"Please Stay" - Arcane Viktor x Reader

Chapter 7

- Did you follow me here? What the hell is wrong with you? - you asked furiously. At this point you were sick of that nosy cripple and with nobody seeing you, you were this close to throwing the boy of the building.
- No, I followed HIM here actually...  - Viktor said while pointing towards Jayce still sitting by your side. At that moment you both noticed Jayce's journal in the hand of the young Zaunite. Upon seeing his book in assistants possession, your friend got up hastily, clearly as upset as you were.
- What, are you going to insult my competence again? Are you trying to provoke me carrying this thing around? - the boy said pointing towards his own notes. Viktor looked a bit surprised at Jayce's defensive attitude.
- No.. I was intrigued by your notes and by what you said at the trial. - Viktor slowly approached the two of you, his cane making a quiet tapping sound on the cold stone. You got up and moved forward a bit, ready to stand in between your friend and the deans assistant. - What you were doing here was clearly important enough to have YOU sacrifice your career over it and to have HER trying to seduce me, begging to let you go - Jayce Iooked at you confused, as you felt your face turn red from anger and embarrassment. Viktor on the other hand barely looked your way as he focused all of his attention on Jayce - I wanted to talk to you about it. About this hextech theory of yours.
- It's not just a theory - your friend turned his attention back to the crippled boy - I saw with my own eyes what magic can do. The lives it could save. You have no idea how beautiful it is... - he turned away from you and the assistant, and looked at the Piltovan landscape. - And now it's gone, no one believed me. - you felt your heart sink a bit looking at him. The work of his life destroyed because of ignorance and fear. You knew exactly how he was feeling. You often imagined what it would be like if you got Unity working again. The beauty of it flying towards the stars and the proud look on your father's face. But now, seeing the treatment your friend's work got, you weren't so sure if that's what it'd look like.
- Nobody's ever believed in me. - Viktor said as he approached the ledge, stopping directly next to Jayce. And for the first time since he came here, he turned his head and looked at you, as if he wanted to make sure you were listening as well. His face was the same as before but his eyes looked sad, disappointed even. He then turned back towards the night sky and continued. - Poor cripple from the Undercity. I was an outsider the moment I stepped foot in Piltover. I didn't have the benefits of a patron, or a name. I simply believed in myself. - he paused for a second and directly looked at Jayce. The young inventor returning his gaze. - Which is why I'm here, because I think you're up to something. I want to help you complete your research. - upon hearing that Jayce looked at you, as if to check if you heard that too or if he was dreaming. You sent him a reassuring smile and nodded your head just slightly. The young inventor turned back towards his converser.
- Noone thinks it could be done.
- When you're going to change the world, don't ask for permission - the boy responded and extended his closed palm. He opened it, revealing Jayce's leather bracelet with a gem. You knew the story of that gem. It was the same one that transported him and his mom into Piltover, when they were on the verge of freezing to death. The one he later received from the mage who saved them. Your friend hesitated. His hand hovering over the trinket. He finally took it and started to tie it back onto his wrist.
- I don't even know your name... - Jayce chuckled. The cripple smiled.
- It's Viktor.

~

After such unexpected news Jayce was ready to start right away and insisted on you staying and helping out as well.
- Please Y/N, you are the smartest person I know. I wouldn't have made it so far without you - the excited boy trapped your hands in his, bending his knees slightly to match your height - Think of what this could do for you, for your legacy. - you frowned and claimed your hands back from the man's grasp.
- And what if it goes wrong Jayce. What if all 3 of us get caught or the experiment fails again. You would get sent to the Undercity and I-.. - you paused for a second, as you noticed Viktor, who appeared to be looking through Jayce's notes again. But you knew very well that he was listening closely to your conversation - I can't afford to get into any trouble, you know that. - your friend's face turned long as he finally realised what would happen if they searched your lab.
- Please, just stay for now and help us with the math. I promise I won't mention your name anywhere. - he looked at you with his big puppy eyes and a sweet smile. Seeing him so excited about doing something so illegal made your heart melt. You sympathised with the boy way too much. Still, you groaned theatrically.
- Ughhhhh... Fineeeeee... Those puppy eyes were a blow below the belt and you know that. - the young inventor almost jumped. Ecstatic about having one more member join his team.
- Yesssss, I'm going to make it up to you I promise.
- Just, let's make this quick. Amity doesn't know I'm here. - Jayce nodded and turned his attention towards Viktor, who dramatically closed the journal.
- Right, shall we get started then?

~

The 3 of you worked hard. First analising every single quality you knew about the gems, and then connecting it to Jayce's notes. It wasn't easy, but as you got more and more information, the pace of the meeting quickened. You would often step up to the chalkboard and correct the two boys on their math, or share some of the knowledge you had regarding physics or magic. At some point the atmosphere started to grow competitive as you and Viktor would banter between eachother, pointing out mistakes in Jayce's equations and racing over who adds more pieces to the puzzle. You were actually surprised how smart Victor was, quickly connecting the dots and drawing out conclusions. The tension you felt towards the cripple lessened a bit, but not enough to let him win in your little competition. You pointed out a connection between the crystals and the different frequencies and looked triumphantly at the young Zaunite. He dramatically rolled his eyes and added a line on your side of the board, marking a point. You were on the lead. As Viktor turned his attention back to the equations his expression changed a bit. He made a big line through the middle of the calculations separating them from the rest. Jayce seemed to notice something as well.
- This entire time I thought I needed to dampen the oscillations - the young inventor started
- But the crystals will only stabilise in high frequencies. You have to-
- Crank it! - you and Jayce interrupted Viktor and looked at eachother in awe. Both of you grinning like little children. You fucking did it. Viktor smiled sweetly at your reaction.
- Yes. Yes, you have to crank it - you tried your hardest not to laugh at the way he said the word 'crank', his accent making it unbelievably charming and weirdly similar to the way an old man would say it.
- It works..
- Eh, only on paper - said Viktor turning his attention back to the blackboard.
- Well, we could test it if we had access to my equipment - your inventor friend said as he rubbed his forehead with two fingers.
- Which is being destroyed tomorrow
You frowned your brows as you heard the news. Jayce got up rapidly from his stool moving it slightly backwards.
- Wait, what?
Viktor looked at the other boy with a perplexed expression.
- Oh... Yeah... I meant to tell you. Mixed expression of sadness and anger appeared on Talis's face. You were having a bad feeling about this.
- That research, it's everything. My whole life's work. Maybe if we show them the equations they'll let us-...
- We need more than promises, we need proof.
- But we've lost all the crystals. The enforcers took them all.
- Hm... They are locked away in Heimerdinger's lab.
You could almost hear cogs turning in Viktors brain as he was thinking over the situation. Suddenly his expression changed and to your horror he pulled out a big ring with at least a dozen keys on it.
- No, no, no. YOU are forbidden from setting foot in the Academy and YOU... Why? Why would you risk this? - you said as you got up from your stool, pointing at Jayce and Viktor respectively.
- Do you really think it was my life's ambition to be an assistant? Scientists seek discoveries, ways to make the world a better place - the crippled boy answered, looking directly into your concerned eyes. He was determined, and you knew there was no talking him back from this. It looked like he made his decision long time ago. He turned his gaze away from you and towards Jayce who was back to slumping on his little stool. - This hextech dream of yours. I believe it has the potential to do that.
Jayce's face seemed to lit up in the dim light of the lantern you used to light up the blackboard. He stood up and placed a hand on Viktors shoulder.
- Our hextech dream
He reached his hand out to you, but you quickly stepped back.
- No. - you said firmly, your words unmovable - What if you're wrong.
- Let us be right then... - Viktor said while taking a step towards you. He smiled reassuringly. You could swear you saw a spark glimmer in his hazel eyes. They were filled with hope and anticipation. He reached out his hand towards yours - If you just believe in us...
- I said no - your words cut through the air like knifes. You put your hand in your pocket and turned around from the two boys. With the corner of your eye you could see how Viktor's face changed. He looked genuinely hurt at your reaction. - You two can do whatever you want but I'm leaving now. I suggest you two wait a couple of minutes, before heading out. Just to make sure nobody sees us together. - you sounded cold. Really cold. You didn't turn around, afraid that the expressions these two had would change your mind. You made your way out of the building and towards the Academy. You hastened as you felt chilly wind penetrate your warm coat and settle onto your skin. You covered yourself more tightly hoping to escape the cold air, but to no avail. All you could do now was hope, that when you woke up in the morning it would be to good news and not to two death notices. If you were to wake up at all.