Chapter Text
V stood in front of her wardrobe, makeup done, hair in rollers and naked, biting her lip anxiously. Misty and Jack would be there within minutes to pick her up for their night out and she hadn't yet decided what to wear. She wanted to look sexy, but not like she was trying too hard. She was trying hard though, she'd been trying to capture his attention for months. Stopping by at every opportunity, questioning him about cybernetics she had no intention of having installed, showing up to boxing training sessions in short shorts and her sports bra instead of the usual sweats and baggy tee. The last time he'd actually offered her a shirt of his to wear, how mortifying.
Viktor probably wouldn't occupy her mind nearly as much if he was consistent in his disinterest. But he wasn't, there was something about the way he looked at her from behind those dark shades of his sometimes, a shadowy intensity that she couldn't decipher. He mostly laughed off her attempts at flirting with him, seemingly unaffected by her lighthearted comments and teasing, but a small touch could earn her a different reaction entirely.
Vik gave some of the warmest hugs she'd ever had, how this beast of a man could be basically carved from stone yet cradle her petite frame so perfectly against himself so gently was some small miracle. He would indulge her with these affections whenever she saw him willingly, even initiate more often lately, but would stiffen and release her from his embrace if she ventured to kiss his cheek.
Most recently he had declined to help her practice grappling during their training session, claiming his shoulder was acting up, but when she asked Jackie how his shoulder was doing while catching up after they trained the next day, he said Vik had never mentioned it bothering him. She wasn't an idiot, she could tell he was uncomfortable being too close to her, but that look he gave her whenever she tried haunted her. Those thoughtful eyes, searching for something in her own. What did he see in them? Could he see the admiration there? Her desire?
V sighed and slipped into a black thong and started sorting through hangers of dresses towards the back of the closet. Her fingers blindly searched until feeling the smooth fabric of her target, a sleek silk slip dress. Fuck it, she thought, if he's not interested maybe I'll find someone who is. The dress slid down her body smoothly, not clinging to her curves but seeming to float just a breath above her skin.
Rollers came out next, letting her hair fall gracefully down across her shoulders and accentuating her delicate collarbones and shoulders. She gave her reflection a quick assessment and smiled softly to herself. V was many things, tough, dangerous, a brutal force at times, but tonight she felt beautiful and feminine. She wanted him to see her that way, as someone to be desired.
The intercom buzz brought her back from her thoughts and she rushed to put on her heels before stumbling her way to open the door.
"Ready!" She laughed as the door opened with a soft whoosh, caught off guard at seeing Viktor on the other side, leaning against the doorframe and looking handsome as the devil. "Oh.. hey Vik, I was expecting Misty and Jack."
"Jack was getting antsy so I told them to go on ahead and I'd close up shop and swing by to grab you on the way." His deep voice rolled over her like a soothing balm and made her heart beat hard in her chest at the same time. "You ready or... should I come in?"
V took a second to admire the man waiting in her doorway, a tall and broad wall of muscle. A devastatingly well fitting pair of jeans, his usual button down in black, with signature tank peeking out just hinting at the impressive physique beneath his casual facade. God, what she'd give to peel those too tight clothes off him and explore all that's been hidden for so long, touching him with her fingertips, lips, tongue... Her eyes snapped back up to his and found them boring into her, half expectant of her answer and half... something else.
"No, I'm ready. Besides, you come in and we might never make it out." She gave him a wink and rushed past him into the hallway, already feeling the heat rising to her cheeks and internally cursing herself for saying that.
Viktor chuckled low in his chest and followed after her, admiring the way the light fabric of her dress flowed gently across her skin as if softly kissing her upper thighs each step she took. The curve of her ass barely hidden by the thin material of this torturous dress, nor the fact that she hadn't worn a bra tonight was lost on him. He tried to push away the thought as he caught up with her, his large hand resting gently against her lower back as he led her down to his bike in her building's parking. Viktor handed her his spare helmet and once she had it on, held up his leather jacket for her to slip into.
V tried to suppress the butterflies that fluttered away in her stomach as he pulled his jacket up over her shoulders and reached around from behind to zip her in. He then climbed onto his bike and patted the seat behind him to signal her to get on while he secured his own helmet. Those little protective gestures from him always made her melt and she wondered half heartedly if she'd ever find a man half as good who actually wanted her the way she wanted Vik.
Still, she felt a rush of excitement at the feeling of being wrapped around him on this bike, her bare legs pressed against his and the feeling of the muscles beneath his shirt when he reached back and pulled her arms snugly around him. She nearly whimpered against his back when he revved the bike's engine and sent a sudden shock of vibrations through her core, clinging to him as he pulled out and into the streets towards the bar.
They arrived at the club a few minutes later and she regretfully released her grasp on his waist as they both dismounted the bike. She caught his eyes tracing her form as she shrugged off his jacket and laid it across the seat of his bike and adjusted her dress, feeling a little self conscious how much it had ridden up on their short ride.
"Would've been smarter to wear pants, I suppose." V laughed sheepishly, trying to hard to catch his eye, indeed. She didn't usually dress provocatively, she hardly dressed like a woman, in fact. Vik had seen her half dead, sweating through her workout gear, sick from a night out etc... but he had never seen her like this, so on display, like she wanted to be seen. She wondered if he knew it was all for him. The thought alone made her want to cover up, made her feel desperate. That's what this was, wasn't it? A last ditch attempt before giving up hope that he'd ever be interested in her romantically? 'Fuck it,' she reminded herself, what else was she supposed to do? Hover around him hoping forever? No, that was torture. At least tonight she would find out one way or another.
Vik just smiled down at her warmly and draped his arm around her, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze, "I don't think you'll hear a complaint from anyone."
V gave him a crooked smile and sighed, leaning slightly into him and looking up at his ruggedly handsome face, "Not even from you?"
He leaned down slightly, his intoxicating whisper rumbling approvingly against the shell of her ear. "Especially from me."
V felt as if she'd melt against him right there, but his hand slid down from her shoulder to her hip and she felt steady again in his grasp. He had never commented on her appearance before, she supposed it had just never come up, but those few words sent chills down her spine. He liked how she looked tonight, and that was enough to make her feel a little more bold than usual. V snaked her arm around his back and gingerly rested her hand on his hip, she looked up at him for approval and thought she caught what looked like a satisfied smile tug at his lips as they entered the bar.
Before she knew it they had made it to the cozy, plush booth that Jackie and Misty had saved for them and all contact between them was broken suddenly to greet their friends.
"V! You look absolutely stunning!" Misty gushed and pulled V into a hug, too tight as always, Misty's hidden talent had to be crushing the ribs of loved ones with her affection. She animated blonde pulled back and looked over V, seemingly in awe. "I mean, where has this woman been hiding?!"
V laughed and waved off Misty's overly generous compliment, "You are too kind, I figure I've got to start dressing like a lady every now and then so that people don't forget that's what I am." She adds with a sigh of discontentment, "And a single one at that!"
All Misty can do is shake her head in laughter at the notion before it's Jackie's turn to jump in with a friendly pat on the back.
"Not after tonight with you looking like that, Chica!" Jack waggles his eyebrows at her suggestively and gestures to the dance floor. "One song on the dance floor and you have a queue forming, mi hermana is on the prowl tonight, boys!"
Vik shook his head and chuckled dryly at that, signaling to Jackie he was heading to the bar. Jack responded with a nod and as soon as Viktor was out of earshot, he and Misty huddled around her, both of their eyes questioning.
"Really, Chica... What's up tonight? Trying to give the old doc a heart attack?" He joked, but gave her a raised eyebrow.
Misty stepped between them and gave Jackie's chest a little shove and a look telling him 'back off', but then proceeded to be absolutely no help at all.
"Take it easy, Jack." She admonished gently, "We all know what's going on, they're taking steps, be patient."
V stared at her, incredulous, "What are you talking about?"
A small sigh escaped Misty as she tilted her head to the side and began recalling the 'evidence' she had collected over the last few weeks.
"Oh, I dunno... I guess it's normal to spend hours in your ripper's office and never get any new installs, extra boxing lessons even when you have no match lined up, selling guns and other junk to him... and him actually buying it all from you!" She laughed and smiled sweetly at V, "Anyone with eyes can see there's something going on between you and Vik, or maybe just everyone but you two gonks!"
V groaned and slid down into the both with Misty following to sit next to her while Jackie made his way to the bar to get then a round of drinks. "I dunno, Misty. Feels pretty one sided, it's like trying to milk a rock. Training is one thing, but sometimes I'm afraid he'll flinch if I touch him outside of boxing or him fixing me up."
Misty's eyes roll and she purses her lips, "Forgive an old man, he's blind in his own way. You'll have to show him you want him, or tell him. He may not look it, but he's twice your age. Doesn't want to be a creep." She shrugged, as if this was the only logical and obvious conclusion.
Jackie returned with drinks for the three of them and they sat chatting for a while until he realized that Viktor still hadn't returned to the group. He scanned the bar until his eyes landed on target. Vik sat at the bar talking with a woman Jack didn't recognize, and looked like he was looking for an escape.
"Hey, V... I got a gig for ya." He nudged her with an elbow and gestured towards Vik and his conversation companion at the bar. "Hostage recovery, our boy needs a rescue over there." Jack grinned knowingly down at her, "Get 'im outta the hot seat and on the floor and I'll cover your tab, hermana!"
V let out a groan and peered at her friend suspiciously without turning to face him. Jackie ignored her seething look and rubbed his hands together in mirth, giving her a thumbs up as she scooted out of the booth and gave herself a quick once over.
"Spare the lady's feelings and I'll add in a delamain for the ride back to the clinic." He added teasingly.
"Only feelings you should be worried about are yours if you don't shut up, Jack." V shot back at him over her shoulder with a glare as she sauntered towards Vik and his mystery woman.
Viktor was seated at the bar facing away from her as she approached. A thousand ideas on how to slide in between him and this clearly interested woman ran through her mind. Her steps carried her towards them far too quickly and then there she was, standing behind him freaking the fuck out inside.
She felt frozen when almost without her permission, her hands found his shoulders, sliding slowly down over his chest as she pressed herself against his back, lips softly brushing along his neck up to his ear.
"There you are..." She whispered, smiling a little at the sharp inhale he sucked in at her sudden contact. His hand came up to rest over hers on his chest and for a moment she could feel how fast and hard his heart was beating.
She pulled back and moved slightly to stand at his side between him and the woman, sliding one arm in to rest on his shoulder while the other remained on his chest possessively. Touching him like this made her heart pound as well, and she felt herself take a deep breath before turning to face the woman.
"No wonder I lost him," V eyed the woman graciously and gave her a sweet smile, "with such beautiful distractions, it's so easy to get lost, isn't it?"
"I imagine it is," she replied with a knowing smile and shifted on her stool uncomfortably.
"You wouldn't mind if I stole him back, would you?" V asks the woman before turning her attention back to Viktor.
"Mmm baby, the dance floor is calling me..." She whined sweetly, dragging her eyes down his muscular torso and following slowly down his chest to his abs with her fingertips until they reached his belt. V held her breath for a split second out of sheer nerves before sliding her fingers under his belt, and tugging gently towards herself, leaning into him as if they'd fucked a hundred times, her lips ghosting over his, "and I need you..."
The woman was already walking away when V found the courage to look up into the eyes of the man she had been aching for. Viktor slowly rose from his stool, eyes first locking onto her hand still gripping his belt and then up into hers. And there was that look, the questioning gaze that undid her inside. She could see that he was breathing heavier than normal, and there was almost a different kind of heat radiating off him, similar to the other times he had pushed her away. This time he didn't push her away, this time he stood over her small frame and snaked an arm around her, pulling her flush against his body and gently tilting her chin up to look down into her eyes.
"You want to dance with me?" He questioned her seriously, voice low and intense and pushing his glasses up away from his eyes to study her with an intensity she had never expected from him. His eyes, deeper blue than she'd ever seen them, looked heavy lidded and leaden with a heat barely contained and threatening.
All V could do was look back up at him, her own eyes pleading not to be rejected right here in the middle of the bar, but even more for him to not let go of her. Her eyelids fluttered shut as his thumb traced softly over her bottom lip and she nodded, a barely whispered "Yes..." falling from her lips.
She felt his body nearly engulf hers as he learned over her, brushing his lips along her neck as she had teased him just moments ago. His voice, soft and low sent waves of relief and need through her as he whispered, "You need only ask me. For anything."
When she met his gaze, something in his expression looked satisfied, and relieved, and something else a little animalistic. A little hungry.