Chapter Text
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a young man in pursuit of freedom must be in want of a spouse.
For better or for worse, Viktor had never been a stranger to misfortune, with his poor health to account for, and the tragedy of his parents’s demise when he was but a young boy, Viktor had had his fair share of loss enough for a lifetime, but he rarely lets himself indulge in the despair and nostalgia other people are so sensible for. Viktor knows that each and all of these events had led to make him the man he is now, and while he can't help but wish sometimes that life had turned to be easier for him, he has become someone his parents would be proud of, and that is all the encouragement he needs in a dark day.
On her deathbed, Viktor's mother had entrusted her son's safety into the hands of a man that was well respected in the community for having made a small fortune from his trade of herbal medicines and remedies that seemed to provoke miracles wherever he went, and had created something akin to a monopoly when soon all of the physicians were dependent on him to ensure their patients health. The man never ushered a complaint about the new responsibilities that were confided in him and treated Viktor as one of his own. Tragedy struck again when another dying woman entrusted the trader and a bartender from the neighborhood, with the lives of her young daughters, Violet and Powder.
For many years, the five of them lived above the bar Vander tended and, while Viktor always preferred the solitude and time for reflection and thought, he grew up to appreciate the beauties of having a family and siblings to share his life with. However, Silco, the merchant, always aspired to more in life than simply tending to a bar, and he would often use the children's education as a reason to leave the complicated life in Zaun and move themselves into the upper city. Vander refused, which led to the terrible separation in which Violet decided to stay with Vander, and Viktor and Powder, in pursuit of said education, packed their bags and accompanied Silco into the trenches of polite society.
While Viktor always thought that Silco had some egoistic motivation to move them into Piltover, the truth is that he never spared a single penny for his children. He bought them the finest robes and gowns he could afford, hired a cook that kept them well-fed and never complained once about Viktor's poor health whenever he got incapacitated by either his lungs, spine or right leg. He costume-made him a brace for both his back and leg and spent a fortune in both his and Powder's education. When Viktor expressed his desire to attend Piltover's Academy, Silco all but bribed the authorities to make sure Viktor got a place there, making him the first zaunite to do so in all of its history.
As they made their way into Piltover's society, Silco managed to acquire a property in one of the city’s most important neighbors and soon began to prepare both Powder and Viktor as if they were from the gentry class, with complicated lessons in etiquette and ballroom festivities. Viktor called the farce for what he deemed it to be, a play-pretend of being something they were not, and there was fissure in his and Silco's relationship. With so much of his mind occupied in the academy and his own experiments, Viktor could barely pay attention to the growing animosity between them, but when he graduated and took the job as Dean's Assistant, he recognized the situation to be almost unbearable.
“I said, you must return for the dinner we had arranged, it would be terribly rude to snub our guests like that,” Silco raises one of his eyebrows, the one he draws himself that's above his damaged eye. Viktor let his fingers tighten slightly.
“But I had asked later this week if I could be excused from the dinner, and you said…” Silco waves a hand, interrupting him.
“I know what I said,” Silco grabs a parchment of paper, scribbling fast in it as he talks to Viktor as if this situation is not more than an afterthought for him. “And now, I am telling you, you must come to dinner. The guests we have are important, and if all goes well, you may have your funding for that machinery you want, so you better come here before dinner time.”
“Of course, sir,” Viktor murmurs before getting out of the room as quickly as he can, when he opens the door, Powder almost tumbles inside the room, to which Viktor gives an exasperated sigh and starts walking towards the entry of the house, his cane tapping erratically on the wooden floors.
“Where are you going?,” she asks while following him.
“A rather dull place,” he answers simply, even if he knows Powder cannot be persuaded to relent to her curious mind.
“You are seeing Mr. Talis, are you not? May I come? Please, Viktor, I want to see what you are working on,” Powder begs on his side as he starts putting on his coat, and changing his shoes to ones more comfortable for the rather long walk that awaits him.
“You may not come. I'm sure Silco will want you to get ready for dinner tonight,” he says as he quickly ties his shoes.
“Please, Viktor, you must let me come. Dinners with papa are so boring,” Viktor smiles a bit at that, and takes on the sight of Powder. She's wearing a light blue dress with sleeves that end at her wrists, Viktor would let her come, if he didn't have as little time as he has now, and Powder inquiries about his and Jayce's work would only delay them.
“I’ll let you come next time,” he promises, but Powder doesn't think this compromise enough, as she pouts immediately and furrows her brow. “Now, don't direct that face at me, young lady. I'm sure you have some lessons to attend to, don't you?”
“I would much rather spend my time at the workshop with Mr Talis and you,” Viktor resists the urge to mess with Powder's just because he is considerate enough of the amount of work it must have taken her personal servant to curl each strand of hair as they perfectly sit in her head.
“Oh, I am sure of it, my dear. But your father insists on making an accomplished lady out of you, an impossible task, if you ask me.” Powder gives a not very lady-like groan at that but seems to understand. More than anything, she wants to please her papa above everything else, and would never do something to displease him in any way. Not on purpose, at least.
Viktor remembers when he used to be like that, naive, and eager to please Silco in any way he could, showing his gratitude for the trouble it was to raise a cripple all on his own. Now, he can barely stand to keep living in the same house as him.
“But I will come, next time,” Powder tells him when he is opening the door.
“I promise. I will see you at dinner,” he grabs his cane from the wall and starts walking towards the Talis’ house.
The Talis' house is but a few minutes walk, but with Viktor's leg it can get tiresome rather quickly. It is situated in the heart of Piltover, just a few blocks from the neighborhood where all of the nobles and council members took residence and while the Talis' family had but a modest estate in the country, they were regarded as a well respected family and standing members of Piltover's polite society. Viktor and the head of the house, Mr. Jayce Talis had shared a class or two in the academy, but it wasn't until a series of unfortunate workplace accidents that almost led to their expulsion, that they became acquainted with one another. Jayce had then expressed his eternal gratitude and all but attached himself to Viktor's hip for the rest of their school days. Then, when he discovered that Viktor lived rather close to him, he persuaded him to visit as often as he could and entangled him in all kinds of experiments and theories that soon Viktor found no way, nor desire, to get rid of his company and followed him everywhere he went.
While on his days at the Academy, Viktor encountered more sour interactions than amiable ones, and the continuous disdain from both his peers and sometimes even his professors, had Viktor almost regretting the decision of following Silco to the uppercity, but as soon as he is announced, both Jayce and Mrs. Talis engulf him a warm hug, Viktor can not really bring himself to care about the displeasure of his past.
One night, he had returned to his home from his visit so late that Silco had all but screamed at him about rules and sense of propriety and knowing his place.
“It is not proper for two young men to be this late in the evening alone, Viktor. It could lead to misunderstandings,” Silco explained in an angered voice as Viktor zoned out most of his berated talk.
There was no misunderstanding of course, as Piltover's society, and Viktor himself, deemed ultimately impossible for someone like Mr. Talis, respected, handsome and of a sufficient fortune, to ever be interested in courting someone like Viktor. Not many people would be, for that matter.
“I was starting to think you wouldn't come at all. Please, mother, excuse us for the afternoon, we have matters to attend to,” Jayce clasped his hand on Viktor's shoulder, and all but dragged to the back of the house, as Viktor tried to ignore the rampant heat that grew in his body at the prolonged contact.
Viktor and Jayce would spend everyday in this sacred space, if they didn't have other obligations. If Jayce didn't have to attend management of his properties in the country and if Viktor didn't owe so much of his attention to his duties as Dean's Assistant and to his benefactor. But any time, whether scarce or limited they could manage, was always spent in these four walls, with loud tinkering and forging they would make.
“I almost didn't come,” Viktor conceded almost at the end of his visit, Jayce furrowed his brow before making an understanding sound
“What could be the reason for that, I must wonder,” Viktor laughed. It was not in Jayce's nature to be quite so witty, but rather he seemed to take after Viktor’s vices with every hour they had spent together these last years. A small, ugly part of Viktor delighted in imprinting his mark on Jayce as much as he had on Viktor all those years ago.
“Mr. Novotny has a dinner party tonight. He needs my presence there,” Viktor mentions, “And so, I must leave earlier as well, we have but an hour left.” Novotny was the last name Silco had taken around the time Viktor entered the academy, since he needed one for the documents of his enrollment. It was a fake one, as many people in Zaun didn't have a last name to begin with, but it helped their small family to pass as, at least, a piltovian merchant household in paper, because as soon as anyone had a look at any of them they would clock immediately just the place they came from.
Jayce groaned dramatically before plopping down in his chair. “Your patron is so unfair. He wants you all to himself.” Jayce murmured and Viktor smiled.
“Oh, I am sure he would rather get rid of me, instead. But, sadly, he must account for me for a long time before that is possible,” Viktor laughs sharply and Jayce groans again. He stands, flexing his arms from the stiff position he was in and Viktor pretends to look elsewhere but his friend's body.
“There must be something we could do to save you from this torment, my friend,” Jayce says as he starts to gather his equipment. Viktor knows he would rather leave it all to be as it is, but since he insists on making the laboratory feel as Viktor's as it is his, he makes sure to comply with Viktor's requests of tidiness and order.
Viktor hums as he stands to flex his leg, then he remembers something. When his parents died, they left a will where they entrusted his well-being to Silco’s care, as well as a small inheritance. Viktor is not sure of how much of a fortune he actually has, but he knows that it is in Silco's hands until he gets married. That had been the clause his parents set, and while Viktor didn't mistrust Silco to ever try to keep his money from him, he knew the attorney had been very strict about the clause being irrevocable, when he first asked about it after his first fight with Silco.
“You cannot gain independence if it is not through marriage,” the man said, “Your parents' will is very clear.”
Viktor must marry, if he wants the money his parents left him.
“What are you thinking about?,” Jayce wonders once Viktor has been silent for enough time, and Viktor shakes his head.
“Silly thoughts, that is all.”
“So, Viktor, your father here has mentioned your attendance at the Academy, is that correct?,” Mr. Elliot is a well-dressed and well-bred man who looks almost out of place in Silco's dining room. Despite his best efforts at trying to emulate the taste of those born into gentry, there is a certain something that is always lacking, and while it is easy to ignore on most days, when someone of superior standing is present in the room, it becomes all too obvious. Viktor has spent a good portion of the night kicking Powder’s feet under that table when she stares too much at Mr Elliot’s sophisticated clothes.
The dinner party consists of Mr. Elliot, professor of the academy, Mrs. Sevika and a Mr. Clint that Viktor had never heard before but must be important. They are mostly physicians and merchants that have mentioned revenues and investments and side effects of the remedies Silco sells while he and Powder played a game of spelling words with the rice they were served.
Viktor does not correct the man, even if his mouth twitches at the temptation. “It is correct, sir. I specialized in chemistry and engineering”
Silco, for his part, has been staring intensely at both Powder and Viktor all night. Assessing their conduct, and their manners at the table, and directing stern looks whenever he deemed they were not acting polite enough.
“Viktor here is a prodigy, sir. The first zaunite to enter the Academy, and he kept the top grade of his generation till the end. The dean, Mr. Heimmerdinger even offered him the position as his assistant when he was still a student,” praise rolls from Silco's lips as practiced and natural as ever. Perhaps because he really thinks those things, Viktor is sure of as much.
“Is that you?,” Mr. Elliot cries in amusement. “It is a strange thing that we have not met before.”
They had met before, of course, but Mr. Elliot doesn't seem to recognize him now, and Viktor never had the habit of participating much in class so he can not blame him.
“Strange, indeed,” Viktor smiles through his glass at Powder and she giggles softly.
“Oh, but Viktor really is the most brilliant mind there is in all of Runeterra,” Powder says excitedly, she really looks beautiful tonight, her gown is now of pale ivory color with beaded crystals on her sleeves. Mr. Elliot chuckles.
“And he works with Mr. Talis, as well, you know Mr. Talis, don't you? He was a student at the academy,” Powder adds cheerfully, certainly without noticing the tenseness that falls upon Mr. Elliot’s shoulders at the first mention of Mr. Talis. Viktor gulps his wine as Silco furrows his brows, directing a glare at Viktor.
“Ah, of course, Mr. Talis. A clever young man, indeed, if he wasn't as careless as he was,” Powder expression sours at the comment but Viktor kicks her under the table to prevent her from saying anything else on the matter. Powder has taken a fascination to Jayce, not much unlike Viktor's own, except on its depth, and she seems as if in pain at not having been allowed to defend his good friend.
“The soup is delicious, Mr. Novetny,” Mrs. Sevika interjects when the uncomfortable silence had rested for too long, to which Silco quickly mentions passing the compliment to his chef.
“It must be a shame to Heimmerdinger, indeed, to have to go without such a talented young man as you are,” Mr. Clint mentions as he cuts his meat and brings it to his mouth. Viktor furrows his brow in confusion.
“I beg your pardon?,” he says glancing between Mr Clint and Silco who looks rather preoccupied in asking the maid for more wine.
“With your returning to the Undercity, of course. Your father here has made clear his intentions on returning to your homeland now that Powder's about to finish her education,” Mr. Elliot helpfully supplies, apparently not noticing how both Viktor and Powder turn to look at Silco questioningly.
“Besides, you did mention something about specializing in chemistry, didn't you? Mr. Novotny was just telling me the other day how much he wished to introduce you to the family business as well. You are his heir, after all,” Mr. Clint continues.
“Viktor still has much to learn,” Silco declares quickly. “My current chemist does his work just fine and has agreed to teach Viktor all that he needs to know once we establish ourselves in Zaun.”
“Has he?” Viktor can't help the question from escaping his lips. Silco directs him a look before turning to Mr. Clint.
“Of course, anyone would be delighted to teach the most brilliant minded in both Piltover and Zaun.” Silco sentences and then changes to subject, leaving Viktor reeling in the implications of the exchange that just took place.
They talk some more, about the weather and Viktor fantasizes of jumping out the window when Silco decides to boast of Powder's prowess in the pianoforte before their guests are offering their gratitude and making their ways to their respective homes.
“When were you planning to tell me of your plan to move us all back to Zaun?,” Viktor asks once Powder has excused herself to her chamber. Silco grabs a cigar and lights it calmly, meanwhile Viktor all but shakes in anger.
“Surely you do not plan on being the Dean's Assistant for the rest of your life,” Silco levels him a look, so superior and aloof it makes Viktor's blood boil. He grips his cane tightly, and takes another step towards Silco.
“I have plans-” Viktor starts but Silvo starts laughing, a cruel and evil thing, as he used to do when Vander would try to convince him to stay. It cuts as deep as it did back then.
“And your plans consist of running around that Talis boy and playing mad scientist with him, yes?” Silco waves his cigar as he speaks and shakes his head.
“My whole life is here,” Viktor says, “My work, my connections, my friends. You can't expect to just uproot everything I've worked hard for just because of one of your whims.”
“I can and I will,” Silco declares. “We came here to grant you both a proper education. Powder will finish her degree in a year or so, so there is no reason for us to stay here.”
Viktor breathes heavily through his nose before raising his hands to tug at the hair in the back of his hair. “Jayce and I have ongoing projects, I do not intend to just leave-”
“Mr. Talis has enough time to find another, ah, assistant until we have to leave town, I'm sure you going home will not compromise his work,” Silco interrupts him sharply, by his tone Viktor can tell that he is getting irritated, but Viktor has never been one to shy from a fight
“Do not do that. Do not dare to minimize my contributions to our work. We are partners, equals,” Viktor argues and Silco smirks to the word equals.
“Do not make me laugh, Viktor. I never took you for such a naive man. You have always been smarter than this.” He takes another drag of his cigar, and Viktor breathes for a moment. “You know you will never be in the same standing as him, even after everything you have achieved. This is not our place.”
Viktor clenches his jaw as he breathes hard through his nose. He shakes his head. He's close, he's really close, he just needs more time.
“Then why come here at all? If you did not believe we could do it.” he asks and Silco softens his gaze, he walks towards him and places his hand upon his shoulder. Silco and him are almost the same height, but there is something in his demeanor that has always made Viktor feel like a small boy in his presence.
“I cannot let you waste your life in some unattainable dream. In Zaun, you can work for me. I am offering you security, a long lasting income-” Viktor removes Silco’s hand from his shoulder, puts some distance between them.
“You are guaranteeing an employee for the rest of your life. You have no regard for my future, but rather of making your fortune even bigger,” Silco laughs at that.
“Surely you are not complaining about this, since it's been my fortune, the one that puts a roof over your head, and the one that got your seat at the academy.” Silco snarls and Viktor's cheeks go heated.
“You have been using me–us, all this time, just like Vander said, using all of us until you have everything you want and then you can dispose of Powder and I, as you did with him,” Silco stands and gets so close to Viktor he thinks for a moment that he will hit him from the flex in his hand, the tightness of his jaw, instead he just looks at him.
“You have no idea what you are talking about,” Silco turns and walks away from him. Viktor stands in his place for a second and right when he knows that Silco is about to exit the room he says:
“I want my inheritance.” Viktor hears Silco stop, but does not dare to look at him, “The one my parents gave me, I know you are guarding it.”
For a moment, Viktor thinks Silco did get out of the room when he doesn't get a response.
“You know the condition. Good luck, convincing anyone in Piltover to wed you, Viktor.”
Viktor turns to the crackling of the fire in front of him and desperately tries to conjure up a plan.
Viktor had never given marriage a lot of thought. For a long time, it seemed like an out of reach fantasy and an annoyance altogether. Viktor was not a fool, he was able to recognize that he was not exactly the most desirable match. He did not own a fortune, even if his inheritance was anything to account for, Viktor did not imagine it to be a larger sum than most merchant's sons could acquire in a lifetime. Viktor would not consider himself particularly handsome, not by Piltovian standards anyway, as they often preferred more tanned skins and bodies well-fed and that functioned as they ought to, and Viktor had none of those requirements. He was much too pale, too thin, and his features were too clearly zaunite for most people's taste.
And while Viktor had his witty and intellect to distinguish him from his peers, the ability to make friendship and be amiable to others did not come to him as it seemed to come for other people, and he often found himself being court when he meant to be encouraging, or seeming disinterested when he intended to make his attention clear. There was a disconnect from his character to most people he met in higher society that left a bad taste in his mouth and he found himself more and more discouraged to attempt to pretend otherwise.
The only exception to this was, of course, Jayce Talis. From the moment they became properly acquainted, Viktor discovered that there was someone who understood his crude jokes, who could keep his pace in an argument and that had even crazier ideas than him. When Viktor was court, Jayce never took offense, seeming rather unbothered by Viktor's reserved nature, they often talked of everything and nothing at the same time, or remained in silence just enjoying each other's company.
Viktor hadn't given marriage a lot of thought, until he met Jayce Talis, that is.
However, this was, as Silco would put it, an unattainable dream. Viktor had always known his attachment for Jayce was bound to complicate things in the future, when the younger man deemed it appropriate to look for a spouse and settled down in the country as many of their Academy classmates already did. It had barely been a year and a half, since Jayce had ventured and courted Lady Mel Medarda for a few months before she refused him gently. Viktor remembers the sour feeling the courtship brought and how guilty he felt when he knew of the rejection, for being so happy. Viktor was not a good person, he never claimed to be. And, while he knew that he could not have Jayce for himself, he also wished no one else could have Jayce either. He had prepared himself to be single for the rest of his life, since the only man he could ever be prevailed upon to marry was so out of his reach, there had been nothing else to tempt him into marriage.
At least, not until now.
Viktor must marry someone, and soon
Without Silco's protection, staying in Piltover was economically impossible. His salary from being Heimmerdinger’s assistant was good- for a noble man who had other incomes to afford his living. The only way to acquire a sum enough to afford staying was if he had access to his inheritance. Or if he married a Piltovan that had a state in the town already.
“Surely there must be another way,” Jayce reasons as they promenade, because that is something Viktor has decided to do, now. Viktor shakes his head, keeping his walking steady and trying to not let it seem as if he reclines too much on his cane. He underestimated how much polite society relies on physical exercise to socialize and this week of walking around the town square has left him with a dull ache from the plant of his foot all the way to his hip that refuses to go away.
“It is the condition my parents stated on their deathbed. There's not much I can do about it,” Jayce frowns. He has been… affected, to say the least, at Viktor predicament. When Viktor told him he exclaimed in disbelief and then remained quiet for a few moments. He seems to be in disbelief, again.
“I understand that, but surely they did not mean for you to marry out of convenience, Viktor. I am certain they wanted you to find love, before jumping to a wedding,” Viktor all but smiles. Jayce is a romantic, above all things, and the thought of his dearest friend getting into a marriage of convenience sure seems like a terrible dream come true.
“I fear we have no way of knowing my parents intentions, since they insist on remaining dead, as they have been for the last twenty years or so,” Viktor mutters, and laughs at Jayce's unamused reaction at the comment. “Do not worry, Jayce. I do not think that a marriage of convenience equals an unhappy marriage, we know plenty of couples that married without love and they continue to be as happy as ever,” Viktor assures him.
Jayce sighs and stops their walking to grab Viktor's hands between his own. “I know, V. I do not fear you marrying anyone inadequate, as I believe you have the best judgement of character that anyone else in this city.” Viktor gulps and directs his gaze somewhere else, they are not so close as for it to be compromising in any way, but surely the hand-touching, even with the gloves must be quite a sight for anyone who looks at them. “I just think that you deserve marrying someone you love, someone who makes life better for you, in all ways that matter. Don't you wish for it, too?”
Viktor let himself look at Jayce, his stubble and his face littered in marks of careless experiments. He gets the urge of cupping Jayce's face in his hands, and the most ridiculous idea of proposing, right there and then. Be damned his reputation and social standing and the fact that Jayce will absolutely reject him right away. It's you, Viktor thinks desperately, I want it to be you.
“You can't have everything in life,” Viktor states simply and resumes his walking. Jayce keeps to his side, silent for a while before he speaks again.
“I will help you,” he exclaims. Viktor looks at him confused.
“With what, exactly?” Viktor inquiries.
“With finding you a spouse, of course,” Jayce's smile is bright and assured. Like it's the best idea he's ever had.
“And how would you do that?” Viktor is skeptical, after all Jayce had one failed courtship to account for, but that didn't mean that Jayce was a total loss in the art of enamoring young ladies and men. He had never been serious about anyone before Lady Mel, but he had always been popular in the eligible bachelors and bachelorettes, and even as he had been momentarily out of the market after Lady Mel's rejection that didn't mean he could not gain said attention once more.
“Well, I still get plenty of invitations to dinner parties and balls all around Piltover. Some even in the country.” Jayce starts, “All you have to do is attend them with me, soon everyone will recognize you and in a few months time you will have every young man and woman waiting to be picked as your companion.”
Viktor laughed at the mere idea of anyone wanting to be picked by him. “Oh, Jayce, you really outdo yourself sometimes.”
“I am perfectly serious, Mr. Novotny.” Jayce gasps in an undignified sound. Viktor snorts as he rolls his eyes.
“You must be realistic, Jayce. I am not you, I do not have any fortune, or landed property to offer that could make up for my horrible personality or my failing body.” Viktor intends for it to come more funny than it does, instead it comes out wavering and insecure, Jayce clicks his tongue as Viktor avoids Jayce’s gaze.
“Do not ever say anything like that ever again, Viktor. You are the most intelligent, funny and kind man I have ever met. Anyone would be lucky to be your wife, or husband, that is.” Jayce declares solemnly. “I will help you, after all, we are friends, are we not?”
Viktor doesn't answer at the comment, instead he lets Jayce walk him home from the town square as he explains in detail all the wonderful plans he has to make Viktor the perfect bachelor Piltovers has ever seen.