Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“I am going out.” 

Viktor has more freedom than anyone else in their operation. He goes where he likes, when he likes, and in almost all cases, Silco is the only one that has the ability to tell him anything. Sevika, also holds that honor on the rare occasion that Viktor is pulled along for an actual job. But in almost every situation, no one can tell Viktor what to do. 

Silco waves a hand from his desk, barely paying attention as Viktor heads for the door. He has his hand on the knob, inches from freedom when Silco speaks.

“Take Jinx with you.”

So close.

There are eyes peering at him over the top of Silco’s desk when Viktor turns around. He is not a babysitter, he is a grown man. “But I am-”

“But?”

There is no way for Viktor to protest without explaining where he’s going. And there is no way in the hells that he is telling Silco about Jayce. Not yet. They have been having these meetings for almost a month, and the last thing Viktor wants to do is scare the other man off if Silco gets it into his head to throw his weight around. He’s done it with Viktor’s partners before, and Jayce is different. Viktor actually wants to keep him. So instead he opens the door, holding it open with his shoulder as he offers out his free hand not currently occupied with his cane. 

“Come along, Miss Jinx.” 

The girl makes a small sound of victory as she hurries out from behind Silco’s desk to take his hand. Viktor has nothing against Jinx. He genuinely enjoys her company on most days. She brings a freshness to his lab that none of the others can offer, even if she doesn’t actually understand what he’s doing most of the time. She has the spark to learn and seems genuinely interested when Viktor tries to teach her something. 

“Viktor.”

Silco’s voice stops him and Viktor turns over his shoulder, Jinx still tugging at his arm. Their eyes meet and Silco holds his gaze for longer than is polite, ruined eye boring into him. Viktor has long since stopped being unsettled by the look, but it doesn’t stop Silco from attempting it anyway. It’s more likely a way to communicate the seriousness of what he says next. 

“Make sure she eats something.” The corner of his mouth barely twitches with the ghost of a smirk and Viktor rolls his eyes as he slams the door on his way out. If laughing out loud was something Silco actually did, Viktor is sure that man would be laughing at him.

Sevika gives them a single raised eyebrow on their way out of the building, but they remain otherwise uncontested. As soon as they are a distance away, Viktor turns as sharply as his bad leg will allow and tugs Jinx around to face him. “Jinx.” He says seriously. He can tell the tone of his voice gets through to her when her face changes, her eyebrows coming down and her little mouth twisting into a frown. “I have something very important to request of you.”

“Is it a job, like you make Sevika do for you sometimes?”

Not at all really. The jobs Sevika does for him are dangerous and tedious and sometimes things he asks her for just because he doesn’t have the time or patience to do it himself. 

“Yes and no.” He will not lie to her. Viktor makes it a point not to lie to anyone outright. “It is an important job, but it is not anything like what Sevika would do for me. This is something only you can do. Can I trust you?”

Jinx’s eyes light up and she is nodding enthusiastically, both of her hands taking hold of his to shake it in time with her nodding. “Is it a secret job? Can I tell Silco?”

“You can absolutely not tell Silco.” The moment Silco finds out there will be inquiries, goons pushing in to follow him where they are not wanted. Jayce is a strong willed man, well built and not easily intimidated, as demonstrated by the man’s inability to actually take any of Viktor’s warnings seriously. “This is going to be just between you and I. Our little secret mission.”

Jinx pouts, stopping with her shaking of his hand as she mulls this over. Viktor knows she doesn’t like keeping things from Silco, but she also wants to be included, treated like one of the adults. 

“I won’t tell if you let me get two desserts with dinner.”

Viktor laughs and shakes her hands, tugging her along as they continue on their way. “You drive a very hard bargain, Miss Jinx. But I think I can agree to your terms.” Now all he has to do is come up with an explanation to give Jayce on why he’s brought a child along on their scheduled dinner. 

“Where are we going, anyway?” Jinx asks. Now that she knows she’ll be getting something out of the whole affair, her attitude seems to have shifted into something much more open and excited.

“We are meeting a friend of mine for dinner.” He replies. It will certainly be an experience for all of them. There’s no telling how Jayce will react to the prospect of a child in the mix, and Viktor truly doesn’t want to reschedule. They had had to push back their last meeting when something had come up with the Academy and Jayce had been the one to renege on their set date. “He is a scientific partner of mine and there are some things we need to discuss.” It’s not entirely untrue. He and Jayce have been discussing the prospects of a few scientific breakthroughs in their respective fields, but it’s not the primary reason he wants to go. Jayce is an inspired scientist, an equal that can keep up with and even outthink Viktor on some topics. It has been an intriguing few meetings, and Viktor does not want to bring a halt to them just because Silco tends to want to have control of everything in the Lanes. 

“Is it gonna be all boring stuff? Or maybe some bombs and explodey bits too?” It’s no surprise that’s where Jinx’s mind goes. She tends to like the experiments that blow up. 

“Eh, he is a forgemaster.” Viktor says. “So there might be a chance that we will discuss some topics that might catch your interest as well.” There’s no telling with Jayce sometimes. Their topics can bounce from one to the next with absolutely no rhyme or reason. There have been times when even Viktor cannot completely follow a train of thought that Jayce has latched onto until the other man explains. His mind is truly unique, and at times terrifying. 

“Does he have his own forge? I didn’t know you knew anyone down here with their own workshop like that!” The excitement in her voice is contagious, but this is where the problem lies. It’s another secret he’s going to have to ask her to keep.

“My friend is from Piltover, across the bridge. His family has their own forge, yes, but this is why this is a secret meeting.” He explains. Silco would never let him out of sight again if he knew Viktor had been meeting with someone from Topside, even if it’s not someone from one of the more known houses. The name Talis is a name, and that alone is a black mark on their relationship. “I would like to keep seeing him.”

Jinx is quiet for a moment and Viktor is not expecting her next words. “Do you like him?”

“I am playing with fire just by seeing him, of course I like him.” He knows that’s not what she means, but he doesn’t want to examine it further. Especially not in the presence of a ten year old. 

“No.” Jinx tugs on his hand until Viktor gives in and looks down at her. “Do you like him, like him?”

It’s childish and silly, but he blushes anyway. “You are pushing your luck.”

Jinx laughs like a demon and gods help him but Viktor loves her just a little bit.

Chapter Text

“Viktor!”

Jayce’s voice is not overly loud in the bar they’ve chosen for their clandestine meetings. They shuffle between locations, mostly due to Viktor’s paranoia and Jayce’s propensity to indulge him. Viktor has yet to find the thing that will make Jayce tell him ‘No’, but until that time comes, he’ll continue to push the envelope as much as he can. So far, every crackpot idea and theory that Viktor has brought up is either met with a sharp toothed smile of acquiescence or a well thought out argument against it. But never a direct denial. 

For this visit, it looks like Jayce has chosen a table away from the bar, not backed into a corner like they’re trying to hide something, but far enough from the bar and general foot traffic that they won’t be disturbed. It’s even well lit. 

As soon as Viktor moves in the other man’s direction, that is when Jinx seems to realize what is going to happen. She keeps hold of his hand while sliding behind him, using Viktor’s body as a shield against what she perceives as a stranger’s eyes on her. New locations and new people have never been her forte, especially after Silco and Vander’s monumentally messy split. If he thought that Jayce would actually be a problem for her, Viktor would have never brought her along, no matter how much he’d wanted to see the other man. He has no idea how Jayce feels about young children, but he can’t imagine the man ever being cruel to anyone out of malice. 

“It’s going to be fine.” Viktor says softly, leading the way to the table and taking a moment to look down at her so he doesn’t have to see Jayce’s initial reaction the moment he realizes Viktor is not alone. “I think he’s going to like you.” He knows no such thing, but it makes Jinx smile, just a bit. 

“You think?” She sounds so earnest that it makes him want to ruffle her hair. “He won’t think I’m dumb, or getting in the way?”

Instead of ruffling her hair, which would have embarrassed both of them, Viktor stops walking just long enough to tap the handle of his cane on the top of her head. “You are neither of those things, and Jayce is smart enough to be able to figure that out with ease.”

“Compliments already? And it isn’t even my birthday.” 

Jayce sounds amused and it settles some of the tension Viktor had been carrying in his shoulders. He’d known that Jayce would not be outwardly upset about the addition to their meeting, but when he looks up, there are only questions in the man’s eyes, not annoyance or anger. “If you said things deserving of compliments, I would hand them out more often.”

“Ouch.” Jayce puts a hand over his heart, leaning back in his chair as if an actual blow had been struck. “Sometimes I don’t know why I hang out with this guy. Is this how he treats all his friends?” The last is directed at Jinx and Viktor is both touched and appalled that he is already trying to endear himself to her. 

Jinx hops up onto a chair, tucking her legs under her so she can kneel on the seat. “Viktor doesn’t have friends.” She says with a confidence she definitely hadn’t had two minutes ago. Jayce seems to have that effect on people. This is going to be a disaster. “He has underlings. My name’s Jinx.” And she sticks her hand across the table, palm up. 

The way Jayce’s eyes light up and his mouth twists as he laughs out loud does something to Viktor’s chest and he quickly sits down before his legs can collapse under him. He is regretting every choice he’s made in recent memory that has brought him to this point. There is no way they’re all getting out of this without one, or all of them, getting into trouble.

“Then I guess I’ll be his first. I’m Jayce. It’s nice to meet you, Miss Jinx.” And gods above and below he actually winks as he shakes Jinx’s hand. “Maybe you can help me get Viktor to loosen up just a little tonight. I think he’s due for a break.”

“We had a few plans to discuss, if I remember our last meeting correctly.” Viktor interrupts before the two of them can gang up on him any further. “Jinx’s presence will not be a hindrance to forwarding our progress.”

Jinx sits back in her seat and Jayce raises his hands in surrender. “Far be it from me to stop the flow of progress. I took the liberty of ordering us something to snack on while we talk. You were a little late today, and I know you probably forgot to eat at least one meal today.”

While it is sweet that Jayce wants to take care of him, it is slightly condescending to be treated like a child that cannot feed themselves. Even if, in this case, Jayce is correct. 

“He skipped lunch.” Jinx says helpfully. She’s pulled what looks like a gear and and a few electrical wires out of the pouch she always has on her hip. “Got distracted by something he was working on and forgot to eat even though I put it on his desk.”

“Does he do that often?” Jayce is talking to Jinx, but he’s looking at Viktor. The smug smile on his perfect face making him look even more attractive in the low light than usual. 

“Smugness is not attractive, Mr. Talis.” Viktor says, like a liar. He smacks his cane into Jayce's shins and the man doesn’t even have the decency to pretend like it actually hurt. 

Thankfully, Viktor is saved from more bullying by the arrival of their food. A few appetizers, one of which is Viktor’s favorite, and a selection of things that will still be appetizing if they go cold. If it had been just the two of them, they tend to get lost in the math and the theories and forget that they have food at all until it’s too late. They’ve learned to plan accordingly.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were coming along, Miss Jinx. I’m not sure what you like, but I can order something else.” The earnestness in Jayce’s voice warms Viktor to his core, spreading pleasantly along his limbs. The other man has always been eager to please, and it seems like that extends to children as well. Or at least children that are associated with Viktor. “I would have planned a little better if your dad had told me he was bringing company.”

Viktor abruptly chokes on the small bite he’d taken. 

Jinx is giggling into the plate of fried food she’s pulled in front herself, being absolutely no help at all. In fact, she seems to be enjoying herself. 

“You think- she’s not… I do not have time for children, much less a relationship that could produce one.” He barely has time to see Jayce in his free time, let alone try and maintain an actual romantic entanglement. 

“Oh! I’m sorry. I just assumed.” If Jayce could phase through objects, Viktor is sure he would have fallen through the floor by now. The man is blushing madly, something Viktor would tease him for relentlessly in any other circumstance. “I’m not judging or anything. Anyone should be lucky to have a kid with you… I mean-! I think I’m going to need a drink. You want anything?” Jayce stands up abruptly and makes a mad dash for the bar without waiting to see if Viktor would even reply. 

Jinx laughs and stuffs a handful of food in her mouth. “He’s funny. I like him.” She says sincerely. It would be touching if Viktor wasn’t currently trying to hide his own blush with a hand over his face. “And he like likes you. I can tell. He said he wants to have a kid with you.”

Viktor is mortified. “I will tell Silco that Vi has been teaching you how to fight behind both his and Vander’s backs if you mention children at all again tonight.” He won’t, but the little affronted sound Jinx makes lets him know that she knows this is serious. “While we are at it, do not mention feelings or relationships of any kind tonight. I am here to discuss a project with Jayce and then we will leave and you will never see him again. I should have known you would get along and ruin my life.”

“Can I maybe come again if I promise not to mention those things?”

Viktor will not look at her. She is going to have those big, soulful eyes trained on him and he will lose any frustration he’d been trying to hold onto. She knows what she’s doing. He will not look at her.

“Viktor, he called me Miss Jinx, like you do.” She stretches her arms out on the table and puts her head down to try and catch his eye. “He shook my hand like I was one of the grownups. None of the others treat me like that.”

It has been hard on her around Silco’s crew. Silco himself is as caring as he can be, but there is baggage there that Viktor very much does not want to unpack. Sevika doesn’t dislike Jinx, but there is no common ground there. Not like Jinx has with Viktor. There are no other children her age she can interact with, and she only sees Vi and the others a few times a week. Even including their not-so-secret training sessions. If she’s already latched onto Jayce, Viktor will not be the one to take that from her. Not when she’s already lost so much.

It’s then that Jayce returns from the bar, two mugs in one hand and a glass with a straw in the other. “I wasn’t sure what to get you, Miss Jinx, but they had a kid’s version of a cocktail that I figured was a safe bet.” He smiles as he sets the drink down, face still dusted pink across his nose. “I got you your usual, Vik.”

Viktor can feel Jinx radiating victory as she sips loudly at her drink. “Thank you, Jayce.”

The rest of their evening is relatively calm in comparison. They talk about the project they had been working on before, the factory filtration system that Jayce had initially been working on when he’d made his first trip across the bridge. They toss ideas back and forth, finishing each other’s sentences. Jayce fiddles with a stack of bar napkins that he’d stolen from somewhere as he jots down their ideas, brainstorming out loud and taking Jinx’s nonsense into account like it was just as viable as the things Viktor was suggesting.

“What if it was powered by lightning?”

“Oh, using the weather as a way to siphon more power on off days is actually genius.”

“You could put like a whole wall of fans in every building to keep it from getting too hot.”

“Window units would make airflow easier. Good idea!”

Viktor was half in love with the man’s brain already, this is just icing on the cake.

It is hours later, Viktor and Jayce have had their drinks refilled more than once and the food is long gone, when Jinx starts to nod off. She has been sliding lower and lower in her seat as the night went on, interjecting less and less. Jayce tucks the crayon he’d been using to make notes behind his ear and nods at her. “Do you need to get her home?”

It’s definitely past time for them to be heading back, but as is usual with his meetings with Jayce, Viktor does not want his night to end just yet. He has so little free time, and even though there is a mountain of work waiting for him, he is loath to return to it. Tonight has been an eye opening experience. Apparently Jayce is amazing with children, easily pulling Jinx into their conversations and seeming to enjoy himself almost as much as she had. Her contributions had even spurred them down avenues they may not have thought of exploring on their own. 

“It’s probably best if we left before she truly falls asleep. I would not be able to carry her.”

“M’not asleep.” Jinx says, face pressed into her arms where they’re crossed on the table. “You said I could have two desserts.”

“How about next time?” Jayce says.

Viktor’s eyes dart to Jayce’s face, but all he finds is sincerity. He’s not just saying that to make Jinx happy. 

“I mean, as long as Viktor’s ok with it, I don’t mind you tagging along again.”

Jinx turns her head just enough to peak one blue eye up at him. He’d lost this argument before it even began. “Fine. Next time you can have two desserts. But Jayce will be paying.”

Jayce smiles, small and fond and that spread of pink across his nose is back. “Deal.”

They are all in so much trouble.

Chapter Text

It’s not even a full week later that sees Viktor accompanying Jinx to the Last Drop. It’s a scheduled visit, but Viktor usually tries to avoid being the chaperone in these situations. Whoever ends up ferrying Jinx usually ends up on the receiving end of both Vander and Silco trying to send passive aggressive barbs back and forth and neither of them seem to have heard the old adage of “don’t shoot the messenger”. Viktor may know more than most what happened between them, but that doesn’t mean he wants to be in the middle of it. But here he is anyway, sitting at the bar, watching the kids crowd together at one of the tables while Vander mixes drinks and pretends not to be keeping an eye on them.

“You know you don’t have to stick around all day, right?” 

“You and I both know that I do.” Viktor can appreciate what Vander is trying to do. Being back in the Drop makes him itch under his skin in a way that is entirely unpleasant, but they both know that if he goes back early, and without Jinx, there will be hell to pay. 

“I know you don’t like being here.” Vander says, soft and slow like it the words hurt him to say out loud. “I know that I- that I’m part of the reason for that.” He holds up a hand to forestall any argument Viktor had been planning on making. “Let me finish. It’s deserved, and I know it. The way everything happened after… after the bridge, it wasn’t right. Nothing was right. There was the girls and that was the only thing I could focus on other than being angry, but that should’ve been between Sil and me. I hurt him and I hurt you, and there’s no way to make up for that, not really.” He runs a hand back through his hair, longer than he’d ever kept it before. It’s an odd thing to focus on, but Viktor had been the one to cut it for him, once upon a time, doing his first so the girls would sit still long enough for him to cut theirs too.

“I know you hate being the go between, and it should be me doing it, but I don’t think he’d let me get close enough to give it to him myself.” Vander pulls an envelope from his back pocket and slides it across the bar. Silco’s name is written across the front in Vander’s cramped handwriting. “If you could just make sure he gets it?”

Viktor reaches out, tapping one finger against the envelope and actually thinks about it. After the bridge, everything had been blood and shouting and tears, with days of not knowing what was going to happen next. He remembers Vander, shaking with rage and adrenaline, carrying the girls across the threshold into the bar. He remembers asking where Silco was and getting nothing but spat out curses. He remembers tripping to his feet, going for the door and “ If you go after him don’t come back.” But he also remembers the tear tracks on Vander’s face as he left, and remembers the way Silco had called out for him in his sleep, even in the days after. Love is messy.

“You know I’m going to read it.” He says, pointedly. 

Vander smiles, barking a laugh as he pours something in a chipped glass that Viktor recognizes as the only one he would drink from as a child. “I’d be insulted if you didn’t, honestly.” He slides the glass across the bar as well. “There’s nothing in there I wouldn’t say out loud if he was here. I’m done keeping things from him. From both of you. You’re ours just as much as the rest of the ankle biters.”

Viktor’s eyes burn with the sudden urge to cry. He’d known that they cared for him, even without it being said directly. But hearing it now, out loud after all these years, and so cavalierly, hits hard in the fleshy space under his ribs. Their little unit had always been a bit outside the norm, especially with Felicia and Connol around at the beginning. There had been a time when Viktor, young and recently taken in, had thought he was being replaced with children that were whole and healthy, that were clearly better than him. That had been the first time Vander had called him theirs, and no one had let him forget it after that. 

Vi and Jinx, Powder then, had been his strongest supporters. They were always dragging him into things, making sure he was included even if he was older and quieter. He’d been angry at first, sure that Vander or Silco were making them do it so he would feel better. Despite Silco’s vehemence against the idea, and a promise to never lie to him, it took Vi overhearing and calling him dumb for it to actually sink in. 

Suddenly there is a weight on his head, drawing him out of old memories as Vander pats him on the head, like he used to when Viktor was much smaller. Viktor ducks his head under the touch and takes a moment to pull himself together. “I’ll make sure he gets it.” He says wetly, scrubbing at his eyes as Vander pulls back with a warm smile. 

“Hey! What did you do to Viktor?”

There are suddenly little arms wrapped around Viktor’s arm, almost tugging him off balance as Jinx attaches herself to him. 

 “I don’t care that you’re bigger, I’ll beat you up if you make him cry!”

Viktor puts a hand on Jinx’s head, not unlike the way Vander had just comforted him. The gesture is recognized as he looks up at Vander and sees the big man go a bit misty eyed. “I am not upset, Miss Jinx.” And he’s telling Vander as much as he’s telling her. “They are happy tears, just a little overwhelmed. I am fine.”

“You sure?” Her eyes are so big and blue and concerned and it makes him want to cry all over again with how much he loves her.

“I’m sure. Now, what have the rest of you been-”

“Vi’s got a girlfriend.” Jinx says, trying and failing to be quiet about the information she’s passing along. 

Vander coughs into his drink, most of it ending up down the front of his shirt. “Vi has a what?”

“I do not!” Vi’s voice cracks as she leaps out of her seat to charge over to the bar. 

Jinx squeaks in terror and thankfully runs around the bar instead of using Viktor as a shield. Vi’s face is scarlet as she skids past, trying to catch Jinx by the back of her shirt collar and failing

Viktor is once again immensely glad that Vander chooses to close the bar while they have these visits. It keeps anyone from asking unwanted questions and means they will not all embarrass themselves in front of the rest of the Lanes.

As soon as Vi gets behind the bar, Jinx somehow goes over it, making a mad dash back to their table where she immediately squeezes herself into the small space between Claggor and the wall, hunkering down as if they all can’t see her. 

Vi makes a disgruntled sound of frustration but knows when she’s beat. Claggor is an immovable wall at the best of times, and doubly so when it comes to protecting Jinx, even if it’s just in war between siblings. 

It’s not always like this. Sometimes they are more subdued. Sometimes they all just want to exist in each other’s space and not speak. Sometimes there are words that actually hurt, and sometimes the day ends earlier than it’s supposed to. Today is not going to be one of those days. Viktor reaches for his drink, chuckling under his breath as he leans an elbow on the bar and takes a drink. “Never a dull moment.”

“What’s this about a girlfriend?” Vander asks. There’s something steely in his voice, but it’s nowhere close to actual anger. They all know what Vander sounds like when he’s actually upset and this is not it. This is the protective papa bear energy Felicia used to tease him about.

Vi slinks out from behind the bar, still blushing, and throws herself dramatically onto the stool beside Viktor. “She’s not my girlfriend.” She huffs. “I’ve only met her once, and it wasn’t like anything happened. She probably won’t even come back.”

“Ekko said her brother’s been in there before. So they might come back.” Claggor says helpfully. He snaps his mouth shut when Vi picks her head up off the bar to glare over at him. “Or maybe they’ll never come back.”

“This was at Benzo’s?” Vander asks.

Viktor knows with certainty that the other man is about to be hounded for information as soon as Vander sees him again. 

Vi nods morosely, crossing her arms on the bar and dropping her forehead onto them with a groan. “They were there looking for parts or junk, something about fans and gears or who cares. She was just clean and pretty and laughed when I asked about their business. And it wasn’t even the bad kinda laugh, like she wasn’t laughing at me y’know? Her brother talked to Ekko and Benzo for a minute so she let me ramble at her and she actually paid attention to what I was saying. Asked questions and followed along even though I’m pretty sure she had no idea what I was talking about. Hell, I didn’t even know what I was talking about.”

With every word that Vi says, Viktor can feel dread creeping up his spine. This is starting to sound familiar in the worst way, but he can’t demand answers without making himself look guilty. Thankfully, he’s saved from making a decision when Vander interjects for him. 

“And, does this clean, pretty young lady have a name?”

Don’t say it. 

“Caitlyn.”

Shit. They may not talk about their families much, or at all in Viktor’s case, but that is a name that has definitely come up once or twice during his meetings with Jayce. The man has a soft spot for the girl he sees as his younger sister and has gone on more than one tangent about her when they’ve been between breakthroughs. Having Jinx meet Jayce had been bad enough. Viktor cannot have his worlds colliding like this. There is no way they would all come out of this intact, not with so many variables. 

“Maybe you tell Benzo to keep an eye out.” Vander says casually. He’s definitely planning something and it’s not going to be good for Viktor’s health. “Maybe tell him to send them this way, next time he sees them.”

Vi’s head comes up lightning quick and Viktor’s own neck aches in sympathy. “Really?”

Vander shrugs like it isn’t a big deal. “You know I like to know everyone. And if she’s got your attention, I’d rather you be here than anywhere else, trying to sneak around because you think I wouldn’t approve.”

This is going to blow up in all their faces. Viktor wants Vi to be happy and would give parts of himself away to make sure that she was, but this is going to hurt someone eventually. Especially because Vi hasn’t brought up the fact that her new point of interest is from across the bridge. Vander is not the type of man to hold the sins of the father against the child, but it’s going to bring up things that no one wants to think about. And that’s without bringing Jayce into the picture. There will be answers that Viktor has to have at some point if this meeting ever actually takes place, and he’s not ready for that. He’s not ready at all. 

Jayce has been his escape from everything. The pressures of his research, the weight of his illness and the unsteady truce between Piltover and Zaun, it had all been insignificant when he and Jayce were together. It was simpler. That is all going to go away the moment Jayce is introduced properly to Viktor’s world. 

Then he looks at Vi, the happy, fond little smile on her face as she thanks Vander and he can’t take that away from her. Whatever happens, will happen. 

“Man, everyone is getting a date but me.” Mylo is at least good for breaking tension, if nothing else. 

“It’s just Vi.” Claggor says, kicking at Mylo under the table. “And they’re not going on a date yet. Vander’s gotta make sure she’s legit.”

Vander splutters. “That is not why I-”

“You gotta make sure I can be there too!” Jinx yells, coming out from her hiding spot. “No one can date my sister without my permission.”

Viktor sips his drink and contemplates leaving them all to become a mad scientist shut-in.