Chapter Text
Viktor Could feel the energy in the room. He and Jayce had yet to speak, but it was clear they were both excited. They had finally done it. They made hex tech. Heimerdinger was coming today! They would finally make a name. He would finally have a legacy. The air felt electric all morning.
They just had to double check for any issues before the presentation. Just like they had done every day. They had reached the home stretch.
Hex stone 1. Crystal clear as always.
Hex stone 2. Perfect.
Hex stone 3. Sparking and spazzing.
Hex stone 4. In great condi-
WAIT SPARKING!?
Sure enough, stone 3 was sparking like a live wire. What happened? It was fine yesterday! Why today of all days?!
“Jayce!” That was all Viktor could say as he watched a sleek black spike emerged from the surface of the stone. What was happening? Suddenly an explosion shook the lab as smoke filled Viktor's lungs. His eyes burned. His breath caught. Had they failed?
As the smoke began to fade, the blue glow from the exploded stone seemed to fade. Viktor gazed into the fog. Something was moving. Barely a visible silhouette. It looked like…. A kid?
___
Varian tried to track the time. He tried to count the days. Unfortunately, there are no windows in his cell. And the guards won't talk to him. He thinks it's been a month. A month in this cell. A month with Andrew. A month away from his lab. A month away from his dad.
A month in hell on earth.
He would be crying himself to sleep right now, but crying is loud. And crying makes Andrew mad. And crying won't save his dad. Varian wants to go home. He wants to be out of this cell. He wants to be out of this prison. He wants to be anywhere but here. He wan-
shink.
Varian is torn from his thoughts by the noise. A noise that haunted his days for months. A noise he hasn't heard since he was arrested. The sound of a black rock growing.
He lifts his head. A small black spike has made it's way through the bricks of his cell floor. Of course. As if this wasn't bad enough. Now the universe is just taunting him. He just wants out-
Shink.
Another rock. This one is… bigger. Closer. Wait. No. Nonononono!
More rocks. So many rocks. They're coming straight for him. He can't even run. Damn these shackles! How cruel is this. Ha. He is gonna die.
The rocks reach him. He waits. Varian shuts his eyes. No point fighting. Maybe it's karma. He hurt people. He hurt his dad. Maybe he deserves to die young. To die without seeing the sun again. Maybe it's for the best.
Huh. This is taking a while.
Is that… smoke?
___
Jayce heard a cough through the smog. It sounded strange, unfamiliar. Was someone else in the lab with them?
The smoke began to clear. Jayce immediately rushed to find Viktor. Luckily, he was on the floor unscathed. In fact, it was as though the entire lab had been unaffected by the blast. He finally allowed his gaze to fall to the center of the blast. The hex tech crystal is gone, in its place is a ring of sharp black rocks. Even more concerning is the stranger in the center of the ring.
He can't be older than 15. His hair is messy and black, a single teal streak in his bangs. His bucked teeth, freckles, and blue eyes would have made for a cheery demeanor; if not for the dark circles under them. He almost looked like Viktor in that regard. Most troubling; however, were the manacles binding his wrist together. By the look on his face, best guess is he's as shocked as they are.
A sudden cough erupts from the intruders chest. It sounds like the smoke isn't the only reason. That cough reminds him so much of the ones Viktor is always trying to hide. Jeez, he hopes this kid is okay.
Viktor begins to stand up, using a nearby stool as a crutch. "Well, so much for a peaceful start to Progress Day." Jayce can't help but chuckle at that.
He isn't wrong though. Heigmerdinger will be here soon, and he has to give the progress day speech this evening. Now they have to deal with.... whatever this child is.
---
His chest hurts. The coughing won't stop and it hurts. Varian has had occasional coughing fits since the blizzard, but the smoke is really not helping. His saliva tastes like blood, but he is pretty sure that is just from the release of hemoglobin in his lungs mixing iron and such into his spit. The tears in his eyes make it hard to see. The smoke is clearing, so he should be good soon. The question is, where did the smoke come from?
Varian's coughing subsides and he hears a man's voice, the accent is not Coronian? A quick glance tells him something is really, really WRONG here.
1- This isn't his cell. Much to clean.
2- While it is incredible, this isn't Coronian architecture.
3- There are two strange men in the room with him.
The only reminders of where he just was are the cuffs on his aching wrists and the infernal black rocks surrounding him. Good news though, he isn't dead!
Maybe this is his chance to help his dad? Maybe the universe isn't trying to screw him over for once. He'll have to thank the sun, when he sees it again.
...
HE GETS TO SEE THE SUN AGAIN!
___
An awkward silence hung over the lab. The smoke that had filled it just moments ago dissipated, leaving a new choking presence in its place. All three of its inhabitants knew that someone would have to be the first to speak, first to move. Yet even now, none of them could find the will to do it. And who could? The thin boy with manacles on his wrists who found himself here under unknown circumstance? The sickly scientist fighting to stay on his feet? Or the clueless prodigy who had ran a million ways this day could have gone through his head, and yet wasn't at all ready for this. No, words couldn't fill this void. Nothing could. So instead, Jayce started with the only word he could bring himself to speak.
"Hello."
At this sudden phrase breaking the silence forced all attention to him. The teen's blue eyes met his, his face full of so many things. Fear, shock, questioning, but most curiously, relief.
"I-um... Hi." The kid's voice is hoarse, there is an odd undertone of defensiveness to it as well. He glanced at Viktor, then back to Jayce, suspicion painting his features. His eyes went down to the circle of rocks around his feet. The boy stepped back with a flinch as his eyes locked onto the sleek black spikes.
"Hm... Well, do you have any explanation for what just happened?" Viktor stated coolly. His tone would lead one to believe he was indifferent about all that just transpired, but the caution in his face betrayed the tension he was really feeling. Something mixed with the trepidation however, an oh-so-familiar spark of inspiration, of discovery. The same spark from that day so long ago when he joined him in their endeavor of hextech.