Work Text:
Even footfalls slowly echoed down one of the well-trodden Academy halls.
Come on, Sky. Last job for the day, then you can collapse.
Sky let out a huff and quickened her pace. Much to her annoyance, she'd been kept back for hours by Professor Heimerdinger arguing with other members of the Hexgate safety board about the latest upgrade proposal.
It didn't help that she disagreed with her supervisor, either... she'd poured hours of work into reviewing the safety measures, and the rest of the board agreed with her recommendations.
But Heimerdinger still wanted more tests.
Honestly, the yordle sometimes drove her mad.
But work stress was child's play compared to her daily visits to Jayce and Viktor's laboratory.
You'd think, after working with them for years, visiting countless times, that her stomach wouldn't twist into knots every time she went.
Look. He's just going to be hunched over his desk like usual. He won't even notice you. Just get the reports, deliver them to Heimerdinger, and head home.
Sky paused as she reached the lab's doorway, shook her head briefly to steady herself, and went inside.
What the-!?
As the door closed behind her, Sky stumbled backwards in absolute shock.
The room was bathed in sapphire stardust. Most of the lab's equipment had been carefully tied or clamped to the work desks, while everything else drifted lazily around the ceiling.
Including Viktor himself, apparently.
The scraggly scientist stretched out his limbs with a gentle sigh and closed his eyes, seemingly lost in the weightlessness.
Thankfully, he hadn't even noticed her step in.
However, without realising, Sky found herself gradually approaching the magic's source at the room's centre—a pulsating Hextech crystal, nestled inside an intricate cage with slowly spinning runestones.
It was beautiful. She had no clue this was even possibl-
Whoosh!
Suddenly, the magic grasped her, and before Sky knew it, she was tumbling head-over-heels into the ceiling's glimmering energy field.
Thoroughly startled, Viktor tumbled away in surprise, arms flailing to right himself again. "M-Miss Young!?"
"Oh- oh, god, I'm sorry-" Sky panicked, her hazel eyes wide. She shakily tried to steady her glasses as gravity seemed to be disregarding their rightful place on her head. "I- I didn't mean to interrupt- I was just collecting the reports-"
Meanwhile, Viktor felt his skin crawling with embarrassment as he fumbled closer to the Hextech device, his arm reaching to try and disengage it. "-no, no, Miss Young, I should apologise, this is extremely unprofessional-"
He didn't even know Sky was still here. She hardly ever worked late!
"Viktor, wait," Sky interrupted, reaching forward as if to stop him. Not that it would have done her any good, given that she was nowhere near reaching him—and still recovering from the magic's electrifying pull.
By this stage, Viktor was nearly upside down, trying to manipulate the device from above. Fortunately, he paused and turned around at Sky's request, hair billowing into eyes. With a look of irritation, he shook his head and exhaled rapidly to shoo the loose strands.
"What?"
"It's Sky," she insisted, frustrated at the formalities. Heavens. They'd been working in the same department for years now, and he still addressed her like that?
True, they didn't cross paths as much as she'd been hoping for, but everyone knew to just call her Sky by now. Using her last name—a rare trait for those of the undercity—just felt wrong to her. Especially when no one else around her growing up even had them.
"Please- please don't turn it off," she blurted, looking away. Heat flooded her face in embarrassment, and her voice turned to a whisper. "...it's beautiful. I had no idea Hextech could do this."
Viktor's lips twisted with unexpected disappointment. "No one outside of the Academy board does, either."
"What-?" Sky's eyes widened as she cautiously tried to 'swim' forward. She slowly tipped herself upside down, giggling at the weightlessness. "Why? It's amazing."
He closed his eyes, releasing his hold on the crystal caging and drifting back to Sky's level. "This is miniscule. The Council wants grandiose inventions that lift Piltover to new heights. A nonsensical floating room is useless to them."
Sky blinked in shock. Since when did she get past surface level small talk with Viktor? She'd been trying for months, and now it was just...happening? She saw frustration contorting his angular face and felt her heart squeeze.
"Is everything okay?"
He waved a hand nonchalantly and rubbed his temple. 'Yes, yes," he mumbled. A hastily covered yawn escaped him. "I am just...tired, Miss Youn- ah, erm...Sky."
Sky chuckled slightly. At least he was trying.
"If it's so useless, why were you...?"
Viktor's golden eyes darted between her and the wall several times, his expression conflicted.
Sky's curious smile began to falter slightly at Viktor's silence. "Oh, I'm sorry...it's personal, isn't it?"
Viktor released a drawn-out sigh and drifted onto his back, his limbs stretched every which-way.
"Sometimes, it's nice to move...unaided." Nearby, his crutch floated aimlessly. He gently nudged it away with his good leg to emphasise the point.
"Oh," Sky murmured, voice small. Well, that should've been obvious... even if he barely mentioned his condition. "I'm sorry. I didn't know it got to you."
"It's not often it does," Viktor mumbled, his brows furrowing. "I have other far more pressing things I'm concerned by, usually."
"Well, you certainly surprised me." Sky followed Viktor's posture, slowly turning onto her back to admire the ceiling. It was bedazzled with a painted rendition of the night sky; a mirror to the one in Heimerdinger's lab. "I honestly walked in here expecting you to have fused to your chair. I heard you've been here since dawn."
She heard Viktor scoff at this and waited for a reply, but was met with only silence. She twisted her body mid-air to try and make eye contact with him, her expression kind. "You know...you're allowed to rest sometimes. Can't keep cutting trees without sharpening the axe-"
Suddenly, Viktor snapped. "Enough," he spat, shooting her an exhausted, shadowy glare. "You don't understand, Sky. There's no time. I can't stop."
Sky felt her body recoil at this, hurt flashing on her face. Viktor abruptly turned away from her, instinctively pulling a leg to his chest to curl in on himself.
Oh, that it. I'm not having this. Not anymore.
Sky took a deep breath, steadied herself and set her jaw with determination. "Then help me understand, Viktor! What's so important that you'd destroy your health for it?"
The raggedy Hextech scientist growled in exasperation, dragging slender hands through his dishevelled hair.
"The undercity, Sky! I need to find something the Council will let me share with my- our people!"
Sky felt her chest constrict with emotion.
And there it was. Another reminder of why she adored this man.
She had feared a lack of self-care was indicating failing mental health...but no. He was running himself into the ground for the sake of others.
But even that was unwise. He was hurting those closest to him with this behaviour, and exhausting himself to the point that meaningful discoveries were harder to come by because he was dead on his feet.
This had to stop.
However, instead of speaking, Sky locked eyes with him, expression brimming with compassion, and gestured for him to continue.
Viktor took a long, slow breath and blinked several times while he composed himself.
"Oh, Sky," he began as he drifted into a sitting position, his golden gaze soft with regret. "I'm sorry. That was uncalled for."
"Yes," she quipped. "It was." Sky slowly righted herself and hugged her legs to her chest. "But keep going. I want to hear how you feel."
"Well...I've been here, slaving over Hextech for years, so you'd think we'd be changing lives everywhere by now," Viktor rationalised, his arm gestures becoming bolder by the second. "But no! Anything remotely useful for the everyman has been overlooked in favour of Piltovan profits. We even synthesized artificial Hextech crystals, so there isn't even a limited supply! Yes, they are still unstable, but we're so close."
By now, Viktor was lost in his passion, his entire body adding emphasis to his points.
"People are down there, suffering and dying, while these...these..."
Viktor trailed off, seemingly unwilling to finish the sentence.
"Pilties," Sky suggested, raising an eyebrow. "I know that term is frowned upon in Piltover, but come on, we're fissure kids. We're allowed."
"Yes, yes, okay...Pilties," Viktor conceded, the slightest smirk playing on his lips. "They just seem to live in affluent ignorance to those 'beneath them.'. It's honestly a miracle you and I succeeded here."
A surge of nerves rippled through Sky's chest at that.
Well.
This chance wasn't coming again any time soon.
Better not waste it.
"You're the reason I'm here, Viktor."
The Hextech scientist raised an eyebrow at this, his confusion plain. He gestured to himself in surprise.
"Me?"
Okay Sky don't stop now you've been sitting on his for too long-
"You...you inspired me," she whispered, glancing away from overwhelming self-consciousness. "I loved watching you build things, when we were kids...your designs were always amazing. I lost count how many I tried to fix after other kids had smashed them... but I could never quite figure them out."
By now, Viktor was studying her intensely, a look of wonder on his face.
"It was you," he breathed. "You're the one who brought the pieces back to me. I even found one of my boats half-repaired once!"
"Y-yeah, that...that was me," Sky mumbled into her knees, her ears growing warm. "I wanted to be your friend, but...I was too shy...and the other kids, they...I'm sorry."
Viktor's expression turned soft. "It's alright. The past is fixed in time, after all."
"I know, I know... but I should've..." she whispered, shaking her head. "Anyway. When you left to try for the Academy, I just knew they'd take you. And when you became Professor Heimerdinger's assistant, no less, I figured I might as well try. I can't invent like you, but I'm really good at tweaking existing designs and streamlining them."
"You deserve to be here, Sky," Viktor encouraged, offering a small smile. "How else would you have taken my previous role?"
"I certainly wouldn't have had you vouch for me," she scoffed, laughing. "I'm too stubborn for that."
"Exactly. I'd expect no less of someone on the cusp of figuring out my hair-brained childhood engineering projects. They were so inefficient! You must've been very persistent with them."
"I guess... But they're nothing compared to the regulatory red tape of these new Hexgate upgrades," Sky groaned into her hands. "With Professor Heimerdinger at the helm of Hextech safety, it's a wonder anything gets approved."
Viktor let out a snort. "Tell me about it."
"I know why you work so hard, Viktor..." Sky offered, giving him a warm smile, "...and you're-...um, it's amazing, but still—you need to take care of yourself."
The exhausted scientist closed his eyes in resignation. "...there's still no time, Sky."
Sky narrowed her eyes in suspicion, ready to launch into a well-meaning rant about burning the candle at both ends. "Why?"
"My body... It isn't right. I can feel it."
The freckled scientist felt her breath catch in her throat. "...are you sick?"
"I'm not sure... I just feel drained, and...out of breath, even just from walking."
"I heard as a kid you had bad lungs," Sky recalled, her voice low. "That, and the fissure gases... but you're also sleep-deprived and you skip food all the time! Who's to say that isn't the problem?"
Viktor offered a weak shrug, clearly not convinced either way.
"I'm just... I'm afraid my body won't last through Heimerdinger's ridiculous timelines," Viktor whispered, his gaze distant. " Every time there's a delay or a safety issue, it...hurts. I'm desperate to see Hextech reach those who need it most. The fact that my body might fail me before then...it's unthinkable."
"Well, chronic overtime won't help you there," Sky gently chastised. She slowly drifted a little closer to him, her hazel gaze locking with his. "Proper rest and good food will only help you keep going, Viktor. Besides, how can you help others properly in a state like this?" She playfully teased a cowlick of his unruly chestnut hair.
"Hey now," Viktor chuckled, swatting her hand away.
Sky couldn't help but laugh at his mock indignation. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry- that was too forward-"
Viktor paused, his expression intrigued. "...forward?"
Sky felt her eyes widen in panic.
No no no this is too fast I can't admit anything like that right now it'll ruin the moment-
"Sky? Are you okay?"
"Yes- yep, all good," she stammered, desperately trying to float a short distance away.
"Sky," Viktor insisted, his voice tinted with playfulness. "I'm far from dense. Something is clearly troubling you."
By now, Sky was looking at a very interesting patch of nothing on the wall, only chancing the occasional glance at Viktor as she floated nervously in place.
Viktor carefully drifted closer to her, and then drew his legs to his chest, mimicking her earlier posture. "It's your turn. I...want to hear how you feel, Sky."
How I feel!? Wait- wait- what does he mean by that!? He- he's interested in those feelings? Ack I can't do this-
Viktor cautiously touched her shoulder in comfort, his eyes pleading with hers to trust him. "It's okay."
"Viktor, I-"
Sky stared at her hands, her fingers trembling.
"-I love- ah, I like you. Like that. In...that way that I think you're thinking. Um."
Viktor's eyes widened in shock, his eyebrows nearing his hairline. He started at Sky, dumbfounded, an unexpected flush of pink colouring his angular cheeks.
Well.
That explained the 'forward' comment.
"Erm..." he stumbled, his fingers instinctively moving to twirl his hair for distraction.
There's no going back now, Sky. Say your thing.
"Everything you do, everything you are...is incredible," she breathed, still looking down. She was too afraid to see Viktor's reaction yet. "You inspire me so, so much. And hey! It's okay if it's not mutual! I can cope, we can still be friends, maybe, I-"
"Sky."
She chanced a glance at him.
Okay. Viktor was smiling.
That was good.
It was good, right?
Right...?
She felt Viktor's calloused hand touch her arm, and a jolt of electricity sent her shivering at his touch.
And the way he was looking at her?
That amber gaze was something else.
"It's...too early for me to say if I reciprocate, but..." Viktor contemplated, watching the emotions raging behind Sky's worried gaze, "I'm curious to see where it might go. There's much to discover about you, Sky Young."
He didn't say yes...but he didn't say no...?
Sky swallowed nervously, unsure where this left her. "Maybe we could get coffee together? Or...maybe tea?"
Viktor nodded in agreement, raising a hand to his chin in thought. "Mm. And if that goes well, perhaps dinner sometime?"
"I would love that," Sky replied nervously, her stomach doing backflips. "God, I'm sorry- I was so nervous, I feel a bit sick-"
"Oh, is it the weightlessness? I can turn it off if-"
"No, no," Sky breathed, desperately trying to control herself. She locked eyes with him, her gaze pleading. "I don't want this to end."
"Tell you what," Viktor whispered, taking hold of her hand. "Let's lock up, and then I can walk you home. Would that be alright?"
Sky nodded with a shy smile, squeezing his fingers. "Okay. But on one condition."
"Yes?" Viktor raised an eyebrow, his crooked smile teasing her.
"You go to straight to bed afterwards," Sky chastised with a grin, "and start tomorrow at 9 sharp - no earlier!"
"That's a tough bargain, Miss Young," he teased. "Tearing me away from my work!"
"You're going to sleep well Viktor, and you're going to like it, damn it!" She giggled, and before Viktor knew it, Sky enveloped him in an impulsive hug that sent them drifting across the ceiling again.
"Thank you," she breathed into his shoulder. "For giving me a chance."
"Don't sell yourself short," Viktor chuckled, relishing the warmth of her embrace. "I think we're off to good start already."
"Me too, Viktor," she smiled, giving him one last squeeze before letting go. "Me too."