Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Miro had very few memories from before the age of five.

He remembered a soft accent though, and the tapping of a cane on the ground.

There was one main memory that stood out above all else.

“Open your eyes little one.”

Miro remembered opening his eyes to see the Hex-tech right in front of him, a thin hand stopping him from reaching out and touching it. “You and Papa made this?”

“Mmm-hmm.”

“How?”

There was a soft chuckle, “We had to… crank it.”

“Huh?”

“I will explain you are older.”

But Miro never got to hear that story. That soft voice disappeared after his fifth birthday, and he never heard it again.

**Ten Years Later**

There was going to be another celebration… ball… ceremony, thingy today, and Miro was already exhausted.

Not that he was expected to show up but trying to avoid everyone who WANTED him to come, was tiring. Honestly, he wasn’t even sure there was another invention for his Papa to make with Hex-Tech, that he hadn’t done before.

Limping down the corridors, he ignored the curious stares from the newest students of the Academy, knowing that the look on his face would dissuade anyone from asking him any annoying and invasive questions.

Will this new invention help with weather control?!

Will it help the struggling health care system?

What about the performing arts?!

Where is your other father?

Have you been in contact with him?

As he moved past a large screen, his father’s face appeared there, that fake smile on his face, “We at Hextech, always swear to help those around us. This is a promise that we vow to keep and uphold!”

Miro scoffed.

We?

Whatever.

“I wonder what project he’s working on?” He overheard someone mutter as he passed, “Have you ever heard of any of his inventions being announced?”

Miro ignored him.

He improved on his cane and that was all he needed to do.

“Miro!”

He just about managed to stop himself from groaning audibly, turning to see Professor Heimerdinger and Councillor Medarda approaching... closely followed by Councillor Talis.

“You’re not dressed yet!”

“...Huh?”

Jayce rolled his eyes, “For the Anniversary Ball today? I had a suit specially made for you; it’s in your rooms.”

“...I’m not going.”

Councillor Medarda cleared her throat, “People are expecting to see you there. Dignitaries from all across the seas- “

“- I’m not going.”

Silence.

“They don’t want to see me; they want to see- “ Miro bit back the end of the sentence.

They want to see the perfect child of Jayce Talis, the new Golden Boy who would do wonderful things with Hextech once Jayce was gone.

“... him.” Miro weakly finished the sentence, gesturing at Jayce, “Nobody’s going to be interested in meeting me.”

“Miro- “

“- You want some big perfect night, and you’ll get that if I'm not there.”

“If this about your cane, because I’ve actually been working on a new design for that, and I really think it’ll fit in with- “

“- My cane is fine.” Miro snapped, “I don’t need anything fancy; it just needs to get me to point A to point B, without me collapsing onto my face, and this cane does that just fine.” He took a deep breath, “If I go and if I make an effort to try and have conversations, people just accuse me of trying too hard. If I don’t make conversation, then I’m accused of being anti-social! I can’t win! So, I’m not going…I’ll work on some projects or something, alright?”

His Papa looked a little hurt by the snapping tone, glancing over at the other two, a sad smile flashing across his face. “You remind me of him so much sometimes.” He murmured, not needing to say who this ‘him’ was, “It’s not all about work though. You might have fun.”

“Oh yeah, I can just see it now.” Miro rolled his eyes, putting on a falsetto voice, meant to mock the noblewomen that ended up coming to these events, “’Oh yoooou’re Councillor Talis’s son! You’re not what we expected at all!’”

“Miro- “

“- ‘You don’t look a lot like your Father. Must be the Undercity genes! Who knew they were so powerful!?’”

Jayce looked heartbroken at the words, as Miro silently groaned, unable to take the look.

“It’s fine…it’s all fine. Nobody will miss me.”

“My boy…” Heimerdinger frowned, “…If you want to talk- “

“- Not even a little.”

“You have nothing to prove.”

“I know that.” Miro shrugged, “But I don’t think anyone else does.” With that, he turned on his heel and walked away, not seeing how his Papa reached out for him, and how Heimerdinger gently stopped him.

….

“I think you made the right decision.”

News travelled fast here apparently.

Miro rolled his eyes behind his goggles, not even bothering to turn around. “Of course I did. I have no time for the rich brats of this place, and no-one wants to see an ‘imperfect’ being, such as myself there. A win-win solution for everyone.”

If Councillor Salo wanted an argument, he was going to be very disappointed.

When the other man stormed out in a huff, Miro limped over to the door to lock it shut, cutting out anymore interruptions.

He then went over to his radio, turning the dial as his Papa’s voice came through the speakers.

//... nice to him? \\

Him

Obviously talking about Miro himself here.

//”It’s a tricky situation. \\ Mel sighed, //”Those who remember…Viktor and believe that there was a fall-out over Hex-Tech, just see him as a possible end to prosperity. Those who have no true memories of Viktor, just see him as being…too Zaun for us.” \\

//”…So he wasn’t exaggerating.” \\

//”Miro is just as observant as I remember Viktor being. There is not a lot that gets past him.” \\

Miro nodded in agreement with the words, tapping his screwdriver against the desk.

//”I just…want us to be close again.” \\ His Papa whispered, the tone making Miro pause, //”But-but a gala isn’t going to make that happen.” \\

//”What are you planning then?” \\

//”What if I give him- “ \\

Miro switched the radio off, not eanting to spoil what would either be a wonderful or disappointing surprise. He leant back in his chair and stared up at the ceiling.

Close again.

Was it even possible?

Chapter Text

The upbeat music could be heard through his open windows, and whilst he was tempted to go out and stand on the balcony, Miro focused on his work.

Was his Papa still disappointed that he wasn’t there?

Did he even notice, or was Councillor Talis playing his role perfectly and acting like everything was perfect in his little world?

Sighing, he pushed his goggles up to his forehead, looking around the room for something else to do as he grew bored with this project, and leaving the lab wasn’t an option, just in case someone came across him and thought to drag him to the gala.

His eyes landed on a box that was on the opposite desk, a package that he had even noticed when he entered.

He pushed his chair over to that desk, picking up the package and frowning when he couldn’t see any identifying marks on it.

There weren’t even any signs that it had come through the post system.

No stamps, no address on the box…just his name roughly scribbled on the top and a lot of tape around it.

And a pink doodle on the side.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

…That wasn’t good.

Thinking quickly, he threw the package to the other side of the lab, pushing his chair as far from it as it would go, stumbling over to hide behind a desk, curling himself up as tight as he could possibly go, squeezing his eyes shut.

BANG!

…

Jayce frowned when he heard the loud bag, everyone else all around him also pausing in their conversations to look around, trying to figure out where it came from.

“Jayce.” Mel gently touched his arm, pointing to the building opposite the hall, where he could just about see Miro’s personal lab windows. At the beginning of the evening, he had been a little glad to see that the balcony doors were open, so his son could hear the music...but now, he could see nothing but red.

Red like blood.

“MIRO!”

...

Miro’s ears were ringing as he emerged from under the desk, looking around to see that there was some sort of red liquid all over all his work and inventions. Upon closer inspection he could smell that it was paint...but everything that he had worked so hard on, was now practically ruined.

It was going to take him forever to clean all this up.

Spotting what looked to be the remains of the box that the paint bomb had come in, he stormed over as best as he could, slipping a little in the mess and nearly falling flat on his back.

“Who sent you I wonder.” He bent down and picked it up, frowning when he saw that most of the evidence had been ruined by the paint or destroyed by the bomb.

“MIRO! MIRO!”

He looked up, just as the doors slammed open and his Father froze in the doorframe, eyes taking in the red mess that was all over the work and the walls and the furniture.

“What-what happened?” Jayce asked weakly, as Miro shrugged, hiding the box behind his back, although he didn’t know why he did that.

“You don’t know?” Councilor Medarda raised an eyebrow, “That seems a little careless. You worried us.”

“I didn’t mean to.” He muttered sulkily, “I didn’t plan this you know.”

He knew that it made it seem like he was the one who caused the explosion, but there was something about this box that made him want to look into it a little further.

“I can’t believe this!” Jayce shook his head, disappointment evident, “There are safety measures that you have to take when working, to prevent things like this! And why were you working with so much paint?!”

Miro had no answer for that.

Why would he?

He just shrugged, prompting his Papa to sigh.

“Just…clean up. Next time, when there’s a gala, you’re joining us. No excuses.” Jayce took a step back away from the door, “I don’t want to have to keep an eye on you, but it seems like I must.”

“...It’s paint.”

But it was too late, his Papa was already storming away.

“He was just concerned that something horrible had happened.” Councillor Medarda sighed, “Don’t take it to heart.”

“I’m not the overly sensitive one in this relationship.” Miro mumbled, “I have to get this cleaned up.”

“I don’t think he’d mind if you asked for help.”

“Never.”

She gave up after that, leaving as Miro sighed at the mess all around him.

He then look at the box.

“What secrets do you hold?”

…..

“Jayce, you need to breathe.”

“I-I can’t!”

“Jayce…please.”

“I-I thought, I-I thought he- “

“- I know. I know.”

….

Miro abandoned the cleaning of the lab fairly early on in the night, heading to his room instead. When he woke up the next morning, he had one goal in mind.

He was going to get to the bottom of who played such a ‘joke’ on him.

He needed to know more about this graffiti though, which would mean making some...careful enquiries.

Caitlyn would know.

...

He grabbed some of his honouree aunt’s favourite pastries as he headed to the Enforcer barracks, knowing that he would probably need a little bit of bribery for this conversation.

Ignoring the looks he got from some of the Enforcers, he headed straight for her office, entering without knocking as she audibly sighed, not even looking up from her paperwork.

“It’s going to be one of those conversations then?” She sighed, holding out her hand, “At least you brought the bribary this time.”

He handed it over willingly, taking the seat opposite her and taking her a deep breath.

“I want to talk about graffiti.”

She stopped.

“What kind of graffiti?” She asked slowly.

“…Pink and blue…a weird sort of caricature on it, like a- “

“- A monkey.”

He paused, “Yeah…like a monkey.”

Cait’s hand gripped at some paperwork on her desk, before getting to her feet. “Where did you see it?” She asked.

“…I can’t remember.”

“Miro, you need to- “

There was a knock on the door that cut her off, another Enforcer peeking their head in.

“We have a situation Commander.”

Chapter Text

Miro frowned as everyone rushed around him, barely hearing what was being said.

He caught the odd one or two words though.

Graffiti.

Jinx.

Zaun.

Threat.

Sensing that there was nothing that he could do and knowing that asking would not be a good idea, judging from the look on Caitlyn’s face when he had tried to push his questions.

He wouldn’t be surprised if it got mentioned to his Papa.

“Coming through! Coming through!”

Miro moved to one side as Heimerdinger came rushing past him, following on as best he could.

“What’s going on?” He asked, trying to appear as casual as possible, like the answer didn’t matter to him, “Don’t tell me there’s another ball or something.”

Heimerdinger hummed, clearly not paying that much attention, but when he saw a group of his post-grad students, he seemed to completely forget that Miro was even there, rushing over to them eagerly.

Same old Heimerdinger.

“Fine.” Miro muttered to himself, “I’ll just stay in my room, quiet and pretending that I don’t exist.”

He moved through the corridors, sticking close to the walls and he listened to the odd snippet of conversation, seeing if he could figure out more about what was going on.

“...Why are they threatening us now?”

“Who knows with the Undercity. Maybe they’re going to try and finish off the rest of the Council.”

A reference to the explosion when he was five.

That was a good place to start.

And then the little golden robot walked into his path, making him pause. “Um.” He looked around, trying to see if some student was looking for their missing project, “Hello?”

The golden robot just tilted its' head to one side...and then took off in the opposite direction at a speed that surprised Miro.

He was even more surprised when he actually followed it.

"I'm mad. I'm actually going mad."

When it climbed into a vent, Miro backed away from it and headed straight for his room, unable to shake the feeling that he was being watched.

....

In the now-clean lab, his mind kept swirling around everything that had happened in the last day and a half.

The bomb.

The graffiti on the bomb.

The new 'threat' of Zaun.

The golden robot.

All these little mysteries and he was still no closer to knowing anything.

"Are you alright?"

He squeaked, spinning around in his chair to see his Papa standing in the doorway, a concerned look on his face, still looking a little twitchy as he looked around the lab.

"You look like you have a lot on your mind."

"Do I?" Miro cleared his throat, turning back to his desk, hearing someone calling for his Papa from further down the corridor, "Looks like you're needed."

There was a pause, before his Papa sighed, "I know there's a lot going on at the moment and I know that we- that I... you know that you can talk to me, right?"

Someone called out for him again.

"I think you're needed." Miro just said again, knowing that that was not what his Papa wanted to hear.

There was a weary sigh, before his Papa spoke up.

"Once all this chaos quietens down, I-I promise that we'll talk then."

Miro said nothing.

What was there to talk about?

Every time they tried to have a conversation, their relationship only seemed to get worse. He waited for his Papa to leave, before sighing and looking up at the ceiling. "Talk...what would we even talk about? Little robots? A paint bomb with graffiti on it...what happened to Dad?"

"Your Dad?"

Miro cursed, not caring about who heard as he turned to see Mel standing there, one of her eyebrows raised in that ‘you will speak to me’ expression she had. “Can’t I have any privacy in this place?” He groaned, “If it’s not Papa, it’s you and if it’s not either of you, it’s Heimerdinger and if it’s not him- “

“- You’ve been thinking about your Dad?”

He stared at her for a moment, before shaking his head, “Is it so bad that I want to know more?” He hated how she was looking at him, “There was an explosion in the Council Room, an attack from Zaun and then I have no more memories of him. Is he dead and nobody bothered to tell me, thinking I was too young, or- “

“- It’s complicated.”

“I’m fifteen, I think I’m old enough to know the truth now!”

Mel sighed and shook her head, “It’s not that easy and-and I believe that Jayce should be the one to tell you.”

“So, I’m never going to hear the truth then?”

“It is Jayce’s story to tell.” And then she was gone, leaving nothing but the faint smell of her perfume behind.

“Thanks for nothing.” He muttered, turning in his chair again, only to catch a flash of gold out of the corner of his eye. He froze, as the little robot waved cheerfully at him.

“Are you keeping an eye on me or something?” He muttered, moving his chair closer to get a better look. Now that he was a little closer, he could see that there was definitely some kind of recording device in the robot’ eye.

“Alright... whoever is listening, I need to speak to Viktor Talis if he’s still alive, or someone who can tell me what happened to him and why I was sent some form of paint bomb!”

The robot stared at him for a moment, before it was suddenly bounding across the room and grabbing the remains of the bomb from where he had left it by his workstation, hidden behind another project, somehow lifting it high above its’ head and rushing to the door.

“Hey!! Pushed himself up, wobbling dramatically, before steadying himself on the table and reaching out to grab his crutch, “Hey, give that back!”

He was ignored and the chase was on.

Chapter Text

Miro was glad that no-one seemed to be around to see him chasing after this little bot.

He couldn’t let anyone see the remnants of that bomb and the graffiti on it. It was just going to make everything worse!

“Get back here!”

He was a lot slower however and was unable to stop what happened next.

...

“Perhaps we should look into restricting his lab privileges if he is going to be causing disturbances like that!”

Jayce ignored the bickering of the Councilors behind him, mind on Miro.

How did he fix this?

...

“Get back here!”

The bot ignored him, tiny gold legs running as fast as it could go, which was faster than Miro could manage, by far.

 And yet, the bot never went too far.

It was like he was being taunted.

Everything was starting to ache, but he kept going, pushing himself harder and harder.

He needed to catch it.

....

Jayce paused when he heard the familiar sound of his son's crutch against the ground, albeit a lot quicker than it usually was. The rest of the Council stopped behind him, as a small bot rounded the corner, stopping at the sight of them, only for Miro to practically dive on top of it...or fell.

However, it happpened, he was struggling to pry something from the grasp of the bot.

Jayce could only watch in shock as his son held something up into the air, letting out a sound of sheer triumph as the golden bot raced away.

Jayce wasn't really focused on that though.

He was too busy looking at the item in his son's hand.

Something that looked like the remains of a bomb.... with Jinx's graffiti all over it.

The red paint.

Why would his son be working on something like that?

It hadn't made any sense, but he had been so relieved that his son was okay, that he had just let it go.... his son had lied to him.

It all came bubbling up to the surface.

“MIRO!”

Miro looked over at him in a panic, taking in all the other Council members as he tried to get to his feet and hide the bomb fragment behind him at the same time, not quite managing both as he rested heavily on his one leg.

“You lied to me.” Jayce just knew that his face was flushed in anger, everyone else silent behind him, “You looked me right in the eyes and lied to me.”

“I- I didn’t want you to worry- “

“-You were sent a bomb.” Jayce whispered, “It was a threat against your life, against Piltover and you hid it from me!”

He saw the shift in his son’s face instantly, looking so much like Viktor when he was gearing up for an argument, that Jayce felt a little bit sick.

“We all know that Piltover is the bigger concern for you.” Miro spat out, shaking as he finally managed to get to his feet, "I'm just the afterthought!"

Jayce just stood there, unsure what to do or say about that.

"You have always been important to me." He whispered, "But- "

"- But why can't I just be the perfect little son that you want?!" Miro was past the point of listening now, this much was obvious, "Why can't I just stand there and smile, and act like we're the perfect family, when clearly we're not?!" He held up the piece of bomb, "Why would they send a paint bomb if they're such a threat. They could have killed me and the entire lab if they wanted, but paint? That's just an annoyance!"

  "Enough!" Jayce snapped, "They've tried to kill us before, they're the reason your Dad in't here anymore and you want me to just...believe that this is some kind of prank war?!"

"I just want you to use your brain and THINK, not just blindly follow what the Council- " Miro yelped as his Papa grabbed his arm and then started to pull him to his room, Miro's foot and cane dragging across the ground, unable to keep up with his Papa's speed.

He cursed and hit out at the older man when he was practically thrown into that room, his Papa looking guilty for a moment, before his face hardened.

"I have to fix this mess." He snatched the bomb fragment from Miro’s hands, “Stay here. I’ll talk to you when I’m ready.”

He slammed the door shut behind him and all Miro could do was stand there, his hands clutching at his crutch as he fought hard not to burst into tears or something equally as embarrassing.

He couldn’t take this anymore.

He just wanted to know the truth.

Beep?

He turned, seeing the little gold robot from before. “Leave me alone.” He snapped, “I-I don’t want to see you again, so just leave me alone!”

The next beep sounded almost…sorrowful, moving a little closer, only to stop when Miro tried to move back, stumbling a little before he righted himself.

“Leave me alone!”

“Mi-Ro.”

Miro froze, seeing the robot gesture for him to follow him, heading to one of the vents, slipping through the bars as a tiny golden hand poked through and made the ‘follow me’ gesture again.

Looking up at the ceiling, Miro wondered how this had become his life.

“I must be going insane.” He muttered, grabbing one of his screwdrivers from his desk, “Completely and totally insane.”

And yet…here he was.

About to crawl through these vents, like some kind of criminal.

Papa would kill him.