Chapter Text
It would be a lie if Jay said that he had noticed Viktor Hargreeves four weeks ago. In fact, he’d hardly knew he’d existed at all, stuck in third chair, nervously plucking at his sweatshirt and apologizing loudly whenever he arrived late. If anything, Viktor was famous in their orchestra for being so forgettable, most people would forget to invite him to parties or hangouts and if they did remember he wouldn’t show up.
And sure, people knew things about him, since he’d been raised with the Umbrella Academy, (apparently), but it felt like one of those offhand things you’d mention as a part of Two Truths and a Lie.
I have brown hair, I own a dog, I was raised with the Umbrella Academy. Then you’d watch everyone fail as they guessed the blindingly obvious lie only for it to explode in their faces as the truth came out.
At least that’s what Jay would do if he was Viktor.
Still, he didn’t really pay attention to him, not really interested in someone that seemed so uninterested in him.
But four weeks ago, something changed.
It had been April 3rd, an ordinary day for Jay. He’d gotten some coffee before practice, fought off his neighbor’s dog that loved him way too much to be normal and grouched his way into the door. He’d plopped down on his chair and set his trumpet (that he’d affectionately named Jack) and waited. Waited for the other people to arrive, when Viktor walked through the door.
The first thing he’d noticed was that his hair was cut and not long or in a bun, and he strode into the Icarus Theatre like he owned the place. Jay had stared.
“Hey Jay,” Viktor said giving him a little wave, “Good morning!”
“Good morning,” Jay returned, “You look happy today.” He took a sip of his coffee, studying Viktor as he pulled out his violin. The other paused, thinking before responding, “I have been feeling a lot happier lately.”
“That’s nice,” Jay said, not sure how to respond to that. Out of the corner of his eye, he can see Marley entering the building, lugging her tuba, followed by Cole, the clarinet guy, clutching coffee like a lifeline.
Viktor waved at them too. They exchanged a glance of confusion before awkwardly waving back, heading up towards the stage to set up their instruments. Jay took another sip of his coffee, eyeing Viktor.
Now he had his attention.
After practice, Jay found himself back in the coffee shop with several other members of the orchestra including Marley and Cole. They sat at a table together discussing the everyday happenings of the orchestra when the subject of Viktor came up.
“He seemed different to me, don’t you think?” Marley said in her normal whispery voice, “He said hi to me this morning. I don’t think he’s ever talked to me before.”
“He was playing really well too,” said Helen, running a lip gloss over her thin lips, “I could sort of hear him behind me and he wasn’t playing the same.”
“After you bullied him into submission?” Jay said with an eye roll. It was well known in the orchestra scene that Helen’s motivating speeches tended to be on the more cruel end.
Helen slammed her lip gloss lip onto the bottle, glaring at Jay with her sharp gaze, “It’s not bullying, it’s the truth. He played like a child.” With that she cocked her head to the side, thinking, “He sounded better though, I’ll admit.”
“Wow, you know it’s real when Helen compliments you,” Cole scoffed, “She’s a major hardass.”
“Why are you saying that like we don’t already know that?” Jay rolled his eyes.
Helen scowled at him with her meanest look, something he’d grown numb to after a while of knowing her.
Jay snorted, and then looked down at his drink, "Maybe we should ask him to hang out soon."
"Are you kidding?" Cole said with an eyeroll, "Every time we ask him, he brushes us off. He thinks he's too good for us."
"Well," Jay hummed, staring out the window in contemplation, "Maybe this time will be different."
They’re about two hours into practice when Jay noticed the man seated in the back of the theater. And after he does, he can’t stop looking at him.
The guy looked thoroughly pissed off to be there, his scowl deep in his face, imprinted as though it was stuck there. His lip stuck out in an oddly child-like pout. But there's something in his face that Jay held onto, that kept his eyes on the man.
After another twenty minutes of observation, he realized it’s because the man is watching the violin section, and specifically Viktor. No matter which section of the orchestra made a noise or blared louder than the other, the man’s hawk-like gaze stayed on Viktor. It was definitely uncomfortable, creating a weird flare of protectiveness in Jay for his bandmate, even if he’d never paid attention to him before today.
Before he knew it practice was over and he found himself standing over Viktor as he packed his violin into his case. Jay crossed his arms over his chest as he stood up, turning to face him.
“Jay?” He asked, hefting his violin case over his shoulder, “Are you ok?”
“Yea,” he replied, not sure how to break it to him that there might be a creepy stalker watching him, “Just.. maybe I can walk you home?”
“Why?” he asked, his pale face filled with confusion, “Is something wrong?”
“Uhhh,” Jay’s eye went back towards where the man had been sitting, only to find that he was gone. Jay through a brief moment of panic, his head whipping back and forth to find the guy. He’s.. gone?
Then Viktor spoke,”Diego!”
Jay followed his eyes to see the man from before, clambering up onto the stage, still with a grumpy look on his face. He strode over to them wearing all black and… are those knives?
“Viktor,” he said cooly, barely looking at Jay, “I’m here to pick you up.”
“I know,” Viktor said, the end of his sentence falling flatly. Jay’s brain is about to collapse because this is way too awkward and since when was Viktor friends with creepy guys dressed in all black and wearing knives of all things?
“Oh, cool,” Jay forced out, deciding to get away from this interaction as fast as possible, “I didn’t know you were getting picked up. Sorry Viktor.”
“It’s ok Jay,” He said giving him a small smile, but Jay can’t ignore the way the other guy’s hands fly to his knives as though it’s instinct. Abort mission, he decided, taking a step back to flee with his life.
“Oh!” Viktor said with a little gasp of realization, which Jay would be lying if he said it wasn’t cute, “This is Diego.” His hand swept towards the angry man at his side, “My brother.”
Jay stared. And Diego stared. And Viktor stood in between the two men with a hesitant grin.
“Pleasure,” Diego said, clipped and rude, not even bothering to stick out his hand to shake it. His hand instead stayed on his knife, fixing a terrified Jay under his eyes.
Jay’s brain is officially running on empty, all he can do is nod, “Likewise.” He needed more coffee because if he remembers his Umbrella Academy members right, he’s standing in front of the Kraken.
What the ever-loving fuck.
Jay’s brain just kind of accepted his fate at this point and with a glance at Viktor, he shoved his hand forward towards Diego for a shake. He’s ecstatic when Diego took it, his hand tight around Jay’s, only touching him for a minute before turning out the door and rushing out.
Viktor followed his brother out the door, giving him a small wave as he left and Jay blinked.
He ended up running into Viktor about three days before their next practice at a small coffee shop because that’s where he always goes when he’s stressed. So when he spotted him there, he blinked a couple of times before finally getting the nerve to go talk to him.
“Hey Viktor.” he greeted, coming up behind him with a wave. He flinched, spinning around to spot him behind, “Jay. I-uh- didn’t expect to see you here.”
“I’m always here,” He joked, tilting his coffee cup, “This is my second home now.”
He let out a slight giggle, brushing some hair behind his ear, “I’m sorry about Diego.” He apologized, adjusting his grip on the small bag he was holding, “He’s just..Diego.” he finished lamely. Jay snorted, “It’s all good. I was wondering, though, what was he doing there?”
Viktor tilted his head at him, confused and he hurried on, “You know, I knew you had a big family, but I’ve never seen any of them around before. I was wondering..”
“Right,” Viktor said awkwardly, his face flickering through a couple of emotions, “Um, my dad died about a month ago.”
And Jay is hit with the sudden and shocking realization that he’s an idiot and also probably the most insensitive guy on the planet. “Oh, god, I’m so sorry.”
“Nah,” Viktor waved him off, his face strained as though this is the worst topic he could’ve started this conversation with, “Most people don’t remember that he’s my dad anyways.”
“Sure,” Jay said, mentally slapping himself, “Hey.. I know this is sudden, but some of us are going to a small bar after practice in three days. Would you like to come?”
Viktor’s face twitched and he responded with a slight bite, “Would you like me to bring Diego too?”
Jay has a mental image of Diego, sitting at the bar with a knife in his hand and a glare on his face, “Hell no.”
Viktor’s angry face faded into confusion, “But then?”
“Diego isn’t my bandmate,” Jay said with a smile, “You are. And I don’t know anything about you at all. So consider this an opportunity to get to know you.”
“You want to hang out with me?” asked Viktor, puzzled before seeming to realize he’s being serious, “Yea! I’d love that!”
“Cool,” Jay said, walking out of the store with a wave “I’ll see you there.”
“Yea,” Viktor replied, his voice distant as though he couldn’t believe him “See you.”