Work Text:
Viktor briefly flashes a small smile over in your direction over stacks of boxes in your arms as you both walk in a comfortable silence down to his office. He requested you help him today with transporting some supplies for a new theory he is working on with hex crystals that he hopes to present during the upcoming progress day. Of course you could never say no to him and jump at every chance to spend more time with him, even on your off days.
Your mind easily wanders off to how you arrived and the first time you met the brilliant scientist. Freshly smuggled out of Demacia you made your way south to the great city of Piltover. Once you arrived you immediately set forth with a little slip of paper with the name Heimerdinger on it. You were instructed he could help you, give you a job, and start your new life here.
You pleaded with him for help, Heimerdinger had reservations about the use of magic of course. He saw first hand the absolute atrocities of the rune wars, a monstrous cataclysm bringing Runeterra to its knees. Even so he could never stoop to the level of Demacia and how it treated even their own citizens with magic. He decided to take pity on you and even offered you to assist him until something more suitable could come along.
The auspicious yordle became like a surrogate father to you in just a short time. Despite your clumsy tendencies that often resulted in short burst of magical discharge, he never shamed you for it. Most of your accidents ended with him running around the space studying the residual energy left in the air, muttering the words “how befuddling.” He tried his best to help you suppress unwanted outburst of powers but years of intense stress and seclusion in Demacia had left your abilities wild, untamed, and untrained.
“Magic is a marvelous and fascinating force of nature Y/N.” He said. You were eating your breakfast at his table when he suddenly spoke from his own position across the room.
“You are, of course, free to live your life now without fear. There are many mages that have claimed refuge in this city, but never forget that the fear of mages is not contained in Demacia alone. Many across all the lands still fear the power they do not understand but trust me when I say there are many more willing to learn about its splendors.” He paced across the room to you and climbed up his own seat next to yours placing his hand on top of yours.
“You have done a beautiful job creating a life of your own here, training your powers, but you cannot continue thriving here as my assistant. You are afraid of others and how they might react to you, but if you never try you’ll never truly see what the results may be.”
“Professor... are you kicking me out?” You can’t help but look at him with tear filled eyes. You finally were living for once in your life and now it feels like the planet is trying to swallow you whole again.
“Goodness no! But I do have some pupils who are in need of an assistant. If you help them you can grow even more, I just know you can.”
Shortly after he introduced you to Jayce and Viktor. Jayce automatically jumped across the room introducing himself to you and informing his beloved teacher of the progress he has made. Viktor on the other hand was too transfixed on his work to notice anything around him.
The first day in their lab Jayce kept showing you around the room, what things they could use help with, what objects to avoid without supervision, all around the basics. In the end this job was even easier than the professors, as the boys liked doing most things themselves but on occasion needed help with the simpler things. So you sat around reading your books, occasionally grabbing objects for Jayce, and stealing many glances at the scientist who hasn’t even looked at you since your arrival.
Time stretched deep into the night and you remained in the same chair in comfortable silence, existing happily beside the oblivious scientist. You enjoyed this free time and was honestly already concerned for Viktors health as he kept pushing himself without a moments rest. You could tell he did this frequently and decided then and there you would remain by his side each day until he also left the lab for the night.
He was the first to move in hours and once he noticed your frame curled up in the seat near him he jerked and jumped, sending many of his tools crashing to the floor. Ever the clumsy one yourself the loud crash breaking the silence caused a domino effect onto you and with a loud squeal you threw your book. After a brief moment of staring and silence you both burst into laughter.
Over the years your friendship has grown through countless late nights, trips and falls, and hours of conversation about his projects. You can’t help the love that grew inside you for the man especially after the nights watching him fawn over his hextech crystals and proclaiming his love for figuring out the runes. You could only hope he could love a mage like you as much as he cherishes his work.
“I was a bit surprised you didn’t have any plans this weekend” his voice broke through the silence.
“Really? I never have any plans, just me and my books.” You shrugged and cast him a soft smile.
“We are kindred spirits in that regard my dear, but I figured I would have seen someone go out with you at least once?” His soft voice questioned.
“Ahh well I’m afraid no one wants to spend time with me.” You replied with nonchalance and turned to push the door to his office with your back letting him through.
Only a few paces ahead of you, you could hear his reply spoken under his breath, meant for his ears alone “I would spend all of my time with you”
The next events flurried by quickly starting with a gasp from you followed by your legs walking you straight into the corner of a table before tripping forward onto Viktor. He himself was mid turn to see what was happening before quickly reaching out an arm, dropping his cane and papers in the process, to pull your waist in a failed attempt to catch you.
You hit the floor with your back as Viktor landed on top of you. Both a bit dazed you didn’t realize all of the dropped items were now falling all around you both in slow motion with little blue glowing particles floating around.
“I am so sorry, are you ok, are you...” his voice filled with panicked slows as he looks around at the falling objects.
Your body is frozen in place, you never wanted him to find out this way. He adores hextech but what if he doesn’t feel the same about mages, about raw wild magic that isn’t easily controlled through science. You couldn’t risk your freedom, especially if he left your side because of it. You haven’t felt freedom anywhere else quit like the freedom you’ve felt by his side.
“I don’t understand.” His eyes rip away from the magic around him and meets your fear filled eyes, tears threatening to spill at any second.
“I didn’t want you to hate me” you take a deep shaking breath “I didn’t want to have to leave Piltover like I had to leave my family in Demacia.”
His eyes widen at the statement, gears turning, every fact clicking into place with this admission.
“But I could never hate you darling, I love you” his voice was soft but spoke with deep conviction.
He leveraged himself up without causing you too much discomfort and once he could rest his hand on the nearby table, he reaches down to offer you his hand. Shakingly you take his hand and with his help stand up, ending up very close to his side.
Now both upright he doesn’t remove your hand from his but keeps his grasp steady, while his eyes flit about the room in wonder. It’s the same adoration and wonder in his eyes every time he works with his hextech creations. Once he meets your gaze again you notice the tears that start to trail down his cheek and you immediately bring up your hand against his cheek to rub the tear away with the soft pad of your thumb.
“Absolutely amazing darling.” He is staring at you with so much adoration you feel your knees threatening to collapse under you and even more so as he slowly slides his hand against your side and cradles the small of your back. Finally he pulls you close to him for the kiss you both have been waiting years for.
The moment you let yourself sink in to his lips the objects in the room resume their fall in normal speed, breaking a few pieces here and there.
You both part slightly from the kiss laughing, resting your foreheads against each other. He gives one last kiss to your forehead before parting and hums with a deep chuckle.
“Please promise you’ll show me more” he begged, with eyes practically twinkling with joy. How could you say no?
That’s how you end up by his side all through the night, throwing objects in the air and slowing them down or speeding them up. He would frantically walk around grabbing pens and papers to jot down notes as he study this secret side of you, fascination pouring out of him. His voice constantly spilled praise and adoration, filling you with pride at a skill you once despised. He loved you and accepted every part of you. You were finally free.