You had been appointed as a general assistant for the "golden boy" and his friend. You couldn’t believe your luck as you walked those steps on your first day. You were expecting your tasks to be “deliver coffee" and getting the mundane tasks out of the way. Like a secretary does. Professor Heimerdinger had made the job sound easy.
When you shook hands with the scientists, Mr. Talis explained that your tasks were more than coffee delivering. At least, if you were able to handle the workload. After making sure you were a smart woman they could trust, the two men showed you the notes and diagrams of the last projects they were working on. Most of it went over your head at first, but Mr. Talis was sure you’d pick up on it soon. But, Viktor didn’t seem to talk too much to you. At least for the first few weeks.
“Hey, Y/N,” someone called as you were walking to the lab. When you turned around, it was no one else than the golden boy, “Can you do me a favor?”
“What is it, Mr. Talis?”
“Y/N, please, call me Jayce,” he repeated, “We’re family here.”
“I’m sorry, I’m still getting used to it… What did you want to ask?”
“Right” Mr. Talis- Jayce remembered the serious matter he had at hand, “Do you think you can get Viktor out of the lab for now?”
“Do you want me to crack all the rune combinations for the hexcore too? Because that’d be easier,” somehow, you managed to make Jayce laugh. Unfortunately, you weren’t joking.
“Y/N, please. He’s glued to the hexcore and I’m getting worried.”
“It’d be better if you did it, Jayce,” and Jayce’s expression was one of the deepest concerns you’ve seen since you met him. “It’s not like I don’t want to try, but he doesn't talk to me much. I don’t think he’d listen to me.”
“Y/N, please? I don’t think he’s seen the sunlight in weeks,” Jayce pleaded.
“He might listen to you.”
“I can’t do it. I have… something to attend to this afternoon.” Jayce finally confessed, and you couldn’t help but raise one of your eyebrows.
“Is that "something" councilor Medarda?”
You saw some hint of a blush form on Jayce’s cheeks, and you didn’t know if you should try to tease him or tell him to be careful. You haven't met Councilor Medarda. You’ve only seen her a couple times while exploring Piltover, but there was something weird about her. You couldn't pinpoint what it was.
“It’s a business meeting. Nothing else,” Jayce felt the need to explain himself. “Can I trust you to talk to Viktor? I'll need him on those meetings.”
You sighed.
“I can always try…” you mumbled as Jayce put his strong, calloused hand on your shoulder.
“I knew I could count on you. You’re amazing, Y/N”
“I’m not making any promises. He might not even notice I’m there.” And, besides, the sooner you got to finish Jayce’s task, you could go back to your studies. Magic was calling!
But Mr. Talis didn’t seem to listen, he just waved at you while exclaiming “Tell him I’ll be back tonight!”
You tried to say something, but Jayce had disappeared behind another hallway. Alone, with the mid-day sun rays entering the place, you sighed and decided to resume your walk back to the lab. Get Viktor out of the lab for some time. How are you supposed to do that? You began to remember all the times you tried to make casual conversation with the young, tall scientist. And everytime, Viktor did an acknowledgment grunt and nothing else.
“Anything interesting you might be working on?” You asked as soon as you opened the lab’s door.
“Hexcore.” Viktor simply mumbled right before going back to his work. You started feeling the dread of your impossible task as you left all your things on your desk table.
“Well… Are you any closer to your next breakthrough?”
“Not even close.”
That was... surprising. That had to be the first time in ages Viktor replied with more than two syllabes to anything you said before. Which stars and planets had aligned this time? Was Janna finally listening to your pleas? Or was it a change in Viktor’s environment. But what? You shook your head, resisting the urge to write that down. Viktor was no test subject.
You saw Viktor trying another rune combination, but all the hexcore did was get brighter. The scientist sighed in frustration while writing down some notes.
“Well… sometimes, taking a break is good. For science.” You added the last part, trying hard to fulfill Jayce’s favor. Besides, Mr. Talis was right. Viktor hadn’t seen the sunlight in days and was starting to look pale. Paler than usual, even.
Viktor rolled his chair in such a way that he looked at you, with one of his brows raised.
“An occasional break is… important, yes. But there’s no time. We must get this done by the next progress day.” Before you could reply, he turned back to the only thing that, according to you, was occupying his mind; the hexcore and a way to unlock its true potential. “I do appreciate your concern, Miss Havillard, but my work is much more important than the occasional holiday.”
“Please, call me Y/N,” You saw Viktor stopping for a moment, and you imagined he raised one of his eyebrows. You felt ridiculous for imitating Jayce, “So, uh… Do you have any favorite holiday?”
“Favorite holiday? Well, hmm… Probably the Winter Solstice?” You weren’t sure if he was replying or asking himself the first question. “People tend to look forward to exchanging gifts among their friends. Even though our schedules tend to not be very suitable for those activities…”
“I… I see.” You started to run out of ideas, but, at the same time, you were happy that Viktor finally seemed to open to you. “I love the Winter Solstice as well! We won't have time to join most of the festivities this year, but it’s the only day when everyone seems a little happier. Are you going to give anything special to Jayce this year?”
“Oh! Well, I know exactly what I'm going to give him.”
Viktor left his desk and began looking through notebooks and various papers. You couldn’t believe your eyes.
Finally, he found what he was looking for. It was a rough, but beautiful sketch of a flower you’ve never seen before. There were a couple of things that caught your attention as he showed you the plant. One, it seemed surrounded by ice. And two, you never saw Viktor as an artist before. Actually, you don’t think you’ve seen him as any other thing than a scientist.
“This is a rare flower I came across while exploring Mount Targon,” Viktor began his explanation with a huge smile on his face. That had to be the first time you saw him smile at you, and your heart skipped a beat, “The flower's called the “Dais of Love.” It's said to only bloom during the Winter Solstice, which makes this a very rare flower.”
Before you could add anything else, Viktor closed his sketchbook. “The flower makes the recipients love one another forever… I’m sure you can tell where I’m going with this.” You felt uneasiness growing on your chest. But Viktor seemed so excited you kept silent, “I believe, yes… I’ll give this to Jayce.”
“That sounds… lovely.” You smiled back, unsure about what your own feelings were trying to tell you. Isn’t Jayce with Councilor Medarda at this very moment?
“I’m certain he’ll love it! Even if he just thinks it’s a pretty flower. I just… I just want to make him happy. I’ve come to care for him so much. But, I… uh.” He trailed off for a moment. Maybe he noticed your expression, or he started about what he sounds like. “This is embarrassing to talk about.”
“Well… It’s not like there’s anyone here. And I promised Jayce I’d get you out of your desk, so… Maybe you can tell me about whatever it’s on your mind over a walk? You seem to need a friend.”
“You promised Jayce- what?”
You couldn’t help but giggle a little as you signed to the door. Viktor, snickering to himself, took his cane and followed your lead.
Well, you finally had your answer. Viktor started talking to you because he needed to get his feelings an out. Viktor and Jayce? Who would’ve thought? You were happy to finally be talking to him. Like, having a conversation; not just getting one-word answers. You both finally talking about something else that wasn’t working.
Still, you felt a little… nervous. A general feeling of dread. But you couldn’t pinpoint what or why just yet.