Work Text:
Benzo’s Pawn Shop was a familiar place for Viktor. But today, it was different as he walked through the doors and into the room, he had more money than usual, and intended to buy more than scraps.
He browsed through the tables of stuff, occasionally picking up a spare part he might be able to fashion into something useful for the Firelights. He liked the place, it was busy with items laid out on tables and shelves, although the latter’s items tended to have a layer of dust on them. Throughout his time visiting the shop, he learnt the items on the shelves were terribly expensive and rarely bought once put there. But it wouldn’t hurt to look from time to time.
As he inspected some odd metal hand-held fan, mainly wondering if he could dismantle it for parts, a box of the other side of the shelf moved off it, right in front of Viktor's face. On the other side of the shelf, he could see a man, maybe just younger than he was with tan skin and dark hair rummaging through it, to pull out a weird, slightly iridescent crystal. He smiled when he found it, and held it up to his eye level as if to inspect if it was really real. The crystals faint light reflected in his eyes. Viktor moved along the shelf.
When he concluded his shopping and approached the counter, a small boy with light hair counted his items, then looked up at Viktor, then back to the items. He walked out onto the stone street content, the boy had given him a pretty good deal. A small bell rang behind him, followed by some heavy footsteps.
“That boy charged me double what he charged you, I swear,”
Viktor glanced over his shoulder, and saw the man from before, the one with the hazel eyes. He was holding a large cardboard box filled over the brim with stuff.
“I wonder why.” Viktor answered shortly, slightly amused. The other man's eyebrows raised and he took a few more steps toward him.
“What do you mean?”
Viktor considered his words for a moment before responding. “You know how tourists get scammed? Like that” He glanced over the man, he was wearing a fine suit, his hair was neat and combed, then added. “–Since you don’t exactly look like the average person around these parts.”
Words seemed to escape the other man, who busied himself by fixing his hold on the box.
“I uh, guess you’re right on that part.” He said eventually.
“What are you even going to do with all that stuff anyway?” Viktor asked as he eyed the box, he could see good parts in it.
“I’m running an.. Independent study.”
“That barely answers my question, you know.”
Viktor smiled faintly as he spoke, he was genuinely curious. Topsiders rarely came down into Zaun, unless they were an enforcer. And Viktor was sure that they could get their equipment for unnamed studies elsewhere, and at a better quality.
“It’s probably going to lead nowhere-”
“So what if it’s far-fetched? You don’t have a reason to hesitate, you don’t even know me.”
Seemingly resigned, the man sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose with one hand, the act proved very stupid.
“I’m trying to do an experiment regarding-” The box wobbled and started to tip, the man quickly moved to stop most of its contents from falling. Metal clanked against the stone road, but one few caught Viktor's eye as it rolled up to his boot. That blue crystal he had seen through the shelving before.
He leaned down carefully and picked it up in his hand. He inspected the crystal between his fingers closely. In the dim light of the alleyway, he swore it had a faint glow around it. I wasn’t like anything he had seen before. “What.. is this?”
Viktor let his focus slip past the odd crystal and fall onto the man. He finished gathering up the dropped items and straightened up. He was returning the stuff into his box when Viktor spoke, and glanced up through his lashes. “A gemstone.”
“Well, come on, that's obvious.”
Viktor rolled his eyes but found himself smiling at the others' bluntness. The man finished reorganising his box and stood properly. He was taller than Viktor.
“It’s something I have only seen in Shurima before, it’s unheard of for them to be found in Piltover.. Or around here. They are extremely rare and powerful. They channel this energy-”
“Magic?” Viktor said quietly. The other man's eyes lit up.
“Exactly! I believe that it could be possible to harness this energy, build the bridge between magic and science,”
He spoke so passionately about this project of his, Viktor nearly felt it endearing, but he was too busy by his enthralment of the other man's words. Could it work? It truly was far-fetched. What basis had he even drawn the conclusion this was even possible?
“-And then after that, the sky’s the limit with possibility. Inexpensive, strong energy sources are so sought after, you know.”
“The concept in itself is fascinating, if it worked.. It would be revolutionary.” Viktor said after he stopped speaking, he observed the orb in his hand, it was mystifying. He suddenly remembered himself, gods, this guy was probably only still hanging about because he hadn’t given him back the crystal. “Sorry.” He muttered as he held out the crystal in his palm between them.
The man's eyes glanced down at Viktor’s hand, then up again as he took the crystal in his own. “What for?”
The confused tone in his question made the feeling catch to Viktor. He dropped his hand back to his side. “I was holding you up, Wasting time.”
The mans brow furrowed. “What? No, I was the one talking for ages about my stupid experiments,”
“That doesn’t make me feel less apologetic.”
“Now that’s actually stupid.”
Viktor scoffed lightly, it had a small hint of a laugh too. The other man smiled, probably from winning the argument, or something. “You’re uh, right though. I probably should be going.”
“It was nice talking to you, I hope your hypothesis proves true.” Viktor smiled faintly.
“Thank you, I can say the same about talking to you. It was great meeting you ..” He paused at the end of the sentence, sort of like he was asking a question, which baffled Viktor. He just nodded in goodbye as the other readjusted his box then started walking away.
Viktor did the same, he walked down the streets with his over-shoulder bag full of new stuff. When he turned off from the main street, he suddenly realised he had probably been asking for his name when he said it was nice to meet him, judging by the rising lilt. Embarrassing