Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Cecil B. Heimerdinger stared intently at the parchment in his hand, his cyan blue eyes reading and rereading the words that were scrawled in the dark ink.

She was coming, she said she would, certainly, she would... right? He'd initially sent a request for her to come quite some time ago, but her response had been slow and even more frustratingly, superficial.

He sighed softly and lightly tossed the paper back onto his desk, using the free hand to flatten some stray fur that had weaseled itself out of place. Surely, she would be able to provide some guidance to Jayce and Viktor in their endeavors, though the last time they'd met, her knowledge of magic had been what little more than the entirety of Piltover knows now, but with how long it’d been… surely….

As much as he'd wanted to help, to research and experiment, to test and push the boundaries of Hextech, he strayed from that long ago. For since the moment it had happened, the memories from back then still haunted him, though his support for the boys’ endeavors remained. He was a Councilor now and experimenting was but a small fleeting part of his infinite life, one that no longer pertained to him. He had a city to oversee and an Academy to run. Yes, she’d help… surely. Heimerdinger cleared his throat and hopped off his chair, Porofessor leaping from his bed to follow in his stead.

"Let us go Porofessor, the day awaits our presence," he called back to his beloved poro as the two left side by side and entered into the days' festivities.

...

Seika's blue eyes looked the gate to Piltover up and down repetitively, each look becoming more and more overwhelming. People filtered in past the Enforcers that were donned in their best navy and gold uniforms, but it was apparent that the civilians were more focused on their feet rather than the armed men in their surroundings. Her dark brows furrowed a bit and she looked up once again towards the looming pillars that lined the bridge into the city, the large carved faces glowering down over them like overbearing gods. It'd been some time since she stepped into a city as large as this… Quite some time and she shifted in discomfort.

She ran a hand through her hair, her fingers sifting through the dark roots that lightened to silver until she reached the ends that extended to her waist, and then flicked it back over her shoulder. Those same long locks covered the little bag that was so carefully strapped to her through the black leather straps that slipped under her arms, crossed once in the back beneath the bag, and then again in the front just below her bust. She lightly tugged at the long dark blue sleeves covering her arms and smoothed the light blue square-necked top she wore and then strode forward.

Her heeled black boot clicked on the stone walkway as she took her first step, and the rhythmic clicking that came after was somewhat relaxing despite the less-than relaxing circumstances. People pushed against her as they made their way through the border and past the enforcers, given that sufficient paperwork was provided of course.

"Papers," a curt young enforcer asked, hand outstretched when she'd finally approached the front after making it through the throngs of people. Her hand slipped to the little cut out on the inside of her mid-thigh length black skirt, and using two fingers, she pulled forth the letter from Cecil and a small rectangular identification card, which according to what he'd written in his letter seemed to be an ambassador pass. The enforcer whose eyes had been following the unknown woman's every move studied the letter and card, and after confirming the seal and giving her another up-down, permitted her through. It wasn't often that Professor Heimerdinger had visitors, let alone a lone female, but the moment she was past him, he’d forgotten about it altogether when the next person moved forward.

The light to dark blue gradient-colored trail attached to the back of her skirt flowed behind her as she began the walk across the bridge, and as she reached the end, she began to understand why so many were eager to get into the city. There were blimps in the air and signs displaying "Progress Day" accompanied by the image of an individual named Jayce this – “Man of Progress”, all scattered throughout the sky and rooftops. People bustled about, carts hustled to get into place, and music echoed from a variety of area within the city.

Seika scrunched her nose, the entirety of it far too overwhelming for her, and she quickly slipped into more deserted alleyways. She stuck to the dark, heading further into the city with very few eyes noticing as she did so.

...

The day's festivities blared all around her, but sticking to the quieter areas made things a bit more tolerable, and on more than one occasion, she saved a child, distracted by a mechanical toy or other, from running into one another or even into a pole. The chaos was exhausting and she sighed as the continued making her way, slipping wide distances between people as she passed them by.

All of a sudden, she'd heard a soft boom and looked up, a familiar blue light flashing quickly across the sky. Her own eyes widened and she tore through the square she'd just come upon, rushing to find a better place to view the origin of the sound and light.

Her heels clicked loudly against the path, but nothing so deafening as the boom that continued to reverberate in her ears. The path she turned in was dark and empty, and with little thought after so many years of practice, her form changed, shifting into a hawk and soaring into the air until she settled on the roof of the nearest building. Little sparks of blue erupted from her as she shifted back, settling into a sit on the roof with her legs dangling off the edge. Since she’d stood on the roof, her eyes hadn’t left the spherical structure at the top of the tall building. Her smile widened, eyes sparkling as it boomed again, the blue light flashing as someone was transported from here to god-knows-where. She smiled warmly, hearing several gentle soft calls as it happened. So, this was how Piltover had shocked the world, this was their own usage of magic. She bit her lower lip, intrigued by it all, then stood, shifted back into the hawk, and began to fly over the city.

With the wind in her feathers, she soared above it all as she flew towards the Hexgate, wanting to get close enough to echo the calls back to their speaker. She weaved with the wind, encircling the large monument as blue light trickled out from the entrance of the gate, but a loud explosion pulled her from her amazement. Her movements slowed until she was hovering, turning her head as her sharp eyes searched for the source of the blast. When she saw the plume of smoke it took no consideration for her to veer off course, heading in the direction of the docks.

...

 It hadn't taken long for her to see the ship in question, burning within brilliant purple flames as a young girl within the fire let off a barrage of bullets at anything that seemed to move. A bright green light caught her eye as it zoomed away from the ship, and it now appeared that there were only two remaining on the main deck of the ship. With the loud flames drowning out their speech, Seika watched as they began to converse, ignoring the bodies that surrounded them. Even from the distance she was at, her sharp eyes could see the conversation was anything but amicable, and she perched, ready to take flight if necessary, but the two spoke, then fled the scene. The fire ravaged, the purple flame continuing to burn the ship as much as possible until enforcers began to show up and put it out.

With a sharp exhale, containing confusion and curiosity, she leapt from the perch, falling, wings just barely outstretched, then opened them at once, catching the thermals that allowed her to glide effortlessly back up into the air. She'd seen enough and began to fly in the direction of a tall and glorious set of buildings, one she could easily assume being Piltover Academy, her one and only destination.

Chapter Text

After Seika had shifted back in a quiet area, she then began the short trek to the academy entrance, however, she didn't get very far. Crowds moved forward towards a section of the academy that was highly decorated with Progress Day designs and she followed, wondering where they were all going. With Jayce's face plastered above the entrance, Seika's raised an eyebrow, and after some internal debate, she slipped through a side door into a quieter hallway, heading towards the back of the building and stage. After she flashed her ambassador ID a few times, she found herself in the quiet and dark backstage area. It appeared the poster-man himself, this Jayce, was already on stage, and from where she stood, she could hear his words but she hardly paid much mind to them. She walked, looking around, until her eyes sought out the only two individuals in the area, one a female who stood next to a tall man who appeared to be using a crutch to stabilize himself. She continued to move without drawing their attention, heading towards a sectioned-off room and slipping past quietly as the speaker continued to talk. Within the room was a large anvil and on top a swirling bright blue orb.

Her head tilted as she viewed the blue swirling orb from where it rested so delicately. Her eyes hardened a bit as she stared intensely at the orb, completely oblivious to the soft metallic clunking that began to come closer and closer. She gently picked up the orb, inspecting it as she raised it above her head. Within seconds of picking it up, she'd brought the orb close to her face and it shimmered brilliantly, then let it roll into the palm of her hand --

"What is it you think you are doing?" A voice rang out and she jumped. Her head swiveled around, facing the man who stood with the crutch who moments ago, had been in the main backstage area.

"Who are you? Put that down," His accent became harsher and harsher as he spoke. How was it that this stranger had just strolled in here and was able to get so close to their inventions? Especially right now during the Progress Day demonstration; where were the enforcers, how did this woman even get in here?

"You've no idea what you're handling, put it down," He spoke again, stepping forward, his amber gold eyes narrowed in wrath

Seika blinked once and her hand moved to put it down but remained silent.

"Surely you're in the wrong place, the ballroom and bar are a few buildings east of here" he looked her up and down, then back to the gemstone that Jayce and himself had been working so diligently on for so long.

She held back from raising her eyebrows and decided to play a part, just to see how he'd react. If he was going to treat her as some blind incompetent bimbo, she'd do just that.

With a hand moving to her hip, her smile fake and her tone saccharine.

"Well pardon me, I just couldn't help myself," she strode to the back of the anvil, fiddling with the anvil, her index tracing some of the runic lines on its surface.

His hand outstretched, his long slender fingers acting as if they, from just stretching in this odd woman's direction, could somehow stop her from what she was doing.

"This jewel is a pretty thing, perhaps you'd be interested in selling it to me," Her blue eyes met his own amber ones, unfazed by his presence or reaction. She watched his brows furrow in anger, eyes just barely shifting as she studied his facial features.

"It is not for sale, now hurry and get out," he spat out. Here stood this stranger who mocked his work with every word that came from her lips and Viktor found himself furious, so much so he could hardly hold himself back.

Seika could have chuckled at his reaction but it’d preemptively ruin the fun and so despite the frustrations evident on his face, she decided to push him a bit more, just one last time.

"Oh, sir please, I just need a pretty jewel for a new necklace sir," she smiled, emphasizing the second sir as walked back around the table to stand directly before him, "It’s my coloring after all," she spoke as her fingers went to fiddle with her exposed collarbone.

He stood stunned, the sheer incompetence of this woman actually flooring him and his hand went to cover his eyes as he attempted to regain his composure.

"Get out," he stated.

She smirked, losing the act as his vision was hidden by his own hand, and with the same voice, she stated "Ok!" as she slipped past him. By the time he'd gone to turn around, the woman was gone, and he was standing alone. Viktor regained some level of self-awareness back and upon hearing where Jayce was at in his speech, he hurried to the lever, ready to open it when it was time, but the time never came. Viktor's face fell when Jayce's speech veered off the topic at hand and when it made no evidence of returning, he slipped into his thoughts, anger coursing through him.

"What did you think? How was it?" Jayce asked with a large smile on his face, his presence pulling Viktor from his thoughts.

Viktor looked around, so distracted he hadn't even heard Jayce, but when Jayce questioned him again, he turned his attention back to his friend and co-inventor.

"Yes, yes, it was good," he nodded, attempting to save some face, and after that, the pair left together as Viktor attempted to hold his own frustrations together.

...

Heimerdinger had left Jayce's speech in a tizzy. The boy's words could certainly be problematic in the future, and he wondered just how much of an effect they'd have on everyone; civilian, investor, and council member. He sighed, the darkness of night closing around himself and Porofessor as the pair headed back together to the main part of the academy to his office, while the Progress Day parties were hosted elsewhere.

The Academy was quiet, others preferring the festivities and activities that followed suit, but he had little interest in such things, and when he saw a figure leaning against the wall next to his office door and let out a breathy chuckle.

"Seika Etesia," he called out excitedly and the figure looked up from the floor and smiled widely.

"Cecil B. Heimerdinger," she spoke and strode to him in a few steps, kneeling to give him a hug. "How I've missed you," she spoke softly and he chuckled, wrapping his arms back around the woman, all while attempting to ignore Porofessor who circled them excitedly barks echoing from the ball of fluff.

"Come, come on in dear," he spoke, unlocking his office as she picked up his beloved pet and spoke to him, following him inside to the massive space. "I do hope Cecil's students have been treating you well, they have, haven't they?" She asked the poro and Heimerdinger stifled a chuckle again as the poro trilled and yipped eagerly into her petting hand. "Because if they haven't then they must answer to me," she spoke sternly to no one in particular, but smiled warmly at the little one in her arms.

"He's certainly missed you," Heimerdinger spoke as he prepared a cup of tea for both of them. After a minute, he set a plate and teacup before the woman and before his own place, then settled into his chair. She followed suit and gently pet Porofessor as she sipped on the warm beverage.

"I've missed him as well, both of you actually, it's been far too long," she looked up to him and smiled at her closest friend.

"I wish it was better circumstances," he spoke, lacing his hands together and resting them on the desk. The pair slipped into a comfortable silence until Seika broke it.

"I saw it," she rested her chin on her hand. "What I presume is new, the orb," she spoke.

"Yes, the gemstone they're calling it, they just showed me today. I suspect the pair of them aren't content with me right now... they expected to demo it today, but they've only just stabilized it. They need years of research and testing to ensure it won’t... it can’t be..."

Seika watched his face trail off into something darker than the typical joy-laced face he showed to nearly everyone. She frowned and reached out, placing a hand on his.

"I know. We’ll get it figured out, yeah?” She responded softly, knowing just as well that magic can be helpful and productive, and also devastating, and that it was all dependent on how it was used.

Heimerdinger smiled, his own tiredness now evident and he sighed, rubbing his furred face.

"I assume that speech didn't help either," she said, leaning back now, remembering the speakers' declaration of having created something new.

"I have deep concerns for how Jayce's statement will affect the future," the yordle spoke blackly and Seika's face dropped in worry as well.

"You understand why I've asked for your help then?" Heimerdinger asked, looking seriously at her and she nodded, fully understanding what she was to do and how she would go forward in this constantly-developing situation.

Heimerdinger nodded, leaving it at that. He quickly opened one of his desk drawers and pulled out a key.

"Let me show you to where you'll be staying, I got you a room right within the grounds," he spoke, the momentary darkness gone from the yordle, as the pair left his office and headed into one of the nearby buildings. It appeared to be a residence for staff and researchers alike, and he stopped in front of one of the doors, number 14, and unlocked it. She entered, unclipping her backpack from the clip on the left side and tossing it onto the double bed.

"I do hope it's satisfactory enough," he spoke, looking as she viewed the room. His response was a warm smile as Seika looked back at him.

"This is perfect Cecil, thank you," she spoke, switching on a light that gave the room a soft warm yellow glow.

"Wonderful, I'm down the hall in room 37 if I'm needed, come now Porofessor, Seika must be exhausted," he chimed melodically.

The poro, tongue out happily, looked between the yordle and human, moving back between them in playfulness, despite Heimerdinger's teasing words towards the white fluffball, and after a few last pets from the woman, the yordle and his companion left and Seika found herself alone.

Chapter Text

Seika had slipped into sleep rather quickly, the day's adventure catching up to her as she plummeted into unconsciousness. In her haze she swore she'd heard a familiar rhythmic metal clanking somewhere near, but as she drifted in and out of consciousness, she was unable to differentiate between dream and reality. Instead, it was a loud knocking that roused her from her sleep and she woke quickly, hearing Cecil's voice on the other side.

"Seika, I apologize for waking you but --" Heimerdinger could have jumped with how quickly the door opened, and before him stood a sleepy and hastily dressed Seika.

"Yes, that's alright, whats happened?" She brushed out her hair, flipping it back from one side to the other, and then smoothing her clothes out.

"I do believe it's rather urgent, Jayce has requested the council immediately--" Heimerdinger watched as Seika hopped a few steps back, hooking her small bag around her ribcage before connecting the buckle on her left side and slipping her arms through the loops. She stumbled to her boots, clipping a corner of a wall, and Cecil stifled a chuckle at her near recklessness.

"Of course, let's hurry," she ushered, buckling her boots up one after the other. After locking her door, the pair of them hurried to the council room. Upon their arrival it was evident that Jayce hadn’t yet arrived which gave Heimerdinger a moment to give a very short introduction of Seika to the council, which she decided to remain passive and silent during. Eventually, Jayce's presence was announced and the council sat, Seika behind Heimerdinger in a chair an enforcer had brought for her. With legs crossed and hands resting in her lap, she watched as not one, but two chairs were brought forward before the council.

In first strode the poster-man himself, Jayce Talis, and behind him was his fellow Hextech inventor Viktor, whom Heimerdinger had both introduced to her in conversation during their hustle to the council room. Seika was admittedly shocked seeing the hobbling man she'd met last night that was indeed the co-inventor of Hextech. Both men sat, Jayce's worry evident on his face while the other appeared tired, the bags under his eyes incredibly noticeable. Her brows furrowed and as they did, it was in that moment that Viktor had lifted his eyes to survey the Council members around the room and when they landed on the strange woman from the night prior his eyes widened in shock.

The man rested against his crutch, his intense amber eyes staring directly into hers and never wavering. Seika met his gaze before it shifted towards Jayce Talis.

"The gemstone is gone, along with some of our research papers," the Man of Progress spoke.

There was a moment of stunned silence during which Seika couldn't contain her shock, her face paling as her palm covered her face. The moment that silence ended and the rest of the council broke into an uproar. Heimerdinger silently slipped from his seat, attempting to walk off the newly-found anxiety as the two men were ravaged with questions by the members of the council. Seika eyed her friend, who stared out the window into the world below and she let out a long sigh, her hand long having returned to her lap.

"The situation is still developing," a man to the side spoke, donning the enforcer uniform. "No one in the undercity has claimed responsibility yet."

Seika's eyes looked back up towards the seated men, Jayce and Viktor, and realized that Viktor's eyes had never left her.

"How did it come to this?" Heimerdinger questioned aloud as he turned from the window and silence drifted across the group.

Viktor was the first to break it.

"How is it that a stranger slips into the backstage area of the Progress Day Speech, somehow manages to avoid all the enforcers, sneaks into the room where the gemstone was, and yet now sits behind the council? You were the last unfamiliar person with the gemstone, yes?" His eyes bore into hers.

Heimerdinger whipped around to face her, giving her a soft glare. "That's where you had gone Seika?"

"Purely by circumstance," she stiffed as she raised her hands, palm facing outward as the rest of the council, besides Heimerdinger, viewed her suspiciously.

"Heimerdinger's introduction of you was rather curt, who are you?" A bald woman asked, the metalwork around her neck clicking rhythmically.

"Did you steal the gemstone?!" An older man yelled almost maniacally as he attempted to stand.

"State your presence and connection to the council Leader," a non-human entity spoke.

 Jayce and Viktor stared intently at her, along with the rest of the council members, but her eyes sought out Cecil's, who looked at her, up to the ceiling, then let out a sigh and a small nod.

Seika stood and could have laughed when everyone in the room except for Cecil stiffened.

"I've no interest in your gemstone, nor any need for it. Cecil is a dear friend of mine that I have come to visit; I have some prior," she paused, considering her words, then spoke again, "experience with magic." Viktor straightened and his eyes widened in shock and curiosity. "Cecil has simply invited me to view all that Piltover has done so far, nothing more." She stated and Heimerdinger noticed many of the council members looking from her to himself, probably because she'd used his first name. He scowled a bit but moved past it.

"As she's stated, she's simply here to assist, now are there any further questions regarding my colleague?" He asked the council curtly who all shook their head and broke into whispers and conversations about how to best deal with the undercity while Seika took her seat again.

Seika watched Viktor's eyes shift to look at everything that wasn't her as the council members before them spoke about the city below.

The non-human entity turned to Jayce and questioned the likelihood of whether or not the gemstone could be used to create a weapon. Jayce's answer was less than desired but he was honest and that meant something.

Seika's focus turned back to Viktor, who still had not looked her back in the eye, but her line of sight was broken when Heimerdinger passed before her to return to his seat.

Jayce had begun to approach the council members, and Seika's focus went to him. There he stood, requesting the suspension of Hextech operations before the council members until things were in order.

Viktor finally had looked up, shocked to hear the words spilling from his co-inventor’s mouth, and his eyes went back to the strangers whose own attention was solely focused on Jayce and his request. The innate look of surprise was present on her face, but Heimerdinger's response was even more shocking. The rebuttal was immediate, particularly towards the closing of the Hexgates, and he watched her left cheek pull slightly inward into her mouth as she bit it.

"You would sacrifice your life’s work?" Heimerdinger questioned, and Seika looked back to Viktor and bit her lower lip apprehensively, letting her eyes drift to the floor. Things were certainly messy now.

The conversation broke out again, a single woman speaking, but Seika had drifted into thought, wracking her brain for any possible resolution to this issue.

" --A new chair be brought forth and that House Talis be elevated --" the words broke Seika from her thoughts as one of the council members recommended Jayce be elevated to a Councilor, one that would focus on the security and interests of the Hexgate.

Finally, after a short moment of silence, Heimerdinger verbally agreed to what Councilor Medarda was recommending. After a vote, Jayce was sworn in as a Councilor and the meeting ended. Seika's eyes drifted back to the sitting inventor and their eyes met, amber to blue, and she was unable to read him, but she was distracted as Heimerdinger stood, her figure moving as she followed suit and the rest of the councilors went on their way.

...

After a short conversation, mostly of the events that had just occurred, Heimerdinger and Seika went their separate ways.

She walked the hallways of the academy, only occasionally passing by someone as she maneuvered down walkways, through different buildings, and up and down several floors until she heard a ringing, an echoing voice and she turned to face the direction it'd come from.

She turned and walked, following the voice with little regard as to where she was going. Occasionally she’d flashed her ID here and there where necessary, but only when the voice got louder and more distinct, did she begin to walk faster, solely focused on finding the origin.

Seika quickly walked down a hallway, heading towards the door at the end, and just as she was to enter it, a woman exited and the pair ran into one another. With papers now scattered across the hallway and each woman on the floor, they faced one another and laughed.

"I'm so sorry," the stranger spoke, pushing up her glasses as she stifled more laughter.

"No no please, it's my fault," Seika smiled as she began to gather the papers with the stranger's help. When the papers were gathered and both women stood, they smiled at one another.

"I'm Sky," she put out her hand out, "I'm Viktor and Jayce's assistant," she pointed her chin towards the door next to them.

"I'm Seika," she said, "I'm a guest of Ce – Professor Heimerdinger's." The pair spoke for a bit longer before Sky excused herself.

Seika, with the short distraction having removed itself, was now hearing the echoing voice louder than ever, prompting her to slip through the open door. She walked along the long narrow hallway, following the voice before entering in through the second pair of doors at the end of it. It was a large space with several desks lined around the edges of the room, and a large window overlooking the city. Books were scattered around the place, some stacked, others in neat piles on the floor and she nearly laughed assuming this was about as organized as it got, but the voice calling to her made her turn to the inner corner.

There floating and swiveling around was a crystal, sparkling and shimmering as three thick stone bands engraved with runic signs encircled it, similar to that of an armillary sphere. Beyond that appeared to be 18 identical square pyramid pieces with a different rune engraved on each lateral face. Four runes? Only four? She stepped closer her eyes drifting down to look at the bronze handles on each side of it, and she tenderly took one, smiling as the echo spoke softly to her, chanting and calling to her. She turned it, seeing one rune-covered piece shift, and turn, adjusting itself in accordance with the way her hand moved.

Peculiar...

She turned it again, watching the piece move a different direction and tilted her head. Then the voice spoke again and rather than the incessant rambling that had been the constant thus far, it instead asked her a question. What was her name?

She spoke, her eyes shimmering a brilliant blue, words unintelligible and unrecognizable and the moment they left her lips the ball spun unprompted, spinning on its invisible axis quickly, eager and excited. She smiled and giggled softly at the energy present within this piece and listen to it coo at her. When she began hearing other voices, small and soft, Seika sifted around the room until she found a box. After a quick glance to ensure she was alone, Seika opened it and found herself looking at many crystals, pure, delicate, and volatile. Her voice drifted to speaking words unrecognizable again, and many of the crystal’s lights brightened and softened irregularly but the voices around her grew content and settled noticeably. Seika closed the box and turned to face the chalkboard nearest the rune-encased essence ball.

Her brows furrowed as she studied it; such things were a bit too far over her head, but she understood some of it. It was interesting though and so incredibly mathematical that it almost made her dizzy. Her forte, after following her mentor, hadn’t required mathematics to channel magic, rather, it was a skill she’d had since… Seika’s focus had shifted from her thoughts as she gazed down at an open page in a journal, scribbled with translations and transcriptions. She flipped the page, reading, then flipped another until she eventually picked it up and began pacing slowly about the room as she read it. She'd eventually stopped on a single page, looking deeply at something that was written on the page, one eyebrow-raised. There it was again, the same four runes on the matrix being referenced here.

"It seems you have a habit of sneaking your way into areas that normally would be off-limits," A voice rang out and she snapped the book shut and turned swiftly to the origin.

There, leaning against the door frame stood a laden Viktor, whose eyes studied the woman who seemed to have made herself at home within the Hextech Lab.

Seika smiled, biting her lip as she attempted to hold back a laugh. She felt like a child who'd been caught red-handed. "I hope you'll forgive me, I was just curious," she said, holding up the journal as she walked slowly to return it to where she'd found it in front of the chalkboard.

Viktor pushed himself from the doorframe and adjusted himself on his crutch, "I suppose since you're here per a special request from Professor Heimerdinger then such actions can be forgiven." He walked behind Seika and let out a soft groan as he settled on the stool before the runic entity she’d been looking at earlier.

She side-eyed him and he caught her gaze, but she looked away first, her eyes searching the array of equations and calculations that covered the board's surface. Her eyes fleeted, following the chalk-made shapes and notes sprawled across nearly every available surface of the board.

He stared at her quizzically from his stool; how was it that this woman knew magic? She certainly didn't appear to know anything about Hextech considering how intensely she was staring at his calculations and translations. "You said you were versed in magic?” His tone lilting in a question as he settled forward on his crutch in an attempt to find a more comfortable position. “Were you born with it? Or perhaps trained in it? Is it Elemental? Spiritual? Or is it that has Heimerdinger provided you with ample information on Hextech?”

His attempt at smoking out information fell on deaf ears, though Seika found herself rather impressed by how much he knew and despite her hesitancy towards Hextech, she was even more impressed they’d made it this far. "I just know some things here and there," she spoke vaguely, years of being around her mentor leaving her detached and distant from people she didn’t know, which was most people.

Viktor’s brows furrowed at her response, finding her reticence frustrating. Her eyes turned to him, and then the essence behind him. "What is the purpose behind that?" She asked, shifting the conversation intentionally.

He turned, looking back at the rune matrix, noting what she appeared to lack knowledge on. “It’s a rune matrix. It’s meant to invoke functions, to use them as tools. It is hoped that when we manage to unlock the combinations, we’ll be able to utilize them.”

The woman, Seika, let out noise of acknowledgement then her head tilted.
“What is it?” Viktor asked when he’d looked back at her, noting the way she stared at runic piece, blue eyes almost sparkling. He shifted uncomfortably, his gaze unable to leave hers despite the sight filling him with uncertainty.

“Nothing,” Seika said in response, her tone even. She’d realized however, that the moment Viktor had walked into the room, the whisperings from the crystal within the matrix had ceased. Her lips parted as she went to say something, Viktors eyes following the movement before they closed and her desire to converse with the crystal ended as she hesitated in front of the stranger.

Viktor turned away, picking up some of his notes in an attempt to distract himself. Perhaps if he appeared busy, she’d leave. When he glanced up at her again there she remained, studying the matrix, gaze unyielding as if she was trying to determine the very secrets of Hextech with a single uninterrupted observation. He couldn’t decide if he disliked it or not.

“The Professor hasn’t ever mentioned your name,” Viktor interrupted the silence, his eyes still gazing down at the papers in his hands.

Seika smiled, the softest huff of a laugh leaving through an exhale. “Perhaps I should lecture him for that injustice,” she said as she straightened, turning again to look back to chalkboard.

Viktor stiffened, head shaking in disbelief at the woman’s words. “Truly you don’t mean to disrespect—”
“Disrespect? Gods no,” Seika interrupted, her eyes meeting his in a flash. “I’ve known Cecil for many years, and he’s quite dear to me. This is actually the first time we’ve seen one another in person since…” She paused, chewing on her lower lip as she considered just how much time had passed. “Well since he became a professor.”

Viktor shook his head, obvious confusion on his face.

“But that would make you at least a hundred and fifty ---” Viktor began, looking up at her. The look of confirmation on her face had his eyes widen. In fact, the astonishment on his face was so evident that Seika laughed, her head thrown back, eyes closed with her nose pointing towards the ceiling. Her laughter subsided and she watched him again, noting how he mouthed the numbers back to himself, his eyes looking expectantly at her form.

Seika smiled silently before walking around the room slowly, her hand lightly grazing the desks and books in the path of her stroll. “Secrets, secrets,” she replied, hand occasionally splaying flat to separate papers stacked one another, curiosity overtaking her as she studied the writing upon them.

“Are you usually so difficult to converse with?” Viktor asked, eyes narrowed towards her. She stopped in front of the window, looking out at the city below them. She leaned over the desk, her palm moved, flattening itself against the window as she peered out, eyes wandering the seemingly continuous expanse of buildings and society.

“Do you usually reveal all your secrets of Hextech to someone you just met?” Seika responded, her back still to him.

“Fair point,” he replied, spinning his stool back to the matrix. He heard her footsteps echoing in his ear as she continued her walk until she ended up at his right, stopping to watch as he used the brass handles to move the matrix, shifting and trying function upon function.

Seika watched as he worked, trying again and again ceaselessly. A distant boom echoed in the distance and her face turned in the direction of it knowing it’s origin point was that tall building she’d flown around the day prior; the Hexgate.

“Though I will admit, it is amazing what you both have done,” Seika added, turning as Viktor shifted in his chair, head turning to look at her. His hands ceased their movements, eyes drifting upward to meet hers and she smiled. “It’s my first time visiting Piltover and I hadn’t known what to expect, but I can whole-heartedly tell you it wasn’t this. It’s,” she paused, his amber eyes staring into hers, “really quite phenomenal,” she added after a moment.

“Why?” She suddenly asked.

“Why what?” He requested, brows furrowed.

“Why any of this? What motivates Hextech? For a city so focused on technology and science, why shift to something as volatile and archaic as magic? Wasn’t Cecil against it?” She asked, leaning on the desk perpendicular to the one housing the matrix, the same one Viktor sat at.

“That is simple,” Viktor replied as his focus shifted back to the matrix, hands resuming their place on the handles. “To help people.”

Seika silenced, eyes watching the man’s profile attentively. When she didn’t respond he gave her a quick sidelong glance before continuing to work at the matrix.

“Hextech was made with the people in mind. We want to help them, to improve lives and end their suffering,” Viktor elaborated without looking back up.

“And helping a bunch of rich upper city Piltovans get richer is just a calling you had one day?” Seika asked.
“No,” Viktor said immediately, glaring at her. His tone was harsh, almost unforgiving. “Hextech has never been a get-rich-quick scheme, it has always, always,” he emphasized the last word, “been about helping those who need it most. For helping the undercity,” he said, his voice dropping as he shifted back to the matrix.

Seika silenced again, noting his haggard appearance; his shoulders slumping in exhaustion, the unkempt appearance of his hair and uniform and the purple bags under his eyes. Her gaze softened as the sassy near impenetrable walls she’d built up over the years after practically being raised by her mentor opened and parted for the man before her and his blunt unfiltered honesty – a quality she rarely witnessed in people.

“You’re from the undercity,” Seika said after a moment of silence, it wasn’t a question, but rather a confirmation. He looked up at her, preemptive defensiveness on his lips, but paused at the softness of her face and the slightest upturn at the corners of her mouth.

“Yes,” he replied hesitantly and she nodded, smiling in response.

“To help people huh?” She mumbled, repeating his words before she nodded. “Well, you’ll have my support,” she added, “for as long as that remains the goal.”

Viktor had paused his ministrations at the matrix, swiveling in his seat to follow as she retreated back to the window, staring out well beyond Piltover now. “That’s it?” He asked softly and she turned to face him.

“I needed to know where you stood. Had your motivations been something less than that, I’d have walked out the door and returned my room key to Cecil,” Seika admitted. “But helping people,” she paused, smiling as she leaned back against the desk in front of the window. “That is a motivation I can get behind.”

Her words echoed within Viktor, his eyes widening a tad. His breath caught, lungs constricting and he coughed, a tightly clenched fist raising to his lips as his body hunched and quivered with the ferocity of his coughs. Heeled boots clicked against the stone floor as she moved to the counter where a pitcher sat. She grabbed a cup, filling it with water before walking to him, offering the cup to him.

Seika’s eyes widened when his fist pulled from his lips as he grabbed the water cup, a soft thanks leaving his lips as he took a sip and wiped at the blood on the side of his index finger with a handkerchief. When he finished the cup, his hand moved, putting it on the desk behind him and he looked up, fully expecting the pity he so regularly received when it came to his conditions.

Instead of the typical pity, her face was softer, kinder. Her dark brows were slightly furrowed, mouth parted like she wanted to say something but all he heard was silence. He wanted to scoff, at her age, despite her appearance being no more than late 20’s, she couldn’t understand the fear or mortality, but rather than lash out, he turned back to the matrix, continuing to work.

Seika’s gaze has shifted away from the man and back to the window, lost in thought as things clicked into place. A soft sigh left her nose through an exhale as she stared.
“I –”
“Please do not attempt to relate to my situation,” Viktor interrupted, his words accompanied by the soft but indisputable metallic scent of blood as he refused to look at her. “Such conversations are pointless.”
Her head tilted downward as she listened then she scoffed softly at his additional comment.

Viktor glanced her way, pausing his work as he noted the lack of offense on her face, she smiled so nostalgically as she stared out towards the window again.

“I haven’t always been like this,” she replied, “and mortality is a difficult feeling to forget,” she said, raising her hand and opening and closing her palm on nothingness. Her head turned, finding Viktor’s wide eyes and she smiled warmly.
“You’ll have my full assistance and support. My name is Seika Etesia and it’s been a pleasure meeting you Viktor,” she said softly before she stood and moved to the door.

“And you, Ms. Etesia…” Viktor replied softly, his gaze gentler now, questions still perched on the tip of his tongue. He watched as she paused at the open doorway, her hand resting on the frame as she looked back at him.  Her smile grew a bit, the smile causing his heart the plummet into his stomach as he straightened under her gaze.

“Seika. Call me Seika,” she replied before leaving the room.

Chapter Text

After Seika had left the Hextech lab, her mind swirled with the new information she’d learned. As she roamed the campus and halls, slowly following signs back to the hallway her room was in, she let her thoughts drift. It’d been a surprising development, one unexpected and yet, despite her reservations of people, she found herself wanting to stay. A soft scoff left her lips as she paused in her journey, drifting to look out the nearest window. Piltover stood strong before her, it was still as suffocating as when she’d arrive, but unlike the first step she’d taken on the bridge, wanting to eagerly to turn around and return to her mentor, she found herself a bit more keen on the idea of staying, of helping them.

Cecil was here too, and while the closeness of her friend was desired, it was Viktors words that had her heart racing in her chest. Her mentor would help people on occasion, but he’d been removed from humanity for as long as she’d known him, now his goals were much larger than that of helping the common mortal be free of the problems that plagued them. Even when their relationship shifted from mentor and mentee to one almost akin to a father and daughter, did he remain distant, a distance she grew accustomed to.

Her mentor would be fine. It wasn’t the first time she’d been separated from his side for a longer period and she’d return to his side soon but for now she’d stay here and maybe make a difference in the world she’d been traveling through her whole life. The small bag she brought clung to her back, a steady reminder of how little she had brought with her and how short she’d planned to stay. She smiled, feeling a giddiness in her body at the prospect of helping them and then she was walking down the halls again, meandering through the campus grounds before leaving the academy.

…

After speaking to the Enforcers at the gate of the Academy, she made her way down the bustling streets of Piltover. Ayro Wheel shaped vehicles sped through the streets, mechanical clicking echoing in her ears while the foot traffic around her roared with life. The sun rose above them, the midday light bright and warm on her face as she glanced up, taking in the blue sky.

She paused, looking around at the city surrounding her. Kids ran, laughing as they played. People worked tirelessly, other spoke, laughing and animatedly and Seika stared at the life about her. The citizens of Piltover looked happy, content, worry free, so how was it Viktor was so focused on the undercity then, surely if Piltover was like this, then the undercity would be in a similar situation, wouldn’t it?

Seika continued walking through the streets of Piltover. Her mentor avoided cities, opting for communities no bigger than that of Valar’s Hollow in the Freljord, and so the only thing she’d heard of both the undercity and Piltover where whispers in the wind from remote villages they’d travelled through. News of the Hexgate had spread through all of Runeterra, though it often lacked context and the information that was circulated was often inconclusive leaving her, at the time of Cecil’s letter, with more questions than answers. It was also why she was so surprised and hesitant when she received his letter, but given their past and her desire to seem him again after so many years, she couldn’t pass up the opportunity – not to mention, she didn’t have any real obligation to help. Now, the thought of not helping had her gut churning and she found not helping wasn’t a possibility anymore.

She smiled, finding the sign of the street she needed and turned the corner as she reminisced on the Hextech co-inventor’s desire to help others, his eagerness and unwavering determination calling out to her most base instincts – one she thought she’d buried long ago when she’d began studying under her mentor. An unfamiliar warmth spread in her belly, radiating through her extremities as she stepped out of the shadows of the buildings behind her and into the sunlight, the warmth giving her a satisfactory tingle on her back and shoulders.

Perhaps this place was the perspective she needed.

She paused on the walkway, looking up and down the street before crossing.

Yes. She adored her mentor, but in the near hundred years she’d grown up and followed after him, what did she have to show for it. She raised her hand as she walked, feeling the all-too-familiar feeling of magic tingling in her veins. Her progress had been slow, dampened by a mentor who watched weak-willed people fall again and again to power, and now he taught her with heavy constraints. She knew that, though it hadn’t matter how much she’d internalized that hurt, she couldn’t help but feel an achingly bitter disappointment in her soul.

Seika had continued walking along the windows and windows of shops, lazily letting her eyes drift between the products displayed behind crystal clear glass, until one such store caught her eye. The clothing in the window was pretty and when she saw her reflection in the window, clothing mirroring back at her in the reflection, she could see herself wearing it.

Her feet moved as she entered, letting the door close behind as she stepped inside. The bell attached to the door jingled with the movement, and after a moment of silence, Seika realized she was alone in the room. That was until a woman came tumbling from the back, greeting her and apologizing for her sudden appearance. Seika brushed it off verbally and began to walk around, viewing the inventory within the shop.

"Good afternoon, is there anything in particular I can help you find?" the young lady asked her, looking her up and down as she internally noted the measurements of the woman, a measuring tape wrapped loosely around her neck.

"Well, I'd come to visit a friend, but it seems I'll be extending my stay and need some clothes to fill my wardrobe. Short skirts are fine, but I'll need some pants as well, maybe another pair of boots, but dresses I'd like to avoid at all costs."

The young lady smiled and began to show her a variety of clothing that she felt would suit Seika until a sizable stack rested on the front counter.

Seika thanked her and took out her rarely used coin purse. She handed the young lady the appropriate amount and after the clothing was boxed up, she left, heading back to her room to change and put things away. Just as she was to enter the building where her room was, she heard her name called.

"Oh Seika," Cecil called to her and she waited for him by the door. Porofessor ran excited circles around her ankles and the woman couldn't help but chuckle softly at the darling creature.

"Hello Cecil," she said, readjusting the boxes in her arms, “and hello Porofessor.”

"Perhaps some shopping was in order today, Seika?" Heimerdinger raised an eyebrow and continued, "I hadn't taken you as the sort."

Seika smiled. “After speaking with Viktor, it seems I'll be extending my stay and I admittedly hadn't brought enough." She explained and the yordle nodded slowly, the pair heading into the building in silence.

“Ah yes, and what did you think of Viktor and Jayce?” He asked as they walked.

“I’ve only spoken with Viktor thus far, but I was more than pleased to hear the reason Hextech had been made, has helping others always been the goal?” She asked as they walked. The yordle nodded in response.
“It was Jayce who initially proposed the idea, that was of course after an accident occurred in his residence that nearly led to his removal from the Academy,” Cecil explained.

“Removal?” She said, her brows raised as she stared ahead.
"Almost banishment from Piltover, but that was several years ago,” Cecil responded as the pair continued to walk.

Seika lowly whistled in response. So, Cecil had fought back initially. “What was the catalyst for your opinion changing?” She asked him, her gaze shifting to Porofessor as he walked before them, his fluff bouncing with his movements while his tongue lulled from his mouth.

“That night, Viktor met with Jayce, snuck into my lab, and together they managed to figure it out – admittedly, it wasn’t that they were able to figure it out that shifted my mindset, it’s just that I was overridden by the other Councilors,” he replied, his voice shifting from his usual cheery tone to something drearier. Then, he chuckled, his attitude shifting again.
“Though, I don’t think I’ll ever forget the look on those boys’ faces, floating ten feet above the floor of my office; they looked as giddy as children,” he hummed, a smile on his face.

Seika paused, then smiled and chuckled as they started walking down the hallway towards her room, trying to imagine the co-inventors of Hextech floating weightlessly in the air as Cecil had described.

“They’ve done well so far however, I must give them credit for that,” he added as the pair stood in front of the door to her room. Seika nodded in response, a smile still on her face.

Cecil handed her a key, explaining it was for the Hextech Lab, and after the pair said their goodbyes, Seika slipped inside her room. She walked to the small window at the far wall, peering out upon the Academy grounds below, her bags forgotten on the bed. So Hextech was created illicitly. Unorthodox, and while her positive impressions remained, she wondered what the origin point was for Jayce. Had it been a fleeting interest that swelled like tsunami? A singular event or conversation that turned an interest into an obsession? To go so far as to undermine Cecil and break regulations… The thought was both entertaining and concerning, but, as Cecil had mentioned, it was years prior and even with Cecil, things seemed to have smoothed over given how much more encouraging the yordle was towards the co-inventers.

She moved away from the window, instead spending the next few hours putting the new clothes away and moseying about her room.

When the sun began to set, she moved into the bathroom and drew herself a bath, then, after cleaning herself and relaxing for an hour, she found herself seated on her bed, a towel wrapped around her body as she stared at the ceiling.

Seika wondered more about the rune matrix Viktor had been working on and she furrowed her brows, finding she wanted to speak to it more, learn more about how it’d been made. She glanced at the clock, noting how it was well past work hours and she’d likely be alone in the lab and decided to take the opportunity whilst she had it.

With her task at hand, she stood up and began to change into a pair of new light blue pants that began at her hips and flared out at her ankles and a long-sleeved black turtleneck top that cut off a bit below her bust. Her stomach showed and a long dark gray nearly black vein on her side just a bit was on display on her left side. She stared at it for a moment, watching it pulse with the beat of her own life force, then stripped the shirt off, grabbing a white undershirt that clasped between her legs before she put the turtleneck crop top back on. With the vein now sufficiently covered, she pulled her hair from the band she’d tied it up in and watched the dark to silver locks cascade from her head back down to her waist. The humidity from the bath and being tied up gave it soft gentle waves and after fussing with it enough, she eventually gave up and let it be. She slipped her boots back on, attached her backpack to her, then strode from the room after locking it behind her and was out of the building in just moments later.

Seika was grateful for the signs that littered the campus, as all that was needed to navigate from the residence building to the Hextech Lab was following one pathway, taking a right, then a left, before following another straight pathway. She stared up at the building, lost in her admiring when a voice broke her focus.
“Seika?”

“Oh,” Seika said, her eyes landing on the familiar figure. “Hello Sky,” she spoke, greeting the young woman. The two women spoke small talk the mood between them amicable as they conversed. 

“Are you going up to the Hextech Lab?” Sky asked.

Seika nodded. “I figured now would be the best time to poke around,” she said with a smile. Sky chuckled in response, nodding.

“Viktor should be there if you have any questions, he’s…” she paused, wincing a bit, “he’s bad about leaving the lab.”

Seika’s brows raised in response, and after the pair wished each other a good night they separated. Seika walked through the halls, and as she near the Hextech Lab, she heard the rune matrix again, calling and speaking. It’d registered her presence even from where she stood beyond both doors that led to the lab and beckoned to her. She paused, listening, then continued on her way and an almost anxious feeling welled up in her gut as she walked the abandoned halls. When the door to the lab was in sight, one of her hands reached for the key and she promptly unlocked the first set of doors. Her feet continued down the hallway as she slipped past the open set of second doors. Just as she stepped into the lab, she turned, finding Viktor in the same position as she had hours ago.

Her brows furrowed at the sight, remembering the blood on his hand earlier that day. Had he moved once from that position? The only thing that remained near him was a mug, but beyond that, the room was void of any basic essentials of life.

“Viktor?” She called out to him, silence and obliviousness her answer.

She continued to watch as he twisted and turned the handles, the rune matrix rejecting the combination yet again. Even now it still called to her, beckoning her, but she ignored it, her gaze softening as Viktor pushed himself back from the desk in frustration, wheeling towards the middle of the room. Seika leaned against the doorframe, her temple resting lightly against the cold metallic surface as she studied the man, his gaze on the view beyond the window listless.

“No progress then?” A voice asked, breaking the silence. Viktor jumped, stiffening as he spun on his stool to face her, his breath leaving him in soft pants.

“Do you just sneak everywhere?” He asked, his accent heavy as his lungs fought against him. He focused on her again, noting her change of clothes, and he admired them closely, perhaps even too closely. Since she’d left, he’d found his thoughts drifting, questions eating away at him, distracting him, and now, he found himself even more distracted. It was an unfamiliar position for him to be in, but in the past few hours he’d found himself not entirely disliking how his thoughts would waver and shift to her, those questions yet again building and building within him.

Seika bit her lower lip, the corners of her mouth upturning as she spoke. “To be fair, I did call out your name.”

“Ah,” was all Viktor said, using a hand to wipe away some of the pink that had spread across his cheeks. How long had she been there then? Just watching him? The thought had his heart racing in his chest as he shifted away from her, that inkling to know more about her rising up within him again.

She walked into the room and Viktor watched as she admired the chalkboard again, her gaze aimless as it drifted about the room. Her feet sidestepped and she spun 180 degrees until she leaned against the desk perpendicular to the rune matrix, her palms flat against the cold surface of the desk as she turned her head to look down at it. He watched as it moved, shifting and spinning slowly before his gaze drifted up to her face, those blue eyes of her sparkling in the shimmering light of the crystal protected by the matrix.

Viktor hadn’t realized how long he’d been staring, how long he’d been engrossed on her rather than the work that’d taken priority for years until she spoke.
“When was the last time you left this room?” She asked, her head turning, gaze meeting his.

“This morning,” Viktor said, “When we met with the council,” he added as he scooted the stool back over to the desk. Seika didn’t move and when he slid in right next to her, his elbow grazed the side of her thigh a bit. Even then, despite his hushed apology, she did not move, only smiled, and Viktor found himself settling in next to her, moving the handles, his elbow continuing to occasionally brush against her. It was that same feeling keeping him in place as his hands grew clammy around the metal handles while his heart thudded almost violently in his ears.

It ignited a feeling in each of them. A fire in their belly, unfamiliar, but not unwelcome for the pair and so neither moved from the unusual closeness.

Seika watched as he continued to test things again and again, noting the slight grit of his teeth or how his brows would crease or quirk on occasion.

“How about…” Seika began, hand reaching out towards the rune matrix. Just as her index finger moved to poke one of the square pyramids, Viktor’s hand shot out, grabbing hers as his gaze raised to look at her. She saw the concern on his face and how he froze at his own response. Her lips curved into a smiled and a moment later he released her hand, fingertips grazing over the back of her hand as he pulled away.

“You should be careful,” he retorted, though his tone was soft and unlike the lecture found in his words.

“A bit hypocritical, are we?” Seika replied. “Concerned over something like that when its you who hasn’t left this room for a full day.” She watched as his eyes narrowed at her words, a scowl appearing on his face.

“If you’re here only to lecture me, then I’d suggest you leave,” Viktor replied, watching as she poorly hid a laugh, pressing her lips together as she looked away, before looking back to him.
“The thought hadn’t crossed my mind,” Seika said, “I actually came to learn more. How it was Hextech got to the stage it was at, how things got here.”

“To talk?” Viktor questioned; his brows furrowed.

She nodded.

“To talk,” she confirmed.

Viktor’s heart plummeted into his belly again as he looked up at her, those same questions brewing, bubbling like a chemical reaction primed to burst from his lips. “Then let us talk,” he whispered, amber eyes unable to leave her face. She smiled at him; the same one he’d been seeing in his mind since she’d given him the same smile before she’d left the lab hours ago and he felt his brain go fuzzy.

Chapter Text

“So, how is it that two men break into a professors office –” Seika began pausing and laughing at Viktor’s face when it fell and when her laughs ceased, she continued. “Cecil did explain some of what had happened and how Hextech came to be, but I figured, given you were there, I should hear things from you.”

Viktor turned, looking at the rune matrix before he went on to explain how it was he and Jayce had founded Hextech. He’d glance up occasionally, finding her eyes studying him, until he eventually completely turned, meeting her gaze a few minutes later.

“So, Hextech has always been for the betterment of people?” Seika asked, tilting her head as she studied the man. “From the very beginning?”

Viktor nodded, meeting her gaze.

“Always, even now…” his gaze shifted to the rune matrix. “If I could just figure it out, this could change the world. The applications would be endless, but it just isn’t working,” he said, his tone defeated as stared at the matrix, brows furrowed. “Agriculture, biology, physiology, the suffering people endure every day could cease if I could just –” Viktor paused, realizing just how strained he sound and he remained focused on the matrix, unable to look at her.

Seika paused, staring at the profile of the man and truly seeing just how exhausted he was, yet his passion was unending. Her hand moved, finding his forearm and she gave it a light squeeze. When he turned at her touch, he was momentarily stunned by the awe in her eyes. Then, when he regained himself, his eyes drifted to where her hand rested, the sight leading him to realize that he didn’t dislike the feeling and he let his focus shifted back to the matrix. She sat there next to him, hand still on his forearm before she pulled away, staring out towards the window.

“Biology huh?” She asked, her brows furrowing slightly. Hearing that had her concern growing; utilization of magic and biology could lead to many good things, but it also had the potential to go horribly wrong, even more so with such an unfamiliar entity. Seika’s eyes shifted towards the matrix as it swiveled slowly. 

"So many lives could be improved,” Viktor replied, glancing up at her.

“How was it made?” She asked, turning to look at him. For the next several minutes, he explained how the rune matrix had come to be and by the end of it, she was looking at him, observing him silently.

When he’d finished, she let out the same noise of acknowledgement that she had earlier and Viktor bit the inside of his cheek.

"Question?” He asked her, propping his cheek against his hand, elbow against the desk as he looked up at her. She’d shifted now, fully sliding up onto the desk and her legs hung flush with the side of the desk as they dangled.

She shook her head glancing around the room.

 “Not particularly,” she replied, though her furrowed brows left him desiring more words from her. After a moment, she gave them to him. “Hextech is a new breed. For hundreds of thousands of years, magic has remained the same, though sometimes invocations can differ between casters, but the general premise is typically the same, but Hextech,” she clicked her tongue. “Is something new altogether,” her eyes shifted back to his, her tone light and almost teasing, “but I suppose that’s why you’ve been having so much fun with it, huh?”

He smiled in response, shaking his head at her words. “So, you can’t help?” He replied, looking up at her.

“I didn’t say that, but when it comes to my math and equations, I’m quite sure 2+2 is 5,” she replied with a smile as her hand once again stretched out to the matrix.

He snorted in response, his eyes following her hand, watching with a curious gaze. He watched as she lightly dragged her fingertips over the square pyramids, tenderly touching each runic sign. The matrix shifted, its typical spinning behavior altering and changing with her presence and touch and Viktor couldn’t help as his eyes looked up to her face again, studying her glittering blue eyes.

 “What is it you are doing?” He asked softly an she smiled, her eyes fleeting from the crystal in the center of the matrix to his.

“Learning,” she said in a near whisper, as if it were a secret just between them.

“Learning what?” He whispered back, shifting in his chair, unconsciously moving closer to her.

“You’re dedicated,” Seika spoke softly, her eyes drifting from Viktor’s to the matrix. “Attentive. Focused. But you have your own reservations about…” she paused, “yourself. Though you’re intelligent, incredibly so…” She paused, her gaze shifting back to him as she smiled. “It knows you; it sees you, more than the other, who I assume is Jayce.”

Viktor’s eyes widened as he listened to her.

“You’re communicating with it?” He asked in disbelief.

“More that it’s communicating with me,” she replied with a smile, “it’s very talkative. Ceaseless even,” a huff of a laugh escaped her lips.

“How? Tell me more,” he said, moving closer to her, peering up at her. Her eyes met his, and Viktor stared willingly into hers, his propped hand falling flush against the desk, the first knuckles of his hand brushing against the side of her thigh. “Please,” he breathed.

Her hand retracted from the matrix; its endless communication ignored as her focus shifted to the man before her. When she settled, her hand flat against the desk next to his, she spoke again.

“You look at magic as if it is a mathematical system. Functions, formula’s, methods that require unlocking through a combination of runes whereas I feel magic and speak with it,” Seika said, raising her other hand to look at it. It tingled and her eyes glittering. “It is a natural process for me, as natural as breathing. But regardless of our methods, one thing remains,” she paused, her gaze turning to find his again. “Magic lives, it feels, it experiences things. They even communicate with one another just as you and I are doing right now.”

Viktor had been studying her intently, his body experiencing a host of unfamiliar reactions. The hand not resting against the side of her thigh that he dared not moved clenched lightly when she spoke and his heart raced in his chest, then for the longest of moments, he swore he felt butterflies in his belly.

“Beautiful,” he said, still gazing up at her before he’d realized what he said and more importantly how he’d said it. Her eyes had widened, and the blue light of the matrix betrayed her as it highlighted the soft pink flush on her cheeks at the word.

“I agree, there is beauty in how it all works,” she replied softly and Viktor held himself back from correcting her.

“So how is it that I can utilize it?” Viktor asked, his gaze never leaving her. She sighed softly and gave a forced smile.

“I’m afraid it doesn’t work like that, it’s rather akin to asking you what the meaning of life is,” she replied.

“Can all mages communicate like this? Surely by now Professor Heimerdinger would have said something,” Viktor asked, brows furrowing as his mind swirled with the new information.

“No,” Seika’s voice was soft as she spoke, her eyes looking away from him, “that’s a rather singular trait then a generic one.”

Viktor’s brows deepened as he noted her tone change, her body shifting as she crossed her legs, seemingly to shy away from him. Was it fear? Of what? Judgement? Disapproval? Or was it something like uncertainty or distrust?

“You said you hadn’t always been like this?” Viktor asked softly, still peering up at her. “What was it you meant?” He observed her, how her gaze returned to his, the inner part of her brows tilting upward before furrowing slightly.

“Unlike my mentor, I wasn’t born a mage,” Seika replied, “it was… Granted to me,” she continued, her words hesitant. When her eyes met his again, she was faced with a curious fascination and she felt her heart stutter at the sight, uncertainty coiling in her gut like a viper

“So now you what, wander Runeterra conversing with crystals and the like?” Viktor asked, his tone matching the teasing one she’d given him moments prior as he smirked up at her. To know that gaining the ability to use magic was possible was intoxicating to him, even more so was the proof as here she stood, at least one hundred and fifty years old.

The nerves Seika felt dissipated as she laughed, shaking her head.
 “No, that’s not what I’ve spent my time doing, nor the only thing I’m capable of –” Seika suddenly gasped as Viktor stood, his arms caging her in, eyes eager.

“What else are you capable of?” He asked, a smile on his face before he shifted back, finally registering just how close they were.

They stared at one another, silence between them before Seika broke it.
“I don’t trust easily,” he heard her say and his gaze softened.

“Nor do I,” Viktor replied back. “I do not know if I’ve ever permitted someone in the lab like this, and more importantly, allowed someone to bother and disrupt my work as you have since the moment I met you,” he admitted with a soft smile, gazing into her eyes. “Yet here you are and here you’ll stay for as long as you’d like to,” he added, the words uncharacteristic of him, tone foreign, yet he could find no fault with the statement. He watched the anxiousness on her face melt away as she calmed, the silence between them stretching for several moments until a small smile appeared on her lips.

“Would you like to see?” She asked softly. He nodded and straightened, putting most of his weight on his good leg as his hand extended out to her.

“Please,” he whispered, watching as her eyes looked down to his outstretched hand, then back to his face.

Seika’s heart raced in her chest, but the lack of judgement, of disgust in his eyes had her breath catching in her throat. She wanted to trust him, gods how she wanted to, and so she slipped her hand into his. When a warm smile appeared on his face as she slipped off of the desk, she couldn’t help but feel her stomach twist pleasantly, his hand having not yet let go of hers.

“But first,” she broke the silence between them, “We should eat.”

Viktor nodded in response, giving her hand the softest of squeezes as he forced himself to relinquish it. “Yes, let us eat,” he murmured in reply.

She’d intended to retrieve the food herself, but despite her protests, several minutes later Seika found herself walking alongside Viktor. He’d assured her that there was a decent pub nearby and they walked in a comfortable silence. She’d convinced him they should take their food with them, and when the bag was in hand, they made their way back to the academy.

Once in the confines of the lab again, she couldn’t help but glance around, and there on the far desk was a folded blanket. She moved, putting it in the bag on top of the food before looking at him.

“Do you know of anywhere a bit more private?” She asked. He studied her then smiled and nodded. As she followed him out, she grabbed a large metal hinge clip and slipped it into the bag.

…

The tower was high above the ground, large gears turning behind them as a little pocket opened up into the outside world, the pocket shaped similarly to that of a keyhole. Seika stood at the edge looking out, and Viktor stood by her side, relying heavily on his crutch as his eyes too viewed the world below.

“It’s beautiful up here,” she murmured softly, gazing out at the view. Viktor smiled, his head turning slightly to view her profile.
“I’ve been coming here since I was a child – I actually met Professor Heimerdinger here,” he replied, nostalgia washing over him at the memory. She’d turned to look at him and their eyes met. The softest of chuckles left her as she smiled and he smiled in response, the behavior automatic and thoughtless. He studied her and noticed how in the moonlight, the silver ends of her hair sparkled like liquid mercury. Viktor took a quick breath at the sight, momentarily in a trance.

“What?” She said with an almost confused look.

“Beautiful,” he said, finally correcting her when he’d found his bearings again. He watched her squirm under his gaze, his smile deepening at the reaction.

Seika turned away from him, looking back out towards the view as her heart raced and cheeks flushed. Through the haze of her newly found flustered state, its origin from his words and his gaze on her, she felt a war going on within her. Was what she was about to do the correct path? Beyond her mentor, no one knew of what she could do, let alone had seen it. In her nervousness, Seika hadn’t even realized she’d been wringing her hands until Viktor’s gently laid over them.

“Seika?” He said softly, standing behind her, his breath tickling her ear and his accent inviting. “What is it?”

His voice was soft and soothing and she settled back, her back resting flush against his chest. He did not move from her, rather, he stepped closer to her.

“It is okay,” Viktor said softly, “if it is too much, then you needn’t—”

“No,” Seika interrupted softly, turning around to look up at him.

“I trust you…” She whispered with a reassuring nod. His eyes met hers, unwavering and honest.

“And I you…” He muttered in response, watching as she stiffened, his trust having caught her off guard. Viktor hadn’t even had the time to register what she was doing as she gently pulled his crutch from him and wrapped a blanket around his shoulders. The metal claw at his breastbone kept the blanket in place around his shoulder as she looked up at him and smiled. Her shoulders rose and fell in great breaths while she chewed at the inside of her lower lip.

“Continue to, won’t you?” She asked with a breathy disbelieving chuckle, gazing up into his eyes. “Follow me into the unknown,” she said, taking his hands in hers as she stepped back closer to the edge. He brows furrowed as he moved instinctively, wrapping his arms around her midsection to keep her from going back further and possibly off the edge. His mouth opened as he nearly began to lecture her, concern on his face, but as he looked down at her and found her smile, he froze.

“I fear if I don’t do this now, I won’t do it at all,” she confessed, her heart racing in her chest. In his stillness she moved, turning around in his arms again and placing his hands on her shoulders before walking with him off of the edge, and together, they fell into the unknown.

Chapter Text

Viktor's eyes had shut immediately after he'd been pulled off the edge by Seika and his thoughts flashed back to Jayce the night they had decided to pursue Hextech regardless of the world pushing back against them.

The wind in his ears was deafening, the force of it flattening his shirt to his chest and his tie against his throat until it calmed, though his eyes remained closed, fists clenched. He trusted her, and even when every cell in his body told him to brace for impact, his mind did not and in the seconds that lasted a lifetime, he waited.

"You alright back there? Have you still got your eyes closed?" A familiar voice spoke out, cutting through the wind before it laughed melodically. Viktor’s amber eyes opened slowly, peeking out past his lids, then they opened wide at once. They were flying, but... he looked down realizing he was holding intensely onto silver feathers and there he was flying higher and higher above Piltover on a large Silverwing. He clutched the large neck of the bird when he saw just how high they were, his torso lying flat against the feathered surface as his legs straddling the shoulders of the great beast before his feet tucked themselves further under the axillaries of the creatures’ wings.

The Silverwing's silver feathers glimmered in the pale moonlight and gave them an almost iridescent sheen, their own beauty drowning out the stunning lights of the city below them.

"S-Seika?!” Viktor called out as the massive bird drifted upwards, the wind blowing against him harshly until the bird flattened out and flew parallel with the ground.

"Oh good, I was worried you might have fainted," her voice called from the head of the bird.

"Where are you?" He searched, leaning over just a bit, but all saw nothing but feathers and the bag she'd been carrying now in the very large claws of the beast he was riding.

"Like I said," her voice rang out as the bird shifted again, turning upward to fly higher in the air where the wind was calmer and then the bird's trajectory flattened again.

Suddenly the bird beneath him began to change, feathers replaced by long silver fur with brilliant blue stripes. Crystalline gems sprouted on the topside of its neck while the back of the bird shifted into something mobile and moving something more akin to a quadrupedal mammal. A single tail grew from the rear and split down the middle so an identical pair of tails sprouted from the end of its back and long legs with paws stemmed from the underside of the torse, four in total, each with a large paw and each paw with even larger claws, but the wings remained where they were, their size reducing to match that of the body.

Viktor couldn’t help but reach out towards the little blue sparks and specks, noting their absence of temperature and shape as they dissipated upon touching his flesh. A ghost of a smile appeared on his face at the sight, watching in awe as they drifted up into the sky until they ceased to exist.

"We're going into the unknown together," her voice called out again, pulling his attention forward as she extended her back paw to her front, passing the bag from one claw to the next claw to eventually her mouth where it hung comfortably on her lower jaw, the strings stretching from one canine to the one across from it.

"A Protector?" Viktor whispered in shock, the blue gems that made up the very short mane on the upper neck and shoulders glittering in the moonlight.

Seika felt the wind in her fur and Viktor’s warmth on her back. He'd slipped back into a stunned silence and she took this moment to climb higher into the sky. Her wings beat softly with each movement, and when they pushed through the clouds the moon sat high and large, overlooking the pair, bathing them in white light while just beyond, the stars twinkled and beckoned them. She heard Viktor gasp at the sight and his hands went to find a better purchase in the fur on her shoulders and so she flattened her path, staying just above the clouds, before walking towards the moon.

"Beautiful..." she heard Viktor’s heavily accented voice whisper and she craned her neck and it was in that moment, with Viktor’s own amber eyes staring into the blue eyes of this beast that he realized.

"Seika, you..." he blinked a few times, and his body hunched as he came to the rapid conclusion that the human who not minutes before pulled him from the ledge of a building, was now beneath her in the form of a beast as they soared above the clouds.

Her wings flapped slowly and rhythmically as they soared, and when he said nothing, his gaze shifting the gems on her shoulders, she turned her head towards the moon. She pushed her muscles, her wings beginning to flap faster as she flew them the direction of the moon in silence, uncertainty coursing through her.

Then, after a moment, Viktor let out an airy laugh, "It is amazing, this – no – you are amazing!" He exclaimed, raising his hands above his head as the moonlight bathed his face. He felt her stop, his gaze falling from the view before him down to her, watching as her head turned back to look at him and her eyes glittered; had she been human she might have cried, but with this form, she was able to save some face.

Suddenly, she dipped forward a bit, an audible sound of shock escaping Viktor’s lips as he grabbed her hair and clutched the blanket to him. Then she straightened and glided, a melodic laugh leaving her, one that rang musically in Viktor’s ears. He sat up, moving as her body moved beneath him and he leaned, watching in awe as the puffy clouds beneath them drifted by. He couldn't help it and let out a laugh as well, letting the fresh air as deep into his as his lungs would allow with every inhale as the moonlight shone on the pair of them until slowly her prance became a walk, her wings flapping on occasion.

“How…” Viktor whispered to himself as his fingers threaded the soft thick fur of the Protector, of Seika. Her ears swiveled to and fro, but if she heard him, she made no motion to answer him. He closed his eyes, relishing in the breeze that drifted through his hair and tugged at his clothing. His hand moved and he clutched the blanket tighter to him before they began to descend. When they slipped beneath the clouds, he couldn’t help but lean over the side to peer down at the city below.

He'd thought things seemed small from the Hextech Lab, but from up here…

Wonder filled his eyes as she continued to glide, soaring high above Piltover. A breathy huff left his lips as he smiled, the dominating presence of the Hexgate rising to meet them. It was far too late for it to be operating, and in usual evening desertion, Seika used the opportunity to fly around it, admiring the structure.

“Still conscious back there?” She called back and Viktor leaned forward.

“This is spectacular, I do not think a single thing could pull me from this moment,” he said close to her ear before sitting up, bracing his upper half against her.

Seika internally smiled before flapping her wings and climbing up. When the top of the Hexgate was near she slowed before landing them on top of it and she walked towards the middle before turning her head to glance at Viktor whose eyes stared only at her.

When she turned her head away and began to shrink, his legs moved beneath him as he struggled to catch himself, the wind pressing at his chest and back with different forces. For a moment, he thought he might stumble back, but Seika’s hands reached, lightly grabbing his forearms and pulling her to him. Viktor smiled, a flush on his cheeks as his arms moved instinctively to her waist. Her hair was ruffled from the wind, lips parted as she smiled, and eyes bright as the blue sparks matching her eyes danced around them, drifting off into the wind.

She stared up at him, eyes drifting between his amber eyes as she attempted to figure out what it was he was thinking. Rather than provide her with words, she watched as his eyes drifted over her features, focusing so intently that he almost appeared to be memorizing each one

One of his hands rose, drifting through the soft silver ends of her hair, watching how each strand sparkled in the moonlight and for the second time that night, Viktor fell. The hand in her hair moved to behind her neck while the one at her waist slipped to the small of her back and he pulled her flush against him, pressing his forehead to hers.

Seika tensed in his arms, her hands instinctively moving to his upper arms, but when the softest of his chuckles fanned his face, she relaxed against him, her hands slinking down and around his waist.

For once, he felt free. Like he could breathe unrestricted, run and dance like any other ordinary man. Here, they were above it all; above the violence, the politics, above the suffering he so desperately sought to rid the world of. In the here and now, it was he and Seika, alone in the world atop the Hexgates.

And in that freedom, came a rush of unfamiliar confidence as he moved, stepping lightly, dragging her along in a dance. Whether from the cold or the adrenaline, Viktor’s leg didn’t hurt as he continued to pull her along, enticing her to follow with an adoring smile. When he spun her out and pulled her back, his gaze softened, spying the pink on her cheeks as she looked up at him. Then, as all things must, the pain returned and he slowed, smiling when Seika embraced him, pulling as much of his weight onto her while lightly tugging on the back of his neck until his forehead rested against his shoulder.

Viktor’s head turned and he muttered a soft thanks, the sweetness of the soap she used wafting from her neck and into his nose as the wind continued to drift by and he held himself back from burying his nose into her neck and into her hair.

They remained there for a few minutes longer before Seika lifted his head, the pads of her first two fingers pressed gently against the underside of his chin.
“Come,” she whispered softly with a smile and when his eyes met her, he was overwhelmed with the desire to kiss her. She pulled the blanket tighter around his shoulders before shifting again, the Protector walking next to him. He moved to sit, swinging his leg over to the other side and when he was comfortable, she picked up the momentarily abandoned bag in her jaws and walked off the edge.

Viktor’s gaze turned, almost feeling like that moment had been a dream before he turned his eyes forward. She flew east towards the ocean, her wings beating lightly as they landed in the soft sand and she lowered herself, feeling as he slid off her back, a soft thud leaving the sand upon impact. She shifted back, brows creased as he coughed. While trying to catch his breath, he glanced up, noting her concern and grabbed her hand, pulling him into his arms.

“You’re freezing,” she gasped, hugging him tighter before pulling away, “here, let me –”

“No,” Viktor breathed, pulling her back into his arms, “stay,” he murmured, spreading his legs and maneuvering her into his lap. When her back was flush with her chest, he curled around her, using her as a support. He buried his nose into her hair, closing his eyes as he felt her relax in his embrace. Viktor’s hand moved, pulling the blanket tight around her front and they basked in one another’s warmth as the sounds of the ocean echoed around them.

“Thank you,” he whispered to her after a few minutes, his chin resting on her shoulder.

Seika’s heart raced in her chest and she smiled, huffing softly. “Usually, I charge for that sort of thing,” she retorted. Viktor chuckled in response, sitting up when she leaned away to grab the bag.

“I’ll compensate you,” he spoke into her neck, his body molding back around her when she held both containers of food and leaned back into him. “Whatever it is you want, it’s yours.” His arms tightened around her waist as he relaxed further into her warmth.

“This is perfect,” she replied back, turning her head, her nose being tickled the long strands of his brown hair. Seika smiled, noting how he smelled like grease and ink, and she found herself melting into the scent. Her hands lowered as she set the boxes into her lap, one hand raising to lightly caress the opposite side of his head.

Viktor raised his head, a smile on his face as he lightly grabbed her hand before turning it and kissing it at the pulse point. When his eyes shifted to Seika’ he found her flushed cheeks and chuckled as he leaned forward to press a delicate kiss to her forehead. How had the night turned into this, he wondered. Perhaps he’d fallen asleep in the lab, or forgotten he’d returned home, but the thought that all of this might be a dream turned the acid in his stomach to ash. His arm still around her waist pulled her tighter against him, though she pulled him from her thoughts when she raised her hand to him, a chip pinched between her fingers.

He accepted the bite from her and together they began to eat, relishing in the warmth of one another and the view of the ocean before them, watching as the moonlights reflection in the water flickered before them.

It was Seika who interrupted the silence.

“I assume you have some questions,” she said, her heart having stopped racing, though from the heat in her cheeks, she doubted her blushing hadn’t yet come back under control.

Viktor let out a hearty laugh, the sound echoing in Seika’s ears and she smiled in response. “Some questions?” He began, his accent heavy and tone teasing, “Perhaps you do not yet know me well enough if you think I have but one or two.”

“Go ahead then,” she said encouragingly, tilting her head upward to look at him. She watched as he shook his head, a deep exhale leaving him as he struggled with where to start first. She chuckled at his silence, the sound causing Viktor to drop his chin and look at her.

“My family lived in a remote and poor village, deep within the jungles of Ixtal,” Seika began, one of her hands lightly thumbing his forearm around her waist. “I was the eldest of six, magic wasn’t a common practice – In fact, I don’t recall anyone in my village capable of it – such things were more common in the larger villages and cities. I…” Seika paused, staring out at the ocean, her brows furrowed. “It’s been so long that I don’t even think I remember my family at this point. All I remember is when I turned 8, my mother led me deep into the jungle. Somehow, we were separated, and when I went to find her, she was gone.” She shook her head, “I never saw any of them again.”

Both of Viktor’s arms clenched around her midsection as he listened with furrowed brows.

"I stumbled around the jungle for…” Seika shrugged, “I remember I was so hungry and so thirsty,” she said with a disbelieving scoff, “and had a trail of blood following me from a trap I’d walked into. The jungles of Ixtal are unforgiving, those who can’t make it – don’t. Then,” she smiled, and Viktor saw the nostalgic look on her face shift into one of warmth. “When it seemed like I’d become food for the scavengers, I heard a voice. I followed it, desperate, and there, peeking from the dirt, was this little gray stone. It shimmered blue when I spoke to it, and so I kept it. It became my closest friend, helping me, guiding me, the one thing in that jungle that didn’t want to end my existence.”

Viktor remained silent as he listened, looking to the waves before he placed a kiss to her temple.

“Then what happened?” He asked softly, lips moving against her hair.

“I was alone in that jungle for many years,” I breathed, a stray tear streaking down my cheek before dropping into the sand. “But then my mentor found me. He,” Seika paused, chuckling as she wiped at another tear that’d escaped her. “He’d been searching for it. According to him, it was a World Rune, and he’d made it his life mission to collect them all, to hide them away and keep them safe from those with ill intent. When he realized that the World Rune had bonded part of itself to me, he was forced to take me in. He’s a stubborn, sassy man,” Seika said, a chuckle leaving her lips. She felt Viktor curl around her tighter, burying his face into her neck and he smiled at her words.

“But despite vowing never to take another apprentice, he took me in… Helped me grow, taught me how to speak, how to read, all while avoiding civilization as much as possible,” Seika’s voice slipped off into silence as her gaze followed the horizon then after a long silent moment, she spoke. “It is the World Rune that continues to give me my abilities, despite the fact it’s not in my possession any longer and hasn’t been for many years. Like the others he has, it’s hidden, even I don’t know where they are.” Seika continued.

Viktor listened, an ache in his chest that he knew wasn’t from the brace wrapped around his torso.

“The last time I remember visiting a place that’s hardly even comparable to Piltover was when I met Cecil,” Seika said after a moment of silence. She smiled, chuckling softly as she closed her closed, breathing deeply.
“Before he was a Professor, yes?” Viktor asked.
“I think even before Piltover had been created,” she said with uncertainty, “we met in the Freljord, and in fact, I was with him when he met Porofessor,” she continued with a smile before it faltered.

“I don’t know how you live in a city like this,” she sighed, suddenly feeling the same suffocating feeling she had when she’d first arrived on the bridge to Piltover. “Half the time I’m telling myself I’m fine, while the other half I feel like I’m suffocating.”

Viktor felt her breaths grow rapid and he moved, his hand turning her face so that she rested her cheek against his breastbone, his chin on top of her head as he wrapped the blanket tighter around her.

“I didn’t know how lonely civilization was. I fear that when the inevitable happens, and word of my abilities get out I’ll be excluded, ostracized, I am but a stranger from a far-off land, an outsider,” Seika whispered, closing her eyes. “Perhaps I’ve always been meant to wander the continent, ties and relationships amiss, a hermit wandering lands and avoiding others as much as possible.”

“No,” Viktor murmured and her eyes opened, looking up to him. “The Professor is here,” his breath caught in his throat before he took a breath. “As am I.” Viktor’s hand moved to her chin as he tilted her face upwards, his hand moving to her cheek before he lowered his lips to hers. He pulled away just before, almost recognizing what it was he was doing, his lips a hairs width from hers. “I too suffer such an affliction, outcasted and rejected by society, my leg and illness made sure of that. If it weren’t for Jayce, I’d likely still be Heimerdinger’s assistant.”

Seika felt his lips brush hers again and her eyes fluttered closed as his voice surrounded her.

“I apologize,” he whispered the words against her slightly parted mouth before he pulled away, “I should have asked before I ki–” his words were interrupted as Seika’s lips found his again. He groaned softly, one hand tightening around her waist as the other found the back of her neck. They melted into one another, their hands wandering, fingers gliding through hair, hands roaming down the sides of their waists, arms wrapping around necks and backs until Seika pulled away, panting and feeling faint.

She felt Viktor press his forehead to hers and her eyes opened, finding his amber gaze on her.

“You will always have a place with me,” Viktor whispered. He watched as his words invoked a physical reaction and a stray tear dripped down her face. His hand raised, swiping it away before he placed a kiss to each cheek. Magic and Hextech aside, what he’d felt tonight was something he was sure he’d never want to let go of.  He pulled her flush against his chest again, embracing her tightly, and after several minutes of comfortable silence, he spoke.

He told her about how he’d grown up in the undercity near the Entresol level. His passion for invention had started young, and only grew from the encouragement of his parents. His youth was spent scavenging for parts and tinkering while kindling the obsession he had with science and truth.

Viktor’s eyes drifted down, noting the warm smile on Seika’s face as he spoke fondly of his childhood. He spoke of his acceptance into the Academy and events he’d experienced when he was a student. Then he told her of his desire to help those from his home, his words bold and impassioned as he relayed to her the designs he’d created to improve production, to neutralize the toxic work environments that so many, including his parents were forced to live in before they passed. When he’d paused, his face hardening at the thought of his parents and Seika moved, tightening her embrace around him. He found comfort in her, burying his face into her neck as he gathered himself. Eventually, he continued, telling her how it was he became Heimerdinger’s assistant, and how it was working alongside Jayce to create Hextech and the Hexgates.

By the end of it all, he’d lifted his head, staring out towards the ocean, his home on his thoughts.

“They cannot be forgotten,” Viktor said softly, “they must be helped.” He paused, gaze intense as he continued to stare out towards the horizon. “What of the children, forced to live in the gasses, and their parents working dangerous jobs just to try to put food on the table?” He asked, his gaze shifting to look down at Seika.

She was already looking back up at him, brows furrowed in concern before a gentle smile appeared on her face. Her hand moved, cradling his cheek and she watched as he nuzzled into it.

“If anyone is able to help them it’s you Viktor,” she said softly. “You already have –”

“It is not enough,” he said, his head hanging. When Seika tilted his chin upward, he found the resolve in her eyes undeniable.
“You’ve done so much already. Viktor, they won’t be forgotten, I’ll make sure of that as will you, and I will help you Viktor,” Seika replied softly, feeling her heart swell in her chest. How long had it been since she’d heard someone so compassionate about helping others? She hadn’t even needed to consider to help, it’d just been an instinctive response for her.

Viktor’s heart thumped rapidly in his chest, spurred on by her words and he smiled. His hand moved, moving her hand from his chin to his cheek and his head turned, lips kissing her palm.

The pair remained on the beach for a while longer until the evening stretched late. With the moon and waves as their witness, the pair found comfort in one another’s embraces and bold kisses. Eventually it was Seika who stood first, offering her hand out to Viktor to help him up. After gathering their things into the bag, it wasn’t a moment later that the pair were on their way to the academy, each relishing the freedom that being in the air provided them.

Viktors gaze rose to the stars, admiring them until the two were safe within the tower again, those familiar gears working tirelessly behind them. Together, they made their way back to their rooms for the evening. Every time their hands grazed one another as they walked, Viktor would let a finger move and caress her hand a bit longer than necessary, his eyes occasionally flitting down to Seika’s face.

They continued walking in a comfortable silence, Viktor having long since convinced Seika to let him escort her back to her room, but when they continued walking, his eyes narrowed curiously as she led them down the hallway to her room. When she stood besides the door, Viktor glanced at the number of her room and let out a soft chuckle.

She turned, smiling. “What is it?” She asked softly.
“My room is number 17,” he elaborated, glancing up at the number 14 next to her door. She chuckled in response, smiling before hurrying him along to his room, watching as he walked a bit further down the hallway. Seika continued watching as he pulled his keys from his pocket, his gaze temporarily lifting to look at her and he smiled, his eyes softening as he unlocked his door blindly. When his keys had been slipped back into the pocket of his pants, he stood still, and there they remained, each standing in front of their respective doors as they gazed at one another, waiting to see who would enter their rooms first, only, neither of them moved.

Chapter Text

Viktor looked to the unlocked door to his room, and then back to the silver-haired woman who looked so intently at him. It was in that moment that he realized he didn't want to separate from her, not right now. When he extended a hand towards her, she practically ran in his embrace and when she looked up at him with those sparkling eyes of hers his desire combusted like a steam engine. Adrenaline surged, lighting his veins aflame and he acted without thought. Instinct fueled his movements as his hand rose from her waist to her cheek, his fingertips digging lightly into the muscles down the length of her neck as he dragged her lips to his in a passionate kiss. He pulled away, to tilt his head and kiss her again, maneuvering his body and guiding her back against the door.

Viktor canted his hips into her, the toe of his left shoe kicking lightly at the bottom of the door as he stepped between her legs, pinning her body. The hand at her cheek tightened as he gasped at her lips, kissing away the soft sounds leaving her while his other wrapped around her back to pull her chest flush to his. He groaned softly against her mouth when her hands slid up his chest and wrapped around his neck, one hand threading through his hair to tug lightly on the strands.

As Seika shifted feeling a distinct pressure in her belly and an ache between her legs, she felt the door handle dig into her side. One of her hands moved, her palm sliding flat against the door and when she found it, she turned it. The door swung open and the pair stumbled inside. At any other time, they might have laughed, but they were far too focused on one another to do so, their lips hardly splitting from one another for longer than a second. Seika found her footing, one foot sliding back to brace the two of them as Viktor leaned against her. She felt him pull away and opened her eyes. He was staring down at her, admiring her in the soft warm light of his room lit by a single lamp. There was a warm smile on his face as he studied her flushed cheeks and kiss-swollen lips and the sight of him made Seika’s mind fuzzy. The thumb of his right hand on her cheek moved, sliding against her lower lip, his eyes filled with near reverence before he descended upon her again.

Viktor captured her lips, fueling that undeniable hunger within him as his left hand reached, flailing until he found the door and threw it shut, oblivious to the echoing bang it released when it slammed. His focus shifted, right shoulder lifting as he let his crutch fall behind him, ignoring the loud clattering upon its impact with the ground. With Seika’s support, he guided her back further into the single-room residence.

Seika continued stepping backwards, guided only by Viktor until the back of her knees caught the edge of his bed and she fell back. She fell onto a ruffled, messy unkempt bed and writhed as Viktor’s scent swallowed her whole. A gasp left her lips, her gaze looking up at him standing before her as her senses drowned in ink, leather, parchment, and the distinct tang of mechanical fluid. Her hand extended out to him and he smiled, grabbing it and crawling between her spread legs. He pinned her hand that he held above her head as he captured her lips with his again, pulling away for the briefest of moments to wince as the shin of his braced leg caught the bed frame.

Viktor followed as Seika shifted further upwards on his bed, her free hand tugging on his tie, beckoning him closer. He crawled onto the bed, joining her as he settled between her legs, the tightness in his pants a sadistically delicious combination of pain and pleasure. A groan escaped his lips, his head falling back when his aching hardness grazed the apex between her thighs, the friction exquisite.

Seika sat up at the sight, pulling her intertwined fingers from his so she could lean forward and let her lips find purchase on his neck. She kissed up and down the slender expanse of flesh, switching sides and sucking lightly as Viktor grounded his hips onto her and she whimpered against his neck. She finally pulled away when his hands moved to his chest, his fingers deftly unbuttoning the vest beneath it and when he slid both the short-sleeved jacket and vest off his frame, she collapsed back onto the bed, her hands raising to explore the plains of his still-clothed upper torso with her palms as he leaned down slightly.

Viktor’s breaths left him in soft pants his gaze looking down at the silver halo of hair surrounding Seika. She called his name, breathy and needy and he lowered himself onto her, kissing her deeply as he slotted himself between her, as close as their clothing would allow. His tongue grazed her lower lip and when they parted for him, he slid his tongue into her mouth. The taste of her was addictive, like sweet milk, and he was insatiable. He poked and prodded at her mouth, teasing her tongue with his own as he explored her.

Seika felt him shift further, laying on top of her and her legs bent at the knee, caging him in and she let her hands wander along his body; down his neck, along his shoulder, dipping down to the valley between his shoulder blades. Her nails lightly dug into the clothing of his maroon button-down when his lips moved, sucking and tasting the flesh of her neck and she gasped, calling his name again. She felt his hands at her waist, short nails scratching lightly at her undershirt as his desperation matched hers. Seika pulled her hands from him, sitting up a bit to rip off the turtleneck crop top. She hadn’t even registered where it ended up as Viktor descended onto her, his lips kissing the newly displayed flesh of her sternum.

Viktor felt her move, sliding back fully towards the headboard and he remained, leaving open mouthed kisses on her breast bone and cleavage as she moved upward and when she settled, he moved to lay between her legs, his face at her hips, his nimble fingers already working on the button and zipper of her pants. When her gaze finally met his, his lips kissed down, following his hands. She lifted her hips as he pulled at the fabric, before he slid them down towards her ankles, his body kneeling on the floor as eyes stilled on her form, one of his hands sliding down the length of her bare leg. Her eyes fluttered closed before opening a second later as his hand undid her boot. It hit the ground with a clunk and Viktor switched to the opposite leg, leaning to place soft kisses to her inner thighs.

Seika felt her cheeks warm and her eyes fluttered closed as gooseflesh spread across her arms and legs. Her hands moved, covering her mouth, dampening the noises escaping her. Her eyes opened when Viktor slipped off the other boot, a soft disapproving clicking of his tongue leaving his mouth.

“Let me hear you,” he said as he resettled between her thighs, kissing the still clothed skin of her hips. When he moved lower, Seika’s hands fell as she let out a breathy moan.

“Viktor!” She exclaimed, and he stilled at her tone, eyes studying her as she clamped her hand back over her mouth.

“Talk to me Seika,” he said softly after a moment.

“It’s been so long…. For…” She said, her fingers parting to let her words slip past them. He chuckled and smiled.

“I too don’t usually find myself in bed with a beautiful woman every weekend,” He replied with a ridiculously attractive smirk on his face. She let out a bark of a laugh and sat up, leaning over to kiss him. He raised the upper half of his body to meet her, kissing her back, until he heard the unsnapping of the leotard she was wearing and pulled away, clicking his tongue as he looked her in the eyes.

“That was my job Miss Etesia,” he teased, talking against her lips as his fingertips trailed up her inner thigh.

“Exactly, isn’t that what I’m here for, to help?” She replied with a smile, pressing her forehead into his. Her confidence faltered however, breathy gasps leaving her when his fingertips reached the apex of her thighs, his touch taunting and teasing.

He smiled, capturing her lips again with his before pulling away and dipping his head back between her thighs. His hands found her chest and he lightly pushed her back, watching as she slumped back onto the pillows, knees bending as he gave her a long lick through her undergarment. Her fists clenched the sheets when he continued, his eyes remaining on her.

Seika felt Viktor’s hands slid her undergarments down, slipping from the bed temporarily to slid them off of her before his mouth was on her again.

Viktor groaned as he tasted her, one hand raising as he slipped his middle finger inside of her. He slid in another, mentally noting what spots elicited what reaction as his tongue flicked at her clit.

One hand released the sheets of his bed, going towards the back of his head as she moaned in response. Her fingers clung to his hair as he tasted her relentlessly. When she managed to peek down at him, his eyes were still on her, meeting her gaze and she called his name again.

Viktor smiled as he slowed and began kissing up her body, his eyes catching a grayish mark for a split second, a scar or similar perhaps, before his focus transitioned as he pulled the bottom of the leotard up. She sat up, ripping it off of her before pulling Viktor back up onto her again, her knees tightening around his waist. He groaned into her mouth, grinding into her naked heat. Seconds later, he pulled away, kissing down her neck and down her sternum as one hand lifted one of her breasts. He squeezed gently, pinching and tugging the erect nipple between two fingers before lowering his mouth to the other. Viktor’s tongue swirled and flattened against it before releasing it and sucking a mark beneath it before finding her lips again.

Seika’s hands moved to his chest, grabbing desperately at the center of his button-up as she began to unbutton it. His hand clasped over hers and she paused, freezing as she looked up at him.

“It’s… it’s not…” He whispered as he looked away from her, his voice hoarse; a small part of him had hoped she wouldn’t instigate the removal of his clothes, that she’d be too caught up in herself to realize he was still wearing them and he might continue to hide himself from her. There was a small pause before he spoke again. “I’m no Jayce,” he said softly, his own insecurities erupting from within. He was suddenly hyper aware of how his chest brace was rubbing uncomfortably against his spine, and how there was a lose screw on the knee portion of his leg brace that was digging into the side of his knee.

His words and the disappointment on his face pulled Seika from her blissful arousal and one of her hands rose from his chest to his chin. She turned his face to her, cradling his cheek.

“Good. I don’t want Jayce,” she said softly, gazing into his eyes. “I want you Viktor, you and no one else,” his face had fallen at her words then relief as his hands gripped each side of his button down, wedging his fingers into the gap before he pulled them apart. Buttons scattered on the floor as they flew, accompanying the creaking of the bed as Seika sat up and pushed Viktor back towards the headboard, hand on his sternum as he lowered himself into the pillows.

Viktor’s hands moved to her waist when she crawled on top of him, straddling him before she kissed him. He squeezed at the flesh there, his senses overwhelmed, eyes fluttering closed. She kissed across his cheek to his ear then down his neck, past his collarbone, then down his sternum. His body shifted when her fingers found his brace, exploring the metal and leather work. Then her fingers began working on the latches of his brace in the center and when the long strap that crossed just below his belly button was undone, he sat up and pulled them off, dropping them off the side of the bed.

Seika kissed down his chest, softly, reverently, her eyes occasionally glancing up to look at him. He was flushed, mouth open, her name left his lips in a whisper when she continued lower.

Her hands dropped, unbuckling his belt, kissing the flesh of his hips, then she slid from the bed, gently taking his left shoe off as she knelt on the floor. When she shifted to his other leg, she took a few minutes to gently explore the brace, leaving gentle kisses to his clothed shin and thigh. When her fingers found the latch at his knee, she looked up, watching as Viktor moved, instinctively finding the latch at his thigh and together they slid off his brace.

He whispered her name again and she smiled, crawling back up onto the bed. His eyes followed her, wandering down her nudity as she began working on his pants. They were slid off of him, followed by his under garments before she began kissing up his body again. In his haze, it took him a moment to realize she’d been saying something and he focused, listening to her.

“Perfect,” she said softly before each kiss.

“Mind.”

“Body.”

“Soul.”

His heart stuttered under the relentless affection, watching as she kissed up his body and his cock twitched with desire and anticipation.

The movement caught Seika’s attention and she gently grabbed him with her hand, her fist loose as she unconfidently slid her hand up and down his length.

Viktor groaned in response, his body tensing as his good leg kicked out before bending at the knee. His hips lifted a bit before lying flush back onto the bed. She kissed the tip, her tongue slipping past her lips to lick at it and her eyes rose from his cock to his eyes.

“Fuck! Seika!” He swore loudly when she took him into her mouth. He gritted his teeth, his control crumbling as one of his hands moved and cradled the left side of her face.

Seika smiled internally at the swear, continuing as her lips sucked and tasted until he was begging and pleading. The moment her mouth was free he sat up, wrapping his arms around her, underneath her arms and fell back, using gravity to pull her up higher onto him. She spread her legs, straddling his hips while his hand moved to the back of her head, joining their lips again.

“Please, please,” he pleaded against her lips as she lifted her hips, her hand snaking between them to line himself up with her and she lowered herself. They groaned in-between kisses as Seika moved, lifting and lowering herself on him.

Viktor’s hands moved, one resting at her waist and the other back at her breast, fondling and teasing. Pleasure graced every nerve ending, lighting up his body and he forgot all of the pressures that’d been weighing on his mind. There was only now and them.  

He pulled her down, their chests flush to one another and his hands moved, finding the plump flesh of her rear and he squeezed as she continued to ride him.

“Perfect,” she muttered against his lips and his heart swelled, adrenaline surging through him as he pushed off the bed with his good leg, rolling them over. He pressed up onto his palms as he looked down at her. During the shift, the bedframe moved, bumping into the bedside table and the lamp on it clattered, falling to the ground with a crash though Viktor was unbothered by it.

With the lamps light gone, moonlight streamed through the window, bathing them in light and Viktor felt as free as he had when they’d stood on top of the Hexgate. He moved, thrusting deeply into her and they moaned as she pulled him down for another searing kiss, her tongue slipping into his mouth. Her knees tightened around his waist, boxing him in and Viktor buried his face into her neck, one fist clenched in her hair, holding her close as the other was hidden between pillows, clenching the softness with an unyielding ferocity. He called her name against her neck, her nails leaving light red welts down his back as she scratched. In his haze of pleasure, his mouth opened, biting and sucking at her neck as he spiraled.

Seika’s back arched, her hips meeting his thrusts begging and pleading his name. Her pleasure rose, and it continued, skyrocketing when Viktor pulled away from her neck, capturing one of her nipples between his teeth. His hips stuttered a bit and Seika rolled them, continuing to move and Viktor groaned in response as the moonlight caught the little beads of sweat dripping down Seika’s collarbone.

Viktor’s want was a constant, unchanging and unwavering, a craving he wouldn’t ever be free of and with the release of dopamine and endorphins, the pain of his leg was a dull ache, one that was easy enough to ignore as Seika clenched around him. He sat up, pushing himself onto his palms as he began rolling his hips into her, long steady deep thrusts that left the both of them dizzy.

He felt his release near, panting as he struggled to contain it.
“Seika,” he breathed, his eyes meeting hers, “I can’t –”

“Yes, Viktor yes, please, me too,” Seika moaned as she pulled his top half flush against her again.

He groaned, his hand finding that same place between the pillows as their lips met, tongues tasting and desperate. His hand moved, thumb finding her clit. The tight little circles he drew on it left her moaning into his mouth.

When she began to tighten further his mouth dropped, biting and sucking every expanse of flesh within his reach desperation and their impending releases driving him to madness. Her back arched again, one of her hands moved, following the underside of his arm as it slipped in between the pillows and their fingers intertwined.

He felt her clench again and groaned.

“Let me feel you Seika, please, cum for me” he pleaded, teetering on the precipice of pleasure, his thumb moving ceaselessly. When he felt her reach her high, he followed and embraced her, his lips moving and slating themselves over hers, teeth clattering together in their unconscious desire for closeness. She clung to him, rolling out the waves of her high as he followed suit, twitching and emptying inside her, their names leaving one another’s lips.

...

They’d come down from their high together, wrapped in one another’s arms. Viktor was the first to rouse as he laid upon her chest, his hand lightly holding hers, thumb gently rubbing circles on the back of her hand. Her other hand moved to his back where she lightly teased and tickled his spine until he turned his head upwards, meeting her gaze.

Viktor sat up on one elbow, releasing her hand to cradle her cheek. He kissed her once, softly and gently, then again with more passion. She returned each one, even going so far as to add an extra one in when he’d pulled away. He chuckled, pulling the sheets up to their hips before slumping onto the pillow next to her, one arm draped across her midsection.

Their eyes met and they smiled, saying nothing. She traced the angular line of his jaw with her eyes, moving up to ears, peeking out past the curled ends of his chestnut-colored hair. A few of his bangs fell in his face and Seika’s hand brushed them away as she admired his amber eyes framed by thick brows, and his face accented by two beauty marks. He was stunning.

She leaned and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead before shifting onto her side and Viktor’s hand on her midsection slid down to her waist.

Viktor marveled at the softness of her skin, his eyes looking from her eyes down as his hand glided up to her ribcage and down to her hips before stilling by her waist. He paused, recognizing the same mark again and he thumbed it lightly. Viktor felt her stiffen slightly and he glanced up as he slid through the sheets, moving to look closer at the mark.

“What is it?” He asked softly, studying the dark gray markings that followed her veins, seemingly beating with her pulse.

Seika’s brows furrowed and Viktor’s gaze rose to hers.

“My mentor and I, we were in Noxus – really, just passing through but somehow the village we were passing through was attacked by an army. Some lord or another declaring war on another,” she said softly. “They used poisonous gas to force people out of their homes. My mentor and I were separated, but I managed to make it out,” Seika said, brows furrowing deeper as she looked away, remembering the screams and the burn of the gas in her lungs.

Viktor’s face had softened as she spoke, listening to her in great detail. “Then you escaped?” He asked softly. She nodded, looking back at him.

“We did… the village however….” She bit at her lower lip and went silent. She felt Viktors hand grab one of hers and kiss it gently. He showered her in affection, placing warm soft kisses to the back of her hand, to her palm, and a single one on each tip of her finger.

“Does it hurt?” He asked softly after placing a kiss to the inside of her wrist. When she shook her head no, her face relaxing and smile warm, he returned the smile and kissed the mark gently, lightly thumbing it again before crawling up into her arms and resting his cheek on her chest.

Her touch was instant, fingers raking through his hair as her arms wound around him. She remained lying there, lost in thought until the man in her arms relaxed, even slow breathing leaving his parted lips and she smiled, burying her nose into his hair, everything around her but the two of them melting away as she slipped into warm unconsciousness.

Chapter Text

When Seika woke from her slumber, she was alone. She sat up, sunlight streaming through the windows and she yawned as she ran a hand through her hair. The events of the night prior and her current nudity flooded her mind. She felt her face warm and found she couldn’t contain the giddy smile that had taken over her face.

She and Viktor had...

Her thoughts digressed to Cecil. One could argue she was now a conflict of interest. A sigh escaped her as she stared at the ceiling, settling back into Viktors bed. She was here to help, and, gods forbid, step in to prevent the two co-inventors from going down a path of unintended destruction that could wipe both cities. She chewed on her lower lip as her heart swelled with thoughts of Viktor and why she’d even come to Piltover in the first place.

When had he left? Had he… enjoyed it as much as she had? Or had he escaped while she slept, regretting the night altogether? She settled back onto the bed, her nerves still aflame as she looked at his room. Bookshelves and long desks filled the far wall and it was even messier than the Hextech Lab. Papers and tools, trinkets, books, and mechanical parts laid strewn about, but then her eyes settled on the chair and there, folded neatly, were her clothes.

Her heart stopped for a moment before a warm smile appeared on her face. If he’d taken the time to do something so trivial, then he’d taken his time in leaving. She pulled the covers back and swung her legs from the bed, spying the broken lamp and knelt down, gathering the large chunks of broken ceramic and glass. Nearby was an empty box and she grabbed it, putting the broken pieces into it before carrying it to his desk. She paused at her clothes, picking them up and smiling at how neatly they’d been folded.

It was the sound of paper scraping across the floor that pulled her from her thoughts.

A little envelope had been slid under the door, its messenger’s shadow moving away promptly and Seika moved to retrieve it. She stood before the door, the door to the washroom just perpendicular to the door open and she leaned against the open frame, reaching inside to flick on the light.

The cold nipped at her naked flesh as she stood, barefoot, eyes utilizing the light of the washroom as she opened the blank envelope. She pulled the paper forth and unfolded it.

There, scrawled out was a message. They were going to the Hexgates, Viktor and Jayce as the latter had some work there to take care of, and she was welcome to come should she so desire to. Seika bit her lip, smiling at the offer before her gaze dropped. There, at the bottom of the page was a small note hoping she’d slept well. A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she thumbed his signature before folding the note and putting it back into the envelope. She looked up, catching her reflection and paused, hands drifting to the little love marks that freckled her body. Her hand raised, lightly grazing a rather dark mark on her neck and she smiled.

She turned off the lights, and hurried into the room, pulling on the turtleneck and slacks. As she dressed, she spied a long reddish piece of cloth and picked it up. It was one of his ties, and she moved, tying it around her neck. Once she’d checked she’d covered the mark, she grabbed her boots in one hand and held her backpack and undershirt in the other as she turned the lock on the inside of the door behind her and stepped into the hall. Just as she began walking barefoot from Viktors door up the halls to hers she paused.

There at the end of the hallway at an intersection with another hallway, was Cecil. He stood, taking in her appearance with a quick confused shake of his head. Even with the distance, she watched as his eyes fleeted from her half-done appearance and Viktors room. She moved, inching towards her room and his eyes spied a mark on her midsection. Gray, unusual, pulsing, and vein like. Was it a scar? An injury?

She disappeared from his sight as she slipped into her room and he huffed, shaking his head before walking away leaving Porofessor looking between where Seika had been and where Cecil was going.

Once Seika had slipped inside her room the sighed, leaning against the door.

“Damnit,” she whispered, running a hand through her hair as she shook her head. After a moment, she dropped her boots and stepped into the washroom, putting her hair up before turning on the shower. After she showered and dried herself, she moved to the wardrobe and slipped on a pair of black slacks, a long-sleeved dark red v-neck blouse with long flowing sleeves, a mini corset around her waist, and her black boots.

After tying off her hair in a single braid, she put on her bag and tied Viktor’s tie around her neck then she was out the door, locking it behind her.

Seika hurried through the halls, her excitement urging her onward. She continued through the campus, until she stood just before the first set of doors to Hextech Lab. She clenched at one of the straps of her backpack, fist tight as she breathed deeply, hoping to sway some of the nerves she felt.

“Seika, right?” A voice said behind her and she turned so quickly that her braid smacked the chest of the individual behind her.

“Oh wow, that’s a weapon,” Jayce smiled as he extended his hand in greeting.

Seika chuckled softly, her nerves having been dissipated in the fright she’d felt for a split second and apologized, and the pair formally introduced themselves.

"Are you accompanying Viktor and me to the Hexgate?" He questioned and opened the door for them. She nodded, looking at him with her hand holding the other in front of her as she walked in down the hallway and through the second set of doors.

She turned as she entered, and there, hunched over the rune matrix, was Viktor, scouring over papers and books in between attempts.

It was apparent that he hadn’t recognized her presence, that made obvious when Jayce called his name and Viktor gave an unfocused “hmmm,” in response.

She watched, the slightest bit of disappointment on her face as he attempted another test, using the handles and moving around the runes before Jayce interrupted him again. Viktor looked to Jayce and nodded, grabbing his cane and standing, grimicing just a bit as he did so. He caught something colorful in the corner of his eye and turned, his eyes widening.

"Seika," he said quickly, brows raised at her sudden appearance and the uncertain look on her face.

She gave him a small smile and nodded.

“Viktor,” she replied, finally seeing his face. He looked exhausted, how soon after did he leave? He had slight bags under his eyes, yet another thing telling her he hadn’t stayed long. She bit down the insecurities she was feeling, her stomach flipping at his words on the note. Had they been empty? A common courtesy? Fear crawled up from her belly as he stared intensely at her while Jayce continued to ramble.

"Seika?" Jayce questioned, "Are you alright, are you feeling well?

Viktors eyes hadn't left her, her own reaction to him concerning him. Had she had regrets about the night prior? Had something happened? Did she dislike everything after waking? He'd only stayed in her arms for an hour or so after she'd fallen asleep, and he hated doing so, but he needed to continue trying to get this to work, he had to, then he could spend all the nights he wanted curled up to her, but until then... His eyes caught the reddish fabric tied about her neck and his brows furrowed… was that? Was that his tie?

Seika nodded to Jayce and said something Viktor didn't hear. Moments later, the three were on their way to the Hexgate. Throughout the entirety of the journey to the Hexgate, Jayce provided all the topics of conversation, and his somewhat obvious attention that was directed towards Seika was overtaking all of the conversations he and Jayce would normally have about their experiments. Viktor walked alongside Seika, his eyes occasionally glancing side-long towards her. As she and Jayce continued to talk, rather animatedly, a small part of him wish they'd never been provided the opportunity to speak so closely, but he held his scowl as they spoke and he hobbled silently next to them.

Despite the rather positive mood he'd been feeling all morning, the failures that continued to plague him with the rune matrix and Jayce's newfound interest in Seika spurred him into a downward spiral of anger and frustration.

Eventually, the trio found themselves at the Hexgate and entered the structure. Jayce audibly teased Seika's awe as the girl looked up and around the inside of the building, mouth wide in wonderment. Together they went up, using the elevator to the main level that overlooked the sector where some of the crystals went that powered the entire entity. Viktor stood at the edge, looking down to the floor below while Jayce was rambling, some nonsense about this new Councilor position he was elected to.

His amber eyes sought out the face he wanted to see, the voice he wanted to hear, but she'd seen another elevator and taken it down, the giddiness of wanting to reach the bottom evident on her face. He smiled warmly at the sight, his eyes softening as he viewed the woman. At her arrival to the bottom, a few of the workers audibly contested her presence but Viktor called out to them.

"Leave her be," he called down below to them and was finally rewarded with her eyes looking into his. Despite the distance, he could still see the magical shimmer in them.

She smiled, but he saw the hesitancy in it, and when she looked away from him his brows furrowed.

Jayce continued to ramble about some discrepancy or another and Viktor snapped.

"This is a poor use of our time," he turned his head to the side as he spoke then looked back to the girl who walked so close to the crystals and smiled at them as if it were a mother doting on a child.

Jayce provided him with some poor excuse that he nearly ignored, his focus still on the woman who so intriguingly watched two workers plug in another crystal. It seems they'd forced her to wear the protective goggles required for such an action, but he wondered if all that was necessary altogether considering her… abilities.

"What about our pledge to improve lives, for those in need? For the undercity?" he said, then looked to Jayce.

Jayce furthered his own ridiculousness with more apologies, more words Viktor could care less about hearing.

"Soon we can--"

"Soon?" Viktor snapped, whipping himself around, "There are people who need our help now, Jayce." He argued, just as sheriff Marcus approached the two.

Down below the platform where Viktor and Jayce resided, Seika was exploring every bit of the area. She was even able to witness a crystal being loaded in. The voices of the gate were rhythmic, almost as if they acted as one rather than singularly, each new crystal melding into the bigger piece. They spoke to her and she so desired to speak back, but there was too much happening right now and far too many people nearby for her to do so, so she settled with resting her palm on each stone, feeling what warmth and power she could through the layers of metal and stone. She smiled, closing her eyes as their language reverberated around them. For a bunch of people who knew nothing about magic, this was not bad at all.

Some echoes from above prompted her to look up, especially when it arose from a voice she did not recognize immediately.

"This corruption runs deep Sheriff, I intend to root it out," she heard Jayce's echo from down below and her brows furrowed when she spotted Viktor facing away from her, though she could still see a portion of him.

Suddenly he turned and began to cough multiple times, but the sudden melodic echo of the crystals' voices turned quicker, more siren-like, and with a darker undertone. She spun in a circle, eyeing the crystals, then back to Viktor, seeing the blood that was now prevalent on his face.

His face appeared to be in a trance as the voices of the crystals echoed around them. Seika turned fiercely in the direction of the crystals again, her eyes glittering as she spoke a few harsh words, that archaic forgotten language leaving her lips fluidly, and the crystals slipped into silence, while at the same time, Jayce approached Viktor and pulled him back from his trance.

She was looking up at them again, Jacye over Viktor, but Viktor turned and said something inaudible to him then grabbed his crutch and left without a single glance to her.

Seika rushed to the elevator and when she had finally made it to the top she rushed to Jayce.

"What happened?" She asked just as the Sheriff was just walking away and Jayce shook his head but looked back to where Viktor had been standing. Her eyes widened at the blood that was dripping off of the railing and she looked back to him. They shared the same worry in their eyes, and Jayce mentioned to her that the gemstone appeared to be stolen by an undercity gang, according to the Sheriff. Seika nodded, admitting to herself that she'd forgotten all about it, and in their refound concern for the gemstone, Jayce excused himself quickly, and she was left alone.

Seika's heart was racing as she approached where Viktor had been standing, crossing the distance in fewer strides than she would have normally, her eyes drifting from the blood to the crystals below who to this moment were still silent.

She spoke something, then spoke again, but there was no return.

Her brows furrowed and she turned and left, rushing out of the Hexgate as quickly as she could, unable to dampen the unease eating away within her.

...

Her first thought was Viktor, and she worried she could deal with no further thoughts if she didn't see him, and so she rushed to the lab. She entered without knocking and there he was, hovering over the ball of essence.

"Viktor," she called to him, but he made no response.

She let the door close behind her and walked to him, turning him around by his left shoulder as she called his name again.

He hadn't heard her come in, again. It felt like every step he felt like he took toward her, was in actuality, several steps back. The tears in her eyes made that evident as she stared at him, finally well and truly meeting his gaze. His heart lurched in his throat and he longed to stand and embrace her, to speak with her about last night, about right now… But he had to figure this out, for them, for the undercity...

His eyes moved from her back to runes behind him. He'd cleaned himself up, but that didn't matter to her, she'd seen it all.

"Viktor, stop, please just," she went to turn him back around so that she could see his face but he smacked her hand away.

"I just need time, get out and let me work!" He yelled angrily, his own frustrations with Jayce and Jayce's lack of attention towards Hextech and his own new confusing emotions towards Seika bubbled up and exploded.

He glared fiercely at her and her hand recoiled to her chest as the tears in her eyes dripped down her chin. She saw his eyes soften and he went to say something, his hand outstretched to her but he stopped and turned away from her and back to the matrix behind him.

“I see,” she whispered.

Viktor had swiveled on his stool, mouth opening to tell her he was sorry but she’d already left the room. His gaze was still on that door and only when he no longer heard the clack of her boots on the floor, did he let his face fall into his hands.

He swore, then swore again as his own tears came forth, welling in his eyes.

He remained, curled in on himself as he regained his composure. Once he found that composure, he sat up, his eyes red with emotion and the bags beneath his eyes a violent reddish-purple hue. He turned back to the matrix, brows furrowed as he considered his breakthrough and Seika. He'd figure this out, help the undercity, then he'd go to her.

Chapter Text

When Seika came too it took her a moment to realize where she was. Her face felt puffy and the ceiling before her loomed above, overwhelming her so much that new tears dripped down the sides of her face and onto the sheets of her bed.

He couldn't have meant it; he's just struggling with this new invention... that's it...

A sudden feeling of regret swelled in her as she wept profusely, struggling to deal with the feelings that had so drastically impacted her since her arrival here.

Viktors voice rang in her ears, alternating between how sweetly he called her name last night to how angry he sounded sending her away and she couldn't contain her sob, her face in her hands as if pressing her palms into her eyes might somehow stop the tears from falling.

While he hadn't hurt her in away when he hit her hand away, it pulsed with an angry warmth that matched its origins own intensity.

She began to cough, struggling to catch her own breath between the tears, and in her exhaustion, she laid back on the bed, the ceiling swirling above her as she slipped back into unconsciousness.

…

Viktor was hunched over the desk, the familiar blue light that he'd been staring at for hours today alone flashing against his face. He tested another combination, one he may have already tried considering how many he'd already attempted but it fought again him, bolts of brilliant blue magic zipping from it and back into itself like lightning. It swirled, the runes swiveling around it and resettled. Failure. Again.

He sighed, tapping his forehead lightly as he repositioned himself, his eyes still eyeing the light source.

"It's beautiful," he heard Sky say behind him.

He didn't look back at her, his focus only on what was in front of him. As of recently, he'd hardly spoken to Sky despite them being childhood friends, and he did his best to ignore the guilt that gnawed in him.

"I can't figure out why it's not working," he said, harsher than he'd meant for it to sound.

"You will," she spoke quickly, and he could hear the kindness in her voice, but he heard very little after that.

He grabbed some notes to his left and looked at them, his thoughts being pulled back to the hextech project in front of him.

"Are you headed home soon? I thought we could walk together." Sky spoke and Viktor just barely heard her.

His thoughts drifted back to his room, and the inevitable scent he'd find within his bed, and the person who'd be but a few doors down, the one he wanted to run to more than anything, but he couldn't, not yet.

"I'm, uh, probably going to sleep here tonight." He stated, his eyes aimlessly wandering the messy scrawled penmanship upon the parchment.

She attempted to rebuttal him, her concern for him evident, but it wouldn't work.

He ended the conversation by wishing her a good night as he continued to look over the notes he'd viewed a thousand times already. His lungs constricted in his chest, but he ignored it, pushing forward. Figure this out, help the undercity, see Seika.

Like a mantra, his mind repeated it over and over as he tried again.

The runes and ball of light flipping and twisting, fighting him in every way.

Viktors brows furrowed angrily as he tested it again and again until it failed and the runes resettled themselves.

He jumped up, baring his teeth at the damned frustrating matrix, and slammed his fists on the desk, throwing the papers on the desk's surface up and around him in pure exasperation.

The stool he'd been sitting on wheeled away from him to the center of the room during his outburst, and his head ached suddenly. He felt a pounding in his skull as his vision blurred, and the matrix took on an uncharacteristic red tint as his sight distorted before him.

Viktor heard it, something whispering, unrecognizable and thrilling all at the same time, but somewhere deep inside him, he knew it was a call to him. This was like what had happened at the Hexgate, not entirely the same, but similar, but such parallels were lost to the scientist now.

He went to move forward, wanting to get closer to his goal, his mantra still echoing inside of him, and heard Seika's voice call out to him, each time she called to him, her voice became more and more morbid and warped.

He fell forward, catching himself roughly on the desk with his forearms, his lungs constricting in his own chest. Coughing wracked his whole body, and his chest moved awkwardly with the few breaths he could get in, and the blood that typically coursed through his veins was spilled from his lips and onto the desk. He collapsed, struggling to breathe through the coughing, his chin catching the edge of the desk, the hextech project he'd dedicated so much of his life, his health, his relationships too, being the last thing he saw before he slipped to the floor.

...

When Seika had woken later, a letter from Cecil had arrived, one inviting her to the Opera, but she’d politely declined. A sigh escaped her lips, and she felt worn out from the crying. She looked outside; the evening had already come as the normal yellow light had turned a dark blue and even from where she laid on the bed, she could see a few stars twinkling in the night sky.

Despite what had happened, she wanted to see him and talk things over, and so, she left.

She strode from her room, locking the door behind her, and left the building as quickly as she could. She hadn't even looked at herself before she left, and just ruffled her hair out as she hustled towards Viktors office. The Academy grounds were silent again, something she took solace in and when she neared the building the Hextech Lab was in, she saw that Sky was already long far off as she headed back home... alone.

Seika looked from the direction of Hextech Lab to Sky, and turned from Viktor and Jayce’s assistant, heading inside towards the place she knew Viktor would be. Where he always seemed to be without fail.

The dimly lit hallways echoed with the sound of her footsteps, but the beating of her heart was louder and it echoed violently in her ears.

How would he respond? Should she go back? He'd never even know she was there if she left now...

Despite her constant thinking, her legs continued to move forward, her body calling out for the individual that was secreted away within this building, hunched over the blue ball of magic, the cogs in his own brain working as he tried to fit the pieces together. She stopped when she reached the start of the hallway, the first door to the lab in sight.

A dark echo called from that direction, rough and nearly violent, its unrecognizable voice twisting seething words that corrupted her ears.

It sang its haunting song and her own eyes saw a tint of red and she ran, nearly tripping on herself as she pushed herself to get to the door. She hurriedly unlocked it and slipped through, rushing through the hallway to the second pair of doors. She stopped when she entered, the matrix its characteristic blue hue and now oddly silent given her arrival, but the figure she expected to be hunched over it with notes strewn about him wasn't.

Lying before her on the floor was Viktor on his back, blood dripping from his mouth and nose, his cane lying awkwardly on top of him. She blinked and then she was next to him, kneeling down as she called his name over and over again.

Everything moved in a blur as she screamed for help and her hand went to cradle his cheek. Then he was in her arms and she was attempting to hoist him up, her brain fuzzy in every aspect.

She saw the blood on the desk, eyed the blue ball of light, and left as Viktor let out a strained gasp. Her voice continued to ring through the halls until one of the Enforcers patrolling the building had heard her screams.

Everything was a blur as Enforcers arrived and Viktor was carried off. Her gaze shifted back to the silent matrix, her unease having grown tenfold, and with one last glance towards the blood on the desk before the swirling ball of runes, she left, locking the lab behind her.

She’d followed the group of enforcers carrying Viktor to the hospital, refusing to leave the man’s side and when his unconscious form had been set up in a bed, hooked up to several machines did she finally lose enough of her strength and was unable to stop herself as she collapsed into a chair.

Seika remained in that seat, staring at Viktor in silence for some time. Her leg bounced continually until at some point, she’d fallen asleep. When she’d awoken, she found Jayce sitting next to her, his fingertips together as his gaze fell to his friend.

Her eyes moved to Viktor again and they widened, for however long he’d been asleep for, his physical status looked to be deteriorating. Even with the assistance of IV fluids, his cheekbones were hollowed, his eyebags contrasting intensely with his sickly gray color of his pale skin and her breath caught in her throat, her throat seizing up with emotion.

Jayce heard her soft noises and looked back at her.

"Seika," he whispered and stood, pulling her up into a hug. He held her as she struggled with her emotions again.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry you had to find him there... I--" Jayce's voice cracked as he held back his own emotions and he held her tight, just needing something to hold close. The pair stood embraced in silence, the only ounce of control in any part of their lives that they seemed to have would be when the embrace ended and the pair relished in that one little bit of control.

"What... What did they say?" Seika finally asked, but in truth, she knew the answer.

Jayce pulled away and sat, trembling as he did so. His face went to his hands then he looked back up at her in silence.

Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes shifted to the unconscious man and her heart nearly broke.

"Viktor," she whispered as she stepped to his left side, now standing in-between Jayce and Viktor. Her hand went to his cheek and shock reverberated through her at just how cold he felt to her touch. Her eyes softened again and a tear escaped from her, slipping from her chin and was lost.

Jayce watched Seika and his heart thudded, knowing how she felt; had it been Mel in that bed he'd be feeling what she's feeling. He wasn't blind, he'd heard of the development between them. As much as they wanted to think they were secluded and private with empty halls, eyes and whispers were everywhere. And now they were here, and he had to watch his best friend, no his brother, dwindling away to nothing.

Viktor inhaled deeply, the oxygen tubes pumping as much as the noiseless machine could provide, but he did not wake despite him turning his head, pain masking his sleeping face before it settled into something more akin to a dead man.

Seika gasped softly as he moved, hoping he might open his eyes and she could gaze into their amber depths once more, but he didn't. Her hand moved, gently parting his locks on each side to reveal his face more. Her brows furrowed as she remembered the rune matrix and her mind raced. She wanted to stay with him, desperately, to be there when he woke, but…

“You’re staying with him, yes?” Seika asked, interrupting the silence. Jayce looked up to her and nodded, brows slightly furrowed as he took in Seika’s almost fearful expression.

“Of course, but –”

“I have to go,” Seika said softly as she grabbed her bag. Jayce stood, his hand grabbing her wrist lightly.
            “Seika, what’s wrong?” Jayce questioned. If she was leaving, then whatever she was feeling was larger than Viktor, though right now, he couldn’t figure out exactly what that would be. His brows furrowed further as her face faltered. When she took another step back, he released her wrist from his grip.

“I’d been invited as an advisor,” she said before her voice dropped to a whisper, “and now I must advise…” She turned and fled from the room, leaving Jayce stunned and confused.

...

After she’d left the hospital, Seika had returned back to the Hextech Lab. For several hours, she’d stared at the matrix, questioning it talking to it, but only receiving silence in response. She could tell something had shifted within it and her eyes fell to the blood, Viktor’s blood, on the desk. She heavily disliked the direction this project was going in; every fiber of her being screamed that this needed to be stopped before things evolved into a much greater problem. Even more concerning were the crystals – those too refusing to talk.

Cecil had been right. Guilt welled up in her as she realized what she’d have to do, how much it would hurt him and her heart ached. Her hand moved, thumbing the scar on her side that she needed no reminder was there.

Her face fell into her palms as she sighed, shaking her head before lifting it to view the matrix. Things were moving so fast she could hardly keep up. First the Gemstone – an issue she’d practically avoided dealing with since she’d arrived, then there was whatever was developing between her and Viktor – if he even felt the same anymore, now his prognosis that she was powerless to do anything for, and lastly, this thing was evolving.

The thought alone made her feel sick.

Viktor had started this project with the intent to help people, to put an end to their suffering. As Seika stared at the rune matrix, she became acutely aware of how impossible that would be now. Her mentor’s stories rang in her ear, those he knew, mentors and mentees, who suffocated under the power of magic and lost themselves to it. Civilizations fell when that happened, innocent people died. She stood, walking to the window and stared out over Piltover and further than that, the undercity.

She couldn’t let that happen to this place. She needed to save them, even if it meant saving them from themselves.

…

Seika had slammed the door to her room behind her and immediately began stripping, ripping the fabric suffocating her body as she gasped for air. The impending fallout of her next actions left her knees weak as she stumbled about the room. She showered quickly, spending more time lost in thought than anything and remained in there until the water went cold. By the time she’d left the confines of the shower, the sun had risen well past the horizon.

In her towel, she threw open the wardrobe, her brows furrowing at the unfamiliar clothing within it. How much time had she wasted on such frivolities? How had she gotten so caught up in the newness of society? She was taught better than that…

Her hands ripped the clothes off the hangers, anger, guilt and frustration taking over her every thought. What could she have done to do more? She paused, thumbing the clothes she’d arrived to Piltover in. She hated what she was about to do – despised it. It tasted foul in her mouth, rotten and gray like the decay of death.

This was who she was, an outsider to this place, a confirmation that she didn’t belong, the home she’d felt with Viktor did not exist, and after this, it’d be metaphorically razed to the ground. Sobs welled up in her chest at the thought of him rejecting her and she began to get dressed.

Maybe he’d understand. Maybe he’d see her side of things and everything would be alright…

The lie tasted bitter, scientists do not often give up their conquests, neither do rogue power-hungry mages… The parallels were too similar, too daunting and she wondered just how badly the lecture would be from her mentor when he heard about what had happened when she inevitably returned to his side.

As she finished dressing and strapped her bag to her body she paused.

With healing magic, perhaps she could help him. It’d resolve so many issues they faced…

Seika’s eyes fell to her outstretched palm and she realized just how little training she’d actually had. She’d wandered with her mentor for over a hundred years, and what did she have to show for it? He hadn’t even helped much in her shifting abilities – that she’d learned on her own before she’d even met him, and his lessons on anything related to the arcane and magic were few and far between – significantly more theoretical than practice. Tens of thousands of days wasted on wandering the continent, occasionally helping people that was more often due to circumstance than preference, but all she did was follow him around like an uneducated ignorant child. She knew why; deep down inside she knew his hesitation, the betrayals he’d endured and she internally wept at her own insecurities and ineptitude as she walked out the door.

Chapter Text

When Seika barged into his office, Cecil jumped, the sudden intrusion having startled the yordle.

"Seika?" He questioned. She was silent, wearing what she'd worn on her first day, and she used her foot to lightly push the door closed, but the latch didn't catch and it creaked back open just a bit. He’d planned to speak to her about what he’d seen the morning prior, but the look on her face had him pausing his words.

"We need to talk Cecil," her voice spoke, harshly and despite her emotionless face, he could tell she was struggling with herself.

The woman ignored the poro who so excitedly ran around her feet and she stared at him with unreadable eyes.

Outside in the hallway, Viktor who’d discharged himself from the hospital just over two hours ago, had slowly made his way to Professor Heimerdinger's office, his crutch softly clanking against the floor. He went to knock but heard Heimerdinger and Seika speaking with one another and he stopped, listening intently outside the cracked door.

"You brought me here as an advisor, to be another person to advise Viktor and Jayce on their work and more importantly to guide them away from the wrong path," she spoke.

"Yes, to an extent," he agreed, furred brows creased.

"I've dragged my feet on the matter because I've been considering other ways of handling this problem, but Viktor will never be able to figure out the matrix. Jayce is so focused on his new position that all of his attention is elsewhere, but even if they worked together, I can say with confidence that this is a disaster waiting to happen,” Seika said without skipping a beat.

Viktors mouth had dropped open and his brows furrowed. He squeezed the handlebar his crutch tightly in his grip so hard that it hurt. So, this was her goal, this had been her entire objective. She'd distracted him so she could pull the rug right out from under him.

"We must end this, Cecil. This must be stopped and this research ceased,” Seika continued from within Heimerdinger’s office, practically pleading with the yordle.

Viktor turned, hobbling as fast as he could away; this couldn't happen, no, his goals, the undercity.

Flashes of his childhood warped past his eyes as he rushed to the lab, his only thoughts on his goals and that of which was important to them, Seika not being one of them.

...

"Seika...?" Heimerdinger whispered, watching the woman before him, who'd so boldly spoken that this particular Hextech project needed to end.

Tears had dripped down her face as she spoke and she hadn't even realized.

She smiled; her own emotions had betrayed her and she swore, turning her face away.

"Seika, tell me, please," he said to her, his hand flat against his desk as he slid it in her direction. This is not how he'd wanted to do this, not to Viktor and Jayce, and he could tell she didn't either.

“The matrix Cecil, it’s changing,” she said hurriedly, collapsing into the seat in front of his desk. “This has to stop, it –”

“Seika,” Cecil interrupted her, speaking with more conviction this time and she paused, meeting his cyan blue eyes. “Talk to me dear girl.”

The softness in his voice had her shoulders slumping as she laid back in the chair, head hanging off the back.

“None of this was supposed to happen Cecil,” she said when she sat back up, propping her elbow on the arm as Porofessor hopped up onto her lap. Her fingers raking through the fur of the white ball of fluff absentmindedly.

“You and Viktor… you?” Cecil said, fingers intertwined as his hands rested on his desk.

She let out a breathy gasp of a laugh, nodding as a pink spread across her cheeks. She opened her mouth then closed it and let out the same laugh and shook her head.

“It’s so stupid, really,” she said, tears welling up in her eyes again. “But I….” her words were lost as she looked to the yordle. “I didn’t think… I’m just…” She smiled, remembering all the books she’d read. Once her mentor had taught her how to read, it’d been a gaping unfillable hole of desire to read as much as she could, but for a pair always traveling, carrying around a giant stack of books was impossible, and so, every time they’d arrive to a new village, she’d trade the book she had. She’d read tales of kings gone mad with grief, of rulers seeking help from the gods to save their people, heart crushing betrayals, and dashing rescue attempts, but it was the stories of love between two people that were always her preference. She’d thought for a long time that it was an event that wouldn’t ever happen to her that maybe she couldn’t even form a connection like that if she tried. Even if she could, she didn’t often meet people her own age long enough to form any sort of relationship with them, nor did such relationships even usually occur when she did, but Viktor had figured it out. He had brought her walls tumbling down and now she stood defenseless.

Cecil watched as the girl sat before him was lost in her thoughts, and despite her age, he saw just how young and naïve she was. What had she been doing all this time? Not that he was dismayed by her and her feelings in any way, but when he’d sent the invitation to her, he’d thought by now, after all this time since they’d first met, she’d be different.

“I don’t know if what he said was real,” Seika said after a minute, “or if they were just empty words.”

The yordle’s eyes narrowed. There it was again, that cynicism she’d learned from her mentor – whoever he was.

“I’ve worked with Viktor for many years. When it comes to people he trusts, Viktor is anything but counterfeit,” Cecil said softly as he moved, prepping a pot of tea. “He has a nasty habit of getting lost in his work, so much so that he forgets the world sometimes, but beyond that, he’s always been rather secluded. Jayce has helped him open up over the years, but I do not think he’s ever felt truly at home here, as much as I’d wish for otherwise.”

Seika’s heart swelled and deflated at Cecil’s words. So that was it then, before they’d visited the Hexgate he’d just been too lost in his work. If that was the case then surely, he still felt the same. His story echoed in her ears again, and her hand moved to her heart racing in her chest and she could only hope he felt at home with her, as she did with him. Though the impending end to the matrix would likely lead to the opposite, and that thought had Seika feeling ill, her face crumbling.

“What of your opinion on the Gemstone?” Cecil asked and pulled her from her thoughts as he placed down a teacup before her.

Seika glanced up, meeting his eyes and shook her head a bit.

“I only saw it for a minute really, but I don’t feel nearly as strongly about it as I do the matrix. The Gemstone was made under intense pressure, so intense that I can’t hear it anymore – it has to be there, but even then, the only threat comes from what you inventors are capable of, and I don’t know if there’s a single way you could safeguard the Gemstone from being used poorly,” she said honestly.

Cecil nodded, sipping his tea. He’d heard of the co-inventors working on something new, this matrix, must be what it was. His gaze fell and he noted that Porofessor had well and truly fallen asleep on the girls’ lap and he smiled behind his teacup.

“Is there nothing that can be done to help him?” Seika asked softly, changing the topic of conversation again and Cecil realized just how lost in her thoughts she was.

Cecil sighed heavily before shaking his head.

“No, I don’t believe so, not after his prognosis,” he replied softly.

“I just want him to live…” she said aloud as she looked away, glancing about the room as Cecil silently desired the same thing. She put Porofessor on the chair as she stood, moving to wander about his office, her fingertips trailing along books in the bookshelves and the length of tables. “This is where it happened, right? When Jayce and Viktor figured out Hextech?”

Cecil made a noise of approval at her question.

“I remember it vividly, and there,” Cecil pointed, a little spot on the ceiling, “Viktor was floating there that night. They shattered my window too,” he said with a huff as he smiled. Seika chuckled, looking up at the spot on the ceiling decorated with constellations. His gaze turned as he found Seika looking at a piece of paper – a report from Viktor and his gaze softened as she lightly touched the document.

“This has to be stopped Cecil,” she whispered, “if he keeps going like this, he’ll kill himself, if not worse,” she continued, still gazing down at the document. “I can’t let him do that to himself, even if I have to be the one to put a stop to it…”

Cecil met her gaze when she finally looked at him. This was her attempt at saving him; by throwing away any possibility of forgiveness, if his research ended then in her mind, maybe something could still be done. She couldn’t hide the concern on her face, not when she looked so desperate right now.

“I never knew this is what it would feel like,” she said, having shifted her focus back to the document as she traced Viktors signature. “The books never did it justice,” she murmured, adding to her statement.

“Do you love him?” Cecil asked, combing out his moustache thoughtfully and Seika looked up, eyes wide, her cheeks pinkening.

“I-I don’t know,” she stuttered uncharacteristically. “It’d be crazy if I did,” she continued, running her hand through her hair as her eyes fell to the floor, “but I feel something…. Something I haven’t ever felt before,” she finished, her gaze meeting his again.

“I don’t want to leave Piltover knowing I’ll never see him again,” Seika said softly.

Heimerdinger couldn’t relate as he inhaled deeply then exhaled. A majority of his life had been inventing, bringing about Piltover and helping the city grow through technological advancements. Beyond that, he really didn’t know much of anything else. Like most, he suffered from days of loneliness, occasionally feeling the desire to connect with another, but it was always a fleeting emotion, a drop of water in the body of ocean that was his immortal existence. Despite his reserved feelings towards the topic, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy for Seika’s feelings and for a moment, he felt a feeling of loss as he realized how little he had to show for his three-hundred-year life thus far when it came to his relationships with people.

“Have you seen him yet?” Seika asked as she returned to her seat.

Cecil nodded in agreement, watching as she sipped at the cooled tea.

“How is he?” Her voice was soft, uncertain, and apprehensive, almost like she both desired and was terrified of the answer.

“He’s out of the hospital, much to everyone’s displeasure,” Cecil replied, intertwining his fingers on the desktop again. “I spoke to him as well.”

Seika watched as Cecil’s eyes drifted to his fingers as he reflected on their conversation.

“The boy seems quite lost. Not only in his own prognosis, but in himself as well. He expressed worry about the lack of remembrance that may occur after his time,” Cecil added.

Seika sat there, stunned. This man who had helped the undercity in so many ways, this man who would ignore his own health to continue to find ways for the betterment of others, was worried he would be forgotten? That even she might forget him? Her heart broke a little at how miniscule she thought he was in her eyes, and regret for not talking the day prior created a rock of guilt in her gut that held her in her place. As much as she wished for his feelings to change, she knew what they were planning to do would only encourage his feelings.

The words burned like acid as they left her lips.

“It will change into something awful Cecil, it’s already started to. It will only get worse as it demands more, more blood, more power,” her words faltered before she continued, “it will destroy him, possibly both cities if things went poorly.” She looked away from him, looking up past him and out his window where the citizens of Piltover went unbothered about their day, oblivious to the foreboding conversation shared between the founder of their city and his guest. “It can’t be allowed to survive,” she finished.

“If he knew, if he saw what I see, heard what I heard, he’d feel the same,” Seika said with a soft voice despite feeling confident in her words.

Cecil nodded at her words.

“We’ll stop this madness…” he said with a pained smile on his face as he reached out his hand to her. She took it, squeezing it tightly as she met his gaze. “Together.”

She nodded, silent tears rolling down her face as she closed her eyes, her face falling as she squeezed his hand. Porofessor looked between the two of them, whining softly before curling up in Seika’s arms.

...

Viktor stared intensely at the matrix, his brows furrowed in frustration as he seemingly cycled in and out of consciousness. Were they dreams? Visions? Hallucinations? He didn't care what they were, as long as they helped him achieve his goal.

It was only now that he'd realized the hue had changed, it wasn't blue, no it'd shifted to a purple color. It was haunting and beautiful all at the same time. It continued to spin and rotate, unprompted, its activity having increased significantly since he’d collapsed.

Viktor’s eyes stared at the rotating segmented runes and he stood, approaching it. He looked down to the blood and then to the runes, the voice speaking something he could not understand echoing again, but he knew it was calling to him. Visions of the night before, and the blood that it appeared to accept into itself warped past him and he moved.

His hand outstretched, feeling the pull of the magic in front of him, and a long delicate finger reached, gently poking one of the rune pieces that encased the light. It recoiled and deafened his ears with speech unspoken by man, swirling and releasing steam and bolts of magic from it. He felt his subconscious being taken hold of and with his eyes rolling towards the back of his head, he slipped into transcendence.

…

After they'd finished speaking, the trio left Heimerdinger's office and grabbed an early lunch.

Seika forced herself to eat most of her plate despite feeling so unsettled by what was going to happen. Cecil had attempted to make conversation, most of it shallow, and once they found the rhythm of it, the pair actually felt small sparks of joy from it, using conversations about the weather and how she slept to deter and distract them from the inevitable.

When they'd finished, they began to walk towards the Hextech Lab where she knew Viktor would be. Seika breathed, just barely as they neared the building and the pair stood just outside the doors to the building.

"Together," he spoke, not looking at her, but he saw her nod in his peripherals, and then they entered the building.

Chapter Text

Viktor viewed the Hextech device before him intensely, a slight grin on his face as he cranked it and the orb of light flashed and crackled with magic, the plant settled inside of the light growing extravagantly before their eyes. Jayce practically jumped away, watching as the plant grew ten, no twenty times its original height, the flora branching up towards the ceiling.

"Incredible," he murmured, backing up to view the new growth that had come from the magic.

Viktor smiled, turning to him as he spoke, "This is unlike anything we've ever seen, Jayce," he continued to speak, hobbling to the chalkboard.

"It, it, it," he stuttered, "It could be the key to augmenting physiology, extending life..."

"Curing you," Jayce interrupted, a look of awe and hope on his face.

Loud squealing came from behind them, and both turned to the runes that had been vacuumed into the light and the plant brutally and violently shriveled up and died before the matrix returned to its normal state.

Jayce looked on in both shock and confusion.

"It's happened to every one," Viktor spoke from behind him as he moved before the chalkboard.

"I can't determine why," he said softly, resting his forehead on the board. "They’re... rejecting the transmutation," he said, tilting his head to look at Jayce, and then he sat up, and the pair fully viewed the dead plant.

Jayce sighed, his hope had swelled within him like a wave, and now it'd been like the tide and been dragged out of him.

He went to Viktor, resting his hand on his shoulder.

"We'll solve this."

"There may not be time." Viktor replied, his eyes staring at the floor and when he looked up, he continued, "we're in uncharted waters here and..."

He paused.

"I can feel my body... eroding," he confessed, hunching over again. He was tired. Exhausted. The possibility of him crawling into his bed and never getting back up seemed more real now than ever. Images of Seika in his bed with him flashed before him but Jayce's words pulled him from such painful memories.

"I'll have Sky bring Heimerdinger. He might know something that could help. In the meantime, we'll do what we do best,” he said confidently has he tossed a piece up chalk up and caught it.

Viktor's fist clenched around his crutch and he sighed at hearing Heimerdinger's name. Jayce watched Viktor's brows furrow, noting the negative reaction towards the yordle.

"Or-Or Seika, she said she knew magic. Heimerdinger invited her, sure she hasn't been here to do much, but she must know something," he said.

"No," Viktor harshly interrupted him. "Not her, not Heimerdinger,” he added softly.

"Viktor, why? They know the most --"

"They want to shut us down," Viktor interrupted as he met Jayce's eyes.

"What...?" Jayce responded as he scrambled for something to support himself on. His eyes drifted to the floor, then back to Viktor.

"I went to visit Heimerdinger this morning and heard them, they do not think we can do it, they think it will be a disaster. That is why Heimerdinger brought her here, to use her to stop us," Viktors amber eyes glowed fiercely and he watched as Jayce's face morphed into anger.

"But they're on their way right now," Jayce stood up waving his hands out in front of him.

"What?" Viktor hissed and turned back to the matrix.

"Ok, ok, we've got to play this right, Heimerdinger is a scientist, he'll see the possibilities this could do, the good it could do," Viktor argued as he tapped lightly on his chin, staring down as the matrix swirled before him.

"Then what about Seika?"

Viktor turned and for a moment, the emotion in Viktors eyes was unreadable.

"Leave Seika to me..."

...

Seika's heart was in her throat, and somehow, she felt like she could vomit if she let herself, but with Cecil at her side, she continued walking, her skirts trail just barely floating behind her.

The pair approached the door, but it was Cecil who entered first. From the moment the trio entered the room, Seika noticed how stuffy it was, the air in the room heavy and intense, and Jayce gave a small almost forced smile to them.

Seika greeted Jayce and when she went to look at Viktor, the look he gave her made her stop in her tracks.

Heimerdinger strolled to the front of the room before Viktor who hid the project in question behind him while Seika remained back, leaning against a desk against the far wall. Heimerdinger stood in a way that gave him the opportunity to glance back at Seika and see her reaction should he need to – he trusted her opinion more than both Jayce and Viktors who, like any young inventor, wanted to see their creations expand outward past the borders of their lab.

Viktor stepped to the side, his eyes finally leaving Seika's and he looked to Heimerdinger's, whose face displayed a mix of concern, worry, and curiosity. Seika however stared at it with wide eyes and furrowed brows. It was speaking this time, but its speech was corrupted, she'd pick out words here and there, but it was distorted and difficult to understand speaking more incoherent nonsense then actual sentences. Her gaze rose up and down the deceased plants sprouting from the matrix, fear coursing through her bloodstream.

"What is that?" Cecil asked.

"I'm calling it the Hexcore," Viktor stated as the hexcore behind him trilled and shifted about. Viktor turned as he continued to speak, "It's an adaptive rune matrix. Hextech that evolves."

He could have laughed, knowing that when he'd turn around Seika would be looking at him in shock, he'd cracked a major part of the puzzle, and surely both she and Heimerdinger would have regrets about their initial intent.

Seika's hand went to her mouth and it was all that Heimerdinger needed to know.

Jayce looked between the two, and then back to the Hexcore. They'd figured out how important this was, how astounding and absolutely necessary this was, if not for the world, then for Viktor.

"It’s-It's groundbreaking," he stammered, and continued, pointing in the direction of the Hexcore as he continued, "What's most exciting is that it reacts to biological matter."

Seika looked to the Hexcore, as Viktor was calling it, and it continued warbling again, words here and there, but most of it sounded so misconstrued that it would be pointless to think anything worthy understanding could come from the Hexcore’s speech. The shift it over the past few days was astronomical and it set Seika’s nerves on edge, every cell in her body screaming how this was wrong, how bad and abominable this invention had become.

"There are stories of healing magic. Our samples thus far have perished..."

Jayce's voice drifted off and while Heimerdinger endured flashbacks of times before now, where runes and magic nearly destroyed the world, Seika could not help herself as she covered her face with her hands.

Viktor watched her, the one he'd come so close to yet the one who wanted to drag him down. He hated that a part of himself wanted to run to her and hug her; she was noticeably frightened. But science was scary, and even more horrifying was how quickly and easily she could change her act around him. She picked him to be the weak one, though admittedly, Jayce would have been easier to get to considering his habits and arrogance, instead she sought him out of the two of them. He was disgusted.

"You must destroy it," Cecil spoke ominously and Seika looked up, her hands falling to her side, bracing her body against the desk she so heavily relied on at this moment.

Viktor and Jayce shared a glance and he spoke, looking to his mentor.

"What?" Viktor asked, his shock only allowing him to say that. Heimerdinger was supposed to be enamored with what he'd done, praising them and telling the world about what he had found out.

Seika raised her head and looked Viktor in the eyes and her heart broke at the disdain he returned to her.

"Please," Heimerdinger began, "if ever you've put faith in my guidance, hear me now. I've seen nations destroyed by a single seed and it looked..." He paused eyeing the Hexcore, "Exactly like this."

"Professor, this could save Viktor's life," Jayce said and Seika felt bile rise into her throat at his words as the man looked to the Hexcore then back to Heimerdinger.

Viktor's eyes had torn away from Seika's, and now he looked at the Hexcore he created, he altered, and tested, researched, and slaved away on as Heimerdinger told him it was for nothing.

Heimerdinger looked between the two men and his eyes sought out Seika's, but then they quickly returned to his two apprentices.

"Viktor, something's different. You've changed. What did you do?" He asked, brows furrowed in concern at his at-one-point assistant.

Viktor turned back to look at Heimerdinger and noticed the look he and Seika shared, the look of fear and distress, but unlike Heimerdinger, Seika's face betrayed her. Since she'd entered the room, she'd attempted to show every ounce of control in her emotions and she'd done none of that.

Heimerdinger had finally noticed, and Seika was both thankful and horrified. She had been right, what had happened, particularly with last night was evidence that things within the Hexcore were changing, and things within Viktor were as well.

Viktor readjusted himself on his crutch as he feigned a look of surprise.

"W-What do you mean, Professor?" He asked and looked to Heimerdinger, his attempt at seeming fine going above and beyond to the point that it was unbelievable.

Heimerdinger pointed to the Hexcore, his brows furrowed in frustration and anger.

"It's that thing. It must be destroyed!" Cecil declared as he stepped forward acting as if he might do something to the Hexcore at that moment, but Jayce and Viktor put themselves between the yordle and the Hexcore.

"Wait," Viktor pleaded, his hand extended in protest.

Seika straightened, taking a step forward and Viktor eyes found hers. She watched as they narrowed at her while Jayce spoke.

"No. I won't let you." Jayce spoke rebutting against Heimerdinger's declaration.

Porofessor barked, as if it'd ward off all that was bad in this room and Seika's eyes softened as she stared into Viktors, the pain she was feeling evident as Heimerdinger continued. She knew this was what needed to happen, she knew that all of Viktor's work with the Hexcore had to be eliminated, and she knew just how much it'd break him, and in turn, that broke her.

"Jayce, this is a violation of the Ethos. I will have it destroyed one way or another." He spoke harshly.

"That's your opinion. We'll see if the Council agrees." He lashed back at him.

Seika's eyes fell to Porofessor as the poro barked and huffed, following Heimerdinger out. She paused, almost frozen in place as she glanced up to the pair of co-inventers. The glare she received from both of them caused her to stiffen. She opened her mouth to say something, looking between the two of them, before her gaze met Viktors and she couldn’t look away. A loud exhale left her parted lips and she closed her mouth, following after Cecil, fists clenched at her sides.

...

The evening sunset drifted through the stained glass of the Council Room, bathing the room in warm yellow light. Like her first time in the room, she’d taken her place in a chair behind Cecil, just before the window. The only thing that was different, however, was Jayce's placement, who now sat behind the table, alongside the other Councilors, and to Heimerdinger's right.

It took every ounce of her being not to fidget nervously and when she looked at Jayce, she found him already glaring at her. Her eyes looked away and found the back of Cecil's chair, who spoke first.

"Councilors, we have lost our way," he began, "This city was founded to be a bastion of enlightenment. In a world that cannibalized itself over power and pride."

Some of the Councilors who'd been more distracted than the others turned to face the yordle, their attention fully on him.

"But we’ve forgotten. Loosened our morals in favor of comfort and convenience. Traded honor for prestige," he spoke, bringing out the last word, his words dictated by a grandiose tone, one that came from his several-hundred-years of life.

"We were once one tribe. Now we are Houses divided," he added. Several of the Councilors looked at one another upon hearing his words and Seika's brows furrowed as she watched them.

"I believe, if we set aside our greed and arrogance, we can be one again. It will take vigilance. We must hold each other accountable – ”

"And who holds you accountable?" Jayce's voice echoed loudly in the chamber, interrupting his mentor.

"What?" Heimerdinger asked.

"Shimmer is rampant in the undercity. Attacks at the Hexgates and in the Academy Square. Enforcers fear to set foot in the Lanes. All under your watch,” Jayce elaborated, shifting through his documents as he spoke.

Seika's mouth fell open a bit at Jayce’s words, calloused and without restraint and she stared in shock at the co-inventor of Hextech.

"Jayce," Heimerdinger turned to look at him, "you forget yourself."

"I'm sorry Professor," Jayce said, standing as he spoke, "but healing this city will take more than just speeches. Time and again, you've warned us what not to do. But let me ask you this, what's your plan to fix this?"

Heimerdinger sighed and shook his head softly before he spoke, "I see what this is all about." He faced his mentee, hands moving in a placating motion. Seika’s eyes softened as she heard her friend talk, hearing just how gentle he was trying to be in his explanations for wanting to cease Jayce and Viktors experiment.

"Your Hextech projects need more time. More safeguards," the yordle elaborated.

Jayce's hands slammed on the table. "Humans don't live for centuries. We can't wait for progress. We need a leadership focused on the future, not the past." Jayce paused before continuing, "You are the true father of Piltover and your years of service can never be repaid."

Seika's eyes widened as she looked between Jayce and Heimerdinger as she realized what was happening, sitting up and gripping the arms of the chair she sat in. Jayce's eyes met her once, narrowing when they landed on her, then he looked back to Heimerdiner and spoke again.

"I believe it's time we gave the beloved founder of our city... a well-deserved retirement."

Seika's soft gasp echoed in the chamber louder than she'd meant it to, her hand raising to her mouth. Surely, he wouldn’t, surely Jayce couldn’t have even considered…

"Jayce," Heimerdinger spoke softly, the betrayal in his voice, "don't do this."

Silence echoed, and when Jayce called for the unanimous vote, one by one, each of the councilors raised their hand until there was only Jayce.

Seika stood suddenly, the back of her chair clattering against the window, the action leaving a crack in the glass. All in the room looked to her at the commotion as she stared the group down, as Jayce hadn’t yet raised his hand.

"So that's it. Under the guise of retirement, you've removed your one and only block to further that, that…"

"Seika..." Heimerdinger called out in warning but it fell on deaf ears.

"Abomination?!" She exclaimed. “It will be the end of this city, it’s already – “

Jayce met her gaze and raised his hand, the action halting her speech as the light above him switched on. Seika’s brows furrowed as her eyes burned into him and he turned to view her fully.

"You came here under the guise of knowing magic, under a false pre-tense Ms. Etesia," Jayce stated as Heimerdinger's face fell downward, his eyes unable to look up beyond the floor as the last vote was cast, securing Jayce’s proposition and confirming the yordles removal from his position.

"How dare you," Seika interrupted him, a fire burning within her.

"You lied, and cheated the system to get here, you misconstrued your abilities, or lack thereof, and sent the Academy's top inventor down a path of lies, in a direction that would lead to anything but fruitful, despite Heimerdingers' previous assumption of your skills and knowledge."

Seika clenched her fists as Jayce spoke down to her and the rest of the Councilors began to speak up, berating her.

"Your inability to use magic and your deceit have wasted far too much time. You're no better than the criminals who stole the Gemstone,” Jayce finished.

Seika walked forward, glaring up at him.

“Your actions today will lead this city into ruin,” she hissed. “You think you have even the most remote idea of what it is the fuck you’re doing? If you let that thing exist and continue in the direction it is currently going, then you might as well initiate a mass exodus for both the undercity and Piltover.”

Jayce stuttered a bit, before he found his bearings, glaring down at the woman before him.

“You no longer have any reason to stay in Piltover Ms. Etesia, I suggest you gather your belongings and vacate the city on your own, unless you’d rather be escorted out oby armed guards,” he threatened.

“Fuck you and fuck your city,” she hissed before slipping past him. Anger welled up in Jayce as he reached, grabbing her shoulder hard and she recoiled, slapping him across the face with the back of her hand.

“Do not touch me,” she spat venomously at him as the other councilors had risen. She glanced once to Cecil, her eyes softening for a moment before they lifted up to meet Jayce’s fiery gaze. “And don’t call me when it all comes tumbling down,” she added, backing away before turning and walking towards the door, the words having tasted like poison from the moment they left her lips.

She paused, hand on the handle and she spoke.

“I’ll leave when I’ve found the Gemstone you,” her head turned back and she met Jayce’s eyes, “so conveniently lost. Especially since it appears you’re too incapable of finding it on your own,” she added before leaving and slamming the door behind her.

…

Word of an uproar during the Councilor meeting an attack on a Councilor spread far and wide throughout the academy, and even into the city itself. It didn’t take much thought for Viktor to realize who it was when he’d received a letter notifying him of the incident.

Viktor smiled; this was who she was huh? A wild rogue mage, unaccustomed to civilized life and as feral as a Wildclaw. Still, even he was surprised when he received the message… Slapping a Councilor during a meeting – how unexpected.

He could have laughed, but he was too tired. He had been foolish, swayed by a pretty face and kind words and instead of the distraction he’d once found he enjoyed, now bitter regret swelled in him. How much time had he wasted on such absurdity? His eyes sought the Hexcore and watched it warble and move and he sighed. Surely Jayce had managed to keep the Hexcore out of Heimerdinger’s grasp.

He turned on the stool when the door slammed, expecting Jayce but instead he was met with Seika's burning blue eyes. She was wearing the outfit he'd first met her in, the one that looked perfect on her, but he pushed the thought out of his head.

"Attacking a Councilor? Perhaps your plan had been to take the city over with Heimerdinger?" Viktor said, his words laced with bite as he leaned forward on his crutch.

For a moment, Seika didn't recognize the man before her, and her eyes glazed over in confusion.

"They're alive and well, though I’m sure Jayce’s fragile ego was damaged," was all she responded with and she watched Viktors' face twitch in frustration.

"What do you want? I've no interest in listening to anything you've to say to me," he said, his accent thickening alongside his anger.

"Why did you pull Cecil into it?" Her eyes clouded over with sadness and Viktor held back his own confusion – what was she referring to? Despite lacking an answer to the question, he found he admittedly didn’t care enough to find out as he replied.

"It needed to happen," he said simply shrugging his shoulders loosely.

She strode until she was in front of him and she glared, tears in her eyes.

"So that it? The man who nurtured and cared for you, just gone, as if it meant nothing at all?" She replied, her voice heavy with emotion.

Viktor smirked before he said, "I don't care for liars."

Her face morphed in confusion and she breathed, "What?"

He stood, struggling a bit, and when Seika went to help him, his hand pushed her away.

"I heard you and the professor, scheming together to destroy our work. He hadn't even seen it yet and you conspired with him, tainted his mind. You know nothing of this yet you are so hellbent on getting rid of it. Does it threaten you? Your mentor? Your abilities? Would you rather watch the rest of us without magic suffer and die painfully?" Viktors tone was relentless and biter, eyes intense as they stared her down and she thought for a moment that her heart stopped.

“Viktor, that’s not it,” she breathed, her heart squeezing painfully in her chest as she whispered, “please, the Hexcore, you have to destroy –”

“You have the audacity to try and stop something you don’t even know anything about,” his words cut through her like a knife and her face fell. “You said so yourself, how little you know, yet you dare think you have the capability, the mental fortitude to try and assess the situation? Your particular set of skills have never been helpful here.” The look Seika gave him caused instant regret, but she'd made it clear that what there was between them was really nothing at all.

"I heard it all, you and Heimerdinger in his office" he emphasized and looked her up and down as he huffed a noise of exasperation.

"Pathetic..." he muttered and turned away from her.

Realization hit her hard, so much so that she couldn't breathe. It'd been a game to him, his words, his actions, none of it was real, he simply wanted to further the Hexcore and its place in the world... He was completely rejecting her feelings, her... her everything...

She backed away from him and into the desk against the far wall as shock overcame her. Books clattered to the floor and an inkwell spilled, covering the surface and parchment beneath it in black ink, and then she was gone.

Chapter Text

Seika had gone straight back to her room, wiping at the tears on her face as she walked inside and slammed the door. Once in the privacy of her room, she stalked inside and ripped open the wardrobe before ripping off her bag.

As she was grabbing what few items she wanted to take, ignoring most of the new clothes she’d bought – her nomadic mindset finding them more of a burden than anything, a knock echoed from her door, accompanied by a little bark.

“Come in,” Seika called out with a sigh, her tone defeated.

Cecil entered, then closed the door behind he and Porofessor.

“Cecil…” Seika said softly, pausing what she’d been doing to walk over and hug him. “I’m so sorry.” He sighed shakily in his arms, closing his eyes as he hugged the woman back and she released him and collapsed onto the floor in a heap next to her. After a moment, he too sat. They remained seated in silence as they faced the new situation before them.

“Did you mean it?” Cecil asked after a few minutes, “you’re going to find the Gemstone?”

Seika nodded, staring at the wall opposite them. “Yeah,” she said softly.

“You truly don’t have any obligations here anymore, you don’t need to,” he further spoke, turning to look at her.

“I know,” she replied, still not looking at him, “but I feel like if I walk away now, then I’d truly done nothing for this place. I wanted,” she paused, “want,” she corrected herself, “to help this place.”

“What will you do?” She asked, turning her head and meeting his gaze finally.

He folded his hands in his lap as Porofessor settled between them, shoving his way to snuggle up to both of them, little chirps leaving him.

“I suppose I’ll see if the undercity has any need for me,” he said after a moment of silence. Seika nodded, turning back to look at the wall opposite them.

“He rejected me…” Seika whispered. “I went to see him after I walked out, he...” she scoffed, biting at her cheek to keep more tears from flowing, “he said he’d heard everything in your office this morning. Called it pathetic,” she added, punctuating the last word.

Cecil’s brows creased as he reached over, his gloved hand resting over hers but he said nothing in response, words of comfort lost to him in this moment. They remained seated there for a while, basking in their shared despondence.

“What happened to his horn?” Seika asked softly, breaking the silence as she lightly touched the bandage wrapped around the base of the poros right horn.

Cecil huffed, shaking his head, “firm evidence the gemstone still needed safeguards. Viktor’s Hexclaw seared the poor thing,” he replied.

Seika frowned, petting the poro.

“Will you,” Cecil started, his voice shaking, “will you take him?” He asked, looking down to Porofessor. “I don’t know where I’ll end up, even if it’s only for a short while –”

His words halted when Seika squeezed his hand back.

“Of course, he can stay with me as for long as you need my friend,” she replied, tears in her eyes when their gazes met. He nodded, hand covering his eyes.

“I trust no one else,” he whispered and Seika couldn’t stop the tears rolling down her face as her hand tightened around his.

Cecil left a half hour later, doting on the poro for several minutes before he went and Seika was left alone again. She sighed as she walked to the window and looked out, Porofessor trailing after her, then she glanced down.

“Guess I need to get a new bag, huh?” She said with a small smile as she looked down to the poro. She gathered the rest of her things, then pulled out the key to her room and dropped it on the bed she’d made. Her eyes shifted about the room, her eyes briefly glancing to the clothes she’d bought, now in a heap in the garbage bin before they shifted down to Porofessor.

“Time to go,” she said, smiling at the half-blind old man of a poro. She paused, her reflection in the mirror catching her eye as the maroon tie around her neck stood out against the rest of her outfit. Her hand moved, lightly touching it. Despite what he’d said and how he looked at her, she found she couldn’t take it off, couldn’t be separated from his tie and from his note in her bag. She let out a shaky exhale and with one more glance to Porofessor, they left the room, the weight of the key to the Hextech lab heavy in her pocket, one she’d been unable to let go of.

…

Seika felt the eyes of the enforcers patrolling the campus on her as she left. They watched her intently, as if expecting she might lash out and attack them at any moments notice, just as she’d done to their Councilor. She had to force herself to keep her sarcastic remarks to herself as she walked by. The ridiculousness of it all, all for that thing – the Hexcore.

She glowered as she walked, remember how it’d twisted, distorting even further after being introduced to more biological matter. It might have only been flora, but when it came to living things and power, it was often a very steep, very slippery slope.

Once at the main gate, she paused, turning towards the direction of the building the Hextech lab was. The Enforcers around her tensed and her eyes fleeted to the masked individuals, narrowing and observant before she rolled her eyes with a huff and walked away from the entrance and entered the city.

Porofessor trailed behind, a little growl and bark escaping the ball of white fluff as they distanced themselves from the members of the police force. Half an hour later, Seika had a new larger bag strapped to her person, Porofessor’s head poking out the top as he viewed the world just over her shoulder.

Viktors words echoed in cadence with her boots as they clicked against the stone pavement. Buildings passed as they made their way through the Piltover and towards the undercity. Even now as she attempted to push him from her mind, he weaseled in her mind, the tie around her neck feeling so tight that she was choking and the note in her bag so heavy that her knees might collapse.

All she had to do was find that damn Gemstone and throw it back in his face, then she could be free of this place. The thought had her stopping in her tracks as she was forced to consider she’d never see him again, that she’d leave and he’d die. Even after it all, it pained her to think of the situation he was in, the corner everything in the world had backed him into. Even then, as she wanted to put the blame on him, she couldn’t – his motivations were just too pure, his heart too kind.

After a minute, she continued, wiping at the sweat on her brow. She wandered for longer than she’d planned until she found a bathysphere that’d take her down into the undercity. After paying for a ticket, she stepped on board, slipping into the corner and rode it silently as it slunk down into the smoggy deep of the undercity.

When she stepped off of the bathysphere, Seika looked around in confusion and shock. She didn’t know what she expected, but it wasn’t this, and when she was faced with the bitter reality of the undercity, she found her nostrils burning and eyes struggling to adjust to the low light and high smog levels.

Seika walked through the streets, some taking note of her presence as she looked like anything but one of their own, but she ignored the stares entirely. She suddenly became incredibly overwhelmed, that same suffocating feeling she’d had when she’d arrived in Piltover and she slipped into an alleyway, leaning against the stained wall of a building as she panted heavily, her anxiety causing her chest to tighten.

Porofessor whined from here he rested his chin on her shoulder, nuzzling her gently, his horns occasionally bumping into her temple. She was grateful, and reached up, touching the animal, her fingers streaking through his fluffy long hair as he comforted her.

Where did she even start? She stared up, the edge of the trench above her. After a moment of slow breathing, she stepped back out into the road and continued walking before the continuous stretch of buildings lead to a clearing and she stopped.

She hadn’t even gotten to the lowest portion of the undercity. Well beyond her, bridges hung from one side of the trench to the other as far as she could see; a dizzying array of levels sprawled out as those living in the undercity had built their city into every nook and cranny of the trench they called home. Her forearms braced against the metal railing as she leaned over it, overwhelmed again. How was she supposed to find an altered crystal that she couldn’t even communicate with? Every skill in her arsenal was useless and her fists clenched the metalworking so tightly her knuckles went ghost white.

Seika considered again what the Sheriff had mentioned to Jayce that day at the Hexgates. Some of the local gangs were involved and she straightened. Perhaps it was a pipe dream, but she had to try. After steeling her resolution, she walked, heading down a staircase deeper into the city.

Seika had walked for some time, descending further into the depths until she looked up and couldn’t see the blue sky above her. It was an odd feeling; did people lived the entirety of their lives down here, some of them maybe not even feeling the sun on their skin on a regular basis? The rotted wood of the walkway she stepped onto from a staircase sunk beneath her weight and she sidestepped to another plank. Around her people of all shapes, sizes, and races slunk about, going about their day. She continued walking, her eyes glancing about as the smog of the city still itched uncomfortably at her lungs. Had Viktor lived here? Had he walked the same path she did, forced to watch his home, his people, live a life against their will?

She frowned, not understanding how Piltover had continued to sit around and do nothing. With so much money, technology, and resources at their disposal, how was it that they so easily turned a blind eye? Her heart swelled as Viktors goal echoed in her ears, and she saw him. He walked past her but when she turned, it was an older man with dark brown hair that grunted at her before turning and continuing on his way with his walking stick. Her gaze looked back towards the direction she’d been walking in and she started to move again, but Porofessor barked in her ears, pawing at her neck and she turned to her right. There, huddled on the ground was a young boy, his knees pulled up to his chest and face tucked away from view. The skin around the bones of his shins was taut and the knuckles on his hands knobby – a surefire sign of starvation. A little gasp escaped her as she stared at the child who couldn’t have been more than twelve. A stall selling, what appeared to be food, broke out in a tussle as someone refused to pay. Once the fight had ended, Seika stepped forward, ordering a bowl and after she handed the money to the blue green fishfolk.

With the bowl in hand, she walked to the boy and knelt before him. Porofessor yipped excitedly and the boy looked up. Initially he scooted away, fear on his face as he pressed himself further into the corner he was settled in.

Seika hushed him softly, smiling as she extended the bowl.

“Here,” she whispered, and when the boy took the bowl from her hesitantly, her smile grew. He glanced from her to the stall tender, and once the tender nodded, the boy ate voraciously. Her smile faltered as she witnessed the deprived state of the boy and she stood, giving him a soft pat on the head before continuing on. 

The dark yellow-green lights lit up the dirtied streets, and as Seika continued further, she found it was becoming harder for her to breathe. She coughed into her elbow, stepping around the green goop that had been spat up from the sewer drains, oblivious as it slipped back into the pipes once she’d stepped past it.

These were the people Viktor wanted to save… She ignored the burning in her throat and watched as people walked past her. Some were thin, others with mechanical extremities rather than limbs – green or purple tubes running through their body to fuel the non-human portions, some had bulbous growths accompanied by purple veins, and others lay in the dirt, coughing. At more than one point Seika stopped, watching an individual laying among debris, waiting for their chest to rise and fell in respiration, and only when she witnessed it, did she continue.

Her head fell back as she looked up, darkness and smog above her and she felt like weeping. Of course he’d been desperate, of course he’d thrown himself into work, or course he wanted to help them. Her face lowered and she continued to walk aimlessly.

Piltover lived above, its buildings rising higher and higher into the sun, meanwhile, the undercity slipped further into the trenches, drowning and suffocating in smog. She still couldn’t fathom it; how was it that the Piltovans continued with their lavish parties and glittering statues while in the undercity, people only just lived… no, even that wasn’t accurate, this was survival at its most primal state.

Seika’s fists clenched at her side as she walked until a commotion pulled her from her thoughts and she turned, watching as three large men in suits and small spectacles perched up on their noses stood near an alley. She met their gazes, brows furrowing as they threw the small woman against the ground, her sobs echoing. She moved, hand raised to intervene but when two of the three of them raised pistols at her, she hesitated, looking between the barrels. When she didn’t move, they turned and dragged the now screaming woman back into the alley, slipping into the cover of darkness. When the woman’s screams ceased, Seika’s heart lurched and she bolted.

Smog, starvation, illness, violence – how did these people live? How strong was Viktor to have grown up in such a place?

Just as she slowed, a fight broke out to her left as a group of ravenous people fought for a vial containing a shimmering purple substance. Seika watched as the vial slipped in the chaos and fell to the ground, shattering. Some fell to the dirt, licking up the substance as it soaked into the ground as others turned, violently attacking one another.

Before she knew it, she was running again, bolting blindly through the streets. Piltover had just left them here. They all had, the Councilors, Jayce, Cecil – Viktors words echoed again, his desire to help them and she stopped. How had they just left these people to rot in the dark?

She felt sick and leaned over the side of a bridge and vomited, the surface of the water beneath it bubbling up as her spew sunk deeper into the viscous tainted liquid. The realization of just how flawed things were brought up a new wave of nausea and she vomited again, dispelling the contents of her stomach completely.

Big pants left her open mouth as she rested her forehead on the cool metal railing, desperate for some respite from the waves upon waves of violent sickness she was feeling. After a few moments of recovery, she straightened, wiping at her face and the sweat on her brow.

She understood him now, more than anything. The place he’d called home, made memories in, where he’d had a childhood and a family, the place that had poisoned him. He’d been raised in a little corner of the world that everyone forgot about, and he alone had taken on the insurmountable task of raising the undercity out of the darkness and the toxicity, and into pure, clean, fresh light and air.

She looked on towards further into the city and saw a group of adults talking. Children roamed the streets, screaming and playing and she laughed softly, shaking her head in disbelief. The resilience of these people was astonishing; even with everything against them, some had still managed to find a community. They’d sifted through the bad and downright awful and found a way of life. Tears welled up in her eyes at her own foolishness, her nativity and blindness only contributing to the problem.

Seika understood now why he’d felt so betrayed and why he no longer shared her feelings. Beyond his own desire to help himself, his goal was as it’d always been, for the people she found herself now surrounded by. She’d realized that now and regretted that it was only now, as she was deep within the undercity, that she’d come to realize it. The perfection of Piltover had skewed her reasoning. Her hands gripped the railing hard, metal biting into the palms of her hands as a fiery resolution ignited in her very soul.

It didn’t change her view on the Hexcore, but it did change her motivations. She said she’d leave after retrieving the Gemstone but now? Now she wasn’t so sure. Her desire to help this place far outweighed her desire to leave, she just didn’t know how she’d go about helping them.

Thankfully she had time to figure it out as she continued walking, the world above her so dark that she wasn’t even sure of what time it was. Her fists clenched and relaxed as she swallowed down the lump in her throat. Even if it was from a distance, she would help them, just as Viktor would, and so she continued her search for the Gemstone.

…

As Viktor descended into the undercity, memories of his youth flooded back. He walked, taking elevators further into the trench, slowly making his way towards his mentor. As he walked, heading in the direction of his mentor’s lab, something silver caught his eye as he watched a silver hawk soar high above him, a bag clutched between its talons. He watched, following the uniquely colored bird.

Could it be? But why? Viktor went to call out her name, brows furrowed in confusion, however the smog caught in his throat and he coughed, pulling forth his handkerchief. By the time he’d looked up again, the bird was gone and Viktor was alone again. His left hand clutched at the handle of his crutch as he leaned against it.

The weightlessness of flying came back to him, and how free he’d felt that night for the first time in… ever.

He saw her hair shimmering in the moonlight, could see way her eyes sparkled, and how she looked at him, truly looked at him with that smile of hers.

“Beautiful…” he mumbled absentmindedly at the vivid memory he saw in his mind.

Then her words came back to him.

“Destroy the…” Viktor shook his head in disapproval as he muttered his words, turning and walking back in the direction of his mentor. How could he possibly do something so foolish?

…

A green glow lit the lab Viktor entered and he turned his head, taking in his surroundings. A familiar pair stood near the farthest wall, one encased in glass and the other standing there.

Viktor’s breath was loud, and despite the clacking of his crutch on the stone, the individual he sought hadn't yet turned around to look at him.

Viktor stared at the man’s back as he continued to fiddle with a piece of equipment attached to the large tank. Was this how Seika felt when she entered his lab and he’d been blind to her presence? No, no Seika... He pushed her out, his eyes continuing to stare at the figure before the glass.

"I understand now," Viktor said, his voice harsh.

The figure, his lower face covered by a neck gaiter, turned to the voice, registering who the man was instantly.

Viktor’s mantra had changed. Save himself, save the undercity, nothing more.

...

Seika had searched Zaun from above for hours, soaring between clouds of smog as her feathers ruffled in what wind drifted through the trenches. As she was soaring, a pillar of blue smoke caught her attention and she tilted her wings, altering the direction of her flight towards it. Beneath her, shacks and rudimentarily tied together bungalows drifted past, highlighted by the soft chemical green glow of the lights of the undercity.

As she neared the pillar of blue smoke she slowed, veering off onto the roof of a building. It was a large clearing with some sort of platform in the middle, a large skeleton of a fish overlooking it, its long teeth menacing despite its lack of flesh and life. She landed on the roof, her silver wings flapping and the young girl turned just as Seika had set down the bag clutched in her talons. Seika paused, meeting the girls gaze before feigning ignorance and pretending to preen at the feathers on her breast.

The young woman watched the stoic unusual bird before her free hand pointed a gun at her, fingers cocked. Then, she lifted the finger gun with a soft “pow” and smiled, a smile that dampened when moments later the flare sputtered and went out.

With the girl distracted, Seika shifted, hushing Porofessor in the bag as she moved along the roof, ducking behind pipes and crates as she found a better position.

When the flare had gone out, it’d slipped the entire clearing into gray darkness, but Seika was close enough to still be able to see the outline of the girl. She watched as the girl groaned and threw the empty flare off of the platform before it crashed into the ground far below her.

Seika turned to leave, but paused as the two long blue braids on the girl moved while she pulled something from her pocket. In fact, Seika moved so quickly she nearly gave herself away as she recognized the Gemstone, her footing on the roof slipping as she just barely held herself back from racing towards the girl.  

Suddenly, another woman entered the platform. Words were being shared between the two, but given the distance, Seika couldn’t hear them, and after a moment, the two embraced one another.

Time almost stilled as the Gemstone was released from the grasp of the blue-haired girl and Seika nearly bolted again, but stopped herself upon realizing how close they were to it. She clenched her fist and looked to Porofessor before tying up the bag.
“Be good and stay quiet, yeah?” She told the poro after ensuring the straps at the top were tight enough where the poro wouldn’t fall out, but lose enough for air to continue circulating for him.

She placed the bag at the end of the roof again and shifted. She flapped her wings, getting herself in the air before dropping and picking up the bag. Once it was secure in her talons, she flapped her wings again, flying upwards towards the large pillar attached to the platform.

The embrace had ended for the two women and they’d began conversing again as Seika watched the scene below, now close enough to hear their conversation.

"Things changed when you left. I changed," the younger woman said, and Seika could hear the emotion in her voice.

"I know, Pow-pow, I know. You did what you had to do to survive." The other woman responded, and continued. "Me too, it's ok," she continued and they embraced again.

Seika hardly heard their words as her eyes hadn't left the gemstone; she was this close to it. Her thoughts turned to what would happen next, but the clunky sound of footsteps and the birds near her scattering broke her from her thoughts.

Yet another woman had run up the stairs onto the platform and stopped when she saw the two in an embrace.

Seika blinked and the young girl with twin braids had pulled out a large machine gun. The air around them got heavy instantaneously. Seika shifted nervously, raising the bag with one foot before she held one of the straps in her beak. Porofessor chirped within, poking his head out a bit before cowering back within the safety and darkness of the bag.

Down below, the conversation began to escalate, names being thrown as the crows that had resettled near her cawed noisily distracting her again from the conversation as her eyes searched, studying the crows before shifting her focus back to the trio of women.

"You're with an enforcer?" The young woman asked and Seika craned her neck to look at the woman who'd just arrived. An enforcer? Had they sent her to get the Gemstone? Or to get her? Or was this more of the corruption Jayce had mentioned. Seika didn't know and she wouldn't take the chance to find out; all she needed to do was get that gemstone.

The young girl stepped, kicking the gemstone just a bit and the newly arrived woman spoke to the pair further on the platform.

"Your sister is Jinx?"

The older woman began to verbally defend this “Jinx” individual but the younger girl snapped. The words that left her mouth were violent in tone and unforgiving as she lashed out, responding to words that hadn’t been said as she spoke to everything and nothing at once.

"Powder, it's ok," the older woman spoke placatingly, her hands raised.

The young girl hissed that Powder was gone and it was Jinx now, but Seika focused too much on the weapon in the girl's hand and the gemstone at her feet rather than the words that were spoken.

More words were thrown and the young girl pointed her gun into the chin of the older woman as she berated their reasons for coming there.

Seika's claws tightened around the metal she rested on, her bag still hanging uncomfortably from her mouth. She continued sitting there, ready for flight as she watched the young blue-haired girl start to ramble things Seika didn’t fully understand. The older woman attempted to reach out to her, physically and verbally, but it pushed the young girl further until a sudden squealing noises drew everyone's attention.

With the gun pointed outward, Jinx shifted her focus towards the open pipes in the wall next to them, her eyes searching for the source of the noise, as the other two women did the same.

Seika glanced up briefly at the odd sound before her gaze fell back to the Gemstone, her wings spreading as she prepared to take flight.

Low mumbling came from the tunnels and people riding hover-boards came flying out.

Jinx let off her gun, bullets firing in every direction as they ricocheted off metal and other parts of the structures around them.

More individuals came out from the tunnels, green light coming from under the boards they road that streamlined after them as they flew. They zoomed so quickly and with such organization that even Seika couldn't keep up with them all; there were far too many.

The pair on the platform had touched backs and began to feebly fight off those flying around them, Jinx with her bullets, the other with her fists. The platform shook just a bit, and the gemstone began to move, rolling along the shifting structure.

Jinx and the other woman fought the two who directly came at them and despite Jinx's attempts, she hadn't killed any of them, but Seika took flight when the gemstone began to roll towards the edge of the platform.

The woman who had arrived later had slid and caught the gemstone, and when Jinx began to fire erratically, she took cover behind some boxes.

Seika leapt from the building, spreading her wings and flew as erratic as the woman with the gun, attempting to fly through the hoverboards and their riders and the bullets, the bag in her mouth dragging her down.

She swerved, heading towards the woman who she knew held the gemstone in her hand, the enforcer, but one of the masked strangers had gotten to her first and swiftly knocked her out with a kick to the jaw.

The masked stranger picked up the Gemstone, viewing it, and just as she held it above her eyes, a flash of silver flew past, ripping it from her grasp, the dark claws of the shape dragging deep wounds into the tips of her fingers.

The stranger yelped and swore as Seika flew off to a nearby roof. She clutched the Gemstone in her talon before landing, shifting back and scrabbling to get it as it rolled away, the strap of her backpack still clenched between her teeth. When she grabbed it, she stood, slipping her bag on and began to climb down the structure.

Back on the platform, one of the masked strangers swore and yelled something incoherent before pointing at her, then lit off a smoke flair that flooded the area with thick black smoke.

As she slid unceremoniously from the roof onto a large stretch of balcony and she paused, slipping the Gemstone into her pocket. In her obliviousness as she looked for the best way to get down, she hadn’t noticed the figure behind her, hovering quietly on his board as he watched her climb up onto the railing of the balcony unconfidently. Just before she went to jump off the edge, Porofessor barked, his head poking out from the bag and Seika felt a sharp well-placed hit to the back of her head. Her vision blacked, knees buckling as she fell back and slipped into unconsciousness. Just before she’d landed on her back on the balcony, the figure on the board caught her, making a noise in alarm as the poro attempted to bite at him through the bag before he slung her over her shoulder and flew off towards the tunnels.

Chapter Text

Seika groaned softly, her cheek resting against something hard as her shoulders were pulled backward uncomfortably. She moved, grimacing softly at the fresh twinge of pain deep within her shoulder blades. Her attempts at moving again ceased when she heard a voice cut through the darkness she saw after she’d opened her eyes.

"I knew it was a mistake trusting you," a voice said. Seika breathed great breaths, she felt them fan back in her face, moisture licking at her skin as she saw soft brown fabric in front of her eyes, light from her right just barely peeking through the fabric. She felt the soft scratch of burlap at her neck and she gritted her teeth when she realized she had a bag over her head. She hadn’t even known what had happened or how she’d gotten to… wherever she was.

"W-What...?" She groaned softly, speaking out to the voice.

"You've been a real picnic yourself." Another voice called out, the pairs of voices ignoring her, if they even heard her at all.

Seika rolled onto her side with a thud and groaned again, swearing audibly. More of the yellow light filtered in past the fabric of the bag. She let out another wince as her head throbbed, a dull ache on the back of head where she could only presume, she’d been hit. Her body shifted again as she readjusted herself but no matter where she put her weight, resting on her shoulder in this way was even more uncomfortable. She blinked, peering at the inside of the burlap bag; she'd been kidnapped and hogtied.

The two individuals beyond the bag began to argue, mentioning someone by the name of Silco and Seika's brows furrowed.

The pair had continued to ignore her despite her movements and obvious consciousness. They spoke between themselves almost oblivious to her presence at all, not that she cared. While she could shift into some flexible and get out of this, she couldn't tell if someone else was in the room, someone who might just put a bullet in her face and after staring down the machine gun of that blue-haired woman, Seika was less than keen on the idea of eating metal.

Seika decided to wait it out and would see where it went before tearing the place to the ground from the inside out.

"When were you planning to tell me that your lunatic sister works for him?" The first voice that had spoken said.

"Just as soon as you came clean about what the hell you're really doing down here," the second voice retorted, a punch to her words.

She could hear one of them fighting and pulling relentlessly against their chains, the metal clinking as they moved. Seika shifted, her legs tugging at their bindings as she gritted her teeth, the cuffs locked tight around her ankles.

"What was that glowing stone?" The latter voice asked again after a moment of verbal respite.

Seika stopped moving and she heard one of them shift nervously and then there was another moment of silence.

"That's what I thought."

A loud noise startled the three of them, chains clinking in alertness and Seika looked about, searching for the source and she again found stable unwavering light source come from her left. Clunky footsteps entered and one of them was removed, despite the protest from the other.

The one who remained in the room with her had called the one taken Vi on several occasions and Seika felt overwhelmed. Seika realized that it’d been Vi who’d asked about the Gemstone, so who was this other person? It didn’t really matter, unless whoever kidnapped them had considered the three of them were together and they had issues with the other two, but she’d deal with that problem if it arose.

This wasn't supposed to have gone this way. She was supposed to get the gemstone and leave and then give it to Viktor, that was it. That was the plan. The back of Seika's head thudded and she groaned audibly in protest, pleading internally for it to cease.

The remaining person in the room with her shifted.

"Who are you?" She called out to her, obvious distrust in her voice as she bit out the question.

"Does it matter?" Seika answered as she attempted to flip herself back onto her stomach. With a heave and groan, she hit the floor with a thud and rested her chin on the ground.

"Why were you there?" The woman asked again and Seika smiled beneath the privacy of the burlap sack.

"Funny, I could ask why an enforcer was there as well, deep in the bouts of the undercity with a woman launching bullets into the air as if it were confetti," Seika retorted sarcastically.

"I wasn't with her," she fought verbally, her chains clinking as she pulled against them.

"No, just her sister then?" Seika mouthed off back to her.

The stranger slipped into silence, realizing just how much this person knew.

"Do you work for Silco?" She spoke harshly.

"Who the fuck is Silco?" Seika asked back, her own irritation getting the better of her.

The stranger let out a soft noise and then she spoke again.

"If you're trying to play the part of an ignorant henchmen, you're going a bit overboard," she mocked.

"Aren't you doing the same thing then enforcer? Attempting to steal an already stolen Gemstone?" Seika quipped and she pulled at her restraints in an attempt to feel some relief in her aching shoulders. It was then that she realized the couldn’t feel a spherical shape in her pocket and she huffed angrily. It was gone. Again.

"Stolen..." the stranger whispered, "How'd you know it was stolen?"

Seika stiffened, shifting her head away from the direction of the voice. Why on earth would this Enforcer think she’d just come right out with it? Especially if the corruption Jayce found truly was as widespread as he’d made it seem? Without a reply, inevitably the pair slipped into silence, the trust between them thinner than a hair.

...

Viktor stared deeply at the large Waverider he’d known since his youth as the man behind him spoke, peering into his microscope in front of him with great attention to detail.

"I would very much like to see the device. This, uh, Hexcore," the doctor spoke, his voice soft but not without conviction.

Viktor, looking just barely behind him as he spoke, "That may be difficult to arrange," but his next breath caught in his throat and another bout of coughs burst from him. He clutched his side as he leaned heavily on his crutch, waiting for the pain in his lungs to subside.

"I've tried every combination of runes, but... it's always the same." His eyes drifted to look the mutated Waverider in the face and he said, "The subjects, wither and rot."

"Uh, perhaps the error resides not with your calculations but... with your subjects,” the doctor replied, as he glanced through some of the paperwork he’d been permitted to view.

Viktors thoughts trailed back to the first time Seika had been in his office and how intensely she viewed the more theoretical parts of Hextech. And then again, it was the one of two things she had looked at regularly in their lab with legitimate interest and understanding the other being... He nearly smiled as he thought of her shocked face and the teasing that occurred between the two of them when he'd caught her that day, but he pushed thoughts of her out of his mind and turned around.

"Nature has made us intolerant to change, but fortunately, we have the capacity to change our nature." The doctor continued, raising up a vial with a swirling glittery purple substance within it.

Viktor’s brows creased as eyes fell upon the vial, bubbling purple liquid swirling within its glass confines before they raised to one who held it.

"And this is... Shimmer?" He'd never had an interest in anything like this, hell, he'd hardly even drank, but if this is what helped then... He’d heard the rumors however; a heavily addictive substance, but if this was what the Doctor recommended then surely it’d…

"A variant," was the response. "It should provide everything one needs to survive a violent transition." The man stood from his seat where he'd been viewing the Hexcore outlines Viktor had brought him and he walked to Viktor.

"Will it work on plants?" Viktor asked almost absentmindedly as he poked and prodded his mentor for answers.

As the doctor neared him, he spoke, his steps lightly scuffing across the floor, "You aren't here about the plants, are you? I know the look of a doomed man."

The last statement echoed and Viktor saw the enchanting liquid within the vial. If he did this, there was no going back.

"I must warn you," the scarred man spoke, "If you take this path, they will despise you. Love and legacy are the sacrifices we make for progress. It's why I parted ways with Heimerdinger," he finished.

Viktor saw Seika's face in his thoughts and he hated that he had, his eyes narrowing at the frustrating feelings he seemed to still be feeling. He hated that she still had such a pull on him, on his thoughts and actions and was still making him question things. In his distractions, he hadn’t noticed Singed had extended his arm, vial in hand. Only when Singed tipped the vial towards Viktor, did he reach out and take it, his fingers grasping the glass vial delicately.

"Jayce will understand." He said, a small portion of him hoping Seika would too, not that he would ever see her again, not that he even wanted to see her again...

"Probably," Singed said with a shrug, his tone unamused.

...

"Why did you want it?" the stranger asked out of nowhere, breaking the silence. Seika wasn’t sure how long it’d been, only that if she wasn’t free of these confines soon, she was going to get out of them herself.

"Want what?" Seika responded grumpily; the pain having irritated her further. She was sick of her hands touching her boots, she wanted to sit normally without having the feeling of her shoulders about to be ripped from their sockets. In the loneliness of her situation and discomfort, her thoughts had shifted back to Viktor. The night they’d spent together almost seemed like a dream now – a figment of her imagination.

"The Gemstone," the stranger clarified.

"Does it matter? It won't change anything..." the latter of her speech transitioning into a whisper and she felt tears spring in her eyes. Her head turned and she mashed her face against the hardwood floor, trying to drive them away.

"I think it'd change a lot with the owners having it back," the stranger stated, the chains clinking softly as they shifted.

"Perhaps, but opinions have been made, I’m just here to get the damn thing and get out," The slight lie fell from her lips. As time continued, she’d became more and more aware that despite her intentions to help this place, she well and truly didn’t know how. How did one even begin? Would every day of helping them end up with a gun pointed at her face. She chewed at her lip, closing her eyes as she thought of how unrelenting and fierce his passion was for helping his place and she couldn’t reject the idea of leaving them behind. Not after what she’d seen, knew what she knew. Even now, after she’d been kidnapped, hogtied, and held against her will, her opinion remained unchanged. Oh, how her mentor would mock her.

"Viktor," she whispered, his name leaving her lips in a somber prayer, as if from the word alone he might magically appear and everything would be perfect. They could help the undercity, save him… but reality was much less giving in that regard.

"Viktor?" the stranger repeated, "wait, you're here for Viktor?" The stranger was met with silence as Seika realized she'd said too much.

"I'm Caitlyn Kiramman, my mothers on the council with Jayce the --"

"Jayce Talis,” the words left her lips in a blatant mock, “the co-inventor of Hextech, yes, I know them both. Too well..."

"Wait," Caitlyn said, "are you the person Professor Heimerdinger invited?"

The proverbial cat was out of the bag, too bad her face wasn't.

"Was." She answered softly. “As of earlier, Councilor Jayce Talis raised a vote to have him forcefully retired.” The words left her mouth like venom, each one poignant and unsympathetic.

“I’m sorry,” the stranger spoke, her tone honest, “I wasn’t aware.”

Despite the news of Heimerdinger’s retirement, Caitlyn would have clapped had her wrists not been in shackles. Another ally; finally, they might be able to get the Gemstone back to Piltover. But her thoughts turned back to this stranger.

"What's your name?" Caitlyn asked.

"Seika," she finally confessed.

"And..." she paused, then spoke again, that ever-existing urge to know more, to find out every scrap of information possible gnawing away at her, "you mentioned Viktor, why?"

Silence.

Then very softly from the dark Caitlyn heard.

"It doesn't matter..."

...

Viktor choked, coughing on the smoke drifting his way. He sighed as he shook his head in disbelief before looking at his crutch, confusion wracking his brain as to what was currently happening on the bridge. It was when he heard Jayce's voice that he looked up.

"Jayce, what is this?" he questioned, asking about the events they were currently standing in while using the handle of his crutch to motion to the blockade of enforcers next to them.

Jayce's eyes shifted around and he spoke in a low whisper, "do you have any idea how this looks? I order a blockade and my own partner violates it." The end came out harsher than he'd meant to and Viktors face recoiled slightly in response.

Viktors eyes narrowed as he spoke, "you ordered this? Why?"

"There are people down there who seem hell-bent on destroying us." Jayce hissed, one hand motioning towards the undercity, "What were you doing?"

Viktor shook his head in confusion and shrugged, "I was consulting a friend about our quandary, I told you, I knew someone," he motioned to Jayce.

"Well, you didn't say they were from the undercity!" Jayce spoke back intensely, eyes wide with frustration and anger, and perhaps, a bit of something else as his arms spread with incredulity.

"What difference does that make?" Viktor asked, worrying about the answer he might hear.

"What diff--" Jayce sputtered, "They're dangerous," he spoke blatantly, clenching his fist.

Viktor glared at Jayce as he stared up at him, clanking his crutch against the ground, the metal ting echoing between the two men. "I'm from the undercity," he reminded him, his brows furrowed and he stood, struggling.

Jayce went to help but Viktor pushed him away, and for a moment, he seemed to remember doing the same thing to Seika... but at least she hadn't insulted his origins.

Viktor didn't even hear Jayce as he hobbled away, his own anger too great, but when Jayce asked if his friend knew how to help, he stopped.

Viktor's head turned to peer at Jayce, his eyes masking the betrayal he felt. How could he trust Jayce if Jayce couldn't trust him and everything he stood for and everything he sought to fix?

"No, he said, ‘Nature was resistant to this sort of tampering.’" Viktor tightened his grip on the handlebar of his crutch.

Jayce looked visibly disappointed and placed a hand on Viktors back as he walked back with him and it took everything within Viktor not to shrug it off.

Suddenly from behind them, a Molotov had been thrown exploding in an inferno of alcohol and flames. The pair paused as they looked back, Jayce’s eyes filled with an unrelenting anger.

...

The loud door to the room Seika and Caitlyn were in creaked open and Seika heard the sound of footsteps before chains were being undone. She heard noises and the clattering of something metallic as something slid across the floor.

"What have you done with Vi?" Caitlyn asked. She pleaded with someone as small footsteps left the place, but another pair of footsteps replaced them.

"My hero," a voice spoke and Seika realized it was the first woman, Vi, who’d been led away.

“But I thought… I thought they were hurting you!” Caitlyn sputtered in confusion.

"Vi tells me I can trust you." A new masculine voice spoke, and it continued, his words harsh and angry, "you get a pass topside, that's it."

Seika could hear the sliding of feet and she remained still.

"What about that one?" The male voice asked, his feet scuffing against the floor.

"Not one of us," Vi answered quickly.

"Wait, stop, Vi, its ok. She's with me," Caitlyn argued. Seika heard Vi inhale sharply at her response.

"You know her?" Vi asked, suspicion in her voice.

"I mean, we've known each other for a little bit," Caitlyn’s tone betraying her confidence.

"Define a little bit," Vi stated. Vi watched as Caitlyn shifted back in her seat to glance at the bagged girl.

"Vi, it's ok, she wants to help. She was already helping we just didn't know it," she spoke, trying to be vague, if anything, for Seika.

"No," a shrieking voice squealed from nowhere. "She's a beast, a demon, did you not see what she did to my hand, she changed. She must be one of Silco's mutated pets."

Seika groaned loudly.

"WHO THE FUCK IS SILCO?!" She yelled as she flailed in her bindings. “Wait…” Seika paused, having now just realized the lack of a particular white fluff ball and her heart raced with panic

“Wait, wait. wait, where, where is my bag?” The silence she received was deafening. “Where is my bag?” She asked with more conviction, fighting against the chains. "If someone doesn't get these cuffs off of me right now, I will remove them myself." She spat, frustrated enough with the circumstances before her.

Seika heard whispering, incoherent and soft, and then she was picked up by the arms and dragged outside. Her body recoiled, fighting against the movement.

"Wait, stop!" Caitlyn's footsteps followed as she audibly protested.

Seika was thrown down in the dirt on her knees and she drowned in light, the warmth pushing past the bag still on her head. With a long pull, it was removed and she squinted as her eyes adjusted to the bright light.

"Damnit, no warning?" She chided as she tried to adjust her shoulders. Her head swiveled around; eyes desperate until she relaxed a breathy laugh leaving her lips as her head fell forward.

“Thank god Porofessor,” she said, shaking her head as the Poro barked, leaping from the arms of the child who held it and bolted to her, jumping into her folded knees. A warm smile appeared on her face at the sight of the poro, her heart now slowing to a less-than-catastrophic rate.

"Who are you?" The same masculine voice asked, and Seika glanced up, finding white face paint in the shape of an hourglass on his face and white dreads hanging down that ran in a strip on the top of his head.

"That seems to be the question today, doesn't it," her eyes glanced to Caitlyn who looked over in worry.

Vi stood next to her, glaring intensely at her and she sighed, her eyes wandering around. With grass beneath her, she looked down and smiled, then her head swiveled. She appeared to be in a giant dome, in the center of it all, was a massive tree with bridges and bungalows throughout it. It looked like some kind of camp. She could hear children laughing nearby and a wide smile appeared on her face.

"Are... are we still in the undercity?" She asked, looking to the man with dreadlocks.

Her warm smile caught him off guard and he glared.

"It doesn't matter where we are, now who are you."

She lacked any offense at his unfriendly tone as she admired the view, in awe of the sight, of the colors… of the life. This is how she could see the undercity; living, inhabited by a green color that doesn't scream death or poison, filled with laughter, and joy that echoes throughout the city, this was the undercity she saw, not the dark mess of toxins and corruption she’d witnessed earlier.

"Please Vi, she's done nothing, I swear, she's only here to help," Caitlyn looked at her, and Vi stared back. She sighed, struggling with it then turned to Ekko.

"Ekko, maybe we should just --"

"No," he yelled turning back to them, "She hasn't told us anything, how can she be trusted!"

"Seika." Seika finally said, looking towards the trio and smiling. "My name is Seika Etesia. I was invited as an old friend of Professor Heimerdingers to provide some enlightenment on Hextech. Given my background in magic, it didn't seem so hard but it’s become rather obvious that scientists and mages don't seem to mix well..."

The trio watched as her smile faltered and she looked away.

Silence.

Then, metallic clinking and her shoulders fell lax at her side. She turned back, and the person who'd removed her shackles was walking away. Seika sighed happily, moving her shoulders out as she stood up, picking up Porofessor in her arms. She looked at the man before her and gave a small thank you.

“A mage, huh?” The man said, watching as she gave a little shrug in return.

He nodded, still unsure, but he trusted Vi. Vi, however, looked her up and down then gave a small forced smile while Caitlyn's smile was friendly. With the new arrivals finally having the chance to actually look around, Caitlyn spoke first.

"It's beautiful," she said, gazing between the trees and homes they had residing within the secluded area.

"If your people had your way, it'd be rubble and ash," the man said as he looked at Caitlyn, judgement in his eyes.

"It's a misunderstanding," she began, "they think you work for Silco."

There it was again, that name. Seika’s brows furrowed as she began to pet Porofessor, listening in despite her confusion.

"Your people hunt us like animals. Silco pays them to do it," the man spoke harshly, stepping quickly up to Caitlyn.

"That's not possible, you're wrong," Caitlyn said with equally matched ferocity.

"Say that one more time," he threatened and Seika sighed, her hand going to cover her mouth, is this what Jayce had been talking of? The corruption extended this deep?

"Ekko," Vi called to him, "She believes what she's saying, ok?" as she used her hands to physically separate the two. "She's not your enemy."

"Oh yeah? Then what's this?" He said, pulling out the gemstone.

Seika gasped; her eyes wide. They had it, it wasn't lost.

"You got it, you have to let me take that back," Caitlyn said.

"What is it?" Vi asked.

“They’re going to find out one way or another,” Seika added when Caitlyn glanced her way, “might as well.”

"Its a Gemstone, it was stolen during the attack, by your sister,” Caitlyn replied, looking to Vi.

Seika's eyes narrowed; the same one with the braids? She internally sighed at the arising complications.

"You just forgot to mention that?" Vi began, but Seika interrupted.

"Caitlyn was right to keep it from you, its potential to do serious harm could devastate the undercity, if not Piltover too. It wasn’t…." Seika grimaced, “It wasn’t ready for the public yet, I’d almost consider it a prototype more than anything.”

Caitlyn looked to her again, then back to Ekko and Vi and she spoke, "with this, someone with the right knowledge could build any Hextech device."

Ekko eyed the gemstone and his eyes found Seika’s and she nodded, confirming what Caitlyn was saying. He huffed, fussing with the Gemstone in his fingers as he looked closer at it.

"If enforcers are becoming more... aggressive, then this is why," Caitlyn added.

"We could beat Silco with this," Ekko stated, his brows furrowing with determination.

"That won't solve things," Caitlyn spoke.

"Easy for you to say, your people aren't dying all around you," he retaliated. Ekko looked away and Seika frowned, stepping forward. Her arm extended as she reached out to him in a meager attempt to comfort him until her hand touched his shoulder. For a moment, she thought he might shrug it off, but rather, he flinched and remained still, peering over his shoulder at her.

"Ekko, it's wrong what's been done to you," Caitlyn said and Ekko turned to meet her eyes.

"You'd be well within your rights to keep it, I couldn't blame you. But... if you do... this cycle of violence will never stop,” Caitlyn continued and Seika sighed, looking back towards the tree, her eyes closing as a soft breeze drifted past.

Caitlyn paused momentarily before speaking again, "this is our best shot at setting the record straight. This city needs healing. More than I ever realized."

Seika’s eyes opened at Caitlyn’s words and she sighed again. Recollections of Jayce's speech when they demoted Heimerdinger came flooding back over her, and she wondered just how dedicated he was to saving a place he'd never even bothered to step foot in. Though, it didn’t entirely matter; even if he wasn’t dedicated to helping the undercity, she was.

A smile appeared on her face as Porofessor nuzzled into her hand, her eyes still on the tree before they looked back to the trio.

"Please, let me help you," she asked, then her hand extended out to Seika who took it, "Let us help you."

Ekko's eyes drifted between the both of them then at Vi who nodded once.

"Do you have a plan?" He asked the pair.

"We have friends on the council," she said, "let us take the Gemstone to him or should we take the Gemstone to Viktor?" Caitlyn asked, looking at Seika.

Seika bit her lower lip; she was between a rock and a hard place; it was either the man she loved who turned his back on her or to the council member who she’d slapped. All she could muster was a slight grimace and a shrug. With her focus on now helping those in the undercity, throwing the Gemstone back in Viktor and Jayce’s face felt petty and unnecessary. As long as it was returned back to them and she could help the undercity, she didn’t care who handed it over to them.

“I’m admittedly not on the best terms of either of them,” Seika said softly, her face contorted.

Caitlyn’s eyes widened before her brows furrowed and she nodded, skepticism in her gaze.

Seika’s eyes turned back to the man, and she could tell Ekko was internally debating with everything. He’d lost so many he’d said, to what? Violence? Illness? Hunger? A combination? He'd been through so much, and she couldn’t imagine growing up in a place watching it crumble before her eyes. When it came to what they thought was best for the undercity, Seika imagined he imagined Viktor and Ekko shared similar feelings.

After a moment, Caitlyn made the decision; Jayce. She had to get it to Jayce.

"He'll listen to me. Your people wouldn't have to hide anymore,” Caitlyn further elaborated. Ekko eyed the gemstone again then looked at them both.

"One condition, I'm the one who gives it to them,” he declared.

They spent more time in the Firelight's home and Seika took quite a long time viewing the mural painted in the courtyard alone, having put Porofessor down to let him run and play with the kids. In the time she’d been standing there, at some point Vi had slunk up and approached her side but never glanced her way.

"I don't give my trust easily, but if you have Caitlyn’s then..."

“Oh good, me too,” Seika said with a chuckle

The pair's eyes met and Seika smiled. They both looked back to the artwork and Seika pointed.

"That's you, correct, and Powder or, Jinx?" She asked, still confused with the latter but for the time she stood staring at the mural, she wondered if she had it right as she referenced the drawings that looked strikingly like the two siblings.

Vi's eyes widened in shock, "just how long were you listening for?"

"Long enough,” Seika said with a shrug.

Vi went silent then exhaled before she poke.

"Yeah, that's us. They thought I was dead. With good reason though considering I was rotting away in Stillwater." Vi said, expecting some sort of recoil from Seika, but it never came. "What about you miss Magic? Are you like, a fairy or something?"

"Me?" Seika enunciated, chuckling softly. "Yes, indeed, I wander the world spreading cheer and joy to children," she jested, wiggling the fingertips of one hand in Vi’s direction.

The pair broke out into laughter, Vi shaking her head at the stupidity of the action, and when they settled, their conversation slipped into silence.

"I'm from a place far from here, where things hunted you in the night, and the screams of beasts help you tell what time it was. I came here to help Piltover, to help Hextech succeed and grow, but what I've seen of the undercity, I-I..." her voice cracked.

Vi watched as Seika cleared her throat and spoke again.

"I don't want to turn my back to Piltover, I have someone who's very dear to me from here who thinks what he's doing in Piltover is making a difference, and even more so, it is making a difference. There is someone there who wants to help, more than anything, even risking himself to do so, he's... he's just lost right now. I want to take some of the burden from him, I want to help the undercity flourish. No longer controlled by gangs, suffering under the toxicity of those above them, no more starving children in the street, and brawls in the streets for shimmer..."

Seika's words shocked Vi, but she remained silent.

"I know trust is gained with actions and I've yet to prove myself, I too do not trust easily, but I wanted to thank you, you really could have thrown me under back there, but you didn’t, and for that, I’m grateful," She spoke, turning to face Vi and she smiled warmly.

Vi smiled back and nodded, finding she trusted her a bit more than she had previously.

"So, magic?" She questioned, a nearly cheeky grin on her face as her hand dropped back to her side. Seika let out a laugh -- is this how it'd be now? Was she a show pony? Normally, the thought of such things would leave her recoiling in discomfort, but somehow, here, it didn’t feel nearly the same.

As if the gods themselves were listening, a young kid, high up in the tree slipped from where she stood and clung to the branch for dear life, the screams of her peers pulling the hideouts attention to the situation.

Seika and Vi turned, Seika’s eyes finding the girl immediately. No doubt a fall from that height would be disastrous for the child and despite her reservations, Seika took no time to consider her actions.

Just as the adults began to jump into action, moving to grab their hoverboards or climb up the staircase circling the tree, Seika hopped into the grassy center and shifted. Soft thudding footsteps echoed within the hideout as suddenly a massive silver-furred beast towered over them. Its hooved feet stepped tenderly on the grass as the beast tilted its horned head in the direction of the child, catching the girl's feet on the top of its head until the child stood, clinging to one of the teal horns of the beast, the girl's feet flat against the skull of the animal. The creature lowered its lengthy neck, its long horse-like tail swishing slowly behind it and when the girl leapt from the top of the head of the beast and into the arms of one of the adults, the creature raised its head again, the Stonehorn regarding the looks of shock the group of Firelights gave it.

Then, before their eyes, it shrunk and there was Seika, standing there. She fidgeted a bit under their gazes, uncertainty on her face as she gave a small, almost forced smile, her eyes fleeting to Vi, Ekko and Caitlyn.

That was until the child she saved crashed into her, wrapping her arms around her waist, a flurry of excited words and questions leaving the girls lips. Seika looked down at the girl, then back up at the rest of the Firelights who nodded, some smiling, others more curious than anything. She looked down to the young girl whose mouth was wide open, waiting for the answers to her questions and she ruffled her hair with a soft laugh.

"Did I frighten you?" she questioned and received a shake of the young girl's head. It wasn’t but a moment later when the rest of the kids surrounded her, swarming her with questions and requests and Seika’s face warmed and a giggling smile broke out onto her face.

From afar, Vi, Caitlyn, and Ekko all shared a look of surprise, but smiled when Seika’s face relaxed as she sat the kids down and began answering their questions.

...

When Heimerdinger had found Viktor, it was in the place they'd first met, the place he'd also spoken to just after the boy had found out about his prognosis. The sun was setting, casting the area in a warm pinkish orange glow.

The boy looked awful and it worried him. Beyond the physical ailments that plagued him, his entire mindset had shifted, he saw that in the boy. His mouth downturned in a frown as he stood at the keyhole shaped opening.

"I-" Heimerdinger began but paused. "I came to wish you the best," he said, his hands meeting behind him as he stood next to the person who was at one time, his assistant, then his apprentice. Since Seika had departed, he’d spent the day gathering his things and taking care of what needed to be done prior to his departure. While he’d been extended a full position as dean of the Academy and was heavily encouraged to continue teaching and his work, he’d rejected it all in the end.

Jayce’s words, although harsh, had struck a chord within the yordle and as he’d packed his things, he’d wondered just what had he been doing all this time, and when he realized that, he realized that this had been what Seika had been feeling too. It seemed to be an issue plaguing those who lived beyond a normal lifespan – stagnancy.

Viktor looked to him, then back down to the water that drained into the sewers... and eventually the undercity.

"I'm sorry Professor," Viktor spoke softly, unable to raise his eyes as he leaned further onto his crutch. News of his forced resignation, even more so at the hands of Jayce, had admittedly affected him more than he’d liked to admit.

Heimerdinger said nothing, his eyes also downcast in the same direction as Viktors.

"I understand the difficulties of someone wanting to stop a passion," he admitted, reflecting on the countless times someone told him he couldn't or wouldn't be allowed to do or create something.

"But you're the father of Piltover, you could do anything," Viktor argued.

"Yes, when I reached a certain point, I could, but how much is it worth when I go home alone?" He stated, looking up with a deep inhale, shifting his gaze to the boy, a knowing look in his eye.

"I had heard you both that morning, I was outside of your office when she said she wanted to end it all, end the Hexcore,” Viktor said as he gripped his crutch, his bony knuckles turning as white as a sheet.

Heimerdinger could fight Viktor at this moment, tell him just how bad this Hexcore could end up, but he knew he wouldn't listen to him.

"I simply want the best for you. Both of you," he said.

Silence.

"She wanted to end it all, she only got close to me only to ruin it all Professor, you heard her during your meeting, she said it." Viktor exclaimed, frustrated and angry.

"And after that?"

Viktor looked up, meeting his professor's eyes, "after?"

"Oh, my boy," Heimerdinger spoke exasperatedly, shaking his head almost disapprovingly despite the unique smile on the yordles face.

Viktor said nothing in return, and so neither did Heimerdinger. They remained in that silence for another minute before the yordle sighed and went to leave. He paused a few steps away.

"While she hadn’t told me, I do believe she’d fallen in love with you. Like me, she just wanted to save you..." he said before walking away again without looking back.

Viktor's head turned to watch as Heimerdinger walked away before shifting back to the open space in front of him in shock; no, no, that couldn't be the case. He suddenly felt her warmth as if he was curled in her arms, the smell of her hair in his nose. He heard her laugh so loudly that he looked up, half expecting to see her there and was instead met with the gears shifting and turning behind him. The hand clenching his crutch hurt with out hard his fingers had tightened around the metal, and a new wave of outrage had his vision doubling and his chest tightening as he nearly threw his crutch away. He wanted to scream and yell, to call and plead for her to come back; how did things get so twisted, so... so broken.

Seika’s face flashed before him and a tear slipped down his face. But she was gone, there was only the undercity now, and he had to help them... He coughed several times, and when he looked at his hand, blood was there.

He had to help the undercity if it was the last thing he did.

Chapter Text

Viktor stared intensely at the Hexcore, his thoughts drifting back to what Councilor Medarda and Jayce had just talked about.

Councilor Medarda wanted them to build weapons. To defend themselves from the undercity. To defend their people... yes, their people, these weren't his people. Jayce had made that clear on the bridge.

It was becoming more and more obvious that Jayce was forgetting the real reason they created Hextech, his short time as a Councilor was blinding him from the reason he’d undermined the university, undermined his professors, and undermined all of Piltover to research something illegal and incredibly dangerous all those years ago. It was that line of thinking, those goals and motivations that they shared that led them to where they were, helped them get as far as they had, and become as close as they were... no, as close as they had been.

He said he'd help them, but he wasn't keeping his word.

Viktor glanced to the left. He'd never bothered to clean the ink spill that Seika had caused when she fleed from his office the last time he saw her. Sky had insisted she clean it but he'd shrugged it off, stating there were more important matters to attend to.

That night, she said she would make sure they were not forgotten, those in the undercity... But she didn't keep her word either.

Maybe if she had, she'd still be by his side, walking into the lab as he sat pouring over his research, and he'd turn and see her with a smile on her face and kind words, she'd be where she belonged...

But Seika proved otherwise...

The lie turned his stomach inside out. He knew he’d chased her off, but thinking otherwise made existing in his current state bearable.

Heimerdinger's words echoed in his thoughts again and his brows furrowed. She didn't love him, she couldn’t have. And now with her gone, even Jayce was turning his back on him.

Viktors amber eyes sought the Hexcore and he repeated his mantra.

Save himself, save the undercity.

…

Seika glanced back as Scar, the Chirean and Ekko’s second in command rolled the large stone block door to the side, opening the hideout into the maze of tunnels that separated them from the rest of the undercity.

She looked back to the tree and gave it a half smile before turning and following the trio out. The door shut behind them with the deafening grind of rock and they were thrust into lowlight. Porofessor poked his head out from her bag as she adjusted it on her shoulder, his head swiveling as he looked around curiously, trilling softly in her ear.

Her head reached back to pat the white puffball on the head as they walked, Ekko leading them through the labyrinth until they reached a long cistern, tall walls of pipes towering above them as green insects fluttered past them in massive quantities.

Porofessor barked excitedly, practically hopping up onto Seika’s shoulder as he attempted to lick and bite at the fluttering creatures. A smile appeared on Seika’s face as they continued flying around the four of them, the group pausing for a moment to admire the glittering green insects as they moved.

“What are they?” Caitlyn asked, her gaze admiring them.

“We call them firelights. Never seen so many though,” Vi replied, her eyes too on the unusually large number of insects trilling and flying within the cistern before she turned and the four continued on their way.

...

After it’d grown dark, Viktor undressed in the solitude of the Hextech Lab. He spent the next hour engraving runes onto the flesh of his leg and the metal of his leg brace. Once he’d finished, Viktor slipped the vial of shimmer that Singed had given him from the secret spot within the handlebar of his crutch and he loaded it into the injector.

He inhaled then exhaled shakily, looking down again at his work as his lungs constricted with his breath. Then he pressed the needle of the jet injector to his skin and pulled the trigger.

Viktor yelled loudly as purple cascaded up his veins, arching his back up as his eyes flashed purple intensely. He could hear the Hexcore now, whispering in front of him as it smoked and swiveled.

When the initial pain of the shimmer had passed, he shifted his focus and looked down at his hand, the purple veins not surprising him as much as he had thought they would, and with a shaky hand, he grabbed the scalpel he’d placed on the desk earlier and sliced his palm. His breath left his lips in great big puffs, as large as his lungs would allow before he extended his palm towards the rune matrix, oblivious to how distorted and corrupt the gas-like miasma that the matrix expelled from itself had become.

As his hand neared the Hexcore, it pulled at his blood, the viscous red liquid leaving Viktors body in thick streams. Viktor screamed in agony as the runes he’d carved into his leg and leg brace illuminated. The Hexcore swiveled, screeching and whining noises deafening Viktor. Fear rose in Viktors throat, thoughts of his life’s work, of Seika, of Jayce, everything he would miss when he died flashing before his eyes.

He pulled away, his other hand tugging with as much force as he could master, only for the pull of the Hexcore to be too great as it vacuumed his hand to it. Viktor screamed, unaware of whether or not it was his own or not as his eyes rolled into the back of his head.

All he felt was the pain of himself changing.

...

Eventually, the four of them reached the bridge, well, an opening to the bridge. One by one, they climbed up the massive gears used to lift the two sides of the bascule bridge until they stood on the bridge itself.

Seika peered through the fog, the warm yellow lights of the bridge doing little to further her sight in the late-night darkness.

The trio continued, walking along the empty bridge and maneuvering between barriers. Seika stopped to reach out to touch one, curious on their purpose before a soft whine from Porofessor had alerted her that the trio had continued and she moved to catch up with them.

Just as she did, Vi stopped in her tracks, the action catching the attention of Caitlyn first then Ekko. Seika moved around her, viewing the girl’s profile with slightly furrowed brows.

“Vi?” Ekko asked softly, cutting through the silence.

"I can't leave her again..." She said, her gaze not lifting from the concrete pathway.

"You can't change her," Ekko responded, face relaxed as he stared at her.

"I have to try,” Vi replied softly.

Ekko moved first, the softest of scoffs escaping him as he walked to her and hugged her.

“Don’t get yourself killed,” he said as he wrapped his arms around her. She chuckled in response, hugging him back, responding with a soft “no promises.”

When Ekko pulled away, Seika shifted and Vi moved, opening her arms. Seika smiled and embraced her. In their embrace, Vi told her not to forget to spread laughter and joy and the pair chuckled softly before Seika pulled away and moved to stand next to Ekko.

It was obvious that Caitlyn struggled with Vi's declaration, and their embrace was long. Seika and Ekko gave one another side-long glances as Vi whispered words of thanks and the pair sighed softly as they watched the two women embrace. Seika bit at her lower lip, feeling for the pair. Despite the cities being right next to each other, it seemed like this separation would be for forever, and Seika hoped for the two of them that wouldn’t be the case.

When the pair finished, Vi turned and didn't look back and the remaining three began walking down the opposite way towards Piltover. They were silent again, their thoughts on the loss of their ally, their friend, but sudden bright lights pulled them from their reflections.

"Halt!" A voice called out before the light, his own features drowned out by the brightness behind them.

"What the hell is this?" Ekko exclaimed as the three covered their eyes.

"Sir! I have proof," Caitlyn pulled out her badge as she spoke, using her forearm to shield her eyes from the light. "Silco's behind everything."

The same man who’d ordered them to stop used his hand to physically lower the gun of the enforcer next to him, and slowly, all the guns were lowered. The three, still struggling to see, treaded nervously when the man approached.

"Show me," was the only thing he said as he neared them.

Seika, who had been walking behind Caitlyn and Ekko, looked between the two as Porofessor whined softly in her bag. Her brows furrowed; this was an usual way for Piltover’s police to receive one of their own.

"No," Ekko whispered harshly, his eyes narrowed. Seika agreed with Ekko, shaking her head, but Caitlyn didn’t glance back to her and instead nodded to Ekko, urging him forward.

"No, wait," Seika began to whisper as she remembered Jayce’s words about how deep the corruption within Piltover was, but Caitlyn looked back to her and despite Seika's head continuing to shake in disapproval, she still nodded again to Ekko.

"Shit," Ekko exclaimed, pulling forth the container he'd used to carry the Gemstone and opening it to reveal the Gemstone inside.

The sheriff stepped forward, his eyes fleeting down to the Gemstone, then back up to the Firefly. Upon the slight scowl on the sheriff’s face, Ekko gasped, shutting his container and tucking it away behind him.

Seika stepped forward, closer to Ekko and Caitlyn as her eyes met the sheriffs. His brows deepened at the sight of her, but before she’d been given the chance to say anything the sheriff lifted his pistol.

The shot rang out in the eerily silent night and Ekko dropped to the ground. As Caitlyn recoiled, looking down at the Firefly in shock, Seika took a step back, eyes fleeting between the sheriff and Ekko.

The chaos was immediate as the force standing behind Marcus raised their guns towards Seika and Caitlyn, heavy boots stomping on the concrete as they marched forward, and Marcus immediately pointed the barrel of his gun at Caitlyn.

Seika had moved, rushing to grab the container holding the Gemstone but was stopped in her tracks as another soldier approached her, pointing the long barrel of his gun to Seika's head while the sheriff reached down to collect the canister.

"Caitlyn!" Vi's voice echoed from a down the bridge, her voice cutting through the fog.

Marcus' hand quivered, the gun shaking in his hand as he looked between his troops and the very frightened Caitlyn.

“I told you to leave this alone,” he said and Seika’s eyes widened. He was terrified, and if was terrified, then that meant he’d had something to do with all of this.

“Shit it was you,” Seika mumbled, brows furrowing as she took a step forward. She felt the tell-tale tingling in her body, the same feeling she felt every time she was about to shift as she slipped her bag off of her shoulders and to the ground, dropping it against the wall in hopes to keep Porofessor out of the line of fire. Just as she went to shift, green lights fluttered from the undercity’s side of the bridge. Everyone looked up at the firelights that fluttered towards and around them, confusion and almost awe on their faces, and Seika turned to face the origins of the insects down the bridge, confusion evident on her face as the studied them, realizing they weren’t insects at all.

As the insects flew about, finding places to land, Marcus groaned and grimaced as he internally debated firing the shot, his finger quivering against the trigger before one of the insects landed on the front sight of his pistol and he froze, eyes widening in realization.

With one tick, then another, and a final tick, violent intense loud explosions occurred just as the insects triggered and blew up. Explosions echoed in the dead night, vivid green light bursting as if it were a private pyrotechnic show. It seemed to go on forever and it deafened Seika.

When the explosions had started, Seika had leapt towards the bag, using her body to shield Porofessor within as he yelped and whined in fear at the scent of blood and the loud noises of the blasts. Green flames and metal bit into her back and the force of the blast had her head smacking into the solid concrete railing of the bridge and she was temporarily knocked out. When she came too, she sat up, eyes looking around at the rest of those on the bridge. Ekko was just within reach of her, but besides the heavy scent of blood and gunpowder everything was silent. That was until she heard an eerie hum echoing along the bridge with footsteps walking in heavy cadence, her head turning to look towards the foggy darkness.

In her daze, Seika’s head turned again as she looked back towards the side of Piltover and groaned, the pain in her back aching. Just a few feet away, Caitlyn was starting to rouse as she lifted her head. Next to her was the sheriff, blood dripping for him, but beyond them, no others seemed to rouse as the blinding lights of the blockade flickered in and out, temporarily blinding them with each flash. Ash floated around them and caught in Seika’s throat, forcing her to cough and cover her mouth. She looked down to Porofessor who looked up at her whining, then closed the bag, hushing the poro softly.

Caitlyn stood but yelled out in pain as she attempted to do so, grabbing at her leg and looking down at the bloody wound on the side of her thigh.

"S-Seika," she called out as she looked up.

The girl attempted to respond and arched her back to stand, but something dug painfully in her back and she yelped, curling back over to avoid the pain.

The hum from down the bridge echoed in Seika's ear and in a swift motion she straightened, yelling again as whatever was in her back dug further in and upward. She was gasping when she finally stood, bending her knees with a stiffly straight back to pick up her bag as she braced herself against the railing of the bridge

"Caitlyn, I-I'm here," she called out just barely as she stood, still gasping in pain, and briefly, the two met eyes. Her legs moved and she stumbled towards Ekko before stopping. With the humming getting louder, Seika turned towards its origin, and then she heard a gunshot.

"Ekko," Seika nearly cried, wanting to reach and shake him, but she worried she wouldn't be able to get up again if she knelt down to him.

Marcus babbled something about his daughter and Seika's eyes met Caitlyns when his whisperings ceased and his eyes glassed over, the sight causing Caitlyn to begin to hyperventilate a bit.

Vi raced suddenly from the shadows. Seika was closer but she hurried Vi along to go to Caitlyn, waving her hand as she gasped, hunching her back in attempt to avoid the pain. Regardless, no matter how she stood, the digging pain in her back progressed and she could now feel warm liquid dripping down her face. She reached to touch the side of her head and found a sizable, but shallow gash across the side of her forehead and her blood now staining her fingertips.

Seika stepped away from Ekko, distress on her face as she stumbled away to the railing, using it to walk closer to Vi and Caitlyn.

Vi had grabbed Caitlyn's arm and swung it over her shoulder and was determined to carry her like that. Her eyes found Seika's, it was obvious she was worried for her as well but Seika nodded to Caitlyn, confirming she was okay.

A new pair of footsteps turned their attention toward the other end of the bridge, and there stood Jinx, holding the canister with the Gemstone with one arm and her machine gun with the other.

Jinx instantly pulled her machine gun up and Seika dropped the bag and shifted into a large Wildclaw, violent growls coming from her throat as the debris and metal pieces from the explosives dug further into her back.

The blue-haired girl had taken a step back in shock, recoiling at the unexpected beast, and Seika had taken the opportunity to jump towards her, mouth open and teeth bared as the first four of her six paws raised, aiming at Jinx as the young girl overcame her initial surprise as she saw something and her focus shifted back to Vi and Caitlyn. She raised her gun again, pulling the trigger and firing bullets right between Vi and Caitlyn, the two forced to separate. In the chaos of bullets, Ekko flew on his hoverboard between them, his focus on Jinx.

Seika slid to a stop, watching as Ekko yelled and raised his weapon, flying at her. With a single swing of his bat, he knocked it from her grasp, the machine gun spinning away from her as it slid across the ground.

"Ekko!" Seika called, her voice guttural and low as she groaned in pain, and she moved to stand in front of Vi and Caitlyn who’d moved back to one another, her silver fur shimmering in the flashing bright lights behind them.

He immediately swiveled back around, using his board to block the bullets from her pistol. When he right in front of her she moved to protect herself and he swung in, grabbed the canister, and rolled away. When he slid to a stop, he stood, facing Jinx’s direction, then picked up and tossed the container back towards Caitlyn who just barely caught it.

Seika wobbled a bit but maintained her ground, staring with eyes full of determination.

"Go!" he yelled forcefully. Seika's eyes softened but she didn't move despite Caitlyn and Vi moving away.

Ekko gave her one last look, eyes remaining on her unusual form before he nodded.

Seika picked up the bag, clenching the straps between her teeth before walking away from him and leaping over the lights. On the other side, she lost her footing and slid when she landed, but regardless of the pain in her back and the violent throbbing in her head, she continued forward and she strode to Caitlyn and Vi's side.

Vi huffed a soft laugh as she and Caitlyn walked alongside the Wildclaw, both their eyes glancing down to the large silver-furred feline.

“Just a really big deer and a really big cat?” Vi teased and Seika huffed.

“Among other things,” Seika said, her words muffled from the bag between her teeth, her eyes glancing up towards her.

They'd walked to the end of the bridge when they heard another explosion, red-orange light erupting from the middle of the bridge and into the sky and all three turned to see it.

“Ekko…” Seika mumbled softly, her eyes narrowing as the smoke billowed into the clouds.

When they’d finally turned towards Piltover, Seika urged them to get on her back and with Caitlyn secured in front and Vi holding onto her behind her, Seika moved. With the new weight, the metal embedded itself deeper into her, but the gash on her head had long stopped bleeding. She continued moving, slipping in an out of awareness as she realized she’d lost feeling in some of her legs a while back. They continued deeper into the city, Seika’s legs moving solely through muscle memory, and it wasn’t until Vi had asked her to slow down did she realize she was running.

When the thud of footsteps came from up the street, Vi slid off the large feline and pulled Caitlyn from off of Seika’s back before the three of them slipped into an alleyway. Vi moved, propping Caitlyn up so that she was resting against the wall and Seika hobbled behind them and slid down to the ground until she was on her belly, the bag resting on the ground between one large paw and her head. Seika's breath left her open mouth in heavy pants and her eyes were closed, but when Caitlyn opened up the canister and revealed its emptiness, she stood up, pushed by a force greater than her own strength.

"It was all for nothing," Caitlyn said in shock.

Seika pushed past Vi but Vi put her arm out in front of her neck.

"Seika stop-- Seika, no," she said as the beast pushed against her, its only intent to go back to the bridge. Upon hearing another group of pounding of feet coming near and the boxer shoved the large Wildcat back and against the wall.

Enforcers were storming the bridge, rushing through most of the city as the explosions had caused an all-hands-on-deck situation as the blare of the alarm vibrated throughout the city.

When things went quiet, Vi and Caitlyn spoke about where they should go.

"Cecil, I need to see Cecil," Seika whispered as she stood again. The fur on her back had tinged red with blood and her head hung low. Despite several protests from Vi and Caitlyn, in the end, they decided to go their separate ways.

"We'll go to my house," Caitlyn informed Seika, speaking of her and Vi.

Seika might normally have laughed as they had almost vehemently considered dragging her there. Given the  history she had with the councilors of Piltover, she doubted that she’d even be allowed onto the property let alone the residence, but in her weak state she could only nod in response.

"Cecil –" Seika started, her voice weak as her shoulders trembled.

Vi nodded and finished her sentence.

"Yea Seika, go to Cecil,” Vi said, brows furrowed as she watched her, concern evident on her and Caitlyn’s face.

The large beast grabbed the bag containing Porofessor and padded away from them. Despite slipping in and out of awareness, she made her way up the street, tucking herself in and out of alleyways whenever groups of Enforcers neared her. Bit by bit, she slowly made her way up to the academy, desperately hoping Cecil was still there. He could help her, put her back together like one of his inventions.

Seika wasn't fully conscious for most of the walk up to the academy, her focus only returning when she heard the trod of footsteps and she slowly slipped into hiding to avoid being seen. When she realized that most of the enforcers had been called to the bridge including those who had been patrolling the Academy, she continued on her way, walking through the streets until she found an empty gate into the campus.

Her breathing was heavy and intense as she lulled forward, walking through campus without even realizing where she was. Eventually, her front legs gave out and she landed in the soft grass, Porofessor squeaking as he freed himself from the confines of the bag and squeezed out from the weight of the collapsed Wildclaw.

Seika somehow found the energy to shift, yelling into the grass and dirt in agony as Porofessor whined and barked, running back and forth before the girl in obvious distress.

She struggled, bracing herself on her knees and forearms, and slowly straightened up on her knees, and there before her, was a very much shocked Viktor.

She smiled at the facade, letting her head fall a bit. It was like the world was mocking her with an illusion of him and despite her smile it made her want to weep.

Chapter Text

"What... What happened?" Viktor stuttered, his heart thumping wildly in his chest. He'd finally recovered from his experiment with the Hexcore earlier and left, hearing explosions coming from the direction of the undercity and alarms blaring. As he’d left the building, he’d followed the sound of an upset poro and watched the great beast he knew change back into the woman he had tried so hard to get rid of.

Seika’s head lifted as she wiped at the sticky blood, grimacing at the hair clinging to the viscous fluid coating a part of her forehead. When he spoke, she scoffed again, realizing her illusion was all too real. Her eyelids fluttered in exhaustion as the pain in her back bit at her spine.

"Cecil..." She whispered desperately, her eyes clouding over with pain.

"The Professor is gone," he rebutted, concern washing over him. What had happened to her?

She smiled, her eyes drooping nearly closed as her face fell forward and she settled, her legs beneath her sliding out to the side.

Seika couldn't look him in the eyes anymore; it'd all gone so wrong.

"Seika," he called her name loudly and she instinctively looked up. His amber eyes were intense and he began to ramble incoherently as he scrambled to her, his hand moving to cradle her cheek, eyes wandering up and down her face, inspecting her wounds.

Despite his own previous exhaustion, Viktor moved in full force, but to Seika, the world moved slowly. She watched as his eyes looked her up and down as he took the sight in and his hair moved with him rapid movements. She watched as it moved, swishing and gave a small smile at how the curled ends bounced.

In the stillness of it all, she spoke and Viktor was silenced immediately by her voice.

"Did... Did that night mean anything to you?" She whispered watching Viktor's eyes widen.

Time stood still as he moved forward, closer to her.

"It meant everything to me," Viktor whispered as he leaned down and kissed her hard on the mouth. He couldn't let this continue, he couldn't watch her waste away here and do nothing. He grimaced as he slung her arm over his crutch free shoulder, but it was his own words that pushed him forward.

"You will not die here Seika," he said as he pulled her to his feet, groaning from the effort. She remained standing and he grabbed her hand, pulling her along as he hurried with his crutch, grateful that in her daze, she’d still managed to pick up her bag while Porofessor chased after them.

She will not die, she will not die, she will not die… He repeated over and over in his mind, his words keeping his feet moving despite the exhaustion they both felt.

Somehow the pair made it back to his room and he cut her out of her top and forced her lie on her stomach on his bed. He hobbled quickly about the room gathering what little tools he had as he began to focus on removing the debris and worked quickly in the low light. Once he sat in the chair, he’d moved it nearly flush with the bed so that he inspected her wounds more closely, though the red fabric around her neck caught his eyes and he placed his tools down to unwrap it. When he’d removed it completely, he lightly thumbed the mark he’d left on their first night together, a soft smile on his face as he realized that was truly his tie she’d stolen – and more importantly, kept.

A wince of pain appeared on her face as she gasped and Viktor placed the tie on the bedside table, moving to work on the wounds on her back.

"Shit Seika," he spoke aloud as she inhaled sharply when he removed yet another piece of debris. The design was odd and reminded him of the bomb he’d disarmed earlier, but that wasn't important right now.

He was no medical doctor, and his work was sloppy, but it was enough.

When he closed all the gashes and wrapped her in gauze, he rolled her onto her back and gently stripped everything else on her but her lower undergarments. He pulled back the covers and carefully slipped her in between the sheets before covering her completely.

Once the gash on her forehead was covered, he settled on the chair in the room anxiously. What the hell had happened? She was gone for less than a day and somehow, she returned full of shrapnel and nearly dead.

Viktor’s eyes drifted to her as she slept soundly. Was this what it had been like when she found him? His gaze shifted again to Porofessor who snored loudly in the opposite corner, curled up on a pair of laundry he hadn’t bothered to put away.

His hands covered his face; how had this happened? He didn’t understand. And what had happened on the bridge?

Viktor swore softly, then swore again.

When his eyes found her again and the serene look on her face as she slept, his feelings inundated him in full force and he didn't even bother attempting to close the floodgates. It became incredibly evident that his feelings for her would never cease, regardless of how she felt about him. It made his heart race in his chest and his hands felt clammy, fingertips eager to reach out and touch her.

Upon his realization, he felt like he couldn't breathe and stripped off his jacket and vest, and yanked his tie from around his neck then kicked off his shoes. His transformed foot glittered in the lamplight and he watched his toes move like the metallic coloring and fibers was just painted flesh.

Viktor knew better than that though.

He let out a sigh, settling back in the chair as he watched over her.

...

Jayce had come immediately when he'd received word of the attack on the bridge. Mel was right, something needed to be done, especially if it was as bad as the officers were saying it was.

As the early morning sun greeted the day, Jayce found himself standing on the bridge. Before him lie the bodies of people, his people, and the sight was gruesome. Blood was splattered about the railings and walkway and Marcus, someone he'd spoken to less than a day prior lay lifeless, eyes forever dull and unblinking.

Jayce stood, staring at the scene in horror and shock as Mel stood just behind him, her face displaying similar feelings. Just behind them, an enforcer rambled on but Jayce was too distracted by the carnage he was witnessing as his eyes drifted between the bloody bodies in front of him. The sight made him ill, so ill in fact that he moved to the side and hunched over the railing, vomiting into the river beneath them.

He coughed and spit down into the water below when he'd emptied his stomach and leaned back, resting his forehead on his forearm as Mel's soothing hand rubbed circles on his back. His eyes drifted, looking to the ground and there, was a purple and green insect bomb lazily flapping its wings, its mechanical force dripping out of it until it slowed to a stop. His eyes rose, anger rising in him, and they caught movement in his peripherals, and there, wavering in the wind as it was stuck to a dried pool of blood was a clump of bloody silver fur.

Jayce's brows furrowed and he leaned down and plucked it, and after inspecting it heavily, his fists clenched tightly around it.

...

Seika roused from sleep; her eyes still closed. Her right side felt cold while her left did not, and in her half-sleep she moved to her left, seeking the warmth that came from there, ignoring the annoying stabbing pain in her back as much as she could. She heard a soft gasp in response to her movements and someone say something that was lost to her exhausted mind. She slid closer, again seeking that warmth, and the form she curled into tensed, but after a moment, and then another, it relaxed and a pair of arms wrapped around her and pulled her close.

As she felt herself slipping back into warm sleep, her mind had gained enough awareness for her to register someone was with her. Her head tilted upwards towards the ceiling as eyes fluttered open and she sat up, propping her upper half on one palm as she faced an astoundingly familiar room and an even more familiar scent.

The entity at her side pulled her back down, its pale arms somehow pulling her even closer than they’d been before and she realized who it was, her eyes closing as she buried her face in his chest. She felt herself drowning in the scent and a soft chuckle reverberated throughout the room.

The sound terrified her, but she forced herself to look up, and there, looking down at her with an unreadable face, was Viktor.

The pink tinge of the morning sun was peeking through the window. It kissed at her face, giving her once clammy gray skin that she’d had for hours after he’d brought her back, a soft warm glow that took his breath away, and Viktor stared so intensely in hopes that he could commit the sight to memory.

"Viktor," she whispered and his hand went to lightly thumb her cheek.

His heart ached when his name left her lips and his hand moved to the back of her neck as he pulled her own lips to his own. He gave into his feelings, no longer able to hold them back anymore and kissed her intensely.

Seika kissed back, one arm snaking to the back of his neck while the other was placed firmly on his chest.

After several moments, they pulled away breathing deeply, eyes gazing into one another and then Viktor pulled her back into this chest and rested his chin on the top of her head.

Seika's heart swelled as she heard the steady thumping of Viktors heart in her ear, but he suddenly pulled from her, a coughing fit tearing through him. She sat up, grimacing softly, and leaned forward, just as Viktor was wiping the blood from his face and tucking the handkerchief deep into a drawer.

A jug of water rested on the bedside table next to him and he used the glass next to it and took several long gulps of water, swishing it around his mouth softly. When he turned his torso around, however, Seika was sitting straight up with her emotions openly displayed on her face.

His eyes softened as she stared at him with an intense worry.

"Seika," he whispered and her eyes fluttered closed a bit, brows creasing as she attempted to hide her concern from him. A smile crept onto his face and he leaned to her ear, whispering her name again and again as he took her hand and put it over his beating heart.

"I am here."

Her eyes opened again slowly and when he leaned back, she met his amber gaze. He smiled warmly at her and kissed away the tear that slipped from her.

"How is your back?" He said softly as his hand delicately traced the bandage on her forehead. She gave a small nod and kissed the fingertips of his that lightly touched her.

"What happened?" He asked, afraid of what her answer would be.

Viktor pulled her into his arms as she began to tell him where she'd been, what happened with the Gemstone, her experiences within the undercity, being with the Firelights, and the battle on the bridge, and in doing so she left nothing out.

When she spoke of Zaun and her desire to help, his heart beat so strongly in his chest for her, and he wanted to give himself to her, but he waited; he'd get to soon, he hoped.

"The Kiramman girl?" He questioned and she nodded, looking as the morning sun had raised higher in the sky. She'd have to see them at some point today; they needed to talk about what they’d do next.

"I tried – I tried to get the gemstone Viktor--" she whispered as she leaned back into him.

He shushed her softly and he pulled her into his lap between his legs, digging his face into the crook of her neck as she relaxed into him.

Viktor inhaled deeply, committing her scent to memory and he kissed her neck up to her jaw, and to her ear and then back down again where he lightly sucked on the mark he’d given her on their first night and pulled away, smiling softly at how dark the mark had become. He kissed it once, gently, before kissing down her shoulder, admiring how her shoulders relaxed and head tilted as she opened herself further to him.

He felt her react to his touch, a familiar fire burning in his belly as she whimpered and fidgeted against him. His hand slid against her flesh to her front, rising up her ribcage to cup her breasts, marveling at the view of her perky nipples from where he looked over her shoulder. She moaned softly, arching into his touch and her legs stretched out. They moved again, writhing as he continued to tease and taunt the sensitive buds between his thumb and index finger, but when her leg grazed his right one, she gasped slightly and sat up just a bit, pulling away from him.

"Viktor your leg, it's so cold," she rotated her body sideways, turning her head to face him but he was looking away, guilt wracking his face.

Her brows furrowed, and she called his name again, softer this time, but when he didn't respond, she lifted the bed cover until she saw metal; dark gray glittering fibers that extended down the length of his leg. She gasped, mouth agape in near horror at the purple streaks of light running up and down it. Soft gold adornments scattered throughout his leg, some on the knuckles of his toes, others long thin stretches of metal brackets, almost mimicking his leg brace.

"Viktor..." she spoke, her wide eyes wide with uncertainty as she turned to him, and his face hardened as his eyes closed as if bracing himself. He shifted away from her and she watched as he pulled away, her gaze shifting back to his altered leg.

Her hand extended, and she lightly grazed the metal adornments at the bottom his kneecap before drifting upwards, brows furrowed. He twitched in response, almost recoiling away from her and her eyes fleeted to his. Confusion and uncertainty filled his handsome feature and despite everything in her, every lesson she’d been taut, every lecture and story she’d been told, she couldn’t get up and walk away.

“It was the Hexcore, wasn’t it…?” She asked softly.

He nodded noting the lack of disapproval and instead found… fear and concern. He remained still, worried that if he reached out and touched her, she’d flee, screaming through the halls about the monster in room 17. Her face crumbled and she moved, curling into his chest.

“I just want you to live, but Viktor…” she whispered as he hesitantly wrapped his arms around her, still taking care to avoid the wounds on her back as she continued, “you have to be careful with this… I…” she looked up then sighed. She didn’t know what else to say.

Viktor sighed and pulled her tight to his chest, wrapping his arms around her. She curled into his embrace, leaving gentle kisses to his bare chest and he kissed her forehead, nudging her to tilt her head upwards. When she did, he gently pressed his forehead to hers.

“I…” Viktor hesitated, but when she looked up at him with those bright blue eyes, he sighed.

“Please understand… Growing old is a luxury most cannot afford,” he said softly before he kissed her softly and whispered against her lips, “but it would be a luxury I would do anything to afford, if it meant I spent a life with you, breathed my last breath with you.”

Seika’s eyes widened at his words. Viktor was still here with her, the one she knew, the one she'd given herself to that night, the one who had accepted all of her. The Hexcore hadn't taken him away from her.

When her hand delicately touched his face, he looked up at her. He could still see the worry in her eyes but she was smiling.

“Okay,” she said softly with a small nod, her face relaxing. One of his hands moved, cradling her cheek and he brought her lips to his. She melted into his touch, their chests flush against each other’s.

Viktor's arms snaked around her lower back, avoiding the gauze he'd put there and he lightly kissed her collarbone and then up her neck, licking the spot he'd briefly sucked earlier. His breath began to come out in soft pants as Seika's head fell back and her hair tickled his fingers, her own breaths spurring him forward as he kissed up her neck and captured her lips with his again.

He pulled away for the briefest of moments to let out a guttural groan accompanied by a soft, "I love you."

His lips slated themselves against hers before she’d had a chance to respond, and in response to his words her hands slipped to the back of his head head, fingers threading between the soft brown strands of his hair as she deepened the kiss.

Her body moved as she stood on her knees and crawled on top of him, straddling him. Their mouths pulled away as they gasped and moaned. She grinded against his hardened length, and his hands wandered her body squeezing and feeling every inch he could.

“Stay with me,” he gasped and she pulled away to meet his gaze. “Don’t leave Piltover,” he continued, “stay here, with me. What I said, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it. I hadn’t heard everything you’d said to Heimerdinger in his office, please…”

Seika felt tears well up in her eyes at his request and she smiled and nodded, a breathy yes leaving her lips as she needed no further convincing.

Viktor smiled when their lips met again for another passionate kiss, their names occasionally leaving one another’s lips as their heartbeats intermingled and they gave themselves to one another.

Chapter Text

Viktor had leaned back into the pillow as Seika climbed onto him, her legs spreading to straddle his hips. Her leg would occasionally touch the cold metal that was his right leg and she'd gasp against his lips, but as she settled her searing flesh onto it, the metal fibers of his leg began to warm up.

Their lips were still together, pulling apart for the shortest of moments only to be mashed onto one another again, tongues tangling in an erotic dance.

Viktor groaned when she'd pulled away briefly and his hands sought her hips and he squeezed softly, relishing in the feel of her flesh. He lifted his hips, just barely rubbing himself into her core and she pulled from his lips to moan his name. The call made him smile and he did it again, just to hear her speak his name on her lips again.

She's leaned back down again, and when their lips met, his tongue slipped into her mouth. Both her hands sought his neck, one smoothing up his hair from his spine until she cradled the back of his head while the other braced herself against the waves of pleasure that rolled through her.

He groaned softly into her mouth when her nails lightly dragged back down his scalp and then ran themselves erratically through his hair, his hands sliding to squeeze the plump flesh of her rear.

Seika pulled away, inhaling as if it might be her last breath, but Viktor caught her lower lip between his teeth and pulled her back and their lips joined again with tongues tangling together again. She felt Viktors hands snake their way up her body, his blunt short nails lightly scratching across her skin, and she whimpered as he neared her breasts. When he reached them, he took a breast in each hand and began to fondle them and he relished in the sounds that came from her.

She pulled away again, her back arching in response to the pleasure overtaking the twinges of pain and soreness in her back as she arched. Viktor watched in awe as the morning sun cascading through the window of his residence kissed her skin, bathing her in a soft yellow orange glow. In his enrapturement, he leaned forward, kissing her collar bone and sternum before his mouth drifted lower, his hand on the small of her back pulling her closer to her. He placed wet open-mouthed kisses to her breasts, switching between them until he took one of her nipples into his mouth.

Seika moved against him, hardly even realizing her own actions as she ground herself into the hard length that grazed the liquid heat between her thighs. She heard Viktor inhale sharply with open lips and teeth that gently held the pointed bud as he pulled his knees up to brace her rear and lower back, and then he was suckling it in full force.

His control was tearing at the seams as the woman in his arms began to come undone and he hastily switched to the other nipple, smothering it in wet hot love, and when he could tell it was too much for her to bear any longer, his left hand went to her waist and the other to the back of her neck as flipped them.

Seika felt the world spin around her and then she was looking up at him, crouched between her spread legs, his palms flat against the mattress on either side of her head. She looked up at him, admiring his face and smiled. He returned the smile before lowering his face and capturing her lips in a soft kiss.

She shivered against his touch as he lowered fully, laying between her legs and he pulled away, his eyes full of desire and adoration as he looked down at her.

Viktor shifted, moving his right leg forward, spreading her left leg up wider and higher as he pressed him further between her legs. She felt the chill of it on her inner thigh and gasped, gooseflesh spreading across her body.

"Wait -- Viktor, your leg," she let out breathlessly as his face neared hers.

He shook his head, his bangs tickling her forehead and his amber eyes stared into her, the sight causing a flock of butterflies to come to life in Seika’s belly as heat spread through her extremities.

"For the first time in my life it doesn't hurt," he whispered passionately and she felt the want in his voice. She smiled and he kissed her hard and then pulled away, feeling her breath fan his face.

"Viktor, I-" she whispered roughly against his lips, "I want you. Please."

Every ounce of control he had snapped at that moment and his lips captured hers again, the kiss a mix of tongue and teeth as he desperately sought to engrave the taste and softness of his lips against his in his memory. His torso completely covered hers as he ravaged her lips and he groaned when he pulled back and witnessed them puffy and pink, glistening with the combination of their saliva. He kissed her again and pulled away so he could run his lips down her jawline.

Raw kisses moved down her neck, soft nips and sucks on her flesh leaving her writhing beneath him. His teeth scraped against the little spot he’d been favoring and she whimpered softly, thrusting her chest up into his. He laid between her legs settled his weight on her, his hips stilling, as he responded to her movements, his hands each seeking a breast. He cradled them, thumbing each nipple, drawing circles around each one, his eyes watching them intently as his gaze shifted between them.

She whispered his name again as her hips moved against his still ones, desperate and needy for attention and he smiled before pressing her breasts together and taking both nipples into his mouth simultaneously.

Viktors tongue continued to flatten and fold over her nipples, licking and teasing them as he sucked. Her hands moved to his hair as she continued to call out his name and he groaned as she squirmed beneath him and tugged on his hair, his teeth lightly biting at the hardened buds. His eyes opened and found the flush on her face, her parted lips and half-lidded eyes filled with desire, he pulled away.

"Seika... Seika," he whispered as he kissed down her chest, sliding down the bed.

He found the gray vein and for a moment, he wondered if it'd gotten larger, but he moved past it after giving it a tender kiss.

She breathed his name again as he settled between her legs.

He propped himself up on one forearm tucked beneath his ribcage, the other lightly tracing teasing her thighs, drifting upwards until he lightly poked and prodded at the apex of her thighs. His eyes drifted upward, pools of amber glittering in the rising sun as he continued to taunt her needy core.

“Please Viktor,” she begged breathlessly, her eyes finding his and he smirked.

“Anything for you,” he replied as he moved, pulling her undergarments to the side and burying his face between her legs. His tongue licked up and down her slit before his lips found the bundle of nerves above it and he sucked lightly, tongue flicking against it. She was gasping, calling his name now as one hand gripping the hair on the back of his head.

Viktor continued to watch her, admiring the way she responded to his touch and how her tongue would slip out and lick at her lips as she panted. Her hips rose as she unconsciously grinded against his face and his hands moved underneath her, pulling off her undergarments. Seika took care of the rest as she pulled back one leg out of her undergarments, the other side still looped around the ankle of her other leg as Viktor hungrily tasted her again.

He groaned loudly, his tongue shifting from teasing her clit to slipping inside of her to taste her. One of his hands retracted back to him and he pulled his mouth away, watching with an unwavering focus as his index and middle finger slipped inside her.

Seika watched him as his lips parted, a ghost of a smirk on his face as he watched his fingers and she flushed at his response. He curled his fingers, experimenting on her as if she was his own personal puzzle until she let out a breathy moan when he found a spot that made her toes curl and her back arch. She hadn’t even had time to breathe when his mouth found her clit again and he groaned, feeling as she neared her orgasm.

“Please,” he groaned out the plea as he briefly released her clit, needing her release as much as she did. His mouth found it again a split-second later and when his fingers began to piston in and out of her, she found her release, clenching and squeezing her fingers. He groaned loudly as she gasped and moaned, his name leaving her lips before he slowed his movements.

In her post-orgasm bliss, she watched as he pulled his fingers from her and brought them to his lips, sucking them clean before he began to kiss up her body. When he slotted his hips between her legs again, she pulled his lips to hers, tasting herself on his tongue and he whimpered as her hips moved against him again, her wetness soaking through his own undergarments.

Seika moved, rolling them over and looked down at him. Their lips connected again and her once passionate hard kisses turned soft and gentle.

“I love you too,” she whispered against his lips.

Viktors heart swelled in his chest and his smile mirrored her own as he pressed his forehead to hers before pulling her into another passionate kiss. When he finally released her, he watched with half-lidded eyes as she kissed down his chest, placing a peck to each of his nipples and occasionally teasing his skin with open mouthed kisses. Little light red marks decorated his chest and he groaned softly with each one, his hand threading through her hair as continued to make her way lower.

He lifted his hips as she slid off his undergarments, removing his and hers entirely in the action, though her eyes hadn’t lifted from his hard length as it twitched. She moved, kneeling between his legs and crouching over, oblivious to the twinges of pain in her back as her tongue slipped past her lips to lick at the bead of fluid on his tip.

Viktor gasped through gritted teeth. His hips bucked upwards a bit in desperation before stilling as one hand clenched the sheets, the other still in the long locks of her hair. His mouth opened when she took him into her mouth and his eyes were unable to leave the sight. Both hands met at her head, scooping up her hair into one hand as he lightly gripped it on the side of her head. She continued, lowering her mouth further, taking him deeper before moving up and down, repeating the action again. And again. And again.

Viktor felt like he was going to go mad as Seika’s tongue flattened on the underside of his cock. She sucked him as far back into her mouth as she could and at the feel of him hitting the back of her throat he swore loudly. Her eyes opened, looking up to Viktor and he groaned, whispering her name like a plea. She moaned softly and the grip in her hair tightened. His metallic right leg bent at the knee as the hand he’d been gripping the sheets with moved to her cheek, thumbing at her zygomatic arch and jawline.

He swore when she took him deeper again, gasping open-mouthed breaths, his eyes never leaving the sight of her. When one of her hands moved and closed around the remaining length of him that she was unable to fit in her mouth and the other began to lightly fondle his balls, Viktors eyes rolled into the back of his head and he groaned loudly. His hips jutted forward again, forcing more of him into her mouth and he swore, trying to reel his control back, verbally begging and pleading and apologizing with dazed wet eyes as he found her gaze again. The sights and sounds Seika witnessed were both arousing and torturous as desire burned in her belly.

Viktor whimpered out her name again. His eyes temporarily closed as she licked at his tip until he lightly pulled her off of him. He sat up and pulled on her hair, forcing him to kiss her.

“As much,” he panted when he pulled away, pausing to catch his breath for a moment. He pressed his forehead to hers and Seika waited for as long as he needed, placing soft gentle kisses to the corner of his mouth.

When Viktor found his breath again, he spoke.

“As much as I’d love to fill your mouth right now, I need to fill you,” his accent heavily enunciated the word need and Seika moved, an inferno igniting within her. She spread her legs, straddling his hips again as she lifted herself. His hand snaked between them, his tip teasing her entrance before Seika lowered herself onto him.

They groaned in unison, Viktors hands instinctively moving to her waist. The pressure of his grip was tight, his long fingers squeezing the flesh there and she hoped there would be bruises. Marks on her flesh confirming that this was indeed reality.. Her head fell back and she rode him. Viktor looked up at her, watching her move, breasts swaying hypnotically with her movements. He squeezed her waist again, groaning at the view.

Viktor watched as she lifted her head and looked down at her, continuing to undulate her hips. He was captivated by the sight and called her name again, his hand moved to the back of her neck and he yanked her down on top of him, bending his legs to thrust up into her. She whimpered and moaned into his ear as his mouth moved to hers.

“Mine,” he whispered breathlessly, groaning into her mouth after a particularly deep thrust before he found his voice. “You are mine Seika. Mine. Mine,” he continued, each claim emphasized by a deep thrust into her as her hips lifted and fell to meet his.

“I am yours and you are mine,” he groaned, “tell me you’re mine Seika,” he pleaded.

Her head turned and she kissed him hard on the mouth.

“I’m yours,” she whimpered between small kisses, “I’m yours and you’re mine Viktor,” she said as she felt wave after wave of pleasure ripple through her body. “Yours, yours, yours” she mumbled again and again as she sat up. He watched as she lifted and lowered her hips, spearing himself down onto him.

“Beautiful,” he was whimpering now and Seika’s eyes met his. “Don’t look away, please,” he pleaded, mouth hanging open as he neared his release. She felt it, she felt his hands wandering up and down her body, from her breasts to her thighs, every squeeze as erotic and pleasurable as the last.

Her eyes temporarily closed as she was battered by wave after wave of pleasure, gooseflesh spreading along her arms.

“Look at me Seika,” Viktor ordered, his hand sliding up to the back of her neck and she met his gaze. She whimpered, begging and he pulled her down flush against him again, pressing their foreheads together.

He whispered her name again and again as their hips met, slapping against one another with a carnal ferocity.

“Viktor, I… I’m –” She began and Viktor nodded.

“With me Seika,” Viktor breathed back, pulling away to look into her eyes. She blushed under his gaze but met it nonetheless until he crashed her lips onto his and began thrusting up into her again.

They whimpered into each other’s mouths, only pulling away when they found their high. Viktors mouth moved, latching onto that same spot again as his hips stuttered, pressing himself deep within her and Seika called out his name as they both found their release together.

…

After their lovemaking, the couple spent quite some time curled up in their arms. Seika listened to Viktors heartbeat as her cheek rested on her chest, her fingers lightly tracing shapes on his torso that on more than one occasion, led to him recoiling and muttering how it tickled.

As the morning continued, the sun had risen higher but they hadn’t strayed from each other’s arms beside the occasional adjustment of their position. As they rested and found comfort in one another’s presence, they spoke soft words. Words of adoration, questions of interests and dislikes, and regaled funny stories to one another.

Seika curled herself further into Viktors arms. He chuckled softly, his fingertips lightly running up and down her back and into her hair as he turned his head, pressing soft kisses to the crown her head. She smiled as she slipped into her thoughts.

The Hexcore hadn't helped him completely, so what would happen now in regards to his illness? Could it even do anything, or would he end up lost and completely taken over by the vile thing? She still disliked it intensely and her trust with it was nearly nonexistent, but it'd helped his leg even if he still needed the crutch, the pain in his leg, according to him, was gone.

Viktor noticed her silence and his brows furrowed gently as he kissed her forehead. "What is it, my flower?" He questioned.

He'd been testing out a variety of pet names and while he'd expected her to blush or giggle softly, her face betrayed her but she said nothing and wrapped her arms around him. Viktor knew, how could he not, it was on his mind as well.

He couldn’t deny the newfound freedom this new leg gave him, and if all of him were fixed in such a way, he’d be more than able to stay by her side. Even now, he knew he couldn’t give this up. Let Jayce continue to be the poster boy of Hextech, but Seika? He buried his nose into her hair, his eyes fluttering closed as he breathed in her scent. This he wouldn’t let go. Returning home alone was something he hoped he’d never have to do again.

His thoughts drifted to the lab and a little part of him regretted the events that had just occurred, not because they were with Seika or that they'd happened, but because he knew he could have been looking for a way for the Hexcore to help him. He also knew that when he would be on his inevitable deathbed, his breathing coming out in short shallow gasps, that he'd reflect on these moments rather than the Hexcore because she'd be the one there by his side, weeping until he took his last breath.

When a soft “I’m okay,” escaped Seika’s lips and she pressed several soft kisses to his chest, he relaxed, the couple closing their eyes as they relaxed.

The pair slipped into silence as they remained in each other's embrace but when Viktor heard Seika's stomach gurgle the pair broke out into soft laughter. She rolled away from him and stood before turning to face him, her hands running through her hair. Seika watched as his eyes found the gray branching vein and his arm extended out to her standing form, his thumb lightly brushing it.

"Did it get bigger?" He asked, his brows furrowing quizzically.

Her head tilted and she looked down, uttering a quiet maybe, but in reality, she wouldn't be that surprised if it had, but she worried about the future and the potential of its growth.

That wasn't important now though, as Viktor cradled her cheek and peppered her face with light soft kisses.

"Come, let us get something to eat, Doll Face," he tried again.

Seika's face recoiled instantly and they burst out laughing.

"I heard it mentioned in the hallways once," he muttered between laughter.

"I don't think that's the one," she said, stifling more laughter and he kissed her cheek and together they formally greeted the day.

Chapter Text

Seika stood nude, holding up her mangled clothes, fingers inspecting the holes left behind by the debris and burns of the explosions the night prior. She raised her top higher in the sunlight, a frown on her face. It’d been her outfit; one she’d worn for years…

Viktor walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. His lips pressed delicate soft kisses to her shoulder and up her neck as he pressed his nude form to her back, aching for her constant touch. His lips moved, kissing her cheek then her temple and she sighed, relaxing against him.

“It always looked beautiful on you,” he said softly, noticing the way she nostalgically caressed the fabric, “I thought it the first moment I saw you.”

Seika snickered, “during Jayce’s Progress Day speech or in the Council room?” She retorted, her head falling back to look at his upside-down face. He huffed and smiled, kissing her forehead.

“Admittedly the Council room, during that speech I was…” he paused before adding, “distracted,” he replied and she laughed, turning around in his arms. His cheeks flushed as he looked away and she laughed further. “A necklace,” he chided with a shake of his head, narrowing his eyes as he gave her a soft side-long glare, a smile still on his face. When her laughter subsided and her smile grew, his hand cradled her cheek and he kissed her softly.

“You were right though,” he said softly, “it was your coloring.”

He kissed her again and again, smiling against her lips until he pulled away and looked down at her. She gazed up at him and he smiled, kissing her forehead one last time before pulling her towards his closet.

Together, they sifted through his wardrobe, pulling out items and holding them against her, seeking something for her to wear temporarily. Eventually they settled on a green button-down and a pair of slacks that were a size too small on him. He watched as she dressed, eyes following as she pulled up the slacks and began to button them. She was oblivious to his gaze as she slid her arms through the sleeves and began buttoning up the shirt.

Viktors hands interrupted hers as he stood in front of her, buttoning up the shirt. She looked up at him and smiled, and when he finished, he lightly pulled on the collar of the shirt, bringing her lips to his for another warm kiss.

He pulled away and moved to the opposite side, picking up his chest brace and sat on the bed. Seika noticed he refused to look at her when he began putting it on, and it wasn’t until she moved and knelt between his legs, did he finally meet her gaze.

Embarrassment filled his features as his eyes quickly looked from hers. She straightened, and gently kissed his lips.

“May I?” She asked softly and his eyes looked back to her before he nodded slowly. Her fingers worked smoothly as she began locking the mechanisms of the brace, taking the upmost care not to pinch his skin or tighten things too tight. The sight and how gentle she was had Viktor’s heart racing in his chest and when she was done, he flopped back onto the bed, his hands covering his red face.

He felt the bed shift as she crawled up next to him, and he opened his left arm, silently encouraging her to settle there. When she did, he lowered his hands and sighed, smiling as a huff of a laugh escaped through his nose.

“Remind me to ask you to put on my brace every day,” he said softly. Seika chuckled and sat up, looking into his eyes, a gaze he finally met.

“As long as I get to take it off every day too,” she teased.

Viktor groaned, his hand moving to the back of her neck to pull her lips to his before he rolled on top of her, pinning her between him and the mattress.

“If you keep talking like that Seika, then I fear we won’t be leaving this room today,” he threatened. When Seika caught her lower lip between her teeth, he lowered himself, capturing her lips again. Just as his tongue slipped into her mouth, noises from her stomach echoed between the two of them again and they paused almost comically before bursting out into laughter.

A few minutes later, Viktor was slipping on his academy uniform and Seika, as he had done for her, stepped up to button the buttons for him. As she did, he lightly brushed a few strands of her hair out of her face and behind her ear.

When they were ready, Seika slipped on her backpack walked to the snoozing poro in the corner. Viktor watched before he sidestepped to his bedside table, slipping the tie she’d taken into his pocket.

“Porofessor,” she called softly, gently waking the sleeping animal. He startled awake, looking as chipper and happy as always as he barked, jumping into Seika’s arms. She laughed and stood, looking to Viktor as the three of them walked out the door.

They walked the halls, navigating through the campus and stepped into the sun together. They walked slow, Viktors crutch rhythmically tapping the ground and with each step as they further relaxed in the midday sun.

Eventually, Seika gave Viktor a side-long glance, a small smile on her face.

“So,” she drawled, and Viktor looked her way, “I heard it was your Hexclaw that singed my darling Porofessor here.”

Viktor stiffened and looked away then back to her.

“An accident, I assure you,” he replied as exited the campus, making their way through the street towards a nearby café Viktor favored.

“And did you apologize?” I asked, Porofessor giving Viktor a light glare and a huff.

Viktor glanced down at the poro, then back up at Seika.

“He is a poro,” he replied quizzically, furrowing his brows. Seika’s face almost deadpanned at him and he chuckled shaking his head.

“I apologize Porofessor, for singeing your beautiful white fur,” he said as his hand reached out to pet the fluff ball, “and for singeing your majestic horn, though, it was Jayce who was mostly at fault.”

Seika laughed when Porofessor yipped and attempted to get crawl out of her arms, his large tongue flapping in the wind as he attempted to lick at the mans face.

“Good news, I think you’re forgiven,” she replied when the Poro hopped out of her arms and ran excited circles around them. They continued walking, the backs of their hands just lightly grazing one another as they did, a finger occasionally prolonging that graze. They’d occasionally glance towards one another, smiling when their eyes met.

Viktor led them towards a cute café. He smiled when they arrived, spreading his arm towards the propped open door and Seika entered first, looking around at the décor of the café. She felt Viktor’s free hand move to the small of her back and looked back at him smiling before a voice pulled their focus.

“Viktor!” A gray-haired older woman spoke, dusting her hands off on her apron from behind the counter before bustling over towards the pair. “And hello,” she said, looking to Seika, glancing to Viktor then back to the girl.

“Hello dear, I’m Elaina,” the woman introduced herself, taking Seika’s hand with both of hers and clenching them tightly before releasing them, a warm smile on her flushed face. “And behind there, in the back – CILLIAN!” Elaina screamed, cupping her hands around her mouth and Seika’s hand moved to cover her lips as she stifled a giggle, her gaze fleeting up to Viktor who too couldn’t contain his smile.

“What is it you crazy woman?!” A man yelled from the back, stomping out of the swinging door before pausing. He blinked once, registering the scene before him as his wife gave him the most elated wide grin before he clapped his hands.
“Viktor!” He exclaimed, walking over and clapping the boy on the shoulder, squeezing it softly. “How are you, my boy?” He asked before looking to Seika.

“And I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure of meeting you yet,” he said. Viktor stiffened under his words, looking away shyly as Elaina and Cillian shared an almost cheeky grin between them.

“Seika Etesia,” Seika said, offering him her hand. He shook it, and for the next few minutes, the pair doted on the girl.

“Okay, off you two go, go find a seat,” Elaina said eventually, shooing away her husband with a few waves of her hands.

Seika and Viktor sat at a table in front of a window, Porofessor hopping up onto the far side of the table and pressing his face, tongue and all to the glass as he gazed outside the clear window. Seika chuckled softly, giving the poro a gentle scratch to the top of his head before she looked to Viktor.

“They’re very sweet,” she said as the bustling of the midday work echoed from the kitchen a stone’s throw away from them. Viktor smiled as he relaxed back in his seat, his feet adjusting. He situated himself again, the top of his foot lightly grazing the back of her calf and moving up and down ever so slowly as Seika momentarily stiffened before relaxing.

"Yes, they've been nothing but kind to me," he said, his eyes looking at Seika warmly as Seika blushed gently under his discrete touch.

Seika studied Viktors face in the midday light as they spoke of the city, of places he favored, and memories until Elaina hustled out of the kitchen carrying two steaming mugs. When Viktor went to dispute the mugs, she hushed him and placed them down on the table.

“Nope, this one is on us,” she smiled and lightly pinched his cheek, much to Viktor’s own chagrin. Seika chuckled, the sound bringing Elaina’s focus to her and Viktor watched as the ladies spoke animatedly, though most of it was Elaina telling Seika stories of him. At some point in their conversations, Elaina’s eyes had wandered to the red spot on the young lady’s neck before giving a raised-brow look to Viktor.

Seika had been so engrossed on trying the drink that she hadn’t noticed the wink the baker’s wife had shot the young man, and the blush that spread across his cheeks from her actions, a blush he hoped to hide behind the rim of his mug as he took a long sip of the sweet milk.

"That is our homemade sweet milk, and a favorite of Viktors, next time you visit I might just give you the recipe," Elaina teased before she took their orders and walked away. A few minutes later, she returned with the food they had ordered and promptly left the pair alone.

They ate, Seika occasionally sneaking bites of her food to Porofessor who was still distracting himself with the life outside of the café. They spoke softly, in hushed tones as they ate until they finished and sat there silently, sipping their cups of warm sweet milk.

“This is very good,” Seika replied with a smile, looking down at the opaque liquid within the mug before back up to Viktor. He was staring at her again, his chin resting on his propped-up hand, almost admiring her. She suddenly felt nervous under his gaze and fidgeted a bit, some hair slipping past her ear and he slowly put it back, letting his finger trail down her jawline and he thumbed a little spot of sweet milk on her lower lip with his thumb and sucked it clean.

He watched her flush red, her eyes glancing outside in giddy embarrassment and his gaze found the baker and his wife staring at them from the back. He shook his head and took another sip of his sweet milk when he spotted them giving him plenty of silent encouragement with their brazen hands and near giddy faces.

When their mugs were empty, they slipped into a comfortable silence. The sun had risen much higher into the sky now, and Seika knew she needed to see Caitlyn and Vi soon, particularly Caitlyn given her injury, but it was Viktor who broke the silence first.

"As much as I like looking at my clothes on you, I admittedly like them better off you," Viktor whispered to her across the table, his amber eyes looking them up and down.

Seika let out a shocked noise from her throat and he chuckled.

"Perhaps we should find something better suited for you, yes?" He asked smiling and standing up with a slight grimace as he grabbed his crutch.

After fond farewell by the baker and his wife, Viktor, Seika, and Porofessor were back out into the street, wandering until she saw the same shop she'd visited when she'd first arrived. From the street, Seika saw the familiar shopkeeper just as she was flipping the closed sign to open and from her excitement, Viktor ushered her and Porofessor into the shop.

Felicia recognized the silver-haired girl immediately and they spoke animatedly with one another as they wandered the shop. She’d grown to enjoy the woman in the short conversations she’d had, and found her refreshing and honest in a way Seika didn’t see in many people.

Viktor watched with a smile as the two ladies bustled around the shop, looking through things together.

"I saw this outfit and just had to get it, I actually saved it around..." Felicia said, searching for the box. Seika watched as she peered through columns and columns of boxes in the open cabinet behind the till counter until she gasped.

"Ah!" she exclaimed when she'd found it and turned around to deposit it gently on the till.

"I just," Felicia began, her hand resting on top of the box, "I saw this and immediately thought of you, and based on your current..." she paused, looking up the silver-haired woman, "situation," her eyes went to Viktor whose smile hid behind his hand, "then this might be the perfect time for it."

Seika had blushed and bit her lower lip, the corners of her mouth turned upward as Viktor had moved to stand next to her, his hand delicately dragging the tips of his fingers along the backs of her hand and fingers.

"So, I will give this to you," she gently pushed the box to Seika, "and come-come, let us see it," she hurried her into a dressing room.

Viktor had taken a seat on a stool Felicia had brought him and he sighed heavily as Porofessor settled at his feet; he was tired, but somehow, being around Seika made it tolerable. He felt the cool wood and metal on the palm perched against the seat of the stool as he breathed as deeply as his lungs would allow. But a smile crept onto his face at the giggling and softly spoken words of the two ladies in the curtained-off room before him. Perhaps if things were... normal, then this would be a regular occurrence. Perhaps if he was healthier, they could do this again... He looked down to his right leg, the metal hidden behind his slacks, and rested a hand on it, squeezing it tight. What would happen if he continued with the Hexcore? If he did it again? Would it help his lungs, would he live? His brows furrowed as he slipped deep into thought, sifting through all the possibilities.

Inside the dressing room, Seika and Felicia giggled as she removed Viktors clothes from her and when Felicia's back was turned, she took a deep inhale from the fabric that so strongly smelled of the man she loved.

"So," Felicia drawled knowingly, watching the girl before Seika cleared her throat and flushed, folding the shirt and slipping off the slacks. Felicia giggled as Seika pouted teasingly and she gave Seika a fresh pair of undergarments, and when Felicia pulled the outfit from the box Seika gasped softly.

"Felicia, its, beautiful..." She said, admiring the outfit.

The woman smiled back at her and hurried her to put it on. When she'd finished putting it on, she lightly thumbed the soft fabric, a wide smile plastered on her face and when looked up she saw as Felicia pulled out something else.

"These too," the shopkeeper said with a grin, and Seika hugged the woman.

"You've been so kind, thank you..." she said.

"Not as kind as that fine fellow out there will be to you when he sees you," Felicia teased with a wink when Seika pulled away and with a look of pure giddiness.

...

Felicia's exit from the dressing room pulled Viktor from his thoughts and he straightened, still resting against his crutch.

"Are you ready Seika?" She called out to her and a soft yes was heard on the other side. Felicia opened the curtain and slipped from out of the way and Seika walked out.

Seika stepped out from behind the curtain.

Viktors eyes trailed down the red maroon sleeveless v-neck jumpsuit she wore, his eyes pausing at the two black leather straps wrapped around each midsection of her thighs. Then his eyes wandered back up, drifting up the dark maroon long-sleeved split tailcoat, finding the silver chain belt at her waist that had been clipped to each side of the narrow front panels of the jacket. His eyes finally fell to the pair of thigh-high black boots she was now wearing that stopped just above the top of her knee and he looked up, finding her hair matched with the silver adornments scattered throughout the outfit.

“Viktor?” Seika called nervously, fidgeting in the new outfit as his gaze continued to wander up and down her figure repeatedly.

"You look," he paused finding he was at a bit of a loss for words, "phenomenal."

A wide smile broke out on her face and she went to him. She stepped between his spread legs, hands cradling his face as his free hand moved from to the base of her skull where he pulled her head down and kissed her passionately.

The entire situation had awoken something in Viktor and he realized… He wanted this, wanted more of these surprises, more time with her. He sought out life with her, to grow old together. His brain sought the Hexcore, he sought to complete the puzzle and then spend the rest of his life with this woman. He didn't want to die now more than ever and he would do anything to ensure that.

She moved to the counter, sliding her backpack off of one arm and to her front as Porofessor pranced about the store. Viktor walked up next to her as she dug into her bag, seeking her coin purse as Felicia rang her up.

In her distraction, Viktor leaned, pressing a soft kiss to her temple as he handed the shopkeeper the money, dropping the coins into the woman’s palm.

Seika realized what he done and fought against him, but he only smiled and insisted until she eventually let it go. When he saw the slight pout on her face, he graced her temple with another kiss.

Viktor smiled at her attitude and while he deeply considered her own independence, there was a chance that this might be the only time they could do this and he wanted nothing more than to spoil her. She could buy him all the sweet milk he desired once he figured out the Hexcore, once he lived... once they lived.

“Consider it a gift for you,” he said softly into her hair before pulling away. Seika blushed and the two of them said goodbye to the shopkeeper before heading out together and making their way to the Academy, Porofessor strutting in front of them, tongue lolling from his mouth.

When they reached the main gate, they stopped, Seika’s eyes drifting towards the setting sun. She sighed softly, looking back at Viktor. She didn’t want to leave his side, not yet…

"I'll be back, go. Rest, ok?" Seika said softly.

He nodded, closing the distance between them to give her a firm kiss to her lips. She melted into his touch, her eyes fluttering closed as their hands intertwined before he pulled away and smiled.

“Beautiful, as always,” he murmured. She smiled in response and took a step back, their arms lifting until she was far enough away and they hesitantly relinquished one another’s grip.

“Keep her safe, Porofessor,” he called out when she’d walked several feet from him, the poro barking in response and Seika flashed him a smile over her shoulder. He waited until she was completely out of view before turning and walking through the gates of the Academy.

Chapter Text

By the time Seika had found the Kiramman household, the sun had dipped below the horizon, oranges and pinks meeting the darkness of the oncoming night sky. She stood before the gate, then peered around and began walking, pausing only to slip Porofessor into her backpack before sneaking through into the property. She continued her way around the property, occasionally peeking into windows until she spotted Vi and Caitlyn. She stood fully, peering through the window. They were talking, in fact, Vi had just said something funny and Caitlyn was laughing. Seika smiled at how animatedly they spoke, how comfortable they looked with one another before softly rapping her knuckles against the glass.

Caitlyn and Vi heads turned towards the window, and when they realized it was her, they rushed, sliding the window open for her.

“Seika, you’re alright,” Caitlyn said, more of an observation than a question and Seika nodded.

“Yeah, all good. How are you? How’s your leg?” Seika asked and Caitlyn nodded.

“It’s fine thank you, my father tended to it for me,” she replied.

Vi leaned over, resting her forearms on the windowsill, her hands dangling as Caitlyn continued, almost poking her head completely out of the open window.

“We’re to meet with the council tonight, my mother managed to secure us a slot,” Caitlyn said. The pair watched as Seika nodded in response.

"Well, you're coming with us," Vi stated blatantly when Seika said nothing in return.

Footsteps echoed near them and the trio slipped into silence as Seika looked around. When the footsteps softened until they couldn't hear them anymore Seika shook her head at the pair, a grimace on her face.

"I don't think that's the best idea,” she said softly, keeping her voice down.

"Why? You've seen Zaun, you should be there too," Caitlyn said and Vi narrowed her eyes some, studying the silver-haired girl.

Seika squirmed under Vi's pressured gaze before finally letting out an exasperated sigh.

"When Jayce removed Heimerdinger off the Council, I argued with him..."She drawled off but was met with silence. "Then Jayce questioned me and my abilities and accused me of lying and I..." She grimaced further, looking away before looking back up at then, “might have slapped him.”

Seika's eyes squeezed shut as if bracing for impact and Caitlyns voice was what she heard first.

"You slapped Jayce?" She said, a bit too loudly and put a hand over her mouth, soft laughter coming from her for a few moments.

"I-I mean he wasn’t really hurt – I mean not with what I could have really done to him, he was just-- ugh," she rolled her eyes, unable to find the words to explain the frustrations she'd felt in that moment.

Vi sighed and her brows furrowed as she spoke.

"You still need to come," Vi retorted and Seika's eyes met hers as she continued. "I mean, we’ve seen your magic and since Cupcake’s mom here is a councilor, they’ll have to believe us. And since you weren’t lying about your magical abilities, why would you be lying now?" Vi stated and Caitlyn raised her eyebrows as she shifted and loosely nodded in agreement.

Seika's eyes shifted back and forth between them in thought and she chewed her lower lip, her hesitation obvious.

"Fine, okay," she said softly and gave them an almost exasperated smile. Caitlyn and Vi shared a look and a smile, then Vi leaned out the window, her arm extended.

"Now, what is this," she said, lifting up the woman's silver hair that unintentionally had hidden Viktors mark. “I thought I saw something,” Vi continued, lightly nudging Caitlyn with her elbow.

"What?" Seika said, turning her head down but she was unable to see it given its placement.

Caitlyn gasped when she spotted the mark and Vi bit her tongue as the girls practically cackled.

"W-What?" Seika spoke as Vi let her hair fall back into place.

"Well at least someone had a good time last night, I guess Cecil really kept you warm huh?" Vi teased, snickering as she gave her a smirk.

"Huh?!" Seika nearly shrieked as her hands went to feel her neck as she continued, "What are you two even talking about, I didn't even see Cecil, he's gone, I found Vik--"

Her speech halted and Caitlyn gasped again.

"Viktor?" Caitlyn's eyes sought Vi's own confused eyes and she winked.

Seika's intense blush was all that they needed to know and she handed them her backpack, Porofessor still inside before quickly hopping up. She slipped through the window, the pair inside moving to each side for her as Vi held her bag, Porofessor eagerly attempting to lick at the womans face before Vi put him down and he began exploring the room.

“Viktor, huh?” Caitlyn teased once Seika was inside and the window was shut, leaning to try and catch a glimpse of the mark again.

"Tet-tet-tet," Seika spoke, smacking Caitlyn's arm lightly as her flush increased, her hands reaching up to rub at her cheeks.

"So, whose Viktor?" Vi said with a grin as she moved behind Seika, circling her counterclockwise as Caitlyn did the opposite.

"No one," Seika lied. Badly. So badly in fact that Caitlyn scoffed.

"He's only one of the best inventors at the academy and co-inventor of Hextech," Caitlyn whispered loudly to Vi behind Seika's back.

"Caitlyn," Seika hissed, her tone teasing despite the slight glare on her face.

"Oooo, a nerd huh," Vi pretended to gush, “never took you for the brainiac type, given you’re whole wild side, I kinda figured you’d wanna be with a lumberjack. Or even a barbarian,” she continued and Seika shook her head in disbelief, laughing softly.

“A lumberjack?” Seika repeated in bewilderment and Vi shrugged with a soft chuckle before she lightly tugged at the fabric of one of her pant legs.

"Did he leave any other marks on you?" She quipped, her eyebrows raised and Seika let out another exasperated noise.

"You both are awful!" She exclaimed as the two girls met before her and laughed.

"We might be, but hopefully he wasn't," Vi continued and when Seika's hands went to cover her face the pair nearly broke into cackles again.

"Regardless," Caitlyn said, "it sounds like things are better between you two."

Caitlyn remembered how Seika had spoken about Viktor when they'd first been captured by the Firelights and the warm smile and pink cheeks that accompanied Seika’s nod were all she needed to know.

Caitlyn embraced her and Vi afterward and they all sat on Caitlyn's bed, discussing what they'd say before the council. They'd hardly started their conversation when Councilor Kiramman entered and Seika and her met eyes.

The older woman gasped and Seika let out a sarcastic, "Well, I'm dead."

"Caitlyn, that's the one who attacked Councilor Jayce," She began.

"Mother, I know," she spoke slowly, "but she didn't really hurt him or anyone else for that matter. And Jayce falsely accuse her, both Vi and I have witnessed her capabilities, she assisted us on the bridge."

The older woman's glare was harsh and intense and Seika fidgeted uncomfortably under it.

"She will be coming with us mother," Caitlyn spoke up, standing her ground. The tension in the room was sharp, unyielding as Councilor Kiramman considered it, looking between her daughter and the silver-haired woman. Then, the older woman sighed, noticeably relaxing.

"If you witnessed it firsthand Caitlyn, then I suppose there’s nothing that can be done,” Councilor Kiramman said and Seika noticed the lack of interest in Vi, her brows furrowing. “Though your behavior towards Jayce lacked proprietary,” she said with a huff, giving the woman a last up-down. “But you were also a guest of Professor Heimerdinger, even if he has since moved on.”

As Councilor Kiramman spoke, Seika gave Vi a sidelong glance and she sighed softly under her breath when she found Vi looking almost detached at Caitlyn’s mothers’ response. She remembered Viktors story again in that moment, how he’d never felt truly at home in Piltover, and she lightly bumped Vi’s shoulder, giving the girl a small smile when she turned her way.

"So be it," Councilor Kiramman spoke before turning without another word and leaving the girls to themselves.

...

The trio departed the Kiramman household as a storm rolled in, thunder echoing in the distance. Councilor Kiramman had left well over an hour prior to their departure and the three walked in silence, Seika more noticeably nervous than the other two. She shifted, adjusting her backpack and Porofessor, who’d been resting inside, poked his head up, looking around before spying the rainclouds and ducking back inside the protection of the bag.

They’d walked quietly and with purpose, and despite how long it’d taken Seika to get to the Kiramman household from the Academy, somehow in the journey back, she’d blinked and then they were there, standing at the gates. She glanced to the pair of enforcers lazily monitoring the entrance, hardly giving the trio a second consideration. Caitlyn and Vi stepped through the gates, though Seika paused, her face upwards and staring at the window of the Council room.

She sighed softly, brows furrowing before she spoke, the other two stopping to turn around, "My presence could ruin this," she began but was met with immediate rejection to her claim.

"You've done nothing but tell the truth this whole time, there's no reason they should think any different," Caitlyn explained.

            Seika finally looked away from the window when Caitlyn placed an arm on her shoulder, giving her a reassuring smile. Just ahead, Vi nodded and gave her a half-cocked smile.

            “You’re not getting out of this so easily,” she replied and Seika scoffed, feeling more comfortable as she walked through the gates. The trio walked the campus, making their way into the building the Councilor room was, and when they reached the doors, they stood outside.

            An enforcer slipped inside, no doubt notifying the Councilors inside of their arrival and while Caitlyn and Vi stood standing, the latter leaning against the wall with crossed arms, Seika paced the hallway.

            “You’re going to make me dizzy,” Vi’s voice cut through Seika’s anxiety and she looked up, concern evident, only to find Vi and Caitlyn smiling. It’d been a joke. She huffed and smiled, shaking her head, attempting to dismay her nervous thoughts. If her presence ruined this for the undercity, she didn’t know how she’d live with herself. She moved, standing on the other side of Vi and was greeted with a gentle bump by the woman’s shoulder into her own.

            A minute later, the Enforcer appeared and they were granted entry. Vi and Caitlyn walked in first, and Seika followed a few steps after them, her head lowered slightly

            The trio had entered the room in the midst of a conversation. Councilors here and there complaining that trades were falling through and confusion surrounding Marcus’ deceit.

            “What could anyone in the undercity offer him that he didn’t have up here?” Councilor Salo asked the room.

"It's not what they offered him, it's what he had to lose," Caitlyn interrupted them as she and Vi strode in side by side. From behind them, Seika glanced about the room, the light hazy and soft as thunder softly boomed nearby, the storms rolling in closer.

Seika’s gaze shifted and it seemed none of the Councilors but Councilor Kiramman had noticed her, an obscurity granted to her that she was grateful for, and Councilor Kiramman continued the distraction as she spoke.

"Councilors, my daughter has a unique insight into our situation. " Her voice was as prim, proper, and commanding as it’d been, and Seika’s observed the similarities between her and her daughter. Caitlyn thanked her mother and Seika's heart went to her throat.

"Councilors, this is Vi. She was born in the undercity. Even though we've failed her countless ways, she risked everything to show me what life is really like down there." Vi looked at Caitlyn and their eyes met. "People are starving, sick, ravaged by Shimmer. They live in constant fear of the coordinated efforts of crime lords."

The entire room was focused on Caitlyn as she spoke and Seika raised her head fully as she listened.

"One man leads these efforts. Silco." Caitlyn said with confidence. Seika's fists clenched at her sides as she heard the name, a name that seemed to have caused so many problems for the undercity and her friends.

"We've done investigations of Silco," the non-human, Councilor Bolbok stated, "they yielded no such level of organization."

"And who led these investigations?" Caitlyn retorted, but when Councilor Medarda and Jayce looked at one another, it was clear they knew who. Jayce’s face back, and his eyes met Seika's.

"You speak of Silco, but you enter here with one of his lackeys?" Jayce spoke up, brows furrowed as he glared at Seika from across the room. She stiffened under his gaze as her face tensed, feeling a heat bloom in her chest; anger, frustration. Her eyes shifted among the Councilors and she realized that the entire room's attention had turned to her. She went to speak but Caitlyn beat her to it.

"You all know Seika, personally invited by someone you trusted most. Jayce, I know of your accusations towards her, but they were false, we’ve witnessed her capabilities firsthand. She's been with us in Zaun, she's helped us. She's done no wrong here and she's certainly not with Silco," Caitlyn argued.

Jayce's brows furrowed and he reached to his pocket, pulling out the bloody clump of silver fur. "Then perhaps an explanation; I found Piltover enforcers slaughtered on the bridge this morning and more undercity weaponry."

"We were there, all of us," Vi finally spoke up.

"As Vi said, we were there, we fought through it, through the man you, the Councilors of Piltover, elected as sheriff. The man we fought through when he pointed a gun at Caitlyns head,” Seika said as she stepped to Vi’s right, the trio now standing in line with one another.

The Councilors broke out in hushed whispers among one another and Seika saw Councilor Kiramman's eyes soften at her daughter. Seika’s gaze shifted, finding Jayce’s – he looked stressed. Crow’s feet at the outside of his eyes, and the briefest lines of bags beneath his eyes. Seika’s anger towards him reduced to a low simmer as she stared at him, realizing just how much of this job he’d taken on physically and mentally. Scientist turned politician, and it dawned on her just how much pressure he was under, struggling to stay afloat.

"You stated yourself in the Hexgate that corruption was running rampant through the city, we've verified Silco is solely responsible for the corruption of the enforcers and the heartless violations of the undercity’s citizens most basic needs of life, so why do you continue to fight it? You told Viktor you wanted to help them, so why are you continuing to fight against us, when that’s all we want too?" Seika argued.

Jayce's eyes met hers and she couldn't read him, but when he turned to conversation away from her and back to Silco she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding in.

"What does this Silco even want from us?" Jayce asked, throwing something he was fiddling with within his hands in front of him.

"He believes the undercity should be independent." Caitlyn explained, "He calls it the Nation of Zaun."

More soft whispers occurred, but they were silenced when Jayce leaned to his right and pulled out something, and placed it on the table. Seika's brows furrowed, not recognizing it, but based on Caitlyn and Vi's reactions they did, and she didn't have to assume much further.

"What about these?" Jayce asked, "Do you know who made them?"

"No, well..." Caitlyn started and began to stutter.

"Her name is Jinx," Vi spoke, quickly grabbing and releasing Caitlyn’s hands before she stepped forward.

"This Jinx has the Gemstone?" Jayce asked, looking at Seika with furrowed eyebrows.

Seika's head fell forward a bit as her eyes searched the floor. The last time she'd been in here she told Jayce she'd return with the Gemstone and leave the city. When she saw Vi and Caitlyn nod in her peripherals, Seika raised her head.

"Then we have to go in by force," He proposed, standing up quickly, his chair creaking in protest to the action.

"That could trigger war," Council Medarda stated, looking to Jayce, watching as he paced.

"There are good people down there," Caitlyn said, stepping forward.

Seika’s brows furrowed in confusion, how had this been the step Jayce thought was necessary?

"Hmph, Bad ones too," Councilor Hoskel quipped.

"Even if we wanted to invade, they have Shimmer," Councilor Shoola protested.

Jayce had walked towards the window to look outward and for a moment, she could have sworn she saw Cecil, but his next statement ripped her from her thoughts violently.

"We have Hextech," he said, turning towards the center of the room. His gaze met Seika’s from across the room and for a split second, he was stunned at the look of horror on her face, but Caitlyn’s voice pulled his attention away from the silver-haired girl.

"What happened to you?" She asked him, nearly pleading, and as Seika went to protest, Jayce cut her off.

"We've been talking about talking for weeks now. They're still cleaning the blood off the bridge. When do we say enough is enough?" Jayce retorted; his fists clenched tightly at his side. He saw the sight again, they haunted his dreams, his nightmares. Lifeless bodies, brain matter smeared and staining the concrete…

Councilor Medarda's fingers were interlaced in front of her face. She sighed, the sound heavy and weary as her eyes closed, but when she spoke, her head turned to face him.

"Jayce, you don't know war." She paused, "I do. It must be our last resort. There may be a diplomatic solution," she continued, meeting Jayce’s gaze. She watched as his eyes shifted from her to Councilor Salo.

The blonde-haired man promptly sighed and waved his hand dismissively, a soft “she’s right,” leaving him.

"Viktor wouldn’t allow this either Jayce, you know that…" Seika said softly, her voice cutting through the temporary silence as the co-inventor of Hextech met her gaze, eyes slightly narrowed before looking to the other Councilors.

Councilor Hoskel moved his shoulders, letting out a short groan of annoyance, and when Councilor Kiramman and Councilor Shoola did not meet his eyes, he had the answer he needed.

Seika's heart began beating again when Jayce sighed and rolled his eyes, but Vi's sudden entrance back into the conversation caused her stomach to roll.

"What? You want to negotiate with him?" She started.

"It may be the only way to avoid further bloodshed," Councilor Kiramman explained, interrupting her.

"This is insane, did you learn nothing?" She asked, stepping into the room, her footsteps taking her in the center circle of the gear-shaped desks the Councilors sat at. Her voice in pure frustration, "You can't talk to him! He hates you. Everything you stand for. He will never back down."

Councilor Salo waved his hand and stood, requesting enforcers to escort them out.

"Forget it," Vi stated, turning away from the Councilors and back to the pair, "I remember where your fancy damn door is," she spat at them as she left.

“Vi – ” Seika started, but the girl moved right past her. She sighed softly, meeting Caitlyn’s gaze who looked to her, then the direction Vi had left and the silver-haired girl nodded.

When the doors had closed after Caitlyn's exit Seika's eyes looked around the room, and she moved to lean against the table, her eyes on the empty chair in front of her, the chair Cecil once sat in.

"What do you want?" Jayce spoke, "Surely you can't be of any help."

“Oh, don’t be petty Jayce, it’s unbecoming,” she huffed, “you deserved that slap,” she said, pointing her index finger at him, “Not only did you call me a liar, which I’ll admit, I don’t really give a fuck about, but more importantly you called Cecil a liar. You called Viktor a liar.”

Jayce’s eyes widened, Seika’s own eyes widening in return before they softened and she huffed a soft laugh through her nose. So, he hadn’t told him anything, he’d kept it secret, even after Cecil had been removed. She paused for a moment, gathering her bearings before she spoke again.

"Have any of you actually been to the undercity? To the deepest parts?" Seika asked the room, her gaze moving away from Jayce and landing on each of the other Councilors. The silence she received was deafening and was enough to answer her question and she nodded, biting her lower lip as her eyes looked around.

"My first step into the undercity I saw a child so skinny, that when his knees hit together, they clacked. They made actual noise – I didn’t even know the human body could do that. But, of course, I assume all of you have had multiple meals today, correct, perhaps some more than most?" A jab she’d unintended to release, her frustration at their lack of caring of what those in the undercity needed most. More silence as the Councilors viewed her, though Councilors Soola, Kiramman, and Salo proceeded to look away and she could suddenly see the very real guilt on their faces, while Councilor Hoskell scoffed and rolled his eyes, narrowing them at the girl.

"My second step into the undercity," she began and met Jayce's eyes, "I watched a screaming woman shoved to the ground by gangsters, then dragged into an alley where she, what I can only assume, was murdered. I’d know more information if the thugs hadn’t pulled multiple guns on me and pointed them to my face. For several minutes her screams echoed in the smog and nobody moved, nobody dared speak until they stopped, because what could they do? Fight them?”

She let out an exasperated laugh before she continued, almost overwhelmed that she’d need to have such a basic conversation about the bare minimum of life. It was like they were children, blinded by the bad in the world as they sat up in their golden bubble. She huffed again – that’s exactly what they’d become, isn’t it? She shook her head before continuing.

"As if. Those Chembarons and gangs control that world, and while I think turning to war is a drastic and awful decision, not only for the safety of the undercity, but for Piltover as well, nothing will be resolved until that problem is dealt with. Until the chemical factories that continue to sicken and starve and deprive the people of the undercity the basic liberties of life are shut down and demolished, and those responsible brought to the light."

Councilor Medarda's hand went to cover her mouth just a bit.

"I..." Seika's eyes moved downward to the floor.

"I was naive. I came to Piltover, overwhelmed by it all, and when someone I know told me it was bad in the undercity, I hadn't had the slightest idea... My idea of how bad it was, would be a haven to those trapped there."

She paused.

"It's easy to forget things that are lost in the dark, but it's even easier to ignore them." She continued, looking upward towards those seated before her.

"I will not forget the undercity, I will not ignore the undercity, and I will continue to help them. I do not want to see Piltover suffering and I do not want to have to pick one over the other." Emotions swelled within her and she bit her tongue, slipping into silence for a moment as many of the Councilors shifted to look at one another. She exhaled shakily, her eyes once again meeting Jayce's.

"I came here with a purpose, a purpose that's mostly moot at this point. But in my time here, in the experiences I’ve lived through and survived, I’ve found a new purpose here and no longer will I hide and avoid it... and gods I hope you don't either."

As she turned to leave the room without another word, her hair flowed back and Jayce's eyes narrowed at the red mark upon her neck.

Chapter Text

When Seika exited the building, it'd been obvious that it'd rained during their meeting with the Council. It'd been even more obvious that Vi's frustrations with the Councilor's response had pushed her to a breaking point.

"Caitlyn..." Seika said softly and the girl turned to face her, soaked to the bone with puffy swollen tearful eyes. Caitlyn fled to her arms and Seika held her tight.

"She just needs time Caitlyn, this must be very difficult for her," Seika whispered as the girl began to cry in her arms.

"She said we're like oil and water," she heard Caitlyn say in between choked sobs.

Seika sighed and held Caitlyn close, knowing just how strong their bond was. It wouldn't be broken this way, not this easily.

"Give her time. I know it's hard, on both of you. I don't think there would have been an answer the Council could have given that would make everything perfect instantaneously."

When the Kiramman girl finally settled down, Seika walked her home and the two enjoyed the mutual silence between them.

…

Viktor stood, shoeless as the soft waves of the water to his right drowned out his thoughts. He needed to know his limits. He needed to know so he could help the undercity and be with Seika.

The crutch he always clung to clattered loudly to the ground and he took a step, the metal foot stepping forward first. The toes bent as if they were real flesh and blood, but the soft metal clunk of the fibers hitting the stone told him otherwise. He took another uncertain step, then took another, then another, every other step echoing a metallic clunk as it came into contact with the ground. His arms swayed by his side as slipped into a jog, and when he stumbled over the new foreign leg, he found the strength to burst out into a run and released all the pressure he'd built up inside of him over the decades of suffocating under his injuries. An agonized yell ripped from his as he raced sprinting past alongside the coastline, running past the boats further out into the sea and past everything that had at one point held him back. He hadn't run like this in his entire life and he felt so free.

He ignored the bitter ball of guilt in his guilt as he succumbed, knowing that this was a freedom he wouldn't every be able let go of.

...

Caitlyn and Seika had walked side by side until they reached the Kiramman house and after sharing a few smiles, words and a quick hug, the pair split, and Seika headed back towards the academy, her boots rippling the puddles they stepped in.

She reflected on the Council meeting and Jayce's eagerness to just declare battle and she sighed. Had he really changed that much? While it was true, she hadn’t known him long, still, even in their short conversations he’d seemed so down-to-earth and kind, but now…? Now it was like she was looking at a different person. Had the pressure of this position he’d been forced into really altered him in such a way?

She couldn't even imagine what Viktor would have said if he'd heard it. She shook her head, pulling herself from her thoughts, and stopped walking, turning around to view the rest of Piltover behind her, and the undercity she knew being further than that. The world needed to change; it had to. She smiled as the remembered the cynicism of her mentor and gods, how he would have hated this place.

How was this going to happen...? It was all so incredibly overwhelming and messy that she hadn't even heard her name called by not one but two different voices. Only when a gentle hand reached out and touched her shoulder did she realize someone had been speaking to her.

"Seika, are you well? We've been calling you for some time," Elaina spoke, concern on her face, and Cillian by her side, worry present on his face as well.

"Oh, yes," Seika said breathlessly as she gave a smile with little emotion. She was trying to keep it together; desperately, but she felt so pulled in every direction that she was frightened she'd drown under it all. Caitlyn's own struggle with the Enforcer corruption and Vi's abrupt departure, Vi and her struggle with Jinx and the undercity, Jinx and the loss of the Gemstone and near-constant fear that came with that loss, of course, there was Viktor with his illness and self-sacrificing martyrism, now Jayce and his complete ideological change and bloodthirstiness, and Cecil's complete abandonment of the city that he grew and treasured...

Elaina's hand went to hold Seika's now tear streaked cheek, and the silver-haired girl realized she was crying.

"Oh child," the older woman muttered and pulled the young girl into a warm hug. "What’s happened child?" She asked again, but only received Seika's cries in response.

How was she supposed to help this broken world? Where did she even start in order to fix it? Every step she made to help Viktor only made him more ill, every step to help Jayce pulled her farther from the undercity, and every step further to helping the undercity increased Piltover's own likelihood of responding aggressively towards them. When would it end? When both cities were burned to the ground and corpses decorated the ruins?

And so, the elder woman held her as she sobbed, her cries echoing out in the quiet evening square.

...

Viktor had rushed back to the lab, his brain moving rapidly as his thoughts delegated his body what to do first. He'd use the Hexcore, as he'd done originally, he could save himself, save the undercity, and be with Seika. It was crystal clear to him now. This was exactly what he was supposed to do, this was how it was supposed to go.

He’d just barely locked the lab door behind him before he was gathering the supplies he needed. The metal tray clattered loudly against the desktop, the jet injector sliding as he grabbed a few scalpels, placing them on the desk. He eyed the mutated Hexcore; yes, this would work. His eyes drifted to his crutch and he let out the softest huff when he realized he likely wouldn’t need it anymore. Pushed by all that motivated him, he began stripping, tearing his clothes off quickly and haphazardly, discarding them on the floor behind him. When he finished, he sat on the stool in his undergarments and his back brace, facing the one thing that would give him the freedom he so desperately needed.

Viktor’s right leg shimmered brilliantly in contrast to the pale weak leg alongside it, but he'd looked past that now to the Hexcore that glowed and swiveled around before him. He inhaled deeply, as he'd done the first time he'd done this and placed the injector on his upper left arm, then pulled the trigger.

Nothing.

His brows furrowed and he pulled the vial of shimmer from the injector, only, there was no shimmer. The vial was empty. A pant of loss, of exasperation left his parted lips – no, the undercity, Seika… it couldn’t… Then came the anger. An unwavering, unyielding, relentless anger that seethed through him and lit his blood on fire. No, it would not end this way. It couldn't.

The Hexcore moved, expanding and contracting as its light bounced on the surfaces of the dark room around it as his brain raced faster than he could comprehend. He needed this to live, for the undercity, for Seika. He didn’t need it, he was capable enough, strong enough without the shimmer.

His brows furrowed again, determination flashing across his face as he picked up the sharp scalpel and began carving hastily drawn runes alongside his entire front. Blood dripped down his skin and droplets scattered on parts of the desk. He huffed painfully, groaning as he carved the last one, his skin on fire from the self-inflicted mutilation.

He finally stood fully, his shoulders moving as he gasped as much as his lungs would allow him to, the pain of the engravings being taken over by adrenaline.

Viktor spread his shoulders wide as he stood, mentally ready for what was to come – the pain, the fear and more importantly, he was ready for the freedom he'd be given to succeed in all that he wanted to. His right hand slammed onto the Hexcore and he screamed in agony as it drew him in, a whirlwind wrapping around him that wracked his body.

Pens and paper barraged him, leaving tiny nicks along the surface of his skin that they touched, but the sheer fire that spread from his hand and up his extremity was what he felt. The Hexcore burned intensely beneath his palm, and that burn echoed in every nerve throughout his body, all except his right leg.

In his pain, he hadn’t even noticed the door to the lab opening.

His body violently shook as he continued to scream out in agony until a body ran full force into him, and began trying to pull him away by his waist, but to no avail. An invisible force kept him there as his insides ricocheted with burning electricity and magic.

Despite the initial force keeping him there, for a brief moment, his hand was pulled away from the Hexcore by this sudden force pulling against it, but the Hexcore vacuumed Viktors palm to its surface again and Viktors screams ripped from his throat. The whirlwind that raced around them violently whipped things past and against them as the light grew brighter and brighter against Viktor's hand.

He barely moved his head against the burning impulses that raced up his extremities and spine, teeth clenched in sheer agony, and he turned completely, expecting to see Seika, someone who knew magic, who would be able to help stop this burning nightmare, someone who could help him, but who he saw forced his relief to turn into sheer terror.

Sky was clinging to him as if it'd be the last thing she'd ever do. She screamed his name as her face melted away by an unseen force and an astoundingly bright burst of light erupted from the Hexcore that Viktor swore obliterated everything to dust. His eyes struggled to focus from the light and as he blinked rapidly, but the pain ripped through him again, and the force of the Hexcore forced his back to arch almost flat against the desk. The initial burst of light had blinded him so bad that he shut his eyes, bright spots violently attacking his senses but the second burst of light dripped him in a haunting warmth that released his hand and dispersed the whirlwind, and he knew of nothing after that.

...

When she'd finally settled the couple viewed Seika warmly.

"How can we help child?" They asked, but Seika did not divulge anything to them, she couldn't have them worry about themselves and their own safety, or of Viktor, especially since they seemed to adore him so.

Seika was shaking her head, attempting to give them some sort of false satisfaction that she was indeed ok, but a violent angry screaming voice ripped through the streets and echoed maniacally in her ear.

She pulled from the older woman, her hands covering her ears as she struggled to comprehend the guttural screech that reverberated within her skull, its sadistic wails so intense and gruesomely spoken in such foreign words that she couldn’t understand them, and it wiped any other thoughts from her mind.

"Whats happening?!?!" Seika shrieked, her hands cradling her head as the couple looked on in fearful terror, unsure of what was happening besides Seika's frightful screams in the dead of night. Her eyes looked up towards the Academy nearby, and she swore she saw a flash of purple light and the screaming intensified.

Seika let out a scream again, that same wail attacking her senses and driving her mind to madness. Her words stumbled one over the next as she fled from the couple and shifted into a large wolf.

Her lungs breathed heavily as the screaming grew louder, deafening her but her paws along the street grounded her until she saw the Academy wall, and with adrenaline coursing through her veins, scaled it and leapt from the top.

When she landed on the grass within the Academy grounds, the sounds stopped instantly.

The silence was eerie as her breathing, still ragged and uneven, slowed, and she shifted back. Her hand hesitantly moved to hear ear and pulled away. At first, she was worried that blood might be dripping from them, but when they came back blood free, she shook her head, not understanding. Besides the soft whistle of the wind and the rustling of the flora nearby, there was nothing. No screams, no unintelligible words....

And then she was running, eyes wide in fear.

What had happened? Was Viktor okay? The same two questions repeated themselves in her mind as she raced to the lab and fear gripped her. What would she find when she got there?

She hadn't even had time to collect her thoughts when she threw open the door second pair of doors to the Hextech Lab and there, on the ground holding his right leg was Viktor, breathing intensely as he faced the mutated Hexcore.

The room had been completely torn apart, papers were shredded and scattered about the room, ink had splashed onto the walls, each drop having been ripped from their wells by some unseen force, but Seika stopped, her eyes finding the dust piled throughout the center of the room, the powdery substance accompanied by an eerily familiar set of clothing. Her heart stopped in her chest, her eyes wide as she panted, hand moving to her mouth before she found Viktor again.

He'd lifted his head when he heard the door open and when his eyes saw Seika's, tears broke from him again and he hoarsely called her name.

"Viktor? Viktor!" She cried as she went to him, pulling his head and upper torso into her lap after she'd collapsed onto the ground next to him. She pulled his head into her chest, wrapping her arms around his back and her heart beat so fast she thought it might stop.

The pair breathed in heavy unison and her eyes searched the room, settling on a pair of golden glasses.

Sky...

Seika’s eyes found the dust piles around the center of the room and she realized it wasn't dust, but ash. Her brows furrowed aggressively and she clutched Viktor to her closer as she looked up at the fleshy Hexcore, dread evident on her face. She ground her teeth together and she whispered something Viktor couldn't understand.

"I should have destroyed you when I had the chance," she said, and even though he couldn't understand what, he knew it was something fierce.

But a ripple of pain fled hastily up his body from his right leg and stopped at his eye and the mutated Hexcore let out a guttural sound as it stretched and twisted. Seika watched the interaction in horror. He groaned loudly and physically recoiled from nothing that Seika could see but hardly heard Seika calling his name again as he slipped into unconsciousness.

...

Seika held his unconscious body in silence, listening to his steady quiet breathing that gave her but an ounce of solace. Her eyes looked at his tired face, the bags beneath his closed eyes intensely purple and her heart broke a little.

Her back ached despite having removed her backpack minutes after embracing Viktor and Porofessor had settled against her leg, whining softly, occasionally growling up at the Hexcore. She curled around him, resting her head against him.

What had he been doing? And what of Sky??

Her eyes drifted to his metal right hand before letting her gaze drift around the room and she became sick. She tried to bite back the feeling of betrayal that swelled up in her like a great beast threatening to split open her chest. He’d done…. Gods no he’d done it again.

Her eyes found a seafoam-colored notebook laying on the ground and she leaned to get it, still clutching Viktor to her as she moved and she flipped it open. It was Sky's, and the first page had writing scrawled on it, the words being something she'd written to him, but Seika hardly got further than a few words before she'd shut her eyes and closed the cover; it wasn't meant for her.

Her hand went to the side of his face and she kissed him softly on the head as he slept in her arms, tears dripping down her face and her head went to the crook of his neck as she cried silently. She'd almost lost him. Frustration building within her as she struggled with how to fix everything, what was she supposed to do now? She suddenly felt very alone, and just a few feet away, warbling softly, was the entity that caused so much destruction.

"Seika," Viktors soft voice whispered as he woke and she straightened. His right hand lightly grazed her cheek with the back of his fingers and she recoiled at how cold it was. The hurt was evident on his face and she moved, clutching him closer to her chest, her legs spreading to pull him fully between them and flush against her torso.

"I wanted to save them, save me so that I might... spend the rest of my life with you," he whispered, a stray tear escaping from his eye and she gripped the metal hand and pressed its icy surface to her cheek as the tears fell forth from her again. The pair slipped into an aching silence as the fear they both felt suffocated them.

Chapter Text

Seika had held Viktor until it was nearly sunrise as she slipped in and out of shock, struggling to seriously comprehend what had happened hours prior. He’d eventually fallen asleep in her arms, the sounds of his sleep loud in her ears but every move or twitch heightened Seika’s anxiety so high that her heart was wracked with palpitations and she felt violently ill from the stress.

She worried each small movement, each labored breath would be it, and then he'd never move, nor breathe, nor show her his stunning amber eyes to her again. Or worse…

Her eyes drifted up to the swirling Hexcore, the once crystal and stone matrix now turned fleshy and unrecognizable. The memory of him, cradling his leg, the Hexcore seemingly interacting with his physical body from feet away turned what little resolve she had to dust. Every fiber of her being screamed inside of her that this was wrong, that this was disastrous. Even the thought now had her feeling faint. The bond, the connection he and the Hexcore shared… was it even reversable? If it was destroyed, would he go along with it? Pulled by its dark and unrelenting force as it took back what it’d given him?

The hole she'd felt herself in had become deeper than the trench the deepest parts of the undercity resided within. There was no light, no escape, just a silent suffocating darkness that was taking over every sense and every thought she had.

When he'd finally woken, he'd whispered her name and the sound pulled her from her thoughts. He saw it on her face, and even worse, she knew he saw it on her face. She wasn't able to remain strong for the both of them anymore.

Viktors lungs ached and his nerves still slightly burned, but he ignored that. His focus solely on all that was left of Sky, besides her few belongings, was a violent reminder that what he had wanted, the freedom he had hoped to obtain had been unachievable. And now he was faced with the failures he accomplished and even worse, he’d unintentionally sacrificed her for it.

Seika had helped him stand and after Viktor had dressed, his own shock now mercilessly wracking every fiber of his being, the pair slipped into silence, both too stunned to speak.

Seika's face was a sickly gray and she had intense bags under her own eyes. The life that was once hosted in her blue eyes almost appeared gone. The love mark he'd given her was starkly violent against her clammy skin and he struggled to look at it. She didn't look like herself, but then again...

Viktors eyes drifted to his metallic right hand.

He didn't look like himself either.

Seika had begun to help clean up, but Viktor disapproved and almost chased her off. She wasn't offended though and understood that he needed to do it himself. Thankfully he had decided to take care of it alone though because when Seika had left the room, her feet pattered loudly against the floor until she found the closest washroom. Upon entry, her hands went to her mouth and she found herself unable to hold back as she violently threw up in the toilet. The washroom echoed with the sounds of her heaves, and towards the end, the stench of it all set off more violent upheavals that resulted in either bile or pure dry heaves and tears streaked down her cheeks as her throat burned.

She felt so violently ill as figments of images rushed through her brain. Sky smiling and their conversation, to her broken glasses laying on the floor. It was all unbearable and she sat on the floor, resting her back against the door of the stall before she began to sob.

There was nothing left.

Piltover would take over the undercity eventually, Viktor would die, Cecil would never return.

Seika felt powerless. Every breath she took she felt she had to beg for and plead with her body to continue surviving, though she so desperately wanted to give up.

Could she have done anything to change this? Was this the way it was supposed to happen? The questions raced so quickly in her head that she couldn’t even acknowledge them, and only when a light knock on the washroom door echoed through the room, was she pulled from her thoughts.

Seika stood, her legs wobbling a bit as she flushed the toilet and left the stall.

"Just a minute," she called softly to Viktor who she knew would be just outside the door.

She washed her face, resting her face in her palms as she exhaled, then she rinsed her mouth and dried her hands and face.

Viktor regarded her with heavy guilt-ridden eyes when she exited the washroom and she noted the few items he was carrying; a small metal container with what she could only assume what was inside, Sky's journal, and her glasses.

She was at the mercy of the waves of nausea that rolled through her again and she turned away, a hand going to her mouth.

They both felt so broken; even with one another close they felt shattered as if they'd been beaten time and time again against the rocks with little respite.

"I.." He spoke softly, his voice cracking. Seika's eyes found his and he paused, but then spoke again. "I need to help her..."

Seika nodded silently and they stood in daunting silence again.

“You can destroy it now…” Viktor whispered so softly; his tone defeated. Seika’s eyes met his, tears filling in her eyes as she grimaced, shaking her head.

“I don’t think I can at this point,” she gasped softly. Viktor nodded slowly, eyes falling to the floor. There was another minute of silence before Viktor moved and began to walk away, but Seika's voice stopped him and he turned to look at her.

"Viktor, I..."

Her hands clutched one another at her chest as she inhaled and exhaled deeply.

"I'm going to find Cecil, I don't know what to do anymore, I don't know how to help this, how to fix any of this, I don't--"

Even through the haze of exhaustion, regret, and fear, he couldn’t stand to see her there in such a state. Viktor strode to her again, and with his crutch tucked under his arm, he raised his hand and lightly wiped the tears that fell from her eyes again.

"I know, I’m sorry," he whispered, his eyes softening as he pressed his forehead to hers. He apologized again and again, his guilt welling up in him, fresh tears threatening to spill forth. Seika moved into his arms and they closed their eyes, finding some solace in one another’s embrace.

When they pulled away, she looked up into his eyes, and he felt like she was exploring his soul, and in truth, he could tell she didn’t fully want to separate from him. He too didn’t want her to go, but if anyone could destroy it, it would be Heimerdinger… He’d ask Jayce too – perhaps he could... He took in a shaky breath and moved, pressing his forehead to hers again. She reciprocated his touch and he lightly grabbed her hand and placed it against his clothed chest.

"Seika, I am here," he repeated and her eyes finally met his and when she nodded against him, he pulled away and kissed her forehead softly. Seika felt him slip Sky and her things into her hands and she cradled them gently, looking down at them.

Viktor’s hand slipped into his pocket and he briefly lifted his head, tying his tie around her neck, as she’d once done, then lightly thumbed the fabric before pressing his forehead back to hers.

"Go," he whispered against her forehead as he gently took back Sky and her things, and when she turned and fled from him, he felt his heart being pulled with her.

His head dropped to the items he was carrying and he turned away from the sight of Seika and began walking in the opposite direction.

...

Seika had run so fast towards the bridge that her lungs burned. She didn't know where to start, but the undercity was the only place other than Piltover that was remotely close. She desperately hoped that Cecil hadn't climbed on a boat and sailed away from them entirely.

She'd knelt down as her lungs struggled to pass oxygen to her red blood cells and when she stood, she wobbled a bit, catching herself on the wall of the bridge. Porofessor whined from within the backpack and she apologized softly to him for such a chaotic ride.

In front of her, the bridge bustled with normal life and it became apparent to her that Jayce had ended the blockade. She made the long walk across the bridge and followed the same path she'd taken into the undercity. She'd start low and work her way up. She knew the undercity a bit better now and knew more of what to expect.

Seika delved deep into the undercity, keeping her eyes peeled for her friend, but after searching for hours and coming up with nothing she became frustrated.

Maybe Ekko could help...

...

Viktor sat in the keyhole-shaped opening, the large gears turning behind him. How many memories did he reflect on here with happiness?

This one would not be one of them...

The water that drained into the undercity rushed beneath him, filling his ears with white noise. He shifted, letting his legs hang over the edge as he held the canister in his hand, Sky's journal and glasses to the far right of him.

"I'm sorry," he said softly.

"I don't know where you'd have preferred..." he spoke as he opened the canister, placing the lid next to his left leg as he stared down at what was left of his childhood friend. As he spoke, his torso moved disjointedly, fatigued with defeat.

He apologized again, and in one swift motion, dumped the ashes down and they became an integral part of the city.

The clouds moved slowly across the blue sky and the sun shimmered brilliantly as if there was no wrong in the world. He hated it. He hated all of this.

He felt just as lost as Seika, and Sky's demise had only sunk him further into the labyrinth he felt mentally and physically trapped in.

The gears turned softly behind him and he dropped the canister, his eyes settling on his gloved right hand. He'd lost Sky, for this... for such a pathetic tiny useless thing... No... even if he'd been magically cured, it wouldn't have been worth losing Sky.

He leaned to his right, picking up her glasses and slipping them in between his vest and shirt, but a coughing fit hit him and his lungs constricted painfully.

When his breathing settled, he pulled the journal his fingers rested on and slid it next to his right leg before picking it up, then he began to stand with assistance from his crutch, his movements slow, shaky, and painful. He’d turned to leave, but his eyes brought him back to the edge where he'd just been sitting. His feet moved as he stepped close to it, peering over the edge at the deadly height the opening was positioned at.

Seika would be alright if he jumped. Jayce would be alright if he jumped. The undercity would be alright if he jumped.

Would the removal of himself bring about the peace their world so desperately needed? Would his lack of meddling in Hextech bring about an era of prosperity and life? If he died, would the Hexcore cease existing?

His foot stepped closer to the edge and his crutch shook as he moved, his emotions building in him.

Trauma, frustration, guilt, and fear all bubbled inside of him, all, including the pain he felt in his chest, would stop the moment his body crashed violently down below. It would be over. All of it.

He took a few shallow breaths, his brows furrowing.

This is how he would help everyone, and he leaned forward.

"Am I interrupting?" A familiar voice called out from behind him and he stopped abruptly, Viktor whipping his head around to see Jayce who stood behind him.

Jayce walked to Viktor's side and leaned the large Hextech Hammer he'd made against the wall, his face a mix of guilt and sadness. He gave Viktor a small smile and the pair felt a familiar sense of deja vu.

Viktor turned from him, tucking Sky's journal in between his crutch and his side; he wasn't ready to tell anyone yet... he didn't know if he'd ever been ready. Jayce didn't even know about his leg, let alone anything else. Viktor couldn't meet his eyes, but Jayce sat and spoke.

"Remember the Distinguished Innovators competition?" He asked softly, looking from the view to Viktor.

Viktor's mouth opened and he gave a dry smile as he spoke and finally met his friend's eyes. "I remember you notching gears in the carriage over,” he replied, the memory a distant dream, one that almost didn’t feel like his own.

Jayce nodded.

"They started cranking the engine and the whole thing was rattling," Jayce said fondly, his own eyes swelling with emotion. "I thought a loose cog was gonna take someone's eye out," he continued, his eyes glancing downward, but then they sought out Viktors again and he smiled, the briefest hint of a laugh escaping him.

Viktor had met his gaze and was rewarded with a soft tired smile. "At least, you didn't throw up," Viktor chimed, recollecting on his own experience of the competition.

Jayce scoffed softly, but he looked away, shaking his head. "Everything made sense then,” he said softly.

The pair slipped into silence as they viewed the city before them, the only noise coming from the gentle clank of the gears behind them.

"You have to destroy it," Viktor spoke first, looking towards Jayce again.

Jayce's head turned back to look at the Hextech Hammer behind him and his face fell as he spoke. "I know..." He said softly, brows furrowed, closing his eyes for a moment.

"The Hexcore," Viktor specified; he didn't care about the Hammer.

The shock on Jayce's face was incredibly evident, and his shock turned to alarm when Viktor's head dropped.

"I... I can't do it," he said softly, and Jayce realized how broken he sounded at that moment. Viktor's eyes met his again and Jayce saw the seriousness in them. "You have to. Please," Viktor pleaded and Jayce was once again shocked. He'd worked so hard on this, for himself, this was how he was going to get better, but if it's what he wanted...

Jayce sighed, his own head dropping as he broke eye contact with him.

"What about your disease?" Jayce asked firmly, "Without the Hexcore--"

Viktor broke into another fit of coughs, and Jayce silenced.

"Promise me," Viktor spoke intensely after he'd regained his composure.

"Okay, okay," Jayce verbally confirmed, "I promise." He stood, his hand moving to rest on Viktors shoulder as Viktor looked away again.

"We lost ourselves. Lost our dream." Viktor spoke sadly, his eyes searching the very ground he stood on, then looked out into the city they had vowed to help, the city they'd nearly forgotten about in their pursuit of Hextech. Jayce had stood up, a hand resting on one of Viktor’s shoulders. "In the pursuit of great, we failed to do good," Viktor spoke.

"We'll fix this," he said determined, a new fire stoking inside of him.

Viktor wasn't so sure and responded with silence.

Jayce sighed heavily; he'd been so blind and distracted by this position, and what was happening with Zaun that he'd almost completely abandoned Viktor. His hand slid from Viktors shoulders and into his pockets as he leaned against the opposite wall of Viktor and he stared out into the city.

"She was here,” Jayce said, watching as Viktors head turn his way but he spoke again. "Seika," Jayce specified. "She was with Caitlyn and that undercity chick she brought with her at the Council meeting."

Viktor smiled and scoffed lightly, but said nothing.

"I think she's here to stay though," Jayce continued, "and I know that there was something between you two, I saw it, hell, your response when we were walking to the Hexgate was more than entertaining Viktor."

Viktor rolled his eyes with a huff and lifted his crutch, feigning smacking the man’s shins with it. Jayce hopped away, chuckling before he settled back into where he’d been leaning previously and his smile fell.

"I also know that things didn't end well, but whatever deal she had with Heimerdinger seems to be long gone, she said so herself,” Jayce added before frowning and continuing, "But," he spoke and Viktor's head turned to him again. "If you've any feelings for her left, I think you should let them go." He spoke honestly, remembering the bright mark on her neck that he saw that day. The mark of someone else.

"Why?" Viktor asked, his brows furrowed as he’d questioned Jayce more aggressively than he'd intended to. Jayce went silent as he thought of what and how to say it before he decided to just say it all.

"She had a mark on her, uh, neck," his right hand pointed to the area he'd seen the mark. "Seems she moved on, pretty quickly too," he continued before slipping into silence.

Viktor's brows changed from anger to quizzical and he scoffed a smile appearing on his lips as his face relaxed, Jayce's confusion now evident on his face.

"What?" He asked, turning so his full front faced Viktor.

"That, uh, that was me," Viktor smirked.

Jayce's eyes blinked rapidly as he struggled to understand.

Viktor watched him squirm and smirked before telling him a slightly doctored story of how things had come to be between he and Seika, up until when he'd seen her before the Council meeting. He couldn't tell her about Sky, even when things between them seemed to be normal now. Jayce stood silently, shock engrossing all of his features.

"You were a bit distracted," Viktor chided, and Jayce went to grab him by the shoulders as he barraged the man with questions.

Viktor chuckled, feigning ignorance at most of them until Jayce asked him another question.

“She said you knew of her abilities,” Jayce added, “have you seen them?”

Viktor paused, considering whether or not he should say anything, but in the end he nodded. “Yes, several times now,” he replied.

“Is it just…” Jayce’s fingers stretched out, looking like he was in the midst of being electrocuted and Viktor snorted.

“No, but her story is her own to tell I’m afraid,” he said, smiling as he’d come to realize just how much of her trust he’d gained, and how much of his trust he’d given to her, a trust time after time she’d continued to treasure. Even now, with Jayce, he couldn’t bring himself to even consider betraying the trust she had given him.

The pair continued to speak, soft laughter emitting from the little secret spot that held so many memories, their bond, having been long strained, now strengthening with each and every breath they took.

Chapter Text

Seika had held Viktor until it was nearly sunrise as she slipped in and out of shock, struggling to seriously comprehend what had happened hours prior.

He'd slept deeply but when he'd move or twitch, Seika responded so intensely that her heart was wracked with palpitations and she felt violently ill from the stress.

She worried each small movement, each labored breath would be it, and then he'd never move, nor breathe, nor show her his stunning amber eyes again.

The hole she'd felt herself in had become deeper than the trench the deepest parts of Zaun resided within.

There was no light, no escape, just a silent suffocating darkness that was taking over every sense and every thought.

When he'd finally woken, he'd whispered her name and pulled her from her thoughts. He saw it on her face, and even worse was she knew he saw it on her face. She wasn't able to remain strong for the both of them anymore.

Viktors lungs ached and his nerves still slightly burned, but all that was left of Sky besides her few belongings was a violent reminder that what he had wanted, the freedom he so hoped to obtain, he had not gotten.

Seika had helped him stand and after Viktor had dressed, his own shock now mercilessly wracking every fiber of his being, the pair slipped into silence.

Seika's face was a sickly gray and she had intense bags under her own eyes, and the life that was once hosted there was almost appeared gone. The love mark he'd given her was starkly violent against her clammy skin and he struggled to look at it. She didn't look like herself, but then again...

Viktors eyes drifted to his metallic right hand.

He didn't look like himself either.

Seika had begun to help clean up, but Viktor disapproved and almost chased her off. She wasn't offended though and understood that he needed to do it himself. Thankfully he had decided to take care of it alone though because Seika had left the room, her feet pattering loudly against the floor until she found the closest washroom and violently threw up in the toilet. The washroom echoed with the sounds of her actions, and towards the end, the stench of it all set off more violent upheavals that resulted in either bile or pure dry heaves and tears that cascaded down her cheeks.

She felt so violently ill as figments of images rushed through her brain. Sky smiling and their conversation, to her broken glasses laying on the floor. It was all unbearable and she sat back, resting her back against the door of the stall and she cried intensely.

There was nothing left.

Piltover would take over Zaun eventually, Viktor would die, Cecil would never return.

Seika felt powerless. Every breath she took she felt she had to beg for and plead with her body to continue surviving, though she so desperately wanted to give up.

Could she have done anything to change this? Was this the way it was supposed to happen? The questions raced so quickly in her head that she didn't even acknowledge them, and only when a light knock on the washroom door echoed through the room as she pulled from her thoughts.

Seika stood, her legs wobbling a bit, flushed the toilet, and left the stall.

"Just a minute," she called softly to Viktor who she knew would be just outside the door.

She washed her face, resting her face in her palms as she exhaled, then she rinsed her mouth and dried her hands and face.

Viktor regarded her with heavy eyes when she exited the washroom and she noted the few items he was carrying; a small container that she could only assume what was inside, Sky's journal, and her glasses.

She was at the mercy of the waves of nausea that rolled through her again and she turned away, a hand going to her mouth.

They both felt so broken; even with one another close they felt shattered as if they'd been beaten time and time again against the rocks with little respite.

"I.." He spoke softly, his voice cracking. Seika's eyes found his and he paused, but then spoke again.

"I need to help her..."

Seika nodded silently and they stood in daunting silence again.

Viktor moved and began to walk away, but Seika's voice stopped him and he turned to look at her.

"Viktor, I..."

Her hands clutched one another at her chest as she inhaled and exhaled deeply.

"I'm going to find Cecil, I don't know what to do anymore, I don't know how to help this, how to fix any of this, I don't--"

Viktor strode to her again, and with his crutch tucked under his arm, he raised his hand and lightly wiped the tears that fell from her eyes again.

"Do not think you have to fix this alone, I am here."

Viktors eyes softened as her eyes closed and she relished in the warmth of his flesh against her.

When she didn't open her eyes, he lightly grabbed her hand and placed it against his clothed chest.

"Seika, I am here," he repeated and her eyes finally met his and when she nodded, he pressed his forehead to hers.

"Go," he whispered softly, "I will see you tonight at the Council meeting," and when she turned and fled from him, he felt his heart being pulled with her.

His head dropped to the items he was carrying and he turned away from the sight of Seika and left in the opposite direction.

...

Seika had run so fast towards the bridge that her lungs burned. She didn't know where to start, but Zaun was the only place other than Piltover that was remotely close. She desperately hoped he hadn't climbed on a boat and sailed away from them entirely.

She'd knelt down as her lungs struggled to pass oxygen to her red blood cells and when she stood, she wobbled a bit, catching herself on the wall of the bridge.

The bridge bustled with normal life and it became apparent to her that Jayce had ended the blockade. She made the long walk across the bridge and followed the same path she'd taken into the undercity. She'd start low and work her way up. She knew Zaun a bit better now and knew more of what to expect.

Seika delved deep into the undercity, keeping her eyes peeled for her friend, but after searching for hours and coming up with nothing she became frustrated.

Maybe Ekko would know...

...

Viktor sat in the key-hole-shaped opening, the large gears turning behind him. How many memories did he reflect on here with happiness?

This one would not be that way...

His legs dangled over the edge as he held the canister in his hand, Sky's journal and glasses to the far right of him.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"I don't know where you'd have preferred..." he spoke as he opened the canister, placing the lid next to his left leg as he stared down at what was left of his childhood friend.

He apologized again, and in one swift motion, dumped the ashes down and they became an integral part of the city.

The clouds moved slowly across the blue sky and the sun shimmered brilliantly as if there was no wrong in the world. He hated it. He hated all of this.

He felt just as lost as Seika, and Sky's demise had only sunk him further into the labyrinth he felt mentally and physically trapped in.

The gears turned softly behind him and he dropped the canister, his eyes settling on his gloved right hand. He'd lost Sky, for this.. for such a pathetic tiny useless thing... No... even if he'd been magically cured it wouldn't have been worth losing Sky.

He leaned to his right, picking up her glasses and slipping them in between his vest and undershirt, but a coughing fit hit him as his lungs constricted painfully.

When it settled, he pulled the journal his fingers rested on and slid it next to his right leg then began to stand, slowly, shakily, painfully.

He turned, but his eyes brought him back to the edge where he'd just been sitting.

He'd stepped close to it, peering over the edge at the deathly height the opening was at.

Seika would be alright if he jumped. Jayce would be alright if he jumped. Zaun would be alright if he jumped.

Would the removal of himself bring about the peace their the world so desperately needed? Would his lack of meddling in Hextech bring about an era of prosperity and life?

His foot stepped closer to the edge and the cane shook as he moved, his emotions building in him.

Trauma, frustration, fear all bubbled inside of him, and the pain he felt in his chest would stop the moment his body crashed violently down below. It would be over. All of it.

He took a few shallow breaths, his brows furrowing.

This is how he would help everyone, and he leaned forward.

"Am I interrupting?" A familiar voice called out from behind him and he stopped abruptly, Viktor whipping his head around to see Jayce who stood behind him.

Jayce walked to Viktor's side and leaned the large Hextech Hammer he'd made against the wall, his face a mix of guilt and sadness. He gave Viktor a small smile and the pair felt a familiar sense of deja vu.

Viktor turned from him, tucking Sky's journal in between his crutch and chest; he wasn't ready to tell anyone yet... he didn't know if he'd ever been ready. Jayce didn't even know about his leg, let alone anything else.

Viktor couldn't meet his eyes, but Jayce sat and spoke.

"Remember the Distinguished Innovators competition?"

Viktor's mouth opened and he gave a dry smile as he spoke and finally met his friend's eyes.

"I remember you notching gears in the carriage over."

Jayce nodded.

"They started cranking the engine and the whole thing was rattling," Jayce said fondly, his own eyes swelling with emotion.

"I thought a loose cog was gonna take someone's eye out," he continued, his eyes glancing downward, but then they sought out Viktors again and he smiled.

Viktor had met his gaze and was rewarded with a soft tired smile.

"At least, you didn't throw up." Viktor chimed, recollecting on his own experience of the competition.

Jayce scoffed softly, but he looked away, shaking his head.

"Everything made sense then."

The pair slipped into silence as they viewed the city before them, the only noise coming from the gentle clank of the gears behind them.

"You have to destroy it," Viktor spoke first, looking towards Jayce again.

Jayce's head turned back to look at the Hextech Hammer behind him and his face fell as he spoke.

"I know..." He said softly, brows furrowed.

"The Hexcore," Viktor specified; he didn't care about the Hammer.

The shock on Jayce's face was incredibly evident, and his shock turned to alarm when Viktor's head dropped.

"I... I can't do it," he said softly, and Jayce realized how broken he sounded at that moment.

Viktor's eyes met his again and Jayce saw the seriousness in them.

"You have to. Please," Viktor pleaded and Jayce was once again shocked. He'd worked so hard on this, for himself, this was how he was going to get better, but if it's what he wanted...

Jayce sighed, his own head dropping as he broke eye contact with him.

"What about your disease?" Jayce asked firmly, "Without the Hexcore--"

Viktor broke into another fit of coughs.

"Promise me," Viktor spoke intensely after he'd regained his composure.

"Okay, okay," Jayce verbally confirmed, "I promise." He stood, his hand moving to rest on Viktors shoulder as Viktor looked away again.

"We lost ourselves. Lost our dream." Viktor spoke sadly, his eyes searching the very ground he stood on, then looked out into the city they had vowed to help, the city they'd nearly forgotten about in their pursuit of Hextech.

"In the pursuit of great, we failed to do good," Viktor spoke, and Jayce's fist clenched at his side.

"We'll fix this," he said determined, a new fire stoking inside of him.

Viktor wasn't so sure and responded with silence.

Jayce sighed heavily; he'd been so blind and distracted by this position, and what was happening with Zaun that he'd almost completely abandoned Viktor.

His hand slid from Viktors shoulders and into his pockets as he leaned against the opposite wall of Viktor and he stared out into the city.

"She was here."

Jayce saw Viktors head turn his way but he spoke again.

"Seika," Jayce specified. "She was with Caitlyn and that undercity chick she brought with her at the Council meeting we had a few days ago."

Viktor smiled and scoffed lightly, but said nothing.

"I think she's here to stay though," Jayce continued, "and I know that there was something between you two, I saw it, hell, your response when we were walking to the Hexgate was more than entertaining Viktor."

Viktor rolled his eyes and could have smacked the man with his crutch.

"I also know that things didn't end well, but whatever deal she had with Heimerdinger seems to be long gone, she said so herself."

Jayce and Viktor met eyes and Viktor smiled warmly as his sight sought out the city before them again.

Jayce frowned and bit his tongue.

"But," he spoke and Viktor's head turned to him again.

"If you've any feelings for her left, I think you should let them go." He spoke honestly, remembering the bright mark on her neck that he saw that day. The sign of someone else.

Viktors brows furrowed and he answered more aggressively than he'd intended to.

"Why?"

Jayce went silent as he thought of what to say before he decided to say it all.

"She had a mark on her, uh, neck," his right hand pointed to the area he'd seen the mark.

"Seems she moved on, pretty quickly too," he continued before slipping into silence.

Viktor's brows changed from anger to quizzical and he scoffed, Jayce's confusion now evident on his face.

"What?" He asked, turning so his full front faced Viktor.

"That, uh, that was me," He smirked.

Jayce's eyes blinked rapidly as he struggled to understand.

Viktor watched him squirm and smirked before telling him everything from the start, up until when he'd seen her before the Council meeting. He couldn't tell her about Sky, even when things between them seemed to be normal now.

Jayce stood silently, shock engrossing all of his features.

"You were a bit distracted," Viktor chided, and Jayce went to grab him by the shoulders as he barraged the man with questions.

The pair continued to speak, soft laughter emitting from the little secret spot that held so many memories, their bond, having been long strained, now strengthening with each and every breath they took.

...

Seika had gone back up to the bridge to Piltover and traced back the footsteps they'd taken from the Firelight hideout to the bridge.

After several wrong turns and confusion about directions, she finally saw familiar surroundings and pushed through, rushing in the direction of the large metal door she knew was close and that would lead her into the Firelights hideout.

The guards outside were wary, but when they realized who she was they greeted her and helped move the door so that she could access the hideout.

The loud metal creaked as it was moved and many of the younger children up in the tree and bungalows looked down.

"Seika!" A young voice called out and she spotted the familiar girl she'd saved the last time she was here waving erratically from one of the bridges in the trees.

Some of the adults approached her and they broke out into a tizzy of conversation, mostly about how Vi and Caitlyn were and what had happened.

"Where's Ekko?" Seika finally asked, finding time to interject in between the barrage of questions.

"Right here," a familiar voice called out and a man stepped through the crowd.

"Ekko!" Seika cried and ran to him, nearly tackling him.

He'd laughed, backed up physically by the people behind him, and used his crutch to stabilize them as she held him.

"You're ok," she whispered and he wrapped his arms back around her.

"Bumps and bruises," he teased and despite her arms tightening around his neck, he knew she was smiling from the soft vibrations that came from her breathy laughs.

She pulled away and smiled, her palm going to his cheek.

"I'm so glad you're ok," she said, hating how she had to leave him that night.

"What about you, your back looked serious that night," his brows furrowed and she nodded, telling him that she was fine. It was mostly sore at this point and despite Viktor's lack of skill in that field, he'd done well enough work.

"What are you doing here though? Has something happened? What about Vi?" Ekko asked quickly when he realized she was alone.

She shook her head as words struggled to form.

"The Council has decided not to declare war on Zaun, though there was a debate about it. I think they're going to discuss peace with Silco tonight and all else that pertains to Zaun's independence, but when Vi heard that, she told them off."

Seika's face went to her hands and despite the anger that seethed through his veins, Ekko hugged her again.

"It wouldn't work, he'd just kill us all," Ekko spoke harshly.

"I know, I know," Seika whispered.

She inhaled deeply, then exhaled, her face leaving her palms and Ekko's hands dropped to his side.

"I'm looking for someone, I-I need to speak with him, I need his help, his advice, hell, just to hear his voice would be helpful in itself," she smiled sadly and Ekko tilted his head.

"Who ya looking for?"

"His name is Cecil Heimerdinger, he was a professor at the Academy. He left after the Councilors voted him out of his position and he hasn't been seen since," Seika's speech suddenly quickened as she spoke, "And I hope he hasn't left the city so I've been looking all around Zaun but I can't--"

"Seika!" Ekko's voice and hand on each shoulder pulled her from her rambling.

"He's here Seika, Heimerdinger's here."

Ekko felt her shake under his hands and when he saw her eyes water a hand reached down to hers and he moved to bring her along.

"Come, I'll take you to him," he said softly.

The pair moved through the labyrinth of bungalows until they settled into a room, and there, staring inquisitively at some trinket was her dearest friend.

Ekko had let her enter the room first, and she stepped slowly, mouth agape at the figure at the desk that hadn't realized her presence yet.

She fell to her knees with a loud thud, and Cecil turned as she spoke his name softly.

"Seika," he whispered and slid from the chair, hurrying to the woman whose face was again in her hands.

He could her sobs now and they echoed in the soft room, Ekko overlooking the pair.

"Seika, Seika, what's happened?" He asked, but only received the sound of her cries in response.

She'd finally settled down, coughing as she attempted to breathe through the tears, and when Ekko approached them, he placed a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her.

She gave a teary-eyed smile up at him and hugged Cecil firmly.

Cecil whispered her name again, his heart breaking that he'd left Piltover without so much as a note to her. He just couldn't deal with the pain of being there. He felt so utterly useless in Piltover like he wasn't helping the world anymore; he'd grown comfortable talking from behind a desk rather than acting and moving forward to solving the problems of the world.

"I had to find you, Cecil," she said softly.

"I don't know what to do anymore, I feel so trapped and lost," she continued and Cecil listened in silence.

They'd eventually moved to a seating area and Seika settled into the comfortable chair willingly.

"Here," one of the firelights whispered as he handed her a glass of water and a plate with some bread and jam on it.

She smiled and thanked him warmly and sipped the water, worrying that she'd be unable to keep down any food.

Ekko and Cecil were seated before her and when she'd finally calmed enough, she told them all that had happened after Cecil's abrupt departure and left nothing unsaid.

Ekko didn't completely understand it all, or who the people she spoke of, but Cecil's own reactions told him that he did.

"I don't know how to help anyone anymore Cecil," she said, looking at the liquid move in the glass she swirled.

"How do I save Viktor? Or Zaun? How do I help Vi and Caitlyn and.. and Jinx..."

Ekko's brows furrowed but softened; he too admittedly didn't want Jinx to spiral down a dark hole that'd lead to her death.

Seika saw Ekko's own reaction to the mention of Jinx and she extended her hand in offering. He leaned forward and took it, each one giving the other a gentle squeeze before settling back in their chairs.

Cecil however, was silent. This much had happened after he'd left? And Jayce, bloodthirsty for war? Viktor and the Hexcore, turning into metal, but dying still? And Sky?

Cecil shook his head, struggling to imagine what they'd gone through and he felt sad about the loss of Skys life during the process.

Seika let out a breathy laugh as she held back tears.

"I wonder if things would have been different if I told Viktor that one of his translations was wrong..." she admitted, guilt wracking through her.

Cecil met her eyes, his own cyan ones wide with shock and she gave him a pitiful smile.

"Would everything have gone better Cecil?" She asked, but he couldn't give her an answer.

They all could have done things differently.

"I could spend the rest of my life thinking about what could have been if I'd acted differently or said something else in nearly every aspect of my life," Cecil said, his eyes drifting to his interlaced fingers in front of him.

Then his eyes sought Seika's out again.

"Such things would be useless though, things cannot be changed now, rather, you should be looking at how your current actions can change the future."

"How do you know your actions will change the future?" She asked.

Cecil's sad face was all she needed to know.

There wasn't. The future was exactly that; undetermined and constantly changing, and there wasn't a thing anyone could do to slow or stop it from happening.

"Will you come back Cecil?" Seika asked, giving Ekko an apologetic smile. He gave her a single curt nod; the Firelights had bonded with Heimerdinger during his short stay here, and he disliked the idea of him leaving, but if it'd help Seika, then it'd be worth it.

"I will not," Cecil answered softly and the shock on Seika's face shot bullets through his heart, but his answer did not change.

"I spent years looking over Piltover, giving orders behind a desk as I whittled my life away. I thought I was helping people, I thought I was making a difference, but in reality, I wasted a steady portion of my life in that Council Room. I can make a difference here Seika, I can help them, as you desire to as well, but while your place to help them is in Piltover, mine is here." Cecil said softly.

"These people," Cecil continued, motioning to Ekko and the building around them, "have given me so much hope for the future, hope for Zaun, hope for Piltover, hope for humanity, that I so desperately lost during my obsession with science and the inevitable power and apathy that chained me to that position. I hold no ill-will to Piltover, nor anyone on the Council, nor Jayce or Viktor, I'm simply forging my own path Seika, as you must do with yours."

Seika had slipped into silence and Cecil slipped from his chair to stand before her.

"Seika, you care more for these people than most of Piltover combined, that is your strength, that is your determination. We cannot know how our actions will affect things in the long run, but the guilt of doing nothing is stronger than that of doing something. It is a guilt that that will tear you apart from the inside out. Everyone has begun forging their own paths Seika, it's time you forged yours," he spoke softly, his hand raising her fallen chin as he smiled.

Seika nodded gently and smiled warmly at her friend, and she felt her worry melt away. She didn't fully understand Cecil or the path she was going to take, but finally being able to tell someone about what had happened and what she was feeling was therapeutic, and she stretched forth and began to eat the jam-covered piece of bread, relishing in its delightful sweetness.

The sun that at one time had graced the inside of the hideout with warm light had dissipated as night fell during their conversation and Seika realized it was past time for her to return.

Cecil and Ekko had walked her out in front of the tree and she gave Ekko a warm hug, telling him she'd see him soon. She knelt down to Cecil afterward and they embraced for a few minutes, speaking kind words to one another in hushed voices, words of fond farewell, and soon-to-be reunions.

She stood and smiled, waving goodbye to those that had joined Ekko and Cecil in sending her off, and gave the familiar little girl another ruffle on her head. Her audible protests caused the group to burst out in laughter, Seika included, and when she looked back, her eyes taking in this little bit of heaven amid all the hate and violence and death, her heart warmed.

This is what Zaun would be, she knew it, deep down inside of her.

Her eyes sought back the hole at the top that allowed for the sunlight to touch the tree and she shifted into the hawk and flew upward out of it. When she reached the top, she shifted back, looking down at the leaves that blocked her view.

"I'll see you guys soon!" She called down to them and heard their cheers and responses of well wishes.

She smiled happily, feeling better than she had in days, and turned to look at Piltover in the distance. There it was, the place she'd change to bring a difference to this little part of the world.

With determination beating through her she took a step past the opening towards Piltover, then stopped. A sudden bright blue light exploded from a spot in Zaun and then something was moving away from it.

From Zaun, it headed towards Piltover, towards the Academy, and towards the Councilors building.

Seika felt her heart stop as she screamed Cecil's name from above.

Ekko and Cecil's eyes met and the pair raced to his hoverboard, racing up through the leaves to Seika, but when they exited out into the world above them, she was gone.

From where they'd stopped all they saw was a silver hawk flying straight to Piltover, chasing a bright streak of blue that flew through the sky.

Seika's wings flapped so hard they hurt, but she didn't notice the pain, and as she neared the light, she realized it was a projectile as it clunked and dropped debris from itself and she raced forward, rushing to do something, anything to stop it from its current course, but it moved faster than her, spurred by dramatically altered magic. It continued down its path, the rocket flying towards the Councilor's meeting room, the individuals inside unaware of what was so rapidly heading their way.

Seika heard a scream, but her eyes did not turn to see the two women who watched, hunched over and struggling to keep one another standing, the pair who saw Jinx launch the rocket from where they'd been held hostage, the two who were forced to watch the now inevitable demise of the very thing who was to help them save the undercity they loved so much.

She was so far from it, and no matter how much she pushed herself, she couldn't get close enough to it to change its course.

Caitlyn and Vi watched in terror and shock as the rocket that was so desperately followed by a familiar silver hawk, broke through the glass of the Councilors building.

Chapter Text

AUTHOR UPDATE 12/5/2024:

As of the aforementioned date, the new updates and edits to The Outsiders have been posted. With the creation of five new chapters, certain continuity errors currently exist in this alternate ending (most of it should be pretty trivial to be honest).

Season 2 comes first though, cause I mean come on, I gotta lol.

--------------------------------

Alright; Season 1 is done...
So what of the future of The Outsiders?

When I began this story, there was no notice that Arcane had been renewed (though the general consensus was that it would be, based on the incredible response the show had received) but there was no verified word from either Netflix, Riot, or Fortiche.

The news that we wouldn't see Season 2 until at least 2023 really was a big hit mentally, but still, I persevered, pushing forward with this story.

That being said... I will be continuing The Outsiders. I will be writing an alternate story+ending to this story, and when season 2 of Arcane comes out, I will continue the story from Chapter 16 and build it off what happens in the show next (there will be plenty of A.N chapters to help clarify this so chapters aren't mixed up and confusing between different storylines when that time comes). I do adore my ending and what happens next and want to write it. There are also many things I won't be bringing into the story (Noxus being one of them) that I have a feeling will be brought in more in Season 2 (just Noxus is a whole other can of worms I don't want to open right now on my own and it would drag the plot further from areas I want Seika and our beloved Arcane characters to explore). So I'd rather let Riot take over that section, particularly because I want to see where they progress with it. There are also things I will be bringing into the alternate story+ending that may not be brought into Season 2.

I've been considering this for some time now, and am excited to go down this path with The Outsiders, and I hope y'all are too.

Chapter Text

Seika had extended her claws towards the projectile, despite being a short distance from it, as if the extension itself would stop it in its tracks, but the glass broke and an explosion ripped through the night.

When she came to she was on her back with her legs extended awkwardly above her, sharp talons outward and wings bent awkwardly. She couldn't hear, the ringing and buzzing that rattled within her skull was far too loud and the debris that littered the ground around her was fuzzy as she struggled to concentrate. She shifted, somehow, the small pieces of debris that'd been on her falling to the ground as she sat up, coughing as the dust attacked her lungs. Her hands went to her forehead and the wound she'd received earlier had reopened, and then it became increasingly obvious that she was sliced in a variety of places as the explosion of the projectile had spit the glass out in every direction possible.

She rested her weight onto her hands, slowly struggling to stand, but she didn't get more than halfway before she stumbled, her vision dizzying her and she collapsed onto her back again.

Seika groaned softly as she rolled from shoulder to shoulder, struggling to pull herself through. Her head turned to her left, and what was once the Council room had a giant gaping hole in the side, the walls crumbling loudly as debris continued to fall and a water pipe had burst from the impact, spraying the liquid just to the left of her.

She called something out, but couldn't hear her own voice enough to hear what she'd said and rolled over onto her stomach. When she managed to sit up on all fours, her head hanging limply between her shoulders, her left foot extended until it was flat against the ground and she used all her strength to push up.

Seika wobbled once, clutching a boulder-sized section of the wall that had been thrown back from the explosion. Her breathes came out in intense gasps and she pushed from the boulder, wobbling to stand on her own and look up at the massive hole in the side of the Councilor Meeting Room.

The entire front wall had been blown out, and most of the side walls as well. The explosion had even extended downward, taking most of the wall of the floor beneath it and a large portion of the floor of the upper level. A large piece of the gear-shaped desk that the Councilors would sit at shifted, the floor beneath it tilting downward under its dwindling infrastructure, and it slid outside the opening and fell to the ground. Seika shielded her face when the desk hit the ground, wood splinters flying as its shape collapsed in on itself from the impact.

Her eyes turned to look at the rest of the building as her thoughts moved in slow motion, despite every bit of her heart telling her to move quickly. It'd take too long going up the stairs and along the walkways, and debris could be blocking either the hallways or the door, or even both...

She shifted again, this time into a Bolor, knowing full well that she was far too weak to fly, and using the long curved claws the Bolor's were known for, she scaled up the wreckage. When she reached the first floor she panted, her large beak open and head drooped, but she pushed forward and climbed up the crumbling side, and when some of the remaining wall fell away from under her, she lept to the top level and collapsed on the weak floor of the Councilor meeting room, her clawed feet giving out from under her.

A metallic scent pulled her from her exhaustion, and she shifted, lying face down on the floor, one foot hanging off the edge. Her eyes looked around the room, peering through the dust as it was settling. She sat up, the metallic smell attacking her senses and she coughed intensely, a barely sleeved arm going to her nose. Large red splotches painted each of the walls on the sides of her and the debris had blown out the back wall and door, blocking off the left hallway from what she could see, and the ceiling dipped down in the center of the room as it struggled with the now lacking infrastructure.

The building creaked and groaned and she stood, knowing that she needed to move.

Coughing erupted from her left and her face turned quickly in the direction it came from, watching a large hand feebly attempt to wave away the cloud of dust that surrounded it.

"Jayce?" Seika asked in a whisper, and her legs moved, stumbling over little pieces of debris as she approached the man.

Her hand found his cheek and he registered who was in front of him as she lightly dusted him off.

"Mel, where's Mel?" He called out in between coughs, and Seika shook her head but turned and moved around the room, climbing on top of the damaged table as searched. A long smear of blood moved from the side of the room towards the giant hole in the wall to the right of the blast point and Seika's heart sunk, but she turned back towards where the door to the room had been.

"Councilor Medarda?" She hoarsely called out, the dust penetrating her lungs again, causing another fit of coughs.

She heard a soft noise from somewhere in front of her and saw a limp hand, one she recognized, sticking out from a small pile of debris

"Councilor Medarda," she spoke, as she moved the debris, attempting to free the woman, and when she shifted the large piece of the desk that covered the body beneath it, she fell to the ground.

It was Councilor Medarda's hand, and arm...

Jayce had somehow gotten to his feet, using the wall for support as he stumbled to Seika, he could see Mel's hand just past her and began calling her name, but when she fell to her knees his heart sank and he saw what she saw.

Jayce began to scream maniacally, calling Mels name as he pulled away more and more debris as Seika's face went to her hands.

A soft feminine voice called out from their right and a matching hand to the one that laid before her appeared from a cluster of boulders.

"Mel!" Jayce's relieved voice called out and he began to help her.

Sounds of life from behind her pulled Seika away from Jayce and Councilor Medarda as she sought to help the others who might still be alive.

"Councilor Salo," she spoke, helping the blonde man whose arm was bent unnaturally. He grimaced and groaned and she helped him sit up after moving a piece of wood from his lap.

When he gave her thanks and a nod, she stood and stumbled to the other side of the room, following alongside the steady smear of blood until, tucked in the corner, she found Councilor Soola. The decorative pieces of gear she wore had become embedded in her neck and she could see the blood that trickled from it, but her breaths told Seika she was alive, and there wasn't nearly enough blood around her to have caused the smear. The silver-haired girl attempted to wake the Councilor, but she did not open her eyes, and after Seika counted several calm breaths, she left the Councilor and moved on.

Mechanical noises cranked from the opposite side of the room and after shifting a chunk of debris, Councilor Bolbok stood. Half of his chest had been slashed open and some sort of liquid seeped out of him, but he stood coherent nonetheless as he surveyed the sight around him weakly.

Councilor Salo and Councilor Bolbok moved towards the back of the room near Councilor Medarda and Jayce, who continued to dote over the woman who seemed alert enough considering her situation.

He'd stripped his jacket, placing it to her left arm and from here, she could see the typical ivory fibers staining red.

Her eyes found Jayce's and he called something to her, but she stumbled, the floor slipping out from behind her and she crashed into a piece of the desk that hung off the edge. Councilor Soola had appeared from the side where there was still an excess of flooring and helped her climb over the desk and away from the crumbling floor.

Seika thanked her and helped the woman to the group towards the front of the room.

"And Hoskell?" Councilor Salo asked and turned in the direction he know he'd been sitting and Seika looked, but Jayce's voice caught her off guard.

"Seika! Viktor! VIKTOR, HE WAS OVER THERE," he nearly screamed as he pressed harder against Mel's bleeding wound.

Seika hadn't even known she was moving until she'd slipped and fallen face-first into the floor, and when she turned back, she saw Viktors crutch; half of Viktors crutch.

"Viktor?" She called out, pushing herself up with her palms.

She was met with aching silence and she called his name again, moving the debris as fast as she could, the sharp edges of the pieces of wood and stone cutting the tips of her fingers until she heard a set of coughs beneath a large slab of stone that rested diagonally against the wall.

"Viktor!" She called loudly as she pulled the far edge towards her, lifting it perpendicular to the floor, and she slid her arm down, grabbing the side closest to the ground that she also braced with her foot, she messily heaved it away from them, and there, slouched against the wall, his mouth and nose bloody from his coughing was Viktor.

Her hands went to his face as she inspected him, her mouth speaking but her brain not registering what she was saying. He wasn't awake, but she felt his soft breath fanning her face as she viewed it. In her haste, she looked to her right, and beneath a large part of the wall, was Councilor Hoskell's contorted and crushed face wedged between the floor and the debris. She swallowed her nausea, trying not to stare at the swollen bloody protruding eyeballs and unnaturally crushed lower jaw and her eyes found Councilor Salo whose face fell when he saw her shake her head.

She pulled Viktors arm over her shoulder and called out to Jacye who looked in her direction.

He had blood on his face, and she knew it wasn't his, and the look of fear in his eyes wasn't one she was accustomed to.

"I'm going to help lower everyone to the ground alright, it's too difficult for help to reach us here from the main entrance," Seika called out to him.

He nodded and the rest of the standing or sitting Councilors began to move their way towards the hole in the wall, shock overtaking them. Seika laid Viktor back down against a piece of wall as gently as she could and she jumped from the hole, shifting into the large Silverwing Viktor had seen when she'd first shown him who she was.

The large beak that suddenly appeared in the gaping hole where the majestic stained glass used to be caused a few of the Councilors to physically recoil, especially as they hadn't quite gotten used to Seika's abilities, but they watched as she tenderly picked up the unconscious man and the pair disappeared from view, only for the creature to return empty-mouthed.

Enforcers had begun storming the Academy, followed behind by medical personnel and she called for one of the Councilors to come quickly. Councilor Salo stepped forward first, holding his broken arm, but when he reached the massive bird, his only functioning hand reached towards it and placed it gently on the creature's beak. Seika smiled internally and nuzzled ever so gently back into the blonde man's hand. When he smiled back at her, she opened her beak and took his lower torse in her mouth, and lowered him to the ground next to Viktor.

The Enforcers had come upon the beast, weapons drawn, but Councilor Salo's loud protests turned their attention away from the creature and to his words, and one by one the rest of the Councilors had been lowered to the ground except for Councilor Hoskell, Medarda, Kiramman, and Jayce.

"Jayce," the man heard from the mouth of the large creature.

"Let me take her, please, no harm will come to her," it spoke in the familiar soft voice, a voice that soothed him and he handed over Mel to it, his face breaking.

Seika took Councilor Medarda softly and passed her over immediately to Medical personnel who dragged her away, a flurry of words coming from them as they communicated about further steps. Her neck moved upward to Jayce and he embraced himself awkwardly around Seika's beak, hiding his tears as much as he could. She lightly nuzzled against him and moved him down. Most of the Councilors had been taken to the nearest medical facility, Viktor included, and when Jayce stood, he looked to up to Seika as Enforcers surrounded him.

"You've done so much for us already, could I ask one more thing of you?" He asked, his voice cracking as he did.

She viewed Jayce before she spoke.

"Of course Jayce, what you ask of me are not favors I expect to be repaid, but are actions of that of a friend," she said and Jayce scoffed softly, guilt wracking through him of how he'd treated her in the past. Viktor had been right.

"Please, Councilor Hoskell and Councilor Kiramman, please don't leave them in there..." He almost pleaded.

She hadn't mentioned that she'd yet to find Councilor Kiramman but she nodded and her head turned and slipped through the hole, just barely scraping between the ceiling and floor. She felt her throat constrict against the floor but she shifted through the debris with her large beak and pulled Hoskells mangled body from the wreckage. She lightly picked up the body of the older man and placed him back down at the entrance of the opening, her eyes now able to view Jayce and the Enforcers who looked up at her so intently.

"Look away Jayce, this is not something you need to see tonight," she said then added, "go to Mel, and to Viktor."

Jayce froze at hearing Seika use Mel's first name, particularly since she'd always been so careful about it, but she knew it'd pull him from the scene here and away from the grizzly sight she was about to pull out of the crumbling room.

He nodded silently and left, a few of the Enforcers trailing after him.

When he was out of eyeshot, Seika pulled Hoskell from the entrance and lowered his mutilated body before the Enforcers.

"See to it he's taken care of gentleman," she spoke and turned back to the room, her eyes following the bright red stain on the floor. They moved to the hole in the wall and for a moment her heart sunk and the large creature pulled from the building, its long neck seeking around the side and on the ground, in a puddle of blood-soaked grass, lay Councilor Kiramman.

Seika's head whipped back around to face the enforcers as she called them to her aide, crawling awkwardly along the ground around the corner until she shifted and broke out into a run to the older woman's stationary figure.

"Councilor Kiramman," Seika called out, then called out again as she kneeled before the older woman.

Her hair has been wrangled and ripped from its normally neat appearance and a single earlobe had a long gash through it, the earring missing entirely but the sizable hole in her chest and sunken in ribcage was what had caused most of the physical damage to the woman.

She lifted Councilor Kiramman's head onto her lap but the woman's eyes opened quickly and she suddenly choked, spewing blood from her mouth as she let out a loud shriek, and Seika put her back down, hardly daring to move her again.

"Ca-Caitlyn," she whispered softly, reaching a bloody hand to Seika's cheek.

The silver-haired girl attempted to correct her, but when Councilor Kiramman spoke again, the loss of blood clouding her all of her senses but that of the sight of her daughter and husband, the girl went silent, listening to the last few words of the councilor.

When the woman went silent again, Seika suddenly felt Councilor Kiramman's hand slip from her cheek and she grabbed it, clutching it close to her face as if that would allow the woman a few more minutes or even seconds of life, but the woman let out a long drawn out exhale and her blue eyes glazed over. Seika's hand began to shake as it held Councilor Kiramman's lifeless hand, and after a moment, she slowly lowered the woman's hand to the ground.

She couldn't even cry; her body hurt far too much and the shock of it all flooded every emotion of hers. Though when it came time to collect Councilor Kiramman, several enforcers held her back when they'd finally been able to remove her body. Seika had fought and screamed her name, stretching her arm out towards the deceased woman, her heart breaking for herself, and the inevitable pain she knew Caitlyn would suffer.

Eventually, she'd settled enough and sat, hugging her knees to her chest as she hid her face but a soft small hand rested on her shoulder.

There, his own eyes exhibiting symptoms of crying, was Cecil. She curled into him, unable to say or do anything else and he held her, unusual emotions wracking through the yordle's body. Such feelings were uncharacteristic of him, but he stood, the waves flooding him nonetheless as he rested his chin on the top of her head.

Looking up at the still-crumbling Councilor building was Ekko, leaning against his crutch as his hoverboard had been forgotten just behind him. The unusual pair had raced to the explosion after it'd happened but the blast had thrown them back off the board when it reached them, and they two suffered minor injuries of their own, but they persevered. When they stumbled upon the scene, Professor Heimerdinger yelling his credentials to the understandably agitated enforcers, they feared the worst, particularly when all they saw was Seika curled up into a silent ball as a body was removed from the scene.

Ekko turned to Seika, and he hobbled over to her, letting his crutch fall and falling to the ground next to her so that he could wrap his right arm around her and rest the side of his face against her left shoulder.

The trio remained there in silence as behind them, the building slowly crumbled into itself, the falling debris crashing into the ground as the sound of it echoed into the night.

Chapter Text

A loud high pitched wail echoed in Seika's head, like a distant dream. It reverberated around in her skull to the point that she herself screamed for it to stop as she slipped into inky darkness.

...

When Seika came too she realized she was lying in a bed, sunlight glittering through what little it could through the closed blinds. She was uncomfortable and moved slightly, but gasped at the soft pinch of pain stemming from her left arm. It was then she fully grasped the situation; she was in the hospital and had been hooked up to an iv.

She groaned softly, her gauze-wrapped fingertips going to her neatly bandaged forehead and when she felt the familiar tugging of adhesive tape on her back as she sat up, she'd realized that those too had been neatly re-bandaged.

She was alone but could hear talking in the hallway just outside her room. Her throat ached dryly, limiting her voice to just above a soft whisper. She couldn't hear what was being said but recognized the high tone of Cecil and she settled back into the pillow, the movement of just barely raising her upper half having exhausted her.

What had happened? What about the Councilors, and Mel, and Viktor? Her heart sank and it was then she realized she was supposed to meet him at the Councilors Meeting. Would her presence have made a difference? Would she have been able to protect him more?

Her thoughts fleeted past her as she was unsure if Viktor was even alive and her breath came out in guttural raspy puffs as she struggled.

Her body shifted and the bed creaked softly, then footsteps hurried into her room.

She saw Jayce's face first and he looked exhausted. She moved more, her body shaking as she struggled and he moved to her right side, closing one of her hands in his.

"Seika, it's ok, you're in the hospital."

Cecil had followed him in, and someone else in a white coat, but Seika's eyes were on Jayce as she struggled to whisper Viktors name.

When he finally understood, Jayce pulled a chair to the side of her bed and held her hand.

"He's ok, but he hasn't woken up yet," he spoke, his eyes falling to her bandaged fingertips. He went silent and he didn't meet her eyes again, and for a moment, Seika wondered if he was hiding something.

"And Councilor Medarda is too," he said smiling loosely and Seika watched his eyes water while she ignored the poking and prodding of the doctor who'd followed in after Cecil.

"Her arm, however, is go--," his free hand went to cover his mouth. He wasn't even able to say it. She too hadn't woken up yet.

Seika's hand squeezed his and he met her eyes and sighed, his head falling so that his forehead rested on the top of her hand.

The doctor had ended the conversation by handing her a glass of water and giving her a run-down of everything that had happened to her. She had small cuts from the glass in several places on her body, of course, the reopening of her forehead and back wounds, and her fingertips she'd tore raw in an attempt to reach Viktor.

She finished sucking down the liquid as quickly as her parched throat would allow, then motioned her hand to request for another and the doctor complied silently, then checked her over one last time and left the room without another word.

When Seika's throat no longer felt like it would peel away like a bad burn she turned to Cecil and smiled weakly, and he moved to the side opposite of Jayce.

"What of everyone else?" Seika finally spoke and Cecil restrained himself.

Here was this girl who'd risked her life, flying into a bomb to rescue people, and the first words that come from her are about everyone else. Cecil wondered if war was even avoidable now, he'd seen Jayce spiraling quickly, especially given Mel's condition, and he worried that he would be picking sides someday, sooner rather than later.

Jayce went through the rest of the Councilors and their physical condition and Seika nodded, smiling warmly when she heard they were recovering from their injuries well enough.

"Does Caitlyn know?" Seika suddenly asked after the trio had slipped into silence.

Jayce nodded, thumbing his nose with his free hand and he looked away from Seika.

"She's not taking it well. She came in injured, Vi dragging her in, she's also here, but she hasn't opened up to anyone. Even when her father came to visit, it was like she wasn't even there."

Seika's heart broke when Jayce told her that and she squeezed his hand again.

"I need to talk to her," she whispered and then coughed once, the emotions flooding her causing her throat to constrict uncomfortably.

"I spoke with Councilor Kiramman, just before she..." Seika's speech silenced as she recollected Councilor Kirammans last moments.

Jayce inhaled deeply and exhaled.

"Alright, yeah, but for now, rest up. We'll do it this evening."

Seika nodded and settled back into the pillow as Cecil's hand dropped from her and after giving her a warm smile, he left.

The remaining pair watched the yordle go and Seika turned back to look at the man to her right.

"I want to see him Jayce," she said, though he didn't need any clarification.

"Later, you need to rest," he said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

The look Seika gave him nearly broke his heart and he sat up, wrapping one arm around her shoulders as he placed a simple platonic kiss to the top of her head.

"I know, I'm worried too," he said whispering, and Seika heard it in his voice.

Jayce pulled away, giving her a soft smile.

"Rest up and we'll see him together," he declared and then left the room as Seika nodded silently.

Seika's eyes drifted towards the light outside and she was unaware of how heavy her eyelids felt until they were almost closed and she slipped into a dreamless sleep.

...

It was several more hours before Seika had woken again. Her stomach was coiled in on itself in hunger and she called softly for a nurse.

After another twenty minutes, a nurse had brought a tray with several plates containing a variety of food. Seika ate quickly, not even registering what it was she ate, and when the plates were clear, the same nurse came and took the tray away. The silver-haired girl settled back into the pillow. Jayce had said she could see Viktor and she so desperately wanted to. He'd also said Caitlyn had stumbled into the hospital with an injury and she was deeply concerned by that.

Another hour passed and evening had already come to Piltover. The blood moon that had haunted them the night prior was long gone. Jayce had said tonight... It was tonight. So where was he?

She was unable to wait any longer and she sat up. The food she'd eaten earlier had given her a new burst of energy that she so desperately needed to move.

She swung her legs and touched her bare feet to the cold floor of the left side of her bed and groaned softly as she stood. Her iv was still attached and she'd have to bring the pole with her. After ensuring that the buttons on the back of the gown were properly closed, she moved towards the door of her room and into the hallway.

"Excuse me?" She called softly to one of the nurses sitting a bit away from her.

The nurse stood and rushed to her side. It took quite a bit of convincing for the Nurse to allow Seika to walk to Viktor's room, and it was only permitted when the nurse personally escorted her.

Seika's gaze was downward when they finally entered his room who was only three doors down from her and when she looked up tears sprung from her eyes.

The nurse began to barrage her with questions, but when the young silver-haired woman approached the sleeping man with such love and tenderness in her face she stopped. With the nurse's fears that the patient wasn't in pain calmed, she left the room, announcing briefly that if she was needed to simply call for her and she left Seika and Viktor in peace.

Seika had gone immediately to his right side, pulling the closest chair and sitting where Jayce had sat the last time Viktor was in the hospital. He looked so frail right now as the oxygen tubes at his nose wrapped loosely around his ears. His cheeks were sunken in and despite having been asleep for nearly an entire day, his eye bags were deep and angry. Viktors lips were dry and cracked and she swore his skin was so taut on his neck that she could see his light pulse move against his skin. Her hand sought his own metal right one and she nearly cried at the chill. How desperate she was to feel his warmth, both in body and soul.

She whispered his voice, willing him to open his eyes.

When he did not, she leaned forward and placed a kiss to his temple, squeezing the harsh cold hand she clung so fiercely too.

"Seika..."

She turned and saw Jayce leaning against the doorframe, his face unreadable.

"Did you know?" His eyes moved from her to the very inhuman hand she held on to, his brows furrowing.

Seika's jaw dropped and her eyes went to Viktor's hand; she'd completely forgotten. This was how he'd found out... Her thoughts jumbled around as she struggled with telling him or not.

Jayce watched the silver-haired girl as he was taken over by his own thoughts; what had happened to Viktor, he didn't know if he was more upset with his best friend, no, his brother for hiding this, or if he was more upset with himself for not realizing it sooner.

She sighed, pulling his focus to her.

"Yes, I did."

Jayce clenched his jaw and strode to the foot of Viktors bed and harshly pulled away the sheets that hid his right leg.

"All of it?"

He expected some sort of shock from her, a gasp, a look of confusion, but her eyes never left his and she gave him a single nod.

"All of it, Jayce."

Seika stood and gently pulled the sheets back over Viktors metal leg and smoothed them out as Jayce turned from her, his hands going to the back of his head as he retained his anger.

"How?" He seethed.

"How what?" Seika requested clarification; there were far too many ways she could answer that question, and going on a tangent seemed to be out of the question for the infuriated man before her.

Jayce whipped back around and stared intensely at her.

"How did this happen?" he spat viciously, his anger boiling over.

"He's dying Jayce," Seika reminded him softly, her eyes going to the sleeping man's face. She reached her other hand, the one with the iv, and lightly grazed his cheek then continued.

"He's been looking for any way to live, sought every path, performed every test. Can you even begin to imagine knowing that death is so close it's breathing down your neck? He sought life Jayce," Seika turned to him, "and used the Hexcore in an attempt to live."

Jayce's face fell and his eyes found the floor.

"It doesn't matter how he did it Jayce, but he cannot do it any longer, the Hexcore is changing."

His eyes found hers and she saw the confusion on his face.

Seika shook her head absentmindedly.

"The Hexcores recent transformation has made me question my own abilities of being able to properly take care of it, and, quite frankly I do not believe Cecil could successfully destroy it as well. Things --" Seika paused, "happened, and what I knew it once as, and what you know it to be, is no more."

Seika looked back at Viktor.

"I believe it's corrupting him; past the physical changes we see but I-I don't know for sure. I've seen how its responded to him, I cannot communicate with it anymore, I--"

"Communicate?" Jayce questioned.

Seika sighed softly, her head falling a bit and then she turned back to Jayce and settled back in the chair.

"You questioned my ability to use Magic, I showed you but one thing I'm capable of. When Viktor said he thought Magic evolved, he wasn't technically wrong. Each crystal is alive, similar to what you would think of as a spirit, it's a small powerful form of life that is capable of growth, and learning, and communication. Every crystal present in this city is capable of communicating with one another--" she hesitated, "and me. All except two. That Gemstone you and Viktor made, and the, well, to be blunt, that awful mutated Hexcore. I could have found that Gemstone the day it was missing but you both had altered it so much that nothing came from it, no sign of life, of speech, or anything. The Hexcore does speak, and while I initially understood it, after its recent changes, it's become something I cannot understand; it's become dark and aggressive and quite frankly terrifying. It's moved well beyond the initial runes it was once made of and has become not only a danger to Viktor, but to the entirety of Piltover as well."

She heard Jayce swear softly.

"He'd asked me to destroy it, he said he couldn't. I thought he was talking about the hammer, but he was talking about the Hexcore." Jayce braced himself against the foot of the bed, his shoulders hunched as his head hung, almost touching the sheets of the bed.

"That's good," Seika said and Jayce looked up.

"How, how is that good?" he asked, his tone resembling that of annoyance.

"It's good because when we destroy it, we won't be breaking him as much as I thought we would. He's come to an understanding of the situation Jayce, an understanding that was not there when Cecil had first brought up its elimination."

Jayce nodded silently and Seika turned to look at Viktor again.

Their conversation about the Hexcore had driven a rock so far into her gut she temporarily thought she'd feel it for the rest of her life.

"Seika," Jayce pulled her from her thoughts and her attention went fully to him.

"I don't know how to trust him... not right now..." He still hadn't gotten over the initial shock of the Doctors showing him Viktors lack of flesh on his right hand and leg.

Jayce's eyes were on the sleeping figure and she followed his line of sight, exhaling softly when it came into view, then her eyes returned to his.

"It will come with time, I felt very similarly to you when it had first happened. I just want him to live and to still be... him. I don't want him to lose himself to this Hexcore and whatever darkness has taken it over." Seika leaned forward and rested a hand on Jayce's.

"If you cannot trust him now, then at least trust in his actions. What he does, he does for us, for Piltover and the undercity, he does it to live Jayce, you owe him that, yes?"

Jayce's brows furrowed after she spoke as he slipped into thought and he finally let out a sigh and nodded.

"You're right."

Seika felt him shake and was unsure why, but she gave his hand a gentle squeeze. His smile returned and she smiled back.

Seika stood slowly, releasing Jayce's hand and leaned to give Viktor another kiss on the head, then turned.

"I need to see Caitlyn, Jayce," she said and he nodded, straightening and he left after ensuring Seika was following him. He moved to the other side of the hallway and down a few more rooms until he entered one.

Vi was asleep in one of the chairs and Seika noticed how tired she looked. Her brows furrowed and while she desperately wanted to know what situation the pair had gotten out of, she decided right now would not be the time.

Her eyes found Caitlyn who, while awake, had her eyes focused on her intertwined fingers and Seika's heart broke a little bit. She hadn't even looked up when they'd entered.

She gave a gentle pat to Jayce's shoulder in thanks and approached Caitlyn's left side. Jayce grabbed a chair quietly, attempting not to wake Vi but when she did, Seika was embraced by her in a tight hug.

"Vi, I'm so glad you're alright," Seika manged to squeak out, "but if you hug me any tighter I might break," she almost whispered and Vi let out a breathy chuckle and let go of her.

Vi's face was shrouded in guilt when she pulled away and her eyes could not meet Seika's. The silver-haired woman lifted Vi's chin and peered into her eyes and tears nearly spilled forth from the boxer, her normal strong front now crumbling.

"Seika," Vi whispered and they embraced again. Vi shook in her arms and Seika held her, her own tears now spilling from her and leaving wet droplets on the red jacket her friend wore.

"We will figure it out Vi," she spoke, "but right now, I need to talk to Caitlyn, okay?"

Vi pulled away and nodded, moving back towards her seat.

Seika watched as Jayce and Vi shared an intense look between one another, but she turned her attention fully to Caitlyn.

When Jayce put the chair down behind Seika, she let out a soft thank you and sat before the emotionless girl.

"Caitlyn," Seika called softly and her hand reached and rested gently on the girls hands.

She didn't move and Seika gently squeezed her hand then raised it to Caitlyns chin. She turned her chin so that she faced her as she spoke her name again, her other hand going to her cheek.

"Caitlyn, I was there," Seika's voice cracked as new tears formed in her eyes.

"I was there when she--" her voice morphed into a shudder as the haunting vision of Councilor Kiramman flooded her.

"She... she thought I was you and spoke so lovingly of you Caitlyn," she felt Caitlyn's cheek push just barely into her hand and the dark-haired woman blinked once as her shoulders heaved with her breath.

"Caitlyn, your mother loved you and your father very much, so very very much. She adored you both with her entire heart and soul. She's only wanted you to be safe and happy. I know its dark and everything seems impossible now, but it's not, I won't let it end like this..." Seika paused, attempting to gain some control over her emotions but she failed immensely.

"She told me to tell you..." Seika's breath shuddered as she exhaled.

"To tell you that the world is dark, the world is fully of scary violent things, but you are a beacon of light. The kindness in your heart is one that can help change the world for the better, do not let anything stop that," Seika didn't even feel the rivers of tears falling down her cheeks and when Caitlyns own tears dripped down her face she used her hands to wipe them away.

"Mom..." Caitlyn whispered so softly that Seika almost didn't hear it, and she stood and roughly embraced her.

The dark-haired girl let out a choked sob as she turned her face into the crook of Seika's neck and Seika felt Caitlyn's right hand leave her back. When she pulled away, Vi was opposite of her and holding Caitlyns hand as she attempted to stoically hide her own emotions. Even Jayce's fingers had pinched the bridge of his nose as he sat turned away from them at the back of the room.

"Jayce..." Caitlyn whispered softly and he came almost instantly and stood next to Seika, his hand reaching out to hold the dark-haired girls other hand.

The four of them went on and off between softly spoken words and wiping away their tears as they attempted to find some semblance of normalcy, but it still felt so incredibly forced, and Caitlyn was in no state to be having a full conversation.

Seika noticed her own exhaustion and smiled at the three, declaring she'd be leaving to bed. After a last round of hugs to the girl and a side hug from Jayce, she left and moved back to Viktors room.

He slept soundly and she was glad for that and after she'd kissed his cheek and whispered soft confessions of her feelings, she moved back to her room and fell asleep.

Chapter Text

It'd been just over a week since the explosion at the Councilors building and since Seika had woken up in the hospital. She twitched anxiously in her bed; she felt like she was losing her mind, but the nurses promised her discharge today and she'd be able to remain with Viktor full time.

She fidgeted nervously as she awaited her discharge process to be completed. They'd given her clothes back to her, washed, but the jumpsuit had been mangled enough on the flowing sleeves, that she'd eventually just cut them off entirely and so she sat on the bed she'd slept in for the past week, the flowing leg of the jumpsuit waiving with her rapid movements.

She heard footsteps and stood, but Cecil stepped in, causing Seika to stand at his sudden unannounced arrival. She'd noticed a change in him since her arrival and it had concerned her. He was more distant and quiet, and despite her pestering, he hadn't opened up to her.

"Seika," he greeted, his warm smile causing her to reflect one to him.

"I hear you're to be discharged today?"

She responded with an ecstatic nod and he chuckled softly.

"Good, quite good."

The pair slipped into an awkward silence and it was Seika who broke it.

"Cecil, are you alright? You've seemed rather upset most of the week," she spoke softly, settling into a chair near her.

Cecil's eyes found Seika's and his resolve broke. He couldn't hide this from her.

"I had come in here to tell you I was leaving, it only seemed appropriate considering I never considered telling you prior to my last departure." His hands intertwined behind him as he rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet slowly.

"Oh," Seika replied softly, her eyes dropping momentarily before finding his again, "where are you going?"

He stepped closer until he was standing before Seika. She watched his eyes drift out towards the hall and her brows furrowed; Cecil had never been one for quiet hushed words and now he acted as if he was worried others might hear.

"Cecil?" She called his name softly when he did not answer her.

He found her eyes again and his mustache twitched as he thought, then he spoke.

"I'm leaving Piltover, I shall be going back to the Firelights."

The smile on her face concerned him more than it did her, and when he did not smile back, he watched her face fall.

"What's wrong Cecil? It means you'll be close by, and I can come to visit and--"

"I do not think that peace between the Undercity and Piltover is possible after the course of events that have occurred. I've already heard Jayce speaking harshly of them. I've grown increasingly worried about his actions and how he will turn this on them. Seika, I will not let them suffocate under the current Councilors of Piltover."

Seika's brows furrowed as she heard Cecil speak of Jayce and his recent motives.

"Seika, they'd just declared peace and allowed the full independence of Zaun when they were violently attacked with an exploding projectile. The once peaceful resolution in Jayce's mind is waning and I cannot let the Firelights become caught up in it."

"Then I'll come and help--"

"Seika, you need to be here. I need to know of how Jayce plans to move forward. As of recent, you've been able to give him an ounce of reasoning, I cannot reiterate enough that your presence here is incredibly important, especially after your response after the attack. You are needed here Seika. Not only for Jayce and Piltover but for Viktor as well."

Seika let out a shuddered exhale and nodded, then leaned over and gave Cecil a tight hug. He returned it and then left the room without another word. She considered his words carefully; she really hadn't seen much of Jayce this week beyond when she'd woken up that first day. Caitlyn had been discharged a day after she'd been brought in and Mel was discharged two days ago. Seika had heard the nurses gossiping about how Jayce appeared to be doting on her, and she wondered whether something further was happening between the pair that she was unaware of.

Eventually, her doctor came in and went over a few routine things, mostly aftercare, and handed her her discharge papers. She thanked him and he left. Just as she stood, she too was about to leave, Jayce and Mel entered the room. Seika's eyes drifted downward and there very openly, the pair held hands. Seika attempted to maintain some face but her brows twitched quizzically -- seems she'd received her answer.

"We heard you were being discharged and wanted to come see you," Jayce spoke first, his head turning to look at Councilor Medarda. She smiled and stepped forward, letting go of Jayce's hand.

The Councilor who once remained clothing free on her shoulders and arms seemed to have disappeared as she had a dress altered to cover her torso and had been knitted together seamlessly at her missing left arm. It looked padding and Seika could easily assume there was an excessive amount of gauze beneath it, but the outfit looked clean and perfect as Councilor Medarda always seemed to be.

"I hadn't come to thank you yet, for saving my life, Seika," Councilor Medarda spoke softly and extended her right hand out with a gentle smile.

Seika was still coming to terms with Cecil's admissions of Jayce's feelings concerning Zaun and Piltover, but she pushed past it, extending her own hand and shaking it gently.

"Please, I only did what I could to help, Jayce was the one who truly stepped in to assist you."

"Perhaps that's the case, but you're far too modest, you saved most of the Councilors... Of course, I don't mean--"

Seika raised her hand palm outward.

"I've taken no offense Councilor Medarda." She said. She'd known Councilor Medarda hadn't meant any ill intention, but Seika still internally struggled with the death of Councilor Kiramman and Hoskel, though she'd pushed her own guilt deep inside of her in an attempt to free herself from it.

"Mel, please, I feel you've earned far more familiar company now," she spoke.

"Please, Seika, if there's any way that the Council or that Piltover can assist you, please let us know. We owe you far too much."

Seika considered pushing against it, she'd wanted to remain true to what she'd said to Jayce that night, but she gave a single slow nod and smile but remained silent.

Jayce went to cut into the conversation but a nurse from outside beat him to it.

"Councilor Talis, the patient in room 154 has just awoken."

Jayce had turned to look at the nurse as she spoke to him, but the moment the room number and status left the woman's lips, his head had whipped around to look at Seika.

Mel and Jayce stepped quickly from the room and Seika was on their heels as they traveled the few doors down to Viktor's room.

Jayce and Mel stepped first but parted to each side of the door when they'd entered. Seika squeezed in between them and there, eyes half-lidded and settled into the pillows was an awake Viktor.

"Viktor," Seika called softly as she moved to his right side and when his amber eyes met hers she nearly cried. Her hand went to his left cheek and cradled it as he smiled gently, but he pulled away from her and coughed several times, fresh blood leaving a light splattering on his palm.

Seika's eyebrows raised in worry as she reached for a cloth for him to wipe his hand and he thanked her softly.

He looked up and viewed Jayce and Mel, and he saw the look Jayce gave him. Viktors own brows furrowed in confusion -- Jayce looked upset, but why? His eyes drifted down to his right metallic hand and it clenched once, then twice.

Viktor swore under his breath and Seika looked to Jayce and Mel.

"We're pleased that you've awoken Viktor," Mel spoke first, her voice amicable, but her eyes unreadable as they quickly drifted up and down his person, stopping for an unnecessarily long period of time at his exposed right hand.

Seikas left hand went to his right and held it tightly as she viewed the couple at the other end of the room.

Jayce nodded as he spoke curtly.

"Yeah, it's good you're awake."

The air in the room was tense and it slipped into an awkward silence.

"Jayce, I'm sorry that I didn't tell you," Viktor finally spoke. He gently pulled his metal hand from Seika's and waved it aimlessly.

"I-" he began, but slipped into silence. Where did he even begin? The metallic taste in his mouth began to bother him and he turned to Seika, making a motion for something to drink.

She smiled and nodded, and his eyes went to her forehead. It'd been bandaged again, and her fingertips had bandaged. He hadn't even realized how he'd gotten here; had he fainted again?

She brought him a glass of water and he drank it quickly, then his eyes found Jayce's. He could tell he was frustrated.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Jayce's voice came out harsh, and Seika truly didn't know if he'd meant it to come out that way.

"You hid this from me Viktor, this is absolutely ridiculous. Do you know how I found out, the Doctors pulled me into the room and showed me. My own partner, my own brother, lied to me about -- about --" he thrust his hands out and motioned to Viktor.

"This!" He exclaimed loudly.

Viktors brows furrowed and he squeezed the empty cup in his hand

Mel had stepped forward, intertwining her fingers with one of his as she called his name quietly, and it was then when Viktor realized she'd been missing an entire arm.

Jayce had turned into Mel and she spoke to him softly, the pair meeting eyes as they spoke in hushed whispers as Viktors face mirrored confusion. When had they gotten so close?

Viktor's eyes went to Seika's and she looked down and exhaled.

"What of this?" Viktor suddenly spat.

"When did this," he paused, "develop?"

Mel and Jayce had turned to look at him and Jayce's brows softened just a bit.

"It... It doesn't matter," He said, his eyes shifting away.

"Apparently it does, perhaps this has been why you've changed, it seems that you've been, influenced, as of late." Seika's eyes widened as she looked between Viktor and Jayce.

"Viktor--" she began, but Jayce's voice took over hers.

"Councilor Medarda and I shared similar feelings prior to our liaison," he spoke harshly.

"Oh, really?" Viktor questioned.

"When did this liaison start then?" Viktor jeered and Seika struggled as she watched the scene unfold. The rift between the two, that for a moment, appeared so strong, was becoming wider and wider now. Viktor and Jayce were being spurred by their own anger and it would divide them immensely if they continued.

"Who I'm with is not nearly as important as this thing you've done to yourself," Jayce argued, once again throwing his hand in the direction of Viktors right side.

"I sought to improve my situation while you were off gallivanting around as some makeshift Councilor. Despite your distractions, I continued our research, though your lack of involvement as of late could bring the term 'our' into question. What have you been doing?" Viktor paused.

"Or perhaps it's who?"

Seika's hand covered half her face in shock and when she looked up to Jayce, she was met with pure anger.

The moment he went to speak Seika stood and leaned over as she rested both palms on the surface of the bed. Her torso nearly blocked Viktor from Jayce's line of sight.

"Jayce, that's enough," Seika's eyes looked between Jayce and Mel and she gave a short nod to Mel.

Mel turned first, her hand outstretched. Jayce stood his ground and she could see his shoulders moving up and down with his heavy breaths as he attempted to remain in control, and he turned, taking a stride to the door.

"I feel like I don't even know who you are anymore," he said, pushing past Mel and disappearing outside the doorway.

Mel followed him without another word and Seika's head fell.

"Shit," she swore softly and straightened, turning to Viktor whose own gaze viewed her with some unreadable emotions.

"So you've also joined with Mel? Did you hear how eager she was for us to use Hextech to create weapons? And you've just thrown yourself in with them?" He glared.

"No, no, no, you don't get to take this out on me. You said what you said to him. Everyone is already on their toes after what happened, this was the wrong moment to do this Viktor." She turned from him, running a hand through her hair.

He scoffed lightly.

"You act as if I've never fainted before and woken up in the hospital."

Seika froze; he didn't even know. No one told him.

She swore, much louder this time, and slowly turned to face him.

"Viktor, a week ago, a projectile was launched from somewhere within the Undercity and blew up the Council Room. Councilor Hoskell and Councilor Kiramman are dead, Mel lost her arm in the explosion and every other Councilor is injured except Jayce." She paused, "You... you didn't know..."

Viktor's face dropped and his eyes searched for nothing in particular.

"A-A bomb?" he asked softly.

"Yes," she strode to his side and took his face in her hands.

"I tried to get there, I tried to stop it--"

Viktors metal hand lightly grazed the gauze on her forehead.

"And this got worse?"

Seika released one of his cheeks to press the cold hand to her own cheek and she nodded softly.

"The doctors said it will scar but--"

"And these...?" his eyes went to her bandaged fingertips and Seika's vision fell to his bedsheets.

"I-I," she let out a breathy emotional laugh as her feelings swelled in her and the traumatic experiences flooded her intensely.

"I had to dig you out, I-I, I thought I'd lost you," she began to hyperventilate as her memories relived themselves in her vision.

"I didn't even know you were there until Jayce was screaming to find you," Seika's eyes clamped shut as she pushed the memories from her sight.

A wave of nausea rose within Viktor; that's what had happened? Seika's remaining hand fell from his face and she hadn't opened her eyes.

When both of Viktors hands now held her cheeks, Seika's blue eyes found Viktors amber ones.

"Seika, Seika, Seika," he whispered softly and pulled her for a passionate kiss. She nearly melted into him and her knees wobbled, so much so that she leaned on the bed for support.

She was panting when they'd pulled away from one another, and Viktor was wiping tears she hadn't even known she'd shed.

"I'm sorry," he whispered and she kissed away the apology with a quick grab of his lips, then pressed her forehead to his.

"I missed you," she confessed and he smiled, letting out a breathy chuckle.

"I missed you Seika," he said and she instantly felt butterflies in her stomach.

How desperately she wanted to crawl into his bed with him and never leave, but she pulled away from him with a soft sigh.

"I have to talk to Jayce. He's been dealing with this for so long and even though Mel is well enough, he's still struggling with things."

Viktor nodded, guilt swelling in him and his eyes looked away. Things between him and Jayce had been tense, and he still remembered what Jayce had said to him on the bridge; he didn't want this, but their relationship was strained at best and he'd worried about the likelihood of a resolution.

"Don't worry, we'll get everything settled when you're discharged," she said softly and kissed his forehead.

Viktor pulled her hand and placed a soft kiss on it and she faced through the door, then back to him.

He could see her struggle; she didn't want to leave him.

"Seika," he said softly, "I am here," he lightly pulled her hand back to rest on his chest.

The act calmed her, as it always seemed to do so and she gave him a warm adoring smile, and then she left.

Now that he was alone, Viktors brows furrowed as he slipped into unsettled thoughts.

...

Seika had taken plenty of time when she left the hospital, her nerves getting to the better of her. It was almost an hour past since the interaction between Viktor and Jayce and she'd finally stood in front of the door to Jayce's private Councilor office.

She inhaled deeply and then gave three soft raps on the door.

She heard Jayce's voice from the inside verbally permit entry and she opened the door and stepped inside.

He looked up fully when the door closed behind her and his eyes widened a bit. Then furrowed and he looked away. He wasn't at all interested in receiving a lecture.

"What is it Seika?"

She waited for him to look back up at her before she spoke.

"I am not apologizing for what he said, I'll admit, I was surprised by it too," she spoke, and Jayce huffed, already knowing the direction this was going.

"Look, if you're going to lecture me on Mel and I's relationship then you might as well leave, I--"

"No, I'm not. Quite frankly, it's not my business. I had little care for Council matters when Cecil had invited me, and such facts remain true to this day. The politics of it all are boorish and frustrating, in fact, I think the most interesting thing that had ever happened in that room was when I pinned you to the ground and nearly ripped your head off."

Jayce smiled, letting out a breathy chuckle; of course, she'd see it that way. She'd hardly had to deal with any serious structure for most of her life.

"Then what, because I've no interest in speaking about Viktor at the moment," he settled back in his chair and crossed his arms.

Seika's hands moved to the front of her chest and slightly struggled to clench. She saw Jayce's eyebrows raised in a confused manner.

"You're both so -- urg!" She let out a noise of frustration.

Jayce physically recoiled a bit at the noise, confusion still evident on his face.

"He didn't know Jayce," Seika finally announced.

"Viktor thought he'd fainted and woke up in the hospital again! He wasn't aware of the bomb, or the explosion, or of the Councilors, or anything!" She rushed quickly.

Jayce went to say something but Seika cut him off.

"Surely you can imagine his shock of you just trotting in with Mel, hand-holding and sappy as he's struggling with being at death's door Jayce! Have you forgotten that?!" She berated, harsher than she'd intended to.

Jayce ran a hand through his hair as he swore softly.

"No, no I didn't Seika..."

"Then why do you act otherwise?"

"Because the threat from the Undercity is real Seika," Jayce finally stood, slamming his palms down on the desktop.

"We were blown up Seika, Viktor and Mel almost died, two Councilors lost their lives and all the rest of them were injured except--" Shock coated his face as he let out breathy gasps.

Seika's eyes widened a bit and her face fell and she walked to the front of this desk. Her hand went to his cheek and she tilted his head up to look at her.

"Let go of the guilt you feel, you cannot spend the rest of your life guilty because you lived Jayce," she said softly.

"And what of your guilt then? Don't think I didn't catch how you responded when Mel said what she said. Have you let go of your own guilt?" He asked.

Seika let out an airy chuckle in pure exasperation.

"Of course not... what I would have done to have traded places with Councilor Kiramman..." She whispered and her hands returned to her sides.

"The world is ugly and the world is awful right now, but we cannot turn on one another. They still need our help Jayce, the undercity, it was your goal once to help them yes, is it still?"

He did not move, then moved his head up and down slowly.

Seika sighed; was it relief? Worry? She didn't know.

"Vi and Caitlyn have requested to meet with me, they have knowledge about the projectile; I would like to request your attendance, please." Jayce paused, "and if Viktor is able to come, I would appreciate his appearance as well," Jayce said.

Seika nodded.

"Then, until tomorrow morning, eleven sharp, I'll meet you at the front of the building." He spoke curtly.

Seika wanted to continue, but pushing him any further about Viktor could break the very delicate situation that was at hand, and it seemed that Jayce trusted him enough to allow Viktors presence at this next meeting. She'd take what she could get right now so she verbally acknowledged their next meeting then excused herself.

...

Seika stared at the cafe she and Viktor had gone to together. The inside was bustling and she could see the two familiar owners present, chatting away with some of the people inside. She bit her lower lip; she'd wanted to get Viktor something, some sweet milk, but she remembered the last interaction they had and she was worried how terrified they'd be.

Seika watched as Elaina's face lit up as she laughed with someone; Seika heard nothing, but she could hear the older woman's voice in her head, and it spurred her to the door. The door creaked when she entered and Elaina greeted her but hadn't turned to face her yet.

When the older woman did, however, she froze and dropped one of the plates she was carrying. The crash of it echoed in the now silent cafe. Seika's eyes blinked rapidly and she looked at everything but Elaina. She shouldn't have done this.

She began to back out but Elaina's voice caught her off guard.

"Where's Viktor?"

Seika's eyes found her and then found her husband who was staring wide-eyed from behind the baked goods counter.

"He's, um," she paused, her face smiling and falling as she attempted to save some face.

"He's ill and in the hospital right now," she admitted but didn't go into any further detail.

Elaina viewed her intensely, unsure of the girl who had turned into a beast before their very eyes, but she shooed her husband to the kitchen and muttered a few words. When he'd returned with a small canister, she approached the silver-haired girl slowly.

"For Viktor," Elaina said and she held the canister out as far as she could to the girl, wanting to keep some distance between them.

Seika eyed the canister and smiled warmly at it. She reached into her coin purse and Elaina stepped back, everyone else following suit and tensing up and Seika froze. Her eyes wandered between the faces of those present before her and she let out a breathy exhale, dropping a few monies on the empty table to her left.

She offered Elaina a pained smile and nodded.

"Thank you," she whispered and rushed from the cafe.

Her greatest fear, her own abilities scaring those she cared about, reared its ugly head and she could not stop the tears that fell as she made her way to the one who accepted her wholeheartedly.

...

Viktor had noticed Seika was off when she'd returned, but he didn't press the issue, and instead, the pair of them shared the sweet milk together, smiling and relishing in the warmth and love of one another. Such moments seemed to be few and far between, and at this moment, they were determined to not let it go to waste.

Chapter Text

Seika had remained with Viktor throughout the night and when he awoke in the morning, he settled into the pillow of his bed, his face in her direction as he watched her sleep soundly. She was resting in the chair, her feet hoisted up on the side of his bed. She'd cradled the side of her face in her left palm and her lips were just barely parted, releasing a soft exhale with every breath of hers. He smiled warmly, his eyes following her hair from its dark roots to the silvery ends that somehow sparkled in the light of the room. He exhaled, the sound guttural and raspy. With every inhale he felt his lungs constrict more and more and he wondered when they'd just ceased functioning. His eyes had drifted to her face again and his face had fallen as he slipped into thought.

Was there really nothing he could do to fix himself? He'd just keel over and die one day and that'd be it for him? Would it be painful? Would he just suddenly cease breathing and fall to the ground clutching his throat as those around watched in terror, unable to do anything? He couldn't even imagine how Seika would respond if she was there; he felt his chest tighten at just pushing the thought away. His eyes drifted down to his right hand that he clenched and released. Sky's face flashed past him and his left hand covered his eyes as if to hide from it. It was still difficult to believe it'd happened, and that he'd never see her in that office again...

A foreign voice interrupted him and he inhaled quickly, his breath catching in his throat and causing him to cough.

His eyes found the doctor who had come in during his thoughts, unbeknownst to him. Seika had woken quickly, her eyes drowsy with sleep and she'd sat up straight and leaned to him, her hand finding his right one.

Viktor declared he was fine, using his left hand to wave absentmindedly, and together the pair listened to the doctor speak. He was giving Viktor the all-clear and paperwork for discharge.

They'd brought in his cleaned items and after another hour and a half, the pair were finally leaving the hospital. Viktor looked at the canister Seika clutched in her arms as they neared the cafe; she'd been very adamant about stopping by to return it on their way back to the academy and then the pair were standing just before the door.

"Shall we get something to eat? Otherwise, we may not eat until after the meeting," Viktor asked.

Seika stumbled on her words, letting out a nervous chuckle as she fussed unconsciously with her hair.

"I'm not hungry, I'm just going to return this real quick." She said and stepped inside, leaving him. Viktors brows furrowed quizzically and he followed after her once the door closed.

When he entered he watched as Elaina and her husband viewed Seika nervously, but when their eyes found him their entire demeanor changed from uncomfortable to the normal amiable.

"Viktor," Elaina nearly cried and she moved to his left, waving her hand to encourage him to walk towards her. He hobbled, his head tilted and Elaina gave a concerned look to Seika that softened when she viewed him.

"We were so worried after that explosion happened at the Academy, you weren't caught up in that, right?" She fussed with his outfit as her husband moved to her side.

"No no, surely not," she babbled, "but you were in the hospital, dear boy. You should have sent that friend of yours, that councilor to tell us, we would have loved to come and visit--"

"I do not understand," Viktor interrupted quietly.

Elaina paused her head shaking just a bit in confusion.

"Understand what Viktor?" She requested.

Viktor turned back to view Seika whose hands were tightly clenched in front of her and her vision down to the floor.

"Seika?" He called to her, extending his gloved right hand. Her eyes met his and he saw the emotion. He watched her sight shift between him and the owners and when no one said anything she took a step forward.

"No no Viktor, we just want to speak with you," Elaina interrupted and he turned to face her.

"It's just been so long since we've seen and spoken with you privately," she explained, her words uncharacteristically rushed and unfocused.

Seika cleared her throat and when Viktor turned to look at her again, he'd noticed she'd taken the step back.

"I'll give you all a moment," she said softly, her eyes not meeting theirs, and then she disappeared out the door.

The older pair audibly sighed and Elaina's husband wrapped an arm around the shoulders of his wife.

"Viktor, we've just been worried."

Viktors eyes found Elaina's.

"What is there to worry about?"

Elaina went quiet and this time her husband spoke.

"Viktor, that girl isn't who you think she is. She had us deceived as well."

Viktor's face recoiled and his brows furrowed.

"What do you mean?" He readjusted himself on his crutch, his right hand crossing in front of him to rest on the middle handle.

"Over a week ago, before the explosion, she changed into a wolf," he exclaimed, using his hands to poorly demonstrate the size. "She'd been screaming about hearing things, but there was nothing that was happening. It was a quiet night and she was shrieking like a banshee--"

"It absolutely scared the life of us, and she just ran away to the Academy. We feared the worst for you! What if she'd gone to kill you? We didn't know, and then she mentioned you were in the hospital and it gave us the biggest fright--"

"She's not human, Viktor, she's a monster!" Elaina's husband exclaimed and Viktors face fell in shock.

He bit his cheek, holding himself back.

"Seika has the ability to use magic," he finally spoke after an extensive period of silence that had broken out among the trio.

Elaina looked to her husband and the pair shared the same look of confusion.

"She saved my life, multiple times in fact. Yet you treat her with such disrespect, claim she's a monster. No wonder she hid her abilities for so long. The first time she told me she admitted she feared she'd never fit in, that she'd be outcast because of who she was, your response has worried me for the future and whether or not she can ever truly be who she is."

He straightened.

"But no matter, I'll defend her until my last breath, because there are true monsters in the world," his right hand went to his mouth and his teeth caught the end of his glove that he smoothly pulled from his hand. Elaina's mouth dropped and her brows furrowed in confusion as he ran his metal fingertips through his hair. His left hand grabbed the dangling glove and his eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke.

"And Seika is not one of them."

He turned from them, his heart heavy; he adored the couple as much as they did him, but their behavior and views were unacceptable, and despite Elaina and her husband verbally protesting his departure, his eyes just barely catching the abandoned canister on an empty table, he pushed through the door and onto the street.

Seika was a little bit away, standing with her front away from the door, but he could see that her arms were crossed in front of her as the fingertips of her hands clung to the opposite arm's elbow.

He hobbled to her, his cane rhythmically clacking on the stone.

"Seika," he called softly when he was behind her and she spun. He could see the emotion on her face and his still ungloved right hand cradled her cheek.

"I'm sorry, I hope I didn't cause any issues, it was the night of--" her voice caught in her throat and she cleared it before continuing, "of your hand. I hope you can still come back here and visit them --"

Viktor wrapped his right arm around her lower back and pulled her to his chest.

"They insult you and all you can hope is that I can come to visit them? Silly girl... Why must you think about everyone besides yourself?" he let her pull away and he smiled sadly down at her.

"I'm sorry for how they treated you Seika," he apologized and slipped his glove back on after giving her a soft kiss on her forehead.

She gave a forced smile and the pair departed, heading up towards the Academy.

...

The pair waited at the assigned meeting place for nearly half an hour before Jayce met them. He'd apologized for keeping them waiting and the three entered inside, heading down a foreign hallway in silence. The awkward silence between the three was almost deafening, but Viktor's occasional hand grazing hers kept Seika grounded and when they approached the Enforcer guarded doors, the trio entered, Seika audibly thanking the guards who opened the doors for them.

A very last-minute makeshift council room had been made up. Chairs and tables had hastily been put together, most of them not even matching with the others, but all current Councilors sat, wounds bandaged or limbs in slings, and Jayce took his seat.

Viktor stepped in after Seika and sat in a chair that'd been brought in just to Seika's right.

The silver-haired girl looked to her left and standing together were Vi and Caitlyn. Vi gave her a quick hug and smile, and Caitlyn gave her one after and she lingered in her arms for a bit longer. Seika could still feel the girl's pain and very easily presumed that the situation now was incredibly difficult for her.

When Seika stepped away, the three girls aligned, Caitlyn, Vi, then Seika, and sitting a few feet from Seika was Viktor.

Seika's eyes wandered around the Councilor and Soola gave her a smile, Bolbok a curt nod, and Salo's face lit up as he gave a small wave.

Her eyes had skipped Jayce and Mel, and when they found them Mel gave an amicable smile and Jayce wasn't particularly responsive, but didn't respond negatively to her.

"Councilors, we've met Caitlyn, the daughter of the late Councilor Kiramman, and Vi, her associate from the undercity. They have told me that they were present during the launching of the renegade projectile that nearly knocked Piltover to its feet last week."

He paused.

"And of course, we're all aware of Seika and her actions who've proved her more than trustworthy at these meetings. I've requested her presence during this as an ally of Piltover, and Viktor, co-inventor of Hextech for his expertise and knowledge."

One of Seika's eyebrows raised at the mention of ally; while it wasn't false, she'd hoped it wouldn't make her out to be an enemy of the Undercity because that was the last thing she wanted.

Jayce motioned to Caitlyn and Vi, the prior stepping forward.

"Thank you Councilors, I know that this has been a difficult period for all this week and I appreciate you meeting with us so early during your recovery."

Seika heard her shakey inhale and didn't miss Vi's slight graze of the nervous girl's hand.

She wanted to be glad, to cheer and tease, as they'd done to her before, but the fear of the news of what'd had happened blocked out anything other than the important task at hand.

"The night of the projectile, I was taken from my home and kidnapped," Caitlyn spoke, her head held high.

Seika's head whipped to face Vi, who in turn looked back at her, guilt evident.

"When I'd come too, I was bound and gagged to a wheelchair along with Vi," she paused, "and Silco."

Seika took a step forward unconsciously as the Councilors broke out into hushed whispers.

"Silco kidnapped you?" Jayce asked, his brows furrowed and anger evident.

"No, Jinx kidnapped all three of us."

Seika's eyes found Vi who couldn't hide the pained look in her eye.

"In the end, Silco was shot and killed by Jinx."

The Councilors broke out in louder whispers this time and Seika looked to Caitlyn who gave an incredibly forced smile back to her.

How could this have happened? Did Jinx turn on Silco? They'd been allies, right? Her own lack of knowledge of the situation frustrated her so much that her fist clenched at her side. What would happen in the Undercity now that Silco was dead?

Viktor's eyes hadn't left Seika. He relatively understood the situation, what he'd picked up from the meetings he'd been requested to attend, and from Jayce telling him of it, but Seika's response worried him.

"What happened to Jinx?" Salo broke past the whispers.

Caitlyn inhaled shakily and her fists clenched at her side.

"S-She.. um..."

Vi grabbed one of her fists lightly and smiled warmly, stepping forward past her.

"Jinx created a weapon, some type of rocket launcher, and used the Gemstone to power it."

Seika's eyes widened in shock and her knees nearly fell out from under her. She stumbled to her right, grabbing the back of Viktors chair for support. Such news had completely caught her off guard. Guilt washed over her so hard she suddenly felt ill and her hand went to her mouth. If only she'd gone to get it sooner then things would have been different. If only she'd managed to keep the gemstone when they had it people would be alive; Councilor Kiramman, Councilor Hoskell, Mel would have her arm, the rest of the Councilors wouldn't have gotten injured, Viktor and Jayce wouldn't have fought... there were a million things and more crashing down on her as her guilt dragged her further and further into the floor.

She hadn't even heard Viktor calling her name.

"Seika," a loud voice crashed through her thoughts, and standing, eyes staring her down was Jayce.

"Y-Yes, I'm fine, my apologies..." she spoke, clearing her throat as the waves of nausea pummeled her internally. She side-eyed Viktor and the pair of girls to her left in an attempt to have them think she was fine and nodded to Vi to continue.

"A-After she used the weapon, she disappeared," Vi finished, turning back to the Councilors.

Typically the Councilors would break out into hushed whispers, but it was so silent in the room that Seika heard her own erratic breathing.

Viktor had turned around in his seat, his side now against the chair's back as his gloved hand grabbed hers lightly.

Seika's face had gotten incredibly pale but she gripped the chair's back and exhaled deeply, sitting up as she pushed away some of the emotion.

"Thank you, both of you," Jayce finally said, his palms resting on the tabletop.

"I understand reliving those events in this manner must be incredibly painful and we appreciate it."

Caitlyn smiled at him and Vi gave him a simple glance. Whatever tension was present between them earlier in the hospital seemed to have disappeared, at least for the time being.

"I'd like to recommend something but we're down two Councilors, and so I'd like to propose a vote." Attention in the room had turned entirely to Jayce.

"I would personally like to recommend Caitlyn Kiramman as interim Councilor, and let her take place of her late mother," he said.

"J-Jayce, wait," Caitlyn began.

"Caitlyn, I personally believe you would fill your mother's shoes wonderfully, she's prepared you for this your entire life; you're ready," he said with a nod and a kind smile.

Seika's brows furrowed, but was it what she wanted? Based on her current face, she'd guess no.

"Councilors, an admission to the council require a unanimous vote."

Rather quickly, the remaining Councilors raised their hand, and Caitlyn was forced to step forward and take her mother's place. Seika's face, however, recoiled into distaste for the situation, and Vi shared the same look.

"Councilor Hoskell's position will soon be filled by his next-of-kin when the timing is appropriate, however, they've already been notified of the situation. As per my previous statement, there are a few things we need to discuss. I would like to put a vote forward for a new Sheriff. We're in dire need of one, especially with Jinx now having created a volatile weapon.

"I have a few options or if you all would rather, I can pick," Jayce spoke, shrugging his shoulders absentmindedly.

"Jayce did originally seek out the corruption on his first day of being a Councilor," Bolbok spoke.

A minor discussion broke out among the Councilors, but Caitlyns shock of everything that'd happened still hadn't disappeared as the news sunk in.

"I can say confidently that Jayce would pick out the most suitable candidate for the Sheriff position," Mel spoke, her right hand resting on the tabletop.

Salo and Soola could provide no rebuttal and simply nodded or gave a brief acceptance and then all the Councilors turned to the still-standing Caitlyn.

Caitlyn still hadn't recovered and only nodded in response. Jayce smiled and she could see true emotion behind his response; he'd genuinely thought he'd done something good for her.

With the vote going for Jayce to interview and hire the new Sheriff, he transitioned the conversation.

"I also wanted to bring up another matter."

His eyes met Viktors and they shared a look, then Jayce broke the contact and looked to Seika, then Vi, and lastly Caitlyn.

"The events of last week were completely unforgivable. Lives were lost, innocent lives and many more could have been taken." Jayce peered around at the other Councilors and his hand thrust out toward Caitlyn and Vi as he referenced their experience that night.

"With Silco dead, there is no longer anyone willing to prepare the undercity for its independence, and I now feel like it's no longer a viable option." Seika stood fully, dropping her hand from the chair's back and her head turned to look at Viktor who met her stare back. When Jayce spoke again, however, their attention turned back to him.

"We very could have well lost innocent Piltover civilians that night. I do not think the undercity is capable of solving its own issues and I would like the Council to seriously discuss the annexation of the undercity. If it were under complete control of the Enforcers and an appropriate Piltover military then--"

"Jayce, do you hear yourself?" Viktor suddenly interrupted him. Jayce finally saw the shock evident on the three non-councilors and their newest interim.

"What, invade the undercity as if they're the enemy? There are children down there Jayce! And you plan to send an army down there?" Viktor argued harshly.

"Viktor, they nearly blew you up, whatever resolutions you had about them should be null and void--"

"The actions of one do not speak for the many Jayce." Seika rebutted, stepping forward, "lest it did, the entire world would have been thrown into chaos by now."

"And I suppose I'll be making the weapons for the military, I assume that's why I am here, is it not?" Viktor sneered, his left fist clenched tightly around his crutch.

"And what of you, you were so against it before?" Seika motioned to Mel, "do you want us to become like Noxus? Battle hungry, violent, and preying on the weak?!"

Mel's mouth opened a bit and she paused before responding.

"I do feel that Jayce has an appropriate idea. Perhaps the delivery of it needed some improvement but--"

"The delivery? That's your problem?" Vi suddenly said, seething. These people wanted to go to war, but instead of going after Silco, they'd just target everyone else.

"Your opinion is not warranted," Jayce turned to Vi and she huffed angrily.

"Ya know, for a guy who ended a raid after he killed some stupid undercity kid, you're suddenly pretty bloodthirsty," Vi said with a sneer, and she strode from the room.

"What?" Viktor snapped and stood.

"Jayce?!"Caitlyn yelled

Seika stood in shock, hell, even Mel was shocked, alongside everyone else in the room.

Jayce slammed a fist down on the table and the room immediately silenced.

"Before the bombing, Vi and I moved with a small group of enforcers to find Silco. We destroyed one of the shimmer factories but a kid, he-he, he got caught in the crossfire and--" his voice broke and he stumbled back, falling into his chair. His face went to his hands and both Seika and Viktor could see his back shake from where they were. Mel placed a tender hand on his back, whispering softly to him.

Seika's arm went to Viktors left shoulder as he settled back into his chair and the room slipped into silence again. His right hand covered hers and when they met eyes, she saw his own guilt about Sky.

"I-I", she paused, "I think..." Seika finally spoke in the silence, giving Jayce a moment to collect himself.

She saw the real raw emotion in his eyes and her heart broke for him -- to have to endure such guilt, with the survivor's guilt on top of it, he must be in agony.

"We're all struggling right now as it's, it's only been a week. I think we should wait until this new Sheriff has time to appropriately respond to the situation," Seika said.

The Councilors all looked at one another and Caitlyn stepped forward.

"I do agree with Seika, I do not believe that an invasion right now is the best course of action; we need to understand how the Undercity will change, particularly with Silco's death now a reality. Once we understand how the situation has developed and have assessed it properly, we can move forward with further discussion and eventually other options."

Seika looked to Caitlyn and they shared a smile.

Whispers broke out among the councilors and one by one they all agreed until there was only Jayce. He looked up and met Seika's almost pleading eyes and nodded his head.

Seika let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and turned to Viktor who had stood. She said her farewells to Caitlyn and together, she and Viktor left.

When they'd exited the building, they found Vi leaning against one of the pillars of the building, arms crossed.

"Vi, you're still here," Seika smiled and they hugged tightly.

"They're not going to annex the undercity, we're going to wait until the new Sheriff takes over and then we'll take action from there," Seika said and Vi chuckled softly.

"I bet you turned them right around with some fancy words huh Miss Magic?" Vi teased and Seika couldn't have felt more joy than seeing Vi happy at that moment.

"Where's cupcake?"

"I think she's still up there, but it shouldn't be too long now, perhaps some introductory debriefing." She said, the pair looking towards the direction of the meeting room they'd left.

"Vi," Seika said, and they met eyes again, "I'm so incredibly sorry."

Vi smiled, the pain evident; what had happened with Powder was something she still hadn't gotten over, but she wanted to help Caitlyn and she knew, in turn, it'd help her younger sister.

"We saw you," she said, looking up to the sky.

"We saw a bright silver streak fly past us, and somehow," Vi walked forward into the sunlight, looking up at the gaping hole in what used to be the Councilor meeting room, "somehow we just knew it was you."

When Vi turned around she was shocked to see a few tears rolling down Seika's face.

She let out a little noise of exasperation as she attempted to pull back her own emotional guilt and ended up just laughing as she cried. Vi took a few steps to her and embraced her again and the pair slipped into silence.

When Seika pulled away, she was wiping her tears and laughing awkwardly, but the pair said nothing else concerning the previous topic.

Vi's eyes finally found Viktor and a single brow rose.

"Is this the nerd?" She asked, crossing her arms.

Viktor unconsciously straightened; he was taller than Vi by almost half a foot, but she'd snap him in half quicker than it'd take for him to take a deep breath.

Seika giggled softly at his response, viewing him warmly.

"Vi, this is Viktor, Viktor, this is Vi," she said, introducing the pair. They shook hands, almost awkwardly, and Seika giggled softly at the interaction, as they said very little beyond a mannerly nice to meet you.

"Did you grow up in the undercity?" Viktor suddenly asked, his face quizzical.

"Yeah, I did, got a problem with that topsider?" Vi asked, nearly sneering as she did.

Viktor smirked, letting out a soft chuckle, and Vi's eyes fluttered between Viktor and Seika as she too bit her lip and smiled.

"I was not born in Piltover, I am from the undercity, just as you, on the border of the Entresol level."

Vi straightened, her arms dropping as Seika let out another fit of giggles as she pat the pink-haired woman on the back.

"Don't worry Pinky, I think he forgives you," she said teasingly, her hands lightly squeezing each of Vi's shoulders as she spoke from behind her.

"Pinky?" Vi rebutted and turned and Seika squealed and stumbled away from her.

"C'mere Magic!" She called out as Seika ran.

Viktor chuckled at the antics of the two women in front of him. He'd never been able to see her in this manner; she'd always been forced into such serious situations. The doors behind him opened and Caitlyn stepped out and stood next to him.

He greeted her softly; it was Jayce who really had any sort of relationship with the Kirammans.

She smiled back and followed his line of sight and her smile warmed immensely.

The pair running guilelessly had turned and spotted Caitlyn, and together they approached her, the trio clutching one another in a big group hug when they'd met.

Viktor chuckled as they broke out into soft laughter and rapid talking.

They'd finally calmed enough and Seika moved back to Viktors side. He saw the flush on her cheeks from her recent activity and smiled.

The four slipped into silence as they settled, and what had happened was suddenly recollected between the four of them.

"I'm going to go after her," Vi suddenly said, unable to hide her decision any longer.

"Again? but Vi--" Caitlyn began.

"Yes, I have to I--"

"Vi, that didn't end well last time. Just," Seika pleaded with her eyes, "please, let's just trust Jayce about this new Sheriff. If it's a poor decision, then we can go find her, together, ok?"

Vi looked between Caitlyn and Seika, the prior who nodded eagerly and likewise shared the same pleading eyes as the silver-haired girl.

She let out a noise of exasperation.

"Damnit, alright, we'll wait." She said and was rewarded with smiles.

"Alright, alright, I'm hungry, food on Kiramman," Vi said, turning and walking away.

Seika chuckled as Caitlyn called out to her, rebutting her, but she turned away from them to face Viktor.

"Come?" She asked.

He smiled down at her warmly, his left hand touching the warm flesh of her cheek and he kissed her on the mouth, once, then pulled away, tilted his head, and kissed her again, rougher this time.

When he'd pulled away again, his eyes found her lips and he so desperately wanted to kiss them again, but he opted for her forehead.

"Next time," he said softly.

Seika's eyes fell and she began to protest but he held his palm up.

"Go," his hand gently grabbed hers and placed it against his chest.

"I'm still here, and I'll be here when you get back. My room, yes?" He confirmed and when she nodded and smiled warmly, he kissed her again, smoothly slipping the key to his room in her hand.

"Come on Miss Magic and nerd boy," Vi called out loudly in the distance.

The pair chuckled and said their goodbyes. Viktor watched as she jogged away from him and when he could not see her any longer, his brows furrowed.

Jayce had intended for him to make weapons to use on the undercity...

He coughed once, then twice and caught his breath, then moved in the direction of his lab.

He couldn't let it happen, no, he wouldn't let it happen.

Save himself.

Save the undercity.

Be with Seika.

Chapter Text

Sevika fiddled with the crappy lighter she'd taken from Finn, the cigar just barely pinched between her teeth.

She groaned softly as her arm continued to leak all over the couch. Silco might be pissed she destroyed his couch, but nowhere near as pissed as the fact that Vi had nearly taken her life. That dumb pink-haired bitch.

When Finn's lighter failed again she swore, her cigar wiggling between her moving lips, and she eventually just threw the damned thing to the other side of the room. She leaned forward and stood, moving towards Silco's desk and bracing herself on it as she used her free right hand to thrust open the drawers until she found his lighter.

With a quick flip and click, she'd ignited the lighter and lit her cigar up. Sevika took a few beginner puffs, letting the cigar fully ignite before she took a long drawl, letting the smoke billow softly out her nostrils before she exhaled it fully from her mouth.

Her fingers pulled it from her lips as she moved her left shoulder blade gently and winced. The cigar found its way back into her mouth and she took another long inhale, relishing as it calmed her.

Fucking bitch.

She turned her back to the desk and leaned her rear against it.

Where the fuck was Silco? He'd been distant recently and worse off, he hadn't told her anything, instead, he'd just slipped off and gone where he'd please.

Her brows furrowed as she let out another puff of smoke, this one less gracefully than the last as she rushed to inhale another puff.

She turned her neck to look at the mangled arm and she sneered; she'd have to get the whole damn thing replaced if she didn't die from it first.

Her thoughts trailed back to the gauntlets Vi had worn, and the shield that suddenly came out of nowhere. What bullshit topsider crap had she gotten? It didn't matter, shimmer would excel way beyond it anyway.

Sevika knew she'd have to go see Silco's associate, that creepy ass guy, and she admittedly dreaded it, but he knew more about this type of work, shimmer particularly, than anyone else.

She stood, gathering her resolve, and wiped some dried blood from her face. Her left arm had slowed to an infrequent dribble of shimmer and mechanical fluid, and despite the multiple protests from her body, Sevika moved forward, leaving Silco's office and heading into the destroyed bar.

Fuck, Silco would be pissed.

Fucking. Bitch.

The place was a mess, and empty, but she'd had men further out into the street, so she hastily exited the bar. At her exit of The Last Drop, four men approached her, and together, they moved in a unit, clinging to the shadows as they made their way up the trench and towards Singed's lab.

By the time Sevika had made it she was panting, her one hand resting on its knee as pain wracked her body.

One of the four men opened the door for her and Singed was standing at his desk, fiddling with a bottle of shimmer.

Their eyes met and when his sight found her arm, or lack thereof, the place where his left eyebrow would have been his raised.

He looked at her like she was some kind of experiment, and it took every ounce in her not to pummel him for it.

He nodded his head to his table and with the assistance of two of her guards, she hobbled to it and sat on the tabletop.

Singed waved his hand towards the men, motioning for them to leave and then approached Sevika's left side. Sevika nodded when the eyes of her men met hers and they exited through the door, but the lack of trailing footsteps after their exit meant they'd remained outside the door.

"What occurred for your arm to be, well, gone?" He chided as he poked and prodded into the empty socket.

"A fight gone bad," was all she spit out, and when one of his fingers tightened around one of the stray fibers that connected to her nervous tissue she hissed loudly.

"Pain, it's a funny thing. Without it, we wouldn't even know we were dying, but with it, and death suddenly becomes incredibly real," he enunciated the last word and Sevika could see the chaotic grin that peeked out from just behind his cowl as his eyes scrunched in pleasure.

He lived for this, for experimenting on the biology of his subjects. Twas his calling.

"Yeah, well, Silco needs me, so hop to it," Sevika commanded, straightening in some attempt to intimidate.

Singed could have laughed; he could end her life in a split second, but he had no need for power displays, not when he was as intelligent as he was.

The green light of the room bounced off Sevika's face as she looked about nervously, and she hated to admit it, but fear caught in her throat when Singed forced her onto her back. She winced quietly, her open wound brushing against the edge of the table as the chill bit the open skin of her back.

She heard Singed chuckle softly at her noise and she clenched her fist. Bottles littered shelves that'd been carved out in the walls of his hideaway and the green light from the entity in the large tank cast an eerie glow from behind her. Singed shadow temporarily cast a darkness over her lying figure as he stepped behind her head and around to the other side of the table

"Just like the last one," she said, shaking her neck out as Singed prepared a needle. His finger flicked the barrel a few times forcing any bubbles present within the liquid to move to the surface so that he could release them.

He didn't respond and she once again, saw his eyes smirk with glee when he leaned over her.

"Just like the last one Singed," she reiterated as she felt the slight pinch of the needle in her right arm.

He pushed the plunger as he chuckled hauntingly.

"We shall see..."

Sevika went to sit up but her body immediately became heavy, and all she could do was lull her head to her left.

The last sight she saw was a what resembled a man, hanging up near the ceiling, wires and tubes on nearly every extremity, the figure haunting and lifeless but also familiar, and yet not exactly the same figure she'd known all those years ago.

And then it was dark

...

She felt the pain, burning through her as she struggled to just briefly open her eyes. She wanted to scream and swear and fight whoever was causing her this harm but she was unable to move.

Sevika felt her left arm being poked and proded, torn apart, and she felt her nerves ignite as she burned from the inside out.

She groaned painfully and her eyes just barely teetered open, and she faced the horrific mangled figure that hung from the tubes and wires; his current appearance looked so foreign despite the fact she'd seen him before she felt like she was on fire. That couldn't have been longer than a few minutes ago. But any understanding of time or complex rational thought was lost within the pain that seared through her.

The flames burned intensely again and she heard a loud chuckle as she felt a familiar stabbing sensation in her right arm and slipped back into the dark.

..

Sevika gasped awake, using her arms to thrust herself upward as she coughed and hacked up blood.

She groaned softly and looked to her left, and there was her arm, and seemingly better than before. It swirled with green and purple that both gave her the creeps and entranced her. Her brows furrowed and she found Singed who hadn't even acknowledged her, instead, he'd just remained at his desk, one eye peering into his microscope.

"What the hell did you do to me?" She barked loudly as she slid from the table.

Her knees collapsed from under her and it took the strength of both arms to catch herself on the edge of the table.

"I wouldn't move quite yet, the drug is still wearing off. You required more than was expected; quite interesting. It appears that the shimmer, however, has already begun to degenerate your body." He spoke, still peering into the microscope.

"My own personal variant should help minimize further damages to your body, along with my newer creation," he stated, pulling away from the sample and turning his chair to look at her.

"New creation, what the hell are you talking about?" Sevika spat back as her arms slowly hoisted her back up onto the tabletop.

He dragged her vial belt from where it'd been resting on the desk behind him and held it up in front of her. Each little pocket held a vial split down the middle; one side containing the familiar shimmer, the other a bright green liquid.

"You'll notice an, improvement, in your fighting. Moreso than shimmer was able to provide." He tossed it at her and she caught it hastily.

She tested her arm, watching it swirl with the colorful liquids as it moved.

"Weapon upgrades however, are not my expertise, you'll need to go elsewhere for those," Singed stated cooly and he turned away.

"However, if you use and accept the new mixture you shouldn't have that arm ripped from your shoulder again."

Sevika nearly heard the sneer in his voice and she rubbed her nose as she let out a loud sniff. It suddenly became very apparent that it stank, the pungent scent finally attacking her nose.

"What the hell is that smell?" She asked harshly, the back of her wrist wiping her nose again.

Singed looked to his right and Sevika immediately followed, and what she'd thought had been a dream, the hanging figure attached to a mass of cables and tubes, was gone, all that was left were the reminants of what kept the entity hanging in the air.

"Failure," he said bluntly, and turned back to his desk, moving his microscope in front of him.

Sevika glared at Singed's back and rolled her shoulders, letting out a soft graon at the loud pop that erupted from her action.

"I'd recommend you leave Sevika, the undercity is in a bit of an uproar at the moment and I'd very much like for my laboratory to remain unscathed when your guards come looking."

"What are you talking about?" She asked, slipping back on to her feet, feeling some strength back in her legs.

"Rumors spread in the dark, Silco's dead," he said, his eye not leaving the microscope eyepiece.

"What?" Sevika nearly whispered and collapsed back against the table again.

"W-What happened?" She asked, just barely louder than her previous exasperation of shock.

Singed shrugged.

"People say many things, some say one of the Chembarons, others say it was the one he had me save," Singed pulled away from the microscope and swiveled back to face her, leaning back in his chair as his left ankle moved to rest on his right knee.

"The young girl, with the braids," he continued.

Sevika's clenched metal fist dented the table when she slammed it down.

"Jinx?!" she yelled and Singed shrugged and glanced away towards the door.

"Another thing happened during your, rebuilding period," he continued.

"Five days ago, someone," Singed nearly sneered again as he watched Sevika seethe with anger; how much he desired to see the liquid fury course through her, to watch just how it manipulated her system, but he'd see it in action in time.

"Launched a rocket at Piltover's finest, Councilors and all."

Sevika's eyes widened; how fucking big of a target did that make all of the undercity now?

Singed's good eye narrowed as crows feet appeared in the corner of his eyes; the bastard was smiling.

"Jinx." Sevika said harshly, her brows furrowing intensely.

For a moment, Singed might have felt a brief fleeting of intimidation, but it was brushed off, unimportant and all he did was nod towards the door.

Sevika watched him swivel away from her and she stood fully, adrenaline coursing through her as she rolled her shoulders and she took a few steps to the door, the vial belt in hand.

"And if you're in need of any more mixture, do drop by," Singed mocked lightly.

Sevika exited and slammed the door behind her.

...

It hadn't hit Sevika that she'd been in Singed's care, with a lose interpretation of the word, for five days. She nearly expected to walk into fire and toxic gas, but was met with the common sight. More eyes were on her however, and she was sure news of her disappearance had spread, but she moved swiftly through the dark corridors, a man occasionally joining with her in silence until seven men stood at her back before the green-glowing signs of The Last Drop.

She lightly clenched and released her mechanical hand, feeling the power in her shoulder that the equipment gave her and she smiled, moving to the door and kicking it open. Those inside were silent, and the attention of the room had turned to her.

Sevika smirked, moving inside as she puffed her chest out.

Silence.

"Sevika, you're alive," Thieram said, resting his forearms on the bartop and cheers erupted from about the bar.

"You dogs can't get rid of me that easily, I had to get an upgrade," She joked and they riled up when she flexed it.

"Though," her eyes went to look at the swirling liquid and she smirked, her eyes looking back up to the crowd -- her crowd, well, a portion of them.

"It appears it's in need of some alterations, and while the blade was nice, I'm thinking something with a bit more pop," Her right hand extended her fingers outward to emphasize pop and the group cheered loudly.

When the cheering settled Sevika hoisted herself onto a chair and then the table, grabbing a shot of the closest whiskey, the one favorited by the first owner of The Last Drop, and then downed it.

"Silco is dead," she announced, but by the lack of response, it came of no surprise to them, "and now we must decide what to do for ourselves."

"We've been betrayed by one of our own!" Sevika yelled as more and more people filed in, who had initially cheered with the rest of the original group but her most recent statement was received with a clustering of whispers broke out among the people.

"Jinx killed Silco, after all he'd done for her and she killed him without a thought! And it was she who destroyed the Councilor Building of those damned topsiders, the stupid wench could bring all of Piltover down on us!" She declared; while she didn't fully know the situation, she never strayed away from using something for her own personal gain; she'd gotten fed up with the topsiders.

"I call for a manhunt, find Jinx! For if you lot cannot find her, I will and I'll kill the damned bitch myself!" She yelled, raising her metal rist in to the air.

"Lady Sevika of Zaun, the strongest of us all!" A younger lad in the back cheered, and was meet with an incredibly positive reception.

Sevika bowed, requesting another shot and downing it.

"Lady Sevika," She smiled, "I quite like that."

"For too long," she continued, "we've been pushed around like filth by those topsiders. Who are they to say where we stand or who we are, or what we're capable of?"

Cheers erupted.

"Jinx's actions have affected us all and now Piltover runs scared. This is our chance to take them, no longer will we cower here in the dark; Jinx attempted to start a war, it is us who will bring it!" She yelled fiercely and the group before her cheered and whooped maniacally.

"For the undercity, for Silco!" She yelled and the group erupted into a magnitude of cheering and the floor shook underneath the stomping and moving bodies.

Sevika smiled again and jumped from the table to the ground, then weaved through the crowd to the office.

She heard a few guards settle outside the door after she closed it and she plopped down in the chair. It wasn't Silco's anymore. She pushed him from her mind; he didn't matter anymore, what mattered was what they were going to do next.

Chapter Text

Vi, Caitlyn, and Seika had spent several hours eating at a pub, laughing and talking as they consumed their meal. For once, the trio felt like things were normal, and each treated the moment as if there was nothing wrong with the world.

Seika watched the little glances Vi or Caitlyn gave the other and she smiled warmly at the pair. Whatever had happened that night seemed to be but a distant memory. But when the sun began to set, Seika's thoughts went to Viktor. What was he doing? Would he be waiting for her in his room? She unconsciously fidgeted, and her nails lightly rapped on the surface of the table as Vi and Caitlyn spoke.

Eventually, the girls left and stepped out into the cool evening air. They'd remained in front of the pub, talking for a few moments longer until a howl on the wind captured Seika's attention.

Her eyes stared in the direction of Zaun, brows furrowed, but when Caitlyn explained it wasn't uncommon to hear such noises due to the wind turbines that ran further out of the city she nodded and turned back in the direction of the Academy.

They'd slipped into silence as they made their way deeper into the more extravagant part of Piltover and the girl's thoughts reflected on the day.

"I'm worried," Caitlyn finally spoke, breaking the silence.

Vi and Seika had turned their heads to look at her and when she met their eyes she continued.

"He was so quick for war," she elaborated, slipping her hands into her pockets.

Vi let out a loud sigh; she didn't know what she wanted anymore. What she wanted already happened, mostly, and Powder was a whole other problem she didn't know if anyone could solve.

"I don't know why he would be; Silco's dead, his right hand, Sevika, is also dead," she finally admitted, pursing her lips when she felt the girls eyes on her.

"When did this happen?" Caitlyn asked, stopping in her tracks.

Seika had also stopped and Vi turned to face them after continuing a few steps after them.

Her blue eyes found Caitlyns and then they fell down to the ground and she shrugged.

"Sometime before we were taken, we fought it out a bit" she said, confusion in her voice; the timing of it was still muddy in her brain.

A silence crept in between the three of them.

"Maybe it'll all be over then," Seika said hopefully and Vi and Caitlyn shared a look then gave her a sad smile.

"Not until Shimmer is dealt with," Vi said, rolling her shoulders.

"Come on, let's go get you to your little boyfriend," the pink-haired woman said, moving to Seika and wrapping an arm around her shoulder as she pulled her forward.

The girls slipped into soft chatter again, pushing away their problems, at least for a little bit.

...

Viktor viewed the chalkboard; it'd felt like forever since he viewed the equations he'd written and he needed a refresher on what he'd been looking at last.

Every thought he had of Sky he pushed out immediately, he couldn't let himself sit in that hole; there was far too much happening. His amber eyes sought out the Hexcore, swiveling and pulsing with its fleshy exterior.

Jayce had been too busy to deal with it, despite his initial request for him to do so, and Viktor was admittedly glad.

What he'd do with the Hexcore now, however, was problematic, particularly as he was unable to use the runes and test them out, not that he really needed to, he'd attempted every combination possible. The flesh pulsed as he continued to stare at it.

His body turned from the chalkboard, from the equations and numbers he'd worked so extensively on, and towards the magical ball of humanoid essence. His body felt heavy as he stepped closer to it, unknowing that his amber eyes burned with a ring of bright orange, fiery and fierce; deathly.

Viktor hadn't known he'd slipped into a trance as he stood before it, all other noise drawling out to silence until all he heard was the soft low whispering of the Hexcore, speaking incessantly to him; still the language he did not understand, but feelings conveyed nonetheless. Power, control, freedom. All the things Viktor had only dared dream of, and maybe not even that, they were things that were so far beyond his grasp that the promises the Hexcore emotionally conveyed to him nearly made him weep. His flesh held him back, his back twinging in pain as a sudden and intense reminder of that. He'd forgotten the back brace yet again and he was paying the price for it. The crutch had caused numerous problems to his spine, and Viktor hated the brace more than anything; it was another reminder of what he would never be, but those thoughts slipped away...

Heat radiated up his body, soothing his muscles so much so that his arms fell to his side and the crutch clattered to the floor. Viktor arched his spine and let his head fall back, divulging in the painless warmth that now enveloped his entirety and he let out a breathless groan.

He relished in the unknown warmth, feeling his thoughts slip away as a voice, deep and intense, whispered softly to him. He still didn't know what it was saying but it gave him a wanted breath of life and on his next inhale, it was as if his lungs were perfect and healthy.

The voice softened to nothing and Viktor found himself standing, leaning heavily against the desk as his lungs constricted in his chest. His eyes fluttered to the Hexcore and narrowed gently.

Interesting...

Interesting indeed...

...

Seika stood outside the door to Viktor's room, her heart pounding rapidly. She was nervous, and she was unsure as to why, but she turned the key into the lock and pushed the door open.

Her heart dropped a bit when she entered the empty room and she let out a soft sigh and flopped onto the bed, letting herself become coated in his warm scent.

Despite the fact he hadn't been in his room much because of his hospitalization, it still strongly smelled of him, and without his presence currently here to fulfill her desire of him, she was grateful that at least his scent was present.

She missed him greatly and the thumping she felt in her chest felt heavier with every beat, every moment she was away from him.

Seika recollected what she'd said to Heimerdinger the day she told him of her feelings for Viktor.

How was it that love was both so painful and so pleasurable; that one moment her heart felt it may beat so fast from adoration and affection that it'd never stop, yet the next it may cease beating altogether from the fear that came when that individual was at risk? Whatever the reason behind it, Seika was addicted to it, and she could see herself loving none other than Viktor.

She'd hoped he was with Jayce right now, and they were finally speaking to one another, opening up and finally being honest to one another, and then they'd grab a beer, or two, slip back into the rhythm of what was, then he'd return home to her and hold her in his arms.

Seika smiled at the thought and sat up, feeling the soft blanket against her palm. Her eyes moved to the outfit she wore and she stood, stripping herself and moving slowly to the bathroom. After a quick debate of a shower or bath, she settled on the bath and turned the water as hot as she knew she could bear and began the delicate process of removing the bandages. Her back looked much better and the stitches would probably be removed soon and she decided to remove the bandage from her forehead entirely; it'd closed up to an acceptable point now, and her fingertips could also go bandage free she declared to herself.

She looked at herself in the large mirror, her eyes drifting down to the brown pulsing vein on her left side and her brows furrowed a bit as she traced it. It'd grow; had her short time in the undercity caused that? How had it taken her so long to realize?

She scrunched her face then shook her head, it was a problem for another day, then turned and ceased the filling of the tub.

Her right foot moved first, slipping into the hot water and she let out a breathy gasp until she stepped fully into the tub and sank into the water that nearly seared her flesh.

She'd already felt her skin heat up and knew it'd be pink when she eventually exited, but for now, she settled as far as she could into the water, letting it settle just below the tops of her shoulder as she let out a shuddered sigh.

The water rippled as she settled, lapping at her pink flesh and she felt her hair move with the movements of the water.

Seika's eyes closed as she relaxed, her thoughts drifting to nothing.

She'd eventually left the bath and laid wrapped in one of Viktors towels, on his bed, the heat from the bath pushing her close to sleep. He hadn't returned yet and it was late in the evening and she smiled, hoping that he and Jayce were enjoying themselves. While she still wasn't sure where he was, there weren't many places he'd wander off to, and Jayce's side was one she'd hoped he'd go to, especially right now, especially with their bond so strained at the moment.

When she felt strong enough to stand, she dried herself and readied for bed. Seika rushed, cleaning her clothes quickly and hanging them to dry as she moved through the room, wanting to curl into Viktors scent as soon as she could, and finally, after leaving one lamp on in the room, she slipped into the bed wearing one of Viktors shirts and Viktors scent lulled her into a gentle sleep.

...

When she'd woken up, she looked to the other empty side of the bed and frowned at its emptiness; had he returned late and left early? Where would he have gone so early in the morning?

She suddenly thought of the lab and grew nervous; he wouldn't have gone back there, not after the Hexcore...?

Seika violently shook her head, shaking away the thoughts, and sat up, turning to face the clock. She had just over an hour before the Councilor Meeting. Jayce would be announcing his pick for the Sheriff.

She bit her lower lip, nervousness vibrating through her, but she trusted Jayce, she had to.

Seika pulled the covers from her and dressed quickly, taking a few moments to fluff out her mussed hair in the bathroom. Somehow, time passed by faster than she thought it would, and when she had just over a quarter of an hour before the set meeting time, she left the room and locked the door behind her.

She nearly ran to the Councilor building and she threw open the door into the building and rushed inside.

Caitlyn and Vi were standing there, both immediately greeting her. While the rest of the Councilors certainly didn't approve of Vi's presence, with Caitlyn having been raised to the position she was now at, there was nothing else the Councilors could do.

"Where's Viktor?" Caitlyn asked, looking around her.

Seika shrugged silently, her eyes too wandering the building. Caitlyn departed first, moving towards the meeting room while Vi and Seika waited ten minutes to pass before they could enter.

Seika's hands were held in front of her and it was everything she could do to keep from hopping around nervously.

Councilor Salo gave her a wave and she smiled back to him, bowing her head just a bit, and then she looked around.

Her eyes met Jayce's and her brows furrowed as she mouthed 'Viktor?'

He shrugged, his eyes fleeting around the room. She stood near Vi who stood next to Caitlyn and when everyone was settled and quiet, Jayce stood and began his introduction.

"Councilors, I've taken--"

The door opened and all attention went to Viktor who hobbled in silently.

Seika attempted to catch his eyes and her brows furrowed in confusion as he avoided her, opting for his sights to be focused on the chair that had been brought for him.

"My apologies for my tardiness Councilors," he said softly.

He still hadn't sought her eyes out and Seika's brows furrowed further. He was dressed shabbily as if he hadn't changed from the day prior. His hair was messy and unkempt and he had deep intense bags under his eyes. Where had he gone? It certainly wasn't back to his room despite his assurance that they'd meet there ...

Seika's eyes went to Jayce's who had a single eyebrow raised.

He nodded to Viktor and then continued.

"After extensive deliberation, I believe I've come up with the best candidate. I spent several hours interviewing many individuals and this one personally stood out to me. Besides being heavily invested in Piltover's safety, they also have personal experience with Hextech, and with the Gemstone still missing and presumably in Jinx's hand, I feel that the more people that are aware of the topic that can assist us in retrieving it, the better.

Seika's eyes moved to the floor as the renewed guilt built up in her, but they rose to meet Viktor's profile when Jayce continued.

"This individual belongs to one of the great houses, one that has supported Piltover for several generations, they've continuously sought improvement and I firmly believe they will do great things as the sheriff."

Viktor hadn't met her eyes yet and she was forced to continue to gaze at the profile of his face; why wouldn't he look at her?

Jayce nodded to the enforcers at the door who opened them, and when a rhythmic metallic clink echoed within the Councilor Room, Viktor's eyes finally met Seika's.

Her eyes widened a bit and she inhaled softly; she didn't understand the look he was giving her. There was no warmth, no love, no smile, he seemed almost, emotionless. He physically looked the same as he had, but it was as if he'd changed into someone else. He readily broke the eye contact and when his eyes found the figure who'd sauntered into the room, his face showed the first true emotion that'd graced his face in well over half a day.

Seika's eyes followed suit as she calmed her face, her fist clenching at her side. The metallic clinking stopped as a tall woman stood, her short white hair framing her stoic face. She smiled towards the Councilors, her eyes avoiding Viktor, Vi, and Seika's entirely as if they weren't even present in the room.

A proud feminine voice came from the woman as she showed off a white-toothed grin.

"Good morning Councilors, I am Camille, of House Ferros," she spoke, stepping forward one last time, her blade legs clinking against the floor.

Chapter Text

The woman stood confidently before them and Viktors shocked face moved from the stranger to Jayce.

Seika studied Viktors reaction intensely, her eyes occasionally retreating back to this Camille individual, who had still not acknowledged their presence in the room.

The woman took a few more steps, the metallic clinking once again echoing in the room, but, Seika also heard soft hummings of metalworks and her eyes found the suddenly obvious pieces that were far from human.

Jayce had gone to say something but Seika interrupted.

"You're body, it's, mechanical?" Seika said, the shock on her face unwavering.

Camille had finally turned to view her and the tall woman looked her up and down.

Clink, clink.

"And you are?" Camille asked as she leaned over a tad, the incredibly tall woman towering over her, the look in her eyes cold and almost unforgiving.

Seika wondered just how much of her was human and how much was machine, but the flesh on her torso and face seemed real enough, but underneath it all could prove otherwise.

"This is Seika Etesia, originally a guest of Professor Heimerdinger's, she's now become a trusted advisor as she has advanced knowledge of magic," Jayce explained, stepping from his seat so that he could move to her side.

Seika felt his hand on her lower back as he led her forward, around Camille, and past the seated Councilors until she stood between his seat and Mels.

Seika's face turned to view the Councilors who looked back to her, then back to Camille after Jayce had sat.

Suddenly, Camille's aura changed towards her and the tall woman gave her a welcoming smile. Seika could not control the speed of her heart as it increased and her eyes looked to the left at Viktor whose sight was now finally on hers. She could hardly stand the unsettling feeling that came from being in the presence of this Camille Ferros.

Viktor had seemed to come to a bit, Camille's presence having pulled him from whatever trance he'd been in earlier, and when she saw the worry in his amber eyes her face softened.

It was only now that Seika realized that the Councilors had begun asking Camille questions.

"What is your first order of business as Sheriff?" Councilor Soola asked, resting her chin on her hand.

"I intend to round up all employed Enforcers and reevaluate their skills. Once that is complete I will reassign them appropriately and I will personally lead a team that will help retrieve the Gemstone from the Undercity. With Silco now dead, I will have another team that will be moving in to ensure that another does not rise to take his place."

"They won't," Vi suddenly said, crossing her arms as she viewed the stranger.

"Silco's second is dead," she stated bluntly.

Camille's harsh eyes flitted to Vi and she turned on her razor-sharp points, viewing her condescendingly.

"And how is it that you know this?" She questioned.

"We scuffed it out a bit before Jinx launched the rocket, she didn't get up," Vi said and the Councilors all looked at one another.

"What my associate Vi means is that Sevika is no longer a threat, now that the Chembarons no longer have anyone to rally under, the gangs should disperse. That will give us enough time to move in and assist those in need," Caitlyn said, moving to look at all the Councilors.

"The gangs present in the undercity will not disperse because their leader is dead, another will simply rise in its place. It's an endless unnecessary cycle that they've adapted to. The gangs and their Chembarons will need to be plucked at the roots in order for the entire structure to fall."

Seika's concerned eyes met Camille's and the tall woman gave a small smile, hidden with deeper secretive meaning.

"So how is it that you plan to help the Undercity Miss Ferros?" Seika asked.

Camille's teeth glinted as her smile grew and she stepped forward.

Clink. Clink. Clink. Clink.

"I believe we're all aware that I was not brought into this position to help the Undercity, Miss Etesia. I was brought here to deal with a problem, and deal with it I shall, using whatever ways are necessary to removing said problem."

The look in Camille's eyes had gone from secretive to straight predatory and Seika clenched her fists at her side to keep from shifting. Something carnal within her was threatening to break free and defend herself and those around her. Something about the way this woman made her feel as if she was threatening every way of life in this city.

Despite the accessible flesh upon her face and torso, it'd become very clear to Seika at that moment that Camille really had lost most, if not all, of her humanity.

In her peripherals, Seika saw Viktor turn his head and when her eyes pulled themselves from Camille's, she followed his line of sight to Vi and Caitlyn who shared the same disturbed look that was on Viktors. This had not gone the way they had hoped it would and the realization of how the situation went from bad to worse came crashing down on them.

Seika's eyes dropped to the ground as the other Councilors began to ask Camille questions and she'd turn and answer them promptly, Seika however, only heard the clink.

Clink.

Clink.

Clink.

Like a bomb waiting to go off... but when would it detonate?

After sifting through the rubble, what would be left?

Seika heard nothing else until the sound of soft clapping broke her trance, and a few of the Councilors verbally congratulated Camille.

She thanked them, her voice soft with a false sense of contentment that made Seika incredibly uncomfortable, so much so that she felt her skin crawl. Camille found her eyes, and Seika once again, looked away first, her whole head opting to look at the wall to her left but she could feel Camille's grin on her.

Clink.

Clink.

Seika turned and Camille's back was towards her.

Clink.

Clink.

Seika looked at Caitlyn and Vi both of who were unable to hide their emotions. Caitlyn looked incredibly uncomfortable while Vi looked like she might tear someone's head off if they looked at her wrong. Caitlyn looked up to her and nodded her head gently, motioning outside and Seika gave a gentle nod.

When she went to excuse herself, Jayce interrupted her.

"What do you think? I think she'll do excellent," Jayce said, a grin on his face. He once again had thought his actions were the right one, and that this choice would help make everything better; it broke Seika's heart.

She gave a nod and excused herself quickly, moving around the table and ignoring the rest of the Councilors. When she reached Viktor she stopped by his side and he looked up at her.

"Come," she said softly as she looked into his eyes and he stood, the pair leaving together, Vi following suit behind them.

Camille had taken a left outside the Councilors meeting room and even from where she was, Seika could hear it, echoing, like long a haunting call on the wind.

Clink.

Clink.

Clink.

"Seika--" Viktor spoke when he watched her violently shake her head.

"No, no one say anything."

Seika met Vi's eyes and the pink-haired woman jutted her chin down the right hallway, stepping past the two and leading them down a few different corridors until they reached a door with the placard reading 'Councilor Kiramman' on it.

Vi pulled a key from her pocket and unlocked the door swiftly and the three of them stepped in.

The Kiramman private office was luxurious, as their home had been, and it didn't take Viktor long to move to the couch and settle on it while Vi made herself at home on the chair on the other side of the room. Seika was far too anxious to sit and opted for pacing back and forth, occasionally stopping to look out the window when her eyes met the morning sun just beyond the glass.

They waited in silence for several minutes, and when the door unlatched and Caitlyn walked in, the two seated perked up noticeably. At that time, Seika had been staring out the window but had heard the door creak as it opened.

"It is official, Camille Ferros has been inducted in as the Sheriff of Piltover," Caitlyn finally said and Seika turned to face her.

Vi swore softly and Viktor noticeably tensed.

"House Ferros has always been vocal about their--" Caitlyn paused, and when Viktor met her eyes and nodded, she continued, "distaste for the Undercity."

"She's bloodthirsty, she just hides it well," Seika said, leaning against the wall next to the window as she ran a hand through her hair.

"She'll do anything to get the Gemstone," she continued, her eyes meeting Vi's, "Anything," she reiterated and Vi suddenly stood.

"Then I'll get it before she does," she said as she rolled her shoulders and popped her neck, "I'll go get the damn thing and bring it back." She didn't even acknowledge the problem that was her sister; how was she even supposed to begin to deal with it?

"No, Vi," Seika stepped forward until she was standing next to Viktor.

"We'll go get it," she said, and their eyes met, unwavering with determination.

"Seika," Viktor spoke, but when her eyes met his he silenced, his hand squeezing his crutch so tightly that his knuckles were white.

"I'm coming," Caitlyn said, stepping forward as she moved towards the back of the desk.

"Caitlyn, you're a Councilor," Seika began, turning to face her.

"You and I both know I'm no Councilor," She spoke honestly, not meeting her eyes.

"Vi, my key please," her hand went out and the pink-haired woman obliged silently.

She deposited her personal key and the key within Vi's possession onto the desktop as she let out an emotional huff.

"My mother was the Councilor, I am not. We all know Jayce was wrong."

Caitlyn watched as the two girls nodded and she smiled, letting out a loud exhale, feeling a burden lift from her shoulders. This was not who she was; she wasn't one to hide behind a desk or flee from helping those in need.

Vi walked around to the back of the table and her arm went around Caitlyn's shoulders.

"It's good to have you back Cupcake," she said and the pair shared a warm sweet smile as the dark-haired girl leaned into the side hug.

Seika smiled at the pair but was pulled from the view when her hand was grabbed. Viktor looked up, worry evident in his eyes and Seika's eyes softened. She so desperately wanted to be mad and upset with him, she didn't trust him right now and she hated every part of it. But he was who he was, he was obsessive, determined, and hyperfocused, he was unwavering in achieving his goals, and intent on succeeding in all he did, he risked himself and his own wellbeing in everything he did. It was silly of her to think otherwise nor could she expect him to ever not act that way. She adored that about him, but with the Hexcores involvement, she was desperately worried that there wouldn't be anything left of him for her to adore.

She stepped to him, between his parted legs and her hands went to the sides of his face.

"Don't go, please," he softly whispered, pleading with her. What would he do if something happened to her? The internal battle he had with himself continued to rage inside of him, between trying to save himself, and save the undercity, and be with Seika, it was consuming him, and the Hexcore gave him some sense of peace that each individual battle could not. But he was as worried as Seika was about the outcome; would he end up metallic, cold and unfeeling, unable to love and enjoy the pleasure of life, or would he end up worse, like Sky, with Seika pouring his ashes into some forgotten place as she wept endlessly.

The guilt he felt eating away at his stomach almost became unbearable; if he'd known this would be the outcome he may not have spent all night at the lab with the Hexcore, he would have gone home and been with the woman who loved him so, called her name, shared her warmth and bed, he would have kissed her more and laughed, he would have whispered sweet nothings...

"I'm sorry, my love," she spoke softly, and when she did, he hastily stood and pulled her into his chest, wrapping his arms around her. She braced him as his face found the crook of her neck and he inhaled her sweet scent deeply, trying to commit it to memory.

Seika felt him shake and her arms wrapped around his lower back as she found his scent.

"I have to," she said, pulling away so that she could cradle the side of his face with her hand again.

His eyelashes fluttered as his face turned downcast and Seika's heart hurt; he looked so defeated at this moment.

"Viktor," she called his name softly and his amber eyes found hers. Her free hand moved and grabbed one of his and she placed his palm on her sternum as she looked up into his eyes.

"I am here," she said, repeating his words back to him.

"I am here now, and I'll be here in the future," she said, promising him and promising herself.

His face nearly broke as his hand slid up her sternum, past her collarbone, and around the back of her neck as he pulled her into a hard passion-filled kiss.

"Please don't lose yourself," Seika whispered against his lips when they'd pulled away from one another. He rested his forehead against hers as he let out a soft exhale.

"How can I lose myself when you have me, all of me? I'm never truly lost when you're here," he spoke softly and kissed her again.

As much as she desired remaining here with him, she knew she couldn't and gave him one last loving smile, her hand finding his cheek that he readily turned into, his eyes closing at the warmth of her flesh.

Then she stepped away from him and his eyes pleaded silently to her again, but she did not oblige, and turned to Caitlyn and Vi, giving them both a curt nod as she held herself together.

They stepped out first and Seika followed them, her eyes lingering on Viktor for as long as they could until she stepped out the door and let it close softly behind her.

The trio had turned and began walking to leave the building, the silence between them deafening, but the door to the Kiramman office loudly opened and metal hastily clinking rattled on the tile and it caused them all to turn back around to face it.

"Seika, I love you," Viktor finally called down the hallway to her, his face desperate.

A tear escaped from her as the two shared a heavy almost disturbing feeling in their stomachs, one that wouldn't disappear soon. One that was foreboding and frightful; it shook both Seika and Viktor to their core, but Seika couldn't let those feelings control her. The Council couldn't be relied upon anymore, and it was up to them, Caitlyn, Vi, and herself, to fix this issue.

"And I love you," she called back softly to him, ignoring the second tear that rolled down her face and she turned and walked past the two girls silently.

...

"Are you sure you want to keep going Mel?" Jayce had asked, kneeling by her side, his palm resting on her slick lower back.

She was on her knees, panting heavily, but stood up, wobbling, and gave him a nod.

His eyes glossed over with worry, but he returned her nod with one of his own and walked back to where he was, several feet from where he'd dropped his hammer on the ground.

He leaned over and picked it up again, rolling his shoulders as he turned back to face Mel.

She'd been dressed in tight short pants and a simple altered crop top, the left armhole having been sewn together at the shoulder, as had been the case with all of her clothing. On top of the fabric, however, was the Shurima-gold bib necklace she now regularly wore. When she'd awoken in the hospital, she spent several hours telling Jayce of what she recollected, and the bib necklace that protected her during the blast; losing her arm was the best outcome of the situation and Mel had grown accustomed to its loss gracefully. From it though, she'd become much more focused on self-defense, and Jayce, without even been asked, decided to create something for her. Mel was no fighter, she'd turned away from her mother and all of Noxus culture, but he could hardly forget how devastated she looked when she realized she didn't protect Councilor Hoskell and Councilor Kiramman.

While she was still a Councilor, and still dealing with her mother who nearly declared war on the Zaun, she stepped forward into this new role of secret guardian.

"Again," she said as she stood fully, shaking her arms out as they briefly quaked with exhaustion. They'd been training like this since he'd created the cuff. She'd wanted to spend every free moment expanding her abilities and growing comfortable with them and Jayce had hoped she'd never need to use it. The golden cuff glittered brilliantly in the afternoon sun that shone down on them and it almost blinded him.

"And don't go easy on me Jayce," she loosely threatened.

He gave her a cheeky grin in response.

"I'd never dream of it."

He hoisted the hammer up, the head now towering above him as he lunged forward towards Mel, and when he was within a few steps of her, he brought the hammer down in front of her.

Mel braced for impact, swinging her right arm out, the cuff that started at her wrist and extended up her entire forearm vibrating as metal pieces detached from one another and flew out in front of her. They instantly reattached into a large metal mobile shield that she used to block Jayce's hammer attack. She readjusted her footing and pushed forward. The shield was about a foot or so away from its base and the hex crystals embedded within the base of the cuff glittered brilliantly. In a seamless movement, the shield and her body moving as one, she swung her entire body to the left, throwing Jayce off the shield and watching as he tumbled off in the direction she'd thrown him. She smiled, relaxing her arm instantly as the metal pieces realigned themselves back don't on the base and reattached, suddenly seeming as if it was one piece. She used her hand and wiped away fresh sweat, unable to keep the grin on her face as Jayce simply raised his arm above him and gave her a thumbs up.

"Pretty good Princess," he teased from the distance as he hoisted himself up.

He swore softly as he stood, picking up his hammer and the pair met in the middle.

"Pretty damn good," he said smiling and kissing her cheek.

Mel flexed and the metal pieces withdrew from the base, connecting with one another again as the space between them pulsed with transparent magical power. The shield remained in line with her arm, moving vertically and horizontally with her forearm as she moved it.

"It's response time has significantly progressed since the first day," she spoke.

"Well, Seika gave me the idea, she did say that the crystals learn and grow, so why wouldn't they be able to learn this?" He wrapped an arm around her lower back as he gave a delicate kiss to her clothed left shoulder while the head of the hammer lowered gently to the ground.

"Now we can protect everyone, no one has to get hurt anymore," he murmured softly into her.

Mel relaxed in his arms, the cuff now returning to its normal position as she moved further back into Jayce's chest.

"Never again, Jayce, never again," she said softly, her hand reaching across her chest to lightly rest on his left cheek.

Chapter Text

Jayce settled back into his desk chair, letting his head fall back and rest against the chair's back as he exhaled heavily.

There was so much going on, and with everything that was happening, he was struggling to keep himself in check. How did Heimerdinger deal with it?

He wished the yordle was here, but the silence that filled the room was a harsh reminder of what had happened... what he'd encouraged.

Jayce ignored the work in front of him, his mind slipping away to other things.

Worry coursed through him and it seemed to be all that he felt right now. Worry for the undercity and Piltover, worry for Viktor, for Caitlyn, worry for war. He exhaled, closing his eyes. Camille was the best decision, she would surely help. Admittedly, her lackluster response about wanting to help the undercity did little to sway his nerves about the topic, but if she helped remove the threat at hand, then helping those in need would be next.

He hadn't forgotten.

He'd simply been... redirected.

They needed to retrieve the Gemstone, it was an absolute must; Camille said she'd handle it personally and he believed she'd get the job done, and probably bring in Jinx at the same time.

Jayce felt his fists clench at the thought of Jinx. It all started with her. Councilor Hoskell, Councilor Kiramman, it all boiled down to Jinx.

Jayce opened his eyes and they looked around the room. His office had been filled with a variety of items, gadgets here and there, and then his eyes settled on his journal; the original Hextech notes and he sighed again.

Viktor.

Guilt ate through him and Jayce was finally beginning to comprehend just how much he'd unintentionally ignored Viktor. No wonder Seika was frustrated with him, the last conversation they'd had was the morning after the team had brought down that Shimmer Factory... and before that? He genuinely couldn't even remember.

Seika was right; his anger had been misplaced and he had been unnecessarily harsh on his brother. Not to mention, he'd been asking things of Viktor that were completely impermissible and Viktors own response to them understandable. Jayce smiled, realizing that Heimerdinger made the right decision in inviting Seika. She was a needed outside perspective and he'd grown to respect that, regardless of the ups and downs and misunderstandings they'd faced.

A gentle knock rapped on his office door lightly and he verbally permitted entry. Mel slipped inside, quietly closing the door behind her as she approached him with a warm smile. He spread his legs and she moved to stand between him, cradling his head to her chest as his arms wrapped around her lower back.

"Am I doing everything wrong Mel? I feel like every decision causes more harm than good," he said, looking up.

Her face broke a little and her hand went to his cheek as she kissed the other, but she gave no answer.

He hadn't expected one either; how was she to know.

"I wish Heimerdinger was here," he finally admitted, his eyes falling to the floor.

He felt her kiss his head and her hand move to rub small circles on his back comfortingly and he melted into her touch.

"And Viktor, I don't even know where to begin to help him..."

"I do not think anyone can help Viktor," she said softly, Jayce straightening so that he could peer up into her eyes.

"I don't think Heimerdinger could, nor you, nor even Seika," she admitted, "I think he can only help himself. He must come to terms with what he is facing, or else find an alternative method to delay the progression of his illness... whatever that alternative method may be..."

Jayce sighed loudly, hating the answer she gave him but knowing it likely rang with truth. The alternative method worried and admittedly frightened him more than anything. His changes weren't like Camille, who had done it methodically, and that was overseen by a doctor, his was left to chance and fate, and those odds made Jayce bite his cheek in pure angst.

"But..."

His eyes found hers again.

"While you may not be able to assist him physically, there are other goals you shared, goals you sought to achieve together, yes?" She asked, her hand going to his cheek again.

"Help the undercity... help those in need," he said, smiling softly as he nearly repeated the mans words verbatum. He hadn't forgotten but without a doubt, it'd been pushed back to the farthest parts of his mind. His chin had fallen again and she lifted it, a smile on her lips.

"You've always had a big heart Jayce, don't forget that," she said softly, placing a delicate kiss on his forehead.

He suddenly stood and wrapped his hand around the back of her neck, pulling her into a passionate kiss that she gladly returned.

"You're phenomenal Mel," he whispered against her lips and captured them before she could respond. His large hands moved from her lower back to just under her rear and he picked her up, turning to put her on his desk as she pulled him close to her.

Her hands threaded his hair as the pair were swept away, entirely giving themselves to one another.

...

Viktor sat in the swivel chair, his back hunched as he stared at the hastily drawn blueprints he'd made. His gut churned with uncertainty but he was unable to stop himself from making them. He'd hoped he'd never need to use them, and that at some point in time, he'd be able to throw them into a roaring fire and watch their existence dissipate into ash... but that time wouldn't be right now.

Seika was gone, off to find the Gemstone and he needed a distraction during her absence, this is what it had become.

He thumbed the penmanship lightly as he sneered just a bit; it needed improvement but it was worthy enough of his time and thoughts. So many things raced through his mind; of the undercity, of Jayce and his eagerness for war, of Seika and her sudden abrupt departure and the danger she headed face-first into, of the Hexcore, all of which he desperately attempted to push from his mind.

He turned in the chair, one thought unable to be removed from his mind and he watched as the fleshy Hexcore spun and swiveled. As if on cue, a warmth began in his feet and rolled up his body, causing him to settle further into the chair as he fully accepted the liquid heat coming from the mutated Hexcore before him.

...

The trio had left the Academy in silence, only stopping by the Kiramman residence to retrieve Vi's gauntlet and Caitlyn's rifle. Even as the pair stood, checking over their equipment and making minor alterations, the three remained silent.

When they'd gone to leave, Caitlyn's father had embraced Seika into a hug and thanked her softly. The silver-haired girl almost struggled to breathe, emotions flooding her and she gave a gentle hug back. She left first, Vi following after, and Caitlyn stayed a few moments afterward, she and her father sharing a few words and some loving affection between the pair.

When the dark-haired girl finally joined the two standing at the entrance to the residence, Vi nodded, giving her a soft smile and they departed, moving away from the Academy and towards the trenches.

The walk was agonizingly long and despite the beautiful weather and uplifted spirits of the people of Piltover, the three remained quiet as they moved through the city and towards their eventual descent into the trenches.

Vi and Caitlyn shared occasional glances towards one another, then they would peer over at Seika who was so enveloped in her thoughts that she'd stumble or almost walk into someone. The pair was unsure of what to say. They knew just how dangerous this could be, especially after they'd seen what Jinx was capable of, but Vi and Caitlyn were confident everything would go as they hoped it would; it had to, they needed something good to happen to them, especially after all the wrong that had happened.

When the three walked the bridge, they became acutely aware of the many enforcers guarding the side to Piltover and Seika finally met the eyes of her friends; security had already increased but they were unsure if it was Camille or Jayce's doing. When they made it to the other side without issue, they stopped, as if on cue.

"What's the plan?" Seika asked and Caitlyn shifted the holster on her back.

"I suppose we could start asking around, send out some feelers for it; surely someones seen her," Caitlyn said and Vi shook her head.

"No, with the increased enforcer activity, they're gonna be less receptive to that, no ones gonna say anything. I've got some people I can talk to, I'll check in with them and see if they've heard anything," She said, rolling her left shoulder. Despite feeling quite comfortable with the gauntlet on her dominant arm, its weight had required a bit of getting used to.

"Then we'll split up," Seika said definitively, nodding her head once as the three looked between one another.

"But what if--" Caitlyn begins but Seika interrupted her.

"If we stick together, it'll take much longer to find her. Camille will act quickly, we also need to do the same. We can cover more ground faster if we split up."

Caitlyn could not hide the discomfort on her face as her brows furrowed gently and she clutched the band of her rifle holster.

She eventually gave a curt nod and Vi responded with a slight smile, lightly knocking her shoulder into the dark-haired girl in an attempt to lighten the situation.

"We'll meet back here at nightfall," Caitlyn said and received two nods in response.

Vi and Caitlyn moved away first; they'd take the tram car down while Seika rathered the stairs, and they pair would split up when they reached the bottom. Seika watched the pair walk away from her towards the tram car, and gave them a smile when they turned back to look at her.

"Call us if you need us, we'll come, no matter where we are," Vi said loudly.

Seika nodded silently, still seeing the look of discomfort on Caitlyns face, and she wondered if her own face reflected such feeling as well. The pit in her stomach had grown tremendously since they'd arrived so close to the undercity and as she viewed the cylindrical staircase that slipped past the dark gray smogg that hid the depths it led down to, her nerves spiked.

She clenched her fists, unsure as to why her nerves were so heightened. Perhaps it was because there was too much to lose now.

Her face turned back and her eyes found the Academy, shining brilliantly in the distance; an entire world from here. She wondered what Viktor was doing at that moment, but she knew if she dwelled on it, her feet would bring her back to him.

She turned away from Piltover and towards the staircase that led to the toxic darkness of Zaun, and with a fist clenched at her side as her heart raced, she began the descent downwards, each step echoing a metallic clunk into the dangerous abyss she stepped towards.

Clunk.

Clunk.

Clunk.

Chapter Text

Seika let out a series of coughs when she'd finally descended into the smog and further into the depths of the undercity. Her eyes watered as her lungs attempted to accustom themselves to the poor air quality and her heart sunk into a newly created pit in her gut.

Despite the undercity's environment being the same as it was when she was her prior, the entire mood of it had shifted to something darker and more sinister. The normally bustling squares and walkways were quiet despite it being well past mid-day. People walked much faster to their destinations, using blankets and hoods to cover their bodies as they walked, most even going so far as to cover most of their faces.

The standard green light that lit up parts of the undercity seemed to haunt the barely-surviving life near her this time around and Seika felt disturbed; something was different, terrifyingly different, but she didn't know what. Was it the Chembarons? Had something happened? The undercity was known for its darkness, but this was new, and nearly caused her breath to catch in her throat.

People moved like ghosts as she walked along the path, and as more and more people passed, eyes wide and faces hidden, Seika felt regret in not dressing more secretive. She felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up on edge as she walked down a quiet market pathway. Most of the shops had been abandoned, closed up with the occasional face peering out, and those who passed moved quickly, as the others had done, pushing past Seika with little regard besides the rare soft apology whispered in her direction.

Vi was right, people were certainly less receptive to her, but it felt wrong to associate their changes in behavior with the recent influx of enforcers topside. Her brows furrowed as she weaved in between the green lights and darkness, avoiding the people of Zaun just as much as they were avoiding her.

It was certainly fair to say that everyone was on edge.

She still couldn't figure out why she was so unsettled and when she'd headed down another path she found a woman, old and frail, hobbling with a large bag. It was obvious she was rushed, but her stature and lack of strength forced her to move at a pace much slower than those around her. Her eyes softened and she approached the older woman slowly.

"May I help you with your bag?" She asked softly, extending her hand out slowly with a gentle smile.

The old woman recoiled, fear plastering on her face, and Seika's face fell in confusion.

When the young girl made no attempt to move the older woman relaxed, still unsure of the girl and her motives, but she eventually handed the bag to her nonetheless. They walked in silence, heading west within the trenches, opposite the direction Vi and Caitlyn had gone, and when they'd made it to the little shack the old woman resided in, she thanked the girl.

Seika had insisted that she was glad to do it and when she turned to leave, she stopped, swiveling back around.

Still caught off guard by the random act of kindness, the older woman stiffened noticeably.

"Could I ask you something?" Seika questioned and after a moment, the older woman nodded.

"I was down here not too long ago, and it was different then. The shops were open and it was busy, but it's so..." the silence became very apparent when Seika stopped talking.

"Quiet..." she finished, her eyes looking around at the figures she was just barely able to see in the dark, hunched over, cowered, and covered; hiding.

"The Chembarons are on the move child," Seika's eyes found the older woman with brows furrowed.

"But how? Didn't their leader die?"

"Aye, but his second has taken over," she whispered, her tongue moving one of her loose crooked teeth nervously as she looked around.

"Sevika's alive?" Seika gasped her fists clenching as her eyes widened in shock. A hand went to cover her mouth as she struggled with the news. Vi and Caitlyn surely didn't know this news, but they needed to.

"That's not all, we could deal with the Chembarons, but something creeps in the dark, causing far worse bloodshed than any of the chembarons," the old woman spoke ominously.

"They're scared of it too," she said, stepping closer to the girl as she continued, "it eats and feeds with no remorse, no humanity. Bodies pile up in the streets and are swept away into the waters as the blood is cleaned, but it continues to return with little regard for who it takes."

Seika could see the old woman shaking and it dawned on her that people cowered under their fabric in an attempt to hide their scent. Something dreadful had occurred since she'd been here last, and with the three ladies now separated, Seika's own nerves skyrocketed.

"The bodies are torn to shreds dear," the woman said, her own eyes glazing as she reflected on her sons body she found not three mornings past, his arm ripped from his torso and chest mangled, its cavity wide open and nearly hollow.

"We do not know what it is or what it desires," she continued, her eyes looking up and registering the young girl's face again, "we hear its howls and shrieks for blood and meat, and we flee. That is all we can do, run, and hide."

Seika's brows furrowed and she temporarily thought back to the howl she'd heard on the wind; had it been one of the wind turbines, or something else?

The wind shifted in the trenches and the old woman looked up at the girl fearfully.

"You best be on your way child," the woman spoke, giving the girl one last look before slipping into the hastily built shack she called home.

Seika turned into the wind and moved, back in the direction they'd come from, back in the direction of Vi and Caitlyn.

She had to get to them, tell them of this. They couldn't separate now, not when people were being slaughtered in the streets by... by something.

The fear of the unknown. That was the biggest problem in all of this. Seika entered a dimly green-lit square and people rushed her, pushing past her in silent fear and she turned to look back at them. They moved like frightened hens, and when she turned back around a scream echoed in the dark.

Seika moved, running forward, moving toward the scream, her arms pumping at her side as she ran. She crossed the square, running right into someone as she moved to go down a dark alley. He gasped, yelling softly at their collision, but when he saw the girl he let out a few gentle pants and then fleed. She stood, another guttural shriek tearing through the air before the sound slipped off into something almost viscous.

Seika sprinted down the alley, turning down another and then another before she tore into an empty square, plunging herself into the very strong cloud of liquid metal and iron that permeated the area. The poorly made stalls had been thrashed around; their materials littering the open area and there was a wet crunching noise coming from a loud grouping of destroyed stalls. The sight caused Seika's heart to clench and her blood to run cold as the large dark figure loomed over something she was unable to see.

A loud breathy gasp was inhaled from the dark cowering shape and she could hear the lapping from where she stood. One of her hands went to her mouth as she felt a wave of nausea come about, the stench violating her senses as she took a silent step back, then another. The light above that area had been shattered, but she could see the crouched-over figure move, but, more disturbingly enough, was the bright green light that came from its back, swirling with a foreign green liquid as the body it belonged to moved and swayed. The green light just barely illuminated the back of the creature, its gray thick fur rippling with every movement the body made.

The creature sucked at whatever it was so deeply entranced in, and Seika took another silent step back as she saw the deep red liquid that had begun to seep from the creature; no, from whatever was under the creature.

Her heart began to race as she was overcome with an intense fear; this was no man, nor no beast. She heard soft whispers coming from the creature, low and growling as it snapped the bones from its prey.

"Blood."

"Meat."

It chanted as it ate, still oblivious to her presence. Seika began to shake; this was unlike anything she'd ever faced. Creatures ran, they weighed their options and took the easiest way out, but the green chemistry present on this creature's back was frightening, reminiscent of the chembarons and their chemical factories; what in the hell was this thing?

Suddenly the beast lurched forward, its feet planting themselves into the ground as its neck pulled, and with a wet pop as flesh was ripped and bone was cracked, the creature threw its head to the left, releasing something from its mouth.

A very bloodied head rolled along the ground until it stopped and Seika instinctually took another step back, the sight becoming too much to bear as she covered her eyes with her hands, turning her body the opposite way as she crouched to the ground quickly, so quickly she almost completely crumbled. She could hear the creature continuing to feast on the body, but the terrified distorted face of the young blonde woman's head who faced her beat her brain to a pulp. The entire image was vivid and shocking, thrashing Seika's entire being around as she struggled with the sight, suddenly, Seika lurched forward as she caught herself, on one hand, attempting to hold her own nausea, but her sudden shift in the placement of her feet as they slipped on the slimy walkway caught the ears of the beast.

With fear taking over her body as the creature growled, she turned, watching as the large wolf-like thing stepped into the light. Mechanical parts were attached to certain areas of it, specifically, its back, and forearms, all glowing with the sickly green liquid.

Her nausea had miraculously abated but was replaced with an intense fear that pulled all blood from her head. She felt her heart in her chest one moment, then didn't the next as her fingertips went numb and legs tingled with adrenaline.

The predator stared intensely at the prey, its mouth open, dripping with the thick liquid that coated the fur around its mouth and saturated its jowls in dark red color. Its eyes glowed with the same sickly green that bubbled and gurgled on its back and extremities as it took the sight of her in.

Then, it stood back on its long legs, Seika falling back onto her rear as it did so, and suddenly the beige pants it wore on its bottom half became very apparent and Seika looked up at the beast fearfully, the curiosity of whatever the creature was lost and forgotten.

She didn't breathe, not by choice, but because of the fear that completely held her body captive. The creature snorted, scenting the air as its long arms and clawed paws hung almost lazily at its side. It licked its snout, cleaning some of the blood from its muzzle as its long ears twitched occasionally as it picked up little sounds from much farther away than Seika could hear.

It'd just fed, surely it would leave. Seika was confident of that, all she needed to do was stay still as it slipped off into the darkness.

Suddenly, a shape came from behind her, stumbling out from the alley, an elderly man, yelling heavily accented words as he threw a glass bottle at the beast.

The bottle had missed, an incredibly poor throw on his part, but the action alone caused the creature to roar as he dropped to all fours and moved.

Seika heard its paws pounding against the ground as the older man attempted to flee, but within two strides, the canine beast's jaws had opened up and clamped around the throat of the man.

Seika gasped as the creature began tearing into the new body and when she stood, her boots sliding again, the creature looked up at her. Driven by fear and terror, Seika ran.

The new blood permeated the senses of the creature and it howled loudly as the mechanical chamber on its back pumped a new round of the green liquid into its system, and the normally green tint it saw in its vision went red with bloodlust. The girl ran, fleeing as her loud footsteps pulled her further from the beast, and the creature moved, driven by the chase, the loud growls echoing behind its prey.

She turned the corner, slower than she'd intended to, and pushed her legs to run the straight narrow way, then she turned the next, much faster this time, and again down the narrow straightaway. She swore she felt the hot breath of the creature at her back as she clambered into the first empty square.

The creature was roaring again, its calls echoing through Seika as she sprinted in sheer terror, her brain ceasing to say anything other than run.

Her head turned, looking back to see just how close the beast was, and as it made a move to jump, she lept to the side, as it crashed down on the spot that she would have been had she continued running.

She rolled on the ground, clambering quickly to her hands and knees, not even hearing the soft metallic clinking that neared her. When her eyes looked up, her heart stopped as she found herself face to face, the beast staring intensely at her, jaws open as its eyes swirled with a vivid red.

Seika stared back into the eyes of this beast, whose own silent growly breaths brought her some sense of acknowledgment of the situation.

The chamber on its back suddenly pumped again and the beast roared, throwing its head back and Seika acted as much as her brain allowed, her thoughts only pushing for her to shift, but her brain couldn't bring another thought past that, and with the creature who threatened her taking over her every thought, its own appearance reflected back at her, she changed. She shifted into a large wolf, her silver fur tinged with the green light around them as she bared her teeth and let out an echoing growl of her own. She wasn't nearly as large as the beast was, but she'd make up for it in speed... she hoped.

But before she could turn and flee to a farther distance, the creature had leaped onto her. The pair rolled and Seika shoved her back legs against its underbelly and just barely threw the heavy creature from her. She stood, fleeing, but the creature's long arm, an arm much longer than hers, crashed down onto her lower back as she moved away. She felt the metal claws digging into her flesh as it pulled her back. A yell escaped from her throat, but it was something more akin to a screech and a yelp all in one as her claws gripped uselessly on the ground while she was dragged back.

It stood above her, mouth open as it freed its metal claws from the flesh of her lower back and moved down to bite.

Seika felt its teeth around her shoulder blades as the creature tore at her flesh and pain ripped through her. She moved onto her side the moment she felt the creature pull its jaws away from her flesh, and as she tilted just a bit onto her bloodied back, she slashed at the creature's face with her paws. She'd just barely missed one of its eyes as it growled and stepped back, recovering, which gave her ample time to stand up and move a very short distance from it.

The two beasts stared at one another until Seika saw the red-eyes before her shift back to green. A low masculine chuckle echoed out in the empty square and Seika flinched.

Her tail dropped as her eyes looked around, searching for the source, her mind unable to comprehend that its origins were from the green-eyed beast before her.

"Prey who fight back are much more fun," the male voice said, Seika watching as its jaws moved with the speech she heard and instinctually, her back arched, the hair standing straight up; a feeble attempt to make herself larger. She was met with another throaty wet laugh as the dark-gray-haired beast began to walk, moving around her as it circled her. Seika turned her body, still arched as it moved around her, her eyes unwavering in meeting its own green ones as she ignored the blood dripping from her shoulders down to her chest and down her lower back and pooling into a small puddle at her back feet. The wind had shifted, blowing against her when she'd been able to distance herself from it, but in an unfortunate turn of events, the wind changed, pulling her bloodied scent back to the beast.

The chamber on its back gurgled and pumped again, gas hissing from it as it injected itself into the creature and it roared again, eyes turning red as its head was thrown upward, just as it'd done earlier.

Seika's braced herself; she wouldn't be able to outrun this, not with her current injuries.

The creature roared and lunged at her, but this time, she met him, propelling herself forward as they collided, both beasts reared up on their back legs, jaws snapping at one another as their claws scratched at their torsos and underbellies. The beast's right metal-clawed paw left deep scratches on her underbelly, pain searing through her again. Seika pushed through it, attempting to heave the beast further from her, but the creature's jaws caught her left foreleg and it pulled, shearing the flesh with its razor-sharp teeth as he threw her to his right. She rolled once, and was immediately on her feet again, lunging back at it, jaws open as she bit at its face but it moved too quickly for her to grab ahold. She angled her head and her jaws found his neck and she clamped down then quickly began twisting her head, writing her body in an attempt to seriously maim the beast who threatened her life.

The beast roared as dropped to all fours and Seika hung from its throat. It used its metal claws and dragged long vivid deep lines across the side of her left body, tearing through the flesh and exposing parts of her ribcage. She yet out a yelp of pain, letting go in the process as the creature dived onto her, grabbing her own throat as he wiped her around like a doll, yanking her body to the right, then back to the left. She felt her breath catch in her throat as his teeth dug into her trachea. Her back legs kicked at nothing but air and he raised onto his back legs only so that he could throw her into the hard ground. With her throat released, Seika let out a cough, blood spilling from her nostrils and mouth. She struggled to breathe, her inhale gurgling with the red liquid that spilled from her as her body numbed. A strange warmth overcame her as the beast dropped back onto all fours, his jaws tearing into her shoulders and sides. Images of Viktor, Vi, Caitlyn, Jayce, Cecil, Ekko, Mel, her mentor, and everyone she'd met, everyone she adored flashed through her as she coughed up another sheet of blood that sprayed onto the ground she laid almost lifelessly on. Her body was wracked with awkward movement from a combination of her blood-filled coughs and the vicious beast that tore into her side and ripped her apart as her being threatened to slip into unconsciousness.

The creature's jaws were at her throat again as it shredded the delicate flesh and it whipped her back and forth again. Seika couldn't feel her body anymore as her head rattled back and forth with the movement of the beast, and her mind slipped away to those she cared about, her eyes closing as the warmth continued to embrace her body.

The wolf-like creature growled as he clutched the once-girl-now-wolf's throat in his mouth. He might have at one point been curious, but the blood overcame any sensible thought he had as he readjusted his jaws that were clamped around the throat of the frail being whose life was emptying from her and began to drag her down a dark hallway, a low guttural growl echoing as the creature dragged its prey into the darkness.

...

Crouched and hidden behind a large pile of pungent trash, with his heart in his throat was Ekko. He'd heard the screams, the noise, the howls, and came running, but his own fear kept him hidden, and guilt ate through him.

The Firelights had heard rumors of the 'the howler' as it'd been appropriately nicknamed, but being so far away from this area and the other places it'd been declared to have been seen, they hadn't had any actual run-ins with the beast. That was until now.

He ran a hand through his short dreadlocks, letting out soft pants, his vision flashing with images of Seika fighting the beast, and her lifeless body being dragged off into the dark. His hands clutched his face as he drowned in a wide array of emotions. Fear, anger, hatred, sadness; a tear crept down his face as he struggled to stay quiet, unsure if the beast would come back. Seika was dead. This creature would be devastating to the undercity, it'd kill everything in sight. His breath continued to come out in heavy pants as he used the wall to stand, and with his own worry for the Firelights pushing him forward, he grabbed his hoverboard and flew away, only glancing back at what remained of his friend; a large and vivid splattering of blood on the ground. Seika was dead and there was nothing he could do about it now except attempt to hide from his own guilt.

...

Seika felt as if she was floating, only because she couldn't feel her body, but the twitch of her paw that grazed the ground told her otherwise. Her breath came out in short pants as her eyes just barely fluttered open with her newly awoken consciousness. She was alone and based on the pungent smell, she was surrounded by a rather large number of bodies. It didn't smell of blood, however, but of sickness and toxins. Seika moved to stand, but only her body twitched as pain wracked through her violently. She struggled to come to her senses, her pain far too overwhelming for her to completely understand the situation, hell, she didn't even understand how she was alive, but her long tongue lapped at the dried blood on her snout told her and that told her that such things were true, at least for now. Hell, she didn't know where she was or how she'd even get out of here, and the fear began to gnaw at her. Where was the creature? What had happened? How did she even get here?

Soft footsteps pittered lightly against the ground as a tall human shape leered over her, the green light behind it shadowing its face. It knelt to the ground, taking her in and placing a large thin hand to her fur. She flinched and whimpered, letting out a forced verbal plea.

She heard the shape inhale from the figure and she began to yell loudly as she shifted back, gasping as the pain rocked through her again, battering her unwaveringly and she struggled to remain conscious.

"P-Please," she almost silently begged and the figure obliged, moving its long arms under her to pick her up.

The figure was silent as she winced and gasped at the sudden change of position and when he turned into the light, she saw brief flashes of his face.

He was scarred on one side of his face, that same side displaying a vivid green eye with a nonexistent pupil, but the lower half of his face had been covered with a cowl so she was unable to see all of him.

"I will do all that I can," he said, his accented voice teaming with eagerness, but Seika, in her disturbed state, took it as concern and gave him a smile she could barely muster.

She was safe.

Everything would be ok.

Chapter Text

As Vi, Caitlyn, and Seika slipped into the trenches, another moved from them into the City of Progress.

Small groups with covered faces slipped from the darkness moving methodically and with clear intentions. Despite the groups coming from a variety of pathways all along the trench that led from the undercity to Piltover, had they been viewed from above, it'd have been obvious to see how fluidly they moved as if they were all parts of a whole.

They kept to themselves, slipping throughout the outer ring of Piltover, keeping to the alleys as much as possible as they positioned themselves.

Whispers echoed in the empty secretive pathways as hunched men and women focused their attentions to the walls of buildings, then slipped back where they'd returned, near the trench. Near their home.

The Enforcers that lined the bridge leading to Zaun that morning hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary, and the day had been quiet, such minimal activity driving the men and women to boredom as they stared off into the distance or forcing them to speak lazy uninteresting conversation.

A young enforcer, no more than a boy, who was eager to please his superiors and do good in the world, saw a group of cloaked individuals strutting through one of the squares found in the outer ring, their faces concealed and his brows furrowed. It was an odd sight, especially just after mid-day and with the weather as beautiful as it was, but his superior officer, however, was irritable that day, and with the intent of getting on his good side, he remained hushed about what he'd seen, turning away from it letting his eyes fall in line towards the undercity.

The smog today was unbearable and much worse than it'd been in recent days, it even overflowed onto the bridge and almost wafted up into Piltover. Their new Sheriff, Camille Ferros, had forced all the enforcers to don their masks, and when they grumbled, the threats of her legs became very real when she made quick work of one of the office plants in a showy and threatening demonstration. No one had opposed her since and she'd taken over the department smoothly. The ranks were tense, Camille's presence disturbing many of the officers who served under Marcus, but her focus on the undercity and gang activity riled the Enforcers up, their own eagerness for roughing it up causing them to bite at their hypothetical bits.

The young enforcer pulled off his helmet temporarily and shook out his orange-red hair as he exhaled almost mechanically through the gas mask. His lack of experience disallowed him from entering the trenches and it irked him; hell, he'd only been on the force for a week and he was lucky to even be here, rather than cooped up back at the office working on paperwork, but he wanted to be in the nitty-gritty of it all.

He'd been disappointed when Camille had called upon a group of her own that solely focused on the gang activity, his name not being on the list, and the group had slipped into the undercity early this morning. She hadn't been heard of since, but with her skills, none were worried.

The boy turned back, another group of cloaked individuals running through the square again before slipping off into an alleyway. His head tilted and he sniffed, attempting to provide his sinuses some relief from the smog that nearly violated them this morning prior to them putting on their gas masks.

He glanced at his superior who lazily smoked a cigarette and chortled when his second in command said something.

Whatever. Probably a bunch of kids pulling some minor pranks or something. He turned away and let his actions mimic those of his colleagues, letting his brain go numb as he stared off at nothing in particular. His eyes turned to the right indolently, the bridge he was present on leading right into a variety of pathways that led to the deep. Suddenly everything in that direction went very quiet. The undercity had gone almost mute, while to his left, life in Piltover was vibrant and almost melodic. The young boy's eyes sought his city again, his eyes searching as the life bustled; kids played in the square while men and women sat chatting and sipping tea, as the residents of Piltover continued about their daily activities. The dark-cloaked individuals had gone, disappeared as if they'd never existed, and for some reason, it set him on edge. He straightened, his hand going to the shock-stick attached to his person; he hadn't even been given a proper weapon yet, but the handle of the stick in his gloved hand gave him some solace.

His fellow officers hadn't noticed the lack of sound coming from the undercity and when the boy turned to face towards the trenches, he suddenly noticed the smog that had rolled in over their feet and down the length of the bridge, his eyes finding that it was almost to Piltover. Suddenly, his fellow officers began to yell, and when he'd turned back to face the direction of the undercity, his eyes widened. A large cloud had drifted from the depths and rose over them, the thick toxic plume dampening the light behind it as it crashed down onto them. He began to cough violently as the plume drizzled droplets of acid on them, their masks dissolving away slowly and the flesh that it touched seared hotter than any hell in existence. Men screamed further down the bridge towards the trench and from here he could hear the pattering of feet. Perhaps a chemical main had ruptured; regardless, they needed to leave the scene or risk further poisoning. A clean-up crew would be called in once everyone was evacuated.

A loud noise whipped through the air and he heard a gush, but he couldn't see where the noise had occurred, except that it was further into the smog he was unable to see through. All of a sudden, his commanding officer was on his knees, his large rotund belly heaving as he coughed, while his second was recalling the troops off the bridge, but he hadn't needed to as the men from the far end of the bridge were flocking towards Piltover, incoherent yells coming from them. When they broke through the cloud, the boy could finally see their faces, eaten away by the acid that like them, degraded his mask by the second, and he turned, helping his second in command in heaving his commanding officer to his feet so the three could stumble away from the plume.

As the Enforcers fled from the toxic fumes, steady footsteps echoed from the opposite side, many reverberating metallically with each step. Gas hissed and the boy looked back, but only saw the intense green fumes and the frightened faces of his colleagues behind him.

Suddenly loud popping echoed from further down the bridge as men yelped and shrieked.

His second in command had yelled something, but the boy was too focused on dragging his nearly unconscious commanding officer to comprehend what had been ordered of him.

The large man stirred suddenly, sputtering as he ripped the gas mask off his face, half of it having been dissolved from the acid droplets and he profusely vomited blood. The young boy dropped to the ground and didn't move, and only when his second pulled him along the bridge, did he turn and flee with his fellow Enforcers.

Fear spread through them like wildfire as loud popping continued to come from the end of the bridge; gunshots. Automatic. Several rounds and several more guns.

He could hear the screaming now, his peers and colleagues yelling from the end of the bridge and that spurred his own anxiety and fear. He and his superior officer had made it, each tearing off their masks when they'd entered the cleaner air of Piltover and the square had gone hushed, people watching in terror, civilians, too frightened to move or speak as the large group of Enforcers stared back at the dark cloud that took over the bridge.

The metallic clunking he'd heard at the end of the bridge echoed in the smog, each clunk getting closer and closer to the group. They grabbed their weapons, and the young boy hesitantly pulled his shock stick from its holster.

They were unable to see the origins of the clunking and they spread out, many using two hands to steady their weapons; the fear was apparent, and the constant burning on their lower faces as their skin was nipped away by the acid was evident as many went to smear at their jaws and chins in an attempt to find some relief from the burning.

One man in front of the young enforcer began to scream as the flesh of the left half of his face slid off when he rubbed the area and in pure hysterics he fell to the ground clutching his face with his hands, his goopy flesh smearing over his bloodied and raw cheek as he moved it. The enforcers backed away from the man, some vomiting intensely from the sight, as the entire group's attention was pulled away from the clunking before them. The sounds of fear; vomiting, panting from those struggling with their own internal panic attacks, the screaming from the man whose face was quite literally in his hands, echoed in the young boy's ears, so much so that he almost too began to yell.

They began to back up, unaware of just how close they were to the civilians who hadn't yet moved. Their second command had been silent, many looking to him for support, but the shock he felt was far too great and he stared in horror at the man whose facial skin oozed off of its bone.

The group suddenly looked up again, all becoming hyper-aware of the encroaching clunking noise as the smog spilled from the sides of the bridge and their breaths caught in their throat.

Then silence. Nothing besides the very hushed breathing of those frightened and staring into the dark toxic fog.

A deafening noise suddenly ripped through the air and the young boy and his colleagues were flung from where they stood and were at the mercy of whatever powerful force pulled them from their own feet.

...

In the trenches, Vi had slipped off to areas she knew well, areas of her childhood. She'd ignored The Last Drop, and sauntered around the other areas she'd had in mind. Resting at her side was her gauntlet, clenched, prepared for whatever was necessary, though she didn't think she'd need to use it with Sevika dead.

The streets were quiet, too quiet, and it bore a nervous hole in her gut and suddenly she felt very uncomfortable about letting Caitlyn and Seika go off by themselves. She inhaled and then exhaled deeply, using the breath in an attempt to calm her nerves, but it didn't and her eyes looked back. She could go and find Caitlyn, it wouldn't take her too long, and then they could go find Seika together...

She bit her lower lip nervously, bouncing on the balls of her feet before she groaned loudly and headed back in the direction that she'd parted ways with Caitlyn, but a sudden loud explosion rocked the earth around the trench, moreso the side to Piltover and Vi stumbled to catch her footing. She looked around, hearing screams echo from the people of the undercities who were hidden away and her eyes were wide with terror and shock.

"Caitlyn!" She suddenly yelled, her call echoing in the darkness as her feet pattered loudly on the pavement as she ran.

...

The young enforcer was unable to hear and just barely lifted his helmet-free head. Blood gushed from the right side of his face as it'd smacked the ground and split his skull open, but regardless, he struggled to his feet. The buildings surrounding the square just past the entrance of the bridge were crumbling as dust wafted through the air and upward towards the sky.

He coughed a few times, struggling to breathe in the thick air as the men around him groaned.

The lower levels of the buildings had been blown out, the debris exploding around them. He stumbled again, tripping over a single leg and he vomited from the sight, falling to his feet again.

Then it was back, the rhythmic clunking and he turned to face the bridge, watching as figures stepped forth from the smog, some suited up in heavy-duty suits while overs wore specialized masks.

Trenchers.

His brows furrowed as a single enforcer stood, reaching for her weapon, but a single suit moved and lept towards her. The large suit crashed down on the enforcer who was much closer to the bridge than the others, and the boy watched in sheer terror as her head exploded under the mechanized foot, her brains painting the pavement. Fear gripped the boy by the throat as another lone figure stepped from the smog, a mechanical left hand tiddling aimlessly at her side. When she stepped from the plume and into cleaner air, she released her mask with her fleshed hand and took in a breathy inhale, the corners of her lips upturned in a haunting smile. Her eyes sparkled wickedly and the scar on the left side of her face creased with delight as she viewed the scene. The dust was already beginning to disappate and the boy saw the bodies that littered the ground and heard the groans that echoed in the area. Cries of a child tore through the noise and reverberated in the skull of the young enforcer, and with several loud pops, it stopped, and when the boy looked back he saw what was once a young child, the top half its head gone as the rest of its body remained trapped under some of the rubble.

His eyes found the lone woman again, her short hair pulled up into a high ponytail as her mechanical hand twitched with anticipation.

"Please, please," her almost sultry voice spoke out among the soft noises of pain, "don't let me hold you back." She said, waving her hands out to the scene in front of her.

Suddenly a rush of figures appeared from the cloud, armed with a variety of instruments from guns to bats, and the boy got up to his feet running, stumbling over bodies and debris alike. His fellow enforcers had stood, those that could, while others had pulled forth their guns, drawn and loaded, and began to shoot at the invaders from across the bridge.

The boy stopped, turning around, as civilians who could get up began to flee, screaming in terror. The boy's eyes widened in shock however as many of the invaders separated to the left or the right, moving towards other sections of the outer ring and as gunfire erupted around the square he was in; it became incredibly evident that this square was not the only target.

His eyes met the dark-skinned woman and she flashed him a toothy grin as she lifted her arm and it rotated in on itself. She smashed something into it, pulled a crank back, and triggered the automatic gun that had been built into her arm. A flurry of bullets was released from its barrel, their targets being the enforcers directly before her. The boy's arms went to shield his face, but the bullets never reached him, and when they lowered he was forced to see his colleagues' bodies before him and the ground was red more than any other color. The trenchers moved forward, the mechanized suits hissing and clanking as they walked toward him and he was frozen in place.

Suddenly the woman moved too, weaving through the bodies, her eyes locked on his and he ran, bolting. The civilians who were able to flee from the encroachers were already quite a distance away from the armed Zaunites, but further back from them, running as fast as he physically could, was the single young enforcer, running from the encroachers with his heart lurching deep into his gut, but then he saw it and his face displayed some display of relief. The blue uniforms, stark and clean, the one he'd donned this morning, came closer, the rapid footsteps echoing along from further up on the pathway. Reinforcements.

He nearly cried as he stumbled, fighting to make it to his colleagues and peers, those who would save him.

Sevika watched as the boy ran and her mechanical arm twisted in on itself again and she pulled her arm back and threw it forward, a long zip line extending out towards the boy. It coiled around his neck and she heard him choke and gag from where she stood. He fell to his knees, his hands reaching and clawing at the bladed tip of the whip. The blood that dripped down his torso had origins from his fingers and his throat as his blue uniform stained dark with his own gore. She smiled as his head shook hard while he slowly suffocated, so hard that his orange-red hair waved violently from the movements. Her eyes eventually sought past the boy and towards the incoming enforcers and she smiled when one of the chemsuits strode to her side, its large gun poised defensively towards the incoming reinforcements.

"The charges are set ma'am," he stated, his voice low and hissy through the speaker on his suit.

Her grin widened.

"Good," she said and yanked her left arm back, putting her whole body into the recall of her whip.

The whip was pulled back and the young boy didn't even feel the blade as it shredded his throat, slicing through flesh, artery, bone, and nerve alike, and his mouth moved aimlessly, his brain still functioning as his head rolled from his shoulders and away from the toppling torso that spewed his life force into the air in great red sheets.

"Fall back," Sevika said and the suit began to omit a loud blaring noise that eventually echoed all over the outer ring as the other chemsuits initiated the call and echoed it back to them.

The Zaunites either retreated back to the bridge or used any number of the set pathways that led down into the deep, each group knowing which pathway to take and what was required of them afterward. As the reinforcements yelled incoherently behind her and raised their weapons towards her, Sevika smiled, slipping behind one of the suits as the reinforcements sprayed a thick sheet of bullets at them. She slipped her mask back onto her face as she entered the dark toxic cloud, looking back at the reinforcements who were so eager to follow after her. Another chemsuit approached her other side, and as she stood, nestled between the two mechanized bodies, her body trembled wildly at the scene before her; they were finally getting what they deserved. With a single nod, she stepped back into the cloud, the chemsuits retreating with her, and when they were further down the bridge, another barrage of explosions broke at the entrance to the bridge, along the secret pathways her men had taken, and further within the squares nearby. From those explosions came a bright green chemical that spewed violently from the piping. Piltovian screams echoed from the side of Piltover as the caustic liquid splattered on some of the reinforcements and she smiled as her people slipped back into the safety of Zaun.

Chapter Text

Caitlyn watched as Vi walked away; they'd finally made it down into the trenches and she'd been left to her own devices. This was the plan and she'd follow it to a T, as she'd done in nearly every aspect of her life. Nearly.

She turned and moved in the opposite direction of Vi, her eyes wandering the direction Seika had gone, but she looked away, adjusting the strap of her rifle as she moved through the streets. Things were quiet and people moved quietly – if they moved at all. The undercity seemed so lifeless and still.

Her brows creased; this was unlike the last time she'd been down here and it made her incredibly uncomfortable. Caitlyn attempted to brush off her discomfort, but at least her senses had spiked with the adrenaline that flushed through her system. She heard bullets pop off a short bit away to her right and she instinctually moved, rushing towards the origin of the sound.

Just as she was to cross through an intersection a shape flew by, two familiar blue braids swinging behind it.

The shape stopped and whipped its gun around, its eyes wide and breath heavy.

"Jinx," Caitlyn said, shock evident, but a clattering noise from where the young blue-haired girl had come from, pulled Jinx's attention away from the Kiramman girl, and she ran, fleeing quickly.

"Hey, get back here!"

"Stupid bitch!" Voices rang out, a small group of five people racing after her, weapons of their own drawn and ready to use.

They hadn't even noticed Caitlyn, and instead sped down the direction Jinx had gone.

Caitlyn's body moved to face the direction she'd went and then her feet were following. She needed Jinx alive, and whoever these men were intended to do otherwise.

Jinx was admittedly fast, but Caitlyn's stamina allowed her to keep up with the group, but she opted to stay a steady three meters behind them, hoping their attention would be off her throughout the chase.

Suddenly, Jinx broke into a clearing and swiveled around quickly, and Caitlyn ducked behind a pile of rubble just as Jinx let out a spray of bullets.

She heard some swears and the thump of a body on the ground, but what was said next chilled her more than the death she was so near to.

"You really think Sevika didn't prepare us for your little gun kid?" A haughty masculine voice spat out in between pants.

Sevika was alive?

Caitlyn peeked out from the rubble just as the four remaining individuals injected vials of shimmer into their bloodstream.

Jinx gasped softly, her eyes meeting with the Kiramman girls, as her gun lowered while she stumbled backward.

The four struggled with the transition, but after a few moments, they rolled their backs, the shimmer settling into their systems; what Jinx had seen of shimmer wasn't like this. Jinx's brows furrowed and she let out a loud cackle as the thrill of violence caused a surge of joyous adrenaline to pump through her; fuck the shimmer, let them taste metal. She raised her gun and let out another round of bullets, backing away in step with the recoil, but the transitioned thugs were quick and moved to avoid her shots.

With the four thugs now moving to her, Jinx turned again to flee, but one of the thugs caught a single braid and ripped her head back. The yell that came from Jinx's mouth put Caitlyn into overdrive and she climbed over the rubble and heaved herself onto the structure next to her, hustling to the pointed roof and sliding down on her back until the gutter came into contact with her feet and she stopped. Using the gutter as a brace, she slipped her gun from her back and connected the pieces as the four men began to punch Jinx. She could already see the blood on the pavement, Jinx's blood, and when her rifle was set up, she propped her right knee up and steadied herself.

After repetitive blows to the face, Jinx hadn't heard the gunshot but felt the weight of a body on her, a body that was leaking blood onto her arm and torso. She coughed, blood spilling from her nose and lips as she briefly pulled her head up. That enforcer, the one that had stolen Vi from her had a weapon of her own pointed at the group.

Jinx let out a soft groan as she shoved the body off of her. She became almost hyper-aware of the remaining three thugs whose attention was now off her and were instead faced in the direction of the riflewoman.

"Dumb bitch, who the hell are you?" One of them yelled and motioned his head back towards the young girl as he silently communicated with his partners.

Jinx had attempted to stand and run, but one of the thugs caught her and held her back to his chest so that the four could face the woman on the roof.

"Let her go," Caitlyn called out and two of the three thugs laughed.

"Yeah right, Sevika would have our asses if we did, and you don't scare us as much as she does."

Caitlyn had already reloaded her rifle and had it aimed towards the thug currently holding Jinx who stared up at her with a mix of anger and slight fear. The mention of Sevika's name flooded Caitlyn's system with concern but she pushed past it; Jinx was more important.

"I won't ask again," Caitlyn called down.

"Wait, you're some topsider, aren't you?" one of the thugs finally chortled, holding his stomach as the other two let out laughter that echoed in the silent square.

"What could you possibly want with Silco's killer?" Another asked.

Caitlyn nearly rolled her eyes; she didn't have time for this.

"Not to mention," the one who'd originally spoken, his haughty voice irking Caitlyn almost instantly, "seems like you should head topside, your people may want a quality gunman right about now."

Caitlyn's brows furrowed as the man sneered while looking at his watch. Her eyes fluttered between the three thugs and Jinx and more disturbingly was that even Jinx looked confused, but a sudden loud explosion rattled through the trenches and Caitlyn looked back in the direction of Piltover.

When she'd turned back, she'd found the man holding Jinx with a blade in his face as Jinx kicked his now lifeless body at his partners and she ran.

"Caitlyn!" A familiar voice called out, but it was soft and some distance away

"Vi?!" Caitlyn called back but knew she wouldn't find her from here.

The two thugs chased after Jinx and Caitlyn swore softly, aiming her rifle and shooting at the thug trailing behind, but he'd disappeared behind the wall and all her bullet caught was metal and wood.

Caitlyn stumbled getting back to the ground, but when she did, she immediately followed the direction the thugs and Jinx had gone. After stumbling a bit directionally, her eyes finally found them and she caught up to them quickly, reloading her gun as she ran.

Jinx seemed to have valued her life over her gun as she'd left it back at the square, and it was painfully obvious that the rocket launcher she'd made wasn't on her person either. Caitlyn almost wondered how she ended up in this position, but as the three thugs chasing her neared the young girl, Caitlyn stopped, her left foot forward to brace her body against the inevitable recoil she'd feel in 3...

2...

1...

And then she was running again, jumping over the body that fell and leaked its life endlessly onto the ground of Zaun.

Jinx had just stepped into an open area, and one of the thugs broke after her, but a fast shape from the left met him, the large gauntlet hissing as it connected with the thug's face.

Vi followed her punch through as the thug barreled to the right. The remaining thug, however, passed by Vi and launched himself at Jinx, and grabbed her by the braids, yanking her back again. Caitlyn had just stepped into the square, a smile gracing her face when she found Vi standing over the thug whose face was so bloody and brutalized that it was unrecognizable.

Jinx's yell pulled their attention to the little group's leader, the haughty thin boy, his dark hair cascading over one eye as the barrel of his gun was jammed painfully into the submental space of Jinx's neck.

"She's ours you hear, we're taking her to Sevika," he spat, globs of his saliva spraying from his mouth as he bared his teeth to them.

"Sevika's dead you moron," Vi said, rolling her gauntlet-clad shoulder, that hissed as she clenched and released the mechanisms fist.

The dark-haired man laughed, sputtering as the barrel was pressed further into the underside of Jinx's chin. His hair grappled at her scalp, pulling back so hard and painfully that Jinx could barely view the scene in front of her.

"Then who the hell do you think is running the breach upstairs," he mocked, his head nodding towards the world above them, and Vi and Caitlyn's eyes met.

"Breach?" Caitlyn spoke, the fear present in her wavering her voice. What breach?

"But I..." Vi stuttered softly, her vision falling to her gauntlet.

"I killed her... I thought..." She spoke.

The man's brows furrowed deeply and his hand moved from Jinx's scalp and replaced his gun at her neck and he began to squeeze tightly, ignoring her sounds as he choked her.

"Wait, you're the one who beat the hell out of Sevika," he chuckled.

"My lucky day, imagine if I bring her your head and Jinx alive, god I'll be fuckin revered," he spouted, such things becoming so tangible to him that he could taste them.

His face twisted in dark pleasure as he pointed the barrel of the gun at Vi. Caitlyn, who'd lowered her gun temporarily, raised it, the barrel pointed at the man and the three stood in a stand-off.

He let out another breathy laugh, moving the air-deprived Jinx's face in front of his own, intending to use her as a shield. Her chipped-polished fingers clawed and grappled at his fingers, and while she still had her knife, tucked away at her back, the lack of oxygen took away any thought-forming she could have done normally. She began to see spots as her mouth gaped, opening and closing, taking nothing in, and losing everything.

"Powder!" Vi called out her gauntlet lowered completely to her side as she took a step closer but the man moved his face from behind Jinx's, lining up the shot that echoed throughout the lanes.

Jinx began coughing as she struggled to remain upright, the man's fingers loosening until they released completely and his lifeless body crumpled to the dirty ground.

Vi just now noticed her breath coming out in heavy pants as nervousness flooded through her, moving from her skull down her body and exiting through her feet. She hadn't been shot.

Her eyes moved to Caitlyn whose aim transitioned from where the man's face had been, to Jinx's own still-gasping face.

This was the woman who killed her mother, this woman helped Silco ruin the undercity, who threatened to lead it to its complete irreversible destruction. Any softness she harbored toward the girl for simply being Vi's sister was far buried and impossible to access.

"Powder, you need--"

"No!" Jinx yelled, reaching down for the now free gun and pointing it at Caitlyn. The handgun felt foreign in her hands, but it'd do for the moment.

"I'll kill you both," she said, her speech wavering as she backed away.

Another loud barrage of explosions coming from the direction of Piltover distracted them.

"W-Whats happening?!" Caitlyn asked, lowering her weapon temporarily to look. The shakes weren't nearly as strong as the initial explosion, but went off methodically, one after another, as if timed, and completely along the top of the trench on Piltovers side.

Caitlyn and Vi's eyes met but when they turned back to look at Jinx, the young girl was gone.

...

Ekko had physically recoiled at the barrage of explosions, so much so that he almost flew his hoverboard into a free-standing wall.

He swore, his fists clenching at his side as he struggled to keep himself in check. His mind replayed images of what he'd witnessed and he flew faster, urging himself to his home, to protect his people, but a familiar shade of pink was caught in his peripherals and he lowered himself down to the open empty area.

"Ekko, what happened? What were those --"

Vi's speech halted when Ekko embraced her and fear crept up in her, spreading like fire.

"Ekko?" Caitlyn asked, watching his face twist in pain as it attempted to hide in the arms he'd wrapped around Vi's neck.

"We need to go," he spoke gruffly, turning from them and grabbing his hoverboard.

The girls looked back towards the direction of Piltover, and while Caitlyn desperately wanted to protest she didn't and the pair followed Ekko, the trio silent until they'd reached the familiar Firelight hideout.

Vi's brows furrowed as Ekko breathed heavily, his fists clenched and shoulders hunched.

Something had happened. Was it due to the explosions?

The door shifted loudly as it opened and Ekko moved wordlessly through it, ignoring everyone as he stepped further inside, seeking the sunlight that trickled in from above.

The yellow warmth kissed his head and face as he looked up at the tree and he let out a heavy exhale that quaked with emotions.

Then all at once, they flooded back to him and he let his mouth fall open a bit as he wiped at his eyes.

"Ekko, what happened?" Vi said. Caitlyn and Vi had followed right after him, and a few of the Firelights had followed suit, with eventually Heimerdinger showing up as well, the commotion having pulled him from his studies.

Ekko turned, facing the small group and they all saw the despair on his face.

"There's a new enemy in Zaun," he spoke, keeping some level of cool-headedness, though he wasn't sure how he did so.

"No longer will patrols be run individually, under any circumstances, groups of three is now a requirement, and definitely no more single-man missions or runs" he spoke and some of the Firelights looked at one another, breaking out into hushed whispers.

"Ekko, what happened?" Caitlyn asked, stepping forward. Heimerdinger met her by her side and Ekko met the cyan blue eyes of the yordle and his face broke.

"There is a beast, the rumors that we've heard of the howler are true." He said quietly and was met with more hushed whispers.

"Then let's go kill it!" A young firelight said, pumping his fist into the air as a few others rallied around his cry.

"No... NO," Ekko yelled, louder than he'd intended to, his hand going to cover his eyes.

"This thing kills without mercy, do not approach it," he clarifies, his hand slicing through the air like a knife as he made his point.

"It's far too dangerous... the people it's killed..." Ekkos speech, sinking to a whisper as shock took over his face.

"Seika," Caitlyn said, grabbing Vi's shoulder as worry for her friend rang every alarm bell in her brain.

"We need to find her," Vi agreed, nodding her head and the pair turn to leave.

"Vi, Caitlyn," Ekko said, and when their eyes met his face crumbled.

His mouth opened and closed as he struggled to find the words.

"That's how I found it, the howler, it..." his voice cracked and he cleared his throat.

Vi and Caitlyn's face fell but it was Heimerdinger's soft gasp that broke the silence.

"Ekko, what happened to Seika," Vi said, walking towards him.

"She couldn't get away," Ekko began as the images flooded him again.

"Her blood, it was everywhere," Ekko began to ramble, the trauma of it all coming down on him, suffocating him. He didn't even feel Vi's hands move to grab his shoulders. The group stared as he spoke quickly of what he'd seen, the fight, the bloodshed, and of Seika's violent end.

"It dragged her away, she wasn't moving," he finally murmured through the incoherent speech.

Cecil was shaking as he struggled with the news. One of his dearest friends, the one HE invited here, dead, torn to shreds by this beast. He could almost see it now, and Seika's voice echoed in his brain, and it tormented him.

"Seika, she's..." Cecil spoke softly, and Ekko's eyes found his.

The slow nod the boy gave the yordle caused Cecil to step backward once, then twice, then turn and leave, passing through the path the group made when they moved apart for him.

Caitlyn hadn't realized the tears streaming down her face until Vi had wiped one away, the fighter's own emotions spilling forth when she pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Vi... Vi, she's..." She began to sob softly as Ekko slowly lowered to the ground, sitting back on his rear, his legs bent and his face hidden within his palms.

Despite the bright cheery light that rained down on them, a silent haunting mood crept over the Firelights and their closest confidants as the news of their friends' death had been brought to light.

And they were unable to do anything but mourn.

Chapter Text

Jayce stood, arms crossed in Caitlyn's Councilor office, only, it seemed it wouldn't be hers any longer. His brows furrowed as he viewed the two keys she'd discarded on the desk, and her lack of attendance at the plans she was supposed to attend today were further evidence of her distaste for her new position. He thought she'd be ecstatic, following after her mother...

Both Vi and Seika were gone as well.

When he'd visited Viktor in the lab earlier in the day, Viktor had been quieter than usual, and his lack of knowledge of the girls' whereabouts frustrated him to no end; why the secrecy?

Jayce sighed; he wanted to talk to Caitlyn, to know what she was thinking, but he had other things he had to get done today and with that on his mind, he turned and left the room quickly.

...

The explosions that rocked the outer ring of Piltover brought Jayce for the second time today, back into the lab, red-faced and panting. He'd run from his Councilor office and Viktor's worry was evident on his own face. Seika had gone that direction; was she involved?

Together the pair left the Academy, hurrying as fast as they could.

When the mechanized vehicle sped from the Academy grounds and passed the statue of the city's founder, Viktor wondered what the yordle was doing at that moment. His attention turned however as they neared the outer ring, dust, and smoke billowing into the sky. The area was covered in armed enforcers and medical personal and Jayce swore softly, looking to meet Viktors own wide-eyed stare. This was worse than the bridge; much worse.

The pair slipped from the vehicle, hardly even acknowledging the high fee they paid the driver who promptly sped off, and together they walked into the outer ring.

They approached the main square that led to the bridge down into the undercity and the pair could see the devastation from here. The group of Councilors who'd arrived before them faced the aftermath of Sevika and the Chembarons, one young man sitting with his hands on his face, vomit just to his left-- presumably his own. It was a rough first day for Hoskell's next-of-kin.

Mel turned, her eyes meeting Jayce, and she moved to him. He enveloped her into a hug as the sight of the bloodshed beat his insides to a pulp, threatening to spill forth from his mouth -- but he did everything he could to keep it down and it was just enough. Barely. How was this possible; why had this happened?

Councilor Salo looked sick and Soola had long since turned from the gruesome sight while Councilor Bolbok said nothing.

Jayce struggled with his speech, and all he could do was wrap his arms tighter around Mel. He didn't understand, how were they so awful, so-so... heartless.

Viktors eyes searched the scene rapidly, looking for silver, but all he saw was blue and red. To their left, the body of a child was pulled from the rubble and all the Councilors looked away. The wail of the child's mother that came afterward was what caused Viktors eyes to leave the sight, his own emotions bubbling up in him.

Instead, his eyes found the chemical explosion at the entrance to the bridge. Clean-up had already begun, but the damage was already made, particularly to the enforcers who had been closest, as evident by the lifeless bodies still drenched in the caustic green liquid. This had been meticulously and methodically planned and that in itself was terrifying. In all the years of Piltovers existence, nothing so gruesome, so violent and merciless had ever occurred, and the entire city had been rocked to its core.

Several enforcers were sitting, hands in their faces next to Camille, and when she turned, spotting the group of Councilors, she approached them, the entire group looking up at her, all except Viktor who still regarded the chemical spill almost intently.

Her eyes narrowed at the shock on their faces; she'd felt it too when she'd returned from her excursion to the undercity, the explosions having pulled her and her group away from their mission.

"What happened?" Jayce asked suddenly, stepping away from Mel and just past the Councilors.

"The Undercity rigged explosions throughout this square and the adjoining as well as some others. They also rigged their exits to detonate after their departure. We've also reports of guns, mechanized chemsuits, and chemical warfare reported by the reinforcements who arrived first."

Camille's arms folded behind her, each hand holding the opposite elbow as she straightened, then she swiveled, the soft screech of her knives digging into the stone beneath her bladed legs causing the group to grind their teeth just a bit.

"Besides the explosives and weapons, they also rigged a chemical pipeline to explode at the bridge's entrance, it's been found to have incredibly caustic properties and they used that in order to escape," she spoke as she viewed the current cleanup that was occurring.

Viktor broke out into an uncontrolled coughing fit, hastily grabbing his handkerchief and clutching it to his lips as if that might solve the problems that so intensely wracked his body.

Jayce's eyes found Viktor's form when the man coughed heavily, so hard he leaned over and almost fell, but Jayce's fast thinking caught him, and when the pale scientists gave him a quick nod, wiping the blood off his mouth, Jayce looked back to Camille.

"Injuries? Deaths?" Jayce finally asked, worried about the answer he may receive.

Camille's eyes had found Viktors face during his coughing fit and they'd narrowed intensely, a flame burning brightly at the Zaunite, one of aggression and fury, but such emotions slipped away when Jayce looked back to her.

"Was Seika here?" Viktor asked hurriedly when he'd caught his breath.

"Well over 150 deaths, most of them were Enforcers, however, several Civilians were killed during the invasion, as for Seika, if was here then she did not die," Camille stated, hardly acknowledging Viktor.

"Invasion? That's what you're calling it?" Viktor spat and Camille met his eyes, one brow raised.

"Those Zaunites invaded my home, killed my people, my men, they attempted to destroy my city, what else should I call it?" She asked, holding back a sneer.

Viktor straightened, meeting Camille's gaze with his own fiery ferocity and his knuckles had gone stark white from how tightly his hand gripped his crutch. He became hyper-aware of just how frustrated the group of Councilors that surrounded him were. They all looked at him, faces cross, eyes judgemental and unforgiving. Another reminder that he was not one of them.

Viktor went to speak, taking a step forward, but Jayce intervened, his anger boiling up in him.

"Ok, ok, stop," he spoke. He was struggling with his own anger, but a fight between his best friend and his newly-elected sheriff would cause even more problems.

"Viktor, I need you to attend the meeting tonight, seven sharp," Jayce spoke, looking back to Viktor, then his eyes moved toward the Academy then back to him.

Viktors brows furrowed angrily and he met a confident Camille's face behind Jayce's and all he could muster was a curt nod before he turned and left without another word.

...

Viktor let out a huff, his back hunched as his elbows rested on his knees. The bed was soft beneath him, but it was the feminine scent around him that soothed his body and his mind.

After he'd left the scene of the attack in the outer ring, he went back to the lab, working until it'd grown dark, then, he'd forced him to leave and return to his room. He'd spent the past few minutes sitting on his bed, relishing in the warmth and memories he found here, that he only seemed to find here, with Seika and he glanced at the clock, almost letting out a groan. He'd need to leave momentarily to make it in time for the council meeting that Jayce requested he attend. What was worse, was that he knew what was coming, though he didn't want to completely acknowledge it yet.

Viktors back popped as he straightened and he leaned back on the mattress, closing his eyes when his head met with the blanket. Soon enough, Seika would be back, and he'd curl in his bed with her, as he should have done the previous evening.

He felt a pull from somewhere inside him, something deep and incomprehensible pulling him in the direction of the lab and he sighed, his hand moving to pinch the bridge of his nose. Images from the attack flashed through his mind and were as intensely graphic as if he was right in front of the scene again. The images made him sick to his stomach and he suddenly desired to be anywhere except in his own thoughts.

Then without further consideration, he sat up, grabbed his crutch that'd been hastily propped against the bed, and left for the meeting.

...

Viktor had sat in the chair provided to him silently, sitting to the side of the Councilors. They'd changed the positioning of the tables to more of a U-shape, something that allowed them to view one another as they spoke regarding whatever issue was being discussed...

Viktor knew what issue would be coming, this meeting forcing him to face it. The look on Camille's face, who stood silently in the far corner gave him more than enough information about what way the conversation would go.

He'd seen the looks he'd received when he'd entered the room, and Jayce gave him no more than a nod, but Viktor hadn't cared. His eyes found the handle of his crutch and he inspected it meticulously, using it as a distraction when the councilors began their conversation.

First, they'd spoken about Caitlyn's exit from her position and then about some trade agreements, but when that situation had been settled an eerie silence crawled over the room. Even Viktors eyes turned from his distraction. All the Councilors peered around uncomfortably, none wanting to discuss what was next on the agenda as their own trauma was still violently affecting them.

"We need to have a serious discussion about the events that occurred today..." Jayce said quietly as he broke the silence, his fingers crossed as his forearms were resting on the tabletop.

Viktor pleaded that Seika would walk through the door and change their minds. His forehead rested against the vertical pole of his crutch as he held back a sigh. He hated this. Everything about this. Jayce was forgetting who was behind this; it wasn't the innocent people of the undercity, those underprivileged and struggling with accessing the most basic needs of life. This was gang-related, the Chembarons and those who sought to rule over those present in the undercity with violence, chemical warfare, and shimmer.

He pulled away from his crutch, his eyes drifting to his gloved right hand; everyone might know, but he'd still decided to keep it hidden, he received enough looks with his limp and coughing, why add fuel to the fire...

"We cannot allow this to occur any longer. I can see no other option besides installing proper security and allowing a large, well-versed, and weaponized group of enforcers to occupy Zaun," Jayce continued.

A few of the Councilors had looked towards him, and those who normally would have protested to what he'd essentially defined as a version of an invasion, remained quiet, hearing him out fully.

"Come on Seika..." Viktor whispered almost silently as his eyes drifted to look around the room.

"Camille?" Councilor Salo spoke up, and the group turned to face the stoic woman.

"How do you feel your team is equipped for something like this?" He asked, eyebrows raised.

"Councilor Talis and I spoke privately on this matter prior to this meeting, and we feel, with the introduction of Hextech weapons, the likelihood of success is very high." Her eyes shifted around the room, but then settled on Viktor's shocked face.

Once again, he'd been signed up for something without his knowledge, without his consent.

"Jayce," Viktor hissed, speaking between gritted teeth, "this was not the purpose of Hextech."

"I know the purpose of Hextech Viktor," Jayce spoke, standing so hastily that his chair slid from him with a loud screech. Why couldn't Viktor see his side of this, see how creating these weapons would help the innocent and help save these people?! Jayce's fists clenched with frustration at Viktors response.

"I invented it Viktor, or have you forgotten? I invented Hextech to help people, this is helping them. 150 people died today Viktor. Women, children, innocent" he heavily emphasized the word, "people."

Viktors brows furrowed.

"Perhaps you've forgotten that the only reason Hextech exists is because of me. Your own incompetence nearly caused Heimerdinger to destroy it," Viktor glared angrily.

Jayce's face fell in shock, but it quickly reflected the same aggression present on his fellow co-inventors face.

"We cannot sit back as these violent heathens destroy our city!" He nearly yelled his fist clenched on the table.

Viktor bit his tongue so hard that he tasted metal. This was the tipping point; the division between him and Jayce. No longer could he watch this unfold idly, using his words and sketches to change the world, he needed to take action.

Jayce took Viktors silence as compliance and went to speak again, but an outburst outside the door shifted the attention of the room.

"Move asshole," a stubborn voice called and the doors burst open, Caitlyn and Vi stumbling in with a few Enforcers attempting to grab control of them.

"Jayce," Caitlyn called and the man took a deep breath, attempting to contain himself. This was the last thing he wanted to deal with, especially with his current state.

Viktors eyes searched the pair, then he leaned, peering out the door, waiting for the familiar face every cell in his body desired to see. But he did not see her.

Viktors eyes found Caitlyn's face and it was obvious just how in distress she was, hell, Vi looked like she could both cry and tear someone's head off.

Jayce finally called off the enforcers and his arms crossed.

"Your attendance is not permitted at this meeting Caitlyn. You've stepped down from your position have you not?" He asked, his eyes shifting to Vi and the gauntlet she wore now like it were a complete attachment of her arm.

Caitlyn began breathing heavily and it took Vi grabbing hold of her hand to calm her enough to speak.

"Jayce, we saw what happened in the outer ring. Sevika is alive," she finally admitted, her lips parted as her free hands clenched tightly at her side.

"But, where's Seika?" Viktor whispered and while the Councilors hadn't heard it, he knew Vi and Caitlyn had when they turned to look at him. The look the pair gave him caused his breath to catch in his throat and his face to fall.

"But you said--" Jayce began, glaring at Vi who'd hastily looked away from Viktor and towards him.

"I know what I said but--" she protested, stepping forward.

Clink.

Clink.

Everyone turned to look at Camille who'd stepped forward.

"This new information calls for an immediate response, if Sevika is alive, then she's taken control of Silco's gang and therefore the Chembarons in the undercity. We no longer can stand by indolently," she said, only looking at Jayce.

He nodded, but Caitlyn interrupted him.

"That's not all," she said, her voice struggling with the emotions that threatened to spill from her.

"There's something slinking in the darkness of Zaun, a beast, it's killed so many innocent people there. The people are terrified, they need our help dealing with the monster. It's slaughtered so many, it... it..."

Her speech drawled off and she swallowed loudly, clearing her throat.

"It killed Seika," she finally breathed out.

Viktors heart stopped, his eyes drifting to the floor and he began to shake.

Jayce's eyes moved from Caitlyn to Viktor then back to her as several of the Councilors reflected both shock and some almost reflecting sadness. He couldn't fathom it; Seika was dead? His heart broke some for Viktor when his eyes settled on his retreating form.

"How..?" He asked when his eyes found Caitlyns again.

"We separated, we didn't even know about it but our friend he saw it kill her--"

"Is this the howler we've received reports of?" Camille finally spoke, her face as emotionless as it'd been the entire meeting.

"What do you know of it, Camille?" Jayce asked quietly.

"Very little, but it's not difficult to assume it was made by one of the Chembarons. We believe it's acting on behalf of them," she continued.

Jayce turned away from everyone, still coming to terms with the news as the other councilors struggled with maintaining their own facades -- particularly Councilor Salo.

"It's been decided then," Jayce said, turning back to the Councilors.

"We will secure Zaun, we'll find this beast, kill it and deal with the problems that have plagued us for so long," he said.

"For Seika," Councilor Salo said, standing up, slapping his own hands on the desk fiercely. "They've killed far too many of our own--"

Viktor stood and the attention of the room turned to him.

"No, she wouldn't have wanted this..." he said softly, looking up at them all, brows furrowed and eyes flaming.

Jayce snapped. He'd had enough of Viktor beating around the bush so passively.

"Seika's dead Viktor. Dead," he stressed, "They killed her."

"She wouldn't have wanted you to run guns blazing down there," Viktor protested, stepping forward towards him.

"I don't think she would have wanted to die by their hands either!" Jayce yelled.

Viktors face fell, and anger slid back into him, filling the entirety of his body to the brim.

"Don't act as if you knew her, you don't get to exploit her death to excuse your own bloodthirstiness," he hissed.

"I'm sick of you standing on the sidelines Viktor, it's time for you to pick a side. They killed her, they'd kill any one of us if they had the chance, including you." Jayce replied, pointing at him.

Viktors face fell into something unreadable and unrecognizable and rather than respond, he turned and left silently, the only noise coming from the metallic clinking of his crutch on the floor.

Jayce moved, but Mel reached out to stop him.

"Jayce, give him time," her eyes softened and he could see the emotion in them and he reeled in his own emotions.

"Thank you Caitlyn and Vi for bringing this information to us..." was all he could muster, his head falling and his eyes finding the tabletop.

The pair wanted to fight this decision, as they'd done in the past, but they knew their words would fall on deaf ears. The Council had made their decision, all the pair could do would be to help mitigate some of the damage that would inevitably come from this.

Vi pulled Caitlyn into an embrace and the pair left, hardly looking back as a suffocating quiet settled back over the Councilors, the door behind them closing with a harsh echo.

...

Viktor sat staring at the Hexcore. He still hadn't completely believed it; Seika was dead. She wasn't coming back.

He swore his heart hadn't beat again after Caitlyn had said... that Seika was...

He clenched his teeth, his face in his hands as he gasped for breath, feeling his emotions drowning him. No, no, no, they'd lied, any minute she'd come running in through that door, apologizing for worrying him and he'd hug her and never let go.

Any moment now...

He looked up at the door, waiting, pins and needles jabbing into the entirety of his body.

But she never appeared.

Anger seethed through him and he stood, throwing his crutch as far as he could at the door, letting out an uncontrolled yell as he did. He wobbled, catching himself on the desk perpendicular to the Hexcore and he glared at it.

He'd spent so much time on the damn thing, the damn thing that did nothing, it didn't save him, it didn't save the undercity, and it certainly didn't allow him to be with Seika.

Viktor yelled again, incoherent words as he turned, moving his full front to the Hexcore, but his breath caught in his throat and he began to cough violently, his back recoiling as he hunched over the desk, blood spilling out of his mouth and nose and into the hand that had moved to cover them. He wobbled again, a dizzy spell coming over him, but he pushed through it.

With blood dripping down his face he yelled again, smashing his fists onto the tabletop, his anger taking over every thought, every action as he suddenly and all at once grappled the Hexcore with open eager hands.

The moment his hands touched the fleshy orb, a searing fire moved through his left arm and he let out an agonized scream. His back arched painfully as purple threaded vines suddenly detached themselves from the Hexcore and entered his mouth and nose violently, lifting him a few feet above the ground as they moved down his throat, up into his brain, and deep into his lungs. His feet swung with the recoils and shakes his body made as he was attacked by the almost gelatinous vines and lit on fire from the inside out. The fire spread, but he was unable to yell lest he choke on the fleshy vine, his eyes that now bled blood were rolling back into his skull as his spine arched further and further. He hadn't noticed it, but a sudden and violent twister whipped around the room as his body shook. Flames ran up his spine and his sides as he slipped in and out of consciousness, the Hexcore veins pulsing vividly. He was slipping into hell, and he no longer cared as his own mind slipped from him, his emotions draining from him, and then all at once, the veins pulled themselves back, retreating to the Hexcore and his body fell from the height he'd been strung up from.

An excessively loud metallic clatter rung out in the lab when he'd fallen, but Viktor had been thrust into unconsciousness. The Hexcore was whispering violently, swiveling quickly as it webbed more flesh around itself and grew a bit larger. A red aura suddenly appeared around it downed the lab in a reddish hue.

Viktor suddenly coughed the blood that had collected in his throat, the red liquid now finding a new residence on the floor after he'd forced it from his esophagus.

He wiped away the blood that soaked his face with his sleeves and panted heavily, brows furrowed as he struggled to recollect what'd just happened.

Viktor hunched over, wiping away more blood, and then he stood, moving to the sink to clean his face properly, but he stopped two steps away from the basin, hobbling a step back. His left hand now shone with the same metal that his right hand had transformed into and Viktor eyed it in shock, turning and twisting his hand as if it wasn't attached to his person.

He hastily moved to the mirror above the basin and his gloved right hand moved to his neck, where, there, on the sides of his neck extended more of the metal fibers, the color diluting into his normally pale skin as it neared his jawline. A single line, as if it was outlining a piece of metal plating, moved from the fibers on the right side of his neck, up his jaw, avoided his eye, and up into his hairline. He tore the glove off his right hand with his teeth, letting it fall noiselessly to the ground as his index finger traced the line in pure surprise.

He inhaled shakily, then more calmly the next time, his right hand moving to his chest, feeling the heartbeat that still thumped away.

One breath, then another.

There was no pain, there was no constriction. It was as if his lungs has reverted to what they were five years ago. A smile graced his face and he let out a soft chuckle, pure shock taking him over. He was living, he was breathing, he was... alive.

His eyes found themselves in the mirror as his smile fell, and he gazed at the thin red line that now circled his pupils and he licked his lips once before gracing the image with another dashing smile.

Now he could do what he promised. What he'd promised himself, the undercity... what he'd promised Seika.

The Hexcore swiveled and whispered loudly again and he turned to it, a smile still on his face. He felt strong, powerful, complete. He'd felt more comfortable in his body than he'd ever felt in his life.

He'd helped himself.

Now he'd help the undercity.

If not for himself...

Then for Seika.

Chapter Text

Seika groaned and shifted her body slightly, but grimaced at the pain that shot through her arms, through her shoulders, and up her neck. Her eyelids felt so heavy that she wondered if she'd ever open them again as she continued to slip in and out of consciousness. Where was she? Was she dead?

The stench of chemicals attacked her nostrils and burned her lungs and she coughed, feeling more pain radiate from her arms that were stretched outwards, perpendicular to her body. It was incredibly uncomfortable.

She groaned again, this time softly, and she somehow found the strength to open her eyes. She was in a dimly lit room, most of the light coming from her left, and there, curled inside, was a giant creature, eyes closed as its body floated in a transparent liquid. Bubbles drifted upwards from the bottom as the animal contained in the large tube shifted back and forth, but its eyes did not open and it continued its sleep.

Seika's eyes narrowed and her lips parted as her brain struggled to understand what she was looking at. Her vision was far too blurry and the light hurt her eyes even though it was incredibly dim. She let out another exasperated sound, her face falling as she struggled with her brain's inability to function.

Her face was almost numb and her throat was dry; she desperately needed something to drink. Seika coughed, the action drying her throat even further.

Footsteps lightly tapped the ground near her and moved closer to her. When they stopped, Seika's eyes fluttered open again, her face transfixed at the ground and she was met with a pair of worn brown boots. The golden belt buckle caught her eye, but her eyelids closed again as she took a breath.

A slender hand reached out and touched her left side and she flinched, her eyes opening slowly again, her sight moving up to view the tall figure who inspected her so closely. Brown pants, a jacket that nearly matched, and white bandaging that covered his torso. The cowl that hid half his face obscured most of his facial features but his right eye had been blown out, the entirety of it a vivid green and devoid of any other characteristics other than that, and noticeable scars coated the right side of his face.

His bald head reflected the green light to her left but her brain was still moving so slowly that she wasn't recognizing much, let alone retaining anything. The figure's hand retreated as he moved behind her and she heard clinking and the sound of someone fumbling with materials behind her.

"You..." her voice finally found itself and the noise behind her stopped.

Footsteps echoed around her as the figure appeared before her again.

"You were the one," she whispered, swallowing in an attempt to quench her parched throat, "who saved me..."

The figure said nothing and walked away from her, but she heard the sound of liquid being poured into a container, and then he was in front of her again, holding a pitcher. His long arms reached upward, holding the pitcher to her lips and when he tilted it downward, she greedily drank all that she could.

Streams of water flooded out of her lips, down her chin, and onto her chest and she let out a gasp, arching herself away from the pitcher as the cold liquid chilled her torso.

She coughed suddenly, choking on her sudden movement and the water that had gotten into her lungs and her head turned down, the sight before her eyes causing her to become dizzy.

She was several feet off the ground, hanging naked. Her head turned left then right and she found a metal cuff around her arm just after her armpit and an extensive amount of wires and tubes that were threaded into the front and back of each forearm. Seika struggled to catch her breath, her vision falling again to the ankle cuffs that helped support her hanging figure.

"W-What is this?" She asked at a whisper, her face looking upwards to the long metal pole that the cuffs were attached to that she hung perpendicular from.

Her breath began to come out in heavy pants as fear surged through her and she pulled her body to the right, her torso and hips swinging but she violently recoiled and called out in pain as one of the tubes glowed brilliantly with a green substance that flowed directly into her arm. She felt an intense burning sensation and right at the spot where the iv was inserted, her veins pulsed and darkened to a deep brown.

Seika's breaths came out in breathy pants again and she was unable to look away from the new scar that had formed on her left arm, the vein pulsing, as she knew the one on the left side of her lower torso was doing as well.

"Interesting," the figure spoke, and her eyes fluttered down to her left and there the figure was, regarding the vein intensely, his one eye drawn only to that spot.

"I had wondered what the previous marking was from, it's unlike any disease I was aware of. The samples should prove interesting, particularly being so fresh," he mumbled, almost as if she wasn't awake or even there.

He turned away, his boots making soft noise on the floor as he moved to the opposite side of the room.

"Samples?" Seika called out in shock, moving her body forward only to recoil back again and let out another yelp in pain. She'd moved too much of her arm again, and the brown vein continued to grow.

"Where am I?" She demanded but was met with silence as the man gathered his tools, inspecting each one meticulously.

"Who are you?"

Continued silence.

"Damnit! Answer me!" She yelled, and the man finally turned to look at her.

"How did you do it?" He asked, his brow bone raising when he was met with her look of confusion. He turned, grabbing the tray containing his tools, and moved back towards the girl, using one foot to slide a table on wheels over to his side. She tensed noticeably.

"Do what?" She asked with a look that could have made a Noxian warrior flinch.

He watched her brows furrow and for a moment, he admired her fighting spirit, but she was a subject; you do not get attached to your subjects. Such was the way of science.

"You were a wolf, were you not, now you are a girl," he extended a hand and lightly traced the new browned vein on her arm and she flinched.

"What did you change biologically?" he questioned, brow bone raising and lowering as he traced and inspected the intricate pattern.

He'd only seen her body react this way while she was unconscious when he'd injected her with his own blend of shimmer.

The man walked around to her backside and lightly traced up the back of her right leg. She flinched, again, twisting her head around to try and meet his eyes.

Singed let his finger trace the brown vein that ran all the way up her calf and well into the back of the girl's thigh; it began at the exact place he'd injected the shimmer into her, but her conscious response to the event had been less than he'd desired; it'd simply been painful for her and provided no other meaningful information other than it occurred and it hurt.

He walked back around to her front and looked her in the face, waiting for her to answer his question.

"Biologically? What the fuck are you talking about?" She hissed, anger flooding her, "It's from magic," she spoke aggressively, craning her neck forward to sneer down at him. "What biological bullshit are you expecting?" She asked, her brows furrowed and eyes flaming intensely.

Singed's face recoiled a bit in frustration; not the answer he'd wanted to hear, but he always did rather he crack the puzzle versus being handed the answer, and he'd do what he had to in order to find those answers.

"Your biology must be very interesting, it's why I've brought you here," he spoke, waving his arms out to the side, motioning to the damp lab around them.

Seika was too stunned to speak.

"I've been working on something like this for quite some time," Singed moved towards the wheeled table and picked up a scalpel, finding it fit his hand perfectly.

The girl's face fell as shock and fear clouded her features.

"Vander was a failure, and now he runs rampant killing everything in his path; you will be different, I'll make sure of it." He spoke as he moved to her again.

She couldn't see his mouth behind his cowl, but she could hear the smile in his voice and it terrified her. His completely-green eye almost glinted with eagerness as he pushed a button on a panel somewhere behind her.

Something flooded into her left arm and she felt the surge of cold as it spread through her body.

Her eyelids felt heavy and Seika mumbled something but she slipped out of consciousness when she felt the cold blade of the man's scalpel pressed to the new vein on her left arm.

...

Seika had gasped for breath when she'd woken, her eyelids quickly opening as she took heavy breaths, struggling to get oxygen to her lungs.

When she looked around at her surroundings, she was forced to face the fact that it hadn't been a nightmare.

She'd been taken captive by this... this... this psychopathic doctor. He had to be a doctor; he was so focused on her biology. Her face flushed when she realized her own nudity but the embarrassment moved past her quickly, it was of so little importance at this time and thankfully he seemed less than interested in that. She fought against the aching pressure in her shoulders, the muscles revolting after she'd been hung up like a marionette doll. She looked to her left and bit her cheek at the bandage that now covered the new brown vein on her arm.

Tears threatened to spill forth from her, she wanted to scream and shriek. Someone would hear her, wouldn't they? Viktor would come looking without any hesitation, Vi would come bursting down the door. Ekko would send out the Firelights to search for her...

Right?

She couldn't have been here more than a few hours, but her entire equilibrium was off. It could have been months for all she knew...

Seika closed her eyes, trying to recollect everything she knew.

She was in the undercity. She was attacked by that beast. She almost died. This man saved her. He sought her biology and why she could shift. And now she was a living experiment that he could test on.

Was that all she knew?

Nausea built up in her gut and her breath came out in irregular pants again as she struggled to keep her panic attack at bay.

The room echoed her noises and it was now that she realized she was alone; that gave her some solace.

She opened her eyes again, looking to the creature to her left that moved in the transparent liquid. It did not open its eyes and it was then she saw the tubes that had been placed throughout the backside of its body. Her eyes drifted to the tubes and wires coming from her own arms then back to the creature to her left.

At least she wasn't completely alone... Someone else felt the pain she felt, the complete loss of control. But she was aware of it, whilst this creature was not; she couldn't decide which one she'd prefer. Her thoughts slipped back to what the man had been mumbling to himself.

Vander.

He'd said that name, that that person was a failure. Seika's brows furrowed as she struggled to remember what else he'd said.

Vander was a failure and now he... he kills...

Her eyes closed again and her fists clenched as her brain stumbled over the words the man had said.

... Kills everything in his path.

Seika's eyes opened again and she was faced with the view of the man's worktable across the room.

This man created the beast that nearly killed her... And now here she was, captive in his lab. Seika nearly fainted from the realization, her head falling, but when she twisted her right shoulder and pulled at her arm a bit, the gasp and wave of pain that came from her lower right arm pulled her back into consciousness.

Her head turned, and there, just peeking out from one of the iv's in her right arm, was another brown vein starting to appear. Is this what had happened to Vander then? Was he hooked up to things he wasn't aware of, slipping in and out of consciousness as his body was poked and prodded without mercy? Is this what led him to become the beast he was now? Silent tears rolled down her face and she let her head fall again, her chin nearly resting against her collarbone as she hung, left at the mercy of the wires, tubing, and metal placed there by the man who'd saved her life.

...

When Seika had awoken again, the man was by her side, fiddling with a small bag. When he'd hung the bag successfully above her, he swiftly inserted an IV into the back of her left hand and she watched silently, her half-lidded eyes observing as much as her brain would allow.

"W-What time is it?" She asked, her words slurred and soft.

His eye found hers, but he turned away from her, walking to his table and to his microscope. Despite his long legs and lanky stature, the man sat comfortably in the small chair and hunched over the microscope on his desk.

"Late afternoon," was all he responded, fumbling with some of the knobs of his microscope. The silence was deafening, and Seika's heartbeat was so loud she worried he'd hear it from across the room. Her shoulders were sore and Seika let out a soft groan as she tried to move them, hoping to find some position that might help ease the pain, but it didn't work and she slumped back into the hanging position.

With her pain urging her anger forward, her eyes looked up, staring at the hunched figure of the man.

"If you don't let me out of here, I will break myself out. You've seen what I can do, do you really want to test me?" She asked, pleading and crying hadn't gotten her out of here, perhaps intimidation might.

The man straightened and turned himself in his chair so that his thigh was now touching the back. His gaze met hers but his face was unreadable.

"It's intriguing," he suddenly said, standing up and taking slow long strides to stand next to her.

"When your body comes into contact with something that may be considered toxic, it responds like this," he said, tapping on the vein on her left side. She flinched at the contact, shooting him a deathly glare.

"The blood within it does not die, but the vein around it does, yet, blood moves through it as it should." The man pulled his cowl down and Seika's face dropped at the violent scars that covered his lower face, but more disturbingly enough, was that he was smiling.

"The response is most intriguing, the same thing occurred when I gave you shimmer a few days ago just after I'd first found you. I admittedly thought you may not pull through, but my blend has been made well. You, however, did not change as I'd expected you to and that itself is quite fascinating."

"Shimmer?" She whispered, then her eyes widened and she lurched forward, "a few days?!"

She let out another yell in pain as her right arm burned, and when she settled back, the vein on her right arm grew larger. Her breath came out in soft pants and then she whipped her face around to look at him.

"How long have I been here?"

He didn't respond, and instead, side-stepped to look at the newly grown vein, his brow bone dropped and his uncovered face quizzical. His smile had faltered as he viewed the new vein, but then his good eye found her and he gave her an almost haunting grin.

"This is how I know you will not break free from here," he spoke softly, lightly tapping the freshly turned vein with a long finger. "Every move you make pushes toxins further into your body, and it can only be assumed that too many toxins and you'll die, correct?" He asked, circling around her.

Seika's brows furrowed and she remained silent; that was the answer he expected.

"It seems you are more human than I thought, but your capabilities still intrigue me," he admitted, brow bone deeply furrowed as he studied the new vein again.

"I told you, it's magic, nothing more, without the magic I wouldn't be able to do this," she said suddenly holding herself back from pulling at her arms again. She knew the pain that'd come from it and with the iv inserted the way it was, if she moved too much, if she shifted or attempted to break free, it risked serious damage...

When would it be too much for her to bear though?

"Magic is simply an excuse," he began, turning away from her to walk to his desk. "Magic presents opportunities to those who are incapable of understanding the ways of the world, those who use magic are blind, weak, uncurious. They shame the term science. I do not believe what you are is caused by magic, no, there must be something different about you." He'd picked up a syringe and filled it with a glowing green liquid.

Seika's eyes widened in fear.

"Who are you?" She asked in almost a whisper.

The man approached her, his footsteps softly echoing in the silent room. He took a moment, flicking the barrel once, twice, then plunged out the excess air. He side-stepped to her left, reaching for her arm and he lightly grasped an injection port present on the inside of her forearm.

Seika gasped, flinching again, but the pain she knew would happen if she pulled kept her from pulling away, and instead, she watched the man as he prepped the inevitable injection that would occur.

"You may call me Singed," he said emotionlessly as he pushed the unknown liquid into the injection port. Pain rippled from the area and Seika let out a miserable scream that echoed violently in the lab. She wailed in agony as the pain rippled up her arm, unable to keep her body from convulsing and turning as she attempted to find some relief, but the man only stepped back to view her with an intense cold-blooded look as he regarded his work.

Chapter Text

Camille's grappling wires whizzed back to her thighs and her eyes narrowed, her vision piercing through the slight smog that coated the undercity. She was on top of one of the metal bridges that towered above the lower levels of Zaun and her forearms rested lazily on the metal as she peered over the side. Her eyes glittered excitedly and her fingertips twitched with anticipation; she was incredibly eager to move forward with this plan.

Councilor Talis had allowed her to enter the city almost immediately because, after all, she'd been preparing for this, and both the news of Sevika's existence and the death of Ms. Etesia certainly spurred the plan forward, the young man's own emotions triggering the plans own intense revival. This was but one phase and a phase without any Hextech weaponry due to the Zaunite co-inventor of Hextech who seemed to be fighting back against the proposal. Camille was unable to hold back a sneer when she reflected back on the feeble inventor. They were all the same. They clung so closely to one another, then slit each other's throats when the other wasn't looking. Pathetic and revolting, just like their damned city.

The rumbling of the footsteps behind her pulled her from her thoughts as her cluster of 150 men began the descent into the undercity using an array of avenues; from secret staircases that had been rebuilt, hidden away elevators long forgotten, and even the trolley that descended down into the toxic depths.

A grin slid across her face and she heaved herself over the edge of the bridge, letting herself fall for a few feet before grappling herself. She swung above the undercity, bit by bit lowering to the ground as she veered off to the left. Her legs clattered metallically when she landed before the elevator just as it reached its stop and it opened.

Straight-laced and noticeably uncomfortable, the man who stood before her was her second-in-command. A young man by the name of Mohan. He was capable enough for her to promote him to her second, but it was clear the boy would never be comfortable by her presence which she was more than fine with.

She held back a grin when he'd nearly jumped as the elevator doors opened upon the tall woman, but she remained stoic, looking down on the shorter man, then she flashed a white-toothed grin.

"It's time to begin," was all she said.

...

Camille and her forces moved throughout the undercity quickly with weapons at the ready. The terrified Zaunites, innocent civilians fled and screamed at the sudden large group of Enforcers that stormed their homes, ransacking and yelling for the chembarons to show themselves.

Word had already spread topside about what was happening below and as Caitlyn and Vi stood at the partitioned-off trolley that led down into the depths, they were unable to keep their worry off their faces. Jayce had made Piltovers move, and they feared how the undercity would respond, specifically the Chembarons and Sevika's gang since those who called the smoggy city home were completely at the mercy of both powerful factions.

It took everything in Vi not to go down there and start beating Piltover enforcers. Violent memories of young her and Powder on the bridge during the uprising that had happened many years ago flooded her again. The one where she'd lost her parents, and the one where Vander had stepped up to become their only parental figure. Her heart clenched, as did her fists, but Caitlyn's hand against her forearm flooded the pink-haired woman with a wave of calm.

There wouldn't be a single way they could go down there and stop this, not even with the Firelights. Vi and Caitlyn had hoped they wouldn't intervene and instead would stay hidden as they hadn't had time to tell them otherwise; their intervention would only cause more problems if they joined the fight against Camille. They could only hope that Camille's forces would actually help the undercity, though the new sheriff's own actions and speech dictated otherwise. That seemed to be all that they could do; hope... And both of them hated that feeling more than anything.

Somehow, from where they stood, they heard the high-pitched screams of some of those down below, the screams echoing throughout the city. Fear crawled up into the throats of both women and held their breaths in its sharp-clawed grasp.

Piltover was changing. Zaun was changing. Everything was changing.

Vi and Caitlyn could only hope that everyone wouldn't change with it, at least, not for the worst.

...

Camille swore under her breath as she lifted her left leg and the blade sliced up the torso of a young man. He let out a liquidy yell as he crumbled and blood spewed from the slash in his front. The gangs had risen to meet her forces faster than she'd had thought they would, but what was worse, was that they were more heavily weaponized than her intel had suggested. Another man yelled, springing towards her but this time a crowbar in his hands. She placed her weight on her leg and kicked her right out in front of her, her blade cutting through the sensitive delicate flesh of his belly and he crumbled before her, nearly in two pieces.

Her eyes looked around her and she saw the bodies of her men. She swore again looking far off in the distance towards Mohan whose own face betrayed him.

The fear and displeasure of the situation and what his people were doing were in disagreement with who he was as a person, but orders were orders. She watched as he grappled with a young woman who came from the shadows, pulling her into a headlock until she slipped into unconsciousness and he gently put her down.

The sheriff's eyebrows furrowed; the man was far softer than she'd taken him to be.

An explosion popped off from somewhere nearby to her right and a cluster of enforcers fled the area, shrieking as flames engulfed their back. The scent of their singed skin permeated the air and even Camille had to momentarily struggle with a small wave of nausea that passed through her. Aggressive yelling came from the direction of the explosion and Camille sprinted forwards to view the scene, and creeping from some of the further pathways were mobs of men running towards her. Men that were not her own. Guns, blades, pipes, just about anything that could be a weapon was being used as a weapon. It'd become increasingly apparent that she didn't have enough men for this battle.

She let out another hushed swear. It was unlike her to lose her cool, her stoic character was not only the image she maintained but was also her identity.

She barked an order, and her nearby men fled, yelling to their comrades who in turn passed it on to others.

With the enforcers retreating, the mob had slowed and Camille backed up but halted in her tracks when she heard a burst of laughter coming from somewhere in front of her.

Her eyes were trained on the steady smoke that had billowed over from the explosion and clogged up the view before her. She straightened her back, moving her legs closer together when three figures stepped forth.

A dark-skinned woman stepped forth, her dark hair pulled into a low ponytail at the nape of her neck while her mechanical left hand hung lazily at her side as the other was propped on her hip. Another tall older man with a mask covering half his face stood on her left and on the other side was a tall pale woman, who had an integrated mask that concealed her lacking nose and rust-colored hair. Despite her position further back, she somehow managed to stand out amid the green lighting of the undercity, perhaps it was the venom in her eyes that bore so deeply into Camille.

Camille couldn't help but display a wide-toothed grin; so the Chembarons had come to her huh? And Sevika...

Were they willingly stupid? Or had their own lacking genes forced their incompetence upon them?

It didn't matter, she was far more skilled than them in combat, but when she stepped forward a gunshot rang out and crippled her walk.

She stopped after that single step, moving her weight onto her left untouched leg, and looked down to her right where an unsuspecting bullet had grazed it, pushing past the metal and leaving a deep open gash on the front of what would be her thigh.

Camille's eyes wandered but she couldn't see the shooter, and by now she was on her own. Despite her own abilities, she wasn't in the best place right now, but that only surged her body with confident power and adrenaline.

"Come come now Sheriff," Sevika spoke up, taking a few confident steps forward.

"I know all about you; you really don't think we came down here without protection, do you?" She hissed, her hand flipping in on itself until a small blade glimmered in the green and red light. Camille felt the nearby flames lick her face; they'd spread and the mob that had come from that area had disappeared into the shadows.

"You think you can come into our home," Sevika said, stepping forward as she placed a cigarette between her lips. She pulled a familiar golden lighter, something she'd gotten from an old.. friend, and used the lighter to light the cigarette.

After a long drawl, the smoke billowing out her nostrils, she smiled, still holding the cigarette in her mouth as a few white teeth poked out between the lovely dark mauve color of her lips.

"Fucking pathetic topsider. What was your plan? To come in here and shake a few shacks and suddenly we'd bow at your feet? This was you're bite back after that absolute blast of a party we held?"

Camille's face hadn't changed at the haunting toxic sarcasm that dripped from Sevika's mouth like the noxious waters of the undercity, but that hadn't mattered, Sevika wasn't attempting to get a rise out of the woman.

"I'm sorry you couldn't make it, it was to die for," Sevika flashed a violent grin.

Chuckles reverberated around Camille, pushing her to high alert; she hadn't realized just how surrounded she was and the voices she heard had come from everywhere around her.

"Maybe next time you'll be in attendance, it'd mean a lot," Sevika suddenly moved when she uttered the last two words, letting out a guttural growl as she whipped her left arm and shoulder back and flung it forward.

The metal blade tip of her whip flashed in the green and red light as it passed by the traditional green lights of the undercity and the reddish flames from the explosion. Suddenly Camille's eyes transitioned from blue to orange then back as her grappling wires launched from her body to a building on her left and she was pulled out of the range of Sevika's whip.

Sevika audibly growled, coiling her whip back up and twisting in on itself as she readied her automatic. She pulled a green vial from the belt on her torso and slipped it into an open chamber that pumped the fluid into the piece and her body.

"Get. Her," Sevika seethed as her gang descended down on the sheriff.

Camille jumped, her grappling hooks letting go of the wall to retract then they launched again onto the wall of another taller building nearby and she pulled herself to the wall's surface.

Sevika loaded her automatic weapon and pointed it at Camille, letting off a spray of bullets in the sheriff's direction.

The metal woman used her legs to block the bullets, but the ones that hit left splatters of green that smoked after coming into contact with the metal. Her brows furrowed as it became evident that the caustic liquid the bullets were coated in began to eat away at the metal on her legs and other areas it'd splattered on to.

She swore again, her eyes meeting Sevika's, and each regarded one another as if they were the filthiest parasite in existence.

Camille jumped from the wall again, her grapples launching up higher as she swung from each level, swinging gracefully from building to building, up to the lower bridges. She couldn't hear the activity down below as she moved higher and higher, her only focus on saving what portion of her body had been touched by the green contaminate.

Failure was bitter on her tongue.

She'd lost this battle, but she'd win the war, and would gladly bathe in the blood she'd spill from Sevika's throat.

...

Viktor stood in the lab, donned in a black turtleneck, dark brown slacks with a black and silver belt, and a pair of shiny black dress shoes with a silver buckle. Lastly was a dark long trench coat that stopped at his knees. His hair had been left to fend for itself and his face was clean, eyes bright and his skin tinged pink with liveliness. Beneath it all was a fabric bracelet on his right wrist, one he'd made after cutting strips of the red tattered shirt Seika had worn the night after the explosion on the bridge. He'd braided the fabric tightly and tied it around his wrist; it was the only thing he had of her beside his memories. His amber eyes had glanced down to his metal hands and he clenched both his fists as light streamed up and down the fibers slowly and erratically, then his attention shifted.

He moved a large pack onto him so that it rested comfortably on his left shoulder, the weight of it hardly even noticeable. It contained everything he'd wanted to bring with him from his room, mostly tools, research, a few small inventions, books, and all the money he had. It wasn't much but it'd be enough.

His eyes looked around the lab, one single lamp lighting up the room as the night outside the window had brought the world into its usual temporary darkness.

He hadn't seen Jayce since the Council meeting when he'd found out about Seika, and while Jayce, on more than one occasion had come banging on his door, pleading and begging to see him, Viktor had refused.

Whatever relationship they had had long since deteriorated.

The man took a deep breath, feeling his lungs expand and contract without limitations... without pain. He reached out to the desk on the far wall, tracing the spilled ink blotch Seika had made when she fled from him that day. It seemed so long ago...

His finger retracted back into his clenched palm as he turned to the other bag he'd be carrying and filled it with the hex claw he'd taken apart for easy transport. He added a few more books and some paperwork and slung it over his right shoulder, then moved towards the Hexcore. The reddish-orange circle around his pupils grew visibly brighter as he neared the Hexcore and he smiled, hearing the incoherent whispers from the fleshy ball. Viktor gently grabbed the box, turning it on its side so its opening was in line with the Hexcore, and he gently moved the box into the Hexcores space. When the Hexcore rested comfortably inside the confines of the box, he flipped it upright and put the lid on the box, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. With gentle arms, he moved the box on a desk closer to the door and with little emotion, deposited his back brace, his crutch, and his knee brace in the spot where the Hexcore had once been. Next to them was his key to the lab and his uniform.

His brows furrowed as he said a silent goodbye to who he was before. The pitiful weakling who was but a kiss away from death, his goals unachievable as the reaper's hot terrifying breath constantly fanned the back of his neck.

That person had died.

An almost painful smile crept onto his face as he struggled to leave parts of Seika behind, the grief and loss he knew would slow him down, and with an exhale, he let the emotions go, feeling them flow down his body and exit through his feet. He'd lost her, but he wouldn't lose himself; his goals were too great, too close for him to get lost in his sadness. She wouldn't want that either. He'd see her again when all this was done, when he'd helped the undercity and stopped Piltovers madness. He'd keep his promise, to both Zaun and Seika.

With one last slow blink, he turned, grabbing the box and leaving the lab for the last time.

...

He'd walked without any issues towards Zaun. The streets were quiet and Enforcers were more focused on their weapons than the person who'd just left the Academy. Even if they did stop them, he'd brought his Academy badge just to use as leverage. Only when he attempted to enter the undercity was he stopped, and despite the badge, the Enforcer still looked at him with concerned untrusting eyes.

Viktor had heard about Camille and her attack on the Undercity, he'd heard more about Jayce's involvement, however, the thought of it bringing an acidic taste to his mouth.

Eventually, after a few more questions he skewed his answers to, the enforcer permitted him entry and he slipped into the smoggy darkness, smiling as the toxic fumes didn't affect him at all.

...

He'd spent several hours walking through Zaun, looking for what he would declare home. Initially, he'd gone up the trench, but eventually moved down it, and if he'd taken a right when he'd initially gotten into the trench, he would have saved time and energy, but it hadn't mattered to him. He walked through a quiet square but stopped when his footsteps nearly touched a large stained spot on the ground with drag marks moving down a dark alleyway, long red scratches decorating the ground around the area. It appeared to be blood.

His brows furrowed but he walked past it, moving through the alleyway with little regard for whatever might have happened, or whoever may have died while at the mercy of their assailant.

He walked for quite some time, at least another hour until he stopped, viewing a large abandoned industrial building. The area was quiet and he hadn't seen a single person in the vicinity of the area around this building and he smiled, feeling an unexplainable call from somewhere within the building and he walked to the door. It was thick metal and unlocked and he smiled again, heaving it open. It screeched loudly against the ground, something he'd need to fix immediately, but the issue appeared to be coming from one of the hinges that were falling apart; an easy fix.

He pulled out one of the flashlights he'd brought with him, and Viktor was pleasantly surprised at the setup someone had readily abandoned as the building was dusty and dark. The doorway led immediately into a hallway that broke off into three rooms. The left room appeared to be a makeshift living and kitchen area while the right had been turned into a small washroom. The last room in the back was the largest. There were stone walls on nearly every side and they were all windowless; inside were a few desks and some minor industrial equipment that lined those walls and a few boards with tattered unreadable papers tacked to them. What surprised him was the body that hung from the ceiling, a noose around the person's throat. He walked to one of the desks, placing the Hexcore on its surface gently then he put his bags on the ground. His brows furrowed however when he looked back and regarded the body, unable to help himself as his face recoiled some. Viktor grabbed a nearby ladder and untied the body, hardly hearing the bones that broke when it fell to the ground. With little emotion on his face, he picked up the body and dragged it out of the building and further towards the river that snaked its way through the trench, and with a gentle kick, the body found its new resting place in the murky toxic waters of Zaun. He watched the body sink, the skin of the person's face taut, any features of the individual lost in its own decay. His hand slipped to his pocket and pulled out the Academy badge. Lightly thumbing it as his eyes followed the body until it slipped into the murky depths, Viktor let out a soft chuckle and flicked the badge into the water. His trench coat billowed as he spun quickly, walking away from where he'd stood and back to the building. When he arrived, he regarded the front, his hands in the pocket of the trenchcoat as he smiled. This was it, this was home.

He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He pushed it upwards a bit as he moved it to ensure its closure was quiet. When it was in alignment with the doorframe, he let it resettle on its warped hinges and moved promptly to the back room, his eyes looking around again. An empty decaying corkboard hung on the wall opposite of the desk where the Hexcore was and Viktor smiled as he moved to one of his packs, sifting through it until he found a stack of papers. His distractions.

His shoes echoed in the silent room as he strode to the board and using one of the abandoned tacks, he pinned each paper to an empty place on the board, then stepped back, regarding the blueprints.

A smile crept over his face as he viewed his messy scribble outlined ideas, the possibilities endless; he'd spent quite some time drawing up weapons that he'd hoped would never see the light of day.

But Jayce had made his move, now it was Viktors turn; his new home would make his dreams a reality.

For the undercity.

For Seika.

Chapter Text

Several days had passed after Camille's failed invasion and Vi and Caitlyn found themselves in the Kiramman residence. The pair of them felt utterly useless as they sat about the pristine mansion, afternoon sunlight filtering through the window and filling the room with an undesired and almost suffocating warmth.

Now that Caitlyn was no longer a Councilor, Jayce had rejected her attendance and her involvement. He'd become callous and aggressive, but she knew he wasn't acting out of spite towards her, but rather it was due to Viktors recent disappearance.

The young inventor had been locked in his room after they'd told him of Seika's death, and even Vi and Caitlyn had attempted communication, but in the end, their efforts failed, and then he simply slipped off into the night. When Caitlyn had gone to Jayce's office this morning, unannounced, she could sense he was seething with anger.

She still couldn't believe Viktor had just upped and left.

Her blue eyes looked up from the book she hadn't been reading and followed Vi who was pacing the width of her bedroom, as she'd been doing for the past half an hour. Her eyes temporarily drifted past the pink-haired woman to the mussed bed where things between them had romantically developed.

A slight flush crept across her cheeks and she bit her lower lip, her eyes falling back to the scribbles on the page. Now more than ever she wished Seika was here; she knew the silver-haired woman would be absolutely ecstatic, after all, her eyes had been screaming it since the moment she'd seen them side by side.

Vi made a noise of frustration, her shoes lightly scuffing the marble floor she stood on, then she turned on her heels and began pacing the length of the room.

The noise had caused Caitlyn to look up again.

"Vi," she said and was met with eyes so light they appeared almost gray. She said nothing in response, so Caitlyn placed the book to her side and stood, walking to meet her where she remained standing.

Vi's palms went to her face.

"I'm going crazy Caitlyn," she shook her head back and forth, "I can't just sit around and do nothing..." When Caitlyn gently pulled Vi's hands from her face the pink-haired woman was visibly upset.

The dark-haired woman gently kissed her hands, her eyes drifting to look at one of the many scars that laced its surface, then they rose to meet her light gray eyes.

She was supposed to be cool, collected, a go-getter, and feisty as hell, but right now, Vi felt so incredibly useless, and it was destroying her from the inside out.

"I need to be down there, doing something, stopping Sevika, I don't know--"

Caitlyn interrupted her with a gentle kiss on her lips.

"Vi, if you go down there, she'll kill you..." Caitlyn let out a shaky breath and she continued, her head shaking in disbelief, "I've already lost Seika, I-I can't lose you too..."

Vi immediately pulled her into her arms, one hand raising to the dark-haired girl's neck to pull her into the crook of her neck.

Caitlyn moved willingly, allowing herself to be enveloped in Vi's embrace and she let out another shaky exhale. She felt Vi's arms squeeze tighter around her and then the boxer let out another heavy sigh.

"I can't sit here and do nothing though... And that creature is still down there tormenting them, it took Seika from us, and now it's threatening to take everything else. What if it gets the Ekko, or... or..." Vi couldn't even say her name. Sevika's sudden uprising had pulled all thoughts and focus off Powder. Vi saw the sadness creep onto Caitlyns face and her heart broke a little; Vi knew Caitlyn hadn't forgiven her sister, and with all honesty, she hadn't either, but that did little to stop her worry.

Caitlyn pulled away, turning and moving towards the closet in her room. Vi called out to her but received no response and then, a few moments later, Caitlyn re-entered the main bedroom, dressed in outside wear.

"We may not be able to stop Sevika, not right now, but we can sure as hell help the undercity with their pest problem," she spoke, pulling on a pair of light gloves. Vi smiled warmly and strode across the room to kiss her deeply, and Caitlyn nearly melted right into it.

Vi showed off a wide-toothed smile, panting a bit from the kiss, and grabbed her coat.

With weapons in tow, the two left the Kiramman residence, a new goal within reach.

...

Ekko stared intensely at the canister in front of him, his brows furrowed as he used the tip of his screwdriver to scratch lightly at his temple.

Why wasn't it working...?

He let out a loud sigh, dropping the screwdriver onto the desktop, and looked around the room at nothing in particular.

After Piltover enforcers had stormed the undercity, Ekko had kept the Firelights under strict lockdown; this wasn't their battle so there wasn't a reason to risk themselves, but Piltovers forces had attacked more than the gangs and Chembarons, they'd killed innocent people, they'd torn down and dragged them from their homes while explosions from their battle burned hopes and camps to ashes, turning what little these people had into fire and smoke. The innocent people of the undercity who had once looked topside for help with their gang problem were quickly turning against them, and word of it spread faster than the flames that engulfed a decent portion of the city that day.

Ekko couldn't hold himself back, despite Heimerdinger's attempts for him to do so. He trusted and admired the yordle, but he couldn't sit on the sidelines anymore. Things were coming and he wanted to be prepared.

His eyes found the Timewinder he'd perfected, a boomerang of sorts that, after substantial practice, he could throw and after a few seconds of it being airborne, it would detonate electrical charges within itself, giving small zaps to those within a few feet of it, and then it'd loop back to him. When it came into close contact with his club, the Timewinder would close in on itself and allow him to grab it safely.

His brain was moving so quickly that it was forcing him to work on more than one project at a time; first, there was the Timewinder that still required a bit of tinkering, then the canister he was fixing up, and lastly his club. His eyes found the canister that he knew he was so incredibly close to finishing... Ekko's left fist clenched, then he sighed and relaxed his body, slumping back against the chair he was in.

Ekko rubbed the sides of his head; he'd been working well into the next day for several weeks now, pushed by the drive of wanting to ensure the safety of his people. Heimerdinger and some of the other Firelights had finally forced him to stop and only after he'd promised to rest did they leave him alone. That was several hours ago, several hours that he was meant to use to rest.

His eyes turned back to the canister on his desk and he stared at it with a heavy sigh, his figure still slumped back in the chair. What was missing; what did it need? All attempts to properly charge and power the device had failed and he was at a complete standstill with it. He'd changed the canister, edited half of the outside to a thick clear sturdy plastic, something you could see through but could take a beating with the other side a similarly thick metal. The once long leather strap had been inlaid with metal; it'd hold up better in the long run and he'd fortified the rest of the metal on the canister while a lever on the top that, when moved towards him, pushed down, and twisted, it prompted the metal back portion of the canister to slide open to the side, something that was already in place, but he slightly improved the features of. Sturdy toys, happy boys after all. If one of his mechanisms broke during a fight, one of his people could be killed; he wasn't about to let laziness or ineptitude get one of the Firelights hurt, or worse.

The stopwatch in the far corner of the desk ticked loudly and Ekko relaxed into the sound, letting the seconds lull him into tranquility. How many times had he repaired the thing only for it to get broken again? Jinx was the cause of the most recent break -- but he pushed those thoughts from his mind. He didn't want to think about her, or the Chembarons, or Seika...

Or maybe it was that he couldn't think about those things. They would distract him, they would agonize him. A hand ran through his dreadlocks and he bit the corner of his mouth. Then he stood, slipping his hands into his pockets, leaving his room, and closing the door behind him. His eyes found the main courtyard, looking up at the great tree and the soft low-light that trickled in. It was late afternoon and the Firelights were starting to settle down for the evening. A few Firelights passed him, nodding their head or verbally greeting, all he returned with a smile or kind gesture.

He couldn't let Sevika and the Chembarons get their hands on this, on them.

He strode from the building his room was in and down the stairs until he reached the ground level of the grassy courtyard and from a distance, he viewed the mural. The corners of his lips tugged downward when he saw a lone figure peering up at the faces of the murals, faces of the people they'd lost.

Ekkos feet brought him to their side and he looked down at them, the little girl's face heavy with emotion as she regarded the faces before her; most of whom she'd never met.

"Dad told me what happened..." she finally spoke, her hand reaching out to the newest drawing -- far from completed, but it wasn't difficult to see who it'd be upon its completion. She wasn't able to reach the woman's face, so Ekko picked her up, putting her on his right shoulder, and with his free arm, their hands touched on either side of the new portrait.

"She saved my life... she was nice," the girl began speaking through her tears as she used her free hand to wipe them away.

"I miss her Ekko, I miss--" her tears took over her speech as she began to cry.

Ekkos brows furrowed and he closed his eyes, his hand still resting to the left of the portrait, fist clenched, his knuckles pale. He sniffed once, collecting himself as best as he could, and his face turned to the girl who he gently put to the ground after he'd pulled himself away from the mural.

"I know, I miss her too...." he spoke softly, wiping away a stray tear for her.

"Do you think she's looking down on us? Daddy says that what happens when people die, they look down on us and make sure we're ok," she spoke, her tears having calmed to a steady and almost rhythmic sniffling.

Ekko nodded, giving a forced smile as he gently pat the little girl's head, "more than anything," he spoke softly in agreement.

She smiled, and when she heard her parents calling across the courtyard after a few minutes, Ekko bid her good night and found himself facing the mural alone.

He stepped closer to the new face, the head of his brows raised and eyes racked with guilt. His other hand raised this time, to the right side of the portrait, his thumb and index finger just barely touching the coloring of the mural.

"I-I should have done something..." he whispered softly, his guilt eating him alive. It took everything in his power to push himself away from the mural and walk back to his room, fists clenched in his pockets.

There, below the portrait of Mylo, was a nearly finished Seika, eyes bright and lively, smile warm, but all Ekko saw when he looked at it was her life draining from her face after he'd let her die.

...

Vi and Caitlyn had spent several hours looking around Zaun for this apparent beast with little success. Most who they asked strayed far from them as if just speaking of it might bring about its presence.

Though one young man, for a few coins, had told them he watched the creature kill a man attacking a girl, and then the beast took one look at the girl and left.

Caitlyn was still thinking about it; why would the creature have let her live if it was as bloodthirsty as everyone made it out to be? Vi, however, had hardly listened to the man's story, her own nerves and eagerness getting to her.

They'd been walking through a rather busy market area, chatter all around them, but all Caitlyn heard was Vi making anxious noises as her gauntlet moved noisily.

"You're not wanting this only for the Undercity, are you Vi?" She finally asked.

Despite the life teeming around them, Vi stopped, hearing what Caitlyn had said. Her gauntlet-free hand went to her pocket and her head turned to face the ground.

"Damnit, Cupcake, you're too smart for your own good, ya know?" She said, turning to face her.

Caitlyn was giving her a soft smile, and Vi wanted to kiss her now more than anything, but her next sentence forced her into their current reality.

"It won't bring her back, you know? Killing this creature... Just like killing Jinx won't bring back my mom..." Caitlyn's eyes left hers and Vi's eyes fell. She knew that, just like how Silco's death didn't bring back Powder, but somehow, she knew that beating that thing to its death would make her feel better, make her feel like she'd done something to help Seika in her last moments when she wasn't there.

Vi only responded with a nod, to which Caitlyn walked forward and took her hand.

No other words were shared as the pair slipped further into the Undercity, a renewed sense of purpose coursing through them

...

Ekko had been staring at the canister for the past hour; every attempt he'd done to complete it had failed and now it was beyond curiosity; the damn thing was straight pissing him off.

He gritted his teeth, attempting not to let out a loud groan of frustration. He opted instead to twirl the screwdriver on the tops of his fingers, however, his thoughts got away from him, flurrying from his inventions to the mural. His thoughts drifted to Seika and that night, then suddenly, images of Seika began to flash before him and his face immediately went to his palms, the screwdriver clattering noisily as it fell to the floor.

He swore once, pressing his palms into his face, hoping that the pressure might somehow drive away the images that tormented him.

He saw her, cowering fearfully before the beast, her blood staining the ground, the scene replaying in his head over and over again, and then all at once, the violent graphic images stopped and she was standing before the tree, her back to him. Then, she turned, smiling, her blue eyes glittering in the sunlight, and his mind went numb.

Ekko's hands fell, shock taking over his face. He hadn't wanted to consider the possibilities, the fear of the damage it could cause was too great but now.. it was like she was coming back to tell him, to show him...

"Maybe she is watching out for us..." he muttered softly, slipping his hand into the drawer of his desk. After a few clicks and turns, the secret compartment dropped its front half out the bottom so that he could lift and slide the small box out. Doing so allowed him to view a small glass bottle. A brilliant blue bathed the immediate area in light and he smiled down upon it.

He'd been but a young boy, trekking through the rubble of an exploded lab, the same one he'd sent Jinx, Vi, Mylo, and Claggor to. He'd looked for something, anything to help them, but when he found this deep in the rubble, a little part of him just couldn't let it go.

There, in the glass bottle, was a shard of hex crystal.

His eyes looked up to the canister, his brows furrowing as renewed vigor coursed through him and he went to work.

...

Viktor had spent several hours after his arrival getting the chemical boiler in working order, and when it finally roared to life, its fuel chambers pumping with bright green liquid, he smiled and used the back of his hand to wipe sweat from his brow. The lab, in particular, contained the most light and the room was flooded in an almost eerie yellow and green luminescence. The boiler would require regular upkeep to keep going, but it saved him from having to connect to any main fuel lines. Whoever had built this lab, had intended to keep it secure and secret; such things were perfect for him.

He moved almost gracefully towards the desk the boxed Hexcore was on and smiled, slipping the lid off and viewing the still floating fleshy Hexcore inside. Its red aura wavered and grew larger, the reddish-orange ring in Viktors eyes growing as the Hexcore aura grew and a wide-toothed smile took over his face. He moved to a table that'd been built into the wall, wiping off any dust and inspecting its quality; it would do perfectly.

He pulled out some tools, and within a half-hour, he'd built a proper base for the Hexcore right into the desktop. A few moments afterward, he was tilting the open box onto its side and sliding the Hexcore onto the base. It moved and twisted as if it had a mind of its own, whispering incoherent words that both calmed and exhilarated Viktor simultaneously. It moved onto the base and rose almost half a foot above it, swiveling and twisting as it hovered. Viktor felt warmth drift through him, and almost through his soul; it was an unexplainable feeling, but something he enjoyed altogether. The whisper grew louder all of a sudden as his mind melted into putty. Had someone been watching him, they'd have noticed his amber eyes completely take on a vivid reddish-orange color that glimmered like fire and chaos, but Viktor took no notice, he simply slid his rear on the desktop and sat on it, his head falling back against the wall.

The Hexcore to his left continued to loudly whisper, two tendrils detaching itself from its fleshy exterior and moving to Viktors ungloved left hand, it weaved itself around his hand and slipped between the fibers of his wrist and forearm. Such physical intrusion would have been expected to be painful, but Viktor hadn't seemed to notice it at all as he slipped into red nothingness, letting the Hexcore take over him completely.

After several minutes, the tendrils retracted and the red aura dimmed and Viktor stood, his iris' still vivid and flamingly chaotic. A corner of his mouth upturned as he regarded the room before him. He muttered something unknown by any human on the planet, but the Hexcore swiveled excitedly, constricting and inflating just a bit.

The inventor rolled up his sleeves, his eyes catching the braided red fabric on his wrist and his brows furrowed, not recognizing it or its origin, but he ignored it entirely; he had work to do.

...

Bright yellow light drowned Ekkos features from above, but his focus was more concerned on the large metal weapon he had been altering. He'd successfully finished what he was calling the Z-Drive, which had astounded him more than terrified him. Purely by accident, he'd hit one of the completed buttons on the Z-Drive, and somehow ended up where'd been but a few seconds earlier, several steps away from where he'd been standing. He hadn't even noticed the light-shadow of him that had been following him around the room as his attention had been so engrossed in the canister. Now he was fixing a connection between the Z-Drive and the buttons on his club; something that wasn't wired but would allow the Z-Drive to manipulate time as it'd done when he'd used the button on it. It'd be too difficult to reach back to the canister in battle if he needed to use it, using it on his weapon would be much easier, and that's where the time traveler found himself now.

His focus, however, was a bit too intense as he snapped off an important piece. He swore and initiated the Z-Drive, switching back to a few seconds prior, the piece intact and things in working order.

Ekko attempted to ignore the raging headache that was throwing rocks at the inside of his skull. He assumed it must have been overuse of the Z-Drive; it had its limits, as did everything else, but it was best he figured them here, in the safety of his home rather than mid-battle.

He sat back, taking a moment to try and calm himself before working back on the part. A sigh escaped past his lips and he ran a hand through his hair, his palm working back to the side of his head and down to scratch his neck.

His brown eyes wandered to his weapon, the gear end bringing a smile to his face. Ekko remembered the day vividly, a time in his young teen years when he and his friends had traveled through Piltover, uncontrolled, uncaring, relishing in their freedom. They'd gone to Old Hungry, a pristine, and at the time, brand new clock tower in Piltover. It was supposed to have a great ceremony the next day, but he'd gone up and taken the second hand of the clock. The enforcers hadn't even noticed and the last Ekko had heard, they didn't even notice it was missing until mid-way through the ceremony.

A soft chuckle rumbled through his chest and he closed his eyes, remembering the feeling of being up so high, confidence flooding his person as he looked out across the golden city that he'd taken a piece of. Somehow, reflecting upon the fond memories nursed his headache to something barely more than a knock in his skull, something he could definitely deal with, so the leader of the Firelights sat up, grabbed the soldering iron, and continued his work.

He didn't know how long had passed, but after only two more uses of the Z-Drive, he'd completed all three buttons.

Ekko nearly yelled in excitement, and while they worked on paper, in practice things could go very differently. He could be torn apart, thrown into a time-space continuum where he'd remain, unaging and stuck in ever-existing limbo. Or even worse, nothing could happen and he'd have spent hours just to watch little lights flash.

Such thoughts were far from his mind, however, the eagerness of his own inventions spurring him forward. He grabbed the Z-Drive and his club then slipped out the door silently.

It was well into the evening and a few of the stars peeked out in between the leaves of the Great Tree. Ekko slipped down the stairs and after nodding once to the night guards, he exited the hideout and moved into the area he used for practice. He wouldn't be followed here.

The Undercity was quiet tonight, even the howler hadn't made a peep today, unusually enough, but Ekko ignored it all, holding up his weapon, the Z-Drive resting comfortably on his lower back.

He inhaled, closing his eyes and letting the silence around him dampen him, and then he was running to the farthest wall, his feet carrying him as fast as he could. He clicked the third button, looking back as a light shadow began to follow him, his afterimage he'd begun to call it. He ducked to the left, away from the wall, rounding back towards the center, seeing the afterimage follow his steps identically in his peripheral. Ekko smiled; things were going as he'd hoped they would.

He veered back towards the wall, the afterimage following him and when he was within arms reach to the concrete wall, his right foot went up, planting itself on the surface of the wall and he pushed himself off of it, turning towards the center, and when the afterimage was just about to follow, he clicked the first button, moving his club to point towards the center of his secret little training area. The afterimage pulled out its own club from thin air, batting a grenade-shaped ball of light into the center. A large dome formed and the afterimage resumed its path to follow him. Ekko dashed forward, hitting the second button, and in a flash, he was standing in the center of the circle a few feet from where he'd dashed from. The entire area around him within the dome lit up with static electricity at his presence and Ekko smiled. He felt the hair on his neck stand up as his eyes closed again, then opened, facing the after image that raced towards the dome, then he tapped the third button again and he was back, staring at the disappearing dome.

Ekko let out a soft noise of exasperation. He'd done it. It needed some tweaking but it'd worked. The boy fell to his knees letting out soft shocked laughter as he threw his fists into the air.

Sudden footsteps coming from the direction of the hideout pulled him from his celebration and his face turned.

Heimerdinger stood, wide-eyed and in complete shock.

"T-That was amazing," he spoke softly, his head lightly shaking as he struggled to make sense of what he'd seen.

"My boy, that was..." The yordle was at a loss for words but when the leader of the Firelights approached him with a smile, the two shared a familiar feeling of pride and excitement that is only felt by one who greats something great, something life-changing.

The pair immediately slipped into conversation, leaving the little area together, and at this moment, not a single thing could break Ekko's confidence. With time on their side, there was nothing they couldn't do now.

...

Their search for the howler hadn't gone well, and Vi's frustrations were becoming more and more evident with each passing moment. They'd wandered up and down the lanes and many hours had passed. Caitlyn was tired, and the only thing that was currently keeping Vi going was her irritation. Now she just wanted to take it out on something.

"Vi, I think we should go, we can try again tomorrow," Caitlyn finally said, stifling a yawn. It was late, very late, but despite that, the part of the Undercity they were in was still bustling with life. They'd avoided the areas they knew Sevika and her gang would be present, but Caitlyn's own worry of being noticed was starting to gnaw at her and was affecting her mental state.

Vi said nothing in response but she stopped walking, her back facing Caitlyn. They'd stopped in a busy bazaar, the faces of the people passing them lost and forgotten. Vi turned towards Caitlyn, her face unreadable and Caitlyn reached out, grasping one of her hands gently.

"I don't want to give up either Vi," Caitlyn admitted. She'd struggled with Seika's death in her own way, bottling it up to the point where she'd felt like she'd explode soon, while Vi's reaction was to quickly turn to anger.

"We also can't spend all night wandering around," Caitlyn began but Vi's continuous silence caught the rest of her words in her throat.

The pair remained in almost awkward silence as Vi struggled with herself, her own vulnerabilities surfacing. She was always meant to be strong, to get things done. She'd imagined they'd spend a bit of time looking for the damn beast, find it, and kill it, rather they'd wasted the whole damn day looking for it and found nothing.

Vi's gauntlet clenched and she went to say something, but her eyes caught a flurry of movement to her left and she immediately pulled Caitlyn flush against her chest.

A shot rang out in the bazaar and one of the wooden supports of the stall they'd stood next to suddenly crumbled after it'd been shot.

"Shit," Vi said and Caitlyn quickly realized what was happening.

The bazaar was in a sudden flurry as a group pushed past the fleeing people, weapons raised. They'd been spotted.

Vi shoved Caitlyn to the side then behind her, raising her gauntlet as she attempted to protect her.

A lone girl came forward, dark green hair and wild purple eyes; she'd shimmered herself up and the almost maniacal smile she gave only irked Vi further.

"Good, I was in need of some practice," Vi chimed, rolling her shoulders as the green-haired girl stepped forward with a baseball bat. She swung it in a circle with her left hand, letting it fly up in the air as she caught it swiftly then pointed the end at Vi.

"Sevika's looking for ya," she popped her mouth at the end and showed off another wide-toothed grin, her lips curled back.

"Why didn't she come get me herself? Was it that she couldn't get up after the way I'd left her last time so instead she had to send her dogs?" Vi sneered popping her neck as her fists raised.

The woman made a face, and her eyes flicked between Vi and Caitlyn just behind her.

"We only need her, kill the other one," she said, swinging the bat back to rest on her left shoulder. Her head turned to look at the man just behind her and she missed Vi's lunge forward entirely.

Vi heard the bones in the woman's face crack when her gauntlet met with her face and the dark-green-haired girl was thrown back, her body taking out two others behind her as the impact forced her backward. Vi immediately readied herself, blocking the pipe that the man the gang leader had been speaking to brought down on her, but Caitlyn beat her to the punch, having readied her rifle in mere seconds and putting a well-aimed shot through the man's neck. Vi turned towards another younger girl running towards her, fists raised and she nearly scoffed, thrusting her foot out and catching the short girl square in the chest.

The dark green-haired girl stumbled as she stood, the two she'd unintentionally brought down following suit, raising their guns.

Normally, Vi and Caitlyn could have taken care of them without any issue, but suddenly, a large man snuck up behind Caitlyn, forcing her into a tight headlock, and nearly throwing the topsiders rifle to the ground.

Vi turned back to face her when she'd let out a choked noise and watched as Caitlyn clawed at the man's forearm. The pink-haired woman swore softly, backing up to the side so that she could see both groups on either side of her.

The green-haired girl was wiping blood off her face, swearing loudly at her very obvious broken nose.

"I'm gonna beat the shit out of you bitch," she sneered, spitting blood at her. Vi wiped the red stain from her cheek, glowering at the bat-wielding girl. She couldn't act on her anger though, not with Caitlyn in such a precarious position.

"Grab her," she spoke and the two she'd knocked over immediately moved to Vi and grabbed her by her shoulders, forcing her onto her knees. Vi looked to Caitlyn who was as far on her tiptoes as she could be, giving herself just enough room to barely breathe. The two shared a look and Caitlyn gritted her teeth, hating the feeling of being able to do nothing. In desperation, she threw her elbow back, but the chuckles that came from the man who held her captive told her that anything she'd do would be pointless.

"Fiesty girl," he whispered in her ear and she shivered, recoiling away from his mouth as her face twisted into disgust.

"Sevika said I had to bring you in alive, but after what you did to me, I don't think she'll mind if I roughed you up a bit," she said, readying her bat.

A silence came over the group as the dark green-haired girl readied herself, her bat swinging back behind her, her aim on Vi's face. The bazaar had emptied, and now it was only Caitlyn and Vi. Caitlyn watched everything in slow motion, her voice calling out against the chokehold. Her voice ripped from her throat, screaming Vi's name, but then it was lost.

Bullets ricocheted around them and blood scattered on the ground as the dark-green-haired girl stuttered, her knees wobbling before she fell lifelessly.

One of the men holding Vi captive pulled her to her feet and locked her into a tight chokehold while the other grabbed her gauntlet-clad arm as they turned, and there, upon the roof of the closest building, mini-gun aimed was a figure. The light behind her hid her face, but with the two hanging braids and thin stature, both Caitlyn and Vi knew who it was immediately.

Vi went to say something, her free hand reaching out towards the figure, but her words were caught in the chokehold. She felt something cold pressed to her temple and recognized it as the barrel of a gun. The gauntlet hissed as it clenched and released, but the hold on it by the gang member was unwavering.

The figure on the roof was silent, minigun still aimed in their direction.

The gang members hadn't said anything; their leader was dead and it seemed like they were weighing the options; let them go and live but risk Sevika's wrath, or die trying to please their boss.

The figure didn't let them decide; the aim of her minigun shifted up a bit and the loud repetitive sound of bullets echoed in the empty bazaar. The man holding the gun to Vi's head fell to the ground with a liquidy growl. Vi stood shocked, having felt the wind pass her as the bullets just barely missed her face, but she shook it off quickly, taking the time to punch the man who held her gauntlet. He recoiled after Vi's fist met his throat, struggling to breathe as his windpipe collapsed in on itself, but Vi was already moving towards the man who held Caitlyn in a now very tight chokehold.

The Kiramman girl was struggling to breathe. Jinx could see it from where she stood and she had a sudden feeling of deja vu. He'd tightened the chokehold the moment Vi had been turned around by her captors. Uncertainty wavered in Jinx. She hated them, she hated this topsider who took Vi from her, yet she couldn't help herself from saving her sister...

Could she even still call her that? After she'd betrayed her so many times? She wasn't Powder, Vi's sister anymore, she was Jinx, Silco's adopted daughter... except Silco was dead.

Jinx's finger on the trigger wiggled as she struggled with her own internal battles and a spray of bullets moved up in a line towards Caitlyn. Despite the chokehold and lack of oxygen, Caitlyn kicked her foot back, catching the large man in-between the legs and he cowered, the spray of bullets now lining up and entering his body as he lurched forward in pain.

His grip softened immediately, as did Jinx's trigger finger and all was still and silent as the gang members died around them.

"Powder," Vi called softly and Jinx snapped, her gun aiming at them, but sudden shouts further down the bazaar pulled the attention of all three of them.

"Vi, we need to go," Caitlyn coughed out as she picked up her rifle and straightened fully, Vi's eyes meeting her own. Caitlyn and Vi looked back up to the top of the roof, the figure long gone and then their eyes met again. Vi nodded silently, and together the pair raced from the undercity towards the safety of the Kiramman residence.

...

Viktor gently placed the grenade into the box where it sat with many others. It was incredibly volatile, and when the fuel inside caught fire, he knew the damage they'd cause would be devastating. He knew Piltover would be preparing their own weapons, Viktor needed to ensure the people down here had something to use to fight back with. These were easy to carry and efficient. He couldn't expect them to carry something heavy or rely on them to be accurate, not when so many of those in the undercity were feeble due to illness or lack of food. He pushed forward, making another one, and another one, and when the container was overfilled, he stopped, slouching back in the chair as he let out a soft sigh. The frailty of humans was astounding; arguably one of the most powerful beings, resilient, stubborn, yet a gust of wind and they caught a cold they could die from. The constant need to sleep, eat, and drink was bothering Viktor. It was interrupting what he needed to get done, and as his mind slowed, he knew he needed to stop lest he accidentally blow himself or his newly finished lab up.

He stood, stretching his metal extremities, and although they did not give the desired and expected pop, the fibers stretching gave some sense of pleasure, like pulling lightly on a rubber band. He'd finished most of the lab, aligning things where he wanted them, repairing what needed fixing, and organizing all the belongings he'd brought with him, he'd fixed the door, and he was well on his way to finishing the weapons he was intending to send out.

Just before he was to leave the lab, he turned, his eyes meeting the Hexcore and he smiled just a bit, then he left the room and moved towards his bed in the room over. He stripped, throwing his clothes haphazardly onto an empty chair he'd refurbished and he slipped underneath the scratchy blanket. The mattress was lumpy and not particularly comfortable, but Viktor was exhausted and within moments of resting his head on the dusty old pillow, he'd slipped into blissful unconsciousness.

Chapter Text

Seika had lost all sense of timing since she'd first awoken in the lab. Every moment became so muddled as she woke, endured another test from Singed, and slipped back into uncomfortable unconsciousness.

She felt like she'd spent an entire lifetime hanging from the metal contraption Singed had her attached to. The iv's in her felt normal and a part of her wondered if she'd ever lived a life without them.

Disoriented and confused, Seika had once again slipped into consciousness, her eyelids fluttering before fully opening. She was only alive due to the nutritional packs Singed would flood her system with daily, and it was odd not to feel a gnawing hunger in her stomach despite not having actually eaten anything.

The scientist had left some time ago, and despite now being alone, Seika had no energy to move. Her breath came out in soft pants and her eyes closed again, brows furrowing as she struggled to use her mind for its most basic function.

Viktor...

It felt like it'd been forever since she'd even thought about him; the pain Singed caused her regularly took most of her thought process. Then there was Vi and Caitlyn, Cecil, Jayce, Ekko, and the Firelights... A soft smile graced her face as tears welled in her eyes. Her mind so desperately sought them out, but she couldn't even raise a finger for her body to follow suit. They hadn't come to get her, hell, how would they even know where to look? Did they even know what happened with the beast?

Vander... that's what Singed had called him. He hadn't spoken of him since he'd mentioned him, his focus solely on her now. Seika's blue eyes slowly moved to her extremities, her head turning just a bit to view them. She'd had new bandages, new areas where Singed had cut away pieces of her flesh to test and view closely. She didn't even remember it'd happened, but the physical evidence of it proved that at some time it had occurred. Had she been awake? Was she screaming, pleading for mercy as his blade bit into her skin? A shiver ran through her and her throat constricted so much that she coughed, her whole body wracking with movement. She hissed, the iv's in her forearms injecting her with a minute bit of fluid and she knew the dark brown veins had extended up her arms, just a bit more, though the bandages that covered her upper arms didn't allow her to see how much. Her extremities were always slightly burning now, something she was growing accustomed to; one unfortunate reminder that she was indeed still alive. Her eyes shifted about the room, settling on the tank to her left.

The unconscious creature that kept her company hadn't moved in the entire time she'd been here, and Singed hardly fussed with the tank, rather, on many occasions he'd moved to its front and peered almost longingly at it. She didn't understand this man at all, but then again, the thought process of a mad man is most difficult to comprehend.

Seika heard the sound of footsteps approaching the door far to her right and she let out a soft sound, almost like a whimper; he'd returned.

Anything was better than this...

Death was better than this...

...

Viktor was standing, viewing one of the chalkboards, the tip of the chalk pressed to his chin as his brows furrowed. The diagram he viewed before him so intently had been taking up his entire day. While, yes, there was already a schematic in place, it needed to be changed so its functionality was flexible rather than rigid. He'd added another arm to it for a total of four. The long neck that initially had been stiff and rigid, only bending at certain areas, he'd changed, creating singular sections that aligned with one another. Essentially a much more flexible spinal cord. But its integration was the problem. Strapping it on would be awkward and time-consuming, not to mention, in the event, it wasn't properly strapped to him, he risked it falling, damaging, or losing it entirely; a risk he wasn't willing to take. He was still looking over the blueprints, but whispering came from his left, from the Hexcore and he turned, brows still pressed towards one another.

The red-orange ring around his irises burned brilliantly as the whispers grew and Viktors eyes narrowed, moving towards the desk where the piece he'd been working on rested. He picked it up gently, the spine moving as it should, back and forth as he moved the piece to and fro. Whispering came from the Hexcore again, his eyes flaming even more so, and in response, he took the few steps to the Hexcore, offering out the base and his right hand.

The red aura around the floating fleshy ball grew as its tendrils weaved out, coming into contact with the base of the invention. The tendrils touched it tenderly, feeling it out, learning, the whisperings growing ever louder, to which Viktor might nod minimally or turn his head in uncertainty at irregular intervals alongside the whispering. The invention in his hand began to change, but another tendril withdrew from its fleshy origin, seeking the underside of Viktors left forearm.

The man groaned softly, this particular intrusion causing him some pain as his eyes clouded over, but this was nothing compared to the initial fusion of himself and the Hexcore. Burning lines seared across his chest and back and the young man's back briefly arched as he dealt with the pain, his eyes closing, and then it was over.

When he'd recovered, the Hexcore was quiet and he was panting; it appeared that the more human side of him was weaker than he'd thought, but when his amber eyes found the invention in his hand it was obvious just how worth it it'd been.

The Hexclaw he'd heavily altered glittered in the same metallic color that coated his extremities and lined up his side. He smiled eagerly, like a child with a new toy as he turned and viewed it closely, running his fingers over each part as he studied it.

After gently placing it next to the Hexclaw Viktor stripped his turtleneck, the cold air of the lab biting at the still human skin along his torso and back, only, not all of it was human now. The burning he'd felt earlier had left metallic lines across his chest and a large splotching of metallic fibers had taken over the entirety of his left shoulder, almost to the collarbone and his underarm. Another smile graced his face; very worth it indeed.

His left hand found the Hexclaw, picking it up tenderly as he moved the base towards his shoulder. Just the closeness of his hands caused little tendrils to erupt from the base of the Hexcore, seeking his own flesh out, and when the young inventor placed the base against the back of his shoulder, the fibers of the Hexcore wound themselves deep into his metallic flesh. there was some slight discomfort, but when Viktor hesitantly pulled away, prepared to catch it if it fell, he was pleasantly surprised to see it standing properly.

The man turned about the room, the Hexclaw providing an unusual weight to his left side, but one he'd adjust to quickly. His torso faced the only empty wall in the lab, thick slaps of rock making up the wall, but when he tested out his arm, wondering just how incapacitated it might be with the new weight and pressure of the Hexclaw, the claw moved on its own and a laser burst forth from its mouth. A small burning hole smoked briefly on the surface of the wall and Viktor's mouth hung agape. His hand pointed again, the Hexclaw following suit as it lasered another spot directly to the left of the first spot.

Did it fire--

The moment he'd thought the word and his eyes trained on the first spot on the wall, the laser once again, fired from the mouth of the Hexclaw.

With the cogs of his mind rotating rapidly, in one quick thought, he imagined a shape then drew it out with his eyes on the stone wall and the Hexclaw immediately followed, and after the Hexclaw's laser ceased, he stared at the circle that contained six equal lines with equal spaces between them.

The man smiled intensely at the still smoking shape carved into the stone as a reddish-orange hue took over his irises.

...

Singed had been particularly rough with her after he'd returned, much rougher than he'd been previously... that she could remember. An eternal scowl was on his face and he'd broken at least two pens peering into his microscope. He'd plucked her hair and sliced part of her right thigh without any warning, collecting the blood that dripped down her leg into a vial, and then he'd turned away from her.

The bleeding had stopped some time ago and the dried blood on the cut was slightly itchy, but her focus was on the man bent over his paperwork. He was hunched over his desk, scribbling furiously, then he'd take an occasional break to dribble a few drops of her blood into a vial here and a vial there, noting the reactions, if any, that occurred afterward.

When he found nothing would he kill her? He hadn't believed her when she'd said it was magic, why would he believe her now? Her legs tensed when he stood and approached her, his eye meeting hers. His brow bone was furrowed as he stared at her silently, then his left hand extended outward to grab her chin which he then tilted up and to her right. His touch alone brought about some fight and some bit her lower lip to keep from biting him. The iron taste that suddenly graced her tongue caused her to let go and instead, she clenched her jaw. His other hand had extended to her throat where he lightly traced the artery that pulsed beneath her skin. He could feel it, the thumping, the life flowing through her, the life that was his to find, but he hadn't found it yet.

What were the requirements for the shift? Perhaps it wasn't completely in her control; was it something she ate? Drank? Was it something mentally? Perhaps it only occurred when she was desperate enough, when her adrenaline was high enough that it pushed her body further than the pathetic human form he was forced to view in front of him.

Too many ifs.

If he pushed her too far she may die and he may not be able to bring her back. Even when he'd used the shimmer when he'd initially found her, it hadn't done as much as it'd done normally. It would likely be as ineffective now as it was then, if not even more so due to the reaction her body had towards such products.

He lightly threw her chin further to the right, his nails just barely scraping the underside of her chin, taking out a bit of anger on her. His frustrations welled up in him as he looked to his left where he'd hung up a privacy curtain that could be moved completely from the girl's right side around her front, hiding her from all within the room. He knew he'd have guests sooner than later, especially with Sevika and all the noise she'd made both topside and in the undercity, and he'd rather not have eyes poking around.

Seika glared at the man through half-lidded eyes, her jaw relaxing after he'd stopped touching her. When he'd turned and walked back to the desk she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. He'd kept her awake longer today than any other day, and with that came both the realization of just how little control she had and the pain that coursed through her body. From the burning of the dead veins on her extremities to the cuts that healed slowly. Her head had already begun to throb and she let her face fall, closing her eyes to try and block out the irritating green light around her.

He didn't approach her for quite a while, opting to work silently at the desk with the vials, beakers, and burners that bubbled. The man suddenly shifted in his chair, turning to look at her and she just barely met his eye.

Seika watched as Singed's face tilted just a bit to the side, then he turned, picking up one of the papers he was writing, then another, comparing the two, and then he looked back towards her.

The corner of his mouth upturned and Seika felt bile rise into her throat. It was a haunting look, one that terrified her and chilled the blood in both her living and dead veins. Her heart began to beat rapidly as he turned away from her and began searching throughout the entire lab.

The sound of cupboards and drawers opening and closing loudly echoed in her ears, deafening all other sounds. She hadn't seen that look on his face since she'd first woken up, one so cold-blooded and unfeeling. Seika began to shift, ignoring the pain that was shooting through her arms as her shoulders wiggled, and when Singed was suddenly at her side she let out a soft shriek. She hadn't even noticed he'd found what he was looking for, and there on the small table, he'd wheeled over during her panic, was an incredibly large syringe with a separate incredibly long and thick needle to go with it. Seika's eyes shifted from the needle to Singed, who'd stilled her shoulders with a single cold touch of his fingers.

The woman didn't move, her eyes fleeting about the room, lower lip quivering, she was awake for now, her fear evident on the features of her face. His other hand held a much smaller needle that he raised, his hand sliding across her shoulder to grab her chin and turn it. She began to move again, her voice surfacing from somewhere inside of her but Singed ignored it, positioning the needle at the jugular vein.

Her screams echoed in the lab, tears suddenly pouring down her face as Seika felt the soft pinch of the needle pierce her skin, and something warm flooded her system. When he'd pulled away she was sobbing almost hysterically but he'd turned away, ignoring her sounds as he prepared what he was needing. After several minutes, she'd gotten so drowsy she couldn't lift her head and her eyes opened and closed slowly. He rolled his table back behind her, his eyes lightly touching the area he'd be working with, and after a few more minutes, and a check that she was indeed unconscious, he grabbed the large syringe and aligned it with the iliac crest of her hip and pushed the needle into her body. After the expected resistance and the few repetitive rotations, he felt the bone give way as the needle pushed into the marrow. He removed the stylet and screwed the large syringe into the part of the needle resting against her skin. After a quick plunge back once, he was rewarded with the sight of her blood dribbling into the tube. A smile lit up his features; he wouldn't need more than this, and when the blood slowed, he allowed the plunger to release slowly, and the liquid fit snug in the bottom of the syringe. After a quick removal and a hastily taped-up bandage to the injection area, Singed left the woman's side, retreating back to his desk so that he could view the samples, leaving the woman unconscious so she didn't disrupt his focus.

...

Viktor carried the concealed crate, his face void of any emotion. Any looks he received on the journey here he met with thrice the hostility, and it'd successfully kept prying eyes away from him. His lacking presence in the Undercity left him equally lacking connections and he had zero interest in walking up to the Chembarons to hand them these weapons. These weren't for them, but for the innocent people who needed to defend themselves. Singed's presence had been down here far longer, he'd be able to hand them out and ensure they'd get to the right hands; Viktor was confident they saw eye to eye on that.

Viktor nearly smiled, looking down at the blanket from his bed that hid the grenades.

Ever closer to his goal. He slipped into the rocky outcropping, admiring the cave from his youth, and the rock that once supported Rio. Feelings of nostalgia waved over him, but he pushed past them and to the door tucked away in the corner. After shifting the box to rest against his hip and letting the arm above it support it, Viktor gave a few knocks on the door. He heard Singed moving inside, noises coming from around the lab, but within a few moments, the man had opened the door and a surprised look took over his face.

Singed stepped aside, letting his apprentice enter, his eyes moving to the crate he held. The older man's eyes narrowed, a single eye seeing what was before him and as he closed the door, his one eye followed as Viktor as the young man settled the crate on an empty spot on the table closest to the door.

The older scientist smiled and Viktor took a moment to view the man, noting the recent addition to his wardrobe, a long trenchcoat with several patches and belts and buckles on the arms. He seemed to wear it as if it was a second skin, but somehow it didn't quite fit him, but Viktor hadn't come to discuss his wardrobe.

"I take it, it worked," Singed spoke softly, his eyes seeking what he always had that he was apparently lacking; his crutch and leg brace. Viktor met his eye, a corner of his mouth turning upward.

"Something like that," he replied, then his attention shifted about the room. It looked as it had the last time he'd visited when he was sickly and death ran a cold finger up his weak spine.

Rio bobbed in the tube she was in and a new section had been partitioned off to the left of it, its contents hidden by a thin but opaque curtain. Viktors curiosity peeked, but his eyes flitted away as he looked back to Singed.

"I've left Piltover," he finally stated, leaning back against the desk as slipped off his gloves and rolled the sleeves of his turtleneck up. It was damn warm in this lab, almost suffocatingly warm, much warmer than the last time he'd been here.

Singed didn't know what was more shocking, the glittering metal coating Viiktors arms and hands or that he'd left that shit city behind.

"And why is that?"

"The Counsilors and I have parted ways, differing of opinion," he said, using a few of Singed's words.

The bald man smiled, though Viktor only could tell when his cheekbones raised towards his eyes as half of his face was covered by his cowl.

A soft exhale came from somewhere within the room, breathy and light, and Viktors eyes searched aimlessly. Whatever work Singed was doing was no business of his.

"I'd like to entrust something to you," Vitor said, straightening so that he could walk to the table closest to the door. With a single slow motion, he removed the covering over the crate and Singed's eyes perked up inquisitively.

"Piltover is planning to take over Zaun," Viktor spoke harshly, and when the entirety of his amber iris' was taken over by a violent red-orange color, Singed's eyes narrowed, the one seeing eye drifting towards the revealed metal fibers of his left arm, light bits of light moving up and down the fibers. How desperately Singed wanted to observe the young man's arms, in almost excruciating detail, but he held back.

When Viktor turned back to face his mentor, the older man had to take a moment to register who exactly was in front of him; the look on Viktors face, the line up his cheek, the metal extremities. The man exuded power and control, something he'd never done a single day in his life. His hair was wildly frayed about his head, unkempt, and his skin full of life, but his face made one question their own capabilities. His eyes, however, were most intriguing and daunting, flaring with what seemed to be some other-worldly power. Singed desperately wanted to know, what had he done, what had happened, how had he done it?

The older man smiled; Viktors previous weaknesses were gone, and despite the man's own lacking empathy, he felt a sense of relief that his apprentice wouldn't die, at least not from something as pitiful as illness.

"You've been down here longer than I have, you know people who can hand these out. The citizens need to be able to defend themselves."

Singed was hardly listening, unlike Viktor, he didn't care about those in the undercity, only his own research, but he nodded and played along.

"War is coming, we need to be prepared," Viktor spoke again, but Singed held his surprise, the gravity of the young man's words finally surfacing within him. Sevika was also preparing then, and it further explained the recent fighting between the two. Singed hadn't really concerned himself with the politics of it all, and Sevika hadn't come back since her last visit, but it seemed he'd be dragged into this whether he desired to be so or not.

Though if he had to pick a side, Sevika allowed him to continue his work, the topsiders were far too soft for such things, and as such, he'd remain on her side. He may even have a secret weapon by the time things came around; one that was functional and controlled.

Singed bit the inside of his cheek, nodding as his eyes focused on the crate.

"They're grenades I've altered; volatile, functional, lightweight. I'll be bringing by other things later as I finish them," he said, grabbing the blanket and rolling it so that he could slip it under his arm.

Singed nodded and Viktor mirrored him and turned to leave. His feet stopped in his tracks when he heard that breathy gasp again, his back facing the direction the sound came from.

"I'll bring you more when they're finished," he repeated and exited Singed's lab without another word.

...

She heard him, his voice soft, words heavy. She could tell Viktor was talking and she took comfort in the dream she was part of.

She could see him now, his warm amber eyes, soft brown hair, and the smile that made her heartbeat wildly in her chest.

Viktor.

This was where she wanted to be. She felt his arms wrap around her and she warmed from his touch. He was calling her name again and again and again and she curled herself further into him.

Seika felt his hand drift from her back to her belly and she sighed into his touch, smiling warmly at his handsome face peering so adoringly down at her, but his usually short trimmed nails grew sharp and despite the loving smile he gave her, she felt his blade-like nails slice a line along the brown vein of her left side.

She began gasping, choking on her own breath as shock recoiled through her.

"Viktor, Viktor, what are you doing?!" She finally yelled, her words suddenly spilling from her as his fingers threaded themselves deeper into her flesh.

She felt the blood drip down her body as she began to scream violently, but when she met his eyes again, his face was unchanged; kind, affectionate.

She screamed his name again, so loud that her voice cracked, and then her vision was blinded by green light as her eyes opened to view the lab, Singed staring up at her with an unreadable look on his face. Tears were down her face as she gasped for breath, the pain she'd felt on her left side a vivid reality, forcing a realization onto her at that very moment.

Death would be better than this.

...

The once esteemed Cecil B. Heimerdinger, founder of Piltover, one of the world's most recognized and successful inventors was struggling with emotions he thought he'd lost long ago. Having an incredibly long lifespan came with its own set of pros and cons, but his hardened heart was one he thought would be strong throughout his lifetime. He'd seen many of his peers, friends, and colleagues wither and die. People he cared for and others he respected, but Seika's sudden and violent end haunted him.

When he was outside of the room the Firelights had set up for him, he pretended everything was fine, and thankfully no one saw through the ruse. Ekkos recent creations with the time-altering device had temporarily distracted him, but now that he was alone back in his room, he was forced to face his own inner demons.

The black mess of guilt that writhed and screamed before him; the one that pulled him deeper and deeper into himself, and now that Piltover was becoming everything he opposed he felt himself being pulled in two.

He didn't even really know what he was doing here. He'd come to help, but what was he actually doing besides creating useless alterations to a hoverboard that he might someday test out and waste time chatting aimless conversation with the young generation of Firelights.

Even now, he sat staring at the useless contraption he'd been working on to distract him, whittling away his time creating nothing that would help anyone. Ekko was preparing himself and the Firelights for the inevitable clash that was to come, Cecil was sure Jayce would be preparing something, and Viktor he was unsure about.

How was Viktor taking the news of Seika's death?

Cecil felt a rock suddenly form in his stomach and worry washed over him. He hadn't even considered it.

Perhaps he could write a letter? Or would a visit be better?

For the second time in his life, Cecil felt like he didn't belong in Piltover; was this how Viktor felt coming from Zaun? Cecil was incredibly aware of the boy's own feelings regarding his origin, it was also one of the reasons he brought him on as his apprentice. Origins should be of little importance within the city of Piltover, but rather the capability and prowess of the individual, but the Councilors and the rise of the great noble houses saw fall to that tradition that he fought so fiercely to maintain. Seika had brought about a change in the boy, one he thought he'd never see, and one he was glad to be able to witness.

And now she was gone.

Seika was a dear friend to him, more akin to family than an acquaintance.

He looked at the mechanical rubbish before him, its intended purpose lost to him at the moment, his furred brows heavy and deep as his thoughts raged violently inside of him.

The Firelights prepped for war. The Chembarons prepped for war. No doubt Piltover too prepped for war.

Where was his place? He'd avoided violence for so long, yet now, it was almost the only thing to surround him. That and this little corner of peace, hidden away. The Firelights hideout becoming the little speck of light hidden in the darkness of both Zaun and Piltover...

Seika fought to the bitter end, for those underprivileged, for her friends, for Piltover. She saw something greater than he did, he knew it though he didn't know what it was. He still struggled with the thought of the Undercity and Piltover as true equals, he just couldn't imagine it; on both Zaun's side and Piltovers. Allies to one another? But Seika saw it, and to this day, his trust in Seika was unwavering.

She'd found her purpose; help the undercity, protecting those in need, and she did so regardless of the cost. She fought tooth and nail and paid her life for it...

Cecil's blue eyes blazed as he looked at the half-done invention on his desk.

Now he had a decision to make; did he follow in Seika's footsteps, despite the violence that would inevitably ensue, or did he stay to the sidelines, creating little things here and there in hopes it might do some good...

The guilt of doing nothing is stronger than that of doing something...

He'd told that to her when he'd finalized his decision to stay with the Firelights. How hypocritical he'd been...

Eyes burning with vigor, Heimerdinger cleared the desk with a sweep of his hand, pulling fourth journals as he scrabbled for the small pen tucked behind his ear.

The yordle, with a heavy heart and motivated mind, pressed the ink to the page and hastily began working on the schematics.

...

Seika heard quiet talking, but the words were garbled and difficult to understand. A soft noise came from her throat, unintentional, but the words stopped and footsteps neared her.

She hadn't opened her eyes but she heard the swish of the curtain as it was pulled open and a voice spoke, this time much more clearly.

"What is this Singed?"

A woman?

Seika opened her eyes and in her dizzying sight, saw a woman, dark skin with darker hair. Her left arm was purely mechanical, but her harsh eyes caused a series of nerves up her spine to jitter almost uncomfortably.

"A project I'm working on," Singed spoke and the woman turned to look at him.

Then the woman looked back, staring at her, brows furrowed, but Seika's line of sight was broken when Singed pulled the curtain back to its original place, concealing her.

The silver-haired woman's head fell, her body still groggy from the drugs he'd given her earlier. She was too weak to fight, to scream. This woman knew him anyway, what would she do?

"She'll be of use in the future, in the fight against them," Singed spoke.

The woman clicked her teeth but Seika just barely heard her response before she slipped into unconsciousness.

"Silco trusted you and you fixed my arm after that bitch and her gauntlets made a mess of me, guess I've no choice but to trust you--"

Sevika...

That was Sevika...

...

Heimerdinger had worked for several days almost constantly. Even when Ekko had come to discuss his most recent invention, the Z-Drive, Heimerdinger had dismissed him almost immediately, but the boy understood being an inventor himself and left the yordle to his work.

He looked between his inventions.

Firstly was the hoverboard he'd altered to fit his stature; he wasn't able to make the sweeping sharp turns like Ekko and the rest of the firelights, he wouldn't be able to put enough weight onto the board and into the lean-to be able to make them, so an appropriate sized handle and bladed-fans that moved as he tilted the board made up for it. It'd run well in the tests and he expected little problems to arise from it.

Secondly was the Electro-grenades he'd made. When they came into contact after the pin was pulled, they exploded the nearby area into a dizzying amount of electrical static. Even he'd zapped himself on more than one occasion, much to his own dismay, but there was no denying that it worked as it should. He'd created them in such a way that he could pull the pin with a single hand, but they'd be far too small for anyone else to be able to use comfortably.

The Mini-Rockets had taken up a long time, particularly the device that would help propel them in the direction they were aimed at. After several tweaks and adjustments, and nearly blowing up his room, he'd finally settled on a rocket docking station that he clipped to the front of his hoverboard, just in front of the handlebars. It rotated both left and right predetermined by a switch on the handlebars. The rockets were small, and after a nearly tedious internal debate, Heimerdinger decided against making them incredibly flammable. He'd seen the destruction fire could cause, the painful death that occurred when someone was engulfed in flames; he wouldn't wish it on his worst enemy. The rockets, however, packed a decent punch and could put a hole through a concrete wall so they'd be useful in dividing forces up and disorienting troops.

At least that's what he'd hoped he'd use them for.

The last invention was the most problematic. The recognition on the turrets before him was incredibly sensitive; so much so that if he turned it on, it'd attack him solely because of his heat signature. He was struggling with a way to have the turrets auto-aim and attack those he needed them to, but it seemed like heat signatures wouldn't be the way.

His hand absent-mindedly grabbed a lone screw on the desktop, thumbing the cold metal between his furred thumb and index finger.

He needed to be mostly hands-free so that he could control the hoverboard. With the placement of the rocket launcher and its associated buttons for aiming and overall usage on his handlebars, there was very little room for much else.

Heimerdinger lightly tossed the screw back onto the desk, seeking his notes again, and when he picked them up, he unintentionally picked up another screw, icy to the touch.

His cyan eyes stared down at it, intrigued and curious. What if...?

What if he'd altered the heat signature to a smaller size, and rather than focusing on the entire body, it simply followed a cue, a cue that he could easily toss. Then the turret would aim in that direction and fire.

The yordle smiled, yes, this was much better. He could have a small box on his belt, heated, filled with little screws, washers, that he could fling on either side and in back of him, then the turrets that he'd have hooked up on each side of his hoverboard would follow those and aim accordingly.

An unseen force drove him now, his own mind lost in the weapons he so eagerly sought to perfect. Weapons he never thought he'd be creating in the first place.

Chapter Text

Seika's lips were dry and her mouth was even more so. When her eyelids fluttered open, she was forced to face the sight that always greeted her; the lab. An unfamiliar pain bit away in her gut and she realized what it was after a moment: hunger.

With her stomach aching and her throat parched, it became evident that Singed hadn't given her any sort of nourishment for quite some time. How long? She really hadn't any idea, but enough for her vision to double if she moved her head too fast and her to suck in her stomach in a meager attempt to calm the pain in her belly.

When she was finally able to focus enough, pushing past all the issues her body was burdened with, she found Singed leaning against his desk, arms crossed, half his face covered by a cowl. That in itself was unusual; the man hadn't worn the item since she'd first woken 7pup here, but now he was hiding his face? His brows were deeply furrowed, eyes narrowed, the one seeing eye throwing daggers at her. Seika couldn't meet his eyes for long and recoiled back into herself, her vision falling to the ground.

Her breath caught in her throat and she felt that every beat of her heart may drive this man into pure uncontrolled anger. She'd seen him in various stages, content, disinterest, insatiable curiosity, frustration, but wrath frightened her more than anything.

And so, she cowered, her body ignoring the pain that coursed through her as her entire being pulled more into her shell.

...

Jayce was resting his forehead against his clenched fist. He didn't even know what he was doing anymore, he was just doing.

Mel supported him emotionally, but even he hadn't opened up to her about the issues he was suffering. The damage and trauma he was still attempting to recover from.

Viktors sudden departure was the hardest to face, and the disappearance of the Hexcore worried him. Would his body someday be recovered, metal and lifeless? Or maybe it'd be blown to bits given the instability of the Hexcore? Or maybe he'd be shriveled up like the plants they'd tested at first? He didn't know. Sky had disappeared long before Viktor and Jayce felt guilt eat away at him; he hadn't even fucking noticed. She'd just upped and left, hell, she'd left her cat behind. Her apartment had gotten dusty and they'd found her cat long since dead.

Just how long had she been gone for that he didn't notice? Viktor didn't even seem to notice either...

He'd never forget the letter he'd received from her landlord, the old man was less worried about money and more about the state of his tenant. He'd gone to investigate, entered her apartment, and found nothing of use. Nothing was missing, no clothes or money was taken, she was just gone, completely wiped from existence.

Did Viktor know what'd happened to her?

He didn't know and he hated it, and even worse, Jayce felt he knew nothing about anything right now. He had so many questions and no answers. It was him, Mel, and the councilors that were driving him insane. He wondered how Heiemerdinger had spent so many years dealing with them when in his short period as Councilor, he'd suddenly felt like was like talking to a bunch of pretentious hand-carved stone statues. Did Caitlyn see him this way? Did Viktor? After Seika's death, their behavior had downward spiraled into something even Jayce struggled with. He wanted the undercity to pay, to pay for everything. The lives they'd taken, the people they'd pulled away from them. The Councilors, however, were vicious, though his original claims of war had certainly encouraged their behavior and he regretted his actions now.

He'd grown tired of keeping up his own charade. Viktors words had struck an ever resonating cord within him.

You don't get to exploit her death to excuse your own bloodthirstiness...

That's what he'd said. Was that what he was doing? Had Seika inadvertently become a bargaining chip for him? A card he could use to turn the tides?

The thought of it made him sick to his stomach and his fist moved, palm open, to his mouth.

The realization didn't dissipate the anger though. These people killed his friends, people he cared about and were the cause of so much grief for so many innocent people.

Then he hired Camille Ferros. He was confident she'd solve all the issues they had, but he'd heard the rumors, the violence that had come about, and now she was an entity he was losing control of.

He'd fucked up.

He'd fucked it all up.

And he didn't know how to fix it.

...

Viktor looked almost hesitantly at the nearly-complete work on his desktop. He'd spent nearly every waking moment of his life with a cane that further developed into a crutch, and while he relished the freedom his new extremities gave him, he found, especially when he was standing for too long, that his fingers itched for something to grab and hold onto, or just to fumble with while he brain raced through the problems before him.

It wasn't a reliance, but a preference...

His eyes unintentionally found the Hexcore that floated and swiveled silently, occasional steam erupting from it as it moved.

Yes... Preference...

He wasn't sure if this plan was going to work through, and for the first time in a long time, he felt nervous. Incredibly nervous.

He'd felt this the first time he'd merged with the Hexcore, and his fingers twitched in anxious anticipation at his sides. Viktor wasn't seeing any reason why it wouldn't work, as long as the chamber was large enough...

He was stalling and he wasn't sure why. No... he knew why.

He hadn't completed his goals yet.

If this killed him, then it means he failed. Viktor wasn't prepared to face that yet.

With a single loud exhale, the man picked up the staff; It was tall, in fact, it was just over a foot shorter than he was and the currently empty chamber stopped at his shoulder.

The staff was metal, but hollow on the inside. He'd decided early on that solid metal would have been too clunky. The chamber at the top of the staff was surrounded by three arms placed evenly on its sides. Each of the arms was large enough to form a wide and open center while they arched inwards a third from the top, the design intended to keep the contents of the chamber protected at all angles. There was also the boosting band; he'd intended to get more shimmer from Singed, but the distractions for the weapons and the breathing in the room that was not his mentors was enough for him to lose focus.

He ignored the uncomfortable tingles that ran up his neck at the thought of that breathing, turning his focus to the chamber.

He'd hoped the shimmer, once properly attached with the contents of the chamber, would elevate its power. While the idea lacked experimentation, ever since Viktors transformation, he'd become much more daring, something he wasn't sure was a strength or weakness.

He unlocked two of the three arms, folding them outward and down so that the chamber was open and he could slip its contents into it easily. After several strides to the other desk, the one built right into the wall, Viktor eyed the Hexcore. It whispered and swiveled almost excitedly, its tendrils reaching out. He offered it the staff and it wound the long strings of its fleshy self around it.

Ever learning and ever-growing, just as he was.

Viktor smiled, holding the open chamber closer to the body of the Hexcore. Its tendrils moved up, finding the empty booster band that circled the chamber close to the bottom and it let out a puff of smoke as it felt the inside of the chamber, the purple tendrils running over the entire area.

It wheezed and began to whisper, more smoke billowing from it and it shrunk, just a bit, but just enough. Viktors eyes took on a reddish-orange hue and his shoulders noticeably relaxed as his face settled into something emotionless. The whispers grew as his hand extended to the Hexcore, eyes blazing with red and orange, every trance of amber gone.

His metallic fingertips lightly touched the purple fleshy exterior of the Hexcore; it was soft, as one might suspect, but the power that flowed from it into his fingertips caused a sudden heavy wind to flow wildly about the room, his hair being pulled in every and all direction.

Viktors eyes only grew brighter as he smiled eerily, moving his hand down as the lights on his metallic extremities flashed vividly, painting the room in a mix of red, purple, and blue light. When his palm cupped the underside of the Hexcore, he gently lifted it and the Hexcore moved with him. After viewing the magical ball of essence and flesh eye to eye, he slipped it into the chamber where it settled comfortably and the wind instantly died down.

Viktor was still smiling as he looked proudly down at his work, teeth glinting in the reddish-purple hue given off by the Hexcore.

Such was the way things evolved, and now he'd truly begun a glorious evolution.

...

Seika hadn't looked up at Singed in quite some time. She was scared, terrified even. But when she'd finally found the courage to raise her eyes, she regretted the action immediately.

Somehow in the time, she'd lowered her eyes, unknowing just how long that actually was, Singed mood appeared to have actually deteriorated further. The glare he gave her was intense and bone-chilling. Seika wanted to scream, to shout, a newfound wave of energy coursing through her driven by pure fear.

This man looked at her as if he'd kill her in an instant, and it would be anything but painless. Fear, however, had her by the throat, and she didn't dare move.

Even a single gulp terrified her. A blink and her heart was pounding violently against her chest.

Would this be the moment he slashed her to pieces?

Would this be the moment he burned her alive?

Or would it be now that he'd pump her full of so many chemicals that her body rotted away to nothing?

Her mind wandered on and on, fueled by terror.

A shakey inhale; her own, as tears welled in her throat. She hadn't known where they'd come from considering her skin felt dry and her mouth was so parched, but still, they'd slipped from her eyes and down her cheeks. She licked her lips, unintentionally licking up one of her salty tears, the taste furthering her own desire for water. Seika licked her lips again, realizing now just how cracked and broken the skin was. How long had it been?

Singed finally broke eye contact with her, picking up one of the slides; the girl's marrow.

Anger seethed him. He couldn't understand what was happening. Why he wasn't finding anything, and he'd decided to push her body to the limit. Perhaps when he starved her out he might see some results. It was his only option left.

He tossed the slide back down on the desk, ignoring the sound of broken glass as it came into contact with the hard surface, and instead his eyes found the girls again.

Her chest raised and lowered quickly, but it'd been that way for some time now, along with her increased heart rate. Her skin and face showed signs of dehydration, as he'd intended to, but he couldn't let it go on much longer, otherwise, she may die.

He'd pushed her this far physically, but there wasn't any reason he hadn't pushed her mentally. Maybe if he'd broken her, something would appear and all of this wouldn't have been for naught. He had very little to hold against her, except that she'd said Viktor. Was it perchance she spoke his apprentice's name just hours after he'd left her presence? It wasn't a chance he was willing to take.

"Your body has become quite troublesome," he finally spoke, his mind settling. She noticeably stiffened at the sound of his voice and he nearly smiled, tugging down his cowl.

Seika's brows furrowed as he spoke, pushing past the fear that had rocked her to her core earlier. She met his words with more anger than fear now.

"I told you that --"

"Magic is simply an excuse for those who do not understand the underlying biology of it all. Magic is nothing more than a crutch for those who are unable to formulate the reality that is biology."

Seika held back a scoff; she didn't want to taunt this man, not in the position she was in now. She'd cowered in fear for so long, trapped in this hell hole, poked and prodded, and despite her lack of nourishment, she was feeling fierce and fiery.

"Magic," Singed continued, straightening the long trenchcoat he wore, "is uncontrolled and irrelevant. Magic as a weapon is akin to signing a death wish. Biology is something with clear and concise actions and consequences. You are not magic, for the biology in you can be controlled, just as a weapon can."

He took a step closer, his boots making soft noise on the ground.

"For one can pull the trigger on a gun and expect it to fire, under the right conditions, and I believe the same can be done with you."

Seika's mouth opened, eyes widening.

"You want to make me a weapon?" She asked at almost a whisper and Singed didn't respond, but Seika saw the slight twitch of the corner of his mouth.

"Not only would it allow Zaun to get things done, but I feel it'd make Sevika happy enough to leave me be with my research. When they take Piltover I don't need her interrupting my work."

Seika's face fell, her eyes finding the ground again.

How much had happened since she'd been locked down here? What all had happened?

Her heart began to beat rapidly, fear consuming her again, but not fear for herself, but for those she cared about.

"I won't let you," Seika spat, summoning every bit of courage within her weak body as her brows furrowed and eyes blazed fiercely.

She watched as Singed's eye looked at her, then to her arms, and up at the contraption that contained her, and when her face softened a bit in realization, he smiled.

"I made a mistake before, letting someone go far too early than I should have, for there was still more to study with Vander. I won't be making that mistake now," he said intensely.

Anger flared in Seika, one she hadn't felt for so long and she fought against the restraints. She felt the pain but ignored it as her arms pulled and tugged at their restraints. She kicked out her legs too, feebly against the metal cuffs but she'd do anything to get out of here, to be free of this man, this nightmare.

She wouldn't be a weapon to be used against the people she cared about. No longer would she be something he could test and explore. She'd escape here or die trying.

Singed watched the girl ignore as the black veins in her arms spread and his brows furrowed and he rushed about the room. He'd pushed her too far and she'd kill herself if he let her continue down this path.

Syringe in hand, Seika began to yell and swear, screaming at the man as she thrashed. In her movement, she managed to free her right forearm from the iv of toxins.

Despite her upper arms in cuffs, she still had complete control of her torso and used it as much as she could, arching and thrusting her chest back and forth to gain momentum.

Singed swore softly, slipping the needle into her skin and Seika gasped as she felt something chilling enter her vein. She was suddenly very cold and her body felt like it might ice over at any moment. She gritted her teeth, she couldn't give up yet, not now...

Her brain was still struggling to function, but she pushed forward, thrashing more and more like a wild animal.

Singed had stepped back, waiting for the drug to take effect, and then he blinked and it'd happened all too fast.

With her brain solely focused on escape, Seika somehow found the power to shift, her shape altering and the cables and cuffs that held her splitting open as the new large extremities replaced her old weak ones. She'd ripped the contraption from the ceiling and wall as her quadrupedal form came tumbling to the ground. Singed had fallen back on his rear and faced up at her, eyes wide, and for once she saw the fear, but that was replaced instantly with anger and determination.

Seika desperately wanted to kill this man, after all that he'd done to her, and when he'd turned and ran towards his desk, her jaws had opened and closed, grabbing his trench coat that she used to throw him to the left. She heard Singed slam into the boiler, part of it losening, then entirely breaking out as a green chemical liquid gushed near him.

The scientist glared at the Rimefang Wolf before him. The icy feeling Seika had felt had materialized as the Rimefang Wolf was a northern species, most noted for the ice shards that coated the hair on most of their body, and brilliant bright blue eyes that bore icy glares into those who viewed them.

When he'd been thrown, Singed had slipped his arms free of his jacket, and to this moment, the trenchcoat rested in the open mouth of the creature before him. His eyes shifted to his desk but a stride and a half from him; if he made it to his stash, he could give her a heavy sedative. Then he'd be able to get the answers he'd need.

The green chemical from the boiler neared his foot and he slid it closer to his torso, and in a swift motion, he pulled the spurting tube, thrusting it towards Seika.

She recoiled, leaping back from the splatter of the fluid, the end of her tail now lightly grazing the door behind her. She panted heavily, her shoulders heaving as her vision doubled before her, but she managed to focus enough to see Singed move swiftly towards his desk, and then she turned, running at the door. The old wood broke upon the impact of her weight and she stumbled into a small cave, not even noticing the little stream meandering through it.

Seika heard Singed behind her, and when she turned around, he was moving through his desk drawers, searching. She turned, seeing a small opening, and moved, pushing her muscles further and further and when she slipped from the rocky outcropping and into the light she nearly cried.

She stumbled, struggling to catch her footing as her eyes were blinded by the sudden and intensely bright daylight, but noise behind her spurred her forward, and through one barely open eye, she was able to decipher where to run. The area she was in appeared to be a water run-off area, surrounded by sheer rocky walls on three sides. Where she was was the lowest area, but there were higher areas leading up into the upper parts of the undercity.

Seika heard Singed's voice again, but she didn't register what was said, rather, she moved, her legs running towards the level just above her and she jumped, her front paws scrabbling for purchase as her back feet kicked against the wall of the cliff until she finally could pull herself up onto the second level.

Her body was shaking fiercely and she still struggled to see, but when she turned, the scientist she was fleeing from was climbing the rocks after her, and then she was moving again, climbing up each and every level until she'd reached the last one and she slipped off into the alleyways that opened up in the area, not even giving a single glance behind her.

Seika didn't know where she was, her vision blurred and her ears deafened as adrenaline overloaded her system. She was simply running, moving towards Piltover, fleeing through the streets, past the throngs of screaming people. She was out. She was free. She was almost home.

Viktor, Cecil, Caitlyn, Vi, Jayce, Ekko; she'd see them soon.

Singed's trenchcoat flapped in the wind, completely unnoticed by Seika whose mouth was wide open as she panted heavily.

She'd finally made it up into Piltover, running blindly through the streets but in her disorientation, she began running through the main streets of the shopping district.

Sudden shrieks pulled Seika from herself. She'd been running on autopilot, simply moving toward Viktor, toward home, and when she stopped and turned, she was faced with groups of terrified people. All eyes were on her.

She moved to speak, to say something, but her words caught in her dehydrated throat and she coughed, her body arching as her mouth opened, unintentionally baring her sharp teeth.

The Piltovians around her physically recoiled, and loud calling from up the way pulled her attention as Enforcers stormed the area, weapons ready.

Seika's mind raced. Why was this happening? What were they doing?

She hadn't even had time to comprehend the situation around her when a bola was thrown and enclosed around her muzzle. The people around her doubled and tripled in her vision, the screams echoing in her ears as her legs stumbled and shook weakly, but the bullet that grazed her back pulled her back into the circumstance she'd gotten herself into.

Her back arched as she let out a loud groan, turning to face the enforcers who pointed a variety of weapons at her. She couldn't think, couldn't breathe. It would have been as easy as shifting back, but she couldn't bring herself to focus on anything as all of her ailments bombarded her.

Seika's most primal thoughts took over as the sounds of gunshots began to echo in the air around her; survive.

She was running again, back the way she'd came, their chant echoing in her ears again and again.

"Kill the beast! Kill the beast! Kill the beast!"

...

"Councilor Talis," an Enforcer rushed in his office, arms hanging limply at his side, the sweat on his brow slick and fresh.

Jayce had looked up from his paperwork, surprised at the sudden intrusion from this officer, but a single nod permitted the man to speak.

"The howler entered Piltover sir, we believe it attacked another as a coat was seen hanging from its mouth," the Enforcer informed. The moment he'd seen the creature, his commander had told him to run to Councilor Talis. Talis had demanded that he be aware of any and all information surrounding the howler; any attacks, deaths from the beast, and anything else that was prevalent.

The face of the Councilor before him dropped, brows furrowed as he stood, grabbing his iconic hammer in the corner of the office and silently following him out.

...

Seika had continued to run, but she'd changed directions once she'd left Piltover. She couldn't risk going anywhere near Singed's lab, but she didn't know where she was running to, only that her legs burned and her paws were sore. She'd slipped somewhere in the trenches, staying to the dark areas, trying to stay as alert as she could, but the burning in her extremities was far too great to bear alongside all of the other physical pain. She stopped in a dark empty alley, using a single paw to pry off the bola that'd constricted her snout. With her mouth free, she let her head fall but when her eyes finally settled on the front legs, her heart dropped. The once pristine silver fur had become marred with the dark brown veins that appeared to have stained the fibers of the hair themselves, and as they did on her flesh, they pulsed in tune with the beat of her heart.

How much more could her body handle...?

Her head turned back and she found her right leg, seeing more markings up the back of it and her eyelids fluttering closed, her body falling to the hard ground limply.

She was tired. Seika had thought her escape would be easy; she'd flee back to Piltover and into Viktors arms...

A quick inhale through her mouth pulled one of the buckles back into her throat and she coughed, gagging on the buckle and spit the jacket from her mouth, just now realizing its presence. Seika stared at it, her thoughts digressing to nothing as she came to a forced realization of what had happened. A flood of emotions overcame her, but she couldn't find the tears to bring to her eyes, though the tightness in her chest didn't go unnoticed.

She may have finally left that lab, but she hadn't regained her control. Her whole body cried out in pain and she laid her head down, avoiding the jacket.

Metallic clinking nearby pulled her from her pain as her head raised, finding a soft green light at the end of the alleyway of darkness she'd hid in. Seika couldn't bring herself to move even as the light moved closer, the clinking echoing rhythmically in the alleyway until it stepped before her and stood back on two legs.

She could see him in the light coming from his back. The creature and she let out a breathy chuckle.

"You smell of him," he growled low, and Seika's eyes found his shadowed face.

"Singed?" She asked, and received a growl in response.

The beast had scented the girl the moment she'd entered the lanes. When he'd finally transitioned towards taking the blood of those who killed others, he'd felt a slight pang of regret at her death. He'd been shocked when her scent came to him on the wind though, and he recognized it immediately, but it'd change some, smelling like the lab of that man, but even more concerning, it'd become more bitter, like something he'd scent on someone who was ill, and he'd rushed towards her scent.

With his vision, he could see her, she was a different wolf from when they'd fought, but he saw the pulsing dark veins on her arms. He didn't know why she smelled of Singed, but it couldn't have been from anything good.

Seika struggled to her feet, then sat back on her rump, her head hanging as she fought every muscle in her body. If he was going to kill her, then at least let her be human, let her be able to be recognized by Viktor.

She let out a shriek when she shifted, the burning in her extremities increasing two-fold, and then she sat, naked, knees folded to her chest and she looked up at the shadow of death whose face hid in the darkness.

He clenched noticeably, seeing how taut the woman's skin was, how sunken in her eyes were, the cracking of her lips. She looked like if he pushed her over, she'd die. She nearly fainted changing back and he saw a part of himself in her, only, when he awoke in Zaun after the monstrosities Signed had forced onto him, no one was there for him.

"Could you make it painless, please?" She asked in a whisper, looking up at him with pleading exhausted eyes.

His eyes fell from her face, only illuminated by his ability to see well in the dark, and they found the ground.

"I don't do that anymore," he spoke softly, turning away from her. Her shaky exhale didn't go unnoticed, but his voice softened at his next statement.

"Come."

Chapter Text

Seika hadn't believed what she'd heard from the bi-pedal beast, her eyes widening as her brain repeated it.

Come. He'd said come.

When she made no move, shock having frozen her in place, the beast walked back in front of her, hastily picking up the trenchcoat lying on the ground and throwing it at her.

"I won't repeat myself," he spoke gruffly as he turned into the darkness, the chamber of green liquid on his back drifting through the dark alleyway like a lantern.

She exhaled weakly, clutching the trenchcoat to her person, and slowly stood, letting out soft noises of pain when her body cried out against such movements. True to his word, the creature said nothing more, and Seika slipped the trenchcoat on and tied it around her waist then slowly followed after him.

Seika was unsure just how long her legs would last, but after a few minutes, they'd managed to come to a secluded area, the open spaces within the area empty and silent. It was almost haunting, and the sudden appearance of the green lanterns hanging about the area dawned upon the figure of the creature. The lanterns allowed Seika to truly see him and having her eyes on him gave her some comfort which furthered her own willingness to follow him into the eerie light.

His fur bristled as he walked, tail swishing softly as his head moved to and fro, scenting the wind as he studied the area with piercing and receptive eyes. He knew where they were going, which she was admittedly glad for as she had no idea.

Her vision dizzied before her and she stumbled, just barely catching herself. The creature in front of her looked back and for a moment, their eyes met. Seika's heart suddenly raced in her chest, beating like a drum against her ribs. The beast snorted, turning from her, from her fear, and walked away. Seika remained still for a moment, then pushed her legs to follow.

They'd moved through the undercity and he seemed to know the most private areas and what pathways were best to use. Her brows furrowed as she put all her focus into studying the beast before her, letting her body move on its own.

She'd followed after him almost willingly but didn't know why. If he'd wanted to kill her, he'd have done so, but even though they hadn't even had a conversation, she'd noticed a drastic change in him compared to the first moment she'd met him.

Images of that night and his wild bloodthirsty eyes flashed before her, causing a spark of pain to jolt through her head. She huffed softly, her feet stopping again as her palms covered her face.

"Not much further," he spoke gruffly, then she heard the resumption of his footsteps continuing in the direction they were going.

Seika waited a moment longer, letting the headache clear a bit more before she lowered her hands and blinked a few times.

Then her feet moved, following the beast again as he weaved them through dark streets and deathly silent alleyways. A silence that reminded her of the lab she'd been locked away in, the lab whose own quietness deafened her.

Heavy emotions flooded her suddenly and her arms crossed as they stepped down a larger pathway that was just as empty as the route they'd come from. He was several steps in front of her, and hadn't spoken nor looked back to her, which Seika was grateful for, though she was sure he could hear her shakey inhales.

She hadn't wanted to think about what she'd gotten out of. Maybe if she never forgot about it everything would be fine and she'd be back to normal.

A building on her left caught her attention and she stopped. A large solid windowless building with stone walls and a strong metal door. She felt an uncomfortable feeling creep inside of her, igniting a mix of fear and worry like whatever terrors were occurring within the secretive structure might lash out at her.

She heard the creature snort again and she nearly thanked him for pulling her attention away, but instead, she rushed towards him, and then she slowed until she was walking just behind him.

They walked for several more minutes until they came across an area of rubble. An old building, torn down and destroyed, all of its contents unrecognizable, all except for a single little lantern that barely lit the place. He slipped through the destruction, knowing the path by heart, but when the girl slipped stepping down from a pile of rubble, he'd turned abruptly and inspected the new shallow gash on her ankle that had been made. He'd noticed her response to him, her body stiffening, her heart racing, and he saw the fear that passed through her eyes. His nostrils flared at the blood, but he'd grown strong enough to push past it now, slowing his heart rate so as not to initiate the chamber on his back, and then he led her past the rubble and into a massive hole he'd carved out into the rock. His metal claws had slashed through many things, flesh, bone, but his den was something he was proud to have carved out with his own being.

Seika looked at the little tunnel in awe, it was straight back as the rubble before it provided ample coverage, but more importantly, it was warm. A piece of piping poked out from the rock; one of the Undericity's chemical workings, one that helped bring power to most of the city, but now, it helped keep the beast's bed warm through the heat it emitted.

She would have smiled at the ingenuity but her feet were too loudly crying out at her for her to do so, and instead, she just collapsed to her knees, her body bowing in on itself.

The light of Zaun peaked into the entrance of the den, giving the first few feet a bit of light, light that Seika saw stream past her. A light that caused her to turn around, sit on her rear, and gaze almost wistfully at. Everything had happened so fast. She'd awoken this morning a prisoner, and tonight she'd sleep free...

Somehow she didn't feel free though...

The beast had made an appropriate bed at the end of the den, a collection of tarps, blankets, and cloth that he slept on. A slight breeze brought the girl's scent to him, his nostrils moving as he registered the scents, and his eyes found the figure, her back turned to him as she looked outside. He leaned over, grabbing one of the blankets and he took soft steps to the girl and threw the blanket over her. He heard her gasp softly and he dropped to all fours, walking on her right side and rounding around her front to lay down and settle just behind her.

She clutched the blanket to her as the large beast curled around her. He was warm. She could feel it from here.

She was tired... so tired...

Her muscles ached, her brain was numb, her heart hurting... whether from the chemicals that overtook her system today or from the emotions that shook her being, Seika didn't know.

He'd endured what she had, perhaps much worse than she had? Her eyes looked and found his face, chin rested against the ground, eyes closed. Was that why he'd brought her here? Because he knew what she felt?

A tear escaped her eyes and Seika let herself lean backward, her back settling into the soft furred side. He tensed, she felt it, saw the tips of his claws dig into the ground a bit, then he relaxed, his tail curling around to cover her bare and bruised feet.

The green lights from the bridges overlooking the undercity twinkled like stars and the two stared up at them from the entrance of the cave silently. He didn't normally sleep like this, and he was admittedly uncomfortable, but she'd relaxed so easily into his side that he'd deal with the discomfort, at least for now.

"Thank you," Seika whispered, eyes closed as she pulled the blanket tighter around her person. The beast looked back to her, his sight shifting from the sight of the undercity to Seika and he said nothing.

...

When Seika had woken in the dark cave flat on her belly, limbs sprawled out, she thought she'd only slept for a minute or two. She sat up weakly, her arms shaking some as it supported her upper body, and her groggy eyes searched the cave. He wasn't here.

Her sight shifted to her right, and there, a pile of fruit sat on the ground. Seika instinctually licked her lips, looking around again, surely he must have...

Her body's desire for water and nutrients overrode her desire to be mannerly as she grabbed the top piece of fruit, red and oblong, with green leaves at the top. She bit into it and audibly moaned, her eyes rolling back into her head. Stray juices slipped down her chin and she wiped and licked at them voraciously, biting more into the fruit until only the stem was left, then she was onto the next. It was the same fruit and she ate it as quickly as the first, licking her fingertips of any residue. Seika was panting, her brain more focused on food rather than breathing, and she was finally able to recollect her self-control for a moment now that her stomach had finally had something and that the fruit juices had helped abide her thirst.

When her breathing settled, she took a look around the dark den, the only light sources coming from outside. She didn't know what time it was, let alone what day it was. How long ago was it when he'd left her here?

Seika settled into a more comfortable position, readjusting the belt of the trenchcoat tighter around her waist. Her hands reached out to grab the blanket she'd been given and she held it to her, its scratchy texture providing some comfort. It was something she could touch, a texture beneath her fingertips, that for so long, felt nothing but air and the flesh of her own skin.

Her eyes found the few bandages on her body and the gash on her thigh that Singed had never wrapped and she moved to look at it better, lightly running an index finger over it. It'd closed up enough that she felt she didn't need to worry about it, but the edges were red and irritated. A frown appeared on her lips before she turned her attention to the more vivid marks on her body. The ones she hadn't wanted to think about...

The dark brown veins pulsed with her life force, and she felt a burning wherever they were. It was bearable now and had settled down along with the rest of her pain, but she didn't know if the burning would ever go away. The veins were present on both of her arms; they'd initially begun at her forearm, but now stretched to her fingertips and up almost to her underarms and wrapped almost entirely around each arm. Nerves chewed away at her at the scars that marred her body. A constant reminder of what had happened, what had been done to her, the freedom that had been taken from her...

Tears welled up in her eyes as the memories drowned her. Her throat constricted as wet lines stained her face and soon she couldn't breathe, gasping loudly, feeling a scream welling inside of her ready to burst. She was back in that lab, hanging and at the mercy of Singed. There was nothing she could do, she had no options, no choices, no freedom.

Her face was in her hands as she struggled to breathe, her gasps and coughs echoing softly in the den, silent tears streaking her face as her body contorted with her movements. How was she supposed to move forward with what had happened to her? When she looked herself in the mirror would she even recognize herself? Would Viktor?

Her vision was blinded by darkness, her sight hidden behind closed eyes as she struggled to come to, to get a grip over her situation...

But a soft noise in front of her pulled her from her panic attack, and she looked up to a familiar figure in near hysterics.

The beast looked down at her; he stood bipedally, his shoulders hunched as he looked down at the woman. He hadn't responded this way when he'd first awoken, his mind had turned towards more primitive things rather than feelings, but the lack of control she was feeling, that he knew too well. He said nothing and simply nodded his head to the right, then departed silently.

Seika took a few soft inhales, attempting to catch her breath, and when she felt strong enough to stand, she followed him, wiping away her tears as she did so. He'd waited for her to catch up, and when she was a few steps away, he'd walked away towards their destination. The pair slipped into a jagged pathway carved into one of the looming rock walls that guarded the deep trenches against the light, one after the other, each as quiet and stiff as the air around them. It narrowed a bit and Seika audibly squeaked, but it eventually opened up into a wide room, The left side was blocked with a tall rocky outcropping but tall ceilings greatened the space available in the open area before her, and glowing lights on the ceiling and wall bathed it in soft light ranging in colors from light blue and green, to soft pinks and purples. Upon further inspection, Seika found it to be glowworms, whom she peered at closely, a smile creeping onto her face at their attempt to climb onto her extended finger. This secret little cave where life moved on as if nothing else existed, and yet, here she was, fighting to stay in the present as her past threatened to overcome her...

Seika turned back to the creature who had walked further into the room, his feet moving softly onto the sandy beach where, taking up half the room, was a decent-sized pond. The creature kneeled over, settling quadrupedally and he drank from the pond within the room, the sounds of his lapping echoing within the cave. When he'd finished, he straightened, licking his muzzle as he looked to her, his green eyes glowing as if they emitted a light of their own.

He gave a single nod towards the water and walked past her silently with a huff.

Seika watched him leave in silence, confusion evident on her face, but the water near her called to her, and when she heard no more movement coming from the pathway leading to the cave, she turned and walked to the water's surface.

It was crystal clear and the lights in the reflection of the water twinkled like stars. She sighed, enjoying the sight as another silent tear rolled down her face, then, without any further thought, she slipped the trenchcoat off of her and stepped slowly into the water. It was cold, but not unbearable; in fact, the temperature ached the slight burning that had taken over most of her extremities.

She let out a soft exhale as she slipped into the deepest part of the water and moved into the corner, the rock wall to her left acting as a privacy screen. For a good while, she relaxed as she heard soft gurgling and when she searched, she found two small waterfalls, one bringing water into the pond, the other bringing it out of the pond. She found the one bringing water in and collected several handfuls, drinking until she couldn't anymore, then she slipped back into the deepest part. When she'd settled, her legs lifted and she pulled her feet from the floor of the pond and she let her body bob and float as she inhaled and exhaled.

After her third exhale, she didn't inhale; instead, she let her weight pull her beneath the surface and the cold liquid washed over her face. It was silent beneath the surface and her body floated beneath the water, settling halfway between the bottom and the surface as if she was in a liquid limbo. She'd initially closed her eyes as she'd slipped into the water, but they lightly fluttered open, looking up above her. The water was an odd feeling against her eyes, one she was able to move past after several fast blinks, but then she adjusted and she found the glowing lights on the ceiling above her, twinkling and just barely moving with the rare ripple that spread occasionally through the water's surface. The idyllic scene was calming, and the tiny bubbles that escaped past her trickled up her skin to the surface. She relished in the feeling, as her hair flowed with the lower currents of the water, the silver tips expanding far out to the sides and upwards like some majestic crown.

Weightless.

Her eyes closed again and she felt a steady burn in her lungs now that she ignored, but when she opened her eyes again, her eyes unintentionally hyperfocused on a bright green glowworm, and she coughed, water filling her lungs.

She was back, hanging weightlessly in that lab, powerless, without control. She burned; he was experimenting on her and her entire body was screaming out at her to fight, to flee, to do anything.

Seika's legs unintentionally kicked outward, the most primal part of her brain pushing past the trauma that clouded her so deeply as it sought survival. With her legs fully extended, her feet stepped against the bottom of the pond and instinctually pushed up.

She crashed through the surface, the sounds of waves and her coughing echoing in the silence as she heaved water from her lungs and stomach. After struggling to the beach, she remained on her hands and knees, panting as tears pricked her eyes. How long would she feel this way? How long would she endure this? She felt like she didn't even know who she was anymore...

The cave echoed with her soft cries where, standing just outside, the howler of Zaun heard them and remained as stoic as ever.

There was nothing he could do.

...

Seika had taken a few more minutes to collect herself as the water in the lake calmed and the area around her slipped back into near silence.

When she finally stood, her eyes found the heap of trenchcoat, Singed's trenchcoat, and anger suddenly seethed through her.

The silver-haired girl grabbed it and heaved it into the water, washing it furiously and without care. She'd rather sit in wet clothes if it meant all traces of that man were removed. She washed and washed until her own hands were pink and raw, and when she brought it to her nose, it smelled damp, subtly reminding her of the cave and she curled into it, the article of clothing bringing her an ounce of comfort.

Seika took several more minutes drying and wringing it out, and when she slipped it on, it was damp, but not unbearably so. After she checked that it was fastened, she slipped into the pathway and met the beast on the other side, and together they walked back to the dark den in silence.

...

When the pair had reached the den, Seika had found herself yawning. The creature stepped further inside the darkness and looked back at her.

"You slept for a full day, but night has come, you should sleep," was all he spoke, his voice gravelly and words forced.

She responded with a nod and took the same spot she'd taken the night prior, and as if on cue, he curled up around her as he'd done. Seika took a moment, testing the water so to speak, and when the creature settled and made no motion to move, she leaned back slowly into his side. His tail moved to cover her bare feet as she pulled the blanket up over her knees that she'd pulled up towards her chest. Her chin nuzzled into the damp collar of the trenchcoat that had taken on another smell, one reminiscent of fur.

She smiled, it was sort of like wet dog, but one that she didn't dislike. She wasn't alone here, she had...

"I've never asked," she spoke, breaking the silence between the pair.

His closed eyes opened and looked back to her, and her face turned to meet the one eye she could see.

"What would you like me to call you?"

His lips curled and a soft growl broke from his chest. He hadn't been used to such things; people saw him and ran screaming for their lives. But she'd experienced what he had, she lived through it...

Though he hadn't lived through his encounter, their experiences were similar. She did not flee, nor did she scream. He hadn't smelt fear on her since he'd met her the second time.

The creature had thought long and hard about the question, but Seika didn't push him.

Did he not remember his name? She'd nearly called him Vander, but she'd decided against just calling him that outright.

"Do you remember? Who you were before everything?" She kept things vague, but he knew exactly what she was referencing.

"Pieces."

"Do you want to?" She asked and a growl erupted from him again, his lips curling back to show his teeth. He hadn't moved his body, but more surprising, neither did she, instead, her eyes just stared right back into his with slightly furrowed brows.

"No," he answered abruptly.

He saw her nod and settle back into his side, his anger subsiding after her eyes had left his. His back moved with deep breaths as her own breathing slowed, the girl slipping into sleep.

"Warwick," he spoke, pulling her from her sleep.

"Warwick..." she whispered softly, testing the name out.

She sighed softly, her eyes finding the green light above them that she was forced to see back in that lab. Her heart hurt and she felt physically weak again, instinctually curling into the warmth at her back.

"Does it ever get any better?" She asked, but was met with silence.

"Will I ever feel any... less broken?" She whispered through soft tears.

He heard her sniff and his chin slid on the ground, turning away from her.

"No, you learn to ignore it."

...

Seika fell back, the back of her skull hitting against the earth as she was forcefully woken.

A loud howl ripped through the silence as Warwick stood quadrupedally before her, the chamber on his back pumping and hissing, then he was running, kicking up dust as he ran.

"W-Warwick!?" Seika called after him, standing with a slight wobble as she moved in the direction he did without any further thoughts.

He was much faster than her, but she managed to keep enough of a pace that when she turned a corner after him, she could see his body disappear behind another until at one point, she'd lost him entirely.

She called his name again but received no answer, but another howl broke through the darkness again and she was running towards it until she came upon a section of fresh rubble. Smoke attacked her nostrils and she immediately covered them and coughed.

"What Piltovian has the right to take the life of another?" Seika heard beyond a crumbling wall.

"Any Piltovian," a sarcastic voice responded, and a loud growl rumbled through the air in response.

Seika stepped lightly through the rubble until she came across a row of houses on either side, all burned to the ground and an empty street between them where she viewed several people.

Two figures were upright, four were laying far to the right, some in awkward positions. Their height and lacking physical structure made Seika suddenly ill, but when one moved their turned face to look in her direction her stomach wiped away every existence of itself as shock took over her system.

Seika couldn't stop the tears that fell when the child's eyes met her own, and the green lights of the street forced her to see the pain and fear present in his eyes. She stepped further from the rubble, her feet moving toward the child until she was at his side, kneeling next to him as she ignored everything else around her.

Her hand clutched his bloody one fiercely as the young boy coughed, blood erupting from his mouth and she heard him beg and plea.

His voice was soft and gurgly as he spoke through the blood that poured from him until he said nothing more and his head lolled lifelessly to the side.

Her breath came out in soft pants as more tears broke from her eyes. Anger welled in her like a tidal wave and her head turned, facing the pair who stood before one another. Warwick was to her left, and to her right, standing tall but unable to hide the look of shock on her face was Camille Ferros.

The blood still coated her metal legs, and when Seika looked her from the ground up, the metal woman inhaled shakily before she straightened.

"Miss Etesia, everyone has believed you to be dead--"

"What have you done Camille?" Seika interrupted, brows furrowed as she stood, fresh blood dripping from her hand as she stared furiously at the Sheriff of Piltover.

Camille finally found her bearings, her eyes hardening and brows furrowing as she ignored the dog before her.

"Zaun has committed atrocities upon Piltover, I simply--"

"So rather than go after those who deserve it, you've gone after the children?" Seika was yelling now and she took a step forward, her movement accompanied by a loud growl.

Camille hadn't met the howler until he'd stumbled upon her fresh kill, and while she hadn't been worried about killing him, Seika Etesia's sudden entrance would make things difficult. If she was to stay on Jayce's good side, she would need to ensure she would be safe and protecting her while fighting off this mutt might prove to be difficult, especially if now was the moment she decided to be heartfelt.

Seika had never felt a fit of anger like she felt at that moment. Her face turned back to view the four children dead by her side, looks of agony and fear evident on their lifeless faces. Her eyes turned back to the sheriff when she replied.

"Miss Etesia, this howler nearly killed you, please step back and seek safety. I shall take care of this beast," she spoke, sidestepping so that she could stand before her, her back facing Seika.

Beast.

The hypocritical statement sent Seika over the edge as she saw red and at that moment, her thoughts aligned with Warwicks.

Warwick's eyes had followed Camille as she moved before Seika, his brows furrowing as the chemicals coursed through him. He teetered between pure bloodshed and maintaining the capability to understand the situation at hand. Seika knew this murderer, but their views did not align, but all of his rationalizing thoughts dissipated when the silver-haired girl in the trenchcoat shifted into a large silver six-legged feline who stood at his height.

"The only beast I see is the Piltovian before me," she hissed, as she stood on her furthermost back legs, towering above the sheriff. The metal woman turned as she faced the Wildclaw, her eyes shifting from blue to orange as she did so, and her grapples launched almost instinctually, pulling her opposite from the creatures before her.

Warwick could scent the anger coming off the girl, Seika as the metal woman called her, and her own scent pumped the chemicals faster throughout his body.

He let out another howl as his metal claws dug into the ground eagerly. He'd never hunted with anyone else, but he was willing to make an exception... just this time.

When she'd regained her balance several feet from them, Camille stood, eyes narrowed at the beasts before her.

"I suppose I'll just have to kill you both then," she spoke, readying herself as she sneered towards the howler.

Camille let out a whistle, egging Warwick on, and he responded, launching himself towards her. Her grapples instantly responded and she moved out of the way, flinging her bladed leg out to lightly catch him on the side. He growled as he bit in her direction but when all he caught was air, the woman let out an almost melodic laugh.

"Come now dog, heel," she sneered, swinging up to one of the crumbling buildings. Her eyes met with the feline creature and she smirked.

Warwick had immediately moved, following after Camille, smoothly scaling the crumbling building she was in, but she moved, swinging gracefully with her grapples to the ground, taunting the howler in every essence of the term.

"Why do you run, do you fear my teeth?" He growled as he ran after her. Together they played a game of swipe and dodge, though Camille was too fast for the beast, and she landed more hits than he did. The scent of his own blood, however, pushed him forward and his metal-tipped claws suddenly slashed, catching her left hip.

Camille grunted, and her right side grapple launched out far to the side, but just as she went to reel herself to the side, Seika moved in.

Pushed by deep anger and an intense desire to protect the innocent that were at the mercy of this woman, she'd pushed off with her six paws, launching herself into the battle and she caught the grappling wire coming from Camille's right side between her teeth and shredded it, feeling the freshly frayed wires poking and irritating her gums.

She heard the sheriff gasp as the wire snapped and she stumbled as she lost her balance.

The woman's left side hissed noisily from the wolf's swipe that damaged the mechanism responsible for her left grappling side. And after she'd recovered her balance, Camille faced the two beasts, the dog letting out another bloodthirsty growl.

"Pay for your crimes," he spoke throatily as his teeth glinted in the soft green light around them, "pay with your blood!" He finished as he lunged at her.

She swiveled a complete rotation on her left bladed leg, her top half sinking beneath her hip as her body spun with her right bladed leg extended outward, but the beast caught her blade with his own metal claws. Her eyes shifted from blue to orange again as she just barely caught Seika slinking around the right in her peripherals, the big cat's eyes dilated heavily with deathly focus. In a split-second, Camille kicked up on her vertical left leg as her torso swung upward to face the creature head-on, and she pulled her right leg down to support her weight as her left leg swung around to the side and upwards, immediately falling down, the blunt backside hitting the wolf on the top of his head.

She lunched away but a mouth enclosed around her right arm and she was forced back around and to the ground where she rolled to a stop on her back.

The howler of Zaun had shaken off the bump quickly and moved, teeth barred as he attacked her right leg, his teeth slipping through the metal of her thighs like butter.

The sheriff's screams echoed through the rubble as Seika moved, blinded by hate and anger, to Camille's left side. Seika blinked, then she felt pain in her gums as the metal of Camille's right leg sliced between her teeth that sheared the metal. Each beast violently shredded the woman's legs until they were completely severed from her body, mechanical fluid leaking from them into the ground of Zaun.

Warwick had begun to laugh as he moved to her lower belly, his claws slicing open the metal plating then his mouth made messy work of the wires and coils within her lower abdomen.

Camille had slipped into unconsciousness, her screams finally silenced as Seika struggled with her own anger, but when blood began to spurt from Camille's chest, she body-slammed the wolf off of the sheriff.

He growled fiercely at her, barring his teeth when he'd caught his balance.

"Move," he nearly roared, but part of Seika's humanity had pushed through her seething emotions and surfaced physically.

"I need her alive Warwick," she said, stepping in between the predator and his unconscious prey. He growled again, snapping his jaws in her direction but she did not flinch.

"If she dies, things will progress far beyond our abilities," she hoped, praying that her rational thoughts might reach him past the chemicals that ravaged his body and mind.

His jaws snapped again as he shook his head, struggling with himself.

"No-- must kill-- they must--learn," he spoke brokenly between snarls as his eyes burned bright red.

"Then let us make an example out of her," she said again, taking a step towards him, her head low.

The beast before her panted, the chemicals still surging through him as he struggled. Trust didn't go far with him, in fact, there wasn't a single person he truly trusted. But Seika was a start, though he still didn't completely trust her, it was enough.

"This time ONLY," he emphasized with another bite at the air, then he turned and disappeared back the way they'd come.

Seika turned back to the unconscious sheriff of Piltover, eyes cold as her tongue poked at a sliver of metal between her teeth. Camille's legs had been completely torn from her, and Warwick had done serious damage to her lower abdomen, but the bleeding was minimal and she still glowed with the mechanical life that embodied her.

She was more metal than human at this point, that much was evident.

She picked up the half-woman in her jaws, the woman's head, and arms hanging from her teeth and she moved, weaving in the darkness towards Piltover. She'd taken pathways that would lead her closer towards the distract where the noble houses were. She had no idea where house Ferros was, but she'd find it eventually.

When she'd slipped into Piltover undetected, the night providing ample coverage, it took another several hours to scour the city as she found the best path towards the general area of the great houses. She'd seen some, just from visiting the Kiramman residence, but house Ferros wasn't in that area based on what she'd seen, and just as dawn was beginning to greet the city of Piltover, Seika finally found it. An overtly extravagant house with a tall metal fence surrounding the property.

Seika scaled the fence easily enough, moving Camille's body awkwardly in between the pointed tips of the fence posts at the top, and when she stepped lightly towards the front door her heart suddenly found itself. She gently deposited Camille's body from her mouth, the sheriff's half-body lying on the expensive stone, and Seika stared down at the mangled person.

"Growing a conscious now despite switching sides?" Camille finally said. She'd been awake since they'd entered Piltover, but she had no way to fight back now, and the precarious position she was in kept her silent. She'd felt the sharp teeth graze back and forth against her open abdomen, each movement causing her to question if she'd die then.

"I will not fight for sides, I'm fighting to protect those who cannot protect themselves," Seika hissed softly. Dawn had come, and the pink yellow light shined behind her, casting the cat's figure into darkness from Camille's point of view.

"Yet you did not protect Piltover when those filthy Zaunites murdered hundreds of us?"

Seika straightened, her eyes widening. What? What was she referring to?

"What are you talking about--" Seika began.

"The chembarons you idiot, they attacked the city. They all deserve to be punished. They cower and help each other in the dark. Those children, they knew, they'll grow up to be as evil and violent as those before them. It's in their blood." Camille spat angrily.

Seika stepped closer, her paws moving noiselessly until her face peered down at the metal woman before her.

"That's where you're wrong," she said, then Camille's face fell as Seika's face hardened into something she'd never seen before.

"We don't need people like you in Piltover any longer," the silver Wildclaw said, turning away and scaling the gate with ease.

"And what of you in Piltover?" She managed to speak now that there was some distance between them.

Seika stopped, her head turning back to face the half woman.

"Look at the atrocities you've committed, do you think they'll accept you with open arms?" Camille glared as she sat up on her forearms.

"You're no better than I am, you're just playing for the losing side."

A sudden noise from the house to the left pulled Seika out of the conversation and then she was moving into the shadows.

She'd fled through the alleyway, the trauma of her last experience in Piltover dousing her in fear and adrenaline. When she could, her eyes found the academy where everyone was. Where Viktor was...

She'd nearly killed someone... intentionally...

How would his view of her change when he heard of her actions?

Seika didn't have it in her to find out, and as life in Piltover rose to greet another day, she fled and slipped back into the darkness.

Chapter Text

When Seika had re-entered Zaun, she almost immediately changed back, her head hanging as she walked without a destination. Her thoughts were consumed by those she was leaving behind in Piltover.

When she'd come down here to find the gemstone, she had a purpose. Save the undercity, get the gemstone, save Viktor...

How was she supposed to do all of that now when she'd nearly killed the Sheriff of Piltover.

Camille had never had the best intentions, but what made it her call to make to remove her from that position?

Zaun had woken around the same time Piltover had and as the lively noise around her grew, it pulled the silver-haired girl from her thoughts. Rather than the bustling stalls, the chatter around her was fierce and violent. Coins were passed, vials of shimmer were handed back and forth, and weapons traded hands while from the shadows of dark alleyways eyes watched with purpose. The chembarons had truly infiltrated every part of Zaun, and Seika had now become strikingly aware of that fact.

Seika heard someone mention Sevika's name, but the conversation quickly moved from verbal to physical, and the young girl moved quickly and quietly from the scene. She'd been kept within the shadows for so long she hadn't seen how badly things had progressed. She moved down an alleyway, slinking along with a small group of people who walked past as four young men took turns throwing their fists into an old man, but as Seika went to intervene, a wrinkled hand grabbed hers and pulled her along past the scene.

When the girl turned to face the one who pulled her away, her face softened. It was the old woman she'd met before she and Warwick had fought.

"You cannot interfere, child," she spoke. The old woman was glad to see the girl was alive, but the sudden marks on her skin caused the old woman to drop her hand and wipe them on her clothes.

Seika's eyes found her scarred hands and she slipped them into the deep pockets of the trenchcoat as the pair walked further from the tragedy that occurred behind them.

"W-What happened...?" Seika finally asked softly, her words hushed enough to be shared between the two of them.

"They've completely taken over everything. Sevika has declared that those who do not join the cause will be put to death..." The old woman's eyes searched around them, "so far, she's kept her promise..."

"So that man, he'll...?"

The older woman nodded and watched as Seika's face fell.

"So much has happened," Seika whispered to herself, but the old woman heard and scowled gently. Every moment she was outside of her home she worried for her life. She left so infrequently that those she knew, who were still living, thought more often than not that she was dead in her home than alive.

"This is no place for you child. Wherever you've been these past few weeks, you should return to it." The woman spoke honestly, worried that this girl who seemed so willing to jump in to help someone she didn't know would get herself killed sooner rather than later.

Seika's fists clenched in her pockets but she could not hide the fear that took over her face.

She did have somewhere she could go though...

The old lady stopped, looking at the young girl, and Seika met her eyes.

"I wish you the best child," she spoke softly.

"Thank you," Seika said with a smile and the pair nodded, then moved their separate ways.

...

Seika stared down the pathway she knew would lead to the Firelights hideout, her heart hammering away in her chest.

Why was she frightened?

Would they be mad? Angry that she'd abandoned them? She hadn't wanted to return until she'd felt more like herself, but she was out of options. She wouldn't be able to hide out in Warwick's den forever, and the undercity was falling deep into the clutches of Sevika and her gang. She couldn't hide away anymore, whether or not she felt like she knew who she was. Regardless of the fact that she felt she still lacked control of everything around her.

Such thoughts could go on forever, but Seika exhaled them shakily and began walking through the tunnels. As she turned a corner, she nearly ran into someone stationed there, a young man she'd never seen before, who promptly yelled and aimed his weapon at her.

Seika was stunned, her hands immediately raising, palms outward as she took a step back. Her speech caught in her throat as the man yelled back to people further down the passageway, and within a few moments several people jogged towards them, weapons raised.

She didn't recognize them and her breaths came out in heavy pants as she attempted to explain herself. They barraged her with questions but the girl was too overcome with panic to answer them and instead, she stumbled over unintelligible words.

Another young man moved to grab her and as he yanked her arms behind her back a young woman stepped forward.

"Wait," she spoke, pushing past the people in front of her. Their eyes met and Seika's face looked hopefully at her.

"Y-You're...." the young girl's eyes widened and she took a step back, looking down at her scarred fingertips.

"Let her go," she spoke, her eyes fleeting to the man who held her.

"But Je--"

"Now Drax," she demanded and the man instantly let Seika go.

The silver-haired girl panted, her shoulders slumping forward as her knees wobbled some.

"S-Seika?" She asked, brows furrowed with uncertainty. The silver-haired girl couldn't help the few tears that streamed from her eyes as she enveloped the Firelight member into a hug.

The Firelight girl couldn't hide the confusion on her face but held the crying girl until she was able to stand on her own, then the group moved back to their places as she brought Seika to the entrance.

After a series of repetitive knocks, the large door slid open and a familiar gray face peered outward.

When the tall Chirean looked down at his fellow Firelight, he smiled, but then they shifted to the girl at his side and widened in shock.

"Is that..?." He spoke softly as his fellow fighter ushered the barefoot girl inside.

Seika looked up at him before she looked at the familiar hideout and every weight and doubt she had was lifted from her body instantaneously, and then the tears were falling again.

The Chirean stood shocked, holding his own weapon, a tall spear with its end against the ground. His fist clenched around it and then he raised it up, slamming the end against the ground as he let out a loud howl that echoed throughout the hideout. A call, a welcome for those who had returned.

People peered out from the bungalows within the tree and the few houses scattered at the ground level. They hadn't been aware of someone who'd been missing long enough for their arrival to be vocalized.

Seika had looked back to the Chirean when he called, then back towards the greenery and life in front of her, but she remained still in the soft shadows. A gentle hand was placed on her lower back and Seika turned to face the girl whose fingertips she'd scarred so long ago, and the warm smile she was given eased her enough to take a few steps forward into the light.

The silence was deafening until a chirpy voice from somewhere within the tree called loudly to her.

"Seika?!"

She looked up, seeing the young girl she'd saved and she smiled, wiping away at her tears then nodded. The young girl was running, moving as fast as she could down the ladders and ropes that allowed her to reach such heights within the great tree, and the moment her feet touched the ground she was sprinting towards Seika, tackling her to the ground.

"Adelaide!" Seika said as she enveloped the young girl into her arms and the pair broke out into a mix of giggles and crying. Seika held the young girl's face in her hands, moving away the wild curly brown hair that adored the beautiful girl.

Noise to her left pulled Seika's attention from the young girl and standing at the base of the steps of a multi-complex dwelling was a shocked Ekko.

His eyes were wide and his whole body tremored as he stood, staring at her with an intensity that made her anxious.

"Ekko...?" Seika asked softly, helping Adelaide stand so she could follow suit. She was wiping away at her tears as she faced the young man, but the fear of his wrath from her disappearance frightened her so much she could not take more than a step forward.

Ekko's shoulders moved up and down with his breaths. She was... alive... but how? And..?

His eyes had seen the dark marks on her hands that appeared to extend further underneath the unfamiliar coat she was in, but none of that was important now.

He took long strides and when he reached her he pulled her into a hug.

"I watched you die, with.. with the howler. I couldn't... there was nothing I could" Ekko's speech cracked as emotions took over him.

Seika's arms had instinctually wrapped back around him but surprise took over her thoughts.

He'd seen her fight with Warwick? When he'd nearly killed her? Her heart broke for her friend who endured something so awful.

Her apologies came out like a flood, spoken softly, and only ceased when his arms tightened around her.

"No, you're safe, nothing else matters," he spoke softly and the pair shared their embrace for a bit longer before pulling away.

The emotions that heavily encompassed both their faces caused Seika to laugh a little as she wiped away a few stray tears, and in turn, Ekko to laugh alongside her. The group around them neared, eager to ask questions, but Ekko managed to dissuade them for now, stating that Seika needed to get settled, and after Seika gave a smiling Adelaide one more head pat, the pair were walking back to his room.

"Where's Cecil?" Seika finally said as they walked up the stairs.

"Most of the time he's in his room, he doesn't come out much anymore," he spoke softly, his eyes looking towards the ground.

When Seika said nothing, Ekko looked up and their eyes met and he saw the confusion and uncertainty painted upon her face. His brows furrowed as he blinked and looked away, turning a bit from her.

"Everythings changed Seika, since..." he bit his lower lip. If he said it again would he wake up, and all of this would be a dream? Some twisted way his brain is attempting to resolve his own guilt from watching from the shadows as she died.

Seika's eyes softened and her hand extended to lightly touch his shoulder closest to her. His eyes met hers again at the touch and she offered him a smile.

"I'm not mad Ekko, I'm actually glad you didn't interfere, you've all these people who rely on you," she spoke honestly, turning and waving her hand out to the hideout.

But what about those who relied on you Seika -- was all Ekko could think about, but he ignored his thought and moved to stand next to her at the railing of the second floor. His hand reached out to grab one of hers and he inspected it closely, worry building up in his gut.

"What happened?" He whispered softly, but when she said nothing, he looked up and saw the distressed look on her face.

"Seika, what happened?" He asked a bit louder but she only turned away from him.

"I'd like to see Cecil first, please," she requested softly, her hands slipping into her pockets.

He was unable to hold his sigh back and walked past her, moving down the right hallway where Heimerdinger's room was and when they got to it, he gave a few gentle raps on the door.

"Professor Heimerdinger?" He called to him through the door, but when he heard no response his eyes found Seikas. Just as he went to knock again, soft noises of movement came from within the room and neared the door. Then, it creaked open just a bit and Seika could just barely see Cecil standing in the cracked open doorway.

"Oh, Ekko, my boy, I'm a bit busy right now, could you perhaps visit later?"

Seika's brows furrowed at the sound of his voice; it was strained and forced.

Ekko went to interject but Cecil had already begun closing the door and Seika moved to stand before the door.

"Cecil," she spoke, her palm moving to stop the door from closing. His once lively and bright cyan eyes were dull and haggard, the fur around his face unkempt and frayed. He looked weary and exhausted.

"S-Seika," he whispered, opening the door wider now so that he could step forth from the dark room beyond the door. Seika instinctually lowered and embraced the yordle, and he wrapped his arms back around her.

"Seika, you're..." he spoke again, unable to find the words.

When they pulled away, one of his hands went to her cheek to graze it lightly and in turn, her hand covered his as she moved her cheek into her hand. More tears had come, but they were silent in their appearance, simply leaving wet stains down her cheeks.

"What happened? Ekko said--" his speech silenced when he found the dark scarring on her hand and his brows furrowed.

Seika's eyes closed and she let out a soft exasperated huff.

"I'll tell you," she said softly, then turned to look at Ekko. The young man nodded and helped Seika stand. Heimerdinger silently closed the door to his room, and the three moved back down the hallway and took the left hallway leading to Ekkos's room.

When they stepped inside, Seika looked at all the work about his desk, a smile gracing her features as she inspected everything.

"So you're as much of an inventor as Cecil is?" She asked as Ekko readied some drinks and cleared an appropriate seating area.

"The boy has made some phenomenal things," Cecil spoke, settling onto an empty chair, though his eyes never left Seika's figure.

When Ekko handed her the glass, she took a long swig then placed it on the table behind her while Ekko took a clear seat near Cecil. Seika couldn't sit, she was far too anxious, as made evident by her near-constant movement, from finger twitching to a leg bobbing rhythmically.

The three were silent for several minutes, Heimerdinger and Ekko sharing several looks as each was unsure how to proceed.

Seika's fists finally clenched at her sides and she spoke, looking up to view the two before her.

"I... I don't know how long I've been gone for," she finally announced and was met with confused looks from both Cecil and Ekko.

"It's been a fortnight Seika," Cecil finally said.

Seika couldn't hide the shock on her face, but the soft annoyed chuckle that came from her surprised Ekko and Cecil more than anything else. Two weeks she'd been in that place, strung up, poked, and prodded... two weeks when it had felt like years...

"Seika?" Ekko called softly and Seika shrugged off the surge of anger that coursed through her.

"Vi, Caitlyn, and I left Piltover to find the Gemstone and we went our separate ways. I eventually found Warwick who--"

"Warwick?" Ekko's brows furrowed as his eyes narrowed.

"The Howler," Seika explained, "and after--"

"The beast ripped you apart and now you've gone and given it a name?" Ekko spoke harshly.

"Ekko, I'm so sorry you had to see what happened, but please, let me continue--"

"Seika, I watched it tear you apart, I watched your blood stain the ground," Ekko stood despite Cecil's protests.

"I watched it drag you off into the darkness--"

"I was the one dragged off into the darkness Ekko, you've no need to tell me what happened because I was the one who endured it!" Seika snapped stepping towards him, forcing her to realize just how overprotective she'd become of Warwick. She could look past the events that had occurred because she knew what he was now, and his actions demonstrated exactly that.

The trio had slipped into silence and Ekko sat, running a hand through his dreadlocks.

Finally, Seika spoke, her eyes unable to meet the pair before her.

"It is not Warwick who torments me when I sleep. It is because of Warwick that I am here despite feeling so... so..." she felt her emotions swell within her and she swallowed them back. Tears wouldn't help her now. When her eyes looked up to Ekko, the boy's face had changed; softened. He'd let his own anger and guilt get out of hand, and lashed out unintentionally.

At that moment, Cecil hardly recognized his dearest friend. She stood in a tattered and beaten trenchcoat with disheveled hair, taut dry skin, and lifeless eyes complimented with dark bags. She looked broken and in turn, his own heart broke.

"After Warwick," Seika finally continued through a shakey inhale, "I was found by someone who said they'd help me, that--" she took a few deep breaths, her arms wrapping around her as she leaned back against the desk fully.

"I woke up chained and hanging from some metal contraption. He saw me shift and wanted to determine what biological component was responsible for that..."

Cecil's heart stopped and Ekkos face mirrored the same sickening shock.

"He didn't believe me when I said it was magic. He-He.." another shakey exhale then inhale, "he made Warwick. Warwick endured what I did, if not worse..." She couldn't delve any deeper into what had happened, not now at least, she was far too vulnerable and it was still too fresh.

She felt a panic attack threatening to take over, but her clenched fists and her own nails digging into her palms kept it at bay.

"He wanted to turn me into a weapon, it'd keep Sevika off his back for when the chembarons took Piltover..."

Cecil stood suddenly, walking to Seika, looking up into her eyes.

"Seika, they need to know, we have to tell them. Jayce, Viktor, the Councilors, they have to know that these plans may come to fruition--"

Seika was physically shaking, her eyes fleeting about the room and she backed away from Cecil, her legs crumbling under her as she collapsed to the ground, scooting away from him. The yordle stared at her, his pain evident at her reaction to him, but Ekko came to her side and pulled her into his arms, hushing her soft sobs. They couldn't help her if they didn't know at least some of what had happened. Her response to going home was completely unwarranted and they needed to know why.

When she'd silenced, Ekko leaned back and looked down at her.

"What else happened Seika?" He asked softly and while her eyes had initially met his, when he'd asked, they looked to the ground.

"Singed had hooke--"

"Singed?" Cecil asked as he stepped closer to her, mouth hanging open as his eyes now wandered the floor in front of him.

"Singed did this...?" he whispered, his eyes unable to meet Seika's until she called his name again.

Ekko shared the same look of confusion that Seika did and so Cecil explained that many years ago, they'd been partners, but Singed's methods were vile and inhumane. They eventually went their separate ways and he was dismissed by the Academy and the Council. He hadn't known where the man had gone, but it seemed he'd found his fair share of work in Zaun.

Finally, Cecil looked back to Seika, "tell me Seika, what did he do?"

"He.." she took a moment, closing her eyes tightly before forcing herself to relax a bit.

"He hooked me up to an iv system that, when I moved, pushed toxins and chemicals into my body..." she sat up, pulling away from Ekko so that she could slide up both arms of the trenchcoat.

Both Cecil and Ekko gasped at the extensive scarring up each arm.

"And this was from shimmer," she spoke, showing the back of her left leg that too, was covered in the dark veins. "He said he'd used shimmer when he'd first found me, in hopes it'd help me survive...."

Seika smiled painfully but her face broke a moment after and her arms fell.

Cecil reached out and grasped her hands tightly and Ekko readjusted himself so that he sat next to her, his left shoulder touching her right.

"I shifted to escape, and the damage was done, but I fleed to Piltover... they attacked me though," she spoke, smiling emotionlessly.

"I don't remember anything besides the screaming and the chanting for my death..."

Silence.

"So I fled back to Zaun, but I was in so much pain, and that was when Warwick found me," Seika felt Ekko stiffen against her and she slightly leaned into him. "He brought me back to his home, fed me, kept me safe, until..."

"Until?" Cecil questioned worriedly.

"I don't think I can go back to Piltover Cecil," Seika whispered, unable to meet his eyes, but she didn't give him time to respond. "When you'd first seen Warwick, Ekko, he was bloodthirsty and driven purely by primal desires... He's not like that anymore, he's... he's like a vigilante, but he doesn't kill unnecessarily any longer."

Seika took a deep breath.

"Last night a murder occurred and he fled to the scene. I chased after and when I'd finally found it, it-it... it was children... Young children had been murdered..."

Ekko tensed further, hunching over himself as Cecil's face fell.

"Cecil, we, Warwick and I," Seika swallowed away the emotions that threatened to surface, "we tore her apart. I didn't let Warwick kill her, but we both mauled her. She killed those kids Cecil, I was so angry that I couldn't focus on anything else I--"

"Seika, who?" Cecil asked calmly, his cyan eyes boring deep into hers.

"Camille Ferros, the Sheriff of Piltover," Seika whispered softly between breathy sobs.

Ekko turned around, his line of sight falling to Seika's distressed face. Camille Ferros had caused significant trouble in the undercity and had dragged many innocent people into bloody battles that cost some of them their lives. Ekko wasn't mad, in fact, he felt some relief from it.

"You're worried they will disapprove of your actions? Do you worry about how they will feel about you after hearing of the events that occurred?" Cecil questioned, knowing the answer. Now he understood why she'd reacted the way she did. He doubted their opinion of her would change too much, especially given the circumstances, but it'd become incredibly apparent that Seika needed a few days to come to terms with what had happened. She was far too unstable at the moment to barge back into Piltover to fix all their problems... If that was even possible at this point.

Seika had nodded silently in response to his question and he only gave her hands a gentle squeeze as comfort. There was little else he could do, but regardless, the trio sat in silence, sharing the same space as they enjoyed the comfort of one another's company and it was the first true sliver of happiness Seika had felt in quite some time.

...

It'd been several hours since Seika had told both Cecil and Ekko all that had happened to her. She'd cleaned herself and was sitting in the room that Ekko had declared was hers. It was cozy and in a corner of the courtyard that allowed sunlight to peek into the window. Outside in the main area, she heard the laughter of children and it nearly made her cry.

It was nearly perfect.

Now all she needed was Viktor, the rest of her friends, and for Sevika to be stopped, then it would be perfect. She was sitting on the only chair in the room, her line of sight focused on the tree outside her window. She was still wrapped in the towel she'd used to dry off from her bath with her damp hair hanging down each shoulder. A few soft knocks from her door caused her to look up, and a familiar face peeked in.

Seika smiled at the Firelight who'd recognized her outside the hideout, the same one she'd scarred when she'd attempted to get the Gemstone. She hadn't even known Vi and Caitlyn at that point, let alone what was happening in the undercity.

It felt like ages ago.

"Ekko said you'd need some clothes and I have some that haven't ever fit me well," she spoke, holding up a little pile of clothing in her hands.

Seika nodded and stood while the other woman fully entered and plopped the pile of clothing on the bed.

"I've never asked, and I'm sorry that I haven't until now," Seika spoke as the girl sifted through the pile, but she stopped and met Seika's eyes.

"But what is your name?" She asked. This woman knew her name and recalled it despite them not actually ever having a conversation, yet Seika didn't know hers.

The girl smiled, extending a hand outwards towards her.

"To be fair, I made sure to remember the name of the girl who saved my reckless younger sister from nearly falling out the tree," she said sheepishly and chuckled at Seika's shock before she continued. "Jenna," she said and Seika shook her hand with a wide grin.

"It's nice to meet you Jenna, you're name, its very pretty," she said, stepping to the bed so that she could look down at the clothing.

"My mom took inspiration from the wind spirit, Janna," Jenna said as she looked out the window.

Jenna looked back to the clothing and handed a few things to her then sat on the bed, facing the silver-haired girl.

Seika slipped off the towel and began to dress, but she did not miss Jenna's gaze that promptly moved to the dark veins marring her body. The one on her left side had grown as well and now reached from beneath the curve of her breast down to her hip bone.

Seika ignored Jenna's gaze, it was something she'd need to get used to and she knew Jenna was more curious than revolted.

"I don't think I know much about her, could you tell me?" Seika finally broke the silence after she'd slipped on her undergarments.

Jenna's interest piqued and she straightened, an excited look appearing on her face.

"Janna has always favored the undercity, and while many do not pray to her, we do not forget what she has done for us. Once, a massive flood occurred, but Janna stopped the proceeding waters with a gust of wind and she saved so many. They say she's warned sailors of bad storms, and some have said they've seen a bluebird and suddenly their ship found favoring winds."

Jenns sat cross-legged, practically jumping in her seat and Seika smiled warmly.

"Then perhaps I should thank her as well, shouldn't I?" Seika spoke and Jenna returned her smile.

Seika paused, her eyes looking to Jenna's fingers and her face fell a bit.

"I'm sorry about your fingers as well, I hope it isn't painful," Seika said, the last part almost a whisper.

Jenna's vision looked to her fingers and she smiled, waving her hand, "no, it doesn't hurt at all, though the scarring is pretty cool. I feel like it makes me look tough, like I won a knife fight with my bare hands," she said smiling cheekily and Seika let out a soft laugh.

The conversation progressed to life in the hideout and Seika listened as she dressed. When Seika had finally buckled the belt of her pants, Jenna stopped mid-sentence and finger-gunned her.

"Looking like a true Firelight now," she chuckled, leaning back with her palms flat against the bed.

Seika looked down, twisting her extremities to see the look better as there wasn't a mirror in the room.

"Here, come," Jenna spoke, getting up and leading Seika to one of the shared bathrooms that had a slightly cracked, but decently sized mirror.

Seika inspected herself in the mirror, lightly thumbing the fabrics that she was adorned with. It was a simple outfit, but one she felt comfortable in, though...

The black tube top was perfectly fine, though the vivid scarring on her left side still drew about feelings of self-consciousness, particularly with the pants as low as they were. The brown belt may need another notch, but Seika was in love with the black pants they held up and they curved around her hips nicely. A variety of pockets littered the pants which stopped just above her ankles. A few patches had been made, but it only made her fall in love with them further. The trenchcoat she'd been wearing completed the outfit.

"It's wonderful," she said softly, looking at herself again after she'd spun in a circle. Jenna responded with a smile and the girls spoke for a few minutes longer before Jenna declared she had some chores left to attend to and Seika retreated back to her room. It seemed everyone had a task, a duty, but Seika had been told to rest.

She'd sat in the chair again, staring outside, but when her head turned to face the bed, she couldn't bring herself to get up. She wasn't tired, in fact, sleep was the farthest thing from her mind. Far too much had happened today and her mind was still racing.

The setting sunlight that still trickled in from the window above called out to her and she stood, leaving her little dwelling and moving through the corridors until she reached the main area. She stepped down the steps silently and smiled when her bare feet stepped onto the grass, her toes being tickled by the long blades.

Seika stepped towards the tree and towards the light, and heard the life above in the bungalows. The firelights had begun to come out, flittering and lighting up as they moved and a few landed upon Seika, causing the girl to burst into a soft fit of giggles.

Her eyes looked around the open area smiling as the firelights left her, until her eyes caught the mural and she stopped. Her feet moved and she strode to the mural slowly, climbing the steps up to view the faces of the ones they'd lost, ones she'd seen, and a new one added.

Seika let in a shakey inhale as the fingertips of her right hand extended and lightly touched the painting of her face. Her left hand clenched into a tight fist, moving to her chest as she viewed the artwork.

It was stunning. Whoever drew it was so incredibly capable and talented, so much so that she actually wanted to thank them.

Ekko had come out of his room to go and speak to the rotating guard tonight, but when he found Seika by the mural, his direction changed.

She hadn't heard him approach her so when he spoke her face whipped around to face him.

"We can take it down if you'd like," he said, his hands in his pockets.

Seika looked down, then back up to the mural, her fingers touching the silver hair painted upon the wall's surface. Somehow, visualizing who she was before it all gave her some sense of peace. She was as real as she was then; she was living unlike the face painted upon the wall. A weight within her chest lifted and Seika took a deep breath, the pressure inside of her releasing.

"No," she said, and Ekko watched her face change as if something within her clicked. She relaxed and softened into someone he recognized more. He didn't doubt the trauma was there, but she was moving past it, much faster than he'd thought, but he was happy for her nonetheless.

"I think a part of me died in that lab, it's best to mourn that loss," she spoke, looking fondly at the painted innocence that she'd lost.

Ekko looked to the mural, and when Seika looked to him, he nodded without his eyes leaving the art. Everyone had lost something along the way but he hoped they wouldn't have to lose anything else.

"I have a question," she spoke suddenly, and Ekkos's attention turned to her.

"I assume this is Vi and Jinx," she pointed to the painted young girls who resembled the adults she knew. Ekko nodded and followed as her hand moved to the two young boys.

"Who are they?"

"That's Mylo," he motioned to the scrawny boy above her face, "and Claggor there," he said, moving his hand all the way to point to the top where a boy in goggles peeked out from behind a young Jinx and another man.

"And him?" She asked, pointing at said man. He was older, with deep sideburns and a kind face. Her eyes had found Ekko's and she noticed the sad smile he wore.

"That was Benzo, he looked out for me a lot when I was younger since my parents were always working," he said, memories of tinkering away in that pawnshop with Benzo taking over his thoughts.

Seika smiled at Benzos portrait, but her eyes caught another older man, gruff and stoic.

"Whose that? Next to Jinx?" Seika asked, her sight unable to leave the man's portrait.

"That's Vander, he raised Vi, Jinx, Mylo, and Claggor, took them in like they were his own."

"Vander?" Seika whispered, reaching to touch the portrait, but the artwork was far too tall for her to do so. She whispered his name again, seeing Warwick in her mind and pain flashed in her eyes. They were all connected, but they didn't even realize it. Warwick told her he didn't want to remember, and it seemed that recalling the pieces he did remember was painful; she'd respect his wishes.

"He must have been a great man to do such a thing." She said, looking back to Ekko whose brows had furrowed in confusion.

Ekko nodded slowly, his eyes fleeting up to Vander's portrait.

"They called him the Hound of the Undercity, but Zaun was good when he was in charge. At least, better than it is now."

The Hound huh? Ironically irritating, but the hound had become a wolf... thing. Warwick sought the same things he did when he was human, he simply went about it another way now.

"Thank you for telling me," she said smiling and Ekko wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"Come on, let's go get some grub," he said dragging her away from the mural.

Chapter Text

Seika had woken up in the middle of the night. Her sight moved to outside the window where dim hanging lanterns barely lit up the pathways that led to a variety of areas within the Firelight hideout. She sat up after spending many minutes trying to fall back to sleep and eventually dressed herself hoping that a few minutes of sitting outside might aid her in sleeping through the rest of the night.

Jenna had dropped a simple pair of combat boots by her room after dinner and they fit well enough on her. Seika was thankful she no longer had to walk barefoot everywhere and enjoyed the weight of the boots as she tested them out, it was a weight she hadn't felt in some time, and somehow, it was the little things that were bringing her a sense of comfort and pleasure. After she was fully dressed, she pulled on her trenchcoat, flattened the collar, and departed her room, making her way into the grassy courtyard.

It was silent; everyone was either asleep or outside the confines and so Seika sat, taking the opportunity to up to the hole in the ceiling where a few stars peeked out in between the leaves and branches of the great tree. Her goal was the same as it'd been. She wanted to help the undercity, she wanted to see Zaun grow into something past the chemicals, past the toxins and violence. She wanted comfort and joy, something most Zaunites appeared to have never truly felt in their lives. How much of her own life had she taken for granted while so many of them down here suffered? The valleys she'd run through as her mentor called ut to her and she spent every moment fleeting, testing her abilities, shifting from one thing to the other without any regard. She may have been abandoned as a child, but her mentor made her feel anything but that; despite her boisterousness as a child, her bratty recklessness of her teenage years, and her overeagerness of her mid-twenties, he treated her as if she was his family, despite his own past deep-rooted with betrayal. She'd spent so many years of her life enjoying it without a single grateful thought about it, and it hurt her to consider how the children of Zaun were growing up here.

Seika eventually stood and began walking; she needed to get out, just to clear her head for a bit but when she approached the door she was met with a familiar Chirean.

"Hello Scar," she greeted with a smile; they'd finally been introduced at dinner and she was glad to have a name with a face.

"Seika," he nodded to her, his brows furrowing a bit.

"Could I go out? Just for a few minutes? I just need to clear my head," she bit her lip, pleading. She could see the cogs in his brain working, weighing pros and cons, and while Ekko hadn't explicitly said she wasn't allowed to leave, he was unsure about it, but in the end, he wasn't able to say no and ushered her out.

"You yell and we're coming," he declared before he closed the door, and then she made her way down the hallways. After a few minutes, she'd slipped into the trenches and found herself in the quiet area of Zaun that the Firelights used to hideout in.

She looked back in the direction she'd come and smiled, then turned and walked further into the undercity. The streets were quiet and eventually, Seika found a rather deserted area and found a staircase leading to the top of one of the tall buildings. She climbed it slowly, watching the ground grow farther and farther beneath her until she stood at the edge of the very top. She was faced with a rather pretty image of Zaun. The green lights gave it its signature glow while the hushed streets were somewhat soothing. It was as if the violence that plagued these streets were but a myth, and in reality, they lived their lives just as everyone else did.

Seika smiled, settling down and letting her feet hang over the edge as she looked at the view in front of her. Next time she'd bring Viktor here, maybe they'd share a container of sweet milk and a blanket, but she knew she wanted to share this with him.

With her thoughts focused on Viktor, Seika didn't notice the figure creeping up behind her, the barrel of their gun pointed towards her.

Seika let out a little sigh when movement in her left peripheral caught her eye and she turned, facing an armed and ready Jinx. Her eyes widened when they caught Jinx's and the blue-haired girl froze, the gun just barely shaking in her hand.

"You were there that night, at the bridge, you... --"

She stuttered but lost the words, though Seika saw the fire in her violet eyes.

Seika nodded, her eyes drifting from the gun pointed at her then back to Jinx's face. Seika began to weigh her options, she could jump from the building and shift away, she could beg and plead or she could outright just attack the girl... but Jinx was a good shot and Seika was heavily out-weaponed here.

The two stared in silence at one another but the voices within Jinx's mind began to take over. The world distorted around her and the silver-haired girl's face before her twisted into something horrifying and violent.

"You took Vi, it's only right that you die," she spoke, beginning to laugh maniacally as she repositioned the gun in her hands.

"Vi didn't accept me, the world won't accept me, now I'll just need to make my own place," she continued to ramble and despite the very real and potentially deadly situation she had Seika in.

Jinx stared violently at the girl, but just as she went to pull the trigger, the silver-haired girl's twisted face disappeared and softened into something human with eyes of pain and understanding.

Seika struggled internally; this was the girl responsible for Mrs. Kiramman's death...And Hoskells death... she was Vi's sister... but the pain this girl seemed to endure hurt her heart. Why was it she did not look at her and immediately want to end her life? Was she awful for not wanting that?

Seika didn't have it in her to end this girls life, she might have a few weeks ago, but with the events that had happened, life and death had a much deeper perspective than they'd had before... what was worse was that she knew if she ran she sure as hell wouldn't outrun or fly that gun. There wasn't any option left... It was difficult to imagine it was over after everything that'd happened but the barrel of the gun she faced at this moment was proving her wrong.

She thought of Viktor again, her face turning to look out over Zaun. Would he be alright?

Jinx's vision had cleared, her finger slipping away from the trigger as she watched the silver-haired girl look away from her, her sights on Zaun and she looked so disheartened. Was it the gun in her face? Jinx's brows furrowed as she watched the girl, confusion eating away in her belly.

Seika looked back, her face smiling as her thoughts slipped to the situation she was now facing.

"I can't kill you, my heart won't let me, but I don't think I'll make it if I run either," she gave a soft chuckle as her eyes found the barrel then the face of the violet-eyed girl.

"Could I request something?"

Jinx watched the silver-haired girl with a look of concern when she'd asked her question.

"What?" she asked back, her finger finding its place on the trigger.

"Could you make it quick?" Seika asked, holding her hands up to look at the dark scarring on them, "I've been through a lot of pain recently, I'd be more than grateful if my death were painless," she said smiling sadly at the markings that coated her flesh. When her eyes looked back to Jinx, her face hadn't changed.

Jinx's lack of response made Seika lean back on her palms in preparation as she allowed her legs to hang over the edge of the building. Perhaps Jinx wouldn't care, but she'd at least asked... though there was one other thing that was bothering her.

Her face turned again to face Jinx, just as the young girl was raising the gun towards her head, the look on the blue-haired girl's face was a mix of confusion and frustration.

"I've heard people call you Powder and Jinx..." She said, her eyes unwavering as she gazed into Jinx's violet iris', "what would you like me to call you?"

The question took Jinx aback and her face recoiled some. What did she want? It wasn't often she was asked that. Vi insisted on Powder, Silco had insisted on Jinx, but it wasn't until...

She felt the emotions well inside her as she thought of what had happened that night and she pushed the thoughts away.

"Jinx.... my name is Jinx," she said softly, her eyes staring at the ground.

Seika let out a small huff as she smiled, the noise bringing Jinx's eyes to hers.

"It's nice to meet you, Jinx. I'm Seika," she didn't know why she introduced herself, in fact, it just happed out of habit, but it didn't matter.

Jinx watched as Seika's face turned to look back at the view of Zaun and her eyes moved to look in that general direction, then they looked back to her. She was questioning herself, something she'd only done with Vi...

Seika relished in the silence that came after. Somehow it was calming especially given how heated their previous meetings had been.

"What happened?" Jinx suddenly asked, her voice slicing through their silence like a blade. Seika turned to face her when she spoke, and she found that Jinx's face had calmed substantially, though her furrowed brows and tilted head pointed towards confusion as the blue-haired girl's eyes studied the marks on her arms.

Seikas line of sight moved to her arms, following one of the many dark brown trails that marred her flesh, then she held it up and twisted her arm around as her smile fell a bit.

"Someone did this to me," Seika spoke softly, not even noticing Jinx's face as it neared her arm, the young girls violet eyes inspecting closely. How was she to explain what happened to her? How should she word it? She didn't know, and thankfully she didn't need to explain it more than that.

"Does it hurt?"

"It burns, sometimes worse than others," Seika replied, turning her body so that her left leg was bent and flat against the ground her right danged off the edge of the building by the crook her knee. She lowered her left arm, moving so there both her arms were side by side in front of them so that Jinx could view them more closely.

The young girl tenderly poked her arm, then her violet eyes sought the silver-haired girl's face.

An even lighter poke brought forth a soft giggle from Seika and Jinx bit her lower lip.

"You won't hurt me simply by that, it's alright," she said moving her hands a bit as encouragement, and the young girl dropped to a sit before her, moving the gun to her side as she took each of the girl's hands and inspected them closely.

"I've seen stuff like this happen when people used shimmer, but it always went away," Jinx said softly, almost as if she was thinking aloud.

"Well, that was part of it," she stopped again, truly unsure of how to explain it to a stranger, let alone one who still had the barrel of her gun aimed in her direction, "I suppose my body doesn't respond well to chemicals," she finally said, looking back out to Zaun.

"You're not from around here are you?" Jinx asked her pupils dilating as she looked up into Seika's eyes.

The look reminded her of her youngest sister at that moment and Seika's heart ached. She'd long moved past the fact that she'd likely never see any of her family again, or if they were even alive for that matter, but moments like this made her heart hurt for the siblings she loved dearly that she never got to watch grow up.

"No, I'm from far, far away from here," Seika said, leaning back and laying her palms flat against the roof to brace the top half of her body.

Jinx changed positions, moving her gun to her side, her barrel pointed just out of range of Seika as she readjusted to sit cross-legged. She hunched forward, elbows on her knees, her chin propped on her hands like a young child listening to a story.

Seika took it as an invitation and accepted it willingly. Despite the past, despite the pain and anger and violence, the uncertainty between them, she was actually enjoying this. There was something more behind the gun, something human and it gave her hope that something besides mindless violence might eventually be in store for the young girl.

She digressed into her story, speaking wild tales of her childhood, of running into a wild cougar who chased her and her brother for so long until it turned and walked away. Her brother had cried, but when they'd calmed down from the incident they laughed whole-heartedly.

Jinx's awe and questions were a flurry, words, and excitement bursting from her lips like fireworks, some bringing Seika so deep into laughter that tears sprung from her eyes.

Eventually the girls were giggling, incoherent words spilled between laughter.

"So why did you come here?" Jinx spoke after catching her breath.

"A dear friend of mine from Piltover invited me," she spoke, remembering just how astounded she was reading Cecil's letter and just how much she absolutely detested the idea of coming. Her mentor, however, reassured her and recommended she go; perhaps he'd needed a break from her wildish antics. She'd admittedly become a bit rambunctious and he was a mentor, not a father, though there were many times when those roles mixed.

Jinx straightened, her brows furrowing as she gave Seika an insulted look.

"So you're one of them?"

Seika took a moment of consideration, her face falling as she thought.

"No, I don't believe I am," she spoke honestly.

Jinx attitude changed, as if flipping a coin, and her face morphed into something brighter as she spoke, "so you're one of us?"

Seika's lips tensed into a thin line as she looked out over Zaun.

"I don't think I'm am either," she spoke softly. She had only felt like home was within Viktors arms, where his amber eyes bathed her in warm adoration and his arms secluded her from the nastiness that the world harbored. But by herself in Piltover or in Zaun, it was just another place. The Firelights hideout was as close as she could get to home, and she hoped that maybe on day, Zaun might start reflecting what was hidden away within the hideout because somewhere deep inside of her, she knew that the people of Zaun desired peace and a life worth living, one free of disease, violence, and pain.

Jinx pouted and Seika smiled warmly as the girl looked away, her fingers twiddling with the material of the roof.

"So Ixtal then?" she questioned.

"No," she said, a wider smile gracing her features when Jinx looked up quizzically.

"I've lived in so many places throughout all my life, I've snuck into Demacia, seen parts of Noxus, felt the freezing cold of Freljord and walked within the beauty of Ionia and..." a sad smile took over her face as she looked towards the direction of Piltover, towards him.

"From this conversation, it's become evident that home is with the people I cherish and love, not where I sleep or eat," she turned back to face Jinx whose eyes had widened just a bit and she watched her recoil, the young girl pulling her knees to her chest.

"But sometimes the people you love don't love you back, or others come in and steal your place, or sometimes they..." she whispered as she delicately tugged at a stray string on her pants.

Seika's face softened immediately and she sat up, her hand extending outward to gently rub the top of the girl's head.

Jinx peeked out at her with her violet eyes and felt a slight sense of comfort from her. She didn't feel angry at this moment, and the voices had long since stopped.

"I'm sorry about Silco," Seika spoke softly, "I'm sure he was incredibly important to you. I'm sorry you've had to endure such--"

Jinx had launched herself into Seika's arms and the girl fell back a bit, using one hand to catch them as Jinx embraced her. With her balance found, Seika let out a soft sigh and wrapped her arms back around the girl, holding her as she felt soft shakes of emotions leave the young girl.

"It may not be obvious, but you do have people who care about you," Seika spoke as one hand lightly caressed the girls back comfortingly.

"Do you know?" Jinx asked after her sobs had abated.

"Know what?"

"Why I started calling myself Jinx?" Jinx looked up as Seika peered down in her, and Seika saw the fire in them, a fire that brought about a wave of worry and concern deep in her.

Seika listened as Jinx told them of life growing up in Zaun, of the lab that blew up that she'd been blamed for, of Mylo and Claggor and Vander who died fighting against Silco. Her grip on Seika tightened when she recollected Vi and what she'd told her that night and of Silco who accepted her with open arms. The same man who encouraged and protected her, who wanted the best for her, the same man she'd killed by accident.

Seika rested her chin on top of Jinx's head as she inhaled and exhaled deeply. That was how Singed must have gotten ahold of Vander... Images of the mural flashed within her head and her heart broke a little. And knowing that a little part of Silco, the emotionless one who flooded the streets with Shimmer, who sought the end of Piltover and the raise of the chemically-induced Zaun had such a heart, such a mentality to willingly take the role of father for Jinx. He too seemed a bit more human in her eyes now.

"I'm not excusing Vi's actions, but she was a kid raising a kid. There was no way for her to do it all right," she said, lifting her head to look down at Jinx. Her blue eyes met Jinx's violet ones and the fire within them softened just a bit.

"Consider how much Vi did do right," Seika continued, watching Jinx's face contort in thought. "My words won't make all the problems go away and they certainly won't make everything perfect between you two. That is up to you and Vi," she continued.

"Caitlyn," Jinx said, her anger finding its way to the surface again.

"Caitlyn," Seika said softly, "do you feel that she's come to replace you?"

Jinx nodded as Seika began to fiddle with one of her long braids.

"Would you say that families grow beyond blood?" Seika asked.

"Yea, I guess," Jinx replied.

"Well," Seika spoke, holding back her chuckle, "I believe the spot Caitlyn is going for is not yours, in fact, I don't believe it's a spot that's taken by anyone at the moment," she said, smiling down at Jinx as she looked up at her.

"Caitlyn does not wish to become Vi's brand new sister and to take your place, she cares for your sister, and I think she wishes for something more," she said, watching Jinx's face twist in confusion.

"Vi will always be your sister, and you hers, no one, and nothing will ever change that. No matter how much you change or Zaun changes."

Jinx went silent, curling into herself within Seika's arms.

"Do you hate me for what I've done?" Jinx asked, shattering the silence.

She felt Seika's arms tense around her, then they relaxed as the silver-haired girl exhaled.

"Perhaps at one point, that rocket you launched killed some people I knew, and nearly took away others who are so incredibly important to me," Seika felt Jinx freeze in her arms, "but, I no longer feel the same way now as I did then," she continued, resting her chin atop Jinx's head again, "perhaps being locked up in a madman's lab for a few weeks will do that to a person," she whispered, ending her sentence with a sarcastic breathy chuckle

"Was one of those people you're home?" She asked, referencing what Seika had said earlier.

Jinx felt Seika nod, her chin moving up and down the top of her head.

"But he is alright... I hope," she spoke again.

"Is he nice?" She questioned and Seika straightened so that she could look down at Jinx.

"Yes, very nice, though, the first time we met he was absolutely abysmal," she spoke with a wide smile, reflecting back to their first meeting. "He's an inventor and he's absolutely brilliant, but..." she hadn't meant to say anything beyond his brilliance, but her heart spoke before her brain did.

"But what?" Jinx asked, her head tilting a bit.

"He's sick," Seika gave a forced smile as she looked back towards Piltover, "and we don't know how much longer he has or how to fix it." Her thoughts suddenly shifted, curiosity nipping at her tongue.

"Did you create all your weapons?" Seika asked, her vision falling to the gun Jinx had discarded next to them.

Jinx's eyes fell as she nodded, then she looked back up and gave Seika another hug, apologizing to her.

"You've nothing to apologize for, though, I believe you two might get into a world of trouble if you both were allowed in the same room together with a set of tools and all the parts your hearts desired," she spoke, chuckling at the thought. It was something that she and Viktor did not share in common, yet it did not digress their feelings or their relationship from one another, but she felt her heart might overflow at the thought of Jinx and Viktor inventing with one another.

"Do you think he'd like the rocket I made?" She asked almost sheepishly and Seika smiled.

"I believe he would, I think he'd be fascinated to find the raw power capable of coming from it."

Jinx's hand snaked to her hip, her fingers sliding into her pocket, then her closed fist withdrew and she grabbed one of Seika's hands, giving something to her.

"Maybe this could help," she said as Seika opened her eyes, her mouth falling as she stared at the Gemstone Jinx had placed into her palm. Emotions swelled in her and her head fell as she struggled to keep her tears from falling.

"Is it bad? I can--"

"No, no Jinx," Seika spoke, sitting up as she wiped away a stray tear, pausing to collect her emotions. When the tightness in her throat cleared and the urge to sob abated, Seika spoke again.

"He made this and he'd be completely and utterly intrigued to know just how it was you managed to harness its power." Seika let out a soft giggle as she wiped another tear away, looking down at the beautiful blue gemstone in her hand, but when her eyes found Jinx's face again, the young girl's image turned into worry and almost fear.

"I've known you took it for a long time, I'm not mad," she said, moving her free hand to the girl's cheek, "not one bit."

Jinx crashed into her for another hug and Seika wrapped her arms back around her. The pair slipped into a comfortable silence until Seika pulled away and looked down.

"I want to elaborate on what I said earlier... I am not vying for Piltover over Zaun or the other way around. I want what is best for the innocent people of Zaun without having to put Piltover at risk. I know it's been so long without peace between Zaun and Piltover," Seika said, meeting Jinx's eyes.

"With that, I feel the need to ask... Do you stand with Sevika?" Seika asked, her face overcome with worry and concern.

Jinx shook her head.

"Sevika wants me dead," she said softly, "but I'm not for Piltover either, those topsiders have caused so many problems."

"I know," Seika said, giving Jinx a soft smile.

"I don't care about sides, but..." Jinx paused, her vision falling, "I don't want to see you get hurt," was all she said. They met eyes again when Seika gently pet her head and Jinx smiled back at Seika.

"I fear worse things are coming our way, but I do not wish for that to happen either. It's inevitable that something will come, I don't know when, but I'm determined to fight for what I believe in. I will do all that I can to ensure that Zaun lives beyond the pain and oppression that's drowning the innocent people who call this place home. I see Zaun as a place full of color and life, and I want to see that with my own eyes, more than anything," she spoke truthfully.

Their conversation slipped to art and abilities, including Seika's and they spoke long into the night.

Jinx would find her place in this world, every fiber of Seika's being vibrated with some other-worldly knowing, she just hoped she'd be there to see it.

Chapter Text

Jayce sat on the ground, his legs splayed out in front of him as his breath came out in heavy pants. Just before him, Mel nearly mirrored him and she too was breathing deeply. They trained regularly, but something within Jayce was pushing him farther, whether it was from the assault on Camille or the abandonment by Viktor he didn't know, but this gave him a sense of focus and clarity, one he didn't feel like he often had right now. Jayce focused more on his hextech hammer and Mel with her shield but being able to use one another rather than stationary targets improved their skills greatly. Mel had grown tremendously with her own weapon and she was now able to work it as if it was an extension of her arm. Her movements were fluid and easy, and appeared entirely unforced. She was now able to move the metal pieces individually, in groups, or as a whole. She'd long grown using it as a shield, and while some of her most practiced moves were defensive in nature, she was more than capable of landing a painful offensive blow.

Jayce looked up to the clocktower, seeing it near noon and he exhaled again then he stood, hurrying to assist Mel to her feet.

"I have to go meet with Caitlyn," he said, his hand extending to the back of her neck so he could place a chaste kiss on the top of her head.

"Is it about..." her speech drawled off as her hand found its place on his chest and he nodded, a sigh leaving his lips as his head fell, his forehead resting against hers. He still couldn't believe it when he'd been told.

He'd rushed to the Ferros residence the moment he'd heard but Camille said nothing as doctors inspected her, though they had no answers, and the original doctor who'd helped her become her had long since passed, and it seemed his notes had been lost. She was silent and her aura was unusually toxic.

She said one thing though, one thing that still resonated with him, particularly because he didn't understand it.

"The person who did this to me is a fool, and they'll never let themselves live it down, I ensured that."

Then she turned him away and that was that.

He and Mel went their separate ways, and after he quickly cleaned up, he made his way to his office, ignoring the aching pain in his chest when he passed the building their lab was in... used to be in. After it became apparent that Viktor was not coming back, he'd had the lab changed to a new room in an entirely different building, though, even now, the room still didn't see much use.

Caitlyn was waiting outside the door to his office when he'd arrived and after a quick apology, he unlocked the door and the pair stepped inside.

He moved to his chair and offered Caitlyn a beverage, though she promptly declined and he sat. Jayce motioned for her to sit but she remained still, unwavering. He'd called on her from out of nowhere, in fact, it'd been weeks since they'd last spoke and the air between them was tense.

Jayce cleared his throat, using the noise to break the silence.

"I'm requesting your help, Caitlyn. You're the smartest person I know, and I need answers to this."

"To what?" She asked, her eyes narrowing a bit as a single eyebrow raised. She stood poised and elegant, as a member of the Kiramman household would, and the appearance actually intimidated Jayce slightly. This wasn't the friend he knew so well, one he nearly called sister, this wasn't someone he joked with or had long conversations of nothing and everything with.

Jayce went silent as the fear of their relationship being irreparable came creeping in.

Caitlyn saw it in his eyes and her heart felt crushed; she still loved Jayce dearly, but so much had happened and they stood on the farthest lines of opposite sides. She saw no way for them to move past that.

"Camille Ferros was assaulted somewhere within Zaun," Jayce finally said, his eyes shutting, not noticing Caitlyns eyes grow wide with shock.

"She will unfortunately not be able to return to her position," he continued, his fist clenching on the desktop as his eyes opened. "She will not tell me anything, I do not know their name, what they look like, she --"

"What happened?"

Jayce shrugged dejectedly, looking back up to her.

"A few days ago, in the early hours of the morning, Camille Ferros was found on the steps of the Ferros residence with a hole in her torso and her legs removed."

He saw Catilyns mouth drop this time and he shut his eyes, remembering the sight he walked into; Camille looking so defeated as she laid in her bed, hooked up to IVs as she just barely saw the world around her. It was as if that single battle was the war, and she'd lost it.

"I'd like you to investigate this matter, as the new Sheriff of Piltover," Jayce finally said as his fingers laced together, his eyes meeting hers.

Caitlyn's eyes remained on him for a moment before fleeting away; Sheriff? Could she really do it?

The doubt in her mind didn't last long because seconds later she was accepting the position and excusing herself after giving the man a handshake.

Caitlyn hurried back to the Kiramman residence and when she found Vi holed up in her room she tackled her onto the bed. "What cupcake, what is it?" Vi asked, determined to get some answers through the dark-haired girl's constant giggling.

Caitlyn explained the situation, though both she and Vi shared the same unnerved response when she mentioned what had happened to Camille Ferros.

"Congratulations," Vi eventually said, one of her hands moving to Caitlyn's cheek. Caitlyn smiled back up at her and the pair met for a passionate kiss.

"I'd like you to come with me," Caitlyn said between kisses and she felt Vi smile against her lips.

"Of course, who else would protect you if I didn't?" She jested and the Kiramman girl feigned shock.

The pair broke out into further laughter as they readied for their descent into the trenches.

...

Seika was dancing in a circle, one hand holding onto Jenna's, the other to Adelaides, and the sister's other hands were connected to one another as the trio spun in a circle, giggling loudly. A little celebration was in order, especially because Adeliade and her twin brother Luka had their birthday on this day.

The girls broke into a fit of giggles as they stumbled over their feet and came crashing to the ground around them. On the sidelines, a few of the adults, Scar and some of the older Firelights watched with smiles.

Across the courtyard, Ekko had left his room, meeting Heimerdinger on the staircase and the pair walked down to the festivities where they were met with an eager Seika who nearly dragged them into the open grassy area where they'd set up some tables and the food that they could afford for the occasion.

The yordle smiled; Seika had appeared to had found some sense of normalcy within her despite all she'd endured, and he couldn't have been happier about it.

One of the Firelights began plucking the strings of his instrument and Seika dragged Ekko away to dance, the pair moving as Seika let out a cacophony of laughter. Eventually, Ekko managed to get away from the girl as Jenna met up to continue her dance and the man ran a hair through his dreadlocks. It seemed the time he'd spent secluded within his room had burst his social bubble a bit, but regardless, he stayed, settling into a comfortable position by Scar, a small smile still on his face.

The Chirean next to him held his daughter in his arms, letting the sharp-toothed little devil bite at the metal claws that adored his fingertips. She was feisty and Scar thought the world of her, and despite her young age, he was already wrapped around one of her tiny fingers.

The music had continued, but Seika and Jenna plopped onto the ground panting in between laughter while they conversed as some of the younger kids played around them.

Seika was adamant about enjoying every aspect of this party and when Jenna requested her help setting it up, she was more than eager to do so. Her eyes found Ekko who was talking to Scar and she smiled, her sights finding the little baby in the large Chirean's arms. Jenna excused herself, rushing over to her sister who'd called her name and Seika stood, brushing off her pants before she walked to the pair.

Scar smiled and nodded at the silver-haired girl as his daughter took another growly chomp of his metal attachments and Seika giggled, viewing the girl with large bright eyes.

Ekko's smile grew; it seemed like she'd never seen a baby before.

"She can be a bit nippy, but do you want to hold her?" Scar finally asked, his eyes shooting to Ekko's who nodded in response.

Seika looked up at him in surprise.

"Oh, I don't know, I've never--"

"You'll be fine, just watch your fingers," Scar said, unloading the baby into her arms without any further hesitation. Seika clutched the bundled babe to her chest and when the little Chirean's eyes found hers she melted completely into an incoherent babble of oo's and aah's.

Scar and Ekko snorted with boisterous laughter from her response, to which Seika stuck her tongue out and walked away, promptly ignoring them. She walked further into the light and the little girl reached one hand outward, her little fingertips grasping at the long hair that had fallen down her shoulder. The little one yanked at the strands and Seika let out a noise like she'd been hit to the gut, to which the baby promptly laughed and Seika too couldn't contain her joy.

She'd never considered the possibility of one of her own. She'd always assumed she'd spend the rest of her life with her mentor before finally settling in some tiny little village, but now, she felt such a swell of adoring emotions that it was something she desired instantaneously... whenever it may occur in her life, and with whoever.

The little one, Selene, began to run her stubby little baby fingers through the girl's silver hair and Seika smiled dotingly down at her. In fact, she didn't even hear the door to the hideout open, though when the noise quieted and the party seemingly stopped around her, Seika's eyes finally left the little one and sought out what it was that took up the entirety of the rooms attention.

Caitlyn and Vi had stepped from the entrance of the Firelights hideout and into the light, their eyes falling on Seika who'd stood in the middle of the courtyard, clutching a baby to her chest. Their shock was painstakingly obvious. At the approach of the babe's father, Seika gently gave the baby back, her eyes briefly leaving Vi and Caitlyn's direction, then she turned back, her heart in her throat.

It was silent, and that in itself hyped Seika's nerves up, so much so that she stepped forward and her words caught in her throat. How would they respond to what she'd done? The Firelights had accepted her, but how would they? Would they demonize her for her actions, would they demand retribute?

Vi took a step closer, her brows furrowed, mouth barely open as she stared intensely at Seika. Was she really here or was it an illusion?

When Seika called her name Vi realized that Seika stood in front of her and she saw nothing else besides the smiling unworried face that they'd stumbled across when they'd entered. Seika, happy, without a care in the world, abandoning them, leaving them to pick up the pieces her death had made. Vi was stalking forward, her gauntlet hissing as she grabbed Seika by the lapels of her trenchcoat and hoisted her up, her fist moving back before being flung forward and colliding with the silver-haired girls face.

"Vi!" Ekko yelled, rushing forward but Seika's outstretched hand in his direction stopped him in her tracks.

"It-It's ok Ekko," she spoke through tears brought from the sudden pain. Her vision had fallen to the grass and the only sound was Vi's angry panting as she struggled internally.

Caitlyn too was in shock and with that, she hardly registered what Vi had done until it was far too late.

When Seika looked back to Vi's eyes she saw the pain that clouded them as Vi realized what she'd done. She slowly lowered her to the ground and then enveloped her into a hug, profusely apologizing.

Seika let the tears fall knowing their origins were no longer from the inevitable bruise that would be on her face, but from the pain her friend was in, made obvious by the soft crying noises that came from her. When they separated, Vi's hand went to her bruising cheek and inspected it, swearing softly as Caitlyn came over. The pink-haired girl stepped away and Seika and Caitlyn embraced, allowing Caitlyn to barrage the girl with questions, though she was speaking too fast for Seika to answer, but when Seika's eyes found Vi again, she noticed the concerned look as the pink-haired girl's vision focused on the dark marks of her hand.

Seika pulled away, telling everyone to continue the party and that everything was fine and she pulled them along to her room. Ekko and Cecil followed behind and the five of them crammed into the small room, each taking a seat while Seika opted to stand.

The room was silent and Ekko was looking at Vi while Caitlyn's sight was on Seika and the marks on her.

"I'm not gonna punch her again Ekko," Vi finally said and Ekko scoffed lightly but said nothing. Seika watched brows furrowed and intervened.

"I--" she paused, "I-" and her speech trailed off.

"Where do I even begin?" She asked in a whisper.

"You can start with where the hell you've been?"

"Watch it Vi," Ekko said, hunching forward with his elbows on his knees as he looked at Vi from across the room.

"And what's with you?" Vi nearly sneered, "what's this attitude all of a sudden?"

"Stop-" Seika broke through the conversation, waiting until Vi and Ekko settled back in their seats.

"I'll just start from the beginning I guess," and so she did, retelling what had happened, telling them exactly what she'd told Ekko and Cecil. Caitlyn and Vi's faces fell during the retelling, Caitlyn entirely looking away as Vi's fists clenched within her lap, but her story suddenly stopped and both Cecil and Ekko's eyes found Seika's figure, seeing her nerves.

She'd stopped her story at the point where she'd spent some time with Warwick and the girls looked up, meeting her eyes again.

"Seika, what is it?" Caitlyn asked, reading her like a book, but the girl said nothing. Ekko watched her curl back into her shell and he took over the conversation.

"Why are you both here?" He asked, his gaze shifting between Vi and Caitlyn.

"Well," Caitlyn began, her eyes leaving Seika to turn to the leader of the Firelights, "we actually came to ask you some questions, to see if you knew about an event that happened a few days ago."

Not a single soul in the room missed Seika's inhale as she physically turned away from the girls and strode to look out the window.

Vi and Caitlyn watched her, their confusion evident, but Caitlyn continued when her sights fell back to Ekko.

"Camille Ferros, the Sheriff of Piltover was assaulted, we came to know if you knew anything."

Ekko's brows twitched and he leaned back in the chair, knowing Seika was just behind him as he viewed the two girls before him.

"Good, I'm glad she's out of the picture," he admitted, and Seika turned, having never actually heard him speak his opinion on the matter.

With her face now on full display to the room, both Vi and Caitlyn found her eyes again and she leaned against the window, a sigh leaving her lips as Cecil stepped closer to her, gently taking one of her hands into his.

The look Ekko was giving Vi and Caitlyn was menacing; Seika had become an important member of their family, and he'd protect his family. He hoped he wouldn't have to protect her from Vi and Caitlyn, but if it came down to it then so be it.

"Before I came here, Warwick and I, we..." Seika finally said, an exasperated chuckle leaving her lips, "we found Camille, and, she'd killed children," Seika stepped forward, past Ekko and towards Vi and Caitlyn.

"She killed children," she repeated and Vi stepped up, pulling the girl into a hug and hushing her softly.

"I didn't let Warwick kill her, though he wanted to, and I brought her to her home... Is she alive?" Seika asked as she pulled away from Vi, fearing the answer she may receive.

"Yes," Caitlyn finally said, "but she's unable to continue in her service and was honorably discharged, though, it seems the term honorably was overextended," Caitlyn said, standing to embrace Seika.

"I'm the Sheriff now Seika, Jayce offered me the position. What she did was absolutely inexcusable," she spoke softly, pulling away as tears rushed from the silver-haired girl's eyes. Caitlyn wiped them away, touching their foreheads as an attempt to comfort her.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry for what you've been through..." Caitlyn said again, but Seika made no response and simply embraced her again. When the emotions in the room had settled and Seika was able to give Vi and Caitlyn a relieved smile, the five left the room and moved back out into the courtyard.

Seika rushed forward to give Adelaide a hug and as she swung the young girl in a circle as Vi and Caitlyn's eyes met with uncertainty. They were beyond happy their friend was well, but... what were the next steps? Would she come back to Piltover or was she remaining here? And Viktor...?

Caitlyn went to speak but a loud howl ripped through the room, echoing in the pipes that made up parts of the hideout. Some of the young children shrieked and Seika pulled herself away from Adelaide.

"Warwick," she said and immediately began running towards the entrance.

"Open it, please," the words rushed from her mouth, but the guard fought against the idea, that was until Ekko came over and looked at Seika. She nodded, encouraging him and after Ekko gave the guard a single nod, Seika, Ekko, Scar, Vi, Caitlyn, and Cecil all stepped forth from the safety of the confines, though the minute the door opened wide enough for her to fit through, Seika was squeezing out the door and running down the hallways.

"Seika, wait!" Ekko and Vi yelled, chasing after her, and the rest of the group followed suit.

She sprinted down the pathways, rushing to get to the empty area and when she did, she stood in the center of it. Her breath came out in soft pants as she swiveled around, looking for him, but just as the rest of the group caught up with her at the entrance to the open area, a large looming shadow towered over Seika from behind.

"Seika!" Caitlyn yelled as the girl turned, a smile gracing her features and the group froze as the giant beast on two legs looked down at her, the chamber on its back swirling with a green chemical that matched his eyes.

His sight found the group and he growled, stepping back but Seika stepped to him, pulling his attention back to her.

"I'm sorry Warwick, they insisted on coming. What's happened?" She asked, worry taking over her features.

Warwick was on a side all on his own, but when he saw what he saw, he felt compelled to run to her and tell her.

"The Chembarons gather, they're stockpiling weapons in great numbers," he spoke gruffly, his eyes fleeting to the group before they moved back to the girl.

"Sevika?" She whispered, her head shaking in disbelief and he simply grunted in response.

"Thank you, Warwick, for telling me," she said, looking back up to him again. He gave a curt nod and she smiled.

"I fear bad things are coming, stay safe, won't you?"

He felt it too, the violence had grown and he'd fed more these past few days than he had in the week prior. He didn't pick sides he simply killed those who killed, so all he could do was look down at the young girl.

"Don't die."

Seika smiled again, nodding, but then her brows furrowed.

"How did you find me?" She asked, curious more than anything.

"You really didn't think I knew where you were?" He asked, displaying his teeth in an odd resemblance of a smile. "I scented you here the moment you walked within their walls," he continued. Seika responded to his smile with a soft chuckle as she nodded again.

The howler of Zaun looked down at the girl again, turn turned, slipping onto all fours gracefully, but as he turned away the girl called out to him.

"Warwick," she spoke, his head turning to face her, "Singed is mine," she said and he saw a fire in her eyes that he hadn't seen before.

The throaty laugh that rippled from his throat felt foreign and made the small group at the entrance to the area noticeably uncomfortable, but Seika simply met his laugh with a toothy grin of her own.

"We'll see about that girl," he replied and ran off into the darkness.

Seika sighed softly, smiling as she watched him disappear, then the moment she turned around, she was faced with the entire group who'd followed her out. She was bombarded with questions which she promptly shut down as she ushered the group back into the hideout and when they'd all stepped back into the sunlight she finally let them ask their questions.

When they'd finally been satiated, Seika's smile fell a bit and she interrupted the chatter happening between the five.

"Warwick, he told me that Sevika and the Chembarons are gathering weapons in great numbers," she said, her eyes looking up. Ekko's brows furrowed and he said something to Scar who promptly walked off while Caitlyn and Vi looked at one another.

"Jayce needs to know, Piltover needs to know Seika," Caitlyn said, stepping forward to take the girl's hands into her own.

"Come back with us Seika," she said softly, Vi's face matching Caitlyn's words.

"Jayce will feel as we do about Camille, so please," Caitlyn pleaded. They needed her, they needed her insight, her perspective, her presence was motivating and her vision for Zaun was inspiring. It was exactly what Piltover and its Councilors needed at the moment given their horrific view of Zaun.

"But," Seika went to protest, "I don't know how Piltover can win, did Viktor start making Hextech weapons?"

Vi's vision fell and Caitlyn's mouth opened to speak, but she simply shrugged.

"Piltover won't be alone," Ekko said, stepping forward, "Sevika won't stop at Piltover, she'll turn her gangsters on us soon enough. We might as well join you, we're ready," he said confidently. All the work he'd done, his experiments and practice, all summed up to this very moment. He and his people were ready, and they could spend the rest of their life cowered away, but when they had the chance to achieve what they wanted, he'd take that opportunity, and knew they would too.

Vi embraced Ekko, who after a moment reciprocated with a smile, then the trio looked back to Seika.

She bit her lower lip, her eyes falling to the grass, then looked back up to the tree. Finally, they looked back to the three and she nodded. Caitlyn and Vi turned to one another and smiled while Ekko slipped off to speak with Scar again. Seika turned to Cecil who stood at her side and she sighed softly.

"It's not what we wanted initially, but there are no more options. We have to pick a side now Cecil. We can't remain passive any longer..." she spoke, attempting to excuse her actions to the passive yordle.

He sighed, running his hand over his mustache as he nodded and turned away.

"Come," he spoke over his shoulder before walking away.

Seika looked to him, then back to the girls, then back to the yordle and she followed after him. He led her to his room where, after a hesitant moment at his door, he permitted her entry.

"I've been working for weeks," he said softly as Seika looked at the weapons he'd been working on. "I agree, there are no further options," he spoke softly, feeling defeated in his own way.

Seika heard the conflict in his voice and moved to hug him.

"We'll get through this, together," she said, pulling back to look at him and he gave her a slightly forced smile and nod.

The pair left together and moved back into the courtyard where the group appeared to have reconvened.

"We think we should leave now, the sooner they know and the more time we have to plan, the better" Caitlyn said when her sight landed on Seika.

Seika nodded in response, looking at Ekko with a sad smile.

"Oh I'm coming too," he said, "someone has to educate those dumb nobles," he said as he lightly elbowed Vi. Vi rolled her eyes and smiled, shoving him back and the two appeared to be back to their old antics.

"Well," Cecil spoke up and the group's attention diverted to him, "I suppose should be in attendance as well," he said, ending his sentence with a nod.

Seika's face lit up as she smiled at him, and he met her smile with one of her own.

The trio of girls spoke for a bit longer as Ekko and Cecil readied a few things and Seika stepped away, taking a moment to say her goodbyes to the Firelights. She took an extra amount of time saying goodbye to Jenna and Adelaide, both of whom gave her hugs so tight she thought her ribcage might break, then the trio separated with sad smiles and Seika met up with the fully prepared group, and the five were off.

They slipped through the pathways, slinking around as they snuck up another pathway and moved silently through the secretive areas. The one Vi, Caitlyn, Seika, and Ekko had taken to the bridge that night had been compromised, according to Ekko, and he'd found a new way that led into the outer ring before the bridge. When they finally made it to the top, they stepped into a square under heavy construction and Seika looked around.

"What happened here?" She asked, turning to face Vi and Caitlyn. The pair's eyes widened and they explained about the attack Sevika had led and how it devastated many of the squares within the outer ring. Seika listened, terror and shock on her face. She hadn't even known. She hadn't heard the explosions or anything during her fight with Warwick, and it'd never been brought up during any previous conversation with anyone in the Firelights.

The group walked, Caitlyn continuing to explain all that had happened and Camille's invasion of Zaun and the aftermath of it. Seika nodded, her brows furrowing as she continued to listen as the group made their way towards the Academy.

Caitlyn also explained how the council had reacted to her death, and told her what both Viktor and Jayce had said. Seika felt anger well up in her at Jayce's response but in a single exhale she let it out. That wouldn't be useful to her now.

The five made their way deeper into Piltover and each step closer to the Academy caused Seika and Cecil's hearts to skip a beat. Seika knew they were nearing the grounds when a familiar building appeared on her left and a woman stood outside, speaking to a young man. She ushered him inside and glanced around, their eyes meeting. It was the baker's wife. Seika's eyes moved from the woman to the seat in front of the window she and Viktor had sat at that day, then back to the woman, and when she did nothing, Seika's eyes left hers and she hurried along with her friends.

Then Seika and Cecil were staring at the gates of the Academy, their hearts in their throat.

"Cecil," Seika whispered, and his hand found hers.

"I'm here child," he said, his brows furrowing. How would the councilors respond? Had Jayce knocked some sense into them that he apparently could not?

Seika had put the gemstone Jinx had given her pocket and up until this point its weight had nearly been forgotten, but as she stared down the tall gates of the Academy, the weight of the gemstone felt like a boulder dragging her into the ground.

Ekko, Vi, and Caitlyn watched the pair, waiting patiently, though Ekko noticed the looks Vi and Caitlyn kept sharing between one another and his eyes narrowed.

When Seika took her first step into the Academy ground in weeks she inhaled shakily and Cecil immediately followed suit. Caitlyn took the lead, leading them through the grounds and Seika saw the building she knew Viktor would probably be in at this very moment. Her heart yearned to run to his lab, burst open the door, and embrace him, but Caitlyn called her name from the Councilor building and she was pulled from such actions.

When she entered the Councilor building, her eyes looked around as if she was seeing it for the first time; it was so... bright.

Cecil and Seika shared a nervous glance but Caitlyn walked them through the hallways and Seika heard her heartbeat ringing in her ears, deafening all of the sounds around them as one hand fiddled with her recently buttoned-up trenchcoat.

She hadn't heard Caitlyn greet the guards outside the door, she hadn't heard the argument that ensued after when they had told her her presence wasn't permitted, and she hadn't heard the guard within the Councilors meeting room poke his head out and alert his fellow guards that her entry was fine.

"Seika," Cecil whispered again and she blinked, focusing on the sight in front of her as her four friends viewed her with worry. Cecil's hand had lightly grabbed Seika's and he felt her trembling in his grasp, but she clenched her free fist and nodded.

Caitlyn entered first, followed by Vi. She heard Caitlyn talk and Jayce's voice rang out on the other side of the door causing Seika to let out an exhale that resembled more of a sob than a sigh. Ekko gave her one last glance before slipping the worry off his face and entering the room with Cecil following behind him shortly.

"Professor Heimerdinger," Jayce greeted in shock from the other side of the door. The two guards gave the silver-haired girl an up-down, unsure as to what she was doing as she stood wide-eyed before the open door.

Something within her caused her foot to move, breaking the spell she was under and Seika took the few steps, entering the doorway into the Councilor room, ignoring the door as it closed behind her. The group of four blocked her view and view of her as Caitlyn took over the conversation.

"Caitlyn, who's this?" Jayce asked and Seika could only assume he was referring to Ekko.

"It doesn't matter who I am, what matters is that I'm here to help," Ekko stated, holding back his sneer.

"And Professor Heimerdinger, what are you doing here?" Jayce sounded confused which made complete sense.

Cecil said nothing.

A disturbing silence settled over the room until Councilor Salo broke it.

"Well surely if all four of you feel the need to interrupt a Councilor meeting, one of you is capable enough to tell us why you've interrupted us," he chided.

Seika's fists clenched in the pocket of her trenchcoat. So they'd slipped back into uncaring and unforgiving overlords... She'd hoped the rocket would have given them some sense of clarity that life was so precious and not to spend it looking down on others, but it seemed that they hadn't learned anything.

Caitlyn ignored the comment as she spoke, "Sevika has begun gathering weapons Jayce, they appear to be centralizing and I think it's paramount that we start making plans," she said, her voice echoing in the chamber.

Another hushed silence suffocated the room until the Councilors broke the silence.

"Why should we believe you?" Councilor Bolbok spoke up, "you work with two Zaunites and a Professor who turned his back on the academy and city he raised."

Heimerdinger took a step forward, making a motion to speak, but he held no power within this room anymore and Councilor Shoola took the floor.

"This could very well be a trap, there's very little evidence that you have assisted Piltover with Piltover's best interest in mind, particularly since your ever-growing allies are coming from those we've deemed our enemies."

"Councilors, you're insulting the new Sheriff of Piltover, I would suggest you alter your behavior accordingly" Jayce interrupted, seeing just how out of hand the conversation was getting. He paused to wait for the room to slip into silence before continuing, "how did you come to find this information?" Jayce asked.

"But Councilor Talis," Salo suddenly said, his chair scraping as he stood, "why do you believe we can trust these people after--"

Seika shoved between Vi and Ekko, pushing herself into the center of the room, eyes blazing as her sight turned to Salo. The man nearly melted on the spot as he sat whispering her name once, then her eyes turned to Jayce.

"If you've found yourself somehow incapable of believing them, then perhaps you'll believe me, after all, Sheriff Kiramman obtained the information from me," Seika spoke, eyeing the room.

"Seika," Jayce whispered standing as he looked at her like he'd seen a ghost.

"Seika you're--" his eyes widened when Seika went to mess with her hair unconsciously and he saw the marks on her hand. His brows furrowed he continued to stare at her in shock.

His lack of response somehow irked Seika and she walked forward, shoving her boot lightly against the desk as she spoke, a single eyebrow raised, her eyes meeting his.

"I heard what you said after you were told I died," she inhaled deeply before continuing, "you used me as a rallying cry so that you could invade Zaun."

Jayce's eyes fell to the floor and he collapsed into his seat, his hands moving to his face.

"I..I.." he stuttered again, his hands moving from his face to run through his hair as he looked back up at her.

"You were dead Seika, what else was I supposed to do... I had to do something, I had to decide and--"

When Seika's face softened his words stopped and his face broke a little. How much pressure was he under? He just barely had his head above the water as the weight of a million problems threatened to drag him under. Responsibilities thrust into his hands by his fellow Councilors, by his people...

Seika's foot fell from the desk and she took a step forward, extending her scarred hand, reaching to cradle his cheek and she sighed, her brows settling down in worry.

"You have people around who want to help, you don't need to take these burdens on your own, please Jayce, rely on us. Let us help you," the last sentence came out as a mere whisper.

"I'm sorry I was gone for so long," she said louder then stood fully, pulling her hand from Jayce. Seika turned away, finding Cecil who was smiling warmly at her, and she returned the smile.

"Sevika has spread throughout Zaun, but the centralizing of her weapons concerns me deeply," Seika spoke, moving to lean against the wall nearest Cecil. The same spot Viktor had sat the last time she'd been in this room.

"We need to discuss further plans, I fear that things will progress much faster than we expect them to," she continued, watching the Councilor's gazes shift among one another.

"I apologize Seika, but you've been gone for several weeks with no explanation for your disappearance. I'm disinclined to take any word you speak as you've not provided any insight into your sudden gallivant within the undercity despite you leading us to believe you had died," Shoola suddenly spoke, lacing her fingers together as she regarded the silver-haired girl with near distaste.

The girl straightened as she met Shoola's eyes, matching the councilor's intensity, then her eyes looked about the room, seeing similar faces on the other Councilors, Mel included. Jayce's eyes looked away from her when she landed on him and she bit her tongue, then spoke. So this is how it was.

"The night of my," she paused, the next word not technically true, "death by the howler, I had been rescued by a man who spoke of saving me." Seika paused, as she bit her lower lip, then she continued as she walked towards the center of the room. "I spent weeks rotting in the lab of a madman who poked and prodded me, he tested on me as he attempted to make me his own personal weapon. I was starved and sliced, my body pushed to the limits during my imprisonment as he injected chemicals and toxins into my body." Her fingers hastily fumbled with the buttons of the trenchcoat that covered the top half of her body before she let it fall to the ground and a few soft gasps echoed within the room. "When I finally escaped that nightmare I ran to Piltover, but your enforcers attempted to kill me," she continued, finding Jayce's face who had dropped to regard the trenchcoat with wide eyes.

"I didn't spend weeks robbed of my freedom, of my life, to be regarded as untrustworthy," she finished and Shoola nodded quickly, her eyes falling to her metal-tipped finger attachments.

"Any further questions?" She asked but was only met with shaking heads. She leaned down, picked up the trenchcoat, and tossed it on the empty chair in the room. Hoskell's next-of-kin had turned out to not have the capabilities of a Councilor, and as such, the seat remained empty.

"We need to make plans. Based on what I heard of the event regarding Sevika and the outer ring, it's not a far-reaching assumption that she'll likely invade again, and with her weapons now centralizing, the probability of that is higher now more than ever," she spoke, waiting for a familiar voice to speak against her, one she knew was coming, but all she heard were a few whispers from the Councilors near her.

Seika's head moved as she peered around the room, brows furrowed, then she found Jayce who'd sat up and braced himself on his forearms on the desk.

"Where's Viktor?"

Jayce stared at her in shock, then his face twitched in disbelief as he found Caitlyn's face. Seika followed him to Caitlyn and Vi, both of who did not meet her eyes.

Vi ran a hand through her hair as Caitlyn's gaze finally looked up, then quickly back down.

"Caitlyn? Vi?" Seika spoke.

"Where's Viktor?" She asked, a bit more tenacity in her voice as her sights found Jayce again.

"You didn't tell her..." he said, his eyes not leaving Caitlyns face. The dark-haired girl looked up to him, then she looked back to Vi who met her gaze.

Seika took a step forward and both girls finally met her eyes.

"Seika, we didn't think you--"

"Where is Viktor, Caitlyn? What happened?" Her eyes were full of terror. Did he..? And she hadn't been here? Her breath began to leave her body in soft pants as her emotions sprung forth and her tear-filled eyes found Jayce's face again.

His face broke as his fists clenched on the desktop.

"Viktor's gone, he-he" Jayce paused as one of Seika's hands went to cover her mouth while her eyes fell to the floor.

He died...?

"He just disappeared..." Jayce said, struggling with his own words and Seika looked up to him, brows furrowed.

"What do you mean he disappeared?"

"After we were told of your death he secluded himself Seika, we all tried to reach him," Jayce said as Seika backed away, bumping into the empty table.

"Seika," Vi said softly, stepping toward her, but Seika's hands thrust out in her direction, halting the pink-haired girl's movements.

"Seika," Jayce said again and Seika's eyes found his, "he left. He didn't tell anyone, he just packed his things and left. We don't know where he went..."

Seika saw Jayce's fists trembling from where she stood and her eyes fell to her boots as the new information battered her violently.

"There's something else..." Jayce said softly, his sight falling to his fists.

Seika looked up, unsure if she could take anymore, but she needed to know. Jayce remained silent for a moment, then he inhaled and exhaled and looked up, meeting her eyes.

"The Hexcore disappeared at the same time Viktor did..."

Seika froze and Cecil spoke out of nowhere.

"Jayce, do you believe Viktor took the Hexcore?"

"Yes, because the Hexclaw was missing as well..." He said.

Seika heard very little beyond that, her thoughts drifting to Viktor and the unknown. Was he alive? Was his body rotting somewhere, an unhealthy combination of metal and flesh? Or worse, was he simply ash on the wind? If he was dead, was it a painful death? Did he call out her name as his lungs constricted his chest until he took his last breath? Did he die alone? What if he was alive and was just barely struggling to survive? Was he in Piltover? Did he go to Zaun? Or did he venture out from the area completely, leaving them both behind?

Her hands moved to brace herself against the desk she was leaning on and she gripped the edge tightly, so hard that her knuckles lightened at the pressure. How desperately she wanted to run and find him. She'd track him to the ends of the land if it meant seeing his smile once more...

"Seika...?"

Ekkos voice called out, slicing through her thoughts as her tear-stained face turned to look up at him. Images of the great tree and the life that she saw for Zaun passed by her. It suddenly dawned on her that the impending violence of Sevika was too near for her to go running off to look for Viktor without any knowledge of where he may have gone.

Gods may he someday forgive her...

Seika's vision fell again, her hair falling to cover her face as she took a moment to collect herself, then with one hand she wiped at her face and straightened. Her eyes found Vi and Caitlyn and she saw the heart-wrenching guilt on their faces.

"I understand why you hesitated to tell me," she said softly, "you thought I might run off to find him, didn't you?"

Caitlyn's face broke a bit but recovered quickly while Vi looked away entirely. The air in the room was stiff and unbearable, but Seika's next words dissolved some of it.

"I trust Viktor. I will find him when we've dealt with Sevika," she said meeting all of her friend's eyes, Jayce included and she let out a soft sigh. He had to hold on that long, she'd plead and pray that he would.

Seika's eyes found Heimerdinger, but the worried look on his face did not dissipate with her words. In fact, her own words didn't calm her nerves, and the fact that Viktor and the Hexcore were gone made her more anxious than anything in her entire life, but it didn't change the fact that they shared the same goal. Help the undercity, help the innocent and those in need. She'd kept one promise to him and retrieved the gemstone, now she'd keep the other.

One of her hands snaked into her pocket, her fingers lightly grazing the orb for comfort as she mentally prepared herself for what was to come.

Chapter Text

It was evening when Seika found herself leaning against the wall as one of her hands rubbed her temple while Ekko and Jayce's voices echoed angrily in the room.

They'd spent the past several hours discussing strategies and it appeared that Jayce and Ekko did not see eye to eye.

Vi slunk up to her, her gaze falling to the ground as she leaned against the wall next to her. Seika hadn't said another word to either Caitlyn or Vi, not that she was incredibly upset, but she was forced to feel the pain of their secrecy. She understood why they had done what they had done, and did not hold it against them, she just needed a bit of time.

"If they don't stop arguing, I'm going to punch them both," Vi said, watching as the two continued to go after one another. All of the Councilors had left by this point, their lacking knowledge not important for the plans they'd been making, and now it was Jayce, Ekko, Vi, Caitlyn, Heimerdinger, and Seika all locked away within the room. Mel was also present, determined to stay though she'd remained silent for the entirety of the discussion, only seeking out Jayce's face irregularly.

"You punch one, I'll boot the other off the bridge into the ocean. I'm sure Jayce knows how to swim," Seika said, the corners of her mouth upturning a bit as she considered the idea.

The Piltovian was being incredibly stubborn, despite hardly having any real battle experience besides the one shimmer factory he and Vi infiltrated weeks ago. Ekko however, had extensive knowledge of the undercity, understood the typical gang behaviors, and was versed in troop coordination.

Vi let out a snort, her eyes, shifting to the side to look at Seika.

Seika finally interrupted the argument when she nearly saw a blood vessel in Jayce's head pop and the two settled in their seats, huffing and puffing with frustrations.

They'd smashed all the tables together and dragged a hanging map of Piltover to lay flat on the table, using the map to outline plans, though the markers scribbled on the surface of the glass were practically incoherent from the very different strategies each of the boys had.

Seika stood, looking down at the map with her hands on her hips, then she grabbed her trenchcoat and wiped the entire thing clean.

"Seika," Jayce began as Ekko stood, but she gave them a single look, with Vi behind her matching her and both boys settled almost immediately.

"Okay, let's go over what we know," Seika said, moving the marker to the top right empty corner of the map.

She began writing, weapons, and listed out a few things.

"What'd you call those things you fought at the factory?" Seika turned to Vi who promptly answered, jutting her chin out as she did so.

"Chemtanks," Seika spoke softly as she wrote them down, then she wrote Sevika's name right after it, then a generic gangs and after that chembarons. She suddenly bit her lower lip, her eyes falling to the empty space she'd unintentionally left beneath Sevika's name, then she wrote Singed's name.

"Singed?" Caitlyn said, having moved to peer over her shoulder, "the man who..?"

Seika nodded, "he's connected to Sevika, there's a possibility she may call on him. I'd rather be over-prepared than under. They demonstrated their capabilities of using gases when Sevika invaded the outer ring initially, we should be prepared for the worst, toxins, gas... we need to take into account everything that's happened and even more so, what could happen."

Seika's hand moved to the opposite side of the map, writing out what she knew they had to work with.

"Jayce and your hammer--"

"My Z-Drive," Ekko said, crossing his arms. Seika's brows furrowed as Vi verbally questioned it, but to their surprise, it was Heimerdinger who replied.

"Quite marvelous, it gives him the ability to reverse a few seconds back in time," he said and Seika's smile widened as she regarded the Zaunite with inquisitive amazement. How? How was it that...?

"Ekko and Z-Drive, the Firelights," Seika continued, ignoring the huff from Jayce. When the councilors had finally been told of Ekko's identity, there was a large argument that broke out, but they'd finally been satiated, though Jayce was still grumbling about the matter. He was becoming unbearable and she wasn't entirely sure what was wrong with him, but if it continued, she'd be kicking him out of the room.

"We have the enforcers, Vi and her gauntlet, me, Caitlyn, and her rifle," Seika continued slowly, her eyes drifting to Cecils who stared back then slowly nodded.

"Cecil, and his inventions..." she spoke softly and the room regarded him with surprise but they said nothing and she continued down her list.

With both lists finished she leaned up, fully comparing the two and she exhaled. It looked like a numbers game and she wasn't enjoying their odds, especially since she wasn't entirely sure just how many followers Sevika had.

"We may be out weaponed here..." Seika spoke honestly as the group gathered around the table, viewing the list.

"I bet some of the undercity will join us," Vi said, "we can go back down and recruit--"

"No, they won't. Sevika's been recruiting everyone, and those who don't join her are killed," Seika said, her thoughts drifting back to the old man.

"I--" Mel began but Jayce stood suddenly, glaring intensely at her, then he regarded the rest of the room. "I think we should stop for the evening, it's been a long day for everyone." He spoke harshly, his eyes looking back to Mel who regarded him with a hardened look. Everyone in the room watched their dynamics shift drastically and Seika's eyes remained on the frustrated Mel even after Jayce had left the room. When she finally stood, elegant, poised, seemingly unmoved, Seika moved to her.

"Mel, if you have an idea, anything, we'd love to hear it--" Mel's single hand went up.

"Sorry Seika, it appears not all of us can be warriors," she said softly, Seika catching the withdrawn tone in her voice, then the Councilor left. The silver-haired girl watched the Councilor leave, her face downcast, unsure of what Mel was trying to say but she turned back to the group.

"Perhaps it's best we stop for the day," Seika said, agreeing with Jayce and the rest of those in the room glanced around at one another before either nodding or verbally acknowledging. They all left the room at the same time and when the group stood outside the Councilor building they'd slipped into silence.

"You all are welcome to stay with me at my residence," Caitlyn finally offered with a smile, but Ekko thanked her politely. He wanted to go back and explain the situation to the Firelights. He also wanted to extend out some feelers to see if they could get any more information about what might be coming. Heimerdinger looked at Ekko, confirming he'd be going back with him, then they all looked to Seika.

She hadn't been listening to the conversation though, her face turned as she stared at the darkening sky.

"Seika?" Ekko called her and she looked to him expectantly.

"Are you coming home?"

Seika's brows furrowed as what she'd told Jinx echoed in her ears and she gave a small smile, then shook her head. Ekko's face didn't hide the worry he felt but when Caitlyn stepped forward, Seika found her face too and shook her head.

"Seika," Vi began, but Seika interrupted her.

"Don't worry everyone, I'll be here in the morning, I just need time is all," she said softly, giving them all another small smile. Caitlyn forced a smile, but Seika saw it falter and moved to embrace her.

"I promise, I'm not going anywhere," she said softly to the Kiramman girl who promptly hugged her back.

"I'll keep you to it," she whispered back.

When Seika pulled away the group determined the time to meet the next day and then separated. Seika waved as the two groups left in the same direction and when they were no longer in her sight, her face moved upward to the stars that had begun peeking out in the spreading darkness and she moved to a bench and watched.

It was unusually cold that night, the wind bringing about a slight chill to her despite the trenchcoat she wore. It brought her memories to nights long ago, of freedom, away from the chaos, the problems, and Seika smiled. She sat for so long that her feet numbed and the moon rose high into the sky, and then she sat some more.

Her face eventually turned to face the direction of the engineering building, then her feet were moving slowly. There was no rush, getting there sooner wouldn't bring about his presence, and so, she let the memories of nights past shroud her in nostalgic warmth as she made her way across the brisk Academy grounds.

When the engineering building was in sight her eyes drifted to the grassy area where she'd collapsed after the incident with Jinx on the bridge. She still saw his face in her mind vividly. The shock, the worry. Seika could still hear his chuckle echoing in her ear when she woke on his chest the next morning and she felt his hands moving dotingly along her body, but when she faced the situation before her, he was not there.

She turned away from the grassy area and moved into the building. It was quiet and the one instructor she did see, she nodded politely at then walked past, ignoring his look of confusion as her feet moved to follow the route she'd memorized. Her boots echoed on the floor as she retraced the steps that led her to this moment. How many tears did this hallway contains within its walls, how many fast-paced heartbeats from subtle glances? What story could it tell besides hers and Viktors she wondered, letting her fingers drag lightly along the surface of one of the walls until she reached the lab.

She expected it to be locked, but when she stepped in front of it to view the door closer, her heart quickened when it opened, but, the room she stepped into almost immediately was empty save for one item.

The rising moon had begun shining its white light in through the window, casting the floor in an almost ethereal glow as Seika saw visions of the furniture that once decorated the room. The desks, stacks of books, scattered paperwork, scribbled-up chalkboards, the stool he sat on near religiously, they were all there in her mind. When her eyes finally settled on the single object in the room, she walked to it. It had been moved just in front of the window and the moonlight coming through the glass kissed it almost beautifully.

Seika smiled, her hand reaching out to touch the ink blotch that stained the surface of the desk. An everlasting mark... Had it been the beginning of the end? A sign that their world would be cast into darkness and shadows?

She didn't want to consider such possibilities despite the fact that the ink that had sunk into the wood was being slowly worn away by dust, movement, and time. She didn't notice the bits of wood that peeked out between the black, nor did she stop to consider that with time and a bit of tender care, what would remain of the mark would be a memory.

She simply saw Viktor. Her sights raised to look out to the city he was so desperate to save, her focus and thoughts solely on him as tears streamed down her face. Her fingertips reached until they pressed gently against the soft glass as if that fragile and delicate material was the chokehold that kept her from leaving and not the likely devastating violence that so quickly moved their way.

Seika saw his face again, warm and smiling, his amber eyes glittering in the moonlight and her eyes closed as she relished in the vision.

Jayce had walked into the lab. He didn't know why, he hadn't been back since he'd ordered everything to be moved out, but when he found Seika before the window, hand pressed to the glass, he stopped in his tracks.

When her hand finally fell and she appeared to had broken out of the trance that'd taken over her, he called out her name softly.

She whipped around to face him, tears still crawling down her face and she swore softly, just now realizing their presence as she moved to wipe them away.

Jayce's face cracked under his stoic nature and his feet took the few steps across the room to embrace her.

"I'm sorry Seika, I'm sorry, I should have been there for him, I should have done more," he spoke through gritted teeth.

Seika felt his pain, heard his admission of guilt, but there was nothing to forgive as his arms squeezed tighter around her. She did not hold it against him, nor did she hold anything against Viktor, or for once, herself. What had happened, happened, and it was up to them to either drown in the past or move forward to the future.

When they'd finally pulled away, Seika let out a little noise of disgust as she wiped away ash and sweat from her cheek. She smiled at Jayce's laugh as he wiped away at his own face.

"What on earth sort of trouble have you been getting up to Mr. Talis?" She joked lightly as she eyed him.

"Well," he said, crossing his arms as he widened his stance a bit and the moonlight through the window showed just how drenched he was under his clothing.

"Vi is going to need another gauntlet and I wanted to ensure Caitlyn had a proper weapon. The gauntlet is nearly done but Caitlyns need's work--"

"Is that what you've been doing since you left?" Seika asked and Jayce gave a small nod.

"And," Seika paused, her sight shifting, then finding him again, "what of Mel?"

Jayce sucked in air and then exhaled.

"It was obvious huh?"

"Incredibly," she said, moving to lean back against the desk as she tilted her head, "what was it?"

"She just," Jayce moved to scratch the back of his neck as his eyes found the ground, "she wants to help, to be there, but I'm just so worried for her..."

Seika's eyes softened and she nodded.

"I couldn't imagine if Viktor showed up wanting to join us on the battlefield..." she said, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Every time I try to tell her I'm worried and I don't want her getting hurt she shuts me down and gets upset--"

Seika scoffed lightly, shooting Jayce a smile, "Noxians," she paused, "with an entire culture summed up by the abilities, one has I can imagine the pressure is very intense for her."

"She didn't really grow up in Noxus though," he said.

"But her parents are Noxians though, correct, and a noble house at that. Despite the fact she may not have grown up around the games or the traditional Noxian challenges centered around one's physical prowess, she's still feeling the awful guilt-inducing pressure only a parent can cause onto a child, regardless of their age."

Jayce's brows furrowed in thought as his hand went to his chin.

"Then how do I help her?" He asked, looking back up to her.

Seika shrugged with a small smile and a slight shake of her head. Jayce nodded in understanding, then changed the conversation.

"Are you staying with Caitlyn?"

Seika shook her head, but Jayce walked forward, his face suddenly somber and heavy as he reached into his pocket and withdrew a set of keys. He unclipped one holding tightly onto it before grabbing her hand to place it upon her palm.

"I couldn't... It's still the same as it was..." he said softly. Seika looked down at the key in shock, then up at him and she saw the internal battle within his eyes. She found the brass key again, lightly running an index finger along it before she looked back up at him and gave a pained smile. She didn't know if she'd go back there tonight, or quite frankly at all, but it was something of his that she could hold beside the Gemstone.

Seika looked back up at Jayce and she suddenly wanted to tell him of the little magical orb hidden away in her pocket but as her hand entered in between the fabric and grazed the solid sphere, her fingertips flinched away. She smiled, pretending to check that her pocket was empty before slipping the key into it as she thanked him.

He nodded and glanced out at the window, sighing softly.

"I should get back," he said and she nodded.

The door closed shut softly behind him and Seika turned, looking back through the glass at the moon that looked down upon the cities. Was he looking up at it too as life coursed through his veins?

Seika's hands clasped together, fingers lacing as she closed her eyes and she whispered softly to no one in particular.

"Please, please let him be well, and healthy and strong... please."

...

Singed sat in the chair at his desk, arms crossed as he waited patiently for his guest's arrival.

The past few times Viktor had come dropping off another batch of hand-made weapons, Singed had noticed a drastic change in the man. His eyes were flaming red and what little he spoke of his previous life before he'd returned to Zaun was akin to a cat regarding a fly.

He spoke no more of Piltover, no more of saving Zaun, simply of creation. Singed was determined to use it. If Sevika won the war, if Zaun was able to grab control, then he would be free to experiment, and with a bit of luck, he might finally be able to resume his testing on the girl.

Singed turned to look at the tube, the floating unconscious specimen as lifeless as it'd been since he'd put her in there. Fidgeting from his left caught his eye and there stood a restless and annoyed Sevika.

"You requested a meeting Singed but all you've done is told me to wait. I have little time to waste right now. Surely you're aware of how fast things are moving, even though you live under a rock."

One of Singed's brows twitched as he regarded the impatient woman, but he turned to the door, then his one good eye found her again

"Shouldn't be too long now, you were unnecessarily early whilst he is likely to be on time."

"Who, Singed?" Sevika demanded stepping towards him, but a loud knock at the door halted her movement and prompted Singed to stand and open the door.

Sevika watched as a tall figure walked in, a mask donning his face though brown hair peeked out from behind the physical facade. He was carrying a crate that he settled down easily as the violently red eyes behind his mask bore through Sevika. Her brows furrowed as she looked the figure up and down, then her sights shifted to the box.

"Who is this Singed?" She asked, her eyes moving to the scientist.

"This is your weapons creator," he specified, removing the covering from the box to show off the equipment within it.

A smile crept across Sevika's face as she looked at the stranger.

"So, you're the one who has been supplying us? I'm glad to see we have such a capable weapon-smith, surely you haven't been given the thanks you deserve. In fact, because of you, we're well ahead of schedule."

The man said nothing and Sevika raised an eyebrow, then stepped forward, thrusting out the fingers of her metal left hand.

"Sevika," she spoke, she didn't need any other introduction beyond that, not down here at least. The figure's mask moved downward slightly, regarding the extension, then one of his own gloved hands reached forward and shook her hand, but Seika saw glitters of light as the hand reflected in the green luminescence of the lab. It wasn't a glove, but metal.

They released one another's hands as Sevika let off a toothy grin.

"What is it you desire--?" She paused, her eyes shifting to Singed whose own eye fleeted to the strange man.

"Viktor," spoke a crackly mechanical voice behind the mask, whether that was the individual's true voice or one created by the mask Sevika did not know, nor did she care.

"Viktor," she reiterated, "what is it you desire? Power? Strength? Invention? Demise?" She spoke as she stalked about the room, her vision still on him.

"Invention, creation, the revolution of a new age," spoke the mechanical scratchy voice.

Sevika had walked back, stopping before the masked man.

"What is the cost for achieving such things?" She questioned.

"Anything," he spoke again, red eyes blazing.

Sevika smiled, violence streaking through her eyes as she spoke, fire in her voice, "Piltover seeks to stop us, they will ruin us and keep us in the dark. Such actions will prohibit your own goals. I seek to end Piltover and end their tyranny upon us," she stepped closer to him, "and I will do so through any means necessary."

Sevika paused.

"Join me in fighting against our common enemy, let us turn the topsiders into dust," her voice grew with intensity as a particularly heated look passed through Viktor's eyes.

"What do you say?" She asked, stretching out her fleshed hand this time. The figure regarded it, then the woman, before extending his other metal hand, and Sevika's eyes sought the weapons, narrowing slightly with excitement.

...

Seika woke up stiff and incredibly uncomfortable. Her back popped as she peeled the upper half of her body away from the corner of the wall she'd unfortunately fallen asleep on. She didn't leave the lab and instead, had sat on the desk, peering out the window until she'd slipped into a dreamless sleep. Her hand rested on the stain and she regarded it before slipping from the desk and walking to the door. With one more glance about the empty room and sad eyes that regarded the corner the Hexcore was once housed at, she left the lab. She'd woken up late but still had a bit of time before the set time they'd made to meet one another and her stomach growled hungrily. A scowl crossed her face when she realized that she'd lost all of her items when she'd left Singed, coin purse included and the thought of that soiled her mood tremendously.

"Good morning," a familiar voice called out and she looked up, watching as Jayce approached her with two drinks and a small bag hanging delicately off one of his fingers. He looked more disheveled than usual and for the first time, she'd noticed slight bags under his eyes, as if he hadn't slept at all the night prior.

"I went to his old room, but you weren't there..." He spoke, his head tilting as he offered her one of the hot beverages.

She smiled and thanked him before taking a slight sip of the hot drink.

"No, I fell asleep in the lab," she said, though the look Jayce gave her was evident enough that he saw through her ruse. She wasn't able to go there, not yet at least, but he let it go and with his spare hand, he slipped his fingers into the bag and pulled out a pastry, offering it to her.

With bright eyes, Seika eyed the delicacy and took it gratefully, switching in between bites and sips as they began to walk, teetering between silence and casual conversation.

"Hey, Seika?" Jayce suddenly asked as they approached the Councilor building. Her eyes found his face as she popped the last bite of pastry into her mouth and wiped away some of the flakey crust from the corner of her mouth.

"Is Heimerdinger," his brows furrowed though his eyes did not meet hers, "is he happy there? With them? The Firelights?"

"I believe he is," she said and the pair stopped walking, each turning to face one another.

Jayce sighed softly, his vision falling, but Seika tilted her head to peer up at him so she could gaze at his face when she spoke.

"I do not believe that he is happy because he is away from you, or the Academy, or Piltover. He spent so long talking, forced to inaction simply because of the chair he was forced to remain in. He's a phenomenal inventor, but he wasn't able to put that into practice while he was a Councilor, let alone the head. His place within the Firelights has given him the opportunity to create things that will directly help those around him, something both you and Viktor have also strived to do, yes?"

Jayce's face raised as his face began to lighten with every word she spoke.

"I know he misses it here, and he was as nervous coming here as I was--"

"Why were you nervous Seika?" Jayce questioned.

Seika's words halted in her throat and every attempt to clear it away failed. She took the last sip of her drink which washed away the rock in her esophagus. After a few more moments of silence, she finally spoke.

"I didn't say everything that had happened to me yesterday," she said at a near whisper and Jayce waited on pins and needles, worry taking over his features.

With the sunbathing them in warm yellow light, Seika explained of escaping the lab, of Warwick and the eventual event with Camille. Eventually one of her hands found comfort tangling themselves in her dark roots before moving fully through the rest of her silver hair as she stared at the ground, and then when she was finished the only noise was the life of Piltover around them.

A sudden weight on the top of her head brought Seika's attention to Jayce who'd placed his hand on the top of her head, his face heavy.

"I'm sorry," he said, his hand falling from her head to mirror his other arm as it opened to the side, and Seika took the open invitation and hugged him.

"She was the absolute wrong decision and I'm so sorry you had to witness such things.."

She heard Jayce swear softly and she pulled away.

"You thought you were helping, I cannot blame you for trying to help fix things. She's alive and I'm happy for that, but perhaps I'm awful for being happier that she can no longer affect anything here, or in Zaun," she said and Jayce shook his head.

"No, I don't think you're awful for that," he said with a comforting smile, "come on, we should get going," he finished. Seika smiled back and the pair resumed their course, moving towards the Councilor building before taking a seat on the bench before the entrance.

"We need to figure out a plan," Seika said, then side-eyed him, "and not be stubborn for about ten seconds, if you please?"

He heard the tease in her voice and scoffed softly, smiling with a nod.

"Yeah, you're right. I think I was just too preoccupied with Mel," he bit his lower lip and it was apparent that that situation hadn't been resolved yet, but he inhaled deeply and Seika saw that he'd moved past it, at least to allow for his complete focus for what was to come.

How many of us were sacrificing someone we loved for this, Seika wondered.

Her attention was pulled however when Jayce greeted not only Caitlyn approaching the Councilor building but Vi as well.

"Morning wonder boy," Vi said, a corner of her mouth turning upward at his friendliness and he joked about her odd choice of nicknames. As Vi and Jayce conversed, Caitlyn stepped closer to Seika and the silver-haired girl sighed.

"I'm fine Cait, I promise," she said, elbowing the girl softly in the side. She let out a noise between a scoff and a chuckle as her smile lit up her face.

The group of four conversed for a few more minutes before Seika looked around, past the three around her.

"Has anyone seen or heard from Ekko or Cecil?"

The three also looked around but shook their heads no, and after waiting for a few more minutes, the four moved their meeting inside. The other two could join them when they arrived.

Seika slipped off her trenchcoat after entering the lab, and the four took a side on the map and peered to look at it. Plans were thrown all at once, each person giving options as to what might be best until the four had stated several options, all of which had their own pros and cons.

"We're trying to minimize civilian involvement," Caitlyn said, "and we cannot let them reach the upper ends of the city."

Jayce's face scowled as Vi sighed, slipping back into one of the chairs.

"Well," Seika said, her fingers delicately tracing some nondescript route along the roads of the map. "The outer ring suffered damage from Sevika's attack, if we can try and keep any fighting to that area and out of both Zaun and further into Piltover, we may be able to keep damage to a minimum and spare innocent lives."

"That's too close for them to be able to go back into Zaun though, take some of the pathways or the bridge, and suddenly we're chasing them back into their own turf," Caitlyn debated.

Seika's brows furrowed a bit as she thought, her index finger lightly tapping on the bridge where she'd known Sevika to have exited Zaun from into the square during her invasion. Suddenly, her head tilted, but by that point, Vi's eyes had fallen back to the group and map before her and she saw Seika.

"What?" The pink-haired girl questioned and the other two in the room looked at her.

"What if we..." her words trailed off as she thought, but a noise from outside brought their attention. Vi was already moving to the door, prepared for the worst as she opened it to find Ekko pinning one of the guards to the wall while Scar was pinning the other as Cecil attempted to talk them down.

Jayce's voice immediately settled the situation and the two outside promptly entered, Vi slamming the door shut behind them.

"Scar?" Seika asked and the familiar Chirean forced a smile in her direction. Her brows furrowed as she looked to Cecil whose face was evident with worry, but when she looked at Ekko he wasn't able to meet her eyes.

"Whats happened?" She finally broke the silence.

"Ekko," Vi said, approaching the Zaunite and he straightened, his eyes meeting the group as his eyes blazed ferociously.

"This morning one of the Firelights snuck out, claiming she wanted to help," his sight found Seika's, "it was Jenna." She stepped forward, worry causing her heart to stop in her chest. but Scar calmed her as he placed one of his hands on her shoulder and her sight moved from him then back to Ekko.

"I'm sorry Seika, but I don't trust him," Ekko said, brows furrowed as he continued, "Jenna said he followed her and then demanded to see you. He threatened her when she said you were no longer in the confines and when she was finally allowed to return back to the hideout she had blood on her, blood that wasn't hers."

Seika's eyes wandered for a moment before returning to Ekko's.

"Warwick..."

He nodded, his anger still evident.

Seika sighed, her fists clenching and she swore softly.

"Did he say anything else?"

Ekko shook his head and Seika nodded, moving to grab her trenchcoat. Jayce began to protest as she slipped it on, but she gave him a smile and he silenced immediately.

"Keep working on the plans, I'll hurry back," she said as she rushed from the room.

...

Seika had rushed from the academy grounds, running as fast as her legs could take her until she could find a quiet alleyway somewhere close to her to shift, and when she did, she was soaring high above the sky.

The hawk glittered in the sun, the dark veins present on it unseen by those below, but as it neared the trenches it sunk lower and lower before completely descending into the smoggy underground. She weaved in between the higher bridges leading to the many exits out of the trenches as she moved further down the lanes towards his den. If he wasn't there then, then he'd be there soon.

A tall figure down below looked up at the sudden movement, seeing the unusual bird as it flew through the undercity, but he disregarded it, his brown hair swishing slightly as he moved back into his lab silently.

When she'd landed and shifted back, she settled on a pile of rubble and waited, though no more than ten minutes passed until she heard the steady rhythmic pounding of feet coming her way. Seika stood as Warwick approached her quadrupedally until he stood before her, then adjusted himself upright.

"You don't need to scare people in order to see me," she stated, but the beast growled lowly. Seika's lips tightened into a thin line as she looked up into the howler's green eyes.

"You left," he spoke gruffly and she nodded.

"We need to prepare if Sevika is moving. I don't know how long we have to plan and get things ready before --"

"Two days."

"What?" Sevika said, her head shaking quickly in shock.

"I hunted a man down early this morning and before I ripped his throat from his shoulders I had him tell me what he knew. He said that Sevika was planning on attacking midday two days from today," he said, licking his jaws almost instinctually.

Seika's eyes widened and she stumbled back, allowing herself to fall to the place she'd been sitting a few minutes prior.

"Two days," she whispered, her face moving to her hands as she repeated it over and over again, unable to believe it.

Warwick growled loudly, displaying his teeth as he let his claws screech along the stone rubble around them. "Focus," he demanded, pulling Seika from her shock. He watched her blink a few times as she regained control of herself, then her brows furrowed in determination and she nodded.

"I need to go, there isn't much time," she said, finding her legs again as she stood and she walked past him.

She heard his huff and she turned back, smiling at him.

"Thank you, again," she said and he snorted, nodding then turned away from her and walked into his dark den. Her eyes lowered a bit before she turned, facing in the direction of Piltover, then she was off.

...

Seika burst through the Councilor room doors onto what seemed to be a mostly productive conversation.

"If we have--" Ekko's sentence had stopped when Seika entered and the attention of the room fell to her as the door closed, the sound of it echoing in the silent room.

"Two days," Seika said, striding to the map to see what they'd come up with.

"Sevika is planning to attack in two days--"

"How do you know?" Vi asked suddenly, her eyes shifting about to the other in the room, both shock and worry prevalent on all the faces.

"Warwick, he'd killed one of the gang members, he told him that Sevika would attack midday two days from now," Seika explained, rushing as her brain moved quicker than her mouth could keep up with.

The current setup was decent enough, but they were still left with a few problems but as Seika went to discuss them, she was interrupted.

"Seika, we can't trust him, what if it's all a trap?" Jayce suddenly asked and Seika saw the other four in the room look away from her.

She bit her lower lip, then spoke, "do you trust me?"

"Of course--"

"Then trust in my trust," she spoke, looking at everyone, "please," she finished.

Ekko was nearly glaring, out of concern rather than anger but his eyes met Seika's.

"I don't like this," he said, his arms crossing, "but fine."

"Okay," Caitlyn said and Vi nodded while Jayce shrugged, his hands waving in the air in disbelief. Seika stared at the man, and when his arms had settled, his eyes found hers and he sighed heavily.

"I trust you," he said, resting his palms on the desktop in front of him.

Seika smiled and immediately transitioned the conversation to the plans. "So what are the issues we're facing?"

"Location, if we can get to Sevika before she leaves the trenches, we have the upper hand in declaring where the battle will happen. We can have it on our territory," Caitlyn said, but her hand pointed at a few areas.

Seika shook her head, "no, they're too far, and there's too much of a risk for damages. I had an idea before I left, what if we," Seika took the marker and started drawing lines up and down the side leading into the trenches along the square that Sevika had invaded.

"Since this area is already damaged, clearing out civilians should be easy, yes?" Seika looked to Caitlyn. The dark-haired sheriff nodded, leaning over the map to follow Seika as the rest followed suit.

"Now, it's too easy for them to slip into Zaun from here," Seika demonstrated, drawing lines from the middle of the square down into the area labeled as "The Undercity", "but that only applies if they can actually get down into those areas."

"What are you suggesting?" Ekko asked.

"If we cut off their exits after they've left the undercity then they're no option but to remain topside. Sevika did the same thing, right? After she invaded they cut off the exits so the enforcers couldn't follow them into Zaun."

Jayce's face lit up as he understood, "if we remove their ability to escape that may also increase the likelihood of their surrender if their numbers get too low. They won't have the ability to call for reinforcements."

"And with Sevika topside," Scar suddenly jumped in.

"She becomes an easier target," Vi finished, straightening, "and once she falls, the rest of her minions should fall like a house of cards."

It became apparent to everyone that this plan was the best viable option they had, and one that had serious potential of being successful.

"I think we need to evacuate the outer ring and even parts of the inner ring. If we bring them closer to the Academy then they should be safe." Caitlyn said, gently taking the marker from Seika to draw a few lines and notes.

"A sizeable portion of the enforcer troops should remain with the civilians as well," she continued, "and the rest can remain with us in the outer ring."

"But..." Seika suddenly said and the group turned their attention to her.

"Part of the problem with Zaun is the unhealthy lifestyle they've been forced to live in, correct?" Her eyes moving between Scar, Ekko, and Vi, "even if we kill Sevika and the gangs fall, it's very likely that a Chembaron will take her place. If..."

She paused, thinking things through.

"If we destroy the factories creating these chemicals and creating the shimmer they've flooded the lanes with then we could very well bring the whole empire down."

"But Seika, they rely on power from those chemical factories," Vi spoke up.

"What you're saying will force them without water and power, while many will go without work," Ekko said, his hand reaching to her shoulder. "I understand your thinking, but we can't work on that right now, it'll affect the Zaunites too much, and then they may fight back against us."

Seika's brows furrowed.

"Piltover will be prepared to provide immediate assistance," Jayce suddenly spoke up, "without strings attached. We will distribute whatever is necessary to help the innocent Zaunites within the trenches. You have my word as Head Councilor."

Seika's eyes and smile widened as Jayce continued.

"What Seika is proposing is important and with, presumably, most if not all of Sevika's troops focused on the attack, it will leave these factories open. If they fall then Sevika's lost regardless of whether or not we win the battle, but the problem is the physical aspect of taking down the factories. We cannot spare the manpower to go down there on foot, and if we commit too late and something goes wrong, Sevika may be able to stop the plan and turn it on us."

"You and Vi infiltrated that shimmer factory, do you know them all?" Seika asked, looking at the pair.

"We only know what we found within Marcus' papers," Jayce said and Sevika's eyes fell to the map.

It was too slow. A small group running around in Zaun looking for factories; it wasted too much time, time they didn't have.

"I'll do it," Seika finally said.

"Do what?" Ekko questioned, his eyes meeting the others in the room.

"I can look through Zaun faster than anyone else here. I'll start on the battlefield and fight for a while, then when things are looking stable, I'll sneak off and destroy the factories," she said, her fingers lightly rapping on the surface of the desktop.

"Seika," Cecil said, "it's far too dangerous. Too much could go wrong while you're down there alone."

"All of this is dangerous Cecil, and this is the only option there is," her unwavering eyes looked into his fearful ones and she sighed.

Vi suddenly spoke up, "Seika, you're not a sacrificial lamb--"

"Then I'll word it this way, you cannot stop me from doing this," she said suddenly, straightening fully as she looked around the room. The room slipped into silence as the five in front of her looked towards each other, uncertainty plastered on their faces. This was how they saved the Undercity, and she trusted Jayce with her entire heart to keep his promise.

"There's no stopping you, is there?" Jayce broke the silence, arms crossed as he looked at her from across the room. Her face said it all and he sighed heavily, his face tightening as he hated the nod he gave her.

The others shared the same nervous look that Jayce fully displayed and Seika frowned a bit.

"If anything goes wrong, I'll come running back, it'll be okay. It's just--" she paused to chuckle softly, "just your friendly neighborhood demo crew."

Her jokes were met with silence and she huffed softly, then Ekko moved and hugged her tightly but said nothing.

As the weight of the world came crashing down on the group of friends, they shared the mindset to spend every moment as if it was their last.

Chapter Text

The group had spent the rest of the day meticulously planning and by late afternoon they'd dispersed. Jayce had left, Seika could easily presume, to go and work on the weapons he was still making, Ekko and Scar went back to the hideout to prepare the Firelights while Caitlyn led preparations with the enforcers she'd recently come to be in charge of with Vi supporting her, and lastly, Cecil had taken the lead in preparing the outer ring for the fight.

Then there was Seika who lacked any sort of job and even when she offered to help, they'd asked her to stay put and rest up for what was to come. Her body itched as she desired for some sort of purpose, hating the feeling of uselessness that coursed through her. Everyone was working on what was coming while she'd been asked to hide away and relax – she couldn't have felt more bothered by their request. Unable to sit any longer, Seika stood, leaving the old lab she'd found comfort in since her return, and she walked about the academy grounds.

It was a lively day and for the first time, Seika saw clusters of students moving, some seemingly completely oblivious to what was coming Piltovers way, but their youth was one Seika admired and she'd hoped they would be able to experience it, at least for a bit longer.

Sounds of metallic clinking in the distance caught her attention and her head turned to where she'd heard it from. She moved, following a small pathway leading to a seemingly lifeless part of the academy, the sound growing ever louder until she came upon a tall rock wall with a small gate built into it. She peered through the gate, seeing a golden shape whiz by, swirling and moving like a flock of golden birds; it was unlike anything she'd ever seen.

Seika opened the gate, watching as this moving metal sheet twisted and turned, flying above the air and swinging towards the ground. The pieces that made it up expanded and contracted, blue sparks of magic crackling between them as it suddenly rolled in on itself, twisting inwards seemingly without end until it blasted apart and each piece stopped several feet from where they'd been, frozen in mid-air as little blue light sparked between them, then the pieces connected back to one another, shrinking smaller and smaller as it meshed together and became one entity, flying around until it landed on the forearm of a familiar figure.

"Mel," Seika spoke softly, shock plastered on her face as the Councilor turned fully to face her.

"Hello Seika," she greeted, straightening, her mood shifting from relaxed to uncomfortable.

"How..." Seika began, taking the steps forward to stand before the Councilor, "that was phenomenal Mel, how?" She asked as she looked inquisitively at the gold cuff that adorned her forearm. She thought it'd just been another piece of jewelry the Councilor had added to herself, but the sheet of sparkling gold metal she had just seen flying around proved otherwise.

"After I recovered from the attack a few weeks, I had asked Jayce to train with me. I wanted to be able to defend myself and not rely on people or items any longer," her fingertips lightly grazed the golden bib necklace that adored her neck and collarbone. Seika's brows furrowed a bit as she listened, but she said nothing, nor did she press the woman for any further details. "Jayce came up with this," she said, extending her arm outward for the girl to view the cuff more closely, which she did immediately with eager and curious eyes.

"Amazing," she whispered, "and the hex crystals..." she said softly with a smile after hearing soft little whispers appear from the sound of her voice. Seika looked up, giving a bright smile to Mel.

"You work beautifully with them, as if they're a part of you, I think you would be a very worthy opponent should someone decide to test you," she chuckled softly but watched as Mel's face dropped.

"Mel?" She asked, her head tilting as she was met with silence, then it clicked.

"You want to fight, don't you?" She asked and Mel looked away but nodded slowly. Seika sighed, closing her eyes, then opening them to look back to the Councilor. She wouldn't ask people to fight, she had no right to do so, but she wouldn't stop them from joining, though, it seemed Jayce was fully intent on stopping her despite her advanced abilities.

"He won't tell me the plans," she said almost bitterly, her fist clenching as she gently pulled it from the silver-haired girl's hands. "He's been looking at me like I am a lamb, helpless and pathetic. I can hardly stand it."

"His worry has become incredibly overbearing, hasn't it?" Seika asked, lacing her hands together in front of her, and when Mel nodded she let out a soft sigh. Mel wanted to help, she may not have been born in Piltover, but this was her home as much as it was anyone's, and she had a right to fight regardless of what Jayce thought.

But if she told Mel everything, would she risk interfering in something she had no right in? What if her words led Mel to an injury on the battlefield, or worse? Then again, if she was forced to the sidelines she knew she'd drive herself crazy...

Seika studied the stunning councilors face, and in turn, the woman felt eyes on her and turned to look at her, giving her a small smile.

"Sevika is planning to attack midday in two days," she finally said, slipping her hands into her pocket as her eyes surveyed the ground around them, but the moment the words left her lips, she heard Mel gasp.

"So soon," she said softly and Seika only nodded in response.

"Everyone has a job but they're coddling me like a child," Seika finally said after a moment of silence, her brows furrowing as she inhaled deeply.

"Train with me," Mel suddenly said, stepping in front of her, grabbing her left elbow with her hand, "if that is all we can do then let us do it well."

A sudden fire had appeared in Mel's eyes, the sight stoking a flame within Seika and a grin appeared on the girl's face as she nodded.

"Well, show me what you can do, Councilor," Seika teased, stepping back as Mel walked a few feet away. She put on quite a magnificent display, showing off both offensive and defensive moves that left Seika in awe. Mel was moving the pieces together and swinging them around in a circle around her before she rapidly switched directions and moved the circle around Seika.

The silver-haired girl found herself in a constantly twisting gold tornado glittering with blue sparks and she let out a burst of laughter that echoed in the vertical tunnel. Her hair began to rise from the static and Seika suddenly called out.

"Mel, see if you can use the static from the shield pieces to shock me!"

"But Seika--"

"Just do it!" Seika yelled, laughing as the strands of her hair rose high above her head, being pulled in all directions by the charge found within the golden metallic tornado.

Mel outside of it inhaled deeply, then focused, her fist clenching as her brain saw the magical joints connecting each piece, then she shot them inwards to the tunnel.

Seika let out a little screech that pulled the Councilor from her focus, the shield pieces dropping to the ground lifelessly as Seika stood in the middle giggling on her rear, her hair a static mess.

"Maybe more power and less hair styling, yes?" She said between laughter. Once Mel found her heartbeat again, her worry of having injured the girl satiated, she joined her in laughter and used her hands to smooth out the silver hair, occasionally letting out little noises of shock when she was unintentionally zapped by the girl.

As Seika caught her breath she looked at the pieces just as Mel brought them back to her cuff and she smiled.

"Seems we'll make warriors out of one another yet, huh?" She said and Mel lightly leaned into her as they both smiled, soaking in the hot rays of the sun above them. After a few minutes of rest, the only noise coming from the wind that passed by them, Seika spoke.

"I suppose I should tell you the plan," she said as she began to draw in the loose dirt, pointing out what was planned for each area as Mel listened intently, nodding and asking the occasional question.

"All that is left is the preparation," she finished, leaning back on her palms as she exhaled deeply, sweat dripping down her brow.

"Thank you," Mel thanked, then bit her lower lip, "and I'm sorry, about Viktor," she clarified.

Seika's brows furrowed as her eyes found the Councilors and she shook her head, "don't apologize, it's not over yet, plus, it's not your fault." Mel's lips tightened into a tight line and she wiped at a stray baby hair on her forehead.

"Still, I believe my initial push for hextech weapons drove a wedge between Jayce and Viktor, perhaps if I hadn't, then Jayce may have--"

"And if I had shifted and flown away from Warwick I wouldn't have nearly died. Mel," she said, her face turning to look at the Councilor who looked back. "We could spend the rest of our lives going over what we could have done differently. I'm done looking to the past and focusing on the mistakes that I made, what I could have changed or done better, rather, I'm determined to focus on the future. I'm afraid there's too much at stake for us to dwell on the guilt brought about by the actions of our past. Far too much at stake and far too little time for us to do so."

Mel nodded and smiled at the girl who returned the action then the pair stood and trained for a bit longer.

When Seika's legs wobbled she collapsed to the ground, chuckling softly and Mel sat next to her, handing her a spare bottle of water. The silver-haired girl drank in large gulps and wiped away the mix of sweat and water from her lips then thanked the councilor.

After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Seika finally sat up and handed the bottle back to Mel.

"I'm going to go check on Cecil and see how he's doing," she said and Mel nodded, saying goodbye to her as Seika shifted before her and flew off.

The wind felt good as Seika soared through the sky, flapping her wings to speed up her short flight to her destination and when she saw Cecil, she descended and landed right next to him.

The yordle had been working on something within the square, surrounded by several heavily armed enforcers but the sudden appearance of the hawk stopped him in his tracks, his eyes still wide when Seika shifted with a smile on her face.

"How is it going?" She asked, peering down at what he was working on.

"Quite well," he stated, grabbing the Phillips head screwdriver and a screw, "I believe this should be completed by tonight, that is if no complications arise."

Seika chuckled, though Cecil was so focused on his work he hadn't noticed. The enforcers, however, stared intently at her and she gave a brief wave, realizing that Caitlyn must have told them something about her. A few waved back while some nodded their head curtly and Seika turned back to Cecil, watching him silently as he worked. He'd occasionally hold out his hand and request a tool which she'd happily oblige, given that she knew said tool, and on more than one occasion he'd let out an airy laugh when she'd grab the complete opposite of what he'd asked for.

She remained with him until night fell, the pair moving between silence and quiet conversation comfortably until Ekko came upon the two of them.

"Hey," she said softly, taking Ekko's hand outstretched hand who promptly assisted her to her feet. "How'd it go?" She asked softly.

He gave a nod then his eyes found Cecil who'd just picked up a wrench. "Give me just a few more minutes. I'll need to continue my work tomorrow but I can complete this part quickly," he stated, nearly ignoring the pair as he continued to work.

Seika chuckled softly and Ekko smiled, the pair stepping back to yet the yordle work in peace. They remained standing side by side, looking out from the square towards the bridge leading into the trenches. They'd all be back here before they knew it...

"I still don't like it," Ekko finally admitted, breaking the silence between them. Seika turned to face him, her head tilted and brows furrowed.

"The plan?"

"No," he shook his head, his face not turning to look at her as his eyes found the moon above them.

Silence.

"You just running off again..." He finally said in a whisper.

Seika's eyes softened and she lightly rested her head on his shoulder, "I can do it Ekko--"

He pulled away, his hands moving to grab each of her shoulders as he looked down at her as he spoke.

"I don't doubt that Seika, I know you can but..."

"Even if I didn't leave everyone to go take care of the factories, I wouldn't be able to guarantee my life if I stayed," she said softly as his face and hands fell. One of her hands moved to his chin and she raised his face to look at it.

"But if you stayed then I'd be able to help if something happened, I could actually do something..." he whispered, his eyes moving from hers then to the ground.

Seika held back her sigh as she saw the leader of the Firelights still continuing to suffer from his own guilt and the pair slipped into silence. Seika turned to look at the moon, watching the large group clouds to the left of it that threatened to hide it from those who viewed it down below.

"Ekko," she spoke, breaking the silence, and he let out a little noise of acknowledgment. She turned her face to him and he met her eyes. "Promise me something," she said, extending her pinky outwards towards him. His brows furrowed as he shifted between her pinky and her face, but after a moment he nodded and wrapped his pinky around hers.

"If something happens to me, take care of Zaun," she said softly. Ekko immediately pulled her into a hug, squeezing her tightly and she embraced him back.

"The plan will work, I don't need to promise that because you'll be there to help them--"

"Ekko, please," Seika's whisper interrupted him. Her voice had cracked and he realized she was crying which prompted him to hug her tighter, whispering his promise to her.

"Does this mean you don't believe the plan will work?" Ekko asked and he felt Seika shake her head.

"I believe it will more than anything, but sometimes unexpected things are thrown our way. I know Piltover will be in great hands, but I want to ensure Zaun is as well, and I can think of no one I trust more than you."

She heard Ekko gasp softly and he buried his face into the crook of her neck and picked her up to hold her tighter, thanking her audibly.

He finally put her down, his face relaxing as Seika wiped away her tears with a smile.

"You're family to us Seika, don't forget that," he said as the pair turned to the working yordle. That statement alone brought about a new bout of tears which Ekko promptly teased her about. She shoved him lightly, laughing and teasing him back as the pair joked with one another until Cecil's voice pulled them from their antics.

"I've got it!" He spoke cheerily, one of his hands raising proudly. Ekko and Seika smiled at him and after a little while more, Cecil and Ekko departed the square, seeking their rooms within the confines secreted away within Zaun. Seika watched them leave again, her smile faltering as she considered whether or not this was what Viktor felt during all the times she'd left. The nerves, the anxiety, the worry...

She shook it off though and said her goodbyes to the enforcers who'd remain on guard within the square and began walking back to the academy. Her legs ached from her training earlier and she was desperate for sleep, although the key in her pocket called her name, her heart wouldn't let her walk towards his room.

She entered the engineering building, moving towards the lab, but a lone light caught her attention and she opened the door. Inside was a small room containing a couch, a little fridge, and a door that led to a bathroom, shower, and washing set. Seika leaned back out and there on the wall was a little sign reading "Temporary Professor Residence" with another little sign displaying "Available". Seika's eyebrows raised as she eyed the room, then she locked the door behind her, and pulled down the blinds to cover the little window on the door. She dimmed the lights and stripped quickly, immediately washing her clothes before showering. When she stepped foot into the stream of the hot water she sighed heavily, relishing in the feel of it against her skin. Her eyes drifted to the Gemstone and key she placed on the bathroom counter, her sight nearly unwavering as if she looked away for too long, it'd be lost again.

When she stepped forth from the shower and used one of the available towels to dry herself she moved to the fridge, opening it. It was stocked completely and she withdrew a little container of yogurt and ate it while sitting on the couch wrapped in her towel. After finishing it, she pulled searched the cabinets until she found a little container of jerky, and that too she ate after finding her spot on the couch.

She hadn't realized her clothes had finished cleaning until the air around her was deathly silent and she stood, moving them to the drying rack. After, she cleared the mess she'd made and settled on the couch, still wrapped in her towel.

Seika pushed the thoughts of the battle from her mind as she quickly braided her hair and rested her head on the arm of the couch with a sigh. What she would give to hear his voice again... anything but the aching silence that suffocated her.

Chapter Text

Seika awoke around the same time she had the day prior and immediately dressed in her clean and dry clothing, then after ensuring the place was as she left it, she grabbed a piece of fruit from the bowl and slipped out the door without another word.

The moment she exited the engineering building she'd headed in the direction where the secluded training grounds she'd met Mel at the day prior were. When she'd arrived, it was apparent that Mel had been there for quite a few minutes already and the pair spent several hours training on and off.

When the pair settled in the dirt, the sudden realization of tomorrow crashed down on them.

"Are you sure you want to do it?" Mel asked, side-eyeing her. Seika's face turned to meet her as she took another sip of water, her brows furrowed a bit in confusion.

"Go down there again, by yourself," Mel elaborated.

Seika nodded silently, blinking once. Was she crazy for having said what she said?

"We don't expect you to, you can back out at any time--"

"I know," she said her face falling, "but I want to. It needs to be done. I want to help them, I have for so long, since the first time I went down there, this feels like it's the way I'm supposed to help them. Ekko and Jayce are the leaders, Vi and Caitlyn are the voices of good in the world, Heimerdinger will create great things, you are the stable support Piltover needs, I'm... I'm just an outsider trying to make a place for myself here. This is the only way I know I can contribute, and I won't let anyone talk me out of it."

Mel bit her lower lip and nodded watching as Seika stood and dusted off her pants. She looked down at Mel and smiled, extending her hand outward to help the Councilor to her feet.

"I'll see you tomorrow then," she said softly and Mel's smile faltered and she embraced the girl silently.

The pair separated and Seika went to Cecil in the square, and like the day before, the pair sat in comfortable silence as he worked, nearly done with what he'd been making. The yordle let out a little giddy noise as he'd completed another part of it and Seika smiled in his direction, leaning towards him to gently place her temple on his shoulder. He froze at the contact then let out a soft chuckle as one of his gloved hands went to touch her cheek lightly.

"Are you frightened, Cecil?" Seika suddenly asked and the yordle stopped working.

He'd paused, in movement and in speech as he struggled with his own emotions, something that he thought he'd lost in the centuries he'd lived.

"Very much Seika, I'm frightened for you, I'm frightened for Jayce and Ekko, for the Firelights... I'm worried for everyone, and even more so for the outcome of tomorrow. I too want the best for Zaun, and like you, I will do all that I can to ensure it thrives. But, my dearest friend, yes I am frightened..."

She heard his voice waver and she lifted her head looking at him with a look full of concern and worry.

"Now, evenings fallen, Caitlyn and Vi should be gathering closer to the academy, go visit them, I know you adore them," he said and Seika forced a smile on her face. They said their goodbyes to one another and Cecil watched as Seika shifted into a Wildclaw, silver with the dark markings that marred her flesh and fur, and then she was gone from his vision. The yordle felt uncomfortable emotion swell within him as he himself struggled with the fear of what was to come as the fur beneath his eyes hid the tears that spilled from somewhere deep within himself.

...

Seika approached the large group of enforcers and when Caitlyn's face landed on her figure, the sheriff called to her and Seika shifted back, enveloping her into a hug. The enforcers parted for the pair, giving them ample room while Vi crept up to them as well and when Seika separated from Caitlyn, she embraced Vi as well.

The three stepped away from the group of enforcers and Seika found the dual gauntlets Vi was wearing and the sparkling new gun Caitlyn had strapped to her back.

"So he finished them?" She asked and Vi and Caitlyn found their new equipment with either their hands or their eyes.

"Feels good, pretty boy did alright," Vi said with a grin and Caitlyn comfortingly ran a hand over the strap connected to her new rifle, nodding silently in agreement.

The three slipped into silence, unsure of what to say and it was Caitlyn who broke it first.

"Seika," Caitlyn spoke softly, looking to the ground, "are we, oka---"

Seika hugged her tightly with one arm as the other pulled Vi into the awkward but meaningful three-sided hug.

"We're perfect," she whispered as she felt herself being embraced back. When the trio pulled away, Caitlyn and Seika were wiping away tears with soft giggles as Vi was pinching the bridge of her nose in an attempt to seem calm and collected despite the other two knowing exactly what it was she was hiding.

"Has Cecil finished his plans?"

"I believe he will tonight, but he said I should come to see you both," Seika responded to Caitlyn and the trio spoke about how the enforcement division was going. After about an hour, when the moon was moving higher in the sky, Caitlyn looked in the direction of the Kiramman residence, then back to her.

Seika smiled, exhaling softly as her hand slipped into her pocket and pulled forth the brass key.

"I have somewhere tonight," she said as she stared dotingly at the key. Caitlyn's face fell a bit then she smiled and hugged the girl again.

Vi followed suit and the three disbanded after giving one last glance towards one another.

...

Seika stared at the door leading into Viktors room, her emotions crashing against her chest painfully. She was holding the key in front of the keyhole, but she was shaking enough that every once in a while a metallic 'ting' would echo in the silent hallway as she lightly tapped the key to the keyhole. She was almost terrified to enter, that the moment she entered her heart might break in half upon confirming he was not in there, that he was not waiting for her. Seika inhaled shakily, struggling against the emotions that battered her rib cage, again and again, her throat constricting as she held back her tears.

He wasn't there.

She knew he wasn't there.

Then why was she forcing herself to do this? What did she gain by putting herself through such turmoil?

Seika turned away moving to go back to the lab or the little temporary residence, anywhere away from here but her feet stopped her when she'd taken her third step away from the door. Her hand clenched tightly around the brass key, the metal biting into her balm so much that there was a high possibility of a bruise forming from it. There was a very real possibility she wouldn't be able to see the sunset tomorrow or the moon in the sky, or the stars twinkling against the darkness of night. She may not be anything past tomorrow.

If she walked away from this right now, and tomorrow she lay dying, would she regret her actions? Would she feel remorse for the opportunity she gave up to feel close to him again, even when he was not physically with her?

She turned to look at the room that was once hers, then her gaze shifted to Viktors door, and she took the steps back to it, rushing to unlock it and step inside. The room was pitch black and with her surfacing emotions, her senses were dampened as she struggled about the room until she found the single lamp she knew of and turned it on.

Jayce had been true to his word; the room hadn't changed, though some things were obviously missing, but what wasn't forced nostalgic tears down Seika's face as the sight finally brought her emotions to the surface.

Viktors scent enveloped her and Seika suddenly sobbed loudly, wiping away at the tears running down her face. Eventually, she'd gotten hold of herself, breathing deeply as she stepped further into the room. Things on his desk had been pushed aside, and drawers once closed were partially open with their contents disheveled and tossed around. Seika looked around completely but glittering metal on the chair in the corner caught her attention and her eyes widened in shock as she neared the braces that once adorned the man's body. His back brace, his leg brace... Seika delicately picked up the crutch, confusion written on her face.

Why was this here? Jayce hadn't even mentioned it... If it was here, then Viktor didn't need it...

But what if he did need it and he'd intentionally left it behind?

She clutched the cold metal to her chest then gently put it down, refusing to think about it anymore.

Seika turned away, following the same routine she had the night prior and she stepped into the familiar shower, the gemstone clutched tightly in her palm for at this moment, she could not bear to let it go. She didn't know how long she was in the shower, only that by the time she was done, she was able to move her clothes to the drying rack and slip the stone back into its pocket. After drying herself, her fingers delicately put the towel back, her fingertips lightly grazing its soft texture before she moved back into the main room, then slipped into his bed unabashed by her own nakedness. The bed dipped with her presence and she pulled the sheets tightly around her as she let herself drown in his scent that was still within his bed. When she felt herself being pulled into sleep, she thought for a moment, that she felt his arms wrap around her, but when her heavy eyelids fluttered open, she was forced to see the empty pillow next to her. Her hand stretched and grabbed the pillow, pulling it to her chest as her body curled in on itself.

She whispered loving things into his pillow as if, from wherever he was, he would hear her, and as she spilled all of her feelings into the pillow that smelled so strongly of his warm and comforting scent, she felt herself slip into unconsciousness as one last thought rang about in her mind. He had to be okay...

If not for the sake of Zaun, then for the sake of her...

-------------------------

Seika woke up feeling unusually calm, a feeling that remained as she dressed and left the room. Whether it was the calm before the storm or Viktors scent having settled all of her worries, Seika didn't know, but it seemed that the rest of the group felt similarly to her. The main group gathered within the Councilors room and Seika slipped her way to the front, past the many Firelight members present within the room, where Jayce and Ekko stood. Caitlyn and Vi crept towards her as Ekko and Jayce began explaining about the day and within half an hour the room was emptying.

Seika said her last goodbyes to Cecil, Ekko, and the Firelights until it was only Vi, Caitlyn, Jayce, and herself left in the room. They were to be the first group present at the square, along with a large group of enforcers who had already been stationed within the square since early morning. Cecil had finished just after Seika had left him for the evening and it became evident that all preparations were complete and the plan was well underway. The three were geared up and Seika took a moment to look at them all.

Jayce had donned himself in his finest Councilor clothes, a stunning cream suit paired with vibrant red patches of the Talis house that accentuated his handsomeness. Caitlyn presented herself in a purple and white dress with a matching beret-style hat that Seika realized, upon further inspection, was her uniform. Vi opted for her typical red jacket with her dark striped pants and white and black undershirts.

"Ready Seika?" Jayce asked and she finally realized that all three had their eyes on her and she nodded, pulling herself from her observations.

They exited the Councilor building and just as they were to leave the academy, they stopped upon seeing Mel. She was wearing a new outfit; a cream-colored halter dress with an asymmetrical layered bottom complete with gold trim. Gold accents adored her features including the cuff on her right hand and a dark pair of tall knee-high boots with gold buckles on her feet. Her long dark hair had mostly been put up into a high ponytail while her few dreadlocks were left to beautifully frame her face. Seika smiled as Jayce put down his hammer and pulled Mel into a tight hug. They shared a passionate kiss as he whispered soft things to her to which she promptly replied, matching his hushed tones. After a few more moments, they left the academy grounds, Seika looking back expectantly to Mel who gave her a knowing smile. After they'd left the grounds, the group found themselves passing through the large throngs of people who had been relocated and moved inward. Many of the civilians were sitting wherever there was room while others found comfort within the surrounding buildings or shade within the tents set up all along the streets.

The crowds parted as Jayce walked through first, his Mercury Hammer resting upon his shoulder, then Caitlyn and Vi walked side by side and Seika took up the rear, her constant wandering eye causing her to fall behind every once in a while. Her name was suddenly called out from somewhere within the crowd, and stumbling from the rows of watching Piltovians was Felicia from the clothing boutique. She looked at Seika in surprise as Jayce, Vi, and Caitlyn stopped walking to look back. Further behind Felicia, movement caught Seika's eye and her eyes found Elaina and her husband from the bakery. Their shock was evenly matched with Felicia's but as the silver-haired girl went to say something, explosions erupted from the outskirts of Piltover. The waves of people around them shrieked as the attention of the four warriors turned to look in the direction it came from.

"That came from the square," Jayce said as he looked back to the girls, readying his hammer before he began running, Vi and Caitlyn close behind him.

Seika forgot everyone around her as she shifted into a Wildclaw, and ran after the three of them. When she matched Vi and Caitlyn's speed, they clambered onto her back, and then she was running faster to match Jayce's. Seika's sudden appearance to his right caused the man to stumble a bit, but both Vi and Caitlyn helped him up, and then she was running without any restraint, ignoring the slightly uncomfortable weight on her back as she ran through the streets.

When they'd entered the square a thick gas had filled up the area which prompted all except Seika to slip on their gas masks. They'd been prepared, as had the enforcers they'd positioned within the square this morning as they too were heavily arms and already donned in gas masks. The thick greenish-brown gas was difficult to see through and when the three were off of her, Seika shifted again, the large Silverwing towering above the three down below and she began to flap her large wings.

The gas swirled and slowly dissipated with her movements until a large group could be seen standing at the edge of the square.

Sevika's eyes found the large bird creature and when Singed's gas had been blown away by the beast, she couldn't contain the shock on her face when the creature shifted back into a girl. The same girl the scientist had once had captive in his lab.

Seika met Sevika's eyes and Vi, Jayce, and Seika stepped forward as Caitlyn slipped back to move to her position. The square had two entrances on either side of the building they stood before, then two other buildings on each side of the square in the middle and corners closest to them with both sides having an alleyway in between them that led to the next squares over. Several long-ranged enforcers had been positioned on the side buildings while the one behind them was Caitlyn's vantage point where she would be able to provide more aerial support with her new rifle. The enforcers that had been positioned within the square that morning fell into their place, separating into two groups as one half remained behind Seika just a bit to her right and the other half were positioned behind Jayce to his left with Vi between the two.

Seika watched as more and more members flooded in from what appeared to be five different avenues. Two pathways, two elevators, and a bridge that extended all along the square, pathways that led directly into the undercity. The continuous growth in numbers however worried her, causing her fingers to twitch anxiously, but eventually the footsteps stopped and Sevika stepped forward, metallic clunking following suit as several, what Seika presumed to be Chemtanks, walked directly behind her.

"You had at one point promised Silco Zaun's independence," Sevika spoke loudly, a barrage of cheers coming from her people behind her, "why is it that that offer has not been extended to us?"

"Silco and I had agreed to previous terms that he was unable to meet," Jayce spoke, his proud voice booming in the square, "terms that became null and void upon your attack a few weeks ago."

"One that we feel was well deserved," Sevika sneered, her metal left hand twisting in on itself and twisting out almost rhythmically. "You've not allowed us our freedom for far too long topsiders, now we've come to take it."

Further cheers erupted as the Zaunites across the way appeared to ready themselves. Seika clenched her fist, focusing on those she would be taking care of, but the movement behind Sevika caught her eye and she watched as a tall thin shape stepped forward, a familiar neck gaiter covering half his face.

Vi heard Seika gasp and turned to look at her, then she turned her sights into the direction Seika was looking in, her eyes catching the tall man with a large spiked shield in one hand and a large chamber of green liquid in a glass canister on his back. Her brows furrowed angrily when she realized who it was she was looking at and she rolled her shoulders, the gauntlets hissing as she gripped them tighter.

Despite the distance between them, Singed's one eye stared at Seika, unwavering as he whispered something to Sevika. Sevika's eyes drifted from the ground, then to Seika, then to Singed, then lastly back to Seika. It wasn't difficult to assume what it was he was requesting and when Sevika nodded and the man slipped back behind the wall of Chemtanks, cheekbones raised in what could only be viewed as an eager smile, Seika felt every cell in her body go haywire.

She would rather die painfully in this battle than be forced back into that lab. A wave of unfathomable anger rose within her, one that surpassed the anger she felt for Camille and she shifted again, the appearance of the Wildclaw causing a few of the members to step back in shock. Seika barred her teeth as Sevika regarded her with narrowed eyes.

"No longer will we be the dirt topsiders tread upon," Sevika yelled, "no longer will we be the victims topsiders neglect, no longer will we suffer under them!"

More cheers broke out as they readied their weapons, the opposite following suit, and for a moment, everything was silent. Seika watched as breaths were taken in slow-motion and the wind passed by them, then Sevika snapped and the Zaunites were running.

Seika was running, hearing the footsteps of her cluster of enforcers behind her as three large groups of Zaunites met her on the right side of the square. They clattered into one another, Seika knocking several to the ground with long swipes of her paws, but a sudden explosion blew her and the front line enforcers back and she saw the grenades in their hands.

"Seika!" A voice called behind her as one after the other, Firelights flew from the alleyway nearest to her, flying around on their hoverboards and the Enforcers atop the buildings nearest to them began to shoot at the Zaunites before them. Seika clambered to her feet, leaping right towards the group who descended upon them, claws ready, jaws open.

A knife suddenly sliced at her flesh and Seika turned, mouth open, and took the torso of the knife's wielder into her teeth. She tasted the iron and heard the squelch of his flesh, but worse than that was the sudden urge to vomit as the man in her mouth suddenly ceased to live. She dropped the body and backed away a few steps, panting as she looked around the violence around her taking over her vision. Seika was learning that the harshest reality of battle is the lives you must inevitably take. Her vision began to blur but she managed to focus just enough to see a figure was running towards her, but Ekko's timewinder zoomed past her, knocking the man to the ground as Scar hopped of his hoverboard in front of her so that he could slit the mans throat. The Chirean moved to Seika's frozen figure and raised the feline's face, his clawed hand lightly grazing her chin.

"Death is inevitable and given freely, but you must fight for life," was all he said before he turned, meeting another three gang members. One managed to punch him in the face and the sudden appearance of Scar's blood on the ground snapped something within Seika and she blinked, her feet pushing against the ground as she ripped one of the Zaunites from off the Firelight and slashed his belly open. Scar managed to drive his spear into one of them and a sudden appearance from the hoverboarding Ekko brought the third man down to the ground, blood spilling from the back of the gang member's head.

...

In the center of the square, Vi, Jayce, and his cluster of enforcers were fighting against the army of Chemtanks guarding Sevika, and every time Caitlyn attempted to take a shot at her, a Chemtank would get in the way and intentionally block it with the sturdier part of its suit. Vi's gauntlets met with Chemtank after Chemtank, her anger fueling her forward until a painful line burned up her back and she turned to face Sevika who'd pulled out her bladed whip.

"Come on girl, let's finish what we started," she sneered and Vi shook off the pain, punching the knuckles of the gauntlets together as they hissed. They went toe to toe, Sevika occasionally spinning away to lash her whip out at her, but Vi used the gauntlets to block most of them. With Sevika and Vi intermingled in their own fight, the Chemtanks had turned on Jayce and the group of enforcers he had to back him up. The enforcers readied their weapons and Jayce began swinging, yelling as his hammer collided with the torso or face of the Chemtank he was hitting. One moved, jumping above him quicker than he could react, but before the Chemtank descended upon him, a golden metal shroud collided with the Chemtank and swung it far to his left. Jayce gasped softly, looking behind him where, just below Caitlyn, stood Mel, poised and ready.

The metal shield moved, swirling around a single Chemtank before bolts of blue light crackled within its interior, and when it moved away the suit was smoking as it collapsed to the ground.

His look of awe towards her didn't last long however as another suit came rushing his way, narrowly stopped by his hammer. Waves and waves of Chemtanks continued, hurrying from the bridge leading to the undercity, and Jayce swore when the bladed arm of one of the Chemtanks sliced his right arm. With the Chemtanksuit directly in front of him, he used the blunt edge of his hammer to force the suit back, then quickly shifted the Mercury Hammer into ranged mode and launched a blue energy ball at the suit.

His eyes briefly wandered to Vi who fought fiercely against Sevika, the pair evenly matched and his brows furrowed as the gang leader slipped a filled bottle into her arm, the green liquid pumping through her. Jayce's eyes shifted from the haunting sounds that suddenly echoed around him as an enforcer fell before him, then another, then another, and as anger welled up in him. He immediately shifted his hammer back to melee mode and he began swinging, yelling as he lashed out at the Chemtanks.

...

The last group was the other half of the Firelights and Cecil who had come out of the alley on the other side of the square the moment Sevika had snapped. The yordle stood nervously on his hoverboard as a cluster of enforcers who were shooting their rifles at the waves of Zaunites rushing towards them. He readied his electro-grenade then threw it into the oncoming wave of people who were immediately shocked, most of them even falling to their knees. The rest of the Firelights descended, followed by the shots of the enforcers who supported them from the building behind them. He heard the cries, the sounds of death and it thrust him into blind shock. His head turned across the square as he saw Seika, aggressive and bloodied, some of it hers, some of it not. The blood from within her own body dripped to the ground as it'd been brought forth by the shot of a gun or slash of a blade while likewise, many of the Firelights across their way exhibited their own injuries. He sped his hoverboard back around, a few of the metal nuts and bolts slipping from their pouch on his waist, their movement initiating his mini-turrets to fire. More screams echoed as he saw Vi fighting Sevika fiercely and Jayce and his decreasing number of enforcers battling the Chemtanks.

His people. The people he cared about could die if he did not act. Cecil turned with a new mindset, slipping on his goggles as he sped around. His gloved hands clenched tightly onto the handlebars of his hoverboard as he moved, his fingers shifting to press the buttons to launch rockets, rockets that exploded a few Zaunites up into the air. Movement caught his eye as Jenna, the young Firelight Seika called her friend was pinned to the ground by several gang members. Cecil threw the nuts and bolts, the turrets following their target as they blasted the men with rows of bullets. Their flesh blocked Jenna from the artillery and as she slipped the bodies off of her, she rushed and zoomed away on her hoverboard, picking up her long spear as she flew away.

Sudden loud explosions erupted on the roof of the building nearest him and he watched body parts of the enforcers stationed there fall from the air. Another grenade was thrown, then another. The Firelights were having to catch those who were thrown off their boards and recovery was slow. Cecil searched, finding the one who threw them out and he aimed his rockets, launching them at the man's grenade-laden chest. The explosion of the man and subsequently the grenades he had strapped to his chest launched both Zaunite and Firelights off their feet. When Cecil came too a Zaunite was descending on him, but a spear suddenly appeared from above somewhere above him, then the blade was ripped out the side, and the man fell bleeding to the earth.

"Hurry Professor!" Jenna's voice somehow rang out among all the gunfire, blasts, and sounds of death.

...

Another grenade launched the enforcers on the roof of the building next to Seika and they came falling to the ground in pieces. Ekko had jumped off his hoverboard and began fighting on foot, whipping out his Time-winder to bring the gang members it touched to their knees so that he or another Firelight could finish the job. The ghost that followed in his stead momentarily distracted Seika before her jaws found another body as a Zaunite attempted to swipe his blade at her throat. The rows and rows of Zaunites didn't appear to lessen despite the bodies that littered the ground. Seika turned as another enforcer fell, his dying shrieks piercing her ears and she descended on his murderer, slashing at the individual's back, her sharp claws slicing through the Zaunites spine. Loud gunshots rang out from behind her and the Enforcers on the building on her side but farther back still contained armed enforcers. Caitlyn was moving from side to side and to the middle. It was a continual process; aim, shoot, reload when necessary and she attempted to cover every team while the long-ranged enforcers picked up the slack. Another cluster of Zaunites descended upon Seika and she fought back, slashing with her paws and shredding with her teeth. Movement from the bridge to her left caught her eye and Seika met eyes with the lone figure moving, a trail of green gas following behind him. Her blood curdled in her veins as he eyed her maliciously, heaving up his large shield as he left the bridge and moved towards the center of the square, towards Vi and Jayce.

Seika pushed off the ground with all six paws, chasing after him and the scientist turned to face her, shield outward and she pushed him to the ground. His one hand was trapped within the arm-guard of the shield, but the other snaked to the contents of his belt and he withdrew a vial, preparing to smash it in her face but she ripped it from his hands, her sharp teeth shredding his fingers as the vial flew through the air and crashed to the earth, its contents smoking as they soaked into the ground.

The chamber on his back cracked audibly under her weight as she pressured the scientist down and he groaned audibly.

"I told Warwick I'd be the one to kill you," she said, his one eye finding her bloodied face. This was not the same creature he had strung up in his lab a few weeks ago. Physically, yes, as made evident by the dark markings that scarred the fur of the beast on top of him, mentally though, no.

She changed again and Singed felt the icy breath of the Rimefang that destroyed half his lab and nearly took his life. The same form she'd used to escape his clutches and visually seeing his own failure caused anger to seethe through him.

Seika barred her teeth again, her paws suddenly moving to rip the shield from the arm of the man using it to block her from his most vulnerable parts. She'd tear the entire arm off if she had to – anything to be able to rip his throat out.

"I will never go back to that lab," she growled fiercely as she felt her paws be sliced by the sharp studs nailed into the large shield. Just as she was about to slide the shield to the side and descend upon the man a sudden burning line ran across her side, a cry of pain leaving her throat. Her face turned to look at the figure responsible and a tall stranger stood in the light glittering with metal armor, a mask donning his features, red eyes blazing beneath the metal facade.

Seika growled and Singed used the opportunity to knee the underside of her throat. She stumbled, hacking as she caught her breath, and then the scientist was disappearing from her sight. She couldn't help the growl that escaped her throat, but she turned to face the metal-clad individual, anger welling up inside of her.

...

Somehow, Cecil and his grouping of the Firelights had fought off a hefty portion of the group they took on, but one glance across the square and it was obvious that Ekko and his team were being overrun. Their group of enforcers had been killed and Ekko was bleeding badly from his head while many others showed obvious signs of injury and distress.

"Jenna," Cecil called out to her as he threw another handful of nuts and bolts, letting the turrets fire into another oncoming group of gang members. The girl turned to face him and he pointed towards Ekko.

Her sight moved to the opposite side of the square, then back to the yordle and she nodded promptly, whistling loudly and the group of Fireflight's flew across the square.

...

Ekko and Scar were back to back, fighting off the Zaunites who surrounded them, while on the outskirts their fellow members fought valiantly. The Chirean howled loudly, his noise spooking a few of the younger gang members, but then they descended and he fought them tooth and nail while Ekko battered as many as his club would reach. His after image was moving around him and he hit the button, initiating his parallel convergence. The after image hit a grenade at the group in front of him and when it detonated, the group was momentarily stunned, giving Ekko the chance to throw his Timewinder at them and launch himself into the group, club swinging, but a loud squelch sound and groan from behind him halted his movement as a blade was exiting from the backside of Scar.

Ekko swore, immediately initiating his chronobreak and they were back, seconds prior to his death. Ekko pulled him out of the way, shoving him to the side and out of the path of the blade, then he re-enacted what he'd done earlier with the parallel convergence and timewinder. The sudden hum of hoverboards echoed around them as the secondary team came to reinforce them.

...

Vi took another hit from Sevika, groaning as her metal fist collided with her rib cage. She spat out a glob of blood before launching herself forward, then she swung back to bring up her leg and take the woman by the underside of the jaw with her foot. Vi felt her foot collide with Sevika's chin, but the green chemical she'd pumped herself full of had heightened her reaction time, and she grabbed the pink-haired girl's foot and threw her to behind her and into the back of one of the Chemtanks. Sevika smiled, ignoring the Kirammans cries behind her as the few Chemtanks filled in to block her shots and she readied her whip, eagerness on the tip of her tongue. She desired to see the girl bleed. Her hand twisted in on itself, her bladed whip ready, then she swung her left shoulder back and threw it forward.

A sudden wave of gold flashed, bouncing her whip back as Mel rounded the left side of the fight, her focus on protecting Vi as the pink-haired girl recovered. She shot a grateful look to Mel who sent back a smile, but the sudden descent of a Chemtank upon the Councilor caused the golden shroud to rip away from Vi and powerfully barrage into the suit. The metal pieces separated, lacerating the Chemtanks metal like blades until the unfortunate soul inside gurgled lifelessly. Mel had sought to return the metal shroud back to Vi, but by then, the girl was standing and launching herself back towards Sevika.

Mel focused her fist clenching as the individual pieces of her shield separated and then launched in different groups, piercing a few of the Chemtanks surrounding her clean through, and then she recalled them back to her, moving forward to support Jayce.

Sevika stepped behind a Chemtank as Vi attempted to punch her, and she was forced to realize how low her numbers were and it became apparent that her reinforcements may not make it in time. "Recall," she spoke into her radio which echoed throughout the Chemtanks. They moved on queue, sprinting towards the exits and Jayce realized instantly what was happening.

"Heimerdinger!" He called out to the yordle who'd just launched off another electro-grenade so that the long-range enforcers still alive behind him could lock their scopes onto unmoving targets. The yordle looked up, watching a near stampede of Chemtanks move and he was flying his hoverboard. He'd been ready to enact the plan since the moment he'd loaded the rockets onto his board the night prior and when he reached the spot, he fired his rockets at a box to the left of the bridge into Zaun. Instantly, a row of tall flames burned along the pathways Sevika and her gang had taken to enter the square. The flames burned bright blue with intense heat, one that would without a doubt burn the Chemtanks, and they halted, immediately retreating back to Sevika who swore and turned on Vi violently.

Chapter Text

"You impede my progress," a gritty mechanical voice echoed from behind the mask as blue flames rose up behind him, Cecil's rockets exploding just behind him. The attachment on top of the man's left shoulder swiveled as another orange beam shot from its mouth and Seika jumped to the side, just narrowly avoiding the flaming hot laser.

"Fuck your progress," she growled, biting her jaws in the direction of the metallic man before her. His one-sided maroon cape whipped about, pulled to and fro with the wind while every part of his body was seemingly covered in metal armor. His left shoulder where the mechanical arm originated from was cape-free while his left gripped a tall staff. Her eyes stared intensely into the red eyes that peered past the mask he wore and when his hand slid into a pouch attached to his belt on the left side, Seika sprung into action, leaping toward him but the mechanical arm moved again as if having a will of its own and she dived to dodge the orange laser it spat forth from itself. She backed away from him, giving enough distance between the two of them as the man pulled forth a few small circles from his pouch then threw them out her. They grew in size and Seika moved away from them, but one of the three-bladed weapons grazed Seika's side as she attempted to avoid them.

She growled again, anger seething as she stared the metal man down intensely. Her eyes found the mechanical arm again, then shifted to his staff, moving from the bottom upwards, where a little chamber resided with something moving. Swirling purple shimmer sloshed around in a ring around the chamber but when Seika focused on the contents of the chamber she froze, the hair on the back of her neck rising in terror.

A ball of swirling purple flesh with a slightly red haze exuded from its center moved within the center; it was the Hexcore. Seika's eyes found the mask again and the red eyes that stared almost lifelessly at her, then the wind moved the tufts of brown hair that peaked out above the top of the metal mask.

No...

It couldn't be...

The metal figure approached her, its third metal arm moving excitedly, and then she heard the whispers over every other noise in the square. Incredibly terrifying and deafeningly loud. It spoke unfamiliar words and Seika felt fear rise up within her, but she looked past the Hexcore, past the metal, past the cold unforgiving red eyes and when the metal man stood a few feet from her, she shifted, collapsing onto her knees as shock muscle-locked her limps.

She looked up at him, eyes unwavering in shock and worry, then, she somehow found the strength in her legs to stand, and she approached him, her right hand outstretched.

"Viktor," she said softly, "Viktor it's me, I'm here, I'm here," she repeated her hand but a breath away before the metal man's left hand shot out and clasped around her neck. She felt her esophagus crush in on itself as the pressure from the man's fingers tightened around her neck, then her feet were no longer on the ground as he raised her upward.

His breathing was coming out in heavy mechanical pants as Seika's fingers grappled against the gloved hand wrapped around her neck, choking sounds leaving her bluing lips. She was still struggling to say his name, most often than not she ended up mouthing it as her lungs burned with lack of air and her throat felt like it might crush completely under the man's strong and powerful grip. Seika felt an unfamiliar pressure behind her eyes and her lids instinctively closed and through the darkness, she could still see the burning red of the man's eyes piercing her soul through the dark.

...

Caitlyn had just turned from assisting Ekko's group and when her eyes settled within the center area of the square, she was forced to watch in sheer terror as Seika was lifted up off the ground by the throat, then she was looking down the scope of her rifle and pulling the trigger. The bullet bounced right off the stranger's extended arm, then she was firing another one, which too bounced off the mask he wore, then another. All ending in the same results with the stranger seemingly unbothered by her bullets. Seika's legs were kicking outward as one of her hands grappled with the hand taking her life and the other reached for the mask donning the stranger's face but her reach came up short.

"Seika! SEIKA!" Caitlyn was screaming. Jayce turned to the sheriff, hearing her screams, then his sights turned to look for Seika on the right side of the square, but before he got there, he caught her nearly flailing figure in the center near the bridge, a figure holding her up by the throat.

"Jayce, GO!" Mel called out behind him, moving the metal shroud and slicing through the torso of a Chemtank running his way. With his route now open, his feet moved, his hammer ready as he approached the pair from Seika's right and he jumped, bringing the hammer down on the arm of the stranger. He felt the vibrations and the recoil forced him and his hammer backward, but the stranger dropped Seika and Jayce was running towards the metal individual again, swinging violently, trying to give Seika enough time and space to move.

"Seika!" A voice was yelling as she coughed, vomiting up bile. She struggled to breathe and the air she was pulling into her lungs felt like acid. She coughed again, her body wracking violently as her throat ached in intense pain, but she managed to sit up and gain some semblance of understanding. Suddenly, she heard the whispers again, and then it was all that she heard, the violent and loud words of the language transmuted by blood and sacrifice, and those sounds forced alertness upon her. She turned, finding Jayce and the figure fighting, but as Jayce swung his hammer towards the man's left side, the metal-clad man blocked it with his forearm, and parts of the hammer crumbled in on itself.

"Jayce" she was whispering, her throat still struggling to speak, but the Councilor backed up, switching his hammer to his ranged mode as he neared her.

"Seika," he yelled out behind him, but she stumbled as she stood, falling into Jayce's side and he caught her with one arm, the butt of the hammer rising towards the sky as its weight off-kilter in his grasp.

"Seika, go to Mel," he said but the figure before them walked their way, the mechanical arm on its left shoulder launching the orange fiery bolt, and Seika shoved Jayce to the side quickly, gasping as the bolt grazed the tops of her forearm.

The flaming mark seethed pain through her body as her throat still struggled with its most basic functions, but when she met those red unfeeling eyes again and found the entity responsible for it, all the pain in her body was ignored.

The Hexcore had begun waving a few fleshy tendrils of itself, seeking the shimmer it was attached to, desiring more of the substance, and she watched as Viktor slid his right hand down the staff and flipped a switch. The purple liquid that circled the Hexcores compartment emptied and the movements of the Hexcores tendrils flailing wildlife as a bright red aura seeped farther out from it, coating the upper right side of the metallic man in disturbing red light.

Seika couldn't hear Jayce, and when he finally physically moved her, her vision of Viktor broke and she found Jayce's eyes.

"Go to--"

"It's Viktor, Jayce," she whispered but the look on Jayce's face told her he heard it despite the battle occurring around them. Footsteps coming from behind him pulled his attention away as he launched an energy ball at a Zaunite who had attempted to hit them with a crowbar, then his attention was back to the metal man.

"Viktor," he asked softly.

"The Hexcore, in the staff," Seika said and she felt the rolling waves of anger come off of Jayce. He gripped his mercury hammer and readied himself.

"We need to get the Hexcore Jayce," Seika said, forcing herself to shift into a Wildclaw.

"Jayce," she spoke again and when she saw him looking at her in her peripherals, she knew he'd finally registered what she'd said. "He very may well still be there, if the Hexcore is controlling him, then destroying it should free him. We have to try, we at least owe him that," she said, her eyes softening at the figure approaching them dauntingly.

Jayce nodded as he fired his mercury hammer and their conversation was over. Viktor crossed one forearm over the other and blocked the energy ball, but his cloak was ripped away and floated off, burning up in the blue pillars of flames that kept the battle within Piltover and out of Zaun.

...

Ekko and Scar were continuing to fight back the throngs of gang members but as they struggled due to their depleting strength, Ekko's judgment had momentarily lapsed as he turned, giving enough time for one of the Zaunites to club him in the back of the head.

The leader of the Firelights collapsed to the ground as several Zaunites descended upon him and Ekko felt the pain of their movements on his body. Scar yelled but when Ekko turned his face to look at him, he watched the Chirean being dragged off into a group. One of the gang members ripped his mask off and Ekko felt blood dripping from his ears. He hissed in pain, everything going achingly slow as his head pounded. He'd used the chronobreak far too many times trying to get him and Scar from out of the center of this mess. Would he die if he used it again?

His life flashed before his eyes and he saw Powder, smiling and laughing as she fired her guns, but Powder's appearance shifted and he was looking at Jinx who stood above him, firing her mini-gun at the gang members.

Jinx had debated for hours whether or not to ascend into Piltover as she watched the gang make their move, but worries of Seika meeting her demise prompted the young girl to. Seeing Ekko being trampled and beaten to death by those lowlifes simply teetered Jinx over the edge, and without any further consideration, she had let them taste her bullets. She crouched down and Ekko tilted her head up to look at her. Her eyes found the blood on his face and she wiped a bit away with one hand.

"You might need more practice," she said, before turning her attention to a few more Zaunites who attempted to attack her with nothing more than pipes and crowbars.

Ekko stood, watching as his fellow Firelights fought the smaller group. Jinx had wiped out a decent portion and he moved, grabbing his club to assist Scar who'd nearly bitten his way free of his captors, but he halted, turning his head back to look at the blue-haired girl.

His eyes shifted, then found hers again.

"Thanks."

...

Cecil hadn't noticed what was happening in the center of the square near the bridge, but he caught Singed's running figure and anger seethed through him. He threw a fistful of nuts and bolts towards the man, swiveling his hoverboard around and watching as his turrets fired promptly, but the scientist cowered behind his shield until the firing stopped. Another cluster of Zaunites descended on Cecil, reaching to pull his hoverboard from the sky, but loud gunshots from behind the yordle caused several of the gang members to fall to the ground as the long-range enforcers hit their marks.

Singed stared at the yordle an almost evil grin on his face as he hoisted up his shield, but a loud howl echoed from within Zaun and Singed perked up, eyes wide with shock. A large metal cage came bursting through the blue flames from somewhere lower on the bridge towards Zaun, landing on top of the spot the flames erupted from and a space in the flaming curtain opened, as the beast leaped through the opening. True to Cecil's intent, however, the metal melted and the curtain closed, the empty space being no longer. Warwick found Seika in the Wildclaw he'd seen her in before, but his nose caught the scent of something more important and he turned, teeth barred as his chamber pumped green liquid into him.

"Singed," he growled stepping towards the scientist who propped up his shield at the ready, a Chemtank coming up behind him.

Warwick growled and the man turned and ran, fleeing through the battle, using his shield to defend himself against any oncoming bullets.

"You can't run from your mistakes!" Warwick growled as he chased after the man, leaping over the Chemtank and tearing apart any Zaunite that got in his path. Singed, however, got lost in the crowd and Warwick struggled to find him through all the bodies, but when he found his scent leading back in the direction of Seika, he let out a loud growl, watching as the standing Wildclaw came crashing down to the earth, Singed behind her as his shield had been brought down forcefully onto her skull.

The one with the hammer was far too preoccupied to notice what had happened to her but Warwick moved, ignoring the fights in his way, growling and biting his way through the flesh. The same Chemtank from earlier stepped behind Singed again and Warwick growled as the scientist froze, attempting to inject some concoction into the silver-haired feline before him.

Warwick growled and Singed smiled as the Chemtank stepped forward, blade drawn and prepared for the beast. The chamber on his back pumped and hissed as more chemicals flooded him and he ran, slicing at the Chemtank, but the sharp blade of the suit slashed across his stomach and the beast howled, jumping back as his blood splattered the ground.

Seika hadn't moved but the filled syringe in Singed's hand gave Warwick a bit of hope that she was simply unconscious. Anger flooded his system and he was moving again, but a sudden shot fired and the Chemtank before him collapsed to the ground, the controller's head inside a mess of blood, shimmer, and brain matter.

After Caitlyn's shot, a Chemtank broke off from Sevika's group where Vi and Sevika continued to fight and clambered their way up towards her. The girl was in the middle of reloading her gun when the tall shadow appeared over her and she looked up, but just as she did, she was doused in the fluid of the controller and the Chemtank as Mel had sliced the Chemtank clean in half with her metal shroud. Caitlyn looked in shock as Mel hurriedly moved the shroud to her, blocking a Chemtank that attempted to crash its fists down upon her.

Suddenly, Sevika's voice was yelling from the center as she dodged another one of Vi's punches.

"Set them off!"

Several of the Chemtanks moved but a voice rang out from Caitlyns right and she, Vi, Sevika, and her Chemtanks froze in place.

"Oh, these?" Jinx called out after she'd hoisted herself up onto the building closest to Ekko's group. She slipped a few trinkets from her pockets and threw them to the ground, all valuable parts of the bombs she'd found when attempting to get here and deeply involved within the fighting.

"I mean come on, those were just pathetic," Jinx giggled, swinging her hips back and forth out as she smiled cheekily at Sevika.

A fit of anger seethed through Sevika as she turned towards Vi who'd called her Jinx's from the opposite side of the ring they'd been fighting in. Both girls were obviously exhausted, but the tides were shifting and Seika didn't like the direction they were going in and so she rotated her arm in on itself and loaded the small gun built-in to it then fired it at Vi. The pink-haired girl blocked the artillery with her gauntlets, but a sudden spray of bullets from Jinx's direction pulled Vi from her defensive stance as her sister fired her own gun towards Sevika.

The gang leader swore as some of her blood splattered on the ground; one of Jinx's bullets had grazed her leg and Vi was after her again, Jinx supporting her.

...

Seika's eyes fluttered open and she groaned, her face watching as Jayce and Viktor fought it out. Jayce would launch an energy ball while the orange fiery beam would shoot from the attachment on Viktors left shoulder, then they'd move closer, shifting towards physical attacks, then back up again. Jayce's hammer was becoming more and more beat up with every melee attack he used against Viktor and it became quite clear just how sturdy Viktor had become.

Suddenly, one of Viktors feet lifted up, kicking his brother and co-inventor in the torso and Jayce flew back, rolling as he did, his hammer sliding away from his grasp. His fists clenched as he struggled to his feet and when he did he side-stepped to his hammer, using the topside of his foot to hoise the handle up so that he could grasp it.

"Wake up Viktor," the Councilor yelled, gripping his hammer tighter but the figure said nothing. Jayce moved, running towards him as he pulled the hammer back but Viktor suddenly swung out the staff and the Hexcore's tendrils released large bubbles from its tips that all immediately bonded together and Jayce slid to a stop. Seika watched as the hair on the top of his head suddenly started standing up and he shifted the hammer back to ranged mode but as it charged the dark purple energy ball shot out deep red vibrating bolts that smashed into the ground and into Jayce.

Jayce's agonizing screams ripped Seika from her daze as he convulsed beneath the merciless bolts until the ball of essence began to spin fast and quickly, then spun itself right into dust. Jayce dropped to his knees as he groaned and Viktor took a few strides to him, slapping him with the back of his hand, then that same metal hand sought the man's throat and gripped tightly. Jayce's choking caused a soft hum of satisfaction to come from the metal man but with his focus temporarily distracted, Jayce lifted up the hammer quickly and slammed the base down, his hammer instantly emitting a large electrical field that forced Viktor away from him. Jayce coughed as he stood and wiped away the fresh line of blood from his nose as he glared at Viktor.

Seika watched in horror, then she suddenly stood, her six legs quivering beneath her as her sights shifted. Singed stood just to her left, and past him, she saw Warwick. The howler growled towards her and she exhaled lightly, backing away silently from the scientist who hadn't realized she'd woken up, and when she was far enough away, she turned, running towards Jayce and Viktor, promises of killing the man who tortured her lost in her desire to save the man she loved.

...

Jayce and Viktor ran at one another again and Viktor used his left forearm to block the attack, easily redirecting the hammer towards his left. Viktors left hand clenched and moved, colliding with Jayce's gut as the man was physically forced back, and Jayce coughed up a glob of blood that proceeded to dribble down his chin as little droplets splattered the man's heavy armor. He raised his hammer, taking but a second to collect himself, then he was surging forward, his hammer aimed for the staff. The metallic man saw through his advancements, raising it high above his head as he stepped back, the hammer swinging on air.

Seika had slipped behind the pair, her back now facing Ekko's group as she stared at Viktors back, and just beyond that, Jayce's front. She watched as Viktor violently punched Jayce, but when Jayce swung and Viktor raised the staff above his head, she moved and jumped above him. Her teeth gripped the metal staff and the sudden appearance of someone above him faltered the metallic man while her back paws kicking off of his right shoulder gave Seika the opportunity and momentum to rip the staff from the man's grasp. She landed past Jayce, looking back as Viktor's laser responded to her and began firing towards her, but Jayce blocked them, the laser burning into his hammer as he attempted to take back Viktors attention.

He wasn't...

Why wasn't he...

Time appeared to be moving in slow motion again.

The Hexcore whispered angrily and Seika dropped the staff, letting it clatter to the ground. Warwick and Singed were battling, but the scientist threw a vial within the howler's face and attempted to slice at the beast with a blade of some sort.

Vi and Sevika continued to fight one another, a mix of their blood staining the ground around them. Mel was struggling to keep her pace as she fought off another Chemtank and Caitlyn struggled with another Chemtank that appeared to be crawling up the building after her...

Ekko and the Firelights were beaten and bloodied, but fighting nonetheless as they clashed against the gang members while Cecil was taking on his group on his own, his attention shifting to a small group that had begun launching the grenades up to the only long-range enforcers left. He was unable to make it in time.

Another barrage of bullets came from her left and she found Jinx fighting against a Chemtank who raced towards her, blade drawn for the kill.

The blue flames behind her licked its hot heat towards her back and Seika looked down at the fleshy Hexcore, then to Viktor whose attention still sought to be on the one who'd pulled away his most valuable weapon.

Seika shifted back, and her hand reached to grasp the staff. She straightened, raising the staff above her as the voices grew louder, screaming in her ear and she slammed the top of the staff into the ground with an emotional yell. The metal broke, cracking into pieces and the Hexcore tumbled free, its tendrils waving wildly in every direction but hers.

"Jayce!" Seika called as he managed to push Viktor off of him for just a moment. His face turned and he saw the Hexcore on the ground and understood immediately. He shifted his whole body, switching the Mercury Hammer into its ranged mode, and launched an energy ball at the Hexcore. A decently sized explosion detonated where it was, the force of it sliding Seika back a bit, but when the dust settled, the Hexcore remained, a red shield vibrating around it.

Viktor suddenly appeared behind Jayce and pulled him into a tight chokehold. Seika watched as Jayce struggled while Viktor ripped the hammer from Jayce's grasp and threw it behind them. Seika looked between Jayce and the Hexcore, her heart hammering away in her chest as Jayce's legs twitched and his eyes rolled back into his skull. His hands reached until they grasped the mask and with as much energy as the man could suffice, Jayce ripped away the mask and it clattered to the ground.

Then Seika was falling onto her knees before the Hexcore, and with one look at Viktor's unmasked face and Jayce who inched nearer and nearer to death, she inhaled shakily and smashed both of her palms onto the fleshy orb.

The loud shriek echoed in the square, its high pitch slicing through the sounds of the battle. Caitlyn watched from atop her perch in horror as the Chemtank's body collapsed back to the ground level. Seika's body arched backward unnaturally, hands still upon the Hexcore as the violent dark scarring grew vividly up her arms, down her torso, and into her face. The veins spread from large branching to tiny little pathways with even the whites of her eyes displaying the dark scarring in full force and blood spurt from her mouth. The Hexcore was swirling with an intense wind as red light and purple tendrils lashed out away from Seika. To her right, Caitlyn saw Jayce stumbling away from the man who was impenetrable to her bullets, and as he grabbed the metal stranger, hoisting him up by what little fabric remained of his cloak, she stopped.

It was Viktor.

...

Warwick had flinched from the shrieks near him and his eyes found Seika's figure, but Singed used that moment to bash him with his studded shield and pull out a tube from the chem pot on his back. A murky cream liquid spattered all around the ground Warwick was on and onto his paws and when the beast went to move to attack, he lurched forward, just barely catching himself as his paws stuck to the tacky tar substance. Warwick growled as Singed chuckled and slipped back through the mess of bodies the howler growling furiously after his departure.

...

Ekko had turned at the sound of the scream, peeking above the bodies to find its source and when he saw Seika, he yelled her name, but two gang members came after him with blades drawn and his focus was pulled away. The minigun above him had stopped as Jinx watched in horror as Seika's body contorted and twisted. Then screaming had stopped as the pain overwhelmed the silver-haired girl and then Jinx was off the roof and running towards her.

...

Vi and Sevika had stopped, panting and sweating heavily but the scream pulled both their focus and Vi turned to watch in terror until Sevika ran up behind her and slammed the blade of her knife down into the girl's left shoulder. Vi choked out in pain, fumbling to her knees as the Chemtanks descended, their circle around her growing smaller.

Vi faced the direction of Seika where just beyond her, the pillar of blue flames burned brightly. To her left, Mel was using her shroud to protect herself from multiple Chemtanks while behind her, Caitlyn was screaming at yet another Chemtank ascending up to her position. Blood dripped down her shoulder as her strength zapped from her, her will being lost as her blood painted the ground.

Sevika lightly dragged the blade along the back of the girl's neck towards the front leaving a red mark already bubbling up with blood.

...

Cecil watched in terror as Seika's body revolted from direct contact with the Hexcore, but in his distractions, he was pulled from his hoverboard and thrown. The little yell that came forth from his throat caught Jenna's ears and his original platoon of Firelights came racing to save him as the group of gang members he had been fighting came crashing down on him.

...

Jayce felt the metal man falter in his strength and constitution, and he took the opportunity to turn the tables. He'd hoisted the heavy metal man up, pushed by pure adrenaline, but he felt the man's mental state waver, Viktors red eyes closing then opening, flashing with the same golden amber he'd known for so long.

"Jayce?" Viktor questioned softly, his hand going to the one Jayce was using to hold him up. He'd spoken as if he'd awoken from a long nap, drowsy and unaware of his surroundings, but the red flashed by in his eyes as he let out a noise of pain then slipped into unconsciousness, bringing them both to the ground.

"Viktor, Viktor!" Jayce repeated, shaking the man, but then he turned, facing Seika and terror took over his face.

...

Vi didn't see Sevika standing before her, her vision focusing on Seika as the veins pulsed violently from the Hexcore she'd placed her hand on, its tendrils waving maniacally as it lashed out with seething red light until it suddenly burst into dust and Seika fell forward, collapsing to the ground.

Jinx had leaped over a Chemtank, her feet carrying her to Seika and as she pulled the silver-haired girl into herself protectively, the blue flames licking at the sky behind him, then Jinx turned, mini-gun aimed at the Chemtank that followed her.

Vi snapped, her left gauntlet moving upward and catching Sevika in the chin as she stood up. The woman flew, but Vi disregarded her and instead charged up her right gauntlet as she punched through one of the Chemtanks blocking her, the body flying past Seika and through the firey curtain and dropping somewhere into Zaun below. Sudden gunshots rang out from behind her as she moved through the temporary open gap, yelling Seika's name while Caitlyn's shots brought down the few Chemtanks following her.

A throaty chuckle from her left pulled Vi's attention as the howler, Warwick laughed, looking in her direction.

"Who taught you how to punch, girl?" He questioned throatily but she ignored him. Jinx had turned her minigun on her, holding the girl close.

"Powder, we need to get her away from here."

Jinx looked between Seika and her sister and nodded, letting Vi pick up her left shoulder while Jinx picked up the other.

Jayce had somehow managed to grab ahold of the metal figure though his legs quivered as he struggled to carry him and he followed behind the three girls as they moved through the bodies, Ekko's team and Caitlyn clearing a pathway for them.

Caitlyn had managed to shoot the Chemtank attempting to get up to her and then the ones that were holding Mel down, giving the Councilor time to move to where Seika and Viktor were being hidden on the right backside of the building Caitlyn was standing on top of. Sevika suddenly rushed towards the little group and was immediately met by both Jayce and Vi and a fight broke out between them as Mel and Jinx stood protectively in front of the two that were unconscious.

Sudden loud cheering from the far sides of the square broke out as large metal sheets were laid out, opening up an entry point through the fire and Chemtank after Chemtank slipped inside. Sevika backed away from Jayce and Vi, and within an instant, several Chemtanks came to support her.

Jayce briefly saw the far side of Firelights and Heimerdinger struggle against the sudden appearance of reinforcements while Ekko and his team were met with a wave of reinforcements of their own. He swore softly, his sights shifting between Heimerdinger and Ekko, but Jinx suddenly rushed past them, gun focused towards Ekko and his team, and then she was climbing up the room, her minigun firing upon the gang reinforcements.

Jayce watched in amazement, then Firelight calls from his left pulled him from his thoughts and he rushed to help Cecil, firing his Mercury Hammer to push the reinforcements back from them.

...

Seika felt like she was on fire as if she'd stepped into the blue flaming curtain and never left. She didn't want to move but for a moment, she felt like she was flying. Gunfire and fighting roused her from her unconscious state and her eyelids fluttered open as Mel was using her golden metal shroud to assist Ekko and his group.

"Seika?!" She called out to the girl behind her and the silver-haired girl let out an exasperated noise, her vision looking around. Seika's eyes landed on the lying lifeless figure of Viktor and she let out a soft sob, rolling onto her stomach and slowly crawling to his figure. She nearly collapsed on top of him as exhaustion rippled through her.

"Viktor..." she said softly, one forearm on the ground bracing her weight while the other moved to lightly thumb his cheek.

"Viktor," she whispered again, not noticing the tears that streamed down her face until she'd wiped her face with the sleeve of the trench coat. She moved, her head hovering above his before lightly pressing her lips to his, whispering his name again and again in hopes it would bring him back to her, but a loud explosion pulled her sight in front of her. Reinforcements had flooded the square and Seika watched in horror as the groups fought tooth and nail, exhaustion evident, their blood and their enemies' blood staining the already red ground.

A soft gasp came from Viktor as he coughed, his hand moving to cover his mouth and Seika's sight was pulled down to him. His eyelids fluttered and she was met the amber eyes she was desperate to see; she saw the uncertainty and felt his hand reach out to lightly touch her cheek as warmth seeped into his eyes.

"I don't think I was able to help them, I couldn't keep my promise," he spoke between coughs as his eyes softened dotingly upon her, "but I'm glad I get to see you now, Seika."

...

Warwick had ripped away the fur and skin on his paws as he pulled himself from the sludge that trapped him for too long. The scent of blood was heavy and intense as the violence continued around him, but his eyes searched for the one he'd kill.

Instead, he saw the young group of Zaunites fighting back against the gang members. Their leader had blood slicked on his face and another member grabbed at their throat as they collapsed to the ground, their life-draining onto the ground. They were being overrun and the howler ran.

He didn't pick sides, it was not for Piltover nor was it for Zaun, but if Seika had placed her trust in them then so be it.

Ekko watched as Warwick tumbled full force into the group of Chemtank reinforcements in front of them, his weight and sudden appearance knocking many down which gave them ample time to recover and kill what they could reach. The leader of the Firelight and the Howler met eyes, but the green eyes of the beast drifted back behind him to Seika, the metal figure she was crouched over, and a shadow coming up behind them.

..

Seika took a shakey inhale when he'd said her name. He viewed her as if he was looking at her their first night together; he saw no scars, no violence, no pain. He smiled lovingly, his eyes finding the familiar brown trench coat, one that so vividly reminded him of his mentor, but as he was dragged into unconsciousness he watched a figure come up behind her, yank her back by her hair, and thrust a syringe into her chest.

Seika gasped and choked at the syringe that was being plunged into her chest, feeling the rippling burning of toxins that were being injected into her system. She heard her name being yelled, growly and animalistic and it kept her from falling back, pushing her body to focus as she searched for the source of the voice she'd come to know.

Mel had yelled at Singed's sudden appearance, but he'd made quick work of her, injecting something into her that forced her into the ground moments later.

Singed moved to grab at Seika's hair again but the howler running to him forced him into a defensive position, shield ready as he was tackled and pinned into the ground. Seika's eyes watched the two as they fought for their lives then she turned back to Viktor who'd slipped back into unconsciousness. Her heart swelled painfully as her eyes sought the violence before them.

Words from a few days ago echoed in her mind as she watched the carnage.

If the factories fall, then Sevika's lost regardless of whether or not we've won the battle...

She heard nothing but those words and the sound of her shaky breathing as she forced the pain wracking her body down deeper into herself.

A bird landed on the ground just after she and Viktor and it chirped happily, as if completely oblivious to all the bloodshed that occurred around it. It took Seika to moment to realize what it was; it was a bluebird. It hopped towards Seika, chirping melodically, its song piercing through the screams, and Jenna's words rang in her ears again.

When they saw a bluebird, they found favoring winds... Janna has always favored the Undercity...

The bird stopped, tilting its head at the girl, then took to the sky, circling above her. Janna was here, she'd come to help them, to save the Undercity.

Seika's sights fell to Viktor again and her hand moved, creeping into her pocket as she pulled out the Gemstone. She gently picked up his hand, placing the gemstone within his gloved palm and closing his fingers around it. Her lips moved to his forehead and she kissed it delicately then she forced herself to pull away from him.

"I love you," she whispered softly, and stood, grasping the nearby wall for support. Warwick had turned to face her at her sudden movement, but Singed used his shield to club him in the face again. The scarred veins on her face pulsed violently as her eyes found Singed and she straightened, giving a subtle nod to Warwick then she stepped over Viktor and walked through the battlefield.

She heard Vi call her name just as Sevika kicked at her again, and with the pink-haired girl distracted, the kick landed and she went flying back. Vi looked up, watching as Seika smiled at her and continued walking, but when Sevika went to stab her blade into her again, she caught the woman's fists, pushing upwards, but her strength wasn't what it'd been earlier and as the tip of the blade neared her chest Jinx came barreling into the fight, smashing her minigun up into Sevika's face.

Sevika swore as her nose broke instantly, blood spurting down her face, and she switched her metal hand to her whip and launched it at the blue-haired girl, the bladed end catching the young girl's right arm and left leg as it swung around her. Just as Vi powered up her gauntlets, a lone grenade landed on top of the building behind her, thrown from somewhere within the group Jayce and Heimerdinger had been fighting. The rooftop exploded and Vi screamed Caitlyn's name, rushing to get to the Kiramman girl as Jinx's attention flitted between Vi and Sevika.

The gang leader sneered.

"I've wanted to kill you for a long time," she said, readying to fight the girl. Jinx said nothing as funneled all her anger into her minigun, then she fired upon Sevika.

When Seika approached the flaming curtain she shifted, the Windfarer standing proudly within that sector of the square. And with one flap, then the second flap of her wings, the flames had temporarily died out enough for her to lift herself up off the ground and into the air fully. She heard a call behind her, looking to see Jayce, blood dripping from two different spots on his face and after a moment of looking down at him, she turned, pushing through the pain, through the burning feeling upon her flesh to the sudden maelstrom in the waters outside the city. Seika gritted her teeth as she flew, her wings threatening to fail at any moment as her vision blurred before her, but when she neared deeper water, she unintentionally began to descend, flying becoming too much for her, but when she expected to crash into the water, a funnel of wind lifted her up and moved her within the storm. Rain pelted her feathers, but when they entered the eye Seika saw a floating figure, the white fabric of her outfit moving with the light breeze within the eye as the woman's golden hair was pulled upward with the wind.

The wind funnel placed the Windfarer upon something solid, but when Seika looked down, all she saw were the gentle waves of the ocean. She didn't have the strength to put out something like this so it must have been...

Seika shifted back, tumbling to her knees as her face just barely lifted to view the goddess before. Janna's face softened as she floated through the air just before the girl.

"Will you help us? Please?" Seika whispered, nearly begging.

Janna said nothing as her hand moved to touch the girls flaming face, the veins marring her skin causing her skin to be hot to the touch, but the goddess cooled it and Seika melted into her palm.

"I have always wanted to help the Undercity, I too share similar dreams of Zaun, of their freedom, of their life free of the poisons that impede them," she finally said, kneeling down before Seika.

"But I cannot do it all, even with my power. I've driven away plumes of toxic gas before, but it must always go somewhere, for I cannot snap something out of existence. Toxins are a fickle creature and their purification is extensive and difficult, so much so that even I cannot handle it properly in such large quantities" Janna's hand moved under Seika's chin and she lifted the girl's face higher to look into her eyes.

"Can you save me?" Seika asked softly.

"No child, I am unable to cure you for the toxins have spread throughout far too much of your body..."

Seika let out a choked sob and Janna wiped away the tear that slipped from one of Seika's eyes.

"If I left right now and flew home, would I die?" Seika asked and Janna's eyes closed briefly, then opened.

"Eventually," she admitted.

"Would it hurt?" Another tear fell from her eye and Janna wiped it away, her eyes looking down, giving her her answer.

So she could either die slowly, painfully, and unable to help the undercity, or she could die quickly and help them.

Seika stood, her legs shaking as she got to her feet, and a sudden burst of wind shrouded her, zapping away her pain until she could breathe like it was any other day.

A smile came over her face but when her eyes found the scarring that still vividly pulsed, her eyes looked up to Janna.

"I can only temporarily take away the pain," she stated as she placed a tender kiss on the silver-haired girl's forehead.

"Seika," she said and the girl realized she'd never even introduced herself to the goddess, "please, take these with you," she said, giving her a small but entirely filled pouch.

"Seeds?" Seika questioned when she opened the pouch and Janna nodded.

"They will help Zaun become what we've always believed it could be," she spoke, smiling warmly as Seika clutched them to her chest.

"I'm sorry child," Janna said suddenly, "I wish there was another way. What I would give for there to be another option..."

Seika returned the smile but said nothing; this was her decision and if every option led to her death, then she at least wanted the option that led to the betterment of the undercity.

"Thank you," Seika said, turning to leave, placing the drawstring of the pouch between her teeth as she shifted back into the Windfarer. Her long graceful wings extended out, flapping a bit as she tested her false strength and her long tail waved with the gentle breeze of Janna's creation.

"Search for my funnel, it will give you the access you seek," Janna said, opening a pathway from the eye completely out of the maelstrom.

Seika looked back, bowing her head a bit, then parted ways from the goddess, flying through the tunnel she'd made and out above the ocean towards Piltover, and more importantly, towards Zaun.

...

When Seika had shifted and flown from the square, Warwick seethed, ripping the shield from Singed before throwing him into the wall of the building next to him, but his thoughts were too engrossed with Seika and he left behind an unconscious Singed as he moved through the square.

As he ran, a body crashed into him, knocking him slightly to the side, and when he lashed his jaws out instinctively, Jinx slid back away from him. She'd seen Seika shift and fly away, and when Vi re-entered the fight with Sevika after checking that her enforcer friend was well, the blue-haired girl's attention had turned towards her friend. Sevika's numbers were dwindling at this point, but the woman was too stubborn to surrender and would either win or die trying.

Sevika was a bitch but Jinx had little interest in taking her life, not when something more important was happening. The howler growled at her, but stood, running in the direction Seika had taken off from and Jinx was behind him. The flames were too tall for her to see past and she moved, snaking between the fighting bodies of Ekko and his group as she climbed the closest building to them, hoisting herself up onto the bloodied roof and from where she stood, she saw her. The silver creature with dark veins pulsing along most of its body. It flew gracefully as it ascended, each flap bringing her closer and closer to Zaun.

Jinx called her name loudly, but she was too far, and when the creature suddenly neared the city, a twisting funnel of wind erupted from the middle of the undercity, whipping a strong wind about the area, and Seika shifted her aim towards the funnel.

...

Jayce, Cecil, and his group of Firelights stood around the bodies, the reinforcements had been taken care of and as they moved to assist Ekko and his group, they halted, the sudden tornado that bursts from the depths of Zaun pulling their focus and dampening the curtain of blue flames. They watched as Seika flew, but her wings faltered, crumbling in a bit, but a sudden gust of wind brought her upward towards the entrance of the funnel.

...

Caitlyn had finally woken after the grenade that had detonated on the roof near her had knocked her unconscious, but when she finally opened her eyes, she saw the bodies of the gang members around her. The square was drenched in blood and to her left Jayce, Cecil, and his group of the Firelights looked upward to an unusual tornado whipping in the same spot within the center of Zaun. Caitlyn's eyes found Seika's flying figure, the scarring on her body evident past the silver feathers that made up the Windfarer and she stood, stumbling to catch her balance.

Vi slammed one more fist into Sevika's face, hearing the woman's skull crack loudly and the leader collapsed to the ground, her life force spilling onto the pavement. The Chemtanks that had surrounded them during their fight had long since been taken care of by either herself or someone else and it became apparent that that was it. The pink-haired girl stumbled and collapsed to her feet as blood dripped from a variety of wounds.

Caitlyn called her name and rushed to her side, holding her chin up to look at her kiss her softly on the mouth.

"We did it cupcake," she said as her eyes lolled from side to side.

"Where's Seika?" She whispered and Caitlyn's face turned to watch as the Windfarer descended into the mouth of the funnel, disappearing behind the opaque sheets of wind that had pulled material, dust, and dirt into its ever-spinning cycle.

The blue curtain of flames dissipated as Heimerdinger switched his invention off, his eyes following Seika, while Ekko finished off the last of the gang members.

It was over...

The groups watched as Warwick fled to the bridge, his eyes had been watching Seika's flying form, but when he turned back he was forced to see Singed pinned down by a large group of enforcers that had come from further within Piltover. He growled; he'd missed his chance... but... His eyes sought the shape that disappeared from his sight and those from within the square watched him slip back into the darkness of Zaun.

Vi finally stood as Jayce rushed past everyone to the far corner where Mel and Viktor remained, untouched and still unconscious. The enforcers near him who arrested Singed had already called for medical assistance and soon groups of medical staff were flooding the square.

Vi's eyes searched and she found a lone figure with long blue braids on the top of one of the buildings. She went to call her name but stopped, and instead, thanked her softly.

Jinx turned back to look at her sister, then looked back to the funnel twisting within Zaun. She looked back to Vi, gave a single nod, and after one last glance to the heavily injured Ekko, she grabbed her minigun and disappeared, ignoring her sister's calls out to her.

...

Within the funnel, Seika's figure changed as she fell. The burning of her wounds had come back in near full force, but as she fell, her eyes opened and she saw the hole Janna's wind had opened up that led directly into the toxic waters of Zaun. Not only was it the main water source for Zaun, but it also contained direct access to the factories of Zaun through the array of piping that existed throughout the city.

She plunged into the water, the chilly liquid calming her burning almost immediately, but then a second later, her body erupted in fiery pain. She felt the veins heating achingly hot and she screamed, bursts of bubbles erupting from her mouth as she floated further and further into the murky depths. She felt the toxins flowing into her now, attacking her body violently and she thrashed from the pain as water filled her lungs.

Was it enough? Was she enough?

Fear took over her body as her brain blacked in and out from lack of air. Fear of failure, fear that her actions would have been for nothing...

The murky water concealed the light she knew was above her as her vision blurred and she saw them again. Viktor, Jayce, Cecil, Ekko, Vi, Caitlyn, Mel, Warwick, Jinx, all the Firelights, Janna... all the people who were striving to make this place better for those who lived here. She believed in them; they could do it... she watched the pouch she'd been carrying float above her and its seeds escaped their confines, letting the currents take them in every direction and she sent another silent prayer.

Her heart suddenly calmed as she smiled unaware of the creeping darkness that started at her toes, coating the entirety of her skin in the same color her scarring was but thicker and more textured. It moved up her body, seeking out every inch of her flesh and when it took over her face, the dark toxic sludge coating her eyes, she let her eyelids close as she sunk into the depths beneath Zaun.

Chapter Text

The funnel within the center of Zaun disappeared as quickly as it appeared and as the little group who'd fought against the darkness of the Undercity, each of them bruised, bloodied, and in some ways broken, watched expectantly as the winds died down until there was nothing more than a gentle breeze that reverberated around them and the destroyed square they stood within.

"Where is she?" Jayce asked, his eyes fleeting from the spot the funnel once was then towards members of the group.

Caitlyn had one of Vi's arms slung over her shoulder and was assisting her in walking towards the group, though upon their arrival, Vi collapsed to the ground, waving a hand when they attempted to help.

"I just need to rest," she breathed lightly as she released the gauntlets from her arm and ran a hand through her hair, dragging blood from her face up into it. Ekko dropped beside her and they used one another as a brace, their weight leaning into each other as he wiped away some of the sticky drying blood upon his face and scalp. Scar had moved to inspect his wounds but the young inventor waved him off as he let out an exhale, pain wracking through him.

Jayce's sights finally moved back, but his eyes widened as he weaved past the little group and ran to the entrance of the square towards Mel and Viktor's still bodies.

"Mel! Mel!" Jayce called, turning the woman over onto her back. She let out a soft groan, her hand moving to her forehead as her eyes slowly opened.

"Jayce?" She whispered in her daze and the man held her to his chest as his arms wrapped around her protectively.

"What happened?" She asked, pushing through the unconsciousness that threatened to overwhelm her again.

"We won," he said softly as his hand cradled one of her cheeks and when she smiled, his head lowered to touch his forehead to hers before giving her a passionate kiss.

Mel's hand clung to his bloodied mussed suit as if letting go would be letting go of him entirely, but when his lips finally pulled from hers, any worry she had melted away when Jayce's large arms wrapped around her back and beneath the hollow of her knees as he lifted her up. Waves of enforcers had flooded the square, moving to assist the injured survivors and a large group surrounded the pinned Singed and unconscious Viktor.

Jayce moved to the stretcher nearing him, placing Mel delicately upon its surface, but when he went to speak, his name was called from the group near Viktor.

"Go," Mel said softly, giving him a warm smile. Jayce's brows furrowed, his soul being torn in two, but with a gentle nudge on his chest from Mel, Jayce nodded and moved away from her.

His voice was called again and he rushed, picking up his hammer and he promptly turned to Viktor.

The co-inventor of Hextech has groaned once, then again as he moved, his head twisting to face one direction then the next. As the group of enforcers around him backed up, Jayce stepped towards him with uncertainty coursing through his entire body, and the Zaunite's eyes fluttered open softly.

His hands were clenched and he could feel something within his grasp, but the headache throbbing within his skull was more than enough distraction from what he was holding.

"What...?" Viktor whispered, his face lolling to his left as he came eye-to-eye with the mercury hammer. With shock plastered on his face, Viktor spoke Jayce's name.

The Councilor froze and Viktor saw the hammer waiver just bit as the hands that held it shook.

"Jayce?" Viktor asked again.

"Viktor? Is it really... you?"

Viktors brows furrowed and another flash of pain violently attacked the inside of his skull. Intense and horrifyingly vivid images of Jayce bloodied before him caused Viktor to shake his head, forcing the images to leave him. He groaned softly as he sat up slowly, the action alone incredibly difficult as one hand moved to his pounding forehead.

"But... But I saw her... I saw her Jayce, I thought I died I--"

More images attacked him, their vividness causing an intense wave of fear as he saw Seika, eyes bulging out of her skull as she was being suffocated, her hands gripping the gloved hand that kept her from taking a breath. A glove that looked remarkably like the ones he was wearing. The images flashed again and she was contorted, her spine bent disturbingly far back as both of her hands were upon the Hexcore.

"Viktor she--"

Viktor groaned as more images forced themselves upon him; she was looking down at him, one of shock and relief, but her beautiful skin became scarred with the same vein he'd found on her side their first night together. Her blue eyes were marred with the markings, the image changed and his gloved hand was cradling her markless cheek, then the image distorted and she was scarred, her exhaustion evident.

One last short scene found him, one that mortified him as a hand yanked her back from him and plunged a syringe deep into her chest. The face behind her that was hidden by a neck gaiter made his blood run cold as the breathing he'd heard in Singed's lab that was not his or his mentors echoed in his mind.

The foreign entity in his hand suddenly felt like the weight of a thousand worlds and as Viktor blinked away the images, his head turned to his closed fist. He released his hand and there, settled within his palm, was the gemstone.

The weight within his palm told him that it was real enough, but he didn't entirely believe it until his other hand lightly poked the stone he and Jayce had spent so long creating and perfecting.

"Jayce... is she...?" Viktor asked, his head looking to turn to his co-inventor.

Jayce had raised his hammer again at Viktors sudden outburst, but when the Zaunite looked at him, he immediately lowered it.

"I-I don't know," he spoke honestly, his eyes finding Zaun where the wind was still and the rest of the group was huddled, their sights torn between looking in the direction of Seika and back towards him and Viktor.

Viktors eyes found the gemstone before he clenched it tightly within his palm.

"Did the Hexcore..."

"She destroyed it-- I thought my hammer would be able to, but it couldn't, and then she just put her hands on it... it turned to dust Viktor--"

"Where is she?" Viktor asked, suddenly standing and slipping the gemstone into one of his pockets. The group of Piltovian enforcers took a step back at the man's sudden rise, but Jayce stepped closer to meet him.

"I don't know Viktor, somewhere within Zaun maybe--"

Viktors head turned to look at Singed who was now being escorted by a large group and their sights met. The young man's brows furrowed and he walked away from Jayce to his mentor, a fire in his eyes, flaming and intense, but unlike the one the Hexcore had brought forth.

Singed looked down at his apprentice, a scowl on his face. They'd lost the war, but more importantly, he'd lost his specimen. His eye fleeted to the direction the beast flying in the air had gone and he wondered if one day he might find her body. Would she become what Vander had? The possibilities were endless and thrilling, causing a blood-chilling grin to appear on his face as the neck gaiter loosened and fell beneath his chin.

Viktors fists clenched at his side as the enforcers holding Singed stiffened, their gaze shifting between the metal man and to their Councilor who stared worriedly between the pair.

"Why her?" Viktor finally asked and Singed's eye found his apprentice again who raised a single eyebrow in response.

"The girl? I desired to know her biology, what exactly it was that made her function the way she did, and I did everything I could to find out," he spoke while lightly adjusting his shoulders as his eyes fleeted back to the place the girl had disappeared to within Zaun again.

"Was she there when I was...?" Viktor asked, his face falling a bit as the breathing he'd heard in his mentor's lab suddenly echoed in his thoughts.

Singed's face suddenly shifted to something akin to disappointment and his eye lost any emotion they may have had for the boy. This was the second time the boy had let his feelings disrupt the process of science.

"You said you understood," Singed spoke as he leaned forward, "it appears I was wrong."

Viktor snapped, grabbing the older man by the collar of his jacket and ripping him from the grasp of the enforcers behind him. He shoved him to the ground, clambering on top of him as the enforcers around him struggled to gain some sense of control of the situation.

"It could have been anyone, but you did this to her, Singed!" Viktor yelled as he pulled his free hand back, anger coursing through him. Viktor felt the pull of people behind him, but his own strength was too great as he pulled his extremities from their grasp. Viktor did not see the blood that splattered on the stone beneath his feet, nor did he feel as he was ripped back from Singed as his own anger seethed through every metallic and fleshy fiber of his being.

Her breaths echoed in his thoughts again, rapidly shifting from the pained gasps he heard in that lab and the pleasurable ones from their most intimate moments. He didn't hear Jayce's voice calling him, nor did he hear Singed's maniacal laughter. His eyes looked towards the blue sky and he saw her eyes again, glittering in the light and he couldn't bring himself to imagine what they looked like in that dreary lab.

"Viktor," a high-pitched voice ripped through his blindness.

He'd been fighting against Jayce and the few enforcers who had grabbed ahold of his arms, in fact, he'd been so blinded by his own thoughts and rage he hadn't even the mental capacity to use the laser still integrated into his shoulder.

Viktor slumped within the hold of the Piltovians, his face falling before turning slowly to face the voice he knew so well. One he'd looked up to, one he had aspired to be...

He heard his voice again, this time, echoing in his thoughts.

She said she loved you.

And his eye finally focused on the yordle in front of him.

Heimerdinger was beaten, dried blood clumping on bits of his fur and one of his eyes had hemorrhaged in the inner corner. One awkwardly bent finger in a hand he held almost delicately hinted at it being broken, but injuries aside, the yordle was alive despite the bloody battle he'd endured.

"Professor..." Viktor responded and the hands holding onto his person loosened immediately. The metallic man slumped forward when he was finally released but he caught himself, his eyes unwavering as he started at the battle-worn yordle.

He hadn't even realized he was there... How much had he not realized?

Heimerdinger's eyes found the line marring Viktor's face, then his eyes found the armor and the yordle wondered how much of it was his at-one-time assistants' flesh and how much of it wasn't. Though the look the young Zaunite gave him proved that any influence the Hexcore had once had over him was gone, and when he rose to his feet, Heimerdinger looked up at him with furrowed brows.

"Where is she?" He asked softly.

The yordle swallowed his emotions, his brows wavering a bit as he shook his head lightly, his hand moving to his mouth as he cleared his throat. A meager attempt at hiding his feelings, and thus the yordle turned away, walking from the two men and back towards the group.

Viktor turned to look at Jayce, who in turn met his eyes, but then he looked back towards Heimerdinger who walked towards a group of people. From here he recognized the Kiramman girl, Caitlyn, and her Zaunite friend Vi but there were many others he did not recognize.

His feet moved forward, seeking out Seika and he followed behind Heimerdinger towards the group who'd, over time, become surrounded by a variety of enforcers and medical personnel.

A young dark-skinned boy with white dreadlocks was waving someone off as Vi let out another hiss in pain. When the group of strangers found him though, a large man, a Chirean from what Viktor could tell, rushed towards the front, blade ready and long teeth bared, though his right arm was noticeably broken as it waved uncontrolled with the Chirean's movements.

"Viktor," Caitlyn spoke softly, worry and shock overcoming her as Jayce walked up behind him. Viktor watched the dark-haired girl's eyes fleet between him and Jayce, but he said nothing.

The young boy suddenly launched himself towards Viktor, pulling out some kind of club as he and Scar stood side by side.

"This guy nearly killed Seika, now you're letting him go?" He yelled angrily as he readied his weapon. Viktor's face fell as he was forced to realize the actions he'd committed, conscious or not and the thought of hurting her made him want to vomit as an invisible blade twisted in his chest. The images were real and true, what he had seen had happened. What if he'd killed her in the end? If his strength had been too much and she'd --

"Viktor," Vi spoke and he was pulled from his thoughts, his eyes finding hers.

She hadn't known Viktor long at all, but he was always guarded and distant. He seemed to only be open with Jayce, Seika, and the yordle, but the way he looked in her eyes at that moment, filled to the brim with worry and emotion, it was the first time she truly saw him. Her own heart was raging an internal battle; she so desperately wanted to beat him into a pulp. She saw him still, holding Seika by the throat as her eyes bulged out of her skull, but who that was, was not who was standing before her.

"It's okay Ekko," Vi said, looking away as she was unable to meet Viktor's eyes anymore.

"What the hell are you saying Vi?" Ekko said, his face whipping around to face her, then back to the man before him.

"Ekko," Heimerdinger's voice rang out and he gave the young boy a soft smile and a single nod.

The Zaunite huffed angrily and both he and the Chirean stood down, the latter returning to his place back within the group of people behind them. The boy's eyes glared intensely at Viktor but he met his gaze. Seika had mentioned a group of people within Zaun, trying to make a difference, hiding away within the depths, their secret place filled with laughter and light. There was also the one who fought alongside her on the bridge that night that occurred so long ago.

"You fought on the bridge with her, against Jinx?" Viktor said, connecting the pieces together.

"What of it?" He responded almost aggressively.

Viktors sights moved from the boy then to the group of strangers and he smiled, letting out a soft scoff.

"The Firelights," he said with a soft chuckle as his eyes found Ekko's apprehensive face and he smiled just a bit, his eyes looking out towards the Zaun. "She spoke of you fondly." He wanted to know how it was this came to be, how the Firelights of Zaun, two Councilors of Piltover, an esteemed professor, a Zaunite, and the only daughter of a Piltovian noble house came to battle against the violent forces of the undercity -- and win, but he wanted to hear it from her. He didn't give Ekko a chance to respond before his face turned to Heimerdinger and he spoke.

"I'm going to find her," was all he said before he turned towards one of the pathways leading into the undercity.

A girl stepped forward to him but she was called back by one of her peers.

"Jenna, stay here."

"No, I want to find her too!"

Viktor turned to look back at the young girl who stiffened under his gaze. Just as he was to resume his path, footsteps scuffed near him and he turned around to find Jayce, Caitlyn, and Ekko standing before him. He met each of their determined eyes and gave a single nod before turning back and moving towards the stairway they'd take downwards, but before they reached the steps a sudden burst of violent wind whipped around them.

"What's happening?!" Caitlyn called out from behind him and Viktors eyes searched, his brain kicking into overdrive as the Hexclaw integrated into his shoulder rose and swiveled as he searched.

The wind had made a nearly impenetrable wall that moved, forcing them away from their pathway, and when they'd nearly made it back to the group it suddenly disappeared.

"You won't find her," a voice rang out and all eyes looked for the source, heads swiveling in all directions. Viktor's eyes landed on the sight of a floating woman who descended from within the pathway of the sun, the bright light behind her blacking out her shape until she lowered beneath it and before the group. The long white fabric of clothing making up her clothing moved with the new light breeze that had picked up and the group stared up in awe as her yellow hair glittered in the sunlight.

Viktor heard a soft gasp from somewhere behind him and the floating woman's face turned to look at the source and she smiled warmly.

"Janna...?" A soft feminine voice questioned quietly and Viktor's brows raised as his eyes widened. The goddess? He'd heard stories when he was a child, but it was all he thought they were. Simply an aimless religion one followed to gain some sense of security, but the very real figure before him told him otherwise.

She gave a single slow nod and then her face turned to look back to Viktor, whose brows lowered as he realized her words.

"You said we wouldn't find her," he repeated back to her as his eyes fleeted towards Zaun then back to her.

"I've always had a soft spot for Zaun," the woman spoke, her face turning to look towards the undercity, "and like Seika, I desperately desired to help. Toxins and chemicals are fickle and require very specific abilities. I can do many things, but purifying is not one of them. My winds can move the smog, but it will exist until it fully dissipates, Seika however, was different."

Viktor stepped towards the figure, brows furrowed and fists clenched.

"What happened to her?" His patience was waning, he was sick of this uncertainty.

"Seika was aware of her options," Janna said, looking back to Viktor, "she made her choice willingly." The goddess took a single inhale before she spoke. "I wasn't able to help her beyond ensuring she could make it to Zaun."

The rest of the group behind the metal man who had come to know Seika stepped forward, many with looks of worry on their faces, and Janna looked back at them before looking back out towards Zaun.

"What options?" Viktor asked, nearly pleading.

"She would have died regardless," Janna finally said after a moment of silence and Viktor felt the strength in his legs leave as he collapsed to his knees. The words he wanted to say, to scream were caught in his throat and when Janna looked back to him, his face fell.

No... No... Not again... He'd just gotten her back...

He saw her smile flashing through his mind again, he heard her laugh, he felt her touch on his cheek, his palm, his chest.

I'm here... he heard her as if she was right next to him...

His hand moved to his pocket and he pulled forth the gemstone that he then clutched to his chest.

"Her actions will change Zaun for the better, she wanted to help them. Whatever it was that caused the scarring on her body, it was too much for her to handle. Her death would have been slow and painful otherwise," Janna spoke through the silence.

The group behind Viktor was in shock, distraught looks on their faces as they struggled with the new information that they'd been given. She wasn't coming back, she wasn't returning. Viktors hands went to his face as he saw images of her with her hands on the Hexcore and the scarring that covered her face. He let out a choked noise as his body wracked violently with the emotions the Hexcore had once long-buried away, emotions Seika had brought forth with a single glance. She'd kept her promises; retrieve the gemstone and help the undercity... She'd done them both; what had he done? Cowered away making weapons? Aligned himself with the gangs of the undercity and lost himself in the darkness of the Hexcore? The same Hexcore Seika and Heimerdinger had begged him to destroy... He'd become a soldier, the violent dangerous Zaunite he'd never wanted to be. He'd told her that he'd never truly be lost when she was here, but she was gone now so what would happen...?

His hands lowered and he found the gemstone again; its association of some phenomenal life-changing invention long lost as the blue magical color reminded him of Seika. This little piece of magic was hers, something she'd found with thoughts of him on her mind. He still had a little piece of her...

His hand moved to his wrist and he lifted up his armor a bit, finding a red fabric bracelet still tied around him, the color contrasting against the dark metallic fibers that were once coated in flesh...

She wasn't here physically, but the mementos he had would be enough... they had to be...

He had to keep his promise... to help them. To actually help them...

Viktor took a moment to collect himself while he slipped the gemstone back into his pocket, then he stood. His gloved fists clenched at his side then loosened and after a quick glance up to the floating figure and a curt nod, he turned and moved towards the pathway to the undercity.

"Viktor!" Jayce called to him, rushing towards him.

"You heard what she said, Seika's not there..." the words tasted bitter on Jayce's tongue as he hated that he'd had to say them at all. He'd only just gotten Viktor back, the real Viktor, he didn't want to watch him slip back into what he was. The co-inventor of Hextech, his brother, stopped, standing still as he faced the undercity.

"Viktor, don't lose yourself again, please," Jayce pleaded, "she wouldn't want that. Stay here, and help--"

"They need me Jayce," Viktor interrupted, turning to face him. "I promised her I would help them, and I cannot do it from here."

Jayce looked at him with wide hopeful eyes, a sight Viktor had to turn away from; his resolution wouldn't waver. Viktor took one step away before Jayce spoke, catching him off guard.

"I promised her I'd help them too, Piltover will extend its full support to Zaun, who is, according to the vote we had the night of the attack from Jinx, a free and independent city."

Viktor gasped softly, but he continued facing the undercity as a soft smile crept onto his face and his eyes closed. He nodded again, his hair waving, and stepped forward towards the undercity.

"Viktor!" Jayce called out again, "I don't want to have to interrupt anything again!"

Viktor let out a soft chuckle as he called out behind him, "you won't have to," and as he descended into the smog-free undercity, his face raised towards the blue sky and he smiled, stray tears crawling down his face as he found what little peace he could.

Chapter Text

Viktor stood, leaning his forearms against the railing of one of the bridges within Zaun as he gazed at the sprawling city before him.

The life around him was vibrant and joyous as a year ago to the day, the undercity was pulled from the darkness and into that light. His metallic fingertips tinged rhythmically against the stone wall as he tapped his fingers to a nonexistent beat. The wind picked up, dragging a few leaves past him and up towards the sky, and Viktor's eyes found the trees.

A few days after the battle, tall saplings, the size of a full-grown man appeared almost overnight, and within weeks they'd grown to tremendous heights, the largest exceeding far above the top of the trench, so high in fact, that it could be easily viewed from the rebuilt Councilor meeting room in Piltover. The trees spread along the entire segment of the undercity, their roots finding hold deep into the ground beneath the city and its many sprawling levels while some burst from the rocky outcroppings and cliff faces that separated Piltover and Zaun, its twisting roots meandering in and out of the soil and rock. From there the roots had spread, integrating themselves into the stone walkways and creating large bridges that the Zaunites used readily in order to rebuild their city, and with the assistance of the trees, Zaun had become physically sound with perfect structural integrity.

The undercity had felt the strong winds of Janna's funnel that day and it'd torn a decent hole within the center of the city that flooded with heavy bursts of water not but a week after the incident, but the trees had grown alongside the newly made reservoir, their long winding roots weaving and braiding together until a proper landing had been made, leaving the last twenty feet of the deepest parts of Zaun beneath it, thrust into everlasting darkness.

They'd never found her. There was never any sign of her, and the waterway that the funnel had opened, one that was once murky and brown, was crystal clear when Viktor had happened upon it. It remained crystal clear to this day, untouched and unbothered by the level the roots had made, completely hiding it away from them. It seemed that Zaun was alright with that as they hadn't bothered with attempting to uncover the flooded depths beneath the wood, knowing that what would exist would simply be a watery abyss, and so they left their memories of violent days behind to drown in the reservoir in hopes that it would never resurface again.

Twelve hours after the battle as the undercity struggled to overcome itself after its most prevalent gang had been defeated, was thrust into darkness. The chemicals within the factories that provided light and warmth suddenly disappeared and workers swore the chemicals vacuumed back into their pipes and never reappeared again. The Zaunites spent many nights in fear as the piping built into the towering cliffs, integrated into their buildings and houses, and beneath their feet creaked and groaned as the chemicals were pulled from them into somewhere unknown, but the emergence of the roots stabilized the area, giving those within the undercity a small glimmer of reassurance. Reassurance that only grew with each day that some calamity did not befall them.

Jayce and Piltover had kept their word, readily assisting in the integration of providing energy and within a short few weeks, clean power flooded back into Zaun, the lights shifting from the chemical green that had for so long, bathed the undercity, into a soft warm yellow, something more akin to sunlight and Zaun rejoiced. Piltover flooded the streets with food and offered assistance in other economic bolsters and Zaunites and Piltovians alike now shared both cities, each working in the others areas. They'd become true allies, one crystalline golden city, the other green, and life-bearing; each with their own specialties.

Now Zaun stood before him, a hybrid of metal, stone, and plant as the trees had truly found residence within this place, and despite most of the undercity never having actually laid eyes on a tree before, they found comfort within their presence and treated them as respectfully as possible. Those who'd followed Janna had praised the trees as an act of her kindness and they'd decorated and cared for the trees without faltering. A general consensus became known within the population; do not harm the trees. Art had also become prevalent within the city and it wasn't uncommon to find murals painted, sprawling upon the outside walls of the bridges which gave the city a bright and colorful aura to it.

The Firelights had finally left their hiding and Heimerdinger stepped forth, bringing inventions that greatly assisted the undercity in rebuilding. Viktor couldn't recall a time he'd seen the yordle so happy, and the thought made him smile on occasion.

It'd been weeks before Viktor had found some strength to find out what all had happened to her. He remembered the day vividly, sitting in Jayce's office, Caitlyn and Vi with him, Heimerdinger sitting near him, and the group had all explained the story. He'd sat in silence, struggling with the idea of all that had happened after he'd departed Piltover, but with the little pieces of her that he kept on his person at all times, he felt grounded enough to continue his work.

Viktor's hand moved to his throat, lightly tugging on the chain around his neck and pulling the necklace out where there, secreted away within a small glass vial, was the Gemstone, encased, protected, cherished.

It glittered brilliantly in the bright daylight and Viktor smiled as he watched it twinkle, the sight reminiscent of a sight he viewed so long ago.

"Viktor?" A metallic gravelly voice asked from somewhere behind him. Viktor straightened, slipping the vial back beneath his clothing. He turned, looking towards the origin of the voice, and gave a small smile.

"Good afternoon Blitzcrank, did you find any trouble on your way here?" Viktor asked the metal golem as he turned, leaning back against the railing, his arms loosely crossing.

Viktor had spent days creating Blitzcrank in his new lab within Zaun. He'd wanted to create something that could rebuild Zaun, physically, but after Blitzcrank's creation, he began to see something further as the robot stepped forth, aware of its purpose and intending to achieve it. Somehow, the metal golem gained sentience and acted upon free will, though after many conversations, Viktor found the robot too also wanted to watch Zaun succeed, and together, along with Piltover and the Firelights, they'd assisted in helping Zaun rebuild itself.

The robot hissed as one of the gas chambers on its back released as he settled. He'd rushed in order to seek Viktor's company out sooner but for a few minutes, his speed would be lacking.

"I did not," the robot spoke, "but I did see a few kids playing a game. They howled and cried like dogs, speaking of a blood-thirsty creature. What were they talking about?"

Blitzcrank had been far behind in the history of Zaun, but he learned more and more every day. Viktors brows furrowed and his eyes sought out the sprawling city. Warwick, as he'd found out, the howler who'd nearly killed Seika, then assisted her later on, had disappeared after the battle, and no one had heard or seen him since. Voices whispered that he roamed the area beneath the city, crawling on the soggy wreckage of the long-lost city beneath them but such claims hadn't proved to be true and he was presumed to be dead.

"There used to be a creature, one who roamed Zaun long before your time, but he is gone now, though it seems stories of him are still spoken," Viktor explained curtly. Blitzcrank wanted to press for more information but he watched his creator's face slip into something heavy and distant, one he'd seen many times, particularly when a name was brought up or the old city was mentioned. He knew the name well and had heard it mentioned within the group who'd brought Zaun to the light; Seika. He saw a picture of her once too when the Firelights allowed Viktor and himself entry, his creator had spent a long while staring at a drawing of a silver-haired girl with dark roots and blue eyes. Heimerdinger had explained a little of the girl's importance, but Viktor never shared with him anything of her, but that she had brought about the change Zaun needed and that, despite the metal golems pleas, he would be unable to meet her as she was no longer alive.

The golem still hadn't quite grasped the concept of death, particularly as it wasn't something he could quite face, but he knew based on the emotions on the faces of those around him when it was mentioned, that it must be terrifying and saddening all at the same time. Emotions were complicated and complex, the golem had found out early in his sentience, but he enjoyed seeking out more information about them, but not at the expense of someone's own feelings.

The golems head tilted a bit as he studied his now silent mentor. He'd donned himself in a cream undershirt, a charcoal vest and slacks, and a soft brown waistcoat. A black tie with small silver and brown patterns was tucked neatly into his vest that had been paired with a black belt and black shoes, each with small silver accents, then a pair of black gloves that finished off his outfit. The Hexclaw was currently atop his left shoulder, but his creator had altered it, giving it fingers and increasing its mobility and manipulation, and now it was used as a third appendage that assisted the man greatly during his inventing.

Another breeze floated past them, waving some of the man's brown hair and he was broken from his trance.

"Come along Blitzcrank," he said, walking in the direction of their destination, his creation right behind him humming almost happily in the sunlight above them.

...

The largest tree that had grown beyond the trenches of Zaun had become a communal ground with several levels that surrounded the trunk of the tree, and on the highest level, one that was nearly in alignment with the entrance of Piltover was a large seating area that surrounded the tree. Life bustled within the area and the hanging lanterns that decorated the city waved in the gentle breeze.

One year...

Viktor had taken a seat on one of the benches, sipping the sweet warm liquid slowly. Blitzcrank had been carrying the container and when they'd finally arrived at the tree, Viktor took it from him and relished in the life around him. She would have adored this.

The others would be arriving soon, as they had agreed upon days prior, but Viktor relished in the time he had to himself as Blitzcrank had moved to play with some of the young children gallivanting about the area. He took another sip, frowning a bit as it wasn't nearly as tasty as Elaina had made it, but for his own lacking cooking skills, it was at least palatable. In his visits to Piltover, he'd passed by the bakery, and the shop where Seika had gotten many of her clothing, but he'd never brought himself to enter. He had no relationship with the clothing store owner and despite the many attempts at smiles and friendly gestures from the owners of the bakery, he still saw her sitting at the seat they'd sat at that morning. Perhaps that was what true happiness was? A movement to his right caught his eye and he found a young girl watching him through the crowd, two long braids hanging as she looked intently at him. Viktors brows furrowed; she'd been following him for months now, but every attempt at communicating with the girl caused her to flee; she was Vi's sister and she admittedly still caused trouble in Piltover, but most of it was nothing more than the antics of a rebellious teenager and never left any real damage or injury. Vi and Caitlyn continued to chase her, but based on Viktor's observations, the two simply put on the show, and as long as Jinx's antics remained exactly that, they'd permit it, for now at least. He hadn't the slightest idea why Jinx was so fascinated with him; perhaps she'd desired the gemstone? He wouldn't give it up so easily this time, but the emotional look currently plastered on her voice fought against the likelihood that she simply wanted the gemstone for its power. He looked at her almost expectantly. As if he was supposed to say or do something and it slightly frustrated him.

He heard mechanical and awkward laughter coming from Blitzcrank that momentarily pulled his attention, and when his eyes searched for the figure again, she was gone. He scowled softly and let out a soft huff, not understanding it at all.

Viktor spent another half hour relishing in the comfort the tree behind him brought him as Blitzcrank played with the children nearby. The first to arrive was Heimerdinger with his little poro by his side, the pair walking through the area so that the yordle could take a seat next to the young inventor.

The pair were silent, but it was a comfortable silence, particularly because each of them dreaded the day they'd awoken to, the finality of their reality that the girl who'd changed parts of them so drastically was gone.

"A year," Cecil finally spoke as Porofessor chased the little spots of light that found their way through the leaves above them.

Viktor let out a noise of acknowledgment, finishing off the sweet milk and closing the canister. He set it to his side as his free hand absentmindedly went to feel the small vial that rested against his sternum beneath his tie and undershirt.

Coming from a pathway somewhere within the undercity strode Ekko and a few of the Firelights. The young boy gave Heimerdinger a smile, found Viktor, continued the smile and a curt nod. They'd grown to respect one another as time had passed and now regarded one another as colleagues of a sort, each wanting the best for Zaun. The small group joined them, Blitzcrank finally pulling himself from the playful games of the children who had taken his attention and the group slipped into a quiet conversation as Viktor looked wistfully at the living Zaun around them.

"Viktor?" Ekko asked, brows slightly furrowed. Viktor turned to face the boy, blinking once as he attempted to recall what they'd been conversing of.

"You heard about Singed, right?" Ekko questioned watching as one of Viktor's fists clenched and the metal man nodded once.

He'd known for some time now, essentially since he'd escaped from Still Water Hold. He'd searched for a bit, but without Sevika and the chembarons, Singed had little hold in the city. Perhaps he'd move on towards Noxius or Demacia. A little part of him wanted to crush the man's throat, especially after what he'd done to Seika, but rebuilding Zaun was more important now. Zaun wasn't, by all means, perfect, and gang activity still occurred, but it was incredibly rare, especially as the civilians had banded together to fight back against the remaining Chembarons. Seika had been right when they'd made battle plans when their factories fell, the workers revolted and the Chembarons lost their power; many of them had been killed in the riots and it was only a little time before their entire hierarchy tumbled down, now all that remained were low-lives trying to pull them back to what they were but their actions were proving futile in the long run. It was clear that the Zaunites wouldn't return to the powerless group they once were. No longer would they allow themselves to be overruled by someone will ill will and intent, they'd found their backbone and were determined to keep their city growing and flourishing as it'd been for the past year.

Their conversation hushed at Viktor's lack of response, then transitioned into storytellings, Heimerdinger delving off into how he'd met Seika. Such conversation peeked Viktor's interest and his face turned as he listened intently. He'd never actually known and he found himself smiling warmly as Heimerdinger spoke of a younger Seika, hearing how wild her antics were back then.

"What of her mentor?" Viktor asked, but the yordle's brows furrowed, his face falling a bit as his head tilted curiously.

"I'm afraid I never met the man," he admitted, moving on until their conversation was interrupted by the rest of the joining party.

Jayce and Mel strode up, hand in hand as Jayce's mercury hammer rested comfortably on his shoulder. After the battle, Jayce hadn't been able to let the thing go and it remained with him at nearly all times of the day. Further back behind them was Caitlyn and Vi. Caitlyn had been officially deemed the Sheriff of Piltover and Vi had become a warden of the city and together, the pair had completely reversed any negative effects put in place by Camille and Marcus. Tension still existed between Ekko and Vi, particularly as the prior thought Vi was turning her back on Zaun but they'd keep it civil, at least for today.

The four were greeted by the group and integrated into the conversation easily enough.

The gang was here; everyone who'd been involved, nearly everyone who'd known her, well, except for...

"Do you think she would have liked me?" Blitzcrank asked softly, looking to Viktor who he'd moved to stand next to.

Viktor smiled softly; the robot had an odd fascination with being liked by others, something he himself had never given a single care to. He looked up at the metal golem standing next to him, his smile growing as he felt a soft touch around his wrist.

"I think she would have liked you very much Blitzcrank," he said and the golem let out a little happy metallic purr, eliciting soft laughter from those in the group who'd overheard their side conversation.

Movement caught his eye and Viktor found Jinx tucked away discreetly in a group of people, watching with eyes full of uncertainty, and the inventor's eyes remained meeting with hers, then looked away.

And so the group remained, settled beneath the largest tree as they spoke fondly of stories of their past, of interactions, bringing both tears and laughter as they savored in one another's company and mourned their loss.

...

On the lowest level of Zaun where the winding braiding roots had created a sturdy flooring ran a group of rambunctious children. They knew Zaun what it was a year ago when the watery depths they knew beneath them were the streets they roamed and explored, causing trouble and swiping what snacks they could until they were threatened with having their fingers cut off. Zaun may have changed but like any young child, they still found ways to get in trouble and today was no different. They'd slipped through the throngs of people, sneaking to a private area where little by little, they'd whittled away some of the roots. It'd taken weeks as on many days, they'd return and the roots would have grown over their work, but finally, they'd be able to access the area beneath, just to explore the area they once knew.

What started out as a dare became a reality as the eldest boy, spouting claims of bravery, slipped into the hole, and swung himself onto the unstable roof of a tall shanty a few feet from the opening. Getting out of here would prove harder than getting in, but the young children had learned it was easier to ask for forgiveness rather than permission and so one by one, all 6 slipped through the opening and onto the creaking old roof. Most of the area had been flooded with water, but as they slipped from the roof downwards until they reached the water, they were surprised to find it was shallow enough for them to walk with their heads above the surface. The eldest in front held his light above him, shining the dark area in white light as the little group explored, high-pitched and eager voices echoing in the cavernous area. Their movements into one of the main areas prompted a burst of light to explode under the water, causing an eruption of screams to burst from the children's lips as schools of brightly colored fish shimmered in the eldest boys' flashlight.

They wadded through the water until it shallower and then they stood in water no higher than their hips and continued, speaking in hushed tones as they made up grandiose stories as to why the adults hadn't come back down here.

"What if its cause the howler is here?" One young boy asked from near the rear, his voice shaking as the cold water chilled him slightly.

"The howlers dead, no one's seen him for months," the eldest boy chided, looking back to view the group. With the eldest boy leading them, the group continued, moving down through the Zaun they'd known for the entirety of their lives until they came across a rubbled building, and beyond that, a tunnel into the wall of the trench.

"Woah..." some of the boys echoed at the same time, mouths in open 'O's as they regarded the mouth of the cave. A sudden stench wafted to them from the cave and all the children gagged, some even responding by moving backward in an attempt to escape the smell.

"That smells awful, did you fart!?" One of the girls nearly shrieked as she coughed into her hands.

"Shut up, I didn't!" The eldest boy yelled back, turning around.

"Maybe it's the howler's dead body?" One boy asked with a high-pitched voice as his hands covered his nose.

More 'oooh's and 'aaah's echoed from the group and the eldest straightened, turning to face the group, his light shining over them. "Come on, let's find out," he said, much to the dismay of a few of the children, but he ignored them and turned back to the cave, wiping at his nose as he stepped forth, the water now at his ankles splashing softly.

He held the light above him as he entered the tunnel, realizing it went much further back than he'd initially thought. The light hardly permeated the darkness more than a foot and with his heart in his throat, the eldest continued, his hand moving to block the smell.

A guttural growl echoed from somewhere deeper within the cave and the boy froze, holding up the light as fear gripped him by the throat, then he heard it, soft panting like breathing, but deep and unlike anything he'd ever heard.

Was it the howler?

The boy stepped forward again, then again, and an outline appeared in the dark, moving and writing. He gasped softly, tears springing his eyes from both fear and the stench coming from the monster before him.

His feet unintentionally took another step again and the beast was bathed in bright white light. It didn't appear to have any solid shape as the muck that made up its body moved and rolled off of itself, then underneath and back into its shape. It was without any discernable features besides a round body, but when the light found it, it changed, growing another little round shape on one side that the boy could only assume was a head.

Fear caught the boy's breath and voice in his throat as the creature let out a guttural and bone-chilling shriek. Globs of the muck that was made of the beast launched out as the shrill screams of his friends outside the cave echoed. The goop covered the boy's mouth and he fell backward, but as the creature descended on him, he felt something grab his arm and pull him back towards the mouth of the cave. He tore the brown goop from his mouth, coughing and watching in terror as it rolled back to the creature. The boy turned, expecting to see one of his friends, but instead, he faced a furred snout full of razor-sharp teeth, glaring with angry red eyes.

The sounds of water came from his left and he knew his friends had run off in the darkness.

"What have you done boy," the howler growled as the beast from within the den screeched again, stomping towards them.

The boy yelled, moving to stand but stumbling again, and Warwick grabbed the boy in his jaws, clamping down enough to keep the boy from falling out but not enough to hurt him. The boy's flashlight moved wildly in the darkness and they heard the beast behind them. Warwick continued to run, moving along the best pathway he knew towards further down the direction the kids had come from. He'd left for but a quarter of an hour, the hunger pangs in his gut too much for him to bear, but before he'd found any scraps to eat, the screams of the kids caught him, and worse yet, the screeches of the monster he'd watched over safely in his den that he'd dug out even further into the rock echoed in the inky darkness.

As he crossed along the roofs of the building that peeked out above the water, pathways unintentionally made by the creation of the reservoir, and some he'd made himself. The splashing and screeching behind him spurred him as the screaming of the boy in his jaws nearly deafened him, but then he saw the little stream of light and realized it was where the kids had come from. He hopped over from one roof to another cleanly, ignoring the yelling of the child in his mouth as a horrific roar echoed in the darkness from somewhere behind them. The other kids had made it before them, clambering up the tall shanty as they looked back in fear. Their friend was within the jaws of the beast they'd been warned of, and now it raced for them, but unbeknownst to them, was the more terrifying creature who chased the howler of Zaun and the eldest boy.

They shrieked his name, struggling to push and pull one another through the tunnel as stomping from the root-ground above them quivered with fast movement. The people above had heard the commotion and come running at the sounds of terrified children.

Warwick heard the movement and threw the child up onto the roof, ignoring his cries as he landed painfully onto the shanty, but with the assistance of his friends, he stood and they managed to crawl through the small space, screaming above about the beast beneath the city.

Warwick ignored their calls above him, turning to face the nearing beast and he growled furiously. The soft light streaming in from behind him deeply worried him, but he hoped he could be of enough distraction.

The sludgy creature slipped from the water, its ambiguous limbs sloshing through the liquid as it faced the howler down and he growled again.

"Go back!" He snapped, leaping forward in a meager attempt to frighten it back towards their den. The creature weaved to and fro, and through the darkness, Warwick watched its shape move, its oozing surface moving within itself in an ever-constant cycle of moving upwards, outwards, down, then itself then repeating. The ooze never stopped moving, and when it slipped from itself, it simply rolled back into the main body, but he'd never seen it this aggressive.

He found what resembled the face of the creature, but without any discernable features, Warwick was unsure if its sights were on him, but the lack of movement made it possible, and so the howler began to sidestep, hoping it would turn and follow him completely, but when he'd stepped no more than two steps, a sudden beam of light flashed past him, one he'd unknowingly been blocking, and the beam shot straight into the beast.

The eldest boy, in his attempt to exit the nightmare he'd willingly entered, had scraped some of the rust and dirt off one of the metal panels making up the roof of the shanty, and with its reflective surface finding the light that trickled in from the bright world above, the light bounced right off and into the beast.

It howled and roared, shoving past the howler and clambering up the shanty to the light above.

Above the watery depths, the few adults in the area had surrounded the children, hearing their tales, but the children's fears and concerns fell on deaf ears as the adults turned to lecture the children. Not only had they affected the tree by damaging its rooting system, but the area beneath them was dangerous.

"No, wait!" The eldest boy pleaded as he cried, "there was this sludge monster!"

He waved his hands manically as his friends watched in terror; they'd only seen the howler.

"It was gonna kill me!!!" The boy yelled as he screamed, but another scream overtook his, one that caused the Zaunites blood to run cold. A sludgy extremity reached through the hole in the ground and immediately the group stepped back in fear, pushing the young children behind the rows of adults who'd come to witness the scene.

A portion of the root flooring was shredded away and a shapeless ball of dark brown sludge pulled itself from the depths beneath Zaun. The group broke out into shrieks as the daylight coated the creature in bright light. It reflected the Zaunites screams with guttural roars of its own, roars that echoed throughout the city. The group fleed, running in pure panic and terror as the creature chased them down.

Warwick clambered up the shanty and flung himself through the hole, clawing his way up into the light that instantly blinded him. He growled loudly as the screams within the vicinity violently attacked his ears; he hadn't seen the sun in so long, hadn't heard the voices of people, now it was barraging him all at once and it overwhelmed the beast.

The roars of the sludge monster pushed him forward though and he shook his head, forcing his eyes to open as they adjusted to the light. A dark brown stained trail led him in the direction of the monster that he followed, his feet chasing after the screams of Zaun and to the roars of the beast who threatened them.

Chapter Text

The group had been talking, soft laughter coming from them on occasion as they recalled memories.

"Do you remember how mad Seika was when we'd first been found by the Firelights?" Caitlyn let out a soft giggle.

Vi let out a chuckle and Ekko smiled.

"God she was sassy then, huh?" He said, his smile remaining as his arms crossed. "Or when she held your kid," Ekko continued, lightly elbowing the Chirean who let out a loud laugh.

"She looked like she'd never held a kid before, she was so nervous," he said, poking his daughter's face. Viktor found the little Chirean's face and his face faltered a bit; he'd never imagined having children, but the thought of Seika adoring a child of her own was something he would love to see if she so desired it as well.

"What about--"

A loud roar cut off a young girl Viktor had come to know as Adelaide and the group stiffened, Viktor and Heimerdinger rising to their feet as a flood of people came rising to them, using one of the many pathways into the other parts of the city as they ran.

Jayce had readied his hammer as the stairway leading up to them shook violently and the fighters of the group stepped forward, shoving the non-fighters back behind them as the throngs of people finally emptied out of the area.

"A-A creature!!!" A woman wailed as she ran with her screaming child in her arms, but as she ran she tripped, but the metal golem was quick with his reflexes and his arm shot out and caught her. He gave her a few soft quiet words and then she hurried along, looking back once toward the group readying to meet the creature.

"Warwick?" Vi spoke as she clenched her gauntlets, the equipment hissing in response.

Suddenly Viktor's ears picked up an odd sound through all the chaos.

Ting.

Ting.

Ting.

"Professor Heimerdinger!" A loud and angry voice rang out from behind the group and they all turned to face the source, confusion evident.

There before them stood a man dressed in simple garb. He removed his hood, fully displaying the marks and tattoos that nearly covered his person, and his eyes glared intensely at the yordle.

"I apologize, sir--" the yordle began but was interrupted.

"Where is she?" The stranger asked, stepping forward as his staff banged against the floor with his step.

"N-Now isn't a great time, perhaps we could chat--"

Ting.

Ting.

Ting.

"You've kept my apprentice far too long, I've not received any response from her, where is--"

Another roar echoed from beneath them as a young boy raced up the stairs, screaming as tears rushed down his face. The entire group's attention shifted to the boy who raced towards them, but the emergence of another dark shape stopped the groups in their tracks. A large foul-smelling beast erupted from the staircase, shrieking maniacally with a sound that pierced the group's eardrums.

The boy ran towards them but the large dark brown mass descended upon him and no one within the group could move fast enough despite Ekko rushing to initiate his Chronobreak, but just as the boy was to be engulfed by the brown sludge, a dark gray shape shot past them, perpendicular to the oozing creature and rolled to the side, the young boy hanging within his jaws. Warwick put the boy down, growling as the brown creature turned to face him and roared again, but sunlight streaming through the trees caught the brown mass' attention again and it shifted back to the group where Councilor Medarda's glittering jewelry blinded it with bright reflections of daylight.

It screamed at them again, the group taking a step back as Jayce readied the ranged attacks of his Mercury Hammer, but Warwick stepped before them, stood on two legs, and roared.

"GO BACK!" He growled loudly, baring his teeth as the chamber on his back pumped and hissed, flooding his system with adrenaline-inducing chemicals.

"Warwick, what's happening?!" Caitlyn called out, but the sludgy creature moved, descending upon the howler. They met, but all actions the howler did were in vain as the ooze simply moved out of the way of his swipes and bites.

"The light!"

"THE LIGHT!" Warwick called again as the brown mass threatened to suffocate and engulf him completely.

Ting.

Ting.

Ting.

Mel gasped, immediately forcing the segments of her band out and together until she made a decently sized canopy, dousing the area beneath it, sludge monster, howler, and all in soft shadows.

The oozing creature immediately calmed, slipping back into itself as it settled onto the ground almost immediately, and Warwick rose from the goop, sputtering and coughing as the little glops of brown muck found their way back to their main body.

A sudden beam of light caught Mel's jewelry again and the creature awoke, but bright pillars of light caught the beast, the pillars appearing from nowhere as Mel slipped the jewelry off hastily and stepped into the shadow of her making.

Ting.

Ting.

Ting.

Viktor turned towards the source of the noise, the sound irritating him, and the rest of the group followed suit watching as the stranger who'd demanded to see Heimerdinger glowed brilliantly with arcane magic.

Viktor heard his words again and pieced them together as the brown oozing creature calmed immediately in the shadows again.

"You're Seika's mentor..." Viktor spoke eyes wide as he met the man's sight. The stranger's brows furrowed and he looked to the yordle.

"Where is she?"

The yordle sputtered as Viktor's face fell then Jayce suddenly stepped forward.

"Wait... you saved my life," Jayce said, unintentionally interrupting as he was faced with the man who saved him and his mothers life. His finger outstretched as his hand found the bracelet he'd made that displayed the used rune. You..." Jayce's speech drawled off, "you saved me and my mother, we were in a snowstorm and--"

The low loud breathing behind them caught their attention and their eyes returned to the brown sludgy beast, the Howler standing before it. In the light, they saw just how thin Warwick had become as his ribs jutted out and the flesh on his face was sunken in.

"Warwick..." Caitlyn said, stepping around to face him. The howlers red eyes found her and he growled loudly, teeth barred, "we didn't know you were alive, where have you been--"

"Shut up and help me take it back," he growled harshly, his sight moving to the beast curled into a ball with a little round shape peeking out towards them.

"This thing could have hurt people, we can't just let you take it back," Jayce said stepping forward between Caitlyn and the howler. The pair stood in front of one another and Warwick growled again. Viktor looked past the pair and to the sludge monster whose little round addon to its main body shifted to Jayce's direction, then the shape moved taking on something else. The group was too focused on Jayce and Warwick who began verbally sparring, but Viktor slipped through the crowd, watching as the shape sprouted four legs that it promptly stood on, while its little head became blunt at the front and its back rounded. His brows furrowed, ignoring as Vi stepped between the two, breaking it up, the group continuing to ignore the oozing creature as it moved again, its head shifting to Vi, where it changed again. Another pair of legs growing between the original ones as it lengthened itself, a dripping tail sinking to the ground as the ooze moved back in on itself.

Ting.

Ting.

Ting.

Heimerdinger saw Viktor's response and verbally questioned it, all eyes moving to him as his sights never left the beast. He stepped forward to the side of the arcane cage the stranger had made and the attention of the oozing monster was on him. It changed again, slowly, moving back into a ball as it grew taller, thinner, the discreet arms at its side moving with its movement as the bipedal figure looked up at him. Viktors breaths came out in heavy pants as he stared with utter confusion, nerves eating away at his gut.

"Viktor?" Heimerdinger questioned again.

He could see no discernable features but saw what slightly resembled a face looking up at him and he let out a breathy gasp. It changed, just as easily as she could.

Ting.

Ting.

Ting.

The sound of something bouncing against metal was finally heard by all members of the group as all but Viktor turned to face the stranger.

The stranger took a step back, his hand moving a thick metal canister behind his person as he readied his staff. He'd come to find his apprentice, but he wasn't receiving answers and now he was worried further issues would arise.

"You're Seika's mentor?" Heimerdinger asked and the response he received was what they'd heard from the man repeatedly.

"Where is she?"

"Seika, she's.." the yordle cleared her throat, "I apologize to inform you but she passed away a year ago." he finally said after a moment and the stranger's face fell. Emotions overtook the man and the arcane cage around the murky beast melted away until it stood just before Viktor, his eyes unable to leave the creature as the sludgy shape and metal man faced one another.

"Perhaps after we dispose of this, we could discuss it privately," Heimerdinger said, stepping towards the man, but the man stepped back.

"Seika?" Viktor just barely whispered, and he watched the head of the mucky creature before him tilt, then tilt the other way.

Warwick watched the man with the oozing beast, brows furrowed, but his eyes found the sludgy creature, and his eyes softened. He was tired... so tired... but the possibility of her kept him going despite the days when his body gave out.

The rest of the group's attention remained focused on the stranger whose fist clenched tightly around his staff as his robes billowed in the breeze.

"Dead... Seika?" he spoke softly, unable to believe it. He struggled with his emotions, one he'd hidden away for so long after what had happened with his last apprentice, but the worry and fear he'd felt for months before he'd arrived in Piltover suddenly flooded him with despair. He inhaled shakily, as his emotions took over his mind, and the canister on his person tinged loudly, pulling his attention again, but before he could inscribe stronger arcane magic onto it, metallic crunching echoed from the canister as a bright blue light whizzed from its confines. It swirled and settled in the air as the group watched and the stranger moved to obtain it, but it flew from him towards the oozing creature. Viktor saw the bright light and heard the screaming of the beast as the blue beam zipped straight into the sludge monster. He was pushed back by some other-worldly force, his feet sliding against the wood as a sudden powerful burst exploded where the mucky creature once stood. The creature was shrieking wildly, but the blue light before them was too bright for them to see and those witnessing the scene, near and far, were forced to shield their eyes or entirely turn away.

The screaming and roaring grew louder another burst of power threw the members of the group further back and Viktor felt the tree at his back, knowing the bench he'd been throwing upon was broken and crumbling from his weight. He groaned, shielding his eyes as the wailing pierced his ears painfully and the group was at the mercy of the scene before them.

...

Seika groaned softly, turning in her sleep as her brows furrowed, then, her eyelashes fluttered and her eyes opened. She was in complete darkness and if she was holding her hand out in front of her, she certainly couldn't see it. Her eyes searched the emptiness before her in terror as the darkness crashed down upon her and she gasped for air, her eyes shutting tightly as her throat constricted painfully.

Then, she heard it, the voice of another language speaking softly, and the girl opened her eye, her sight finding the stone floating in front of her, the same stone she'd found when she was but a child, and her eyes widened in shock. It whispered soft words of comfort to her, the words bringing tears to the girl's eyes and she smiled, opening her hands, palms up so that the stone could lower and rest itself in her grasp. She relished in the comfort the words gave her as the world rune spoke to her, but the darkness around her suddenly solidified into something real and tangible, taking Seika's attention away from the rune to her surroundings. The voice in her hands grew softer as the darkness around her began to squeeze around her and she gasped as she felt the inky blackness coil around her person until she heard the calming voice no more.

...

Viktor groaned softly as his eyes peeked out from beneath his lashes, his vision doubling as he came to. The brown oozing goop was slithering into the right hand of the body it covered, and when his vision steadied and his ears stopped ringing, he hunched forward, peeling his back from the broken wooden bench, and looked to the sight again.

Silver hair lay against the ground as the woman's body was sprawled out lifelessly and Viktor's breath hitched in his throat.

Viktor was unable to comprehend what he was seeing as he stumbled forward, crawling to the unconscious body, his hand moving to the underside of her head as he pulled her into his arms.

"Seika?! Seika?!" He repeated, his hand cradling her cheek as he clutched her body to his chest, his body shaking almost violently. His eyes found her face again, his hand caressing her cheek as the group around them roused themselves, but he did not hear anything other than the gentle breeze and the heavy beating of his own heart.

"Seika..." he whispered her name again as tears sprung into his eyes. His thumb lightly grazed her cheek as he gazed down at her. His eyes looked to her tightly closed right hand, then found the mark on her side he'd seen their first night. That was the only mark on her and he realized that she wasn't covered in the marks he'd seen at the battle...

Then his eyes widened when the scar on her side seemly surfaced, the brown ooze materializing on her skin and it rolled into a single ball, sliding down her body and slipping into her tightly clenched fist. Viktor blinked, looking back to where the scar used to be and he felt the girl in his arms exhale, and his eyes moved to her face just as her eyelashes fluttered and she opened her eyes.

The light surrounding her attacked her vision and she closed her eyes again, her brows furrowing, but a soft gasp forced her eyes to open again and she took a few moments to blink away the discomfort and focus on the sight in front of her.

"Viktor," she whispered his name, her left hand instantly moving to his cheek, wiping away a stray tear that had fallen from his eyes. Eyes she found herself getting lost in as she let his warm amber irises drink in the sight of her.

"Seika," he whispered her name again and she smiled, missing how her name sounded upon his lips. She felt the breeze whip past her and her eyes shifted, finding the large tree just beyond Viktor's shoulder and her sight found him again.

"Is our afterlife what we'd hoped for Zaun?" She asked and watched as Viktor's eyes widened then softened immediately as he pressed his forehead to hers.

"No, no, my love," he spoke, holding himself back from kissing her as he knew when he did, he may never stop, "this is Zaun, as real as it could ever be."

She slipped into silence as she struggled to understand what he'd said, her brows furrowing as her sights shifted to his chest, following the lines of his clothing until they raised back to meet his amber orbs.

"But it can't be...How? I-I... the waters..? This can't be real... I--" She stuttered softly, her eyes fleeting around their immediate surroundings as confusion overtook her.

"Warwick... he..." he went to respond then stopped; where did he even begin? He didn't even know what had happened, simply that Warwick had known of its existence... perhaps even her existence...

He saw the confusion on her face when he pulled away, her eyes looking as if he was an apparition, and what she faced before her was a dream. Her hand moved as the back of one of her knuckles traced the line on his face beneath his left eye, her brows quivering as they felt the indent and she inhaled shakily. Viktor smiled, his own heart was beating rapidly in his rib cage as he took her hand from his cheek and slid it down his chest so that her palm rest flush against his torso.

"I'm here," he whispered to her.

She felt the steady beat of life within him as his chest pounded against her hand and joy took over her face, tears suddenly spilling from her eyes. Viktor smiled and kissed her passionately and eagerly, unable to hold himself back any longer until the pair struggled for breaths and his mouth separated from hers. The pair broke out into soft laughter as they embraced, then when they finally pulled away, he helped her sit up fully. When her eyes found the undercity as it was, sprawling out beyond the platform she sat on, with tall rising trees in the distance and life beyond the chemicals she'd once associated the city with, the girl gasped, stumbling to her feet.

She'd lurched to the edge, clutching the railing as she looked beneath where they stood above the rest of Zaun and she let out a melodic laugh. Viktor looked to the group who were already standing, their mouths open, faces displaying a wide range of emotions, emotions he felt inside him as well, then his eyes found Blitzcrank, who despite his metal exterior, seemed to express an insurmountable amount of joy and eagerness. He smiled at his creation then stood, moving to come up behind Seika. She melted back into him and he sighed happily, relishing in the little peace the two of them had been given by the group and he decided at that moment he'd take advantage of it just a bit longer.

"It's perfect," she spoke and he nodded as he nuzzled her softly, breathing in her scent deeply. He hadn't forgotten it, in fact, some little piece of him would be able to recognize it in a crowd, but now that it was here in front of him, he let himself thoroughly enjoy every second of it. She let out a giggle and he nuzzled her again, bringing forth the sounds that were the most beautiful music to his ears. Her right hand moved, but when she realized she'd still had her fist closed, her arm halted and she stared at it in confusion. Seika's fist slowly opened and she let out a soft gasp at the flickering rune within her grasp.

"What? How? But--" her speech drawled with her confusion as she brought the rune closer to her face, watching as its blue light flickered weakly and her brows furrowed.

She moved to speak but could not find the words as they were lost on her tongue and her eyes widened, uncertainty coursing through her, then she listened, hearing nothing but the wind.

"What is it, Seika?" Viktor asked and she turned to face him, fear masking her features.

"I can't hear it," she sputtered, looking between him and the rune, "why can't I speak to it, I...?" Her speech drawled off as Viktor looked down at her in worry, then her eyes focused on the flickering rune and she exhaled softly.

Seika suddenly turned from him, moving to shift but when her foot landed nothing happened. Any focus she had, any thoughts of what she was intending to do broke the moment she'd considered it. The flow of energy and magic she'd felt course through her veins and limbs when she went to shift was absent. She remained standing almost awkwardly, waiting, hoping something would happen and when nothing did her sights turned downward, facing the outfit she'd worn on the day of the battle. When her eyes found the side that had been scarred for years of her life, she could not contain her shock upon finding it bare, the skin appearing as if it'd never been scarred in all of its existence. She lightly touched the place she'd memorized the mark to be, her body turning to face Viktor as she was suddenly forced to realize the fact that her magic was completely and utterly lost.

"I-I can't, I'm not--" she spoke, unable to raise her eyes as her tears ruined her speech. What was she if she was unable to use her abilities? Even worse, who was she without her magic? Viktor stepped forth and pulled her into his arms and she cradled the flickering rune to her chest.

"I don't understand, how did this even get here, it was with--" she said softly, her eyes intensely focused on the flickering stone.

"Seika...?" A voice interrupted them, one she immediately recognized and she pulled from Viktor so she could find its source, her eyes widening when she found him.

"Ryze?" She whispered and then her feet were carrying to him and he pulled her into his embrace, hushing her softly as she cried and the pair slowly collapsed to the ground. The sorcerer was a mix of heavy emotions; not moments before had he'd been told she'd died, but she suddenly materialized as a toxic monster? What had happened since she'd come to this place?

"Ryze, I can't change, I-I can't understand it--" more sobs cut off her speech and she silenced, giving Ryze the chance to speak.

"What happened?" He asked her softly, using a free hand to wipe away one of her tears. After a few breathy pants, she explained, from Singed's lab to the battle and afterward with Janna. Seika could not look at the look of horror upon Ryze's face and so she turned away, but when her mentor pulled her into a tight hug she felt comfort in his embrace.

"I'm so sorry," he apologized to her, "I should have come sooner..." he spoke softly to her, and when she sat up he looked at her.

"Seika," he said, opening his palm so that he could accept the flickering rune from her and inspect it carefully. After a few moments of silent thought and meticulous observation, Ryze spoke.

"When you could purify no more, you absorbed the toxins and they took over you. I believe that the rune absorbed the toxins that ailed you," he said, squeezing one of her hands softly. A figure had come up behind her, and Ryze momentarily met his eyes, finding the metal man's look of concern, then they fleeted back to his apprentices'. "But perhaps, in order for it to survive, it had to take back what it had given you so long ago," he continued, frowning when Seika's hands went to cover her mouth as she struggled with what she was being told.

"Will it be okay?" She asked, her voice full of worry. Ryze looked down to the rune and it flickered again, as if on cue, and he smiled, nodding. "Perhaps in a few hundred years, but yes, I believe so. I will ensure it is properly taken care of," he said while giving her a warm smile. The words tumbled from his mouth and he froze watching Seika stiffen; her abilities were what allowed their partnership to exist, he mentored her magical abilities. If she could not practice magic, then there was no longer a need for her to be his apprentice.

The realization dawned on both of them and Ryze's face twisted painfully as his hand went to her cheek as he spoke, "you may not be my apprentice, but you will always be important to me, wherever it is you call home."

His eyes fleeted up to the man behind them and Seika's head swiveled around to join him, the pair looking up at Viktor.

Her body followed after a moment and she looked up at him, worried she wouldn't be able to stand.

"I.." She was sure he'd heard everything that was said and she was unsure of herself now. Her abilities had become such a large part of who she was and without them, she felt like pieces of herself were missing.

"I'll never be able to use magic again..." she finally said softly, verbally acknowledging the fact as she swallowed loudly. Magic had been the entire reason they'd met, how they bonded and opened up to one another, with it gone would his feelings for her still persist? "Do you still--"

Viktor immediately dropped to the ground and embraced her, knowing what words would come next.

"I do not love you for what you can do, I love you for who you are Seika," he whispered almost fiercely, his feelings overflowing from him as the girl embraced him back. When they pulled away he smiled when his eyes found her teary blue ones.

"Did you forget I was but a dying cripple when you found me?" He asked, his eyes gazing deeply into hers and she gave a pained smile, her feelings for him overwhelming her. He saw it in her eyes, in her smile, and in her touch and he'd never felt such bliss.

"Silly girl," he whispered adoringly and gently kissed her forehead.

Viktor stood, helping Seika to her feet with a warm smile, then his sight peeled from her to her mentor and he extended a gloved hand outward, assisting the man to his feet.

"Viktor," he said, introducing himself as the man accepted his help in standing and when the sorcerer was on his feet, he kept hold of the Zaunites hand, shaking it.

"Ryze," he said, a smile appearing on his face when his eyes quickly fleeted to Seika who bit her lower lip as she looked between the two of them.

Seika's eyes finally looked outward, beyond the little trio and her eyes widened as she found everyone. Her eyes found Vi's and the pink-haired girl rushed forward without control, enveloping the girl into a hug and Caitlyn followed after.

"Damnit Seika, can you not do that again?" Vi hissed between tears and a bust of soft giggles came from the silver-haired girl as she was smooshed between the Vi and her gauntlets.

"I promise," she said, pulling away to give Vi a cheeky smile as Caitlyn nearly shoved Vi aside to hug her. The pair giggled together as Vi stumbled and the trio broke out into a boisterous teasing fest.

Cecil stepped forward between the mess of giggling girls and Seika found him immediately, moving to embrace him warmly.

"Hello old friend," she spoke softly to him and he chuckled softly, patting her shoulders as he held back the lecture he had for her; it could wait.

When they pulled away, the yordle moved, speaking properly to Ryze as the pair introduced themselves, though the scowl that appeared on the sorcerer's face made Seika giggle; he'd exploit his disappointment for a while longer, but Seika had a feeling the pair might actually enjoy one anothers company some day.

Ekko and the Firelights stepped forward and then began a lengthy process of greetings and tears. Viktor smiled as he watched Seika, his hands slipping into the pockets of his slacks until they raised past her and found Jayce. The look of relief on Jayce's face was one he hadn't seen since the night they'd realized Hextech worked, and the two co-inventors smiled at one another as the Firelights finally released her from their grasp. Seika's eyes found Jayce and Mel, the pair set apart from the back.

Viktor slipped between the members of the Firelights and walked behind Seika, leaning down and whispering something into her ear.

"He kept his promise," he said, shooting Jayce a smile and Seika's eyes widened and she ran, nearly tackling the Councilor to the ground by means of a fierce hug.

"Thank you," she whispered loud enough for the pair to hear as Jayce picked her up in a hug and laughed. He lowered her to the ground and Seika immediately embraced Mel, repeating the words again to her. When she finally pulled away, she beamed at the Councilors and Jayce gave her a warm smile.

"We're glad you're alright," he spoke and Mel's face reflected his warmth. After a few more kind words were spoken between the trio, Seika turned back to Viktor, watching in the background as Mel displaced the segments and returned them to her cuff, the action promptly letting the sunlight through onto the platform, but a lone figure cowering far to the side caught her eye and she inhaled shakily.

She stepped past Viktor towards the figure and it cowered further back. She didn't know what he did exactly and she may never know, but she was grateful to him.

"I feel all I do is thank you," she spoke, looking up at the haggard and thin beast before her. His snout fell and she saw how thin he was and worry took over her features as one hand found the side of his face.

"I didn't know it was you," he spoke, attempting to act cool despite his eyes saying just the opposite. Seika smiled warmly as she chuckled, her thumb lightly sliding over his fur.

"What now?" She asked, "will you stay here, or...?"

Warwick's sights fell, his green eyes looking to the floor, then back up to the girl before him.

"The undercity will always need someone who watches from the dark," he spoke and Seika nodded, happiness bubbling up in her. He wouldn't leave and she was happy she would see him again, whenever it occurred.

"But..." he continued, his tone shifting, "I want to know about me, what I was beyond that lab," he said, watching as the girl's face rose.

Seika bit her lower lip then spoke, "would you like me to tell you or would you like to find out for yourself?"

Warwick's eyes widened as she looked up at him then his brows furrowed and he smiled, his teeth glinting in the little beams of sun that peeked through the leaves above them.

"Perhaps a hint."

Seika smiled and her hand fell, moving to join her other in front of her person.

"It starts with a man known as the Hound of the Undercity," she said watching as the howler nodded and smiled. One of his large paws raised to gently pat the top of her head and he stalked away, dropping to all fours before his name being called out behind him caused him to stop and swivel his head around.

"Call if you need me," Seika spoke loud enough for him to hear. His chuckle echoed as it reverberated from his throat and he said nothing more as he stepped into the light, his fur gray glittering beautifully in the sun as he slipped somewhere within Zaun.

Seika watched him leave, her smile so large that she nearly felt like crying again. She clapped her hands together as she wiped at her eyes, letting out a soft chuckle as Viktor found her again.

"That's everyone... except..." Seika said, the last sentence coming out as barely over a whisper as her eyes had dropped from Viktor's face to her hands that now rested on his chest.

"Jinx?" He asked and she looked up, brows raised. She watched as the man straightened, his head swiveling until a small smile found his features and he nodded towards the far edge of the platform where a bridge allowed for a descent further into the trench.

She stood, peeking out from behind what appeared to be a merchandise stall of some sort. One of her braids was dragged by the wind and she and Seika's eyes met.

The silver-haired girl couldn't contain her grin as she pulled herself from Viktor and towards the young girl. She'd seen her, fighting with them at the battle, and desperately wanted to thank her. Jinx froze as Seika pushed past the group, Vi, Caitlyn, and Ekko's eyes finding her, but when her eyes drifted back to Seika who so eagerly ran to her, she moved from her spot and into the silver-haired girl's open embrace.

Jinx's knees wobbled as Seika held her, the pair eventually collapsing under their own weak knees and the duo burst into laughter.

"Thank you, for that day," Seika finally said, smooshing the young girl's cheeks together. Jinx let out an audible noise as she giggled and shoved her away and the pair broke out into further laughter. Jinx's eyes found Vi's figure and Seika's eyes turned to look back. The group was surprised allowing Seika to surmise that their relationship hadn't improved and her lips pressed into a thin line. She looked back to Jinx, taking the girl's face into her hands again and squishing her cheeks together again.

"Have you been causing them trouble?" She teased with a warm smile. Jinx had shrunk when she'd initially heard her question, but upon seeing Seika's warm smile and soft eyes, Jinx smiled almost cheekily and Seika laughed in response.

"I'd expect nothing less," she said, releasing the girl's face again and poking her lightly on the nose. If that's how it would be then let it be so. She turned to look back to Vi who gave a pained smile at the pair and Seika smiled back, ruffling the blue hair of the young girl.

"I'm glad you're okay," Jinx said and Seika gripped one of her hands.

"And you as well, but I suppose this means I might someday have to watch the trouble you and Viktor get into together, huh? Two wildly capable inventors creating crazy inventions!" She exclaimed and the pair swiveled to look at Viktor together who straightened under their gaze, a brow raising as he watched the two girls giggle and whisper.

It seemed that there was trouble underfoot.

Viktor smiled, knowing he could handle it, and as Seika said her goodbyes to Jinx and the young girl slipped off after giving one long look back to the group, Seika ran to him and the pair embraced again. His chin rested on the top of her head and his eyes found Blitzcrank, who, steadily, was making his way closer to Viktor, his engines hissing almost excitedly.

"There's someone new I want you to meet," Viktor spoke, removing his chin from her head so that he could look down at her. Her head tilted in confusion and when his line of sight moved from her, she followed, her eyes landing on a large yellow bronze machine. She blinked a few times, the entity finding her eyes and it hurried over to them, hissing and steaming all the way. When it stood before her, Seika had to look up to view its face and she smiled, her eyes looking to Viktor who stood next to her before the robot.

"Hello Seika," he gurgled his words, moving a bit as he spoke her name and Seika laughed. He appeared to be dancing and she adored the sight entirely.

"I am Blitzcrank. I was made to help rebuild the undercity," he stated mechanically, his hand moving outwards. Seika looked down, her head tilting, and then she placed her hand in his, a smile creeping onto her face.

"Hello Blitzcrank, it is a pleasure to meet you."

The robot wiggled again and Seika's smile widened as Viktor stepped away from the pair, watching them intently.

"Viktor has not smiled as much today as he had in the past year," Blitzcrank stated as he pulled forth a little canister from his compartment. "Even with his homemade sweet milk, he still does not appear as happy as he has been with you. I have many questions as I've heard many things." The robot spoke excitedly as Seika took the canister from him and looked back to Viktor, biting her lower lip.

A year she was gone. She'd spent so much of her short mortal life away from the people she cared about. She could weep and dispair over the time lost, or she could relish in every moment she had. She might live for forty years, or even eighty, perhaps beyond that, but it all seemed so short when you wanted every moment to last a lifetime.

"Don't worry Blitzcrank, there will be plenty of time," Viktor said, walking up to her side and slipping an arm around her waist. She melted into his touch; it'd become apparent that their separation had pulled something from within them and they desired one another's touch constantly as it reaffirmed that this was their reality now, that they were here and real. The robot made a few noises when the sudden calls of Porofessor pulled his attention as the little creature ran around Seika's legs excitedly. The metal golem moved after the Poro and the two began an entertaining game of chase where it seemed the large mechanical creation was at the mercy of the small nimble poro.

The pair watched happily as Viktor held her tightly, but every once in a while, she felt his fingers twitch or his arm shake and she turned to him, worry on her face.

"I'm sorry," he apologized, his hand moving to his face as he flushed.

"I am having a hard time holding back is all. I want to hold you and never let you go," he whispered between the two of them and watched her cheeks redden ecstatically. He stepped before her, his back blocking them from the eyes of the group intent on watching the pair. Viktors hand moved to her cheek where he tilted her face further so that he could look deeply into her eyes. She watched his amber orbs swirling with love and adoration, her own matching his and the pair smiled at one another.

His hand moved down just a bit and he lightly thumbed her lower lip before moving to her chin.

"I will spend every moment of the rest of my life making up for the time that was lost," he whispered softly, his brows furrowing as he gazed deeply down at her.

"Then let us commit to such actions together, at this very moment," Seika spoke back, her eyes fluttering down to look at his lips as his own looked to hers.

They sealed their promise to one another with a deep and passionate kiss, Seika stepping up onto her tiptoes as she wrapped her arms around his neck while Viktor in turn wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her flush against him. They hardly paused to breathe as their lips met again, the pair unable to move away from one another.

"Maybe this time Viktor will hide the hickeys better!" A voice cut through the daylight and the pair immediately stopped, flushing bright red.

"VI!" Seika yelled, slipping past Viktor and breaking into a fast run.

The pink-haired Zaunite was all brazen when she'd first teased the pair loudly but seeing Seika sprint towards her caused the girl the yell and bolt, dragging along Caitlyn with her. Ryze sputtered in shock as the rest of the group burst out into loud laughter watching as the trio ran until they'd nearly left the platform.

Viktor was chuckling softly, his back still facing the group as he found some sense of composure. Even from here he could hear the squeals and shrieks of the girls as they ran. With a deep breath, the inventor turned, walking in the direction of the girls, biting his tongue at the knowing look the arrogant Councilor gave him, and instead he returned a coy smile to him.

"Come Blitzcrank," he called out to the robot who immediately left the poro and came walking to his side.

"Our princess needs rescuing," he spoke clambering on top of the golem and Blitzcranks inner workings shifted as the robot ran in the direction the girls had gone in, letting out excited mechanical laughter as his arms swung rapidly.

Seika looked as she ran, feeling the breeze through her hair and far out into the sea she saw a floating figure and she knew. She stopped, panting a bit and she waved one arm in a wide arc, an attempt at a wave and the figure waved back and she smiled watching as a wave crashed in on itself in front of the being and the figure was gone.

"Maybe you'll leave a hickey on him this time!" Caitlyn taunted and Seika feigned shock, chasing after the girls with another yell.

Loud thudding pulled her from her chase as an eager Blitzcrank stopped just at her side, Viktor atop the metal golem, hand outstretched.

She gazed up into his eyes and he assisted her up onto Blitzcrank, the metal golem letting out little noises of content as Viktor urged him onward, determined to capture Caitlyn and Vi, who promptly let out yells upon seeing the metal golem descend upon them.

Seika looked back, watching as the rest of the group followed suit slowly, occasionally turning to speak to one another and she smiled. The warm rays of the sun kissed her flesh and she let out a melodic laugh, her head falling back and tilting slightly so that she could look up at Viktor. Her laughter had pulled him from the chase and his sights fell to her and he smiled warmly. They'd lost so much of themselves trying to make it to this moment and despite the gaps she felt within herself, Seika relished in the bliss around her. Things weren't perfect, and they never would be, but nonetheless, they would persevere, and more importantly, they had one another, each secretly promising themselves to never let the other go. She felt her heart speed up under his gaze and as their eyes glittered in the warm light, they both felt it, they felt at home.

Chapter Text

The long awaited update.

Yes.

I will be continuing The Outsiders and following Season 2 BUT for a long time I'd wanted to change a few things in the Season 1 chapters (and I'm trying to change them in a way where I won't have to change much in the Alternate Ending I wrote), so I'm going to do that first. But yes, it's happening, it's coming. For those who have already read it and don't want to, when I post the first Season 2 chapter, I'll include a "what was changed" section to make things easy.

Much love to you all and see you soon. <3

EDIT 12/1/2024:

I have NOT forgotten about this. Ya know how I said I was just going to change a few things? Well, I've edited the whole damn thing. I'm nearly finished with Chapter 14, have three new chapters added, and I'm SO CLOSE (for context, the og first 16 chapters stood at about 48k words, my new version right now is at 65k not that words = quality, but having conversations between characters certainly helps lol). We're getting there. I'm going to release them all at the same time for y'all (also sorry to everyone whose been reading it, or has just finished reading it x.x ). I hope y'all like it cause this has been so fun to work on. <3

Chapter Text

Thank you everyone for dealing with the barrage of notifications tonight, after this they *should* cease for a while until I have to update the chapter titles (and few continuity errors) in the alternate ending but that won't be until after Season 2 is written and finished.

As promised for those who either just finished reading or have read the old version previously and don't want to go back, here is what is different between the two versions (general storyline and course of events remains pretty much the same)

---------

New Chapters and Chapter Changes:

- Trust has been divided into two chapters, Chapter 4 – Context and Chapter 5 – Conversations, the latter of which contains new content, primarily conversations between Viktor and Seika

- Confessions has been divided up into 2 chapters, Chapter 9 – Confessions and Chapter 10 – The Means to an End, both contain new content, the latter containing much more new content than the prior, the latter including more in-depth conversations between Seika and Heimerdinger, the latter

- Risking it All has been divided into two chapters, Chapter 14 – Risking it All and Chapter 15 – Dreams and Nightmares, not really any new content per say, just more details/descriptions

- Consequences of One's Actions has been divided into two chapters, Chapter 17 – Consequences of One's Actions and Chapter 18 – Confessions and Caucus, not really any new content per say, just more details/descriptions

- - Desperation has been split into two chapters, Chapter 19 – Desperation and Chapter 20 – Atoms and Bonds, some minor new content primarily in the latter, mostly the exploration of feelings, opinions between Viktor and Seika/Viktor and Jayce

Storyline Changes (not in any particular order – I've been editing for 12 hours today and I'm exhausted):

- Seika is "old", approximately 228 years (we'll get there, I promise lol)

- Seika, rather than shift into an (ugly) Badger Bear after Jayce insults her post Heimerdinger-removal, she instead slaps the boy (aye, gettem Seika – jk love you Jayce, also sorry Jayce, no kinky pinning here, go ask Mel)

- When Professor Heimerdinger leaves Piltover, he asks Seika to take Porofessor temporarily (and she gives him back once he's settled with the Firelights)

- The outfit Viktor buys Seika has changed

- Rather than dance in the air during their first night together (listen, the visual was cool but I couldn't get past not having any explanation), Seika and Viktor dance on top of the Hexgate

- Invisible rippling footsteps no longer occur when Seika is flying with Viktor in her Protector form – it was cool, but I've since adjusted this due to a lack of information on the fauna in question (come on Riot, gimme more fauna deets)

- Seika and Cecil have a backstory, having met in the Freljord prior to his arrival in (and what would become) Piltover – she was with him when Cecil found Porofessor and they trekked together across the frozen kingdom

- Any vein coloration changes (previously brown) have been shifted to a dark gray

- The smut scenes undergone a *glorious evolution* -- heheheheheheh

- Vi and Caitlyn's cute bonding moment where they're laying on her bed isn't interrupted – my bad you two, carry on

- Actual conversations between Seika and Viktor; the whole love-at-first-sight vibes were cute, but we needed more, we needed depth

- Seika's mentor stunted her growth as a mage (poor guy's has some trauma, he's had it rough), she realizes this throughout the book, but really comes to terms with it by Chapter 21

- Seika is not aware of when Jinx's rocket hits the Councilor's Meeting Room

- Jayce truly has little knowledge of Seika's ability as he never witnesses them, and no one provides him any details

- Seika doesn't tell Heimerdinger outright she loves Viktor – I agree, too soon, it happens a few chapters later lol – he says it first

And for funsies even though words don't matter but word counts are still fun:

Word count in the OG: ~47,950

Word count in the Edited: ~72,200

Chapter Text

Seika’s full attention remained on the ruins of the Councilor’s Chamber Hall. Enforcers and Noxian soldiers alike were scattered throughout the campus, but her eyes hadn’t yet noticed that as she flew, her wings beating softly before she landed in the rubble, swiftly changing back. She turned, taking in the scene, eyes wide, a soft gasp escaping her before she was tackled into the ground.

“She flew from the direction of Zaun,” a masculine voice said as one, no, three hands grabbed her, pressing her into the rubble and ground. Seika protested, but her words fell short when her face was turned and mouth pressed into large chunks of concrete and rock

“Perhaps coming to view how well they’d done their job?” A curt, unforgiving voice asked, footsteps walking around her before stopping.

Seika’s eyes glanced up and found an older woman with dark skin, graying black hair and long thin scars decorating her chin, cheek, and forehead. Seika grimaced, internally scowling at the obvious Noxian garb as her arms were twisted back behind her.

“Take her away,” the woman dismissed, her eyes cold and unforgiving as she studied the stranger who’d appeared in the ruins two hours after they’d been attacked.

Seika’s head lifted, mouth spitting gravel from her lips, but as she went to speak, she felt a singular blunt impact on the back of her head and everything went dark.

…

When Seika woke, she lifted her head lazily, eyes fluttering open and shut as she tried to figure out where she was and what had happened. The dimly lit area before her swirled as her head fell forward again, chin resting against her sternum. A soft groan left her throat, but as it passed her lips, its sound was muffled.

Her brows furrowed and she lifted her head again, the bars before her swirling. She blinked away the haze as best as she could, brows furrowed before pulling at her hands. The tell-tale sound of chains clinked, and at their sound, a pair of footsteps appeared, peering through the metal bars of the cell she was locked in. Her eyes met the mask, the face beneath it lost behind layers of metal and Noxian façade.

Then the panic set in.

Seika yanked at the chains; her wrists pinned above her to the wall as she screamed against the cover at her mouth. Something had been wedged between her teeth, soft enough for it to give some as she bit down, but sturdy enough that she couldn’t connect the teeth of her lower jaw to her upper. The mask covered the lower half of her face, her nose free, as the straps connected to the back of her head.

She continued to fight against the mask and chains, confusion taking over her mind. What had happened? Why were the Noxians even here? What of Viktor and Jayce and the Councilors?

A pair of footsteps echoed from out of site, walking down the hallway and Seika’s breaths left her nose through heavy pants. The figure stepped forth, a man, eyes narrowed, their depths swirling with disdain and apathy. Seika stared at the Noxian, eyes wandering from the tattoo between his brows to the metal piercings on his chin and above one of his eyebrows. He ran a large hand through his brown beard as he studied her.

Seika’s hands clenched tightly, her own brows creasing in response. She still didn’t understand why the Noxians were even here in the first place? She hadn’t even had time to plead her case yet she’d been thrown and chained into a cell.

One of the other masked Noxian soldiers approached, handing her bag to the man and he grabbed it before tipping its contents out onto the ground. Bundled clothes, a tightly folded map, then a metal tinging noise as a key hit the ground. The man bent over to pick it up, inspecting it and a scowl appeared on his face.

“A key…” He inspected it closer, reading the inscription on it, “for the Hextech Lab? Piltover indeed does have a security problem if you were able to get access to this,” he muttered as he kicked through the rest of her things.

Seika’s eyes lowered as she searched the ground, seeking her Ambassador ID only it wasn’t there. She stiffened, her eyes widening, trying to think where she’d have put it? It couldn’t be back in her room, she specifically remembered bringing it with her when she went to go to Cecil… She paused. Surely, she hadn’t left it there when she’d handed over Porofessor and the few items she’d bought for him when she’d returned him to Cecil…. Right?

When she began to panic again, the Noxian paused, narrowing his eyes before unlatching the cell and stepping in. A long-lost feeling ignited in her, memories of flashes of red and death, of swirling toxic gas as innocents died around her engulfed her and she fought desperately at her restraints.

She’d always hated when she and her mentor entered Noxian territory – it was a place of nightmares for her, of unnecessary violence and bloodshed. The man stepped to her, grabbing her chin in his hand as he forced her to look at him.

Seika met his gaze, nostrils flaring as she panted, biting at the rubber wedge between her teeth, fists still clenched.

“Did you fire the rocket?” The Noxian asked, hand raising to cup the underside of her face, his thumb and index finger squeezing the hollows of her cheeks uncomfortably. Seika shook her head, fighting against his grip and his hand dropped before he backhanded her.

Seika choked on the wedge, her cough forcing itself back into her throat as her cheek burned, her head now looking at the wall from the force of the Noxian.

Another pair of footsteps echoed from the hallway now and the man paused, looking towards the source.

“Anything?” The same stern, cold voice from the Councilor Chamber Hall spoke when she came into view. Her form was as dominating as it’d been when Seika had been pinned to the ground and she shuddered as the older woman observed her, meeting her eyes.

“A key,” the man said, handing it to the woman, “to the Hextech Lab.”

The woman’s eyes studied the key before narrowing at the girl.

“It would do you well to tell us what you know,” she spoke, slipping to stand inside the open doorway to lean against the metal doorframe, her arms crossing.

“Did you fire that rocket?” The man asked again, stepping towards her. When Seika shook her head no, his eyes narrowed. “Do you know who fired the rocket?” He asked and again, Seika shook her head no, almost vehemently as her brows furrowed.

What rocket? What had happened? Where was Viktor? Jayce? Anyone?

“Three of Piltovers Councilor’s are dead, the rest injured yet you expect me to believe you had nothing to do with it despite your arrival to the scene of the crime two hours after its occurrence?” The older woman berated; her fists clenched tightly as she glared at the prisoner.

Seika nodded, looking between the two, her eyes almost pleading with the Noxians before she began to scream at her mask, muffled nonsense echoing in the eerie silence. She did this for several minutes before the man looked back to the older woman, and after a singular nod, he stepped forth, fist cocked back before punching her in the gut.

Seika curled inward as far as the binds would allow her, her stomach recoiling. She barely caught the heave of her belly as her eyes widened in pain, the shock rippling through her. The tingling of her abilities rushed through her and she was shifting, her body slipping into the shape of a snake before shifting into a Wildclaw and she was lunging for the man, teeth outward.

There was shock on his face before there was anger as she was rushed, shoved down by multiple guards, her mouth pinned closed. She fought and screamed, scratching at the man before she was bound again.

“Filthy mage,” the woman spat as she looked down at her. Seika met her gaze before they fleeted to several more soldiers, carrying in a specialized set of chains. Her heart raced in her chest as she eyed the runic designs before she began fighting them again, desperation surging alongside the adrenaline overtaking her system.

“Change back,” the man said, and when she didn’t, he punched her. Seika continued to refuse, feeling each blow as strongly as the next until she couldn’t take it anymore and shifted back, her screams echoing until she was silenced.

…

Caitlyn, Mel, and Shoola all stood within the ruins of the once prestigious Councilor Chamber Hall. A haunting breeze drifted past, carrying the unmistakable smell of petrichor as the blown-out walls, windows, and roof stood broken at their backside, another reminder of what had happened.

Caitlyn stood; alarms loosely wrapped around her as her eyes found her mother’s desk. Memories of the funeral came flooding back, her mothers voice in her head, only for such thoughts to be interrupted by Mel as the woman placed a gentle hand to her shoulder.

“She was a great woman. A good friend. I don’t know how we’ll face this crisis without her,” Mel said softly, hoping her words might bring the slightest ounce of comfort to her. Before Caitlyn had the opportunity to respond, the door opened, and the soft screeching and squeaking of metal on metal echoed in the graveyard they’d gathered in.

Ambessa Medarda gently pushed Councilor Salo’s wheelchair into the Chamber Hall, his legs together, the feeling of them lost, though not forgotten.

“To think we nearly extended sovereignty” Salo began, “to the creatures who did this,” he continued, his words hesitantly said with every clunk of his wheelchair navigating down the three steps. His words continued when he reached level ground, his eyes meeting Mel and Caitlyn.

“We’re charged with imposing order and we’ve been asleep at our posts,” Ambessa took a step back as Salo continued, “well my eyes are open. There will be no more fairy tales of peace until we scour our basement of its demons.” The man leaned forward in his chair; his peridot green eyes unforgiving as he spoke. Too much had been taken from him, and Salo wasn’t the type to forgive and forget.

“So kind of you to assist Councilor Salo, mother,” Mel said as she walked, her hands resting absentmindedly on the desk in front of her. She watched as Salo lazily glanced back in her mother’s direction behind him, before he turned his attention back to her.

“As we are at war, I thought it prudent to solicit the advice of such an experienced veteran,” Salo explained, waving his hand as he spoke.

“Let us address the matter at hand,” Councilor Shoola spoke, her marred face now hidden beneath a façade of gold, similar adornments covering her neck. “Our people are scared, suffering. They need to know their leaders have the situation under control,” she continued, looking between her fellow Co-Councilors.

“An unprecedented show of force, we flood the undercity with Enforcers, armed with Hextech,” Salo continued, fingers pinched as he pointed each word with the hand, brows furrowed before sitting back and settling.

 “Innocents will be caught in the cross fire,” Caitlyn immediately rebutted, her head just shaking in disagreement as her gaze briefly fleeted to the other two Councilors to her right.

Salo slammed his hand on the metal armrest of his wheelchair, the sound echoing in the silence as he leaned forward, glaring.

“How many more councilors have to be blown to pieces before you wake up?” He retorted, his displeasure with Caitlyn’s response apparent. “We are under siege!” He said, pointing towards them. When he was not met with a blatantly obvious yes to his proposition, he looked to Caitlyn, waving his hand in her direction.

“What is she doing here?” He asked, unable to hide the disdain in his voice.

“Officer Kiramman witnessed the attack firsthand. She confirmed this was the act of a single deranged individual,” Mel argued.

“Jinx,” Caitlyn said.

Salo turned his head, glancing back towards Ambessa. “You said you had someone in custody, yes? Someone you suspected assisted in the attack?” He questioned and she nodded.

Caitlyn and Mel’s brows furrowed.

“Who?” Caitlyn asked.

“We can discuss that later,” Ambessa said, “they’ll remain in custody until they’ve told us what it is we need to know.”

Mel sighed softly, meeting her mothers gaze before she continued.

“Silco is dead,” she said, pulling their conversation back to the prior topic, “the underground, leaderless. If we follow your plan, we risk unifying them against us.”

“So what is your solution? Chastisement?” Salo said, pushing the lever on his wheelchair, the motor driving it forward down one, then a second step as he rolled towards the center of the room, “a firm reprimand?”

“We use their division against them, pin the attack on Jinx. Post a reward too substantial to ignore,” Mel elaborated only for Councilor Shoola to cut her off.

“I’m sorry, Mel. I’m not comfortable trusting our fates to chance,” she replied, “Jinx has proven elusive. Our healing can only begin once she’s been brought to justice.

 Shoola’s words had Mel’s head turning, her gaze meeting Caitlyn’s before Salo’s voice pulled their focus.

“Then it’s settled, 2 to 1. We invade,” he said darkly, glaring up at Mel.

Mel sighed in response, her gaze falling before her mothers voice cut through the thunder rumbling nearby.

“If I may?” Ambessa began, her voice commanding and pulling the rooms attention, “In crises such as these, it’s imperative you present a unified front to the public, whatever your personal feelings.”

“How wise,” Mel replied, the sass in her tone unmistakable as she walked around the desks and to Salo, continuing to speak as her heels clicked against the stone floor. “I’ll agree to endorse the invasion, but I draw the line at Hextech. We have an Ethos, such force must be a final resort.”

At Shoola’s agreement, Mel threw Salo’s words back at him.

 “Then it’s settled, 2 to 1,” she stated, meeting his gaze again.

Caitlyn glanced up as Rictus, Ambessa’s second in command, moved and left the room, then her gaze moved to Mel’s back.

“Now, who is this prisoner you’ve taken into custody on your own, mother?” Mel almost chastised the woman, though the glare she received in response had her tone lessening. Rain dripped through the open roof, droplets falling onto those below as the room was abandoned by all.

Ambessa led Mel and Caitlyn through the halls and down into the basement. She watched, arms crossed as the two walked to the front of the cell before Caitlyn gasped hands clenching around the bars. There stood Seika, purple bruises lining one cheek, eyes half closed, mouth covered by a mask as thick enchanted chains covered her forearms, legs, and waist, runic engravings on them flickering with blue light.

“Seika?!” She exclaimed and Mel turned to her mother. “Gods, Seika, what’s happened to you?”
“Mother you fool,” she hissed, “release her!”

Ambessa stiffened, waving her hand and one of the armed guards stepped forth, unlocking the gate. Caitlyn hurried inside to the girl, moving to the mask on her face and when Seika was free of it, she stiffened, recoiling in response before her gaze found Caitlyn and she settled, tears welling in her eyes.

“Caitlyn?” She murmured softly before breaking down. Caitlyn pressed her forehead to hers as the Noxian guard bean unlatching the chains, and when Seika crumbled, Caitlyn caught her in her arms. Mel stepped in, moving to Seika and smoothed her hair, lightly thumbing the marks.

“You had no power to do this,” Mel said as she stood, glaring at her mother.

“She arrived at the scene of a violent crime, should I have just let her go? She had no identification, a key to the Hextech Lab – surely you don’t think so ignorantly of everyone who comes through these halls?” Ambessa retorted, glaring at the weakened mage.

Mel bent down and retrieved the mask Seika had been wearing, inspecting it closely before throwing it at her mother’s feet. “You will not be doing this again,” Mel replied as Caitlyn helped Seika stand and led her out of the cell. Another guard stepped forth, handing the Kiramman girl Seika’s bag and when the two had fully left the jail, Mel stepped forward.

“This was completely out of line mother; do you even realize what you’ve done?” Mel began, “you illegally arrested a guest of Piltover, you tortured her down here – did you even give her the opportunity to state who she was?”

“She is a mage Mel, more lies than truths leave their lips, they must be broken before you learn anything of value from them. Your guest came from Zaun hours after the attack, landed right in the rubble! Are you even aware of what your guest has been up too down there?” Ambessa asked her daughter. “She fought, even attacked Rictus,” Ambessa grabbed each of her daughters’ shoulders, that once cold façade crumbling for a split second. “I nearly lost you Mel, I will not let your feelings interfere with this search,” she said before storming out of the jail.

Chapter Text

When Seika came too, she found herself in an incredibly unfamiliar room. Her body sunk deeper into the plush couch she’d been laid on, her eyes fluttering closed before she gasped and sat up. Bookshelves and magnificent seating areas were scattered throughout the extensive office. Seika stood, walking through the room before her eyes fell to the desk, its surface void of any emotional attachments. She looked up, spying a family portrait above the couch she’d been seated on and her gaze softened some.

There, standing stoically and regal, were Caitlyn, Councilor Kiramman, and a man Seika assumed was her father. Seika ‘s eyes remained trained on the portrait before a pair of footsteps echoed from outside the room and her gaze shifted to the door.

Caitlyn stepped inside but paused upon seeing Seika standing there awake.

“Seika,” she said softly, putting down the small medical kit she’d gone to retrieve. After a moment, the girls moved, embracing one another.

“What even happened? Why do I keep hearing about a rocket?” Seika asked softly and pulled away to move to the couch. Caitlyn’s eyes fell to her hands and she opened her mouth to speak before closing it. Another shaky exhale later and Caitlyn finally spoke.

“We didn’t know where you’d gone,” Caitlyn said softly, “We didn’t even know you were down there,” Caitlyn said, meeting her friends gaze. Seika swallowed the lump in her throat before her hand moved to Caitlyn’s and she lightly squeezed.

“Caitlyn, what happened?” Seika asked softly.

“A few days ago, Jinx, she kidnapped Silco, Vi, and I,” Caitlyn began and Seika’s face fell. “Jinx killed Silco in the end and launched a rocket at the Councilor’s while they were in voting on the undercity’s independence.”

Seika froze, her blood running cold.

“Councilor Hoskell, Councilor Bolbok, and Councilor…” her voice broke and her head shifted upwards to the portrait and Seika hugged the dark-haired girl.

“I’m so sorry Caitlyn,” she gasped, feeling the girl shake in her arms. “Viktor and Jayce? Are they okay?”

Caitlyn stiffened pulling away, her gaze not meeting Seika’s.

“Caitlyn, what happened?” Seika asked again softly, fear on her face. Caitlyn’s eyes finally rose to meet her and the softest of apologies left her lips. Seika froze at Caitlyn’s apology, her heart clenching as her heart clenched painfully in her chest. No… he couldn’t have… Her vision blurring as she stood, walking to the door but Caitlyn’s words halted her movements.

“Jayce doesn’t know what’s happening to him, he’s alive but…” Caitlyn said, standing.

“Where?” Seika asked, gripping the doorhandle, her eyes still focused on the wood of the door.

“The lab,” Caitlyn breathed and Seika slipped out the door before she bolted, sprinting through the halls.

Seika’s heart raced in her chest as she ran, hurrying through the campus grounds without any regard. She ignored the tears rolling down her face as she rushed inside the Engineering building, sprinting again through the quiet halls as she raced towards the lab and when she reached the first door, she stepped through, claws of uncertainty tightening around her throat.

She took another step, then another, before she found herself standing in the doorway of the Hextech Lab. Jayce was hunched over, resting against Viktor’s crutch, his eyes focused on a journal in his hands.

The next step inside had Jayce looking up and he stood, snapping the journal shut and discarding it on the desk as he tenderly laid Viktors crutch against the desk.

“Seika, oh gods Seika, where have you been – oh god what happened?” he asked softly, brows creased in shocked confusion. No one had known where she’d gone, only that she’d disappeared. He eyed the marks on her face and stepped closer, brows furrowed as he gently reached up and thumbed the bruises on her cheeks.

The silver-haired girl slipped past him, moving into the room and turning to face Viktor, seemingly ignoring the man. Her face contorted into horror as she stepped back, gasping softly, hands covering her mouth. There was Viktor, encased in a gelatinous mold, only part of his face free from the cocoon. The lack of whispers in the room caused a chill to run up her spine as her eyes continuously fell and rose up and Viktors figure.

The sight made Seika dizzy, so much so that she collapsed partially back against the desk, her hands steadying themselves on the desktop. Her head turned, finding the Hexcore-less corner before she shifted her gaze back to Jayce.

“What did you do?” She asked softly and the terror in her face made his heart clench.

“Something, I did something Seika, I had too – I –” he started, taking a step forward towards her. She recoiled, leaning back away from him as her face turned, finding Viktors again. “You… you couldn’t even imagine, he… he was there, he…” Jayce choked, brows furrowing as he looked to the ground, “he was dead in my arms Seika. He wasn’t breathing, he wasn’t moving he –” Jayce’s voice cracked as his hands moved to wipe at his face.

Seika released a soft gasp, tears rolling down her cheeks as her gaze found Viktors face. “The Hexcore, you…?”

Jayce met her gaze and nodded softly. His feet moved and he stood before Viktor, looking up at him. “It reacted to him, Seika,” he turned around to face her, his resolve having steeled at seeing his friend alive… well more alive than he’d been after the attack.

“It saved his life Seika,” Jayce said, taking another step towards her. Her focus was still on Viktors as he lightly grabbed her shoulder, attempting to comfort her. “He’s alive, I don’t know how the explosions did to him what it did, but it’s keeping him alive,” Jayce said, an exhausted but appreciative smile on his face as he hugged her.

It’d been many long sleepless nights for him. Ceaseless worry, constantly trying to keep up with the Hexcores steady and relentless pattern shifting. And now Seika was here and Jayce took comfort in knowing he wasn’t alone in facing this anymore. He tightened his arms around her, squeezing the girl tighter as he let out a heavy exhale, his shoulders relaxing.

“Seika,” he said alive, his voice breaking again at her lack of response, “he’s breathing, his pulse is consistent, Seika, he’s alive,” he said, shaking as he held her tighter. Relief swelled within him, lifting the constant suffocating pressure he’d been feeling since the attack on the Council.

Seika felt ill. What Viktor had wanted, what he’d told her he’d wanted – none of it had been taken into consideration. And this? This went against everything she knew; every bad story told to keep her and her desires in check, every nightmare of men gone mad with power – that same power overtaking them destroying who they were – their very souls, those stories came rushing back to her. Stories that haunted her, stories of truth and of times long forgotten by many, and history often repeated itself. She couldn’t doubt that, if he ever did wake up, the Viktor she knew would be gone, lost to the Hexcore that so easily had taken control of one of his limbs just days before.

She wanted to believe he’d come back to her. That he’d open his eyes and call out her name and everything would be fine. Then her mentors’ words echoed in her ears again, the same unrelenting nagging voice that repeated horrific stories over and over again, like all the others who’d experienced similar situations including her mentor, this man she’d grown to love would never be the same, lost to the unending abyss of magic and power – his soul suffocated out of existence beneath the oceans of infinite knowledge.

Her mentors voice chased out all other thoughts, thoughts of staying, of seeing what might happen, of possibly doing something. All that remained were his lessons. Silent tears rolled down her cheeks as she suffocated in the numbing knowledge that’d been passed down to her, and the century plus worth of relationship between the two and the tightly strung sturdy thread that bonded mentor to mentee resulted in complete faith, as such bonds often do.

Her heart wept and ached in her chest as she continued to stare at the man she loved, the same man she’d lost and the pain she’d felt in the confines of that cell were nothing like the agony she was now enduring. He was gone, lost, never again would he open his eyes and smile as lovingly as he had. Never would he whisper her name in her ear and tease her, or smile and let out the softest sigh as she played with his hair.

Viktor was gone.

“Why did you do this to him, Jayce?” Seika whispered and Jayce pulled away, brows furrowed.

“What?” He said in shock and Seika’s gaze shifted to him, anger on her face.

“Why? Why Jayce? He wanted it destroyed! He wouldn’t have wanted this!” Seika lashed out, glaring at the man. “I went to get Heimerdinger to destroy it, he said he was going to ask you, but you…” Seika gasped, shaking her head again, “What you’ve done Jayce… its…. It’s an abomination… Against magic, against life –”

“I saved his life Seika!” Jayce yelled back, “I did what I had to while you played hooky in the undercity!” Jayce didn’t understand her as she walked forward, tears streaming down her cheeks. Thunder rumbled outside and Jayce’s fists clenched at his hips. He watched as Seika’s face crumbled and her hand lightly grazed Viktor’s cheek before she stepped up onto her tiptoes and tenderly kissed him.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” Seika whispered to Viktor, the gelatinous matrix surrounding him reaching out to touch her. She placed another gentle kiss to his lips, avoiding the ever-seeking matrix as her hand lightly brushed a few stray brown locks from his face as she told him she loved him. Everything in her told her this was wrong, and she couldn’t support this any longer. Jayce had deliberately gone against Viktor’s wishes, and she gritted her teeth as she stepped away, a small part of her hoping Viktor never woke up. That he wasn’t ever forced to face what Jayce had done to him, if he was even still him. Her hands went to her face as she sobbed silently, shoulders shaking.

“Seika…” Jayce said softer, “he’ll be okay, he is okay, please, just give this a –”

Seika swatted his hand off of her, taking a step back, her eyes ignited with a dangerous hatred.

“Don’t… Don’t talk as if you have any room to say anything,” she spat, “you did this to him.”

 Jayce’s anger grew at her words. She was so quick to throw in the towel and give up on him, but he wouldn’t. He watched as Seika glanced up at Viktor once more before she slipped past him.

“You weren’t even here to do anything, what was I supposed to do? Just let him die?!” Jayce exclaimed, his hands spreading outwards as he gesticulated his words. “He didn’t want to die, you know that!”

Seika spun to face him.

“No, he didn’t, but you didn’t save him for him, did you?” she said, jabbing her index finger against his chest, “you saved him for you.”

Jayce went to rebuttal, but the words were lost on his lips. Seika glanced once more about the room, her eyes pausing on Sky’s notebook, before her eyes found Viktors unconscious profile. They softened, her brows relaxing before she turned again and walked to the door. Just as she stepped through, Jayce finally found his voice.

“How the hell do you think you can even begin to lecture me on what I chose? If you’d been here, maybe you could have done something, so what’s your excuse?” He asked, watching as Seika paused in the open doorway, hand on the doorframe before her gaze shifted back to him, her head turning a smidge to look at him. She glowered at him, and for a moment, he didn’t think he’d ever seen her so angry.

“Ask the fucking Noxians,” she threw her words at him, seething anger in her eyes as she passed through the doorway and out of sight.

Seika hadn’t even remembered leaving the lab, nor the building, nor trekking through the rain, her boots stomping through the sodden grass as she retreated back to Counilor Kirammans office. She walked in, not bothering to knock and her eyes refused to meet Caitlyn’s as she softly apologized and grabbed her bag.

Her heart crumbled in her chest when she left Caitlyn alone, the dark-haired girl just holding back tears but nonetheless Seika continued.

Why was she here? She didn’t know what purpose she had anymore. She raised her head, raindrops splattering on her face, mixing with her tears before she continued walking. She walked aimlessly, weaving through streets without direction. For hours she walked, thoughts lost as her mind numbed.

Viktor was gone.

Her breath caught in her throat as she coughed, soft sobs escaping her and echoing in the empty silent streets. Thunder echoed overhead and she felt that burning grief-fueled anger well up in her. She couldn’t dampen it, couldn’t contain it as that same name repeated in her mind.

Jinx.

Jinx.

She’d done this. She was the root of everything. The taste of revenge burned in her belly, aching and setting her limbs on fire and Seika ran, sprinting through the streets until her legs were sore and she stopped, crumbling to the concrete.

Rain pattered the ground, the white noise drowning out the screaming in her ears – her own – her thoughts bloodthirsty and relentless as she imagined all the ways she’d kill her. Ripping out her throat, a stab to the gut, a gun to her head, visions and visions of violence, and a million ways Jinx’s mangled body would lay when she’d –

A jacket fell on top of her and the visions stop when Seika looked up and found Vi, looking as emotionally drained and exhausted as she was. She stood and ran into Vi’s embrace, sobs wracking her body as Vi pulled her, dragging her beneath a bridge and sliding to the ground with her in her arms, curling around the girl and finding comfort in their shared grief.

Vi squeezed her tighter when Seika continued to repeat ‘he’s gone’ in soft and broken words. Caitlyn’s request echoed in Vi’s mind again, and Seika’s own turmoil caused her to reach out and lightly grab the nearest bottle sitting on the ground. She tipped it, spying its empty contents before picking it up and throwing it in frustration.

Seika recoiled, pulling away from Vi and the pink-haired woman hushed her, apologizing as a man from her left grunted, the bottle she’d thrown hitting him.

Seika moved, curling into Vi’s left side. Vi held her tightly, glancing up as the man muttered a soft ‘hey, watch it,’ from where he’d been laying and Vi let out a soft apology in response. The rain continued to fall as he stood before he trekked through the puddles and the man walked over to them, seeking shelter out of the rain.

“Not my first,” he mumbled, “you alright?” he asked, looking down at the pair. Seika glanced up to the stranger, then at Vi and found her staring at the ground. When neither of them answered, he slumped back against the abutment and slid down until he was sitting next to Seika. A soft huff and a grunt escaped the man as he settled in a comfortable position.

Seika was wedged between the two individuals, but despite everything, she didn’t find herself unwelcoming towards the closeness. She shifted, Vi taking her arm back as she rested her forearms on her bent knees and Seika rested her temple on the outside of Vi’s shoulder, her eyes closing as she listened to the rain.

The mans head turned and found Seika’s face, his eyes noting the tear streaks down her slightly puffy face before his eyes rose to Vi who continued to burn a hole into the concrete. He clicked his tongue and slipped his hand into his jacket before pulling out a flask.

“You, uh, lose someone in the attack?” He asked softly.

The words forced Seika to open her eyes again and she suddenly felt like she was suffocating at the words alone as she leaned forward, shedding her backpack and throwing it haphazardly in front of her. An envelope slipped out and she lunged instinctively, grabbing it with tender fingers as she held it to her.

Vi’s gaze had shifted with her movements and she watched as the silver-haired girl held the envelope, lightly thumbing it. Her gaze rose and she found the stranger offering her a flask, an offer she took as her hand grabbed it from his. She uncapped it quickly, pausing for a moment before taking several swallows of the burning liquid. Her hand moved and she thrust it into Seika’s hand.

Seika eyed the container, uncertainty welling up in her. She hardly ever drank – in fact, she didn’t think she’d ever gotten tipsy, let alone drunk. Taverns and ale were a rarity her mentor didn’t often imbue in it, despite how regularly he complained about wanting an ale.

Then she felt that suffocating grief well up in her, more tears threatening to spill and she took a swig, gagging at the burn and taste. She sputtered, coughing as she handed the flask back to the man. He huffed a laugh, a ghost of a smile on his face before he took a swig.

…

Jayce sat on Viktors stool; forehead propped up on one hand as Viktor’s crutch leaned into his opposite shoulder.

He couldn’t believe she’d just upped and left… His brows furrowed and he shook his head in disbelief. Did Viktor truly mean so little to her that she could so easily leave without saying goodbye? His thoughts were interrupted by an image of the horror on her face and he sighed, glancing up towards Viktor.

What in the hell was she so afraid of?

A pair of clicking footsteps appeared to the right of Viktor’s cocoon and his gaze shifted to meet Mel. When their eyes met, his gaze fell and she stepped forward, glancing up at Viktor before looking back to him.

“How is he?” She asked softly.
“Same as before. Breathing, pulse is consistent,” Jayce replied, watching as Mel moved to stand in front of Viktor, her head tilted upward to look at him. “Beyond that, your guess is as good as mine.”

Mel’s hand reached towards the gummy-looking substance, and it in turn reached out to her, the visual causing her to recoil and take a step back.

“What’s it doing to him?” She asked.

Jayce sighed before he spoke. “The Hexcore has been evolving. Shifting through runic patterns faster than I can keep up. All I know for certain is that it’s keeping him alive,” as he spoke, Mel moved about the room, glancing at diagrams, equations, and graphs he’d been working on.

“It’s the sort of puzzle Viktor would love if he wasn’t…” Jayce had shifted on the stool, turning his body towards Viktor as he continued, “It should be me up there instead of him.” His fists clenched around the cold smooth metal of Viktors crutch as Mel moved to place her hands on his shoulders.

“Don’t say that, he’ll come back to us,” Mel said softly.

“I still don’t understand. He was right next to me,” Jayce waved his arm as he spoke, “How does the explosion do that to him and I just…? I just walk out without a scratch?” Jayce’s tone was filled with an angry confusion. He continued to have more and more questions, each question as unanswered as the previous.

Mel sighed softly, her eyes raising to Viktors form as she spoke, “There’s no sense to these things, Jayce.” She leaned back, her head tilting until she spied an open leather journal. A drawing caught her eye and her hand moved as she lightly thumbed the image.

“Has Seika come yet?” Mel asked softly before retracting her hand and looking back towards Viktor. Jayce scoffed and her head turned, finding him, brows furrowed.

“Yeah, she came running in here, looking like she just got out of a bar fight. Took one look at him and left,” he muttered, his fists clenching around Viktors crutch again. “She just fucking left,” he muttered, his hands moving to cover his face before he straightened, anger decorating his handsome features before he continued.

“And where the hell has she been? She –”

“My mother had her arrested, she thought she was related to the bombing,” Mel said softly her quiet tone interrupting him, eyes narrowing as she looked away from Jayce. “Since the bombing, she’d been illegally held in the cells in the basement,” Mel added softly, finally meeting Jayce’s shocked gaze.

“Shit…” he mumbled and sighed, though the news didn’t dampen his anger towards her. “Well, she’s gone now, I doubt we’ll ever hear from her again,” Jayce replied, his brows furrowing as his face relaxed.

“How’d it go with the Council?” He asked.

Mel let out the softest of scoffs as she spoke, “My mother’s entered the game,” she said as she slid up onto the desk, her legs dangling off. “She’s already gotten her hooks into Salo, using his grief to make a play for Hextech. Given her new connections to Salo, I’m sure it’s how she so easily arrested Seika, and now they both seek Hextech.”

Jayce turned, finding the gauntlets before he swiveled back around.

“Mel, I promised Viktor – never again,” he said only for Mel to grab his hand and hold it.

“It’s all right, I handled it,” she comforted, placing a soft hand to Viktor’s crutch, “I won’t let them corrupt your dream.”

Jayce sighed softly, the exhaustion too great as he moved and rested his head on Mel’s lap, finding comfort in her presence. He had to keep going, for Viktor… His features relaxed and his eyes closed when Mel rested her hands on his head and neck, gently stroking him.

“Caitlyn was there, you might pay her a visit,” she said softly, knowing how bonded the two of them were. “She hides it admirably, but the poor girl’s in so much pain.”

Chapter Text

Seika took another swig from the fresh bottle they’d bought. She didn’t even know what it was, only that her tongue had long since numbed to the taste and a comfortable warmth had soothed her aches and pains. It’d stopped raining, but Vi continued rambling on and on and on.

Admittedly, Seika’s mood was so shot that she felt she might tape the girls mouth shut, but there was another part of her that was grateful for the distraction and so she and Vi shifted the bottle between them and Loris, the stranger who’d joined them earlier in the evening.

“Why the hell would she want me as a cop?” Vi muttered again and Seika leaned into the girl. Vi responded, wrapping her arm around her, another sigh leaving her lips as she took a swig of the whiskey and a long stretch of silence encased the trio.

“What are you gonna do now?” Vi asked suddenly, breaking the peace. Seika sat up and took the bottle Vi offered, lightly rolling it between each hand before she shrugged.

“Run back to my mentor like a pup to a bitch I guess,” she replied flatly and Vi snorted. Even Loris let out a soft chuckle, though Seika couldn’t find an element of humor in her statement. Her brows furrowed slightly in confusion at the pairs response as she continued to watch the amber liquid flow back and forth within its glass confines.

“You could stay,” Vi replied, taking the bottle from her. Seika turned, and her exhausted face forced Vi to pause her drink as she lowered the open bottle from her parted lips.

"I mean why not? Do you really have to go back to him?” Vi asked, brows slightly furrowed. Seika shrugged; she was less than amenable right now towards her mentor, but he was the only family she’d ever known.

She scoffed and shook her head, taking the bottle back from Vi and swallowing a deep swig, making a face after that had both Vi and Loris chuckling in response.

“What the hell would I do then? Piltover has no need for mages, I don’t even know where to begin helping Zaun…” Seika sighed as she let the bottom of the bottle skim the concrete, the grating sound of glass scraping stone reverberating between the trio.

“You don’t need something to do, you do know you can live your life for you, right?” Vi almost sassed, grabbing the bottle from her and taking a swig before handing it off to Loris.

“Then what, I spend another 228 years learning how to be a mage in fuck all?” Seika huffed, waving her hands. “I don’t want to end up as a 500-year-old coddled ignorant baby who can’t fucking do anything,” she huffed and both individuals paused, looking towards her. Seika leaned back against the concrete, fussing with her hair before she met Vi and Loris’ confused faces.

“What?” She asked, giving them a moment to answer. They continued to stare at her in silence before she scoffed and nodded, realizing where their confusion had stemmed from. She smiled a bit, a soft chuckle escaping her.

“Alright, let me tell you the poor sad story of Seika Etesia,” Seika drawled, Loris handing her the bottle back before she raised it and took a long swig. She coughed, choking on the burn before speaking. “Poor little Seika Etesia got lost in the jungles of Ixtal when she was 8,” Seika hadn’t felt the liquor hit her as hard as it did, her words slurring slightly as she laughed at her own story. “Woe is me,” she feigned dramatically, slumping back against the abutment between the two individuals.

“Until I found a rock,” she said sassily as she held out her hand, remembering the event vividly and just how big it’d been in her hand at that age and size. “That stupid rock was my best friend, god the hours I spent talking to it,” Seika scoffed, rolling her eyes, her palm still spread. “Stupid child spent 60 years playing house. Wandering the jungle and turning into animals – and it was all just a fucking game…” Her open palm clenched around air and she took another swig of the booze, relishing in the burn down her throat.

“And then Ryze found me,” she huffed, “Oh the great archmage Ryze,” Seika gushed dramatically, pretending to dramatically ooh and awe over the man as she mimicked words spoken about him. “The Guardian of Runeterra, saver of all!” Seika faked a gag. “Old blue geezer stumbled upon a kid lost in the jungle and all he wanted was the fucking rock! I was an afterthought, one he wasn’t keen on dealing with, but in the end, how he took pity on little ole me and let me trail after him,” Seika said bitterly, eyes narrowed at the far wall in front of them.

Anger and disappointment reared their ugly heads and she threw the bottle, the liquid spraying on the concrete when the glass shattered against the wall and she stood, a glare on her face.

“And for over one hundred and fifty fucking years, I did fuck all. I learned fucking nothing –” she picked up an empty bottle, throwing it against the wall as she let out a groan in frustration. “I learned theories at best and what the fuck do I have to show for it!? I couldn’t do a damn thing then and I sure as fuck can’t now! I couldn’t save him… I couldn’t do anything…”

Vi watched Seika, her features etched deeply with concern for her friend’s outburst and she stood.

“Seika…” she said softly, her hands moving to each of the girls’ shoulders but she stepped away.

“No!” She said, stepping away again, “No, I want to get shitfaced and forget everything. Forget Ryze, forget Cecil, forget Viktor… I…” She gasped, fresh tears escaping her tightly shut eyes as Vi embraced her.

“Then let’s get drunk and forget it all,” Vi whispered softly in her ear before she pulled away, a devilish smirk on her face.

“Let’s get plastered and show these fucking topsiders, yeah?” She offered and Seika let out a breathy gasp of a laugh, nodding, a needed sense of relief flooding her system.

Loris stood, chuckling at the girls antics, and the trio all but skipped to the nearest liquor shop, grabbing bottles upon bottles until Vi and Seika were giggling with an exorbitant amount in their arms as they retreated back to their bridge.

They danced and sang well into the night, bottle after bottle draining empty, more between Vi and Loris, but when Seika was well and truly sloshed, she slumped onto Vi.

“Vi,” she drawled out her name, “you’re so cool, why shouldn’t I stay here with you?” She slurred and Vi laughed, tugging the girl into her arms.

“I think you’re pretty cool too Seika,” Vi said honestly. She smiled, a genuine honest smile, the first she’d shown since her disagreement with Caitlyn.

They continued laughing and joking with one another for hours, well into the morning until Seika and Loris had fallen asleep. Vi continued to mutter to herself, occasionally leaning to lightly bump her head against the top of Seika’s head as the silver-haired girl sat, her back against the stone bench Vi had sprawled out on.

“And I thought she had no sense of humor,” Vi continued her muttering, ignoring Lori’s drunken response as she laid on the man’s leg.

“Her dad’s right, there’s no point in sticking around up here,” Vi’s head tilted as she picked up a bottle before she shifted and looked back towards Seika. She lightly bumped her head to hers again, shifting upwards a tad from where she was laying to do so as she huffed.

“Stupid fuckin mage, you better come with me,” she mumbled with a smile before it faltered and she raised the liquor bottle to her lips. “Except, why would you want to? I’m the one who created the monster after all…”

When Vi realized the bottle was empty, she dropped it, ignoring as it rolled away, glass softly screeching as it rolled along the stone. It was stopped by a boot, and a soft voice spoke up, their figure blocking out the light.

“Vi?” The accent asked and Vi perked up before rolling her eyes and sitting up, peeking at the approaching figures from behind a raised arm.

Seika groaned, opening her eyes before promptly closing them at the intrusive sunlight in her eyes. It was far too early, the sun was far too bright, and her headache far too intense for whatever was happening. She curled in on herself, hiding her face.

“Who are you? And how do you know my name?” Vi asked as Seika heard the movement of bottles on the ground and footsteps that wasn’t hers, Vi’s or Loris’.

Seika glanced up again, finding a red-haired Enforcer, then another who’d walked through their mess of bottles. The teal fishfolk’s gaze fell and met Seika’ eyes, the little fins decorating his cheekbones waving as he observed her silently.

“Junior Officer Nolen,” the redheaded Enforcer introduced herself, the words pulling Seika’s attention back to her, despite the blinding sunlight behind the woman. Another softer, warmer word left the cheerful enforcers lips.

“Maddie.”

“And uh,” the enforcer continued, “it’s written on your face.”

Seika snorted, Vi smacking her arm right after, and Seika continued to snicker, closing her eyes in attempt to satiate the throbbing headache she was enduring, not to mention the constant flipflopping in her belly.

Vi scoffed, watching as the other enforcer poked and prodded at Loris’ boot, the man not yet having woken up.

“So, what is it? Random search? Escort off the property?” Vi retorted and Seika turned around, resting her chin on the stone bench, grateful the sun was at her back now. Her eyes fleeted up to the fishfolk, noting how he lazily glanced about the scene, his baton having dropped to his side from where it had been poking at Loris’ boot. He glanced down at her again and Seika met his gaze before she returned to Loris, eyes widening when his partially opened eyes met hers.

She stifled a chuckle, a smile on her face as Vi continued.

“Or you just here to waste my time?”

“Search? No, no, heh,” the voice behind her, this Maddie, person, replied, a breathy chuckle escaping her before she continued, “Uh, you’re something of a legend among the Enforcers.” The familiar pop of cork being pulled from a bottle echoed in Seika’s ears as the Enforcer continued to talk.

“Caitlyn made quite a scene at the station when they tried to deny your enlistment,” she continued and Seika’ brows raised in surprise as Vi nearly choked on the liquor. A soft huff escaped Seika’s lips, her eyes briefly fleeting to Vi’s which had lowered to her sitting form.

“Now I have to ask, is it all true? You went after Silco alone when the Council wouldn’t back you?” The Enforcer asked and Seika watched Loris perk up, his eyes opening again as he peered towards their direction from where he was laying. Seika met his eyes and gave a brief smile before her eyes fell to the stonework she rested her chin on.

“Cait said all that?” Vi asked softly.

“She said if every Enforcer had a heart like yours, we could take on Noxus itself,” Maddie said, before tumbling into her next words, “then she threatened to withdraw her family’s funding.”

Seika sighed heavily; her eyes half-lidded. Her headache still pounded away in her skull and her stomach continued to flip-flop – how she desired a nice warm bed and sleep.

“Anyhow, I’m glad you’re joining up,” Maddie finished and Seika’s eyes opened a bit, glancing up at Vi who gave a low commitment ‘hmm’ and a nod in response as her gaze fell to the bottles strewn around them.

“After the sheriff betrayed us… Well, let’s just say… it’s nice to know there are still good ones left,” Maddie added.

Seika heard shuffling behind her, then a shadow moved as Maddie extended a hand towards Vi. She watched from her peripherals as Vi took the hand and shook it before a blaringly loud and obnoxious fanfare interrupted them. Seika groaned loudly, clamping her hands over her ears and hiding her face.

“Make it stop,” she pleaded aloud as crowds began to fill the streets. Seika huffed again as Officer Nolen was beckoned and both Enforcers made their exits, Maddie expressing her gratitude in being able to meet Vi.

Vi sighed and shook her head, patting Loris’ leg, attempting to wake him. Seika’s eyes opened again, half-lidded as she watched Loris’ attempt at sleeping, but she did not smile this time.

“Come on,” she said when she finally managed to rouse Loris, her gaze falling to Seika. “You too,” she said, lightly shaking her by the shoulder. Seika glanced up at Vi, a gentle glare in her eyes and Vi sighed.

“Don’t make me do this alone,” she said softly, her hand outstretched towards the silver-haired girl.

Seika sighed loudly and dramatically, staring up at Vi before taking her hand and letting the boxer pull her to her feet. “Only because you beg so pretty,” Seika retorted, attempting to sneak another sip of booze, the bottle being promptly grabbed by Loris who was now up and standing. Vi snickered at her sass, picking up Seika’s bag and slinging it over her shoulder.

When Seika finished dusting herself off, it was Loris who moved first. He wrapped a bulky arm around Seika and Vi moved to her other side, then the trio began making their way towards the memorial.

…

Hushed voices spoke amongst themselves as they approached the memorial site.

Seika sighed, looking at the extravagant metal, stone, and glass work, pausing her steps to take in the view. A minute later, she followed after Loris and Vi, walking in behind them. Vi had returned her backpack to her and Seika adjusted it on her shoulders.

The group paused as they were patted down and she handed her bag off, watching as it was inspected before slipping it back on and following the two of them into the memorial. As they entered, Seika watched Mel walk along the stage to the podium and another sigh escaped her lips, her eyes wandering the crowd until her gaze settled on the back of a familiar head.

Jayce…

Flashes of Viktor burned in front of her and Seika closed her eyes before lifting them, raising them towards the Engineering building in front of them, where no doubt, Viktor’s body remained, still fixed in that goopy matrix. Tears welled up in her eyes and breathed deeply, closing them again before letting her head fall.

The guilt of leaving him was destroying her, and even after attempting to hide in the bottom of a bottle, she still longed to return back to that lab. To beg and plea with his body to bring him back to her.

Mel began speaking and Seika’s gaze shifted briefly towards her, before lowering again. Caitlyn stood several bodies down from Jayce, looking up to the statue. Seika’s eyes moved to that next and her gaze softened as she spotted Councilor Kirammans carved figure alongside Bolbok and Hoskell. Mel’s soothing voice continued to echo out over the silent memorial, though Seika hardly heard the words as her gaze drifted upward towards the direction of the lab again.

The sun casted a warm yellow glow over the room and for a moment, Seika breathed. Her eyes drifting closed as the comforting words of Mel cradled her very soul.

Viktor was alive, Jayce had said that. He lived and breathed…

What if…?

Seika’s eyes opened and found Vi’s profile, the sight of her bringing back a wealth of guilt, an ever-growing guilt that she felt like was consuming her. Guilt at knowing what she’d be doing when she found Jinx, and knowing how much it’d hurt her friend, if not obliterate their friendship entirely. Her gaze shifted again, up towards Viktor and another heavy exhale slipped out through her nose.

“Today, we share an unthinkable loss,” Mel said before listing the three Councilor’s and Seika’s gaze shifted back to the presenter, brows furrowed as she noticed Vi had slipped away. Seika turned to Loris’, noting his look of confusion and they shrugged at one another as Vi continued walking away from them.

Seika took a step forward, then another, when Vi hopped the railing and moved towards the first section, her brows furrowing. She heard Loris slip into step behind her as she maneuvered her way through the crowd, watching as the guards attempted to stop the pink-haired woman.

“Vi,” Seika said when she reached her, hopping the railing, an Enforcer moving to grab her arm.

Vi turned, finding Seika as she was pulling against the Enforcers that’d grabbed each of her arms. Seika’s confusion was evident when Vi’s gaze fell upon the girls face, but with the tattoo she’d spotted on the Enforcer that’d passed, she had a bad feeling of what was to come.

Mel continued to talk through the quiet altercation that was occurring, the woman too focused on her speech to notice the Enforcer walking up the stairs.

Seika noticed him though, brows furrowed in confusion as he walked up onto the stage. Her eyes lowered and she spotted a gun and ripped her arms from the grasp of the Enforcers.

“MEL!” Seika yelled, and the woman turned, her gold adornments nearly shining as the Enforcer raised his gun. Simultaneously, Seika spotted movement to her left and watched as a hooded figure revealed herself, chemical attachments along her face and back.

The enforcer bashed the butt of his gun into Mel’s face, the woman collapsing as the female Zaunite pulled out a multi-bladed chainsword, just barely missing Jayce’s face as she swung it out in front of him

“Jayce!” Seika yelled, her voice lost as the male Enforcer on the stage pointed his gun at Mel before smiling and lifting it to the sky before pulling the trigger.

Screams echoed as the flare burst from the glass roof and swirled up into the sky, erupting into fire and color.

“You aren’t safe up here, toppers!” The Enforcer called from next to the podium.

Chaos erupted in the memorial, screams echoing from within the structures people ran, fleeing for their lives. Seika fought against the crowd, peeking towards Mel before fighting her way towards Jayce.

“None of you are safe!” He jeered before being tackled by actual Enforcers. Seika paused when other Enforcers moved to surround Jayce, and his eyes shifted, briefly catching hers, his own stunned confusion mirroring her own.

Seika moved, running towards Jayce and the older woman when she swiftly killed two Enforcers, but her feet stopped at the echoing sound of metal creaking against itself, her gaze lifting upwards as an airship stopped just above them.

Chapter Text

Seika heard them before she saw them. Bursting through the glass and raining sharp shards on those below, a whining screeching squeal echoing from their chemtank suits as they descended onto the memorial. Purple and green hues surrounded the bodies contained within them as their appearance dictated pandemonium.

Seika swore as multiple chemtanks descended, taking out Enforcers with long green shimmer-imbued blades. One, two, three, four, then a final, significantly larger chemtank suit dropped in the middle, a roar ripping from the body within the mechsuit.

Chaos echoed around Seika as gunshots rang out, bullets striking against metal. Civilians burst from the memorial grounds, fleeing like bees from a hive as the Enforcers feebly attempted to fight the chemtanks. Seika watched the violence, turning around as her initial shock kept her feet planted to the stone beneath her. Caitlyn acted on instinct, her rifle raised and trigger pulling before each consecutive shot she fired. Jayce was gone from her sight and just as her eyes reached Vi, Seika saw her lifting a fire extinguisher and smashing it on the back of one of the chemtanks. Her gaze turned again as enforcers, including the two she’d met earlier, assisted in loading Councilor’s Salo and Soola into the back of the carriage and she ripped herself from her shock.

…

Jayce hid backstage, the woman with the chainsword having followed him. He peeked out behind a box, attempting to control his breathing as much as he could given the circumstances.

The wound on his right shoulder ached and he huffed softly, his hand moving to it before pulling away, red droplets dripping from his fingertips. Suddenly, the chainsword smashed down onto the boxes he’d been hiding behind, the older woman’s noises of exertion just barely overheard over the mechanical growling of the chainsword.

Jayce bolted, slipping behind other boxes as he attempted to stay out of the womans sight. He wandered, searching for something – anything, until his eyes found a hammer and he picked it up. His hand readjusted its grip as he looked from the hammer, up in the direction of the woman then back at the hammer before his brows raised in the briefest of shrugs. It was small, but better than nothing and the irony wasn’t lost on his rattled mind.

Jayce watched the woman trek through the darkness, the signature green glow of her equipment acting like a beacon for him. Then, his feet were moving as he rushed through the dark, sprinting at her and slamming the hammer down on the woman’s face, teeth gritted as he violently brought down the hammer on her with as much strength as he could muster. Then he took a step back as the woman slowly straightened.

A breathy laugh escaped past her sneer as she stared, wide-eyed and maniacal at Jayce, the chainsword raised towards the Councilor, the weapon growling and chuffing like a rabid beast.

Jayce ran, sprinting for his life, the hammer forgotten as he dropped it. A step away, two steps away, then he felt agonizing pain as the woman lifted the chainsword and sliced diagonally up his back. His knees crumbled upon the next step he took and he collapsed onto the ground with a groan.

…

Seika shifted, her Wildclaw form appearing in a burst of blue sparks and she bolted towards the Councilor’s convoy. Just as the car began to drive away, the massive Chemtank suit appeared, ramming into it, the hunk of metal falling on its side and sliding before its roof smashed into a support beam, bringing the vehicles movement to a halt.

Seika’s form tore through the gas as she tackled the giant chemtank suit before it could approach the vehicle, her claws digging into the metal as she used her weight to pull it away from the convoy, rolling away with it. She stood, growling as she eyed the figure inside the suit, wondering for a brief moment if the body inside could even be considered alive. The body in the suit roared, the sound reverberating around her as it threw itself towards her, swinging its blade in great big arcs.

Seika jumped back, growling as she moved to shift forms, but a terrible pain shot up her spine, a fire stemming from the gashes on her back, a lasting gift from Jinx’s bombs back on the bridge. Her back arched, feline muzzle raising up towards the ceiling as the gash on her forehead burned and she became hyperaware of every wound on her body, her senses melting into blinding pain.

She let out a throaty yell, just barely rolling out of the way as the chemtank swung its blade down, but it picked her up by the scruff of her neck with its other hand, and by the time she was aware and blinking away the pain, she was flying into a wall.

It crumpled upon her impact and she burst through the other side, rolling to a stop just outside the memorial.

Her head turned, looking upwards. The once warm and yellow sky had shifted, taking on an eerie reddish orange hue as the bloodshed inside of the memorial continued.

Seika shifted back, yelling as she did, that same burning on her back ricocheting through her again, bouncing between the nerves of her back and down her extremities until it ceased and she was left gasping. The blinding pain took Seika’s breath away, lips parted as she panted, silent screams leaving through great breaths as her chest heaved. Her hands moved, clutching at the rubble and stone scattered around her as she stared up at the blood red sky, a terrifying confusion thrashing about within her.

…

Inside the memorial grounds, Caitlyn watched as the massive chemtank approached the overturned Councilor convoy.

“Get the councilors out of here,” Vi said to Caitlyn from behind her, “I have an idea,” she said before sprinting off.

“What are you doing?” Caitlyn called out before clicking her tongue and readying her rifle.

As Vi stumbled outside of the grounds, she paused, finding Seika’s motionless form on the ground. She bolted, kneeling before the girl and Seika jolted, her eyes opening as she groaned.

“Seika, you okay?” Vi asked, inspecting her face before pausing, brows furrowed in concern as she lightly thumbed the gash on her head, the same one that had been healing so well. Soft words of confusion left Vi before Seika raised a weak hand, pushing her away.

“Go, help them,” she hissed, her voice strained as she panted, fresh waves of pure fire battering her each time she moved. When Vi stood hesitantly, it was only when Seika nodded that the boxer took off and began running towards the Engineering building.

…

As Jayce attempted to escape the redhaired woman, Officer Maddie Nolen had found herself trapped in the clutches of the massive chemtank. Her gas launcher had been long dropped and Officer Steb had done his best to free her, but it wasn’t until he swung the vehicles axe into the back of the knee of the chemtank that the Enforcer was free, her body tossed away like that of a doll as the chemtank’s focus shifted to the fishfolk enforcer.

He dodged, ducking under the large arm before sprinting, leading the chemtank away from the Councilors vehicle. His breath escaped him, his lungs filling up with each gulp of air as he ran before a well-placed slice to the ground had the stone beneath him crumbling, the action throwing him forward.

He rolled, shielding his face as he did but as he stopped and his eyes opened, he watched as the chemtank’s bladed hand descended, until the strange man he’d briefly met that morning slid into place, a massive enforcer shield pinned between the large man and the chemtank’s blade.

Metal on metal reverberated around the pair, the high-pitched noise stabbing at their ears as the chemtank forced more of his weight onto Loris.

It wasn’t until multiple shots were fired from behind them, did the chemtank back off.  Its massive head swung about as it searched, seeking the source of the bullets until Caitlyn walked out of the smoke and reloaded the rifle in her arms.

…

Jayce crawled away from the chainsword wielding woman, the pain in his back insurmountable as he groaned, pulling himself forward. He groaned through gritted teeth as he reached the podium, another groan escaping him when the woman used her foot to flip him over. She lowered the chainsword, its teeth biting at the air in front of Jayce’s face. He attempted to retreat, arching his back in an attempt to shy away from the weapon.

“For my son,” the woman hissed down at him, her vivid green eyes matching the liquid flowing through the singular tube attached to her biomechanical nose.

Just as she lowered the chainsword, a bright blue of light appeared from her left and she shifted, swinging the chainsword out towards it, but by the time she did so, the blue ball of energy slammed into her, throwing her and her weapon back and away from one another.

The strength of the blast forced Jayce onto his belly, his hands protecting his the back of his head. He sat up, hands falling to the ground, a soft grunt escaping him as he shifted, turning his head to find Vi standing there with his hammer. Sparkles and flecks of blue drifted around them as Vi walked towards Jayce, moving to help him, but the groaning and creaking of metal pulled her focus back out towards the main area.

Four chemtanks, including the largest one, surrounded Caitlyn, Maddie, Loris, and Steb. The largest chemtank took the first step and Caitlyn responded immediately, shooting at the wearers protected face. Spiderweb cracking and a puncture hole was all that was left in the bullets wake as the chemsuit rushed towards Caitlyn and the group.

Vi pointed the hammer again towards the chemsuit, pulling again and again on the handle, hoping to fire the same shot she had moments ago. The hammer fought her, empty clinking notifying her what she was doing would yield nothing, yet in the rush of panic, Vi continued to repeat the process, the panic on her face growing as she swore.

Gunshots continued to ring out as again and again. Caitlyn fired the rifle, each shot hitting but appearing to do no more damage than that of a crumbled-up paper ball.

Suddenly, Jayce appeared, his hand clenching the familiar grip as he shifted and twisted it. When he felt it lock into place he braced the handle on his good shoulder, gritting his teeth as Vi looked down in surprise at his assistance. Together they lifted the heavy piece of machinery, and just as the chemsuits descended upon the group of four, Vi and Jayce aimed the shot.

Just as Vi pulled the trigger, the massive ball of energy swelling at the front of the Mercury Hammer, a halberd thrown from the darkness landed, embedding itself into the head of the largest chemsuit. It stumbled, its movement faltering as the shot from Jayce’s hammer missed, bright blue light streaming across the length of the building and out of it, damaging the far wall across from the memorial site.

Seika’s eyes widened as the shot passed over her laying form and sparks of blue rained down on her. Her brows furrowed before she tentatively sat up, panting heavily as she grimaced through gritted teeth. The burning had subsided, but she’d arrived to one very terrifying conclusion. The freedom she’d always had to shift, to change her form and mold herself to whatever situation she was in, was disappearing. Everything except a Wildclaw led to unimaginable pain. Her hand reached up and she touched the still throbbing gash – it hadn’t hurt her for days, but now it bothered her immensely, as did the pain on her back. She lightly touched the surface, but felt an unusually rough texture, one alarmingly unlike her own flesh.

Seika clambered to her feet, stumbling to the metal construct where she found the Noxians had entered the fray, their tell-tale halberd’s jutting out from the motionless chemsuits that scattered the rubble. She braced one hand on the frayed metal, stone, and glass wall she’d been thrown through and slipped inside.

Her brows furrowed as several Noxian soldiers entered, making their presence known and Seika met eyes with the bearded one she’d come to know personally, their gazes meeting from across the room. Seika’s eyes narrowed at his, his own narrowing at hers and despite the smoke and dust billowing in the building, her eyes just managed to spot a woman’s throat being slit by none other than the lead Noxian.

Seika sat, resting against part of the decrepit wall, her eyes closing as she attempted to relax. Now that the chemtanks had been dealt with, she took a moment to try and calm herself. Inside she was practically vibrating. Never had she seemingly lost her abilities out of nowhere. Her hands clasped together and she curled into a ball, unable to hide the slight shaking of her shoulders as she began to panic.

She didn’t know how long she remained like that, curled within the corner, secreted away behind rubble, but it was Vi’s voice that pulled her from her near hysteria.

“Seika?” Vi said softly, approaching the girl slowly. She sat up, eyes wide, almost surprised to see her and Vi’s brows furrowed as she knelt down, again thumbing that gash on Seika’s face.

“What’s happening to you?” She asked softly and Seika shook her head, no words leaving her lips when they parted to speak. Vi studied the gash closely, before she stood, her palm outstretched.

"Come on, we should get you checked out,” was all she said as she pulled the mage to her feet and walked her towards a tent that had been set up.

Caitlyn was in the midst of getting checked out by the fishfolk Enforcer and the moment Seika saw Caitlyn, she stopped, nodding to Vi as her hand absentmindedly reached for the gash on her forehead.

Vi gave a gentle nod, staring at the mage before walking up to Caitlyn in the tent, hands in her pocket.

“Thought for sure you were going to get yourself killed,” Vi breathed with a toothy grin – a crack of a joke in a less than joking environment, but one Vi needed to break the tension between the two of them. Caitlyn said nothing and both their attention was pulled away from each other when an Enforcer picked up a sobbing girl, holding her in his arms.

“A memorial,” Caitlyn said in disbelief, her head shaking, “what kind of animals?” She heavily enunciated the last word as she scowled at the ground through gritted teeth.

Seika sat far beyond the tent, but close enough for her to hear snippets of their conversations. Her gaze fell to the stone floor as she heard Caitlyn’s words.

“They wanted the spectacle,” Vi replied, “they’re trying to scare you.”

“All they did,” Caitlyn retorted, her words filled with venom, “is piss me off.”

“You…” Vi began and paused for a brief moment before continuing, “You need to find a way to call off the invasion.”

Seika’s eyes widened in shock. Invasion? What invasion? She stood hastily, stumbling into a figure that she hadn’t even realized had approached her. Her foot slipped on a piece of stray rubble and the Enforcer, the same fishfolk one from this morning, caught her, helping her lower herself back to the ground.

“Steady now,” he said, his voice soft.

“No, I need to –”

“Their conversation isn’t going anywhere,” he interrupted, brow line deeply furrowed as he studied the gash on her forehead. “This though…? This doesn’t look good.”

Seika sat, fidgeting with her hands as the fishfolk Enforcer inspected her forehead with a light, still listening in on Vi and Caitlyn’s conversation.

“Down there, you’ll be on their terms,” Seika heard Vi tell Caitlyn.

“None of this is on our terms,” Caitlyn retorted, her tone angry and frustrated.

“Maybe you should change that,” Vi replied.

“I don’t know how, okay?” Caitlyn lashed out.

Seika winced, pulling her head away from the fishfolk Enforcer and heard him softly apologize.

“She dies and leaves this giant hole, and I’m just supposed to fill it!” Seika heard Caitlyn tell Vi and her heart broke for her friend. Her gaze rose, lifting to Councilor Kiramman’s statue that somehow managed to stand tall among the rubble – just as the woman would have had she’d been alive. Suddenly Seika winced and pulled her head away again from the fishfolk’s constant inspection of her wound.

“Okay, okay,” she said, standing. “That’s enough,” she huffed, tenderly touching the gash, the burning pain that she’d been growing more and more familiar with lighting most of her forehead up in flames. She closed her eyes and sighed at the pain, then opened them to find the Enforcer staring at her through narrowed eyes.

“Everything alright over here Steb?” An accented voice asked and Seika’s gaze found the redheaded Enforcer from this morning as the fishfolk Enforcer, Steb, nodded to his partner.

“Yes,” Seika paused, nodding her head.

“Maddie,” the Enforcer said with a cheery smile.

“Maddie, yeah, from this morning,” Seika said, nodding, “thanks.”

She watched as Maddie’s gaze lifted, studying the gash and Seika became incredibly insecure. Seika slipped between the Enforcers and walked off, stalking across the length of the memorial site. She hadn’t gotten far out of the building when Vi was chasing after her.

“Seika, wait, please,” Vi said, stopping only when Seika stopped and turned around.

“You said you wanted to help the undercity, do you still feel that way?” Vi asked.

Seika blinked once, then twice then nodded.

“Always,” She replied softly, her gaze rising towards the Hextech Lab.

Vi nodded and Caitlyn watched them from the building as Vi reached out her hand.

“Then join us, we’re going to go get Jinx. Caitlyn and I, we’re going to go and get her in place of a full-scale invasion. Just a few of us, a tactical team,” Vi explained, meeting Seika’s gaze when they lowered back to her.

“They’ll be safe? No innocents will get hurt?” Seika asked with uncertainty, and Vi nodded confidently. Seika looked down at Vi’s outstretched hand, then back up at her face. It’d stop an invasion… but she’d be picking a side… The side of Piltover, but if it was for them, for the undercity, then surely it would be alright…

Seika’s hand clapped with Vi’s as she shook it, and Vi pulled her along back to Caitlyn.

An hour later in the Kiramman residence, Seika found herself staring into a decadent mirror, her eyes wide at the massive rock-like skin spreading along her spine. The wounds from the shrapnel of Jinx’s bomb were deep lacerations in the dark gray stone skin. She awkwardly bent her arm, gasping when she felt the inhuman texture. Her brows furrowed as she peered back into the mirror, neck aching uncomfortably but such things were unimportant to her as she stared in horror, at a loss for what was happening to her. She turned around, fully nude, the once small vein on her side having grown, dark gray veins branching along the width of her torso and up towards her sternum. Her breath left her in heavy pants as she again was faced with that same gash on her forehead. Rock-like and unnatural, her hand reached up and she felt the same stony texture she had felt on her back.

A knock echoed from the door, and she heard Vi call her name from the other side. Seika moved, grabbing the robe Caitlyn had given her and slid it on.
“Come in,” Seika called out, her voice shakier than she’d meant it to be. Vi opened the door, stepping in, Caitlyn peering beyond her shoulder, her eyes finding the gash on her forehead instantly. Seika stepped back, retreating towards the mirror and turned, her back facing them as the girls stepped into the extravagant washroom.

Vi stepped up to her right, and Caitlyn to her left. Normally, Seika would have found refuge in their nearness, the two girls having become dear to her, but right now? Now all she wanted was the ground to swallow her whole, to disappear into a burst of blue sparks and soar away. Perhaps if she was fast enough, she could outrun her problems and they’d vanish from the planet entirely.

She turned her head left, finding Caitlyn, then turned right and found Vi before backing away, feeling like a caged animal as her arms moved, each hand cupping the opposite arms elbow.

“Seika…” Vi said softly, looking to Caitlyn then back to the gash before her fingers softly grazed the surface. The boxer recoiled in shock, brows furrowed in confusion and Caitlyn’s long nimble fingers followed after, lightly touching the surface, though rather than reel away, the Enforcer’s hand retreated subtly back to her side.

“What’s happening to you?” Caitlyn asked, and Seika huffed, panic rising up in her as her shoulders rose and fell. All she could manage was a shake of her head, her eyes unable to lift from where they burned an imaginary hole in the marble floor.

Vi leaned back against the sink, brows furrowed as she stared at the mage and after nearly two minutes of silence, Seika finally managed to speak.

“It’s spreading…” She whispered softly, her voice trembling. When she found the worried confusion on the girls faces, she turned her back to them, dropping the robe, the fabric sinking to her hips as she curled the excess cloth to her chest.

“Shit,” Vi hissed.
“Seika, you need a doctor,” Caitlyn began, “my father –”

“And what could he do? Pull out a chisel and carve them from my body?” Seika asked, her panic causing her to lash out as she turned, tears rolling down her cheeks. She huffed, her face softening into an apologetic look. Seika was grateful the face Caitlyn returned was devoid of anger, compassion in its stead, and it was that compassion that encouraged her voice. “Mages do not belong in Piltover, I doubt any of them could help… All of my injuries are the same, they’re all… I’m…”

Vi moved, lifting the back of the robe up to the nape of her neck to cover her back prompting Seika to bring the front panels together and loop the belt at her left hip, avoiding placing pressure on the growing mark on her right.

“Seika, we’ll figure it…” Vi said softly.
“I can’t –” Seika shook her head, wiping at her face. “I can’t shift into anything but the Wildclaw,” she admitted, the words making her feel violently ill as her face paled. “I don’t know what’s happening, but can we just focus on the undercity?” Seika asked, turning around to face them. “Please, I can’t focus on this, I’ll go mad, please, the tact team – the undercity, I need to help them, I –”

Caitlyn placed a soft hand to Seika’s arm and nodded, the action halting Seika’s rambling.

“We’ll be in the office, take your time,” Caitlyn said as she placed a soft hand to Seika’s upper arm. Seika relaxed into the comforting gesture, her eyes closing as she nodded and when she opened them, she was alone again.

Her eyes found her reflection and the gash on her forehead and her shoulders trembled, a foreboding feeling clawing at her chest while her stomach churned.

Just what in the hell was happening to her?

Chapter Text

As Caitlyn spent hours reading through the Kiramman library, a massive resource full of contributions the Kiramman family had made to both Piltover and Zaun, Jayce had begun his work on creating her a rifle using Hextech.

Plans had been made and preparations put into place as the agenda that had stemmed from the violence at the memorial had spurred Piltover into action. It was that same violence that pressured the Councilors to seek refuge deep within the depths of Piltover.

“Never in our lifetimes has Piltover’s leadership been forced to the dungeons of our capitol,” Salo said through gritted teeth, his right fist clenched tightly. His eyes fleeted about the room, looking between his fellow Councilors and Ambessa Medarda.

Meanwhile, Caitlyn, Vi, Maddie, Loris, and Steb all stood on the elevator, the moving box dropping them deeper and deeper beneath the city. Vi’s eyes fleeted to her new colleagues, and she closed her eyes, trying not to remember how they got here.

Councilor Salo’s wheelchair rested at head of the table on the right side, Councilor Soola opposite of him, meanwhile Councilor Medarda stood at the middle of the far lengthwise side, palms resting on the cold flat surface.

“Does anyone still doubt that our enemy is greater than one deranged individual?” Salo said as the elevator outside of the room screeched to a stop and opened. Mel’s eyes fell, finding the letter that’d been written to them and her brows furrowed in thought.

“How did they sneak so many of these things into the ceremony?” Soola asked the room, her back still facing them as she shook her head in confusion. “I thought we took every measure to secure it,” she continued, turning to face Mel who was now bracing her forearms on the back of a chair.

Marching footsteps echoed from down the long stone hall that led to the room the Councilors were in, but Mel was more focused on the conversation the three Councilors were having.

“They must have had help,” Mel replied, eyes narrowed as she once again eyed the letter, the Kiramman seal on it as eye-catching as ever. “From someone up here…”

“We can’t afford any more handwringing,” Salo protested, “if we do not defend ourselves with Hextech, our principles will mean nothing.

Mel moved to speak against him, but as she did, the door opened loudly and one individual stepped inside.

“We aren’t prepared for a full-scale invasion,” Caitlyn’s voice said, commanding and cutting through the room with a militaristic tone and intensity. “The undercity’s attack proved that.”

“This is a closed Council meeting. Who let you in here?” Salo retorted, staring at the girl with indignation. Caitlyn moved, bracing her hands on the tabletop as she stood, fully decked out in an Enforcer uniform.

“I am a decorated officer,” Caitlyn began, looking to Salo, “Leader of House Kiramman. Address me with respect, or keep your mouth shut,” Caitlyn added, unintimidated by Salo and his words.

Ambessa Medarda’s eyes narrowed slightly as her gaze drifted about the room, taking in the shock and awe of the other Councilor’s at Caitlyns sudden shift.

“I will lead a strike team into Zaun with three objectives: locate Jinx, dismantle Shimmer, and neutralize any agents still loyal to Silco,” Caitlyn relayed to the Councilors, eyes wandering the large map of Piltover and Zaun that’d been laid on the table. Her eyes drifted closer to Mel’s side where the letter she’d sent several days ago laid flat on the table.

“What makes you think you’ll fare better than our forces today?” Salo retorted, holding back an eye roll as he stared at the Enforcer. During Caitlyn’s speech, four others had silently entered the room, and Maddie tossed a long rifle to Caitlyn, the girl catching it swiftly as she demonstrated that her gun was ready for the task at hand.

Loris walked from the shadows into the room and raised the large gauntlet over his shoulder. When he heard the telltale chink of metal connecting, signifying that his gauntlet had attached, he shifted, moving the shield to his side. Maddie stepped up, her large gun raised towards the ceiling, and Steb walked forward, decked out in tactical gear as he gripped his tonfa’s tighter.

Mel looked between them, eyes wide and uncertain before they fleeted back down to the letter from Caitlyn that she’d received earlier, then up to the group as Vi stepped forward, her gauntlets hissing.

Vi raised her eyes, the Enforcer badge on her hip heavy as she looked up towards the Councilors.

Mel looked between the five, brows furrowed before her gaze met Caitlyn’s.

“And the sixth?” She said softly, waiting for the last face to appear, but Caitlyn’s gaze only hardened.

Vi looked back to the ground as the fresh memory replayed in her mind.

…

Caitlyn had just told them of how they were going to go about this, using the ventilation system her family had made and a specific pollutant called The Grey. Seika of course, had fought the idea.

“Caitlyn, you can’t be serious, this is going to hurt people!” Seika exclaimed, slamming her palms into the desktop. When Caitlyn only glared in response, she’d looked to Vi, pleading with her.

“Vi, you said no innocents would get hurt – you can’t control this! This is the biggest slap in the face to those in the undercity, people you know, people you grew up with!”

“This is the best way,” Vi had told her, trying to help the mage understand, “They’ll be okay, they’ll –”

Seika had looked at her like she’d slapped her. She took a step away from the pink-haired woman, looking her up and down, almost like she couldn’t recognize her before her gaze shifted to Caitlyn.

“These are supposed to be your people, and you’re just going to turn on them?” Seika huffed in disbelief. Vi didn’t even have the opportunity to plead her case before Seika dropped her Enforcer badge on the desk.

The metallic ting echoed in the silence as Loris, Maddie, and Steb watched their new colleague back away.

“I don’t know who you two are anymore,” Seika seethed as she shook her head, her chest rising in falling with clenched fists at her side. “But I won’t let you two do this. I’m out.”

“Seika, wait,” Vi said, stepping forward, but Seika had already neared the door. She paused, turning to look at Vi, venom in her words and violence in her eyes.

“You should find Jinx first, because if I do, she won’t have a trial,” Seika threatened, “this is the only warning you’ll get,” she added, glancing once more towards Caitlyn before she walked out the door.

“Run away Seika, run from all your problems, just like you always do!” Caitlyn finally replied, yelling at Seika as she walked away, throwing the badge far across the room and out the doorway until it smashed into the wall opposite the open door.

…

Caitlyn’s voice pulled Vi from her recollection.

“Seika has since resigned from her position,” Caitlyn said emotionlessly and Mel’s gaze fell as she gave her the subtlest of nods.

“I see,” the Councilor said softly and Caitlyn immediately went into detail, going over the plan with the Councilors as Ambessa stared from the dark corner and watched silently, a near imperceptible smirk on her face.

…

When Seika had left the Kiramman house, she’d retreated back to the Academy campus. She paused at the gate, looking back over Piltover. Gods how she wanted to cry, to scream and plead her case with them, but they were beyond listening. She couldn’t believe they’d both so willingly gas the undercity.

Anger surged through her and she walked onto the campus, and made her way to the Engineering building, ignoring the looks she was receiving. She entered, slipping between the throngs of employees and students until she reached the Hextech Lab. It was locked, meaning Jayce wasn’t inside and she exhaled a sigh of relief before opening the door. She walked that familiar narrow hallway before entering through the second pair of doors and stopped when she found Viktor the same as when she’d left him last.

Her face broke and she crumbled, looking up at him.

“I have to go Viktor… I’m going to help them,” she whispered to Viktor, her eyes never leaving his face. “I won’t let them hurt them, I’ll protect them,” she continued, “save the undercity, that was always the goal, wasn’t it?” Seika asked him, stepping up on her tiptoes. She placed a tender kiss to each of his cheeks, then once to his lips, one hand cradling his cheek.

“I..” she stuttered, a tear rolling down her cheek, “I think I’m losing myself,” she said before pulling away, her hand still raised to his cheek as she lowered herself down. “But I’ve lost everything already, what more do I have?” She said with glassy eyes.

“I won’t let them tarnish your dream Viktor,” Seika breathed as the goopy matrix reached out, touching the tips of her fingers before recoiling. Seika gasped, her fingers burning as she looked down, watching them go from pink flesh to stone, the drastic alteration in composition ceasing just before the first knuckle of her fingers. Her brows furrowed as she looked back up to Viktor then back to her hand as she took a step back, then another until she backed into the desk.

Her jaw clenched, teeth grinding as anger, sorrow, and confusion coursed through her. Seika’s eyes drifted back up to the stationary form of the man she loved, the man she’d lost and she pulled the key to the Hextech Lab from her bag and dropped it on the desk.

“For the undercity,” she said once more, “always for the undercity,” she whispered then left the lab.

…

That’d happened a few hours ago. now, Seika found herself deep within the bowels of the undercity. She glanced down to her stone fingertips, pressing them to other fingers and to other surfaces, testing, experimenting. What hurt, what didn’t, was there still feeling or was this all some massive hallucination?

A low simmering burning flowered from every existing wound on her every time she moved or interacted with them, but the pain was tolerable. She looked up, standing on the roof she’d been perched on for the past hour.

Something within her had shifted, she’d felt the change. Physically, something was wrong, she knew that, but mentally…

The grief and anger at the loss of Viktor, the betrayal of Jayce, Vi, and Caitlyn, the pure disregard of those in the undercity by the Councilors and Cecil. Seika couldn’t contain her anger and her fists clenched unconsciously, her nails digging crescent moons into her palms. Then there was Jinx.

Her vision muted, deep violent emotions welling up in her. Screams echoed in her mind as she curled into a ball, fingers gripping tightly at her hair, her forehead burning. Her eyes closed as she just barely tried to keep it together. Then there was another scream, and another, and a gunshot and she shifted.

The Wildclaw broke free, jumping from roof to roof, its heavy weight rumbling along the metal slats of the buildings she moved upon.

Her breath came out in heavy pants, her jaws parted, long teeth glinting in the low green light as the screams echoed in her ears. Someone was begging and pleading. She slid down a roof, jumping to another and when she crested the next roof, she found two well dressed men with numerical tattoos on their foreheads, guns raised towards a mother and child, a man in a pool of blood before them.

They hadn’t noticed her as she descended, her vison going red as her jaws latched around the upper arm of the first man. She felt flesh and bone crumble beneath her teeth, and the taste of molten iron filled her mouth before she pulled away.

The man was in hysterics as the large Wildclaw stared him down, growling erupting from its throat. His arm was in its mouth, hand hanging limply from the beast’s blood splattered muzzle. He stumbled, falling back as his colleague pointed the gun towards the feline, but it dropped the arm and tackled him. With a loud crunch and echoing noise, the other man’s life was disposed of.

Seika stepped towards the armless man, blood dripping from her jaws as an eerie blue light took over her eye sockets, replacing them entirely.

“Where is Jinx?” She asked, a throaty growl of a question and the man stuttered in response, blood gushing from his arm.

“I-I-I don’t know!” He stuttered, looking up as the Wildclaw stood above him, a large long-clawed paw on either side of his head. A pathetic whimper escaped him and Seika growled in frustration.

“Wrong answer.”

When the man’s life ceased, she turned back towards the family and watched them back away in fear. Her head looked towards the body of the men who’d been dead prior to her arrival before looking back up towards the child. Its doll had been dropped and she walked forward towards it.

The child’s mother moved her child behind her and Seika slowed her pace, lowering her head to pick up the doll before lowering her body to the ground. She crawled forward, an awkward, but unintimidating action and when she neared the family, she chuffed unconsciously, the vibrating noise of contentment escaping from her.

Seika blinked, the red and blue hues she’d been seeing dissipating before her eyes as her eyes found their natural coloration, her pupils, sclera, and iris’ returning. After a tense moment, the child eventually reached their hand out, much to their mother’s chagrin, but when Seika dropped the doll into their hand, the pair relaxed noticeably.

Another unintended chuff escaped Seika, a noise she’d never really made in her life and she backed away before turning and jumping up onto the nearest roof. The child ran forward, doll clutched in her arms as she looked up at the imposing feline figure.

“Who are you?” The child called out. Seika huffed in response, shifting back before wiping the blood from her mouth with the back of her hand.

“I’m not doing this to be known by name, kid,” she said softly before shifting back into the Wildclaw and disappearing from sight.

Seika wandered the undercity for hours, driven by the screams of innocents and blood and by the end of the first day, she’d crawled up into an abandoned shack and collapsed on the eaten away floorboards utterly exhausted. New cuts and wounds exasperated the burning she felt, wounds from blades, bats, and every other type of weapon that she’d fought against in the hours since she’d arrived.

Seika’s muzzle was stained red and she winced, shifting back. For a moment, all she saw was blue light until her eyes changed back and she studied the floor, trying to regain some sense of self. Her breath escaped her in heavy pants as she flipped onto her back, her eyes unfocused as she stared at the rotted ceiling above her.

…

When Seika awoke hours later, unaware of whether it was even day or night. She grimaced as she sat up, rubbing at the rocky part of her forehead that she found herself becoming more and more accustomed to.

A groan escaped her when she stood, but being in this form was more painful than the other, so she shifted, settling into the feline form more easily.

The terrifying thought that she found such a nonhuman form more comfortable hadn’t dawned on the mage.

The rotted wood floor creaked beneath her paws as she slipped out the open door. She was in one of the deepest areas of the undercity now, though she’d forgotten what it was called. To her left were rows and rows of makeshift tents, and those addicted to shimmer fled upon seeing her. She watched them run, pupils growing in the low light before she turned and began heading into the more populated areas of the city.

She kept to the shadows and abandoned alleyways until she was forced to walk along the roofs. Her gaze wandered up and down, ears pressed forward. It had to have been the middle of the night, given how quiet things were now compared to earlier, and she used the lack of life to her advantage, finding vantage points until her eyes spied a man against three in the distance.

Seika moved, running along the roofs, her paws thudding rhythmically along the metal surface in tune with her strides. When she neared, she slowed and stood, staring silently down at the four men.

It was a shake down, and the lone man was almost vehement that he’d given them all he could. His palms were raised, sweat dripping down his brow as he took another step back into the wall of the abandoned courtyard the four men were in.

Seika walked along the roof, just beyond the crest, listening closely before she stepped over the crest, the pads of her paws gripping the metal as she descended to the edge.

“Boss needs what he needs,” one of the henchmen replied, his cybernetically modified arm twisting as a long blade was unsheathed from within the confines of the mechanics. It chinked, singing its song of blades and the henchman stepped forward.

“Does your boss need three lackeys too?” Seika interrupted, her voice rumbling as she pulled their focus up to her. One of the henchmen swore at the sight of her, stumbling back and she growled. A gun was raised in her direction, her eyes hardly giving it a second glance as she looked between the three henchmen.

That same darkness, the anger and grief welled up in her as the man, the victim of this shakedown stepped to the side, closer to her. She leapt down, the prompt thudding of her weight hitting the ground causing the three gang members to back up, weapons still raised.

Seika stood tall, and even at their tallest, her head was still above the tops of theirs. Her teeth peeked out behind curled lips as she growled, taking another step towards them.

In their fear, one of the lackeys fired his gun, the bullet embedding itself into her shoulder and she lunged, tackling the man to the ground before clamping her jaws around his neck. His body writhed as she felt a stabbing pain in her side as the lead one plunged his blade in between her ribs.

An inhuman roar escaped her throat as she slashed at them with her claws, the action catching both men, one on the arm, and the leader on his chest. Her eyes, glowing with blue light, watched in reddish blue hues as they stepped back and she threw herself onto the one with the blade, mouth capturing the metal intricacies of his arm before clamping down and ripping it off of him. In her haze, she wasn’t aware she’d ripped off his other fleshy arm, blood spraying up onto her face. And when the man screamed no more, she turned to the last, mouth open, blood dripping from her tongue and jaws.

“Tell your boss his bill is covered, unless he’d like to lose a few more of you,” Seika growled, the last henchmen dropping his weapon, crumbling to his knees. Her body burned with an insatiable fire, her wounds flaming like hellfire, but she pushed through the blinding pain. Besides the man in front of her, all else was lost in the throngs of violence.

Large tears spilled down his cheeks, his gaze following the feline as she circled him, an oblong trail of blood surrounding him, a blood mixture of his men and the Wildclaw.

“Please don’t kill me, I’ll give the money back, just let me live!” The lacky begged and pleaded, pulling forth several coin pouches and dropping them before the massive cat. Seika stopped her pacing, standing before the man crumpled in a heap before her and she huffed, her warm exhale hitting the man in the face.

The scent of urine invaded her nose and she huffed in repulsion, uninterested in looking at the wet spot at the man’s groin as she shifted back. He fell back onto his palms, looking up at the silver-haired woman, her eyes void of life as all that was there was blue light, the color a startling contrast to the blood splatters on the stone and fleshy parts of her face. Along her body, stone-like skin peeked out between the dirty and ripped up outfit she wore.

“Who is your boss?” Seika asked, grabbing the man’s chin and pinching the hollows of his cheek with her index finger and thumb as she pulled him back up to his knees. He whimpered, grimacing in pain as fresh tears streaked down his face.

“Smeech,” the word fell from the mans terrified lips quickly, a word vomit of an answer and Seika’s eyes narrowed.

“Tell Smeech I’m coming from him, “and tell him I’m coming for Jinx too,” she added before throwing the man back. He stumbled, crawling to his feet before running and stopping. He turned, looking back at her, and by the time he had, Seika had shifted, the Wildclaw sprinting right at him. He screamed, bolting into the empty street just off of the courtyard, screaming of a skinchanger, before Seika slid to a stop.

When the man was gone, she let out a tired sigh. Her head fell back, eyes closed and she panted softly, pushing through the pain. It’d grown tenfold as the adrenaline coursing through her blood lessened. She turned, walking back further into the courtyard and paused, her gaze meeting the mans. She shifted in a burst of blue sparks, walking slow steps to the coin purses on the ground. A grimace escaped her when she knelt to pick them up before she tossed them to the man. He caught them, rather haphazardly as he stared at her, eyes wide.

Seika blinked a few times, the blue light filling her eyes dissipating as her vision turned back to normal. She stumbled, catching herself on the nearest wall and the man moved towards her, brows furrowed in concern.

She raised a hand, stopping him, as she hunched over, the burning pain swirling along her left side excruciating. Her mouth opened; a silent scream caught in her throat. She looked down, the shredded front of her jumpsuit, the threads stained with blood. Her eyes widened in horror as the once gushing stab wound turned gray. The stone spreading, starting deep within the wound before it burned outwards, stone overtaking flesh and she shifted, clambering up onto the roof before she was fleeing, the fiery pain directing her towards the darkness.

Chapter Text

Sevika had called a meeting with the three remaining Chembarons to discuss things and that was how she found herself in the Chembarons rooftop botanical garden. The building itself, originally Silco’s, had eventually become the shared space of the Chembarons, more often than not used for meetings and secret deals between each of the sectors. The room was tense as the three barons made snide remarks to one another and Sevika huffed before she interrupted the atmosphere.

“I know you’re all fantasizing about sawing each other’s heads off, so I’m gonna get right to it. These turf wars have to stop,” Seika said, leaning against the tabletop.

“These two,” Cross, the leader of The Hush Company began as he adjusted his spectacles, “have been the aggressors. I’ve only defended my interests.

“Playing coy doesn’t suit you, love,” Margot, the boss of Vyx interrupted, her voice sultry as usual. “You started this dance when you raided the Rapturewalk.”

“What could I want with your boulevard of filth?” Cross snapped back.

“Topside is the real enemy,” Sevika’s voice cut through the argument, “Us killing each other is playing right into their hands. Our best shot is to put aside these petty squabbles and join forces.” Her head turned as she looked between Cross and Margot, brows furrowed alongside her serious tone.

“Ally with these two? I rather favor my chances with Topside,” Margot replied, looking between her fellow barons with an unimpressed look.

“Even together, they outnumber us four to one,” Cross interjected before adding, “that’s before all the recent casualties.”

“Might matter up there, but they don’t know the first thing about fighting in the fissures,” Sevika argued.

Margot let out a noise of acknowledgement, her chin resting on her propped-up hand, her eyes fleeting towards the yordle in the corner as she considered Sevika’s words.

Another look and tilt of her head pulled such thoughts from Margot as she recoiled.

“Is he dead?” She asked, “Why is he so quiet?”

Smeech, the third Chembaron Sevika had invited licked his lips. A long single jagged canine, hung out past his lower lip as he smacked his lips. Smeech turned his head sideways towards them – the movement jittery and quick. His ear twitched alongside his small shimmer- hued eyes with a nitpicky gaze as they flicked around the room.

“She’s right,” he shrugged, his cybernetic hands twitching. “We don’t get Topside off our backs, we don’t last. But I got a different solution,” the yordle continued, turning his torso towards Cross who sat a few chairs down from him. His left hand turned backwards as he grasped a piece of paper from his second. His wrist twisted counter clockwise before twisting back as Smeech released the flier, Jinx’s wanted poster drifting down the length of the table. 

“We don’t hand over our people,” Sevika said when her eyes landed on the paper. Her brows furrowed as she studied the poster before her gaze rose and she stared down Smeech.

“’We?’” Smeech chortled, “You don’t do much of anything anymore, do you magpie?” Smeech replied, his mechanical hand turning back to its appropriate place. His arms moved as he stood up from the chair and hopped down, all whilst speaking.

“Bird without a wing’s just a funny-looking rat,” Smeech continued, shoving Cross’ chair in closer to the table as he strutted towards Sevika at its head. His cybernetic legs extended and the yordle shot up in height right next to the woman. He let out a cheeky laugh as he met Sevika eye to eye and bumped shoulders.

“Struck a nerve, did I?” He asked before continuing, “okay I’ll make you a deal. You help me put a bow on Baby Blue for our friends upstairs,” he said as he slung one mechanical arm around Sevika’s shoulders before poking one of her cheeks. “I’ll cut you a brand-new puncher, top of the line, all the fixings,” he said, showing off his left arm, holding it up in line with where hers would be.

“Think on it,” he said softly, licking at his upper lips and nose with a singular lap. “But I promise, it’s the last offer you’re going to get.”

Smeech strutted back to his seat, climbing on into it before glancing at the rest of the Chembarons.

“By the way, have you all heard of that skinchanger makin the rounds?” He asked with an almost menacing toothy grin. “Took out two of my men—”

“Several of mine,” Chross huffed irritably.

“And injured some of mine,” Margot added, raising a brow as she glanced back to some of her girls. “My girls have told me that she’s looking for Jinx.”

Smeech shrugged.

“Eh, giving Baby Blue to Topside will be better for all of us in the end, but if any of us see the skinchanger, then we should make sure she’s dealt with,” Smeech replied, pulling out his vape and taking a deep inhale of purple shimmer. He shuddered at the delectable feeling as the high rushed through his veins before looking back at the rest of the Chembarons. “Keep the corpse though, I’ve been needing a new throw rug for my living area anyway.”

…

Caitlyn, Vi, and the rest of the strike team looked down at the second set of bodies they’d come across in their covert entry.

Steb was knelt over one of the bodies, inspecting its arms – well, lack thereof, and Vi’s eyes followed the blood circle around an empty spot. Her brows furrowed, raising towards Caitlyn and she sidestepped towards the dark-haired girl.

“Think it’s her?” She asked softly.

“No one else it could be,” Caitlyn replied, her words short and tone curt. She was still upset at Seika stepping away, at the mage’s betrayal and refusal to help her. The Enforcer’s nails pressed crescent shaped lines into her palm as her fist clenched. Every time Vi brought her up Caitlyn’s anger swelled like a fire with gas poured right onto it.

“This though?” Vi turned, glancing back towards the bodies as Loris, Maddie, and Steb gathered their things to move on, “this isn’t what I expected from her…”

“Seeing as she was so willing to drop us, I doubt any of us really knew her,” Caitlyn retorted, eyes narrowed as she waved, urging the ops team onward. Vi stopped, her eyes still on the bloodied corpses. Steb walked past, followed shortly by Maddie, but it was Loris who stopped by her side and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Come on,” he said softly, pulling the boxer away from the grisly scene and together they followed after the rest of their team.

…

“For the undercity…” Viktor had heard in his dreams.

“Always for the undercity.”

It was Seika’s voice, a voice he longed to drown in. How he desired to open his eyes; he wanted this dream he was experiencing to reach its end and then he’d find her in his arms, together in his bed. The pair would be draped in the warmth of the rising sun, legs entangled and hearts beating in sync but his dreams shifted, and another voice came forward instead.

“Viktor… Viktor…” It called out to him.

Sky?

He twitched, Sky’s screams overtaking Seika’s voice, as Sky called him again and again, her voice echoing within his mind until a singular curt “Viktor” reverberated around in his skull and he jolted awake, gasping.

At first, he panicked, feeling restricted as he looked around, finding the lab before his eyes. He looked down, a goopy mesh casing concealing his body and moved his right arm first, then his left. The substance fought against him, caging him in, and he gritted his teeth as he fought back, seeking freedom from the material. His right hand finally pushed through the substance until it ruptured and his limb was free, the stringy goop clinging to him as he stumbled out of the matrix.

His body clunked mechanically against the stone floor as he collapsed to his hands and knees and his brows furrowed at the new sensations he was feeling. Swirls of magic escaped between the metallic fibers that were once flesh and everything was both the same yet completely and utterly different.

Viktor looked up, overwhelmed by it all and clambered to his feet, nearly falling onto the nearest table. It’s surface was littered with notes and his crutch and he picked it up, finding comfort in the familiar piece of equipment.

On the far side of the lab, Jayce was hunched over. Soft breathing from the man hinted he was passed out, and Viktor briefly spied the bandages wrapped around his shoulders and torso. An accident perhaps? From the forge? Or perhaps the explosion?

Viktor hobbled forth, still clinging to his crutch as he looked around the lab in confusion. The same swirls of magic leaving the metallic fibers of his body swirled up the height of the crutch, leaving markings and new ornaments up and down the metal surface.

“Jayce?” Viktor asked softly and his partner stiffened immediately, his voice pulling the Councilor from his dreamless sleep. Jayce turned, startled, clutching at his right shoulder as shock overtook his features.

“Viktor?” Jayce asked, looking at the mans slate gray and purple body, soft purple light shimmering between the fibers. He eyed the chest brace, realizing rather than be a separate entity from the man, it’d appeared to be as integral part of him now. “My God,” he said softly, eyes looking up and down the inhuman form of his partner.

Viktor’s gaze fell, lowering to his hand as he raised it, eyeing the bronze gold adornments that littered his person.

“What… Am I?” Viktor asked, his voice slightly distorted.

“You’re… You’re alive,” Jayce replied, his face softening as he laughed in disbelief, one hand coming up to wipe at the exhaustion on his face. Another breathy chuckle escaped the man before he stood and embraced Viktor tightly.

Viktor stiffened at first before he relaxed some, his free hand placing itself gently on Jayce’s back.

Jayce, too lost in his exhaustion and stress driven by the near loss of his friend suddenly stiffened and backed away.

“Oh! Oh, uh…” he stuttered, hands moving to each of Viktor’s shoulders. “You must be cold,” he said before stepping away to retrieve a blanket from the table.

“Cold…” Viktor said, talking aloud as he focused on the new sensations coursing through his altered body. “No, I don’t think so,” he continued, looking down at his hand, watching his fingers flex and move as if they were the flesh he’d been born with.

Jayce returned, wrapping the blanket around the man shoulders as Viktor continued speaking.

“I sense a charge,” He said with a nod, glancing up to Jayce before peering out towards the window overlooking the lab, “a potential. A recursive impulse,” he continued, Jayce stepping away and staring at him.

“Unpleasant, but ‘cold’ isn’t its name,” he said as his gaze drifted back to the matrix he’d been in for… gods who knew how long. His vision distorted slightly and Viktor felt a tug… His gaze lowered to the floor as he explored the sensations within him before his gaze rose to Jayce.

“The Hexcore,” Viktor stated, looking up at Jayce with uncertainty.

“Viktor, it saved you,” Jayce replied, waving his hand out towards the contraption that’d been holding him… changing him…

Jayce stuttered as he spoke, still not understanding it himself. “Somehow it – it adapted to your injuries, changing and evolving,” he turned, eyes moving as they fleeted between Viktor, the floor, and everything else, his brain running a million miles a minute as he spoke.

Viktor looked down at his hand again, opening his palm and following the purple light fleeting between the fibers as Jayce continued to talk.

“It was if it was connected to you,” Jayce said as he walked back to the desktop, picking up papers upon papers of Viktor’s note in his hands.

Viktor swallowed as he studied his left hand, the sensations there, but the visual entirely unfamiliar. Jayce continued to talk as he walked back, dropping papers as he moved, but Viktor’s mind was elsewhere.

“I did my best using the notes from your leg. Recorded everything. There are still so many questions, but –”

“I was supposed to die,” Viktor said, interrupting the man, his gaze finally rising from his now closed hand to Jayce, brows slightly furrowed.

Jayce’s face recoiled, his pain in Viktor’s words striking a sensitive nerve within the co-inventor of Hextech. A soft breath escaped his lips as he listened to Viktor.

“You promised to destroy the Hexcore,” Viktor reminded him, eyes looking away from Jayce now, towards the desktop littered with papers and…

“No,” Jayce replied, shaking his head, “Don’t you see? Heimerdinger was wrong. Seika was wrong,” a breathy huff of a laugh escaped him as he continued, “we were wrong. It’s not as bad as we –"

“It killed Sky… Jayce,” Viktor said, his eyes raising from Sky’s journal up to Jayce’s eyes, the man letting out an exhale of disbelief. When Viktor heard a soft “what… no,” come from the co-inventor of Hextech, Viktor let his gaze wander beyond Jayce’s shoulder to an image of Sky sitting on the desktop, lightly bracing herself up on her notebook.

“She had such dreams,” he spoke melancholically, finding his dear childhood friend looked as real as if she’d been there in the flesh and breathing. But the nightmares returned, the sole singular truth that she was not there and that in his eagerness to live, to thrive beyond the physical body he’d been born with, he’d sacrificed her.

Seika’s voice echoed in his ears again; it was her pleads to destroy the Hexcore that he heard and now Jayce had done the one thing he hadn’t wanted. It was then he realized Seika wasn’t in the lab with them. Beyond Sky’s notebook were blueprints. White ink on blue paper, and beyond that, Jayce’s staple mug resting on top of the mess of papers. His eyes softened before fleeting to Jayce and he stepped around the man, walking past him towards the table.

“As did we once,” Viktor muttered softly.

His crutch clinked metallically against the stone floor, similar noises echoing with each of his steps until he stopped at the desk, his fingertips resting against the front cover of Sky’s notebook.

“I’m going to resign from the Council,” Jayce admitted, staring at Viktor’s back before he walked forward. “I understand now,” he continued, “my place was always here in the lab with you.” Jayce wrapped an arm around Viktor’s shoulder, the latter’s gaze still fixed on the teal-colored notebook.

Viktor's gaze shifted from Sky’s notebook as he found the blueprints. A rifle, the gauntlets, and beneath those, a blueprint of the Hexcore. The rifle was new, but the fact that it was a gun, a weapon, an item both he and Jayce had promised one another Hextech would never be used to create… And yet, as he was caught in limbo between the living and dead, Jayce found it vital to even consider making such an insidious creation? Shame burned in his gut, shame at where they’d gotten to, shame on what he had become, and for a moment, Viktor was grateful Seika wasn’t present. She couldn’t see his shame, nor what was happening to his beloved Hextech. No longer could she see what had happened to him with this new body and these new feelings he wasn’t accustomed to nor did he even understand.

Her promise to him, to the undercity, echoed within him again and he felt a tightness in his chest – wholly unfamiliar and unlike the feeling he’d have felt with flesh; an uncomfortable constriction – like insulation tied too tightly around wires leaving little wiggle room and a drop in current. His fingertips drifted, lightly grazing the blueprints before picking up Sky’s notebook. Had Seika’s words been a dream? A vision? A memory? Or perhaps a hallucination his body had perversely gifted him when he had been walking the thin line of existing and existed.

“I must say goodbye to this place now,” Viktor admitted softly, feeling an unusual but not unwanted detachment from the lab that’d held him hostage for years of his life. How much had this room contributed to the detriment of his health? How many hours had he holed up in here, preaching false promises of helping those in the undercity as he nursed another cup of coffee and searched aimlessly for ways to extend his own life? In the end, the experiments and creations he’d made, intending to help the undercity, had done little. The politics surrounding Hextech had contributed to where they stood, and how silent he’d remained through it all– oh how he’d lost his way. They both had.

Jayce’s hand on the upper spine of his back fell as Viktor turned around, leaving a fleeting glance on the Councilor before he continued walking.

“To you,” he clarified as he walked past Jayce.

“Goodbye?” Jayce exclaimed in shock and confusion, “Viktor you’re my partner,” he continued, attempting to dissuade him from leaving.

Jayce watched as Viktor turned partially, facing perpendicular to the man with Sky’s notebook clutched to his chest.

“Our paths diverged long ago,” Viktor replied, his gaze shifting between the floor then to the man. “It was affection that held us together.” There was a distortion to the word affection, an echoing distance to it despite the power and meaning behind the word.

Jayce’s gaze dropped as he shook his head in disbelief before his gaze rose, brows furrowed and frustration in his eyes. How? Why? Jayce couldn’t comprehend why Viktor was just walking out and he got an eerie feeling of déjà vu, his thoughts briefly considering Seika and how she’d so easily left.

“You think it’s so easy?” Jayce argued as he stepped once then another in Viktor's direction. “To turn your back while your city looks to you for salvation?” His footsteps continued, his figure inching ever closer to his partner.

“To cling to principles while your best friend bleeds out in your arms?” Jayce continued, his voice raising in near indignation as his hand waved out. Jayce’s gaze hadn’t yet left Viktor's face, though Viktor's gaze remained on the floor as he absorbed the man’s words. He took a quick breath, then another, his eyes pained and brows creased as he continued to stare at Viktor.

“I never asked for this!” Jayce nearly yelled, his voice breaking with emotion as he all but pleaded with Viktor. Everything he’d ever taken on had been thrust upon him. His Councilor position, his involvement with the corruption that’d infected so much of Piltover, his forced separation from the lab, things he couldn’t say no to. Now that he was here, pleading with Viktor, hoping things might go back to the way they were, Viktor was rejecting the idea. Frustration boiled up in Jayce. Viktor’s rejection was a massive blow to the man, his best friend – no, his brother, someone he’d been with for years, leaned on, relied upon, so eager to get up and leave, to discard what they’d done, what they’d worked for, and most importantly, him… Jayce couldn’t fathom it. He couldn’t begin to relate or understand it.

Viktor turned, taking a step away from Jayce and towards the door, his crutch clinking against the floor. His feet continued moving, the figure walking away in silence until Jayce’s voice ruptured the tension between the two co-inventors.

“Where are you going?” Jayce asked.

Viktor’s movements paused, his head turning so that he could glance over his shoulder at Jayce.

“What of Seika?” He asked softly, though a part of him didn’t want to know the answer.

Jayce’s brows furrowed and he huffed, running a hand through his hair, emotions violently shifting between disbelief and hurt. “I don’t know, she left,” he said, the weight of Seika’s key heavy in his pocket. He’d returned one day to the lab and found her key on the desk. It wasn’t a far assumption to assume she’d been the one to return it.

“Viktor,” Jayce said again, stepping towards the man, but Viktor only stared at the man.

“Goodbye, Jayce,” Viktor said softly, meeting his ex-partners gaze before turning away and exiting the lab.

Jayce stood alone in the lab; pain etched into his handsome features with fists clenched so tightly at his sides that they shook. His wounds from the attack at the memorial ached with a stinging pain, but watching Viktor walk away so easily superseded that pain accompanied by an ever growing anguish in his heart. Despite his brilliance, he understood none of it and the suffocating loneliness of the lab only contributed to his morose feelings.

Chapter Text

Viktor walked through the filthy littered streets of the undercity. Subconsciously he avoided the gaze of others as he walked, his crutch now an accompaniment of him rather than the necessity it was before. It metallically clinked as he walked, a sound he’d grown accustomed to in his long journey to the deepest parts of the undercity. He sighed, closing his eyes momentarily, images of the café he’d taken Seika too, the same one he’d passed by hours ago, flashing in his mind before disappearing completely.

He’d hoped she’d stayed, perhaps returned back to Heimerdinger and the rest of the Firelights but he had no way of knowing. His feet began moving, continuing down the path. He had no set destination and used his new body to the fullest. The lack of exhaustion, of pain was almost draining and if he dwelled on it, he could very well be brought to tears. The feeling was both invigorating and almost frightening. A constant nag in his mind, years of repetitive pain – would it return? Would this body fail him just as the last had?

His face turned, partially concealed by the blanket he’d wrapped around his person; Jayce’s blanket. Two individuals prayed before a painting of Janna, though Viktor had long since come to the conclusion that should the gods hear their words, they do not bother with them.

A Vastaya pulled a child closer to them as Viktor passed by the next alley then further down, a family living among rubble curled together around a tiny oven, a small fire burning within it.

This was what had become of his home. The people that had been forgotten.

Viktors gaze softened at them before he continued walking, continuing through the alleyways, passing by more homeless and more addicts seeking their next shimmer fix. He had to help them; he couldn’t stand here and do nothing, not when they were so desperately in need of assistance.

Viktor felt a tug within him, a long string tied to the palm of his hand, invisible and impossibly strong. He looked at the dark gray and purple material that made up his palm, then paused as Sky’s voice whispered his name.

He halted his movement, looking down a decrepit alleyway and his brows furrowed as he observed the empty narrow passageway. It was Sky’s voice… that he was sure of.

“Viktor,” Sky’s voice whispered again as soft purple footprints appeared, leading down the alley. Viktor followed them, unbothered by the new bodies following after him.

…

Cecil finished his third cup of tea before hopping off of the stool. He and Ekko hand snuck into the academy and used the ventilation system to access the Hextech Lab only Jayce had been present and caught them in the act.

After a short and rather awkward introduction, Ekko and Jayce found themselves in the midst of a discussion about runes and Hextech.

The yordle walked around the room, having been in it a million times before, but the eerily empty corner and overbearing and intrusive contraption that according to Jayce, had once held Viktor now consumed his thoughts. His brows furrowed as he eyed the colorful unit.

Seika was gone, and Viktor – after dying and gaining a new body, also woke and left. Were they together? Unease ate away at his belly and he longed to see his friend again, to ask her how she was and comfort her. The last time he’d seen her was when she’d asked for his help with the Hexcore but that seemed like a lifetime away. Cecil turned, his eyes meeting Ekko.

The boy sighed softly, resting his chin on his hand as he looked down at the books open on the table he sat at. The increase in refugees seeking safety had grown significantly, and they were going to start nearing capacity issues soon, but the tree… He had to fix the tree – no matter what. Their conversation gave Jayce an idea and soon the trio found themselves readying to leave.

Jayce stood, having gathered his hammer and keys before guiding Heimerdinger and Ekko out the door and locking the lab behind them.

…

As Viktor wandered the deepest parts of the undercity, seeking out ways he could help those around him, Seika wandered the upper parts, her own version of assistance dripping from her jaws.

The large Wildclaw had become known throughout the undercity – the Skinchanger, they’d been calling her. Since her arrival, she’d become the main force in protecting people from the chembarons and their minions. In their gratitude, some had begun to bring her what little they could offer, though she’d rejected it every time. With their closeness however, Seika found she was learning more. There were several chembarons who oversaw certain sections of the city. All had little to do with Jinx, but once she began to recognize whose people were whose, Seika’s protectiveness over the innocents of Zaun grew tenfold. More often than not however, Seika wasn’t completely sure of what was happening around her, her focus only on those who needed protecting as her vision drifted between hues of blinding blue and deep bloody red.

The blood of the Dominatrix, one of Vryx’s people was warm and metallic as it dribbled from her open jaws. She huffed a pant, meeting the gaze of the two other women before they scurried off. The business owner who’d been caught in a shake down exhaled a noise of relief as his eyes followed the feline. Vryx had been wanting his building. Margot had deemed it a perfect establishment and location for a new brothel, and they’d been rather relentless in their pursuits.

Rumors had told him that the feline he was staring at was indeed a girl, but any time he’d ever caught a visual of it, was when it was the beast he was looking at.

Seika shook her head and neck, blood splattering from her muzzle onto the ground. Her wounds ached; they’d been healing slowly if at all and she was in a constant state of pain. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d shifted out of this form, though regardless of her shape, the burning was consistent. She gave one last look to the shopkeeper before climbing up a few stacked boxes and disappearing onto the rooftops.

Her legs moved as she hopped from one roof to another, her destination unknown, but an explosion had her large ears swiveling and head turning as she found the source. Pink and blue fireworks popped and scattered above an alleyway quite aways from her and Seika was sprinting towards it, bounding along rooftops before making her way lower onto the ground.

She slid to a stop just at the entry to the alley that appeared to lead to a lookout. Her breath left her in great puffs and the scent of blood filled her nostrils before she picked up another scent. Her body turned around as she scented the acrid revolting stench of The Gray, the gas Caitlyn, Vi, and their tact team had been using as a weapon to succeed in clearing their objectives. On more than one time she’d felt the relentless pain of The Grey invading her senses, having run into the smoke to rescue innocents caught in the crossfire, something they had assured wouldn’t happened – but such a weapon was impossible to control. A surge of burning spread through her chest, the heat violent and uncomfortable. She shuddered, the great big beasts’ fur moving as it shifted, its silver color now tainted with grime, dirt, and even more alarmingly, stone.

Seika had long lost recognition of herself, and with every window she passed, every mirror and reflective surface, she understood less and less of who was staring back at her – that was when she even bothered to look. When the burning lessened and the blue hue coating her eyes cleared, she walked into the passageway.

She smelled the scent of a yordle before she saw it, and when her paws slowed in the empty alleyway, she took a deep inhale. Several different scents, two she didn’t know, the remaining yordle, and the last one she’d come to figure out was Jinx. The girl had done well in avoiding her, and with the chembarons amping up their activity and directing it towards her, she’d been finding it more and more difficult to track her.

Her blood boiled within her, claws unconsciously leaving scratches on the stone surface beneath her as she walked forward. Her eyes studied the corpse of the yordle, noting the excessive augmentations done to its body; was this Smeech? She turned away, ignoring the body of the yordle without a second glance; if it was, he’d be back anyway. A heavy exhale escaped her open jaws as she panted, the burning of her wounds amping up. It reeked of blood, shimmer, and gunpowder. Seika eyed the pink and blue powder staining the floor and walls, snorting at the scent as she continued, peering left around the corner.

Nothing. Not a single living creature.

A deep frustrated growl echoed from her throat as she moved, pacing irritably along the platform. She snarled, an animalistic sound void of anything human.

Further down the alleyway Seika had entered from, Vi walked ahead of the team. She rolled her shoulders, stretching them out as she passed an alleyway, but movement from her right caught her eye. Her feet stopped in their tracks when she spotted the large beast. She froze, the rest of their team walking up behind her. The group of five watched the large Wildclaw pace back and forth. It appeared oblivious to their presence and Vi took a step forward.

Its head lifted, teeth barred and Vi stared into the blue light of the beasts eyes. Stone replaced fur throughout a great deal of the feline’s body, and what fur was there was matted and stained, but it was the rust discoloration on the Wildclaw’s muzzle and claws that caught Vi’s eyes most. A visual confirmation of what Seika had been doing down here. Vi glanced towards the yordle’s body – Smeech, the chembaron they’d met days ago when they first descended into the undercity, and Vi wondered if Seika had any part in the mutilation of the yordle.

“Seika?” Vi said softly, gauntlet-clad hand outstretched as she took another step forward.

When the Enforcer took a third step, the Wildclaw took a step back, jaws open, throaty gurgled growls aimed towards her.

Seika growled again. They’d been the last people she wanted to see right now. She turned and jumped onto a large pipe jutting out from the overlook. The pads of her paws slipped on the rusted metal, her claws extending instinctively, sharp tips digging into the metal. Seconds later, she was pulling herself up onto the horizontal stretch of pipe. The pipe creaked under her weight, groaning in protest but she ignored it, looking forward beyond the pipe.

Vi had run forward through the alleyway and onto the lookout, looking up at Seika. The rest of her team followed shortly and Seika looked down at them. Then her head turned away as she looked down at the empty abyss to her left.

“Seika, wait,” Vi said, gauntlets pressed against the vertical shaft of the large pipe. Seika couldn’t bring herself to look back down at her.

“Go away Vi,” Seika growled before she was running down the short length of pipe. She jumped, claws outstretched and caught herself on a wide metal pipe running vertically up the nearest building, her nails shredding the metal until she found her grip. Her breaths escaped her in heavy puffs as the massive cat hung awkwardly from the side of the pipe, and with a quick large gulp of air, she pulled herself up and kicked off of the pipe. She flew across the gap between the platforms and landed, her legs buckling beneath her as she collapsed with a loud thud on the metal walkway.

Seika heard Vi call out her name again, and as the violent burning throughout her body continued, she staggered to her feet. She stared across the distance between them, finding Caitlyn and Vi. Vi’s feelings were plain on her face, unlike Caitlyn who stared coldly back at her, but then she saw the Enforcer’s gaze move, scrutinizing her, then Seika swore for a moment Caitlyn’s face showed traces of worry. Her jaw dropped, a movement to speak, but an echo of gunshots nearby pulled her attention and by the time she’d blinked, she was running from them.

Chapter Text

It’d been hours since Seika had seen Vi and Caitlyn, their faces still fresh in her mind. She closed her eyes, but even through the darkness she saw her dear friends. The somber little corner of Zaun she’d claimed as her home was silent and lifeless; no gunshots, no screaming, and no blood.

Seika attempted to relax. Her shoulders slumped and her head fell back to the earth, furred cheek cushioning her as she sprawled out on her side. She was completely and utterly exhausted.

What was she even doing?

The question was stupid. She knew the answer, but acknowledging that all of this was a sick revenge-fueled mission seeking blood payment filled her person with revulsion. Perhaps it was for the best that she’d left Viktor, for if he ever woke and saw her as she was, she doubted he’d recognize her… She couldn’t even recognize herself. Would Cecil? Ryze?

A great exhale left her lungs, sending dust and dirt flying. Seika adjusted, trying to find a comfortable position, but she heard the sliding of rocks outside of the shack and stood, ears pressed forward towards the empty doorway. Instinctively, her claws extended, lips curling back in a silent snarl before a sniffling young girl collapsed into the doorframe. When she raised her tear-stained face, Seika recognized it as the girl she’d met when she’d first entered Zaun. The tense muscles of her muzzle relaxed as she craned her head, extending it towards the child with a closed mouth. The little girl stepped forward into the shack before she collapsed into Seika’s side. For a moment, the mage froze – uncertain and unsure, but when there were no other footsteps, she turned her focus towards the girl. Her haunches lowered into a sit and one large paw moved the girl so she was crying into her chest. That same paw loosely draped from one of her shoulders, its presence both comforting and defensive. She sat there, a protective cocoon of stone and pelt as the girl sobbed into her fur.

The same word was repeated again and again.

Mommy.

The woman’s face was fuzzy in Seika’s memories, but her reactions weren’t. The uncertainty, tenseness, and fear of seeing the great beast before her. The unyielding worry a mother has for her child. But if she was here alone, then what could have happened?

Seika felt anger burn within her, setting her blood alight.
“Come,” Seika said softly, urging the child up and onto her back before she carried her out of the shack. She felt the small fingers of the child fist the hair of her shoulders. The ground was solid beneath her paws as she ran, the light weight of the child bouncing on her back while she bolted through the dark alleyways and hidden streets of the undercity, going where the child told her to.

It wasn’t long until she’d reached the place, and she heard the voices long before she saw them.

Without any consideration, Seika walked into the clearing. Four men and a cluster of terrified children looked her way. Three bodies littered the ground and Seka recognized the child’s mother lying lifeless among the bodies before refocusing her gaze on the men.

Most of the time, the mobsters of the undercity would take a step back when they saw her, but in the time she’d been down here, rumors had spread and a few had begun to accustom themselves to the idea of fighting a great big beast, the understanding dampening down their fear. The men showed no alarm, rather, they seemed pleased by her presence.

Seika growled wordlessly when they took a step forward and she lowered, the child slipping from her back.

“You’ve been causing a lotta trouble for everyone down here kitty,” one of the men mocked.

“Chross having a hard time getting the information he lives on?” The voice leaving her throat didn’t sound like her. So innately animalistic and a far cry from human. The four tattooed men raised their weapons, the metal of their guns glinting in the green lamplight.

“Smeech’ll pay good for your hide,” another said and Seika chuffed a laugh, the sound vibrating from his throat.

“Sure, take the coins from his dead body, or better yet, wait till he gets back from Bandle City,” Seika replied, the hair on her back standing up as her lips curled. There was a hesitancy, and she could see the silent communication between the men, an internal debate about whether or not Smeech was actually dead and if she’d had anything to do with it. In the end, the opinion they formulated led them to raise their guns towards her.

Seika’s blood roared in her ears, her heart racing in her chest. Blood and fear invaded her senses, suffocating her. She waded through it, her posture slacking as she stumbled, shaking her head. The anger and betrayal she’d been feeling for Viktor, for Vi and Caitlyn, and Jinx, overtook her senses, leaving her blind and deaf. Her body moved, brain firing commands through the neural pathways of her nervous system faster than she could comprehend what the message was as blue light filled her eyes.

…

Vi and Caitlyn had long since departed from the rest of the tact team, the prior having convinced Caitlyn that the two of them alone should handle Jinx. As they made their way deep into the undercity’s maze of a ventilation system while tracking Jinx, the pair walked in on a ruined temple. It’d been built to honor Janna, an ancient wind spirit who’d saved Zaun in the past but in the years since its creation, like the goddess, it’d been forgotten by most. Now her temple lay in ruin, covered in Jinx’s graffiti with its stonework crumbled into dust and rock.

Vi walked forward, pushing down the guilt coiling up in her stomach. She knew Jinx needed to die, Powder was gone, but it didn’t lessen the nauseating shame she felt when she’d told Cait to take the shot. Nonetheless, the boxer walked forward, her gauntlets hissing as she got into position.

For a moment, Vi wished Seika were with them, that she hadn’t left them that she wasn’t whatever she was now. The crazed magic-induced beast she’d seen earlier flashed in her memories but she pushed them away. The mages words echoed again, and Vi wondered if Seika really had it in her to do that… But given the evidence they’d been coming across, now it didn’t seem as far-fetched as it had when she’d first said it. Vi sighed, closing her eyes and ceasing her thoughts before opening them and facing the carving of Janna.

No distractions.

She walked up into the temple, the great pillars surrounding her. Ancient vandalized stone golems forgotten to time – until now. All that remained was Vi’s voice echoing in the haunting silence – an omen of what was to take place.

“JINX!”

…

Simultaneously, Jayce, Ekko, and Heimerdinger had made their way into the Hex Vault. It was cold, so cold that great puffs of condensation escaped their mouths with every word spoken. Like the temperature of the room, the Hex Vault was just as cold, encased in pristine metal and glass.

The trio walked into the massive dome chamber, the mesh surrounding them in blinding blue magical light with the core at its center, a hole in the ceiling above it that led straight to the above ground portion of the Hex Gates.

Heimerdinger hadn’t stepped more than five feet into the room before a colorful spattering of color pulled his attention. He neared the corruption, sputtering to himself in disbelief as Ekko and Jayce argued beyond him near the core. How was this possible?

The yordle took another step towards it, gloved hand outstretched before it reacted and Heimerdinger recoiled, looking up. He felt magic course through his veins, a feeling he’d known his whole life and often ignored. The core came to life, lighting up with white light before the room around them stretched in an endless expanse of white nothingness.

The argument between Jayce and Ekko ceased as they looked at the endless colorless abyss around them. The core, gone from their eyes along with the rest of their world, had been replaced by a massive fleshing orb-like structure. It vibrated and moved, the wild rune coming to life before the trios’ eyes.

Jayce reached a hand towards it, tentative and unsure. His confusion was evident, and just as he touched the wild rune, it reacted and the gemstone in his hammer began glitching in and out of existence. The rune spun wildly before them as its power ran deep, stretching through Piltover and into the undercity where it began reacting with every magical source in the city.

…

The blood of Chross’ men coated her muzzle, her body quivering in pain from aching new wounds. She huffed as her vision blurred, attempting to stay on her feet until she was pulled to the ground, her side practically magnetized to the earth. Pain electrified her senses, her body spasming as she let out a scream – the sound eerily human. It felt as if she was being ripped apart while simultaneously having parts of her body being cut off as portions of her body glitched and corrupted. The blue light of her eyes flashed on and off like a light switch as the beast recoiled and writhed on the ground, the remaining cluster of children fleeing in terror. The single girl remained, an orphan now left with no one besides the girl – no beast before her, watching in terror as the feline screamed in agony. High pitched sobs escaped the girl as she began to cry.

Seika’s senses swirled, combining and meshing as she tasted sounds and heard colors. Despite the overwhelming shift in her senses, the pain took all of her focus. In some moments, she was collapsing back to the earth, panting as her body burned, small pillars of steam rising from her form. Other moments she was unaware of what was happening as the pain returned and her body danced sadistically between existing and not existing.

Her screams continued, echoing out into the city, mirrored only by the young girls sobs as she watched the beast, tears streaming down her pudgy stained cheeks.

Then, most terrifyingly, there was a moment. Seika felt it. A shift. A crossing of her mind. A split-second of her her humanity lost.
“No!” She screamed, recognizing for a moment she’d been well and truly lost. Then it happened again. Another split-second of recognizing nothing. Of no memories. Of no attachments and feelings. Of nothingness but survival. Then another. And another.

The violent glitches continued, Seika’s mind crossing as she struggled to perceive what was reality and what was hallucination, a massive rune swirling before her eyes. She blinked, the rune disappearing as miles away from her, deep within the Hex Vault, Jayce smashed his hammer onto the wild rune.

Then, like a bowl being filled with water, she felt parts of herself losing parts of her body. Paws and claws reacting on their own, tail swishing and flicking without prompt or thought.

She screamed, pushing past the agony, jaws wide as she looked towards the sky, the blue light gone from her eyes.

“No, no, no, no PLEASE NO,” Seika wailed, begging and pleading as the bowl filled, higher and higher… then her eyes crossed and closed, the proverbial water spilling over the top. She screamed one more time the sound morphing into a roar.

…

Deep within northern Demacia stood the Rocky Highlands, a mountainous region bordering the northern kingdom Freljord. Massive forests of petrified trees litter the landscape, the massive towering structures taller than the tallest of Stonehorns.

Within one of these forests was a grove. Given its magical absorbing properties, a vault had been created and forgotten before it was discovered by another. A mage seeking to store and hide the insurmountable power of the World Runes from the rest of the continent. These shards, each a different color, hovered within their petricite cages, tall pillars reaching from the floor of the vault to the ceiling. Three remained still, reverberating with their appropriate colors of green, red, and yellow. The last one however, a deep blue color pulsing from it, began to move. Jerking and swaying until it began to spiral in its cell, swirling at unmatched speeds until the column cracked. A long line streaked up the pillar and in an explosion of blue light, the rune blipped out of existence.

…

The child watched as colorful bolts ricocheted off the large beast and dissipated into nothingness in the dirt. The feline stumbled, catching itself before it shook its head, its eyes opening, black slits for pupils among soft blue irises. Blood dripped from its fresh wounds, saturating the ruddy soil beneath it and staining its fur. It growled, baring its teeth at the child, claws extended before a startling burning came from its left side. It recoiled, head swiveling to look at it as a bright light burst forth, searing blue and rock into its side. A throaty wail of pain echoed from the open maws of the beast as it stumbled again, hacking up blood.

The child ran forth to the beast, sobbing with outstretched hands, wanting to help but the movement brought the felines focus back to the child. It’s prey drive activated and as the Wildclaw lunged at the girl, the blue light and stone embedded in its side reacted, lines of blue illuminating and connecting between each of the stony parts upon the beast’s body.

It’s claws shredded flesh, tongue tasting blood before it wholly disappeared, the feline erased from reality.

In the following silence all that remained were eight bodies, their blood staining the dirt as the youngest sobbed, blood gurgling in her throat until she took her last breath.

Chapter Text

Decrepit buildings shifted and creaked in the high winds, towering walls of stone and metal extending rusted dilapidated structures towards the sky. Bridges hung by worn hinges and eroded chains over houses – once homes, now no more than dust and decay, forgotten in the lifelessness that was the colossal trench.

The muscles of a massive unconscious beast twitched beneath deep rich black fur. Six legs and a long tail accompanied a stocky build. It woke; black slit pupils accompanied by brilliant blue eyes opening to see through the haze. Large ears pressed forward, nostrils opening and closing as it scented the air, its feline face looking around its surroundings attentively. Long legs shifted beneath its frame before the Wildclaw pushed itself up onto its feet. It took one step then a second before it collapsing back to the earth, a throaty snort billowing a plume of smoke from its nostrils.

The air was thick and acrid and with each breath, it coated the Wildclaw’s lungs in a thick mucus. It coughed and hacked, the wide plane of its back arching as it vomited up a glob of the saliva, mucous, and bile. Piercing feline eyes sifted through the dark smog but found nothing. A hazy green environment void of life. No water. No food. Nothing.

It huffed, snorting before biting an itch near one of its healed wounds, its large tongue lapping at the residual blood before it shifted its focus to another itch, biting at the place on its side where a singular lifeless octahedron-shaped stone had embedded itself into its flesh. A roar echoed from somewhere beyond. The large cat jolted; ears pressed forward with wide eyes as it listened… waiting. When nothing more happened, the Wildclaw stood with a low growl before padding off into the smoke.

…

The world was quiet beyond the shrill scream of metal and the roar of the wind. Through the stillness ambled a quadrupedal-esque form. In a seemingly motionless world, the Wildclaw made its way through the massive canyon, senses alert as it wandered the new territory. It took days for the weakened cat to make its way up out of the gorge and when it finally crested it slumped to the high ground, fresh rain drizzling onto already saturated fur. It lapped at its healed wounds again, a phantom pain distracting it from its journey. The smog was lighter in the realm beyond the trench, but the structures of humanity had long since become corrupted ruins, their outsides and corners coated in hard colorful webbing with pointed fingers that reached outwards from whatever it’d latched onto.

Another echoing creak rose above the wind, the cats’ eyes shifting towards that direction, but the ache in its belly pushed it forward as it walked towards a puddle, its surface slick with colorful oil. A long pink tongue coated in sharp barbs lapped at the surface, drawing up scoopfuls with the underside of its tongue before drawing it into its mouth. The liquid was bitter and did little to sate its thirst, but the weight in its belly was welcoming and motivating, encouraging the Wildclaw onwards. Once resuming its journey, it began walking through the abandoned roads, focused pupils searching for movement.

Its six legs stepped with purpose, paws lifting over the stone-like bodies that littered the once golden city. It occasionally stopped, scenting a body here and a body there, all lifeless. Some curled in on themselves in a wanton attempt to protect their most vital parts, other reaching towards something or perhaps someone that was no longer there. The cat snorted, unbothered by the eerie sight as it continued, seeking the basest necessities of life.

A skittering noise from its left pulled its focus, large ears forward as a soft pink salamander appeared, waddling across the damp pathway. It froze, crazed violet eyes spying the cat before bolting.

The Wildclaw reacted, dashing forward. Wet paw pads sliding on the slick concrete surface with razor sharp claws extending to grip whatever they could. The salamander slipped into what remained of a carcass, hiding its lifeforce between bits and pieces of a being that once breathed and existed as it had. It took no time for the large cat to descend upon the salamanders shelter. The Wildclaw’s two front paws braced against the hunched back of the lifeless figure. Forcing and pushing down on it until the body crumbled beneath the weight of the cat. In seconds, the salamander was fleeing, its long slimy body slithering over debris as it attempted to escape.

The cat’s eyes followed the movement until one of its paws clamped down on the salamander, a squeak echoing from the small amphibian. The long tale of the cat waved back and forth as it settled, watching the salamander bite painless nips at the feline’s paws. The felids pupils followed the tiny creature until it leaned over to clamp its jaws around the head the salamander and rip off in one go. It swallowed the small bite in a single gulp, throwing its head back to do so before ripping the torso from its back legs and tail. It continued eating the small creature in pieces until it finished, licking at its muzzle and paws. Like everything else the beast had tasted, this too was bitter and nearly foul. Its stomach recoiled immediately, chest heaving as it retched, coughing once before shaking it off and walking onwards.

…

The Wildclaw spent every waking moment walking the ruins. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. In those months, resources were scarce. The environment around it remained the same, but as time passed, the felid began to change. Now, the large cats’ ribs jutted out from dark fur, sharp vertebrae pointing upward from its spinal cord while the soft curve of its hip bones protruded from the long shaggy hair of its coat. The humanoid metal figures that occasionally followed the beast had long stopped when it shred a seventh one apart, ripping the metal open with its claws and teeth as it sought anything to eat. The cat thought of nothing beyond food, water, and shelter and when it became apparent such an environment couldn’t provide it, it moved on seeking escape from the lifeless expanse it’d been trapped into. When it finally was free from the city, it walked towards the wilds, nostrils raised.

Stone turned to dirt as it walked away from the vestiges of what was once a great city of science and innovation. It paused, the black mass of a skeleton frozen still. It almost whined, jaw hanging open limply as it panted, once bright eyes dull with malnutrition. Then, it caught it again, a whiff of a scent, a sliver of something on the wind. Flesh. Metal. It whined again, taking a step, then another, lowering into a crouch as it used the foggy environment as cover. Its pupils narrowed, darting wildly as it searched the fog. It hunkered lower when a shadow of a figure became visible through the fog. Claws scratched shallow lines in the soft dead earth beneath it as it growled and the figure turned, cloaked in head to toe with only a single arm stretching out from the fabric.

The figure stared at the beast, the second form of life in this expanse of nothingness of his and one he’d been completely caught off guard by – this being had not been part of the plan. The cat growled, baring its teeth, its furthermost back sets of paws stepping lightly as it prepared to pounce but the figure backed away into the green cloud.

The Wildclaw jumped, catching only fog, growling as the footsteps from the figure echoed from behind it. It whipped around, searching. When the figure frozen again, its dark shape straightening, the Wildclaw paused. A split-second after, the figure was running, prompting the big cat to chase after the clothed being as it bolted back towards the city.

The Wildclaw sprinted across the bridge, the faces that once oversaw that bridge having long since eroded away in the fight for humanity. It tore through the streets, the movement around it a blur. Tied between the thudding real footsteps of the figure and the starvation-induced hallucinations, the feline stumbled, it wasn’t long until the weak beast was crashing into the earth as its vision faded to black.

…

The Piltover Dam stood still as Jayce waded through the green waist-high water at its base. He hadn’t known how he’d gotten here or what had happen, but one thing was certain. Piltover was gone.

He winced, pausing his movements for a moment as his head fell back towards the bluish sky, eyes closed and jaw widely set as he gulped in big breaths of air. His leg ached, the bone having been broken and restabilized, but he was no medical doctor, and the lump on the side of his leg was evidence that his attempt at realigning the bone failed but he could at least walk.

When his breathing settled, he continued forward.

He’d interacted with the Wild Rune and woke here. How long had it been? Where were Heimerdinger and Ekko? His stomach growled and he managed to ignore the bite of hunger in his belly as he stepped out of the water, climbing a set of concrete stairs that led to a pathway. It was that pathway led him up and at the top – Piltover… or what remained.

Jayce continued to walk, his thoughts either nonexistent or a whirlwind. No one else was alive – just those... things. The metallic people-esque beings that tracked his every movements – even in the cave he’d been trapped in. A shudder ripped through him, his shoulders shaking as he leaned into the closest wall, his face falling into his hands. What was happening? Why was he here? Where was anyone? Viktor? Mel?

Panic tore at his chest, and fresh tears rolled down his cheeks as he clawed at his clothing, desperate to remove the tightness around his throat and when he ripped the cloth free, his head rose again towards the sky. Despite the smog it was a sunny day. Almost pretty in a fucked-up kind of way. The clench of his jaw was tight before he yelled, screaming and wailing at nothing before picking up a nearby rock and throwing it down the stretch of cobblestone road. A road that led in a myriad of directions – to the unknown, to death… One of them had to lead to home – his home. It was that miniscule possibility that pushed him forward towards the Academy.

His anger had only just begun to subside when a throaty growl echoed from behind him and he paused, just barely turning his head back. There, a massive emaciated cat stood, poised to pounce. He froze, a shaky exhale leaving his parted lips as his hand gripped the thin walking stick he’d acquired in his journey.

When the cat moved, so did Jayce, spinning on his good leg before bashing the cat with the branch. It deterred the Wildclaw for moments, the bony body recoiling as it growled but the reaction of the predator is often faster than that of the prey. Jayce hadn’t even blinked before the massive form of the beast was lunging at him, mouth agape and claws outstretched. His back collided with the earth, an echoing breath-taking thud in an otherwise silent world. Jayce instinctively raised his arms to protect his vitals, screaming as the Wildclaw’s jaws latched onto his forearm, black pupils in narrow slits. Its back four legs moved, slipping and standing on his and he yelped in pain as the cat trampled over his legs.

He looked up in horror at the big cat as its teeth embedded itself into his arm, fresh blood already staining the filthy cream fabric. Jayce clenched the fist of his free arm, fully prepared to punch the animal in the face in hopes it might save his life, but to his complete disbelief, the jaws of the cat loosened.

It stilled, its paws finding purchase on the ground around his legs and torso. He huffed in confusion, brows furrowed as the cat-like eyes shifted, pupils blowing wide. The felids nostrils flared, eyes seeming as if they were seeing for the first time before he winced, the sharp points of the cats teeth removing themselves from his flesh. It took a step back, then another and Jayce scrambled away to his feet, grabbing the stick and pointing it towards the felid, great big pants leaving him as his arms shook, steady droplets of blood dribbling from the wound.

For several agonizingly long moments, the only sound between the man and beast was the soft splat of Jayce’s blood on the stone beneath them, then a soft whisper.

“Jayce…?”

The man froze; how long had it been since he’d a voice, let alone his name? The walking stick shook in his grasp as his knuckles paled, eyes searching beyond the beast and around the lifeless hell he’d been thrown into, desperately searching for the source of the voice. The voice whispered his name again and he let out a broken sob, backing away from the beast in near horror. He was going mad. Well and truly mad. This place, this hell, had driven him to insanity.

“Oh gods, I….” The voice said before suddenly, the Wildclaw turned, vomiting pink-tinted bile onto the ground. With a last hack, the felid stepped away from its mess, its gaze briefly lifting to meet Jayce’s before falling. Despite the bestial features of the creature, the downturned head, flattened ears, and hesitant shy eyes showed one startlingly human emotion… Guilt.

“Who are you?” Jayce asked, hating the way his voice quivered. It’d been so long… so long since he’d spoken, used words with a being that wasn’t himself or a rock or a fucking robot. The fear had long since left his system, an anger now coursing through his veins that gave him a boost of bravado. He stepped forward, jabbing the end of the walking stick towards the beast.
Who the fuck are you?” He reiterated fiercely.

When the Wildclaws form changed, it shifted into that of a woman with long black hair from roots to end. She stood before him, her clothes, or what was left of them, tattered and hanging off of her scrawny deprived figure.

“Seika…” Jayce mumbled with wide eyes. The skin around her face was taut, eyes sucked back in her skull with deep sickly purple bags beneath. Her cheeks were hollowed out, the corded tendons of her neck stretched tight just above an angular clavicle and even through the tattered remains of her clothing, he could see her ribs, skin pulled tight over them. His eyes focused on the blood smeared around her mouth – his blood and she wiped at it, that same guilt present on her features. For a haunting moment, he saw Viktor and a shiver jolted up his spine.

“Jayce I…” Seika said, covering her mouth with her hand. She found his bloodied arm again and felt sick. She’d hurt him. “Gods Jayce, I hurt you are you okay…?” Seika whispered, though the man’s shoulders only rose and fell, mouth gaped and brows furrowed in silence. When she took a step towards him, he was throwing the walking stick away and walking, taking her into his arms.

For Seika, it was a shock, an almost uncomfortable shock, and in the shared warmth of another, she realized the state of herself. She was starving. Famished and riddled with body aches but the burning she’d been feeling in the undercity was gone.

For Jayce however, to embrace another person was the greatest relief he’d experienced in his life. He wrapped his arms tighter around the lithe girl, tears rolling down his cheeks as he pressed his dirty face into the crook of her equally dirty neck, sobbing. She was stiff, frozen by his outward display of emotion but moments later she was responding, wrapping he arms around him, holding him and Jayce wept. A body-shaking, breathtaking weep that left him coughing and crumbling to his knees when the sobs overtook his ability to intake air.

He blinked away tears, finding the first ounce of comfort in Gods knew how long when Seika’s hand cradled his cheek, eyes searching his face with evident concern. Jayce closed his eyes, again finding her embrace, whispering to her how he just needed a moment and he was fine. She said nothing in reply, only softly petting his head, and the action was reminiscent to Mel. He bit back more tears, breathing deeply in an attempt to push down the emotions and after a minute or two, he finally pulled away.

“Sorry,” he mumbled, looking away from her as he stood with a slight wince. As he rose, she remained crouched, her eyes finding his leg, the brace he’d crafted with the parts that made up his Mercury Cannon

Her eyes wandered around the unfamiliar view; her confusion evident.

“Jayce where are we?” Seika whispered, her eyes meeting his, fear swirling in their blue depths. Jayce’s mouth opened and closed, gaping at her like a fish before he finally spoke.

“I…. I think we’re in Piltover,” he whispered.

Chapter Text

Time blurred and raced simultaneously.

Between getting shit-faced with Loris at the bar and her pit fights, Vi had little awareness on what was happening around her. But she knew two things. Caitlyn was gone and this was her life now.

Fight. Knock out. Fight. Knock out. Fight. Knock out.

Drink. Drink. Drink.

Rinse and repeat.

It was fun. A distraction. And she was good at it – the fighting at least. Expelling off the relentless anger and despair that took over every conscious thought through quick one-two jabs was all fun and games… until it wasn’t…

And when it wasn’t… it was tormenting.

Loris had long since left. That was fine. She didn’t need him. Didn’t need Caitlyn, nor Seika. She didn’t need anyone.

The thought of the mage and how things had ended between them left a sour taste in her mouth and Vi vomited into the dingy sink in her singular room apartment. The liquor she’d ingested earlier burned on the way up, setting off a fresh wave of nausea that she managed to tamper down as she eyed herself in the mirror.

Seika was gone, the mage having long since disappeared after she’d walked away from the tact group – from her and Caitlyn. In the months she’d been gone, the Skinchanger – once hero, had become a rumor of blood and evil. A myth mothers told their children to stay in line. ‘Be back by nightfall or else the Skinchanger will get you’ and ‘Eat your food. If you don’t I bet the Skinchanger will, and then they’ll eat you too’ among other threats to keep their wild brats behaving. Vi couldn’t recall the last time she’d thought of her between her cacophony of distractions.

The mirror she’d cracked a week ago disjointed her reflection, the sight jarring and spurring forth a burning ache in her chest. Tears sprung into her eyes and she gripped the sink hard, her knuckles paling at the force as the cheap porcelain nearly cracked beneath her strength. In her reflection she could see her bed; two tiny mattresses pushed together and a flag she’d been using as a blanket, a familiar insignia of crossed keys on its surface. Her gaze shifted away from the reminder.

The violent looking woman in the mirror stared back at her, her hair slicked in black dye, black paint smeared down her cheeks in wide V-shaped tearstains. The only notion of her, of Vi, was her signature tattoo that was nearly concealed from the world – hiding who she had been in favor of who she was now.

Fuck this. Fuck them. Fuck all of them.

Vi swayed; a weakness radiating out from her aching joints as she collapsed to the ground, no doubt from the copious alcohol she’d guzzled down and lack of ingesting anything with any decent nutritional value. She hadn’t even felt herself hit the floor when she crumbled. Her black war paint was streaky and dripping down her neck and shoulders, the paint mingling with the bloody streaks originating from her nose and mouth.

She slipped in and out of consciousness, one thought continuing to ring despite how much she hated it. She missed Caitlyn. She wanted, no needed Caitlyn and she hated it. Hated this. Hated everything. Without her she was suffocating, drowning, and starving all at once. A constant state of turmoil and agony.

Her head lulled to the side; eyes closed as she succumbed to her misery. With her vision dark, she saw her again, smelled that clean flowery scent she emanated. Felt the warmth of her lips, the piercing gaze of her eyes that invigorated Vi, that made her feel seen after years of being locked away in the shadows.

A ghost of a whistle passed by her ear, the fan of air tickling her and pulling her from her trance. In her haze, she’d shifted onto her side, and she rolled onto her back, wincing and groaning at the agonizing pounding in her forehead. Her hand moved, resting on the crown of her head but its weight was no cure to her pain. Humming echoed from the direction of her mirror and Vi sat up with a soft groan, hallucinating Jinx with unfocused eyes.

Until they focused and she found her younger sister fussing with her black paint, writing Jinx beneath her right eye. It mirrored her own tattoo sending a fresh wave of anger and disgust through her as her sister turned to face her.
“Looking good, sis,” Jinx greeted.

Jinx couldn’t get out more than two words as Vi reacted, jumping up from the floor and slamming the blue-haired girl to the wall behind her, pinned in a tight choke by the boxer’s dominant hand. Jinx’s hands moved, gripping at Vi’s immovable arm, the boxer’s muscles flexing as her left fist was raised, poised to strike like a viper.

Vi huffed, gasping in anger. Her hair fell in front of her eyes, free fist clenched tightly as she barely – just barely held from beating that new face paint from her sister’s face.

Jinx’s face contorted, fear and discomfort etched into her marble-colored features. Vi scowled, gritting her teeth in a poor attempt to keep her anger under wraps.

“I don’t want to hear another word out of your mouth,” Vi spat, her fist pulling back further, readying to bash in yet another head in the countless she’d done since she’d retreated back to her own little personal hell of Zaun.

Jinx gasped in her grip.

“It’s Vander,” she managed to spit out before she was interrupted as Vi’s free fist slammed into the cheap wall. Her tightly clenched fist indented itself into the cheaply made plaster as free bits of the wall tumbled to the ground and it seemed like the entire building shook and groaned under the vicious threat.

“I’m not falling for another one of your tricks,” Vi retorted, glowering at her younger sister. Her blue eyes peeked out behind heavily furrowed brows, startlingly bright against her dark hair and makeup.

“He’s alive,” Jinx spoke, words constricted with the grip around her throat.

Vi’s shock was evident, lips parting and eyes widening at the incredulous claim that their father, a man who she’d seen die when they were kids, was somehow miraculously alive. But that was just it, an incredulous statement meant to throw her off. A trick, a flurry of stupid words in the girl’s arsenal that she’d use without any care. A lie. Just like everything else she’d ever said.

Vi’s shock bubbled back into unbridled aggression, her wrapped fist clenching tighter around the younger woman’s neck, clenching tighter.

“We both know that’s bullshit,” Vi seethed, a violent unrestrained anger in her gaze as she. The girls flesh gave as Vi’s grip tightened, Jinx’s head tilting upward slightly as she gasped, wheezing for air while Vi continued to constrict her throat further and further.

Seika’s confession to the tact group, her goal and desire to end Jinx without a trial echoed within Vi, reverberating around and for a moment, Vi related to that desire. Powder was gone, she was no more and all that was left was the monster before her taunting her with news of her long dead father.

Sweat and tears rolled down her cheeks in beads as Jinx’s gasping became little more than the softest of choking noises. The once gray-blue eyes, a characteristic they shared from their mother, were now vividly purple. Jinx’s eyes stared back into Vi’s, tears welling up within them as a droplet of purple liquid escaped from the inner corners. They streaked down her cheeks and when it touched her hand, she pulled her hand away from the girl as if touched by acid.

Jinx crumbled to the ground, coughing and catching her breath as she hunched over, clinging to the wash basin for support.

Vi’s gaze looked back to the mirror then immediately away, she didn’t know who was staring back at her though it’d been that way for months.

“He needs our help,” Jinx managed to mumble with a raspy voice, “I can prove it.”

Vi’s gaze rose again to the mirror, eyeing herself and as her reflection stared back at her. She couldn’t trust her, not now after everything that had happened, but she owed it to Vander.

…

Viktor didn’t often dream. Since his awakening, sleeping as he once had, was no longer a requirement for existence. He lowered himself from the meditative trance he’d been in for the past hour, feet silently touching the ground as Sky’s apparition stood near him. They walked together through the circular dome that had become his residence, and out through the wide opening, the commune just beyond its borders. Life echoed within the once corroded forgotten part of the world, and instead it flourished.

Nefta, the sixteenth person he’d helped nodded in respect as she walked past, a basket of fruit in her hand as she made her way towards the farming hut. He returned the action, his grip on his crutch light. A soft exhale left through his nose as the corner of his mouth upturned into the tiniest smile. He’d grown accustomed to this body and had long since wish he’d thanked Jayce rather than nearly chastised him as he had when he’d awoken, but even through the comfort he’d found in this new anatomy, there was still a nagging ache.

Some human part of him – his base subconscious, that begged and pleaded for…

“Thinking about her again?” Sky interrupted and she touched his arm, the pressure of it invalid physically, but in the astral planes, he felt it. His smile faltered, his kaleidoscope-colored eyes falling to the ground before lifting to look at the commune again. No answer was needed, they both knew that.

He walked forward, journeying through the community, occasionally greeting those around him. The Herald, they called him, and he’d long since stopped correcting them. All that mattered now was that he was making a difference. The air was clean in this little pocket of paradise; fresh water, an abundance of food. Injuries were tended and hope bountiful.

Yet his subconscious wasn’t appeased. Angry and violent inside of him, in an ever-warring state within his person. Such a battle was imperceptible on his face though; an invisible conflict between the past and the present. Flesh, blood and bone could be changed – altered, but the mind, the purest part of one’s soul was hard to override, even for the Hexcore, and he’d been born human. It was only expected that such… frivolities stuck around.

He sighed this time, finding comfort in the silence as he stood alone, overlooking the flower field that helped keep their air clean. The yellow flowers sparkled in the sunlight, dazzling like gold and he reached out, lightly thumbing the petals. Viktor assumed they were soft, like silk – flashbacks of silver hair flashed before his eyes but with a blink they were gone and his hand retreated back to his side. In the months he’d spent bringing this commune to life, he’d heard of her. She’d been here, protecting those who needed it. That’s what the adults had said, several of his commune having met her first hand. She’d been a driving force, the physical embodiment of change for the undercity but then…

The words had spread like wildfire. She’d murdered a child. Protected a group of children, taken the lives of a few gang members, then turned on one of the kids. Now she was often viewed as no more than a nightmare. He’d refused to believe it – something had to have happened, if the words were even true at all. As the days turned to months though, sights of the Skinchanger ceased – all except for a few baseless rumors. Now, the news from outside the commune contained whispers that one of the gangs had killed her. Slaughtered her in cold blood while claiming vengeance and one of the Chembaron’s had her pelt up on a wall.

The thought alone, the image of some gang boss admiring her skinned flesh hanging up in his home caused his chest to rise and fall, an unusual seething anger coursing through him – a momentary lapse of his subconscious overriding the Hexcore’s changes. A screech echoed overhead, distracting him from his anger, and Viktor’s head fell back, eyes watching a tan-colored hawk streak overhead. In his youth, they avoided the undercity, favoring the upper lands for their hunting, but with the commune’s prosperity, he’d been seeing them almost regularly and for the briefest of moments, Viktor’s breath was lost. As lost as it’d been when they flew above everything, wrapped in the night sky as the moon bathed them in white light and the stars sprinkled down upon them. He could feel it, the chill in his bones, the wind in his hair, her warmth beneath him, and the freedom – the freedom he so desired at that time, then, like the hawk, it was gone. She was gone.

He turned around, facing the spherical structure at the epicenter of the commune He’d long since removed the possibility of them living together here from his mind. Never would they help grow this community, help the undercity thrive and obtain their shared goal. A hint of a nostalgic smile appeared on his features, her words echoing to him again when he’d been unconscious and trapped as the Hexcore changed him. She’d been there, he knew that now, and while she wasn’t here now, he had his memories; ghost touches of her flesh on his, murmuring echoes of her voice, intimate replays of her laugh.

Wetness streaked down his face and he blinked, metallic hand raising to thumb the tears in confusion before he huffed a laugh. He spread the wetness on his fingertips, a rare smile on his face. Here he was, human, but not entirely, metallic and robotic but not completely, yet she drew characteristics of humanity, of sentiment from him. The birds echoed around and he took a moment to internally lock such emotions away, feeling the magnetizing pull towards his memories, towards the hope that she would someday walk through the gates of the commune even though she was no longer with them. Despite his physical changes, despite how his body received inputs and touch, how he was connected with each member of his community within the astral plane – despite what he’d become and what he’d lost – he’d allow such feelings – for her sake, because only she could invoke such feelings within him.

Viktor let his eyes wander the commune again. Their goal was not yet obtained, but even with the loss of her, he’d ensure it was done. For despite his physical changes, his affections for her remained the same since the moment he’d fallen in love with her, as were his motivations.

For Seika.

For the undercity.

Chapter Text

Despite Seika’s desire to continue onward in his journey, Jayce had forced them to bed down for the evening. He needed to rest his aching leg and bandage his arm and Seika…

Jayce stared at the Wildclaw across from him. She’d changed her form not minutes after their initial meeting, and despite the few words shared between them, she hadn’t changed back. The crumbling house they’d sought refuge in creaked in the heavy wind, the door blowing open and slamming loudly. Seika rose and Jayce watched with observant eyes as her legs quivered slightly. Her jaws clamped around the doorknob before pulling it closed and retreating back to the fire, slumping down with an animalistic sigh.

The orange light illuminated her face and fur and Jayce winced slightly as he settled back, closing his eyes. He eventually reopened them, finding Seika staring into the flames and he mirrored her actions.

“So, this is what you meant by magic?” Jayce asked. He lifted his eyes, meeting hers. “Did Viktor know?”

Seika lifted her head, eyes slightly widened. “He never told you?” She watched Jayce’s brows furrow, perhaps in indignation and he shook his head silently. Hidden beneath her fur, her mouth curved upward into a slight smile. He’d listened to her, kept his word and not told anyone – including Jayce. Her smile faltered, claws digging into the worn flooring as she huffed and choked.

Jayce watched the beast, wet streaks darkening the fur beneath her eyes. He imagined tears and crying wouldn’t come easily in such a form, given crying due to an emotional response was a human trait, not an animal one. Despite her shifted state though, he found some relief in knowing that the human part of her she seemed so keen on hiding, consciously or not, was indeed there.

“Is he alive?” Seika finally asked, looking towards him and Jayce nodded, wringing his hands together in the warmth of the firelight, his gaze focused on a healing scratch in his hand. He picked at it, scraping at the dry skin until it bled before he answered.

“He left not long after you did,” he said. “Just walked away, just…” His face fell into his hands.

From across the fire, Seika felt a tumultuous set of emotions. Guilt – for having left Viktor before he’d woken, elation – that Viktor was alive and…

“Was he…. Him…?” Seika whispered and Jayce nodded, wiping at his eyes.

“Physically he’s… different,” Jayce chewed on the inside of his cheek, hollowing one side to gnaw at it anxiously as he paused his words. “But he… he was as he’d always been. My partner. My brother that I’ve known for years and he just… left.”

Seika heard the defeat, the struggle in his voice, watching as he leaned forward, torso hunched over bent knees as he scootched closer towards the fire. That defeat echoed within her, reminiscent of her own and reminded her of the suffocation she’d felt in the undercity, covered in blood and alone. She stood, moving around the fire and slipped behind him, curling around his back and lying down. At first, he stiffened, lifting his head quickly but as she settled, her chin on the ground and eyes focused on the flames he relaxed, settling back into her.

The contact shared between one another was calming, therapeutic almost. Warmth was shared, blossoming and grounding their souls in the lifeless environment they’d been forced into. The despair, the fear and anger they felt about their situations settled as they watched the flames, lost in the light dance it produced, bathing the room in hues of red, orange, and yellow.

“Do you know how you got here?” Jayce asked after several long minutes of silence. Seika shifted behind him, one foot sliding against the dirty ground as she situated herself.

“No, I….” Her head rose and turned towards the window, piercing eyes studying the world beyond them. “I was in Zaun,” a breathy huff, almost a laugh escaped her before she continued. “I thought I was helping, I thought I was protecting them, but in the end, I think I was just as bad as the rest of the gangsters. It’s only been a week, I don’t –”

“It’s been longer than that,” Jayce interrupted, his lips pursed as he stared at the flames again. “Months maybe?” His eyes closed, head falling back against her stiff malnourished hair, but damn was it the softest warmest thing he’d experienced since he’d woken up in this place. His hand moved unconsciously, threading into her fur and for a moment, Seika stilled, but as his fingers moved to gently pet her, she found herself relaxing.

“Months…? I thought…” Her paws crossed, chin lowering to rest on them. “I thought it was a dream, a nightmare. A haunting illusion of being trapped within this body, my mind lost.”

Jayce heard her shaky exhale, turning slightly onto his side. He rested his cheek against her, and she finally met his gaze. “I don’t know for sure how long it’s been, light cycles were hard to see from the cavern –”

“Cavern?” Seika questioned.

Jayce nodded subtly. “I was in the Hexgate with Heimerdinger and his new pupil,” Seika heard the near jealousy in Jayce’s voice at the word pupil and her gaze fell to the fire. “There we were in the Hexchamber when this Wild Rune appeared. It glitched out my hammer, distorted the three of us, it was….”

Seika listened intently as she recollected the moment she too seemingly distorted. Her physical body caught between their world and somewhere else.

“I woke up outside Piltover on the cliffs overlooking the city. As I ventured into the city, I saw someone else – someone here in this,” the heel of his palms moved to press into his closed eyes before Seika’s tail moving to rest against him pulled him from his distress and he relaxed. “Someone’s here but they disappeared. I figured I’d tried to go to the Hexgate,” Jayce shook his head, “or what remains of it. Maybe the Wild Rune is there and we can use it to get back? I don’t know, I’m hoping there are answers there,” Jayce went silent when he realized he’d begun trailing off and when Seika’s piercing gaze was too much for him, he pressed his face into her fur, voice muffled as he spoke.

“Then the bots appeared and I just ran, and by the time I’d looked back to where I was running, I was falling into a trench. My hammer,” Jayce shifted his leg, the movement pulling Seika’s gaze for a moment. “It fell on my leg.” Soft puffs of air tickled his clothed ankle and he looked up.

“The brace, you made it from your hammer?” Seika asked almost incredulously as she scented the metal brace. The inventor nodded silently and a throaty chuckle echoed from her as she lowered her head onto her paws again.

“Why am I surprised? You both were always wildly capable, almost ridiculously so,” she murmured softly to herself.

Jayce heard the faint nostalgia in her voice and his throat tightened. His heart clench in his chest, an aching pain that he soothed by relaxing back into her. She didn’t need to specify who else she was talking about – he knew, and it was something he whole heartedly agreed with. He started Hextech, but it was Viktor who brought it to life, pulled it from the prison Heimerdinger had placed it in and with the two of them together, Hextech was born. Without Viktor, Hextech wouldn’t exist.

As they slipped into silence, Seika’s tongue moved in her mouth, running over the thick scar tissue built up along her gums and the lining of her cheeks again and again. Deep narrow scratches but she couldn’t recall where she’d gotten such injuries unless… She’d recalled metal figures, perhaps intrigued by her presence, and she’d chased them down, torn them apart in her bloodlust – but that’d been part of her dreams. Hadn’t it? Just like everything she’d dreamed. The salamanders, the starvation, the hooded figure, the loss of her and all that she was. Her eyes found the injury she’d given Jayce and tensed, sharp nails scratching the floor.

No. It hadn’t been a dream – perhaps a curse. A punishment after what she’d done to… Her body recoiled in response to the memory alone and she stood abruptly, all but bolting to the furthest corner of the room where she vomited and hacked up bile as she recollected taking the young girl’s life when she’d been in the undercity. In the moment it’d happened she remembered relishing in the warm iron taste, satiating some base desire within her, but now, the thought made her violently ill. She felt inhuman. A mindless beast in a world of rational thinking humans.

Jayce called her name, worry in his tone and she heard him struggle to stand.

“I’m fine!” She said back curtly, her words harsher than she’d intended them to be and when her stomach settled, she moved back to where she’d been laying, curling tighter around Jayce. One of Jayce’s large hands rested on top of her head and her head moved, settling her chin on his good leg. He asked her again if she was ok, his whisper just barely heard over the crackling fire, his hand smoothing the soft fur between her ears. She closed her eyes with a small nod. He was a connection to a side she felt detached from. In her unconscious journey to this moment, she’d lost her humanity and now, she wondered just what the hell she even was. Human? Born to mortal parents deep within the wild jungles of Ixtal. Or a monster? A wild beast incapable of any lucid thought? She knew she was walking a path, her mind, no, her entire being caught treading the line between human and animal. She had no answer, but Jayce’s warmth and affection had her feeling just a bit more like she was worthy of being human, that her mistakes in the undercity didn’t define who she was completely despite her mind telling her so.

Ryze would be ashamed. She could see it now, the scowl on his face, the crease of his brows and crows’ feet at the outside corners of his eyes. The distaste. He’d abhorred the idea of her even going to Piltover in the first place, but she’d gone for Cecil and now she wondered if she’d ever see her mentor again. The residual anger from the training he avoided giving her still rang true, but in this environment where life seemingly stopped – she was desperate to see him again.

“Have you seen Cecil? Or Ekko?” Seika asked softly.

“How’d you know his name was Ekko?” Jayce asked with furrowed brows. When she raised her gaze to his, she saw the hurt in his eyes and she exhaled a sigh.

“Because I know Ekko. Somehow, they’d found one another and Cecil, he…” Seika smiled, remembering just how happy and content the yordle seemed in the Firelight Hideout. “He looked happy.” Seika felt Jayce tense, muscles flexing with petty anger and guilt.

“At first, I thought you were a blithering idiot; too caught up in your Councilor position to realize the moronic audacity you displayed when you called for his dismissal but now… I think it was the right call,” Seika lifted her head, muzzle pointed towards him as Jayce’s shoulder slumped, face relaxing into an almost relieved expression.

“My mentor has been alive for over a thousand years. He’d said time and time again that such lifespans often bring stagnancy. I didn’t understand it, even when I hit my 200^th birthday. How could someone grow still in a constantly shifting and moving world? Then after the attack at the memorial, when my body started…” Seika shook her head, still not understanding what had happened to her, only that the stone that’d been overtaking her body had somehow disappeared in the timespan of her being in the undercity and now.

“I realized my own shortcomings. My own incapability’s and how my mentor’s lack of teaching led me here. Two hundred years and my skills haven’t grown beyond what I could do when he found me. I realized just how hypocritical I’d been, and you…” Jayce’s brows furrowed.

“I’m sorry Jayce, I…” a whisper of a laugh escaped her parted jaws, sharp teeth glinting in the firelight. “I lectured you, nearly berated you for saving Viktor when I’d have done the same thing…” The confession was bittersweet leaving her, a conclusion she’d internally come too long ago, but the influence of her mentor had been strong, foreboding, and blinding.

Jayce watched the Wildclaw’s muzzle tip downward, eyes sinking to the floor and he sighed, hand reaching out to the first shoulder, gently squeezing the bony protrusion. He didn’t speak because the relaxed face she gave him when he smiled at her told him all he needed to know. Their differences had been bridged in their shared affection for the Zaunite inventor.

“Cecil grew complacent. Comfortable in his pristine tower of science and gold. It was his actions, or rather lack thereof, that led the Undercity to ruin and when he met Ekko he realized that. Ekko is a good man, kind and smart albeit stubborn and occasionally bratty,” Seika continued. “But it was for the best Jayce.”

Jayce snorted a laugh, smiling and Seika chuckled, the heaviness that’d been suffocating them for months lifting briefly.

“For a moment I thought you were just going to sit there and insult me,” Jayce joked, relaxing back into her with a soft sigh as his eyes closed. “But to answer your initial question, no, I don’t think they’re here, I can only hope they’re somewhere better. I think it’s just you and me who have been blessed with our own personal hell.”

A smile appeared on her face, hidden beneath dark fur and despite her friends absence, Seika found herself relaxing with Jayce as he continued to absentmindedly pet her head. They sat in a comfortable silence, the only sound coming from the roaring wind outside and the crackle of the fire. It was Jayce who broke it first.

“Before you left, you seemed like you were almost frightened of Viktor, why?”

When Seika opened her eyes, Jayce was looking down at her and she sighed, looking away.

“I wasn’t frightened of him but rather what he could become. Magic and non-mages haven’t always led to the best of situations and magic itself in the wrong hands can be and has been catastrophic. Even mages have succumbed to the mind-wiping pull of magical power,” Seika replied.

“Heimerdinger said something like that, when Viktor and I showed you both the Hexcore,” Jayce replied and Seika nodded.

“History often repeats itself. Centuries ago, when my mentor was still studying, he saw the Rune Wars. The continent was drenched in blood as mortals fought one another for the World Runes,” Seika’s head lifted, eyes again focused on the darkening world beyond the room they were in, her eyes glassy and distant. “Civilizations were lost, family trees wiped from existence, and when it was done, the cities and advancements that had been made had been destroyed, drowned in blood and never seen again. When my mentors master had attempted to use two of the runes for himself, my mentor killed him. They’d seen the horrors of using these World Runes together, yet somehow his master had thought the best course of action was to attempt to utilize them. For the good of the continent and the safety of all, my mentor killed him and from then on, made it his mission to collect the World Runes and hide them away.”

Jayce listened attentively. He and Viktor had done extensive research into magic for Hextech, but such historical events never seemed relevant to their cause and those topics were often overlooked for more recent and pertinent tomes and scrolls.

“The Rune Wars led to the seclusion of Ixtal, and when the wars came to an end, the civilizations we know today rose from the blood and ashes,” Seika continued. “Noxus, Demacia, Piltover, and Bildgewater. Before me, Ryze had taken on another apprentice, a mage from Freljord. He didn’t talk about him much, but from what little I know, his apprentice had attempted to bond with the World Rune, enticed by the power it’d give him and what was left of the man was fire and ash. A walking husk of a mage, seeking only power and to burn our world until nothing remained. It was the World Rune that led to his devastation and distorted his mind.” Seika went silent for several moments and Jayce nearly spoke before she interrupted him.

“Through one of the World Runes was how Ryze found me. Somehow, I as a little girl wandering the deadly jungles of Ixtal alone, had found a World Rune. According to him I spoke to it, coddling it like a friend. I remember the lecture he’d given me when he’d taken it from me and how hard I’d cried and wept. I’d fought against him, too closely bonded with it and it was rather obvious how much I cherished it and found comfort in it. I believe that the only reason Ryze took me under his wing was because, despite being born without a single ounce of magic within me, the World Rune bonded part of itself to me, channeling power through me and even after he separated it from me, my powers remained, and with me close to him, should I succumb to the pull of the World Rune I’d be easily accessible and close at hand should he need to act again…”

“You were worried Viktor would end up like them, lost to the Hexcore…” Jayce mumbled softly in realization and Seika nodded, closing her eyes and lying her head back down.

“I was so frightened,” she whispered shakily, “I couldn’t bear the thought of…” her words faltered. She couldn’t even say it, let alone think about having to do something so drastic. “The Hexcore had acted so negatively that I couldn’t fathom anything good coming from it, but… But you had the courage I do not and you saved his life. I can’t thank you enough for that.”

Jayce inhaled quickly, head falling back as his fists clenched, emotions welling up in him again. He knew how Viktor felt about her – how important she was to him, and out of everyone else, it was her support he needed when Viktor had been unconscious, and when he needed it most, she rejected him and his actions. That had hurt but then there was Viktor… Viktor had almost hated that he’d saved him despite the fact that he’d done everything in his power to pull him back from death. That, that had been agony… but now with Seika’s confession, the relief he’d felt that he’d done the right thing engulfed him as a weight lifted from his shoulders. He felt Seika curl around him more, an attempt at comfort and he relaxed, hand finding her paw. She rested her chin on his hand and once more, silence came between the pair.

“He loves you, you know?” Jayce said when he’d managed his emotions. A great big sigh came from the Wildclaw before it spoke.

“Did, I’m sure. When what I’ve done comes to light, I doubt such feelings will remain,” Seika said softly, unable to lift her gaze away from the dampening fire.

“Seika, I don’t think there’s a single thing you could do –”

“I killed a child Jayce,” Seika said softly, the words ceasing Jayce’s own. It was a dirty secret and it was torturing her. Filling up her soul with a toxic black tar that sucked out every positive emotion she’d ever felt. The guilt and anguish she endured every time she closed her eyes, even for a moment to blink, brought her closer and closer to the edge of suffering where just over the edge lay the dark abyss of despair. “Everything that I thought was a dream wasn’t, and before I ended up here, something in my brain changed. I,” Seika stood, moving away from him and pacing the room as she spoke, muzzle pointed downwards. “I couldn’t think, I didn’t know who I was, nor did I have control over what I was doing, gods, I’d just meant to hurt those gangsters and protect the kids but I…”

Jayce watched her still, shoulders shaking as that very human action resurfaced again despite her inhuman body. His gaze lowered, spotting the tear droplets that stained the ground beneath her face.

“I killed her Jayce and I attacked you, I mean what kind of person am I to just do that? I’m meant to be helping people, what –”

“Seika,” Jayce said, his words spoken with a finality that had her closing her mouth. She turned to face him, walking to him when he beckoned her. When she had resumed her position Jayce spoke.

“I…. I understand,” he said softly, finger fussing with a screw on his brace, his eyes hyper fixating on the metal protrusion. He saw that little boy again, saw his mouth open in confusion and shock before his body tumbled over the railing and crashed violently several floors down into the floor. He gritted his teeth, shutting his eyes as the boy’s life drained from his eyes again and again in a haunting loop of a nightmare.

“I know, I understand,” he said, his voice breaking as he pressed his hands to his eyes, failing to bid away the haunting boys face. That boy didn’t get a life. He didn’t get to experience the joys and pains of adult hood, the feelings of falling in love, of finding comfort in friends and the agony of heartache and loneliness. He suffered in the undercity, working tirelessly to support himself in an environment unfriendly to him and he’d just taken his life with a flash of blue magic in a failed attempt to protect his own city.

“A boy, a fucking child,” Jayce hissed, knees bending as he curled in on himself.

It was in that moment that Seika felt a connection with Jayce, a bonding of souls and she recognized him as a kindred spirit. She leaned towards him, nudging her cold wet nose between his eyes and hands until his solid fingers released his face, pulling her large head to his chest and curling around it. How long had he suffered with such guilt? Seika didn’t know but as he cried, the answer became less important, her own tears eventually welling up and wetting her fur.

The night progressed, the fire before them slowly extinguishing as the pair found shared solace in their struggles for in a world without life, it was just them and their demons.

Chapter Text

Vi hardly spared a glance at those walking around her. Jinx followed a few steps behind, followed by Vander in his new…. Form. It’d been a whirlwind of a couple days. First, the forced involvement of her sister in her life, then…

Vi stopped, glancing back as the monstrous beast no – her father. A soft growl slipped out from beneath the blanket covering the hunched figure, an attempt to keep him concealed in hopes keeping him away from the general public would protect both them and him. Next to Vander, as doting as ever, was the little mute girl Jinx had picked up, the same little girl that’d attempted to sacrifice herself to save Jinx when Vi was still with....

Vi mentally reminded herself what the girls name was. Isha. The kid was sweet enough, but Vi didn’t really know her, and a part of her felt a twinge of discomfort watching the sisterly bond her younger sister and the unrelated child had. A painful aching warmth, an unwanted reminder of something that they had, that’d been lost…

They continued forward in their journey, towards this magical healer that’d been the talk of the Undercity recently and toward his commune deep within the bowels of the Sump. The lowest level in Zaun, the dark forgotten crevice’s holding memories to both of them… After all, the pair of sisters had grown up in the Sump.

It took them longer than expected, Vander occasionally lashing out towards a loud noise, or getting distracted by something, but he always heard them, acknowledged them when they called him dad and that said enough. Proved to the group that the journey towards some possibly intangible rumor was worth it, that he was still in there. There was no guarantee this healer could help… but it was a start.

It was early morning, earlier than Vi would have liked it to be at least and despite the hour, they were surrounded by people. Individuals approaching the commune, some being helped, and those who had claimed the commune as their home, stood ready to assist, their clean, crisp cream and olive-colored garb a startling difference from the dirty and more vivid colored clothing of those in the rest of the Undercity.

In the distance rose a gate of metal and glass. The glass had been stained a rainbow of soft colors, each hue as inviting and eye-catching as the next. And beyond that gate? Tents and hunts, cozy round buildings that curved and ebbed like water, gentle among the sharp crevices and canyon walls of the Sump. It looked eerily inviting and out of place among the muck that was once the Sump.

But that wasn’t what Vi noticed; no, it was a familiar figure, skin dripping with cream cloth, an emblem on his right shoulder, and gold-colored accents on his head, hands and arm. A man, no a traitor…

Huck.

The surprise on his face was evident when she approached, though she could tell it took him a moment to register her change in appearance, his oddly colored eyes shifting up and down her person quickly.

“Vi,” he greeted, his voice soft and relaxed, a drastic shift from the usual whimpering and whining his voice had been in the past. “I hoped you might return.”

“You filthy traitor,” Vi glared, her gauntlets chiming magically as she clenched her fist, the gemstone powering the equipment sparkling within.

“Yes,” Huck agreed, his hands clasped over themselves in front of him as he stood, poised and graceful. “That was me at my worst. Simply awful,” he agreed, pausing for a moment in his speech to wave a few people forward through the gate. He turned back to face her. “But the Herald has freed me of my past self,” he explained, “he’s given me a chance to make amends.”

Vi glanced away, watching as one of the members of the commune moved, bringing a bottle of water to a woman on the ground, weak and struggling with her crutch.

“All are welcome,” Huck continued, “but, I must ask you to surrender your weapons.”

Vi had glanced back at the statement, and Huck continued.

“This is a place of peace,” he elaborated.

Jinx groaned behind from behind Vi before pushing past the fighter, her handgun lifted. It chimed, itself infused with runic magic of its own as the barrel was pointed right in Huck’s face. There was a moment as Isha approached, letting out a little noise of approval towards Jinx’s actions when she looked up at the man.

It wasn’t Jinx’s blatant threat that forced Vi to drop her gauntlets however, but Vander behind her when he echoed out a low growl. They needed inside to see this healer, for him. Vi stalked past Huck, the gauntlets forgotten on the ground behind her and after a moment she heard Jinx follow after her.

Isha hurried past, slipping something into the little pouch on her belt as they entered the gate, the commune buzzing softly with life. Commune members stepped forward with food, drink, and warm smiles, but the life – the light, was what pulled Vi’s focus.

Warm light rained down on the area, bathing it in a life that Zaun hadn’t truly known so deep in the dark. A sphere-shaped structure sat in the middle of the commune, the building situated at the crest of a gentle incline. And that light… that soft white yellow light that saturated the structure, that light Vi had missed for years of her life trapped below ground, bathed the commune in something magical. Here they were in the Sump. The deep dark she’d grown up in, missed the light in… with air so shockingly clear and crisp.

“The Herald’s vision,” Huck said as he approached her from behind, noticing her awe. He led her forth, giving her a tour of the commune.

Vi quickly realized that these people weren’t just living… they were flourishing. The last time she’d been here, this place had been ravaged by shimmer, covered in tents and homeless, people struggling to overcome their addiction in an unforgiving world. Birds sung, twittering and chirping around the commune. Stalls with food and clothing filled the pathways while in others, people made baskets, taught young children reading and arithmetic, and there was even the sound of metal workers tinkering. Vi glanced around, studying everything, her eyes constantly wandering as she took in the overwhelming community that’d taken hold in a place that was once her home.

When one of the workers within one of the metalworking stalls dipped a piece of hot iron into a bucket of water, Vander reacted. Roaring as he shifted, on full alert and searching for danger. The area around them silenced, shifting into something darker, more fearful as people stopped, taking a step back.

It was little Isha though who stepped forward first, her tiny stature before Vander, arms spread wide defensively… protectively. Vi went to help pull the blanket back over Vander, but was stopped. Huck ceasing her movements when he rested his hand on her forearm, his head shaking gently with a warm smile.

“Come, he’s expecting you,” Huck said, the tension breaking like twig. Then in an instant, the tension, fear and uncertainty that’d temporarily suffocated the area was gone and life resumed. The family unit met eyes briefly before a hesitant mutual agreement carried them onward, trailing after Huck.

The circular structure was significantly bigger up close. Shimmering reflective metal, accented with webbing designs, brought together by colorful glass with two curving pillars nearly haloing the sphere. A nearby bell rung the hour, it soft muted tone reverberating along the canyon walls around it. It was peaceful, almost meditative.

Huck approached the opening, stopping at the steps and the group stopped several feet behind him. Then… from within the structure, a figure stepped forth.

The man was tall, his figure draped in soft blue cloth, the red underside peeking out where the fabric bunched up around his shoulders. His waist was belted with cream-colored straps and a bronze gold ornament decorated his right shoulder; the same symbol having also been displayed on Huck. His hair was long, with blonde locks peeking out beneath whisps of soft chocolate brown hair. Strong eyebrows framed shifting kaleidoscope eyes, and purple metallic looking fibers, accented by bits of bronze and gold, made up his cheekbones, neck, and presumably the rest of him given his matching extremities. The walking stick in his right hand clinked softly against the ground as he approached, eyes gazing over the group.

“We hear you can heal people,” Vi spoke first. The man said nothing, only registering Vander’s presence, his eyes studying him.

Vander growled softly, softly chomping at the air as the man approached before hesitantly taking a step back. Isha stood directly beside him, her hand resting on one of the metal plates of his arm in comfort.

Viktor stared at the creature before him with furrowed brows as he extended his hand. He felt the pull of the magic, light shifting beneath the fibers before coiling out like roots towards the creature as his fingertips neared beast’s forehead. When his middle three fingers rested on the beast’s forehead, he met them on the astral plane, Viktor viewing the human form of this creature in front of him.

A man stood before him, eyes closed; lifeless. Viktor’s face rose in slight hopefulness before softening as the figure remained still. A pause, then the figure was pulled back, as the monster that’d taken over this man’s soul awoke, violently and aggressively forcing Viktor out entirely.

Viktor grimaced as he withdrew his hand before collapsing to his knees, panting through the shocking pain as Sky appeared behind him, a woman only he could see. He’d experienced rejection, of both the mind and body, but this… This was drastic – a complex woven braid of man and beast whose fibers were meshing into one. Sorting through them would take time, energy, and power.

“Viktor,” she said as he stood, staring at the man turned beast, “you once told me, all systems have limits.” A reminder. One he didn’t desire nor did he ask to be reminded about. This man was suffering, lost within the bowels of the beast, lost… but there. Viktor couldn’t bear the thought of dismissing him due to his own shortcoming and limitations.

The creatures dual-colored eyes wandered, shifting from him and to the ground, wandering; confused but aware. He couldn’t dismiss this, he could help this… fix him.

“He is worth the risk,” he replied to Sky, voice reverberating both in the physical world and the astral plane.

Behind him, Sky silenced and Viktor gave a nod of thanks to Huck before shifting to the woman. “I will help but it is imperative we discuss a few things first.”

They walked through the commune together, journeying towards a nearby fountain. When they arrived, Viktor finally spoke, his focus primarily on Vi, a name he’d picked up while exploring subconscious. The name brought him back and after a moment of realization, he’d come to the conclusion that this Vi, sister to Jinx, was the same Vi that Seika knew. It was unfortunate that they were meeting this way now.

“Vander’s psyche is deeply entangled with that of the beast,” Viktor spoke as he sat on the fountain ledge.

“How did you know his name?” Vi asked, staring at him before taking a neat near him.

“He told me,” Viktor replied truthfully with a slight shrug.

“Ask for a miracle healer, get a metal fortune cookie,” Jinx chided from where she stood on the opposite side of the fountain, slowly walking around the fountain’s ledge.

Viktors gaze in Jinx’s direction was fleeting at best, his gaze refocused on Vi.

“I saw your father, his dream of your family and vision of Zaun as it could have been, it was…” a breath’s worth of a pause, “beautiful.” Viktor continued, just barely hanging onto his walking stick.

Jinx coughed, “Cookie!”

“Can you help him?” Vi asked, brows furrowed as she regarded the healer.

“I will do all in my power,” Viktor replied, his gaze temporarily shifting to the little child who rushed towards the creature, helmet full of water raised up in offering.

“However,” Viktors gaze shifted back to Vi, “I have one condition –”

“Looks like you got a couple,” Jinx quipped with a huff of a laugh, tugging on the fountains wheel as she maneuvered around it.

Viktors brows raised slightly in unamusement before he spoke.  “You have much to offer this commune, Powder,” he replied, an emphasis on the name. He watched from his peripheral as Jinx reacted, catching herself on the wheel. The action forced a sprocket off its shaft, falling with a soft metallic ting onto the stone ledge before bouncing into the water. Viktor reached down, retrieving it from the water and lifting it, inspecting the oddly colored corruption on one side as he rotated it.

“Your talents can be used to build, instead of destroy,” he replied. She was capable, as driven by invention as he was and although her methodologies needed work – his point still stood.

“I’ll stick with what I know, thanks,” Jinx rejected him, almost dejectedly – like she hadn’t expected the compliment alongside an offer of all things.

“My condition is that he must be restrained at night. I’ve seen the harm of which he is capable,” Viktor spoke, his focus moving back to Vi. Vander was capable of too much, too easily; caging him up in some part, was cruel, but undeniably warranted for the safety of the commune, and for the safety of Vander himself.

Vi sighed before her focus shifted back to her sister.

“What do you think?”

Viktor noted the softness in her voice, so unlike this haughty capable brash fighter Seika had built her up to be. With the closeness of this woman who’d become important to Seika – a friend to her, Viktor felt a pressure in the back of his throat. Uncomfortable and ever growing, like a balloon was continuing to be filled with air while in a space too small for it. His eyes fell back to the sprocket, examining the corruption again.

“You actually want my opinion?” Jinx asked and a silence stretched between them before the girl scoffed, muttering her distaste for fortune cookies as she hopped from the ledge before slinking off with the young mute girl.

Viktor watched as Vi said her goodbyes before he himself led Vander over to an enclosed greenhouse. Within the building, they’d be able to restrain him, with an added plus that Viktor could guarantee he wouldn’t be disturbed while he worked with Vander. It was quiet inside, and Viktor watched as Vander inspected the place, though that inspection was short lived when he sat, huffing and glancing around, eyes following the small birds who nested within the trees inside the greenhouse.

Viktor left Vander alone to get settled. When he’d retreated back to his residence, he spoke to Huck through the astral plane, requesting him to seek Vi and show her where Vander would be staying. He’d also asked Huck to seek a moment of her time for him and when she arrived with Huck as her guide, he’d stepped out of his residence to meet her.

His gaze was on the commune, an imposing yet tranquil figure standing in silence even after Huck departed, and it wasn’t until they were truly alone that Viktor spoke.

“I believe you and I share an acquaintance,” he said, head turning slightly in Vi’s direction. “A mage, a woman – with silv– ”

“Seika?” Vi interrupted him, instinctively taking a step towards him – as if that step might unlock answers regarding her friend’s status. Her mood had shifted; her previous distant attitude morphing into concerned rapt attention as she watched the Herald’s gaze fall to the ground. His nod was subtle, and had she not been watching for it, she might not have caught it at all. “Is she here? Where?”

He could ear the eagerness in her voice, the hope. That same hope he’d lost… months ago at this point. “I was going to ask if you had heard from her,” he replied, his gaze moving back along the commune again, shifting eyes ceasing their colorful transitions. “I have not seen Sei… Miss Etesia for some time now.”

Vi’s eyes narrowed a fraction, watching the Herald.

“Seika mentioned someone, some guy,” she replied, arms crossing. “She said he was gone though. Made it sound like he died.” Vi’s anger towards her had since simmered into nothing and the news of Seika’s possible death had assisted in that. Now more than anything, she just wondered about the mage; where she’d gone, whether she was okay or not...

A discrete huff of a laugh left through his nostrils as he exhaled. Yes, it made sense she’d come to such a conclusion. Though a part of him had to agree with her denouement; certain elements of him had died in that lab. Perhaps she’d left the cities then, returned back to her mentor, and was now wandering the wilds. Existing. Free. Away from the turmoil, no longer caught within the septic plight his society was suffering through, his people torn apart by internal war and violence not to mention the toxicity that plagued both cities. He could only hope she was as wild and untamed as he’d imagined she’d be out in the world. Then he felt those unfamiliar feelings again, that base subconscious of desire that he had for her and how he longed to see her in such a state. Worry free and surrounded by the life she was raised in; exploring the plains of Noxus, fighting through the snowbanks of the Freljord, and admiring the cloud-tipped peaks of Mount Targon.

He hoped she truly had left because the last thing he remembered of her was grief. An unending, suffocating weight of loss and turmoil. He doubted she’d meant to share such things, but on that day in the lab, when his body continued to fuse his with the Hexcore, she’d touched him, and more importantly, the matrix. That same matrix connected to him and he’d subconsciously responded to the outside stimuli, accepting her feelings into him. She was suffering, terrified of being alone and that…

Vi watched the man slip off into his own thoughts, his silence the answer to her statement – not that her statement particularly needed one. Everything she’d seen of this man, his mumblings to someone who wasn’t there, to the way he looked at and spoke to people showed he was distanced and separated by an invisibly wall, he screamed detachment; but his response right now? Besides his obvious physical differences, she’d long come to realize this man was far from human, but right now… watching as this herald who had an entire community relying on him, stared wistfully off into the distance as he questioned her about Seika with a hint of grief on his face… Suddenly it didn’t seem he was lacking in humanity nearly as much as she’d thought and perhaps his attachment lied in other places or – people.

“Ca… Someone we…” Vi paused, her brows furrowing as she kicked at the dirt, swallowing down the annoying lump that formed whenever she thought of… cupcakes. “We were together for a while, but she left. Differing opinions and all. Last time I saw her, she was wandering down here by herself for a while, she…” Vi glanced up at him, then away.

Viktor had seen that look many times. It was a face often expressed by those in his commune. Guilt. Guilt for what had happened. Guilt for what they’d done, or worse, what they hadn’t done. He’d learned to see the differences, his eyes catching the tiniest shifts in the physical traits people wore on their face and person; whether they meant to show them or not.

“She wasn’t herself,” Vi said softly, looking out towards the commune. Perhaps if she’d found her, spoken to her or listened or hells even fought it out, Seika would be here right now, but Vi hadn’t and Seika wasn’t.

Viktor had stiffened slightly at the new information. What he hadn’t expected, was the aching constriction of worry in his chest. He’d nursed the sick until they succumbed to their injuries or illnesses, seen bloodied heaps of bodies dragged from the scenes of gang violence, and children weep over dead parents. He’d been conscientious of them, but never worried. Never did he feel that aching uncomfortable weight in his belly, or the little voice scratching in the back of his mind – quiet and unending as it spoke of the worst scenarios, but there it was again, whispering soft words that spurred his anxiety onward.

Anxiety. A word he couldn’t imagine he’d ever have thought of again, but it was true. It bunched up his limbs, the electrical impulses running through his metal body gathering and reacting in certain areas; it was uncomfortable. ‘She wasn’t herself’ continued to rattle his mind and an uncomfortable buzz rippled up from his feet to his head – like a live wire in water. For the first time in months, those base emotions welled up; anger, fear, concern – the emotions he’d tempered, treated and pounded away until they were nothing more than condensed worthless marbles he’d forgotten about in the dusty bowels of his subconscious… Yet now… It was as if anyone, it didn’t matter who, made one wrong move, one misplaced step, and he’d burst and they would cease. He swallowed as the currents that ran through his body sped up before he willed them to slow.

“Viktor,” Vi finally hummed, giving him a sidelong glance. “That was what his name was. I remember because the day I found out, she showed up with hickeys on her neck.”

Viktor choked. On what, he couldn’t know, breathing and swallowing were done out of a three-decade long habit, not necessity. He coughed, turning away as he relived memories, remembering things he’d nearly forgotten. He nearly laughed and there it was again, that shred of humanity he thought he’d have lost by now, only appearing because of her.

Vi chuckled, a nostalgic warmth swelling in her heart for a moment, but then it was gone.

“You’re as shy and obvious as she was,” she continued but she didn’t recoil at the glare she received for her comment. “But no, I don’t know where she went or when, last I saw her she… Maybe she was sick or something, or her magical abilities were acting up. Parts of her were covered in stone – spreading all over her and her eyes weren’t normal, they were just blue light. Then last I heard, she’d been deemed a hero, only to fall before being labeled as a villain, a murderer.”

“No,” Viktors singular word response was final.

“No,” Vi agreed. Seika was many things, but a cold-blooded child killer wasn’t one of them. She noted the way the Herald gripped his walking stick tighter before intentionally loosening. “That’s all I know,” Vi said after a moment of silence. “Though if you see her, tell her I’d like to see her,” she added.

The Herald nodded silently, his eyes refocusing back on the commune and Vi took it as a dismissal, sauntering off back towards the greenhouse. Stone and glowing eyes…

When he was alone with nothing but the birds and sunlight, he retreated back inside his residence. Sky appeared, having been listening as she always did.

“I know it’s hard but Viktor… I think it is for the best – truly,” Sky spoke, her voice soft. “I know you two had something, but I can’t help but remember her words,” her hand lightly touched his arm before squeezing gently. “She called you an abomination. Those feelings are hard for people to change Viktor… Some people just can’t see beyond what they fear, and perhaps its best she remembers you as you were, rather than knows you for who you are.”

Viktor heard and ignored the undertone in her voice. It hadn’t been the first time Sky had spoken this way of Seika, and he doubted it’d be the last. Her words however, struck true and he’d be lying if the thought hadn’t crossed his mind. She had called him that, but then he heard her, whispering promises of helping the Undercity and the warmth in her voice as she said her last goodbye to him.

“Let us tend to Vander, yes?” Viktor replied, moving away. His tone was short, words final and Sky said nothing more.

Chapter Text

Viktor worked with Vander over the course of nearly a week. Progress had been slow, but steady, and he’d seen the memories Vander cherished. The world of Vi and Powder, growing in a fiercely loyal community. He saw their parents, the family unit that they had with one another despite the Undercity not conducive enough for such strong bonds. They’d made it work in a treacherous unforgiving environment.

As Viktor made great strides with Vander, Seika and Jayce had also made strides.

She stared up at the Hexgate, her neck craning to view the soaring structure. Continually swallowed by a violent endless maelstrom, that same storm that separated them from the Hexgate. They’d traveled through the city, up through the dam, swimming, walking, climbing and were both exhausted, but they’d long since agreed. They were close, too close to concede now.

Jayce led the way, and one after the other, they began the great ascent, jumping and climbing the floating structures as if they were rocks in a stream bed. In their weakened state it was a slow, gradual process and for most of it, Seika was an anxious, skittered mess. Her claws hadn’t yet protracted as her eyes darted around. Fear. She’d known fear, felt it, but with her current state, if she fell – hell if Jayce fell, she couldn’t do anything for them. It’d be their body versus thousands of feet and they’d become little more than a splatter of red and unrecognizable parts on the stone far below them.

Seika shivered at the thought, her fur catching in the wind as she just barely peered over the edge of the rock she so desperately clung to. She grew dizzy, wobbling again before collapsing onto her belly, nails scratching the stone with an ear-piercing screech. Her pupils constricted, shoulders rising and falling in rhythmic waves; the first pair followed by the second pair. Those same breaths grew shallow, the wind roaring in her ears and she shut her eyes, gripping onto the stone for dear life. She was alone now. It was just her in this nightmare, suffocatingly alone. As she’d been, always been. Her panic grew tenfold, pieces of memories, of her life before her own flashed in disjointed images, of happy cute siblings and stern parents. Of warm humid nights and shrieking beasts in the jungle. Jewelry making, catching fish, climbing trees for fresh fruit, walking through the jungle, chase, hiding, seeking, play fighting – then solitude. Unwanted. Undesired. It covered her in an invisible stale viscous fluid; she was no more than amber preserving an insect in time as she succumbed to her racing distressed mind –

And then something smacked her in the arm and she jolted, looking up.

Jayce held another small stone he’d broken off from the large hunk of debris he stood on, his arm already pulled back to throw it at her again. His concern was evident, brown brows deeply furrowed despite his wide eyes. He’d called out to her three times to no avail and finally resorted to something physical to break her from her panic attack. It wasn’t his preferred method as when his mom had them she responded better to slow soft responses, but he didn’t have that same luxury here and now.

“Seika! Come on, I’m right here!” His words were warm, reassuring against the heavy strong wind, and then she was moving again, her eyes on him. She wasn’t alone. Jayce was right here with her in this hell they’d been trapped in.

The higher they climbed, the denser the corruption became, sharp jagged colorful webbing protrusions that Seika had cut herself on more than once, but unlike Jayce, the skin that peeked out beneath her dark fur remained the same. His skin was littered with multicolored stains, like tattoos, wherever the corrupted areas had touched him. She stepped lightly, jumping to the next landing after Jayce had moved on and together, they continued to make their way upward.

When they reached the top, Seika pushed Jayce forward gently with her head. The wind buffeted them as they straightened, a unrelentless force pushing at them and as the pads of Seika’s paws gripped the slippery sloping structure of the Hexgate, she braced him, letting him catch his breath and find his balance.

They turned together, facing the devastation that’d obliterated the two cities and everyone who called them home. Seika’s eyes drifted out towards Zaun, ears pressed forward as the windstorm that separated the crest of the Hexgate from them continued; an endless rotation of wind, debris, and smog.

The pair looked towards one another, meeting eyes before turning back away from the city and towards the task at hand. Jayce took the first step and Seika followed behind, standing directly behind him in case he slipped and together they walked into the storm. The wind battered her figure, endless invisible sharp fingers tugging and yanking at her fur. It was deafening, so loud it nearly hurt and she flattened her ears as small bits of debris pelted her.

Her eyes widened as she watched Jayce in front of her begin to glitch out and she called out his name that was instantly lost in the wind. He glitched further, pushing through before he stepped into the eye of the storm. He looked back and she hurried through the remaining storm, glitching out before she too stepped into the calm eye.

At first, all they saw was blinding white light. Seika grimaced slightly, screwing her eyes shut as she walked forward, head turning away from the sun overhead and slowly, she blinked, her eyes growing accustomed to the sudden shift in radiance. When she opened her eyes though, her jaw opened in awe.

It was stunning. Brightly colored plants grew along the sloping crest of the Hexgate, the bright blue sky idyllic overhead while the sun rained a warmth on them. She shivered; perhaps from the temperature difference or perhaps because of the sight itself. Nearly at the crest was a robotic-like figure, kneeling upon the ground and lifelessly clinging to a pole.

Seika looked to Jayce, who in turn looked at her and together they walked forward. Dragonflies flittered around the place, buzzing around Seika’s ears. She shook herself, shooing them away as the pair approached the statue. Seika stopped a few feet away, watching as Jayce crumbled to his knees, and for a moment, the humanoid forms mirrored one another.

Seika’s gaze drifted back around the idyllic nature of the scene. It almost reminded her of Ionia; colorful, warm, bright, and whimsical.

“This is where it all started, isn’t it?” Jayce’s voice asked.

Seika’s brows furrowed in confusion at Jayce’s continued words, her head turning back to look at him and jolted.

“The end of Piltover,” he said, a cloaked figure standing behind the statue that hadn’t been there moments before. Her claws protracted, sharp points leaving screeching lines on the corrupted colored metal. The figure was as unmoving as the statue, a tall staff in one hand and the Wildclaw froze, remembering the haze of memories of when she wasn’t herself, and how she’d sworn she’d seen this figure.

“Because of Hextech,” Jayce’s voice continued in the silence.

The figure remained as still, silent, and peaceful as the eye of the storm.

“Why did you ever give me this?” Jayce asked, twisting the bracelet he’d made specially for the rune that saved him and his mothers lives. “Why?”

Seika’s eyes drifted from the wristband Jayce’s free hand clutched like it physically pained him. Her eyes narrowed as she took a single step forward, neck craning to read the symbol.

Acceleration?

Ryze had used this particular rune before, but he’d used them to escape risky situations, accelerating them out of danger. There were better, more capable runes for power, so why give one that focused on haste and speed?

A sudden electrical pain erupted from Seika’s right side and she gasped, back recoiling into an arch as she turned, watching as the lifeless stone in her side crackled with blue magical energy, dimming in and out of life. She looked back to Jayce, meeting his eyes before giving him a subtle nod despite the toothy grimace on her feline face.

Jayce turned back to the concealed figure.

“It doesn’t have to go this way, right?” Jayce said, shaking his head as he looked back to the figure mirroring his position. “Just tell me there’s a chance.”

Seika’s gaze had shifted back to the stone in her side, really looking at it and her eyes widened at the familiar octahedron-shaped stone – a stone she hadn’t seen in at least a century. She gasped again as she took a step forward; the World Rune embedded in her side crackling to life again before going dark but a recognizable voice ceased her movements.

“I thought I could bring an end to the world’s suffering.”

Seika looked up, the figures face now revealed. Older, more somber but…

In her shock, she shifted, collapsing to her knees, her knees slamming the metal beneath her with a soft thud. Her shoulders rose and fell in quick succession, lips parting in silence. Viktor. Jayce turned to look at her, but Seika couldn’t peel her eyes off of him. Wispy salt and paper facial hair took over his jawline, extending above his upper lip and down to his chin. The cloak was giving her teasing glimpses of long hair, down to his shoulders but then he looked at her and her shoulders dropped in defeat.

The look of curiosity. Of unfamiliarity. Viktor, but not her Viktor. This man did not know her, did not share her memories of warmth and tears and pain and elation. His eyes were hollow, filled with the intellectual interest of a scientist, a scholar, and she was little more than a curio. The moment felt like it’d never end to Seika as she witnessed this aged Viktor, a man she never thought she’d see. She remembered his words again, how she long to experience a life alongside him, to grow old together. Silent tears streaked down her cheeks, her unwavering gaze on him, though when he cast a soft glance her way, she watched something flash in his eyes before reservation and detachment took over, demonstrated when he shifted back to Jayce – all but ignoring her.

“But when every equation was solved… All that remained were fields of dreamless solitude.” He paused, his gaze falling to the robotic figure before him. “There is no prize to perfection,” he continued, gaze lifting to Jayce, “Only an end to pursuit.”

Seika’s gaze shifted between the two men, the world rune in her side breathing to life again. She put her hand over it, pressing into it, bidding it to cease, to give her a moment of respite from the shocks that riddled her body.

“In all timelines, in all possibilities… Only you… Could show me this,” Viktor said. “You can stop him, Jayce, can keep all of this,” Viktor spread his arms, in an arc, “from happening to your Piltover because he will listen to you. Only you.”

“How?” Jayce asked softly.

“He cannot continue as he is right now – you must ensure he is stopped, and then,” Viktor replied, “you will lose. And when all seems lost, you will show him and he will see, he will understand,” Viktor emphasized the last word.

Jayce looked towards Seika, but when he saw her distress, he sighed. His fists clenched as he eyed the rune again then looked up towards Viktor with determination. He suddenly blinked as if seeing something that Seika couldn’t, and when he blinked again, coming to, his wavering uncertainty had melted away leaving only pure determination.

“Send me back,” he said.

Jayce’s words pulled Seika from her shock, her hand unconsciously wiping at her face.
“Wait, wait, Jayce,” Seika protested, watching Viktor lower his hand to the statues right shoulder. It moved, releasing the pole. Her eyes widened as Jayce pulled at it before lifting up the large hammer – the one that looked eerily similar to the weapon in pieces that made up his leg brace.

“I won’t fail,” Jayce said. “I swear it,” Jayce added when he looked back to Viktor, nodding as he clutched his modified Mercury Hammer. Jayce’s head turned, finding Seika and he held out his free hand to her. Just as she took a step forward, Viktor held his hand out, palm raised in silent protest of her departure.

“She’s coming with me,” Jayce added, looking at Viktor.

“I will send her back,” Viktor replied, clenching his fist. The wild rune activated and Seika stumbled back out of it, gasping as the World Rune in her side buzzed to life, blue electrical shocks, pouring from the stone and ricocheting off of her body and the ground. Jayce felt the Mercury Hammer in his hand buzz and whirl to life, glancing briefly down at it before looking at her. His brows furrowed in confusion, shifting his focus to the blue light at her side, but when they raised back to her face and she nodded, he nodded in return.

Seika watched as Jayce rose and glitched, before he and the wild rune were gone in a flash of white blinding light that forced her eyes closed. When she’d opened them again, it was just her and this Viktor.

Her breath escaped her in soft pants, eyes wandering the space where Jayce had been as if he might just magically reappear again. The pain in her side had ceased, swelling as the wild rune appeared then stopping the moment it disappeared.

Seika stood on wobbly knees but made no other motion to move as she stared at Viktor. He hadn’t moved, hadn’t even seemed to breathe.

“Why am I here?” She asked softly.

Then… he moved, slow measured steps around the sizable hole in the Hexgates roof, silent steps trekking across the metal. And then he was standing in front of her, gazing down at her. Her eyes were wide, looking up at him as he studied her.

“I do not know,” he replied, watching as her brows furrowed in confusion. “You are an anomaly, an abhorrence of routine, atypical,” he continued making no motion to move beyond the tilting of his own head as he observed her.

“If you didn’t bring me here, then who did?” She shook her head. “I don’t understand Viktor.”

“I observed you in other timelines; it took quite some time to find you,” he said with a slightly tilted head, his gaze wandering up and down her features. “In every other timeline, your existence was the same; short-lived and brief. Not once did you escape the jungles of Ixtal. Sometimes you starved to death, other times you were killed by an animal, dehydration, sickness, injury, but the end was the same. You were not meant to survive, to live a life beyond the jungles,” he continued. He gazed down at her, his knuckles of his hand lightly grazing the spot where flesh and stone met at her side. She recoiled from his cold touch, gaze darting to his hand then back to him only rather than that far off look, his gaze was softer, more solemn. “And yet, here you stand,” he murmured. “Having found something, you weren’t ever meant to find,” he continued.

Seika gasped, recoiling as the World Rune reacted again, until it resonated, the pain ceasing and the light a steady glowing blue.

“It brought you here, that which gives you your abilities,” he continued, his hand stilling when her hand moved over his. When her hand was flat over his, he retracted his extremity slowly before his gaze lifted. “Though it is changing, just as you, but I suspect you’ve long since realized that.”

Seika stood in stunned silence, her mind more of a whirlwind than the storm surrounding them. Her thoughts raced with memories; bare foot and sprinting through the jungle, fat globs of tears streaking down puffy child cheeks, of isolation, of flowers and crowns, and her soft voice mumbling to herself again in a language she doubted she even remembered at this point.

“H-How? Why?” Seika finally managed to speak, her voice not sounding like her own as she attempted and failed to ground herself against this new information.

Viktor said nothing, merely straightened his hand and snapped. The Wild Rune swelled around her and Seika gasped.

“Viktor, wait,” She pleaded softly. “How do I help him? How do I save him?!”

“You don’t,” he replied calmly to her desperation, but there was an emphasis on ‘you’ that left Seika’s heart plummeting into her stomach. “Jayce,” she breathed and he nodded once.

“Helping Zaun then,” she said softly, her gaze softening only for Viktor to shake his head.

“You didn’t think you’d spend the rest of your life in Zaun, did you?” Viktor questioned, a lilt to his tone as a hint of a smile appeared on his face. Seika’s heart skipped a beat; she wouldn’t be staying in Zaun? He noted the panic on her features, his grip on his staff adjusting.

“Then… Piltover?” Seika asked, her eyes searching his for the answers she wanted… He shook his head.

“What, so I go back to my mentor? Hope I can somehow convince him to actually teach me?” Seika exclaimed, shoulders rising and falling in a hybrid of frustration and despair. Her goals and her motivations suddenly slipping through her fingers. She was supposed to help him, help the Undercity but suddenly she was being told she couldn’t do any of that? Viktor's look was more than enough; as if Ryze would do that.

“So, I’m cursed to wander the world alone then? Abandon my friends, the people important to me and those who need my help in the Undercity?” Seika continued, glaring up at him. And then he reached out, pushing a lock of her hair behind her ear, the woman stiffening at his actions.

“Do you truly think that all you are destined for is to be a bloodthirsty beast in the night slinking around Zaun?” Viktor asked and she froze, caught off guard by his question. The answer was obvious despite how much she disliked admitting it because right now, it was the only way she knew how to help them. Remove the problem, keep them safe, even if it meant dirtying her own hands.

“Then what else do I do?” Seika said softly, arms curling around her as she looked away. “Just leave the cities on my own? Go wander the wilds alone and attempt to make something of myself? How the hell am I supposed to do that?” Her voice dropped to a whisper as she let out a shaky exhale.

“I never said you would be alone,” Viktor replied, an almost mischievous grin overtaking the older man’s features. He clenched his fist and to Seika’s surprise, she began to float. She gasped, looking back at him, that cheeky grin shifting into something more nostalgic accompanied by a small smile.

“How interesting it will be to watch a life the first time it lives,” he said softly. “Use it well Seika.”

And then in a flash he was gone.

Chapter Text

Seika felt herself distort, the fibers of her being snapping apart and coming together again. She crumbled to her knees when she was slowly lowered to her feet, palms bracing herself on the dusty terrain. Her throat constricted and she coughed, sitting up and looking around. It that same square she’d been pulled from last time. Even as she sat, she felt the suffocating weight of information collapsing on her shoulders. But time was too short, and her desire to see Viktor too great and so she shifted, bolting off into the shadows.

The further she ran, the further a warmth rippled out from the stone in her side, crackling painlessly. A therapeutic warmth, pain relieving, and it pushed her onward. She took off through the hidden alleys and scaled up onto buildings, traversing along their rooftops to avoid people at all costs.

In her travels, she’d stopped pausing to gaze up at an art piece painted on an otherwise bare wall. Her steps faltered as her eyes widened, pupils no more than pinpricks as she studied the painting of Jinx. Her hand was raised and she looked startlingly calm, considering the only other time Seika had ever seen her was when she’d attempted to retrieve the Gemstone. She continued on her way, spotting another painting, and another, her mind struggling with the images before her. Seika gritted her teeth until it hurt and continued on her way; such things were a problem for later.

She could only assume Viktor was down in Zaun, but wasn’t completely sure where until she spotted a couple, cream and olive garb draping their figures. That wasn’t what caught Seika’s eye however, instead it was the swirling shimmering metal that decorated their flesh in lines and webbings.

She followed the at a distance until they led her into the deepest parts of the Sump. Seika had been here once or twice but now…

The cavern system within the Sump rose high above her, the higher areas with circular tunnels that led one into a maze within the rock. Beneath them, a funnel entrance, flanked by high cliffs that led a long open pathway towards a singular circular entrance made of metal and hued glass. Yellow flowers littered the edges of the path and that same entrance was littered with more people in similar garb.

She slunk out from behind the building she’d tucked herself in, eyes focused upward. There was a ledge, maybe ten feet above her, narrow enough for her to stand on and would let her jump onto another ledge with the entrance into the caverns. Her body paused, head tilting to watch those walking the streets, though their focus had shifted, clumps clustered together in discussion. Utilizing their distracted state, Seika jumped, nails catching on the rock before she scrambled up onto the ledge. The next jump was significantly easier but put her directly in sight. She paused again, before confirming she was clear. Unknown to her, the area had long since shifted its focus to the oncoming Noxian army marching its way through the Undercity.

Seika spent longer than she’d have liked nosing around the tunnels until she finally found a way out. She made her descent, using crags to brace herself until she reached flat earth. Her jaws parted slightly as she panted, lowering herself behind the cluster of yellow flowers in front of her. She watched for a few moments… people walked calmly, soft conversations were had, and the residents here smiled. A bird landed a few flowers in front of her, singing and twittering before taking off, oblivious to her presence.

It was so calm… peaceful… And yet these people… Her eyes followed a young woman, smiling as she walked carrying a basket of fruit, fingerprint marks on her forehead. Seika looked away, remembering the metal beings she’d encountered in the other world. She turned her head, glancing back towards the lit World Rune embedded within her side.

Seika was riddled with confusion. With their combination, she’d thought she’d have been altered into a monster, yet, she here she stood. Was it a matter of time? A curse? She had no idea, not to mention the stone that had been covering parts of her were now entirely gone.

Somehow the World Rune she’d found as a child had been absorbed into her skin. Ryze had taken it from her over 150 years ago, locked it up in a place even she didn’t know yet here it was – part of her no less. She hated to think of what Ryze would say when he found out, but a part of her felt secure with it, like reuniting with something lost from her past.

She huffed a soft breath, shifting her focus forward and continued on into the commune.

It was a problem for later.

…

Viktor stood in the greenhouse, Vander a mass of fur and metal as he breathed deeply in his slumber. Viktor's hands crackled with magic from the Hexcore, bolts of light jumping between the fibers of his forearm, down to his hands and fingers before crossing the short reach to the beast. He twitched, feeling the same pain that he’d been feeling for a week now, the struggle of utilizing his powers and with that new pain, that new ache, he found hesitation as he retracted his hands. Sky looked at him, her concern evident a Viktor panted softly, hoping to relieve some of the ache through a heavy exhale as he closely examined his hands.

Panic. Realization.

“You’ve felt it, haven’t you?” A familiar low voice asked. “Your decline. Your power is finite, diminished by every use.” Viktor's right hand massaged the wrist of his left, the one that ached like frayed wires battered by relentless elements. Micro scratches in his flesh that burned and a weakness that left him shaky. Nearly as shaky as he’d been before this body.

The man’s footsteps echoed up to him as Viktor spoke.

“I’ve been expecting you, doctor,” Viktor continued to stare at Vander, though his thoughts were far from the man-turned-beast.

“Viktor,” Singed exclaimed in awe as he stood, staring at the Herald’s profile. “Incredible,” he took a few steps closer. “What I wouldn’t give to glimpse the world through your eyes.”

Viktor hadn’t had the opportunity to react as Singed grasped his hand, the connection created in an instant and Viktor thrust into his mentor’s subconscious. There, encased in glass; a girl. Sky stood by his side as the watched the memory, his mentor reading aloud to the lifeless girl in a see-through tomb. This had been his mentors’ motivations…

Viktor was pulled from the astral plane, gaze shifting from Vander to uninteresting parts of the floor as his mind clicked the pieces into place. This was why Vander had become what he had become or rather, why he’d been forced to become what he was now.

“Knowledge is a paradox. The more one understands, the more one realizes the vastness of his ignorance,” he replied. His thumb stroked the corrupted side of the sprocket he was still clinging to.

“Marvelous specimen, isn’t he?” Singed asked as he walked around Viktor and around to Vander's other side. “The regenerative qualities of his blood will stabilize you.” The man’s footsteps were purposeful as he stepped between the motionless legs of the beast and knelt at his back. “Apex shimmer combined with you, the apex form of Hextech.”

“What you are suggesting would destroy him,” Viktor gaze fell as he spoke, his gaze Vander's face before blinking back up towards his old mentor. “And for what? Conquest? The greed of warmongers?”

Singed shook his head, the silence of the greenhouse stretching around him as the scientist studied his masterpiece. The sleeping beast didn’t shift when Singed spoke, his hand reaching out to rest against the metal container on his back filled with a viscous fluid.

“To complete your work. To save us from ourselves,” Singed explained.

Viktor saw the obsession, the overwhelming need in Singed for him to utilize Vander.

“You must survive, Viktor,” Singed added.

“Do you believe in fate, doctor?” Viktor asked as his head tilted up, admiring the colored glass that made the ceiling of the rooftop. Ivy grew, long tendrils clinging to metal brackets and parts of the buildings frame as tinted sunlight cast a colorful glow. Little shimmering circles of colored spots danced as birds flittered past, reflecting off surfaces.

“Our paths carved before us, guided by an invisible hand?” Viktor continued, his gaze unmoving.

“Not fate, evolution,” Singed corrected. “Nature’s greatest force, forever in flux.”

“No,” Viktor disagreed, shaking his head as his gaze fell to the man. “Evolution has a destination,” he said, his hand extended; turning and twisting, moving as if he was testing out his limb for the first time.

“Not to combat nature,” Viktor continued, “but to supersede it. The final, glorious evolution,” he finished. There was a realization in Viktor's eyes of sorts before he was pulled back to the present moment and his hand dropped back to his side.

“But he isn’t a specimen, he’s a man and he needs my help,” Viktor's gaze was on Vander again, and he shook his head gently, glancing back up to Singed.

“I will not sacrifice his humanity for your cause,” he continued, then nodded his head back towards the door. “You may leave,” Viktor replied, dismissing the man.

“Very well,” Singed replied, “but I assume you understand already, if you perish, this community is soon to follow.” Singed stood, heavy slow footsteps leading him past Vander, past Viktor, and out of the greenhouse. Viktor glared, eyes gazing in the direction where Singed had disappeared beyond his peripherals.

The truth was heavy, almost unbearable, and he turned his head to his right, Sky was standing next to him, hands loosely wrapping around his arm in comfort. They’d come too far, and still so many needed his help, it couldn’t end… not like this. Not when Seika…

Viktor turned from Sky, lost in thought as he exited the greenhouse. He walked through the commune, brows furrowed, occasionally nodding a small acknowledgement to those around him as he retreated upwards towards his residence. He approached the opening, sighing softly when the sun was out of his eyes as he stepped forward into the circular structure before his footsteps stilled.

A large malnourished dog stood in the center of his place of solitude, its back facing him. Its dark fur was streaked with dirt and grime, but he realized as the dogs head turned, looking around the inside of the large circular structure that the term dog was incorrect. It was feline in nature, the skull domed and rounded compared to the often elongated and flatter cranial structure suited for canines. His gaze drifted down the black fur again; black. Not silver. Not his.

He couldn’t deny his dismay – how the gods had seemed to hang her on a string in front of his eyes only to pull her away when he reached for her. For a moment, Viktor was brought back to the night he’d found her after the incident at the bridge. How he’d retreated home for the evening after the sounds of alarms and explosions, worried of war, of being forced to create Hextech weapons, and instead found the injured silver-furred Wildclaw as it collapsed into the grass before changing into her.

No, that wouldn’t happen again. She wouldn’t stumble into his arms, give him a smile that had his heart stuttering… she wasn’t here. She wasn’t coming. Seika was gone. His fist tightened around the staff as he lifted and lowered it, the bottom of it it clinking metallically against the ground and the Wildclaw jerked, the six-legged felid swiveling around to face the sound with bared teeth.

Viktors eyes widened slightly at the bright blue eyes of the cat, having expected shades of gold, orange, or even green but then his face relaxed with a blink and he sighed softly.

Seika however, looked up at Viktor – her Viktor. Long brown hair down to his shoulders, blonde tips that framed the elegant smooth curve of his neck. His cheekbones, made partially of metallic fibers, gradated into the flesh of his chin, forehead, nose, and eyes whereas those metallic fibers cascaded all the way over his chin, down his neck, and based on his hands and feet; the rest of him. Gone were the warm amber irises she’d come to know and love, and instead, a shifting rainbow of hues that seemed to randomly change as he absorbed the environment around him. He was beautiful, she realized. She watched the recognition leave his face and instead settle into something more akin to disappointment.

“Viktor?” Seika breathed and she watched the man freeze.

Chapter Text

Viktor watched as the beast shifted, the woman he’d wanted to see for so long now standing before him in a tattered mess of ragged clothes. She was littered with dirty and old wounds and her face was strained with tired bloodshot eyes, sunken in cheekbones, and an angular torso with protruding ribs. Gone was that silver hair with black roots, and in its stead, dark raven hair, longer than it’d been when he’d seen her last. His constantly-changing eyes wandered up and down her figure, in shock at her current state.

It’d been three months since he last saw her; three months of imagining she was anywhere but here. This wasn’t free and wandering the world. This wasn’t laughing in the sun as she lived out in the wilds away from the looming threat of the civil war between the two cities, away from the constant bloody conflicts of gang violence, of child labor, and toxins you choked on. This wasn’t even surviving.

His silence was agony for Seika, eyes looking up and down her ceaselessly. She grew self-conscious, taking a step back and wrapping her arms around herself, tugging the tattered remains of her clothing gently in an attempt to conceal her dirtied, sickly flesh.

“I’m sor – ”

Those little marbles he’d condensed and forgotten about detonated, blowing through the wall he’d built up as his hand snapped forward at her words. He grabbed at her upper arm, strong cold metal coaxing a shiver from her before he pulled her into his chest. Viktor stumbled back at the weight of her, or rather lack thereof, his own momentum forcing him back as they stumbled into the curved wall of his sanctuary, his walking stick clattering loudly against the ground as he released it.

“You’re alive,” he mumbled, hand finding the back of her dark black hair as he held her, sliding to the ground with her tight in his embrace. His shock hadn’t yet receded. Only when he’d pressed his nose into the curve of her neck to breathe and drown in her scent, did his shock begin to dissipate. “What happened? How? You...” Viktor stumbled over his words as he lifted his head before echoing another soft whisper of “you’re here,” as if he himself couldn’t believe it.

She didn’t reply, only pressed her face into his clothed chest and cried silently, her shoulders shaking. He too was alive. He was right here in front of her, living, breathing, speaking, as if nothing had happened – as if she hadn’t witnessed him lifelessly encased in goop – as if he hadn’t bonded with the Hexcore that killed Sky – as if he hadn’t died. And on top of it all, he was him. There was no question, no concern or even a thought otherwise in her mind. She hadn’t lost him to the Hexcore and Jayce hadn’t been wrong. It was all too overwhelming and when her racing breaths faltered from her sobs, her shoulders wracking as her lungs constricted, Viktor reacted.

He tilted her chin up, pressing his lips hard against her out mouth. She froze, open eyes meeting his as he watched her. Their lips remained connected though the eye contact, and with her mouth cut off, she was forced to breathe through her nose, her breaths gradually slowing and when her eyelids lowered, so did his. One of his hands rose to her cheek, keeping her lips against his until he finally pulled away, admiring her through half-lidded eyes.

“I didn’t think I’d ever get to do that again,” Viktor whispered and he kissed her again, and again, and then once more. “What happened Seika? Where have you been?” He pulled her back to his chest, leaning against the wall he likely dented in the tumble, but such things weren’t even in the realm of his thoughts. He pulled her flush against him, her body situated between his spread legs, and then his legs curled around her, pulling her even closer; a protective shield of man and metal around the mage. She didn’t speak, not yet, but as his hand on the back of her head adjusted, his thumb gently stroked the skin on the back of her neck until he grazed fabric and glanced down towards her neck.

“After all this time?” He breathed with a soft smile, rubbing the fabric of his tie, the one she’d wrapped around her neck, between his thumb and index finger.

Seika found herself hesitating. After so much had happened and now that she was here, what was she supposed to say? Everything that came to mind made her feel insane, though Viktor didn’t seem to mind her silence as he clutched her to his chest. She tilted her face up, watching his gaze focus towards the opposite side of the room, seemingly staring at something that wasn’t there before he looked down at her.

His gaze softened, undeniable as his eyes wandered over her features, thumb reaching up to lightly caress at a scratch on her face. Then his hand faltered, stilling slightly as he realized he hadn’t yet connected with her on the astral plane. He pulled her cheek to his chest, arms wrapped tightly around her with his chin on the top of her head, holding her in his embrace as his eyes closed.

Viktor accessed the astral plane and before him in the expanse of white that was the human subconscious. There before him, hovering up and down slowly was a humanoid made entirely of bright blue light. He stepped up to her, tilting his head as he admired the features that were undoubtedly her own, but beyond that, there was nothing.

His brows furrowed in confusion and concern; he hadn’t encountered someone without a subconscious, and especially not their being, their very soul, looking so unhuman. His lips parted, then closed before his hand extended, pausing temporarily in midair. He hesitated. Could he possibly inflict damage on her? Was her subconscious truly so warped that her very being was locked away?

Viktor moved his hand forward, his middle finger brushing against the left side of the figures waist and he felt the space around him shift as the figure disappeared before his eyes. Viktor looked, turning slowly as he heard soft giggling and when he spun around, he was more than surprised at the small child before him. The little girl knelt, picking up something that wasn’t there, and when she lifted her hand, a flower appeared before being deposited in the growing cluster in her arm.

The Herald took a hesitant step forward but the child was oblivious to his presence until he stepped around her entirely. She wore a sheet of rough tawny linen as a robe of sorts; rope knotted at her waist accompanied by ruddy-colored feet. Blood, Viktor didn’t doubt, as hints of red peeked out past long-dried mud. Her hair was long for her age, a deep rich black and Viktor couldn’t help but stare at the child in confusion.

Had he been mistaken? Perhaps he’d somehow accessed the wrong subconscious?

He watched the child speak to herself in a language he did not know before she paused, her head lifting. Big bright green eyes stared up at him in awe and wonder, her mouth opening to say something, then, she giggled bashfully, covering her mouth with the hand that held the bouquet as the other lifted, raising a purple and yellow flower up to him.

Viktor stilled at the response. Subconsciousness did not respond. They existed as living statues, allowing him to sift through their inner workings like a library or filing cabinet, not interact with him so vividly as if it were its own separate living entity.

Another childish giggle pulled him from his worry and he blinked down at the child.

“What’s your name?” The child asked, that language somehow shifting to the common tongue in ways Viktor couldn’t explain. His gaze fell to the flower as the child held out her hand, now two flowers held in her grasp, the new one a gradient of red and orange. He huffed a laugh, more in disbelief and confusion than anything.

“Viktor,” he mumbled. There it was again, another giggle as the child gazed up at him. “What is yours?” He asked.

“My name is Seika,” she giggled, adding a third flower, this one a soft pastel blue.

He reached out, gently plucking the three-flower bouquet from the child’s hand and looking down at it in confusion.

“How –”

Viktor felt Sky appear behind him, watching over his shoulder and the bouquet turned to dust in his hand. He glanced up towards Seika just as Sky stepped forward, and he watched as the child froze. The precious naivety that’d been on her face was skinned bare, that look of awe and happiness turning into horror as the girl all but stumbled away, crying and sobbing. He turned his head towards Sky, then back to the child, watching as she cried. Her focus was now purely on Sky, as if she was seeing something that wasn’t there. Blue tendrils protruded outward from her side and Viktor felt a tug of something powerful – something older than time itself and watched as the child’s eyes shifted from green to blue.

Seika called his name, pulling him from the astral plane and he blinked his eyes open, looking down at her again in a new light, brows deeply furrowed as his arms released her. She needed to eat at the bare minimum and it’d been selfish of him to attempt this now.

“Come, we should get you fed and changed,” he murmured, a ghost of a smile on his face upon hearing her gasp when he lifted her up. She clung to his shoulders, eyes wide and the soft spattering of pink that spread across her cheeks left him feeling unusually elated and almost frazzled, like too strong of a current flowing through a capacitor.

Seika’s hand was gentle against his chest and she huffed a soft laugh.

“Viktor… you’re buzzing. I think you’re actually vibrating…” she murmured and he stiffened, looking away as a modicum of embarrassment washed over him. Vi’s concerns of stone seemed irrelevant now as he gazed down at the stoneless woman. The concern from what he’d witnessed in her subconscious still weighed on him, because without complete and unfiltered access, he couldn’t cure her of her wounds, but her laugh, her weight in his arms as he retrieved his walking stick and carried her from his place of meditative rest flowered over his concern. It would be a problem for later. For now, she was alive and within his grasp.

Seika saw the almost shy smile as he leaned down, pressing a kiss to her forehead as he continued, walking out into the sunlight and in the opposite direction of the farms.

“I can walk –”

“Let me,” he replied, cutting her off as his grip just barely tightened. “I’ve wanted to do this for so long and I couldn’t previously but now…”

Viktor didn’t have to carry her far, and upon entering a specific hut, he placed her down on the seat gently, genuflecting as he did so before looking up at her.

Seika saw that worry as his hand reached up, gently thumbing that same scratch he seemed so keen on admiring. Her hand rested over his and she tilted her head slightly, pressing her cheek into the cool bite of his metal hand, a feeling she found she needed at the moment. It was a steady reminder that what she was experiencing was real, they were here together again.

“I’m okay,” she said softly, “better than I’ve been in…” she sighed, smiling and closing her eyes. “In so long,” she whispered.

“I want to hear everything,” Viktor replied softly as those who manned the clothing hut worked behind him, gathering a few clothes for her. “Every last detail…”

Seika stilled slightly, her eyes widening as she looked at him, then her eyes retreated towards the people sorting through the racks of clothing they’d made then towards the open doorway of the hut. She watched the life outside the hut for a moment before looking back at him.

“Show me first?” She said softly. “I want to see everything you’ve done down here.”

Viktor nodded, blinking a few times before turning back to those manning the hut. He accepted the clothes from them, his words softly spoken before leading Seika towards a bathing area a few huts down. She disappeared within the bath house for nearly twenty minutes and Viktor remained outside, waiting, thinking.

“She’s returned,” Sky said softly, appearing next to him. He nodded silently, eyes focused on the dirt as he circled the corrupted sprocket with the pad of his thumb, fidgeting.

“And she’s staying?” Sky continued.

“Presumably,” he replies.

“She’s different now Viktor, she’s hiding something… You know it too,” Sky continued, her hands moving to his forearm. He stiffened slightly, head sharply turning to look down at her touch. Near him, the door of the bathhouse opened and he pulled his arm from her grasp. “Yes, well, so am I,” he murmured in reply before meeting Seika.

“Beautiful,” he murmured without meaning to, though the blush that appeared on his cheeks caused his gaze to soften as he stared down at her.

She’d changed into the clothes they’d given her, now matching the rest of the commune and Viktor decided he’d have something made just for her, but these would do for now. His gaze lifted and he noted a distinct lack of a maroon fabric around her neck. His hand reached out, fingers combing through her unfamiliar jet-black hair as her eyes closed slightly, shifting into his touch. He studied the locks before realizing the child had had the same color of hair. The silver hadn’t been legitimate then, he’d realized. Viktor’s gaze admired the color, he didn’t dislike it, in fact he found he liked it more than her previous hair and it complimented her eyes beautifully.

“Did you dye it?” He asked as he led her away from the bathhouse. While asking his question, he’d realized Sky’s words had affected him; she was hiding something, and his question, seemingly subtle at first, left his curiosity festering in the worst way. The way Seika blinked once, then twice and nodded left Viktor unconfident of her response and his curiosity stewing.

“The silver was a dye actually,” Seika replied, knowing he’d ask eventually but hadn’t expected it to be so quickly. Her words were in their own way a lie, a blatant lie that she hated to say but she had no answer as to why her hair had completely changed colors and telling him so would only complicate her already complicated situation. Seika’s gaze drifted around the commune around them, a smile on her face as she absorbed the life; something she hadn’t experienced in so long trapped in the other world. “It’s all so beautiful Viktor,” she murmured, glancing back. He was still studying her, but rather than questioning her existence, he looked like he was looking for inconsistencies – differences, studying tiny details of her for longer than necessary.

She grabbed his hand with both of hers, hoping to distract him again as she tugged him along. As they walked through the commune, Viktor explained what had happened to him; how he’d woken up, realized Jayce was building weapons and how it’d become obvious they no longer shared the same dream, and left. Her curiosity was abundant and he raised his hand as they walked, allowing her to inspect him closely.

“So, the Hexcore’s done all this,” Seika hummed softly, her face soft and relaxed. He gazed down at her as her head turned, staring out over the commune and Viktor found himself comfortable, his grip around his walking stick loosening.

“And Sky is here, we see one another within the astral plane,” Viktor confessed softly, watching as her head turned, looking up at him. Her eyes were wide with surprise and he waited for her response.

“Oh,” was all she said, turning and continuing on with a nod. She took a step, then another, and Viktor was pulling her back.

“No, do not hide from me Seika, not after all this time…” he murmured softly. “Speak. Say what is on your mind.”

Seika looked away nervously, chewing on her lower lip. When he muttered a soft, please, she sighed softly and looked up at him.

“I just hope that it is Sky,” she said softly, the features on her face twisting into concern.

“What do you mean?” He asked, taken aback as he shook his head slightly.

Seika shrugged and looked up at him. “You merged with the Hexcore and… well, she…” Seika couldn’t repeat it, not at the way Viktor's face was starting to falter. “The Hexcore had its own life, its own thoughts and desires, I don’t know which it is, but,” she tilted her head, a small smile on her face, “you’ve been with her, so if you say that it is Sky, then it must be. And the Hexcore was violent and aggressive,” she shook her head as she looked out towards the commune, “I doubt this would have interested it.”

Viktor listened; brows furrowed slightly as he nodded in understanding.

“It is her,” he confirmed and she nodded in agreement.

“I’m glad you’ve had help then and that you haven’t been here all alone,” Seika replied softly, the soft smile on her face warming significantly.

Alone. Had she been alone all this time? He hated to think she might have been. He too wondered what had led to her current state and it caused him stress, currents within him swelling, the rise in electrical activity within the metallic fibers of his limbs forcing him to shift his thinking elsewhere.

The yellow sun bathed her face in warm light, casting a pink glow over her thin cheeks and a stray lock of hair had slipped out from behind her ear.

Viktor’s hand flexed against his side, eager to reach out and move it back, but they were in the middle of the commune and such things weren’t appropriate for him anymore. His need for physical connection and answers from her, as unfamiliar as it’d become to him in these three months, was quickly snuffed out by a loud growl from Seika’s belly. He watched her stiffen; eyes widening as she looked up at him before they both chuckled.

“I’m sorry,” she replied and he shook his head.

“No, I have been distracted and it has led me to forget that you need to eat, my apologies,” he replied, leading her onwards with a small smile on his face.

The commune had grown fast and done significantly well for itself in the months since its creation. Viktor elaborated on that as he continued to guided them towards the nearest food stall, pointing out the newest features and explaining how they’d organized things. He’d also elaborated on the yellow flowers that decorated the commune; Viktor had found out that it’d been part of Sky’s research, and with the help of those flowers, the commune was able to breath fresh clean air. Seika admired a cluster of flowers, kneeling down to look at them, and only when Viktor hurried her along did she move.

He could have laughed when she’d teased him for it; Herald to mother hen, though he couldn’t find it within him to care all that much.

When they arrived at the food stall, she picked out a few things to eat and together, they retreated back towards his residence.

Chapter Text

“So, you don’t eat?” Seika questioned after he’d rejected to take a bite of her bread. Their footsteps were measured as they climbed the gentle slope side by side.

Viktor shook his head, taking a few of the food items from her to hold as she wolfed them down.

“Slow down, you’ll choke,” he murmured as they walked through the open area. He smiled down at her as they stepped completely inside the inner hallway of the shadowed spherical structure and faced one another. He watched her with rapt attention as she continued to eat before he leaned, kissing away a piece of bread that clung to the outside of her lips.

“I do not need to eat, but I still can,” he murmured, drifting his lips along the flesh of her cheek to her ear, soft mischievous features appearing on his otherwise relaxed face, “if you’ll let me.” Seika stiffened at the double meaning of his words and choked, flushing as she turned away, barely managing to swallow her bite.

“Viktor!” Seika hissed, the smile on her face betraying her tone as he straightened. Then that pretty pink spread over her cheeks again and she laughed. His free hand was cool at her back as he guided her completely inside the private space before stopping.

“I should probably apologize for the lack of furniture as well, I do not sleep either,” he murmured, looking down at her.

“So, nothing’s changed then,” she murmured the quip with a smile of her own, finishing off the bread and stepping closer to him until their fronts were comfortably against one another.

He let out a breathy laugh, shaking his head as he clutched her tightly to him. He nodded for her to eat, watching her and occasionally letting his gaze wander the room. She would need a hut of her own, more clothing – perhaps they could build on an attachment to his residence. Privacy for her, but close enough for him… Then it dawned on him. Could this be – in its own way, considering settling down with her? He’d be – undeniably – staying by her side, and she his; he’d retreat to her when evenings were calm, expand the commune with her at his side, watch her grow healthy and happy here in this community with him… Together they could achieve his goal… their goal.

Then the sting of his mentors’ words ached in the organ-less space of his chest, a reminder of the present and how they hadn’t reached that future. Not yet. Viktor pushed the man’s words out of his mind, instead focusing on Seika. It still hadn’t quite yet settled in his mind that she was here, and he found himself fearing that he’d open his eyes after stepping out of the astral plane and she’d be gone.

He watched as she took a bite into the Piltover Shaddock, kaleidoscope eyes following a droplet of blue juice that wept from the orange citrus fruit as it dripped down from the corner of her mouth. Those big blue eyes of her were staring up at him, pupils dilated and framed with long wispy eyelashes.

“You are taunting me,” he huffed, eyes narrowing as the corner of his mouth turned upward slightly.

“Not intentionally,” Seika murmured in reply after swallowing her bite, watching his eyes trace the movement of her throat, “But I can’t say I wouldn’t mind any reactions from said unintentional actions.” She took another bite, this one much larger than she’d intended as half of the bite of fruit and flesh jutted out between her lips. She raised a hand to cover her mouth as she moved to chew but Viktor was already reacting.

Viktor leaned down, tongue slipping past his lips to lick up the fresh droplet line of shaddock juice that’d dripped down her chin. He heard her draw a quick breath through her nose as she straightened in his arm, his arm tightening around her waist to keep her still and close.

“Reactions,” he was muttering, the food now on the floor rather than his arms, his free hand lifting to her chin as her fingers pinched her cheeks. His eyes were intense and when he pinched her cheeks tight enough, her mouth opened, jaws parting and he leaned down, biting and taking the chunk of Shaddock fruit from her mouth. He tilted his head back, the food disappearing behind closed lips as he chewed the fruit.

Seika looked up at him in shock and almost mock offense.

“I was eating that,” she lightly chastised, her smile far more entertained than her words. The food in his other hand dropped to the ground as he pulled her into his arms completely.

“You yourself admitted to not minding any reactions,” he reminded her after he’d finished his bite, “so you best accept them all.” He leaned, capturing her lips in something so fierce and fiery that the food fell from Seika’s hands, forgotten.

Seika gasped into his mouth and he groaned, his body alighting in sensations he hadn’t experienced before. He didn’t even know what he was capable of, only that his mind wanted her, that his fingers twitched and spasmed with a need to feel her, to press the cold metal fibers against her warm flesh and feel her heat beneath him. He wanted to taste and hear her, to experience her again as he had so long ago only now with a body that gave him the freedom he’d desired for so long.

Viktor stepped towards her when she gasped into his mouth, and by the time her hands were wrapping around his neck, he’d pinned her between the wall and him; a hard tall metal place. His lips hadn’t yet left hers, licking into her mouth and at her lips, practically salivating at her taste. The Piltover Shaddock wasn’t the most delicious of fruits, but on her lips, there was nothing more delectably sweet.

Her moans were soft and filtered, fingers tangled in his locks, coursing through them to admire their softness. He pressed into her, pulling back when his rattled mind remembered his own strength and stepped away slightly, but Seika pulled him closer, tugging on his hair.

Viktor's mouth unlocked itself from hers, kissing from the corner of her mouth towards her ears.

“Please, don’t hold back, let me hear you,” he said softly, kissing the helix of her ear and down to her earlobe. She shivered, curling into him as her knees wobbled and is hands moved, supporting her gently at her waist rather than resting on the wall.

Seika felt him stiffen however when his thumb found the protrusions of her ribs again and he pulled away slightly. His lips parted then closed, his thumb gently caressing the outward curve.

“We shouldn’t, not yet. You need to recover – and eat” Viktor murmured in realization, pressing his forehead to hers as his hands planted themselves on the wall just by her waist, his head tilting downwards slightly to the forgotten food on the floor. He closed his eyes, sighing softly in an attempt to release the pressure that had been building within the fibers of his limbs and within his torso – an unfamiliar feeling for the hybrid of man and metal.

“Viktor,” Seika said softly, and watched as he pulled away far enough to view her flushed face and kiss-swollen lips. “There’s nothing I want more than this, than you,” she whispered, her eyes meeting his with an unwavering need. She didn’t just want this, she needed this.

“Just be gentle…” she said quietly, her hand grabbing his, moving it back to her waist, “though you’ve always been, perhaps even too gentle at times,” she continued, “I won’t break,” she added, moving his other hand onto her waist as his eyes studied her, the flame of that earlier heat being fanned within his gaze, “but I will bend.”

Viktor snapped, a shock rippling through him as his mouth slammed against hers. His mind craved her – his need desperate and tenacious, but his body did not – though it did not crave much of anything. He felt powerful and the electrical surges that flooded his body and sent signals from his brains to his limbs grew significantly and he was drunk on that feeling.

Seika’s hands were endless, moving up and down his arms, then into his hair, clawing at the fabric covering back before rounding flush against the tightly coiled metal fibers of his neck. Then they moved down, down the fabric of his sternum, each touch of warm flesh to his cold skin pulling gasps and huffs out of both of them.

“Seika,” Viktor groaned, his lips attaching at her neck, nipping and sucking at her flesh. He felt her knees go weak again and urged her downward gently, smothering himself in the sound of his name leaving her lips. His lips hadn’t yet left her neck, switching from side to side as she lowered onto her rear. He was kneeling now too, his mouth kissing up her neck to her lips again.

“Perfect, beautiful and perfect” he murmured, capturing her lips again as his hand rose, cradling her cheek. “You’re here, you’re mine,” he continued between kisses. “Stay,” he continued, kissing down her neck. “Stay with me, Seika, here, in the commune,” he all but begged.

Her heart lurched as she paused, remembering the other Viktor and his world – of what could become of this one. She watched as he lifted his head, his gaze meeting hers at her stillness. Her gaze softened; how she longed to scream yes with vehemence. She bit her lower lip, and smiled, nodding as a few tears rolled down her cheeks. She couldn’t speak, the lie was too foul for her to utter and so she kissed him, pulling him by his robe back to her.

Viktor descended, sliding her along the floor by her hips and when she was far enough from the wall, he crawled upwards between her legs. His body burned rugged with warmth as his extremities and limbs pushed strong currents through him. The feeling was addictive, he was testing his limits in a new way and he desired to know how much he was capable of, in what ways he could utilize this new body for her. His body practically buzzed, his mouth insatiable against hers and he groaned as her fingers scratched into his back until little painless sparks erupted from him, bouncing and skittering away from them on the floor until they burned out.

The air around them grew heavy with a sharp, clean scent accompanied by hints of metal. Seika drowned in it, her senses transporting her to a grassy field during an intense thunderstorm. Viktor was there, her body warming his, his everything pinning her to the floor. She felt safe, she felt home and with her fluctuations of guilt and adoration, she let herself live in the moment, everything else beyond them far outcast from her mind. There was only the two of them.

The pair were a writhing moaning combination of metal and flesh, too caught up in one another to realize anything beyond the confines of the spherical structure. Viktor's mouth wandered down her the flesh of her neck to her shoulder, his chin pushing the cloth over her shoulder down to access more of her collarbone. She arched her back against him and one of Viktor's arms hooked behind the small of her back, propping himself up and keeping her chest flushed against his. His other hand reached down, cold fingertips lightly teasing the side of her knee before moving upwards in random swirling patterns.

“Viktor,” Seika gasped, her voice a soft whine. She felt him press a kiss to her collarbone and smile against her skin then stilled, wanting to tease her and draw this out until she was begging and singing his name.

He’d opened his mouth opened to speak, then he felt it – the tug.

Vander's subconscious. Sky was working with him, alone. A silent request for him to return to work, to the responsibilities he had. The reminder was as startling as a bucket of cold water, pulling Viktor out of the moment completely. He still had work that needed to be done, and at least now he’d confirmed she wasn’t going anywhere.

Viktor sighed heavily as he lowered her and pushed himself up on his hands.

“We have to stop,” he replied, his gaze falling to the fresh marks on her neck. He watched her pause, an uncertain look on her face.

“Is it –”

“No,” he leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. “It is not you, you…” he chuckled, “you make it very hard to leave,” he clarified. “I am the problem here. I have been helping someone for the past few days; they require significant time and energy…”

He hadn’t even finished before Seika was already sitting up and fixing her clothes, gently urging him to sit up by placing her hand on his chest. She smiled warmly, huffing a laugh.

“Why didn’t you say so?” She asked and he stood, helping her to her feet.

“You should explore the commune on your own,” he replied, taking her hand in his, his thumb gently caressing the back of her hand. His free hand pulled some of her long dark hair forward over her shoulders, hiding her marked neck with the locks that now stretched down to her hips. “And there’s someone you should go find, she wants to see you,” Viktor added, smirking slightly. He lifted her hand, kissing the back of it gently before leading her out of the structure.

Viktor extended the hand that held hers in front of him, silently urging her onwards and stood, watching her go. He watched as she looked back, brows furrowed in curiosity and he gave her a full-blown smirk.

“I believe her name was Vi,” Viktor replied. He watched her face swell with emotion and she nodded, beaming up at him. His eyes watched her take a few strides before she turned suddenly.

“Oh, and Vik –” she’d spoken loudly as she turned, then found herself surprised when he hadn’t moved. He’d been watching her leave and she smiled, chuckling softly as she spoke softer the second time around. “Viktor?”

“Yes, Seika?” He asked, resting comfortably against his walking stick as he watched her.

Her eyes shifted, looking up and down the familiar stick and she smiled, her gaze finding his again.

“I didn’t get to say it when I left last time… I love you,” she said softly.

For a moment, Viktor was taken aback. The birds twittered and chirped around them, the sun raining down on her and he could not help but admire her, in commune clothing, rosy-lipped with pink cheeks.

“And I love you,” Viktor replied softly, his eyes glassing over slightly. He caught her warm smile and watched her walk away. There was an ache within him, a discomfort within his torso that radiated outwards like a fizzling spark. He realized he didn’t like goodbyes with her. It always felt like all their goodbyes extended on forever before he saw her again.

He watched until she was completely out of view, now integrating with the commune and that brought a small smile to his face as he turned inside to return to Vander.

…

The commune was brimming with life; traffic flowed along the pathways and people went about their day.

Seika took a deep breath, her eyes wandering the sight in front of her. It was still a shock that she was in the Undercity. She took her time, wandering through the commune and gazing upon the peaceful refuge this once dour dark area had become.

It was harmonious… Though Seika couldn’t shake away the unsettling feeling in her bones. Perhaps it was because she knew of what was to come…

The realization hit Seika like a gut punch, agonizing and deeply internal. She hated it. Hated that she couldn’t stop what was to come, hated that she’d have to pull all of this from him. Seika wandered, weaving throughout the commune, occasionally greeting those around her. It was for a few hours that she wandered, navigating and learning the ins and outs of the commune.

Seika spoke to those who had found refuge within the warm inviting place. She learned their names, their stories and when she’d finished, she’d returned back to the spherical structure. Viktor was within, floating above the ground with his legs crossed as strands of light at the apertures along his spine connected him to parts of the spherical structure. She’d been surprised at the sight, almost in awe at how natural he looked, how peaceful he was in his transcendence.

In the end, she let him be, stepping outside the spherical structure and sliding against the wall until she sat down with a soft sigh, unaware of the chaos brewing within the commune.

Chapter Text

Seika had expected many things as she sat and watched the commune. Viktor to finish his work and meet her outside, Vi to appear out of nowhere with either a lecture, a hug, or both, even some of the kids in the commune running to ask her questions, but not this…

She stood, watching as one of the young boys of the commune walked up the slight hill, hand gently guiding Jayce up towards Viktor's refuge. Jayce looked just as he had in the other world; he hadn’t changed, or showered, he probably hadn’t even eaten… But he looked more… menacing, more intense.

Jayce stiffened when he saw Seika, eyes wide as his grip on his Mercury Hammer tightened. She looked like them, like she was assimilating and she saw his response, immediately stretching her hands forward in placation.

“Jayce,” Seika said softly. She knew what he was reading into, how he thought Viktor had changed her into one of them. “I’m still me,” she whispered and he relaxed some, his eyes focused on her plain forehead and bare limbs. “He fed me, clothed me… is all…”

His footsteps were measured and heavy, his hand released from the child’s when he stood at the opening of the sphere. His head turned slightly, catching Seika’s gaze and he watched her face partially break.

“I… I thought I had more time,” she whispered, her hand snaking into her pocket, squeezing the maroon tie she’d kept from when she’d cleaned up. “Do we really…?” She whispered, taking a step towards him, teeth gritted between barely parted lips as she held back her emotions.

The look he gave her was scathing, though she didn’t take it personally as he lowered his hammer, using that same arm to pull her into a silent hug. He was breathing hard, chest moving against her forehead as she rested against him, eyes closed. The hand on her lower back shook slightly and she realized he was struggling with this as much as she was, only he was holding it together better.

“This is the way it has to be…” He said softly.

Seika felt him pull away, looking up and he gave her one last look, softer than the previous, before slipping past and walking inside. Her feet swiveled as she turned, watching before following after him, a lump caught in her throat and a rock weighing down her stomach. She swallowed, exhaling shakily as her heart raced in her chest.

Jayce’s head turned as he studied the foreign space, before his gaze lifted to Viktor; floating in his trance, as he’d been for the past two hours. His eyes widened in shock, mouth parting as he stared up at Viktor, the man before him unrecognizable as the partner and co-inventor of Hextech that Jayce knew him as.

Viktor's eyelids and lashes twitched with movement, his eyes moving behind them as he continued his work within the astral plane.

Seika heard the soft sound of glass shattering somewhere in the commune, but her focus was on Jayce. She watched his back, then let her gaze lift to Viktor. Then she heard it again, this time a startingly loud crash of cracking glass and creaking metal. Her head swiveled, surprise engrossing her features before looking back to Jayce. He hadn’t heard it, hadn’t even acknowledged it as Viktor's eyes opened, pupils dilating as he found Seika and Jayce standing before him.

Jayce clenched his Mercury Hammer, raising it, the rune in his left wrist lighting up as it powered the weapon. Muscular arms lifted the heavy piece of equipment, pointing the end up at Viktor as he pulled the lever, the mechanism unlocking as a multitude of swirling colors condensed within it, the hammer preparing itself to fire.

The room was doused in a bluish hue of light, paling every surface it touched and Seika took a hesitant step forward, her gaze shifting between Jayce and Viktor. She opened her mouth but nothing left her lips as her brows furrowed and she closed her eyes, head turning away.

In the astral plane, Vander had shifted, his subconscious drastically altering. It’d pulled Viktor from his work and he’d planned to see what had caused such a disturbance, but when he’d opened his eyes…

Seika and Jayce stood before him, Jayce with an altered version of his Mercury Hammer, and Seika… His kaleidoscope eyes shifted between them in surprise and then Seika finally looked up at him, obviously pained but she made no move to stop Jayce. He’d hardly had a moment to register what was happening before a massive bolt of rainbow-hued magic shot through his chest. The shot was strong, so strong it continued through the Herald, through the roof, and up into the air before dissipating into nothingness.

In an instant, the yellow warmth of the commune descended into a cold eerie blue. The happiness and peace suffocating beneath the depths of the haunting hues.

Seika gasped, eyes wide and mouth open in horror as the attack had forced Viktor back into the wall, his body crumbling down the sloped side. His figure slumped weakly against the side; head tilted slightly to the left to view them.

Jayce locked the Mercury Hammer with loud clunks, his breaths escaping him in great big puffs.

Seika slipped past him, the earlier noise within the commune forgotten as she knelt down, hands shaking fiercely as she found his cheeks. She eyed the gaping hole in his chest, her breath flowing in and out of her lungs in fast panicked breaths. Little bits of magic fluttered out, strings of arcane webbing connecting close bits of metallic flesh to its neighboring metallic fibers.

She was babbling, she didn’t even know what, but she watched as his eyes lifted from Jayce, then to her; the confusion and betrayal swirling in their depths broke Seika, tears streaming down her cheeks as she let out a broken sob. Her hands held his face and after a few quick shaky breaths, he exhaled, the colors of his eyes dulling as his hand collapsed with a loud metallic thunk.

Everything was silent beyond the soft clatter of the sprocket he’d been keeping on his person, the sphere with the back half of its roof in pieces, those chunks hovering midair, echoed with the metallic rattle of the half-corroded sprocket as rolled along the floor.

Jayce paused, watching as Seika spoke again. She was apologizing, whispering words of her feelings and he looked away, brows furrowed. There was a stillness that’d overtaken the commune.

Silence.

Then…

Everyone was screaming. Wailing screeches and shrieks that echoed throughout the once peaceful community. The sound was deafening, though Seika appeared to not realize, still focusing on Viktor. He used his hammer to hook around her front, yanking her back and up into him as he all but dragged her from the building.

Jayce stumbled out of the doorway, grateful that she’d stopped fighting him at least, her face pressed into his chest. The screaming continued, piercing their ears, and Seika finally heard it, the high-pitched sound finally cutting through her haze. She opened her eyes, stumbling out of his arms and forward as she watched the commune die.

Gone was the warm light, friendly conversations, and peacefulness. In its stead; bleak agony.

Jayce hurried forth, grabbing her hand and tugging her along. She looked around as she hurried after him, letting him guide her forward as she stared in horror at those in the community she’d been trying to get to know. She felt sick, violent heaves of her stomach overtaking her belly that she just barely managed to keep down. It was only when they’d cleared the empty area around the sphere and stepped onto a path that she’d pulled her hand from Jayce’s grasp.

By the time he’d turned his head back, she was shifting and striding forward. Her feline paws dug into the dirt as she sprinted forward ahead of him. She had to leave, to escape this hell she’d helped create from the destruction of paradise; she’d smiled and spoken to them before she’d helped kill these people.

Despite knowing the future and what was to come, she couldn’t stomach enduring it at this moment, on top of everything else. So, she led them forward, pushing through her grief as her furred cheeks grew wet with tears.

And then finally… the screams stopped. A loud roar echoed after, its suddenness causing both Seika and Jayce to jerk in surprise. They turned towards one another and Jayce motioned his head onward towards Piltover. Seika paused, leaning backwards slightly and Jayce glared down at her, the silent communication passing through them. A deadlock.

“Jayce, I have to find Vi,” Seika finally said. “She’s here.”

Jayce sighed, holding back from rolling his eyes. They didn’t have time for this.

An army of footsteps treaded nearby and the pair looked, watching as Noxian shoulders walked through the commune before stopping.

“Shit,” he swore as he clenched his free fist, “we have move fast.”

…

Viktor stood within the astral plane; his face hardened as his physical body ceased functioning – fizzling out until the electrical currents that ran through that form died. Jayce had killed him. Murdered him in cold blood. And Seika… Seika had watched.

She’d attempted to coddle him, begging and pleading with tears – perhaps to satiate her own guilt after such a deception.

And now his commune was lifeless, his community deceased; their lives had been taken from them, because of them.

He had failed in achieving his dreams, his attachments to these people ruining any chance he had of helping the Undercity. They lead to this downfall, and will lead to more.

An incessant cycle of bad choices, of violence and anger. They needed to be cured of such things, his own human emotions included. His emotions were worthless to him and so his mind rejected the idea of Jayce and Seika. He would help them see, they would understand and yes, they would join him.

For the Glorious Evolution.

…

Seika bounded forward, her actions in agreement as Jayce hurried after her. She slipped around the front side of the soldiers, going back in the direction they’d came and veering off slightly to the right. She weaved through the huts, past bodies, forgotten fires, and abandoned stalls.

Beastly roars and growls echoed from a spot in the commune; the area lit by something exuding hot red orange light. It brightened for a moment, an agonizing wailing bestial scream echoing from the square.

Seika had raced ahead, the soft sounds of squelching and snarling urging her forward. She leapt into a pathway, stopping at the sight of a massive beast standing in the distance, liquid fire dripping from his mouth and eyes. He was coated in blood, lava, and metal, with a metallic attachment on his back, green liquid sloshing within clear cylinder connected to the beast itself. She hurried forward, paws racing down the pathway just as the beast’s paws slashed down at its victim. Metal claws sliced deep into his flesh with an audible wet noise. The blades attached to its fingers carved deep, cutting through its victims flesh with ease.

Seika stopped short of the pathway leading towards the little square as she peered forward. The man, a Noxian based on his armor, was almost unrecognizable from the distance, but the decorations on his face left Seika remembering the Noxian soldier from when Ambessa Medarda had held her captive.

The beast collapsed to his front hands; its body hunched over in agony. Seika barely caught a lone figure standing in the building just past the creature; his lone form stark against the flames around him. The beast snarled, pulling Seika’s focus as she shifted her attention to her right.

She moved back, hurrying back the way she’d came upon spotting Caitlyn, and a nearly unrecognizable Vi.

Metal tinged in the air as a hoard of war cry’s erupted, the Noxian soldiers rushing forward.

I understand now.

Chaos ensued as the army of soldiers rushed forward, glaives raised to attack. Their footsteps practically shook the ground, their war cry’s clashing with the sound of the flames crackling.

The message hidden within the pattern.

The Noxian army split, half continuing forward towards the beast who roared in response, the viscous lava exiting it splattering nearby and igniting the rustic buildings of the commune.

The reason for our failures in the commune.

Seika dashed forward when the army descended on the beast, her attention on the other half of the army that she moved, tackling one of the Noxian soldiers on the backline, her jaws clamping around his clothed throat and ripping upward.

The doctor was right.

Blood gushed upwards in a geyser from his neck., Garbled screams escaped his parted jaws as his hands clawed hopelessly at his throat, his noises warbling until he bubbled into silence.

It’s inescapable.

Her focus shifted, jaws lashing out at the nearest armored leg, teeth ripping at a mans hamstring before clamping her jaws around his hip, yanking his body onto his comrades.

Humanity.

Her jaws closed the shaft of the mans glaive when he attempted to stab her before one of her paws lashed out, catching the man in the throat.

Our very essence.

Within the cluster of soldiers, Vi and Jinx fought their way out, Vi punching and kicking her way through while the latter fired her pistol, the crystal tip lighting up with each shot.

Our emotions…

Caitlyn’s rifle echoed with each shot, bullets cutting through the air and penetrating through thick Noxian metal armor as the commune burned around them.

Rage.

Seika had turned towards them, nearly stilling as her eyes widened when she spotted Jinx, but the thudding of boots and simultaneous war cry had her shifting her focus away.

Compassion.

A seething aggression coursed through her as she tackled the soldier running towards her, her maw biting the width of his throat with two paws pressed against his chest, and pulling until she heard the crack of his neck snapping.

Hate.

Seika continued taking down soldiers, making her way towards Jinx, jaws parted and dripping with blood as violent angry thoughts flooded her mind.

Two sides of the same coin.

Blue light filled her eyes again, the rune in her side crackling to life, blue bolts erupting from it and scattering to nothingness on the blood drenched soil.

Inextricably bound.

Seika suddenly dashed forward, a direct line towards Jinx now open. Vi’s grunts echoed beyond her, hardly heard as Seika moved, eyes focused on Jinx as she fired at another soldier, oblivious to the Wildclaw’s presence.

And then Vi yelled in pain and Seika stilled, head turning towards Vi. She watched the fighter crumble from the slice of a Noxian glaive, collapsing to her hands and knees. The blue light in her eyes had disappeared, her gaze solely on the boxer.

Seika bolted past the trio as a soldier sprinted towards the downed fighter with his glaive raised. The Wildclaw met him, paws raised as she leapt at him, tackling him to the ground and pressing both paws onto the side of his masked head, forcing it down into the dirt until it crunched into his skull.

As Seika turned around, she witnessed both Caitlyn and Jinx both rushed towards Vi, the latter sprinting past and towards the beast.

“Caitlyn!” She called out as she hurried forward, stopping at Vi as Caitlyn knelt down to the woman’s level.

“Seika?!” Caitlyn exclaimed in surprise, meeting the Wildclaw’s gaze.

“Seika,” Vi huffed, gazing up at the two girls, “shit the crews all together again,” she groaned with a grimacing half-smile as Caitlyn helped her to her feet. When Vi was on two feet, one arm slung over Caitlyn’s shoulder, the trio turned, watching the beast fight the Noxian soldiers.

Jinx had somehow ended up on the ground, nearly unconscious based on the way she failed to lift herself up. Thudding footsteps echoed behind and Seika watched as a few straggling Noxian soldiers ran past them, their focus more on the creature than group.

Then a blur. A race of a small shape sprinting forward, little goodies she’d hidden in her belt pouch now clutched in her hands held to her chest as a small little girl ran towards Jinx and the beast.

Seika huffed softly, the movement of the child catching her eye as she watched the little girl. A brightly decorated hat donned her head, tips of dyed blue hair peeking out, with purple pants and a black top. Seika’s gaze flicked between Jinx and the girl as she took a step forward, then another as the little girl neared Jinx.

The little girl ran, extending her stride to jump onto a bloodied forgotten Noxian shield, her little body flying through the air for a moment before she landed, continuing to run forward.

Jinx had finally found the strength to sit up after Vander’s backhand. She pressed a palm flat against the dirt, the other over the aching bruise from where Vander’s lashing had hit her. She blinked, raising her head and Isha ran past, right hand clutched to her chest. Jinx’s head turned, eyes widening in shock before panic overtook her features as Isha continued towards Vander and the Noxian soldiers.

Seika watched as the little girl slid on the ground, picking up a pistol and then she was there, crouching right beneath the beast, it’s back to her. Her legs were moving, pushing herself forward towards the child, her mind short-circuiting for a second as she saw that girl she’d killed, her heart aching to save her.

Jinx watched in terror as Isha forced three gemstones into the pistols chamber. She reacted, stumbling to her feet and rushing forward, the girl screaming as the smile child looked her way, finger gunning her with a smile.

Seika sprinted forward, the pistol in the child’s hand crackling with magic. Her heart pounded in her ears, mind buzzing with activity as she pushed herself. The rune at her side crackled, glowing and remain lit as she ran forward.

STOP!

Seika hallucinated and slid to a stop, back arching as she braced and her nails scrabbled for purchase against the ground. Her brain fizzled, muscles tensing up against her will as she stilled and her vision blurred for the slightest of moments. Suddenly Vi appeared out of nowhere, grabbing Jinx and pulling her back.

The monster reacted to Jinx’s screams, roaring and snarling with gaping fiery jaws as Seika watched the little girl raise the pistol upwards and pull the trigger.

Seika’s body was thrown back from the force, her eyes only seeing white light as the pistol exploded, the gemstones within it reacting with one another and detonating.

That which inspires us to our greatest good…

Then she saw black as her body crashed into the ground and rolled to a stop.

Is also the cause of our greatest evil.

Chapter Text

Get up.

Get. Up.

“Seika, you have to get up!”

Jayce’s hand on her first shoulder and voice pulled her from her unconsciousness as she came to. Fire crackled around them, smoke clogging the air and she recollected the situation they were in – her memories caught in a haze. She jolted awake, rolling onto her feet and standing, albeit shakily.

Her vision was blurred, but she blinked a few times and shook her head until it cleared. Vi was unconscious and Jinx appeared to be waking. When Jinx fully sat up, registering Vi’s status, she moved.

“Vi, Vi!” She exclaimed, hands on the boxer’s shoulders, trying to wake her. Caitlyn was already moving to carry the boxer now struggling to lift her and with Jayce and his leg in his current state…

Seika noticed she felt better. The explosion had knocked her back at least 40 feet and slammed her into the ground, but she felt comfortable despite knowing her body wasn’t completely healed yet. The why didn’t matter, what did though was she could use that.

“Let me carry her,” Seika said, bounding over.

Jayce had followed Seika, watching Caitlyn and Jinx maneuver Vi’s body onto the Wildclaw’s back and not a moment too soon they were off, hurrying away from the decimated Noxian army, back through the devastated commune, and towards Piltover. Jayce took them back the way he’d came, and when they reached the entry point, Seika paused, her gaze turning back to look at the spherical structure.

“Viktor…” She mumbled softly with a pained gaze before Vi groaned, taking her attention. Seika continued, following Jayce through the Undercity and up into Piltover.

The Enforcer response was immediate when they hit topside as vehicles were called to bring the recently-missing Councilor, and city’s General back towards safety and more importantly, towards medical help.

“I surrender,” Jinx mumbled suddenly in the chaos, Vi’s gauntlets in her hands – though Seika hadn’t even realized she’d retrieved them. There hadn’t even been a moment to do anything before the girl was cuffed and dragged away.

“Put her in the bunker, I’ll decide what to do with her,” Caitlyn commanded the nearest Enforcer, that officer nodding and saluting before hurrying off after Jinx and the Enforcers guarding the newest prisoner of Piltover.

Time moved fast for Seika as Caitlyn split with Vi, the Piltovan glancing back towards the feline twice before leaving.

And then there was Seika.

Seika stood still and uncertain. She hadn’t gotten this far in her plans. Cecil was gone, Viktor was too and so she remained unmoving, a lone mage lost in the crowd as the exhausted felid watched the mass chaos unfold. Jayce directed a few of the Enforcers, needing them to locate the top members of important houses and those who had prevalence in the Undercity.

Seika let her gaze wander the city, its crisp clean goldenness a contrast of the dirty Piltover she’d seen in the other world. She heard Jayce call her name and turned her eyes to him.

“Come on,” he said nodding his head towards a recently arrived vehicle. Jayce was holding the door open, his eyes studying the feline and so she padded over, crawling up into the vehicle. It groaned softly under the weight of the Wildclaw, but she curled up tightly on the narrow floor, resting her chin on the seat as she wedged herself into the tight space.

Jayce followed after her, taking the seat next to her as he closed the door.

Silence.

To Jayce, it was a relief, a moment of stillness where he could ground himself and remind himself that he was home. His mother, Mel, Caitlyn, the important people in his life were here – they hadn’t been taken from.

For Seika however, the silence was agony. She continued to hear the screams. She’d had conversations with those people, knew some of their names, now all that she had left was shrieks of their torment.

Her eyes closed as she focused on the vehicle; the rumbling beneath her as it carried them up the street, the soft mechanical purr from the engine at its front. They drove through the city for a little while before Jayce had them stop. He stepped out, holding the door open for Seika who slinked out.

They were in one of the upper neighborhoods, below Caitlyn’s, but high enough for someone important. Seika gazed around the street as the car pulled away before turning towards the house they’d stopped in front of.

A wrought iron gate stood before them, pillared on both sides with stone and decorated with the Talis hammer. Jayce stepped through the gates, the metal squeaking softly, and he strode forward confidently like the place was his own and Seika followed him inside.

“Is this your home?” She asked softly, ears flattened slightly in uncertainty as her gaze flitted around.

“No,” he paused, knocking on the beautiful ornate wooden door, that too donning the same house token. He turned back, watching Seika perk up at the soft noise within the residence. “It’s my moms,” he added just as she opened the door.

He turned to face her, watching the older woman gasp and rush forward. “Jayce, oh gods where have you been?” She exclaimed, hands at his cheeks, inspecting him. He all but collapsed into her arms, face pressing against her shoulder as he embraced her tightly, shaking.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you,” Seika heard him say and she took a hesitant step back, feeling like an intruder on a private moment. She watched as he lifted his head, his mother still doting on him with worry and Seika watched the unfamiliar scene. The closeness of a parent and child and she smiled internally at the slight jealousy that clogged the veins and arteries of her heart. It’d dissipate, but the sting of what one has lost is often an aching wound that refuses to heal.

“Can we stay, just for tonight” Jayce asked.

“Foolish child, you never need to ask, this is your home Jayce,” his mother, the older woman with similarly tanned skin and his dark hair murmured warmly. “Is Viktor here?” She asked, looking past then stumbling back with a gasp, pulling Jayce back inside with her.

“Jayce, a Wildclaw! In Piltover!” She exclaimed, rushing to close the door as Seika backed up, eyes wide.

Jayce stepped away from his distressed mother, hands raised to calm the elder woman.

“Mom, mom, it’s okay, she’s with me,” and he watched her pause, gaze shifting between the wild ferocious animal she’d known to wander the north that often slaughtered everything in their path.

“This is Seika, she’s a mage,” he said softly, looking towards her, then back to his mom. “And she’s a friend of mine, of Heimerdingers. She’s just…”

“Tired,” Seika said softly after a long moment of silence. Her eyes fell towards the ground then lifted again. The older woman’s face had shifted, noticeably more relaxed as she nodded.

“Come on then, both of you,” she said softly, moving to hold open the door. Jayce walked in first, slipping off dirty boots at the door and Seika followed, steps soft and intentional as she slowly made her way inside, eyes lifting to study the inside.

Unlike the Kiramman residence, the Talis residence was homier; something about it was warmer and her shoulder sagged almost naturally at the gentle heat within its walls. Jayce’s mother closed the door behind her softly and Seika’s head turned, catching the older woman’s still unsure gaze.

“Seika, was it?” The woman spoke and Seika nodded, “I am Ximena, Jayce’s mother,” she knelt down slightly, her gaze wandering to the Wildclaws jaws, sharp teeth hidden behind fur and lips.

“It is nice to meet you,” Seika replied softly, watching Ximena focus on her teeth. The older woman caught herself, eyes fleeting back up to the felid’s blue irises. She gave the mage a smile and stood.

“Come, you both must be hungry,” she said, ushering them both further into the house. “And you, go clean up,” Ximena said with a slight scrunch of her nose.

Jayce’s face was distant, but he caught his mother’s jest and looked up, nodding as he exhaled a laugh. He gave a look back to Seika before walking off down the hallway to her left. When he disappeared, Seika looked towards Ximena who led her into a living area. From the living area opened up into a small eating nook right off a main dining room and a well thought out kitchen where the scent of warm broth wafted from.

Seika’s footsteps were light as she followed Ximena through the living area. She strode into the kitchen, shifting through cupboards to retrieve mugs and bowls. The Wildclaw watched intently as the older woman moved around her kitchen, dishing up bowls of rich stew with slices of bread and warmed honey tea. As she cooked, the sound of running water just barely hummed, reverberating down the hallways. Her haunches lowered, shoulders relaxing at the sound that surrounded her, the life she was present in.

The silence was gone, though that wasn’t the only thing…

Ximena had noticed the predators face shift after it sat, the woman wondering if a mage really was hidden within the depths of such a creature. Then she paused; how odd it was to witness such a vicious creature looking so dejected.

Soft tinkling of metal hinted at Ximena stirring the stew, though Seika didn’t bother looking towards the old woman as her footsteps moved around the kitchen. Her gaze drifted downwards towards the floor.

The commune… Viktor… She’d known it needed to happen, but it didn’t mitigate the pain and the guilt.

Seika blinked once slowly and little short-heeled shoes stepped into her vision as Ximena crouched down in front of her. She lifted her head, gaze raising to the older woman. Seika watched as Ximena’s hand moved slowly, then to her cheek.

The Wildclaw stiffened slightly at the touch but then Ximena gently began petting the other side of her head, her thumb gently rubbing the brow bone above her eye. She let her eyes close, her head sinking slightly into the older woman’s warm maternal affection.

“All will be well,” Ximena murmured softly, smiling as the feline relaxed noticeably until little wet tears began dripping into her fur. Her head tilted slightly, wiping away tears as she comforted the mage.

Jayce’s footsteps were soft when he entered the room, leaning against the entryway into the kitchen with damp hair and fresh clothes. He was silent, his gaze softening on Seika and his mother who seemed to be helping calm her down.

“We should eat,” Jayce said softly, watching Seika perk up slightly and nod. His gaze didn’t leave her as he watched her shift back, only looking away at the commune clothing she still wore, though his attention was pulled right back as his mother stepped forward, doting on the girl.

“Come, come, sit,” Ximena practically herded Seika into the dining room to the table, placing down a bowl of stew and a slice of bread in front of her. Jayce had retrieved the mugs from the kitchen, depositing them at each seat as he took the chair across from Seika. Ximena returned a moment later with Jayce’s bowl. She sat next to Jayce, watching the two scarf down their food.

Seika glanced up, catching Ximena’s gaze in the middle of her taking a large spoonful of stew, pilled high with meat and veggies.

“I’m sorry,” she said softly, trying to remember her manners. Ximena instantly shook her head as she stood, patting Jayce’s shoulder.

“No child, please, eat,” she said, “as much as you’d like,” Ximena added before walking off into the kitchen.

Seika felt her chest clench a little bit; how long had it felt to have a maternal figure worry about her? And even now, memories of her own mother were limited. Movement in Seika’s peripherals caught her focus as she found Ximena lowering another pair of bowls in front of both her and Jayce.

“Not too much,” Jayce said seriously, already switching out his bowl. Seika paused for a moment, her spoon stilling in the air.

“Jayce,” Ximena moved to chastise him but he shook his head.

“And no bread,” he added, taking the bread from Seika’s other hand and dropping it on the plate before moving both plates towards his mother. “It’s been too long, start small and with soup. Any more than that could lead to refeeding syndrome. Just soup,” he confirmed, shifting back to his food and Ximena sighed, gently rubbing Seika’s shoulder.

“You heard the scientist I’m afraid,” she said and stepped back into the kitchen with the plate of abandoned bread; Seika suddenly had a feeling that a lot of conversations went this way between them too. She smiled, huffing a laugh as she took her bite and the man looked up, a brow raised.

“Refeeding Syndrome huh? Well, at least I can officially confirm that you’re not an idiot,” Seika murmured in reply and Jayce snorted a laugh, shaking his head as the pair resumed eating. Silence settled between them, the occasional clink of silverware against dishes before Seika finally slid half of the remaining second bowl away from her, settling back with a soft sigh.

Her eyes focused on the tablecloth, staring as she let herself get lost in her thoughts. It felt wrong. Sitting here, having a meal, trying to pretend everything was normal. Her elbow moved to rest on the tabletop, Jayce glancing up briefly before looking back to his food.

After finishing another bite, Jayce watched her rest her chin on her hand, eyes half open as she shifted her weight in her seat. He paused, his spoon settling in his soup before he sighed softly. Footsteps from his right pulled his gaze as his mother returned. She stepped forward, her left hand, clad with those two metallic fingertips, gently gripped the still full mug of tea and moved it closer to the distracted mage.

“Thank you,” Seika said upon realizing, giving the older woman a small smile as she lifted the mug, blowing on it a few times. She took a sip, the sweet warmth of the tea soothing, that warmth spreading through her torso and down her extremities. A memory of the past, of sweet milk and Viktor’s charm, of warm days and warmer touches.

Seika gritted her teeth, that guilt welling up in her again and she took a big swig of the tea, the hot liquid scorching her tongue, pulling her up from the degressions of her own consciousness.

“You should rest, I’ll fetch you tomorrow,” Jayce spoke up, glancing towards the clock that read just after four. He finished his tea, wincing a cool breath into his flaming mouth as he stood.

“Wait, where are you going?” Seika asked, brows furrowing as she stiffened.

“I’m going to visit a doctor and have them check out my leg, I’ll also have one sent here to check you out. Afterwards, I’ll be going to the Academy; Mel’s gone – I was informed that she’d disappeared sometime around when I did and I’m going to go see if I can track her down or at least reach out to a few contacts in Noxus,” Jayce explained, gripping the back of the seat.

“I’m okay,” Seika replied quickly to his offer; the last thing she wanted was someone poking and prodding her. She watched as Jayce held her gaze, studying her before he nodded in affirmation.

“I’ll be back later,” he stepped up to Ximena, giving the woman a quick kiss on the cheek, before leaving. Ximena sighed softly; arms loosely crossed.

“He’s always worked himself so hard,” she said aloud, still watching the door he’d disappeared beyond. “Even when he was a child, he was always so diligent,” she continued, looking back towards Seika with a warm smile on her face. “The sweetest most charming young man,” the older woman continued.

“He’s a good man,” Seika agreed truthfully, a small smile on her face. Seika finished her tea and stood, pushing in her chair.

“Come, let me show you to your room,” Ximena murmured, moving to rest her hand on the girls back, guiding her out of the kitchen.

Seika melted slightly into the woman’s kind side hug until she led her towards the guest bedroom. A small stained-glass window above a large window faced the backyard gardens of the house and the sunlight above cast the room in hues of colors. She stepped inside, taking slow steps to the bed. The blanket was soft, and the mattress sunk beneath her.

By all other means it was a normal room, but right now, Seika felt at ease, surrounded by life and color and nature. It was a beautiful room.

Ximena smiled warmly from the doorway before she spoke.

“The washroom is just across the hall; towels can be found in the cupboard. Please don’t hesitate to call me if you need anything Seika,” she finished before closing the door.

Chapter Text

The room was still and silent, doused in color and light. Seika stared, slight half blinks breaking an otherwise motionless statue. The silence, the normalcy was suffocating.

Seika took a deep breath.

And held. Until her lungs burned and she couldn’t hold it any longer. She released her breath and panted softly.

Then she did it again, and again, until she grew dizzy and fell back onto the bed, the room swirling before her. A nightmare. That’s all this was. She’d wake up and be back and…

The room stilled. The same colors dancing on the ceiling and wall, same leaves brushing against the window with every breath of breeze, same existence of a world beyond this room. Seika felt her chest tighten with emotion, her body stiffening in response as she took in another breath.

You can do that as many times as you’d like; your reality won’t change.

Seika heard a voice say in her own mind, a voice very much not hers. She exhaled, the breath flooding from her lips as she inhaled normally.

“What?” She said softly in disbelief, eyes searching the ceiling above her as if it held answers.

Suffocation by holding one’s breath is a rather interesting method to use when attempting to wake yourself from a dream though, so I suppose props to your creativity.

The voice was androgynous, a hybridization of inflection and lilting, fluid like honey, and neutral but undeniably audacious.

So, what now? Cry and wait for the end of the world?

“So, I did hear you back in the commune…” Seika murmured with wide eyes, hands moving down to the World Rune in her side. “I thought I’d hallucinated it,” she murmured “especially since you hadn’t said anything after all this time…”

I was still in the midst of… recovering.

“How are you here?” Seika asked softly. “You should be…” her brows furrowed slightly, “wherever Ryze hid you.”

Yes, well, as comfortable as a stuffy magic-dampening petricite cage is, I was alas forced to act. For that, you can only blame yourself.

“Me?” Seika said louder than she’d intended to, sitting up in surprise before freezing and listening. When she heard nothing beyond her room, she continued. “Me?” She said much softer, “how was any of this my fault?”

Contrary to the ego of mortals, there’s this astonishingly familiar concept you all experience called death; the same concept you nearly experienced firsthand. How many bullets and knife wounds did you think you could take? Just how much did you think could your body handle before it gave out?

Seika winced slightly, sidestepping to the small chair at the edge of the window and dragging it across the floor. She sat right in front of the window. Curling her legs up onto the chair, her heels planted against the seats edge.

“You’re talking about the Undercity…” Seika murmured, “when I was turning to stone...”

Oh good, nice to see Ryze didn’t raise a complete idiot.

“Ryze himself is an idiot,” she mumbled in reply, gazing outside.

An anxious, braggadocious, fitful mage, the World Rune agreed and the mage scoffed a laugh, though there wasn’t a smile on her face as her eyes lifted up towards the blue sky.

“So, I was dying?” Seika clarified. “But then why change me? Why did you rid me of my mental capabilities – I hurt people,” Seika huffed, brows furrowed as she chewed at her lower lip.

Silence. Then a soft….

An unintentional consequence of our coalescence... The least I could do was remove you from your environment in that state…

Seika was silent, her hand moving to rest on the World Rune lit beneath the commune clothing she wore. She pulled Viktor’s tie from her pocket, fussing with it as she remained silent. The soft silk grazed her knuckles as she swirled the fabric between her fingers.

“Ryze is going to be pissed…” Seika said softly after a moment. Pissed wasn’t even accurate. There was a decent chance he’d kill her if he saw her again, she was exactly like… Her head tilted downward to the fleshy fingers peeking out between hints of dirtied scuffed maroon. Soft. Warm. Alive. Human.

“If we’ve bonded, then how am I… How am I not…”

Like Brand?

Seika nodded silently.

That question is easier to answer than you think. The real question here, lies in why in the hell in the past two hundred years the blue man kept me locked away you’ve been unable to do anything beyond the meager shifting you’ve done since before you could read written language?

Seika winced at the obvious disappointment in the World Runes voice, her lips pulling back in a grimace.

He taught you nothing? Nothing? Not a single thing?

“I… Am I even capable of doing anything else?” Seika asked, her gaze falling towards the flowers out in the garden.

There was a sputtering noise, a pure release of exasperation and disbelief. The sound of it was almost comical, had Seika not been caught off guard by the newest addition to her mental space.

Is that all you can do – by the gods…

Its irritation was obvious; heavy and intense, still pillared by that same disappointment. She realized that feeling didn’t come from within her, but rather rippled out from the rune itself, its feelings known through their shared body of hers. It was a dual-streaming river, feelings flowing from it to her and from her to it – a shared existence in the same space, with two minds, two voices, and two sets of feelings.

“I can only change into a Wildclaw now,” Seika murmured softly, leaning back in the seat, her head falling back. “Is that what my life will be? I just run around as a big cat?”

An intentional decision in hopes to remediate your stunted learning. Though, if you want to waste your life catching mice, sunbathing, and licking your own ass, then sure.

Dismissal. Then a pause.

I hadn’t expected you’d grow up to be so disappointing though.

There it was again. That displeasure that made her feel sick. She swallowed, fists clenching as she glared, her gaze still focused outside.

“Perhaps it’s your powers that are disappointing,” Seika words bit aggressively into the silence.

Then, oddly enough, a laugh. The World Rune was laughing.

The dizziness Seika had felt earlier suddenly exploded a hundred-fold, her head tilting back and she felt like she was falling. Everything around her grew dark then in a blink it was light and she stood in white nothingness. She turned, looking around her and when she found nothing, she spoke.

“What is this? Where did you bring me?” Seika asked, fists clenching at her side as her gaze fleeted hastily around the stretch of blankness.

This is you… and well... It seems you have a habit of avoiding important things. Even now, after all this time, you’re still trapped? How debilitating to the mortal mind it must be to feel like a part of you is missing.

Seika shook her head in confusion, her vision spinning again until it and she stopped, a tree manifesting before her with a massive swollen trunk, arching boughs each full of heavy thick green leaves. This kind of tree only grew in one place, that much Seika knew. The place she’d grown up in, where her parents had taught her to identify danger, find food, seek fresh water; where she’d return after a long day to a warm bed full of sleepy kid siblings.

The grass suddenly displayed itself, its appearance rippling out from the tree as the white landscape around her shifted, and within a split second, she was standing in the jungles of Ixtal.

Seika took in a shaky exhale, eyes flitting around trees.

“Not here…” she said softly, stepping back towards the tree.

Humans haven’t ever favored facing what they do not want to.

Bugs buzzed and birds chirped. Somewhere within the jungle, a squeal of a boar echoed before ceasing. Behind every tree, beneath every rock was death in some form. The other Viktor's words rang true and Seika leaned against the large tree, sliding down it until she was curled up at its base.

“Was he right? Was I always meant to die?” Seika asked. Silence.

I won’t answer your questions.

Seika’s brows furrowed and she stood.

“You’re no different than Ryze then,” she scoffed, “Like mage, like rune,” Seika hissed in insult as she stalked off. Both anger and fear flooded her system as she walked on, stepping through the unfamiliar jungle. She walked and walked until she spotted something face down in the bushes and froze. Her legs moved slow; footsteps tender as she neared the small figure. The child was short, messy black hair down to its mid-back and she paused again.

Her heart rose and fell in quick succession as her hand extended, reaching for the shoulder, then, she flipped the body, recoiling and stumbling back.

Her. Undeniably eight-year-old her.

Her eyes were open, bulbous and swollen with opaque irises, tongue filling her mouth and spilling past her lips and cheeks engorged with thick stagnant blood. Seika’s eyes fell, drifting along the astonishing number of insect stings that littered her body. A painful terrifying death.

A silent tear rolled down her cheek, then another.

“W-Why are you showing me this?” Seika whispered.

The jungle responded with its usual noise and nothing more. Then the body twitched and Seika bolted, sprinting through the trees. She tripped, stumbling into a small clearing and looked up, gasping in horror as another her, same young child body, hung upside down off of a thick branch of one of the trees. Deathly sallow, bloodshot opaque eyes with stains of old blood leaving her nose and trickling down her temples. A throaty growl echoed from above her, a jaguar within the treetops feasting on its meal.

Seika was running again, stumbling past another body of hers, this one headless. One face down in a pond, the other staked into a tree, entrails spilling onto the ground. Another was only a pair of legs beneath a massive trunk. The next was thin, thinner than she was. Her footsteps were endless, as was the jungle as she continued to sprint through it, passing body after body after body. They’d all died differently, some graphic, some violent, and some terrifying, but dead nonetheless. The jungle was ruthless and unforgiving on such a small figure, intent to watch her take her last breath.

“Mom!” She called out, her voice piercing through the jungle noise.

Only… Seika hadn’t opened her mouth. The mage was running towards the sound at her right, stomping loudly through the undergrowth until she slid to a stop.

Just in front of her, not three feet, was the back of a woman. She stood still in shadowed hiding, watching the child as it struggled to climb a tree, the desperation in the child’s voice growing with every attempt it made to beckon its parent.

“Tlamanalistli,” the woman muttered softly, a whisper, lost in the breeze and Seika froze. That too she’d forgotten… Her name, and now older, and knowing how to read and write in multiple languages she…

Seika’s blood ran cold as she recalled a passage she’d read in a book sometime while wandering the Freljord with Ryze.

The short passage had spoken of a remote village in Ixtal; far beyond any of the already reclusive existing cities of the jungle kingdom. Unlike most of Ixtal, where magic was accepted and utilized openly, this particular village was a singular group of nonmages. It was surrounded by a mighty barrier that was powered by a singular floating crystal in the middle of the village. That barrier-producing crystal had protected them from harm for generations. Time had long lost the knowledge of the crystal, but one important, vital piece of information was still known; the crystal’s power remained strong and unyielding as long as a mage was sacrificed to it every 10 years and like clockwork, a mage was born every decade.

A shiver ran down her spine; a memory, blinding and agonizing. She winced in surprise, feeling a pinprick on her hand and she looked down at the bead of blood welling up on her index finger. Her gaze lifted, the tree before her gone, a massive blue crystal floating before her, airy purple tendrils seeking her out. She fought, recoiling as her wrist was grabbed, a foreign hand forcing hers outward towards the tendril. The moment the tendril connected with her hand the floodgates unlocked. Memories of green leaves swirling in front of her eyes, carried by an invisible force as she lifted her hands, memories of water dancing around her, painless bright fire within her grasp. And then that ability was gone; the thread that connected her to those skills cut clean through with the sharp blade of absorption. Gone alongside her ability, were her memories.

The village disappeared around Seika, the woman standing before her as she stilled. Then the whispers in her village returned to her, words filled with fear of the monster in the woods. How it’d taken their own and how they worried for the barrier and the village… How they’d stripped her of her magic and then leave her in the jungle as an offering to the unnatural bug beast who hunted there in hopes it’d satiate its appetite and deter it from them.

Seika stood there, shoulders moving up and down slightly as she breathed deeply with realization. Her fists clenched and she looked back to her younger self. She heard the panic in her childlike voice, the fear and terror. She felt it fill her bones; icy, suffocating, and unforgiving. Her lungs caught, breaths struggling as the woman turned to face her, unbothered by the situation, eyes unseeing of the mage before her and Seika watched as her mother walked through her and away without a word.

She turned, head following her mother as she disappeared into the trees, never to be seen again and her eyes widened, turning back to her younger self. More tears streamed down her face as the little girl eventually turned, green eyes facing the direction of the invisible mage before scurrying off into the undergrowth with vocal promises to herself of making her way home in hopes to make her parents proud.

Seika followed, hands over her mouth as the child changed, skin pulling taut against bones. Time moved fast as Seika watched it all happen in front of her, her gaze following the ceaseless movements of the girl as she began to starve over time. Random injuries appeared throughout the process, cuts, bruises, then, time slowed again as the child led Seika back towards a familiar tree. The child hobbled gently, clutching its right side from an aching wound that was slowly healing.

The mage paused, looking up at the tree she’d been standing by earlier, then she let her eyes fall to the base of the trunk. The little her knelt at the base, just as she’d done, and the child wept, pulling her knees tightly to her chest. She was sobbing to herself, crying aloud of how she didn’t want to be alone anymore. Fat tears rolled down red cut up cheeks and Seika took a step forward.

She’d forgotten… Forgotten all of it. Forgotten what she’d lived through, what she’d survived. What she’d lost and what she’d gained… Seika gritted her teeth, watching the scene unfold and her head tipped back, closed eyes raising towards the sky and canopy above her as she sobbed silently.

How could she have forgotten all of this?

You don’t want to be alone?

Seika lifted her head, watching the child version of her look around with a gasp, eager to see a friendly face arriving alongside the sudden vocal intrusion. Only there was no new face with a kind voice and a warm smile, and so the child’s smile faltered, lower lip extending slightly into a pout before sniffling again.

So, what is it you do want child?

“Someone, anyone, I don’t want to be lost anymore,” the child said aloud into the air her uncertain gaze looking around with hesitation.

Of course, humans and their attachments, though it seems… the voice drawled off as it seemed to hesitate on what it was going to say. Hmmm, I suppose you don’t really know what you’ve lost, do you?

“I don’t know…”

What is your name child?

“Tlamanalistli,” she said softly, face lowered back to the dirt at her feet.

Sacrifice.

How… Literal. A long pause. Yet here you sit, decorated like a queen.

The little flower small Tlamanalistli had picked up and placed in her hair hours prior swelled with new blooms, vines growing into a crown around her head as magic poured into the girl and flower. The child swelled with joy, gasping in surprise as the flowers grew down her arms in decorative jewelry pieces and she giggled.

“I’m like a princess!” She exclaimed gleefully, admiring the dazzling array of colors before her.

Good, little Seika.

“Seika?” The little her questioned, pausing her admiration of the flowers.

Seika. Seika Etesia.

Seika watched the child stiffen again before she turned downwards. Simultaneously, Seika felt a warmth radiating from her side. There, two small waving beams connected to something within the soil and to the child’s side right at its injury. The child moved, beginning to dig it out, fingers ripping through the soil as she sought the brightly glowing item trapped beneath the dirt.

The child finally pulled it free, holding it up into the light and she let out a laugh.

“Pretty!” She exclaimed, holding it to her chest. “You’re gonna be my family, ‘kay?”
She said, looking down at the rock in her hands, the wound on her side already healed and forgotten about.

I suppose it is better than being in the dirt.

The last thing she saw before her vision went dark was her laughing smiling childlike face, somehow seemingly content despite being trapped within such an aggressive calloused environment.

Seika opened her eyes, the window and garden in front of her as she sat in the chair. Jayce’s house. She wiped at the wet stains down her cheeks and parted her lips to speak then closed them.

“Did Ryze know?” Seika asked after a long stretch of silence.

Doubtful.

“So, I was born a mage…” Seika murmured, looking at her open hand. She’d moved water, had blown leaves into the wind, carried and danced with flames, grown plants… “Why me? Why reveal yourself to me? Why bond with me?”

For the same reason you and Brand are not the same. A pause. Motivation.

Seika’s brows furrowed. Motivation?

Magic is a slippery slope, those who yield to the call of magic more often than not end up in the abyss, yet here you stand, as undeterred as ever. Unlike so many others before you, you do not seek power to grow strong and dominant; you seek others. To help, to hold, to maintain those relationships. The bonds you’ve made are your motivation; you push yourself for them. Should that ever change… The World Runes sentence drawled off into silence; its point being made.

Seika’s eyes widened. Had that been why she’d been changing in the Undercity? Stone slowing overtaking her own flesh because her desire had begun to shift, the bloodthirstiness she’d felt altering her motivations enough for her to begin changing even though her base desire was to help those who called the Undercity home?

She let out a heavy breath, the realization hitting her full force. It all made so much sense. She huffed a laugh, shaking her head as she wrapped her head around the knowledge.

“He said I die in every other life beyond this one,” Seika said softly. “Why this one? Why is this the world where I live, where all of this happens?”

A soft laugh. That is far beyond what I am capable of knowing, for those answers you’ll need to talk to the gods and hope they tell you.

Seika went silent, lost in her thoughts for several long minutes before she spoke.

“Do you know what happened to it? To the village?” Seika asked, leaning back further into the chair, relaxed gaze still fixated on the gardens beyond the window.

All things end.

“And the crystal? Is there any way of retrieving it? If I had it, then maybe I could –”

Perhaps… Before it’d been absorbed, that is.

Seika’s brows furrowed again in confusion, waiting in silence for its explanation but it said nothing. Then it hit Seika. Absorbed… the crystal that had protected her village had absorbed magical energy, and if it was capable of that, then it could likely absorb just about anything, and it had been absorbed… Memories of blues and purples, of unwavering interest, ceaseless words, endless ambition, of blood, and then aggression…

“No… it can’t be…”

An epiphany.

The Hexcore.

It was awfully interested in you, wasn’t it? Much more interested than any other magical entity you’d spoken to. Almost obsessive.

“It can’t – it was in Ixtal, Piltover never went to Ixtal for their hex crystals, they went to Shurima,” Seika rebutted.

No? You don’t think a single merchant in this entire city of commerce decided to attempt to search through Ixtal in hopes to make a quick buck by selling to the scientists who thrived on crystals imbued with magical life?

Of course she didn’t. Anything otherwise would be a farce. There was no doubt that Piltover explored every avenue necessary to fuel their Hextech, Ixtal likely included in that; whether the co-inventors realized it or not.

I’ll ask you again. So, what is it you do want child?

The new information she’d received was undeniably a shock, but they were answers to questions she didn’t realize she needed answered and she found they grounded her. Seika felt something swell within her; a desire, an intent, a drive to continue forward while the lies she’d built herself on crumbled at her feet. Suddenly, the possibilities she wouldn’t dare to even dream of creating appeared before her, tangible, real and possible, and all that’d happened in her life, all that she lived through were miniscule in retrospect.

In a single moment, the naïve worthless apprentice of two hundred plus years, capable of very little was but a microscopic point in in the grand scheme of her existence. The haze had worn off, her world opening up beyond her in an expanse of limitless potential. The things she could do, the people she could help beckoned her beyond this home in Piltover. Home, yes…

Piltover was home. As was that little hut in the middle of the Noxian wilderness that Ryze often kept her at while he was away. Home was many places, but more importantly, it was with those she adored and cared for. Her face fell, looking again at the maroon tie in her hand and a warm smile appeared on her face as she thought of him fondly, tears welling in her eyes. Even if they weren’t always by her side, pieces of them existed within her; memories, feelings, dreams and wishes. They were a part of her as much as she was them. Viktor, Jayce, Vi, Caitlyn, Cecil, Ekko – everyone she’d grown to adore; it didn’t matter where she was, because they’d still always be her people – her village.

Seika huffed a laugh, smiling as she lifted her head towards the gardens again. He’d been right; even in other worlds he was right. She knew what she wanted and she sat up, standing from the chair. Her hand pressed to the cool glass, her gaze on the gardens beyond it.

“I want to learn, I want to be a true mage, no more hiding, no more running away. Teach me,” Seika declared without skipping a beat.

I was hoping you’d say that.

Chapter Text

Seika heard a soft thud that pulled her from her sleep. She sat up softly, rubbing at her eyes as she glanced around the room. Streams of moonlight filtered through the glass, the only luminescence throughout the otherwise dark room.

It was well into the evening. A short while after her earlier conversation with the World Rune, she’d gone to sleep. She’d only woken up once when Ximena had graciously fed her dinner in bed a few hours ago.

Another soft thud. A few moments later, a third thud. After a moment of confusion, Seika finally realized what it was as she heard the soft shuffling of blankets; Jayce was tossing and turning in the bedroom next door.

She stood, leaving her room to walk to the door just past hers. It was silent when her knuckles rapped softly on its surface.

“Yeah?” Jayce’s voice was muted from within as he expected his mother.

Seika opened the door, sticking her head in, brows furrowed slightly. The walls were littered with little drawings, posters, and a frame of a man and child – no doubt Jayce and his father. Across from the door, lengthwise, was a bed, the same one Jayce had sat up on in surprise. Seika watched Jayce stiffen, his unclothed upper have scrunching together as he tugged at the blanket covering his lower half.

“Can’t sleep?” She asked, and he shook his head. “You?” He questioned and she shrugged slightly. Jayce’s gaze grew serious, and he looked away, sighing heavily as she studied his profile.

“I’m sorry…” He said quietly. “I shouldn’t have left earlier, you’re still –”

“Jayce,” Seika said softly, slipping into his room and closing the door behind her, “don’t worry about it. Really, it’s not a problem,” she murmured, staring at him. Her gaze was focused as she watched his shoulders sag slightly. His blanketed knees lifted up towards him, hands covering his face as he sighed, sinking into the cloth to ground himself for a minute.

“You seem better,” he said after a minute, dropping his hands. Jayce watched her shrug, a small smile on her face. She seemed more aware and in the present, rather than how she’d been; trapped and suffocating in the past. It was a feeling he was still struggling to relate to.

“Better than I was,” she replied back.

“How?” He asked in disbelief, shaking his head slightly as he watched her step around the room, admiring the space he’d grown up in. A smile appeared on her face, warm and kind, as she admired the doodles and sketches of his youth. Her hand extended, fingertips lightly touching a drawing as Jayce waited for an answer.

When she turned to him, her eyes lowered to her hand as she pulled out Viktor's tie from her pocket.

“I didn’t believe him before,” Seika began, leaning back against the desk, a window just beyond it, its surface decorated with gems, crystals, and rune carved baubles of varying colors and sizes. “How could I?” She said with a half-smile, glancing up at him. “How could things get better from this? In what way was any of this going to be okay?”

Jayce didn’t reciprocate her huff of a laugh, his gaze hardened and stiff as he watched her.

“But then he was right. We’ll be okay Jayce – he’ll be okay,” Seika continued, lifting her gaze as she fussed with fabric in her hands. “I know it,” she whispered with a smaller, more somber smile on her face.

Jayce scoffed this time around, slumping back onto the bed. He raised his muscular arms, bending them and lacing his fingers behind his head. “I know that,” he mumbled in reply, brows furrowed as he stared at the opposite wall. He said nothing as Seika turned, looking out at the view beyond its glass. His gaze shifted outwards towards The Academy and the memories it held.

Of youth, of joy and stress and hard work and making dreams a reality. And of nightmares. Of lost friends, of betrayal and anger and defeat.

Seika had long since turned around, head tilted as she studied Jayce, completely lost in his thoughts. She stood there, watching him and then sighed softly, smiling a bit.

“I want to thank you Jayce,” Seika said, watching him jerk violently out of his thoughts, shifting his focus to her.

“For what?” He asked instinctively, brows furrowing slightly in confusion.

“For helping me back there,” she shrugged and Jayce knew. “You didn’t have any obligation to,” Seika continued, “and you could have killed me after I attacked you. No one would have ever known…” Seika smiled, huffing softly as she grew shy. “It means a lot to me is all,” she added.

Jayce relaxed a bit and scoffed, shrugging in response.

“Well, your Vik’s girl, the hell else am I supposed to do?” He replied, slumping back further into his bed. “And you’re not that insufferable despite the fact you did slap me,” he reminded her, slightly chastising her despite the subtle smirk on his face.

Seika snorted softly, smiling as she rolled her eyes, walking towards the door. She turned back, watching him tense, his eyes focused on her.

Jayce watched her raise a brow expectantly, waiting for him to speak. His lips parted, then he closed them, looking away with a shake of his head.

“Never mind,” he mumbled. “Night.”

Seika remained still then smiled and slipped from the room, the door left open with her exit. Jayce slumped back with a sigh as he heard her door open, his gaze on the ceiling. After a moment of shuffling, her door closed and she returned, dropping pillows and a blanket on the floor next to his bed.

“What are you doing?” He asked, sitting up as he watched her shift, curling up on the blanket and pillows like a fabric covered nest.

“I don’t feel like sleeping alone,” Seika replied almost matter-of-factly. Internally she smiled; it was true, sharing the same space as people she felt were kin calmed her heart and warmed her soul and being alone in the silence was the last thing she wanted.

Jayce smiled down at the back of the Wildclaw. He’d wanted to ask her to stay, but it felt too inappropriate, like he was sneaking behind Viktor's back. He couldn’t see Seika like that – the thought alone had him shuddering in revulsion slightly. It was like what he felt with Caitlyn – a sibling, someone he felt comfortable around, like he could be himself without fear of judgement or consequence. Gods, they’d even been through hell and back together; he was confident he could rely on her and that confidence wasn’t something he shared lightly.

“No one knows where she went…” Jayce said softly after several long moments of silence. “No one has any idea. Even her aid is gone. They just… disappeared.”

“I’m sorry Jayce,” Seika replied, lifting her head. She rested her chin on the mattress’ edge, looking up at him. He all but refused to look at her, eyes up towards the ceiling as his hand hung lifeless off the bed. She stood, grabbing a pillow in her jaws before throwing it up onto the bed and following up after it. “I don’t know her, but she seems capable,” Seika replied after she’d curled up and laid down, settling fully with a huff. “I mean gods, she’s Noxian.”

Jayce shifted a bit towards the wall as Seika settled at his feet, the bed creaking in response.

“That she is,” he mumbled in agreement, a small smile gracing his face, “I think you two would have hit it off well.”

“Yeah? Double date when this is over?” Seika joked and Jayce snorted in response. He was exhausted, body heavy and mind endlessly racing with a million thoughts but suddenly, they seemed a lot farther away; less oppressive.

“Thanks,” he murmured softly, lying back down and staring up at the ceiling. After over an hour of tossing and turning, with his family near to support him, Jayce’s eyelids grew heavy as he fell asleep.

…

Seika felt the twitch and gentle prod of a foot in her ribcage. It twitched again and she huffed, rolling onto her side away from Jayce’s relentless shifting. Then that foot was back, insistently digging into the warmth of her torso.

“Jayce Talis, if you don’t remove your foot from my ribcage, I will break your other ankle,” Seika finally said sleepily, her voice cutting through the early morning light. He grunted, mumbling something about warmth, his legs shifting away from her before he sat up.

“What time is it?” He mumbled and Seika half opened her eyes, raising her head with a jaw-gaping yawn.

“Nearly 10,” she replied as she stood and stepped off of the bed, shifting to retrieve the blanket and pillows she’d brought the night before. Jayce stared at her; eyes focused on the commune clothes before he looked away, then his gaze fleeted to her face. She looked… better. Healthier. Her cheeks had filled out and those deep purple bags were gone; it was shocking. He could still see the slight protrusion of her rib, but it was a complete difference to how she’d looked the day prior.

“I forgot to mention, I also got you some clothes,” he said, reaching for a shirt and tugging it on.

“Jayce,” Seika said softly, brows slightly furrowed, “you didn’t have to… I have money, it’s…” She paused. Where had she left her bag? When she realized she’d left it in that shack she’d been bedding down in in the Undercity she scoffed. “I left it in the Undercity… three months ago…” She sighed.

Jayce huffed a laugh. “It’s not a big deal, just take them,” he replied and she nodded, stepping from the room. When she’d returned to her room, she placed the pillows and blanket back just as Ximena knocked at the door. A tray was in her hand, her smile as warm and friendly as ever.

“Good morning, Seika, did you sleep well?” she said, approaching the desk in the room and placing the tray on its empty surface

“Good morning, Ximena,” Seika greeted in reply with a nod, “and yes, thank you.” Seika moved to the desk, leaning against it as she gently took a piece the prepared slice of tangerine, freshly imported from Bilgewater by the looks of it. Her smile grew at the burst of tangy citrus flavor on her tongue and she ate another. She watched the older woman tut about the room, fixing blankets and pillow until they were perfect, smiling as the pillows were fluffed a third and final time before Ximena seemed to have deemed them worthy for her to sleep on.

Jayce, now wearing a pair of loose trousers and a plain shirt stepped in the room. He moved to lean on the other half of the desk, swiping a tangerine slice off of Seika’s place. The Councilor couldn’t hold back his smile when she smacked his arm lightly in silent protest.

Ximena chuckled softly with a smile, feeling like she was watching the antics of siblings before a knock at the front door beckoned her.

“I’m going to go see Cait and Vi today,” Seika said, turning her head to look at Jayce. He nodded, swiping her slice of toast. A large bite took a third of the bread, then a smaller one took the rest until half the bread was remaining and he held it out, offering it to the mage.

Seika took it gratefully, chewing slowly.

“I’ll be at the Academy all day,” Jayce replied, knowing the work they needed to do to prepare for what was coming. “We need to start preparing, meet me there?” he murmured and Seika nodded in reply just before Ximena entered, two boxes stacked in her arms.

Jayce stepped up, taking them from her and placed them on the corner of the desk, handing the top box to his mother.

“Here Seika,” Ximena said warmly, taking the box from him and walking it to the bed.

Jayce took his box, stepping away and retreating back towards his room as Seika moved to the bed, gently opening it. Her eyes widened slightly, the outfit folded neatly within the box, the wrapping alone decorated with elegant tissue paper and ribbons. Her hands touched the fabric softly, admiring the craftsmanship.

“This is far too nice for someone like me,” Seika murmured softly; they would undoubtedly be the most prestigious outfit she’d ever worn in her life.

Ximena smiled, her small delicate hand softly resting on her arm and the mage turned to the older woman. “He wouldn’t have bought it if he hadn’t thought you deserved it,” Ximena spoke truthfully, her hand moving to move her hair from her neck only to stiffen, a slight pink spreading across her cheeks.

“And perhaps it was best he picked something with a high neckline,” Ximena mused with a knowing look in her eye, watching Seika realize she still had the marks Viktor had left on her. Seika stiffened, shaking her head as she made a move to rebuttal.

“Wait, it’s not Jayce –” she began, worrying the woman would get the wrong impression only for the mother to laugh.

“Don’t fret child, it is of no business of mine even if it was. Would you like help with your hair?” Ximena asked and Seika paused before slightly nodding. “Get dressed, I’ll be back in a moment,” Ximena responded, disappearing from the room, the door closing behind her.

After a huff of relief, Seika changed, taking care in slipping on the shirt. It was an elegant cream button up, detailed with gold and maroon – Academy colors. The sleeves were puffy, ending in a maroon cuffs. The slacks were soft and smooth against her legs, a rich black color accompanied by a sheer black high-low styled overskirt. A matching maroon mini corset hugged her waist, though she could barely knot it in the back with the current weakness of her arms.

A knock echoed at her door and with her permission, Ximena entered, carrying a few things.

“It looks beautiful Seika,” Ximena praised, placing the brush and other supplies she’d brought on the desk. She moved to the mage, smiling as she stood less than confident in the outfit. “Here,” she murmured, helping Seika with the lacings of the corset before guiding her towards the chair she’d pulled out for her.

Seika sat, eyes closing as Ximena brushed her hair. Her shoulder sagged as the older woman doted on her, applying makeup and doing her hair. She added clip on earrings and necklace, hushing Seika’s soft protest.

“I haven’t ever been able to dote on a daughter before, and well Jayce is a sweet boy, but he’d never play dress up,” Ximena jested and Seika chuckled in response, letting Ximena continue her work. There was something therapeutic about it; and in two hundred years, Seika hadn’t ever had a parental figure dote on her in such a way. A few minutes later, Ximena was helping the mage to her feet, a warm smile on her face.

“There, perfect,” Ximena said, the word laced with warm affection as two metallic fingertips gently brushed a lock of hair from her face. She’d pulled up the girls long dark thick hair into a bun at the base of her neck and pulled a few wispy bags out of it to frame her face. Her hands lowered to Seika’s shoulders, smoothing the cream fabric. Her hands moved, shifting to button the top two buttons at her neck and fully concealing the marks before nodding in affirmation.

Seika stood there stiffly. She’d worn skirts and dresses, but the quality of this was unfamiliar to her and she worried every breath might somehow damage the fabric. The black boots at the bottom of the box remained and after a moment of still admiration, Seika picked them up, surprised at their weight. She studied them for a moment, fingertips running along pristine leather and gold additions before finally putting them on.

When Ximena led Seika out towards the living area, Jayce was already standing in wait. Rather than the usual Academy uniform she’d seen him wear, his outfit was different this time, darker, more subtle. He’d donned a black long-sleeved shirt with matching trousers, the shirt was lined with gold, the sleeves ending in maroon cuffs, and a swirling maroon pattern decorated the tops his shoulders and a matching belt around his hips brought it together. It seemed they’d both changed in more ways than one.

Jayce nodded in approval when his eyes found Seika. She looked like a true Piltovan lady; prim and proper, graceful, perfect… Hell, she looked uncomfortable. He lifted his hand to his mouth, hiding a smile as he cleared his throat.

“I’ll give you a ride to Cait’s place,” he said leading the way out. They shared the car in silence, the only movement being Jayce’s restless knee as it bounced continuously. Anxiously.

Seika said nothing, opting instead to shift her attention outside. Her unfocused gaze stared at the scenery as it moved passed before the car eventually slowed before stopping.

Seika glanced towards Jayce, raising her brows slightly. A silent question, a request to know if he’ll be okay.

Jayce nodded, stepping out of the car and holding the door open for her.

“I’ll be in my office at the Academy, the lab…” Jayce’s brows furrowed and Seika nodded, giving him a small sad smile. Her hand moved, giving his forearm a light squeeze before patting it, urging him off.

“I understand,” Seika replied, “See ya in a while,” she added as she stepped forward, boots clicking against the elegant stone pathway. She heard the car door close as she walked, her footsteps carrying her the opposite direction. 

Chapter Text

The wrought iron gate barring entry into the Kiramman estate was a tall and imposing structure before Seika. Even after the car drove off, the mage was still looking up at it. This would be the first time she entered Caitlyn’s home properly.

Are we staying for tea?

Sass. All sass. Seika rolled her eyes, huffing a laugh as she pushed the gate open and stepped inside, closing it behind her

“No,” she mumbled, “I just… We should talk is all,” Seika murmured as she walked forward, footsteps heavy against each stair leading to the grand front door. Her fist raised hesitantly, pausing before knocking a solid three times then lowering back to her side.

Seika waited a moment, then another. When the door opened, an impeccably dressed gentleman standing before her, one arm crossed in front of him, the other tucked safely behind the door. He donned a traditional suit suit, his hair slicked back and his beard with a blade-sharp line though his eyes were observant, endlessly inspecting her.

“How is it I may assist you?” He questioned after studying the stranger in the doorway for a moment longer than necessary.

“I’m here to see Caitlyn,” Seika replied, meeting his gaze. She slipped her hands behind her back, her fingers fussing with one another as she waited. She hadn’t considered that Caitlyn might not even let her in.

“Thoren?” Caitlyn’s voice cut through and the man stepped aside.

Caitlyn had been descending the steps, making her way to her office when she’d heard Thoren’s recognizable ‘who in great heavens are you?’ voice that she’d figured out sometime in the two decades he’d been working for her family. When Thoren sidestepped though, she stilled, eyes widening slightly. She almost hadn’t recognized Seika all done up; she swallowed her instinctive smile, still uncertain about what had transpired between them and where they stood with one another.

“Seika, perhaps I can offer you some tea in my office,” Caitlyn said, brows raised a bit in slight expectance.

Seika felt the distance, Caitlyn’s hesitation clouded by professionalism. It was awkward between them, but then she remembered how concerned Caitlyn had look when they’d finally made it back to Piltover and she smiled, nodding. That meant something, that worry meant attachment and meant she cared enough to consider her.

“I’d love to,” she replied, stepping inside and following her as the Enforcer reached the main foyer and lead her through the halls.

I thought we weren’t having tea.

“Technically I’m having tea,” Seika whispered with a smirk.

“What was that?” Caitlyn asked, having heard Seika say something and the mage.

“You look good,” Seika covered quickly. She followed Caitlyn inside, a cozy fireplace already lit and an elegant filled bookshelves above and pillaring it. Across from the fireplace was a small spiral staircase leading to an upper level of bookshelves, that partial catwalk above two standing rolling boards pinned with the complete map of Piltover and the Undercity. Maddie stood at the far end, overlooking some paperwork but she’d raised her hand at the entry.

“What a surprise, it’s Seika,” Maddie said, her voice as cheery and friendly as Seika remembered.

“Hi Maddie, hope you’ve been well,” Seika replied, nodding her head with a small smile towards the Enforcer.

“Maddie, could we have the room please?” Caitlyn interrupted, “And could you request a pot of tea too.”

Maddie nodded, smiling at the order before stepping out and closing the door behind her.

That friendliness Seika had been relying on to warm the atmosphere between she and Caitlyn died in an instant and the mage winced internally. The silence was stiff and lasted for a few moments too long.

“You look nice,” Caitlyn broke the silence first, her gaze meeting Seika’s.

The mage smiled, nodding a bit. “Thank you,” she said softly, “Jayce was adamant and Ximena so kind… but I’m worried every breath might somehow ruin it,” she added with a chuckle, grimacing slightly. She was rambling and glanced away, the piercing stare of the Enforcer a bit too intense to meet head on.

Caitlyn watched her, her face still and neutral, their gazes meeting again in awkward silence.

“Seika, we thought you died,” Caitlyn finally said.

Seika’s face shifted from slight discomfort to guilt, her gaze fleeting away towards the floor.

“No one saw you again and you…” Caitlyn’s words failed her, her gaze finally meeting Seika’s when the dark-haired mage had turned back to look at her. “We’d heard rumors that you’d been skinned alive or burned at the stake,” Caitlyn cleared her throat, swallowing down the lump that’d formed in her throat. “And back in the Undercity you looked…” The Enforcer muttered shakily, looking away.

“I know,” Seika whispered softly, a sad smile on her face. “And I’m sorry,” Seika’s fists were clenched tightly at her side, the mage restraining herself but when Caitlyn turned away, wiping discretely at her face, Seika strode to her.

“I didn’t mean to worry everyone,” Seika murmured, her hand resting lightly on Caitlyn’s arm. The Enforcer turned around to look at her, Seika embraced her, wrapping her arms around her waist as the Enforcers arms wrapped tightly around her shoulders in response. “I was so lost,” Seika whispered. “In my grief, in my anger,” her eyes screwed shut. “I just did what I thought was right, but I think I just made things worse in the end…”

Caitlyn stilled slightly at the mage’s words before tightening around her.

“Still did more than we did…” Caitlyn whispered. “You were right, the last thing they deserved was The Grey…”

Seika hugged her tighter, her eyes opening to stare beyond the woman’s shoulder.

“You’re okay?” Caitlyn asked, her voice a soft uncharacteristic squeak and Seika nodded vehemently.

“I’m okay. I promise,” Seika answered as she pulled away, “and I’m not running anymore –”

“Seika, no I was wrong –” Caitlyn attempted to interrupt, but Seika shook her head, interrupting her back.

“No, you weren’t – I was running; I couldn’t face anything,” Seika finally pulled away, her hands grasping each of Caitlyn’s, the Piltovan squeezing hers in reply. “I’ve had my perspective changed in a lot of ways recently. I’ve learned a lot, about myself, about who I want to be and what I have to do to become that person. You tried to help me see that, but I couldn’t, I was too daft, too –”

“Oh, shut up, won’t you?” Caitlyn chastised, hugging her again. “Don’t apologize, you don’t need to.”

Seika chuckled, hugging her back.

A moment later, they were pulling away, looking at one another before bursting out into laughter. Softly giggled promises of never telling anyone echoing between the two girls as they took a seat and several minutes later, Maddie returned temporarily with a tea set.

When the two were alone again, Caitlyn poured them each a cup of tea.

“How is Vi?” Seika asked, eyes watching the Piltovan move their cups in front of them.

“Vi is still unconscious. She’s recovering upstairs, but she’s stable, we have three doctors here around the clock right now. Her wound required some minor surgery and stitches – now we’re just worried about infection,” Caitlyn said.

Seika nodded, taking a sip of the warm tea before placing her cup back down with a soft tink of glass. “I’m glad to hear she’s stable, could I see her before I leave?” She watched Caitlyn nod in reply and gave her a smile of thanks before taking another sip of her tea.

“Seika, if I may, what happened? Why did you disappear?” Caitlyn asked, watching the mage sigh.

The answer she did have was lost on her tongue, her lips opening and closing before she sighed and slumped back.

“The truth? That’s…” She sighed again, her fingers fussing with each other, gaze focused on her hands. Seika’s gaze shifted towards the map hanging above the fireplace as Caitlyn’s eyes remained fixated on the mage’s profile.