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The Artist and the Engineer Part 1//Chapter Six//Fresh Gesso

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Pairing: Viktor x Fem!Artist!Reader

Series Synopsis: Heimerdinger wants a commemorative painting done of Viktor, who is not fond of the idea. It doesn't matter how pretty the artist is.

Chapter Synopsis: After only leaving a mysterious note, the artist disappears for three days.

CW: There's a lil tiny bit (like two sentences) of suggestive stuff.

Word Count: 3.3k

A/N: As of posting this (6/6), it is the unedited first drafted. I really wanted to get this updated written and up for you guys. The more polished second draft will be up either later today or tomorrow!

Don’t forget to like, comment, and reblog your favorite fics ❤️

____

You weren’t there when Viktor went to the studio the next day. Or the afternoon following. He felt certain you wouldn't be making an appearance this day either. But he'd still check. Surely you had survived the encounter. He didn’t hear of any violence on campus. Nor of any blood splattered corpses. Heimerdinger hadn’t come to question him about your absence. So, surely, you were somewhere out in the world.

The urge the question Heimerdinger’s knowledge clawed at his brain. That insatiable itch of a curious mind. The urge to ask until he found the answer. To search until he could hold it in his hand. To dig and push and prod until all things hidden upon first observation were revealed.

You, however, were no experiment. You were a person. A stranger with a friendly face who hadn’t bothered to answer any of the small talk he’d practiced with Jayce. Who had elegantly side stepped any connections he’d tried to make, even if he was no great conversationalist. He made a list of what he knew of you. Which consisted of only about eight items. A few had question marks. You were simply a frustrating enigma that he was sticking his neck out for.

The only thanks he’d received was in the form of a letter –

Jayce was already in the lab when he arrived, welding mask over his face. He didn't seem to hear his arrival. So, he sat at his own workstation, laying out plans and sketches. The constant hum of Jayce's work a familiar background noise.

"Oh, you're here," Jayce said, a few minutes later. "I didn't see you come in. - Is there anything you need me to do while you're gone today?"

"I will have to take a look."

Viktor didn't want to say he wasn't sure you were even going to be coming in today. You had disappeared after the incident in the studio the previous day. And he still wasn't sure what the right course of action was. All he could do was hope you were fine.

Jayce flicked his mask down, then immediately raised it again. "Also, do you remember that sketch I showed you yesterday? I can't find it anywhere. Have you seen it?"

Viktor raised an eyebrow. "No. Not since you went to your meeting."

"That's right." Jayce stood and grabbed his messenger bag from the floor. "I took it with me. It should be in here - somewhere..."

Viktor watched curiously as Jayce rummaged around in his bag, dark brows pinched. He searched a second time before dumping the contents onto the table. Jayce shoved the papers around.

"It's not here..." He held up a slip of folded paper, flipping it over. "Where did this come from?"

"Did you find it?"

Jayce shook his head, then walked to Viktor. "This says it's for you."

Viktor took the folded paper from him. His name was written across it in a very familiar script. A smudged thumb print stamped the corner. That was paint. Hastily, he turned back to his table and opened it.

V -

Sorry.

I know this is unfair of me to ask, and I can't promise you any answers, but I’ll owe you.

I hope I can count on you.

Your first initial was written at the bottom next to another smudge of paint.

Jayce had tried to read the note over his shoulder. But Viktor tucked it protectively against his chest. Then folded it to hide in the inside pocket of his vest.

"Well?" Jayce asked. "What is it?'

"Nothing for you to worry about."

"It's from that artist, isn't it?"

Viktor jerked up, looking over his shoulder. "Why do you say that?"

"I ran into her yesterday - literally." Jayce ran a hand through his hair. "I wonder if we swapped papers by accident."

Or not by accident, Viktor thought.

He had unfolded and refolded that note a dozen times over the last two days. He’d stared at the words for a long time, reading and rereading. Over and over. Staying up into the dark hours with nothing but them on his mind. In the end, he’d concluded there was no puzzle. No secret meaning or cipher. Your words were thus, simple and plain.

Viktor had spent a long while working through everything. Fighting with himself over what would be the most logical way to go about this. Would it be best to go to Heimerdinger? But then what would happen to you? What if this secret just sunk him deeper into trouble?

All of it swirled, whispering endlessly into his subconscious. Until he finally came to the conclusion that he would listen to what you had to say. He'd mind his business, keep his distance and not get close. When the painting was finished, then you two would go your separate ways and never speak again. It would be best that way.

One thing he definitely couldn't figure out was why you had taken Jayce's paper. It would be of no use to you. It was just a theoretical drawing anyway. They weren't even sure if the device would work. Still, you were just an artist. As far as Viktor knew, you had no sort of background in mechanics or engineering. You'd clearly left your note for Jayce to find. Could you truly have taken that sketch by accident?

When the bell tolled two, Viktor stretched and readied himself. Preparing for any awkwardness that might come if he saw you again. He was careful about his journey, slow. Turning over questions, figuring out which would push lightly and give him just enough of a reason not to go to Heimerdinger.

He would go to the professor.

Wouldn't he?

Viktor held his breath and stood before the studio door. A wake of butterflies careening through his belly. There was no reason for him to be so nervous. To anticipate seeing your face behind the door. If he stood here long enough, he could pretend you were right there. Ready with answers.

However, the Alumni Studio was empty when he finally shoved it open. It didn't look like anyone had been here in days. The air was stagnant, sharp with the scent of paint thinner. Disappointment was a heavy weight in his chest.

Viktor made for the side room you had put him in. He paused briefly to stare at his reflection in the mirror. Then frowned. He didn't want to be memorialized like this. He wondered if he could convince you to leave his brace and cane out of the painting. If there was even going to be a painting anymore.

The side room was empty too. Guiltily, he quickly rummaged through the cubby with your name on it. There was nothing to find, though. Which somehow brought him a small sense of relief.

Viktor went out to the chaise and sat in the same place as always. It was quiet here. Just the trees shushing outside the high windows. He pressed his back against the cushion, craning his neck to look at the ceiling. He felt so small in this empty space. But it was relaxing to just be alone. Even if you weren't here, maybe he could still take this hour.

He hadn't noticed he drifted off until there was a voice. Viktor flinched, rubbing at his eye with the heel of his hand. He looked up to find the girl from the courtyard. What was her name again?

"Oh! Mr. Viktor, you're awake! - I didn't mean to startle you. I don't know if you remember me, I'm -"

"Fallon," he offered. "And just Viktor will suffice."

Fallon beamed. "Yes! Sorry, I came to see if our mutual friend was here. I wasn't expecting anyone else."

"I was waiting." It was a white lie, but it wouldn't hurt anything. Viktor moved to stand, and Fallon stepped aside. "I must've dozed off."

"Well, I'm sure being a researcher and the Dean's assistant is busy work. - You haven't seen her, have you?"

Viktor shook his head. "No. It's been three days. Have you?"

"No." Fallon frowned. "Did something happen?"

Viktor flashed briefly to your panicked face. "Not that I am aware."

"Darn," sighed Fallon, shoulders visibly slumping. "I guess I should get going then..."

"Actually - would you like to accompany me for a late lunch?"

Fallon's grin was infectious. "It would be my pleasure!"

The cafe Fallon led him to was a small, quaint place not far from the academy. It smelled delightful inside. But Viktor barely took notice. His mind was reeling.

"So, tell me," he started once they were seated. The tea he was drinking light and pleasant. "How did you two meet?"

Fallon swallowed down the pastry she'd crammed into her mouth, then wiped at her face with a napkin. "During first term, undergrads pair up with graduate students. They act as mentors. Typically, its first-year graduate students that we pair up with so that we' have them up until we start the graduate program ourselves. But there wasn't enough. She offered to be mine even though she was a third year. Apparently her first graduate term there weren't a lot of art students. So, she wasn't paired up with anyone else yet. I consider myself luck I got her. You've seen her work, I'm sure. It's beautiful."

"I've only seen the portrait hung in Heimerdinger's office."

Fallon raised an eyebrow. "Don't you pass through the main hall when you go for your sessions? She has a few pieces hung up there."

"I will admit, I've never paid attention."

"That just will not suffice." Fallon leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms. The disapproval was evident. "You have to see them. I'm going to show you when we go back."

Viktor nodded slightly. Then Fallon leaned forward, a sly look on her face. It turned his stomach to ice.

"What?"

"So, what do you think of our little artist?"

"She is quite good company." You still were all things considered. He would be upset about putting distance between you. You could've had a nice friendship.

"And that's all?" Fallon pouted.

"Should there be more?"

"Are you saying you don't find her attractive at all?! - You don't go home at night and dream of fucking her stupid?"

A strange sound came from his throat. Heat crept through his chest and up his collar, singeing his cheeks and ears.

"I - she - that is -" Viktor fumbled for his words. He had never gone that far. It was one thing to think you were attractive. And quite another to think of you like that.

Fallon laughed. "So, then you do think she's pretty."

Viktor averted his gaze to the window. "I do not think that is relevant to this conversation."

"Then you didn't ask me to lunch to see what she thought of you? Or find out if she's single? - She does think you're quite handsome."

"Heimerdinger has already told me what she said."

Fallon smirked. "I bet she doesn't tell Heimerdinger all her pretty little secrets, though."

"Why would I care for those?" asked Viktor coolly. His heart was pounding in his chest.

"All I can say is that she is knee deep in something I'm not sure she'll ever be able to escape."

"What is that, exactly?"

"I guess that depends on what you're referring to." Fallon dropped her voice; there was a darkness in her expression. "She has dreams of you. She wakes up hot and bothered in the middle of the night. Touching herself to them."

Viktor shot up out of his seat without thinking. "I believe it's time we return."

Just like that, Fallon was back to the sunshiny version she'd been earlier. She pouted but collected her belongings and left cash on the table. "Oh, already? But we were just getting to the good stuff."

"I am a very busy man."

"I'm sure you will be."

Fallon skipped along, a grin on her face. Something about it rubbed Viktor wrong. She grabbed his arm as they passed through the main hall of the art wing. He resisted the urge to wrench himself out of her grasp.

"Here, these are two of her paintings," Fallon said. She pointed to two sizeable pieces. They both had you name and the piece title etched on a small golden plaque.

Viktor stared up at the canvases. One was a landscape of the academy with students hustling about. In the background are airships, banners, confetti, and balloons. But there's also a spark of magic. With people flying and transforming. Viktor could almost see the people moving in it. Hear the roar of the crowd.

Something about the second struck him. It was dark in comparison. Slashes of bright colors moved through the darkness. They fought and swirled together. An anatomical human heart was just barely visible amongst the spiraling chaos.

It moved something in him.

"This one," Viktor started, taking a step closer.

"She told me she had a rough year when she painted that. Apparently, she'd gone through a really bad break up. She had found a ring and thought he was going to propose. When she saw him next, his colleague was wearing the ring."

Viktor frowned. He couldn't fathom why anyone would do that. Especially to you.

"I've never really understood art," Viktor admitted, "The pursuit of it is beyond my comprehension. If I'm going to add anything to this world. I want it to be something useful. Not something to look at that will collect dust and eventually fade."

"Art has its uses," said Fallon defensively.

"That is what Heimerdinger told me."

"I believe there's a few more of her paintings around here. You just have to look for them. I think you should go and look at them." Fallon turned to him then, giving him that sly grin again. "I need to go. But it was very interesting having lunch with you, Viktor."

Viktor didn't say anything as he watched her go. He tried not to think too much about her words as he made his way back to the lab. It was well into the afternoon by that point. he hadn't realized he'd been gone so long.

"Have a good time?" Jayce asked as he came in.

"She wasn't in today. I took lunch." Viktor sat at his workstation, tapped his pen on the table a few times, then turned to Jayce. "Did your search ever produce anything?"

"Hm? Oh, about the artist? - Yeah. Apparently, she's been doing portraits and paintings for all of the nobles. Even the Kiramann's. That's how my mom heard of her," Jayce explained.

"And that is all?"

Jayce shrugged. "There wasn't really much to find. It seems it all started with Heimerdinger. He pushed a few of the right people to her. The only weird thing was that she asks for an oddly specific amount, and no one can seem to book her on the first of the month."

Viktor hummed. "My own portrait sessions - did they begin on the first?"

"I don't think so. I think it was the last day, and then you skipped a day. - Why? Do you think something is going on?"

Viktor shook his head. "No, no - I was just curious. Thank you."

"I redid the missing sketch and tweaked it a little bit. Do you think you could give it a look?"

The rest of the evening passed in a blink of an eye. Viktor didn't even have time to think about everything that had happened. They started drawing up blueprints and making their calculations.

Jayce left early, looking to get enough sleep before a council meeting in the morning. This left Viktor alone. And he found that, this one time, he didn't want to be alone. He stood and organized his papers. Then decided to go on a walk. He wasn't sure to where. Not until he was stood in front of your canvases again. Now that the sun was down and the lights were out, the outline of the heart was much more prominent.

With a yawn, Viktor headed in the direction of the studio. He'd dozed off so easily earlier. He wondered if he would get the luxury of such good sleep on that sofa again. What he wasn't expecting was you on the stool when he came in. Your back to him. His heart lurched as he sucked in a gasp. Then came a flood of relief. So, you'd survived the encounter after.

Blood rushed past his eardrums. He kept his back pressed against the door. The silence between you two absolutely staggering. How did he start? Where did he begin? What should he say? Luckily, he didn't have to say anything.

"I understand," you started finally, "if you don't want to do this anymore. - If I was you, I wouldn't trust me either."

Viktor swallowed the lump in his throat. "We all carry secrets, burdens."

"Some of us more than others. - I owe you a favor," you said, "Thank you. For not telling Heimerdinger."

"It was the least I could do." He wasn't going to tell you he made the decision right in that moment.

"It was unfair of me to do that you, I made sure it won't happen again."

There was a long pause.

"It was those men who broke your fingers."

You laughed. "You're far too observant sometimes. - Kuegler never leaves without a lesson being taught. I'm not sure if that's just him or it's - if his boss put him up to it."

"They've hurt you again..." Jayce had conveniently left that part out.

You turned and smiled at him, a patch over your eye. "Like I said, too observant...Kuegler's brain may be small, but his fists are not."

"If you need anything, I can -"

"No," your voice was cold, a chill ran down his spine. "You've done enough. You don't need to concern yourself. - I'm sorry you had to see that."

"I have seen worse, in my time."

"Undercity is always ready to burden us with new horrors. - Never truly escape, do we? I'm sure I'm not who you thought I was."

"Can we ever be sure of other people?"

"No. I suppose not."

"Why are you here so late?"

"Picking up where I left off. - Why are you? Don't you have a home to return to? Someone waiting?"

Viktor nearly laughed. "I needed a break from my work, and the resting area in the workshop is quite cramped. I have my own apartment, but my work calls me out at late hours. There is no one who waits for me, anyway."

"So," you chuckled, "I suppose you and I are much the same, then. I stay up much later than I should, but the canvas calls my name. And creativity is a fickle mistress. But at least I can work in my apartment."

"No one to keep awake with the light, then?"

You slightly shook your head. "I - Given what's happened, it's best not to get too close to people. -- I'm looking to go to the paint supply store tomorrow, if you're interested in going still. I can't promise it'll be interesting. I'm leaving at half-past noon. We can meet here at the main entrance, if you want."

"Those men -"

"I don't want to come off as harsh, V - but please drop it. The less you know, the safer you are. Besides, I've already dealt with it. They won't be showing up here again anytime soon."

"Then yes, I would like to accompany you still." Viktor frowned. "May I ask one more question? - Even if I don't believe you'll answer."

"Then why ask it?"

"A scientist's curiosity is never truly sated."

You sighed, standing and going over to the sink. "Alright then - one more question."

"What was their interest price?"

You stared deeply into the running water. "You don't want to know."

Then you turned the tap on full blast, drowning out any hope of conversation.

~*~

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