Mel Medarda was a woman who knew exactly what she wanted from life. At that precise moment, what she wanted was a way to forget the pressure she'd been under from her mother to find a husband among her friends at the Noxus Military. Mel didn't want to be married, not like this. Mel wanted to get her degree and, perhaps, make a living from her art. Though if it got her mother off her back with marriage, she'd pursue a higher degree. Anything to give her brother enough time to settle down and get her mother's attention back on him.
She stopped at the door of the Student Council room, hesitant. She just needed to take a quick nap on their wonderful couch before she had to be at the studio. It would get her mother's call out of her head and she'd be rested enough for the painting that was waiting for her at the studio.
Mel opened the door and got inside without turning the light on. She walked in the dark to the couch and sat on the misshapen pillows. Someone yelped, scaring Mel enough that she screamed as she stood up again.
The man —for it was a man— screamed back at her, just as scared. Mel threw a hand out and accidentally slapped him in the face as he turned the lamp on.
"Mel?"
"Viktor?" she walked to the overhead light and turned it on.
There he was, half-covered with one of the faculty blankets, a serious case of bed head, and dark circles under his eyes, Professor Heimerdinger's assistant and secretary to the Student Council, Viktor. Mel and Viktor had an on-and-off relationship that was currently off. Mel liked Viktor, but she knew he was into another person from his major as well. When he told him, Mel was happy to let him go explore that part of himself. She missed him at times, but she liked Viktor too much to not see him happy with whoever he wanted. Besides, she knew what her mother would think about him.
"What are you doing here?" Mel asked.
"Taking a nap. What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to take a nap here," said Mel, defensive.
"Mel, you can't keep my nap spots in the divorce," he teased.
"We never discussed custody of the in-campus nap spots," she said, crossing her arms playfully. "Maybe I want to keep this one."
"I showed you the perks of sleeping here. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't even know of this place," Viktor argued. He sat up in the couch and stretched his arms. "Mel, you cannot take this."
She watched as Viktor's shirt rode up as he stretched, revealing a pale strip of skin, and she swallowed. Viktor seemed to notice Mel's interest and smirked.
"Perhaps, I would be willing to negotiate," said Viktor.
"Shared custody?" she prompted.
"How do you suggest we do that?" he asked in return.
Mel let her bag fall to the floor, took off her shoes, and turned off the overhead light, walking to the sofa. Viktor watched this with interest, but didn't say a word.
Next, Mel took off her jacket and folded it over one of the chairs. She stood next to the sofa and looked down at Viktor. "Scoot."
After turning off the lamp and plunging them back into darkness, Viktor moved to the side, laid down, and lifted the blanket to give Mel a space to lie down. Mel laid next to him, fitting her body against his as they used to do while they were still dating.
"Are you comfortable?" he asked.
She hummed in what she hoped was a positive tone, closing her eyes to avoid seeing into that beautiful golden gaze of his. "I just need half an hour," Mel said.
"You can stay as long as you want," Viktor said.
"Don't say that." She tried to keep her voice level, confident, as she said, "I know you had something with Jayce."
"Ah," was all he said.
"How long has it—"
"We were not together, Mel," he said. "I never did anything with him —didn't even flirt with him— while I was with you."
"Okay."
"I mean it," Viktor insisted. "Look at me, Mel."
She sighed before she opened her eyes and looked into Viktor's.
"I never—"
"I believe you," she interrupted. "I do, Viktor."
"Okay."
"Okay."
They stared at each other without saying anything for a while. Mel's hand found Viktor and squeezed.
"Jayce and I are not—"
"You don't have to tell me, Viktor."
"I want you to know," he said, earnestly. "Jayce and I are not together."
"Why? He's hot," Mel admitted.
"Well, he never called back," Viktor said. "I can take a hint."
"He's missing out," she said.
"Yeah, right." Viktor rolled his eyes.
"I mean it, he is," Mel insisted. "You're quite the catch, Viktor."
"Is that why you never told your mother about me?" he asks, hurt sipping into his tone.
Mel averted her eyes, then she turned around and gave her back to Viktor. "Perhaps this is better," she said.
They stayed in silence for while, without moving.
Viktor's voice whispered in her ear, breaking the silence in the room. "Can I put my arms around you?"
Mel didn't even hesitate. "Yes."
He put his arm around her waist and pulled her closer, spooning her. "I'm sorry for bringing up your mother."
Mel closed her eyes and said, "I'm sorry for never introducing you."
"You didn't have to."
"I wanted to," she admitted. It was so much easier admitting to these things in the dark. "I just didn't want to listen to her go on and on about the money. You know she wants me to 'marry up', whatever that means."
"You just said I'm quite the catch," he reminded her.
"You are to me. Not my mother though," she said.
Viktor's hand twitched against her stomach.
"Marry me anyway," said Viktor.
"Viktor—"
"I'm just saying, maybe you should show her she doesn't own you. Maybe that'll be a chance for us to grow back together. Maybe you'll divorce me in 6 months once your mother moves on to a different interest.
"Just— give us a chance, Mel."
Mel considered it for a moment, but she knew her answer already. "Can we try dating again first?"
"Sure," he agreed.
"And if Jayce calls back?" Mel asked.
"Perhaps, we both take him on a date."
Mel smiled. "Perhaps."