Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The air of the undercity was as thick as smoke, yet it always felt lighter at night to Viktor. His body got used to the fresh air of Piltover over the years, and as the elevator made its descent towards the undercity he stifled a cough as his lungs struggled to breathe out the chemical charged atmosphere.

His feet moved by themselves as they took him to one of the places he used to come daily when he was still a citizen of Zaun. His hand that wasn’t clutching his cane was stuffed in the pocket of a long dirty coat, his thumb running over the blade he had grabbed before leaving, ready to pull it out and stab anyone that would be coming too close. He didn’t have the heart to harm, but in that specific part of the city it was kill or be killed.

His thin lips curled in discontentment at the trash piling up in the streets and the heavy smell of urine and burning plastic. 

Somehow, the situation in Zaun had worsened. Considering that Jayce was close to councilwoman Medarda, he was aware of most updates, yet he had never heard of an evolution in the state of the city. He wasn’t surprised, the undercity was Piltover’s reject sister after all, but it didn’t help the worry brewing inside of him.

He would deal with this problem later. 

Just as his leg began to ache, the cramps traveling up his spine and making him cringe in pain, he spotted the familiar neon sign.

The daydream blinked in purple and green cursives, next to the neon sign of a woman’s silhouette in nothing but heels. He stumbled to the front door, the bouncer scanned him up and down with a furrow in his brow, he was twice as large as Viktor, his biceps bulging as he crossed his arms. 

When the smaller male looked up and met his eyes, the bouncer relaxed and chuckled in disbelief. “Viktor, it’s been a while, almost didn’t recognize you!”

Viktor tried to hide the shameful curl of his lips. It had been years since he had set foot in the club.

“Good evening, Rick.” Viktor smiled sheepishly. “I– eh– I’ve been quite busy.”

The burly man laughed heartily, his large hand landed on Viktor’s back in a friendly pat, causing him to stumble. “I get it! Our boy is now a fancy ass topsider.” 

Viktor bristled, slightly offended. “Is she dancing tonight?”

Amusement glimmered in Rick’s eyes. “She’s here every night, my boy.”

“Every night?” Viktor furrowed his brows, to which the bouncer shrugged half-heartedly. 

“Times are hard.” He answered vaguely .

When are they not? Viktor thought bitterly as Rick opened the door for him, and he was hit by the loud music. “Ah, right on time.” He smiled at Viktor as the saxophonist began playing. 

He pushed on his cane to make his way inside the tight entrance, the stench of the outside replaced by the smell of cheap perfume and cigars smoke. The lights blinded him momentarily as he stumbled between the men to reach the booth he had claimed years ago as his own.

“A kiss on the hand may be quite continental, 

But diamonds are a girl’s best friend…”

The sultry tone, smooth like milk and honey, made him look up at the stage, and his heart leaped. 

Here you were, in a pink corset with a glittery tulle skirt that barely covered anything. A pair of white lace thigh highs on and feet clad in cream heels that you expertly danced in like you weighted naught. Your usual flirty and mischievous smile plastered over your lips as you sang into a glittery microphone.

“A kiss may be grand, but it won’t pay the rental on you humble flat, or help you feed your— meow– pussy cat!”

He couldn’t stop the smile that played at his lips as he watched you enthusiastically dance and sing, radiant under the artificial light. 

But he knew the happiness plastered onto your face didn’t reach your eyes.

It was like he had never left, the same group of dancers was on stage with you, albeit a couple of them were missing, and the barman was still bobbing his head in rhythm with the music as he made the drinks, although the left part of his face was now marred with scars. 

He nervously drummed his fingers on the dirty table covered in scratches. How were you going to react once you saw him? Were you going to be angry? Happy? Were you going to feel like you heart was going to explode, the same as him every time your eyes met.

You did a little twirl, your gaze almost landing on him, and panic struck him. He grabbed his cane in a hurry to get up, yet tried to calm himself down. 

Remember why you came. You mustn’t run away.

The music became louder and faster as you wiggled your hips, riling up the men and women in the audience as they whistled and laughed.

Meanwhile, unaware of the inner turmoil of Viktor, you forced your exhausted body to follow the routine. Over the years you had become numb to the catcalls and the way the clients addressed you like a toy, merely dancing and smiling while your mind went some place far away.

Soon you finished your routine by posing with the dancers, bending forward and your spine stretching to show the curve of your ass to the public. The exhaustion made you lose your balance, but fortunately one of the dancers caught you as she pretended to caress your shoulder. 

“Thank you.” You whispered, and she winked in answer.

The audience erupted in applause, and like every single night after your number your gaze slid towards the empty booth were Viktor used to sit to fiddle with his inventions. You stupidly hoped you would find him here, but each time you found it empty your heart broke a little bit more.

Tonight, however, you met molten gold eyes, so unique you could recognize their owner amongst thousands.

Your heart stopped.

He looked just as beautiful as always, his hair was combed and he looked taller, but he was still the same genius curling on himself like he was unaware of how extraordinary he was. He gazed in awe at you, mouth slightly agape and eyes brimming with emotions. As if he were just as breathless as you were.

Suddenly time seemed to resume its regular pace, the girls left the stage and the stage lights dimmed. Your legs finally found the strength to move again as you stumbled towards him.

His chest felt tight as he watched you all but ran to him, entertaining the hope that maybe… maybe you returned his feelings.

“Viktor…” you breathed out, your knees buckled and you found yourself kneeling at the edge of the stage as he just as clumsily reached you with a relieved whisper of your name. 

He went for a hug, but his arms suspended in the air as he hesitated. 

It had been years, maybe a hug was inappropriate.

However, your amused huff and the way you roughly brought him in a bone crushing hug was enough of an answer for him. You were careful not to put pressure on his spine brace as you wrapped your arms around him, and he tangled a hand in your hair as he buried his face in your neck.

You smelled like vanilla and musk, the perfume he saw you spray dozens of times  in the small changing room before the show. Wrapped in your scent and your warmth, he melted. 

“Hello, little bird.” He said affectionately, and you giggled at the old nickname.

You broke the hug to take a long look at him, to take in the new blemishes he earned with age. He was somehow thinner,  his eyes a bit sunken in. His face had grown even more angular over time, and you tried to brush off the reaction it triggered within your chest. 

“Shit, Vik. Don’t the topsiders feed you?” You quirked a brow as you felt his arms. “A fucking gust of wind could break you in half. You gotta take care of yourself.” 

Viktor gently pushed your hands away as he tried to calm down his racing heart. “Your mouth is still as filthy.” He smirked.

Your rolled your eyes cheekily. “And you’re still talking like you’re one of those fancy gentlemen in my mom’s books.” The music resumed, signaling that the next number was about to begin. You jumped down the stage and grabbed his hand. “C’mon, let’s talk in the changing room.”

He noticed that you adjusted your pace to meet his, pushing people gently out of the way and thanking them for coming to the show. 

You were always so kind, a rare quality in such a cruel world. You always took care of everyone around you, even going as far as ushering children inside the club to treat their wounds and giving them medicines you struggled to get for yourself.

That was how you two met, he had been beaten up and robbed by other kids. An easy prey, a fourteen year old cripple. You were barely older than him, and you came across his battered and bruised body on your way to the club with your mother.

You dragged him inside and treated his wounds with some leftover whiskey, and he could still recall the harsh sting of it followed by the soft touch of your hands that calmed the turmoil of his mind. 

He was pulled out of his trip down memory lane when he heard the door close. You pulled a stool for him to sit on as you plopped down on the chair of your old vanity. 

Under the fluorescent lights, he could see your face better, and he frowned when he noticed the exhaustion tugging at your features. Making you seem older than you really were.

“Why are you here?” You suddenly blurted, and cringed when it came out like you didn’t want him in front of you when it was quite the opposite. “Not like I don’t want you here. Fuck, I didn’t mean it like that I swear on my mom’s grave. Not like swearing on someone’s grave means anything when they’re already dead, I mean what can they do? Suddenly rise up and–”

“You’re rambling.” Viktor noted, deeply amused. “You don’t have to be nervous, it’s just me.”

You paused. “I’m not nervous.”

He chuckled. “What you aren’t is a good liar.” 

“Fucking hell.” You grumbled under your breath as you grew flustered. “I– I just didn’t expect you to ever come back down to the shitty side of that city, that’s all.” 

This confession seemed to shock him into silence, honey eyes wide. You pursed your lips, gaze flickering elsewhere.

“Of course I had to come back. You’re here, after all.”

You fiddled with the frayed edge of your stockings, your mind cursing at your naive, racing heart. 

You didn’t want to look at him and his sad eyes, probably hurt by what you said, but a single timid brush of his fingers against your hand and you were already meeting his apologetic gaze. “I’m sorry I took so long. Eh… It was more difficult than expected.”

Confusion was clear as day on your face, prompting him to continue. “Did you forget about my promise?” He asked gently.

You blinked a few times, and then the memory finally hit you.

He was barely eighteen, his hair uneven from the way you clumsily tried to cut it the day before. His eyes were shining with an emotion akin to hope, a glint you were not quite familiar with. 

One day, I will get you out of here.

His hand had grabbed yours a soon as the words left his mouth, you could still remember the feeling of his clammy palm on your skin. 

And you gaped, taken aback by how unusually brazen he was. Then your heart melted in a puddle of love as your lips curled in a smile. 

You didn’t know where this sudden promise was coming from. Maybe he heard you cry in the bathroom earlier after one of the clients tried to force himself on you once again and he wanted to give your heart a break with a beautiful lie. 

Yet Viktor was too kind to offer false hope.

Two days later, he left for the Academy. 

You blinked the memory away, focusing on the older Viktor sitting in front of you.

“I…” Your voice grew thick with emotions. “I didn’t know you meant it. I thought you were just being nice.”

One look at your tearful eyes and he knew you didn’t mean that he was a liar. You were just afraid to hope. 

He mustered the courage to grab your hand, his palm cold against the back of yours. “Of course I meant it.”

He would do anything for you, after all.

Your eyes stung, and you took a sharp intake of air at his words. “So if you’re here…” His smile widened. 

“I can get you out of the undercity.” His excitement caused him to speak faster with a thicker accent. “You can stop overworking yourself. You will be safe and you will have as much food on the table as you want. You can even have your own bedroom for yourself.”

Only you didn’t match his excitement, merely looking back at him with narrowed eyes. “What’s the catch?”

“Eh?” He asked dumbly as he pretended not to understand.

You leaned forward. “This is too good to be true, Vik. How would Piltover let someone like me join them?”

A pregnant pause followed the question, and Viktor took a deep breath as if to gather his courage. 

“Okay, so you already know how I became a citizen of Piltover thanks to Professor Heirmedinger, right?” You nodded. “I managed to become his assistant, but students don’t make any income.” 

You gently squeezed his hand to prompt him to continue. “But then, I met someone.” His eyes suddenly lit up as he smiled. “Another student. He was working on something extraordinary, a way to manufacture magic! We became associate and we worked together on a new technology. We call it Hextech.”

“Wait a –” Your eyes widened. “You are one of Hextech’s founders?”

He sheepishly shrugged. “Ehhh… I guess you could say that.” 

The laughter full of surprise and awe that followed was like music to his ears. “You are amazing.” You stated, eyes shimmering.

His gaze flickered to your lips, and for one fleeting second you thought he was going to kiss you. Disappointment filled you when he suddenly broke out of his stupor and cleared his throat. 

“Anyway… Thanks to the fundings on behalf of the hexgate project we are working on, we are making a good living. I can finally afford to get you citizenship.”

“Viktor, that has to be crazy expensive. I don’t want you spending so much for me.” You protested, even though the opportunity of a lifetime on the surface with whom you considered your soulmate was a dream of yours. 

His hand cradled you cheek, the callouses rough against your skin contrasting with his gentle touch. “It is nothing.” He insisted. 

You lower lip trembled. You wanted to believe him, you wanted to so bad, but you were scared to hope for the first time, only for it to be squashed. You knew you wouldn’t handle the heartbreak. 

“So.. there is a catch…” Viktor’s eyes fell as he mumbled.

“What is it?” You asked nervously. “Hostage? Blackmail? Oh gods, is it murder?”

He choked on his spit, and hit his chest a few times. “No! A–Absolutely not!”

His cheeks seemed to grow redder as you watched his hand leave its place on you cheek to reach inside his coat. He pulled out a black box, and the air was punched out of your lungs as he turned your hand and placed the small item inside your palm with trembling fingers. 

He swallowed thickly. “Marriage. You would have to marry me.” 

…

You must have died. 

Perhaps you had been attacked and you were bleeding out alone behind a pile of garbages in front of the club, your mind making up a fantasy to soothe you. Yet you could feel the weight of the box in your hand, feel the pain of the blisters caused by your shoes. Your mind couldn’t produce such a breathtaking mix of colors that were his eyes so accurately.

You choked a sob once you realized that this was very real. 

Viktor took it the wrong way, and quickly began reassuring you. “This marriage is purely a contract. We won’t have to share a bed or act like..husband and wife. This is just to get you your citizenship.”

Oh.

Your eyes fell with your heart as you pretended to study the ring. 

He held his breath as he waited for your answer. 

“Can you…” you sniffled as you blinked away the tears. “Can you put it on my finger?”

His trembling fingers struggled to get the ring out of its box, and with the utmost care he grabbed your wrist and slid the band down your own. 

It was a bit too big, so he made a mental note to go back to the jewel store as soon as possible. 

The hextech crystal glimmered on your fingers, a piece of magic the only jewel fit for someone like you. 

“It’s a beautiful ring…” You mused out loud as you moved your hand so the jewels could catch the light. “I could just beat you up and run away with it.”

He laughed loudly, and you smiled in delight at being the reason. “Not a good idea to run with those heels on, you wouldn’t go very far before getting arrested. You’re better off marrying me.”

You chuckled. “I guess I’ll marry you, then.”

A loud bang at the door startled you and broke the spell. “Hey! We need to get changed! Open!”

Viktor watched your face redden in exasperation as you jumped onto your feet, stomped your way over to the door to unlock and open it. 

“I fucking quit!” You yelled, and he stifled a laugh, still as amused by your cursing.

And then you turned to him and grinned. “What are you waiting for, Vik? Let’s get the hell out of here!”

Your palm was warm against his, and he wondered how sweet life was going to be now that someone would be waiting for him at home.

“Then let’s do it.”

Chapter Text

Alma was the only one that knew where you were going.

She was the one that taught you everything. The dance steps, how to sing, how to sow and make costumes…

She was everything your mother never was.

So naturally, when you announced loudly to the whole cabaret that you were leaving out of the blue, she pulled you aside with a gentle hand on your shoulder.

You told her about Viktor’s marriage proposal, and her eyes softened in relief, as if she had spent decades worrying for you and the weight had lifted.

“Do not tell the others you’re going topside.” Alma told you in a low voice. “They will react badly.”

You rolled your eyes as you grabbed your worn out bag to gather what little stuff you possessed, and in the meantime Alma shifted her gaze towards Viktor.

He squirmed under the intensity of her scrutinizing, her eyes flickering to the cane under his hand, the clothes he was wearing were decent for Piltover but a luxury in Zaun. Nothing on his person was out of place, yet her blank stare made him feel inadequate, unworthy of you.

She clicked her tongue. “You’ve not come back in years.”

He pursed his lips. He had mentally prepared himself for the older woman’s questioning, knowing how protective she was of you. “I apologize, I have been busy.”

Her blue eyes narrowed, in search of any trace of deceit on his face, when she found none she nodded in understanding.

She seemed to ponder over something, and then sighed. “Promise me you’ll take care of her, please.”

He smiled. “Of course I will. But if you don’t trust me, you’re more than welcome to visit us.”

Viktor pulled out a folded piece of paper that he gave her, and when Alma opened it her eyes crinkled in amusement.

“You’ve thought about everything.” She chuckled as she wiggled the paper with the directions to his apartment drawn onto it.

He shrugged nonchalantly. Of course he had. It was not like he had spent countless hours during boring lectures way below his level fantasizing about how he was going to come whisk you away.

Alma noticed the way your eyes were shining as you played with the ring on your finger, and it finished convincing her.

“She’s lucky to have you.”

He wondered who was really the luckiest.

Flanked by Viktor, you said your goodbyes to the club you had spent most of your life in once the show was over. Hugs and tearful affectionate words were exchanged between you and the dancers. The barman told you how he was going to miss your singing. Rick, the bouncer, gave you a friendly pat on the back with a stern nod, yet Viktor noticed the way his eyes glistened.

You had always had the talent to make everyone around you like you. No matter how brash and rough you could be, your heart shone bright and your smile could win everyone over.

Alma accompanied you outside, and she pulled you in a bone breaking hug. Her voice was a bit breathless as she told you. “When times are hard and you feel lost, remember that you have a family down here.”

You nodded. Your throat felt tight, and the hands holding your bag trembled slightly.

“Who wants a family like that?” You mumbled, flustered. “You sucked at taking care of me as a kid. It’s a miracle I’m still alive.”

Alma stifled a laugh as she pinched your cheek, and you let her do it with an exasperated roll of your eyes.

She released you to smile at Viktor. “You too, Viktor. Don’t be a stranger.”

His eyes widened slightly, surprised by the care she had for him. “I won’t.”

So you slung your bag over your shoulder as Viktor spun on his heels, and you fell into steps as you walked towards the elevator. Alma watched you leave, and only when you were out of sight she went back inside the cabaret.

For the whole walk you kept glancing at Viktor, still processing how he had entered your life again to flip it around.

“Do you know where you would like to work?” Viktor asked, honey eyes landing on you.

A few seconds passed as you thought about the answer, the silence only broken by the sound of his cane hitting the pavement.

“I don’t know… I have no real talent besides singing.”

He quirked a brow, as if offended on your behalf. “That’s simply not true.”

“Oh.” You mirrored his expression. “Then please enlighten me, mister assistant to the dean.”

You stepped inside the lift as he began. “You are very emotionally intelligent, you can figure out someone just with a short conversation with them. You are so very charming, you could have anyone wrapped around you fing–” The cage jolted as it began its ascent, causing him to stumble. Your hand shot up to catch his arm and help him to regain his balance. “Thank you. You are also very athletic. Sure you sing beautifully, but you are also very good at danc–”

“Okay, okay! I get it!” You cried as you hid your face in your palms. “That was so embarrassing.”

You missed the smirk on his face at your flustered state. “Unfortunately, you are absolutely incompetent at taking a compliment.”

“Shut up or I’ll throw your damn cane in the water.” You spit out your empty threat at Viktor, whom kept grinning.

You began your walk on the bridge leading to Piltover, heart pounding as you stepped foot on an uncharted territory for you. You couldn’t help bending your neck uncomfortably to gaze at the stars, eyes wide and mouth open in awe.

“They’re beautiful.” The words left your mouth, a bit breathless.

“You can enjoy them every night from now on.”

You still had a hard time believing all of this was real, so you merely nodded as you crossed the gate and followed him inside the city.

“When are we…” you wriggled your hands as you struggled to form your thoughts. “You know.”

“Getting married?” He asked, deeply amused.

“Yeah. That.”

He hummed. “I’m not sure yet. We need to find two witnesses from Piltover and to book a date with the director of the administration of matrimonies.”

“Wow. You really thought about everything.”

“We need to be prepared.” He replied as he looked away.

You looked around at the flawless, beautiful buildings, the golden accents around the windows and the flowers adorning the balconies. The street lights casted a gentle glow, making your surroundings seem even more ethereal.

You had never felt more out of place.

As he led you through a busy avenue, you couldn’t help but shrink under the curious gaze of the topsiders. You were sticking out like a sore thumb, dressed in shorts that could have very well been underwear, an old, ratty sweatshirt and a beaten up pair of sneakers. You were glad you had removed the heavy makeup you usually wear on stage, but your hair was still covered in the sticky glitter you spray on every night.

Your grip tightened on the straps of your bag. Their judgmental gaze gave you the urge to run back to the lift and forget about ever setting foot again in Piltover.

A warm hand suddenly grabbed your shoulder, and you looked up to meet Viktor’s worried gaze.

“Are you alright?” He asked gently.

His touch set your heart racing, and you squirmed, overwhelmed.

“They’re looking at me like I’m a diseased rat.” You mumbled, suddenly feeling silly once you voiced your thoughts. “Guess I have undercity trash written all over my face.”

He looked around, and noticed that most of them were not judging, but directing their gaze towards your naked legs and the part of your ass peaking underneath the shorts. Annoyance brewed in his gut, and he shrugged off his coat, balancing his weight on his good leg to place the coat on your shoulders.

“There.” He said, and you gawked at him.

“You’re gonna get cold, idiot.” You mumbled as you hid the darkening of your cheeks.

“We’re almost there.” He shrugged. “And you’re welcome.”

“… Thank you.”

After a few minutes spent into silence, you came to a stop in front of an apartment complex. Viktor pulled out a set of keys and used a golden one to unlock the tall mahogany door. You watched curiously the golden cogs spin and the door slowly open by itself. Viktor seem to study your every reaction since you had come out of the elevator, his light curious eyes determined to watch you experience every new thing.

You tried to ignore him, or else he would watch you experience a heart attack.

You took another elevator to the third floor, and you walked down a pristine corridor to reach a white door. Viktor grabbed another key, and then after unlocking the door he pushed it open and let you in first.

“Welcome home.” He said with a soft smile.

You silently entered the apartment, wide eyes looking around. The apartment was fairly large to accommodate two people comfortably. The windows were tall, reaching to the ceiling and offering a gorgeous view of the city. There seemed to be the bare minimum to furnish the apartment. The kitchen didn’t seem to be used often, and you even noticed that he never bothered to take off the protecting sheet over a chair.

“What do you think?” He asked as he grabbed the coat from your shoulders to hang it right next to the door.

You smiled innocently at him. “Can I be mean?”

He concealed his amusement and nodded.

“This place looks like it has never been lived in. Seriously, you still have moving boxes.” You made your way the dusty pile. “I’m sure if I opened one of them I can still find stuff in– fuck’s sake I was right!” You laughed as you peered at the dinnerware still in the box. “How the hell do you eat? Do you bite into a raw chicken as a snack?”

He rolled his eyes. “I eat at the Academy’s cafeteria, it’s free for the staff.”

“Do you even know how to boil an egg?”
You asked.

He stared at you blankly. “…of course I do.”

“Okay..” You smirked as you placed a hand on your hip. “How long do you have to boil it?”

Silence fell, and his eyes narrowed comically as he thought hard.

“Eight…” He trailed off, gauging your reaction, when you quirked a brow he changed his answer. “Ten?”

“Ten what? Seconds? Minutes? Hours?”

You stifled a laugh at how irked he looked, his pride wounded over something so ridiculous. “I don’t like eggs anyway.” He grumbled as he set his cane against the wall and opened another box. “Your bedroom is at the bottom of the corridor if you want to unpack.”

Your bedroom? You wouldn’t share his?

“Is there an issue?” He asked when he saw your face fall.

Of course, he didn’t see you like that. He was just respecting the promise he made to a friend.

“No– no.” You mumbled as you grabbed your bag. “I’ll do that right now.”

He watched you disappear out of the living room, and soon he heard the drawers being pulled and the sound of your footsteps as you organized your room. He hoped you liked the bedsheets and curtains he picked out for you, the room was pretty bare so he could let you decorate how you pleased.

He filled up the pantry with the dinning-ware, and he smiled when he heard you hum to yourself, your voice traveling down the corridor.

It was even sweeter than in his dreams.

Chapter Text

Viktor awoke to the sound of metal hitting the ground, followed by a very melodic “Fuck!”

He quickly threw on some clothes and left his bedroom, curious about your whereabouts, and found you in the kitchen rummaging through the drawers with your lower lip stuck between your teeth in frustration.

The chair creaked as he sat down on a chair, and your head shot up to look at him with wide eyes. “Sorry.” You cringed. “I didn’t mean to wake you up.”

“Do not fret.” He dismissed your apology with a smile and a wave of his hand. “What are you searching for so frantically?”

You opened another drawer. “A whisk.” 

“Hm.” He narrowed his eyes, his mind ,still fogged with sleep, tried to remember where he put it the night prior. “The cabinet, top right.”

“Thank you.” You grinned as you opened the cabinet and grabbed the utensil. “Good morning, by the way. Did you sleep well?”

Head resting on his fist, he managed a weak grunt as an answer, tearing a laugh out of you. 

“Still not a morning person I see.” You said fondly as you cracked an egg into a bowl. 

Amber eyes opened slightly to peer at you,  dressed in only your underwear and a large shirt full of holes like you were not standing a few feet away from a single, and very interested, man. 

He was used to seeing your body, as you always danced in very revealing outfits, but it didn’t make it any less hard to not look at your legs, or the lovely curves peaking under the shirt.

When others would have felt awkward living with a person they had not seen in year in an unfamiliar environment, you were acting like you had always lived here, unbothered. It sparked a warmth inside of him. 

You were always so… what was the word… 

Casual.

That’s it.

You were always strangely casual.

He popped out of nowhere after years of radio silence, asked you to marry him and follow him in a completely new territory, and you just said yes without asking any questions and packed your bags immediately.

Like the people at the cabaret, your people, never mattered to you. 

And even Alma barely protested, the one that raised you like you were her own. Everyone was so relieved to see you leave…

It was just so strange.

It made him feel weird, like he was missing something… something grave.

But you seemed so happy, humming a little tune to yourself a you added the flour to your mix. You did it so clumsily some landed on your face and shirt, and you reacted with a ‘oof’ as you made a face.

You turned to find him staring at you, still deep in thoughts, and mistook it for judgement. “If I hear one little snicker from you I swear…” You threatened as you wiped your face with a rag. 

“How have you been?” 

The question caught you off guard, and you blinked as you processed the question. “Uh?”

“It’s just…” He rubbed his neck as he tried to choose the right words. “I haven’t asked how you’ve been faring during the years I have been away.”

“Oh..” you shrugged, again, casually. Yet he caught the way your eyes drifted away from him to look at the dough in your little bowl. “Nothing really interesting, my days were just working, practicing and sleeping. We’ve been struggling a bit since Liana died.”

Oh, you still called your mother by her first name.

He remembered her, a cold woman that had a hard time expressing her feelings, especially towards you. She caught an illness right before Viktor left for the Academy, and her death was one of the many reasons he made the promise to get you out of the undercity.

“Struggling?” He repeated. “How so?”

Lips still speckled with flour pursed, followed by a shrug. “Some left the cabaret. Like Mabel and Delilah, you remember them, right?”

Ah, the two other singers that were with you, always mocking him when they saw Viktor fiddling with his inventions. They were mean to him most of the time, yet they seemed to be extremely invested in Viktor and your relationship.

“Yes, I do.” He tilted his head in curiosity. “What happened to them? I reckoned Mabel wanted to take over the club after your mother retired.”

“…”

He watched you suddenly wilt, your shoulder sagged in defeat and you silently poured some of your batter in the skillet. The fizzling of the pancake cooking the only sound filling the room.

“Dunno, they left.”

“Why?” He asked softly, his worried eyes studying you.

Your grip around your fork tightened. “Don’t know, don’t care.”

You knew. 

He wanted to press, but you looked so sad and angry that he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Not when he just got you back. 

The questioning could wait a bit. 

Viktor grabbed his cane, grunting a bit under the effort of pulling himself up, and walked over to the pantry. “I have something I believe you might enjoy… you should definitely try it.”

“Ooh, what is it?” You peeked over his shoulder.

“Caramelized milk.” He held the jar up to her face. 

“That sounds…” Your eyes narrowed in disgust. “Weird.”

He smirked. “Oh, you will regret those words.” 

You recognized the challenging glint in his amber eyes, and you quirked a brow in answer. The jar was snatched from his hand, and you went to spread some on a pancake.

He leaned against the counter and watched you cut a piece and pop it into your mouth. 

The caramelized milk melted on your tongue like candy, it tasted sweet, even more so with the fluffy pancakes.

And Viktor smirked when your eyes widened in awe. 

“It’s so good!” You exclaimed around a mouthful of food.

He looked absolutely smug, and he seemed to savor the words when he uttered. “I told you so.”

“Shut your damn mouth.” You threw an inoffensive glare at him as you spread more of the sugary treat on your pancake. “Where did you get this?”

“The market downtown. It’s famous in– oh, thank you.” He took the full plate you gave him. “Eeh…I don’t think I can eat that much.” 

The look you gave him left no room for arguments. “Something tells me you’re not usually eating breakfast.”

His fingers absentmindedly traced the messy equations and notes he had written on the light wood of the kitchen counter over the months he had lived alone. “I should find a way to cover that…” He deflected the conversation. “With some paint, perhaps…”

“No, don’t.” You shrugged. “It looks cool, ‘don’t understand any of it,– but I like it. You’re so worried about forgetting your idea that you just write it on the first surface that you can find.”

He smiled, guilty as charged. Your finger traced the numbers of an equation. “What’s does this mean?”

Viktor smiled. “Ah, this one is the theory of the entropy of magic.” 

“The what?” You asked, brows furrowed in confusion.

“Entropy is chaos, to make it simple.” He explained in a soft voice. “All living beings use energy to organize their systems, chaos meaning death. Magic entities behave the same way… see here?” He pointed at a strange symbol under a horizontal bar. “The mean energy stocked in one Hextech crystal is inversely proportional to the entropy of the resources it was made out of. So that means that you have to create the crystal, and magic, at the expense of something else. To sum it up, magic destroys to survive.”

Unable to understand what he was explaining, you were satisfied with just studying his face as he spoke. His voice was a bit breathy because of the pace at which he talked, passionate and excited. 

His hands moved frantically to punctuate his phrases, and you couldn’t help the way your heart melt at how happy he looked.

You wished you could be more like him.

He noticed your staring, and cleared his throat as he stood up to pour himself some coffee.

“So… What are we doing today?”

“Oh-” he smiled sheepishly. “We shall go buy some new items for you and we will stop on the way to the store to meet Jayce.”

“Who’s Jayce?” 

“Jayce Tallis, my partner.” He answered, bringing his mug to his lips to take a sip. 

You furrowed your brows, the name not ringing any bell. 

“The founder of Hextech?” Viktor asked, amused. 

“Oh…” you nodded in understanding as you swiped your finger on the butter knife to collect the leftover milk jam to pop it into your mouth. “Cool.”

Viktor would never admit it aloud, but he found your lack of reaction at the mention of his friend really refreshing. Usually people would gape or act like Jayce could turn water into wine, and Viktor had to answer a plethora of ridiculous questions. 

“So why are we meeting him today?”

“I would like to ask him to be my witness.” 

“Damn.” You whistled in admiration. “Little old me is marrying one of the creators of Hextech and the other one is our witness. That’s bonkers.”

Viktor stifled a laugh. “I missed the undercity’s vernacular.” 

“Be honest an say you missed me.” You winked, and he hid his blushing face behind his mug as you sauntered away, unaware how your flirty words rang true. “You’re doing the dishes!” You called over your shoulder. 

“… Very well.” He mumbled, still flustered.

***

After two years, Jayce believed he knew Viktor like the back of his hand. 

Hence, he was a bit taken aback when the hard working man had suddenly told him one day that he was going to take a day off, the first one he had ever taken. 

Naturally, he was not really surprised to see Viktor enter the lab on his day off. He had numerous fights with him about the facts that he was unable to take a break, and even if his work never suffered from it he could see the toll it was taking on his body. 

So when he heard the door open and the familiar sound of the cane hitting the ground, he sighed, ready to yell at him. 

He swung on his chair. “Viktor, if you do not get out of this lab I swear I will–” 

Jayce fell silent when his eyes fell on the girl trailing behind Viktor, looking around the room in curiosity.

“It will not take long.” Viktor smiled sheepishly. “I am not here to work.”

Jayce stifled a laugh. “I never thought I would hear this coming from your mouth.” As Viktor rolled his eyes, he leaned sideways to peer at you. “Who’s this? Is she from the academy?”

“Eh, no.” Viktor suddenly appeared nervous, shuffling and readjusting his cravat. He then placed a hand on your shoulder. “This is my fiancé.”

Jayce barely registered your name when Viktor told him. Too busy picking up his own jaw from the ground. 

You waved at him as you squeaked a “Hi.” but Jayce still did not react, gaping at you like you just sprouted horns.

“Fiancé?” Jayce repeated.

“Yes.” Viktor quirked a brow.

“As in, you’re going to marry her?”

“Is there another definition of Fiancé I’m unaware of?” 

You glared at Viktor as a message for him to tone down the sarcasm, but he seemed too amused to acknowledge you.

“Hold on–” Jayce rubbed his temples like his head began aching. “Why do I hear about this only now? I wasn’t even aware you were in a relationship.”

You exchanged a look with Viktor. “That’s… eh… because we were not romantically involved before I asked for her hand yesterday.”

Jayce froze, eyes comically wide as he processed the information Viktor unceremoniously dumped on him. You thought for a moment the news had broken the scientist, but then he yelled “SKY!” 

A dark skinned woman with her hair in a bun poked her head in the room. “Yes, Jayce?”

“Can you make us some tea, please?” He asked her.

“We were not planning on staying long.” Viktor gently protested. “We just require your help regarding–”

“You will stay to answer my questions.” Jayce narrowed his eyes at Viktor sternly. “Sit down, both of you.”

You both obliged, exchanging worried glances.

“It’s very nice to meet you, by the way.” Jayce told you, and you gave him a crooked smile as you responded with a quiet. “Likewise.”

He looked absolutely betrayed as he crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. “I want to know why my friend hid this very important information from me, when he knows absolutely everything about…” Jayce trailed off with a pointed look. “You–know–who.” 

“I did not consent to hear all about your little crush on councilwoman Medar–” Jayce interrupted Viktor with a “SHHH!!!” as he pointed at you.

You blinked, unaware of what was going on while Viktor rolled his eyes –he seemed to do this around Jayce a lot–. 

“I did not inform you about my intentions because you would have been opposed.”

Jayce furrowed his brows. “Why?” 

The conversation was paused as the girl from earlier came back with a tray, her eyes seemed to linger on Viktor, and once they landed on you she studied you curiously. 

“Thank you.” Jayce smiled at her when she placed the tray on the only space on his desk not littered with paper and junk. 

When the door closed, Viktor picked up the conversation. “Because… this is not a conventional marriage for Piltover.”

This seemed to intrigue Jayce. “How so?” 

You were positively sweating bullets, nervous about the reaction of someone important to Viktor. You knew who you were, and where you came from, and you knew who Jayce was and how he was going to perceive you. 

So you were fearing his reaction, wringing your hands and trying to sit properly, your big mouth shut for once.

“It is a… marriage of convenience. My friend here is from the Undercity, and I promised her to get her out a few years ago.”

The few seconds of silence that followed felt like years to you, and you instantly noticed the shift in Jayce’s attitude.

His light brown eyes landed on you, studying you like a cop would a suspect. His gaze lingered on your unprofessional, messy clothes that had seen better days, your discolored sneakers and your awkward pose. 

And then he saw the bright blue jewel on your finger, obviously an item you could not afford even if you worked your whole life for it, and the corned of his mouth twitched down in disapproval.

Your heart plummeted. 

You already were feeling so out of place in this advanced laboratory, surrounded by luxury and rich geniuses when you could barely read and count. Yet now, under Jayce’s judgmental gaze, you felt even more inadequate.

“That is… very illegal.” Jayce tried to choose his words wisely, especially since Viktor seemed to have already made up his mind. “If someone hears you’re marrying her just so she can get a citizenship, you could lose your own.”

Head shooting up in shock, you stared at a very unaffected Viktor. “I am aware.” He responded. 

“That’s all?” Jayce quirked a brow. “Do you even love each other?”

Viktor and you both remained silent, yet Jayce mistook it as a ‘no’. “This is ridiculous, you cannot tie yourself to someone you can’t love for life.”

Your grip tightened on your hands as Viktor gritted his teeth. “You wouldn’t understand, Jayce. We’ve already made our decision. Can you please be our witness?”

“Viktor, I don’t know her.” Jayce speaking as if you weren’t there caused your blood to start boiling. “And you want me to vow for you two? She could be dangerous!”

“What, because she’s from the undercity?” Viktor’s face seemed angrier as the conversation unfolded. “I am also from there and you trust me!”

“It’s not the same for you!”

“What is the difference?!”

“Okay, fucking enough!” 

Your voice suddenly rendered them silent, and they gaped at you as you jumped to your feet. “You’re exactly like I imagines topsiders. Self-centered and superficial assholes!” You barked at a bewildered Jayce. “I’m not a fucking gold digger threatening Viktor into marrying me, fuck you!” 

As you began marching out of the room, Viktor grabbed his cane to try to stop you. “Wait, Dove.” He called you, but you ignored him, door slamming behind you.

Viktor turned to Jayce to glare at him. “Good job.” 

The taller male sighed in defeat as he rubbed his forehead. “Sorry, Vik… But how did you expect me to react? I don’t know who she is to you!”

“I am not planning to marry her because she wants a citizenship, I want to marry her because she is a wonderful woman that deserves a much better life.” Viktor grunted as he left his seat. “I know what I’m doing, you can trust my decisions. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to find her.”

“Wait!” Jayce followed him. “I’ll join you, I would like to have a genuine talk with her.”

Viktor’s anger calmed down at his friend’s words, he seemed to want to smooth things over with you, so maybe you would still be willing to marry him.

He just hoped this ordeal didn’t make you change your mind. 

“By the way, I assume she’s unaware of your feelings towards her.” Jayce grinned.

Viktor tripped on his cane and almost fell over

Chapter Text

The worn out tiles of the roof of the cabaret dug uncomfortably into your thighs. The stuffy, cold air of the undercity made you shiver, naked legs dangling, feet covered in soiled bandages. Unfortunately, this place was the only one where you were never bothered, so you made due with what you had.

You gazed at the pavement a few stories below you. And made the same remark to yourself each time you looked at them.

Not high enough, but maybe if I dive head first…

“Are you going to jump?” A small voice broke the calmness of the evening, startling you slightly. 

You snapped your head to find a twelve year old girl gazing at you, her messy blue hair tied in two braids reaching her collarbone, a clip made of scraps from the dump preventing her growing bang from falling into her face. Her blue eyes studied you like a hawk as she plopped down next to you, the tiles groaning under her weight.

You scoffed as you put a bottle of rhum you stole from the bar up to your mouth. “Nah. Sorry to disappoint, kid.”

She tilted her head. “But you want to.” 

You remained silent as you busied yourself by taking a swig of the alcohol. It left a burning trail as it went down your throat, and you cringed in discomfort. “What do you want, Powder?”

She narrowed her eyes at you. “Jinx.” She corrected you. “And you haven’t come down to say hello to us. That’s not very nice.”

“Ehh…” You gritted your teeth. “That’s because I’d rather chew my own foot than see Silco’s rat face.” Silence. “No offense.” You added as an afterthought.

“You don’t like Silco, but he’s the one bringing you clients.” The twelve year old tapped her finger on her lip as she threw you a sly look. “Clients are good for business.”

You scrunched your nose in disgust. “He’s not bringing clients. He’s just making us sell his shit. Mabel is acting weird since a client made him take some.”

“At least Silco’s trying to save Zaun.” Powder said as she played with her small braids. “Some of us should take notes.” 

“Damn, can’t a girl be miserable in peace anymore?” You grumbled as you drank more. “Go play with your fucking bombs or something. I highly disapprove, by the way. You could seriously hurt yourself.”

“I highly disapprove, by the way.” Powder mocked you very childishly, and it tore a laugh out of you.

“I do not have that voice.” 

“Oh, by the way–” She pulled out a small bag out of her pocket, opened it and unceremoniously dumped the content on the roof. You reached out hurriedly to grab the tubes of lipsticks, mascara and eyeliner before they tumbled to the ground. “Found those bad boys while I was robbing an apartment in topside.”

“Ooh.” You uncapped a lipstick tube to gaze at the pink color. “Pretty. Thank you. We were starting to run low.”

“What do I get in payment this time?” 

“A client gave me her watch yesterday.” You said as you tested the color of the lipstick on your wrist. “You can take it, maybe you can use the mechanism. It’s on my dresser.”

She whistled. “Cool.” 

You expected Powder to leave you to get her prize, instead she remained by your side, staring at you as she tilted her head. 

Her gaze unnerved you, and you couldn’t help the way your skin crawled each time she laid eyes on you. She was a highly intelligent kid. A genius stranded in a slum that had nothing else to entertain her brain than to fiddle with her weapons and study everyone around her.

She used to be naive and easy going when Vander and her sister were still around. But since the night the explosion at the old warehouse rattled the walls of your bedroom, the night Vander died and the children went missing, she came back changed.

You didn’t like what she was turning into, and you feared for her. 

“Why are you not jumping, if you want to so bad?”

Ah, back to the blunt questioning.

“Because I’m waiting for someone.”

“Who?”

“You don’t know him.”

“Him?” She repeated, leaning forward in interest. “And when is he coming back?”

“Probably never.” You smiled. “He’s better off as far away from this Hell as he can be.”

“I don’t get it. You want him to never come back but you’re waiting for him?”

She looked at you as if you were the insane one.

You shrugged. “I hope to see him again one day. That’s what’s keeping my ass on this roof, I guess.”

“So what, you’re just going to be miserable until he comes back?”

“Sounds like a plan.” You took another swig, your belly was starting to feel pleasantly warm, helping you ignore the hunger since you couldn’t afford more than two small meals a day. 

“Hm…” She shook her head disapprovingly as if she were the one a decade older than you. “Well, as long as you don’t…” She mimicked you falling down with her hands, and then yelled. “Splat!” As she spread her hands.

“I mean, if I did, you’d get all my stuff.” You smirked.

“Even if the idea is tempting… you’re one of the only people that is nice to me, so don’t go ‘splat’ yet.” 

You placed the bottle on your lap and used your now free hand to gently pet her head of blue hair. “Please tell Silco to stop delivering us barrel after barrel of his shit.”

Powder huffed as she leaned into your touch. “I guess I can try.”

You smiled. “Thank you, Powder.” 

“It’s Jinx.”

“If you say so, kiddo.” 

You heard her climb down the ladder, and your gaze returned to your naked legs dangling from the roof. 

You blinked the memory away as you studied your legs now clad in your jeans, the same beaten up sneakers you repaired times and times again, worn out from years of use. Instead of the roof of the club, you were sitting on a ledge hidden behind the large cogs and gears of a mechanism, the sound of the waterfall below you grounding you into reality. The jewel on your finger glimmered as if mocking you for even daring to wear it. 

You felt bad, the memory churning your guts and making your eyes sting. 

Powder might be wondering where you had disappeared, she liked to sell to the dancers clothes, jewelry or makeup she stole each time she ventured where the air was clean and the sky blue. She was probably wondering why someone else was sitting at your vanity, where you had disappeared to and if you had abandoned her like everyone else did.

And what about the others at the Daydream? Sure, Alma was a natural leader with strong shoulders, but your mother had planned for you to inherit the club after her passing. Could Alma really handle the club’s growing issues and Silco’s tyranny all alone? 

This was ridiculous. You felt selfish, playing the Piltie while you had people counting on you down there. 

But then you felt like if you came back you would be breaking Alma’s heart, she seemed so relieved to see you escaping the disease infested city. You had finally a future, a chance at a happy ending, and you didn’t want to disappoint her.

Perhaps you could come check on the club from time to time… check on Powder..

“Careful here–” The masculine voice tore you out of your thoughts, and your head snapped to find the large frame of Jayce standing next to you. “You might slip and fall.”

“Oh,” You tried to hide your disappointment but failed. “Hextech guy.”

He rolled his eyes in mocked exasperation. “It’s Jayce. Here.” He sat down on a broken pillar and placed a strange pastry on a tissue besides you.

“What’s that?” You asked as you picked up the food with the tip of your fingers like it would burn you, your eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“A peace offering.” He stated, and when he saw your face he smirked. “It’s not poisoned, why would I bother? A little kick is all I would need right now to get rid of you.” 

“Try and you’re going down with me, golden boy.” You grumbled before biting down on the pastry, and you couldn’t stop in time the moan of delight. “Shit, that’s good.” 

He snorted. “You’re vulgar.” 

“You’re a shithead.” 

You just said the insult so casually, like you were speaking about the weather, causing him to choke on his spit. He erupted in coughs as he hit his chest. “Well… I should apologize for the way I behaved… Viktor means a lot to me, he saved my life and I feel like I owe him.”

You wanted to pry, but this didn’t feel like the right moment to ask. He was making an effort, so you felt like you could do the same. “…I guess I shouldn’t have yelled at you back there.” You muttered uncomfortably.

“Hey, may I ask a question?”

“You may.”

He leaned forward, feet firmly planted in the ground as his elbows dug in the flesh of his thighs. “Is Viktor just a means to an end to you?” 

The question made you pause, the half eaten pastry hovering in front of your closed mouth. Your eyes met his, serious and picking apart every micro expression your face made. 

You swallowed thickly, your tongue already forming a joke or a half assed lie to save your pride and your heart. Yet something in Jayce’s eyes told you to be honest, because he genuinely cared about Viktor, and you owed him the truth.

“He…” You casted your eyes downwards under his intense gaze, your fingers breaking little pieces of the muffin off to occupy your hands. “If he had never left the undercity, I would have still said yes.” 

You quirked your head up to check his reaction, your heart hammering inside your chest, expecting him to laugh or look down at you in disgust. Instead Jayce’s gaze softened, and he smiled warmly.

The echoing sound of a cane hitting the ground in a rhythmic pace alerted you, and you threw Jayce a pleading look. “If you tell him I will crush those freakishly white teeth of yours under my heel.”

He stifled a laugh at your empty threat. “Don’t worry, your little secret is safe with me.” He said as he got up, and disappeared behind the large golden gears. 

He met Viktor in the corridor. “I found her outside, behind the old mechanism of the vault’s door.” 

“Does she seem upset?” He asked, lips pursed in worry.

“We had a nice talk.” He smiled. “Everything’s fine.”

The smaller man sighed in relief, his boney fingers carding through his thick brown hair. “Thank–.”

“Do not thank me yet.”

Viktor quirked a thick brow, and Jayce grinned in answer. “My family name might not be the most powerful in Piltover… But I believe it can be enough to legitimize your marriage.” 

“Are you saying…” Viktor trailed off, golden eyes wide in surprise. 

“Now you may thank me.” Jayce winked. “By the way, have you already got a witness for little miss sunshine over there?”

“Not yet.” He sighed frustratingly. “I may have an idea, but–”

“Leave it to me.” Jayce smirked. 

Viktor crossed his arms with a deadpan look. “Okay, what do you want?”

“What?” Jayce gasped dramatically. “Can I be nice without expecting anything in return?”

Viktor only stared back blankly, and Jayce sighed. “Okay, I need to borrow your plasma soldering iron. Buut-” He elbowed the skinny man, whom stumbled from the strength of his burly friend. “It is worth it, right? You get to marry little miss spitfire and I get to make flawless welds. I never expected her to be your type but… now that I have been thinking about it, it does make sense–”

“–You can take the cursed tool! Just quit talking!” Viktor hissed, eyes snapping in your direction in worry. 

Jayce grinned as he slung an arm around his shoulders. “You won’t regret it, my friend.” 

Viktor already knew he was going to regret ever involving Jayce.

Chapter Text

“I look ridiculous.”

Your reflection in the mirror felt familiar but foreign, as if you were crossing paths with someone you haven’t seen in years. Your critical gaze assessed with distaste the white dress shirt you were wearing, the burgundy jacket with fine golden embroidery and the skirt hugging your hips. You felt utterly embarrassed to be wearing such a display of opulence when the price of the gold buttons was enough to buy food for a week.

Viktor looked up from the notes he was taking, his lips curling in a warm smile at the sight of you looking like a regular Piltovian woman.

Your hair was held back by an intricate pin, revealing more of your delicate neck, as if inviting him to trace it with the tip of his fingers, tangle a lock of hair around them and checking if your scent matched what he imagined.

“You, eh– you look great.” He said, and silently cursed at the slight wobble of his voice.

Heart skipping a beat, you avoided looking at Viktor so he wouldn’t notice how three simple words in his lovely accent could completely wreck your composure.
“Whatever, it’s too expensive anyway. I don’t know how I could ever repay you…” You pointed at the pile of boxes full of clothes on the living room table that were threatening to topple over at any time. “You bought me so many too! Seriously…”

Your exasperation only succeeded in further amusing him. “You needed the clothes.” He simply answered with a shrug. “And no need to repay me, I earn enough to afford them. What’s mine is yours.”

You wiped your sweaty palms on your skirt as you hid the flush in your cheeks. It felt like Viktor’s mission today was to see how much blood could rush to your cheeks before you would pass out. “Then can I have that Hexgate thing you’re working on?”

He stifled a laugh. “No, You may not have the very confidential prototype you’re not supposed to know about.”

“Oh,” Your voice took a smug tone as you spun on your heels to face him. “But you just said that what’s yours is mine.”

He stared at you in a mix of hilarity and disbelief, as if he had a hard time processing the speed at which you just completely took advantage of his words.

You bent forward to get in his space, your nose brushing against his. “I feel like you just lied to me, Vik. Are you a liar?”

Right at this moment, Viktor was persuaded you were a mage, because the way your breath fanned over his mouth put him in a trance. Your warm eyes bore into his, as if they could see through the walls he put up to hide how deep your own name was carved in his soul.

He wanted to shut you up, cross the inch separating you to press his lips against yours and steal your breath away. His hands felt numb and shaky, and his chest about to burst.

But then you suddenly pulled away as your fingers rushed to unbutton your collar. “Phew! It’s warm in here.” You muttered with a scowl betraying your discomfort as you made your way into your bedroom to change into indoor clothes.

Viktor was too dazed to remark that he had yet to turn on any heat source in the apartment.

As hours passed – and his mind finally mended back together –, he began to notice your strange behavior.

You were abnormally sweating during dinner, it reached a point where your fork slipped from your fingers and clattered loudly against the plate. Your trembling fingers grabbed a hanker chief as you angrily wiped your palms on it.

“Are you okay?” Viktor asked, and you dismissed his worry with a smile and a wave of your hands as you answered. “Yeah, I’m just hot.”

“Do you… want to open the window?”

“No, no. Thank you. It’ll pass.”

Ten minutes later and you began shivering, Viktor was growing more and more worried as he watched your skin pale. “That’s it. We’re going to the physician.” Viktor put down his glass of water and reached to grab the handle of his cane. “You’re obviously not feeling good.”

“No!”

The chair dragged against the wooden floor as you jumped to your feet, eyes wide in panic. It startled him. “I’m good, I promise.” You rushed to say. “I just need to take a shower and go to bed.”

Before he could even protest you all but ran out of the kitchen, legs slightly stumbling. “You don’t need a shower, you need a doct–” The bathroom door slammed closed, and he heard you lock it. “–or.”

His fingers drummed nervously against his cane. Was he overreacting? Maybe you were just catching a cold.

But then why were you against seeing a doctor?

He decided to clean up your untouched food and do the dishes, yet after ten minutes he still didn’t hear the shower running.

***

Fuck. Fuck. FUCK.

You were so screwed.

Teeth digging into your lip, you muffled a pained whimper as your muscles cramped up, feeling like your limbs were being pulled apart. Your hands were trembling so badly you had trouble moving your fingers.

Suddenly your stomach lurched, and you slapped a hand over your mouth as you gagged. The bile rose, leaving a burning trail on its path, but you still managed to not vomit.

Your mind was going haywire, spiraling out of control and making it hard to form a coherent thought. You stifled a sob as tears ran down your sweaty face, burning your already too hot skin.

Suddenly a knock made you jump, followed by a masculine voice calling you name in a questioning tone.

“What?!” You answered in a clipped tone, pacing back and forth as you rubbed your sweaty palms on your shorts.

Go away, go away, go away. Please just go away.

“What is happening to you? You’re worrying me…”

“I’m fine! Leave me alone!”

The pain in your leg muscles suddenly flared up, causing you to buckle down with a groan of pain, hands scrambling to hold on the sink. Viktor obviously heard it, because he fell silent on the other side of the door.

You slid down the floor, curling up in a bowl as you began rocking to comfort yourself.

Everything ache from your scalp to the tip of your toes, a deep, burning sensation as if your body was cooked from the inside. Your breathing quickened as you feared if this was never going to end.

You needed to leave, run back to the undercity and find Silc–

…

Something felt strange in your mouth. Like a tooth was coming loose.

“Oh no–” You gasped. “No. No. No. No.”

As your fingers clumsily reached inside your mouth, you vaguely heard your name being yelled. You search you mouth for the missing teeth, heart threatening to burst as you sobbed loudly, flashes of you spitting them out sending your mind spiraling again.

Something clattered to the ground, and a pair of warm hands grabbed your shoulders to make you look up. You pushed them away, feeling like the contact was burning you.
“Calm down– it’s me! I won’t hurt you!”

The voice made your wild eyes snap up to meet scared golden brown ones. Viktor looked terrified as he realized the state you were in.

“My t–teeth.” You whispered, shoulders violently trembling. “I’m loosing my teeth. Can you put them back in?”

He gently made you open your mouth to check, and found them all still in place. His brows furrowed as he seemed to be thinking about something, meanwhile you leaned away from his touch, muttering in disgust how hot his skin was.

He watched you rub your arms like you were trying to alleviate a soreness in your biceps. Hair stuck to your forehead like you had recently ran in the rain. Your skin was pale and ashy, and you shivered violently again.

He suddenly seem to come to a realization as his face fell and his eyes dimmed in sorrow.

“I’ll be right back.” He muttered, the clicking of the cane echoing in your skull, making you cringe in pain,

Next thing you know, you felt calloused fingers making you part your lips, followed by the refreshing sensation of water as you drank greedily, barely stopping to breathe before you went back for more.

A cool towel wiped your sweat and tears away, and then you heard a sigh as the cool and plush material left your skin.

“What did you take?” He asked gently.

Your head fell against the tiled wall, sighing in relief at the coolness it provided. “Uh?” You answered, and he gave you a tired look that left no room for lies.

“I know what withdrawal looks like.”

Your blood froze, and it felt like time stopped as you stared back in shock.

The shame, the fear, the ache, it all came crashing down on you at once. Viktor witnessed you crumbling in a second, eyes welling up and your lips wobbling. “I’m sorry–” Your apology was interrupted by a soul shattering sob, and it was what broke Viktor.

He wrapped his arms around you tightly, shoulders shaking in what you assumed was a way to muffle his own set of sobs. Something wet fell on your shoulder, but this was the least of your concerns.

Viktor’s embrace was overly warm, suffocating and overwhelming, but you couldn’t help but hug him back.

“I didn’t want to!” The truth suddenly tumbled out of your mouth, and the way his fingers dug into your sides in reaction betrayed how it affected him. “I p–promise I d-didn’t want to! He– He made me do it!” You yelled between gasps as you fought to breathe.

“Shhh.” Gentle fingers soothingly ran down your hair as he broke the hug to give you space. “Take deep breaths.”

He began to take a long inhale, gesturing for you to do the same. Your lungs struggled to follow him, but you managed after a minute to breathe somewhat normally.

“There you go…” He smiled, but not in the beautiful way it usually reach his eyes. Instead, he looked sad and remorseful. “You’re doing great.”

You let your head fall on his shoulder, and felt his nose nuzzle affectionately your hair. “It hurts…”

“I know.” He said softly. “It’ll pass, you just need to be patient.”

For the rest of the night he remained at your side, making you drink, soothing your cries and talking with you about everything and anything to busy your mind.

Finally at an ungodly hour of the night your withdrawal symptoms calmed, leaving you exhausted, slumped against the bathtub. Viktor was still sitting quietly by your side, long legs spread in front of him. He had removed his leg brace to be more comfortable, the contraption laying forgotten next to him.

“Is it the first time it happened to you?” He asked softly, breaking the silence.

You took a sip of the jug of water to wet your dry tongue before speaking. “No.” You answered in a weak, raspy voice. “It’s the fourth time.”

Shame ate at your insides. Viktor had always seen you decline the substances the shady clients offered you with a polite smile, but you never hesitated to be firm if they insisted. Now, you felt as if you had betrayed your own convictions.

You didn’t want Viktor to be disappointed in you.

“A few years after you left a new Chem Baron appeared. His name is Silco, and he is behind a new drug he calls Shimmer.”

Viktor listened intently, nodding occasionally to make you continue.

You huffed out a sigh. “Ever since Vander died the Chem Baron Finn took the district where the Daydream is for himself. He’s…” Your hands balled up in fists as you glared off in the distance. “He’s a greedy fucking bastard, always flaunting his wealth in the face of others. He made a deal with Silco to supply all the bars and clubs in the district with shimmer.”

“Did you accept?”

You snorted. “Fuck no. Everyone, Alma included, told Finn to go fuck himself. We refused to sell his shit and dumped it in the sewers.”

Worry wrapped around Viktor as he looked at your weak form, hunched over as you refused to meet his eyes. Whatever happened next, he knew he wouldn’t like it.

“As you probably guessed, Finn didn’t like it one bit. So one afternoon he showed up with a barrel of Shimmer and his goons, held us at gunpoint and force us to drink it as a punishment.”

You could still remember his light eyes taunting you, his golden jaw brace reflecting the lights of the club and the sick smile he held as he extended a purple vial towards you.

“Mabel refused.” Your teeth sank into your lip to stop the tears. “So Finn shot him.”

“We all took some and… some got more addicted than others. Alma and I managed to never take any again, but the others are struggling. Delilah overdosed a year ago.”

Viktor closed his eyes with a soft sigh. The pieces of the puzzle finally fit together, but the image it formed was one of his worst nightmares.

They were so relieved to see you leave because they wanted you to escape the district and Flinn’s tyranny.

You felt his hand settle atop of your head, and this time you didn’t push it away. His gaze was gentle as his fingers brushed your sweaty hair off your forehead.

“I’m proud of you.” He said softly. “You fought well.”

You crumbled into tears once again, but he was here to pick up the pieces.

Chapter Text

It was late at night when Viktor came home, exhausted from a long day of work.
He quietly unlocked the door and he walked in as he tried to make as little sound with his cane as possible to not wake you up.

Surprised the lights were still on at this hour, his gaze flickered towards the couch where he found you. You were sprawled on the small couch, one leg dangling from the armrest as you slept peacefully. A book was laying open on your chest, the cover read “The guide of the exemplary worker”.

While he was away at the lab you decided to start preparing to look for a job, and judging by the amount of book you had borrowed from the library Viktor could tell you were taking it very seriously. Your sweet determination brought a smile to his face, and he gently picked up the book to set it on the coffee table.

He instantly came to regret his gesture. Since the book had been covering your torso, he was now facing directly your breasts barely covered by your camisole. One thin strap had slipped from your shoulder, revealing more of your flesh to his flustered gaze.

He felt a stirring in his dress pants, his chest heaved as his breathing quickened. Viktor felt he was losing control over his own body, and he couldn’t avert his eyes away from you.

You looked like a goddess he had stumbled upon, a sight he wasn’t supposed to see. Your eyelashes brushed against your delicate cheeks, a strand of hair fallen over your face, fluttering with each breath you exhaled.

He leaned over you, one hand clutching tightly his cane and the other resting on the couch’s headrest. Viktor wanted nothing more than to reach out and lovingly caress your skin.

He fantasized that you would open your eyes and smile, then you would pull him closer by his tie and press your lips against him.

Sometimes Jayce made fun of Viktor’s disinterest in both men and women. He often wondered if he just couldn’t feel any sexual attraction, but it was completely disproved by his reaction each time your intense gaze would fall on him.

He recalled when he used to be an awkward and hormonal teenager, already enamored with you. Each brush of your skin against his would send his heart racing, skin igniting, and he would squirm at the onslaught of foreign feelings.

Viktor broke out of his trance by digging his nails into his palms. He shouldn’t be thinking about such things and looking at you while in your sleep.

He gingerly slipped a finger under your strap and pulled it upright, then he gently shook your shoulder. “Little bird.” He whispered.

You stirred with a groan of protest, eyes fluttering open to find Viktor’s candlelit face looking down on you with an amused smile.

“Why are you sleeping on the sofa when there is a perfectly good bed in your room?”

Instead of answering, you stretched you limbs, and you thought that for a fleeting second you saw his gaze flicker towards your belly as your camisole rode up.

“What time is it?” You asked in a quiet voice, still not fully awake.

“I believe it is past one in the morning.”

You furrowed your brows. “And you just came home?”

Home. You called it home. “I was held back by a miscalculation.”

“Something is always holding you back.” You stated, slightly annoyed. “Have you eaten?”

Silence.

“There’s some roast in the oven.” He nodded with a small grin, and as he stood up and made his way towards the kitchen he heard a small “Idiot.” being muttered.

“Is insulting your peers recommended
In your book?” He spoke loudly so you could hear him from the other room. And he snorted when a groan of embarrassment reached his ears.

That night, when he went to bed, his body didn’t seem to agree with his exhausted mind on sleeping. His pyjama pants strained by his erection, painful and uncomfortably hard. He kept remembering the curve of your breasts rising and falling with each breath, your plush lips parted.

Something primal stirred in him, urging him to run to your bedroom and show you that he was a man so you would finally notice him. He wanted to make you cry, and not the tears of pain you shed the week prior, but have your body shake with sobs of pleasure as you asked for more. You deserve to only know happiness and love, and he was ready to give it all to you.

And –oh–, how selfish he was to desire to have you all to himself. The sight of the ring wrapped around your finger fueled the possessiveness he felt about you. He wished you would desire him as intensely as he desired you, that you would look at him with smoldering eyes and beg him to make you his.

He sighed loudly as his hand disappeared under the waistband of his underwear.

Shame wasn’t enough to stop him from desiring you.

***

Jealously wasn’t an emotion Jayce was really familiar with.

He knew what he was worth, and he did not dwell on what the others possessed that he didn’t, just used it to fuel his never ending ambitions.

Strangely, that day, jealousy burned his stomach as if he had drunk the acid he used to make his battery.

The sun was high in the sky when Jayce and Viktor were reviewing the blueprint for the full sized gate they had been tasked by the council to allow fast travel. Viktor kept biting on his nails as he kept reading over and over his calculations, yet searching for a mistake in his chaotic notes written in chicken scratch was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Sometimes Jayce wondered how Viktor could even decipher the words.

They were growing frustrated steadily, snapping at each other, wrinkling paper with a grip too tight, brows wound together.

And then there was a knock, and before either of them could answer the door opened and you strolled in like you owned the place.

“You forgot your lunch.” You told Viktor, and you gently placed a box on an empty space on their desk.

The brunette tilted his head in confusion. “I did not, I eat at the–”

“Today’s a holiday. The cafeteria is closed.” You smiled smugly. “You were the one that told me last week. For a genius your memory is kinda lackluster.”

“Uh… I’m also there.” Jayce waved with a smirk. “Good morning?”

“Oh.” You looked at Jayce as if you didn’t realize he was even in the room. “Hi, I didn’t make lunch for you.”

He crossed his arms as he scoffed. “It’s not like I wanted it anyway.”

“That is very kind.” Viktor smiled. “Thank you, you didn’t have to.”

The corner of your mouth quirked up in amusement. “I gotta, or else you would’ve skipped the meal.”

Viktor couldn’t help the way his heart skipped a beat. You made him lunch and walked all the way to the academy to drop it off just because you were worried.

It was so foreign to him to have someone care for him the way you did, and he just hoped he could keep you all to himself for a little while.

“Well…” You pointed at the door. “I’ll leave you to your… scientist stuff.”

“Not so fast,” Jayce left his seat to make his way over to you. His large frame towered over you. With his friendly and goofy personality, you forgot how imposing the man actually was. “I need to speak with you.”

Viktor did not seem to pay attention to the discussion as he focused on his blueprint, muttering to himself.

“You’re probably aware that we are preparing a fundraiser for the upscaling of our prototype.” Jayce said, pointing at the large metal portal in the middle of the lab.

“Hmm, no I didn’t know.” You rolled you eyes with a smirk. “You forgot Viktor has no space in his brain for anything besides science.”

Jayce stifled a laugh as he shook his head. “He’s incorrigible.” Hand stuffed in his pockets, he began rocking back and forth on his feet. “So, in a month Councilor Medarda will be hosting a fundraiser for Hextech. The most powerful families of Valoran are invited and we aim to find more investors so we can afford the next step in our development pipeline. It will be like a banquet, so we need entertainment. We could book Seraphine, but she’s a bit over our budget. So…” He grinned. “I’ve heard from Viktor that you’re a pretty good singer.”

“You… want me to sing at your fancy party?” You asked with furrowed brows.

“If you want to. You’ll get paid, of course.”

Paid? Now that was interesting…

“We can meet with her to have a small interview, nothing serious. Just to hear your voice and go over what you will sing. We also need to book musicians.”

“Honestly…” You cringed. “I don’t think I am cut out for this type of thing… I only sing about seducing men and running away with their money.”

Jayce’s lips curled in a grin. “How fitting, even more reasons to hire you. So, will you do it or not?”

“Ehh…” You pondered over the question, nervously rubbing your hands together.

You were used to performing, but even the idea of standing in a room full of members of the high society and having to sing in front of them frazzled your nerves.

Yet this was a chance you couldn’t pass to make some income, you refused to live off of Victor’s hard earned money, so it would be the perfect opportunity to contribute to the household’s expenses.

You could also buy him a gift…

Your eyes met Jayce’s with a grin. “I’ll do it.”

His shoulders relaxed, face full of relief. A big hand landed on your shoulder and squeezed it.“Thank you.”

“Is that all?” You asked, and he nodded.

“Yes, you’re free as a bird.”

“Well, see you soon then.” You pointed at him with finger guns, earning a snort from Jayce. You then spun on your heels. “Bye Vik.”

Said man did not even hear you. You nonchalantly strolled out, and the door slammed behind you.

“Viktor,” This time, Viktor heard, and he looked up from his work. “Doesn’t she know the lab is supposed to be off limits for visitors?” He asked in a teasing voice as he picked up his notebook.

“No.” Viktor shrugged. “I… eh… may have forgotten to tell her.”

Jayce’s eyes lifted off the notes to give Viktor an unimpressed look. “You forgot?”

“I have a lot on my mind.”

From the way Viktor flickered his gaze towards his lunch, a soft smile on his lips and golden eyes warm, Jayce figured out that Viktor was never going to tell you so you would swing by again.

Ah, there was that strange feeling.

Truth was, Jayce was lonely. Very much so. He had his work, Viktor, his mom, but that was it.

He came home to empty rooms and silence, and at least what made him feel better was that Viktor was in the same boat. And the damned idiot had to run to the undercity and take you home like a stray cat.

Now the man was all mushy and happy, his frowns had lightened, the crease between his brows was gone and he some times stared off into the distance as his mind zoned out. Jayce could tell he was thinking about you by the way his eyes would soften

Impossibly infuriating.

However, Jayce couldn’t help but be happy for Viktor. “Aren’t you going to open it?” He asked his friend. “I would like to see what kind of monstrosity she produced.”

Viktor threw him an amused look, nimble finger reaching to remove the lid. Jayce leaned over to look, and his eyebrow twitched in annoyance when the enticing smell of honeyed pork reach his nose.

Oh, so you can cook?

Jayce couldn’t stand you at all.

…

And couldn’t help feeling very lonely

Chapter Text

Zaunite and Piltovians had many differences. Of course, the most obvious ones were the level of education, their possessions and their life span. Viktor easily explained them by the environment they were born in that wasn’t particularly kind to the former.

However, another curious difference that left Viktor puzzled was his fellow Zaunites’ complete disregard for their own safety. 

He was no stranger to this, completely ignoring his own body needs to prioritize his research. Wearing the bare minimum to protect himself during experiments. Driving himself crazy until he figured out a problem.

However, it was another thing to see you risk your life without any care. 

Viktor was supposed to get ready for a day of lectures, so he was running around the apartment gathering his notes, the plastic sheets for the projector and his pointer when he came to a stop as his heart almost dropped at the horrifying view. 

The window of the kitchen was open, and you were on your tiptoes outside on the windowsill, dressed in only your camisole and your sweatpants. One hand clutching the edge of the window while the other seemed to reach for something.

His cane clattered to the ground as he leaped forward, ignoring the pain in his leg. His head poked out of the window as he looked at you with wild panicked eyes. “Are you out of you mind?!” He yelled, accent thick as the words rushed out. “You could fall to your death!”

You jumped, startled, and your hands scrambled to grab something to stabilize yourself, sending Viktor on the verge of a heart attack. 

“Gods, Vik. You scared the fuck out of me.” You chuckled.

“You’re scaring me!” He hissed. “Get back in this instant!” 

You blinked, the anger swimming in his eyes combined with the order he just barked triggered a peculiar tingling sensation in your body. 

“I– I’m fine.” You pushed away the dirty thoughts and focused on reassuring him. “I’m used to climbing buildings, I won’t fall.”

“It only takes one moment of distraction.” He protested. 

Your smile turned sly. “Well, Viktor. If I fall you’re gonna be the reason why. Because you are very distracting.”

Too frazzled to process your flirtatious words, he leaned forward to look at you. “What are you even doing?” 

You moved your body so he could see the shivering form of a little cat huddled on a ledge of the building. “How did he get there?” Viktor furrowed his brows. “We should call the enforcers, they can dislodge it.”

“No.” You protested as you moved closer to the cat. “I’ll get him.”

“You idi–” He cursed under his breath in his mother tongue. “Be careful!”

Suddenly, you balanced your weight on one feet at the edge of the sill as you leaned to grab the cat. Viktor clutched in a tight grip the frame of the window as his heart hammered in his chest. 

If he saw you slip and fall to your death, he was a hundred percent sure his body would move by itself to jump out the window after you.

The cat hissed as you grabbed him, but let himself get carried, and you brought him to your chest. 

“Give him to me.” Viktor said as he reached for the cat, and you complied so you would have both hands free. 

Viktor grabbed it, and the little beast stared back at him with its remaining eye. 

It was.. positively ugly. All skinny and covered in scars, fur matted and full of knots. It looked more like a rat than a cat. 

You leaped inside, soundlessly landing on your feet, and closed the window. “Phew! What a morning.” 

You noticed the way Viktor gazed at you with a frown, his features twisted in a mix of sadness and anger. “Don’t you value your own life?” He asked in a quiet voice.

Body stiffening in shock at his words, you gaped at him. 

Had you been asked that question months ago, you would have laughed and say : “Of course not.” 

Living most of your life in the district of Zaun nicknamed The gallows was like living on borrowed time. Death and violence had been part of your daily life, so you learned not to care about what would happen to you. 

But now things had changed, you had left the Gallows and somehow ended up sharing a pretty apartment in Piltover with the man that unknowingly kept you alive for years. The man that was currently looking at you as if you tried to jump through the window. 

“I… I’m sorry, Vik.” You averted your eyes. “I’ll stop acting reckless.” 

“I hope so.” He sighed in relief, then switched his attention to the cat he was holding awkwardly in his arms. “So, what do you think we should do about our little friend?”

Unbeknownst to you, Viktor already expected your answer, and he had to count only four seconds before you looked at him with those puppy dog eyes of yours and asked. “Can we keep him? Pleaaase?”

The cat began struggling, and he placed it down with a sigh. “Taking care of a living being is a huge responsibility. I am not sure our lifestyle is adequate for a pet.”

“Erm… look at him.” You pointed at the several holes in his fur. “I don’t think people are fighting over his ugly little ass. He doesn’t really have the luxury of choosing a better home.”

Viktor could already feel his resolve crumbling as he watched the cat jump on the couch and curl up in your cream blanket while slightly shivering. He saw a bit of himself in that little thing, abnormal and unwanted, probably used to being alone. 

His eyes flickered to you as you sat on the couch and pulled the blanket around the animal to keep him warm. The cat hissed half heartedly at you, and you rolled your eyes in amusement, a gentle smile over your lips that made his heart skip a beat and his eyes sting. 

He never understood the pull you felt towards pitiful, lonely beings.

“So, can he stay?” You asked.

His fingers drummed against the handle of his cane as he considered it, and after a few seconds he caved with a sigh. “Eh… Looks like he already made himself at home anyway.”

The smile that split your face was worth the prospect of dragging the little monster full of fleas and worms to the veterinarian. It was dazzling, full of happiness and gratitude. 

And then you leaped out of the couch to bring him in a bone crushing hug, squealing in excitement. His heart hammered in his chest as he hesitatingly curled his free arm around your waist and laid his cheek on top of your head. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”

He chuckled softly, fingers trembling once he noticed how you lingered for a few seconds too many before breaking the embrace. “What should we name him?” Viktor asked.

Silence fell as he almost saw the cogs turning inside your skull,

“Let’s call him Jayce, he kinda reminds me of him.”

“…Let’s not.” Viktor threw you and amused look.

“Then suggest something else.”

“Hmm…” He rubbed his chin. “Kitty?”

“Uh?” You seemed absolutely unimpressed. “You’re not even trying.”

He rolled his eyes. “You wanted to name him after my partner and I am the one who’s not trying?”

“Oh– I have an idea!” You lit up. “Speaking of partner, you guys always call your inventions Hex-something, right? Why not call him Hex?”

You both stared longly at the cat, who did not even seem to notice being at the receiving end of such attention, peacefully napping. “That could work.” Viktor nodded. “However, you’re taking care of the cat. You’re the one that insisted to keep him after all.”

“Of course.” You smirked. 

You knew Viktor was a big sap, so his little charade of not caring about your new pet would quickly evolve into the scientist dotting on it like a mother hen. 

And you were proven right when, two days later, you came into the kitchen to find Viktor massaging oil in the cat’s bald spots as Hex tried to wriggle out of his grip, meowing loudly in complaint. 

“Stop struggling, I’m trying to help you!” He grumbled as he grabbed it by the scruff. Hex stopped struggling, huffing in annoyance as he realized that he was just prolonging his own suffering. “There you go, good boy.” Viktor cooed.

His head snapped up to find you in the doorway, arms crossed and a big smile on your lips. “What?” He pouted in embarrassment at being caught. “He has dry skin.” 

However, you didn’t realize that it would soon turn into a full blown war of who your new pet loved more. 

Hex was wary at first, not letting himself be petted and spending most of his time hidden under the blankets or the furniture. Yet as time passed he warmed up to you two, and he began letting you run your finger through his fur or pat his head. 

And one day, you watched, absolutely revolted, as Hex curled up for the first time in Viktor’s lap while the man was reading a book. “Not fair!” You cried, stomping your foot like a kid while Viktor looked absolutely smug. “You didn’t even want to keep him in the first place and he loves you more than me!” 

“How unfortunate for you.” 

You narrowed your eyes at him, then sat down on the armchair and patted your lap to catch the cat’s attention. “Come on, Hexie! Come to mommy!”

Viktor’s eyes widened when the cat’s head shot up to look at you, and he then jumped off his lap as you let out a cackle. “Suck it, Vik!”

“Hey, cat.” Viktor patted his lap again, making Hex turn to look at him. “You obviously love me more. Come here.”

The grey tabby sat down, his single yellow eye flickering between you two as you eagerly gestured for him to come.

“You love mommy more, right? Come and I’ll give you salmon tonight.”

“You– What?” Viktor exclaimed. “You’re buying his love!”

You dramatically gasped in answer, followed by a finger pointed accusingly at him. “Shut the fuck up! I’m not! And don’t think I don’t see you sneaking him cat treats!”

Viktor crossed his arms with a huff.“He deserves them!”

“I’m the one that bought them!”

“Well I…” Viktor trailed off as you both watch the cat walk away in complete disinterest in your quarrel. “Is he just ignoring us?”

You lapsed in silence. “How dare this little bastard ignore us like he wasn’t homeless a week ago.”

Nodding in agreement, Viktor muttered. “How ungrateful.” 

You exchanged a look, and the man’s eyes widened as you jumped on the sofa and casually threw your legs over his as you picked up your magazine laying on the coffee table. 

He froze, hands suspended in the air as he gazed at them, feeling your warmth through your clothes. Noticing his shocked state, you looked over the pages. “Am I bothering you? Sorry.” You cringed as your legs lifted off his lap, but his hand shot up and push them back down.

“You’re never bothering me.” He said in a soft voice, staring at his book but his mind not registering the words.

Taking in his profile, his long nose, his amber eyes, the beauty mark under his left eyes, the curve of his thin lips and sharpness of his jaw. His hand was still lying on your leg, thumb tentatively rubbing small circles on your skin as he read. 

Did he even realize how beautiful he was, inside and out?

Racing heart taking control of you, your lips parted. “I love y–” And your mouth slammed closed as panic coursed through you like you’ve been struck by lightning.

“Hm?” Viktor asked, not even looking up from his page. 

“Uh…” Your gaze searched around for an excuse, and landed on the little tabby cat trotting in the room. “Hexie! I love you!” You cried as you jumped out of the couch and all but ran towards him. 

Viktor watched you pick up Hex with your back to him, surprised by the outburst. 

Meanwhile you cradled the cat as you buried your face in his fur, cursing yourself for slipping.

Idiot. 

Chapter Text

The familiar smell of perfume, cigars and cocktails made your eyes flutter open to find yourself standing on the stage of the daydream. Confused, you furrowed your brows, taking in the empty booths and the rays of sunlight filtering between the heavy curtains. 

Everything seemed hazy, yet at the same time clear. You could make out the bar, recently cleaned with the glasses neatly aligned on the shelves. Looking down, you noticed the costume you were wearing. A tight dress, you remembered making the pearls embroidered in the bodice from pretty glass bottles you had found in a nearby dump. The process had been time consuming and strenuous on your fingers from polishing the glass and cutting your fingers on the shards, but the look of awe in Mabel’s usually critical eyes when he saw the finished product was well worth the pain. 

What a strange dream to be having, and you wondered why you were conscious.

Your feet carried you to the phonograph backstage, tucked behind a curtain away from the audience’s eyes. You rummaged through the box and pulled out your favorite record and placed it on the turntable, then you moved the old copper tonearm to begin playing your favorite song, you knew exactly where to place the needle on the record by memory.

There’s no ground when you come for me…

You’ll be falling for miles

I’ll be witch by your misery

You made your way to the center of the stage, back to the public. Instantly your body picked up the first steps of your choreography, your hips twisting as you lowered in a crouch, legs spread wide. 

But I love it when you smile 

Let me know what you want from me

Whispers low in my ears 

Before you try to get your hooks in me

Your lips quirked in a smile as your body followed the languid rhythm of the song. You had missed dancing, your frivolous costumes reflecting the stage lights as you twirled and arched. You could feel your sweat on your skin, tacky from the spray-on glitter and the heat of the lights; surprised to realize you had missed it.

I should warn you my dear

My heart is a haunted house

Once you’re in you ain’t getting out

You had missed the power you held as you performed, the lustful look in the eyes of the men and women that paid to see you. They were living paycheck to paycheck, barely sparing money for more mundane things like clothes or sweets. 

Yet they paid for you. Came to watch, hope for one of your smoldering look thrown just for them, and then they would whisper to you after the show how they will dream of you. Because in the darkness of their solitude you were a golden beacon of light.

It’s the trap you’ve been waiting for

Ain’t no windows, ain’t no doors

It’s like a dream but you hope it’s real

You finished your routine, the music slowly fading out as you finished in a languid pose. Your chest heaved under the strain, eyes closed as you revealed in the fatigue and the slight strain in your joints.

“You still rest your weight on your right leg too much.”

Your eyes opened as you jumped slightly, heart missing a beat at finding your mother standing among the empty booths. Her worn out purple shawl was wrapped around her shoulders, and her manicured fingers still held the golden cigarette holder she always carried around.

You couldn’t seem to make your lips move,  eyes wide, fingers slightly trembling.

Your last memory of your mother was when she was on her deathbed. That stern woman had weakly called for you, her hand reaching for your own. You had let her pull you down, and she had tucked your hair behind your ear with the gentleness of a mother you didn’t know she had. Then, with what was left of her breath, eyes brimming with emotions, she had whispered her last words to you.

You blinked the memory away, focusing on the strange apparition before you. Perhaps your mind had decided to torture you by making Liana appear in your dreams.

“I never fully recovered from that time I broke my ankle.” You muttered, staring back at her defiantly. “You should know that.”

Her lips parted, stern eyes betraying nothing. “I do. But no one else should. Don’t let your weaknesses show.”

You snorted as your lips twisted in an ironic smile. “Even dead you’re still giving me lessons.”

Her expression seemed to falter, the hand holding her cigarette to her lips lowered and she tightened her shawl around her shoulders with the other. The air weighted heavier, the scent of smoke thicker, harder to breathe. “Lessons you never wanted to listen to, that could save your life one day.”

“Because I didn’t want lessons!” You exploded, eyes brimming with tears as your throat tightened. The outburst shocked Liana into silence. “I wanted my mom! I wanted you to be there!”

“Everything…” She began, eyes intense as she slowly made her way to you. “Everything I said, every move I made, every choice I took was for a very good reason.”

She walked on the stage, now directly facing you, and the child in you cowered, still intimidated by her hard, unforgiving expression. 

Liana pointed her cigarette holder at you. “I didn’t raise you to die soft, I raised you to live strong.” 

The first tear fell, followed by others, and even as you wiped them they kept coming. Your chest hurt as you struggled to keep it from caving in, and your throat closed up as your eyes burned. 

You wanted to scream at her, spit and sob and hiss. Instead came out a weak and trembling. “I’m so tired of trying to be strong.”

Her eyes softened for a second, and she hesitantly reached out to brush your tears away, yet refrained at the last moment. “Come back to the club.” She said, almost pleadingly. “Come back home, the others needs you.”

“I.. I can’t.” You shook your head. 

“You won’t.” She corrected. “Because of the boy.”

Silence fell as you lowered your eyes, feeling once again like a little girl being lectured by her mother. Liana sighed. “I understand this is a beautiful dream you are living in. One hard to leave for the harsh reality. But you need to see it for what it is. A dream.”

“Is it so hard to grasp for you that I aspire for a better life than the shitty one I was given?” You finally found your spite again, hard eyes flickering to meet hers. “I am not Zaun, I am not where I was born. I will show you I can do better.”

“Oh, my darling.” Liana closed her eyes in defeat. “You are not where you were born, you are what people need you to be.”

“And… our people need you to be their hope, their guiding light. Where Vander, myself and many others failed, the next generation needs to succeed.”

“I don’t understand what you want me do to.” You said. 

Her eyes opened, as red as the day she took her last breath as she uttered once again her last words. “It’s your turn now.” 

***

Your eyes slammed open as you sat up with a gasp. Sweat plastered your hair to your forehead and you pushed it away as you looked around your bedroom in Piltover.

Irrational thoughts and feelings made your hands grab your pillow, your naked feet step on the cold ground and your legs carry you to the bedroom right next to yours. 

You opened the door just enough to slip in the room. Finding it hard to navigate in the darkness, you waited for your eyes to adjust. You found a lithe body sprawled across the bed in a strange position, bad leg propped up on a pillow. You crouched besides Viktor and poked the cheek that wasn’t squished against his pillow. “Pssst, Vik.”

He stirred with an unintelligible grumble, and after a few more pokes he opened one eye to glare at you. “What?” He grunted. 

“Sorry.” You mumbled in embarrassment. “I… Uh… I had a nightmare, can I sleep in your room?”

The confession dissipated his annoyance, replacing it by the mushy feeling that constantly popped up whenever you acted as your endearing self. “F’course you can.” He said, voice raspy and deep. 

He moved to make room for you, then he furrowed his brows in confusion, tired mind processing why he didn’t feel your weight making the bed dip besides him. “Eh.. Where are you?”

“Well, on the floor, why?”

He stifled a laugh. “Are you aware my bed is big enough for us two?” 

“Oh–” he heard you get onto your feet with a huff. “Well, I didn’t want to invade your personal space.” 

“You already are, little bird.” He teased with a smirk. “So you might as well invade my bed as well.”

“Oh~, you know I could take this the wrong way.” 

You jumped in bed, making him bounce and regret ever accepting. But then you slipped under the covers and he felt your skin brush against his, smelled the sweet scent of your body wash, and his heart took off.

“Vik?” He hummed in answer. “Thank you.” 

“Y’re welcome.” He muttered, already going back to sleep. 

“Also, can we get a phonograph?”

“You’re makin’ an awful lot of demands tonight.” He struggled to articulate, accent thickened by the fatigue.

“Is that a yes?”

“…” You waited for the answer, and only got a snore in answer. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

You closed you eyes with a smile, buried your face in your pillow and rolled closer to Viktor, just enough to feel the heat of his body without being appropriate. 

Knowing he was right besides you as you slept help you forget your mother’s words, and you peacefully drifted away. 

You wondered if Viktor would let you sneak back in his bed again.

Chapter Text

The first thing that came to Viktor’s mind when he woke up was that it was hot. 

The clock on his nightstand was screeching, exasperating him to no end like every morning, but as he reached to turn it off he felt restrained. He was lying on his belly as usual, but he could feel a weight on his back. The warmth was seeping through his clothes, making him sweat, and the weight rendered him unable to move. Your face was nuzzling his neck, and he could feel your chest pressed up against his back. The tickling of fur against his leg made him realize with annoyance that the cat was curled up against him on the other side, contributing to the rising temperature.

“Hmm… Five more minutes.” Your drowsy grumble was muffled by his skin, and he huffed when you reached over him to turn off the clock, then curled an arm around his waist and wriggled even closer. His heartbeat skyrocketed at the feeling of you cuddling him, wearing nothing but your nightgown. His shirt had ridden up during the night, and he could feel the bare skin of your arm against his back.

An ache rose between his legs as he felt himself harden. He gripped tightly the bedsheets as he tried to calm himself down, and he almost succeeded…

Until the tip your fingers began to stroke small circles on his lower belly, sending thousands of tiny sparks of electricity down all his nerves. His lips parted, almost letting out a moan as his dick twitched. 

This was bad, really bad. 

He tried to move again, but you made a small noise of complaint that sounded like a whine, and his fingernails almost pierced a hole in the sheets in reaction. He swore he was already on edge, nerves on fire, ready to cum at the slightest noise or move from you. He needed to get out of your grip. Not only did he had a meeting with Jayce and Mel Medarda in an hour that he couldn’t miss, but you were also too warm and heavy, crushing his thin body into the mattress, and he was starting to loose feeling in one leg. 

Yet he couldn’t bring himself to move. 

“Don’t go to the lab today…” You weakly protested. “I barely see you anymore.”

The sadness dripping from your tone brought a pang to his chest, and he sighed. “I’m sorry, I have an important meeting today that I cannot miss.” He twisted his arm to clumsily ran his fingers through your messy hair. “I’ll make it up to you another day.”

“You fucking better.” You grumbled grumpily, and the unconscious snort he let out got muffled by the pillow. 

Over the years he had gotten used to the loneliness. First it was his room in the academy, small and cramped but still somehow feeling too big for him. Then when he finally got enough to afford this apartment it got worse, waking up everything morning to a bed too big, a living room too quiet, a kitchen too new.

Yet since you arrived, this place began to feel like… home.

And now instead of waking up to cold sheets and walls as depressing as a funeral, he woke up crushed between two annoying little things craving contact, soft snores filling up the room.

Hell, even the bloody cat was snoring. The little shit was costing him a fortune in treatments because he had trouble breathing amongst a plethora of other issues. The vet told him that Hex probably wouldn’t have survived the night if they hadn’t found him. Now he was slowly recovering, and had warmed up to both Viktor and you, completely comfortable and at home.

Surrounded by warmth, Viktor decided that maybe he could stay just a bit longer in bed. 

…

Two hours later, he burst through the door of the lab, clothes wrinkled from being hurriedly thrown on.

“My d…deepest apologies for my tardiness!” He sputtered, out of breath. 

Jayce and Mel Medarda exchanged a deeply amused look while Heirmerdinger smiled, oblivious. 

***

Every Wednesday morning, you were at the market at the center of Piltover without missing a beat to buy food for the week. 

You had learned to blend in, wearing the clothes Viktor had bought you, making sure that not a single hair was out of place. You had learned the hard way that standing out in Piltover was not a good idea, and you knew you had Undercity written all over your face. It was in the way you walked, head down and ready to bolt at the slightest danger. It was in the way you unconsciously studied people for any hidden weapon or impure intention. 

Meanwhile you were surrounded with people that never knew hunger or danger, strolling around with their bags open and a smile on their face. So you forced yourself to stand straight and hold your head up high, but some old habits die hard.

You were jealous of how easily Viktor adapted to his new life. 

You stopped at the fruit stand and picked a strange orange orb. It felt a bit heavy in your hand and the skin had a strange rough texture. You wanted to ask the seller about it, but were too scared to ask. 

“They’re fresh from Proximum.” The cheerful voice of the salesclerk made you raise your head. “I received the shipment  this morning.”

You has no idea what she was talking about when you weren’t able to spot Piltover on a map of Runeterra, so you merely nodded. “Oh, I-I’ll take five then, please.”

You’ll figure out how to eat them later.

The clerk appraised you with her curious eyes as she filled up a pouch with the fruits. “Your accent is quite interesting… where are you from?”

Teeth worrying your lip, fingers tightly clutching the strap of your cross-body bag, you didn’t want to lie, so you answered simply with. “The Undercity.” 

The clerk hummed, eyes hardening. She seemed to look over your body for any tattoo, but you knew she would find none. Most citizens of Zaun were covered in tattoo, the only way for them to tell their stories, and probably a therapeutic way to lay all of their sorrows. Yet you never got a single one, because you didn’t want to be reminded of where you originated. 

You didn’t want to be reduced to the misery you were born out of. 

“And how someone like… you ends up in Piltover?”

The conversation was starting to turn into an interrogation, but you didn’t want to cut it short and leave before getting what you came here for. Viktor loves those little plums, and you wanted to use the excessive amount of free time you had to try to bake a pie for him.

You took the bag from her hands and gave her a copper coin in exchange, and you noticed the way she made sure to avoid touching you as if you were diseased. “Uh.. My fiancé lives here.”

“Oh, congratulations!” The woman smiled, and you almost smiled back, but then she opened her mouth again. “How generous of them.”

Your smile fell as you gaped at her. “What?”

The clerk seemed confused, and she leaned forward as she lowered her voice. “Well, it is very rare for an… outsider to be accepted in Piltover if they are not betrothed. However…” Her brow quirked in accusation. “A marriage for this reason is quite illegal.”

The head of the customer right besides you perked up at her words, and you felt his gaze burning a hole in your skull. Humiliation rose up your throat like bile. “No, that’s not– uh…”

“I believe my friend’s reasons for marrying are none of your concerns, Charlotte.” A voice with a peculiar accent chastised, and you turned to find a young girl with long black hair and bright blue eyes glaring disapprovingly at the older woman. 

“Oh, my apologies, Lady Kiramman.” The clerck smiled sheepishly.

The stern blue eyes then shifted to settle on you as the girl grabbed your wrist gently. “Let’s go.”

“Oh.” You let yourself get dragged by her away from the market, eyes downcast while you clutched your bag of fruits to your chest with your free hand. After finding a less crowded corner, the girl stopped and released your wrist. “I apologize for the manhandling, but Charlotte would have called the enforcers on you. She’s not a bad woman, but she is known to be quite… extreme.”

You sighed in relief, knowing you just avoided an extremely humiliating situation. “Wow, thank you for saving my ass. How can I repay you?”

Her lips curled in a smirk. “Do you perhaps know how to sow?”

That’s how you ended up in front of the Kiramman mansion, mouth wide open in awe of the size of the building. You followed the girl that introduced herself as Caitlyn into her house, eyeing the display of opulence curiously. She seemed completely unaffected by the beauty of the halls as she walked down them, her ponytail swishing with each step she took.

She opened a tall white door and stepped inside. “This is my bedroom, please make yourself at home. Would you like something to drink?”

“Do you often invite complete strangers into your bedroom ?” You jested with a sly smile, and the girl chuckled. 

“I have a feeling I can trust you.” Caitlyn said with a secretive smile as she opened her closet and rummaged through the clothes. “We have a friend in common, after all. I have known Jayce all my life.”

You cringed, so Talis had been running his big mouth around. “Friend is a big word.”

She stifled a laugh. “He told me the exact same thing. Here.” She pulled out the uniform of an enforcer and set it on her bed. “Do you think you could mend it together without making the repairs noticeable?”

You assessed the torns in the deep blue fabric. “Of course, I’ve done this most of my life.” Looking at her, you then asked. “I’m not really here to sow your stuff, am I?”

Caitlyn seemed pleasantly surprised by the speed at which you caught on. “Killing two birds with one stone. I’ve heard from Jayce that you need a second witness.”

She pulled a sewing kit out of her drawer and set it on the bed, and it was your cue to get to work. “Yup.” You answered as you fished out a needle and began looking through the kit for darker colored thread. “Why?”

“Jayce asked for a favor.” Her eyes followed your fingers as you expertly tied a knot in the thread. “I wanted to see who I was vowing for before accepting.”

“Hm.” You nodded in understanding, still focused on your work. “And what is your opinion on little old me, officer?”

“You are…” Caitlyn furrowed her brows as she struggled to find the right words. “Not what I was expecting.”

You snorted. “If your expectations were based on Jayce’s opinion of me then I’m not surprised. The idiot is treating me like I’m wrecking his marriage with Viktor.”

Caitlyn chuckled. Actually, Jayce painted a very positive picture of you to her.

“She’s kinda like a feral cat.” She remembered Jayce saying. “Claws out, ready to hiss at everyone. But once you get past that she is actually pleasant to be around. Viktor didn’t tell me much about her past, but I understand that she has been through a lot.”

And through a lot you were still going. Caitlyn just wanted to observe you, lead her little investigation, yet when she saw you cowering under the judgmental gazes of the Piltovians, eyes filling up with years, she had to step in. 

And now even though you wanted to make conversation, you still looked sad, the hurtful words of the clerk probably lingering in your mind. 

“I heard a lot about people from the Undercity.” Caitlyn began. “I had already an opinion of you before I even met you.”

Your fingers momentarily ceased working, but you quickly recovered and punctured the fabric with the needle. “Is that so?”

“Yes, I was proven wrong though.” She shrugged. “You don’t have horns and you didn’t try to sell me any strange drugs.”

You stifled a laugh. “The horns come out at night, and unfortunately I can only sell you those weird things.” You pointed at your bag of fruits.

“Do you mean the oranges?” Caitlyn quirked a brow. 

“Yeah.” You muttered shamefully. “Of course I meant the… oranges.”

Silence fell as Caitlyn stared at you, unimpressed as you busied yourself with sowing. Then. “You… don’t know what an orange is?”

You looked like your pride had taken a huge hit, cheeks red and lips pouting. “No.”

Caitlyn chuckled and reached for a fruit. “May I?” When you nodded, she picked one up and grabbed the knife she had strapped to her thigh. “You have to remove the peel like this.” She proceeded with using her knife to peel off the skin while you watch with attention. “Then you can separate the pieces like this..” She split the fruit in two and handed you a half. “And you can eat it like that. You can also press it and drink the juice.”

You ripped a piece and carefully took a small bite, but when the juice flowed in your mouth and the citrusy flavor flooded your tastebuds your eyes lit up and you popped the whole piece in your mouth. 

Caitlyn chuckled as she watched you devour the rest like you had been starved. “I will be your second witness.”

“Really?” You stopped eating to gape at her, then your eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Why?”

“As I said, I owed Jayce. But…” She smirked. “I would also require your help regarding a project of mine.”

“What would I have to do?” 

“I am still in training to become an enforcer. However, I’m planning to become sheriff one day. I would like someone that has connections in the Undercity to assist my investigations.”

You paused to ponder over it. Helping Piltover against the undercity wasn’t something you wanted to do, but time was ticking and you really needed a second witness. “Fine. But I will not betray the family I still have down there.”

Caitlyn smiled. “Brilliant, then we’ve got a deal.”

****

“Ooh, oranges.” Viktor said cheerfully as he picked one from the bowl on the counter. 

“You know about oranges?” You asked, defeated, and he looked at you confused.

“…I Do?”

You let out an earth shattering sigh and leaned against the counter, shoulders sagging. “I’m an idiot, am I?” You asked.

“What?” He asked softly, and he walked over to you. “Of course you aren’t.” 

You noticed the worry tugging at his features as he looked down at you with soft eyes. “What happened to make you think that?”

You shrugged, acting aloof to hide the tears gathering in your eyes. “Some woman at the market figured out I was from the undercity and started acting like I was the scum of the earth.” You gritted your teeth to keep the tears at bay. “I just… I just feel like I’ll never be good enough for people here.”

Viktor set his cane aside to bring you in a tight hug, and you broke down crying. Your shoulders trembled as you hid your face in his shirt, staining it with your tears. 

“When I started teaching…” Viktor began, his fingers brushing your hair soothingly. “Several students dropped out of my class because they didn’t believe I was qualified enough. Throughout all my studies at the Academy I had to work twice as hard just to get recognition from my peers…” 

He made you raise your head, and he gently brushed away the tears with his thumbs. His amber eyes looked like liquid gold, pain swirling in them as he gazed at you. “You’re more than enough, my dove. It’s just easier for them to see us as incompetent or unworthy because of where we come from.” 

And finally as the tears subsided, you ate dinner together while talking about anything and everything. 

“Oh, by the way!” You said while stabbing your pastry with your spoon. “We have the second witness!”

Viktor stopped scribbling on the table to look at you. “Really? Who is it?”

“Uhm.. Caitlyn…Kila… Kira–something…” 

“Wait–” Viktor’s jaw dropped as his eyes widened. “Kiramman?”

“Yes!” You snapped your fingers. “That’s her. She’s scary smart, I like her.”

“Do you even know who she is?” Viktor asked, and you shook you head. “She’s the daughter of Councilor Cassandra Kiramman. The Kiramman clan is one of the wealthiest and most powerful of Piltover.” 

He was amused by how absolutely unimpressed you seemed, your interest zeroed-in on the honey pastry in your plate as you ripped a piece and popped it into your mouth. “Cool. So does that mean we’re getting married?”

Your eyes met, and his heart missed a beat. “I think so..” He said, breathless.

You pursed you lips to hide your smile. 

“Then let’s do it.”

Chapter Text

Jayce had grown up around prejudices and judgement. He had seen the face of his peers twist with discomfort and fear each time the Undercity was mentioned. He had heard the stories of the city buried under filth and dust housing thousands of monsters ready to rob and kill.

As he grew up he tried to have his own opinions free of the influence of his family, but there was still that lingering feeling of discomfort every time the word Undercity forced its way into his ears.

It was easy to forget Viktor was from Zaun, the man was so soft spoken, calm and gentle that he had a hard time believing he had a messy background.

You, on the other hand… 

You were a mannerless, clumsy little monkey. You sat with your feet on the table, you stuck your tongue at him, mocked and provoked and cursed like a sailor. 

He had no idea what Viktor saw in you. He had always suspected that the brunette might be having a couple of screws loose, and meeting you finished convincing him.

And then he saw the way you looked at him.

Like his hands turned what they touched into gold. Like he knew the secrets of the universe. Every time he was in the room your eyes followed him, hoping to catch him sneak a star into the sky. 

He realized that he might have been mistaken about you, so he decided to help you a bit by asking you to sing at the fundraising for Hextech.

With a lot of whining and pleading, you managed to drag Viktor away from his lab to meet Jayce at Mel’s house for the informal audition. The Councilor was breathtaking, her eyes warm, the sun reflecting on the golden accents on her skin blinding. She invited you in with a gentle smile, and Jayce was oddly silent as he trailed behind. 

You walked past paintings you believed should belong in a museum, and you tried to look at them as long as possible, sometimes you ended up falling behind them and Viktor had to place a hand on your back to usher you forward.

Mel looked amused at your obvious awe of her art, but refrained from saying anything.

You arrived in a gorgeous music room with a grand white piano at the center, the keys white and gold. Parchments covered in an intelligible musical language were strewn all over the lid. 

You were invited by Mel to sit, and Viktor obliged with a relieved sigh. 

“I have heard from Jayce that you have quite a niche taste for songs.” Mel said, her plush lips quirked in a crooked smile as she gathered the parchments in a pile.

“Yeah, I was known as the shallow girl.” You shrugged to hide your embarrassment. “I just don’t know how to sing about deep stuff.”

Jayce caught Viktor’s attempt at discreetly rolling his eyes at your words. 

“And what exactly do you call deep?” Her deep brown eyes studied you as she took a seat at the piano. 

Jayce watched you plop down on a white chair, and your hair cascaded down as you let your head fall back. You behaved like the house of Councilor’s Medarda was your own. “Love, sadness, death?” 

Her lithe fingers skimmed over the keys. “If you say so… Let’s hear your voice, shall we? Sing something and I will accompany you.”

Your teeth worrying your lip, you leaned forward, elbows digging into your thighs, head bowed as if you tried to forget you had an audience. Viktor tightened his grip on his cane, leaning forward in focus. 

You opened your mouth, and your raspy, powerful voice came out. “You’re a rich girl, and you’ve gone too far, cause you know it don’t matter anyway!”

Mel closed her eyes, trying to feel the rhythm while Jayce’s mouth dropped. 

“You can rely on the old man’s money.” Tapping the heel of you shoe along. “It’s a bitch girl but it’s gone too far. Cause you know it don’t matter anyway!”

The piano naturally fell into rhythm, and you raised your head to flash Mel a grin. “Say money, but it won’t get you too far! Get you too far!” 

Jayce found himself nodding along, and he almost snorted when you suddenly jumped on your feet and improvised a dance. “And don’t you know? Don’t you know? That it’s wrong to take what is given you!” 

Mel laughed as you twirled, and Jayce glared as he watched you make your way towards him. “You could get along if you try to be strong, but you’ll never be strong ‘cause–” you grabbed his arm, and with a roll of his eyes he was pulled on his feet. “You’re a rich girl!” You winked.

“Help me.” Jayce whispered to Viktor as he was being dragged. He answered with an apologetic smile and a shrug, yet his amber eyes glittered with sadistic pleasure.

“High and dry, out of the rain. It’s so easy to hurt others when you can’t feel pain!” 

Viktor loved when you got possessed by your songs, falling into steps as if you were going to die if you didn’t dance along. Jayce was trying to act annoyed, but your antics and the song got the best of him and he began to pull out the worst moves Viktor had ever seen.

“And don’t you know that a love can’t grow, ‘cause there’s too much to give, ‘cause you’d rather live for the thrill of it all!” You yelled to the ceiling, smile stretching from ear to ear. 

Mel looked like she was having the time of her life, laughing and hitting the keys as she watched you and Jayce face in a ridiculous dance battle. 

And then you had to turn and look at Viktor, whom frantically shook his head in refusal. However, you never took no for an answer, and you sure as hell weren’t about to start now. 

He sighed as he felt your gentle grip on his arm, he leaned on his cane to stand up, and he swore he saw your smile widen, revealing the broken molar you never could afford to repair. 

“You’re a rich girl, and you’ve gone too far, ‘cause it don’t matter anyway!”

In the corner of his eye, he saw Jayce attempt a step to impress Mel, and fail, making her snicker fondly.

As an old strategy he always pulled with you to avoid dancing, he grabbed your hand and made you twirl. But you always won, pulling him closer after to sway together. 

He let you do whatever you wanted of him,  hypnotized by the dazzling happiness you radiated. 

You didn’t know how powerful you were, did you? You managed to make two stuck ups dance without a care in the world while one of the most powerful women in Piltover was playing along as if she were improvising with a friend. 

You didn’t need to be a genius, work relentlessly, study until your pen runs out or your eyes burn. You just had to open your mouth and people noticed you, you forced their eyes on you, forced their ears to listen and their hearts to like you.

And that smile, that cursed blinding grin was the reason he fell for you like a fool.

And as the song ended, leaving everyone out of breath, Jayce and Mel exchanged a look. 

How ironic, Jayce thought, to call yourself shallow when your heart was as deep as the ocean.

You walked out of the palace, exhilarated and a contract clutched in your hand.

And Viktor’s cold hand still in the other. 

***

You closed your bedroom door with a sigh, lips stuck in a smile and eyes closed as you kept relieved the feeling of his touch and the racing of your heart at the fact that he never took his hand back.

“Hey, can I have that?” 

Your eyes slammed open as you jumped, and your eyes fell on Powder sitting cross-legged on your bed, playing with a golden hairclip. 

“Fucking hell!” You placed a hand over your chest, feeling your heart going haywire. “You scared the shit out of me.”

“Sorry.” She pouted, and her vibrant blue eyes followed you as you rushed to close the window. “So, can I have it?”

“Yes, keep it.” You then sat down next to her. “How did you get here?”

The teen pulled out a piece of paper from her back pocket and threw it on the comforter. “Your auntie sucks at hiding stuff.” She stuck her tongue out as she tried to clip her grown out bangs with your clip. 

You opened the paper to find the directions to the apartment Viktor had drawn for Alma, and sighed. “You could’ve gotten caught by the enforcers. Be careful.”

“I’m here, right?” She shrugged. “So I’m being careful.”

“What if Viktor had come in instead of me?” You furrowed your brows. “Seriously, Pow.”

“Jinx. And aren’t you happy to see me?” She grumbled, dejected. 

“…Of course I am.” You said with a frown, and the bed groaned under your additional weight as you took a seat besides her. She leaned away from you with an eye roll as you ruffled her hair. “I’m sorry for leaving without telling you.”

“Don’t worry, I got it.” She fell into your bed, arms spread, “You waited for prince charming all those years, after all.”

“Ew.” You replied with a scowl, and she giggled. 

“You have a nice place.” She said.

“Thank you.” You smiled. “Wanna stay?”

Powder quirked a blue brow. “Uh?”

“I said.” You leaned forward as if she were deaf. “Wanna stay?” 

“For the night?”

“Nah.” You rolled your eyes. “Like, for as long as you want.”

Her eyes widened, and she looked absolutely speechless as she stared at you. 

“I’m sure Viktor wouldn’t mind, he’s rarely home anyway.” You explained as you went deep in thought. “You’re still a minor, so we could adopt you, and we could share this room together, you could go to school and–”

“No thank you.”

You stopped, surprised. “Uh, why not?”

Her head suddenly twitched, wide eyes looking over her shoulder as if she were listening to someone else. “I… uh.. I have Silco now. I’m good.”

“No, no.” You reached for her calloused hands. “Listen, the club wasn’t safe for you, but here it’s as safe as it can be. I can finally take care of you!”

“Is it?” Powder scoffed. “What if your Viktor no longer wants you? Uh? You thought about that?”

You froze, eyes wide. 

No, you didn’t.

“What if he finds someone he wants to have a family with and gets tired of being kind to you?” Powder’s eyes hardened like Lapis. “He’ll kick us out, and it’s back to Zaun for us.” 

“Viktor’s not like that.” You protested. “He won’t kick us out!”

“Keep telling yourself that.” Powder rolled her eyes as she jumped from her bed. She opened your window, and this time her gaze was sad. “I… I’m sorry. Okay? I’d love to stay with you but I don’t want to ruin your dream, okay?” She glared over her shoulder. “Not this time, I get it.”

You rushed to caught her arm to keep her longer and convince her to stay with you, but she was agile, and she jumped out of your reached. 

Your eyes filled with tears as you pressed your face against the window. 

Powder needed you, and you failed to provide for her. 

Viktor was chaining himself to you forever to keep his promise. 

Could you be any more selfish ? 

Chapter Text

Viktor sensed something was wrong when he ran into you while on his way home. 

You were out of breath, distress written all over your face. In your hurry, you had clearly forgotten to grab an umbrella or a coat as you were soaked to the bone, your hair plastered against your skin. 

As you came to a stop in front of him, he leaned close to shield you both with his umbrella. “What’s wrong?” He asked worriedly. 

“I– I…” You stopped to breathe. “I need to talk to you.”

Viktor sighed as he shook his head disapprovingly. “You could have waited for me at the apartment. Look at yourself, you’re shivering… Here, hold this.” He gave you the umbrella, and your eyes widened when you noticed him shrugging off his coat.

“Viktor– you’re going to get cold!” You protested, yet he ignored you and wrapped his brown coat around your trembling shoulders. “No, wait–” 

You felt his gentle touch through the thick, warm material as he placed a hand on your back. “Let’s go home and talk there, okay?” 

Mouth opening and closing in helplessness, you followed as he tugged you under the protection of the umbrella. “I… I don’t think we should get married!” You suddenly blurted, and he suddenly stopped in his track as his heart dropped.

“What?” He asked in disbelief, honey eyes wide as they landed on you, scanning your face in hope to find a clue that you were jesting. 

The heavy rainfall was pelting on the material of the umbrella, the sound almost deafening in comparison to the silence stretching between you two. 

You didn’t expect Viktor to look this hurt, as if the sky had fallen over his shoulders, and now as you witnessed his reaction you couldn’t find the words anymore. 

His tongue poked out to wet his lip. “Why… why do you think that?” 

“I… didn’t realize how unfair this was for you…” You trailed off, and his thick brows furrowed as he failed to understand.

“Is it?” 

“Yes!” Your eyes welled up, and you looked aside to try to blink the tears away. “What if you want to marry someone else one day? You can’t tie your whole life to mine just to hold a stupid promise!”

The sudden outburst stunned him, and after a few seconds he huffed out a laugh, relief washing over him like a waterfall. “So this is what you’re so distressed over?”

“It’s not funny!” You crossed your arms.

“You’re right.” He shook his head, but couldn’t wipe off the smile off his lips. “I apologize for laughing.”

He thought for a second you wanted to call off the whole marriage, and his heart had crumbled under the sheer fear of losing you. He couldn’t bear the thought of going back to his old life of going home to an empty house, having no one to look forward to share calm Sundays with. 

“You do not have to worry about this.” Gentle, nimble fingers brushed away the wet strands away from your forehead. “A relationship would get in the way of my work, and I cannot afford to get distracted. I am not planning on being romantically involved with anyone.”

His words poured a bittersweet taste on your tongue, as if you had eaten the chocolate covered oranges you often saw displayed at the market. 

You didn’t know if the tears that were starting to roll down your cheeks were of relief or from the deep ache in your chest. 

There had always been this sliver of hope that Viktor would love you, and this had been promptly squashed down by the thought that, even if he did, he would be too afraid to jeopardize his career to do something about it.

“Don’t cry…” He wiped your tears away with his sleeve, his eyes dimming in sadness. “You do know you will be able to find someone else if you feel inclined to? This is just an arrangement.”

Even if the mere thought of seeing you smiling lovingly to someone else felt like a knife to the heart to Viktor

If you were expressing doubts about it, he knew just the right way to motivate you.

“Unless..” he tilted his head as his lips curled upwards smugly. “You are finding an excuse to call off our arrangement because you are afraid?”

And, as expected, your eyes narrowed in a glare as your mouth opened in offense. “Uh? Me? I ain’t scared.”

He leaned forward, and his nose brushed against yours, sending your heart racing. “It sure doesn’t look like it. As if you did not just ran across town under the rain to make me change my mind.”

His challenging smirk was enough to make you unbelievably annoyed, a familiar fire lighting up behind your eyes. “I was doing you a favor! But I could totally marry you right now. Because I. Am. Not. Scared.” You punctuated the words by moving closer, your breath fanning over his lips.

Time seemed to slow down as you seemed on the cusp of a life changing decision, the rain went quiet, your heart  ceased beating and Viktor stared into your eyes in silence. For a second, the planet seemed to shift off its axis as his gaze shifted to your left hand, easily finding the ring you never failed to put on every single morning. 

“I believe it is too late for today… so let’s go to the matrimonial office tomorrow morning.” He said in a soft voice. 

“Are you… suggesting we get married tomorrow?” You asked, breathless.

“I am.” He nodded. “I didn’t book an appointment, but this shouldn’t be a problem if we show up early enough.” 

You swore his gaze burned you from the sheer intensity. “Are you in?”

He held his breath as he waited for your answer, which came in the form of your lips curling in a smile and a soft. “Of course I’m in.”

Viktor could feel the tip of his fingers tingle from pure, raw excitement, and he hurriedly tugged you by the arm towards your shared apartment. “Now that this is settled, let’s go home and organize everything. I am also getting cold.”

Your cheeks hurt from how hard you were grinning.

***

Caitlyn wrapped a soft towel around her wet body as she rubbed a smaller one on her jet black hair. Deep in thought, she failed to hear the knocking on the window over the heavy rainfall.

“Hey! Miss enforcer! I’m freezing my ass off over here!” 

Whirling around with a start, her eyes landed on your frame clinging to her bathroom window, crouched and balanced on the metal railing on your tiptoes like a gargoyle on a cathedral. 

“What–” Caitlyn cursed under her breath as she scrambled to let you in. “My bathroom is on the third floor!” She exclaimed, wide eyed as she looked out to assess the height from which you could have fallen. 

“It’s more convenient.” You plainly stated as you wrung your soaked hair over the marble sink.

Caitlyn pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. “What are you doing here?”

She swore she saw your cheeks slightly darken as you looked at her makeup display. “I.. uh.. need your help.”

“Okay?” She asked, curiosity and amusement replacing annoyance. “For what?”

“Fabric. I need fabric.” You explained as you picked up a bottle of perfume, tried to aim for your wrist and jumped when you sprayed your face. Your face scrunched up in disgust as you furiously wiped your face. 

Caitlyn rolled her eyes and snatched the bottle from your hands to set it back on her counter. “What for?”

“A wedding dress.”

She paused. “So you are doing it?” 

Your excitement shone in your eyes as you fought off a smile. “Tomorrow morning.”

Well, that felt… spontaneous. 

Yet from the short time she had known you and what she hard heard about Viktor, it kind of made sense. 

Viktor put his whole career in jeopardy for a man he just met and for a forbidden project. 

You gave up your whole life to follow a man you had not seen in years. 

If something felt right, you both ran for it no matter the risks.

“So you want to sow your own dress?” Caitlyn asked. “Will you have enough time? I can lend you one of my ball gowns instead.”

“Thank you, but no.” You shook your head with a smile. “I want to make my own.”

“I don’t think the fabric store is still open…” She trailed off as she looked at the setting sun peeking behind a tower, an aircraft floating close by momentarily hid it.  

“Let’s try anyway, can you lead me there?”

“Sure…” She gave you a pointed look. “If you can let me dress first.”

“Oops..” you smiled sheepishly. “Sure. Sorry.”

The sound of your shoes dragging against her wooden floor as you paced impatiently drove her insane. She threw on her clothes as fast as possible, then burst out the room and grabbed your wrist. “Let’s go before I end up in Stillwater because of you.”

You ignored the comment and sauntered after her. The servants threw you a bewildered look as you walked to the front door since they never saw you enter. 

You both jumped in the streetcar, and you gave the driver two tickets from the book you always carried in your pocket. 

After taking a seat on the blue velvet cushions, Caitlyn turned to you, teeth worrying her lip.

“Are you… sure… about your decision?”

You stared longly at her as if you were pondering over telling her an embarrassing secret, then you caved with a sigh. “I… um… I’ve planned the design of my wedding dress for a while now.” 

This ridiculously cute admission caused her brows to shoot up. “How long?”

“I’m not telling you.” You muttered as you crossed your arms, but the teen was relentless in her quest for truth, leaning forward with a heavy stare. “Since I was sixteen.” You finally said.

“Wow…” Caitlyn smiled. “You really love him.”

You shrugged with an amused grin. “Eh, he’s alright.” 

“I hope I will get to love someone as much one day.” She murmured, fingers playing with a ring. 

“Someone as kind and charming as you? Yeah, you’ll break a lot of hearts.” You said, then snickered when she hid her face in embarrassment. 

You sat in a comfortable silence, lulled by the bell of the tram and the soft chatter of the passengers. Then once your stop came Caitlyn ushered you out and opened her umbrella.

You hurried down the street, and once the familiar facade of the boutique came into view, so did the silhouette of the owner closing and locking the front door. 

“Hello Mister, I’m sorry, it’s an emergency.” You smiled apologetically. “Can we go in?”

The owner, a man in his late fifties with a bushy white mustache, shook his head. “I’m sorry ladies, but you’re going to have to come back tomorrow. Have a good night.”

You both sighed in defeat as you watched the man tip his hat at you and walk away. 

“Let’s just go back to my house and pick a dress.” Caitlyn offered, but you seemed to ignore her as you waited until the man had disappeared out of sight. She called your name. 

“Great, he’s gone.” You nodded to yourself as you walked in the back alley behind the shop. “Time for plan B.”

“Plan B?” She repeated as she followed you. “We had a plan B?”

When she saw you open the lid of the shop’s dumpster her eyes opened wide. “Please tell me you’re not about to jump into this trash skip.”

“What?” You smirked at her over your shoulder. “Not into a good old dumpster diving?”

“This is disgusting.” Her nose scrunched in disgust. “You can’t make a wedding dress with trash.”

“Why not? I’m sure the fabric was perfectly good before he dumped it.”

Caitlyn once again pinched her nose at your antics as you jumped into the bin. “Are you aware that this is illegal?”

“Either you arrest me, or you watch out for your colleagues, miss enforcer.” Your voice called from the bin, followed by the sound of rummaging.

“I haven’t graduated yet.” She muttered as she crossed her arms and turned her back to you to face the street. 

Caitlyn will have a word with Jayce about the strange people he surrounded himself with. 

Night had fallen by now, and she could still hear you search the bin. “Are you done?” 

“Almost, I’d like some tull– bingo!” 

You jumped out the bin with arms full of red and burgundy fabric, some sparkly and some satiny. You trotted away, and Caitlyn had to jog to catch up. “I didn’t find the color I had in mind, but this will do.”

“Where are we going now?” Caitlyn asked as she took some to lighten the load, and you smiled gratefully at her. 

“I’ll go home and work on my dress all night, you really don’t have to stay with me. I’ve already dragged you to the shop and made you an outlaw.” You teased her, and she rolled her eyes. 

“I have nothing planned tomorrow, and you will probably require help to do your hair and adjust the back of the dress.” Caitlyn muttered shyly. “I’m your witness after all. It’s my duty.”

“Just say you have no friends.” You bumped your shoulder with hers playfully, and she sputtered in shame.

“I have friends!”

“Oh, really?” You slyly smirked. “Name some of them?”

“… Jayce.”

“Okay.” You looped your arm with her. “That’s sad, you’re going home with me.”

*** 

“Where’s Viktor?” Caitlyn asked while she watched you pour two cups of coffee.

“Probably with Jayce.” You explained as you gave her a mug. 

“So… how did you decide on getting married tomorrow?”

You moved to the living room, and Caitlyn crouched to greet the tabby cat nestled in a brown quilt on the armchair with a friendly pat on the head. 

Meanwhile you set the fabric on the floor and began hand drawing the patterns with chalk as if from memory. “He said that I was too scared to marry him and kind of… asked me to prove him wrong.”

“Your owners are idiots.” The teen whispered to the cat, which stared back knowingly with his yellow eye. 

Hours passed as you worked, laughed and chatted, taking breaks to make a new pot of coffee. 

Caitlyn found out that she very much enjoyed your company. You were witty, easygoing and a good listener, and as you were older you gave very good advice. 

She watched you work tirelessly on your dress, expertly weaving your needle as if you had done this for years. A question had been burning her tongue for most of the night, and it was when she was helping you weave beads into the bodice that it tumbled out of her mouth. 

“Are you going to tell him you love him?”

“Wha– shit !” You had accidentally stabbed your finger with the needle, and you stuck it into your mouth to stop the bleeding. “No, I won’t tell him.”

“Why not?” Caitlyn furrowed her brows in frustration. “I think as your husband he deserves to know.”

The word husband echoed in your mind, causing your heart to take off as you sputtered. “It-it’s not a good idea! I don’t want to distract him or ruin our friendship, okay? Now forget it.”

Sadness tugged at Caitlyn’s features as she fell silent. She looked at the chaotic mess of scribbles permanently engraved on the coffee table. Schematics and equations mixed with music notes and what seemed to be song lyrics ruining what had been a perfectly good table.

“You deserve to be happy, you know.” 

Your eyes softened as you smiled at the teen. “I couldn’t be happier. Thank you.” 

Dawn was beginning to rise when you heard the lock of the door clanking as you did the final adjustments while you were wearing the dress. You both exchanged a panicked look as the door swung open, and you suddenly screamed “Noooo!” As you grabbed a pillow and chucked it at the door.

Viktor ducked in time, and the pillow struck Jayce whom was right behind him. “Oof! What the hell?!”

“Don’t look at me! I’m not ready yet!” You barked at the two poor men, but it was too late.

Viktor was frozen, wide eyed and breathless as if he was gazing at a masterpiece. You pretended to study the golden patterns you wove in the skirt, hands trembling under his intense stare. 

“It’s not perfect, we didn’t have a lot of time and the fabric is not exactly what I wanted…” You trailed off with a frown.

“Are you joking?” Jayce exclaimed as he  stood behind you to look closely at the dress. “This is so impressive! You could sell this.”

“I helped too.” Caitlyn added in a half asleep voice, curled up on the couch with Hex on her chest. 

Jayce chuckled. “Good job, Cait.”

You turned to look at her. “Thank you.” And she grinned. 

Viktor slowly walked up to you, still in awe. You took notice of the elegant suit he was adorning, the usual red and grey colors he always wore bringing out his vivid amber eyes.

“You really look like a Piltie.” You laughed affectionately as you reached to adjust his cravat. 

His eyes shone with mirth. “You too. You look…. Breathtaking.”

Your lips stretched in a wide grin that hurt your cheeks but you couldn’t stop. “We should go.” Jayce interrupted the moment to grab your coat from the hanger and throw it over your shoulders. “The office will open soon and we have to get here first.”

“I’m not done yet!” You protested, but Jayce ignored you and tied your coat around the dress before ushering you out.

You ended up on the still damp streets of Piltover, lifting you skirt to not get it wet and off you went to the town-hall. 

The secretary had just done pouring his cup of coffee when your group burst through the door in formal attire, he stared at you as he took a sip. 

“Hi, can you marry us?” You asked. 

He quirked a brow. “Do you have an appointment?”

Jayce’s hand landed on your shoulders as he stepped in. “No, but I’m sure you wouldn’t mind making an exception for the friends of the House Kiramman? I’m Jayce Talis by the way, pleasure to meet you.” He  did his million dollar smile. 

“Oh, Mister Talis! My daughter is a big Hextech fan.” The secretary smiled. “Sure, we can do something.”

“Great, thank you.” 

Jayce winked at you as the secretary went inside the office to have a word with the city hall clerk. 

“I can’t believe that worked.” Viktor muttered as he shook his head at the smugness oozing out of his partner’s every pore.

He then looked at you, all dolled up and pretty with your hair in a sophisticated updo. “Last chance to change your mind.” He whispered, and you threw him a glare through your thick lashes. 

“I could tell you the same.”

“Never.” He said, and you felt a pang to your heart that made you blush. 

“Good morning!” The booming voice of the  clerk in charge of the matrimonial office rang. “So I’ve heard we have very important personalities today!”

Jayce grinned like a madman as he shook the hand of the short pudgy man with wild grey hair. “Pleasure to meet you.”

He greeted every single one of you personally with a friendly smile and a pat on the back. “I must officiate another wedding in one hour, so we have a bit of time. Please come in!”

Your hands felt clammy as you wiped them on Jayce’s sleeve, whom gave you a dirty look but still squeezed your shoulder reassuringly. 

“Are we making the right choice?” You asked in a low voice, your filled up brows furrowing in nervousness. 

Jayce smiled softly. “You won’t know until you take the risk.” 

You took a deep breath as you gave a brief nod and you release his arm to take your place besides Viktor. 

The sunlight after the rain made Viktor’s eyes shine as he looked at you, his hands taking yours in a gentle grip. “Ready?”

Seeing him so sure of himself before you, feeling the weight of your ring on your finger strengthened your resolve, and you squeezed his hands. “Ready, you?”

He smiled. “Yes.”

He had been ready for years. 

Chapter Text

“Shall we begin?” The marriage officiant asked, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes from seeing Viktor and you so nervous. 

Viktor prayed you couldn’t feel the slight tremor in his hands. 

You stood before him, straight and determined as if you were going to run into battle in your burgundy gown. It reminded him of a younger version of you, with large doe eyes and wild color strikes in your hair. 

You had stood before him in the exact same position, head held high, shoulders solid, a fire behind those eyes. The blazing heat wasn’t targeted at him, but instead it was zeroed in on the roof of the old abandoned clock factory. 

“You’re gonna hurt yourself.” Viktor hissed at you, worry twisting his features and making him jittery. “It’s not worth it.”

He should’ve known you were going to take it as a challenge. 

Suddenly your lips curled in a smirk. “I can’t fall, Vik, because I never jump.”

He bit on his lip as he watch you crouch on the roof, muscles lean from years of dancing tensing as you placed your palms on the tiles. Slouching on his crutch, the weakness in his leg rendered him a witness to your antics. 

“No, instead I fly.”

As you took off the tiles broke, his heart summersaulting, you ran across the roof, and suddenly the soles of your worn out shoes slammed loudly to take off. 

You grinned, arms spread wide to feel the air resist against your speed, your hair flying wildly. If you were to gaze down, you would have seen where many other children had fallen before you, but you never did. 

Viktor saw how happy and free you looked each time you took a gambling against death. It stretched its claws, ready to drag you down into the deepest abyss, deeper than the mines of the Undercity, but each time you taunted it as you flew out of its reach. He watched you soar higher with each jump, his heart on the verge of giving up at the prospect of seeing you fall, but you never did.

You landed in a roll, straightened up, and let out an exhilarated laugh as you readjusted the backpack on your shoulders. 

“I’ll be right back with your parts!” You screamed at Viktor, hands around your mouth to project your voice.

“We’re ready.” Your voice, slightly deeper with age, broke him out of his daze as you answered the officiant in a shaky voice. “I think.” 

The man stifled a chuckle. “Your names, please.” 

“Viktor Nikorov.” He announced, and you gazed back at him worriedly. 

Like most inhabitants of Zaun you didn’t have a last name. There was no legacy to pass down and rarely any father to claim their child as their own.

Viktor probably invented his own, so you made up a name on the spot, blurting it awkwardly to the man whom wrote it down on the marriage contract, probably blaming your stuttering on the nerves of a young bride.

Your palms felt sweaty, heart beating hard and shivers traveling down your restless legs. You couldn’t tear your eyes away from Viktor’s, not when you wanted to engrave forever in your mind the way he was gazing down at you, brimming with emotions you couldn’t describe.

How many times had you dreamt of a moment like this while lying on the roof of the carbaret, the tiles digging uncomfortably into your flesh and the cold air making you shiver? Picturing the color of his eyes and the endearing curl of his lip when he smiled. 

“The groom shall repeat the vows after me.” 

Viktor cleared his throat awkwardly as he prayed the knot in his throat would not render him mute. He heard Jayce’s snicker behind him, and he felt the urge for a second to throw his cane in his partner’s face.

His eyes plunging into yours, he began speaking. “I vow to forever love you.” He repeated, his hands holding yours tighter, accent thickening. “I will share your smiles, your sorrows, your dreams and your nightmares. Forever.”

The wedding officiant opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by Viktor as he kept speaking with an unwavering voice.

“Through the fog I will always find you.”

The vow you heard couples mutter in the lanes. 

The others looked at him questioningly, but you knew, and your eyes glistened as you felt warmth bloom in your chest. Your head turned aside briefly to blink the tears away.

How you loved this brilliant, selfless man…

When your turned came you pathetically stumbled over your words, voice unstable. “I- I vow to-” you stopped to catch your breath and your head fell in shame. “I’m sorry.”

“Hey,” Viktor whispered, and you looked up to find him smiling at you. “It’s just me. Ignore everyone else.”

So you finally found your voice and repeated the vows, finally adding the last ones with as much conviction as you could muster, planting your gaze deep into his amber eyes. 

“Through the fog I will always find you.” You whispered.

You wanted him to know you would follow him anywhere, because you loved him so fucking much you felt like your feelings were building up in your throat until you were choking each time his hand brushed against yours. 

The officiant brushed aside the strange vow and smiled. “The rings.”

Viktor noticed the flash of panic in your eyes at the mention of rings you didn’t bring. He couldn’t help the smug grin as he released your hand to reach into his pocket. 

There was a reason why he had rushed to the lab after you had departed to see Caitlyn. And it was to use the remaining metal they used on the Hexgate to make the two rings laying in his palm. 

He took your hand and slid the band on your finger, and you prayed to all the gods your shaking hands wouldn’t drop the ring. You grinned widely when you managed to put it on his finger without a hitch. 

You sighed in relief, relieved that the ceremony was over. Your nerves could hardly handle the way Viktor was unable to take his eyes away from you, the warmth of his hands and the little smile at the corner of his lips.

You forgot one small detail.

“Congratulations to the newlyweds!” The man smiled behind his thick mustache. “You may kiss.”

Your whole body tensed as you stood like a deer in the headlights. Viktor pursed his lips as he looked just as shocked, this part of the ceremony also had escaped his mind. 

For a second neither of you moved, and you wondered if your heart had finally given out. 

And then as if gravity had shifted, your body inched towards his. He followed the pull towards you, his hands leaving yours to grab the back of your head. Your body arched to mold against his, and you felt the way his heart hammered against his ribcage as if to meet yours. 

His nose brushed against yours, eyes asking for permission. Hot breath fanning against your mouth, you shivered as you curled an arm around his neck, pulling him closer as an invitation. 

He leaned down to press his lips against yours. 

The kiss sent a shockwave through your body that shook you to your core. You closed your eyes as you melted, taking in the softness of his lips as they moved against you. In a burst of exhilaration he brought you closer against him by the waist, fingers tangling in your hair as he kissed you like he was leaving for war the next day.

For the first time in his life, his mind usually brimming with ideas and questions had gone silent. He was lost in the way you smelled, your taste as he swept his tongue over your lip, the softness of your hair and the warmth of your body against his. 

His weak leg buckled, and he had to lean and you to not fall, the fluttering in his stomach became hard to ignore. 

You were freedom and spirits, and it tasted wonderful and addictive.

He didn’t know how, but soon his lips departed from yours, mourning your loss.

Eyes fluttering open, you found him gazing down at you, forehead softly pressed against yours as if craving to stay close. 

Then suddenly his eyes went wide with an incredulous stare, and you let out a small gasp, fingers finding your lips. 

A kiss out of unrequited love couldn’t have shaken your worlds as intensely as it did. 

You wished this moment would have been witnessed by Alma and the others from the Daydream. You wanted to share your happiness, celebrate with the ones you loved and had grown up with. 

Would your mother have sneered at you, proclaimed as usual that love was an illusion? Or would her eyes have softened and she would have told you you looked beautiful?

As if you felt her presence in the room, you turned your head to look at the rows of empty seats for friends and family, and you swore you saw her sitting there, a bittersweet smile on her lips.

You smiled back. 

***

“So,” Jayce began as he placed a basket down on a tablecloth you had set on the grass. “On the menu, we have croissants, muffins, cookies and chocolate cake.”

You had decided to celebrate in the park of Piltover to watch the hot-air balloon take off, filling the sky with colors. 

“What a feast.” Caitlyn deadpanned, utterly unimpressed as she took a seat on the cloth, legs folded in a graceful pose. 

Jayce gasped dramatically. “I did what I could on such a short notice!”

Viktor chuckled. “This is fine, thank you Jayce.”

“See.” Jayce said to Caitlyn. “Someone here appreciates my efforts.”

“Don’t fall in love, he’s taken now.” You quipped in with a smirk, hand reaching for a piece of chocolate cake.

Viktor had the same idea, and your skin brushed against his, sending a jolt of electricity down your arm that made you jerk back with a yelp as he froze, wide eyed. 

Caitlyn and Jayce watched you two suddenly fumble around each other with raised eyebrows.

“My apologies.” Viktor said as he awkwardly scratched his arm to make the tingling sensation disappear.

“It- it’s nothing.” You murmured. “Go ahead.”

“No, no. You go ahead.”

You both reached for the basket for the same time again, and before your hands could touch you jerked back. “I’m gonna go get us coffee!” You blurted. 

Your trembling hands reached to gather the skirts of your gown, and you all but ran off. Caitlyn grabbed a croissant and began munching on it as Jayce turned to Viktor. 

“Well, that was painful to watch.” Jayce stated with a grimace. “Care to explain what just happened?”

“Not really.” Viktor muttered as he spun the new ring around his finger. 

“Boo, that was a rhetorical question.” Jayce threw a piece of cake at him, and Viktor glared back, outraged. “Spill the beans.”

The brunette caved in with a sigh. “I just… came to a realization. And I believe this changes everything.”

“What realization?” Jayce squinted his eyes as if to see the answer. 

Viktor avoided the heavy curious gaze of his friend by looking at the sky.

“That my love for her may not be… unrequited.” 

“Shocking news.” Caitlyn smirked behind her half-eaten pastry, and Jayce suppressed a snicker as he smiled.

“That is great!” Jayce patted Viktor on the back a bit too roughly, sending the scrawny man forward. “I’m happy for you.”

“No, it is not.” Viktor snapped in a sharp tone. “It… It complicates everything.”

Jayce knew his friend was a complex man. With intelligence always came neurosis, and Viktor was the most intelligent person he had ever met.

“How is that complicating everything?” Jayce tilted his head, eyebrows drawing together. 

“It will distract me,” he sighed. “I cannot allot time for her, not when we are so close to a breakthrough. I made the promise to myself I would dedicate my whole life to science, and I intend to respect it.”

Silence fell, Jayce noticed the way Caitlyn visibly deflated as a frown tugged at her features. He, too, was feeling disappointed and sad for you, Viktor’s answer was expected, but not the one he had hoped for. 

“I hope you will not regret that decision, my friend.” Jayce said with a low voice. “And that you are aware that you will have to reject the woman you love.” 

Viktor swallowed thickly, and gave a hesitant nod in answer.

Chapter Text

You both didn’t know how to behave around each other anymore. 

Each moment where Viktor and you were alone ended up in long periods of silence where you avoided eye contact. You danced around each other like two feral cats that just met, and Viktor escaped the awkwardness by spending even more time away at the lab. 

Viktor still felt a twinge of guilt every time he checked the clock to find out that you were probably tucked into bed now, alone safe for the cat curled on your stomach. 

Knowing you, you probably felt lonely. He was aware that you had a hard time fitting in Piltover and meeting new friends, and you probably suffered from it. And now that he was spending most of his time in the lab..

He missed you too, chatting with you, having dinner together, being dragged around the city as you spoke excitedly about an activity you wanted to do…

“Are you okay?” 

Viktor snapped out of his thoughts to find Jayce slumped in his chair, head in his hand, eyes sunken in staring at him. “Yes, I… eh.. just need some coffee.” He answered with a sigh as he grabbed his stained mug and had to force his body out of his chair with a grunt.

“Will you be able to handle teaching the first years? Your course is in less than an hour.” Jayce said as he checked the time on his pocket watch. 

Viktor froze mid-step as his eyes widened. He had completely forgotten about the class. “Is it Thursday already?”

“…Yes?” Jayce’s brows drew together. “You really ought to go home and rest, take a day off.”

“I cannot rest when we still haven’t found a solution for the power depletion of the Hexgate.” Viktor protested. “The fundraiser is approaching and we need to provide a sturdy prototype to convince the investors.”

“Believe me, I know.” Jayce let out a snort as he stood up to grab his coat. “But we cannot run on empty stomachs and exhausted minds. I’m going home and so should you. Go spend some time with the trash raider you call a wife.”

Viktor rolled his eyes with an amused smile, but chose not to comment on Jayce’s new nickname for you. 

Deciding to calling it a day, he promptly noticed the Academy’s secretary that he was canceling today’s class and left. He relied on a crutch to drag his exhausted body home, and when he saw an aircraft floating above on his way home he wondered if you had ever been on one before and, if not, if you would like to try one day. 

He heaved a sigh of relief when he arrived in the safety of the apartment. Hex perked up from his place on the chair at the sight of his master, jumped off and happily trotted towards Viktor. 

“Good morning, little one.” His lips curled in a small smile as he scratched the cat behind the ear. “I am glad to see you too.”

Besides the cat, the room was strangely empty. Viktor looked in every room for you, to no avail. You were probably out reading in the park or jogging, but his theories were proven false once his eyes landed on the window of your bedroom, slightly ajar.

He pushed it to poke his head outside and look up towards the roof a story over. “Dove? Are you there?”

His teeth dug into his lip, Viktor was painfully familiar with your habit of hiding on a roof to sulk whenever you were upset. He had lost count of how many times Alma and your mother frantically searched for you after you had disappeared for hours on end. 

Silence stretched for a few seconds as he waited, and he sighed. “I know you’re up there, just answer me and I will leave you be.”

He knew he had won when he heard a loud huff in answer. “I’m fine.” Your voice traveled down in a clipped tone that tugged down at the corner of his lips. 

“Have you been out all night?”

“…Maybe.” You voice hesitantly answered.

A disapproving sight tore out of his chest. “The nights are growing colder. You will catch something if you keep doing that.”

“I’m fine.”

That answer once again…

“Come down and let’s talk about it, okay? You will feel better once you get what’s upsetting you off your chest.”

“No, thank you.”

Lips curling down as he stared dejectedly  at the edge of the roof, he began to piece the pieces of the puzzle together. 

“You’re upset with me.”

His face fell when he was met with silence. His amber eyes darkened with a glare as they fell on his leg brace, his handicap always slowing him down and making his life even more complicated. If not for the cursed limb he would have climbed to the roof to be besides you, see the truth of what you were feeling in your eyes, maybe finally understand why you were so drawn to high places.

“I apologize for my absence… We have been stuck on a problem for days and it has been driving me insane. I am worried we will fail to solve it before the fundraising gala…. It doesn’t excuse the fact that I’ve been neglecting you. For that I’m truly sorry.”

He heard rustling, and finally your head popped out as you hanged upside down from the roof, your eyes staring at him with an unreadable look, lips pursed. “You don’t have to apologize. It’s not your duty to look after me, we’re not together.”

He knew what you were attempting, testing him, gauging if he would want something more. And by the gods, he craved it, he wanted everything you would give him. He could feel the weight of the small steel band wrapped around his finger, he had started the habit to play with it when he was deep in thought. He remembered the softness of your lips and the curve of your body slotting perfectly against his at your wedding.

You were everything he had always yearned for.

But he wasn’t what you deserved.

“It’s not all, right? If you tell me I will buy some of those citrus crescents you love.” 

Mel Medarda gifted a box to Viktor and Jayce a few weeks prior. They were pieces of candied oranges covered in dark chocolate, and he had saved some for you, and he remembered fondly the way your face had lit up when you had tasted the treat for the first time.

He smirked when he knew the bargain worked by the way your eyes widened.

“Move.” 

He stepped aside to give you some room, and you twisted your body as your hands clutched at the channel at the edge of the roof that groaned under your weight and you gracefully launched yourself through the window and landed soundlessly on the wooden floor of the living room.

You plopped on the couch and Viktor slumped besides you as he propped up his bad leg on the coffee table with a tired sigh. 

And with a crestfallen crown you spilled out your metaphorical guts on the couch for him. 

“Like you, I’m also in deep shit for the fundraiser.” You mumbled. “Mel Medarda asked me to write songs to sing at the gala and I can’t do it. No matter how much I rack my brain nothing good comes out. And I just….” You clenched your jaw as you glared at the ground. “I thought singing was the only thing I was good at, but I can’t even write one single fucking song! And now I– I realize that I will never find a job because I can’t even do maths and I don’t know shit!“

As you grew upset your breath grew frantic and your face reddened. “How am I even gonna explain the attacks I get because of the Shimmer? W–What if it happens while I’m working? During the gala?”

His heart, already aching for you, felt like it was crumbling under the weight of the anguish marring your features. 

“What the fuck am I gonna do, Vik?” You whispered, and he panicked when your hands began to tremble.

“Hey– Hey.” He grabbed your shoulders. “Look at me.” Your gaze remained planted on the ground. “Look at me, sweetheart.” 

The pet name caught you off guard, successfully making you raised your eyes to meet his with a bashful look.

“You will be fine.” He said, his confident expression already helping your erratic heart rate. “We have a roof over our head, food and enough money. You don’t need to feel so pressured to find an employment.”

“But I want to do something.” You protested weakly. “Be useful.”

“Then what about studying?” He asked in a gentle voice as he tucked a strand of hair behind your ear, leaving tingles on your skin. “Find a field that appeals to you and apply at the academy. There are classes for basic calculus, I can have a word with the teacher for you.”

“I’d like that very much.” You sniffled. “Thank you.”

He smiled. “I am not exactly well versed in the domain of music and arts, but I feel like you put too much pressure on yourself. Let it come to you.”

You laid your palm over his hand. “You’re right. I’ll… try to stop overthinking about it.”

“Eh, I appreciate that you’re finally admitting it.” Viktor smirked, and you couldn’t help rolling your eyes with a smile.

You both fell into a comfortable silence as you basked in Viktor’s attention, his soft amber eyes for once not on his notes or his inventions, but instead studying your face as if picking apart your features. Using this small moment where he wasn’t busy and the whirlwind of his mind had momentarily calmed, you took it to ask a question that had been weighing you for a long time.

“I.. also had something else to ask you.” You suddenly seemed shy like a child asking for a toy, teeth biting at your lip. 

He raised a thick brow, unable to hide his amusement nor his peaked curiosity at this sudden change of demeanor. 

“Remember Powder, that little girl I’ve been talking to you about in the past?”

He looked away to wrack his exhausted brain. Powder… that did ring a bell…. “Isn’t she one of Vander’s children?”

“Yes!” You nodded. “And you heard what happened to him, right?”

A frown made its way to Viktor’s face as he grew somber. “I…indeed heard about the factory incident. How tragic. I was unaware that some of the children had survived.”

“Powder and her sister did. But we don’t know what happened to Violet.” You huffed, frustrated. “I hope that she’s safe, wherever she is. She’s a good kid.”

Viktor could already guess where the conversation was leading, and his slightly crooked teeth showed as he grinned. “What about Powder?”

“Yeah… about her…” Fingers playing with your hair to try to hide your nervousness, you nodded that it had never been this long before… “Silco took her in.” 

Viktor’s smile fell. Silco, as in the new chem baron? The one that, according to you, took over the Undercity after Vander’s passing? The one behind the Shimmer traffic?

You mirrored his frown. “I’ve always wanted to take care of Powder, but with Finn terrorizing the club and the district… at least she has Silco’s protection. But now that I’m here… with you…”

Her eyes stared pleadingly. “I know this is a lot to ask. But can we… take her in?”

Your stomach twisted in knots as you anxiously waited for his answer, his face betraying nothing as he seemed to think about it. 

Then he broke into a smile as you felt his hand gently pet your head. “We might have to buy a bigger home if you plan to adopt every orphan of the Undercity, dove.”

“I think one is already enough.” You playfully rolled your eyes. “So is that a yes?”

He thought about his own childhood in the small orphanage of Zaun, desperately hoping that someone would come and save him. If he could do for a child what had never been done for him…

“I… I think it could work..” He smiled. 

Your eyes sparkled as you gasped, as if surprised by how easily he accepted, but you should’ve known he would always support you just as you supported him.

He failed to register the way you jumped into his arms, and he grunted as his back fell into the couch. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”

Viktor chuckled, arms finding purchase around the small of your back. Having you so close, the smell of lavender in your hair and your warm breath against his neck muddled his thoughts, his brilliant brain reduced to a useless puddle. 

Hands braced at each side of his head, your head left the spot between his neck and shoulder so you could peer down at him through your eyelashes, so close your nose brushed against his. He was rendered speechless, and you caught the way his gaze wandered down to your lips, bitten red by worry. 

Viktor’s body ached for you, dying for another taste of your lips. He wanted to cry, frustrated by the own barriers he had put up. But when you started to slowly descend towards him, his heart began beating erratically. 

“Wh– What are you doing?” He whispered, eyes frantically searching yours, and found only adoration and determination.

“Kissing my husband, why?” Your answer was only heard by him because you were so close your breath fanned his mouth. “Do you want me to stop?”

My husband. 

He gulped, fingers trembling in both anticipation and nervousness. It definitely wasn’t a good idea. His hands grasped your shoulders with the aim to push you away, making your eyes widen in surprise. Yet he couldn’t find the strength to move you away from him.

And then his treacherous mouth moved by itself. 

“No.” He whispered as if in surrender, cheeks red and eyes half closed. “Don’t stop.”

Maybe he could be selfish, just this once…

Face relaxing with relief, you moved impossibly slow, and he trembled when he felt your lips brush against his, almost tickling him. Your eyelids were heavy, but your eyes still held his gaze, daring him to change his mind. 

Just this once… 

He closed his eyes, and crossed the final distance between you. You sighed as you felt the sweet press of his mouth against yours, sending tingles down your entire body. You kept pressing chaste kisses, feeling him melt more and more with each one of them. ‘I love you.’ You conveyed with each one, fingers carding in his thick brown hair. 

He clung to you like he was drowning and you were his only saving grace. Overwhelmed and never wanting this to end. 

And then you felt something warm and wet caress your lower lip, making you gasp in surprise. And he took the opportunity to slid his tongue into your mouth. 

Your eyes opened at the same time as his, gone from a gentle amber to a molten bronze, setting you ablaze with his gaze. He suddenly hijacked the kiss, taking full control. His steady hands cradled your cheeks as he brushed his tongue against yours, and your brain crashed, not before producing a few lyrics that you could already see printed behind your eyelids.

This will definitely be a love song.

Chapter Text

Although you fought hard to bury those memories deep inside the limbo of your mind, feeling the warm lips of Viktor caused them to resurface as easily as a piece of rotten driftwood.

Once Silco took over Zaun, the Daydream became one of the Slickjaws’ favorite hanging place. Those brute, ruthless and ill-mannered, lead by the new Baron Finn, were the worst customers you ever had, and cold sweat rolled down your spine each time your eyes caught a flash of gold.

Their leader had taken a liking to you, unfortunately. The first time you met his eyes as you walked on stage, he was rendered speechless, his hand holding his drink frozen in the air as he was about to take a sip.

By his attire and his confident demeanor, sprawled on the rich red velvet of his seat, he was a leader –and a rich one–. So naturally, as you did with every customer that seemed to have their pockets full, you focused on him.

The table he was sitting at, surrounded by his subordinates, was the first one you walked over to after the show, accompanied by Mabel.

“We’ve never had the pleasure of seeing you before tonight.” Mabel smiled flirtatiously, flashing on purpose his abnormally sharp canines that customers always found charming. “Welcome, I hope you enjoyed the show,” He slung a glittery arm over your shoulders. “And my friend here didn’t ruin it for you.”

“Bitch.” You whispered through your teeth as you smiled at the group of men that laughed at Mabel’s gibe.

“You were both enchanting.” The man at the edge of the couch purred, and as he tried to reach for Mabel’s arm the dancer dodged very gracefully.

“Thank you.” You smiled, yet your eyes discreetly watched the man’s hand trying to reach for your friend once again.

Finn’s pale eyes never left you as his subordinates began gathering money in a pile on the table as a tip. His cigarette burned idly, balanced on his lower lip, ash falling to the ground although there was an ashtray besides his glass. You tried to mask the annoyance at the idea of having to clean his mess later once the club would close.

“You are one cute boy.” The guy at the edge clasped his hand around Mabel’s arm, whom yelped as his grip around your shoulder tightened in surprise.

Seeing the discomfort and fear on your friend’s face fueled your tired body, and before your brain could even process you had slammed your stiletto heel in the burly man’s arm. Pain forced him to release Mabel’s arm. In a heartbeat his limb was pinned against the armrest, trapped under your painful hold. “What the f–” He groaned in pain when you twisted your heel to dug your shoe in his flesh.

Finn’s eyes widened as he witnessed you, a little woman that was half his size, wrapped in silk and lace, threatening his Lieutenant like he was a small puppy dog. Your eyes rimmed with black glared angrily at the man, your arm pushing Mabel behind you protectively.

“No fucking touching.” You hissed. “We’re dancers. If you wanted whores you should’ve gone elsewhere.”

And you cursed like a sailor too…

You were completely unaware that you had just sealed your fate.

“Woman or not, I’m gonna beat your fucking–” The Lieutenant’s growl was cut by the sound of a gun being cocked, and his eyes widened when they landed on a gun being pointed in his face.

“Want to finish that sentence?” Finn asked as he took a drag of his cigarette with his free hand and blew the smoke in his face.

The Lieutenant paled. “N…No, sir.” His colleagues snickered.

You slowly retracted you leg, and you heard Mabel quietly sigh in relief. You didn’t know what to think of the fancy man with the green eyes and the golden jaw that just helped you.

You knew this wasn’t the last you had seen of him. And you were proven right when he began to come regularly, each time leaving large sums of money on his table and keeping his subordinates in check.

Then after a while the touches started. He would trail his fingers down your arm before slipping a gift in your palm, tuck a wild strand of hair behind your ear. Each time you politely pushed him away, but he became impatient.

“Wild horses are the most rewarding to break.” He whispered one night after you had slapped his hand away, lips curled in a smirk and his thumb and index fingers trapping your chin in a painful grip to force your eyes on him.

And then he bent down and pressed his mouth against yours, pale greenish eyes staring you down. The coldness of his golden jaw against your lips and the taste of nicotine rose the hairs on your body as you shivered, bile burning the back of your throat.

Alma, Mabel and all the others witnessed it, and no one looked for you when you had disappeared for the entire night.

They wouldn’t have found you anyway. For once in your short, miserable life you indulged your desires.

And you ran.

You fled, lips red from rubbing them raw, eyes brimming with tears hot from anger, feet slamming against the corroded metal of the pipework of Zaun. You ran and ran on the roofs until your legs gave out from exhaustion.

Maybe if you ran far enough, you would finally escape Zaun, its tyranny and toxic fumes rotting your body, surviving but not living. Maybe there is a place for y–

A sinking feeling settled on your heart once you realized that you had nowhere to run to.

So you picked up what was left of you and walked back to the club.

—

The bad feeling was brushed away with a tender flick of Viktor’s tongue against your lips, erasing any trace of the other man and replacing it with his sweet taste.

He was relentless, so much that you had to breathe through your nose to not break the kiss.

And then he pulled away, dark eyes peering at you through thick lashes, an unfamiliar glint in them. He started pressing kisses down the side of your jaw until he reached your neck, and he tore a whimper out of you when he playfully nipped at the skin, his chuckle muffled.

Nimble fingers were buried in your hair, his thumb tracing soothing circles in your scalp as his other hand traveled down your back to feel every curve of your body, and it finally ended its course in the dip of your waist.

Love-drunk and greedy for more of his skin against yours, your grabbed his tie and gently tugged to unfasten it.

He suddenly stiffened, and his hand clasped your own to stop you. He wrenched his face from your neck, the strange glint gone from his wide eye and replaced with fear.

“Something wrong?” You asked as you furrowed your brows, but he looked away as he gently pried your hand away.

“Yes– Eh… No– I just–” He hid his face behind his arm. “I haven’t taken a shower yet.” He quickly blurted the first excuse that came to mind.

You blinked several times, and burst laughing. “Aw, is my baby embarrassed because he reeks?” You teased with a smirk, and as you bent down with the intent to smell him you were stopped by a hand pushing your face away.

Viktor glared at you, cheeks red and flustered to no end at your demeanor and for calling him… that. “You are a mannerless menace.”

“You love it.” You grinned.

“I want a divorce.” He grumbled, and you burst laughing.

“Damn, alright. Go take your shower, your highness!” You released him, and he all but fled to the bathroom.

Once he had locked the door he leaned against it with a sigh of relief. Eyes opening to stare at himself in the mirror above the sink, he began to undress himself. His tie, waistcoat and shirt pooled at his feet, and his gaze hardened once it landed on the mess of metal and leather binding almost his entire bust.

He turned away from his reflection as he brushed his hair away from his face, disheveled from your curious fingers.

He wished he could just set the damn thing on fire and never have to wear it again around you.

***

Love is a chemical reaction.

Oxytocin increases mood, attachment and arousal to help bonding. It is supposed to make people “addicted” to coax them into remaining together, thus increasing the chances of survival of their offspring.

Love is just the most convenient way evolution found to ensure Human’s survival.

That’s all.

“I think you should pick the blue dress. It’s very in theme with Hextech.” Jayce said as he studied your reflection in the mirror. “I just don’t like the silver pattern on the bodice.”

“I can remove it.” The seamstress responded. “Replace it with diamonds perhaps?”

“No. No.” Jayce grinned. “Better than diamonds.”

Viktor’s brain unconsciously thought of you all those years ago as the best possible mate and blasted oxytocin each time he was in your presence, that was all.

You quirked an unimpressed brow. “Are you planning to sow your unstable Hextech crystals in my fucking dress?”

“They’re not unstable. Just avoid bumping into things and you’ll be just fine.”

“That does not reassure me at all!”

Viktor shouldn’t let his life be controlled by a neurotransmitter, this is ridiculous. He had a legacy to build, progress had to be made. You were only going to hinder it.

“At least if they explode I wouldn’t have to hear your complaints. I would just need to throw something at you if you get too loud…”

“You are the one that’s getting too loud, Tallis. Go play with your toys in your lab.”

Viktor should just ignore the kiss, how perfect you felt against him, and how he was already craving more. One day you were going to find someone else, Oxytocin would blast in your brain at a much higher rate than when you were with him, and you would move on and forget about Viktor.

“I have to make sure everything is perfect for next week.” Jayce rolled his eyes.

And when that were going to happen, he would be just finally able to work in peace.

Yes… that would be the most favorable outcome.

“It will be fine. You are introducing a revolutionary invention. My pretty dress is not the reason they will want to invest in Hextech.”

Jayce threw you a deadpan look. “I am aware. It’s about the branding, bird brain. Every little detail count.”

The most favorable outcome should definitely not be the one where he’d be so in love with you he would have trouble focusing on anything but you. “What do you think, Viktor?” He would begin to hope there would be a better future for him, and one day he would want children with you, and of course you would say yes! “Viktor?” And he’ll have no time for Hextech, because he’d be too busy focusing on you and the kids and—

“Viktor!”

“Uh?” He looked up to find Jayce stare at him, deeply amused.

“We have some crystal shards left, right?”

“I guess… What for?” Viktor asked, confused, and Jayce and you both sighed.

“Whatever, I’m changing. I’m done.” You muttered before disappearing in your room, the seamstress hot on your trail to make sure you don’t rip anything.

“Something on your mind, my friend?” Jayce faced Viktor with a concerned frown.

“Nothing important.” He shrugged.

“If you say so…” Jayce crossed his arms, unconvinced. “Hey, she looked very beautiful in that dress. The little bird definitely cleans up nicely, does she?”

Something pricked at Viktor’s heart at his friend’s remark, eyes narrowing subconsciously at him. “She…does?”

Jayce’s smirk turned sly. “That would be a shame for such a pretty and smart woman to end up alone.”

Viktor was really beginning to get frustrated. A bad feeling was settling in his guts, and he just hoped Jayce was not implying what he was thinking. “Get to the point, Jayce.” He grumbled.

Jayce looked over his shoulder to check that the door of your bedroom was still closed, and he bent down to whisper to Viktor. “If you’re not pursuing her, then is it okay if I do?”

Silence fell in the room.

Jayce saw Viktor’s hand tightened around his cane, and once his eyes flickered back to his face Jayce gulped.

His friend, usually kind and passive, looked absolutely livid. His amber eyes glared daggers at him behind his furrowed brows, lips curled in a deep scowl. He looked ready to beat the shit out of Jayce, disability or not, and for once Jayce was kind of worried he had pushed a bit too far.

But hey, it worked.

Chapter Text

“You want to… what?” Viktor asked in an eerily calm voice, his members stiff and his gut churning.

Jayce’s serious face crumbled in a sheepish smile as he let out a loud, undignified snort. “I’m just jesting, my friend. I would never do that to you.”

His large palm landed in a friendly pat on Viktor’s shoulders, but the brunette was unable to shake off the fear that had suddenly crashed over him, and was now settling in each of his nerves. 

His friend’s thick brows furrowed together as he took in Viktor’s state. “Are you feeling unwell? I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have–” He fell silent when you stepped back into the room in a deep green silk robe, the seamstress following after you with the dress carefully cradled in her arms.

“You guys want something to drink?” You asked as you made your way to the kitchen, hand reaching to lovingly scratch the chin of Hex who was lounging on his pillow by the kitchen window. 

Jake slumped in the large armchair. “I wouldn’t be against a cup of coffee right now.”

“Thank you, Misses Nikorov, but I ought to go back to my workshop to finish working on your dress.” The seamstress smiled. “Have a good day.” 

“Thank you! See you later!” You smiled back and watched her take her leave. Then your curious eyes settled on Viktor, still standing with a faraway gaze, seemingly deep in thoughts. “How about you, Vik?”

He blinked, and his attention returned to you. “Coffee too, if it’s not a bother.” 

“Oh, it is.” You joked as you disappeared back into the kitchen to grab the grounded coffee beans. “I was just asking to be polite.”

“If you’re not pursuing her, is it okay if I do?”

The question kept echoing in his brain, driving him mad. Jayce looked worried now by Viktor’s silence, he was not a big talker, but now the man looked outright bothered. He sat down in the couch, leaning on his cane, teeth biting down on the skin of his thumb.

“Viktor,” Jayce whispered as he leaned forward, his lips curled in a guilty frown. “I apologize, I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s just…”

Viktor cleared his throat. “There’s nothing to apologize for, Jayce. A human cannot be owned nor claimed, you do not need my permission to pursue her.”

Jayce looked unconvinced, and he sighed deeply in defeat. He was slowly becoming familiar with the stubbornness of the Zaunites, and it was both their greatest quality and their most annoying flaw.

Tray in hand, you came back to set it on the coffee table covered in various engraving from both you and Viktor. “Why can’t you just buy notebooks instead of ruining your furniture?” Jayce asked, and you scoffed as you grabbed a piece of chocolate covered orange and popped it into your mouth. 

“Can you stop being a judgmental Piltie for  one second?” You grumbled as you took a sit on the couch. “I think it looks cool.”

“You are Piltovian too now, you know?” Jayce quirked a brow. 

“Nobody’s perfect.” You sighed dramatically, and snickered when Jayce looked outright offended.

Viktor couldn’t help staring at you two as you bickered. You and Jayce looked quite good together. The genius with a charming personality and a perfect smile with the woman with a creative mind and a body as graceful as her mouth was dirty. 

Your personalities clashed and clicked at the same time, your sharp tongue always somehow tearing a laugh out of Jayce. 

What if you start to really like him? 

Hiding behind his mug, the coffee scorched his tongue as he all but forced himself to drink, his throat felt clogged and his fingers cold. 

Once his cup was empty, Jayce decided to leave you two alone –well, in reality, he wanted to escape Viktor’s wrath–. He departed with a friendly smile and a “see you tomorrow!”, which Viktor returned with a stiff nod.

His eyes should have burned a whole in the carpet by now, he felt tired to lead a constant battle against himself.

Your face appeared into view as you crouched in from of him, you large doe eyes stared at him. “What happened while I was changing? You’re acting weird.”

He sighed. “I have a lot on my mind lately.”

“You always have a lot on your mind.” Your lips curled in an amused smile, and you fell silent, as if patiently waiting for him to speak up. He watched your hand reaching for his face, your index softly pressing on the mole by his eye, and you switched to touch the one close to his lips.

His eyes closed in surrender as he pressed his forehead against yours. “Can you promise me something selfish?”

“Anything.” You whispered.

“Do…. Do not catch feelings for Jayce.” He pleaded in a quiet voice. “Anyone but him.”

His eyes closed, he failed to see the quiet laugh you let out as your eyes mellowed. “Me? Catching feelings for him?” 

“He is a very good man.”

His eyes opened wide when he felt your hands settle on his shoulders and push him back. You slowly stood up, and your satin robe glided over your skin as you straddled him, knees bracketing his hips. He chocked on air as he froze, and his cane clattered to the ground as your intense eyes bore into his. 

“Maybe. But he’s not my type.” Your hot breath fanned over his mouth, and he drew a breath as his pupil expanded.

“Who–… who is?” He asked, fingers twitching with the urge to grab your waist, yet he forced them to remain on the couch. 

You were hypnotic, from your warmth to your smell to the weight of you on his thighs, careful not to hurt his leg. Magnetic, your finger caressed his jaw, and he followed it, his nose brushing against yours. 

“Kind. Strong. Cunning.” You listed, and he melted under you like your words were laced with blazing heat. “A visionary that lets no one and nothing stop him. A man that shines so bright he rivals the sun.”

His nails dug into the material of the couch as his very nature stretched its broken and soiled fingers at the ethereal creature leaning over him, offering herself like a sacrifice to a god.

“Tell me, Vik.” You said in an accusatory tone, and he drew a sharp breath when you pressed your chest against his. “How the hell can I see other men when I’ve been blinded?”

His lust grew as his gaze hardened. “I’ve read of creatures like you.” Viktor hissed under his breath. “Luring men to their doom with their voice.”

“Mmh?” Your heart thrummed as soon as you felt his arm curled around your waist, his fingers digging into your waist. “I am just human.”

“Are you?” He exhaled shakily.

“I can show you.” You challenged him, eyes burning his skin as you descended to brush your lips against his neck, and he arched his back to offer it to you.

All restraints flew out the window.

“Please.” He whispered to the ceiling.

He was a scientist, he felt the need to pick apart everything, and he would never refuse the opportunity to see your very core, study you until he can draw your blueprint from memory. 

The first press of your lips against his skin set him on fire. He clenched his jaw, teeth clicking loudly as he pressed his face against your shoulder. His heart was hammering in his chest, chanting your name as he tried to melt into you. You trailed kisses after kisses down the column of his neck, and you leaned back to untie the knot keeping your robe together.

He should be putting a stop to this, but his tongue refused to pronounce the words.

Just this time, he’ll have a taste of you, just once will be enough…

One pull on the ribbon and it unraveled, and Viktor swallowed thickly as he witnessed the robe open like a curtain and fall at your sides. You were used to showing off your body, and Viktor had seen you countless times dancing in scandalous outfits, yet you had never felt as exposed as now, and your nerves were fried as you tried to remain still.

You watched him look at you, and nervousness glimmered in his amber eyes. 

“I… don’t know what to do.” He admitted shamefully. 

You grabbed his hand and buried your face in his palm, yet his eyes caught your ears turning red.

“Me neither…” You mumbled, and his lips stretched in a rare endeared grin that made your eyes widen.

He was a sad man, your Viktor. Standing slightly hunched as if bearing the weight of the world on his shoulders, melancholy in his eyes, as if missing a time that never happened. He rarely displayed a genuine smile, preferring the weak polite ones. Now, seeing his eyes glitter as he chuckled and cradled your face in his palm, his lips beautifully curled showing his slightly crooked teeth, you felt the need to make a wish. 

Please, let me stay by his side forever…

“You are…” His cheeks flushed, large amber eyes shyly taking you in. “…Proportionate.”

You slowly blinked in disbelief, then you threw your head back as you broke in a fit of laughter. His arms scrambled to hold you so you wouldn’t fall, his eyes narrowed. “What’s so funny?” He mumbled with a lopsided smile. “It’s the truth.”

You shook your head. “In all my life I’ve been called many things, ‘proportionate’ has never been one of them.”

“They should have.” Viktor scoffed, his analytical eye scanning your exposed body covered only in your underwear. “You have a perfectly balanced body, temples were built using propositions such as yours. It’s perfect. Sacred.”

“Gods, okay.” Deeply flustered, you stopped his tirade, amusing him. 

“Can I..” He hesitantly reached for your wrist, his heart now pounding in his chest and his fingers trembled slightly. “Can I touch you?”

“I’m half naked in your lap, do you think I don’t wanna be touched?” You snarked with a smirk, and he rolled his eyes. 

“That smart mouth…” he trailed off as his fingers skimmed over your skin, leaving a trail of fire from your hand to your shoulder that sent shivers down your spine. “Is as endearing as it is infuriating.”

Your piece of retort died on your tongue, enthralled by his feather-light touch on your skin. He was mapping your body like a fine piece of machinery, his expert fingers tracing your collarbone, the dip leading to your neck, the slope of your shoulders. 

“I’m the only one half naked.” You breathed out your protest, and he avoided your gaze and instead steeled his nerves to press a kiss in the hollow of your throat, and your breath caught in your lungs. 

Knowing he just denied your request, you made do with what you had and explored his body concealed by his clothes. Your palms felt his thin arms covered in lithe muscles from years of working on mechanisms and digging into dumps for scraps. He smelled so sweet your head was spinning, a mix of his own natural scent, ink and the laundry detergent you both shared. 

“Can we stay like this forever?” You asked in a soft voice, ending your sentence with a shaky sigh as his fingers became bolder and slipped under your opened robe to trace your spine.

He hummed as his tongue tentatively poked out of his mouth to taste your skin, tearing a surprised little mewl out of you that had butterflies fluttering in his stomach. He was trying hard to ignore the strain in his pants, but then you had to thrust your hips against his and he hissed as his jaw slacked. 

He noticed your lips quirking in a smug little smirk, and before you could part them to tease him he tangled his fingers in your hair and crashed your lips against his. He seemed possessed as he forced his mouth open to slip his tongue, devouring you like he had been starved. You moaned in his mouth as you clung to his shoulders, you were moving by instinct, slowly slipping back into a more animalistic state, and Viktor didn’t really hate it. His brain was quiet, instead focusing on the feeling of your body tightly pressed against him, drowning in you. 

His fingers hit the strap of your bra, and the molten bronze of his eyes looked up at you behind drooping lids. “How do I remove this thing?” He whispered against your lips, his accent thick with lust.

Still grinding on the bulge in his pants, your muddled mind took a little while to answer. “Unhook.. you have to– uh..– unhook it.”

“Hm.” Viktor searched for the clasp, and in one try he successfully opened it, and you let out a laugh. “Sure you never did it before?”

Viktor pursed his lips as his cheeks reddened. 

You let your robe slide down your arms and pool on the floor. He watched, like in a trance, your fingers gently pull on the straps of your bra to let it fall.

He felt a bit ashamed, to be openly staring at your chest like he had found the meaning of life, but you were just so pretty… 

You remained still, obediently letting him admire you with your lips pursed and your nervous gaze set on the wall. And then his hands gently grabbed your breasts. “Ah–” You squeaked as you felt him test the weight, and squeeze. 

His hands froze. “Did I hurt you?” He asked, and you hid your face in your hands. 

“No.”

His thumbs swiped over your nipples, and you sucked in a breath as your back arched to push your chest in his hands. “Like it?” He asked, and you eagerly nodded. “You’re beautiful…” He said in a throaty tone before licking around your areola, and the cute moan you let out made his dick twitch. 

Annoyed that you were the only one lost in pleasure, your hands trailed down his clothed chest, feeling his stomach flex under your touch, and then they settled on his crotch and gave an experimental squeeze.

His reaction was instant, he chocked on a moan as he thrusted his hips. He looked at you through heavy eyelids and furrowed brows, his cheeks burning and his jaw clenched. “You are distracting me.” He grumbled in an accusing tone, and you let out a laugh which quickly died down when you felt his hands travel down your stomach. 

“I’m a bit surprised…” You trailed off, and sucked in a breath when you felt his fingers tease the waistband of your panties. 

“By what?” Viktor asked, fighting a wicked smile from the effect he was having on you. 

“You’re still here when, usually, you would’ve ran to the lab by now.” 

His smile fell to be soon replaced by a dumbfounded expression. You were right. He should be back to work on the finishing touches for the Hexgate prototype, yet here he was with his hand down your panties like he didn’t have anything better to do.

He looked up and was met with your gaze swimming with desire and worry at the same time. You didn’t want him to go, you were testing him, once again. 

He swallowed thickly as he pushed his fingers farther below your waistband. “We’re– uh.. we’re back on schedule. I’m in no hurry to go back now.”

And even if they were late, his mind was not strong enough to push away the single person that ever wanted him when she was so deliciously offered to him like that.

“Oh.” You sighed in relief, and then. “Oh fuck!” You gasped when his fingers brushed the most sensitive part of you.

“Here?” He asked softly as he applied more pressure, and you bit your lips as your trembling fingers grabbed his wrist to guide him lower. “Ah, I see…” His ring finger circled the bundle of nerves, and electricity ran through your spine as you arched your back with a choked moan. “Mmh… better response.” He muttered to himself with focus. “Let’s try something else…”

Thus began your own personal torture. 

Viktor had decided to try different ways to pleasure you, and he studied each and every response of your body. When you cringed in slight discomfort because he used his nails, he caressed your thigh as an apology with his other hand as he muttered in a thick accent. “Not good.” Then he had the hellish idea of going slower with soft touches to your clit, and you swore again as your own hips began moving on their own. His lips curled in the little victorious smirk he always wore when he ended up being right and kissed your lips. 

“Your talent is wasted working in that lab.” You said against his lips, and he let out an adorable little snort. 

“I can multitask.”

The image of Viktor working you to an orgasm on his desk was suddenly very tempting. 

Tired of having your underwear in the way, he hooked his fingers under the waistband and shimmied them down your legs, you stood up to help him, and once they joined the rest of your clothes on the floor, Viktor grabbed your waist and made you straddle him again. “I’m not done.” He scolded you like you were about to run away, and you giggled as you kissed his nose, cheeks and lips.

You were submerged by your feelings, wrapping in his arms and his eyes looking at you like you were a goddess. Those feelings were building up in your throat, crawling under your skin, overwhelming you like a tidal wave. 

But you bit your lip and your mouth remained shut, and they crashed against the barrier of your teeth yet you remained strong.

You didn’t want to scare Viktor away, and getting a piece of him, this temporary affection, was better than nothing.

“You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.” He groaned, fingers dipping into you. “And you’re so wet.”

“Your fault.” You muttered in embarrassment, and he looked at you like he couldn’t believe he could trigger such an effect in you. 

“Ngh.” You groaned in discomfort at the intrusion, and he ceased all movement. “Am I hurting you? I should sto–” 

“No.” You shook your head, and your intense gaze coupled with your lustful face and your warm walls gripping his fingers almost made him come.

“Okay, okay.” He breathed out to calm himself, and his long fingers pushed in you gently until he was knuckle deep. 

He was the first. He was the first man inside of you and that was driving him crazy. You were awaking a part of him he didn’t know existed, a part that wanted nothing more than to bury his cock in you and have you scream his name for everyone around to hear. 

When he heard you pant and sob in pleasure, he realized he was thrusting his fingers widely inside of you. “You like it?” He asked, his voice hoarse.

“Yes! Yes! Don’t stop!” You pleaded, hands unconsciously grabbing his hair and pulling, causing him to groan as electricity shot down until it reached his cock.

He looked at your pussy hungrily sucking his fingers in, and he wondered what would happen if he stimulated the same spot as before while his fingers were inside you. His thumb pressed on your clit tentatively, and he was instantly rewarded by the fucking hottest cry he ever heard. 

“I’m gonna– I’m..” You chocked on your words as moans poured out of you, but Viktor seemed to get it with the way he perked up. 

“Yes.” Viktor hissed. “Show me.”

A part of your walls felt different, he  rubbed it, and that’s when you broke down. You dissolved in a mess of cries with his name tossed in from time to time, and Viktor held you to his chest as he kept thrusting. “So good for me.” He whispered. “My good girl.”

Gently brought down to earth by his soft touches, you pressed your forehead against his as you pecked his lips. He returned the affection as his fingers left you and he wrapped his arms around your waist, caressing your skin. 

“Your turn.” You mumbled against his lips, hands on your way to unbutton his pants, but he gently pried them away and tangled his fingers with yours.

“Let’s just stay like this a bit more…” He murmured, eyes closing as he let out a little blissed sigh. You laughed softly as you grabbed the blanket from the couch, wrapped yourself in it and you wrapped your arms around his neck to cuddle against him. Your knee bumped against his brace and you sputtered “Oh gods, sorry! I’m so fucking clums–”

Viktor rolled his eyes. “I’m not made of glass.” He gently chastised you as he tapped his finger against the tip of your nose.

He coaxed you into putting your full weight on his lap, and you cuddled into him with a sigh. Viktor smelled heavenly, and he seemed to feel the same about you as his nose find itself buried in your hair.

Even when you felt pins and needles in your legs, you still wouldn’t move away from him. 

And when you fell asleep to the sound of the rain hitting the window and the soft feeling of Viktor playing with your hair, he closed his eyes and sighed.

“What am I doing…”

*** 

“Pass me the screwdriver, please.”

“Sure.” Viktor obliged as he fished the toolbox for the tool and placed it into his partner’s outstretched hand. “Looks like the modulator is finally stable, your hypothesis is right.”

“Hell yeah it is!” Jayce grinned as he thrusted his hand in the air. “Up top, brother!”

Viktor rolled his eyes in amusement as he slapped Jayce’s hand, and he pulled the goggles back on as he went back to work. 

It seemed like everything went back to normal between Viktor and Jayce, for the relief of the latter. 

“Do you believe I’m leading her on?”

The question, asked out of the blue, made Jayce looked over the mess of wires and panels to the brunette currently tangling his hair around his finger as he stared at the motherboard he was supposed to assemble. “Uh?” Jayce furrowed his brows. “Ah, you mean the monkey you married? I hope you know it’s illegal to marry an animal, no matter how much makeup you put on her to make her look human.”

Jayce barely dodged the wrench thrown his way. “I’m joking! She’s too hairy to be a monkey! Anyway, I’m serious now. You were saying you were leading her on?”

“Am I?” Viktor asked, his lips pulled down in a frown. 

His partner tilted his head, deep in thought. “If you were anyone else I’d say yes. But I know your feelings for her.”

“…So what should I do?” 

“Make a choice.” Jayce said. “Make room for her in your life… or set her free. You can’t half ass a relationship like you’re currently doing. It’s bound to fall apart, and it will be painful.”

Viktor glared at the motherboard on his desk like it was the cause of all his issues, hands clenched in his messy hair. 

“Years. I pictured everything in my head for years. So why… why am I so…”

“Scared?” Jayce smiled sadly, and Viktor nodded in defeat. “Yeah, I understand. That’s why I pulled my little stunt yesterday. I wanted to push you, but I didn’t do it right.”

You did. Viktor thought, recalling the way you clenched around his fingers as you sobbed in pleasure. 

“Was it the only reason?”

Jayce blinked in confusion. “Yes?”

Viktor sighed as he removed his goggles, got up from the stool and leaned against the table to face Jayce with his arms crossed. “So you didn’t mean at all what you asked of me?”

“To pursue her?” Jayce quirked a brow. “I wouldn’t do that to you.”

“Leave me out of the equation.” Viktor gave him a deadpan look. “Would you?”

The way he avoided his gaze was enough of answer to Viktor. “I’m not an idiot, Jayce. I know you quite well by now.”

“Ah…” Jayce’s shook with a humorless laugh. “Believe me, it’s just a dumb crush, I’ll get over it quickly.”

They both lapsed in silence, Jayce nervously played with the screwdriver, waiting for Viktor to speak up.

And after a moment of heavy silence, Viktor looked at Jayce. “The more I ponder over it, the stronger I believe you’d love her better than I do.”

Jayce felt kind of sorry for you, even though he was witnessing his friend fall, crawl through broken glass while trying to figure out himself and his purpose. 

You didn’t chose the easiest man to love. 

Chapter Text

You were buzzing with excitement as you looked at your reflection in the large mirror by your dresser, dressed in the uniform of the Academy you had just received. Winter was beginning to settle on the city in the form of harsh winds and cold rains, hence the thick jumper over your pristine white shirt. You played with the golden pins in your collar with a thoughtful look.

“Do you have your binder?” Viktor yelled over his shoulder, and you could hear the frantic rhythm of his cane as he paced around the apartment. 

“In my bag!” You answered.

You saw his reflection appear in the mirror, admiring you as he handed you a tumbler. 

“What’s this?” You asked as you popped open the small opening to smell.

“Mocha.” He said as he grabbed your tie that had been haphazardly tossed on a nearby chair. “Do you know how to tie it?” 

“Nope.” You closed the lid. “Did you put–”

“Yes, there is milk in it.” He smiled as he wrapped the red silk around your neck and expertly tied a not just below your collar.

“Thanks.” You grinned, and he quickly checked the time on the clock by your bed. “We need to hurry or you will be late. Do you have your student card?”

You rolled your eyes in amusement. “Yes.”

“Don’t forget to stop by the administration to grab your schedule.”

“Mmh.” You nodded. 

“Your first class is in the Ease wing, the one I showed you last time. Do you remember the route?”

“Mmh.”

He stopped fussing over your uniform to give you a flat look. “Are you even listening?” 

“Student card. Schedule. East Wing. Got it.” Your repeated before your lips jutted in a pout. “Now, kiss please.”

He quirked a brow, and when you gazed at him with your doe eyes he caved in with a sigh. He cradled your face in his free hand before bending down to press sweetly his lips against yours. 

“There. Now let’s go. You must be on time or you’ll make a bad impression.”

“Relax, I’ve mastered my Piltie face, no one will know I’m from the Undercity. Look!” 

He looked over his shoulder to find your face twisted in the most ridiculous grimace of disgust and contempt. His jaw dropped as he fought the smile threatening to take over his lips. 

“Congratulations, you could pass as a member of the Council.” He playfully tapped the tip of your nose, and you scrunched it with a giggle.

He grabbed the keys as you closed your brand new leather satchel gifted by Caitlyn as soon as she learned you were going to school. A bird charm was dangling from the strap and your initials were pressed into the leather. The gift was so thoughtful and precious it had been sitting on your dresser for days so you could admire it. 

Now it was resting on your shoulder as you made your way to the Academy with Viktor, your tumbler of steaming coffee in hand. It all felt strange to you, as if you were possessing someone else’s body. The leather loafers on your feet were a far cry from the cheap heels you used to wear, and you actually struggled to maintain a normal pace from an attempt at adapting to flat shoes. 

The large, heavy doors of the Academy were wide open to welcome the visitors inside its walls, and you timidly followed Viktor in. Wide eyed to take as much in as you could, you looked at the students chatting loudly as they made their way to class, all dressed in pristine uniforms. You had been there before several times to sneak inside Hextech’s lab, but it felt entirely different now that you were actually part of this world. 

Stopping before a large set of marble stairs covered in red velvet, he turned to you with a smile. “This is where we have to part ways, I have a class in ten minutes on the other side of the building, will you be okay?” 

“I–I guess.” You swallowed thickly, your grip on your bag tightening. 

His amber eyes softened at your nervous state, and he pressed a tender kiss on your temple. “The first day is always the hardest.” He whispered to you. “But it is also the most exciting. I know you will do just fine.”

You nodded, and with one last reassuring smile he left to disappear in the bustling crowd. You took a deep breath to steel your nerves and you climbed the stairs leading to your class. 

The amphitheater was small, and only a dozen of students were sitting on the benches. You were about to choose a seat the farthest from them… 

Bang! 

…. And the door slammed loudly behind you. 

Twelve pair of eyes landed on you at once as they all looked up from their books. 

“Oh, a new face !” A pale girl with bright blonde hair in an intricate bun spoke up loudly as she unceremoniously pointed her finger.

“Two months after the beginning of the academic year?” A dark skinned man asked, his curious eyes rimmed with silver liner. “Professor Hermedinger usually is against that.”

“What’s your name?” The blonde asked, and you answered promptly in a slightly warbling tone as you sat down near them. 

“Nikorov?” The man repeated with a thoughtful look. “Where do I know that name from…?”

Great, you were going to share a class for a year with mister detective. 

“Who cares, anyway,” The blonde waved a hand around in dismissal. “I’m Chloe and this nosy guy is Duncan. Welcome to the halfwit society.”

“Uh?” You asked dumbly, blinking in confusion. “The what?”

“That’s the lovely name given to us by the other students.” A redhead quipped in as he looked at you over his newspaper. “We’re the bottom of the barrel to them, a bunch of idiots that barely knows how to write their own names. Joining this class basically sticks a big, foul smelling target on your back.”

Silence fell as they all witnessed the color drain from your face.

“… It’s not as bad as Bree makes it out to be.” Chloe said. 

“It is.” Duncan stated flatly. 

“Uh…” They watched you slowly grab your bag and your tumbler. “I think I’m in the wrong room. Sorry.”

You gave them the finger guns.

“It was nice to meet you though… But I will… take my leave now. Far. Byyyye.”

You were about to grab the door handle when it suddenly flew open, and a man in his late sixties burst in. “Good morning everyone !” His eyes settled on you, and a large grin took over his face. “Ah, Miss Nikorov! It is a pleasure to meet our new student.”

The others threw you a deeply amused look as you grumbled curses after curses under your breath as you fell back into your seat. 

“I am sure you will be just as bright as your husband.” The teacher shone with pride as he tossed his heavy bag onto his desk, which rattled the pencils already present on it. “I taught Viktor a few years ago, he made it to the top of my class in just a semester! A very clever man indeed.”

Duncan caught your attention by snapping his fingers in realization. “Viktor Nikorov! That’s the name! Wait…” He furrowed his brows. “You’re married to him?”

“Who?” Chloe asked in disinterest as she inspected her nails.

Duncan threw her a tired look. “ ‘Who?’ She dare ask… He’s just the former assistant to the Dean and one of the founders of Hextech. He’s just the youngest to ever graduate from the Academy with a PhD. And all of that coming from the Undercity. That’s all!” 

The teacher nodded furiously, proud as if Duncan was speaking about his own son.

As proud of Viktor as you were, you wanted to curse him for being the one to subconsciously put you on the spot. You nervously uncapped your tumbler and took a sip of coffee, hoping to appear casual. 

“Wait.” Chloe one again pointed a finger at you in an uncharacteristically unmannered way for a Piltovian. “You’re from the Undercity too?”

Your attempt at remaining casual failed as you choked on your coffee, followed by a fit of coughs. Duncan, sitting closest to you, rolled his eyes at Chloe as he began to pat your back to calm the coughs.

“The Undercity is part of Piltover too.” The teacher shook his head disapprovingly. “No need to know where she is from. Now let’s move on and start with today’s class, shall we?” 

You tried to focus on the black board where the teacher began writing basic maths equations for the class to solve, but you wanted to simply dissolve into the floor, especially when you felt the weight of the stares of the entire class through the entire morning.

Even your Piltie face wouldn’t save you from this one.

*** 

Turned out, the stares from your classmates were far from the worst feeling.

The worst came later. 

The bell rang to signal lunch time, and you quickly gathered your notes before following the little group to the cafeteria. 

Duncan was actually very nice, albeit a bit more guarded since he learned you were from Zaun. He showed you how to navigate around the cafeteria with a pleasant smile, all the while making conversation. The others didn’t seem that bothered by you, and Chloe was too busy gossiping with another guy to pay attention. She even very eagerly gestured for you to seat besides her at the table.

And suddenly a guy stepped in between you and the table. 

“Hey.”

You looked up at him quizzically, hands clenched around your tray. From the corner of your eyes you saw your classmates stare apprehensively at the man as if he was a ticking time bomb in an overpriced tie. 

He looked younger, with his hair perfectly styled and straight white teeth. His dark eyes appraised your body like a predator before settling back on you face. 

“I’ve never had the pleasure to meet you before.” He smiled politely. “I’m Raine.”

You politely introduced yourself, even though your stomach was growling and you wanted nothing more than to sit down and devour your lunch. Raine didn’t seem to catch on your disinterest, or maybe he just didn’t care at all. Instead he leaned forward as if to tell you a secret with a sly smirk.

“You ought to choose who you associate with more carefully.” He said loud enough for your classmates to hear. “How about you have lunch with my friends and I instead?”

You stared at him, stunned that someone could actually act like such an ass and somehow still have all his teeth intact. 

“Unless…” His fake kind face dropped in disappointment. “The Halfwit Society just gained a new member?”

The group sitting at a table close, surely his friends, all snickered as they studied you. Your classmates took the hit in silence and ate their lunch quietly. 

Meanwhile you couldn’t grasp what was going on. 

Why the hell were they scared of a bully like him when you had seen a man twice his size rip out someone’s teeth just to prove a point? How could he be scary when you had walked home countless nights with your stomach tied in knots and a knife clutched in hour hand? 

He was nothing, just a fly, a spoiled little dog snapping his jaw thinking he could rule his own little kingdom.

You lost your patience, and you could picture Viktor shaking his head in disapproval as you opened your mouth. 

“Listen to me, shit stain.” You hissed, and his eyes widened. “Like all of the people in this room, we’re here to learn. Not everyone was born with a silver spoon in their ass, so I suggest you get off that high horse or I’ll do it myself.”

You bumped his shoulder with yours as you plopped in the empty seat under the stunned look of the group.

Raine grimaced as if he just touched something rotten. “I should have known you were from the Undercity.” He hissed as he spun on his heels to join his friends. 

The disgust stung, but you were getting used to it, so you bit into your roasted chicken instead of gracing him with an answer. 

“You’re officially his main target, now.” Duncan said without looking up from his plate. “Congratulations, that was really stupid.”

“Shouldn’t be surprised.” You shrugged. “I’m a Halfwit after all.”

Duncan’s lips twitched in a smile behind his silver cup. 

*** 

Today was hard in a new way.

You stood in front of the Academy in your thick jumper that was doing little against the harsh wind, your bag was heavy and the straps dug painfully into your shoulder, your shoes were rubbing against the blisters on your feet, making it impossible to walk without a limp.

The course was supposed to be basics, things easy for you to understand. Yet you felt like you had been thrown in an endless ocean, and while everyone seemed to catch on and easily float you were still struggling not to drown. You had spent the entire day frantically taking notes, and at one point the teacher was going so fast you had just given up and waited for the session to end.

You crossed your arms as a weak attempt to warm yourself up. Viktor was taking his sweet time to meet you. 

“You will catch death if you stay outside, idiot.” 

You looked over your shoulder to find Jayce walking over to you, dressed in his usual golden boy attire with his hands in his pockets. 

“I could say the same to you.” You grumbled as you buried the lower half of your face in the collar of your jumper. “How the Hell are you not cold?”

“I’m never cold.” 

“Monster.”

He met your glare with his own. “Witch.”

You looked behind him, hoping to catch a glimpse of a mop of brown hair. “Where’s Vik?”

Jayce smiled sheepishly. “In the lab, he asked me to take you home since I was already done.”

His smile crumbled when he saw your eyes drop to the ground, filling up with tears. “Great, fucking great.” You mumbled, and Jayce seemed to panic at your distressed state. 

“Hey. Hey. What’s wrong?” He asked, and you hid your wet eyes behind your hands, embarrassed to be seen like that.

“It’s just difficult.” You blubbered as you repressed a sob. “Everything is so fucking difficult.”

Jayce’s face softened. “Like what?” 

“I’m in the class that has the reputation to be for the most stupid of Piltover, and I didn’t understand shit.” You wiped your eyes with an angered scowl. “I don’t know what to do.”

After a few seconds of intense sniffling and wiping your eyes, Jayce sighed loudly. 

“Show me your notebook.”

“I’m not asking for your help.” You protested, and he quirked a brow.

“You need help and I have some free time. Show me the notebook.”

You grumbled under your breath as you opened your bag and grabbed your notepad. He opened it and perused through your writing in silence, and then he looked up at you with a flat expression.

“Did you just copy what the teacher said verbatim?”

You blinked.“…Yes?”

“That’s… not how you’re supposed to take notes.” He chuckled. “Of course you struggled to follow the lesson!”

“That’s not funny!” You glared, and he kept laughing. 

“That’s hilarious. You really wrote a whole script. I’m surprised you didn’t mention when he paused to breathe.” His laughter calmed down when he saw your defeated frown. “Oh, come on, bird brain. Cheer up. Let’s take you home and I’ll show you how to properly do it.”

“You don’t have anything better do to with your evening? That’s sad.” 

Utterly unimpressed by that weak attempt at a jab to keep your pride intact, he ruffled your hair, earning himself a withering glare. “Do you want the help or not?”

You remained silent for a few seconds, and he could almost see your desperation and pride battling inside your mind. This time desperation won when you sighed, pushed his hand off your head and started walking. “Let’s go.”

And as promised, when you came home he sat down on the kitchen table, opened your notebook and began searching in your bag for a pen as you made tea. 

“Oh, you’re learning about trigonometry.” Jayce whistled. “Lucky you, I’m an expert in geometry. Well, I’m an expert in pretty much every subject.”

“Clearly not an expert in humbleness.” You said flatly as you set his teacup on the table.

“Humbleness hinders true progress.” Jayce said, and he uncapped your pen. “Now, let’s start. Your notes should be constructed to summarize what the teacher says. In one look you should get the point. Here, I’ll show you…”

You followed his explanation carefully, your eyes never leaving the page as the pen, guided by his hand, glided in beautiful cursives. Once your notes were carefully written he began explaining the concepts and go over the teacher’s exercises with you, and even went as far as giving you alternative methods to solve them.

When Viktor came home it was already late, hence his surprise to find Jayce still here. 

“So I have to use Sinus ?” You asked, and Jayce nodded enthusiastically. 

“Exactly! See, birdbrain, is it that difficult? Here, up top sister!”

He raised his palm in the air, and you slapped it with a giggle. 

“I was unaware that you had taken the position of professor.” 

You both turned to look at Viktor. “Bird brain had issues with trigonometry.” Jayce said with a smirk, and you glared at him. 

“Stop calling me that!” You snapped, and grumbled when he patted your head. 

“Well, if we’re done I’ll be taking my leave.” Jayce left his seat and grabbed his jacket. “Enjoy your evening.”

He flashed you one last smile, kindness shining in his brown eyes, and he patted Viktor on the back while on his way to the entrance of the flat.

“See you tomorrow!” You chirped as you waved a hand, and when the door closed Viktor turned to you with a smile.

“How was your first day?” He asked as he opened the icebox.

“You could have told me I was going to join the Halfwit society.” You quirked a brow, and he seemed to cringe at your words.

“Ah, I apologize. I just… eh… didn’t want you to be scared away.” He explained sheepishly.

“You left me waiting at the Academy.”

He still refused to meet your eyes as he placed the half eaten casserole on the counter and bent down to turn on the oven, which filled the silent kitchen with its low hum.

“I was busy. I apologize.”

The air was heavy, weighing on his shoulders. You were upset, but more than that, you were angry.

“What game are you playing, Viktor? One day you’re affectionate, treating me as your wife, and the next you’re cold and distant.” 

Your tone was dry. Viktor’s fingers felt numb as he played with the parchment paper used to cover the dish. 

You were fine with his hot and cold act, content to only be showered with affection when Viktor’s resolve was at its weakest point, yet those moments were growing further and further apart. 

And those last few days, he had used the upcoming fundraiser as an excuse to constantly leave you alone with Jayce, and you were beginning to see clearly through his charade.

You had enough.

A defeated sigh broke the silence. “I wanted to help you and Jayce grow closer, in hope that perhaps with enough time you would notice him as a worthy partner.”

One, two, three painfully long seconds passed as he held his breath for your answer, his back still to you. And then he heard the bone chilling, humorless laugh you barked. 

“Jayce?!…. Seriously? Fuck…. Viktor, what’s wrong with you? You seriously thought I would catch feelings for him?”

“I…” He swallowed thickly. “I could never treat you like you deserve to be treated, he can.”

Your whole body was tense like a bow, your heart stuck in your throat as your hands trembled. “I can’t ever look at him this way. It’s you… I always… I always loved y–”

“It’s getting very late.” Viktor scrambled to cut you off. “You should head to bed.”

“…” Your stood there, in the middle of the kitchen, dumbfounded as you tried to process his rejection. 

Your nails dug painfully in your palm as your clenched your fists. Blood boiling with betrayal as you glared at his back. 

“You’re a fucking coward.” The words, spoken quietly, pierced his heart like bullets. “You’re scared I will leave you because of your work, scared that I will get in the way, scared to have something to lose. So why not push me away, right? Keeping me at arm’s length while giving me crumbs of attention is cruel, and I didn’t know you were capable of something like this.”

You fell silent, hoping he would say something, anything to prove you wrong. But he remained mute, no matter how hard he tried, all attempts at an apology or an explanation died on his tongue. His heart hammered in his chest as he felt himself crumbling under the weight of his guilt.

“I’m done.” You stated blankly. “You’re right. I deserve better.”

The wooden floor groaned in protest as you left, as if pleading Viktor to do something, to stop you. Helpless when his legs refused to move and his lips remained shut, his shoulders quivered when you slammed your bedroom door shut. 

Suddenly the room felt too big, too cold, and a chill ran down the scientist’s spine. His chest seemed to be compressed by an invisible force, forcing each breath out with a small sound akin to a wheeze. His eyes stung as if he was standing outside facing the cold wind, the burning growing fiercer with each second. His jaw ached from gritting his teeth. 

Cruel.

Suddenly he felt something soft and warm pressed against his leg, and he looked down to meet the blurry vision of his cat rubbing lovingly his body against Viktor. Then Hex sat down, his single eye shining at him. 

“What should I do?” He whispered to the feline, whom blinked. 

Since when are you letting your fears decide your fate? Viktor heard back. 

Chapter Text

You always gave up easily. It was in your veins, it was easy… all you’ve ever known. 

Fighting was for the strong. The ones that were lucky enough to be born with strong arms to punch back. The ones that could afford to be courageous and bold. 

You inherited strong legs, so you ran when threatened, you danced to survive, you made yourself a pretty little dancer in a tacky music box.

Fighting was simply not for your kind. 

That was what you told yourself as you sat on the bench of the Academy’s amphitheater, defeated.

You had been on your way to class in an empty corridor, late for your first class of the day, when a body stood rudely in your way.

Raine Dermac looked down on you, hands buried in the pockets of his pristine uniform. His shit eating grin plastered on his face like a badge of honor. 

“Good morning, Undercity.” He purred, and your blood boiled at the nickname.

You scoffed. “Move, I ain’t in the mood.” 

You took a step on the side to avoid him, but he mimicked you to stand in your way once again.

“Hey, I heard great stories about you people, but I’m unsure about their veracity.”

“Let me go to class. I’m late.” You grumbled. You wanted to add an insult for the effect, but the lack of people around left you feeling less safe around him, especially with the strange gleam in his eyes. 

The men that harassed you at the end of a show all shared the same. 

“Oh please,” he rolled his eyes. “Like you are really here to study.” You gritted your teeth. “Anyways, is it true that Undercity females whore themselves out for money?”

You decided to humor him, not without spite. “Some women do, not everyone is born with a silver spoon in the ass. You wouldn’t understand.”

“Did you do it? I bet you did.”

Stunned, you gaped. He stepped closer, and  when you blinked you swore you saw for a second his jaw encased in gold, the teeth sharp and ready to tear your flesh. 

He invaded your space, and your hairs rose as you flinched. He mistook your silence for a yes, and his smirk widened. “I knew it! I could smell it on you the other day.”

You gasped when his fingers reached under your skirt and hooked on the right side of your underwear. “What even is the point of wearing this?”

You’re disgusted. You raised a hand to strike him. He caught it easily. His fingers were freezing. Rained leaned in to whisper. “A little fact about me, Nikorov. My father is part of the Board of investors for Hextech. The world is small, isn’t it?”

Recalling one of Viktor’s many restless rambles when he was excited about his work, you remember the name House of Dermac he mentioned several times. A rich, controlling man that helped Hextech come to life, yet also could very well unmake it easily.

Hextech. Viktor’s baby. Jayce’s reason to live.

You heard the threat loud and clear, heart sinking, hand going limp in his grip. 

A door slammed, and Raine tensed as he listened to any sound of footsteps, but when he heard none he focused back on you. 

Heart beating at a deafening pace, your wide eyes stared at the ground as your mind raced to find a solution out of this mess, but found none. Your legs trembled with the urge to run.

He pulled out an object, but your eyes refused to look at it. You only took a sharp breath when you felt something cold dig into your hip as it slithered under the strap holding your underwear.

He pulled -snap- and the strap gave away under what you realized was a blade. 

“Next time you want to raise your voice at me…” He began, and you trembled as you felt the blade switch to the remaining strap holding your underwear up. 

“Remember…”

Snap.

Cold air hit you as the now useless cloth fell pathetically to the ground.

“…Your fucking place.”

He pocketed the knife, threw one last look at you with a sneer before turning on his heels and walking away. 

You stood there as if frozen into place, your hands limp by your sides, staring at the garment lying on the ground. 

Finally, you felt your body move as you bent to pick it up, stuffed it into your bag and made your way robotically to class.

A knock on the door silenced your teacher, who threw you a disgruntled look as you opened the door. “Late on your second day, Miss Nikorov?” 

Once he saw the look on your face, worry replaced the disapproval, and he gestured to the bench as he cleared his throat. “Well– Don’t let it happen again.”

A stiff nod as an answer, you ignored the questioning glances of your peers as you sat down, grimacing when you felt the coldness of the leather against your naked backside. 

For the rest of the lesson you had remained deathly silent, your grip on your pen so tight your knuckles were white, a pounding in your ears preventing you from hearing the teacher, your throat dry. 

You gave up once again. You didn’t fight back.

You gave up loving Viktor. 

It was in your nature, you knew it.

So why…

Why were you feeling this world shattering, all powerful rage setting your heart ablaze? 

*** 

As the day went by, the rage simmered down in a colder, but still threatening feeling in your chest. 

You were tired of feeling powerless. You were stranded in an ocean, and the universe kept sending waves after waves at you, and no matter how much you fought the current you somehow always ended up pulled underwater. 

“Fuck this.” You hissed under your breath, but the seamstress putting the finishing touches on your dress heard you, and she threw you a look before she weaved the needle through the material of the bodice to secure a Hex Crystal that almost fell off when you put it on.

Fuck the Undercity.

Fuck Piltover and its shithead citizens.

Fuck the ridiculously expensive dress you were wearing.

Fuck this fucking fundraiser you had to sing for.

Fuck Hextech.

Fuck Viktor.

Fuck you. 

You recalled the way his touch made you shiver, the curl of his lip as he studied you like a complex piece of machinery, the glim in his soft eyes. It made you want to run, far away from here where no one could see your burning eyes.

“Cheer up.” The seamstress said as she pushed her spectacles higher up her nose bridge. “All eyes will be on you tonight.”

Hooray.

***

“This is ridiculous.” Viktor muttered as his eyes took in the lavish display surrounding him. “Why do we have to do this when our true place is in the lab working on advancing  humankind?”

Jayce threw his friend an amused look. “We already went over this several times, my friend. The world is an odd place, and now the best way to save it is to throw a reception to impress the cash cows from all over Runeterra.”

The evening was a blur of important people with names he couldn’t recall, of explaining countless times how the Hexgate could help Piltover’s economy flourish and exchanging fake pleasantries. In the end, all of this nonsense was useful to get his mind off you. He had not slept a wink last night, too busy agonizing over the memory of how he broke your heart and his all at once.  

He was thankful for Mel and Jayce, whom handled eloquently the discussions with white smiles. 

This fundraiser was important, a game changer. He had to be present and focused. But in the end he just couldn’t stop thinking about you.

He paid little attention when Mel whispered to a butler to “bring her in”. 

He was in the middle of a discussion with the owner of several factories of silk when a glimmer caught his eye, as did the eyes of all the guests whom turned to look.

The great french doors of Mel’s ballroom opened, and you appeared as a divinity. Glowing, silver weaved in your luscious tresses, your neck cradled in pearls and crystals, your gown flowing down your body. Most gasped when they recognized the jewels on your bodice, the symbol of a new era of abundance.

Like a deer in headlights you looked at the crowd, feeling the weight of their stares, the pressure of their expectations on your frail shoulders. The gold of the chandeliers, the crystal of the glasses, the glimmer of tiaras were blinding, bordering on painful. 

And finally you eyes found solace in a pair of soft, amber eyes.

Mouth ajar, eyes wide to take as much as you as he could. Viktor stood out amongst the crowd with his shoulders curled inward, his sober red suit and his sad, tired expression. Your own face mirrored his own as you took a deep breath and tore your gaze away from him.

You dress moved like water around you as you seemed to float with each step, the musicians were already on stage, and one lent a hand to help you climb the stairs leading to it. 

Breaths were held as they watched you stand before the microphone. 

Your lips parted, the first notes of violin played in a lament, and your voice joined them in an ode to loneliness, love and melancholy. It was as if your hands tore your corset apart and reached inside your chest to show the crowd your beating heart, your deepest feelings laid out for all to see. He recognized some lyrics from the words you had carved in the coffee table, written hurriedly on the mirror with lipstick to not forget them, softly sung while walking home alongside him.

His grip tightened on his cane as his heart swelled with love for you. 

“She is gorgeous with a pretty voice, but if she keeps wailing this depressing song, the wine may turn into vinegar.” A guest by his side said, making his wife giggle mockingly. 

He scoffed. Heartless children. 

He returned his gaze to you, and his heart collapsed when he realized the truth. 

Nobody cared for your song. You were just another pretty jewel to look at, something nice to listen to. You did not smile, your eyes unfocused and empty.

He could see you struggle under the weight of the dress, your shoes probably pained you and you were forced once again to sing for a crowd you did not care for. 

His head fell as his eyes stung.

No matter how shiny and furnished it is. A cage is just a cage.

You finished your song with a last sigh, as if you had poured your whole soul out, leaving you an empty shell. For a second silence hung in the air as if the crowd tasted their last piece of you. And then it happened. 

The ballroom erupted in applause. 

Your mouth fell open as you watched Piltover’s high society celebrate you. 

But you were not the star of the show tonight. 

You stepped aside as Jayce came on stage, clad in a white suit and gold breastplate with his family crest engraved in the center. He smiled widely as he grabbed the microphone. “Not bad, birdbrain.” He whispered to you, but his eyes shone brightly with admiration. “Not bad at all.”

He then turned to the crowd. “Ladies and Gentlemen, for the first time ever : The Hexgate!”

The heavy red curtains behind you parted, and everyone gasped when they revealed the large, intricate arch of wires and metal that would soon change the future of humanity.

Viktor’s eyes met yours as he placed his hand on the lever by the gate. He seemed nervous. You knew the gate was only a prototype, it could very well never turn on, leaving the large group of investors and the press disappointed.

For a second he hesitated, but then your lips parted in a bright, encouraging smile as your head gave him a brief nod. 

Suddenly all doubts left him, and he pulled the lever in a loud, deafening clank.

Nothing happened.

People exchanged looks, brows furrowed, Jayce spun on his heels to check the gate worriedly, but Viktor only kept holding your gaze. 

And it happened.

You felt the buzzing of electricity, the crystals in your dress warmed up in response as the gate came to life with a loud whirring sound. It bathed the ballroom in blue light, filled it with the smell of static electricity. 

Seeing the awe in the crowd and the pride on Jayce’s face was enough to have Viktor’s face break into a dazzling grin. 

They did it. 

He did it. 

Jayce emitted a booming laugh as he crushed you into his arms, and you giggled as you patted his back. 

You looked over his shoulder to find Viktor’s gaze once again. You were elated, so proud it was crushing his heart.

Oh, what a fool he had been. 

Viktor needed you just as you needed him. He was succeeding because you were in his life, and he wanted to help you succeed too. He wanted you to be by his side and to never leave yours. 

Maybe love wasn’t only a mere chemical response. 

This night, Viktor theorized that perhaps love was an unbreakable bond created by an empathetic deity.

And fear was just a natural response when gazing into the endless. 

Chapter Text

“Errm… excuse me?”

You hear a shy voice tainted with embarrassment behind you. Having already discussed with her a couple of times, you recognized instantly Sky Young. Dressed in a simple grey suit, she was playing nervously with the buttons as she seemed to compare your gown with her attire. 

“Hi, Sky.” You smiled, happy to see a familiar face amongst the sea of people that came to congratulate you after your show. 

“Hello.” She breathed nervously, she always seemed on edge around you for no reasons, which saddened you. “I… Uhm.. I wanted to say that your song was incredible. I’ve never heard someone sing so… honestly before.”

Your wide-eyed silence probably gave her the wrong idea, since she began to panic and wave her hands around, as if her words still hung in the air like flies that she wanted to swat away. “I– I didn’t mean it in a bad way. I– I apologize !”

“No. No. Don’t apologize.” You smiled reassuringly. “Thank you. The only compliments I received all night were about the dress or my voice. I really appreciate what you said.”

Sky’s shoulders relaxed with relief as her lips finally drew a shaky smile. “I see…”

“And to be honest…” You leaned in as if to tell a secret with a mischievous grin. “This dress is horrible. It’s heavy. It’s hot. I can feel sweat dripping between my boobs and I can’t even go piss. So each time they mention the fucking dress it’s making me want to punch them.”

Sky slapped a hand over her mouth to muffle her snort at your crudeness.

“I sympathize with your pain.” Sky grinned. “But this is the price to pay for fame. You will probably be swarmed with contract offers by tomorrow.”

Your glass froze before your lips as you were about to take a sip of your wine. 

Did you want fame? 

Your voice had been a tool to survive, to put food on the table and to pay the tax the local Chem baron required to ‘protect you’. Now that you had a choice, singing seemed like a chore.

You missed the way Sky’s eyes flickered towards the ring wrapped around your finger, and the falter in her smile. 

“I don’t give a fuck about singing.” You finally said, and the words felt like a relief. As if something had been trapped in your throat for years and years on end and you finally coughed it out. “I’m not one of those parrots they keep in a cage for their entertainment.”

She finally met your eyes, shock all over her face. “You changed a lot since the last time we spoke.”

You furrowed your brows in confusion. You and Sky had never truly had a conversation. You only exchanged a few polite words when you sneaked into the academy to annoy Viktor and Jayce, and she would always keep quiet about your trespassing and tell you where you could find them. 

Head tilted, she asked. “You don’t remember me?”

You opened your mouth to answer, but a large hand landing unceremoniously on your shoulder startled you. “–Hey, Viktor’s charity case, we don’t pay you to hang out in your corner.”

Your head snapped to glare at Jayce. “What did you just call me ?!” 

“How are you, Sky?” Jayce grinned at his assistant. “I hope the witch has not been bothering you too much, she’s probably after your bones to make a ritual.” 

Sky only smiled awkwardly. 

“Janna, give me the strength not to strangle him.” You hissed. “What do you want, hammerhead?”

He rolled his eyes. “Our estimated, and rich guests are asking for you.” 

“Wonderful.” You hissed under your breath, then turned to the assistant. “Can we continue our conversation later?” Sky nodded, and you smiled.

“Enjoy the night.” Jayce winked before dragging you away by the shoulder. “You, hurry up.”

“Ugh.” 

“The couple Viktor and Mel are speaking to is one of the wealthiest of Bilgewater.” Jayce spoke in your ear as you walked through the crowd. “Anton always refused to give us funds, so this is crucial that you make a good impression as Viktor’s wife.”

You swallowed with a loud gulp.

Even after what happened the night prior, your heart still missed a beat when you met eyes with Viktor, whom smiled warmly when he saw you. 

“Ah, allow me to introduce my wife.” Viktor spoke to an older couple, and his arm that wasn’t clutching his cane curled gently around your lower back. 

You trembled under his feather light touch. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” You managed to choke out as you extended a hand. 

“Likewise.” The man took your hand, his lips brushing against the lace of your gloves as a polite kiss. His wife smiled warmly at you. “This is my spouse, Jubilee, and I’m Anton Warton.” 

Mel Medarda watched the exchange thoughtfully as she sipped her glass. Her eyes never left you as you smiled while Jubilee Warton began gushing about your performance, how you looked so beautiful like a jewel while you sang.

“Thank you, Mrs. Warton. I am happy you enjoyed the show.” You grinned, and the older woman immediately seemed captured by your smile.

Her husband looked much more stoic, his face was blank, his mouth hidden behind a thick white mustache as he stared at you. 

“What an interesting choice, to use such precious technology as something as trivial as an accessory.” He said, obviously talking about the Hex crystals sown into your gown. 

Jayce quickly answered with his pearly white smile. “We want our technology to be at the center of attention, this is a symbol of hope for us, of a better future.”

Viktor quietly acquiesced while you drank some more alcohol to calm your nerves. Anton seemed unimpressed. “Hm.” 

He looked at his wife, whom shrugged as she fiddled with her necklace. And you suddenly got an idea. 

“That’s because those crystals are much more than just little stones.” You spoke, looking directly at Jubilee. “They store an impressive amount of energy, enough to power a gate that can temporarily break holes into our universe to travel faster and farther. Imagine what else they could do? If you miss your children, in the blink of an eye you can see them. If you feel unsafe, your local police can be equipped with better weapons that never need to be reloaded, the medics can have better tools with both magic and technology.”

The woman seemed to drink your words, eyes wide as the pad of her thumb stroked lovingly the name written in gold.

“Imagine the future we could offer to our children with this?” You pointed at the Crystals. 

Silence fell as the couple seemed to mull over your speech, and after three painfully long seconds, Jubilee looked up at her husband and nodded. 

Anton turned to Jayce and Viktor. “How much would you require?”

Your chest filled with pride when their eyes widened, incredulous. 

You kept chatting with Jubilee as the others did business, and when the couple bid you goodbye and left you downed the rest of your glass in one gulp.

“That was… – How did you do that?” Jayce asked. “That man is impossible to sway.”

“That’s because you were focusing on the wrong Warton.” You smirked. “He’s putting up a front, acting like the boss, but he kept looking at her every time he said something as if to check for her approval. She’s the dominant one. Convince her and you convince him.” You gestured to your neck. “She also wears a name as a necklace. It’s not hers nor his, so I guessed it was her child who she loves so much she wears their name at all times. So I used children as the argument.” 

Viktor tightened his hold on you, and when you looked up your eyes met his, shining with pride.

“Impressive.” Mel said. “How did you learn to read others this well?” 

You shrugged. “When you’re a single woman in the Undercity and you don’t know how to fight, you pick up on a thing or two.”

***

Mel Medarda took great pride in her keen eye. 

She had always had an extraordinary taste, her manor filled with art that her guests raved about. And, when asked about the name of the artist, they opened wide, surprised eyes when she disclosed a name they never heard, but soon would be on everyone’s lips.

Her advisors came from the four corners of Runeterra, all young, exceptional and… incredibly underestimated by their peers. Unlike them, Mel gazed beyond the looks and the origin to see their soul, their desires, their ambition.

Mel truly believed she had a great compass for potential.

And her compass was pointing right at you. You were uneducated, unpolished and you severely lacked manners. Yet you managed to analyse and successfully devise a plan in just a few seconds.

What could you do, with the right knowledge? 

“Could I have a word with you?” Mel asked you. 

“S-Sure.” You nodded and gave your empty glass to Viktor.

You trailed behind Mel as you wiped your sweaty palms on your skirt. 

Once you reached a quiet corridor, she turned to you. “I must apologize, Mrs. Nikorov. I judged you wrong, something I swore I would never do.” 

Not knowing what to respond, you nodded.

“I am deeply impressed, you have negociation skills not even my best advisors possess. I believe that working as an entertainer would be wasting your potential.”

Your eyes widened. Was she seriously implying what you were thinking ?

“I… I’m sorry. I’m not sure what you mean.” You breathed out, and Mel smiled at your bewildered expression.

“The council is missing a direct link to the Undercity. Someone that could be a mediator, to keep us up to date with the leaders’ whereabouts and to help us make the right choices for the population. We do have the Enforcers, however…” She trailed off with a frown, but then cleared her throat and her smile was plastered back on. “Is this position something of interest to you?”

You felt like you were dreaming. Mel Medarda was offering you on a silver plate the opportunity to help your people, your family, to give your life true meaning.

“Of course, you will need to study hard. Geopolitics, history, languages, economics, negociations…”

“–Yes!” You scrambled to say, and reddened when Mel stifled a laugh. “That’s… that’s not a problem.”

“Then, allow me a few weeks and I will think of a way to make this happen.” Mel smiled. 

“Councilor… I..” Your voice wavered. “I can’t thank you enough. This is huge.”

“Do not thank me yet.” She said, eyes shining with mirth. “We will speak about the details at a later time. I promise.”

***

Viktor had not had a single moment to talk to you of all night. Yet he couldn’t complain, not when he was busy talking with Piltover’s richest that all wanted to get their share of the cake that was Hextech. Jayce’s smile was too big for his face as he kept chattering on and on about the future of the company and the return on investment, and Viktor just nodded along as he drank to calm his nerves.

Viktor had to talk with you. He wanted to make amends for last night. He had a whole speech in mind, but you avoided him like the plague.

It was early in the morning when the chaos finally quieted down. The fundraiser ended with a speech from Jayce, the last guests left the ballroom, and now remained only Jayce, Viktor, you and the caterers hired for the night. 

“What a night, my friends.” Jayce sighed as he put his thick coat on. “I am ready to sleep for a week.”

“Tell me about it.” You mumbled as you kicked off your heels, your toes wiggling to relieve the ache in your legs.

You and Viktor bid Jayce goodnight, and you walked out of Mel’s ballroom in silence. Your heels in one hand, your other clutching the coat around your shoulders, you made your way to the room you know the seamstress was waiting for you in to remove the gown. At the end of the corridor, Viktor followed you instead of turning left to go home. 

“Where are you going?” You asked, trying but failing not to sound cold.

He pursed his lips. “I am not going to follow you in the room, I… err… need to talk to you.”

You stopped in your tracks with a sigh. “Okay, talk.”

“Now?”

“Yes?”

“What I need to tell you should be said in private.”

Your heart collapsed on itself when you saw the nervous way he began to play with his hair. Considering what you said to him yesterday, he was probably trying to find a way to not break your heart. 

You bit down on your lip, hard. “If you want a divorce, you should just say it.” 

Speechless, he opened his mouth and closed it like a fish. His soft, amber eyes so wide they looked ready to pop out. You would have laughed if you were not ready to melt into tears. 

“Oh, Dove. No.” He shook his head. “Far from it.” 

“Please.” You scoffed as you crossed your arms under your chest, feeling the crystals of your bodice dig into your skin. “You made your intentions clear yesterday. I don’t want to talk with you for the moment. Go home.” 

“Wait, no– you don’t understand–” He gently tried to reach for your arm, but you pulled away harshly. 

“I said leave me al–” You began yelling, but something shiny at the corner of Viktor’s eye caught his attention. 

He recognized it as one of the Hex crystals on your dress that had come off, and was currently falling. 

Before he could even warn you the shard hit the ground with a clinking sound, and bounced.

Clink. Clink. Clink. 

The shard began glowing as it trembled, and  Viktor’s body reacted before his mind could. 

He let go of his cane and jumped in front of you, ignoring the pain in his leg. A bright light. The shard blew up loudly. Boom. You instinctively closed your eyes. It launched itself towards a wall. Bounced against it with another booming sound that cracked the wall. A scream. Yours. Boom. Another explosion rang. 

Silence. 

“Ugh…” You heard a groan, and when you opened your eyes you realized you were standing between Viktor and the wall. His left arm was still held up at your side protectively, but his other one was curled against his chest as he hissed in pain.

“What happened?!” You yelled, voice wavering. “Are you okay?” 

“The crystal… it fell and got triggered.” He tried to answer. You scrambled to take a look at his hand, and gasped when you found blood all over the inside of his palm. 

He was hurt.

Your wonderful scientist, who was supposed to save the world, had injured the most important part of his body protecting you. 

“Why did you do that?” Your nose and eyes stung, fingers trembling at your cradled his wrist to check the wound. 

“It looks worse than it is.” He reassured you. “I don’t think I will even need stitches.”

“Still!” You protested, using his pocket tissue to press on the wound, causing him to wince. “What if you lost your hand, idiot? What about your work? It’s all you’ve ever wanted to–”

“I don’t care about my hand !” He snapped. 

“I do! I don’t care if I get hurt–”

“I love you !”

Your words died on your tongue as you gazed at him in shock. He seemed to have found an unwavering resolve. His eyes are soft, shining with all that he felt for you. 

“I’d rather lose a hand than see you get hurt, because I am so in love with you it’s excruciating.” He clenched his jaw as if feeling the pain he was talking about. “It scared me, how much you mean to me. It still scares me.” 

You were stunned. It was so unexpected to hear what you had dreamt of for years. You were afraid to hope. 

“Why…” You swallowed thickly. “Why now?”

“Because I realized I was wrong…” His eyes filled with tears, and his fingers gently brushed against your cheek. “I can’t live without you. I shouldn’t have pushed you away. This marriage… it always meant way more than just an arrangement to me.” 

You felt your throat close up as you choked. 

“Please, just give me a chance to prove it to you.” He pleaded. “I will–”

He was cut off by the sweet press of your lips against his. You could feel the tears rolling down your cheeks, the sigh of relief he exhaled through his nose, the hand he tangled in your hair.

It was better, sweeter than all of your other kisses. 

“Say it again, please.” You whispered against his chapped lips, and he smiled softly.

“I’d rather not, or you’ll get cocky.” He joked, but his voice was still wavering.

“Please…” You jutted your lip, and he smiled softly. 

“I love you, forever.”

The smile on your lips was dazzling, brighter than anything Viktor had ever seen. 

“Oh, I love you too.” You finally said the words that had been at the tip of your tongue for months. “My sweet husband.”

He crashed his mouth against yours, and you moaned when his tongue brushed against your lip. He was kissing you like he was making up for lost time. It was messy, all lips, teeth and tongue, but you wouldn’t have it any other way.  

“Let’s get that damned dress off of you.” He finally pulled away to say, out of breath, pupils dilated. “And then let’s go home.” 

You nodded slowly, dazed. 

Chapter Text

The walk back to your residence was done in silence. 

You successfully got out of that gaudy dress. The commotion alerted Mel, her guards and the seamstress who all came running, and after you explained the reason of the explosion, the poor seamstress was too scared to touch the dress, she even held it by the tip of her fingers as if it was a ticking time bomb.

And now you were wrapped in your wool coat, a silk scarf protecting you from the bite of the cold. You entertained yourself by making shapes with the steam you produced with each breath. The only sound breaking the night’s calmness was the regular clicking sound of Viktor’s cane against the pavement. 

“I am sorry you had to wear that awful dress. I… uh… am not good at assessing risks.” 

You looked at him over your shoulder, he was trailing behind you, all sheepish and flustered by his confession. His hair was messy from playing too much with it, his cheeks red from the cold. 

“It’s okay.” You chuckled. “I knew what I was getting myself into with you two. How is your hand?”

He checked his palm by closing his fist and opening it. “The bleeding already stopped and it barely hurts. It’s fine.”

“Fine enough to hold mine?” 

You held your hand up for him expectantly, and he stared, puzzled, as if he had no idea what to do with it. You wanted to laugh, but your pursed your lips to refrain. 

He looked like a child worried about getting cooties from a girl. 

Then he moved and gently cradled your hand in his, and reddened when you laced your fingers together. It was strange to see him so flustered by such an innocent gesture when you had been much more intimate before.

Viktor could feel the cold metal of your ring, and it prompted him to look at you. “I don’t think I am fit to be in a committed relationship.” He said quietly. “Advancing humanity will always be my priority.”

“I know.”

“My disabilities prevent me from… performing like other men.”

“I figured.” 

“And I… I am not as sociable as Jayce.” 

You threw him an amused look, he answered with a shake of his head. “I don’t think myself as lesser than him, I just know we are different.” 

“Is this your last desperate attempt at dissuading me to love you?” You asked, and he pursed his lips, followed by a nod. “Vik, not only are you the least sociable person I know, you’re also not the best of friend to have. You appear humble, but you’re so fucking prideful it’s infuriating, seriously, you’d rather die than admit someone is smarter than you.” Ignoring Viktor’s offended gasp, you continue. “You’re a brooding man that never smile and your only sense of humor is sarcasm or cracking jokes at the worst moment. You’re too kind and have no sense of self preservation. And, oh shit! I almost forgot about your stubbornness!” 

You finally reached the apartment during your tirade, and he grumbled under his breath as he opened the door and let you in. 

“I know you. All the good and the bad. And I love you for you. So don’t waste your time trying to change my mind.”

As your front door closed with a click. You found yourself pushed against it by a very annoyed Viktor. He glared at you with a frown that resembled more of a pout than anything. “I can list your flaws too.” 

“Go ahead.” You quirked a brow provocatively. “Humor me, Nikorov.”

He bent down slightly to meet your eyes, his lips brushing against yours and forcing a shiver down your spine. The intensity of his glare was pinning you against the door, and he curled an arm around your waist to rest on your lower back. “You’re a flirt, you know that you are charming and attractive so you use it to your advantage. You’re a coward that only knows how to run. You’re also so prideful it’s driving me insane, I hate losing to you because you love rubbing it in my face. And you dare to tell me I’m brooding when you spent over twenty five years wallowing in your self pity ?” 

You stared, wide eyed. Damn, he could definitely throw it back.

Then his eyes softened, and you instantly forgot why you were vexed with a stroke of his nose against yours. 

“Perfect.” He whispered, his breath fanning your mouth. “So perfect for me.”

He pressed his lips against yours, and you melted in his arms as your wrapped yours around his neck. He choked on his spit when you pressed your chest against his and did this mind blowing move where you slowly caress his lower lip with the tip of your tongue. 

“I wanna fuck, Vik.” You whined, and he broke the kiss to look away, so red he looked about to burst. 

“Why do you have to say it like that?” He muttered, and you tilted your head as you looked at him through your lashes. 

To tease him further, you asked. “You don’t want to ?”

A palm silenced you as he glared. “Will you be quiet?” 

Your silent giggle made Viktor forgive you instantly. He released you and replaced his hand with his mouth, and you moaned. 

“Is tormenting me amusing?” He asked between kisses. “I can torment you too.”

You heard the clatter of the cane against the floor, and his other hand grabbed your hip to steady himself, and you gasped when he raised his weakest leg to gently press his knee between yours. 

His soft amber eyes watched you melt as your lips parted to breathe heavily. 

“Mean.” You whispered, and the smile he drew was one you had never seen on his face before. It was confident and carnal, the one of a man that knows his woman is at his mercy. 

He then proceeded to torture you with kisses down your neck, his keen ears open to listen to any sound from you. You were rendered docile by his sudden passion, burning under his touch, his gaze, his warmth. 

Viktor stiffened when he felt your curious fingers sneak under his shirt. You felt his stomach clench and saw his eyes widen, but he said nothing.  

You stroked his skin, traced the trail of hairs connecting his navel and disappearing under his pants, then you splayed your fingers as your traveled upwards. 

You met a strange, rough material, wrapped around his chest. 

A questioning glance had his confidence crumble, he pulled away, standing awkwardly while leaning on you for support. 

Gently, as if moving towards a scared animal, you reached to unbutton his vest, which fell to the ground. He made no move to stop you, but you could almost feel him tremble under your touch. 

“Can I?” You whispered, and he nodded stiffly.

You took your time to release each button, giving him the opportunity to stop you, but he never made the move. With each button, you saw more of his skin, freckled and covered in beauty marks that invited you to kiss them. 

Then you saw the contraption binding his chest. Leather straps, attached by a large metal clasp, hugged his chest like an armor. You couldn’t see his back, but it looked like there was a metal plate covering it. You gently pushed the open shirt, and it joined the vest on the ground. 

Lip pinched between his teeth, he awaited your reaction nervously. Your heart urged you to comfort your sweet lover, baring his insecurities to you so honestly. 

“What’s this?” You asked as you traced the leather. 

“… It’s– eh– a brace. For my spine. It corrects my posture so I don’t develop a scoliosis.” 

You didn’t know what scoliosis meant, but didn’t really care to ask at the moment, not when the love of your life was standing half naked before you. His chest and arms were thin, but strong from years of tinkering and moving heavy machinery. 

You wanted to eat him.

“I know… it’s unattractive.” 

“Vik… my love.” He meets your eyes, flustered by the pet name, and found yours had darkened and were half lidded. You seemed ready to jump his bones, and it made his heart race and warmed up his stomach. “This is not supposed to look beautiful, I don’t care. You’re beautiful.”

He felt silly now. Viktor had been so scared of your reaction, but you were completely unfazed, and the fire in your eyes was still there. 

Your hands hover over the clasp. “Can I?”

Something shifted, and before you could even process it he had already released the brace and he was now focusing on pulling your jumper off of you. Cold air hit burning hot skin, making you shiver. Your hazed mind had been hijacked by the man before you, and you were just a puppet obsessed with the idea of touching more of him, feeling him, tasting him.

He shivered when your palms began exploring his chest. He pulled off the cups of your bra and grabbed gently your breasts, and he stopped breathing when he heard your cute little whine. 

“So beautiful.” He said to himself as his thumb brushed over your nipple, tearing another moan out. “My wife.”

My wife. 

Your eyes almost rolled to the back of your head at his smooth voice, accent deepened by the arousal. 

“Vik…” You couldn’t care less about your pleading tone. “Your bedroom or mine?”

“Yours.” He answered, and he half leaned into you and he led you to your room. 

He always preferred your room. It was carefully decorated and smelled of you. 

Hex watched you disappear, wondering why he had been ignored so far.

Your pushed your lover onto your bed, whom chuckled at your eagerness. You tugged at your jeans as he struggled to unzip his dress pants. 

You couldn’t help but stare at his cock, confined in his underwear. It was intimidating to see one for the first time, and you wondered exactly how it would fit. 

Viktor sat up and gently tugged on your arm to make you straddle him. 

“I want to try something…” He trailed off, embarrassed. You lovingly kissed his forehead to reassure him. “Can you.. can you sit, on me?”

You looked puzzled. “I am sitting on you.”

“No…” He cleared his throat. “On my mouth.”

Your mouth fell open as both excitement and nervousness bubbled in your guts. “Isn’t it.. weird?” 

“Is it?” He asked. “I just want to make you feel good… If you don’t want to try, it’s fine.”

“No.” You bashfully shot back. “I trust you.”

He smiled softly. “I’m glad.”

Your heart was beating so hard your swore it was about to break out of your ribcage while you discarded your underwear. Viktor was gazing up at you like he was looking at a deity, and it gave you enough courage to do what he asked as you hovered your pelvis over his face. 

“This is so embarrassing…” You whined.

“I beg to differ.” He said, his voice thick as he parted your lower lips to gaze at you. “Fuck.”

You trembled as you felt the curse word hit you like lightning.

“I swear if you keep staring at– OH!” You cried when you felt the tip of his tongue trace a blazing trail from your entrance to your clit. 

He moaned at your taste as he circled your clit like he did with his fingers before. You were overwhelmed, waves after waves of boiling water crashed against you. 

You looked down, and met the sight of Viktor between your legs. His eyes were almost dark brown, pupils blown and his hair wild as he ate you like a starving man.

You grabbed his hair a bit too roughly to anchor yourself, and he groaned in pleasure as his eyes rolled. 

“Viktor !” You cried. Your brain was disconnecting, and you could almost feel yourself becoming dumb. “Don’t stop! Don’t stop– Yes!” 

One of his hand was curled around your stomach as the other disappeared under his underwear. He had to relieve the pressure your sweet little noises were building up or else he was going to explode. 

“Please… your fingers.. inside.” You whined, and he had to reconnect his neurons to process your words before obliging. His middle finger sunk into you, and you cringed a bit in discomfort. 

He distracted you by sucking on your clit as he gingerly moved his finger to get you used to the feeling, then he pulled it out and sunk back fully, tearing a gasp out of you.

Your stomach was boiling, and you felt yourself climbing higher and higher as he added another finger and began pumping in and out as he licked and sucked, his eyes staring at your face twisting with pleasure. 

“I’m gonna come!” Your warning seemed to egg him on, and he became rough as he fucked you with his hand and his tongue. Finally something in your stomach snapped, and you moaned and sobbed loudly as you rubbed yourself on his eager mouth. He began moaning too as he pumped himself, delirious with arousal. 

You came down slowly, helped by the loving way he kissed your thigh and caressed your back. “How did I do?” He asked expectantly, and you chuckled as you brushed his hair back.

“I think I forgot my name for a second.” You said, and he snorted. 

“You were…” He sighed. “So alluring, orgasming on my mouth. Let me eat you every day, please.”

You bit your lip, and your gaze fell on his cock, his underwear pushed under his ass. “I want to do the same.” 

“Dove.” He stopped you gently. “Believe me, there’s nothing more I want to do than watch you take me in your mouth. But I am already… not going to last long. Maybe later.”

You were a bit disappointed, but nodded. “Definitely later.”

You climbed down to help him get rid of his underwear. For once he had hidden his leg brace under his pants, so you pointed at it with a questioning glance. “Too long to remove.” He quickly answered as he motioned for you to get back on top of him.

You obeyed, and your entrance hovered over his cock. “Take your time.” Viktor said as he caressed your arms. “We can stop at any time.”

Taking a moment to look at him properly, you admired his wild hair, soft amber eyes looking at you like you put stars in the sky each night, his soft skin dotted with cute beauty marks, his thin lips that curled in the rarest but most beautiful of smiles. 

You recalled your moments as teens, when he didn’t even realize he became your anchor, your reason to live and get up every morning. Each night you waited for him to show up, and he would always be there when you came on stage. He pretended to focus on his current project, but you could feel his burning gaze on you, and so you always put a little more effort into your dance, with the hope that, maybe one day this would be enough to sway his heart. 

How silly you were, at that time. A boy like him wouldn’t step foot in a dingy club without a very good reason. 

Leaving the boy to focus on the man, you grabbed his length, causing a shiver to course through his body. It felt hot and heavy, and it twitched when you squeezed.

If your hand was already driving him insane, he was worried for the rest. 

And he was proven right when he felt his tip against your warm and wet pussy. “Ahhh!” He fisted the sheets as he sobbed. 

“Am I hurting you ?” You asked worriedly, and he shook his head.

“The complete opposite.” He said through clenched teeth. 

Viktor wanted to grab your waist, plant his heels in the mattress and slam himself into your heat. The urge was driving him mad, and he ground his teeth to fight it.

“Unghh…” He could feel more of himself disappearing into you as you made space for him. You were unbelievably tight, squeezing him so hard he didn’t know if he could ever leave– not like he wanted to anyway.

You looked a bit less comfortable, focused on relaxing so you could fit more of him, but the task felt impossible. You tried to bounce a bit to help.. “–AH! AH! AH!” it succeeded in making Viktor even more vocal instead. 

“Wait!” He grabbed your hips, and you stopped as you worried that you hurt him. “If you keep going I’m…”

“Oh.” He realized his mistake when you smirked, he just gave you the perfect opportunity to torture him. 

Your muscles squeezed him, and he gasped as his back arched. “Oh, you damned…”

“You wanna finish that sentence?” You asked teasingly as you sank down on him more. The room filled with a loud moan.

The glare he threw you rose the temperature in your stomach again. He was annoyed and aroused, definitely a dangerous mix even for such a level headed man.

All reason had left his brain, and now he only was driven by the need to have his cock buried as deep as it could inside of you. Your little teasing only served to destroy what little restraint he had left, and now he didn’t care anymore about taking it slow.

He grabbed you by the waist and thrusted upwards. 

You barely recognized the loud cry of pleasure you heard as your own. He was fully inside, splitting you in half and finally marking you as his. He closed his eyes as he breathed deeply to calm himself down as he felt like he was about to cum.

“Shit.” You breathed. “Even in my fantasies you don’t feel that good.”

He moaned at your words. “Are you trying to kill me?” 

You braced your hands on his chest as you gave a tentative roll of your hips, which made him hiss in pleasure as you whined.

“Try bouncing.” He said as he grabbed your ass to help your raise your hips, and the feeling of your tight heat releasing him only to swallow him back had him roll his eyes with a rough groan.

He wanted to help you, but his leg was already aching from the effort to raise his hips, and he could only lay and take it as you drove him to madness as you bounced on him while moaning. 

“I love you! I love you so much!” He chanted, and you bent down to kiss him roughly.

He felt spit run down his chin and a mix of your juices soak his thighs, and the dirtiness of the act was turning him on so much it made his dick twitch. 

“I–I’m going to come!” He gasped, and panicked seized him. “Wait– where do I–”

“Inside.” You ordered. “I’m on the pill.”

He barely questioned when you started taking birth control, because you bit his shoulder at the same time as you sank down on him and he was done for. 

He came with a loud cry, and you gently moved your hips to pump him dry as he breathed heavily and twitched. 

You watched Viktor all but turn into a puddle under you. He was lovingly gazing at you as he grabbed your hand to tangle your fingers together, his chest still heaving from the overwhelming pleasure he just received seconds ago.

He pushed your head to lay on his shoulder as he hugged you. “You are amazing, do you know that?” He whispered. 

You smiled so wide it hurt.

After cleaning up you fell asleep, lulled by the gentle caress of his fingers tracing patterns onto your back, you heard Viktor stifle a cough, but decided to pay it no mind. 

It was probably just a small cold.

***

It was early in the morning when the telephone rang, and Viktor cursed under his breath when he realized he had to leave the bed and your side to answer the damned thing.

He finally managed to drag himself, using the wall to prop himself up as he walked up to the device in the living room. He grabbed the bronze earphone that he pressed against his ear as he spoke into the microphone. “What?”

“Good morning to you too, old pal !” Jayce’s booming voice blasted Viktor’s eardrum. “I was just checking if everything was alright since it’s already ten A.M. and… you know.. usually when I arrive at nine you’re already there throwing a hissy fit about how if I wanted a nine to five I should’ve been a secretary.”

“Oh.” He looked at the clock and blinked in shock when he found out that it was already a quarter past ten. 

“What do you mean ‘Oh.’?” He could almost see Jayce furrow his brows. “Is everything alright?”

“Yes. I just… slept in.” 

He had to, because he had kind of a… rough night. You two kept waking up to have sex before falling back asleep for a couple of hours. At some point you were too tired to keep riding him, and that was when you discovered that he could do the work if you were both laying on the side with your back to him, and that was then you both decided that a good night sleep was overrated anyway.

“…” Silence. Then Viktor heard a snicker. “Oh, did you finally get laid?”

He rubbed the bridge of his nose with a sigh. 

“You did! Congratulations, my friend! I know you had it in you!”

“Thanks, I guess.” Viktor muttered. “Listen, I’ll be here in forty minutes.”

“You know you can take a day off once in a while, right?” 

Viktor was about to protest, because evolution never takes a day off, and then he saw you walk past to go to the kitchen, probably to grab a glass of water.

And his eyes fell on your ass, clad in just a little pair of panties. 

“Ehhh…” Viktor trailed off dumbly as he watched your hips sway. “I’ll be there tomorrow.”

Jayce laughed loudly on the other end of the line. “Have fun.”

Meanwhile, you were sipping on your water when you felt a large palm slap your ass. “You did that on purpose so I’d stay.” He feigned a disapproving tone. 

You bit your lip as you arched your back. “All is fair in love and war.”

“Hm..” He kissed your neck as his hand slipped in your underwear. “So I guess it’s fair if I make you come once again.”

Actually, Viktor was not that against taking a day off… 

Chapter Text

You had a strange nightmare that night. And it wasn’t caused by the snowstorm that loudly shook the windows, nor your mind trying to produce an image to spook itself.

You had been wandering through the streets of Zaun, your purpose long forgotten, your name a whisper. The wind was the only thing moving you forward, a strong gale that usually never reached these parts of the undercity. 

Reduced to a shell, you forgot who you were looking for, why your fingers were stained with blood.

And then a sound broke through the whistling of the wind. Chanting. Loud, emotional, full of reverence.

You focused on the sound as you followed it through the thick fog. Heat warmed your skin, and you noticed a yellowish glow in the distance. Shadows danced on the remnants of buildings, their arms raised in worship.

The smell of oil and rust hit you, your skin felt uncomfortably sticky, and you reached a crowd who seemed to part for someone else. Your eyes widened in shock when you saw that most of them had mechanical parts clumsily fused to their body. 

“Herald! Herald! Herald!” They chanted in a deafening choir, your fingers felt wet and you looked at your hands stained with red. 

Flesh. Blood.

You looked up, and you saw a god.

The large, tall figure marched amongst his loyal followers. You couldn’t decipher what was machine and what was human. Maybe he was neither. 

The scepter he was carrying glowed menacingly while the claw on his back curled like the tail of a scorpion, ready to strike anyone coming too close.

Even me ? 

Your own thoughts took you aback. Why would you be any different to the eyes of a god? 

Why were you aching for him to look your way?

Face hidden behind a mask, you could only see his unruly brown hair, lit by the fires and the chaos. 

“Please… please…” Desperation seized you when he walked past you without noticing. “Look at me! I’m here!”

He was too busy caring for his followers, touching their outstretched hands like a blessing. He was untouchable, too high to be reached by your dirty fingers. People cried when they saw him, thanked him for saving their lives. Each time they moved you heard the clanking and groaning of metal against metal.

You could only smell oil and rust. 

He disappeared into the flames, and you swore his name was on the tip of your tongue. 

You awoke with a start, the rust from your dream left a strange tase in your mouth.

Viktor felt you shift and tightened his hold around you.

***

Silco looked up from his notes when he heard a knock upon the door of his office. “What?” He grumbled. “I thought I told you not to disturb–”

The door flew open, almost tearing off the hinges and revealing a young woman that barged in as if the peacemakers were after her.

His henchman ran after her. “I am so sorry sir! She sneaked past us.” He threw you a glare, but you were too busy catching your breath to insult him, so you settled for a glare.

Silco sighed as he pinched his nose, then he waved the man off. “Leave us.”

You had followed an impulsive thought again. 

Viktor was going to scold you, you could already picture his kind eyes giving you a stern look. Because you had decided all on your own to meet the most dangerous man in the Undercity.

Silco narrowed his eyes as he took you in. He knew you from somewhere, but he couldn’t recall. An old dirty cape was hiding your expensive clothes, and you seemed void of any tattoos or marks from overuse of shimmer. 

He could’ve mistaken you from Piltover. But death and misery were resting heavily under your eyes, casting a shadow over an otherwise healthy and youthful face. 

“What do you want?” He asked.

You swallowed thickly. The words struggled to come out, because speaking them felt like a death sentence. 

“I want to talk to Powder.” 

A pregnant pause. His eyes widened. 

You had called her Powder. Not Jinx.

You looked nothing like her sister, and he remembered Jinx speaking from time to time about a girl working in a club down in the Gallows. One day she had a full blown meltdown when she realized you had left Zaun for good.

Silco put down his fountain pen and crossed his arms. “Why do you suddenly want Jinx?”

You narrowed your eyes at his not-so subtle challenge.

“I made myself a promise. Once I could finally afford to offer her a future I would take her in. Today is that day, and I want to ask her to live with me.”

After a few painstakingly long seconds during when he digested your words, he then dug his nails into the wood of his desk as he gritted his teeth. 

“She is happy and fulfilled with me.” He answered in a clipped tone. “Thank you, but your help is no longer needed.”

You quirked a brow. “Is she?”

Silco remained silent, but your eyes caught the subtle twitch of his finger towards the sharp pen. 

“I am offering her a life without misery, disease and hunger. You know the air of topside is crisp, and we can afford to send her to a great school, she would never spend a day in the dark anymore. And not only that… but Viktor and I are ready to adopt her as our daughter.”

You wiped your sweaty palms against your cloak as you waited with bated breath for his reaction. “Just let me talk to her, please. She’s old enough to decide for herself.” 

Like a snake, Silco slowly recoiled back, sending a shiver down your spine. 

“Where were you when Vander died ?”

You winced, hurt momentarily clouding your eyes before a glint of determination replaced it. Feet firmly planted into the ground, you straightened up. “Look, I know you and I never saw eye to eye. But I know what P–… –Jinx, means to you, she means just as much to me. We both want what’s best for her, don’t we?” The older man remained silent, but his head slightly tilted, as if finally hearing her out. You breathed out in relief. “Just let me talk to Jinx, please. She deserves to make that choice for herself.”

Silco fell back in his chair as he pressed his palm against his mouth, tapping his nails against the worn out desk. He suddenly seemed tired, weighed down by his responsibilities.

“Leave.” 

You blinked. “Wha–”

“Jinx is a Zaunite.” He waved his hand dismissively. “She won’t stand a chance in Piltover.”

You clenched your jaw. “You fucking–”

“Leave, before I call Sevika.” He warned her, his mismatched eyes narrowed down at her like a hawk with a mouse. “Return to your golden prison, sparrow, and if I see or hear of you again, I will rip out your wings and watch you slowly die.”

Fear and defeat dissolved your insides into liquid, you promised yourself and Viktor that you wouldn’t return until you found Powder. But what was the point if you ended up in a bodybag. 

Your legs shakily carried you to the door of Silco’s office, and when your hand curled around the handle he spoke up again. “Piltover is not for you either. No matter how hard you try to fit in, they will never accept you as one of theirs.”

You swallowed thickly as rage coursed through you and chased away fear. “You didn’t accept me here either. I’m not strong, cruel or cold enough for your Zaun.”

The door slammed behind you, and Silco sighed heavily as he leaned back in his chair, eyes closed as he massaged his temples. 

Tucked away in a corner of the platform overlooking Silco’s office, her newfound hiding place, Jinx remained silent as to not be spotted. Her wide blue eyes stared off in the distance as she took in your words.

***

“I can’t even keep my promise.” You cried in your hands, curled on yourself as Viktor soothingly rubbed your back. “I’m a fucking failure.”

His heart ached for you, for the weight your frail shoulders had been carrying for decades, and the heart wrenching way you kept adding more and more responsibilities. 

You bore the weight of the expectations of your mother, your family at the club, Powder, and now the expectations of the people of Piltover. You were bound to crumble.

“You are far from a failure, sweetling. You are working with Councilor Medarda to better the city, you are keeping your promise by working towards making Zaun a better place.” 

You nodded weakly, and he knew you were unconvinced. 

No matter how sweet his words were, they could never wash away the feeling of failure. 

***

Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, the heavy coat of snow melted away to be replaced with blistering heat and balconies filled with colorful flowers. 

You kept busy with your classes at the Academy and your work with Medarda as her assistant. Meanwhile Viktor was nearing the completion of his project with the portal, already dreaming of new inventions. It was hard to find a moment where both of you were free, so you decided to always keep a spot each week for a date night. 

Tonight was one of them, and Viktor was planning to surprise you with a romantic candlelit dinner at home.

He was in the middle of buttoning up his shirt when he heard the thudding noise of something heavy dropping in your shared bedroom, and he sighed in a mix of annoyance and amusement as he turned around, expecting to see you. “And here I thought you finally got used to using the front–” Instead, he found a blue haired girl kneeling down, the window wide open behind her and a heavy backpack on her shoulders. “–… door.”

“Hi.” The girl smiled sheepishly with an awkward wave. “Heard I could crash there.”

“Oh, Powder.” Viktor stated dumbly, finger pointing at the teenager, whose expression soured at the mention of her dead name.

“Jinx.” She corrected.

“My apologies, Jinx.”

Jinx pursed her lip as she assessed the tall, gangly inventor. So this was the man you could barely live without? The genius inventor you sung praises for all day long looked far from intelligent right now. Currently rendered mute, eyes as wide as saucers, flabbergasted.

“So…” Jinx jumped on your bed and kicked her shoes off. “Offer is still on the table?”

“Of course.” Viktor nodded. “Your bedroom is still waiting for you. Well–” He made a grimace. “In the meantime it kind of… eh… got turned into a workshop.” 

He spun on his heels, and with a tilt of his head he invited the girl to follow him. She slung her bag over her shoulder as she fell into steps with him.

“Where’s she?” Jinx asked as she looked around the apartment. 

Hex came out of his hiding place to investigate the strange voice, and he stared at the teen as if she were an intruder, tail swishing and ears downwards. 

Jinx stuck her tongue at the cat. 

“She’s attending a class.” Viktor explained as he opened the door to his former bedroom. 

“She’s in school?” Jinx gaped. “At her old age?” 

Viktor stifled a laugh. “One is never too old to learn.” 

He let the teen in the room, she seemed unimpressed by the bare walls and the simple bed in the corner. Suddenly her eyes lit up once they landed on the pile of junk gathering dust on Viktor’s old desk.

“Oh, this.” Viktor pursed his lips, embarrassed. “I will dispose of this, don’t worr–”

“What?!” Jinx gasped as she looked at the older man like he was crazy. “How dare you! There is so much good stuff !” She sat at the chair and rummaged through the pile. “You even have a motherboard ! It’s still in pretty good shape.”

Viktor smiled warmly as he watched her trying to figure out the mechanism of a lock he invented.

A few hours later, you came home to the sound of clanking and laughter. You tried not to hope when Viktor’s lilt was followed by a very familiar voice.

You entered the bedroom to find Jinx perched on a chair, grease covering her face, clutching awkwardly a soldering iron as Viktor guided her on what to do. 

With a soft cry you scrambled to hug her from behind as Viktor rushed to grab the very hot tool from the child’s grasp. 

*** 

“Twenty years! In twenty years of teaching I have never seen this behavior before.”

Viktor hadn’t been yelled at this strongly in quite a while. The stern teacher and the small office reminded him of when he was still at the orphanage, being scolded for something stupid he’d done.

A quick look at you and he had to purse his lips to stop a snicker. You were white as a sheet, your hands clutching your purse as if it could shield you from the older woman’s ire. 

“I am aware of her peculiar background, but this is no excuse for the stunt she pulled this morning!” 

“Mrs. Martin,” Viktor started calmly. “Jinx didn’t mean any harm, she was just–”

“Your daughter’s intentions matters little, Mr. Nikorov.” The teacher’s eyes narrowed into slits behind her spectacles. “She still crafted a bomb in the girls’ bathroom and damaged school property. This is not an appropriate hobby for a thirteen-year-old.” 

“We’re aware that it can be dangerous.” You replied softly. “But this is the only thing that keeps her grounded. The therapist said it helps with the mood swings.”

“Why can’t she pick knitting?!” Mrs. Martin exclaimed. “Or baking ?! A normal, harmless hobby.”

Viktor crossed his arms in annoyance. “This is more than a hobby, it’s progress.”

Did Viktor believe his adoptive daughter was a genius ? Absolutely. 

Was he a bit worried that most of her inventions were aimed for destruction ? Also yes.

Was he going to hinder her in her pursuit of knowledge and self discovery? Never. 

After all, many were also worried when Viktor and Jayce decided to exploit magic, yet he proved them wrong by turning something destructive and dangerous into a world altering tool for humankind. 

So no, Viktor will never squash down what makes her happy, not in a million years. 

After a thorough scolding, you both left the teacher’s office with an exhausted sigh. Jinx, who was slumped in a chair outside waiting, perked up when she saw her adoptive parents.

And deflated when she noticed your expressions.

“I am so…. Sorry!” Jinx cringed when she saw how tired you and Viktor looked.

She recalled the way Vi looked at her the same way. Bone weary, as if Jinx was unintentionally draining the ones closest to her.

“I promise I didn’t plan on triggering it—”

Her breath hitched when she felt a soft and warm hand ruffle her wild blue hair. “It’s alright, Jiji.” Your smile felt like sunlight on her skin. “Just leave the inventions at home, ok?”

“Do try to go easy on the gun powder,” Viktor added. “We don’t want you to lose a limb.”

This was the pot calling the kettle black, Jinx thought, this type of scolding coming from the most reckless inventor she had ever met.

Truth be told, Jinx had trouble fitting in school. Her classmates were haughty and spoiled, born without knowing what loss, or missing something vital, felt like. 

They mocked her gangly limbs, her lack of manners, her accent,  they stared in disgust when she suddenly spoke to herself (or more so her former friends, but her classmates couldn’t see them). 

What kept a spring in her step and a twinkle in her eye was the science class. 

Thanks to Viktor, she was already top of her class, and already learning about more advanced theories. The man was a bottomless well of knowledge, always eager to learn and to teach. 

“Science should be used only for the betterment of humanity.” He constantly said, and each time Jinx rolled her eyes as she suppressed a scoff.

Betterment of humanity her ass. They were a hateful, selfish species, what was the point of all that work?

Jinx’s parents were murdered, her sister abandoned her, her friends resented her, Silco was a liar and a manipulator…

Humanity should just crash and burn.

***

Jinx was proven wrong one humid, summer night.

The girl had fallen asleep on her workshop table while working on fixing an old radio she had found rummaging through trash. It was very late at night, and through the veil of sleep she could somehow hear two voices, one male and one female, bicker in hushed whispers. 

“She needs a proper sleeping schedule.”

“I know, Vik. But you know how stubborn she can be.”

“Hm.” Viktor acquiesced quietly. And Jinx faintly felt a pair of warm hands, one slipping under her knees while the other circled her shoulders, and a grunt as she felt her body being gently lifted. 

“I was gonna do it!” You huffed. “You’re hurting your back.”

A cough racked Viktor, jolting her. “I’ll be fine.” He protested. “I’m not made of glass.”

Her soft bedsheets welcomed her, she heard her window open, letting fresh air in, and nails affectionately brushing her hair. 

Everything felt warm and fuzzy. 

Viktor tried to be as quiet as possible with his cane as he left the room, and you followed him, not without leaving a peck on Jinx’s forehead. “Goodnight, little menace.” You whispered with a cheeky grin.

That night, the bitterness momentarily stopped eating away at Jinx’s heart.

Chapter Text

Viktor’s fountain pain glided on the page as he rushed to add comments to the blueprint of Hextech’s latest prototype. Jayce and he were finally crafting something humanity could benefit from, it felt exhilarating, fulfilling, it caused him to smile uncontrollably….

“Why are the cables made of copalite?” The grating voice of their new intern ruined his mood. “It’s the cheapest material you could find.”

Jayce risked a look at Viktor, and once he saw the sourness plain as day on his angular face he quickly answered the younger man with a friendly smile. “If you use expensive materials on your first prototype, your might as well just pour your budget down the drain.” 

“Hm.” Raine quirked a brow, perplexed. “Or I could just ask father to increase his grant for Hextech.”

Viktor stifled a scoff as he concealed his annoyance behind his notebook. The student, still more child than adult, reeked of overconfidence and pride. He had probably never been taught what the word “no” means. 

Raine Dermac, son of Hextech’ biggest investor, was a spoiled little piece of shit.

Viktor was used to rich children and their eccentricities, but the dark haired star student was somehow rubbing him the wrong way. 

The Dermac patriarch had all but dumped the kid in their lab, not so subtly hinting that the inventors had no choice but to take the boy as an intern. 

Viktor gritted his teeth as he rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, that summer heat was making it hard to focus on anything. He had felt aggravated the entire day, but now being stuck in the warm and humid lab with Jayce and Raine was getting on his last nerve.

“Are you okay?” A large hand braced on the desk, Jayce leaned in as he whispered to his friend the question, eyebrows knotted in concern. “Would you like to take a break?”

“Is it that noticeable?” Viktor grumbled. 

“Sky has been avoiding you all day.”

The smaller brunette sighed in defeat as he brushed his sweaty locks away from his forehead. “I apologize for my bad mood. I… do not handle the heat very well.”

Jayce smirked. “I am aware, that’s why I called for some reinforcements.”

Viktor perked up, and Jayce smirked at his display of childlike curiosity. “Who?”

“Oh, you’ll see.”

Intrigued, Viktor kept an eye on the door of the lab as he worked. He tried his best to remain polite and patient as he answered each and every one of his student’s questions, and he found himself actually stimulated by Raine’s smart questions and suggestions. The boy might be a proud nepotism enthusiast, yet he was far from a fraud. 

“I will be right back.” Raine excused himself as he left the lab, and Viktor twisted his neck to see if someone was behind the door as the intern opened it.

The corridor was empty.

“Watcha lookin’ at?” A whisper in his ear startled him with a yell. He whirled around to find you peering down at him with a mischievous smile, dressed in a cute sundress with a satchel over your shoulder.

“Sw–sweetling.” Viktor stammered dumbly, brain muddled by heat. “What are you doing here?”

You closed the lab window behind you. “Aren’t you happy to see me?” You asked with feigned disappointment.

Viktor rolled his stool over to come closer to you, and brought his fingers to brush affectionately against yours. “It’s always a pleasure to see you.”

You bit your lip as your heart skipped a beat under the soft gaze in his molten gold eyes.

“What about me, Viktor?” Jayce pouted. “You don’t say nice things to me anymore.” 

“Tallis.” You began with an eye-roll. “Will you burst into flames if the attention is not constantly onto you?”

“You have a big mouth, for someone that’s trespassing. Perhaps I’ll call security.” Jayce retaliated with a shit eating grin. He scoffed when you flipped him the bird. “Oh, that’s mature.”

Deciding he had enough of your antics, Viktor pointed at the bag over your shoulder. “What’s in that?”

 After unceremoniously dropping the bad on his desk, you opened it to reveal the content to him. Multiple tubs of ice cream were piled up like golden ingots stolen from a bank. “Sweetling.” Viktor looked at you with a hilarious reverence. “I love you.”

“Ooh— pistachio!” Jayce reached over Viktor’s shoulder to grab the green tub. 

You searched in the bag to grab a darker colored tub, and placed it in front of your husband. He recognized his favorite flavor, coffee. 

“You’re welcome.” You said as you watched him rip open the lid, grab the nearest spoon, and stabbed the cold treat like it owed him money.

The door of the lab slammed open, and you perked up, excited to see who was the new intern Viktor briefly mentioned the evening before. 

And your excitement fizzled out when you laid eyes on who had entered the room.

Raine Dermac, with his pearly white smile and sadistic tendencies. He was a nightmare wrapped in a pretty paper. A shiver ran down your spine when you recalled the way he humiliated and violated you. 

His eyes challenged you to speak up as he strolled over like he owned the place. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Nikorov. How are you?”

Mel Medarda had taught you how to conceal your emotions. She had hammered into your mind the fact that your greatest weakness is your emotions, don’t give your opponent a reaction. 

So you schooled your features into a polite but impassive expression. “Mr. Dermac. I’m well, thank you.”

Viktor and Jayce caught on your sudden change in behaviour and exchanged a look of concern. 

You suddenly marched towards the door. “I just came to drop off some stuff. I won’t disturb you any longer.”

“Wait–” Viktor called after you, but you were already out the door.

Jayce jumped to jog after you. And he found you all but run off like a scaredy cat. “Hey!” He grabbed your shoulder, and you whirled around with your eyes wide, a fist braced in the air. “Woah ! It’s just me!” 

Your chest heaved as you slowly lowered your arm. “Care to explain what happened?” Jayce asked. “I’ve never seen you freak out like that before.”

The clicks of a cane gave Viktor away as he appeared behind Jayce, looking worried.

“It’s nothing.” You answered, avoiding Jayce’s inquisitive gaze. 

Your name, uttered by Viktor’s soft but deep voice, made you look up. “Did he do something to you?” He asked, face strangely blank.

Janna, you wanted the ground to swallow you. No way in hell you could tell them about the bullying and the blackmailing, this was too humiliating. Your lips remained sealed as you twisted your wedding ring nervously around your finger. 

Your silence was enough of a response to the two men. 

“Whatever he’s done…” Speaking gently like you were a feral cat ready to bolt, Jayce analysed your face for any clue to what you were feeling. “Was it bad?”

You were crumbling under Viktor gaze, who was oddly silent, eyes boring into you as he waited for the answer. You couldn’t help the little stiff nod you gave in response. 

Jayce’s shoulder tensed. “Why didn’t you tell anyone?”

“He…” You felt like a child being scolded for skipping school. It was humiliating. “His father is your main investor.”

Jayce gritted his teeth as he straightened up, his frame towering over you, he suddenly looked twice as large. “I will kill this son of–”

Before Jayce could storm off to beat up Raine Dermac, You had grabbed his shoulder to stop him. “Jayce, no! It’ll ruin Hextech.” 

Viktor intervened. “The fundraiser helped diversify our portfolio of investors, that worm has no power over us.”

You blinked, confused. “But–”

“We’ll teach him a lesson.” Viktor interrupted you with a firm tone. “Do you both trust me?”

Anyone may have told you that the man before you was your husband, yet there was a cold fury brewing just below the surface rendering him unrecognizable. His golden eyes were hard, and you could hear the cogs in his brain spin fast.

“Yes.” You breathed. “Of course.”

“That goes without saying.” Jayce nodded while still trying to contain his anger.

“Then we will return inside, you will pretend nothing is amiss.” Viktor’s slender fingers drummed impatiently against the wood of his cane. “And I will take care of the rest.” 

Your eyes met, and he looked so sure of himself that you couldn’t help but blindly follow his command. 

You forced your legs to drag you back inside the laboratory. Jayce barely looked at the intern as he slumped in his chair to get back to work.

“Are you feeling unwell, Mrs. Nikorov?” Raine asked, feigning worry, yet you knew he was taking pleasure in your discomfort. 

Your lips curled in the fakest smile you could muster. 

“I’m just peachy.” 

“Mr. Dermac.” Viktor sat on his stool and rolled towards the skeleton of the prototype. “I believe it is time to move on to the more concrete part of the experiment. Would you like to participate?”

“Of course.” 

Viktor began asking for the intern’s help as he worked on the strange device. He asked for a tool, then another, then he asked for a mechanism to be oiled. Perched on a desk, you watched Viktor at work, this time not to help humanity, but instead to avenge you. He had always been moved by a strange sense of justice, to right what had been wronged, and now Viktor was animated by the same energy that takes over him when he worked on his inventions.

Jayce watched the scene unfold with a strange glint in his eyes. He knew something you didn’t, and seemed curious whether his partner would actually do it or not.

Viktor’s demands had Raine crawling under the skeletal machine as he worked on the wiring. 

“You should install the motor right away.” Jayce suddenly suggested. 

“Should we?” Raine asked, dubious.

“It will be more effective, for the next step.” 

Jayce’s cryptic words seemed to confuse the intern even more, but Viktor caught on. “He’s right, let’s install the motor.”

Raine followed Viktor’s instructions, he crawled deeper into the machine, which seemed more like a cage now than anything else. He had to contort his body to install the part Jayce gave him. 

After plugging the wire into the motor, it whirred to life. The engine began to warm, and Raine was about to pull away when Viktor twisted a knob at the top of the machine. 

The metal skeleton acted as a claw as it collapsed on itself and crushed Raine in its grip. He yelped when the incomplete parts painfully dug into his skin. “What the fuck?!”

He tried to escape, but the machinery coiled around him, tightening its hold like a snake. 

“Hey! Let me out!” Raine began to panic, eyes darting around as he flailed around, but soon he was too ensnared to move.

Viktor reached to twist the knob back in its former position, and the machine ceased to move. 

“You’re making a grave mistake.” Raine spat, eyes wild and lips curled in a snarl like a wild animal. “My father will destroy you once he finds out what you’ve done.”

“Hm.” Viktor leaned on his cane to bend down to Raine’s eye level. His gaze was calm, emotionless. “If he finds out.”

“What?” The student looked confused, finally his brain caught up to the very open threat, and he twisted his body to look at Jayce. “Dr. Tallis ! Tell him to let me go!”

Jayce threw his legs on his desk and crossed his arms behind his head, closing his eyes as he feigned to take a nap.

“Listen!” Raine’s eyes flickered between Viktor and you. “Is– is this because of her?…. It was just a silly prank.. you know that freshmen usually get hazed, it’s tradition..”

Viktor quirked an unimpressed brow as he stared him down. The machine’s engine was still on, and getting warmer and warmer. Raine grew nervous as he felt it against his back, and so he turned talkative. “She just needed to be put in her place, I just scared her a bit, you know?”

No, Viktor did not know. 

The older male’s lack of reaction unnerved Raine, who did his first mistake.

“I—I can even give her her knickers back!”

Viktor’s eyes widened. “Her WHAT?” He barked.

You tensed, you had never heard him so furious before. Your Viktor was usually such a kind and patient man, but you knew every Zaunite had a darker side. It seemed like you being targeted and harassed was enough to rouse it. 

 Raine cowered when Viktor grabbed a claw of the makeshift cage and shook it angrily. “What did you do?!” 

You almost felt bad for Raine. The man that terrorised you now looked utterly pathetic. “Nothing! I didn’t hit her or touched her inappropriately!” 

“I’m right here, asshole.” You rolled your eyes. “Don’t lie.”

“It’s starting to hurt, let me out, please!”

“Not yet.” Viktor grabbed a blank paper and a pen, and presented it to the black haired man. “First, you will give us a nice description of what you’ve done, and sign it.”

He tensed. “…Why?” 

“You can waste time asking questions and risk getting burned… or you can write.”

“You wouldn’t hurt me.” Raine scoffed. “You’re bluffing.”

Viktor brought his face closer, his eyes boring into the younger man’s own. “Write… or burn.”

You were rendered speechless, watching the scene unfold like it was a play from the nearest theatre. 

Still restrained, Raine caved in, grabbed the paper, pen, and shakily began scribbling on the paper. 

Legs spread, his cane between them, clutched between nimble fingers, Viktor watched him write. Raine hissed as the engine burned him through his clothes, and he frantically signed the paper.

Viktor grabbed it to read the content, brows furrowing the further he went. Then he stiffly extended it to you. “Is this the truth?”

You quickly went over it, not trying to relive one of your lowest moments. “Yup.”

Viktor turned the knob all the way to its former position. And the contraption suddenly released Raine, whom fell to the floor clumsily.

“Jayce.” His partner perked up. “Take this piece of trash and its confession to Professor Heimerdinger, please.”

“Gladly.” Jayce hissed. 

“No!” Raine pleaded. “I’ll be expelled!”

“Not our problem.”

You watched your friend grab your tormentor by the collar of its shirt and drag him out of the lab. 

Silence fell in the room as you processed what just happened. “Is he… really going to be expelled?”

“Professor Heimerdinger has a zero tolerance policy against bullying and sexual harassment.” Your husband said as he came closer, placed his cane against the desk and cradled your knees in his large hands. “That monster will never have another opportunity to torment you again.”

You released a breath you didn’t realize you had been holding as your shoulders relaxed. His fingers traced circles on your naked skin as golden eyes studied your face. “How are you feeling?”

“Relieved.” You murmured. 

“Good.” One corner of his lips quirked. “However, I’m still very upset.”

He studied your reaction as he gently pried your thighs apart, coming to stand between them. A shiver coursed through your skin. “I’m sorry.” 

Even while perched on his desk he was taller than you, bending down to brush his lips against yours. “You will be.” He whispered. 

Your lips parted in an open gasp at his words, and he slid his fingers under your knees to pull you closer in one strong tug. “He harassed you, threatened you, terrorized you. He even touched you.” He hissed, his nails digging into your skin possessively. “And you kept it from me. I had evil in my lab working with me.”

“But he said he—” You tried to protest, but he pressed a thumb against your lips to silence you. His eyes were blazing with fury and love, threatening to burn you under his glare. 

“I don’t care what he said. From now on, someone even looks at you the wrong way and you come to me.” Viktor said, his tone leaving no room for protests. “This situation was going to escalate, my little bird. Gods know what he had planned next.”

“I mean it, you know?” You whispered as you cradled his face in your palms. “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.” 

You were used to biting your tongue and dealing with your problems by yourself. You forgot that Viktor and you were a team now, his battles were yours to fight, and yours were his. 

Usually, Viktor melted under your touch, yet this time he was still tense and angry, his eyes still hard and his jaw set. Yet his hands were still gripping your thighs possessively. 

You knew what he needed.

Viktor’s eyes flickered to watch you spread your legs apart, your sundress riding up and barely covering your underwear. “I’m yours. Only yours.” 

He cursed under his breath in his mother tongue as one of his hands curled around your throat, just tight enough to know it was there, and he pulled you in a burning kiss. He was devouring you, the kiss all lips and tongue, leaving you breathless and quivering under him.

“You’re a curse.” Viktor whispered, the words lacking any venom. “You’re distracting me. You’re constantly occupying my every thought.”

He pulled down the straps of your dress as he kissed down the column of your deck, and you couldn’t help but arch into him like a cat. “Whenever I work I can’t help picturing your smile, the sweet smell of your hair, your laughter…” He grabbed one breast in his hand and squeezed. “I also can’t help thinking about your body… your soft skin.. I can’t even look at my fingers without remembering your cunt’s tight grip around them.”

You gasped at his filthy words. Usually, Viktor was methodical when pleasuring you, bordering on analytical. Now he was clumsy and messy, fallen victim to his emotions. It was intoxicating, the way he was everywhere. He was biting your neck, then kissing the sport behind your ears you liked, then he went back to biting as he targeted your breast. One second your legs were spread wide so he could caress the inside of your thighs, the next one he had them wrapped around his narrow hips so he could press his bulge against your core.

“Vik!” You gasped when he rolled his hips, and he responded with a grunt as he grabbed your ass to press you further against him. 

“I’m here, sweetling.” He rasped, his accent thickened by lust. 

Your brain was muddled, your body soft and pliant under his touch. This dominant side of Viktor was so unexpected and hot that you had been completely dumbed down by your arousal. 

“I bet you can be even sweeter.” 

He smirked wide as he reached for something behind you, causing his hips to press into yours and making you whimper, and you startled when he spread something cold onto your chest. 

“Wha–” You realized he had grabbed an ice cream tub laying around and had dug his fingers in it, and you threw your head back with a moan when he bent down to lick it off your skin. 

“You’re going to stain my dress!” Your protests fell in deaf ears as he went back for more, and spread a red color on the inside of your thighs. You quivered under the onslaught of sensations, first the coldness of the ice, then the fire of his tongue. He traced a path up your leg, and you twitched when his nose nudged your clit accidentally. “Ah!”

Viktor chuckled as he straightened up. “What’s gotten you so sensitive?” He teased.

“Asshole.” You hissed, and he grinned wide in response, his cute crooked teeth on display. 

You usually would have retaliated and focused on his pleasure, but it seemed that Viktor was adamant on ignoring his own needs. It seemed like he was trying to prove a point, reassure himself, so you let him do whatever he wanted.

You both froze when you heard a thud in the hall leading up to the lab. In the heat of the moment you both had forgotten that you were in a public space, dry humping like horny teenagers. 

“Follow me.” He whispered as he grabbed his cane, offering a hand to help you get off the desk. 

Your trembling legs struggled to follow your lover as he led you to the storage room of the lab. The room was packed with knick knacks, materials, chemicals and tools. You took in the mess with a smile as Viktor locked the door with a click. 

Before you could even process what was happening, Viktor had tugged on your arm and bent you over a very cluttered workbench. You pushed the mess aside as you made yourself as comfortable as you could be, arching your back to present your backside to him with a pleading moan.

A pair of hands massaged your covered rear with a satisfied hum. “I will definitely picture this view in the future.” He drawled as he slapped a cheek, tearing a moan out of you. He froze, seeming to have acted without thinking, and now being surprised by how much you had enjoyed it. He slapped your ass again, and he swore he could’ve cummed in his pants when he heard you cry out as your legs parted to show him your clothed pussy. 

“Please, I can’t take it anymore.” You pleaded. 

He caved in and slid his fingers under your dress, playing with the waistband of your panties, tugging on it and releasing it to slap against your skin. He finally slipped his fingers under it and gently pulled your damp underwear down your legs.

“Hmm.” He moaned softly as he swiped a calloused finger down your slit to collect your wetness. “Enjoying yourself, my heart?”

You threw a glare over your shoulder with an impatient huff. Viktor laughed fondly at your impatience, and he got to work on removing his belt and zipper. 

His hand slipped under your bunched skirt to caress your back as you felt him press against your entrance, stealing the breath from your lungs. Viktor grunted as he entered, his face nuzzling the side of your neck as he curled his other arm around you. Finally, his hips pressed fully against your backside, and you had never felt more full.

“You okay?” He murmured, and you hummed in response, fingers carding through his messy hair. 

He pulled away to thrust back in, and you keened as you arched your back to welcome him deeper. Viktor was everywhere, his body curled around you, lips whispering sweet nothings in your ear as he kept gently moving his hips. He couldn’t go fast or hard, but the clumsy, loving way his hips pressed against yours was enough to have you trembling against the cold metal worktable. 

You twisted your neck to look at him. He was beautiful, his skin coated in a thin coat of sweat, his wild hair, his jaw clenched and his eyes glowing like a soft candlelight. “I would do anything for you.” Viktor said. “My love, my heart.”

He pressed a kiss to your naked shoulder at the same time as he sank in you, and you moaned loudly. 

“Are you close?” He whispered, and through your lovesick, muddled brain you managed a nod. He smiled warmly, the type of smile only you were privy to, and reached under you to rub circles onto your clit.

By now he knew your body by heart. He had spent countless hours experimenting on the best ways to bring you pleasure, how to curl his fingers, when to be soft and when to be rough. He confidently pressed harder his middle finger into your sensitive flesh as he moved faster, and you were forced to just lay there and take his assault as you sobbed from pleasure. “Vik– fuck, fuck, fuck.”

“Watch your filthy mouth.” Viktor smirked as he slapped your ass, and you swore you saw stars. He probably felt you squeeze him in reaction, as Viktor squeezed his eyes shut as his mouth fell open in a silent moan. 

The sight was enough to break the dam. You felt the boiling waves of your orgasm crash against you, and you cried out as your whole body tensed. “You’re squeezing too–ah!– hard.” Viktor moaned, and he suddenly choked out moans after moans as he hammered into your pussy, and you felt a familiar warmth fill your insides. 

He collapsed, careful not to crush your body, as he struggled to catch his breath. You didn’t fare any better, your cheek pressed against the table to cool yourself as your muscles relaxed. “Vik, are you okay?” You murmured to not break the peace that fell in the small storage room. 

“I can’t move.” He whined, and you giggled. 

“It’s supposed to be my line.”

“No, I’m serious.” He grumbled. “My leg is cramped up, I’m stuck.” 

A fond sigh left you as you gently scratched his scalp with you nails to calm him down. You guessed you were bound to stay in this position for a while. “You pushed your body too hard, idiot.”

“I may have gotten… eh… carried away.” He admitted with a flush to his cheeks. “Doesn’t mean I regret it.”

“Well,” you began with a shit eating grin on your face. “I hope your leg will recover before someone finds us like that. Jayce and Skye will probably start to look for us soon.”

“Ugh.” Viktor’s head forehead hit the table with a bonk. “Jayce would never let me live it down.”

“I meant it, you know…” Viktor spoke again after a few moments of silence. “We’re a team, whatever happens next, we’ll deal with it together.”

“You’re right.” You whispered. “No more secrets.”

“No more secrets.” He nodded. 

You grinned when he pressed a sweet kiss to your temple. 

*** 

Later that week you had been summoned by Professor Heimerdinger to corroborate the letter he received from Raine Dermac. 

The professor listened intently to your tale, and when you were done he twirled his mustache as he mulled over your words. 

“This situation is deeply regrettable, Mrs. Nikorov. This school is supposed to be a safe place for students to learn and grow, I take this incident as a personal failure, and I will treat it with the utmost seriousness. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me.”

“Thank you for your precious help, Professor.” You smiled. “I understand why Viktor always speaks highly of you.” 

The yordle seemed touched by your words, but concealed it by clearing his throat. “Thank you, Mrs. Nikorov, you may join your next class.”

You left your chair to walk to the door, and as you opened it the professor called for you again. “Councilor Medarda and I are very impressed by your results. You have a bright future ahead of you.” 

***

It turned out that Raine Dermac had targeted several other students, and some of them had found the courage to speak up, which clearly did not work in his favor. He was forced to be brought before the council, and considering Mel Medarda’s close relationship with you and that the Professor was very attached to your husband, they fought vehemently for him to be severely punished.

Two days later, the news of Raine Dermac’s expulsion from the Academy caused a general shock. 

Students of every curriculum scrambled to catch a glimpse of the heir of one of the most powerful families of Piltover on a walk of shame out of the school, a cardboard box under his arm. 

Raine found you on his way, leaning against a pillar as you waited for your next class with your group of friends. He looked murderous, his eyes wide and his lips curled in a snarl. He momentarily stopped to stare you down, probably pondering on whether to jump you or not.

“You will regret it, undercity scum” He hissed through clenched teeth. “One day, when you least expect it, I’ll ruin you.”

He meant it, you could see it in his eyes. He meant it with every fibre of his loathsome being. Yet you smiled coldly and leaned in. 

“I’d like to see you try.”

Chapter Text

Five years later…

Viktor watched the students pour out of the gates of the Academy to join their families anxiously waiting outside. Some celebrated the recent graduation of their children while others comforted them. His eyes searched for a familiar face in the crowd as one gloved hand nervously clutched around his crutch. 

“Think she will be out soon?” Jinx asked as she blew on her red hands to warm them.

“Yes, here.” Viktor placed a hand warmer in her palms, and Jinx threw him an exasperated look.

“I’m not a kid anymore.”

“An adult doesn’t forget her gloves.” Viktor teased, earning himself another look.

Finally, you strolled out of the Academy, a cocky smirk on your lips. Jinx and Viktor immediately assaulted you with questions. “So?” Viktor asked. “Did you get it?” Jinx pressed, hopping up and down excitedly.

“Ladies and Gentlemen...” You said as one hand dipped into your bag to fish out a thick paper with a golden edging. “You are looking at a graduate in diplomacy and international relations.”

Jinx squealed as she jumped at you to wrap her arms around you. “Don’t crush my diploma!” You screamed. “I worked hard for this!”

“Congratulations!” Jinx grinned, and Viktor smiled proudly.

“I knew you would do it.” He said.

You grinned so wide it hurt, hugging back your adoptive daughter tightly as you giggled. 

“Come on, girls.” Viktor waved you over. “Let’s go home. You’re going to catch a cold.”

Jinx followed Viktor with a spring in her step, her long braids bouncing behind her. She had taken your old clothes from your time in Zaun and had customized them, openly wearing your tacky dresses and colorful tops. It warmed your heart how that part of you still lived on somehow. 

You had shedded the clumsy, old you with her filthy mouth and lack of manners. Your accent was gone and you had grown poised, elegant. 

Jinx, instead, embraced her past and her origins proudly. The more she was rejected by her peers at school, the more she made herself stand out. 

You remembered the way she came home from an unauthorized trip to Zaun covered in tattoos, blue smoke-like swirls curling around the right part of her body. Viktor yelled for hours as he almost ripped off his hair from pulling on it.

They returned home to their apartment, in the heart of Piltover. Viktor unlocked the door, and then both him and Jinx stepped aside to let you come in first with a grin.

You threw them a strange look before you twisted the knob and opened the door. 

“SURPRISE!” A chorus of excited screams broke as you received glitter and confettis in your face, startling you. “CONGRATULATIONS”

You froze as you took in the scene. Your former classmates, Jayce and Caitlin were in your small living room. Balloons were tied to the windows, and a large banner spelling ‘Congratulation !’ was hanging from the ceiling.

Jayce read your silence mistakenly as disappointment, and began to panic. “Wrong banner!” 

Caitlyn reached behind the couch to grab another one spelling instead. ‘You’ll get it next time !’

“She graduated.” Viktor deadpanned, clearly tired of their antics already.

“Oh.” Caitlyn promptly dropped the banner and kicked it behind the couch. “Of course. We never doubted her.”

“You guys…” You placed a hand over your heart, touched. “Thank you.”

The party was to celebrate not only your recent graduation, but also the success of your friends in their respective careers and the success of the Hexgate, the first homologated fast travel portal working perfectly. Caitlyn also had just joined the police academy.

Caitlyn sat you in your couch and thrusted a glass of sparkling wine in your hand. “Congrats again.” She winked. 

You had attended many parties over the years and done your fair share of shenanigans, yet it was the first time a party was thrown for you. Your friends were all talking and getting along fine, Jayce boasted and grabbed the attention as usual as he told them about the grand opening of the Hexgate. 

“Hey, do you remember when we went to that med student’s party?” Jinx asked with a smirk, swirling the content of your glass. “There was wine just like this one.”

You suddenly felt Viktor and Caitlyn’s eyes snap to you and you stiffened. Your husband and police officer friend who were very much not aware of this funny little story. 

Jinx seemed oblivious of the others that listened in and kept speaking as she giggled. “And then you fell into this guy’s plants–” 

“—Jinx! That’s a funny dream ! Maybe one day we’ll go to a party when you reach the legal age to have alcohol!” You enunciated pointedly as you sweated bullets. “And what are you drinking, young lady ? Go get an apple juice!” You ripped the glass from her hands and drank it in one gulp. Then you smiled at your husband and friend with a nervous laugh. “Silly Jinx! Haha.”

Viktor narrowed his eyes at you, silently telling you ‘We’ll talk about this later’ before he answered the questions your closest friend from school, Dermac, had asked him with starry eyes.

Your eyes swept over the people in the room. A decade ago you would’ve laughed if someone had told you people from Piltover and Zaun would gather in a room to celebrate you. 

Yet here you were, in a room full of people that chose to love you. 

They chose you, the pathetic little thing from the deepest part of Zaun. They pulled you up, dusted your shoulders, wiped the blood off your knees, and then they helped you move forward.

“Are you–” Jayce’s eyes widened. “Are you crying?”

“Shut up.” You snapped half heartedly as you furiously rubbed at your eyes, smearing the gold kohl Mel gifted you.

You felt a large hand ruffle your hair affectionately. “It’s okay to cry.” Jayce smiled. “You’ve come a long way, we’re proud of you.”

He tensed when you wrapped your hands around his torso and buried your face in his strong, welcoming chest. “Thank you.” You sniffled in his expensive blazer, yet Jayce made no comment as he hugged you back. “Thank you for being my friend.”

“Unfortunately, it’s hard to not like you.” Jayce sighed. “I blame it on Stockholm syndrome.”

The party spanned until late in the evening, you danced to the music playing on the gramophone Viktor gifted you on your birthday. The couches had been pushed back to leave room for the makeshift dance-floor, and Hex was hiding under a shoe rack, his single yellow eye watching the scene. 

Jayce was twirling Caitlyn around with a large smile and a booming laugh, your friends from the Academy all jumped around to the beat, and you watched with a grin Jinx tug on Viktor’s arm to get him to join you all.

You could see Viktor’s lips move, probably as he grumbled under his breath, yet he still followed after the teen. He always had a hard time saying no to her. 

He had been very tired lately, his face had grown gaunt and he had traded his elegant cane for a crutch, yet he mustered the energy to make Jinx twirl and dance with her.

You could confidently say you were the happiest you had ever been. Your heart was overflowing with a mix of emotions, gratefulness, love, excitement and many more that formed an intoxicating cocktail. 

As the party was nearing its end, the music had quieted down and everyone was talking in hushed voices, Viktor got up to speak. 

“I…eh–…I’d like to say a few words.”

Considering the very prominent flush on his cheeks, you could confidently say that his sudden onslaught of courage was due to the   sweet milk shots he took two hours ago.

“No matter where we come from, we all had obstacles in our way.” Viktor spoke solemnly, his tone causing everyone to listen intently. “Societal pressure, prejudices, discrimination, a rigged system, our own doubts and fears. Every single one of us could have run away, yet we’ve decided to face those behemoths head on. And we’ve succeeded. So…” He raised a glass, and everyone followed suit, you held up your glass high in the air as your eyes met Viktor’s. Pride and contentment shown in his eyes as he tilted his glass towards you. 

“To our bright future, and the next obstacles we’ll overcome.”

*** 

Two years later… 

You stood trembling like a leaf, your wrists weighed down by the large pair of handcuffs and the chain binding you to the accused bench. Your defense lawyer was whispering something to you, but you could only hear bribes of her sentences.

“—Strong and poised—” Your heart was beating at a deafening pace. “—Execution is rarely chosen–”  Your throat closed up, you felt like you were going to be sick. “—You’re not responsible for your husbands’s ac—” That’s right. Where’s Viktor? Why wasn’t he back to fetch you? Where did he go?

The loud bang of the courtroom door opening startled you as Piltover’s council returned. You couldn’t look up, not when everything was spinning around you, and one sudden move would send you spiraling into a terrorized frenzy. You could hear the crowd behind you erupt in whispers, making bets on your fate. They never felt empathy for you, how could they, when you had never been one of them.

Moreover, what kept your eyes fixated on the ground was the fear of seeing the very familiar faces amongst the council.

One of the councilors stood up, and even without looking you recognized who was the one tasked with proclaiming your sentence. The heavy steps, the soft rumble of a throat, tight with emotion, being cleared as its owner tried to remain professional.

“After—” Jayce Tallis stumbled over the word, his gloved fingers digging into the paper deciding your fate. His eyes burning with unshed tears he tried so hard to keep at bay. “After careful deliberation, the council failed to reach a unanimous vote, thus, the majority takes precedence.” He swallowed thickly. 

Silence fell, and you forgot how to breathe. Somehow you found the strength to raise your head to meet Jayce’s soft brown eyes. 

The bright and charismatic man looked devastated, a shadow of his former self. His large body was curling on himself, caving under the weight of the words he must pronounce. You already knew what he was about to say, everyone did, yet there was still a sacred silence in the room as everyone waited with bated breath.

Your name escaped his lips as he began to speak the words that would seal your fate. 

“— has been found guilty on counts of treason, unauthorized use of magic,  experimentation on humans and accessory to manslaughter.” Jayce couldn’t hold your gaze any longer, his eyes fell on the wrinkled piece of paper clutched in his hands. “She is… she is hereby sentenced to thirty years in Stillwater Hold.”

Your world crumbled around you. 

It felt like you were stuck in a fishbowl, the noise of the crowd erupting in shock at the unexpected gravity of the sentence reached you muffled. Two enforcers grabbed you as another released your cuffs from the chain. 

Jayce would be forever haunted by your wide eyes and your thousand-yard stare as they dragged you away.

Mel leaned in from her seat next to him, her face the perfect embodiment of neutrality, yet the out of character wavering in her voice betrayed her. “She’ll appeal, and we’ll find a way to sway the council.”

“She will not.” Jayce answered in defeat. 

“Viktor will come back and–”

“He will not.”  

“Jayce.” She laid a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t lose hope, all is not lost.”

Sitting among the council, a leader of one of the most powerful and prolific cities in the world, Jayce still felt powerless.

He didn’t have the heart to tell Mel that, for the second time in his life, he had truly lost hope.

Chapter Text

Plic… plic… plic… 

The rainwater dripping on the dewy stone floor of your cell was a rhythmic torture, slowly chipping away your sanity with each passing second. 

A cold shiver ran down your spine, your veins screeching for shimmer. You had never truly been able to get over the shimmer withdrawal. For months you would be fine, and then one day you would find yourself unable to get up from bed, your body giving up on you.

The situation was already miserable, and your body decided to make it worse.

You were sweating profusely, your hair sticking to your forehead and making itchy, yet you lacked the strength to brush it away. Curled in a ball on your tiny bed, you could only ride it out and hope it would pass soon.

A quick look at the wall covered in tally marks confirmed the inevitable. 

You’d been stuck in Stillwater for two years and one month. 

The days had passed in a blur of free time, pointless chores and bland, mushy food. It was easy to slip into the routine and forget. Forget about your past, your family and how it got broken so heart wrenchingly fast.

You refused to forget.

And your mind refused to forget too, as you were constantly haunted by ghosts. 

Your mother, Alma and the others at the Daydream. Gods, you recalled the day you went to visit and found was was left of the little group. They were all gaunt shells of their former self, ravaged by the addiction and sickness.

You knew they needed you, that you had been raised by your mother to lead them, but you couldn’t find the strength to leave your new life and go back. 

So you tried to work on the inside. Used politics to sway the council into making Zaun an independent city. While Zaun was rotten on the outside, Piltover was decaying from the inside. The head of the Peacekeepers was working closely with Silco, securing his reign of tyranny. The council refused to care for the less fortunate city. 

You worked so hard for Zaun… all for nothing. 

And then there was Jinx. Gods, your worry was festering on your insides, writhing like maggots in your decaying body. You had heard from Jayce that the toll from her disastrous reunion with Vi, losing Viktor and then you pushed her over the edge. She had always been a fragile kid, and now she was alone without anyone to rely on.

Learning that she had killed Silco and attempted a terrorist attack against the council crushed you. 

At night you could see her eyes glow in the dark like a pair of blue gems, always staring into your soul like she was trying to study you. 

Some times you could feel the soft fur of your little cat, as if Hex was rubbing himself against your dirty leg to comfort you.

Some times Mel’s ghost was crowding your tiny cage. She would stare down disapprovingly, disappointed in her star student. 

The real Mel never came to visit. 

You knew you were slowly slipping, because as time passed the ghosts became less blurry, almost in the flesh. You understood Jinx’s struggle with ignoring her own hauntings. 

They were always there, looming over your shoulder. 

The hardest one to ignore was Viktor.

You always saw him in your peripherals, always hidden. His skinny and gaunt body held up by sheer stubbornness. Each time you whirled around to scream at him, he was already gone.

When sleep couldn’t find you, which was often considering the other prisoners were always noisy, you could feel the soothing brush of his fingers through your hair. 

From the pain in your chest, it felt like he was also digging his nails through the muscles of your heart to tear it apart.

You hit the back of your head against the wall to silence your thoughts. There was no point thinking about him, he had abandoned you after all. 

The sound of footsteps approaching tore you out of your reverie. The sound was so familiar you did not even bother to look up. The visitor came to a stop in front of your cell, and a throat was cleared to demand your attention. 

“You look uglier than usual.”

“Ugh, what do you want now?” You sighed. 

“You know why I’ve come.” Jayce grumbled, his arms crossed as he threw you a stern look. His eyes softened when they landed on your small, skinny body dressed in rags. “You can’t keep doing this.”

“Looks like I can.” You stuck your tongue at him. “So stop wasting your time coming here to yell at me.”

“Quit telling me this.” He warned, his voice close to a growl. “Or one day I will listen.”

Your mouth closed promptly as you looked up at him. The man had somehow grown even bulkier over the years, probably from wielding this ridiculously big hammer of his. He also had grown tired, weary even. He was torn between his duties at the council and handling Hextech alone, and still he found the time to come visit you whenever he was informed by the prison that you had recently acted out. 

You tore your gaze away from your friend to instead pick at your dirty nails. “How much did you pay those idiots this time?” 

“Too much.” Jayce grumbled. “Since Caitlyn’s broken Vi out of Stillwater, the security has been reinforced and there is a strict no bribe policy. I’m running out of strings to pull.”

You whistled. “You must like me a lot. Or maybe you just like yelling at me.”

“I’m serious.” Jayce shook his head like a father scolding his daughter for sneaking out. “You ought to stop the evasion attempts, it never works, and you’ll end up stuck in isolation until the end of your sentence.”

You snickered as how ridiculous and desperate your last attempt at escaping was. You had worked for weeks on seducing the youngest and most naive guard so he would lower his guard during your cleaning duties, and so you could steal a key from one of the lockers. 

In the end you got caught because you broke the key when you tried to unlock the back door. 

“Yeah, that was a stupid attempt.” You giggled. “I’ve got a better idea for next time.”

“No. There won’t be a next time.”

“You said that a year ago, remember?”

“I mean it. Stop and do your time without making waves.”

The bone chilling look you gave him echoed the one he saw in the courtroom, when your sentence was pronounced.

“Listen, Jayce.” You stretched your legs, they had grown thinner over the years. “I have a nice long rope stashed behind a broken piece of my wall. You know what I’ll do if I stop trying to look for a way out?”

He watched you leave your bed to face him, your hands curled around the bars as you pressed your forehead against them, eyes boring into his. 

“I’ll tie it around the lightbulb above me and hang myself.” 

Jayce didn’t respond, and you felt a twinge of guilt when you saw his face twist in anguish.

Finally, he broke out of his trance, and the mask of the councilor and founder of Hextech slipped back on. “I’ve also came to make an announcement…” He swallowed as if he knew the words would further upset you.

“It’s official, there is a war.”

You furrowed your brows. “A war? Between Zaun and Piltover ?”

“Yes.” 

Your weakened mind searched for an explanation. You gathered that, after Silco’s murder, there would be political unrest. Probably some riots and poorly planned attacks against Piltover. Yet if it escalated into a full blown war, it meant that something very bad happened.

“So you’ve come to tell me that you’re planning to wipe out my home.” You said in an accusatory tone, and your friend sighed as he wiped a large hand down his tired face.

“I’m not planning such horrors. I’m aiming for peace.” Jayce grumbled as if he had said this for the hundredth time. “I want Zaun to merge back with Piltover so we can all live in peace.”

You snorted. “Glad that you didn’t lose your sense of humor when you became Councilor, Tallis.”

“I’m serious, Nikorov !” He shot back, his ego wounded. “What I need for this merge to succeed is a good leader to rally all of Zaun. Someone born there, strong enough to be well liked by the citizens, and also with enough political experience to gain the council’s respect.”

He met your eyes with a pointed stare, and you gasped when you got what he meant. “Are you fucking kidding me?! You want me to play Vander ?”

“This is not the worst plan, even Mel agrees that–”

He jumped a bit when you threw a fist against the bars, rattling the metal door. 

“Mel can go fuck herself.” You hissed, eyes wild with spite and resentment. 

“Easy. Easy.” Jayce tried to pacify you. “Listen, this could be a great opportunity for you to get out early. You could find Jinx and try to talk some sense into her, she listens to you. You could also pick up your work to help Zaun… it’s a great deal.”

You stared longly at your best friend. “What’s the catch?”

“No catch.”

“How…” You felt like your heart had suddenly started beating again, the feeling of warmth in your chest foreign. “How will you get me out of here?”

Jayce grinned victoriously. “That’s for me to worry about. So… is that a yes? Will you work with us?”

He watched you mull over his proposal as you chewed on your lower lip. Finally, you caved with a sigh. “Fine, I will do it. For Zaun.”

“Wonderful.” Jayce patted affectionately your fingers curled around the bars. “I knew I could count on you.”

You forced a smile back.

“I will be back soon to keep you company.” Jayce said as he stepped away from the cell. “Stay out of trouble in the meantime, okay? There’s only so much I can do to protect you.”

Protect you? You almost laughed. You could still feel the sting of the bruises under your shirt from the last beating you took from the prison guards. 

You said nothing and waved goodbye. When Jayce turned around to depart, you couldn’t help the sinister smile that tugged at your lips. 

Like hell you were going to help Piltover.

***

Weeks later, snow started to fall on the exposed parts of the Undercity. The snow there was brown and caked in chemicals, a far cry from the enchanting and magical white it is supposed to be. 

Jinx crushed it under her thick boots without a care, too busy rushing to the crooked factory nestled in the deepest part of the lanes. 

The security system startled awake as she approached at great speed, and once it scanned her and deemed her authorized to enter, it disarmed itself and the main door slid open with a deafening whirring sound.

She hurried down the big, empty corridor to the workshop, and threw the large metal door open with a yell. “GUESS!”

The poor tabby cat jumped, startled awake, and scurried away to hide under a piece of broken armor.

The workshop was cluttered, yet Jinx couldn’t miss the tall figure clad in a thick armor, a large claw on its back curling like a scorpion’s tail. 

“Guess what?” He asked, a deep monotonic metallic voice produced by a modulator, yet unable to conceal the thick accent of its owner. He still didn’t turn around, too engrossed in his work.

“C’mon Vik! You will not regret this !” Jinx grinned manically. “Guess.”

He sighed. “You blew a Hextech shipment again?” 

“Oh, no no no.” Jinx wiggled a finger. “It’s infinitely better than this.” 

His curiosity suddenly picked, Viktor turned around on his stool to look at her. She was clutching what seemed to be a newspaper, and he recognized it as the one he used to read each morning religiously. “Is that Piltover’s newspaper?”

“No cheating!” She admonished as she hid it behind her. 

“Why would you bother stealing this?” 

“I didn’t steal it! There are hundreds of them that were dumped in the lanes. Someone must have taken us for a big garbage dump. Anyhoo– the content is very interesting.”

“Is it?” Viktor sighed, already itching to go back to his work. “Can you get on with it please?”

Jinx’s smile fell as she rolled her eyes. “You’re so boring. Here.” She dumped the newspaper on the workshop, knocking away bolts and screws. “This is from two years ago.”

Viktor’s eyes fell on the article, surrounded by sloppy drawings in typical Jinx style, and his eyes widened.

There was a picture of you in manacles, standing in a crowded courtroom. Your face was the epitome of alive but dead, eyes wide and empty, the rest of your face blank like a doll. 

“We finally know what happened to her!” She exclaimed, shifting her weight from her left to her right feet impatiently. “She was prosecuted as an accomplice, soooo she got pretty much the sentence you were supposed to get. She’s in Stillwater.”

Viktor’s eyes skimmed over the article in silence, but his gaze found itself blocked when Jinx slammed a tacky, colorful rocket launcher over the newspaper.

Jinx grinned manically. “I’m getting her out of here, you in?”

Chapter Text

The grub you were served at each meal was bland and somehow bitter at the same time, like eating mashed toilet paper. Yet you still scarfed it down like it was a five star meal. 

The same meal, surrounded by the same familiar faces—prisoners and guards—, the same seat at the corner of the cafeteria, the quietest. Your eyes scanned the room as usual while you stuffed a spoon of food in your mouth, looking for something useful you could sneak in your pocket for your next evasion attempt. 

Your gaze found itself blocked by a large figure that towered over you, bathing you in shadows. The woman looked like a bull, her black eyes narrowed into slits as she stared you down.

This one was new. You had seen her arrive into your block a month ago. It wasn’t her first rodeo, considering her confident demeanor and the swiftness with which she adapted to the life in prison. 

“This seat taken?” She nodded at the stool placed across from you. 

You studied her face, looking for a hint of what her intentions where. You had had your fair share of harassing and bullying because of your smaller and weaker body. The woman was unreadable, so you decided to follow your instinct. “No.” 

The prisoner unceremoniously dropped her tray on the metal table as she plopped down on the seat. “I’m Lydia. You?”

You mumbled your name between bites of food, rushing to get to the best part of the meal : the chocolate pudding that tasted slightly like chocolate if you focused hard enough.

Lydia seemed to observe how you stood tall and straight, your polished nails —courtesy of the contraband girl from bloc C who owed you—, and your clean and proper appearance. 

After your little trip in solitary confinement you had the luxury of a lukewarm shower and new clothes, probably Jayce pulling a few strings again. 

“What you in for?” The question made you look up from your meal, and you quirked a brow at the woman. 

“None of your business?” You quipped, eyes narrowed.

“C’mon.” She pressed, waving a fork at you. “I’m curious how someone from topside ended up here.”

You growled. “I’m not topside. Never been.”

“Uh?” Lydia didn’t seem convinced. “Your accent screams posh, and you always walk around like you have a stick up your ass. You can tell me the truth, ‘not interested in beating your ass because you’re from there.” 

Gods, this woman was annoying. “I’m from Zaun. Got married to get a Piltover citizenship, then I was trained to lose the accent and fit in.”

“Damn.” Lydia quirked a brow, the hairs shaved and a dragon tattooed in its place. “My sister would kill for this. You lived the dream… Shame you threw it all away.”

This earned her a withering glare. “I risked it all for my husband. I just took a gamble and lost.”

Lydia looked at you longly. The glint in her dark eyes told you she knew a pig piece of the puzzle was missing, and she wanted to dig. 

“So what did you do then?” 

You didn’t want to speak about it. You wanted to forget about the cursed invention that had been slowly driving Viktor insane. Forget about the helplessness that crushed your heart when you found him lying in bed half dead. Forget the smell of Skye’s burnt remains that you had to scrub off the floor while Viktor sobbed in his new metal hand. Forget the tears that scorched your cheeks when you clutched the letter Viktor left you before disappearing.

“I’ve done enough.” You said in a tone that indicated that you were done answering her nosy questions. “Now can you tell me why you’re really bothering me?”

Lydia raised both hands in mock surrender. “Alright. I’m here because I’ve heard that you’re good with words. You know how to talk to the guys at the prison council.”

You had grown scrawny and weak over the years spent in Stillwater, an easy prey for any prisoner eager to blow off some steam. You found out that the best way to stay safe in here was to get the bigger fish on your side, so you helped them appeal and negotiate for conjugal visits or shorter sentences, and they would beat up anyone daring to look at you wrongly in return.

Word spread when one of the men you helped ended up getting released. Now you were completely left alone, safe for the people that came asking for a favor.

“I want to see my son. I just need one day outside.”

“They rarely allow that.”

“That’s why I’m asking you.”

Dammit, you can’t even eat your shitty pudding in peace. “And what do I get in exchange?”

“I’ll help you break out of here.” Lydia shrugged. “Really, I’ve heard of your… attempts.. and I’ve seen you get busted. It’s really pathetic. Are you even trying, shrimp?”

Speechless, you could only open and close your mouth like a fish. “Well— fuck you too!”

You ended up agreeing to help her without asking for anything in return. This one would count as a good deed. Lydia strangely stuck around, she would eat with you and hang out during your free time. You didn’t mind, it was a nice distraction from the ghosts haunting you at all times.

You were growing restless, you needed to make another plan to get the fuck out of here. Your brain was working haywire as you laid awake each night.

One day, when you were playing cards with an elder prisoner, the bulky girl strolled in and held a paper in your face. “It worked !”

“Uh?” You asked dumbly.

”Forging a diagnosis of cancer worked. I’m seeing my son next Friday.” Lydia grinned, you didn’t know she could smile. “Thank you, shrimp.”

“You gotta stop with that dumb nickname.” You grumbled. “But you’re welcome.”

“I guess I owe you one.” Lydia said. “Whatever you need, I’m your woman…— as long as it’s not something sexual. You’re not really my type.”

“Your loss.” You joked, earning a snort from your prison pal. “Listen, you wanna repay me? Help me unscrew the bolt from the latch of the fire escape.”

“Another evasion attempt?” Lydia groaned in annoyance.

“Yup.” You gave her a thumbs up. “I heard that the fire escape is under maintenance, they’d have to call for a company to come help, those guys are always sloppy and never follow protocol. I just need to figure out–”

You gasped when the bigger woman grabbed your arm and dragged you towards the empty corridor leading to the break room. You could only hurry after her to not trip. Once you both had left the crowded room Lydia pushed you against the wall and leaned forward. 

“Listen, shrimp.” She murmured to you, breath reeking of cigarette. “We ain’t buddies, I don’t know you. But I’m gonna do you a favor and call you out on your bullshit because no one else wants to do it.”

You pushed her shoulder away as you opened your mouth to tell her off, but Lydia shushed you. “You’re a very smart woman, you should’ve figured out how to get the fuck out years ago. Hell, I guess you did figure it out. Even the guards study your evasion attempts to correct flaws in security. You’re just bored out of your fucking mind and too much of a pussy to follow through.”

You knew. Gods, you knew that you were just doing half hearted attempts. You always were on the brink of escaping, then your fingers would tremble as panic coursed through your veins, and you’d sabotage yourself.

“Shut the fuck up !” You spat. “You know nothing.”

“I know enough!” She hissed. “I know that your little rich friend comes running each time you stir up shit. Is that why you do it ? Little Nikorov is lonely?” 

“No– I–” You cursed under your breath as tears stung you eyes. “I— fuck, I don’t know what to do if I get out, okay?! I’ve lost nearly everything, and I know I’m burning out my last remaining friend.”

Lydia stared at you in silence, pondering on what to say. 

“You haven’t lost anything, you’re just scared shitless of facing the people outside. We need people like you at home right now, and you’re over there playing poker with that fucking hundred-year old living skeleton.” 

“Why do you care so much?”

She seemed surprised. “You and your husband are pretty famous in Zaun, honey.”

The confused face you made caused the woman to laugh.

“Your husband funded a company that used magic as fuel, and you worked with the council to improve our living conditions. Thanks to you the topside enforcers left us alone and the shimmer industry disappeared.” 

Speechless, you could only gape. You thought your work had been meaningless, but the fact that you had enough positive impact on your community to be remembered brought tears to your eyes.

You masked how touched you were with a quip. “So you pretended not to know me when you met? I can’t believe it !”

“Oops.” Lydia smirked.

She pressed a finger against your shoulder. “Listen, shrimp. People need you, your work ain’t done yet. So you gotta get the fuck out of here, you hear me?”

You thought about your family at the daydream, Jinx and the rest of the Undercity. You couldn’t abandon them because you were too scared to face them.

Lydia’s face brightened when she saw the strengthened resolve in your eyes. “I guess this is better than rotting in this giant cage.” You smirked.

“Atta, girl. Now, please don’t hate me for this.” 

You furrowed your brows in confusion, but before you could say anything you caught a glimpse of her raising her fist, then it violently collided with your temple.

***

You dreamed of the past.

Jayce had called you in a panic, pleading for you to come to the hospital, Viktor had collapsed after another coughing fit.

You had never run so fast in your life. Lungs burning, heart in your throat. You ran across Piltover like your own life was on the line. When you reached his hospital room your heart dropped.

He looked as pale as the sheets he was tucked in, body hooked to IVs and oxygen to keep him afloat. He was keeping it together for Jayce, but when his tired eyes landed on you he gritted his teeth as a tear ran down his gaunt face and his chest raked with sobs. 

“I’ve got only a handful of months left. That is all.” He had whispered when Jayce left the room to give you privacy. “I thought I had more— this is so unfair.”

You cradled his face against your chest as you rocked back and forth to pacify him. He had sunk his fingers into your shoulders, desperately clinging to you like he was surrounded by angry waters. 

“We’ll figure out something.” You whispered to him. “I won’t let you leave me.”

“Even if I become a monster?”

“You could never become a monster, Vik. I know you.”

As if to mock you, your mind transported you in time, days later. You were at home worrying because, in his weakened state, he kept holing himself up in his lab to work, sometimes for days. He had been gone for two days this time, and while eating dinner with Jinx you kept sneaking glances at the telephone, hoping it wouldn’t ring tonight to bring bad news again.

It was late at night when he came home. He had burst inside your shared bedroom like he had the devil on his tail. Before you could say anything he had kissed you hard on the lips, uncharacteristically thrilled. 

He smiled uncontrollably as he grabbed you by the thighs and hoisted you up. You let out a yelp as you instinctively wrapped you legs against his hips to keep balance, and that was when you realized he was missing his crutch. 

That night he made love to you against the wall, on the bed, on his desk. He was relentless, as if he had been dead and resurrected. You learned why when he showed you his leg, warm flesh replaced by cold metal. It terrified you at first, because this… Hexcore was turning Viktor into something different. 

He became paranoid and agitated. Even with his metal leg he struggled to walk, his body still deteriorated. He stood rarely, and if he did, he would clutch with both hands his crutch, hanging on for dear life.

Desperation caused him to try to use the Hexcore on his body again, and it went to hell.

***

Before the dream could transport you back to the darkest time in your life, a bright, blinding light enveloped you, and you groaned in discomfort as you awoke in a stiff bed smelling of chlorine.

“Good evening.” You looked to your felt to find the prison nurse looking down at you, a small torchlight in his hand. “I haven’t seen you in a while. You’ve got a pretty nasty black eye.”

You recognized the messy, small infirmary of Stillwater. You had found yourself lying in this bed many times over the years, the nurse treating you for various bruises, broken ribs or cuts.

You hissed in pain when he parted your black eyelids to shine the light in your eye. “The optical nerve doesn’t seem damaged. Can you see?”

“No, cause I’ve got a bright fucking light in my eye.”

The nurse chuckled. “Clearly you didn’t get your sense of humor knocked out of you. You should be out of here tomorrow. I’ll keep you in observation tonight in case you’ve got a concussion.”

“This hurts like a bitch.” You moaned as you prodded the bruised skin with the tip of your fingers. 

The nurse cringed. “Sorry, we’re out of painkillers. I can’t give you any.” 

You sighed as your head hit your lumpy pillow. “I’ll ride it out like always.” 

“Alright…” The nurse smiled apologetically as he pulled out a pair of steel handcuffs from the pocket of his white coat. “You know the procedure.”

With a roll of your eyes you laid your right hand against the metal bar of the bed, and the nurse started by closing the first cuff around the bar, then he gently grabbed your wrist and wrapped the cuff around. He was almost done when the room erupted with a loud alarm. 

“Shit!” His eyes widened as he stood up, tense like a dear in headlights. 

“What’s going on?” You asked nervously. “I’ve never heard—”

“That’s the alarm for an outer breach.” He gasped. “Someone is trying to get in the—”

BANG

A loud booming sound shook the walls of the infirmary, the lights blinked furiously as glass bottles of medicine fell from the shelves and broke on the ground. You gasped as your free arm curled around your face to protect it from falling debris. 

Screaming broke from outside the room, and the sound of running and fighting could be heard as the inmates probably got restless and started to panic.

“I’ll be back.” He yelled at you over the screeching of the alarm before he broke into a sprint, all but scrambling out of the room.

“Hey!” You called after him as you looked around in panic. You couldn’t stay here, one of the walls could collapse on you. 

Your work ain’t done yet. So you gotta get the fuck out of here, you hear me? 

Lydia’s words resurfaced from the raging waters of your mind, and you froze.

This was your true chance. You were missing a push, there it was.

Another explosion rang, sounding closer than the first. Yet you didn’t even flinch.

Your resolve strengthened like steel, and when your eyes fell on the cuff around your wrist, you laughed. 

In his panic, the nurse failed to properly tighten the cuff, it hung slightly loose.

Chest erupting in coughs from the dust, you twisted your hand to slip out of the manacle, there was some resistance, and with a pained grunt you gave a harsh pull and managed to wrench your hand free.

You jumped from the bed and made a run for it. The hallways were full of panicked prisoners running like headless chickens, a guard barked orders as he waved his baton menacingly, yet his orders were covered by the alarm.

Find the fire escape.

This was your best chance at escaping.

You fought against the current of burly prisoners fleeing the explosion, earning a few hits and almost falling in the process. You slipped away from the guards and scrambled for the corridor leading to the break room. 

“You!” You heard a guard call after you. “Not this way!” 

You looked over your shoulder to find a man running after you, baton in hand. He was catching up to you, hand reaching out to grab your collar. He was about to close in on you when he got toppled over by a large woman. 

You recognized the dragon tattoo on her brow. 

“What are you waiting for, shrimp ?” Lydia grinned as she laid all her weight on the smaller man. “Duty calls! You know what to do!”

You smiled at her, grateful, and took off. In the distance, you swore you heard her one last time.

“Make Jinx proud !”

Jinx.

The girl that was like a sister to you. Of course she was the mastermind behind this insane plan. 

Knowing she was on the other side of the wall gave you strength you lacked for years. Your lungs burned as you bolted down the hallways, making your way towards the break room. 

You stopped in your tracks when you saw the latch leading to the fire escape in an empty corridor, the bolt unscrewed. 

Another explosion rang, and you almost lost your footing as the floor rumbled. Time to hurry.

You jumped, your fingers clutching the grid, and you leaned your weight on it to get it to open. As you predicted, the grid fell open with a screech of protest, yet the ladder didn’t fall down to meet you halfway. 

Fuck, you didn’t know if you had the strength to haul your body up. 

You wiped your sweaty palm on the grey pants of your uniform, and you jumped, your hands latching on the ladder. Teeth gritted, grunting under the effort, you mustered up the last of your arm strength to pull yourself up. You managed slowly and painfully to climb the ladder, and you collapsed on the dusty floor of the small fire escape tunnel, taking a couple of seconds to catch your breath. 

You picked up your exhausted body and ran in a crouch, you had mapped out the tunnels based on the ventilation latches that you had seen in the corridors, and memorized it until you developed a migraine. You followed the path leading to what you know was the exit leading outside, half crouching.

You rounded a corner, and there, at the end of the corridor, stood the final door, painted in bright red.

You were almost there, you could almost taste the fresh air on your tongue, you picked up the pace as your hands shook with excitement…

…Until an explosion hit too close.

BANG  

You felt the floor crumble under your feet, and you went down with a terrified scream. Your body fell on a pile of rubble and metal, you shoulder flared up with pain, and you remained laying there, momentarily stunned. 

There went your escape plan.

You could feel your tears burn, and you picked up your uninjured arm to wipe them away, probably smearing dust and soot on your face in the process. 

Jinx was risking her life to get you out, and here you were, pathetically lying there, battered and bruised after barely trying.

Your mind raced to come up with a Plan B to escape as you forced your body to get up, your injuries screaming in protest. Wind blew your messy and tangled hair away from your face, hot and humid, and you cringed as you closed your eyes and raised a hand to  protect your face.

Wait— wind?

Your eyes opened, and there, between your fingers, stretched the immensity of the night sky. 

The wall had collapsed with the fire escape. 

You walked amongst the rubble towards the breach, bracing against a piece of broken wall, you peered down at the raging waters taunting you at the bottom. The wind plastered your flimsy clothes against your body, urging you to run back inside to safety.

If you jumped, either the rocks would kill you, or the current would. 

You could see the lights of huge warships rushing towards Stillwater Hold, probably reinforcement from the military, armed to the teeth. Jinx probably was about to flee to avoid the confrontation, and you were running out of time. 

“Fuck. Fuck—” Your insides liquified as your legs buckled. Shit, you were about to pull the stupidest stunt of your entire life. There was no way in hell you were surviving this. 

You remember the time you sat on the roof of the club in the Undercity, your legs dangling, pondering whether or not it was worth it to jump and end it for good. 

This time, you would jump to have a chance to stay alive.

You took a deep breath to steel your nerves as you took a step back. If you could gather some momentum before jumping, there was a chance you could avoid the rocks. 

Your work ain’t done yet.

You let out a blood curling scream, letting out all your rage and terror as your legs took off.

Then before you could think, you had leaped.

The wind tossed you around like a rag-doll as you flailed your limbs to gain some control. You could only see a kaleidoscope of colors as you plummeted to your imminent death, yet somehow you felt serene.

With only the stars in the night sky as your witness, your brain replayed your whole life in short bursts of sensations.

Your mother’s perfume. The ache in your muscles from a night of dancing. The laughter of Jinx. The wind as you ran across rooftops. The warmth of Jayce’s hand on your shoulder. Caitlyn’s shy smile. Your little cat’s face nuzzling your neck. Viktor’s chapped lips pressing a kiss on your temple. 

You barely felt the collision with the water.

In the blink of an eye you were surrounded by water, the shock had forced the air out of you lungs, and you found yourself struggling to swim upwards, pressing your lips close to resist the urge to breathe in.

The sea was so dark it seemed like you were swimming in ink, the waves tossed you around violently. You managed to briefly poke your head out of the water, but a wave swallowed you before you could take a breath.

Panic seized you as your exhausted body fought against the relentless current. 

Your lungs had enough, and you accidentally open your mouth to breathe. Salty water invaded your mouth and filled your lungs, and you let out a silent scream as they burned. You arm reached up towards the sky in a last attempt to escape the clutches of the sea, yet you were too weak to swim upwards.

You choked on the water as you felt darkness creeping in from the edges of your vision, gradually swallowing you whole. Your limbs stopped moving, and your body let the water carry it away.

As your consciousness faded, you swore you felt two very different hands seize your arms in a tight grip.

One warm, calloused, alive.

And another as cold and hard as death.

Chapter Text

Jinx sat crosslegged on a large rock as she watched Viktor drag your body out of the raging waters. You were as pale as the moon above, your hair a wet curtain across your face. The girl thought darkly that you already looked like a corpse.

“I didn’t expect that it would storm...” Jinx pouted as she explained herself like a child being scolded.

“I told you this was too risky.” Viktor responded flatly as he laid your body on a bed of sharp, wet rocks.

Jinx grins at the masked man. “Taking risks always pays off, Vik. You should know that.”

Viktor ignored her as he pressed two fingers against your frail neck, his masked face tilted sideways as he waited. Suddenly he stiffened, and he scrambled to press the heels of his palms against your sternum, and he began to rhythmically push on your ribcage.

“What’s happening?” Jinx asked frantically as she grew anxious, mismatched nails digging into the rock below her. 

“Cardiac arrest. She spent too much time underwater.”

Each press of his hands had your chest caving in, jolting your shoulders. He was pressing too hard, Jinx thought as she bit on her lip.

Over the years she had grown accustomed to this new version of Viktor. Cold, numb, calculating. His lack of reaction to his wife’s approaching demise was expected, but it still stung. 

For what seemed like hours Viktor relentlessly pushed on your chest to get your heart to start again, stopping from time to time to check your breathing, and starting all over again.

“She can’t be dead.” Jinx muttered to herself as she began rocking back and forth to self-soothe. “If she’s dead then it’s as if I’ve killed her. I should’ve known I would jinx it again. Every time I try to save my family I end up making it—”

Crack.

Startled by the sound, Viktor retracted his hands as he stared at you. Both lapsed in a tense silence.

“Did you just…” Jinx began, voice laced with horror. 

“Broken ribs happen during CPR.” Viktor explained in his usual emotionless tone, yet his hands remained limp by his side.

“Fuck this.” Jinx hissed as she jumped to her feet and made her way over to you. “Move.” She pushed him aside and reached inside a bag tied to her belt.

When she pulled out a hextech crystal Viktor froze. “Jinx, you’ll kill her—”

“She’s already dead!” She snapped, grabbed a rock and slammed the crystal on it. The magical rock hummed with unstable energy as it glowed. She forced it into a slot over her brand new invention, a metal gauntlet encasing her right hand. “Clear !” 

“We’re surrounded by water !” Viktor snapped, yet Jinx ignored his warning.

The gauntlet made a whirring sound as it extracted the energy from the crystal, and Jinx slammed her palm against your chest, releasing the energy contained in the form of an electrical current.

The force of the shock made you arch your back as all your limbs locked up. And the sudden blinding light forced Jinx and Viktor to close their eyes and recoil. 

As the light dimmed, swallowed by the inky night, Jinx refused to remove her hands from her eyes. She couldn’t bring herself to look at the corpse of the woman that adopted and supported her throughout her adolescence, pathetically lying there broken and battered.

Viktor stared at you through the blankness of his mask. Taking in how skinny and sick you looked, your skin almost translucent, you looked like a ghost.

He could see burnt skin through your thin uniform, where Jinx had shocked you. And right above it, where it used to be concealed, was a thin silver band tied to your neck by a shoelace.

Your wedding ring.

Boney fingers traced the edge of the ring carefully as his fractured mind raced to think about how to preserve your body. Perhaps he could ask his former tutor, Singed. You would watch over him as he worked, your angelic figure a comfort against— 

Suddenly, your body lurched forward as you erupted into a chorus of loud, painful coughs. Viktor vaguely heard Jinx gasp in relief, but he couldn’t pay attention to anything besides your deep panicked breaths, eyes wide and unfocused as if you were blind.

You were lying on your side, shaking from the shock of your near-death experience as you struggled to catch your breath. 

Jinx called your name loudly in relief as she fell to her knees, hugging one of your arms as tears collected at the corner of her eyes. Your blurry vision landed on her, and then you recognized the head of blue hair clinging to you for dear life. Surrounded by that comforting warmth, you reached out weakly to caress her cheek, then your eyes slowly closed shut as you slipped into the darkness like it was a warm bed.

Viktor watched you pass out, your arm falling limply by your side. “She’s exhausted, let’s get her to Zaun.” He said as he bent down to slide his arms under your shoulders and knees, then he lifted you up with a grunt. 

Jinx remembered a day where he would only be able to lift her her up to carry her to her bed, and that stopped when she reached thirteen. Any exertion would be pure torture for him.

“You gonna be ok?” Jinx asked worriedly as she watched him readjust your position in his arms.

“It’s fine. Can you carry the Hexcore?”

Jinx barely concealed her disgust as she looked at the scepter resting against the cliff. That thing unnerved her, and the farther she stayed from it, the better she felt.

Viktor departed with you hanging limply in his arms, you head resting against his shoulders as you rested. Jinx fell into steps quietly, carrying the scepter like it was a venomous snake.

You didn’t see Viktor while you were awake, good. 

He wanted to avoid the confrontation and useless fighting. He knew you like the back of his hand, you’d cry and yell, demand an explanation, and then you’d do something dramatic like throw your wedding ring at his face.

“We need to find her a bed.” Jinx said. “And one of those cute throw pillows she likes. It will cheer her up while she recovers from—”

“We’re not taking her to the lab.” Viktor shut her off. 

“Uh?” Jinx raised a brow. “How are we going to take care of her then?”

“We won’t.”

“Viktor—” She groaned loudly. “Fine, where are we taking her then? The Daydream is too obvious, the peacekeepers are gonna run straight to it once they’ve realized she’s escaped.”

“I know a place.” Viktor said cryptically. “They owe me a favor.”

“So we’re going to just drop her off to a bunch of strangers ?!” Jinx cried in outrage.

“I am not taking care of her. And you are the least responsible person I know.” He said flatly. “But be my guest if you want to come check on her.”

“Yes, I’d like to check on my adoptive family, thank you very much.” Jinx snapped, then her voice softened. “I just thought you’d… care more.”

Viktor, her mentor, her role model, the only man alive she loved and looked up to, did not even bother to respond.

The rest of the trip was made in silence, they descended down the elevator to make it into Zaun, then they had to walk down the long crooked main road to make it to the Gallows.

The crowd parted as they gaped at Jinx and Viktor. He paid no mind to them, merely walking past like it was routine. 

When he arrived to the place, a large tilted building of red bricks, he let Jinx knock on the door. In the meantime, he looked down to peer at the cargo in his arms to check on it.

And he stopped breathing when he met your eyes, wide open and alert. You studied him in silence, taking in the featureless mask and the messy brown hair. 

The door opened to reveal an older Yordle with bright red hair and even brighter blue eyeshadow. “We’re closed.” She grumbled, then her mouth fell open when she noticed Viktor. “Oh, Machine Herald. My apologies, please come in.”

Viktor looked up to nod at her in thanks, then when he looked back down, you were back in your former position, with your head against the bronze clasp of his cape.

Yet he knew he didn’t hallucinate. 

He saw the glint of recognition in your eyes. 

Chapter Text

Through the haze of exhaustion caused by a near-death experience, you briefly caught glimpses of your surroundings and bribes of conversation.

“Poor thing.” A deep feminine voice lamented. You felt a sponge, soaked with soapy water smelling like lavender, gently clean the grime and sea water off your skin. “Look at what they’ve done to you.”

The room was comfortably warm and smelled of opium and incense. This smell took you back to when your mother was still alive and would send you to clean the chimneys of the brothel down the road. After you were done the prostitutes would give you pastries and let you sip sparkling pear wine off their glasses. 

“Do you know her, Madame Babette ?” A girl, sounding younger and more innocent, asked. 

“Last time I saw her she was a small and skinny little beast. Always climbing walls and scurrying around. Her mother was a dear friend of mine, a dear friend of Vander too.” 

“What about the Machine He—”

“Quiet!” The older woman hissed. “You must hold your tongue around the girl. I made a promise.”

They lapsed in silence, the only sound you could hear was when the sponge was dipped back into the sweet smelling water, and the water pouring back into the container as she wrung the sponge.

“This woman… what happened to her?” 

“She left for Topside.” The madam responded, resentment bubbling under her voice. “She was a beautiful and healthy kid, with a bright future ahead of her. Now look at the state of her… chewed up and spit back out.”

***

You woke up to a plethora of poking and prodding on your tender areas, the pain flaring up and causing you to groan.

“She has several broken ribs, a broken arm and a bruised kidney. Nothing life threatening, thank the gods.” A deep, elderly voice explained as you heard tools being shuffled and a bag closing shut. “I’ve written a prescription of pain killers and blood pressure medicine. I will come back tomorrow to monitor for any internal bleeding, but she should be fine.”

***

You awoke again to someone lifting you in a sitting position, followed by a warm spoon being pressed against your lips, filled with a salty liquid. 

Finally mustering enough force to part your eyelids, you found yourself gazing into a familiar face. “Ba–… Babette?” You whispered, confused.

“Hush, child.” The older Yorgle smiled kindly as she pressed the spoon again. “We shall talk later, you need to recover your strength first.”

You parted your lips as you let her feed you, the soup’s flavor masked by the bitter taste of humiliation. This woman, who you haven’t seen in years, was currently taking care of you like you were a baby.

As if sensing your discomfort, Babette gently petted your head with her free hand. “You’ve done enough. Rest.”

After eating you slept for what seemed like a whole day, and you were awoken by a small teenager with the biggest eyes you’d ever seen. She guided you to the bathroom, which was already wet from other men and women showering before you. 

You introduced yourself awkwardly, and she smiled while she unwrapped the compression wraps around your chest coated in healing herbs and oils. “I’m Rochelle.”

“I’m…” You stammered when she had to help you remove your clothes. “I’m sorry you have to take care of me. But thank you.”

You felt uncomfortable being naked in front of this stranger, yet she seemed unfazed by your body. “It’s fine. Beats having to entertain the old guy that has a weird obsession with me.”

The shower was awkward, Rochelle had you sitting on a stool, holding your casted arm out of the shower while she lathered your hair in a richly scented soap. 

The ring on her finger glittered under the artificial light of the bathroom, the stone a pretty amber color.

Instantly you were reminded of waking up in a strong pair of arms, looking up to find a masked man gazing down at you. Even in the darkness of the night you had seen his eyes, a gorgeous amber, rich like chocolate and honey. 

A pair of eyes that was unforgettable.

“Can I ask you a question?”

The teen hummed in approval as she grabbed a loofah and began cleaning your marred skin. 

“Why am I here?”

“Because you stink.” 

“No—” You groaned in a mix of annoyance and embarrassment. “I mean why am I here, being taken care of by you guys?”

“Your mother was… a very dear friend of Madame Babette.”

You quirked a brow. “C’mon. I haven’t seen the woman in over a decade. What’s the real reason?”

“…I’m not allowed to say.” The girl said as she avoided your inquisitive stare.

“Is that related to the man that brought me here?”

Rochelle’s hand faltered, but she recovered and went to grab the shower head. “No.”

“Hm.” You narrowed your eyes at her. “So if that’s unrelated, I guess you can tell me where I can find him.”

“I don’t know where he lives.”

“Who?”

“The Machine Herald.”

When she saw your face morph in confusion, Rochelle realized her mistake, she slapped a hand over her mouth as her eyes widened. “Oh gods, please don’t tell Madame that I told you.”

The Machine Herald? What kind of nickname is that?

“I won’t… but now that you told me that… you can just tell me the whole story.”

“No. That’s enough.” Rochelle rushed drying you off to end the conversation and get rid of you. “Back to bed.”

“Fine.” You grumbled as you let her lead you to your designated room.

***

Days passed as you recovered slowly, relying on Madame Babette and the men and women working at the brothel. Time melted into a sludge of nothingness, you spent hours staring at the ceiling, relieving the worst moments of your life. 

The ghosts came back to haunt you. This time, your sweet Viktor got replaced by this tall, sullen man clad in leather and steel. His blank mask staring at you from the corner of the room.

The hope you felt as you rushed through the prison to escape disappeared, and now you felt… desolated. This cold numbness gnawed at your insides, dug into your chest until you were just a husk.

When your body was healed enough you began to wander around the brothel. You spoke a bit with the workers and tried to help around as best as you can to occupy your thoughts. From cleaning the opium pipes to doing the dishes and cooking, you made yourself useful as much as you were allowed by Madame Babette.

You tried so hard to silence your thoughts, but the sentence hit you like a train as you washed a plate in the kitchens. 

Viktor had dumped you here and never came back.

Viktor didn’t care anymore about you.

The plate fell into the sink as you doubled over from this stabbing pain in your chest, moisture collecting at the corner of your stinging eyes. 

Shut up. Shut up. 

Your blurry eyes fell on a half empty bottle of sparkling wine sitting on the counter.

“Fuck this shit.” You whispered to yourself as you grabbed the bottle. 

***

You found yourself on the rooftop of the brothel. 

Naked feet dangling off the edge, you brought the bottle to your lips to take a gulp. The alcohol provided a nice buzz that kept your brain peacefully quiet.

Being stuck in a cell for two years had turned you claustrophobic, and now you craved a moment alone outside like it was oxygen.

Closing your eyes, you let the cool night air brush the hair out of your face. During that moment, you felt so peaceful you almost forgot about those harrowing two years in prison, about your family falling apart at the Daydream, about the whole that Jinx’s absence left in your chest, about that pair of light brown eyes that gazed down at you blankly.

You almost felt content.

***

Sweet, kind Babette didn’t mean anything bad when she came up to you that night.

She was so happy to have you here, treating you like you were porcelain —probably because you looked ready to break at any moment— and letting you live in her home without asking for anything in return.

You had insisted and pestered everyone to repay them for their kindness. You had no money and you were now too big to climb into the chimneys to sweep, but you would be damned if you took advantage of their kindness. 

Today had been a nice, warm, sunny day. As lovely as it was for most of the population, it proved often to be very bad for business for host bars and brothels. 

“My boys and girls are so bored they are almost as gloomy as you, girl.” Babette had teased you between two drags of her cigarette. “Why won’t you cheer us up with a darling little song of yours?” 

You worried your lower lip between your teeth as you gazed down at your benefactor. You couldn’t say no, not when she was clearly taking you up on your offer to repay her.

Thank the gods you had downed some fire whiskey this morning.

“It would be my pleasure.”

Babette beamed, and guided you to the large living room were most of the workers were relaxing in, sipping tea, smoking opium and gossiping. 

Your arm, now fully healed and free from the cast, grabbed a tambourine as you stood in the middle of the room. They looked at you curiously, wondering what the freeloader was currently doing. Babette took a seat in a rich velvet chair, motioning to the boy closest to bring her a drink.

You shook the tambourine to make the bells attached to it ring. “Hear ye! Hear ye! Poor unfortunate souls, as your holes are as empty as your pockets tonight, I, your humble servant, will lift your spirits with a song!” You cried.

Some grinned as others snickered, and a pretty man with long blonde hair raised his glass. 

“Please do, freeloader! Maybe it will rain enough after your shrieking to make the good people run back here!”

The others erupted in a chorus of laughs, and you flipped him off jokingly.

“Sing ‘My Lord’!” Rochelle said, her big eyes wide in excitement. Others nodded in agreement.

“I hate this song!” You cried in dismay.

“She washed your ass for a week, sing the damn song!” A girl, you recalled her name was Amy, said.

“Fine, damn.” You caved as you raised your tambourine, and you started the familiar beat of the song, simple and cheerful.

“My Lord won’t you buy me a night on the town.” You began to sing, moving your hips in time. “I’m counting on you, my Lord, please don’t let me down.”

The oldest members, more familiar with the song, began to sing with you while the others clapped their hands. 

“Prove that you love me and buy the next round.”

“Oh, my Lord, won’t you buy me a night on the town?”

The others joined the singing while swaying in their seats and giggling.

You liked this part of singing, not the representation in front of a silent crowd appraising you, instead you liked how songs can change the atmosphere and bring people together.

When you were done another song was requested, and another, and then you realized that you couldn’t stop singing, drunk on the cheeriness surrounding you.

The sun was starting its ascent when most inhabitants retired to sleep. Exhausted but exhilarated, you laid in a large pillow as you closed your eyes to relax.

“Unfortunately, you didn’t bring rain.” 

You open one eye to find the blonde guy from before smirking down at you, Babette at his side. 

“I’ll take the compliment…. Well, I hope that’s one.”

“You have a rare talent, child.” The Yorgle laid a hand on your knee comfortingly. “You command attention, you make people listen. I used to know someone just like you… Don’t let this gift go to waste. Songs dilute words.”

Once she finished she patted your leg before leaving your to your thoughts, the boy waved at you goodbye before following after her.

***

Two years.

You had been stuck rotting in a cell for all this time.

Viktor remembered when Jinx had come to his lab white as a sheet, your little one-eyed cat cradled in her arms. She had found the apartment empty, the door wide open and food rotting on the coffee table like you had left in a hurry. 

Before she could come back to investigate, the border between the two cities had been closed and war declared.

For two years he had tried to numb his worry with work. Nothing bad could have happen to you, you were under the protection of two of the most powerful members of the council, even if your adoptive daughter launched a terrorist attack onto them.

He had tried to look for you, but now he was a pariah, feared by half of Zaun, and his last encounter with Jayce went horribly wrong.

Two years.

The screwdriver he was holding fell on his working table with a clunk as he rubbed his eyes, aggravated. He was too distracted to work on the mechanical leg he wanted to install on the kid who got caught under a building collapse last week. 

This, this was one of the reasons he had to leave. 

He wanted to run to the brothel to check on you, see how you were recovering. Your injuries weren’t fatal so he knew you’d be okay, it was your mind that he was worried about.

He only heard bad things about Stillwater Hold.

Running his fingers through his already messy hair, he sighed loudly. He had promised himself he was done with you.

“Shit—” He hissed the curse as his metal hand grabbed a marker and scribbled a rune on the inside of his other palm. “One last time.”

He looked at the Hexcore sitting atop his scepter, glowing dimly as it awaited a command. He extended his marked hand towards it, and the light glowed brighter as it entered in resonance with the rune. 

“It’s the last time.” Viktor repeated the words to himself between clenched teeth.

The Hexcore pulsed with magic, blinding him with white light.

When he opened his eyes he was standing in the middle of a living room, filled with paintings and memories he had gazed upon a thousand times already. He passed by a large photograph of Powder in a prom dress, shyly smiling at a dark skinned boy with silver hair and kind hazel eyes. 

This time, he found you curled on the couch, engrossed in a large book. You had chosen to wear your hair in a messy bun atop your head, seemingly too tired to properly groom it. The sun was casting a gentle glow onto your face, making your eyes glimmer.

His gaze followed your delicate fingers as they turned the page of your book. Without looking away from the text, you grabbed a chocolate covered orange wedge from the plate balanced precariously on your swollen belly, and popped it into your mouth.  You seemed ready to give birth at any moment now.

“You will give this child a sweet tooth.” 

He saw another version of himself, still entirely flesh, more rested—and more sane— tease his wife as he sat by her side, a box under his arm.

This version of you rolled her eyes as she put the plate of treats aside. “Not my fault if I puke everything else.”

The Other Viktor grinned while he reached into the box to pull put a syringe and a vial to hand it to you. “You could eat a vegetable from time to time.” 

You threw him a half hearted glare as you drew to your knees to grab what was handed to you. As if you’ve done this thousand of times, you expertly opened the syringe, collected the purple liquid from the vial while Viktor wiped his shoulder with gauze soaked with alcohol, and you pierced his skin to administer the medicine. Meanwhile Viktor had retrieved a pressurized bottle with a breathing mask attached to it, he pressed a button releasing a clear gas, which he inhaled by pressing the mask against his face.

“Just a few more weeks of treatment and you’ll be free of this.” You smiled as you brushed his hair away from his forehead tenderly. “Thankfully, it was caught in time.”

He nodded with a smile. You checked the clock with a quirked brow. “It’s ten o’clock, why aren’t you tripping over yourself rushing to get to work?”

“I’m on paternity leave.” Viktor said as he put back the medical equipment in the case. You looked at him with eyes wide in shock. “What?”

“You?” You pointed at him suspiciously. “Taking time off? Who are you and where is the real Viktor?”

The ‘real’ Viktor was standing a few feet away looking like the ripper, half of his body disfigured, watching silently the scene unfold. 

The Other Viktor merely laughed. “Progress will still happen, in due time.”

The Real Viktor got closer to you, his heavy boots making noise you couldn’t hear, he kneeled by your place on your couch just as the Other Viktor raised his hand towards you. 

The Real Viktor raised his own hand, and both versions overlapped as their hand cradled your cheek tenderly. You were warm and soft, your muscles moved under his palm as you smiled widely, eyes glittering with happiness.

“I love you.” You murmured. 

His vision faded to black, and when it returned he was back in his workshop. The leg was lying abandoned on the table with the screwdriver.

Viktor wiped the rune away furiously with his thumb as he breathed hard. 

“It was the last time.” He muttered. “The last. It’s over.”

The Hexcore glowed dimly, awaiting the next command to show Viktor what could’ve been. 

Chapter Text

The rain felt cool against your forehead as you laid on the roof of the brothel. You knew you couldn’t overstay your welcome here. You had almost completely healed and it was time to figure out your next move.

You had heard of the mess the two cities were in. Jinx had triggered the war by launching a rocket into the council, killing off  Caitlyn’s mother and injuring many others. 

Jayce had kept it from you when he visited the prison, probably wanting to save you the heartache. Over the years Jinx had mellowed, she had been more stable and happier, what happened for her to turn this way? Were you not there enough for her?

You had to fix this. 

You were the only one with ties to both cities. You had worked for the council under Mel Medarda’s guidance, and you knew Zaun like the back of your hand.

A flash of blue in the distance caught your eye. You sat up, catching a glimpse of Jinx running across rooftops in what seemed like panic, a hand clutching her arm. 

“Jinx !” You called after her as you jumped to your feet. 

Without thinking first, you took off. 

You ran like your life depended on catching her. You were weak and untrained, the rain was making the tiles slippery, yet you couldn’t hesitate when you finally had the opportunity to see her.

You leaped across a gap between two buildings. “Wait !” 

Jinx seemed deaf to your pleas, you missed your landing and fell onto your shoulder, a hiss of pain leaving your lips. You scrambled to your feet as you resumed the chase. 

You had taught the girl a little too well, even injured, Jinx was flying over buildings gracefully. Meanwhile you were a shadow of your past self, struggling to climb and your jumps clumsy and uncontrolled.

Finally by some miracle you caught up to her. “JINX !!” You called after her desperately, and she stopped in her tracks in surprise.

Unable to stop, you collided with her, and you both collapsed in a heap of limbs. Jinx grabbed the edge of a chimney to stabilize herself as she grabbed your collar with the other. 

You managed to pull yourself upright, and your eyes met in silence. Yours relieved, hers lost and scared. 

“Oh… come here.” You sniffed as you pulled her into your arms.

She seemed tense, arms suspended in the air like she couldn’t believe what was happening. Then her shoulders trembled, and she wrapped you in a painfully tight hug, her face buried in your shoulder.

The rain had reduced to nothing, plunging the world in silence. You gently broke the embrace to check her arm. “What happened?” 

A large bruise was staining the entire upper part of her arm. The bone didn’t seem broken, yet it looked utterly painful.

“Vi happened.” Jinx spoke up in a trembling voice.

“Your… your sister?” You blinked in shock. “She did this to you?”

“It’s alright. I deserved it.” She said, resigned. 

You studied Jinx more carefully. The poor girl looked wrecked. She sat there, exhausted and weary, weighed down by the world. 

“Why? Is it the… the attack you did?”

Silence fell as she stared at you longly. “So you’ve heard, uh? It was a matter of time, I guess. It’s that and more, it’s my work with Silco, it’s the way I harassed her little girlfriend… she just can’t accept who I’ve become.”

So she went back to Silco… “Oh, Jinx…” You shook your head. 

“I’m sorry.” Her head fell. “He needed me, but then he— and I had to—”

Her breathing escalated as she grew panicked. You cradled her face in your hands as you forced her to look at you. “Follow my breathing, bug. Come on… like that…” 

“You’re going to hate me too.” She muttered. “I did all those bad things and I almost killed you at Stillwater.”

So that was why she never visited you at the brothel, she was terrified of your reaction.

“Shh… we’ll figure it out together, okay?” You whispered to pacify her. “I could never hate you.”

She narrowed her eyes in distrust. “You will.”

“Did I ever lie to you?”

Jinx fell silent. 

You realized then that this was a sick joke of the universe.

Your mother in your dreams urging you to come back to the Undercity, Viktor’s illness, Jinx’s descent into madness, your imprisonment, Jayce’s offer to work with him for peace.

No matter how hard you tried to ignore it, fate had decided that you had to fight for Zaun. 

Jinx saw something shift in your gaze, it hardened as if you had accepted your sentence. Your shoulders fell in quiet resignation as you sighed sadly.

You gently patted her head with a half hearted smile. “I will fix this, I will fix everything.”

The younger girl seemed hopeful but concerned as she watched you rise to your feet and dusting your clothes off with your hands. “How is Viktor? Or is it the Machine Herald nowadays?” You asked nonchalantly.

Jinx pursed her lips, hesitant. “He’s… not doing great. I’m trying to keep him company and watch over him, but he can be stubborn.”

You snorted. Stubborn was definitely Viktor’s second name, or maybe relentless. 

“Is he… healthy?”

“He…” Jinx pondered her words. “He’s found a way to fix his body.”

You narrowed your eyes. “He’s used the Hexcore again.”

“Well— yeah… he did.”

“We need to talk. Do you know where I can find him?”

“I don’t… I don’t think this is a good idea.”

“Jinx—” You began, but she shut you off.

“He is not Viktor anymore !” Jinx cried. “Just let it go! He abandoned you! And stay away from the war, you don’t even know how to fight ! Look at yourself !” She pointed at the skinny, weak husk that was your body. “I can’t lose you too, please !”

Said skinny body grabbed her arms in a strong hold, and she froze. “Enough.” You said calmly. “I can’t thank you enough for risking your life to get me out of Stillwater, now let me do my part and get you out of this mess.” 

She looked too young to carry such sins as her round eyes softened, shining with unshed tears. You knew she was coming apart at the seams, unable to handle the pressure she was under. That was why you were going to steel yourself so you could carry her load. 

“I will need your little crazy genius brain.” You said as you ruffled her hair affectionately. “If it’s ok with you.”

“Y–yeah.” She said, brushing your hand away like a sulky teenager. “I forget sometimes that you’re as stubborn as Vik. So I’ve got no choice but to keep you from getting killed, do I?” 

“That’s the spirit.” 

You pulled her in another bone crushing embrace. “I love you…” you smelled her hair as her chest ached. “So, so much.”

Jinx said nothing, but you felt her burrow her face in your neck.

“If you need anything— anything, I mean it— come to me, okay Jiji?”

You departed with a last long look, and you marched towards your fate.

***

Babette watched you quietly enter her bedroom, a small bag slung over your shoulder. “I’m just coming to tell you that I’m leaving.” You told her. “I have just a final favor to ask from you. Then I will be out of your hair.”

The Yorgle wanted at first to say that she was more than happy to help. She had grown attached to you during your stay at her brothel. You had shown up to her house, body and heart broken, wandering the hallways like a sullen ghost. Even in your despair you had won her heart, because there was still a glimpse of that soft hearted child in you, the one that used to scarf down candies and dance for the other prostitutes. 

Yet she caught a glimpse of your eyes, hard and burning with a resolve she knew all too well. 

“What happened to you, child?” She asked softly. 

Your eyes met hers, and she almost couldn’t hold the intensity of your gaze. “For years I’ve been living a very beautiful dream, Babette….”

You smiled, and Babette could have cried right there and now.

“It’s about time I wake up.”

*** 

Alma rubbed her eyes tiredly as she looked at the pile of coins on her table. The takings were meager, not enough to keep the cabaret afloat for another year. 

“That bad, uh?” One of her dancers, Lydia, asked worriedly as she watched her boss all but crumble before her. 

“We won’t make the year.” Rick, the Daydream’s bouncer, stated glumly. “I’ve heard that the mines are hiring ever since the collapse—”

“They’re hiring because all of their staff died.” Another dancer scoffed. 

“You won’t need to work in the mines.” Alma responded, her trembling fingers staking the coins in neat piles to count them. “We can make it work.”

She heard a sigh behind her. “How, Alma?” The barman said kindly. “We’re not making enough to pay the bills, let’s not even speak about our salaries.” 

“I’ll ask the brothels tomorrow if they have some spare rooms.” Lydia said, and Alma was about to protest when the door of the club opened.

Her mouth fell open in shock as her heart dropped.

Your eyes scanned the room as you stood there, hands buried in the pockets of a pair of leather pants. Your hair had been cut short and shaggy, the ends curling right below your jaw. From your looks to your attitude, you were a far cry from the bubbly girl that all but ran out of the club a decade ago to live with her new fiancé.

Silence had fallen since your entrance. Half of the staff, the ones that used to know you, were baffled by your sudden appearance while the others, recent hires, stared at you curiously. 

“We’re closed.” Lydia stated, annoyed. “Can we help you?”

Alma’s eyes filled with tears. If you were here, dressed like that, it only meant one thing. 

Her greatest nightmare had come true.

“Little… little bird, is that you?” Rick muttered, shocked. 

“This place is a dump.” You stated. “You haven’t even repaired the hole in the stage. You guys had a decade for that ! Fucking hell…” 

Lydia watched, flabbergasted, as you walked past her to make your way towards the stairs leading to the club’s changing room, and nobody stopped you. 

Alma called your name as she ran after you. “What are you doing here?!”

“What I should’ve done years ago.” You answered simply. “I was the one trained by my mother to manage the club, not you. I should’ve known it would be a disaster if I left.” 

You walked down the corridor, Rick and Alma hot on your heels. You pushed open the blue door at the end of it, the one you were forbidden to touch when you were a child. It revealed a small office, a large, old red velvet chair standing behind a large mahogany desk. It used to belong to your mother. 

It used to be so clean and organized, now it was littered with letters from creditors. 

You dumped your bag on the desk, and you removed your leather jacket to throw it on the back of the chair. “This club was my mother’s, I inherited it after her death, now I’ve come back to claim it.” You explained.  

Rick watched nervously as you sat in the office chair, and propped your boot–clad feet on the messy desk. You didn’t seem like you were ready to manage a small cabaret in the depths of Zaun, not at all.

You looked like a general preparing for war.

***

Jinx was surprised to find her mentor outside of his laboratory. He was sitting on a pontoon, legs dangling over the dark, polluted water of the lake right behind the factory he inhabited. The fog was so thick over the lake that one couldn’t see their hand if they stretched their arm. 

His head, topped with a mop of unruly brown hair, turned when he heard the boards creak under her weight. His eyes found the bruise on Jinx’s pale skin and he frowned. “What happened?”

“Nothing important.” Jinx shrugged as she plopped down next to him. 

“Someone harmed you, Jinx. It’s important. Is it Caitlyn? Or—”

“I’ve talked to her.”

Viktor fell silent, and without his mask Jinx could see the impact of the news on his face, from the way his brows raised to the widening of his eyes. He instantly knew who Jinx was hinting at. “Did you?”

“She’s getting better.” Jinx snickered. “Enough to chase after me across the rooftops and fall on her ass.”

“She… fell?” 

Unable to resist, she leaned forward to study his reaction again. Her artificially colored eyes watching him like a hawk. “What did you expect ? She’s been stuck in a cage for two years.”

Viktor threw her an annoyed look. “Speaking of Stillwater, I believe I’m missing something. I don’t understand how she ended up paying for my crimes when she has powerful friends and there is no proof of her involvement in my wrongdoings. When I left her, I thought she would be well taken care of.” 

“Maybe you just didn’t only have friends.” Jinx said as she laid down on the pontoon, her long braids curling around her head like a halo. Her sentence sparked something inside Viktor’s fractured memory, yet she ruined it by speaking up again. “She asked about you.”

Viktor threw her a warning look which prompted her to speak. “I didn’t say anything!” Jinx snapped, offended. “Even though I wanted to. I didn’t even talk about the whole ‘Glorious evolution’ stuff you always ramble about.”

She expected Viktor to lecture her, or warn her again not to tell anything about him. But he merely patted her thigh comfortingly. “I apologize for making you keep this from her, I know it’s unfair to you. But…”

For a second Jinx caught a glimpse of the old Viktor. He looked exhausted as he rubbed the bridge of his nose with his augmented fingers. Jinx knew he lacked the courage to finish his sentence, state the obvious.

If he saw you again, he’d cave. 

She knew it because she felt the same, she had been spiraling since she had reunited with Silco. The voices and the pain had been out of control, and she had messed up again and again. Viktor had been there for her, but he was falling victim to a different kind of madness. 

And then Jinx saw you again. Like a pillar of light she fell into your arms, and her sins were cleansed. She had felt calmer, her thoughts returned to a normal volume. All you had to do was cradle her face and speak in that soft, kind voice of yours. 

“She’s coming back to the Daydream, is she?” Viktor asked in what seemed like a casual tone, yet Jinx saw the worry swirling in his eyes.

“Well— yeah.” Jinx pursed her lips, uncomfortable with announcing the bad news. “Where else do you want her to go?”

His only reaction was to close his eyes, yet it spoke volumes to the girl that had known him for years. “All of that… for nothing.” He muttered. 

The urge to comfort him made her sit up to lay her head on his shoulder. The air was warm and sticky, so Viktor’s cold body felt nice against her clammy skin. 

“How is your arm?” He asked.

“It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

“That’s good.”

They fell into a familiar and comfortable silence. He was the only one that she could share these moments with, she could let her mind wander in peace, he didn’t mind.

“Sometimes I hate you, for the way you treat her.” Jinx whispered. “But not for long. I can’t hate you for long. I’m sorry.”

Viktor rubs her head comfortingly. “That’s alright, little wise owl…” he began, yet chose to finish it the sentence in his head.

… I can hate myself enough for both of us.

Chapter Text

You were still surprised that your little coup succeeded, and that you were accepted by most of the crew at the daydream. Alma felt a mix of heartbroken and relieved, the responsibilities had been weighing on her all those years. The lines around her eyes and mouths had deepened as the years went by and the problems multiplied.

Alma had deemed you unfit to manage the club in the past, you were too young and too immature, stuck in an endless loop of rebellion and feeling sorry for yourself. Now was a different story, you had spoken with each employee individually, had a long talk with Alma, and you came out with a plan to save the club. 

An insane, reckless plan, but a plan all the same. 

You thought that the crew would shoot down the idea, as they were neither fighters nor spies, yet they accepted. There was a quiet desperation about them, making them ready to do anything to change their living conditions.

“Ouch!” One of the dancers of the daydream, a small sandy blonde man named Lucky, whined while the bouncer forced his feet in mechanical boots. 

“Drama queen.” Lydia sneered, and Lucky stuck his tongue at her in response. 

You ignored the bickering of the younger dancers as you studied the contraption on your feet. The device started as a brace encasing your knee protectively, it went down your legs as plates molded to the curve of your calves. It ended as a regular heel, your weight resting mostly on the tips of your feet. Connected to your heel was a strange flexible blade that curved to absorb shocks when you would run or jump. 

It would require some practice to get used to them.

You looked at the small note that had been stuck to your shoes when you found them on the stage of the club this morning. 

‘Yours are a little special! Be careful!’ It said, under a cute drawing of a monkey.

Your boots were different from the ones she had crafted for the rest of the crew, they had a gauge indicating some kind of remaining power and strange wires connected to a box at the back of the shoes, a tiny dial button glowing cryptically. It was also worth noting that Jinx had painted cute wings on the sides, and a bird flying out of a cage.

The curiosity was too strong. And you knew you had to test them out. “I’ll be right back.” You called over your shoulder as you made your way to the terrace of the club. 

“Be careful !” Alma shot back, bent over a map of Zaun with different spots circled in red.

You sighed in relief when the cool night air greeted you. Zaun’s buildings glowed softly as their inhabitants rustled to make dinner and prepare for bed. The streets had become dangerous and restless since Silco’s death, so most people stuck to the large avenues.

The first steps in your new boots were unsure, and you hesitated when you found yourself on the edge of the terrace, looking down at the rooftop across the street. 

Either the boots worked, or you’d find yourself smeared all over the pavement below. 

Taking a deep breath, you shook the nerves away as you braced for your jump. Before the fear could paralyze you, you sprinted towards the ledge and you leaped.

The built-in blades gave you so much boost that you found yourself being hurled through the air, leaping over the building you wanted to land on. 

With a comically strong shriek, you managed to land on your feet, the boots absorbing the shock. The roof tiles cracked under your feet. 

Turning around to check the length you crossed in only one single jump, you let out an exhilarated laugh.

You started running across the city with a wild grin, the wind blowing your hair away. You had missed this sensation of total freedom, as if you could just go anywhere, and no one could stop you.

Some curious bystanders looked up, watching you leap over them curiously. 

Landing on an empty balcony, you finished the bottle of beer lying on the handrail, and you took off before you could get caught. 

You had not fully recovered your former stamina, and your joints were starting to ache, so you had to stop and climb down. You stopped by a little street vendor to buy some food. 

Scarfing down your bowl of squid ink noodles, you recalled the days were you used to sneak out of the daydream to do just that. Wander across town for hours and stop only to eat, drink, then off you went. 

A little meow tore you out of your reverie. “Again?” The tall, lanky Vastaya that had served you your food was pouting, annoyed. 

Another meow, more insistent this time, and the Vastaya caved with a sigh. 

“It’s the last time.” He said as he pulled out a fish carcass from an ice box, and he threw it to the ground.

Curious, you leaned to look at the little creature that was harassing the poor street vendor. 

Between two bites of fish, the cat looked up, a single yellow eye gleaming in the night. You gasped as you took in the little cat with the holes in the fur and his fluffy tail, which you used to brush every morning to get the knots out.

“Hex !” You called him as you jumped to your feet to crouch next to the cat. You reached to gently scratch his little chin, and he purred happily as his tail vibrated. 

“Is it yours?” The clerk quirked a brow. “This little glutton in insatiable, it harasses all the restaurants of the street to feed it.”

Hex had indeed put on quite a lot of weight, he used to be so scrawny and thin, now the menace had a nice belly.

“Yes.” You replied. “I thought… I thought I’d lost him forever.”

“A good omen.” The Vastaya nodded. “Janna is watching over you.”

Is she? You wondered, watching your cat devour the rest of the flesh clinging to the bones of the fish. Once he was done, Hex looked up to study you, and with a happy trill he turned on his heels and trotted down the street. 

“Huh?” You said dumbly, watching the pet you loved dearly all but leave you there like the smelly fish carcass at your feet. 

“…Maybe not.” The Vastaya corrected himself with an apologetic smile.

You threw a couple of coins on the counter to pay for your food and began to chase after your cat, cursing wildly under your breath. 

How dare this little ungrateful shit—

You found the tabby cat sitting at a crossroad, his single eye watching patiently, and when he saw you he resumed his pace and made a turn to the left.

“What the hell?” You muttered as you followed him. Each time the feline seemed to be waiting for you, he was guiding you down the depths of Zaun. You traveled past collapsed mines, trash dumps and dead trees. A heavy fog wrapped around you like a coat, making it hard to see far, the only hint that Hex was still there with you was the ringing of the bell attached to his collar. 

You started to regret following the damn cat. You had never wandered this far away from the club, you didn’t know how you were going to find your way back. The silence felt eery for such a crowded city, and the lack of visibility made you an easy target for someone with ill intent.

The fog parted for a tall building made of dark red bricks, a massive round window overlooked an uninviting metal door. It looked like an old factory. You followed your cat past the crooked and rusty gate, seemingly having been forced open. The blades of your shoes clicked against the pavement of the courtyard as you rounded the building. 

You watched Hex climb a wall of rotten vines, and disappear into a window, purposely left open with a few books wedged in the gap. 

Great. How were you going to follow him?

You looked around and found nothing to help you reach the window. The vines were too brittle for your weight, and you couldn’t jump this high. 

Unless… 

You looked at the button behind your shoes. 

“Jinx, my little genius.” You whispered excitedly as you bent down to turn the dial. 

The mechanism made a strange whirring sound as you felt the material slightly warm up with a familiar blue glow.

“Here goes nothing.” You took a few steps back, and you ran to gain momentum. The boots whirred faster and louder, and when you jumped the springs released the energy, launching you into the air like a bullet out of a gun.

You landed on the windowsill, your heart racing like a wild horse as adrenaline coursed through your veins. With shaky hands you pushed the books away and opened the window to make your way inside. Your feet found a metal platform, and you tried to make as less sound as possible as you descended on the platform.

The room was warm, bordering suffocating. The platform was overlooking a foundry of some sort. Steam rushed out of a furnace, its hearth burning bright, casting a shadow of the little cat as he trotted away to escape the heat.

The sound of a hammer beating steel startled you, and you soundlessly moved from your hiding place to peer down at the person working. 

You couldn’t see them, only a large shadow cast by the forge. The shape seemed to never tire as it worked on shaping a piece of metal. 

You took the same path as the cat, you found a ladder, which you climbed down as quietly as you could. Unfortunately you slipped, and hit the blades of your shoes against the metal frame, the loud clang bouncing off the walls of the factory.

Silence fell as the shadow stopped its work, its head high in alert, and you cringed as your whole body froze.

“Mr’row?” Hex unknowingly saved you. The shadow sighed as it placed its hammer down.

“Haven’t you eaten enough, you ravenous little beast ?” The shadow spoke in a smooth voice, weighed down by a thick accent.

You heart missed a beat as your blood froze. 

Of course, you should’ve known.

You had just broken into Viktor’s lair. 

Your brain screamed at you to move, to get the hell out of here. It was clear that that man was not the Viktor you had known.

So why were you still standing there ?

Your feet began moving on their own, taking you closer to him against your will. Viktor had strangely not resumed his work, the workshop silent besides the crackling of the fire in the forge.

You hid behind a large tool rack, head poking out to peer at the man that occupied your every thought. 

Your breath hitched when you recognized him.

It was eery to see him standing on his own two feet without the need of a crutch or his leg-brace. He was bent over a metal desk, furiously taking notes as he muttered under his breath. The clothes he had chosen were more relaxed, a simple linen shirt with a pair of brown pants, dirty with iron dust and grease. His hair was unruly and damp with sweat, and he sometimes reached to push it away from his forehead.

It had been two years, two painfully long years without seeing him. And now there he was, only a few feet away. You wanted to run to him, wrap your arms around his chest and bury your face in his spine to cry for hours. A rock felt lodged in your throat, making it hard to swallow. 

Then your eyes landed on the scepter at his side, resting against the desk. The hexcore glowed menacingly, pulsing with corrupt magic. 

This damned artifact from the depths of the hells was what precipitated your life down the drain and destroyed your family.

Ignoring the tug at your heart, you left your hiding spot with the intent to sneak out of the factory and never return. 

Fate seemed to have other plans for you.

Nestled in a pile of pillows and blankets on a shelf above Viktor’s working station, Hex spotted you. He stretched, then got up and jumped off the shelf. 

You shook your head furiously at him with an alarmed look as the oblivious little cat made his way over to you. 

Horrified, you watch him open his mouth, and he let out the loudest, shrillest meow of his life.

Viktor raised his head from his work. “What is it now?” He asked, annoyed by the distraction, as you watch his head turn to look over his shoulder. 

His warm amber eyes met yours, and they widened for a fraction of a second as he froze.

You remained just as frozen, limbs trembling and the urge to flee returned tenfold. Meanwhile Hex rubbed against your leg affectionately, innocently asking for pets. 

You couldn’t read Viktor’s blank face, you could only follow his gaze as he studied your body. From the shorter hair, dark leather clothes and the fingerless gloves down to the contraptions strapped to your legs. 

He wet his lips before speaking. “How did you come here?”

Flabbergasted, you dumbly pointed at the creature glued to your leg. “The– the cat.” 

“…I see.”

Silence fell, and he seemed to look for something to say. In the meantime you noticed the purple augmented flesh of his neck, descending and disappearing under the neckline of his shirt.

“You seem to have recovered nicely.” He said awkwardly, and that’s when you felt it.

Something had been boiling within you for months, you couldn’t afford to pay attention to it until now. It was building up, hotter than the blistering fire of the forge bathing the room in light. 

And seeing his blank face, his lips offering bland politeness as he treated you like a stranger brought it to a point where it felt unbearable, and you saw red.

“That’s… that’s all?” You whispered under your breath, this time trembling with rage.

He must have noticed the shift in you, because he scrambled to dodge a pair of pliers that you chucked at him. 

“You fucking traitor!” You bellowed, the cat skittered as you began to throw whatever was close by at the scientist. 

“Hey!” Viktor yelled to try to pacify you, but you were too far gone. “Stop that!” The throws were not even properly calculated, some tools hit the wall behind him, others bounced off furniture and inventions that were laying around.

“Two years ! I rotted for two years in that hellhole !” You screamed at him, your voice echoing into the room, creating a shrill chorus. “You abandoned me! How dare you?!”

“You’re going to hurt yourself!” Viktor snapped, and he threw his arms in front of his face when you chucked a screwdriver at him. 

“Like you care!!” 

His eyes widened when he saw you reach for the fire poker currently plunged in the burning coals. “No!” He yelled in panic. 

You ignored him, and as you seized the metal you felt the blistering heat eat at your flesh. You let out a scream as you wrenched your hand away, the skin was red as blood, pulsing with pain. 

A whimper tore through you as you cradled your hand to your chest. Viktor rushed to your side. “Let me see.” He said as he reached for your wrist. “I told you you were going to—”

He froze when he felt the coldness of a barrel being pressed against his face. “Don’t… touch me.” You hissed, pain and resentment swirling in your eyes. Your uninjured hand was holding a pistol again his temple, a ‘clic’ echoing as you removed the safety.

The first emotions that broke through his mask was the utter shock and betrayal at the threat on his life. He was staring at you wide eyed. Then he relaxed, as if understanding. 

“Your hand requires immediate treatment.” Viktor stated. “You can… eh.. shoot me afterwards if you’d like.”

You stared at him in distrust, and he pointed at a drawer under his desk. “I have a healing salve, and bandages. This… has happened to me many times.”

Still pointing the gun at him, you walked around him to get the salve. You tried to open the drawer with your burnt hand, but the pain was too great.

Seeing you struggle, Viktor raised his mismatched hands in surrender. One augmented, one still covered in pale skin. “You’re going to have to let me help you.”

You considered his words, then he relaxed when you lowered the gun and placed it back in the holster at your hip. He approached slowly like you were a wild animal, opening the drawer to grab the salve and the bandages. 

“Let me see.” He whispered, and you reluctantly gave him your hand, palm facing up.

A shiver ran through you as his fingers gently grabbed your hand to examine it. “Eh… could be worse. Although it may scar.”

You couldn’t help but stare at him as he worked on your injury. A few damp strands of his hair had fallen in front of his eyes, he looked exhausted and weary, the lines of his face more pronounced. 

Having him so close still evoked this feeling of comfort. Behind the thick smell of iron of his augmented flesh lingered the scent of coffee and sweat, and something else that was distinctly him. You could smell it on his skin in the past while basking in the afterglow, your head on his chest as he carded his nimble fingers through your hair. 

“This will hurt.” He muttered as he spread the cool gel on your skin. You hissed in pain as you bit on your lip. He then wrapped your palm with the bandages, making sure it was nice and tight. 

“Interesting choice of shoes. By the way.” Viktor commented lightly, as if to appease the tension in the room. “I may have an idea of whom you got them from.”

You couldn’t help the smile that spread over your lips at the mention of Jinx. Viktor was done working on your wound, yet his fingers lingered as he pretended to adjust the gauze to better fit your hand. 

The pain was reduced to a dull throb, yet you were too distracted by his presence to pay attention. 

“I could always evolve your hand, if you’d like.” He offered. “You wouldn’t feel pain, or injure it ever again.”

You ripped your hand away from his grip. “No.” You snapped. 

He furrowed his brows. “It’s just flesh, I do not understand what’s so—”

“My body’s the only thing I have left.” You interrupted in a sharp tone. “I will never want to make it ‘evolve’.”

“You treat this fate like it’s a curse…” He brought his metal hand to your face, you could see the solid tendons, the sheen of the steel flesh, you recalled the way it felt against your skin with a shiver. “Yet it saved me. My body was weak, defective. This evolution is merely a way to break out of our faulty shells.”

“That’s what you see in me?” You asked in a whisper. “Something faulty and weak?”

His eyes softened, and his fingers brushed against the skin of your cheek. So gentle, as if one wrong move would cut you. 

“You are…” He seemed to be searching for the right word, but couldn’t find it, or wouldn’t say it. 

What brought the worst pain about loving Viktor was that he could be incredibly cruel without even meaning to be. He was always well intentioned, yet he kept the ones he loved at arm’s length, starving them until they wanted to leave, yet giving them just enough to stay. 

The rage festering inside had been slowly eating away at you, and right now it had released your soul, opened its maw, and demanded you hurt Viktor.

“I’ve seen your lab rats in the streets, Viktor.” You said between gritted teeth. “Children with metal legs, men with arms big like tree trunks.”

“They’re not my lab rats.” He protested, brows furrowed. “I’m helping them evolve, thrive! I thought you would understand.”

“You mutilate them. Rather than change a system, you want to change the people.”

Viktor scoffed. “Mutilate.” He parroted in vexation. 

You jumped when he slammed his hands on the desk, on either side of your body. He invaded your space, the smell of iron and coffee all powerful. “At Zaun, you play with the cards you were dealt. I unfortunately cannot change Piltover.” His hot breath fanned your lips, casting a whirlwind of contradicting emotions within you. You wanted to lean in and bridge the gap between your lips and his, yet you also wanted to bare your teeth and scream in his face.

He seemed to feel the same, his face hard and unforgiving, yet his eyes couldn’t stray away from your mouth. When you nervously wetted your lips, he seemed to tense. 

“I suppose you say that because you have a plan in mind, don’t you?” You jumped when his hand landed on your thigh, the thumb rubbing against your knee brace. “Is that why Jinx crafted this neat little device ?”

Too close. He was overwhelming you, and you couldn’t think straight. Amber. Iron. Coffee. “Uh… I…” 

“I’ve seen your friends run across the rooftops. I’ve recognized some of them, and I recall them being very reluctant to follow you in your endeavors in the past. What changed?”

“I’ve got a plan to properly free Zaun.” You explained, and faltered when you saw him stare at you intensely, listening to what you were saying. “I intend to rally Zaun’s factions and hit Piltover where it hurts.”

“So terrorism, then.” He stated, deeply amused. “Oh, that’s so much more ethical than my ideas.”

You knew he was enjoying teasing you, making you tremble. But two could play this game.

“Like you’ve said, Vik.” You whispered, placing your hand on the one cradling your knee, and you began tracing the length of his arm with the tip of your finger. “I play the cards I’ve been dealt.” 

He took a deep breath, and you heard the sound of his nails digging into the steel table while his grip tightened around your knee. He wrenched himself away from you and took a few steps away. 

His expression returned to this mask of neutrality. “You’re going to get yourself killed. The enforcers are already looking for you.”

“Then help me.” 

He quirked a brow. “I walked away from you for a reason. My life purpose is to advance humanity through science, not to involve myself in a war.”

Seemingly loosing interest in you and the conversation, he returned to his stool where his work was waiting for him. He grabbed a magnifying glass and a pair of tongs, and the previous piece of metal he had been hammering. 

“Peace is a great way to advance humanity. A stable leadership and proper healthcare institutions, all of that shit.” You waved your hand around. “And our past is just that… the past. You’ve made sure of that.”

Hex meowed, he had returned from his hiding place now that things had quieted down. You bent down to pet him with an apologetic smile

Something in his peripheral vision caught his attention. He turned his head, and his eyes fell on a large expanse of silver ink.

A tattoo in the shape of a large pair of wings covered your back and shoulders. Partially covered by your tank top, he couldn’t even see where the tattoo ended. You seemed like a vengeful angel.

You had transgressed your unspoken rule. 

You used to vehemently reject tattoos because you didn’t want to be associated with Zaun. You wanted to be more than where you came from, so you tried hard to change your accent and the way you handled yourself.

And now here you were. 

“Can I come over again… to see Hexie?” You asked, and when your question was met with silence you pressed on. “Here, I can show you proof that we can collaborate.”

You reached for the necklace under your shirt, untied it, and placed it right in front of Viktor.

“Throw it in the trash. Melt it. Recycle it. I don’t care.”

The scientist stared at the wedding band, glittering under the light of the forge. The ring was not that beautiful, crafted in a hurry from some remaining scraps from the prototype of the Hexgate. Yet you had treasured it for all these years and never asked for a prettier one.

“… Next time you come, use the front door like a civilized person.”

“I’ll make sure to remember that.” You said with a wink.

*** 

After your departure, the ring seemed to taunt Viktor.

He was haunted by your words, your touch, your smell, the hatred in your eyes as your screamed at him, the coldness with which you declared that your relationship belonged to the past, the wings covering the expense of your back.

“Enough.” He snapped as he grabbed the ring and threw it into the fire of the forge.

You had obviously decided to follow what was written in his letter and forget about him and move on. He did the same, for two years he did pretty fine without you. 

He saw the ring redden as it heated up, in a few minutes your wedding ring would melt into a mere pile of metal.

Viktor turned to his work, but the image of the ring disappearing was swirling around his brain. 

This is ridiculous, this is just an old token of the past.

He spun on the stool to look at the ring. It was glowing yellow now, the metal getting softer. 

Panic seized him, and he ran to the forge. He plunged his augmented hand into the burning coals and fished out the ring. Then he threw it into a bucket of water, which sizzled and bubbled as it cooled the metal.

Still in shock over what he had done, he stood there, alone, in the mess you made. 

Chapter Text

Viktor pursed his lips in resignation as he prodded the wound of the unconscious girl lying on his surgical table. Her mother’s eyes brimmed with tears as she held her daughter’s hand tightly. 

A boy, older than her sister, was standing in silence with his hands in his pockets, sullenly gazing at his wounded family. He was miraculously unscathed, even though he had also been caught in the fire.

“Do you think you can save her arm, Herald? If Zoe cannot use her right hand, then…”

Viktor didn’t need her to finish her sentence to understand, he knew her fears all too well.

Being a cripple in the Undercity was pretty much a death sentence. 

“This is a very severe burn, I’m afraid the fire has started eating at her bone. A doctor will have to amputate before it gets infected.”

Silence fell as the family processed the brutal news. The mother chocked on her tears as she uttered a small. “But..?”

“I can replace the limb. Not with flesh, but it will work all the same, no pain, no disability.”

“Please.” The mother caressed her sleeping daughter’s head. “I’ll do anything. I’ll find a way to pay you–”

“I require no payment.” Viktor moved his hand as if to swat the idea away. “I just needed your consent, I will start the procedure tonight.”

“I’ll tell her father.” The mother said, her voice already lighter in relief, she gave her child one last look before leaving the operating room. 

“You sure were lucky to make it out unscathed.” Viktor told the older boy, who seemed far from happy about it.

He tightened his fists. “It should’ve been me. If only they found her first and not me…”

“They?” Viktor asked curiously. 

“The people that saved us.” The kid explained with a reverence in his voice. “We live on the last floor of our building. So when we learned that there was a fire we were already stuck in our home. We thought that we were done for, and then they fell from the sky. People with wings, mom said they were sent by Janna.” 

Viktor’s eyes widened in shock as he processed the news. Wings. From the sky. 

“Have you…” No, he couldn’t believe he was about to ask that. “Have you per chance seen a woman with silver wings?” 

“Oh.” The boy tilted his head to the side as he thought about it. “Yeah, she was the one that got Amy out. Why?”

The boy watched the scientist’s face fell as he blanched. 

That woman was definitely crazy. You had somehow decided that crashing into burning buildings to save families was a good idea, and your people were foolish enough to enable and follow you. 

“Do you know her?” The child asked innocently.

Technically, he was married to the madwoman. 

He couldn’t believe what he had just heard.

You had gone truly crazy, and he think he wasn’t far behind, as he couldn’t believe what he was about to say.

He turned to the boy again. “Hey…What do you think about earning some pocket money?”

****

Hammer in hand, you glared at your new formidable foe. It mocked you, crooked after you last hit.

“Will you hammer this damn nail already ?” Lydia barked, glaring at you behind her bright red bangs. “I’m getting tired of holding this plank.”

“I’m doing my best here!” You snapped. “Maybe do it yourself if you know better!”

“I’ve just done my nails.” The dancer wiggled her fresh manicured fingers at you with a pout. “Sorryyyy.”

You sighed, then raised your hammer, you brought it down on the nail… and missed. 

“Fucking hell!” You cried when you hit your hand instead. “This is fucking bullshit!”

Alerted by the commotion, the employees of the club turned from their work to look at you. 

“Fine.” Lydia snatched the hammer from your hand. “Let me do it, then. Hold the nail.”

“I’m not holding the nail! You’re going to break my hand !”

The girl glared as she pointed the tool at you. “This whole ‘renovation’ shit was your idea anyway, I’m not breaking a finger for your pretty face, hold the damn nail.”

You sighed, you sucked at this whole ‘repairing’ thing. You had put everyone to the task of refreshing the establishment and building a secret room under the stage to hide your plans and Jinx’s devices.

And frankly, you were doing a pathetic job at helping your team.

Jayce made it seem so easy when he was building stuff… your heart squeezed painfully when you thought of your friend. He must be so angry with you, or thinking you were dead…

Rage reared its ugly head to snap its teeth at you. 

He let you rot in jail. He only visited to keep you in check. He let Viktor leave you.

When Lydia raised her hand you braced for the impact of the hammer, which never came, since a knock on the door disturbed her.

Adora, your newest addition to the club, a small and cute musician, looked at everyone before coming to the door to answer. She opened it a sliver. “I’m sorry, we’re closed for renovations.” She said in a shy voice. 

“That’s too bad, we need to come inside anyway.” The feminine voice, tinged with a posh accent, froze your blood. “Order of Piltover, we must check the establishment.”

Alma threw you an alarmed look, and signed for you to get the hell out of here. “Uh…” Adora looked at you and Alma for confirmation, but the enforcers were already pushing on the door. 

You ran out of the room and climbed the stairs as quickly and quietly as you could, you heart beating wildly. 

How the fuck did Caitlyn know about this place ?

You heard commotion as Caitlyn and the other enforcers entered the Daydream.

“Where is she?” Caitlyn asked.

“Where is who?” Alma asked, and you heard your former friend sigh in annoyance.

“Don’t play coy with me, you’re lucky I didn’t arrest you for possession and reselling of Shimmer. Now tell me where she is.”

“Listen, I have no idea who you’re talking about. If you want to look around you’re welcome. Just don’t break anything.”

“But–”

“Let’s just have a look, sprout. Come on.” 

That voice…

You searched for a hiding place in panic, but you only found the trapdoor leading to the roof. You quickly rushed to get out as you heard loud footsteps come up the stairs. 

“Check the roof, she’s always hiding in high places.” You heard Caitlyn say, and you cursed under your breath.

You tried to flee, but in your panic you failed to see one leg of your pants getting caught in a rusty nail of the trapdoor, and you fell with a muffled yell. 

Before you could get up the door opened, and a head of dark hair poke out. 

A familiar pair of hazel eyes met your own, wide in shock. Jayce seemed surprised to actually find you there, uncharacteristically silent as he took you in.

“Why are you here, stupid?” Jayce berated you with a harsh whisper. 

You were too stunned to answer at first.

“Jayce, you found something?” You heard another voice, a deeper female tone, ask.

Jayce looked at you longly, looking like he was pondering something, then he smirked. “…. Just a rat.”

Leave it to Jayce to insult you while saving your ass at the same time. He gave you one last look you interpreted as ‘You’re not off the hook’ before he disappeared back into the cabaret, the door slamming shut behind him.

Shock washed over you again. Jayce had actually lied to a team of enforcers led by his childhood friend to protect you, someone from enemy territory?

You pressed your hear against the door to listen in. You heard bickering between the enforcers and Jayce.

“You told me we could find her here!” Caitlyn snapped. 

“I told you she grew up here.” Jayce corrected her patiently. “But it would be stupid of her to come back here when she’s wanted by Piltover.”

He had clearly said it loud enough for you to hear. 

Well, fuck you too, Jayce.

“Is there another place?” The other female enforcer asked. “A friend, family…”

“What about Viktor?” Caitlyn asked. 

“I… don’t think so.” Jayce answered, voice tinged with sadness.

“She raised Jinx, Jayce.” Caitlyn snapped. “She must know where she is.”

“I know, sprout. We’ll find her.”

“Let’s just go.”

When they left you scrambled to reach the other side of the building to watch them leave, hidden behind a chimney. 

You eyes brimmed with tears, staring at the back of his head as he walked away. He was quiet as a pink haired girl spoke to him.

Even despite what transpired with Viktor, Jayce remained your most loyal friend. He had been wrecked when your sentence had been proclaimed, he had been there for you every step of the way, visiting you in prison as much as he could.

How could you forget? Rage was slowly blinding you, making you push everyone away.

Maybe not everything was lost.

*** 

This time, you were ready to hide. 

You were playing cards with Rick when someone bang their fist against the door loudly. The bouncer threw you a look as he made his way towards the front door, in the meantime you rushed to the new trapdoor and disappeared under the main stage.

Today was the first Monday of the month, a regular day for the rest of the population. Yet for the inhabitants of the Gallows district it was a nightmare. 

Today was—

“Profit collection~” Finn, the self proclaimed Chem baron running the Gallows, sang the words as he pushed past Rick to enter the empty club. “Oh, you’ve finally redecorated.”

Your blood ran cold as you listened quietly. That man had a gotten under your skin so many times, he was a sadist, enjoying playing with the weakest like a cat with a mouse. It had been years since you last encountered the chem baron, yet his voice still made your hairs raise and a cold shiver run down your spine. 

Heavy footsteps followed. He was surrounded by his gorillas as usual, he enjoyed watching the people suffer as they scrapped their last savings to appease his wrath, yet he still was too much of a coward to do it unprotected.

“Alma!” Rick called your oldest friend, whom made her way inside quietly.

“Dearest Alma!” Finn’s sick smile could be heard in his voice. “Always the beauty. How are you?”

“We’re past the useless chit chat, Finn.” Alma snapped in a commanding voice. “You want the shimmer money? We don’t have it anymore.”

Silence fell. You knew about the plan, but you couldn’t help growing nervous and restless, gnawing on your thumbnail as you fought not to intervene. 

“What?” Finn asked in a bone chilling voice. 

“Bloody enforcers seized the goods.” Rick explained, and you heard the ‘click’ of his lighter as he lit a cigar. “Nothing to sell anymore.”

“They’re looking for the main distributors.” Alma added. “Meaning you and the remaining chem barons.”

“I don’t give a flying fuck about the topsiders!” Finn slammed a hand on a random table, and you could picture poor and gentle Alma jump in fright. “The shimmer is your problem. You owe me money, you repay me, whatever the means. If you have to sell your fucking organs to do it, then you better start carving !” 

You looked around the small, dark hideout for your boots. When you located them, you maneuvered as best as you could in the cramped space to put them on without making a sound.

“We don’t have the money.” Alma repeated. 

“Well, that’s going to be a problem.” Finn said menacingly, you could hear his light steps as he made his way over to Alma. “Because you’re going to have to pay one way or another…” His voice melted into a sickening purr. 

You remember that tone, he used to take it when he was lusting after you. His tattooed hands would pull, grip, manhandle you, and when you would fight back, teeth bared like a cornered animal he would laugh, knowing you would be too powerless to do a damn thing.

“Your business is over, Finn.” Rick interjected, always the pacifier in this type of situation. “You and your three friends ought to walk away before this ends in bloodshed.”

Rick was telling you how many there were. 

You felt something shift in the air, causing your muscles to tense as you braced for what was coming.

“Is that a threat?” Finn asked. Footsteps could be heard coming closer to your hiding place. One of Finn’s henchmen seemed to be inspecting the place. Your heart skipped a beat when you saw a shadow through the small gaps of the stage. 

The man was standing right over you. 

“It’s a statement.” Rick said.

Finn sighed in delight. “Oh, I will make an example of you.” Then he raised his voice as he gave an order. “Gut him like a fish, make sure he stays alive.”

The shadows moved as the man standing over you spun on his heels, his back to you, and that’s when you heard Alma scream your name. 

“Now !!”

Adrenaline shot through your veins as you kicked the trap door open and jumped out of it. Landing on the stage, you threw your leg forward in a brutal kick that threw the burly man to the ground. 

Rick had pulled out a knife and slitted the throat of the man standing next to him. Blood sprayed over the purple velvet of the loveseats as the man fell with a gargle. 

The last henchman targeted Alma, he grabbed her by the hair, tearing a scream out of her. As she struggled he pulled her towards Finn, and suddenly a knife flew across the room and landed in his shoulder. Lucky appeared with a cocky grin, another knife already balanced elegantly between his fingers like a fan.

“You fucking harpies !” The wounded man barked. You exchanged an amused look with Alma as Lucky threw his head back to cackle at the name. 

Your own opponent began to rise from the ground, growling in anger, eyes purple with 

the shimmer he had been consuming. 

Out of the corner of your eye you saw Alma rip the knife out of the man’s shoulder and began stabbing him repeatedly. With a pained yell the henchman grabbed Alma by the throat and threw her at Lucky.

Your enemy raised a machete at you, and before he could move Rick had already cut his hamstrings with his blade. You threw your knee in his adam’s apple, and the man collapsed back to the ground struggling to breathe. 

His colleague didn’t fare well either, even with the boost given by the shimmer he was hurting and quickly losing blood. Watching the scene unfold with wide eyes, Finn suddenly turned on his heels and scrambled out of the establishment.

“The shit stain’s running away !” Rick yelled at you. “Don’t let him go, we can handle the rest.”

Without thinking you ran after him, almost foaming at the mouth with the promise of vengeance. You noticed the chem baron pathetically fleeing down the dark unlit street. 

This time you were the wolf, the danger in the streets. You were done looking over your shoulder with a tremor in your step, done waiting for a man to save you.

The clicking sound of your blades against the pavement scared him shitless and forced him to run faster, but you were catching up to him. 

He suddenly spun on his heels, throwing a punch that caught you off guard. You took the hit straight into the teeth, pain hitting you like lightning and momentarily stunning you.

You forced yourself to recover, ignoring the pain, in the meantime he raised his fists with a glare, ready to fight.

You dropped to one knee as you threw a leg in a circle, hitting his ankles and throwing him off balance. He grabbed your leg to pull you towards him, and you hit him with your other leg, which nicked the skin of his cheek. 

“You were always my favorite.” Finn grinned manically. “I’ll enjoy breaking you apart.”

Your blood boiled like lava. 

He threw another punch at you, this time you successfully ducked, and you took advantage of your closeness to wrap your legs around his throat.

Finn chocked loudly, and with a punch in your stomach made you release him, and he pushed your legs away. Finally free, he jumped away from you. 

You discreetly turned the dial to increase the power of your boots as Finn charged at you. Then with a scream full of rage you threw your leg forward, the blade hitting him square in the chest, the power of the Hex gem released, propelled him towards a pile of crates. 

Your head was empty as you ran at him, the only thought screaming in your head that it was him or you. You were fighting like two rabid animals, knowing the loser was going to end up devoured by the winner. This time he dodged your kick by jumping backwards, and he grabbed a metal pipe that he brought down on you with brutal speed. 

You spun in time for the pipe to hit only your shoulder, tearing a hiss out of you. He hit again before you could recover, and you cried. 

You scrambled backwards, away from him, as he pointed the metal pipe menacingly at you. “Think you grew some balls, uh?” He mocked you. “You may be my favorite, but I’m ready to kill you, sweetheart. So get on your knees and beg for my mercy before I beat your brain into a pulp.”

His golden jaw glinted in the moonlight, he almost succeeded in terrifying you back into quiet submission. You had always been terrified of him, even now your heart was hammering against your ribcage as your hands shook with tremors.

Then you remembered the feeling of his heel against your face, the poison in his voice as he purred praises and threats in the same sentence. 

This same rage ignited your veins, you felt burning hot, and you swore the world around you turned red.

“I’ll never kneel before anyone ever again!” You screamed. 

Your feet propelled you, and Finn could barely see you move. He had no time to react as he caught a glimpse of you jumping, bouncing against a crate next to him, spinning as the heel of your shoes came fast at his temple. 

The force of the hit knocked him out momentarily. He collapsed in a heap at your feet, bleary eyes gazing off into the distance. 

“Enough.” You snapped as you pressed the blade of your boots against his neck, he regained his senses with a hiss of pain. “I have a question for you.”

Finn glared, but seemed to wait for your to speak. 

“The shimmer, who’s behind it?”

“The Chem barons handle the production.” Finn answered, and hissed in pain when the blade dug into his neck.

“I don’t care about that. Who’s behind it?”

He looked torn, as if speaking his name would seal his fate. “A.. Uh.. Fine ! I believe his name is Singed. But I don’t know where his lab is.”

“…Thanks.”

“Are you going to leave me ali–”

Your leg slashed through the air, and he did not even feel the tear through his throat. 

Blood poured down his chest as he choked in shock, gargling a few intelligible words. 

Struggling to remain conscious, he watched you step in the growing pool of blood he was lying in. Your face a mask of coldness as you watched him die.