Jayce remembers meeting Viktor the first time, in his destroyed apartment all those years ago, Viktor walking as his things were collected, still working for Heimerdinger at the academy before Jayce's trial. And the night after his trial, he saved his life, and believed in him, for the first time.

They became business partners, bouncing off every idea from each other, they worked perfectly together, both so enthusiastic for their work. But every time Jayce would start to ask Viktor questions - Simple ones - But not about the science. And - It’s not that Viktor wouldn't answer - He did, politely, but only the surface. Viktor is a master at responses that are short enough to not give much away, but not so short as to appear like he is trying to shut down the conversation.

Jayce felt hurt at first, but that's fine, still, right? It just seemed Viktor had no interest in him outside of work, but that's fine. They still worked perfectly together.

Jayce realized, though, maybe it just took time. A long time, but never the less, he hardly even noticed at first, when Viktor suddenly started thawing out over the years. Random, soft little comments about his childhood, and his parents. Then finally questions for Jayce, leading to conversations longer than Jayce ever imangined. They knew all idiosyncrasies soon enough, closer than anything either had known.

As the years passed, though, Jayce started being around less, as he got into the Council, and Viktor's condition worsened, but they still saw each other every day, inseparable.

Though always rare, it was hardly ever an occurrence now, for Viktor to join Jayce at all those snooty, Piltie events they were invited to, but today, as they sat in comfortable silence, Jayce walked over after gathering their mail and then looks to Viktor.

"You know, there's a gala at Council Salo's house tonight."