Chapter Text
It didn’t take long for Viktor to realize that his simple decision to feed a young street kid would quickly spiral into becoming much more complicated than he intended.
V seemed pretty pleased with their arrangement so far. He was fed, had a roof over his head, and got to spend time with Vik at his clinic when he was working. After a few days Viktor even noticed that the kid had finally started sleeping without his shoes on, settling for having them lined up neatly next to the couch where he curled up each night. Every little sign of trust V gave him felt like a gift, but as much as V seemed content with his current lot, Vik knew this still wasn’t the best way for a kid to live.
Soon most of Vik’s free time was spent trying to figure out the best course of action. The kid needed structure, he needed an education, hell, he didn’t even know if the kid had a birth certificate or not. For a very brief moment he wondered if he should bring him to Social Services and have a responsible family take him in, but that idea was quickly tossed aside. V’s explicit dislike of his previous foster families echoed in his mind, and the idea of V’s face when he realizes he’s being sent away was enough to give Vik heart palpitations. So, he definitely needed a new plan.
Next idea required some research. After the fourth night of V’s company, while the kid was snoring on the couch, Vik was upright at his desk. On his laptop in front of him floated a dozen different tabs. Foster parenting, Night City foster parent requirements, How to foster a specific child, and Midnight coffee deliveries near me, all among the bunch. It was something never in his life he had even thought about and there was so much information it was almost dizzying. He jotted down a few important points, including the contact information of the local social services.
Despite himself, he was anxious the next morning as he stood in front of the stove piling pancakes onto the plate next to him. He turned to the table where V was sitting, his own plate empty save for a speckle of crumbs. He looked to Vik, eager for another helping of breakfast. For such a small boy it’s like he had the stomach of two grown men.
“Thank you!” V said cheerfully as he grabbed a few pancakes from the stack. Viktor sat down across from him as V poured a pool of syrup onto his plate, drowning his pancakes.
He let the kid eat a bit before he cleared his throat, “Uh, V. We need to have a little chat.”
V stopped eating, looking up at him. A million emotions quickly flickered over his face, none that Viktor could decode, but he could tell the kid was immediately on guard. “Okay.” He said after a pause, putting down his fork.
“So-” He started, not quite sure how to broach topics like this. “I know you’ve been enjoying your time here, but- uh, we need to figure out long term solutions.”
“You’re getting rid of me.” V said suddenly, standing up from his chair, the dishes on the table shaking as he did so.
“What? No." Vik said quickly, completely caught of by the kids sudden reaction, "No, V, I wanted- I was gonna to ask if you wanted me to foster you.”
As quick as V’s anger appeared it disappeared, his eyebrows furrowing as he looked at him. “What?” He said, disbelief in his voice.
“As much as I have enjoyed your company these last few days, I can’t really keep you here without, y’know, the legal stuff.” He chuckled slightly, scratching the back of his head, “Don’t really want people thinking I suddenly got a random kid without any of the paperwork. But I wanted to hear your opinion on all of it.”
V looked at him with wide eyes, gears visibly turning in his head. Slowly, he took his seat again. He was quiet for a moment, hands fidgeting with his hoodie strings, before speaking. “I don’t want to go to a group home.” He said finally.
“You don’t have to.”
“You promise?”
“Yes. We just need to have a chat with some people and we can get everything sorted, but if we stay here there's gonna be a few more rules. For one, you have to go to school.”
V immediately made a face, “I don’t like school.”
He laughed, “School is important, V. Besides, I think the rest of the benefits will outweigh a few hours of boredom a day. What do you think?”
Vik can’t help but see the humour in the way V turns over the idea in his head. Finally, it seems that he decides that he would rather go to school than be on the streets or in a group home again. “Okay.” He says, a little smile threatening to spill over his serious expression.
Viktor couldn’t help his own smile, “Okay then. I got some calls to make. Go on, finish the rest of your breakfast, I know you got room for at least 2 more.” He said, playfully gesturing towards the plate. His chest felt warm, maybe he was making the right decision.
★-★-★
“Mr. Vektor.” A voice called, stirring Viktor from his thoughts. He looked up to see a professional looking woman standing in the doorway, her smiling politely at him, “Follow me please.” She said gesturing behind her.
Vik nodded, standing up from his chair as he followed the woman from the waiting room into her office. He took a seat on the opposite of her desk, glancing around the room as she sat down too. Amongst various certificates and achievements, one reading “Degree of Social Work” stood out on the wall.
“So, Mr. Vektor.” She said, as she pulled a folder from the drawer of her desk, “I assume from our earlier call you wanted to meet today to go over the procedures to become a foster parent.”
“Yes.” He said, “and just Viktor is fine, please.”
The woman nodded, opening the file and flicking through it. She grabbed a paper and slid it towards him. “So first things first, you will need to obtain a foster license. A licensing worker will have to come by your home and make sure that it’s a suitable place for the child. You will have to prove that you are financially stable, as well as take a course on fostering.”
Vik looked down at the sheet in front of him, everything she just said detailed in dark ink on the paper. The latter things that she mentioned would be no problem, but he wasn’t so sure that the social worker would approve of V’s current couch bed. Maybe it’s time for a change, not like he’s that attached to his current apartment…
“Any questions?” she asked, interrupting his thinking. He looked back at her, shaking his head. “Excellent.”
The woman placed the file back before standing up and extending her hand towards him. He shakes it, and the two of them start walking to the entrance of the office.
“I must say, Viktor, forgive me but,” the social worker starts, “It really is admirable that you are interested in doing this.” She frowns for a moment, and Viktor gets the sense that her work really is important to her, “There's so many homeless children in Night City, and it feels like we never have enough resources for them, especially for the older children who are less desirable for foster parents and adopters. So, thank you for this.”
He’s caught off guard by her sincerity momentarily, not quite sure what to say. After a second he speaks, short and concise, but completely genuine, “Of course.” He says, hoping she feels his sincerity as well.
He walks out of the office, head swimming with the amount of information gained in a short time. He has so much to do to get his foster license and prove that he is suitable to house a kid, but he smiles to himself when he thinks of telling V everything when he gets home. How crazy is it that the smallest choices can lead to potentially the most important one in his whole life?