There's no way for Viktor to truly know people don't see him that way. Even the people who adore Viktor, who respect his brilliance and ingenuity, may just see it as compensation for what he lacks. Like Nina said. Yes, the insecurity plagues him eternally.

He's caught off-guard again, this time by a word he didn't expect.

"Family?" He was not aware that Skan thought of him in such a way, though surely, he should have been.

Perhaps resentment is the word for the coldness Viktor feels now. The lack of gratitude. Some part of him is grateful and utterly relieved, but guilt wars with it. How dare he feel relieved that a man is dead? How dare he glean satisfaction from it? Doesn't that make him just as bad as Jax, if not worse?

"You may," he allows, back to that even, detached tone.