Chapter Text
For a young inventor in Zaun, there was only one major goal. To clear the Zaun skies of smog and finally give the people of Zaun some clear skies. The masks that he’s manufactured with the kids have helped a lot of Zaunites breath much easier, but that wasn’t enough. Every day, Viktor looked up at the skies, hoping he could see any blue. Jayce had mentioned from time to time how much he missed the clear skies, how beautiful the blue skies looked above Piltover…
Viktor dreamed of showing that to Zaunites from now until forever. To no longer let them live in the shade of Piltover, in the smog. That was his main project. Hextech was studied, in his eyes, to help him clear the huge cloud of smoke.
It was after working with Jayce for around a year that his first prototype was created. The prototype, after being shot in the air, was supposed to suck up the smog and clear the sky. Sadly, the suction power was too weak, and the smog ate up the prototype faster than it could suck any of it out.
Viktor noted this and worked on his project more.
He didn’t have a second working prototype until 2 years after his first failure.
This prototype was larger than the previous. The rotor-blades on each side were longer and a bit thicker, as to simulate stronger air suction. The motor was more powered as well. But due to its increased weight, he couldn't just throw it up and hope for the best. He climbed up on the top of his lab building before starting to lift it in the air with a scale-like machinery he made once he realized the weight. It served to lift the machine up high.
This time, Viktor watched as the machine had managed to suck up a bit of smog, enough for a few rays of sun to fall through. It kept the small hole open for a bit before it stopped. The power had run out, he assumed. He fell to his knees, watching as the sun rays disappeared, being hidden by the smog clouds once more. A tear rolled down his cheek, before another, and another. Sobs started leaving him as he felt so powerless. He was so close. He saw the sky…
Yet as if to tell him that he will never be free, that he could never succeed, the smog hid it once more.
He felt weak, useless. His life's work… just crumbling in front of him. He sat there sobbing for a while. The pressure on his leg made it hurt, just reminding him how weak his body was. But he couldn't get up. There was no will in him to continue right now. Was it even possible to rid the skies from smog? Would Zaunites like the sky?
"Vikky? Vikky are you okay?", Viktor looked up a bit just to see Vi coming over to him. She helped him up and handed him back his walking stick. "Failed again?", the words struck him, but he just nodded as he looked up and then back to Vi.
"I saw the sky, Vi. It cleared for a bit and then… the prototype wasn't strong, it died fast… I don't… I don't know if I can do this…"
"Hey now, who was the guy who worked a week straight, with a lack of sleep, to get the two most stubborn men together?"
"And failed it each time I tried, until it turned out all that was needed was Powder and her tears?"
"Okay, bad example, but you never gave up then. You tried and tried again, and in the end, Silco and Vander made up. It was because you initiated it."
"I guess…"
"Not to mention, this invention didn't blow up, right? Meaning, you did something right. Like I don't understand the complex mambo jumbo formulas and shit, but if you turn it up, give it more power, shouldn't it work better"
Viktor was silent for a bit, his brain slowly starting to go through formulas and what he could change or accelerate.
"The Zaunites aren't in need of a clear sky anyway. We've all lived our whole lives like this. If you manage to clear it, great, if you don't, at least you tried."
"No, I will succeed. Zaun deserves it. Like Ekko and Powder deserve to go to the academy, Zaun deserves to see the sun, every day, to see how blue the sky can be." Viktor felt refreshed now, ever so slightly. He was not one to give up, Vi was right.
"There you go. Now let's get you back inside before Ekko and Powder send the pretty boy after you."
Viktor smiled softly at her, as he wiped his tears away. "You are amazing, Vi, you know that?"
"Yeah, I know. Remember that if I ever need you to wingman me", Viktor just snorted at that.
"I'm pretty sure you'd have more luck with Jayce as your wingman than me. He is a bit dumb, but he'd get you the girl."
"Pretty boy? Nuh, I'd rather go with Zaun's (future) savior than the Pilty exile."
Both chuckled a bit at that while making their way back to the main lab. Viktor wasn't one for titles, but being Zaun's savior would be great. At least in the context of Zaun being saved, he didn't want any statues or anything.
Since his last failure, Viktor mostly focused on hextech, somehow that name won the vote over Riotal. He realized that it was probably the secret to his idea working properly. Therefore, he was more than focused on revealing its secrets and getting it to work properly so that his invention can see the light of day once more.
Even after the kids were off to the university, Viktor still didn’t have a full answer. Sure, they managed to stabilize it, but the usage of it… It proved to be endless. Various runes, various order of those runes… One question solved brought in a million new questions.
“Or… Viktor! Dammit Viktor, when was the last time you slept?”, Jayce was, at this point, his caretaker and not just an assistant. With his focus 100% on hextech and projects, Viktor more than once pulled an all-nighter. At first, he lied he just got in early, but the bags under his eyes growing every day proved that he was lying.
“L-last night?” Viktor offered as he tightened a screw, trying to focus more on his work.
“And what day is it today?”
“Tuesday?”, Viktor wasn’t sure why he was being asked these questions even.
“It’s Friday. You haven't slept for at least 3 days, Viktor. Come, I'm taking you to bed."
"Lemme just finish this thing", Viktor waved his hand dismissively, but the other caught it.
Just as Viktor was about to glance over at him, his chair was turned, and he was now face to face with Jayce. And Jayce's face was close, maybe even too close.
"What are you…"
"You will either go to bed now, or I will kiss you and carry you to bed myself"
"I doubt you'd do th-"
Viktor's eyes went wide as Jayce actually captured his lips in a kiss. It felt so familiar, yet so new. Jayce taking the lead was certainly new to him, seeing how he was usually the one doing everything.
Amidst his confusion, he didn't notice when he was picked, Jayce carrying him off to a side room that… had a bed inside? Did he ask for this? No… He never planned on sleeping here, though he probably should have.
He was placed on the bed and tucked in. He just looked up at Jayce like a confused puppy.
"There. You will sleep now. You need rest as much as you deny it. If you try to escape, I will lay beside you to hold you down. And you can't overpower me."
"Yeah, I dare you to try", the Zaunite need to rebel boiled in Viktor's blood, even though he knew he barely had any power in his limbs at this point. He noticed a moment in which Jayce hesitated. Of course, there was no way the Piltie would get in bed with him. But then, he felt it. The bed bent in a bit before he felt the other's strong body around him.
"Just sleep already", the man spoke, and Viktor could only let out a tiny hiss as his defense before going silent. The warmth felt kind of nice, and before he knew it, he had drifted off to sleep. He really, really, needed the rest.
When he woke up, Jayce was nowhere to be found and his stomach growled loudly. With a groan, he pushed himself up, finding his cane as he headed into the kitchen-like part of the lab to see if he could find something to eat there. He found an apple and a banana, not yet rotten, and decided that was enough for him for now, making a mental note to visit Vander later and get some proper food.
He made himself some warm sweet milk as well before heading into the lab to start working. There was still no sign of the Piltovan exile, so he just assumed the guy took a day off. And Viktor couldn't blame him. He gave the guy like one day per week off, and even that could be inconsistent. But science waits for no one.
As he got to his desk, he was welcomed by what he was working on before sleeping. He named it Smog-begone . Though, he was yet to make a version that worked for longer than a few minutes. As he took a look over his notes and blueprints, his freshened up mind buzzed to work almost immediately. He noticed some mistakes in calculations, and with those fixed, it was like the whole world opened up.
He could see it.
He could see the results coming to life.
He went straight to work, welding, shaping, everything. The core power was a hextech crystal, around it were runes writing out what he needed it to do. A smile grew on his face with every step completed in building it.
Once it was finished, he hurried up to the rooftop, almost slipping and falling a few times due to his leg, but he managed to climb up to the top in one piece with his invention.
A deep, shaky breath as he placed it on the ground. He swallowed hard as he initiated the start of the program.
Buzzing began, whirring of cogs and the crystal as it started glowing blue. Slowly it started rising up in the air.
Up.
Higher and higher.
Viktor's eyes were glued to it, he wasn't sure if he was even breathing as he watched the invention get lost in the smog clouds. A sharp pain in his lower lip indicated that he bit it, but he didn't care about that pain now. The experiment was his whole focus.
A few minutes passed, Viktor started fearing he fucked up something again, that he failed, but then…
A flash of blue spread over the sky and moments later, Viktor, and whoever was awake in Zaun, could see the sight they didn't expect to see in years.
Stars.
Lots and lots of stars.
Viktor's sight started clouding as his legs gave up under him. He fell to his knees, tears rolling down his cheeks as he watched the sky. A clear night sky.
He did it. He has finally cleared up the sky of Zaun. The citizens of Zaun will finally get to see the sky, breathe fresh air… Zaun was becoming great.
He wasn't sure how long he was up there, but slowly the sky turned orange, then red, then slowly faded into a soft blue, a couple of white clouds floating far above Zaun.
It was morning. He made his way to the edge of the building as he looked down, trying to see if he could notice anyone on the Zaun streets. Unsurprisingly, there was no one this early out in the streets. Slowly, he made his way back down to the lab, a huge grin across his face as he thought about what this meant.
If he managed to clean the air, who knows what else the hextech could be used for.
Making his way to the Last Drop just as most of Zaun is starting to wake up and explore the streets, Viktor inspected their expressions, the confusion, surprise, fear even. So many emotions, each person different from the last.
Entering the bar, he sat at his usual spot and looked over at Vander. "One usual, please~", he asked, grinning from ear to ear. He was sure Vander had seen the results of his experiment, saw the sky…
"Viktor, something tells me you're the reason behind everyone going crazy today."
"Did you not look outside? The sky is back", Viktor spoke proudly, and the surprised expression of the other was priceless. Though it fell soon after.
"You're a genius, but I doubt even you could-"
He was cut off by the sound of the entrance slamming open as Silco entered and beelined to the two of them. As he arrived, he cupped Viktor's face, pulling him closer and placing a big smooch on his cheek, surprising Vander even further.
"I knew you were great from the start, but that… You've outdone yourself. Once the Pilties see, there is no way they won't fear us further.", Viktor chuckled, a hearty happy chuckle. Well, in his case it was due to Silco acting so out of character than just the 'Pilties will fear us' speech.
"What is--" Vander couldn't even ask anything as Silco was by his side, pulling him down into a kiss, that then slowly grew deeper. Until Silco was pinned against the bar, hands in Vander's hair and gasping for air as the bigger man went down, kissing his neck.
"Woah, Woah, calm down. Your kids are visiting today, sheesh. Do that after they're gone", everyone's favorite big sister, Vi, spoke as she sat down next to Viktor, rolling her eyes at the sight of their 'parents' getting it on so early, "Not to mention, you'll scare the customers again"
"Vi, did you go outside today?"
"Hmm? Not yet, why?", Vi rose her eyebrow semi-uninterested before her expression changed to that of excitement as well, "Don't tell me! Your experiment succeeded? We have a sky ?"
"We have a sky!"
"You're amazing Vikky! Greatest genius in all of Zaun"
"All of the world", Silco corrected her as he and Vander managed to peel away from each other.
Viktor felt his cheeks heating up at all the praise. No matter how cocky he acted nowadays, he still was the same, and it was moments like these that helped fuel his confidence. "It's thanks to all of you and doctor Singed. If I hadn't met you, there was no way I could do stuff so freely and easily", he spoke with a small, shy smile before feeling Vi's hand over his shoulder as she pulled him into a hug.
"Aw shucks, Vik. Don't go acting so adorable. After all, you've helped all of us even more. I mean, come on, you've sent Powder and Ekko to the prestige Piltover Academy, you've gotten Silco and Vander back into each other's pants, and now you've cleaned the air. You do more than this, and we might just have to raise you a statue and elect you president of Zaun."
Viktor's blush darkened as he shook his hands, his voice going slightly higher for a bit. "I… n-no. I don't want a statue or that. Sil...", noticing his higher pitched voice, he cleared his throat and continued, "Silco is the one who should lead our city politically. I… I just want to create in my own lab and help people from the sidebar. You know I dislike the spotlight."
Vi patted his shoulder as a response. Everyone in their family knew quite well just how little Viktor liked the spotlight. And that was one of his biggest charms. Someone willing to help for the sake of helping, not for the sake of stardom.
As days passed, Viktor noticed a few more than usual officers from Piltover walking through the streets of Zaun. Some even maskless, but most still wore the masks. He didn't mind them much, as no one would be able to point fingers at him for doing it. And even if they knew, there was no way they'd tell an officer. Those guys were the most hated bunch in Zaun.
Pushing the thought out of his head, he entered the lab and was immediately glomped. The powder blue hair that floated behind was a good indication of who it was.
"Well, hi there PowPow!", a groan came from the girl in his arms before she pulled away from him.
"I go by Jinx now. PowPow is so childish! And Jinx is my artist name."
"Jinx? But why Jinx?"
"Sounded pretty cool. And I've made thousands of graffiti with it" as she spoke, she pulled out her notebook to show him all the different tags and styles she's drafted.
"They're only in your notebook, right"
Silence.
"How many?"
"I think I'm at around 10 buildings now. Ekko has me best by 2"
Viktor sighed and facepalmed. You could take the kids out of Zaun, but you can't take the Zaun out of them.
"Any other news besides your vandalism?"
"Ekko got a boyfriend!"
"H-He's not my boyfriend!" The white-haired boy popped in from a side room with a pout and the slightest hint of a blush on his face, "We're just buddies"
"Mhm, mhm, buddies who spend time together and occasionally kiss under the moonlight~", Powder teased more, making Ekko blush some more before crossing his arms over his chest.
"And what about your friend, whom no one has ever seen you with?"
"Sera is real! She is just too popular, so we hang out only in secret"
Viktor smiled lovingly as he watched his two beloved assistants bickering like kids. It almost felt like they never left. He wrapped arms around both of them, pulling them into a group hug.
"I've missed you two. What brings you back?"
"Hm? Don't tell me you forgot"
Viktor was a bit confused. Was it one of their birthdays? No… None of the ones in the family had birthdays these days.
"It's your birthday tomorrow, you dummy. Gosh, you're so slow sometimes"
"My birthday? Ah, well, not like I planned on doing anything. It's nothing big anyway, I'll just work in the lab.", Viktor spoke with a shrug. Maybe he should invite Jayce over, as Vieno, and have a make out session, maybe even more. Them making out has been going on for so long. It was prime time that they upgraded and that he lost his v-card.
"Alright, well, we'll head to the Last Drop to hang out with the others, come by in a bit as well, we have to return to school tomorrow"
"Alright, I will. Just want to finish up something here", Viktor waved them away with a soft smile as his mind was working on how to invite Jayce over to his place as Vieno without it being too clear it was him.
Arriving at the Last Drop, Viktor was confused at first to see it empty. No customers, no Vander, Silco or the gang. It was awfully quiet.
"Hello? Powder? Vander? Anybody?", Viktor called as he made his way towards the bar. Nothing.
As he approached the bar, he heard a click, as if he stepped on a switch. Afraid, he jumped back just as lights started turning on and…
Vander, Silco, Powder, Vi, Ekko, Mylo, Claggor, Singed, and Jayce all jumped out from different sides of the bar yelling "Surprise". The shock caused Viktor to feel his heartbeat speed up, but as he recognized the faces, it slowly calmed down as he took a shaky breath.
"For Janna's sake, what are you all doing? Especially you three grownups. You're well in your age, you shouldn't be doing stuff like this", he scolded, shaking his finger at Vander, Silco, and Singed, while they just chuckled and then went to hug the birthday boy, before the kids joined in as well. Viktor sighed softly, but couldn't help the smile on his face. He loved all these people, and them throwing him a surprise party felt great. "Thank you, everyone, really… you really didn't have to"
"And you didn't have to make the masks, clean the air and all the other good things you've done for us and Zaun. You deserve to be celebrated.", Vander said, chuckling softly as he patted Viktor's back. A shy smile crawled onto Viktor's face at the praise before one by one everyone got I to the big group hug, except for Jayce, though Ekko and Powder pulled him in as well after a bit.
The party was going great, everyone was having fun and enjoying themselves. It made Viktor almost forget about his previous plans. He had asked Madam to send word over someone to Jayce, inviting him, as Vieno, to his apartment tonight, if the other was free. Of course, he couldn't be sure if the message ever reached Jayce, or if he wanted to come, but Jayce was here now, so maybe he didn't? As if to answer his unanswered question, he saw Jayce seemingly apologize to Vander and Powder, who frowned.
Viktor slowly approached the three, and he heard what the conversation was about.
"I'm sorry guys, but I have other plans as well, something special.", could it be their date ? No… perhaps it was something else.
"Oh, come on, Jayce. The party only lasts till like 10 anyway", Vander said.
"Yeah, Ekko and I have to go back to school, everyone else has work, Viktor will disappear into the lab again. It's the one night we are all around still", Powder said, frowning a bit, probably trying to use her puppy dog eyes on him.
"Can't you stay a little longer, Jayce?" Viktor spoke now, having all three heads turning to him.
"I-"
"It'd mean a lot to me" these words were kind of a lie, but not completely. He still wasn't sure of his feelings for Jayce. He was attracted to him, Jayce had a wonderful physique, broad shoulders, and a lot more things that made Viktor swoon for him. And his personality wasn't half bad, mostly.
"Alright. I'll stay some more", Jayce accepted, defeated. Viktor smiled softly before sipping his drink. Now only to think of how to disappear early to go prepare everything… it was going to be rough.
As the party continued on, Viktor told Powder and Ekko to distract Jayce for another half an hour, so he can disappear and then to let him leave. Thankfully, the kids didn't ask for much of an explanation, so Viktor got away from the party with ease. It took him a couple of minutes to reach his apartment where he slept occasionally, seeing how most of the nights he spent inside the lab, and some more to tidy up the place a bit before there was a knock on the door. He took a deep sigh, tossed away his vest, unbuttoned his shirt a bit and then put his axolotl mask on. It was time.
Opening the door, he greeted Jayce with a smile. "Welcome, Jay, make yourself at home~", Viktor spoke as he allowed the other to enter, hoping everything was fine. He planned on going all the way, probably revealing himself in the meantime, so he kind of wanted everything to go perfectly.
"Ah, thanks. You have a nice place.", Jayce commented as he got inside, Viktor leading him to the couch.
Viktor brought out some water for the two of them to drink before sitting down next to Jayce. He knew this was the time. He had to confess. Be it as himself or as Vieno, he didn't care anymore. "Alright, so Jay, there was something I wanted to talk to you about. It's important"
"Of course, shoot", Viktor took a deep breath. He was getting nervous. What if he read Jayce wrong? What if Jayce was in it only for the thrill and didn't think of long-term… He was brought back from his thoughts as Jayce took his hand. The soft yet firm grip pulled him back.
"I like you and would like us to date. O-only if you'd want to, of course. I won't force you to a-anything"
Jayce was silent. Viktor couldn't read the look on his face so easily, after all, he wasn't quite the people person.
"Vieno, I…", Viktor felt his heart sinking. Of course, it was only the thrill, "I would love to, but I think I've fallen for my boss. Sure he is moody and treats me like shit sometimes.", Viktor was now silent, as he felt his cheeks heating up under the mask. "And he even talks to the robot more than to me, calls me useless, a himbo, makes me do random tasks like get him coffee and such. But also I can see that he is quite hurt on the inside. He is caring towards the young assistants of his, he smiles kindly when talking to or about them, and whenever I see that smile, my heart just skips a beat."
Viktor's face was burning now. He wanted to shut him up, but also to let him praise him more.
"I wish that sometimes that smile would be for me because of me, y’know… But even though I doubt there's even a slight chance for us to su--"
Viktor couldn't take it anymore, he grabbed Jayce's face and pulled him in for a deep kiss. He let it last a bit before pulling back and taking off his mask.
"Honestly, you are dumb. You haven't realized I'm me for so long. It's no wonder you got exiled from Piltover", Viktor spoke, trying to ignore how hot his face felt. Jayce on the other hand was confused, visibly trying to put two and two together and understand what was going on.
"Wait, so you... All this time… but I said mean things…"
"Oh please, I've said meaner things to your face, it's fine"
"But what about you, Vieno, acting jealous when I spoke about you, Viktor?"
"... Well, no one likes to listen about someone else when they're making out, not even if the other person is themselves."
"Oh, but then wha–"
"Jayce, do you want to ask stupid questions or do you want to become my boyfriend and have sex?"
The Piltie was silent for a bit before shrugging and then leaning in, capturing Viktor's mouth with his own.
Kisses began slow, gentle, before the urge to explore one another just took over. The kisses turned hungrier, sloppier, as their hands began exploring each other's bodies.
Shirts got taken off, warm flesh pressing against warm flesh. Jayce broke the kiss as he trailed his kisses down Viktor's neck, the latter tilting his head to allow him easier access as his breathing became heavier, soft moans escaping him occasionally.
"Jayce… Mmh… I want you~", in his 30-or so years alive, Viktor has never craved someone, not in the way he craved Jayce right now. He didn't care how messy it was, how fast they were moving, he wanted Jayce. He wanted them to be connected, to be one.
He barely registered the nod of Jayce's head as he leaned in again, continuing their kiss. Viktor could feel the other's hands sliding down his slim body, reaching his pants that they unzipped and pulled down, only to…
"You're a woman?", the words echoed inside Viktor's head as he felt something he hasn't since he turned 18. Shame. Ashamed of his own body. He felt like he didn't belong again. Like his whole self was a fraud.
He slowly opened his eyes, welcomed by slight confusion and much more sadness in Jayce's eyes.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know. I thought you were a man, and I mean everyone treated you like a guy, so I never realized you might be a woman.", deep down, Viktor wanted to forgive Jayce, but years of self-loathing, body dysphoria and all else that came with it crashed over Viktor like a wave in a raging storm.
"Get out.", his words were low at first, but seeing how Jayce didn't move, he pushed at him, raising his voice, "I said get out! Now!".
His voice broke, it sounded more high-pitched than usual. Almost as if to mock him, as if to remind him that no matter all he tried, he was still a woman. That he could never be a real man.
"But V-"
"I SAID GET OUT", Viktor screamed now, pushing Jayce even stronger, as his body started to shake a bit. He knew this feeling, tears were coming, but he didn't want Jayce seeing him in an even more pathetic state. This was already enough for him.
He pulled his knees close to himself and hugged them, burying his face between his torso and legs to hide his face and not look at Jayce anymore. He just couldn't face him. The room was silent for a bit before the bed creaked under Jayce's weight, followed by footsteps and finally the door opening and shutting close.
That was the signal for him to break down. Tears streamed down his face as his body shook softly, countless emotions passing through his body all at once. He couldn't face Jayce ever again…
He knew what he had to do.