Now...of course I wait a while after this little delivery, but...I simply must speak to him again! To hear his beautiful voice, to feel those deft hands that bound my injury before...
So I carefully plan our next meeting. A chance encounter. The sweet doctor catching a young lady as she falls, just like in the books!
Of course, there are a great many things one could stumble into or over, and so I opt for something more subtle.
As soon as I learn that Viktor is going to visit an herb supplier, I memorize the time and date he plans to leave, and set myself up at an opportune point along the route where I can appear to have lost track of where I was walking.
He should be on his way home right now, with a bag full of herbs that smell absolutely disgusting in his pocket. I just need to play dumb, and fall into his arms like a helpless maiden.
When he passes by me, I stumble out of the alley with a loud gasp.
"Eeeek!! Ah--!"
His catches me with his strong arms so quickly and easily it's like we'd scripted it. Oh, my goodness, I can't believe I get to touch him like this! He holds me steady in his embrace as my body tilts precariously sideways.
My eyes open as I tilt my face upwards, looking at him in utter shock and disbelief as I cry out in alarm. "Vi...ktor!?"
His surprised, lovely green eyes widen at the sight of my face, and I wonder what he sees in my expression.
Shock, yes, but is my delight at seeing him again more obvious? Or my love for his beauty?
I can only imagine it's some mix of all three.
His expression quickly morphs to one of polite concern.
"Miss...!" There is gentle chastisement in his voice that makes my heart race. "Are you alright?"
Ah-
If I say I am, our meeting will be over so fast. But I didn't think to come up with an excuse to extend it. Though I feel foolish pretending, I finally say, "My ankle..." and groan a bit for added effect.
"Let's get you to my clinic, shall we?" His arms helpfully pick me up in a bridal carry. "It's just a short distance from here."
I cannot help but take the opportunity to wrap my arms around him in turn, but I just can't decide whether to close my eyes and soak it in or stare up at him so wonderfully close. I compromise with holding his gaze.
Viktor moves through the town with ease. People make way for him, but do not bother him or slow his passage, and though I catch a glimpse of concerned citizens, no one gets in his way.
I feel a bit bad for lying, but his touch feels so good, I can't bear to ask to be let down yet. And it doesn't even last long, because it's only a short distance before he brings me to the clinic and gently sets me on a comfortable chair inside.
He kneels, his eyes meeting mine, and he speaks in a kind voice, the slightest hint of playfulness in it. "For one so jeopardy prone as you...I ponder whether I ought to demand you stay near this clinic more often. As a preventative measure."
Heat blooms in my cheeks and I do my best to feign embarrassment. It's actually hard to fake, given that my face is so flushed. I stutter out, "I...I was simply distracted."
My heart is pounding in my chest as I look into Viktor's eyes.
"My apologies," he says, with a warm smile, "I jest."
Those eyes! As a video game character, they were exquisite, but now they're even more radiant, because they're looking right at me, not the character model I control. I can see his irises, and the light reflecting off the dark green.
"It's my own fault for wandering in unfamiliar territory. I was hoping to explore more, but perhaps I should have been more aware of my surroundings..." I mumble, as if I have the capacity to think about anything besides Viktor at the moment.
My thoughts feel scrambled. My body is almost frozen stiff from nerves.
What do I say?
How should I act?
My knowledge of proper ladylike etiquette has gone right out the window, my brain empty except for his stunning smile and kind eyes.
I could spend years staring at this man, just as I've spent years playing the game and admiring it, and I'm sure that even then, I wouldn't get bored of looking at him.
"There is much to see in the city, of course," Viktor agrees, his green eyes looking at my feet, likely seeking evidence of injury there. "Did you fall or twist anything on the way? No blood or bruising, so it seems unlikely, but I won't take that risk without at least asking, of course. Is there anywhere you feel pain at all? We can start with a simple test for flexibility and then proceed to diagnosing from there. It is my professional opinion that I ought to see if any sprains or twists occurred due to that little tumble."
His touch sends electricity through my body as he presses lightly on my leg. The sensation is dizzying and not entirely unpleasant.
"...Well? How does this feel, miss?"
I blink rapidly, suddenly realizing I still haven't answered his question. My skin is hot, but not too painful, and I smile awkwardly at him. "I-It feels fine. Sore, but nothing serious, I think..."
His soft, slender fingers trace over the area where my ankles are supposed to hurt. I'm sure it's just in my imagination, but it feels like the air around me is being replaced with Viktor's warmth. My tongue flicks out to wet my lips, staring at him intensely.
"You certainly have impressive luck. Given your current status and mobility, I'm fairly certain your tumble was minor enough that no permanent harm came to you."
I swallow, my lips pressed into a firm line, and I nod quickly.
"Is there somewhere I can escort you? Anywhere you were headed when you became distracted enough to wander into an unfamiliar, populated street and take a tumble?"
"O-oh, uh..." I open and close my mouth for a second, eyes wide. I had not prepared for this question. My brain on auto-pilot, unfortunately, decides to betray me heartily and instantly. "The ball."
"Hm?" Viktor cocks his head to the side slightly.
"Th-there is...a naming day ball for a young lady next week." This is - this is so ridiculous, but now that I've said it I have no good excuse to go back on it.
"You....you see, you haven't let me pay you in cash for these visits, so I wanted to give you an invitation to attend in lieu of payment. To...to give you some small sign of gratitude. If you'll accept it, of course. I can't force you."
Viktor looks away, his hand rubbing the back of his neck as he clears his throat, eyes pointed off to the side. I swear the faintest flush appears on his face, and it only makes my own face hotter to see it. "Well. I am...very appreciative of the gesture, though it wasn't necessary. You really didn't need to do so, you know."
"It is the very least I could do! The least anyone could do. To you." My voice is breathy, my heart is thudding so hard it's becoming hard to think straight.
I realize I'm holding his hand with both of mine, and my grip on him loosens in sudden panic, but I don't dare pull my fingers free of him. "I-I apologize. My...dizziness has me...all...aflutter."
I don't know what I'm saying.
Nonsense, mostly.
"...Are you familiar with the event at all?"
Viktor sighs softly, but the smile on his lips is one of bemused patience, as if he were dealing with a silly child. It is so painfully and horribly accurate it's almost absurd. I wish I wasn't the source of his annoyance, though.
"Yes. I...believe I might know what you mean. If it's what I think it is, then yes, I have some idea of what they are like, yes."
"Oh." I blink in surprise. "Oh! Good. Then, will you...go? Please?"
"It's not as though I have been specifically forbidden from attending, so I don't foresee a problem in my ability to attend," he replies simply.
"I do not usually have much of an opportunity to attend noble social gatherings, however. I suspect people might wonder why I decided to attend one at random, as I rarely attend events, and I lack a family name to support me. It's easy to gain an invite as a young lady of your standing, but for an unmarried male commoner of my age, I imagine the nobles will have more questions."
I swallow, opening my mouth, but he shakes his head, cutting me off.
"But I would be happy to go, so long as I'm allowed entry, of course."
My jaw clicks shut.
"Excellent!! Then, I would be thrilled to see you there. I must insist, in my position, I simply have to find a way to thank you for your...generosity towards me."
Viktor shifts uncomfortably, but his eyes meet mine and his tone is mild and accepting, with that charmingly mild sarcasm to his voice. "Of course. I...accept this payment, then."
I'm truly shocked I didn't explode into giddy sparkles on the spot. He said yes! I did it! I asked Viktor on a date and he said yes! I can't help a giddy little wiggle where I'm seated, and a bit of a bounce to my step. "Good. I'll...be looking forward to seeing you, Viktor. At the ball!"
He stands, brushing his pants with his hands as he offers a little smile. "Then I will see you soon, my kind lady."