Chapter Text
It all started with the kids robbing and blowing up a house topside, dumping everything they stole into a river, and then proceeding to beg her to not tell Vander when Vik caught them sneaking back home. She already heard of the commotion upstairs, but the evidence had been disposed of. She agreed. Hoped it would simply blow over, they all did. Instead, things got worse. After everyone else had filed out, Powder approached her, conspiratorial in a way that promised nothing good.
Blue shiny crystals, and a book. The items felt heavy in her hands as she told Powder she'd handle it from there.
Vik was planning to dump them in the water, let them follow their brethren and rest in peace. She opened the book because it had a fancy shiny emblem on it, to take a peek. She wasn't sure if she should be mortified or fascinated with what she found. She's both.
A few hours later, she is putting on a uniform she's never gotten the chance to use for intended purposes and never will, and throwing on a cloak to conceal it. These reckless children are going to get all of them killed, if she does not act. Having research like this stolen could be seen as a targeted attack, a threat to Piltover from Zaun, and she isn't about to endanger her home in such a way. The only thing she can think of is returning the items to their rightful owner. So she prays to Janna that she will be able to sneak past the guards, and sets off.
The sun - not that they get sun down here, but she can tell - is already almost down, a good thing. The journey would be hard on her leg, but Vik will have to manage, she's had worse. As she's left alone with her thoughts and the noise of the neon evening Zaun, she contemplates. Part of her plan is, perhaps, a result of sympathy for a fellow scientist. The kids only snatched the book because of the fancy cover with a crest, and Vik half-expected the insides to be some rich student's half-assed schoolwork or some accounting notes, yet instead…
Well, it was madness. A theory that could potentially let people harness magic, something thought impossible for as long as humanity has known what magic is. It would be groundbreaking. Revolutionary. Even if the author did sign every single page. Of course they did. Vik sighs and tries her best - fails - not to judge. The fact that the person dared to challenge everything their world is built on deserves some respect. It takes guts. But being actually onto something with it and not just spouting nonsense? Vik will admit. She's intrigued.
But that doesn't really matter right now. If she is lucky, she will never get to meet the mystery J. Were the circumstances any different, she'd love to. She'd love a lot of things. She bets if they clicked, they'd have a blast. Unfortunately, they've probably had enough of those as of late. Vik thinks of the mess of a handwriting, the unhinged - insane, mad, genius - ideas. It's really for the best they do not meet. Who knows what the two of them could come up with if left unattended for too long. Powder’s influence on her is showing itself, Vik’s lips curl up in a wry smile. She can't help but daydream when she gets bored. It's likely they are a patronizing Piltie, and not the eccentric, charming innovator her mind paints for her. Their research is perhaps the most interesting part about them.
Vik is aware of a route that is rarely used by anyone, and with most of the enforcers focused on the bridge, she crosses to the other side with ease. Her cloak is absolutely ruined with mud, but that's the price one pays for the stealth, and besides, that's what the uniform is for. The dirtied piece of fabric disappears in a compartment of her bag, in a way that keeps its other contents clean.
Navigating Piltover leaves her with a vague sense of disgust even if she'd rather not care. Vik has been here before. Five times. All for the entry exams. All failed. It wasn't a question of her intelligence, just birthplace. The notes talked about bringing magic to everyone - no discrimination, no judgment for being poor or in some other way less. Maybe that encouraged her too, then, even if it turns out to be one big lie. A vague promise that she could contribute to something good in the world, no matter how small the contribution it would be, is enough.
Vik notices the right building from afar. Hard not to, with a hole blown right through an ornate wall. There is tape surrounding rubble next to the entrance door, yet no guards. Makes sense, the children did tell her they got chased. All the enforcers must be focusing on the Undercity now. The front door is easy enough to lockpick at this hour, very few people outside, most of them hurrying home to turn in for the day. Her gait is heavier from walking on rough terrain for so long, so she takes her sweet time with the stars. Listens if there's any noise around. Her fingers fiddle with a pick she's prepared to use once again, but she doesn't need to. There is no door, not anymore. More convenient for her.
Vik hoped to get a moment to mess with - examine, that is, this equipment has been messed with enough - the expensive lab stuff as she peeks inside. Instead, her eyes are forced to focus on a lonely tall figure up ahead. On the ledge, one leg slowly, ever so slowly moving forward. Well, fuck.
“So, you are J. Talis, I presume?” It cuts the late hour silence like a knife as the woman flinches, yelps, curses a bunch. Her head whips around in disbelief, and when she speaks it's raspy, likely from tears.
“The hell is wrong with you?!” She quietly curses again, inhales to calm down. “Do we know each other? I don't think we do.”
Vik fully steps into the room, makes a few steps towards her.
“You can call me V. We can match. Unless you want to tell me your full name.”
The woman's eyes are calculating. So, we don't, they say. She is getting distracted. Good. The main thing to do here is stay calm. Even if Vik might be handed to the enforcers at the end of this if her cover is blown, she doesn't care. Human life is more important than that. The girl sniffles again, attempts to hide it by clearing her throat.
“It's Jayne.”
“Well, Jayne. It's nice to meet you.”
Vik makes another careful step forward. Confident. As much as she manages to be, on the outside. The other just keeps looking at her, before angrily wiping off her tears.
“What do you want? Came to laugh at my expense as well?” she snaps. Ouch.
Vik’s voice does not shake, thankfully, even though her stomach flutters with anxiety and dread. She didn't mean to make an impression like that.
“Just wanted to take a look around. And return these.” She opens her bag, raises it as if it's some offering of peace. The street light catches on the Talis emblem on the book. Jayne’s eyes widen as she looks in shock. “If that means anything to you?”
It comes off as a question, uncertain but sincere.
“Gods, where did you-” It's like her whole being lights up, only to dim. She shakes her head, staring down. Vik inches closer to her, while she is not looking. Bit by bit. They are almost side by side now, and even though she wouldn't be able to hold Jayne back from jumping she hopes the possibility of dragging someone else down with her will prevent the need to. “It doesn't matter anymore. I got expelled. No one even wanted to hear me out.”
“Why?”
“What?”
“Your work!” Vik can't help but exclaim. “It's brilliant!” She catches herself sheepishly. It's unlike her to get so emotional with strangers. But it's true. “I…might have skimmed through it a bit, and-”
Jayne doesn't waste time before grabbing Vik’s hands in hers. “You read it? You think it is?”
They are warm. Two of them stand facing each other now, and the distance of a possible fall is somewhere on the back of Vik’s mind, far away. Jayne’s eyes are shining when she meets her gaze, full of life and swiftly drying tears. She can let herself be honest here, Vik thinks. She is wearing the uniform, they only have this one time they will meet. She's fine.
“Yes.” She nods. “And yes. I think it would be a shame to let something so daring go to waste.”
Jayne - this stranger she just stopped from jumping off the ledge, the person that knows nothing about her - looks at Vik like she hung up the stars, moon, and sun.
“It's unfinished, though.” Self-depreciation creeps into Jayne’s voice. Curious for someone prideful enough to sign every page of their notes. “I got stuck.”
But of course that would be the case. The self-loathing, the hate. All her hopes have been crushed, she has nowhere to go from here on. That won't do. Vik shrugs, as nonchalantly as she can.
“Don't all of us get stuck, sometimes. I do have some feedback, if you want.”
If she thought Jayne was looking at her intensely before, that is nothing compared to her current gaze. She beams at Vik, smiling so hard it reveals the small gap in front teeth. She looks fatigued, and a bit crazed, like she's on the verge of a breakdown, and she very well might be. But she steps away from the ledge, at last.
“I'd love to.”
Jayne does not ask any questions about the class she is in, or about her leg, only patiently follows to the board as Vik scribbles and lays out her thoughts. Jayne listens, asks things, remarks. It's a dialog more than anything - as she should've expected from someone with such bold ideas, perhaps - and soon, they stand side by side, as equals. It's a dance, and for the first time ever it feels like Vik has a partner to match her.
The work comes to her easier than it ever had in her life. Jayne Talis is, in fact, truly a genius. Messy, with erratic, confusing trains of thought, that she can follow perfectly, somehow. Ideas bounce between them, chalk lines flow along the crowded blackboard. Vik has…never clicked with anyone before quite like this. She has a hunch it's like that for the other as well, from how she behaves now. Surprised, almost, that there is someone by her side. And the way that Jayne stood on that ledge…she had nowhere left to go. Until this.
The street outside the hole in the wall grows darker. Even though it's the center of Piltover, in some dead hours of the night even this place gets quiet. Neither of them mind. Vik feels a little delirious, both from lack of sleep and adrenaline of the long, exhausting day. In the end, they are looking at the board covered in equations and the final formula they made - a labor of both of their minds. Vik turns to Jayne, unable to keep her smile away.
“All that's left is to put it to practical use, and-” she feels so giddy she can't contain herself. This can change the whole godsdamn world, this can be…
Jayne groans, burying her face in her hands.
“The Academy confiscated everything, even with the gems and notes.” It comes out muffled. “Without other equipment there's no point to even try.”
“You can't rebuild it?”
“My sponsors dropped me.”
“Right after a small slip-up like that?” Vik’s words are laced with disbelief, and Jayne peeks from behind her palms, amused even when she's in distress.
“There is a giant hole in my lab.”
“So what!” Vik throws a hand up in the air. “I've had worse. Shame on them.” She shakes her head, then meets Jayne’s gaze straight on. She has decided. She is seeing this through now, out of spite. If she couldn't make it in the scientific world, to make a difference, Jayne should. Deserves to, more than anyone. She can see this for what it really is - an attempt to put out a talent so bright the Council fears its burn. Maybe they should. But they can't know, unless they try. City of progress, her ass. “Well, then.” The smile returns to her again, more wicked and mischievous this time. “There is simply no other choice. Do you know where your items are stored?”
As they creep through empty Academy hallways, Vik tries to not second-guess herself. The place is grand, tall columns and window frames lining the walls. Even in the dark she can feel how intimidating it all is, but she brushes it off. She is not a naive teen anymore. These are the halls she used to dream about at some point, yet life had other plans. Piltover elite did. Vik rolls her eyes at the thought, and she is intimidated that much less.
The Dean's office has a complicated, heavy lock, but it's nothing Vik cannot deal with - born and living in Zaun, after all. She works on it while Jayne stays guard, hoping she won't be questioned about her knowledge of breaking into rooms. There is a click as the first one gets dealt with, then another one, two more, and all that's left to do is to turn the knob, but then-
Steps. Vik hears them before the other does, even though she's still focused on the door, and she hurries to draw Jayne around the corner into the windowless nook of the hall.
Her back hits the wall as Jayne crowds her, trying to make herself as small as she can - hard with her stature, really - and they cram into the tight space together, hold their breaths. Their bodies are flush, and this is definitely not how she expected today's night to go. Jayne twists ever so slightly to adjust herself, and as she brushes past Vik’s hands with unfortunate and unexpected force, she almost drops her cane. Jayne’s fingers curl around hers in an instant, steadying it. Her other hand settles on Vik’s waist. Click of heels. A flash of light someone is carrying with them.
Vik circles her free arm around Jayne’s head and brings her in closer, into the crook of her neck, hoping to hide the woman's stumbling, panicked breath and perhaps pass this off as an…encounter between overeager students in case they're found out. The other's pulse quickens, and Vik can hear erratic heartbeat against hers. Terrified. Fingers curled in Jayne's hair start threading hesitantly, lightly through it in an attempt to calm her down. Jayne relaxes ever so slightly in her hold, gives her hand a small squeeze. The person passes them, at last, without giving their hiding spot a glance.
They untangle themselves after a moment, ever so slightly, still on high alert.
“Gods, this was close,” Jayne whispers, puff of air hitting the side of Vik’s ear. “We have to hurry now, so that we-” Vik puts some distance between their faces but not bodies yet, a finger on Jayne’s lips, and she grows even quieter, almost inaudible. “V?”
She can only shake her head. This was close, indeed.
“I can't go further with you. I can't get caught out here. I'm sorry.”
Now that the danger has passed, she's scared she might be pushing too far. She can't end up in prison. She can't.
“But- you can't!” Jayne echoes her thoughts, for exactly the opposite reason. “What about being proven right, our dream-”
“Your dream, Jayne.” Vik gently corrects, and the woman suddenly looks so scared, big eyes pleadingly looking at Vik.
“But it could be ours.” She says. “I can't do this on my own, V.”
And oh, isn't that a thought. That someone so desperately wants, needs her. Vik isn't sure anyone ever has. Not before. She saved a life today. But she can't ruin hers because of that. She carefully asks Jayne to look at her.
“You are brilliant, you hear? Your notes, your thoughts - all of it. And I have known you for such a short time. It's obvious, in everything you do. Of course you can do it. I know you can.”
Vik gives her hand one more squeeze and a nod, before she is moving away. Jayne looks after her almost teary-eyed, but awestruck, bright tiny stars sparkling in her eyes as Vik slowly bids her goodbye. And then Jayne is left alone, confused, in crumpled clothes, cheeks ablaze.
This was the nicest, most genuine thing anyone has ever said to her. Done for her too, this whole break-in. And this was the most kind, gorgeous woman that she has ever seen. She can't dwell on that right now, she has things to do, discover and learn, but. If there is enough determination in her heart to see the creation of Hextech through, there is enough to do something about that last thought as well.