With lowered eyes, you sat at the small widow of your home and stared onto the dark surface of the water.

Small waves formed as people drove by with improvised fisherman's boats. They were on the hunt for some small fish, maybe ones that were edible.

Chances were high they would just end up with trash or the huge monsters would tear them into the depts.

One more corpse in the Undercity wouldn't matter anyways.

Behind you, the sound of pots and pans clashing against each other filled the small room.

You threw a glance over your shoulder.

Viktor was struggling to gather some supplies together. The expression on his face was neutral, but the way he carried himself gave away that he was at the edge of his possibilities.

"Let me.", you offered.

But as you wanted to take the pot from him, he refused.

"You should get to bed.", he suggested. "I'll bring you food when it's ready."

Carefully, he placed his cane next to the stove and started to get to business.

A deep breath escaped you.

For a moment, you remained standing behind him, staring at the back of his brown hair.

He was so exhausted, his back bend and his shoulders hanging low.

Viktor had been born to be a proud man but Zaun had made him a poor cripple, someone who was worth less than anyone else.

You wanted him to make it out.

Thankfully, he seemed to start to consider taking his chance and give it a shot to get up into the academy.

But even if he would agree, this plan needed money. And a lot of that.

Unfortunately, there was nothing you could have offered him. You didn't have a single coin, work wasn't paying well and he had as little as anyone else in this godforsaken place.

A thought crossed your mind.

Maybe there was a way. It wasn't ideal, but the only option there was.

And waiting for another chance wasn't possible. There was no time to loose. It was now or never.

"Viktor.", you placed your chin on his shoulder and watched his long, slim fingers get to work.

"Hm?", a soft smile was on his face.

"Would you mind if I go for a walk?"

His hands froze mid movement.

"You don't have to ask me if you want to go back to the bar.", he gifted you a glance from the side. "I'm not your mother. Nor your boyfriend... Do what you want."

At his remark about the boyfriend part, your lips flinched.
The two of you had been friends for as long as you could remember. But there had never been a relationship that went further than that.

He had never show any interest in people, at least not romantically. And you had tried to stay away from people of the Undercity.

The possibility of dating him had never crossed your mind. Maybe it was dangerous territory since it could take a toll on your friendship.

But at the same time the thought made your cheeks glow as if they were on fire.

"Viktor.", softly, you placed a kiss on the side of his head. "I just need to get some business done."

His eyes twitched.

"You still work for them?", he didn't sound like it but the way his eyes shimmered gave away that he was upset.

Swallowing hard, you pulled away to offer him some space.

Whenever Viktor was upset he didn't like to be touched. It was a privilege to be close to him and whenever his mood was gloomy he took that away.

It was his way of feeling in control, of being powerful.

You respected that, but it did hurt if you were honest. You had always taken great pride in the fact that he trusted you enough to allow intimacy to an amount that he even hated his father to do.

Kisses and hugs were something he had only ever allowed you.

The more you hated it when he took that from you.

"It brings money in.", you tried to justify yourself.

He frowned.

"There are other ways.", he insisted.

"Ways that don't pay enough."

A deep breath escaped him.

"I don't want you to work with such people."

"They are people like anyone else in the Undercity."

"They are criminals. We aren't."

A bitter smirk appeared on your face.

"Yeah...", your gaze fell to the ground to avoid the shame of looking at him. "We're the odd ones out."

Immediately, he sucked in a sharp breath.

With his lips pressed into a thin line, Viktor turned his gaze out the window. For a moment he didn't say anything.

All he could focus on were his thoughts.

Expressions crossed his face. It went from hurt to annoyed, to pained and anger.

"Do as you please...", he finally said and went back to preparing food.

Something inside your chest got heavier. It felt like a needle stabbed right into your heart and made it bleed.

For the hint of a second it felt like breathing got harder.

"I'll be back soon.", you said, turned on your heel and rushed out the door before he could have a change of heart.

With a loud shattering sound, the door fell shut.

From the corner of your eyes, you managed to catch a glimpse of his facial expression.

There was so much guilt in his eyes. And yet he hated to see you go, there was no doubt about it.

And yet, you knew there was no other choice. You had to go.

Viktor needed money to go to the Topside. It would be even better if you'd manage to make enough to give him a head start and some financial stability for the first months.

Obviously, if you would have told him ghat, he would have refused and insisted you to leave it.

This was a better way.

Letting out a deep sigh, you got moving.

Maybe this was a stupid idea, because once you were with one foot in on shady business it was almost impossible to get out.

But you had to risk it and at least ask.

After all, it wasn't for you but him.