Chapter Text
It was well into the night when Sky sat up in her chair. She raised her arms over her head in a much needed stretch, and sighed in satisfaction when her spine cracked. She rolled her shoulders backward to ease the tension that had been building there, and looked at the clock that sat on her desk.
11:47pm
Oh crap
She'd overdone it. Sky typically left the lab closer to 10:30, and while she was no stranger to a late night, she had taken the job as Viktor and Jayce’s assistant because she liked the liberties it granted her. One of which was choosing what time she went home.
She looked over her work, finishing the sentence she'd been working on. She slowly gathered her papers, satisfied with progress she'd made. For the past two weeks she’d been brainstorming new ideas for the Hexcore. Simple, easy designs that would improve lives all around Piltover. Viktor had caught her once, working out the equations that would bring her creations to life.
It had been another late afternoon, and she'd been hunched over her analysis of water filtration systems, too absorbed in the work to notice him walking up behind her.
He'd picked up a scattered blueprint, taking in the design. “What is this?” he’d asked her curiously.
He was holding an early sketch of a new industrial style filtration system. The one in Topside worked perfectly, but the same couldn’t be said about the undercity. The pipes that ran through the undercity were rusted, and leaked often. The source of water wasn’t sanitary either, and it posed a serious health risk, leaving many children sick. However, whenever the issue had been brought up, the council always claimed it was too costly to upgrade. But Sky hadn’t given up hope. She knew there had to be a way to fix most, if not all of the issues.
She explained as much to Viktor, before looking down as her notes defeatedly. “I have it all figured out, but I just don’t know how to sell this to the council. No matter how I spin it, in the end, I can’t come up with a good enough reason for their investment.”
“Other than saving lives?” Viktor added sarcastically. Sky couldn’t help but chuckle. She knew Viktor was no stranger to this type of disappointment. Countless of his own ideas had failed because of the lack of approval. Even Jayce, with his charismatic charm, hadn’t been able to get the council on board. Changing the world would be so much easier if it didn’t need the ok from people who had other interests in mind.
Viktor set his cane to the side and lowered himself into the seat next to Sky. “Run me through this idea of yours.”
For the next 15 minutes Sky did just that. She pulled up all her different notes, maps, and blueprints for the irrigation system. She had studied it carefully making sure that no small part was left uncovered. Viktor listened carefully. Every now and again he would chime in with his own ideas, but overall he just let her talk. When she was done he smiled in satisfaction. “You’ve done a very good job with this. Find the right pitch and the council will be very pleased.”
Her heart fluttered with hope, “You think so?”
“I do-”
“What's going on over here?” Jayce asked, walking towards them with three mugs of tea in hand. The two were so absorbed in their work they hadn’t even noticed him entering the lab. Jayce had a small smile on his face, and when Sky glanced at Viktor she noticed his eyes had softened.
Neither she nor Viktor had asked for tea, but they both accepted the mugs with words of gratitude. Sky took a small sip and smiled. It was just how she liked it. She thinks maybe Jayce had watched her prepare her tea once and committed it to memory. Now, it was common that he would surprise her with a warm mug whenever she took a break from her work.
With the tea running through her system, Sky realized just how much the cold air in the lab had chilled her bones. She shivered as she took another sip, feeling warmer by the second. Jayce pulled up another chair, seating himself next to Viktor. The two had a habit of always crowding into each other’s space. The only exception being when they were building something new. But if they were going over notes, or brainstorming, they were never more than a few inches apart. Sky wasn’t even sure they realized they were doing it.
Viktor handed over the blueprints he was holding, bringing his mug close to his lips. “Sky came up with this.”
Jayce grabbed the sheet and set it flat on the table in front of him. Without looking up he reached for Viktors free hand and tucked it against his chest. “Your hands are cold.” he commented, not taking his eyes off the blueprints. That was another one of their habits Sky wasn’t sure they were even aware of. She’d bumped hands with Viktor enough times to know that they were always freezing, had been since the time he was a kid. Jayce's, on the other hand, were always warm. Even when the temperatures dropped, Jayce was like a human furnace. As a result, he took it upon himself to warm Viktors hands with his own. Whenever they were in reach, Jayce would hold onto them until either he or Viktor had to seperate. Maybe it should’ve annoyed her, but Sky only found it endearing.
Jayce took a few moments to look over the blueprints, humming appreciatively. “This is good, but have you thought about maybe. . .”
The three spent the rest of the night going over ideas. Sky smiled at the memory, putting away the last of her notes. She’d have to pay Viktor and Jayce a visit. While she was getting ready to call it a night, she knew that those two would be up much longer than her. Piltover’s “Men of Progress” could never have a day off. When she had everything packed up, she turned the lights off and locked the door behind her.
The hallways of the academy were empty, leaving her alone with her thoughts. In the morning she’d have her work cut out for her. Meetings to schedule, possible investors to please; she still didn’t know how Jayce balanced it all. She supposed it wasn’t without it’s difficulties. She could practically hear Jayce complaining on their way to another meeting with the councilors. It always followed the same pattern. He’d wait until they were in the carriage before letting out all his grievances.
“I should be in the lab with Viktor.” He’d mutter, jaw resting in his palm. Sky would breathe out a laugh, and remind him that the meetings were necessary for Hextech’s growth. “Dealing with a few annoying busybodies won’t kill you Jayce.”
“It just might. It’s always a waste of time. They never listen to anything except what they want to hear.”
“At least Kiramann and Merdarda seem to be on your side.” She’d add hopefully. Jayce would scoff and shrug her off.
“Both of whom have their own agendas.”
To that she would have nothing to add.
After walking for a few minutes she found herself outside the lab doors. Almost immediately she noticed that there was a lack of noise coming from inside. She knocked on the door, and got no response, but when she tried the doorknob, it gave without any resistance. Sky peaked her head in, fully expecting to see Jayce and Viktor, scribbling or chattering away, but instead she found the room empty. Papers and books lay on every surface, scattered about as if one of them had been expressing the beginnings of a breakthrough, but there wasn’t a soul in sight.
She stepped into the room, making sure not to disturb any of the haphazard sheets, “Hello?" No response. “Viktor? Jayce?” She waited a few seconds but was met with silence.
This left her stumped. Jayce didn’t have the same workaholic tendencies Viktor did, but she could still count on him to be in the lab a majority of the time. Especially if Viktor was working there, which, by all accounts, he should've been. If it were up to Viktor, Sky was positive he’d never leave. Be it morning, noon, or night, he’d always choose to spend his time on a new project.
His work/life balance had improved marginally since getting together with Jayce, but to go home so early was still unheard of. Seeing neither of them hard at work left Sky puzzled. She carefully made her way out of the lab before locking the door behind her. There was nothing to worry about, she reminded herself. Tomorrow she’d come back and see them both.
She walked through the rest of the academy in silence, her footsteps echoing. She ran into the security enforcer on her way out and gave him a polite greeting. When she made her way through large double doors, she did a double take. It had snowed. She’d been so caught up in her work that she’d missed the first snow.
Sky had prepared for the chilly night air, but she definitely wasn’t ready for the foot thick snow that greeted her. Her feet sunk in with every step, and she made it down a few blocks before stopping to catch her breath. The cold air blew past her, making her shiver. She steeled herself continued with her walk. It would be a long way home.