Chapter 4: Magnesium Oxide

8:30 AM

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! ...BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! ...BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Ziggs winced as his slumber was disturbed by the repetitive wailing of his alarm clock. He slowly opened his eyes to a blurry vision of blue. Rumble, realizing Ziggs's awakening, brought his head back and looked at his friend with innocent eyes. Looking down at Rumble's expression, Ziggs began to realize the position he had left himself in overnight in his attempt to remedy Rumble's whimpering. The two locked eyes for what seemed like minutes at a time until Ziggs spoke up.

"I should...get that." Ziggs gave a half smile before releasing the blue yordle from his grasp and rotating his body in place, extending his arm to the tireless alarm and shutting it off. He sat up and shifted his body to sit at the edge of the bed, facing away from Rumble and letting his feet dangle above the floor. Resting his elbows on his thighs, Ziggs cupped his head in his hands, rubbing his face and sighing. Rumble sat up from the bed.

"You ok, Ziggs?" he asked in concern. Ziggs looked almost defeated, as if tucked away stressors were coming back to haunt him or if he made a terrible mistake.

"Yeah. Fine. Dandy, really!" Ziggs didn't bother to look back at his friend; he knew what his face looked like already. He rose from the bed and started making his way for the bedroom doorway. "I'm just gonna wash up." Rumble tracked Ziggs with his eyes.

"Why?" Rumble questioned almost immediately, breaking the looming inaudibility of the room. Ziggs stopped at the doorway, his hand gripping the wall and the other the door, keeping a small smile.

"Because I…like to smell fresh in the morning?"

"Not that. Last night. And this morning. Why did you…" Rumble looked away in embarrassment, the words seeming almost too intimate to say. Ziggs knew what he was getting at, however.

"There was a storm last night. Remember? The rain? Had you tossing and turning in your sleep like a lost pup!"

Rumble kept silent, aware of this habit he had for what seemed like a lifelong struggle. Silence veiled over the room once again.

"Was I…really?" Rumble questioned.

"Whimperin' and all!"

"So you did it just to shut me up?"

"Sorry if it was a little 'touchy-feely' on my part. But it was sure-fire!" Ziggs brought himself through the doorway. "I guess it's always been that way, hasn't it?" he said before closing the door behind him.

Rumble looked at Ziggs until he was out of sight, and for a moment, he wished he was out of mind. These feelings were spreading, not just through his own body but Ziggs's as well. He could tell. Ziggs's boundless energy was something of a trademark. That trademark, however, was beginning to diminish. He looked almost normal, cautious in his step and voice. Did Ziggs share this same tightness in his chest? Rumble wondered how long this tension would last, falling back down onto his pillow.

Ziggs stepped into the bathroom, removing his nightwear and stepping into the small tub underneath the steaming shower. Thoughts ran through his mind like a speeding highway as he closed his eyes and let the water run down his face.

"C'mon, Ziggs, what's gotten into ya? You can't just be cuddling with the little guy and make it seem like nothing! Jeez…I don't feel so good."

Ziggs placed his hand on his belly, almost feeling nauseous after waking up so close to Rumble. He couldn't get these feelings in order. Was it an upset stomach? Did Rumble give him a virus during the night? Or something else? There was something the yordle couldn't shake after that night. Something was trying to come to a head. What it was, exactly, he couldn't pinpoint. These feelings confused Ziggs to no end. He wanted them to be rid of them…but how?

"Rumble's just here to help me with my assignments and then skedaddle back to Bandle! Right? …heh, who am I foolin'?"

And so the dance around the bush began as the two chose their words carefully. Neither wanted to talk about last night anymore as the trip back to Ziggs's lab was nothing more than half-hearted attempts at casual conversation. This behavior was truly a mystery between the two. A looming tension kept itself between the yordles, both unable to think of a remedy.

Rumble unlocked the hatch door of The Rumbler after hearing the laboratory door lock. Jumping down with the rolled up schematics he offered to hold on the way to the Academy, he placed them down on the island workbench and looked towards his friend.

"Well, I think I know what's on your mind." Rumble smirked. This brought Ziggs into a sweat.

"What!? Y-you do!?"

"You want work on your prototype bomb more, don't you? Or are you actually going to get to those obligations you got piling up?"

"O-Oh! Right! Of course! Haha!" Ziggs calmed himself, trying to ease back into his personality again. "Let's roll out those diagrams, shall we?"

Ziggs stood next to Rumble as each paper was rolled out on top of one another. The faint smell of graphite and ink followed each unraveling.

"Now, I was looking at your sketches last night and I can see where you're going, though, there's a little flaw over here where you drew these extensions going out towards-" Rumble went on. Ziggs stared blankly at the paper, unintentionally drowning out Rumble's words and disregarding his pointing finger as he was caught in his own train of thought.

"Of course you were looking at my schematics last night. That's not the only thing you were doing up and about…oh! Shit! I'm not listening to him! What's he sayin', now? Oh…I'll just smile and nod."

"-need to take into consideration larger enemies. If you don't then you'll just be throwing around a failed experiment. See what I mean?" Rumble looked at the almost overzealous Ziggs smiling and nodding in blind agreement.

"Oh yeah! Totally! Absolutely! 100% yes! And when you're right, oh-ho Rumble, you're right!"

"Um…thanks?" Rumble cocked an eyebrow in confusion.

The two stopped their separate thoughts as a soft knocking was heard against the lab door.

"Excuse me, Mr. Ziggs? If you're not too busy…" a nervous voice called from behind the metal door.

Ziggs looked at the door before turning to Rumble, motioning his hands to entice him back into The Rumbler. The blue yordle, already used to the swing of things, nodded and hurried onto the platform cart, falling into the hollow bomb and sealing the hatch door. Once Rumble was out of sight, Ziggs slid the door open, extending his arms as much as the doorway would let him.

"Gustaav! Whatcha need from me today, eh?" Ziggs greeted, putting on his best performance for anyone outside the laboratory's walls.

"Oh! Mr. Ziggs!" Gustaav hugged his clipboard against his chest, startled by the yordle's sudden presence. "I, er…have to see you outside your lab for a few minutes…if that would be adequate?"

"Outside my lab for a few minutes? You need to talk about somethin'? Aw, is Heimy bein' a meanie again? Don't worry, you'll get an office of your own one of these days, kid-o! Just keep suckin' up! That it? Super! Nice talk and have an explosive day!"

Ziggs began to slide the door shut again before Gustaav's grip fought against it.

"W-wait! That's not it at all!" Ziggs sighed and let Gustaav keep the doorway open. "I have to give you a…mandatory survey! It's being administered to many of the staff members for our records."

"A mandatory survey!? I don't have time for that! And what else does the Academy need to know about me!? I gave 'em my full name, age, shoe size, ear length, bathing frequency…"

"Please, Mr. Ziggs! It's important!" Gustaav pleaded.

"…." Ziggs took another long sigh before looking at The Rumbler than back at Gustaav. "Fine, fine! Whatever. Lemmie just grab my key first."

Stepping away from the door, Ziggs began to approach a set of drawers. Gustaav took advantage of this time, obtaining a handheld transceiver from his lab coat pocket and turning his body away. With the press and hold of a button, the green-furred yordle brought his mouth to the center speaker.

"The Emperor Penguin will be leaving the nest. I repeat, the Emperor Penguin will be leaving the nest." Gustaav said in a loud whisper, releasing the button.

"You imbecile! The Emperor Penguin species does not create nests in fixed locations! Have you utterly failed your Biodiversity and Evolution course?" A crackled voice snapped back.

"M-my apologies, sir. I'm not used to being a part of covert operations like this. Please forgive me." Gustaav's ears drooped.

"Just be sure you lure Ziggs away from his lab for duration appropriate enough for me to examine his workspace thoroughly. Comprehend?"

"Yes, sir. You can count on me. Oh, he's here!" Gustaav quickly hid away the transceiver back into his pocket and turned to face the agitated yordle. "Are you ready, Mr. Ziggs?"

"Yeah, yeah. Let's get this over with already!" Ziggs slid the metal door closed, using a key to lock it in place. "Where to?"

"Right this way, Mr. Ziggs!" Gustaav gestured for him to follow as the two walked away from the lab and to a destination neither had predetermined.

Once the two yordles were out of sight, Heimerdinger examined his surroundings before approaching the laboratory door. Flipping through a ring of keys, the inventor plucked a single, special key that was able to unlock any door constructed in the Academy; a Master key. This lab door was no exception as the Master key unlocked and slid the door open with ease. Taking a few steps in, Heimerdinger scanned the overall look of Ziggs's workspace; messy, cluttered, busy and volatile. This was to be expected of him, however. But it wasn't the muddled workbenches Heimerdinger was concerned about; it was Ziggs's newest addition to his inventions.

Heimerdinger walked to the back of the lab where the large bomb sat in isolation. He had seen this once before, however, couldn't get a good examination of it. Now was his chance. While Gustaav distracted Ziggs, Heimerdinger would take advantage of his absence to find out what's really up with the ever-so-peculiar object he totted around now. Rumble could hear the steps of an unknown occupant as it circled the cart several times. Keeping his palms against his mouth, he kept his breathing to a minimum, knowing that bombs didn't make a sound unless detonated.

"Ziggs…where did you go? This isn't good. Who the hell else has access to his lab!? C'mon, Ziggs…where are you?" Rumble thought to himself, breaking out in a sweat.

In another part of the same floor, Ziggs and Gustaav stood in very close quarters in complete darkness. The smell of dirty water and used cleaning supplies occupied the dampened air.

"Gustaav…" Ziggs began in agitation.

"Yes, Mr. Ziggs?"

Ziggs grabbed in the air until he grasped a small chain, pulling it down and illuminating a single light bulb to reveal both yordles.

"Why the hell are we in a janitorial closet!?"

"It's much more...quiet in here! It'll ensure confidentiality of your answers!"

"…y'know, you're really startin' to creep me out, Gustaav."

"You know what they say…you never know who might be in the closet! Hehe…ah…"

"…"

Gustaav looked at Ziggs's unimpressed expression, knowing his humor wouldn't be recognized. He cleared his throat and looked at his clipboard.

"Ahem! Shall we get started then?"

"Go for it."

"How'd you find out about the Yordle Academy?"

"Who doesn't know about the Academy? Any aspiring inventor hears about it eventually!"

"Ok…how tall are you?"

"I'm 3 foot 2!"

"Do you have any interests?"

"I like soft, sensual detonations, long walks on the minefield and the sweet, sweet smell of flash powder wafting in the air!"

Gustaav nodded as his wrist flicked the pencil along the unknown paper. "I see, I see. Any piercings?"

"Just this little ol' earring o' mine, hehe."

"What's your ideal soul mate?"

"Is this a dating simulator? Am I some on sort of weird reality show?" Ziggs asked, looking at his surroundings for any cameras.

"It's just a part of the survey, Mr. Ziggs."

"The Academy sure does want to know a lot about their staff…fine, whatever. Let's see…I guess someone who would have as much fun tinkering as I do! Someone who'll be there next to me laughing at the sight of multiple explosions! Someone dangerous…and loveable!"

"A-adorable…would you ever want to have children?"

"Hmm…little clones of me running around creating their own forms of chaos? …sure! Why the hell not?"

"Have you ever worn braces?"

"Only when I was little. That's how I got these perfect, pearly whites!" Ziggs said proudly, giving an ear-to-ear smile.

"Have you ever had a near-death experience?"

"Probably about every time I step into my lab, haha!"

"Ah, I suppose that's true. What's your favorite color?"

"Red."

"Your favorite food?"

"Jalapeño poppers!"

"How large would you say your bed is?"

"Enough to fit me and Rum-!" Ziggs caught himself mid-sentence, knowing that the Academy didn't need to know everything about him. "Rummmm…mmmm! I sure do love rum!"

"I didn't realize you drank alcoholic beverages, Mr. Ziggs."

"I always have a bottle right next to me in bed! If there's anything to like about Bilgewater, it's their taste in rum! Haha! Yes, sir!" Ziggs placed his hands on his hips and froze, hoping that his demeanor didn't seem suspicious to the surveying yordle.

"I…suppose so."

"How much longer is this going to take?! I've got work pilin' up, y'know!"

"O-only a few more minutes of your time!" Gustaav said nervously. Looking at his clipboard, however, the assistant had run out of questions already. Flipping through unrelated pages bound against the board, Gustaav looked back at the impatient Ziggs.

"Ah…just a moment!" Gustaav covered his face with the clipboard to hide away his anxiety. "I don't know how much more time I can buy you, sir! I hope he's making progress…"

Back inside Ziggs's lab, Heimerdinger had retrieved a stepstool to get an overhead view of the bomb. Noticing the hatch, he became increasingly curious while the inhabitant inside became increasingly uneasy.

"Hmm…it is much unlike an ordinary explosive to have a hatch such as this. Ziggs's own creations have been somewhat of a mystery, however, this seems rather…out of place." the inventor said to himself.

Grabbing a hold of the handle and using what little amount of upper body strength he could muster, Heimerdinger tugged at the hatch. With each pull it seemed the door would give way less and less. Defeated, he wiped the sweat from his brow.

"Hmph. Persistent, aren't we? Well, there is an important rule in science: if there is resistance, stop at once! …However…" The yordle, hell-bent on removing the hatch door, acquired a flat-headed screwdriver from his tool belt. "I shall make one exception!"

"ZIGGS WHERE ARE YOU!?" Rumble cried in his mind, wishing there was a way he could make Heimerdinger rethink his actions.

"Are you in good mental health, Mr. Ziggs?" Gustaav asked, imagining viable questions on the spot.

"Well, I guess that's always been in question, hasn't it? Hehe." Ziggs chuckled, poking at his helmet.

"And what about your physical health? Do you feel ill? Is your body at a normal temperature?"

"I dunno about that…I feel fine!"

"Maybe I should check your pulse!" Putting his clipboard underneath his arm, Gustaav took a hold of Ziggs's wrist, peeling back his brown sleeve and resting two fingers above his radial artery. This behavior was beginning to become more unnerving than the initial invitation. If this was a test to determine the length of one's patience, Ziggs would be failing miserably as his was becoming short in supply.

Gustaav brought his hand away from Ziggs's wrist and placed the back of it on the other yordle's helmet where his forehead would be. "Maybe your temperature…"

"Not sure how far you're gonna get with that one…I don't remember a random survey including vitals!"

"It's very important, I assure you! Now, uuhh…" Gustaav was beginning to run out of ideas as he began recalling other methods physicians used for their patients. "…Aha! Next, I'll need you to remove your jumpsuit, pull down your undergarments, turn your head and cough!"

"…"

With that request, Ziggs kicked the closet door down and stomped away from the assistant, his fuse reaching its inevitable endpoint. Gustaav ran out behind him, stopping to see the frustrated yordle trudge further away.

"W-wait, Mr. Ziggs! I haven't completed the survey with you yet!" Gustaav cried out.

"Your survey's weird and so are you! Weirdo!" Ziggs called back without turning around. The assistant hugged his clipboard tightly, worried of what ramifications his recent failure may cause.

"My apologies, sir…I couldn't stall him for any longer! …Oh! I should warn him!" Gustaav retrieved his transceiver and depressed its center button.

"S-Sir! The Emperor Pe-…I mean, erm, the bird!...ugh, ZIGGS IS COMING BACK!"

Heimerdinger's radio buzzed with Gustaav's whole-hearted warnings. However, the inventor, recklessly determined to reveal the contents of the bomb, ignored these cries and continued to pry the hatch away with his screwdriver.

"Come now, you blasted…Grrr…!" Heimerdinger grunted, sweat dripping from his brow as his efforts were nearly bringing him his desired results. All the while, Rumble's restlessness grew as he could only stare at the small spots of light that would escape more and more with each of Heimerdinger's attempts. He would soon be revealed to his rival and he could only prepare himself for the fight ahead, balling up a fist and bringing his arm back.

"Only a…smidgen more...success…within reach…!"

Ziggs reached into his jumpsuit pocket for his key only to find the door already slid open, revealing an uninvited intruder to be seen having at The Rumbler. Wide-eyed and jaw-dropped, the yordle ran to the doorway.

"WHAT DO YA THINK YOU'RE DOING!?" Ziggs shouted aloud, his voice almost echoing between the lab's walls. Startled, Heimerdinger dropped the screwdriver and leaned back on the stepstool, flailing his arms to bring him back to balance. Caught and out of position, the large-headed yordle turned slowly towards a seething Ziggs. He bared his teeth and panted with rage as a result of the recent events.

"A-ah…Dean of Demolitions. You see, I was merely…ah…"

"DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF YOU MESS AROUND WITH A BOMB LIKE THAT!?" Ziggs took angered strides into the lab's interior with fists at his sides. "DO YOU!?"

Heimerdinger could only look down in regret and embarrassment. He was one to explore, however, never to be this curious. In the name of science, Heimerdinger was known to take extreme measures at times. As a role model and a superior to Ziggs, the trapped yordle knew he wasn't setting a very suitable example and brought himself down from the stepstool, retrieving the screwdriver. He was aware of his defeat and admitted as such.

"Sincerest apologies, Dean. I suppose I allowed my lingering curiosity to garner the better of my judgment," he said, finding a place on his tool belt for the screwdriver.

Rumble breathed a quiet sigh of relief as Ziggs's presence was that of a knight in shining armor, saving his damsel in distress…or something along those lines.

Ziggs shook his head, putting a palm to the front of his helmet, his nerves shot.

"First Gustaav's waste-of-time survey and now I gotta come back to ya breaking into my lab and pryin' through my hard work like a maniac! What's gotten into ya, huh!?" Ziggs folded his arms, frowning.

"I most humbly apologize for uninvitingly proceeding into your laboratory."

"You got any more business here other than trespassing, hm?"

"N-no, I don't seem to have any more pressing matters here in this current location at this curre-"

Ziggs stepped to the side and pointed a sharp finger towards the open doorway.

"Get out."

Silently, Heimerdinger kept his head down and walked past the frozen, yet heated, Ziggs. Exiting the laboratory entirely, Ziggs slammed the door shut close behind him, locking it. He turned around sighing and holding his head.

"Jeez…what a couple of goons those two turned out to be. Da hell's gotten into 'em?" Ziggs turned his attention to The Rumbler which stood idly by. To anyone else, it would have looked like the replica bomb was untouched and perfectly fine. However, to Ziggs, the fake bomb was damaged, almost defiled by intruding and unauthorized tools. To make matters worse, the bomb wasn't hollow. The contents were shaken and scared, nearly unstable. Was The Rumbler's creation one of his best achievements or his worst mistake? Snapping back to reality, Ziggs quickly approached the platform cart.

"You alright in there, Rumble? Don't worry, no one else is here but me! I swear!" Ziggs reassured. It took a few moments for him to hear sounds of rustling through the metal shell. The hatch door slowly opened as Rumble's head popped out. Lifting and launching himself off the top of the hollow bomb, Rumble jumped down onto his friend, embracing him by wrapping his arms around the sides of his shoulders and resting his chin next to his head.

"Ziggs! Aw man, am I glad to see you! I thought Heimerdick-head was gonna find me for sure!"

Caught off-guard, Ziggs took a step back after the impact, patting Rumble's back with one hand.

"Well hey there! Glad to see Heimy didn't catch ya!"

"And the way you put him in his place! Oh man, classic!" Rumble laughed.

"Alright, alright, keep your voice down! We don't want the whole Academy hearing ya! You're lucky these walls are thick."

"Sorry." Rumble released and stepped away from Ziggs. "But this presents a little problem, doesn't it? Heimerdickbag is gonna try and get to that bomb whenever he can. What're we gonna do if he actually gets proof that I'm here?"

Ziggs pondered for a moment. His foolproof plan was beginning to unravel and his reputation would be at stake. On the brighter side, Heimerdinger still didn't have conclusive evidence that Rumble was being smuggled in and out of the Academy.

"As long as I can keep Heimy away from The Rumbler, everything'll be fine! And Gustaav, for that matter! Creepy little pervert."

"Pervert?"

"I don't wanna talk about it. Let's just get back to work, huh?" Ziggs proposed, wanting to forget the last turn of events even happened. Rumble looked confused at first then nodded in agreement. The stress of coming so close to being found out kept him uneasy.

The two yordles sat around the island workbench, resuming their discussion of Ziggs's upcoming, volatile projects.

Outside the lab, Heimerdinger and Gustaav stood next to each other in a traveling elevator. An atmosphere of silence and discomfiture loomed over them.

"My apologies, once again, sir. I couldn't keep him at bay for long…" Gustaav's ears drooped as he adjusted his large, round glasses. Heimerdinger sighed through his mustache, his hands behind his back.

"I conclude that this situation cannot be taken within our own hands, my assistant. I leave no other option than to switch to a secondary strategy!" Heimerdinger sent a finger into the air with rekindled determination.

"Does that mean you're going to call…?"

"The finest." Heimerdinger finished as they approached the ground floor.

Hours passed as the morning turned to the afternoon. The two tinkering yordles left their trays of lunch aside along with littered papers and parts across the lab's surfaces. Together, Ziggs and Rumble constructed a small model of what Ziggs wanted to adoringly name a "Hextech Minefield." If they couldn't make a single bomb that would release a slowing field around an enemy, they would make a field of smaller bombs to mimic it.

"Haha! It'll be great! I'll take a handful and toss 'em out! And when they see a minefield of bombs at their feet, they'll wish they never called mid! Ha ha haha!" Ziggs grew in excitement as his plans played out in his head like a fantasy. Rumble smiled.

"The bombs'll expand once you launch them so you're not weighed down with a bunch of explosives. Hope you've got some good aim, Ziggs!"

"'Good aim' is my middle name!"

"Really? I always thought it was Wilbrand? …Hm?!" Rumble became startled an exceptionally loud knocking from the laboratory door. This sound was becoming more and more alarming to Rumble with the recent occurrences as well as more and more infuriating to Ziggs. A knock on the door meant a halt in their work, a vexation to the helmeted yordle.

Without Ziggs's signal, Rumble dropped his writing utensils and himself into The Rumbler, shutting the hatch. Annoyed, Ziggs unlocked the door and quickly slid it open.

"Who wants what now!? Huh…?" Ziggs found himself yelling at two sets of legs as his eyes traveled up to see the female humans standing outside. The duo was known to be the best at tracking down and bringing criminals to justice, or better yet, Piltover's Finest. They looked down at Ziggs, one with a smile and the other a frown.

"Hey there, squirt!" Vi brought up a massive gauntlet to gesture a wave down. Ziggs's face lit up.

"Vi!"

Almost jumping up and down, Ziggs raised his arms up like a small child at Vi, awaiting her strong response. Bending down and grabbing the overzealous yordle with both hands, she tossed him into the air and caught him with a single arm, giving a rough noogie to the top of Ziggs's helmet. He responded with a soft nuzzle to her neck, throwing his arms over his shoulders.

In the months Ziggs had taken residence in Piltover, he had gotten to know many of the iconic figures who protect and serve for the city-state in and its civilians. Of these people were Caitlyn and Vi. While many yordles found Caitlyn to be rather dangerous and aloof, Ziggs believed she was a bit misunderstood and befriended her. Vi immediately took a liking to the volatile yordle; their reckless personalities knitting very well together and forged a friendly bond.

"Vi…?" Rumble thought to himself, unaware of who Ziggs could be so excited to see.

"D'aww, Cait! Can we keep him? Can we?" Vi asked sarcastically, giving an exaggerated, sorrowful face to her partner. Caitlyn rolled her eyes and sighed.

"You always ask that when you see him. The answer's always going to be the same."

"And Caitlyn!" Ziggs, still in Vi's arm, turned his attention to the revered sheriff. "What're you two stoppin' by for? Come to put the fuzzy cuffs on me and put me behind bars? Haha!"

"Hardly. We've come to the Yordle Academy to…congratulate you on your recent addition to the League. Mind if we come in?" Vi dropped Ziggs back onto the ground as he brushed himself off.

"Of course not! Just watch your back! And your front! And your sides!" Ziggs advised, leading the two into his laboratory. Caitlyn walked into another part of the lab, examining what she could with keen eyes.

"They told me you were a rather scatterbrained one, Ziggs. I didn't expect your laboratory to be so…" As Caitlyn passed the island workbench, she glossed over a schematic with a cartoon doodle of what appeared to be her wearing her signature hat, guzzling down a cup of tea and saying 'I'm on the case!' "…cluttered." She decided to disregard it.

"I should warn you, Dean," she continued. "Death is all you'll see in the League of Legends. No matter where you go, top, middle, bottom or in the jungle, danger will always follow. Take it from a seasoned champion. Are you prepared to die for your…team?" Caitlyn asked, turning around to Ziggs, who was now being effortlessly juggled around with two other bombs by Vi.

"Hey, Cait! Look! I'm tossin' three bombs around! Hah! Check it out!"

Caitlyn watched the two goofing around, Ziggs enjoying his free ride, and sighed again.

"Ugh, never mind. I should know better than to try to be wise around you. Honestly, you two are more thoughtless than the crooks we lock up." Caitlyn crouched down, retrieving a plastic glove for her right hand and gently brushing the ground with her fingertips.

"Aww, don't be a sourpuss, Caitlyn! Maybe Vi can juggle you around too!" Ziggs said airborne.

"Wouldn't be the first time I had cupcake in my arms, would it?" Vi gave the squatting sheriff a suggestive expression.

"Oh, hilarious." Caitlyn's sarcasm was something Vi would bait out and never got old to her. She inspected several sections of the floor, examining what she could find through the dust and scrap parts.

"Cait's right, shorty. You gonna be ready to smash some faces in the League? I heard it's pretty dangerous!"

"Of course! If I wasn't I wouldn't have joined in the first place!"

"That's what I like to hear! Alright, short stuff, ride's closing!" Vi began tossing the bombs aside as they fell into her metal gauntlets. She gave an extra high toss for Ziggs as he somersaulted in the air and landed on his feet.

"Ta-da~!"

"Hey, what's this all about?" Vi asked curiously, putting her hands on her hips and walking around The Rumbler. First Heimerdinger, now Vi? How many people did Ziggs need to fend off to protect Rumble?

"O-Oh! That thing? It's nothing! Just a really, delicate, nothing-anybody-should-be-touching-in-the-first-pl ace bomb! Hehe…" Ziggs watched cautiously as Vi looked at the bomb at all angles before grabbing it with both her gauntlets. Inside, Rumble grasped around the inner walls in failed attempts to keep himself still.

"Heh, pretty light for a bomb this size, ain't it? Or maybe I don't know my own strength?"

"W-w-wait wait wait wait! It's dangerous to do that! Put that down!"

Vi, ignoring Ziggs's advisory, began to almost violently shake The Rumbler up and down, bouncing around the contents inside like a ragdoll.

"Huh, sounds like something's rattlin' inside."

"PUT IT DOWN!" Ziggs hollered, startling both Vi and Caitlyn. Vi looked at Ziggs then at The Rumbler before placing back down on the platform cart.

"Sorry, half pint. Didn't mean to light your fuse, heh." Ziggs breathed a sigh of relief, however, still worried about Rumble's condition after suffering multiple impacts against the inner walls of The Rumbler.

Caitlyn zipped a small, rectangular plastic bag shut, concealing it in a pocket before disposing the glove and standing up again.

"Well, visit time is over. Can't be caught lollygagging when we're supposed to be on-duty. Come now, Vi." Caitlyn said sternly, maintaining her authoritarian figure and walking towards the doorway.

"Looks like that's my cue, little man. Catch ya around town! Don't do anything I would!" Vi gave Ziggs a quick wink before following Caitlyn out of the lab. Ziggs stood in the doorway, giving them an energetic wave.

"See ya! Have fun catching the bad guys!"

Vi waved back as she walked with Caitlyn to the nearest elevators. With the next set of visitors gone, Ziggs closed and locked his lab door again, quickly rushing to The Rumbler and knocking on its shell.

"Rumble! Rumble! Are you ok!? Speak to me!"

It was a few moments of silence before Ziggs heard the slow, squeaking of the hatch door being unlocked and opened. A pair of hands lifted a dazed and dizzy yordle through the hole. Rumble toppled down the side of the hollow bomb and fell in front of Ziggs's feet.

"Oooooh….my head…." Rumble groaned. "Who the hell…could be that strong anyway? Jeez…"

"Hehe, sorry 'bout that, buddy. Vi can be a bit…rough. And that's an understatement!" Ziggs brought his arms under Rumble's to help him to his feet. The dizzy yordle leaned to and fro, slowly regaining his balance and senses.

"Yeah…Vi. Who's that anyway? You sounded pretty excited to see her."

"She's part of Piltover's law enforcement and Caitlyn's partner! You'd think with that strength she'd join the League with Caitlyn! Maybe in the future…you gonna be alright?" Ziggs asked in concern. Rumble shook his head rapidly.

"Whew…yeah, I think so. Wouldn't be the first time I took a few knocks to the head. But man is she strong." Rumble gave Ziggs a reassuring smile.

"You bet! That's why she's the brawn and Caitlyn's the brains! They're a dynamic duo! Kinda like us!" Ziggs put his arms in the air and smiled back at Rumble. The butterflies, the uncomforting feeling in his stomach, they were coming back. But why? Did Ziggs's analogy of a perfect pair really push that button? Rumble looked down, almost saddened.

"Yeah…like, uh, us." Ziggs brought his hands down and leaned his head to one side.

"You alright there, buddy? Guess that shaking really knocked the wind outta-"

"Ziggs, how do you feel about me?" Rumble asked suddenly without looking up. It was a bold step for the blue yordle as he never imagined that it would be him to make the first move. The room filled with silence as Ziggs scavenged for words to say at the unexpected question.

"How do I…feel about ya? Well…" Ziggs began. "You're my best friend! We've known each other since we were little, little kids! Our antics growing up left us in some crazy situations! I remember you used to get picked on in school and I'd come around to the rescue! We're like brothers, even closer! I can't imagine what I'd be like now without ya, buddy! How's that?" Ziggs smiled without baring his teeth.

Rumble wouldn't have it. There was more to know and pry into, something Ziggs was hiding that he needed to get at. He ingested Ziggs's answer and continued to keep his head down.

"…that's it? Just friends? Brothers? A dynamic duo?"

"Hm? Don't like any of those? How's about when we're on the Fields of Justice we make some cool team name!? Like uuhh...The Manic Bombers! Or maybe we can put our names together like…'Riggs'! Or…'Zumble'! How's about that?"

Ziggs didn't understand. Was he dancing around the question or was he truly that naïve on the subject? Rumble would have to try once more to pierce the childish veil.

"No, that's not it. I mean…why are you keeping me here? Honestly? You could have just tossed me out with Heimerdinger and sent me back to Bandle! But you didn't…"

"I thought we already discussed this the day of the tour! You're here because I need you! …I-I mean-" Ziggs scratched the back of his neck.

Bingo. Rumble was finally getting somewhere. He would have to keep this pace if he wanted to retrieve any answers.

"I mean…I need you to help me with my work! Yeah! That's what you wanted to do in the first place, right?"

"Bullshit, Ziggs."

"Huh!?" Rumble was beginning to get aggressive.

"You don't just want to me here to help you around the lab. There's…there's more to it! I know there is!"

"What're you talkin' about!?"

"Last night. This morning. You didn't have to do that. So why did you?"

"I think you're lookin' a little too deep into that…"

"And the sketch on the schematic!"

"You mean the one where I drew Katarina exploding?! Or the one with Caitlyn and the tea? Between you and me…" Ziggs leaned towards Rumble a bit, giving him a loud whisper. "…I don't think she liked it. But I did!"

"Not those! The one of me and you. You know what I'm talking about." Rumble said, now glaring at Ziggs.

"Oh, that? Can't a guy goof around with his work a bit? Besides, I thought it came out pretty nice!"

"Then why did you try to erase it?"

"Well, y'know…I had to, uh, make more room for the rest of the diagrams! Yeah!"

Rumble was beginning to become less embarrassed and more agitated. Ziggs was either really good at stalling or being completely oblivious.

"Then how do you explain the pictures!?"

"Pictures? What pictures?"

"The ones in…" Rumble turned his body before pointing behind him at the set of drawers he rummaged through yesterday. "…there! Those drawers! And that's not all! You've got a letter in there you wanted to send me, right? What's up with that, huh?"

Rumble crossed his arms, cornering Ziggs as much as he could. He was a slippery one and Rumble wouldn't let him escape this time.

"What!? How do you…you've been digging in my drawers while I'm gone, haven't you?!"

"Answer me, Ziggs!"

"T-they're just…memories! Can't a guy miss his hometown after his first time being away from it for months!?"

"Those weren't pictures of Bandle City! Those were pictures of us and only us! If you really missed Bandle that much you would have had pictures of your other friends!"

"Why am I lookin' like the criminal here?! You're not so innocent either, y'know!"

"W-what?" Rumble grew nervous. Little did he know, Ziggs had material of his own.

"Don't play dumb, Rumble. I was awake for that late night smooch ya gave me!"

"Y-you….were awake?! B-but...I mean…" Rumble was at a loss for words. Had he known Ziggs was awake he would have never given his pent up feelings an outlet. Those damn goggles covering his eyes were to be his downfall.

"Mhm! And don't think I wasn't there for your little morning molestation!"

"Ack! C'mon! Do you just pretend to be asleep!?"

Ziggs crossed his arms. "Well, Rumble? Is there somethin' you're not tellin' me?"

Rumble swallowed, not expecting the tide of conversation to turn so abruptly away from his favor. He needed to be quick and clever again, however, Ziggs's accusations were more serious than Rumble's. How would he get himself out of this? Then it occurred to him.

"If you were awake while I was touching you…why didn't you stop me then? Unless you were…enjoying it?" Rumble gave Ziggs a sly smile.

"W-wait a sec! That's not the point here!"

"You were purring like a little kitten, if I recall!"

"N-no I wasn't!"

"Isn't there something you should be telling me, Ziggs?"

"That's not-!...But I-!" Ziggs scrambled around for words to piece together, however, found himself at a loss.

"Well!?"

Ziggs's lips trembled as his demeanor changed from an aggravated yordle to that of a defeated one. As his ears drooped down, Ziggs slouched over as if he was a robot running out of batteries.

"Fine. Ya got me."

"AHA! …wait, what?" Rumble said confused, not sure if his victory was one to be proud of.

"You're right, Rumble, I did miss ya the most." Ziggs began in a surprisingly depressed tone. "I kept those pictures because they were some the best memories we shared together. When things get hard around here, I look at those pictures and they make me happy. When I left for Piltover, I missed Bandle for so long. I still do! And I missed you. I remember when I first met you. You were alone and no one ever played with you. I never understood why…you brought me feelings of fun and excitement all the way up to the day I left!"

Rumble looked towards his friend with sorrowful eyes. "Ziggs…"

"I wanted those feelings to come back, y'know? Here at the Academy…it's all work and no play despite what you might think. Sure, I love doing my part for science and making explosives but they're not anybody you can talk to, enjoy lunch with or hang around and reminisce with, at least not without lookin' crazy! That's when you came around and forced yourself to come to Piltover for me! You brought back all those feelings I missed so much. You might think you're a burden to me but you're not! Really, you're not! I'm having a blast sneaking you around and having you here in my lab and at my apartment every day! I just…I don't want those feelings to go away."

Ziggs took a step towards Rumble as his goggles started to catch his small tears.

"That's why…that's why I want to keep you here in Piltover for as long as I can! I know what happens to yordles who get left in isolation for too long…I don't wanna become like that, Rumble!"

"But, Ziggs…what about the friends you made here-"

"None of them are you!" Ziggs sniffed and lifted his goggles to wipe his leaking eyes, putting them back in place. "I woke up every morning knowing I wouldn't see hide nor hair of ya! And on top of that, I had to deal with the guilt of knowing you hated me for leaving! You know what that does to a yordle!?"

Rumble was speechless at Ziggs's digress, unaware that both were in the possession of reserved, conjured feelings. He was known for being random and sporadic, though, breakdowns were not a part of his persona. This side of Ziggs wasn't often seen by Rumble and it left him frozen.

"Ziggs, I'm…huh!?" Rumble was caught off guard as Ziggs threw his arms around him, hugging his body tightly against his own and squeezing his eyes shut. Ziggs's warmth radiated to the other, making Rumble blush at this familiar feeling of closeness he worked so hard to get to.

"Please, Rumble…don't go. I don't wanna be a lonely yordle again…"

Ziggs's plea set off something inside Rumble's mind. The touch, the sounds, the warmth, the pent up emotions all came together in one final rush through his body, bringing his hands around to return the embrace. The two stood wrapped together in the middle of the busy lab as Rumble clenched the back of Ziggs's jumpsuit, gritting his teeth to hold back tears of his own. This was it. No turning back now.

"I…I can't take it anymore…" Rumble began. Ziggs opened one eye.

"Hm? Whatchya say, Rumbl-…wooaahh!"

Ziggs felt a sudden force as Rumble placed his palms against his chest, pushing him away and prying his arms off of his body. Rumble grabbed Ziggs's jumpsuit once again, this time by grasping underneath his collar and bringing him back in until they were nose-to-nose.

"Goddamn it, Ziggs! I LOVE YOU AND THERE'S NO CHANGING THAT!" Rumble announced, and with a rush of valor, closed his eyes and crashed his rough lips against Ziggs's.

His body froze at the sudden kiss, unsure of how to react. Rumble kept his eyes shut, hoping, begging for a response from his partner. Would he push Rumble away? Scold him? Call him a pervert and never talk to him again? As Rumble awaited Ziggs's reply, he quickly came to realize that his doubts were washed away as Ziggs placed his hands at Rumble's hips, leaning into the kiss himself and pulling Rumble's waist closer. Rumble tightened his grip, matching Ziggs's effort put towards the kiss. Rumble half opened his eyes, wondering if reality was playing a dirty trick on him. But as he looked at the slightly leaned head of his best friend brushing his lips against the other, he closed his eyes again, finally uncaging the butterflies that kept his stomach uneasy.

As the two parted their lips, they quietly panted to regain their breath. The feeling of soft breezes groomed against their muzzles as their warm breaths collided with one another. Rumble stared into Ziggs's goggles, almost looking at himself through the green lenses, as the other yordle stared back, both in disbelief of their recent experience. These feelings were mutual and that's all that mattered now.

"Please…" Rumble whispered his imploration. "…tell me you feel the same…Ziggs…"

The nausea, the discomfort in his chest; it all made sense now. It wasn't a virus or an upset stomach; it was love. It took a moment for him to take in the entire situation, but as he did, Ziggs slowly came into terms with himself.

"…I do. I do! And I…I want more of ya…"

Rumble gave a small smile of relief.

"Good because that wasn't all."

With that, Rumble threw his arms over Ziggs's shoulders, wrapping them behind his neck and pulling in for a more intimate kiss. Complying immediately, Ziggs wrapped his arms behind Rumble's torso and upper back, leaning his head to one side and interlocking their lips. Ziggs could feel Rumble's tongue caressing his maw, begging for entrance into his own. A hand behind Rumble's head and an open mouth brought their faces even closer, their tongues making their first meeting. The forces moving their body brought Ziggs's back against a wall as they moaned into each other's maws.

"Mmm…mmmff…" Ziggs pulled away shortly. "…hah…Rumble…don't stop…" Leaning his head in the other direction, their mouths interconnected once again, their tongues attempting to claim dominance over one another.

Their bodies began to mesh together as Rumble placed his leg between Ziggs's, giving him more stability to have at his new love. Their hands began to explore each other's bodies, Ziggs working his hands through Rumble's mohawk and rubbing his back while Rumble brought his palms down from Ziggs's solid shoulders to his chest and belly.

Lust set into the blue yordle, his open opportunity sending his senses into rapture; he wanted more of the volatile yordle's body. Breaking away from the heated kiss, a string of saliva kept their outstretched tongues connected but was quickly licked up by Ziggs's greedy thirst. Rumble kissed at Ziggs's lower lip then his chin, working his way down to his jugular. Pulling his collar down to expose his neck, Rumble brought his tongue to Ziggs's fur, licking and sucking in small areas, leaving them red. Ziggs leaned his head against the wall, moaning at the feeling of Rumble's moist tongue along the inner curvature of his neck.

"R-Rumble…aahhnn...w-wait a sec…" Ziggs said in between moans. Rumble wouldn't listen; his hands had yet to satisfy the hunger built up inside him. They openly explored whatever Ziggs's body could offer, gliding down past his waist and along his thighs, caressing inward. Rumble could feel Ziggs's legs come together in an attempt to keep the wandering hand away. That wouldn't stop Rumble's urge to get his prize, pushing between his thighs and sending his hand up towards Ziggs's crotch.

"Mmmnn…n-ngghh…R-Rumble…I said…COOL YOUR JETS ALREADY!" Ziggs gave his last warning as he pushed Rumble's face away from his neck, cueing his hand to withdraw as well. Ziggs adjusted his collar back into its original position as Rumble gave him a small whimper, his tongue still slightly outstretched from his mouth.

"But you said…don't st-"

"I know what I said! I just…" Ziggs slid down the wall until his bottom hit the floor. "I don't think I'm ready for that kind of stuff yet, y'know? Things are goin' a bit fast, don'tchya think?" He rubbed the area Rumble left red and moist with his palm.

Rumble could understand where he was uncomfortable with the sudden, intimate touching as his euphoria subsided. Bending on one knee to get on Ziggs's level, Rumble gazed at the depressed-looking yordle and smirked.

"Heh…that's not the Ziggs I know." This made Ziggs raise his head to look at Rumble.

"What do ya mean?"

"The Ziggs I know is more of an overenthusiastic and impatient type. I didn't think you'd be the one to stop midway."

"Sorry…I'm just not used being touched…erm, down there. Especially from another-…well, y'know…" Ziggs looked away.

"Guy?" Rumble finished.

"Yeah…that."

Rumble chuckled at Ziggs's shyness on the subject and continued to stare at him. Ziggs kept his forearms rested on his knees; Rumble's gaze almost tangible.

"…what?" Ziggs asked. Rumble snickered again.

"Really? No bomb puns? You're surprising me, Ziggs."

"I think you're expecting a little much from me right now!"

"I could have sworn by now you would have said something like 'Oh! I think we could have a hexplosive relationship!' or…'Let's make like a bomb and have sex! Haha!'" Rumble imitated Ziggs's voice to the best of his ability, waving his arms around.

"Oh, c'mon! Why the hell would I ever say somethin' like that!?" Ziggs denied. A period of silence followed before he took a long sigh. "Ok! Ok…maybe I was thinkin' of the first one already. But that last one didn't even make sense! Even though I really do think we could have…"

"…yeah? Go on." Rumble enticed, still smiling.

"…a hexplosive relationship." Ziggs muttered, almost in a pout knowing that some of his phrases were indeed corny.

Rumble laughed again, deciding to indulge his partner in a subject he was more comfortable with.

"Yeah we could. Something with a…spark or flare to it, right?" Ziggs immediately cocked his head towards Rumble and smiled, leaning in closer.

"Like heated magnesium reacting with oxygen!?" Ziggs's smile was now ear-to-ear with excitement. Rumble got down to both his knees and hands, crawling between Ziggs's legs and placing his arms on either side of him. He began to close the gap between their faces once again.

"Hehe…yeah." Their foreheads came into contact with one another. "Like heated magnesium reacting with oxygen."

Ziggs chuckled at his iteration, his arms inviting the blue yordle in as their lips came together for an innocent peck.

On the ground floor, Vi and Caitlyn approached the main entrance/exit of the Academy, walking beside one another.

"Say, Cait. You don't think we're actually gonna have to…?" Vi asked in concern.

"If need be. I know he's your friend but so was your previous group and they ended up behind bars. He would be no exception."

"I know, I know. It just sucks for the little guy."

"Ah! Law enforcement officials." A voice called from behind them. The two stopped before the double doors to see Heimerdinger and Gustaav making their way to the exceptionally taller humans.

"Afternoon again, Heimerdinger." Caitlyn greeted.

"Sup." Vi gave her own greeting.

"I hold great optimism that you have found conclusive evidence, yes?" Heimerdinger kept his hands behind his back, looking up at the duo.

"Blue fur along the floor. Somewhat decisive but not 100%. We'll be taking it back for testing and give you the results as soon as possible."

"Excellent! And you, heavy-handed one?"

"…"

Caitlyn looked at her partner before elbowing her side, garnering her attention back to the conversation. Vi rolled her eyes.

"Picked up the big bomb thing. Somethin' rattled around inside. Dunno. Coulda been anything."

"I see. I will be eagerly awaiting your thorough examination results, law enforcers. Until then."

"You have a good day, Heimerdinger." Caitlyn turned to exit the Academy. Vi followed in suit, giving a half-hearted wave.

"Later."

Heimerdinger and Gustaav watched as the two walked out of sight from them, having a general idea of what they would come back with. Gustaav looked at his superior with concern.

"Sir, what if they do find out Mr. Rumble has been trespassing on the Academy grounds this whole time? Isn't he your rival? What'll you do?"

"Even after all my warnings Ziggs still persisted on keeping the blue nuisance around. Although he has not made a rather significant impact on the Academy's undertakings, trespassing is still trespassing! He may even have other intentions that Ziggs is cooperating with such as stealing valuable information! That would explain his presence here in the first place!" Heimerdinger sent a finger into the air and looked at his assistant.

"I would like our Dean of Demolitions to enjoy his final workday here. Be sure to arrange the immediate obstruction of his laboratory entrance when he exits the building. We will arrest them both first thing in the morning."

"Y-yes, sir." Gustaav nodded before walking away from the idly pondering inventor.

Heimerdinger lifted his head to gaze up at where the third floor would be.

"It will be a great step in the history of science and progress when I am finally rid of you…Rumble…"