Hey everyone! Happy Mother's Day, even if I'm a little late on that front. Still, I'm pleased I got this chapter done despite that and all the work I've had to do recently. This is, like, the most productive I've been in a long time. This and my uni work, hell, I've even managed some good progress on building my Sisters of Battle, which has been great fun.
Anyways, this is a bit of a shorter chapter, but it is one that is absolutely necessary for later parts of this arc, so it's not like I could just cut it or roll it into another chapter. Besides, it's Viktor and Heimerdinger. They're my boys; I'm not going to complain about getting to develop those two together, especially with how Viktor's character arc is going to go in this fic. The name of this chapter should be a hint to those of you who know their music, even if it's a little obscure.
Well then, I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it, and I'll see you at the end!
The feeling of standing on his own two feet was one Viktor would never take for granted. Even if one of his legs was made of metal.
Absently flipping the wrench in his hand, Viktor's eyes danced across the ordered mess of cogs, wires and pipes before him - the innards of a great machine that towered above him. It stood at a good six meters and about a third of that wide; a bare-bones, rectangular metal frame with steel support beams welded across each side in a X shape. Similarly made struts reached inside the frame, providing a base for the machinery within and taking their not-insignificant weight. A large spire protruded from the top, a meter and a half in height, and it was wrapped in a multitude of wires that spiraled up its length, each a different color and thickness that denoted its purpose. Wrapped around them was a cable made of clear, reinforced glass that ran anti-clockwise up the spire, connecting to the transparent orb held at the top.
Runes covered nearly every inch of them, painstakingly carved across their surfaces by his own two hands, and, if asked, he could recite the meanings and purpose of every single one of them. They were dull, then, nothing more than empty shapes and symbols, at least to the untrained eye, but Viktor knew they would soon glow with the raw, untamed power that he and Jayce had spent the last eight years studying; perfecting.
Viktor placed the palm of his left hand on the beam closest to him and shut his eyes, feeling the gentle hum of energy coursing through the metal and into his fingertips. The energy of the Spirit Realm that entered their world through the various Ley Lines stretched across its surface, suffusing their world and giving birth to all manner of miracles, along with the Mages who produced them as easily as breathing.
Magic.
He wasn't a Mage, he wasn't sure there had ever been any in Piltover or the Undercity, purposefully built as far from those same Ley Lines as possible, but he'd learned a few tricks over the years.
He pictured the machine before him coming to life, flooding with arcane and electrical energy alike and creating a miracle of his own design. He held that image in his mind for all of a second before he felt something in the machine shift, the series of Hextech Gemstones nestled within its bowels, alive, if not quite conscious, hearing the thoughts in his mind and responding.
Azure light shone from the runes carved throughout the machine, arcane energy flooding the same pipes he'd been observing just a moment ago, along with the various chambers and ports installed at various points within the structure. That same energy flowed into the series of electrical generators near the bottom of the device, starting them with a whir and producing more electricity than coal or wind ever could, and the four large fans built just above them began to spin, pushing out the air that, when all was said and done, would be pumped in from above through a series of valves and vents..
Glancing up, Viktor watched as the orb at the top of the spire began to blaze with blue light, traveling up and into it through the glass cable, while the various mundane systems within the spire itself activated. The gravity-manipulators within came to life a moment later, and the machine began to float a few inches above the ground, like all that metal weighed little more than air.
Then three of the generators scraped, like chalk on a board, as white hot sparks burst out from the machine at various points, the fans spinning far faster than they were ever designed to, before the circuit breaker burned out and the machine shut off.
Well, shit. Viktor thought as the gravity manipulators failed, and the device crashed back down with a heavy clang. It tilted precariously for a moment, and it would've been just his luck for it to fall over and damage all of its systems, instead of just a few, before it settled down again. Breathing out a sigh of muted relief, he stooped down and plucked his toolbag up in his free hand, sliding the wrench into its designated space before stepping around to the right of the device.
"Quite unfortunate", a voice came from behind him, sounding rather cheerful despite his words, "but it is a far sight better than the last malfunction to befall this device."
Viktor crouched down, planting his prosthetic knee on the concrete even as he glanced over to Heimerdinger, sat on a stool by one of the workbenches. "Considering the last malfunction we had was when the chambers holding the arcane energy detonated, irreversibly damaging every piece of magically-attuned technology and setting the project back two entire days", he recalled with a smirk, "I think that your standards may be a little skewed."
Piltover's revered inventor laughed, sliding off the seat that was almost as tall as him and striding over towards him. "I've been studying science for over a hundred years", he began, and Viktor couldn't help but chuckle as well, because even after all these years, he still talked to him like he was a student, "and as much as all us people of science profess the virtues of the scientific method, of trial and error, it is still frustrating when we reach the 'error' stage of the equation." Heimerdinger mused, coming to a stop just to Viktor's left as he looked over the broken generators. Considering he was shorter than him even when he was on one knee, he had an easier time seeing what was going on down there.
Still, he leaned down as well, feeling the metal backpack he wore shifting as he moved, but its weight had become second nature by then and he compensated easily. "I understand that as well. I dare say more than you do." Viktor said, and the Yordle's eyes flitted to him momentarily. He searched his expression for something, lingering resentment or any feelings of betrayal, but there weren't any. Not anymore. His expression softened.
"Well, I suppose you would." Heimerdinger agreed, his words tinted by unspoken regret. They'd talked things through a while back, after the Hexcore had been destroyed and he'd lost his leg, mutated as it was, and while they'd forgiven each other and come to understand their position, it hadn't fully assuaged Heimerdinger's guilt. Hide it as he might, the last of Piltover's founders was a weak liar, and Viktor knew all too well the look he wore whenever they were together. He saw it nearly every time he looked in the mirror, and every time he looked at the metal where his leg used to be.
But Heimerdinger's only crime had been ignorance, while he…
You cannot keep thinking about this. He scolded himself, even as images of Sky's glasses filled his mind, surrounded by the ashes of the woman who had died saving him. I can't bring her back, but I can take my life which she died to save, and I can make something of it. I can help people with it, more than I ever did before. For her.
"Still, the ability to learn from those errors is sometimes, in my opinion, worth more than succeeding in the first place." The Professor carried on, reaching and placing his fur-covered hand on Viktor's thigh. Then he smiled, the Yordle equivalent of a mustache bunching up above his mouth, before he linked his hands behind his back. "Still, I'm impressed with how far you've come." He said in a clear effort to pick the mood up, and Viktor's lips curled up ever so slightly. Heimerdinger nodded towards the machine a second later. "This is still a marvelous piece of technology, despite the kinks yet to be ironed out. Why, I remember when it took all of your and Jayce's efforts to make Hextech work in the first place."
The laugh forced its way from him before Viktor could stop it, not that he would have tried. "You mean when we broke into your office and stole back Jayce's research. Is that what you're referring to?" He grinned, even as he glanced over the motors in the machine before him, assessing the damage with a wince. He could tell just by looking that he'd have to replace every motor. Not all were as visibly damaged as the rest, but then again not all damage showed and even the slightest fault could spell disaster. No, it was better to take them all out and have them sent back to the Academy for repairs or, if the need arose, to be scrapped for parts. That meant replacing them in the meantime, which meant this project wasn't going to be completed for another day.
It wasn't the worst thing in the world, all things considered, but it was still a pretty big pain in the ass.
"That must be it." Heimerdinger said, bringing his hand to his chin like he was trying to remember, before he dropped the faux-seriousness and burst into laughter. "Oh, dear boy, I was so angry then, but looking back now it just makes me laugh."
Viktor nodded, reaching into his tool bag and pulling out his wrench again. He reached under the machine with his other hand a moment later, finding the plug and wires connecting one of the generators to the rest of the machine without even looking. He unplugged it with a harsh tug and slid his wrench to the first bolt holding it in place, breathing heavily through his nose as he pulled. It took him more effort than he was willing to admit to, but it came loose eventually, and he caught the bolt in his free hand as it fell. "We never talked about what happened that night." Viktor spoke up as he placed the bolt by his feet, where he could easily find it again.
Heimerdinger turned back to him with a curious expression. "We had numerous discussions about the funding and possible applications of Hextech that night alone. I don't believe any of us slept before sunrise; I know I certainly didn't."
Humming, Viktor slid the head of the wrench around the next bolt. "You know that's not what I meant." He said as he tried to unscrew it, gritting his teeth and pulling with all his measly might. Viktor strained against it for a good four seconds until it became clear the screw wouldn't budge, and he was left panting with the effort. "What would you…", he heaved, forcing the air into his once-dying lungs, "have done if those Enforcers managed to get into your office? Before we made Hextech work?"
The Professor faced him fully, and that near-ever present curiosity on his face faded into something tired, and just a little sad. "Truth be told, Viktor, I really don't know. I had nothing planned for when we finally managed to get inside, and it all seemed a little pointless once we saw how you'd successfully combined magic and technology." He explained, but Viktor could tell he was stalling, taking the time to decide on what he was going to say. It was a habit of his that Viktor had picked up on in his time as his Assistant, though he'd never brought it up with the Yordle. They all had their pride, and Heimerdinger had always liked to play the role of the wise teacher who always knew all the right words to say. He was very good at it, most of the time, so he didn't see any reason to mess with his confidence like that. Not because of a few, rare moments when he didn't have all the answers.
If Viktor allowed himself to be honest, he liked seeing Heimerdinger look unsure about things. It reminded him that, for all his age and wisdom, he was still just a person, with flaws and shortcomings.
Those flaws had never impacted him before, though…
"Jayce would have been banished from Piltover immediately." Heimerdinger said suddenly, his voice subdued in a way that Viktor didn't recognise from him. "Even if I hadn't wanted to, he had already been granted a measure of clemency the day before, for a crime which would have seen any other banished. The Council would have had no choice but to enforce their original sentence."
"And me?" Viktor asked, feeling just a little hesitant. Whatever Heimerdinger said was irrelevant now, but still, the answer had been eating at him for years. He'd just never had the courage to ask.
"Fired, at the very least." He continued, letting out a heavy sigh. "I would not have pushed for a heavier punishment against you, but I fear certain members of the Council would've been… eager to throw the proverbial book at you."
Viktor considered that for a moment. "Because I'm from the Undercity."
The Professor nodded. "I'm sure you must have noticed at some point during your employment, but a position with much as much weight as Assistant to the Dean going to someone from outside Piltover… I could not help but notice how it rubbed some of our colleagues the wrong way, and even some Councilors."
An old, bitter rage welled up in his chest and spilled out from between his teeth. "You say 'from outside Piltover' like they'd have been just as incensed with a Demacian or Ionian taking the position, but I've never heard anyone complain about Mel Medarda hailing from Noxus." Viktor scoffed, and he thought for a moment about how, before Hextech, before his prognosis, he'd have never spoken to Heimerdinger like this. He had too much respect for him, and he knew that a wrong word could send him back down into the Sump that he'd fought tooth and nail to escape. Viktor was a different man, now, with multiple friends on the Council and a near monopoly on Piltover's prized creation. He could kill a man inside the Enforcer's station and never see the inside of a cell. That may have been an exaggeration, but there had been absolutely zero repercussions after he murdered Sky. Sure, the Academy ruled it an unfortunate accident, but how much of the investigation had been tainted by his position? If he'd been nothing more than the Assistant to the Dean, a Sump-Rat in a position that most believed he hadn't earned, would they have been so lenient? Or would he be rotting in Stillwater for the rest of his days, sharing the fate Vi had been condemned to by their corrupt Sheriff?
She was from the Undercity, too, even if she grew up in the Lanes. Viktor had never met the man, but he'd heard tales of the mighty Vander growing up, and he'd known of the girls he'd taken as his own. They'd been the closest thing to royalty back then, and if Vi of all people could be thrown away, just like that, what would have happened to him? And Sky, like them, had grown up beneath Piltover's boot. Was the Academy's ruling less about his lofty position and more to do with the fact that they just didn't care. Sky's heritage was well known in the Academy, as was anyone's who made their way up from the Undercity, and one of the reasons Viktor fought so hard to get her as his assistant was because he knew she'd have to put up with the same discrimination he had for all those years.
To them, she was just another dead Trencher.
"You're right…" Heimerdinger spoke up, turning around and leaning back on the inert device, and for a moment Viktor could almost see the weight of his years settling on his shoulders. "Piltover was built to be a haven for the lost peoples of this world, displaced and scattered by the Rune Wars, and yet I allowed the very same thing to happen here. I let the people of the Undercity suffer under an uncaring government, and now that my eyes are finally open, I cannot find a way to make things right. At least, not in a way that would cause more problems than they would solve." The Yordle folded his arms across his chest, staring down at the floor with distant eyes. "Once Piltover had been established in full, I lost myself in my work in what would soon become the Academy of today, all while the fledgling Council sought to exploit the disenfranchised that this city had been built to protect, and I-"
Viktor couldn't listen to any more of this. "Would you shut up already!" He shouted, and the shorter man flinched, glancing up at him with concern and even a hint of fear. "You may be immortal, but you are not all powerful! You are just one man! One man with more power than most, yes, but to take centuries of strife and suffering on your back is complete nonsense! The Councillors whose greed led to the birth of the Undercity, and the Chembarons who stepped on the backs of others just to elevate themselves; they share just as much blame as you. More, because their crimes were done out of malice, and avarice. To take all of that onto your shoulders is the height of arrogance! No, it is even worse, because you would deny the choices of everyone who came after you! That their decisions, good and bad, didn't matter as much because of what you did a hundred years ago!" Viktor twisted on one knee and leaned in close, not quite putting his hands on Heimerdinger but getting near enough to stare directly into his eyes. "The triumphs of our homes are not only yours, nor are our failures. They belong to all of us equally."
Heimerdinger stared at him in open shock, and Viktor didn't blame him. He had never spoken to the Professor like this, even in their rare moments of genuine discord. He'd held too much respect for the old inventor to shout at him. He still did. Viktor drew in a breath and held it for a moment, reigning in a temper that he'd never had before the past couple of months. "You say you got distracted by your work in the Academy", he began in a much quieter, calmer voice, "and maybe you did. But no one can deny that your work bettered the lives of many people, and not just in Piltover! Do you really think I would have worked so hard to become your Assistant if I didn't believe in the work you were doing?" He asked, leaning back and giving the Yordle some room. "You say you went down into the Undercity, yes? That you saw the horrors my people endure? You were a tourist, old man. You barely even scratched the surface." A smile spread across Viktor's face that, in any other situation, he'd have called arrogant. "That horror was my life up until I found my way Topside, and I saw more of it than I believe you can comprehend. And yet I still followed in your footsteps from the day I hobbled through the Academy doors. I am still here, long after having caught up with you." Viktor reached to his side and wrapped his forefinger against Heimerdinger's nose, chuckling as he reflexively swatted at his hand in reflex. "You are not as bad as you think you are, Professor. In fact, I dare say you are a good man. Just one not suited to the intricacies of running a city."
The Yordle smirked, some of the life returning to his large eyes. "I built this city." He huffed good-naturedly.
"But you cannot deny that being off the Council has done you a world of good." He retorted, and Heimerdinger let out a bark of laughter, sounding at last like the man he'd known for over fifteen years.
"I believe you may be right." He snorted, before a somber look fell across his face. "And I… I have never said this, but… I am truly sorry for what I did back then, dear boy. I may have done what I believed was right at the time, but that does not change the fact that I nearly consigned you to your death."
Viktor thought back to their presentation of the Hexcore, of how panicked the old Professor became at the sight of it, and while he had felt betrayed at the time, terrified of a death he knew would soon find him, he thought he might understand now. Magic was as dangerous as it was beautiful, and the line between creation and destruction with the arcane was written in sand. "I've already forgiven you, old friend." Viktor said without hesitation, meaning every word. "Besides", he began, reaching a hand behind his back and tapping his steel backpack, humming with energy not of this world, "it seems to be working out now."
Even as he spoke, he basked in the feeling of that same energy coursing through his body, suffusing his cells and surrounding nearly every part of him in a warmth that went beyond just physical heat. The only exception was the space where his lungs would be, where necrosed tissue was slowly but surely being replaced by living flesh. It wasn't the quickest process, nor the most glamorous if the device on his back was any indication, but it worked, and that was all the miracle he needed. Especially now, when that cold spot in his chest had receded by nearly a third and he felt more alive than he had in years, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was getting better.
Heimerdinger reached out and placed a hand on his arm, smiling warmly up at him. "You have no idea how happy I am to hear it." He said, before holding his other hand out to him. "But it is healing you, not making you any stronger. You should rest. I will handle this for now."
Despite how he'd graduated over a decade ago, Viktor felt like a student under the watchful gaze of his teacher once more, and he had to fight the urge to look away. "I'm fine, Professor. I feel as strong as ever."
"I'm sure you do." Heimerdinger said, clearly trying to placate him. "I don't believe you could feel anything but, with that much energy running through you. But feeling strong and being strong are two very different things, and I saw the way you were struggling just a few minutes ago. You need to let yourself heal, and the first step of that is knowing when to rest." He chided him, though not unkindly. Viktor placed the wrench in his palm.
Then he sat on the concrete floor and scooted back, giving Heimerdinger space to take over. Viktor drew his organic knee up to his chest, wrapping his arms around it as he watched the Yordle take out the damaged machinery with greater ease than he'd had all afternoon, and he had to force down a groan of annoyance. "I'd been hoping to finish this project before the week was out", he admitted, "though that seems like a fool's hope, now."
"Projects like this take time." Heimerdinger answered, working his wrist with a strength that belied his short stature. "Especially ones as important as this. I do believe Councillor Ekko has outdone himself with this design, even if it was a little overshadowed by his Z-Drive."
Viktor laughed, running his free hand through his hair and wiping away the sweat he hadn't noticed until then. "Time travel is rather difficult to beat."
"I am not refuting that." He agreed. "But a device capable of transmuting toxic air into clean air with little to no major infrastructure is nothing to scoff at, either. And I wouldn't get upset about the time this project is taking", Heimerdinger reassured him, "because as I'm sure you know, the device Ekko showed was little more than proof-of-concept, and a rather small one at that. Scaling the technology to an effective level is much more complex than just adding more of what was already there."
"I'm well aware of the difficulties." Viktor huffed, placing his palms on the floor behind him and leaning back. "I just wish it was a little more feasible to spread a number of smaller devices across the Undercity, instead of relying on a few larger ones. The logistics of spreading and defending them from those who'd seek to steal them, however…"
"It is the wrong side of challenging, yes." The old inventor finished, plucking the broken generator from the underside of the machine and placing it on the floor to his left. "This way, we can clean as much air as possible while also maximizing our ability to defend the devices from attack. I wish I could say it wasn't necessary, but it would be naive to deny that there are some in the Undercity who believe gaining access to Hextech is more important than helping their home."
"It would be nice to say that greed only exists Topside", Viktor hummed, "but there will always be those who exploit others misfortune, and the attempts made to help them."
Heimerdinger nodded his agreement as his hands darted about beneath the device that would help his home, one day soon. "I believe Ekko will be happy with your progress, my boy. I do not doubt for a second that he regrets leaving the project in your capable hands." The Professor encouraged, before he went silent for a long moment, clearly considering something. "Viktor…" He spoke up uncertainty. "Ekko, he has not been himself the past couple of days, has he?"
Viktor snorted, but he was amused in the slightest. "Considering how awkward he was around Vi when we were here last night, and how he was being downright friendly with Jayce, I'd say so."
The Yordle's shoulders fell, just a little, and he could imagine how his face looked in that moment. "He's also been distant at the Firelight's base. He still carries out his duties admirably, but it's clear his mind is somewhere else. And that is when he isn't disappearing for hours at a time after raiding their pantry."
He could sympathize. While Viktor wasn't as close with Ekko as he was with Jayce, he genuinely considered them to be friends. If nothing else, he felt a sincere connection with the boy over their shared heritage, in a similar way he did with Vi. But the younger man had been pulling back the past two days, ever since he and Vi had fallen out, and the only person who didn't seem all that worried about it was Jayce himself. He'd been rather tight-lipped about what went down after he followed Ekko out of the factory, but it was clear he knew more than he was letting on. Yet, as much as it pained Viktor to see his friends struggling like this, he knew he had no right to ask Jayce to reveal what had obviously been shared in confidence. "I am rather worried about Vi, too." Viktor admitted.
"As am I." Heimerdinger said with a sigh. "I spoke with Sheriff Kiramman this morning about it, and while she obviously would not reveal any personal information, she did explain how this rift between her and Ekko was causing Vi no small amount of distress." He set the wrench back in the tool bag and turned to Viktor, holding his hands behind his back and meeting his gaze. "I may not know Miss Vi all that well, but I can see that she is a good and skilled woman. One who values our homes and our peoples, as divided as we may be. No matter her mistakes, she does not deserve to suffer as she does."
Silence hung between them for a moment after Heimerdinger finished speaking, and Viktor glanced down at the space between his feet, considering the events of the past few days - when he had finished the upgrades to Vi's Atlas Gauntlets and things had looked to be going so well, before Ekko entered and things fell apart. "The only saving grace is that they both clearly regret what transpired between them, which should make things easier when they eventually hash things out. Especially Ekko, that much is clear with how he looks at her when she isn't looking. They're either too prideful or too scared to talk properly, though, and until then they'll just carry on like this."
"I do wish I had been there." Heimerdinger said in a quiet voice. "Vi had many people on her side then, but Ekko was always closest with Vi herself, and I fear I might have been the only one who could have helped him regain his calm."
Viktor raised his arm and tilted his hand side to side. "I'm not so sure about that. Ekko was… well, furious feels like an understatement. Part of me was convinced he would attack her, which would have ended badly for all involved."
"That I can believe."
"Still", Viktor pressed on, "I think it was important that Ekko learned what happened that day, between Vi and her sister. We may have not had any right to learn those secrets, at least then and in that manner, but Ekko and Vi have known each other for years. And, from what I've learned since meeting the two of them, Ekko and Jinx shared a strong bond as well. He deserved to know. Especially after fighting her for multiple years, now."
Heimerdinger glanced away, looking pained for a second. "I can only imagine how upsetting that must have been for the young man. To have the people close to him disappear for years without a trace, only for the one he was closest to to reappear in the manner that she did. I've known men twice his age who would have fallen apart in those circumstances."
"Ekko is a remarkable young man." Viktor nodded. "But neither of us are in a position to help them fix this gap between them. That much is up to them."
"You're right. The best we can do is be there for them when we're needed, and continue their work in their place." Heimerdinger said, gesturing to the machine towering behind him.
Viktor smirked. "Then maybe you should get working, then. We are losing what little daylight we have left, and I should like to finish assessing the damage before everyone else gets here this evening."
Piltover's most esteemed inventor shot him a dirty look. "I told you to rest, young man. Not to let me do your work for you." Then he smiled. "Besides, I've known you long enough to know you won't be sitting there for long. We'll finish this together. Like old times."
He smiled too. "Of course, Professor."
And, despite how much had changed over the years, Viktor fell back into the role of student easily, listening with a keen ear as Heimerdinger offered his own ideas and suggestions for the project. There was something therapeutic about it, leaving aside the worries and goals that only ever seemed to grow and focusing on what was in front of him, dedicating every part of himself to that one, singular purpose.
It was better than he remembered.
There's not much to say here, truth be told. I wouldn't quite call this filler, because it does serve the plot of the story, but it's meant to be a bit of a breather with all the emotion and heartbreak of recent chapters. It's also there to show that the lives of the rest of the cast don't just stop because Vi and Ekko are in a bad place right now, and how they might support them in this time.
Regardless, we'll be back to our regularly scheduled sadness with Jinx next chapter, especially as we approach the final stretch of this arc. Not long now.
Leave a comment if you liked, or disliked, this chapter, and I'll see you all next time!