Chapter Text
“You must go, Jayce.”
Jayce reverently gave him the hexcrystal that had previously merged into his own wrist and he held Viktor’s delicate hand, smiling gently yet with a determined expression.
“We finish this together.”
The energy of the rune now fused into Viktor’s hand was soon too much to bear. He tried to take back the whole burden on himself but Jayce kept grabbing at his hand, refusing to let him go and face the end alone.
As they held onto each other, Viktor felt Jayce’s fingers caress his nape and he affectionately rubbed at Jayce’s arm, comforting him in their last moments together in the arcane.
And then everything blew up.
Time stopped.
And reversed.
***
When Victor opened his eyes, his mind felt fuzzy and groggy.
‘Where am I? Is this a dream?’
His brain fired up after a few seconds, confusing memories colliding at high speed in his mind. Did he just have a nightmare? He was… where had he been? Floating, in a chaotic hexplane, trying to undo his mistakes, trying to destroy the Hexcore.
But then, he shouldn’t be alive. He couldn’t be alive. Or could it have been a dream? No, he knew it wasn’t a dream. It had been real.
He sat up in a cold sweat and looked wildly around him, feeling very much alive.
He looked at his hands, touched his face. He was feeling very much human too.
‘But it’s impossible.’
Two conflicting stories were battling in his head and he took a moment to try and understand what was going on.
His eyes kept darting to the room around him, and his brain provided him a place. He was in his good old bachelor apartment in Piltover, situated in the campus of the Academy.
His mind also provided him with a date.
“Impossible,” he muttered with a certain amazement.
And yet, he knew it was his new reality. While exploding, the hexcore had sent him to another dimension and… another time. What was curious was that he seemed to know everything that had happened to the Viktor of this universe, but he could also recall everything that had happened in the universe where his life had just been terminated.
He was still brought to Piltover a few years ago by Heimerdinger to become his assistant but there were divergences in both of their stories.
Now it was as if both Viktors had merged into one. Their pasts, their presents. Viktor could still feel the guilt from all the bad things he had done in the other world, and another part of him was totally confused by the conflicting timelines.
He already knew that he was stuck for good in this reality. Hextech or not, even if traveling back was possible, he didn't have a body for his mind to return to in his own world, and the Viktor of this world didn't deserve to go to the hell awaiting him there.
He frowned, pensive. But as intriguing as this all was, something or rather someone came to his mind, chasing all his other thoughts, and he was suddenly overcome with dread.
“Jayce!” He choked with anguish.
The man was nowhere to be seen. Of course, as his mind supplied him with the information, he and Jayce hadn’t met yet at this time. There was no reason why he should have been close to him as Viktor woke up.
But in the other timeline, in what felt like only a few minutes ago, they had been holding onto each other, Jayce stubbornly wanting to remain with him until the end, until they destroyed the monster that their creation had become, together.
Viktor got up quickly and winced a little when a sharp pain shot up along his leg. Suddenly, new information came to his mind and he froze, confused to remember things that simultaneously were and weren’t his own.
He also had a limp in this world, but there was a huge difference with his previous condition.
“Fascinating,” Viktor said out loud to no one.
***
Jayce was meticulously and carefully putting away the unstable hexcrystals in one small bag.
He had to destroy them. Put an end to his research.
When he had woken up in the bed of his old apartment, Jayce had been stunned to realize he had come to another dimension, right after the explosion of the hexcore that should have ended his life. His thoughts had remained intact but were meddling with new ones that pertained to the Jayce of this world.
Their thoughts and lives had merged like one, and he couldn’t help but sigh with relief knowing his mother was still alive in this world too. His friend Caitlyn was also there.
He was still a student at the Academy, his apartment not having been blown up and Jayce having consequently not yet been kicked out from the Academy by the Council for experimenting on forbidden magic.
But he didn’t know if Viktor had arrived in this world too, if a Viktor even existed in this world. They hadn’t officially met yet at this time, here or in his own timeline.
Jayce was anxious to find out but first, he needed to take precautions and hide the hexcrystals before going to Professor Heimerdinger to get rid of them.
He had a second chance in this new world to make it right. He would make this right. Because Viktor and he had promised to put an end to it. He knew Viktor would want him to.
Even if this meant he could never go home. It was not exactly like he had his own body for his mind to go back into anyway. He had died. Viktor had died too...
Jayce shook his head, his forehead and jaws tense.
"I need to concentrate," he muttered to himself.
Jayce didn’t remember exactly when his apartment had been robbed the first time around and things could happen very differently anyway in this timeline. The memories of this world’s Jayce, while eerily similar to his, had quite some differences.
Jayce was still running around and thinking about all the disparities he could note between the two in his amalgamated memories when he heard a knock at the door and he started, heart beating faster.
“Who is this?” He asked loudly.
He didn’t get any answer and after hiding his bag in the nearest cupboard, he went to the door and opened it brusquely. A hand hovered close to his shoulder, ready to knock again, and his eyes met those of the young man before him.
They only had to stare at each other for a few seconds, their eyes becoming a little too bright with tears, for Jayce to know it was his Viktor. Alive. Human.
“Viktor!” He breathed.
Before Viktor could react, Jayce was hugging him tightly, practically engulfing him whole in his arms.
“You are here,” Jayce whispered fervently, feeling the tension finally leave his body. “You really are here.”
Relieved, Viktor embraced him back, more tentatively but with open tenderness.
“Yes, I am here, Jayce. We both are,” he murmured, trying not to sob pitifully.
They stayed for a while in the middle of the corridor as if time had stopped. Jayce’s hands were mapping Viktor’s back with caresses, soothing them both.
“I thought we would die,” Jayce sniffled.
“I thought that too,” Viktor said with his tilted accent, rubbing Jayce’s shoulder softly with the tips of his fingers to calm him. “I came here to check that you made it too, and to tell you that... I’m sorry, I'm sorry about everything,” he sobbed.
“I'm sorry too,” Jayce whispered, hugging him tighter as if to protect them both from the nightmarish memories of the Hexcore tearing their lives apart. Tearing them apart. They didn’t move for another long moment.
Eventually, Jayce reluctantly moved back a little to take in Viktor’s face and body, marvelling to find him as naturally beautiful and healthy as he was when they were younger. Well, they were younger here after all.
Jayce kept looking at every small detail of his handsome face. There was no more sign of the Hexcore's corruption on his very human skin. Jayce's hand cupped his jaw and Viktor’s watery eyes widened infinitesimally at the gentle touch.
‘You were never broken Viktor. There's beauty in imperfections. They made you who you are. An inseparable piece of everything I admired about you.’
“You look good.” Jayce blurted out with a small smile.
“You do too,” Viktor smiled back with a hint of a blush at his compliment and the memory of those other words. “Though I might be missing the beard. It looked fine on you.”
Jayce half-choked half-chuckled with emotion at his words, still staring at him in awe. “You're so young.”
Viktor nearly sobbed again, eyes mapping Jayce's face. “We both are. We really did travel through space and time, didn't we?”
Jayce nodded. “It seems pretty similar to our universe though, right before we first met.”
After gawking some more at Viktor's face, noting that his moles were exactly at the same spots they used to be, Jayce noticed the cane that had fallen on the ground when he had hugged him. His face immediately fell.
“Your leg.”
Viktor shook his head, smiling with resignation.
“It seems that in every universe I must have a bad leg. But do not worry. This one was caused by an accident years ago. I haven’t been exposed to the grey in this world, so I’m not sick.”
“Truly?” Jayce still worried.
Viktor nodded and Jayce couldn’t help but hug him again.
“That’s fantastic. I mean, not that your leg was hurt but… You’re not sick, Viktor!” He babbled in his hair while stroking the back of his head.
Viktor closed his eyes, letting himself be held, his own hands cradling lightly Jayce's waist.
He wouldn’t die.
His eyes blinked open when Jayce pulled back again. The Piltie picked up his cane before grabbing his waist to drag the surprised Zaunite inside his apartment, closing the door behind them.
“I was gathering the hexcrystals. We must get rid of them before they get discovered or stolen. Are you with me?” He asked Viktor, releasing his waist.
A little flushed, Viktor nodded gravely. He looked up to Jayce, eyes determined.
“We finish this together.”
Jayce smiled softly. Soon though, he lowered his eyes, looking sheepish. “I’m not sure how to proceed though. I mean, we could bring the hexcrystals directly to Heimerdinger and explain the situation to him but…”
“You don’t know how he will react,” Victor finished for him. “Or if he will believe us at all”.
Jayce rubbed his own forehead. “Yeah, and I really don’t want to get expelled this time around, if I can avoid it.”
Viktor looked down, stroking his chin.
“Well,” he looked up again, a tilted smile appearing at the corner of his lips. “I still have access to the keys of his lab”.
Jayce couldn’t help but chuckle.
***
It was nearly 2am when Viktor and Jayce left Viktor’s apartment to sneak into the dark corridors of the Academy.
Winding down slowly from their emotional reunion, they had stayed very close to each other all day as if to reassure themselves that this new reality wasn't a dream, going together to Viktor's flat and spending some time sitting close to share the story of their alternative selves.
So close that Viktor could swear that Jayce must have touched him casually more than a dozen times. Had he always been that touchy-feely?
Viktor wasn't sure anymore but had found himself wondering every time the Piltie's touch had lingered on his back, shoulder or arm. He had been even more flustered when Jayce had caressed his thigh and rested his hand on his knee while checking worryingly his old injury as Viktor told him the story of his other self's accident.
The day had passed quite slowly, reminding Viktor of their old days in the lab. They had prepared, searching and calculating on how to destroy the hexcrystals the most efficient way, waiting most of the day in Viktor's small one-bedroom apartment until it was late enough to wander around the campus without stumbling upon curious students or professors.
Viktor's apartment was also conveniently close enough to Heimerdinger’s lab and it’d be easy to retreat there after their deed was done.
It was pitch black in the Academy as Viktor led the way, the keys of the lab safely hidden in his back pocket while Jayce was wearing a barely visible small crossbody bag where he had safely packed all the hexcrystals he owned.
“This time around we shouldn’t run into anybody,” Jayce surmised, keeping his voice low.
“Well, the security shouldn’t be as tight as you didn’t blow up a whole building this time,” Viktor teased him sassily. “But the guards do security rounds anyway.”
“Hey, I wasn’t the one who blew up my apartment,” Jayce protested with a pout. “It was the people who broke in.”
Before Viktor could reply, they both stopped at one corner and held their breath, seeing a flashlight pass by at the end of the long corridor. They waited until the guard disappeared from their sight, walking in another direction. They both released their breaths at the same time.
Their relief was short-lived as another flashlight fell upon them, making their faces scrunch up as they tried to protect their blinded eyes with their hands.
Viktor almost groaned out loud when he recognized the person. Of course it had to be her.
“Councilor Medarda,” he greeted her with affected cordiality, straightening up. He never appreciated her manipulative ways to get them to use Hextech to make weapons. Especially not the way she manipulated and used Jayce.
“Who are you and what are you two doing here at this hour?” Mel asked, looking at them back and forth with suspicion.
Viktor nearly rolled his eyes at the inquiry. But of course, as the explosion at Jayce's apartment never happened there, she had probably never seen them before, or not bothered to ask for their names if she had. He vaguely pointed at Jayce.
“He’s a student, working with me in my lab. I’m Professor Heimerdinger’s assistant and I was not aware that permission was needed for me to go back to my lodging,” he answered brazenly, failing to mention his apartment was in the opposite direction.
“With him?” Mel asked. “At night?”
Viktor shrugged at her insinuation, not daring to look at Jayce who was silently standing close behind him to hide his small bag. Jayce still put a reassuring hand on his back, as if to support him, and Viktor tried not to flush or shiver.
“Is that a problem?” Viktor challenged the councilor whose hawk eyes had definitely noticed the small touch. He knew what his question implied and feeling Jayce's eyes on him, he couldn't help but blush this time.
Mel only raised her eyebrows, scrutinizing the two of them with obvious distrust.
“Of course not. Good night, Mr Professor Heimerdinger’s assistant and his student,” she intoned.
She lowered her flashlight and left, not looking at them anymore.
“Well, that was close,” Jayce breathed out in relief.
“Let’s be quick, this way,” Victor pressed then muttered to himself. “Always lurking in the dark, that one.”
He ignored Jayce’s amused chuckle. They were soon in front of Heimerdinger’s lab and after fumbling for a few seconds with the different keys, Viktor had opened the door. They quickly entered the lab and Viktor blocked the door with his cane, having a sense of déjà vu.
“Just in case,” Viktor explained at Jayce’s questioning glance.
Viktor watched as Jayce quickly approached the lab’s secure equipment, his eyes carefully examining how to use and adjust it to safely dispose of the hexcrystals he was carefully extracting one by one from the bag, laying them on the benchwork.
“Found it,” Jayce mumbled, noticing a machine with a hard, transparent cylinder. He nearly ran to it and activated it, turning wheels and pushing buttons. The machine soon whirred. “It’s ready. Hand me the first one?”
Viktor gave him the first hexcrystal.
One by one, they destroyed the buzzing, unstable blue stones, lessening their power with a few manipulations and then crushing them to nothing, each crystal exploding in the cylinder with a loud bang. Fortunately, the cylinder seemed solid enough, but the explosions were making a lot of noise. Both men grew nervous and they jumped when someone knocked at the door.
“Who’s there? Open up!” A strong voice who seemed to belong to a guard ordered.
“This is Professor Heimerdinger. I’m asking you to open the door at once!”
The Dean was there too. Jayce and Viktor looked at each other. They only had two remaining hexcrystals to dispose of. The guard banged on the door again.
“They're almost through. We only have a couple of minutes at best before they force the door open, no pressure.” Victor whispered.
“That sounds like pressure,” Jayce replied, with growing panic in his voice.
Again, Viktor had a strong sense of déjà vu and smiled despite the situation. He helped him adjust the machine to destroy the last hexcrystals and when the last one disappeared into blue light, leaving no more trace of magic, they sighed with relief.
“Now we hide,” Jayce said, picking up his empty bag. He turned off the light then grabbed Viktor’s arm to help him as he made them run to one lab coat closet.
“W-What?” Viktor stuttered.
He didn’t have time to protest and find another solution as Jayce pushed back the lab coats to make room for them. He dragged him in the small closet with him, closing it behind them just in time before the lab door was forced open, Viktor's cane cracking and shattering like a vulgar stick of cheap wood.
The light was turned on again and a few rays made their way into the closet, rendering it not completely dark. Jayce and Viktor were looking at each other, pressed very close and holding onto each other’s arms. Standing nervously still, Viktor could feel Jayce’s breath up close, their faces barely a couple of inches apart.
“I could swear the noise came from here,” the guard said.
“I saw two suspicious individuals lurking around. It must be them,” Mel added.
Viktor slightly huffed, rolling his eyes. Of course she had ratted them out. Jayce smiled affectionately at his reaction and he leant in until their foreheads touched, reminding Viktor of the intense and intimate moment they shared in the hexplane, merely hours ago. His thumbs caressed absentmindedly Jayce's arms in response, as if to reassure him.
“Nothing seems out of place, but we better check. There is dangerous equipment here,” Heimerdinger said, sounding worried.
Jayce and Viktor listened for a few seconds, hearing them moving around the huge lab but not getting close to the closet they were in.
Viktor’s heart was beating fast, and as their chests were touching, he could feel that Jayce’s heart was doing the same, probably because of the fear of getting caught. But as he looked up, moving his head back slightly, Jayce’s eyes were focused on him.
They stared at each other with searching eyes, and Viktor gasped soundlessly when Jayce’s hands slid down his arms to his waist, thumbs rubbing tentatively at his skin through his clothes.
Again, Jayce leant his forehead against his, their noses touching slightly this time and Viktor breathed in nervously before tilting his head up invitingly, his fingers pressing into Jayce's arms.
Jayce nuzzled his nose again to get even closer, the little touch gentle and alluring. After only a few seconds of shared hesitation, their eyes closed and their lips met in a soft and slow kiss, followed by a second one, even longer and sweeter, and then a few more dizzying, daring ones, their embrace getting tighter as Jayce's arms finally encircled Viktor's back.
They were... Kissing.
It all seemed so unreal somehow and Viktor was suddenly feeling lightheaded at the realization of what was happening.
By the time their tongues finally touched, one of Viktor’s hands had left Jayce’s arm to slide and curl its fingers into the taller man’s hair, scratching gently at his scalp as their careful kisses deepened, each one more greedy and passionate than the previous one.
It was suddenly very hot and crammed in the little closet and Jayce let a small needy moan escape his mouth.
Quick steps stomped in their direction and suddenly, the closet was forced open by the guard. Both scientists froze then quickly disengaged from their embrace, turning to the three shocked pairs of eyes staring at them. Mel raised her eyebrows, looking them both up and down.
“V-Viktor?” Heimerdinger stammered. “What… what are you doing here? With… who? Who is this?”
Viktor didn’t even have time to reply as Jayce bit his reddened lips and started to babble nervously, stepping out of the dark closet before him.
“Sorry Professor, we shouldn’t have entered your lab. It’s my fault. Please don’t punish Viktor, I made him do this. I only wanted to have a look around. I’m a great admirer of your work. Please don’t kick me out of the Academy,” he quickly added.
Heimerdinger looked at him for a moment before coughing.
“Ah yes, sorry I didn't recognize you Jayce. One of our most brilliant and promising students at the Academy,” he said, turning his head to Mel. “Well, I’m not going to expel you for merely… errr having a look around as nothing seems out of place or broken but I hope this won’t repeat itself,” he scolded, glaring this time at Viktor who was avoiding his eyes at the moment.
“It won’t, Professor,” Viktor promised, sounding calmer than he felt.
Heimerdinger nodded with satisfaction.
“Now I’ll take my leave. I’ll see you later, Viktor,” Heimerdinger added, sending a pointed look his way that told Viktor he’d have to explain himself further later. A fun conversation in perspective.
Resigned but relieved, Viktor nodded. Heimerdinger was ready to leave when Jayce stopped him.
“Wait, Professor! I also wanted to ask you for something.”
“I’m listening,” Heimerdinger answered, curious.
“I want to be Viktor’s assistant.”
Mel’s eyebrows went higher. Viktor blushed, his eyes going wide.
“W-what?” He stuttered, baffled.
“Why is that?” Heimerdinger asked.
“Viktor is a brilliant scientist and his research interests me,” Jayce argued seriously. “I think I could be of help in his experiments and the development of his inventions.”
Heimerdinger seemed to ponder his proposition and then looked at Viktor. “Would you be amenable to that?”
“Well, y-yes… but…” Viktor stuttered again.
Heimerdinger looked at Jayce. “You may file your application. I’ll make my decision after reviewing it.”
Jayce was overwhelmed with excitement and bowed slightly. “Thank you for your consideration professor.”
“Now if you’ll excuse me, boys. It is late so I’ll take my leave. I will advise you to go back to your lodgings too. Don't forget to lock the lab on your way out, Viktor.”
Heimerdinger finally left, muttering something that sounded suspiciously like ‘ah, young love’. He was followed by the guard and Mel who somewhat glared at Viktor. He glared back. Once they were alone, Viktor looked at Jayce, still stunned by his words.
“Jayce, why? Are you sure?” He asked with hesitation.
“Of course I’m sure. We’re partners, right?” Jayce said, stepping again into his space.
“But… after everything that I’ve done. How… Why would you want to keep working with me?”
Before he could react, Jayce had captured his face between both of his hands and planted a soft kiss on his lips, Viktor gasping a little in shock against his mouth, not yet used to this new intimacy between them.
Jayce pressed his lips against his for a few more seconds again, even more gentle as Viktor kissed him back tentatively, before leaning back slightly. He searched his eyes with confidence and smiled.
“We’re partners, right?” He repeated.
Still unsure, Viktor covered one of his hands with his to check that he wasn't dreaming, that it was really Jayce asking him this.
“Right, but…”
“I just want my partner back,” Jayce interrupted him softly.
Viktor was suddenly rendered speechless at his self-assured words, remembering how Jayce had already said them in the Hexplane. When he opened his mouth again, undoubtedly to argue, Jayce dropped his hands to grab his arm with a smile.
“Let’s just go back home for now, okay? We can talk later.”
Viktor sighed but nodded. He looked over at his cane, lying broken in half on the ground.
“Déjà vu,” he couldn't help but pout.
Jayce picked both parts up with one hand and then helped Viktor on their way out, putting his free arm around his back to support him.
“I’ll make you a new one this time around too,” he promised before kissing his temple. “An even better one!”
Flustered, Viktor clung to his waist for balance, telling himself he had no other choice as he shamelessly leant against him. ”I know,” he murmured, touched. ”Thank you, Jayce.”
***
Home was actually Viktor's small lodging. It was too late for Jayce to go back to his apartment off campus and he had prepared beforehand a bag full of clothes and necessities to spend the night over anyway.
After taking a shower and having changed to his night pants and shirt, Viktor had already slipped into bed, taking the right side of it, and let the dim light of his bed lamp on for Jayce to find his way in the small room.
He listened as Jayce took his shower, the water running and falling like clattering rain, soothing his racing heart and thoughts. Viktor was feeling warm and sleepy, his eyes closing as he glanced at the clock indicating it was already past 3am.
He woke up a few minutes later as the mattress dipped and Jayce slipped next to him under the heavy blanket with only shorts on. His hand immediately found Viktor’s, his thumb caressing its back. Viktor reciprocated the tender gesture while Jayce put his head on Viktor’s shoulder.
“I can’t believe that less than one day ago we were basically at each other’s throat,” Viktor mumbled after a while.
Jayce squeezed his hand and Viktor squeezed back, recalling how they had both attacked each other, with Viktor being so deep under the influence of the Hexcore. How they both had tragically tried to kill each other in order to defend their cause and make things right in their own way.
“Now everything is so quiet and peaceful,” Viktor continued softly, interlocking their fingers. “Perfect.”
So perfect that they were now on kissing terms apparently, even if Viktor had no idea how they had jumped from their close but tumultuous friendship to this so quickly. He knew there had always been mutual affection between them, but since when did Jayce also... Was it mere attraction for him or...
Jayce hummed in agreement. “It's real magic. I don’t know how we got here but I’m glad that we did.”
“I have a few theories but right now, I don’t really care. I'm just... happy, even if I don’t have the right to feel that way,” Viktor said sadly, guilt eating him away as his mind brought him back to the darkest hours of his life in the other world as the Herald. Thinking about what had happened in their world because of him, of the Hexcore. The consequences were still there. Somewhere else.
Jayce didn’t reply at first, probably lost in the same thoughts, but still kissed his shoulder through his shirt to console him.
Tired, Viktor was falling back asleep and he gasped when Jayce suddenly rolled over and squeezed him into a hug, wandering hands holding him close.
Viktor hugged him back with only slight hesitation, his colder hands sliding on Jayce’s warm skin and mirroring the light caresses on his own clothed back.
The Piltie sighed against his neck, his breath hot and comforting.
“Well I think you deserve to be happy, and for the record, I’m happy too, here, with you,” Jayce murmured against his skin.
Viktor swallowed hard, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. They stayed like that for a while and Viktor gradually relaxed, getting used to hold and being held.
His eyelashes fluttered closed before opening again, his heart racing as he felt Jayce’s lips mouthing at his neck, slowly marking his skin with tender and soft kisses. He flushed.
“We should turn off the light and sleep. You have class in the morning and Heimerdinger will be waiting for me early at his office,” Viktor argued with a sigh, trying to ignore his traitorous heart hammering at his chest.
Yet his words and actions contradicted themselves as he petted his shoulder and tilted his head encouragingly, if not a little nervously, leaving Jayce more room and skin to map.
Jayce hummed noncommittally in answer. He nuzzled his neck with a smug, knowing smile that turned into a surprised gasp and then an appreciative moan when Viktor let his fingers go through Jayce’s hair, gently scratching at his scalp as he had done earlier.
Jayce’s lips caressed his jaw, his cheek, slowly looking for his mouth. They brushed it lightly, Jayce nuzzling his nose softly with his until Viktor finally chased his lips back and deepened their kisses eagerly, his hand now caressing his nape.
Viktor could barely believe what was happening, drowning in a feverish embrace with a man he had always loved and wanted but never allowed himself to pursue.
It nearly seemed unreal. He could feel Jayce everywhere, his blazing hands caressing his side, fingers sliding far up under his shirt until it was carefully removed and discarded on the side to fervently touch the smooth skin of his back and chest, then all the way up and down his hip and thigh that Viktor had slided over his.
Jayce's eyes were everywhere too, watching ardently his reactions and peeking at his naked skin whenever he could.
As he touched him back, Viktor was a little self-conscious because his body wasn’t as defined and muscular as his partner’s, yet Jayce didn’t seem to mind at all.
“You are so beautiful,” Jayce commented as if he could read his mind, looking at him in awe between kisses.
Viktor was caressing Jayce’s neck and chest reverently with one hand and appreciative eyes, slowly making their way down to map the strong body embracing him. His hand stopped to stroke his waist.
‘The pot calling the kettle black,' Viktor thought, scoffing slightly and not replying. Jayce searched his eyes.
“You are, Vik,” he insisted with a soft voice, smooching his face thoroughly for emphasis. “Gorgeous."
“Too much talking,” Viktor grumbled, flushed but visibly pleased. “Touch me instead,” he asked him in a whisper, cupping his defined jaw with one hand.
“Ok ok, on it,” Jayce chuckled, the bastard, and Viktor kissed him again to shut him up for good.
Things remained sweet and gentle for a while as they fondled each other exploringly, but got gradually heated when Viktor desperately started to undulate against him with obvious intent, body hot and hard.
To Viktor's continuous amazement, Jayce didn't hesitate to rub back against him enthusiastically, making them moan and gasp at the new sensations.
Eager hands wandered lower and lower, guiding each other sensually in quiet assent to tease and touch, pushing down carefully any undergarments out of their path.
Viktor tensed and gasped when Jayce finally took him in hand, the Piltie mumbling something inaudibly that sounded suspiciously like 'thank god it's back' before kissing him hard and caressing him cautiously but thoroughly.
Soon enough, they were both a half-naked sweating mess, heavily panting against each other's necks when they weren't kissing.
Jayce was eventually moving sensuously between Viktor's thighs, their skin rubbing and gliding smoothly against each other, making them both tremble and their breath hitch as their passionate embrace and pleasure-seeking caresses slowly brought them to completion.
*
Jayce gave a sigh of contentment as they were slowly catching their breath a moment later, having just cleaned themselves a little.
The tips of his fingers were tracing patterns on Viktor's back, tender and intimate, and Viktor shivered as the light caresses became tickling.
“Sorry,” Jayce apologized softly, the touch of his fingers coming back firmer but still as gentle on his skin.
Viktor only hummed and rubbed his thumb against Jayce's ribs in answer, trying to soothe the goosebumps he saw there but not quite succeeding. Maybe that Jayce was a little cold too now.
Viktor was somehow in disbelief at what had just happened, feeling a little shy and awkward now that the heat of the moment had passed.
Captured by strong arms, he was now half-lying on Jayce, head tucked under his chin so he wouldn't have to look and drown completely into the Piltie's warm eyes again. So he wouldn't have to ask what this meant.
Barely moving so their legs would stay entangled, he leant over him and stretched an arm to turn off the light under watchful eyes.
Finally in the dark, he lay back on Jayce's chest, gently tucking his head under his chin again. Selfishly, he allowed himself to nuzzle and kiss the soft skin of his chest once more as Jayce hugged his shoulders with an arm.
“Now, we sleep,” Viktor then muttered authoritatively, pinching his waist slightly just because he could.
“Bossy,” Jayce whined, laughing lowly at the unexpected attack. “Can I get a goodnight kiss at least?” He asked sweetly, brushing his calf against his.
It sounded like a trap. They probably wouldn't get any sleep if he caved in. Huffing, Viktor pinched him again, more firmly. “Sleep, Jayce.”
“Ouch! Ok, V! I'll wait for my morning kiss then,” the Piltie dared to giggle adorably before kissing the top of his head and grabbing his arm.
Hugging him back, Viktor hummed to the thought of more kisses later, hopeful. He closed his eyes to gentle caresses on his arm and in his hair, sighing softly as he let Jayce's heart lull him to sleep.
***
When Victor opened his eyes, his mind felt fuzzy and groggy.
‘Where am I? Is this a dream?’
As he slowly woke up, emerging from a weird dream, he realized that he was alone and cold, the dawn a cool light on his pale skin.
He blinked a few times, trying to remember where and when he was. Fear suddenly filled his veins and he sat up abruptly, his breath short and ears ringing as panic settled in. Had he dreamt it all?
“Hey, are you all right?”
Viktor whipped his head around as Jayce came out of the bathroom, fully clothed and ready for the day. Shaking slightly, Viktor breathed out in relief. Jayce came over and sat on the bed, facing him with a concerned look.
“V, are you all right?” He repeated.
The ringing in his ears finally disappeared and Viktor nodded. “Yes, sorry.”
Jayce shook his head and kissed him softly, cupping his face with one hand while the other was caressing his thigh over the blanket reassuringly. He leant back slightly, watching his face attentively. His thumb slowly brushed the corner of Viktor's mouth.
“It’s okay. I woke up disoriented too. I guess it might take a while to get used to.”
“Makes sense,” Viktor said, rubbing his own face and staring back at him. “Good morning,” he yawned, feeling calmer now.
“Cute,” Jayce said with a smile and Viktor frowned at the word, only for Jayce to kiss his pout away and purr a 'good morning' back against his lips.
Viktor grabbed Jayce's shirt to keep him there, making the other man gasp a little in surprise, and Viktor kissed him back, feeling pathetically lovesick. He sighed inwardly as Jayce indulged him, the fool.
After a while, Jayce reluctantly broke their kiss, still gave him a last peck and took his hand, kissing his knuckles in apology before getting up.
“Sorry, I have to go to class since I’m not expelled anymore, and before that, I have to file my application to Heimerdinger! I’ll see you later in your… I mean, our lab, right?” he asked while sauntering away with a cheeky smile and a wink.
Before Viktor had time to answer, he disappeared from his sight, closing the door behind him.
Viktor fell back onto the bed, his long hands hiding his face as a small smile tugged at his lips.
***
Bent over his benchwork, Viktor had been reminiscing for most of the day about everything that had happened since he woke up the day before.
Jayce and he had somewhat miraculously survived the explosion of the Hexcore and been transported into another world. They had sneaked into Heimerdinger’s lab and destroyed the hexcrystals, putting an end to Hextech before it even came to life. They had kissed in the middle of the whole infiltration and they had come home… to more kissing and sex.
Even if it hadn’t been full sex, it had been extremely intense and tender, as the soft cuddles afterwards, making an even bigger mess out of Viktor. He couldn’t get the images of Jayce out of his head today. Not that he actually wanted to get rid of them, as utterly distracting as they were.
Of course, since what had happened in the hexplane, he had had some speck of hope that Jayce might be interested in him in that way, but he hadn't expected such a quick development in their relationship and didn't know what to make of it, feeling a little anxious about the inevitable conversation to come.
It was clear that they wanted each other and that there was deep affection between them but...
Someone knocked on the door’s lab, bringing Viktor out of his thoughts.
Apart from Heimerdinger, nobody had ever knocked at his door, in one world or the other. And he had already seen Heimerdinger earlier, the professor lecturing him once again about sneaking clueless students into his lab in the middle of the night but failing to mention the snogging of said clueless students in his closet.
Viktor was thankful for his tactful memory lapse, still feeling mortified as he remembered the dean’s face when he caught them in a liplock.
“Come in.”
His heart was suddenly hammering as he looked at the door and watched Jayce enter, a small smile on his lips.
“Am I interrupting?” Jayce asked.
“Not at all,” Viktor replied, smiling back.
Jayce came closer, walking slowly and taking a look at Viktor’s lab, familiar and yet different from his memories.
His eyes stopped on the shabby looking spare cane next to Viktor, reminding Jayce to make a brand new cane for Viktor as soon as possible. He could use the model with the Talis house’s colors that he had been doodling that morning in class and make it come to life in his forge.
“I saw Councilor Medarda today,” he said, distracting himself from his thoughts. “Well, from afar. She seemed a little miffed and suspicious when she noticed me. I guess she didn’t like our little show last night,” Jayce gossiped with a little smirk.
“Will she meddle with our work?” Viktor enquired, looking thoughtful and troubled at that perspective.
Jayce shrugged. “I don’t see why she would. There’s no need for our paths to cross anymore with no Hextech.”
“Maybe, but who knows. Will you miss it, her meddling?” He frowned. “You used to be… close, in our world.”
Not waiting for his answer, Viktor reigned in his jealousy and turned his back to Jayce to examine and poke at the mechanism on his benchwork.
Jayce smiled wistfully. He came closer to the scientist, draping his arms lovingly around his shoulders from behind and leaning his head against his gently.
“Actually, not at all. It's all in the past and over, you know that, right? ” He murmured to his ear. “I realized quite a long time ago that it was a naive mistake, on all accounts. I was a complete fool not to see how she manipulated me from the beginning. How she used us. Politics shouldn’t have been meddling with our research nor come between us and I’ll be careful from now on that they never do. I know better. I promise, Vik.”
Viktor mulled over his words, then finally nodded. He grabbed the arms clutching at his chest with both hands to rub the clothed skin tenderly.
Jayce sneaked in a comforting kiss right below his ear to reassure him further and he nuzzled the side of his face before leaning back entirely. Viktor did not pout.
“You haven’t eaten, have you?” Jayce asked lightly, his hands massaging Viktor's somewhat tense shoulders and neck.
“No, how…”
“I figured. You more than often skipped lunch when you worked alone in the lab.”
Viktor did not roll his eyes. Jayce still smiled knowingly. He left the lab to come back a few minutes later with their favorite takeaway food.
They were both soon eating on the corner of Viktor’s tiny desk full of notes and research papers, sitting close enough that their legs and knees were touching while chatting about Jayce's classes, Viktor's current research and what might be their future projects together.
“I don’t understand why you’d still want to work with me though, after everything that I did,” Viktor eventually wondered out loud once again when he was full.
“You were under the influence of the Hexcore,” Jayce frowned as he reminded him, looking more than a little upset at the memory. “The Hexcore that we destroyed together. Along with Hextech now. Sure, we both made mistakes but we tried our best to fix them. I wouldn't have done it without you.”
Viktor adverted his eyes, looking down. “Still...”
He didn't finish his sentence, and Jayce sighed softly.
“Viktor... The reason is simple. Because you’re the most kind and clever man I know, and I also know your goal never changed,” Jayce said genuinely as he cleaned his hands with a napkin. He then looked up to him, eyes gentle. “You want to help people and so do I. Even though we won’t have Hextech anymore I believe we can still achieve that with science, with our innovations. I believe in us. I know we can make a difference.”
Viktor stared back at Jayce.
“Thank you,” he said softly, not knowing what to add without getting emotional.
“Even if this time, I’ll only be your assistant,” Jayce pouted exaggeratedly to lighten the mood.
Viktor hummed and sighed theatrically, frowning a little. He stood up, taking his spare cane in hand.
“You won’t be.”
“What?” Jayce dropped the fake pout for a more genuinely panicked look. He stood up too. “Did Heimerdinger tell you something? Did he refuse my application?”
Viktor raised his eyebrows.
“Well, he said ‘no more kissing’ in his lab,” he lied, watching Jayce wince adorably at his words before delivering the news. “And that he validated your application.”
Jayce was suddenly overwhelmed at the news.
“Wow, what? He did? Really? So I am your assistant.”
“No, you’re not,” Viktor insisted and Jayce deflated.
“Why?”
Viktor chuckled at his defeated look.
“Idiot,” he said affectionately. “As you said, we’re partners. So you can’t be my assistant.”
Jayce released a huff and smiled with relief. “Partners for life. And not just for work, right?” He asked tentatively.
Viktor looked at him, suddenly unsure. “Are we?”
Jayce walked up close to him. “Isn’t it obvious, V?”
He cupped his face tenderly with his hands, thumbs caressing his cheeks, and Viktor was scared to see how quickly he had come to like and expect the sweet gesture.
“I love you,” Jayce continued softly, leaning in. “I think I’ve loved you ever since the day you came into my life. I was just too dumb to realize it. Sorry it took me so long.”
“Jayce, I…”
Viktor choked up and suddenly hugged him around the waist, his cane falling on the ground. As Jayce embraced him back, holding his trembling shoulders tight, he cried silent tears.
In all timelines, in all possibilities... Only you...
Jayce tried to soothe him, worried about his reaction. “V, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Nothing’s wrong. I just love you too,” Viktor sniffled into his shoulder. “I've always loved you.”
It didn't feel like he should be allowed to do so, much less be loved in return, yet Jayce seemed so certain he deserved his love, so forgiving that it was almost impossible to bear.
Relieved, Jayce exhaled with a euphoric smile, squeezing him in his arms. He nuzzled his temple, his eyes looking down at Viktor lovingly. He leant in a little more so their foreheads touched.
“So, partners for life?” He asked again after holding him for a while, hopeful.
Viktor finally nodded against him and leant back until they were nose to nose, Jayce drying his tears gently with his thumbs.
“We begin this together,” Jayce said softly.
They shared a small, understanding smile and leant in, sealing their new promise with a kiss.
***
When Victor opened his eyes, his mind felt fuzzy and groggy.
‘Where am I? Is this a dream?’
Viktor turned his head on his left, smiling as he saw Jayce waking up and snuggling into him with a yawn. His hair was adorably tousled from sleep and Viktor extended a hand to ruffle it some more, earning himself a cute little moan from Jayce.
It definitely wasn’t a dream.