Chapter Text
“Hey, Vikky, are you free? Let’s go”, Vander came into the basement while Viktor was sitting with the gang, writing down some stuff on a piece of paper.
“Go where?”, he asked confused, the kids looking up at Vander expectantly as well. It was a day after Ekko ripped off the Piltovian for a few scrap parts, so they were discussing their tactic, while Viktor jotted down what to look for in terms of items that could be useful to him.
“Your confidence lessons”, Vander said simply yet mysteriously. Viktor gulped but stood up, not wanting to ask too many questions. There was probably a reason why Vander didn’t say it openly in front of the kids.
“Alright. We will continue when I’m back, alright?”, he asked the kids, who obediently nodded. Vander raised his brow and the obedience the kid showed around Viktor occasionally. It was more than they showed in front of him… Viktor had a weird influence on them, but a positive one nonetheless.
As the two of them left the bar, Viktor looked towards Vander again. “Where exactly are we going?”, he asked, hoping this time he would get an actual answer this time.
“I have to visit an old friend. Meanwhile, you will be tasked with entertaining a guest there. You can wear a mask for your first time.”, Vander said, just confusing Viktor some more. As he slowly realized where they were going, Viktor’s eyes widened more and more as Vander lead him straight to the place he knew from stories of some visitors to the bar.
“Y-You don’t mean…”, Viktor’s words escaped him as they entered, moving down the long tunnel. One of the patrons handed Viktor a choice of masks. He noticed one that reminded him of Rio, except it was light gray with blue details, so he chose that one, putting it on.
“It’s just one customer. I won’t be longer than an hour, probably”, there was a pause before probably and Viktor did not like that, “You don’t even have to make the customer pay some huge amount. Just to entertain him enough that he stays”. Well, that was totally reassuring, not .
One of the patrons lead Viktor away into a room as Vander waved him bye and went off further into the club. Viktor took a shaky breath as he was brought into the room. The walls were gray, uneven. There were stone-like decorations from both the ceiling and the floor. In the middle of the room there was a jacuzzi bath with a couple of candles around it. They were each in a purple glass container, lighting the room in a soft purple light.
It reminded Viktor of when he went harvesting shimmer plants. A familiar feeling, maybe he can just survive here long enough. In the room, there was already someone sitting on a gray couch that fit perfectly in the room. The man seemed tall and buff, he thought of the Piltovian boy that visited Benzo’s shop. Was it him? There was no way. After all, this guy wasn’t wearing a vest or anything. He was dressed in simple casual clothes. The man was also wearing a mask, though his was that of a furry creature with large ears, rather a funny image.
“Hello there~ What brings you to my cave?”, he asked as he tried to keep a smile on his face and not show off his nervousness. The man turned towards him and smiled awkwardly, slightly nervous as well, it seemed. Viktor had left his cane with the hosts outside the room, so he was mostly moving along the wall to keep his balance. Slowly, he got to the sofa and sat down, keeping some space between him and the guy.
“H-hi”, the man said, and Viktor had to note, that his voice was rather nice.
“My name is Vi---eno. Vieno”, Viktor almost revealed his real name, something he realized was better that he didn’t do here. He slid his hand over the sofa and placed it over the man’s gently. “You don’t have to be nervous with me. Just relax”, he spoke, his other hand naturally moving up to the man’s face and cupping it gently.
“I’m Jay. I-It’s my first time here”, the man said, but seemed to relax slightly as his face was cupped. Viktor smiled a bit at him. They were both here for their first time. Then it might be easier, since neither was expecting much of this encounter. “I-I heard this was a place to rewind from stress, so I thought to come and check it for myself.”, the man spoke, his voice breaking a bit.
“Well, I know a sure way to relax you”, Viktor said as he sat up a bit and then patted his lap, “Lay your head down here”. The man was still for a bit before finally moving and laying down across the sofa so that his head rested in Viktor’s lap. The young inventor gently stroked the man’s hair. “You are doing great. You’re gonna do great”, Viktor began praising the man with general things like that, speaking in a soft voice. He could feel the man’s stiffness slowly relaxing as he continued.
After a bit, the man pulled back from it, a smile present on his face. “Thanks. That felt great”, he said, and Viktor could swear there was a hint of a blush on his face. He didn’t know what came over him at the moment, but he reached up to cup the man’s face and without even thinking about anything, he leaned in, pressing his lips against the other’s lips. Jay seemed to be stiff at first, but then he returned the kiss. The kiss was messy, obviously neither of them was good at this, but somehow it felt right at the moment.
After breaking the kiss, Viktor realized he had moved to sit in the man’s lap. His patron seemed to be holding his hands away, but at the moment, Viktor just thought fuck it . He reached for the man’s hands, intertwining his fingers with him as he leaned, resting his forehead against his. “Your lips taste fine, mind if I get another taste?”, he asked through a whisper and received just a small nod from the other. He smirked slightly as he moved Jay’s hands to his hips, as his own slid up Jayce’s body up to his shoulders.
He leaned in again, claiming the stranger’s lips once more. His hand slowly slid up to Jay’s cheek, cupping it before he slipped it, bringing his thumb to his chin and forcing his mouth open, that he followed obediently. Viktor slid his tongue inside, deepening their kiss. Viktor’s thought’s slowly melted away as heir kiss continued. He only broke the kiss as he felt the lack of breath.
As their lips parted from each other, they both opened their eyes, looking one at the other. No words were spoken for a bit, as they both tried to catch their breath. Viktor was about to lean forward again when suddenly there was a cough at the entrance and Viktor turned to look towards the door with a slight glare in his eyes. He was just starting to enjoy himself. As he recognized Vander’s silhouette in the frame, he gulped softly and then turned towards the guy on the sofa.
“Sadly, it looks like our time together is over. Be free to come looking for me the next time you need some relaxation”, he said in a confident voice as he kissed him shortly before slowly getting out of his lap. He made his slow exit. Vander handed him his cane once he was out of the sight of the patron with a soft laugh.
“I see you gained some confidence, son”, Vander teased as Viktor pulled his mask a bit lower, hiding his face behind it. He had no idea what came over him back then. He touched his lips as he could still feel the stranger’s lips there… Too bad that they will never meet again, probably.
“O-Okay, I will work on my confidence”, Viktor said after a bit. His mind went to the man who visited Benzo’s shop. Would he enjoy being pushed down and kissed like the man he was with right now? Or would he push Viktor down… The young man shook his head, trying to get the thought out. This was not who he was. And he wasn’t sure if he liked it or not.
“Okay so, have you understood what you have to look for?”, Viktor asked as the gang was just finishing dressing up.
“Yes, anything that looks usable or with a motor”, said Mylo, as if it was rehearsed.
“Anything valuable to resell”, followed Claggor.
“And anything unusual and special”, finished Powder, who seemed to be the most excited in the group, seeing how this was her first big heist. Viktor nodded, glad that they remembered the main gist of it.
“And I’ll make sure we make it there and back in one piece. With the loot in tow”, Vi said, earning herself a pat on the head from Viktor, that she weakly pushed away, just to keep up her image, Viktor knew.
“Then, I will see you back at Benzo’s once you’re done. Gang, move out", Viktor said, making the whole room chuckle a bit but soon enough the kids left. He followed them out, stopping at the bar where Vander was cleaning a glass.
"So, they're out? I don't know if I'd feel more at ease not knowing where they were going or now", Vander sighed.
"I think it's better that you know. After all, if they fuck up, us grownups have to pick up the pieces", Viktor said, causing Vander to chuckle.
"And when did you get so wise Mr. I can't talk, I'm too shy ", Vander teased, causing Viktor to blush a bit. He's really been trying and getting better at saying what he had around children and Vander. Maybe soon he will be able to talk to complete strangers as well.
Viktor was sitting at the shop’s desk, fixing one of his gadgets, while he stood present if there were any customers. Ekko had gone back home for a bit, so it was just him inside. He had just finished fixing the loose screw on the gadget and set it aside before the two sisters walked in, carrying a sack that seemed pretty heavy with them. They set it on the counter with a smile.
“The heist was a success”, Powder said proudly, even tilting her head a bit towards Viktor. He knew what she wanted, so he reached out his hand and patted her on her head with a soft smile.
“Good work, girls. I’ll get it all organized in the store and deliver you the money”, Viktor said before he opened the sack, looking through it to see if anything interesting would catch his eye.
“T-There are also these. I didn’t know what they were, but they looked unusual and captivating”, Powder said and reached in one of her back pockets before placing 6 blue stones on the counter for Viktor to see. As the stones hit the wood, there was a soft blue spark from each of them, immediately bringing Viktor’s attention to them. "They were in a box, separated one from another, but I don't know anything else", Powder added and Viktor just nodded his head.
Viktor picked one up, looking at it from afar, then bringing it close. It was certainly intriguing. Who was that guy that they robbed if he had something like this? "Good. Once Benzo gets here I will get to testing these, see what they are", his mind was slowly working out how to test these things. They all pulsed occasionally, sparks not appearing again, since they were set down, he noted.
"Aight. We'll go back to Vander then. See ya”, Vi said, raising her hand in a half-wave as Powder followed her out. Viktor was left alone again as he packed up the crystals in a small satchel to get them out of people’s views, making a mental note to get to working on them soon.
He then looked into the good that were brought back as he unpacked it one by one, putting them back on display as he hummed softly. He was glad the kids got back safe, but there was some weird feeling at the back of his head that told him that not everything was as fine as he thought.
“You did what?!?” Viktor spat out his drink as he heard the full story from Vander, not even a few hours since the kids returned. Apparently they’ve blown up the room, none of them really sure how it happened. Viktor remembered the spark on the stones, but then shook his head. There was no way those stones were that powerful… Piltover wouldn’t allow such things to exist there.
“It was an accident. But we kept the loot safe!”, Vi tried to defend the gang as its leader. Viktor and Vander sighed in unison as they looked over at each other.
“The enforcers are sure to come down here looking for someone to lock up.”, Vander said as he stroked his beard a bit. Everyone was silent for a bit before Viktor let out another sigh.
“I will go. You’re needed here to keep peace, Vander, and there is no way I’m letting the kids go to prison. It was me who told them what to look for, so I feel responsible”, Viktor said. As Vander was about to say something, Viktor just raised his hand and smiled. “Don’t. This way it will be over faster. Plus, it won’t be forever. I spent most of my life alone, what is another few years in prison? I don’t want to break apart your family”, Viktor said, trying to stay strong before the small girl ran up to him and hugged him, tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Dummy, you’re a part of the family now, too, dummy”, Viktor, smiled softly and felt Vander’s strong hand on his shoulder as well.
“Powder isn’t wrong, Vikky. I can’t send you to the prison just like that. They won’t be kind to you”, Vander warned, but Viktor still tried to smile reassuringly at him, while tears threatened to escape his eyes.
“I’ve been bullied my whole life, Vander. Pain is not unfamiliar to me”, he said as he put his hand over Vander’s, only for him to move it and pull Viktor into a hug instead. Vi, Mylo and Claggor joined in on the group hug.
Buried under all of their weights, Viktor felt safe, loved, comfortable… Tears rolled down his cheeks as he leaned against Vander, silently sobbing into his shoulder. He was scared, that much was true, but he wanted to do this. He had to. Zaun needed Vander present. And the kids shouldn’t go to prison so easily.
Viktor had stashed the blue crystals where he was sure no one would ever find them. He said his goodbyes before going to Benzo’s show to wait for the enforcers. He tinkered a bit, making a little goodbye present for Ekko and Powder. It was a small box that when opened would pop a bit of glitter out of itself. Nothing big or complex, just another thing to remember him by.
The enforcers came and Viktor just smiled at them before walking up to them. His knees were shaking a bit, but he didn’t mind. “I promise to follow obediently, so please don’t cuff my hands. I require my hands and cane to walk.”, he said, but the enforcers didn’t care much about his wishes, like they ever did with their kind.
“Shut up. You are hereby under arrest for a burglary and destruction of property. You are sentenced to jail for 5 years, more if you misbehave”, one of the officers ordered as they cuffed him and then, seeing as he really couldn’t walk, two enforcers grabbed him each under one arm and began dragging him out.
It hurt, but he chose to be here. As they were dragging him, he could see the kids following them from the sides, as some sort of entourage, seeing him off, he guessed. He just hoped everything would go well while he is away. He was looking forward to coming back here. To his new family.