The tower had always been quiet.

It was just as Viktor wanted it, really. Each day passed in brushstrokes and choreographed routines, from sunrise to sundown. Sweeping the floorboards, sketching out new machines, cataloguing every cloud that passed through his view... And of course, brushing and brushing and brushing his hair. Viktor had long memorized the rhythm of solitude, every creak in the stone, every flutter of birdsong just outside reach. The world, as he knew it, was confined to four ivy-wrapped walls and one stubborn dream that tugged at his ribs like a kite string.

He'd told himself he was content. Mostly. Because outside of the tower was dangerous, Singed always warned. Full of people that wanted to steal his power for their own. So Viktor didn't protest. It was all for his safety, after all. But the sky whispered stories some nights. Once a year, coming in the form of floating lights, glowing lanterns that rose like questions into the stars.

Then, everything shifted.

It wasn't a flash, or a bang, or any sort of grand rebellion against his life that Viktor had dreamed about. Singed had been gone for a few days, not to be back for at least a week. And yet, while Viktor was painting over the murals in his room again, he heard the unmistakable sound of someone coming in through the window. A soft thud, laboured breath. Someone alive.

Viktor almost passed out from the shock. As quietly as he could, he crept downstairs to see who his visitor was. His eyes landed on you. And you stared right back. And it could have gone on for hours, if he didn't smack you over the head with his cane a moment later. It took him another few moments to actually realise what he had done.

"Oh, that's, uh..." He took a shaky breath. "Rio, what do we do...?"

The little lizard gave him a shrug. Great, just what he needed. The ungrateful little brat being annoying again. So as best as he could, Viktor tied you into a chair. With his own hair, of course. Singed would never let Viktor have rope in the tower.

It wasn't long before you woke up. A few minutes, maybe. At least he hasn't caused any permanent damage on your brain. Although it mustn't have been very big in the first place, since you tried scaling a tower without knowing if it was unoccupied or not.

"Why, uh, why are you here?" Viktor asked, trying as hard as he could to sound stern. The cane grasped in his shaking hands and poised towards your head was a good enough threat to make you look a bit worried. "And--and you better answer, because I will hit you again otherwise."