#Viktor Angst | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

im-a-writer-sometimes · 2 years

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Life Giveth and Life Taketh Away

Pairing: Viktor x Reader (You can always use this extension to change Y/N to your own name, if you’d like)

Description: When a routine test with the Hexcore goes sideways, Dr. Y/N Cole is left with an unexplained power—a gift that might be the answer to the illness eating away at Viktor’s life. But power always comes with a price, and there are no happy endings in Piltover.

Wordcount: 7.5k

Warnings: Major character death, angst, Jayce being a major pain in everyone’s ass, language, a wee bit of fluff, hurt/no comfort

A/N: Welcome to me ignoring canon for the sake of my stupid little plot!

—

The Hexcore was unlike anything Y/N had ever seen. From the way Viktor toyed with it for hours on end and the way Jayce’s wide eyes watched it undulate and glow, she guessed the duo had never seen anything like it either. It was science, living and breathing—magic, caged and yet dangerously unmoored between Viktor’s trained hands.

It was terrifying in a way, but in her career as a scientist, she had learned to live for the terrifying, riding that fine line between madness and invention. It was that trait within her that had pulled her towards the undoubtedly insane men she now worked for, and had likewise pulled them to her.

“I think Heimerdinger is right in a way,” she said, leaning against the end of the desk as Viktor sat in front of the core, head resting on his hands.

“How so?” He asked, his voice flat.

“We can’t employ the core until we understand it,” she said. He opened his mouth to protest, but she continued. “That just means we need to work twice as hard to understand it, to help the people who can’t wait another year or two years before this technology is available to the public.”

Viktor smiled softly, turning his head back to the core, it’s blue light dancing in the reflection of his yellow eyes. That was what pulled her to the softer, ganglier of the two scientists—and what pulled him to her—that willful, unrelenting drive to help others no matter the cost to themselves. The late nights and the bad coffee and the mornings waking to neck aches as they lifted their heads from the desks they’d sat down at two days ago—it all meant nothing. Nothing compared to the things they needed to accomplish.

“You’ve been up for 48 hours,” she said, standing from her spot against the desk and coming up behind him. “You go get some shut-eye, and I’ll run some more tests.”

“I’m your boss, Dr. Cole,” he said with lethargic amusement in his voice. “You don’t get to tell me what to do.”

“When you’re being stupid, I do,” she said, leaning back against the desk next to him. He smiled and closed his eyes, letting out a deep breath. To her surprise, he reached around her for the cane leaning against the desk, standing with a grunt. “I’ll get a few hours sleep,” he relented, his voice deep and slow with exhaustion, his accent thicker than ever. “And then I’ll be back here to relieve you.”

“More than a few hours, Viktor,” she called as he left, knowing he wouldn’t listen to her. His lack of response said just as much. She sat down in his chair and sighed.

She thought about Jayce, the acting head of the council, busy with political endeavors and Mel, although she couldn’t blame him—if the councilwoman showed even the slightest bit of interest in her, she wouldn’t hesitate to fall into her arms. But despite his distractions, Jayce had been the one to tell her about Viktor’s trip to the hospital. He had been the one to beg her to force Viktor to take care of himself. “He listens to you,” he’d insisted. She spent every day with Viktor, but he revealed nothing—beyond the poorly masked coughs.

He needed this. He needed this promise of future, this promise of life. But he wouldn’t make it to that point of discovery if he kept pushing himself like he was. That was what Jayce had explained to her, translated from the doctor’s prescription of rest, rest, rest. As if that would cure a dying Viktor.

She ran her fingers along the edges of the core, feeling the cool, textured metal against the pad of her thumb. The core seemed to thrum in response, the light within it pulsing playfully. She pulled two wilting plants from a shelf beneath her, setting them on the desk on both sides of the core, and she curled into Viktor’s chair, just watching.

Stems of blue light, curious and alive, reached from inside the core, caressing the leaves of the plants until they started to bristle. Brown, papery skin became smooth, became green and waxy and full of life. The plants lifted themselves from their wilted position section by section, until two entirely different pieces of greenery sat on the desk before her.

She picked one of them up and walked it to the other side of the room, leaving the other by the core. She paced as she watched them both. She watched how the blue light burst and blew one plant apart into a sprout of black thorns. She watched how the other plant wilted again in the absence of the core’s life-giving power. It didn’t matter what life it gave—it was gone in a matter of seconds.

Or maybe mint plants were just inhospitable hosts for this power.

She sat back down, making a list in her head of new hosts to try. She hated the thought of animals, but maybe testing on sick or nearly-dead ones wouldn't be too unethical. Bugs were fair game, but their anatomy was so starkly different from a human’s that how the core affected them would be irrelevant.

It took her a moment to realize the core was still reaching, still hungry. It wrapped its light around the now lifeless tangle of black stems in a constricting, almost predatorial way. It took Y/N an even longer moment to realize it had started reaching for her. Her eyes widened, the light growing brighter before her. It took her too long—just a moment too long—to think to stand up out of its way.

It took another three hours for Viktor to find her collapsed on the floor in front of the desk, the core still pulsing on the surface.

—

Viktor told her she had lost her being-alone-in-the-lab privileges as soon as she woke up in a hospital bed, and Jayce frowned at her, as if saying how is he supposed to rest now, genius? She gave him a tight smile that said I tried my fucking best.

Before an entire non-verbal argument could play out, Mel appeared in the doorway, a soft coat wrapped around her slender frame and a vase of flowers in between her hands. “We leave you alone for an hour, Doctor, and look where you end up.”

“What can I say, I have a proficiency for poor decision making,” she said, and Mel laughed, sitting down at the end of her bed after setting the flowers on Y/N’s bedside table. She smiled at the arrangement of roses, some of them closed tight against the cold hospital air. “Thank you, Councilor,” she said. “These are lovely.”

“You’re welcome,” Mel said, before turning her eyes to Jayce. “But I’m afraid there are some matters that Councilman Talis and I need to attend to. I wish you a speedy recovery, Doctor,” she said as she stood, patting Y/N’s shin through the blankets.

Jayce mumbled a goodbye as he and Mel left together, leaving only Y/N, Viktor, and heavy silence that lingered in the air like molasses.

“I appreciate Mel’s sentiment,” she said softly, “but I hate roses.” Viktor looked up at that, watching her with wary eyes. “I don’t like how they close up.” She lifted a hand and ran a fingertip along one of the closed flowers as if to prove her point.

Her hand stilled as the petals quivered beneath her touch, before bursting open in a quick rush. Viktor stopped breathing. She drew her hand back. And then she lifted it again, reaching for another closed rose. It opened much the same, and she could hear Viktor’s sharp intake of breath.

“Find me a dead one,” she said, and it took Viktor a moment to even realize she had spoken.

“What?”

“A dead plant. Find me, uh, a dead plant, to—”

He was out of his chair and limping down the hallway before she could finish her sentence. He returned a moment later, a poor nurse hauling a browning plant in a large planter into the room.

“Beside the bed,” he said softly, and the nurse deposited it there, staring at them both expectantly. “That will be all, thank you.”

Once he left, she reached out, pressing her fingertips against one of the wilting leaves. Like mold on bread, green spread out beneath her fingers until the entire plant was living again.

“What have you done?” Viktor breathed, and she shook her head.

“I don’t—I don’t know,” she said. She looked down at her hands, the same as they were last night, and shook her head again. “I ran the same test we’ve run a million times. The plants—the plants died and withered, but the core–”

“What about the core?”

“I don’t know. It was different.”

“Different how?” He said, scooting the plant away and sitting down in the chair beside the bed. “I need you to explain it to me in detail, Y/N.”

She bristled at the sound of her first name in his accented voice. He always called her Doctor or Cole or Dr. Cole. But she didn’t have time to linger on the significance of it when he was staring intensely enough at her to make a lesser person shrink away in discomfort. But she knew this gaze—his problem-solving gaze. She just wasn’t used to being the problem he was solving.

“The plants were enough to wake it this time, but not enough to satiate it. It was hungry, and then,” she paused. “Predatorial? I saw it reaching for me, and I was just too stunned to move. And then I woke up here.”

“That’s all you remember?”

“Yes,” she said. He reached out to take her hand in his, to study it, but she pulled back. His narrowed eyes met hers. “Don’t—don’t touch me, we don’t—”

“We don’t what?” He asked slowly.

“We don’t know what’s going on, and I don’t want any… unintended side effects.” She thought about the mint plant bursting into wild black and shivered, Viktor’s face hovering in front of hers. She pressed her hands beneath her legs for safe measure.

“Yes, right,” he said. And then he was gone for a moment, returning with a pair of lamb-skin gloves dangling from his fingers. “To prevent any unintended side effects.”

—

Jayce was ecstatic when he returned to the lab later that day, explaining to Viktor’s unimpressed face how Y/N’s ability was a vital step in understanding the core. How she was fine, as the doctor’s had confirmed, and she now had the ability to bring plants to life.

“With none of that turning black and dying stuff,” he added, gesturing to the two plants now basking in the window—the vase of fully-bloomed roses and the potted plant, both still alive.

“Just like we do not understand the core,” Viktor explained, “we do not understand what it has done to Dr. Cole. We need—time.”

“Time?” Jayce said. “Weren’t you the one who said people need help now? Here’s your answer, Viktor,” he said, gesturing to Y/N as if she were a potted plant as well. “Why not take advantage of it?”

“Maybe because it is our friend and our colleague, and there is no need to put her in more danger than she has already subjected herself to,” Viktor said.

Y/N frowned—upset that she was actively being excluded from this conversation, and glad because she truly didn’t know who she sided with.

“What about you, Viktor?” Jayce continued, his voice softer. “You thought the Hexcore was the key to curing you, and now,” he looked over at her, “the key might be Y/N.”

Viktor stood, putting his weight on his cane to stand face-to-face with his partner. “Enough,” he said. “This was an unfortunate accident, an accident we still do not know the full repercussions of. Dr. Cole is not a trinket, she is not a science experiment, and I won’t treat her as such.”

Y/N stood, and they both turned their heads towards her. “I need a glass of water.”

Jayce was quick to fetch it for her, and then both men were watching her intently as she drank, eyebrows raised. She sighed.

“Jayce has a point,” she said, apologetic eyes meeting Viktor’s. “This could very well be a blessing in disguise, Viktor.”

Jayce lifted his hands in an I told you so gesture that had Viktor rolling his eyes.

“But,” she continued, and both the men’s focuses returned to her. “Viktor is right that the risks of getting ahead of ourselves right now far outweigh the potential rewards.” It was Viktor’s turn to gloat, but he just smiled softly. “We don’t know if those plants will blacken and die. It may only take longer for them to do so.”

Viktor’s smile disappeared at that, before he nodded solemnly.

“Let’s monitor your power,” he said. “We will test it on more plants, on dying animals, and we will see what becomes of them.”

“Because sickly rats are more deserving of this power than you,” Jayce said, sharp eyes on Viktor’s profile as he watched her. Viktor ignored him, crossing the room to pull a mint plant from our withering collection.

Jayce’s eyes met Y/N’s, and she shook her head. He clenched his fists and was gone in an instant, the lab door slamming behind him.

—

Viktor’s next hospital visit was less shocking than the first. And the doctor’s advice was the same. Rest, rest, rest, he told Viktor. So your inevitable death will come a little later, was the bit he forgot to add.

By the time a disheveled Jayce walked through the door to the hospital room, Y/N had fallen asleep, curled awkwardly in a chair, her head resting on the foot of the bed. The lamb-skin gloves were on her hands—as they had been for the last two weeks except for when she was curing canaries and mice and mint plants. In her foggy, half-conscious haze, she heard the tail-end of a whispered conversation, voices floating above her like light from the core, reaching desperately through the space in between.

“You have to try,” said Jayce, his voice kinder than she’d heard it in weeks. “What is there to lose?”

“Without thinking about the potential consequences for me, we don’t know what the consequences for Y/N will be,” said Viktor, her first name feeling so out of place, like a confession she wasn’t meant to hear.

“Viktor—”

“She’s been curing plants and small animals, not human beings.”

“The Hexcore never gets any weaker,” Jayce countered. “It never dims, and that same power is in Y/N. You have to trust it.”

“I don’t. Not with her life,” came Viktor’s defeated voice.

She heard shuffling as Jayce stood and felt his warm hand on her back.

“She’d never try something if you didn’t approve,” he said. “Why don’t you give her a chance to choose for herself?” He paused. “Your life matters too, Viktor.”

She fell back asleep to images of yellow eyes closing for good, hands reaching out too late, and a cough somewhere in the distance.

—

A week in the lab until his next episode. A week during which Y/N cured a cat of pneumonia, developed a minor cough which had Viktor—for lack of better terms—flipping his shit, recovered quickly, and tried to convince him to get at least five hours of sleep every night (which he didn’t).

A week until the doctor came into Viktor’s hospital room with a frown and no longer told her he should rest more. There is no more delaying it, he said with just the defeated look in his eyes.

A week until Jayce had the same argument again—only this time with her.

“He’s dying, Y/N,” said Jayce, eyes flitting to Viktor’s sleeping form. “I’m begging you to at least try.”

She watched the way Viktor’s chest rose and fell beneath the blankets—each breath a monumental effort he might not have the strength to make again. She looked back at Jayce.

“It’s his life,” she said. “And he’s right. We don’t know what will happen.”

“I know you won’t just let him die,” Jayce said. “You care for him. Much more than you care for me.” She opened her mouth to counter, but he lifted his hand. “I’m not offended, Y/N. I only ask you to do what you’ve been wanting to do since the moment you made that rose bloom.”

He departed soon after that, muttering something about council business and leaving a kiss on her hairline, as if he was trying to transfer the will to cure him into her.

Viktor was right. Every test they had done had been successful, but they still didn’t know the long-term side effects—on her patients and on her. Viktor understood the ethics of research and nothing would make him flinch from that, not in a way that might hurt someone else. She understood that, truly she did.

But Jayce was right in a more pressing way. They didn’t have years to understand this ability. They had another month, if they were lucky. Viktor was dying anyway, and he would undoubtedly die if she sat here and did nothing. He deserved a chance, no matter how much he said he didn’t want it. And she was the only one who could give it to him.

She scooted her chair towards Viktor until there was no room left between it and the bed. She peeled off the lamb-skin gloves slowly, setting them on the bedside table. She stayed like that for a while, hands suspended in the air above his sleeping form, taking slow breaths in and out. She only shifted to wipe the tears that had started to trickle down her face.

“Viktor,” she breathed. His eyelids shifted, but he made no other movement. She started reaching for the gloves again, picturing his anger when he woke up, anger she never wanted directed at her. She stalled when she thought about him not waking up at all. The anger was preferable, she decided, fingers reaching for his face.

She felt static shock run through her body as her fingertips grazed his cheek. His eyelashes fluttered, and he leaned into her touch. Her other hand reached for his, twining their fingers together until her knuckles were colorless. When his eyes stilled again, she brought her other hand to his, pressing his hand between her palms and bringing it up to her face, planting kisses along his knuckles.

“I’m sorry,” she said into his skin. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

She fell asleep with her head against their tangle of hands.

—

She woke to an empty hospital bed, her cheek resting against the mussed-up blankets.

In her half-consciousness, she thought Viktor must have died in the night, and they’d already hauled away his body. She stood quickly, blood-rushing to her head and sending her on a quick trip to the floor, knees colliding with the cool stone. She cursed, suddenly conscious enough to realize they would have woken her if her dearest friend had passed on in his sleep. But the question remained: where was he? She stood, the action taking much more effort than usual, and stepped into the hall.

“Excuse me,” she said, stopping a nurse as she passed by. “Do you know where Viktor went?” she asked, gesturing to the empty bed behind her.

“He was discharged early this morning,” she said.

“Discharged? He was the sickest he’s ever been. How was he discharged?”

“The doctors are still trying to puzzle it out,” she shrugged. “But he was perfectly fine when he woke up. Left in a rush.”

Y/N stared open-mouthed and dumbfounded at the nurse as the truth dawned on her. The nurse lingered for a moment—most likely concerned by her notable absence of reaction—before continuing on her way. She stood in the doorway, completely motionless, as she realized what she’d done.

She cured him.

It worked.

Jayce was right.

She grabbed the gloves from the table and left, going to the one place she knew he’d be.

The lab was a mess when she got there, notes ripped from journals and scattered along table tops, pieces of hextech dangerously littered about the room. He looked like a mad scientist sitting in the middle of all of it—the mad scientist she had first met, with color in his cheeks and a light in his eyes she couldn’t believe had ever been gone.

But then those eyes turned on her, and the light became fire.

“What have you done?” He said, standing up on his cane and closing the distance between them.

“I don’t know.” Her voice was small, much smaller than she wished it to be.

“You don’t know?” He said, throwing his arms in the air. “Of course you do not! How can you? But luckily for you, I can enlighten you.” He paused, turning away from her. He ran a hand down his face as he considered how to continue. “You have cured me, Y/N,” he said eventually, barely looking over his shoulder at her. “I can breathe, I can walk about without nearly fainting, I can live.” He looked at her, and she found no gratitude in his eyes. “What did Jayce say to you? You said you would do nothing without my wish for you to do so. And I did not wish this.”

“Why?” she said, taking a step towards him. When he turned his face and refused to meet her eyes, she shook her head. “Maybe you had accepted your death, but I hadn’t. You were living on borrowed time, Viktor. Every trip to the hospital was one trip closer to your last, and I couldn��t watch you die. I couldn’t watch you let yourself not die, not when I have this.” She lifted her hands, and he finally looked at her, grimacing. “You said our work could help people, and I have just proven that it can, we—we should be celebrating, you bastard,” she said, her voice growing thinner. She took in a shaky breath. “You should be thanking me, you should—” She groaned, clenching her fists in an effort to slow the painful race of her heart. She sighed. “I don’t know why you were so happy to die, Viktor. But you deserve a chance. And I was the only one who could give it to you.”

“It was not your right,” he said slowly.

“I don’t care!” she said, throwing her arms up in the air. “You’re alive, Viktor! You’ll live for years and years to come; who gives a fuck who has the right? I wasn’t going to give you the right to die.”

He grunted and turned away from her, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I just–I need a moment,” he said. She scoffed.

“Take a lifetime, Viktor,” she said, the door slamming shut behind her.

—

When Jayce heard the news, he was knocking on her apartment door (after visiting a moody Viktor, of course). He crushed her in a hug before she could say hello, lifting her off the ground and twirling her through the air like a ragdoll.

“It worked!” He said, setting her back down with his hands on the tops of her arms. “I told you it would!”

She stepped out of his grasp, walking further into her apartment. “But Viktor—”

“He’ll come around,” Jayce said, following her. “I know he will; he’s just mad he can’t be so morbid all the time now.”

She nodded, grabbing a mug from the cupboard. “Tea?”

Jayce smiled, pulling out a chair at her breakfast table. “You know me so well, Doctor.”

She sat down across from him a minute later, two cups of chamomile between them.

“I’m just—” Jayce started, his eyes fixated on something outside the window. “I’m just so relieved. For so long, we couldn’t do what we love. Everything was about Viktor getting better, as it should have been, and now—” He smiled. “—Now we go back to how it always was.”

She nodded, taking another sip of her tea. She nearly spilled it when a cough immediately ripped through her throat, followed by another cough, and another.

“You alright?” Jayce asked, setting down his cup and reaching a hesitant hand towards her.

“Wrong pipe,” she wheezed, standing up from her seat and clutching a hand to her chest. Jayce stood as well, hands hovering in front of him as if he didn’t know what to do.

“Doctor—”

“I’m fine,” she managed, walking to the sink and cupping her hands beneath the faucet, drinking mouthfuls of cold water.

“I don’t know if that’s going to—”

The water came back up immediately, followed by her breakfast as she emptied her stomach into the sink. Jayce was there, hands on her back as she continued to heave. “I’m fine,” she said again, although she didn’t think either of them believed it.

“You’re fine,” Jayce repeated, his hands going still on her back. “You just need to lay down, okay?” She nodded, following Jayce as he opened the door to her bedroom, peeling back the covers on her bed. He covered her up as soon as she crawled onto the mattress, closing the door and speaking a quiet feel better over her faint coughs.

—

“She needs a hospital,” said a hazy voice as she woke.

“I’m certain it’s just a minor cold or something,” replied a voice she recognized, Jayce’s face coming into view above her as she flitted my eyes open.

“Minor colds don’t have people vomiting and losing consciousness, Councilor.”

“She didn’t—”

She coughed as she woke, and both Jayce and—as she now recognized him—Dr. Haymin, Viktor’s physician, turned their focus on her.

“Dr. Cole, how are you feeling?”

“Fine,” she croaked out, clearing her throat at the sound of her voice and pushing her covers off. It was too hot. She was too hot. “Where’s Viktor?” she asked in her half-consciousness, knowing the last time she’d seen these two men in a room, there had been a third.

“At the lab,” Jayce said after a beat of silence. “I didn’t—he doesn’t need to worry. Right, Doctor?”

Dr. Haymin ignored him, speaking to Y/N instead. “I was just telling Councilor Talis how it might be safest for you in a hospital right now, just while we figure out what’s going on.”

She shook her head. “I’m fine.”

“Dr. Cole—”

“I just needed a bit of rest,” she said, standing and pushing past them into her kitchen. They followed her as she pulled a glass from her cupboard and filled it with water, taking slow, steady sips.

“I’ll stay with her for now, Dr. Haymin,” Jayce said. “If there are any further complications, I’ll take her to the hospital, alright?”

Dr. Haymin looked hesitantly between them before letting out a long sigh. “I want you both to know that in my professional opinion, she should be in a hospital right this minute.”

“I understand,” said Jayce.

Dr. Haymin left with a laundry list of symptoms to look out for, mentioning something about Y/N’s fingers turning blue as Jayce closed the door in his face.

“Alright,” said Jayce, walking back into the kitchen. “So, you’re fine?”

She nodded.

“Great. I’m late for official council business. I’ll come back around dinner time to check back on you. Sound good?”

“Sounds great,” she said, lifting her glass in his direction as he quickly followed in Dr. Haymin’s steps.

—

“I just wanted to apologize, even though my reaction was completely warranted and your behavior was—no, no,” Viktor mumbled to himself, hovering in the hallway outside her apartment. “The way I spoke to you was unacceptable, and I just wanted to apologize. I am obviously still infuriated at you, but I respect you, and I should have shown that, despite your complete dismissal of my autonomy and—no, no, no, no, shit.” He let out a deep breath. “Y/N, I want to be alive, I am happy I am alive, and I am sorry. I know you did what you did out of the goodness of your heart, and I am not mad at you, only at your recklessness—the recklessness Jayce inspired. I’m sorry for yelling, and I hope you can forgive me.”

He nodded sharply to himself before taking the final step to her door and knocking twice. When the seconds ticked by with no answer, he knocked again. “Dr. Cole?” He called. “It’s me, uh, Viktor. I understand if you do not wish to speak with me, but I promise I am not here to fight.” He paused, waiting for her to yell back from the other side telling him to go fuck himself. But there was nothing. “Dr. Cole?”

He tried the handle, and to his surprise, it gave, the door swinging open before him. “Dr. Cole?” He called again, stepping into her sunlit apartment. “Are you here?” Once he passed the threshold, he saw her, collapsed in a heap in front of her kitchen counter.

“Y/N!” He rushed towards her, leaning his cane against the counter and crouching down beside her body, his hand on her back rising with a shaky breath that had him sighing in relief. “Y/N, wake up,” he said softly, turning her over onto her back. His hands stilled at the sight of blood dried along her upper lip, one stream still tacky from her right nostril. “Y/N.” He shook her shoulder, perhaps a little rougher than he’d intended, and she coughed, her eyes flitting open and then squinting shut again at the brightness in the room. “Y/N, what happened?” He asked, the quiver in his voice telling them both that he already had a hypothesis.

“Viktor?” She said, opening her eyes halfway, and he opened his mouth to respond before she was overtaken with a fit of coughs, curling into herself and pressing her mouth into her elbow. “I’m–” cough “fine—” cough “I promise.”

He didn’t respond, he simply took a hold of her hand, straightening out the arm she had been coughing into and peering down at her elbow.

The white fabric was bright red—red like roses, like the roses still blooming in the lab window.

He didn’t even have the strength for another what have you done. He just squeezed his hand tightly around hers and closed his eyes.

“Viktor?”

He was silent for a long while before he responded with a broken sob, his other hand coming up to cover his face as he cried openly. Y/N sat up, wrapping her arm around his back and pulling him into her, their hands still locked together between them.

“I’ll be fine,” she whispered into his shoulder, which only made him cry harder.

“This was not your disease to live with,” he said, pulling back to look at her and speaking aloud what they had both realized by now. “To—to die—”

“Hey,” she said, hand coming up to cradle the side of his face. “It wasn’t yours either. No one deserves this, but I–I am carrying it now, so, just—let it be, okay?”

“I–I should have seen this. You were dehydrated all the time from the plants, and your cough from the-the cat—”

She dipped her head, forcing him to meet her eyes.

“Viktor,” she breathed. “I wouldn’t take it back.”

“I wouldn’t have let you do it,” he said, not in anger, but in a remorse so heavy she didn’t know how he carried it on his own.

She turned away to cough again, and Viktor couldn’t find the strength to yell at her for this. Jayce, he would obliterate the next time he saw him, but not her.

“We should probably get you to a hospital,” he said instead, and she sighed once the coughing fit subsided.

“They can’t–they can’t do anything,” she said softly. “I think I’d just prefer to be here.”

He frowned, but said nothing. Instead, he helped her up and guided her to her bedroom, peeling back the covers much like Jayce had earlier that morning. Except Viktor stayed, pulling an armchair to the side of her bed and sinking into it.

“I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you,” she said through a yawn, pulling the covers up to her chin.

“Don’t apologize, Y/N,” he replied, and she closed her eyes. “I’ll find a way to fix this,” he added, but she had already drifted off.

—

He brought Y/N back to the lab as soon as she was rested enough, and she sat on the bench by the window as he worked, resting her head against the glass. When Jayce arrived a few hours later, he was surprised to see them both there, and at the way Viktor tensed at his friend’s cheery hello, she stood and decided to use this opportune moment to use the bathroom. When she came back there was still muffled yelling through the door and she waited outside, wanting nothing to do with this conflict—even if, in a way, she had caused it. Jayce burst into the hallway a few moments later his eyes wide and red-rimmed.

“Y/N, I’m so sorry. If I had known, I would never—”

“It’s okay, Jayce,” she said, resting her hands on his arms. “We both wanted what was best for him.”

“But, I-I left you,” he choked out in a whisper that made her realize he had definitely not told Viktor that part. “I really believed you were fine, or maybe I was just in denial, I—”

“Hey,” she cut him off. “It’s happened and we can’t take it back. I’m at peace with it, okay? Anything you think you’ve done wrong, I forgive you for.”

Jayce pulled her into him, crushing her in a hug, his chin resting on the top of her head. “I’m still sorry,” he said. She pulled back and smiled at him, before taking a step back towards the door. Jayce took a step in the other direction, faltering for a second as he watched her disappear into the lab.

—

For four hours—maybe five—Viktor tossed theories and possible cures at her, most of which she had already researched herself when Viktor was sick. She explained the downsides, the impossibilities, the potential of rumfish oil, if strained properly. But Viktor had more and more ideas. For every hypothesis she countered, he had another one ready, each more desperate and mad than the last.

“Viktor,” she finally said, cutting off his long-winded explanation of an incident involving tempar eels and a woman cured of heart palpitations. “Can we—save this for tomorrow? I’m tired. I don’t know how you were working all the time, because I’m just—drained. I’d like to have dinner and go to bed, if that’s okay.”

Viktor paused, before nodding slowly. “Of course. I’ll walk you to your room.”

She pulled a jar of soup out of her cabinet once they got back to her apartment, Viktor grabbing a pot and placing it on the stove without a thought. She tried to open the jar, her fingers straining against the lid, but she couldn’t get it to budge. Viktor noticed and quietly came up behind her, reaching out his hands.

“I got it,” she insisted, trying again. And again. Why was this happening? She was young and strong, and she’d never had trouble opening a goddamn jar of soup.

“Y/N, let me—”

“I got it,” she said, sharper than she intended. The shock of her outburst made all anger and spite and will drain out of her quickly, and she slumped, placing the jar in Viktor’s outstretched hands. He turned away towards the stove, and she didn’t even see him open it, but she heard the sound of the liquid filling the pot.

“Sorry.”

“No need for apologies, Dr. Cole,” he said.

Dr. Cole. What happened that he couldn’t call her by her first name, the name she’d grown accustomed to hearing from him? What sort of distance did he need? What sort of space was he trying to restore? Maybe before he had distanced himself because he knew any connection wouldn’t last, that soon enough he’d be dead. And now he knew that soon enough she’d be dead in his place. Dr. Cole, Dr. Cole, Dr. Cole. Both a cruelty and a mercy.

“Where are your bowls?”

She pulled two bowls from the cabinet beside her and walked over to the stove, ignoring his raised eyebrows at the second one. He didn’t protest though, pouring soup into both bowls until the pot was empty.

“Tell me what you’ll do,” she said as he washed their bowls in the sink a little later, the soup resting heavy in their stomachs.

“What?”

“With all this time, this life—what will you do?”

For a moment, she thought he hadn’t heard her, but eventually he turned off the sink, placing the bowls on a towel to dry and turned back towards her.

“I’d had a lot of time to think about how I wanted to die, Dr. Cole,” he said softly. “I didn’t ever consider how I wanted to live.”

“Well consider it now,” she said. “Consider Viktor at forty, at fifty, at seventy-five. What are you doing?”

“Sailing west,” he said almost instantly. “Buying a house on some island in the Morian sea.”

“So you have thought about it.”

He hummed, crossing the kitchen to sit down at the table.

“Would you stay there all year? Or just in the summers?” she asked, sitting down opposite him.

“All year,” he said. “Jayce could send me his theories, and I could send him mine, but I’d never have to hear about the political plights of Piltover. Because this is of course after I have provided plentiful resources to the undercity, and worked tirelessly to erase the stigma surrounding its residents.”

“Of course,” she said. “Any children?”

“Three daughters,” he said, and she chuckled at his certainty. “Alexandra is the oldest, named for her grandmother. And then there’s Danika in the middle, and the youngest, Y/N, named after her—”

Silence swallowed everything around us, enough for the sound of children laughing and beach waves hitting the shore to rise in my mind. A small, curly-haired girl, named for her mother, smiling in my direction. Three children clinging to their father’s arms.

“After her father’s most stubborn employee?”

After another beat of silence, she reached for his hand across the table.

“It was never meant for us, either way,” she said, and he met her eyes. “It’s okay.”

“It’s not,” he said. “Not when I’m the one living to grieve it.”

“Thought you had secured the easy way out, huh?” At her words, he met her eyes with alarm, his gaze quickly softening at the mischief he found there.

“I was counting on it,” he said.

“Well, that’s awfully rude of you,” she said. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you ladies first?”

He smiled, but something flickered out in his eyes. “Let’s not joke about this.” She nodded, and he stood, offering her his hand. “Bed?”

“Bed,” she confirmed, following him to her bedroom and climbing under the covers. He turned to leave and something clenched in her chest. “Viktor?”

He paused. She considered the distance, the Dr. Coles he had given her when he knew he was dying, when he knew any affection he offered would ultimately be ripped away. She thought of his admission, of the future he saw, and the present he had sacrificed selflessly. She thought of how truly good he was, and how she needed to be good too, how she couldn’t ask anything of him, not now. But she didn’t need to, apparently.

He had kicked off his shoes and propped his cane against the nightstand before she asked the question, slipping under the covers without a word.

“You don’t have to—”

“Have me, if you will,” he said, his eyes already closing. As if sightlessly sensing the guilt wracking her face, he continued, “It isn’t selfish, Y/N.” He opened his eyes. “I’ll take any time you’ll give me.”

And so she rolled over and went to sleep.

—

The time she could give him was a month, probably less, according to Dr. Haymin. Viktor had forced her to go to the hospital the next morning—just to see where we stand—and she felt better, oddly, knowing exactly what she had left.

They spent the day at the harbor, and she bought Viktor his first street kebab, laughing at the way he gingerly plucked half-cooked meat from the stick and eyed it with distrust. Y/N spent the night in bed, Viktor spent it in the lab. Jayce and Mel visited her the next day, and Mel brought a bouquet of tulips this time, leaving them on the kitchen table for Viktor to find when he reappeared in her apartment around lunchtime. The circles beneath his eyes and the tired lift of his smile told her he hadn’t found the miracle he’d been looking for. He took her to the art museum, and sat on a bench in the main gallery with her for an hour when she was too tired to keep walking. She invented backstories for all the characters in the portraits, spun creation myths for the landscapes, and Viktor listened. When she fell asleep on his shoulder, he asked an employee if they had a wheelchair available, and then he took her back home. When she crawled into bed, she told him she couldn’t remember where they had been, and he regaled to her her own story of how a fairy grew tired of the nightime and smashed together a thousand stars to make the sun, and that’s why Dialucci could paint the sunrise. She went to sleep, and Viktor stayed with her.

The next morning, she couldn’t get out of bed.

Two mornings after that, she couldn’t keep down any food he tried to give her, and he asked Dr. Haymin to come see her again.

“You have days,” he told Viktor outside her room. “In truth, she could go at any moment.”

“Will you smash some more stars together to make another sun?” She asked when Viktor came back inside her bedroom, the sound of Dr. Haymin closing the front door barely audible. “So it’s daytime for the rest of my life?”

“I’ll do my best.”

She sat up, leaning back against the pillows at the headboard and patted the space before her, beckoning him to sit. He did. “Even if it will dry up the atmosphere and slowly burn the earth to a crisp?”

“Even then.”

She smiled, closing her eyes. “What did he say?”

He scooted back until he was leaning against the pillows as well, opening his arms for her to fall into.

“I’ll name the second sun after you,” he said.

“Okay,” she breathed. “But if it starts killing everybody, rename it.”

He laughed, squeezing his arms tighter around her, letting the silence envelop them both, peaceful and kind for once. “I know you won’t accept an apology,” he said eventually, “But I want to give it nonetheless.”

“Who said I wouldn’t accept an apology?” She pulled back to look at him and he raised his brows. “It all depends on the delivery.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Won’t cut it,” she said, shaking her head.

“You deserved better?”

“Not it.”

“I’ll miss you?”

“Not quite.”

“I love you?”

She paused. “Getting close.”

He lifted his hand, using his finger to brush her hair out of her eyes. When she closed them, he leaned down, the tips of their noses brushing, their breaths meeting in the middle. She was the one to close the distance, but he was the one to kiss her, to press every unspoken thing into her mouth for safekeeping, to take with her wherever she’d go. When she pulled away, there were tears in both their eyes, and her voice cracked when she quietly said, “Apology accepted.”

When Viktor woke up the next morning, the skin of her arm was growing rapidly cold beneath his fingertips, the first rays of light from the one and only sun illuminating the blue-gray color beneath her complexion. He kissed her forehead, and the tip of her nose, and her lips, and her cheek, and her eyelids. “I forgive you too,” he said, her body falling limp against the sheets as he got up.

#viktor arcane #viktor #viktor fanfiction #viktor fanfic #viktor imagine #viktor x reader #viktor arcane x reader #viktor angst #arcane league of legends fanfic #arcane #arcane imagine #arcane fanfiction #arcane fanfic #arcane imagines #viktor league of legends

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cr4yolaas · 2 years

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I could write an imagine where reader likes viktor, but there's a thought that ""everytime I look at you, I feel my heart breaking, because I need you so desperately and you never realize."pleases

— inattentive . viktor x reader

synopsis . you’ve always adored your long-time friend, but he never seems to notice.

warnings . breakdown (??), crying, stress from school, hurt/comfort (emphasis on hurt), not proofread, i use italics too much

notes . i am so sorry this took so long for me to do 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 school and band have been stressing me out sm (ironic) this isnt my best work but ty for requesting!

friends since the beginning, you would call it. starting from your childhood in the undercity, to your positions at piltover’s academy, you and viktor were two peas in a pod. you can’t have one without the other!, people would say in reference to your long-time friendship.

you were happy with the mutual understanding and the tight-knit bond you shared with the man, of course you were. however, the nauseating feeling of your stomach bubbling up at the simple sight of his face, caramel eyes and chiseled bone structure and all, began to appear more and more and you couldn’t do anything to stop it.

a friendly coffee date. that was all it was. some small talk over hard black coffee and freshly baked croissants.

“. . .so, i decided to consult you about what i should do next. what do you think?”

you paused for a moment to pull yourself back to the conversation and remember what he was saying. “well, for one, i think your idea is great. it’s unique, well-structured, and isn’t controversial whatsoever. i can’t say it’s flawless, though. maybe replace the energy system with something like. . . solar power? it’ll appeal to your audience more while being convenient for all users.” your eyes floated to his hands, thin and calloused, drifting across ivory paper with a pen in hand, jotting down what you had told him in quick notes. “other than that, it’s great — beyond that, even.”

viktor rested his pen down and lifted his head to smile softly at you while thanking you for your input.

that damn smile.

the same smile that held such a strong amount of youth in it, reminiscent of his teen years back in zaun where he would grin at you with shining teeth. “thank you,” he spoke genuinely. “and thank you for the meal. i’m glad i got to talk with you, even for just a moment.” his words fluttered around in your chest, your lungs contracting painfully as you watch him slowly pack his belongings up.

he was always thankful to chat with you, and he would always love to talk more. he consistently said those words every time you would ask to meet up, before disappearing again for days, or weeks, or months. your conversations would border between soft small talk shared idly or full-on rants about your projects or deep conversations either about yourselves or the world around you. each time you would talk, there was a spark of hope, a little desperation in hoping he would notice your growing infatuation with him and his passion. and every time, the little daffodils growing in your stomach would begin to wilt away as you caught on that he would be disappearing yet again, and you would start back at square one.

you weren’t sure if he was doing it intentionally (you hoped he wasn’t), but either way, it hurt knowing that you had little to no chance in getting to express yourself to him. small letters written at the crack of dawn and little gifts you collected over time began to pile up on your desk and in your trash as you slowly began to destroy yourself from the inside out over his inability to notice your affection. next time, i’ll tell him, you would assure yourself each and every time, only for the words to get stuck in your throat, their attempts to claw their way out of your mouth all for naught.

next time, maybe.

the next time didn’t come for a long time. your conversations were, once again, reduced to quick greetings in the halls or hasty waves across the street as you both ran to your destinations, eager to get to work — the very work that was killing you inside. you were strongly averse to due dates, as time management wasn’t exactly your greatest skill. this weakness would only bite back at you as the school year progressed.

it was only until he caught you at your lowest point that viktor could finally slow down and talk to you. eventually, the stress from both school and your aching heart would overspill, you knew that. and yet, your break point hit you like a truck, hard and unrelenting, akin to waves crashing against rocks.

viktor held you in his arms in silence while you cried and cried to, seemingly, no end. your clock read 2:03 in the morning, a sigh nearly escaping the man’s lips as he realized how late it was. he could have scolded you then and there for being so careless about your health, but that would have made him a hypocrite.

“talk to me whenever you’re ready,” he whispered to you. your chest hurt with how soft he was being towards you, his skin on yours making your face flush. he wouldn’t be able to tell with your tear-soaked face, anyways.

after several moments, your sobs reduced to sniffles and short breaths, your face numb from how long you’d been crying. “i don’t know- everything feels so much more . . . difficult out of nowhere, and i feel so unproductive. i wanna get out of this hole but it feels like i’m digging towards nothing. and-“ you cut yourself off a second too late before realizing who you were talking to. you bit back a groan as he pushed you to continue. “and you. i don’t know what’s wrong with me, but you make me hurt so bad while making me smile so much. it’s just- every time i look at you, it hurts, because i need you so bad but you’re never around to notice it. i hate it- not you, i hate this- this feeling of want that i know i can’t have.”viktor turned silent after that, a response you were dreading but expecting all the same. you could feel his fingers twitch as his arms slowly unwrapped themselves from your arms. perhaps your sudden confession would push him away. you would understand.

“oh, miláček,” he spoke just barely above a whisper, his tone tantalizingly soft and delicate. his pet name in his mother tongue didn’t go unnoticed by you. “i apologize for not being present. while your confession was . . . abrupt, to say the least, i cannot deny that i feel the same. i always thought you were out of reach, too great for the likes of me, so i . . . tried to separate myself just a bit more as to not get attached. i’m so sorry,” he muttered while holding your hands in his. your heart was beating rapidly, the sweat beginning to pool up everywhere. “i know it may not be the right time, but . . .” viktor leaned his face towards yours, desperately trying to hide his awkwardness behind confident eyes. “i hope you can accept my affection for you.”

your eyelids fluttered shut as he pressed his lips against yours, tiny tears running down your cheeks as he kissed you with a passion similar to what he poured into his work. you had gotten what you wanted, albeit a little out of place. you weren’t complaining, though.

#arcane #arcane fanfic #arcane angst #arcane fanfiction #arcane fic #arcane imagines #arcane x reader #arcane viktor #viktor x reader #viktor angst #viktor fluff #arcane fluff

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ficfanatictrf · 2 years

Text

In Bits and Pieces (1/3)

Viktor x Reader

Summary - You had expected that after successfully asking out the man you had been pining on for months, that things would start turning towards good things. You could not have expected how wrong you would be.

|| WARNINGS! - This chapter is mostly angst, a mention/hint of the viewer witnessing an adult looking at a child, derogatory female insults used (though I tried my best to make sure the reader is typically gender neutral), a lot of depressed self talk, ends in a cliff hanger ||

(Authors Note - The order that it will be going is chapter 1 from the readers perspective, chapter 2 from Viktor's perspective starting a little before the first chapter, with chapter 3 being where the fluff finally comes into play for a happy ending. Currently I have the first two chapters complete, with both having cliff hangers, so if you want to wait till the third that is completely understandable)

Word Count - 5k Part 2 and Part 3

Chapter 1

“It would be my pleasure to escort you this weekend”

Those words had been running through your head all day. After months of working with the pair of Hextech inventors, finding yourself completely smitten with the less social one of the two, you had mustered enough courage to ask out the genius Zaunite.

Having found the perfect excuse for why the two of you could spend time together during the coming weekend, working with Jayce to figure out what parts you would need from Zaun that could only be found there.

You had asked if he would be able to show you the way around the underground city since you had never been there on your own before. When he agreed you were over the moon, a grin having cemented itself on your face since you had asked.

So with a spring in your step, you arrived the next day to the lab. It wasn’t abnormal to find the other two already there. Sometimes they were earlier than you, but usually it was because they hadn’t left in the first place. However, it was Jayce's words that stopped your tracks in the doorway, quickly hiding around the corner so as to not interrupt.

“This weekend I’ll have someone stationed outside, I’ll have some council business to take care of and you will be on your little date” The man teased. You felt your face burn at the tone, your grip tightening on the files and notebooks in your hands. You hadn’t said a word to anyone about it, that only left Viktor to be the one to have told him. Which from what you’ve known of the man, he wasn’t one to tell others about such a thing. Unless Jayce had pieced it together from your inquiry earlier…but he never did seem like someone who would notice something that vague.

Maybe he had been excited himself? Slowly, you felt a small spark of joy starting to grow, possibly even hope. You had been about to turn and enter, unable to hide a grin from growing before the next words froze you to your spot.

“I truly wish you would stop with your poorly made jokes. It is quickly growing to be irksome” The accented voice was strained, clearly holding irritation in it. Already, you could feel your chest fall, the smile slipping just as quickly as it had shown.

Maybe he was just shy? Doubtful. Embarrassed? Perhaps, he was someone who had a healthy level of pride. Which he had every right to be, in fact he could do with being more vocal about his accomplishments. So maybe it was embarrassing, but then that raised the question.

Embarrassed of Jayce’s teasing or of you?

“Fine, what would you call them?” Jayce countered, the tone of both their voices making it clear that this was turning into an argument.

“Not that it is your business, but I will indulge you. They asked for a guide to the undercity, it is an errand run. Nothing more”

“Yo-” Jayce didn’t even get in a full word before Viktor was speaking once more, irritation practically dripping from his words, like he couldn’t believe he even had to explain this.

“If there had been any hint that they had asked with the hopes of it being in a romantic excursion I would have declined. Now -” The screech of a chair scraping across the floor, already hearing the steady tap of his cane coming towards the entryway. “-after this unproductive and frankly infuriating conversation, I need some coffee”

You didn’t have time to take in his words, panicking as your eyes darted around the hallway. In a hasty effort, you practically threw yourself through the closet door. Finding yourself cramped into a small storage closet, you just managed to get the door closed as you heard the click enter the hallway.

“Honestly, the nerve” You heard muttered on the other side, footsteps passing and disappearing down the hall. It was only after a few heartbeats of silence that you realized that you had been holding your breath. Taking a shaky breath as you slide down the door, you finally had a moment to replay the conversation from before.

You could feel your heart shatter. Sure, you hadn’t been hopeful that Viktor would return your feelings. He was handsome, smart, funny, kind, and an all around perfect guy. You had seen the way women, and even some men looked at him. At those posh parties, where they would raise money for their endeavors, recognizing the treasure that he was, even if he didn’t notice it himself.

You expected two different reactions with the first one being almost certain. Either he would kindly reject you, let you down gently or he would return your affection. This was something you haven’t even thought about. He had sounded so offended by the notion, almost disgusted at the idea of it being called a date.

That day you called out sick.

Dear Diary, from today things will be different. They have to be. I know the truth now of his feelings, rejected even before confessing, just my luck right? I will smile like normal, if asked I’ll just play it off like I’m just tired, I’m fine. I have to be. Viktor made it very clear today that he would never accept a date invitation from me. His friendship is the most I will have and I need to do all I can to keep it from falling apart because of my own emotions.

The rest of the week was a blur. Thankfully, you had been able to lose yourself in your work, and with the two knowing they wouldn’t be getting any work done that weekend, they too were focused solely on completing their tasks.

Dear Diary, well, I made it through the first week. I must have said that I was fine over a dozen times to each of them. I need to do better, they clearly noticed something was wrong with me. The usual banter and jokes I live for didn’t even happen once these past couple days, I need to act better, I need things to go back to how it was. The non-date is tomorrow. I have no choice but to have myself together by then.

The weekend arrived, a deep frown on your face as you looked through your closet. Before you had overheard their conversation, you had picked an outfit that would be perfect. Cute and a little bit flirty, it being one that made you feel attractive as it highlighted the features that you felt were your best ones.

However, now that you knew he hated the idea of it being a date, such an outfit was out of the question. You had to look like you viewed this as just an errand run. Pushing it aside, you pulled out a bland shirt and pants. You were going for loose and baggy, like you would wear if you weren’t expecting to see the gorgeous Viktor.

With a brief glance in the mirror, you honestly felt like you looked horrible. Your form was non-existent under the clothes you picked, but that had been what you were going for.

Finding yourself there early, nervously waiting as the time of your meeting came and went.

He was late.

From what you had heard, it wasn’t long before you were under the impression that he had just not intended to come. It had been seconds before you were going to call it a day that you saw him coming towards you with an apologetic and nervous smile on his face. There were beads of sweat on his brow and trails of it down his neck, as he tried to catch his breath beside you, he quickly produced a slip of paper from his pocket.

“I apologize for my tardiness” Viktor started, the apologetic smile still in place. “I had mentioned where our errands would be taking us and Jayce figured it would be a great time to give me a list of items he needed procured for his own research”

As the two of you waited for the bathysphere to head down to the lower levels of Zaun, you noticed a nervousness in the man beside you. Even as he was looking over your own list, his other hand was gripping the handle of his cane till the skin was a pale white.

“I believe all this can be found at Benzo’s shop” He muttered softly to himself, before looking at his own note with a frown. “These however might be a bit more tricky. Ublyudok*”

You blinked, not having heard that particular word in his native tongue before. However, being you could inquire upon its meaning, the man was changing the topic to something a little more time sensitive.

“I will warn you. There is very little that will prepare you for the…lifestyle you are about to see. You need to watch where you are going, don’t run into anyone, don’t look anyone in the eye and above all-” He said, his hand reaching out to grasp your chin so that you were looking at him. It was clear from his expression just how serious he was, there not being a hint of humor or teasing in his eyes like they normally would be.

“Don’t leave my side but if I tell you to run back to the bathysphere, you do that without question. Do you understand?”

Ever so slowly you nodded, his amber eyes searching yours for any hint of a lie before he dropped your jaw. His eyes snapping towards the glass that was steadily being overtaken by a type of glow that you had hardly ever seen before.

You had grown up with everything around you being of white, gold, and blue. As you stood there, you watched as those colors quickly melted away, the sun disappearing as you descending lower and lower. The bathysphere's cabin was soon overtaken by an eerie sort of light. It wasn’t bright and clean like above, but almost dusty.

Honestly, your eyes didn’t know what to look at first. Before you could take in one element of the city it had zoomed past you, your eyes darting to a new item to focus on. There were bright greens, pinks and purples. And throughout it all, there was a fog of either steam or smoke just everywhere.

As the machine came to a stop, you only had about five seconds to get prepared before the doors opened and it felt like you had been hit by a brick wall. First the sounds, it was loud. The cacophony of different things you were hearing all at once mixing together to become an almost deafening white noise. Second was the air, as soon as you inhaled your first breath you felt your lungs protest at whatever it had taken in.

You had been so overwhelmed by the feelings you were going through that you hadn’t even noticed that you were the only one left still inside, Viktor quickly coming back with a hint of panic in his eyes.

“My deepest apologies, I was distracted. It will not happen again, I can assure you” Viktor hurriedly spoke, studying you quickly at the signs of discomfort you were showing. “Shit.”

As he took you by the wrist and gently pulled you out so that you both wouldn’t be yelled at for holding them up, he was quickly rummaging through his bag for something.

“Forgive me, I should have given this to you before we descended down.”

You barely got to make out the item, a mix of fabric and metal, before it was softly placed over your nose and mouth, the whirl of something mechanical snuggly forming to your face. Your next breaths were easy, a sigh of relief quickly escaping you as your lungs didn’t feel like the air was full of tiny razor blades.

Nervously, his hand slowly came away from the mask that he had placed on your face.

“Better?”

“Much, thank you. I don’t know what I would have done without you, I don’t own one of these”

Your comment only seemed to leave him blinking, his eyes darting from side to side as he mulled over just how he wanted to respond. As you watched, you noticed a tiny tint of pink beginning to appear on the tips of his ears, or maybe that was just from the intense lights.

“Ah, well, you would have never need one” Turning on his heel, the man was soon heading off.

Following as closely as you could, you couldn’t help the sick feeling in your stomach that everything around you wasn’t right.

As you walked, everything was inputting itself like flashes, photos of the scenes around you as you couldn’t really believe what you were seeing.

A bright sign, illuminating out the words Clean Air. A boy, who looked days away from starving to death, cleaning the shoes of some overly dressed man. The man eyeing him in a way that you had never seen before, almost carnal.

You passed by a gathering that looked almost religious, only a block or so away from a person being tattooed out in the open. There were animals on leashes and in cages, animals that you had never seen in person before. And as you walked, all throughout the streets there were business deals happening, from the snippets of conversations you did your best to ignore them as words like ‘kidnapped’, ‘shimmer’, and so on.

Glancing back, Viktor seemed to realize that you were starting to lag, seeing just how overwhelmed you were becoming. Taking a hold of your wrist, he was soon gently pulling you along. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, holding your wrist like this eased a large part of his anxiety, now being able to feel that you hadn’t been taken or gotten lost.

It felt like forever, but finally you approached a shop, your partner opening the door for you before entering himself. Your eyes were soon daring around to all the different items scattered around, you were finally looking at things that made sense to you. Cogs and gears, scrap metal and bolts. In your delight, you hardly noticed that you had a set of eyes staring right at you. Viktor’s gaze softened as he took in your reactions.

“What do you think? This place was always amazing to me when I was a kid” He asked, there being a hint of something more in his tone. Though whether it was amusement or nerves, you weren’t truly sure.

At the moment, you just wanted to take in every item in the shop, however as you went to take a step to look at some of the items behind the counter the hand still holding your wrist tightened and pulled you back towards his side.

“Don’t wander off. Things may seem harmless here but touch something you shouldn’t and - well” He paused, looking for the right word that he wanted to say.

“I’ll blow up” You muttered softly, unable to hide a small smile as he chuckled at your comment.

“More than likely your savings will be blown up.” He snarked back, one corner of his lip twitching up before a man came out from the back.

As soon as Viktor took in who they were to be interacting with, he tensed. It was clear from the sudden shift in his demeanor that this was not who he had been expecting to see.

“Where is Benzo?” He inquired, all the while his grip on your wrist never disappearing. The man before you was tall and muscular and looking a little strung out on some sort of drug. As he stalked closer, you felt a sharp tug, finding yourself pulled closer behind him.

“Gone.” The man’s tone was rough, eyes looking over the two of you but flicked back to you with a hostility you had never seen before.

“What’s a piltie bitch doing all the way down here?” His tone was vile, disgust dripping from every word as he leaned over the counter to sneer down at you. “I think we know who would be interested in some topside whore, could fetch a hefty sum.”

“Great way to talk to a customer” You hissed, not taking kindly to the tone that he was throwing your way. This only seemed to enrage the man, his nostrils flaring at the comment you made, already making his way around the counter.

“Shut it” Viktor hissed as he turned towards you, from his tone you would have expected a glare but he almost looked like he was begging. Begging you to go along with this act he was about to be partaking, turning back towards the man as he smirked.

“Thought it would be a laugh to bring them with me. Had a few errands to run and well-” He leaned closer, almost like the two men were sharing a joke. “-how could I turn down the opportunity of bringing some stuck up tramp with me to scare.”

You knew this wasn’t how he normally was like, but that still didn’t stop you from flinching a little at the terms. Viktor rummaged through his pockets to pull out the two lists, setting them down on the table for the man to see.

“Was needing these parts, hopefully you are the guy that has them?” He asked, quickly veering the conversation towards what they were here for as opposed to where you were from.

The man only stood there glaring at you, a few shaky breaths of silence taking place before his eyes lazily moved down to look at the papers. As he skimmed over them, he hummed, picking them up before heading to the back.

Both of you stood there, too nervous to say anything to the other. So as the minutes passed with the store owner looking through the back, it all passed in relative silence.

He was soon back with a box, dropping it roughly on the counter. Just from the look of it, there was no way that it had everything, so when you heard the price you couldn’t help your shock and anger at the outrageous amount.

“You’ve got to be joking? That box is not nearly worth more than half that amount”

Both eyes snapped to you, and while the store owners were full of nothing but hate and malice, Viktor’s own showed clear and utter fear.

That was before forced back on his act, growling as he pulled you after him to the door. “Wait outside, I don’t want to hear anymore of your stupid comments or questions”

You were ushered out, but not before he reached out to grasp your chin, reminding you of the only other time he had done that back on the bathysphere.

“Remember what I told you, run”

He didn’t wait, turning back and closing the door behind him.

You were alone. And it took your heart one beat.

Then two.

And then you were running, you hated it. Everything in you was telling you to stay, that you were safest by Viktor’s side. But you had sworn that if he told you to go, that you would.

This time you weren’t looking at the sights, darting back towards where you had come from. With how quickly everything was rushing back, the sudden twists and turns you were taking, there wasn’t much chance to think of what had just happened, your mind needing to focus more on the directions you had only seen once.

You scrambled onto the bathysphere, only feeling relief as the doors closed behind you. Ripping the mask off your face, breathing true fresh air, you collapsed to the ground as you gasped for air.

Slowly, now feeling safe, everything from before was catching up to you. The way the man had looked at you when he saw you, like he had been ready to kill you on the spot. The weird reference to someone being interested that you was there, not really having any idea who that could be. The way Viktor slipped into a role where he treated you - well, he treated you like vermin, like how you had seen some people in Piltover speak about him.

Silently you tried to take in everything that had taken place, silently getting off and then waiting beside the bathysphere. It was a while, almost an hour later that Viktor exited as well.

He was silent, heading straight to where you were standing before roughly shoving the box of items you had requested into your arms.

“Don’t ever dare to ask me to bring you here again, don’t ask anyone. Have I made myself clear?” His voice was low, the rage he was no doubt feeling barely being contained. You had never heard this tone before from him and it only sent a terrified chill down your spine.

“I’m sorry for being snarky ba-”

“You don’t get it!’ Your voice was cut off, finding yourself trying to shrink away from the anger that was bearing down on you. “The undercity is not some fun place to explore, a tourist attraction for pilties to visit for fun!”

Any chance of a reply was cut off, the man already turning to head away. Throwing one last comment to you over his shoulder, your hands trembling to hold the box of parts in your grasp.

“I never should have agreed to take you”

Dear Diary, the non-date was an utter failure. I can see the relationship slipping, am I even going to lose him as a friend? He hardly spoke during the whole non-date. Oh, Janna, what am I to do? It’s all falling apart isn’t it?

From that day on, you made yourself as unnoticeable as possible. Jayce and Sky were the only ones that would talk to you, but even they were rather distant and Viktor? The little breaks you would take together completely stopped. Now it was strictly professional when talking to him, the man only ever discussing work with you and nothing more. Much like when you had first started working there, it felt like you had gone back to the very beginning to all the progress you had made in your relationship.

The days turned to weeks, it felt like the pressure that you had thought would slowly go away was instead just growing worse. Every small mistake you made was immediately called out by the golden eyed man, anytime you spoke up an idea it was shot down without remorse till you stop speaking up all together.

Dear Diary, it’s been weeks since I wrote last. Things are, all I can say is professional. Where before I felt like I had been a part of a found family, now I feel like an outsider. Since the non-date failure Viktor hasn’t spent a moment with me outside of work. I miss our coffee runs, the walks we would take as breaks together and just talk. I just miss him. He doesn’t seem any different, just more proof that my existence here wasn’t as solid as I first believed. Even Jayce has stopped asking if I’m alright. It probably won’t be long till they fire me.

The mounting stress, the unbearable weight that had been steadily growing and the nervousness you felt when under Viktor’s judging eyes all came to an explosive conclusion.

You had been working on your own project, leaving the room to grab more materials from the other room. When you returned, and in your haste you hadn’t even looked to make sure that the doorway was clear before you rushed in.

First you felt the solid weight of something, the hard and metal surface being a surprise.

That was till you saw it start to tilt.

Even when you tried to reach for it, the weight being far too much for you to hold up.

It crashed to the floor, the inner workings of it shattering and scattering across the floor.

You couldn’t even breathe as the silence in the room hit, it feeling heavier than any other day that you had been there.

“...I…I’m so sorry….I’ll fix th-”

“Just get out” The venom in Viktor’s voice chills you to your core, your gaze slowly moving up from the project to look up at him.

“Viktor, I can fix this-”

“Oh really? And do you know or understand what it was that I was trying to create? Do you have any knowledge of my recent works?”

Like razors his words cut at your heart, you gaze falling back to the floor as you knew a lot of what he was saying was correct. You didn’t know what the object in front of you was for or how it could be used.

“....no….”

“Of course not, and you really believe you can fix it? You?” He waited for a response, receiving none from you as you didn’t have anything to say. His hand came up to pinch at his brow, clearly wrestling with something himself as he mulled it over for a second.

“Your work has been mediocre at best as of late and mistakes like this can’t become a regular occurrence. If you can’t keep up with the workload, it might be best if you resign.”

His words cut like knives, your already sinking self esteem plummeting to the floor. Jayce had thankfully been quick to pull Viktor away from you, Jayce already starting to explain a plan on how they could both fix what he was working on and still be on time for presenting it in a few days like Viktor had planned.

You knew he was just trying to redirect Viktor’s attention, to pull his anger away from you. And as much as you appreciated the man’s kindness, you knew that it wouldn’t change the fact that you still ruined everything.

Silently, you scooped up the pieces that were scattered on the floor before bringing it all to your desk.

It was true. You weren’t really sure what it was, Viktor had used to tell you about his work, but in the past couple weeks he hadn’t spoken to you about anything really. So you were completely at a loss of what exactly the large metallic structure was supposed to be for.

You would just need to piece it back together, looking for clues to put everything together like puzzle pieces. This was your chance, you thought as you hunkered down to work on it.

You would work on it without pause till it was fixed! Viktor didn’t believe that you could fix it, so you just needed to fix it and then maybe whatever you had done to break the fragile bond between you would flourish again.

Maybe once he saw that you had some semblance of brilliance, like Jayce and Sky, like himself, then maybe he wouldn’t fire you?

With a deep breath, steeling yourself for however many hours it was going to take you, you got to work.

Dear Diary, if I didn’t think they would fire me before they are now. Viktor hates me. I can feel it. I didn’t mean to ruin his research, I would never intentionally do that. His work is so important, life changing. I’ll fix it, I have too. He already asked for my resignation, if I can’t fix this, there is no doubt he will let me go.

You never left the office after that, giving Viktor a run for his money when it came to how many hours you were awake and working. Even as each of them, at one point even Viktor himself, had urged you to go home and sleep.

But you refused, hell bent on proving that you were worth keeping around, that you were worth being his friend, that you were worth the time and effort he has wasted on you, wasted teaching you.

With each passing day; with each failure, each misfire, you felt your hopes slipping.

It was useless.

Viktor had been right.

Like he always was.

Why on earth had you believed that you could fix this? It was another one of his brilliant designs and you had said that you could fix it without anything to back that up? You were a failure, a complete and utter failure.

It was the middle of the night, closer to dawn that you took a few seconds to write your feelings down. You just couldn’t stop your tears no matter how hard you tried to calm yourself down. The whole thing was hopeless; you love life, your career, your mental state…it all just felt so pointless, so useless.

Resting your head down on the desk, your eyes drifted over towards the monstrosity you were still working on. It felt like it was no better than it had been when you started and you couldn’t ask for help. If you went to Viktor for help, you might as well just hand in your resignation then.

Your head was pounding, it felt like the world was falling apart around you. You just needed more time…

Just a bit more time…

With a jerk your eyes snapped open, finding the once dark lab was bright with the morning light. You hadn’t even noticed that you had fallen asleep!

In a panic you sat up, feeling drool on the side of your cheek. You could see the wet spot on the paper you had been working on, grimacing at the smudged writing.

But that wasn’t the worst of it.

“Finally, you’re awake”

Sitting in a chair that he must have pulled over beside your desk, your journal in hand, eyes scanning each and every word that you had written on the pages.

Sat Viktor.

His gaze slowly taking in the last journal entry you had written only hours before. Golden orbs shifted to focus sharply on your own, a look of pure determination taking over his features.

“We need to talk”

------------------------------------------

Part 2 and Part 3

* I used a Russian translation for this one as I wanted him to be calling Jayce a bastard, but when I looked up the translation of bastard in Slovak it literally translated it to ‘bastard’. Felt like it defeated the purpose.

Taglist: @thedreamlessnights

#viktor x reader arcane #arcane viktor #arcane viktor x you #arcane viktor x reader #viktor x reader #viktor arcane x reader #viktor x you #viktor angst #ficfanatic #ficfanatictrf #In Bits and Pieces

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artiesartapparels · 5 months

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Would anyone be interested in reading a short fic about Viktor Hargreeves set after the events of season 3. It would be angsty about him coming to the realization of what he’s done and struggling to cope. Maybe some comfort at the end with some of his siblings realizing how fucked up his mental health is. Idk, I love writing angst for my faves and the urge to do it with tua has been strong 😩😔😔

Would also contain a lot of his feelings on being trans and shit like that :,))

#fanfiction #tua #the umbrella academy #viktor hargreeves #viktor angst #angst fic #angst

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sissytobitch10seconds · 8 months

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Fear is a Powerful Thing

Fandom: The Umbrella Academy Summary: They've all struggled with intrusive thoughts, their father said a lot of things that turned their minds into breeding grounds for them. Somehow, they thought that their little brother had somehow managed to escape it. Warnings: Mentions of self-harm, mental illness, mentions of canon-typical child abuse, and self-medicating Word Count: 6,923 Ship(s): Viktor Hargreeves & Everyone

Archive link!

A/N: We're back writing things that are super self-indulgent stuff! I hope that you guys want some more Viktor angst because I always have more. Stay sissy and bitchy everyone <3

It was almost comforting, when he started taking his pills again.

The nightmares had started a few days after he had come back to his apartment. He didn’t know if Reginald had been messy when he was rewriting what he wanted to be changed after the universe reset or if he had purposefully woven a place for them into it, but they had all found that they had lives.

Luther was able to get a job as an aerospace engineer and had an apartment where he and Sloane lived together. Diego worked for the local police department and lived with Lila and both of their children. Allison was a famous movie star and had both her husband and child, but that hadn’t really been a surprise. Klaus worked as a yoga instructor in Dallas with a husband that none of them had ever met but he had been very attached to, according to Ben. Five had a name and a place that he worked at a university, as well as a body that matched the age that the rest of his siblings were at. Ben himself had his memories from the original timeline and the one after that, likely by accident, and worked as a librarian with a girlfriend named Jill who worked as a lawyer. All of the Sparrows also had lives and remembered who they had been before, though it took a bit of convincing to make them believe how they had gotten there.

Viktor had what he had before. He worked for the Icarus Theater and had been stuck at third chair for several years. He tutored kids in his home and at their own. He had an apartment that was so run down and shoddy that he didn’t even bother putting locks on the windows because he had nothing that was worth stealing. Thankfully, the one thing that had changed was the name that he had chosen and the gender that he identified as. People referred to him by his chosen name and preferred pronouns because he had begun his transition earlier in that universe than he had in the one before it. His apartment was also missing the blood-stain soaking into the hardwood and his life was missing the murderous stalker boyfriend.

He didn’t bother to change anything when he got back, not in the beginning, because so much about his day-to-day had already shifted. He had learned that vast parts of his life had been a lie that he had been fed so that he was easier to control. On top of that, he had realized that he was in love with someone that he was apparently not allowed to have the way that so many other people had been given the people that they loved. Even Five seemed to have gotten a human version of Dolores, but Viktor had no one.

He tried not to mind it at first. He was able to try out for the second chair in his orchestra when the yearly renewal came around and actually made it. His siblings were making more of an effort in his life than they ever had before, which he was so ecstatic for.

Then he had begun to have the nightmares. They were near constant and got worse as time went on. They ranged anywhere from him being trapped in the room deep under the Academy that didn’t exist anymore, screaming for someone to let him out, to him standing on the Icarus Theater stage while trying to kill everyone in the audience in a fit of uncontrollable power.

Every time he had one, he woke up with his chest heaving and his entire body drenched in sweat. He had thought about going to a therapist but was terrified that it would get him diagnosed with something that he didn’t have or wouldn’t help because he wouldn’t be able to tell them explicitly where the fear was coming from. He knew enough from his past therapy sessions as a wet-behind-the-ears college student to know that it was type of PTSD or anxiety, though.

He lived with them for a long time, before the voice of his father and the Handler began to speak to him whenever he tried to drift off. They told him horrible things about how he was dangerous, how he should only be used as a bomb, what uselessness he was when he wasn’t being utilized for his true purpose. The thing that had stuck out to him the most was actually a line that he had seen one night on a show he had just turned on to drown out his mind.

You’re family loves you, but they also fear you.

It struck him deep in his belly, but he was able to brush it off because their powers were gone. Then one day, when he was sitting in rehearsals for his upcoming show, it had felt like his ears were popping and everything in the entire world became clearer. He could almost feel the frequency of the vibrations that each instrument made as it pushed the air around it away. He could hear just like he had been able to back when he was on the farm and his powers were returning back to him, just as distinctly as he could down in the basement.

That night when he had gotten home, his phone had gone off with a million texts from his siblings informing him that they experienced the same things. Diego had swum without coming up for a half hour without even realizing it until one of the other people in the gym freaked out. Luther had smashed three pens before he had exerted the control that he had back when he had his powers. Sloane had naturally flipped something upside down before she realized that it was clinging to the ceiling. Five had teleported to the other side of his, thankfully empty, classroom and then back before Dolores had called him out on it. Klaus was hearing the voices again.

Their powers were back.

It was a terrifying revelation to have, especially since the nightmares had been haunting him for far longer than that. Some parts of it were reassuring because they brought with them things that he hadn’t realized truly ordinary people couldn’t have. Those were all immediately overshadowed when he remembered the world-ending doom that he had caused without that much effort.

With those memories hanging heavy in his heart, it seemed like the practical option to seek out the man who had put a stop to all of it the last time he had them. Reginald was easy to find but very hard to get an appointment with, unless that person was Viktor.

It was apparently very important to the man that had given them their powers in the first place to make sure that they didn’t stir up trouble. Viktor was able to meet with him and explain the situation only a day after contacting Reginald’s main business email and secretary. Two days after that, he had a new prescription filled with the same medication that he had taken his entire adolescence and adult life.

Despite having sought the pills out himself, he was still a little nervous to take them when he actually had the orange bottle clenched in his hands. He remembered what it felt like to be on the sedative, the exhaustion that had clung to every part of his body and weighed him down closer to sleep or death, whichever came first. Accessing his own emotions had been like knocking on a brick wall and hoping that somewhere, something would be loose or trigger a door that would let him in. He could feel that they were on the other side of that wall but he was completely unable to get to them.

The hum of the power, the urge to turn every sound that passed into his brain to blazing white energy, was laying just underneath his skin at all times. The first pill dulled it so that it was almost a memory of a feeling, but the more that he took the further and further away he got from his powers. Just as they had last time, with his powers went his emotions. He tried to maintain the personality that he had developed when he was off of his medication so that no one would notice what had happened, but he knew that there was a rather poignant change.

The riskiest part of going back on the medication was his siblings finding out. It had been easy enough to hide his powers back before he had been on the sedative again. He probably should have at least confided in Five that he felt the changes coming, but he couldn’t bring himself to force the words from his throat. Every time that he tried they got caught and he felt like he was drowning. He was half terrified that it would result in another end of the world if he were to mention anything about his powers or his siblings would try to trap him in the basement again.

So instead of letting anyone know that they had returned, he kept it all to himself. He knew that the end of the world couldn’t come if he couldn’t access the massive star living in his chest, so he didn’t worry about that anymore. He also knew that the medication was strong enough that it would cause a change to his personality that his siblings might be able to notice. The closer that they got to their monthly get together, the more he was banking on their lack of presence in his life to hide what he had done. He wasn’t sure what their reaction would be to him medicating himself, but their reaction to other secrets of his had been bad enough that he just didn’t want to deal with it in general.

The worry was enough to make him almost feel awake when the day of their get together rolled around. He was puttering around his apartment while trying to remember everything that he needed for the activity.

Finally, he got his thoughts together enough to remember that he needed his bag and the kinds of things that had to go in it. He had taken to carrying his car and apartment keys on his lanyard because he kept losing the little keyring that he had them on before. He had also moved the little stuffed animal that one of his students had given him for his birthday the year before onto it, which helped him remember that he needed it.

The next thing that he put into his bag was a full waterbottle. He chucked a couple of granola bars into it as well, just in case he got hungry, which he knew that he wouldn’t. That was another thing that he was struggling with when it came to the medication that he was taking. He hadn’t realized just how much it had killed his appetite until he was swinging wildly between the hunger that the testosterone gave him and the lack of appetite that the sedative was plaguing him with. He managed to stuff enough into his body when he wasn’t hungry that he wasn’t wasting away, but he also wasn’t thriving the way that he had been before he had started taking it again.

Now that his backpack was full of the things that he would need, he slung it over his back and then started on his way. He had moved into another apartment when he found that the one still waiting for him after they returned to the new world had too many memories. He had enough money in his orchestra and teaching that he could afford something small in another neighborhood. He probably should have looked for something a bit bigger even if it would have been more expensive because he got a little stir-crazy in his current studio.

He walked as briskly as his tired limbs could move him down the hall to the elevator. When he stepped inside, he clung to the railing and took deep breaths to try and soothe the anxiety that was living in his chest. Despite the fact that all of his emotions were numbed by the medication that he was on, he still managed to get triggered by small, enclosed spaces almost every time he stepped foot inside one of them.

The doors opened into the parking garage and he darted out of the space as quickly as he could. His car was parked in the spot that was reserved for his apartment number, just as it always was. He got inside and and started it up before he sat there for a moment.

Viktor knew that he had to go to the check in with his family, it was the only way to make sure that they wouldn’t worry about him or become suspicious of what he was doing in his life. But he was so tired and worn out from just being alive, enough that he wasn’t sure he had the energy to navigate any kind of social situation.

After quite a while of hyping himself up to be able to handle a whole day with his siblings, he began to maneuver the car out of the parking garage. He was able to drive despite the sedative rushing through his system because he had been navigating it his entire life. It was something that had scared him when he had first started taking it since he had never known the freedom of being able to drive himself wherever he wanted before he had gone back in time to the sixties.

Viktor arrived at the park that his siblings had agreed to meet up at five minutes after the specified time. He had tried his best to be on time, but he had managed to miss the turn that would have led him to the park and had to double back. He usually tried to factor in the mess-ups that he was no doubt going to make, but he was so exhausted that day that there was no hope for him.

He pulled himself out of his car after making sure that everything that was supposed to be in his pack was, in fact, where he had put it before he had left the house. He walked slowly over the vast field of green while trying to spot the group of people that he was meant to be meeting up with. This meeting was just for the Umbrellas, which meant that all spouses and children had to be left behind. Viktor was the only one that was still on his own, so he didn’t have to worry about that.

He finally managed to spot them under the shade of one of the massive pine trees while sitting on a blanket that Sloane had no doubt packed for Luther. He changed his trajectory so that he was pointed more towards them and away from the straight-through path. By the time that they were really in his view, his shoulders had hunched down and he had shoved his hands into his pockets so that he didn’t have to think about what was happening as hard. The habit that he had formed as an adult in the first universe had returned to him after he had started taking his meds again. He kept the sedatives in his pocket just in case he had to take another one, which meant that his fingers were toying with the lid of the cap.

“Viktor!” Klaus shouted when he finally spotted the missing brother. He sat up on his knees and waved his hand above his head as high as he could reach.

It was strange to see his brother that excited without being on drugs, but Dave was doing wonderful things for him. Viktor wondered what his life would have been like if he had been given Sissy and Harlan the way that everyone else had been given their loves.

Awkwardly, he pulled his hand from his pocket while remembering to leave the pill bottle where it was nestled and then waved shyly back. He felt as though he was an outsider again, looking into a group that he knew that he was never going to be a part of.

“You’re late,” Ben noted with a rather annoyed expression. It was odd having someone that was so close to the brother that he had remembered from when he was sixteen but also someone so different.

“I know, I got kind of lost, sorry,” he apologized. He was trying to make sure that his voice was loud enough to be heard but he felt like something was holding his entire being down into his tiny body so that he took up no space.

“It’s not a big deal,” Luther immediately soothed. Since his marriage and long-lasting relationship with Sloane, he had become a peace keeper in the family instead of the one that started more fights than one person could reasonably finish.

Viktor carefully navigated himself so that he was between Five and Allison, the only open spot on the blanket, and then sat down. He pulled at the loose threads and ties of the quilt with his fingers to give himself something to do that wouldn’t bring attention to the heavy sedatives resting against his leg.

“Now that we’re all here, we can begin the meeting!” Allison said as she clapped her hands in front of her.

Five rolled his eyes, “It’s not an official meeting. It’s just us checking in on each other.” He had his arms folded over his chest and looked very sullen, which was typical for him when his wife wasn’t around him. Viktor wanted to have the love that his siblings had been blessed with so desperately that it ached in his chest.

“Be nice, Five,” Allison growled. Things had leveled out after they had reunited with her, but there was still this feral anger that lived inside of her after everything that she had been through and all that she had lost. The tension in the air around them intensified for only a second before she continued, “We need to do the normal checks and then we can just hang out.”

“Should we go in number order?” Klaus asked as he laid back on the grass to begin weaving some of the long green strands together with his lanky fingers.

“No,” Diego and Luther immediately said at the same time. The two of them had grown remarkably closer to each other since they had all returned to the new world, which was both wonderful and confusing for the rest of the siblings. They had absolutely hated each other when they were growing up and afterwards because of the constructed competition that Reginald had fostered between them.

“We’re going in clockwise order. I’ll start,” Allison said as she placed a hand on her chest. “Things have been going very well for me. I still have to deal with people from Reginald’s business since he owns the company that shoots my movies but I haven’t seen him or his wife. My husband still knows about the old life that we had in the sixties but he doesn’t seem to be struggling with keeping up with the future anymore. My powers have come back as strong as they were when I was sixteen. Claire isn’t having any flairs of power or anything.”

The person to her right was Five, so he started as soon as she had finished. “I haven’t had to deal with Reginald at all. I’m still working at the university and no one seems to be doubting my credentials or my place in the world. I haven’t seen any signs of time anomalies or changes in the timeline that imply that the Commission is still around. Dolores remembers our time in the apocalypse, but is acclimating to this universe as well. My powers are stronger than they were when I was sixteen, likely because I actually have proper time to practice and nutrition this time around.”

Diego was next, “Stanley remembers his mother and spending time with her but doesn’t really seem to care about all of the changes from the new universe. Lila has her powers back but we’ve only been able to test them on me so we’re not sure how powerful they are compared to when she fought us back in Dallas. I’m able to manipulate the trajectory of things that I throw and hold my breath for up to an hour now. Chrys doesn’t seem to be showing any signs of power either even though she came from two people with powers.”

“Are you implying that my daughter is less likely to develop powers because Patrick didn’t have any?” Allison asked, sounding rather put out about the whole situation. Viktor briefly wondered why she would want her daughter to be saddled with the curse that they were burdened with, before he remembered that the rest of the siblings all appreciated their powers as a gift instead of something that they had to learn to live around. Viktor’s powers were so much more intense and less contained than everyone else’s and that made it intensely harder to deal with them in an affectionate way.

“Do you really want Claire to have the ability to manipulate people with her words? I think that it would be really beneficial to Chrys to be able to hold her breath or copy other people’s powers so that she could protect herself,” Diego retorted.

“Claire would just be protecting herself too!” Allison argued.

“Or she could turn out to be like you,” Five snarked.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

Tensions were already rising in the group and suddenly Viktor felt even more tired than he had before. He wondered if he was getting sick, because he had felt like he did in that current moment back when he had gotten the flu at twenty five. It had resulted in him having to be hospitalized because he hadn’t realized that he was sick until he was running a one-hundred-and-two degree fever. Luckily he knew the warning signs of it this time and would be able to go home and sleep for the rest of the day once it was all over.

“Can you guys murder each other after I’ve gotten the chance to talk about my husband?” Klaus asked lazily. Five and Allison stared at each other for a moment longer before they finally conceded that there wouldn’t be any murder on that particular outing.

After Diego came Luther. “Sloane has the same amount of power that she had last time. I think that it was easier for the Sparrows to have their powers come back because they were using them in a hero capacity all the way up until the Kugelblitz killed them in the other universe. Sloane says that none of her siblings have really been struggling with getting their powers back up to where they were before.”

“You’re supposed to be talking about how you are as an Umbrella, not a Sparrow. I had to go to their stupid meeting last week,” Ben groused.

“Everyone else gets to talk about their spouse!” Luther huffed.

If his mind hadn’t been so hazy with his medication, Viktor would have likely felt very put out by that statement. He missed Harlan and Sissy almost every day and wanted nothing more than to be held in the arms of the woman that he cherished more than he did his own life. But she was off in another time, in another universe, living with a husband that would never truly appreciate her.

After a few more sly comments back and forth, they finally settled back into their pattern. “Anyways, like I was saying. I’ve noticed that more of my powers are coming back but they’re kind of developing differently than they did before. I’m not as strong as I was back then but I am more durable, especially without the whole… experiment thing.”

Klaus reached over and placed a hand on his brother’s arm to comfort him. Viktor wished that he could have been in the place to do that, but he knew that he wasn’t.

“My life has been wonderful!” Klaus declared after he had finished comforting his brother to his own standards. “Dave remembers our original life back in Vietnam and not what happened in the sixties. He is taking everything in great stride which I expected after what he saw me do back when we were at war. My powers are back too but I can handle them so much better now thanks to Daddy Dearest. Do you think that he had that in mind when he was making me die over and over again?”

“Wait, are the powers that you’ve been testing the ghost ones or the ones that help you come back to life?” Diego asked, worry lacing his tone.

“I don’t test the resurrection all that often because it stresses Dave out,” Klaus said dismissively as he waved his once-again tattooed hand at his brother.

Ben went next, before the two of them had the chance to strike up another off-topic conversation. “Jill remembers what it was like to be back in Klaus’ cult and she remembers the brief time that we spent together. Things are a little more rocky for me because I have the Umbrella and the Sparrow timeline together in my head, but I’m working through it. Like Luther said earlier, it was easier for me to get a hang of the powers again because I was able to actually use them instead of being dead for almost fourteen years before I realized I could still open the portal.”

“Is that everyone?” Allison asked as she looked around at her siblings. They glanced back and forth at each other with small nods of confirmation to let her know that they had already gone.

Klaus than gave a dramatic gasp as he stretched his arms above his head again and then pointed towards his brother. “We forgot little Viktor!”

“There isn’t anything for me to say,” he shrugged. “I don’t have anyone from the past. Sissy and Harlan don’t exist in the modern universe that I can see. I haven’t seen any sign of Le-Harold either,” he corrected himself halfway through. He didn’t like to talk about his previous romantic interests because it brought up a lot of very painful memories that he hadn’t had the chance to really process. He was also worried that if he reminded the others about what he had done and the person that he had almost become then they would turn against him and make his life more miserable than it already was.

“What about powers?” Allison asked, turning to look at him warily.

Viktor felt a pang of hurt at that. Back when they were originally reconnecting after their father’s alleged death, the two of them had been making good strides in their progress of reconnecting. When they were back in the sixties she had enough time to heal so that they were even closer than either of them had ever dreamed that they would be. They felt genuinely like siblings when they were in the Sparrow’s timeline, all the way up until Harlan came into the picture and everything began to crumble for Viktor again. He wanted them to be like they were before, like they were siblings that cared for and loved each other, but he knew that was a futile dream.

Allison had been hurt worst by his powers and everyone knew that. She still had the stark scar on her throat that had caused her to be mute for the better part of two years and almost killed her. She had almost lost both her husband and her daughter because Viktor had accidentally given his powers to someone that couldn’t handle them, not that he was particularly good at wielding them either.

“Nothing,” he answered quietly. He felt bad for lying to them, but it was the truth. They didn’t need to know that the white light had come pouring into his apartment the first time that they had gotten a thunderstorm after a year in the new universe. They didn’t need to know that he had sought out their father so that the medication he had been doped up on could come back into his possession. They didn’t need to know any of that because they were so happy and he couldn’t bear to take that from them. None of them had even noticed the change in his behavior since the last time that they had interacted at one of their monthly meetings.

The conversation veered off again as Diego and Allison went to talking about what it was like to be parents. Ben and Klaus were arguing about something that had happened with Jill back when they were in the sixties. Five had pulled out his phone and was no doubt talking to his wife since the two of them were basically inseparable. Luther was the only one that hadn’t become occupied with something else and was looking towards Viktor. It didn’t last long because Ben got him involved in the conversation with Klaus, which had moved to something related to the Sparrows.

Viktor stayed for another ten minutes before he hauled himself to his feet and silently slipped away from the rest of the group. He was going unnoticed much like he had when he had left class early back when they were in the Academy.

The drive was completely silent because he couldn’t even be bothered to connect his phone to the Bluetooth speakers for music. Music was the only thing that made him feel anything anymore, but he was so exhausted from the stress of hiding his powers from his siblings that he couldn’t even bring himself to do something that brought him more joy than anything else did.

They all had jobs that they enjoyed, spouses and children that they had gotten during their adventures and adored, but Viktor had been given none of that. It was easier to sit with when he didn’t have to worry about ripping it from them because he didn’t know how to control himself.

When he got back to his apartment, he fell down onto his couch and passed out without a second though. Sleep brought him the bliss of non-hazy thoughts and a heart that wasn’t constantly thrumming through his body with anxiety.

---

Hours had passed when he woke up to the sound of someone knocking on his door. The sun was already beginning to set over the glittering skyline, which captured Viktor’s attention when he was brought out of the comforting warmth of sleep. He stared out of the grand windows on either side of his fireplace where his television was mounted until there was another loud knock.

“Coming!” he shouted. He hauled himself off of the couch and then opened the door to reveal two of his brothers standing there with worried looks on their faces. The dose of his medication that he had taken with his meager breakfast that morning was beginning to wear off so he only blinked at them for a second before he asked, “Can I help you?”

“Viktor, what’s going on?” Five said instead of answering his brother’s question. He had always been the most blunt and to-the-point out of all of their siblings, which Viktor almost appreciated in that moment. His brain was still foggy enough that he wasn’t entirely able to piece together why they would be there if they were going to give him strange roundabout hints the way that Allison would.

“I’m taking a nap in my apartment?” he answered, confused and tired.

Luther placed a hand on Five’s shoulder to try and soothe some of the anger that was obviously brewing just under the surface of the shorter man. Five had always been like that, full of a feral rage that could be directed towards things but if it wasn’t then it exploded everywhere. Usually, when Viktor had seen it before, it was to protect him from their siblings or to get him to stop doing something stupid. He wondered what it was about this time.

He snapped from his thoughts when Luther asked, “Do you think that we could come in?”

“Oh yeah, of course,” he nodded and stepped aside. He didn’t even think about the fact that before he had taken his nap, he had fished his pills out of his pocket and tossed them haphazardly onto the table so that he wouldn’t break them. It had been so long since someone had come to visit him in his home that it didn’t occur to him that could be something that they would see or something that he had to hide from them.

Slowly, he closed the door behind them after they had come into his apartment. They were looking around the room and into the hallway that led to his bedroom and bathroom. The place was messier than he usually kept it because when on the sedative he rarely had the willpower to keep it clean. It wasn’t disgusting because he also didn’t have the energy to make a mess with dirty plates and laundry, though. “Why are you here again?” he asked nervously. His brain was beginning to clear after all of the sleep he had gotten that day and the anxiety of having his brothers around for unknown reasons.

Five stepped around the couch and grabbed the orange bottle just as Viktor realized that it was there. The smaller man flung himself around the furniture and tried to grab for it but Five was far taller than him now that he was an adult. All the other man had to do was hold it above his head and Viktor was unable to regain his property. “Five, that’s mine!” he crowed, feeling every bit the thirteen-year-old that he had been the last time that they were truly best friends.

“What is this, Viktor?” Five demanded, his eyes feral and intense in a way that Viktor hadn’t seen since Diego had accidentally stabbed him all the way through his arm after Reginald had Viktor help with training.

“It’s personal,” he answered. He stepped back and stared down his brother petulantly.

Luther stepped behind Five and snatched the bottle from him to read it over. “Isn’t this a sedative? I’ve seen it being used for people with anxiety in Jayme’s textbooks,” he commented. Jayme was studying to be a pharmacist since that was apparently what she had wanted to be if she didn’t have to be a superhero. They had the freedom to do what they wanted now, and the Sparrows were taking full advantage of that.

“Why would you need a sedative?” Five asked, whirling between his brothers like if he looked away from one of them for too long then he was going to lose them both.

Viktor felt guilt overwhelm him like a riptide. He hated lying to his siblings, he hated lying in general since it was the only thing that their father had done to them all the way throughout their childhood. He had wanted to tell them the truth but had believed that it was too risky.

He bowed his head so that he was staring down at his shoes. He had been wearing the same pair of jeans for the last week and had only managed to change his shirt from that weekend because he knew he was going to be seeing his siblings. He had been wearing his binder for days without respite because he was so numb that he could barely feel the way that it was constricting his ribs. He knew that his hair was growing out and becoming shaggy over his forehead because he could no longer be bothered to cut it like he had before his powers returned. He looked a mess and he felt like one too. The only emotions that he was able to access around the medical depression were anxiety and guilt, both of which were taking turns washing over him like the worst ocean he had ever gotten trapped in.

“Viktor…” Luther whispered when he realized what the sedative was being used for.

“What are you doing?” Five demanded. His eyes were wide with that feral protectiveness, and suddenly Viktor realized that he had that look on his face when he was outside in reference to Viktor and what was happening with him.

Your family may love you, but they also fear you.

“What I have to do,” he replied, feeling suddenly like a caged animal and spewing forth the defensiveness that came with that.

Luther set the bottle of little white pills down on the table and moved so that he was standing beside his brother. Five and Luther both towered over the violinist, which made him feel so small and vulnerable. He reminded himself that it was a good thing for him to feel like that because that meant that he couldn’t hurt anyone.

The silence hung heavy in the air as the other two had a silent conversation that Viktor wasn’t privy to. Finally, Luther asked, “Your powers are back, aren’t they?”

“Of course they are! It wouldn’t make any sense to give someone like Allison and Five their powers back but not have them come back to me too. If Reginald wanted to actually nerf us then he would have made sure that none of our powers were able to come back,” he ranted. The medication had worn off enough that he was feeling more like himself and able to think in a coherent line, no longer stuffed down into the tiny box that had been made for him when he was a teenager.

He bowed his head and tried to stop the tears that were already streaming down his face. “But I’m actually dangerous. Allison rarely ever did something that could hurt someone the same way that I did. I make shit decisions and I put people in danger so I went to Reginald so that he would make the meds and dose me with them. I’m protecting all of you.”

“Do you really think that you’re capable of hurting us?” Five asked, almost like it was a joke.

“I almost killed you in Dallas when you threatened to take me from Sissy,” Viktor deadpanned. Thinking of her made his heart ache something fierce, now that his emotions were slowly bleeding back into his body.

“No, you threatened me. We both stood down at the same time. I know that nothing you did was ever actually intended to hurt us. When you cut Allison’s throat it was because you had just been reminded of something deeply traumatic while being abused by Harold. It was the same kind of accident that made Ben give Diego that scar on his cheek. If we hadn’t locked you in the basement then it’s unlikely you would have started the apocalypse either. We’re just as much at fault for what happened as you are,” Five explained like it was obvious.

“I’m dangerous, Five. I know that you’re all scared of my powers coming back,” he shook his head.

Luther spoke up before either of his brothers could start another long-winded rant, “I think we’re more scared of losing our little brother.”

That hung heavier in the air than the admission that his powers had returned. It hadn’t even occurred to him that they had actually noticed the abrupt change in his behavior, he had been trying so hard to ease himself back into the person that he had been before so they wouldn’t notice. He had assumed that if there were any slip-ups then no one would pick up on it because they had barely paid him any mind in the last universe.

“Viktor, you’re our brother and we love you. We want you to be yourself, super dangerous powers and all,” Five smiled like he used to when he and Viktor were sneaking around their childhood home. “Please stop taking these and don’t go back to that bastard again. Nothing he did was ever in our best interest, the pills included.”

“Can I… Can I keep them just in case?” he requested after nodding in agreement to what his brother had asked of him.

Luther stuck the bottle into his pocket and shook his head. “There isn’t going to be a ‘just in case’. You’re going to learn how to control your powers just like the rest of us are doing again. And I’m going to tell the others what you did so that they can help me hold you accountable. We love you, Viktor.”

“He’s right, for once,” Five nodded. Slowly, like he was approaching a wild animal, he wrapped the smaller man up in a hug. Viktor fell into it like he was a drowning man and Five was air.

It felt as though his luck wasn’t quite running out and his powers weren’t as volatile as he had thought they were. He was going to get through whatever danger he possessed with the help of his brothers and without the manipulation from his father. He clearly didn’t want to be on them if it took that little argument from them anyway.

#fanfiction #fanfic #writing #ao3 #archive of our own #tua #the umbrella academy #allison hargreeves #luther hargreeves #diego hargreeves #klaus hargreeves #five hargreeves #number five #ben hargreeves #viktor hargreeves #viktor angst #fear is a powerful thing fic

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hihomeghere · 11 months

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Carousel Club | Five Hargreeves / Reader

Word Count : 3k Summary : After being dropped into 1963, you find work at the Carousel Club as a dancer. While following a tip where Luther could be, Five sees your routine. Overwhelmed by jealousy he sneaks into your dressing room. (I do not own the umbrella academy or any of it's characters.) Warnings/Tags : Smut, cursing, piv, men being sexist (its the 1960s what do you expect?) dom!Five, Aged up!Five. A little bit of angst. Not requested.

You always trusted your husband. He was your constant in a very fucked up world. You knew he would never purposely harm you, or put you in harm's way. Sometimes that meant following him through time and space, other times it meant trusting him to not burn your dinner. So when he said he had a way out of the mess you and your in-laws had caused, of course you trusted him wholeheartedly.

You grasped Five’s hand tightly in your own, feeling a sense of deja-vu from the last time you two tried to spacial jump. Diego gingerly held your other hand, you looked up at him giving him a curt nod. He returned the nod before looking around at the rest of his siblings. You raised your eyes to the gaping hole in the ceiling, the intricate details of the theater framing the crumbling moon. Five squeezed your hand, drawing your attention back to him. You gave him a reassuring smile, well as reassuring as you could.

Electricity crackled around the seven of you, wind whipping your hair in front of your face. Five’s grip on your hand was almost crushing, like you were his lifeline. A giant blue orb of energy appeared above your family, growing and glowing. Five strained under the pressure, his face contorting into a pained expression. The blue light enveloped you all, flickering and pulsing.

“Hold on! It’s gonna get messy!” Five yelled as the ground shook beneath you, shutting your eyes tightly you felt yourself being pulled away from Five and Diego. You only had a moment of panic before you were thrown to the ground.

You groaned sitting up, the blue light of energy blinding you. You raised your hand shielding your eyes.

“Five!” You yelled as you got to your feet. As fleeting as the orb had appeared it disappeared, as though someone had turned an old tv off. Was that a flash, or just your imagination? You shook your head, taking in your surroundings. No Five, no siblings, no briefcase. Where the hell were you?

You wandered down the alleyway to the main street. Your hip twinged in pain after taking the brunt of your fall. You looked around the street, the lampposts and storefront neon signs were your only light source. You sank down on a bench, letting out a deep sigh. Your eyes wandered to a newsrack, you quickly got to your feet. You ran to it, holding the sides of the glass case.

August 1st, 1963. Dallas, Texas.

Your heart leapt into your throat. Damn it, Five. Shit, Alison. God, where were the rest of Five’s siblings?

“Honey, are you alright?” A soft voice asked, you turned your head sharply. You were met by a sweet woman’s face, big blond hair and bangs. She had a cardigan wrapped tightly around herself as she reached out to touch your shoulder. You shook your head, still coming to terms with the last five minutes. “Come on, I’m just about to go get something to eat, why don’t you join me?” She said, smiling sweetly.

“I-” You cleared your throat, “I don’t have any money.” You said, shaking your head. “Well then my treat.” She said helping you to your feet. You followed the woman down the streets of Dallas to a quaint diner. You sat down across from her, taking a look over the menu. People chattered mindlessly around you as you came to terms with your situation.

“I’ve seen that look before.” She said, setting her menu down on the table.

“What look?” You said furrowing your eyebrows.

“That look. Every girl I work with has had that same look.” She huffed thanking the waiter as he set down a coffee cup in front of her. “Small girl in the big city, not knowing where you’re gonna stay or what you’re gonna eat. Believe me, I’ve seen that look before because I’ve felt that before.” She said reaching across the table, taking your hand in hers. “So what’s your story, sweetheart?” You took a breath, choosing your next words carefully.

“My husband and I got separated.” You whispered, “My parents didn’t agree with our marriage and so we ran away. He was supposed to meet me here in Dallas but he didn’t show.” You said, not technically a lie, Five was supposed to be here with you.

“Oh dear,” She tsked, “well you do not have to worry about that anymore. I’m so glad I found you! You can stay with me until you get back on your feet.” You smiled, hopefully Five wouldn’t make you wait much longer.

“Thank you…” You trailed off, realizing you hadn’t caught her name.

“Autumn.” She answered, holding out her hand for you to shake.

“I’m Y/n.” You smiled, taking her hand.

“You know Y/n, I could put in a good word for you with my boss. He may seem a bit rough around the edges, but we’re always short staffed.” She shrugged. Whatever the job was you would only have it for hopefully a week tops before Five caught up with you, along with his siblings.

“I appreciate it Autumn.” You smiled, patting her hand.

When you arrived at Autumn's place of work you wondered if you were a little over your head. You followed Autumn into the back entrance of the nightclub. You passed by many half dressed women, putting on their makeup and outfits.

“This way sweetheart!” Autumn called, you picked up your pace following her through the dressing room. Once on the main floor of the club you were greeted by the intense smell of cigars. Autumn had all but disappeared, you wandered through the tables. Trying to work your way to the front of the club, while also trying to avoid the men’s wandering hands at the tables.

“Y/n!” She called from a table, you turned your head. The club was familiar, but you couldn’t put your finger on it. You were face to face with Jack Ruby, the man who would put the hit out on Lee Harvey Oswald. You gulped, straightening your shoulders you walked over to them.

“Mr. Ruby, this is Y/n she’s looking for a job.” Autumn said, clasping her hands together. Jack looked you over, a cigar dangling from his lips.

“Y/n who?” He said leaning back in his chair. You stuttered but only for a second.

“Y/n L/n,” You said with a smile, Hargreeves might get Five or your in-laws in trouble if anyone here caught wind of that name. He puffed his cigar, leaning over to whisper something to the man next to him. He chuckled before nodding, you bit your cheek. Feeling like a piece of meat in front of these men.

“Can you start tonight?” He said, lacing his fingers together.

“Of course.” You replied, Autumn cheered quietly beside Mr. Ruby.

“Autumn, be a dear and show her the dressing rooms. Tell ‘em I want Miss Y/n to be on stage by tomorrow night.” He said motioning with his cigar in hand. On stage? You turned sharply looking toward the stage of the nightclub, scantily clad women fanning themselves with large feather fans.

“Yes sir Mr. Ruby!” Autumn giggled, taking your arm and walking you towards the back.

You sat in front of your vanity, lined by bright golden bulbs. Brushing glitter onto your eyes before adding your long eyelashes. It had been three months since you had taken on your new job, along the way you had made many friends. You felt for all the girls alongside you, it was a rough profession but it paid well. You pulled your robe close around your body, walking over to the clothing rack. You rifled through the sheer jeweled fabric before your eyes landed on the black and white body suit. You threw your outfit over your arm heading back to your vanity. You were greeted by a beautiful bouquet of red roses, Autumn standing next to them with a coy smile.

“Autumn! Who are these from?”

“A secret admirer,” she cooed her bright red lips pulling back into a smile, “Just teasing! It’s from all of us girls here,” She said as she rushed forward, wrapping her arms around your shoulders. Her cheap perfume floods your senses along with her sweet sweat.

“Y’all didn’t have to do that!” You smiled as she pulled away, she only waved you off.

“You’re one of the best here! Don’t know where you learned all your little tricks.” She said bumping your elbow with her own. She looked down at your costume in your arms. “Need help?” Autumn asked, holding out her hand.

“Yes please.” You said handing her your suit as you lowered your robe. You held onto her shoulders stepping into the suit, you adjusted your straps as Autumn tightened your corset. You admired yourself in the mirror, since taking on your new job you had become more toned. More than when you had worked at the commission, and these clothes were definitely more flattering than your blue suits you used to wear. You took in a sharp breath as Autumn pulled through the last loops, tying the ribbon with a neat bow.

“Alright sister, you’re ready.” She said squeezing your shoulders.

“Thanks Autumn, now go take your break!” You said waving her off.

“Y/n! You’re on next!” Shannon called from the stage door. You nodded, quickly stopping to smell the sweet scent of your roses before grabbing your tulle skirt. You tied it around your waist as you walked backstage. You picked up your red feather fans, taking a deep breath. You walked up to the closed red curtains listening to the deafening cheers and whistles. You heard the clink of the ropes being pulled back before you were blinded by the spotlights. You closed your eyes, bowing your head, your body covered by the bright red fans.

You started your routine, swaying your hips seductively as you pulled the fans back away from your body teasing the audience. You lost yourself in the music, thankfully it was difficult to decipher anyone’s face over the shadows cast by the spotlights. You unclipped the tulle skirt, throwing it off stage. You could make out a certain group of sailors, and a rather large man standing by the bar.

You teased the audience, covering your body with the fans before flashing them a glimpse of your shimmering body suit. You pulled the fans over your head, rotating your hips in a circular motion as you lowered into a squat. You bounced on your heels before jumping back up to your feet. You smirked as the men whistled and cheered.

The music slowed, and faded out as you walked behind the red curtain. You dropped off your fans before heading back to your dressing room. You opened the door, shutting it behind you.

“Who sent the roses?” Five’s voice sent a shiver down your spine. You turned your head sharply, meeting Five’s predatory gaze.

“Five!” You gasped, your heart soaring in your chest. “When did you get here?”

“I could ask you the same thing.” He said, crossing his arms. Your smile fell off your face, what was his problem? It’s not your fault that he dropped you off in the middle of 1963 with no resources.

“Three months ago.” You said furrowing your brows, “I’ve been looking for you this whole time!” He scoffed, clicking his tongue.

“Oh really? It looks like you’ve been getting enough attention without me.” He huffed, glaring at the bouquet of roses.

“Excuse me for finding a way to survive here.” You spit pushing past him, knocking his shoulder against yours. You took a seat in front of your vanity, pulling out your makeup kit. He stalked up behind you, towering over you. He gripped your chin, forcing you to look at him through the mirror, effectively smearing your bright red lipstick.

“You’re mine.” He sneered, his lips pulling back over his teeth. You flushed, heat pooling in your core. You stared up at him through the mirror, his fingers squeezing your lips together. “Got it?” He asked. You glared at him, a devilish thought entering your mind.

You kept quiet, smirking as you watched a shadow pass over his features. He clenched his jaw, shaking his head as he tilted your head to look him in the eye.

“You must need a lesson.” He smirked, pulling you to your feet, you stumbled slightly in your heels. He kicked the chair away, you jumped as it thudded against the carpeted floor. His arm moved behind you, sweeping everything off of your vanity along with the roses. They crashed to the floor, the vase shattering. He pushed you against the vanity, caging you in with his arms as he slammed his hands against the mirror. He stared down at you with a wolfish grin, you felt yourself flush. Your heart started to beat faster as you squirmed under him.

“Yes sir.” You said tilting your chin up, staring at him through your lashes. He growled spinning you around, your hands splayed out in front of you on the top of the vanity. His hand connected to your ass cheek, letting out a low chuckle as you gasped. He moved your hair off of your back, his cold fingers attacking the strings of your corset.

“Stupid- fucking- ribbon-“ he said through gritted teeth, you caught the slightly crazed look in his eye through the reflection. Your body felt on fire, three months without him made every touch that more exhilarating. As soon as the corset was loose enough he was ripping it off of your body, along with your panties. You were entirely bare in front of your fully dressed husband. He stepped back, loosening his tie as he watched you squirm in the mirror.

“Not so confident now, dearest.” He smirked, unbuttoning the top button of his dress shirt. You breathed hard, adrenaline rushing through your veins. Your nipples hardened against the cold air in the dressing room. You heard the familiar metal on metal as he took off his belt before unzipping his pants. He walked up behind you, nosing his dick against your folds. You clenched around nothing, pushing back against him. His hand came up to the back of your skull, wrapping his fist through your hair. He stared at you through his darkened gaze, you were breathless, your lips parting slightly.

“Please,” you whined, batting your eyelashes. He forcibly thrusted all the way in, knocking the breath out of your lungs. You let out a pornagraphic moan before you covered your mouth with your hand. He grabbed your hand, pulling it away from your mouth and holding it behind your back.

“Why don’t you let everyone here know who you belong to?” He huffed in your ear, thrusting erratically into you. You gripped the desk, the only thing holding you up as Five plowed into you. “Let them know that I’m the only one who gets to fuck you like this.” You clenched around him as his words seemed to straight directly to your core. He let out a groan, loosening his grip on your hair. “Fuck you like this don’t you?” You nodded enthusiastically, your eyes rolling back into your head as his cock prodded against your g-spot.

“Yes, yes Five!” You babbled tears pricking your eyes, as he bent you over the desk. His hands flew to your hips, pulling them against his own thrusts. You could only lay there as your orgasm came crashing down. You were thankful you were on top of the vanity because there was no way your trembling legs would have been able to hold you up.

Five’s eyebrows knit together as he arched his neck back, his hips stuttering as his orgasm quickly followed yours. Cumming with a loud shout he collapsed on top of you, your sweat causing his thin shirt to stick to your skin. He pulsed inside of you as he gingerly tucked a piece of hair behind your ear. He pulled away, peeling himself off of you. He kissed your shoulder as his softened cock slipped out of you. Your breathing was slowly coming back to normal as he tried to return your room to the state it was before he had destroyed it and you. He picked up your robe draping it over your shoulders. You sat up, feeling his cum start to drip down your thighs.

“What took you so long?” You asked, tying your robe close around your naked body.

“I just got here.” He sighed, tucking himself back into his pants. “I’m sorry I made you wait.” He turned to you, brushing his thumb over your cheek.

“I’ll always wait for you.” You sighed, wrapping your arms around his waist. He held you against his chest, resting his cheek against yours.

“At least someone will, Luther and Diego weren’t too happy about me dumping them in the past.” Five sighed. Diego and Luther were here, too?

“Where are they?” You asked, turning to Five with wide eyes. Five looked at you inquisitively, a small smile pulling on the corner of his mouth.

“Luther works for Jack Ruby, y/n. I found him in this club before I knew you worked here.” Your stomach dropped. Luther worked for Jack Ruby? That means he must have seen your numbers.

“Oh god.” You said mortified, hanging your head against Five’s chest. He chuckled, shaking his head as he lightly rubbed your back.

“Believe me, he was just as mortified as you are.” He said, “Although I must say I thoroughly enjoyed your routine.” He lowered his voice, his hands trailing down your body to rest on your butt.

“I think I could give you a private showing.” You smirked, wrapping your hand around his tie. You pulled him forward by his tie, smashing your lips against his. His hands gripped your hips, the velvety fabric smooth against his palms.

“God I’d love that,” He let out a sigh, “but maybe we should wait until after we save the world.”

Again? It was happening again?

“Vanya?” You asked, pulling away.

“Your guess is as good as mine.” He shrugged, “All I know is on November 25th the world ends, again.”

“Guess it’s time for a family reunion.”

#the umbrella academy #tua #five hargreeves #five x reader #five hargreeves smut #five hargreaves x reader #five hargreeves x reader #diego hargreeves #luther hargreeves #klaus hargreeves #viktor hargreeves #alison hargreeves #ben hargreeves #sir reginald hargreeves #lila pitts #little bit of angst #hihomeghere

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kokotwounite · 10 months

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🐈🍻 may rain wash down everything

#mordecai heller #viktor vasko #lackadaisy #gay #furry #vikdecai #cat #feline #angst and cute <33 #art #koko2unite #koko2unite draws

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redr0sewrites · 3 months

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not possible - Viktor x reader

🥀A/n: this was originally a request but it strayed wayyy too far off course... the writing had a mind of its own and im not sorry. but i AM sorry for not posting in a while.... ive been super hyperfixated on DC sorry

🥀Cw: fluff, non-sexual nudity, bathing, exhaustion/overworking

🥀Word Count: 1.2k words

🥀Synopsis: Viktor is overworking yet again, yet upon your insistence, finally takes a break.

Viktor was well aware that the candle at his side had long since burnt out, yet he was unwilling to find a replacement. the moon was bright tonight, and, combined with the soft blue glow emitting from the hextech he was working on, Viktor could make out the tools in front of him without any assistance.

he knew that working in the dim light was not a good idea, considering how straining ones' eyes could lead to faulty vision, but he couldn't bring himself to care. the ache in his bones ran deep, and his fingers shook with each breath. of course Viktor knew he should turn in for the night, but he found himself stuck in his chair, mindlessly fiddling with his most recent hextech project.

he was so engrossed in his work, he barely noticed your approach until you were practically on top of him. familiar hands find purchase on his shoulders and he jumps, only to melt back into your touch.

"ah, it's you," Viktor murmurs, turning around to face you. "may i ask, what are you doing up so late?"

"collecting you," you murmur, pressing a kiss to the tip of his nose. "it's already two in the morning. you've been here long enough."

Viktor sighs, and allows you to press a few more kisses to his face. the bags beneath his eyes were heavy, he was stiff and sore, and above all, he was exhausted.

joining you back home was certainly enticing, and hextech could always wait until tomorrow. and yet, the troublesome, burning itch beneath his skin wouldn't dissipate. he needed to complete just one more ruin combination, just finish this one little task, and then he'd let himself rest. at least, that's what he'd been telling himself for the past three hours.

"i can tell your overworking yourself again," you whisper, and Viktor huffs indignantly.

"overworking is, eh, a strong word. i am perfectly capable-" you cut him off by cupping his face in your hands, forcing him to look at you.

"Viktor, i am in no way denying your capabilities. however, you still need sleep. so, come back with me, and you can continue working tomorrow after a full nights rest. does that work?"

Viktor heaves another weary sigh, but agrees. you silently watch as he stands and steadies himself with his cane, not wanting to appear too overbearing but still concerned about his exhaustion. you wish you could alleviate some of the stress and burden that he carries, even though he relentlessly assured you that loving him was enough.

meanwhile, Viktor wordlessly packs up for the night. he knew you were trying to mask it for his own dignity, but the concern on your face was evident in the slightest furrow of your brow and pinch of your lips. he found it hopelessly endearing how you worried over him, and only wished that you would stop for your own sake.

after all, he was doing this for you. for the chance to live happily with you someday, after saving the lives of so many others. hextech consumed so much of his time, yet Viktor intended to make it up to you tenfold when you two would grow old together.

"you ready to head home?" your voice slices through his thoughts like a knife through warm butter, and he finds himself unable to do anything but nod. you did not hesitate to take his hand as you two walk back towards your shared abode, nor did you complain when he had to pause and catch his breath after some particularly bad pain in his leg. by the time you both arrived at your home, Viktor felt even more exhausted.

"i know it's late, but do you want to take a bath before going to bed?" your question lingers in the air for a few seconds before Viktor nods, and you begin setting up. you both know the warm water would only soothe his aching joints, and provide momentary relief from the pain he suffers from.

🥀

its not long before you and Viktor are curled against eachother in your large bathtub after washing off. he presses a gentle kiss to your shoulder as he absentmindedly washed your back, and you let out a relaxed sigh. you were both night-owls, but Viktor was much more accustomed to fighting off exhaustion.

you bite down on your bottom lip as more worries begin to seep into your mind. you feel almost selfish for missing him when he works so hard, and yet you want nothing more than to take all of his stress away. Viktor is quick to notice as you slip deeper in thought, between your tense muscles and quickened breathing, he can read you like a book.

"what are you thinking about, darling?"

another weary sigh escapes you.

"its just... you've been so stressed lately, i just wish i could alleviate some of the burdens you carry.. i know what you do is important, but i still wish i could be around you more often and help you.. y'know?" you let out another sigh. "i just.. miss you sometimes. and i worry. you know i worry.." Viktor chuckles at your words before turning you around to face him, the warm water around you both sloshing gently against the edge of the bath.

"you do more than enough already. believe me, everything i do, i do for you. for us. i love you," he murmurs, and presses a kiss to your forehead, "and nothing will change that. i can't guarantee that i'll always be around... but i will try to stop staying in the lab so late." Viktor's lips crinkle into a soft smile, and you can't help but kiss him in response.

Viktor always feels as though he's floating when you kiss. your soft lips against his, the contrast of his nimble, calloused hands against your smooth skin, your scent, your taste, it was all gloriously intoxicating. you hum against his lips before slowly pulling away, lashes fluttering against his cheek from your proximity.

Viktor leans in to whisper in your ear, his lips just ghosting your temple.

"i think it's high time we went to bed, dear. the waters getting cold, and i wouldn't want my beautiful darling to be exhausted tomorrow, hm?" you sigh at his flattery, yet agree regardless. as Viktor leans against the tub to stand up, you suddenly remember something and grab his hand to get his attention.

"hm?"

"by the way, about what you said earlier.... i love you more."

"that is not possible, my dearest."

GRRR SO HAPPY THIS IS DONE LMAO- sorry i havent been super active ive been on a huge DC kick (specifically the batfam/dick grayson) and suffering from writers block BUT HERE I AM AGAIN!!!!!!!!! ANYWAYS HOPE U ENJOYEDDDD PLS FEEL FREE TO SEND IN REQUESTS (esp dc... HEHE)

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kokiyoh · 5 days

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What if Jayce walked in the lab after Viktor accidentally killed Sky…?

#fanart #procreate #arcane #art #league of legends #jayce talis #viktor arcane #sky arcane #the angst is real #i love angst #kokiyoh art #in my mind it was better but I don’t know how to draw feet qwq #jayvik

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vicciouxs · 3 months

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DORIAN VASILE answering to @thebramblewood vampire calling 🦇

Mr. Vasile is undoubtedly the classic vampire stereotype, born as such, without having been transformed, so the purest blood runs in his veins. Many will think that he spends his eternity filled with luxuries, but the reality is that he lives removed from most of society, even his peers, and only goes out when his hunger is stronger than his resistance. He lives retired in a small house that anyone could mistake for a ruin, devoured by vegetation and covered with creaking wood. However, his exile, strange as it may seem, is voluntary. Before the tragedy he used to be an acclaimed figure among vampire society, he had large networks of contacts since his knowledge is immense, Dorian took advantage of his eternity to hone his skills in any field. But his big mistake was love. He fell in love with a human, a human who was scared of his true form and ran away without knowing that he would be caught by Dorian's enemies, jealous of his knowledge. At that moment Dorian lost his great and only love and, although he has more than enough power to regenerate himself, he keeps the scar on his face as a memory of that moment.

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krittec · 2 months

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imagine if in season 3, Five tried to rewind to find out who killed Luther or try to save him but as his rewinds aren’t well practised so he can’t go too far, he rewinds to Sloane walking in as he’s stood near his brothers body, so his family thinks that he killed Luther.

#considering he threatened viktor that he’d do it if necessary #and diego knows he killed the entire board of directors #its not impossible theyd jump to conclusions #klaus would defend him though we all know that #this has been in my drafts since s3 #i was gonna write it then publish this and add a link but never did #but i still think the idea is prime angst #the umbrella academy #tua #umbrella academy #five hargreeves #aidan gallagher #sloane hargreeves #luther hargreeves #the sparrow academy #sparrow academy

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3nigm4art · 6 months

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Please don’t go

I love you so

#jayvik #jayce talis #jayce #jayce x viktor #jayce arcane #viktor #viktor arcane #arcane #angst #art #fan art #digital art #artists on tumblr

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ficfanatictrf · 2 years

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The Night Stand (Part 9)

Summary: With the two finally able to relax, a few misconceptions are finally addressed.

Word Count : 3k

Edited and Proofread by nobody A/N : Because everyone literally was so kind and wondering and just filled me with such soft kindness, I kinda ended up being able to write this fairly quickly because I just got excited about writing a super sappy Viktor. I hope you like it.

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Guiding you by the arm, Viktor was careful to go at a speed that was comfortable for you. With the few days in bed after pregnancy complications, it wasn’t hard to see that you would be tired from everything your body was struggling through.

At times, he ended up needing to convince you to sit, under the little white lie that his own leg was acting up. If there was one thing he knew about you, it was that if he asked if you needed to rest - you would push on without a care to your own health. However, if he framed it like you would be helping him by taking a break? You would be ready to stop at a moment's notice.

As soon as you made your way through the apartment door, you found it completely different than the last time you had been there. Granted, that was months ago now, and the situation wasn’t that good as you were being kicked out.

However, you were sure that there had not been all of the items that you were now seeing.

Covering nearly every inch of the space were books and toys and half finished inventions. Just from eyeing a couple of the books, they were all parenting books, pregnancy health books, recipe books for babies and even a few baby books that you had never seen before and were in a language you had seen Viktor doodle in a little.

Then there were the toys, every single one of them either looking like he had hand made them or they were from his own childhood. And as you slowly walked through the room, looking at the inventions that were incomplete, it wasn’t hard to tell that they were little things to make a single parent’s life easier.

He had been using every waking second it seemed to learn as much as he could. Glancing over at him, you saw that he had rushed off to the kitchen to get you a glass of water - already remembering the countless times he had pushed you to up your intake of water after the news of your pregnancy was out.

It was clear just how happy and excited he was about this child.

A deep pang of sadness hit as you looked around the room.

You hadn’t done this much work…

It made you feel so inadequate. For you, everything had felt like too much, you had hardly been able to think about the next couple of days into the future, much less months. Yet, it was clear that Viktor had thought so far ahead as to have items for when the child was born, when the child was playing, learning.

And as much as you wanted to enjoy the fact that Viktor was being kind to you, as he ushered you to sit down while placing the glass of water in your hand - for the baby.

Of course.

This was all for the baby.

But, your child deserved a father that loved it. You just wanted your child to be happy, to be loved. Two parents were better than one, especially two parents that adored their child. It just meant that the hopes she had of a wedding, of falling in love, of a marriage she had dreamed of…that would all need to be buried and forgotten.

Sitting on the couch, you watched as he raced around the room to try and clean it up. All the while, you couldn’t help but remember how he had kicked you out that morning. He might have been affectionate recently, but that still didn’t change the fact that when you weren’t pregnant he wasn’t interested.

There was a shift in your stomach, a low thump of pain, a pain you knew all too well. With a soft smile, you knew exactly what it was.

“Viktor, come here”

Not needing to be asked twice, the man dropped what he was doing - literally dropping the books in his hands to rush to your side.

Gently coaxing him to sit down, you took his hands into your own before placing them on top of your stomach.

At first, confusion was written on his face as well as a little bit of worry.

That was till you saw the shock and then utter joy as he felt the little thing kick. All previous worry washed away as you saw the look you wished that you yourself could give to him.

You were still in love with him, that much was easy to know…so to see him this happy? Seeing him light up brighter than he ever had before, you supposed this could be enough.

---- ---- ---- ----

From then on, you remained at Viktor’s home. Things could not be described as anything other than perfect - well, besides the ever present nagging in the back of your mind with him being so in love with this child. Would he push you out?

It made the most sense, with him knowing everything about the conditions the child had - the diet that he started to prepare for you helping a great deal with some of the symptoms. As well as all the knowledge he had memorized on childcare and pregnancy. There were so many times he would gently remind me of the foods you ‘weren’t allowed to eat’ or the fact that you were picking something up that was outside of the allowable weight limit.

And as much as you tried to take it with a smile, to tell yourself to just enjoy the soft kisses and affectionate nicknames. You were starting to feel like you were going crazy with worry.

When he kissed you, it was only your cheek, forehead, hands or stomach. Or like how he started to refer to you more often as the mother of his child, the tone clear that he meant it with affection, but still referred to the child.

Having already felt like you were doing poorly as an inventor before leaving, now feeling like you couldn’t even do motherhood right - you just weren’t sure what you were meant to do.

---- ---- ---- ----

Viktor felt like he was living on cloud nine. He had the woman of his dreams living with him, he woke up everyday to her sleeping beside him - sometimes finding himself entranced by just how beautiful she was in the morning light.

He had made it his mission to give her everything she could want. He would prove that he was a worthy husband, to prove that he would make a good partner for the raising of this child. Before, he made mistake after mistake when it came to how to handle things - but this time he was going to pamper her and shower her with as much help and affection as he could.

Waking up once more to find her warmth enveloping him, the man found it easier to slip free - but only because he was only leaving so that he could make her breakfast. Referencing the multiple pregnancy books and recipe books he had a go-to list of recipes for every meal on what she should be eating, he made sure that she would be getting all the nutrients that she would need.

If there was something he was clearly trash at, it was art- yet, he still tried his best to make the plate always look like the picture. He swore he spent nearly half the time trying to plate it as opposed to cooking it. It always just looked like he threw it together.

Returning to your side, he wasn’t surprised to see you blinking awake as he came in, it was just how the two of you had begun to function together.

“Goodmorning, did you sleep alright?”

It was so cute to watch as you sat up, emotionlessly nodding as he knew you were still not fully awake. You never were for at least the first thirty minutes of the day.

Completely on autopilot, you took the plate from him, slowly munching the food that was presented to you. He had learned that if he gave you a lot of the things you didn’t like early in the day, you would just eat it - leaving lunch and dinner to be times that you got to enjoy foods that you liked more.

Finishing his own rather quickly, he laid back down with his head on your lap and hand on your belly.

Gods, he hoped you would pick him when he asked. That you would accept when he proposed, whenever he got up the nerve. He knew that you had gone through a lot and were still likely going through a lot when it came to how the pregnancy made you feel, so he was giving you all the space in the world. However, that didn’t mean that he didn’t look forward to the idea that someday he could take you on dates.

The idea of the two of you going out on a little boat for the day, just to talk and read. Or to go to your favorite museum, asking you to describe the art exhibits that he knew nothing about or the history pieces about Piltover just to hear you light up about the different events in the past.

“My miracle baby” He whispered, pressing a soft kiss to your stomach.

This truly was a miracle baby. It was to bring together everything he had ever wanted and hoped for, thinking that it was all impossible. He was about to have a child with the one he was in love with? A child he had assumed growing up he would never be able to have because nobody would want him, no woman would ever choose him. And even if he ever did find someone who did, what if he wasn’t able to impregnate her? With all of the health issues he had grown up with, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to think that he was…infertile.

Then after he reacted so horribly to everything, thinking he ruined absolutely everything with the love of his life? This child came into the picture to give him a second chance at winning her heart. He just needed to prove that he was a good option, that her choosing to stay with him would be in her best interest.

He had always needed to do that, to prove that he had something the other could use.

A frown slowly bloomed, his own nervousness starting to grow as he looked at where he assumed the child was.

Hopefully this child would love him. He had never experienced much of the way of familial love. That unconditional love and care, the love you have in a family. Where he wouldn’t have to earn someone’s affection, wouldn’t feel the need to bend over backwards for someone to choose him.

“Viktor….can I…um- can we talk, finally?”

Snapping him out of his own thoughts, the man was quick to sit up to give you his full attention. Hands reaching out to remove your now empty plate and set it aside for you.

“Of course. What would you like to start with?”

Silence stretched out between the two of you for a long while, like you were scared of how he would react to the question in the front of your mind.

And like he had been trying to do for the past couple days, he decided to go first to ease some of your anxiety.

“How about I start? Hmm?” After receiving a soft nod, a nervous chuckle was released before he started from where he knew he needed some clarification at.

“When you said the other night about how you had wanted to sleep with me, that you had gotten intoxicated with the intention of trying to sleep with me. Does that mean….do you have feelings, affectionate feelings, for me?”

He felt childish as he did it, but he found himself panicking - his eyes squeezing shut as he waited for you to deny his hope. However, as he waited for you to speak, he had not expected to suddenly find his senses completely overtaken with you.

With his cheeks cradled in your hands, the touch soft and gently, to your lips on his that were soft and - damn it - so sweet. He didn’t even care that you hadn’t really answered the question as he instantly allowed himself to be used however you wished.

“Yes”

The answer came, breathless and soft, the perfect kiss being ended by the simplest and most beautiful answer to his ears.

“Y-yes? You…you care for me?”

He watched a smile grow on your own cheeks, giggles bubbling up from within.

“Yes. I care for you. Viktor, I have been in love with you since the day you held me when I cried in your arms at that gala”

Time seemed to stand still, his mind racing to calculate just how much time that had been ago as well as the very fact that it was the same event that had started his attraction to you.

“...t-that…that is the same for me…”

As you both stared at each other, it seemed that the two of you slowly started to see the events from the other perspective.

With Viktor’s knowledge of you, it made sense how you had wanted to give him space - seeing as you had always been able to read him so well. Putting him on the spot never worked, so you always would allow him to go at his pace. Which is why he had assumed you hadn’t cared.

And then you, finally aware of Viktor’s past, his desire to give a child the best option as well as his incorrect thinking that you were so far out of his league. It made sense why he had always kept you at arm's length. Like he was trying to keep a distance between you too so that he wouldn’t ‘fall for someone he couldn’t have’.

“....if I wasn’t pregnant….would you still love me?”

It was the only question you still needed answered, the one that you were scared to death of him breaking your heart over.

Yet, instead of shock or anger - you only saw a sad understanding as he moved closer, taking your hands into his own.

“My dear, I loved you before we ever spent a night together. Yes, I would still love you. I may have never pursued you, may have never allowed myself to admit it. But it would have been true, I would have loved you regardless.”

Kissing the tears that were soon dotting your cheeks, you soon found yourself clinging to him.

“W-why do you keep thinking you are less than me…Viktor, you are far better than anything I could ever be. A better parent, a better inventor, a better cook…you know so much more about pregnancy and you aren’t even pregnant!”

To say he was confused would have been an understatement, the man having thought what he was doing was to be expected. Wasn’t that his job as a potential husband? To provide and protect? Wasn’t this expected from someone who ‘provided’?

“..I was…I simply was trying to prove that I could be an adequate father. Is it too much? Am I not doing something I am supposed to be doing?”

Still in tears, you couldn’t help but laugh, moving even closer. With your hands cradling his face, with all the care in the world, you couldn’t help but laugh at his assumption.

“Viktor. To me you are perfect, beyond perfect. Even with how much of a work-a-holic you are, how rude you can be at times, how single minded you can be on some topics..”

You could see the hint of an amused sort of glare, the same he would always direct at Jayce when they were teasing each other.

“Even at your worst, you are still the best I’ve ever encountered. Viktor, for me it has always been you. I don’t care where you are from, I don’t care about the fact you don’t have a name. None of those things matter to me.”

It was his turn to cry, only a handful slipping free before he was looking away to try and calm his heart.

“Y-you are only saying that because…because of the baby..” He whispered, though you could see from the growing blush on his face that he didn’t even believe that himself.

“Yeah, sure, the baby can somehow send signals to my brain telling me that I must love you.”

As his face only steadily grew darker, you knew that despite his words - what you said was heard and understood.

With the two of you sitting in silence, it was only broken by the kicking once more - the two of you whispering soft words of love and adoration to the child inside.

“Do you think it will be a boy or a girl?” You found yourself asking, Viktor taking the question far too seriously as he sat up to contemplate the answer. After a few minutes you couldn’t help but groan and push him, trying to break him out of his train of thought.

“I was just thinking about names for the baby. I wasn’t really asking which you wanted. Goodness. Single minded for sure”

“Rio”

Blinking, you stopped your half hearted pushing to take in what he said. The name would work for both a boy or a girl, allowing it to be a perfect name for whatever they were to have. And from the very few conversations about his past - you knew a little about how important the name was to him.

“Alright, Rio. Our little baby Rio”

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Taglist : @cheeriecherrymain@fairy-writes@thehistoriangirl@aikoiya@piperdoodles@alternate-simp@luixiv@linky-dinks@bruh-anator3000@somethingthatsaysbubbles@graveyard0ghoul@vigilentballofpassion@nunyabeeswaxsblog

#viktor arcane #viktor x you #viktor x reader #viktor league of legends #viktor arcane x you #viktor angst #viktor arcane x y/n #arcane viktor x you #arcane viktor x reader #arcane viktor #viktor arcane fanfic #viktor arcane x reader #viktor #viktor x fem!reader #arcane viktor x fem!reader #viktor x reader arcane #viktor x y/n

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