltover
“You know, i never caught your name” Viktor said completely catching the boy off guard for a few moments before he recollected himself “why should i tell you?” the boy said folding his arms, Viktor hummed in thought “well i don’t see why you shouldn’t tell me” he said
Ekko thought for a moment “i’ll tell you, if you buy me more food” Ekko offered holding his hand out, Viktor chuckled “sounds like a deal” he said as he shook the boys hand
He grinned “i’m Ekko” Ekko said as he pulled his hand away
“you can call me Viktor”
—-
The third time was when the weird protectiveness started.
Viktor was a man of his word, and fulfilled his end of the deal getting food for the boy which he ate happily, he was planning on just going back seeing that he had fulfilled his end of there deal, but then Ekko insisted on showing him something
Viktor was hesitant
He had to go deeper into zaun and as much as he loved his some he would never forget how dangerous it really was, after abit of Ekko insisting Viktor cracked letting the child drag him around, his hand inches away from the knife in his pocket, he just had to be sure
But soon he realized he didn’t really need it
Ekko seemed to have his route planned as he led him through particularly small areas where only a few people where, they took all kinds of twists and turns and Viktor was becoming silently glad at Heimerdinger’s insistence to give him a longer break this time around
After abit of walking through darkness of the tunned they stopped
“Hold on” Ekko said, Viktor heard him shuffling around before the sound of something dragging filled the tunnel letting light flood in
“I found this place not to long ago” Ekko said grinning at Viktor’s amazed look, it was a tree, a healthy one, it stood tall with no audience, Ekko ran towards it as he climbed the tree despite Viktors protest
Viktor watched Ekko closely ready to jump in if the kid ever fell, not that he could catch him, he would probably be crushed but at least he would’ve softened his fall
“Here! Watch this!” Ekko said happily as he jumped keeping a tight hold to the trunk of the tree, Viktor was THIS close to scolding him, just his words died on his tongue as he watched a bright green glow fill the room
He took a few steps back to watch the sight, there where hundreds of those little bugs, flying around the tree illuminating the dark room
Viktor was amazed, but soon his eyes landed on the boy who was sitting on the branch watching them flutter around, a few going right past him, Viktor couldn’t help the warm feeling in his chest, this boy had found this place, he was sure that there where barely any trees down in the undercity, yet here it was
In the depths of zaun, there was hope
There was life
There was firelights
There was Ekko
There was hope for the undercity..
All in the little boy sitting on the tree branch unaware of what he had just proven to Viktor, and what he could do to prove to everyone in piltover that zaun was more than a place where they dump there trash-
Viktor’s thoughts where sharple cut off when he heard Ekko let out a surprised shout, the boy had fallen, Viktor felt a sudden panic rush through his veins as he got there as fast as he could
He checked over Ekko sighing in relief, he seemed fine, no injuries or anything, and now that his heart had stopped racing Viktor realized that not only was the boy perfectly fine he was also chuckling at the others sudden worry
Viktor huffed shaking his head
He couldn’t find it in himself to get genuinely mad at the boy…