#Fine Tuning Model

[srzayed]

In the heart of the snow-covered mountains, there once thrived a forgotten civilization. Hidden away from the prying eyes of the outside world, this ancient society forged their existence amidst the harsh and unforgiving environment. Their temples, shrouded in mystery and guarded by the icy peaks, held the key to their culture and knowledge. But over time, this civilization faded into obscurity, leaving only whispers of their existence behind.

[microwavetoaster-selfships]

I don't want to go to bed without trying to rip a Dr.Strangeglove model from the game first even if it seems like I will be running into some complications and possibly deadends but I fear I can feel some sleepiness creeping up on me, espeically after I had to get pulled away from intensely staring at my computer and lost some of my momentum. And I also worry that getting home tomorrow from workI won't have the same amount of energy for continuing this.I mean I still have some time left before I would like to go to bed but... i am getting closer to walking a fine line....

[ricktheknight]

I honestly plan on making a separate model for dream bbq Ena cause her body proportions feel like she’s a more grown up version of the original version, but god, finding out the logic to matching several shots of the blue arm in the series to a single 3d design that actually works for most of every episode was hell. Im not ready to make sense of dream bbqs clawed hand…

[literaryhistories]

having one hundred small but important tasks on my to-do list is the perfect time to think about training my own small generative language model

[neural-blended]

Warrior Goddess Moon's Embrace

[tsscat]

Honestly maybe a lot of this is due to the extreme media frenzy that is happening around ai rn but I feel so hopeless about the public consciousness's attitude towards ai. it feels like most of the people who raise concerns about ai are people who don't know (sometimes refusing to learn) that much about it and as a result make claims and propose stuff that simply does not work out given how the technology works. But it also feels like most of the people who do have a clue as to how ai works refuse to even acknowledge the very real dangers and ramifications of it. Regardless I find myself banging my head.

[srzayed]

Batman was sad because his bat signal malfunctioned and started projecting cute kitten pictures instead.

[alexfeelyx]

Wait wait wait. Yes I do agree with the obstacle thing but aren't y'all seeing camera angles? I thought writing was about trying to put the movie in my head into words because as you said yourself, we don't get to make movies.

I mean yeah sometimes it's about enjoying language itself and enjoying that I can show things that are very hard to communicate via film. So like I am aware that writing is a very different art form and has its own perks.

I'm just... like, what are we supposed to do? You're right, we don't get to make movies, but the alternative is that people who see their story ideas as movies should just. Give up and not think about them I guess. Your imagination wants to create things in an art form that you don't have access to so just stop having creative thoughts. Definitely don't try to make a different kind of art cuz you're doing it wrong.

i think people who complain about paragraphs being too long should just read/write screenplays instead. some of us actually enjoy reading

[vault81]

continuing both of my FO3/FNV playthroughs with jack and kept wondering why my games looked weird... turns out I forgot I went and used the console commands to make his character taller and just forgot about it lmfao

[techahead-software-blog]

RAG vs Fine-Tuning: Choosing the Right Approach for Building LLM-Powered Chatbots

Imagine having an ultra-intelligent assistant ready to answer any question. Now, imagine making it even more capable, specifically for tasks you rely on most. That’s the power—and the debate—behind Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and Fine-Tuning. These methods act as “training wheels,” each enhancing your AI’s capabilities in unique ways.

RAG brings in current, real-world data whenever the model needs it, perfect for tasks requiring constant updates. Fine-Tuning, on the other hand, ingrains task-specific knowledge directly into the model, tailoring it to your exact needs. Selecting between them can dramatically influence your AI’s performance and relevance.

Whether you’re building a customer-facing chatbot, automating tailored content, or optimizing an industry-specific application, choosing the right approach can make all the difference. 

This guide will delve into the core contrasts, benefits, and ideal use cases for RAG and Fine-Tuning, helping you pinpoint the best fit for your AI ambitions.

Key Takeaways:

Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and Fine-Tuning are two powerful techniques for enhancing Large Language Models (LLMs) with distinct advantages.

RAG is ideal for applications requiring real-time information updates, leveraging external knowledge bases to deliver relevant, up-to-date responses.

Fine-Tuning excels in accuracy for specific tasks, embedding task-specific knowledge directly into the model’s parameters for reliable, consistent performance.

Hybrid approaches blend the strengths of both RAG and Fine-Tuning, achieving a balance of real-time adaptability and domain-specific accuracy.

What is RAG?

Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) is an advanced technique in natural language processing (NLP) that combines retrieval-based and generative models to provide highly relevant, contextually accurate responses to user queries. Developed by OpenAI and other leading AI researchers, RAG enables systems to pull information from extensive databases, knowledge bases, or documents and use it as part of a generated response, enhancing accuracy and relevance.

How RAG Works?

Retrieval Step

When a query is received, the system searches through a pre-indexed database or corpus to find relevant documents or passages. This retrieval process typically uses dense embeddings, which are vector representations of text that help identify the most semantically relevant information.

 Generation Step

The retrieved documents are then passed to a generative model, like GPT or a similar transformer-based architecture. This model combines the query with the retrieved information to produce a coherent, relevant response. The generative model doesn’t just repeat the content but rephrases and contextualizes it for clarity and depth.

Combining Outputs

The generative model synthesizes the response, ensuring that the answer is not only relevant but also presented in a user-friendly way. The combined information often makes RAG responses more informative and accurate than those generated by standalone generative models.

Advantages of RAG

Improved Relevance

By incorporating external, up-to-date sources, RAG generates more contextually accurate responses than traditional generative models alone.

Reduced Hallucination

One of the significant issues with purely generative models is “hallucination,” where they produce incorrect or fabricated information. RAG mitigates this by grounding responses in real, retrieved content.

Scalability

RAG can integrate with extensive knowledge bases and adapt to vast amounts of information, making it ideal for enterprise and research applications.

Enhanced Context Understanding

By pulling from a wide variety of sources, RAG provides a richer, more nuanced understanding of complex queries.

Real-World Knowledge Integration

For companies needing up-to-date or specialized information (e.g., medical databases, and legal documents), RAG can incorporate real-time data, ensuring the response is as accurate and current as possible.

Disadvantages of RAG

Computational Intensity

RAG requires both retrieval and generation steps, demanding higher processing power and memory, making it more expensive than traditional NLP models.

Reliance on Database Quality

The accuracy of RAG responses is highly dependent on the quality and relevance of the indexed knowledge base. If the corpus lacks depth or relevance, the output can suffer.

Latency Issues

The retrieval and generation process can introduce latency, potentially slowing response times, especially if the retrieval corpus is vast.

Complexity in Implementation

Setting up RAG requires both an effective retrieval system and a sophisticated generative model, increasing the technical complexity and maintenance needs.

Bias in Retrieved Data

Since RAG relies on existing data, it can inadvertently amplify biases or errors present in the retrieved sources, affecting the quality of the generated response.

What is Fine-Tuning?

Fine-tuning is a process in machine learning where a pre-trained model (one that has been initially trained on a large dataset) is further trained on a more specific, smaller dataset. This step customizes the model to perform better on a particular task or within a specialized domain. Fine-tuning adjusts the weights of the model so that it can adapt to nuances in the new data, making it highly relevant for specific applications, such as medical diagnostics, legal document analysis, or customer support.

How Fine-Tuning Works?

Pre-Trained Model Selection

A model pre-trained on a large, general dataset (like GPT trained on a vast dataset of internet text) serves as the foundation. This model already understands a wide range of language patterns, structures, and general knowledge.

Dataset Preparation

A specific dataset, tailored to the desired task or domain, is prepared for fine-tuning. This dataset should ideally contain relevant and high-quality examples of what the model will encounter in production.

Training Process

During fine-tuning, the model is retrained on the new dataset with a lower learning rate to avoid overfitting. This step adjusts the pre-trained model’s weights so that it can capture the specific patterns, terminology, or context in the new data without losing its general language understanding.

Evaluation and Optimization

The fine-tuned model is tested against a validation dataset to ensure it performs well. If necessary, hyperparameters are adjusted to further optimize performance.

Deployment

Once fine-tuning yields satisfactory results, the model is ready for deployment to handle specific tasks with improved accuracy and relevancy.

Advantages of Fine-Tuning

Enhanced Accuracy

Fine-tuning significantly improves the model’s performance on domain-specific tasks since it adapts to the unique vocabulary and context of the target domain.

Cost-Effectiveness

It’s more cost-effective than training a new model from scratch. Leveraging a pre-trained model saves computational resources and reduces time to deployment.

Task-Specific Customization

Fine-tuning enables customization for niche applications, like customer service responses, medical diagnostics, or legal document summaries, where specialized vocabulary and context are required.

Reduced Data Requirements

Fine-tuning typically requires a smaller dataset than training a model from scratch, as the model has already learned fundamental language patterns from the pre-training phase.

Scalability Across Domains

The same pre-trained model can be fine-tuned for multiple specialized tasks, making it highly adaptable across different applications and industries.

Disadvantages of Fine-Tuning

Risk of Overfitting

If the fine-tuning dataset is too small or lacks diversity, the model may overfit, meaning it performs well on the fine-tuning data but poorly on new inputs.

Loss of General Knowledge

Excessive fine-tuning on a narrow dataset can lead to a loss of general language understanding, making the model less effective outside the fine-tuned domain.

Data Sensitivity

Fine-tuning may amplify biases or errors present in the new dataset, especially if it’s not balanced or representative.

Computation Costs

While fine-tuning is cheaper than training from scratch, it still requires computational resources, which can be costly for complex models or large datasets.

Maintenance and Updates

Fine-tuned models may require periodic retraining or updating as new domain-specific data becomes available, adding to maintenance costs.

Key Difference Between RAG and Fine-Tuning

 

Key Trade-Offs to Consider

Data Dependency 

RAG’s dynamic data retrieval means it’s less dependent on static data, allowing accurate responses without retraining.

Cost and Time

Fine-tuning is computationally demanding and time-consuming, yet yields highly specialized models for specific use cases.

Dynamic Vs Static Knowledge

RAG benefits from dynamic, up-to-date retrieval, while fine-tuning relies on stored static knowledge, which may age.

When to Choose Between RAG and Fine-Tuning?

RAG shines in applications needing vast and frequently updated knowledge, like tech support, research tools, or real-time summarization. It minimizes retraining requirements but demands a high-quality retrieval setup to avoid inaccuracies. Example: A chatbot using RAG for product recommendations can fetch real-time data from a constantly updated database.

Fine-tuning excels in tasks needing domain-specific knowledge, such as medical diagnostics, content generation, or document reviews. While demanding quality data and computational resources, it delivers consistent results post-training, making it well-suited for static applications. Example: A fine-tuned AI model for document summarization in finance provides precise outputs tailored to industry-specific language.

the right choice is totally depended on the use case of your LLM chatbot. Take the necessary advantages and disadvantages in the list and choose the right fit for your custom LLM development.

Hybrid Approaches: Leveraging RAG and Fine-Tuning Together

Rather than favoring either RAG or fine-tuning, hybrid approaches combine the strengths of both methods. This approach fine-tunes the model for domain-specific tasks, ensuring consistent and precise performance. At the same time, it incorporates RAG’s dynamic retrieval for real-time data, providing flexibility in volatile environments.

Optimized for Precision and Real-Time Responsiveness

With hybridization, the model achieves high accuracy for specialized tasks while adapting flexibly to real-time information. This balance is crucial in environments that require both up-to-date insights and historical knowledge, such as customer service, finance, and healthcare.

Fine-Tuning for Domain Consistency: By fine-tuning, hybrid models develop strong, domain-specific understanding, offering reliable and consistent responses within specialized contexts.

RAG for Real-Time Adaptability: Integrating RAG enables the model to access external information dynamically, keeping responses aligned with the latest data.

Ideal for Data-Intensive Industries: Hybrid models are indispensable in fields like finance, healthcare, and customer service, where both past insights and current trends matter. They adapt to new information while retaining industry-specific precision.

Versatile, Cost-Effective Performance

Hybrid approaches maximize flexibility without extensive retraining, reducing costs in data management and computational resources. This approach allows organizations to leverage existing fine-tuned knowledge while scaling up with dynamic retrieval, making it a robust, future-proof solution.

Conclusion

Choosing between RAG and Fine-Tuning depends on your application’s requirements. RAG delivers flexibility and adaptability, ideal for dynamic, multi-domain needs. It provides real-time data access, making it invaluable for applications with constantly changing information.

Fine-Tuning, however, focuses on domain-specific tasks, achieving greater precision and efficiency. It’s perfect for tasks where accuracy is non-negotiable, embedding knowledge directly within the model.

Hybrid approaches blend these benefits, offering the best of both. However, these solutions demand thoughtful integration for optimal performance, balancing flexibility with precision.

At TechAhead, we excel in delivering custom AI app development around specific business objectives. Whether implementing RAG, Fine-Tuning, or a hybrid approach, our expert team ensures AI solutions drive impactful performance gains for your business.

Source URL: https://www.techaheadcorp.com/blog/rag-vs-fine-tuning-difference-for-chatbots/

[rjas16]

Think Smarter, Not Harder: Meet RAG

How do RAG make machines think like you?

Imagine a world where your AI assistant doesn't only talk like a human but understands your needs, explores the latest data, and gives you answers you can trust—every single time. Sounds like science fiction? It's not.

We're at the tipping point of an AI revolution, where large language models (LLMs) like OpenAI's GPT are rewriting the rules of engagement in everything from customer service to creative writing. here's the catch: all that eloquence means nothing if it can't deliver the goods—if the answers aren't just smooth, spot-on, accurate, and deeply relevant to your reality.

The question is: Are today's AI models genuinely equipped to keep up with the complexities of real-world applications, where context, precision, and truth aren't just desirable but essential? The answer lies in pushing the boundaries further—with Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG).

While LLMs generate human-sounding copies, they often fail to deliver reliable answers based on real facts. How do we ensure that an AI-powered assistant doesn't confidently deliver outdated or incorrect information? How do we strike a balance between fluency and factuality? The answer is in a brand new powerful approach: Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG).

What is Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)?

RAG is a game-changing technique to increase the basic abilities of traditional language models by integrating them with information retrieval mechanisms. RAG does not only rely on pre-acquired knowledge but actively seek external information to create up-to-date and accurate answers, rich in context. Imagine for a second what could happen if you had a customer support chatbot able to engage in a conversation and draw its answers from the latest research, news, or your internal documents to provide accurate, context-specific answers.

RAG has the immense potential to guarantee informed, responsive and versatile AI. But why is this necessary? Traditional LLMs are trained on vast datasets but are static by nature. They cannot access real-time information or specialized knowledge, which can lead to "hallucinations"—confidently incorrect responses. RAG addresses this by equipping LLMs to query external knowledge bases, grounding their outputs in factual data.

How Does Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) Work?

RAG brings a dynamic new layer to traditional AI workflows. Let's break down its components:

Embedding Model

Think of this as the system's "translator." It converts text documents into vector formats, making it easier to manage and compare large volumes of data.

Retriever

It's the AI's internal search engine. It scans the vectorized data to locate the most relevant documents that align with the user's query.

Reranker (Opt.)

It assesses the submitted documents and score their relevance to guarantee that the most pertinent data will pass along.

Language Model

The language model combines the original query with the top documents the retriever provides, crafting a precise and contextually aware response. Embedding these components enables RAG to enhance the factual accuracy of outputs and allows for continuous updates from external data sources, eliminating the need for costly model retraining.

How does RAG achieve this integration?

It begins with a query. When a user asks a question, the retriever sifts through a curated knowledge base using vector embeddings to find relevant documents. These documents are then fed into the language model, which generates an answer informed by the latest and most accurate information. This approach dramatically reduces the risk of hallucinations and ensures that the AI remains current and context-aware.

RAG for Content Creation: A Game Changer or just a IT thing?

Content creation is one of the most exciting areas where RAG is making waves. Imagine an AI writer who crafts engaging articles and pulls in the latest data, trends, and insights from credible sources, ensuring that every piece of content is compelling and accurate isn't a futuristic dream or the product of your imagination. RAG makes it happen.

Why is this so revolutionary?

Engaging and factually sound content is rare, especially in today's digital landscape, where misinformation can spread like wildfire. RAG offers a solution by combining the creative fluency of LLMs with the grounding precision of information retrieval. Consider a marketing team launching a campaign based on emerging trends. Instead of manually scouring the web for the latest statistics or customer insights, an RAG-enabled tool could instantly pull in relevant data, allowing the team to craft content that resonates with current market conditions.

The same goes for various industries from finance to healthcare, and law, where accuracy is fundamental. RAG-powered content creation tools promise that every output aligns with the most recent regulations, the latest research and market trends, contributing to boosting the organization's credibility and impact.

Applying RAG in day-to-day business

How can we effectively tap into the power of RAG? Here's a step-by-step guide:

Identify High-Impact Use Cases

Start by pinpointing areas where accurate, context-aware information is critical. Think customer service, marketing, content creation, and compliance—wherever real-time knowledge can provide a competitive edge.

Curate a robust knowledge base

RAG relies on the quality of the data it collects and finds. Build or connect to a comprehensive knowledge repository with up-to-date, reliable information—internal documents, proprietary data, or trusted external sources.

Select the right tools and technologies

Leverage platforms that support RAG architecture or integrate retrieval mechanisms with existing LLMs. Many AI vendors now offer solutions combining these capabilities, so choose one that fits your needs.

Train your team

Successful implementation requires understanding how RAG works and its potential impact. Ensure your team is well-trained in deploying RAG&aapos;s technical and strategic aspects.

Monitor and optimize

Like any technology, RAG benefits from continuous monitoring and optimization. Track key performance indicators (KPIs) like accuracy, response time, and user satisfaction to refine and enhance its application.

Applying these steps will help organizations like yours unlock RAG's full potential, transform their operations, and enhance their competitive edge.

The Business Value of RAG

Why should businesses consider integrating RAG into their operations? The value proposition is clear:

Trust and accuracy

RAG significantly enhances the accuracy of responses, which is crucial for maintaining customer trust, especially in sectors like finance, healthcare, and law.

Efficiency

Ultimately, RAG reduces the workload on human employees, freeing them to focus on higher-value tasks.

Knowledge management

RAG ensures that information is always up-to-date and relevant, helping businesses maintain a high standard of knowledge dissemination and reducing the risk of costly errors.

Scalability and change

As an organization grows and evolves, so does the complexity of information management. RAG offers a scalable solution that can adapt to increasing data volumes and diverse information needs.

RAG vs. Fine-Tuning: What's the Difference?

Both RAG and fine-tuning are powerful techniques for optimizing LLM performance, but they serve different purposes:

Fine-Tuning

This approach involves additional training on specific datasets to make a model more adept at particular tasks. While effective for niche applications, it can limit the model's flexibility and adaptability.

RAG

In contrast, RAG dynamically retrieves information from external sources, allowing for continuous updates without extensive retraining, which makes it ideal for applications where real-time data and accuracy are critical.

The choice between RAG and fine-tuning entirely depends on your unique needs. For example, RAG is the way to go if your priority is real-time accuracy and contextual relevance.

Concluding Thoughts

As AI evolves, the demand for RAG AI Service Providers systems that are not only intelligent but also accurate, reliable, and adaptable will only grow. Retrieval-Augmented generation stands at the forefront of this evolution, promising to make AI more useful and trustworthy across various applications.

Whether it's a content creation revolution, enhancing customer support, or driving smarter business decisions, RAG represents a fundamental shift in how we interact with AI. It bridges the gap between what AI knows and needs to know, making it the tool of reference to grow a real competitive edge.

Let's explore the infinite possibilities of RAG together

We would love to know; how do you intend to optimize the power of RAG in your business? There are plenty of opportunities that we can bring together to life. Contact our team of AI experts for a chat about RAG and let's see if we can build game-changing models together.

[orifu]

NOT HEARTBREAKING: The Most Annoying Person in your Class Loves Large Language Models

[aitalksblog]

Comparing Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and Fine-tuning: Advantages and Limitations

(Images made by author with Microsoft Copilot) In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, two approaches stand out for enhancing the capabilities of language models: Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and fine-tuning. Each approach offers unique advantages and challenges, making it essential to understand their differences and determine the most suitable approach for…

[chameleonsynthesis]

How many murders you think have been prevented by the fact noise-cancelling headphones are things that exist?

[weretentaclegirl]

Your werewolf FBI agent

The werewolf fbi agent assigned to you catches you fucking yourself one night.

Actually, he wasn’t supposed to be monitoring you through your phone at night but he was bored and lonely and he got curious about your night routine so he used his credentials and got access to your phone’s camera and mic, right on time to watch you cum. He wasn’t expecting that, and knew he should’ve felt guilty and turned it off, but just that little glimpse made him so fucking hard he had to stroke his dick and keep watching in hopes you’d keep going. And of course you did, cumming multiple times and falling asleep with your phone still in front of your face. And he came so hard he had to change his sheets immediately. And now he’s obsessed. 

When the sun’s out he tells himself he wouldn’t do it that day. That it was wrong and he could get in trouble if someone ever finds out. But as soon as he gets home he loses the battle and tunes in for the show, semi hard cock already in hand. He gets aroused even when you're doing mundane things, like following a recipe or watching tv while browsing on tumblr. That’s like foreplay to him until you’re ready to go to bed and start touching yourself.

At first he was fine with what little of you could be seen through your phone; it was enough for him to see your adorable flushed face and hear your moans. But as days pass his obsession grows. He needs to see your body from all the angles he can get so he hacks your security system. He even gets into your house one day when you’re out and installs his personal cameras and a few hidden mics here and there. He sends subliminal messages with his own voice through your alexa when you’re asleep to break your mind and get you fucking yourself for hours on end. You’ve never been into monsters but suddenly you’re interested in buying a knotted dildo after getting tons of ads of this specific model that supposedly emulates the real thing, and is even modeled after a real werewolf dick! 

It’s all a fantasy to him, and it's not harming you so what’s the problem? It’s not like he’s going to make a move on you, right?

[you-know-honey]

Dance

Viktor x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 3k

Jayce has a plan: convince Viktor to attend the most important charity party in Piltover. But, as expected, Viktor refuses. What he didn't expect was that his assistant would show up at his workshop with a dazzling dress… and an invitation that Jayce secretly gave her. Could he really refuse now?

N/A: English is not my first language, feel free to correct me in the comments and I'll update it. Remember share if you liked it.

Viktor was focused, hunched over his desk as he fine-tuned one of the delicate pieces of hexcore. The dim lamplight illuminated his tired face, with dark circles under his eyes and strands of hair falling across his forehead. He didn’t notice Jayce’s entrance until the echo of the door closing resonated through the workshop.

“Viktor, old friend,” Jayce said, his tone bright and already foreshadowing trouble. “I have news.”

“If it has to do with that charity party, the answer is still no,” Viktor replied without looking at him, adjusting the tool in his hand.

Jayce sighed dramatically, dropping his weight into one of the nearby chairs.

“Mel has insisted that we go. We represent the future of Piltover, remember? Innovators, role models…” Jayce made a wide gesture with his hands, as if he were giving a speech.

“If Mel insists, you can represent us alone,” Viktor replied indifferently. He knew he wasn’t really required here, inviting him was just a formality. Then he looked up and looked at him seriously. “I don’t have time for parties, there’s a lot of work to finish here.”

Not to mention that dancing was something he had crossed off the list of things he could still do.

His friend really wanted Viktor to go, mostly because he had been very down lately, he barely left the lab and there were days where he would find him with his face on his notebooks after falling asleep at some point in the early morning, he was the first to arrive and the last to leave, if he ever did.

Jayce watched him in silence for a moment, before giving him a sly smile.

“Okay, I understand. You can’t just drop your projects. But what if I gave you a reason to go?”

Viktor frowned, distrusting his tone.

—What kind of reason?

Jayce didn't answer. Instead, his smile widened as he glanced towards the door of the workshop, as if he was waiting for something. He had recently discovered what he thought was a clue to the kind of feelings Viktor had for you, the long longing glances, the little smiles, the casual approaches of his hands, he answering any of your curiosities and letting you sing soft melodies while he worked were all very obvious clues to his eyes. Viktor followed the direction of his gaze just as the door opened.

And there you were.

Viktor felt the air leave his lungs. You weren’t wearing your usual practical attire. Instead, you were sporting an elegant iridescent white dress that flowed like water with your every move. The color perfectly complemented your skin tone, and the design highlighted your figure in a way Viktor couldn’t ignore. Your hair was delicately arranged, and a glint in your eyes suggested you was nervous, yet excited.

“Y/N?” Viktor asked, still processing what he was seeing.

You gave him a shy, yet warm smile.

“Jayce invited me as your date,” you said, your tone a mix of apology and expectation. “I hope you don’t mind.”

Viktor slowly turned to Jayce, who now wore an expression of unabashed triumph.

“What have you done?” Viktor asked, his voice low, but laced with disbelief.

“I gave you a reason to go,” Jayce replied, raising his hands in an innocent gesture. “I knew you wouldn’t accept if there wasn’t something… or someone to make the evening interesting for you.”

Viktor felt his face heat up as his thoughts struggled to organize themselves. Of course he felt a certain special affection for you. It had been a secret he had jealously kept, even from himself, and he had refrained from dwelling on it too much, after all they were coworkers. But now, seeing you there, so beautiful, waiting for his answer, completely disarmed him.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to, Viktor,” you said softly. “I just thought it would be… nice.”

Viktor’s heart skipped a beat. There was something in your tone that made him immediately doubt his usual refusal. For the first time in a long time, the idea of ​​getting away from his work, even for a few hours, didn’t seem so far-fetched. Mostly because he didn’t seem able to wipe that beautiful smile off your face by refusing. His mind searched for excuses for himself, to justify that he had now changed his mind, and that this change had nothing to do with you.

Finally, he stood up with the help of his staff, running a hand through his messy hair, although it didn't help much.

"If you insist…" he murmured, looking at you more than at Jayce. "I suppose I can make an exception."

Jayce smiled widely.

"Perfect. Now, change. You can't go dressed like that."

Viktor let out a resigned sigh as he took the suitcase that Jayce had left with his suit, in another attempt to convince him, but he couldn't stop a small smile from appearing on his lips as he headed to the bathroom to change.

When he left he felt a little silly, he tried to arrange his hair in front of the mirror but it was totally impossible. Jayce see proudly that his plan had paid off, but the most important look for Viktor and the one he looked for as soon as he opened the door was yours. He watched your pupils dilate rapidly as you saw him come out in that elegant suit. Your hands went to your mouth trying to hide a smile. Viktor forced himself to look away to avoid them seeing the small blush that ran across his pale cheeks.

“Oh! I almost forgot.” You quickly went to open one of the tool cabinets, rummaging through the back with the curious gaze of the boys behind you. After a moment, you pulled out a small box, and as if you were a little girl skipping, you approached Viktor with it. “I hope you like it.”

Viktor looked at you in surprise as he took the delicate box in his hands. He opened it delicately to discover a maroon tie between the strands of paper. His gaze traveled from the gift to you several times before giving you a warm smile as he took the tie between his slender fingers.

“Would you have the honor?” You nodded with a smile, as your hands took the tie you got closer to him, managing to smell the coffee aroma that you loved so much, you brought the tie behind his neck inside the collar of his shirt and tied it perfectly over his chest. “Thank you.”

The evening was everything Viktor had expected: lavish, loud, and filled with Piltover’s elites. Laughter and lively conversation echoed between walls adorned with gilded chandeliers and silk curtains. Viktor had always considered these events a waste of time.

When they arrived, Viktor could barely take his eyes off you. Jayce had already gone after the councilwoman, leaving them alone, as Viktor knew he would. His discomfort was evident in the way his hands played with the handle of his cane, which he tried to hide as soon as he began to walk through the crowd. You seemed to radiate confidence with every step, politely greeting the other attendees, as if these events were common for you.

Viktor, however, felt out of place. He held his cane tighter than usual, trying not to trip, but it was difficult given the state of his leg and the huge crowd.

“Relax,” you whispered with a reassuring smile as you tangled your arm through his. “Is it that bad?”

Viktor looked at you, his eyes softening instantly.

“Easy for you to say. You seem made for this.”

She let out a soft laugh.

“Not as much as you think. I’m just trying to look like it.”

A waiter passed by with a tray of wine glasses, taking a couple, offering another to Viktor. He reluctantly grew taller, though he hesitated before taking a sip.

From a safe distance, Jayce watched the scene with a satisfied smile. Mel approached him, arching an eyebrow in curiosity.

“What did you do this time?”

“A little push in the right direction,” Jayce replied, nodding towards where you stood with Viktor.

Mel let out a light laugh, shaking her head.

“I didn’t know you were a matchmaker.”

Jayce said alarmingly, shrugging.

“I’m not. But sometimes, a man needs help to see what’s right in front of him.”

Meanwhile, you and Viktor had climbed the stairs to the second floor, so you were more isolated from the hustle and bustle, it was a big job for him, but he really wanted to get away from the crowd. Plus the second floor was an even more beautiful place than the main hall, full of huge stained glass windows and a balcony at the end.

“I never imagined I’d end up here,” you said, looking at the lights that dyed the floor thanks to the stained glass. “When I was a child, I looked at the towers of Piltover from Zaun and dreamed of seeing them up close.”

“Zaun leaves its mark on all of us,” Viktor said softly, his fingers drumming against the handle of his cane. “But it’s not always a bad thing. Sometimes, it pushes us to… be better.”

You looked at him with a shy smile, your eyes meeting his.

"Do you think we've accomplished that?"

Viktor was silent for a moment sighing before answering, then slightly tilted his head at you.

"You certainly have."

Your eyes widened in surprise, a slight blush coloring your cheeks.

"That's quite a compliment coming from you."

The sound of music filled the air, and the guests began to make their way to the main hall for the dance. Jayce didn't hesitate to take Mel's hand and head out onto the dance floor.

"It's time to dance" you said, looking over the railing at the rest of the guests dancing with their partners with some longing.

"I don't dance" Viktor answered immediately. It was one of the things he had crossed off the list of things he could still do.

You looked at Viktor, shaking your head.

"I can't…"he didn't like saying that at all, but he didn't want her to be disappointed for failing even in the attempt to do it, all his life he had known that those things weren't for him, so he didn't give himself the time to even try. "I'm sorry to disappoint you." Viktor approached the railing, to look at all those couples dancing next to you.

"Disappoint me?" you answered incredulously, carefully bringing one of your hands closer to his "I don't think you can ever do that."

Your pinky gently caressed his hand, it was okay if he didn't want to dance, you had already witnessed what the pain in his leg could cause him and you didn't want that to happen today. You were pleased to just have his presence by your side, that was enough for you.

Viktor sighed, feeling guilty for 'ruining your night' he looked at you and knew he had to take the risk. He reached out a hand to you, more shaky than he would have liked.

“This time I might try.”

You took his hand carefully, leading him away from the railing, to his own little dance floor. As the music continued, Viktor tried to focus on following your steps, but he realized his attention was completely fixed on you, the way you held his hand, the way he felt your body close to his, your warmth against the cold of your skin. He couldn't help but blush as he finally worked up the courage to look at your face, your smile, the way you looked at him as if he were more than just an inventor addicted to his work.

For the first time in a long time, Viktor allowed himself to let go of the cane that made an almost imperceptible sound as it fell to the ground, he allowed himself to be enveloped by the moment, by the sensations, by you. He forced his leg to be useful to him for the first time, slowly under the silver lights of the moon, the outside world faded away, the pressure of his work, everything that tormented him left him to live the moment with you.

"Viktor, your cane…" you rushed quickly to grab it, thinking that you had dropped it by mistake but his hand in yours stopped you.

"I want to try it like this." He said as he extended his other hand for you to take. You weren't sure if that was the best thing for him, but the confidence on his face, the way he looked as if he were begging you to let him live that moment like that ended up convincing you.

Jayce, watching the scene from a safe distance at the bottom of the stairs, smiled to himself.

"It's about time." he said before Mel appeared and he happily let himself be dragged back to the dance floor.

The dance continued, and although Viktor's movements were a little stiff, your slow, gentle movements managed to relax him little by little. Despite his lack of experience, Viktor was surprised to find a natural rhythm next to you. The murmur of the rest of the guests, the echo of laughter and conversations, faded as your eyes remained fixed on his, with your hands resting on his shoulders, and his own hands caressing your waist.

"See? It wasn't so terrible after all," you murmured with a smile as you buried your face in his neck.

Viktor looked down, his lips curving into a slight smile. But he knew he couldn't last much longer standing without his cane, he was starting to feel that stabbing pain in his leg, he tried to control it as best he could, he didn't want that moment with you to end.

"It's… bearable." He tried to keep his body as relaxed as possible, to avoid you noticing and he feeling like a dying man again.

You laughed, a sound so warm and sincere that it caused Viktor to have a strange tingle in his chest.

"Always so enthusiastic?" you joked.

"Maybe the environment has an influence" he answered, keeping his tone sarcastic but with an unusual softness that you didn't miss.

A comfortable silence settled between the two of them as they continued to sway to the music. Viktor, normally so oblivious to social interactions, couldn't help but wonder how someone like you, so kind and brilliant, was more than comfortable being in his life. And more importantly, how he had been lucky enough to have you stay in it.

As the music began to become softer, both of their movements became slower, until they stopped completely. You stayed close, your hands still joined, until he spoke in a voice barely audible to you:

"Thank you for joining me tonight."

You nodded.

"Thank you… for making it bearable."

He smiled, his gaze lowering for a moment before meeting yours again, as you picked up his cane from the floor and surrendered.

"Thank you. We should do this more often, don't you think?"

The suggestion took you by surprise, you didn't think Viktor would want to repeat something like that, but instead of responding with a negative and referring to his leg, you simply said:

"Maybe." with a sweet smile, now that you both shared more than just work. Without the bustle and inquisitive glances of the attendees, it was as if they were in a world of their own.

The party had reached its moment of recess, with laughter and soft music filling the air. The guests began to disperse throughout the place and some began to climb the stairs. The moment you shared was abruptly broken when a visibly drunk councilman stumbled towards you with a smirk on his face. His ostentatious attire and wine glass in hand made him seem out of place in the serene atmosphere you had created.

“Ah, there are the strangers!” he exclaimed, his tone heavy with mockery. His eyes assessed you both, lingering a little longer on you, an expression that made you shudder in disgust. You had received such looks before, you knew them and knew they led to nothing good.

Viktor tensed instantly, straightening up with difficulty and leaning more heavily on his cane to take a step forward.

“Can we help you with something?” Viktor asked coldly, clearly uncomfortable with the man’s presence.

The councilman let out an exaggerated laugh.

“Oh, I don’t need any help from you.” Though I must say, Heimerdinger has strange priorities, letting a couple of second-class citizens mingle among us.

Your brow furrowed and you clenched your fists, more than ready to throw him down the stairs and pretend he slipped. But before you could say anything, the man turned to Viktor with a sly grin.

“You… Viktor… How admirable that you accomplish so much in such… poor health. It’s a miracle you can stay on your feet, don’t you think? Though, of course, when all you have to offer is your brain, I guess there’s not much else you can use to impress.”

The comment hit like a whiplash, but Viktor didn’t respond immediately, it wasn’t the first time he heard someone talk about him like that, he didn’t care at all. His grip on the cane tightened just because you were there, and his jaw clenched, of all people in the world, he didn’t want you to be the one to hear that. He remained silent, his gaze fixed on the man.

The councilor, seeing that he wasn’t getting a response, turned his attention to you again. His eyes scanned you shamelessly, his smile twisting even more.

“And you, my dear… I guess it makes sense that you’re here with him. The girls of Zaun always know how to… adapt to circumstances, don’t they? A perfect match: a disembodied brain and a… well, you know.”

Indignation took hold of you. Your chest rose and fell rapidly, but before you could respond or move to fit his nose with a punch, Viktor grabbed your hand, stopping the hurricane of thoughts in your mind.

“Stop it,” Viktor said, his voice low but firm.

The councilman raised his eyebrows, feigning surprise.

“Oh, did you hit a nerve? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-”

“No,” Viktor interrupted, taking a step forward, despite the obvious annoyance the movement caused him. “Don’t be sorry. And I don’t want your fake apologies. Just… shut your mouth and get out.”

The man snorted, but before he could say anything else, you faced him, walking steadily in front of him, your voice clear and determined.

“It must be exhausting carrying so much shit around,” you said, with an icy smile. “But I guess I couldn’t expect anything else from someone whose only virtue is his last name.”

The councilman looked at you, surprised by your bravery, and then snorted before turning to leave, muttering something unintelligible and spilling half of his glass of wine on the floor.

When you were alone again, the air was still tense, your fists still clenched at your sides. Viktor finally let out a long sigh, closing his eyes for a moment.

“You shouldn’t have… faced him,” he said softly. “I’m used to his usual nonsense.”

You looked at him with a determined expression.

“And you shouldn’t bear that in silence. No one deserves to be treated like that, especially you. They should lick your shoes, thanks to you this city really became the city of progress. You shouldn’t have to get used to it, Viktor.” You intertwined your hand with his, like an instinct you couldn’t ignore.

He looked down at their intertwined hands. He could feel the warmth of your touch breaking through the cold barrier he had built up over the years.

“I don’t believe his words, they’re irrelevant to me,” he finally admitted, his voice laced with honesty.

You gently squeezed his hand, forcing him to look at you.

“Then stand up for yourself, because you know what I believe? I believe you’re more than just a brilliant brain, Viktor. You’re not just a man with a cane or someone who comes from Zaun. You’re so much more than that, a genius, a visionary. There’s so much about you that’s amazing besides your wit.”

Viktor let out a short, dry laugh, but there was a spark of something else in his expression. Maybe gratitude, maybe something deeper that he didn’t dare name yet.

“You’re… persistent,” he said, with a slight smile that quickly faded as he looked back into your eyes. “But I don’t understand why.”

You tilted your head, confused.

“Why, what?”

Viktor looked away, unsure of how to continue, but he knew the words were already on the edge of his lips, and he couldn’t turn back.

“Why do you care so much about me? Why are you still here, by my side, despite everything. Helping me with everything, always taking care of me, looking at me as if there was nothing more interesting than me when I talk to you…even now.”

You looked at him for a long moment with a huge blush caught in your cheeks, and then, with a warmth in your voice that almost disarmed him, you answered, “Because I see you, Viktor. I see who you really are, and… I care about you. Much more than I should.”

The world seemed to stop in that instant. Viktor swallowed, feeling the air grow heavier, but also clearer at the same time.

“Y/N…” His voice was a whisper, as if he was taste out your name in a different, more intimate context that even he didn’t know about.

Their eyes met again, and this time, Viktor didn't look away, just watching your eyes sparkle and your pupils widen, it warmed his heart to know it was because you were looking at him.

"I should tell you now, but well…it's something new."

You smile softly, giving him some relief.

"You don't need to be good at it. Just tell me what you feel."

Viktor took a deep breath, as if he was preparing for a leap he had feared for a long time.

"I admire you. Not just for your intelligence or your ability to put up with my…quirks. But because you make me feel different…alive. With you, I don't feel alone. With you, I feel like…I can be something more."

His words were clumsy, but the sincerity in them was undeniable.

“And I think… I feel something really deep for you, Y/N.”

The silence that followed was overwhelming, but not because you were hesitating. But because you were taking in each word, feeling them deeply. Slowly, a smile spread across your face, and with a determined step, you closed the distance between you.

“That’s good, Viktor,” you whispered, leaning in just enough for him to hear each word clearly. “Because I’m already in love with you.”

Viktor looked at you, a flash of something soft and warm crossing his eyes.

“Thank you,” he finally said, his voice almost a whispered gasp. Despite everything he believed made him unworthy, you always saw him as something more.

The air seemed to vibrate between you, charged with an energy neither of you could explain but both of you understood. As the lights of Piltover continued to shine in the distance, the two of them towered over high society, standing together in a pure, private moment.

Jayce, who had been watching the scene with a mix of satisfaction and pride, decided not to interrupt. Mel, at his side, looked at him with an arched eyebrow.

“Happy with your masterpiece?” she asked, taking a sip of her glass.

“More than I imagined,” Jayce replied, crossing his arms as a triumphant smile lit up his face. “Viktor deserved it, although he’ll probably hate me tomorrow.”

“Oh, I don’t think he’ll hate you,” Mel said, watching the couple. “Maybe he’ll even thank you… eventually.”

As the night progressed and the lights in the hall grew dimmer, you and Viktor remained close, away from the bustle of the rest of the guests. For the first time in a long time, Viktor wasn’t thinking about the Hexcore, or his work, or his body, or the expectations he had placed on himself.

At that moment, there were only the two of them, and that, for Viktor, was a discovery as fascinating as any scientific breakthrough.