#🧪〈 ended thread. 〉

[eyeknowmayhem]

Her eyes light up. They’re doing something. They’re actually doing something! Her arms unlock and spread with her wings, two flaps is all she needs to get to the higher level of the ship. Being the one to haul everyone together and do a meeting, why- she’s got it handled. She couldn’t wait for everyone else to find out what they’re gonna do. All of this sadness, this- misery, it’s going to something constructive. They’re going to help!

She has her own dumb salute, and even from this high up she can still see the look on his face. “I will. Give me 5 and I’ll be there!” Is all she needs before darting off to the other expanses of the ship. Bepop and Rocksteady are a must- and with them they’ll get everyone assembled, and- well, she’s not sure what’s going to happen, but she knows one thing: This is going to change everything. It had to.

     THE FLY MUTANT grunts disagreeably at the mention of making a machine to get the humans to LIKE them, although it’s easily mistaken as a sound of uncertainty. At her second suggestion, though, he replies, “ Somethin’ like that. “ Though, again, he’s not sure what the specifics would be. How does one go about creating such a device at such a scale ?  There were over 8 MILLION people in New York City alone…It’d need a pretty WIDE range.  ( And, hell, he was imagining even BIGGER than that. )

     In any case, her energy and her somewhat silly but otherwise WELL-MEANING suggestion is enough to earn an amused chuckle from him. “ At this stage, I’m open to any ideas. “ So long as it got the brain juices flowing, he was willing to hear it. At this point, anything and EVERYTHING seemed like a possibility.

     Antennae perk up in realization upon her mentioning the whiteboard he kept. “ I do. That ain’t a bad idea, actually. “ Yes, they should definitely write these down. It’s ALWAYS better to write things down so you don’t forget the actual GOOD ideas.

     “ Indeed we do. “ Yes, yes — TELL EVERYONE. They’re here chattering away, just the two of them, and their other siblings were none the wiser. They had to be let in on this !  There’s a wave of his hand, a sweeping gesture: “ Go find ‘em and spread the word. " He then points at himself with his thumb. " I’ll do us up a nice brainstormin’ set-up while ya' do. “

     You’d think it’d be impossible for his grin to grow wider, and yet it does. He just can’t HELP himself. “ We’re gonna have ourselves a li’l FAMILY MEETING. “

[yanguazalie]

Art experimentation 🧪

But okay lemme also ramble a little about my take on doll ecology since I may not do it properly anytime soon like I intended! In this ramble, The Eternal Thread!

*ahem*

So Lou was the very first doll to be created for Perfect Doll Co., without him the dolls made in the particular factory wouldn't have their sentience. Because while not intentional, he was sewn together with The Eternal Thread: a very unusual, invisible, and ancient organism that's existed as long as the universe has; an extraterrestrial line of elements that has collected enough variety to create a life form all its own if used effectively. The Eternal Thread does not have a beginning or end as it stretches across the vast universe undisturbed, until one day crossing paths with the planet Earth, tangled up on a human who had a hand at crafting and was sewing Lou together one day. Stitch by stitch this doll came together, and then came to life as The Eternal Thread pulsed through him upon completion. Eventually it was discovered this same thread could be sewn through other dolls to bring life to them as well- although less intricately compared to Lou. That would just take too much time to do the same thing, and there's a factory to run! With that being said, the dolls could very quickly become lifeless if The Eternal Thread is plucked off their stitching. In Lou's case, he would have to be taken completely apart, which isn't easy if only himself or an anomaly human can touch it.

[vimesbootstheory]

👻 🧪🚦for the ask game!!

-landslided <33

👻 What is your wildest headcanon?

Answered here!

🧪 Do you research for your fics?

I usually drag my feet 'cause it's really not fun for me, but researching for The Recidivists in particularly has been a blast. Watched a ton of prison-based media, did some (real and virtual) prison tours, read a LOT of reddit threads from current and former inmates, looked at menus and schedules and lots n' lots of stats.

🚦What sort of endings do you prefer to write: ambiguous, bad, happily ever after, etc.?

Happy! For a shorter fic, I think I've written some ambiguous endings, but lately I'm been writing longer fic and I like those ones to end happily ever after. With complexities, of course, but mainly pretty dang happy.

Thanks for sending these! <3

[tazeredmike]

😈 "Queria mamar." 😈

😈 Notes about Y!mike:

-> uses he/him pronouns!

-> goes by Mike or whatever nickname he is given!

-> he gets possessed by Mine (@tazeredmine) so he'll have posts in pink text!

-> he shares a mental link with pac (@packedtazer) so he'll have posts in blue text!

😈 Taglist:

𓄋 whrr - in-character posts

𓄋 🧪 - out of character posts/tags

𓄋 gear sounds - in-character reblogs

𓄋 lab experiments - anonymous asks

𓄋 eu te vejo - end of threads

𓄋 the goddess' vessel - mine posting

😈Minha família:

𓄋 my helios - pac (@packedtazer)

𓄋 my darling baby boy my shining light my football star - richarlyson (@footballpigeon)

𓄋 my achilles - etoiles (@tueur-de-donjon)

𓄋 my proteus - felps (@felpsederation)

𓄋 my hera - foolish (@builderfreak)

𓄋 my pollux - charlie (@elfagflippo)

[withered--s0uls]

Hi system with bpd here. Posting this so fairy anon might see this and maybe be able to help the alter and system :)

DISCLAIMER: We are no medical professional, all I'm about to say comes from our own experiences as an Introject heavy system, our experiences with pseudos and information we have gained from other systems who are trying to heal. Please seek a professional in the field of DID & OSDD1 a/b for a more professional take on how to deal with the dissociation from reality through pseudo memories. Thank you.

First off, I hope it'll comfort you that alters cannot die unless the body dies. We can only disappear either by fusing with another alter through integration (a sign of healing!) or dormancy (can be either healing or the opposite, just means you aren't needed in the system atm/anymore or can't handle it's current situation so you basically "hibernate" in a way?)

Second off, this is why source seperation is very important. It's a requirement for Introjects to be able to heal.

Note: Sorce Separation does NOT mean to strip yourself of any and all things from your source. It means to be able to tell apart your source and pseudos from reality and acknowledge you're your own person and not your source. You're not a fictional character (if fictive) or someone else (if factive) or anything inbetween (if mixed/partial Introject).

You are a real person. Part of a real whole. Whatever happened in your source wasn't real and didn't actually happen to you. It can still be upsetting, but you need to be able to tell apart reality and pseudos bc if you don't, that may cause genuinely delusional beliefs and views on yourself and reality.

Example:

One of our fictives is an IDV fictive whose source relates to white sand street asylum. I wont say what their source character is for their comfort. Anyways.

They are triggered by mental hospital topics, especially bad experiences in them. Because the body went through something similar. Nowhere NEAR as bad as in their source ofc bc modern time, but still.

Pseudo memories aren't real, but they are usually metaphors for something the body went through. You have pseudos of being locked up but your body never was? It can be a metaphor for feeling trapped during the trauma.

You'll need to be able to tell apart your pseudos from your knowledge and hcs of source, and then also tell apart your pseudos from reality.

Source seperation can take time and be uncomfortable for alters who are still actively using their source as a way of comfort. Furthermore, if you're still actively going through trauma irl then it's an escape mechanism.

Pseudos are fake memories usually made bc the real memory is too painful or because the system needed escapism. However, that's that, they're fake. They're a form of dissociation in fact.

You're based on your source, but you're a separate person.

Yes, you can point at your source and go "look that's me!!" Just know that you aren't 100% that character, you didn't go through the happenings of your source.

Even if your partner isn't ready to fully source separate, please I beg do not treat them as the character. Treat them as their own person. Don't encourage the dissociation (coming from someone who had their dissociation through pseudos encouraged by other systems and singlets before) but provide comfort to them. Remind them they're more than their source & redirect them if something like being this upset over pseudos happens again.

Harming another alter in any way (typically emotionally bc like we literally share a body) is a form of self harm. What your gf did was self harm within the system. Try to support her through whatever she's going through and if their system is safe to and ready to, support them trying to find an Identity outside their source.

You're no therapist, you cant provide the required professional help, but you can be there as a support.

THIS WAS ALL; /GEN /LH AND /INFO!!

These are things our system had to learn and understand the hard way, so I do feel like I need to help here.

I'm a Varian tangled fictive myself. I'm pretty source separated but still identify with my sources appearance and some other traits. That's completely fine! Because I *am* Varian, however, I am not *the* Varian, I'm simply *based on* him.I'm not a fictional character behind a TV screen. I'm a person. That's the important thing you need to realize to heal :)

-🧪

Link to a twitter thread of us talking about our experiences and way of coping with bpd splits!

bpd culture is well fuck my gf and fp (an alter in a system) just found the dickhead who created their lore (which was a whole bunch of severely traumatic stuff) and then attempted to kill them in the headspace and was thus stuck in headspace jail for a bit. like on one side uh. yes, justified, half her backstory isnt just horrible but even as fiction was extremely triggering, but on the OTHER side if my main oc appeared.... would be hell for me, and like i wouldnt expect it, so their writer prolly didnt expect it either...

but if i have to pick sides im always on my darlings side. i dont care if shes wrong.

-fairy anon

.

[ssplague]

The late bloomer 🌬🥀

Part 5

Rated M

⚠️ A/B/O themes (knotting, ruts, heats, etc.) primal play, oral & MxF sex, possessive behavior, aggressive jealousy

Part 4

Honorable mentions: @naomithenerdgirl @gummiwormsandonedirection @nekee-lilac02 @veenasanada @satoooooruu @jazzylove @sizzlingdonutturtlemuffin @miss-lilith @girl-lost-not-found @desiray562 @wegotmatchingtattos @bakugoismisunderstood

💌 The flashback scene ended up being much longer than I’d originally intended 😅 I just got so caught up in it, I couldn’t help myself.

📱🧪👄

“Cant you stay for a little while Katsu? I could make dinner for us and afterwards we could wat-“

“No, I have somewhere to be and don’t call me that”

His tone of voice was as cold as ice.

“But-“

“But nothing, I told you what this was”.

Haphazardly tossing his school blazer over his shoulder, he leaves the room without another word to the flustered girl laying on her bed.

“I’m sorry, I mean…you’re a really great friend but I just…I don’t know if it would be a good idea for us to…well y’know” you trail off, not knowing what else to say to cushion the blow of turning down a date with a friend.

“Ah that’s okay ________, I shouldn’t have put you in such an awkward position…so uh…well if you change your mind…you have my number” says the boy before giving you a wave and making his way down the hall.

Entering the locker room, you hurriedly get changed into your PE clothes. Just before you head out to the track, you overhear a conversation that twists your stomach into knots.

“-then afterwards he took off…I just don’t understand why Bakugou-Kun is so closed off, I mean I could feel the chemistry between us! I wouldn’t have done that with him if I hadnt”.

Jealously was clawing it’s way up your throat, you wanted to attack the stupid girl, but you wanted to absolutely rage at Katsuki even more! What for though? He isn’t your boyfriend or anything….but you’d at least thought there was something between the two of you…

Apparently you weren’t the only girl lingering under this delusion. There were two classes left for the day…and of course he was in both of them with you. Taking out your phone you hastily sent a text before you could chicken out:

(In case the image doesn’t load: “Y’know I think I’ve changed my mind, I’d actually love to go out with you…Does friday after school sound good?)

“So I thought you could come hangout at my place this Friday? The old hag and dad will be out late for a-Hey are you even fuckin’ listening to me?” Katsuki asks.

Apparently he’d realized he was talking to himself as the two of you walked home together. You are too busy smiling at your phone as you reply to the message you’d just received. Completely failing to notice the death glare your companion was aiming at the device.

“Hmmm what was that?”

You ask, making your disinterest apparent.

“I asked if you wanted to come over to my place and hangout Friday since my parents won’t be home until late…who the hell are you talking to anyway?!” He snarls, snatching the phone from your hand.

”Katsuki! Give that back you ass-“

“What are you hiding from me princess? We don’t keep secrets remember?” He’s snickering but as soon as he reads the thread he’s irate.

“You’ve gotta be fuckin’ kidding me right? A date? With this tool?!”

“Give me back my phone Katsuki!”

“NO! I’m going to tell this loser to lose your fuckin’ number, then you can have it back!”

“You have no right! I can go on a date with whoever I want, I can be with who ever I-“

“No you can’t!! I won’t let you!”

“Won’t let me?! Who do you think you are?!”

“Dont test me omega!”

“Oh I’m “Omega” now am I? Well fuck you, stupid Alpha!”

With surprising speed you launch yourself forward and snatch the phone away from him.

“_______! I swear to god, if you go out with that guy I’ll-“

“You’ll what?! Im not your property Katsuki, and you certainly arent mine! Let’s not even be friends anymore, how about that?!”.

Two days passed and the two of you maintained a Stubborn silence. When Friday came around Katsuki was in the worst type of mood you’d ever seen him in. Wasn’t your problem though…he isn’t your problem…

So when the final bell sounded, you bolted out of class before it was fully finished ringing.

As you tried to enjoy the company of your date you felt your phone going off non stop in your bag. You had a feeling you knew who it was, and what they wanted.

You were wrong though, and after an hour of you incessant vibrations you finally decided to answer it.

“WHAT?!” You shout, not even bothering to check who it was calling. The boy beside you was startled at your sudden outburst, you hadn’t even realized you’d interrupted him mid sentence. As the person on the other line started speaking your face morphed from furious to absolutely terrified.

“Is he hurt?! D’you know where he is now?!”

Gathering up your things, you thank the person for calling and turn towards your bewildered date.

“I’m really sorry for just bailing on you but I need to go, I’ll make it up to you I promise!” You bow before dashing off at top speed.

You keep up your mad dash all the way towards your neighborhood, passing your house and finally slowing to a stop two doors down.

That’s strange…where are his parents? Oh god what if he ended up having to go to the hospital?! What if he’s on his death bed?!”

All sorts of terrible scenarios begin circling through your panic stricken brain as you incessantly ring the doorbell. It seemed like an hour before you hear shuffling footsteps on the other side of the door and a familiar snarl: “Hold your fuckin’ horses goddammit in coming!”.

He’s alive.

As soon as the door opens you jump on him, sending you both flying backwards.

“________! What the fu-“

“Thank god your alive! When I heard about what happened I automatically assumed the worst, and then when I got here and didn’t see either of your mom or dad’s cars in the driveway I was terrified” you are openly sobbing now, tears creating a small stream as they continuously flow down your face and onto his bare chest.

Wait….bare…chest?

Sitting up now, through blurry vision you take notice of the state of undress the aggravated young man beneath you is in. He must have just gotten out of the shower; His normally unruly blonde spikes are slightly tame due to their dampness, a few droplets of water pool between the crease of his abs. Scanning the rest of his exposed skin you are pleased to see no extreme injuries. You see a few scratches, and some light bruising here and there as your eyes begin following the light blonde trail of hair that starts at his navel and ends somewhere beneath the towel wrapped around his hips.

Which is what you so happen to be sitting on, as you shamelessly stare. Your mouth goes dry, face begins heating up, and it’s like a match has been struck somewhere inside your lower stomach. A snapping sound catches your attention as you finally notice a pair of fingers infront of your face. “Earth to dumbass” Katsuki sneers from beneath you.

You don’t know what possessed you to do it, but you slowly slide off his hips. Biting your lip at the feel of something twitch beneath you and the low hiss he lets out in response.

“Sorry” you whisper, getting to your feet.

“The hell you doing here anyway?”

He’s angry, furious really.

“Thought you were on a date with what’s-his-fuckin-name? Why show up here to bother me?”.

It hurt to hear him refer to you as a “bother” but you pushed it aside;

“Who gives a fuck about a stupid date when I hear that someone important to me got attacked by a villain!” Tears begin to obscure your vision once more, “I…I didn’t get all the details but I got enough to make me sprint all the way over here!”.

“Well you shouldn’t have bothered, as you can see I’m fine! Just like I told my parents, so you can go back to lover boy and they can enjoy their stupid business celebration”

You don’t like the way he’s acting towards you, you aren’t used to receiving this treatment from him.

“I dont care what you say! You are far from fucking fine, you can bullshit whoever you want to, but it won’t work on me Katsuki!”

“I AM FINE! I DONT NEED YOU OR ANYONE ELSE LOOKING AFTER ME! ESPECIALLY NOT YOU!” He roars.

“IM NOT LEAVING! IF YOU WANT ME GONE THEN THROW ME OUT! IM NOT LEAVING YOU ALONE!” You scream back.

“Oh yeah?” His quieter voice is somehow far more fear inducing than his screaming.

You don’t respond, crossing your arms over your chest you simply nod staring back at him.

The smile on his face sends a shiver down your spine as he moves towards you, reaching around you to shut the door and lock it.

Now he’s in your face, towering over you menacingly. It’s unnerving, and soon you try to look anywhere but at him. That’s short lived as his hand comes up to grab your chin;

“What’s wrong? You were so adamant about staying to keep me company…now you look like your ready to take off at any moment….almost as adamant as you were about going on that stupid date”.

He chuckles as his fingers slide up towards the apples of your cheeks, “Must not have been all that great if you ditched the poor bastard to come see me…Can’t even tell you came from a date to be honest…ya didn’t even dress up for him…I bet you woulda f’me though…”.

Squeezing either side of your cheeks has him smiling at the involuntary pucker of your lips.

He’s being mean….but it’s that endearing sort of teasing reserved just for you.

It’s a secret not many are privy to but there always has been an underlying “sensuality” (of sorts) to your relationship with Katsuki. Maybe it all started that faithful night spent under the stars, at any rate it’s been rapidly growing to the point where you two won’t be able to just ignore it anymore. As your gaze drops down from his eyes and onto his lips, you don’t think you want to anyway. This doesn’t go unnoticed by the aforementioned male, and in response he steps closer, further intruding into your personal bubble.

It’s painful for him to think that just a few hours ago, he was slowly suffocating at the hands of that disgusting sludge villain. How close had he come to giving up hope? Who was he kidding, he had given up then. Closing his eyes, your angry face was the only thing he could see and that was when he realized; I’m going to die and never be able to fix things with the person that’s most important to me

Then lo and behold, here comes fucking Deku to the rescue! It made him sick to think about any of it, he’d be cursed to mentally replay today’s events for all of eternity.

“Katsuki….what…what do you want from me?”

The question pulled him out of his own thoughts and without actually thinking he replied; “Everything you’d be willing to give me”.

Well, that certainly wasn’t what you were expecting and you certainly weren’t expecting to be bold enough to bridge the gap between your lips…but you did.

So that’s how you ended up being carried up stairs, thrown down the bed, attached at the mouth, with your best friend on top of you. At some point you’d lost your shirt and now your skirt was flipped up; Allowing Katsuki to eagerly rut against your clothed sex, as you grinded against his erection.You whined softly, as he abruptly ended the kiss, “Please Suki, I want you so bad…please”.

This was the first time he’d ever picked up this scent coming from you, and it was interfering with his rational mind. Studying your mussed appearance, the fondness he’d developed for you over the years brought a certain warmth to his heart.

When you impatiently humped against him again he realized what this new scent was, and oh fuck was he ever obsessed with it. It was like a switch flipped, triggering a sudden change in personality and it was both startling and exciting.

Suddenly your wrists are pinned above your head and two fingers begin to stroke the wet spot on the crotch of your panties.

“Look at how wet you are for me and I’ve barely even done anything…You want me Omega? Want your Alpha to finally claim you?” His voice was so gravely and deep. You nodded eagerly, so happy that he finally acknowledged himself as YOUR Alpha out loud.

Moving your panties to the side, the pads of his calloused fingers slipped between your soaked lips to teasingly play with your clit.

“You’ve always been mine princess and you always will be, just for me….So no more provoking me by flirting around with these fucking nobodies got it?” He warns, eyes narrowing before kissing you softly.

“You’re gonna make me have to hurt somebody if you do, and then…I’ll have to punish you too…you won’t like it but it’ll have to be done if you don’t listen to me”.

The sudden sound of a shrill ring from his cellphone was enough to temporarily break the hold his alpha had on him.

“If you attempt to claim an unpresented Omega before their first heat then the Omega won’t be able to ever be claimed properly”

Shit! What was he doing?!

Disregarding his phone completely he jumped backwards and fell off the bed.

“Suki?!” You scrambled to look down at his frightened face as he lay sprawled out on the floor. Now with the towel no longer in the way you stopped yourself from outright staring at his still hard dick. You couldn’t stop the needy whimper that escaped you, still very much wanting him.

Katsuki swallowed thickly, Adam’s apple bobbing as he tries to firmly say “No _______, we…we cant do this…not now”. This set your clouded mind into a manic frenzy; He was denying you? After all that drama that almost ruined your friendship completely? Was that other girl better than you or something? Why her but not you?!

Sensing your mood shift before even smelling the change in your scent, he made sure both his pheromones and voice were coming out soothing while he explained the issue.

“So it’s because….because I’m still not presented yet? It’s not really because you don’t want to be with me?” Your voice sounded so sad as you shrunk in on yourself. The terror of being rejected had passed, but now you were once again self conscious at your lack of having your first heat.

“I want you more than anything, well you and being #1 are something I’d rather not force to compete on a scale of importance to me but…fuck! I can’t ever figure out how to say what I mean when you’re around me!” He let out a frustrated snarl, slamming shut the drawer he’d just pulled a pair of gym shorts from.

“I wouldn’t ever expect you to pick one or the other” you reply, sliding off the bed intent on getting dressed. Just as you get to your feet, you get knocked off them. Falling backwards on the bed you growl in frustration and as you open your mouth to snap at him, your words die instantly. Lust blown pupils almost cover up the small sliver of Dark Red eyes as they stare you down, effectively pinning you to the mattress.

“K-Katsuki Y-You said we c-cant do that….so why?” A finger is pressed to your lips.

“I said we couldn’t do THAT single thing…we can do other things princess…all sorts of things I’ve only imagined doing to you” he kisses down the length of your body, stopping at the waist band of your underwear.

“I’m keeping these” he says before yanking them off you in one swift pull.

You stare back at him; Wide eyed and speechless as he spreads your shaking legs wide. The self conscious feeling that washed over you as he inspects your bare pussy vanishes immediately as he mumbles a quiet “God damn”.

Licking his lips, he gives you a sinister smile, “You’ve been hiding this from me for all this time…You know how many ruts I’ve went through just imagining what secrets you were keeping under that fuckin’ skirt of your’s princess?”.

“M’sorry” you whimper as his fingers once again slip between your lower lips. “Nah, I know yer’fuckin’ not princess…can’t lie to me” he gives your clit a smack “That’s for trying though…naughty girl”. You let out a soft shriek at the sting and he laughs.

“No more talkin’, I got this sloppy little pussy in my face all wet and soakin’ jus f’me…but I’ll say one last thing”

Your staring up at the ceiling; Trying to control your rapid heart beat and slow your panting breaths, waiting for him to do something…anything. You glance down at him and lose your breath over the smoldering look in his eyes and haughty expression on his face.

Lowering his mouth down until his lips are an inch from your pulsating clit he looks into the windows of your soul rasping “itadakimasu” right as he buries his face in your throbbing cunt.

You don’t even try to hold back the loud keen that erupts from somewhere deep inside your gut. You’ve never experienced such an amazing feeling, and oh god the shameless sounds he’s making as he throughly enjoys the first taste of you are just raunchy.

Slurping, growling, squelching, paired with his sinful groans of pleasure are nearly drowned out by your sporadic crys of his name. Something has been steadily building up since his lips first touched your pussy; A strange pressure that makes you suddenly uneasy and you try your best to squirm away. He shuts this down right away, delivering another slap to the inside of your thigh as he snarls; “Stop fuckin’ runnin’ from me princess”.

Tears begin to pool in your eyes as you force out a shaky “S-st-stop! SUKI! P-please I-I’m go-gon-gonna pee! Stop!”.

This man doesn’t even open his eyes as he growls “You aren’t, I promise you won’t…fuckkk…just let it go f’me baby”.

Your whole body is trembling and you sob at the thought of how humiliating this was going to be, but you couldn’t have held it back if you tried to. As soon as the pressure In your lower half starts to release you swear your soul exits your body. You can hear Katsuki praising you “Fuck yes _______, that’s it baby…squirtin’ all over my tounge mmmm love my messy girl”.

He just said he loved you!

“Oh god Katsuki, you…you’re fucking amazing!” You continue to sob as aftershocks rock through your twitching body.

“Mhmm tell me something I don’t know pretty girl”.

Your eyes open, slowly taking in your surroundings and savoring the familiar but slightly different scent surrounding you. The distinct smell of caramel has an underlying spice to it, like cinnamon and you try not to focus on the tingling it’s causing. Shivering at the significant lack of warmth surrounding your body has you realizing you are alone.

Where was Katsuki?

The past few days were kind of blurry; You had brief flashes of memory, all centered around the explosive alpha.

YOUR explosive alpha

Hisses your omega, always eager to correct. Must be the last day or two of your heat, judging by her significantly quieter voice.

Wait.

Your hand flew to the prominent bite that had begun scabbing over on your neck. He didn’t even ask properly! You weren’t at all rational enough to make such a life altering decision! You knew that eventually this was where you wanted your relationship to lead, but not right now.

This was honestly somewhat devastating.

You were blinking back tears when you heard the soft creak of the door opening. Normally, the sight of a tip toeing Katsuki would have had you giggling. Now however you sat watching silently; The blonde male had his back facing you while precariously balancing a plate of food on a stack of books, shutting the door with an uncharacteristic softness. Glancing over his shoulder, he turns towards you abruptly and his eyes light up.

“Finally awake princess?”

The smile on his face is breathtaking but you can’t fully return it, only managing a slight grin as you mumble a quiet “Yeah”.

Setting the books on his nightstand he sits beside you, holding the plate of food, “Good, I cooked us a little something, I was fuckin’ starving so I already ate, but this is for you”.

You take the plate and utensils from him and force yourself to eat. It’s hard to choke down the meal when all you want to do is scream, but you do it.

You wonder if he too has this awkward feeling that you do right now but when he speaks your immediately aware it isn’t mutual.

“I’m really happy that we finally got to share a cycle together princess, the first of many now that we’re…” he gets a little choked up, face reddening as he says “mates”. Taking you in his arms, he sighs blissfully as he looks over the mating mark he’d given you; “It’s healing nicely, doesn’t hurt much does it?”. Not returning his sentiment you shake your head “No it’s fine, what about you? Or umm did I not-?”.

“Oh you definitely gave me one too” he interrupts smugly, tilting his head to the side for you to see. Sure enough, the bruised indents where you’d sunk your teeth in shown brightly against his sun kissed skin. You couldn’t help running your fingertips across the bruised ridges, suddenly feeling flushed and needy upon contact.

“I-I think, Katsuki it’s…”

“It’s okay baby, it’s another wave just let me take these off real quick and I’ll take real good care of ya” his voice is calm and a soothing feeling falls over you as he strips out of his clothing. Laying back on the bed you commence shameles ogling; Appreciating the rippling back muscles and budging biceps that signaturely belong to your Alpha, your Katsuki. Whining softly as you reach out for him, desperate to feel that overwhelming feeling you’ve come to associate with when your bodies meet.

“Present for me Omega” the normal rasp in Katsuki’s voice has been replaced with a seductive purr that has your whole body vibrating as you clamor to grant his request. Now that you are in your almost normal state of mind; it’s rather embarrassing to be face down on the bed, poking your ass up high in the air.

“That’s it, good girl” the mattress dips lightly behind you as he joins you once more “You probably don’t remember a whole lot from the last few days, but s’Okay cause I certainly do”.

You jump slightly as his hands begin kneading your cheeks while he spreads them apart, “Aw don’t tell me your getting shy on me now!”.

You whimper at the low whistle he emits as he gets a good look at both your holes. “You don’t need to feel embarrassed baby, you’ve pretty much lived on my cock the last few days” Then you feel a wet glob of something land on your puckered entrance and your immediately squealing.

“There aren’t any more secrets between us now, I know you body and soul, inside and out”

Or so he thinks…

[tartagilicious]

right where you left me, viktor 🧪

"the sky is overcast and i'm sorry, one more or one less, nobody's worried. i'll believe it all, there's nothing i won't understand. i won't let go of your hand."

note: so, i finished arcane about a week ago and immediately got started on this, we need a formal investigation into the epidemic that is viktor i have no idea what’s going on. anyways, there was a common theme i really noticed while watching and i really wanted to do something with it, so here we go!! arcane really highlights the importance of its characters’ choices. a few things said differently, the presence of another person, not reacting too quickly — these are just a few of things i noticed, and i thought it tied into viktor’s unfortunate story really well </3 if a few minuscule things had been different, maybe he would’ve had an easier time :( so, my mentally ill ass has decided to forcibly give him a zest for life in the form of you, enjoy ;D

tagging @cr4yolaas !! because i finally finished!! also, thank @kazuharem for not only encouraging my shenanigans but also convincing me not to kill viktor off at the end 🙄🙄🙄

synopsis: you have always been alone. after the undoing of the undercity and the disappearance of vander and his daughters, your naive mind fell into the hands of the wrong person fairly quickly. but, your fate changed the day you came across a boy tinkering with a toy boat; and by simply being the one to pluck it from the river, you changed the course of your lives forever. you spent years by his side, changing, learning, and growing to love him through everything you experienced together -- until you're both offered a position at piltover's academy, and the decisions of your younger self finally catch up with you. now a lost scientist with merit that works for the man responsible for running the undercity, you are led back to your old friend in the strangest way possible -- by his own invention.

warnings/tags: gender neutral reader (please let me know if i slipped up anywhere!), descriptions of illness, seperation, childhood friends to lovers, we bent the timeline a little bit here aha

word count: 11,000

You had always thought you would die young and angry. It’s how life played out for many around you, after all – the Undercity is many things, but it is hardly kind. Promises and money are the things that weave the threads of the unkempt streets, and relying on such notions are easier said than done.

It’s why you tended to fall back on yourself.

Safety was a hard thing to gain when there were so little people you could trust. Consequently, when the death of Vander and the disappearance of his daughters struck the Undercity, you were among the first to flee. Simply because, there was nothing waiting for you in the darkness. Having your parents taken from you at such a ripe age, the damage was never something you quite understood – but, then again, the enforcers of Piltover weren’t looking for your understanding.

When you saw the surface for the first time, you felt hope. Albeit, the sun hurt your eyes and the warm temperature made you acutely aware of the skin on your arms, yet you couldn’t help but want to pick apart the blazing feeling in your chest. Because, despite the selfish nature that had sustained you until then, it was a hope you knew that you would do anything to share.

However, until such a disciple came along, you would run until your legs could barely stand it. Even if you repeatedly took shelter under a man with a false red eye in the Undercity, from the cracks of the upper levels of Zaun to the backstreets of Piltover, you were wholly on your own.

Until him, that is.

You met the young inventor when you were eleven years old, perhaps similar in age to him, on the edge of the river that bordered Piltover and Zaun. He had been far too entranced by his own ministrations to notice you peeking at him, and for the longest time, you would return by the day to watch him tinker with the peculiar contraption.

Though, the day you had finally accidentally revealed yourself, he had been startled into pulling a string that finally kicked the makeshift machine to life. Strangely, it had excited you. The young boy stared at you for a second then, unsure of what to do between the sputtering boat in his hands and the person spying on him with uncharted curiosity.

Eventually, he chose the latter, letting the boat go while waiting in anticipation of your reaction. Two pairs of eyes watched it move down the shallow river, though perhaps it worked a bit too well – as he stood up with his cane to trail behind it, you began to realise it was close to outrunning him.

You were very rarely seen with others at that time, Taught to be resilient and private, you had often wondered if you were incapable of feeling the things others did – happiness, anger, even sadness, were things you rarely had the capacity or luxury to experience.

So, you aren’t sure what propelled you forward then.

The young boy should have been well aware that his cane would hinder such a chase, and the loss of his work would be no one’s fault but his own. And yet, when you jumped down from the rocks that loomed over the bank, you knew you didn’t want that.

Trudging through the shallow water, you pulled the boat from the water with a small grunt. As you took a look at it up close for the first time, you began to realise just how much work had really gone into the invention – each part was unfamiliar, but meticulous to your eyes.

Was it sympathy that bloomed in your chest when he cautiously took it from your hands?

Hope, you reminded yourself. Is a subjective thing. While the sun may be what guides you, inventions such as this may be his.

You let yourself smile for the first time in a long time to appease him, grateful when he returned the gesture.

“My name is ___. How does your boat work?”

The innocence of the words had betrayed your slightly battered appearance. Even with Silco’s protection, there was little you could do against the world’s hardships as a child. You weren’t nearly as adept as his daughter, the blue-haired bomb technician with an unorthodox fighting style, and it showed in the slight curve of your cheekbones.

You had never been given a fair chance before he reached out a hand to you, before he requested that you come back the next day and help him with the boat a little more. His introduction into your life was as seamless as the way he offered a polite hand, manners oddly refined for a child of the Undercity.

“My name is Viktor.”

You don’t know what you were thinking when you agreed, but you continued to return anyway. You learned to sneak through the crowds in the same way your older peers did, counting on the assumption that Silco had better things to do than keep track of you when making your way out of Zaun.

And each time you returned, it was always worth it. Viktor never ceased to amaze you, his young and curious mind mapping ideas out constantly – some were outlandish, and others too simple, but one thing each inkling had in common was the sheer amount of thought put into it.

Much like his mechanical boat, he worked silently and efficiently. It was months before you felt comfortable enough to call him a friend, but you never necessarily needed words to communicate, so long as you were able to create together.

In no capacity were you gifted in the arts and sciences like he was, but as children of similar circumstances, it didn’t matter – you were his legs, and he was the brain that moved you.

Apart, you may have faltered, but together, you excelled.

Even as you grew up together, you learned slowly. Being under Silco’s umbrella, such activities were kept a careful secret on your part, so perhaps it was convenient that nothing in Viktor’s mind was ever quite your expertise. No matter the time Viktor set aside to teach you the intricacies of the things he created, you could only ever manage to dive beneath the surface levels.

It was a mix of this and a concern for your safety that made you think it only appropriate to take no credit for the inventions, even as he insisted on noting your name beside his in patents.

“It doesn’t work like that,” You’d insist, motioning for him to hand you the pen he twirled between his fingers. You were seventeen when Viktor began working on his projects to alleviate pollution in the Undercity, six years after you’d first encountered him. Though you would describe your efforts towards the reformatory gadgets created thus far as menial, Viktor didn’t seem to think so.

“Isn’t it, I don’t know, enough to note me somewhere else?” You offer, dropping your hand when it’s obvious he won’t let up. “I didn’t create this, you did.”

He nods. “It was my hands, of course. But it would be unfair to omit the parts that required your help.”

Viktor taps a part of the air filter on the table in front of him – it’s a more recent invention of his, meant to purify the toxic air that lingers in certain shimmer factories below ground. You avoid his eyes. The part he references is indeed something you had taken the time to understand on your own.

“A part here and there doesn’t mean anything.” You mumble. He looks at you incredulously, one thick brow slightly quirked.

“A machine is composed of many parts. If one doesn’t work, the entire mechanism is at risk of failing. No matter how small, every contribution is important.”

You narrow your eyes.

“You’re talented, ___.” Viktor sighs, a resigned hand letting the pen in his grip meet the page. “It would be a mistake to let you go uncredited when you’re just as responsible for this as I-”

“Vik, please.”

Eyeing you carefully, he looks down at the pending patent and back at you. You nudge him on with the slight raise of your brows.

“...Fine.” His accent piques on the word, and relief floods your system to witness him writing a few adjustments in. Of course, you’ve considered telling Viktor of your fears countless times. You’d divulged certain worries about your caretaker to him before, and even without explicit name dropping, he could surely guess who it was that was the source of your troubles.

But, still unbeknownst to Viktor, you walk a fine line around him. To be credited for an invention you spent time on with him, it’s something you want desperately – because your friend is right. Each piece that goes into any machine passes through two sets of eyes, and though you may never reach Viktor’s level of understanding, you’ve worked hard to be able to call yourself his partner.

And yet, the right is something you are barred from. To be credited for an invention with such prestige, it would surely only make you a target for Silco’s own ingenious plots. You may be tethered to the man by a deal lost to time, but you will not stand for your knowledge to be used to hurt those you have sworn to help.

Years ago, you had come up to the surface for the first time, the sun’s light birthing new, selfless ambition into your young and confused mind. Viktor had given you an outlet for your dreams, and you will not let your shared aspirations die for anything.

Truthfully, though, you wouldn’t be completely surprised if Silco had caught wind of your activities with the inventor long ago. He’s an unfortunately clever man with eyes everywhere in the Undercity – at times, you wonder if Viktor’s own lab is even safe. But, so long as you keep yourself in the dark, you know he wouldn’t dare to seek you out for fear of misunderstanding your role.

It’s why you can’t tell Viktor of your real worries. You couldn’t, also not by risk of his inventive nature – he’d surely attempt to create a solution, endangering himself and everything you’d worked so hard to keep hidden.

It would hurt you too much to tell him that some things just can’t be fixed.

Viktor had been the only one there for you even in the most tumultuous times. Losing him to Silco would only mean losing another part of yourself to the vile man, and you are not ready to give him anything else – your contracted loyalty is far more than enough.

It’s something the man takes very seriously, and for him to discover that you’ve been hiding something so important from him, it could mean the death of you both.

And so, you continue working in secret. Fixing inept systems and saving lives, bringing people of the Undercity up to the light, and providing an example as if to tell those around you, things will change.

At eighteen, you turn around to the familiar sound of a cane clicking on the floor. Viktor greets you with a jovial smile before dropping a small stack of papers in front of you.

You joke, “Jeez, Vik, I know we agreed to share the work, but this is–”

He cuts you off with a chuckle, pulling a few particular papers from the pile with a quiet hum. “Mmh, don’t get ahead of yourself. It’s not paperwork.”

You watch him unfold the papers with rapt attention, a prying hand on the locket around your neck curious of what he’s leading up to. Viktor leans haphazardly on your desk, rifling through everything until he comes up with what he’s looking for: a map.

As he puts a hand on the back of your chair to steady himself after letting go of his cane, you lean in to get a better view of what he tries to show you. It’s marked heavily in red ink, and you recognise most of the littered sites of forges and shimmer containment sites, though the purpose of the markings are still lost on you.

You take a quick glance at the man next to you, only to discover he’s already looking at you. A smile splits his lips as continues,

“This is the official number of facilities our mechanisms have been implemented at,” Viktor flips the page over. “And this, is the tracking of accidents these same facilities have reported over the past two years.”

The line graph slopes downwards exponentially.

An astonished sound leaves your mouth. “Viktor! This is huge!”

A smile washes over his face as you stand up abruptly, taking his support into your own hands as you wind an arm around his torso in celebration. You cheer as he reaches around your own shoulder and pulls you into him without apprehension, laughing as you do.

“But,” You lean back to look him in the eye, smile faltering a bit. “Does this mean we’re almost done? What will we do next?”

Viktor simply smiles at you.

“Ehh, why not start a new project afterwards?” He suggests, taking great pleasure in the way your eyes light up. Even if you have yet to realise, he has always watched you carefully – your tells of disappointment and vice versa are exceedingly easy to distinguish. Yet, he is still unsure how to face your raw dejection when faced with the possibility of parting with him.

“There are many more that we can help, if you’ll choose to stay to complete such a goal.”

A baited question, and his heart pumps wildly when you take it. His baseless theory of your afflictions towards him had long since evolved into a string of small experimentations, though he is no longer sure if he is doing it to figure out only you, or if its roots run deeper.

A familiar grin curls at your lips as you shake your head incedulously, hand that lies around him patting his back. “Looks like you’re stuck with me, because I’m in for whatever you decide.”

But, the notion is short lived.

At nineteen, Viktor receives a letter. Unlike the usual quickly packed thank you notes he normally receives, it is adorned with a large and regal red stamp, his name penned carefully over the front.

He holds it up to you when you walk into the lab one day, equal amounts of concern and curiosity swimming beneath his gaze.

“What’s that?” You ask, shrugging off your coat to hang it on a hook nearby. “When did-“

“It’s from the council.”

The words silence you quickly. Then, you notice that the letter has already been torn open, its contents most likely read over — probably thoroughly, knowing your partner.

And judging from the forlorn expression he wears, it must not be anything good.

“It’s from Heimerdinger, the Councilman.” Viktor explains quietly as you take a seat across from him, not paying any mind to the way you falter. “He’s heard of our endeavours in the Undercity and would like to discuss them.”

Your eyes widen, but you keep your reaction in check as much as possible — despite the outward luck of such a letter being addressed to him, there is an undoubtedly concerning aspect of the offer.

“Then… Why the face?”

“Well-“ Viktor pauses, putting a hand to his chin. He thinks carefully before he says, “The people of Piltover… they don’t reach out to people like us for nothing. The outcome of this may not be good, not for either of us.”

“You should come with me, just in case.” He says.

Shooting him a cautious smile, you shrug. “What, do you think they’d show no mercy to a crippled scientist?”

Thankfully, Viktor breathes out a laugh.

“The possibility is why I need my legs with me.”

The old joke brings a quiet smile to your face, voice gentle as you retort,

“Then, as long as you lend me your brain once more.”

After wandering the streets of Piltover in pursuit of the politician, you arrive at the gates of a particularly refined building — and considering the rest of the city, it’s saying a lot. Curious hands run over the wall as Viktor watches your awe, a silent smile at the corner of his lips.

Further inside the lobby of the building, you both stand there, unsure of what to do until a peculiar voice leads your attention towards the ground. An owl-like creature stands at your feet, no taller than the bones of your knees.

“Hello, dear children.”

You look up and attempt to exchange a look with Viktor, but he only pays attention to the person in front of you.

“Professor Heimerdinger,” Your partner smiles in greeting, nudging you to do the same. The councilman watches in amusement as you try to replicate the kind smile on Viktor’s face. “It’s an honour to meet you.”

The councilman merely waves the words off, motioning with a furry wave of his hand for you to follow him deeper into the lobby. Viktor finally catches your eye as you walk, and you share a quick smile.

“It’s a great pleasure to meet the young minds behind all of the developments in the forges of the Undercity.” Heimerdinger says, settling into a high seat with practiced ease.

He must have requested your presence at some sort of government building, judging by the formal atmosphere. The area you occupy lies not far from a front desk, in a small outcove perhaps meant for discussions such as this one.

“I’m sure you must have been frazzled to receive an invitation from me, but I sincerely hope that you will carefully consider the offer I give you today.”

Viktor nods. “Of course.”

You begin to eye your partner curiously. Viktor had seemed so worried when explaining the contents of the letter to you a few days ago, and yet now, he seems perfectly calm. Frowning, you run your thumb over the smooth edge of the locket around your neck.

A bitter nervousness festers in your gut as Heimerdinger continues.

“—Your expertise in these matters is why I would like to personally extend invitations to the Academy of Techmaturgy to the both of you.”

Before Viktor can answer, your brows knit. “Excuse me?”

The small area falls into a sudden silence, and embarrassment curls within your chest as you clear your throat.

“My- my apologies. I only mean to ask, I thought this was a letter addressed to Viktor only?”

Heimerdinger’s eyes flash with recognition before he chuckles.

“Yes, my dear, that is true. But, only because he is the only one of you with a registered place of residence. I figured the letter would also likely find his partner eventually.”

When you stare at him, Heimerdinger pauses.

“…Are you not also the inventor of these gadgets?”

He reaches into a bag by his side that you hadn’t noticed, pulling out familiar patents. They’re stamped with Piltover’s red seal, proving their authenticity in the councilman’s grip. On the first document, he points to the top line.

Your name sits next to Viktor’s in the man’s staple messy cursive, and beside it is a small scribble. Something in you deflates and rises at the same time, constricting painfully in your chest. Anyone else would look at this and merely assume Viktor was testing out the pen’s ink when printing your names, but you remember the moment clearly.

“You…You didn’t need help at all, did you? You just wanted me to see this.” A surprised laugh escapes your mouth, and you can’t help the expression of apprehension that passes over your face. You rifle through the patents curiously, and with rising horror, note the printing of your name on each one.

Viktor had never crossed out your name like he said he would — ever. Not ever in the two years since you’d begun the forge projects.

A warm feeling blooms in your chest despite the fear. You now realise the error in your secrecy, but you could never fault Viktor for being unaware of something you’d give a limb to hide. Yet still, the fact that he had always seen through to your true wishes to be credited alongside him is touching. So, however horrible the consequences for your inventor status may turn out to be, you will never forget your partner’s kind sentiment.

Viktor is truly the only person in Piltover that could manage to threaten your life and make a grand gesture all in one breath.

Viktor leans over carefully so only you can hear the words he whispers. “Only because I knew you would refuse. You deserve this chance.”

You shoot him a small nod in thanks, hoping your dread doesn’t show too much.

“…This, it's truly quite an offer.“ You nod to Heimerdinger, swallowing your protests with a strained smile. You can feel Viktor’s gaze on you, though you are too guilty to return it. “It’s just… I’m not sure this is a good idea for me.”

Taking advantage of the shock that permeates the air, you push out a strained laugh.

“There’s so much I have yet to do in the Undercity, not to mention, my skills…” You trail off, waving your hand in a motion that suggests your incompetence. It’s a valid excuse that someone might use, though you aren’t sure how much the professor will believe you in particular.

If you’re listed as the co-creator of the inventions put to use in the Undercity, he may have a different assumption of your skills — of which would, unfortunately, be closer to correct than the pitiful show you attempt to put on now.

“Perhaps you have the wrong idea about me.”

Viktor lets out a conflicted cough, and against your better judgement, you meet his eye. The man has never been particularly yielding with his emotions, though you don’t know that you’ve ever seen him so conflicted.

“It’s true, really.” You insist, placing a hand on your partner’s shoulder as you say, “Viktor, on the other hand, is an excellent choice.”

You’re extremely surprised he doesn’t swat your hand away.

“When he devised the warning system for the coal furnaces in the mines, he used his own kitchen to run tests on how well the machine could pick up changes in temperature and air quality.” You explain, a smile curling at your lip as you recall the memory. “We had to replace the stove twice.”

Your voice comes out sadder than intended when you nod. “He’s dedicated. He’s a good choice.”

“___.”

You eye your partner cautiously as he stands, grabbing for his cane. Long legs take him around the narrow couch and he motions for you to follow him.

“I’m sorry, professor, but could we take a moment?”

Professor Heimerdinger nods wordlessly even as you try to catch his gaze, seemingly not willing to offer any insight. Whatever Viktor has to say is for you to take alone, and you don’t necessarily blame him for wanting nothing to do with the fall.

You follow your partner into a more secluded area of the lobby that lies away from prying ears. But, when the sound of his cane on the marble floor suddenly halts, you’re finally forced to turn your gaze on him.

“Viktor, I–”

“Tell me your concerns.” Viktor interrupts, leaning into his cane a bit to effectively raise a brow in your direction. You try to ignore the heat that threatens to creep up your neck at the direct action. “I can see in your eyes that you’d like to accept, but this pattern of decline is too convenient.”

You stumble on your words. “What- A pattern? What pattern?”

Viktor studies you thoughtfully, eyes slightly narrowed. “Is there a particular reason you’d like to completely separate yourself from science to the public?”

When you can think of no way to respond, you look away and shrug.

“I always wanted to be credited for our inventions.” You mutter, fluffing out the back of your hair with an apprehensive huff. You don’t notice the way his expression begins to thaw at the quirk. “But before I knew you… I grew up with a different life. I made decisions to trust people then, and I can’t even get away from it now.”

“Our inventions?” Viktor repeats, taking great pleasure in the way you can’t help but smile. “I can’t say I’ve ever heard you say that out loud.”

You shake your head, pushing out a short laugh. “Don’t be like that, you always knew I wanted it more than anything. It’s why you put my name on the patents despite my protests.”

“That,” He sighs lowly. “I’m sorry. I had no idea there was such a heavy reason behind it.”

“It’s…well, I’m not sure. It’s complicated.” You explain. “I had always been worried that I was being watched, and that the patents would only give him a reason to seek me out.”

Viktor nudges your foot with his cane, encouraging you to go on. “Him?”

Eight years. For eight years you had kept most of Silco’s contract to you a secret, and from the only person who would ever forgive you for making such a mistake. However, now that you have the chance, you tell Viktor everything - how the man had taken you in after your parents had died, and how you had been contracted to him against your will at fourteen after he had caught wind of your inventive nature.

The way you would visit Viktor constantly even as you lay in bed each night terrified of the future, requesting to keep your name out of patents because you feared being used as a tool in Silco’s plots of anarchy.

But, the worst case scenarios always ended with Viktor getting hurt. Viktor being taken away, Viktor being killed, all because you had made the mistake of falling into the hands of the wrong person.

“You were thinking about my safety in the middle of this?” He tuts, leaning back into the wall to hover his cane off the ground and hold it like a club. “I’m not so easily reachable.”

“Viktor.” You laugh, shaking your head as he reverts his position. “I’m serious.”

He shrugs. “So am I.”

“All I ask, is that you consider Heimerdinger’s offer. You deserve this place, no one has the right to take it from you.” He reassures you, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair back into place behind your ear. “Silco can’t reach you in Piltover.”

You shrug hopelessly, head falling into his hand as you mumble softly, “His reach is much farther than either of us will ever know.”

“But, I’ll get out of there. I’ll figure out something, and in the meantime, you should accept the offer. I meant what I said about your dedication.” You nod, troves of unsaid words hanging above your heads. The most blatant of them however, is that should you fail, there’s a fair chance that you may never see each other again – an eye for an eye situation, product of your attempt at desertion.

You realise it’s not something Viktor wants you to bet on, but if you had the choice, you’d leave Silco’s grasp in a heartbeat. Finally, you have the chance to be who you’ve always wanted, working to help those in need and bringing light to the darkest corners of the Undercity. Yet, you are cruelly aware of what will happen if someone should defect, and you aren’t fond of the idea of becoming the next example.

Viktor lets his hand drop, and you attempt to catch his gaze hopefully.

“Maybe he hasn’t even caught wind of these inventions yet. Or, maybe he’s found someone smarter to do the work for him. But, even if none of that’s true and this doesn’t go to plan, I’ll still be able to leave eventually. It’s only a few more years, then I'll be free to go wherever I want in the world.”

Your expression deflates as Viktor simply stares at you, expression unreadable for all but the slight downturn of his lips.

“I’ll be fine.” You assure him quietly. “However easily I’m able to phase myself out of that place, it won’t be long.”

“And if you fail?” He asks, voice uncharacteristically small. “What will I do? Simply wait for your return?”

You go silent at the question, warmth festering in your chest.

“You’d be fine without me even if you chose not to.” You say quietly. “You always would’ve been.”

Viktor sighs, his unenthusiastic eyes narrowed. “...In what world would that be true?”

You’re shocked into silence.

“…Then,” Your lips thin as an indecisive hand wraps around the chain of the locket around your neck. It’s a small thing, rusted and worn from years of passive use – but conveniently easy to break. In an impulsive moment, you tear the chain from your neck, not responding to Viktor’s opposition even as you grab his hand and drop the necklace in it.

“Take this, as my promise to return quickly.”

Cautiously, he thumbs open the small compartment, a small incredulous laugh escaping his lips. Viktor raises the object in his hand with a wry smile. “You’re ridiculous. You’ve kept this, all this time?”

In the open locket sits a small picture, imperfect by every standard. The faces are barely legible anymore, and the jagged cut edges curl out from the areas that don’t quite reach the paper. However, the way Viktor had recognised it with just a glance makes you feel better about the way you still cling onto that day.

Your younger faces stare back at you, smiling with a large object sitting between your hands.

A boat.

You smile faintly, a heavy feeling rising in your eyes as you nod.

In that moment, you hear it – the slight hitch of his breath, the click of his cane as he leans back into the wall. Viktor takes you into his arms with attentive concern, with such raw apologeticness that it clouds your mind and kickstarts your faltering heart.

“I’m sorry.” You say, voice faint with tears. “I can do this. I promise.”

He nods, accent thick with heartache as he presses a chaste kiss to your forehead.

“I believe you.”

You don’t regard Viktor as one of the smartest men in the Undercity for no reason. There were quite a few times when you’d been a personal witness to his ingeniousness, and you respected the boy greatly for his inventive nature even then.

But, when did you begin to see more than that?

Was it in the awkward boy who had given you a new chance at life, or the curious teenager who laughed when a prototype nearly exploded in his face? Though you have always looked upon these memories with fondness, you choose to focus on different aspects now.

The day he had approached you to share the success of your projects in the forgeries, how he had struggled to hold back the rampant flush building up in his ears when he’d asked you to stay with him. The many occasions where he would grab your hand without a thought just to lead you to something new. His simple encouraging words that never failed to urge you on.

But, Viktor had never outright acknowledged the idea of you as anything more until the day you’d had to leave him.

It’s a bittersweet memory.

Occasionally, you find yourself wondering what course your life would have taken if you had listened to the boy you’d always had so much faith in.

he can’t reach you in piltover.

You wish you would’ve taken the chance to find out.

Hope had blinded you in the most unfortunate way — of course, Silco was already well aware of your plans and nearly pounced on the chance to dismantle them, effectively giving you no choice but to stay.

He was once a kind man, taking you in when you had nowhere else to go. But, he had since gone cynical, left without much sympathy for anyone other than his ticking time bomb of a daughter.

When subjecting your skills to the Undercity, he had told you that you would only be continuing your work. Helping people with the mind you worked so hard to cultivate. But you weren’t so nearsighted — the gadgets you designed were for no one’s benefit but his own.

Though, you’d still worked hard in the years you’d been under him. Because, against your better judgement, throwing yourself into such a familiar craft became an undeniable comfort.

If you imagined hard enough, you could even tell yourself Viktor was sitting somewhere nearby, tinkering with a part of his own.

You were never truly able to contact him after he’d left for the academy, and his new position as a creator of Hextech in Piltver’s high society didn’t exactly make it any easier. Besides, your connections were largely cut down due to the secrecy in your role in Silco’s ranks. Your confidentiality was an important piece to his schemes, and god forbid you break it.

It had gotten to the point where you were left to assume Viktor could figure out what happened to you. But, the thought is a sour one. It left you grasping for the comfort of the locket around your neck nearly every time the thought came up, despite that you rarely forgot that it was in the hands of the man you’d grown to love.

Almost six years had passed before you finally received a messily bound notebook from Jinx, the explosive girl giving it to you with a proud smile.

“I’m handing these off to you!” She says animatedly, not waiting for your reaction before she continues in a more serious tone, “You’d better not let anything happen to them, I worked hard to break these out.”

You follow the nudge of her hand onto a lumpier part of the notebook, when you realise that the cover is a makeshift pocket. Giving her an unsure look, you open it cautiously.

A harmless blue glow emits onto her face as the fabric falls back, and you have to admit, Jinx almost looks crazier in the hue — if such a thing is even possible.

“Yeah,” You agree, eyeing the stones with attentive curiosity as you nod. “Sure, I’ll take care of them for you.”

Shouldering the burden of whatever may be in the notebook in your hands, you bid her farewell before returning to your lab. You look down at the journal with dismay. You sympathise with Jinx, you really do – rumours of her story have been floating around since before the time you were initiated, and none of them are quite bedtime stories.

But Jinx is so eager to prove herself that she barely stops to think of the consequences, even when there’s a possibility of them falling to you. But, such is the role of a scientist: your hands are often dirtied at the expense of someone else’s curiosity.

Still, the book seems important, so you don’t want to mishandle it for risk of being connected to it.

You unhook the pouch containing the crystals carefully, setting it aside as you crack open the worn spine. Your lips turn up in a grimace when it falls flat against the table, but it quickly morphs into confusion as you stare at the messy cursive that fills the page. The writer’s hand had been heavy and decisive; whoever had written it was either in a great rush, or was astounded by their subject of notation.

As you attempt to decipher the barely legible writing, you almost laugh. You had only ever known one person with such bad penmanship–

At the thought, the colour drains from your face.

Thoughtlessly, you grab for the pouch of strange crystals while peering at the page. You hope to everything that you aren’t correct, but as the seemingly random lines begin to shift into words before your eyes, you curse beneath your breath.

This is Viktor’s notebook.

Your breath catches in your throat, spilling from your lungs and into every crevice of your body. Though, as you force yourself to read on, your worry only gets worse – the notes detail a new form of Hextech, a more simple version of the magic used to power Hexgates, and their plans to utelise it for more everyday tasks.

More maps breaking down new products litter the notebook as you flip through the pages, each piece more thorough than the next. Your hands splayed out beside the notebook falter as you drop your head, a familiar tightness manifesting in your chest. Just what had Jinx done to get her hands on such a thing?

Breath growing heavier, it gets harder and harder to fight the fear that bites at you with each passing second. Silco had once promised to not lay a hand on Viktor in exchange for your work, but Jinx? Jinx is bound under no such agreement.

You fall into the chair under you, hand over your mouth as you consider your options.

Of course, your worry is baseless. Perhaps Jinx had hurt no one, intent on pleasing Silco to the greatest effect. But, the chance of her going all the way and killing anyone at the scene isn’t necessarily far-fetched, either.

Taking another peek at the open page, you fight a sigh. The work is extremely detailed, and knowing Viktor, it’s likely years were spent on these ideas. It’s for that reason that you force yourself not to dwell on his life too much for now – no matter the fate he met at Jinx’s break-in, you know without a doubt that he would prefer for his work to remain his.

So, for the next couple of weeks, you feign cluelessness.

“I’m– Look, I know that you’d like this information,” You say to Silco, brows furrowed. “But these Piltover scientists don’t write in a way any of us were taught. I need the time to decipher it.”

It’s laughable that the sole reason the information could never reach him is merely bad cursive, not an uncommon Piltover scripture. Though, of course, Silco doesn’t need to know this.

“Tell me, what good of a scientist are you if you can’t make sense of a peer’s notes?” He challenges, and you fight a frown.

“With all due respect, Sir, I can begin to understand the diagrams even without notes.” You say it slowly, testing out the waters. The last thing you want to do while lying out of your teeth is make Silco mad. “But without context, anything I find is ultimately useless.”

Perhaps against his better judgement, Silco believes you that night. Fortunately, it gives you all the time you need to focus on Viktor’s notes in secret, though, you’re not sure how it makes you feel to realise that his notes actually make sense — so much time has passed since you last saw each other, it barely seems real.

You’ve grown since the last time you’d see each other, but for now, you can only hope that Viktor is around to have the opportunity to see it.

But the fact that you can’t contact him in any way doesn’t help your worry, either. It’s not strange for someone of his status to be without a direct line of communication, and it’s even less strange that you, a scientist of the Undercity, still fail to find an easy way to get ahold of the man. Your only source of information has always been the rumours that fall from the pockets of Silco’s clientele – unreliable, but better than nothing.

Assuming that the death of a creator of Hextech would be a bigger scoop amidst the usual sea of casual gossip, you’re relieved when a few days pass and you’ve heard nothing of the sort. But, even the passage of time is a dangerous game now: you know that Silco’s patience is likely wearing thin in the lapse of any progress.

So, you give him what he wants.

He can’t read the messy scripture either, and it’s quite easy to say you’ve made advancements by tacking on a random splice of information that he wouldn’t understand anyways. Giving him the true information would be a gamble you aren’t ready to take – putting that kind of power into his hands could prove exceptionally dangerous.

Still, doing such a thing leaves you undeniably on edge. Lying to Silco isn’t an easy thing, and the fears of your secret escaping run constantly rampant in your head. It’s a difficult thing to juggle, to say the least – like your own personal show, that unfortunately includes acting a part for nearly everyone you know.

One muggy night around a week later, you finally feel as though you’re nearing your breaking point. You can’t feed Silco pieces of nondescript information forever: even he will eventually begin to piece together the mechanics of the gadgets. But, what choice do you have? You've essentially dug yourself a grave.

You think you’ve finally gone crazy when a small ticking sound interrupts the quiet atmosphere. But, another round pulls you out of your thoughts, and with a sigh, you turn towards where you think the source lies.

There is a row of large windows that line the eastern wall of your lab, put in specifically to fuel your ‘creativity’. You had assured Silco it was a useless endeavour, but he had gone ahead without the discretion of your choices, as usual.

The beauty in the Undercity is certainly unorthodox – as much as you’d like to look out the windows and see rolling hills, the mechanical city has its own charms. Everything is connected in a way underground, making for a messy but tight-knit community: an oddly heartwarming contradiction.

Though, perhaps it’s connected a bit too literally.

As you glance out the window, your eyes immediately catch on two silhouettes. As if to emphasise their point, the one kneeling on the overhanging roof knocks again. They say something that’s muffled by the thick glass.

Your brows knit as you stare at the pair. They’re shrouded completely in the dark, features barely discernable behind the panes. You know you should leave them be – who knows what someone knocking on the windows of a lab could be after. But, your curiosity gets the better of you before rationality can kick in.

Cautiously, you make your way up to the window, unhooking the latch and finally letting the quiet voice of the kneeling person flow in.

“___!” A familiar voice you can’t place says your name with relief, slipping past you and onto the counter you kneel on. When they land, the sound they make on impact has you reaching instinctively to their shoulder. It wouldn’t necessarily be hard to paint whatever this is as a break-in, but you’d rather not.

“What do you think you’re–” You fall silent after you pull the person’s shoulder back, grey eyes staring into yours as if to dare you to go further.

Barely avoiding a stutter from escaping, you ask, “...Vi?”

“In the flesh.” She remarks, getting to her feet and taking a look around your lab. “I heard you’d be lurking around here somewhere, didn’t know it would be here specifically.”

Vi shoots you a pointed look and you sigh.

“It’s a story for another time.” You mumble, taking a glance at the person who had come with her that stands still on the windowsill. Dark blue eyes flit around the room, and you don’t think anything of it until you notice the gold detailing on her outfit.

“Woah!” Jogging across the room to cover your work table, you reach easily for the gun holstered beneath your coat. Offhandedly, you wonder if they’re here for Viktor’s notebook. “I didn’t know you ran with that kind of crowd, Vi. Was your disappearance not enough of a shock?”

Vi grits her teeth in frustration, pulling out her own weapon and turning it on you. It’s then that you realise the enforcer on the window carries a sniper rifle, but oddly enough, she doesn’t move to protect herself.

“Seriously? You have no idea what happened to me.”

“Vi.” The enforcer hisses, accent smooth as she carefully eases her way down onto the counter before raising her hands. “There’s no need to be so hostile, their trust is more important.”

Your brows knit.

“What are you talking about?”

With a huff, Vi’s stance relaxes slightly. Something in you deflates at the obvious display of trust between the two – you had never been particularly close to Vi as a kid, always a few years older and a few leagues weaker, but she was still someone you respected. Your own relationship with the higher-ups of Piltover is admittedly complicated, but Viktor is no enforcer. Anyone from the Undercity would be able to distinguish the difference.

“My trust?” You prod, nudging the gun in your hand with your pointer finger as if to remind them of your confusion. “What about it?”

“We heard rumours. You work for Silco? As a…” She struggles, eventually getting frustrated and spitting out a title. “Researcher, of some kind?”

“A scientist.” You correct, shrugging the error away. “But, what does that have to do with anything?”

The enforcer steps forward, eyes unsettlingly kind. It makes you feel as though you’re the one in the wrong, even though neither of you have done anything inherently bad yet.

“We want to take Silco down.”

Begrudgingly, Vi lets the enforcer lead you to the chair by your work table and take care of explaining things to you. Though, you only lower your gun once it’s clear she isn’t there to report you or to arrest you for the things in your lab that are, quite frankly, wholly out of your control.

“The rumours we heard, they said you were here against your will.” The enforcer you now know as Caitlyn says so quietly, an apologetic look falling over her face. Your lips tick into a frown.

“If you want me to help you go against him, I’m afraid it’s not possible.” You lament quietly, leaning back into your chair as you sigh. Caitlyn and Vi exchange a glance as you continue. “I might be a valuable scientist, but I’m ultimately replaceable. He’d kill me.”

And you don’t say it, but you know the man would make it a spectacle. A warning to those thinking of doing the same, and a cruel jab at the Hexgate creator he’d taken you from.

“I know that you think you have power. But, I did too once. Whatever you think Silco is capable of doing, it’s worse.”

“I believe you.” Caitlyn nods. “But that’s not quite true. We… We were given a chance to hold an audience with the council. It’s concerning a different matter, but it connects back to the man who’s forcing you to do this.”

“We want you to give us evidence that he’s doing things beyond code. Vi suggested that if the rumours of your contracting were indeed true, you might be able to help.”

If she has any other thoughts on the situation, they’re kept behind her stumbling words by lock and key. When you don’t respond, she takes decisive steps forward, kneeling down to take your hand from where you sit.

You look up at her in shock as she says,

“Don’t fret. Silco can’t reach you in Piltover.”

Caitlyn’s words are gentle, and unfortunately familiar.

“All I ask, is that you consider Heimerdinger’s offer. You deserve this place, no one has the right to take it from you. Silco can’t reach you in Piltover.”

You always wished you would’ve taken the chance to find out.

Suddenly, your face twists as your free hand flies to your mouth. Memories you had been repressing flow into you at full force, and the feeling is nauseating as you choke out,

“....Was anyone hurt the night the Hexcrystals were stolen?”

Caitlyn’s head dips as if to earn a glimpse of your face, before she hesitantly shakes her head.

“Fine, then.” You swallow harshly. “You’re right. I should come.”

Decidedly, you reach behind you and consequently make Caitlyn back up. You grab the notebook with a soft grip, hesitant in the route you’re taking until Vi pops out a nondescript question behind you.

“This,” You start, voice quiet as you let out an embarrassed laugh. “...Is the notebook that was stolen a few weeks ago. It was stolen by someone in our ranks and passed onto me.”

The revelation makes the pair in front of you go silent.

“Ah–” You put up your hands in mock surrender, brows furrowing. “But it’s not like I asked for this, nor would I ever actually give the information to anyone–”

“You have that?” Vi’s eyes widen. “And the crystals, too?”

“Yes, both.” You wince slightly.

“No,” Caitlyn interrupts, putting up a hand. “That’s good. A high profile piece of evidence will give us credibility.”

You bite the inside of your lip as you contemplate. “But, speaking of high profile. …How sure can I be that I won’t be arrested for this information? While not of my own will, I’ve created things that have been used to commit horrible deeds–”

“I’ll protect you.” Caitlyn assures you, putting a hand to her chest. “I promise you this. You truly seem like a good person, ___, and I believe that.”

An enforcer’s words wouldn’t have meant anything to you thirty minutes ago. But now, they light a casual flame in your chest.

“Thank you.” You nod shyly.

Interrupting the heartfelt moment with the quiet clap of her hand, Vi says, “If we’re all done, let’s figure something out. And quickly.”

“Stage fright?”

Caitlyn comes up beside you, the engaging question meant to be thoughtful. Instead, it just reminds you of all you have to fear — perhaps you’ll be thrown out the moment the councilors know who you are, but even if you do stay, will they believe you?

Or, will they think you’re merely painting a picture for your own benefit? There’s no easy way to explain how the stolen materials were so easily entrusted to you without somehow implicating yourself, and the possibilities are terrifying.

You shrug, shifting the bag over your shoulder. “Something like that.”

“Don’t worry, I told you.” Caitlyn says, a thoughtful hand resting on your shoulder. “I’ll make sure you’re protected. You’ve done nothing wrong.”

“…I hope so.” You mumble.

“Either way,” She motions for you and Vi to follow her. “We’ll get through it. Are you ready?”

When you both give your forms of acceptance, Caitlyn lays a careful hand on the large door that separates you from the council room, waiting for an appropriate time to enter.

“Perhaps Marcus was working independently,” a disembodied voice says thoughtfully. “But what could anyone in the Undercity offer him that he didn’t have up here.”

At the momentary pause of chatter in the room, Caitlyn takes this opportunity to enter.

“It’s not what they offered him. It’s what he had to lose.”

Guards accompany you from behind, and admittedly, you can’t muster the courage necessary to raise your head. Caitlyn seems to know what she’s doing, and even Vi is fairly comfortable with facing the officials as she glances among them.

“Councilors, my daughter has a unique insight into our situation.” An unfamiliar woman stands, that of which you assume to be Caitlyn’s mother. Curiously, you raise your head.

There’s certainly a resemblance.

She nods in her mother’s direction. “Thank you.”

“First,” She turns her head to Vi, who stands beside her. “Councilors, this is Vi. She was born in the Undercity.”

“Even though we failed her in countless ways, she risked everything to show me what life is really like down there.” They share a heavy glance that makes you wonder just what had happened between the two of them before they had decided to seek you out.

“People are starving, sick, ravaged by shimmer. They live in constant fear of the coordinated efforts of violent crime lords. And one man leads these efforts — Silco.”

A robotic councilor is the first to speak, refutting. “We’ve done investigations of Silco. They yielded no such level of organisation.”

The forefront creator of Hextech drops what he plays with in his hand, the small pin making a sound that makes the room go quiet. Briefly, you think you notice the shuffle of someone sitting behind him, but you don’t dwell on it.

“What does this Silco even want from us?” Jayce asks.

Caitlyn turns to you, and hesitantly, you clear your throat. You’ve never been a terrible public speaker, but in this moment, you have to wrest the edge from your throat.

“That— he believes the Undercity should be independent.” You explain stiffly. “He calls it the nation of Zaun.”

Jayce’s thick brows furrow with uncertainty. “…And who might you be?”

“My name is ___.” You answer. “I’m a scientist that works under Silco, and I’d like to provide concrete proof that he’s someone that needs to be dealt with.”

Finally, you let yourself get a good look at all of the councilors. They’re all quite unique in appearance, from a range of species and colour, some wearing defining pieces of jewellery while others stick to more plain ensembles.

But as your eyes make their way across the board, waiting for someone to speak, you catch something that stops you short.

You were right. There is someone sitting behind Jayce. He leans out from behind his much larger counterpart to let his eyes flicker over the faces of your companions, only pausing for a split second before they fly back to you.

You dare to meet his gaze when you feel his attention on you. Suddenly, your words die in your throat.

The man’s cheekbones are almost gaunt against his pale skin, and the bags under his eyes must be a similar hue to Caitlyn's uniform. But, there’s a deeply familiar emotion in the way he looks at you. It pricks beneath your skin as the onset feeling of recognition dawns on you.

It feels as though someone’s given you a kick to the stomach when he reaches out for something beside him, solidifying your thoughts by grasping a crutch.

Viktor?

He releases a small breath, urging you on with a slight smile.

You have to bite the inside of your cheek to keep from letting the extent of your emotion show. Of course, Viktor is sitting in on a councilor’s meeting looking like he’d been put through a wringer, facing you as if you’re a criminal awaiting trial, but some things truly never change.

You swallow firmly as Vi nudges you, forcing you to tear your gaze away from Viktor. She gives you a pointed look that startles you back into function — she’d likely taken the room’s silence as an invitation to go on and was wondering why you hadn’t done the same.

Pushing down the rushing sensation that threatens to burst from your chest, you clear your throat again.

“I’m sorry. As- as I was saying, Silco is someone to be feared because his reach is enormous. With trade routes, shimmer, and control of the Undercity mines, he relies on fear to keep things in order.”

“He may seem kind, but it’s a show. Silco cuts people off from the outside world and makes sure they have no choice but to rely on him.”

You hope Viktor is able to pick up on the distinctions — though you will never be able to properly apologise for the way that you left him, you hope the short explanation will fill in certain gaps.

Taking a slow breath, you look at the ground as you say, “…I had my only chance at happiness taken away when I was nineteen, all so I could stay behind and fulfill the role he needed me to. It's been six years."

“He holds people I care about over my head to this day.” You frown, looking at each of the councilors meaningfully. “But, I’m sick of it. So, please. On the off chance that you will listen to my story, let me provide certain important gadgets from the last few years.”

A few beats of silence pass before an impeccably dressed woman raises her hand regally, a slight smile making the golden freckles across her face lift. A light shines over her head as she says,

“I believe this could be worthwhile.”

After her, councilors raise their hands one by one, all noting their own personal thought processes throughout. Relief builds quickly in your chest, and as the officials speak amongst themselves, you try to catch Viktor’s eye. Though, when you find him amongst the group, he is speaking to Jayce, noting something string-like tied to his cane with abstract gestures.

“Actually, convincing them to spare you punishment may not be necessary.” Caitlyn grabs your attention with the quiet statement as the last councilman ponders. “Most seem accepting of your story.”

You can’t help the smile that comes to your face as the last light shines over the lone councilman, signifying his agreement.

“I’m glad.”

The rest of the session is long and tedious. Certain members of the council, while in agreement to listen to your story, certainly don’t have much faith in you. They question you at every turn, and while it’s usually not hard to find an answer, they strain you – ask if you really did take no pleasure in being the creator of such vile weapons, in being the mind behind the tools.

But as you pull each from your bag, explaining them as a guard handles them at a safe distance, you refute each councilor that dares to doubt your explanations. While their acceptance is important, you know fear of the unknown too well. Those who are the loudest are often only scared of what they don’t understand.

However, it’s a shame that the only other person in the room that can truly grasp the situation doesn’t get a vote.

Viktor listens thoughtfully to each of your descriptions. And though you can’t exactly watch for his reactions in the crowded setting, you can practically feel the interest that radiates off the man. A pleased buzz settles into your chest as you continue on.

The moment that likely matters the most is when you finally reach the bottom of the bag, where only one object remains. Hesitantly, you reach for what could be the day’s catalyst.

“This,” You hold up the leather bound notebook in one hand, not turning around to face the council members just yet. “Is not my creation, but I felt it was important to show it today.”

Cautiously, you turn around, taking the journal into one hand to feel for the crystals kept in the front. A wave of relief goes through you when you feel them inside.

“These were stolen from labs here and passed over to me a few weeks ago, with the hope that I would be able to make use of the notes and Hexcrystals inside.”

Quiet gasps echo through the room as you take experimental steps towards Jayce. You hold them up in a silent offer, but rather than take them directly, he lets Viktor stand and reaches for them instead. You hand them over with a bated breath, noting the slight flicker that goes through his eye when your hands briefly touch.

“I didn’t let them have any of it.” You mumble, not even sure if Viktor had heard you until his lips quirk up into a small smile.

“I know.”

But, he makes a show of flipping through the pages as you stand there anyway, making sure nothing is missing amongst the notes and crystals you’d returned.

“I believe nothing is missing.” Viktor nods to Jayce, who you hadn’t noticed was already borderline studying your face. You realise then that it was essentially impossible for him to have not picked up on the exchange between you and Viktor, not that there’s anything you can do about it.

You take a step back when he nods, Viktor’s eyes lingering on yours for what is perhaps a count too long.

The session ends with the council’s promise to look deeper into Silco’s endeavours, and a collective sigh of relief is released amongst the three of you that had requested the audience. When you exit the room, it is with hope for a changed world, and faith that the Undercity will finally be acknowledged in the way it deserves to be.

But, there is one other notion of change that is more unique to you.

As the crowd begins to disperse, you tuck yourself into a more hidden corner of the hall in hopes that the person you want to see will emerge. And luckily, as the last strings of conversation leave earshot, the large doors open yet again,

Something in your chest tightens as the distinct sound of a crutch hitting the marble floor sounds through the hall. Six years of pain and uncertainty come undone the moment Viktor’s eyes meet yours. He is tired and noticeably older, but the person you remember still lies in the way he smiles at you, in the way he makes his way over to you without faltering.

When he stops in front of you, your voice goes breathy as you shrug, “I told you I could do it.”

Viktor beckons you forward and you waste no time in taking the invitation, wrapping your arms around his torso. He lets out a stagnated breath as you sink into him.

“And I told you that I believed you could.” He whispers, letting you take some of his weight and pressing his chin into your hair.

You release an unsteady breath, heart pounding against his. In a way, it's like no time has passed at all -- you're both still standing in the ridiculously fancy hostel Heimerdinger had summoned you to, connected for the last time as you waited for the unknown.

But, things aren't the same. As he holds you now, there is nothing that you would let pull you away as Silco did back then.

Suddenly, you part from him far enough to look at his face, brow creasing with worry as if you’d just remembered something. Viktor looks at you with easy curiosity as you swipe a thumb beneath his eye, over the curve of his cheek.

“...What happened to you?” You ask softly, noting the pain that strikes through his gaze.

He frowns, and suddenly, he looks exhausted.

“I’m sick, ___.” Viktor admits quietly. “And, I don’t think I can fix it.”

Your heart stops. What’s worse is it’s viable, a good explanation for the changed man you see in front of you. But you don’t want it to be true, you don’t want the possibility of losing him again –of losing him for good.

Abruptly, he pulls back, eyes roving over your face. You stare at him blankly, unable to process his actions so quickly.

“The prognosis revealed my illness was due to pollution from the Undercity.” He explains, his own gaze looking for the tell-tale imperfections of sickness in your face. “You spent a lot of time in the same areas I did, have you felt anything?”

Quickly, you shake your head, still reeling from the strong sense of concern for you that he’d never seemed to shake – not even when he is the only one blatantly in danger.

“No-no, nothing.” You assure him, wishing your heart didn’t pick up the way it does when he releases a sigh of relief. “But, you–”

You go quiet, biting the inside of your cheek as your eyes flit around. Perhaps if you think hard enough, you can think of a way to help him. Though, in your endeavours, your gaze catches on something else – the ‘string’ you’d seen tied to his crutch previously is now noticeable at the close distance.

Silently, you reach down towards it, lips parting in surprise. Viktor’s free hand rests lightly on your waist.

“You-?” You have a hard time getting the right words out as you take the small charm between your fingers, thumbing open the small cartridge to see two small faces. “You’re ridiculous. You really kept this?”

The locket you had given him the day you’d last seen each other, over six years ago, has stayed with him. The surface is more worn than you remember, attesting to the sheer number of times it had probably been pried open.

Tears finally prick behind your eyes as Viktor smiles thoughtfully, a careful hand placement beneath your chin bringing your gaze back up to his. “It was your promise, I was only waiting for you to fulfill it.”

You don’t know what you’re thinking. The moment is crude, and it’s still unclear as to whether or not Viktor still holds the same feelings he did back then – but despite this, despite everything telling you to step back and think, you take the hand that hovers beneath your chin and kiss him.

When he momentarily falters, you pull back immediately.

You suck in a short breath. “I’m sorry, I–”

Viktor cuts you off fairly quickly, guiding you by your own hand and directly back into him. He kisses you gently, tenderly, like he’d been waiting ages for this moment. And in a way, perhaps you have been too.

When he releases you, the sensation of his breath mingling with yours brings a small smile to your face.

“I’ll help you.” You promise it softly without thinking, slightly breathless. “Whatever you can’t fix on your own, we can fix together.”

“That is, if you choose to let me help you complete such a goal.”

Viktor shakes your hand a bit in mock exasperation, shocking a laugh out of you. “You’re insufferable.”

You had always thought you would die young and angry. But, you can’t quite remember the day that changed – simply put, life has always been a struggle. A constant game of tug of war between you and an invisible entity. But on the days you felt that you couldn’t handle it anymore, that the weight of your mistakes was simply too heavy to bear, you had someone to turn to. Even after those said mistakes tore him away from you, there was still always an inkling of your partner that stayed with you.

Such is the power of connection. Viktor gave you what you needed to feel alive, and breathed hope back into your fragile lungs even as dirt clouded you.

When you look at the fragile man in front of you, you don’t see him as someone who’s beyond saving – if anything, he is a reflection of the person you’d once known. Your roles have been reversed, and it is finally time to repay his favour to you.

[miasma-of-fear]

"The fear ensnares you like a serpent 'round your heart."

¤ Independent, semi-selective RP and ask blog for Jonathan Emmanuel Keeny-Crane, a canon divergent Scarecrow - OC and crossover friendly, interacts from @whats-a-clever-username ¤

[ Rules + more info below ]

Promo Post 💉 Headcanon Masterpost 🎃 Verse List 🧪 Wishlist 🌾 Relationship Taglist ⚰ NPCs 🍂 Playlist 💀 Interest Tracker

¤ Key of terms ¤

Adjustments Are in Order : blog maintenance

A Murder : corvid companions

A Nightmare Escaped : Scarecrow tag

Arkham Files : promos

Backlog : queue tag

The Beast in Me : Scarebeast tag

Burlap Rope and Straw : wardrobe

Broken Picture Frames : muse art

Crowscratch : muse posts

Do You Have an Appointment? : closed starters

The Duke of Delirium : faceclaim

Farewells : end thread

Filed Away : save tag

Gaze Upon Me! And Know True Fear! : self promo

He Never Trusts Presents : submissions

I Feel a Headache Coming on... : dash comms

The Maze of the Mind : headcanons

Needles Smoke and Feathered Fear : aesthetic

Nevermore Your Ichabod : musing

No Time for Such Dawdling : memes

Odd Company : threads

Querist Beware : asks

Romance of the Unusual : Jon/Edwin tag

Silence Filled : music

Step Into My Web : open starters

Suspicion Grows : anonymous

This IS a Madhouse : crack

Whispers From the Corn : OOC

Yonder Stands the Sinner : starter call

visage tag tba

interests tag tba

desires tag tba

¤ Read before use ¤

🧡 Mun is 21, NB, uses she/he/they, and goes by Kirby, Who, and Briar. This is a mobile sideblog run by @whats-a-clever-username. My other roleplay blogs are @e-l-c-kingor and @who-is-muses.

🤎 I don’t care much for extensive plotting, rather preferring a basic idea for the beginning and going from there.

💚 As far as my style of formatting goes, I write how I would a story- both for comfort and keeping the theme, sometimes with actions and sometimes without- and intermittently use icons outside of memes. That being said, I have no problem if my partner uses them, or formats considerably different from me, so long as I can read their reply.

🧡 I'm 18+ and mutuals only (asks and ask memes open to non mutuals), and a bit of a stickler for literacy. Not multiple page long replies, of course- brevity can be used just as well in some scenarios- but I lose interest in poorly written one liners quickly. Spelling and grammer aren’t too much of an issue for me- I make my own fair share of typos and I’m usually good at filling in the blanks or making mental corrections- but again, it can become frustrating if my partner doesn’t seem to be making an effort.

🤎 I’m relatively experienced in RPing (~7 years), but I haven’t been doing “serious” roleplay on Tumblr for long (less than a year.) I’m learning as I go, and I welcome any feedback or tips, but I’m also prone to doing things my own way. This blog is for fun, after all.

💚 I'm still somewhat shy about smut threads, and as such will be selective about who I do them with. That being said, dirty jokes and asks about such topics that aren't too graphic or invasive are fine, as are fade to blacks (I'll mention whether I'd like to move on to the smut or not.) I'm fine with sexual headcanons and will post some (along with related memes) every now and again. All will be tagged suggestive or nsfvv depending. Because of this, I'd prefer anyone following and interacting with me to be over 18.

🧡 Duplicates, OCs, and AUs/different universes are welcomed! I think it’s to be expected, given this is my personal version of Scarecrow (my main verse affectionately referred to as either Cleververse or Earth-2860.) Subsequently, other DC characters will be regarded as separate Earth’s (i.e. Earth-3 Riddler versus Earth-1, etc.) Additionally, while I do have Jon already with my version of Bookworm in my main verse, I am 100% willing to fudge the timeline for a different ship with our muses, and I definitely multi-ship. Feel free to hit me up and we can discuss!

🤎 Please refrain from godmodding. I know it’s sometimes necessary to briefly take control of another’s character (in the sense of anticipating their movements, timeskips, or their being somehow unconscious), but try not to be too controlling.

💚 Always feel free to contact me OOC. Communication is important. It may take me a while to respond, and I may forget- which goes for threads as well- but I always try to. Granted I can be a little awkward and shy, but I don’t mean to come across rude.

🧡 That being said, I don’t mind and even appreciate a reminder every now and again if I haven’t replied to a thread in a while, but please don’t pester me incessantly about it.

🤎 As with any Batman rogue no matter how prone to levity, there will be dark themes- not constantly, but certainly on occasion. I’ll do my best to tag appropriately, but don’t be afraid to give me a gentle heads up in the event I overlook something. I can say upfront that needles, religious (mainly Christian) themes, demons, violence/murder, drugs, alcohol, smoking, death, past child abuse, psychological abuse, manipulation, physical/mental torture, and blood/gore will be common.

💚 I hope this goes without saying, but Jon’s thoughts and opinions are not indicative of my own. If he’s being a horrendous, cruel bastard, that doesn’t necessarily mean I hate your character, etc.

🧡 As of the present, I will not be taking any m!as unless I reblog a meme, and I might veto some of the given options for my own comfort.

🤎 Though he may acknowledge time based events like birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries, Jon exists in a purposefully vague point in time because, frankly, I’m horrible at timelines. I’m always willing to do threads that take place in the past or future, or even seperate timelines, but outside of those Jon will always be 38 regardless of what time has passed.

💚 I don’t mind if you want to torment or attack Jon- physically, mentally, etc.- but I ask that it not be an all the time thing. Angst is lovely, but it becomes draining when it’s the only thing I do.

🧡 I'm totally fine with non roleplay blogs sending in questions and reblogging most things from me (headcanons, aesthetic, etc.), but I do ask that answers, threads, and other IC posts not be reblogged. Just a pet peeve. Additionally, I don't mind if you want to reblog a meme from me, but I do subscribe to reblog karma (sending in a meme that you're reblogging.)