Viktor was understandably confused when Jayce, in the middle of all the fanfare for their success, excused himself with the intention of heading out into the city. When Viktor asked Jayce why, and received "I need to ask my friend whom I haven't spoken to in 4 years to join us," (paraphrasing) he was undoubtedly confused. Indefinitely perplexed. I thought, in no means to ridicule, he had no one. Jayce's words, not Viktor's. So who was this mystery person who HAS to help them?

Viktor was never one to make assumptions about people, at least not on purpose with malicious intent, but what else was he to assume when he found that Cassian couldn't even manage to clock into the lab for a week straight - couldn't even find time in his schedule to dedicate a couple days worth to their newfound company? Jayce swore Cassian would help, but he hasn't been. It's safe to say that Viktor doubted his intellectual value for a good couple of months.

But “time can take a heavy toll.” Within a year’s span, and a few hard conversations later, there seemed to be a mutual understanding between the two. A… sense of respect. Jayce couldn’t be happier. Perhaps, this was the happiest the three of them had ever been, working and plotting; planning. The future was bright with every long and early day they spent in the labs. Perhaps a few distractions along the way.

7 years is a long time, so who’s to know what happened between then? Heading into work everyday, seeing the same 1-2 people everyday. Bonds were bound to grow, memories were meant to be shared. 3 innovators with a common dream. Is it so surprising to say that maybe one of them had caught feelings along the way? What a ridiculous claim. Perhaps it was a simple acknowledgment of one’s attraction to the other, that had conspired sometime into the 3rd year since HexTech’s founding. Perhaps they were something a little more, for a year or two. More than friends; something odd and unspoken. But fires are meant to burn out, and maybe work got to the better of HexTech’s co-founders.

Maybe if the time was right, or perhaps if the universe had granted them grace, Cassian and Viktor would have figured out what to do with that grappling realization in their chests everytime they locked eyes with one another. Or maybe if ones’ pride was lower, then something would have slipped out of one of their mouths. An accidental comment or proof of affinity, But slowly, they found themselves alone in their apartments more, alone in their beds. Alone in their kitchens and on their couches. Time can take a heavy toll, and toll it did.