Archive of Our Own ^beta

Vi didn’t know what she was hitting. Whatever it was, it was hard -- hard enough that she was pretty sure her knuckles had split open. She knew that there was blood oozing down her clenched fists, leaving an uncomfortably warm trail across her skin, but she didn’t feel a thing. 

Maybe she was hitting the punching bag. More likely, she was hitting the wall, already half crumbled from years of natural wear. Despite being half demolished and then abandoned, the building was still standing, even though it had gone to shit. She wished that she wasn’t standing. She wished that she would crumble to the ground, turn into a pile of dust. Forgotten by the rest of the world. Scattered in the wind. 

Her fists collide again. And again. And again and again and--

A piece of something broke off of the surface she’d been hitting. It crashed onto the floor, shattering into further pieces. She could feel a dull throbbing in her hands. She didn’t stop -- knew she wouldn’t until she finally felt the pain. 

Then maybe she could get out of her own head. 

Then maybe the pain inside of her would stop. 

The hextech gauntlets had been a success. Viktor and Jayce had spent months working on the final product, pouring over every detail to make sure that their presentation to Heimerdinger would go off without a hitch. They left no room for errors, and, thanks to their meticulous planning, there hadn’t been any.

They’d been so close. 

After complimenting their progress, Heimerdinger had made it clear that the inventions weren’t ready to be put to use yet. The yordle was insistent that the two engineers continue to “work out the kinks,” as he had put it. Viktor argued that they could be improving the lives of people now if only Heimerdinger would let them, but the Professor wouldn’t be swayed. 

Viktor had left the meeting feeling hopeless. He didn’t have as much time as Jayce, let alone Heimerdinger, and he could feel his goal of helping those in need slipping further and further away from his grasp. 

He didn’t want to think about it, but Viktor knew that he didn’t have much time left. He couldn’t guess how long, but he could feel it in his bones. It made him feel frantic -- like he'd been backed into a corner. If he didn’t do something now , he might never get the chance to do it at all. 

As he left the academy building, his chest fluttered with anxiety. It was still early in the evening, but Jayce had a meeting to attend to, and for once in his life, Viktor didn’t feel like working. Not with his mind racing and his chest aching, panic and existential dread seeping into his head like a thick, choking fog. He needed a distraction, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to find it in the lab. 

Walking through the streets of Piltover, Viktor picked his mind apart. Why wouldn’t Heimerdinger see sense? It was unfair. What was even more unfair was the fact that Viktor seemed to be the only one working against a ticking timer. Jayce didn’t have to worry about how long his body would hold. Jayce didn’t have to wonder if he would be around long enough to actually accomplish something -- anything . 

Then again, Jayce already had. He was the Man of Tomorrow -- Piltover’s golden boy. He was the face of progress. Viktor, on the other hand, was a shadow. Worse than that, he was disintegrating from the very fabric of the universe. 

Lost in his head, he tripped on the cobblestones beneath his feet, scrambling to catch his balance -- and he got the idea that the universe was telling him to stop being so dramatic. Viktor let out a disgruntled huff. He needed to go somewhere, and he needed to stop thinking about hextech and Heimerdinger and himself . 

That’s when he thought of her. Immediately, he tried to push the idea down, but it had already floated to the surface. He shouldn’t bother her. And anyway, it was hardly appropriate to simply drop by someone’s house… wasn’t it? He didn’t know how this sort of thing worked, so clearly he shouldn’t be making any decisions. 

But then he thought of all the things she'd no doubt say if she knew what he was thinking. 

You’re not a bother, you idiot, you’re my friend, so just shut up.

Viktor smiled faintly. Then he realized that, if just thinking about her had made him feel better, perhaps going to see her wasn’t a bad idea after all. 

In the end, he found that his feet were walking him towards the Kiramman residence whether he wanted them to or not. His body seemed to have come to a decision before he was done arguing with himself. 

Standing on their porch, however, Viktor felt that he could now confirm this was a bad idea. Vi might not even be home. And what if she was, but she was doing something with Caitlyn? Viktor didn’t want to put her in an awkward position -- having to pick between spending time with him or spending time with her girlfriend. 

Viktor cringed inwardly, glancing down at himself and thinking what horrible company he would make in his current state of self-pity. He was just contemplating the idea of turning around and leaving altogether when the door was flung open. 

“Viktor?”

Caitlyn peered out at him, and there was an intensity to her demeanor that, despite him not knowing her well, was definitely uncharacteristic. His eyebrows hitched in concern, however any questions he might have had were overpowered by the need to explain what he was doing on her porch. 

“Yes, sorry, I, well I--” Viktor had started, seeing no choice but to ramble out an apology before slinking away like some deplorable sewer rat. 

But then Caitlyn sighed in relief, pushing the door open wider and gesturing for him to come inside. 

“I’m so glad you’re here."

“Y-You are?” He asked, somewhat baffled. Caitlyn hastily closed the door before running a hand through her hair. 

“Is everything alright, Miss Kiramman,” he asked hesitantly, searching the girl’s face. She looked disheveled and… scared.  

When Caitlyn took a shuddering breath, Viktor knew that the answer to his question was no . Pacing back and forth in front of the door, one hand propped on her hip and the other holding her forehead, she turned to look at Viktor with an expression of desperation.

“It’s Vi.”

Viktor felt his insides turn to ice. 

“She’s gone. She… she took off and I haven’t seen or heard from her in hours.”

He tightened his grip on his cane, knuckles turning white as he tried to stop the spinning in his head. Caitlyn was obviously distressed, and Viktor joining in on her panic would do little to help the situation. 

“Alright,” he tried to soothe. “Tell me what happened.”

Caitlyn hesitated a moment, then nodded, sitting down on the bench that was against the wall. Viktor quietly joined her, body tilted in attention. 

“She went to the undercity,” Caitlyn began, voice hollow. “I didn’t want her to, but… her sister. She’s… back.”

The girl gave him a pointed look, and Viktor sat up, brow raising slightly. 

“Vi’s been looking for her, and someone that she knows from the undercity got a lead. I wanted to go with her, but she was insistent. You know how she can be.”

Caitlyn gave him a worried look, and he put as much reassurance as he possibly could into his smile. 

“Anyway, she came back a few hours later, and she was a mess. I.. I’ve never seen her like that. Something horrible must have happened, but when I asked, she wouldn’t say. She mentioned something about needing to think and then just stormed out.” Caitlyn took a quivering breath. 

“To be honest with you, I’m losing my mind.”

Viktor nodded sympathetically. 

“I’m sure it will be alright. Vi is stubborn enough to take care of herself, you know that as well as I do.”

Caitlyn nodded, brow furrowing together. It wasn’t enough. Viktor could understand that. He tilted his head, doing his best to think logically. 

“Have you checked the places she frequents? That bar on--”

“Not there. That's the first place I looked.”

“What about the park?”

Caitlyn shook her head. “I’ve checked all her usual spots, but… Viktor, I don’t think she wants to be in Piltover right now. I think she wants to be home. But, I also don’t think she’d go back to the undercity after what happened. It seemed… bad.” 

The girl wrung her hands together, at a loss. Viktor, however, sat up, a long-forgotten image flashing through his mind.

“I think I have an idea of where she might be,” he cautiously offered. 

Caitlyn stood up, and Viktor scrambled to follow suit. 

“Really?” she searched his eyes hopefully “Do… do you think you could go and look? I would, but… I don’t think she wants to see me right now. Plus she always talks about how much she likes you -- you might be just the person to help her with whatever happened.”

Viktor was taken aback. Vi talked about him? Not only that, she talked about liking him -- enough that Caitlyn was willing to trust him with this? His eyebrows drew together as strange emotions warmed his still-racing heart. But Caitlyn’s desperate gaze was enough to pull him out of his thoughts. Now wasn’t the time.

“Of course,” he immediately agreed. “I’ll go, and if she’s there, I’ll bring her back if I can.”

“Oh, thank you,” the girl sighed. Then suddenly she was wrapping Viktor up in a tight embrace. 

He staggered back a step, eyes widening before slowly placing a hand on her back. 

“Thank you,” she said it again, squeezing her arms tighter around his neck. Viktor patted her back, a sheepish smile tilting the corner of his mouth. When Caitlyn stepped back, her hands rested on his arms for a moment before finally letting him go. He gave what he hoped was a reassuring nod before making his way to the door. 

“Plan to hear from me by tonight, either way,” he offered in an attempt to minimize Caitlyn’s anxiety. 

She nodded, eyes growing large as she worried her lip. 

“I owe you one,” she said, so earnestly that Viktor was a bit alarmed. 

“No,” he quickly insisted. “You owe me nothing. I’d be doing this even if you told me not to.” 

Despite herself, Caitlyn laughed. 

“You sound just like her, you know?” She looked so sad that Viktor managed to put a comforting -- if a little awkward -- hand on her arm. 

“Try to relax, Miss Kiramman,” he murmured with a sympathetic tilt of his head. “Vi will be alright. She’s got you looking out for her.”

Caitlyn’s brow bunched up, and she laid a hand across Viktor’s, squeezing it gently. 

“And you.” The earnestness in her voice sent Viktor’s head spinning. He’d never been a part of someone’s support system. It was strange, but it made him feel good. 

He patted Caitlyn’s hand before turning and heading for the street. One way or another, he was going to find Vi.

The sky had begun to darken as Viktor made his way through Piltover. Not long after leaving Caitlyn’s house, a large droplet of rain hit the top of his head, and by the time he reached his destination, it was falling in a steady shower. It soaked his hair, sticking it to the sides of his face and across his forehead. He raked it back with a hand, trying to shrug the heavy feeling of wet clothes off of his shoulders. 

A foggy haze filled the air, and so he didn’t see the abandoned building until he was right on top of it. It crouched beneath the low-hanging rain clouds and fog like a monster in the darkness. But Viktor wasn’t able to marvel at it for long. He knew the path ahead was dangerous -- strewn with old building material and rubble from when the structure had been half-demolished -- and taking the rain into account, it was even more so. 

Eyes trained carefully on his feet, Viktor made slow progress up the gradual incline that led to the building. He slipped, barely catching himself on his cane as he clambered to regain his footing on the wet, uneven earth. Letting out a stifled breath, he clenched his jaw before picking his way forward again. 

When his hand finally met the rough, grainy surface of the building, he let out a relieved sigh. In the dim light of the gloomy day, he hadn’t noticed that the gaps in the sides of the structure had been boarded up. Tilting his head, he began to look for an entrance. It turned out to be on the other side of the building -- a small, easily missed doorway without a door. Viktor glanced around him one last time before ducking inside. 

Immediately, the break from the rain that had been accosting his senses overshadowed his inability to see. Whatever room he was in, it was nearly pitch black. He could only make out the different shades of darkness around him, but nothing concrete. Reaching his hands out, one of them still holding his cane, he began to feel around. 

When his fingers met the smooth, cool surfaces on either side of him, he realized that he was in a hallway of some sort. It was narrow -- barely big enough for two people to stand side-by-side -- and, from what he could tell, only led forward. Using his cane to feel the edges of the wall, he headed in that direction. 

Rainwater dripped down his hair, and the chill in the air almost made him miss the warm rain. When the wall veered off to the right, Viktor noticed that he was able to see a little better than before. He could see his legs beneath him, and when he held his hand up, he could see that, too. 

In front of him, he finally got a glimpse at the edges of the hallway. The stone was a pale, ghostly blue, illuminated only by an unseen source of light coming from the lefthand side, further up than Viktor was. Despite being able to see, his movements became more cautious as he made his way forward. 

He had only taken two steps when he heard it. 

The sound of something colliding with a hard surface. The muted thumps of impact were erratic -- furious, almost. Viktor drew in a breath, setting his face to a passive expression when he felt the anxiety rising up his throat. Then he took another step, and another until he was standing in a wide doorway. 

The room looked different than the last time he’d been in it. The debris had been cleared out, but that wasn’t all. Things had been added to it. A few punching bags hanging off to one corner. A lounge chair sitting in front of the bar, which had managed to avoid being demolished. At the far end of the room, a spidery-looking contraption reached from the floor to the ceiling, possibly made out of wood -- it was difficult to tell in the dim light. 

That wasn’t what caught Viktor’s attention. Standing in the doorway, he gripped his cane tightly. 

Vi was in one corner of the room, nearest to the punching bags. But that wasn’t what she was hitting. Even in the semi-darkness, Viktor could see the hole in the wall, pale where the drywall had been broken away, stone poking through like bone against flesh. 

Her head was hunched between her shoulders, sweat rolling down her back. If the hole hadn’t made it obvious, Viktor could tell by her ragged breathing that she’d been at it awhile. Her movements were fierce but sluggish, and she looked unsteady. 

She looked exhausted. But stronger than her exhaustion was her obvious fury, which was undoubtedly the only thing keeping her going. Viktor grimaced when her fists collided with what little drywall was left, smearing blood across the pale surface. Now that he looked closer, a good portion of the wall was darkened with her blood. 

“Have I come at a bad time?” Viktor asked, voice not breaching its soft tone. He didn’t need to -- Vi heard him just fine. She whipped around, fists still raised and ready to hit something. Viktor leveled her up in his gaze, and she in hers.

However, after a moment of scrutinizing him, in which Viktor wasn’t entirely convinced that she even saw him, the girl turned back around. Tossing one bunched up and bloodied fist forward, it smashed into the wall, causing more material to fall to the ground. 

“What are you doing here?” She asked, then threw another punch. 

Viktor clenched his jaw and straightened up as if he were having a diplomatic debate, not trying to talk to his friend . 

“Caitlyn is worried sick. You left her in quite a state when you ran off.”

Vi spun around again, looking very carefully at him. 

“You’ve seen Caitlyn?”

 Viktor leveled his gaze at her, somehow still managing to look as passive as if he could care less. 

“Yes. She asked me to assist in locating you since she’d had no luck.”

Vi scoffed, then rolled her shoulders and turned back to the wall. 

“Yeah, well -- you shouldn’t have come.”

Viktor sucked in a quick breath, jutting his chin up as he watched the back of her head. 

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he muttered. “You disappear without a trace and you really expect no one to worry? At the very least I would have thought you’d know Caitlyn would be concerned.”

At that, Vi whipped around, taking a step towards him. If she’d been anyone else, he would have called it threatening. Hell, if he had been anyone else it would have been. But he knew Vi, and he knew that she would never hurt him. Even if he pushed her. Even if she was angry out of her mind. 

“You don’t know anything,” she growled, jabbing a finger at him. Her chest was heaving breathlessly, and with her new proximity, he was now able to gauge the full extent of her bloodied hands. 

Both fists were busted open, and he saw more red than he did pale skin. He could see a few gashes, which were still bleeding freely, but he couldn’t imagine what other damage she had done to herself. She’d be lucky if she hadn’t broken anything. 

It was the sight of this -- of all the blood, of the furious look on her face that was so uncharacteristic even for her -- that pushed Viktor over the edge. He’d already had a bad day, and being worried about Vi had set his nerves on end. But beyond that, he was scared. Not of Vi, but for her. How she was acting so far away from the person he called his friend. So unlike the person that, despite her claims, he knew . Because of this, he was afraid. And, just like Vi, being afraid turned him into someone he was not. 

He took a step forward, narrowing his eyes at the woman in front of him. 

“Actually, I know quite a lot,” he retorted, voice low and biting. “I know you, Vi. I know you well enough by now, and you know me. I cannot say that about many people, but it is true for you.”

He took another step forward, and Vi took a step back, eyes flashing like a cornered animal. 

“So,” he continued. “Why don’t you stop taking your anger, or whatever this is, out on your fists and talk to me. Or if you don’t want to talk, fine, but at least stop behaving like a child who hasn’t gotten her way.”

Vi glanced sideways, scoffing darkly. 

“Are you serious right now?” she demanded, matching his low tone. “I didn’t ask for you to be here, Viktor. I didn’t ask for Caitlyn to be worried about me, or for you to come in here and act like you know what the fuck is going on, alright?”

 She had taken several steps closer to him, and was now standing only mere inches away, chin jutted up so she could glare fiercely into his eyes. Viktor stared back, his expression a mask.

“I didn’t ask to be dragged into this stupid city, and I sure as hell didn’t ask for some miserable topside scientist to follow me around like a mutt. So you can take your worries and get the hell out.”

Viktor knew that Vi would never hit him, but he almost wished she would have, instead of saying what she’d just said. He flinched back, wavering slightly at her words. How could he not? Something flickered through Vi’s eyes that was almost like regret, and for a split second, he could see her realize that she had taken it too far. 

She staggered back a step, looking up at him with a flash of panic. Viktor got the idea that this wasn’t the first time she’d tried to so violently push someone away. But then that moment was gone, and she spun on her heels. Yelling, she slammed her fists into the wall, throwing one punch after the other until she was swaying on her feet.

Viktor squeezed his cane, gritting his teeth until his jaw ached. Then he made up his mind. Vi pulled back once more, but before she was able to hit the wall, Viktor caught her wrist. He probably couldn’t have stopped her, but fortunately the sudden contact surprised her enough to spin around. 

“What the hell?”

“Stop this.”

“Viktor, let go of me.” She jerked her arm, but when Viktor held tight, she made no further move to release herself. 

“Vi,” he murmured, hooking his cane over his arm to raise another hand. He wrapped them both gently around the girl's bloodied fist. “ Stop this .”

Her breath hitched as her shoulders slumped. It was as if someone had pulled the plug and suddenly all her power had been shut off. She searched his eyes, face twisting with pain. 

“I messed up, Viktor,” she whispered, tears pricking at the edge of her eyes. “I messed up, and it hurts so bad .” 

A tear slid down her cheek, and Viktor swept his thumb across the back of her hand. 

“Well I’m not surprised,” he muttered, dry but gentle. “Considering you’ve punched a hole through the wall.”

That did the trick, and Vi laughed, looking away as she shook her head. Then she groaned. 

"Urgh, I want to scream. I want to… to--" 

"Hit something?" Viktor offered, raising an eyebrow and lifting her pulverized fist. "I believe we are beyond that point." 

She scoffed, grimacing. 

"Yeah. Shit ." 

Slowly, Vi unfurled her fingers, loosening the tension that had so adamantly gripped her. Taking that as a sign she was done, Viktor gently let go of her wrist. 

Bringing her hands up to rake the hair off of her face, Vi spun around as if she were looking for something. Viktor knew this kind of pain well enough to know that she was looking for an escape. Because explanations were in order, and she didn't have the energy -- or perhaps the guts -- to give them. 

But there was Viktor, standing unwaveringly as if he had all the time in the world to wait for her to get her shit together. There was Viktor, face finally unmasked to show his worry in the deep lines between his eyebrows and the grim set of his lips. There was Viktor, who was still even there at all , after what she’d said to him.

Vi spun around once more, shoulders tense, and then gave up. Backing up to the wall, she sat heavily in the rubble her fists had made. After a moment, Viktor joined her, his cane thumping lightly across the floor before resting on the ground next to his half-crossed legs. 

He sat a few inches away from her, close enough that they could feel the heat from each other's bodies. Vi noticed that Viktor's hair was wet. 

"You shouldn't have come," she said it again, only this time, it was spoken with guilt, not anger. 

"Yes, I believe I should have," he insisted. "Who knows what kind of a mess you would have made of this place. And just when you've begun to clean it up." 

Vi laughed weakly, and Viktor passed her a gentle, concerned look that didn’t match his dry teasing. There were so many things he wanted to say -- so many questions he wanted to ask -- but in that moment, nothing felt right. He couldn’t unhinge his jaw, couldn’t find the words for all the things he was feeling. So instead, he turned his head, staring out into the dark room and listening to the soft drum of the rain as it fell across the roof. 

Vi gradually began to catch her breath, head resting back against the wall with a kind of exhaustion that Viktor knew all too well. She, too, stared in front of her, eyes blank and vacant. After several minutes, she gradually began to come back to herself. 

It was as if she was seeing Viktor for the first time. 

The man had grown increasingly cold, sitting in the damp room, wet clothes clinging to his shivering body. Vi gave one look at him and leaned forward, dragging her jacket off her shoulders. She bunched it up, handing it out to him. 

Glancing at her with mild surprise, Viktor took it. 

“We really have to stop doing this,” he commented. Vi laughed as she looked at her lap. 

“ You need to go shopping and buy yourself some jackets, wise guy,” she shot back, smiling faintly. 

“I suppose I do,” he smirked, shrugging the jacket on. Then, as an afterthought, “Though I think I much prefer borrowing yours.”

Vi’s brow drew together and she frowned. Scratching at her forehead, she tried to push back the tears that were already making their way onto her skin. 

“I’m so sorry, Vik. Really, I am so… so sorry.” What had started as an apology quickly turned desperate. “You have to believe me. I fuck everything up -- it was only a matter of time before my bullshit got all over you.”

“Vi,” he interrupted, turning towards her. He waited until she met his eyes. “I forgive you.” 

Vi let out a trembling sigh. 

“And anyway,” he added. “If we weren’t friends, where else would I get my endless supply of jackets?” She laughed joylessly, grimacing as she dropped her head into her hands. Viktor watched her, worrying his lip.  

“I… want to be here for you, if I can. I am not exactly sure how to do that, but I want you to at least know…”

She looked up, staring across the room before reluctantly meeting his eyes. 

“It’s funny,” she began, a vague joking to her tone. “I think I’ve been spending too much time with Caitlyn because I could really use a hug right now.”

Viktor’s eyes widened slightly before replying. 

“Well, I doubt that I can offer anything nearly as wonderful as Miss Kiramman, but…” he shrugged, giving her a shy grin. 

“You’re right,” Vi chuckled. “She gives the best hugs.” Her eyes darkened slightly as she clenched her jaw, another tear slipping out of the corner of her eye. 

Viktor tilted his head, feeling nothing but sorrow at his friend’s pain, and leaned sideways. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, tugging her towards him. Vi gave in like she had no fight left, leaning heavily into the embrace. He sighed, and she let her head fall onto his shoulder, cheek brushing the still damp fabric of his collar. 

Both remained quiet for a long time. Their minds were empty as they simply existed in one another’s company. Vi sniffed, raising a hand to wipe at her face. But before she could let it fall to her lap, Viktor placed his upturned palm against hers. With their hands gently touching, hers resting on top of his, he lifted it to examine the damage. 

The skin around her knuckles was already bruised, the yellow and blue visible even beneath all that blood. His mouth deepened with a frown. 

“That’s gonna hurt in the morning,” she muttered, a half-hearted attempt at joking. 

“Yes,” he whispered. “Yes, I suspect it will.” He lowered her hand to the ground before releasing it. 

“Vi,” he continued. “Do you want to talk about what happened? Because this,” he gestured to her hand, “This is… it’s not…”

“I know.”

“Do you?” He asked, with equal parts concern and skepticism. 

“Yeah, Vik,” she sighed. Viktor pursed his lips. 

“I uh… I don’t really want to talk about it,” Vi murmured against his shoulder. “But… I don’t know… maybe I need to.”

Viktor tilted his head, taking a deep breath through his nose. After a few moments, Vi shifted beside him, sitting up straighter. 

“She was a good kid. Really, she was. I mean, she had her fair share of shit, but that’s what happens when your life’s been shitty.” Vi scoffed, and her smile was bitter. Viktor had already guessed that Vi was talking about her sister -- a topic that she had been rather withholding about. 

“But,” she continued, voice breaking slightly. “We were happy. We didn’t have a lot, but we had each other. That was all we needed. Until--”

Vi stopped short, shaking her head as she stubbornly cleared her throat. She remained silent for a time, looking around the room as her mind wandered. Vikor waited. 

When she spoke again, it was with a smile. 

“We had this thing, back when Powder was little. She could be such a snot in the morning, it took forever to get her up. But she always insisted on coming along with us. She always hated being left behind” Vi shook her head, still grinning. 

“So I would hurl pillows at her head until she finally got up. Sometimes it took four or five tries until she was laughing so hard she knew she’d never be able to fall back asleep. That girl could take a hit…”

The smile fell from her face like pieces of crumbling wall. She choked back a sob, trying to disguise it as a sigh, but Viktor knew. He reached out, laying a hand on her arm before pulling it into his lap. Vi bit her tongue, set her face…

And then she told him everything. 

She told him about the day her parents died. About Vander taking them in -- helping them rebuild their lives when Vi had been sure there was nothing left for them. About Milo and Claggor, Ekko and Benzo. 

She told him about the day Vander died. About what she did to Powder, what she said -- those three words that would never leave either of them.

“You’re a jinx.”

The rest of the story, Viktor already knew. About how she got knocked out in an alleyway and woke up in Stillwater Prison, where she remained for years until Caitlyn broke her out. But then Vi told Viktor something he hadn’t known. About how Powder was back, only now she was different. Now she was working with Silco. Now she was hurting people.

When Vi finally finished, she felt like hitting something again. The feelings of grief were so strong she was sure they would choke her. 

But Viktor, who hadn’t spoken a word the entire time she’d unburdened herself in a way she’d never done before -- not even with Caitlyn -- gently grabbed her wrist. Intertwining his fingers carefully with her own, he held her firmly.

“I’m sorry, Vi,” he whispered, wishing he could do more, but knowing that nothing would be enough. 

Vi sniffed, swiping the wetness off her face, and bit the inside of her cheek. 

“It’s my fault that Jinx exists. It’s my fault that she… she…”

“Vi, you were in prison. There was nothing you could do about the person Jinx has become, and it is quite egotistical to think that you can take the credit for who she is now.”

“No -- you don’t get it Viktor, I hurt her.”

“Perhaps you did,” he continued, relentless. “But you did not make her who she is. Maybe you influenced her, yes, but Jinx is her own person. Do not take credit for the actions of others. It’s not fair -- for you or Jinx.”

Vi sucked in a breath, looking like she was going to argue -- looking like she didn’t believe him -- but instead, she dropped her head back against the wall and sighed. 

“I just… I don’t know where everything went so wrong. I don’t know how I fucked things up so badly.”

It was Viktor’s turn to sigh now, humming as he raised his eyebrows. 

“Perhaps it’s not too late.”

“You didn’t see her, Vik. She was so different from the little girl that I knew. I… I don’t think there's any Powder left .”

“But you said she was happy to see you, at first. That is something, isn’t it?” Viktor asked, unsure. Admittedly, he was out of his depth here.

Vi’s breath caught as she shoved a piece of drywall with the toe of her boot. 

“I don’t know. And even if she is, I-- what if I’m not good for her? What if I make everything worse again?”

“Well,” Viktor tilted his head. “That is the one thing that you can control.” 

Vi glanced up at him and he shrugged kindly. Leaning back against the wall, she seemed to think for a while. Viktor waited, lulled into a strange sense of peace. Vi was here, and she was going to be okay, even if it didn’t seem like it right now. She had talked to him -- that was enough. At the very least, it was a start. 

"I know what it's like to grow up in the undercity,” he hesitantly began. “In many ways, we are a product of a world that has failed us. There is only so much that is within our control, Vi, and even then," he took a breath, raising his eyebrows. 

"All we can do is keep beginning again. Even after we've strayed so far that we can no longer find who we used to be." 

He felt Vi take a deep breath, her fingers absentmindedly fidgeting with his own. Viktor really did understand where she was coming from -- probably better than anyone else topside. And though he might not be able to feel the full extent of Vi’s pain, he could feel enough of it. Enough to wish that no one had to suffer as they had. No matter where someone was born, no matter where they grew up, no one should have to suffer. 

“Have I ever told you,” Vi pulled him out of his thoughts, rolling her head so she could look over at him with a distant smile. “Have I ever told you that my name is actually Violet?”

Viktor grinned, closing his eyes for a brief moment before glancing down at her with fondness. 

“No… No, I believe you failed to mention…” 

She laughed softly, and Viktor lifted his eyebrows in thought. 

“Violet,” he murmured, trying it out. His grin deepened. 

“Yeah,” she smiled back at him. 

A silence settled over them, then, but in it there was something that felt right. The things in their lives might be tearing them down piece by piece, but they had each other. Neither of them was sure it would be enough, but it was better than nothing. It was better than being alone. The realization of that brought a sort of comfort along with it. Things were far from okay, but they’d get through it somehow. Together. 

Letting his head drop back against the wall, he raised an arm to glance at his watch. It was getting late. He was fairly certain that Caitlyn was probably still worried out of her mind, and he didn’t want to keep her in a state of suspense for any longer than necessary. With a gentle sigh, he grabbed his cane, using it to help himself up. Once standing, he leaned down to offer Vi a hand. She looked up at him like she wasn’t exactly sure what to do. 

“Come on,” Viktor gently instructed. “It’s time to get you home.”

“I,” Vi’s face scrunched up ever so slightly. “I don’t have a home.” She sounded so defeated.

“Tell that to Miss Kiramman.”

Vi sighed, head connecting with the wall as she glanced up at the ceiling. But then she reached up and grabbed his hand. He did his best to pull her up, though she probably did most of the work, and they both stood, leaning on each other for a moment. 

With a hidden smirk, Viktor stepped back, glancing down at the sleeve of Vi’s jacket before opening his arms. 

“Eh, I think pink is my color,” he murmured before looking up at her with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. Vi snorted, grinning stupidly at him. 

“Yeah, well. I’d like this one back, wise guy.”

Viktor smirked openly at her and shrugged the jacket off, handing it over. 

“I suppose I should stop stealing your clothes.” 

Vi laughed at that for a moment before suddenly growing serious. Her face fell sullen, and she bit her lip before finally looking at him. 

“Don’t ever stop, okay?”

 Viktor stared back at her before saying, “I do not plan on it. You’re stuck with me now, Miss Violet.”

“ Oof ,” Vi winced. “‘Miss’ and my full name. Don’t make me regret telling you that.”

“Eh, I believe that you already do,” Viktor replied with a teasing shrug. 

“Mm, you’re probably right. Just don’t go shouting it from the rooftops, alright?”

“My lips are sealed,” Viktor said, putting a hand on his heart. Vi rolled her eyes and gave him a little punch on the shoulder. She hissed in pain, suddenly remembering her wounds, and then hastily wiped at his shirt. 

“Shit sorry. Hope I didn’t get blood on you.”

Viktor simply shrugged. 

“Wouldn’t be the first time. Probably won’t be the last.” Then, “Are you alright?” He had really been asking about her hands, but a part of him was searching for a little something more. 

“No,” Vi answered. “Not really. But hey,” her voice rose an octave with mock determination. “Here’s to another beginning, right?”

Viktor snorted softly. 

“With that attitude, perhaps it is possible after all.”

“Hey, I’m not that bad,” Vi insisted as they headed for the hall. 

“Oh really? Need I direct your attention to the hole in the wall?”

“Alright, fine, you may have a point. But at least it wasn’t someone’s face this time.”

“ This time? ” Viktor sputtered, wondering exactly how alarmed he should be. 

“I mean you can’t be that surprised, wise guy,” She smirked at him, and he rolled his eyes. 

“Well… at least I haven’t had to bail you out of prison.”

“Awe, would you really do that for me? That’s so sweet.”

Viktor gave her a childish shove. 

“Don’t go getting any ideas. Jayce would never let us hear the end of it.”

“Yeesh,” Vi shuddered. “Can you imagine having Jayce and Caitlyn on our asses?”

“That is not a lecture I’d like to attend,” Viktor muttered, agreeing with Vi’s distaste. 

“Guess I better be on my best behavior, then.”

“Mmm,” Viktor hummed. “Or at least don’t get caught. Though, I was serious, what I said about bailing you out.”

It was good that they’d reached the dark part of the hallway, otherwise Viktor might have seen the raw, unguarded gratefulness on Vi’s face. When she spoke, however, he could hear it just as well. 

“Thanks, Viktor.” Then, in a voice that was only half teasing. “What did I do to deserve you?”

“It must have been truly remarkable, whatever it was,” Viktor shot back, eliciting a laugh from his friend, before reaching over and placing a hand on her shoulder. The gesture was enough to convey all the things he’d never find the words for -- all the things that didn’t need to be said between him and Vi because they were felt . They were understood despite all the odds stacked up against them.

Breaking out into the open air, Viktor and Vi paused, taken aback by the sight they were met with. The rainclouds had cleared, trading themselves for an open expanse of the night sky. Stars were scattered across it in the millions, weaving intricate constellations with silvery thread. Vi stopped, tipping her head back to look up at them. 

“I’ll never get used to seeing all that sky,” she whispered, eyes trailing along the wide dome among their head. 

Viktor glanced over at her, then turned to look up. In silence, standing like two pillars surrounded by an ocean of darkness and light, they stared up at the stars. 

“What do you think they see, when they look down on us?” Vi asked, her voice hushed. Viktor widened his eyes thoughtfully, almost reverently. 

“A reflection of themselves,” he replied after a moment. 

Caitlyn came rushing out of the house before they had a chance to reach the door. The moment she reached them, she collided right into Vi, wrapping her in a tight hug. Vi let out a little oof and lifted her hands to make room for the girl before laying them firmly on her back. 

“Easy there, cupcake,” Vi murmured, pulling Caitlyn closer as her hands shifted up to the taller girl’s neck. 

But then Caitlyn was pulling back, trapping Vi at an arm’s length and scowling at her. 

“What the hell is wrong with you?” She demanded.

“I know, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have stormed off. Really, Cait -- I’m sorry.”

Caitlyn scrutinized Vi for a moment, and then seemed to decide that she wasn’t going to be angry anymore. At least, not right now -- though Viktor suspected Vi would be getting an earful later, if Caitlyn and Jayce were anything alike.

But for now, Caitlyn pulled Vi back into an embrace, swaying gently as she nearly squeezed the life out of her. 

“Can’t breathe, cupcake,” Vi muttered, patting the other girl’s back. 

“Oh, sorry,” Caitlyn finally separated herself, trailing her hands down Vi’s arms. “I was so worried about you…”

She stopped as she saw Vi’s busted hands. 

“Really Vi?” Caitlyn sighed, closing her eyes before bumping her forehead against the shorter girl’s. 

“I know, trust me -- I’ve already gotten a lecture from Viktor.”

It was only then that Caitlyn seemed to realize he was there. Glancing up, she passed him a smile. 

“Well then, I’m sure there’s nothing left for me to say. Too bad I’m going to anyway.” 

Vi exhaled a laugh, rolling her eyes.

“But for now,” Caitlyn continued. “Let’s get you inside and cleaned up.”

“Yeah, alright,” Vi muttered, lifting her hands up in surrender. 

She hesitated, however, before walking to the house, and at the last moment, she turned around and grabbed Viktor, pulling him into a proper hug this time. Viktor’s eyes widened helplessly, and suddenly he found himself trying to recall if he and Vi had ever actually hugged before. Sure, they were physically affectionate in other ways, but felt he would have remembered a hug from Vi.

 It was… nice. 

“Thanks for everything, wise guy,” she whispered, squeezing him a little tighter before letting go. “I’ll, uh… see you later? If Caitlyn lets me out of her sight, that is.”

Viktor smirked as the other girl rolled her eyes in annoyance. 

“Of course,” he replied. “Come by the lab sometime, yes?”

“Yeah, I’d like that,” she nodded. 

Then, with one last look at the sky, she turned and disappeared into the house. Caitlyn let out a heavy sigh. 

“She’s going to be the death of me,” the girl muttered, rubbing her forehead. Viktor chuckled softly, and Caitlyn smirked, sweeping a strand of hair back from her face. 

“Thank you for bringing her back, Viktor.” 

“Eh, it was nothing,” he waved a hand, shifting his weight.

He could see it in her face a moment before it happened -- in the way she fidgeted ever so slightly, like a ball of energy itching to be released. Sure enough, Caitlyn stepped forward and pulled him into another hug. 

He’d gotten more hugs in the past hour than he had in the last decade. It was all a little overwhelming, but he couldn’t say that he disliked it. Not in the least. 

“You're wrong,” she whispered. He raised a hand, placing it on her back. 

“What?”

“It was everything. To me and to her. So thank you.”

“Yes… of course,” he timidly replied as Caitlyn let go of him. “If you need anything else, please let me know.”

“Thank you, Viktor,” she said again. He found himself blushing, not used to accepting such gratitude. 

They parted ways with soft spoken ‘goodnights’ and the relief of knowing that their friend was home safe.

Viktor headed back for the lab, finally finding it in himself to work. He didn’t need Heimerdinger’s blessing to continue his efforts of change. At the very least, he didn’t need the yordle’s blessing to keep working on his projects. Viktor realized that he had spent his whole life waiting for permission to help people. Now, he was done asking. 

He thought of Vi and all she had gone through. The loss of her parents, her siblings, her mentor -- and now, possibly her sister. He thought of Powder and the hurt that a life gripped by the injustices of Piltover had caused. And those were just two sisters, one family -- how many more were suffering because no one would let anything be done to stop it?

Viktor thought about himself and his own misfortunes. His failing health -- something that could have been prevented if only those in power would listen to the needs of the citizens of Zaun. 

Yes, Viktor was done asking. He would never ask permission again. Instead, he would do everything in his power to prevent people like Vi from having things to bloody their fists over -- hurts so deep that they could never be mended. He was determined to see a world where Piltover wasn’t the cause of people’s pain. And if that was impossible, he would at least die trying. 

Viktor was reflecting on this, face darkened with determination, as he climbed the Academy stairs. 

“Viktor!” A voice suddenly called, and then Jayce was coming up and throwing an arm over his shoulder. 

“Glad I found you. I wasn’t sure where you went after the meeting. You okay?” Jayce peered down at him with heartfelt concern. 

“Yes, my apologies -- I took a walk.” 

Jayce tilted his head, eyes squinting as he did the math. 

“It was… a long walk,” Viktor awkwardly offered. 

“Everything alright?” 

Viktor thought about that. Generally, the answer to that question was ‘no,’ but… perhaps things were looking up, if he could play his cards right. 

“Yes, Jayce. Everything’s fine,” he answered, a small smile dimpling his cheeks. 

“Good,” Jayce smiled back, squeezing his shoulder. “Hey, Mel and I were going to go out for a drink. Want to come?”

“Eh, no thank you. I’ve got some stuff in the lab…” 

Jayce nodded understandingly. 

“Okay. Hey, try and get some sleep tonight, alright?”

Viktor rolled his eyes, unable to hide his smirk. 

“Yes, thank you -- is there anything else?”

“Mmm, maybe eat some dinner, too,” Jayce leaned into him playfully, and Viktor’s hand shot up to grab the back of his shirt. 

“ Jayce ,” he insisted with a chuckle, and when the man finally let up, smiling fondly at him, he said, “Don’t you have somewhere to be, hm? Give Mel my regards.”

“Yeah yeah, alright,” he muttered, releasing Viktor’s shoulder with a pat. “I’ll see you later, V.”

“Goodnight,” he called after the man, who gave him a little wave before disappearing around the corner. 

Viktor smiled to himself, leaning on his cane as he peered up at the night sky, with its blanket of stars -- a reflection of their lives down here on the ground. With a determined sigh, Viktor turned and let himself into the Academy. 

He had work to do.