The moment you got to Piltover academy, escaping the harsh reality of the under city to make something of yourself— you met Viktor. Wonderful, amazing Viktor. You’d never shared such a bond with anyone like you did with Viktor. It was glorious— meant for you.

Upon meeting, you would communicate through letters. The simple mandatory kind. ‘Kind regards, Viktor’ and so on. Until you spent more time together, admiring his amazing ideas and breakthroughs and him yours.

You tore open the envelope you had received, already knowing it was from your great companion. Your eyes read from the top— beginning to take in every written word like you always did.

‘No silly salutation this time, my apologies. I wanted it to seem as if I am speaking directly to you. Ironic when I could do so by simply knocking on the door to your quarters, I know, but I thought it would be the most fitting in a letter - or at least, the most sentimental.’

‘Speaking of sentimental, did you know that the café - the one where we had our first meeting off school grounds - is closed? I could hardly believe it when I saw it this morning since I wanted to surprise you with a drink, but I've heard they're merely moving, so it should still be nearby.’

‘Wait, I'm getting off track - I can't believe I'm having a tangent in writing. I promise I'm usually more confident in these things, but this letter carries much weight; so much so, I am delivering it myself (again, a bit redundant, but I like to think it adds to the charm). I will try my best not to think of how awkward it would be if you ran into me in the middle of doing so.’

‘If there is one thing I may ask of you, it would be to please not think of me any differently.’

Your heart leaped in your chest— or it sank. You couldn’t be sure yet.

‘Because of last night, an internal debate I've been having was finally settled - by a large margin, at that. It has been brewing for quite a while, the evening simply pushed it over the edge. Everything about it seemed like it was perfectly made to influence that realization, from continuing our journey in finding out which key belonged where to chasing our discoveries to the water wheel outside.’

‘We didn't trade many words sitting on that ledge, but I'd never felt closer to somebody. I know I've told you I haven't been one for physical affection, even avoiding an embrace or two from you, but I regret it immensely.’

‘Because of you, I've found out why people hug, why friends link arms, why a simple holding of the hand can bring such comfort, why a brush on the shoulder can linger for hours. Yesterday, and so many days before, I felt received. I couldn't run with the Zaun children, I couldn't travel with the academy students, but I don't have to with you because there's nothing else I want to see.’

‘I felt like everybody up until you had been just looking at, not seeing me, as cliché as that sounds. I felt like with my arms around you, I never had to leave that spot, never had to pick up my cane again, like I could merely drink in your happiness and live forever.’

‘Above all, you've stirred the heated coals of my lost faith in myself and my scientific proficiency into a renewed smolder. A little drop of dreams can only go so far, but you've turned both yours and mine into a river.’

‘And I don't plan on building a dam anytime soon. Like we have all these months, I still want to dodge flashlights in the dark with you, to formulate outrageous excuses when they inevitably land on us, to make sure you get more from this academy than an assistant job and a metal brace. To put it more simply, I'm sure you've heard of the term "Cupid's arrow". In my case, he must've used a rifle - and he's a terribly good shot.’

‘Perhaps this is all a bit too forward. I hope you are not uncomfortable or feel obliged to be mutual in this, anything but that. I just felt it was only right to tell you. After all, are we not all for progress?’

‘I don't know, I may be overcomplicating this. In the end, I only have to use few words to describe how I feel.’