#ficfanatic

In the early morning, not even the sun having started to illuminate the room you were in. Shuffling was heard around you, the unmistakable off beat steps making it clear just who was moving around in the dark.

Cracking one eye open, you would just barely make out the outline of the man's figure in the room. You could tell that he was already dressed for the day, packing up the last few things that he needed before he would be heading back to the lab.

You normally would have been upset by him slipping from your bed without any notice, but after multiple conversations the man had been making so many positive changes to take care of his own health that if he was heading in early it was probably for something big. This wasn't a thing he did often anymore and with him now coming home for dinner and getting to sleep at a semi-decent time, you couldn't find it in you to berate him over this.

"Shit shit-" Viktor's hasty whisper was heard before his cane made a loud crack against the floor. You could see how he cringed, turning to face you to find you looking right back at him.

"...I'm so sorry Solnyshko, I didn't mean to wake you..." Scooping his cane back up, he made his way over to sit on the edge of the bed, placing a warm kiss to your forehead.

"Go back to sleep, I will you after work like always. I will even bring you a little treat from that bakery you like, as a treat?" He asked softly, placing another kiss to your forehead as he stood back up.

As he headed to the door, you couldn't help notice that he was forgetting something, a thing you had been pushing for him to do for weeks now.

"Aren't you forgetting something, love?"

At your words, Viktor froze, slowly turning to face you with both guilt and...confusion?

"Of course, how could I have forgotten?" He said, though his normal tone was replaced with one of apprehension.

Returning back to your side, as he returned to sitting beside you his hand came to cradle to side of your neck.

The kiss he gave you was sweet and soft, nothing short of perfectly loving. So much so that as he stood back up and headed for the door, you hadn't spoken instantly but only when he nearly was through the doorway into the next room.

"No no, not that! Your water bottle, you promised to take it with you so that you could remember to hydrate"

The water bottle was in fact on the bedside table and not in his bag like it should be. At this, a soft scoff was heard from the man as he made his way over to retrieve the said item.

"Right, of course. Thank you my dear"

Getting snuggled back up in your blankets, you watched as he got everything arranged perfectly in his bag. The soft 'I love you' that you sent after him being barely a whisper.

-------- -------- --------

Working as an assistant for the two men of Hextech had been anything but easy. Jayce was hyperactive, constantly bouncing from one idea to the next without any regard to the chaos that would follow behind him. And then Viktor, that man hardly ever stopped working. It always felt like you were playing catch up when it came to recording his notes, finding that everyday when you came in the morning you had hours worth of work to do just to transfer over what he had done during the night.

Of course, even though the work was hard and fast going, you couldn’t help the fact that the two very quickly became your found family. Jayce was always there to boost your self esteem. Whenever you even had a moment of feeling down or nervous about your work, Jayce was there with a bright smile on his face and gentle coaxing to try again.

Viktor was a softer and quieter support. You noticed the way that he changed how he wrote his notes so that they were easier for you to transcribe, how he stopped using certain shorthand writing that was in his own language, and how he tried his best to boil down his thinking in his notes so that they were more concise…instead of pages and pages of rambling.

And somehow, as the months went by, you started to find little notes written in his work to you. Little pieces of advice for your own research, helpful hints on problems you were having. These were always on problems you hadn’t brought up with either of the men, too nervous about bringing up these issues to them to ask for their help.

Viktor’s kind gaze and soft smiles quickly had become a staple in your life that you clung to. At first you believed it was because his friendship and guidance were irreplaceable, however, as the months had progressed you found that it was more than a simple friendship you wished to have with this man. But for now, the secret sentences in his notes would have to keep you appeased.

Slowly, these messages were almost flirty in nature, or well, you assumed they were.

Comments on a new perfume you had started to wear or how he liked your new hairstyle. Things that didn’t pertain to anything being done in the lab, yet he had felt the need to write it in his notes for you to see later. Like he had wanted you to know he believed you were pretty, to know he found you attractive.

It was the most recent that had appeared in his notes, you coming in to find a short little note at the bottom of one of the pages.

‘I find myself craving your company when you are away’

It had been simple, probably something he hadn’t even remembered that you would see, yet you took it as a sign to confess. Surely, from the notes that he had been leaving, he felt some attraction towards you. The small smiles, the way he noticed how your work was progressing - surely he felt something as well.

So that afternoon when you headed home, you wanted to make it special, to give Viktor the same warm and safe feeling that he gave to you.

On the way back home, you stopped by a few places, getting small gifts that you would give to him when you confessed the next morning. Bakery items that you knew he liked; a small assortment of cakes, sweet rolls, minitarts of different kinds, and three different kinds of homemade chocolates.

And then you had stopped by a florist’s to get a small bouquet of flowers that in the past he had mentioned liking in his notes. He had mentioned how the glow of the Hexcore had reminded him of the blue freesia flowers, so you hoped that he liked them.

That night you tried to sleep, you really did, but the nervousness that you were feeling just made it impossible to get even a second of sleep that night.

So with the morning sun rising, you found that you were just going to have to give up on the idea and head to work if you were hoping to confess to him without Jayce being there. In a haste, you got together everything that you had amassed the day before and rushed to the lab.

As you slipped in through the doors, you found what you had seen many times before. Viktor was still at his desk, with his head resting on the table. From the steady and slow pace of his shoulders raising and lowering it was clear that he was asleep. It was always the cutest thing to see, to get close, staying silent as you took in his form. The way his nose would crinkle or his brow would scrunch up - he was beautiful.

“…Viktor?” You whispered softly, letting out a sigh as he only seemed to shift slightly before continuing to sleep.

“Viktor”

The second time seemed to do the trick, the man bolted to sit up, his eyes hastily blinking as he tried to take in his surroundings. Upon taking in your form, you watched as a small smile formed, one that you saw nearly every time you would arrive at the lab in the morning.

“Ah, moj svitla-”

He started, with you finding yourself unable to stop rolling your eyes at the nickname. He had been calling you that for weeks now and had been refusing to tell you what it meant.

Everytime you would ask he would give a different answer.

First it was that it meant a troublemaker, then it was that it was a term used for a messy fiend, on and on it would go - leaving you still not knowing what the term meant.

He glanced over at the clock that was near the door to the lab, brows furrowed in confusion.

“-why are you here so early?”

Normally you would come in nearly right before Jayce would, however, because of your desire to have a buffer between your arrival times, you had come a good two hours earlier than Jayce. That meant that you were arriving while it was still dark outside, a thing that Viktor seemed to only now notice as his eyes shifted from the clock to the window.

“I wanted to…I wanted to talk with you”

Your voice came up soft and squeaky, nerves having done a number on your throat already. With a nervous gulp you set the box down on the desk, nervously and stiffly gesturing towards the rather large box of pastries.

“Those are for you- or you and Jayce if it is too much…or…anyone”

The rather confused look on Viktor’s face only seemed to grow, his frown deepening and brows only furrowing lower. It was clear that your actions were not coming across as anything other than abnormal.

“I…Viktor…you have been…” You started, cursing your stupid hands as in your nervousness you ended up starting to bend and snap some of the stems.

“You have been the greatest thing to happen to me for years-”

“…w-wait…”

“The messages you have left me, the way you support me-”

“…stop…”

“…Viktor, I…I think I am in-”

Viktor suddenly was on his feet, his hands slamming down on the desk in his haste to stand, his chair crashing to the floor behind him.

Your voice froze, dying out in the back of your throat, the small amount of courage quickly dried up inside. You couldn’t help it, not when Viktor’s reaction was like this, so viscerally shaken by the topic of conversation.

“Just stop, please”

Running a hand through his hair, Viktor let out a groan as he tried to wrap his head around everything that was happening.

“You can’t-”

“You don’t even know what I was going to say..”

At your whispered sass, the man’s flabbergasted gaze turned towards you with a look of disbelief that you had never felt directed at you before. Sure, he had the same look sometimes when dealing with either the Professor or members of the council.

But never with you.

And it cuts through you to see it now.

“Oh, I don’t? You were going to confess to feelings that you shouldn’t nor can you - Jayce is - No, this topic ends here”

Swiftly, he grasped his cane before picking up the box of pastries and heading towards Jayce’s desk.

“We will pretend that this never happened, that you brought these for everyone in the lab” He instructed, not pausing his words at the heartbreak that was happening before him.

Just like the flowers in your hands, you felt bent and broken.

He had been about to say something else but you would never know what it was. It was all just too much and you needed a moment of privacy…or days. Dropping the flowers on Viktor’s desk, you made your way quickly out of the room. You didn’t want to be nearby, opting to go to a completely different floor before finding a closet that you could lock yourself into.

Slowly, in the silence, you felt the reality sink in. Viktor had clearly been able to tell that you were about to confess and had quickly shut it down before you had even been able to get all your words out.

You could feel your heart shattering along with your self esteem. You had been realistic, you hadn’t expected anything more than Viktor gently letting you done. But he had never cut you off like that before, he had never completely shut you down like that.

You felt humiliated that you had even thought he had been flirty with you, cursing past you for even thinking that he had feelings for you in return.

It was only once the tears ran dry that you knew you would need to head back, hopefully Jayce would be there now which would keep things from being too awkward.

Stopping by the bathroom to wash your face, the cold water was a salve to your irritated skin. However, no matter how many times you splashed the cool water on your face your eyes were just as puffy and irritated as when you walked in.

It was clear that you had been crying your heart out.

As you entered back into the lab, you found both Jayce and Viktor standing by Jayce’s desk. Turning to face you, Jayce had his mouth completely stuffed with one of the desserts that you had brought, trying to speak past the food.

“deez or amoozin”

Clearly he had never really learned that particular skill.

However, as he spoke he quickly took in your appearance, seeing how bloodshot and puffy your eyes were. Swallowing down the bite he had, he was quick to be by your side, a hand reaching out to gently cup your cheek.

His touch was soft and gentle as he ran his thumb over the inflamed skin. He could feel just how warm it was, clearly having been irritated from the salty tears. All the while, his lips deepened into a scowl.

“Who made you cry?-”

You couldn’t help but feel a sick pleasure at seeing Viktor flinch and tense up over Jayce’s shoulder. Good, he deserved to feel nervous about his actions.

“-I swear, when I find the asshole who hurt you-”

“They aren’t worth your anger.” You quickly cut in, your hand reaching up to the one against your cheek to give it a soft squeeze. And as Jayce seemed to relax at your comment, Viktor only seemed to grow more tense.

“Besides, I am not planning on speaking to them for the foreseeable future.”

With Jayce satisfied with that answer, he gave a soft squeeze of a hug before heading back to his desk to work. Allowing you to head to your own.

True to your word, you didn’t speak a word to Viktor from that day on.

Not for his lack of trying.

He had tried ambushing you at the door when you came into work, holding your project hostage, bringing you coffee. Even going so far as to lock the door to the lab and wait outside, expecting you to break to ask to be let in only to watch you turn right back around and go home.

Honestly, the antics were driving you crazy. It seemed he really couldn’t understand just how much you were trying to not slam your fist into his face after the disrespect he showed you that day. The truth, however, was that he was still your employer, meaning something like yelling at him or physically assaulting him wouldn’t bode well when it came time to have a letter of recommendation.

It had only taken you about a week of dealing with Viktor’s nonsense before you were applying to different jobs, even going so far as to apply to positions in Noxus. Though, as you waited to hear anything back from those research groups, you would continue to work.

It was on another one of these rather mundane and typical days that Viktor had came back from wherever he had ran off to, marching right up to your desk. Slamming the paper down on your desk, it took everything in your power not to snap at the man who was hovering over you and who had been the one to so rudely interrupt your quiet working.

“Were you ever going to tell anyone?”

Your eyes shifted from your work to meet with Viktor’s glare. Not wasting any thought before you returned it with a hostile gaze of your own.

“Seeing as I have no idea what you are talking about, you will need to explain yourself more”

All that earned you was a scoff, his eyes rolling at your answer before slamming his hand down again on the paper. It took but a glance to see that it was one of the positions that you had applied for, the company contacting Hextech to learn more about your work ethic.

“Oh. That.” Your attention moved back to your work, not wanting to waste anymore time on this conversation when you had made it clear you weren’t going to be talking to him. Sadly, because this was related to your job, you had to at least respond a little.

“When I looked into what specifically their company was researching, I figured that I might as well apply. Cognitive research as been something that I have always been fascinated with”

Quickly, the rage that Viktor seemed to have unleashed was dying out. With you acting as calm as you were, he felt like it was killing whatever winds had been in his sails.

“…fine…I can understand that, however, you never spoke of your desire to focus on such topics or-”

You instantly cut him off by reaching into your desk to pull out a notebook. Opening it to the first page before thrusting it into his hands, it showed the detailed writings you had been making on your own research projects - with Jayce’s input written in the margins on either how he would improve something or if he thought a certain idea was to be held onto.

“Jayce and I spoke greatly about this. I simply was under the impression that you simply didn’t care about my thoughts or feelings and have removed them from our relationship.”

Figuring that you weren’t going to be able to get any more work done if you stayed, expecting Viktor to either continue the conversation or just allow it to slip into an argument, you got to your feet. Ignoring the man’s eyes that were darting between the words on the page to your actions as you packed up your things, it was only a matter of seconds before you were heading for the door.

“Goodnight Sir”

As you slammed the door closed behind you, it sent a sick sort of satisfaction through you to see the man flinch at the fact that you weren’t using his name. The last sight of him being of a man that was both confused and regretful, both the book and paper being held awkwardly in his hands.

Good.

In the next coming days, many more companies had gotten in touch with Hextech to ask about your work. Jayce was constantly bouncing around the room with excitement. Even though he really shouldn’t have, Jayce loved to show you the responses that he would be sending them, wanting you to make sure that he sounded as professional as possible when ranting and raving about just how much he adored having you around.

The man was also quick to give any tips he had on the locations, explaining which companies he had worked before and his reviews on them - if he felt like they treated their employees well or not. The ever bright man was constantly helping when it came to making sure that you made the decision that would fit you and bring you the greatest chance at happiness.

And all the while, the other half of Hextech was silent and did his best to remain in the background. Though, with how upset you still were with him, you should have simply not cared. Yet, as each day had passed, your anger had slowly begun to die out - the part of you that missed his own brand of quiet kindness starting to grow day by day.

After careful consideration, making multiple pros and cons lists, you had narrowed down your choice to a research facility in Demacia.

-------- -------- --------

He didn’t know how in the world he had allowed things to snowball out of control as he had.

Looking down on the paperwork for the transfer, he still couldn’t completely wrap his head around just how everything had happened. Even with Jayce constantly boasting about how good this would be for their career.

“And imagine, I am sure that with the proper funding they will be able to create some of the more complex ideas they had!” Jayce grinned, continuing to work as he spoke. Viktor could only comment back with a noncommittal hum, dreading the day that they would be away. He simply couldn’t understand why Jayce was so alright with this when he had admitted to having a crush on them early in their time working with them.

Sure, he had at the time already fallen for you as well, but the moment Jayce admitted his feelings he knew that there would be no chance that you would pick him over someone like Jayce. So he had simply buried his emotions, watched as the two of you bonded over shared ideas, watched as the two of you had made silly inside jokes and even a secret handshake. Though, granted it was fairly simple but he wasn’t going to ruin it for the two of you.

It was also why he had pushed you away that day so many weeks ago.

You deserved to be with someone like Jayce. Someone who constantly made you smile, someone who didn’t take such bad care of his health, and definitely not himself.

“I think them moving away will be good, maybe they will finally be able to get over yah” Jayce voice piped up, Viktor’s thoughts completely coming to a grinding halt as his attention moved from the work he was writing to stare owlishly at the other.

“…c-come again?”

“Hm? Oh, you know, it is hard to work with someone who rejected you. I mean, I would know, they rejected me” He chuckled softly before leaning back in his chair as he thought back.

“I think it was a couple days after I told you I liked them. Took a little bit to get over it, but they have been the greatest best friend since then.” He grinned, faulting slightly as he quickly corrected himself.

“I mean, other than you, greatest best friend apart from you of course”

It seemed that Jayce didn’t understand at all why he was confused, going into detail about an aspect of the information that had not been the basis of his question.

“No, that wasn’t what I was asking. Though, we will need to circle back to that information later.” He muttered, already feeling the beginnings of a headache as he tried to wrap his head around everything that Jayce was revealing to him.

“You told me that months ago, scratch that, a handle full of years ago. You are telling me that not even a month passed from you telling me and you being rejected and moving on?!”

Slowly, as he spoke, he felt his voice begin to raise, the reality of the situation starting to sink in.

At the time that you had tried to confess to him, Jayce hadn’t been in love with you. He had pushed you away for literally no reason whatsoever. He was about to lose you for no reason whatsoever!

Jayce simply blinked back at his partner, shrugging as he didn’t understand what Viktor was getting worked up about. Sadly, Viktor had been very good at keeping his own feelings hidden, even to the man in front of him.

“Yeah, I guess that was how it ended up working out. I figured it would just be better for Hextech if I just didn’t bring it up again. Why?”

Whatever expression was showing on his face must have given Jayce a hint, the confusion on the other man’s face quickly turning to one of panic and understanding.

“Viktor…oh gods Viktor. You didn’t.”

“I had thought at the time…”

“You rejected them because of me? Didn’t you?”

“…I…”

“You loved them when you rejected them, still do, don’t you?”

The words were finally put out there, the thing that he had even refused to allow himself to admit. As it was said allowed, the world around him started to blur.

Just from the sound alone, the scrapping of the chair and the quick steps towards him, Jayce was soon wrapping his arms around him in a tight embrace.

Sinking into the other’s kindness, it was easier to gain control of his emotions when his closest friend and ally was there with him. Finding the almost awkward pats on the back to be the thing he needed to get his mind working once more.

“When is their departure time?” He quickly asked, pulling away from his friend as he made his way to getting the items that he would need to leave for the day.

“Ah, I believe…” Jayce started, glancing at the clock that was handing on the wall before his voice came out smaller as he knew the information that he would tell him wouldn’t be anything that would want to hear.

“…in ten minutes…”

Not wasting any more of his time with their conversation, Viktor was out the door. After spending almost 2 minutes trying to get a ride across the city to the Hexgate, then in a panic trying to make his way up to the departure platform with his cane. By the time he had reached where he expected to find you, it had been too late.

As he rushed out onto the platform, he found it empty except for the workers getting ready to get the next departure ready.

He could feel his legs wanting to give out, cursing himself for all the months he had wasted. He could blame Jayce, that he had been the reason that he had never allowed himself to love you- yet it was mostly because he had been scared.

He had been far too scared to allow himself to want for something, especially if it had the chance of ruining the bond he had with his partner. Yet, he also knew that if he had simply just accepted your feelings, he could have worked things out with Jayce - again, he had just been scared.

“Viktor?

-------- -------- --------

As you had made your way onto the platform earlier, you had stared down at your ticket as your mind wrestled with the choice you had made.

In all your anger, the biggest con about going to this new position was the two people that you were leaving behind. Jayce was your best friend, a friendship you didn’t even think possible. And although you knew it was partly your fault as well, you knew you would miss your bond with Viktor - whatever kind of relationship it was now.

You wished you had just allowed him to plead his case and had allowed him to explain himself. Yet, now it was too late.

As you watched the first group of passengers file in, you could feel your panic rising at the prospect of leaving Piltover. Leaving your home.

It wasn’t long before final boarding was being called out and no matter how many times you told yourself that you needed to get on- your feet just wouldn’t allow you to move.

And so, that was how you found yourself missing your departure time- watching as the rest of the people heading to where you should have been, vanished through the gate.

Now what on earth were you going to do?

Sure, you could just get onto the next flight - but did you even want to go?

Leaning against the wall, slowly sinking down to sit on the floor, it was hard to figure out what you wanted.

There were people now waiting on you, the new job, new city, new apartment- everything. Yet, Jayce had made it very clear that if you ever wanted to come back that he would take you back in a heartbeat.

So what were you going to do?

The clanking of a cane was heard coming up the steps, being you watched with wide eyes as a disheveled and panicked Viktor came stumbling up the stairs onto the platform.

He had walked past you, maybe only ten or so feet away before he simply stood there. You could see his hand trembling on his cane, the way he was panting and out of breath. Yet, it still didn’t explain why he was there - he had made it obvious that he hadn’t cared about you leaving, so why would he be here?

“Viktor?”

Curses, your voice came out smaller and softer than you had wished. Which judging by how quickly the man turned to face you, wasn’t noticed by him.

Slowly, rising to your feet, the two of you found yourselves staring at each other. And yet, it was only when you went to speak again that Viktor threw his words out first.

“..I am not sure wh-”

“I love you!”

At those three words, Viktor’s face darkened in embarrassment. Your own words dying on your tongue as you, it being your turn to feel like your legs were seconds away from giving out.

“I love you, I always have. Please don’t go. Stay, please stay”

The wall was a blessing as you soon found yourself needing to lean against it for support, finding Viktor making his way slowly close and closer to you as he spoke.

“But you- Viktor, you rejected me.”

“I know!” He cried out, before tapering off to something softer and regretful. “I know. I hadn’t been aware that you had rejected Jayce and I had been aware of his affections for you. I thought - “

With a gulp he took the final step that put him inside your own personal space, a hand coming up to rest against the wall beside you as he leaned in closer.

“I thought I was doing what was right at the time. I had wanted you to be with someone I thought you had deserved, someone like Jayce. Both of you are my closest friends, I couldn’t risk losing either of you because of my own affections. A silly and pointless worry, I am aware”

The hand that had been bracing him against the wall was moved to your cheek, the touch being everything that you had been wishing for- soft, gentle, warm and loving.

“Come back to Hextech. Come back to m-me” His voice stuttered and yet he continued on, refusing to allow himself to falter now.

“Whatever your reasons for going are, I will provide better. You will have more freedom in your research, I-I’ll even pay for it out of my own pocket if I need to. I’ll talk with Jayce about getting you a raise…and…and if you are worried about the apartment, you can stay with me till a new one can be found for you- a better one”

It was more than you could have asked for, even just one of those things would have been enough to skew your pros and cons list- yet, it seemed that Viktor wasn’t done.

“Moj svitla - please, come back. Whatever you want, I will give you, just please don’t go.”

Having already made your choice to stay, you couldn’t help but take the chance to get the answer you had been dying to know for years.

“Maybe- but only if you tell me what your nickname for me means” You snarked, hoping he would be able to read the undertone of how you essentially were saying that you were going to be remaining. Yet, that didn’t seem to register in his mind. His face only seemed to grow a darker red as he paused.

“..ah, well, I suppose that is reasonable”

There was a gap in his response, like he had to muster the courage to admit the truth about what he had been calling you for nearly the whole time the two of you had known each other.

“It means ‘my light’. You are the light in my life…”

Words would never be enough to explain how those words made you feel. The knowledge that he had seen you that way for years? That he had only rejected you in fear of losing the few relationships that he had? All you could see before you was the lonely man that had desperately just wanted to keep the very little he had- denying himself another more because he felt he didn’t deserve it.

“Gods Viktor- what am I to do with you?” Your hand came up to cradle his cheek, mirror his own that was still on your cheek. With the softest force, you pulled the man the remaining distance, merely ghosting your lips over his own.

“You will need to send a message, telling them that you outbid them at the last second when it came to my contract.”

The smile that was sent your way was nothing short of blinding. Sure, Viktor would smirk or have lopsided grins, but never had you seen such a look of pure joy on his face.

Over time, as your relationship with the inventor had grown closer, you had seen the small cracks in the perfect facade that Viktor showed to the world. 

He was intelligent, a genius, able to understand concepts even outside his own field of study after a little bit of time with it. Even as your own focus was on a completely separate area of science, he was able to help with your studying. 

He was incredibly sophisticated, calm under pressure and always seeming to have the right things to say whenever you were going through a hard time. With ever the observant eye, he could tell when you were feeling off and without a word about it, would do something to solve the problem for you. From getting you a coffee you needed even though you had tried to seem like you weren’t tired, his gentle hands working on a knot in your neck as you worked away at a problem…or getting onto someone for being too harsh in their critique of your work. 

He was always there for you, always taking care of you and making sure you felt safe and happy. 

So as you started to see the little cracks in his own actions, it had slowly started to fall together just why he was so dedicated to doing everything he could for you. 

He almost never wanted to go with you from one location to the next, it took a while for you to catch onto the pattern of how the two of you would always meet at the destination. Even when you tried to get him to walk home with you, he always had some small errand to run, something that would need the two of you to walk separately. 

It was in a conversation with Jayce that you found out he did that with everyone, stating that Viktor’s response to Jayce at the time had been ‘to keep from holding him up’. 

So slowly you started to be more insistent, refusing to leave his side on your way to and from the school to your shared apartment. The first few walks were indeed slower, all the while you could see just how uncomfortable Viktor was as he tried his best to both walk faster and make it seem as easy for him to do as possible. But as you started hinting how you enjoyed the longer walks, when the two of you could relax and simply talk, you had been able to get him to go at a pace that was better for him. 

And slowly, over time, you didn’t have to sneakily convince him to allow the two of you to walk together, he simply assumed the two of you would. 

However, you also noticed how he refused to touch you in public. 

If there was one thing about Viktor that you had needed some adjustment too, it was how touchy he could be. In the lab, your shared apartment, even sometimes on dates; you found that you had needed to get used to his touch starved attention. 

So as the new tradition of walking to and from his lab became a staple in your lives, it was a little jarring to find that he had not attempted to touch you once. Not to reach out to hold your hand, not to wrap an arm around your waist. Nothing. 

And like you had before, you would just make the thing happen. 

Only, this time as the two of you were walking down the busy street, as soon as your hand was wrapped around his own it was wrenched free. 

That would have hurt your feelings, that is, if you didn’t watch how the man’s attention wasn’t on you, but on everyone else around the two of you. The man’s darting around quickly to see if anyone was looking at them before he finally addressed you, all be it in a soft whisper. 

“Please, don’t. Not in public…” 

“And why not?” You countered, not willing to let this slide as his reaction just didn’t make any sense to what you had known about him. 

“Why not?” He parroted, not really being used to you verbally continuing a topic that he asked you to drop. He didn’t ask for it often, which was why you had always been strategic about how you went about things, but this was one of the rare moments you just weren’t budging. 

“We…they will see that we are together…” He whispered, golden eyes sinking down to the ground. 

Wait, not down to the ground - to his leg. 

“You don’t deserve to hear them whisper about you being with the..” Viktor stopped himself from finishing the thought, but it wasn’t hard to see where he was going with it. 

The cripple. 

You had heard him call himself that. And it wasn’t just you that had heard it, Jayce having mentioned to you before that Viktor had called himself that when the two had first started working together. 

Viktor had never seemed to feel bad about his issues, he had always just stated them as facts. He was a brunette, he loved science, he was from the undercity…he had been born with a limp. Every time he had mentioned these things before you had not seen a hint of shame or embarrassment. 

Yet, now as you watched him glanced up from his leg to the people passing by, that was all you could see on his face. The panic that someone would be looking at the two of you, whispering so that the people walking by wouldn’t pay the two of you any attention. 

“Do you think I will be embarrassed by you?” 

That seemed to rattle the man, Viktor’s eyes snapping to your own as that was not at all what he thought. Before a word had been able to be formed, he was shaking his head, quickly wanting to let you know that you didn’t believe you had such negative thoughts about the two of them. 

“No no, of course not” 

“Then stop acting all skittish and hold my hand” You said, sticking your hand out for him to take it. “I want to hold the hand of the smartest, most handsome, kindest, drop dead gor-” 

“Enough, I understand. I concede" Viktor stammered, hastily reaching out to take your extended hand, all the while a deep blush was creeping up his neck and cheeks. 

Satisfied, you couldn’t help the small smirk that grew on your face, though you hardly made it down a single block before you had wanted more. Slipping your hand free, you were quick to take hold of his arm, placing a peck to his cheek as he did so. 

Like every single kiss before that one, you watched him melt. His mind would stall for a second, a lopsided and dopey grin would slip free before he tried to hide it away by either coughing into his hand or by biting his bottom lip. 

“Man, I can’t believe it. I can’t get a date and that damn gimp has one”

“Bet they’re only like a caretaker or something, you know, hired to pretend to care about him” 

“You are only saying that to make me feel better.” 

“Or because it is true. Really, you think anyone would willingly be together with someone like that? Bet he can’t even get it up, you know I’ve heard that guys with leg issues have other issues in the same area.” 

You had seen the nervous glances that Viktor had sent your way, the barely whisper apology that he spoke. However, it was at the last comment that you stopped, nearly causing the three guys behind you to nearly run into you in the process. 

“Not that our relationship is any of your goddamn business!” You started, having let go of Viktor’s arm so that you could turn to fully face them. And as you took a step closer, your hands shot out to grab and yank at two of their collars so that they were forced to bend down slightly. 

“There is a reason you ain’t with nobody, because all three of you are worthless pieces of shit and everyone can tell. It is very likely that your very glance in the direction of a woman causes her to have a barren womb . Let’s do some reality checks here” You hissed, all the while Viktor trying to gently pull you away. Though as he pulled your hand free, that only resulted in you smacking the one hard on the top of the head as you continued. 

“You have any idea how pathetic it must be to be you?! Everyone out and about this street just wanted to have a good day, get the things they need done, but your head pops off the pillow in the morning with ‘how can be a professional victim today?’. Clearly your parents never relayed the fact to you that, guess what, your opinion isn’t worth that much!” 

Two enforcers were making their way towards the group of you during your speech, one of them sliding between the two groups to break out the berating that you were sending their way. 

“Now, now, break it up” 

“Get that crazy bitch away from me” One of them said, trying to fix their collar only to find that you had ripped two of the buttons off of it when you had yanked it earlier. 

“Hysterical coming from the group that was following someone with a cane to harass them” You lied, not even caring that you were messing with the truth a little as the two enforcers glanced over at Viktor and just assumed that your story was more likely to be correct. 

Now, instead of being a neutral party, body language showed that they were a little more protective of you than they were the three men. And as they saw this shift in attitude, the gravity of the situation dawned on them just how much trouble they were likely to get into if they were changed with harassment. 

“How about you three just head on your way.” The larger of the two enforcers growled, a smirk working its way onto your face as you watched them flinch back at just how intimidating the man was. 

Making a hasty retreat, the three turned and sped away, the two enforcers wishing you both a better day before they headed in the same direction, most likely to keep an eye out on what the group was doing. 

Neither of you said a word as you made the last little bit of the journey back to the apartment. And as you entered, you felt nothing but guilt well up inside as you watched the normally always bright and sunny man silently slip into the bedroom. 

You had been an embarrassment, you knew that the moment the adrenaline wore off. So as you peaked through the crack of the bedroom door, seeing the man curled up in the blankets, you had already assumed that you were sleeping on the couch that night. 

However, you still wanted to make him feel better…but how did you do that? 

A soul crushing guilt started to take hold as you weren’t sure what to do to brighten his mood. He had always been the one to know how to fix your’s, so with his nearly always sarcastic humor, you had never needed to do this. 

Going through your list of things he liked, you started to compile a list…though some of the things were completely useless to think about. You knew that he liked the docks and boats, not really being helpful at the moment. Of course he loved his sciences, but was mentioning his work really the best solution right now? 

You had landed on the sweet milk that he liked, biting your lip as you went off of the memories of him making it to try and make it correctly. As you poured the milk into the mug, you couldn’t help but panic at the final step you remembered. He always sprinkled on a little bit of a dark brown powerd…which now looking at your cabinet, that could be cinnamon or cocoa power…fuck. 

Hazarding a guess, you went for chocolate, assuming that since the chocolate flavor would be sweeter and with his sweet tooth it would be the most likely answer. Hopefully. 

Bring that as well as the last cupcake that you had been saving, figuring that he deserved it more at this moment, you softly knocked on the door before making your way to the mass of blankets. You had expected to receive an angry scolding for your actions earlier..only to find Viktor quickly hiding his face, but not before you saw the remnants of tears on his cheeks. 

Nervousness gone, your priority was on the man before you and making sure that he was alright. 

“Hey hey hey, no hiding-” Setting the plate and cup down on the bedside table, you knelt down on the floor as you gently cradled his cheeks in the palms of your hands. And as you softly held his cheeks, the words spilled out like the tears that spilled free as well. 

“I’m so sorry. It is all my fault, I knew something like this would happen. I just knew it.” 

“How in the world is this your fault?” 

The man had to be just shaken up from the interaction, sure he was from the undercity, but you frankly couldn’t understand how his brilliant mind would attribute some bastard’s actions being something he had to apologize for

“They only picked on you because of…of me” He sniffed softly, going to pull away from your touch only to find that your grip wasn’t budging. 

“No no, my dear sweet Vitya, no” Wanting to use his childhood name to bring him some source of comfort. Peppering soft kisses at where his tears were, you ever so gently slipped onto the bed beside him, finding that as you did so the man reached out to latch to you. 

“My dear…Šikovný?” You asked softly, not sure if you were using the term right as you had constantly been trying to learn more of his language. Though, at the breathy chuckle in response you could only assume that it hadn’t been correct. 

“Your dear clever? I am not certain what you were trying to say, Solnyshko” It seemed to at least get him a little out of the funk that he had found himself in. Even if it was at the expense of your pride. 

“...I was trying to call you a clever boy…” You muttered, the soft chuckle only seeming to get a little louder as you had been completely off. 

“That would be múdry chlapec, smart boy” He teased, knowing that as soon as you realized that you had been completely off your face was going to erupt a bright red like a tomato. 

“...you’re kidding me..” 

As Viktor tried to stifle his laughter his only response was a soft shake of his head, his hair softly bouncing in the process. 

“Your efforts were appreciated none the less.” 

Scoffing at his words, you sat up to reach for the items that you had brought with you, turning to find that as you had sat up Viktor had as well. Inquisitive eyes shifting to the plate that held the cupcake that he knew you had been saving. And as you saw the moment to explain, you gently placed the warm cup in his hands. 

“I wanted to do something to help you feel better, so I attempted to make your sweet milk” You said, filled with both excitement and worry about how it would turn out. Then Viktor, seeing this, was quick to take a large gulp without another word. 

For a moment there was nothing but silence, it seemed to be a struggle for the brunette to force it down. All the while a plethora of emotions flashed through his eyes as he did his best to keep his expression neutral. 

“Well…eh…” He started, ever so slightly tipping the cup to inspect what exactly was inside. Even from the angle you were sitting you could tell that in the milk were little pieces of solid milk, it being unknown to you that since you had heated it too quickly that you had curdled the milk. 

“It’s an…interesting variation” As he took in another small sip, to try and get it all down, he couldn’t help but notice the odd flavor that was coming from the topping. “And, the cinnamon, is it old by chance? It tastes a little…off” 

“Cinnamon? Shit…” That earned you a worried expression, stopping mid sip. “I thought you had used cocoa powder…” 

That seemed to be that final bit of information that broke his resolve. Leaning across the bed to the other side table on his end, he placed the cup out of reach before bringing his attention back to you. 

“My darling, my ever perfect love, I will teach you how to make sweet milk…till then, please don’t attempt to do it again, at least not without me present” He chuckled softly, hands coming to run small circles in an attempt to comfort you

“Fucking stop it!” You finally cracked, unable to keep your voice calm. “You always put me above everything that is happening and I did this for you! You were the one that was hurt today, you were the one they were picking on, I am trying to make you feel better! To get you to talk to me about it” 

“Oh I can tell” His voice was light and calm compared to yours, not at all bothered by how you exploded. It was just how you were, he was quiet and collected while you tended to be loud and bouncing from idea to idea. Though as he saw that this wasn’t going to be fixed by just a simple joke, a sigh was exalted before he decided to open up. 

“I’ve told you about my childhood, how friends were not really a part of my early life. The small times I had friends, I saw how the other kids treated them, picking on them for playing with me. Even if we are adults I knew that similar bullies, even if they were older, would harass you in the same manner.” 

You took his hand into your own, giving a gentle squeeze to remind him that you were there for support as he delved into his own insecurities. 

“As I got older, a teenager, I heard from the others about their sexual encounters. From deduction alone I couldn’t help but grow worried. They spoke about their own…releases, the time it took for them to reach it on their own, and I always found that my times were far longer. So I looked into the research on the topic, finding that there were indeed cases where men born with my..condition would have complications. They never specified the exact details of what they were, but I had not wanted to look into it more at the time.” 

You pushed down a laugh, not wanting to butt into his story when you had the answer to that. 

“ I only worry about you not getting everything you deserve from a relationship. You deserve a man who can protect you, who doesn’t embarrass you in public, who can satisfy you in bed…” He trailed off, you just not able to hold the information any longer. 

“Viktor, baby, the ‘complications’ you are talking about are about you not hardening. And, I feel bad that it’s taken you till now to know this…but it is far more embarrassing for the ones you overheard to have such short times compared to your longer one.” 

A quick kiss before you motioned towards the failed attempt at sweet milk to the side. 

“I’m clearly not a good cook, does that make me a failed partner and make you want to break up with me?” You asked, your point clicking instantly in the man’s brain as he scoffed. 

“I see what you're going for. No I wouldn’t so there is no reason for me to believe you would leave me.” 

“Exactly, besides, I think we compliment each other well. You are a far better cook than I will ever be and I’ll be the one that does the protecting. Besides, I find it fun” 

Amber eyes rolled as you pulled him close, knowing he was just being sassy as he sunk into your touch. 

Seminars on recent scientific discoveries, workshops on how to use new equipment, and the almost daily coffee breaks were the closest things to ‘dates’ you would imagine.

And it had been perfect, well perfectly acceptable. Yes, you were a romantic at heart and you had hoped that maybe Viktor would have spent a little bit of time when it came to holidays. However, after not doing anything with you on the first couple of them that came around during your time together, you were just going to have to swallow the fact that Viktor did not view them the same way you did. 

So you dealt with it, watched as couples would exchange gifts and chocolate, how some would surprise their lovers with flowers or little treats. All the while Viktor never really seemed to want any of those things. Even when you yourself had tried to be the one to give him gifts, you found that it had only been a bother. 

You had spent far longer at the flower shop than you had wanted to, but after allowing the store owner to explain that the flowers had certain meanings you had wanted to create a bouquet that would tell the man of your feelings correctly. 

The flowers were to try and brighten his workspace, knowing that he had been working like crazy to finish before a deadline. Since you knew that your time together wouldn’t be possible, you had hoped that maybe seeing something that both reminded him of you and your belief in him would help. 

So you had gotten hydrangeas for good luck, chamomile for patience in adversity, clematis for mental beauty, goldenrod for encouragement and finally a single red rose for love. 

You knew that he probably wouldn’t know a single thing about flowers, but it was a secret message for you to know about. So as you slipped into the lab, finding him hunched over his desk, you softly placed the vase on a free part in the corner. 

“Why are you putting that nonsense on my workstation?”

Well, that wasn’t what you were expecting to be his greeting. The tiredness was clear from his voice but that didn’t help you keep the hurt from creeping in. He was just blunt when he was tired, he wasn’t really meaning that your actions were nonsense. 

“Ah, well, I wanted to brighten up your lab. I know we can’t spend much time together-” 

“So you interrupt to have this conversation on flowers?” He interrupted, still not having looked up from the paper that he was quickly scribbling on. “I do believe I told you about the deadline and that I wouldn’t have time for your distractions.” 

“...you said we wouldn’t have time for dates…not distractions..” You mumbled softly, Viktor’s eyes snapping up to yours with irritation at the sass that you had responded with. Instantly, you wanted to crawl under the desk and hide, it not being often that you earned his ire. 

“So you’ve come not only to disrupt my work, to waste space on my desk with useless plants, but now you also want to start an argument over the specifics of wording?” There was a heavy sigh, his hand coming up to rub at his temple. “Just get out, before you make things worse, just go” 

And so you had. With your metaphorical tail between your legs, you headed for the door. Glancing back, you wondered if Viktor could glance your way, but your heart broke instead. He was up, carrying the flowers to the trash bin only a few feet away from him before returning to his desk. His eyes not even flicking your way for a moment as you stood in the doorway watching. 

So from then on, you hadn’t wasted your time on trying to be romantic. And as much as it killed you every time to see couples across campus doing the things that you wished you could do yourself, you continued to tell yourself that you were happy. 

Once the deadline for the project had passed, Viktor had been so sweet and kind. He had apologized for his harshness and had made an effort to make it up to you for the weeks after. However, he also quickly would fall back into his old patterns. 

Every time there was a project deadline, founders day, an important presentation, everytime he would become distant and harsh. At first it was only a few times a year, around the time that everyone was a little hostile as they dealt with finals. However, as soon as he got into working with Hextech and Jayce, he almost always had a project that he was working on. 

Instead of having weeks of the Viktor you had fallen in love with, you would get days…if that. 

Slowly, it had started to feel like you were dating in name alone. It just felt weird to say that you were Viktor’s partner at the galas he would bring you too, having not even remembered the last time the two of you had spent time alone together. 

Everyone had found it adorable that the two of you had come to the party with your colors matching, you being the only one to know that it was because Viktor had sent you to the store with his money and instructions to have the two of you match. It wasn’t romantic like they seemed to believe, and even though you had wished to have these moments…it didn’t feel the same knowing that he was simply doing it so Jayce would get off his back. 

As the gala went on, you found yourself silently watching the dancers as you stood alone. Just like every gala before. 

It was always the same, the four of you would arrive. Jayce with Mel, and you with Viktor. The two men would go off and talk to investors and patrons, before Jayce would go enjoy the party with Mel and Viktor snuck off to head back to the lab. 

As you sipped from your champagne, you watched as Jayce and Mel danced, smiling at each other with clear affection that you couldn’t remember the last time feeling. Quickly downing the glass, you had been about to just call it a night and head home alone as you always did. However, as you went to turn, you found yourself nearly running into someone who had been moments away from speaking to you. 

“Oh, I’m so sorry” 

The man hastily maneuvered the two drinks he had been holding out of the way, making sure that the little drops of liquid that escaped wouldn’t end up on your dress. And as he looked over you to make sure that he hadn’t spilled any, you couldn’t help but look him over as well. 

Soft brunette hair, freckles painted across his cheeks, and bright green eyes. There were aspects of him that reminded you of the man who had abandoned you that evening, but of the version that you had met at the beginning of your relationship. The nervous energy he had as he held out the drink to you, not seeming to really know what to say at first. It was so similar to how Viktor used to approach you all those years ago. 

“I..I uh, I saw that you were almost done with your glass.” He mumbled, gesturing towards the empty one you were holding. It was then that he seemed to remember that he had never introduced himself, giving a hasty bow before clearing his throat. 

“Apologies, I am Philip Ferros, it is a pleasure to finally speak with you” As he bowed, you couldn’t help feeling a little nervous as well from the last name. Anyone in Piltover knew about the higher families, so to have one of them speaking with you was a little nerve wracking. 

“The pleasure is all mine” Introducing yourself, you couldn’t help the heat that rose to your cheeks as he repeated it with a smile. When was the last time that you’d blushed? 

As the two of you stood to the side, you quickly found your nervousness melt away to a friendly conversation. Finding that when you went home that night, that the small bit of kindness that was shared with you was enough to hold back the pain of finding your bed empty once more. 

Every few months when there was another gala, the two of you would meet. The conversations were light, mostly to allow the two of you to be doing something other than just silently standing and watching. But over time even he had noticed how you always came together with Viktor to only end up leaving alone. 

“So, who is the fellow you come here with, the one with the cane?” He had asked suddenly, nearly causing you to choke on the drink that you had been sipping from. 

“W-What? Oh, that would be Viktor. He…well, I am sure you know of Hextech” You asked, seeing him nod. “Well, he is the other half of the partnership and isn't the best with large crowds.” You had started before smiling a little as Philip simply allowed you the space to speak what you wished. 

“But you wouldn’t believe how smart he is. I’ve never seen anyone able to work as hard as he does, to be so dedicated to his work, to helping people. I’ve known him for years and even back then it was clear he would do big things.” 

There was a soft hum from the man beside you, seeing how you lit up the moment the conversation was about the man. 

“And yet, you always leave alone?” 

Even if his words had been said in a soft way, they didn’t hurt any less, something that he must have realized as he continued. 

“Not that it is any of my business, you don’t need to answer that if you don’t want to. I apologize” 

“No…no” You started, not wanting him to feel bad about speaking a simple fact. “You have nothing to apologize for” 

Silently, the two of you watched the dancing, it not being till three songs later that you finally spoke. 

“Viktor has always been rather single minded. When he is dedicated to something, that thing is the only thing on his mind till he completes it.” You knew that Philip was looking at you now, but you couldn’t get yourself to meet his gaze, knowing that if you did you might just start to cry. 

“In the beginning of our relationship, there were days I felt what it was like to be the thing in his mind. He would make little gadgets to brighten my day or bring me lunch from my favorite cafe. Which, since he has the cane, made it all the more special as walking is not really something he likes to do.” 

You chuckled at the memory, thinking back to how he had been so nervous about the food being cold since he had needed to take breaks on his way back. How Viktor had needed to sit down for a while after he had gotten there as his leg was throbbing in pain. It had been one of the sweetest things he had ever done for you. 

“But he doesn’t do those things anymore, does he?” 

Once again, his question cut through your like a knife through butter. This time, the tears you had been keeping inside for months now finally breaking free. Not even explaining yourself or wishing the man a good evening, you were out the door to return home. 

After that, you had made sure to avoid going to the galas. You would feign sick whenever they would come. Viktor had noticed, but hadn’t voiced any concern about it, always just wishing that you felt better before heading out for the evening. 

You didn’t want to hear anymore from Philip about your relationship. You had been trying your hardest to not allow Viktor’s complete disregard for you to heart. However, you knew that if Philip brought it up, it would just shatter what was left of your heart. 

Though as the next founders day was coming up, Viktor had asked specifically if you could do your best to attend. Because of this, you couldn’t bring yourself to fake being sick again, heading to the event with nervousness. 

Everything seemed to be going the same, the inventions being presented, Viktor and Jayce heading off to talk to the people they needed too. However, when you suddenly found a hand slip around your waist, you nearly screamed as you turned to find Viktor. 

“Ah, apologies. I didn’t mean to frighten you” The man softly spoke, giving a lopsided smile before placing a kiss on your temple. 

It was a little jarring to have him there, but in a good way. And as you leaned into his touch, you finally felt at home. This was what you had been missing for so long and as you soaked in his affection, he only pulled you closer. 

“I’ve missed you…so much, Solnyshko.” 

“Oh, so this must be the ever absent Viktor?” 

Philip’s voice sent dread through your spine, normally at this point of the party, the two of you would meet to idly chat, but for once Viktor hadn’t slipped away like he normally did. Like always, two glasses were in Philip’s hands, having been about to hand you one of them before Viktor reached out to snatch it first. 

“And you must not be relevant enough to mention as they have never spoken about you” As he spoke, he placed the glass on one of the trays a server was carrying, effectively getting rid of the offending offering. 

“It’s no doubt you haven’t heard about me.” Philip muttered, taking a sip from his drink as his eyes narrowed. “That would have required talking with them, a thing they’ve said hasn’t really happened all that often.” 

You could feel Viktor’s hand on your waist tense up, his eyes flickering to you as Philip downed the rest of his own glass. 

“But no matter, Philip Ferros, I would say it is a pleasure to meet you but I’ve found it rather rude to lie” You watched as Viktor’s jaw tightened with anger, no doubt debating on just how much he would be willing to ruin Hextech’s future by insulting someone from a prominent family. 

“Philip…that’s enough..” Your words fell on deaf ears, the man only smiling as he gestured towards you. 

“It has been a great honor to have spent the previous events with your partner. When they stopped coming I couldn’t help but grow worried for my friend, which I am sure you are aware of” 

There seemed to be so much information that the two of them were aware of that you hadn’t the clue about. But from what Philip was saying, something clicked in Viktor’s mind.

“So, that was why Jayce had been so insistent..” He mumbled softly to himself, his grip on your waist tightening as he pulled you closer to himself. 

“I asked my father to put in a request to Mr.Talis for them to be present and it seems like that request was honored. After all, he does donate a great deal to your work.” 

Philip’s words chilled you to the bone, reminding you of just who you had been talking to when you had divulged your worries and concerns. You wished to end this conversation, not liking the tone that the man was directing towards your lover. 

“However, now that you are present as well, I can finally ask if it would be agreeable for your partner and I to have a dance” 

It seemed that was the final bit of pushing that Viktor just wasn’t going to take. To hell with the money that they were receiving, he wouldn’t take a single coin if that meant having to stand aside. 

“It is not agreeable and you will not be dancing with them” He hissed, his hand moving from your waist down to your hand, already moving to lead you away from the man. 

“Then I guess they will never be able to dance at one of these events, seeing as you never will. Chem-stunted gutter rat” 

You had been about to turn and snap at the man, whatever friendship the two of you had shared was ruined by the disrespect being shown. However, instead of responding like you had expected, Viktor only smiled over at you, letting go of your hand to hold out his arm for you to take instead. 

“Would you do the honor of dancing with me?” 

You were a blushing mess as you allowed yourself to be led out onto the dance floor. Even seeing Jayce look over at the two of you with a look of excitement. 

As the music started, you were surprised to find how well Viktor was at the steps, leaving you feeling like you were floating around the room as he carefully led you. It had felt like a dream until you caught sight of Philip, your anger returning. 

“Don’t pay any mind to him.” 

“And why shouldn’t I? After what he said to you” 

“Because he is inconsequential. Many won’t like me, that doesn’t change anything for me…unless it does for you?” He asked softly, throwing you for a loop as to why he was asking that. 

“Why would that change anything for me?”

“Come now, I know of your….involvement with him. You didn’t really try to hide it, though before you think I am upset, I trusted you to know where the line was between friendship and something inappropriate. I never once was worried about your actions, it was his that were, well, unpredictable.” As the song ended, you had expected him to lead the two of you off the dance floor, only for him to give you a small smile as he led you into the next dance. 

“When he put in the request for you to partake, using his influence in the hopes of you being here, I felt I needed to step in” 

Sighing, you finally answered his question from before, resting your head on his shoulder as the two of you danced slowly to the song being played. 

“Then, yes, it did bother me. I thought we could have been friends, I enjoyed having someone to talk with when here…I know you hate these events so I didn’t want to make you feel bad for leaving early” 

There was a soft hum from the man, it only being once the song was about over that he asked the question he had been slowly stewing on. 

“How often do you push down your feelings and desires in the hopes of not bothering me?” 

Pulling away to look up at him. You only saw kindness and love on his face when you had expected to see him upset. And even though you had been about to deny it, as you felt a kiss being placed to your forehead you couldn’t find it in you to lie to him. 

“...everyday…” 

Even though the song was still going, dancers all around you both, Viktor came to a sudden halt as he took in exactly what that meant. 

“E-Everyday?” 

His tone was panicked, even if he also had a look like when he had a breakthrough when dealing with his own inventions. 

“I’m sorry to cut tonight short, darling” He whispered, already starting to lead you out and away from any prying eyes and ears that might want to snoop into the conversation you would about to have. 

It was only once you two had returned home, once the door was locked behind you both that the man broke. 

“Why didn’t you say anything?! For weeks, no, months I have been thinking that you were slowly growing out of love for me! You hardly come to the lab anymore and if you do you never seem to truly be happy to be there!” 

You watched as he was soon pacing back and forth, his voice raising not because he was yelling at you but because of the onslaught of emotions that he was going through. However, it was almost funny to hear how he thought you were falling out of love with him when he had been the one pulling away for so long. 

“And why would I have been happy to be at your lab, hearing how often I was in the way or that the gifts I brought to you were annoyances.” At your words he paused, able to name all the times you had come in excited with something for him only for him to disregard it…or even complain about it. 

“I invited you multiple times on dates and every time you shot them down. So I stopped asking, I tried to do things for the holidays and you always had a reason as to why my idea was silly, a waste of time. So I stopped.” You could feel the tears building, trying as hard as you could to keep them down. 

“I have wanted so much from you, yet every time I hinted at it, you would push me away. So I stopped asking, I stopped hoping…” 

The tears ended up slipping free anyway, unable to see just how distraught Viktor looked as he watched you break in front of him. 

“I know you love me. I do. When you have the time and energy to spend with me, you are nothing but perfect and sweet. You are the most giving in bed and I feel safest when I am in your arms…but those moments are so rare. I knew getting with you that you would be busy, you have always been busy. I just…” You sniffed, hand coming up to try and soak up the tears spilling from your eyes. 

“I just wish I didn’t want so much. If I could just be fine with what you were offering me, we would be perfectly happy…” 

“Stop that, don’t you dare blame yourself for this” Viktor cut in. You felt the gentle touch of warm cloth against your cheeks. Peering through your tears, you saw that Viktor had pulled out the handkerchief from his breast pocket and was trying to help with your tears. 

“Your needs are not something to be apologizing for. Yes, I wish you had told me sooner…but I am at fault for not being able to take care of your emotional needs.” As he helped clean your face, he gave you such a sad smile. This was why you hadn’t wanted to tell him what he was doing wasn’t enough, Viktor always felt like he wasn’t enough and now you were just making his assumption correct. And damn it, did it break your heart. 

“A fine lover I turned out to be, my partner not ever feeling able to tell me that they're unhappy…” 

“I didn’t tell you because I knew you would blame yourself” 

“So instead of us talking about it, figuring out a system that would make us both happy, you decided to be miserable all by yourself?!” 

The tears that had been slowly stopping on hit once more, this time actually having Viktor yelling at you. 

“...I-I’m sorry…I just didn’t know what else to do. I didn’t tell you at first because it was the beginning of our relationship and I didn’t want you to break up with me for being needy…and then as time went on…I couldn’t tell you, since that was how things had always been” 

Gently shushing you, the inventor pulled you in, wrapping his arms tightly around you. He wasn’t going to say a word, not until you were a bit calming so that he wasn’t triggering you again. 

“Alright, so dates? Holidays…and what else was it?” He asked softly, leaning over slightly so that he could look you in the eyes. 

“....I’m not asking you to change, you don’t need t-…” 

“I wasn’t asking if I needed too, I am asking what else you need from me. And you aren’t asking, I’m offering.” 

Slowly, with constant reassurances, Viktor was able to pull out all the things that you had been wanting from him. Some of which, you came to discover he had wanted to do but had been too nervous that you wouldn’t like it. 

Dates between the two of you became a weekly scheduled thing, Jayce still finding it entertaining to hear Viktor saying that he had to leave early for ‘date night’. He made an effort to be as friendly and welcoming when you visited, even when he was exhausted, and above all, he never left any of the events early anymore. 

However, on the morning of your birthday you found that he wasn’t in bed like you had expected. As you glanced around the room, you couldn’t help the disappointment that ate away at you as it was clear that Viktor hadn’t done anything. 

Slowly you got ready, opting to skip breakfast as you just didn’t think you could keep it down with the sick feeling you were experiencing. 

The walk to your job was slow, truly not wanting to go through another birthday where your co-workers would ask what Viktor had done…only for you to have to make up some lie so that they didn’t worry about your relationship. 

As you entered, you found the whole place dark, confused as to why you were there before anyone else. And as you turned on the lights, you were met with the one person you were not expecting to see. 

In the middle of the room, holding a cake that clearly looked like it had been made by the man who was holding it…seeing as his clothes had cake batter and icing in places and…was that icing in his hair? 

“H-Happy Birthday” He stuttered, looking second away from dropping the cake in his hands from sheer nerves as he stood there. “I wasn’t sure if this was…well…good enough. I have gifts, mostly ones that I made…but I didn’t think that would sufficient” 

In a few quick strides you nearly sprinted the space between the two of you, taking the cake and setting it down on the nearest table so that you could kiss the living daylights out of this adorable man. 

As you pulled away, finding him looking completely dazed, a soft chuckle bubbled forth as it had indeed been frosting in his hair. 

Relationships are built on trust.

All of your previous relationships hadn’t managed to follow that simple known fact. Whether it be that they were cheating on you in secret or they lied about key aspects of their personality. Seriously, who pretends to have read a book that you were interested in and pretends to give a review on it when the book in question wasn’t even released yet? Then they had the nerve to get upset when you called them out on lying? Ridiculous.

So when you had met Viktor, you found his honesty to a fault refreshing. He had been rather harsh of you when you had first met him, instantly having some criticism about your work in a class that the two of you shared. However, over the course of the rest of your degrees, you have come to greatly appreciate that side of him.

No matter the situation or how hard the question was, you knew that Viktor would always give you an honest answer.

Did your paper sound silly?

Yes, like a child wrote it.

Did the dress look good on you?

The shape, yes, but the color looked horrible with your skin tone.

It was why when he awkwardly confessed that he loved you, you knew that there wasn’t any weird hidden agenda with him. He wasn’t trying to date you so that he could have sex with you, he wasn’t doing it because of a dare or some other stupid reason - you trusted him to mean it.

And as Hextech slowly started to grow, your relationship started to deal with the classic issues that you were expecting. Even back when the two of you were students at the academy, he had always been a workaholic. It was still an ongoing issue between the two of you, but it was something that you had understood would be a part of your relationship before you entered it.

What you hadn’t expected was how he would react to the attention that Hextech was receiving. When the two of you were students, he had always said that he didn’t have the time or patience to deal with people that appeared like they didn’t have a brain. If someone was simply wanting to talk to him so that he would help with their grades or because they wanted him to help them out with Professor Heimerdinger, Viktor was quick to end the relationship.

So as you took in the scene before you, you hadn’t been that nervous. Across the room during another one of the galas that Hextech was having, you saw Jayce and Viktor schmoozing with a few of the wealthiest members of society. With their own company growing larger, other tech and even some marketing companies were swooping in to attempt to be friendly with the current craze.

It was as the owners of the company that spoke with Jayce, while the men and women that had come as arm candy were amusing themselves by flirting it up with the other half of the tech company.

You had been about to head over to help save him from having to talk with them before you took in the expression that was currently on your lover's face. From Viktor’s smirk, it was clear that there was an amusement there and not the disdain that you were used to seeing when he had dealt with similar situations.

So, you have just decided to enjoy your own time.

As the two of you were driving back to your shared apartment, you couldn’t help but want to tease him after having found his conversations adorable. After all, he had always made it seem like he thought those interactions were like pulling teeth.

“You were quite the heartbreaker today, flirting with all those people today”

You had expected him to scoff, blush awkwardly or to blush in embarrassment. What you had not expected at all was for him to not even react, his eyes remaining on the road as he replied.

“I have no idea what you are going on about. If you are referring to Jayce and I talking with investors, I honestly find your statement a little insulting”

That hurt.

The rest of the ride was in silence, and as you headed inside, you couldn’t help the gut feeling that something wasn’t right as he was quick to pull out his phone to type away reply after reply. At first you had assumed it was Jayce, that was until you had received a text from that very same man asking for you to ask Viktor to call him as he wasn’t responding to his message.

Everything felt way too much like previous relationships…but this was Viktor - you told yourself over and over again. He was different, if he wanted out of the relationship he would have just said so…wouldn’t he?

That night, even with him being wrapped around you, there was just a nagging feeling that something wasn’t right.

Over the next few months things just continued to not add up. It had been on another night that Viktor was staying late at the lab that you started going through his social media posts, finding that a few months ago he had suddenly been a ton more active.

Where before he hadn’t been very willing to post anything on his social media about his personal life, he was suddenly posting selfies with himself and Jayce, himself and his inventions and….wait.

You felt your heart stop, you started seeing more and more pictures of himself being extremely close with different attractive men and women. As you flipped through picture after picture, some faces started to be seen repeatedly.

The two of them clearly at a party of some sort that you hadn’t even known about, at the beach with a large group of people that you had seen many times on his feed before, and more. But it was the last one that was posted not even an hour ago that left you feeling cold and numb.

As you lay there in the bed that you shared with the man, in the apartment that had both of your names on the lease, you saw a photo of Viktor taking a selfie with a woman that you had seen multiple times at the beach. Clearly from the background there were others present, but that wasn’t what hurt you the most. Yes, it hurt to know he was hiding these social events from you, but that wasn’t what shook you.

The woman was kissing his cheek.

And Viktor was smiling brightly, brighter than he had in a very long time.

It not only hurt that he had allowed such a moment to take place, but that he had decided that posting it was the best idea. Already, in the comments you were seeing people commenting about how cute the ‘couple’ looked, asking how long the two had been together. As of now there wasn’t a response…but honestly, you weren’t sure what would hurt worse. Him responding with a lie or him pretending it wasn’t true.

That night, you packed. Gathering up all your must have items, it wasn’t long before you had all the things that you needed to take with you down in your car.

By the time that Viktor would get him, he would find your stuff gone.

That night, phone call after phone call was sent to voicemail. After a while you simply turned the damn thing off, not wanting to talk to him. If he wanted to play this game, you were happy to beat him at it.

At the gala that was scheduled for that coming weekend, you made sure to dress as well as you could. Your outfit was loud and bold, the purpose was to turn as many heads as you could.

And as you headed into the gala solo, it did just that as you watched as conversations stopped so that men and women alike could turn and stare.

That wasn’t even the best part, as you made your way into the room, you caught sight of Viktor whose eyes were wide. Though, as he tried to make his way over to you, his hand coming up to try and get your attention - you made sure to ignore it, opting instead to take the drink from one of the couple of potential dance partners that had quickly circled around you.

You managed to enjoy the first half of the event without Viktor interrupting. Dancing with different partners, you were for once allowing yourself to get tipsy and have fun at these things instead of worrying about if Viktor was alright or not.

It was when the dance ended and you found yourself face to face with said man that you felt your buzz hit the hardest- feeling how your body was reacting just a smidge slower to your instructions than it normally would.

“Where on earth have you been?” Viktor hissed softly, his hand coming out to quickly take hold of your arm, it being clear from how he was holding you up that it was more so because he wanted to keep you standing than keeping you there.

“Like you care”

“What?” The confusion on his face was insulting, leading to a scoff slipping free before you had the chance to stop it.

“Seriously Viktor? You're confused on why I might be upset and leave you? I didn’t take you for a fool but I suppose I didn’t know anything about you after all.”

Not caring that people were starting to look over at the two of you, not caring that you were both standing in the middle of the room where people were trying to dance- being in the way and yet neither of you were moving.

Pulling out your phone, it was easy for you to hold it up for him to see.

“Like how I would have never believed that you would cheat on me with not one person but multiple, or that you would lie to me about where you were. Weren’t you staying late in the office the day of this picture?”

You watched as Viktor’s eyes started to search the room in a panic, seeming to be looking for someone as he spoke.

“Wait, you..you misunderstand. Jayce has been, people told him that I was the reason that Hextech was starting to stagnant. That I was unapproachable…” He trailed off, his hands coming up to anxiously pull at his tie as he panicked with just how many eyes were on him in the moment.

“Please…can we talk privately?”

“Like hell!” Your voice carried farther than you had expected, hearing the music come to a stop as now the whole gala was being put on pause for the fiasco that was taking place between the two of you.

However, now Viktor only seemed to shrink more, his eyes moving to stare intently down at your feet. His voice came out soft, murmured and stuttered - just like anytime he was asked to give a presentation.

“Those people in the pictures I’ve posted were paid to be in them with me. J-Jayce thought…he thought it would be a good idea to s-stage it like I was p-popular, approachable.” As he reached out to take your hand, you didn’t pull away, allowing him to squeeze it as he continued to speak.

“I never once flirted with anyone intentionally, you are….were…are?” He trailed off, silently biting his lip before his eyes slowly raised to meet yours.

“You are the most special person in my life. I wanted to keep you off that god awful site before of how rude the people on there can be. It made Sky, one of the girls we hired for the pictures, cry from how harshly they made fun of her because of her bone structure…I would never want to see them attack you for anything. Not you. Never you.”

Murmuring was heard throughout the room, reminding you of exactly where the two of you were currently standing. Which, judging from how quickly Viktor’s face was darkening to a deep pink, he had forgotten about as well.

As you turned, you had been about to lead him to a more private place to talk- only to have him panic, thinking you were leaving.

“Please come home! Please! I can’t…I can’t sleep without you, I have hardly been able to eat from stress over if you are okay….please…come home. I’ll tell Jayce I refuse to do the social stuff. I’ll…I’ll do whatever..”

Instead of being gentle like you had wished, you ended up nearly dragging the man out of the building- heading towards your car. Because of the amount of alcohol you had drank, he ended up needing to drive the two of you back to the apartment - helping you make your way up the stairs and inside. All the while being nothing but gentle and patient.

“Why didn’t you just tell me?!” You finally broke, allowing the pent up frustration out as all those eyes weren’t on you anymore. “I asked about it and you didn’t explain yourself when the topic was relevant!

The man only flinched, nodding softly as had a hard time looking up at you.

“I was hoping I would be able to convince Jayce to leave me alone. That it wouldn’t be anything you needed to worry about. I hated all the photo shoots, the people touching me - god, I nearly scrubbed my face raw from that kiss on the cheek..” He muttered, nervous energy practically oozing out of him as he spoke. And yet, you saw only the truthfulness in him as he spoke.

Reaching out, your hands were soon cradling his cheeks to direct his eyes to yours. As you inspected him, you saw indeed the one side of his face was a tad swollen.

“You silly silly man”

Leaning forward, you pressed a soft kiss to the inflamed skin and hummed softly at the shutter that traveled down his spine. Letting go, you moved your hands off his cheeks so that you could wrap your arms snuggly around his waist.

“I’ll handle Jayce. I don’t like that style of pictures.” You leaned up to press soft kisses all over his face. “Besides, the pictures of you and your inventions were nothing but adorable and perfect. Jayce can be the social butterfly, I will put my foot down with him about him pushing you to be something you aren’t”

In no time at all, Viktor was moosh in your touch. Leaning into every kiss, his eyes closed as he sunk into your touch. His own arms wrapping themselves around your frame to pull you even closer towards him.

“Yes please, Solnyshko, please end his torture…sweet Janna, you are my greatest treasure and joy”

It was hard to hold back a chuckle at his reaction, allowing him to seek out as much comfort from you as possible.

“Will you help me move my stuff back from my parent’s place?” All you received was a hastily nod, before he nuzzled his head into the crook of your neck.

“Just come back home…please. These past few days have been torture without you, my love”

Chapter 1

“It would be my pleasure to escort you this weekend” 

Those words had been running through your head all day. After months of working with the pair of Hextech inventors, finding yourself completely smitten with the less social one of the two, you had mustered enough courage to ask out the genius Zaunite. 

Having found the perfect excuse for why the two of you could spend time together during the coming weekend, working with Jayce to figure out what parts you would need from Zaun that could only be found there. 

You had asked if he would be able to show you the way around the underground city since you had never been there on your own before. When he agreed you were over the moon, a grin having cemented itself on your face since you had asked.

So with a spring in your step, you arrived the next day to the lab. It wasn’t abnormal to find the other two already there. Sometimes they were earlier than you, but usually it was because they hadn’t left in the first place. However, it was Jayce's words that stopped your tracks in the doorway, quickly hiding around the corner so as to not interrupt. 

“This weekend I’ll have someone stationed outside, I’ll have some council business to take care of and you will be on your little date” The man teased. You felt your face burn at the tone, your grip tightening on the files and notebooks in your hands. You hadn’t said a word to anyone about it, that only left Viktor to be the one to have told him. Which from what you’ve known of the man, he wasn’t one to tell others about such a thing. Unless Jayce had pieced it together from your inquiry earlier…but he never did seem like someone who would notice something that vague. 

Maybe he had been excited himself? Slowly, you felt a small spark of joy starting to grow, possibly even hope. You had been about to turn and enter, unable to hide a grin from growing before the next words froze you to your spot. 

“I truly wish you would stop with your poorly made jokes. It is quickly growing to be irksome” The accented voice was strained, clearly holding irritation in it. Already, you could feel your chest fall, the smile slipping just as quickly as it had shown. 

Maybe he was just shy? Doubtful. Embarrassed? Perhaps, he was someone who had a healthy level of pride. Which he had every right to be, in fact he could do with being more vocal about his accomplishments. So maybe it was embarrassing, but then that raised the question. 

Embarrassed of Jayce’s teasing or of you? 

“Fine, what would you call them?” Jayce countered, the tone of both their voices making it clear that this was turning into an argument. 

“Not that it is your business, but I will indulge you. They asked for a guide to the undercity, it is an errand run. Nothing more” 

“Yo-” Jayce didn’t even get in a full word before Viktor was speaking once more, irritation practically dripping from his words, like he couldn’t believe he even had to explain this. 

“If there had been any hint that they had asked with the hopes of it being in a romantic excursion I would have declined. Now -” The screech of a chair scraping across the floor, already hearing the steady tap of his cane coming towards the entryway. “-after this unproductive and frankly infuriating conversation, I need some coffee” 

You didn’t have time to take in his words, panicking as your eyes darted around the hallway. In a hasty effort, you practically threw yourself through the closet door. Finding yourself cramped into a small storage closet, you just managed to get the door closed as you heard the click enter the hallway. 

“Honestly, the nerve” You heard muttered on the other side, footsteps passing and disappearing down the hall. It was only after a few heartbeats of silence that you realized that you had been holding your breath. Taking a shaky breath as you slide down the door, you finally had a moment to replay the conversation from before. 

You could feel your heart shatter. Sure, you hadn’t been hopeful that Viktor would return your feelings. He was handsome, smart, funny, kind, and an all around perfect guy. You had seen the way women, and even some men looked at him. At those posh parties, where they would raise money for their endeavors, recognizing the treasure that he was, even if he didn’t notice it himself. 

You expected two different reactions with the first one being almost certain. Either he would kindly reject you, let you down gently or he would return your affection. This was something you haven’t even thought about. He had sounded so offended by the notion, almost disgusted at the idea of it being called a date. 

That day you called out sick. 

Dear Diary, from today things will be different. They have to be. I know the truth now of his feelings, rejected even before confessing, just my luck right? I will smile like normal, if asked I’ll just play it off like I’m just tired, I’m fine. I have to be. Viktor made it very clear today that he would never accept a date invitation from me. His friendship is the most I will have and I need to do all I can to keep it from falling apart because of my own emotions.

The rest of the week was a blur. Thankfully, you had been able to lose yourself in your work, and with the two knowing they wouldn’t be getting any work done that weekend, they too were focused solely on completing their tasks. 

Dear Diary, well, I made it through the first week. I must have said that I was fine over a dozen times to each of them. I need to do better, they clearly noticed something was wrong with me. The usual banter and jokes I live for didn’t even happen once these past couple days, I need to act better, I need things to go back to how it was. The non-date is tomorrow. I have no choice but to have myself together by then. 

The weekend arrived, a deep frown on your face as you looked through your closet. Before you had overheard their conversation, you had picked an outfit that would be perfect. Cute and a little bit flirty, it being one that made you feel attractive as it highlighted the features that you felt were your best ones. 

However, now that you knew he hated the idea of it being a date, such an outfit was out of the question. You had to look like you viewed this as just an errand run. Pushing it aside, you pulled out a bland shirt and pants. You were going for loose and baggy, like you would wear if you weren’t expecting to see the gorgeous Viktor. 

With a brief glance in the mirror, you honestly felt like you looked horrible. Your form was non-existent under the clothes you picked, but that had been what you were going for. 

Finding yourself there early, nervously waiting as the time of your meeting came and went. 

He was late. 

From what you had heard, it wasn’t long before you were under the impression that he had just not intended to come. It had been seconds before you were going to call it a day that you saw him coming towards you with an apologetic and nervous smile on his face. There were beads of sweat on his brow and trails of it down his neck, as he tried to catch his breath beside you, he quickly produced a slip of paper from his pocket. 

“I apologize for my tardiness” Viktor started, the apologetic smile still in place. “I had mentioned where our errands would be taking us and Jayce figured it would be a great time to give me a list of items he needed procured for his own research” 

As the two of you waited for the bathysphere to head down to the lower levels of Zaun, you noticed a nervousness in the man beside you. Even as he was looking over your own list, his other hand was gripping the handle of his cane till the skin was a pale white. 

“I believe all this can be found at Benzo’s shop” He muttered softly to himself, before looking at his own note with a frown. “These however might be a bit more tricky. Ublyudok*” 

You blinked, not having heard that particular word in his native tongue before. However, being you could inquire upon its meaning, the man was changing the topic to something a little more time sensitive. 

“I will warn you. There is very little that will prepare you for the…lifestyle you are about to see. You need to watch where you are going, don’t run into anyone, don’t look anyone in the eye and above all-” He said, his hand reaching out to grasp your chin so that you were looking at him. It was clear from his expression just how serious he was, there not being a hint of humor or teasing in his eyes like they normally would be. 

“Don’t leave my side but if I tell you to run back to the bathysphere, you do that without question. Do you understand?” 

Ever so slowly you nodded, his amber eyes searching yours for any hint of a lie before he dropped your jaw. His eyes snapping towards the glass that was steadily being overtaken by a type of glow that you had hardly ever seen before. 

You had grown up with everything around you being of white, gold, and blue. As you stood there, you watched as those colors quickly melted away, the sun disappearing as you descending lower and lower. The bathysphere's cabin was soon overtaken by an eerie sort of light. It wasn’t bright and clean like above, but almost dusty. 

Honestly, your eyes didn’t know what to look at first. Before you could take in one element of the city it had zoomed past you, your eyes darting to a new item to focus on. There were bright greens, pinks and purples. And throughout it all, there was a fog of either steam or smoke just everywhere. 

As the machine came to a stop, you only had about five seconds to get prepared before the doors opened and it felt like you had been hit by a brick wall. First the sounds, it was loud. The cacophony of different things you were hearing all at once mixing together to become an almost deafening white noise. Second was the air, as soon as you inhaled your first breath you felt your lungs protest at whatever it had taken in. 

You had been so overwhelmed by the feelings you were going through that you hadn’t even noticed that you were the only one left still inside, Viktor quickly coming back with a hint of panic in his eyes. 

“My deepest apologies, I was distracted. It will not happen again, I can assure you” Viktor hurriedly spoke, studying you quickly at the signs of discomfort you were showing. “Shit.” 

As he took you by the wrist and gently pulled you out so that you both wouldn’t be yelled at for holding them up, he was quickly rummaging through his bag for something.

“Forgive me, I should have given this to you before we descended down.” 

You barely got to make out the item, a mix of fabric and metal, before it was softly placed over your nose and mouth, the whirl of something mechanical snuggly forming to your face. Your next breaths were easy, a sigh of relief quickly escaping you as your lungs didn’t feel like the air was full of tiny razor blades. 

Nervously, his hand slowly came away from the mask that he had placed on your face. 

“Better?” 

“Much, thank you. I don’t know what I would have done without you, I don’t own one of these” 

Your comment only seemed to leave him blinking, his eyes darting from side to side as he mulled over just how he wanted to respond. As you watched, you noticed a tiny tint of pink beginning to appear on the tips of his ears, or maybe that was just from the intense lights. 

“Ah, well, you would have never need one” Turning on his heel, the man was soon heading off. 

Following as closely as you could, you couldn’t help the sick feeling in your stomach that everything around you wasn’t right. 

As you walked, everything was inputting itself like flashes, photos of the scenes around you as you couldn’t really believe what you were seeing. 

A bright sign, illuminating out the words Clean Air. A boy, who looked days away from starving  to death, cleaning the shoes of some overly dressed man. The man eyeing him in a way that you had never seen before, almost carnal. 

You passed by a gathering that looked almost religious, only a block or so away from a person being tattooed out in the open. There were animals on leashes and in cages, animals that you had never seen in person before. And as you walked, all throughout the streets there were business deals happening, from the snippets of conversations you did your best to ignore them as words like ‘kidnapped’, ‘shimmer’, and so on. 

Glancing back, Viktor seemed to realize that you were starting to lag, seeing just how overwhelmed you were becoming. Taking a hold of your wrist, he was soon gently pulling you along. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, holding your wrist like this eased a large part of his anxiety, now being able to feel that you hadn’t been taken or gotten lost. 

It felt like forever, but finally you approached a shop, your partner opening the door for you before entering himself. Your eyes were soon daring around to all the different items scattered around, you were finally looking at things that made sense to you. Cogs and gears, scrap metal and bolts. In your delight, you hardly noticed that you had a set of eyes staring right at you. Viktor’s gaze softened as he took in your reactions. 

“What do you think? This place was always amazing to me when I was a kid” He asked, there being a hint of something more in his tone. Though whether it was amusement or nerves, you weren’t truly sure. 

At the moment, you just wanted to take in every item in the shop, however as you went to take a step to look at some of the items behind the counter the hand still holding your wrist tightened and pulled you back towards his side. 

“Don’t wander off. Things may seem harmless here but touch something you shouldn’t and - well” He paused, looking for the right word that he wanted to say. 

“I’ll blow up” You muttered softly, unable to hide a small smile as he chuckled at your comment. 

“More than likely your savings will be blown up.” He snarked back, one corner of his lip twitching up before a man came out from the back. 

As soon as Viktor took in who they were to be interacting with, he tensed. It was clear from the sudden shift in his demeanor that this was not who he had been expecting to see. 

“Where is Benzo?” He inquired, all the while his grip on your wrist never disappearing. The man before you was tall and muscular and looking a little strung out on some sort of drug. As he stalked closer, you felt a sharp tug, finding yourself pulled closer behind him. 

“Gone.” The man’s tone was rough, eyes looking over the two of you but flicked back to you with a hostility you had never seen before. 

“What’s a piltie bitch doing all the way down here?” His tone was vile, disgust dripping from every word as he leaned over the counter to sneer down at you. “I think we know who would be interested in some topside whore, could fetch a hefty sum.” 

“Great way to talk to a customer” You hissed, not taking kindly to the tone that he was throwing your way. This only seemed to enrage the man, his nostrils flaring at the comment you made, already making his way around the counter. 

“Shut it” Viktor hissed as he turned towards you, from his tone you would have expected a glare but he almost looked like he was begging. Begging you to go along with this act he was about to be partaking, turning back towards the man as he smirked.

“Thought it would be a laugh to bring them with me. Had a few errands to run and well-” He leaned closer, almost like the two men were sharing a joke. “-how could I turn down the opportunity of bringing some stuck up tramp with me to scare.” 

You knew this wasn’t how he normally was like, but that still didn’t stop you from flinching a little at the terms. Viktor rummaged through his pockets to pull out the two lists, setting them down on the table for the man to see. 

“Was needing these parts, hopefully you are the guy that has them?” He asked, quickly veering the conversation towards what they were here for as opposed to where you were from. 

The man only stood there glaring at you, a few shaky breaths of silence taking place before his eyes lazily moved down to look at the papers. As he skimmed over them, he hummed, picking them up before heading to the back. 

Both of you stood there, too nervous to say anything to the other. So as the minutes passed with the store owner looking through the back, it all passed in relative silence. 

He was soon back with a box, dropping it roughly on the counter. Just from the look of it, there was no way that it had everything, so when you heard the price you couldn’t help your shock and anger at the outrageous amount. 

“You’ve got to be joking? That box is not nearly worth more than half that amount” 

Both eyes snapped to you, and while the store owners were full of nothing but hate and malice, Viktor’s own showed clear and utter fear. 

That was before forced back on his act, growling as he pulled you after him to the door. “Wait outside, I don’t want to hear anymore of your stupid comments or questions” 

You were ushered out, but not before he reached out to grasp your chin, reminding you of the only other time he had done that back on the bathysphere. 

“Remember what I told you, run” 

He didn’t wait, turning back and closing the door behind him. 

You were alone. And it took your heart one beat. 

Then two. 

And then you were running, you hated it. Everything in you was telling you to stay, that you were safest by Viktor’s side. But you had sworn that if he told you to go, that you would. 

This time you weren’t looking at the sights, darting back towards where you had come from. With how quickly everything was rushing back, the sudden twists and turns you were taking, there wasn’t much chance to think of what had just happened, your mind needing to focus more on the directions you had only seen once. 

You scrambled onto the bathysphere, only feeling relief as the doors closed behind you. Ripping the mask off your face, breathing true fresh air, you collapsed to the ground as you gasped for air. 

Slowly, now feeling safe, everything from before was catching up to you. The way the man had looked at you when he saw you, like he had been ready to kill you on the spot. The weird reference to someone being interested that you was there, not really having any idea who that could be. The way Viktor slipped into a role where he treated you - well, he treated you like vermin, like how you had seen some people in Piltover speak about him. 

Silently you tried to take in everything that had taken place, silently getting off and then waiting beside the bathysphere. It was a while, almost an hour later that Viktor exited as well. 

He was silent, heading straight to where you were standing before roughly shoving the box of items you had requested into your arms. 

“Don’t ever dare to ask me to bring you here again, don’t ask anyone. Have I made myself clear?” His voice was low, the rage he was no doubt feeling barely being contained. You had never heard this tone before from him and it only sent a terrified chill down your spine. 

“I’m sorry for being snarky ba-” 

“You don’t get it!’ Your voice was cut off, finding yourself trying to shrink away from the anger that was bearing down on you. “The undercity is not some fun place to explore, a tourist attraction for pilties to visit for fun!”

Any chance of a reply was cut off, the man already turning to head away. Throwing one last comment to you over his shoulder, your hands trembling to hold the box of parts in your grasp. 

“I never should have agreed to take you” 

Dear Diary, the non-date was an utter failure. I can see the relationship slipping, am I even going to lose him as a friend? He hardly spoke during the whole non-date. Oh, Janna, what am I to do? It’s all falling apart isn’t it? 

From that day on, you made yourself as unnoticeable as possible. Jayce and Sky were the only ones that would talk to you, but even they were rather distant and Viktor? The little breaks you would take together completely stopped. Now it was strictly professional when talking to him, the man only ever discussing work with you and nothing more. Much like when you had first started working there, it felt like you had gone back to the very beginning to all the progress you had made in your relationship. 

The days turned to weeks, it felt like the pressure that you had thought would slowly go away was instead just growing worse. Every small mistake you made was immediately called out by the golden eyed man, anytime you spoke up an idea it was shot down without remorse till you stop speaking up all together. 

Dear Diary, it’s been weeks since I wrote last. Things are, all I can say is professional. Where before I felt like I had been a part of a found family, now I feel like an outsider. Since the non-date failure Viktor hasn’t spent a moment with me outside of work. I miss our coffee runs, the walks we would take as breaks together and just talk. I just miss him. He doesn’t seem any different, just more proof that my existence here wasn’t as solid as I first believed. Even Jayce has stopped asking if I’m alright. It probably won’t be long till they fire me. 

The mounting stress, the unbearable weight that had been steadily growing and the nervousness you felt when under Viktor’s judging eyes all came to an explosive conclusion. 

You had been working on your own project, leaving the room to grab more materials from the other room. When you returned, and in your haste you hadn’t even looked to make sure that the doorway was clear before you rushed in. 

First you felt the solid weight of something, the hard and metal surface being a surprise.

That was till you saw it start to tilt.

Even when you tried to reach for it, the weight being far too much for you to hold up. 

It crashed to the floor, the inner workings of it shattering and scattering across the floor. 

You couldn’t even breathe as the silence in the room hit, it feeling heavier than any other day that you had been there. 

“...I…I’m so sorry….I’ll fix th-” 

“Just get out” The venom in Viktor’s voice chills you to your core, your gaze slowly moving up from the project to look up at him. 

“Viktor, I can fix this-” 

“Oh really? And do you know or understand what it was that I was trying to create? Do you have any knowledge of my recent works?” 

Like razors his words cut at your heart, you gaze falling back to the floor as you knew a lot of what he was saying was correct. You didn’t know what the object in front of you was for or how it could be used.

“....no….” 

“Of course not, and you really believe you can fix it? You?” He waited for a response, receiving none from you as you didn’t have anything to say. His hand came up to pinch at his brow, clearly wrestling with something himself as he mulled it over for a second. 

“Your work has been mediocre at best as of late and mistakes like this can’t become a regular occurrence. If you can’t keep up with the workload, it might be best if you resign.”

His words cut like knives, your already sinking self esteem plummeting to the floor. Jayce had thankfully been quick to pull Viktor away from you, Jayce already starting to explain a plan on how they could both fix what he was working on and still be on time for presenting it in a few days like Viktor had planned. 

You knew he was just trying to redirect Viktor’s attention, to pull his anger away from you. And as much as you appreciated the man’s kindness, you knew that it wouldn’t change the fact that you still ruined everything. 

Silently, you scooped up the pieces that were scattered on the floor before bringing it all to your desk. 

It was true. You weren’t really sure what it was, Viktor had used to tell you about his work, but in the past couple weeks he hadn’t spoken to you about anything really. So you were completely at a loss of what exactly the large metallic structure was supposed to be for. 

You would just need to piece it back together, looking for clues to put everything together like puzzle pieces. This was your chance, you thought as you hunkered down to work on it.

You would work on it without pause till it was fixed! Viktor didn’t believe that you could fix it, so you just needed to fix it and then maybe whatever you had done to break the fragile bond between you would flourish again.

Maybe once he saw that you had some semblance of brilliance, like Jayce and Sky, like himself, then maybe he wouldn’t fire you? 

With a deep breath, steeling yourself for however many hours it was going to take you, you got to work. 

Dear Diary, if I didn’t think they would fire me before they are now. Viktor hates me. I can feel it. I didn’t mean to ruin his research, I would never intentionally do that. His work is so important, life changing. I’ll fix it, I have too. He already asked for my resignation, if I can’t fix this, there is no doubt he will let me go. 

You never left the office after that, giving Viktor a run for his money when it came to how many hours you were awake and working. Even as each of them, at one point even Viktor himself, had urged you to go home and sleep. 

But you refused, hell bent on proving that you were worth keeping around, that you were worth being his friend, that you were worth the time and effort he has wasted on you, wasted teaching you. 

With each passing day; with each failure, each misfire, you felt your hopes slipping. 

It was useless. 

Viktor had been right.

Like he always was. 

Why on earth had you believed that you could fix this? It was another one of his brilliant designs and you had said that you could fix it without anything to back that up? You were a failure, a complete and utter failure. 

It was the middle of the night, closer to dawn that you took a few seconds to write your feelings down. You just couldn’t stop your tears no matter how hard you tried to calm yourself down. The whole thing was hopeless; you love life, your career, your mental state…it all just felt so pointless, so useless. 

Resting your head down on the desk, your eyes drifted over towards the monstrosity you were still working on. It felt like it was no better than it had been when you started and you couldn’t ask for help. If you went to Viktor for help, you might as well just hand in your resignation then. 

Your head was pounding, it felt like the world was falling apart around you. You just needed more time…

Just a bit more time…

With a jerk your eyes snapped open, finding the once dark lab was bright with the morning light. You hadn’t even noticed that you had fallen asleep! 

In a panic you sat up, feeling drool on the side of your cheek. You could see the wet spot on the paper you had been working on, grimacing at the smudged writing. 

But that wasn’t the worst of it. 

“Finally, you’re awake” 

Sitting in a chair that he must have pulled over beside your desk, your journal in hand, eyes scanning each and every word that you had written on the pages. 

Sat Viktor. 

His gaze slowly taking in the last journal entry you had written only hours before. Golden orbs shifted to focus sharply on your own, a look of pure determination taking over his features.

“We need to talk” 

------------------------------------------

Part 2 and Part 3

* I used a Russian translation for this one as I wanted him to be calling Jayce a bastard, but when I looked up the translation of bastard in Slovak it literally translated it to ‘bastard’. Felt like it defeated the purpose.

Jayce Talis had to be one of the best friends you had ever had in your life. After meeting him back when you were a child, the man had always been about helping you, protecting you - pushing you to be better. 

He knew so much about you that you yourself sometimes refused to admit. He would nag you about drinking more water, while he himself barely kept up with eating and sleeping. Jayce would deter any over confident or self intiled ass-hole from getting too close to you. Everyone always teased that it was like he saw you like a younger sister. 

You trust him just like he trusted you. He wasn’t the best when it came to seeing when he was being screwed over, which was where you would step in to argue with people when they tried to short change him or trick him into a horrible deal. 

The poor guy just didn’t haggle. 

But he had seen where your comfort level dropped. When you needed to defend someone you would take whatever the outcome - but yourself? You were always silent and nervous. Even to this day, he hasn't been able to make any progress on getting you to stand up for yourself. 

So, when he suddenly came to you, excited, insistent, nearly demanding you come to his new lab - you couldn’t say no. He had never been this energized about showing something this secretive before. 

He had been nearly bouncing with excitement as he led you through the halls of the academy, not giving away anything on what you were in store to seeing that warranted this type of build up. 

As you entered the room, it was empty. 

Well, not empty, there were machine and gadget parts everywhere but as Jayce’s face fell you could see that whatever it was that he had wanted you to see wasn’t there. 

“Just…just wait a few minutes…” Putting on a smile as he glanced down the hallway, he ushered you inside before disappearing. 

And so, you were left in the room by yourself. 

At first, you just sort of stood there, not sure what you were meant to do. But as the time ticked on, you got curious. 

You slowly meandered around the room, not touching anything but carefully taking in every machine that was there. You weren’t a scientist, not even close, but from the way Jayce talked about it, you couldn’t help the excitement for him that you felt. This all looked new, like he was actually being funded for once instead of doing his secret research in his apartment. He deserved to finally have someone higher up believe in him. 

“What are you doing in here?” 

The accidented voice was harsh and cold, the suddenness of it causing you to jump before turning to face the unknown man standing in the doorway. He was holding a box of more parts, with a cane held in the other. 

But above all that he was breathtaking. 

You had seen beautiful men in Piltover your whole life. Cookiecutter images, perfectly symmetrical due to surgery, makeup covered skin. But this man? He was naturally beautiful. The harsh jaw line, the two moles placed so perfectly on his face….

The face that was glaring at you with such distrusts and, you felt your breath stop, was that rage? 

“...I…” This had to be the worst first impression you’ve ever made in your life. Voice trapped in your throat as he only seemed to grow more and more untrusting of you. 

“I don’t know how you managed to get into the building without the proper credentials but I will have the enforcers escort you out” 

You watched as he set the box down on the nearby table, all the while muttering under his breath. His words only seem to freeze you more, making you feel so small. 

“Honestly, acting like you own the place. Makes you a little self-entitled, don’t you think?” 

It was only once he was heading for the door, clearly on a mission to try to get you arrested for…something, that Jayce finally arrived. 

He was out of breath, but the moment he saw the man who was making your day a living nightmare Jayce’s face lit up into a beaming smile. 

“Here you are! I was looking all over for you” He grinned, his arm moving to wrap around the man’s shoulders to direct him to face you. 

“And you clearly were fine allowing a break in to take place under your watch” The man hissed back, motioning towards you which earned a laugh from Jayce but you could feel yourself visibly shrink from the accusation. 

“Break in? No no no, I brought them here. I wanted them to meet you” Jayce grinned, guiding the man closer with the excitement from earlier coming back into full swing. 

“This is Viktor, my new partner. He is the very reason Hextech is going to be a reality” He started, the harshness on this ‘Viktor’s’ face softened at that which made you believe that this had to be a new development, the thing he wanted to tell you. You had been about to be glad that Jayce had someone who was going to work with him- about to thank him for giving your precious best friend a chance…before the next words that came out of that man’s mouth. 

After he introduced you, giving Viktor your name, he seemed to want to immediately make it so you could never come back to this lab again. 

“They always tend to worry me because of their lack of, well, interest in dating.-” 

“J-Jayce…” 

“And with you being single, perfectly their type.”

You felt your heart stop, watched as Viktor's eyes roamed up and down your form with clear disinterest and distaste.  God it hurt, you just wanted to sink into the floor and never be seen or heard from again. 

“I thought, you know, I introduce you, I get to be the best man later on down the line” 

“Seeing as this is as far as it will go, an unlikely hope.” Viktor cut off, pulling free of Jayce’s hold to head to the box he had been carrying earlier. 

It was clear from the confusion on Jayce’s face that he didn’t know what was going on between the two of you. The harshness not being what he normally dealt with when it came to Viktor. The taller of the two had been about to say something before Viktor spoke to you once more. 

“What is it you study?” 

“S-study?” You whispered, earning a harsh scoff from the man that already had Jayce looking ready to be defensive. 

“Degree, field of study, your major?” He continued, it only made you feel smaller as you took in where exactly you were and the answer you were going to be giving. 

“...I don’t go to the academy…” 

“Ah, so your presence will be of no benefit to us. Noted. Jayce, please send them home, we have work we need to get started on.” 

“No need, I-I’ll show myself out…” You quickly whispered, already out the door before you heard a word of how Jayce got on Viktor for being harsh towards you. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For years afterwards, you purposefully avoided any interaction that could happen between Viktor and you. It didn’t help that every time you saw him and Jayce together, the smile on Viktor’s face lit up the room..and Jayce? He seemed so happy to have someone he could bounce ideas with, to feel like he had a true equal. 

At that thought you cringed, seeing now just how much you had never been a benefit to his life. You were a hindrance, one that Viktor had seen in a matter of seconds - with it taking you nearly your whole life to see as well. 

You had never been able to keep up with his ideas, with Jayce having always said that he was just glad you wanted to listen. Now that Viktor was around, he didn’t come to you with ideas anymore. The late night info dumps weren’t a thing anymore…and you knew why. As the two spent more and more time together you knew why. Jayce had found someone closer to what he had always needed, he had moved on from his friendship with you to something better. 

As the two progressed in their work, the friendship bordered on being more multiple times. Which you were fine with, yes you were jealous of literally both of them, but you watched him spend more and more time in the lab, more time with Viktor, it was clear just how much time you were now alone. But every time you had gone to speak about it, Jayce would go into detail about how much they were progressing, how amazing it was to work with Viktor, how smart he was, how kind he was….and your loneliness would die in your throat. You saw the happiness in his eyes that you had always wanted to be there, to see him feel validated and cared about. You had tried to do that for him in the past, but you had never been able to cause that brightness to appear there. 

You weren’t smart like them, or talented. You had no right to demand he stop his progress for you. So you simply allowed yourself to disappear, to fade away into the background.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

But then the oddest factor came into play. 

Mel

The woman was a goddess. Beautiful, regal, intimidating. She was everything you weren’t. And what you had assumed would just be a trio, oddly became more of a due with Viktor being left in the dust, much like you had. 

And just as suddenly, another unforeseen change. 

“Ah, hi.” Viktor said softly, a nervous energy about him as he sat down beside you. It wasn’t uncommon for you to wait outside in the hall for Jayce when you had planned to meet, having taken Viktor’s words to heart all those years ago about not being any help being there. There had been countless times he had walked right past you, not even looking at you as you sat on the floor. So as he sat down next to you, you couldn’t help your confused expression. 

“Founders day is approaching, and…well” He trailed off, never looking at you as he spoke. “Would you like to go with me?” 

As you took in his words, you felt a hope rise in you that you had never felt before. Feeling both embarrassed and honored he was asking you - wondering what on earth had happened to make him reevaluate his thoughts on you. 

“You usually accompany Jayce, who is taking Mel this year” 

You felt your heart shatter at that. Jayce hadn’t even told you that yet…

“I could give you my plus one so you can at least still come, no?” 

Oh. So he was doing this out of pity. 

“...take someone you actually would enjoy spending time with and not someone you feel an obligation to take” You whispered, the first time you had ever truly been even close to snarky back to him. Without another word you got to your feet and were gone. Jayce could figure out where you had gone later. 

You went to the Founder’s Day gala, albeit, alone. You watched as Jayce gave his speech and then afterwards you watched as he was praised the way you always knew he would be. He was smart and funny and friendly, seeing from a distance him getting all the things you deserved was truly the best part of your night. 

“I wasn’t sure if you were one for red or white wine so I got both” 

That accent again. 

As you turned, for the first time you were on the other end of one of his nervous smiles, your eyes glancing behind you to see if he had meant to talk to someone else- which he clearly caught onto. 

“Ah, it’s for you. Well both are for you, I’ll take whichever you don’t prefer” 

With an equally nervous smile you reached for the white, the man’s eyes lighting up with something as he hummed in thought. 

“So you are a white wine fan. I read a rather amusing article that said those who prefer red wine are introverted while those who prefer white are extraverted. Explains why the two of us would prefer white while Jayce-” He motioned over, which as you looked he indeed had red wine. “The always friendly extravert, but such a dog person”

You were quiet at first, watching as Viktor sipped softly at the red wine he had but it was clear he wasn’t a real big fan of it. 

“...what else did the article say?” You asked softly, Viktor’s eyes snapping over at yours with an emotion you had never seen before on anyone other than your face. 

It was loneliness mixed with shock that anyone would be interested in hearing your thoughts. You knew that look, the look that you felt abandoned but were too happy for the other to voice it. But as you looked at this man, you saw exactly what you felt and clung to it. 

So, ever so softly, you reached out and rested your hand on top of the one that was on his cane. 

“I would like to hear more about this article, or really….anything, if you are willing” 

That seemed to stall the man at first, but not for the reason you were expecting. 

As you watched his confusion, you assumed that it was because he wasn’t sure if he wanted to deal with you. When he was trying to figure out how to hold both his cane, the glass in his hand and somehow hold your hand. Damn it, he needed three hands. 

“Apologies” He pulled away and he could see the resigned hurt, the sad smile as he knew you thought he was abandoning you too. 

“No no…I’m sorry for putting you on the spot. Pretend I didn’t ask, you probably have far more important people to talk with than me…” 

Setting the glass down for a moment, he turned his attention back to you before taking your hand and softly pulling it so that instead of holding his hand you were being escorted by the man with you on his arm before it looked like he intentionally ‘forgot’ the wine he couldn’t stomach. 

“The cane is rather….needed, but please, come sit with me. I would be delighted to discuss it with you. Besides, I’ll leave the schmoozing for money to Jayce, I am not the most friendly to people like that.” 

As you were led to a table in a back corner, you were nervous. Oh god were you nervous. Over the years Viktor was like the boogeyman, he scared you to death. He was confident, cool, smart and so much more. He always made you feel so small by him just existing…surely this random interest in you would prove disastrous…surely he would realize his error and leave. 

You sat in the chair he held out for you, shrinking into yourself as he sat not across from you but directly beside you. Even pulling the chair closer to where you were sitting. 

“So, the article, I don’t see much truth in it since it is all based on just surveys, but it was saying that those who preferred red wine tend to be early birds with white wine drinkers being night owls. Red wine drinkers preferred dogs to cats, jazz music to punk music, but the part that I found telling” He leaned in, a true smile being directed in your way for the first time. 

“It said that red wine drinkers tended to be adventurous, humble and organized while white wine drinkers were…how did they put it? Curious, sarcastic and perfectionists.”

You could see it, the way he was having fun in the conversation like he hadn’t had in a long time. It broke your heart that the two of you were such sad and lonely people….going to the only person left who might give them a smidge of attention. 

“Stop that” 

You blinked, seeing his smile die as he reached out to take hold of your chin to keep you from looking away or shrinking and looking at the floor. 

“I know that look. I have had it all my life. Self-pity, it will kill you if you let it. I…” You watched as you saw a part of him you never knew, a string of unknown words slipping free as he seemed to want to try out a few ‘phrases’ before saying it in the language you both spoke. 

“I horribly misjudged you that first day and have been too embarrassed to admit that I was in the wrong this whole time. You know where I am from, I am used to people looking down on me and I always had this assumption about myself that I was better than the people of Piltover because I would never look at someone and think of them below me…..which was exactly what I did to you” 

He reached out to take your wine that you hadn’t even taken a sip of yet, downing it in a few gulps before continuing. 

“I thought you hated me after that. It would be warranted. However, Jayce told me, today in fact, that he brought you to the lab because I was your type. That I am still your type? That you still find me…attractive?” 

Your eyes snapped over at the man who was brought up, the darkest of blushes taking over your face as you watched him wink towards the pair of you before focusing on his conversation once more. 

“Please, tell me if he is lying or if he misunderstood…after how I’ve treated you, if I have even a percentage of a chance with you, I want to try. From all the stories I’ve heard from Jayce you are nothing but kind and generous, but always so hard on yourself. And lonely….like I am lonely…maybe? Maybe we could be lonely, together?” 

You turn to look back at his golden eyes finally, finding him just as handsome as you had all those years ago. Fuck it, go big or go home. 

“...how about…the two of us down a couple more glasses of wine…maybe steal a bottle, and go to your place?” 

This time, as his eyes traveled down you, you watched as he practically undressed you right there, gulping as he nodded. 

“I’ll get the glasses and be back post haste”

----------------------

If you feel willing to review, comment or share I would greatly appreciate it. In the next day or two I will get back to things running like normal as thankfully the only symptoms I am left with is a nasty cough, annoying fatigue and a small appetite. Which when looking at like Wednesday I was so delirious I THOUGHT I slept the whole day and wrote most of this...I couldn't even leave my bed for a whole day without nearly passing out from exhaustion. I will never know what exactly I had. I just know it couldn't be covid or the two types of the flu going around seeing as I did the nose test not once...not twice but THREE TIMES in one sitting to find them all negative. So let me tell you, I was dying by the end of that visit on Tuesday.