Welcome to my writing blog! This is where I post my fanfiction. I will also reblog posts on the topic of writing as well as fan projects I participate in.
Main blog: @dazed-and-distracted-girl
My AO3: fallenawake22119
Fandoms I have written for so far: Arcane
Fandoms I currently have wips for: To Be Hero X, Resident Evil, Arcane
Check out my masterlist!
(Writing is a hobby for me that I can do in my (brief) spare time, so my schedule is unfortunately very much all over the place. For this reason, if you would like to, you can ask to be added to a taglist to any particular fandom, ship or multichapter story of your choice, so you won't miss the next upload! :))
I will never use genAI in the production of any of my stories and I do not approve of my writing being used for the training of genAI!
5 times Skyvik succeeded as plant parents + 1 time they didn't - chapter 3
1k | fluff | tw: mentions of chronic illness/disability
The change in the weather that Sky so desired arrived sooner than she expected. Luckily, because Viktor was getting fed up with the damp, chilly weather too. It did horribly for his joints. After spending days sheltering at home or at the Academy, the two of them were now glad to soak up the sunlight. The early afternoon was that special time, when their small backyard was bathed in it for a few hours.
Sky stepped out onto the terrace holding a tray of refreshments. Her hair cascaded freely down past her shoulders and she switched out the lab coat and loafers for an old, green sundress and a pair of sandals.
To the right of her, about a foot above her head, the window of the laboratory was wide open. This time very much on purpose! She could see one long green leaf peeking out over the ledge. The lily survived the incident with the rainstorm (although it did give her a couple of sleepless nights) and the bulb itself started to reveal hints of a fiery red colour. It was very close to blooming.
She shimmied her way across between two lounge chairs and placed the tray on the small table that stood in the middle. Then, arranging the folds of her skirt, she settled down comfortably.
The other seat was occupied by Viktor, who looked up from his reading with a small smile and a nod to acknowledge her. Although he was holding a large hardcover tome, when he shifted around a little to roll his shoulders, Sky could see that he was actually studying a small pamphlet, hidden by the open pages.
"What are you reading Vik?" she asked him. "Don't tell me you brought your work out here with youâŚ"
"Heh? Oh no, this is for a⌠personal project," he replied hesitantly.
She leaned forward a little to take a glimpse. The way he held his arms out so unnaturally, she could have thought he was trying to hide it from her.
"I didn't know you were interested in the history of the Academy's botanical garden!" she said excitedly when she read the title.
Viktor put the book down, closing it on his fingers to mark the page he left it at. As if having the botanical garden's papers out of sight would have made her discovery of them null and void.
"Why? A man can't be interested in his girlfriend's field of work? I thought that was a sign of a healthy relationship!"
Sky laid back in her chair giggling. She couldn't argue with that!
"Did you know that's where they will hold the exhibition?" she asked him.
"Oh, really?" Viktor said while he thumbed the embossed letters on the front cover of his book. "Well, you must tell me all about it once you get home."
They left it at that: Viktor returned to reading and Sky to sunbathing.
Sky usually loved to spend time with him this way, each of them enveloped in their own little world. Sometimes they could sit like that for hours hand in hand and without a word. They have long since stopped being scared of silence in each other's company. And yet she couldn't quite shake the notion that something was missing.
She picked up one of the glasses of juice and swirled the pieces of fruit around in it with her drinking straw.
She started thinking about the tests she still needed to correct for a biochemistry class she taught. Maybe she should bring them out here? But didn't she just accuse Viktor of continuing his work at a time of leisure? Either way, her hands just felt restless. She didn't want to tell him, not yet, but she started to feel like she overextended herself by accepting that jury position. Just how do people like the Piltovan elite with their seemingly never ending series of social functions deal with meeting so many new people all the time? Did the tension that was winding up inside her as the date approached made it impossible for her now to sit still?
She took a sip of the cold, deliciously tart drink, then placed the glass back on the table and allowed herself to close her eyes for a tryâŚ
It was just then that Viktor put down his book as if by instinct, grabbed his cane and as fast as he could stumbled from the lounge chair towards the open window. Sky followed him quickly, just in time to catch him and the flowerpot he was now grabbing with trembling hands, before they could both fall to the ground.
"Are you alright?" she asked him, gasping from the shock. "What just happened?"
Viktor's eyes, as wide as dinner plates, slowly scaled the wall up to the window.
"I heard the pot rattlingâŚ" he said in a hoarse voice. "Then when I looked up it was already on its side, rollingâŚ"
Sky took the pot from his arms and helped him sit back down.
"Don't pull anything like this again, you heard it?" she kissed his forehead while rubbing his arm. "I would rather have this pot shatter into a billion pieces than you risking hurting yourself."
Viktor nodded, kneading the muscles of his right thigh with both hands now. The sudden movement was evidently more painful than he was letting it show.
"Just⌠put that plant elsewhere! PleaseâŚ" he pleaded with her. "I'm fine! Truly!", he added when he saw she still wouldn't leave.
The door to the lab was closed and the lab itself was empty - just the way they left it.
A stack of books and file holders were turned over by the windowsill from where the pot almost fell down. A simple chain reaction, objects falling over like dominoesâŚ
StillâŚ
Sky carefully slipped out of her sandals before entering and locked the door behind herself. After placing the pot on a shelf filled with other plant specimen, she walked a circle around the room, optimizing each step, careful not to make a sound that could spook the potential intruder. She crouched down by the desks, opened the cabinets, looked behind every piece of movable furnitureâŚ
"Rio?" she called out softly. "Rio II?"
Would saying "pspspsps" work with giant amphibians as well or is that just a cat thing? By the time Rio II is out of remission, they could probably publish a paper on the behavioral science of the pixiemander, she thought.
On the way out of the lab she took a mental note to find some kind of covering for the plant. It wouldn't have been the first time one of her specimen benefited from being placed under a cloche. She probably had a spare one of those glass domes that had built in moisture and temperature control at the Academy lab anyway.
Back in the garden she found her lounge chair already occupied. Apparently while she was searching for her upstairs, Rio II had curled up comfortably in her place.
"Excuse me!" Sky laughed and lifted her gently down to the ground.
With the cumbersome way she tried to get back up into her lap, Sky couldn't help but chastise herself for even thinking that an injured little pixiemander like her would be able to scale the wall of the house up to the laboratory's window.
She closed her eyes again, allowing the rays of the sun to caress her face. The warmth of it has finally managed to lull her into a pleasant serenity when she felt Viktor's hand searching blindly at her side.
"Oh, would you like a glass of lemonade too?" she asked him sleepily.
From the corner of her eyes she saw that his gaze was once again buried in his book, but the hints of a smile flickered at his lips.
Instead of a reply, he clasped one of her hands gently in his own.
And with that the last tinge of her restlessness was gone. At least for the time being.
5 times Skyvik succeeded as plant parents + 1 time they didn't - chapter 2
Sky decides to grow a unique flower for an upcoming botanical expo. Now all she has to do is keep it safe and alive until the event. How difficult could that be, right?
This chapter features the in-universe game of Runeterra: tellstones
Here is a link to the wiki, if you wish to familiarise yourself with it before reading!
https://wiki.leagueoflegends.com/en-us/Tellstones:_King%27s_Gambit
These two are bona fide nerds, so of course they would love a good board game! <3
1k | fluff | (tw: mentions of chronic illness, mentions of classism)
The next week brought rainy days and strong winds. Emberflit Alley was situated at a lower level of Zaun, which meant that even with the pipes and sewers the Council had installed to solve the issue of flooding, the downpour was still hitting heavier than on the surface, transforming many of the streets into a web of tiny rivers and waterfalls. The only one visibly enjoying the weather was Rio II, who, after being temporarily exiled from the lab, now entertained herself with a mud bath in the small garden.
Sitting by the window, Sky observed as her bright pink form disappeared and then reappeared in the puddles.
She remembered as if it was only yesterday when Viktor received a message from the Academy's biology faculty. A group of students were working at the riverside, investigating the damage caused by past chemical spills, when they came across an injured pixiemander. The animal was still a juvenile and they also noted that she was missing most of her tail and parts of her hind limbs. This species had extraordinary regenerative abilities, but in her case it appeared the missing body parts may have never grown. The students took her back to the Academy for veterinary care and it was there where she was recommended as a test subject for Viktor's miracle augments.
Before that Viktor was always hesitant about the topic of pet ownership. His busy schedule, absentmindedness and regular health scares made him doubt that he would be able to give them the care and attention they deserved. For Janna's sake, he could barely keep Sky's plants alive when she was out of the city! But for some reason he still jumped at the opportunity to treat the pixiemander and thus she became one of the first four legged recipients of his special prosthetics.
And against all worries, she has brought so much joy into their lives since thenâŚ
"A silver cog for your thoughts, Miss Young? Or perhaps a golden hex?"
Viktor's voice pulled her back to the living room.
"Huh, sorry! I was just zoning out," she said as she peeled her eyes away from the window.
"Remember: this game requires concentration," he was teasing her.
They were deep into a game of tellstones. She was leading already with one point and it was Viktor's turn to challenge her.
He studied her expression for a moment, then pointed at two of the face down tokens on the playing mat.
"Maybe I just don't need to concentrate as much as most," she giggled and swapped them out as he indicated.
She remembered the times Viktor tried to teach her the rules of the game when they were little kids, in exchange for Sky giving him swimming lessons. He played it often with his parents whenever he was bedridden.
Now it was Sky's turn to make Viktor flip one of the tokens. He did so with a resigned groan.
Of course she knew the game already back then: she tried it a few times with her older cousins or watched them gamble over it. But the version Viktor showed her had different rules. That was the way they played it in the region his family originated from. And he was so happy that he too could teach her something new! Sky thought he always had a knack for teaching.
Two more points and she wins this round⌠Sky took a risk and challenged him to name one of the face downs tokens.
"Shield," he answered her nonchalantly and leaned back in his chair with that hidden, self-assured smile that she loved so much.
When they were still little, Sky sat with him sometimes for hours at an end, getting better and better, trying to figure out the sure strategy. Until one time she recognized her greatest, undeniable advantageâŚ
She named another one of the stones in turn, taking back the lead. Just one more point and she winsâŚ
Viktor leaned above the playing mat, eyes narrowed. He realized that Sky had backed him into a corner.
Because no matter how good your memory was, if you weren't able to play your opponent against themselves just as well. And luckily for her, as she got to know Viktor more, she realized that he was a truly, truly terrible liar.
"What would your answer be if I said I can name them all?" he asked after much deliberation.
"What would YOUR answer be if I asked you to prove it?" Sky replied.
"That it would be just unfair," Viktor moped. Just the way he did back then when they played with tokens made of rusty bottle caps that they painted themselves.
That made her laugh. He didn't change at all! Or maybe he did change much and more and that's why after years of distance she felt closer to him than ever before. Even doting on Rio II healed something in him, Sky thought, whether Viktor directly admitted to it or not. She saw it in his eyes sometimes, like innocence returningâŚ
Her thoughts trailing off again, she looked out at the rain, but couldn't see her anymore. She must have slipped back into her pond, Sky thought. The storm meanwhile showed no sign of stopping still. Although in the safety of their living room the distant thunder and the faint smell of the rain was just a backdrop to their peaceful afternoonâŚ
Her contemplations came to a halt. The smell of rain?
"Do you feel a chill?" Viktor asked her as if reading her thoughts
"A window?" she whispered back and from Viktor's concerned expression she knew he too was thinking the same thing.
She jumped from the chair immediately and raced towards the lab. From the corridor she could already see that the door was slightly ajar and the cool air coming from the room confirmed her suspicion: one of the windows must have been opened by the wind. When she entered, the curtains were flapping wildly in the draught and the raindrops falling in had already soaked a couple of notebooks left on the table below. First thing, she went to check if her lily was safe. The flowerpot was still on the desk where she had left it and the plant itself appeared untouched. Relieved, she quickly closed the windowpanes again. Outside the rain continued to patter loudly on the roofs. Yes, it must have been the wind!
By the time Viktor arrived after her, she had already started to mop up the puddle on the desk with a rag.
He stayed in the doorway, leaning on his cane and craned his neck to peek inside.
"Is it�"
He didn't dare finish the sentence.
"Thankfully not," she said. "Now we wait to see if the cold currents have any long lasting negative effects. I do hope I can soon give it some sunlight though."
Viktor walked to her side and produced a handkerchief from his vest pocket to help her dry up the table.
"You do know we have to start a new game now, don't you?" Sky told him when they were done.
"Are you accusing me of cheating, Miss Young?" he replied with playful indignation.
Sky tossed him the wet rag and he caught it with his free hand.
"You were left alone with those pieces for several minutes," she said as she headed out of the lab.
"I thought you said you trusted me," Viktor called after her.
She turned back from the doorway to blow him a kiss.
5 times Skyvik succeeded as plant parents + 1 time they didn't - chapter 1
Sky decides to grow a unique flower for an upcoming botanical expo. Now all she has to do is keep it safe and alive until the event. How difficult could that be, right?
This first chapter was originally written for @c0rrupted-mov for the 2026 Skyvik Spring Art Trade đ
1k | fluff | (tw: mentions of chronic illness, mentions of classism)
Sharing a home lab with your spouse comes with its own unique set of unwritten rules. Viktor and Sky agreed on this when they decided to move in together. Some rules were rather standard, like keeping safety equipment in its designated place or disposing of any waste properly⌠Some were the result of negotiations: no staying in the lab after dinner unless it's an emergency (if this rule gets broken, the guilty party owes the other a date night). Some of them came about based on experience. For example how Sky must always announce ahead of time if she intended to turn on her newly made soil sampling machine.
The contraption that was developed with the help of Sky's own interns reminded Viktor of a coffee machine, built by someone who had only second-hand information of what coffee even was. It gave off such an ear piercing noise and rattled the table so forcefully, that whenever Sky gave it a new batch of samples to analyse, he would politely excuse himself and leave to breath some fresh air and stretch out his back in the furthest away corner of the house.
Still, when Sky told him that this time she was working on a very special project, he opted to stay.
Sitting on his stool with his hand resting on Rio II's smooth pink head, he watched as Sky filled a small compartment of the appliance with plant soil.
The right chemical properties contribute to the flower developing the perfect desired coloration, Sky explained and Viktor listened to her with an attentive smile. It wasn't the first time he heard this of course. But that didn't mean he enjoyed hearing it any less. He even leaned forward a little, careful not to drop the juvenile pixiemander from his lap, to get a better angle of the working machine - and of her excited face.
"Done!" Sky announced after the machine fell silent. Checking the dials and little lights on the appliance, she was content to see the ideal results.
"And this flower is particularly special because�" Viktor asked, raising an eyebrow.
In absence of the noise Rio II gave a little croak, announcing that she was finally comfortable enough to roam around again on her own. So Viktor put her down on the floor, picked up his cane and followed Sky to another desk where the "particularly special" flower - a rare kind of lily that was yet to bloom - sat in a large clay pot. Rio II followed them too, as fast as her newly augmented legs allowed her.
"Oh, this is just a vanity project reallyâŚ" she said with a shy giggle. "You know of the annual exhibition of the Piltover-Zaun Hobbyist Horticultural Society, don't you?"
"I happen to know about it, yes,â Viktor said, as he embraced her from behind with one arm. âAnd I also heard you won some prize last time you attended."
It used to be just the Piltover Hobbyist Horticultural Society, but that was before the organization opened up to accept Zaunites as well at their events, following the declaration of Zaun's independence a couple of years ago in the wake of the successful bridge protests. Nobody could say it was a smooth transition, but by now it was the work of a Zaunite, one Miss Sky Young, that dominated their competitions and discourse.
"The rumours are true," she winked at him as she adjusted the pot, turning it towards the sunlight. Then she sighed. âI hope this year will be even better.â
Viktor shrugged a shoulder with a painful expression. She must have felt him tensing up behind her, because before an apology could leave his lips she turned around, grabbed his free hand and squeezed it.
"Donât worry, Bug! I know you might not make it," she gave him a peck on the lips to shush him.
It was true: with Zaun newly independent, work at the Academy was more frantic than ever before. Numerous inventors raced to profit from the need for rebuilding and innovation. His colleague and best friend, Jayce, worked on devices that would make factory work not just more productive, but safe as well, while Viktor threw himself into the domain of robotics. His relationship with Sky may have helped him balance his work life and everything else more, but the missed birthdays and anniversaries, the overnight shifts and weekend emergencies remained a regular feature of his schedule. So by now he preferred not to promise anyone anything ahead of time.
âI will tell you all about it afterwards,â Sky continued. "And besides, this year I'm not competing."
"Trying to give a chance to others as well, eh?" Viktor chuckled. He let go of her hand to pull her closer by the waist and Sky put her arms around his shoulder in turn.
"Actually, this time I'm on the jury," she said, her face flushing with pride.
A first for a Zaunite, Viktor realized immediately. What an honour this must be, he thought. And the guilt gnawed at him all the more for not being able to just accept the invitation.
He stepped back a little.
"Thatâs⌠incredible,â he said. âYou should celebrate it then all the more!"
"That's what the flower is for," she glanced behind towards the desk. "After working on so many useful plants, it's nice to finally have one that just delights you as you watch it thrive."
As you watch it thrive⌠Just as you keep thriving, Miss Young, Viktor wanted to tell her. To make sure she knows how proud he was of her even in times he couldn't be there to see it with his own eyes.
But instead he pushed her away with a panicked shout.
"Behind you!"
Sky spun around just in time to see Rio II's head pop up next to the pot with her slimy purple tongue already lashing out towards the leaves.
Grabbing her before it was too late, she peeled the pixiemander off the table and squeezed her tight against her chest.
"Looks like her free roaming days are over for a while," Viktor said. He tousled his hair with one hand, face suddenly white as chalk. "And I think I need to sit back downâŚ"
"Good idea!" replied Sky, still holding onto Rio II with an iron grip. The animal squirmed around between her arms, digging her metallic hind limbs into Sky's abdomen in the process. Her large shiny eyes glistened with an indignant curiosity.
Sky sighed as she carried her out of the lab room.
They will just keep Rio II out of there and the lily should be safe. She has cultivated countless specimens over the years after all! How difficult could this one be?
[A belated fluffy Skyvik Christmas fic I originally wrote for a gift exchange this holiday season, now edited for the public! :) Written as a gift for and based on the prompts of @hexedevolution <3]
Sky and Viktor prepare for their first Christmas together as a family with their baby son. When a fall leaves Sky bedridden for a short time, she wonders if they would be able to have the planned celebrations at all?
tw: mentions of past pregnancy, minor injury, mentions of chronic illness
(I named the Skyvik baby Naph as a little nod to Viktor's short story. :) Also Christmas just exists in Runeterra for this AU, I guess. đ )
Word count: 3,9K
Buy ingredients for gingerbread frosting. Check!
Pick up gift for Viktor from Benzo's. Check!
Reorganize data for the "golem" project. Done!
Take Christmas cards to the post officeâŚ
Sky scanned the items on her to-do list with satisfied nods: the preparations were all going as intended.
Usually her and Viktor didn't make that big of a deal about the Christmas celebrations. He never possessed much of the so-called "holiday spirit" and held a profound dislike for the cold weather of the season. She didn't care for the commercialization of it all, nor for the big parties, so she didn't mind scaling back the festivities either. The excitement and novelty and grand romantic gestures of their first few Christmases together gradually gave way to a quieter, more intimate kind of holiday that usually consisted of handmade presents and lots of cuddles in front of the fireplace with a warm mug of sweet milk.
This year was going to be different though, as this was to be their first Christmas together as a family since the birth of their baby boy, Naph. At the age of almost exactly ten months, he was probably too young to remember anything of this Christmas Eve, but he was definitely old enough to enjoy an evening filled with sweets and toys and holiday cheer. So Viktor and Sky decided to make this time extra special for him. As it often happened though, they managed to leave a good chunk of the preparations for the last minute.
Sky gathered up the aforementioned research files she intended to take home and stacked a big box filled with wrapping paper on top of them. Then she grabbed her bag and headed out of her office.
The buildings of the Academy were unusually silent. With Christmas being only a couple of days away, the institution has already closed down for the winter break. That's why she was particularly surprised when she heard a very distinct cough coming from the direction of the floor. She looked out from behind her heap of papers to find Professor Heimerdinger blocking her way with his beloved pet poro at his heel.
"Oh, good day Professor! I didn't notice you at firstâŚ" Sky gestured with her chin towards the bundle she carried.
Heimerdinger tapped his foot disapprovingly.
"Miss Young, what are you doing at the laboratory at this time?" he asked in a snappy tone.
Sky shrugged her shoulders
"Well I was grocery shopping for Christmas and I happened to pass by. Then I remembered that Viktor left these documents here, so I quickly catalogued them and now I'm bringing them home."
"That I see!" he said. "But I distinctly remember Viktor asking the rest of your team not to let you work during your well deserved holiday leave," his fluffy ears swayed from left to right as he shook his head emphasizing each word. His expression then turned into one of concern. "He fears you might overexert yourself, Miss Young."
Sky continued towards the atrium where the elevator was located.
"Well I suspect "Mr. Young" would be the most disappointed if he found that he left the latest results of his research at the lab, should he wish to work during his well deserved leave."
As she walked she had to wiggle her feet to shoo away the overly excited poro, who set his eyes on some of the shiny ribbons dangling from the box Sky was carrying.
Heimerdinger followed her towards the atrium.
"Tell him then, that I said he should live by his words and rest as well⌠Come back here at once! No, not you Miss Young! But this little rascal right here!" he chuckled, attempting to discipline his pet, who meanwhile was too preoccupied with the colorful strands of paper to pay him any attention. "What I mean is, these are very special times for your family. How old is little Naph?"
"He will be one year old in February," Sky said with pride. She turned her head so the professor wouldn't see her getting misty eyed at just the thought of it.
"Already one year old?" he exclaimed. "Soon he will be sitting here in the auditorium listening to my lectures."
Sky chuckled a little.
"Is that "soon" in yordle years?"
"Ah, you are laughing now, but I assure you, Miss Young, when it happens, you will say it was less than the blink of an eye," he smiled up at her from behind his mustache. "So the both of you should cherish these moments."
"I promise we do," Sky smiled back at him. They stopped when they reached the atrium. "Merry Christmas Professor!"
"Merry Christmas to you too!" he did a little bow and went on his way.
Cherishing the time is exactly what Sky intended to do. She couldn't wait to see Naph's face when they opened his first Christmas presents. The three of them building a gingerbread house together, decorating the Christmas tree, Viktor giving her a kiss under the mistletoeâŚ
She daydreamed of how wondrous the upcoming days would be as she hurried her steps again. In fact she was so caught up in those daydreams, that she ignored that the poro didn't end up following his ownerâŚ
By the time she noticed the white fur ball attempting another sneak attack on the wrapping papers, it was too late. The poro jumped at her, the box went flying from her hand, the research papers followed and Sky herself was sent tumbling after them onto the floor.
As she lay on her back on the hard marble, trying to push away the little animal that was now licking at her face, her first thought was that hopefully it didn't tear up all the wrapping paper. The second, that all those files will need to be reorganized again. The third⌠that if the pain throbbing in her left ankle was any indication, her plans for the perfect family Christmas won't exactly go as originally plannedâŚ
It was the day of Christmas Eve and the twin cities were buzzing with the holiday fever. Homes were being decorated, traditional family meals were being cooked, last minute shopping trips were being executed in secret. Some quietly braced themselves for the upcoming visits from family and friends. Others engaged in heated debates about whether the region could see snow that year. And Sky Young was left out of it all, as she stared at the ceiling in the downstairs bedroom.
When she had her great fall two days ago, she immediately knew she couldn't just "walk it off". Heimerdinger heard the commotion and ran immediately back to the atrium. He was the one who called the guards who then carried Sky down to the street and drove her in a carriage to the nearest doctor's office.Â
Viktor, who received a message of her accident, arrived soon enough to be by her side when the doctor diagnosed her with a sprained ankle and sentenced her to at least a week of bed rest. He had left Naph with Jayce and Mel for babysitting and rushed to be with her as fast as he could, his face so heavy with concern as he clutched her hand that Sky couldn't help but feel a tinge of guilt for scaring him so.
Viktor has been nothing but helpful since then. He brought her a handful of his spare canes and crutches to choose from and even practiced with her how to move around the house safely. Preparing her breakfast, putting a compress on her foot at the doctor's advice⌠It all reminded her of how they used to be during the last few months of her pregnancy. Though back then Viktor didn't have to deal with a fussy baby, in addition to her health issues and his own. Sky wouldn't have blamed him if the Christmas preparations got quietly shelved this year in the endâŚ
She sighed.
There was a knock on the bedroom door.
"I'm not sleeping! You can come in!" she shouted.
Viktor nudged the door open with one hand while balancing a tray in the other.
"Thought you might want to have an afternoon snack."
He walked to the bed and placed the tray on the bedside table. Sky turned her head to look at it: he brought her tea in her favorite flower shaped cup and some gingerbread cookies. So he was baking after all!
"How is your ankle, dear?" Viktor asked after giving her a kiss on the forehead.
Sky tried to move her foot a little. The sharp pain she felt when putting her weight on it has dulled to a burning, throbbing discomfort when it was propped up.
"Could be worse⌠The pain is about six out of ten?"
"You said seven out of ten this morning. Excellent prognosis!" he said with mock seriousness as he helped her prop herself up with some pillows.
"By the end of the week, I will be running circles around the block," she retorted.
Then she fixed her bun and took the tray from the bedside table. She picked up the cup first, relishing in its warmth and the calming floral aroma of the hot drink. Jasmine tea⌠She took one sip and found it perfectly prepared and sweetened exactly to her liking. How he came to remember these little things, she mused with a small smile. Then she winced: the shifting around made the pain in her ankle flare up again.
"It was just three steps!" she groaned with a defeated expression. "And entirely decorative too!"
"I know," Viktor replied. "Mind if I open the window for a minute?"
Sky nodded, biting into a gingerbread Christmas tree. It was delicious!
"Who in their right mind would build decorative steps right in front of an elevator?" she continued.
Viktor spread the window panes open, letting in the cool, fresh air.Â
The sun was already low and the corner of the sky that was visible from the bed was glowing with deep colors of violet and marigold.
"I think we both know what the great Piltovan architects would choose between practicality or pomposity," he sat down on the side of the bed and caressed her thigh over the comforter.
"How is Naph?" Sky asked, munching on another piece of gingerbread.
"Eh⌠He is sleeping in his room. Finally!" his smile was exhausted and Sky noticed he didn't put down his cane when he sat down. A telltale sign of his stress, she knew.
She put her hand on his and lightly squeezed his fingers.
"I'm sorry for causing all this worry for you," she said. "You were right about me not working during the holiday break. If I hadn't gone to the lab, none of this would have happened."
He squeezed her hand back.
"Correlation does not equal causation, Miss Young!" he raised a finger. "You very well could have sprained your ankle on the icy road too. And don't forget, it was me who left the papers in the lab, so the apology is mine. But at least now you are required to rest."
He leaned towards her until their lips touched, moving gently together in a slow, lingering kiss.
Sky wrapped her hands around his shoulders, keeping him close even after they came up for air.
"It's funny how you of all people would call me out for overworking myself," she giggled while twirling the locks of hair at his nape.
He craned his neck to give her another kiss on her temple.
"Well, you know how the saying goes: there is a first time for everything," he whispered teasingly.
Sky slid the tray off her lap, careful not to spill its contents onto the bedsheets, allowing Viktor to hold her.
"We made that to-do list together, I was wrong to try to do everything on my own," she began as she caressed his back absentmindedly, feeling the straps and bolts of his back brace under her hovering fingertips. "I guess in a way I wished to feel in control⌠I just wanted everything to be perfect for us. Ever since Naph was born, I worry twice as much about both of you. "
Viktor lay his head on her chest, like he often did when they cuddled together, listening to her heartbeat.
"Then you know exactly how I feel," he said. He looked up at her with such gentleness in his eyes that Sky felt herself blush the same way she used to do in the very first months of their relationship.
The peace of the moment didn't last long though, as it was soon interrupted by the sound of a baby crying. Naph has woken up from his afternoon nap.
Viktor sat up with a small sigh and grabbed his cane.
"But don't worry too much. You see that I can manage everything," he reassured her.
He got up and closed the window. Sky could see that during the past few minutes it had slowly started to snow.
"Bring him here! I could watch him if you would like to," she called after him as he left the bedroom.
Viktor turned back from the corridor.
"I was just about to ask!"
Soon he returned with a still very sleepy Naph in hand. Viktor had dressed him for the occasion in a romper patterned with candy canes and mistletoe. The baby's drowsy eyes lit up for a second when he noticed his mother and he reached out towards her with one hand, gripping Viktor's shirt firmly with the other.
Every time she saw them side by side like this, Sky couldn't help but notice how much her husband and their son looked alike. He inherited his dark brown ringlets from her of course, but those large amber eyes, always so full of inquisitive wonder were unmistakable. Viktor always insisted that the resemblance couldn't be told at such an early age. Still he couldn't conceal the pride on his face whenever someone made this remark.
"What's the matter darling? You didn't sleep well?" Sky cooed as she took Naph from Viktor's arms.
Naph made a series of babbling noises as a response, then settled down comfortably in his mom's lap. He still wouldn't let go of Viktor's shirt though. Evidently he wanted the attention from both of them.
"Now stay here with Mama, please," Viktor peeled his little fingers off the fabric. "And don't tire her out too much! You managed to stay on the nice list all year, you can do an hour or two more, yes?" he gave a big kiss to Naph's chubby, freckle dusted hand which made him giggle loudly.
After Viktor left the two of them alone, Sky leaned back against the pillows with Naph resting on her chest.
"I wonder what your first Christmas ends up being like?" she asked Naph. "You are stuck with two absent-minded scientists for your parents. But we always manage to figure things out, don't we?"
She caressed his soft baby hair. Naph smiled at her, but he was still struggling to keep his eyes open.
"You would rather sleep some more instead of commenting?" Sky laughed. "That can be arranged."
She started to sing a lullaby as she cradled him, a song she and Viktor would often hear when they too were little.
And while she sang to her baby about flowers growing and the clean spring breeze that would chase away the gloom, she tried to ignore the whirring and clanking sounds from the direction of the living room where Viktor was evidently preparing something.
Viktor returned about an hour later wearing the chunky Christmas sweater Sky knitted for him last year.
"I hope you two are ready," he grinned, handing her her matching half of the outfit.
She put the sweater on over her pajamas while they carefully woke Naph up and Viktor carried him to the living room. He then returned to help her out of the bed and together, leaning on each other and their crutches, they made their way down the corridor.
"I tried to do as much of the list as I couldâŚ" Viktor explained apologetically. "I had to change a few things around though, given our current predicament."
When they entered the room, Sky was at a loss for words though. The decorations were all put up, the Christmas tree was standing, the coffee table was packed with delicious looking treats and a warm fire was crackling away in the fireplace. Viktor had even set up their camera to capture the precious moments of the evening. All of it looked so cozy, so comforting⌠All this work to prepare and entirely alone?
"Viktor you didn't have toâŚ" she began. It was way more than she would have expected.
But Viktor quickly shut her down.
"We agreed this would be a special Christmas, yes?" he helped her to the sofa that stood next to the Christmas tree. "And besides, technically I had a helping hand."
He pointed behind the sofa where the latest version of his Hexclaw sat hidden from view.
"As it turns out, hanging up ornaments is an excellent way to calibrate fine motor skills," he grinned. Then his face turned red. "Oh and the gingerbread? If it tastes suspiciously like the one they sell at the confectionery behind the clock tower, that's because it's from there. I burned a bunch, panicked and had to ask for help. Mel sent that tray over with a courier. But the rest was all made by me! Try the grain pudding, it's just as good!"
Sky pulled him down onto the sofa right next to her, laughing.
"You already did more than enough!"
He sat down and draped an arm around her shoulder.
"So what should we do first?" he asked.
Sky looked at Naph, who was crawling around on a blanket and had already gotten his hands on a star shaped ornament made of orange rind.
"I think we should let him decide," she replied.
Viktor left some of the ornaments in the box, so the three of them could finish the tree together. The favorites he and Sky had collected throughout the years: snowflakes shaped from old cogs, a bauble with dried flowers in it, crocheted and hand carved pieces passed down from their parentsâŚ
They even managed to decorate some of the gingerbread too, without eating all of it. And Sky made sure to try the grain pudding (which really was just as good)!
Then came the presents. Sky already noted the large pile of colorful boxes under the tree. Of course Naph was the recipient of most of them and all their family and friends were represented among the packages.
Viktor has made him a toy robot with many moving parts, not unlike the one they were working on at the lab at that time. From Sky he got a crocheted baby blanket. The largest box of them all hid what they first thought was a toy kitchen, but what turned out to be a toy lab (courtesy of Jayce, Mel and according to the scribble at the bottom of the Christmas card, their little daughter Amaranthine). A smaller one revealed a collection of hand carved wooden toys: a family of birds. That was from Sky's sister. A puzzle set from Heimerdinger that taught shapes and colors. The professor, as it looked like, couldn't wait to start teaching the little boy. And so on and so forthâŚ
Soon Naph was sitting in a nest of colorful paper not knowing which gift to grab in his excitement.
Viktor returned from the kitchen with an icepack for Sky's ankle and two mugs of sweet milk. As he sat down again next to her, she saw his face contorting for a second with a grimace of pain. She put a hand on his right thigh.
"You should lie down. Remember what you just told me, about overworking yourself?" she said to him while gently kneading the tired muscles. "I could massage your leg later."
"A little later," Viktor replied. "I want to watch him for a while longer."
Naph turned towards them as if he understood that they just mentioned him and proudly showed them a strange looking, candy colored plushie he fished out of a gift bag. That one had to be from Viktor's intern, Powder.
"Besides, I still haven't given you your gift." he said as he handed her a package. When Sky tore off the paper, it had a set of baby clothes inside, all handmade and looking like a set of gardening gear.
"You could have a little helper now, you know," Viktor smiled.
Sky lay the tiny dungarees, mittens and other accessories down in her lap, then threw her arms around Viktor's shoulder and whispered a thank you in his ear. The thought of one day working together with her son made her remember the things Professor Heimerdinger told her the last time at the lab. Time indeed passes in the blink of an eyeâŚ
She wiped off the tears that started to gather in the corners of her eyes and leaned down for the bag that had her gift for Viktor.
He took it from her, examining it playfully, pretending to guess what it could be, then looked inside and put his hand over his mouth. Now he was tearing up too.
"This⌠I'm sorry, it's just..." he stuttered, trying to blink back the tears.
"He is a bit too young for it now, but when Benzo told me he had one of these, I couldn't leave it there," Sky said, satisfied with the success of her surprise.
Inside of the bag was a model boat building kit.
Sky now reached down again and picked up Naph from the ground.
"Will you race boats with Papa when you grow older?" she asked him, holding him up above her head.
Naph replied with a series of happy giggles and kicks that could only be interpreted as a yes.
Sky held him close and kissed his cheeks. He had barely arrived in this world and already he was surrounded with so much love. Wasn't this the reason for all they have done? Not just the Christmas celebration and the presents, but their work for a future where Naph will grow up in safety, health and happiness.
She felt Viktor scooting closer to wrap his arms around both of them. From the look in his eyes, Sky could feel he was thinking the same thing.
But when she tried to kiss him, he pulled away.
"I almost forgot that there was one more thing on our to-do list, if I'm not mistaken," he searched in his pockets before producing from one of them the control glove of the Hexclaw.
With a few flicks of his wrist he willed the robotic arm into motion, then nimbly picked an ornament from the Christmas tree.
Naph followed the movements of the machine with pure astonishment in his eyes.
Sky cracked up laughing and shook her head in disbelief when she realized what he was now holding above them: it was a piece of mistletoe.
She leaned towards him again and this time he let her.
"Merry Christmas, Viktor," she whispered.
"Merry Christmas to you too, Sky," Viktor replied.
Then they both closed their eyes to end their perfect Christmas Eve with a mistletoe kiss.
So I went ahead and wrote a little entry for the writing challenge of the Company In Solitude @skyvikzine! It was really such a fun and tender prompt, so thank you for writing it for us! This is the first of two scenarios of how I would finish the scene. Here Sky stays asleep, but stay tuned for a companion piece where Viktor succesfully wakes her up! :)
For the readers, go check out the beginning of the fic at the zine's account to know what's going on! :)
Anyway 1K words of Skyvik at the library at night, but mostly just Viktor left with his thoughts while Sky is fast asleep. <3
...
He watches her to see if she reacts.
Nothing.
He shakes her again, this time a little stronger. âSky!â He whispers her name into her ear.
She finally stirs. Her eyes open for half a second, and she quietly mumbles some slurred apology before just as abruptly drifting back to sleep. He doubts she even realized she was woken up.
Viktor leans back in his chair, head cocked to the side as he watches Skyâs breathing even out again. He runs his fingers through his hair and sighs. She didnât just doze off. She is absolutely knocked out! The all-nighters have finally caught up with her, he muses.
He was familiar with that feeling. After a while he stopped counting the times he fell asleep at the library table. Jayce, Sky and even Heimerdinger often reprimanded him for not paying enough attention to his health when organizing his study schedule. Well, they didnât have to deal with daily physiotherapy after a failed spine surgery, thank you very muchâŚ. With all that and the paperwork needed for the start of the Hexgateâs construction itâs a miracle he was still able to squeeze in this much time of studying. It was after the surgery that Sky started showing up to these everyday late-night library sessions as well. He saw her seated in the biology section, they would bump into each other in the hallways, Sky would ask him if he wanted something to eat or reminded him to take his medicineâŚ
One time, when he really only went to the library to be left alone with his thoughts, he was more irritable than usual and asked her point blank why she started to stay there until dawn too. He remembers how embarrassed she was, stuttering and stammering until she finally told him she hoped to just keep him company.
Well that couldnât have been the truth of it, he reasoned. Sky was one of the most brilliant minds of her grade, no, of the whole Academy, but she still struggled with getting the recognition she deserved. Who was he to tell her no, if she wanted to push herself to the limit to get it? He respected her for that. And she was probably just too shy to admit it. She is always just so shyâŚ
A wave of embarrasment washes over him as he realizes he is still watching her. So peaceful⌠After a day of hard work maybe he should let her rest a little⌠Her lips are still slightly parted and she is snoring softly. A few curls that have come undone from her bun are framing her face. Her arms are covered in goosebumpsâŚ
Viktor stands up, carefully pushes back the chair so it doesnât make any noise, reaches for his cane and walks over to the window to see if itâs closed. On the way back he stops to grab their jackets from a nearby chair. When he gets back to their table, he gently drapes his over Skyâs shoulders, then folds the other one and gingerly lifts her head to place it there as a makeshift pillow. Would he have noticed that she was cold if she was awake? Would he have done anything about it if he did? He could imagine himself shuffling his notes around, weighing the decision whether if he should ask her if she is comfortable or if he should offer her his jacket. Why was it so much easier to care when no one was looking, when she didnât know? Such questions troubled his mind as he sat down again at the table.
He remembers how awful he felt after questioning Sky on her reasons for coming to the library at night. He didnât mean to embarrass her, he wasnât angry or annoyed with her, but he knows he came off as too harsh⌠A short while later he invited her to sit with him to make up for it. And after that it became their routine to sit together. And when he wasnât mulling over the things he said to her, it started to feel nice. Most of the time they didnât really talk at all, just sat opposite one another while reading and writing, but her silent presence became a source of steady comfort that he rarely ever experienced during his work when normally him and Jayce were too busy stressing about the potential failure of their shared dream. But some nights they talked, in whispers, even though they werenât bothering anybody else in the empty library. They talked about life at the Academy, about news from Zaun, about what they planned to do once Hextech was completed. Nights like these reminded Viktor of when they would talk about their future as children. Oh how time flies!
And this now reminds him of the work they still have to finish.
He looks at Skyâs textbooks lying on the table: An introduction to hybridization, The comprehensive index of Shuriman flora⌠She picked a fascinating field of study thatâs for sure. He picks up the one for Heimerdingerâs physics class and flips through it, reading her marginalia, chuckling at her doodles, raising a curious eyebrow at the little hearts drawn in the corners⌠Sky said she still needed to finish some of the professorâs assigned exercises for tomorrowâs seminar. There were still a few pages left to go before she fell asleep. He looks at her again. Is that just a shadow or is she smiling a little in her sleep? He canât possibly wake her up now, can he⌠So he looks instead at his own notes and the stacks of books still untouched before him, massages his sore neck and sighs. He pushes them aside, opens Skyâs textbook, takes a fresh piece of paper and starts writing again. The night of studying is going to be somewhat longer than he anticipated, but he doesnât mind. And if he stops from time to time to steal a glance or two of the girl sleeping peacefully beside him? Well, there is no one else at this time at the library to see.
[If you stuck around until here, thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed the fic! <3]
A belated entry for day 6 of Skyvik Week! @1bibypersecond I hope you don't mind me tagging you! đź I remember you telling me back last december that I could if I wrote for Skyvik again! Also @gotymar, here is the astral fic I have promised! â¤ď¸So here it is, better late than never: a little Skyvik backstory to how Savior Viktor might have come to be. I hope you all will like it!
As if I had never lost you
2,3K | tw: referenced character death, referenced terminal illness
âI guess this is goodbyeâŚâ Viktorâs voice sounded so small in the vast emptiness of the hexzone.
Sky watched him with concern. She waited, but he did not continue, averting his gaze instead to look where their hands were joined. His thumbs drew anxious circles over her palms. They were standing face to face now, as if they were on the brink of an openness neither of them dared to approach before. Not even during these past months when they existed almost as one in this astral realm.
Viktor spoke of goodbyes, but his grip on her fingers only grew stronger with each passing moment. Sky observed the tremor in his arms and on his lips while pearls of tears gathered in the corners of her eyes.
At the depth of her mind, she was conflicted. Part of her wanted to throw her arms around him and tear what was left of him away from whatever influence took hold of them both. Not for her salvation, no. She knew there was no going back for her, and she would have gladly burned up again a thousand times over if it meant she could save him just once more. But these parts of her mind were covered in the same numbing mist that enveloped them both since the moment of their deaths. A soft light in her mind which reassured her that their actions were leading them all to a worthy destination. They were healing the world after all! But why did it feel like Viktor was slipping away from her the closer they got to achieving their common dream?
Sky couldnât pinpoint exactly when she started noticing it: a third presence, intangible and pervasive, always at the edge of her perception. It swirled around them like invisible tendrils. Seeped between their clasped fingers. Washed over them as they floated in each otherâs arms. Moved them apart, then together, and then apart again at its own alien whim. The astral realmâs gentle embrace sometimes started to feel like a stranglehold, its promise of peace a forced surrender, and every so often, for a fraction of a moment, Sky couldnât help but sense that they were being watched by something that hid in the never-ending darkness behind the soft clouds of colour.
Viktor, on the other hand, remained entirely oblivious. In fact, he only seemed to grow more and more addicted to his power in ways that sometimes almost scared her. Just as she felt her own awareness rekindle, Sky could feel Viktor, her Viktor, the one who came to her again after years of distancing himself, slowly starting to fade. So she was destined to lose him again after all⌠In her helplessness against his will, she still wanted to believe this strange, foreign intuition. That something truly good could come from him embracing the power of the Hexcore and the role of the âHeraldâ his followers positioned him as. So when Dr. Reveck suggested that Viktor should evolve beyond his current stateâbeyond herâto ensure his power wonât be depleted, Sky resigned herself to disappear and watch the last traces of the benign, curious, determined man whom she loved so much dissolve with her. She found comfort in the thought that at least he wonât be alone when it happens.
She squeezed his hands gently.
âViktorâŚâ she whispered to him.
âWhat?â He looked up, suddenly shaken out of his tense contemplation. His eyes now shone dark in his pale face, almost as dark as the nothingness that enveloped them. Sky shuddered under the intensity of his gaze.
âViktor, itâs alright. You made a choice,â she soothed him.
âDr. Reveck.â Viktor said sharply, âHe made the choice. He was the one who demanded that I give you up.â
âYes, butâŚâ But you have to survive, she had the urge to tell him. The words were true to her heart, but still she stumbled over them when she felt that presence again. A foreign echo behind each syllable, feeding them a secret meaning.
âHe also told me once that one must sacrifice love and legacy to achieve progress. I have told you this story before, havenât I?â Viktor continued, speaking now as much to himself as to her. âThose are the words he lives by. He once hoped I would live by them, too. The Hextech dream is gone now, and all that loss gave me was pain.â He sighed. âAnd youâŚâ His voice broke on those words and he couldnât bring himself to finish the sentence. Sky knew he still had trouble speaking about the events of that night in the lab, when she gave her life to save his. âSo if the doctor was wrong about my lost legacy, what if he is wrong again? What if there is another way for me?â His gaze was now fixed again on their clasped hands. The colours and patterns of their astral bodies mingled where they touched.
âWhat do you mean, Viktor?â Sky asked. Only now did she notice that the starlights around them had started to fade one by one. She stepped closer to him.
âIt was not my own decision to become this way, you do know that, donât you?â Viktor answered her with a sudden irritation in his voice. âAll my life, I tried to carve out my own path, but now I see how I was still a slave to the wants of others. Build us tools! No, build us weapons! Cure yourself! Donât cure yourself! Trust me, Corin Reveck wasnât the only one who taught me about sacrifice.â He scoffed. âI have all this power now that I still barely understand. Why should I use it to please such a man? When I do know that I alone can change the world for the better. But Iâll give this one to Dr. Reveck: I have to survive to ensure it can happen. SoâŚâ His voice softened as he shifted his palms, interlacing his fingers with hers to emphasize his next words. ââŚI want to take you with me.â
Sky was stunned. She felt the hold of the arcane surge within her again, making her shiver.
âWould that even be possible?â she asked barely above a breath.
âThe doctor said I can only ascend alone, yes? But I have a theory⌠Maybe I could extend that power to you⌠If you became a part of me,â Viktor explained to her. He spoke again with the same fervour he had when he used to discuss engineering problems with her. âIf we became one. Then you could come with me. Your presence would be tied to me, yes, but you could still experience everything through me. I could share a life with you, and in here we would still be together just as we are now. We could do so much good for the people, not just in Zaun, but around the whole world. And you would guide me. As you always did.â He smiled at her with reverence. âI believe it could be possible! Nobody has ever been so close to one another as we are now. Just look at us!â He raised their clasped hands excitedly to show her: the outlines of their bodies vibrated and glowed, melting into one another with a warm light.
Sky slowly pulled her hand away and watched as the wisps of colourful flame reshaped themselves into her fingers. She took a few steps, turning away from Viktor, weighing his words. What he was offering was dangerous and entirely unpredictable. It was Viktorâs unsafe experimentation with the Hexcore that got them into this conundrum in the first place. It gave them an unimaginable power too, a true second chance, but maybe they were already testing their limits. Maybe - she could feel that foreign presence invite her in - they should just give up their will and let these powers take charge⌠Haven't they been so right before⌠Sky shook her head to get rid of the thought. Her steps sent ripples across the many-coloured pools of stardust. She followed them with her eyes until they disappeared into the creeping darkness.
âBut you know that if this plan fails, you will die too?â she said.
âI think we both know I made peace with that a long time ago.â Viktor stepped behind her and put a hand on her shoulder.
Sky turned further away and hugged herself tightly.
âIâm scared, Viktor,â She whispered after a prolonged silence. âThere is so little left of me. I donât even know how much. What if I disappear completely?â And how much is truly left of you? she wondered to herself.
âI will protect you. The way you protected me.â He reached out, caressing her cheek. âI have so much to make up to you.â Sky leaned into the touch. How could he be so sure?
âAnd do you truly think we will still be able to meet in here if you succeed? Could we still see each other? Touch each other?â
âI⌠donât know that.â He slumped his shoulders. âBut we will stay together. So⌠would you still keep me company, Miss Young?â He attempted a grin.
A crack on the mask of omnipotence, Sky noticed with a hidden, sad smile. Her brows furrowed: she wanted to push him further, she wanted to see behind it all and maybe find that final missing piece of him that eluded her for so long.
âI still need to know something before I can decide.â She turned towards Viktor to face him again.
âWhy?â
âWhy what?â
âWhy did you change your mind about ascending alone?â
Viktor opened his mouth, but once again, no words came. Gone was the certainty, the excitement of achieving something hitherto impossible. They found themselves again at the brink of honesty, just like at the start of their conversation. One final veil of hesitance before they could bare their souls completely to each other. Sky hoped Viktor would have the courage to lift it.
Finally, Viktor sighed, and he started to speak.
âNever before in my life have I felt so lost as when you died. Everything life threw at me before: my heritage, my illness, all the doubt I have faced at the Academy⌠I knew I could either fight it or, at the very least, accept it. And there I was faced with something that I couldnât fight and that I couldnât possibly accept either. The only thing I knew for certain at that moment was that I couldnât go on without you. Because during all that time I was so selfish and took you for granted, I did it because I needed you with me. Against all odds, I was given a second chance, that I still donât believe I deserve. And I followed you here to become someone who deserved it. So if you trust me just this once, I promise I wonât hurt you again. I will not shut you out. Because if I do⌠Well⌠I might go on existing⌠but I will not survive. So please, Sky⌠stay with me!â
A teardrop floated between them, minuscule and glistening. Then another. And another. Sky couldnât tell anymore which one of them they came from.
Because it was not the voice of âthe Heraldâ she heard in his desperate plea.
Memories came back to her of a little boyâs hopeful eyes searching her face for connection, of the same boy coming to her in secret to tell her about his fears of leaving Zaun⌠the man he later became, crouching on the ground and sobbing into her ashesâŚ
Many, many moments where Viktor let himself be seen the way she always saw him.
The vision of the future she has resigned herself to, where she would lose him again and for good, had no power over her anymore.
Because if Viktor was ready to finally, truly give himself to her like this, she was ready too.
With a tearful smile, Sky nodded yes.
His lips found hers with a timid first kiss. Skyâs hands tangled in his starlight hair, pulling him closer. The moment seemed to stand still as her feet lifted off the ground. Each one of their tears birthed new constellations around them as she drifted with him in weightlessness, anchored by his arms around her, trying desperately to make up for all the time they had lost: the past they had wasted and the future they might not get to have.
Sky could soon feel the charge of power emanating from his fingertips as he reached up to cradle her face. The hold of those invisible tendrils that tore at her mind has finally loosened. She felt herself burning again, but this time she felt no pain, only Viktor. And with the memory of this moment of shared devotion, of complete and unconditional love, she gave herself over to dissolve with him in this continuous embrace.
-
A blinding pulse of light illuminated the Fissures. The shockwave that followed sent a gust of wind careening down around the buildings, ruffling the fields of flowers and swirling hundreds of yellow petals in the air. Viktorâs followers all put down their tasks at hand, and those who were in their tents came rushing out onto the pathways. Vi, Jinx and Isha peered through the cracked windows of the greenhouse. The man once known as Dr. Corin Reveck dropped his instruments incredulously. The crowd all raised their eyes to the structure at the centre of the village.
The Herald floated above the remains of the cracked dome. His robes were now tattered and ash-violet. His skin and his hair were patterned with the colours of the astral plane. Above his head, a halo, a disk of cosmic fire, held by an invisible hand.
âI sense your presence, Sky. As if I had never lost you,â he whispered lovingly, a wave of serenity washing over him. His plan had worked.
And an echo answered him. A womanâs soft voice, which went unheard by the onlookers.
This is your SkyVik Secret Santa @biby-24k!! đâ¤ď¸đ¤ś
Thank you for organizing this wonderful little event for us! I have written this fic for you! I tried to incorporate everything you mentioned: there is some time in the greenhouse, some diary reading, some hanging out in the astral realm and I also tried to keep it canon compliant as well (which means it got a little melancholic towards the end, but I made sure there is lots of sweet longing from both sides â¤ď¸đ). I hope you will like it and thank you again! I wish you and all the rest of SkyVik Nation a very happy holiday season and all the best for the new year! đĽ°
(A little disclaimer: sorry for any mistakes as English isn't my first language and I couldn't find a beta reader in time.đ )
ANYWAY! 2,3K fluffy-angsty SkyVik fic:
What you're keeping from me
The pale light danced with iridescent colours on the drops of moisture hanging in the air as Viktor stood at the entrance of the communeâs main greenhouse. He mused at the sight briefly, resting on his staff, thinking of the shapeless, ever changing colours inhabiting his consciousness since his awakening. He has become numb to most sensations, few things could stir his tranquil composure, but the success of new research still woke his curiosity every time. At the back of the structure, he spied a group of his followers tending to the plants and putting the finishing touches to a small artificial pond. They noticed him arriving immediately, turning to look at him as one. Their leader, a shorter man with a ponytail came forward to greet him as the rest returned to their work. Viktor recognized the man as the first one to approach him once he arrived back to the Undercity.
âThe new filtration system is working as intended!â - the follower said enthusiastically - âNow that we have more than enough clean water to provide for the whole commune, we have started to build the new section of the greenhouse. - he reverently bowed - As you have instructed. We are almost finished.â
For a while now they have been working on adding a watery habitat to the existing gardens of crops and wild flowers. The plan was to reconstruct the biome of Zaunâs riverside flora from before the pollution turned all of it into a toxic wasteland. The idea of course came from Skyâs notes, as did the rest of the greenhouse. Her words guided him through the building of their community. He read them over and over: to study everything from cross-pollination to cellular structure; to see what components were needed for an air purification chamber or a closed terrarium; to piece together whatever was left unsaid on missing pages and torn off corners. He had the booklet with him today too, clutched to his chest.
âI wouldnât have expected any other results from such a designâ - answered Viktor with approval, then his gaze shifted, searching the empty air behind his followerâs back. A faint, proud smile appeared on his lips as he noticed Sky standing there in the cover of the leaves. Sky smiled back at him shyly, tucking a strand of curly brown hair behind her ear. His fingers tightened on the notebook ever so slightly.
Of course the man standing before him hasnât noticed anything of this little exchange, his eyes filled with vacant contentedness under the metallic fingerprints.
âIf you say your work is almost done, would you mind leaving me alone here for a while?â - Viktor asked him.
âAs you wish!â - he bowed again and turned to the rest of the group - âThe Herald wishes to inspect the greenhouse alone!â
Viktor couldnât help but let out a sigh once they all finally left.
âAdmit it, you have been looking forward to thisâ - said Sky teasingly as she walked up to him.
She was right. After the last few hours that he spent with healing a group of newly arrived sick Zaunites, he was in a sore need to recuperate his strength. In these times he loved to retreat to the lushness of the greenhouses. This was also where he most often saw Sky, outside the realm of the arcane. Seeing her in her element, wearing the academyâs uniform, admiring with her the vibrant greenery, discussing with her all the different facets of her research made it seem like she was as tangible as all that thriving Eden he has constructed around her. As if she had neverâŚ
âCome!â - she reached out for his hand, gently pulling him along until they were at the side of the little stone basin.
Sky sat down on the soft green grass, patting the ground with one hand, inviting him to join. Viktor put down his staff and the notebook to sit beside her.
âThe honeyfruit is almost ready for harvestâ - he noted, reaching for the leafy tendrils of the plant on his right. He plucked one of its tiny, vibrant green bulbs and tossed it into the water. Just as it landed with a plop, a little bright pink head poked through the surface. And then a second. And a third. Salamanders. They swirled around the berry, nibbling at it, splashing at each other with their stubby little tails and legs.
âNow, now, be nice to each other!â - Sky reached into the pond giggling.
Viktor flinched a little, when he saw her touch leave no ripples on the surface. He threw in a few more berries to break the fighting salamanders apart. The three escaped back underwater with their prey, their swift little bodies like rose-coloured neon blurs.
âYou know, Iâve been thinking about something. This greenhouse⌠- Sky said sitting back up and gesturing towards the arched ceiling. - âŚitâs not going to be good enough for very long.â
âWhat do you mean by that?â - Viktor raised his eyebrows worriedly.
âJust that, if these three are going to grow as big as you told me, weâre going to need a MUCH bigger one.â - she answered with a grin.
Viktor gave a chuckle, but he couldnât deny that his heart sank a little.
âBut thatâs nothing we cannot solve, right?â - said Sky, resting her head against his shoulder. Viktor leaned into her touch, but then the sight of his lone reflection in the pond gave him a pause.
âOf courseâ - he turned away and picked up her notebook to distract himself from the breaking illusion. He traced the leaf patterns on the cover with his finger, eyes fixed on the golden clasp. - âBut are you happy with all of this Sky? Are you satisfied with what Iâve done so far? Because Iâm doing this for you as much as for Zaun. Iâve tried to follow your every word. Sometimes I admit I do struggle. Some of your notes must have been... lost. Possibly when⌠- he sighed - But I want to make this real for you. You deserved to see your dream realised. You deserved to do good. You deserved to live.â - his last words came as little more than a whisper. He glanced to where Sky had just been sitting, but found her gone. Instead of her reassuring word, he was left with nothing, but the rustle of leaves and the soft humming of the water system
Viktor opened the notebook, carefully flipping to the pages about the watery biome. It eased his mind to see how meticulously Skyâs plans had been executed: every choice of plant and all the machinery to keep them alive. Her drawings even found their way onto the intricate glass and metal walls of their buildings. But it wasnât just a list of instructions to follow. Her words gave him purpose at the dawn of his new existence and renewed his hope in a future he once thought lost to him. They gave him companionship, a way to escape whenever he felt drowned out by the echoes of his thoughts.
He continued turning the pages. By now, he knew all of them by heart. Where Sky left a page empty to press a flower⌠Where she hid a funny little doodle of Heimerdinger⌠Where were pages missing⌠He cursed himself for those repeatedly. If Skyâs research would fail in any way, because he lost her notes the night she saved him from the Hexcore⌠No, he couldnât wrong her again. So he spent his free time deciphering her missing words whenever the pages stayed silent.
But now that silence became overwhelming.
Viktor closed his eyes and retreated to where he knew he would find her.
When his eyes opened to the void he was rushed by sensation. The dull numbness of his physical body instantly replaced by a charge, a lightness he could only ever compare to the first time he took to run. The surrounding space vibrated with tones of green, pink, blue and gold, the shapes slowly collapsing into one another in clouds of glowing dust.
Sky was standing before him. She gestured for him to follow her, like every time they went to explore the arcane together and disappeared behind a web of luminous tendrils.
Viktor ran after her through the maze of neuron-like structures as if in a game of hide and seek, their steps sending ripples through the invisible surface.
They finally stopped in a clearing, standing hand-in-hand, staring together to where the horizon would have been.
âWhy did you leave me there in the greenhouse?â - Viktor broke their silence.
âI didnât go anywhere.â - Sky said matter-of-factly, looking up at him, studying his face for a moment. - âWhatâs been troubling you?â - she asked in a softer tone.
âSo much for a calming stroll in the gardenâ - he sighed with a grimace.
Letting go of Skyâs hand he turned away from her towards one of the gleaming walls.
âI fear that your research⌠or the very least what I have of it in the notebook⌠is now incomplete. I donât want this to jeopardize our projects.â
While he talked he absentmindedly traced a pattern into the astral light .
âSo far it never posed a problem. And if it did, Iâm sure you could figure something out.â - she said reassuringly.
âI just want it to be perfect. Forgive me for not taking care of your notesâŚâ - Viktor continued. Under his glowing fingers shapes began to appear: leaf shapes in a circle, like a flower bloomingâŚ
He was at a loss for words. Should he repeat once again how sorry he was that she had to die for him like he did already thousands of times? Tell her how his guilt went way beyond that night in the laboratory? That he needed Skyâs notes not just for her research, but to know her. To know everything about her, to surround himself with her, to atone for letting the two of them drift apart. What good would that do now, after everything he has put her through?
He ran his fingers through the translucent wall, dissolving it in the ether.
âI⌠I feel like Iâm only talking to myself.â - he scoffed, looking away.
Sky crossed the distance between, then reached up and gently turned his face towards her own.
âThen why donât you talk to me?â - she asked, looking into his eyes.
Viktor raised his hands to hold her palm against his cheek. If only he knew what she wanted him to say.
Then again, he was never that good at reading others... Heimerdingerâs awkward attempts at empathy over his illness, Jayceâs lingering prejudice against Zaun and their diverging ideals on Hextech⌠would any of this have hit him as hard as it did, had he just paid more attention to the people around him? He thought his new state of being could bring him clarity and understanding. He could access anybodyâs mind just at the touch of his fingertip. Yet here he was in front of her, apparently as clueless as ever.
The light cascading on Skyâs face, the stardust tangled in the glow of her hair, it stirred memories in him. Pictures flooded his mind: the moment he first saw her by the side of the stream in their neighbourhood. Her coming to say him goodbye when he left to study in Piltover. Her smiling at him when years later he brought her the news that she too got admitted to the Academy. And her smile again when he gifted her that notebook. That inquisitive glint in her big brown eyes full of wonder got repeatedly etched into his very being. How beautiful he found it. How beautiful he found her. Did she know this? How would she react if he told her now?
âI⌠just canât help but feel that there is something you are keeping from me. That Iâm missing part of the picture. You are still trying to tell me something, donât you⌠Sky?â - Viktor asked her instead, ashamed.
She said nothing, just held him, smiling up at him, cupping his face gently with her hands. Viktor thought he saw a kind of sadness in her eyes. And a sense of knowing, maybe, like if now she too could see into his soul.
Then, still smiling, Sky took his hand, pulling him along with her again, to run with her through the intertwining rays of light. And Viktor ran with her hoping that in time she would guide him to whatever there was left for him to know.
-
Some time later the new head research assistant of the Piltover Academy would find an envelope hidden amongst the few belongings of their predecessor. If they open it, they can see it contains nothing more than a few pieces of paper torn out of a notebook:
Dear Viktor!
Thank you so much for the notebook! It was a really thoughtful gift. Sorry for being so awkward, I didnât expect anyone to It was so nice of you to remember the anniversary of my enrollment. I wish I could let you know how much I treasure it⌠Working with you has been my greatest inspiration. I would be so lonely here otherwise. But we Zaunites have to stick together, right?
Have a lovely day!
Sky
~
Hi
I hope this note will find you! Youâve been so busy nowadays. Iâm going back to Zaun for the weekend to visit family. Do you want to come along?
Sky :)
~
Dear Viktor,
Thank you for your advice on my project! I really appreciated the feedback. I will consider it moving forward. I canât wait to tell you about the results.
Sincerely,
Sky
~
Dear Viktor!
The professor told me about your illness. Iâm so sorry! I don't even know what to say other than you never deserved any of this. I want a future where nobody from Zaun would have to suffer like this ever again. I pray you can be a part of that future! I hope I didnât overstep by writing to you! If you ever need anything, Iâm always here.
Love,
Sky
~
Dear Viktor
It's not like I'm ever giving you these notes anyway soâŚ
