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Chapter Text

Smoke was familiar to Viktor. 

He knew the way it burnt in his lungs and stole his oxygen, the ashy scent that invaded his nose, the way it clung to his skin and refused to leave, the way it made his eyes water making it difficult to see. 

Fire was familiar to Viktor, its burning, relentless rage that destroyed everything, how it made your skin sizzle as it crept closer and closer with nothing to stop it. 

Chaos was familiar to Viktor, he had grown up in the streets of Zaun, weather it be raids from enforcers, gang wars, his siblings being slight menaces, he was good at damage control. 

By the time of the riot on the bridge, he didn't even flinch at the sight of mutilated faces and limbs, at bone and muscle revealed, he didn't cry over the faces he recognised, he held the hands of those who couldn't be saved while some other stranger sealed their fate. He was good at getting the injured to safety, helping to stitch their wounds and realign bones, he dragged as many corpses as he could until his own hands were covered in strangers blood. 

You never forget that feeling. The chaos, the endless screaming everywhere you turn your head, Viktor though he knew it…knew how to tolerate the chaos. 

But now. 

Now it was different. 

Now the council building had exploded, now he was sure he was supposed to be dead, instead he’d jolted upright coughing and gasping for air, he distantly heard Mel’s voice, he felt a surge of energy in his veins, he saw a blue glow and felt a thrum of power around him. 

“Viktor!” Mels voice finally broke through the ringing in his ears, his lungs had calmed and the smoke didn't phase him, he felt rubble under his hands, cuts and scrapes across his body that hissed in quiet pain, some of his clothing was torn and he felt the ash and smoke stick to his skin and mix with the sweat that had slowly begun to build from the gentle fires in the background. 

He locked eyes with Mel. 

There were many things Viktor thought of Mel, one being that he didn't particularly like her, though he wouldn't deny she was smart, cunning, manipulative, easily controlled a room with practiced elegance and confidence, she was undeniably beautiful, even if she wasnt his type whatsoever, she was strong, sure of her actions and herself, brave, decisive. 

Not scared, never scared. 

But now, as Viktor looked at her, the two covered in soot and ash and chaos roared around them, she was nothing short of utterly terrified, safe to say Viktor was as well. 

He took in his surroundings, the council room was blown to smithereens, bodies everywhere, smoke and ash everywhere, runes dancing in the sky, which seemed incredibly out of place. 

Viktor looked up to see the Hexcore, in all its blue powerful glory, coursing with pure magic, blue tendrils latched onto councilors, one by one they began to breathe and the tendrils retreated back into the Hexcore. 

Runes danced around Viktors crippled leg, his head hurt, voices of the past echoed in his ears, voices of the now yelled and screamed, some called out his name, more people barged into the room of ash and chaos, some were familiar but Viktor couldnt tell because his stupid fucking mind wasnt focusing. 

Someone put a hand on his shoulder, it was unfamiliar, but grounding enough that he came back to his senses, the runes around his leg were gone and he felt…different. 

That strange unfamiliarity of the shimmer augmented limbs was gone, he felt his limbs were his again. 

He began to stand up, Mel steadying him, quickly realising that he could in fact stand on his own two legs with a slight confusion taking control over her fear. 

Viktor looked around, each councilor was accounted for, breathing, and had someone attending to them.

Bolbok

Salo

Hoskel

Shoola

Cassandra 

…

Where was Jayce?

Viktor looked behind him, under a few small pieces of rubble, perfect white coat torn, hair disheveled, ever smiling face slack.

Viktors heart stopped, he ran over to Jayce, collapsed at his side, pushing the rubble off, hand against his pulse point. 

Nothing. 

Someone screamed, maybe it was Viktor, between the shock and pain he couldn't tell, a blue tendril appeared from the Hexore and latched onto Jayce like something greedy, pushing power into Jayce so quickly Viktor saw his veins glow under his tanned skin. 

He heard yelling in the background, Mel, she sounded angry, footsteps behind him, arms wrapped around him, breaking his grip from Jayce, Viktor protested, he screamed, he clawed at whoever this person was, he was pulled up against a body, he felt something wet on the fabric that his face was pressed against, given the salty taste on his lips his guessed tears. 

When did he start crying?

This person, this familiar person was talking, telling him it was going to be ok, one hand in Viktor’s hair and the other on his back in what could easily be classified as a hug, Viktor was able to pull his face back to see officers fluttering over Jayce, wrapping wounds, starting IV lines, hooking him up to monitors. 

Viktor saw the heart rate bounce up and down on the small monitor, and he cried louder from relief. 

“He's going to be just fine” said the person holding him, the voice was familiar, slightly hoarse but not like a deep growl, the hands holding him were rough yet secure, once again this was familiar. 

Viktor painfully tore his eyes from Jayce and to the person holding him. 

Silco. 

—- 

There were a few things wrong with the reputation Silco had in the undercity. 

For one, he was not the man in control of the shimmer supply, not anymore. 

As of a couple hours ago, after Talis had asked for him to shut down the shimmer factories and hand in Jinx (Silco was less than eager to hand over his daughter) next thing he knows he’s gagged and tied to a chair, Jinx is waving a gun around while Violet and that enforcer girl were tied up as well. 

If you ask Silco, he’d say he wasn't panicking at that time, truthfully he was, his daughter was torn between two lives and was forcing Violet to choose which would reign supreme. 

Silco didn't want Vi to be a part of Jinx’s life, she left that child behind in the fire and ash after nothing more than an accident, a child trying to aid her family. 

As much as he wanted that, there was some stupid part deep in Silco that knew…Vi cared, she was worried for her younger sister and was struggling to understand whatever was going on in her head. 

Truthfully, Silco did not completely understand it either, he knew there were voices, all the time, sometimes they were louder, sometimes they were quieter, sometimes Jinx wasn't sure if they weren't real or not, sometimes she spoke back to them. 

The enforcer girl - what had Marcus called her, Kirramen? - She was absolutely petrified, Janna knows how she ended up here, what the hell had Jinx done. 

“Powder, please” Vi protested with her sister, fatal mistake, the continuous use of the name Powder, Silco had learnt that in the early days. 

Goddam he needed Vi to trust him, that would be difficult, he’d spent the last few days trying to kill her. 

He looked at Vi while Jinx was in the midst of battling the monsters of her mind, she wandered away, long enough for Silco to talk to Vi. If they couldn't find a way to work on equal grounding, this dinner was going to end in blood. 

“Violet” Silco whispered, ensuring Jinx wouldnt here. 

“What did you do to her?” Vi hissed. 

Oh. 

The shimmer…Vi was talking about the purple veins and pink eyes…and possibly other things, such as taking her in as a child and allowing Jinx to become the mercenary she is currently. 

Silco hesitated, Vi sighed. 

“Can you help her?” she asked, resigned, Silco nodded, he wasn't certain, but it was worth a shot. 

Vi sat back, not relaxed, but willing to let Silco take the reins. 

“Shut up!” Jinx cried out to the doll of Mylo, “We’re talking!”

“What's he saying?” Silco asked, softly, slowly, he can handle this, he’s done it before. 

“Doesn't matter” Jinx groaned, waving her pistol around, “It's…bothering you, I think it does matter”. 

“Just…stupid stuff” Jinx said, starting to move away from Vi and closer to Silco. 

“Such as?” He asked, “How-I- they keep saying that I’m messing up” She groaned, struggling to find the right words, “How I cant choose, because I tore this family up, and it's my fault, my fault, my fault ” Jinx repeated over and over. 

“You didn't tear apart anything” Silco assured, “Our family is…complex, it's not inherently anyone's fault that it is the way it is” he explained. 

“Powder or Jinx, they can't both exist” Jinx tried to explain, well…that is true…but…perhaps not the full truth. 

“Perhaps they can” Silco suggested, “Powder needs Jinx to survive, Jinx needs Powder to continue allowing the wonders of the world to be just that” he explained, Jinx looked to Silco. 

Silco looked to Vi. 

Back me up here. He seemed to ask with his eyes. Vi understood. 

“He’s right” Vi said, “No matter who you are, your my sister, nothing is going to change that” she explained. 

“We can be a family, we can figure it out” 

“You two don't like each other” Jinx motioned between Silco and Vi. 

“I'm a grown adult, I can tolerate her…if that's what you want” Silco explained, Jinx’s eyes flickered with hope. 

“I…I do want that” Jinx said with a soft smile. 

“Then it can be done” Silco assured, Jinx’s smile faded as her gaze went to Caitlyn- 

Where was Caitlyn? 

“Drop the gun” oh shit.

Her hair still damp, paint smeared on her face, machine gun in hand. 

Jinx turned to her, pistol in hand, ready to aim, ready to kill. 

“No!” Silco and Vi screamed at the same time. 

“Cait, shes my sister!” Vi tried, “She’s caused so much chaos, so much death, Vi, she kidnapped us! Shes too far gone” Caitlyn explained

Reasonable arguments, but also not helpful. 

“Jinx” Silco said, slowly, softly, be careful, he's walking in a minefield right now.  

“Drop the gun” He said, she turned enough for him to see one pink eye, “She- shes an enforcer- she…a piltie, you cant be-” 

“Jinx I know” Silco said, locking eyes with Vi again, panicking still, then to Caitlyn, also panicking.

“But look at her, really, look” Silco asked, Jinx looked up to Caitlyn’s eyes. 

“She’s scared” Silco explained, “Of me” Jinx laughed a little, “Oh what you’ll do” Silco corrected. 

“So is Vi” Silco added, Jinx looked to her sister, “So am I” Silco admitted. That had Jinx turn her whole body to face him, Caitlyn looked to Vi, some sort of silent communication was enough for Caitlyn to lower the machine gun. 

“I am scared that your going to do something that you cannot take back, something that wont end well for any of us” Silco explained, “This world is complex, we cannot simplify it, but we can find a way to navigate it…together” 

“You…you were gonna sell me out to piltover” Jinx said, “Jinx your my daughter, I would never forsake you” Silco explained, smiling softly. 

“We can figure this out, you, me…Vi” He said, looking over to Vi. she nodded. 

“We will find a way to make this all work, I wont let Piltover take you” Silco promised. 

And that was enough. 

Jinx put her pistol down on the table, took out a small knife and walked over to Vi. 

Oh shit maybe not. 

She walked past Caitlyn too where Vi was bound, raised the knife. Vi flinched- 

She cut through the ropes that were holding Vi, the former-inmate breathing heavily. 

Thank god. 

Jinx put a hand on her sister's shoulder.

“The Piltie” Jinx said softly Vi felt a pang of fear bounce in her heart, “I don't like her, but…I can tolerate” Jinx echoed Silco’s words from earlier.

“Just…don't leave me behind,” she added. Moving her hand from Vi’s shoulder, her sister stood up and wrapped her arms around Jinx. 

“Never again” Vi promised, she pulled back and Jinx turned to face Caitlyn.

“Don't make me regret this…and be nice to her” Jinx said sternly, Caitlyn nodded, Jinx moved past Vi and over to Silco to cut his bonds, he stood up the second the ropes were cut and wrapped his arms around her.

And he just held her, he didn't say anything, he just had one hand on her back and the other on her head, gently pressing her against his shoulder, it was weird because he wasn't usually the one to initiate hugs, it was usually Jinx in his space, so she stiffened at first, dropping the blade to the ground, then melted into it quickly and wrapped her arms around him. 

“I'm sorry” She muttered against his shoulder, “Don't be, you're perfect” He said, he didn't say it in a harsh tone, or in sarcasm, he just said it kindly, complete honesty, nothing that made Jinx second guess it or question the statement. 

She was perfect. 

Not Jinx

Not Powder. 

Her. 

For that short moment it was just her and Silco, like he’d always said, the two of them against the world, however…it was a short moment.

Clap. 

Clap. 

Clap. 

Loud claps with long gaps between them, there was a certain sense of snarkiness behind them, Jinx pulled back from Silco and noticed Caitlyn and Vi moving beside them. 

From the darkness, a man with a tiny mad glint in his eyes, green clothing covered his pale skin and scarred mouth, half a scorched face. 

Singed. The Mad Doctor. 

“A touching moment, truly” he said, “What do you want?” Silco asked, the soft and kind man from two seconds ago was gone, back to his usual dangerous not-to-be-fucked-with persona. 

“I simply wanted to offer my congratulations, you pulled your little family back together, granted you are still missing a few” He pointed out, his gaze flickered to the doll of Mylo and Claggor. Silco’s gaze sharpened, he moved his hand slightly to cover Jinx, stepping forward, practically using himself as a shield. 

“Tell me, when was the last time you spoke with your son?” Singed said devilishly. 

The fucking bastard. 

“Back off” Vi interrupted, stepping forward as well, Caitlyn behind her, horribly confused. 

“Simple questions, I am a man of science after all, I seek answers” 

Caitlyn could've sworn she’d heard that before. 

“Truely, it is good to see that you are well Jinx, you ran off from my lab to quickly, I wasn't even certain that you could handle the effects, though it seems you children have a habit of proving me wrong” Singed explained, moving forwards, looking at the table of a crazed tea party.

Finally his eye caught the large gun, Jinx’s modified Hextech weapon, he got a dangerous look in his eyes, but it was quickly shoved down and he returned to his monologue of questions. 

“You're still yet to answer” He said to Silco, he stepped closer, and this time the crime lord pushed Jinx behind him, Vi did the same for Caitlyn, though she was still a step behind Silco. 

“When did you last see him? Was it that bridge? After the explosion? Have you congratulated him on how far he’s come?” Singed asked, “It's of no concern to you” Silco snarled. 

Singed only hummed, then looked to Vi and Caitlyn. 

“We haven't met.” He said simply. 

“No, we haven't, but I've decided I don't like you.” Vi said simply, Singed laughed lightly. 

“You take on after your brother” Singed said simply, Vi tensed. 

Caitlyn only seemed confused, Who was the ‘brother’ they were talking about? Was it one of these dolls? Or…someone else. 

“As much as I would love to chat, I have work to do, taking control of my produce, conquering Piltover, tests to run and results are needed” He explained, “Oh I don't think so” Silco said, taking Jinx’s abandoned pistol, aiming it at Singed’s head. 

“Why, aren't you eager” he pointed out, everything moved too damn fast. 

Singed pulled out a gas can and pulled the pin, the four began to gag and cough, their vision becoming blurry from tears, they didnt stop, fists and bullets went flying, none of them hitting their target. 

The Mad Doctor punched and kicked and used a knife to stab Caitlyn in her previous leg wound, he slashed Vi across the back causing her to stumble, he was too quick, how was he so quick? He maneuvered and missed each of Silco’s shots. 

Jinx launched herself at his back, punching at his face, he grabbed her and flipped the girl over her shoulder, she landed on her back, grabbed his leg and forcing him to the ground, she got on top of him about to punch, he smirked as a giant shimmer beast crashed into Jinx, knocking her off the scientist. 

“Powder!” Vi called out, rushing to help her sister through the smoke, Caitlyn grunted and pulled herself up to her feet, able to gain access to her sniper, by which point it was too late, Singed had grabbed the launcher and was running up old rusty railing, giving him perfect aim too- 

The Council Building.  

“Silco!” Caitlyn called out, knowing she couldn't get there in time, he turned to face her and she threw her sniper at him, he caught it and ran after Singed, positioned the rifle in his arms, he had the shot, he just registered Jinx calling out to him as the shimmer beast scratched at his back, leaving deep bloodied gashes against his skin and tearing his clothes, he screamed out in pain and missed the shot by a millimeter, Singed fired the gun. 

Everything started moving in slow motion, Caitlyn latched onto Vi as she screamed watching the bomb fly to the council building, Jinx pulling herself up from the ground as the shimmer beast grabbed Singed, who jumped on its back, dropping the weapon and running off, Silco shot after him to no avail. 

The bomb hit the council building in a blue explosion and erupted into a fiery haze, Silco went running after Singed, someone wrapped a hand around his wrist, it was Jinx, her pink eyes worried as she nodded over to Caitlyn and Vi. Caitlyn’s eyes welling with tears. 

Where had he heard the name before?

Caitlyn Kirramen, the sheriff had said. 

Councilor Kirramen. 

Oh fuck. 

The rest was a blur, rushing to the council building, pushing past the crowds and past enforcers with the aid of Caitlyn's status, racing up the stairs alongside red soldiers, coughing and spluttering through the growing ash and smoke in the air, crawling over debris and finally ino that damn council building. 

Absolute chaos. 

Silco was familiar with chaos, chaos had been a staple of his life, he had led charges of chaos against enforcers and now controlled the chaos of the Undercity, but none of that could have prepared him for this. 

Enforcers and red soldiers on each councilor, some conscious, some not, a giant blue thing floating in the air, symbols floating around it (hold on, were those runes?) and strange blue tendrils wrapped around some of the councilors, Silco heard someone screaming, his eyes darted around until- 

Oh dear Janna.  

“Viktor!” Silco called out, the man was crying over the body of none other than Jayce Talis, Silco took one step towards his son. 

“Hands up!” Someone yelled, Silco turned, enforcers barged in with their guns raised, Vi didn't hesitate to put her hands up, neither did Jinx, and for whatever reason Silco too. 

“Put your guns down!” Someone called out from across the room, a councilor clearly, standing behind a much taller and slightly menacing woman. White dress covered in soot and torn, perfectly woven hair falling apart, yet somehow she remained mostly unscathed by the desimating bomb. 

“But councilor they-” One enforcer tried to argue, her gaze hardened. 

“I dont give a fuck , they are not your priority, the council is! Get the wounded out of here” She ordered, fire raging through her voice, “Vi, get Caitlyn out of here” She said - oh so they’ve met, delightful - Vi gently pulled Caitlyn away from her mother as enforcers put her on a stretcher to receive medical attention downstairs, Jinx trailed after them, enforcers glaring her down. 

Mel turned to Silco, then to Viktor, she seemed scarce and worried, and she was doing her damn best to hide it. 

“Can you-” She didn't even finish her sentence before Silco was rushing over to Viktor’s side, silent tears falling from the youngers face, Silco apologized to deaf ears and pried Viktor from Jayce’s body, he screamed, begged, it took everything in Silco to keep his grip, some deep buried paternal instinct had him pull Viktor against him and hide his face from the gruesome scene. 

— 

Once they’d pulled the councilors from the rubble and made it down to the dust covered streets of Piltover, an army of paramedics waiting for the injured to treat and then carted off to the Hospital, Viktor went to follow after Jayce, Vi followed after Caitlyn and her mother. 

Silco stayed back - for reasons that escaped him - to help any other wounded out of the rubble, he’d done it a hundred times before in the mines, Jinx helped, shimmer strength used to help lift rubble and stone from injured. Enforcers and guards did not question his help. 

Eventually they made it to Piltover general hospital. 

The scratches on his back were of little concern to him, though a large concern to the Doctor’s at Piltover General…for whatever reason, Silco was so out of it in his own head he didn't notice getting dragged away, pulling his coat and shirt off, letting some man - Tobais, Caitlyn’s father, wasn't it her that got all pissy about Silco’s injuries? Who knows - clean up the wound, apply gauze, the second it was over he threw his clothes back on, back to the chaos of the hospital. Found Jinx, who led him to the waiting room with the others. 

And now?

Pacing. 

Silco wasn't one to pace, ask anyone who knows him, he has four methods on handling his emotions. 

Smoke. 

Drink.

Kill someone. 

Stare at a wall. With a cigarette…and or a drink. 

Pacing has never once been one of them.

Yet here he was, in that damn waiting room. Too bright, in his opinion. The sterile smell was giving him a headache. Jinx and Vi sat next to each other; beside Vi was Caitlyn, then Caitlyn’s father. The other doctors had told him to go sit with his daughter while he waited for word on his wife’s condition. Next to him sat some woman the nurses had called “Miss Talis” so presumably Jayce’s mother.

On the row of chairs opposite sat Councilor Medarda. She was the one who had yelled at the enforcers earlier. To her left was the Noxian queen, and to her right, Councilor Shoola - who, despite having half her face blown off, had insisted on sitting beside her friend while they waited.

And in the middle of the two rows was Silco.

Pacing. 

For whatever reason he couldnt sit still, maybe it was the nerves still wearing off from that fucked up tea party and the Doctor, maybe it was the adrenaline rush from being in that council room, and later on the ground helping to get civilians out, why did he do that again? 

It could also be knowledge that his entire empire was currently crumbling and falling into the hands of a mad doctor, why, why did he trust the mad doctor? Would trust even be the right word for it? 

Most likely it was the anxiety regarding Viktor, his son, his goddamn son, apparently his health had been seriously declining in the last few months, Silco didn't know this, the two hadn't been in contact in six years, he knew Viktor was sick, that much was evident as he was growing up. 

Medarda had explained he was essentially on death’s doorstep, and the Hexcore blasted him with its weird tendrils. 

According to Vi, some random doctor appeared to take Viktor away despite his protests, at which point they deemed it fitting to sedate him - the fucking lunatics - and dragged him away for testing, and unfortunately because the constitution of Piltover was extremely prejudice, Viktor was at the mercy of the doctors. 

So yes, Silco was scared, dare he say terrified, because his son has been drugged up after finding out that the mad man who tormented him as a child blew up the council and killed Jayce. 

Silco has no idea what kind of mental state he’s in, if he's safe, if he’s alright, if he’s still dying despite the efforts of the Hexcore, was his leg healed? He was walking just fine earlier, would it last? Would Jayce be alright? What would happen to Viktor if Jayce wasn't alright? 

“Silco!” A voice invaded his thoughts, how rude, it was Vi, “We can hear you thinking, you need to chill out” she said. 

Silco ran a hand over his face, why the fuck could he hear his heart beat? 

Silco heard footsteps behind him, a doctor in a white cloak, one he recognised to be one of the lunatics that drugged his son - Silco will find out where he lives and change the locks on his door just to inconvenience the bastard, Vander always called Silco a petty bitch and Silco never denied it - he cleared his throat. 

“Thank you for waiting” He looked up from his chart and met Silco’s deadly glare, he gulped, “Councilor’s Kirramen, Salo and Hoskel are all out of surgery, currently recovering, Councilor Talis is still receiving testing and Councilor Bolbok is being reconstructed by specialists” 

“Reconstructed?” Jinx whispered to Vi, who only shrugged in response. 

“What about Viktor?” Medarda asked, the doctor blinked, “Viktor? Viktor, Viktor, Viktor” He read through his chart, “Last name?”. 

“He doesn't have one” Medarda answered, evidently annoyed, “Oh! You mean the trencher boy” The doctor pointed out. 

Silco would've punched this guy in the face, but Medarda stepped in, “The who?” She asked, cocking her head to the side. 

“The…trencher” The doctor repeated, “Try again” Medarda rolled her eyes. 

“...Viktor” The doctor said, “It would do you well to remember the name of one of Piltover’s most influential scientists since its founding, now how is he?” 

“I’m presuming your family” The doctor said to Silco, Jinx and Vi, “Closest thing to it” Vi shrugged, the group began walking. 

“Viktor, is he ok?” Vi asked.

“You see that's the curiosity, I’ve been reviewing the tren-” He paused, catching Mel’s deadly glare, “Viktor’s file, ehm, and…well…to my understanding he was suffering from terminal illness and was showing no signs of improvement-” 

“Get to the point, is he dead or not?” Shoola demanded, clearly sick of this little doctor.

“He's completely fine, I mean…more than fine, healthy even!” 

The group stopped. 

“Excuse me?” Medarda asked, “His blood tests have all come back better than ever, x rays show the disfigurement in his spine and right leg has cleared up, his blood pressure his at an average level, his oxygen intake is normal, his heart health is more than ideal; if this were any other patient the only thing I would be concerned for would be how underweight he is” The doctor explained. 

“How is that even possible, the man was dying three hours ago” Shoola said, “Could it have been the Hexcore?” Mel suggested. 

“I have no idea, it's an absolute miracle.” 

“Well that's good news then, Vik aint dying anymore” Jinx said, “Precisely what I thought he would say” The doctor said. 

“Was he not happy?” Caitlyn asked, “I wouldn't know, he hasn't said a word since testing”. 

—- 

Vi imagined that if you had spent the last few months, years, decades even, knowing your time was running short and you wouldn't live as long as others, only to then be told you were now expected to make it well past 30. You would be beaming with joy and excitement, celebrating with family, so on so forth. 

Not Viktor. 

Vi remembered being a kid, and Viktor telling her that his leg didn't work the way her’s did, but it was ok, because he was smart, when he got accepted into the Academy, he told her that maybe topside would have the medicine to help, and if they didn't, he would make it himself. 

He would make medicine to heal the Undercity, that's what he would tell her when she was a kid, he would clear the air and waters with science, and Janna would come back and dance in the rivers, she believed him. 

Now he sat upright in a hospital bed, IV in one arm, oxygen being fed in through his nose, half his face buried in the arms that wrapped over top his knees, he’d curled in on himself, something she knew he did as a child, blurry memories of those times, curling up in corners and tinkering, or when he slept he would make himself as small as possible. 

Old habits die hard. 

He didn't talk, which was weird because Vi always remembered him talking about anything, especially if you asked him, science, math, the freaking wooden floors, he just stared at the wall.

She watched through the window, the doctor's words had drowned out, something about ‘mentally distant’ and ‘possibly catatonic, we’re not sure what brought this on’. She didn't know what those words meant, but she thinks that Viktor might be…really super sad. 

Vi doesn't know much about Jayce Talis, only the little that Caitlyn had told her when the two made the connection between Jayce and Viktor, story for another day, she’d told Vi how close they both were, how quickly they connected when they started hextech, how happy Jayce seemed when he talked about Viktor, how even when in the depths of his bad health, Viktor still managed a smile for Jayce. 

Vi knows Viktor, she knows he’s got a big heart behind little skin and brittle bones, she knows how much he just cares, she can imagine it probably took a while for Viktor to completely open up to Jayce. 

Vi had never once seen Viktor cry, never once known the horrors of his life, but watching him cry over Jayce’s body, seeing Silco drag him away while the doctor’s worked, watching him argue in the hospital that no, he couldn't leave Jayce behind, only to then get sedated. 

Caitlyn was the one that held Vi back while doctors dragged Viktor down their endless white corridors. 

Vi remembered a time before the bridge fight, when Silco was still in their lives, how close he was to Viktor, how he was the one who listened to his science ramblings and helped him build things, he was the one that convinced Viktor to eat and sleep, when Viktor talked about Silco when he left, he had this sad smile on his face. 

How quickly Silco sprinted to Viktor’s side to comfort him in that council building, Vi knew, as much as she may have hated Silco, he loved Viktor as though he was his own. 

“What do we do?” Medarda asked, Caitlyn had taken Vi’s hand in hers, and Vi looked to Caitlyn first, then Silco. 

Silco, who would never admit it but he cared, Silco, who Vi had hardly any memories of before his time as a crime lord, only his kind smiles and fun person, Silco, who saw Viktor as his son and Jinx as his daughter, Silco who had lost time and time again, did that give him the right to become a psychopath? Absolutely not, but the world didn't leave him with much of a choice. 

She still hates his evil, shimmer-stained guts, but she loves her brother more. 

“He needs his dad” Vi said simply to Silco, who shook his head, “We haven't spoken in years” he said, ah, so he doesn't deny it.

“You seemed to have no problem pulling him from Jayce’s body,” Shoola said. 

“That was different” Silco shot back defensively, “The last thing Viktor needs added to his guilty consciousness is the image of his dead friend” he explained. 

“Ok I’m gonna put this in simple terms for you” Vi said sternly “Viktor’s life has fallen apart more times then any single person should experience, Janna knows what going through his head right now, but you and I both know hes getting sucked into his own head, finding a way to blame himself, someones gotta pull him out, Jayce isnt here, Viktor has no one else, he needs his fucking dad , so get in there a be a parent” She explained. 

For a moment she thought he’d say no, but then Silco turned on his heels and walked straight into that blinding white room, it was almost like he was waiting for her damn blessing or some stupid shit like that. 

Silco said his name softly, crime lord businessman long forgotten, Vi is fairly certain that person was left behind at the fucking tea party, that was the first time Viktor looked away from the wall. 

There was no anger, no hatred, no confusion or fright, just sadness. 

Complete and utter defeat in Viktor’s eyes, Viktor shuffled to the side of the bed, patting the now free space for Silco to come and sit, the man didn't hesitate and wrapped Viktor in his arms. 

Vi couldn't tell if Viktor was crying, she couldn't tell if he was speaking, but his shoulder laxed a little and he leant into Silco’s touch, so she could relax a little. 

That's when Jinx spoke up, “Do you remember when we were kids, and Viktor would tell us the stories of Janna?” She asked her sister, the politicians looked at the blue haired girl, Vi reminded herself it was a miracle they had not arrested her, probably Cait’s doing. 

Vi smiled at the faint memories of a young Powder pleading with a teenage Viktor for the story. 

“Yeah” she confessed, noticing the way Jinx’s lips curled upwards as well. 

“Remember what he’d say?” Jinx questioned. 

“I'm afraid you're going to have to be a bit more specific, tell me, what is the story?” Vi quoted, “You could've at least made an effort with the accent there” Jinx said, Vi laughed, “God no, I just…he would always say it with a smile on his face.” 

“That sparkle in his eye, he used to love doing it, at least I hope he loved it, I loved it” Jinx explained. Vi nodded along. 

“I remember when he went up to the academy for the first time, I was like… three, maybe four, but I was old enough to know the adults were scared. It was good, ya know, he was getting out, doing some good with that big ol brain of his, but I remember Vander and mum were scared of how topside would see him” Vi explained. 

“Do you remember what he told us, when we were all a bit older and questioning him?” Jinx asked the final question, Vi nodded, “The Piltover skies are clear, you can see the stars from the streets, that means Janna can keep an eye on him, look out for him, keep him safe when we’re not there” she recalled the old memory. 

Jinx looked out the window to the starry sky, “I know miracles aren't real” Jinx said, “But…maybe Viktor was right, Janna looked out for him when we couldn't, maybe she sent Jayce” she explained, a slight hopefulness in her voice. 

Vi wrapped an arm around her sister as they both looked to the stars, “Maybe she did” Vi said, “It's not insane, right?” Jinx asked, “To think that there's some goddess up there, watching over and stuff?” Vi shook her head. 

“No, no it's not insane, it's just… a comfort” She explained, “To believe, or to know, that someone is helping out the people you love when you can't”. 

—-

‘Where’s Jayce’ was the first thing Viktor said after another ten minutes of silence. 

The rest was a blur, walking through the halls, same torn and scorched clothing, guided to where Jayce and the other councilors were.  

Viktor vaguely registered with the council talking with doctors.  

He was too focused on watching the rise and fall of Jayce’s chest, bandages wrapped over limbs, wires poking into him that looked so wrong, the faint beeping of the heart monitor, the warmth and sunshine that radiated from him usually was long gone, a shadow, a coldness only shrouded around Viktor now. 

He felt so alone, Jayce was right there, right in front of him, but he wasn't smiling, or laughing, or chewing the side of his lip when figuring out a particularly difficult equation, he wasn't looking at Viktor with that absolute love and adoration, Viktor hovered a hand over Jayce’s. 

Cold. 

Not like the ones that wrapped around him and kept him safe, but not cold like the hands that hurt him as a child, nor like the hands that held him against metal tables as strange things flowed into his blood. 

It was more like the hands of his father when Viktor awoke to a corpse next to him, the hands that haunted him in his nightmares where he would wake in a cold sweat and gasping breaths. 

The first time he’d ever woken from a nightmare after he and Jayce had started dating. When Viktor told him how his father died in his sleep and now he had this irrational fear of people dying with their eyes closed, and Jayce wrapped his arms around Viktor, his warmth strong enough to push back those fears in his mind, pressing Viktor’s head against his chest so he could hear his heartbeat. 

It was comforting, so damn comforting, Viktor didn't know that's what he needed, but Jayce did. 

If Viktor could hear it, then it wouldn't go away, he knew logically that wasn't true, but it was good enough to quell his anxiety. 

I know you don't sleep much, but if you ever think that something will happen to me, just lay right here, I won't be angry about it, whatever you need to calm that wonderful head of yours. 

That's what Jayce said that night. 

It took a couple weeks for Viktor to take him up on it, but one night it just got too much, and Viktor laid his head against Jayce’s chest, the sound of the heartbeat lulled him to sleep until he awoke hours later with a hand in his hair, and light kisses pressed to his head. 

Viktor had never felt so damn loved. 

He heard someone call his name, his head felt like cotton, nothing else but the fear Jayce’s heart would just stop randomly with no other warning, he curled up at Jayce’s side, head pressed against his chest. 

Thump. Thump. Thump. 

He didn't hear anything, he vaguely saw the light fade outside then rise again, he was in some strange state between consciousness and sleep, when the sun blared through the windows Viktor snapped out his whatever state his mind had dropped into. 

Jayce is still comatosed. 

His legs walked on their own accord, away from the blinding lights and sanitation, outside, Viktor registered tears, maybe he wiped them with his hands, flashing cameras and questions from paparazzi, he walked right through them like he was a ghost, and found himself in the lab. 

Staring at the Hexcore. 

—- 

Cassandra remembered the first time she heard about Viktor.

Seventeen years ago, Sheriff Grayson - or at the time Officer Grayson - was talking with Cassandra, catching up over dinner, they were old school friends, they did this every now and then. 

Grayson was telling her about this group of people from the Undercity, a radical group that sought change in their home. Two of these men ran a bar, where they would spread the words of revolution and rebellion against Piltover, seeking independence and allyship from the city of progress. 

The sheriff spoke about a child, 11 years old, a limp leg, yet a brilliant mind. 

The two men briefly explained to Grayson that the boy was the son of some old friends. 

Old dead friends, the two had taken it upon themselves to care for him. 

Grayson spoke about this mysterious child a lot, eventually she got a name; Viktor, she told Cassandra how there was a look in his eyes, the look of a shell shocked soldier, the kind of look no child should ever bare, yet there was also some small glint, a spark, of curiosity, wonder, discovery. 

He’s hurt, it's clear as day, he's lost people and clearly people have hurt him, he's not the most trusting, but there's something about him Cas, I can't quite describe it, not like a childish wonder, but a urge to seek discovery, to change the world, I tell you now, that's exactly what he’s going to do. 

How do you know? Cassandra had asked 

I doubt he’ll let anyone or anything get in his way, he’s passionate, persevering, he is not one to bow down and listen. 

He’ll change the world, whether they want him to or not. 

Two years later, Grayson told her this child was accepted into the academy by Heimerdinger himself, seven years later he was made assistant to the dean, a year after that he made magic through science. 

And that was when Cassandra finally met him, and she understood what her late friend had said. 

A sliver of loss and pain in his eyes, evidently such pain is something he’s learnt to shove down and hide, and he did it well, for Cassandra saw the eyes of a determined man, who would stop at nothing to change the world, even when he tethering at the edge of his grave, Viktor worked and spoke with determination like no other, he was young, only 22 at the time Hextech started, Cassandra wondered how much he had seen, the way he viewed the world, perhaps she should have asked. 

Now, that man leant against his desk, glaring at the Hexcore, that determination long gone, sorrow and sadness left in its wake, it had only been a day since the explosion, Viktor had spent the night at Jayce’s room, Cassandra saw the paparazzi pictures in the news. 

SECOND HALF OF HEXTECH DISTRAUGHT AFTER BOMBING AT COUNCIL

JAYCE TALIS STILL IN HOSPITAL, HOW IS HIS PARTNER HANDLING THIS? 

UNDERGROUND  COUNTERPART OF HEXTECH SEEN CRYING AFTER LEAVING THE HOSPITAL

CO-FOUNDER OF HEXTECH LEFT IN TEARS AFTER TALIS HOSPITALIZATION. 

Not even to mention what these articles wrote. 

Co-founder of hextech seen leaving the hospital the morning following the bomb at the council, sources say the Zaunite who was once riddled with terminal illness and unable to move without a crutch has supposedly been cured through experimentation at Hextech, its believed this same technology saved the lives of the councilors. 

Sources suggest the council's survival is thanks to new technology from Hextech created by Jayce Talis’s Zaunite partner, no comment at this time. 

Then more pictures they'd obtained…somehow. 

Hextech partner, seen crying over Jayce’s dead body, a man identified to be Silco - Chem lord and proclaimed leader of the Undercity - dragged him away from Talis’ body, sources suggest Silco to be of paternal relation to Viktor. 

Which lead to even more titles 

SHOULD WE HAVE EVER TRUSTED A TRENCHER WITH OUR PROGRESS? 

VIKTOR; JUST A MAN, OR HEIR TO THE UNDERGROUND’S LEADERSHIP

WHO THE F*CK EVEN IS VIKTOR? 

And those articles were no better, but that was beside the point, the rest of the council quietly walked into the lab, also joined by the Zaunites and Caitlyn. 

Viktor was wearing a loose red jumper with a collar too wide (that jumper seemed awfully familiar) black slacks and shoes, his eyes were red rimmed from tears, the blue glow of the runic creation was bouncing from his pale skin, it thrummed with power. 

He didn't seem to be thinking, Cassandra knew the look of a man lost in thought, this was the look of a man lost in his mind.

“Gods, I thought you said he was cured” Salo said to Mel, “Physically he's completely fine, but emotionally and mentally” She trailed off. 

“So what do we do?” Shoola asked, “I have my men searching every end of Zaun, but it will take time, especially with the enforcers everywhere and the doctor being a…” Silco explained, trailing off attempting to find the right words.

“I was leaning closer to alchemical bottom-feeder with a God complex but I suppose that works,” Silco agreed.

“I’m working on pulling the enforcers out, but it’s going to take time. I’m doing everything I can,” Caitlyn said, trying to keep her tone steady.

“Understandable,” Silco replied. “Your people are crawling over every inch of the Undercity, and no matter how careful we are, unrest is inevitable.”

He leaned forward slightly, voice low. “We’re losing ground. The shimmer factories are being taken one by one. We need more hands before it all collapses.”

“I might know a guy” Vi said, “Matter of fact, you know the guy” She turned to Jinx, the blue haired girl seemed perplexed for a moment…until. 

“Ekko? Are you serious?” Jinx asked, “He's got a whole army of eyes on hoverboards, and he's been trying to stop the shimmer factories for years, win-win situation!” Vi said. 

“Didn't he nearly kill you?” Silco asked Jinx, “No, that was actually my bombs, he got close though!” she smiled proudly. 

“You barely survived” Silco scoffed, “Yes, yes, thank you for your valiant efforts to save my sorry ass, but unfortunately, sister dearest is correct” Jinx said. 

“I'll find him, see if I can get him to agree” Vi said, “I’m sorry, are we just going to let a gang of ruffians run around looking for this guy?” Salo asked. 

“Your right, we don't want the enforcers in our city, but we have to work together” Jinx said with a sly smile, the council just collectively sighed. 

“Well second pressing matter, Hextech” Salo whispered, motioning over to Viktor, still staring at the Hexcore. 

“Until Jayce is conscious and cognitive, Viktor’s incharge” Mel explained, “Oh great! So we're hunting down a psychotic doctor, partnering with the chem lord of the Undercity, and Piltover's greatest technology is in the hand of a trencher! Not just any trencher, a mentally defective one! That's just amazing” Salo explained. 

“Salo, if you're going to insult me do it somewhere else” Viktor called out, everyone’s necks practically snapped turning to face him, it was the first time he’d spoken since the meeting.

“Seriously, I don't have it in me to listen to your insults, and prejudice, and overall bitchy attitude, please, do it somewhere else” He said, running a hand over his face and neck. 

He moved from the desk and grabbed a small green potted plant, placing it next to the Hexcore, the blue tendrils latched onto the plants stem, thrumming power until it grew taller and larger, once the tendrils left. 

Nothing. 

Nothing happened. 

Viktor groaned, and slammed his hand on the table “Fuck!” He yelled out.

“Isn't that…good?” Vi asked tentatively. 

“Oh its great” Viktor said, clearly not excited, enthused, even happy about the fact, “Its marvellous, spectacular, fantastic, fucking fantastic!” He exclaimed, he turned away from the desk and started pacing in small steps, back and forth. 

“It can heal injuries, cure terminal illness, save the dead, exactly what it was meant to do, we stand here now, some of us were meant to be dead, yet we are fine, all thanks to this” He pointed to the Hexcore, “This absolutely impossible creation that harbours the power of infinity”. 

“But” Mel asked, “But I don't know how” Viktor sighed, putting both hands back on the table where the creation sat. 

“Last week, that wasn't happening” Viktor motioned to the thriving plant, then to another one in the corner of the room, tall, black, droopy, dead. 

“That was” he said. 

“Yesterday I was dying, I couldn't move without a crutch, I needed those damn braces” He said, motioning to the metal contraptions that had once been a part of his body, now laid on the desk, you could see the wear in the metals, were bolts had been tightened the indent in the leather straps from where they were fastened. 

“I couldn't breathe” He continued, “Now I can walk freely on my own two legs, the disease that fused with my blood has ceased to exist, I have never been healthier!” He called out into the room. 

“Viktor” Silco said, “It doesn't make any sense! The doctors called it a miracle, miracles don't exist in medicine!” Viktor continued to explain, “I was dead, in that room, Jayce was dead, half of us were dead, and this thing, changed the course of nature, changed what was supposed to happen.” 

“You sound upset about that” Salo scoffed, “Dude” Jinx snarled at him, “I'm not upset” Viktor laughed, almost manically.  

“I'm alive, I'm happy about that, I'm going to live well past thirty, this is good, it's amazing” He said, with no real joy behind the statement. 

“But” Silco questioned, “But how come I'm the one that's fine and he's in a coma?” Viktor asked. 

Silence. 

“It's a simple question” He said, walking over to a clean blackboard with a piece of chalk, and started drawing “two men caught in an explosion, one who's lived in perfect health his whole life, works in the forge, eats and sleeps well, worst he's ever had is an ear infection” Viktor explained, drawing a figure that resembled Jayce, “the other grew up in poverty, not enough nutritions to help growth, born with a defective leg and spent the first 13 years of his life breathing toxic air, hes diagnosed with a terminal illness and has months to live” He explained, drawing a second figure. 

The council's eyes widened. 

“Now they're in this great big room when a psychotic doctor, who sends a giant bomb flying their way” He draws something that resembles a large bomb, and an arrow into a large circle that the two figures were caught in. 

“Rubble, ash, fire, smoke, impact, the two people die ” He says, “bomb plus room plus people equals dead!” He drew a giant X over the people, then rubbed it out. Turning to the council to continue his lecture.

“However, an unexpected variable known as ‘magic’ has now entered the equation, and brings all the dead back to life, one would presume the cripple would need extra recovery time, but no! Hes completely fucking fine, while the man of excellent health is in a coma!” He explained erratically with wild hand gestures. 

“So now there are more questions than answers, why is the Hexcore working now ? Was there some kind of alignment in the stars? some sort of specific runic configuration at the time? was mercury in fucking retrograde ?  or maybe it was something else, maybe it was Janna pulling all the strings?” He continued, running a hand through his hair and taking a deep breath to calm himself. 

“But you're right Salo, at least I’m alive ,” Viktor said, with a forced smile. 

“Now get ready to make it everyone else’s problem” Jinx said with a smile, Viktor looked at her confused.  

“Your right, you survived, all that shit and you came out on top, if you wanna believe it was Janna then be my guest, but your the one that's standing here with ‘ the manifestation of infinity ’, never once have I known you to shy away from an opportunity to cause chaos, your angry, and upset, and pissed, ya got every right to be, so make that everyone else's problem” She said, walking up to Viktor until they were face to face. 

“I’m sick of surviving” Viktor said simply, “I’m tired of fighting, the council, my illness, the doctor, I'm done with all of it” He said, turning back to the Hexcore and putting his hands against the table again. 

“I don't want to cause chaos, I just want my life to work out in my favour for once ” Viktor explained. 

“My head is in a thousand different places. It always has been. I can't organize my own thoughts some days.” Viktor’s voice wavered, and he pressed his fingers to his temples. “Jayce was the one person who made everything make sense. Now he’s not here and everything’s - everything’s falling apart.” He bowed his head, voice thinning into a whisper. “And I’m just... here. Expected to keep everything going. Like I didn’t just lose the only person who ever looked at me and saw something more than what I was built to be.”

A silence settled over the room—heavy, respectful, and painful.

Vi cleared her throat gently, then spoke up, soft but decisive. “Cait... why don’t you and I go find Ekko, see if we can get him to listen?” She gave Caitlyn a small nod, then turned to Jinx and Silco. “You two should head back to the other Chem Barons. Explain the situation to them before they start making up their own version of it.”

Her tone wasn’t unkind—it was grounding, practical, the way she offered Viktor a moment to breathe without making him feel weak for needing it.

“We may need a representative from Piltover” Silco said, “I’ll go” Mel said, Silco seemed tentative to trust her. 

Viktor spoke up, “Mel was the first to vote for the peace treaty” he said, “She's good at negotiation and isn't war hungry, she's probably the best option to go with you” He explained half heartedly.

The Zaunites and Mel left the room, “Well I don't want to hang in this depression room any longer, I have work to do” Salo said, leaving, probably a good thing, leaving Councilors Hoskel, Shoola, Bolbok and Cassandra herself. 

“I’ll catch up with you three later” Cassandra said, the other three councilors needed no further push to leave. 

Cassandra walked up beside Viktor. 

“You know how Jayce always hated the cold?” She asked, as Viktor was sifting through papers of data and equations, “Each time winter came around, I would buy him a new jumper” she explained, Viktor stopped sifting through the papers. 

“I was unaware he was loaning them out to his boyfriend” She said with a kind smile, and Viktor froze, turned to face Cassandra, then turned away, as though ashamed. 

“How long?” Viktor asked, “I suspected the two of you held feelings for eachother for a while, to be entirely honest I thought the two of you were far too scared to say anything” Cassandra explained, Viktor huffed a laugh. 

“How long?” She repeated his earlier question, he straightened up, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning his hip against the counter while facing her, “Seven months” he smiled. 

“Why not tell anyone? Knowing Jayce it would-” 

“Eat him from the inside out” Viktor finished her sentence, she nodded, “We have an image and reputation to uphold, for the sake of Hextech, for Jayce's sake, what would people say if their beloved golden boy was dating a…a trencher” He didn't dare meet her in the eyes, shame hanging over him like a cloud. 

“I'm sorry, I understand you're his patron, and I’m definitely not what you had in mind for a suitable partner but-” Gods above he was apologising. 

“Viktor” Cassandra interrupted, putting a hand on his shoulder, “Don't you dare ever apologise for being in love” she said firmly. 

“If the people of Piltover can't accept that you are the man that won Jayce’s heart, then that is their issue” She explained. 

“Nobody can know” he said simply, “Your secret is safe with me, I promise” Cassandra assured, moving her hand away from his shoulder, he bowed his head down. 

“I don't know what to do” Viktor confessed, “I believe your…sister, is somewhat in the truth” Cassandra said, “Your a brilliant man Viktor, and Piltover is yet to recognize that, make them recognize it, lead Hextech in Jayce’s absence, prove that Hextech is two minds not just one, help the people of your home”.

“The council won't approve” Viktor said, “In time, but for now, you have the complete support of House Kirramen” Viktor’s head flashed up. 

“Are you- what ?” He asked, “Hextech may not have always had our support, but once you had it, I’ve never been given a reason to take it” she explained, “And I hate to be the bearer of the sorry truth, but if you are to take on the role of leader of Hextech, you are right, Piltovian society is out against you, your going too needed all the patronage and support you can get” She explained. 

“I suspected there was something political in your motives” Viktor sighed, “There is also the fact that Jayce would be enraged at me if I was to pull my support from you now” Cassandra said, Viktor laughed. 

“He is incredibly protective of you” she said, “I’ve noticed” he smiled, Cassandra turned to leave. 

“Mrs Kirramen” Viktor called out, she turned her head just as she was about to walk out the door. 

“Vi has a heart of pure gold” he started, “she's always been fiercely protective, and loving, and trusting, I assure you, your daughter is in excellent hands” Viktor explained. 

Cassandra felt a weight lift from her shoulders, “Thank you, Viktor”. 

Chapter Text

“So our version of the council is a little more fucked up then yours, but hey, atleast we’re trying to actually govern a nation rather then sending cops down” Jinx explained to Mel as they walked through the streets, “Finn is a bit of an asshole, but usually really easy to persuade.” Jinx explained. 

“Through fear” Silco rolled his one good eye, “The man has attempted to overthrow me quite a few times, though he is - unfortunately - important” Silco explained

Jinx continued, “Smeech is a complete bitch, stay at a physical distance of at least five feet” She warned. 

“Renni is a little less bitchy, but overall she's alright, a bit quick to violence, Chross runs half the gangs down here, ya dont wanna get on his bad side, not to say he has a good side either, Margot runs the prostitute gig, all the clubs and whores go to her, she's good friends with Finn, she's probably the nicest of em, overall their not the most trusting bunch” She explained. 

“But they're the best we have,” Silco added, “good hearted leaders are hard to come by in these parts”.

Eventually the three found themselves in an alleyway, “What about Ekko? Is he not ‘good hearted’” Mel asked, “Boy saviour? He leads the firelights, a little rebel group” Jinx said. 

“And that rebel group has consistently interfered with my shimmer trades and other operations the chem lords run” Silco reminded her, “He's always been a trouble maker” Jinx shrugged. 

“You two know each other?” Mel asked, “Yeah…a while ago” Jinx said solemnly, “Grew up together, we haven't exactly been…friendly for a while” Jinx explained. 

A few minutes later, the tell-tale sound of hoverboards rang over top, several people on board floated above in the air, two blocked off one alleyway, Caitlyn and Vi appeared at the other end with Ekko in tow.

Ekko took off his hood and mask, glaring at Silco and Jinx. 

“You brought back up,” Silco noted. 
“You didn't” Ekko pointed out, Silco shook his head. 
Ekko looked to Vi, “I told you what this was about, didn't I?” She asked, Ekko sighed, holding his hand up, twirling his wrist, the other firelights flew away. 

“I better not regret doing that” Ekko muttered, “You won't” Vi assured. 

Ekko crossed his arms over his chest, and looked between Silco and Jinx. 
“From what I hear” he started, “The mad doc is running around the city, taking control of your territory” He said, pointing to Silco. 

“Then you’ve heard correctly” Silco said simply, “Your organization has a knack for causing disturbances in shimmer production, I've already shut down half though I suspect the doctor will have them up and running in no time” he explained. 

“What I'm hearing is that you need my help to take down the crazy man” Ekko said, “What happens after that? You reopen the shimmer trades, back to the same old shit?” He asked. 

“Ideally no, we shut down shimmer for good” Silco said, Ekko looked puzzled, “I'm not sure what is to come once we locate the doctor and put a stop to his plans, but i know that if we don't find some common ground, he will destroy the both of us” He explained, walking up towards Ekko. 

“You want a truce?” Ekko asked, “If you're willing, we’re going to discuss the situation with the chem barons as well, I think it would be beneficial for you to join our cohort” Silco suggested. 
“As a chem lord?” Ekko asked, curious, slightly offended, but mainly curious. 

“Even if only to stand as a representative of your organization” Silco explained.

Ekko sighed, “I've been told that we’re not alone in this, the council?” Ekko asked, Silco moved to the side, “Councilor Medarda, she’s here to represent Piltover in this matter” She waved politely, Ekko huffed.  

“Whatever gets shimmer off the streets” He said, holding out his hand, Silco shook it. 
“You two ought to come as well,” Silco said to Vi and Caitlyn, “Perhaps a secondary representative…and one that adorns the blue, could show that something is changing,” Silco explained, Caitlyn and Vi nodded. 

Through the winding streets the team eventually found themselves among the chem barons, who all sat at the table, another woman stood off to the side, “There you are” she groaned, only Silco spotted the slight relief. 

“So what's this about?” One man asked, with a golden jaw and greasy black hair, slightly irritated, “Finn, please, let's not have a repeat of the last meeting” Silco said, Finn retreated on himself slightly and sat down. 

“Where's Chross?” Silco asked after a moment, as he walked over to his spot at the head of the table, Jinx trailing behind him. 
“Allied with the Doctor” One woman said, pale skin and short almost white hair with green tips, black lips and strong black eyeliner. 
“For Janna’s sake” Silco said, rolling his one good eye, “You said that Chross runs half the gangs down here” Mel whispered to Jinx.

“Yeah, his thugs are gonna be a real pain in the ass now” Jinx murmured back.  

“And problematic, everythings been going to shit over the last 12 hours, where the hell have you been?!” Finn asked, “Long story short, the doctor bombed the council building” Silco said. 

“That was him?!” A yordle with metal limbs asked, probably Smeech.

“Yes, the councilors all made it out alive, and are willing to help us hunt the Doctor down and put an end to shimmer productions” Silco explained. 

“Oh wonderful the council remains strong as ever” a woman with wires into her nose asked. 
“Not quite, how familiar are you all with Jayce Talis?” Silco asked. 

“Golden boy? What did he do?” Smeech asked. 

“He…won't be present for a while” Silco explained vaguely, clearly his explanation did not satisfy the Barons, but they decided not to pester. 

“How do you know the council is willing to make an alliance?” Finn asked, “Because I've spoken to them, and we have a representative here,” Silco said, looking up to Mel. 

“This is Mel Medarda, she's a councilor of Piltover, prior to the bombing it is to my understanding the council voted unanimously on a peace treaty and the independence of Zaun” Silco explained, “And she was the first to vote for it” he smiled. 

“And she's stunning, Hello gorgeous~” The pale woman said, leaning her head on one hand, “Not the time, Margot” Silco lightly scolded, Margot rolled her eyes, playful smile still tugging at her lips.  
“Caitlyn Kiramman, she's an enforcer, and you're all aware of Ekko and his group of firelights” Silco introduced. 

“Oh so we’re allying with insurgents now?” Finn asked, “Yes,” Silco said simply, “And who made that call?” Finn persisted, oh he really was a handful. 

“Do you have an opinion about it?” Silco asked. 
“I’m just saying, Piltover has fucked us over longer then any of us have been alive, now they want our help to stop the mad doctor from blowing them up again?” Finn asked. 

“Precisely, yes” Mel said, the chem barons all turned to her, “Quite simply the attack has frightened the council, while a few are hesitant to this alliance we believe its within everyone's best interests for now and in the long run” She explained. 

“And if you were looking at this alliance not as a politician?” Margot asked, some sort of wild glint in her eyes, “I would say it's long overdue, Piltover’s control is fading and Zaun is in desperate need of reprimand and help” Mel explained, walking up to the end of the table. 

“We claim to be the city of progress yet we leave those across the river behind, its…pathetic” She explained, “I have often found myself disregarding Zaun, looking beyond the horizon for the benefit of myself and Piltover, I understand I was selfish and foolish, if we are to progress and change that fundamental thinking needs to stop, I believe Zaun can progress further then anyone believes, but that can't happen until someone steps up to make the first move” She explained. 

The chem barrons sat in silence for a moment, Margot smiled, “I like her” she said. 

“So what's Topside willing to do?” Finn asked, “As of right now the enforcers are working on their removal from the city, if you want their aid in your hunt for the doctor that can easily be arranged” Caitlyn explained. 

“We will begin drafting an agreement between the two cities, from there it's going to be a matter of time, discussions, negotiations, nothing is set in stone just yet” Mel explained. 

“As of right now we have two priorities” Silco said, “A truce with Piltover, and capture Singed, he’s a threat to all of us, now he has half the undercity gangs at his beck and call, we cannot allow this issue to erupt any further” he explained. 

“So what? We’re just going to drop everything and run around the city chasing this weasel?” Renni asked.
“No, that will make us come across as weak, it’ll make us vulnerable” Margot explained, “We need to continue as regular, but any spare resources need to be dedicated to hunting him down” she said. 

“Precisely” Silco affirmed. 
“And I hate to say it, really, I hate to say it, but I think we may need some help from the blue demons” Margot nodded her head towards Caitlyn, “we’ll start an investigation immediately” , Caitlyn said. 

“I’ll see what I can find from old records” Sevika said, “Well let's stop wasting time, we’ll reconvene next week” Silco said, the chem lords filed out of the building, Margot the only one to smile at Mel. 

Sevika walked over to Jinx and Silco. 

“If you're here to argue against this plan, Sevika, I suggest you take your thoughts elsewhere” Silco said, “I'm not” Sevika said, SIlco looked up. 

“The golden boy, isn't he friends with Viktor? Dria and Dimitri’s kid?” Sevika asked, Silco nodded, “How’s he doing?” she asked, Jinx and Silco looked between each other. 
“He’s been better” Silco said plainly, Sevika nodded, 

Sevika rubbed the back of her neck. “He was always too smart for his own good. Didn’t know how to slow down.”

“He still doesn’t,” Silco said. 

Jinx leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “He looks tired. Worse than usual.”

Sevika grunted. “Doesn’t surprise me. Piltover’s got a way of grinding people down.”

Silco’s jaw twitched. “And he let it. For years.”

“Yeah,” Sevika said, voice sharp for a second—then quieter, “but he survived it.”

They sat in silence for a beat. The room around them buzzed with faint machinery and far-off footsteps.

They sat in silence for a beat. The room around them buzzed with faint machinery and the occasional echo of footsteps in the corridor.

Then Mel spoke, voice soft but curious. “You knew Viktor?”

Sevika nodded. “Knew his parents. Good people. I used to watch out for him.”

Caitlyn raised an eyebrow. “You babysat him?”

Sevika snorted. “No. I guarded him. With no pay.”

Silco gave her a look. “Shut up. You loved it.”

Sevika grumbled under her breath, but a faint smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Yeah... he was a cute kid. Fun. Always asking questions. Curious about everything. World never bored him.”

“He’s still like that,” Caitlyn said, a bit of warmth in her voice. “Finds wonder in every corner.”

Sevika let out a low hum. “Then maybe Piltover hasn’t broken him completely. That’s something.”

Sevika didn’t say anything else. She just gave a short nod and pushed off the wall, her heavy boots thudding softly as she walked away.

Silco watched her go, then stood. He stepped around the table and placed a hand gently on Mel’s shoulder.

She didn’t look up, her shoulder tensed at the contact. 

“You did well,” he said quietly. Mel hummed. 
Silco moved his hands into his pockets, “Viktor…he's strong, Mel, stronger than you know, He’ll be ok” He assured 

Mel let out a slow breath. “You don’t know that.”

“No,” he admitted. “But I need to believe it.”

Mel turned to face the chembaron, he smiled, “You ought to head back topside, we’ll handle things from here” he added. 

“I’ll let you know when the next meeting is” Mel said, Silco nodded, Vi, Caitlyn and Mel all walked out, leaving Jinx and Silco. 

Jinx shuffled on her feet for a moment, Silco wrapped an arm around her shoulders, “Its happening” Jinx said after a moment, “Peace, finally, we’re gonna get it” She smiled up at him. 

And for a moment, Silco saw Felicia smiling at him.

—- 

Viktor found himself back in the ruins of the council building, the ash and smoke was long gone, though the rubble still remained, the rounded cog tables and grand chairs blown and decimated in some spots, a giant gaping hole looking over the city, across the river and to Zaun. 

Ignoring the tremor in his legs and the pounding of his heart, Viktor walked down the stairs to the centre of the room, shadows lurked against the walls, the walls marked by fire and soot no one could clean off, it would need a fresh coat of paint, the larger pieces of rubble had yet to be removed, but most had been swept to the side in the shadows, out of sight out of mind. 

They hadn't gotten around to cleaning the blood from the floor, Viktor stepped over the spot where he…died. Literally walking over his own grave, he felt a chill travel up his spine. 

Runes engraved into the concrete, the doing of the Hexcore no doubt, looking over toward the rubble, Viktor spotted his crutch. 

Swept aside, under a few pieces of concrete, he was easily able to maneuver them, picking up his crutch, which he discovered the attachment to convert the aid from a cane to a crutch had been forced out of the slot it fitted into. 

He remembered how seven years ago, when Jayce had first built him that cane, you broke your old one to help Hextech, the least I can do is build you another one. 

Viktor didn't mention how it had the traces of House Talis colours, and he didn't mention how perfect the measurements were. 

Two years later, it became evident that a cane would no longer do, Jayce revealed he had thought about this at the time of the original construction, and had forged an attachment that would turn it into a crutch. 

Viktor didn't mention how horrible he felt, his body was falling apart and failing him, but Jayce could tell. 

I won't pretend to understand V, I know I can never understand, but I hope you can understand that I care about you, this won't fix your leg or your back, I just hope it will make it a bit easier to get through the day. 

Viktor didn't mention how seeing Jayce each day made it easier, how knowing there was the faintest trace of House Talis on his aids meant he carried Jayce with him everywhere he went, if Jayce wasn't by his side physically, his generosity and kindness was. 

Viktor had spent his life relying on something else to hold him up, now it was…unnecessary. 
How cruel was that? for Jayce’s work to be unnecessary, for the last 29 years of his life spent suffering in pain, praying for a cure or a change and when it finally comes, he loses his support, the crutch, which was the first thing people noticed about him, would probably never be used again, those braces would rust away, the care and love with which they were built totally disregarded because Viktor was cured. 

Can he call it cured? To be cured means to completely relieve one of symptoms, he wouldn't classify himself as cured, physically functional maybe, but not cured. 

What was he meant to do with it? Keep it as a token, a reminder of all he overcame, burn it? No, he couldn't burn something Jayce had carefully fretted over, something that reminded him of Jayce, the only physical tether he had left aside from the barely living body lying in a cold, sterile hospital. 

He skimmed a hand over the metal work, cold, as usual, but also…not. 
Almost like it had died, which is strange, as inanimate objects cant die, though that part of Viktor's life, spent in constant worry and analyzing every minute pain in his body, was over. 

That was dead. 

Viktor began to step back, he heard a clunk under his shoe, he moved his foot. 

The rune bracelet Jayce wore everywhere, Viktor never once saw him take it off, Jayce always said it protected him, a gift from the mage that saved him all those years ago. 

Maybe Jayce was right, there was some sort of protective magic in it that kept Jayce safe, maybe that's why he wasn't waking up, this stone wasn't there protecting him. 

Maybe. 

He knelt down to pick it up, when he rose again, he brushed off the residual dirt and ash, the leather wasn't even torn, it remained in perfect condition, Viktor ran his thumb over the crystal, much like the way Jayce did when he was nervous. 

This is the reason I started Hextech, I know it sounds stupid but- Jayce had explained once. 

It's not stupid, Viktor had cut him off, he remembered the warm way Jayce had smiled that day, it's a reminder that you survived, Viktor had gone on to explain, a token for you to remind yourself that the impossible does exist, it saved your life and you want to share that with others, it carries value and purpose for you, and if its valuable and means something to you, then it simply can't be stupid. 

That conversation was a few months into their partnership, it was the first time Viktor had been openly soft around Jayce. 

Those days were not over yet, because Jayce would wake up, he had to wake up, they still had so much to do. 
Now Viktor had time, time to act on his dreams, to make a change, time no longer spent wasting away waiting for test results, staring down a vial of pills. 

He wasn't cured, to be cured is false, there is no such thing as a cure, only eased suffering. 
Nonetheless, he could walk, he could breathe, he had the means to do something, take this dream of theirs and the power it comes with, do the things no other Piltovian would dare, no other scientist would dare, no longer did he have the cane and braces holding him back. 

He had a dream, a dream to save those deemed unsavable, to clear the air and give Zaun the stars that were banished from their skies 200 years ago, to give those who had nothing something to aspire to. 

A dangerous power, certainly, he would need help. 

—-

After her visit to the Undercity, Mel had a lot to do, beginning the drafts of contracts that would hopefully stand for hundreds of years to come, ideally she would be working through these with Silco, though he was busy hunting the doctor. 

“Mel” A soft voice broke through, Elora, her oldest, dearest and closest friend, after all these years, it was easy to communicate through eyes. 

Mel nodded, Elora walked out from the office for a split second before returning with Viktor, Mel noticed how the familiar click of his old cane against the floor was absent, making him quiet as a ghost. 

“Hope I’m not interrupting” He said, Mel shook her head, Viktor walked up beside her desk. 
“Who would've thought peace treaties needed so much paperwork” Viktor sighed, looking through the forms. 

“Oh, this is wrong, there's 32 levels, not 12” he added, pointing to a section in her draft.

Mel frowned, pulling out the files on the Undercity’s geographical structure.
“This only lists 12,” she said.

“A few levels shut down every few years, people moving, the mines shut down, pollution, disease, a few other reasons” Viktor explained casually.

“So these levels are just... abandoned?”

“More or less.”

Mel gave him a questioning look, and Viktor continued.

“Well, Level 29 was sealed off about forty years ago. Some kind of disease spread too fast, killing people within hours. To stop it, they blocked the entire level off. Some say there are still... sick people—or zombies—wandering around down there.” He moved on before she could respond.
“Levels 26 and 27, those were mining zones. Collapsed, killed a couple hundred people. No jobs meant people had to move up to higher levels, air got more toxic, its uninhabitable now” 

“Level 14? The fissure gases got so bad you couldn’t even breathe. That one was shut down about fifteen years ago.”

By the time Viktor finished, Mel’s eyes were wide.

“The fact you didn’t know any of this is... worrying,” Viktor said, not unkindly.

“It only makes me more concerned with how much I don’t know,” Mel admitted.

“If I am to help build this peace treaty without even knowing the people I'm trying to save, what good is this?” She gestured to the papers. 
“The fact you're willing to listen is already a good starting point” Viktor said simply. 

“I imagine you didn't come here to discuss politics” Mel said, “Eh, yes and no” Viktor confessed, almost sheepishly, as if he was scared, these last 24 hours had done just that, shaken Viktor to his utter core. 

“I've come across a slight problem” He explained, “Given that in Jayce’s absence I am to do…everything, that includes his seat on the council” He said. 
“I thought Jayce resigned from the council” Mel said, “Ah, that's the thing with Jayce, always get ahead of himself, only verbally had he resigned, no paperwork or forms, as far as legalities are concerned, Jayce is still a counselor” He explained. 

“Which means that position has gone to you” Mel said, Viktor sighed, leaning back against the wooden table. 

“I have options, I can deny the position, push through the paperwork, and the position will cease to exist” He said, “Or…you can accept it” Mel said, “Therefore I become the representative of Hextech on the council as well as for Piltover, yet I will also be a voice for Zaun” He said. 

“Which some are going to…have opinions over” Viktor said, “However, there is a second issue” he continued, “Hextech… a manifestation of infinity” He explained. 

“A true marvel” Mel said, “Precisely why no one man should ever hold all that power in their hands” He explained, “It's too great, to raw, to…greedy, one person cannot bear it all, which I why I'm asking you” He turned to face her. 

“Me? Are there not far better options, no offence, Viktor, but I'm no scientist” She explained, “No, your not, your a politician, and if I am to take the spot on the council, I need someone to back me, someone to stand by my side when it gets messy, sure, it means you’ll be in the lab more often, you’ll be seeing a lot more of me, but I can't bear the weight of Hextech alone, it will crush me” He explained. 

“It has to be you, you're the only one who understands it, the only one I can really trust, the only one who really understands the gravity of it…Jayce would trust you” He explained. 

That last note struck something in Mel’s heart, because Viktor was right, Jayce trusted Mel…he always had. 

“If you want help trying to figure out the undercity, you're going to need someone you can get to, quickly, you need a bridge, Hextech needs to be the bridge, I need you to help me support it” Viktor said, Mel put a hand over his. 

She noticed that on his right wrist sat a bracelet, Jayce bracelet which held that precious blue jewel, the straps tightened to fit Viktor’s far smaller wrist. 

“Where do we start?” She asked with a smile.
“I have an idea” He responded, a flicker of determination behind his eyes.

Chapter Text

In about two hours Mel has busied herself with gathering all the councilors, noble folk, high ranking officers to meet in the destroyed chambers of the Council. 

And somehow Ambessa had weasled her way into attending. Along with a hoard of Noxian soldiers. 

For the sake of alliance, Ambessa had explained to Mel, your nation is falling apart, they need someone strong to guide them. 

Mel knew exactly what her mother meant, your people are scared and are looking for someone to load the gun.  

“Thank you all for coming today” Mel began in the centre of the room, the old table and chairs had been removed, too destroyed to have any legitimate or functional use. The hole in the wall was in the works of being refilled, but they would have to make do, with the nobles crowding around the centre where the table once sat, enforcers in the corners, Noxians to the right, it felt almost intimidating…almost, Mel was really good at her job. 

“I understand many of us are frightened, scared, confused, we seek justice for what's happened and we all fear for what is to come” She predicted her voice across the room, hooking onto each and every person. 

“I'm also sure you're eager to hear what the fate of Hextech is to be” that got people murmuring, “I cannot answer that question, The Head of Hextech can” She said, turning towards the doors, which opened and Viktor walked in, black slacks and button down with a deep red waistcoat, gold detailing on the sleeve, no tie and the first few buttons on his shirt undone. 

People began yelling in outrage, a few slurs were thrown around, Viktor walked into the centre beside Mel. 

“You said there’d be an outrage” Mel said, “I also recall saying I’d handle it” A gunshot rang out in the room, at the doors stood Jinx, painted gun in the air, smoke flowing from the nozzle and a playful smile planted on her face. 

Silence. 

“Thank you” Viktor said, Jinx lowered her gun, put it back in its holster, and leant against the wall. Some nobles looked between each other, but before they could start arguing, Viktor began talking. 

“I understand many of you are upset, angry, perhaps even outraged that I am the one standing before you, representing the reputation of Hextech” Viktor said, “I understand many of you harbour no respect for me, nor do you feel inclined to listen to me, believe me when I say I do not want to be here, addressing all of you rich nobles that look down upon me” He walked out around the centre of the room, turning his body to address as many people at a time. 

Viktor believed in many things, honesty being one of them, he may as well acknowledge his own lack of respect for the majority of people in that room. At least they can all stand on common ground then; mutual distaste. 

He continued “However, as a grown adult, I can withstand your upturned noses for all of ten minutes, and I’m sure all you can too” He said, the room was silent, Viktor took that as a yes. 

“The man that attacked this council building, that sent the bomb causing ruin and havoc, in Zaun he is known as the Mad Doctor or Singed, however you all know him as Doctor Corin Reveck” people began murmuring again, they soon died down. 

“This man is also responsible for the creation, and now production and distribution, of this” He reached into his pocket pulling out a vial of purple, shining liquid. 

“You all know the tales of shimmer, whether it be from the street stories of the deadly purple that infects the underground, or through your illegal trade of it to other nations” The room went tense. 

“I also feel inclined to add that trade tends to be transported through my Hexgates, though we’ll get back to that” He explained. 

“What about Silco?” One nobleman spoke up, “Didn't he control the shimmer trade?”

“As of yesterday evening, Singed allied with an organization of gangs in Zaun, they have been taking over the factories one by one, Silco is no longer in charge of the shimmer trade” Viktor explained. 

“It's important that I mention, before the attack, Silco had shut down 75% of his factories and recalled his shipments, blocking off access to shimmer, he was working on shutting it down for good, in exchange for Zaun’s independence” Viktor explained, clasping the vial in his palm, he turned to face the council. 

Mel nodded. 

“Before the bomb hit, the council agreed to peace negotiations between Piltover and Zaun, with the hopeful goal of granting Zaun independence” Viktor explained, and the nobles started shouting again. 

Jinx fired her gun again, smirking at Viktor. 

“Silco is now working alongside Enforcers, and a group of rebels called the Firelights, whose leader is actually here with us now” Viktor said, Ekko raised his hand from where he too leant against the doorway a few feet away from Jinx. Some nobles looked between each other as if to say when did he get here? 

“The Firelights have been working on shutting down shimmer trades for a few years now, so before you all start to panic; we are working on locating The Doctor, arresting him, and stopping the production of shimmer,” Viktor explained. 

“My current priority however, is Hextech, my company I have dedicated the last seven years of my life too, the technology we have developed which saved my life, the lives of the council, the reason that I currently stand before you all with no supports needed” Viktor said gesturing to his legs. 

“I assure you, between dealing with my partner’s absence, some family issues , aiding my home city, pleasing the council, I am working on figuring out how and why the technology used yesterday acted the way it did that day, and how it can be used to help all” Viktor continued. 

“Now we’ve gotten that out of the way” He said quieter, throwing the vial of shimmer to Ekko, who caught it with ease. 

“I have come to inform you of my intentions for Hextech in Jayce’s absence, and to ask something of you all” Viktor explained. 

“Hextech is not a power to be carried alone, I have asked Councilor Medarda to stand by my side, taking a more prominent role in Hextech then just an investor, she has agreed to offer whatever aid she can” He explained to turning to Mel, “And I'm incredibly grateful for it” he smiled, she smiled back.

“I am going to be taking Jayce’s position on the council, ah !” He put his hands out as nobles started opening their mouths, “Before you all start yelling profanities, can I finish?” he asked, the room went nervously quiet. 

“This means I will be the representative for Hextech, and also the voice for Zaun, to advocate for my people and the freedom I hope to see in my lifetime, until a more permanent representative can be placed” He said, “What I ask for, is your patience” Viktor explained, the nobles and councilors seemed taken aback. 

“Patience with myself and Hextech, with the Council who are working hard to keep Piltover safe, with the leaders of Zaun that are trying to govern a shattered nation, I know many of you are unhappy about this, not only because you simply lack patience, but mainly because your scared” He explained carefully, nobles looked between each other, knowing glances.

“Your scared of the future, because what I am suggesting is a drastic change, something Piltover has never seen before, change is terrifying yes, but this city knows that change is progress , what I’m asking goes against everything you’ve been raised on, taught with, I know its a lot, I know many of you don't want to agree” He looked to Jinx and Ekko. 

“But there are people that need you to at least pretend as though you're happy with this” He explained, “The issues of the Undercity expand further than shimmer, there are children dying of hunger, disease, gang wars, they work in the mines rather than getting educated in schools. Adults that are unjustly thrown in prisons, killed by enforcers, also dying of illness and hunger, at the mercy of the crime lords who have power. My city needs change, it needs to progress beyond what Piltover paints it to be” Ekko and Jinx smiled at their brother, their brilliant brother, who always promised if he found himself in Piltover that he would fight for them to have a chance. 

“This city claims to be of progress, you believe progress only lies across the horizon, I’m asking you to look across the river” He pointed to the gaping hole in the building that looked out across Piltover and to Zaun, all looking with him. 

“Zaun is more than you think it is, we have potential, you know it because I stand before you, I want my city to see the sunlight” He explained, the nobles turned back to him. 

“I want children to play in the rivers like old stories say they used to, I want to see the stars from the lanes, watch life flourish in the lanes, breathe the air without knowing it's slowly killing every living thing” He explained. 

“I want to help this city make progress, and that starts by addressing the problems across the river you have ignored for far too long, I will push for it, I will fight for it, you can complain and moan and groan about it all you want, the fact is so long as you do that, you are a part of the issue” Viktor explained, anger crossing his face. 

“Many in this room use the Hexgates - my Hexgates - for less favourable means of trade” He explained, the room got tense . 

“If you think I didn't know, then you are sorely mistaken, so I want you to bear in mind everything I just said about progress and moving forward, and how I practically begged for your help” He rolled his eyes. 

“Because if Hextech is to move forward, then we can't have these sorts of trades occurring, so, those of you how are abusing your magical contract privileges to do stupid, very unlawful things, your contracts are terminated, effective immediately” The room exploded into shouts and protests, Viktor rolled his eyes and groaned. 

As the nobles all yelled and argued, Viktor walked over to the council, who were all standing in a line, followed by Jinx and Ekko. 

“Well that's one way to set the dogs on ya” Jinx joked, “Bold move” Salo groaned, “Don't get smart Councilor, you know that includes your contract” Viktor pointed out, the councilors all glared at Salo. 

“I- huh, what?” Salo sputtered, “Your factories in Zaun utilized child labour for your clothing manufacturing, and you sneak drugs into your woven fabrics” Ekko said blatantly. 

Salo looked to the Firelight leader in shock, “Sure as hell wasn't the enforcers stopping you” Ekko said with a grin, Jinx’s jaw dropped. 

“You were stopping rich pilties from doing even more illegal shit?” She asked, Ekko shrugged, “Wednesdays get boring.” 

The nobles continued to yell and scream. 

“Do you want me to…” Jinx made a shooting motion with her hand, Viktor nodded, Jinx pulled out her gun, and set off another shot. Everyone went quiet. 

“Evidently” Viktor started with a sigh, turning around to face the nobles, “You all have something to say about me having an issue with your illegal trades, I am more than happy to have that conversation, because I will then be directing you to Officer Kiramman and her colleagues” He pointed to Caitlyn, who stood alongside a few other enforcers. 

“They will be more than happy to discuss your needs” The nobles all hummed in agreement, “In an interrogation cell” Viktor added after a moment, confusion. 

“I’d recommend having your lawyer on speed dial” He added with a smile. 

“Will this not impact Hextechs funds?” One Nobleman asked, Viktor laughed, “Absolutely not, the population of those who manipulate my technology for illegal purposes is a minority in comparison to customers that use the Hexgates for their intended, legal , purposes” Viktor explained. 

“Any further questions?” Viktor asked, with that the reporters pushed forward, flashing cameras and yelling over each other. 

“For fucks sake” Viktor murmured quietly, looking to Jinx. She didn't even need to fire her gun, just reach for it, the reporters quieted. 

“Oh look, they're trainable” Jinx pointed out, Ekko struggled to stifle a laugh. 

Viktor pointed to one reporter, “Regarding your personal health, you mentioned earlier that thanks to the Hexcore you are now able to walk without aids, what else has been cured?” She asked. 

“I can breath, I can walk, I’m no longer in excruciating pain, as far as I’m concerned, the Hexcore has cured me of all physical ailments and there's no sign that my health will degrade again in future” Viktor explained. 

“Who trained him for the media?” Salo asked, “he's just good at answering questions without sounding like an idiot,” Mel pointed out. 

Another reporter spoke up; “Is it true that Silco is your family?” he asked, “Long story short; it's complicated, but…he is family” Viktor explained… nervously, Jinx noticed. 

“And what of your birth parents”. 

“No comment” Viktor said far too quickly , the next reporter spoke up, “Given your deep ties to Zaun, how do you plan to balance Piltover’s interests with your personal origins?” He asked. 

“I hope to do all I can to continue benefiting Piltover, with the hope that in return the council will help me to aid Zaun in all possible ways” Viktor explained. 

“Do you think the council will help you?” The reporter added, “I would hope so or we’re going to have some issues” Viktor said. 

Another reporter “Some say Hextech has become too dangerous - should it be regulated more strictly?”

“Hextech has always been approached with every element of safety we can possibly think of, obviously the magic is dangerous, the Hexcore is dangerous, I will be doing everything I can to ensure it brings no harm to anyone, the academy has outlined their expectations, I intend to continue following them” Viktor answered. 

“How do you respond to those who believe a Zaunite should not be leading Piltover’s most valuable industry?” Another asked, “If you don't think I can do it then you’ll need to ensure you have the proper qualifications so you can take over” Viktor explained. 

“That being?” 

“Degrees in varying topics such as mechanics and engineering, physics, arcane rune studies, advanced mathematics, biochemical engineering, at least seven years of experience working directly alongside Jayce Talis or myself to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the technology and runic language we have created, the ability to pull all nighters for days on end, it's also advised that your friendly with Councilor Medarda” Viktor listed. 

“Is this based on personal experience?” the reporter added, “Yes, you” Viktor said, pointing to the next reporter. 

“Are you concerned that Zaun and Piltover working together against a mutual threat could fracture the already fragile peace?” She asked, “I believe it will actually be incredibly beneficial to our hope of a permanent alliance” Viktor said, “We will be able to understand each other more thoroughly, in times of fear and threat people are naturally drawn together, ultimately we will be forced to trust each other, I hope no one intends on manipulating that”.

And the cycle continued. 

“Some claim Doctor Reveck - or as you know him, Singed -  was acting alone, others suspect deeper Zaunite involvement. Can you guarantee Zaun was not complicit in the attack?” 

Viktor looked to Jinx, “I built it” She confessed, “I stole the gem, I built the bomb, I didn't want to use it on anyone, I don't really know what I was planning with it, but it sure as hell wasn't for Doctor freaky face to bomb the council” She said. 

“Mel Medarda’s mother is a renowned Noxian strategist. Given the current tensions, should Piltover be wary of outside influence?” 

Viktor looked to Mel, he didn't miss the way her shoulders tensed and her eyes flicked over to where her mother stood for a split second, “I am certainly conscious of my mothers possible ulterior motives for Hextech, I intend to prevent her from getting her hands on it and influencing Piltover” She explained.

“You were once Jayce’s assistant, now you’ve taken his seat. Do you see this as poetic justice?” Another asked, Viktor rolled his eyes, “I was never Jayce’s assistant, we have always been partners, I don't see any poetic justice, I see this as doing what is necessary to ensure the survival of Hextech, Zaun and Piltover”. 

“Silco is known for manipulation. How much influence does he really have over you?” Janna above these reporters were getting rude and annoying. 

“None, as I haven't spoken to him in years, he has no control over my actions or Hextech, however he is the best thing Zaun has in terms of a leader, so when it comes to matters of Zaun I will be sure to seek his advice, no other reason” Viktor explained sternly. 

“With Jayce in a coma, Mel at your side, and the city’s future in your hands—how long until you declare yourself Piltover’s true leader?” Another asked, sweet Janna above , they really wanted Viktor to be the evil dictator. 

“I'm a scientist, not a dictator” Viktor answered simply. 

“Zaun’s air could be purified overnight with your technology, yet Piltover refuses. Will you betray your home for Piltover’s interests?” 

Don't swear, don't swear, do not swear. 

“I have no intentions of betraying anyone, I value trust more than many would presume, I want to give Zaun clear air as soon as possible, should the council continue to deny, I am more than happy to take ulterior motives” Viktor explained. 

“So you’d betray the council?” 

“I built the Hexgates which have brought far too much money into Piltover, money that I have never even seen a single penny of, if I needed to say…shut down the Hexgates in order to get my city something as simple as air , then I wouldn't hesitate, but I wouldn't call it a betrayal” Viktor explained. 

“What would you call it?” 

Viktor’s gaze was steady, unwavering. “I would call it... a correction.” 

He let the weight of his words settle before continuing. “A city that prides itself on progress should not deny survival to those beneath it. If Piltover will not allow Hextech to serve its true purpose, then perhaps it is time Zaun stopped paying the price for their greed.”

“You were once a crippled scientist at the mercy of Piltover’s elites. Now you control its future. Do you intend to make them kneel as they once made you?” Another one asked, Viktor sighed. 

Viktor brought one hand to rub at his temples, “Do you all want me to be the villain in your story here? I don't intend on revenge, revenge is pointless, a never ending cycle of returning the bloodshed, once you go down that road there is no way to turn back, I am not going to control Piltover or its elites, I am more than happy to continue reminding you all of everything I have done, and that I didn't have to take this route” He explained. 

“I didn't have to go down this road of trying to become the bridge these two cities desperately need, I could've gone straight to Zaun and used Hextech in ways you all fear, but I won't, because it's pointless and not what I have spent the last seven years working towards” He gave that reporter no time to add onto his question. 

“If Piltover turned against you - if they branded you a traitor - would you still fight for peace? Or would you finally fight for war?”

“I fight for neither.” he said simply

He steps forward, stray rubble shuffling under his feet. “I fight for a future where Zaun need not beg. Where progress is not a privilege of the rich. Where people do not have to die waiting for breathable air.”

His eyes flicker, “Call it peace, call it war. It makes no difference. I will fight for what is owed.”

“One more question” The three words no reporter ever wants to hear. 

“Piltover calls you a scientist. Zaun calls you a revolutionary. Which are you?”

Viktor exhaled sharply, “I have dedicated my life to science and discovery, though I will disregard my heritage in revolution” 

The reporters started yelling again, Jinx reached for her gun. 

Silence. Jinx couldn't help but smile at the obedience portrayed by the Piltover media.  

Viktor parted the sea of reporters, they snapped pictures of his downright determined glare, Jinx snarled at one of them who tried to ask her a question. 

“Jinx” Ekko whispered in her ear, grabbing her arm, she turned her head to face him, and groaned, pulling her arm from his grasp. 

“Your no fun” She complained, Ekko couldn't help but laugh lightly as they both followed after Viktor, the large double doors closed behind them, the reporters turned to the council, Viktor groaned and dropped his shoulders. 

“Well you absolutely nailed that!” Jinx beamed, Viktor put a hand on the back of his neck, pressing into the vertebrae bones there. 

“You handled those judgmental assholes like a pro” She complimented, "There's a reason I always left Jayce to do that, I hate speeches” Viktor explained. 

“Something tells me that's not gonna be the last Piltover hears of your wisdom” Ekko beamed, Viktor rolled his eyes at his brother's shenanigans. 

—-

Mel admired Viktor for his work with the reporters, they are judgemental and needy little pests, though he was able to maintain his temper, answer questions honestly, Mel truly believes this is the right choice, good things will come from this change in the council. 

However it meant she was now left to the nest of vipers that kindly call themselves those who provide the truth to the people. 

“Is Viktor your ally, your equal, or simply the most useful man in Piltover?” One asked

“He is all three. That is what makes him irreplaceable.” Mel said simply, “Viktor has always been an incomprehensible value to Hextech, he’s right, it's time Piltover acknowledges that.” 

—-

Jinx and Ekko sat next to the computer with the live feed of reporters and their questioning of councilor Medarda. 

“What do you think?” Ekko asked Jinx, “She's cute, though I’ve heard she’s some kind of former Noxian Princess-” 

“Not…ugh” Ekko groaned, “Do you think she's good news, or should we be…wary?” Ekko questioned. 

—- 

“You are known for guiding powerful men toward greatness. Is Viktor just another project of yours?”

“Viktor does not need guidance—he needs a city that listens.” She answered, “Viktor’s requests for change have long fallen on deaf ears, myself - regrettably - included, I am eager to see who else will listen, for they will prove to be the people who truly hold Piltover's values at heart” 

—-

“She's smart” Jinx said, “Clearly she wants to try and make amends for never giving a shit about us” She added. 

“She cares too, which is good, not a lot of Pilties care” Ekko mentioned. 

“Yeah, cus she's not Piltie, she's from Noxus, her mum is like some crazed war queen” Jinx explained, “Rumor has it she got kicked out by mother dearest because she thought killing was stupid.”

“Because she’s a diplomat?” Ekko clarified.

“Nah,” Jinx said, twirling a wrench between her fingers, “because she thinks people are worth more alive than dead. Real weirdo stuff, y’know?” She snorted.

“Guess that makes her the shame of the family.”

Ekko raised a brow. “Funny. That’s usually our job.”

“Yeah, well, maybe that’s why she’s good news for Zaun.” Jinx paused, thoughtful for a rare second.

“Shame’s kind of a universal language.”

—- 

“You are a Medarda, trained in war and manipulation. Viktor is an idealist, a scientist. Are you using him?”

“You seem to be under the impression Viktor can be used” Mel stated, “Besides, I would be a fool to underestimate a man who built the future while Piltover watched, who worked side by side with Jayce Talis, the first man who ever believed in Hextech, people don't understand that without Viktor, Hextech wouldn't exist .” 

—-

“I mean she's not wrong, you're a genius brother!” Jinx called out over her shoulder, where Viktor was staring at some equations on the chalkboard, who simply hummed in response. 

Silco came up behind Viktor, “Clearly Councilor Medarda thinks highly of you” He said, “Surprised me as much as it surprised you” Viktor said, writing down some numbers. 

“It's not surprising to me, you’ve long since earned Piltover’s respect, it's about time they acknowledge it” Silco pointed out, “Carry the four” He added. 

“Stop correcting my math” Viktor groaned, “Carry the damn four then I’ll stop correcting your math” Silco chided. 

—- 

“Viktor is a man from Zaun, now seated among Piltover’s elite. Do you believe the Council will ever accept him?”

“They will, if they wish to survive the world he is creating” Mel said, almost like a warning, “That world being?” 

“Well we won't know until we get there, though I imagine one where those concrete bridges aren't the only structures holding these two cities together”. 

—- 

“She's good with words” Jinx pointed out, “She's good with people” Viktor corrected. 

“Mel finds a way to twist language to push others towards her personal goals, it's a valuable skill in the world of politics” He explained. 

“So she's smart, pretty, and slightly manipulative?” Ekko asked, “We won the jackpot on ‘Councilors that could help us’ ” Jinx beamed. 

—-

“The Hexgates have made Piltover wealthy beyond measure. And yet Viktor speaks of shutting them down to force the Council’s hand. Would you support that?”

“Piltover should ask itself how much longer it can afford to ignore him before he stops asking.” Mel said simply, “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go speak with Zaun’s Man of Progress”. 

—- 

“Oh shit! Zaun’s Man of Progress! That's got a ring to it” Jinx jested, “But I’m not their golden boy” Viktor clicked his tongue. 

“No, no, no, you're more like” Margot bit the bottom of her lip while thinking - goddam why are there all these people in his lab - a series of contracts by her side, “Our man of iron” She suggested hesitantly. 

“Hell no” Jinx groaned, “Oh do I suddenly get a nickname now?” Viktor asked, “Absolutely, if Jayce is Golden Boy, you gotta have something, something so uniquely you, and perfect, radiates exactly who you are!” Jinx said. 

“A child of Zaun” Silco said, flipping through some of Margot’s contracts, “That's what you’ve always been, the first son born of those who started the revolution” He explained. 

Viktor hummed, “You're a symbol now, you carry the weight of Zaun’s reputation, the hopes many have for peace and progress” Silco continued, as Viktor rubbed out some of his equations. 

“Janna’s grace is what you are” Margot said, watching Silco underline parts of her contract, “Fix that” he said simply. 

“ Son of Janna ” Ekko said, “That's who you are, Janna created Zaun, and you're going to save it, follow in the mothers footsteps” He explained. 

Viktor put his chalk down, running over the equations one more time, smiling to himself upon realising he'd cracked at least one element of the Hexcore. 

The doors opened and in walked Mel, closing them behind her.

“ Son of Janna , I like that” Margot said, the room seemed to agree, “Hm, it's not horrible” Viktor agreed, grabbing a fresh piece of paper to write the final calculation down before testing it. 

“And who is Janna?” Mel asked, Margot turned her head, “Hello again, gorgeous ” she smiled. 

“I didn't know you were having a party,” Mel said with a slight smile. 

“Oh please, he hates parties” Jinx groaned, “They let themselves in” Viktor said, “Started brainstorming nicknames, apparently a necessity for my continued existence” Viktor explained to Mel and she looked to the chalkboard. 

“Doesn't answer my question” She said, “Janna, she's the goddess of Zaun” Ekko explained, “Stories say she created the rivers with her blood and the people with her heart” He said. 

“She disappeared when the air started to get too gross” Jinx explained, “Legend says one day she’ll return, fix everything, give us back the rivers and stars” She fiddled with some cogs from her pocket. 

“She gave Zaun life” Mel summarized, “It's fitting” she said after a moment, standing beside Viktor, who took his calculation with him over to the Hexcore. 

He twisted the runes, put the plant next to it and- 

Droopy, black, failure. 

“ Killer of plants seem more accurate” He groaned, putting the paper atop a growing stack. 

“What's that?” Margot asked, pointing to said stack, “The calculations that don't work, notice how the pile of calculations that do work is missing ” He explained sarcastically. 

“You should put up signs” Jinx suggested with a smile, Viktor rolled his eyes. 

“You’ll figure it out” Mel assured, her fingers dancing overtop the pulsing Hexcore, the purple sparks lighting golden for a split second. 

“One thing I need to know” Silco spoke up, Mel turned her head to face him, “Your mother” She groaned. 

“Noxus has an old history of invading Zaun…or at least attempting” He explained.

“Really?” Ekko asked, “Centuries ago, long before Piltover, Noxus wanted control of Zaun for the ore, to build weapons so they could take Ionia” Silco explained, “We fought them off each time, obviously, that version of Zaun fell down a well…to put it lightly” he grumbled. 

“I need to know your mother won't attempt to take my city” He said to Mel, “I can't promise she won't try, but I can promise I’ll stand in the way” Mel said simply.

“You don't get along with dear mummy, do you?” Margot asked, “We’re not…of equal mindsets” Mel hesitated with her words. 

“That's a nice way of saying you don't agree,” Jinx said, Ekko nudged her shoulder.

“No other family that could back you up?” Margot asked, Mel swallowed, the slightest flash of grief in her eyes, “Unfortunately not, I’m alone here” 

“So you're fighting your mothers army solo?” Jinx asked, “a common theme in my life” Mel said with a sense of annoyance, running her hands over the smooth desktop. 

“So long as she doesn't try to touch my nation, I'm at peace” Silco said, “I’ll do all I can” Mel assured. 

—- 

Viktor spent an extra couple of hours at the lab, until the persistent calling in the back of his mind called him to the hospital by Jayce’s side. 

Ghosting through the paparazzi once more, through the hospital, getting a sticker labelled ‘Visitor’ which was a first for Viktor, as usually he was the one having a medical crisis. 

He made it up to Jayce’s room, private - only the best for Piltover’s Golden boy - orchids stood tall in a glass vase on the bedside, bags of god knows what flowing in and out of his veins through intravenous lines, nasal cannula logged in his nose and bandages wrapped around his shoulder and torso. 

Its stupid really, Jayce doesn't like orchids, he likes Sunflowers because their bold, bright, and look to the sun, a guide of tomorrow, and lilies - especially white or orange - because their beautiful, they represent honor and integrity and not a lot of people know but Jayce really likes not only the science and biology of flowers, but also their symbolism and meaning. So its stupid that someone brought orchids, not to say he doesn't like orchids, but their not his favorites, they’re a sign of elegance and luxury, something that Jayce is not often associated with. 

Sure Piltover is the pinnacle of luxury and reward in monetary value and fame, though that's not what Jayce works for, that's not who he is, Jayce’s reward is in others comfort, to know someone's suffering is lesser because of his work. He hates galas, the facade of it all, pretending to smile and enjoy peoples company and the shitty wine, elegance is an art of persuasion, luxury is biased, and reward is dependent on what matters to an individual. So it really is stupid that someone brought orchids. 

His anger over some flowers doesn't change the fact that since Viktor was last here 24 hours ago, he still felt like a ghost in this bare room, this bare, lifeless room, stark contrast to the way Jayce lights up a room and fills it with life. 

Though one thing was different, Ximena, sitting on the couch in the corner, looked up and smiled at him. Janna above, he really hopes she didn't bring the orchids, he didn't want to insult her, even if in his own head. 

Viktor liked Ximena, she was nice, a loving caring mother that so perfectly explained why Jayce is the wonderful person he is, she’s thanked Viktor since day one for believing in Jayce’s dream, even when she didn't, and over the years she has actively tried to talk with Viktor, get to know him, he’s even come around for the odd dinner. 

She was the one and only person who knew, neither Viktor or Jayce could have kept their relationship a secret from her no matter how hard they tried, she never really brought it up, Viktor believes she may have had a more private chat with Jayce about it, but there was a silent acknowledgement on her end that she liked Viktor, and she was happy he was in Jayce’s life. 

She was a lovely woman, who shouldn't be sitting in a hospital waiting for her son to wake up. 

“The doctors are saying everything is stable” She said simply, “They're not sure what's stopping him from waking up”. 

“He's always liked sleeping in” Viktor said with a smile, and thank Janna above Ximena laughed, lightly, but she still laughed, Viktor probably would've gone to hide in a hole if that joke didn't land the way he hoped. 

“I would have hoped he’d grow out of that” Ximena said, “It makes going to work incredibly difficult” Viktor responded with a smile. 

“Come on Vik, five more minutes” Jayce would protest with an arm wrapped around Viktor’s waist as he sat on the edge of the bed. 

“Jayce, we have work” Viktor would try and insist, “Work can wait five minutes” Jayce would gently pull him back down against the mattress. 

“He always wanted you to get more sleep,” Ximena said, “He was worried, you know?” 

“He was never not worried about me” Viktor said sadly, “Now…I suppose it's my turn”. 

Ximena gave him a sad smile, she patted the space on the couch next to her, Viktor didn't have it in him to fight her. 

“I always appreciated that he was by my side when I woke up, and that he bothered to…care” Viktor explained slowly, leaning back against the monstrosity of a couch “I just never acknowledged how painful it was waiting”. 

“You're different to him Ximena said, “You continue to work, Jayce dropped everything” it sounded almost accusatory. 

“I can't spend all this time slowly decaying in this room waiting, it’ll kill me before he wakes up” Viktor confessed. 

“I know,” Ximena said, “But it kills me even more not being here in case something happens,” Viktor added. 

“Sounds as though you're torn between worlds” Ximena said, Viktor leant back against the couch,this furniture was an actual manifestation from hell “You have no idea”. 

“I think you have a lot on your plate, especially regarding…family,” Ximena explained. 

Ah. 

“If that's what we’re calling it” Viktor said, “Viktor” Ximena said sternly. 

Oh shit.

“You have been incredibly adamant to not discuss your personal life” Ximena began explaining, “You avoided the topic at all costs, parents, siblings, homelife, I know nothing of it, except that you had one, and it was complicated” Viktor felt his hands clench around each other. 

“Now, after everything has happened, the media is…talking, you even said Silco was a part of your childhood, a man who, forgive me if I'm wrong, is a drug dealer and criminal overlord” She explained, and Viktor couldn't find it within himself to meet her eyes. 

“I'm not going to pretend to understand your situation, but, Viktor, you're a part of Jayce’s life, I need to be sure he isn't in any danger” Ximena explained. 

“Until the doctor is caught, I’m afraid I can't ensure that Jayce is…safe” Viktor explained, “I can promise you that my immediate family has no intentions of harming him” he added, Ximena didn't seem convinced. 

As kind and brilliant of a woman she was, Ximena had lived in Piltover for two decades and then some, she had spent a long time surrounded by prejudice. 

Deep breath. Because he knows she's not being intentionally rude, she is genuinely worried for her son. 

“I can't tell you everything, not because I don't want you to know it, but because I'm not ready to talk about it” Viktor began explaining, “What I can tell you is that my family is complicated, we’re not perfect, and we’re not all inherently good people, but we are trying to survive in a world out against us, we have made questionable choices, and have concerning reputations, but none of us are inherently bad ” He insisted. 

“So…Silco, Jinx? They aren't going to…” Ximena trailed off

“They won't hurt Jayce” Viktor said, “Unless he does something horrible against me , they're…protective” He explained with a laugh. 

Ximena hummed a laugh, “Well then, I have no reason to be worried” The two sat in silence for a moment, until there was a knock on the door and it opened up, Vi stepped in. 

“Hey, sorry, but Cait asked me to drop these to you” She said, holding up some rolled parchments. 

“The Kiramman Vent blueprints” Viktor smiled, standing up and taking them. 

“These are the final designs, Cassandra wasn't sure if you wanted the final or the draft, I said I’d go back if you needed the earlier designs” She explained. 

“Also I need your advice, but it can wait, if this is a bad time” Vi explained hastily, noticing Ximena in the room “I think…yeah, yeah its a bad time, your waiting for your partner to wake up, I think you two were in the middle of some deep ass conversation, I’ll come back later, it's good-” Vi stumbled. 

“Vi” Viktor tried, “Man why didn't I go to your lab and wait, came straight here, I don't know, shoulda gone to your office or something” Vi said, thinking out loud. 

“I don't have an office” 

“You don't have an office? Thats bullshit, sorry” She said to Ximena, “But its bullshit, Mel gets and office, Cassandra gets an office, Silco has a fucking office, you work for Hextech, you made Hextech, what if people need to find you for Hextech things?” Vi asked. 

“They go to Jayce” Viktor said, “Well no offence but Jayce is evidently not an option, you're gonna need an office, you might wanna look into that.” 

“I am happy in the lab,” Viktor tried to explain. 

“You can't hold official meetings surrounded by things that could blow up Viktor, Mel might have that answer, maybe you should go chat with her, on second thought you never would, I’ll go ask her, or maybe I’ll send Cait, I don't know” 

“Vi” Viktor tried again. 

“Cait’s friendly with Mel, I’ll ask Cait, Cait will get it sorted” Vi rambled, “Vi” Viktor tried, finally succeeding in getting her attention. 

“Lets stop hopping around ideas, ok Bunny?” He asked, “Bunny? You're calling me Bunny again?” Vi asked tentatively. 

“Well you're bouncing around so much i'm not too sure what else to call you” Viktor said with a smile.

He always called her Bunny when Vi was little…Vi missed it. 

“What did you want to ask me?” Viktor asked, “This is still a bad place” 

“Violet” Viktor insisted, stern this time, Vi finally gave in. 

“So…hypothetically” Vi began, “If Caitlyn asked me to work alongside her as an enforcer to fix the regime and help track down Singed, what would you do?” She explained to Viktor, who bit the bottom of his lip and put his hands on his hips. 

“Hypothetically?” he asked, both of them knowing this situation was, most certainly, not hypothetical. 

“Well. I'd say it's a good thing” Ximena said, “I know it's not my place, but it's evident the enforcers need change, it would be valuable for a Zaunite to lead that” she explained. 

“That much is obvious” Vi said, “But…you know”
“Their enforcers” Viktor stated, “we have- you have spent a long time at their mercy” 

“Exactly my point” Vi said, “But the regime needs change, Caitlyn is taking the role of Sheriff, she needs someone who knows the streets and that she can trust” Viktor pointed out. 

“My other point” Vi added, “Don't get me wrong, I’d love to do it, enact some revenge on the Doctor, help the Undercity, but…wearing that blue” She explained with a sigh, Viktor nodded. 

“As kids we grew up fearing them, we ran from them. I’ve spent the last seven years at their mercy in Stillwater. I know that when I walk into those streets in that uniform, kids will go running, I'll freak the adults, it feels like a betrayal, but if I don't do it, I don't have any power to make any change” Vi groaned, “I'm running in circles here”. 

“Know the feeling” Viktor said, “But imagine if those kids didn't go running, hm?” he suggested. “Imagine if they knew, Officer Vi, the one with the pink hair so you could spot her in the dark was the safe officer, she would help, she wouldn't get you into trouble, imagine if they went running towards you” Viktor explained. 

“That…that would be nice” Vi said with a smile, “See this is why you're the big brother, you got all the advice and shit” Vi added, “You make everything seem…easy” she added. 

“You should go tell Caitlyn about your choice, I need to go make some sense of these” he said, rolling up the blueprints, and turning to Ximena. 

“Will you be alright?” He asked, “Progress doesn't wait Viktor, stop worrying about me and go” She said with a smile. 

Viktor glances over at Jayce’s cold body, still it looked so wrong, it felt so wrong, he walked over to Jayce's side and his hand ghosted over his lover’s empty face. 

“I’ll be back” Viktor whispered, pushing a stray strand of hair out of the way, and walking out with Vi. 

—- 

Ekko, Jinx and Mel all sat in the councilors office, it was originally only meant to be Ekko and Mel, but Jinx had essentially latched herself to Ekko and wasn't willing to let him out of her sight. 

“How does one become a councilor?” Jinx had asked at one point while they were taking a small break from discussing the peace treaty. 

“A degree in some form of humanities or sciences and or a prominent place in society, consistent aid to the people of Piltover, it's the members of the council that already exist that vote on whether you're in or not” Mel explained. 

“Oh so it's not just the rich getting in” Jinx said, “No there's a system in place to prevent economically driven corruption” Mel said. 

“You all just happen to have insane amounts of money” Ekko said, “And that sometimes leads to the belief that because of all that money, the rich are better than the poor, that money is used to get what they want, such as illegal trades from the Undercity” Ekko explained. 

“Your system sucks, there's definitely economically driven corruption” Jinx explained, “Unfortunately there are bad people in the world, and even if we have systems in place, the rich buy their way out of their problems” Mel explained. 

“Have you ever done that?” Jinx asked, “Just…throw money at a problem so it will go away?” 

“I only put money towards problems where only money can fix it or would be a valuable aid” Mel said. 

“If I was too…persay…want someone to back down in the political world, I wouldn't give them money” She explained. 

“You'd kill them” Jinx’s eyes lit up, Mel laughed lightly, “My mother would, I would find another way by utilizing valuable information to my benefit” Mel explained. 

“Blackmail” Ekko summarized, “If that's what you want to call it” Mel smiled deviously.

“I knew I liked you” Jinx said with a smile, “Alright my turn” Mel said, “How do you two know each other?” She asked. 

“Ok buckle up it's a weird one” Jinx said, “All of our parents knew each other” Ekko started, “Viktor’s parents, Vi and Jinx’s parents, my parents, Vander, Benzo, and Silco, they kinda started the revolution of Zaun” Ekko explained. 

“Really it was Silco and Vander that kicked it off,” Jinx added. 

“So when Ekko’s parents kicked the bucket, Benzo took him in, and after that bridge fight, Vander took in Vi and I, so we grew up together, nextdoor neighbours and all” Jinx explained, “We spent a lot of time tinkering with scraps and flipping off the enforcers” She added. 

“Then everything went to shit, I joined up with Silco, Ekko did not, he built his little rebel group and we’ve been at each other's necks for the last seven years” She finished. 

Mel looked between the two stunned, “I feel like there's still a lot I’m missing” she said, at that moment the door opened and Silco walked in. 

“I fear I'm interrupting something” He said, looking between the trio, “Nah, just filling in Goldie here on the family drama” Jinx said with a smile. 

“A complicated story” Silco said, walking over to where the trio was sitting, looking over some of their drafted ideas. 

“Oh these are good” Silco said, “These two have been incredibly helpful” Mel said smiling to Jinx and Ekko. 

“They were always good as children” Silco said with a smile, “What?” Jinx asked. 

“The two of you were essentially inseparable as kids, you forget I was there in the very early years” Silco explained. 

“I do actually yeah” Ekko said with a bit of sass, Silco huffed a laugh, “I think I still have the video tapes somewhere in the bar of the two of you as newborns” He said, 

“ Oh Janna no ” Jinx said, dramatically flopping back, “That's adorable” Mel said with a smile. 

“Ok well if we bounce questions back and forth” Ekko said, “How about you? Any other family besides your mum?” He asked, Mel clicked her tongue. 

“My father died when I was a child, I…” Deep breath . “I was primarily raised by my brother, Kino,” She said. 

“You have an older brother?” SIlco asked, “Six years older, he taught me about diplomacy and politics, he taught me almost everything I know about the political and social worlds” She explained with a smile. 

“Something about older brothers teaching you almost everything” Ekko said, as Mel started to organize the papers, “Viktor taught me a lot about physics and mechanics, it was that early understanding that helped me build that” He pointed to his hoverboard in the corner of the room. 

“Viktor taught you that?” Mel asked, “He would bring his notes from the academy, books and other things, sit down with us and teach us whatever we could understand,” Jinx explained. 

“That's incredible” Mel said, taking a stack of papers and handing them to Silco, “These ones would be helpful for you to look over, the rest are still in planning” She explained. 

“Thank you Councilor” Silco said, “You two should head back to the lanes” He said to Ekko and Jinx. 

“Yeah yeah, come on Boy Saviour, got some lanes to bring order too” She said, patting Ekko’s shoulder and smiling at Mel, Ekko followed after her, grabbing his board on the way out. 

“I need to head to a meeting with Kirammen and Viktor for the vents” He said, “Have fun” Mel joked, Silco laughed lightly and walked out of her office. 

Once the door closed, Mel bowed her head down, fighting back tears. 

Kino was dead, but they didn't need to know that. 

There are more important things at hand than Mel’s grief. 

Deep breath. 

Chapter Text

Silco was dragged to a meeting with Mel and Viktor in Cassandra’s office, a place as cold and efficient as the woman herself. 

The dark wood of the desk dominated the room, papers stacked neatly in a manner that made it clear there was little room for chaos in this space. Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with legal texts and the occasional personal memento, though even those seemed chosen with deliberate care. The window was half-drawn, offering a view of the city below, but Cassandra’s back was to it, as if the view was irrelevant to the matters at hand. A few chairs were placed before her desk, an invitation to sit, but the unspoken power of the room kept Silco, shamefully, on edge.

“We have two primary issues with the vents, one that the council won't approve that they be upgraded to work more efficiently, and two being that we’re unsure how to improve their functionality” Cassandra explained. 

“I remember when the vents first went in. How it took back the majority of the grey, the air certainly became easier to breath” Silco explained, “But it didn't fix the issue, the grey still kills, just a bit slower” Viktor explained. 

“Hextech has blue prints and prototypes that we’ve been trying to get approval for, using the runes to convert the toxic air into breathable air” Viktor explained, “How long have you had this prototype?” Silco asked, “For two years, we proposed to the council multiple times, but they thought the vents were good enough,” Viktor explained with a slight hint of anger in his tone. 

“The real issue is approval and support” Cassandra explained, “I've already attempted to reach out to those who helped me fund the project in the first place, few have continued their support, others don't see a reason to continue” She said. 

“So where does that leave our options” Silco asked, Cassandra hissed through her teeth, and looked to Viktor.

The scientist sighed, “When?” He asked, “Wednesday evening, Salo is hosting an event to raise funds to rebuild the council chambers” Cassandra explained, Viktor looked at her like he’d just been insulted. 

“Not your scene, I know, believe me I heard a lot of your grievances towards these events from Jayce” Cassandra explained, “But the people need to see you in action, they need to know that Hextech isnt weak, as i hate to tell you, but they don't believe you can do it” Cassandra explained. 

“I know” Viktor sighed, Cassandra turned to Silco, “It would be good if you and the other three came along, we need Zaunian representation, society needs to start familiarizing itself with you all” She explained. 

Silco nodded, “I’ll see what I can do”. 

—- 

“You want us to do what?!” Jinx asked, Ekko on one side of her and Violet on the other, the three sitting at the bar at the last drop, having been closed earlier that afternoon, Silco, Caitlyn, Cassandra, Mel and Viktor explained the situation. 

“Go sucking up to the rich and beg for clean air?! You're insane” Ekko said, “It's not sucking up or begging” Caitlyn said. 

“Don't lie, that's exactly what it is,” Viktor said, leaning against the bar top next to Jinx.

“The high society of Piltover loves to see us on our knees, praying to them instead of Janna, constantly reminding us that all our good fortune comes from their ‘generosity,’” he said, his voice biting, the tension thick in the air. 

“No offence” He added, though there was a bite to his words. 

“I understand it's not ideal, but we need to start somewhere, you cannot remain invisible if you want your nation,” Mel explained. 

“Yeah we get that bit” Vi explained, “we know it's necessary, we’re not outright refusing, we’re simply reminding you that if we do this it means walking into a room full of people who view us as lesser” Ekko explained. 

“We’ll do it” Jinx said, “We ain't gonna like it, but we’ll do it”. 

The relief that coursed through the three high society women could have been felt for miles. 

“Wait- fuck we’re gonna need clothes for this arent we?” Jinx said, “We can sort that out,” Cassandra said. 

Silco hummed, “Lets save ourselves some money and a trip Topside” He said, looking over to Sevika, “Grab Margot for me?” He asked, Sevika nodded and left to go find the Chem Baroness. 

“You lot” Silco said to the group, pulling out a ring of keys from his coat pocket, “With me” He led the group down to the basement where the children once resided, then to another door he began to unlock. 

“We finally get to know what’s behind the mystery door?!” Jinx beamed. “Remember when we used to talk with Mylo and Claggor about what was behind it?” she asked, excitement in her voice.

“You guessed what was behind the door?” Mel asked

“Oh yeah!” Jinx said, grinning wide. “Viktor thought it was a secret tunnel into the catacombs under Piltover,” she said, pointing at him dramatically.

Viktor smiled. “I was just being thorough,” he said, and the group chuckled.

“Mylo thought it led to some alternate world where everything is upside down,” Jinx continued.

“Claggor thought there were bodies back there” Ekko said, “I thought it was an emergency stash of booze” Vi said. 

“Yeah, when you were like 15, when you were 7 you thought there were giant demons waiting to eat all of us” Jinx said, Caitlyn tried to stifle a laugh, “Giant demons?” she asked. 

“In my defense, Viktor had been telling me stories of how all the demons that used to roam Zaun got shoved to the darkest depths when Janna came to give us life,” Vi explained. 

“I could've sworn Felicia told you not to scare the children with those stories” Silco said to Viktor, 

“In my defense, Vi wanted to hear those stories,” Viktor shot back with a smile.

“Well, I thought there were animals back there, like monkeys or lions,” Jinx added, “Though I scared Ekko into thinking there were rabid dogs that liked to eat little boys.” She laughed, the mischievous sparkle in her eyes as Ekko buried his face in his hands.

“Stop it” He groaned

“Cried like a baby” she laughed, “We were 4!” He defended. 

“Oh I remember that” Vi said, Viktor laughed as well. 

“Sorry to disappoint, no monsters, or bodies, or secret tunnels, tragically no emergency booze ” Silco sighed, He flicked on the light and walked down the narrow hall into a large room, pulling back a curtain of boxes. "It’s just a basement," Silco said with a smirk, his voice losing the edge of playfulness, revealing a rack of clothes, protected by black sleeves.

“Back in the day, myself and Felicia would find our way into Piltovian Galas” Silco explained. 

“Into- you infiltrated galas?” Mel asked, “Seriously?” Vi asked, “Where do you think we got our cutlery from?” Silco asked. 

“You swiped it from Galas?” Jinx asked, “No!” Silco corrected, shaking his head. “Your mother did.” He began sorting through the clothes on the rack, clearly looking for something specific.

“Vander and Connel joined once or twice, Dria and Dimitri came along a few times, Diane and Terry on the odd occasion, and well…we kept all the clothes” He explained. Taking one off a rack and opening it up, revealing a white sparkly dress with black detailing. 

“Woah,” Jinx said. 

“Dria and Dimitri?” Cassandra asked, “My parents,” Viktor said with a smile, “Felicia and Connel were Vi and Jinx’s mother and father” Silco said

“Then… who are Diane and Terry?” Ekko asked, looking between Silco and Viktor.

Both men glanced at him, the recognition dawning simultaneously. “Your parents,” Silco said simply.

“Did- did Benzo and Vander never tell you?” Silco asked, “I…never really asked,” Ekko said. 

Silco sighed, the weight of the moment settling in. “That’s highly worrying, as you look just like your father,” he said, gesturing to Ekko’s build. “Actually, you have about the same build as he did when he wore...” Silco continued digging through the racks.

“This” He handed it to Ekko, “May need to take it in, but that's why I'm calling Margot, go upstairs, change,” Silco said, handing him the bag. 

“Daylight's wasting boy saviour, lets go” Jinx said, clapping her hands, ushering Ekko upstairs. 

“What does Margot have to do with this?” Vi asked as Silco kept moving through the clothes rack, “She's good at sewing, not sure why” Silco said, then turned to Vi. 

“To my memory you hate dresses with a burning passion, does that still stand?” He asked, “I mean…yeah” 

“Good, because you’d definitely fit into your dad’s suit, maybe a couple of alterations” He stood next to Vi, using his hand to reference her height against him. 

“You're shorter than Connel, might have to bring the pants up, but this one should work” He said, handing Vi a bag. 

“I can't actually believe you kept all this stuff” Viktor said, scanning the piles of clothing with a mix of amusement and disbelief.

“I doubt you’ll need anything” Silco said to Viktor, “I have a couple shirts I’ve never worn, I’ll be fine” Viktor said. 

“Good, let me know if you need something” Silco looked back to the rack, then to Jinx, then back to the rack and pull off another bag, “Definitely going to need some alterations

“Now where is Felicia’s jewelry collection, I think Dria had some stuff here as well” He clicked his tongue and started shifting through the boxes. 

“Boss” Sevika called out from the hallway, Margot in tow, a colourful satchel at her side.

“Hello again Councilor hot stuff” Margot smiled at Mel, “Madame Margot, still charming your way into trouble?” Mel asked, raising a brow, Margot smiled playfully and leaned against the doorframe. 

“And you're acting like you don't enjoy it” She teased back, Mel tilted her head to the side and smiled lightly, “Did I say that?” 

Silco loudly cleared his throat to interrupt the women, “Margot, if you're done flirting with the richest woman in Piltover, I need you to actually be useful for once.” evidently unimpressed by the display. 

Margot gasps with a hand over her chest, an overdramatic attempt at being offended, “Silco, you wound me. Can’t a girl multitask?” She asked. 

“Not at my pace” He groaned, Ekko came down the stairs, fixing the ends of his sleeves, “Fix it” Silco pointed to Ekko while looking at Margot. 

Margot sighed and pointed to an empty space for Ekko to stand, “Duty calls, don't miss me too much, Councilor ” Margot smirked at Mel.

Jinx came bounding down the stairs, her usual swagger slightly softened by the fabric flowing around her. The dress was deep indigo, embroidered with delicate silver accents that shimmered under the dim basement lights. It fit her perfectly—not just in size but in spirit, a mix of elegance and rebellion, as if it had been waiting all these years just for her.

Ekko, adjusting the cuffs of his suit jacket, glanced up—and promptly forgot how to breathe. His brain short-circuited. He had seen Jinx covered in soot and gunpowder, grinning wildly with a detonator in hand. He had never seen her like this.

Jinx twirled once, the skirt flaring around her as she grinned. “Well? How do I look?”

Ekko’s mouth opened, but nothing came out. He simply stood there, wide-eyed and silent.

“Oh, hell no, ” Vi muttered, watching the boy visibly malfunction.

Silco had been silent up until now, standing with his arms crossed as he appraised her. His expression didn’t shift, but there was something unreadable in his gaze, something that twisted in his chest.

The last time this dress had been worn, it had been on Felicia. He remembered the night vividly - the way she had thrown on her stolen jewels, the way she had smirked at Vander and whispered something conspiratorial before disappearing into the crowd. And now, here was Jinx, her mother’s ghost woven into the seams, standing in front of him like a reflection of the past bleeding into the present.

Silco exhaled through his nose and pinched the bridge of it for a brief second before speaking. “You look- ” He stopped, clearing his throat. “Like trouble.”

Jinx grinned wider. “Then it’s perfect.”

Ekko finally managed to reboot his brain. “Y-yeah, uh. Yeah. You look - uh - great,” he stammered, rubbing the back of his neck.

Vi rolled her eyes and smacked him upside the head.

Margot, still hemming in Ekko's sleeve, snorted. “Oh, this is delicious. ”

Silco ignored them all, stepping closer to Jinx. He reached into one of the boxes stacked along the wall, rifling through until he pulled out something small and delicate. A necklace, silver with a single deep-blue gemstone in the center.

“This was hers, too,” he said, voice unreadable. Then, after a beat, softer, “You should have it.”

For once, Jinx didn’t have a snarky response. She just took it, her fingers tracing the cool metal, before silently fastening it around her neck.

Silco nodded once, then turned back to the others, clearing his throat. “Alright, enough gawking. Let’s get back to work.”

Margot leaned over to Mel and whispered, “He’s dying inside.”

Mel smirked. “Oh, absolutely.”

“You're positive you don't need anything?” Silco asked, turning to where Viktor is- or was, he’d disappeared. 

Not again. 

—-

Viktor sat in the dim corner of the Last Drop, the old photo album resting in his lap, his fingers frozen above the pages. His eyes traced the faces from a time long gone, but the memories were there - uninvited, heavy, and unyielding. He had never been good at reliving the past, and yet, tonight, it seemed almost unavoidable.

The soft sound of footsteps interrupted his thoughts, and he didn’t have to look up to know who it was. The girls - Mel, Caitlyn, and Cassandra - appeared in the doorway, watching him with a mix of curiosity and concern.

“You’re quiet tonight,” Mel said, voice softer than usual. "Didn't think you were the sentimental type."

Viktor didn’t respond, his gaze fixed on the photo of a much younger version of himself, four years old, smiling brightly beside a man who was no longer in his life.

The silence dragged on until Silco, ever the looming figure, appeared in the doorway. He hesitated for a moment, then walked inside with the steady cadence of someone used to commanding attention.

“I see we’ve found Viktor’s soft spot,” he observed dryly, glancing at the album in Viktor's hands.

Viktor’s grip tightened on the album, but he said nothing.

“What happened to you, Viktor?” Silco asked, a rare softness in his voice, though his tone still carried the weight of someone trying to understand the enigma before him. “Losing your parents, losing your way, it’s a lot for anyone to bear. I-”

“I don’t need your pity, Silco,” Viktor snapped, cutting him off with a sharp edge to his voice. He didn’t meet Silco’s gaze, his focus still on the photo. His knuckles were white from the pressure.

The girls exchanged glances, their faces filled with quiet concern. They weren’t used to seeing Viktor like this - not the cold, calculated strategist who could weave through the shadows of a room with ease, but someone who seemed... lost.

Silco, for all his attempts to understand, just sighed and took a few steps closer. “I’m not offering pity, Viktor. Just... understanding. We’ve both lost everything, and I-”

“I didn’t lose everything,” Viktor interrupted again, his voice tight with frustration. “I made choices. I survived. I’m not... you don’t have to worry about me.”

There was a pause as Silco looked at Viktor, studying him, almost as if trying to read something in his face that wasn’t there. Silco’s usual cold demeanor softened a fraction. 

“I’m not offering comfort because I think you can’t handle it,” he said, quieter now. “I'm offering it because no one should have to shoulder everything alone.”

Viktor’s eyes flicked to Silco for a moment, but his expression hardened again, shutting down the brief flicker of vulnerability.

“I don’t need anyone, Silco,” Viktor muttered, pushing the album aside as he stood, avoiding anyone’s gaze. His movements were brisk, as though he wanted to put as much distance between himself and the room as possible.

“I’ve got work to do. The lab needs me,” he added, his tone final, almost dismissive.

Before anyone could respond, Viktor got out of his chair, footsteps against the wooden floor as he left The Last Drop. 

Mel let out a sigh, glancing at Silco. “He’s not exactly the type to let anyone in, is he?”

Silco’s eyes narrowed, watching the door Viktor had left through. “No. But you can’t blame him for that. He’s lived through enough to know better than to trust anyone.”

Caitlyn frowned, still not quite used to seeing Viktor so... raw. “He’s strong, but he doesn’t have to carry everything by himself.” 

“Strength comes at a cost,” Silco murmured, looking down at his hands, where the scars of his own past had left their mark. “And sometimes, Viktor’s cost is that he forgets how to ask for help.”

With that, Silco turned and left and returned to the basement, his footsteps echoing behind him. Mel and Cailtyn exchanged one last look before following him, Cassandra glanced at the old photo album. 

A worn out picture sat glued in the middle of the page, detailed with colourful markers to point to each person, six children all sat together in a booth, cups of juice around them.

Cassandra recognized Viktor, a teenager, maybe fifteen years old, he seemed to be telling some sort of story as Vi - with her short red hair and childish physique - seemed to be listening intently, Jinx at her side, so small, haircut similar to her sister, Ekko next to her thought standing up with his hands on her blue head.

On the other side of Viktor were two little boys, six maybe seven, one was skinnier, black messy hair and listening to Viktor with his mouth age, the other slightly bigger, goggles planted atop his messy brown hair, his arms crossed over each other and resting on the table, eyes so bright as they listened.

Mylo. Claggor. The colourful swirly handwriting with arrows pointing to the boys said.

“Cassandra” Silco called from the hallways, “Apologies I was just-” Cassandra cut herself off when Silco walked up, looking at the same picture and smiled.

“They used to love it when he told them stories,” Silco said beside Cassandra.

“I think I may have some old video tapes of it, he used to tell them the stories of Janna” Silco explained, “The goddess of the Undercity” Cassandra clarified.

“They loved it - almost as much as he loved telling them,” Silco added, his tone distant with the memory. “When we put in the vents, I remember how we all celebrated... Viktor, though, added a little magic. He told the kids Janna had swept her magic through the lanes, destroying most of the grey. He even made a whole thing of it - describing how she flew through the air, creating explosions as she went.”

“ We still can't see the stars he’d said, but Janna is getting stronger, and you’ll see them someday ” Silco recounted what a young Viktor had told an even younger Vi.

“Vi always adored the fairytales and mystical stories, it's why she loved Viktor so much, because he always had stories, once he started going up topside he would tell Vi all these things, how the streets reflected the sunlight, giant fluffy clouds you could walk on if you were high enough, tall buildings that touched the stars” Silco explained with a fond smile.

Cassandra laughed lightly, “Funny, is it?” Silco teased, “No, no it's beautiful” Cassandra said, “it's just…well we hear all these stories about you” She explained, Silco clicked his tongue.

“Big bad crime boss with the shimmer trade, controlling the lanes with fear, never did I think of you as…a father” Cassandra and explained, Silco hummed, looking at the photo album, the other page had a picture of himself and a young Vi, she was six at the time, she was fast asleep against his chest, he held her with such care and and smiled with even more love.

“Is it what you wanted? Overlord and criminal?” Cassandra asked, “No,” Silco answered simply, “It's not at all what I wanted, but the world decided I needed to be the monster, so that's what I became” Silco explained, “and I do a damn good job at it”. 

Cassandra hummed, putting a hand on his shoulder, “Maybe you don't have to be the monster” she said, walking away and back down into the basement, her words lingering in Silco’s head.

Maybe you don't have to be the monster. 

Maybe… 

—- 

“Stop moving or I swear I will stab you with these needles,” Margot said as she pinned excess fabric back on Jinx’s dress.

“Ok ok, sorry” Jinx mumbled.

“ Janna , mum swiped a lot of shit” Vi said, back in her regular pants and red jacket, going through the boxes of jewelry and other shiny items. 

“Some of its was Felicia, some was Dria….mostly Felicia” Silco said, helping her move through the boxes, “Your mother was a pickpocket and a damn good one at it, she kept swiping my watch when I was none the wiser” Silco groaned.

“What about Dria?” Vi asked, “Mostly cogs and gears, she was a mechanic”
“Ahh so that's where Viktor gets it” Caitlyn said, also helping to sort through the chaos, “Tell me, was Dria also insanely sarcastic?” Mel asked as she organized and matched gloves, shoes, and other nicknacks.

“Certainly, Dria always had something to say” Silco explained, “She was completely mad.” Sevika said, standing to the side against the doorframe, ‘standing guard’ as she said, Silco didn't have the energy to fight against her.

“Mad but brilliant” Silco corrected, “It seems as though madness often partners with brilliance” Mel said, packing away another organised box.

“Experience?” Silco asked, “Have you met Viktor?” Mel asked, the room erupted into laughter.

Silco stood up from the ground, groaning as his back cracked in one too many places, “ Fuck I’m getting old” He snarled.
“Don't go croaking on me yet” Jinx warned, “Relax, I've evaded the reaper this long” He said, stepping over boxes.

“Ohhh get a load of this!” Vi called out, holding up some old video tapes, “That's where they were!” Jinx beamed, then hissed. 

“I told you to stop moving ” Margot chidded, Jinx stuck her tongue out.

“Reckon there's any drunk, young Silco on these bad boys?” Vi asked, “Oh there's plenty, unfortunately they are not available for viewing today” Silco said.
“Oh how come?” Ekko asked, standing by the fuse box with a screwdriver in hand and some other tools hanging around him.

“Because old and responsible Silco says so” Silco said, bumping into a wooden crate, “Old and  responsible Silco is no fun” Jinx groaned.

“You shoulda seen him back in the day” Sevika said, “You make it sound like it was centuries ago” Silco groaned, trying to pry open the lid of the crate and failing, now looking for a crowbar or something to open the crate.

“Throwing molotov’s around like nobody's business, picking fights with enforcers and street gangs, getting his skinny ass handed to him way too often” Sevika listed, “Yes, thank you Sevika for your resounding loyalty” Silco said, having now found a crowbar and prying off the nails to open the crate.

“Getting shit faced every other night, Vander dragged him upstairs to sober up, provided that Vander wasn't shitfaced” Sevika explained, “I’d pay money to see that” Mel said, a smile tugging at her lips.

“Janna knows you certainly have the money” Silco said, prying open one side of the crates lid, the sharp sound of metal scraping wood echoing in the quiet.

“Not my fault I'm likable” Mel shrugged, a teasing glint in her eyes 

“Likeable? Is that what you call smiling and weaving your way into rich man's pockets?” Margot asked with a smirk.

“Oh but they don't even try to stop me, besides, it's so much fun” Mel smiled, “I'm certain your mother is proud of you” Margot said.

“The day my mother is proud of me is the day” she trailed off, her voice turning quieter, more reflective.

Margot caught the shift in her mood, her smirk fading. “The day what?”

Mel let out a soft exhale, brushing it off before her gaze snapped back to them, a light shrug escaping her shoulders. “The day pigs fly.” The words were light, but there was an unmistakable sadness hiding beneath the smile.

There was a pause before the crate Silco was working at finally opened, “Oh you fucking bastard ” Silco beamed with a smile, reaching into the crate. 

“What is it?” Vi asked, “Violet, forgive me, for I lied to you earlier,” Silco said, rummaging through the crate, “Oh did you now?” Vi asked, clearly unamused. 

Silco stood up straight again holding a bottle of something very alcoholic, “There is a secret stash of booze” he said, his grin matching the twinkle in his unmarred eye.

“Only you could snuff out a crate of booze in a bar you’ve owned for over two decades” Sevika snarled, “Shush, now put that metal arm to use and open this, we’re going to be here a while”

—- 

The lavish hall of the gala sparkled with chandeliers that seemed to drip diamonds, the floor polished to perfection, and the crowd buzzing with excitement. Salo's extravagant event was the highlight of Piltover's social calendar, a place where the rich and powerful came to rub elbows, sip champagne, and indulge in the art of social manipulation.

Silco, sharp as ever, stood at the entrance with Cassandra, surveying the sea of well-dressed elites. His cold, calculating eyes scanned the room with practiced ease—he was a king in this environment, despite his more... unconventional methods. He had spent years in this world, mastering the fine art of pretending to be just another respectable nobleman, even though his heart was very much rooted in the underground.

“Ready for the circus?” Cassandra asked, a sly grin on her face.

“As always,” Silco replied, his voice smooth, like a well-aged whiskey.

Cassandra smiled as she watched Silco continue to weave his way through the crowd, spinning charm with a flick of his tongue and the occasional glint of humor in his eye. “I’ll admit,” she said softly, “it’s strange seeing him like this. All cleaned up and cordial.”

“He does clean up alright,” Jinx said, half-laughing into her glass. “Still talks like he’s trying to sell you a drink or a revolution.”

Viktor stepped up beside them, a fond smile tugging at his lips. “He’s always had that way with words. Back at the bar, he used to stand on the tables when the bar got too loud. Didn’t matter how drunk people were - he’d open his mouth, and they’d shut up and listen.”

Cassandra glanced at him, intrigued. “Really?”

“Oh, yes,” Viktor chuckled. “He and Vander made a hell of a pair. Silco could get the whole bar fired up, yelling about freedom, Zaun’s dignity, about what we were owed. And Vander would just stand nearby, arms crossed, smiling like sunshine

Jinx grinned. “Sounds about right. You should’ve seen him when the enforcers tried to shake the place down a couple years back - Silco talked them out of it. Had ‘em leaving with free drinks and guilt.”

“Ran a revolution from behind a bar,” Viktor mused. “But he did it with words. That’s the part people forget.”

They watched as Silco now stood among a few nobles - Bolbok, Salo, and some banker from Damasia—nodding along as they debated wine varieties like it was a matter of national security. He didn’t look out of place, not even a little. Just calm, controlled, ever the conversational man while the others joked, and gestured wildly around him.

Eventually, Silco excused himself from the group, nodding politely and stepping away to join Vi on the far side of the hall. The banker turned to Cassandra and the others, clearly impressed.

Thank god. 

After a few more pleasant exchanges with the group, they moved on to the next table—this time, a cluster of women who were clearly captivated by Silco’s presence.

“It’s such a delight to meet you at last, Silco,” drawled Lady Marcelle - some noble woman who’d built a fortune in real estate - swirling her wine. “I’ve heard the most intriguing things about Zaun’s… vigorous leadership.”

Silco offered a nod, his posture easy but precise. “Only half of them are true, I’m sure.”

Marcelle laughed, the sound light and practiced. “I do admire a man who can hold a city together - especially one so full of passion, grit, and…” her gaze flicked down, then up again, “endurance.”

He didn’t flinch. “Zaun’s people are nothing if not resilient.”

“Mm. And resourceful, I hear. Quite skilled with their hands.” She stepped slightly closer, voice dipped in velvet. “One wonders what other talents lie beneath all that soot and ambition.”

Silco’s smile was faint, unreadable. “We are a people forged by necessity, Lady Marcelle. What we lack in polish, we make up for in survival.”

“Oh, I’m not talking about polish.” Her eyes gleamed. “I’ve always found something deeply alluring about men who build empires from nothing.”

He took a measured sip of his drink. “Empires built from nothing don’t leave much room for… leisure.”

“A shame,” she said coyly. “I’m sure you could be quite the companion, if you allowed yourself to be.”

Silco tilted his head slightly, a flicker of amusement in his expression. “I’m afraid my interests lie elsewhere. Independence, after all, demands focus.”

There was a pause. Then Marcelle smiled again, cooler this time. “Naturally. How noble of you.”

“Not noble,” Silco said, voice smooth and steel-edged. “Just Zaunite.”

From across the room, Cassandra gave a quiet snort behind her glass. He was good. Too good.

After a moment, they excused themselves from the table, Silco’s mind already moving on to the next task at hand. As they moved through the crowd, Silco didn’t even need to glance at Cassandra to know she was enjoying herself.

“Smooth,” Cassandra murmured once Marcelle had wandered off, amusement curling in her voice.

Silco didn’t look at her, just sipped his drink. “She wasn’t the first to try. Won’t be the last.”

“You handled it well,” she said. “Almost charming.”

He glanced her way with a dry look. “Careful. People might start thinking I enjoy these events.”

Cassandra smiled, eyes scanning the room. “You’re good at reading them. Talking without saying anything real.”

“Old habit,” Silco replied. “One I had to learn long before I ever set foot in a ballroom.”

—- 

Jinx didn’t quite fit the gala scene - her wildness frayed at the edges of her silk-draped figure like static in a polished room. She didn’t mind. The chandeliers were too bright, the laughter too fake. So she slipped away, weaving through gold-laced gowns and sparkling glasses until she found a quieter corner.

That peace didn’t last long.

A noble, slick-haired and smug, clocked her from across the room. His smile was all teeth.

“Well, what do we have here?” he said, sauntering up with the slow, heavy confidence of someone who’d never been told no. “You’re not like the rest of them. I like that.”

Jinx stiffened. “Thanks,” she said flatly, taking a step to the side.

He followed.

“How about a drink? Just you and me.” His grin widened. “Bet you’ve got some interesting stories to tell. Or maybe... show.”

Jinx forced a laugh, trying to shake him. “Hard pass, but thanks.”

“Oh, come on now,” he said, his voice dropping low, intimate in a way that made her stomach twist. “I like a girl with fire. Bet you’ve got plenty of energy in you…”

His hand clamped around her wrist.

“Don’t- ” she started, voice sharp.

Then his fingers started to slide down, toward her waist.

“Let go,” she snapped, yanking back. Her pulse was thrumming now, her breath coming faster. She hated this feeling—trapped, cornered, helpless.

And across the room, Silco saw her.

His un-marred eye narrowed, focus sharpening like a blade catching light. He was mid-conversation - Cassandra and Tobias chatting with a pair of foreign dignitaries - but the moment he caught the angle of Jinx’s shoulders, the tension in her limbs, he knew.

“Excuse me,” Silco said coldly, and stepped away.

The noble didn’t see him coming. He was too busy trying to press closer, smirking like he’d already won.

Then a voice cut through the air - low, frigid.

“I suggest you take your hands off her.”

The man turned.

And froze.

The color drained from his face the second his eyes met that gaze.

The red scar. The jagged posture. Scarred eye like a smoldering ember.

The Eye of Zaun.

“Shit,” the man whispered.

Silco didn’t stop walking until he was inches from him. His presence was calm, but it was the kind of calm that came just before something exploded.

“She said no,” Silco said softly. “Do you need that translated?”

The man laughed nervously, loosening his grip. “I-I didn’t mean anything by it - just being friendly- ” 

“Is that what you call cornering a young woman and laying your hands on her?” Silco’s tone was quiet, clinical. That made it worse. “Where I’m from, that’s the kind of behavior that gets corrected.”

The man visibly flinched.

Silco took another step forward.

“Touch her again,” he said, “and I’ll show you what correction looks like.”

The noble swallowed hard, eyes darting to Jinx, then back to Silco. “Understood.”

The creep stumbled away, disappearing into the crowd with his tail between his legs. The air around them still thrummed with tension, the echo of what had just happened clinging like smoke. Jinx stood where he’d left her, her posture stiff, shoulders high like drawn wires. Her breath came in short, frantic bursts, barely audible above the background hum of the gala.

Silco turned to her slowly.

The hard lines in his face, usually unreadable, gave way to something quieter, something that almost looked like worry. He stepped toward her with measured steps, his eye scanning her like a weapon trying to gauge the damage. She hadn’t moved. Just stood there frozen, blinking too fast, her chest rising and falling unevenly.

He stopped just in front of her. His voice, when it came, was softer than usual. Still controlled, but careful.

“Jinx.”

She didn’t respond. Her eyes were wide, flicking between the crowd as though still looking for danger. The nobles and diplomats around them blurred into an indistinct wash of motion and meaningless chatter. At that moment, there was no ballroom, no polished marble or chandeliers. Just her. And him.

Silco reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder - not roughly, but firm enough to anchor her.

“Look at me,” he said, more urgently this time.

She blinked, once, twice. Slowly, her head lifted, and she met his gaze. Her eyes, usually so bright and sharp, shimmered with something more fragile. Fear. Confusion. A rare, trembling kind of vulnerability that she couldn’t hide behind wild laughter or quick words.

“I...” Her voice cracked. “I didn’t expect that. I thought I was... fine. I thought I could handle it.”

Silco exhaled through his nose, the sound almost imperceptible. Something in him twisted - some old memory clawing its way back up. Cold hands in dark laboratories. The flash of a metal baton in an alley. His own voice as a boy, begging a guard to stop. He knew this feeling too well.

His tone lowered, more breath than speech. “You don’t have to handle everything on your own. I’m here.”

He stepped closer. His hand moved from her shoulder to her back, slow, deliberate. Then, almost without thinking, he pulled her into a brief, instinctive hug.

Jinx froze in his arms, the tension still pulsing through her limbs. She was still uncertain to trust this safety, even after years of Silco assuring and proving to her she was safe with him, it was hard to trust. Contact without pain. Someone holding her because they cared, not because they wanted to break her.

But Silco didn’t let go.

His arms weren’t tight - just enough to hold her steady, to say I’ve got you without needing the words.

After a long beat, Jinx’s body relaxed. Not completely. But enough. Her head dropped slightly, and she let herself lean into him.

“I hate feeling like this,” she mumbled into his chest. “I hate being scared.”

Silco’s jaw tightened. The ache behind his eye sharpened, and he pulled back just enough to see her face. His thumb brushed lightly over her cheek, not quite a caress, but close. He looked at her - really looked at her - and for once, didn’t see the chaos, the volatility, the fire he’d honed into a weapon. He saw the girl who used to cry herself to sleep after nightmares. The one who still needed someone to promise they’d stay.

“You don’t have to be strong all the time, Jinx,” he said. “But you don’t have to carry it alone either. I’ve got you.”

Her eyes glistened in the low light, soft and searching. “Promise?”

The way she asked it made his chest pull tight. It was the same question she’d used when she was smaller, curled up in a threadbare blanket, whispering through tears. Will you stay? Will you protect me?

He gave a faint smile. “I promise. You and me against the storms, Jinx.”

A long breath escaped her lips, shaky but calmer. She nodded, brushing quickly at her face with the back of her hand as the weight of the gala - the glimmering, watching eyes - seeped back in around them.

“I’m fine,” she muttered, voice wobbling but trying to sound tougher than she felt. “I just…” She trailed off, her gaze falling to the other end of the room, Silco followed it. 

Ekko. 

Chatting with a group of nobles, clearly out of his depth, he seemed nervous, yet still smiled and laughed when needed, spoke when needed. 

He looked back to Jinx. a small smile on her face, eyes ever so slightly wider, faint pink dusting her cheeks. 

“ Oh ” Silco said aloud, Jinx noticed, looking at the floor, “Shut up” 

“The boy saviour?” He asked, “Stop it, please” they both laughed a little. 

“I know you dont…like him” Jinx explained, “Im not his number one fan” Silco said, Jinx sighed. 

“However” He said, “If you like him, I’ll tolerate him” 

Jinx beamed.

Really beamed.

And Silco - well, he had already resigned.

“You know I’d do anything for you, right?” he muttered, a little quieter now, a little more sincere.

She blinked up at him. “...Really?”

“Really.”

A pause. Her grin turned mischievous. “Okay, so- can I-”

“For Janna’s sake,” he groaned, waving her off, “Go. Your knight in shining armor awaits.”

“Shut up,” she hissed, already halfway turning.

“Princess and the court jester,” he added airily, eyes twinkling.

“I’m walking away now,” she warned.

“Run to the arms of your precious boy saviour ,” he called, raising his voice just enough to make her twitch.

“I actually hate you.”

“Whatever you say.”

She flipped him off over her shoulder, cheeks glowing full pink, and Silco just stood there, smug, victorious, the rarest smile tugging at his mouth.

Jinx didn’t look back, but her steps were practically floating.

Silco muttered to himself, shaking his head with mock dismay:

“Teenagers. Disgusting.”

He drew in a slow breath, turning back toward the nobles. The mask returned, cold and composed, fitting snugly over his features.

But the moment had left a mark.

As he approached, the murmurs picked up. A few glances were exchanged. Tobias and Cassandra stood nearby, but it was one of the minor nobles - some slick-haired brat with too much champagne, who leaned forward with a smirk.

“Bit protective of your... companion, aren’t you?” the man said. “Quite the fatherly instinct, I’d say.”

The words hung in the air like oil on water.

Silco’s gaze slid toward him.

“She’s my daughter,” he said quietly, but the edge in his tone could’ve cut steel. “We survived together. I’ll be damned if I let some creep like that touch her.”

The noble’s grin faltered. The silence that followed wasn’t awkward, it was clarifying.

Tobias let out a soft chuckle, breaking the tension with practiced ease. “Dads and daughters... they have a way of making us do things we didn’t think we could.”

Cassandra gave a small nod, her arms crossed, but her eyes softened with something like respect.

Silco’s expression didn’t shift much, but something glinted at the corner of his mouth, half amusement, half warning.

“Besides,” he said, “you nobles have no idea what it’s like down there. Creeps think they can do whatever they want. I’ve got no patience for it. Let them try something like that again.”

There was no mistaking the message: Try it, and you’ll find out what Zaun does to monsters.

Silence lingered for a breath too long. Then conversation resumed, lighter, more careful now. The crowd moved on. So did Silco.

But a quiet perimeter formed around him. Not out of fear alone, but respect.

And just behind his sharpened posture, there was still the faint echo of the girl in his arms, and the vow he’d made again.

You and me against the storms.

—- 

Jinx took a breath, pushing herself to walk over to Ekko’s side. The smile on her face was a little too bright, the kind that tried to hide a lot of the mess she was still sorting out.

Ekko noticed her approach immediately, his gaze flicking to her with that same warm, concerned look. He didn’t even need to ask - he just knew.

“You good?” he asked, voice low, a little hesitant, but still full of that caring undertone that made Jinx feel like she was more than just a mess of feelings.

She shrugged lightly, the smile on her lips turning a little more genuine, even if it was still shaky. “Yeah... just... you know, creeps,” she muttered, not wanting to dwell on the moment from earlier, but her eyes still had that faint trace of unease.

Ekko’s expression softened, and before she could even process it, his hand brushed lightly against her arm, a simple gesture, but the warmth of it made her pulse jump. He didn't need to say anything, but that small touch, the way his hand lingered just for a second longer than necessary, made something inside her relax.

“You sure you’re alright?” His hand slid down to her wrist, fingers just barely grazing her skin, a silent promise of comfort.

Jinx swallowed, feeling the pink that’d been slowly creeping up her neck return with full force. She was trying not to let the warmth in her chest grow too fast. But damn it, he was so close.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady, even as her pulse raced at the innocent contact. She leaned a little closer to him, but didn’t pull away from the touch. She didn’t want to.

Ekko’s smile grew just a little, the playful spark in his eyes softening as he kept his hand there, steady and calm. “Good. ‘Cause if anyone’s gonna deal with those assholes, it’s me,” he said, the teasing edge back in his voice, but it was wrapped in something deeper, something she couldn’t quite place.

“Mm, I think I’m capable of handling my own creeps, thanks,” she shot back with a little smirk, but her heart was still fluttering in her chest.

He chuckled, that warmth never leaving his eyes as he pulled his hand back, but not without giving her a lingering glance that made her feel like he’d just done more than touch her wrist. 

Like he'd touched something inside her too. Ignited some old flame deep in her soul. 

—-

The ballroom shimmered with golden light, the walls reflecting the grandeur of Piltover’s elite. Councilors, nobles, and dignitaries waltzed stiffly across the polished floor, their movements practiced but lifeless, mechanical. The music was elegant, precise, and utterly devoid of soul.

Among the gathered Zaunites, a small group stood watching from the sidelines, unimpressed.

“Gods, this is painful,” Jinx muttered, arms crossed. “They move like they’ve got sticks shoved-” Vi hit her lightly on the arm before she could finish her sentence.  

Ekko snorted. “They’ve got no rhythm, no flow. Just-” He mimicked the jerky movements of the nobles, eliciting a laugh from their crew.

Vi, sipping a stolen flute of champagne, arched her brow. “Well, why don’t you show ‘em how it’s done?”

Jinx grinned wickedly. “You wanna start a scene, boy savior?”

Ekko cracked his neck, holding out a hand. “Let’s give ‘em something to talk about.”

Jinx took it, and in an instant, they stepped onto the floor. The movement was seamless, like slipping into an old habit. The nobles barely had time to register their presence before Ekko spun Jinx into the center of the room.

The orchestra hesitated for only a moment, then, as if recognizing the shift, picked up their pace.

Ekko and Jinx danced like they were born for it. Not stiff and formal like the Piltover elite, but alive . Every step was fluid, every motion an unspoken conversation. They moved as one, bodies in perfect sync, spinning, dipping, lifting. Jinx was weightless in Ekko’s arms, her blue braids trailing behind her as he swept her off her feet, spinning her midair before setting her down with effortless grace.

The room gasped. Whispers spread. This wasn’t just dancing - it was a spectacle. A performance. A declaration.

The first clap came from somewhere in the crowd. Then another. Then an eruption of applause. People cheered as Jinx leapt into Ekko’s arms, flipping backward before he caught her again. She laughed, her voice wild and carefree, while Ekko, grinning, spun them into a final, dramatic dip.

Flashlights struck like lightning, cameras clicked furiously, The press was loving it.

Silco, standing at the edge of the room, watched the scene unfold with unreadable eyes. The roaring applause, the awestruck nobles, the way Ekko and Jinx commanded the floor like they belonged there.

He exhaled slowly, tipping back his drink.

They’d make a good couple.

Chapter Text

The first week in Viktor had spent almost every day in the lab and every night in the hospital, sleeping on shitty chairs or curled up next to Jayce, the doctors and nurses didn't bother him. Viktor had the sneaking suspicion Doctor Tobias Kirammen had something to do with it. 

By day 8 that very same Doctor urged Viktor to go home, get some sleep, but home…home felt like a horrible place to be. Viktor did not want to go back to his apartment, cold, empty, alone. 

But going to Jayce’s would’ve been worse, his simple presence etched into the very walls of the apartment. But…Viktor didn't want to go to his apartment. 

He went to Jayce’s, he already had a whole drawer of clothes there so it wasn't a big deal, Jayce’s apartment was like another home, and Viktor, while it pained his heart to be surrounded by a man that wasn't there, something also set him at ease being surrounded by the whispers of Jayce’s life. 

It was a conflicting jumble of emotions he would rather not unravel. But he slept well that night, in Jayce’s bed, though he missed the warmth of the other man. 

By day 9 Viktor found himself in routine, wake up, meeting with the council, in the lab, meeting with Mel, she brought coffee every time, more lab work, more testing on the Hexcore, maybe another councilor would drop in, more failures from the Hexcore, maybe he would eat something, go to the Hospital to see Jayce. 

No changes as of yet, Doctor Kirammen always said, though he’d always remind Viktor to remain hopeful. 

Hope and faith were all Viktor had right now, more often than not he found himself begging Janna in his mind to cast a spell and bring him back. 

Viktor would go home long after sunset, shower, get dressed, fall into sleep, sometimes he would dream, often nightmares, other times it was endless black and he would wake at obscure hours, and go to the lab. 

One dramatic shift; the lack of pain, no more struggle to get out of med, no more plethora’s of pills to take, the twenty minute walk to the lab was cut to ten minutes, he could breath, truly breath, no more hacking coughs interrupting his work, the fatigue came from lack of proper sleep and nutrition now rather than his body slow decay. 

On day 10 Viktor expected to see Jayce at the lab, he wasn't there, he must've been at the forge, Viktor pulled out two cups for coffee and…

He put the second one back, wiped away a tear, and realised he had ten minutes until he had to leave for the council meeting that morning. 

On day 12 during their morning meeting Viktor made Mel laugh with some shitty joke, the world felt a little brighter that day. 

On day 13 Viktor went to grab his cane only to remember he didn't need it. In his shower that morning he noticed the old bruises from his braces, what he once believed to be permanent, were about half way through healing. The world felt a little slower that day.

On day 14 Ekko appeared in the lab with a sandwich. They talked about their lives over the last few years, Ekko and his missions with the Firelights, Viktor and his work at Hextech. It was tense, Ekko obviously had his reservations about Topside, Viktor couldn't and wouldn't ever dream of blaming him. 

Viktor missed his little brother, hearing his crazed stories from days adventures, his inventions gone wrong, the ones gone right. Ekko missed his older brother, always kind, always funny, always able to help mend a mechanism. 

Once Ekko left Viktor was left alone, he sat up on the bench, swinging his legs, totally mesmerized by the feeling and freedom of it for twenty minutes. 

On day 15 Viktor rolled over in bed expecting Jayce to be there, he wasn't. Viktor ran to work that day, bouncing over building roofs as the streets were too congested. He finally understood why Vi always adored it, he stopped outside the lab, breathing heavily from his adventure he believed would only exist in his dreams.

He went into the Lab, called out for Jayce, excited to tell him…Jayce still wasn't there. 

So he went to the hospital that night and told him. Told him about jumping over roofs, running across them, sliding down tiles, the utter freedom of it all. 

He cried when Jayce didn't respond, only the ever-beeping machines. 

On day 17 Silco invited him down to The Last Drop, Viktor agreed, he met up with Vi at the bridge and they bounced over buildings and shops, evaded gangsters, totally free of everything. 

He almost forgot the sound of her laughter, that childish glee when Viktor got close to catching her. 

She was always the fastest of them all. 

Ekko and Jinx were at one end of the bar, messing with some mechanism like when they were children, Silco was behind the bar endlessly cleaning glasses and pouring drinks like he did when Viktor was young, Vi told stories about her first few days as an enforcer, learning the system, and finding ways to teach her squad about the streets of Zaun and fighting gangsters, as she was telling what very well would've been a dramatic retelling of an ‘intense’ battle, Viktor couldn't help but smile at how normal it seemed. 

Viktor also took mental note of the smile and slight flush of her face at the mention of Caitlyn. 

When Viktor first met Caitlyn years ago, he had that aching heaviness in his heart, thinking they would've gotten along well. 

On the morning of day 18 Viktor got to the hospital early to talk to Jayce, who knows if he could hear him, but one thing remained clear in Viktor's mind; he wished Jayce could meet his family. 

The day went like all others, morning meeting, meeting with Mel, they seemed to be less like meetings at this point, Mel would bring coffee, they would talk for however long they could, they would laugh now, once Viktor mentioned she should probably get to work - they’d been talking for 45 minutes - she lightheartedly groaned about dealing with her mother’s incessant ramblings about Mel’s potential if she dropped her softness. 

They spoke for another half hour, Viktor never mentioned the way Mel’s eyes didn't light up the way her voice did when she spoke about her mother, or the way she tensed at the thought. 

Day 19 Viktor was walking down the halls and overheard the two arguing in Mel’s office, he didn't stay to listen, but Mel seemed quieter that day afterwards. 

That afternoon Silco came by, they talked about everything and nothing, Silco told stories about trying his best to raise Jinx, trial and error, all happy memories, Viktor was happy knowing that Jinx was as safe as one could be in a city of crime and loved endlessly by a man man believed to bear a heart of ice. 

On day 21, three weeks after the attack, everything boiled over and Viktor completely broke down in bed, in Jayce’s bed, he wasn't sure what it was, a sound, a smell, a feeling, but everything became too much too quickly and next thing he knew he was lying against a tear-stained pillow and woke up to puffy red eyes at 2AM. 

He went to the lab. 

On day 23 he was getting really sick of Salo’s bullshit and snapped at him during a council meeting, walked out, Cassandra came by twenty minutes later with a cup of tea, she sat down next to Viktor, took the pencil from his shaking hand and put the cup in front of him.

He told her how the lab was too quiet, it felt like a ghost was lurking in the corner and the Hexcore was smiling at him like the devil when his back was turned. 

She hugged him. She let him cry, it was terrifying, because for a split second Viktor could've sworn it was the arms of his own mother wrapped around him. Not Councilor Kiramman. 

Day 24, he told Mel during their morning coffee about how he was actually sleeping, better than he had in a while, interrupted by the occasional nightmare, sure, he decided not to mention that. 

He also didn't mention how dreams were the only time when Jayce was alive, he slept to see his love, alive, smiling, warm. To feel his touch and hear his laugh, Jayce now existed in Viktor’s dreams. 

Day 25 almost all of Viktor’s bruises had healed, he went to the lab and glared at his old braces, Jinx walked in at some point, sat next to him, she didn't say anything, just sat there and glared with him. 

Vi joined them soon after, followed by Ekko, and the four siblings sat, glaring at the old cages of Viktor’s body. 

Eventually Viktor stood up, running a hand over the House Talis crest imprinted to the leg brace. 

I won't pretend to understand V, I know I can never understand, but I hope you can understand that I care about you, this won't fix your leg or your back, I just hope it will make it a bit easier to get through the day. 

The same words had echoed through his head a couple weeks back when he found his cane in the rubble, Jayce’s bracelet sat on his wrist, it felt heavier all of a sudden. 

Viktor moved his hand from the brace, instead he ran his fingers over the embedded gem. 

If his siblings saw tears falling they didn't mention it. 

Day 26 the lab was too quiet, the Hexcore continued to hum in mockery, and the days started blending together. Viktor started working with Ekko (and by extension Jinx, it was good to see the two hanging around each other again) trying to figure out where to start in the technological reforms of Zaun. Then he went to talk to Mel and they had to start the painstaking process of organizing what could and couldn't take priority, what fell into other areas of the government, what they would need further specification and clarification on. 

Viktor’s brain was melting. 

A thousand sticky notes and tabs later, the two sat on one of the obscenely comfortable sofas in Mel's office, staring at the chaos of their work. ‘

“Remind me to never help build a city ever again” Viktor groaned, “We’re not building a city - we’re reforming it” Mel corrected. 

“Never again” Viktor said, earning a small laugh from Mel. “Especially not with this so-called ‘diplomatic visit’ from Noxus,” Viktor added, stretching his arms behind him. 

“Is my mother still urging you for weapons?” Mel asked, Viktor groaned, “Started with a simple interest in the tech, then questions of how it could be turned into weapons, eh, I managed to evade her incessant nagging” Viktor explained. 

“I am so sorry” Mel groaned, leaning forward to brace her elbows atop her knees, “No need to apologise for someone you are not responsible for” Viktor assured. 

Mel hummed, not quite believing him, “How are you doing?” She asked, quick to change the subject. 

“I’m…” Viktor took a moment to think about his answer. 

“Getting by” He decided on, “This is all new territory, there's a lot happening” 

“It's stressful,” Mel said, “Stressful, overwhelming, and…sudden,” Viktor explained. 

“All we can really do is keep marching forward,” Mel explained. 

“How about you?” Viktor asked, “Same as you I suppose,” Mel says, standing up to look at their work, muttering over the list to herself. 

Not really an answer. 

“We start with the air, from there we can implement mends to everything else” Mel summarized, Viktor stood up, “We’ll work out the finer details with Silco and the other chembarons later” Mel turned to face him and nodded. 

“I need to head back to the lab” He said, packing up his papers, “Thank you Mel, see you tomorrow?” He asked. 

She nodded. 

And the next day - day 27 - she was there in the morning with two coffees in hand. 

They met with Silco and the other Chembarons in the afternoon, Viktor took mental note of the small smiles exchanged between Madame Margot and Mel. 

A few hours later they both returned to the lab to finalise plans and finances along with Silco, only to find someone waiting for them. 

Ambessa. 

Viktor was the first to talk; “I don't recall giving you authorization to be here” he also took mental note of the way Mel’s shoulders seemed to tense, her whole posture straightened. 

Ambessa only smirked, “Its rather peculiar, for the leading man of Hextech and self-proclaimed leader of Zaun to be such difficult men to get ahold of”. 

“Perhaps because you're not someone we consider a person of importance to our cause” Silco said, “I find that you may want to reevaluate that conclusion” Ambessa said, her smile quickly fading. 

“I don't think so, get out” Silco said firmly, “Silco” Viktor said in a warning tone, “Apologies Viktor, I simply do not have the time for a self-righteous warlord to waste my time with her bruised ego” Silco explained simply, stepping in front of the two. 

“Silco” It was Mel’s turn to deliver the warning, Silco did not care, “self-righteous?” Ambessa questioned. 

“Well you called me self-proclaimed, it's only fair, now back to the part where you walk out of this lab as we have some very important business to conduct” Silco said, stepping to the side and gesturing to the door. 

“Mel” Ambessa said simply, Viktor noted the way the younger Medarda’s jaw clenched, “We need to talk.” 

Clearly Silco noticed too. 

“I’m afraid the councilor is preoccupied” Silco said quickly, Mel shot him a look that screamed ‘what the fuck are you doing?’ and he retaliated with a silent ‘let me work’.

“Preoccupied?” Ambessa questioned, “Well I know you haven't noticed given the fact you’ve never stepped foot in Zaun - ideally I would like to keep it that way - regardless, people are starving and dying, as has been our way of life for years” Silco explained, “We’re pretty tired of waiting for change, and Councilor Medarda seems to be one of the few politicians on this side of the river to actually care.” Silco explained, stepping forward until he was closer to Ambessa then most sane people would want to be. 

“So no, you do not need to talk, last I checked your both in the same damn house, if you need to talk it can happen later, maybe after we extend life expectancy in Zaun” Silco explained, slowly, expression stone cold. 

“You dare tell me what to do?” Ambessa asked, “Yes, problem?” Silco asked.

Five seconds. 

For five seconds Viktor was positive that would be the end of Silco, Eye of Zaun, right here, Silco would die. 

For five seconds Mel was fairly certain of it as well. 

Until the sixth second, Ambessa moved one foot. 

Then another, moving past Silco, past the two leaders left of Hextech. 

Then she walked out. 

And the doors closed. 

And Mel’s shoulders dropped. 

“Your fucking crazy” Viktor said, “Tell me something I don't know, lets get to work on this project of yours” Silco said. 

Day 28, Viktor woke up, dried tears on his face, an ache in his chest, something twisted of longing and regret. 

Maybe some guilt as well. 

Because it should've been him, a part of Viktor wished he could go back to sleep to see Jayce again. 

And yet…there was a council meeting in two hours. 

Maybe he could squeeze in a visit to Jayce before the world began making demands of him. 

Chapter Text

In about one month everything had changed for Ekko. 

Not the first time, but sudden major change never failed to catch him completely off guard, totally unexpected. 

And he's not talking about another chem baron attack, or a drop in resources, or more people suddenly appearing at the base. 

No. 

He's talking about the spontaneous revival of his family and working alongside Silco and the other chembarons, working with enforcers, working with the Piltovian Council due to their common hatred for the mad doctor. 

So no, he’ barley even had the time to sit down, take a minute and go ‘what the actual fuck is my life’ as hes been too busy running rampant between Zaun and Piltover and the Firelight base to even have the time to think. 

And…Janna above he hates to admit it - Silco has been helpful. 

So helpful, so has Jinx, its annoying as fuck. 

The first two weeks Ekko couldn't decide if he never wanted to be around Jinx or if he wanted to wrap her up in a hug so she could never leave again, both incredibly conflicting ideologies that kept him up more nights then he would like. 

Then that Gala happened…and they danced, had fun, smiled, she laughed and it made his heart do some kinda flip of insane gymnastic ability. 

However as time went by, Ekko looked forward to seeing Jinx on the rooftops while he was on patrol and knowing he wouldn't have to fight her, he liked going on raids with her and it was nice having someone else being on the other end of her colourful explosions. 

Yet.  

Silco. 

Ekko couldn't decide if he wanted to shoot Silco or stab him, or punch him, or beat him bloody, or something else disgustingly violent. 

He was still really pissed that Silco was able to easily give them locations, patrol schedules, supplies to look for, hints about traps and tricks, because Ekko still hated his guts…but he is allowed to hate someone and simultaneously admit they're helpful. 

He's also an irritatingly good leader and has actually managed to bring some minute order to Zaun in about a month despite having zero control over Shimmer, it was…honestly impressive (don't tell Jinx). 

And that's not even to mention the enforcers, he's working with enforcers, cops, blue demons, blue hunters, etcetera. 

Not only that, no no, but the enforcers that he is working with not only happen to be the Sheriff herself who busted Vi out of Stillwater (He still can't wrap his head around the fact Vi was in Stillwater Hold of all places) some ginger girl who is far to chirpy and honestly a little suspicious,  a fish-man who honestly doesn't say much, and some other guy who weirdly reminds Ekko of Vander. 
Oh and Vi, because she's working with Kirammen to change the enforcer regime. 

Ekko will admit, it's good Vi wants to bring about some change to the system, but as an enforcer? Really?! I mean it's her life or whatever but…as an enforcer?! 

Now Viktor, was he technically working for Topside? Yes. 
Was he actively trying to bring some change to the Undercity given that a series of unfortunate and slightly traumatizing events have led him to be on the council? Yes. 
Is Ekko happy that he is working with Pilties? No. 
Can Ekko admit Hextech is actually pretty fucking cool and Viktor is doing honest work and has clearly been trying to help Zaun for years? Yes. 
Did Ekko miss his older brother? Absolutely. 

Is Ekko pleased that his whackjob of a family is making a somewhat comeback for round two of ‘Survive the Undercity?’...depends on the individuals within the family. Viktor? Yes, Vi? Yes, Jinx? It's complicated, Silco? Ekko couldn't give less of a fuck if the man lives or dies. 

Is Ekko also in desperate need of a nap? Totally, but he doesn't have the time, Doctor Madness is still running around and shimmer is now an even bigger issue. 

And within the last month of these crazed events. Ever since his hijacking and bombing of the council building, Singed has gone completely radio silent, and the lack of success was starting to irritate everyone. 

Ekko and Jinx were slowly wandering over the rooftops of Zaun, awaiting for some kind of hint toward Singed’s whereabouts. 

The boredom was almost deadly. 

“Well, maybe he crawled into a hole and died,” Jinx suggested, while balancing on a pointed rooftop, Ekko following precariously behind her, “That would make our job a lot harder” He said. 

“Oh let me dream, boy saviour” She groaned, jumping down onto a lower roof, followed by Ekko. 

“For all we know, he’s getting eaten by rats right now!” She explained, a slight satisfactory glint in her magenta eyes, Ekko can't decide how he feels about the magenta. He misses the blue, but the pink tone also suits her. 
“Cant imagine they’d like him all that much” she added slightly quieter. 

“I think he's hiding somewhere” Ekko suggested, “Like a coward” 

“Oh come on” Jinx protested, “Have a little fun with it, Little Man, seriously! Really think about it, wildest dreams here!” She explained, Ekko took a moment to think. 

“Drowned in a barrel of shimmer” Ekko said, Jinx beamed, “Fuck yeah! Give the bastard a taste of his own medicine.” 

Their fantasizing was interrupted by a loud bang next to them, the two looked down into an alleyway, Chross’s goons, six of them, canes twirling and all, circling… 

A child? 

Short brown hair, hard hat on its small head, tattered and torn clothing, on the ground, completely surrounded. 

“Oh come on! This is a new low, even for Chross!” Jinx said, “Must be one of the factory kids, come on” Ekko said, the two slowly climbing down onto the ground to surround them. 

Were they outnumbered three-to-one? Yes. 
Did they care? No.  

Jinx moved first, pulling out her blaster and shooting the first three goons, the other three immediately turning to face her, one grabbing the kid by the shoulders, the other two got whacked on the head by Ekko’s club. 

Jinx looked at the kid, bright amber eyes absolutely terrified as the goon had a hard grip on her shoulders, he was gonna say something but- 

A shot, right through the back of his head. His grip loosened and the kid scrambled away before he fell over revealing- 

Caitlyn. 

“Heard a disturbance” She said simply, putting the safety back on her sniper and folding it to sit on her back-holster. 

“We had it handled” Ekko said, “No, you didn't” Caitlyn said simply. 
The kid had pushed herself against a wall, clearly still terrified, and the enforcer hanging nearby was not helping. 

Jinx knelt down in front of her, close, but not too close. 

“Heya squirt” She said, the kid still looking over at Caitlyn, “Ah, don't mind Captain Blueberry, she aint gonna hurt ya” She explained. 

“Blueberry?!” Caitlyn asked, slightly insulted, Jinx shot her a look, something along the lines of shut up, will you? 

“Comin’ from the factories, yeah?” Jinx asked, the kid nodded, “Well, how about this, that guy, there?” She pointed to Ekko, “He’s Ekko, lives in a super cool place, a giant tree, it's got somewhere warm to sleep, food, and maybe some friends” She explained, “wanna check it out?” she asked. 

The kid seemed to contemplate for a moment, looking over to Ekko, then back to Jinx, “It's safe, I promise, probably the safest place down here” Jinx explained, and finally, the kid nodded. 

“Great stuff! Lead the way Boy Saviour” Jinx said, standing upright, “I’ll…leave you both to it” Caitlyn said, the kid still seemed nervous, walking past Caitlyn. 

Jinx took in a deep breath, holding out her hand, “I promise, she's…friendly” Jinx said, the kid gripped onto her hand. 

“Her name is Caitlyn, and shes…trying to do something decent with that blue uniform” Jinx explained, Caitlyn stepped away, nodded at Ekko, and walked away.

And the three made their way to the firelight base. Once they made it through the tunnel entrance, the kid’s eyes widened at the sight of the tree. 

“Not bad, huh?” Jinx asked, crouching next to the kid again, “Lets find ya something to eat, tiny” Jinx said, going to stand up, but the kid grabbed at her shoulder, took Jinx’s hand and held it palm-up. Tracing letters into it with her own small finger. 

I-S-H-A 

“Isha?” Jinx asked, the kid nodded. 

“Well then, let's find you something to eat, Isha” Jinx corrected her earlier sentence, Isha beamed walking alongside Jinx and Ekko, admiring the sights of her new home. 

That whole day, Isha did not leave Jinx’s side, when Jinx moved, she moved, when Jinx crossed her arms, she did too, when Jinx sat, she did too - clearly the kid had taken a liking and Jinx was a bit…concerned? 

Eventually Isha fell asleep, sitting on a pile of pillows next to Jinx, curled against her side. Ekko walked in, lightly knocking on the doorframe. 

“Hey” he said quietly, sitting next to Jinx after she smiled at him. 

“Why me?” Jinx asked, quietly, not to wake up Isha, “Probably because you saved her from those goons” Ekko guessed, his response also soft. 
“Yeah I get that bit…but, there's a difference between admiring someone for saving you and getting glued to their side” Jinx explained. 

“It happens alot” Ekko explained, “The kids just…imprint on someone, they trust you, happens all the time here, you get a tail, and it's not a bad thing” Ekko explained. 

“I know just…” She sighed, looking down at the little girl asleep at her side, wild brown hair flying out in almost all directions, hard hat forgotten next to her. “I…I’m not sure I'm the best role model, ya know?” 

“Well, you're smart, strong, resilient” Ekko listed. 
“Crazy” Jinx huffed. 
“Bold” Ekko suggested, “Seriously, I think it's gonna be ok” he assured her. 

Neither of them moved that night. 

The following day, Mel appeared. She came by the base a lot, really to get ideas for what needed to be done, keeping track of what was and wasn't working, helping get supplies (very easy to do when you're the richest person in Piltover) and occasionally helping around the base. 

At first, Ekko will admit, he didn't trust Mel, but once she really showed an interest, and a passion to help the Undercity, he trusted her a little. 

She was talking with Ekko, when Jinx appeared, Isha trailing close behind. 

“Hey Goldie!” Jinx said, “Jinx, good to see you again” Mel smiled, looking down at the child. 

“Isha, this is Mel, she's another super awesome person, Mel this is Isha, a super awesome child” Jinx introduced the two. 

“Mel is not only one of the sparkliest individuals I know, but also a freakishly good politician” Jinx explained, Isha looked at Jinx confused. 

“I argue with people for a living” Mel explained simply, “And I usually win” She added, Isha smiled at that. 

“Go grab some breakfast kid, I’ll stay here?” Jinx suggested, Isha nodded, waving at Mel before rushing off to the mess hall. 

“Am I privileged to have an explanation here, or is this something you’d rather not discuss?” Mel asked, “Picked her up yesterday, we think she worked in Chross’s factories” Ekko explained. 

“And she's imprinted onto Jinx” He added, Jinx laughed lightly. 

“Yeah im not actually too sure what im doing” Jinx explained, “All the best things are unknown, Jinx” Mel said. 

“Yeah but knowing is pretty handy” Jinx said, looking behind her to where Isha had run off. 
“You’ll figure it out, you strike me as an adaptive individual” Mel said, Jinx smiled at that. 

“Anyways, how many things do we need to walk through?” Ekko asked, not that he would love to talk about the complexities of raising orphan kids. But time was of the essence.

“Do you want the actual answer or the vague one?” Mel asked, “Lets start vague” Ekko requested, “Only a few” Mel shrugged. 

Ekko took a deep breath, “And the actual answer?” 

“Sixty-three” Mel said softly, Ekko put his hands on his hips and dropped his head, “Come on, if we get started now you can be done in time to get a decent night's sleep” Mel said, Ekko smiled at Jinx and walked away with Mel. 

And Jinx went to the mess hall, quickly finding Isha amongst the crowd of loud and hungry children, the little girl quickly shuffled to the side to make space for Jinx.

Maybe this would be a good change. She could adapt. 

Chapter Text

Most major events in Vi’s life start with an explosion, fire, ash, death as well. 

Losing her parents? The bridge was charred, amber skies still haunted her dreams with her mothers dead eyes. 

That day at the canary? Explosion, fire, ash, she left Powder, Vander died, Mylo died, Claggor died, she got taken to Stillwater. 

Stillwater ended the way it began. Her sister set off an explosion. Only this time someone got curious and followed the breadcrumbs to Vi. Caitlyn busted her out, they ran through the Undercity and…well. 

Her sister was a terrorist, working for Silco, Ekko was fighting her to the death every other Wednesday, then another explosion, she ended up at Caitlyn’s house, Council meeting, that didn't work, get drunk, drunken slumber interrupted by some ginger with a bob and a smile way to bright for such an early hour of the morning. 

Another explosion, fucked up tea party, crazy doctor man blows up the council. Everyone survives…almost, some guy named Jayce didn't, but did! Cus some weird glowing-magic thing that Viktor, her brother- oh yeah her brother Viktor she hadn't seen in years who was a leading scientist at Hextech, science making magic, actually pretty cool stuff. 

Regardless, Viktor likes him, alot . And Singed, Or Doctor Corin Reveck as the Piltover archives know him as, is on the run and determined to take over the Undercity. 

And somehow, between reuniting her crazed not-so-dead-afterall family and fighting a mad doctor, she has found herself living at Kirraman estate alongside Caitlyn, her mother and father, and now she's an enforcer. Part of a very specific task force determined to track down Singed and bring as much peace to Zaun as is possible, working alongside Ekko and Silco…oddly enough. 

Vi still hates Silco's guts with a passion that rivals the fires from that bridge war. 

Doesn't matter if he actually cares about her sister, or her brother, it doesn't matter if he's trying to do what's best for Zaun. He killed her dad. 

But yeah, back to the enforcer thing, because what the actual fuck how did she end up adorning the devils blue? 

Something something revenge, make the world a better place, kick ass, change the entire regime to make sure no other Zaunites suffer at the hands of the enforcers as has been their way of life for decades, make sure no other kid spends their childhood running from the cops. Yeah, that seems right. 

There were five of them in the task force. 

Herself, obviously, Caitlyn as well, who had also received an emergency promotion (Much to her mother's disdain) to Sheriff of Piltover after Marcus was killed by Jinx’s weird little bug-bomb things.

Steb, some sorta cross between fish and man, he was nice, silent for the most part but smart and sneaky. 

Maddie, the ginger with the nerve to wake up a very hungover Vi, in her opinion she was too…chirpy, smiling, nice, it freaked Vi out a bit to be entirely honest. 

And Loris, they’d met after the council meeting went wrong, he handed her a bottle, they both got shit faced, she wasn't too sure how he fit into the equation but he was nice. 

Almost reminded her of Vander sometimes. 

Regardless, the five of them spent a lot of time in Zaun, working with Ekko, Jinx sometimes, Silco alot…irritatingly, they travelled through the lanes, following leads that usually ended in dead ends, literally and figuratively. They fought off shimmer-addicts and Chross’ goons, helped the Firelights with raids, each day dragged them to a new area of the Undercity, their leads dragged them up and down each level, every nook and cranny, and at the end of each day they crossed the bridge and went home, only to do it all over again. 

Occasionally Caitlyn would meet with the council, Vi went with her each time, a sort of unspoken rule between the two. 

And every time Vi struggled to comprehend that her own brother sat on that Council, among the Pilties that had torn their world apart, it was a horrid mix of emotions. 

Yes, Piltover had plenty of opportunities, Viktor took a chance attending the Academy and it has led to great things, his survival, his success, Hextech. 

But she remembered being young and how she hardly ever saw her brother, she remembered thinking of him when the Bridge war broke out, they didn't see him for days. Piltover stole him from home, from her. 

Viktor wasn't there when she needed him. 

Well…now he was, she knew where he lived, she knew where he worked, knew how he took his coffee (with an insane amount of sugar, honestly, he should've had a heart attack by this point). 

So yeah, after one particularly rough shift she went to go see her brother. She needed someone older to…do something, she doesn't know what. 

Viktor did. 

She walked into the lab, practically dragging her feet, Viktor stood from his spot and immediately went to wrap her in a hug, how could he tell she needed a hug? Some sorta magic big brother powers. Supposedly, Vi was in too much pain to comprehend that. 

“Bad shift?” He asked, Vi sighed, “You wouldn't believe me”. 

They pulled away from the hug, Viktor's hands still on her shoulders, that stupid smirk on his face; “Try me”. 

He guided her to sit down next to where he was working and used the little kitchenette to make her something warm and sweet. 

“Well, it started out fine, you know? Meet up at the station, cross the bridge, patrol the lanes. Arrest a few shimmer-runners, more patrol, more arrests, get punched in the face” 

“Vi!” Viktor exclaimed, “It's fine” She insisted, he was not convinced. 

“As I was saying” she continued, “Give some food to some starving kids, help some injured people, shut down another factory and get Silco’s guys onto it, follow another dead lead, back to the station to process all the data and stuff and…” She trailed off. 

Viktor reappeared in front of her, setting down the mug next to her, a second one where he was sitting and- oh for Janna’s sake, a medkit. 

“Seriously?” She asked, “I can see the bruise under your hair, you idiot.” He said, there was no bite to his words, only concern and care. 

She let him push her hair back to reveal the injury, she hadn't really had a chance to look at it, “Violet” He muttered, “It's not that bad, ok? There's only one of you in front of me” she said with a smile, Viktor huffed a laugh. 

“Continue with your story, you made it back to the station?”

“Yeah, station, so there's this one officer, actually, no, several officers. That…you know, they’re enforcers , as far as they're concerned I’m a filthy street rat who should be thrown back into Stillwater, they don't hesitate to tell Caitlyn or just say it to my face” Vi explained. 

“And today this one group had a go at me, about how I just- ow” She was cut off by a sting at her injury, “Sorry” Viktor said quickly. 

“About how I just wear the blue for ‘Kirammans dirty fantasies’ and that she’ll throw me back in Stillwater soon, one of them asked if I preferred cash or coin for ‘my services’ and…you know, a few insults here and there” Vi explained slowly. 

“I would love to say they stop saying those things” Viktor said, Vi looked at him, confused and…concerned. 

“Nobels, Its why I don't do galas, they all call me ‘Talis’s toy’ and a plethora of other nicknames, circulated the newspaper sometimes” Viktro explained, putting a bandaid over Vi’s wound. 

“Seriously?” Vi asked, “Your the founder-” 

“Co-founder” Viktor corrected her, closing the medkit, “ Co-founder of Hextech, your a fucking genius, and they just…dumb you down to a whore?” She asked. ‘’

“You're a brilliant fighter, you're smart, kind, honest, and they dumb you down to a whore aswell” Viktor explained, “No matter what we do, how hard we fight, or how well we perform, they will always see stereotypes over us” he said. 

“Then why do you work for them?” Vi asked. Viktor sighed, sitting down next to Vi. 

“I doubt you will remember the day we got the letter that I got into the academy” He began, “Kinda, I remember Vander and mum being really happy, I remember you being happy” Vi explained. 

“We were, everyone was excited because…well Vander always said I was too bright to rot in the lanes” 

“He was right” Vi assured, “I suppose so, but do you know the real reason I do this, all of this” Viktor said, gesturing to the room. 

Vi shook her head. Reaching for her mug of- oh wow, that nice stuff. Warm too. 

“Because you don't deserve to rot in the lanes either, neither does Jinx, or Ekko, Mylo or Claggor didn't, hundreds of kids don't deserve it, our people don't deserve to die” Viktor explained, “Doing this ensures a chance, a chance for healing, for growth, for change” 

“For progress” Vi finished, Viktor nodded, “I know Topside…sucks, I'm not going to sugarcoat it Bunny, it really sucks, its a city that covers its crimes in gold and bright academics, there are people that believe we are unworthy, this whole society, this city, is built on the prejudice of an entire nation. Piltover only exists because of Zaun, and the Undercity only exists because of Piltover” Viktor explained. 

“Hate me for blending with Pilties all you want, but I fight because I can, because there are people that can't fight that wish they could.” 

“Hate? Janna, Viktor I don't hate you I just…wish it was different” Vi explained. 

“Isnt that why you wear the blue? To be different?” He asked, Vi sighed, “yeah, I want things to be different” 

“Those officers think things can't be different, the nobles think things can't be different. You know what else drives me to work?” Viktor asked, that stupid smirk on his face again. 

“Seeing their faces when I prove change can happen, that magic can be harnessed, that Zaunites are smart and more capable then they could ever have thought, that is the real prize” Viktor explained, Vi laughed lightly. 

“See, you really are still my brother, bright, but also a slight menace” Vi explained, “Oh just ask the council, I’m a pain in their prissy asses” Viktor beamed. 

—- 

Nighttimes in Zaun aren't meant to be friendly. 

The city itself is dark during the day, when the sun sets and the light fades, shadows blend into each stone, people move unseen in the darkness, moonlight is too pale to even try and break through the heavy smog, nighttime is when the worst things always happen in Zaun, the greatest battles, the most gruesome deaths. 

There was a reason Vander always forbade Vi and her siblings from leaving the Bar after the clock struck five in the evening, too dangerous, unpredictable, uncertain. 

It still gave her the creeps, the nighttime, she hated the dark. She spent too much time in a dark cell in Stillwater. 

Being accustomed to something does not equate to tolerance or likeness. 

“Vi” Caitlyn’s voice pierced the ringing in her ears, Vi looked to her…friend? Is that what you call a person who freed you from prison, trusted you without a second thought, followed you through the Undercity, the person who stood by your side and offered you a second chance, and a home? 

There's gotta be some word for that in some book. 

“Are you alright?” She asked, oh she was talking again. “Yeah,” Vi smiled. 

Caitlyn didn't buy it. 

“Lets just get this over with and get out of here” Vi said, she did not want to be in the depths of Level 7 any longer then she needed to be. 

It was a quick job, another shimmer factory, take the outside guards, Silco and some of his cronies were there as well to take guard, catch anyone trying to escape, while the enforcers would get inside and take out anyone else, question anyone they could. 

They were hiding out in an old rickety building for the meantime, until the guard shift in 15 minutes. 

“You always did hate the dark” A voice said from behind her, causing her to jump and curse quietly. 

Silco the shadow fucker himself. 

“And you have a habit of living in the dark” Vi said, “Do you have to stalk the shadows?” she added. 

“The shadows are certainly nicer than you” Silco smiled viciously at the pink-head, Vi rolled her eyes. 

“You know what you're doing, right?” He asked, “Get in there, punch some guys, question the ones that still have the teeth left to talk, leave you to conquer the factory” Vi explained, Silco huffed a laugh. 

“Leave me to shut down the factory” Silco corrected, “Take all the shimmer out and destroy it, turn the building into something more useful, a clinic maybe” He explained. 

“A clinic?” Vi asked, “Level 7 is also known as ‘junkie’s land’ most of the addicted live down here, it’ll be good to have somewhere they can get clean or use safely” Silco explained. 

“Wow, what's this?” Vi asked.

“What's what?” He asked, “This fucking...nice bullshit, what, you care about drug addicts?” Vi asked. 

“It's easy to care when you’ve been there” Silco shrugged, moving past Vi and looking out the window. 

“Been there?” Maddie echoed, Silco sighed, “Been there” he said simply, moving away from the window, fidgeting with his hands. 

“Believe or not I do actually care about this nation, Violet” Silco explained, “Sure, like how you care about me getting chucked into Stillwater.” 

The overlord of Zaun seemed humoured by the idea. 

“What are you- Vi, of course I care, Janna, you can't possibly think I sent you-” He laughed until he locked eyes with Vi, “You…you think I wanted you in Stillwater?” He asked, almost… pained , no that cant be right, surly her head wound from the other day was fucking with her.

“Why else would I have been there?” Vi asked, “A two headed snake named Marcus with a kink for putting innocents in jail comes to mind” Silco explained, “Vi I never wanted you in Stillwater, I didn't even know you were in Stillwater, I thought you were dead.” 

The confession struck Vi like lightning. 

Marcus just…threw her in there? No other reason. 

“Then why did you try and kill me?” She asked, Silco sighed, “I thought…you would be a threat to Jinx, you left her in fire and ash, after a complete accident, I spent years trying to erase you because nothing hurts more than losing a sibling after a complete accident trying to help people” Silco explained, leaning against a pillar with his arms crossed. 

“Shes not the only one that lost siblings that night” Vi said, “And your not the first to be caught in a web of loss and judgments of who is at fault” Silco clarified, the guards outside moved. 

“Thats our que” Maddie said, the enforcers loading their weapons up, Vi clicked her handguards into place, prototypes, she was still working on an actual pair of gauntlets in her free time…she didn't have much of that. 

“Oh and Vi” Silco said, Vi turned, expecting a sassy quip, “Don't block with your face” yup there it is. 

Silco grabbed a bomb from the table, the gang moved through the shadows, Silco threw the bomb in one direction and they ran in the other, diverting the guards sending them straight into a hoard of Silco’s cronies. 

They moved through the door and one by one took down the armed guards, some difficulty here and there, but no one died and all the gangsters ended up all nicely tied up like presents. 

“Woah thats a fuckton of shimmer” Steb said, looking into one of the larger barrels, standing on his tiptoes on the ledge, Silco grabbed him by the collar pulling him back to the even-ground. 

“Don't fall in” he warned, “That's pure shimmer, you fall it, it’ll disintegrate your skin, your muscles, your skeleton” he explained, noticing Steb’s concerned face, “Oh calm down, it’ll fry your nerves, you won't even feel the worst of it.”  

Steb stepped further-back from the tub. 

He crouched in front of one the tied up men, “Torrence” He smiled, ripping the duct tape off his mouth,“I wasn't expecting to see you leading a band of wannabe crooks” he said. 

The man, Torrence, skinny, clad in cargo-green straw thin blonde hair on his head, stormy grey eyes trying to seem threatening but really he looked terrified.  

“Ya fuckin traitor” Torrence spat in Silco’s face, he only rolled his eyes, “how about this, you can insult me all you want, after you tell me where Singed is” Silco offered. 

“Or you can let me pin you down and-” He didn't get to finish his threat as Silco put the tape right back over his mouth. 

“I doubt you’ll have any better luck with him, Sherriff” Silco said, turning to Caitlyn, she only sighed. 

“Why do you say that?” She asked, “Torrence is the type of man who feeds into the stereotypical Zaunite” Silco rolled his one eye. 

“Try him” he pointed over to another man, bigger than Torrence, black hair sweeping over his blue eyes, deep red top and loose black pants. 

“Always been a squealer" He said, moving to the side and sifting through the files, “Ya motherfucker!” Torrence spoke up, the tape fell off his damn mouth, Silco turned back around. 

“Leavin’ us to fend for ourselves”
“You didn't have to join Chross you did that totally of your own freewill” Silco said 

“I- can- you” Torrence sputtered, “You stand there all fucking high and mighty, how many of your friends have died on your fucking hands, huh?!” He asked with a knowing smirk. 

Silco didn't budge. 

“Word gets round quick, ya know, where you got that nasty scar” He kept talking, now Silco moved, “Hound of the underground beat you shitless after you blew sister dearest to fucking smitheries-” his sentence was cut off by a gun in his mouth. 

“Silco!” Caitlyn called out, Silco crouched down to his level, “You have no idea what your talking about, you couldn't even fucking talk when that war happened” He said simply, rage so clear in his words. 

“You weren't there, you didn't get your face disfigured, however” He pointed the gun inside of his mouth against his left cheek, “I’d be happy to show you” 

“Silco” Caitlyn warned again, Silco ignored her. 

“A nice hole in your face, I’m sure some desperate whore in an alley would still be willing to suck you off after that” He explained with a smirk. 

“Silco” Vi said, two paces behind the overlord, “He’s not worth it. Singed is” she explained, Silco pulled the gun from the man's mouth, pressed it to his forehead. 

“Fucking coward” Torrence said, “Woah there buddy, I'm sure the people behind me will happily turn around while we both mutilate your body beyond recognition” Vi wanted. 

“Start talking, or he starts shooting” She added, Torrence’s breathing got heavier, Vi and Silco looked at each other. 

Silco shot the man in the left calf. 

“Fuck!” Torrence exclaimed, “Four bullets left, start talking” Silco said, “I aint no squealer” He spat. Silco rolled his eyes. 

“Don't shoot him” Vi said, “I got a better idea”. 

The two picked the goon up by his ropes and lifted him over the giant basin of shimmer, purple bubbling under his head, feet dangling over the ground, both the Zaunites had a grip on his ropes. 

“Pure shimmer, you know what this shit does,” Vi said, “Talk.” 

“Janna above- fuck, ok! I don't know where Singed is, I ain't important enough to know that, but he's got a friend up topside, someone that's helping him get resources and shit” He explained. 

“Name?” Silco asked, “I don't know!” Torrence said. 

They dropped him a millimetre closer to the purple substance. 

“Fuckin- Grimrose!” He squawked, Vi and Silco pulled him back to the ground, the back of his head hitting the metal barrel. 

“Grimrose?” Silco called over to Caitlyn, she shook her head, “I’m not familiar, Medarda might be” she said. 

“Well then we ought to go have a chat with Goldie” Vi smirked. 

Chapter Text

Mel takes pride in her privacy. 

Because no one needs to know certain things about her life, for example, there's no reason for anyone on the council to know she sleeps with a knife under her pillow. 

There's no reason for anyone to know that she hardly sleeps as is, she’d rather stay awake at night, painting, working, reading. Doing anything rather than succumbing to her own mind. 

There's no reason for them to know she's been silently crying each night, or pacing back and forth letting her mind run rampant, or painting things that would disturb those of the simple life, after all she must find some way to process the grief of losing her brother without bothering anyone. 

No one needs to know that she's dreading the end of the Piltover and Zaun treaty, as it marks the time when she must return to Noxus to start preparing to inherit a crown she was never supposed to wear. 

No one needs to know she's relentlessly drawing Kino’s face out of the fear of forgetting him, despite her photographic memory ensuring she could never not remember every line on his face, every lock of black hair on his head, every spark of kindness in his eyes, the warmth of his embrace, the sound of his laugh- 

Stop.   

So… she smiles when needed, nods when needed, speaks when needed, laughs when needed, silent when needed. It's a meticulous and draining process but it works. 

But no one needs to know that's how she survives the world, analysing others and crafting the ideal response on her end for the desired outcome. 

No one should notice her change in demeanour when her mother walks into a room, or grabs her arm, or asks to talk in private, behind golden walls. 

No one needs to know what happens behind golden walls, what she hides under the sleeves of her clothes or the creamy make-up on her face. 

She walks with her head high, twists her words into a siren song easing the malleable folk of Piltover to do as she wishes, write out this reform, send money to this institution, don't look over there, sign here, pay attention to me when I talk, don't look at my wrist, and ignore my stiff shoulders when she enters, don't forget to go to that charity even on Thursday, it’ll be good for your image if you listen to what I say. 

It’s easy…for some. 

Occasionally some politicians pose a challenge, a threat sometimes, they prove to need further persuasion, more money, more connections, a change in a contract. 

But it can always be handled, Mel Medarda can always handle it, she is smart, strong, witty, charming, and a plethora of other descriptors often circulate papers and co-workers. 

So no one needs to know what happens behind golden gates. 

Because she is handling it. 

Deep breath, shoulders back, smile, say something smart and- 

Knock, knock, knock. 

Right, she's in her office, it's the morning, there's a stack of files in front of her and- 

Knock, knock, knock. 

Fuck- 

“Come in!” She says, good , it sounded kind but not too chirpy for 8:30 in the morning. 

Caitlyn and Vi walk in, clad in enforcer uniform, followed by the rest of their squadron; Maddie, Steb and Loris. 

“Sherriff Kiramman” Mel smiles teasingly, “Councillor Medarda” Caitlyn matches her tone. 

“How can I help you bright officers?” Mel asked, “Well” Caitlyn sits down in front of Mel’s desk. 

“What do you know about a family with the name Grimrose?” She asked, Mel raised a brow, “They’re a Noxian family, few ties in Piltover, really just some land and a couple of business investments, how come?” Mel asked.

“We believe they have connections to Singed” Vi said, “Hm, Believable” Mel tilted her head, moving over to a collection of drawers. 

“Believable, Councillor?” Steb asked, “Noxian nobles are nothing like Piltovian nobles, Noxus is a land of blood, iron and war, an impenetrable fortress of solitude and torment” nope not that drawer, next one down maybe. 

“Its often these families are tied with criminal organizations across Runeterra. But never in Noxus, that would be seen as traitorous. Traitors don't survive in Noxus” Not that drawer either, shit, maybe it's in that other set? 

“Noxus prides itself in international relationships, between nobles and criminals, Noxian Embassies tend to be the largest, the most demanding, the ambassadors are like…wolves” she explained carefully, “Hunters, they take, they rarely give, much like the family they serve” for fucks sake where is that file. 

“There's a presence of Iron in every major city, so it's no surprise some family got its claws into Singed’s work and I should've seen this coming, especially from Grimrose, he's a greedy leech, latches onto anything he deems important and worthwhile.” Her words were getting sharper, tone it down , next drawer. 

“What could he possibly see in Singed?” Caitlyn asked, “Control. Noxians are glutenous for it, Shimmer controls the lanes, control the lanes you control the entire nation, it's no secret that Piltover sucks all the resources found in the mines, the materials found there are part of the reason Piltover is so prosperous, if one family is too control it they can quickly become powerful and influential, controlling major resources across all of Runeterra” God-fucking-damn where is this file! 

“So what, money, that's it?” Vi asked, “Maybe, there could be greater ulterior motive to it, with control over Zaun that will pose a threat to Piltover, many nobles here are…well, terrified of the Undercity, too unpredictable, its why there's so much funding to the enforcers, control Zaun you control Piltover and if you control Piltover you…” She trailed off. 

“Control what?” Caitlyn asked, Mel closed the drawer, “for fucks sake” Mel groaned, taking Caitlyn by surprise, it was incredibly uncharacteristic for Mel to use such harsh language. 

“Hextech” Mel groaned, “If this is about technology why won't they just go to Viktor?” Steb asked, “Or you?” 

“Because Grimrose isn't the only one benefiting, and it's not the technology they’re after; its weapons.” Well that file is useless now. Nice work Mel, this should’ve been obvious the second Caitlyn mentioned that name. 

“General Medarda” Caitlyn said, Mel moved back over to her desk, fuck she could feel a headache coming on. 

“Ok so what do we do now?” Vi asked, “All we have is a crooks word that Noxian noble is, as was so eloquently put ‘helping him get resources and shit’” Vi echoed the crooks words from earlier. 

“We don't have Singed, we have no way to track his collection of resources, we don't even have a bank account” Caitlyn explained, “And to propose an investigation that the Leader of Noxus is involved would be an international outcry” She added. 

“So there's nothing we can do but keep chasing loose ends and hoping the mad doctor will show up?” Steb asked, “We keep a hold of Torrence for now, maybe he can be of help to us, otherwise…” Caitlyn trailed off. 

“I’ll see what I can do to keep her hands away from this mess” Mel said, stopping her pacing and placing one hand on the bridge of her nose. 

“No, it's best no one else knows about this” Caitlyn said, Mel looked at her friend, puzzled. 

“If this is to become a major international inquiry, we need to keep it under control, we need to keep it confined to the people in this room alone.” 

Mel sighed, “Alright, but if something changes, you let me know,” Caitlyn nodded, and the enforcers left her office. Save for Caitlyn, Vi looked at her perplexed. 

“Just one moment” Caitlyn said quietly, and with that the four walked out and closed the door. 

“Something you need?” Mel asked, “Are you alright?” Caitlyn asked, coming to stand beside Mel. 

“Perfectly fine, Caitlyn, just…” She trailed off, what would be the right word? Troubled, disturbed, ashamed? Or she could just lie, say she's tired - not actually a lie she is exhausted - besides it’s still the morning. Normal people are tired in the morning. 

“You seem worried about your mother,” Caitlyn said approaching the topic slowly, “I’ve known you a long time Mel, and you never really spoke about her.” 

Or any of her family for that matter, Caitlyn reminded herself. 

“I…we never got along, so there's really been no reason to talk about her” Mel explained simply, Caitlyn turned around to have her back pressing against Mel’s desk, arms braced against it. 

“You say that every time” well that's true, it's the simple answer. 

“Sometimes you mention Kino, your brother, and how you two were close” oh god please don't mention him.

“And you left Noxus in pursuit of better studies and never went back,” Ah yes, the great lie of Mel's life. 

She left Noxus on her own terms, came to Piltover to pursue studies more akin to her tastes in politics, and took up permanent residence. 

The truth; Her mother kicked her down to Piltover as her ideals seemed to blend with Piltovian tastes rather than Noxian. 

There were very few people who knew that truth. 

Herself, her mother…kino. 

Elora knew the truth. 

And she confessed to Jayce not long before the bombing of the council, after he expressed his concerns for Viktor’s health and the future, she revealed the truth of her life in Piltover. 

No one else knew, she told the same lie as the Noxian press told the rest of Runeterra. 

She took up studies in Piltover, found her place, and ultimately built a life in Piltover and separated herself from Noxus and the regency of the Medarda name. 

Ask Piltover; She's bright, good, an honest politician, 

Ask Noxus; She's a traitor. 

“That's all there really is to tell” Mel said simply, now turning to see Caitlyn’s face, something akin to worry, concern even. 

“You just explained how Noxian nobles are like wolves, how your mother has deliberately gone behind your back - behind all of us - too reach Hextech by going directly to the enemy” Caitlyn explained, “The same enemy that tried to blow you up, damn near killed half the council, and landed Jayce in a coma. She's completely aware of it, Mel I’m worried about you” her hand moved to rest over one of Mel's on the desk. 

It felt like a stone got caught in her throat, because Caitlyn was right, Mel sat down in her chair, Caitlyn perched on the table. 

“Your right to be worried, but I can handle myself” Mel assured, “I lived in a house with her for fifteen years, I can handle her…methods” She explained, Caitlyn sighed. 

“But not a home?” She asked, Mel paused, took in a sharp breath, “No, not a home” she answered. 

There was a heavy silence in the air as Caitlyn began to slowly understand more of Mel’s unspoken life. 

“Why?” Caitlyn almost seemed hesitant to ask. Mel huffed, “Because a home should be somewhere you felt safe, wanted, and loved by all who reside in there” she said simply. 

“The only time that place was ever a home is when I was with Kino and-” No, no, she didn't need to know that. 

Too late Caitlyn caught on, no wonder she was a detective. 

“And what?” Caitlyn pushed, Mel stood up, walked around her table, as if her subconscious was trying to get her to flee, she stopped short on the other side of her desk, pacing again, don't cry. 

Oh but she could trust Caitlyn, they were close, they had been for some time, and…gods she needed to say it to someone. 

“What I tell you now, cannot ever leave this room” Mel said sternly, it was the sort of tone she used when talking to politicians, when making threats when she had to, when being professional, the kind of tone Caitlyn knew she had to take seriously. 

Deep breath. 

Mel swallowed, inhale , shook her hands out, laid them back on her hips, exhale . 

“Kino is…” rock got bigger, fuck, why was this so hard. People die all the time, she has watched people die, she has lost relatives before Kino, she has seen her mother slaughter her enemies ruthlessly. 

“Mel?” Caitlyn asked, moving from her spot at the desk standing in front of Mel, no longer pacing, her face was wet, fuck was she crying? 

Just. breathe. 

“He's dead” Mel managed to get out, and suddenly it wasn't a rock in her throat, it was a bomb. When it exploded it sent tears rolling down her face, her heart and lungs clenched, her stomach twisted, her head hurt. 

Caitlyn’s face dropped, Mel never, ever , cried, not in front of Caitlyn at least, Mel controlled her emotions, a skill that lay precariously on the bordering line of admiration and concern. 

“He was killed, a few months ago, I found out when the general arrived on these shores” She continued explaining, her voice wavering, fucking hell pull it together. 

“The press does not know, Noxian nobles do not know, no one knows” Mel explained, “As far as most are concerned, he's still on some sort of quest, he's been dead four months Caitlyn” oh she could not pull it together, she walked backwards to her desk, bracing herself against it because she was certain she would fall to the floor. 

“Mel, I'm so sorry,” Caitlyn said, Mel sniffed, wiped her eyes and the rest of the stray tears with the back of her hand. 

“It's fine, I'm fine” Mel insisted, the waver in her voice gave her away, “You're not fine, Mel your brother is dead and your mother isn't helping you, is she?” Caitlyn asked. 

The next thing Mel registered was Caitlyn’s arms wrapped around her so tight it should've been worrying but really it was grounding, something to keep her tethered rather than sinking in her grief. 

Mel learnt young not to make sound when she cries, maybe it scared Caitlyn, the ever falling tears but hardly a sound, just tears running down Mel’s face, eventually she pulled away from Caitlyn though the younger didn't move away. 

Mel brought her hands to her face to wipe away the remnants of her emotions, deep breath. 

“I’m-” 

“If you suggest that you're fine one more time I swear I will slap you” Caitlyn warned, Mel laughed lightly, she shivered and gulped. Pull it together. 

And then it was quiet for a while, because what exactly are you meant to say in this situation? Sorry that I cried in your arms when you came here for geopolitical complications? 

Sorry that your brother is dead and your mother sucks? 

Sorry that everything is gradually becoming more problematic as we both work to unravel the knotted yarn ball that is Zaun? 

All excellent conversation starters.

“Fuck” Mel groaned, dropping her head down again, “I don't know what I’m going to do, he would know” She explained. 

“You were close with him,” Caitlyn reiterated her point from earlier.  

“Kino taught me other ways to fight, that not all battles are bloody but sometimes stained in ink, he's the reason I think the way I do, that I fight the way I do” fighting back tears and memories flooding her mind of the many scrolls and books laid before her as Kino explained political-warefare to her at ten years old, purely because she asked. 

“Mother thought he was mad for it, as did many of the nobles” She recalled, “But he proved them all wrong, he stopped so many unnecessary battles, found better solutions…” she trailed off, locking her eyes back to Caitlyn. 

“He would’ve loved you” She said, Caitlyn smiled, “Really?” 

“You're mad, you defy ancient systems, you prefer to know people rather than their files, you follow your instincts even if your superiors disagree” She explained, Caitlyn laughed. 

“Marcus was not fond of my methods” Caitlyn said, “Marcus wasn't fond of anyone getting in his way or questioning his authority” Mel said, “Exactly why Kino would've hated him.” Caitlyn laughed at that, as did Mel. 

“He would love Vi” She smiled, “They would've bonded” 

“How so?” Caitlyn asked, “Their desire to protect their families, or…what's left of them” Mel explained, Caitlyn moved to stand beside Mel, her back to the desk as well.

“Kino may have been an agent of peace but he would stop at nothing to protect me” Mel explained, “The man was so smart but when it came to my safety he could be so daft, he would risk his own life for my protection.” she sighed. 

“Really?” Caitlyn asked, Mel hummed, “He was a lion, strength, pride, protection. A king, something bold and noble and not to be tamed” She explained, “A hunter in his own way, but he was born a protector and monarch.” 

“So you were like his…cub?” Caitlyn asked, oh now Mel really had to fight back tears, “That's what he always said” She said, her voice wavering, she looked up to the sky, do not cry again. 

Once she calmed herself she continued, “I was younger than him, I was curious, innocent, and he took it upon himself to guard me until he couldn't.” 

Caitlyn nodded, “That's awfully symbolic” She said, Mel smiled at her friend, “The general always spoke of how one must learn to be a fox and wolf in the world so less they don't end up a sheep” Mel said. 

Caitlyn raised a brow, “A wolf is a creature that hunts, wild, ferocious, feared. A fox is smart, crafty, and sly. While a sheep is neither a hunter or a sly creature, it is soft, malleable, prey ” Mel explained. 

“Wolves and foxes hunt sheep, one must find a balance between ferocity and intellect in order to survive” Caitlyn blinked. 

“That was your bedtime story?” She asked, Mel couldn't help but laugh lightly. She was grateful for the topic change, she still wasn't quite ready to talk about Kino, and somehow despite no communication of that, Caitlyn understood. 

“That explains so much,” Caitlyn said, “Oh does it now?” Mel asked, “Well most people are told stories of fairies and evil witches, you were tucked into bed and told to be soft is to die” Caitlyn explained. 

“Ah, incorrect, The general told me to be soft is to die, Kino gave me the stories of magic and love and happy endings” Mel retaliated. 

Caitlyn looked at Mel for all of three seconds, “That explains so much about your character” 

Mel just rolled her eyes. 

“Regardless” Caitlyn continued, “Your mother is the wolf, Kino is the Lion, what does that make you?” She asked. 

“The fox” Mel said, “Manipulative, sly, not evil but strategic, foxes adapt to their surroundings to survive.” 

“You're the fox of the family” Caitlyn summarised, Mel nodded, “And while this world has cowards and hunters, it also has snakes” The councilor explained. 

“Snakes that hunt, bite, kill, choke you out, the darkest aspects of humanity lie within these individuals, and much like the animal kingdom there is a cycle of violence among humans” Mel explained regretfully. 

“Singed is another snake in this world, and unfortunately he's managed to weave himself into all aspects of our world, I’ll see what I can find about Grimrose but I doubt it will be much” Mel explained, back to business. 

Caitlyn nodded, “If you can find any connectors to Singed so we can stop his madness before he tears apart more families”

“Of course” Mel said, and before Caitlyn turned to leave she had one final question. 

“Silco” she began, “What do you think of him?” the younger girl’s eyes met that of her friend and mentor, Mel hummed. 

“An interesting character” She summarised, Caitlyn raised a brow, Mel sighed. 

“Truley, he is, Caitlyn we know hardly anything of him.” 

“It's just…earlier today when we were on a job, I learnt quite a bit” Caitlyn explained. 

“Silco is the type of man who builds a certain persona for outsiders, yet keeps his true self and intentions known to few” Mel explained, “He’s guarded Caitlyn, and I imagine we will learn more as time goes by.” 

“So what is he, a snake? A fox?” Caitlyn asked, Mel shook her head, “An octopus.” 

That analogy completely threw Caitlyn off-guard. 

“Incredibly smart, known for their ability of disguise, their adaptability, they tend to live in solidarity and darkness. They can lose limbs and survive with little difficulty, they protect themselves with a cloud of ink” Mel explained, Caitlyn nodded. 

“However due to a unique nervous system, Octopuses also feel everything, everywhere all at one, their lack of an actual skeleton grants them fluidity of their form, endless floating in the depths of the ocean” She continued. 

Caitlyn wanted to ask why Mel knew so much about octopuses of all things. 

“And animal analogies aside” Caitlyn implied, “He's smart, interesting, guarded, adaptable, someone to be wary of only if you have a legitimate reason to be” Mel explained. 

Mel could watch as the gears turned in Caitlyn’s head, the dominos falling together. Once given the clues and facts Caitlyn could easily put things and people together. 

“Do you trust him?” Caitlyn asked, “Until he gives me a reason not to” Mel responded. 

Caitlyn bit at the inside of her lip, “Sherriff, do you trust him?” Mel asked. 

“Unlike you I’ve seen what he's capable of, how ruthless he can be, how deadly he is” Caitlyn explained, Mel’s face turned stern. 

“Yet was he not also aiding you last night during a raid?” Mel asked, “I’m not going to deny that he wasn't helpful” Caitlyn clarified, “but I will admit he's not exactly one to listen to orders” 

“The man's a revolutionary, what exactly were you expecting?” Mel asked, Caitlyn went to start talking again, Mel didn't let her. 

“Caitlyn the man has spent his whole life under the boot of enforcers, power was not granted to him it was fought for and earnt, I’ll admit some of the stories I’ve heard don't exactly comfort me, but despite all that he still fought like hell to stop that bomb” Mel explained, as she and Caitlyn walked across her office and to the door.  

And Caitlyn knew she was right, memories flooded back into her mind. 

“Powder!” Vi called out, rushing to help her sister through the smoke. 

Caitlyn pulled herself up to her feet, she had her sniper, Singed had the bomb, his aim directly at the Council Building.  

She’d called out to Silco. 

Handed him the rifle. 

He had the shot- 

Missed it by a millimeter after a shimmer beast clawed at his back. 

“Caitlyn, his methods may be unorthodox, you and I may not agree, but that’s because we all lead different lives. We are all products of our environment, we’ve all adapted to survive” Mel finished explaining. 

Caitlyn sighed.

“The man owns a bar, go have a drink, talk with the bartender” Mel said simply, once they had reached the door. 

“Why?” Caitlyn asked, “Well one, it would be ideal if the Sheriff of the Enforcers and the leader of the Undercity get along, we’ve already seen what happens when they don't” Mel explained, opening her door. 

“Two, bartenders know everything” she said, the two stepping out into the hall and-  

“What are you still doing here?” Caitlyn asked Vi, who was leant against the wall, a slight smile crossing the navy-haired girl’s face. 

“You have the keys,” Vi said. 

Caitlyn knew full-well that was an absolute lie, it was Vi’s way of saying ‘I just didn't want to go without you.’ 

“Now what's this about bartenders knowing everything, because it is true” Vi chimed in, “Vander knew everything about everyone…even when you thought he didn't” Vi explained, the three began walking down the hallway. 

“Really?” Caitlyn asked, “Yeah, growing up you couldn't even try lying to him, he always knew when you found yourself in deep shit” Vi explained, “It was honestly kinda annoying.” 

“How so?” Caitlyn asked, “Well, if, per say, hypothetically, I was to beat the crap out of Deckard for saying something about one of my siblings and I - hypothetically - got a nasty bruise to my ribs. By the time I walked back into the bar, Vander had the medkit ready to go and made some big speech about ‘your the eldest’ and ‘stop blocking with your face’” Vi explained, Caitlyn rolled her eyes. 

“You do need to stop blocking with your face” Caitlyn said, “Wow, you're meant to be on my side Cupcake” Vi said, faking betrayal on her face. 

“Anyways, Goldies got a point” Vi continued, Mel rolled her eyes at the nickname, still smiled though. 

“Bartenders know everything about everyone, you know why? Cus you ask ‘em for a drink, and they chat with you while making said drink, and you drink more and more and next thing you know you're spewing your guts out, literally and figuratively” Vi explained, Caitlyn laughed lightly. 

“But you are not the only one in the ‘I don't trust Silco’ boat, he literally killed my father right in front of my face” Vi explained, Caitlyn and Mel looked at her in surprise. 

“Long story” Vi said, Caitlyn and Mel still looked at her, Vi sighed. 

“During the bridge war something went wrong and Vander tried to kill Silco, something about a fit of rage and grief, marred his face, and then years later Silco came back for revenge, kidnaped Vander, we went to go save him, my brothers died, Benzo died, Powder ended up with Silco, Ekko ran away, and I ended up in Stillwater” Vi explained. “There was also an apartment explosion involved but that's not important.” 

Caitlyn swallowed and Mel clicked her tongue, “Wait- bridge war?” Mel asked after a moment. 

“Yeah, bridge war” Vi said, Caitlyn looked to Mel, “Have you not heard of the bridge war- Oh, it probably would've been before you arrived at Piltover” Caitlyn realised. 

“Enforcers and Zaunites hashed it out on bridge seven, one minute it was a peaceful protest, the next the sky was covered in ash and soot, blood all over the bridge, thousands died” Vi explained, “It was a real mess, there was blood on the bridge for days, bodies ended up the river and washed up on the shore for months.” Vi listed and trailed off. 

“That sounds horrendous” Mel said, “It was one of the bloodier events in recent Zaunian history, but it's not a first or a last,” Vi said. 

“The point is, I don't trust the guy either, there's a lot of history behind it, and I hate to admit it, I really do. But he knows what he's doing” Vi explained regretfully. 

“Earlier, that man mentioned Silco had a sister?” Caitlyn asked, Vi sighed. 

“Ya know, down there siblings are more than blood” She said, “His ‘sister’ was my mum, they were close, grew up together, kicked ass together. Some people down there who still remember her call her ‘The mother of the Revolution’” Vi explained. 

“You have quite the family legacy” Mel summarized, “Yeah…legacy” Vi gnawed at her lip. 

“He also mentioned…” Caitlyn trailed off. 

“The drug thing, yeah” Vi said, “I remember Vander telling me some of it. Apparently the guy worked his ass off to get clean, by the time I was born he was already sober by a couple of years, really is not my story to tell, none of this revolutionary stuff is, I’m just part of the legacy and-” Vi paused, stopping in her tracks. 

“You two are free tonight, right?”