Chapter Text
Powder and Ekko walked into their lab, Heimerdiner rattling off behind the two newly accepted prodigious students of the academy. The lab was large, seeming to span the entire building floor as it was filled with all the equipment they could ever need waiting for them.
“Professor, with all due respect, could you please stop talking?” Jinx said, interrupting his rambling as she explored the rest of the lab, looking for somewhere to put down the box she was carrying.
Heimer and Ekko's eyes widened at Powder's abrupt rudeness. “I am so sorry for her professor! We are deeply grateful for such an opportunity and could not thank you enough for providing us with such an amazing space for our research!”
The yordle looked at the boy with understanding. “It's okay my boy. I understand that the tired words from an old man like myself are not, particularly what the next generation wants to hear.” He motioned towards the door, “I best get out of your hair now so you can get on with your research.”
As the yordle closed the door behind him Ekko dropped his tense shoulders and let out a deep sigh, rubbing his temples. When he finished gathering himself, he walked over to Powder, who was placing the contents of the box she was carrying earlier. “Okay Powder, uh, would you so care to explain why you just told the head professor to just fuck off like that?” the boy asked, “on our first day, by the way!”
Powder let out an exasperated sigh. “Look I get it, okay, Hiermer-ding-dong is one of the best inventors of our time, the father of the marvelous and totally-not-stuck-up Piltie paradise, yadda yadda yadda. But like, I'm failing to see where in that list of achievements it says I should give a shit…”
She turned to face Ekko, who rolled his eyes. Before he could get a word of protest out, she lifted a finger to his lips, shutting him down. “And besides, you out of anyone should know that we can't get our real research done with him around.” With those words, she grabbed a special container from the box, its blue walls adorned with gold accents and details. With a click of a secret switch, its lid opened to reveal small blue gems, brimming with energy. Her gray eyes shined a sky blue as she held one up, unconsciously biting her bottom lip in excitement.
Out of fear, Ekko grabbed the crystal from her hand and closed its container. “Pow-Pow, I get it. I'm about as fond of Piltovan high society as the next guy, but if we want to make a change, we gotta get their trust first - and 2 Undercity folk tampering with highly unstable and highly reactive magic rocks from Shurima out in the open after telling a counselor to go fuck himself is not the best way to start. We gotta keep this under wraps until it's ready.” He moved a hand towards hers, enveloping it in his warmth.
They looked into each other's eyes; two best friends who turned their love for tinkering into a project they both had to hide from the government, all in the name of a better society.
Powder's face turned red as it turned out that she wasn't capable of handling his intense stare. “Fine. I guess I'll do my best to behave if it means that we can shove in their Piltie faces later.” She gave a light kind-hearted smile that Ekko returned humbly.
--
Benzos. The Undercity's most reliable general goods and pawn shop, with everything you could maybe need just sitting right next to the Lanes.
Viktor hobbled around the shop, tidying up all the small nick-nacks in the display cases and dusting all the larger merchandise hanging on the walls. He expertly maneuvered his cane around the myriad of obstacles on the ground thanks to the years of experience he garnered by working.
The legality of a boy with his condition working was definitely something the council of Piltover would call into question, but this wasn't Piltover. Here in the Undercity, everyone had to earn their keep themselves - and little exception was made for a cripple like Viktor. Fortunately for the boy, Benzo - the owner of the store and where the store got its namesake - was a kind man who was willing to take in the disabled boy, which got him many thanks from Viktor's parents.
The door suddenly opened, the bell above it sounding off that familiar jingle.
"Vik-boy!" a voice boomed. He turned and saw Benzo, his cheeks flushed a bit pink and his shirt riding up on his pot belly. "Close up for the day and wait outside! You've done enough and I gotta talk with Vander."
Vander, unsurprisingly, also entered as Benzo slogged an arm over his shoulder, trying his hardest to keep the tipsy man from falling over. His large stature seemed to make it impossible for both of them to squish through the doorframe at the same time - yet they forced it somehow.
Vander looked and smiled at Viktor apologetically. "Sorry Viktor, he had about one too many at the Drop tonight and we didn't trust him enough to make it on his own. Jayce is waiting outside," he said nodding towards the door.
Since Benzo and Vander were friends before Viktor was even born, the two would frequent each other to shoot the shit. So if anything, this was nothing new to him.
"Thank you, sir," Viktor said as he began limping his way past the two men and outside the door.
YOU TOO GOOD OF A WORKER VIKTOR! DOIN ALL THIS WITH YA BUSTED LEG!" Benzo screamed drunkenly.
"He wouldn't have to if you actually worked, ya sad slob..." Vander chastised.
Viktor could only roll his eyes and chuckle at their banter. Closing the door behind him. he saw the boy of the moment, Jayce. In his hands, the blue crystal that hung off the end of his necklace was being twirled back and forth. Having visited the Last Drop countless times before, he had become a friend of sorts with Jayce, and Viktor swore that there was never a moment where Jayce was without that necklace.
"Sorry about letting him get like that. We tried stopping him but you know how Benzo gets without his drink." Jayce said as he stopped leaning on the wall and stood up straight. "It's getting late, need an escort back home?"
While the Undercity was a generally friendly place - as long as you mind your business - there was the occasional street trash at night, and Viktor would be a prime target. Some muscle would be needed, and as the protégé of Vander, Jayce had enough for the both of them.
"If you don't mind, thank you."
"No problem. You live on Emberflit Alley, right? Let's go. Oh, and by the way, you seriously need to get some meat on those bones."
Viktor laughed, almost breaking into a cough. "Are you sure you're not the one drunk? Cause if you forgot," he motioned to his cane, "crippled leg. Remember?"
Jayce shared his laughter this time, even giving him a playful punch in the arm but making sure to take extra care so as to not actually hurt him. The two friends continued into the night; the boy with the bad leg and his bodyguard.