Hexed (Vi x POC! Reader)

Warnings: This story will become Mature content at the end of Act 1 due to graphic violence, death, and explicit sexual content! You have been re-warned.

The next day came too quickly. After your conversation with Ekko, the two of you planned out a new device together. They were little earpieces that were attached to an earring. The theory was that they were supposed to let you communicate from any distance. They would have activation codes to turn them on. One for you and one for Ekko. This would allow you and your brother to be together even when apart. The issue was how to make them.

Ekko ended up falling asleep at the desk, so you carried him downstairs to his room. You couldn't sleep so you stayed up all night trying to figure out how to put the knives into the fans. Your mother's gift to you and your brother was a shock. Your display of affection towards her is even more of one. A few years ago, you had gotten into a fight with your parents. You begged them to stop working in the mines and to let you work with Benzo full time instead. You could see what it was doing to their health. They refused and even broke one of the devices you had been working on for them. An air purifier that would help those who did work in the mines. It took you months to figure out a proper ventilation system and you didn't forgive them and turned away. You couldn't forgive them for slowly killing themselves. It had been years since you hugged your mother and the hug just reminded you why.

Ekko knew about the argument. That was the one thing you had hoped to keep from him. It made you sad to know that your brother knew you'd lose your parents sooner rather than later. Now that you knew his fears, it made it all the more important to let him see the world.

"Ekko, can you grab a z-127 gear for me?" You said as you placed your goggles on the table. You were repairing Benzo's air conditioner...again. The gear had broken and without it the system couldn't switch over to the heater.

"Yeah! Let me finish with this bolt and I'll go grab it!" He called back. You hummed as you rerouted the wires. 'Blue to blue, yellow to yellow, white to... Okay, where did the other wire go?' You groaned and stuck your fingers back inside the socket. You hissed and pulled your hand out, fingers wrapped around the little copper line that was stinging your hand.

"Gotcha!" You laughed and connected the white wires together. You were used to the shock from the wires. You had built up a tolerance to pain and it didn't bother you as much as it should at this point. After all of the painful things you've had to do, your body knew how to handle it.

All you had to do now was wait for Ekko. You drummed your fingers on the unit before sighing and glancing at the clock. You had to leave soon if you were going to make it for the final lesson today.

"I got it!" Ekko reappeared from downstairs and handed you the gear.

"Thanks, Kiko!" You grinned as he blew a raspberry at you, "Hey!"

"You know I don't like that nickname!"

"Well too bad, it's what I call you, Ki-Ko!" You said while stressing the name. You yelped as you dodged a wrench that came flying towards you.

"Watch it! You could've hit me!"

"That was the point!"

You snickered to yourself and slotted the gear into place. With a few turns of the wrench that your brother had just tried to nail you with, it was all fixed up. You shut the panel and flicked the switch on. The tell-tale rumble started and you grinned in success.

"Hey, Ekko? I've gotta head out now, but I'll be back later, alright?" You called to your brother as you picked up your bag and climbed up to the roof.

"Bring me back some food, please? Mom made fish egg soup for dinner last night. I'm still starving!" He said in exasperation. You gagged, remembering how oily the soup had been, and nodded.