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A shuddering gasp disrupted the gentle silence of early morning.
Blurry eyes scanned the room, frantically cataloging surroundings. The quiet now filled with deep heaving breaths as you clawed your way back to reality.
A small snuffle drew your panicked eyes to the center of the room. Oh. There, gangly frame curled into an impossibly small ball, was Viktor.
Fully clothed and on top of the covers, barely having enough sense to roll himself into bed after a long night of research. The sight broke your heart. Unable to quell the onslaught of emotion your legs moved on their own accord, and you found yourself standing over his sleeping form.
Images flashed in your mind’s eye. Flashes of Viktor, gaunt and pale, expression hollowed and resigned. Blood. Blood on his lips and hands. Blood covering his clothes.
You saw glimpses of another Viktor.
Most thought him a rather stoic, somewhat unassuming man, but they didn’t see him. No, if you just knew what to look for, how to look at him, Viktor was as expressive as anyone you’d ever met.
You knew how the corners of his sharp eyes crinkled in delight, usually after he’d successfully riled you up about something or other. How his amber gaze softened just so when you surprised him with small trinkets or treats. How making him blush had become your new and most cherished hobby. The way his long arms grew frantic and frenzied in their motion when he was on the verge of a breakthrough. And how, on particularly hard days, when his leg steadily thrummed with pain, his body curled up on itself. His face grew downcast and pinched, and he somehow looked very young and very tired all at the same time.
This other Viktor carried none of the emotional markers you had been studiously archiving in the short time you’d known each other. He was cold, indifferent... something about it made your chest ache.
So shaken you still hadn’t been able to move, rooted in place at his bedside gazing down. Eyes trailing across the halo of brown locks, his sharp jaw and full lips. Not pale and bloodstained, but plush and pink, if not a bit chapped.
How had you become so attached to this man? How long had it been since they’d stumbled into your shop? A handful of weeks at most. Now you couldn’t imagine a day where you didn’t see him. Couldn’t imagine a world without those crooked curling smiles he usually reserved for when you and Jayce began excitedly chattering about food.
A stray tear rolled down your cheek, going unnoticed it dripped down your chin landing squarely between Viktor's brow. A few more followed suit and Viktor flinched awake at the strange sensation.
You squeaked in surprise, realizing your mistake. Tendrils of embarrassment crept up your chest, adding to the volatile mix of anxiety and dread swirling inside you. Only to be worsened by the horrified look on Viktor’s sleepy face.
“S-sorry, I didn’t mean to- I just-” your voice was shaky and Viktor’s worry reached new levels.
“No, no, hush” he soothed. You were obviously distraught. Waking up to your tears steadily dripping onto his face was disconcerting to say the least. So much sadness in your eyes, it made him feel off balance. He craved to see those eyes filled with mischief and delight, as they normally were.
You slowly backed away, unsure of what to do now that you’d forever marked yourself as completely insane.
“Come here,” he said softly, awkwardly scooting over and patting the vacant spot on his rather small bed. You shuffled forward, taking a seat while unsuccessfully trying to overcome the lump in your throat.
“What is wrong?” his lilting accent questioned. “Please, tell me, I may be able to help,” long fingers reached out to grasp your own in a firm but gentle grip, a boney thumb caressing your knuckles tenderly.
Viktor was furiously cycling through the events of the last day or so for what might’ve brought this on. Was it me? Jayce? No, you were perfectly happy last night. In fact you’d fallen asleep studying one of his old academy textbooks.
After you’d somehow cemented yourself in his and Jayce’s daily routine Viktor realized what a curious individual you were. The problem was, you had no formal training whatsoever. How does this work? You would ask, and to his reply you would then ask, What does that mean? And what about this? And so on until the better part of an hour was spent indulging your lines of questioning.
Of course valiant Jayce was the first to attempt answering your questions. But it was soon learned by all three of you that for one, Jayce was somewhat bad at teaching, and secondly, he was impatient.
Viktor delightedly remembers the day you asked a question during an inopportune moment and Jayce snapped something along the lines of “It’s too difficult for me to explain right now, you wouldn’t understand.” Your eyes had narrowed, lips pressed into a deliciously thin line.
“Alright, if it’s too difficult for you to explain, I’m sure Viktor won’t have a problem doing it.” Your eyes slid to him, a single brow raised in challenge.
An uncharacteristically loud bout of laughter forced its way past his lips. After composing himself went into detail as best he could about the subject in question, going as far as offering to bring you a book detailing the subject for the next day.
After that began your impromptu education, with Viktor somehow falling into place as instructor. He would bring books, old journals, copies of academy assignments for you to test yourself with. Jayce became much more helpful as well, now that you weren’t pestering them with questions all day.
Viktor was hesitant to admit that actually, he loved teaching you. Developing an almost pavlovian response to the pleased smile that graced your lips after understanding a new concept.
But more than that, he loved pushing your buttons. There was something about the way he did it, unlike Jayce, he was subtle. So subtle that in no time your volume began increasing, razor tongue at the ready and cheeks tinged pink. Only for you to look into his eyes, narrow your gaze, head tilting slightly, before breaking out into a dazzlingly sharp smile.
You most definitely were no fly on the wall, unlike Jayce’s Caitlin. Who, after two days of listening to himself and Jayce chatter excitedly about the room, stopped coming to pass time at the lab.
It became routine for Jayce and Viktor to get hopelessly stuck, come over to the small table and chairs you’d been nesting in, and check on your progress. Asking if you had questions, which you usually did, asking what you thought of their work, sometimes just watching as you made faces into one of Viktor's textbooks.
Usually these breaks ended up in one or both boys having an Aha moment about their research. So really, Viktor reasoned with himself late last night as he tucked a blanket around your shoulders, it was mutually beneficial.
As he collapsed on the bedcovers, Viktor’s last though was of your peacefully sleeping face
Oh. Perhaps your rest hadn’t stayed peaceful. He was no stranger to nightmares, having experienced a fair bit of pain in his own life.
“Is it a nightmare that troubles you” straight to the point, he tilted your chin up to study your face.
“Yes” you croaked, “It was so… real, it didn’t feel like a dream it felt like-” you trailed off.
“Like what?” Viktor pushed.
“I don’t know? Like I was looking into another world.” You steeled yourself, trying to decide how much you wanted to reveal. “It felt like a warning.” The desire to share what you had seen clashed with the fear of actually speaking it out loud.
“You were there, and- you were sick or hurt, and oh gods- the blood,” fresh tears wet your cheeks. “Then I saw you, alone and surrounded by darkness, but it wasn’t you. The- the look in your eyes, it was… empty, it wasn’t right.”
Something vicious curled in your chest at the thought of losing him, of him being taken from you. “Promise me, promise you won’t let that happen!” you were babbling now, and you knew it, but something in you refused to reason.
“Shh it’s okay, I promise.” he whispered, wanting to soothe the panic he saw bubbling inside you. Somewhat unsure of himself but desperate to provide comfort, he curled his arms around you. A few clumsy movements later and he had you cradled protectively to his chest. “I will not leave you, rest, and I will be here when you wake up,” he murmured, long nose nuzzling into your hair.
With your face buried into the crook of his neck and a hand bunched in his uniform shirt, you idly stroked it’s smooth buttons, drifting off to sleep.
*********************
Viktor looked down bewilderedly at your sleeping form, brow still creased with worry. The first few buttons of his shirt came undone in sleep and now your rhythmic breaths fanned across his neck, leaving a tingling sensation in their wake. His skin felt tight, as if he moved too suddenly he would ruin- something… something he didn’t know how to put into words.
You softly sighed, wiggling in an attempt to burrow impossibly further into his chest, and Viktor was struck by the realization that this was the closest he could ever remember being to another human. Pathetic, this long and the only person I’ve ever held is here because of a bad dream. A different, more hopeful, part of him thought She told me about her nightmare, she’s crying because she thought she lost me. Do I really mean that much to her?
Peeking at his watch he was pleased to see there were at least two hours until Jayce expected him at the lab. Usually he liked to get there first, settling in before the chaotic energy of his companions arrived. But for today he’d be happy walking in last, as long as you were right in front of him.
*********************
Viktor was never late. He just wasn’t. Ever since he startled Jayce off that ledge, he’d been there not on time, but early.
You always arrived last, usually carrying some kind box that smelled so heavenly the boys were immediately distracted out of their work.
Now, well past the time both of you should’ve been there, Jayce was worried. After waiting a few minutes more he decided to try the last place he’d seen the two of you, Viktor's academy apartment.
Rounding the corner at a quick pace, he opened the door without thinking, and stopped dead in his tracks. Something warm and protective welled up inside him, seeing you both curled together on Viktor's mattress.
Who would’ve thought, the two of you? Huh . Maybe he should’ve seen this coming. It’s not his fault, he’s just oblivious sometimes, it’s something Jayce freely admits to himself.
Looking back he really should have picked up on the heated tension behind all your bickering. Or the gentle way Viktor's whole demeanor softened when he could tell you were being hard on yourself. Or gods, maybe that every time you needled a rough string of laughter from his lanky partner you looked like you’d just won a prize.
Okay, he really should have seen this coming.
Now that the shock was wearing off this new development had Jayce giddy with excitement. This was going to be hilarious, watching the two of you paw around like a couple of alley cats. More than anything he knew you’d make eachother happy, and that’s all he wanted for the people who’d made a home in his life so quickly.
Leaving a scribbled note on the bedside table about research being cancelled for today. He took one last look behind him before gently closing the door, deciding to go spend the rest of the day with his mother.
********************************************
Viktor was warm, and more comfortable than he ever remembered being on his old creaky bed. You were still here, in his arms, legs slotted on either side of his good one. The light fingertips idly stroking across his chest signaled you were awake.
He didn’t know what to do, what to say. For once his mind was completely void of ideas. What was customary in such a situation. He had no reference points, no experiences to act in comparison.
“Vik, I can hear you thinking,” you sighed into his chest, looking up at him blearily before settling back into a comfortable position against his side.
And just like that, it was the easiest thing in the world to understand. He would do anything to see you like this again.
“You know I may deny this later, but you are quite perceptive.” Viktor's morning voice thickened his accent, giving it a melodic lilt.
“Ooh compliments and cuddles, aren’t I a lucky girl this morning,” your teasing tone brought a fierce blush high on Viktor's cheeks.
“It seems I have created a monster,” he deadpanned, sighing with overdramatic flourish. Never one to back down, he added “What ever will I do with you now?” in what he hoped was an alluring tone.
“I guess you’ll have to keep me tied up here, where I’m not a danger to the public.” Unwinding your arms from his torso, you put them up above your head in mock surrender.
Viktor's brows shot up at your brazen response, palms beginning to sweat. Something dangerous and thrilling sparked low in his gut at your words. The way you looked up at him through your lashes, gods I am absolutely screwed.
His eyes made you weak, swirling pockets of burnt honey, impossibly dark and inviting. You wanted nothing more than to see them darken further. Desperate for Viktor to let himself become messy and ruffled.
He shifted, head poised over yours, breaths mingling in the miniscule space between your mouths, and you- sneezed.
You tried putting as much space between yourself and Viktor beforehand, but it was still much too close for comfort. Now you looked up at him, completely mortified.
Silence dragged on for an impossible second.
Viktor burst out laughing, something unrestrained and louder than any noise you’d ever heard him make before. It was so infectious you quickly dissolved into a fit of cackles. “I am so so sorry” you managed to grind out between snorts.” Clutching his quickly rising chest as you both caught your breath. “It’s really no trouble, especially after getting to hear you laugh in such a manner.” His eyes danced with a teasing mirth you’d rarely experienced thus far.
You warmed, beginning to feel uncharacteristically bashful under his gaze
Eyes trailing down Viktor's body, they soon landed on his watch. He followed your line of sight, checking the time before grimacing slightly.
“It is almost midday already, we have overslept.”
Sighing, you began detaching yourself from Viktor, “Jayce must be worried, I’m surprised he didn’t break down the door looking for us.”
Viktor hummed in agreement, giving you a thanks for handing over his cane as he slid out of bed, then his eyes fell on a scrap of paper laid on his nightstand.
Research cancelled for the day, have fun -Jayce
“Seems as though you were right about him coming here, but I do believe I forgot to lock the door last night so the breaking in wasn’t necessary.”
Viktor cringed, his poor attempt at humor did nothing to mask the newfound tension. Jayce had presumably seen them, together, in Viktors bed. And instead of waking them he left a note telling him to “have fun.”
You could see his posture lock up and it made your nerves return full force. Does he want to talk about this morning? Was he going to kiss me? Does he want me to leave? Is he embarrassed Jayce saw us together?
A warm hand squeezed your shoulder. “It seems that you are the one overthinking now, no?” You simply smiled. It was a smile he’d never seen before, something tentative and fragile.
“Perhaps we should go ‘have fun’ as Jayce instructed, although I cannot promise I’m particularly good at it.” He offered a hand and just like that you came back to yourself.
“I’m thinking step one of our ‘day of fun’ is to sneak into the back of the bakery and let me steal us some breakfast, don’t think I haven’t noticed the state of your kitchen.”
It was true, Viktor’s kitchen was woefully bare, but he scraped by with what he could. To be honest he was so used to being hungry for so long that it didn’t really bother him much anymore.
Then you came along. Whirling in with bags of pastries and carefully wrapped sandwiches, sometimes toting scalding bowls of delicious soups or roasted meats. And Viktor learned what it was like to be full. It was a double edged sword of course, because now when hunger began to gnaw at his gut again he felt it full force.
The day you casually dropped that you were from the undercity he almost choked on the almond cookie you’d deposited on top of his research that morning.
Eyes narrowed. “That’s not a problem, is it?” your voice came out carefully blank.
“No, no of course not,” scrambling to correct any misconceptions Viktor spoke at rapid pace. “I grew up there as well, I didn’t realize that was something we had in common.”
Now in his tiny apartment after spending the morning wrapped around each other, he had so many burning questions. But he settled on the one that had been worrying him lately.
“Please, do not answer if you are uncomfortable, but how exactly can you sustain feeding Jayce and I almost daily?” He hated the thought of you bringing him and Jayce more than you could afford, or gods forbid, putting yourself in danger just to bring them food. “You refuse to let us pay our fair share, but I know how hard it is to live here when you aren’t from a family and from what you’ve shared I don’t think you have a sponsor either?”
Viktor braced himself for your ire, worrying he had overstepped in his line of questioning, but it never came.
“Oh that- well you’re right I don’t exactly erm- have money for it, so in the mornings when I open the bakery I make, well I make extras of this or that and then I go to the other vendors and do a bit of bartering.”
He blinked owlishly, waiting as you continued.
“So technically if you want to nitpick I guess I’m stealing supplies from the bakery, but to be honest the owner can barely make a decent loaf of bread so really I think all the extra business I bring in more than evens it out.”
Intent on looking anywhere but at Viktor you fiddled with the button of your jacket.
“What an interesting system, I wonder, how does the exchange rate work? A dozen cookies for a fish? Two loaves of bread for a bag of carrots?” He speculated.
“Ah ever the scientist, no that’s not really how it works. Most people here, even the vendors, are from houses or have patrons. They don’t worry about money, so haggling for a deal really never crosses their mind.”
He nodded in agreement. “Using their financial ignorance to your advantage, full of surprises aren’t you.”
“I guess,” you shrugged. “But it’s hardly that devious, think of it like this- Mrs. Ymiris owns the meathouse in the shopping district, her husband loves figs, and nobody makes a better fig tart than me” you said matter of factly.
“Oh clever and humble,” he sassed.
“Viktor, I heard you moan the first time you bit into that fig tart.” How could you forget, it was quite a memorable sound.
“I was merely teasing, please continue.” He quieted down, wanting to avoid any further wrath.
“Anyways, Mrs. Ymiris would trade a whole roast to surprise her husband with a fresh fig tart, even though a roast costs twenty times more than it does to make a fig tart. Half the time these people don’t even realize what their wares are worth, never had to budget for food I guess.”
Viktor was enamored by your vigor. This was the most time he’d ever spent alone with you, and it was quickly becoming addicting. Each time he learned something new he craved more.
“Has it ever occurred to you that what you’re offering may just be that good. You said it yourself, nobody makes a fig tart like yours, who’s to say it isn’t worth twenty roasts?”
Oh- going by the look on your face, it hadn’t.
He made a note to compliment you more, although he wasn’t a particularly endearing man by nature there was no shortage of admiration he had for you. Most of the time you carried an air of brazen self confidence, it was easy to forget you knew what it was like. The way life in the undercity clings to your mind, weighing down your sense of worth, especially in a place like Piltover.
“It can be surprising, the way people here are so unaware of how much they have. I have never had a- friend” he cleared his throat “A friend like you, who understands what it is like.
Not knowing what to say you instead took that last step forward, into Viktor's personal space. Snaking your arms snugly around his thin waist in a tight hug. After a moment to process, he wound his long arms around you, relishing in the softness of your embrace.
Pulling back you cheerfully look up at him. “Good, it’s settled, I will be feeding you for the foreseeable future"
He scoffed, not willing to drop the issue. “Still, you deserve something for your work, it’s not right for you to go to all this trouble for nothing."
You remembered those first few days, watching Viktor carefully nibble at whatever you’d brought in. Some people were just thin, but he was too thin, in all the ways that set off alarms in your mind. You’d hovered around him, trying not to spook him or be too forward, but always there. Setting an extra cookie in front of him, maybe packing a sandwich in his bag that he’d find later.
“It’s not for nothing.” I never want to see you go hungry again you wanted to say, instead you settled for. “When you teach me, do you expect something in return?”
“More bartering?” the corner of his lips tugged upward
You look at him intensely “No, this is different.”
He curled in on himself, shoulders still too sharp for your liking.
“C’mon,” he looked down at your outstretched palm. “We should get there before all the chocolate filled ones sell, I know they’re your favorite."
Viktor took your hand, allowing you to lead him out the door. Setting a slow pace along the busy streets outside, you shifted your fingers to gently lace around his large palm. A rush of excitememnt only comparable to the night he and Jayce perfected hextech coursed through him.
This was the beginning of something- momentous, he just knew it.