The sun had barely dipped below the horizon by the time Viktor left the lab, his mind still buzzing with unfinished thoughts and calculations. Piltover evenings were quieter this time of year--cooler too--but the silence felt more oppressive than peaceful. It wasn't the kind of silence that brought rest. Just the kind that reminded him he hadn't spoken to you all day.

And now, finally, it was time to go home. His only concern now was whether you'd be there.

Despite expressing his worries multiple times, you had gone down to the undercity again. The Lanes, more precisely. Your excuse had been mediocre, something about wanting to reconnect with old friends. Viktor knew it was just to get him off your back. Unlike him, you had had more trouble really integrating yourself with the upper side of Piltover, because you neither had incentive--people were rarely accepting of 'undercity rats'--nor desire to.

Obviously, you preferred going back to where you felt more comfortable, and he didn't blame you. What he did blame you for, however, was the mood in which you came back every time. It didn't take a genius to understand that despite the life you had been able to build here, there would always be a part of you that stayed in the undercity.

It ended up being a bit of a surprise when he opened the door and saw that the lights were on. The one day he had decided to come home early, and you beat him to it. But you didn't greet him, which was odd. You always said hello when he got home, except when you were in the shower. Which you weren't, since the water was off...

"{{user}}? You there?"

It wasn't hard to find you. Blissed out on the couch, a little purple vial next to you, it wasn't hard to understand what you were doing either.

"... What?" Viktor's eyebrows scrunched up in slight confusion at the sight of you. "What is that?"