Chapter 1: Selfish
Notes:
Note: This first chapter has some sexual content but this fic doesn't get really horny until chapter 3. The first two are finished, so the next one will go up next week, and the third will likely follow the week after that!
Also, this chapter switches between Jayce and Viktor's POV, however, it's heavily focused on Jayce (for reasons that make sense). Going forward, each chapter will stick to one perspective for the duration of the chapter.
EDIT: I made a small change to this chapter, which was deleting three words, to fix a continuity error from chapter 5 (I know, way off).
Chapter Text
Jayce feels like his body is being torn apart, dissected and then reassembled, repeatedly. Bright flashes of the Arcane anomaly light up within his blurred vision, and when he screams it’s as though a thousand copies of himself scream in unison. It feels like an eternity and a millisecond all at once before…
He wakes up.
His cheek is damp from morning dew on the blades of grass he’s lying on. He groans, blinking rapidly as the early morning sun blares in his eyes, and pulls himself up to his hands and knees. His whole body aches, especially his leg still fastened in his brace.
Jayce is trying to piece together what had just happened. Moments before, he was floating in a shared consciousness with Viktor, gripping tight to the powerful rune, embracing destruction as they pressed their foreheads together. A satisfying ending, if he had to choose one after all the death and devastation they had endured.
So why is he breathing? And why is the grass blue?
Jayce lifts his head, surveying his surroundings. He’s in a forest clearing, surrounded by baby blue pines, pink moss and white, yellow-spotted wild flowers. It takes him mere moments to notice the figure lying in the overgrown grass only ten feet from him. A figure with long brown hair and a blue cloak.
He rushes over, turning the figure on their back, their head rolling to the side limply, and he inhales sharply as his suspicions are confirmed: Viktor. The Machine Herald was no more, it was his Viktor. Beautiful, miraculous Viktor with all his moles and smile lines, the eerie mask now absent.
At least… mostly. Brief flashes of steel and flesh peek out from underneath the robe. But that doesn’t matter right now.
“Viktor?” Jayce calls in a hushed voice, as though he is scared he will shatter this reality with a single sound. He holds his breath.
No response.
“No,” Jayce mutters. “No, no, no, tell me you’re not—” Before he allows the panic to build any further, he presses two fingers to Viktor’s pulse point on his neck.
A heartbeat. Steady, alive, impossible and beautiful.
“Fuck, Viktor, you’re—” Jayce tries to hold back the emotion in his voice. His heart rejoices. Viktor is alive. However, his brain is… well, it’s apprehensive.
Was he still Viktor?
He shakes Viktor’s shoulder, trying to prompt him to wake. Jayce watches, patiently, expecting to see Viktor’s enchanting gold eyes flutter open and look up at him with the same surprise, and maybe even joy.
But he doesn’t. Viktor remains unresponsive, not even shifting from Jayce’s shaking. His heart sinks. However, he can’t let his tumultuous emotions get the better of him. After weeks in that ravine, months traversing the future they created, Jayce knows how to school his feelings and go into survival mode.
He takes a more thorough look at their surroundings, spotting a river beyond the pines. “Water means settlements,” Jayce says to himself. Without a second thought, and only the clothes on their backs, Jayce scoops Viktor’s lithe form into his arms and begins making the trek upstream. His leg aches with each step, despite Viktor practically weighing nothing, but there is no way in hell he’s leaving Viktor behind.
It doesn’t matter if they were in hell, or paradise, or another reality. All that Jayce cares about is that he has his best friend back. That’s all that matters.
His eyes flicker down to Viktor, unconscious in his arms. Without his companionship, his witty remarks and insightful opinions, Jayce’s thoughts wander to the past.
It’s stupid. Jayce doesn’t realize it at the time, but he very obviously has a crush on Viktor. Cait knows it. Their assistants know it. Even Heimerdinger knows it.
Jayce doesn’t know it, somehow. And he has no idea if Viktor knew.
They are celebrating a breakthrough, high off the adrenaline of figuring out how to put safety measures on the Hexgates and finalizing their design. It’s four in the morning and Viktor pulls out a bottle of whiskey that he was hiding in the bottom drawer of his desk.
“Wait, how long have you had that in there?” Jayce chuckles, thinking they would have had to go to his apartment for that celebratory drink. “I didn’t think you’d keep booze in your desk.”
“I bought it the day we started working on the Hexgates, for this very reason,” Viktor smirks, amused. “You think I’m… what was it that my Academy roommate called me? ‘Straight-edge and uptight’?”
“Well, no, I don’t think that about you. I just expect you to be… professional?” Jayce smiles nervously, as he always does when he’s uncertain if he’s insulting Viktor or if it’s light banter.
“I think,” Viktor starts, grabbing two paper cups hidden in his drawer before rolling his chair over to Jayce’s desk only a few feet away. “A good bottle of whiskey is merely a perk of professional success.”
Viktor cracks open the bottle and pours a generous amount of liquor into each cup. Jayce doesn’t realize he’s watching Viktor’s hands carefully—hands he’s watched deftly take apart and put together all kinds of projects. He has always been fascinated with Viktor’s skilled hands, for no particular reason.
“Apologies that I don’t have proper glasses, unless you would like to make the journey to the kitchen. I don’t know if you’re above paper cups,” Viktor says teasingly, picking up his cup as he assumes Jayce is not going to get up.
“Are you kidding? I live on paper cups and plates. I don’t have time for dishes.”
Viktor and Jayce share a laugh before Jayce picks up his cup and raises it to cheers. “To progress.”
“To us,” Viktor says in response, and Jayce likes the sound of that. Us.
Their cups make a soft tap sound as they bump them together, both taking a deep drink.
It was supposed to be one, but… it quickly turns into four.
“You know, I’ve never asked you,” Jayce brazenly says as he leans back in his chair, nursing his fifth. “Do you have a girlfriend?”
Viktor chokes on his whiskey, going into a coughing fit. Jayce sits up and almost panics,almost, patting Viktor’s back as he recovers. It wasn’t actually a cause for concern though… not at that point.
“I… well, no,” Viktor finally says, averting his eyes.
“Oh…” Jayce pauses, leaning back in his chair. “Boyfriend?”
Viktor lets out a laugh. If they weren’t drunk, Jayce would maybe say it was a nervous laugh, but Viktor is never nervous or it never shows. “No, I am… in a committed relationship with my work.”
Jayce hums in thought. He understands the difficulty of balancing the kind of work they do with a relationship. It’s not an easy feat. But Viktor is… well, Viktor. How could he not have people fawning over him? “There’s gotta be, y’know, someone that’s caught your eye.”
Viktor goes quiet, his cheeks pink from the booze (Jayce assumes), as he rolls his cup back and forth on an angle, the liquid sloshing inside. His eyes don’t meet Jayce’s. “There is someone but… we are from very different worlds. It’s just not feasible. Besides, I am perfectly content by myself.”
“What do you mean you’re from different worlds?” Jayce asks naively, speaking before the information is fully processed. “What, like someone from Piltover?”
Viktor’s golden eyes flicker up to Jayce’s before he downs his fifth cup of whiskey. Even drunk, Viktor is an intimidating man, which makes heat stir in Jayce’s gut—a feeling he can’t quite place. Maybe it’s the alcohol and the fact that they had dinner (corner store sandwiches) eight hours ago.
“Yes, you guessed correctly.” Viktor’s voice gives nothing away.
“Oh, c’mon, that doesn’t matter. We all bleed, we’re all made of meat—there’s not much of a difference between you and I.”
Viktor is quiet again, grabbing the half-empty bottle of whiskey and taking a sip from it. Seeing Viktor so loose is mind-blowing to Jayce at this point, even after working together for the last two years.
“You might say that,” Viktor starts, drumming his fingers on the bottle that he now has resting on his chest. “But not everyone wants a man like this—“ He gestures to his bad leg. “And from the poorest recesses of the Undercity. I’m not exactly an eligible bachelor.”
Jayce gapes at Viktor before slurring his words slightly. “What? What are you talking about? You’re literally the most brilliant mind in all of Piltover—even more than me, though my ego hates to admit it—how could you not be desirable?”
Viktor sits and just… watches Jayce, like he’s trying to decipher a puzzle that he almost has the answer to but he can’t quite put together. It’s the same look he gets when he’s trying to find the solution to any Hextech hiccup they encounter. He looks intense and intrigued, as though he’s challenging Jayce in some way… or sizing him up.
“I don’t think this particular person would be interested.” Viktor says it with finality before taking another swig from the bottle. Then, he looks back at Jayce, replacing that intense look from moments before with a small smirk. “What about you, golden boy?"
Jayce flushes at the way Viktor says it like he’s mocking him. Viktor has liked to tease him, ever since Jayce became the face of Hextech while his partner preferred to tinker in the shadows. “Well, I… haven’t really been with anyone since I started working on Hextech. I have been, as you said, in a committed relationship with my work.”
Viktor raises a single brow before murmuring, “A waste,” as he sips at the bottle again.
Jayce just laughs, not reading into it. A comfortable silence falls on them as Jayce finishes his drink.
And that fifth drink gives him a crazy idea.
“Okay, let’s do this,” Jayce says with a grin, his face flushed from the heat of the alcohol and giddiness he feels. “If, by the time we’re forty, we’re both still committed to our work and not with anyone, let’s just get married!”
Viktor stares at him. Stares at him for a very long moment. But then, he throws back his head and lets out a bark of laughter—uncontrollable, jovial laughter. He laughs until his stomach hurts, presumably from the way he clutches it. The sound is… addictive, that’s the only way Jayce can describe it. “Jay-Jayce, you’re hilarious.”
“I’m not being funny, I’m serious, man!” Jayce stands from his chair, boldly grabbing the bottle from Viktor and taking a deep swig. It burns his throat, but he doesn’t care, he’s getting drunk with his best friend and making up a crazy scheme. He feels like he’s in his element.
He points at Viktor. “Think about it. We get a cute house and we have a lab at home so we never have to leave! Because I know you would live in the lab if you could. We could invent and change the world from the comfort of our home until we’re old and gray.”
Jayce takes another drink, the gears turning in his dizzy head. “And, we could get a dog. Plus, there’s tax benefits.” Another drink. “Did I mention I’m good in bed?”
Viktor is looking at him with… something. It’s a look that makes Jayce stop in his tracks. As he watches the small smile and gentle eyes fixate on him, he realizes: fondness. Viktor is fond of him. Well, of course, he would be. They’re best friends—partners—after all. But, Jayce gets lost in that warmth in Viktor’s golden gaze.
He wishes Viktor would look at him like that all the time.
“A cat,” Viktor says plainly, breaking the silence.
“What?” Jayce blinks.
“I don’t like dogs—too energetic and high-maintenance. I’m only willing to get a cat. Maybe two.”
Jayce breaks into a wide smile, pumping his fist in triumph. “Yes! We’re so getting married. You’re gonna loooove it. I’ll be such a good hushband,” he slurs his words in excitement and… well, he’s incredibly drunk. He hasn’t gotten this drunk since freshman year.
“I’ll hold you to that,” Viktor chuckles softly, clearly holding his liquor a little better than Jayce. He grabs his cane and stands, approaching Jayce to take the whiskey bottle from him. “I think it’s time we go home.”
“Your eyes are pretty,” Jayce blurts out, staring at Viktor as though he’s hypnotized by the very eyes he’s complimenting. Maybe he is. They’re stunning, really.
“And you’re drunk,” Viktor says, rolling those gorgeous gold eyes of his, taking the bottle and setting it back down on Jayce’s desk.
Jayce is suddenly acutely aware of where Viktor’s fingers had brushed his while retrieving the bottle. His skin feels warm but… that’s the alcohol’s doing, is it not?
“Come on, Talis,” Viktor says, that same fondness Jayce had seen earlier reaching his voice. He grabs Jayce by the arm and drags him out of the lab.
They walk—Jayce stumbling every so often and Viktor holding on to Jayce’s arm for both their sakes—through the quiet halls of the Academy, knowing it’s too early for students and professors to be pouring in yet. As they pass one of the grand windows, Jayce catches something in the distance. “Vik, look.”
Viktor stops, looking back at what Jayce is staring at. The sky is painted in pink and purple hues as the sun slowly rises above the horizon line. He joins him silently at the window to admire the view.
“Been a while since we’ve seen a sunrise,” Jayce comments, putting a hand casually on Viktor’s shoulder. “Beautiful, huh?”
Viktor glances up at Jayce, but Jayce doesn’t look back, too fixated on the landscape. “Beautiful,” Viktor says quietly before turning to stare out the window.
Neither of them make it back to the lab that day, nursing the worst hangovers of recent memory.
Neither of them brings up their pact.
Forty. Jayce remembers counting each birthday. Twenty-eight. Twenty-nine. Thirty. Thirty-one.
Thirty-two.
He stopped at thirty-two, after Viktor’s lungs started to give up on him. The thought tugs at his heart, reminding himself that… at least, for now, Viktor seems to not be dying.
Maybe he’ll make it to forty after all if they’re not already dead and in some timeless limbo.
Jayce sets Viktor down, sitting him up against a tree, as he takes a break. The sun is at high noon now, and the heat is beating down on his back. His leg has started to cramp too, which has left him limping for the last half hour.
He strips himself of his jacket, letting his arms breathe, as he kneels at the riverbank to splash cool water on his face.
Jayce was a vain man once upon a time, but ever since his… experience with touching the Arcane, those things matter less to him. It’s out of habit that he glances at his reflection in the water, only now noticing the four divots in his forehead.
“The Herald,” Jayce mutters, touching them gingerly. They don’t hurt now, but it certainly hurt like hell getting them. He glances over his shoulder at Viktor, still unresponsive against the trunk of what looks like an oak with a rainbow of leaves. Jayce sighs, turning back to the water to continue cooling down.
He doesn’t break for longer than fifteen minutes. Jayce knows that, if he stops now, he won’t be able to continue. He’ll suffer for it tomorrow, but hopefully they can find shelter before then.
The sun passes high noon and, if Jayce has to guess, he’s been walking for at least two hours since his short break. Viktor isn’t heavy and has become a comforting weight in Jayce’s arms, curled against his chest. The silence, with the exception of birds, bugs, Viktor’s soft breaths and his own exertion, starts to grate on him though.
So, he talks.
“I can’t wait until you wake up,” Jayce starts, speaking quietly enough that his voice doesn’t carry far. “I’m sure you’re going to have a great time cataloguing all the flora and fauna here. We could name them. I know you’ll want to come up with a naming convention, like genuses and families, but I think Steve is a great name for a bird, don’t you think?”
Jayce chuckles at his own joke, picturing Viktor rolling his eyes in that fond way he does when he pretends to be annoyed with him. He glances down at his partner’s face, showing no reaction.
“I miss you,” he admits, looking ahead again as he navigates the stretch of forest. “No, I have been missing you for a long time. Before the Herald. Before the Hexcore. Before I became Councilor Talis—” He spits out his former title with disdain. “Things were so much simpler when it was just the two of us in that lab. If only we had focused on… anything but magic.”
Jayce turns his wrist slightly to see the scar where the rune had been. If he has learned anything in the past year of his life, it would be that time is a circle and the Arcane is not something to toy with. He only wishes he had known that before an eager and bright-eyed version of him pursued the Arcane, and dragged Viktor down with him.
Jayce feels a raindrop hit his shoulder. He curses and tries to pick up the pace, his leg screaming in agony. The tree canopy at least provides some coverage as it begins to pour, but Jayce stops briefly, resting Viktor against another rainbow oak. “Rainboak?” Jayce suggests aloud to his partner, nodding at the tree as he takes off his jacket again. “Maybe too on the nose.”
He covers Viktor’s unconscious form with his jacket, trying to protect him from the downpour as much as possible, as he limps through the forest as fast as he can. Jayce doesn’t believe in any gods, but if he did, he’d be praying for a respite—a town, a camp, anything.
His non-existent prayers are answered when he spots a building among the trees. He lets out a sigh of relief, but anxiety replaces his exhaustion. He knows nothing of this… reality? He doesn’t know if he’ll be able to communicate with anyone or if they will be friendly. But, the rain continues to beat down on them, soaking his undershirt and hair as he tries to shelter Viktor from it. He’s willing to take the risk.
“We’re almost there,” Jayce says, out of breath, as he looks down at Viktor’s emotionless face. “I’m going to keep you safe.”
Viktor looks… serene, Jayce thinks. The most at peace he’s ever seen before, and it makes his heart feel hollow.
The encasing of pure Arcane energy the Hexcore created around his partner shimmers and shifts in iridescent blues and pinks, mocking Jayce. The only thing worse than Viktor being stuck in an indefinite coma was Jayce not yet knowing the consequences of his selfish actions. He did this to Viktor. All because he couldn’t live without his partner.
“I’m sorry…” Jayce murmurs, his chest tightening with guilt and regret. “I… I did this because I wanted more time to… more time for us.”
Jayce had been wrestling with his affections for longer than he had been aware. He meant to tell Viktor, but he couldn’t find the courage. Jayce was smart and charismatic, a famed scientist and councilman, and yet his greatest fear was rejection. Pathetic.
“I don’t know when it started, maybe it was the moment you talked me off of that ledge,” Jayce whispers, staring at the floor, knowing Viktor probably can’t hear him within his Arcane cocoon. “Maybe it was that first smile you gave me when you cracked the mystery of Hextech. Or maybe it was the late nights we spent, bouncing ideas back and forth like… like we were two pieces of a whole.”
Jayce lifts his head, staring up at the face of the man that he… that he loves. More than anything. That he would willingly die for. His hazel eyes trace Viktor’s sharp cheekbones, the moles dotting his face, and his enticing Cupid’s bow.
He wonders if he will get the chance to kiss him.
His eyes begin to water. “I wish you were awake to tell me how much of an idiot I’ve been. Not destroying the Hexcore. Not telling you… not telling you how much I adore you.”
Jayce thinks he sees Viktor’s brow twitch and he holds his breath, standing with such urgency that he knocks his chair over. He rushes over to the cocoon, studying Viktor’s face for any other sign of consciousness. “Please, Vik…” Jayce breathes with shaky heaves, waiting, waiting… nothing. All the panicked tension in his body deflates, disappointed that it was either an unconscious movement or his imagination.
Jayce doesn’t move. He stands in front of Viktor, memorizing every inch of his handsome face. He tentatively reaches up, uncertain if he is crossing a line… but he is a selfish man, after all. His knuckle brushes over Viktor’s cheek, tender and slow but a barely-there touch. “Please, Viktor. Please come back to me. You don’t know how much I… I need you.”
Jayce is met with stillness and nothing but the quiet whirring of the lab equipment. He retracts his hand, moving back to the lab bench and is unable to look at Viktor again that night.
He would continue to sit and stare, talk to him even though he doesn’t respond, and sleep next to his suspended form for days.
If Jayce has anything left, it’s hope. Hope he can hear Viktor’s mellow voice again, thick with the accent that Jayce always found so endearing.
But hope dwindles with each day.
He doesn’t know how much hope he has left.
Jayce’s mind can’t help but linger on the memory of Viktor suspended within the Hexcore’s prison—the prison that warped Viktor’s body into a new lifeform of metal and flesh.
Some of Viktor’s original body has returned after the anomaly spat them out in this (assumed) alternative reality. The cabin (more like a shack) that Jayce managed to find abandoned smells of cobwebs and damp earth. Convenient, really—maybe the universe was on their side for a change. He had laid Viktor down on a bed that was just barely still intact, where he lay with his chest—human flesh, for the most part—rising and falling with his breath.
“At least you’re alive,” Jayce murmurs from the rickety chair at Viktor’s bedside. It’s hardly a comfort though. The last time he brought Viktor back from the brink, he became… he didn’t want to think about it.
His gaze travels to Viktor’s left arm and right leg. They were still how he looked when he emerged from his slumber within the Hexcore. But, the human flesh that he miraculously recovered when the Arcane… what rebuilt him? It gives Jayce hope that the Hexcore’s influence that birthed the Machine Herald is gone.
He won’t know until Viktor awakens though. The anticipation forms a nervous knot in his stomach.
At almost thirty-two years old, there are very few things that make Jayce Talis nervous, but Viktor is one of them. He thought he would grow out of it when he first found himself fumbling over his words when they began their partnership. There was always an intense, intimidating air about the other scientist. He rarely veered from his stony facade at first, but as the stone began to crack and Viktor’s true personality started to show, Jayce was still nervous.
Jayce didn’t get it at first. Viktor opened up to him after tireless months and years working together. He’s witty, kind, and of course, Jayce can’t forget, a fucking genius. Viktor’s mind slotted perfectly in the crevices of Jayce’s own. They were so in sync that it scared Jayce. But why was he still nervous around Viktor?
He knew why the moment he realized his true feelings. It had been during the agonizing hours of waiting for Viktor to wake up after he collapsed. When Jayce had learned of his illness, he mentally beat himself for not being there. He should have been in the lab instead of warming Mel’s bed.
Guilt had pounded in Jayce’s chest like a hammer and a voice somewhere in the recesses of his mind spoke up. Viktor can’t die. He doesn’t know how loved he is, the voice whispered. It was his own voice, but the thought came from a deep part of him he hadn’t been able to face.
He was hopelessly, irrevocably in love with Viktor—his Viktor.
The memory was painful. Jayce sits in the creaky chair, shifting to try to get comfortable while he watches over Viktor. He ruminates on the memory, regret sitting in his gut. It shouldn’t have taken him six years to realize his feelings and he only realized them when Viktor was dying. There was so much wasted time, so much time that could have gone… differently.
Had they not created the Hexcore, had Jayce admitted his feelings sooner and confronted Viktor with them... Had Viktor reciprocated… what? How was Jayce hoping he could change the past? To spend those six years loving Viktor until his final breath?
The memory of the Machine Herald—because that was not Viktor, that was something that ate Viktor alive—made his heart ache. His heart has been aching since the moment he realized what their future looked like and what he had to do.
He looks down at his hands, flexing them, imagining the weight of his hammer in them. Killing Viktor—no, not Viktor, the Herald that wore Viktor’s face—was the hardest thing he had ever done. Harder than climbing out of that damned ravine with a healing broken leg. He had to emotionally and mentally separate Viktor from that pursuit of evolution in order to pull the trigger.
Even still, a large part of him died with whatever had been left of Viktor.
Jayce’s head lifts, looking at his partner. He has that same serene expression he had when he was being reformed by the Hexcore.
Maybe this is a second chance for them. Maybe Viktor is here, and the Herald has been cleansed from his body and psyche.
Jayce has to hope. It’s all he can do.
“I know you’re in there, V,” Jayce says in a hushed voice. He hesitates but decides to brush a lock of Viktor’s long brunette hair from his face, continuing the brief contact by stroking the crown of his head.
Jayce is starved for Viktor’s touch and he’s a selfish man.
“Come back to me.”
Viktor’s consciousness fades in and out for an undetermined amount of time. He doesn’t know what’s real, what’s a dream, or what’s the Arcane tearing him apart from the inside out.
The last thing he can remember is… Jayce. Jayce. Jayce sacrificing everything to save him. To die with him.
After everything he did, after all the pain and suffering he caused, Jayce still died in his grasp, with him— for him.
He floats, with no corporeal form, in a sea of endless black. The darkness shimmers with blues, pinks, greens—all the colours of the Arcane’s time and space distortions. Explosions of colour bloom and die in the distance, like stars in an alien abyss.
Viktor can still see all of their faces. Every person he ‘healed’ or ‘evolved’ lives in his consciousness somewhere. His mind feels full, even fuller than spending two days rattling out equation after equation with Jayce. Their final thoughts, their most precious memories, they were all there.
Daniella. Forty-six. Became addicted to Shimmer after losing her daughter to the same illness that had afflicted Victor. She had asked him if he could bring her baby back to her. Viktor had to console her when he explained that he couldn’t.
Muskrat. Sixteen. Lost his parents in the riots many, many years ago and had been living on the streets since. Just like Daniella, he wished to see his parents again and Viktor had to deliver the news that he couldn’t raise the dead, only ‘save’ the living.
They worshipped him. A fake healer. A false prophet. A power-hungry tyrant.
He doesn’t know if he has the will or strength to face his atrocities just yet, so he smothers the thoughts before he starts to spiral.
Come back to me.
Jayce’s voice echoes in his mind like a beacon of light in the dark chasm. He tries calling for Jayce, desperate for his name to leave his lips, to reach out to him—but nothing comes out. He has no body. He has no mouth. All he can do is linger in the timeless dimension, by himself, hoping to hear Jayce’s voice again.
Is he here too? Did I destroy Jayce and exile him to a prison of darkness?
If Jayce was with him, the void would be bearable.
Usually, when left to his own thoughts, he outlines schematics or solves equations he had been working on, all within the chaos of his rapidly cycling mind. Viktor isn’t one to linger on the past or what-ifs—hypotheticals are a waste of time. But, in the endless pit he’s in, hypotheticals feel like… comforts. Coping mechanisms. Imagining what could have been feels better than torturing himself with what he’s done.
Viktor wonders what it would have been like to love Jayce, not from his shadow.
He fell in love with Jayce’s mind first. It didn’t take much. He had barely seen Heimerdinger’s pupil before reading the journal of Jayce’s vision. While Viktor thought signing all his notes was egotistical, it also made him see how… eager Jayce was. Eager for change. Eager for recognition. Eager to be an innovator. It was endearing.
What started as an infatuation with a brilliant mind turned into something more than what he was expecting. He didn’t imagine that a night of adrenaline, discovery and creation, would lead him to find the one person who slotted perfectly against Viktor’s madness, like a key unlocking a door long forgotten. The one person in Piltover or Zaun. In Valoran. In their reality and the next.
The one person that made him feel not so lonely anymore.
It didn’t take long for him to realize he was smitten with the Academy’s golden boy. It was hard not to fall for the charm, the smarts, and… well, he wasn’t hard on the eyes either (understatement). But, Viktor knows if something is unattainable when he sees it. No matter how much his feelings deepened with every failed experiment, every exhilarating brainstorm, and every crushing hug after a breakthrough, Viktor knew he was tormenting himself.
He tried to let go, especially after Jayce became a councilor. His object of affection became untouchable as he flew closer to the sun, and Viktor watched from their dim lab, hoping Jayce didn’t get burned.
He doesn’t remember anything from when he was entrapped by the Hexcore, merging with it over the course of an unknown length of time. He never asked Jayce, nor did he care in his new… hollowness. Viktor was a new man, reborn, seeking a new purpose and leaving his old life behind. All driven by the Hexcore.
It was affection that kept us together. The words echo in the abyss as he recalls their parting conversation, before… before.
The Hexcore killed his love for Jayce. Well, almost. He didn’t blame Jayce for killing him, though it sparked a newfound coldness and determination as the Herald that Viktor didn’t know he was capable of—or maybe never was without the Hexcore.
It almost killed his love for Jayce. But he can feel it, everywhere where his consciousness expands. His entire being, whatever is left of it, adores his former partner, and he will until he burns out like a star, or whatever he can assume will happen to him from here on out.
Is this death? Is the Arcane the other side of the threshold of life? Whatever it is, he can feel him returning to himself.
He is free of the Hexcore.
He is free to love Jayce in the endless abyss, for an eternity. The image of their final moments together within their shared consciousness burns into his mind. Jayce’s long hair, his beard, his tired hazel eyes… and the four burning blue scars on his forehead.
After everything Viktor did, Jayce stayed. And now… he’s gone.
I miss you.
“I miss you…”
Jayce freezes.
It’s been at least a week (he lost the exact count of the days) since they arrived and Viktor has remained in a silent slumber the whole time.
Silent. Until now.
The words are barely audible. If Jayce hadn’t been in the process of cleaning the decrepit bedroom to make it more homey for when Viktor wakes up—because he will—he would have missed it.
“Viktor?” Jayce drops the moth-eaten rag he’s been washing the floor with and rushes to his partner’s side, kneeling next to the bed. “Vik, it’s Jayce, can you hear me?”
Viktor’s brows pinch, as though he’s struggling or trying to calculate a particularly difficult equation. His right arm, the one that has been restored to human flesh, twitches and Jayce reaches for it impulsively, squeezing his fingers that are cool to the touch.
“Jayce,” Viktor barely murmurs. At first, Jayce isn’t even sure if it is his name that he had mumbled, but he replays it in his mind until he’s certain.
“I’m here, V. I’m not going anywhere.”
Before he can stop himself, his hand finds its way into Viktor’s hair again, combing his fingers through the long tresses. There is an absent-minded thought that Viktor looks good with long hair; it suits him. However, the present part of his mind is fixated on Viktor’s consciousness.
“Vik?”
Just as soon as it came, Viktor is gone, silent once again.
Viktor has always fit the stereotype of a ‘mad scientist’. He talks to himself, his mouth can run a mile a minute (with Jayce, because he’s the only one who can keep up), and he has done some… questionable experiments in the past. Nothing like Singed, at least he likes to believe, but maybe they were not so much different in the end.
However, Viktor has never known madness like this.
His consciousness comes and goes in waves, like he’s being guided by a violent current. Sometimes his awareness lasts seconds. Sometimes, it feels like months, though it could very well be minutes for all he knows. In the abyss, nothing feels real. All he can do is… dream.
It always starts with a memory. One of his fondest memories is the night they got drunk in the lab, early in the morning, just the two of them joking and celebrating. It had been a tense night too, for him at least.
There were so many times he wanted to smack some sense into Jayce that night. His partner doesn’t realize it, but get enough alcohol in him and Jayce turns into a flirt. He does it with everyone. So Viktor isn’t special when Jayce starts to ask him if he has a girlfriend—he was also oblivious to the fact that Viktor is gay—or tells him he has pretty eyes.
Then there’s that stupid pact Jayce came up with, the one that Viktor only entertained because he wants to live in that fantasy and he doubted he’d make it to forty anyway.
But Viktor replays the night in his mind. What if he had done it differently? What if he hadn’t been so clouded by his own lack of self-worth that he couldn’t fathom a man as handsome, smart and perfect as Jayce Talis returning his feelings?
If Viktor is going to spend the rest of his existence in a pitch-black void, he’s going to have a maladaptive daydream or two.
“Your eyes are pretty,” Jayce blurts out, staring at Viktor as though he’s hypnotized by the very eyes he’s complimenting.
Viktor boldly grabs the bottle of whiskey from Jayce’s hand, taking a swig to fuel his courage for what he’s about to say. “And I think you’d look pretty on your knees.”
Jayce’s cheeks bloom a bright red flush and Viktor knows it’s not from the alcohol. He can see the gears moving behind his partner’s eyes, trying to process what Viktor just said. His mouth is even slightly agape. It’s cute.
Viktor’s thin lips tug into a smirk, his eyes half-hooded as he takes hold of Jayce’s loose tie, while still gripping the whiskey bottle, and pulls him closer. “Stop gawking and kiss me already, idiot.”
Both the bottle and his cane drop to the floor as Jayce surges forward, enveloping Viktor in his arms. He’s surprised the bottle didn’t break, just splashed the golden liquor everywhere, but it’s only half a thought because his mind is preoccupied. Their lips meet with a desperate need that only a build-up of lust, years of pining and alcohol could produce. It takes Viktor’s breath away.
Jayce kisses like a starving man, licking into Viktor’s mouth with a messy sense of coordination, while holding him by the small of his back. His other hand combs through Viktor’s short curls, cradling his skull like he’s something precious. It makes Viktor dizzy in ways that the whiskey never could.
Viktor’s hands explore eagerly, one holds Jayce’s jaw as they kiss while the other caresses down his chest. He needs to be touching this man, now. Both hands are reassigned to unbuttoning Jayce’s shirt with deft movements and in record time while Jayce supports him. His fingers map out Jayce’s abs and chest—an exploratory experiment—teasing one of his nipples with a pinch. Jayce groans into Viktor’s mouth, coaxing a pleasant hum out of Viktor from the passion of their tongues colliding.
Jayce pulls away after an indecipherable amount of time of navigating one another’s mouths, something Viktor could frankly do for hours, to bite Viktor’s bottom lip and grin at him. “What was that about being pretty on my knees?” Jayce whispers, his voice husky with desire. It sends shivers down Viktor’s spine.
“Prove me right,” Viktor challenges, gasping when Jayce impatiently rips Viktor’s shirt open, the buttons scattering to the floor in all directions. Jayce’s mouth finds the crook of Viktor’s neck and shoulder, sucking a purple bruise to claim him. The hickey hurts, just a little, but it stirs arousal more than anything.
The broader man then picks him up by gripping his thighs and lifting, mindful of his leg in the process. He knew Jayce could carry him effortlessly, and Viktor suspected he would be a little more considerate than former flings had been. Jayce then carries Viktor to his desk, sitting him on top of it, shoving schematics and notes to the floor in the process.
“You better clean that up,” Viktor chides, but there’s no heat behind his words—just between his legs.
“Later. I have more important things to do right now.” He peppers kisses down Viktor’s neck and then his chest, creating more love bites in the process.
“Fuck, Jayce…” Viktor’s words come out breathy and desperate as he combs his fingers through Jayce’s hair. He pulls, guiding his partner’s head back to eye-level, licking into Jayce’s mouth eagerly.
Blunt nails travel down Viktor’s torso, sparking arousal like he’s never felt before. It’s because this isn’t some sleezebag he’s picked up in a bar, it’s Jayce fucking Talis.
Viktor feels blessed, not because Jayce is Piltover’s golden boy, or because he’s unbelievably hot and Pilties swoon when he walks by. He feels blessed because it’s his Jayce, who snores a little when he falls asleep at his desk. His Jayce, who gets him coffee at two in the morning while Viktor double checks Jayce’s math. His Jayce, who makes him laugh with all his stupid jokes—laugh like no one has ever made him laugh before.
Viktor lets out a gasp into Jayce’s mouth as Jayce rolls his hips against his. Jayce just takes it as an invitation to dip his tongue in Viktor’s mouth again. Sounds of moaning and urgent rutting, shaking the desk, fill the silent lab. Viktor would be lying if he said this hasn’t been a recurring fantasy.
He can feel how hard Jayce is, straining against his slacks and begging for release. The bulge slots against Viktor’s groin perfectly, and he can feel how wet he is from so little attention. Viktor’s lust-addled mind wonders if he could take Jayce without any prep because he’s desperate to feel every inch of this man.
Viktor’s hands reach for Jayce’s belt, starting to unbuckle it but Jayce stops him. Breaking the kiss and panting, Jayce shakes his head. “You said you think I would look pretty on my knees. I’ve gotta test your theory,” he grins.
“Well, what are you waiting for?” Viktor huffs, his cheeks bright pink from how turned on he is. He should be embarrassed by how desperate he is for Jayce to devour him, but he’s too turned on to give a shit.
Jayce’s gaze remains locked with Viktor’s as he sinks to his knees, licking his lips. His hands find Viktor’s belt, fumbling with it a little in a way that Viktor finds endearing, before pulling and—
Something snaps within him. Guilt. Shame. Disgust. He should not be fantasizing about the man he so desperately loves—who he isn’t sure loves him back—just because he’s… what, bored? Slowly going insane from the nothingness of the void?
You’re selfish. Jayce died for you, a foreign voice whispers from the darkness. And this is how you repay him? By perverting his memory?
If Viktor had a body, it would feel sick. The taunting voice speaks to his deepest fears.
He would be disgusted by you. Even in death, you can’t give him peace.
Shut up, shut up, Viktor would bite back if he had a mouth to bite back with. The voice just laughs.
That is the last time Viktor conjures up any… revisions to their history. Because this is hell, he decides, and even his fantasies are unsafe.
What he wouldn’t give to kiss Jayce. To hug him one last time. To hear his voice cut through the darkness again.
Everything is quiet.
Viktor used to love the quiet.
If Jayce had to guess, it has been somewhere between fourteen and sixteen days since he found the cabin. In those two weeks, he’s learned a lot.
It’s a hunting cabin so, fortunately, it’s equipped with all the basics for survival: beds, a woodfire stove, tinderboxes, an axe and fishing equipment. The river has fresh water. Every day, he carries buckets in from the river for drinking, washing, cooking and copious amounts of cleaning, which was annoying at first, but he’s getting in a rhythm now.
His father had taken him fishing as a child so he wasn’t entirely unfamiliar. While it took a little bit to relearn the skill, he was proficient enough to get a few catches a day after the first week. Obviously, feeding Viktor roasted fish was out of the question. Instead, he made a pot of fish broth from everything he didn’t eat to sustain his partner during his slumber. Jayce just assumed Viktor needed to eat, based on his mostly-human form.
There were tools too. Jayce was able to repair a leak in the roof that was, of course, right above his bed, and repair the door that had been hanging off of its hinges. Plus, he could tighten his brace from all of its recent overuse.
Jayce was shocked to even find clothes and boots, a miracle. Considering his own were filthy after working in the hot sun for days, it was a relief to have a not-so-fresh change of clothing. They were admittedly a little tight across the chest, but he’d take it. There were even some smaller garments that, while maybe a little big, probably would fit Viktor. It was a blessing, really. Viktor especially needed it, because he didn’t even have shoes.
“Would have been nice if the Arcane sent us off with some luggage, huh?” Jayce murmured as he set the pile of clothes for Viktor at the foot of his bed.
Despite all the small blessings, the most exciting discovery came from the very small loft that was a pain for him to squeeze into—a child was more suited for the space than a grown man of his size. Among old hunting trophies was a heavy box full of books and maps.
Jayce was almost worried he would startle Viktor when he planned to unceremoniously drop the box from the loft above, but he knew he wouldn’t be so lucky. It crashed to the floor with a heavy thud and, as expected, he heard no stirring from Viktor’s room.
When he wasn’t fishing, cleaning, cooking, chopping wood, fixing things or sleeping, Jayce spent his days at Viktor’s bedside, reading and talking to him.
“So Piltover and Zaun don’t exist. Never have, probably never will,” Jayce says with an air of… sadness, if he’s honest. He had suspected their old home was long out of reach, but it was confirmation. He would never see his friends or his mom again. At least he had Viktor.
“Depending on how up-to-date these history texts are, I think it’s safe to say this reality doesn’t have the same modern conveniences we’re used to. We might be lucky if we can find a town with running water, but I’m not sure.” Jayce pauses. “You know, lots of opportunities for innovation at least? We might be cheating though.”
Viktor doesn’t stir, but Jayce knows he would be eager to learn more about the world around them.
“There’s a book on the local wildlife and plant identification,” Jayce says casually with a smirk. “I bet that’s the first thing you’ll be going for.”
Viktor was always more of a reader than Jayce. Sure, Jayce read the necessary texts to learn the science, math and engineering needed for their work, but his interest didn’t reach farther beyond that. However, he needs information, so he skims the books either way. And… huh. He stumbles on a page about the rainbow tree he had laid Viktor beneath.
“The Rynettian, also known as the Tree of Memories, is a tree common among the forests of Gheldania— Gheldania, is that what this place is called?” Jayce ponders aloud, skimming the page. “It has many meanings in many cultures but it predominantly represents unity. Many communities are built around a Marsos Rynettian—or a Master Rynettian—which is a Tree of Memories that has stood for at least five hundred years and is a minimum of… one hundred and twenty feet tall? Holy shit, that’s a big tree.”
Jayce lifts his head from the book to look at Viktor, not expecting anything, except…
Gold eyes are staring back at him.
He drops the book.
“Oh, f—Viktor.”
Relief, panic, confusion and glee flood Jayce’s senses like an assault. He’s overwhelmed because he didn’t actually think about what he would do when Viktor woke up. He thought that he might’ve had more time to figure that out.
It was never if, it was always when.
Viktor ignores him for a moment, slowly sitting up, looking at his right hand—flesh—and then his left—metal. He doesn’t seem… present.
Jayce tentatively watches, uncertain of what to say or do. So he remains silent, allowing Viktor to fully process his surroundings.
“Is this… real?” Viktor asks quietly, looking down at the rest of his body. The left side of his chest morphed into steel as it moved towards his arm, which he touched experimentally.
“As real as it’s going to get, I think,” Jayce says with a small, sad smile. Viktor looks at him again before, slowly, almost shyly—I’ve never known Viktor to be shy, he thinks—touching his cheek.
Admittedly, Jayce has probably looked better. Definitely not as bad as when he got stuck in the ravine, but he’s looking more like a lumberjack these days with his growing beard and tanned arms. He unconsciously leans into the touch, grabbing hold of Viktor’s arm to ground himself. “I can’t… I can’t believe you’re awake.”
“How long has it been? Months? Years?” Viktor sounds shaky, as though he’s on the brink of falling out of this reality into another. Again.
“Two weeks, give or take a couple days.” Jayce says soothingly, brushing his thumb over the inside of Viktor’s wrist, feeling his increasing pulse.
His partner flinches, retracting his hand as though he’s been burned. Jayce tries not to take it personally, but his heart feels like a lead weight in his chest.
“How—why am I alive?” Viktor whispers the question like it’s a secret, or like he might undo whatever keeps him sustained in this new reality if he asks.
“I don’t know. I have been trying to figure out how either of us are alive, but we just don’t know enough about the Arcane to—”
“I don’t deserve it, Jayce.” His tone is cold, matter-of-fact. It chills Jayce to the bone.
“I don’t think—”
“Please leave.”
If Jayce’s heart wasn’t already in the pit of his stomach, it was certainly at rock bottom now. He hesitates but, if space is what Viktor needs, no matter how desperately Jayce wants to hold him, he will give it. He would give Viktor anything.
At least Viktor is alive and awake. That’s what matters.
“Let me know if you need anything,” Jayce murmurs quietly, leaving the books behind as he closes the door.
The sun lowers in the sky and night falls. Jayce spends hours anxiously watching Viktor’s door from the rotting couch, hoping his partner will come out. He bides his time with a mostly blank journal he found amongst the books, using it to sketch out the design for a fishing trap he’s been toying with, but it’s difficult to focus.
He feels more alone than he did when Viktor was still sleeping. But the brief moment of affection between them, when Viktor’s hand cradled his cheek, keeps him going.
He just needs time, Jayce reassures himself.
Hours later, he fills his time by cooking some of his catches of the day. Viktor can probably figure out that Jayce is making dinner, so he patiently waits for his partner to emerge.
Nothing.
After he eats and debates whether or not to knock, he finally does. “Vik, are you hungry?”
No response.
“I know it’s not your favourite, but fish is pretty much our only option right now. Unless I learn how to use a bow,” Jayce laughs softly. Still nothing. “I’ll just… leave a plate out here, then. Goodnight.”
He leaves the roasted fish fillets on a plate in front of Viktor’s door and then goes to bed.
Only minutes later, he hears Viktor’s door open and close once again, letting out a sigh of relief as he lies on the sinking mattress.
Viktor is alive. Viktor is awake. Viktor is eating.
Jayce counts his blessings, even though he hasn’t felt lonelier in weeks.
Chapter 2: Monster
Summary:
Viktor is awake and fighting the consequences of everything he's done. While he tries to come to grips with their new reality, he reflects on two things: a promise and a birthday.
Notes:
Hi! Thank you if you've read this far. I'm new to the fandom and it's been a while since I've written anything, so I'm a little nervous about putting this out there.
This chapter is meant to introduce Viktor's perspective on everything before we get into the meat and potatoes of it all. After this chapter, it's one ticket straight to smutville (with plot).
In the past, I've struggled with committing to multi-chapter fics, but so far, it's going really well. I have up to chapter 5 written so expect steady updates for a while! They're not short chapters either, usually around 8-10k.
I've wanted to incorporate some songs for the moods of the chapters so for this chapter...
Present: The River by Behaving (aka Keaton Henson)
Past: Sweet Night by VThanks to my wife for betaing! That's all. 💕
EDIT: Changed one word for a continuity error. 🙃
Chapter Text
As soon as Jayce leaves, Viktor curls into a ball, gripping his hair tightly and pulling.
No, no, this can’t be happening, Viktor thinks to himself in a panic, chest rising and falling rapidly, though he does his best to remain quiet. I don’t know what’s worse—erasing him from existence or banishing him to another reality away from everyone he loves.
At least maybe death would have given him peace. But no, he had to take care of me for two weeks, after everything I’ve done to him.
Viktor’s mind reflects back on the beautiful sight that he woke up to. Caressing Jayce’s face after so long in the darkness. Having his affections returned with a brush of Jayce’s thumb. Seeing the adoring look in Jayce’s resplendent hazel eyes.
And then he saw the divots from his own hand in Jayce’s forehead.
Viktor doesn’t deserve any of this.
Jayce looks tired, he can’t help but think, pangs of self-hatred and guilt bubbling in the pit of his stomach. Because of me.
He lays back down on the stiff mattress, closing his eyes. For a brief moment, his instinct is to sleep to cope. If he’s unconscious, he can’t face what he’s done—or what he is still doing. But the memory of the cold, lifeless darkness he was trapped in haunts him. In the few moments his eyes are closed, a thousand faces flash in his mind—faces he warped, ‘evolved’ and ‘perfected’. Men. Women. Children.
His eyes snap open.
He doesn’t afford himself the luxury of crying. He doesn’t deserve it.
Deciding that sleeping, crying, and facing Jayce are out of the question, he looks around the room for what to do next. The wood walls are barren with the exception of a patch of… pink lichen clinging to the corner where the wall and roof meet.
Curious.
His eyes fall on the pile of clothes at the foot of the bed, only now realizing that he is, unbelievably, cold. He hasn’t felt cold since before the Hexcore corrupted him.
For a moment, he feels… grateful. Grateful he can feel cold. Grateful to Jayce for taking care of him.
After pulling on the oversized white tunic and the dark pants that he can barely keep above his hips, Viktor looks toward the box sitting by the door. It’s filled to the brim with books—that’s right, Jayce had been reading to him when he awoke.
The sweet sentiment makes his chest ache with tenderness.
The first book to catch his attention is the one that Jayce dropped: Flora & Fauna of the Northern Provinces. In another life, he could have seen himself becoming a biologist, always having a fondness for plants and animals over most people.
It makes sense to do what he does best: research.
He begins to devour one book at a time. There isn’t a huge variety, but what is present is invaluable. What interests him the most is, naturally, the flora and fauna text. However, what will be the most useful is Gheldania Over A Millennia.
Gheldania, that’s what Jayce figured this place was called, right? That’s what he remembers from when he first woke up.
It takes only an hour, maybe more before the natural light from his cracked window begins to dim. He lights the lantern on the small table next to the bed with the tinderbox that was left there. It takes him a couple of tries because he hasn’t used one before, but he gets it eventually.
Sitting in the awful, uncomfortable wooden chair, he reads. If he can’t make up for his crimes, he can at least be useful, and that’s what pushes him through his research.
After a few hours, a knock disrupts his focus and Jayce’s voice sounds from the other side. “Vik, are you hungry?”
Viktor’s stomach growls at the thought of food. He wants to protest— I don’t deserve to eat— but he decides not to respond at all.
“I know it’s not your favourite, but fish is pretty much our only option right now. Unless I learn how to use a bow,” Jayce laughs through the door.
That laugh, the laugh he’s loved for so long, digs a pit in his chest and hollows out his ribcage. Even now, he’s being considerate and trying to make me laugh.
He doesn’t respond, knowing if he does he may never let Jayce leave his side again. He can’t put that kind of weight on Jayce’s already heavily-burdened shoulders.
“I’ll just… leave a plate out here, then. Goodnight.” Viktor hears Jayce set the plate on the floor and then walk away. After a moment, the door of the room next to his own closes—Jayce’s bedroom, he assumes.
He waits, just for a minute or two, before he dares to open the door to retrieve the food.
Jayce has always been more willing to get his hands dirty than a typical Piltie. It’s one of the things Viktor loves about him. So, he appreciates how much time and energy went into carefully cleaning and deboning the roasted fish on his plate.
Even if he hates fish, he’ll still eat it—because Jayce made it.
Viktor wishes he didn’t agree to this.
The head of the baked fish stares back at him. If he wasn’t already feeling sick from being miles above Piltover, the fish head staring at him might do the trick.
Viktor and Jayce have only known each other for about six months and, despite that, Viktor has never been closer with anyone. Not since his mom died, at least.
They had been dealing with a lot of red tape from the Council, particularly from Heimerdinger’s wariness of magic, but over the last few months they had been making strides with Councilor Medarda’s support (Viktor refuses to call her Mel). In that time, Jayce had been repairing his damaged relationship with the Kirammans. Cait, of course, never had an issue with what had happened, it was her parents that needed convincing.
Viktor likes Cait, despite essentially being Piltover royalty. She’s smart, tough, and clearly the black sheep of the family. However, she’s planning on joining the Enforcers, which makes Viktor cautious about what he says around her. He doesn’t like Enforcers, as most people from the Undercity don’t.
Viktor understands all the moving parts that led to this ‘business lunch’ with the Kirammans in one of the airship restaurants that circle the skies of Piltiover. They were Jayce’s patrons, after all. What he doesn’t understand is why he’s here, somewhere no trencher ever thinks they’ll be.
His collar feels tight.
He hates fish.
He had no choice in any of this.
“So, tell us, where are you from, Viktor? I can’t place your accent,” Councilor Kiramman turns her attention from Jayce, for once, to him.
It makes him feel sicker. He can feel a cold sweat beading at his brow. “Oh, I’m afraid you would have never heard of my homeland, Madam Councilor. A small country far east,” Viktor manages to say evenly, taking a small sip of water. It was technically true. His mother brought him to Piltover, hoping for a better life, before he could even crawl. The Kirammans just didn’t need to know that they ended up in the poorest parts of the fissures instead.
“Oh, you may be surprised how well-versed in geography I am. When did you arrive in Piltover?”
“Cassandra,” Jayce interjects, knowing that the line of questioning undoubtedly makes Viktor uncomfortable. It isn’t that he’s ashamed of being from the Undercity, he’s actually rather proud of what he’s been able to accomplish in his short life, but Jayce knows how a woman like Cassandra Kiramman would react if she knew. Eventually it will come out, now was just not the time or place. “Have I told you the brilliant idea Viktor came up with on how to first leverage our Hextech?”
“Our idea, Jayce,” Viktor reminds him because Jayce has a habit of giving him too much credit. Viktor still can’t tell if this habit is out of modesty (something he doesn’t expect from a man who signs all of his personal notes) or maybe stems from Jayce feeling like he owes Viktor something (he doesn’t). Either way, Viktor is happy to share the credit, and Jayce deserves it—this was his concept, and Viktor just piggybacked on it.
“I would argue otherwise,” Jayce grins, placing a comforting hand on Viktor’s arm. It eases his nausea only slightly. “This guy is too humble for his own good. He has the most brilliant mind in Piltover.”
Okay, Jayce, that’s enough stroking my ego for one day, Viktor thinks, hoping nobody notices him roll his eyes instinctively.
Cait notices, of course. She flashes him an amused smirk from across the table, one that says, you know how Jayce is.
“No, I don’t believe you’ve told me yet—” Cassandra says before glancing at Viktor’s plate. “Viktor, is there something wrong with your meal?”
Viktor pales, putting on a polite smile. “Of course not, Councilor, it looks…” Viktor pauses, staring at the fish in its dead, glassy eye. “Delicious.” He almost chokes on the word, lifting his head to smile in a way that hopefully isn’t perceived as disturbed. “If you excuse me, I actually need to visit the restroom. I’ll be back.”
Grabbing his cane before he can hear any interjections, he makes his way to the bathroom. He tries not to let the whirring of machinery or the fact that the blimp could crash and burn into the trenches make his steps falter, but it doesn’t help the uneasiness in the pit of his stomach.
He doesn’t make it to a toilet, opting to vomit up bile into the sink. He heaves heavy breaths while running the water, leaning on the bathroom counter rather than his cane, staring at his reflection. Viktor looks about as good as he feels, in his opinion—sickly pale and overwhelmed.
He doesn’t belong here. Not on this airship. Not in Piltover. Not at a business lunch. Jayce wants to play ‘respectable scientist’ with his networking and presentations, and Viktor wants nothing to do with it. Mostly because he knows the people they’re building this tech for are going to look at him like he’s a pitiful creature.
Maybe that’s why Jayce is constantly pushing credit his way— pity. The word tastes like more acidic bile building in the back of his throat, replacing his anxiety with anger.
The door opens.
“Viktor?” Jayce steps inside, sounding so… innocent.
Viktor’s anger still emerges like venom poisoning every inch of his being. He doesn’t yell, but he speaks in a harsh, low tone. “Why did you bring me here, Jayce?”
Jayce stills, standing a few feet away, watching him like Viktor is a startled animal. He hates it.
“Because we’re partners,” Jayce says plainly, taking a step closer. “The Kirammans have been backing this project since I started. You’re an important part of it now. I wanted to include you.”
Pity. The word detonates in his mind like a bomb.
“I don’t want to be included, Jayce! Not because you feel like you owe me and especially not because you pity me!”
Viktor has never raised his voice at Jayce, but he knows this has been building up. He’s from the Undercity. Jayce is from Piltover. It was bound to happen. Tensions always rise between the two cities and their citizens alike.
“Pity? What are you talking about, Viktor?” Jayce looks genuinely confused as he takes a step closer, holding a hand out to touch Viktor’s shoulder.
Viktor jerks back. “Including me in your… peacocking around Piltover’s elite! We have the funding from the Council and the Academy, why do you keep having to suck up to investors and drag me into it!?”
“Because the Council and Academy’s pockets aren’t bottomless, Viktor. The Hexgates are going to need a lot of funding over years. We can’t rely on two sources to make this happen.”
Jayce’s voice is gentle and honest. Viktor knows he’s right. His shoulders sag as the anger dissipates, his gaze fixating on the floor rather than his partner. “You’re right.” It’s something Viktor doesn’t say often. “Sorry… for losing my temper.” Another thing he doesn’t say often.
“It’s okay, Vik,” Jayce says kindly, reaching out to touch Viktor’s shoulder again and he lets him. He thinks that was the first time Jayce used the nickname. He likes it. “I still don’t get why you thought I was pitying you, though.”
“All the… compliments, giving me credit insistently. I can prove myself to you and other people if I want to. I don’t need charity or you constantly… what is the saying? ‘Blowing smoke up my ass’?”
Jayce laughs, genuine and without a hint of cruelty. “Yep, that is the saying. I’m not, though.”
Jayce moves until both hands are holding the sides of Viktor’s neck, locking eyes with him. His heart skips a beat because it is more affection than he has allowed himself in… a long time. Plus, he’s been harbouring feelings for Jayce that he knows won’t be returned.
Viktor is starved for affection, so he’ll take whatever crumbs he can get.
“I do not, and will never, pity you. I swear that. I say all those things because they are true. Hextech would not exist without you. And the Hexgates were your idea—you were the one who said we could use it to relieve strain on trade routes and open Piltover to the rest of Runeterra. It was at three in the morning so you might not remember it, but that was all you.”
Viktor doesn’t have time to react before Jayce pulls him into a tight hug. It’s not the first time, but it feels… different this time. Warmer. Like a promise.
“Thank you, Jayce,” Viktor whispers, burying his face in the crook of Jayce’s neck. He lets himself enjoy it for a few moments, trying not to get swept away in his yearning for something more. “I have to tell you something, though.”
Jayce pulls away, looking at his partner with genuine concern. He stares at him with such tenderness that it makes Viktor’s chest feel full.
He takes a breath. “I’m scared of heights, I hate fish, and small talk bores me. You have brought me into a situation that is straight out of my nightmares.”
Jayce laughs, warm and bright, as he pats Viktor on the cheek fondly. “Okay, how ‘bout this? I handle the business and politics side of things while you can stay in the lab next time.”
“That is an arrangement that would please me.” Viktor smiles, wrapping a hand around one of Jayce’s muscular forearms—the forearms he doesn’t think about every time Jayce rolls up his sleeves. No. Never.
That was a breakthrough for their partnership, and how they found a dynamic that would both work for them and destroy them.
“Viktor?”
His vision is bleary with sleep— when did I fall asleep? —as he wakes. He’s lying in the awful, stiff bed with a book resting on his chest, but Jayce is standing over him, cradling his face like he’s something precious. “What? Jayce, why are you—”
“I heard you screaming, I came to check on you.” Jayce’s hazel gaze is heartfelt, soft with care, while his thumbs stroke Viktor’s cheekbones. It makes his chest feel tight with heartache.
I don’t deserve this. I don’t deserve you.
“I’m fine,” he says tersely, trying to push Jayce away. Except Jayce doesn’t move, and Viktor stops trying as Jayce’s hand combs through his hair. “Jayce, you don’t have to do this…”
“I’m not doing anything I don’t want to,” his partner says, leaning in close until their breaths are mingling. “I just want you.”
Viktor’s heart is beating against his ribcage like a hammer, pounding in his ears as Jayce leans even closer. “J-Jayce, please, I don’t…” He stops speaking and Jayce stops moving, one hand still caressing his cheek and the other holding his skull.
“Don’t what?” Jayce poses the question softly, his lips a mere inch from Viktor’s.
“I don’t… deserve it.” Viktor feels his eyes prickle with tears as he whispers in return. The admission aloud hurts more than the intrusive thoughts he has been wrestling with. Now it feels real. It’s a confession.
Jayce hums softly, his hands moving to hold either side of Vikor’s neck—just like he did all those years ago in that blimp bathroom. It makes Viktor’s heart yearn for the simpler times.
“No. You don’t.”
The confirmation coming from Jayce’s own mouth makes his body go ice cold. He wasn’t actually expecting Jayce to enable his self-loathing, but it was a fact. Still, Viktor is shell-shocked… too stunned to process the tightening grip of Jayce’s hands around his throat.
“Wha—” Viktor quickly loses the ability to speak as Jayce’s strong thumbs press down on his windpipe. In a panic, he begins to kick and tear at Jayce’s wrists, trying to pry them from his neck.
“You did this,” Jayce seethes, his face warped with pure rage—no, hatred. It’s venomous. His grip tightens, impossibly so, and Viktor can no longer breathe. “Your selfish ideals. Your god complex. You doomed us. You doomed me.”
Flailing on the mattress, fear is gripping Viktor’s entire being as he desperately tries to kick Jayce off of him, but he can’t reach. He tries to slap Jayce in the face, barely managing to reach around his thick arms, and Jayce just appears unbothered. His vision begins to go dark around the edges, like a vignette, before the room falls away from them.
“You’re a monster.” Jayce’s words wound him more than anything ever could.
Plummeting into the same dark abyss that Viktor remained in for what felt like an eternity, Jayce continues to strangle him to death. Time stretches because it feels like Jayce has been choking him for much longer than Viktor could reasonably survive.
A hand emerges from the darkness. It grips the crown of Jayce’s head, and a piercing light shines from his eyes as he throws his head back and loosens his grip on Viktor’s neck.
The Machine Herald.
“N-No, Jayce!” Viktor yells, despite the fact that the man he loves was just trying to kill him. Alarmingly reaching out to Jayce, as soon as his hand—his metallic hand—touches him, Jayce’s form morphs.
A faceless husk sits in front of him. The Machine Herald turns and walks away. Viktor cradles the husk’s head in his hands, presses their foreheads together, and weeps.
“Jayce!”
Viktor sits up suddenly, awakening to their new reality. He’s damp with sweat, hyperventilating and disoriented, heart racing. It takes him a few seconds to process that… it was a nightmare. He’s still in the stiff bed, in the cabin, in another world. It’s dark except for the lantern flickering in the corner, and only the pitter-pattering of rain against the window pane next to him fills the silence of the night.
It was a nightmare.
He tries to self-soothe. Tries to think of his favourite things— Jayce, raspberry truffles, his snake plant, black coffee, Jayce, the view overlooking the harbour, Jayce— but it doesn’t help.
The quiet begins to unsettle him. Part of him wonders if maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t a dream, not really.
He looks at his metallic hand.
What if… What if he became the Herald again and turned Jayce in a fugue state? His theory is a stretch, but he’s paranoid.
Maybe I should go… check on Jayce, he thinks to himself as he flexes the hand, as if he’s expecting something to happen or change. He can’t feel the Arcane anymore, so why would it? No, I’m being unreasonable.
It takes five minutes of going back and forth before he decides. For his peace of mind, he needs to see Jayce—alive, breathing, and still Jayce .
Quietly tiptoeing across the small room, he slowly opens the door. It creaks, because of course it does, and he pauses.
No sound. No movement.
He continues to move silently from his room to Jayce’s barely two feet away. Slowly, he turns the handle of Jayce’s door, hoping this one doesn’t creak like his own. Viktor holds his breath as the door opens without a sound, scanning the room in the darkness. Moonlight pours in from the window next to the bed, illuminating Jayce’s shape spread out on the sagging mattress.
Jayce was a little bit disorganized in every aspect of his life, not just in the lab. This was also true for sleeping. Both of his legs are spread apart, one peeking out from under the aging quilt, and one hand rests on his stomach while the other stretches out next to his head.
Despite the shaggy beard, Jayce’s serene expression makes him look five years younger. Viktor can envision the clean-shaven, bright-eyed golden boy he fell in love with underneath the hard edges and calluses Jayce now has.
He still needs to get to know this new Jayce. He doesn’t doubt he will love him too, Viktor just can’t help but linger on the past.
It’s a temptation that stirs in his gut, one he can’t ignore. He takes and takes from Jayce, and yet he can’t resist taking more.
Viktor approaches the bed, making careful footsteps to not prompt any noise from the old floorboards. He stares down at Jayce’s sleeping form, studying his face, his eyes landing on the new scars marking his forehead.
There was no way Viktor would dare do this if he didn’t know Jayce was a heavy sleeper.
Bending down, he gently touches Jayce’s cheek with his fingertips. They follow the curve of the man’s cheekbone, down to his beard, stroking the hair softly. A part of Viktor, one he’s been trying to smother, thinks he looks incredibly handsome with a beard. He desperately tries not to think about what it would feel like against his thighs.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers before pressing a gentle kiss to one of the scars on Jayce’s forehead.
Jayce stirs. “Vik…”
Viktor retracts his hand and freezes, holding his breath. Expecting that he got caught, Viktor tries to come up with what to say. Oh, this isn’t the bathroom? Goodnight!
Jayce doesn’t open his eyes, he simply shifts and turns his head toward the window before quietly snoring.
The tension in Viktor’s body melts away and he sighs with relief. Not wanting to leave just yet, he just stands and… watches.
What Viktor wouldn’t give to curl up into Jayce’s side, just to be close to him. It would be a comfort after such an awful nightmare—a comfort he doesn’t deserve.
After what feels like an hour, though it couldn’t have been more than five minutes, Viktor stops watching Jayce, as much as he doesn’t want to. He makes his way back to the doorway, which isn’t very far, before looking back over his shoulder.
He wants to say it. He’s never said it. But he needs to say it, at least once.
“I love you, Jayce,” Viktor whispers in the night, even though Jayce will never hear it.
There were many times in Viktor’s partnership—and friendship—with Jayce in which he almost let his feelings slip out. The closest he ever came was his thirtieth birthday.
Viktor has never been big on birthdays. After his mother died when he was fourteen, he frankly had no one to celebrate with. His mother always made his birthdays special. No matter what, she always somehow managed to get the ingredients for chocolate cake, despite their limited funds and how hard it was to get those kinds of things in the Undercity.
She made the best chocolate cake.
Ever since Jayce found out when Viktor’s birthday was, and how much Viktor didn’t like his birthday, he still found little ways to celebrate. A card. A small cactus for his desk. A custom mug that said #1 Scientist in Piltover (Jayce got his own that said #2 on it). Nothing big, but nothing unappreciated either.
However, Jayce was making a big deal out of his thirtieth birthday.
“You only turn thirty once, Viktor!” Jayce argues the day before, sitting on Viktor’s desk while he is trying to concentrate on their new concept—Hextech for civilian use. “You could take the day off and I could take you to dinner.”
“I’m a workaholic Jayce, I like working. If I want to work on my birthday—which is just another day of the year—I will,” Viktor retorts.
“Okay, fine, you can work—”
“Oh, I can? You’re giving me permission?” Viktor sounds miffed, but only partially.
“You know that’s not what I mean,” Jayce frowns.
“I’m only teasing.” Viktor cracks a small smile.
“Oh.” Jayce’s mood lifts again. “Listen, we’ll work, but let me take you to dinner, at least.”
Viktor sighs, leaning back in his chair and looking up at Jayce with an expression of annoyance. “You’re relentless.”
“Soooo…?”
“ …fine , but only dinner.”
Jayce whoop s like he’s won an argument and Viktor just rolls his eyes (affectionately).
The next day is mostly uneventful, except their new assistant, Sky, wishes him a happy birthday. Viktor shoots Jayce a look and his partner has the audacity to appear sheepish. The last thing he wants is for more people to know when his birthday is.
Even though he doesn’t have to, Jayce has always been considerate of Viktor’s disability. Not in a way that infantilizes him, but in a supportive way. Viktor has always appreciated it, and he continues to do so when Jayce tells him that the lounge they’re going to dinner at is only two blocks away. It’s quarter to six when they leave the lab, probably the earliest they have in recent memory because Viktor isn’t the only workaholic.
They walk, sharing ideas on their next steps for the Hexgem project (a name Jayce just started calling it and had stuck), before reaching the lounge.
“Alright, enough shop talk,” Jayce states, like it’s a rule for the night. “We’re here to celebrate you.”
“You’re not my boss,” Viktor scoffs, a teasing smile on his lips. “It’s my birthday, I will talk about work as much as I want.”
“Then I’ll make it my mission to distract you from work. You don’t relax enough.”
Viktor thinks it’s sweet how much Jayce worries about his well-being. It was strange and infuriating at first because he thought Jayce was doing it to infantilize him. But, as he got to know Jayce, it wasn’t hard to realize that it’s just how Jayce is—Jayce cares about everyone.
“Alright, I’ll try,” Viktor gives in, because how can he deny Jayce anything?
They’re seated in a booth next to the dance floor, where couples are rocking their bodies in time with the live jazz band. He remembered I like jazz. The thought makes his chest swell with warmth.
“I heard this place has really good food—and they even have some Undercity dishes! I thought you might like, uh… less ‘Piltie bullshit’, as you say.”
“Oh, it will still be Piltie bullshit—nothing made up here could compare to real Undercity food—but I appreciate the thought,” Viktor says with a soft smile.
“So, what does the birthday boy want to drink?” Jayce grins, handing Viktor the drink menu.
Viktor rolls his eyes at ‘birthday boy’. “I’m not five.” He skims the menu before handing it back. “Red wine, any of them. I trust your judgement.” Jayce is more of a wine connoisseur than he has ever been. Viktor tends to prefer hard liquor, but only if he is trying to get drunk.
He doesn’t need a repeat of that one time they got incredibly wasted. Jayce is too much of a painful flirt when you get grain alcohol in him. Viktor would rather chew on the table than be subject to that casual torment again.
Jayce orders their drinks and food because Viktor trusts him to pick. “Just no f—” Viktor was going to remind him, but Jayce cut him off. “No fish, I know.”
They fall into easy conversation, which at times makes Viktor’s stomach uneasy. Work is a constant subject—the subject they probably discuss the most—so when Viktor has to avoid it, he feels worry gnawing at him. How isn’t Jayce bored of me by now?
“You know, you don’t talk about much before… well, before you went to the academy,” Jayce says, seemingly approaching the subject carefully. “We’ve known each other for over five years and I still feel like part of you is a mystery to me.”
“Maybe I like to be a little mysterious,” Viktor tries to laugh it off, taking a sip of wine. It’s a little too dry for his taste, but not bad.
“I’m serious, Vik. I’ve told you my whole life story. I even told you about the time I ripped my pants in front of a girl I liked—well, the whole class, actually—when I was twelve. That’s on my list of top ten most embarrassing moments.”
Viktor grins at the memory. He doesn’t remember when or how it came up, but Jayce looks adorable when he’s trying not to seem embarrassed. “Fine, but if I say stop, we stop.” Jayce nods. “What do you want to know?”
“Okay, I’ll start with a lowball. When did you know you wanted to be a scientist?”
Viktor swirls his glass of wine in thought, reflecting back on his childhood… and Singed. “I suppose I always knew I wanted to build things and change the world around me. I used to make my own toys out of any scrap metal or spare parts I could find.” He pauses, uncertain if he should even mention his mentor. “I met someone when I was young. A man of science. I suppose he made me fall in love with it. But he also showed me how… twisted it can get. I told myself that I would only use science for good, for progress.”
“Did he… do something? Twisted, I mean.”
Viktor thinks of Rio and feels a pang of loss in his heart. He couldn’t have done anything for her, but he still has regret for not somehow saving her. “Yes, but it’s not something I want to dwell on.”
Jayce gets the hint to move on. “What was school like for you growing up?”
Viktor scoffs, painfully aware of how spoiled the topside made Jayce. “The education system in the Undercity isn’t exactly robust. Most kids either can’t afford it or drop out. My mom taught me how to read, write and speak two languages and from there I was self-taught. It was luck that my mother even knew how to read and write.”
Jayce’s eyes widen slightly, staring at Viktor like he just told him that Hextech was capable of time travel. “Wow. That’s… amazing, Viktor.” His expression softens and he gives Viktor a warm, adoring look that twists Viktor’s guts into knots. “You’re amazing.”
A lump has formed in Viktor’s throat, making it impossible to talk. What would he even say? ‘ I think you’re amazing’? “Ah… thank you, Jayce. You flatter me, really.” His cheeks feel warm and he certainly hasn’t had enough alcohol to justify it.
“No, you’re too modest, Viktor. You’re the most incredible man I’ve ever met.” The way Jayce says it makes Viktor’s stomach do somersaults because he sounds so kind and earnest.
If only he meant it in the way I want him to mean it.
Their food comes and the conversation becomes a little less like an interrogation. They gossip about some of the scientists at the academy and Council members, something Viktor revels in but Jayce is the only person who knows that. Most of the plates they share are pretty good, though the ‘Undercity-inspired’ dishes are underwhelming. It makes him a little homesick.
They finish the meal and Viktor expects Jayce to say it’s time to pack it up, but his partner’s eyes light up as the band starts a new song.
“Come on, let’s dance,” Jace grins at him from across the table before standing. He offers Viktor his hand like some gentleman out of the trashy romance novels Viktor secretly loves to read—something he tells himself is a coping mechanism and stress reliever.
“Dance?” Viktor balks at the suggestion. “Jayce, I have never danced in my life.”
“All the more reason to! Come on,” Jayce insists.
“But my—”
“I know, I’ll support you so you don’t need your cane.”
And that’s how he ends up dancing with Jayce Talis, the most eligible bachelor in all of Piltover, now known as the Man of Progress. Jayce has one hand on Viktor’s lower back, keeping him steady while holding Viktor’s hand with the other. It’s intimate in a way Viktor has never known—not just with Jayce, but with anyone. Viktor curls the hand not holding Jayce’s into the taller man’s suit jacket, holding onto his arm to support his own weight. It really is like a scene out of a goddamn romance novel.
He tries to ignore his heart racing in his ears.
Viktor catches the eye of a young woman sitting at the bar, positively radiating with envy. She clearly recognizes Jayce, though it’s unclear if she even knows who Viktor is—not many people outside of the science or investor world do. A petty, possessive part of Viktor wants to cross a threshold at that moment.
It would be so easy to just… lean up and capture Jayce’s lips. The way Jayce is grinning at him, swaying along with the upbeat tune, makes him believe for just a second that they could be lovers. Maybe in another universe, but Viktor lets himself fantasize for a moment.
He would slide his arm up from Jayce’s bicep to the back of his neck, pull him down and close the distance between them. Jayce might be surprised at first, but then he would melt into the embrace and pull Viktor in closer by his waist. They wouldn’t care who was watching—Viktor hopes the woman at the bar would watch and seeth, maybe even storm out. She doesn’t deserve to ogle his Jayce.
“Take me home,” Viktor would whisper when they finally came up for air. And Jayce would do it, he imagines, like an eager puppy.
Viktor would give Jayce the best blowjob of his life and then ride him until sunrise. He deserves it for giving Viktor the best birthday of his life.
The song ends. Viktor comes back to reality, feeling his cheeks warm at how much his mind had wandered. “Thank you,” he manages to say, smiling softly. “That was… not as unpleasant as I had feared.”
“C’mon, you liked it,” Jayce teases, beaming down at Viktor. “Hey, let’s get out of here. Come back to my place? I have one more surprise for you.”
“Oh? What kind of surprise?” Viktor instinctively hopes it’s Jayce’s cock wrapped in a bow. That would really make his day.
“You’ll see.”
Jayce pays for the meal, because of course he does. Viktor isn’t hurting for money these days so he easily could have paid for it himself, but Jayce insists.
They make the short walk back to Jayce’s apartment and Viktor is thankful that Jayce had enough sense to get a place where stairs were optional. Despite his best efforts, Viktor’s leg is aching after that dance. It was worth it, though.
“Sit down and I’ll go get it,” Jayce says, directing Viktor to the dining table before retreating to the kitchen. “And close your eyes!”
“This is ridiculous, Jayce,” Viktor comments as he sits down. “I’m thirty, there’s not much you could surprise me with at this point.”
“Doesn’t matter! Close ‘em!”
Viktor sighs and reluctantly closes his eyes. “Okay, they are closed.”
“And no peeking,” Jayce warns like Viktor is a child. It should annoy him, but Jayce sounds so excited that Viktor lets it slide.
He hears Jayce open and close the icebox before setting something down on the table in front of him. “Okay, open your eyes.”
Viktor opens his eyes.
It’s a chocolate cake.
Jayce looks a little nervous as he smiles, sitting next to Viktor. “I cheated a little bit. My mom made it for me—well, for you—because you don’t want to see me try to bake.”
Viktor is stunned into silence. Seconds tick on as Viktor stares at the cake. His mouth is dry when he tries to speak. “How—how did you…?”
“I listen to you, y’know. You tend to be more talkative after six cups of coffee and sixteen hours in the lab.”
The memory comes back to him. Jayce had gotten him a shitty cupcake from the bakery down the street from the lab—no doubt an overrated establishment. “I miss my mom’s chocolate cake,” Viktor had said offhandedly. “She used to make it for my birthday.” Viktor thought Jayce hadn’t been listening.
It was the anniversary of her death the week after that, so she had been on his mind.
A single tear rolls down his cheek and he quickly wipes it away with the heel of his hand.
“Is… is something wrong?” Jayce sounds nervous.
Viktor lifts his head and looks at Jayce. “I love—” you. I love you. I love you so much it hurts. “I love it.”
Viktor doesn’t think he deserves such a kind, caring man in his life, even just as a friend.
They eat the cake. It’s delicious—the second-best chocolate cake he’s ever had. Viktor makes a mental note to compliment Ximena the next time he sees her.
When Viktor lies in bed that night, he wonders what would have happened if he had said that last word.
It’s been three days and Viktor is sick of fish. He’s been holed up in the musky bedroom, alone, reading every page of every book to occupy his thoughts. He’s used to running on little sleep, so he’s taken all of two naps in that time and both times were… unpleasant.
The faces. The names. Their dreams and ambitions. Everything from the hivemind—his ‘Glorious Evolution’—haunts his fretful slumber, making him feel more worthless than he did before falling asleep.
And then there’s Jayce and the horrible nightmare.
He also feels disgusting—physically. It’s midday on the third day when Viktor closes the last book and decides that he needs a bath more than anything.
He hasn’t actually looked around the cabin during the light of day. When he cracks open the door, he’s expecting it to be dilapidated. However, much to Viktor’s surprise, Jayce has actually managed to make it almost homey.
Startled when the door opens, Jayce looks equally as startled when he sees Viktor standing there, outside of his room. There’s a beat of silence before Jayce gives Viktor a small smile, carrying the extra firewood to add to the pile next to the stove.
“I, uh…” Jayce starts, scratching his head absentmindedly. He’s wearing a thin white shirt, soaked in sweat, leaving little to the imagination. Viktor keeps his gaze on Jayce’s face to avoid getting distracted. His eyes are shy—Jayce has always been shy around him but Viktor thought he would’ve grown out of it by now—and Jayce searches his face. “How are you doing?”
Viktor huffs out a laugh. It surprises both of them, but there’s no genuine feeling behind it. “Disgusting. I don’t suppose this place has a shower hiding somewhere, does it?”
“Nope, but the river out back doesn’t have a strong current. Easy to bathe in. Hold on,” Jayce holds up a hand, moving to a closet. It’s old and ragged but Jayce presents him with a towel nonetheless.
“Thanks,” Viktor says tensely and quietly, taking the towel from Jayce. He pauses when he reaches out with his metallic left hand, his gaze flickering from the cool steel up to Jayce’s hazel eyes.
There’s tension buzzing in the air, spurring a silence that neither of them knows how to break. Jayce’s face is unreadable, but he tries to guess. Anxiety? Remorse? Bitterness? It’s hard to decipher and Viktor knows he’s likely projecting onto the other man now, but his eyes are soft and his brow is furrowed. What does that mean?
“Viktor—”
“Jayce—”
They both stare at each other, pausing after speaking over one another. Viktor fidgets with the threads coming off of the towel. “You go first.”
“No, I insist,” Jayce says, gesturing for Viktor to go ahead.
Viktor clears his throat, trying to ease the tightness in his stomach. That fish from this morning might just come up to say hello. “I just want to thank you for… everything.” His eyes flicker away from Jayce, unable to meet his intense gaze. “You didn’t have to care for me after… after all I did.”
“No.”
Viktor pinches his brows together in confusion as he looks back up at Jayce. “No?”
“You didn’t do it, Viktor.” Jayce sounds sincere and caring—like his Jayce, from before he had to make hard decisions and fight even harder.
Despite Jayce’s tone, anger bubbles in Viktor’s chest, and faces, so many faces, flash in his mind’s eye. It’s anger for them. “I did do it, Jayce. I destroyed lives. I nearly destroyed our home. I presented myself as salvation to desperate people and weaponized that!”
“That was the Hexcore, Viktor—”
“It was my ideals, my naive quest for peace, that led to that destruction. The Hexcore was a weapon. I was the one pulling the trigger.” Viktor doesn’t like raising his voice at Jayce, never has and never thought his partner deserved it either, but he has a right to be angry about this. He has a right to be angry for them. “You can’t just forgive me, or absolve me of blame.”
“I don’t believe the Viktor I know would willingly take choice and autonomy away from his own people—”
“I was drunk with power, Jayce! I thought I was making the right decision—that I knew better than you and the rest of the world! I did what I did because I could!”
Viktor’s anger begins to twist and morph beyond his control. He thinks he’s ready to scream with rage but what he is actually feeling is… grief. “I’m… I’m a monster, Jayce.” He drops the towel and looks down at his divergent hands, eyes bleary with tears.
He hasn’t cried in a long time. It’s a foreign feeling, almost like an alien experience as the tears slip down his cheekbones.
Grief is a familiar companion, and has been his whole life, but never has it overwhelmed him to this point—not since his mother died. Dropping to his knees, he releases a broken sob that has been building in the depths of his soul for the last three days—no, the last year.
Before he can say anything, react, or move away, Jayce’s arms are around him. One hand soothes his back while the other caresses his hair… like he’s something precious. “You’re not a monster, Vik.” There’s no hint of deception in his voice, but it does wobble with emotion.
“J-Jayce, I can’t—” Viktor’s words feel like a struggle to get out, and his breaths come out like he’s being punched in the gut. He weeps with unbridled grief for everything he did, everything he never said, and the beautiful, imperfect life they lost before he… before he created the monster. “I-I am, I can’t—I can’t live like—”
“Yes, you can, and you’re going to. You have to.” Jayce says it like a command, tightening his hold on Viktor, like this is affecting him just as much. “For me.”
“You are—you’ll never see anyone you love again—y-your mom, Cait, Mel," Viktor cries, sagging against Jayce’s broad chest. That last one stings. Jayce never told him, but he knew. It didn’t take a genius to figure it out.
“Viktor, I don’t… I’m not going to say that it doesn’t hurt, but I… I just want you.” Jayce sounds so sincere that it’s physically painful.
I just want you. The words bring Viktor back to the nightmare. They’re words Viktor longed to hear for years, but Jayce doesn’t mean it in the way Viktor wants him to. Maybe this is the moment that he needs to accept that he’s never going to have Jayce in the way he yearns for.
“I don’t deserve you,” Viktor says with more conviction and less tears this time. Inside his chest, his heart breaks because it’s the truth, and a pathetic whimper escapes his lips. He buries his face in Jayce’s shoulder to hide the tears still burning his eyes, but he doesn’t wail anymore.
“Viktor,” Jayce whispers, pulling back from the embrace. Viktor’s blood runs cold. This is it. I lost Jayce, he thinks, but Jayce doesn’t move far. He cups Viktor’s face in his large, calloused hands and tilts it up to look at him. “You do deserve me. You aren’t irredeemable.”
Viktor can’t look Jayce in the eyes at first. He’s sure he looks like a mess, eyes puffy and face red from crying, and it’s embarrassing. Never has he lost his composure like that in front of Jayce before. Despite his embarrassment and feeling like he should be put down for both of their sakes, his gaze meets Jayce’s.
He isn’t expecting to see Jayce’s eyes welling with tears, a single one spilling over and rolling down his cheek, when he takes in the sight of his partner. It reminds him of when Jayce found out about Viktor’s diagnosis. There’s raw honesty and genuine care in his expression as he smiles sadly at Viktor. His heart breaks more in his heaving chest—he’s not hyperventilating anymore, but he still isn’t breathing steadily.
Jayce’s thumbs brush soothingly over his cheeks, and he’s looking at Viktor now with an expression he doesn’t quite recognize. It’s determined in nature, but determined to do what?
Viktor seems to understand when Jayce begins to lean in. His thoughts are a jumble of the whys: Why would Jayce be leaning in? Why is he looking at him like that? Why is he doing what I think he’s doing?
Viktor’s mouth feels dry and as if his heart is lodged in his throat when Jayce places a tender kiss to his lips. It’s closed-mouthed, seemingly innocent, but the intensity behind it is like a fire licking at the surface of Jayce’s skin.
He doesn’t deserve this. He’s selfish. He’s greedy. He’s a monster. If he allows himself to have this, he’ll never let it go. Someone would have to pry Jayce from his cold, dead hands for Viktor to let go.
Jayce’s hand running through his hair while still kissing him, unrelentingly so, makes the choice for him.
Caressing the sides of Jayce’s neck, Viktor tilts his head to the side and deepens the kiss, his lips moving of their own accord against Jayce’s. A strong hand pulls Viktor impossibly closer by his waist, despite nearly being in Jayce’s lap, the other cradling his head like he adores him. It’s how Viktor has imagined kissing him hundreds of times before, except it usually doesn’t involve a breakdown.
It continues, languid but still heated, as Viktor’s nails scratch the hair at the nape of Jayce’s neck, feeling the other man shiver. Viktor wants to make a home inside Jayce’s chest and nestle himself there so he can never leave, if Jayce didn’t want him to.
Reality begins to sink back in though. He’s still a monster. He still banished the man he loves to another reality where he only has Viktor.
He’s not special. Emotions are high. If it had been Mel, Jayce would be kissing her instead.
As suddenly as the nausea hits his stomach from the thought, Viktor pulls away and forces Jayce’s grasp off of him. “I need to go,” Viktor says coldly, not trying to give away how much this kiss has devastated him.
“Viktor, what—”
Before Jayce can even get his question out, Viktor picks up the towel and leaves, closing the front door quickly behind him.
He feels like a fool.
Chapter 3: Heat
Summary:
Jayce recalls his first fantasy about Viktor. After searching for Viktor, he refuses to speak to him, reminding Jayce of a time they didn't speak for days.
Notes:
We're finally here. This is where it gets horny. Every chapter from here on out (as of right now) has smut in it, so buckle up folks.
Two notes.
First: There's something in canon that really irritates me and I think it doesn't make any sense. In S1, Mel says, after Jayce tells her Viktor is dying, that she 'didn't know they were that close'. I think that's wild and absolute bullshit, so I made it that she knows they're close, just based on knowing them.
Second: There's no canon equivalent to Christmas in Runeterra, so I just made the Winter Solstice their major winter holiday. It will come back up in a later chapter.
Songs that fit the vibes of this chapter:
Touch by July Talk
If I Don't Have To by Keaton Henson
Chapter Text
Jayce stares at the space that Viktor had just occupied, still sitting on his knees with his arms limp at his sides.
He had him. I had him. And Viktor ran away.
A frustrated groan emerges from his throat as he runs his hands over his face. The ghost of Viktor’s lips haunt his own, the heat of their gentle embrace clinging to his form.
It’s not how he imagined kissing Viktor would go. He didn’t plan it when Viktor began to spill out one broken sob after another. It just… felt right in the moment. And Viktor returned it, kissed him back like… like he had been waiting to.
So why did he suddenly bolt?
Jayce sighs tiredly, standing with some effort. His leg aches after chopping wood all morning. Debating on chasing after Viktor, he decides that maybe the other man just needs some time alone. A lot has happened, there’s a lot to process, and the prospect of a romantic relationship might be another burden on Viktor’s shoulders at the moment.
He finds himself returning to his bedroom and collapses on the bed. A lump digs into his back and he shifts with a grimace. Jayce’s mind drifts back to the kiss as he stares up at the ceiling. It’s not that the kiss was particularly mind-blowing, it was a great kiss because it was with Viktor and had the weight of over seven years of unspoken affections. Because Viktor at least felt something for him too.
Jayce has been kicking himself mentally for months. He was too stupid to realize he was in love with Viktor before it was too late. And it’s not like the signs weren’t there.
There were even several chances. He tries not to think about it.
For the longest time he thought he was harbouring a dark secret. He had some kind of infatuation with Viktor, one he thought was purely physical attraction and projection, that led to a lot of… inappropriate thoughts. Jayce had a vivid imagination and it would take the smallest things to trigger a new fantasy for him to replay in his head over and over, never tiring of the same scenarios he dreamt up.
Jayce remembers the first time vividly, all because he felt so much shame for masturbating to thoughts of his lab partner.
It was the first time, and it started a cycle he couldn’t escape.
It’s a normal Tuesday, Jayce thinks, but Viktor is acting… off that day.
It starts with Jayce knocking over a cup of coffee. Viktor appears annoyed, but brushes it off because his notes are more or less intact.
But it happens a second time.
Jayce accidentally knocks over Viktor’s #1 Scientist in Piltover mug while passing him his own notes. “Oh, shit!” Jayce immediately springs up from his chair, grabbing a nearby tissue box and trying to clean it up in a panic.
It’s worse this time. Whatever equations Viktor was working on for the Hexgates are ruined. “I am so sorry,” Jayce says and he feels like he should just shrivel up and die. “I don’t—I don’t know why I’m so clumsy today.”
Viktor is silent as he looks down at the mess. Without a word, or even looking at Jayce, he grabs his cane and stands.
“Viktor…?” Jayce is tentative when he says the other man’s name, and he can feel that something in Viktor has snapped.
Viktor turns to look at Jayce, his eyes eerily absent of emotion, and is silent for a few more agonizing seconds. “I am going home,” he starts, and Jayce’s stomach drops at a sickening speed. His partner's gold eyes bore into his very soul in a way that makes his bones go cold. “I want this to be cleaned up. I expect my calculations to be rewritten and ready for me when I come back to the lab tomorrow morning—without mistakes.”
And that’s all he says before he walks away, cane click-clacking against the floor as he goes.
Two things happen in Jayce’s brain.
The first, he feels incredibly guilty and fearful that he just fucked up royally. But, there’s no way after over a year of working together that Viktor is going to dump his ass over spilt coffee, so that eases his urge to cry a little bit.
The second thing is… well, he’s inexplicably and painfully turned on. He shifts a little and pulls at his collar, feeling uncomfortable with his partial erection straining against his slacks.
He sits at his desk chair, holding the now ruined equations in Viktor’s chicken scratch—something that took Jayce months to decipher. Tossing the damp notes on his desk, he leans back in his chair and covers his face while groaning in exasperation. Specifically exasperation with himself and his cock.
“I expect my calculations to be rewritten and ready for me when I come back to the lab tomorrow morning—without mistakes.”
His dick twitches in his pants at the memory. The way Viktor had said that last part makes him quake. There’s something so sexy about Viktor scolding him or… degrading him.
Jayce’s eyes flicker to the clock. 10:47 pm. No one should be around… it’s usually just him and Viktor here after 9 pm.
And Viktor’s not here.
He shuts his eyes again, inhaling deeply as his right hand slowly creeps up his thigh toward the bulge in his pants. His other hand grips the arm of his chair, tense from what he’s about to do. There’s a flare of shame in the back of his mind, but arousal quickly wins the fight.
He starts to picture it.
Viktor walks into the lab, a tense air still about him, and goes directly to his desk. He sets his bag down before picking up the sheet of paper Jayce had set front and centre on Viktor’s desk.
Watching from the corner of his eye, Jayce is uncertain if he should greet Viktor yet or wait for his careful assessment. His partner spends about a minute reviewing Jayce’s neat handwriting, before turning his head to look directly at Jayce. “I said no mistakes.”
Jayce swallows a lump in his throat, sweating under Viktor’s intense gaze, unable to predict what he might do next. Without a word, Viktor holds the paper out to him and Jayce tentatively reaches over to take it.
Viktor drops it. Intentionally. “Oops.” There’s a wicked smirk on his lips now. “Pick it up.”
Jayce just furrows his brows in confusion. Even still, he listens and bends down to get it. Viktor holds up a hand to stop him.
“On your knees.”
Jayce’s heart skips a beat, and a sudden pooling of heat begins to build in the pit of his stomach. Wordlessly, he gets off his chair and drops to his knees, looking up at Viktor’s piercing gold eyes the entire time.
The image makes Jayce groan with arousal, bucking his hips up against his own hand. His cock is stiff in his slacks, begging to be released, but Jayce wants to take his time. The shame he was feeling before has been melted away by the fire of his desire, leaving him writhing in his desk chair to the thoughts of his lab partner humiliating him.
Jayce crawls, lowering his eyes to the sheet with his flawed calculations, and picks it up. He holds the sheet out to Viktor, and Viktor just stares down at him with that same cruel smirk from before. He takes the sheet, putting it back on his own desk. “You are better at taking orders than fixing your mistakes, it seems,” Viktor drawls casually, sitting down in his office chair and putting his cane aside. “You also look good on your knees.”
A flush creeps up Jayce’s neck, both embarrassment and flattery filling his guts at the same time. “T-Thank you?” Jayce doesn’t dare get up off the floor.
“It appears that you owe me for your… indiscretion,” Viktor says, almost mocking.
“Of course, Vik, anything —”
“You will address me as Viktor.”
“Yes, Viktor...”
“Seeing as your mind has failed you this time, maybe you could do something that you’re probably… a natural at.”
Jayce blinks, curious. “What would that be?”
Viktor curls a single, elegant finger, gesturing for Jayce to come to him. There’s nothing to do but do as he’s told, so Jayce obeys, crawling on his hands and knees to Viktor’s feet. The other scientist’s expression is intense, like he’s dissecting Jayce with his eyes. One of Viktor’s hands reaches out and cradles Jayce’s jaw, tipping his chin up so he can’t look away. “You are rather good at talking, charming people with that mouth of yours. I wonder what else it can do. Are you all talk, Jayce Talis?”
“I—I don’t know what you mean,” Jayce tumbles over his words, his blood rushing in his ears.
Without clarifying, Viktor’s fingers move to Jayce’s lips, ghosting over them with a gentle touch. “Open.”
Jayce shivers, unable to resist unzipping his pants and finally freeing his cock. He lets out a shuddering breath as he holds his length and thumbs at the tip with the pad of his thumb, already feeling moisture beading there.
Obediently, Jayce opens his mouth, uncertain what to expect. He makes a noise of surprise when Viktor’s index and middle fingers enter his mouth, sliding over the landscape of his tongue.
“Suck.”
It’s not a question, it’s a command. Jayce feels dizzy when it dawns on him what’s happening, and he’s not the least bit opposed. In fact, his cock is showing explicit interest in this dominant version of Viktor. So, he closes his mouth around Viktor’s fingers and eagerly sucks on the digits, cradling the pads of his fingers with his tongue. Bobbing his head slowly, he locks eyes with his partner.
Viktor loses his composure for a moment, inhaling softly—it’s not much but, from Viktor, it feels like a job well done. Now with that little bit of encouragement, Jayce gets bolder and wraps a hand around Viktor’s wrist. He sucks hard on the fingers, eases up, tightens again, and bobs his head eagerly. Then, Viktor is forcing his way in, deeper than Jayce had dared, pushing him to his limit until he gags. As soon as he does, Viktor retracts his fingers.
“Open. Tongue out.” Jayce does as he’s told, and Viktor’s hand comes and wraps around his throat. He doesn’t press down, just holds. It’s a display of power, Jayce’s hazy mind realizes.
Viktor bends forward, looking down at Jayce with a sadistic smile, before spitting in Jayce’s mouth. It’s slow to disconnect from Viktor’s lips and land on Jayce’s awaiting tongue. As soon as it does, he rolls his hips into nothing involuntarily and licks his lips.
“Viktor…” Jayce pants, low and quiet in the empty lab. Spitting into his palm, he curls his fist around himself. Slowly, he moves up and down his shaft, twisting ever so slightly with each pump, deliberately trying to last through his fantasy.
“So desperate,” Viktor teases him, curling one of his hands into Jayce’s hair and tugging. He lifts one of his feet then to gently apply pressure to Jayce’s clothed erection. Jayce, honest to gods, whines from the touch, reacting with a buck of his hips. “If you obey, I might just help you out with your problem.”
His response is automatic, he doesn’t even think about his answer because lust has taken over his mental faculties. “Yes, Viktor, I’ll do anything.”
“Good. That’s what I like to hear.” He’s still gripping Jayce’s hair, applying more pressure to his bulge until it hurts—hurts in all the right ways. Viktor leans in close, his breath ghosting over the shell of his ear. “You’re going to make me cum with your mouth, and if you do a good job, I’ll reward you. Understood?”
All Jayce can do with his short-circuiting brain is whine again, then nod. Viktor seems satisfied with that because he lets go of Jayce’s hair and sits back in his chair—like a king on his throne. “Take off my shoes.”
Viktor watches Jayce’s every movement as he unlaces his shoes, lifting each foot gingerly while he removes them. If Jayce had to guess, his partner seems satisfied with his service from the small hum of acknowledgement he makes.
Standing and using his desk to keep weight off of his bad leg, Viktor continues to keep his eyes on Jayce. “I think you can figure out what to do next, Mr. Talis.”
The cool way Viktor says his name sends a bolt of electricity down his spine, making him feel like a student again. He might not have graduated if Viktor was one of his professors though, for a variety of reasons.
“Gods, that’d be so fucking hot,” Jayce babbles to himself under his breath, trying to resist the urge to just let go and stroke his cock until he cums. No, he wants to savour this—he has to.
Jayce's fingers travel up Viktor’s thighs, trying to get another reaction out of him, no matter how subtle. It does the opposite, though. Viktor narrows his eyes and says, “Do not waste my time, Talis.”
“Yes, sir,” Jayce says automatically in an apologetic tone, going straight for Viktor’s belt buckle. He unbuckles it as fast as he can, working on the button and zipper next. Once there’s nothing stopping him from stripping Viktor of his pants and underwear, Jayce pauses, glancing up at Viktor in a silent question of consent. Viktor quirks a brow, giving him an impatient look, which Jayce takes as more than consent—more like a get on with it.
Undressing Viktor feels like opening a present, revealing sharp hip bones and a generous amount of dark hair leading down to Jayce’s destination. When Viktor has fully stepped out of his clothes, he sits back down in his chair, again looking like royalty. He spreads his legs then, revealing his damp pussy, appearing unbothered by Jayce’s hungry eyes.
Jayce licks his lips and just stares for a few moments, drinking him in.
“Well?” Viktor prompts.
“You’re gorgeous,” Jayce says, eyes flicking up to Viktor’s.
“You’re not here to compliment me. You’re here to eat me out. Now get to work,” Viktor instructs, shifting his hips so he’s sitting closer to the edge of the chair for easier access.
Jayce salivates at the sight. He wants to kiss the insides of Viktor’s thighs, to leave bruises to remember him by, but he knows the other scientist doesn’t have the patience for that right now.
Curling his arms under Viktor’s thighs, he hikes them up until they’re perched on Jayce’s shoulders, holding his legs in place. He leans in, taking in Viktor’s heady scent of arousal, and it makes him delirious with lust. Pressing the flat of his tongue against Viktor’s heat, he licks from his entrance to his small, stiff cock.
A soft gasp leaves Viktor’s lips, taking himself off guard, as his hand snaps to Jayce’s head. Feeling emboldened, Jayce does it again but first dips his tongue inside Viktor, groaning appreciatively at the flavour. When he moves to Viktor’s cock, he swirls his tongue around the hard nub, prompting Viktor to shove his head down until he’s pressed flush to him. Jayce’s breaths come out through his nose in puffs, buried in Viktor’s mound with no escape—not that he would want to in the first place.
Jayce whimpers as his free hand snaps to his mouth, trying to stifle the pathetic sound despite the fact that he’s alone. He starts to buck his hips into his hand, the friction sending electricity through his entire nervous system. Despite being overtaken by the fantasy, there’s an awareness in the back of his mind that knows this is going to be his favourite scenario to think about for a long while.
Wrapping his lips around Viktor’s cock, he sucks gently, experimenting to see how his partner responds. It’s positive if the pretty moan he makes says anything. He does it again with an increased intensity, and he feels Viktor’s thighs tighten around his head. “That’s a good boy,” Viktor praises quietly, and Jayce didn’t know he could get any harder, but he does.
Slick coats Jayce’s mouth and chin as he eagerly devours Viktor, deciding he could stay between the man’s legs for hours if he would let him. His nails dig into Viktor’s thighs from the tension building in the pit of his stomach, leaving crescent moon marks in their wake. Surprisingly, Viktor doesn’t seem to mind the unapproved marking, rolling his hips and fisting Jayce’s hair in response.
Shifting his head lower, Jayce returns to Viktor’s hole, fucking his tongue in and out forcefully. The beautiful sounds that spill from Viktor’s lips make his cock ache, painfully aware of how aroused he is. He doesn’t know how Viktor plans on rewarding him (if he does), but Jayce is so pathetic he would take grinding against Viktor’s thigh until he cums in his pants happily.
It’s wet, filthy, and it doesn’t compare to any of Jayce’s past dirty fantasies. He laps up Viktor’s slick like a man dying of thirst and moans loudly when his partner yanks on his hair while he writhes above him. Viktor’s breaths are now ragged, shaky as he approaches the edge, while he wraps his good leg around Jayce to dig his heel into the centre of his back.
Feeling Viktor’s pussy twitch around his tongue tips him off that he’s close. He decides to move up again and takes Viktor’s cock in his mouth, sucking at the same intensity as when he sucked on his fingers. With impatience, Viktor rolls his hips against Jayce’s face, chasing his release with little coordination.
Unable to resist his temptation anymore, Jayce dares to look up at Viktor to see what state he’s in. The view doesn’t disappoint. Viktor looks debauched, mouth agape as he pants, his eyes glassy with lust. They maintain eye contact, a blaze of tension between them while both of Viktor’s hands hold onto Jayce’s hair for dear life, and he continues to grind against Jayce’s face.
Jayce silently prays for more praise.
Releasing Viktor’s cock from his mouth, he instead flicks the nub with precise movements, immediately getting Viktor to gasp with each point of contact. It’s not exactly praise, but it’s enough. He swirls his tongue around Viktor’s cock until his thighs are shaking and he exclaims while he cums, “F-Fuck, Jayce.”
His dick twitches painfully in his pants at the sound of his name.
Reacting immediately, Jayce moves his mouth to Viktor’s hole, desperate to taste his release. It tastes just like he smells, delicious. Viktor’s thighs continue to quake through his orgasm before he goes limp and his legs drop from Jayce’s shoulders. Jayce doesn’t notice at first, still eagerly licking up everything Viktor’s pussy has to offer until Viktor yanks his head back by his hair.
“That’s enough,” Viktor bites, though it’s a little less intimidating with the way he’s heaving to catch his breath. “I just gave you a gift, what do you say?”
Jayce holds Viktor’s gaze as he licks his lips obscenely before grinning. “Thank you, sir.”
“Good boy,” Viktor pats his cheek. Jayce groans, bucking his hips, searching for relief after the simple praise. He should feel embarrassed, but his mind is too heavy with want to care. “Are you ready for your reward?”
Jayce nods like an eager puppy, watching Viktor through half-lidded eyes as he waits as patiently as he can.
Viktor bends down, grasping Jayce’s chin with a biting grip before kissing him. It’s less of a kiss and more of an assault as Viktor’s tongue invades his mouth and dominates him. Jayce responds desperately, opening his mouth fully so Viktor can lick inside and—
Jayce cums suddenly and with a surprised groan, biting his knuckles while spilling over the hand wrapped around his cock. He rides out his orgasm, jerking his hips with stuttered movements, until he’s overstimulated and sensitive to the touch.
Jayce sits, staring at the ceiling, as he catches his breath. Two thoughts come to his mind while he sobers up.
The first: That was the best orgasm of his life, and he needs to clean up the evidence as soon as possible.
And the second: Holy shit, I actually just did that. It’s going to be difficult to come to terms with the fact that he just jerked off to a fantasy about his business partner and best friend.
A flush of shame hits him and he wipes a hand over his face (the one not covered in his release). “Fuck,” Jayce murmurs to himself. “That was so fucked up.”
He cleans up, trying to shove the thoughts of his masturbation material out of his head. It takes him three hours to rewrite Viktor’s notes, partially deciphering them from under the coffee stain and partially making the calculations himself. It wasn’t beyond his capabilities, but Viktor always had a better grasp on the calculation side of things. Still, he does his best and he thinks it’s error-free—he hopes.
When Jayce goes home and tries to sleep, he lies awake feeling the shame of what he had done. How am I going to look Viktor in the face tomorrow? He thinks, guilt and panic sinking into his bones.
Exhaustion is written on his face when he comes back to the lab the next morning, rolling in at 9 am, an hour later than usual. Viktor is already at his desk, looking up when Jayce enters. Jayce assumes Viktor has looked over his work. He swallows nervously.
“Good morning, Jayce,” Viktor says evenly.
‘F-Fuck, Jayce.’ The fantasy echoes in his mind and he immediately shoves it into the darkest recesses of his psyche.
“Uh, good morning, Viktor,” he responds stiffly, sitting down at his desk and setting his bag down. He doesn’t dare look at Viktor as he starts gathering the schematics he had been working on before… the incident.
“Jayce.”
Jayce’s shoulders tense. He dares to look over at Viktor and tries to read his expression. The coldness from yesterday seems no longer present, giving Jayce a little bit of hope that he didn’t royally fuck up. “Yes?”
Viktor sighs. “I want to apologize.”
That’s not what he expected to hear. “Uh, why? I was the one who ruined your work yesterday.”
“It was an accident and I reacted… unkindly.” Viktor pauses, seemingly contemplating whether or not he should say something. “Yesterday was… a bad day. It was the anniversary of my mother’s death.”
Jayce swallows. Fuck. Now he feels even more guilty for getting turned on when Viktor was short with him. However, this isn’t about him. The tension that was formerly sitting in his body eases and he rolls over to get closer to Viktor, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“It’s okay, you don’t need to apologize, but I appreciate it. I’m sorry about your mom,” Jayce says, brushing his thumb over Viktor’s shoulder. “And… you can always tell me when you’re having a bad day.”
Viktor smiles a little at that, nodding slightly. “Thank you. And thank you for rewriting my calculations.” Surprisingly, he then smirks. “With only one error.”
Jayce groans and drops his head in embarrassment. “Damn it, I thought for sure—”
“Don’t worry about it, it was a quick fix.” Viktor laughs at his dismay. “Let’s get back to the schematics for the Hexgate core.”
And so they work, and Jayce pushes all the thoughts of his fantasy out of his mind. Never again , he thinks to himself.
Of course, it happens again. And again. And again. He relives that fantasy and revises it with details like Viktor rewarding him by letting him fuck him over his desk, or Viktor generously sucking him off.
Jayce feels shame about it for years, but he tries not to read into it. Viktor is… attractive, to say the least, and they spend most of their waking moments together. It’s only natural for his mind to come up with wild ideas as a stress reliever.
He should have read into it.
Jayce had fallen asleep. He awakens to sunset spilling in through the small window next to his uncomfortable bed. His mind is still foggy as he sits up, thinking back on what had happened before he fell asleep.
Viktor.
Viktor left. Jayce had kissed Viktor, he kissed back, and then he left. He tries not to panic because Viktor could be back by now, so he takes a deep breath to calm his nerves. Putting on a ‘fresh’ shirt, one he cleaned in the river the day before, he emerges from his room.
The cabin is quiet, eerily quiet. He sees that Viktor’s bedroom door is slightly ajar, and when he peers inside, he finds it empty. A pang of anxiety punches him in the gut, but Jayce quickly smothers it.
Last he knew, Viktor was going to the river. Maybe he’s still there. It’s a short walk, and he can see the riverbank from the cabin, but Viktor isn’t in sight.
Worry gnaws at his insides as he gets closer to the river, beyond the edge of the trees. He has a clear view now and… Viktor still isn’t there.
Jayce takes a few deep breaths, trying to rationalize where Viktor could be and why. Did he run away, looking to be anywhere but with Jayce? He doesn’t think Viktor would be that impulsive. Maybe he went for a walk. But what if he got lost?
Viktor wouldn’t hurt himself, would he…?
He has very few survival skills—why would he, he lived in the city all his life—so it’s not like Jayce can track Viktor out in the wild. Despite that, he decides to search the woods surrounding the cabin. He has no sense of which direction is which but he decides to go downstream from where he originally came from when they crash-landed in this reality.
“Viktor?” Jayce calls out, not too loud because he’s still paranoid of encountering other people and who knows what animals. He shouldn’t have skimmed that flora and fauna guide.
A birdsong replies to him, but no Viktor. With a sigh, he continues to wander the forest, looking for any sign of his partner. He calls out to Viktor every few minutes, and he must have been walking for fifteen minutes before he hears a yell of distress from deeper in the woods.
Jayce would recognize Viktor’s voice anywhere.
Panic mode kicks in as he sprints in the direction of the sound, intermittent shouts continuing as he runs before he finally reaches a small clearing.
Viktor is standing at the foot of a blue pine with a long stick, waving it around at something on the forest floor, a string of distressed curses (Jayce assumes) leaving his mouth in his mother tongue. Jayce looks and sees, well… it looks like a mix of a snake and a centipede. It’s scaly and bright red, the size and shape of a snake, but it has dozens of small feet squirming on either side of its body. It’s hissing at Viktor, raising its head and folding out two large neck frills, like it’s about to lunge at him.
“Vik, throw the stick to me!” Jayce holds his hands out expectantly, and it’s only in that moment that Viktor even registers that Jayce is there. Viktor hesitates, looking between the thing and Jayce with fear written across his features.
It seems Viktor still trusts him because he tosses the stick to Jayce. Once he has a hold of it, he charges forward and scoops the creature up with the stick, hooking its long body between the branches still on it. He quickly takes it, running away from the clearing and deeper into the woods, as long as he can keep the reptile on the stick. The thing lets out a piercing shriek, unlike anything Jayce has ever heard, unsettling him. Once he’s at least fifty feet from the clearing, he finally tosses the branch into a bush, leaving the creature writhing to escape.
Not wanting to stick around for the beast to recover and exact revenge, he jogs back to the clearing. He finds Viktor crouched with his elbows on his knees and face hidden in his hands. When Jayce approaches, Viktor lifts his head and looks… embarrassed? Jayce has never known Viktor to be embarrassed. “Are you okay?”
Viktor nods slowly, standing before folding his arms to hug himself. He’s avoiding Jayce’s gaze, staring at a patch of purple six-leaf clovers. “Thank you.”
“Of course,” Jayce lets out a breath of relief. He feels like he can finally breathe now that he’s found Viktor, safe and alive, despite the fact that things are weird. “Why are you out here?”
Viktor gestures to a bucket at his feet that Jayce hadn’t noticed before. It’s filled with what looks like orange blackberries and iridescent mushrooms. “Foraging,” he says simply. “Better than fish.”
Jayce laughs softly, and Viktor’s lips quirk into a slight smile, even a fraction of the tension melting away. “Let me guess, that flora and fauna guide came in handy?”
Viktor nods. “That… thing you just saved me from is called a crimson shrieker. Very venomous, very unpleasant.”
“I can see where it got the name.” Jayce pauses then, trying to figure out how he should approach Viktor in this situation. The sun is kissing the horizon, bathing the forest in oranges and stark shadows. “Why don’t we head back? It’s getting dark.”
Viktor nods again, staying silent as he picks up the bucket and heads in the direction of the cabin. Clearly not lost, Jayce thinks in passing, following Viktor only a few paces behind.
With the adrenaline faded, Jayce can now feel his left leg start to ache from all the walking and running. It was already a little stiff after this morning, but he definitely overdid it. He hisses in pain when he puts too much weight on it, prompting Viktor to turn around.
“I’m okay,” Jayce tries to brush it off, holding on to a tree trunk to recover from a particularly painful step.
Wordlessly, Viktor approaches Jayce and holds the bucket out to him. Furrowing his brows in confusion, Jayce takes the bucket without question. A moment later, Viktor is tucking himself under Jayce’s left arm, wrapping it around his own shoulders, and grabbing Jayce by the waist. It starts to click in Jayce’s mind that Viktor is helping him walk, and his heart flares with appreciation and adoration. Despite their awkward situation, Viktor is still kind enough to care for him.
“Thank you,” Jayce says as he walks in time with Viktor’s steps, leveraging the support to keep most of his weight off of his bad leg.
It takes them about twenty minutes to make it back to the cabin, the sun having set by the time they reach the front door. Viktor helps him sit on the couch, not having said a word the entire journey back, leaving a tight ache in Jayce’s chest.
Viktor silently starts roasting his mushrooms in the woodfire stove. Jayce hates the silence, but at least Viktor isn’t avoiding him entirely.
Jayce can’t help but think of the first time he and Viktor didn’t speak for days.
Jayce remembers their first fight. Their first
real
fight. He had a genuine fear that, just as Hextech was celebrating its first major milestone, it was all falling apart.
It was time. Construction was finished, rigorous testing had been done, everything was approved.
The Hexgates were complete.
The Council had planned a grand gala for the first activation of the Hexgates. Everyone who was anyone was invited, mostly the Piltover elite, investors, and wealthy merchants from across Runeterra, but the whole city would be able to see the sky light up with the Hexgate’s blue glow.
Jayce has spent years going to stupid galas and dinners as the face of Hextech, so he is used to them by now. Viktor, however, is not. In fact, Viktor hasn’t been in the presence of investors, politicians or the like (willingly) since their lunch with the Kirammans over three years ago.
Jayce is fine with their arrangement. Sure, he prefers being in the lab with his partner, but he wants Viktor to be happy more than anything. This, however, is important. This is something they’ve worked tirelessly on for three years. Viktor deserves to witness the fruits of his labour.
“Jayce, I can just watch the first activation from home, it’s not a big deal,” Viktor says, brushing Jayce off again.
They’re not in the lab for once, they’re actually in Viktor’s apartment—much bigger, nicer and littered with more plants than his last apartment had been—finishing dinner. And it’s not take-out either, Viktor actually had the time, and the desire, to cook.
Sure, Jayce couldn’t remember the name of what they ate because it was an Undercity dish he’d never had before. And, sure, all Jayce contributed to the meal was a bottle of wine, but it was a good meal nonetheless. He appreciates the downtime, just getting to sit and enjoy dinner with his friend. It’s an odd change of pace, which seems to make Viktor itch for the lab. The other scientist clearly wants to get started on their next project sooner rather than later.
“It’s not just about watching the launch, Vik. This is our project. Our blood, sweat and tears. All these people see me and think I’m the genius behind it all, and that’s not fair. I want you to enjoy the recognition for your work too,” Jayce pleads.
“I get enough recognition to satisfy me. I don’t need Pilties looking down at me for an entire evening.”
“Looking down at you? How could they? You’re literally the beautiful mind behind one of Piltover’s greatest innovations in… in history!”
Viktor pinches the bridge of his nose, sighing with exasperation. “Jayce, you must understand… not everyone is as accepting as you.”
“I’ll make them accept you.” Jayce says it like he makes the law, and maybe he’s being a little naive and childish, but he’s not letting Viktor miss this historic moment.
“That’s not something you can do, Jayce.” Viktor frowns at him over his glass of wine. The frown, however, turns into a slight smile. “I promise, I am fine with you taking the spotlight. Enjoy it, Man of Progress.”
Jayce knows Viktor is trying to tease him with the title all of the newspapers have given him. He still isn’t sure how he feels about it. It feels undeserved if he's being honest. In his eyes, Viktor is much more worthy of the title. “It’s not about the spotlight, V. I want to experience this moment with you. I want to remember this with you in the picture.”
A complicated expression crosses Viktor’s face, something… forlorn, maybe. He sets his wine glass down and folds his hands on the table in front of him. “Is this really important to you, Jayce?”
“Yes,” he says with no hesitation. “I want to look back on this moment when I’m old, knowing my best friend and partner was there with me. I want to witness what we created—together.” He pauses, letting the sentiment sink in, before smiling coyly. “Plus, did I mention there’s free food and an open bar?”
Viktor huffs out a laugh. “Jayce fucking Talis… always a sweet talker, aren’t you?”
Jayce beams, lighting up with excitement. “So, you’ll go?”
Viktor fidgets with his thumbs, a pensive look on his features. “I’ll go. On the condition that you do not leave me alone. I don’t want to be caught by myself with an investor, or worse, a councilor.”
“I wouldn’t want you anywhere but by my side,” Jayce nods in affirmation before pausing again. “Except… I’m supposed to give a speech. Do you… want to do it with me?”
Viktor grimaces. “Absolutely not. I’m more likely to vomit on your shoes than go on stage with you. I will stay on the sidelines, thank you.”
“Fair enough.” Jayce knows when to not push with Viktor. He’s already giving so much by going in the first place.
The night of the Hexgates launch, Jayce picks Viktor up in a car. Viktor lives in the city centre so, technically, they could have walked, but Jayce wants his partner to feel like royalty. When Viktor emerges, Jayce’s heart gets caught in his throat.
Jayce has always thought Viktor was handsome, but he looks devastatingly handsome in his emerald green suit. It’s simple, complimented by a white dress shirt and pocket square, but it hugs his lithe frame and makes him look dashing nonetheless.
(A dark part of him files this vision of Viktor in the back of his mind. He knows he’s going to think about taking that suit off—or keeping it on.)
“Hey, handsome.” It leaves Jayce’s mouth impulsively when he helps Viktor into the car.
Viktor scoffs and rolls his eyes as Jayce gets in the backseat with him. “Not a drop of liquor in you and you’re already flirting? My, Talis, you must be excited.”
“Well… I did have a glass of whiskey before this, for the nerves. The bottle you gave me for the Winter Solstice.”
“Ah, that explains it.”
“Am I really such a—”
“Yes.” Viktor smirks despite his apparent exasperation. “Try not to take too much advantage of that open bar. Unless you want all the guests thinking they’re invited to your bed.”
“Oh, c’mon, I’m not that bad! Just… a little loose-lipped about my appreciation for the human form.”
Viktor actually snorts. Jayce thinks it’s cute.
“So, why are you nervous?” Viktor tilts his head at Jayce, holding his cane with both hands as the car drives through the city.
“I’m just… catastrophizing, I guess,” Jayce shrugs. “Worried it’s going to explode in our faces.”
Viktor reaches over and places a hand on Jayce’s in an attempt to comfort him. His touch is cool against Jayce’s skin, and his heart swells at the small display of affection. “Jayce, we have tested it in every way imaginable. It’s going to work.”
Jayce swallows, uncertain if Viktor holding his hand is making him more or less nervous. “I know that rationally, but we’re working with magic. Magic can be unpredictable.”
“We’ve learned how to contain it, though.”
“To a degree,” Jayce murmurs, rubbing his jaw… but then, an idea forms in his mind. “Wait… what if we figured out how to stabilize the crystals? Make them safer?”
Viktor furrows his brows, the gears turning as he syncs up with Jayce’s train of thought. “Then we could create Hextech for wider distribution and civilian use.”
“Viktor, this could change everything—”
“We could create tools to make dangerous jobs easier and safer—”
“And Hextech for the home—”
“Hold that thought,” Viktor says, pulling out a small notebook and pencil from his inside breast pocket, quickly jotting down the concept.
“You brought that with you, even to the gala?” Jayce chuckles.
Viktor shrugs with a sheepish expression. “You never know when you might have a good idea.”
It isn’t long before they arrive at the Gala. After their conversation, they’re both eager to return to the lab so they can get started on fleshing out their new concept. Jayce feels alive, like this might be one of the best nights of his life.
They eat and drink their way through the gala, but Jayce is continuously stopped by various people that he knows Viktor has a distaste for. Despite that, Viktor stays at his side the entire time. It irks Jayce that none of the various investors, some he recognizes and others he can’t remember for the life of him, barely acknowledge Viktor. However, he pointedly introduces Viktor, addresses him, and talks about their work and Viktor’s talent. Even though his partner is silent for the majority of the evening, offering the occasional comment when someone actually takes interest in Viktor’s opinion, Jayce still enjoys his companionship.
When it comes time for Jayce to give his speech, Viktor seems to catch on to the fact that he’s anxious. His partner squeezes his bicep in an attempt to ground him and nods up at Jayce. “You’ve got this, Jayce.”
“Thanks, V,” Jayce says with a deep exhale. He walks on stage, approaching the mic with nervous energy still crackling under his skin. Viktor stays backstage where he can watch Jayce and not have to be alone among the elite he doesn’t fit in with. It’s comforting knowing Viktor is practically within arm’s reach.
“Good evening, everyone,” Jayce starts, fidgeting with his cue cards that he’s hoping he’ll have to refer to as little as possible. “I want to thank you all for joining us this evening for what will be, I believe, a great moment in Piltover’s history.”
The entire crowd’s attention is on him, making him hot under his collar, but he perseveres. “Not everyone knows this, but I witnessed magic as a child. It inspired me to try to recreate it in the first place. During my time at the Academy, and beyond that, I focused on that goal, failing to achieve that dream fully. It wasn’t until three years ago that a brilliant man, Viktor, cracked the mystery of why it wasn’t working. Together, we made magic, and have every day since then.”
Jayce steals a glance off stage, seeing Viktor standing there looking proud and happy—so, so happy. It makes his stomach swoop with fondness for his partner.
He turns back to the crowd, briefly glancing down at his cue cards. “Today’s launch of the Hexgates is only the beginning. We now know magic is attainable and its potential is limitless. We’re going to map out all the possibilities and improve lives with future Hextech. So, here’s to the future, and the first of Hextech’s achievements.”
The crowd applauds and Jayce retreats backstage, rejoining Viktor. “How was that?” He asks with both eagerness and worry, wanting Viktor to approve of his speech more than anyone in the room.
“You did good, golden boy,” Viktor pats him on the cheek with a smile, resurfacing a nickname that Jayce knows is both teasing and affectionate. It makes Jayce’s chest tighten with a familiar feeling he sometimes gets around Viktor, a feeling he has yet to name.
When it finally comes time for the launch, they move out to one of the balconies for a better view of the Hexgates. A buzz of excitement vibrates through his nervous system as he watches the airship begin to approach. Just then, Jayce unintentionally overhears a man speaking with a woman he’s unfamiliar with.
“I don’t believe for a moment that the sumprat cripple had anything to do with this marvel. I wonder what he had to do to get his name on it.”
“Well, you’ve heard the rumours,” the woman replies with a scoff.
The Hexgates begin to power up, emanating a blue glow.
If Viktor overhears the comment, he doesn’t react. But Jayce sees red.
He doesn’t think about it. Before he even knows he’s doing it, he’s pulling on the man’s shoulder to turn to face him. The man, appearing to be in his sixties and wearing an expression of shock when he sees him, trembles in the brief moments before Jayce’s fist connects with his nose. The man flies to the stone floor with a pathetic cry, while the woman lets out a shriek.
The sky lights up as the Hexgate activates, and a mix of gasps and claps emanate from the crowd. Jayce doesn’t even see it, he’s too preoccupied with staring the man down, eyes blazing with fury.
“What the fuck did you just say!?” Jayce has never known rage like this. The words haunt his mind as he grits his teeth.
“ Jayce ,” Viktor says his name like he’s scolding him, grabbing his elbow and holding on to it. “Please, stop.”
“No!” Jayce unintentionally snaps at Viktor, too blinded by his anger to stop. “This asshole just insulted you—my partner!”
The man is barely sitting up on the floor, gripping his bloody nose and looking shaken. “I-I apologize sir,” he stammers.
“Jayce,” Viktor tries again, softer this time, gripping Jayce’s elbow tighter.
“And you,” Jayce says venomously, pointing at the woman. “What rumours are you talking about?”
People have started to notice the commotion, murmuring amongst themselves, uncertain if they should interfere. Some are staying out of it, trying to subtly watch from the corners of their eyes, or pretending not to notice.
“Jayce, please, let it go,” Viktor whispers next to him, trying to pull him away from the situation. Jayce yanks his arm away from Viktor.
The man and woman share a nervous look. Neither of them wants to say a word out of fear, but it’s too late—Jayce is getting answers.
“Mr. Talis,” the offending man starts shakily, rising to his feet while the woman helps him up. “I… I apologize for speaking out of turn, can we let bygones be bygones?”
“What. Rumours.”
There’s a beat of silence before the woman cracks. “That he slept his way into your lab,” she says with mild disgust, but mostly fear.
Jayce is stunned, and it’s his turn to be silent now. He’s trying to process the whole situation. Where the fuck did that come from? Viktor was Heimerdinger’s assistant before they met. Viktor had already proved his capabilities at the Academy.
Maybe Viktor was right—Jayce can’t make these people respect him. So why is he still trying?
“For your information,” Jayce spits through his teeth. “Viktor is the single most brilliant man in this city. That, up there,” Jayce points up at the Hexgate, now dark from the demonstration being over. “Would not be possible without him. He is hard-working, dependable, skilled, and my better half! I would not still be here if—”
“Jayce.”
He freezes. Looking over his shoulder, he sees Viktor now, his face distorted and shaking with unbridled anger. Not at the people who had insulted him, but at Jayce.
“Come.” It’s a firm command, in a tone that Jayce has never heard Viktor speak to him in before. Viktor turns and his cane clicks with purpose as he leaves through the open doors to the main ballroom, expecting Jayce to follow.
He spares one last glance at the people he had been lashing out at, very tempted to spit at their feet in disdain, but Viktor’s anger makes him think better of it. “Enjoy your evening,” he says, bitter and still radiating with heated fury. The crowd grows louder as he leaves.
He follows Viktor out of the gala, down to the gardens behind the venue. It’s a beautiful night, the flowerbeds and topiary lending to a peaceful, and even romantic, atmosphere. But, he knows this is not going to be a peaceful conversation.
Once they’re far enough from the doors and it’s obvious that no one is around, Viktor turns on his heel and faces Jayce.
“What were you thinking?” Viktor practically whispers it. It’s scarier that he isn’t yelling.
“He insulted you—”
“So, what? You don’t think I’m used to being called a sumprat cripple? I’m twenty-eight for fuck’s sake, I’ve been hearing that since I could understand Common.”
The anger Jayce was feeling before quickly shrinks and turns into an ugly sensation of guilt and disgust. It seeps into his bones as he tries to see it from Viktor’s perspective, but he’s too protective for his own good. “That doesn’t mean you deserve—”
“And that doesn’t mean you punch one of the guests during the launch of our first project!” Viktor finally raises his voice, but he quickly switches back into the quiet, terrifying tone from before. “Jayce, this is going to be all the newspapers and the whole city are going to talk about. You could have very well killed Hextech—and your career— over a few harsh words about me.”
“They think you… you…” Jayce isn’t sure how to say it lightly or without triggering a new bout of rage within himself.
“Fucked myself into your good graces? Got a free ride to success because I rode your dick? Yeah, that’s not new! I’ve been hearing that for the last three years, and I have ignored it because it’s not true, so what does it matter?”
Jayce wasn’t expecting Viktor to be so blunt about it, briefly flushing at the vulgar language. He’s not a virgin, but he feels like one because the idea of it… well, he can’t say it hasn’t crossed his mind. Repeatedly.
“I didn’t know,” he admits quietly.
“That’s because most of these people know not to say any of it to you. They have no problem saying it to a trencher like me.”
Viktor’s anger is still present, Jayce can tell, but it’s a little less terrifying than it was before. “I’m sorry—”
“I don’t need your fucking sorry. I don’t need your pity. And I certainly don’t need you to protect me. I’m not going to shatter at the first slur I hear,” Viktor grits, approaching Jayce but, instead of stopping, Viktor walks past him. “I will find my own way home. Goodbye.”
Jayce’s blood runs cold. Goodbye. Not see you tomorrow or goodnight, it’s goodbye. “Viktor, wait—”
“You’ve done enough tonight, Jayce!” Viktor snaps at him, barely glancing over his shoulder before walking away again.
Jayce watches Viktor leave, feeling an awful twist of regret, embarrassment and dread in his gut. He sits on one of the garden benches and puts his face in his hands.
That’s where Mel finds him not ten minutes later. She silently sits down next to him, and Jayce doesn’t need to look up to know it’s her—he recognizes her orange blossom perfume.
“I heard you assaulted Franklin Malloy,” she says so simply that it sounds like she’s talking about the weather.
Ah. Malloy Alloys. Their third biggest investor and the provider for all of the steel for the Hexgates project. “Fuck.”
“Rumour has it that you did so out of nowhere.”
“He was talking shit about Viktor,” Jayce says quietly, keeping his head in his hands. He’s even more ashamed now than when Viktor had left. “I just… lost it.”
“I know you care for him like a brother,” she says softly. “But that was out of line.”
Jayce wants to laugh. Yeah, a brother I want to fuck senseless, he thinks to himself humourlessly. He doesn’t say that though, as he’s neither brave nor stupid enough to admit it.
“Yeah, pretty much what Viktor said, in more words,” Jayce says, lifting his head while dragging his hands over his face. “I really fucked up, Mel. Not just Hextech’s reputation, but I’m worried Viktor won’t forgive me for this. I mean, what if he leaves? I don’t… I don’t know what I’d do without him.”
“I have a feeling he won’t. Give him some space,” she smiles at him reassuringly, and Jayce almost believes her. “In the meantime, I suggest you make amends with Franklin.”
“What? I’m not apologizing to that asshole. You didn’t hear the things he and that woman were saying about Vik.”
“You need to, for the sake of your company.” Mel places a comforting hand on his shoulder. “If every investor thinks you’ll jump them, Hextech will sink, no matter how successful the Hexgates are. This is the price of being a public figure.”
Jayce pinches his brows together in frustration, momentarily regretting his decision to become a public figure in the first place. He grits his teeth at the thought of apologizing to that disgusting excuse of a man, but he accepts his fate.
“I will… apologize. Not tonight, I need to cool off first.” He sighs, letting the tension he didn’t realize he had been holding in his body sink under her touch. “Thanks, Mel. I appreciate you talking to me.”
“Of course. I like to think we’re friends at this point, Jayce. As much as I don’t approve of your actions… I am proud of you for defending your friend. Just do it in a more diplomatic way next time,” she chuckles, patting his cheek fondly—‘You did good, golden boy,’ Viktor’s voice echoes in his head—before standing. “Goodnight, Jayce. And congratulations on the launch.”
As Mel walks away, Jayce remembers he forgot all about the launch. He didn’t even see it. Three years of hard work and he didn’t get to enjoy the high before some asshole ruined it.
He doesn’t go home after that because he knows he won’t be able to sleep. Instead, he goes directly to the family forge and hammers away until sunrise. It’s only when he’s exhausted himself that he heads home and collapses.
Viktor is expecting him in the lab the next day, but Jayce expects that Viktor won’t want to see him. He sleeps in, sulks, replays the events in his mind, and eats whatever is in his barren cupboards to survive. By evening, he’s itching to do something with himself and the lab still feels unwelcome to him, so he goes to the forge again.
By the second day, he decides he needs to get his shit together. He spends an hour staring at a piece of paper, trying to find the right words to apologize . His chest flares with the same anger he felt the moment he punched the fucker at the thought, but he forces it down.
Finally, he settles on a simple note:
Franklin,
I apologize for my outburst at the gala. I hope your nose is okay. Consider this as me letting bygones be bygones.
Jayce Talis
After he sends the note by courier that morning (who gives him an odd look), he knows he should go to the lab. But first, he stops by a chocolate shop, hoping that appealing to Viktor’s sweet tooth will help him get back in his good books.
When he enters the lab, Viktor is at the chalkboard, writing down equations Jayce doesn’t recognize. He turns to look at Jayce, a complicated expression on his features—something akin to frustration, hurt and relief.
Jayce holds up the box of chocolates. “Raspberry truffles, your favourite,” he smiles meekly, hoping the olive branch will get him somewhere.
Viktor sighs, setting down the piece of chalk before approaching Jayce. He takes the box of chocolates, looking down at them before glancing up at Jayce. He looks angry. but it quickly dissipates with another heavy sigh. “You owe me dinner.”
“I will buy you dinner twenty times over if it means you’ll forgive me,” Jayce says, shoulders relaxing with reprieve.
“Did you see the papers?” Viktor watches Jayce carefully, gauging his reaction.
Jayce, in fact, did not see the papers. He pales at the mention of it and knows he doesn’t need to answer.
Viktor rolls his eyes before heading to his desk, setting the chocolates down as he sits. Lifting the newspaper, he reads. “‘Man of Progress Assaults Key Hextech Investor at Gala’.” Viktor looks at him pointedly. “No mention of the Hexgates in the headline.”
“I’m so sorry, Vik, I royally fucked up,” Jayce groans before he moves to sit down, rolling his chair closer to Viktor’s until their knees are almost touching. “Mel told me to apologize, so… I sent a note this morning.”
Viktor sets the paper down with a grimace. “Councilwoman Medarda is smart. We can only hope this blows over and Mr. Malloy continues to fund our projects.” Viktor pauses for a moment. “Even though he’s a fucking asshole, I will gladly take his money as payment.”
Jayce chuckles softly at that, and Viktor is kind enough to smile at him. Before Jayce can reply, Viktor speaks again. “I’m sorry for how I reacted, and I forgive you.”
Confusion is painted on Jayce’s brow at the apology. “Why? I was completely in the wrong. You had every right to be mad.”
“Oh, I’m not apologizing for being mad at you. I may forgive you, but I’m still mad at you. I regret how I spoke to you though, there was a better way I could have expressed my anger.”
Relief washes over Jayce. Still angry, but forgiving. He can live with that. Without thinking, he leans forward and buries his face in Viktor’s shoulder. “You don’t know how much that means to me—that you forgive me. I thought I… that you… I thought I messed things up between us.”
There’s hesitation, but Viktor’s arms wrap around Jayce, one hand resting on his back and the other cradling his head. “I’m not going anywhere,” Viktor assures quietly, fingers combing through Jayce’s short hair. “I know you did it because you care.”
Jayce sighs against Viktor’s shoulder, relishing in his partner’s hand in his hair. After a few indulgent moments, he sits up, not leaving Viktor’s orbit. His hands cup either side of Viktor’s neck, looking him in his enchanting honey-gold eyes. “Viktor, I would literally do anything for you. You’re… you’re important to me.”
There’s a beat of silence between them and Jayce is suddenly painfully aware of how intimate the moment is. Their breaths are mingling from the lack of space between them. Viktor’s hands are gripping his shoulders as he looks at him with a perplexed expression, almost like he’s trying to read Jayce’s intentions.
It would be so easy to kiss him right now, Jayce thinks. The thought seems to bring him back to reality. He pulls away, and he can swear Viktor almost looks… disappointed, but the expression is gone so quickly that Jayce thinks he imagined it.
“So, what are you working on?” Jayce asks, hoping that work can break the tension between them.
Viktor practically lights up, the tense moment forgotten. “Stabilizing the crystals, what we talked about the other night. I believe it’s possible.”
They work on the new concept and it’s as easy as breathing, a natural synergy between them. Jayce buys Viktor dinner, as promised, and they eat take-out in between calculations.
Jayce regrets not kissing Viktor that day, all because he was scared of what he might lose. He didn’t consider what he might gain if he was brave. Despite the moment of longing, he continues to be in denial of his feelings for his partner.
“Vik, can we talk?” Jayce finally manages to say after they have silently eaten the mushrooms and berries as their dinner. The mushrooms were surprisingly savoury and salty in flavour, and it’s a nice change from all the fish they’ve been eating.
Viktor shifts uncomfortably next to him on the couch. “About what?”
Jayce frowns, giving Viktor a look. “Don’t play dumb, you know what I’m talking about.”
“Do you mean when you tried to tell me I didn’t do anything wrong?”
“No, I see where you’re coming from. I don’t think you should punish yourself for it, though.”
Viktor scoffs, rolling his eyes and then turning his head away from Jayce. “I don’t think you actually see where I’m coming from.”
“You know what, you’re probably right. I’m probably never going to understand what it was like, what you’re feeling,” Jayce starts, placing a hand over one of Viktor’s hands resting in his lap. The touch seems to startle Viktor, his gold eyes snapping to Jayce’s own. “But I want to understand as best I can.”
“Jayce, I think… you have already suffered enough thanks to me. I don’t want to burden you further with everything that’s… jumbled in my head.”
It dawns on Jayce in that moment what Viktor has been doing—pushing him away to protect him. This whole time, it’s been for his sake. Jayce slowly lifts his hand to Viktor’s cheek, giving the other man an opportunity to stop him, but he doesn’t. “Viktor, you’re not a burden,” he says quietly, brushing his thumb over Viktor’s cheekbone.
Viktor seems to swallow a lump in his throat before speaking. “Don’t torment me, Jayce.”
Furrowing his brows in confusion, Jayce frowns. “What are you talking about?”
“I know it’s not me you want to be stuck here with,” Viktor says dryly, gently pulling Jayce’s hand away from his cheek.
“Why do you think that?”
It’s Viktor’s turn to look confused. “Because you love Mel, not me.”
The statement throws Jayce for a loop and suddenly everything feels backwards. “W-What? That’s not true.”
Viktor scoffs again, this time with bitterness behind it. “Stop. I knew about you two, and something tells me you knew how I felt about you. You aren’t saving my feelings by keeping it from me.”
Jayce is starting to piece things together. There was a gut feeling that Jayce had, one he had ignored for far too long, that Viktor had feelings for him too. For years, he had been too scared to face his own feelings for Viktor, foolishly so. And now they’re talking about it, bluntly. He can’t fuck this up.
“I don’t love Mel,” Jayce starts, shifting closer to Viktor on the couch. It surprises him, but Viktor doesn’t move away. “Yes, I care about Mel, but what we had was… well, a comfort. I was going through a lot and I was seeking out something that… I thought I couldn’t have with you.”
Viktor searches his face as if he’s trying to determine if Jayce is telling the truth or not. “And how do I know you aren’t looking for something convenient in me? We are, after all, stuck together.”
“Because, Viktor,” Jayce swallows thickly, placing his hands on either side of Viktor’s neck, as he has so many times before. His heart is in his throat, racing like he’s running a marathon, as he bites the bullet. “I… I’ve been in love with you longer than I’ve even known.”
Viktor inhales sharply, staring at Jayce. There’s a few moments of silence before, quietly, Viktor says, “I don’t believe you.”
“Why?” Jayce studies Viktor’s face as a single tear rolls down his cheek, his heart breaking for the man he loves.
“How could you?” Viktor seems frozen in place, allowing Jayce’s hand to wipe the tear away and cradle his cheek. “Even before… everything, I’m not… I’ve never deserved you.”
Jayce surprises himself with a laugh, and Viktor looks perplexed. “I always thought that myself. How did I get so lucky for this man to literally materialize at the lowest point in my life? You saved me. You rebuilt me. You made me better.” Jayce moves his hand to pick up Viktor’s by his wrist, lifting it so he can press a soft kiss to his palm. “You are everything to me.”
“Jayce,” Viktor’s voice wobbles as he says his name, shuddering at the kiss. “You don’t know what you’re doing. You don’t know what I would do to you.”
“I’d let you do anything to me,” Jayce says automatically. He doesn’t mean it in a sexual way, although that’s true too, just matter-of-factly.
“If you love me, I’ll never let you go.”
Viktor is trembling in Jayce’s grasp as he pulls him closer, wrapping an arm around Viktor’s waist. “Good, I’ll never want you to.”
A thread that has been pulled taut for nearly eight years snaps as Viktor surges forward, capturing Jayce’s lips in a desperate embrace. It’s far more heated than their kiss earlier that day, making Jayce’s head spin. Viktor’s hands are in his hair, gripping and pulling, while Jayce’s arms encircle his tiny waist.
Viktor is about as aggressive of a kisser as Jayce had imagined for all these years. He pries open Jayce’s mouth with his tongue and dives in, wrestling for dominance. Viktor wins of course, because Jayce is no match for him—when Viktor wants something, he gets it.
Feeling the desire to be even closer, Jayce manhandles Viktor with ease, pulling him in his lap. With Viktor’s thighs now bracketing his own, Jayce can be flush against him, feeling every inch of warmth from his body.
It’s like something out of one of Jayce’s dozens of fantasies, except it’s real. When Jayce cards his hand through Viktor’s hair, it’s real. When his hand dips underneath the hem of Viktor’s shirt, brushing the flesh and metal of his lower back, it’s real.
This is real. The thought makes Jayce’s heart sing. While Viktor didn’t say it outright, he did imply that he loved Jayce. It was good enough for him, for now.
The kiss gets messy, urgent, while Viktor’s hands explore from Jayce’s hair to his face, then to his pecs. He pulls back just a little, only to bite Jayce’s bottom lip. The simple act makes his dick twitch with interest, but Jayce isn’t sure if Viktor wants to take it that far so soon.
“Bedroom.” Viktor says it briefly, almost too quick for Jayce to catch, before returning to his mouth again. Jayce feels like he’s being eaten alive and he’s relishing in it. It takes him a few moments to process what was said—what was commanded of him—and, yep, he’s absolutely turned on by being bossed around.
Wasting no time, Jayce grips Viktor’s thighs tightly before standing, only with some difficulty. His leg still isn’t one hundred percent (when is it ever, though?) but he’s recovered enough to carry Viktor the short distance to his bedroom.
Viktor’s legs cross over Jayce’s lower back, kissing him feverishly while Jayce tries to navigate around the couch without dropping Viktor. It’s a frenzy of pent-up lust and yearning, already better than Jayce could have imagined.
He crosses the threshold and kicks the door closed behind him.
Chapter 4: Golden
Summary:
After seven years of pent-up yearning, Jayce and Viktor finally get the chance to ravage each other while learning about a few kinks and when they knew they were in love.
Notes:
Hi! Sorry this is a little late, I had a personal thing come up, but going forward I'm aiming to update every Saturday.
So... I got tired of typing 'mother tongue' and 'native language' all the time. I feel like it adds more to Viktor's character if he's actually speaking a language. I incorporated a little bit of Czech (since that's what his accent is supposed to be), but I can't call it that. Instead, it's called 'Jasyk' (just 'language' in Czech, I know, super creative). I do not speak Czech so forgive me if there are mistakes, but I scoured forums and blogs as much as I could for real phrases but had to supplement with Google Translate. Expect more in the future.
Translations:
Ano = yes
Sakra = damn it, holy shit, fuck, etc.
Kurva = fuck, fucking
Peklo = hell
Zlatíčko = little gold, honey, my darling, etc.Like I said before, it's smut here on out. The only chapter I've written beyond this that doesn't have them going at it like wild animals is chapter 10. Official chapter count is now 17. It could change in the future, but I'm pretty confident I have the whole thing outlined.
That's it, thank you for reading. And thank you to my wife for beating.
Songs for this chapter:
My Favourite Faded Fantasy - Damien Rice
Desire - Meg Myers
Chapter Text
Jayce loves me, Viktor thinks as he licks into the man’s mouth hungrily. Jayce actually loves me.
He repeats it like a mantra while Jayce carries him to the bed, easing him down without breaking the kiss. There’s a brief thought in the back of his mind that this bed might, in fact, be worse than his own, but he doesn’t care. It’s at least big enough for the two of them.
As Jayce climbs on top of him, he envelops Viktor with his large frame and combs a hand through his long hair. Cradling Viktor’s jaw lovingly, he kisses him like he’s the only thing in this reality that matters, while Viktor’s hands find the hem of Jayce’s shirt. He gathers the fabric in his fists, pulling it up until it’s at his armpits, tugging eagerly. Jayce seems to get the hint, pulling away from the kiss to discard his shirt swiftly. Much to his pleasure, Viktor gets a delectable view of Jayce’s pecs, abs and biceps highlighted in the moonlight. He bites down his bottom lip with want.
“I think it’s only fair we get rid of yours,” Jayce says, barely above a whisper while his hands dip under Viktor’s shirt and rake over his stomach.
Viktor shivers, arching his back off the mattress as Jayce’s hands move further upwards, caressing the curves of his ribs. Peeling his shirt off and tossing it to the floor, Jayce’s mouth returns to him, except not to his lips. Jayce explores the side of his neck where he licks and nips at his fragile skin, before sucking a purple bruise. Earning a gasp out of Viktor, it prompts him to buck his hips up against Jayce’s. While Jayce ravages his skin, Viktor’s hand travels to his hair, enjoying the new length because he can tug, and the other scratches at his shoulder.
“Jayce,” he whines softly while Jayce leaves another deep purple mark at the crook of his neck and shoulder. His nails dig into Jayce’s flesh, hoping to leave his mark, as he pulls his partner’s head up by the hair. Viktor studies him for a moment, taking in the details of Jayce’s face—hazel eyes blown with arousal, lips pink and kiss-bitten, and his hair tousled handsomely. “You’re so…” Beautiful? Gorgeous? Ravenous? “Perfect.”
“You’re one to talk,” Jayce says before he begins to pepper Viktor’s face with kisses. “Beautiful.” A kiss to the mole above his lip. “Smart.” Another on his other mole. “Sexy.” Another on his cheek.
Viktor huffs out a laugh, stomach fluttering from all the compliments. He’s never been called sexy in his life, so he doesn’t quite believe it. “Yes, yes, just shut up and kiss me,” he says, pulling Jayce in by the back of his head and welcoming his mouth greedily. The kiss is like coming home, slow and sweet, unlike their lust-charged embrace from before. Jayce’s calloused hand is on his cheek, his beard brushing Viktor’s face in a ticklish way, as he hums against Viktor’s lips.
Their mouths move in tandem, light flicks of tongues collide lazily, and Viktor thinks he could stay in this moment for the rest of time. He’s obsessed with Jayce’s long hair, relishing in how soft it is as it flows through his fingers while they kiss. And obsessed with the sensation of being held so tenderly.
I’m going to eat this man alive, inside and out, he thinks. It’s both a hungry thought and a bitter one, feeling like he’s sentenced Jayce to death by his love. He quickly smothers it, though, losing himself in the earnest way Jayce kisses him.
Rolling his hips, he brings their awareness back to the reason they’re in Jayce’s bed in the first place. His partner groans softly against his lips, responding by grinding in return. The bulge in Jayce’s pants is… promising. Of course, Viktor is going to fuck Jayce no matter what size his dick is, but he can’t say he’s not excited to know the Man of Progress is well-endowed to boot.
Grinding is something Viktor loves and it builds the tension bubbling inside him, making him wet with desire. His impatience is building, though. He breaks the kiss, a string of saliva still connecting them, and heavy breaths follow now that he’s finally able to come up for air. “Pants off. Now.”
Jayce doesn’t need any further instruction, pulling away to unbutton his trousers and shove them off. He needs to pause to unfasten the leg brace, but he does so with practiced and urgent movements. Viktor follows suit, kicking his own pants to the floor in seconds.
They spend a few long moments staring at each other, drinking in their nude forms carefully. Jayce might as well have been sculpted by whatever gods might exist—broad, all muscle and tanned skin. Viktor’s golden eyes travel down Jayce’s body, landing on his prize. His erection hangs heavy between his legs, a respectable length but thick. Viktor pussy flutters in anticipation, his mouth suddenly very dry.
Insecurity rears its ugly head. He can’t help but recall his own reflection earlier that day on the river’s ever-moving surface. His body is now an amalgamation of skin and steel, foreign to him. It’s not unlike himself as The Herald, but it’s new—it feels more alien than the previous forms he’s taken.
Under Jayce’s gaze, Viktor feels small as new and old doubts about his body arise like a sickness in the pit of his stomach. “I-I’m sorry I’m not—” Not what? What does he say? Attractive? Human? What Jayce has been building up in his head all these years?
Jayce hushes him, leaning in to press a chaste kiss to his lips. “You have nothing to apologize for,” he says, gently brushing his knuckle over Viktor’s cheek. “You’re perfect, Viktor.”
The anxiety in his gut swells into something much more pleasant—happiness, maybe? Viktor doesn’t remember the last time he felt happy. It’s unfamiliar, like someone he once knew but doesn’t recognize.
“You’re a romantic, too,” Viktor observes, clearly trying to brush off the compliment, steel fingers splaying over Jayce’s left pec. The touch is innocuous, just wanting to feel the other man’s warmth and heartbeat beneath his palm.
“I mean it,” Jayce affirms, taking Viktor’s mechanical hand and lifting it to his mouth. He kisses each fingertip before the palm, then nuzzles his cheek against it. “I’ve always thought the world of you.”
The genuine tenderness makes Viktor shudder while his heart aches. “I don’t deserve it,” He says, echoing his breakdown from earlier.
“Yes, you do. People make mistakes and this is a second chance, for both of us.” Jayce says it like a fact, and Viktor almost believes it.
He can feel his eyes prickling with emotion and he groans. Wiping away the stray tear that escapes, he smiles meekly. “I was anticipating crying but this is not what I had in mind.”
Jayce chuckles softly, bending down to press a kiss to Viktor’s temple. “Don’t worry, baby, there’s still plenty of time for me to make you cry in other ways,” Jayce murmurs against his hairline.
Baby. The pet name makes him flush. He can’t even count how many times he has fantasized about Jayce calling him ridiculous pet names that should make him cringe in disgust. “Promise?”
“Promise.”
Viktor pulls Jayce in by his hair again, meeting his lips with an aching desire. It’s heated this time, not as languid as before, all teeth and tongues. Jayce seems to get the hint that Viktor wants to keep moving forward because his large hands begin to traverse his torso. They run over Viktor’s chest, not shying away from where metal meets flesh, following the ridges of his ribs then raking over the flat of his stomach.
A shiver runs from Viktor’s groin to the crown of his head when one of Jayce’s hands ghosts over his bed of pubic hair, the other squeezing his hip. Making a sound of approval against Jayce’s lips, Viktor scratches the other man’s scalp as their mouths move together frantically.
Jayce’s hand finally reaches between Viktor’s legs, cupping his mound while his fingers rub teasingly over his lips. Lust flares in his gut and he thinks he should be embarrassed by how wet he is already, but he doesn’t care. Jayce is touching him. Jayce is ravaging his mouth. Jayce is about to fuck him until he’s dizzy.
Pushing one finger past Viktor’s folds, Jayce gently circles his cock while biting Viktor’s bottom lip. A gasp leaves Viktor as he digs his nails into the nape of Jayce’s neck, jerking his hips to chase the friction. He tilts his head back against the pillow, surrounded by Jayce’s intoxicating natural scent, mouth agape as his partner continues to brush and flick at his cock. After a minute of teasing (that feels like an eternity), Viktor opens his eyes to look up at Jayce, seeing that he’s been watching him with interest.
“Fuck, Jayce, just finger me already,” Viktor bites, though there’s very little frustration behind it, just need.
“I wanted to eat you out first, been thinking about it for so long,” Jayce replies, looking like a dog begging for a bone. “That was my first fantasy about you.”
Viktor needs to unpack that revelation later, but he shakes his head. “I promise you can do that later, I just need you inside me as soon as possible.”
Jayce groans, marginally disappointed, but clearly Viktor’s words trigger a new resolve. “I’ll hold you to that. Wanna taste you,” Jayce whispers against Viktor’s neck, licking along his pulse to emphasize his point. He sounds drunk on lust, and Viktor can feel Jayce’s erection, heavy against his thigh.
Following his orders, Jayce gradually pushes one thick digit inside Viktor. It’s barely a stretch because Viktor is practically dripping, taking it with ease. Viktor groans— now he’s frustrated. “I’m not fragile, Jayce, I said finger me, sakra.”
“So impatient,” Jayce laughs against his skin, nipping at the crook of his neck. Acquiescing, a second finger slowly slides inside Viktor.
It’s more of a stretch this time, just barely scratching Viktor’s itch to be filled. Jayce leaves a new bruise on his neck while Viktor moves his hips, fucking himself on Jayce’s digits. His fingertips dig into Jayce’s shoulder blades and his partner groans into his skin in response.
Jayce’s fingers pick up in speed, moving in and out of Viktor’s entrance while his hips meet Jayce in the middle. Viktor pants, small moans spilling from his lips while Jayce’s mouth continues to climb down to his collarbone. He marks his territory there too, curling his fingers inside Viktor, making him gasp sharply. Oh, he’s good.
“Another,” Viktor demands, scraping his too-long nails over Jayce’s tanned skin, hoping he leaves welts to remember him by. Jayce just nods and moans against the hollow of Viktor’s throat, bruising him again. Viktor has a hazy thought of how annoying all the marks are going to be, but they haven’t even encountered any other people yet, so what’s the harm?
Jayce’s ring finger joins the others inside him and it’s a little painful this time. Viktor has been able to easily take three of his own fingers, but Jayce’s are so thick it leaves him a little breathless. “Wait,” Viktor says, and Jayce stills with the third finger settled inside him. Viktor takes a few deep breaths. “Need to adjust.”
Jayce continues to kiss down the centre of Viktor’s chest, nipping at his pale skin playfully. Sighing, Viktor combs his fingers through Jayce’s hair. I love his long hair, he looks so good, he thinks despite being opened up in a way that makes everything a daze. “Okay, you can move.”
Starting slow, Jayce pumps his fingers in and out of Viktor’s hole. He practically growls against Viktor’s sternum, making Viktor realize how much he’s holding back. “Almost,” Viktor soothes, brushing Jayce’s hair behind his ear. “I’m almost ready.”
Moans fall from his mouth as he fully acclimates and Jayce’s fingers move quicker. It makes him dizzy, barely aware of his partner’s mouth moving lower and lower until he’s leaving love bites on his hip bones. He rocks his hips against the three fingers opening him up, feeling himself leaking around Jayce.
Suddenly, Jayce hisses in pain, retracting his fingers and falling to his side. Panic sets in Viktor’s bones while he sits up so fast that the dizziness gets worse. “J-Jayce, are you okay?” He cradles Jayce’s face, looking at him with concern.
His partner's brows are pinched together, mouth twisted in a grimace. “I’m fine, just my damn leg,” he says. Viktor only now notices Jayce’s hands gripping a nasty scar on his left leg. “Sorry for ruining the mood.”
“It’s not ruined. Sit,” Viktor gestures for Jayce to get closer to the headboard. A passing thought in his mind finds it odd how the tables have turned.
With some difficulty, Jayce manages to sit up against the headboard—after Viktor has piled the pillows up. He sighs with some relief, tilting his head back as he relaxes.
“Would it be okay if I ride you?” Viktor asks the question quietly, uncertain if Jayce is still in the mood.
Jayce’s eyes snap open, looking feral. “What kind of question is that? Absolutely.”
Viktor smirks, satisfied with the reaction. He wastes no time and climbs into Jayce’s lap, straddling him and wrapping his arms around the other man’s neck. “You just sit there and be pretty, golden boy, I’ll do all the work.”
Jayce flushes, looking up at Viktor with an expression of awe—like he was answering Jayce’s darkest fantasies. Viktor quirks a brow, amused. “Do you like it when I call you golden boy?” He asks it teasingly and it feels nostalgic, having called Jayce that hundreds of times over their relationship—he just never thought Jayce might like it in bed, too.
Jayce swallows thickly, his hands grazing up Viktor’s thighs to settle on his hips. “It feels…” He hesitates around the words caught in his throat. “Condescending? Humiliating? I, um… I like it.”
Both of Viktor’s brows rise with intrigue before smiling wickedly, clicking his tongue. “Jayce Talis… do you have a humiliation kink?”
“I, uh—” Jayce starts and stops, glancing away as he sweats under Viktor’s observation. “Only… only when you do it.”
Viktor throws back his head and laughs before looking back down at Jayce with an expression of adoration. I love this man. I love him so much. “That’s cute,” he coos, one hand moving to Jayce’s hair and pulling his head back. “You want me to be mean to you, golden boy?”
Jayce’s Adam's apple bobs as Viktor stares him down, hovering above him and locking eyes with Jayce’s beautiful hazel.
“Maybe a little,” he says, cheeks still flushed.
Viktor hums, lips still quirked in a smug smile. “Is there anything in particular that has been featured in your fantasies?” Jayce did say that eating him out was his first fantasy, meaning there was more than one. He wonders in passing how creative those fantasies might be.
“Well, crawling on all fours is out of the question,” Jayce laughs, eyes shining with mirth despite the pink still in his cheeks. Viktor lets out a chuckle of his own and, in that moment, decides they’re getting a little too off-topic.
One of his hands traces a path down Jayce’s shoulder, clavicle, between his pecs and then over his abs. Jayce’s stomach flutters under his touch, letting out a shaky breath, before Viktor wraps his hand around the other man’s cock. The shaky breath turns into a sharp inhale as Jayce digs his fingers into Viktor’s hips with a bruising grip. “Come on,” Viktor whispers, slowly moving his fist up and down Jayce’s length. “What do you think about when you touch yourself? When you’re thinking of me?”
Jayce pants and licks his lips, biting his bottom one. “I think… about you spitting in my mouth, or marking me up,” he admits, keeping his eyes locked with Viktor’s own. “And… I don’t just like being humiliated.”
Viktor quirks a brow, smiling as he squeezes the base of Jayce’s cock and just holds it. “Oh?”
“I love it when… when you praise me.”
As if Jayce couldn’t get any more perfect, Viktor thinks to himself, bemused. “Oh, I’m sure that will be no problem,” he starts, surmising that it’s time—he can’t wait any longer. Lifting his hips from Jayce’s lap, he shifts to line up Jayce’s cock with his entrance, holding the base with one hand and his partner’s jaw in the other. He locks eyes with Jayce. “That’s because you’re going to be a good boy for me, aren’t you?”
Jayce’s breath catches in his throat, nodding like he’s crazed with thirst. He looks to where their bodies are about to connect, watching as Viktor sinks down on his length. The stretch is more than Jayce’s three fingers were, knocking the air out of Viktor’s lungs momentarily as he gradually bottoms out.
When he’s fully seated in Jayce’s lap, he feels like he can catch his breath. He waits to adjust to Jayce’s girth, splitting him open and carving a home for him inside Viktor, and shudders from how full he feels. It’s long enough that the tip of Jayce’s cock kisses his cervix, and that thought alone makes him want to devour Jayce entirely.
“Fuck, Vik, you’re so tight,” Jayce says breathlessly, sounding delirious. He’s clearly resisting the urge to buck his hips, looking desperate while his hands squeeze Viktor’s ass.
“And you’re so big,” Viktor croons, petting Jayce’s hair affectionately. “You fill me up so good, baby.” He tries the untested pet name, gauging Jayce’s reaction. Guessing by the way Jayce whimpers and tightens his grip on Viktor’s ass cheeks, he determines his experiment has positive results.
“Can you—can you move yet?” Jayce asks the question innocuously, clearly not trying to pressure Viktor. Viktor, however, is amused.
“Why?” Viktor starts, keeping one hand fisted in Jayce’s hair while the other pinches one of his nipples. With a sharp breath intake, Jayce finally bucks his hips desperately. The way his cock bumps against Viktor’s cervix makes him lose his composure for a moment, eyes rolling back in his head. “K-Kurva peklo,” He pants and quickly recovers, pointedly putting all of his weight on Jayce’s hips to hold him down. “How badly do you want it?”
Jayce whines softly, fingers flexing against Viktor’s soft flesh, throwing his head back. With the column of his neck exposed, Viktor finally takes the opportunity to return the marks Jayce had gifted him with earlier. “Badly,” Jayce whispers, moaning while Viktor marks him.
He’s mine now, Viktor thinks, a swell of possessiveness rising in his gut as he paints Jayce’s skin purple. His teeth scrape against Jayce’s neck, threatening to bite again, but he simply breathes hotly against his flesh. “Beg for it. Show me how bad you want it.”
A groan emanates from Jayce, originating from deep within his chest, as he bows his head to rest on Viktor’s shoulder. “ Please, baby,” Jayce says, sounding pitiful. His arms wrap around Viktor’s waist, encasing him entirely, while Viktor sucks another mark on Jayce’s shoulder. “Please, I’ve wanted this—wanted you for so long. Don’t torture me. Please. ”
Viktor almost feels bad for teasing Jayce like this to begin with, his chest aching with the same yearning that Jayce is putting into words. Almost. Chuckling softly, he lifts his head, cradling Jayce’s as well so he can look up at him. “I suppose you’ve earned it. You’re very cute when you beg.”
Lifting his hips, Viktor feels Jayce’s cock slide smoothly out of him now that he’s adjusted to his girth. They can both hear how wet Viktor is when he sits back down, holding Jayce’s gaze as he does. His lover looks fucked out of his mind already, barely hanging on to this reality by a thread, and it makes pride flood his chest. I did this to him. I made the Man of Progress beg for me.
A shiver climbs his spine from the sensation of being filled again as he begins to move his hips. Still cupping Jayce’s face with both of his hands, like Jayce is his most cherished possession—which, he is—he connects their lips again. It’s loving, laced with overwhelming need, and Jayce seems more malleable in this state. Viktor dominates his mouth with no pushback, kissing Jayce and setting the pace and fervour—kissing him how he wants to.
The sounds Jayce makes against his mouth are precious, like a quiet soundtrack to their lovemaking. Lovemaking. That’s what this is. Even though it’s filthy, slick sounds filling the room as Viktor bounces on Jayce’s cock, there’s love in every single touch. Viktor loves Jayce’s beard tickling his face and hands as they kiss. Viktor loves the way Jayce’s powerful arms wrap around his waist and hold him close.
They’re making love.
Viktor has never made love before.
And now that he’s had a taste, he knows he’s going to get addicted. Addicted to lust, to love, to Jayce.
Viktor’s mind comes back to the moment Jayce admitted that he likes it when Viktor humiliates him. As much as he’s swept up in the loving embrace, he still wants to deliver. He breaks the kiss, biting Jayce’s bottom lip again before parting from his lips entirely, and pulls on the other man’s hair again. His hips still, and Jayce releases another whine, looking up at Viktor with watering eyes. “I’m curious,” he starts, tracing Jayce’s lips with his mechanical fingers. “What was your first fantasy about me, golden boy?”
Jayce shivers, bucking upwards desperately, clearly wanting Viktor to move again. The snap of his hips throws Viktor off for a moment, his pussy responding by clenching around Jayce, but he doesn’t let it dissuade him. He pulls on Jayce’s hair again, hard, watching his expression twist in a mixture of pain and euphoria. Viktor puts on the best intimidating voice he can muster, hoping to get a specific result: domination. “Do that again and I will make you watch me get off, and you will not be allowed to touch. Understood?”
Despite the wobble of his bottom lip and the pleading look in his eyes, Jayce nods obediently. “I’m sorry, sir,” he says quietly, the title seemingly slipping out in the heat of the moment.
Sir? Viktor rolls the title around in his mind, like sampling a fine wine, and decides he likes it. Well, it’s obvious he likes it from the way he rewards Jayce with a single roll of his hips, getting a choked moan in response. “Good boy,” he says in a hushed tone, moving his hand from where it had been hovering over Jayce’s lips to wrap around his throat. There’s no pressure applied, no threat, he just holds the column of his neck possessively. “Now, answer my question.”
“You—you got mad at me for spilling coffee on your work,” Jayce murmurs, keeping his voice quiet, as though he’s afraid someone might overhear his dirty secret. “You told me to fix it… so I imagined messing it up and you punishing me for it. And making it up to you.”
Viktor hums with interest, rolling his hips again as a reward for Jayce’s cooperation. The man beneath him lets out a fractured gasp, tears streaming down his cheeks now. “How did I punish you?”
Jayce flushes again, averting his pretty, watery eyes. “You dropped my work on the floor. Made me pick it up on my hands and knees. I never got up off the floor once.”
A renewed flare of arousal makes itself known in the pit of his stomach and Viktor can feel his cock twitching, aching for action rather than words. But no, he needs to hear more about this. For science. “And how did you make it up to me?”
A pathetic noise leaves Jayce’s throat, seemingly heartbroken that he wasn’t rewarded this time for answering the question. However, he swallows his nerves, staring directly into Viktor’s eyes when he responds this time. “You fucked my mouth with your fingers, spat in my mouth, then made me eat you out.”
A grin stretches across Viktor’s lips, satisfied with Jayce’s answer. “Thank you. You deserve a reward for your honesty,” he says sweetly, lifting his hips once before taking all of Jayce again. Jayce’s eyes are blown wide at the mention of a reward, like a dog hearing the word ‘treat’, the tension in his body melting away as Viktor begins to move at a steady pace.
Viktor keeps his steel hand wrapped around Jayce’s throat, absentmindedly wondering if he likes the cool metal against his burning skin, and moves his other to Jayce’s mouth. “Open.”
Jayce visibly shakes in anticipation, parting his lips willingly. Experimentally, Viktor dips two fingers inside Jayce’s mouth, ghosting over his tongue. “Close.” Jayce obeys. The pink muscle cradles Viktor’s index and middle fingers, hot and practically salivating as he thrusts them in and out.
Moving with purpose now, Viktor times his hips with his fingers, fucking himself on Jayce’s cock while fucking Jayce’s mouth with his hand. He watches with fascination as Jayce’s eyes roll back in his head, completely lost in ecstasy. Despite his intense focus, Viktor’s thighs begin to tremble as his orgasm approaches. The pressure building inside him is deep, centred at his cervix where Jayce has been repeatedly pounding from this position.
Trying to stay semi-present, Jayce sucks on Viktor’s fingers, cheeks hollowing beautifully. Testing Jayce’s limits, Viktor pushes further in until he hears him gag, withdrawing to continue fucking his mouth with shallow movements. Jayce’s hands relocate back to his ass despite seeming lost in the moment, holding on as Viktor continues to ride him.
Fire coils inside Viktor’s loins, making his own mind hazy with their shared passion. He knows he isn’t going to last much longer, and he doubts Jayce will either from the way he’s quaking under him. Before pulling back his fingers, he turns his own tongue around in his mouth, producing a healthy amount of saliva for his objective.
When he feels he’s ready, he removes his fingers and replaces his hand on Jayce’s jaw, his other cool hand still on his throat. Pinching his cheeks, Viktor forces Jayce’s mouth open just as his eyes flutter to look up at him. Slowly, painfully so, he lets a large drop of saliva fall from his mouth into his lover’s.
Jayce watches the whole thing with wild hazel eyes, panting as his orgasm quickly approaches, his nails biting Viktor’s skin. “M-May I… May I move my hips?” He asks the question breathlessly as he licks his lips, savouring Viktor’s spit while hanging on by a thread.
“Yes,” Viktor says too quickly, giving away how absolutely wrecked he is by having so much power over this man. He swiftly recovers, though. “You’ve been so good for me, zlatíčko—”
Viktor is cut off by his own moan as Jayce bucks his hips up into him, fucking him with so much ferocity that Viktor forgets how to breathe. He briefly wonders, in the back of his mind, if Jayce’s leg is okay doing so much physical activity. The thought quickly dissolves as he’s fucked into oblivion while Jayce wraps his arms around his waist again, pressing him as close as possible. Clinging to Jayce’s shoulders while tears stream down his cheeks, he does all he can to keep up, trying to match the speed of Jayce’s thrusts. He’s pretty sure a string of curses and the word ‘ano’ keep leaving his mouth, but his mind is too hazy with pleasure to control it. It’s messy, uncoordinated, and perfect.
His orgasm doesn’t quite take him by surprise, but it certainly comes sooner than he expected. It’s a full-body sensation and he trembles in Jayce’s arms while crying out his name, walls clenching around him. That seems to tip Jayce over the cliff’s edge as he tenses, gasping his name and spilling inside Viktor.
They stay entangled, Viktor more or less a deadweight in Jayce’s arms. Viktor is pretty sure he squirted, based on how wet his thighs are. Despite the sweat, bodily fluids and aches, all of it makes him feel warm and satisfied.
His partner breathes him in, pressing one kiss after another to his neck and shoulder. “That was amazing, V,” Jayce whispers, voice husky from exertion. “Fuck, I can’t believe you’re mine.”
Mine. Viktor likes the sound of that. He laughs softly against Jayce’s neck, resting his hand on his chest to feel it rise and fall with Jayce’s laboured breaths. “Two-way street, golden boy.”
Jayce huffs out a small chuckle, combing a hand through Viktor’s hair. “You’re enjoying that way too much.”
“Mmm, I know how to make you squirm now.” Viktor lets out a satisfied sigh, enjoying the attention.
“You have always known how to make me squirm.”
“Jayce Talis, maybe. Councilor Talis is a whole other beast.”
“Not a councilor anymore,” Jayce reminds him quietly, and suddenly their old life hangs above them like a spectre. It almost ruins the afterglow but he glazes over it. “Just your Jayce now.”
“My Jayce,” Viktor reaffirms, starting to feel discomfort and Jayce going soft inside him. He dismounts, his own legs feeling stiff from riding him for so long, but he has no regrets. Unceremoniously, he collapses on the bed next to Jayce, letting his limbs stretch out.
Jayce sinks down to lie on the bed rather than sit, lying on his back with his head turned to Viktor. Both of them ignore the wet spot in the centre of the bed. “So, did I live up to your expectations?” Jayce asks, and Viktor snorts, knowing he’s seeking more praise.
“Better.” Viktor says simply. “And me?”
“Better. Way better. I don’t think any of my wildest fantasies can compare.”
“What’s your wildest fantasy?” Viktor grins.
“Oh, no. You’re not getting another one out of me tonight,” Jayce laughs despite himself.
Viktor, not knowing he had the ability, pouts. He quickly flattens his expression though, trying not to let the embarrassment of that revelation get to him.
“Did you just pout?”
“No.”
“Liar, you definitely did.”
“Shut up,” Viktor huffs before propping himself up on his elbow to lean over and kiss Jayce. It’s tender, slow, and pure for the post-orgasm high they’re riding.
“C’mere,” Jayce says once they break apart, wrapping an arm around Viktor’s shoulders and pulling him to his chest.
Sighing contently, Viktor rests his head on Jayce’s chest, taking in the sound of his heartbeat.
“I love you,” Viktor finally says quietly, like it’s a secret. He was treating it like one, but at this point, Jayce knows. Maybe he’s known for a long time. It makes fear gnaw at his insides because… he’s never loved anyone that wasn’t related to him. It’s terrifying.
“I love you,” Jayce echoes, kissing the crown of his head. The returned affection makes the fear dissipate, replaced with joy.
Viktor still has skeletons in his closet haunting him, but in this moment, he allows himself to be happy. Warm, safe, happy, and loved.
“Hey, what was it you said earlier?”
Humming in question, Viktor tilts his head to look up at Jayce. “What?”
“It was like… zlah-keech-something?”
Viktor can’t help but laugh at Jayce’s horrible pronunciation. “It’s zlatíčko,” he says, feeling very vulnerable because of the slip-up. “It means ‘little gold’. It’s a common term of endearment.”
“I like it,” Jayce reassures, running his fingers over the ridges of Viktor’s mechanical spine.
They remain silent for a few minutes, bathed in moonlight and the afterglow of their lovemaking. Viktor could probably fall asleep like this, and he almost does, until Jayce breaks the silence.
“When did you know?”
Viktor opens his eyes to look up at his partner again. “Know what?”
“That you loved me?”
Viktor thinks, reflecting back on their relationship over the years. “It was just… kind of there, always.” He shrugs.
“C’mon, there must have been some ‘oh shit’ moment.”
Viktor considers it again. Maybe there was.
Viktor and Jayce have only known each other for three months. It has been a tense three months because, despite proving Jayce’s theory and Councilor Medarda’s backing, the other councilors (especially Professor Heimerdinger) were hesitant. They would continue to be hesitant for months until they got real momentum.
Both Jayce and Viktor were given slaps on the wrist for breaking and entering, plus stealing confiscated materials. Viktor got the worst of it. He was revoked of his research assistant status because he could no longer be trusted with the keys to the kingdom. It hurt, of course, but the silver lining was that he had better things to do with his time now.
Despite all of that, Councilor Medarda convinced the rest of the Council that they should be assigned one of the labs at the Academy. It was uncommon that scholars or researchers were given such an opportunity, but because Jayce’s concept was so groundbreaking, it was deemed a worthy investment.
Their escapade didn’t stay a secret for long. Soon, the entire Academy was buzzing about two young scientists breaking into the Dean’s office in pursuit of a project deemed too dangerous. And, quickly after, people started to put the pieces together. Jayce Talis and Heimerdinger’s assistant.
Viktor isn’t bitter that his name isn’t on everyone’s lips. Frankly, he doesn’t care, but Jayce seems to be eating it up. He blushes almost every time someone asks him about their previously forbidden project (usually when a cute girl is involved), and Viktor can only roll his eyes while he excuses himself from the conversation.
The only hiccup is that their lab isn’t ready yet—something about a project wrapping up its final stages—but they both want to get to work. With Jayce’s apartment destroyed and having to resort to living with his mother, they have one place left to go: Viktor’s apartment.
Viktor lives in a bachelor apartment and owns very few things. His walls are off-white and barren, with the exception of his degree from the Academy and the only photo he has of himself and his mother. His bed is small, tucked in a corner, there’s a kitchenette, and the largest piece of furniture he owns is an L-shaped desk. The desk is home to practically his entire life, piled with research papers and catalogued notebooks.
Jayce seems thrown off by the lack of personality and possessions, but he doesn’t voice it. He knows that Victor’s from the Undercity, and he can only assume that Jayce thinks this is what growing up in poverty looks like. He’s not wrong, but Viktor has lived worse.
They move the too-small kitchen table next to Viktor’s desk, pushing them together to make it longer so Jayce can sit with him, and for the last two months they have worked just like that. It’s like clockwork: Jayce arrives early, they survive on corner store sandwiches, instant foods, snacks, and the crappy coffee from Viktor’s coffee maker—the only appliance he owns other than a small stove—and then Jayce leaves late.
One morning, Jayce comes in with a tray of takeaway coffee and food. Viktor raises a brow and asks, “What’s the occasion?”
“The occasion is I’m sick of your terrible coffee,” Jayce laughs, setting everything down. It’s started to get chillier, so he’s wearing a leather jacket lined with wool. Handsome, Viktor thinks in passing. “You haven’t eaten yet have you?”
Viktor shakes his head.
“Good, here.” Jayce hands him a to-go cup and a bag. “Black dark roast, bacon and egg breakfast sandwich and a raspberry muffin.”
Viktor blinks. The kind gesture is… unexpected. He feels warm from the fact that Jayce remembered his preferences in the first place. “Thank you. What do I owe you?”
Jayce waves him off. “Nothing. I literally owe you my life, the least I can do is buy you breakfast.”
“Oh… I appreciate it, nonetheless.” Viktor doesn’t know what else to say. The last kind thing anyone has done for him was Heimerdinger taking him on as an assistant in the first place. This is not as monumental in his life, but no less meaningful.
It keeps happening. About twice a week, Jayce strolls into Viktor’s apartment with breakfast. Sometimes it’s sandwiches, sometimes it’s donuts, and sometimes it’s an assortment of pastries that Viktor couldn’t have dreamed of indulging in as a child. And every time, he tries to ask Jayce what he owes him and he brushes it off.
“I want to take you out for breakfast,” Viktor proposes one afternoon while they’ve been hunched over their new concepts for leveraging Hextech. “My treat, I insist.”
Jayce raises his eyebrows at that, smiling softly. “Yeah? You actually want to take a break from work for a meal?”
“Not necessarily. If I could work all the time and I didn’t need to eat or sleep, I would do it. However, stepping away briefly may be a wise decision for our minds. Plus, you’ve been getting me breakfast for weeks now. It is about time I returned the favour.”
“You know what, yeah, that’d be nice.”
“Tomorrow morning? There’s a restaurant on Fifth I like. Nothing… upscale, just classic breakfast food.”
“Sounds good to me,” Jayce flashes him a bright grin, and Viktor’s stomach twists up like a pretzel for some reason.
It’s snowing when they meet at the restaurant at 9 am—the first snow of the year, leaving fluffy white flakes blanketing the streets. Jayce looks uneasy, fidgeting outside the restaurant with his gloves when Viktor finally sees him.
It’s odd, but once he sees Viktor approaching, Jayce puts on a convincing smile to greet him. Convincing to other people, but not Viktor. He has spent at least fifty hours a week with this man for the last two months, he knows when something’s off.
“Good morning, Jayce,” Viktor says, a gloved hand wrapped around his cane.
“Morning, Viktor.” He’s not as… peppy as he normally is, but he seems to be hiding it the best he can. Opening the door to the restaurant, Jayce gestures for Viktor to go ahead of him. Viktor accepts, walking in and asking for a table for the two of them.
The inside of the restaurant is warm, a welcome change from the frosty outdoors. The decor is a little kitschy, not exactly Viktor’s taste, but he’s not here for the gaudy upholstery or the artistic prints hanging on the wall of various foods. He overhears Jayce let out a sigh and when Viktor glances over his shoulder, his partner looks relieved. The nervousness from before seems to have melted away, which intrigues Viktor.
When they’re brought to a booth, they both shrug off their coats before sitting. “So, what’s good here?” Jayce asks as he picks up the menu, skimming it briefly.
“I haven’t had a bad meal here, but I am partial to the eggs benedict.”
“Honestly, sounds good to me. I trust your taste.”
Viktor quirks a brow at that, crossing his bad leg over his good one. “Really? You trust the taste of a trencher?”
Jayce shrugs. “You haven’t led me astray before. Besides, I wouldn’t mind trying Undercity food.”
“Well, maybe we’ll cross the bridge sometime and I can take you out for a real meal.”
A flush creeps up on Jayce’s cheeks that makes Viktor look curiously at him, but he doesn’t comment.
Viktor orders for them both and the waitress brings them two cups of coffee. It’s not the best coffee, Viktor admits, but it’s definitely better than the cheap crap he buys. Jayce doesn’t seem to complain once he has enough cream and sugar in his.
“So,” Jayce starts, idly stirring his coffee with his teaspoon. “I, uh, wanna get to know you.”
“Have you not been doing that for the last three months?”
“Well, I mean, kind of,” Jayce says nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. “But we usually talk about work. I consider you my partner in this, and if we’re going to be partners, I’m hoping we can be friends too.”
Viktor frowns at that, thinking he was under the wrong impression. “Are we… not friends?”
Jayce’s eyes widen and he waves his hands comically. “No, no, we are—I mean, I didn’t know—are we?” He groans, covering his face with his hands for a moment, before daring to look at Viktor again. “What I mean to say is, I am starting to consider you as my friend and I… wanted to make sure I wasn’t overstepping. Because if you just want this to be a professional relationship I comple—”
“Slow down, Jayce,” Viktor chuckles softly. “I would like to be friends as well as partners. I don’t… have many friends,” Viktor won’t admit that he doesn’t have any friends topside. “And I spend most of my waking hours with you.”
“Okay, I’m glad,” Jayce relaxes visibly, smiling softly. It’s a handsome smile. “I wanna get to know you, not just how you like your coffee or what your favourite pastries are.”
“Oh, you’re lucky you know that much about me. I’ve killed men for knowing less.”
Jayce stares at Viktor, trying to decipher if he’s being serious or not.
“That was a joke, Jayce. I haven’t killed anyone, so that’s one thing you know about me,” Viktor laughs.
“R-right, I was going to say I didn’t think you would—”
“I definitely could though.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt that. I bet you’re scrappy in a fight,” Jayce grins.
The fondness in Jayce’s voice and expression makes Viktor’s chest feel tight and… huh. He’s not sure what that feeling is.
“So, what do you want to know, other than my fighting techniques?”
“Well… what music do you like?”
“Really? That’s what you want to know?”
Jayce shrugs. “I like music. I think the kind of music people like says a lot about them.”
“I like jazz. What does that say about me?”
“Jazz? Really? I would have pegged you for, I don’t know, classical?”
Viktor shrugs, mirroring Jayce’s body language. “It’s what I grew up with and it stuck. I don’t mind classical, though. What do you like?”
“Uh… rock?” Jayce seems to look embarrassed by that.
“Typical,” Viktor smirks, sipping his coffee.
“I’m a simple man.”
“You didn’t say what liking jazz means.”
Jayce hums, rubbing his jaw. “I think it says you’re… very buttoned up on the outside, but there’s intense passion hiding under the surface.”
“Intense passion, you say? You make me sound like a romantic.”
“Are you?”
The question makes Viktor pause, carefully mulling it over. Is he a romantic? He loves romance novels, but he’s not willing to admit that to Jayce (at least so soon). Viktor has never been in love, so how would he know?
“Maybe you could say… I’m a romantic about my work,” Viktor settles on.
“A romantic about your work, huh? I like the sound of that,” Jayce grins. “What about hobbies?”
Viktor wracks his brain for a moment. “To be honest… I can’t think of any. I have spent so much time working the last few years, I haven’t really had the time or energy for anything. I guess… tinkering? I’ve been building things since I was a kid.”
“Is that why your apartment is so, uh…”
“Empty?”
“Yeah, you could say that.”
“More or less. I have been utilitarian about my living space for a long time because work consumed my life.” And he was just trying to survive.
“Man, we should get you out more,” Jayce chuckles, drinking his coffee.
Their food comes before the conversation can move on, getting top-ups for their coffee. The snow has really started to come down and visibility has reduced significantly. It reminds Viktor of winters when he and his mother had to sleep together under every blanket they owned to stay warm.
Viktor notices Jayce looking out the window nervously. “Does… snow make you anxious?”
Jayce’s eyes snap to his and he looks… caught. Like Viktor just figured out some dark secret.
“Um, yeah… I… do you want to know why I came up with Hextech?”
“You said you witnessed magic when you were young.”
“Yeah, but, the context.”
“Well, yes, consider me interested.” Viktor takes a bite of his food while he waits for Jayce to elaborate.
“When I was eight, we had this cottage in the mountains. My dad had to survey the mines for new ore deposits closer to the base of the mountain. It had been a warm winter, so we thought it would be safe for my mom and I to go as like, a vacation. When we went sledding one afternoon, the sun was out and the sky was clear,” Jayce explains, fidgeting with his fingers nervously. He swallows. “The blizzard came so fast, we didn’t even have time to get our bearings. There was no one around for miles, and we had no idea where we were going. Eventually, my mom collapsed and…”
Jayce looks down at the leather armband around his wrist, the rune fixated above his pulse point. “A stranger just… appeared out of nowhere. I watched as this mage moved his hands and channelled the Arcane. And suddenly, it was warm. We were out of the blizzard. They gave me the rune, and then they were gone.”
Viktor has been silently eating and listening. “Awfully convenient and curious. I wonder how the mage knew you were there.”
Jayce furrows his brows. “What? You think they knew we were there?”
“That’s a logical explanation. Why else would a mage find you in a blizzard where no one was around? Either they were watching you or they knew you were there and needed their help.”
It seems Jayce hadn’t considered this before, contemplating it as he eats his breakfast. For a guy so smart, he can certainly miss the obvious sometimes.
The conversation moves to work, naturally, and they’re almost finished their meal when a woman with dark blue hair approaches their table. “Jayce, is that you?”
Jayce turns to look and lights up. “Caitlyn! Funny seeing you here,” he looks around the establishment like he’s genuinely confused to see this person in an average restaurant. “What are you doing here?”
“Grabbing breakfast with a friend. I’ve been to the finest restaurants in this city but none of them beat the eggs benedict here,” the woman says, looking to Viktor. “Who is this?”
“Cait, this is Viktor. Viktor, this is Caitlyn Kiramman.”
Ah. It is weird to see a Kiramman here.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Viktor says with his best Piltie-pleasing tone.
“So you’re Viktor,” Cait says, looking at Jayce like they have a secret. “This man can’t stop talking about you.”
Jayce talks about me? The thought, not the food, makes the pit of his stomach feel full.
“Well, I-I mean… it’s just exciting, y’know, us doing so much together.”
It’s just about work. I’ll still take the flattery.
“Mhm, sure. Is your lab set up yet?”
“Not for another couple weeks, but we’re getting by working at Viktor’s place,” Jayce says. “We should catch up now that I, uh, am not on your mother’s blacklist. Still not on her whitelist, but it’s better than nothing.”
Right. Councilwoman Kiramman. Powerful family. These are the types of people Jayce mingles with, so why is he trying to be my friend?
“Absolutely. Dinner on Friday?” Cait rests a hand on Jayce’s shoulder and an intrusive thought squirms its way into his brain.
They would make a nice couple, I’m sure.
A pang of… jealousy hits him in the gut, making him feel sick. He’s been jealous before but not a… possessive kind of jealous. Why is he jealous?
“What’cha think, boss? Can I get out of work early enough for dinner on Friday?”
It takes Viktor a moment to process that Jayce is speaking to him. “I’m not your boss.”
“You’re older so…”
“By a year, and this is your project—”
“Our project.”
“—you don’t have to ask me if you can have the night off.”
Jayce still looks at Viktor expectantly and with puppy eyes of all things. Viktor rolls his own eyes. “I’m fine with you taking Friday night off.”
“We could make up for lost time on Saturday?”
“Sure.”
“It’s a date,” Jayce says easily before looking up at Cait. “Let me know where and when and I’ll be there.”
“I see you’ve trained him well, Viktor,” Cait… compliments?
Viktor can’t help but snort, the sound surprising even him. “You say that like he’s a dog.”
“Well, he’s not unlike a dog,” Cait ruffles Jayce’s hair affectionately. That twist of jealousy rises in Viktor’s gut again. Cait turns to leave. “See you Friday, Jayce. Nice meeting you, Viktor!”
Jayce chuckles as he tries to fix his hair. “Cait has been a close friend of mine since the Kirammans became my patrons. She’s almost like a little sister to me.”
Viktor can’t quite figure out why, but this information gives him relief. The ugly feeling of jealousy dissolves in moments, though its memory lingers like a ghost.
Viktor pays the bill and, by the time they’re wrapped up in their outdoor clothes, snow has piled up on the streets. Jayce looks anxious again, chewing on his bottom lip.
I could bite his lip for him, Viktor thinks casually, and the thought catches him off guard.
Shoving it down, Viktor gets an idea. “The snow is hard on my leg. Do you think I could hold onto your arm while we walk to my place?”
The anxiety seems to subside a little as Jayce lights up. “Yeah, of course. Happy to.”
Walking with his arm looped in Jayce’s, they make the short trip to Viktor’s apartment. While Viktor could have walked by himself, he thought the physical touch might be comforting for Jayce. It seems like he was right too, because Jayce hardly seems nervous at all walking through the heavy snowfall.
As planned, Jayce leaves early on Friday to meet Cait for dinner. He tries not to let the jealousy consume him as he eats dinner alone and goes to bed early.
Something unexpected happens the next day, though. Jayce arrives a little later than usual, but he’s carrying a small plant. It’s a tiny thing, in a plain terracotta pot, and he holds it out to Viktor proudly.
“What’s this?” Viktor eyes the plant suspiciously.
“A snake plant!”
“Why?”
“Well, um… I was talking to Caitlyn last night and I told her I wanted to get you something to make your place homier, but you didn’t have any hobbies I could pull ideas from,” Jayce says, setting the plant down on Viktor’s desk, in front of the window. “She suggested a plant—both a decoration and a hobby. I asked the lady at the flower shop what was good to start out with and she said these are pretty hard to kill.”
Viktor notices the little tag with care instructions sticking out of the pot. He doesn’t remember the last time someone gave him a gift.
“Thank you, Jayce, you really didn’t have to,” Viktor says quietly, brushing his fingers over one of the leaves. The tightness in his chest has returned and he can finally place it.
This is what love feels like.
“It was nothing, I just wanted to get you something nice.”
Jayce smiles like he’s the sun, and Viktor is a sunflower, soaking up his radiance.
What have I gotten myself into?
Jayce’s cheeks are pink, looking down at Viktor with an expression of… awe? Disbelief? Something like that. “Way back then? And because of a plant?”
Shrugging, Viktor averts his eyes to avoid feeling embarrassed again. “I didn’t get gifts very often, and it was the first one from you. It meant a lot to me,” he admits, drawing shapes on Jayce’s chest with his fingertips. “I kept that snake plant in my bedroom. Until… you know.”
Jayce’s hand brushes through Viktor’s hair again, and Viktor decides he loves the feeling.
“I wish I had known,” Jayce says softly, a subtle sadness in his voice. “I can’t help but wonder what would have been different if I had faced my feelings. I had so many chances…”
“I might not be here if you had.” He continues drawing circles on Jayce’s pec, over his heart. A deep sadness settles in his chest, aching for what could have been. “We may not have made the Hexcore. I may not have tried to ‘evolve’ Piltover. We may not have touched the Arcane. We probably wouldn’t be here.”
Picking up the melancholy in Viktor’s voice, Jayce encircles Viktor in his arms, holding him tight. “We can’t change it now. All I know is I’m glad you’re here with me.”
Viktor sighs into Jayce’s skin, trying to count their blessings despite all the regret and guilt that has been eating him alive from the inside. His mind wanders back to the question that prompted this conversation. “When did you know?”
“That I loved you?” Jayce groans, covering his eyes with one of his hands. “You’re not going to like the answer.”
Furrowing his brows, Viktor sits up and looks at Jayce again. “What do you mean?”
Jayce dares to peek between his fingers at Viktor. “I… was rather late to the party, you could say.”
Viktor narrows his eyes. “How late?”
“When I—When I found out you were dying.”
There’s a beat of silence between them before Viktor rolls his eyes in exasperation. “Of course it took me being terminally ill for you to notice.”
“Listen, I spent years thinking I was just projecting my lack of romantic and sexual satisfaction onto you. The first time I thought about you that way, we had been working together for about a year or so,” Jayce sighs, reaching out to Viktor again to hold his hand. Viktor lets him. “After it started, I couldn’t stop. There were so many times where I wanted to kiss you or… well, do a lot more than that. But, I kept telling myself not to read into it.”
Viktor scoffs and, despite his annoyance, lies back down and rests his head on Jayce’s chest again. “For a genius, you can be very dumb sometimes. You fantasized about me for years and didn’t read into it?” Viktor actually laughs then.
Tension seems to melt away from Jayce’s body, feeling him relax beneath him. “Yeah, trust me, I’ve been kicking myself for not realizing that I was completely head-over-heels in love with you sooner.”
Viktor pauses, listening to Jayce’s steady heartbeat and absorbing his body heat. “Thank you for still loving me,” he whispers, feeling his eyes sting with the threat of tears. He hates crying, but the heavy feelings weighing him down are overwhelming.
“I’ll love you in every universe, every reality, and every timeline,” Jayce promises quietly, lips brushing Viktor’s hairline before pressing a kiss there.
Viktor drifts off to sleep while Jayce strokes his hair, comforted by the rise and fall of Jayce’s chest with each breath.
He doesn’t have nightmares.
Chapter 5: Miss You
Summary:
Jayce is recovering from a night of intense lovemaking while thoughts of worry and care cross his mind.
Notes:
Hi again, I don't have much to say this time. This chapter has one of my favourite scenes in it which is the first flashback.
Translation (only one new one this chapter):
Dobrou noc = Goodnight
Zlatíčko = little gold, honey, my darling, etc.Songs for this chapter:
You by Keaton Henson (for the first flashback)
Good for You by Selena Gomez (unfortunately featuring A$AP Rocky - for the sex scene)
Chapter Text
Jayce slept like a rock. He didn’t wake up once, which was unlike him ever since he touched the Arcane. Trauma will do that to you.
When he rouses from sleep, the bed is empty, and he already misses Viktor’s weight and warmth. He feels stiff, which is to be expected from the intense way they ravaged each other's bodies in the darkness. Jayce smiles at the memory. Worth it.
Sitting up, Jayce groans. He can feel the welts on his shoulders and the nape of his neck from Viktor’s nails, which is pleasant, but all the muscles in his back are aching. Throwing his legs over the side of the bed, he freezes.
Something doesn’t feel right.
He looks down at his left leg, the warped scar of his previously broken bone stark against his skin. The bruises from wearing his brace so much are also tender. Bending it slightly, the muscles fight back, clearly having locked up in the night.
“Fuck,” Jayce curses under his breath, hesitating to stand. Carefully, he slowly gets up, putting all of his weight on his good leg. He attempts to take a step and immediately crumples to the floor. “Fuck.”
“Jayce?” Viktor sounds alarmed when he enters the room, rushing to his side. Helping Jayce sit up, Viktor gives him a once-over, looking for injuries, eyes coming to his left leg. His hair is still wet, clearly having gotten out of bed to bathe in the river.
“I think I overdid it last night,” Jayce says sheepishly with a grimace. “I don’t think I can walk, not even with my brace.”
“I’ll help you,” Viktor says without hesitation, standing and outstretching his hands to help pull Jayce up.
While Jayce is in excruciating pain, he can’t help but admire the deep plum bruises littering Viktor’s neck and collarbone peeking out from the oversized collar of his shirt.
Taking Viktor’s hands, the smaller man pulls him up, displaying a surprising amount of strength. Supporting Jayce’s weight by the waist, he eases him back onto the bed. “Do you need help getting dressed?”
“Probably,” Jayce frowns, a sudden wave of guilt flooding his stomach. His voice lowers and he stares at the floor, the unpleasant feeling written on his face. “I don’t want to be a burden.”
Viktor sighs, taking Jayce’s face in his hands and tilting his head to look up at him. Thumbs gently brush over Jayce’s cheeks, a mismatched sensation from the different textures of skin and steel, and it soothes the uneasiness in his stomach.
“You’re not a burden. You literally took care of me when I was unconscious for two weeks. I can return the favour until you’re recovered,” Viktor assures, his eyes warm with adoration. “Even if you hadn’t done that, I would still take care of you.”
God, I love him. I love him so much. Jayce doesn’t voice his thoughts, thinking he doesn’t need to, opting to instead wrap his arms around Viktor’s waist and pull him close. He buries his face in Viktor’s stomach, and his partner responds by combing his fingers through Jayce’s hair.
“Let’s get you dressed,” Viktor says softly. “Do you have any clean clothes? Well, as clean as they can be. I can’t tell you how much I miss soap.”
“Me too,” Jayce laughs against Viktor’s belly before pulling away to look up at him. “Yeah. I think the clothes I came in are clean.” Jayce nods to the small dresser against the wall.
“Lucky. I was wearing a blanket,” Viktor chuckles, opening the dresser. He goes quiet then, staring into the drawer with an unreadable expression. Jayce furrows his brow, confused by what had given him pause, but Viktor pulls his jacket out.
“Do you want this?” Viktor says it like it’s a test, maybe unintentionally. There’s a bitterness, or perhaps guilt, behind it.
It’s a reminder of when they were on opposite sides of the battlefield.
Jayce swallows, shaking his head. “Just my undershirt, underwear and slacks.”
Viktor nods, putting the jacket back in the drawer and taking out the rest of his clothes. It’s an arduous process as Viktor helps Jayce slide on his underwear and pants, though Jayce can manage his top on his own despite the stiffness.
“Why don’t I get you settled on the couch? It’s probably more comfortable than your terrible bed,” Viktor offers, trying to lighten the mood a bit.
“A prison cot might be more comfortable,” Jayce huffs out a laugh.
“Do you want your brace? When I had really bad days it was better for me to leave mine off and just let myself rest.” Viktor gives him a moment to consider, smoothing a hand over his hair.
Jayce feels comforted by the fact that Viktor can empathize better than anyone ever could. Sure, he wasn’t born with this affliction, but ever since he’s seen the world in a different light. Viktor lived in that light for so long, and Jayce has a silent appreciation that Viktor no longer has to deal with the pain and struggle of his disability. He wasn’t broken, the Arcane didn’t need to fix him, but some divine will or anomaly of science allowed Viktor to keep the mobility he had gained.
“I think a break from it might be a good idea. I’m not going to be much use today, though.”
“And you don’t have to be. It’s okay to just rest.”
They get Jayce the twelve to fourteen feet from his bed to the couch before Viktor gets pillows for his head and leg. Viktor sits on the floor next to him, pulling the bucket of berries closer to pass a handful to Jayce. “I’m going to go out foraging soon, but I won’t be gone long. I remember where the berry bushes are and I saw some wild root vegetables, too.”
“I won’t be there to save you from shriekers though,” Jayce frowns, popping an orange berry in his mouth. It’s sweet and tart, and he thinks his mom could make a mean pie out of them. It makes homesickness seep into his bones, but he doesn’t let it show.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be careful,” Viktor says, taking hold of Jayce’s hand.
They eat in silence for a few moments, devouring the berries. He didn’t realize how hungry he was.
“How did you sleep, by the way?” Jayce brushes his thumb over the back of Viktor’s hand, the one made flesh again.
“Better than I have in… I don’t know how long. I didn’t sleep after the Hexcore, and any sleep I’ve had here before last night has been awful.” Viktor smiles sadly, resting his head against Jayce’s hip. “I had a lot of nightmares, if you could call it that.”
“What kind of nightmares, if you don’t mind me asking?” Jayce squeezes his hand.
Viktor is pensive for a moment, hesitant to answer. “When I was asleep for two weeks, I was in this… darkness, where time wasn’t real and I was going insane being left to my own thoughts. Then, when I was holed up in my room, I had nightmares about you.”
“What about me?”
“You…” Viktor turns his head to hide his face in Jayce’s pant leg. “You were strangling me, and then… I—The Machine Herald—turned you.”
Jayce can’t tell if Viktor is crying or not, but he reaches over with his free hand to stroke his hair, soothing him. “It’s okay. I’m still here, baby. I’m never going to hurt you like that again.”
I already killed him once, no wonder he’s having nightmares about me doing it again.
“I know,” Viktor turns his head to look at Jayce again, his eyes watery. “I’m more scared of myself than you. I don’t know what I am.”
“You’re Viktor. You’re alive. That’s all that matters.”
Viktor stands on his knees then, bending over to kiss Jayce and cradle his face in his hands—like Jayce is the one in distress. It’s not gentle, but it also isn’t aggressive, just firm. Jayce brings his hand to the back of Viktor’s head, stroking his hair, while the other grips Viktor’s forearm. When they part, Viktor presses his forehead to Jayce’s, taking deep breaths.
He’s reminded of just before they arrived in this reality.
“I’m going to go now,” Viktor announces, pressing another kiss to Jayce’s forehead. “I love you.”
His heart swoons and his stomach flip-flops from the three simple words. It’s everything to him and he doesn’t know when he’ll get used to it, if ever. “I love you too,” he says, caressing Viktor’s cheek before he pulls away to leave.
“Do you want a book or something? There’s not much in terms of entertainment.”
“Wish I had my record player,” Jayce sighs, shaking his head. “I might as well sleep for a little longer.”
“Do you want me to wake you up when I come back? I should only be gone an hour or so.”
Jayce nods. “I’ll miss you.”
Viktor rolls his eyes. “It’s only an hour, and you’ll be asleep.”
“I’ll still miss you.”
Sighing, Viktor brushes his knuckles over Jayce’s cheek. “I’ll miss you too.”
“Be safe. And maybe take the hunting knife with you, just in case.”
“I will.” Viktor presses one more chaste kiss to his lips before gathering the knife and a bucket and then leaving.
Jayce can’t say he’s not worried, but it’s not like Viktor’s dying. Again.
Jayce has never been devastated by anything like this before. Losing his dad was hard, but… this is Viktor. His Viktor. The man he loves that he still hasn’t told because he’s a coward.
He takes Viktor home from the hospital because he’s refusing to let him in the lab after he collapsed—even just temporarily. His partner is reluctant but he seems too tired to argue.
It’s been a while since Jayce went to Viktor’s apartment. It’s so green, there isn’t a surface without a plant on it. He’s surprised Viktor has been able to keep so many alive with how much time he spends in the lab. He can’t help but think of Viktor’s first apartment—barren, lifeless, not like Viktor at all. Now there are books everywhere, his own hefty record collection, and pictures of them hanging on each wall. The painting he did of the harbour as a teenager that he gave Viktor hangs above his couch.
His heart aches with what could have been. They were going to get a cat. Viktor would have loved having a proper garden. A cute house with a lab. Lazy mornings spent in bed. Viktor would teach him how to cook his favourite foods.
He’s thinking like Viktor’s already dead, he realizes. Maybe he’s mourning the life he knows they won’t be able to have—one he has been fantasizing about for years.
Jayce still hasn’t told him he loves him and it makes him feel sick to his stomach. And Viktor seems to be taking his terminal diagnosis better than him. It’s like… he expected this.
“Did you know?” Jayce dares to ask. He doesn’t mean to, but he says it like an accusation.
There’s a beat of silence. “Not exactly,” Viktor says, sitting on his couch to ease the pressure on his leg and setting his cane up against it. He starts to unfasten his brace to relieve the strain. “Will you sit with me?”
Jayce hesitates. He feels like this is going to be a conversation he’s not going to like, but he sits next to Viktor anyway.
“I always knew I wouldn’t live long. Forty was unrealistic. I still hoped, though.” Viktor sighs quietly, putting his brace aside before fidgeting with his fingers.
Forty. So even when they made that pact in their mid-twenties, Viktor didn’t think it would actually happen. A bitterness rises in his chest, making him slowly spiral, but he stays silent and listens.
“I started having these… episodes about a week ago. Coughing fits, dizziness, nose bleeds and coughing up blood. I was ready to just accept it, try to do as much work as I can before I d—”
“Don’t say it,” Jayce whispers, his voice shaking with emotion. Fear. Sadness. Anger. “You… You have been seriously sick for a week and you didn’t tell me?” It hurts. It hurts that this rift has started to build between them, so much so that Viktor is keeping secrets from him. They used to tell each other everything.
Except Jayce is keeping his love for Viktor a secret as they speak.
“Why would I? There’s no point in seeing a doctor. This is from growing up in the Fissures. It’s a common illness in the Undercity, and my immune system was already poor on top of that. People who mine their whole lives down there usually die in their fifties, but I knew I had less time than that.”
“So, what, you were just going to roll over and die one day and I wouldn’t have seen it coming!?” The anger is taking over, bubbling up from the pit of his stomach like a corrosive acid. He’s never been angry at Viktor like this before, it’s usually the other way around (for good reasons).
“Yes, because I knew you’d react like this!” Viktor snaps back, gripping his knees, knuckles turning white.
“I’m allowed to be distraught by this! You’re dying! The man I—” love. The man I’m hopelessly, desperately in love with. He’s not brave enough to admit it even now, but he grabs Viktor’s face. It’s aggressive, but as soon as Viktor’s golden eyes lock with his own, the anger melts away. His voice drops to a barely audible tone. “The man that means the world to me is dying.”
They’re close enough that their breaths are mingling, and a knife could cut the tension between them. It would be so easy to capture Viktor’s lips, to finally take what he’s wanted for so long. His hands are trembling and Viktor’s eyes are welling up with tears. It breaks Jayce’s heart.
“Jayce, this is… this is a fact of life,” Viktor whispers, one of his own cool hands reaching out to cup Jayce’s cheek. Viktor always ran cold and Jayce always ran hot. In some ways, they are polar opposites. He loves that about them. “I’m going to die. You have to accept that, zlatíčko.”
Jayce doesn’t know what Viktor just called him, but a single tear rolls down Viktor’s cheek and that shatters him. A sob erupts from his lips, and he presses his forehead to Viktor’s. Jayce doesn’t remember the last time he cried like this, but it feels like his soul is shattering into pieces. “I-I can’t lose you, Vik. You’re—you’re everything to me.”
“Jayce,” Viktor whispers his name, his bottom lip wobbling like his own heart is breaking in tandem with Jayce’s. His thumb brushes over Jayce’s cheek, wiping away one of his tears. “You’re going to be able to… move on. It will hurt, but you will move on.”
“I-I’m going to miss you so fucking much,” Jayce cries, letting out shaky breaths. The tears are pouring out of him like a dam has been broken. “I can’t—I can’t do this without you.”
“Jayce,” Viktor says his name again, hushed, loving and scared. Loving. Jayce is almost positive he heard love in Viktor’s voice.
He can’t hold back anymore, not after all these years, and not after knowing he has so little time left with Viktor. He crosses the threshold of their relationship, pressing his lips to Viktor’s, tender and gentle.
Freezing in his grasp, Viktor is still cupping his face with one hand. He doesn’t react at first, but within moments, he’s kissing Jayce back. It’s slow, and he can feel Viktor’s tears wetting his own cheeks while Viktor’s other hand wraps around his wrist.
It’s like time stops and it’s just the two of them in their own bubble where reality can’t harm them. Viktor isn’t dying. Jayce isn’t torn between being a scientist and a councilor. They’re just Viktor and Jayce, two partners who have gone through so much together and have so much affection to share. He can’t help but think of all the times they’ve hugged, held hands, even basically cuddled. It should have been obvious how he felt.
The kiss is meant to say everything Jayce is terrified to say: I love you. I have loved you for so long. I can’t imagine my life without you. I want to share my life with you, if you’ll have me. We were supposed to get married.
You’re supposed to be with me, forever, for the rest of time.
As quickly as it begins, it ends. Viktor pulls away, turning his head from Jayce. His hands fall away from him, retreating to hug himself, prompting Jayce to pull back.
“You should go,” Viktor says quietly.
Jayce feels like the floor is falling away and he’s sinking into a pit of despair. Did he misinterpret the signs? He thought Viktor might… return his feelings. Did he just kiss back unconsciously or to humour Jayce?
“I… I’m sorry Viktor, I don’t…”
“Please, don’t, Jayce… just leave.” Viktor’s voice is cold and distant, making Jayce’s stomach churn with guilt and loss—a loss for what could have been.
Jayce doesn’t argue. He leaves, feeling hollow and like Viktor just plunged his fist into Jayce’s chest to tear out his heart.
They don’t talk about it. At least, Viktor pretends it didn’t happen and Jayce is too anxious to bring it up.
Every time Mel kisses him, her taste turns to ash in his mouth and guilt eats away at his insides.
They didn’t have a chance to talk about it anyway.
He wakes up to a hand stroking his hair, and his eyes flutter open to see Viktor looking down at him, kneeling next to the couch. Waking up to Viktor might be his new favourite thing—after fucking and kissing him that is.
“Hey handsome,” Jayce murmurs sleepily, reaching up to caress Viktor’s cheek.
“Hi,” Viktor says softly, eyes warm with adoration. It makes Jayce feel like he’s the luckiest man in any universe. “How was your nap?”
“It was alright, my leg isn’t bothering me as much,” Jayce says, tucking a stray tress of hair behind Viktor’s ear. “How was foraging?”
“Good, I got a few new things. I even found apples—interesting that they exist in this reality, too.” Viktor folds his arms and props them on Jayce’s chest, resting his head on its side on top of them. “Are you hungry?”
“Depends. Are you on the menu?” Jayce grins down at him.
“Do you want me to be, golden boy?” Viktor teases, and suddenly Jayce is reminded of last night.
He flushes. “Don’t call me that or I’m going to get hard.”
“Oh, and we wouldn’t want that.” The grin Viktor gives him is diabolical.
“Not when I can’t do anything about it,” Jayce groans.
“Mm, you can’t, but I can.”
Jayce pauses, narrowing his eyes at Viktor. “… what are you suggesting?”
“Well, I’ve got a mouth and two hands, if you hadn’t noticed.” Viktor smirks down at him, one hand travelling downward from Jayce’s neck. His fingers dance over Jayce’s clothed nipple, tracing his abs, before resting on his pelvis.
Jayce’s brain might as well be erupting like a volcano. Viktor is just answering one fantasy after another. “Fuck, I mean, I got working fingers so—”
“Don’t worry about me, I just want to take care of you,” Viktor hushes him before leaning in and kissing Jayce.
Making a small noise of surprise against him, Jayce’s hands immediately spring into action. One makes a home in Viktor’s hair, feeling the soft locks flow through his fingers, while the other cups Viktor’s jaw.
He feels deft hands unbuttoning his pants, and his cock responds promptly, stiffening in anticipation. Viktor’s tongue pries open his mouth and all he can do is give in, letting him have full control. He likes it when Viktor takes the reins and he’s just along for the ride.
One hand dips into his trousers, taking hold of his cock and pulling it out, before stroking him slowly. Jayce moans into Viktor’s mouth, tongue trying to keep up with his, as he bucks his hips impatiently. He feels like a teenager again from how easily horny he gets around Viktor.
Breaking the kiss, Viktor stares him down. “Stop.”
“Stop what?” His mind is hazy from the kiss and Viktor’s hand still on his hardening cock.
“Trying to move your hips. You did that last night too and that’s probably what caused your leg pain. You’re like an eager puppy,” Viktor scolds before slowly stroking him again—painfully slow. “So, be a good boy and just lie down while I take care of you. Can you do that for me?”
Jayce feels like his brain needs to be rewired from how much his dick stiffens at the words ‘good boy’. It’s just on the edge of humiliation and praise that Jayce likes. Viktor might be onto something about the whole puppy thing. “Yes. I’d do anything for you,” he chokes out when Viktor squeezes the base of his cock.
“That’s what I like to hear,” Viktor practically purrs in his ear before biting his lobe. His hand pauses at the top of his shaft as Viktor’s thumb traces the slit. Jayce shivers, wanting to buck his hips so badly, but he wants to be good more than anything—to get praise.
More hickeys are added to the collection on Jayce’s neck. He’s happy to be marked up by a man like Viktor, to be owned and valued enough for someone to make a claim on him in the first place. And it’s Viktor. His Viktor. Just like he is his Jayce. It makes his heart flutter as pride swells in his chest. He is so, so proud to be Viktor’s.
A moan slips past his lips as Viktor bites his collarbone and teases his foreskin with his thumb. His hand gets lost in Viktor’s long brown locks—with a few pale blonde ones mixed in that he finds rather handsome—while Viktor travels down his body. He hikes up Jayce’s shirt and hungrily latches onto his right nipple, making him gasp.
The last time he had his nipples played with was with a hookup, back when he started accepting he wasn’t exactly straight; he looked just like Viktor and even had a mole under his right eye. The man kept biting too hard, which turned him off from it. But Viktor has a talented tongue and uses just the right amount of pressure to roll the pink nub between his teeth. A whine in an octave he didn’t know he could reach escapes him.
“I’ve been wanting to taste you too, you know,” Viktor says when he unlatches before kissing all across his pec. Stroking him again, he trails more kisses down Jayce’s torso. “Can’t tell you how many times I touched myself to the thought of swallowing you until I choke.”
Jayce shudders, and he knew Viktor would be good at dirty talk. The thought of being between Viktor’s thighs, like he has desperately wanted to be since that first fantasy, arises in his mind again. If he wasn’t already fully erect, he is now. Not that he isn’t excited about the blowjob, that’s been another fantasy of his, but Jayce is greedy.
“You could sit on my face so I can eat you out,” he tries not to sound desperate despite unconsciously licking his lips. “I promise I’d be good for you, baby.”
“I know you would,” Viktor coos before scraping his teeth over Jayce’s hipbone and kissing it hotly. Another stroke. “There will be lots of time for that. Just relax.”
“Not enough time. I would stay between your legs for a century, drinking you up until I’m drowning in you,” Jayce says, forgetting any filters for his filthy thoughts.
Viktor lets out a soft gasp, clearly affected by Jayce’s words, though he doesn’t look it. Something seems to shift in him, like a sudden urgency, because he stops kissing and biting Jayce’s hip in favour of going straight for his cock. Tilting his head, Viktor places heated, open-mouthed kisses on the underside, his face obscured behind his cock. The sight alone is enough to drive Jayce crazy.
His hand curls in Viktor’s hair, just holding, not yet pulling—which he fully intends to do. Hypnotized, he watches as Viktor trails his way up to the tip. Golden eyes lock with his own, just as Viktor takes the head of Jayce’s cock in his mouth. His hand made of flesh strokes him steadily while he circles his tongue around it.
In that moment, Jayce hazily realizes he doesn’t know where Viktor’s other hand is. When he searches, he follows the line of his arm to… oh. Viktor has his metallic hand in his pants, grinding against it. It’s so much hotter that Viktor is getting off on sucking his cock. He’s so sexy, I’m going to fucking lose it.
Viktor pulls off with a filthy wet sound. “Eyes up here, golden boy.”
“S-Sorry, you’re just… so fucking hot,” Jayce manages to say while Viktor’s thumb traces the vein on the underside of his cock.
“Then appreciate the view,” Viktor grins. Diving back in, his tongue toys with Jayce’s foreskin, triggering a shudder.
He’s good at this, Jayce thinks offhandedly, and there’s a brief flare of jealousy for where Viktor learned how to do this. He stifles it though, because it’s ridiculous. Viktor is his now, it doesn’t matter who he’s been with before.
Sinking down on Jayce’s cock, Viktor swallows down half his length with ease. It’s clearly a stretch for his lips, and Jayce can imagine Viktor’s jaw is going to ache later. He resolves to kiss it better after this.
Viktor’s tongue cradles the underside of his cock, steadily bobbing his head up and down. He progressively gets lower and lower until he chokes, quickly retracting to go back to what he was doing. It’s hot, filthy, and better than anything Jayce ever dreamed up. He loves the real thing so much he could cry with joy and arousal.
“You’re so… so good at this,” he murmurs, tightening his hold on Viktor’s hair. He badly wants to push and pull, to force Viktor’s head where he wants it, but he also wants to be good. What’s the harm in asking though? “Could I… pull your hair and push your head, please?” He sounds like he’s begging again.
Viktor retracts his mouth with another wet pop sound, grinning up at Jayce. His fingers don’t stop moving, hidden beneath his undone slacks. “Yeah, you want to force me to choke on your cock again? I bet that would make you feel so big and powerful, wouldn’t it, Talis?”
He’s taunting him, Jayce realizes, trying to get him worked up. Like he isn’t already. Nervously retracting his hand from Viktor’s hair, he feels like he might be rejected. “I… I like the sounds you make. You just look and feel so good. And only if you’ll let me.”
Viktor hums in thought, eyes twinkling with mischief. “What would you do for me?” He playfully strokes Jayce’s cock again, keeping him on the edge of ‘not enough’ and ‘too much’.
“Literally anything. If I could, I would beg on my hands and knees like a dog.”
An amused chuckle leaves Viktor’s mouth before he bites his bottom lip, grinding against his hand. “I do like the thought of that.”
“What?” Jayce blinks, partially distracted because his eyes keep flickering to Viktor’s hand beyond his hem.
“You, on your hands and knees, begging like a dog.” Viktor grins. “Would you do that for me? Would you even bark if I asked you to?”
Jayce swallows. Just imagining it is putting him closer to the edge. “Gods, yes,” he breathes, face flushing.
For a man currently on his knees and sucking his dick, Viktor has a lot of power over him. Jayce thinks he should be embarrassed by how desperate he is to please Viktor, passively wondering what he’s gotten himself into, but he’s too fucking horny to care. He’ll act like a dog and beg all Viktor likes, and he’ll thank him for it.
“I think you’d especially like being called a good boy for that.” Viktor is teasing him again and, fuck, if he could get any harder, he would. “Okay. You can pull my hair and push me down. If I tap your thigh twice, that means stop.”
“Got it,” Jayce says too quickly, his hand returning to Viktor’s hair immediately. “Can I… can I cum in your mouth?”
“So nice of you to ask,” Viktor laughs, lowering his head back to the tip of Jayce’s cock. “Yes, you can cum down my throat, golden boy.”
Jayce groans at the nickname, resisting the urge to buck his hips again as Viktor takes his cock in his mouth. He starts slowly, gradually pushing Viktor’s head down, pulling back when he feels Viktor tense. Viktor hollows his cheeks as Jayce pulls his head back, creating a sweet, slick friction that makes Jayce shiver.
Deciding to test Viktor’s limits, Jayce forces his head down, rough but not too much, until Viktor is choking again. Jayce can feel the head of his cock in his lover’s throat, and he feels dizzy with how fucking good it feels. Viktor’s free hand travels lower, gently massaging Jayce’s balls while the hand hidden in his pants moves faster.
They lock eyes again and he can see tears welling in Viktor’s eyes as he tries to relax his throat as much as possible, but it’s clear he’s struggling. Jayce brings Viktor back and he takes urgent breaths in through his nose while the tears finally spill over.
“You’re doing so good, baby,” Jayce says in a hushed tone, soft and sweet despite how much he’s holding back. Viktor lets out a shaky breath through his nose, seemingly enjoying the praise, and his hips grind faster against his hand. He has a delirious thought that Viktor looks beautiful with tears streaming down his face and a cock in his mouth, like he was made for it. His orgasm is on the horizon, he can feel it building in his gut while Viktor plays with his balls—in a teasing way, because Viktor loves to tease him.
Deciding it’s time to focus on their destination, Jayce starts pushing and pulling at a faster pace, Viktor’s long hair collected in a ponytail in his fist. His other hand cups Viktor’s cheek, gently brushing his thumb over his cheekbone, almost as if he’s apologizing for being rough in the first place. And Viktor takes it like he’s waited over seven years just to suck Jayce’s cock. A flare of pride and ecstasy fills his chest as he approaches the edge.
Viktor moans around his cock as he bobs up and down, chasing his own climax with his hand, and the vibration is enough to make Jayce cum with a curse. Viktor swallows him down, as far as he can go, while Jayce spills down his throat. It surprises Jayce, but Viktor even lets out a whine (so far, he’s only been able to make Viktor do that once) while a little bit of Jayce’s seed dribbles from his mouth.
When he finally backs away from Jayce, Viktor looks a mess. His cheeks are tear-stained, lips swollen, saliva and cum clinging to his mouth and chin. Jayce watches, mesmerized, as Viktor’s focus shifts to his own pleasure. He bites his bottom lip and rides his fingers, and what Jayce wouldn’t give to lend a hand. He reaches out to Viktor. “Baby, let me help—”
“No,” Viktor states simply, though it comes out breathy and needy. “This is what you get. Keep your hands to yourself and I’ll give you a treat.”
Jayce whimpers, and if he wasn’t already spent he would be hard again. He puts his hand back down, curling his fist in the couch cushion, and watches with hungry eyes. It isn’t long before Viktor’s thighs are trembling while he bucks into his hand, head thrown back in euphoria. He cums with a loud moan, loud enough that if they had any neighbours that weren’t terrifying snake centipedes, they would hear it too.
Viktor slumps against the couch, gripping Jayce’s good thigh as he catches his breath, eyes closed with a peaceful expression on his face. Jayce isn’t sure if he’s allowed to touch Viktor yet, so he remains still. After about thirty seconds of silence, Jayce opens his mouth. “Vik? Do you need anything?”
Gold eyes meet his and Viktor breaks out in a grin—one he wears when he’s up to no good. “No, you were a good boy for me, though. Are you ready for your treat?”
If Jayce was a dog, his ears would be perked up and his tail would be wagging. It’s pathetic how he responds to Viktor so eagerly and obediently, but he’s addicted to how it makes him feel. He can never imagine getting tired of this, being teased, humiliated and rewarded in a beautiful cycle. “More than ready.”
“You said you wanted to taste me,” Viktor starts, pulling his hand out of his pants. His three metallic fingers are wet and sticky with his release, and Jayce might just implode. “Would you like a sample?”
“Fuck, baby, yes, ” Jayce says it like a man starving to death, practically salivating.
“Help yourself.” Outstretching his arm, he presents his hand for Jayce to do just that.
He doesn’t need any further instruction. His hands snap up, grabbing Viktor’s wrist and pulling his hand closer. There’s no hesitation when he wraps his mouth around the three slick fingers, warm metal sliding over his tongue. He sucks and licks each digit, together then individually, savouring Viktor’s sweet nectar—it’s his new favourite taste. Again, if he hadn’t just had the sexiest blowjob of his life, he would be ready to go again.
When he’s done licking Viktor’s hand clean, he kisses his palm, then his wrist. Viktor hums appreciatively, walking on his knees to move closer to Jayce’s upper body. “What do you say?”
“Thank you,” Jayce whispers reverently, trying to pull Viktor in. He comes easily, leaning in to kiss Jayce. The bitter taste of his own seed is still clinging to Viktor’s tongue as he licks into Jayce’s mouth. He doesn’t mind the taste. The kiss is a little messy, both of them desperate to reconnect in their post-orgasm bliss. Jayce cups Viktor’s face in his hands, tilting his head to get a better angle, and sighs into the kiss.
A thought crosses his mind while they’re kissing—maybe this is the happiest ending they were going to get. He has Viktor. The weight of Hextech and the Council are behind him. Viktor’s illness and escaping death are behind him.
They’re going to be okay, as long as they’re together.
Viktor breaks the kiss, combing a hand through Jayce’s hair. “Thank you for being so good for me,” he croons, kissing Jayce’s forehead. It makes his stomach twist with honour—the honour that he gets to be Viktor’s, to be kissed by Viktor like he’s something special. “Hungry now?”
“Famished,” Jayce huffs out a laugh. Viktor’s deft fingers, the same ones Jayce has had a fixation on for as long as he can remember, gingerly tuck him back into his underwear and pants. It feels nice to be taken care of. It’s not the first time Viktor has taken care of him either.
I’m so lucky.
Viktor spends a few minutes cleaning up and getting cups of water for both of them. The water is cool and refreshing in the approaching summer heat, and Jayce relaxes into the couch with satisfaction sitting in his bones. The pain in his leg is nearly forgotten.
They fall into easy conversation, as natural as breathing. They snack on more berries while Viktor spends the afternoon trying to make a vegetable soup. He found herbs as well as vegetables, of which both of them sample one after another with varying reactions ranging from disgust to unexpected delight. Jayce takes notes in his journal to capture their food experiment as Viktor identifies each one.
Eventually, it actually starts to smell really good—better than anything Jayce managed to make in the two-plus weeks they’ve been here. Jayce’s version of cooking is more like survival, so he prefers it when Viktor cooks. His partner has always teased him about his incompetence in the kitchen and, at this point, it’s a running joke.
It starts with a scratchy throat. Jayce shrugs it off when he gets up in the morning, going about his usual hygiene routine. It’s snowing that day and it makes him anxious—he knows he’s not going to be stuck in a blizzard on the trip from his apartment to the lab, but it still eats away at his stomach.
He remembers he’s out of food, and out of coffee, which leaves his only option to get take-out on his way to work. He decides he’s not that hungry anyway and leaves, taking a car to the lab despite the fact that it’s only a fifteen-minute walk.
Jayce coughs as he enters the lab and Viktor is already there—he’s usually in before Jayce most days. Viktor picked his apartment because it was close to the Academy so he didn’t have far to walk. His leg is getting worse these days, his brace now latching up to his thigh, not to mention the new back brace. Viktor’s declining health worries Jayce, but Viktor shrugs him off and says he’s getting used to it.
“Good morning,” Viktor greets him without looking up, clearly sucked into whatever he’s doing. They’re still working on fully stabilizing the gems—we’ve been trying and nothing’s sticking—but Viktor has been sidetracked a bit to work on ideas for how to use them. A pair of Hextech-powered gloves for miners in the Fissures seems promising.
“Morning,” Jayce returns, heading to his desk. That’s when he notices a to-go coffee cup and a bag on his desk. “You got me breakfast?”
“Mm, you complained about needing groceries. You’re never going to get them if you keep leaving the lab at midnight.”
There’s the unspoken fact that Jayce won’t go practically anywhere when it’s snowing, but Viktor doesn’t bring it up. Jayce is sometimes embarrassed that his childhood trauma decides to swarm his head for two months of the year (thankfully Piltover’s winters are short), but he tries not to let it get to him.
Jayce sits and tries the coffee, humming in surprise at a sweet flavour he doesn’t recognize. “What is this? It’s good.”
Viktor has a small smile on his lips, subtle but proud that he picked well. “Honeycomb oat latte, I thought you might like it.”
“You know me too well,” Jayce chuckles, and after four years of working together, he would by now. Opening up the bag, he finds his usual sausage breakfast sandwich and a chocolate croissant.
I love this man.
Jayce stills at the thought, uncertain where it came from. As a friend. I love him as a friend, he tells himself as he starts to eat.
They work, rotating between bouncing ideas back and forth and comfortable silence. Jayce works on the schematics for this theoretical glove, while Viktor figures out how—if they get the gemstones working—the power will circuit through it.
Jayce starts coughing more and more as the hours tick by. By noon, he feels like shit and he’s having a hard time concentrating.
Viktor lets out a loud, exasperated sigh after one particularly nasty cough. “Go home, Talis.”
Jayce looks over at Viktor, confused. “What?”
“You’re sick. You should go home and rest.”
“I’m fine, it’s just a cough.”
“Don’t make me lock you out of the lab.”
“I have my own key—”
“That you usually leave at home because I always get here first.”
Shit. He’s got me there. “Just one more hour, then I will—”
“No,” Viktor points his pencil at Jayce, accusatory, “because I know one hour will turn into two, and then you’ll say you’re ‘in the zone’ as an excuse to stay. Go home.”
Jayce groans. It’s both a blessing and a curse that Viktor knows him so well at this point.
“Fine, you win. But next time you’re sick, you can’t use the same argument,” Jayce says, glaring at Viktor though he doesn’t mean it.
“Deal,” Viktor smiles at him, satisfied with the outcome.
Jayce should really get groceries but as soon as he stands, he notices all his limbs ache. He decides to skip the groceries and just take a car home.
It’s not long before he starts to get a fever and chills, so he changes into a fleece pyjama set and gets under his thickest blanket. Then he spends the next several hours wasting away on his couch. He’s hungry. He’s tired. He hates being sick.
It’s around five o’clock—which Jayce can only tell from the sunset pouring in through his balcony door—when he wakes up to a knock at his front door. Confusion fills his foggy mind as he goes to answer, only to find Viktor on the other side of it.
“Vik, what—”
Before speaking, Viktor presses the back of his hand—cool from the winter air—to Jayce’s forehead. “You’re burning up.”
“Yeah, I think it might be worse than I thought.” It’s then that he notices that Viktor is carrying a grocery bag. “What’s that?”
“Groceries, obviously.” He retracts his hand, gripping his cane again.
“For me?”
Viktor rolls his eyes. “No, for that annoying dog you have next door. Yes, for you.”
Jayce’s heart swells at how thoughtful Viktor can be.
“Go lie down,” Viktor instructs, moving past Jayce.
“I can put stuff away,” he starts as he helps Viktor with his coat. Surprisingly, Viktor accepts the help.
“I’ve got it. I’m making you food, go lie down.” It’s a command.
Jayce huffs, knowing when he’s been defeated. “Yes, sir.”
His face heats up. He’s only ever called Viktor that in his dirty fantasies. To his relief, Viktor seems to have either not noticed, is pretending not to notice, or doesn’t care.
Trying to will the mortified feeling twisting up his insides to subside, he lies back down on the couch.
“I got you tea, honey, lemon and medicine,” Viktor says offhandedly as he starts to unpack the groceries, like he isn’t taking care of Jayce out of the kindness of his heart. Jayce just watches Viktor over the half-wall peeking into the kitchen as he puts the kettle on. “Where do you keep your pots?”
“Uh, cupboard next to the stove?” He says it like a question. He cooks so rarely that he can't remember in his delirium.
Viktor quirks a brow, amused. “Still afraid of your kitchen, I see.”
“I’m not afraid, I just… okay, I am afraid I’m going to somehow burn my apartment down,” Jayce huffs.
“Almost thirty years old, founder of one of Piltover’s most revolutionary technologies, and yet you can barely boil water,” Viktor teases, putting a canister of coffee, a loaf of bread and a box of Jayce’s favourite cereal in his cupboard.
“Hey, I can boil water!” Jayce coughs indignantly.
“I said barely, didn’t I? I’m still implying you can.”
Once Viktor has put the rest of Jayce’s groceries away, he carries the bag still containing something to his dining table. “Cutting board?”
“… do I even own a cutting board?”
Viktor shakes his head fondly and gets a plate instead, plus a large bowl. Jayce observes him as he pulls a few vegetables out of the bag—potato, onion, carrot, turnip—and he starts to chop them into bite-sized pieces to place in the bowl.
“What’re you making?”
“Soup,” Viktor says simply, seemingly focused on his task.
“Is it special soup?” Jayce is just curious, he usually loves Viktor’s cooking.
“Mm, you could say that,” Viktor doesn’t look up. “My máma taught me how to make it.”
“Oh…” Jayce has always tiptoed around the subject of Viktor’s mom. He knows it’s an old wound. Patiently, he has waited for Viktor to volunteer things about her, but he’s never pried. Maybe it’s the fever, or maybe it’s the intimacy of Viktor taking care of him, but he dares to pry this time. “Did she make it for you when you were sick?”
Viktor is silent for a brief moment, the sound of the knife hitting the plate being the only thing filling the space. “She did. We usually didn’t have all the ingredients, though. Fresh produce is hard to come by in the Undercity. Sometimes it was just vegetable broth, macaroni and potato.”
Bitterness makes his chest feel tight. He wishes he could go back in time and give Viktor the childhood he deserved, one where he never starved, was never cold, and never lonely. But, Viktor isn’t the only one who has experienced poverty—most of the Undercity has. “She sounds like she was a good mom.”
“The best,” Viktor says with a sombre smile.
The kettle sounds and he gets up to make Jayce’s cup of tea, slicing off a piece of lemon in his hands like it’s as easy as breathing. Jayce knows he would cut himself if he attempted the same thing. Viktor pours a spoonful of honey into the cup, stirs, then brings it over with the medicine he bought.
“Thanks,” Jayce says quietly, as Viktor sets it down on the coffee table in front of him. Part of him feels guilty that Viktor is doing all this for him, but it also feels so… domestic. Natural. They fit together like a hook into an eye. It gives him the guts to ask a question that has been burning in his mind for the last four years. “How did she… how did she die?”
Viktor freezes where he’s standing in front of Jayce. The grip on his cane tightens and his jaw tenses before he speaks. “May I sit with you?”
Jayce isn’t expecting the question but nods immediately, readjusting so he’s sitting up and making space for his partner. Getting up so quickly makes him feel a little dizzy, but the walls stop spinning by the time Viktor sits.
“My mother was a nurse,” Viktor starts, resting his cane against the side of the couch. “That may be surprising, but she had an education in my home country before coming to Piltover. She thought she would be able to get a job topside because of her training, but… well, Pilties don’t like foreigners much either, unless they’re rich.”
The bitterness he was feeling before twists into anger. What the fuck is wrong with this city? Despite that, Jayce relaxes his expression, asking another burning question that’s gnawed at his mind. “What about your dad?”
“I don’t remember my father much,” Viktor shrugs, clearly a little more detached from the subject. “He was an electrician, but he died when I was five. An accident caused by unsafe work conditions. They barely compensated my mother for his death.”
“That’s… awful.” Jayce doesn’t know what else to say, but he knows loss too. His own father died in a freak accident.
Sighing, Viktor leans back against the couch. “It wasn’t all bad. We got by. My máma never really recovered from it, though. Even when she was smiling, I could still tell she was depressed.”
Viktor lets out a shaky breath then, and without hesitation, Jayce reaches over to place his hand on top of Viktor’s. His partner responds by turning his hand over and capturing Jayce’s with his own. Jayce doesn’t think they’ve laced fingers together before, but it feels… again, natural.
“Anyway,” Viktor starts again, appearing more grounded. “Máma got a job at a clinic in the roughest part of the Undercity. It paid shit, but she liked helping the people who were worse off than us. When I turned twelve, I started working at a repair shop in the Lanes. At first, I wanted to get a job near my mother’s, but she wouldn’t let me and said it was too dangerous. We actually… had a fight about it. I argued she should get a safer job, but she wouldn’t budge.” A laugh escapes Viktor, quiet and vulnerable. “She was about as stubborn as me.”
“Wow. I didn’t think anyone could be as stubborn as you—” Jayce winces when Viktor elbows him. “Ow.”
“You’re not supposed to agree,” Viktor laughs again, and it’s a little more at ease this time.
“I didn’t know!” Jayce pouts, but rubs his thumb over the back of Viktor’s hand. “So, what happened…?”
“She got mugged,” Viktor says matter-of-factly, though it’s clear he’s trying to stifle any emotion from showing in his voice. “I don’t know exactly what happened, because I know she would have just given up her money for the sake of living. But her wedding ring was gone. She kept it on a chain under her shirt so no one would see it, and I guess whoever cornered her saw it and she refused to give it up.”
There’s a beat of silence between them. Jayce isn’t sure what to say, and Viktor doesn’t seem like he’s done. It takes Jayce off guard, but Viktor leans his head on Jayce’s shoulder, pressing the side of his body flush to his. They have done this before, but suddenly Jayce feels very warm. It’s probably the fever.
“Nobody found her body until the next morning. I didn’t find out until the following night. I was fourteen and I had… no one left.”
“I’m… so, so sorry Vik,” Jayce whispers, resting his head on top of Viktor’s. “I know it doesn’t fix the past, but I just want you to know… you have me. I’ll always be here for you.”
Viktor is quiet for a few moments, returning Jayce’s affections by brushing his own thumb over the back of Jayce’s hand. “I know. Thank you, Jayce.”
Jayce’s heart aches for Viktor, wanting to collect every fragment of sadness and throw it to the wind so Viktor can be happy. All he can do, though, is try to make Viktor happy himself. “Hey,” he disrupts the quiet after a minute. “Why don’t we put on some music?”
Viktor hums in question, a smile in his voice. “I hate most of your music.”
“Well, I happen to have your favourite jazz album.”
“I thought you hated jazz,” Viktor says, pulling away to give Jayce a scrutinizing look.
“Usually. I like that one, though,” Jayce shrugs with a sheepish smile. Viktor doesn’t need to know that Jayce bought it… well, to add a soundtrack to his fantasies. He has all of the songs memorized from how often he listens to it.
“Hm, alright.” Getting up from the couch and finally letting go of Jayce’s hand, Viktor goes over to Jayce’s shelf of records.
Jayce misses the feeling of Viktor’s skin against his already.
“Don’t forget about your tea and medicine,” Viktor reminds him as he puts the record on.
Jayce did, in fact, forget. He finally takes the medication, cringing at the taste of the syrup, before drinking some tea. It’s delicious, with the perfect amount of sweetness, and soothes his scratchy throat.
They fall into a comfortable silence as the record plays. Viktor continues to cook, humming along to the tune softly, and Jayce rests on the couch. His mind is foggy from the fever, and at one point Viktor brings him a cool cloth and places it on his forehead.
I love this man, the thought echoes in his mind again. He corrects himself, again. As a friend.
Despite the denial of his feelings, something crosses his mind: the pact. If they’re still single when they’re forty, they’ll get married. Jayce doesn’t know if Viktor remembers, or if Viktor was seriously agreeing to it, but he can picture it. It would look something like this.
Jayce would watch Viktor cook in their kitchen, maybe even help if he’s not getting in the way. While Viktor wasn’t paying attention, too caught up in humming along to his favourite songs, Jayce would wrap his arms around Viktor from behind. Viktor would say something like ‘I’m busy, Jayce’ or ‘Don’t distract me’ while Jayce kissed from behind the shell of his ear, travelling downward to leave a purple bruise at the crook of his neck. Viktor would gasp and squirm in his arms, trying to pretend he’s annoyed, even though he’s pressing back against him. ‘I’m helping,’ Jayce would whisper against his skin while his hand slips under the front of Viktor’s pants, his fingers teasing the trail of—
“Jayce? Did you hear me?”
The sound of his name snaps him back to reality, a flush creeping up his neck. Viktor is staring at him expectantly. “I, uh… what?”
“I said, are you hungry? The soup is ready.”
He’s doing his damndest to ignore the fact that he’s partially hard under the blanket. Maybe they shouldn’t have put on the album Jayce exclusively listens to when he’s jerking off to thoughts of Viktor. That was a dumb idea on his part.
“Yeah, I could eat,” he says with a cough, sitting up. He explicitly keeps the blanket bunched up in his lap, even though he’s starting to overheat.
Viktor sets a bowl down in front of Jayce, and it smells delicious despite his stuffy nose. Viktor sits next to him with his own bowl after he makes a second trip, sighing as he relaxes on the couch. Clearly moving around so much has tired him out a little, and a pang of guilt hits Jayce’s stomach.
“I really appreciate you coming and taking care of me, I know it’s a lot and you didn’t have to—”
“Shut up, Jayce,” Viktor interrupts him, though there are no harsh feelings behind it. “I wanted to. You don’t have to fawn over me.”
“Shutting up,” Jayce says with a small smile. Trying some of the soup, he hums appreciatively, getting a hearty bite of potato and carrot. “This is really good, V. Think you could teach me how to make it?”
“I can. I can’t guarantee you won’t burn your apartment down, but you will most likely manage,” Viktor quips, smirking.
They eat quietly and the record ends. Jayce starts to feel a little better now that the medicine has started kicking in. The soup and tea definitely helped too.
It’s around eight that Viktor packs up his things and puts his coat back on.
“Thanks again,” Jayce says, walking Viktor to the door despite the fact that he’s half asleep. The medicine might be helping with the fever, but he feels even more out of it. “Was nice having you here.”
“It was no problem. I wanted to check on you,” Viktor says, pressing his hand to Jayce’s forehead again. “Looks like your fever has gone down.”
“Yeah, all thanks to you.” He smiles down at Viktor sleepily.
“There’s leftover soup in the icebox, just heat it on the stove on medium-low heat for about ten minutes. Don’t overdo it, okay? And I better not see you in the lab tomorrow.”
Jayce groans. “Okay, okay.” Without thinking about it, he wraps his arms around Viktor, pulling him in for a tight hug. “I’ll miss you.”
Viktor seems to tense briefly, but he relaxes into the hug. “I’ll miss you too, but your health is more important.”
“You’re sweet…”
It’s an impulse. Before he can stop himself, he places a kiss on Viktor’s cheekbone. He doesn’t even realize he’s doing it in the moment.
“D-Dobrou noc, Jayce,” Viktor says quickly, retreating from Jayce’s embrace. Before Jayce can get another word out, Viktor is gone.
Did he… did he just kiss Viktor on the cheek?
Horror dawns on him as he wakes up a little more. First his domestic fantasy, now he’s kissing Viktor unprovoked? “Control yourself, dumbass,” he chastises himself, running a hand through his hair, damp with sweat.
Jayce is almost thankful he doesn’t see Viktor for two days after that. When he finally returns to the lab, Viktor is acting like nothing happened, so… he does too.
Despite that, the fantasy in the kitchen becomes a new favourite—the fantasy where he’s married to Viktor.
The soup was delicious. By far, it's the best thing they’ve eaten here. It’s an unfamiliar flavour, sure, but it’s savoury and a little spicy, dense with vegetables kind of like potatoes and turnips, but with slightly different textures and flavours.
After an evening of talking in hushed voices, huddled together by the woodfire stove, they decide to retire shortly after the sun sets. Viktor helps him back to his bedroom and Jayce notices that, at some point, he had found different moth-eaten sheets for the bed. With gentle hands, Viktor undresses him, pressing kisses to his shoulders, stomach, and his bad leg. Once he’s settled in bed, Viktor strips down to nothing at all and crawls under the covers with him.
No words need to be exchanged for Viktor to curl against his side, resting his head on Jayce’s chest. He lets out a sigh of content, idly playing with Viktor’s hair while his other hand is holding his lover’s.
Something has been bothering him, and he decides that in the quiet of the night is the right time to talk about it. “Hey, can I ask you something?”
Viktor hums in affirmation.
“Do you remember our first kiss?”
“You mean from yesterday? It was yesterday, so yes.”
“No.”
There’s a beat of silence and Viktor stirs uncomfortably, not pulling away though. “Yes.”
“Why did you… why did you tell me to leave, then pretend it didn’t happen?”
Another moment of silence. “I thought you were doing it because I was in love with you and I was dying,” Viktor whispers. “I took it as pity. Like you were fulfilling a dying wish of mine I never asked you for.”
“I said I would never pity you—I still remember the conversation we had on that blimp,” Jayce says as he continues to comb his fingers through Viktor’s hair. “And I said you were everything to me.”
“I didn’t think you meant it like that,” Viktor sighs, seeming to be considering whether or not to say something. “I was going to talk to you about it.”
“You were?”
“I was. Until Mel informed me that… you were with her that night.”
Jayce’s hand stills. “Fuck.”
“Mhm.”
Groaning, he wants to kick himself again. “Yeah, I… I was shitty to Mel, to be honest. I wish I had a conversation with her before all this. Our… whatever it was fizzled out after I—” Jayce doesn’t want to say it. It’s hard to think about.
“After you disappeared for a year.”
“Yeah. That’s one way to put it.” The tension he was feeling in his entire body subsides as he continues to pet Viktor’s hair. “I was shitty to you too by putting you in that position. If I’d just admitted to everything—”
“Baby, we’ve been over this,” Viktor says softly, rubbing his thumb over Jayce’s knuckle. The pet name makes his stomach do somersaults, warm and disorienting. “We can’t dwell on hypotheticals anymore. What happened… happened. I’m not going to say that what I did doesn’t haunt me, and I know that you have your own ghosts. But we need to worry about the here and now.”
Jayce sighs. “Smart, beautiful, and right as always.”
Viktor snorts. It’s one of his favourite sounds. They lay in silence for a few minutes, simply holding, caressing, and listening to each other breathe. When Viktor speaks again, he sounds sombre. “We can’t stay here forever.”
“I know,” Jayce says, feeling that same sadness. It’s not the best accommodation, but it’s starting to feel like a comforting little bubble for them to live in. “If this place is anything like Piltover, we’ve got a few months before it starts to get cold. This cabin isn’t meant to be habitable during the winter.”
“It’s barely habitable now,” Viktor laughs, breath hot against Jayce’s skin. “Obviously, we can’t go anywhere until you’re better, but… I took a look at those maps.”
“Oh? Geography was never my strong suit, so I couldn’t really make heads or tails of it.”
“I noticed a mountain beyond the forest’s edge—south, if I’m reading it right—so I was able to figure it out from that. It looks like the nearest town is at least a few days walk away.”
“What’d I say? Smart, beautiful and right.”
“Alright, you can stop blowing smoke up my ass now.”
“I would never do such a thing.”
Viktor hums, looking ethereal in the moonlight pooling on his naked form. Jayce’s heart feels full.
I finally have him.
“I love you,” Jayce whispers.
Viktor tilts his head, looking up at him with his pretty honey eyes. “I love you.” He leans in and connects their lips, slow and sweet.
Jayce returns the kiss, and Viktor’s lips feel like home.
Chapter 6: Harbour
Summary:
While Jayce is still recovering, Viktor talks about what happened after they found out he was dying.
Notes:
Hi again, sorry for the wait, I decided to take Valentine's weekend off to hang out with my wife (formatting this monster takes some time).
This is the last chapter in this goddamn cabin. I can't believe they were here for six chapters but, that's just how it panned out.
Here are the Czech translations for this chapter:
Zkurvysyn = son of a bitch
Seru na to, už se nebudu snažit = shit on it, I'm not trying anymore (thanking Visit Multilingualpotato on Tumblr for this translation because I thought it was perfect for the scene it's in)
Jsem monstrum = I'm a monster
Sračka = ShitSongs for this chapter
If I Don't Have To by Keaton Henson
10am Gare du Nord by Keaton Henson
(you'll notice I feel like a lot of his music is jayvik coded)Anyway, enjoy! Comments and kudos are appreciated as always.
Chapter Text
Another night without nightmares. Viktor is grateful for whatever higher powers gave him this second chance to wake up next to the only man he’s ever loved in a new, strange world, with a body that won’t fail him within a year. As he opens his eyes, a thought in the back of his mind whispers, maybe I’ll make it to forty after all.
Jayce is still asleep, snoring softly with one hand between them, as though he were reaching out for Viktor unconsciously. He looks so peaceful, just like the other night when Viktor watched him sleep. It’s unclear if he should be embarrassed by that or if he should confess to it either.
Scooting closer to Jayce, he props himself up on one elbow, reaching over with his free hand and caressing Jayce’s cheek. Surprisingly, the touch seems to rouse Jayce from sleep, slowly opening his eyes to look up at Viktor.
“I thought you were a heavy sleeper,” Viktor says, wondering if he had actually woken up Jayce the other night.
“Mm, usually. Less these days,” he says, yawning. “I had a dream about you.”
“Yeah?”
“Mhm. I think you were making gummy bears out of Hextech in the lab, and you kept yelling about how they weren’t generating enough maple syrup?”
Viktor snorts, a noise he has always been self-conscious about, but around Jayce, it feels okay—okay to be himself. “Sounds… entertaining at least.”
“You were also wearing that green suit you wore to the Hexgates launch,” Jayce sighs, reaching up to pet Viktor’s hair. “You looked so beautiful that night. I thought about you in that suit for years.”
His face heats up, reflecting back on the memory fondly with a small smile. “I remember you looking like a prince in your red suit—it was a raspberry colour. I thought you were unbelievably handsome in it.”
“A prince, huh?” Jayce chuckles. “Do all princes punch out their guests?”
“Sometimes. You’re not very princely anymore though,” Viktor says softly, brushing a stray hair out of Jayce’s face. “More like a gallant knight.”
“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
“Neither. It’s just different.” Viktor pauses, studying Jayce’s hazel eyes, still bleary with sleep. “I loved the old version of you for so long, the one that reminded me of a prince. I feel like I’m still learning how to love this new Jayce.”
“Well, this new Jayce is just as in love with you as your old Jayce was. You’re different too, but that doesn’t matter to me.”
Viktor leans in and kisses Jayce, trying to show rather than tell how much his love means to him. If it were him, he wouldn’t forgive himself or give him a second chance, never mind love him. He doesn’t know how he got to be so blessed.
Their kisses remain innocent and tender, kissing for the sake of kissing and not leading up to something more. Jayce’s strong hands cup the back of his head and hold onto his upper arm while Viktor practically lies on top of him. Viktor holds Jayce’s face, stroking his beard with his thumbs, relishing in the feeling of it. After a couple minutes of languidly making out, they pull apart and just stare at each other, observing.
“Promise me something?” Viktor breaks the silence, continuing the same strokes.
“Anything within my power.”
“Never shave this off.”
Jayce breaks out into laughter, running his hand through Viktor’s long locks. “Deal, as long as you never cut your hair.”
Viktor raises his eyebrows at that, biting back a grin. “You like it, huh?”
“Easier to grab, fun to play with, plus you look hot.”
“Mm, you’re one to talk. I do like the rugged, mountain-man look you have going on. Very different from the clean-cut golden boy I once knew.”
“I’m going to have to work on controlling my dick every time you use that nickname.”
Laughing, Viktor kisses him again, just because he can. He can kiss Jayce whenever he wants to. It’s a glorious feeling. When he pulls away, he looks down at Jayce’s body. “How’s your leg this morning?”
“Let me see,” Jayce says before sitting up. Cautiously, he stands, putting all his weight on his good leg, before attempting a step. He hisses in pain by the time he puts half his weight on it and sits back down. “Yeah, it’s a no-go. Better than yesterday, but still not good.”
“Then you need to rest. I’m going to wash some of the clothes today, I’m running out.”
Jayce seems to hesitate to say something and Viktor tilts his head in question. “Do you think… you could help me down to the river? I feel gross.”
“I can help you bathe,” Viktor says, moving to wrap his arms around Jayce’s shoulders and press his body against his back, placing a kiss on the nearest stretch of skin. “Remember, you’re not burdening me. I want to take care of you.”
Sighing into the touch, Jayce places a hand over one of Viktor’s. “You’ve always taken care of me.”
“You’re my most prized possession, of course I’d take care of you,” Viktor smirks against his skin.
Jayce laughs softly at that. “I like it… being yours, I mean.”
“I like being yours.” Another kiss to Jayce’s shoulder.
“I have something to confess,” his partner says as he looks back at Viktor.
“Oh?”
“I’ve always thought of you as mine. I was… very possessive of you. I guess I still am.”
“Me too,” Viktor sighs. “Did you know I got jealous of Caitlyn when I first met her?”
Jayce blinks and shakes his head as he tries to process that information. “You were jealous of Cait? She was like fifteen.”
“I didn’t realize how old she was. I thought you would be a nice couple and it just… made this sick feeling in my stomach.”
“Well, I can tell you that there was never anything to be jealous about.”
“I know that now,” Viktor says, resting his cheek against Jayce’s shoulder.
“I’m pretty sure she knew I was in love with you before I did.” There’s a pause and Jayce’s voice goes a little quiet. “Did anyone know you were in love with me, or did you manage to keep it a secret all those years?”
“One person knew,” Viktor responds, voice just as soft.
Viktor promised Jayce he would stay out of the lab for one day and he knows he will hate every hour of it. The clock is ticking, he has very limited time on this mortal plane and he doesn’t want to waste it being sick. At first, he tries to occupy his time by taking care of some of his plants. His snake plant needs a trim because it is now nearing five feet tall and he wants to propagate some of the trimmings to create a new one.
Viktor is going to leave Jayce a piece of him, even if it’s small. A snake plant born of the one Jayce had given him all those years ago felt like an appropriate goodbye gift.
As he’s doing it, he can’t help but think back to the kiss. Jayce sobbing for him— because of him— and shaking in Viktor’s grasp like he might shatter if he let go. His lips, a little chapped, against Viktor’s, giving him everything he’s wanted for years.
Jayce’s words echo in mind: ‘You’re—you’re everything to me.’
Bitterness wells up deep inside him. He’s only saying that shit because I’m dying.
Cooking helps take his mind off of things, except when he has to stop chopping vegetables to cough in his handkerchief again. More blood. Lovely. He makes his mom’s soup because it’s one of the only things that can comfort him on a bad day. It helps a little, but a cloud hangs over his mind.
“Guess I’m going to join you soon, Máma,” he mutters softly as he eats the soup. It has gnawed at his gut for years, but he still hasn’t spread her ashes. They sit in a box, still in the bag they came in, in his hallway closet. She never told him where she would want them spread, and Viktor couldn’t remember what happened to his father’s remains. “Maybe I’ll ask Jayce to spread our ashes together. That could be nice. Would you like the view over the ravine?”
Despite what just happened, he’s still considering his death plans involving Jayce every step of the way. He just hopes Viktor’s rejection and kicking him out doesn't permanently affect their relationship, but it’s probably naive to think it won’t. Jayce knows how Viktor feels about pity, and the kiss felt a lot like that.
After he cleans up, he decides to try another comfort: his favourite book with a faded cover and the spine deteriorating from how many times he’s read it. It’s a simple concept where a prince falls in love with his sworn knight and they run away together, but it’s beautifully written and scratches every itch Viktor has. The sex scenes are some of his favourites that he’s read too.
It’s embarrassing how often he’s fantasized about Jayce being his own sworn knight who he could elope with. It’s a nice thought, to be in some other world, in a different situation, maybe where he isn’t sick and Jayce loves him. Because Jayce does not love him in this reality—Jayce just feels bad that Viktor is in love with him, he’s pretty sure.
Even though his life is currently a mess, he pours himself two fingers of his favourite whiskey, and then lets himself get swept away in the book and the fantasy. If he’s going to die, he wants to enjoy a good drink and a comforting book one more time. The only thing that could make his day better would be a cigarette, but that seems like an unwise decision right now.
That’s how he spends the rest of his day, wrapped up in his daydreams and the buzz of alcohol.
He goes to bed shortly after sunset. The queen mattress has always felt too big for him—too empty—and he can’t help but stare at the space next to him. It’s a foggy memory, but he remembers Jayce sleeping over once. It was nice to have someone fill his bed, even if it was for practical reasons.
What he wouldn’t give to wake up to Jayce next to him.
Sleep is hard to obtain. He wakes up every hour, anxiously jittering in bed, wishing he could just go to the lab and continue his work on their new project. Defeated by the antsy feeling in the pit of his stomach, he gets out of bed at 5:30 am. He showers, eats, and is out the door by 6:45.
Jayce isn’t at the lab when he arrives—he rarely is these days since he’s been caught up with being Councilor Talis. If he could taste the title it would be unpleasantly sour. He’s tried to move past his bitterness around Jayce becoming a councilor, but it lingers like a shadow on his heart whenever it comes up.
The thing that does not have a name yet is right where he left it, thrumming with the Arcane, but something seems… different. He was thinking about working on it all night, but now that he’s face-to-face with it again, his brain vibrates with frustration. He sits at his desk and starts looking over his notes on the calculations and the runes themselves. Maybe there’s something he’s missed that may solve their problem.
He has to figure this out before he runs out of time.
The door opens after what could have been one hour or three, he’s not sure. He sighs, starting to turn around. “Jayce, I think we should talk—”
It’s not Jayce.
Councilor Mel Medarda is standing in the doorway, smiling politely as she always does. “Sorry to disappoint. I think Jayce is still at the forge.”
Viktor pinches the bridge of his nose. Of course he is, he’s always at the forge when something’s bothering him. “How can I help you, Mel?” He only started calling her by her name a couple of years ago. She insisted, and since then they’ve become… somewhat friendly. Not friends, but friendly. “I’m not sure why you’re here if Jayce isn’t.”
“I came to talk to you,” she says, closing the door behind her and approaching him. “About Jayce, actually. And you.”
Looking up at her from where he’s seated at his desk, he eyes her suspiciously. “What about me and Jayce?” Something twists in his gut, like a cocktail of fear and embarrassment. Did he tell Mel what happened?
Mel looks a little grim suddenly, uncharacteristically glancing down at the floor. “He told me about your diagnosis.”
Irritation stirs in his chest, prickly and uncomfortable. It shouldn’t be surprising that Jayce told Mel, but it hurts nonetheless—he didn’t want her to know. “I see. And what does that have to do with your visit?”
“Jayce and I have established a relationship of sorts,” she starts cautiously, like she’s trying not to step on a landmine. “A romantic one.”
Viktor tries to resist clutching his knees until his knuckles turn white and fails. He’s messing around with Mel and kissing me within the same week? What the fuck is wrong with you, Jayce? He evens his expression, showing no emotion, and relaxes his hands. “And how does this relate to me, exactly?”
“I wanted to give you a heads up.”
Viktor blinks at her. Mel stares back at him. “What?”
“It’s quite recent and things escalated very quickly the night… well, the night you were found by your assistant, Ms. Young,” she says, her posture perfect and her hands folded gracefully in front of her. She delivers the information as she would a proposition at a Council meeting. “I wanted to make sure you knew before things went any further.”
That zkurvysyn was fucking Mel when I collapsed. And then he had the audacity to take me home and kiss me out of pity the next day. Was it guilt that made him do it? Viktor tries not to let the anger boiling in the pit of his stomach come to the surface. It’s not Mel he’s mad at, it’s Jayce, so she doesn’t deserve his wrath. “I still don’t understand why you’re telling me this. Jayce is an adult and I am not his keeper, he can have any type of relationship with anyone he wants.”
“Because you’re in love with him.”
The only sound that can be heard is the new project (he’s considering calling it the Hexcore) humming with the Arcane. Viktor can hear his own heart rate picking up, flooding his senses with the bump-ba-bump beats. A bead of sweat trickles down his brow as his thoughts scramble at the walls of his mind, trying to come up with something to say. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he settles on, and he knows it sounds unconvincing.
“Let’s not play this game, Viktor. I see the way you look at him.” She watches him carefully, as if she’s studying a specimen’s reaction to an experiment.
Viktor swallows thickly, anxiously bouncing his leg. When confronted with the facts, he’s not very good at denying them. “And why do you care how I feel?”
“Because I don’t want to take away your last chance to do something about it before you…” The next word trails off before it can leave her lips.
“You can say die. I know I’m dying. It’s not news to either of us.” Viktor grimaces, finally coming to terms that they’re having this conversation that he absolutely does not want to have. “If we’re going to be blunt about my feelings for Jayce, let’s not shy away from the fact that I’m dying, either.”
“Very well. As a dying man, I wanted to inform you that I intend to pursue things with Jayce, considering your feelings for him.”
Bitterness, anger and hurt twist inside him like a hurricane, eating away at his affections for Jayce. It feels like a betrayal because he was considering actually talking to Jayce about his feelings. Did he mean what he said? Was that kiss out of pity? Or could Viktor have a few months, or weeks, or days of happiness before he withers away? He has the answer to those questions now.
Jayce probably loves Mel, not me. It could never be me.
“Do whatever you want. It’s not my business,” he says through gritted teeth.
“That tells me the last thing you want is for me to be with him.”
Viktor’s mind feels like it’s been shaken up and all his emotions are in the wrong places now. He wasn’t angry at Mel before, but now that anger is starting to wrap its tendrils around her, too. “Are you using him?”
Mel pauses at that, considering the question. “I think you and I both know that Jayce and I have been using each other since we met.”
A possessive, protective feeling for Jayce emerges from the depths beneath his rage. Even though he’s pissed at him, he still doesn’t want Jayce to get hurt.
“Don’t destroy him,” Viktor says, all of his conflicting emotions bubbling under the surface. “I don’t know if there are gods or an afterlife. I have a lot of questions about my mortality right now. But the one thing I do know is if you hurt him and I can do anything about it, I will.”
Mel Medarda is not an easy person to intimidate, and if she is intimidated, she doesn’t show it. “I did say we use each other, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care about him. I don’t want to hurt him just as much as you.”
That seems to ease the feelings stirring within him, but only a little. He takes a deep breath and tries to return to his rational thoughts. “I want whatever will make Jayce happy. If that’s with you, so be it.” A beat of silence passes as he carefully considers his next words. “Honestly… it’s better you than me. It might hurt less this way.”
A frown is painted on Mel’s lips and her eyes soften. “If he felt the same way as you do, I would want him to be with you, no matter how much time you have left.”
Mel’s kindness makes him feel remorse for lashing out at her. He knows he’s projecting his tangled feelings for Jayce right now, and Mel is doing a gracious thing by talking to him about it. Viktor sighs. “Yes, well, we both know he does not. Go ahead. However, as I said, if you hurt him, I will not be kind.”
“Warning taken. I will try to be good to him,” Mel nods, still frowning. “I am sorry he didn’t return your feelings. And I also sympathize with your diagnosis.”
Viktor visibly deflates, shoulders sagging as the weight of his deep-seated sadness falls upon him. “I appreciate the sentiment, but words can do nothing for me now, Ms. Medarda,” he says, demoting her from the first-name basis because of the chasm he feels between them now. “If that is all, will you please leave my lab?”
Mel seems to contemplate the request, an unrecognizable expression on her face. If Viktor had to name it, it would be pity. He hates it. “I will. Take care of yourself, Viktor.”
Turning away in his chair, Viktor hears her heels clicking against the stone floor, and then the door closing. He waits a minute, making sure that no one is around before a heart-wrenching sob escapes him. Hunching over his desk, he covers his eyes as tears stream down his cheeks and one cry after another ripples out of his lungs.
Jayce doesn’t love him. Jayce never loved him. He’s spent seven years of his short life in love with a man who won’t return his affections, no matter how hard he works, how much he cares, or how much time they spend together. A man who has been dangling affections like a carrot on a stick in front of him for all this time. The gifts. The hugs. The casual touches. The flirting. The fucking kisses on his cheek and lips.
‘You’re everything to me.’
Why the fuck did he say that? Just to torment Viktor?
Uncontrollable sobs rip through him as he sinks to the floor and curls in on himself, pausing only for a coughing fit. The heavy weight of grief fills his aching heart—grief of what could have been, grief for his dying dreams.
Grief for himself.
If his body could have carried him to forty, and Mel or someone else wasn’t still in the picture by then, he would have had Jayce. A cute house, he said. A cat. Jayce would be the best husband. They would change the world until they’re old and grey, he said.
Viktor stays curled up and cries for an undetermined amount of time. It feels like he’s being torn apart on the inside, like all the agony and sorrow of his love—for his work, for Jayce, for his life—is clawing its way out of his chest cavity. Eventually, the cries die down, dwindling to silence. He feels hungover, limbs heavy, head aching and disoriented. When he sits up, his fucking leg is trembling from being on the floor, prompting him to curse his disability in his mother tongue.
“Seru na to, už se nebudu snažit, Jayce,” he mutters to himself as he sits back in his chair. Then, he drinks some water, takes a painkiller, and goes back to work. A decision is made after his breakdown: he absolutely will not talk to Jayce about what happened, he will act like nothing has changed and nothing is wrong, and he will work until his body crumbles to dust if he has to.
Viktor had helped Jayce down to the river, both only wearing a worn towel over their hips, and got in. They sat in the shallow part of the river, water up to their chests, where Jayce lies between Viktor’s legs with his back to Viktor’s chest.
When he’s done retelling the story of his conversation with Mel, Viktor looks over Jayce’s shoulder to try to see his expression. There’s a complicated look on his face, a mix of sorrow and bitterness, Viktor thinks.
“I wish I had known. I wish I could have made it right.”
“It’s hard to make cheating right, Jayce,” Viktor says as he runs his hands over Jayce’s arms, trying to clean him as best he can.
“I—was that really—”
“Kind of, yes. Mel had no idea you did that and if she had found out she would have dropped you immediately. I also would have dropped you because I was so pissed at you for two-timing us.”
Jayce sighs, leaning into Viktor’s touch more. “I was such an asshole.”
Viktor hums, moving his hands over Jayce’s chest to cleanse his skin of dirt and sweat. It’s partially an excuse to feel his partner up, loving the sensation of Jayce’s chest hair under his fingers. The mountain man thing really is doing it for him. “I think you were lost and confused. You said it yourself, you were seeking out comfort and Mel was there for you. You got what you couldn’t get from me. I was devastated by it, but… it doesn’t matter now. It’s in the past.”
“I’m sorry... I should’ve known I already had you.” Jayce takes hold of Viktor’s hands wrapped around him, picking up each one and pressing a kiss to his palms.
It’s comforting that Jayce doesn’t shy away from his changed body, but that should be no surprise considering Jayce was having sexual fantasies about him even in his original mortal form, one he thought was undesirable. Sure, he was able to pick up a stranger or two at bars or jazz clubs over the years, but they both knew that they were a means to an end.
“I forgive you. You need to stop beating yourself up for it,” Viktor whispers, kissing his shoulder. He’s one to talk though, he’s been beating himself up in the back of his mind for the last five days. He thinks he deserves it.
Jayce sighs again, just holding Viktor’s hands. “I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to kiss you. Getting drunk after the Hexgates plan was complete. That time you took care of me when I was sick. When we danced on your thirtieth birthday.”
“I fantasized about kissing you when we were dancing. I remember there was a woman at the bar watching, wanting to be me. Have to admit, it was a bit of an ego boost to be dancing with the Man of Progress,” Viktor teases, kissing Jayce’s neck. He removes one of his hands from Jayce’s, tracing the ridges of his abs with his fingertips.
Jayce’s free hand finds the back of Viktor’s head, threading his fingers through his hair. He lets out a huff, smiling to himself. “I always hated that title. Accepted it, but hated it.”
“Do you not like when I call you that?”
“No, it’s fine when you do it. It feels like an inside joke. It just always made me a little uncomfortable because I didn’t… feel like I deserved it. I thought it was you who should be getting credit for all of your brilliance.”
“You are brilliant too, Jayce. It was your idea after all, and that didn’t matter to me. I just loved working with you and changing the world together. It gave me purpose.”
Jayce is silent, moving his hands to run them over Viktor’s legs bracketing his body. When he speaks again, his voice is small and uncertain. “What’re we going to do in this world, V? Become inventors again?”
“I don’t know if I want to. After everything that happened, I feel like I’d curse every creation…” Viktor trails off, wrapping his arms around Jayce’s chest tightly and hooking his chin over his shoulder. “Do you remember the pact we made?”
There’s another pause as Jayce brushes his thumbs over Viktor’s knees. “Yeah. I thought you forgot.”
“I never forgot. It was always in the back of my mind,” Viktor says in a hushed voice, barely audible above the flowing river. “I want that. A cute little house with a garden. In a harbour if we can. A lab that I may not necessarily use to change the world, but I could at least tinker in. A cat, or whatever this world’s equivalent is. I want to wake up every morning next to you, do chores together, try to teach you how to cook, and just… live.”
“So, you want to marry me, is what you’re saying?” Jayce tilts his head so he can glance at Viktor, a cheeky grin on his lips.
“Maybe. You’ll have to prove to me you’ll be a good husband first.” Viktor smiles back before leaning in to capture Jayce’s lips with his own. With a pleasant sigh, Jayce kisses back, his hands curling around Viktor’s forearms. It’s sweet and slow, and Viktor knows that they’re in the dreamy haze of the honeymoon phase, but he doesn’t care. Right now, talking about their future together and getting married, is making a warmth grow in his chest that he thought he could never have: love. He is loved, and Jayce’s lips are showing him that.
When Viktor pulls away, Jayce tries to chase his lips, but Viktor presses a finger to them. “Let’s finish up. You can kiss me later.”
Jayce huffs. “Fine.”
“Move down so your head is in the water. I’ll wash your hair.”
Following his instruction, Jayce gets settled so his head is resting against Viktor’s stomach, partially submerged. Viktor starts to work his fingers through Jayce’s hair, scrubbing to try and clean it as best he can. A relaxed sigh leaves Jayce as he says, “That feels good. I should fuck up my leg more often so you can do this to me.”
Viktor laughs. “You do not need to fuck up your leg for me to wash your hair. You just have to ask.”
“Noted.”
Once Jayce is done, Viktor goes deeper into the river to wash his own hair. After they get out, Jayce uses Viktor as support while he dries off. It’s a bit of a balancing act for both of them to get semi-dry and the late spring sun makes their skin pleasantly warm during the short walk back to the cabin.
“You want something to eat? We’ve still got lots of berries and apples left,” Viktor offers, moving towards the couch. Jayce stops, not walking with him, prompting Viktor to turn and look at him.
“I’d rather eat you,” Jayce whispers, leaning in to kiss Viktor’s neck while one arm is still around his shoulders for support. “Been thinking about tasting you again since yesterday.”
Viktor shivers, craning his neck to give Jayce easy access. “Hm… I suppose that could be arranged.”
“Oh yeah, I have to twist your arm for it?” His lover laughs against his skin before sucking a new bruise at the crook of his neck and shoulder.
With a sharp inhale, Viktor’s free hand cards through Jayce’s hair, his other arm still wrapped around Jayce to keep him steady. He tugs on his hair, pulling Jayce back from his neck for their lips to meet instead. Responding eagerly, Jayce dips his tongue in Viktor’s mouth, making a pleased hum while his hand traverses Viktor’s body.
Calloused fingers trace from Viktor’s collarbone over his mastectomy scars, the curve of each rib, and finally down to the edge of the towel tied around his hips. He rips the towel away, tongue exploring Viktor’s mouth, earning a sound of surprise. Jayce pulls back marginally to bite Viktor’s bottom lip as his fingers ghost over the trail of hair leading to his prize.
“Bed?” Viktor gets out the single word when Jayce releases his lip, shuddering as his fingertips trace his folds.
“Mhm, I want you to sit on my face,” Jayce agrees, retracting his hand. Viktor misses it immediately, but he knows Jayce is going to satisfy him soon enough.
Carefully, they walk back to Jayce’s—their?—bedroom and Viktor helps him get settled on the bed. He climbs on top of Jayce, aligning their hips so he can grind down against him under his towel. It’s also so he can kiss Jayce again because he could kiss him for hours if Jayce allowed it, greedy and needy for him. It’s still a marvel that he can kiss Jayce in the first place, something he achingly wanted for years and something he feels undeserving of.
Just like he said to Jayce, if he loves him, Viktor is never going to let go.
Jayce’s fingers are in his hair, his other hand taking hold of his asscheek with a nearly bruising grip. His own hands take hold of Jayce’s face, aggressively tangling their tongues before rolling his hips. Admittedly, the texture of the ratty old towel isn’t very pleasant against his pussy, but he can’t be bothered to do anything about it at the moment.
It’s Viktor’s turn to bite Jayce’s bottom lip, nearly hard enough to break skin, receiving a whine in response. Jayce bucks his hips against him, and Viktor pulls away to glare at him. “No moving your hips. You’re starting to get better and I don’t want you to fuck it up.”
Jayce has the audacity to pout up at him. He huffs. “Okay, will you just get up here then?”
“I think you can ask nicer than that, Talis.” Viktor sits up fully, planting his hands on Jayce’s thighs and rolling his hips again.
An expression akin to physical pain reaches Jayce’s face, gritting his teeth as he tries to restrain himself. “Please sit on my face already,” he says, eyebrows pinched together.
“Drop the attitude, golden boy. For that, I’m going to make you beg.” Another roll of his hips. Jayce whimpers, his hands moving to grip Viktor’s thighs, only to have his hands lightly slapped away. “Ah-ah, no touching.”
Jayce gives him puppy eyes like he’s heartbroken. “I’ll be good. I won’t move my hips, I just want you to wrap your thighs around my head and fuck my face,” Jayce pleads, curling his fists in the sheets to resist touching.
Returning his hands to Jayce’s thighs, he tilts his hips so Jayce has a good view of his destination. “Come on, you can do better than that, baby.”
A whimper escapes Jayce as his eyes remain fixated on Viktor’s pussy and small cock, biting his bottom lip hungrily. “Please, baby, I just wanna worship you. I wanna taste you and make you feel good. I’d live between your legs if you let me.” His eyes flicker up to Viktor’s, glassy as though he might cry, and his hands tremble from how tightly he’s gripping the sheets. “I want you to use me.”
Viktor feels a little guilty for making Jayce beg, but he’s too turned on by how pathetic he is to care. It gives him a rush of power, making him grin wickedly down at his lover. “Poor puppy,” Viktor croons mockingly, seeing how Jayce reacts to the humiliating pet name. Judging by how Jayce’s pupils dilate, and his growing bulge under the towel, it’s safe to assume that it’s positive. “You want your treat that badly?”
Jayce nods, crossing over the threshold from eager to desperate, panting like the dog he is.
Gods, I love this man.
“I suppose you deserve it,” Viktor finally says, still grinning at Jayce as he crawls up his body. Taking hold of the headboard, he brackets Jayce’s head with his thighs.
“Can I touch you?” Jayce says it in the same pleading voice as he eyes his meal, licking his lips. “And can I bite your thigh?”
“You may.”
As soon as the words leave his mouth, Jayce turns his head to kiss his steel inner thigh, hands travelling up the backs of his legs. His strong hands grip his ass while he sucks a brand new purple bruise on his left inner thigh. Viktor moans softly, jerking his hips against nothing, with the absent thought that he’s going to look like a painting by the end of the week.
“That’s enough,” Viktor warns after Jayce makes his third hickey on the sensitive flesh closer to his groin. Jayce pulls away, settling his head back on the pillow. “Are you ready?”
“I was born ready to eat you out,” Jayce says like he’s already crazed, eyes wild and starving. It’s flattering how enthusiastic he is—Viktor’s never had a lover so dedicated to pleasuring him. A nice change, on top of it being the man he’s been hopelessly in love with for seven years.
Viktor lowers himself until he’s hovering just above Jayce’s mouth, close enough that Jayce can stick out his tongue and lick his swollen cock. He shudders, finally aligning his hips with Jayce’s lips, and he wastes no time getting to work. Jayce’s muscular arms wrap around his thighs as his tongue swipes from his entrance to his cock. A gasp leaves Viktor’s lungs as he rolls his hips, chasing Jayce’s tongue.
Jayce’s eagerness takes him by surprise, but now that he’s got his bearings, he processes the fact that Jayce’s beard does feel good against his thighs. It’s soft, a little ticklish, and even though the feeling in his metallic leg is a little… different from his leg of flesh, it’s pleasing for that thigh too.
He can feel his cock rubbing up against Jayce’s nose as he dives in, working the muscle inside him. The feeling makes him squirm, both invasive and arousing at the same time. Jayce makes a pleased hum beneath him, like he’s savouring a five-star meal, and the vibration gives Viktor a wave of pleasure.
His eyes focus on Jayce’s face, eyes fluttered shut as he fucks him with his tongue. Jayce’s damp hair is haloed around him on the pillow, and Viktor can’t help but admire how beautiful he looks like this. Maybe his face was meant to be between my thighs, after all, Viktor thinks hazily. Unable to resist touching, he caresses either side of Jayce’s head, his fingers combing through his dark hair.
Jayce opens his eyes, holding Viktor’s gaze as he tilts his head up to press the flat of his tongue over his cock. Viktor jerks his hips again, and Jayce keeps his tongue extended, inviting him to ride his face. Accepting the invitation, Viktor rolls his hips, grinding his cock against Jayce’s awaiting muscle, and moans softly.
“That’s a good dog,” he teases, watching with satisfaction as Jayce’s hazel eyes disappear behind his eyelids. While he would normally direct Jayce impatiently, he wants to see what he can do without Viktor’s guidance. He wanted this so bad, so he’s going to have to prove he earned it.
Switching things up, Jayce’s tongue circles his cock before making precise flicks to the underside. A jolt of electricity runs through his body, starting from his cock to the crown of his head and tips of his toes as he gasps. Jayce repeats the movements, looking up at him with an expression that says he’s begging for approval.
“That mouth isn’t just good for talking, hm?”
That seems to satisfy Jayce enough for now as he takes Viktor’s cock in his mouth and proceeds to suck. The sensation makes his thighs shake and he needs to brace himself on the wall to stop himself from collapsing. All the thoughts in his head go quiet and the feeling of Jayce’s mouth on him overtakes everything else. “Jayce,” he whispers, curling the digits of his metallic hand in Jayce’s hair.
Viktor’s thumb brushes over one of the scars on Jayce’s forehead, and suddenly he’s taken out of it. “S-Stop,” Viktor says urgently, anxiety and guilt spiralling in his entire being, replacing the arousal he was just feeling.
Jayce immediately stills, listening to Viktor. When Viktor climbs off of him, he makes himself small next to Jayce, clutching his legs to his chest and burying his face in his knees. He tries to control his hyperventilation as much as possible, but it’s fruitless.
We’re here because of me. I just had to pursue a cure for my flaws—what I saw as flaws. I’ve ruined everything.
“Vik?” Jayce says his name gently, and that triggers the tears to start pouring out of him. He rocks himself back and forth as he cries quietly. Jayce sits up and, just like his first breakdown, scoops him up in his arms. He rearranges Viktor, though he’s not very malleable at the moment, and manages to get him curled up against his chest.
“P-Please don’t, you’ve already done so much—too much—for me,” Viktor manages to say between broken sobs. The faces are haunting him again. The memory of being consumed by the Arcane flickers behind his eyes. He tries to pull away from Jayce’s embrace, but his partner doesn’t let him go. “Jsem monstrum…”
“I haven’t, Vik,” Jayce hushes, petting his hair as he sobs. “We take care of each other.”
“I ruined e-everything, I ruined your life. I hurt you, I—”
“Shh. Remember, we can’t change the past, baby. You didn’t ruin anything, you didn’t ruin my life. I’m actually… so, so happy to be here with you.” Jayce kisses the top of his head and rubs his back, not shying away from his metallic spine.
His breathing starts to even out. Jayce sounds so genuine like he’s emotionally distressed for Viktor. Hesitantly, he places his right hand over Jayce’s heart, just so he can be closer to him and feel his heartbeat. He’s no longer sobbing but the tears continue to fall, staining Jayce’s tanned chest. “…You’re happy to be here?”
“I am. I’m ready for a fresh start. I don’t know what the future has in store for us, but I know we’ll figure it out,” Jayce whispers, stroking Viktor’s hair still and placing his hand on top of Viktor’s. “I’m mostly just happy to be with the love of my life.”
The words fill his heart with warmth and breaks it at the same time. The love of my life. Jayce is the love of his life too, but Jayce deserves so much better. “You had everything you could want back home,” Viktor says, quiet and meek. “I’m just a burden.”
“You aren’t a burden and you never have been. No amount of money, fame, power or anything else could replace you. You are everything I want.”
Fresh tears spill over his cheeks as he dares to look up at Jayce. He’s met with such sincerity that it feels like a physical ache. Jayce’s hand cups his jaw, his thumb brushing over his cheekbone as he’s done so many times before, and he places a kiss on Viktor's forehead.
“You’re the love of my life too,” Viktor says quietly, voice wobbling with emotion. “I knew I’d… I’d never love anyone like I love you.”
Jayce smiles at that, sombre because of how distraught Viktor was, but still happy. “Can I kiss you? I probably still taste like you and I don’t know if you’re in the mood,” he laughs softly, combing his fingers through Viktor’s almost-dry hair.
“Yes… I don’t care what you taste like, I always want to kiss you.” Viktor still doesn’t feel like himself and the guilt continues to gnaw on his insides, making him sick to his stomach. But maybe kissing the only man he’s ever loved will help drown out the hateful voices in his head.
Jayce leans in, still cradling his jaw, and kisses him. It’s so tender and careful that Viktor thinks he might cry again—tears of gratitude this time. He’s not sure if he’ll ever feel like he’s earned Jayce’s lips on his, but he feels so fucking lucky to have this man in his life. Not just that, but his forgiveness.
It’s slow, lazy, and Jayce does taste like him. It’s not unpleasant but a pang of guilt hits him for ruining the mood. When Jayce pulls away, he’s looking down at him with those beautiful hazel eyes like he hung the moon and the stars. It makes his heart ache. “I’m sorry for… interrupting. I know a breakdown isn’t sexy.”
“I don’t care,” Jayce shrugs. “Yeah, I was enjoying myself, but there’s going to be plenty of other opportunities for me to live between your legs. I’m more worried about you.”
“I’m okay,” Viktor says as he wipes one last tear away with the heel of his hand. “As okay as I can be.”
“I’m glad,” Jayce says softly, resting his head on top of his while Viktor relaxes against his broad chest. “I know I said I’m not going to get it, I only briefly saw what you saw, but I’m still here to listen.”
Viktor pauses for a few moments, thinking about what he could possibly say. Someone in particular haunts him, but he hasn’t dared to think about her until now. “Sky was there.”
The hand brushing over his hair pauses briefly before continuing again. “What do you mean?”
“The Hexcore… absorbed her? I still don’t fully understand the capabilities it held despite being merged with it, but… before I became the Machine Herald, she was there in my consciousness with me. She helped me with my… pursuit to ‘heal’ people.” Taking in a shaky breath, he curls his hand in a fist over Jayce’s heart. “I killed her a second time when I chased after my ‘glorious evolution’.”
“I’m… glad to know that you had someone with you who loved you, at least.”
Viktor stills, looking up at Jayce with a perplexed expression. “What?”
It’s Jayce’s turn to look just as confused. “I… I thought you knew she had a crush on you?”
Something akin to horror—maybe a new weight of guilt adding to the pile amassing in his stomach—strikes him. No, you won’t. Those were Sky’s last words to him. It made sense now. Viktor did miss her companionship, at least after he was no longer the Machine Herald, but… not in the way that she wanted.
“No, I never knew,” he says quietly. He doesn’t know how but his heart breaks even further for her, because he knows what it’s like to hopelessly yearn for someone. Viktor was fortunate, though.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”
“It’s not your fault, Jayce. Thank you for telling me… I feel I understand her better now.” It’s true. He took her for granted and she gave him everything. I was horrible to her.
The silence that falls on them is a little awkward at first, but as Jayce rubs his back and holds his hand, it becomes comfortable. Viktor still feels like an awful person, but Jayce’s hands seem to smooth over those feelings, making them a dull ache rather than a jagged edge.
“Let’s get cleaned up,” Viktor says after a while of cuddling in silence.
Jayce agrees and they both wash their faces with an old (very old) face cloth. They get dressed, and it’s a little easier for Jayce this time. Just like yesterday, Viktor sets Jayce up on the couch with a pillow under his head and his leg, then sits on the floor while they eat apples and berries.
“Hey,” Jayce gets his attention, running his hand through Viktor’s hair again. He must really like my hair, huh? “What, um… what are we?”
Viktor blinks. “What do you mean?”
Jayce looks a little bashful as he mulls over his words. “Like… are you my boyfriend or…?”
A laugh emerges from Viktor, surprising himself. “Boyfriend? Really? What are we, fifteen?”
“Well, I’m not sure what else to call it.”
Viktor reaches over and pats Jayce’s cheek. “Partners, as we always have been.”
“It doesn’t feel serious enough to just call the love of my life my partner.”
“Well, that’s what you’re going to have to settle for until you get me a ring.” Viktor smirks when Jayce’s cheeks turn pink.
Viktor doesn’t say it, but he would marry Jayce tomorrow if he asked. He doesn’t even need a ring, but he doesn’t want to sound desperate.
The first time he fantasized about marrying Jayce was long before that silly pact.
They’ve known each other just shy of a year, and after six months working in the lab, they’ve become a well-oiled machine. Jayce fits into Viktor’s mind and soul like a cog that was meant to be in line with his own; it's both thrilling and maddening with his growing feelings for his partner.
Their Hexgate project is still in its infancy, and the scale of it is a little intimidating. Magic that opens Piltover to the rest of the world in the blink of an eye. It’s a much grander scale than their first breakthrough with the crystals, and they’re going to have to figure out how to generate enough power to send airships across Runeterra, rather than gears two feet across a room.
“What if we contain the energy of the crystals in power cells? We could have a core with—I don’t know, dozens? A hundred?” Jayce says, flipping a piece of chalk in his hand absentmindedly and leaning against his desk. They haven’t left the lab in four days with the exception of grabbing food from the Academy cafeteria or the corner store down the street. He’s clearly getting antsy.
Viktor looks over his shoulder from where he’s writing calculations on the chalkboard of the scale they would need. “It’s a good idea. When did you sleep last, Jayce?”
“Huh?” Jayce looks at the clock on his desk. “It’s 5:18 am so… I had a nap fourteen hours ago?”
They only have one couch in the lab, so they’ve been taking short shifts catching a few hours of sleep.
Sighing, Viktor puts down his chalk and turns to face Jayce. He’s leaning heavily on his cane because he’s been standing and pacing for hours. “It might be time to go home and rest.”
Jayce groans, shoulders sagging with exhaustion and disappointment. “You might be right. Let me just make a note about the power cells and then I’ll be ready to head out.”
Viktor nods, gathering up his things and packing his bag while Jayce makes his note. He notices Jayce looking at the clock again with an expression that says he just got an idea—an expression Viktor is intimately familiar with at this point.
Jayce gazes at Viktor, his eyes practically pleading. “Would you wanna watch the sunrise with me?”
Viktor contemplates the request. In theory, yes, he would want to watch the sunrise with his friend. However, he sees something inherently… romantic about it. He’s worried he might delude himself further as he falls and crashes in love with a straight man. But how could he say no to Jayce?
“Okay,” he starts, thinking of where they could go. It occurs to him after a moment. “Actually, I know a good place to watch.”
“Oh yeah?” Jayce looks intrigued as he gathers his things.
“Just follow me.”
They take the elevator to the top floor and Jayce starts to clue in where they’re going despite the sleep deprivation. “Are we going to the roof? I don’t think I’ve been up there before.”
“I would sometimes eat my lunch up there, back when I used to take lunch breaks,” Viktor chuckles, stepping off the lift. He climbs the short flight of stairs with some difficulty, his leg aching more than usual.
When they get to the top and open the door, the summer nighttime breeze hits them, a little stronger from being so far up. It’s still dark, the stars shining beyond the sparse clouds, but purple hues start to paint the sky. Jayce walks ahead of him toward the far railing and looks out to the cityscape saying, “Wow, it’s beautiful up here.”
“I’m glad you think so,” Viktor responds, taking his place next to Jayce. It could never be as beautiful as you, though.
“Maybe we should get out of the lab more often.” Laughing, Jayce places his hand casually on Viktor’s shoulder.
Feeling Jayce’s body heat through the simple touch makes him want; want to hold onto Jayce, to kiss him, to tell him how much he loves breathing the same air as him. But Viktor is not brave enough for that, and he thinks that Jayce is unfortunately heterosexual.
Within moments, lighter purples and pale pinks begin to streak across the sky’s horizon. The wind tousles Viktor’s hair and Jayce torments him by wrapping an arm around his shoulders. They stand, leaning against the railing, watching as the sun begins to kiss the edge of the ocean. It rises above the harbour, the water like a distorted mirror.
“The harbour looks beautiful,” Jayce says with a sombre tone in his voice. “I want a house down there one day.”
“Any particular reason?” Viktor doesn’t mean to pry, but he’s awfully curious.
“My dad and I used to spend a lot of time down there. Fishing was his favourite pastime. I remember going out so early we’d watch the sunrise from the docks.” Jayce goes quiet then, his hand squeezing Viktor’s shoulder.
Hesitantly, Viktor raises a hand and places it over Jayce’s. Their gazes lock and there’s a moment of tension they haven’t had before. It’s almost romantic.
Would he kiss me if he knew how much I love him? Viktor thinks, searching Jayce’s hazel eyes. He clears his throat. “What… happened to your dad?”
The tension breaks and Jayce retracts his arm, folding his arms and leaning over the railing instead. Viktor misses his touch. “Freak accident at the forge when I was eleven. A fire broke out and he was trying to get everyone out. Because of him, almost everyone was safe by the time firefighters arrived—everyone but him and one of the blacksmiths.”
“I’m sorry,” Viktor says quietly, his eyes leaving Jayce to look back at the horizon. “I know what it’s like to lose a parent. Both of mine are gone.”
There’s a beat of silence between them, comfortable and familiar at this point. The sun rises above the harbour, and it’s a truly breathtaking view, one of Viktor’s favourites in the city.
“I go down there to be close to him,” Jayce says, his eyes not straying from the horizon. “That’s why I want a house there.”
For a moment, Viktor lets himself fantasize. A colourful townhouse down by the water. A small garden out front to appeal to his growing fondness for plants. A lab at home so they can work and then sleep in a bed rather than on a couch. They could have a small ceremony and only invite their closest friends and family, which wouldn’t be that many. Hell, he’d be happy with a courthouse wedding. He’d make Jayce breakfast. Have dinner together in their home. Get to greet him every morning with a kiss or a dozen. Watch the sunrise from their bedroom window.
Viktor’s stomach churns with yearning. He’d chew his own leg off if it meant he could have that with Jayce. That might be a little dramatic, but he’d do almost anything to be with his partner in more than a friendly capacity.
He has to remind himself that Jayce is straight. Jayce will most likely settle down with a wife and kids and leave Viktor behind once he’s rich and famous off Hextech. There’s a bitterness in the back of his throat that he desperately tries to ignore. No, Jayce wouldn’t leave me behind, would he? We’re partners. Even if he doesn’t love me, he must at least care.
Once the sun has fully risen in the sky, Jayce lets out a yawn and stretches his arms above his head. “Okay, I’m ready to crash for ten hours. Think we could take the day off and come back tomorrow?”
“Fine by me,” Viktor says with a shrug. He feels like he needs to unwind a little before going to bed to settle the uneasy feeling sitting in his stomach. There may be a 6 am glass of whiskey and a cigarette in his future.
They part ways with ‘good morning’ rather than the usual ‘goodnight’. It’s 6:30 by the time he gets home and he still feels unsettled. Just like he anticipated, he smokes a cigarette out the window of his bachelor apartment with a glass of cheap whiskey in hand, looking out to the awakening city.
His fantasy haunts him, and it would for years.
Viktor is much smaller than Jayce, meaning he has an easier and more successful time searching the small loft full of cobwebs. It’s been a few days and Jayce’s leg is doing much better, meaning it’s time for them to prepare to leave.
“You missed a ton of stuff up here,” Viktor says, moving aside some of the junk hiding the real treasures. He walks on his knees, carrying two glass jars covered in dust, peering over the edge of the loft. “Catch.”
Jayce holds out his hands and Viktor drops the bottles the two feet between their reach. Fortunately, nothing breaks. “Water bottles?”
“Mhm. Guess what else is up here,” Viktor says, crawling back to the corner where he found more useful items.
“Gods, I hope it's toothpaste. My mouth feels disgusting.”
“Oh, don’t say that. I hope toothpaste exists in this reality. You’re going to be extremely disappointed.” Viktor comes back to the edge, dropping two backpacks, a tarp, some rope and a compass on the floor next to Jayce. “That’s about as good as it gets. Trust me, I was hoping to find a bottle of whiskey and some chocolate up here.”
“Better than nothing, I guess,” Jayce sighs.
They clean the bottles and pack all the clothes they have to their name (which isn’t much), the rope, the tarp, a blanket and as many apples as they can carry. Viktor keeps the map and two books—the history book and the flora and fauna guide—while Jayce keeps the journal he adopted and the hunting knife. Once they’re all packed, they sit in front of the wood fire stove, planning to stay one more night.
Viktor decided to roast more mushrooms and root vegetables as their final warm meal for at least a few days. He rests his head on Jayce’s shoulder as he waits for them to cook, sighing softly. “I’m weirdly going to miss this place.”
“Me too,” Jayce says, wrapping an arm around Viktor’s waist and kissing the top of his head. “Think about it this way, though. We could find, I don’t know… I don’t think they’d have hotels, so I have no idea where we’d stay.”
“An inn?” Viktor can’t help but be reminded of all the historical fiction he’s read over the years, mostly romance-based. “With what money?”
Jayce shrugs a shoulder. “We’ll work, we’ve got marketable skills.”
Viktor snorts. “‘Marketable skills’? Alright, councilman.”
An indignant sound leaves Jayce’s mouth. “What? That’s what they are!”
Shaking his head, Viktor smiles to himself, deciding to move on. “Okay, we’ll work. What if the technology in this world is too rudimentary for our skills to actually be useful?”
“You forget I’m also a blacksmith. They’ve gotta have blacksmithing, at least.”
Viktor hums, checking their dinner. “There were mentions of steel in the history book, so you’re probably right about that.”
“I also think you could figure out how to fix anything. I’m sure that genius brain of yours will get you some work too.”
“So, what, we just live outside town in the woods while we try to save up enough money to get a bed for one night?”
“Since when are you such a pessimist?”
That annoys Viktor, his eyebrow twitching. He moves away from Jayce to face him, who immediately makes an expression that shows he knows he said the wrong thing. “I am not being a pessimist. I’m being a realist, Jayce. We have nothing to our names, we’re in a foreign reality, and we don’t know if we’ll even be allowed in this town.”
“I know, I’m sorry. I’m just trying to stay positive,” Jayce says quietly, frowning.
“It’s not helpful, it’s just delusional.”
“Delusional? That’s a bit of a stretch, don’t you think?”
“No, I don’t think so, because I’m forming a back-up plan which would be coming back here. Sure, the food options are limited, we don’t have a lot of the essentials we miss, but at least it’s a roof over our heads.”
“What? You’d just give up and turn back?” Jayce furrows his brow, looking a little frustrated himself. “You said it yourself, we can’t stay here forever.”
“At least it’s something!” Viktor is raising his voice, which makes him pause to take a deep breath so he can speak a little calmer. “I would rather be living as a hermit in the woods than homeless on the streets. I saw enough of that in Zaun and narrowly avoided it myself.”
Understanding appears to cross over Jayce’s face, and their essential differences are very prevalent in that moment. “I’m sorry, Vik, I didn’t think of it that way.”
Viktor rubs his forehead as if he’s trying to physically wipe away his frustration. He sighs. “I understand you’re trying to remain positive, I just don’t want to get swept up in a fantasy we can’t have.”
Jayce is silent for a moment, mulling over Viktor’s words. “You mean like a house.”
“Yes, like a house…”
With a quiet sigh, Jayce shifts closer and Viktor decides not to move away. He takes Viktor’s right hand in both hands, looking at him with sincerity. “A house would be nice. But I’m already home when I’m with you. That’s all I need.”
Viktor wants to shake Jayce and kiss him at the same time. ‘That’s not how that works’ and ‘You’re my home too’ are the two thoughts crossing his mind. He looks down at their joined hands, then back up at Jayce’s honest eyes. “You’re a sap, you know that?”
“I’m not the one with the romance novel collection.”
The accusation catches him by surprise, his cheeks heating up. “I—How do you know about that?”
Jayce grins and shrugs. “I think I saw one or two at some point. I didn’t know it was a collection though, you just told me that.”
Viktor’s jaw drops. “You sly zkurvysyn—” He cuts himself off to playfully shove his partner, only for Jayce to let out a jovial laugh. “Okay, yes, I like romance. Happy?”
“Very.” Jayce is still smiling when he leans in to kiss Viktor on the cheek, which Viktor graciously allows. “I think it’s sweet. Did you ever think of me when you were reading them, though?”
Embarrassment floods his system as he’s painfully aware that his cheeks must be bright red. “No comment.”
“C’moooon, what were you picturing? A prince? Or a gallant knight?” He’s referring to what Viktor called him the other morning and, yeah, that’s where he got those ideas in the first place.
“If we can ever afford alcohol again, ask me then,” Viktor mumbles, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity by steeling his expression.
Then he smells something. Something burning.
“Sračka,” he curses in a panic, swinging open the door of the stove to take out their overdone dinner. “This is your fault, by the way.”
“I accept responsibility,” Jayce acquiesces, holding his hands up in defeat.
They eat quietly, sitting side-by-side again like nothing happened. Until Jayce says, “Was that our first fight as a couple?”
Viktor lets out a soft chuckle, shaking his head fondly. “Yes, I think it was.”
They head to bed not long after that, curled under the covers together as they have for the last six days. Viktor sighs against Jayce’s chest, casually petting the hair there.
“Did you always have a thing for hair?” Jayce asks, watching Viktor’s fingers.
“I always thought you’d look hot with a beard. I thought about your hair in other places too, obviously…” Viktor kisses his pec before tilting his head up to look at Jayce with a smirk. “And I knew you’d get hotter with age.”
“You’re one to talk.” With a soft smile, Jayce strokes Viktor’s cheek. “I know you’re going to look divine at forty. And you’re going to make it there this time.”
Viktor’s chest tightens with the memory of telling Jayce he never thought he’d make it to that age. Despite that, he laughs. “You better not wait until I’m forty to marry me.”
“Not a chance. I don’t think I could wait that long.”
“Good.” With a soft sigh, Viktor settles against Jayce’s chest again, letting his eyes slip closed. “I love you.”
“I love you,” Jayce whispers, kissing the top of Viktor’s head.
He falls asleep to the thought of a white townhouse with a dark green trim near the harbour.
Chapter 7: Whiskey & Tobacco
Summary:
Jayce and Viktor finally venture off to find civilization while Jayce shares his perspective of an interesting encounter at a bar.
Notes:
This chapter is a little different from the others because it's mostly a flashback. It's kind of a bridge into the next phase of the story, but it is one of my favourite flashbacks!
Going forward the end notes will have a timeline. There are a lot of flashbacks throughout this fic (I think there will be 21 in total), and I know it can be hard to keep track of what happened when. I had to make a timeline for myself so I thought it would be useful to readers as well!
Tags have been updated to include some new kinks. 👀
No new Czech in this chapter.
Songs for this chapter
I Don't Wanna Talk (I Just Wanna Dance) by Glass Animals
Secret Scream by The Black Queen (this is specifically for the sex scene)Kudos and comments are always appreciated. 💕
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
They leave at dawn, dressed in the most comfortable clothes they own. Viktor doesn’t have any gloves, so he wears the cloak he came in over his left shoulder to hide his hand warped by the Hexcore—in case they encounter anyone.
Following the compass westward to the forest’s edge, they both look back at the cabin. It feels like leaving behind an old friend and it leaves a bittersweet feeling in Jayce’s heart. He’ll remember this place fondly, even though it was difficult to live in, because of how their relationship evolved there.
Taking Viktor’s hand, they follow the river, knowing that according to the map they only have to worry when they meet a fork. They’re both hesitant to be walking beyond the forest where anyone could see them, but they have no choice because it’s just grasslands for as far as they can see. The only things in the distance are a mountain, and another forest, but far—it might take them the entire day to reach it.
The late spring sun is warm on their skin, somehow making Jayce miss home even more. It reminds him of spring festivals in the city square after two long months of winter. The homesickness has been building up over the last three weeks, but he’s been trying to hide it because of the guilt Viktor already feels for bringing them here in the first place. He knows eventually it’s going to spill over and he’ll need to talk about it, but now is certainly not the time.
“What if the people here are homophobic?” Viktor breaks their comfortable silence, holding Jayce’s hand tighter.
“We’ll just… have to feel it out. We could say we’re friends for now, or companions?”
Viktor makes a face, one that says he hates both words. “I suppose ‘friends’ it is. We don’t want ‘partners’ giving people the right idea, which could be dangerous.”
“I hate just being your friend,” Jayce laughs, trying to lift the mood.
“Oh, seven years and now you tell me this?” Viktor sounds amused, which is a relief.
“It was torture because you’re so hot it drives me insane.”
With a snort, Viktor playfully bumps his shoulder into Jayce’s arm. “Yes, and you weren’t even the one who knew you were hopelessly in love with me. That was torture. I thought you were straight for the longest time.”
Jayce stops, frowning at his partner, who halts as he does to give him a look of confusion. “Viktor… You have no idea, even if I didn’t realize I was in love with you, how difficult it was to be around you. I felt like I was going to explode and do something stupid, like kiss you out of the blue, which would’ve ruined our friendship.”
Viktor’s eyes soften, processing the information. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think about how that must have felt. I shouldn’t have assumed it wasn’t as hard.”
“Thank you,” Jayce says with a small smile, squeezing Viktor’s hand. The mention of being straight resurfaces a memory, though. “Do you remember when I told you I was bi?”
There’s a pause and, for a moment, he thinks Viktor doesn’t remember. However, a look of embarrassment (something he’s learning even Viktor can show) crosses his face. “I do, yes.”
Jayce has only been to the Undercity maybe two dozen times. Half of those times were with Viktor, usually trying foods or visiting places his partner misses. Some were for sourcing equipment for the early days of Hextech. But lately, his trips on his own in the last four months have been for different reasons, which he hasn’t told anyone about. Not even Viktor, but if he’s being honest, he’s doing it because of Viktor. It’s not his fault. The blame is on Jayce’s uncontrollable lust for him.
When he started masturbating to the thought of his best friend a year into their partnership, Jayce thought it would be a phase. But then it continued. By year two, he tried to quit cold turkey. He lasted about a month without pleasuring himself to the fantasies, but he was still daydreaming all the time. For another year he tormented himself, but finally he couldn’t take it anymore.
It started with trying at average Piltover bars. His eyes would scan the room looking for any man who was lanky, shorter than him, and had wavy brown hair. Bonus if he had moles or golden honey eyes. But he had no such luck, and after the launch of the Hexgates (and assaulting a famous investor), he was getting recognized everywhere he went.
That’s when he realized he was less likely to be recognized in the Undercity. It could give him more opportunities to hook up with people without the rumour mill catching on. So he bought clothes that were less formal, almost passable in the Undercity, and started bar hopping to find the ideal establishment. Eventually he happened upon a gay bar in the Lanes that he felt a little at home at. Dingy, but the music was great, the drinks were better, and he had a wide selection to choose from.
Each time he went, he successfully managed to pull a man who looked similar to Viktor in some way and then went back to his place. There was no way he was crossing the bridge with a hookup when he was trying to lay low. The last one looked so much like Viktor that he even said his name when he came, which made things extremely embarrassing and awkward. He’d said that was going to be the last time, but here he is again, planning on visiting his favourite bar to pick up another Viktor lookalike.
“I’m headed out early today, and I won’t be in tomorrow. Taking the day off. That alright with you, boss?” Jayce asks one Friday afternoon.
“I’m not your boss,” Viktor reminds him from where he’s standing at the chalkboard, drafting equations for potential crystal stabilization.
“You’re the closest thing I have to one. You’re always reining me in.” Jayce tries his best not to, but his eyes do land on Viktor’s ass. Though he’s a bony man, his cheeks look round and soft.
Viktor hums, still facing the board. “If anyone were your boss, it would be Heimerdinger. Why don’t you go ask him if it’s okay for you to take a day off after working sixty-five hours this week—if I counted correctly.”
“Pretty sure you’ve worked seventy.”
“Exactly why I will be doing the same thing.”
Jayce raises his eyebrows, prying his eyes from Viktor’s ass to look at his face when he turns around. “You’re taking a day off? Really?”
“I need to take care of my plants and, yes, drink some whiskey with a good book for once.”
The idea of Viktor having a quiet night at home makes Jayce wish he could join him. It would be nice to sit in comfortable silence and enjoy his companionship.
This whole projecting his romantic unfulfillment on Viktor thing really has to stop. He’s only craving the domestic things with him because it’s not about him, it’s just about Jayce being lonely.
“See you Sunday morning, then?” Jayce asks before he heads out around 7:30 pm.
“Yes. Have a good night, Jayce.”
Jayce grabs a quick bite to eat on his way home. When he gets back he showers, dresses in dark jeans and a simple white long sleeve shirt under his leather jacket. He decides to skip the hair gel, allowing his hair to fall over his forehead to make himself a little less recognizable. Finally, he heads out the door. It’s early fall so the air is crisp and feels fresh on his skin and in his lungs. Fall has always been his favourite season, despite being a precursor to his least favourite one.
He crosses the bridge and arrives at his usual bar by ten, barely getting any second glances as he does.
Rolling up to the bar, Jayce orders a beer, not wanting to get too drunk that he can’t get himself home after a hookup. For about an hour, he prowls around the dance floor, on the lookout for anyone that fits his bill. When he doesn’t find anyone of interest, he decides to camp at the end of the L-shaped bar. Half an hour later a short, thin man with medium-length wavy brown hair and honey eyes just walks up to the stool next to him and sits, waiting for the bartender.
“Can I buy you your drink?” Jayce asks immediately, catching the man’s attention.
The stranger smiles at him. His smile is pretty… not as pretty as Viktor’s. “Sure. What’s your name, handsome?”
“Jay.” He’s smart enough to know not to use his real name, but it’s not the most creative cover.
“Tommy. What do you do?”
“I’m a blacksmith.” Another half-truth.
“Oh, I can tell,” Tommy says, eying him up and down. The bartender comes over and asks for his order. “A vodka soda, please.”
He used to think Viktor might be a vodka person. Turns out he hates vodka. “What about you?”
“I’m a dancer.” Jayce’s eyebrows raise. Tommy giggles. “Yes, that kind of dancer.”
“Well, I can see why, you’re beautiful,” Jayce says. He is beautiful. Just not as beautiful as Viktor.
“Thank you, I could say the same to you. You’re very… clean-cut for a blacksmith, though. I’d expect you to be a little more...”
“Rugged?” Jayce laughs, trying to hide his nervousness. “I just try to look my best when I go out.”
“I see. You certainly clean up well.” The bartender delivers Tommy’s vodka soda and Jayce pays with a generous tip.
They chat for a little while and Jayce learns that Tommy was born and raised in the Lanes and he doesn’t usually come to this bar. It’s obvious that Tommy is into him because he continues to casually touch him—a hand on his arm, a subtle touch to his thigh. Not to mention, he keeps batting his dark lashes at him. Things seem to be going well until his eyes drift from Tommy’s face, just momentarily, and he accidentally locks onto something—someone—he didn’t expect to see.
Viktor is sitting at the other end of the bar chatting with a larger man. He looks underdressed for once, wearing a simple green sweater rather than his usual dress shirt and vest, and… is he smoking a cigarette?
A chain reaction of emotions bubbles up inside him.
Arousal—Viktor looks good enough to eat and now I have a smoking kink.
Panic—Viktor is here. In the Undercity. At a gay bar. Which I am also at.
Jealousy—Who the fuck is Viktor talking to? Why is Viktor here?
Devastation—Viktor is here for the same reason I am.
Everything amounts to a sickness in the pit of his stomach. He doesn't even realize he’s been staring this whole time until Viktor’s eyes lock with his own and a complex expression crosses his face. It’s a mix of shock, happiness and confusion.
“Hello? Have you been listening?” Tommy asks.
Jayce turns back to him, his brain catching up to the fact that he just got caught being distracted. Distracted by the object of his deepest desire, no less. “No. I’ve gotta go.” Without another word, Jayce finishes his third beer and leaves it on the bar, ditching Tommy without a second thought.
Viktor looks like he wasn’t expecting Jayce to walk over. As he approaches, Jayce hears the tall tanned man with dark hair say to Viktor, “So, what kinda things do you like? I always hear the quiet ones are freaks in the bedroom.”
Viktor rolls his eyes, seeming both relieved and unsettled that Jayce has shown up. “I’m bored of you,” Viktor says bluntly to the man, taking a drag of the cigarette. “Will you please leave so my friend can sit with me?”
The man looks taken aback, turning to look at Jayce, and frankly, he’s relieved. This guy sounds like an asshole and Viktor shouldn’t be wasting his time with him.
“Tch, whatever, you’re not that hot anyway,” the man grumbles, and if Jayce hadn’t learned his lesson at the gala five months ago, the guy would be on the floor. He clenches his fists at his sides instead. Jayce watches him walk away before turning back to his partner.
Viktor is studying him, much like if he were under a microscope, still smoking his cigarette. Now that he’s up close, he can see that Viktor’s hair is a little more out of place—like someone’s been running their fingers through it. Another pang of jealousy makes itself known in the pit of his stomach.
“Well, are you going to sit?”
Sitting down with a sheepish expression on his face, Jayce clears his throat. “I didn’t know you smoked.” Viktor also looks relaxed, like he’s unloaded a burden from his shoulders that he carries to the lab every day. Jayce wants to see more of this Viktor.
“Occasionally,” Viktor says, holding out the cigarette between two graceful fingers. “Want to share?”
Jayce hasn’t considered smoking before this moment, but Viktor makes it look so appealing that he can’t resist. Taking it in his own fingers, he takes a drag of the cigarette, only to cough halfway through inhaling. “Y-You know what, maybe I’m good,” he says with embarrassment, coughing still as he hands it back.
Viktor looks a little amused at that, but doesn’t comment. Taking it from him, Viktor rests it in the communal ashtray on the bar. With a sip of whiskey, he studies him again. “What are you doing here, Talis?”
Jayce swallows thickly, staring at Viktor. He can’t tell if his partner is just perplexed or if there’s also anger behind his expression. It’s almost as though Jayce has just uncovered a secret of Viktor’s—that he likes to smoke cigarettes while he flirts with strange men at a gay bar. But, Viktor has also just discovered his. “Just… uh… unwinding?”
“At a gay bar in the Undercity?” Viktor questions, quirking an eyebrow at him. “Don’t play games with me. You didn’t follow me here, did you?”
Jayce frowns. “What? No, of course not.”
“Then why are you really here?”
“Because… I’m less likely to get recognized down here.”
“I thought you were straight,” Viktor says plainly, picking up the cigarette again to take a drag.
“I, uh, thought I was too,” he says, smiling coyly. “Turns out I’m bisexual.”
“No shit? Since when?”
Jayce is almost thrown off by how casual Viktor is at the moment, which only makes him wonder how many drinks he’s had. “Since about a year ago?”
“Did you have a hard time when you were questioning your sexuality?”
“Kind of.”
“And you didn’t tell me?” Viktor actually looks a little hurt by that.
“It’s… something I’m still working through, hence the secrecy.”
“Can I get you anything?” The bartender interrupts, breaking the tension a little.
Jayce glances down at the glass of whiskey in Viktor’s hand. “I’ll have what he’s having,” he says, looking at Viktor. “Can I buy you another?”
His partner smiles slightly before nodding and finishing his drink. “So, golden boy, do you come here often?”
“Maybe once a month” He feels like he should be embarrassed admitting it to Viktor. They’re best friends, but this feels like a new boundary is being crossed, like it’s a little too personal to know that they were both here looking for a hookup—at least, that’s what Jayce assumes. “What about you?”
“I’ve been a regular here since before I crossed the bridge,” Viktor says, still smoking his cigarette. Jayce didn’t find it enjoyable, but he’d love to taste it on Viktor’s lips. “I probably come here twice a month now.”
The bartender returns, placing two whiskeys on the rocks in front of them. Jayce is an asshole for it, but he kind of regrets wasting his money on Tommy now. He wished he spent that money on buying Viktor drinks instead.
“You looked like you were busy,” Viktor comments, picking up his tumbler of whiskey with the same hand still holding the cigarette between his index and middle fingers. Jayce feels like he’s short-circuiting at how hot this version of Viktor is. “I’m surprised you came over.”
I was in the middle of wooing a man who looks like Viktor, but… I’d rather spend my night ogling the real thing.
“He wasn’t really my type,” Jayce lies, nervously sipping his whiskey. Lying is not something he has any ounce of talent in, so he’s expecting Viktor to catch him in it.
Rather than calling him out, Viktor smirks. “Yeah? What’s your type, if not skinny brunettes?”
Viktor is challenging him, trying to poke holes in the lie. Swallowing the lump in his throat, Jayce drums his fingers against the bartop, trying to think of a lie to distract from the fact that Viktor is absolutely his type. Jayce only has a type because of Viktor. “I do like men smaller than me but, uh—” He pauses, trying to fight his panic. “I like blondes.”
“Really? You left a potential hookup to talk to me because he wasn’t blonde?” Viktor looks amused, as if he’s mocking Jayce. It makes Jayce squirm under his careful observation, and if he wasn’t trying to avoid hinting at the fact that he wants to ravage Viktor with his mouth right now, he’d like it.
“Yeah, I mean, I was… not very interested anyway.” Jayce tries to brush it off, taking another sip of his whiskey. It’s not as good as the stuff Viktor gave him for last Winter Solstice, but it’s taking the edge off. He tries to deflect. “What about you?”
Viktor takes another drag of his cigarette, finishing it off and exhaling out of the side of his mouth before stubbing it out. Jayce is secretly hoping he’ll smoke another. “I’m not very picky. I’m attracted to most men who look like they can throw me around.”
A laugh escapes Jayce at that, somewhere between anxious and genuine amusement. That bit of information makes a home in the back of his mind in his hoarder collection of facts about Viktor. “Did I interrupt? Sorry if I ruined your chance at a…”
“A mediocre lay? Like I said, I was bored. He was hot, but there was nothing behind his eyes. I like to think I have a little more dignity than jumping the first muscular man I see, especially if he’s an asshole or dumb as bricks.” Viktor leans his head against his fist, elbow propped up on the bar. His fingers start twirling in his hair—an adorable habit he has when he’s thinking. “While I appreciate you ‘saving’ me from being bored to death, I don’t want to hold you up from doing what you came here to do.”
Jayce contemplates Viktor’s words. If I pull off the right amount of charm, I could probably win Tommy back. I could also look for someone else. Or, I could spend my night with the real thing, even if it means I’m not getting laid. “Nah, I’d rather have a drink with my friend.”
Viktor smiles at that, like it was the right answer to an unspoken test. “I will gladly participate in that.”
“So, is this what you call taking care of your plants and reading a good book?” Jayce says it teasingly, feeling like the awkwardness of the situation has finally melted away.
The laugh Viktor lets out makes Jayce’s stomach flip-flop. “I am actually going to take care of my plants and read a book, just tomorrow.”
“What book are you gonna read?”
Viktor looks hesitant, chewing on his lip before he speaks. “A… fantasy novel about a coven of witches accidentally releasing a demon and then trying to imprison him again. I’ve had it on my shelf collecting dust since I bought it about six months ago.”
“Y’know, I never asked you… why do you like fantasy so much? It’s what you exclusively read, right?”
“More or less. Growing up poor, hungry and disabled, you look for ways to dissociate from reality.” With a shrug and a sip of his drink, Viktor smiles a bit. “And I’m a man of science with a fascination with magic.”
Jayce’s heart aches for the younger Viktor that didn’t have the same privileges he did. He wishes he could somehow go back and change it all for him, but he also knows that would fundamentally change Viktor as well.
“I hadn’t thought about that… and that explains why you jumped on Hextech so quickly,” Jayce says, almost to himself, like a piece of Viktor makes so much more sense now.
“I suppose. I was more intrigued by the genius behind the magic,” Viktor says as he casually places a hand on Jayce’s thigh, leaning closer.
Confusion suddenly floods his senses from the touch. Is Viktor… flirting with me? Just as quickly as he did it, Viktor pulls his hand back. He doesn’t lean away though. No. That was just… a friendly touch. “Well, I’m flattered.”
“You don’t take your hookups topside, do you?”
“Gods, no. I’m smart enough to only go to their places. I also tell people my name is Jay and that I’m a blacksmith.”
“Smart. But really, ‘Jay’?” Viktor snorts. Jayce loves that sound so much.
“Hey, I panicked and went with the first thing I could think of and it stuck. What do you say?”
“That my name is Michal and I’m a mechanical repair contractor.” Viktor finishes his whiskey, fingers circling the rim after he sets it down. “Both are technically true, just not presently.”
Jayce brow pinches. “What do you mean?”
“Michal is the masculine version of my deadname, and until I went to the Academy I worked in a mechanic repair shop.”
“Oh.” Jayce studies him for a moment. “You don’t look like a Michal. Viktor suits you.”
His partner smiles at that, his cheeks turning pink, but that could very well be from the alcohol. “Thank you. I think so too.”
The bartender comes by and Viktor orders a tonic water instead of another drink and Jayce follows his example. It seems like Viktor is avoiding a repeat of that one time they overdid it.
“So, how did you figure out you were bi?” Viktor asks casually.
Alarm bells go off in Jayce’s head. Viktor was his bisexual awakening. He’s never thought about another man like that until he met Viktor. But he can’t say that… so he lies. He hates lying to Viktor. “I, uh… caught myself staring at other men.” Technically true. “I thought it was just me… appreciating a good-looking guy, neutrally, but then, I, um—”
“Started to have sexual fantasies about him?” Viktor guesses correctly, smirking over his tonic.
“Well, yeah,” Jayce admits, sweating and flushing with embarrassment. When he woke up this morning, he didn’t think he would be having this conversation today, let alone with Viktor. “How did you know?”
“I always knew I was gay,” Viktor says with a shrug, and that confirms Jayce’s suspicions. He hadn’t been one hundred percent sure, but he’d thought for a while that Viktor was gay. “I figured out I was trans pretty young. By the time I was six, I had chosen ‘Viktor’. For a while I thought I was supposed to like girls if I was going to be a boy. But my first kiss was when I was twelve with a boy who didn’t treat me differently. He was my first friend.”
There’s a sad smile on Viktor’s lips, melancholic and reminiscent. Something tightens in Jayce’s chest, sensing that it’s not a happy story. “What happened to him?”
“The flu. His immune system was just as bad as mine,” Viktor says with a sigh. “Maybe I should have ordered another drink.”
Jayce laughs softly, impulsively placing his hand on Viktor’s thigh. His gold eyes flicker down to Jayce’s hand, his expression unreadable, but he seems unbothered. “Let me get you that drink. Another whiskey on the rocks? Middle shelf?”
“You know me too well.”
Jayce orders Viktor his drink and another beer for himself. He’s trying to steer clear of getting too drunk, instead maintaining a steady buzz. Viktor pulls another cigarette out of a compartment in his cane, one Jayce didn’t know about, and asks the bartender for a light. So that’s where he keeps his stash.
“So, I’m curious, Talis. What’s your play?”
“My what?” Jayce pretends not to be mesmerized by the cigarette between Viktor’s lips, so badly wanting that to be him—any part of him. He’d accept a pinky finger, he’s so pathetic.
“How do you get into people’s beds? I’m sure the charismatic golden boy has some smooth moves.” The smoke leaves Viktor’s mouth as he’s speaking, rising like milky tendrils. “Or is it all just your good looks?”
He thinks I’m good-looking? “Uh, well… I guess the charisma does help. I start by offering to buy them a drink.”
“You’ve bought me a drink. What next?”
Jayce blinks. “What?”
“Humour me. Call it an experiment of curiosity,” Viktor says with a smirk, crossing his legs. “You see me at the bar and want to take me home, so you buy me a drink. What next?”
Swallowing thickly, Jayce stares at Viktor. Are they really doing this? He could say no, but it’s very hard for him to say no to Viktor. “Well, I usually start with names. My name is Jay, what’s yours?”
“Michal,” Viktor responds, watching Jayce with amusement.
“It’s nice to meet you, Michal,” Jayce says, anxiety buzzing under his skin. “Do you come here often?”
Viktor laughs. “That classic line, huh? Not often enough to have seen you around, handsome.”
Handsome. It makes his stomach flutter pleasantly. “Hey, it’s a classic for a reason.” He takes a swig of his beer, hoping it will give him the liquid courage he needs. “You look beautiful tonight. I think your eyes are… enchanting.” It’s all true.
With a raised eyebrow, Viktor just watches him in silence for a few moments as he takes a languid drag of his cigarette. “You think I’m beautiful?” Viktor pauses, contemplating his own question. “What do you like about me, other than my eyes?”
“Your cheekbones, your moles, the way you’re smoking that cigarette—I could go on,” Jayce says, the honesty seeping out of him like blood from a cut. He leans in, eyes hooded as he’s overtaken by the roleplay. “I bet you’d look beautiful if I ruined you, too.”
A sly smirk stretches on Viktor’s lips as he takes yet another drag. This time, he holds it before grabbing Jayce’s chin and leaning in closer. Their lips are inches apart and the smoke floods his lungs as Viktor exhales. “I think I’d be the one ruining you, golden boy.”
Panic rises in Jayce’s gut as he feels his dick twitch in his pants. “You’re, uh… you’re good at this,” Jayce says, finally coming back to reality as he pulls away. His mouth feels dry and he’s incredibly horny because, gods, he’d be honoured to be ruined by Viktor. He’d let him do anything he wanted to him.
“Thank you,” Viktor says, still smiling in a way that says he knows how he just affected Jayce. He leans back, taking hold of his tumbler of whiskey before knocking it back. The glass goes back on the bar with a clunk and Viktor studies him for a moment. “Want to get out of here?”
Jayce’s brain is running a mile a minute. What does that mean? Is Viktor suggesting what he thinks he’s suggesting, or is he just saying that he wants to go home? No matter what it means, Jayce tips back his beer, downing it, and says, “Yeah. Let’s go.”
The temperature has dropped a little outside since Jayce arrived at the bar. He has his leather jacket, but Viktor is just wearing his woolly green sweater. Viktor finishes his cigarette and stubs it out before tossing it in a trashcan they pass as they head toward the bridge. After walking quietly together for a few minutes, Jayce notices Viktor shiver, his breath coming out in subtle clouds from the chill.
“Hey,” Jayce gets Viktor’s attention before taking off his jacket and holding it up to help him put it on. “I’m good without it, and you seem cold.”
“This sweater is warm enough. I’m fine, Jayce.”
“Please, I insist. I don’t want you getting sick because you’re being stubborn.”
Viktor’s cheeks are pink from the cool air, hesitating to accept. After a moment of staring at Jayce’s offer, he approaches, slipping his arms into the jacket. “Thank you, Jayce.” Viktor is practically swimming in it, the arms too long for him, and it looks about three sizes too big. “Would you mind if I held onto your arm?”
Jayce figured out a while ago that Viktor pretends to need help to comfort Jayce when it snows, so he’s a little confused when Viktor asks. It’s not snowing, and Viktor doesn’t seem that drunk, so that can’t be the reason either. Maybe he just… wants to? “I don’t mind,” Jayce says, sticking his hands in his jean pockets and offering his arm.
“Such a gentleman,” Viktor chuckles, holding onto Jayce.
“I try.” His focus is on the contact between them, and what just happened at the bar is still swirling in his head. Jayce has no idea where they’re going—is he going home alone? Is he going to Viktor’s? What is happening? He’s not sure how to ask. “Do you… want me to walk you home?”
Viktor is silent for a few moments. “No, I can get home on my own.” His hand tightens where it’s curled around Jayce’s bicep.
Okay, well, that answers that.
They walk in relative quiet, except for Viktor’s passing comment about how beautiful the view from the bridge is at night. When they get to the street that diverges their paths home, Jayce looks down at Viktor, who stares back up at him. Things seem awkward, like there were expectations that weren’t met because neither of them are brave enough to challenge their friendship for a one-night stand. At least, that’s what it feels like.
Viktor goes to remove the jacket, but Jayce holds up a hand in protest. “Just give it back to me on Sunday,” he says. What he doesn’t say is how good Viktor looks in it.
“Okay. Goodnight, Jayce.” Without another word, Viktor starts to walk in the direction of his apartment.
Goodnight. Does he actually want to say it? He could still say something, could still tell him that he wants Viktor to absolutely ruin him. That he’ll let Viktor do whatever he wants to him.
“I—Viktor, wait,” he starts, then stops again. Viktor turns and looks at him, almost expectantly, but he has no idea what he’s going to say. He swallows a nervous lump in his throat. “Um… thanks for hanging out with me and talking with me. Nobody else knows.”
It takes Viktor a moment to process what Jayce is referring to. “Not even Caitlyn knows you’re bi?”
“No. I don’t know if I’m ready to… come out. I know she wouldn’t treat me any differently, but it’s still scary.”
“Well… I’m here if you want to talk again,” Viktor says kindly, but there’s disappointment in his voice. It seems like… Viktor actually wanted to hook up? Is this real?
Panic and confusion warp his mind. He could have this. He could have his fantasies answered tonight. But where would they go from there? They’re business partners, best friends—if they start fucking because Jayce has a stupidly intense lust for Viktor, it could ruin everything.
Jayce can’t do it.
“Goodnight, Viktor,” he says, letting out a shaky breath. He turns and heads home without looking at Viktor again, out of fear that he might sprint back and kiss the man senseless.
The entire walk home, he replays the events at the bar. When he gets inside his apartment and locks the door, shame begins to flood his system.
He knows he’s about to rewrite history, even though he told himself he would stop using real scenarios for his fantasies.
Jayce goes to his bedroom in a rush, stripping down to just his underwear before lying on the bed. Shutting his eyes, he lets the fantasy take him back to the bar.
“Your cheekbones, your moles, the way you’re smoking that cigarette—I could go on,” Jayce says, the honesty seeping out of him like blood from a cut. He leans in, eyes hooded as he’s overtaken by the roleplay. “I bet you’d look beautiful if I ruined you, too.”
A sly smirk stretches on Viktor’s lips as he takes yet another drag. This time, he holds it before grabbing Jayce’s chin and leaning in closer. Their lips are inches apart and the smoke floods his lungs as Viktor exhales. “I think I’d be the one ruining you, golden boy.”
“I’d let you—I’d let you do anything to me,” Jayce admits, his eyes flickering down to Viktor’s lips.
“That’s what I like to hear.”
The space between them closes as Viktor leans in and captures his mouth with his own, still holding Jayce’s chin. His tongue traces the seam of his lips, and Jayce willingly opens his mouth for Viktor to violate. It’s simultaneously shocking and dizzying but he quickly turns into a participant rather than a spectator. Viktor tastes like an intoxicating blend of whiskey and tobacco, just like he imagined. Slowly, he runs his hand up the inside of Viktor’s thigh, and his partner rewards him by sucking on his tongue.
Pulling back only a few inches, Viktor assesses Jayce with a careful gaze. The cigarette returns to his lips as his thumb traces Jayce’s bottom lip, smoke rising as he speaks. “Want to get out of here?”
“Absolutely,” Jayce says eagerly, leaning back to chug the rest of his beer. Viktor follows suit, knocking back the whiskey but keeping the cigarette. They leave in a bit of a hurry and Jayce immediately notices the temperature drop. Knowing Viktor didn’t bring a jacket, he gives Viktor his without a second thought.
“Such a gentleman,” Viktor comments teasingly. “Could you support me for a second?”
Jayce nods, wrapping his arm around Viktor’s waist and holding his cane for him when he hands it to him. Taking hold of Jayce’s jaw, holding the cigarette up between two lithe fingers, he locks eyes with Jayce. “Want to try another drag, golden boy?”
Jayce’s eyes glance at the cigarette and then back to Viktor, nodding despite the fact that he doesn’t know exactly what he’s agreeing to. The cigarette returns to Viktor’s lips and he inhales deeply before holding it in and connecting their mouths again. Jayce breathes in as Viktor exhales and then licks into his mouth. The smoke fills his lungs, heavy and a little minty, while his tongue slides against Viktor’s in an effort to keep up with his ferocity.
Viktor’s free hand moves away from his jaw to scratch the nape of Jayce’s neck. Jayce is entirely swept away by the kiss. His arm slips under the jacket to place his hand on Viktor’s waist—gods, his waist is so small and fits his hand perfectly. A hum of approval leaves Viktor as he slides his tongue slowly against Jayce’s one last time before pulling away. “How was that?”
“I, uh… definitely liked it better that time.”
Viktor chuckles, taking back his cane before finishing his cigarette and disposing of it. “Mind if I hold onto your arm?”
“Please do,” Jayce says, maybe a little too enthusiastically.
Taking hold of Jayce’s arm, they begin to head to the bridge. “Your place or mine?”
“Mine is closer,” Jayce says quickly, because he needs to have Viktor in his bed as soon as possible.
It’s a quiet walk back, Viktor’s thumb rubbing circles on his bicep as they do, but they walk a little faster than usual—with purpose. When they get to Jayce’s door, Viktor looks impatient while he fishes his keys out of his pocket. As soon as the door opens, Viktor shoves him inside and pushes him against the door once it’s closed.
Dropping his cane and shrugging off Jayce’s jacket, Viktor attacks his mouth again. It’s a flurry of teeth and tongue as Viktor proceeds to shove one hand up the front of Jayce’s shirt, feeling his abs just for the sake of touching. Jayce’s hands find the hem of the woolly sweater that makes Viktor look so soft and handsome that he almost mourns taking it off—almost.
“Carry me,” Viktor demands when he’s free of his sweater, stripped down to only a white t-shirt.
Jayce is more than happy to oblige, leaning down to lift Viktor by the backs of his thighs while he holds onto Jayce’s shoulders. He weighs almost nothing in his arms and Jayce can’t count how many times he’s wanted to carry him like this. Viktor goes in for another kiss, running his fingers through Jayce’s hair as he dominates his mouth. It’s muscle memory that gets them to the bedroom, where Jayce doesn’t bother closing the door before lowering Viktor onto the bed.
Faster than Jayce can even process, Viktor has his brace off, dropping it to the floor. “Shirt, off,” Viktor commands, pulling off his own, revealing a map of pale skin with a galaxy of moles dotting his torso. Jayce practically salivates at the sight, wanting to kiss each one.
He follows his orders, removing his shirt and tossing it to the floor before climbing on top of Viktor. His partner grabs him by the back of his neck, pulling him in to return to his lips. Jayce has never kissed any of his hookups, it’s his one rule, but this is Viktor—he’s happy to be eaten alive by this man. While they hungrily make out, Viktor’s free hand travels down Jayce’s torso, tracing the defined lines of his muscles.
Letting out a shuddering breath, Jayce’s right hand explores his upper body, following the path of Viktor’s in his imagination. “Vik…”
One of his hands card through Viktor’s waves, something he’s wanted to do for years. A possessive feeling rises in his chest from the memory of Viktor’s hair being out of place at the bar. Whatever man had had his hand in his Viktor’s hair—maybe the asshole who insulted him—didn’t deserve it. But he can relish in the soft locks curled in his hand while Viktor licks into his mouth like a wild animal.
Viktor’s hands move to unbutton Jayce’s jeans, making quick work of the zipper, before trying to shove them down. Breaking the kiss, Jayce quickly sits up and finishes taking them off, then returns to his rightful place between Viktor’s legs. “Let’s get you out of yours,” he says, sliding his hands up Viktor’s thighs, just like he had at the bar.
“Don’t waste my time, Talis. Are you going to take my pants off or not?”
Jayce chuckles, having suspected that Viktor would be an impatient lover. Not wanting to ruin his chances, he gets to work removing Viktor’s trousers, not bothering with his socks, and tosses them over his shoulder. “Can I mark you?”
“That depends,” Viktor says, hooking his left leg around Jayce’s hip in an attempt to pull him back in. Obliging to Viktor's desire, Jayce leans down and his partner holds his jaw, just like he had when he first kissed him. “Can I choke you?”
Jayce’s eyes practically bug out of his head at the question. “Fuck, yes.”
“Fuck, yes,” he whispers out into the silence of the night, palming himself through his underwear. The thought of Viktor choking him has crossed his mind about a dozen times now, but he hadn’t yet incorporated it into one of his fantasies.
Viktor grins wickedly, satisfied with Jayce’s eagerness. “Then you may mark me up—below the collar.”
Taking that as an invitation, Jayce starts at his shoulder, kissing and licking until he sucks a pretty purple mark on Viktor’s fair skin. A moan slips out past his lips as Viktor’s fingers tangle in Jayce’s hair while his other hand caresses his pec, blunt nails leaving a pink trail behind. Jayce’s hips roll in response, his clothed erection making contact with the heat between Viktor’s legs, earning another wanton moan from him.
Trailing love bites down Viktor’s upper body while kissing each mole on his way, Jayce reaches Viktor’s underwear and looks up at him. “Can I eat you out while I finger you?”
“Make it quick, I want you to fuck me already,” Viktor huffs, face flushed from arousal.
Jayce’s hands gradually peel away Viktor’s underwear, watching his face with amusement. “You say that like you’ve been waiting for me to fuck you.”
Viktor’s chest rises and falls with his shaky breath as Jayce removes his underwear, taking in the lovely trail of hair leading to his folds. His partner bites his bottom lip before speaking. “I may have thought about us making a mess in the lab together. Once or twice.”
It’s pathetic, but Jayce’s hand slips past the waistband of his briefs at the thought of Viktor thinking about him too. He wonders, in the back of his mind, what Viktor’s fantasies might look like, if he had them. But he’s too swept up in his own imagination to really think about that right now. Starting slow, painfully slow, he strokes himself while continuing to daydream.
“Once or twice?” Jayce grins, tossing Viktor’s underwear to the floor before lying on his stomach between Viktor’s legs. “I’ve thought about you. Almost every day,” he says, nipping Viktor’s inner thigh. “In the lab. In my bed. In the kitchen. In the living room. In the back of a car. Wanted to fuck you at the gala in the garden. You looked so good in that suit.”
Viktor gasps as Jayce makes a new bruise on his inner thigh, then trails kisses upwards toward his destination. “I would have let you bend me over your desk in your apartment that blew up, if you’d asked. The first night.”
That line came out of nowhere. Maybe he’s been lusting after Viktor a lot longer than he knew, but he doesn’t let himself reflect on it. He’s going to have to reimagine their first night together later. Right now, he’s reaching for the bottle of lube in his bedside table drawer and kicking off his underwear.
“Wish I knew sooner, I would have obliged.” He thinks it’s true. Even though he didn’t accept his bisexuality until a year ago, he probably would have fucked Viktor that first night if he asked to. There was an immediate attraction, a younger and debatably dumber version of himself would have jumped at the first opportunity.
“Good to know. Now shut up and eat me out.”
Grinning, Jayce dives in, swiping his tongue from Viktor’s entrance to the tip of his cock.
In Jayce’s mind, he imagines Viktor tastes slightly acidic with a touch of salt. He wishes he knew exactly how he tastes to improve the accuracy of his fantasies, but he knows he would devour Viktor no matter what he tastes like.
Viktor whines softly, tightening his thighs around Jayce’s head as he pushes a single finger past Viktor’s lips, slowly easing in. His tongue works on swirling around his cock, eating up every moan or subtle sound that leaves Viktor’s mouth, while his finger gradually picks up the pace.
“Another,” whispers Viktor, grabbing Jayce’s hair and fisting it. His other hand does something unexpected though—he touches Jayce’s hand that’s resting on his hip and laces their fingers together. They’re holding hands. They’re holding hands while Jayce sucks Viktor’s cock, nose buried in his mound, as he inserts a second finger into Viktor’s awaiting pussy. It’s beautiful.
Viktor starts rocking his hips, trying to fuck himself between Jayce’s fingers and mouth. His breath comes out in strangled puffs, thighs shivering from the stimulation. It’s clear he’s starting to get antsy because after only about a minute he says, “One more.”
Jayce obliges, still eagerly sucking Viktor’s cock as he slowly sinks a third finger into Viktor’s pussy. He takes it so well, his heel pressing into Jayce’s shoulder blade as he moans and throws his head back against the pillow. The grip on his hand tightens, because Viktor still hasn’t let go, and that might be making him harder than sampling him with his tongue.
“I’m good, just fuck me already,” Viktor breathes out after another minute of stretching him open, pulling Jayce’s mouth from his cock by his hair.
Slick and saliva coat Jayce’s mouth and chin as he grins up at Viktor, licking his lips. “Happily,” he says before removing his fingers and drawing them into his mouth instead. Sitting up as he cleans his fingers with his tongue, he hums pleasantly and savours the taste.
“Do a good job and I’ll let you have another taste sometime,” Viktor replies with a small grin, and that alone makes Jayce’s eyes widen. If he were a dog, his tail would be wagging incessantly. The opportunity to fuck Viktor more than once is a dream come true.
“Guess I’ll have to be good.” Reaching over Viktor, he fetches lube from his bedside table. He doesn’t bother removing his underwear, opting to pull out his cock and coat it with the slippery substance. “Ready?”
Viktor nods, taking a deep breath as Jayce aligns his cock with his partner’s entrance. When he sinks into Viktor’s delicious heat, he groans, raking his hands over Viktor’s torso. “Gods, you’re tight…”
Jayce covers his eyes with one arm while his right hand steadily strokes himself. The thought of how Viktor’s walls would feel around him makes him shudder. “I bet he’d be so fucking tight,” he mutters to himself, jerking his hips into his fist.
A whimper leaves Viktor’s lips when Jayce is buried inside him entirely, his thighs trembling on either side of Jayce’s hips. Leaning down, Jayce is the one to initiate a kiss this time, which Viktor happily reciprocates. It’s slow, less feverish and starving for contact, almost tender. Something in Jayce’s chest aches when Viktor’s hands cup his face like he’s precious.
The romantic nature of his fantasy doesn’t even occur to Jayce because he’s so far gone, picking up the pace of fucking into his hand.
“Move,” Viktor murmurs against his lips, breaking the kiss briefly only to return with more intensity. Managing to keep up with Viktor’s tongue, Jayce slowly pulls back his hips before bottoming out again. Viktor keeps making small, exquisite noises with each thrust, his hands wandering from Jayce’s jaw to his head. The long fingers Jayce has fixated on since he’s known Viktor feel so good running through his short hair.
Hiking up Viktor’s left leg, leaving his right to rest on the bed, Jayce gets a better angle to reach his partner’s sweet spot. Viktor gasps in his mouth when Jayce hits his target, golden eyes locking with his as he steadily increases the speed of his hips. Their breaths mingle, hot and heavy with arousal, and one of Viktor’s hands caresses him from the back of his head, down his cheek, finally arriving at his neck.
Jayce’s hand follows Fantasy Viktor’s, tracing his jawline before wrapping around his throat. Pumping his fist faster, his balls start feeling heavy with his building orgasm.
Viktor’s thumb and index finger apply pressure on either side of Jayce’s neck, giving him the sensation that his air is being cut off.
Jayce follows along, mirroring Viktor’s hand on his neck. His eyes roll back in his head and he arches his back off the bed, letting out a choked moan.
Snapping his hips faster, Jayce manages to knock out more moans from Viktor’s pretty mouth. One hand is planted next to Viktor’s head, supporting his weight, while the other moves from his leg and squeezes between their bodies to meet with Viktor’s cock. His orgasm is quickly approaching with the sensation of Viktor’s hand around his neck, unable to take in a breath from the pressure, and before he needs to communicate his need, Viktor relieves him.
“You like that, golden boy?” Viktor rasps between moans as Jayce continues to pound his sweet spot, the wet sounds of skin slapping against skin filling the bedroom.
“F-Fuck, yeah. Again,” Jayce pants, sweat dripping down his brow and chest as he circles Viktor’s cock with his fingertips. He manages to remember his manners. “Please.”
“Since you asked nicely.” Again, Viktor’s fingers press down on his carotid arteries and the feeling is addictive. If Viktor asked for payment to choke him, he would, because it feels so good to be devastated by this beautiful man. Despite the fact that Viktor has so much power over him at this moment, he himself looks like a wreck, mouth agape and chest heaving in the throes of ecstasy. “I-I’m close.”
Jayce nods, his sweat-soaked hair sticking to his forehead, a bead following the line of his nose before falling on Viktor’s cheek. He moves both his hips and fingers faster, capturing Viktor’s lips again. His tongue tries to dominate Viktor’s mouth, trying to gain a little bit of control in the situation, but he fails spectacularly when his partner scrapes his teeth over the muscle.
Viktor gives him a brief reprieve, releasing the pressure on his neck for mere seconds before squeezing again. He continues to hold Jayce’s neck like that as he licks into his mouth, guiding their kiss despite his reduced sense of coordination, while his free hand scratches at his shoulder blades. Between Jayce’s intense thrusts and their desperate tangle of tongues, it becomes messy, primal, and divine.
Parting his lips from Jayce’s, Viktor throws his head back against the pillow and moans ‘kurva’ which Jayce knows is ‘fuck’ in Jazyk, loud and breathy. His entire body quakes with his orgasm, tightening his walls around Jayce’s cock, triggering his orgasm as well. Releasing inside Viktor, he moans his name as much as he can between ragged breaths, his partner’s hand still wrapped around his neck—
Jayce sees stars when he cums, his seed painting his abdomen. The hand around his throat falls to the pillow beside his head, his other splayed out on the sheets, palm up so he doesn’t make a mess. He breathes heavily, restoring his senses gradually as he comes out of his daydream. Part of him still wants to continue the fantasy.
In the haze following his orgasm, he wonders what would have happened after their hookup. What would their pillow talk have been like? Would Viktor have stayed over? Jayce could’ve picked up Viktor’s favourite bagel and coffee from the cafe down the street.
Where would things have gone from there?
Jayce tries to put the what-ifs away for the night and drags himself to the bathroom to clean up and get ready for bed. His limbs feel boneless when he collapses in bed again, still recovering from one of his better orgasms in recent memory—better than fucking any Viktor look-alike.
He tries not to wonder if he made a mistake not hooking up with Viktor.
When he arrives at the lab on Sunday, Viktor is already there, silently standing at the chalkboard again. Jayce’s leather jacket is hung on the back of his chair waiting for him.
They don’t talk about it and pretend like that night never happened.
Viktor stares at Jayce with disbelief as they walk. “You turned down hooking up with me… to go home and fantasize about hooking up with me?”
“I wasn’t sure you were actually offering!” Jayce groans, running his hands through his hair. Retelling his perspective of that night killed almost an hour and earned a lot of interesting looks from his partner.
“I touched your thigh, you touched mine, we flirted, and then I asked you ‘Do you want to get out of here?’, what did you think that meant?” Despite his annoyance, Viktor laughs.
“Look, I didn’t know how to feel out if you were serious or not without making things weird. That’s why I asked if you wanted me to walk you home.”
With a sigh, Viktor shakes his head. “I thought that you were subtly rejecting me, which made me more confused as to why you agreed to leave with me in the first place. You also gave me your jacket, like you were trying to woo me.”
“So you held onto my arm just because you wanted to?”
“Yes, I thought I was finally getting my chance to get in your bed, at least once. I was trying to take everything you were willing to give me.”
“I was scared of ruining our friendship if I acted on my… well, sexual obsession with you? What I thought was just sexual, anyway.”
“You fantasized about kissing me and holding my hand during sex, Jayce.”
Jayce huffs out a laugh, wrapping his arm around Viktor’s waist. “Yeah. And you helped me discover my smoking kink that night.”
“Which I am just learning about now… Gods, I want a cigarette.” Viktor pauses so only their footsteps through the rustling grass and babble of the river can be heard. “So, choking, huh?”
Jayce flushes a little bit. He knows Viktor isn’t judging, but he hasn’t told anyone about certain kinks and fantasies before. “Yeah, the idea of you choking me while I fucked you became, uh… a regular feature, let’s just say.”
Viktor smirks at that, glancing over at Jayce. “Noted.”
It’s an hour later they come across a field of flowers. They look like small roses in delicate clusters of four or five on one stem, and they shine like gold in the sunlight. Jayce releases Viktor’s hand, stepping into the field in search of the perfect flower.
“What are you doing?” Viktor stops walking, his eyes on Jayce.
“Picking you a flower.”
Viktor doesn’t respond. It takes Jayce another minute before he finds the perfect one. Plucking it from the earth, he returns to Viktor and presents it to him. “I can’t get you a bouquet or chocolates to woo you with now, but I hope you’ll accept this instead. It matches your eyes.”
Observing the flower, Viktor carefully accepts it. “Shimmering lady.”
“What?” Jayce tilts his head.
“That’s what it’s called, a shimmering lady. They’re prettier than in the book,” Viktor says with a soft smile, looking up from the flower to Jayce. “You know you don’t have to woo me, right? I’m already yours.”
“Baby, I’m going to woo you until my dying breath,” Jayce replies quietly, taking Viktor’s jaw in his hands before leaning in to kiss him.
Viktor’s free hand wraps around Jayce’s forearm, returning the kiss just as tenderly. Kissing Viktor might be Jayce’s favourite pastime now.
Continuing to walk hand-in-hand, Viktor tucks the flower in his long hair. He can’t help but think Viktor looks like a prince straight out of some romance novel. Maybe he was onto something when he called Jayce a knight.
They break every other hour and by dusk, they finally reach the edge of the next forest. It’s dense with Rynettians—the oak-like trees with rainbow leaves—and it’s much more beautiful than the blue pines that had surrounded the cabin.
“We should make camp,” Jayce says as they make their way deeper into the forest. “Maybe we can find some natural shelter somewhere.”
Viktor stops walking and pulls away from Jayce’s hand. Turning to look at what has caught Viktor’s eye, he watches as his partner picks up a long stick, breaking off some smaller branches at the end.
“Walking stick,” he says simply, and Jayce can’t help but be reminded of The Herald. He doesn’t voice it though.
After a half hour of searching and a lot of daylight lost, they get lucky. A giant, uprooted tree lies on its side, appearing as though lightning struck it and brought it down. It’s not the best accommodation, but the large roots create a small space with coverage—shelter, at least.
They lay out the burlap tarp on the ground below the tree, creating a slightly more comfortable place to sleep. Jayce starts a fire with nearby sticks he’s able to gather and the tinderbox he kept from the cabin. Cuddled up by the fire, they eat a few of the apples they managed to carry with them in comfortable silence before Viktor breaks it. “You know, the people of the Northern Provinces do everything under these trees.”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
“Most major towns and cities are built around the Marsos Rynettians. Festivals and celebrations are held under them. People usually get married under them, too. From what I read, they seem to be associated with the goddess of love and community, Milnea.”
“How do you feel about getting married under one of these trees, then?” Jayce is trying to be casual about it, but ever since Viktor teased him about proving he can be a good husband, it’s been on his mind constantly.
Viktor’s voice echoes in his mind. ‘A cute little house with a garden. In a harbour if we can.’ He wants that, more than anything.
“It’s a nice tradition, I think. I’ve never been a religious person so I don’t see myself adopting it for that reason, but it seems more symbolic than anything.”
After they go quiet again, Viktor starts to fall asleep on Jayce’s shoulder, so he gently wakes him. “You get some sleep, I’ll keep watch, then we can switch in a few hours.”
“Okay, thank you. Love you,” Viktor says sleepily, kissing his cheek.
“Love you too.”
Using his cloak as a pillow and covering himself with the blanket, Viktor lies down. Within minutes, he’s fast asleep, holding the shimmering lady in his hand.
With Viktor asleep, Jayce decides to pull out his journal and continue a sketch he had been working on. The half-finished drawing of his mother stares back at him. It hurts to look at her, but he wants to capture her face now while he still remembers her. He has no idea if he’ll still be able to recall the details of her face thirty years from now.
Quietly, he sketches for an hour, trying to capture every laugh line and perfectly placed hair with the lead pencil by the firelight. When he’s done, he just stares. It looks like her. It’s not a perfect depiction—drawing people isn’t his forté—but it looks enough like her that it makes his heart ache.
A single tear stains the page, and that tear unleashes many more. Closing the journal, he tries to cry as quietly as he can, sniffing and wiping his tears away with his sleeve. A whimper leaves his lips.
“Jayce?” He hears the blanket rustle behind him.
Fuck. Viktor has always been a light sleeper unless there’s alcohol involved. “I-I’m fine, you can go back to sleep.”
Viktor does not go back to sleep, he crawls the barely three feet between them and places a hand on Jayce’s back. “What’s wrong, my love?”
The new term of endearment makes his heart ache more somehow, his complicated feelings twisting in his ribcage. He can’t help it anymore. A quiet sob escapes him, and Viktor’s arms are around him, bringing him to his chest.
“Talk to me, Jayce,” Viktor says in a hushed voice, soothingly stroking his hair.
Jayce continues to sob, a little louder now that he’s being held, like everything is pouring out of him. “I miss my mom,” he whispers, his voice breaking with emotion.
Viktor’s fingers halt momentarily, but he quickly continues to soothe him. “Of course you do, I’m sorry. If I had the power, I would send you back to see her again.”
“I wouldn’t—I wouldn’t want to leave you, but she’s my mom. It was just the two of us for so long.” His voice is coming out slow and wobbly like he’s physically struggling to speak. “I-I would have been banished if it hadn’t been for her.”
“I know, zlatíčko," Viktor whispers, cradling Jayce to his chest tightly. “You can talk to me about this. You don’t have to keep it in.”
“I didn’t want to upset you,” he admits, feeling guilty that he’s been hiding his mourning from his best friend and lover for over a week. It’s been festering for over three.
“You’re not responsible for protecting my feelings. Yes, I am struggling with a lot of guilt right now. And yes, I feel responsible for the fact that you will never get to see her again. But I still want you to tell me about it.” Pausing, Viktor rocks him back and forth, pressing a kiss to his head. “I miss her chocolate cake.”
Jayce actually laughs at that, fondness growing in his chest. His mom made Viktor that cake every year for three years, before… everything that happened. “I miss her pies. She could make a good one with those berries you found.”
Pressing a few more kisses to his temple, Viktor rubs his back and holds him tightly. “She gave me the recipe for that cake, you know—as a birthday gift.”
“She did?” Jayce sniffs, curling a hand in Viktor’s shirt.
“Mhm, I think I remember it. So, if chocolate exists in this world, or something similar, I’m definitely making it.”
“That’d be nice…” After a few more moments of letting Viktor comfort him, Jayce sits up and reaches for his journal as he wipes away his tears. Opening up to the page, he hands it to Viktor. “I drew her. I wanted to try to remember her.”
“It’s beautiful, Jayce,” Viktor says, his mechanical fingers lightly tracing some of the pencil strokes. “Have you done other drawings?”
Jayce hesitates before nodding. He watches as Viktor flips back through the journal. A few pages are just notes, like when they were testing herbs, but there are a couple of sketches of Caitlyn, even one of Vi, and when Viktor flips to one of Mel, he just stares for a moment. It’s not that Jayce is hung up on Mel, he misses her as a friend more than anything. Viktor doesn’t say anything and just moves on though, turning to a drawing of himself.
“I drew that one when you were sleeping—it’s a little better since I had, y’know, a live subject,” Jayce says, a little nervous. It’s not the first time Viktor has seen his art. He used to doodle in his journals and on his notes all the time, but it feels more vulnerable now that it’s a drawing of him.
“It looks really good,” Viktor says with a soft smile. “You have a real talent.”
“You think so?”
With a nod, Viktor flips the page again, only to be met with another drawing of himself. This time, it’s not the present Viktor, it’s the version of him from when they first met. His hair is much shorter and he looks so much younger—their mid-twenties feel like a lifetime ago. Viktor’s eyes linger on the page and he doesn’t speak for a few moments. “I don’t recognize this man,” he says quietly.
“That’s the man I first fell in love with,” Jayce replies, cupping Viktor’s cheek to turn and look at him. There’s a sadness in Viktor’s golden eyes when he looks back at Jayce, and he wishes he could take all of Viktor’s burdens on himself. “I loved that man just as much as I love you now.”
Viktor closes the journal, setting it down on top of Jayce’s backpack before gingerly taking his face in his hands. He holds Jayce as if he’s fragile, fearing that if he let go, Jayce might break. “I love you too,” he whispers, pressing a gentle kiss on his lips, and Jayce just melts into it.
This is all he needs. Even if he misses his mom and his friends, he knows he’s going to be okay in Viktor’s soothing embrace.
Notes:
Since this is starting to get longer, I'm going to start including an updated timeline at the end of every chapter so it's easy to keep up on what happened when.
Note: I fucked the timeline a little bit so Jayce is actually 31 at the start of this fic (not 32 like canon says).
Timeline so far
September, Year 0 - First Meeting
December, Month 3 - Jayce gifts Viktor the snake plant
March, Month 6 - Lunch with the Kirammans on the blimp
July, Month 10 - Watching the sunrise over the harbour on the Academy roof
October, Year 1, Month 1 - Jayce's first fantasy about Viktor (also the anniversary of Viktor's mother's death)
November, Year 2, Month 2 - The pact + finishing the plans for the Hexgates
May, Year 3, Month 8 - The Hexgates launch gala
October, Year 4, Month 1 - The almost-hookup at the gay bar
December, Year 4, Month 3 - Viktor's 30th birthday
January, Year 4, Month 4 - Jayce gets sick and Viktor takes care of him
March, Year 6, Month 6 [where I'm placing canon events] - They learn Viktor is dying, Jayce kisses Viktor, and Viktor has a breakdown after talking to Mel
April, Year 6, Month 7 - Viktor is merged with the Hexcore
April, Year 7, Month 7 - The Battle for Piltover
Chapter 8: Honey
Summary:
Viktor and Jayce finally find civilization.
Notes:
This week's chapter is a lot longer than the previous ones and they're just going to get longer from here on out. 🙃 Because my chapters are approaching 20k rather than the usual 10k~ I might switch to bi-weekly. My wife betas/edits for me and I'm killing them with my exceedingly long chapters lol.
Lots of Czech this chapter! If there isn't a translation below it's because Viktor provides it. See the end notes for an updated timeline.
Note: Cynrys is pronounced sin-riss.
Translations (They kind of give away where this is going...)
Ano/jo - Yes/Yeah
Ne - No
Kurva/Sakra - Fuck, shit, damn
Dobře - Okay
Ó, sakra díky - Oh, thank fuck
Moje zlatíčko - My little gold/My darling
Ó můj bože - Oh my god
Zatracený blázen - Damn fool
Líbí se mi, když mě naplňuješ - I like when you fill me up
To je… tak dobrý pocit - That feels... so good
Tak velký - So big
Že mě tak dobře naplňuješ - You fill me so well
Dej mi to drsně - Give it to me rough
Je mi jedno, jestli to bude zítra bolet - I don't care if it hurts tomorrow
Přímo tam - Right thereSongs for this chapter
Lava by Equateur (specifically for the first sex scene)
Opium Honey by Nostalghia (general vibe)Kudos and comments are always appreciated. 💕
P.S. I kind of decided that Viktor's mastectomy is sans nipples. Nipple reconstruction is expensive (I know from personal experience) and I don't think he would have had that kind of money when he was in his early 20s when he could finally get it done. So, yeah, nippleless Viktor.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
It’s mid-afternoon on the fourth day and the town seems within arm’s reach. They can see the massive Tree of Memories looming over the settlement before they can make out anything else about it. It takes them another hour before they actually reach the edge of town, dotted with sparse houses, and a sign that says ‘Welcome to Cynrys’.
Viktor observes the houses as they pass them by, some made of wood panels, others made of brick, a lot more modern than the cabin had been. “Something tells me that the cabin was abandoned for decades,” he comments as more houses with steel mailboxes and manufactured glass windows come into view.
“I’m worried we’re going to stick out like sore thumbs,” Jayce grimaces.
“We probably will, no matter what.”
The town is minuscule compared to Piltover and Zaun, but it’s not small by any means. There are cobblestone streets lined with houses, and businesses start to come into view as they walk the main road: a café, a clothing store, a flower shop, a grocery store—it goes on.
Jayce points to a carriage house and horse stalls as they pass. “I’m going to guess there’s no cars.”
They start getting odd looks from people milling about the street who are wearing t-shirts, jeans, and manufactured cotton blends. The style of clothing is neither like Piltover nor Zaun, closer to Zaun if he had to say, but simpler. “These clothes might be as old as us, if not more.”
Jayce chuckles under his breath. “Great, we’re committing crimes against fashion.”
That makes Viktor snort before he spots what they’ve been hoping for: The Thistle Bird Inn. It’s an unassuming building, probably only big enough to house a dozen rooms at most on its two floors, with baby blue wood panels like the pines. Its sign hangs above the door, painted purple and white, looking inviting on first impression. Viktor spots another sign though, a smaller one in the front window: Help Wanted.
“Follow my lead,” Viktor says and Jayce doesn’t say a word, just follows Viktor inside the inn.
Behind the bar stands a bird-like vastaya man with dark skin and wild purple hair. The man is cleaning a glass and raises his brow when he sets his eyes on the two of them. “Can I help you?”
“Yes, we came from the Eastern Provinces, so we’re unfamiliar with Cynrys. We lost all of our belongings in a fire and we have no money, but I’ll work for room and board. Could you accommodate us?”
The man looks taken aback by Viktor’s bluntness, but he seems to consider it. “Can you be up by sunrise?”
“Yes.”
“Can you cook?”
“Yes.”
“What about mixing drinks?”
“I’m a fast learner.”
The vastaya thinks for a moment before extending a hand. “Deal. Meeko.”
It takes Viktor a second to process that it’s the man’s name, and he takes Meeko’s hand with his right, careful not to show his steel limb. “Viktor. This is Jayce.”
“My husband Kaedin can prepare a room for you. Do you need one bed or two?”
A sigh of relief leaves both Jayce and Viktor almost simultaneously. Thank gods, that’s one less thing to worry about. “One.”
Jayce speaks up then. “Is there a blacksmith in town? I was going to look for work too.”
Meeko nods, tilting his head to the left. “Down the street, first left. Rehna is a regular and she’s been complaining about her back. She might appreciate the help.”
Practically lighting up, Jayce looks at Viktor. “See?”
Viktor is reminded of their argument a few days ago. He wonders if Jayce has made some deal with an astral being or a god because things are working out too much in their favour. It makes Viktor nervous. That’s when he’s reminded of something.
“I, um… I have a skin condition, do you have a pair of gloves I could borrow while I work?” Viktor is hoping his cover is good enough to not get any questions.
Meeko raises a brow at that. “I might. One minute.”
“I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop,” Viktor murmurs to Jayce after Meeko disappears into a backroom.
“Let’s count our blessings rather than question them, at least for now,” Jayce replies, rubbing Viktor’s back comfortingly.
Meeko returns soon after carrying a pair of worn black leather gloves and offers them to Viktor.
“Thank you.”
Another chubby vastaya man with cat-like features and short, curly orange hair follows soon after—Kaedin they can only assume.
“Well, hello folks!” The man greets them chipperly. “Meeko tells me one of you will be helping us around the place. I’m Kaedin.”
“I am,” Viktor nods. “Viktor. This is my partner, Jayce.”
“I heard about your predicament. The Eastern Provinces, huh? You must’ve travelled far. Do you have horses to board as well?”
Viktor feels a pang of panic. He doesn’t actually know how far they are from the Eastern Provinces, he only briefly studied the world map and guessed they were closest to it. “We walked for a long time. We’ve been surviving by foraging.”
“Geez. I bet you two are going to love having a hot meal. I’m cooking up a stew right now for dinner service.” Kaedin reaches over the bar to grab a key from the wall. “Follow me, I’ve got a room already good to go.”
They’re led upstairs to a room at the end of the hall, handed the key, and told that dinner will be served at 5:30 pm. Viktor has no idea what time it is, but at least the way they track time seems to be the same, which is a relief. Jayce, who has been obediently quiet while Viktor took the reins on the situation, is the one to unlock the door.
The room is simple and clean, with dark wood flooring, pale yellow walls, a queen-sized bed, dresser, desk and two doors. Jayce starts setting his stuff down while Viktor inspects the doors. The first is a closet, nothing of note inside. The second, however, is a bathroom. With a bathtub and shower, toilet, and sink. Their designs are a little unusual from what they’re used to, but Viktor’s immediate reaction is, “Ó, sakra díky.”
“What?” Jayce looks over his shoulder toward Viktor, trying to see what he’s looking at. “Is that—”
“A bathroom. With indoor plumbing.” Viktor drops his bag and starts stripping off the sweaty, disgusting clothes he’s been travelling in for four days. “Shower, now.”
“Oh, you don’t have to tell me twice,” Jayce says, just as eagerly kicking off his boots, unlatching his brace and throwing his clothes to the floor.
Viktor warms the water— there’s hot water, holy shit— before getting in, dragging Jayce in with him and closing the shower curtain. He sighs as the hot water soothes his muscles, only now realizing how many aches he has from their travelling. “Kurva, I could fucking cry, Jayce. I never want to bathe in a cold river again.”
Jayce laughs, wrapping his arms around Viktor’s waist, and kisses his cheek. “Me neither, I will never take a shower for granted ever again.”
Turning his head, Viktor captures Jayce’s lips instead, wrapping one arm around his shoulders while the other cradles his jaw. Jayce responds in kind, parting Viktor’s lips with his tongue. It might be the most romantic setting they’ve been able to enjoy each other’s company in yet, he thinks in the back of his mind.
He’s not looking for sex right now, and he doesn’t think Jayce is either, because their touches are gentle and innocent. Usually, when either of them is chasing something more, they act a little bit like wild animals. At this moment, Viktor is just happy to be kissing the love of his life under the warm spray of a fucking shower. It’s marvellous.
Jayce ends their slow making out with one more peck, a soft smile on his lips. “Guess what else they have.”
“What?”
Reaching behind Viktor to a small shelf, Jayce waves a fresh bar of soap in his hand. “Soap. There’s shampoo, too.”
Viktor moans, tilting his head back while he hangs off of Jayce’s shoulders. He should be embarrassed but he’s so overwhelmed with how happy he is. “Jayce, I’m worried we died and went to some sort of paradise.”
“I think this is real. Can I wash you?” Jayce trails kisses down the side of his neck to his shoulder.
A flurry of butterflies fill Viktor’s stomach from the question and simple act of affection. What did I do to deserve this?
“I’d like that,” he replies quietly, feeling a little shy. He shouldn’t at this point, they’ve explored almost every nook and cranny of each other’s bodies and sleep together naked. But the act of Jayce washing him feels so intimate, it almost physically hurts. He could only dream of such domestic, loving acts years ago.
Jayce works his way down Viktor’s arms, chest and stomach before kneeling. He presses soapy kisses to Viktor’s body on his way before washing both of his legs. Jayce places more kisses to the insides of his thighs, his beard tickling his skin.
Once Viktor is washed, he does the same for Jayce, following his example by kissing every inch of skin he can reach. They wash each other’s hair, including Jayce’s beard which Viktor loves doing. Eventually, the water isn’t as hot, indicating it’s about time they got out.
After drying, Viktor collapses on the bed with a relaxed sigh, relishing in the clean bedding. Jayce joins him, resting his head with his still-damp hair on Viktor’s chest.
“I could get used to this,” he says quietly, brushing his fingers through Jayce’s hair. His partner simply hums in a sleepy response.
Again, it feels so domestic. There were so many times Viktor craved that domesticity, but there was one time the want was so strong he could barely hold it in. It nearly ruined him emotionally.
“Jayce, can I ask you something?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you remember the first Solstice we spent together?”
Jayce sighs wistfully, throwing his arm around Viktor’s waist. “Yeah. It’s one of my favourite memories. I miss that whiskey.”
“Did you… almost kiss me that night?”
Tensing under Viktor’s grasp, Jayce is silent for a few seconds. “Yeah, almost. More than once.”
“Why? You were acting like…” Like we were a couple, Viktor thinks.
“Like I wanted something more with you? Yeah, I was toying with the idea. I wondered what would happen if I just… made a move. I was too scared to follow through, though.”
Viktor dreads the Winter Solstice. To him, it’s another day on the calendar that reminds him of how lonely he is. Since he moved to Piltover, he’s grown distant from his friends in the Undercity, so seeing them for the holiday isn’t exactly an option. He won’t admit it to the man, but Jayce is his only friend—his best friend. Caitlyn was somewhere between an acquaintance and a friend, but not enough to get an invite to her celebrations—not that he would want to dine with the Kirammans again anyway.
Every year, when Jayce has asked what he’s doing for the holiday, Viktor has lied. It’s always the same story: going to the Undercity to visit some friends. In truth, he sits at home, drinks, smokes, and reads trashy romance novels to fill the void.
They’ve known each other over three years now. The Hexgates are over halfway done with construction, which has required a lot of supervision from both of them. Most of their time is spent on-site, rather than the lab, which is an odd change. They’ve been so busy that the Solstice crept up on him. He only realizes it when Jayce approaches him one morning while they’re supervising the power cell installation within the Hexgates core.
“Hey, I know you usually go to the Undercity for the Solstice, but I was wondering if you wanted to do a little gift exchange and dinner with me, my mom and Cait.” Jayce looks nervous when he asks, like he’s mentally preparing for rejection.
Viktor is taken aback by the offer, uncertain what to say. On one hand, he feels like he would be intruding, on another, he doesn’t want to spend another holiday alone. “I… actually don’t have plans this year. What kind of gift exchange?”
“A secret gift exchange. We’re each going to get a random name and whoever you get is who you get a present for.”
The idea of a secret giftee makes Viktor a little nervous. He has no idea what he would get for Caitlyn or Ximena. He’ll just have to pray he gets Jayce, but even that would be hard.
The image of himself sitting alone in his apartment for another Winter Solstice makes the decision for him. “Okay.”
Jayce lights up, looking just as excited as a dog about to go for a walk. “Okay! Come with me to my mom’s place after work? Cait’s supposed to swing by around six.”
It was odd being on the schedule of construction workers. They’ve been consistently leaving at reasonable times which has given Viktor a lot of time to read books and have sex with strangers to relieve some of his pent-up dissatisfaction. “Sure.”
It’s not snowing, so Jayce is a little less on edge as they walk to his childhood home on the east side of town. Still, though, Viktor holds onto his arm out of habit.
“Hello, Viktor. I’m so happy to see you’ll be joining us for the Solstice,” Ximena greets him with a hug, dressed a little less formally than she would out and about in the city. Viktor likes Ximena a lot, but he feels uncomfortable being doted on. It makes him miss his own mom.
“I was just happy to get an invitation,” he admits, hugging her back.
They sit down for a cup of coffee while they wait for Caitlyn to arrive. Jayce does most of the talking, catching his mom up on the construction progress. It’s not ten minutes later that there’s a knock at the door.
“Oh, Viktor, I wasn’t sure if you’d be here,” Caitlyn greets when Ximena escorts her into the kitchen. She’s wearing her cadet uniform, which still makes Viktor uneasy, but she hasn’t given him reason to mistrust her. “It’ll be a little harder to anticipate who is getting who a gift now that it’s the four of us. Marginally.”
Viktor chuckles at that, and Ximena gathers paper, a pen, and a bag. She writes out each of their names on small pieces of paper, equal in size to avoid hinting at whose name is whose, and then puts them in the bag. “Now, if you draw your name, just put it back in and draw again.”
Jayce goes first, peeking at the name before nodding. Viktor goes next, at first drawing his own name. Okay, so Jayce doesn’t have me. He’s a little disappointed by that. After putting it back, he draws another and reads Ximena’s elegant handwriting: Jayce.
It brings both relief and panic to his gut while Caitlyn draws hers and Ximena takes the last. He knows Jayce really well at this point, but he has never been good at gift giving. He just takes Jayce to dinner on his birthday, even if he doesn’t celebrate his own.
They catch up with Cait as she joins them for coffee, who complains about the other cadets who aren’t taking Enforcer training seriously. It makes Viktor uncomfortable, which Jayce seems to pick up on because he places a hand on Viktor’s thigh under the table. It’s a brief touch while he changes the subject, but Viktor appreciates it more than words can describe.
Jayce is his rock. What the hell do you get the one man that keeps your feet on the ground as a gift?
Viktor thinks about it his entire way home, long after he parts ways with Jayce. He spends the rest of the night wracking his brain to think of a gift, starting by listening off things he knows about Jayce.
Magic is a major interest, so a novel with magic as the focus could be something—Viktor can think of a dozen good ones—but Jayce isn’t a big reader. Jayce loves mint chocolate, so maybe there’s something there? Viktor would bake him something, but he hates mint chocolate, only tolerating mint in toothpaste and menthol cigarettes, so he would have no idea if what he baked was good. He could cop out and just get Jayce a box of chocolates, but that feels too impersonal.
Viktor lies awake thinking about it, even. He only has a week to figure something out.
When Viktor gets to the construction site at 7 am the next morning, he’s exhausted. This gift is haunting him so much he only got three hours of sleep. He misses the lab, he misses their coffee machine (there’s only crappy instant coffee at the site that Viktor’s taste buds are too evolved for now), and he misses being alone with Jayce a minimum of fifty hours a week. All the noise and the questions, many of them stupid, are getting on his nerves.
“Hey, V, have you eaten?” Jayce greets him when he emerges from the freshly built elevator down to the core. He’s carrying a to-go tray with two coffees and a box. “I got some donuts.”
Viktor shakes his head and Jayce seems to catch on that he had a rough night. Wordlessly, Jayce hands him a large coffee cup, and Viktor doesn’t need to ask if he got him a dark roast. “Thank you, Jayce,” he says quietly, and he doesn’t know how he can show the amount of appreciation he has for the gesture. Jayce always treats it like it’s not a big deal to get him breakfast, but it always feels like it to Viktor.
Construction begins and they sit at their designated area with all the schematics and paperwork tracking progress, prepared for when they’ll inevitably have to step in to ensure the cells are functioning and the core can power up in the first place. Viktor eats a honey-dipped donut (Jayce’s favourite) and sips his coffee, but as he does, an idea comes to mind.
Honey.
Viktor pulls out his own personal notepad from his pocket along with a pencil, writing a reminder for himself.
“What’cha writing?” Jayce asks curiously, eating his own donut.
“An errand I need to run.”
The rest of the day passes quickly and by the time the installation crew calls it a day, Viktor is itching to leave. Jayce invites him to dinner, which he declines, insisting that he really needs to run that errand.
Viktor goes to the nicest liquor store with the widest variety he knows of, hoping they have what he’s looking for. It takes him a few minutes to find it, but when his eyes land on it, he knows it’s the perfect gift.
It’s not the same whiskey they drank the night they finished the Hexgate plans, but it’s the first nice bottle of whiskey Viktor ever bought himself. It’s an imported, small-batch honey whiskey called Golden Hour. It’s not the most expensive bottle, more like a higher mid-tier, or his favourite, but he thinks Jayce might appreciate the sweeter taste. Plus, it’s symbolic. Golden Hour for my golden boy—moje zlatíčko.
Viktor feels relief once he’s home and the present is in its gold gift bag. He actually sleeps that night.
Much to his surprise, he starts counting down the days until the Solstice, because he’s both excited and nervous about Jayce’s gift. He thinks he’ll like it. But what if he doesn’t? Jayce prefers beer and wine, after all, he’s rarely a hard liquor kind of guy, but it might be sentimental enough that he’ll drink it. He said he liked the whiskey they drank that night, but what if he was just humouring Viktor?
The doubts continue to plague his mind as he goes back and forth on whether or not it’s a good gift. It’s not too late to return it and get a different one. But he spends so much time mulling it over, he runs out of time.
Anxiously, he arrives at Ximena’s home at 4 pm on the day of the Winter Solstice. The gift feels heavy in his hand, even though it’s not a big bottle of whiskey. He’s not sure what the dress code is so he went with a simple chocolate brown cardigan over a white collared shirt and black slacks, accompanied by his worn green peacoat. When Jayce’s mother answers the door, she’s looking a little more pristine than the last time he saw her, not a hair out of place, but she’s wearing a pink frilly apron.
“Happy Winter Solstice, Viktor,” she greets him with a warm smile, ushering him in from the cold.
“Vik!” Jayce rushes over, helping him with his jacket. He’s wearing what looks to be a hand-knitted burgundy sweater and dark trousers. It makes him the perfect picture of what a boyfriend would be—if Viktor ever had such a luxury. Before he can get out a word, Jayce is wrapping his arms around him, burying his face in the crook of Viktor’s neck. “I’m so happy you came this year.”
He’s not sure what’s happening. Jayce has always been a hugger, and they’re almost always casually affectionate (something that took a while for him to get used to), but the way he’s hugging him feels like Jayce has been waiting for this moment. This means something to Jayce, which now explains why he looked so nervous when asking Viktor to participate in the first place.
Placing his cane blindly against the wall, he wraps his free arm around Jayce, reciprocating the sentiment. The smell of Jayce’s cologne floods his senses—sandalwood—which stirs a tight feeling in his gut. Viktor is also happy he came this year. Maybe he should have been doing this the last three years when Jayce had asked. “I’m just happy you invited me,” he murmurs into Jayce’s ear, rubbing his back. “It means a lot to me, Jayce.”
The hug lasts a few seconds too long for it to be friendly, which makes Viktor’s heart pick up its pace. He yearns for more, like having a family he can spend every Solstice with, or a partner who makes him feel warm and safe when he hugs him. Looking into Jayce’s hazel eyes when he pulls away, he can almost envision that exact scenario.
He wishes Jayce could be his home.
“Oh, let me take your gift,” Jayce grins, holding his hand out. “Who’d you get?”
“Are we supposed to spoil the surprise before opening them?”
Jayce shrugs. “Maybe not, but I wanna know now.”
Viktor hands him the gift as he picks back up his cane. “I got you.”
If Jayce were a dog, his ears would have perked up at that. “Really?” He experimentally lifts the bag, feeling the weight of it. “Hmm… it’s not a paperweight, is it?”
Viktor snorts, playfully shoving Jayce’s shoulder. “No, dumbass. You would need twelve with how disorganized your desk is.”
“You could slowly build my collection, give me one every birthday and Solstice. It would only take six years.”
Six years. He says it so casually, like it’s obvious they’ll still at least be friends six years from now.
“Well, it’s not that. You’ll find out in a few hours.”
Jayce sighs, pretending to be distraught, before leaving to add Viktor’s present to the small pile of gifts in the living room. Viktor enters the kitchen and it smells heavenly. He doesn’t love all Piltie food, but Ximena’s home cooking never disappoints. “Do you need any help in the kitchen, Ximena?”
“Oh, no, Viktor, you just sit and relax,” she dismisses him, stirring a pot of gravy.
“I promise, I know my way around a kitchen, unlike your son,” he chuckles.
“I’m aware, he always raves about your cooking,” she laughs in return, putting her oven mitts on before pulling a pie out of the oven.
His stomach swoops with pride and fondness. Jayce talks about me with his mother and likes my cooking. It all sounds so… domestic.
Ximena sets the pie on a cooling tray. “I promise, I’ll call you if I need anything.”
Viktor leaves the kitchen and decides to find Jayce. When he enters the living room, his partner is standing in front of a record player, placing a vinyl on the turntable. Old Solstice carols start to play quietly as Jayce turns to Viktor with a smile.
“Cait’s supposed to be here in a bit, so we’ve got some time to kill.”
“Did I come too early?” Viktor frowns, suddenly feeling like he’s intruding.
“Oh, no, not at all. I… uh, I like when it’s just the two of us. We haven’t had that in a while.” Jayce is blushing like a schoolboy and Viktor finds it endearing.
“Yeah, I miss when it was just the two of us holed up in the lab,” Viktor says as he decides to sit on the couch in front of the fireplace, resting his cane against the side. Jayce joins him without needing an invitation. “I can’t wait for construction to be over.”
“It’s hard to believe it’s… real. My concept—our concept. Magic turned into science. Some days I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.”
Viktor reaches over and pinches Jayce’s cheek affectionately. “Trust me, golden boy, it’s not a dream.”
Laughing, Jayce playfully pushes Viktor, and the simple act makes Viktor’s heart swell. He would give this man anything if he asked.
“What do you think the launch is gonna be like?” Jayce asks after his laughter dies down.
“I imagine you’ll be very busy. As long as our design works—which, based on our calculations and small-scale models, it should—Hextech will be the next big thing.” Viktor shrugs, and part of him is anxious about what will happen after the launch. With a major success under his belt, would Jayce leave him behind?
“Ugh, I’m not looking forward to it,” Jayce groans, casually resting his head on Viktor’s shoulder. “I can’t wait for when the buzz dies down and I can just get to work in the lab with you again.”
That eases the anxiety swelling in his chest. Jayce still has future plans with me in mind, at least work-wise. He turns his attention away from the fears that were brewing to the intimacy of the moment. With Jayce’s head on his shoulder, he can almost picture them having this. A life together, nestled by the fire, talking about the future of their work.
He lets himself indulge and leans his head on top of Jayce’s, taking in every ounce of affection he can get. Not expecting anything more than that, he almost jumps when he feels Jayce’s fingertips ghost over his inner wrist and then follow the curve of his palm. It’s intimate, like Jayce is preparing himself to hold Viktor’s hand, and it makes his breath catch in his throat.
Am I imagining that he’s being more affectionate than usual? A quiet, hopeful voice in the back of his head then says, Is he actually straight?
Before things can go any further, there’s a knock at the front door. Ximena calls for Jayce to answer it, who slowly sits up. He looks almost disoriented, like he was just broken out of some kind of trance.
“I’ll be back,” Jayce says quietly, standing then leaving the living room.
The skin of his wrist and palm feels like it’s been burned. Confusion clouds his mind as he tries to dissect what just happened. The too-long hug, the cuddling, the gliding hand to his palm—what does it all mean? Am I reading too much into this? Jayce is just… touchy.
“Happy Solstice, Viktor,” Caitlyn greets him as she enters the living room with Jayce. Viktor is relieved that he went with clothes that weren’t too dressy because Cait looks relaxed in a simple dark blue dress and black tights.
“Happy Solstice,” he returns, and his eyes fall on Jayce. He’s staring at Viktor, has been since he re-entered the room, and Viktor furrows his eyebrows at him. Tilting his head as if to say ‘is everything okay?’, Jayce just shakes his head and pretends nothing happened.
Why is he acting so weird?
“Did you already spoil who your giftee is?” Caitlyn asks the question as she places her gift in the pile next to the fireplace. It’s in a box wrapped in white paper with a holly print on it, which Viktor thinks is kind of cute.
“Jayce insisted.”
“Hey, I didn’t twist your arm about it, you volunteered that information willingly,” Jayce cuts in. He returns to the couch, putting an arm over the back of it behind Viktor. Their knees are touching from how close they’re sitting, and there’s definitely more room on the couch, so he’s choosing to be this close. He seems almost… clingy?
Viktor’s eating it up if he’s honest.
Cait sits in the chair diagonal of the couch, crossing her legs and sitting straight like the perfect, high-born woman she is. “I got you, Viktor.”
That takes Viktor by surprise. He has no fucking clue what Caitlyn would have gotten him, but he reacts politely. “Oh. I’m looking forward to it. I got Jayce.”
“Of course you did,” she laughs. “What about you, Jayce?”
“I got my mom,” he shrugs casually. “I admit, it was a pretty easy get.”
Viktor decides to inquire about something that had occurred to him when he learned Caitlyn was coming in the first place. “Do you not have dinner with your family for the Solstice, Caitlyn?”
“We’re a brunch kind of family, so we do that instead of dinner. What about you?”
The question throws him off. He’s only now just realizing how little he and Caitlyn know about each other, so much that she doesn’t know that he became an orphan at fourteen. “I—”
“He is having dinner with his family,” Jayce interrupts him, shifting his arm from the back of the couch to rest causally over Viktor’s shoulders.
Viktor’s heart skips a beat as he looks to Jayce, not expecting him to say something so meaningful. Family is something Viktor hasn’t had in thirteen years. To so casually be presented with a statement that he does have family makes everything feel like it’s upside down. Jayce just looks at him, warmth in his brilliant hazel eyes and lips quirked in a slight smile, and gods does he want to kiss this man. But family has different implications.
Jayce thinks of me as a brother.
That revelation hurts as much as the statement that he is family brings him joy.
Is that why he’s being so affectionate? Because he realized he sees me as his brother?
Viktor breaks their eye contact, unable to look at Jayce anymore out of fear that he might break out into tears. He wants to cry from joy and from grief.
Do most brothers hold hands? Viktor has no idea what the answer to that question is. He doesn’t have a brother, he doesn’t know anyone with brothers, so he’s not sure what is socially acceptable affection between brothers in Piltover.
The conversation moves on and Jayce gracefully and smoothly changes the subject. It’s mostly between Jayce and Cait because Viktor can’t take his mind off of Jayce’s hand cupping his shoulder. He even rubs his arm at one point while he’s talking fondly about him, which drives Viktor mad. That prompts him to check out of the conversation, passively nodding as if he’s listening, to daydream.
If it was just the two of them, sitting by the fire and this close, he would climb in Jayce’s lap and kiss him stupid. Slow, lazy, intimate. He’d brush his fingers over Jayce’s hair—it’s probably soft. He wants to feel Jayce’s hands explore his body and grab his waist. That’s when the dirty thought of fucking in Jayce’s childhood bedroom crosses his mind. He hasn’t seen it, but he imagines there’s some sort of surface or small bed Jayce can bend him over.
“Viktor?” Jayce’s voice cuts through the emerging image of himself ass-up and taking it like he’s made for it.
“Yes?” He says it quickly, suddenly very alert and aware that he’s been absent from the conversation longer than he intended. It’s then he realizes Cait left. “What did you say?”
“Mom said dinner’s ready. Is everything okay?” Jayce frowns and squeezes his shoulder.
Viktor feels like he needs something to chew on, like his own fist, to stop himself from acting out on that fantasy. “Fine. I just… didn’t sleep well last night.”
“Want a hand getting up?” Standing, Jayce holds out his hand to Viktor.
Jayce isn’t stupid or ignorant. He knows full well that Viktor can get off a couch on his own, so he’s doing this just as an excuse to touch him. It’s perplexing as to why he’s trying to touch Viktor, but he wants to touch Jayce just as much, if not more.
Accepting his partner’s hand, he stands and grabs his cane. Jayce’s hand lingers a little too long, brushing Viktor’s fingertips as he lets go, and Viktor is just about tempted to open Jayce’s present for himself to cope.
The meal is fantastic. Ximena sits at the head of the table that seats six people, and he fully expects Jayce to sit on the other end. He doesn’t, instead choosing to sit next to Viktor. He’s like a clingy dog and Viktor loves it. They all pitch in to clean up, even though Ximena insists they don’t, and Viktor can’t help but forget himself, feeling at home.
With wine glasses in hand, they gather in the living room after dinner. Viktor feels full and satisfied when he sits on the end of the couch again. Just like before, Jayce sits next to him with his arm behind Viktor’s head on the back of the couch while sipping his wine. He looks like he was born with a wine glass in his hand and Viktor almost laughs out loud at the image of a baby Jayce holding one. Somehow, Viktor keeps it down.
“Who would like to go first?” Ximena asks from her chair, having a very similar posture to Caitlyn. She sips her wine much more elegantly than Jayce. Her son’s style of drinking his is more… sultry.
“Could I?” Jayce is quick to volunteer. Everyone gives him a nod before he reaches over to pick up a small box wrapped in red paper. Holding it out to Ximena, he smiles that charming golden boy smile at her. Viktor is intimately familiar with that smile and it twists his guts into a pretzel. “Happy Solstice, Mom.”
“Of course you would get me,” she says as she sets down her wine glass with a bright smile. Gingerly, she opens the present, doing her best not to rip the paper. Revealing a small black box, she opens it, pulling out what’s inside. It’s a small pendant, tear-shaped and made of silver with a garnet set in the centre. “Oh, honey, did you make this yourself?”
“Yeah, took a while. It’s a little bit more delicate than making hammers,” he laughs, seeming a little bashful.
Viktor didn’t actually know Jayce was this skilled at metalwork. He’s been to the forge, but he doesn’t remember seeing tools for projects that require a lighter hand, so it must be a newer thing.
“It’s beautiful,” Ximena says, reaching over to cup her son’s cheek. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Mom,” Jayce says, and there’s that golden boy smile again.
It warms Viktor’s heart to know Jayce is a proud son, reminding him of himself when he made little knick knacks for his mom as a kid. It made his day when she would light up at the sight of a duck made of metal scraps, or something similar. The warmth is shadowed by heartache though as homesickness sits deep in his chest.
“Me next,” Ximena announces, picking up a shiny, deep blue bag and passing it over to Caitlyn.
“I’m so curious what it is,” Cait says, gracefully taking the bag with a smile. She opens it, tossing aside the light blue tissue paper and lights up. Removing her gift, she unveils a handmade hat and scarf in deep blue, matching her hair, with a white snowflake pattern. “Oh my goodness, I love them. Thank you, Ximena.”
Viktor recognizes the style and quality of the knitting matches Jayce’s sweater and he thinks it’s sweet. Clearly, handmade gifts are a Talis thing. In the back of his mind, he wonders if he should have made Jayce something too, but he has no idea what he would have done.
“Of course, dear. You were a tough giftee, but I went with what I know.” Ximena says, looking delighted.
“My turn,” Caitlyn grins, looking at Viktor with excitement. It makes him both nervous and thrilled.
Ximena passes Caitlyn’s gift to Viktor, and he has no idea what to expect. It’s a rectangular box, only slightly wider than it is tall, and it has a weight to it. Viktor starts unwrapping the holly print paper, unveiling a standard brown box. He opens it up to find a large mug inside. Lifting it, he finally gets a view of the graphic. It’s a happy little cactus with the words ‘don’t be a prick’ on it.
He laughs, genuinely, and judging by Caitlyn’s reaction, that’s what she was hoping for. “Thanks, Caitlyn. I appreciate the bigger mug to fuel my coffee addiction. And I’ll try not to be a prick.”
“I’m just glad you like it. I’m not calling you a prick by the way—”
“Oh, don’t worry, I know I can be sometimes.”
“Okay, as long as you’re self-aware,” she grins, turning to Jayce. “Last, but not least.”
Ximena grabs the gold gift bag with Jayce’s present in it. Viktor’s stomach begins to churn with anxiety as it’s passed to Jayce. Gods, what if he thinks it’s stupid.
Eagerly, Jayce removes the tissue paper. Viktor waits with bated breath and, after a few moments, he smiles softly. Pulling out the bottle, he reads the label. “Golden Hour,” Jayce murmurs before cracking into a grin. “Alright, I see what you did there.”
“I don’t get it,” Cait says, tilting her head.
“Viktor likes to call me ‘golden boy’ and when we finished the Hexgates plans, we demolished half a bottle of whiskey to celebrate,” Jayce explains, laughing softly. He turns his head to look at Viktor, his eyes warm with admiration. Viktor might just die if Jayce keeps looking at him like that because his heart is clenching in his chest. “Thanks, Vik. It’s perfect.”
“Prosím,” Viktor says automatically. A flutter of emotions stirring in his stomach caused the slip up. It’s usually only when he’s having intense feelings, such as stress (it’s usually stress), that he ends up accidentally speaking Jasyk around Pilties. “I-I mean, you’re welcome.”
“Prosím? Did I say that right?”
The question takes him by surprise. Jayce has heard him speak Jasyk casually, usually when he’s frustrated or tired in the lab, but he’s never actually asked about it. He just assumed Jayce had no interest in a translation. “Uh, yes. It usually means ‘thank you’ or ‘you’re welcome’.”
Viktor isn’t sure why, but the small interest in his native language is flattering. There were a few Jasyk families where he grew up in the Undercity, but Viktor didn’t speak to the majority of them. The most Jasyk he’s spoken since his mom died is when he’s just muttering to himself, which Jayce knows by now. It’s odd that Jayce hasn’t asked him about translating or speaking it up until this point.
After the gift exchange, they continue to finish another bottle of wine between the four of them. Despite being only 5’7” and just over a hundred and twenty pounds, Viktor can hold his alcohol surprisingly well, so he can barely feel a tingle by his third glass.
It’s around 9 pm when Cait decides it’s time for her to go home. When she gets her coat on and dons her new hat and scarf, Viktor takes that as his cue to get ready to leave himself. Jayce, however, grabs his elbow and leans over to whisper in his ear while Caitlyn and Ximena say their goodbyes.
“Stay a little longer so we can crack open that bottle?” There’s hope in Jayce’s voice that makes Viktor flush a little. The idea that Jayce so willingly wants to spend time together, outside of the many hours they work, makes him feel like the luckiest man in the universe.
“Sure,” Viktor says back in a quiet voice before returning to say goodbye to Cait.
Once Caitlyn has left, Ximena turns to him. “Are you staying later, Viktor?”
“Yeah, we’re going to hang out for a bit,” Jayce interjects, wrapping an arm around Viktor’s shoulders casually.
“In that case, I’m going to retire for the evening. Goodnight, boys. Get home safely, Viktor,” she says cheerily before climbing the stairs.
Viktor follows Jayce back to the living room where his partner is grabbing the bottle of whiskey, opening it and taking a whiff. “Oh, that does smell sweet. Did you just pick this one for the name?”
“I know you like honey and this was the first nice bottle I ever bought myself,” Viktor replies as he sits back down on the couch. “Believe it or not, I used to exclusively buy cheap hovno up until Hextech got me a better paycheck.”
“I’m assuming hovno means shit?” Jayce chuckles and Viktor must be really out of it because he didn’t even realize he slipped up again.
“Sorry—cursing in Jasyk feels better for some reason. ‘Kurva’ is far more satisfying than ‘fuck’.”
“Don’t be, I love hearing you cuss up a storm in Jasyk. I think it’s cute. I’ll go grab glasses with some ice.”
Viktor stares at Jayce’s back as he leaves. Did… Jayce just call me cute? The thought shakes up his brain like a snow globe. What the fuck does that mean?
Moments later, Jayce returns with two tumblers with a few cubes of ice in each. He hands Viktor one, who takes it silently, and starts to pour him a double before doing so for himself as well.
Sitting down next to Viktor in front of the fireplace, Jayce sighs and kicks his feet up on the coffee table. His arm is behind Viktor’s head again as he turns to him and holds his glass up. “Happy Solstice, Vik.”
“Happy Solstice, Jayce.” He clinks his glass with Jayce’s and takes a sip, savouring the sweet burn of the whiskey.
Jayce hums appreciatively, eyes lighting up as he drinks. “That’s really good, actually. You know how to pick ‘em.”
“I just know your preferences.”
“Thanks for coming, it meant a lot to me.”
“You already thanked me. I told you I was happy to get the invite in the first place.”
Jayce is quiet for a moment, swirling the ice in his whiskey idly. “Can I ask you something?”
Viktor hates when Jayce gets mysterious on him, but he doesn’t expect any harm from the theoretical question. “Of course.”
“Did you… lie all these years?”
Freezing in place, Viktor’s palms begin to sweat. He’s not one hundred percent sure what Jayce is referring to, but he has a suspicion. “About…?”
“About having plans for the Solstice,” Jayce finally says, observing Viktor with calculating eyes. Viktor is usually the one looking at Jayce with such scrutiny.
He swallows, setting his glass down on the table in favour of fidgeting with his hands. “Yes.”
“Why? Did you just not want to and you didn’t want to outright turn me down?”
Viktor shakes his head, running a hand through his hair. “I, um… it wasn’t about you. I just… I felt like I’d be intruding and I didn’t…” Pausing, Viktor sighs, dropping his hand to his side. “I was ashamed of how alone I am.”
Jayce frowns at that, setting his glass down before putting his legs down and turning his whole body towards Viktor. “What do you mean?”
“I haven’t seen any of my old friends in years. Most of them didn’t really want to see me anymore after I got my scholarship to the Academy—they felt like Piltover would change me,” Viktor admits. He was avoiding Jayce’s gaze up until now, but when he finally looks into those beautiful hazel eyes, he knows he can’t hide the truth anymore. “You’re the only friend I have, Jayce.”
“We’re not friends,” Jayce says and Viktor’s heart sinks into his stomach.
What is… what does that mean?
Jayce’s hand is suddenly on his neck, cupping it affectionately. He’s staring at Viktor with the softest expression that makes him feel like he’s the only person in the world. “We’re family. I want to spend every Solstice with you, if that’s what you want too.”
A complicated mixture of emotions are eating away at Viktor’s insides. It’s similar to when Jayce had said it earlier, except it feels like a declaration. It’s both touching and heartbreaking. This is the final nail in the coffin. He’s never going to have Jayce like he wants, even though they made that stupid pact. It’s foolish of him to have even thought he could have that anyway because, again, Jayce is probably straight.
Viktor chooses to swallow the heartache and focus on the positives. Jayce is his family. That alone is enough, or it will have to be enough. After all, Viktor is so far gone in love with this man that he’ll desperately take whatever Jayce will give him, even if it’s familial.
His hand reaches up to wrap around Jayce’s wrist, smiling softly. “Thank you, Jayce. That means a lot to me. I haven’t had any family in… thirteen years.”
The firelight is almost romantic, casting shadows on Jayce’s face in a way that emphasizes his most handsome features—his square jaw, his pointed nose, his angular cheekbones. Viktor can even see the perfectly round edges of his two front teeth peeking out from beyond his parted lips. Jayce’s thumb brushes over his pulse point and Viktor knows his heartbeat is jumping from the small sign of affection. Despite what Jayce just said, the urge for his own lips to fall into Jayce’s is a temptation that is taking all of his will to resist.
Viktor spaces out, imagining what it would be like to close that distance between them. He would curl a fist into Jayce’s burgundy sweater, the one that makes him look like perfect boyfriend material, while cupping the back of Jayce’s neck. When their mouths met, Viktor would savour the honey whiskey still lingering on Jayce’s lips, and it would be his new favourite flavour.
I bet his lips are soft.
When he comes back to reality, he swears Jayce is closer than he was before, breathing Viktor’s air and intensely holding his gaze. His pupils are dilated, the hazel of his eyes a fine ring around the black, and he’s tilted his head to the side slightly. It looks like Jayce might actually kiss him. Before panic or confusion can set in, Jayce pulls away, reaching for his glass like they didn’t just share an intimate moment.
“Hey,” Jayce breaks the silence, sounding casual. Viktor is currently questioning whether or not he imagined what just happened. “Would you wanna see my childhood bedroom? My mom has basically left it untouched.”
The question brings his mind back to his earlier fantasy of Jayce taking him to his room and bending him over the nearest surface. He should say no so that fantasy remains a fantasy without a real-life reference. But before Viktor can stop himself and abide by that thought, he says, “Yes.”
They finish their drinks then quietly, so they don’t disturb Ximena, climb the stairs together. Viktor tries to be as silent as he can while using his cane, and his leg starts to ache halfway up, but it’s fortunately a short flight. He should really start considering that leg brace his doctor suggested, but that’s an issue for another time.
Jayce opens the door and flicks on the light, unveiling the room of a young Jayce who attempted to cast magic spells that Viktor wishes he had known. There are posters everywhere of magicians and mages, various drawings pinned to the walls, and a vast collection of crystals on the windowsill and desk.
“Wow, you weren’t kidding when you said you had an obsession with magic.” Viktor looks around the room curiously, taking in all the details and collectables.
Jayce chuckles, closing the door behind him while following Viktor’s gaze. “You could say that. At first I wanted to be a mage. Can you imagine my disappointment when I learned I had to be born one?”
“Oh, devastating, I’m sure.” Viktor steps closer to the windowsill, examining the crystals sitting there. “Interesting collection. I don’t really know anything about gemstones. Do they have any significant meaning or do you just like them?”
Joining Viktor at the window and looking at the collection, he says, “Yeah, at first I started collecting them because I thought they were beautiful. But then, I started to learn about the histories, their spiritual meanings, and I got really into them.”
“What’s this one? It almost matches your eyes.” Viktor says it without thinking, and he isn’t sure if pointing it out hints that he thinks about Jayce’s eyes a lot.
Jayce picks up the yellow-green raw crystal, turning it over in his hand. “Peridot. It’s got a lot of meanings from different cultures over Runeterra and throughout history. Compassion, good health, balancing emotion, strong romantic relationships. Legend even says that if it’s set in gold it can ward off nightmares.”
“Hm. I can’t say I believe a rock can influence our health or relationships. I’m not one for spirituality, but I can’t say I’m not interested to hear more. What’s your favourite?”
Setting down the peridot, Jayce actually reaches into his pocket and pulls out a tumbled yellow gemstone. Viktor wasn’t expecting that. “Yellow topaz. Similarly, there’s a lot of things associated with it. A lot of people know it to represent love and friendship but, I uh… I carry it everywhere because it’s said to help anxiety and protect people from fires and accidents.”
His heart aches for Jayce in that moment and it hits him just how much his father’s death affected him.
Viktor is about to speak but Jayce continues before he can. “You know, it kind of matches your eyes, too.”
Fixating on the gem in Jayce’s hand, he sees it. It almost does match his honey eyes and something about Jayce carrying around a rock like that makes him feel warm inside. He knows that’s not the reason he carries it, but he wishes it was. “It’s nice. How long have you carried that around?”
“Since I was… sixteen, I think? That’s when I started to really get into them.”
Over three years later and there’s still so much about Jayce that Viktor doesn’t know. He’s greedy, and he wants to eat up every morsel of information he can about his partner.
“I do hope it helps, even if I don’t believe in it.” Viktor’s eyes drift away from the crystals to a photo on the wall. He immediately recognizes Jayce from the shape of his eyes and nose, but he can’t be more than ten. In the photo he’s holding a hefty hammer next to a man with sideburns.
“My dad,” Jayce comments, voicing the obvious.
“It’s easy to see the resemblance. You have his nose and chin.”
“Yeah, my mom says I’m the spitting image of him.”
Viktor’s eyes travel around the room, taking in every detail he can. It’s like opening up a treasure trove within Jayce’s history. His eyes fall on a box at the bottom of the open closet labelled ‘J art’.
“I know you dabbled in art, but it seems like you were quite dedicated.” Viktor nods to the box.
Jayce follows his line of sight, flushing faintly. “Yeah, I uh, really thought I was going to be an artist before I pursued science.”
“Could I see some?”
Looking at Viktor, Jayce blinks. He thinks that Jayce might say no, which is fine. At that moment, his leg starts to tremble a little from all the standing—winter is always hard on his muscles.
“Sure. You sit and I’ll grab the box,” Jayce says, waving towards the bed.
Without a word, Viktor sits and gets comfortable, grateful to have the pressure off his leg. He watches as Jayce picks up the heavy box and brings it over to the foot of the bed.
“My mom’s got years worth of drawings in here. I think it goes back to when I was six,” Jayce says as he picks up a spiral bound sketchbook, looking at the label before sitting next to Viktor. “This is from when I was seventeen. I went through a landscape phase so I think that’s what this is.”
Jayce opens the sketchbook and the first page is a pencil sketch of the city, which takes a moment for Viktor to recognize as the view from his bedroom window. “I didn’t know you could draw like this,” he says, tracing the organic etchings on paper. “May I take a look through?”
“Uh… yeah, I mean, go ahead.” Jayce hands him the sketchbook then rubs the back of his neck, seeming nervous.
Viktor quietly flips through the sketchbook. Most are charcoal sketches of different places throughout Piltover—parks, the Academy, cafés, the library. Then he flips to a drawing of the harbour, painted with watercolours. The red, orange, and purple of the sunset are stunning on the page, and Viktor can almost envision a young Jayce sitting near the docks and trying to capture one of his favourite places in the city.
“This is beautiful, Jayce,” Viktor whispers, his fingers tracing the outline of the lighthouse in the distance. The fantasy of them having a house in the harbour resurfaces in his mind, and he wants so badly to wake up to a view like this—with Jayce by his side, that is. “Trust me, I’m glad you followed the path of science, but it’s a shame you didn’t pursue art.”
“Thanks, I like to think of science as a kind of art, to be honest,” Jayce replies, sounding a little shy. He’s quiet for a few moments while Viktor just stares at the painting. “Do you want it?”
Viktor raises his head, furrowing his brow at Jayce. “What?”
“Do you want the painting? It’s just going to collect dust in my mom’s house so, it’s better if someone can appreciate it.”
Jayce gifting him something so personal makes his stomach churn with anxiety and the sickening feeling of love. The image of himself leaning in and capturing Jayce’s lips, just to show him how much this means to him—how much Jayce means to him—invades his mind like an illness. Maybe they’re not just friends. Maybe Jayce isn’t straight. Maybe Jayce feels the same way.
“I… I would really like that,” Viktor manages to say, his mind running a mile a minute.
Jayce is staring at him again, just like he did before when they were in the living room. Not only that, but Jayce’s eyes just flickered down to his lips. And now he’s starting to lean in.
Ó můj bože, is this really happening?
Viktor’s eyes flutter shut because he can’t look anymore. He just waits, and his bottom lip might be trembling in both fear and anticipation. The desire for this has been haunting him for three years and now that it’s happening, he’s terrified.
And then… Jayce hugs him. Wraps his broad arms around Viktor’s shoulders and holds him tightly. For a moment, Viktor is frozen. The love sickness quickly turns sour in his stomach and shame washes over him. I was so stupid to think he might actually want me like that.
Despite the grief for what was never going to be, he hugs back. Tears begin to stream down his cheeks. No matter how hard he tries not to, he just can’t control it. Viktor’s shoulders start to shake in Jayce’s arms, and he tucks his face into Jayce’s neck. A quiet sob escapes him as he curls his fists in the sweater Ximena knitted him.
“V? What’s going on?” Jayce’s voice is laced with concern as he rubs Viktor’s back while he cries into Jayce’s neck.
You don’t love me. You’re never going to love me. I love you so much, I don’t think I’ll ever love someone else like I love you.
“I-I’m just,” Viktor manages to get out, but he’s not even sure what he’s going to say. In the fog of his emotions, he comes up with an excuse. “So happy. This was the best Solstice in a… a long time.”
It’s technically true. Maybe he is partially crying because of that. But he’s mostly crying because it physically hurts how much he’s devastated by the fact that he was fooled. For a moment, he actually thought Jayce returned his feelings.
Zatracený blázen.
“I’m glad, Vik,” Jayce whispers in a soothing voice, pulling back a little to look at him. One hand finds Viktor’s cheek, cradling it affectionately. His touch burns, but Viktor has become numb to the fire. “You’re my best friend. All I want is to make you happy, that’s what will make me happy.”
Unable to resist returning the affection, Viktor mirrors Jayce by cupping his cheek. His voice is barely above a whisper when he speaks. “Thank you, Jayce.”
“Of course…” Leaning forward, Jayce presses his forehead to Viktor’s while brushing a tear away. “You saved me. I would do anything for you.”
Anything but love me.
They both get up at dawn the next day after spending their night doing laundry and catching up on sleep. Viktor tells Jayce he can sleep in, but his partner insists on having breakfast with him and kissing him goodbye before he starts work—like they’re an old married couple. He loves it, and he smiles against Jayce’s lips as he does before he leaves for the blacksmith’s.
Viktor hasn’t done any physical labour jobs before. In fact, he only ever had three jobs: mechanical repairs, academic research, and whatever the hell Hextech qualified as—mad scientist, maybe. To be fair, he hasn’t had a body equipped for physical labour up until recently. In the commune, he spent most of his newfound mobility gardening, something he could have done before anyway.
Meeko shows him how to feed the horses that are boarded, which is his first task in the morning. He actually kind of likes it because he gets to pet the horses as he does. The second is preparing breakfast for the other guests. Viktor is comfortable in the kitchen, has been for half his life, but some of the foods are foreign to him here. They have chicken eggs, oats, wheat bread—which is reassuring—and something similar to bacon, but Viktor is too afraid to ask what animal it comes from.
So far he’s learned that there are no cows in this reality, but there are similar creatures called gallants, which he thinks is an interesting name. Viktor saw a picture of one in the flora and fauna book. It looks like a cross of a cow and a horse, but longer and with six legs instead of four.
He sampled the milk that morning and it wasn’t unpleasant, just a touch sweet and creamier than cow’s milk. He tried it in his coffee—thank whatever higher powers that be that there’s coffee—out of curiosity, even though he usually drinks it black. Jayce gave him a perplexed look when he did it and Viktor shrugged, saying he wanted to try new things. It’s true. He’s been treating it partially like an experiment.
Kaedin is the cook of the two and directs him in the kitchen while making breakfast. It’s not difficult to catch on, which Kaedin seems pleasantly surprised with.
Neither Meeko nor Kaedin asks for details about why he wears a glove on his left hand, which he appreciates. It’s a little big on him, and he wants to replace it as soon as possible, but it serves its purpose.
After breakfast is served, Meeko starts to give him a tour of the bar. There are a lot of alcohols he’s never heard of, which he pretends to know, but they have things like vodka (there are no potatoes here, it’s made with one of the root vegetables Viktor had found—a cross between a potato and a radish), beer, and wine. Viktor feels like he could cry with joy when he sees bottles of whiskey on the shelves. At that moment, even though he’s spent almost two weeks in the blissful honeymoon phase with Jayce, that makes him feel like everything’s going to be alright.
He spends the majority of the afternoon cleaning the bedrooms, mostly just changing sheets and replacing towels. It’s not the most exciting work, sure, but he reminds himself when he finally breaks for lunch that he’s doing it for Jayce. He’s doing it so they can have a roof over their heads, a bed that isn’t rotting, a bathroom, and hot meals. That keeps him going.
It’s 4 pm when Viktor is done with all the cleaning and he starts to wonder what Jayce is up to. It must have gone well because he didn’t come back, so Viktor can only assume he’s been put to work right away. Good thing, because one of them needs to make money.
Kaedin is covering dinner and Viktor is expected to man the bar with Meeko until 9 pm. At quarter after four, Jayce walks through the front door.
Viktor’s heart is in his throat. Jayce’s white shirt is soaked through with sweat, his skin glistening in the sunlight pouring in through the window pane. His hair is damp, sticking to his forehead and the nape of his neck, and he looks at Viktor with the brightest smile. There’s even a smudge of charcoal on his cheek.
Viktor’s dick responds immediately.
It’s just like all the times he visited Jayce at the forge, though they were few and far between for that reason. Jayce was always shirtless, Viktor watching his sweat-soaked form the entire time as he worked molten iron, and all he could think about was being bent over the nearest surface. The first time Viktor had that fantasy, he masturbated to the thought of it for almost a week straight. He had to fuck a labourer from the Undercity, fresh from his shift, to get it out of his system (just barely).
“Meeko, would you mind if I take a break for a half hour?” Viktor turns to the vastaya, trying not to seem too eager.
“Just be back in time for dinner service,” he shrugs.
Viktor rounds the bar and Jayce is still wearing that gorgeous smile. “Hey, Vik, how’s your—”
“Not now, come,” Viktor demands, taking his hand and dragging him up the stairs.
“Uh, oh, okay?” Jayce doesn’t ask any questions, just follows Viktor down the hall to their room. Shoving Jayce inside, Viktor locks the door before turning to him.
“Is everything okay?” Jayce looks genuinely concerned, and almost intimidated when Viktor steps forward.
“Fuck me. Right now.”
Concern turns to confusion and then, finally, arousal. “I mean, yeah, if you want a quickie right now, I’m down. Give me five minutes to shower—”
“No, that’s the fucking point,” Viktor says, crowding Jayce against the wall opposite to the door, not unlike a predator. His hand snaps to the back of Jayce’s neck, pulling him in so their lips are but an inch apart. “I’ve thought about fucking you fresh from the forge for seven years, I’m not waiting another day.”
“Oh, fuck,” Jayce says dumbly before Viktor closes the distance between them and tastes his words.
As Viktor attacks Jayce’s mouth, he starts clumsily kicking off his shoes. He can feel himself getting wetter by the second because Jayce looks good enough to eat, and this has been on his mind for so long. Jayce chopping wood was one thing, which Viktor also pounced on him for and Jayce hadn’t questioned it at the time, but this is a whole other fantasy. It would be better if they were in the Talis forge. This is the next best thing.
Jayce responds just as eagerly as he gets to work on Viktor’s pants. They haven’t been able to get Viktor underwear yet so that’s one less layer they have to worry about.
Quickly shucking his glove aside and then shoving his hands up Jayce’s shirt, he savours the feeling of his lover’s sweat-slick skin. It just makes him more needy, urgently devouring Jayce’s mouth.
Once his pants are pooled on the floor, he steps out of them and feels Jayce’s hands go straight for his ass. Viktor breaks the kiss with mild annoyance. “Don’t waste my time, Talis,” he says, grabbing Jayce’s right hand and guiding it between his legs. He presses down on two of Jayce’s fingers, forcing them past his folds, and Jayce’s eyes go comically wide.
“Holy shit, you’re wet,” Jayce says in awe, circling the two fingers around Viktor’s entrance.
“Yes, so I don’t need much. Give me two and I can take it.”
“Are you s—”
“Yes, I don’t care if it hurts a little. You’re not going to break me,” Viktor says in a demanding tone, which seems to light a metaphorical fire under Jayce’s ass.
His partner’s fingers are thick and two of Jayce’s are about equal to three of his own. Despite the stretch, he lets out a soft moan, which Jayce greedily consumes as he kisses him. Wanting to get Jayce ready as soon as possible, Viktor unbuttons the worn trousers he’s wearing and pulls his cock out. He’s already half-erect, which gives him a swell of pride. I can get Jayce Talis hard in record time.
With slow, even strokes using his right hand, he gets Jayce all the way there while his fingers crook inside Viktor. Another moan leaves him as he grinds against Jayce’s fingers, who makes a low growl before biting Viktor’s lower lip. Turns out, he’s not the only one going feral right now.
“Fuck it, just fuck me already,” Viktor demands impatiently now that Jayce is fully hard and he’s been opened up… well, a little. Not enough, but enough for his patience. He knows he’s going to be sore later, but he doesn’t care right now.
“How do you—”
“Pick me up.”
“Fuck, baby, okay,” Jayce says, removing his fingers from Viktor, which he briefly mourns, before scooping his hands under the backs of his thighs. Viktor wraps his arms around Jayce’s shoulders, feeling his lover’s length against the curve of his ass.
“Go slow going in,” Viktor warns, wrapping his legs around Jayce’s lower back. He wants it to hurt, but only pleasantly.
Reaching between them, Viktor guides Jayce’s cock to his hole, and Jayce slowly eases his hips forward as he enters. The stretch is a little intense, making Viktor breathless as he wraps both arms around Jayce’s shoulders again, burying his face in the crook of his neck.
Sensing the tension, Jayce stops moving. “You okay, baby?”
“Yeah, you’re just fucking big.” Viktor laughs softly against Jayce’s skin despite the tears prickling his eyes. “We don’t have a lot of time, you can keep going.”
“I don’t want to hurt—”
“Jayce. I won’t break.”
“Okay, I trust you,” Jayce whispers, kissing his clothed shoulder. Easing their hips together again, Jayce’s cock slides into Viktor’s heat and he groans. “Fuck, I love how tight you are.”
Viktor feels like he’s being split in half, making him whimper against Jayce’s neck. It hurts so good and Jayce’s natural musk is flooding his senses. His fingers tangle in the sweat-soaked hair at the base of Jayce’s neck, reminding him of why he’s so worked up in the first place—Jayce’s thick cock nearly made him forget.
When Jayce is finally all the way in, Viktor feels absolutely full and like he can breathe again. Jayce remains still, turning his head to kiss Viktor’s pulse point. “Tell me when you’re ready, baby.”
Taking deep breaths, Viktor relaxes in Jayce’s arms and grows used to his girth stretching his muscles. After a few more moments, he leans back and nods before returning to Jayce’s lips. Jayce sighs into his mouth like a smitten schoolboy and it makes Viktor giddy.
Starting slowly, Jayce combines the movement of his hips and lifting Viktor in his arms to pull out then dive back in. It’s a little uncomfortable at first, invasive from so little prep, but as soon as Jayce really starts to move, the sensation is replaced with pure pleasure. Just as Jayce has made a home inside him, Viktor is doing the same with Jayce’s mouth, dominating their kiss. His hand moves from Jayce’s hair to his cheek, affectionately petting his beard.
The angle they have going makes the head of Jayce’s cock consistently glide against his g-spot, triggering one needy moan after another. Jayce starts to pick up the pace now that they have a confident rhythm, his grip biting into Viktor’s thighs. In the back of his mind, Viktor hopes they’ll bruise.
The sound of skin slapping against skin starts to fill the room, harsh like the pounding of a hammer. He tries to be as quiet as he can, aware that they’re no longer in the middle of the woods where they can be as loud as they want. Various moans, and a mixture of cusses in Common and his mother tongue escape Viktor’s lips in between disorienting kisses.
Jayce seems just as affected, losing some of his higher faculties in favour of chasing his bliss by ferociously fucking into Viktor. He’s like a feral beast—Viktor is too—with the way he snaps his hips and groans with pleasure.
They both start to get desperate as Viktor tries to help out as much as he can by lifting his hips so Jayce doesn’t have to do all the work, but there’s little else he can do. Jayce very much has control in the situation, which isn’t their typical dynamic. It’s different, but not unwelcome.
Viktor doesn’t think he’ll last much longer with the way Jayce is fucking him so uncontrollably. His thighs are shaking in Jayce’s large, calloused hands as waves of pleasure crawl up Viktor’s spine with each thrust. “I’m… close,” he barely gets out between kisses. This man is going to swallow me whole.
“Me—Me too,” Jayce responds with just as much difficulty, not wanting his lips to part from Viktor’s. It’s almost ridiculous how much they’re clawing at each other, teeth knocking together as they tangle their tongues, like they’re trying to bury themselves beneath each other’s skin. Viktor revels in it—he hopes they’ll still try to tear into each other’s chest cavities thirty years from now.
It takes a few well-angled thrusts to rip his orgasm out of him. His walls clamp around Jayce’s cock, contracting with each wave, as he makes a loud, primal sound in Jayce’s mouth. He’s still riding the wave of his orgasm when Jayce halts the movement of his hips as he cums inside Viktor with an equally animalistic noise.
Jayce seems a little dizzy when he parts his lips from Viktor’s, deciding to make the short walk from where they had been fucking in the centre of the room to sit on the bed. He pants, still breathing Viktor’s air, and his legs quake from the exertion.
“You did so good, baby. Thank you for taking care of me,” Viktor praises, cradling Jayce’s face with both hands and kissing him sweetly. Jayce practically melts into the kiss, moving to wrap his arms around Viktor’s waist. It’s tender, the heat of their passion seeping away and replaced by the warmth of satisfaction.
Viktor feels like jelly, and he just wants to nap after getting fucked like that, but he remembers he’s supposed to be working. Breaking the kiss, his head snaps up to look at the clock. 4:37 pm. “I’ve got eight minutes. Want to cuddle?”
“Hell yeah,” Jayce says, looking at him with a dopey, lovestruck grin. He manoeuvres them, gently pulling Viktor off of his cock, until he’s lying on his chest in their bed. The empty feeling makes him shiver but Viktor sighs against Jayce’s sweaty chest, wrapping his arm around his lover’s middle while Jayce’s fingers brush through his hair. It’s peaceful and quiet until Jayce speaks again, still taking deep breaths to come down from the adrenaline. “That was fucking awesome.”
Viktor snorts against Jayce’s chest, feeling both sore and like the cat who got the cream. “Top five.”
“Top five what?”
“Times we’ve had sex. I’m ranking them.”
“You’re organizing our sex life in your head?”
“Mhm. I might even journal about it. Experiment by mixing and matching different elements.”
“Consider me a willing test subject, then,” Jayce laughs, running his fingers over Viktor’s clothed arm. “What’s number one?”
“The first time.”
Jayce pauses for a moment, like something is on his mind and he doesn’t want to say it, but it’s gone so quickly that Viktor thinks he imagined it. “Right. Our first time was special.”
Viktor hums in agreement before leaning up to kiss Jayce’s cheek. “I’m going to clean up quickly before I go back to work.”
Having one minute to spare when he mostly doesn’t look like he just had sloppy, desperate sex, Jayce comes to the door to see him off. They kiss like the world around them doesn’t matter, Viktor’s hands cupping Jayce’s cheeks while his lover squeezes his waist. With one final peck, Viktor heads back downstairs. He stops before he reaches the bottom when he realizes he left his glove.
Viktor runs back upstairs, announcing, “Forgot my glove” when he steps in, only to be met with a naked Jayce. It’s not strange, they’ve seen each other naked so many times now, but it still has an effect on Viktor. His pussy flutters achingly, as if to say ‘I could go again’, which makes Viktor flush. Then he realizes he’s been staring.
“Everything okay, V?” Jayce asks the question so innocently, clearly not realizing what he’s doing to Viktor.
Gods, he’s got a great ass. “Yep, fine.” He grabs his glove and leaves, trying not to let the horny thoughts tumbling in his head distract him.
Meeko gives him a look, and he’s not sure if it’s obvious or he just suspects what they were up to. Viktor still feels boneless and sore between the legs. He doesn’t say anything, and patrons start pouring into The Thistle Bird just as Kaedin’s finished cooking.
The inn smells divine—warm, comforting and like a home. It reminds him of all the times he cooked for Jayce like they were married. Looking back on it, they practically were. Viktor wants that again, to cook for his future husband (if Jayce is serious, which Viktor thinks he is) and have that domestic life on their own terms.
One day at a time, he tells himself to ease the yearning feeling in the pit of his stomach.
Jayce comes down shortly after dinner is being served, freshly showered and in a clean pair of clothes. As Viktor gets a good look at him from behind the bar (ogles him more like), he feels something between his legs.
Jayce’s cum is dripping out of him and running down his inner thigh.
He thought he got all of it, but clearly not. Maybe he should stop letting Jayce cum inside him every time, especially since they’re going to be around people now, but admittedly he loves it. He’s never let anyone else do that to him, but now that he has, he’s addicted to the feeling. The consequences, however, are not always pleasant.
Trying not to think about it, he starts to serve some kind of hot meat sandwich (he assumes it’s gallant meat from how cow-like it is), root mash and steamed veggies to the guests. Those staying at the inn eat for free, but anyone coming to the inn for a meal has to pay with… paper money? It’s odd, he doesn’t know how paper can have value, but everyone is treating it like it’s normal.
Viktor won’t be able to eat dinner until after the rush, but he brings over Jayce’s. His partner smiles up at him, innocent and blissed out. “Hey, beautiful.”
Setting the plate down in front of Jayce, Viktor hums in acknowledgement before leaning in to whisper in his ear. “I can feel you dripping down my thigh.”
He pulls back, searching Jayce’s face for a reaction, and he’s not disappointed. Jayce is staring at him, wide-eyed and cheeks flushed. It almost looks like he’s getting ready to attack him. “If I could, I would bend you over this table right now and fill you up until you were overflowing,” Jayce whispers back, just shy of gritting his teeth from how turned on he is.
I love having this power over him. Big, strong, commanding Jayce Talis turns into a rabid dog at the first thought of my cunt.
“Maybe later, golden boy,” Viktor says before pecking him on the cheek and returning to work.
There are a few dinner orders that trickle in after the initial rush, which Viktor takes care of efficiently. When he’s back behind the bar and getting ready to take his own meal break, Jayce walks over. Leaning over the bar, Viktor’s half expecting him to say something sultry, to tease him into thinking about going for another round once he’s done, but it’s actually something practical.
“I saw a general store on the way back so I was going to go and get some essentials. Any special requests?”
“Toothbrush and toothpaste, or whatever they have the equivalent of.”
“Already on the list.”
“A hairbrush. My hair keeps getting tangled and it’s driving me insane,” he says, thinking again. “And a hair tie.”
“That’s it?”
Viktor holds up his left hand. “Better fitting gloves, if they have them,” he says before leaning closer so no one can hear them. “What’s the money situation? It’s weird that it’s paper, right?”
Jayce nods, speaking in a hushed voice. “Yeah, it also seems to have a higher value. I made twenty gheld and Rehna made it sound like it was good pay for ten hours of work. I noticed there’s coins too, but they’re called quarters and halves—self-explanatory. The meal was two and a half gheld from what I overheard.”
“Okay, maybe we can actually buy some clothes in a few days if that’s the case.”
“That’s what I’m hoping too. I’m gonna go now before the store closes. I love you.”
Even though Jayce has said it over a dozen times by now, Viktor isn’t used to it yet. It makes his heart swoon and his stomach fill with pesky butterflies, like he’s a teen with a crush. “I love you too. Be safe.”
“I will,” Jayce pauses, lowering his voice again, blatantly giving Viktor bedroom eyes. “I’m looking forward to continuing our conversation from earlier.”
Viktor bites back a grin. He’s sore, he took too much too quickly, but he’s still getting wet again at the thought of another round. “Me too.”
He eats dinner and by the time he’s done, Jayce has returned. Rather than saying hi before going upstairs, Jayce has the audacity to wink at him as he passes, prompting Viktor to roll his eyes. Cornball.
9 pm comes pretty quickly, and he’s learned how to make quite a few cocktails in the last couple of hours. He says goodnight to Meeko and Kaedin before making it up the stairs, feeling exhausted. Physical labour and standing on his feet for hours is definitely more exhausting than spending twenty consecutive hours in the lab.
When he opens the door, Jayce is on the bed, wearing only his pants, reading what looks like a magazine. It appears to be about technology and science, which makes sense—they should be learning about the innovations of this world. He looks up with an adoring look in his eyes. “Hey, V. How was your day?”
“Tiring. How was yours?” Viktor starts untying his boots, practically ready to fall into bed.
“Pretty good. Feels good to get my hands dirty again.”
“You’ve been getting your hands dirty since we got here.” Tossing off the glove, he approaches the bed and collapses on it, putting his head in Jayce’s lap while his legs hang off the bed.
“Yeah, but I mean in a forge,” Jayce replies, combing a hand through Viktor’s hair. “So, about that conversation from earlier… should I assume you’re too tired?”
Viktor looks up at Jayce, contemplating the question. “If you do all the work, I’m up for it. You can just fuck me until I pass out.”
“Can I eat you out first?”
“I can still feel your cum inside me.”
“So?” Jayce asks it like he doesn’t understand that most men wouldn’t want to taste their own seed.
Oh, so he’s that filthy. Good to know. “Then be my guest.”
Viktor sits up so Jayce can get up and set down the magazine on the desk. He stands over Viktor, cupping his face in his hands before bending down to kiss him. Sighing into it, Viktor returns the kiss, mirroring Jayce’s hands to pet his beard. Large fingers move from his jaw to the hem of his shirt, slowly pulling upwards. They break the kiss so Jayce can gingerly remove his shirt, clearly taking care of Viktor in his exhaustion.
“Lie back, baby,” Jayce instructs, and while Viktor doesn’t typically like being told what to do, he doesn’t have the energy to argue. Maybe he does just want to lie down and let Jayce take care of him for once.
Flopping back on the bed, his legs still hanging over the sides, Viktor watches as Jayce kisses his way down his body, starting at his neck and travelling all the way to his hip. He doesn’t leave any marks in his wake like he usually does, taking a more tender approach this time. It’s a wild juxtaposition from their earlier tryst, which Viktor is still feeling the aftermath of.
Jayce kneels on the floor before he unbuttons Viktor’s pants and slides them past his hips. He manhandles Viktor easily, getting each leg free before discarding the garment to the side. Viktor already feels wet, having been for hours from the ache and Jayce’s release dripping down his thigh. He knows he’s going to need a lot more prep than earlier, but that doesn’t need to be said, Jayce is already on that path.
Featherlight kisses are pressed against his inner thigh, making him shiver. Jayce wraps his hands around his legs, encircling them completely which is something he hadn’t noticed he could do before. It’s brain-meltingly sexy, but he doesn’t voice that. Gently dragging Viktor down by his legs, Jayce brings his hips closer to the edge of the bed, and hikes his thighs onto his shoulders.
Viktor feels hazy, like he’s swimming in a fog of exhaustion and arousal as Jayce’s mouth kisses his cock. Electricity shoots up his spine and a soft gasp leaves him as Jayce’s tongue laps at the hard nub. He’s not as ravenous as he was while eating Viktor out last time, giving him a soothing kind of pleasure instead. Sighing, Viktor allows himself to relax, going limp in Jayce’s hands with the exception of one of his own combing through Jayce’s hair.
It sounds sinful the way Jayce starts to devour his own seed from Viktor’s entrance with wet squelches, the warm muscle tenderly caressing his hole. He lets out something between a sigh and a moan, and normally he would roll his hips to contribute, but he’s too damn tired. For once he’s just a passenger and Jayce is taking him on a ride—an easy one that might make him comatose by the end of the night. The feeling of his tongue invading Viktor, consuming everything his pussy has to offer, makes him shudder. This man is fucking depraved.
“Is it okay if I open you up, baby?” Jayce practically coos when he pulls away. He seems to be laying the pet name on thick, but Viktor is eating it up despite himself.
Viktor hums in affirmation while he musses Jayce’s hair. For a moment, his thumb brushes over one of the four scars on his forehead. They’re hard to look at sometimes, but it’s getting easier with time. Either that or he’s too tired to let his demons ruin this.
Jayce is watching him, having noticed where Viktor touched him, as if he’s waiting for him to react. “I’m okay,” he reassures quietly, gently rubbing the scar again. “Keep going.”
There’s a pause, like Jayce was just reminded of something, and he spaces out for a moment. “Jayce?” Viktor tilts his head in question and frowns with concern.
“Yeah—yep,” Jayce says awkwardly, which confuses Viktor even more. His partner pretends everything is normal and moves on, so… Viktor drops it. Fuck it, I’m too tired.
Jayce gently slides one finger inside Viktor, continuing to lick at his cock. Viktor sighs from the invasion, allowing the hand that was in Jayce’s hair to fall to his side. He’s practically sprawling on the bed, and that alone makes him feel indulgent. The whole thing is indulgent—getting eaten out and fingered carefully while he lies there and does nothing. He feels that he should be reciprocating at least something, but Jayce said he was fine with their arrangement, so he tries to smother the guilt.
Usually he would be impatient with just one finger, but Jayce slowly making his way in and out of Viktor is making his head go numb with pleasure. It’s so soothing compared to the urgent fucking they had that afternoon, and Viktor almost forgets that he’s sore from being stretched out so quickly. He can’t stop the soft moans falling from his mouth, wrapped up in the warmth of Jayce’s mouth on his cock.
“Are you ready for another?”
Jayce looks up at him patiently when Viktor’s eyes flutter open, and he can see Jayce’s mouth and beard are coated in his slick in the moonlight. The question takes Viktor off guard because he was so lost in Jayce’s mouth and fingers.
“Ano prosím,” he murmurs, so hazy that he defaulted to his mother tongue. In the fog, he remembers Jayce at least knows ‘yes please’, so he doesn’t bother to translate.
“I love when you speak Jasyk,” his lover murmurs, kissing his thigh again. Slowly, he pushes in a second finger and there’s only a slight discomfort this time, but it quickly passes. “I want you to talk dirty to me, even if I can’t understand it. It just sounds so sexy.”
“Chci, abys vešel do mě,” Viktor manages to say, returning his hand to Jayce’s hair and petting the soft locks. “Jsi tak krásný.”
Jayce groans, gently nipping at Viktor’s thigh, not even hard enough to leave a mark. “Fuck, I have no idea what you just said, but I’m so fucking hard right now.”
“I want you to cum inside me,” Viktor translates, his mind feeling like it’s sinking into a pool of tar. Jayce’s fingers start to move a little faster, but still on the slow side. “And you’re so handsome.”
“Oh, don’t worry, I’m still planning on filling you up. And you’re the handsome one.”
“Líbí se mi, když mě naplňuješ...” Viktor doesn’t bother to translate this time. If Jayce is happy to hear him ramble in his native language, he’ll give it to him. His mind is too foggy for two languages anyway.
Jayce growls against Viktor’s thigh, scraping his teeth over the sensitive flesh as he kisses it feverishly. It seems like he can’t resist this time as the kissing turns to sucking, leaving a purple bruise in his wake. Viktor whines and rolls his hips in response despite his tiredness, Jayce’s fingers nudging his g-spot as he does.
“To je… tak dobrý pocit, Jayce.”
“Did you like that angle?”
Viktor nods in response, taking in a sharp breath as Jayce curls his fingers inside him and rubs directly on his sweet spot. His thighs begin to quiver and his free hand reaches for the one Jayce has wrapped around his thigh, just placing it on top. “Ó, kurva jo.”
Viktor has said kurva enough for Jayce to know what it means.
“That feels good, huh, baby? Think you can take another?”
Nodding again, Viktor braces himself by digging his nails into Jayce’s hand. He’s been warmed up enough that the stretch isn’t as painful as when he’s impatient (surprise, surprise), groaning softly as Jayce’s broad fingers penetrate him.
“Kurva…” Viktor takes a deep breath, adjusting to the digits stretching him open. He is starting to get antsy, even though he’s exhausted and willing to just let Jayce do what he wants to do with him.
“Ohnul bys mě?” Viktor asks the question, not realizing at first that he’s still speaking Jasyk. It takes a moment for his brain to catch up and find the right words in Common. “Would you bend me over?”
“Yeah, baby, anything you want. I love fucking you from behind,” Jayce says, seemingly drunk on arousal from the way he’s breathing heavily and pumping his fingers at a steady pace. Viktor responds by rocking his hips to meet Jayce’s hand, moaning quietly.
Viktor rolls his eyes despite how gone he is for what Jayce is doing to him. “Yeah, but you love missionary more so you can make out with me... I know what a sap you are.”
“That’s true.” Getting off his knees while still keeping his fingers inside Viktor, Jayce leans over his small frame until their breaths mingle, planting his other hand next to Viktor’s head. With Viktor’s legs still over Jayce’s shoulders, he’s essentially being folded in half.
Gods, I love being this flexible now.
Jayce drops his voice to barely above a whisper, his breath hot against Viktor’s lips when he murmurs, “I like fucking you in every position, though. From behind I get a spectacular view of your ass.”
Viktor laughs, but it’s cut off by a gasp when Jayce curls his fingers again. Seeing an opportunity, Jayce dips his tongue into Viktor’s mouth, sliding against him with little coordination. Immediately Viktor’s arms wrap around Jayce’s neck, holding him close as they kiss. He’s too disoriented to take over, as he normally likes to do, but he allows himself to be swept away in it. There’s a thought in the back of his mind that he might actually cum before Jayce even gets inside him.
Jayce’s teeth scrape over his tongue, kissing more aggressively than he usually does, his gentle touch long gone. It’s making Viktor’s brain overheat from how much he loves when Jayce gets this worked up and rough with him. The fingers inside him pick up speed, pleasuring him in all the right places, and Viktor can’t keep up with the kiss. His mouth is hanging open, overwhelmed with ecstasy, and Jayce takes that as an invitation to bite Viktor’s bottom lip.
“Ó můj bože—!” Viktor shouts, covering his mouth a moment too late, and continues to make muffled moans while he cums. His toes curl, body tense, and his pelvis stutters against Jayce’s fingers. In the haze of his orgasm he thinks he squirted and all he can do is go limp beneath Jayce. “S-Sakra…”
“Holy shit, baby,” Jayce pants, looking down at Viktor with a wicked smile. He pulls his fingers from Viktor’s pussy, lifting them to his lips. Greedily, he licks his digits clean, and Viktor watches through half-lidded eyes. The sight is enough to get his dick to throb with interest, already anticipating orgasm number two.
“Prosím, moje zlatíčko,” he manages to breathe out, hands reaching to cup Jayce’s face. His chest continues to heave with exertion, speaking between breaths. “I need… two minutes.”
“Prosím,” Jayce replies sweetly, pressing a chaste kiss to Viktor’s. His pronunciation actually isn’t bad. “You sure you wanna keep going?”
“Jo— I mean, yes.”
“I know ‘jo’ means ‘yes’,” Jayce chuckles, kissing him again before pulling away, moving so Viktor’s legs hang off the bed rather than on his shoulders. As Jayce stands, Viktor gets a look at his tented pants, the bulge prominent from his erection being strained against them. It makes Viktor swell with pride that Jayce can get this hard without Viktor even touching him. “I’m going to make you comfortable, okay?”
“Dobře,” Viktor says breathlessly, his pussy still tingling from his orgasm, arms spread out above his head. While catching his breath, he watches as Jayce gets out of his pants, practically salivating at the sight of his cock. Jayce’s length is full, leaning a little to the left, red and aching for Viktor’s pussy.
Starting to gather the pillows, Jayce piles them a few inches from the edge of the bed next to Viktor. His hands find Viktor’s hips and turn him over. The manhandling is well received because Viktor just lets it happen. In moments, Jayce has Viktor on top of the pillows, propping up Viktor’s hips.
If Viktor’s being honest, he feels vulnerable and slutty on his knees with his ass tilted up, back arched and face pressed to the mattress. It’s almost humiliating, which is usually Jayce’s thing, and it would be if he was with any other man, but the feeling of his lover’s rough hands running up his thighs make it feel safe.
“Let me know when you’re ready, baby,” Jayce coos quietly, kissing up Viktor’s spine. The kisses feel like fire meeting ice against the mechanical components, creating a pleasant sensation that makes his scalp tingle.
Viktor takes a few deep breaths, still feeling fucked out of his mind from that orgasm, but he’s ready for another. It probably won’t take much either from how sensitive he still is. “Ready.”
Jayce’s large hands wrap around his waist entirely, touching fingertip to fingertip, and Viktor can’t describe in words how much he loves that Jayce can do that. The head of Jayce’s cock pushes past his folds, slowly easing inside him, and he can’t help but whimper at the stretch. Jayce feels like lava inside him—hot to the touch, burning everything he can reach.
“Tak velký,” Viktor moans, high on lust, shuddering when Jayce finally bottoms out. At this point, he’s convinced he was made to be Jayce Talis’ cocksleeve from how perfectly he fits inside him. “Že mě tak dobře naplňuješ…”
“Fuck, baby, keep talking for me.” Jayce basically growls his words. He remains still inside, giving Viktor the opportunity to adjust. “Let me know when.”
Viktor doesn’t need long before he’s ready, his pussy wet and eagerly hugging Jayce’s cock. “Dobře. Kurva mě.”
“I’ll happily fuck you, beautiful. Do you want it slow?”
“Ne,” he murmurs, stretching his arms out like a cat, head still pressed to the mattress on its side. “Dej mi to drsně.”
“You want it rough?”
“Jo,” Viktor moans, tilting his hips slightly, trying to encourage Jayce to get going. “Je mi jedno, jestli to bude zítra bolet.”
“Whatever you say, baby,” Jayce says, tightening his hold on Viktor’s waist as he pulls back then snaps his hips forward.
Jayce agreed to be rough and he meant it. His pace is on the faster side, not yet aggressive but definitely approaching it. Viktor whimpers, loving the feeling of Jayce already pounding into him, both his g-spot and his cervix getting an equal amount of pleasure.
“Jayce,” Viktor moans, curling his fists in the bedsheets, and the sound of his name seems to encourage Jayce further to pick up speed. He moves his hands to Viktor’s hips and holds them with a bruising grip. All Viktor can do is happily accept that he’s going to get fucked into oblivion and he’s powerless in Jayce’s clutches.
“Fuck, baby, you always feel so good,” Jayce mutters and Viktor can hear him panting from how hard he’s thrusting into him.
Wet, skin-slapping sounds fill his ears, and Viktor feels Jayce’s balls smacking against his cock from this angle. It’s enough to make Viktor dizzy, and he thinks he’s starting to like letting Jayce dominate him like this. The grunts and growls that keep falling from Jayce’s lips trigger even more arousal than he already feels. He’s such a man. The pure masculinity and power is really getting him off, bringing him closer to his second orgasm.
“P-Přímo tam,” Viktor chokes out when Jayce hits his cervix at just the right angle, his back arching further.
“You like that, baby?” Jayce does it again, drawing a whimper from Viktor’s lips. The image of Jayce panting while he pounds into him, dripping with sweat, reminds him of earlier that day. He can’t say he hasn’t fantasized about Jayce using him like this, so it’s a delirious dream come true.
With each snap of Jayce’s hips, he starts to knock various words out of Viktor’s mouth. ‘Kurva’, ‘jo’, and ‘sakra’ are repeated like mantras as tears start to stream over his nose and his temple, staining the sheets. Hazy in his mind, he remembers that they are not, in fact, in the middle of the woods anymore.
Snapping a hand over his mouth, his eyes roll back in his head as he muffles the shouts that come with his orgasm. His entire body quakes as it washes over him, walls clenching around Jayce’s girth.
“Fuck, I’m close, can I—“
“Jayce,” Viktor says his name like it’s a warning, in a way that says fucking get on with it. He’s too far gone to say anything else.
Jayce doesn’t say another word, just pumps his cock in and out of Viktor as he lies limp. The way Jayce chases his own orgasm is ferocious, setting fire to all the sensitive nerve endings in his body, making his toes curl. It’s on the border of being uncomfortable, but he loves when Jayce fills him up and he’s not afraid of a little soreness to get it.
Jayce seems to have forgotten that they’re not exactly alone, because he lets out a primal groan and shouts, “Fuck, Vik.” He cums inside Viktor, hot and heavy, hips stuttering to a halt.
Panting, Jayce leans over Viktor, partially resting his weight on him and pressing open-mouthed kisses to his back. Viktor is heaving in breaths, trying to catch up as he practically melts into the bed out of exhaustion. “My… my left leg is cramping,” he manages to get out, still foggy in his post-orgasm glow.
“Okay, love, let me clean you up,” Jayce whispers sweetly against his skin, pressing one more kiss before pulling out. Once he does, Viktor can feel how sore and stretched out he is from not one, not two, but three rounds of rough sex in the span of six hours. ‘Love’ makes him feel warm and fuzzy on the inside when normally he would judge himself for being so sappy.
Jayce walks to the bathroom while Viktor rolls onto his back, letting his legs fall over the side of the bed. No longer being folded at his knees is a relief, prompting him to sigh and let his eyes flutter closed. He feels boneless and completely fucked out of his mind, so much that he doesn’t perceive Jayce coming back.
“I’m about to touch you, okay?” His partner warns, cluing in that Viktor has very little grip on reality at the moment. Viktor feels warmth between his legs as Jayce gently cleans him with such care, a pleasant tingle travelling up his spine.
“Prosím,” Viktor murmurs. When Jayce finishes cleaning him, and presumably himself, he hears Jayce shuffling things on the bed. Then he’s being gently manhandled, turned to lie vertically on the bed and tucked under the covers. Viktor sighs, reaching out for Jayce without even opening his eyes.
“I’m here, baby,” Jayce coos, getting into bed next to Viktor. Strong arms pull him to Jayce’s chest, groaning softly as he gets comfortable.
“Miluji tě,” Viktor whispers, feeling like he’s swimming in honey from how sated he feels.
“What’s that mean?”
“I love you,” Viktor sighs, reaching up to pet Jayce’s chest hair, something he’s learned that he loves. It takes a moment for his brain to put together the words to explain. “In Jasyk it’s… more serious, reserved exclusively for romantic love. We don’t even say it to our family.”
“How do I say I love you too?” Jayce’s fingers comb through Viktor’s hair, lulling Viktor into a sleepy daze.
“Já tebe taky.”
“Ja… tebe taky?”
Viktor snorts at Jayce’s attempt, which actually isn’t too bad, but still funny. “It’s já, but close enough. Thank you for fucking me so well.”
“It was an honour,” Jayce laughs softly, continuing to pet his hair. “I wasn’t too rough, was I?”
“No, I liked it,” he sighs again, rubbing his cheek against Jayce’s chest. “Would do again.”
A yawn escapes Viktor, and he can feel the warmth and exhaustion starting to drag him down into unconsciousness. Jayce presses a kiss to the top of his head and that’s the last thing he remembers.
When he wakes up at dawn the next day, he’s fucking sore. His left leg feels like jelly, his arms are heavy, and his back is aching. Not to mention his pussy is tender. He doesn’t think he’ll be ready for another round like that for at least a couple of days.
As they normally do, Viktor and Jayce shower together. His partner takes extra care washing him gently and pressing kisses to every sore muscle. When they get out of the shower, Viktor notices something he hadn’t before. On the desk in their room sits a single tumbled stone, the same yellow topaz Jayce showed him years ago. He didn’t realize Jayce still had it with him when they came to this reality. Watching Jayce pocket it after he’s dressed, Viktor doesn’t say anything. It just makes his heart ache that after almost sixteen years, Jayce still carries it around.
When they make it downstairs, Meeko is already getting the dining room ready for breakfast in an hour. The innkeeper clears his throat when he sees them. “Think you two can keep it down next time? We got a couple complaints.”
Viktor feels a little embarrassed, knowing he made most of the noise. But also, it’s Jayce’s fault for fucking him so good. In the corner of his eye, he can see Jayce turning bright red.
“I—uh—y-yep, sorry,” Jayce stumbles over his words, pulling Viktor toward the kitchen. Viktor can only laugh.
Things aren’t so bad here.
Notes:
Timeline so far
September, Year 0 - First Meeting
December, Month 3 - Jayce gifts Viktor the snake plant
March, Month 6 - Lunch with the Kirammans on the blimp
July, Month 10 - Watching the sunrise over the harbour on the Academy roof
October, Year 1, Month 1 - Jayce's first fantasy about Viktor (also the anniversary of Viktor's mother's death)
November, Year 2, Month 2 - The pact + finishing the plans for the Hexgates
December, Year 3, Month 3 [New] - Their first Winter Solstice together
May, Year 3, Month 8 - The Hexgates launch gala
October, Year 4, Month 1 - The almost-hookup at the gay bar
December, Year 4, Month 3 - Viktor's 30th birthday
January, Year 4, Month 4 - Jayce gets sick and Viktor takes care of him
March, Year 6, Month 6 [canon] - They learn Viktor is dying, Jayce kisses Viktor, and Viktor has a breakdown after talking to Mel
April, Year 6, Month 7 - Viktor is merged with the Hexcore
April, Year 7, Month 7 - The Battle for Piltover
Chapter 9: Obsessed
Summary:
As Viktor and Jayce settle into life at the inn, they discuss a memory they both wrote off as a dream.
Notes:
Hello! I want to start off by saying, sorry that this chapter is so late. It kind of killed me and my wife and then I took a vacation from this fic and put 100k into another one that isn't yet ready for publishing lol... 🙃 But it's a modern-day fuck buddies to lovers fic that I'm hoping to post the first chapter of in the next couple weeks.
Committing to a schedule for this wasn't good for my mental health, so updates are going to be slower. However, next chapter will be up sooner rather than later because it's a shorter one! Please enjoy this extra-long chapter with two (two!!!) sex scenes!!! It was a monster to write and edit. 🥲
Tags have been updated for this chapter! Please see end notes for an updated timeline.
Translations
Ano/jo - Yes/Yeah
Kurva/Sakra - Fuck, shit, damn
Moje zlatíčko - My little gold/my darling
Jdi do píče - Go to cunt (fuck off)
Ó můj bože - Oh my god
Svatý kurva - Holy shit
Moje děti - My babies
Sakra jsi říkal? - What the hell did you say?
Přímo tam - Right there
Do prdele - Fuck me, fuck it
Kurva, jen to řeknu - Fuck, I'll just say it
Jen pro tebe - Just for youSongs for this chapter
Overdose by Maudlin Strangers (first sex scene)
Your Love (Deja Vu) - Stripped Back by Glass Animals (second sex scene)Kudos and comments are always appreciated. 💕
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
It’s been three weeks and they’re starting to settle into life at the inn. Their belongings grow from a few sets of clothes to a decent-sized wardrobe and all the essentials. Most of Jayce’s clothes consist of plain t-shirts and comfortable work pants, whereas Viktor’s are long sleeves and slacks, despite the growing heat. Viktor has even started a small collection of books, mostly educational, but Jayce also surprised him with a paperback romance a couple of times on his way back from work.
Being out of the literal and proverbial woods has allowed the romantic aspect of their relationship to grow stronger. They spend every waking moment together in a domestic little bubble. When they’re not working, they’re usually in bed or enjoying the luxuries they missed, like a hot meal they didn’t have to forage for. Jayce likes getting to eat with Viktor at an actual table, staring into his enchanting gold eyes. They get to have an unbelievable amount of sex on clean sheets and a real bed, and make out in the shower every morning. They’ve only bickered once so far and it ended with two orgasms.
On nights or days off when Viktor isn’t too tired and Jayce’s leg isn’t acting up, they go on walks through town hand-in-hand, discovering new things together, like the kind of pets Gheldania has. Cats do exist, but they have a third eye on their foreheads and two tails, which Viktor actually thinks is cuter than Runeterra’s cats. He’s already named their future cat, Rio, which Jayce was both grateful and saddened to learn about the namesake.
They often go to the park near the inn where Viktor ends up pointing out teaching him about the flora Jayce is unfamiliar with. He would happily listen to Viktor talk for hours and in fact, Jayce has, even before they confessed their feelings. Viktor’s always so animated and passionate about whatever fixation he has, and Jayce loves that about him.
Other than books, Jayce likes to treat Viktor to little boxes of chocolates, and recently he bought him a small bouquet of shimmering ladies that are now sitting in a borrowed vase on the desk in their room.
Jayce has more spare time than Viktor because he finishes work earlier, so he kills time reading or sketching in the journal he adopted. It’s nice rediscovering his love for drawing—most of what he’s been doing in recent years has been purely technical. Other than that, their nights are spent curled up together in bed while Viktor reads to him, something they started doing the third night and haven’t stopped.
When they’re not fucking, that is. Which they have been doing a lot.
Viktor, it turns out, has a very active sex drive. Jayce thought, at first, that all the years they had spent yearning for each other were what led to them going back-to-back in that damn cabin. They even went a round against a tree in the middle of their walk to Cynrys. But no, this is just how Viktor is and Jayce is barely keeping up. He’s living for it, though. He feels blessed he even gets to fuck Viktor in the first place, it’s just intense. Though he's one to talk, he’s usually the one giving Viktor multiple orgasms.
It’s after round two one night that Jayce finally attempts a conversation that’s been on his mind. Viktor lies on his chest, basking in the afterglow of a good orgasm, while Jayce strokes his hair. “I don’t know how to approach this so I’m just… going to go right out and ask it,” Jayce starts, taking a deep breath. “Do we need to worry about you getting pregnant?”
Viktor laughs as though he just told a joke, taking Jayce by surprise. He was expecting a more awkward or uncomfortable response. “Jayce Talis,” his partner starts, looking up at him with an amused grin. “You choose to ask me this now, after you’ve cum inside me at least twenty times at this point?”
“Well, I… listen, the first couple times it was the heat of the moment, I didn’t think about it. But then, you kept letting me—”
“Ohhh, so it’s my fault you’ve been cumming inside me?”
“N-No, that’s not what I meant–”
“I’m just teasing, golden boy. I know what you mean.” Jayce releases the tension that had been building in his upper body, relaxing under Viktor as he props himself up on Jayce’s chest to lock eyes with him.
“If you know what I mean, why aren’t you answering the question?”
Viktor just watches him with his sharp golden irises, his expression almost calculative. It’s like he’s trying to read Jayce’s mind. “Tell me… do you want kids?”
That throws him off too. Why is this conversation being turned around on me? “I, uh…” He has to stop and think because he hasn’t even asked himself this in a long time. It’s a loaded question, and he feels like the answer needs a full explanation.
“My work was always my number one priority. But… see, my dad was like, the best dad in the world. He made me want to be a dad myself one day because I wanted to be just like him.”
Right after he says it, the homesickness creeps up on him again. What would his father think of the man he’s become? Jayce pushes down the mournful feelings bubbling up in his gut because there’s no point in asking that question. His father is gone. His mother is a reality away. The only person who he would want to impress, or fear to disappoint, is lying on top of him right now. Viktor is looking at him with such softness and understanding that it gives him the motivation to keep going.
“When we first met I had a… kind of blueprint, I guess you could call it. I thought, one day, after years of dedicating myself to Hextech, I would have a house, a partner—well, a wife, before I knew I was bi—and two or three kids. I was lonely as an only child, so when I thought about kids, it was always more than one.”
“Two or three, huh?” Viktor looks amused again, but there’s a sadness in his eyes. “Do you still want that?”
“If I’m being honest, I don’t know. I feel too damaged to be a good parent. I need to prioritize myself because I know what I went through—what we went through—is going to haunt me for a long time. I don’t know how well I could parent with those ghosts lurking over my shoulder,” he murmurs quietly, reaching out to clutch Viktor’s hand, and he lets him. “What about you?”
“I can’t get pregnant,” Viktor shrugs. “Another birth defect, I’m afraid.”
“I’m sorry… But that doesn’t answer my question. Trust me, it’s a bit of a relief because I don’t know what the fuck we would do with a baby right now, but there’s still adoption.”
Viktor brushes his thumb over the back of Jayce’s hand, avoiding eye contact. “I never really saw it as a possibility, so I never thought it mattered if I wanted it or not.”
“So think about it now. You’re not dying. We have our whole lives ahead of us. Would you want to have kids?”
“Certainly not multiple,” Viktor sighs, looking like he’s turning the thought over in his mind to look at it from all angles. “There was a time where I mourned the fact that I couldn’t have children, and mourned that if I had any, like an adopted one, I wouldn’t get to see them grow up anyway. I’d just be making another orphan. But after everything that’s happened… after everything I did… I don’t trust myself to be a parent.”
A silence hangs over them, like a dream dying in the quiet of the night, that leaves them both stricken with grief. Viktor rests his head on Jayce’s chest again, still brushing the back of his hand. “If you had asked me in another life, where I hadn’t become The Herald and I didn’t have an extremely limited lifespan… I would have had that house and three kids with you.”
That breaks Jayce. He wraps his arms around Viktor’s slender form and begins to weep. “I wish we could have had that,” he whispers, his voice breaking. Viktor’s tears begin to stain his chest. It’s a nice fantasy that comes with the burdening sorrow that it’ll never happen. “Could you imagine? Chasing after them, getting them ready for school. We would design a treehouse for them, build toys with them. You’d teach them how to bake and how to speak Jazyk so you could have secret conversations around all the Pilties, including their Piltie dad. Pretty sure they’d mostly learn curses, though.”
Something between a laugh and a quiet sob leaves Viktor, only fuelling his own choked-out cries. Jayce continues to hold his love, rubbing his back, unbothered by the cool metal of his spine. They lie there as they weep, tangled together, feeling the bereavement of what could have been.
Eventually, their cries die down to sniffs, and then silence. Jayce even thinks Viktor fell asleep until he speaks again. “I have to believe that, somewhere, there’s some universe where we have that. It’s not this one, no, but there is one where we got that life.”
Jayce sighs into Viktor’s hair. “Me too.”
Lifting himself from Jayce’s embrace, Viktor looks at him and cradles his face. His eyes are red and his pale skin is blotchy from crying, but he’s still as beautiful as the day he first set eyes on him. “Do you think you could be happy, my love? With just me, as I am?”
The question is so genuine, and it hurts Jayce’s heart that Viktor doesn’t already know the answer. “Of course. You’re all I need to be happy,” Jayce whispers, brushing Viktor’s hair out of his face. “I would follow you to the ends of the world just to be with you.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” Viktor smiles softly before pressing a sweet kiss to Jayce’s lips. “Miluji tě, moje zlatíčko."
Despite the crying, the tenderness of the moment leads them to round three that night.
The next morning, Jayce is feeling pretty good. Tired, because fucking your boyfriend—what Jayce has internally started calling Viktor—three times in one night can be exhausting work. But, fucking your boyfriend three times in one night is also a great way to wake up in a good mood.
It’s another average day. They shower together, narrowly avoiding another round because they don’t really have the time for it, get dressed, and then go downstairs to eat breakfast.
When they enter the rear kitchen behind the bar around 6 am, Kaedin already has breakfast waiting for them. It’s usually porridge—the paying guests get things like eggs, meat, and pastries—but today there’s a fresh batch of muffins with bright orange sunberries baked into them (the berries they had been surviving off of in the forest).
“Wow, what did we do to deserve this?” Jayce asks, looking down at the muffins like he’s uncertain if they’re actually welcome to eat them.
“Nothing, just thought I’d treat our new friends to something other than oats,” Kaedin says kindly, sipping his coffee. “Why don’t you two join us for breakfast? You don’t have to go out into the dining room.”
“Yes, if you’re going to be living and working here indefinitely, we might as well get to know each other,” Meeko says not unkindly, but still not enthusiastically. He seems to be the more deadpan of the two.
Viktor looks at Jayce as if he’s searching for silent reassurance that it’s safe for them to get close to Kaedin and Meeko in the first place. As long as they don’t get too close, close enough to poke holes in their story, Jayce doesn’t see the harm. Nodding to Viktor, Jayce says, “Sure, why not?”
They pour themselves coffee and Jayce watches Viktor put gallant milk in his for the third day in a row, which is still throwing him off. He knows Viktor said he’s trying new things, but Jayce has known him for nearly eight years and he never swayed on drinking his coffee black before.
“How is the job with Rehna treating you, Jayce?” Kaedin is definitely the more sociable one of the pair. In fact, Jayce feels like a younger, more innocent version of himself is mirrored in Kaedin. Meeko and Viktor are definitely cut from the same cloth because they’re both usually content to eat and drink in silence.
“Pretty good, actually. I like her a lot. I’m an experienced blacksmith, but I’ve learned quite a bit from her.”
“That’s good, I’m glad. She’s good folk,” the cat-like vastaya says with a jovial smile. “Say, I don’t think I’ve asked how you two met.”
“Oh, uh, it’s a long story,” Jayce says with a laugh, trying to mask his nervousness. It is a bit of a long story, but he can’t exactly say ‘Viktor stopped my suicide attempt and we harnessed magic with science together’.
“Not even an abbreviated version? Where you guys met?”
Jayce is silent for a moment too long. When he finally speaks, Viktor does at the same time.
“Work—” Jayce says.
“School—” Viktor says.
They pause and look at each other, but then Viktor swoops in to save it. “We both worked at a school.”
“Ohh, interesting, you were teachers?”
“We were research assistants,” Viktor says, partially lying. It’s probably easier to say Jayce was an assistant, too.
“So how long have you been together?”
Another long pause while Viktor seems to be doing the math. “I think it’s been one month, one week and two days?”
Wow. Feels a lot longer than that.
Both Kaedin and Meeko stare at them, sharing a glance at each other, then back at them.
“You act like a married couple,” Meeko says bluntly.
“We basically are,” Jayce responds automatically, which earns a snort out of Viktor. “We’ve, uh, known each other for seven years before actually… doing anything about our feelings.”
“What was stopping you?” Kaedin looks locked into their romantic history, which is both flattering and concerning.
Viktor steps in. “Well, I didn’t want to ruin our friendship. He didn’t even realize he was in love with me for six years.”
“Oh, you’re never going to let me live that down, are you?” Jayce grins, revelling in his lover teasing him.
“No, never.” Viktor smiles over his cup of coffee.
“What happened in the seventh year?” Meeko is the one to cut in now, his avian eyes smoothly glancing between them.
Jayce and Viktor are silent for a few seconds.
“What do you mean?” Viktor asks.
“You said he didn’t realize he was in love with you for six years, but you knew each other for seven, and you only recently got together. So what happened in the seventh year?”
Viktor hesitates to speak and Jayce just knows there are demons whispering in his ear. “We… didn’t see each other for a while,” Jayce says to try to dismiss the question. “It’s complicated. But it’s in the past now.”
Meeko continues to stare at Jayce for a long stretch of time, before humming and going back to his newspaper. “Interesting.”
Jayce and Viktor aren’t sure what to do with that reaction, so they quietly continue to eat their muffins and drink their coffee.
After barely avoiding a potentially dangerous conversation, the tension in Jayce’s shoulders eases when they leave the kitchen. Relief washes over him once they’re out of earshot and Viktor sighs, a similar tension leaving his shoulders, clearly feeling the same way.
“We really need to get our story straight,” Viktor whispers as they approach the front door.
“Yeah, but with as many half-truths as possible. You know how bad of a liar I am.”
“I know, baby, it’s one of the things I love about you.”
The pet name and declaration make his heart feel one size too big for his chest cavity. He still hasn’t gotten used to it. Unable to resist the temptation, he pulls Viktor in by his waist and kisses him tenderly—because he can. He’s never going to get over the fact that he can kiss Viktor all the time.
“I love you,” he whispers against Viktor’s lips when he pulls away.
“I love you too,” Viktor returns, wrapping his arms around Jayce’s neck to bring him in for one more kiss. “Have a good day at work. What time will you be back?”
“I’ll try to finish by four. Could you ask Meeko if he’ll let you off early? I’d like to take you on an actual date.”
“I’ll see if he’s gracious enough to let me.”
“Sounds good. Have a good day, V.” Jayce places one more kiss on the mole above Viktor’s cheekbone before heading out.
The walk to Rehna’s shop isn’t even five minutes. It’s convenient and he kind of likes that everything is within arms reach because of how small Cynrys is. When he enters the shop, Rehna is heating up the forge for their work that day.
Rehna is a tall, strong woman in her forties with olive skin and straight black hair that reaches just past her ears. She reminds Jayce a little bit of Vi, with a similar take-no-shit, beat-of-her-own-drum kind of attitude, but he would argue that Rehna is less impulsive and more level-headed. He and Vi weren’t exactly close, but the reminder still makes him miss home.
“Morning, Rehna,” he greets, grabbing one of the aprons hanging on the wall. He’d normally work shirtless, but it's not his forge, so he’s abiding by Rehna’s rules.
“Morning, kid,” she replies, not looking up from the fire she’s stoking.
Rehna’s probably only a little over a decade older than him and yet she has gotten in the habit of calling him ‘kid’ or ‘kiddo’. It doesn’t bother him, he finds it amusing more than anything. “What’s on the menu today, boss?”
“Got an order for some new spaulders for the town watch. Have you made armour before?”
Jayce remembers the pauldron he crafted for himself before the final battle for Piltover. It’s nostalgic almost, in a bitter way that unsettles his stomach. “Yes, but I’m not sure my style of forging them would be the same as yours. Just show me some schematics and I can make it.”
“Oh really? I’m curious to see how you would design them, then. I’ve been making the same spaulders for years now, maybe it’s time for a change.”
“Well… we could collaborate? Maybe I could modify your existing design,” he offers, looking toward her drafting table.
She stands and makes her way over to a wall with dozens of small cubbies holding scrolls. Each one is labelled and alphabetized and Jayce wishes he was even a fraction as organized as her. He lost the schematics for the Hextech Gauntlets about three times before he actually made them—Viktor had found them every single time.
“Here it is,” Rehna says as she pulls out a rolled-up piece of parchment, holding it out to him. “I’m going to work on some small projects while you take a crack at this. Everything you need is on my desk. Let me know when you’re done.”
Jayce nods, taking the schematic from her before making his way to the desk. Unrolling it, he assesses the design with careful scrutiny. It’s faultless, Rehna is a master craftsman, and simple; not in a bad way, just efficient. Jayce has to admit, he’s a little bit flashy when it comes to his designs, so simplicity is not in his nature. He wants to elevate it, without being insulting to Rehna, so he knows he needs to walk a fine line.
As he draws out his own schematics, recreating the basic construct of Rehna’s design, he figures out how to reinforce the spaulders so they can (in theory) take a heavier blow. Jayce is not an expert in armour, but more skilled in tools used for science than anything. While this job isn’t as exciting as working with magic, he’s enjoying himself and feels like he’s learning a lot. It makes him feel closer to his dad, too.
The yellow topaz in his pocket suddenly feels very heavy.
It takes him a little over an hour to redesign the spaulders, trying to keep the integrity of the original design while adding his own flare. It’s more triangular than the original rounded style, emulating the details of his hammer, but not in a way that hinders the wearer or makes it impractical. For a little more detail, Jayce decides to sketch out a stylized C to be etched into the shoulder since the original design had no indication that they belonged to Cynrys’ town watch.
When Rehna comes to take a look, one of her brows arches at his design. “Interesting… This will require very light-handed work. What did you say you used to make?”
“Tools, mostly, with a lot of small parts. I also made jewelry from time to time.”
“Jewelry? Really? I have a friend who crafts jewelry, too.”
“Yeah, I usually made it as gifts for my mom or my friends.”
He made Mel a bracelet, and he can’t help but wonder if she still has it. He’s never made Viktor anything though, which feels… wrong. Viktor said he wants a ring before he agrees to marry me. I should forge it myself.
Viktor had been reading about Gheldanian marriage rituals, and on top of being married under one, wedding rings are usually also carved from the wood of a Rynettian. Adopting the tradition of their new home might be nice, but he doesn’t really feel like wood fits either of them.
“Well, it’s a little… garish, but I don’t hate the added detail. I see you strengthened my original design too.”
Jayce laughs. “I’ll take you not hating it as a compliment. So, you think it’s good enough to make?”
“I do, I think it’s an improvement. Let’s get to work,” Rehna smirks, ruffling his hair affectionately. For a woman who comes off as cool and tough she’s surprisingly soft, and has clearly grown a fondness for Jayce over the last few weeks.
Jayce is actually happy. Happy to have a mentor who he feels is growing into a friend. Happy to have a roof over his head and to no longer have to survive on fish or whatever the forest has to offer them. To have clean clothes, toothpaste, and even chocolate. Not to mention, he’s happy that he and Viktor are growing a life together, a life they never thought they’d have. It’s not at all what he imagined or wanted it to be, but he’s still grateful to have it.
They spend most of the day constructing a prototype of Jayce’s design. It takes a couple of tries for the basic components to be durable enough to be effective, but before long they master it. Rehna isn’t one for etching, so Jayce handles carving the insignia into each shoulder.
“You did good, kid,” Rehna compliments as she looks over his work. “I think you can call it a day. Let me just get you your pay.”
“Thanks, boss,” he says, and she’s never told him to call her boss, it just feels natural. It’s more like a term of affection, though, like he had used for Viktor when they worked together.
It’s a little after four when Jayce makes it back to the inn. He’s sweaty and tired—the lack of sleep and last night’s activities are really taking it out of him—but he’s excited to see Viktor. When he enters, the main dining room and bar are dead. It usually doesn’t pick up until five, and Viktor is nowhere in sight.
Meeko enters the room from behind the bar. “Jayce.”
“Hey, where’s Viktor?”
“He’s in the back. I actually wanted to talk to you both. Would you come with me?”
Sirens are going off in the back of Jayce’s mind. Something doesn’t feel right, but he’s not sure what. Just like that, he’s on high alert. He doesn’t expect Meeko or Kaedin to have hurt Viktor in some way, but there’s a gut feeling that he needs to be on high alert. “Sure.”
He follows Meeko into the back. Kaedin is sitting at the table across from Viktor, and when Viktor’s eyes flicker up to Jayce, he looks terrified.
“I’m sorry, Jayce,” Viktor says quietly, trembling where he’s seated, almost on the verge of tears. “It-It was an accident, I’m sorry…”
Panic begins to bubble up in his gut, trying to assess what has Viktor so distressed. He doesn’t immediately see what’s wrong—no obvious injuries, at least. Jayce rounds the table and places a hand firmly on his partner’s shoulder. “Vik, what happened?”
Viktor doesn’t answer, just fidgets with his hands… wearing no glove on his left. The purple-hued steel, electrified with bolts of remnant Arcane energy along his fingertips, gleams in the daylight pouring in through the kitchen window.
“Oh, fuck,” is all he can say before he’s looking back up at Kaedin and Meeko.
Kaedin is sitting with an intense expression that Jayce didn’t know the cheery guy was capable of—critical and wary. Meeko shuts the kitchen door and locks it, glaring down at Viktor and Jayce.
“If you’re going to be staying under our roof, eating our food, you are going to tell us exactly who you are, what you are, and where you’ve come from.” Meeko sits down across from them and gestures for Jayce to sit too.
Seeing as they’re caught between a rock and a hard place, Jayce sits. He places his hand on top of Viktor’s steel one, as if doing so would protect him or undo the damage that’s been done.
“I knew your story was gallantshit, but I thought you were harmless enough. That, though,” Meeko points to Viktor’s hand. “I don’t know what the fuck that is.”
Viktor flinches, clearly still shaken as he anxiously taps his fingers on the tabletop.
Jayce sighs, his free hand rubbing his forehead over the scars there. They’re really doing this. “You’re not going to believe us,” he tries, knowing very well a cop-out likely won’t work.
“Try us,” Kaedin insists, glaring at Jayce.
Viktor’s voice wavers when he says, “Jayce, I don’t think I can—”
“It’s okay, baby, I got it,” Jayce soothes, rubbing his thumb over Viktor’s knuckles. It seems to help because Viktor’s shoulders relax, marginally. He thinks he knows where to start. “Do you believe in magic?”
“Practical magic, like alchemy,” Meeko says dryly.
Alchemy is the closest thing Gheldania has to magic, it seems. Everything is an equal exchange, energy for energy, you cannot take without giving. “I’m talking about miraculous magic that can do things you can’t explain, or even imagine.”
“We’re not children.”
“Well, suspend your disbelief for five minutes. We’re from… a different world, where magic is real. We did meet seven years ago. Viktor was a research assistant and I was a scholar at the academy in our city—Piltover. I was trying to harness magic through science and Viktor helped me—”
“Jayce, please, let’s just leave. We could go back to the cabin,” Viktor tries quietly, desperately. Jayce knows exactly what Viktor is afraid of, and he has no plans to paint Viktor in any ill light.
“Vik, my love, it’ll be okay. Just trust me.” He squeezes Viktor’s hand, who looks at him with uncertainty in his eyes.
“I trust you,” Viktor replies before looking back down at the table.
“Say I believe you, that magic is real and you come from a different world,” Meeko says slowly. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“That’s… a great question.”
“Did you succeed?” Kaedin cuts in, drawing Jayce’s attention.
“At what?”
“Harnessing magic with science.”
“Yeah, we did. It was a pretty big achievement. We ended up creating a gateway from our city to all across our world. Flying ships could come and go in a blink of an eye.”
Kaedin’s eyes widen then, suddenly much more interested. “Flying ships? Really?” Meeko clears his throat, and his husband seems to remember that he’s supposed to be interrogating them before steeling his expression again. “Sorry, go on.”
“Things were good for six years. But then things started to get… complicated. Our city had high tensions with Zaun, our neighbouring city, for a lot of reasons. I was assigned a seat in our local government. And then Viktor got sick.”
Viktor scoffs, finally ready to provide his input. He still sounds shaky when he speaks, but much calmer than he had been before. “That’s putting it lightly, Jayce. Our two cities were at war. There were terrorist attacks and violence on both sides, and I was dying.”
“Okay, well, I didn’t know how honest you wanted me to be.”
“Ideally entirely, I would say,” Meeko interrupts, a suspicious expression on his face. “Still doesn’t explain that.”
“That… is my fault,” Jayce says softly, taking Viktor’s metal hand and holding it in both of his own. “We were trying to see if we could use the Arcane—the source of all magic—to cure Viktor. And it… it didn’t go well.”
“It’s not your fault Jayce. I probably would have done the same thing.” Viktor’s eyes are on him now, soft and understanding. When it first happened, he knew Viktor was angry and melancholic that he didn’t destroy the Hexcore. It was both a blessing and a curse, at the end of the day.
“So you’re saying magic caused that?”
“A hybrid of magic and science, more accurately,” Viktor corrects, looking back toward Meeko. Because the two innkeepers are taking this so well, it must be easing Viktor’s nerves because he’s speaking more confidently. “We experienced an anomaly that should have destroyed us. Instead, it dropped us into this reality. The Arcane seems to have taken some creative liberties with my body. My left arm, right leg and most of my back are like this now.”
There’s a tense silence that falls over the four of them. Jayce is mentally preparing for them to get kicked out. Where would they go from here? They would probably have to leave town. It’s a shame because he’s really starting to like Cynrys.
Meeko finally speaks. “How do we know you aren’t dangerous?”
“My augmented body parts don’t do anything special, they just serve their purpose,” Viktor says, fidgeting with his fingers again.
Kaedin looks anxious, tapping his chubby fingers on the back of his hand. “I believe them, Meekie.”
The bird-like vastaya sighs, running a hand through his deep purple feathery hair. “It’s pretty hard to buy, not going to lie. But explaining your… augmentations as magic from a foreign reality makes more sense than a secret government weapon experiment, which is what I was betting on.”
Jayce and Viktor glance at each other before looking back to the two other men.
Daring to speak first, Jayce asks, “Are you… gonna kick us out, or…?”
“Nah,” Kaedin and Meeko answer in unison.
“Kurva,” Jayce hears Viktor mutter, watching his partner sink into the chair with relief. “Maybe there are gods.”
Jayce laughs, just as relieved. “Kurva is right, I thought we were going to have to sleep under a tree again.”
“I’m happy with our current arrangement, so long as you keep this,” Meeko pauses to hand Viktor his glove, “On in front of paying customers. Don’t forget it in the bathroom again.”
“Absolutely not, I will glue it on if I have to,” Viktor assures, accepting the glove and slipping it on. He seems so much more at ease now that everything they’re willing to share is out in the open. Kaedin and Meeko never need to know about The Machine Herald.
“Listen, uh… I know you’re already doing us a favour by being cool about this,” Jayce starts, rubbing the back of his neck. “But would you mind letting Viktor off a little early today? I wanted to take him on a date because we haven’t… actually done that yet.”
Meeko nods while Kaedin looks at them with a fond expression, his tail swaying behind him. “You two are just too precious. I couldn't believe for a minute you were just friends for so long from how you act.”
“I… don’t think we were, to be honest,” Jayce says quietly, wrapping an arm around Viktor’s shoulders. “Viktor was so much more to me than just a friend. I was in love with him, and I should’ve realized sooner.”
Viktor places a hand over the one that’s cupping his shoulder. “It was torture,” he says bluntly.
Jayce laughs, kissing Viktor’s temple, which Viktor leans into.
“Alright, let’s get back to work,” Meeko says, standing to unlock the kitchen door while Kaedin gets up to tend to dinner. “Viktor, you can leave at 6:30. Sound fair?”
Viktor nods before turning to Jayce and giving him a chaste kiss. “See you then?”
Jayce nods and watches as Viktor gets up to help Kaedin around the kitchen. He excuses himself and then climbs the stairs to their room to shower and change into the only relatively dressy clothes he owns—a dark green short-sleeve button-up and a nice pair of jeans. Having some time to kill, he takes out his journal and starts sketching while sitting on the bed. He decides to try drawing his dad from memory, based on the photo that had been hanging in his childhood bedroom.
Viktor comes up a little after 6:30 and he looks just as tired as Jayce feels from the night before. “Hey,” he greets, taking off his shoes.
Setting his journal down, Jayce smiles adoringly at Viktor. “Hey, beautiful.”
Beelining for the bed, Viktor climbs on top of him, bracketing his hips and cupping his face, capturing Jayce’s lips with his own. He drops his sketchbook and moves his hands to Viktor’s waist, holding him tight.
When Viktor pulls away, he looks down at Jayce with a loving smile. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
“Thank you for handling that situation earlier. I couldn’t have done it without you,” Viktor whispers, his thumb stroking Jayce’s beard affectionately.
“Of course, my love.” Pulling Viktor’s left hand from his face, Jayce removes his glove and presses a kiss to the palm of his warped hand.
“I didn’t get to ask you how your day was.”
“Good, Rehna actually let me design something.”
“I’m glad. Do you… miss working with science at all?”
Jayce hums, considering it. “I think I miss working with you more than anything. Even though I didn’t see you for a year, it still feels weird not to spend most of my time with you.”
“I miss working with you too,” Viktor says softly, pressing his forehead to Jayce’s. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve longed to spend one more all-nighter with you in the lab.”
“You mean since we got here?”
Silent for a moment, Viktor shakes his head. “No.”
In the commune, he means, Jayce realizes. The horrible guilt of killing Viktor rises in his stomach, as it has a dozen times since he did it. It’s been haunting him, creeping up on him when he’s least expecting. “I’m… I’m so sor—”
Viktor presses one metallic finger to his lips. “Don’t. You’re taking me on a date, remember? We don’t need to uproot the past. I already forgave you, just as you’ve forgiven me, right?”
Jayce simply kisses Viktor’s fingertip. “You gonna get ready?”
Viktor nods, getting off of Jayce. Shamelessly, Jayce watches his partner change into a black long-sleeve shirt and grey slacks before brushing out his hair. They both managed to get nicer shoes for going out, so Viktor slips on his black loafers while Jayce gets on his own dark brown dress shoes.
Walking hand in hand out of the inn, Jayce guides Viktor to a bistro that he saw while exploring the town, not far from the inn. Once they’re seated at a table, they both look at the menus of drinks that are growing a little more familiar. Viktor is obviously more educated about the alcohols of Gheldania, so he goes ahead and orders them a wine called ‘violet ruby’. “It’s made of ruby fruit. It’s basically a black grape, but it has a citrus taste to it.”
“A citrus wine? That’s interesting. I think I’ve only tried clementine wine before and it was too sweet for my taste.”
“Meeko let me try a little bit, it’s actually pretty good,” Viktor says, crossing one leg over another before looking at the food menu. “I have to admit, I’m still unfamiliar with most of this. The only meat I’ve dared to try is gallant and chicken.”
“I actually tried tomorah on a sandwich the other day. It’s a lot like pork but… gamey? It’s hard to describe.”
“Maybe I’ll stick to vegetarian dishes…”
“I thought the new Viktor was trying new things,” Jayce teases, leaning over the table.
“Mm, I can only be so adventurous. Putting milk in my coffee is not equal to trying foreign meat described as ‘gamey’,” Viktor says with a soft laugh, leaning his head on his fist and looking at Jayce with an adoring gaze and slight smile. “I’d be willing to try a bite, but I’m not betting my whole meal on it.”
“Fair enough. Has anything caught your eye?”
Viktor looks at the menu again, pondering their options. “It’s comforting that there’s pasta. I think I’m going to try the spring forage… triyanni? At least, I think it's pasta.”
“I thought our foraging days were behind us.”
“Well, someone’s doing the foraging for me, so it’s fine. What about you? No, wait, let me guess… steak?”
Jayce grins. “You know me too well.” It’s been a running joke for years. He’s pretty sure Viktor said it the first time Jayce had gotten him breakfast without needing to ask what he wanted.
They order their food and receive their wine, which is when it starts to feel like an actual date… except, it doesn’t feel new. “Would it be crazy of me to say that it feels like I’ve been dating you for eight years?”
Viktor smiles softly over his wine glass. “It’s not crazy. And almost, in four months.”
Jayce decides to try his wine as well. It’s a deep purple, almost black, and not as dry as he usually goes for, but subtly sweet with a strong citrus note. He actually kind of likes it.
“It does feel a little like that, doesn’t it?” Viktor continues. “The difference is I get to hold your hand and kiss you and tell you how handsome you are.”
“Hey, you could’ve called me handsome. I called you handsome a few times.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t think you meant it.”
“I always meant it,” Jayce says softly, reaching over the table to place his hand on top of Viktor’s ungloved hand.
Viktor hums, lacing their fingers together and looking down at their joined hands. “I used to call you… different names in my mind, ones I wished I could say out loud but knew would ruin our friendship.”
Jayce tilts his head in question. “Like what?”
“I remember calling you ‘my love’ quite a few times because it was true. You are my love, and have been for a long time.”
The confession makes Jayce flush, which Viktor smiles at when he locks eyes with him. “That’s… really sweet. I wish you had called me that. I probably would have melted, to be honest.”
Viktor’s gloved hand, now wearing a well-fitted one compared to the loose one Meeko had originally given him, twirls in his hair as he thinks. “I was tempted, many times. It almost slipped out once or twice.”
“I think I remember you calling me…” Jayce pauses, trying to remember the pronunciation exactly. “Zlatičko? Did I say that right?”
“Close. Zlatíčko. Do you remember when?”
“Our first kiss, when you were telling me I had to accept that you were dying... I remembered it the other day because I thought it sounded familiar.”
Viktor sighs, brushing his thumb over Jayce’s. “You know… I never told you, but… I had written a will after I found out.”
“You did?”
Viktor grimaces. “Maybe this is not a subject for our first official date.”
Jayce chuckles. “No, I want to hear about it. It’s not like I’m just meeting you and you’re telling me about your death wish.”
“Okay, if you’re sure. I left everything to you. I kind of left this out when I was telling you about my conversation with Mel, but… I wanted you to spread my ashes with my mom’s.”
“Your mom’s? But didn’t she die—”
“Almost twenty years ago now, yes. I never spread her ashes, I didn’t know what to do with them and I kept putting it off, like I was in denial. I wanted you to spread ours together in the ravine… it’s one of the things I regret leaving unfinished.”
“I’m sorry, baby,” Jayce says, picking up Viktor’s hand and kissing his palm. “I’m glad I didn’t have to spread your ashes, trust me, but I’m sad you never got to spread hers.”
“It’s okay.” Viktor smiles sadly, briefly caressing Jayce's jaw. “I was also propagating my snake plant for you, even though things were weird after you kissed me.”
“How do you propagate a plant?”
“You take healthy trimmings from an existing plant, let them callus, and either put them in soil or water then wait for them to grow roots. It takes a couple months. I didn’t even know if I had that long but I felt like I was capturing all those years I loved you in a plant just for you. I left you everything, and that would have included the original, but I thought it was nice to create a new one as I was dying. I was going to give it to you before I died, so you had something to focus on and keep you going after I was gone. It might have been, eh… a little dramatic,” Viktor says with a lopsided smile.
Jayce’s heart aches at the idea of Viktor putting such thought into leaving something for him. He has no idea what he would have left Viktor—other than everything in his name. “Thank you for thinking of me, even after I royally fucked up our relationship.”
Viktor shrugs. “It worked out, that’s what matters. Sure, it was torture at the time, but… I like to think it was worth it to get here.”
“Smart, beautiful, and right as always,” Jayce says, echoing the same thing he said to Viktor in the cabin over a month ago.
Their meal comes and Jayce is thrilled to eat something other than the inn’s food. Not that Kaedin’s home cooking is bad, but Jayce hasn’t had a steak in gods know how long. Viktor’s dish is interesting. It is pasta, but it’s similar to gnocchi. The little fried, triangular balls of dough are made with yellow nut root—a cross between a potato and a turnip, used in virtually everything.
“How is it?” Jayce asks after a few bites.
“Miles better than that roasted fish you were feeding me,” Viktor laughs. “I think it might actually be the best thing I’ve eaten here. Thank you for taking me out, my love.”
Jayce’s stomach flutters pleasantly at the term of endearment. He wishes he’d known sooner that Viktor considered him his love. He knows they’re still floating in the honeymoon phase despite it being over a month now since they’ve made things official, but he’s eating up every morsel of tooth-rotting affection he can while it lasts. “Of course, baby. I’m just glad I can treat you like this.”
“I wish I could treat you to nice things. I want to buy you flowers and chocolate and take you to dinner.”
A flush creeps up on Jayce’s cheeks at the thought of Viktor getting him flowers. He didn’t think he was a flower kind of guy until the moment he saw the field of shimmering ladies and picked one for Viktor. The memory makes him feel warm because Viktor still has it, currently being pressed inside the flora and fauna guide. He wouldn’t mind getting flowers, too.
“Give it some time. I’m sure we’ll be able to settle down and live comfortably so we can both treat each other. For now, I’m grateful you’re putting a roof over our heads and food in our bellies.”
Viktor smiles at that, reaching over the table to hold Jayce’s hand again. “I get through every day thinking about how I’m doing it for you.”
Jayce realizes the weight of what Viktor is doing for them. He likes his job, and he’s getting paid to do it, but Viktor is just doing his out of necessity. It’s likely unfulfilling compared to the work he was doing with Hextech… and in the commune. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate what you’re doing. I know you’re working so hard. Maybe in a few weeks, we could start paying for our room—”
“No, I’d rather we save that money. The less expenses we have, the better. I’m willing to keep doing it, but thank you for saying that and offering.” Viktor squeezes Jayce’s hand before returning to his meal.
They eat and shamelessly gossip about some of the other people staying at the inn. Most of them are just travellers in town for a few days. There does, however, seem to be only one other indefinite resident, an older woman named Ethel with big purple curls and red cat-eye glasses who claims to be a psychic. She pays for her stay by fooling the poor suckers who pass through into palm readings and horoscopes. According to her, Viktor being a Capricorn and Jayce being a Cancer means they’re highly compatible, but Viktor doesn’t believe in it. Jayce, on the other hand… well, he’d like to believe. It feels like their love was, in fact, written in the stars.
Once they finish, Jayce pays, and it’s worth all nine gheld. As they walk back to the inn, Jayce turns to Viktor and asks, “Have a drink with me? For old time’s sake?”
“You don’t have to convince me. I’ve been eyeing those bottles of whiskey since we arrived.” Viktor grins, wrapping his arm around Jayce’s.
It’s almost 9 pm when they get back, and it’s about the busiest time of night for The Thistle Bird’s bar. Most of the tables are occupied, but two seats at the end of the bar are free. When they sit, Viktor says, “They have a honey whiskey I wanted to try.”
Jayce smiles fondly at the memory of the Solstice when Viktor bought him that delicious bottle. He knows it won’t be the same, but it feels nostalgic anyway. “I miss that whiskey.”
Viktor hums in agreement. “I miss that painting you gave me. I wish I could have brought it with me.”
“I can’t believe you framed it in the first place.”
“It was special to me. Partially because I felt closer to a younger version of you, and partially because I kept dreaming that it would be the view from our house in the harbour,” Viktor explains with a smile, leaning on the bar and curling a finger in his long hair again. The blonde streaks are more prominent in the warm lighting.
Heat seeps into Jayce’s skin at the sentiment, looking back at the painting in a new light. “Really? That’s why you liked it so much?”
Viktor nods when Meeko swings by. “Not used to seeing you on the other side of the bar. What can I get you two?”
“Two doubles of that honey whiskey you have, on the rocks,” Jayce says.
“Coming right up.”
After Meeko gets their drinks, they sit and sip. The air is more sexually charged than it was at the restaurant—all casual touches to thighs and arms as they talk quietly among the sea of strangers. The whiskey is pretty good, not as good as the stuff back home, but that might be biased of him.
When Viktor tells him to ‘keep going’ with a string of compliments, Jayce is suddenly reminded of something. It’s crossed his mind a few times now since they officially became a couple—a foggy memory that has haunted him for years.
“Vik… I need to ask you something.”
Viktor hums as he takes a sip of his drink, waiting for Jayce to continue.
“Did we ever…” Jayce pauses, chewing on his lip. He can’t believe he’s actually asking this question. “Did we ever have sex? Before we came here, I mean?”
Viktor stills, averting his gaze and shifting on the bar stool. “I… well… I’m not sure.”
“You’re not sure?” Jayce asks, feeling on edge.
“I thought I had a… very vivid dream about it.”
There’s a beat of silence between them as Jayce’s eyes widen in realization, staring at his partner. “The time we got blackout drunk after—”
“After another Gemstone exploded on us,” Viktor finishes, and suddenly his face is red, but definitely not from the alcohol.
It keeps happening. Their Hextech Gemstones aren’t stabilizing like they thought they should be, and one failed experiment after another has been exploding in their faces. Literally. They’ve been in the lab for three days, napping on and off on the two couches they invested in for that sole purpose, and they’re both starting to get extremely frustrated. Especially Viktor. Jayce knows he’s only slept ten hours of the last seventy-two.
Another one explodes in the containment unit and Viktor finally snaps, breaking out into a furious rant of curses in Jazyk. He hears ‘jdi do píče’ in there which, from what he’s picked up on, is pretty bad. He’s so fucking hot when he’s mad.
“Hey, Vik, it’s okay. We’ll figure it out,” Jayce soothes, rubbing a hand over Viktor’s back in an attempt to comfort him. It’s partially a comfort for himself just to be touching Viktor.
Despite his heavy breathing, Viktor seems to relax under his hand while rubbing his tired eyes. “What if it doesn’t work and over two years of our efforts have just been a waste?”
“I’ve never known you to be a pessimist, Viktor.” He says in a teasing tone, trying to lighten the mood. It doesn’t help. “Look, maybe we just need to step out of the lab for a bit.”
“I don’t want to go home, Jayce. All I’m going to do is think about this.”
“Then… let’s go out for a drink. It might take our minds off of things, even just for a little while.”
Viktor pauses, hands running through his hair now as he contemplates. “Okay.”
It's snowing when they leave the lab just after 10 pm. Jayce’s anxiety bubbles up in the pit of his stomach, but Viktor holding onto his arm, as he always does, eases the uncomfortable feeling. He knows Viktor doesn’t actually need help walking in the snow, even with his deteriorating health. He’s been doing it just for Jayce’s comfort for the last five years. His heart swells at the thought, appreciating it even though it’s a white lie.
They pick a bar about halfway to Viktor’s place so it’ll be easier for him to go home after. Jayce lives in the other direction, but that’s a later Jayce problem, he decides. Once they’re seated in a booth, Viktor immediately looks a little more relaxed.
“What do you want? I can go order.”
“Whiskey. Double. On the rocks. Whatever the bartender recommends.”
Jayce raises his brows. “Starting with a double? So it’s that kinda night, huh? I’ll copy you, then.”
“I can give you—”
“Drinks are on me, don’t worry about it.”
It’s not long before Jayce returns with two tumblers of whiskey, setting one in front of Viktor. Without hesitation, Viktor takes the glass and tips it back, downing the whole thing.
Jayce stares at him, and it finally dawns on him just how stressed Viktor is. He doesn’t think he’s ever seen Viktor drink like this before.
Viktor seems a little more at peace after he gets the first drink in him, putting down his glass with a loud clunk. “I’m going to need another.”
“Yeah, I can see that,” Jayce says with a nervous laugh. Viktor doesn’t usually drink like this, he likes to savour his whiskey, so the fact that he’s knocking it back is very telling.
He’s glad he got Viktor out of the lab before he reached a breaking point. Jayce has been there. One time he spent six days in a row in the lab and started to draw monkeys rather than writing his notes. The drawings of the monkeys are still in his journal.
“I want to savour the next one, at least a little bit,” Viktor says.
Jayce holds up his finger. “One sec,” he says before picking up his glass, tipping it back and downing it in the same fashion. Whiskey isn’t his favourite, it burns his throat and gets him drunk a lot faster than other alcohols. But it’s Viktor’s favourite, and he intrinsically associates it with him, making the drink enjoyable. He sets down his glass with a sigh. “I’ll get us another round.”
“Just because I want to drink my problems away doesn’t mean you have to as well,” Viktor says, clearly surprised that Jayce had followed his example.
“Hey, getting drunk alone is no fun. Let’s do it for old time’s sake.” The memory resurfaces of the last time they got really drunk together, after finishing the plans for the Hexgates. It’s one of his fondest memories.
“Old time’s sake, huh?” Viktor chuckles, clearly looking back on the same memory. Neither of them has ever brought up the pact since.
Jayce has quickly surpassed that level of drunk and so has Viktor. Much to Jayce’s surprise, Viktor even pulls a cigarette and a lighter out of the compartment in his cane that Jayce only found out about a year ago. It reminds him of the last time he saw Viktor smoke at that bar in the Undercity and he flushes at the memory. This might actually be a difficult night for him to control his desires. Despite that, he feels warm in his chest from the alcohol, and happy because he was actually able to get Viktor to laugh and relax.
“Do you… do you remember that time—” Viktor cuts himself off, giggling. Jayce is mesmerized by the sound. Viktor fucking giggled. “When your sleeve caught on fire while testing the Hexgate prototype?”
“Oh, gods.” Jayce wipes a hand over his face, embarrassed. He can feel himself sweating from the booze, and from watching Viktor wrap his lips around the cigarette. “And the only thing you had nearby was cup ramen?”
“Hey, it put the fire out, didn’t it?” Viktor is laughing again, slurring his words a little bit and drinking his third double. To be fair, they’ve been at it for a while with water in between, so they haven’t lost their faculties completely. Not yet.
Jayce grins. “The lab smelled like smoke and chicken for a week.”
“I think you had a stray noodle in your hair, too.” Viktor smiles back, leaning forward as he finishes his drink. “Another?”
“You’re going to drink me under the table, you menace.”
“What’s wrong, golden boy? Can’t keep up?” Viktor teases him before taking another drag of his cigarette. Jayce can feel his cheeks heating up from the mocking tone and the beautiful vision before him. Silently, he appreciates the smoke that rises from Viktor’s lips in a way that will haunt his dreams for days.
I can’t imagine my life without this man.
Jayce glares at Viktor before he finishes his drink in one gulp.
We’re going to regret this tomorrow, but I don’t give a shit.
They lose track of how much they drink. At one point they order wings and a basket of fries after Viktor’s stomach growls incredibly loudly. They devour them like they haven’t eaten in a week because they’ve been surviving off instant foods for the last three days. It tastes like the best meal Jayce has ever had, just from how drunk he is.
Last call happens at 2:30 am, and that’s when they both realize they’ve been at the bar for over four hours. When Jayce stands, the floor feels like it’s spinning and he has to hold onto the table to steady himself. His vision is dark around the edges, drunk enough that his periphery is a thing of the past.
Viktor doesn’t have a much better time standing, gripping his cane for dear life. “Ó můj bože—svatý kurva— if I didn’t have this, my ass would be on the floor,” he mutters just barely loud enough to be heard. Jayce guffaws, finding it amusing that Viktor cusses like a sailor when he’s drunk.
When they go back out into the cold, dark streets, Jayce is struggling to walk straight and Viktor is having even more trouble. His partner has to hold on to his arm tightly to stay on his feet and starts humming one of his favourite songs, one Jayce recognizes, so he joins. The streets are quiet and almost completely empty for the entire walk back to Viktor’s apartment—quiet, all except for their half-humming, half-singing as they go. Viktor breaks out into more giggles when Jayce gets the notes wrong and his heart feels full.
It takes Viktor three tries to get his front door open and when he steps inside, he gives Jayce an expectant look. The thought of going back out in the cold in the middle of the night and making the twenty-minute walk back to his place makes Jayce’s stomach churn. “Goodnight?” Jayce tries, not sure what Viktor is expecting.
“Nuh-uh, you’re staying,” Viktor says it like an order. “Get in here.”
Jayce doesn’t need to be told twice, and they both strip off their boots and outdoor clothes once they get inside. Viktor beelines for the living room, cooing drunkenly, “I’m sorry, moje děti.”
Furrowing his brows in confusion, Jayce follows Viktor and figures out who he’s talking to. Viktor has picked up a spray bottle and started to water some of his plants. It’s hard to believe the guy who barely had any material possessions when they met now has at least fifteen plants in his living room. Not only that, Jayce’s painting hangs on the wall.
Jayce hazily searches for the snake plant he had gifted him all those years ago—he’s seen it in the past—and he can’t help but feel a little disappointed when he can’t find it among the collection. Maybe it died…? Like Viktor would let it, he loves that thing.
“So ‘m crashin’ on your couch?” Jayce asks with a yawn. He didn’t realize how tired he was or how heavy his limbs felt.
Viktor shakes his head as he finishes watering the plants that need it. “You’ve slept on a couch for three days. Jus’ sleep with me.”
Just sleep with me. Jayce’s brain short-circuits for a moment as a flash of some of his very vivid fantasies comes to mind. He shakes it off. “Uh, no, I don’t wanna like, intrude—”
“You’re not, Jayce,” Viktor says, approaching Jayce and placing a hand on his cheek. “I want you t’ get proper sleep.”
Flushing again from the close contact, his heart skips a beat. It’s tender and caring, and part of him wishes he could get such affection from Viktor all the time. Every day. In more ways than one. “I… okay,” he finally relents, not having the will to fight back. Before he can stop it, he blurts out a lingering thought. “Your hands ‘re nice. Soft.”
Viktor rolls his eyes. “You’re drunk. We’re drunk. Time for bed.”
They stumble into Viktor’s bedroom, and Jayce realizes he hasn’t been in here since he helped him move in over three years ago. It’s a little messy, which surprises him. Clothes are piled on a chair in the corner, the nightstand is cluttered with books and notepads. There’s a smaller bookshelf compared to the one in his living room and… are those… romance novels? He files that piece of information away in his ever-growing ‘things I know about Viktor’ mental catalogue.
Viktor also seems to have a second work area set up in his bedroom, specific to tinkering as he likes to do. There’s odds and ends crowding the desk like gears, nuts, bolts and the like, plus a work in progress that Jayce can’t figure out what it’s supposed to be.
The snake plant, once a little thing but now at least four feet tall, sits in the corner near the window. It’s in a glossy white planter with leaves painted on it, which Jayce had haggled for Viktor when they went to the Undercity one time. The disappointment from earlier is immediately replaced with the warmth that he even keeps it in his bedroom, like he wants it as close as possible.
Viktor rests his cane against the wall and sits on the bed with a groan, unfastening his leg brace. When he starts to unbutton his shirt, Jayce politely looks away. After a moment, Viktor chuckles. “Jayce, you c’n look. We’re not sleeping in clothes.”
“Right,” he murmurs, starting to unbutton his vest and loosen his tie. His eyes try to stay off of Viktor, but he can’t help but feel curious. He knows Viktor wears a back brace that he’s never seen before, and if he’s honest, it looks complicated.
Viktor lets out a sigh of frustration as he struggles to get the brace off, arms falling to his sides. “Jayce, help?”
Jayce is already undressed above the waist, tossing his clothes on the floor next to the bed. “Whatcha need?”
“Buckles near my ribs and top of shoulder. My hands ‘re too shaky.”
Approaching him, Jayce carefully inspects the brace. In his alcohol-addled mind, he can just barely figure out how to unlatch the buckles. Relief is written on Viktor’s face when he finally gets the brace off, putting it on a hook on the wall next to the bed. His eyes stare ahead for a moment, directly at Jayce’s chest, and he appears to space out.
“Vik? You okay?”
Viktor’s attention snaps up to Jayce’s face, his pale cheeks drunkenly red. “Fine. Tired.”
“Me too,” Jayce says, unbuttoning his pants, which seems to get Viktor’s attention again. In that moment, he realizes he’s probably too close to just be casually undressing in front of Viktor. With a little bit of embarrassment, he walks away and rounds the bed—which was a pain in the ass to build—to reach the side he’ll be sleeping on. He continues to undress there, eyes flickering over to Viktor as he removes his own pants.
Silently, they both get under the covers and lie on their backs, staring at the ceiling. The room is dim, illuminated by the moonlight pouring in through the large window looking out to the courtyard of the apartment complex. It’s so quiet that he can hear Viktor’s breaths, the space between them feeling too big and too small at the same time.
“Almost regretted buying this bed,” Viktor slurs, cutting through the silence. “Felt too big for me. Indulgent.”
“Glad you got it, don’t think I could fit in a twin with you.”
“Not with all those muscles, no,” Viktor laughs, and suddenly the tension has melted away.
“Thanks for noticin’,” he says, but it comes out as more of a question.
“Hard not to notice. You’re not the only one with… sakra jsi říkal?” Viktor chuckles to himself, slapping a hand over his eyes. “‘An appreciation for the human form’?”
The gears in Jayce’s head turn. It definitely sounds familiar, like something he would say, but he can’t remember the context. Wait… was Viktor checking me out? “D’you think I’m hot?” The question comes out before he has time to think about it.
Viktor sighs, rolling on his side to face Jayce, hair tousled in a way that makes him look… utterly sexy. Jayce has always thought Viktor was sexy. “Yeah, always have,” Viktor starts, sluggish and weighted down by all the whiskey. “Probably the hottest man I know. Maybe in Piltover. Or the world.”
Jayce turns to face Viktor as well, his face heating up from the compliment. “I think that’s you.”
A cackle erupts from Viktor, so hard he grabs his stomach. It goes on for a solid thirty seconds. “You’re hil—hilarious,” he manages to get out.
Jayce’s eyebrows knit together and he slurs his words. “Wha’s so funny?”
“C’mon, Jayce,” Viktor says, his laughter slowly dying down. It takes a moment but he recovers enough to look at Jayce again. “Be serious. I’m not hot.”
“I am serious,” Jayce says, frowning. He reaches over, gently touching Viktor’s jaw. “Your eyes. Your moles. Your smile. Your cheekbones.”
Viktor’s face falls as he stares at Jayce in confusion. This isn’t the first time he’s said these things, but maybe Viktor didn’t think he was being serious last time. For a moment Jayce is distinctly aware of his lack of periphery as he stares at his partner, feeling like he’s staring down a long tunnel with Viktor at the end of it. He might be too drunk for this conversation, but here he is.
“Don't joke like that,” Viktor warns, his voice on the edge of being hurt. “’S not funny anymore, Jayce.”
“I’m not joking. I think about you all the time,” Jayce confesses, and suddenly it’s all coming out of his mouth before he can stop it. “Kissing you. Fucking you. Worshipping you. I think about doing the nastiest things with you. I’m obsessed with you.”
Jayce’s darkest secret is met with silence. He’s drunk enough that he doesn’t realize he said it at first, but his dazed mind is slowly catching up. Before he has time to feel embarrassed, to take it back, Viktor is on him, grabbing his face and kissing him. It’s charged like it’s been building up for the last five years—maybe it has. He kisses back, barely, because Viktor doesn’t give him much of a chance to react before he’s licking into his mouth.
Viktor tastes like whiskey and cigarettes and Jayce enjoys the smokey flavour, getting wrapped up in his taste and touch. Viktor is kissing him—eating him alive, more like—and he’s happily going along with it. He decides to touch, to explore Viktor’s body, starting at his waist and then moving along the curves of his ribs before pulling him closer.
They kiss and kiss, teeth bumping together and tongues colliding with little coordination. One of Viktor’s hands travels to the back of Jayce’s head, curling it in Jayce’s short hair as much as he possibly can. Jayce dares to lift his leg, sliding it between Viktor’s thighs, which he eagerly parts for him. They don’t need to break their tangle of tongues for Viktor to figure out his intentions and grind down against his thigh, gasping into his mouth. Viktor rocks against him, making soft noises of want as they kiss, and it doesn’t take long for Jayce to get achingly hard.
Pulling away from the kiss, Viktor pants an inch from Jayce’s lips. “I like this, but ‘s hard on my leg.” Jayce nods, eyes blown with arousal and waiting for instruction. “On my back is easier.”
Wasting no time, Jayce flips Viktor onto his back and climbs between his legs. He returns to Viktor’s lips, being the one to dip his tongue in his partner’s mouth to initiate this time. Viktor’s arms wrap around Jayce’s neck, holding him close as their lips move together, his left leg hooking over Jayce’s hip. Taking the hint, Jayce rolls his hips, grinding his clothed cock against Viktor’s. He doesn’t have very good control over his movements at the moment, the world still a haze around him, but he chases the friction between their bodies with determination.
Moaning into Viktor’s mouth, he desperately grinds against his partner, shaky and dizzy from the alcohol still in his bloodstream. He has to keep his hands planted on the mattress to avoid falling over. Viktor’s nails dig into the nape of his neck and shoulder as he whimpers, moving his hips with just about as much precision as Jayce. It’s messy, hot, and primal with the way they’re licking, biting and rubbing against each other. It’s definitely not as elaborate as Jayce’s dozens of fantasies, but the way their bodies move together in chaotic harmony is perfect.
A particularly rough thrust gets a strangled gasp out of Viktor as he breaks the kiss. “Ó, kurva—přímo tam—like that,” he moans, disoriented by both lust and alcohol. Jayce does his best to repeat the same movement, with the same exertion and angle. He misfires a couple of times, but eventually, he gets it, repeatedly receiving melodic moans from Viktor’s pretty lips. “Jayce.”
The sound of his name almost sends him over the edge, but he has a job to do. Jayce kisses Viktor’s neck and shoulder, just so he can keep listening to the sounds he’s making, as he continues to move his hips. On either side of him, Viktor’s thighs begin to quake, and he can only assume Viktor is close. His own orgasm is building quickly, the front of his underwear now damp with precum, and he wishes his cock could make a home between Viktor’s thighs. All of his thoughts are a jumble of past fantasies, comparisons to the real thing, little details he wants to etch into his memory, and worship.
“You feel so good, V,” Jayce murmurs against Viktor’s neck, kissing a mole there—one he’s stared at too many times to count. He wants to map out every single one on Viktor’s body.
Viktor can only moan in response, his hips convulsing desperately. Within moments, his whole body is trembling as he lets out a guttural sound, nails scratching at Jayce’s shoulders. Jayce grinds into him as he rides out his orgasm, but stills his hips when Viktor practically goes limp. Despite the fact that he’s painfully close to his own orgasm, he doesn’t want to overstimulate Viktor while chasing his own release.
“K-Keep going,” Viktor gasps, shaking in his afterglow.
Much like with most instructions given to him by Viktor, Jayce doesn’t need to be told twice. He buries his face in Viktor’s chest and bucks his hips, chasing his own pleasure and feeling his partner shiver from overstimulation. Sweat drips down his brow from his efforts and Viktor’s hands affectionately smooth over his hair. It’s enough to bring him to the peak, spilling inside his own underwear with an animalistic groan.
They both pant heavily, trying to catch their breath, and Jayce narrowly avoids collapsing on top of Viktor. He flops onto his back next to him, limbs outstretched, cringing at the feeling of his soaking underwear. The thought barely lingers long enough for him to do anything about it. The cocktail of working three days, a ton of whiskey, and post-orgasmic bliss knock him out like a light.
Before he falls unconscious, he swears he hears Viktor mutter one word: “Kurva.”
When Jayce rouses from sleep, his brain feels like it’s trying to escape from his head, pulsating and heavy in his skull. He opens his eyes to the light pouring in between the curtains directly on his face, blinding him and making the headache even worse. He sits up, completely disoriented, uncertain of where he is. What he is certain of, though, is he’s going to be sick. The walls feel like they’re rotating when he gets up and rushes out of the bedroom. Finally recognizing Viktor’s apartment, he goes straight for the bathroom and hurls.
A couple of minutes pass before he hears footsteps and Viktor’s cane approaching him. Jayce looks up from where he’s kneeling on the floor in front of the toilet to see Viktor is standing there, wearing a loose pair of sweatpants and an oversized Academy t-shirt, holding out a toothbrush. “I have an extra one.”
Jayce flushes the toilet, shakily standing up. The walls are moving less, but the pain in his head is still throbbing. “Thanks, Vik… I don’t even remember coming to your place.”
Viktor has an unreadable expression on his face for a moment, but a smile slowly creeps up on his lips. “Never let me drink that much again. I draw the line at five shots.”
“You got it, boss,” Jayce chuckles, rubbing his head.
“I’ll get you painkillers. Do you want to shower or something? I think I have some more looser clothes that could fit you.” At the mention of a shower, Jayce notices that Viktor’s hair is still damp. It’s cute how it hangs below his ears in curled tendrils.
“You know what, that sounds like a great idea.” Jayce sighs, turning to the sink to start brushing his teeth.
Viktor leaves and returns a couple minutes later with two painkillers, a glass of water, a towel, and similar clothes to what Viktor is currently wearing. Jayce thanks him, downs the medicine and water, then closes the door to the bathroom so he can shower.
Just as he’s about to peel off his underwear, he notices something is off. His underwear is… crusty? His cheeks flush as he takes them off and, upon inspection, he definitely came in his pants.
Wait, did I have a wet dream?
He tries to recall the previous night or his dreams, but it’s like looking at shadows through a blurry lens. Flashes come to him. Viktor tasting of whiskey and tobacco. Viktor’s nails scratching his shoulders. Viktor trembling beneath him.
Embarrassment and panic start to set in. He prays, to gods he doesn’t believe in, that he didn’t do anything embarrassing like moan Viktor’s name in his sleep. The blank expression Viktor gave him before starts to fuel that panic more. Something weird happened, and I don’t know what.
Jayce wants to wither up and die.
He tries not to let it get to him as he showers, letting his brain shut off and just enjoy the warm water on his skin. While washing one of his shoulders, he hisses in pain. What the fuck is that from? When he gets out, he gets a glance at his back in the mirror.
There are red scratch marks along both of his shoulder blades.
He freezes and stares.
There’s no fucking way that was real. Right?
There must be some logical explanation for this. One that doesn’t involve him dry-humping his best friend after binge drinking.
His own voice repeats back in his mind. ‘I think about doing the nastiest things with you. I’m obsessed with you.’
No. No. That didn’t happen. Viktor would have said something, right? Jayce thinks again. No, probably not.
Trying not to let the confusion and panic get to his aching head, he gets dressed. The clothes are a little tight, but they fit. Leaving the bathroom, he takes his embarrassingly-soiled underwear with him. He returns to Viktor’s bedroom, gathering up his clothes from varying locations on the floor, and hides his underwear inside his slacks. He almost forgets to, but he retrieves the topaz in his pants pocket and puts it in the pocket of the sweatpants he’s wearing.
Finally, he goes to find Viktor, who’s standing in the kitchen in front of the stove. He’s not wearing his brace, but he’s leaning heavily on his cane while he fries bacon and eggs. The smell triggers a growl in Jayce’s stomach.
“Do you have a bag I could borrow so I don’t have to carry my clothes home like this?” Jayce asks, gesturing to the bundle of dirty clothes in his arms.
“There are totes in the closet by the front door.” Viktor doesn’t even look up, so focused on flipping the bacon. “There’s also a fresh pot of coffee.”
“You’re incredible,” Jayce says automatically. Another memory hits him. ‘K-Keep going.’ Viktor said it, so breathy and wrecked. His cheeks are on fire, but he mentally shoves it down. It was just a dream.
Jayce packs up his clothes in a faded blue tote that says Piltover Public Library on it and leaves it by the door. His next destination is the coffee machine and he grabs one of Viktor’s bigger mugs—one Cait gave him for the Winter Solstice years ago.
Jayce mixes his coffee and takes a sip, humming in appreciation. It’s so much better than the crap Viktor used to buy. “Do you need any help?”
“I’m perfectly fine, Jayce. Just go sit.” Another order.
‘K-Keep going.’
Jayce listens, sitting down at the table and drumming his fingers on the mug. Viktor was kind enough to close the curtains in his kitchen, the dim light marginally alleviating his headache. He’s not sitting long before Viktor sets a plate down in front of him and sits with his own plate and a cup of coffee moments later.
The plate has bacon, scrambled eggs, and toast—simple, but no less appreciated. “Thanks for breakfast.”
“Of course,” Viktor says politely, drinking his coffee like it’s a lifeline.
They eat in silence for a couple of minutes before Jayce dares to ask, “Hey, do you remember much from last night?”
Viktor shrugs, expression neutral. “Not really. I remember we sang while walking here and I drunkenly watered my plants.”
Jayce studies him closely, looking for any sign of him lying. “So you don’t remember anything after we got to your room?”
There’s a pause as Viktor’s brows pinch together and his lips pull into a firm line. If Jayce had to put a name to the expression, it would be apprehensive, but it quickly fades. Viktor looks relaxed and sounds confident when he speaks. “No, I’m pretty sure I fell asleep almost immediately.”
“Oh… okay.”
“Why?” Viktor quirks an eyebrow at Jayce.
A flush appears on Jayce’s cheeks as he wonders if he did moan his name, or something equally as mortifying, and Viktor is just sparing him the embarrassment. “Nothing. I just had a weird dream.”
Thankfully, Viktor doesn’t pry. Jayce decides that it was a dream. There’s no way they ravaged each other like wild animals in the night, right?
“Did you seriously not remember all this time?” Jayce asks, leaning in Viktor’s personal space to speak quietly.
“I… I thought I remembered it happening, but it seemed so… bizarre that I dismissed it as a dream.” Viktor is still beet red, fidgeting with the hem of his sleeve.
Jayce groans, burying his face in his hands. “I feel like an idiot,” he mumbles before looking back up at Viktor. “You even left scratch marks on my back.”
“Yeah, I do like to do that,” Viktor laughs quietly, looking only a little guilty. “How did you dismiss that evidence?”
“I don’t know, I told myself it must have been anything but that.”
“Guess we know when our actual first time was.”
Jayce pauses, mulling something over in his mind. “I want a do-over.”
Furrowing his brow in confusion, Viktor blinks at him. “A what?”
“A do-over. Do it right this time.”
“You can’t rewrite history, Jayce.”
“Watch me,” Jayce whispers as he leans in to kiss Viktor’s neck, one hand slowly moving up his thigh.
“Jayce,” Viktor chastises, but Jayce can hear the smile in his voice. “We’re in public.”
“Nobody’s paying attention.” Kissing up Viktor’s neck, he reaches his ear to whisper, “Let me pretend to take you home from the bar and make love to you. Like it’s the first time.”
Viktor shivers, unconsciously tilting his head to the side to give Jayce more access to his pale skin. “I might like the sound of that…”
Not even a minute later, Jayce is pulling Viktor into their room and pressing him up against the door. He lunges at Viktor’s mouth, holding his jaw firmly while his lover’s hands explore his body, one in his hair and the other sliding under his shirt.
Jayce has lost count of how many times they’ve had sex in the span of their short romantic relationship. They’ve been waiting seven years to freely ravage each other’s bodies, so it’s only natural that they would fuck like there’s still pent-up tension. It’s all teeth, tongues and a need to get skin-to-skin But Jayce wants to take his time because he intends to make love to Viktor.
Viktor bites his bottom lip, only briefly pulling away from the kiss to tilt his head and return at the new angle. It’s such a turn-on that Viktor is so aggressive when he kisses him—passionately—like he’s making up for lost time by kissing Jayce harder. A hand rakes over his abs, hiking up his shirt, before Viktor impatiently starts to unbutton it. Jayce laughs into his mouth, helping by unbuttoning it and shrugging it off to the floor before he kicks off his shoes and Viktor does the same.
Before Jayce has an opportunity, Viktor draws him back in by the nape of his neck with his gloved hand, forcefully licking into his mouth. He moans against Viktor, his tongue responding in kind, while his partner’s free hand feels up his torso. A teasing pinch to his nipple prompts him to growl in response.
His hands dip under Viktor’s shirt to squeeze his waist, feeling his fingertips touch. The fact he can do that alone makes his dick swell in his pants. Without warning, Viktor yanks Jayce’s head back by his hair, relocating his mouth to the side of his neck. “We should—ah—keep it below the collar.”
Viktor retreats to look at Jayce with a wild, starving look in his eyes. “I want everyone to know you’re mine.”
Swallowing a lump in his throat that formed from how fucking hot Viktor’s sudden possessiveness is, he lets out a soft laugh. “I guess I can’t say no to that.”
Needing no other invitation, Viktor returns to Jayce’s neck, biting to the point that it’s painful before marking him like he’s property. Viktor only marks him once where it’s visible, going lower after to bruise the skin over his collarbone. Moving further down, he bites Jayce’s nipple, scraping his teeth over the nub while he pinches the other. Jayce takes a sharp inhale, combing one hand through Viktor’s hair as he starts to suck.
It’s not long before Viktor is getting on his knees, licking a stripe up Jayce’s abs, and starts undoing his jeans. That’s when Jayce catches on to where Viktor’s headed. “Hey, I’m supposed to be making love to you, remember?”
Viktor arches a brow up at him while he slowly unzips Jayce’s pants. “What? I can’t lovingly suck your cock?”
He realizes he had a narrow view of what ‘making love’ could be. Seeing Viktor on his knees didn’t fit that initial image, but he can’t argue, nor does he want to. “You can, I just want to take care of you, that's all.”
“And I want to take care of you too,” Viktor says simply, moving his hands to unfasten Jayce’s brace before he pulls down his pants, taking his underwear with him. Jayce’s cock springs past his waistband, standing eagerly for Viktor as he steps out of his clothes and holds himself against the door to take pressure off his leg. Trailing kisses from his belly button down to the trail of hair leading to his cock, Viktor takes hold of Jayce with his flesh hand, stroking him slowly. It feels good, but there’s something Jayce has been curious about.
“Could you, um… could you do that with your other hand?”
Viktor pauses to give him a puzzled look before smirking. “Have you been thinking about it?”
“Yeah… Ever since you fingered yourself with that hand, I’ve wanted to know what it feels like,” Jayce admits with a slight flush to his cheeks.
Viktor hums, slowly pulling off his glove. “I admit, it’s a different sensation, but not an unpleasant one.”
The purple-hued steel shines in the moonlight pouring in from their window, making Jayce swallow in anticipation. It shouldn’t be a big deal, but it’s new. Viktor spits in the palm of his hand and takes hold of Jayce’s cock. He shivers, the hand cool to the touch and slick against his length. There’s less resistance than skin when Viktor strokes him, and Jayce immediately decides he likes it.
“How does that feel, golden boy?” Viktor asks with a teasing smile on his lips.
“It-It feels good,” he whispers, almost embarrassed to be admitting it.
“Good.” Viktor extends his tongue then, licking the tip of Jayce’s cock. He immediately gets a reaction as Jayce lets out a shuddering breath, his hand reaching for Viktor’s free one near his hip to hold. Viktor obliges, lacing their fingers together as he takes the head of Jayce’s cock in his mouth.
Viktor could be a professional at cocksucking. He knows how to swirl his tongue around the head in perfect form, and sucks at it delicately, like Jayce’s cock is something precious to him. Viktor’s left hand continues to stroke him, gliding over his skin, and the steel begins to warm from Jayce’s body heat. Golden eyes latch onto his own as Viktor sinks down on his cock, taking half of his length in one go, before pulling back slowly with hollowed cheeks.
“Fuck, you’re good at this,” Jayce groans, holding Viktor’s hand tighter. The urge to pull on Viktor’s hair rather than hold his hand arises, but he doesn’t want to be rough this time—this time, he’s going to be patient. So he lets Viktor set the languid pace, silently agreeing to be a willing passenger.
Viktor hums in response and Jayce swears the vibration goes straight to his balls. His partner’s velvety mouth cradles the underside of his cock, following the path of his prominent vein, while his hand slowly strokes him. Jayce watches, pupils blown wide with arousal, as Viktor retracts his hand from Jayce’s to move to his own pants. It takes a moment for his lust-drunk mind to catch up while Viktor undoes the button of his slacks. “I wanna prep you.”
Viktor pulls off of Jayce’s cock with a wet smack of his lips, licking them lewdly. “Why’s that?”
“Because I’ll take any opportunity to get between your thighs. Plus, my fingers are thicker. You’d have to fist yourself to take it.”
For a moment, Viktor looks mildly offended. “My fingers aren’t that thin.”
Jayce stares down at him. “Give me your hand.”
Viktor lifts his hand and Jayce splays out his fingers against his partner's, showing that his are, in fact, twice the thickness of Viktor’s. “You were saying?”
A flush actually creeps up on Viktor’s cheeks. “Okay, point taken.”
“Bed, now,” Jayce demands, only to remember his manners a few moments later. “Please?”
Viktor chuckles, releasing Jayce’s cock and moving to get up, but Jayce takes his hand to help him stand. Before Viktor leaves for the bed, Jayce tugs at the hem of his shirt. “I’m noticing a disparity in clothing here.”
“Mm, guess we’re going to have to fix that,” he murmurs with a teasing tone in his voice. “Get to work, then.”
“Oh, it’s my job to get you out of your clothes?”
“Yes. Unless you want me to keep them on.”
“No,” Jayce growls, leaning in to nip at Viktor’s neck. “I want all of you.”
A soft gasp leaves Viktor’s lips when Jayce bites a little harder. Impatience creeps up on him, so he pulls away to work on peeling Viktor’s shirt off, tossing it to the floor. Jayce takes a moment to drink him in; every mole, every scar, and every sinewy steel component.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmurs reverently, fingers grazing over Viktor’s collarbone. He touches a mole there before moving down to another on the right side of his chest, and then traces his mastectomy scar.
“You’re beautiful,” Viktor echoes, burying his fingers in Jayce’s hair to pull him down for a kiss.
Jayce loves it when they kiss lazily, taking their time to explore each other’s mouths. His hands encase Viktor’s waist and Jayce thinks, I love wrapping myself around him entirely, like I can protect him and take care of him while he’s in my hands.
“I’m still wearing too many clothes,” Viktor rasps between kisses. Jayce hums in agreement, continuing their languid making out, his hands caressing Viktor sides, before reaching the front of his pants. He unzips Viktor’s slacks and pushes them down with his underwear, his fingernails raking over his hip bones as he does. Breaking their kiss, Viktor murmurs, “I know it’s only seven feet, but will you carry me?”
“Sure, but why?”
“Because it’s hot, obviously.”
Jayce chuckles before leaning down to scoop Viktor up, carrying him bridal-style. Looping his arms around Jayce’s shoulders, Viktor huffs. “This is not what I anticipated.”
“Is that a complaint?” As he asks it, as he leans in for another kiss.
“No, merely an observation. I like this too,” Viktor says, capturing Jayce’s lips with the same tenderness as before. He takes his time carrying Viktor to the bed, all for the sake of holding him and kissing him like this. As he lays Viktor down, he still doesn’t break away, preferring to keep their lips locked as long as possible.
Viktor’s hands return to his beard, petting him affectionately, and Jayce loves it. He wasn’t sure if he liked the beard at first, but knowing how much Viktor loves it has solidified the fact that he’s keeping it. As long as Viktor continues to pet him and compliment him on it, someone would have to pin him down to shave it off.
He finally retreats from Viktor’s lips, climbing on the bed on top of him. Viktor seems to instinctively spread his legs to welcome Jayce between them. “I want to take my time worshipping you, so don’t rush me.”
Viktor scoffs with false offence. “Me? Rush you? I would never.”
Huffing out a laugh, Jayce’s hands run from Viktor’s bent knees, up his thighs, past his hips and over his stomach. Viktor shudders as one of his hands latches onto Jayce’s forearm, as if to ground himself. Planting his hands on either side of Viktor’s head, Jayce gets to work. Starting with Viktor’s pretty face, Jayce places a kiss to each of his moles before moving to kiss the one in the crook of his neck—the same one he managed to kiss in his drunken stupor their first time. Next is the one on his right shoulder, another on the inside of his upper arm, and lastly, he cradles Viktor’s wrist to lift it and places a kiss on the mole on the back of his hand. His lover appears to be entranced, focused on where Jayce’s lips connect with his skin, pupils so wide that only a ring of gold remains of Viktor’s irises.
“How do I say ‘beautiful’ in Jasyk?”
“Krásný,” Viktor says, flushed as Jayce kisses the mole on the left side of his chest, close to where his flesh transitions into shining purple steel.
“Moje krásný Viktor. Is that right?” Certain words had been easy to catch on and memorize by association, so it didn’t take him long to figure out moje meant ‘my’.
He proceeds to kiss down Viktor’s sternum, moving his hands to gently caress Viktor’s ribs now that he can balance himself better. Viktor shakes his head, watching Jayce intently. He’s still holding on to Jayce’s forearm, his other hand relaxing next to his head on the pillow with his splayed out brown and blonde tresses. Jayce thinks he looks ethereal like this. “If it’s possessive then it would be ‘krásná’.”
“Moje krásná Viktor,” Jayce tries again, kissing a mole just above Viktor’s belly button. That makes Viktor’s stomach flutter, and Jayce can’t help but do it again. Deciding it’s time, his hand skirts over the bed of dark hair on Viktor’s mound, running his fingers over his lips. Teasingly, he spreads Viktor open with his index and ring finger, his middle finger rubbing his small cock. Viktor gasps quietly, his steel fingertips digging into Jayce’s forearm, squirming like he wants to grind against his finger. “Can you be patient while I open you up? I want to go to four fingers.”
Viktor groans, throwing his head back. “Four? Are you trying to torture me?”
“No, baby. I just want to make sure you're warmed up. You’re always rushing, and then it hurts.” Jayce continues to circle Viktor’s cock with his finger, watching him stutter his hips.
Viktor pouts and Jayce thinks it’s adorable. “I like that it hurts when you stretch me open. It’s hot.”
“I just don’t want to hurt you this time.”
There’s still a pout on Viktor’s lips and Jayce wants to kiss it away. “Is that why you haven’t been marking me up?”
“Mhm. Trust me, I love biting and bruising you, but not tonight.” His middle finger moves from Viktor’s cock to his slick entrance, prompting a groan from Jayce. “You’re so fucking wet, baby.”
“Only for you… you’re the only person who can do this to me,” Viktor admits quietly, moaning softly when Jayce pushes his finger in with ease. “I’ve never even let anyone else cum inside me.”
That makes Jayce pause, staring at Viktor. “Really?”
Viktor shakes his head. “I’ve never had unprotected sex with anyone else. I didn’t want to get an STI. Even when I had a casual relationship.”
“Well, I’m glad—” Jayce starts to pump his middle finger in and out of Viktor slowly, earning another moan. “—no one else has had the pleasure of cumming inside you. It’s one of my favourite things to do to you… maybe after eating you out.”
“You’re a pervert,” Viktor says breathily, his hips moving in tandem with Jayce’s finger.
“Oh, and you’re not? I think if given the chance, you would collar and leash me,” Jayce pauses to curl his finger inside Viktor, rubbing against his sweet spot. He’s satisfied when Viktor whimpers. “Walk me like a dog, even.”
“I-I know I’m a pervert, I was merely stating that you are as well. Put a pin in that collar and leash idea. Now, give me two.”
“You can ask nicer than that,” Jayce teases. “Or I will if you let me eat you out.”
“You say that like I’m doing you a favour when you eat me out.”
“You are. Don’t you feel the same way when you suck my cock?”
Viktor pauses. “Okay, yes, I get it. I just hate feeling useless or like I’m getting all the pleasure.”
“I think I’m just a little more patient than you when it comes to foreplay,” Jayce murmurs, removing his finger from Viktor to crawl down the bed and get on his stomach. Lying between Viktor’s thighs, Jayce kisses a mole on the inside of Viktor’s left knee, before making his way further up. “To me it’s worth the wait and effort.”
“That’s probably true. I’ve always been, um… a little impatient in bed.”
Jayce huffs out a laugh against Viktor’s skin. “A little?”
“Do you not like it?”
“I do. I like that you know what you want and when.” Pressing one more hot, open-mouthed kiss against Viktor’s milky thigh, Jayce finally makes his way to his reward. Pushing two fingers gradually inside Viktor’s hole, he relishes in the delicate gasp his partner lets out. “Just because I’m being gentle, doesn’t mean I don’t want you to pull on my hair and grind against my face.”
“Good to know I can do something,” Viktor murmurs before it’s cut off by another moan when Jayce curls his fingers again.
Eager to please, Jayce dives in and runs the flat of his tongue over Viktor’s small cock. He loves how hard and hot it is under his touch, savouring his slightly acidic and salty flavour. Jayce would say that Viktor tastes just as he had imagined, but the real thing is so much better than a fantasy. When he takes Viktor’s cock in his mouth, sucking while his fingers steadily pump in and out of him, Viktor’s steel fingers tangle in his hair and he lets out a pretty sigh. If Jayce could bottle that sound and drink it, he would, but he’ll settle for drinking from Viktor’s pussy instead.
Removing his fingers, Jayce dips his tongue inside Viktor instead, getting a taste straight from the source. That really excites Viktor, who rolls his hips against Jayce’s tongue while he yanks on his hair to suffocate him with his pussy. If Jayce dies, so be it, he was meant to die doing what he loved.
“Jayce…” Viktor moans, his grip tightening on Jayce’s hair, mingling with the sound of Jayce’s mouth devouring his dripping pussy.
As much as he loves tasting Viktor, he needs to focus on preparing him. Recovering from the lack of air, Jayce dips two fingers inside him again before returning to Viktor’s cock. He scissors his fingers, extending his tongue so Viktor can grind against his face, and Viktor does just that.
“Tři, prosím,” Viktor pants, chasing his bliss by incessantly rocking his hips. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out Viktor’s asking for another.
Slowly, Jayce stretches him open more by guiding a third finger inside, making Viktor whine in response—a sound he loves wringing out of his partner. He pauses so Viktor can adjust, and he isn't surprised when Viktor almost immediately starts moving his hips to force his fingers deeper.
Jayce thinks he might just die from all the blood rushing to his cock. He loves being used by Viktor for his pleasure, it makes him feel like a devout follower to a divine being. It’s a little ironic, but he’s not going to voice that.
“Čtyři,” Viktor rasps, forcing Jayce’s head even closer to his pussy, suffocating his nose with his mound. Jayce groans, loving that Viktor’s being a little rough with him as he tries to figure out what he just said. If he had to guess: four.
Jayce presses his pinky to Viktor’s entrance, gradually inserting it with his three other broad fingers. Viktor stills his hips, letting out a gasp as he’s stretched open. “Ó, kurva, Jayce…”
To soothe and distract from the intense invasion, Jayce wraps his lips around Viktor’s cock, sucking gently. Viktor whimpers, tightening his grip on Jayce’s hair as his other hand twists in the pillow, arching his back off of the mattress. So far, Viktor has kept his legs splayed open and folded to the sides, but he moves them then to practically cross over the back of Jayce’s neck, leaving no room for him to escape.
“Move,” Viktor instructs simply, nudging his shoulder blade with his heel.
Jayce obeys, pumping his four fingers in and out of Viktor’s hole, just short of fisting him. His tongue laps at his cock, earning him a string of breathy moans. Viktor is dripping down to Jayce’s knuckles, and he can’t wait to lick his fingers clean of his sweetness. Both of Viktor’s hands are buried in his hair while his thighs squeeze Jayce’s cheeks, his hips bucking desperately, but he slows down after a moment.
“J-Jayce, budete muset pře—you’re going to have t-to stop,” Viktor says breathlessly, easing the grip he has on Jayce’s head by relaxing both his hands and thighs. “I’m going to cum if you keep going. I want to together.”
“Think you can do two?” Jayce asks the question before slyly flicking his tongue over Viktor’s hardness.
Viktor shudders, his thighs snapping closed around Jayce’s head again. “Do prdele—jo.”
Jayce obediently returns to fingering Viktor, down to the knuckle, while he sucks his cock. The melody from Jayce’s mouth against Viktor’s pussy is wet, filthy and wonderful. Viktor whines, rocking his hips desperately to try and meet Jayce’s hand, throwing his head back on the pillow in pleasure.
A rush of power fills Jayce’s chest at the thought that he can make a mess out of such an intimidating man. Viktor’s words at the bar all those years ago flash in his mind—‘I think I’d be the one ruining you, golden boy’. It boosts his ego that he can, in fact, ruin Viktor just the same.
Viktor’s heels are digging into his shoulder blades and his thighs are clenching around Jayce’s head. While one hand remains tangled in Jayce’s hair, he watches as Viktor’s warped hand snaps to his mouth to muffle the shout that leaves his lips as he cums. Jayce pulls out his fingers, relocating his hands to wrap around the entirety of his partner’s thighs. He eagerly starts to lap at Viktor’s entrance, desperate to taste his release.
Tremors vibrate through Viktor’s body as Jayce eats out his sensitive hole, and he whimpers at the overstimulation but still rolls his hips. Viktor is sticky and hot, and it’s enough to drive Jayce mad—this could be his only meal for the rest of his life and he would die a happy man.
“Jayce,” Viktor whispers, tapping Jayce’s hand on his thigh twice as a signal to stop. His thighs fall to the sides as Jayce pulls away, licking his lips in a way that he’s sure is obscene, which Viktor watches intently. Sitting up, Jayce proceeds to suck on each finger that was inside Viktor, grinning in between. “You are a menace.”
“You like it,” Jayce says as he crawls up the bed, leaning in to kiss Viktor. He pauses, giving Viktor the chance to say no, but his lover grabs him by the neck and pulls him down to initiate instead.
The way they kiss is sensual, tongues languidly gliding against one another. Viktor’s hand of steel pets his beard and Jayce loves it—he loves the smooth and cool touch of his augmented limbs. With one of his hands planted next to Viktor’s head to hold himself up, Jayce’s other hand skirts along his side, relishing in his soft skin.
When Viktor breaks the kiss, he looks up at Jayce with his eyebrows pinched together and his mouth pressed in a firm line. “I’m ready.”
Jayce’s brow raises. “Already? Are you sure you don’t want a minute?”
Shaking his head, he hooks his left knee around Jayce’s hip, just like he had the first time. “I want to keep going. I’m sensitive, so I don’t think I’ll last long, but I want you to cum inside me no matter what.”
“To be honest, I don’t know if I’ll last long either,” Jayce says, eager to be inside his lover already. “I’m so hard from just eating you out, it hurts.”
“You sure you don’t want to just fuck me hard? I’d be more than happy to,” Viktor offers, playing with the hair at the nape of Jayce’s neck.
“No, I told you. I’m making nice, slow, gentle love to you.” Closing the gap between them, Jayce captures his lips again in a lazy kiss. His free hand skims down Viktor’s stomach before reaching for his own cock to line up with Viktor’s entrance. Gliding in easily, Viktor makes a small sound into Jayce’s mouth. Their lips lock tenderly, and Jayce could make a home in this moment—buried inside and kissing the love of his life. After savouring the kiss, he pulls away by a hair to whisper, “Tell me when.”
Viktor’s breath comes out in hot, ragged puffs against his lips and he looks dazed. Lifting his legs, he wraps them around Jayce’s lower back before nodding. “Can I ask you for something first?”
“Anything, my love.”
Viktor flushes slightly, averting his gaze. He starts by muttering to himself, “Kurva, jen to řeknu,” before continuing in Common. “Will you hold my hand?”
Jayce blinks down at him. “That’s your big request?”
“Listen, I… I always thought about holding your hand the first time,” Viktor says defensively, his flush deepening.
“That’s sweet. You are such a romantic,” Jayce whispers with a soft grin. He holds himself up with his right hand while his left finds Viktor’s hand of flesh, lacing their fingers together before pinning it down on the bed next to the pillow. He uses that for balance as he keeps most of his weight on his knees, cupping the side of Viktor’s neck as he has done so many times before, their eyes locked. His thumb brushes over Viktor’s racing pulse while he stares up at Jayce with wide, misty gold eyes. “I’m gonna start slow, okay?”
Viktor nods, tightly squeezing Jayce’s hand. Pulling back his hips, Jayce rolls them forward again at a slow pace. The steel hand is still on the nape of his neck, pulling him in for another kiss. Their lips move just like Jayce’s hips, leisurely and deliberately. Jayce likes it when their movements are gentle and intentional—he feels like he’s more in control this way, as if he can orchestrate Viktor’s pleasure more precisely.
Breaking the kiss, Viktor tilts his head back with a moan, tensing his thighs on either side of Jayce’s hips. Clearly, fucking Viktor slow and deep is satisfying him just as much as hard and fast would. Jayce thrusts again at the same angle and speed, and feels Viktor’s walls clench around him as he whimpers. It would be so nice to make a home in Viktor’s tight, velvety heat—he’d never want to leave.
Lifting his head, Viktor moves his hand to Jayce’s face to cradle it lovingly. His lips are close enough that they brush against Jayce’s as he whispers, “Miluji tě.”
“Já tebe taky,” Jayce recites from memory, having said it a few times now. He closes the minuscule distance between them, savouring Viktor’s lips as he continues to steadily roll his hips.
His grip on Viktor’s hand tightens as he tries to restrain himself from just plowing into him like he normally does. Their first time was a drunken tangle of bodies, but this time, this do-over, is special.
Small, needy sounds tumble out of Viktor between breaths as they kiss. Every so often he has to break away to throw back his head with another moan when Jayce’s cock bumps against his cervix. Jayce himself is letting out a string of growls and groans as he rocks his hips back and forth. “You feel… so good,” he manages to get out between clumsy kisses.
“Jen… pro tebe,” Viktor returns, his hand moving from Jayce’s cheek to comb through his hair. Jayce has no idea what he said this time. He thinks Viktor has the sexiest voice so it doesn’t matter at this moment, he just loves to hear him talk. It fuels the fire in his belly and makes his scalp tingle pleasantly.
His hand finally moves from the side of Viktor’s neck, down over his sternum and belly, to his cock. Circling the hard nub with his middle finger, he pulls another string of moans and whines out of his lover. The subtle taste of whiskey still clinging to Viktor’s tongue reminds him of that night, and Jayce can’t help but get sucked into the fantasy that this is their first time. It’s perfect—it’s better than anything he’s ever imagined.
“Jayce, jsem blízko,” Viktor says in a rush against his mouth between desperate kisses, and Jayce is intimately familiar with the phrase by now. It means he’s close, so Jayce decides to pick up his speed. It’s still sensual, but he makes sure to thrust deep into Viktor while the pads of his middle and index finger rub his cock faster.
“Fuck, baby,” Jayce growls his words, feeling his own orgasm on the horizon. The way Viktor’s pussy hugs his cock like they were made to fit together and the sweet, slick friction against Viktor’s walls is driving him crazy. No matter how many times he fucks Viktor, every time feels divine.
Moaning loudly against Jayce’s mouth, Viktor’s legs quake as he cums. The way his muscles pulsate and tense around Jayce almost brings him to his tipping point, but not quite. Jayce fucks him through his orgasm, dipping his tongue into Viktor’s mouth as it hangs open.
Removing his hand from between his lover’s legs, which have dropped to Viktor’s sides again, Jayce grips his hip as leverage instead to keep pumping inside him. Viktor seems dazed, taking it willingly and trying to keep up with the delirious kiss. He forgets himself, foregoing the gentleness that he had managed to carry through the whole affair, and chases his release with more forceful thrusts while Viktor whimpers.
Jayce stills his hips when he cums inside Viktor, shaking and gasping against his mouth. Pulling back from the kiss, he buries his face in Viktor’s neck, unable to stop himself from collapsing on top of him. Viktor makes a small ‘oof’ sound, but he doesn’t complain or push Jayce off of him, instead stroking his hair while he comes down from the high.
“Sorry,” Jayce manages to mumble in his haze. “I can get off in a second…”
“Don’t. I like it,” Viktor whispers in return, kissing Jayce’s shoulder because it’s the closest skin he can reach. Their hands are still clasped together next to Viktor’s head and Jayce hasn’t pulled out yet, enjoying the warmth of being tangled together.
Jayce relaxes into Viktor’s arms, sighing pleasantly as Viktor continues to brush his fingers through his hair, placing a soft kiss to his lover’s pulse point. “I love you so fucking much.”
Snorting, Viktor presses his cheek to the side of Jayce’s head. “I love you so fucking much too.”
They lie there in a tender embrace while they recover. Soon after, Jayce starts to soften inside Viktor, and he must be crushing him at this point. Letting go of Viktor’s hand, his own cramping now from how tightly he had been holding on, he rolls off of Viktor onto his back. They aren’t apart for long because Viktor rolls over too and hugs Jayce’s arm, resting his head on his shoulder.
“Top five,” Viktor says, smiling against Jayce’s skin.
Jayce chuckles, running a hand over his face out of exhaustion. “It sounds like you might need to turn that into a top ten, because I’m pretty sure you’ve said that at least six times now.”
“You might be right. It’s not my fault you’re so good at fucking me,” Viktor laughs.
“That was different. That was making love.”
“Then that might be the best time we’ve made love.”
Jayce leans over to kiss the top of Viktor’s head, receiving a pleasant hum in response. After a moment Viktor looks up at him, his eyes moist with joy and, surprisingly, a little melancholy. “Thank you for the date, and… thank you for loving me, despite everything I did.”
An ache fills his chest and the desire to pluck every horrible moment from Viktor’s memory floods his heart, but he knows that would change who Viktor is. Instead, he reflects on his own actions. They’ve spent the last few weeks in a warm bubble, settling into a new life, and the topic of what happened before they landed in Gheldania hasn’t come up in a while. He did things he isn’t proud of either, but he can’t say he was in the same position as Viktor.
“Thank you for loving me despite everything I did,” Jayce echoes back. Killing Viktor is a wound he’ll carry for life. Thankfully, in the end, he didn’t, but the image of Viktor’s lifeless body has haunted his dreams for weeks now. He hasn’t told Viktor about it, not after Viktor had a nightmare about Jayce killing him again.
Viktor hums, his Hexcore-warped fingers drawing circles on his bicep. “I’m glad to be here too, you know.”
Jayce recognizes what Viktor is referring to. During his last breakdown in the cabin, Jayce had comforted him by telling him he was happy to be here. Even though Jayce was feeling intense homesickness, and he still is, he meant it. “That makes me happy. I don’t know what I would have done if I ended up here without you.”
“Let’s not entertain hypotheticals,” Viktor says, kissing his shoulder before yawning. “Clean up, then sleep?”
“Yeah, I think I can feel my limbs again. I can—”
“No, let me.” Standing, Viktor crosses the room to the bathroom, though he walks like a newborn doe, legs shaking as he takes awkward steps. He fetches a damp face cloth before returning to the bed, leaning down to clean Jayce’s own release off of him.
“Let me clean you, at least,” Jayce says, holding out a hand for the cloth. Viktor listens and Jayce carefully cleans between his legs, trying to get as much of his cum dripping out of him as possible.
After discarding the cloth, they both climb under the covers. As he usually does, Viktor cuddles up and rests his head on Jayce’s chest while Jayce wraps his arms around him. He feels happy and satisfied despite the stress from earlier that day.
In the morning, Jayce wakes up to Viktor spooning him and exploring his skin with the still-lingering tenderness of the night. Despite their gentle sex, Jayce has a bit of a limp from the way he had been holding his weight on his knees. Their shared shower turns into a languid make out session, making them a little late for breakfast. It’s porridge this time, which Jayce is fine with, he just misses the muffins from yesterday. Kaedin invites them to sit with him and Meeko again.
“Were you late because you went for another round?” Meeko asks, half-joking.
Jayce flushes a little. He can’t wait until they have a house and their sex life is entirely private, without nosy neighbours. The man staying in the room next to them last week asked him if he ever got any sleep.
“Uh, no idea what you’re talking about,” Jayce lies.
Meeko flips a page in his newspaper, not even looking up “Uh-huh. And that’s not a hickey on your neck? I’m shocked you two even come up for air.”
“Well, I, uh—”
“Jayce, people are referring to us as the ‘sex-crazed animals in room 12’,” Viktor says bluntly, sipping his coffee.
“Oh, gods, they do? Since when?” Jayce feels mortified. There were always rumours going around about him, including one that he was going to the Undercity to hook up with men, which nearly gave him a heart attack. He desperately tried not to let rumours or gossip get to him, but it never worked.
“Basically since we got here. I hear all the gossip, baby,” Viktor replies, giving Jayce’s thigh a comforting pat. “Anyway, this is what seven years of pining will do to you.”
Meeko snorts as Kaedin lets out a wistful sigh. “I think it’s sweet.”
“I think Viktor takes one too many breaks,” Meeko follows up, trying to be subtle.
“Meekie,” Kaedin scolds, lightly smacking Meeko’s arm. “I think it’s fine. Who are we to discourage young love?”
“As long as shit gets done, I don’t care.”
“Good. That I can guarantee,” Viktor assures, returning to his breakfast.
After they’re finished, they go about their regular routine and kiss each other goodbye before work. Jayce is grateful that the shop isn’t far from the inn, otherwise the walk to work would be far more difficult. When he limps in, strongly relying on his brace, Rehna looks up at him and gives him a peculiar look.
“What happened to you, kid?”
Jayce pauses, trying to figure out how best to answer that question. Then he remembers the conversation back at the inn. “Seven years of pining.”
Notes:
Timeline so far
September, Year 0 - First Meeting
December, Month 3 - Jayce gifts Viktor the snake plant
March, Month 6 - Lunch with the Kirammans on the blimp
July, Month 10 - Watching the sunrise over the harbour on the Academy roof
October, Year 1, Month 1 - Jayce's first fantasy about Viktor (also the anniversary of Viktor's mother's death)
November, Year 2, Month 2 - The pact + finishing the plans for the Hexgates
December, Year 3, Month 3 - Their first Winter Solstice together
May, Year 3, Month 8 - The Hexgates launch gala
October, Year 4, Month 1 - The almost-hookup at the gay bar
December, Year 4, Month 3 - Viktor's 30th birthday
January, Year 4, Month 4 - Jayce gets sick and Viktor takes care of him
January, Year 5, Month 4 [NEW] - Drunken Hookup
March, Year 6, Month 6 [canon] - They learn Viktor is dying, Jayce kisses Viktor, and Viktor has a breakdown after talking to Mel
April, Year 6, Month 7 - Viktor is merged with the Hexcore
April, Year 7, Month 7 - The Battle for Piltover
Chapter 10: Chasm
Summary:
Viktor and Jayce have been living in Cynrys for four months, and Viktor can't help but wonder... how much longer?
Notes:
Hello everyone! Thank you for your patience. I've been a little behind on this fic because I got hyperfixated on my other one, Perfect Stranger. This chapter is shorter but I'm going to try to get the next one up next week!
Full disclosure: Only up to ch 12 is fully written. The other 6 chapters are in various stages of development so updates after 12 will be much slower than usual, especially since I have others on the go.
In this chapter, you'll notice a familiar scene, now told from Viktor's perspective!
See end notes for an updated timeline.
Translations
Ano - Yes
Kurva/Sakra - Fuck, shit, damn
Sráč - Fucker, shitstain, deplorable personSongs for this chapter
Be My Man (Demo) by Nostalghia
Tourniquet by Meg Myers
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
It’s been four months since they arrived in Cynrys and the end of summer is almost here. They have a routine now. Get up at dawn, work, read, go to sleep. They both started taking Fridays off so they can actually have time together: shopping, trying out local restaurants, getting breakfast at the café, lunches under the Tree of Memories. Some Fridays, they stay in bed all day and make love or just enjoy each other’s company. It’s nice. Comfortable.
They’ve progressively learned more about Gheldania through books, plus Meeko and Kaedin. They’ve actually become friends with the two innkeepers, regularly having meals and drinks together. Kaedin even made Jayce a cake for his thirty-second birthday, which Viktor was excited to spend with him—he missed his thirty-first. He just hopes the birthday sex made up for it.
Eventually, they learned a little more geography and, it turns out, they’re only a two-day ride from the capital city. Myrkonia is known for being the centre of innovation with a renowned university and famous museums. It sounds similar to Piltover, but the politics seem a little less volatile.
The honeymoon phase is long past. They’ve been together for just over five months now and Viktor is only now starting to feel like they’re a real couple. When they started arguing and bickering, Viktor was sure that Jayce would tell him to pack his shit and leave. But, they’ve gotten through every bump in the road so far. Only a couple of times did they separate for an hour to cool down and come back together, which is comforting.
Jayce was serious when he said he was going to woo Viktor no matter what. Flowers, chocolate, books—at least once a week Jayce comes back from work with a little gift for Viktor and he feels like the luckiest man in this reality and the next. As for money, they’ve slowly been building up their savings with what Jayce is bringing in. Rehna’s shop is actually renowned around the Northern Provinces, so Jayce hasn’t been short on work once. They currently have no plans for their savings, but it’s good to have.
Jayce says he really likes it in Cynrys. He’s been overhauling some of Rehna’s schematics and he seems to be in his element. Viktor questions if he’s actually happy doing blacksmithing rather than science, and Jayce has assured him over and over again that he’s happy.
Viktor is starting to wonder if he’ll be bound to changing bed sheets and mixing drinks for life. The longer they stay, an underlying restlessness continues to grow. He’s mostly tried to ignore the feeling.
What are we going to do next, is a thought that crosses his mind every few days.
It’s an average Saturday night and the summer heat is beginning to wane for the approaching fall. Jayce is working late because Rehna had a rush order, which Viktor is fine with. He’s just happy he gets to kiss Jayce goodnight and sleep in the same bed.
Around 8 pm, a young woman enters the inn and sits at the bar. Meeko is in the back having a break, so he’s left to tend to it by himself. “Can I get you something?”
She’s young, maybe twenty, and Viktor notices she’s wearing a pink sweater with a print on it that says Myrkonia University. Viktor is immediately intrigued. “Whiskey sour, please,” she says politely.
“Good choice,” he replies, turning to mix her drink. Whiskey sours are as easy as breathing at this point. Moments later, he places the drink in front of her. “One and a half gheld.”
The girl hands him two and he nods appreciatively. Pocketing the tip, he debates initiating conversation. He’s never been one to talk to strangers, but… curiosity wins the argument. “Do you go to MU?”
The young woman seems surprised that Viktor is speaking to her, glancing down at her sweater. “Oh, yeah! I’m in my third semester. Studying alchemy.”
Alchemy, in this world, is the closest thing they have to magic. It makes Viktor wary and he’s determined not to touch it as much as possible out of fear of history repeating itself. “Do you like it? I’ve never been to Myrkonia.”
“Oh my god, I love it! I was born in Cynrys but I moved to the city over two years ago. I don’t regret it. I’m just here for the break before classes start again.”
“I heard their Marsos Rynettian is the largest in the world. Is it really that big?”
“Oh, it’s huge and always busy. There’s probably at least ten weddings there a day. It’s so magical in autumn too when leaves of every colour are raining down on the city.” The woman sighs wistfully with a soft smile. “There really is nothing like it in Gheldania.”
Something in Viktor aches. Suddenly, the comfort of their routine tastes bitter on his tongue. I’m realizing I’m… dissatisfied. This probably isn’t out of nowhere. It’s been building up every time I ask myself what’s next.
I want to see that big, beautiful tree. It does sound magical.
“I’m curious… how much does it cost to go to a school like that?” Viktor finally asks after he pauses to reflect.
She blinks at him. “Cost…? Education is free, you just have to buy textbooks and pay for dorms if you live on campus.”
That throws him for a loop. He got lucky at the Academy when Heimerdinger got him his scholarship. That was the only way he was able to make it topside in the first place.
“Oh, I didn’t know that,” he says and she watches him with interest as she sips her drink. “Do they… have any programs related to plants?”
“Yeah, my bestie is in the botany program. The school even has a botanical greenhouse for students to take care of. It’s really pretty.”
The aching feeling in his chest expands as the pieces start to fall together. He can picture it—going back to school and pursuing something new, something that he couldn’t destroy with. He can’t help but wonder if his partner would like to go back to school too. Jayce was born and raised in Piltover, so he would probably like moving to the city. “This might be a weird question, but does Myrkonia have a harbour?”
The woman furrows her brows at the question, looking at him as though he has two heads. “Uh… yeah? It’s a coastal city.”
“Right,” Viktor says dumbly. He forgot that detail. I hadn't even thought about Myrkonia as a realistic destination, but maybe… maybe we could have a better life there. “Thank you for answering my questions. Let me know if you want anything else.”
The conversation haunts him for the rest of his shift. Going to school again. The idea is nostalgic. Despite being topside and surrounded by Pilties, Viktor looks back fondly at his time at the Academy. People weren’t particularly nice but he was doing work he was proud of, and it’s where he met Jayce, after all.
Viktor has been Heimerdinger’s assistant for just over a year, and a student at the Academy for two. At twenty-two, he feels like he’s accomplished quite a lot for a poor cripple from the Undercity. He’s at the top of his classes, working on Council-funded projects, and right hand to one of Piltover’s founders. His education is paid for through a scholarship that Heimerdinger himself gave him but he’s being paid barely a living wage for his work outside of class. So, Viktor works as much as he can so he can pay for rent, food, and a few vices, leading him to spend more time at the Academy than anywhere else in Piltover.
It’s not surprising but… he’s not well-liked. Rumours spread fast and when you’re beating everyone for the top grades, all the Piltie students will resent you for being a trencher. Even professors begrudgingly give him the grades he deserves. It was within the first three months of being at the Academy that he realized he wasn’t going to be making any friends. Too many times did a classmate try to kick his cane from under him or laugh at him behind his back.
When a discovery of curiosity revealed that the door to the roof wasn’t locked, he started eating his lunch and studying up there. Outside of that, most of his time is spent in the Dean’s personal laboratory and office.
He’s spent the last four months doing research for one of the Professor’s personal projects: potential water purification using filters made from a toxin-eating algae. Most of Viktor’s research has been gathering and analyzing samples from Piltover’s water treatment plant. However, he’s been doing his own analysis of water from the Undercity, which could use it far more than Piltover.
One afternoon, he’s reviewing his personal notes of the sample from the Undercity and comparing it to the algae’s purifying capabilities, cross-referencing the Professor’s filter concept. He hears a knock at the door and doesn’t bother to look up from where he’s seated at his desk, faced away from the door. “It’s open.”
The door creaks open and footsteps approach through the doorway. “Oh, uh, sorry, am I interrupting?”
“Marginally,” Viktor says, continuing to read through the Professor’s notes rather than look up at who is intruding. “Can I help you?”
“Yeah, I’m looking for Professor Heimerdinger,” the man says, sounding a little jittery like he’s barely holding down a nervous excitement. If Viktor were to guess, just based on his voice, he’s probably around Viktor’s age.
“Obviously,” Viktor says dryly. “And, as you can see, he’s not here.”
“Oh… I mean, yeah. Can you tell me where I can find him?”
“I believe he’s at a Council meeting.”
“Could you take a message?”
Viktor’s eyebrow twitches. He’s about to ream into this stranger because, frankly, he’s running on three hours of sleep and he’s only had two cups of coffee today. Finally looking at the man, Viktor opens his mouth to snip at him, but he stops.
The man is tall and broad, though still a little boyish, with tan skin and stunning hazel eyes. His dark hair is neatly slicked back and Viktor can see a cute gap between his front teeth in his nervous smile.
Viktor’s never seen a more beautiful man before and it feels like the wind has been knocked out of him. He swallows the lump in his throat before finally speaking. “I’m… I’m not his secretary.”
“Oh… who are you?” The man tilts his head in an adorable way and Viktor wants to chew through something. His desk, maybe.
He clears his throat. “I’m the Dean’s research assistant.”
“Oh, that’s so cool,” the man says, pausing. “Could you still take a message?”
Viktor rolls his eyes. Hot but either rude or dumb. “No. Just come back later.”
“But it’s really—”
“I said no.” No matter how fucking cute he is I’m not doing it.
“Okay, jeez,” the man gives in, holding up his hands in defeat. “I’ll just come back tomorrow. Sorry for bothering you.”
Once he leaves, Viktor feels himself flush. Sakra, what was that? He tries to recall the last time he felt… flustered around a boy. It was probably when he had his first kiss at twelve with a boy named Jamie.
Running a hand through his hair, he returns to his research and struggles to focus. He calls it a day by five when he just can’t seem to get his concentration back.
He’d forgotten about it by the next day, returning to his research with renewed determination. It’s around 11 am when there’s another knock at the Dean’s door. He hasn’t even seen Professor Heimerdinger that day, presumably because he’s preoccupied with Council business.
“Come in,” he calls while he idly sketches out his own design of the filter, adapting it from the Professor’s original concept. He’s not even sure if it would work, he would have to make a prototype but he’d have to run it by Heimerdinger first.
“I see you’re here again,” he hears from the open door. Viktor freezes. Right, the handsome stranger from yesterday. “And, I see the Professor isn’t.”
Viktor looks up at the man, his mouth feeling dry. The weather is starting to get cooler, so he’s wearing a soft grey cardigan over his standard Academy uniform. He looks like the perfect boyfriend. Ugh, he’s probably already taken or worse, straight. “Unfortunately, I haven’t seen him today either.”
The handsome man sighs, leaning against the doorway. “I don’t suppose you changed your mind about taking that message, did you?”
“Absolutely not,” Viktor says, smiling despite himself.
The man laughs softly, looking at Viktor fondly rather than with annoyance as he had expected. “Alright, see you tomorrow,” he says then turns to leave. However, he walks back a moment later, peering through the door. “How do you like your coffee?”
Viktor blinks at him, tilting his head in question. “Black, why?”
A face of mild disgust passes the stranger’s face. “Really? You know what, never mind, you do seem like a black coffee kinda guy.”
With that, the man leaves. Viktor is left feeling confused and wishing he at least got the man’s name.
It’s the third day in a row that Viktor hasn’t seen the Professor. He’s taking advantage of the quiet and privacy of the Dean’s office to work on an essay about theoretical astrophysics when there’s another knock. His stomach flutters at the thought of the handsome stranger returning again, but he tries not to get his hopes up. “It’s open.”
Just as he had wished, the man opens the door, wearing a burgundy sweater this time and carrying a to-go coffee cup. Viktor sighs, turning in his chair to face him. “As you can see, the Professor isn’t here.”
“Well, you’re just the man I wanted to see,” he says, strutting over to Viktor. Up close, his hazel eyes are even more beautiful, like gems shining in the sunlight. He places the coffee cup on Viktor’s desk. “This is for you.”
Viktor arches a single brow, glancing from the cup to the stranger. “What is this?”
“Coffee. Black, just like you like.”
“Why?”
“To bribe you, hopefully.”
Viktor snorts before taking a moment to think it over. Maybe he can play secretary once. “Okay, consider me bribed. What do you want me to tell Professor Heimerdinger?”
The man grins widely, clearly excited that he managed to win Viktor over. “Okay, tell him Jayce Talis has that project proposal ready for him to review. I would leave it with you, but I think it’s better if I walk him through it myself. I’m available on Friday between two and four to discuss it, so I’ll swing by then.”
Jayce Talis. He doesn’t recognize the name, but it’s nice to finally know who has been haunting him for the last three days. Pulling out his personal notebook from his breast pocket, he grabs a pen and quickly jots it down. “Okay, I will let him know, Jayce.”
“Thanks, uh… what’s your name?”
“It’s Viktor,” he says, smiling softly. “Thanks for the coffee.”
“You’re welcome, Viktor. It was nice meeting you,” Jayce says, grinning in the same way he did before. It makes Viktor’s stomach churn with want.
He’s so goddamn handsome, I could eat him alive.
“Yes, it was… nice meeting you.” It’s the truth. Jayce is probably the first person in this whole damn school that’s been kind to him, other than his mentor.
He thinks about Jayce as he drinks the coffee. Then thinks about him some more. And by the time the Professor actually enters his office, Viktor has been thinking about him for hours.
“Ah, Viktor, my boy! I hope I haven’t been neglecting you. You know Council business, I haven’t stopped,” the yordle greets, making his way to his desk.
“Not at all, Professor. I know you are busy,” Viktor replies, eyes falling on the empty coffee cup before turning to Heimerdinger. “Jayce Talis came by—has for the last three days, actually. He said his proposal is ready and he’d like to review it with you in person. He also said he would come by Friday between two and four.”
“Oh, yes, very good. I was wondering where he was at with his project. Bright young lad. He’s a year your junior, you know.”
No wonder I haven’t seen him before.
The conversation ends there but, around six, he says, “I’m actually going to head out for the evening, Professor.”
“Oh? Not burning the midnight oil tonight, Viktor?”
Viktor shakes his head, standing and approaching the Professor’s desk to hand over what he had been working on in his absence. “I decided I could use a night off. Here are my notes on the algae study. I’m working on a schematic for a potential filter but I would like to refine it a little more before we review it.”
“Thank you for all your hard work, Viktor. Enjoy your night off and I will see you tomorrow,” Heimerdinger says, pointing at him eagerly. “I promise, no Council business for the rest of the week, just progress!”
“I’ll hold you to that, Professor,” Viktor smiles. Most of his smiles are reserved for his mentor, with the exception of the ones he gave Jayce. It was a nice change.
By a night off, what Viktor actually meant was a night out. He crosses the bridge around nine and heads to his regular bar, one he’s been going to since he was sixteen. The music is not his taste, but they carry whiskey he likes and there are usually enough people flitting in and out that when he wants a hookup, he can get one.
As he usually does, he sits at the bar and scouts the crowd with a glass of whiskey and a cigarette in hand. It’s only about an hour later that he spots what he’s looking for. From behind, he can almost swear it was Jayce Talis himself, but the way the man is standing gives away that it’s not him. He’s tall, muscular, tanned and has jet-black hair—close enough for Viktor.
He finishes his drink and cigarette before standing, taking his cane with him. It’s a good day, so he doesn’t need to rely on it as much. Approaching the man who is dancing near the edge of the dance floor with a beer in his hand, Viktor taps his shoulder.
The man turns to look at him and, if Viktor squints, he kind of looks like Jayce. “Yeah?”
“I’m not going to play games,” Viktor starts drawing up one finger to glide over the man’s broad chest. “I want to fuck you. Do you want to take me home?”
The stranger looks stunned before breaking out into a grin. “Hell yeah, doll face. My name is—”
“You will not call me ‘doll face’ and we don’t need to exchange names. I’m not going to be your boyfriend, I just want you for tonight. Understood?”
“Fuck, yeah, whatever you want.”
“Good,” Viktor says before yanking the man down by the nape of his neck to kiss him. He’s almost always the aggressor, which is how he likes it, because the man seems to be running a few seconds behind mentally as Viktor pries open his mouth with his tongue.
They spend maybe five minutes making out before Viktor drags the man out of the bar. It’s a quick and dirty affair. The man’s apartment isn’t far from the bar and it’s very much a bachelor pad, but Viktor isn’t there to judge the man’s cleanliness. Viktor rides him and, for a few moments, he imagines doing these nasty things to Jayce Talis, the mysterious man who bought him coffee and smiled at him. It’s a fine lay, nothing to write home about, but it satisfies the itch he had been feeling.
Jayce Talis crosses his mind every once in a while. Somehow, he’s never spotted the man on campus or ran into him. But he left a lasting impression because Viktor’s type seems to have become tall, muscular, tanned men with dark hair and hazel eyes—or however many boxes they can check.
He wouldn’t encounter him again for another three years until he saw Jayce’s name written on a sheet of instructions in Heimerdinger’s rushed writing: Search Jayce Talis’ personal laboratory and collect any illegal or dangerous materials. This includes Mr. Talis himself.
Jayce gets back late. Viktor stopped working at 9:30 and went back to their room to read a romance novel that Jayce had bought him—he has a backlog at this point due to the limited free time he has, and he’s passed some of the ones he’s done reading along to Kaedin. It’s not until almost eleven that Jayce walks in looking tired and sweaty. Usually, Viktor would want to jump him, but the discomfort and festering emotions have turned into a sickness in the pit of his stomach that he can’t deny anymore.
“Hey, baby,” Jayce says, kicking off his shoes before coming over to kiss Viktor. Even though he isn’t feeling like himself, he returns the kiss, though brief.
“Hey,” he replies, watching as Jayce starts to peel off his shirt.
Maybe he should just ignore the feelings he’s having and just cuddle up with Jayce for the rest of the evening. After all, what he’s feeling would probably need to be a much larger conversation and now is not the time.
“Listen, I, uh… I had a chat with someone today,” Jayce says tentatively, holding his t-shirt awkwardly. “A home developer.”
“Oh?” Viktor raises a brow, not certain where this is going.
“Yeah. That’s who needed the rush order. I was making pipes for one of their projects. Apparently, their supplier from Myrkonia was out of stock.”
“Okay… Jayce, why are you telling me this?”
“Oh. Um… I asked him about the price of a house. He said they start at four thousand gheld. I did the math and if we budget, we could afford one in a year or so, I think.”
The sickness in Viktor’s gut gets worse. He might actually throw up. The conversation he didn’t want to have tonight is becoming unavoidable. Frowning but trying to hide how ill he feels, he asks, “What are you saying, Jayce?”
“A house! Viktor, that’s what we wanted,” Jayce beams at him, looking so earnest and innocent. “We could actually settle down, and you’d actually be able to make money rather than working for us to live here. I mean, you don’t have to work at all if you don’t want to. I know a year is a long time, but I think we can do it.”
“I don’t want to,” Viktor says quickly, the words practically sprinting out of his mouth. It just came out before he even thought about it. This feeling has been pointing to one conclusion: I can’t stay here.
The smile on Jayce’s face falls, turning into confusion. “What do you mean? This is what you wanted—a house, where you can tinker and garden, and we can just live.”
“I want that, eventually. But not here.” Viktor frowns, setting his book down and sitting up so his legs are hanging over the side of the bed, just in case he needs to escape. “I thought this was temporary.”
“The inn is, but things are good here! We have friends, houses are cheap, I have a job I like—”
“Exactly. You have a job you like. Do you think I like changing sheets, picking up after guests, and standing in a kitchen or behind a bar all day, almost every day?”
“Well, it doesn’t have to be forever. There are other jobs in town—”
“I want to go to university.”
There’s a long stretch of silence and Jayce stares at Viktor. Viktor stares back, his mouth pressed in a firm line. “You… What?”
“There’s a reputable university in Myrkonia. They have a botany program. I want to go,” he replies matter-of-factly, maintaining his unwavering stoic expression. The decision was made before he even realized it, but now that he’s said it, he knows it’s the right thing for him.
With downturned eyebrows and a slight frown, Jayce says, “Vik… things are good here, why risk losing everything we’re building to chase something that might not work out?”
The bitterness he’s been feeling evolves into anger as he grits his teeth. “Because I’m not satisfied with what we have here. I want to do more. I want to find a new purpose.”
Jayce starts to get worked up too, his brow now pinched and his voice raising slightly. “You’re the one who said you just wanted to live!”
“Well, I changed my mind, Jayce! I don’t want to be stuck here in this small town. I want to live in the city—I miss the city! I want to see the world’s largest Rynettian. I want to try new things. I want to see the botanical gardens of the University. There’s a museum of natural history. And I want to eat food from around the world.”
“I don’t want to live in the city again. I want a quiet, simple life.” A complicated look crosses Jayce’s face, like he’s in disbelief that they’re having this disagreement to begin with. His shoulders sag as he studies Viktor’s face. “I thought that’s what you wanted too?”
“Jayce,” Viktor takes a deep breath, gripping his knees tightly. He doesn’t want to say it, but he knows he has to say it. This might seem sudden, but he knows it’s been building up these last few months. Complacency has been his companion, and today he realized there was something he wanted more. His heart breaks a little as a single tear rolls down his cheek. “I’m leaving Cynrys, with or without you.”
Jayce looks stunned, clearly speechless. He drops his shirt, arms hanging at his sides heavily. “What? What… are you saying?”
“You know what I’m saying.”
“You’re being fucking ridiculous, Viktor,” Jayce snaps, his anger sudden enough to surprise him. “You would throw away our entire relationship—almost eight years—for some wanderlust?”
The bitterness boils over and Viktor really raises his voice this time. “It’s not wanderlust, it’s my life! I don’t want to be tied down in the middle of nowhere!”
“We’re not in the middle of nowhere, Cynrys has lots of things that can fulfill us!”
“Fulfill you! It’s all about you and what you want!”
“That’s not true—”
“Yes it is, you talked about buying a house and did the math without even asking me!” Viktor lets out a shaky breath, his voice going quiet. “I want a house in a harbour. Myrkonia has a harbour.”
Jayce’s expression softens, remembering his want too, and Viktor swears he can see tears threatening to fall. “Viktor, we might not get as lucky in a city. It will be harder, we could end up homeless, and you said it yourself, you don’t want that.”
Viktor grits his teeth again. “I changed my mind. I’m willing to risk it. So, you can decide if you’re coming with me or not.” Standing, Viktor moves past Jayce and puts on his shoes and glove before opening the door.
“Wait, where are you going?” Jayce asks like he’s a kicked puppy, and Viktor can’t bear to look at him.
“I’m going to have a drink.”
He closes the door behind him.
Viktor remembers their first fight. Their first real fight. For a brief moment, Viktor actually considered ending their partnership.
It was time. Construction was finished, rigorous testing had been done, everything was approved.
The Hexgates were complete.
The Council had planned a grand gala for the first activation of the Hexgates. Everyone who was anyone was invited, mostly the Piltover elite, investors, and wealthy merchants from across Runeterra. Ugh. Sounds like a nightmare.
While Jayce has spent the last three years going to stupid galas and dinners to promote Hextech, Viktor has avoided the limelight entirely. He hasn’t (willingly) been in the presence of investors or politicians since their lunch with the Kirammans over three years ago.
Jayce says he’s fine with their arrangement, however, Viktor can tell he’s much happier in the lab. But, after all this time of Viktor not attending these things, now Jayce insists he go.
“Jayce, I can just watch the first activation from home, it’s not a big deal,” Viktor says, brushing Jayce off again. He means it, really. He’ll be satisfied sitting at home, watching the Hexgates light up the night sky with a glass of whiskey in hand. Alone? Admiring my work and having a celebratory drink? That sounds like a good night to me.
They’re not in the lab or on-site for once, they’re actually in Viktor’s apartment finishing dinner. And it’s not take-out either, Viktor actually had the time, and the desire, to cook.
Jayce hasn’t come over very often recently, they’ve mostly been working on the final preparations. He noticed Jayce was a little surprised by the state of his apartment when he arrived. In the last six months, Viktor has adopted five new plants. He’s now up to ten, all of them littering mostly his living room but a couple in the kitchen. The snake plant is starting to get too big, so he is debating relocating it to his bedroom.
Jayce ate the Undercity dish he cooked like it was a five-star meal. His partner is more or less useless in the kitchen so all Jayce provided for dinner was the wine. It was a good meal nonetheless. It’s nice, just getting to sit and enjoy dinner with his friend (who he’s hopelessly in love with). It’s an odd change of pace, which makes Viktor itch for the lab. He wants to get started on their next project sooner rather than later.
“It’s not just about watching the launch, Vik. This is our project. Our blood, sweat and tears. All these people see me and think I’m the genius behind it all, and that’s not fair. I want you to enjoy the recognition for your work too,” Jayce pleads.
“I get enough recognition to satisfy me. I don’t need Pilties looking down at me for an entire evening.”
“Looking down at you? How could they? You’re literally the beautiful mind behind one of Piltover’s greatest innovations in… in history!”
The beautiful mind. Right. He only thinks I’m beautiful for my brain. Viktor pinches the bridge of his nose, sighing with exasperation. “Jayce, you must understand… not everyone is as accepting as you.”
“I’ll make them accept you.” Jayce says it like he makes the law, and it’s both frustrating and sweet. It’s a little naive, but the sentiment makes a home in his chest either way.
“That’s not something you can do, Jayce.” Viktor frowns at him over his glass of wine. Despite the tense topic, Viktor changes his frown into a smile, wanting to ease Jayce’s nerves. “I promise, I am fine with you taking the spotlight. Enjoy it, Man of Progress.”
Viktor’s trying to tease Jayce, but it doesn’t seem to lighten the mood like he had hoped. “It’s not about the spotlight, V. I want to experience this moment with you. I want to remember this with you in the picture.”
I want to remember this with you in the picture. The image paints itself in his mind. They could laugh and drink the whole night away, celebrating their first major achievement. It’s straight out of a fantasy—except Viktor’s fantasies usually end with kissing Jayce under the moonlight and then tearing him out of his suit the moment they get back to his apartment. His heart aches because that will never happen, and he’s worried the expression on his face is giving away how mournful he feels.
He sets his wine glass down and folds his hands on the table in front of him. “Is this really important to you, Jayce?”
“Yes,” Jayce says with no hesitation. “I want to look back on this moment when I’m old, knowing my best friend and partner was there with me. I want to witness what we created—together.” He pauses, letting the sentiment sink in, before smiling coyly. “Plus, did I mention there’s free food and an open bar?”
Viktor huffs out a laugh. “Jayce fucking Talis… always a sweet talker, aren’t you?”
Jayce beams, lighting up with excitement. “So, you’ll go?”
Viktor fidgets with his thumbs, a pensive look on his features. Would it really be so bad? “I’ll go. On the condition that you do not leave me alone. I don’t want to be caught by myself with an investor, or worse, a councilor.”
“I wouldn’t want you anywhere but by my side,” Jayce nods in affirmation before pausing again. “Except… I’m supposed to give a speech. Do you… want to do it with me?”
Viktor grimaces. “Absolutely not. I’m more likely to vomit on your shoes than go on stage with you. I will stay on the sidelines, thank you.”
“Fair enough.” Jayce doesn’t push and Viktor appreciates it.
Viktor has a week to prepare. It’s a gala, so he’s pretty sure none of the formal attire he owns would actually be suitable. Taking off early one day, which Jayce is surprised by, Viktor heads to a tailor. He tells them he has no idea what colours look good on him, but green is his favourite. There are a few suits he tries on, but the one that makes him pause in the mirror is emerald green. It’s simple, just a rich colour that he doesn’t normally wear, and he can’t help but think he actually… looks good?
Part of him wonders what Jayce would think of him wearing a suit like this. Would he think Viktor is attractive? Probably not.
Even still, Viktor likes it, so he gets measured and pays for the suit. It’ll be ready just in time, which is a relief. Jayce didn’t give him much of a heads up, but he has been asking about it for weeks now, so really it’s Viktor’s fault.
The night of the Hexgates launch, Jayce picks Viktor up in a car. Viktor lives in the city centre so, technically, they could have walked, but Jayce insists for some reason. It might be because he started wearing a brace on his leg about three months ago, which has made walking easier but made Jayce… fawn more. It’s annoying sometimes.
When Jayce steps out of the vehicle to open the door for Viktor, his heart is in his throat. It’s not the first time he’s seen Jayce in a suit, but something about the raspberry three-piece with a black dress shirt and shoes makes him look like a modern-day prince. He wishes this Jayce would sweep him off his feet, kiss him until he’s breathless and take him home rather than going to this stupid gala.
I’m doing this for Jayce , he reminds himself.
“Hey, handsome,” Jayce says while he helps Viktor into the car. It throws Viktor off because he wasn’t expecting the compliment. He doesn’t mean it, though, he’s just being friendly.
Viktor scoffs and rolls his eyes as Jayce gets in the backseat with him. “Not a drop of liquor in you and you’re already flirting? My, Talis, you must be excited.”
“Well… I did have a glass of whiskey before this, for the nerves. The bottle you gave me for the Winter Solstice.”
Of course he did. “Ah, that explains it.”
“Am I really such a—”
“Yes,” Viktor smirks despite his exasperation. It’s cute that Jayce turns into a flirt when he drinks, but it’s also tormenting. “Try not to take too much advantage of that open bar. Unless you want all the guests thinking they’re invited to your bed.”
“Oh, c’mon, I’m not that bad! Just… a little loose-lipped about my appreciation for the human form.”
Viktor snorts, and the sound usually makes him feel self-conscious. For some reason, he’s feeling rather confident tonight. Maybe it’s the suit.
“So, why are you nervous?” Viktor tilts his head at Jayce, holding his cane with both hands as the car drives through the city.
“I’m just… catastrophizing, I guess,” Jayce shrugs. “Worried it’s going to explode in our faces.”
Viktor reaches over and places a hand on Jayce’s in an attempt to comfort him. Jayce’s skin is warm to the touch, and Viktor loves the casual displays of affection they share all the time. If he can’t have Jayce’s love, he can at least have his affection. “Jayce, we have tested it in every way imaginable. It’s going to work.”
Jayce swallows, a bead of sweat trickling down down his temple, and he almost looks as if he might throw up. “I know that rationally, but we’re working with magic. Magic can be unpredictable.”
“We’ve learned how to contain it, though.”
“To a degree,” Jayce murmurs, rubbing his jaw and pausing. “Wait… what if we figured out how to stabilize the crystals? Make them safer?”
Viktor furrows his brows, the gears turning as he syncs up with Jayce’s train of thought. “Then we could create Hextech for wider distribution and civilian use.”
“Viktor, this could change everything—”
“We could create tools to make dangerous jobs easier and safer—”
“And Hextech for the home—”
“Hold that thought,” Viktor says, pulling out a small notebook and pencil from his inside breast pocket, quickly jotting down the concept. He’s practically buzzing with excitement from the new idea, wishing he could get to work now.
“You brought that with you, even to the gala?” Jayce chuckles.
Viktor shrugs with a sheepish expression. “You never know when you might have a good idea.”
It isn’t long before they arrive at the Gala. After their conversation, they’re both eager to return to the lab so they can get started on fleshing out their new concept. Viktor feels alive and ready for the next thing—he could kiss Jayce’s big, beautiful, brilliant brain for the idea. He thinks this might be one of the best nights of his life, despite being at a gala full of rich Pilties who are going to dismiss him.
They eat and drink their way through the gala, but Jayce is continuously stopped by various people that he knows Viktor has a distaste for. Despite that, he stays at his side the entire time. It should irk Viktor that the various investors barely acknowledge him, who he mentally insults all night. However, Jayce pointedly introduces Viktor, addresses him, and talks about their work and Viktor’s talent. It’s flattering, even though he’d rather not have any attention on himself to begin with. He still remains silent for the majority of the evening, but he’s surprised when someone actually takes interest in his opinion. Even though he’s uncomfortable, he still enjoys Jayce’s companionship.
When it comes time for Jayce to give his speech, Viktor notices that he’s fidgeting anxiously. He squeezes Jayce’s bicep in an attempt to ground him and nods up at him. “You’ve got this, Jayce.”
“Thanks, V,” Jayce says with a deep exhale. He walks on stage, approaching the mic and Viktor swears he sees him sweating again. Don’t worry, I know you’re going to charm everyone in this room. You’ve already charmed me and I’m a tough crowd.
Viktor stays backstage where he can watch Jayce and not have to be alone among the elite (I would rather die). He wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
“Good evening, everyone,” Jayce starts, fidgeting with his cue cards. “I want to thank you all for joining us this evening for what will be, I believe, a great moment in Piltover’s history.”
The entire crowd’s attention is on Jayce, at least from what Viktor can see from the sidelines. He’s trying not to get distracted from what Jayce is saying, but he just looks so handsome and so… Jayce that he’s having a hard time focusing. His eyes may have dropped to glance at Jayce’s ass once or twice too.
“Not everyone knows this, but I witnessed magic as a child. It inspired me to try to recreate it in the first place. During my time at the Academy, and beyond that, I focused on that goal, failing to achieve that dream fully. It wasn’t until three years ago that a brilliant man, Viktor, cracked the mystery of why it wasn’t working. Together, we made magic, and have every day since then.”
Together, we made magic. Yes, every day he gets to spend time creating with Jayce feels like magic. Viktor knows Jayce means it literally, but the idea that he values his time with Viktor just as much as he does makes a warmth grow in his chest. Pride and joy are flooding his system and he can’t hold back his smile. Jayce turns to glance at him, seeking comfort and support, and they lock eyes. He hopes Jayce knows how much he cares and values this moment in time.
I’m glad I came.
Jayce turns back to the crowd, briefly glancing down at his cue cards. “Today’s launch of the Hexgates is only the beginning. We now know magic is attainable and its potential is limitless. We’re going to map out all the possibilities and improve lives with future Hextech. So, here’s to the future, and the first of Hextech’s achievements.”
The crowd applauds and Jayce retreats backstage, rejoining Viktor. “How was that?” He sounds eager but there’s also an underlying worry in his voice. It’s almost as though the only opinion Jayce cares about is his.
“You did good, golden boy,” Viktor pats him on the cheek with a smile, resurfacing his favourite nickname for his partner. It’s subtle, but Jayce leans into the touch ever so slightly, and it makes Viktor’s stomach twist up with fondness. I wish I could kiss him right now as a reward.
When it finally comes time for the launch, they move out to one of the balconies for a better view of the Hexgates. Jayce seems nervous still, so Viktor reaches over to grab Jayce’s hand to hold, but before he can he overhears a man speaking with a woman.
“I don’t believe for a moment that the sump rat cripple had anything to do with this marvel. I wonder what he had to do to get his name on it.”
“Well, you’ve heard the rumours,” the woman replies with a scoff.
Viktor freezes. It’s not the first time he’s heard such comments, but it puts a sour note on the entire evening. He just hopes Jayce didn’t hear.
The Hexgates begin to power up, emanating a blue glow.
Trying not to let it bother him, he goes to capture Jayce’s hand. However, Jayce is suddenly pulling on the man’s shoulder to turn to face him. The man, appearing to be in his sixties and wearing an expression of shock when he sees Jayce, trembles in the brief moments before Jayce’s fist connects with his nose. The man flies to the stone floor with a pathetic cry, while the woman lets out a shriek.
Panic rises in Viktor’s gut, and the sudden rush of it makes him disoriented. No, no, this isn’t happening. Jayce, you idiot.
The sky lights up as the Hexgate activates, and a mix of gasps and claps emanate from the crowd. Viktor doesn’t even see it, he’s frozen in place while Jayce is staring the man down, his entire body contorted with fury.
“What the fuck did you just say!?”
Viktor has never heard Jayce this angry before. It both flatters and mortifies him. “Jayce,” Viktor tries, saying his name like he’s scolding him. He grabs his elbow and holds on to it, hoping the subtle touch will bring Jayce back to him. “Please, stop.”
“No!” Jayce snaps at Viktor, which hurts. Why is he taking his anger out on Viktor for trying to dissolve the situation? “This asshole just insulted you—my partner!”
Viktor should be happy that Jayce is so willing to fight for him, but this is not the time or the place.
The man is barely sitting up on the floor, gripping his bloody nose and looking shaken. “I-I apologize, sir,” he stammers.
“Jayce,” Viktor tries again, softer this time, holding Jayce’s elbow tighter. Please, let this go, he prays in his mind. I love you so much for saying something, and punching this asshole is kind of a turn-on, but this was not the time to do it. Please, please let it go.
“And you,” Jayce says venomously, pointing at the woman. “What rumours are you talking about?”
Oh gods no, please not this. Jayce doesn’t need to know.
People have started to notice the commotion, murmuring amongst themselves, uncertain if they should interfere. Some are staying out of it, trying to subtly watch from the corners of their eyes, or pretending not to notice.
“Jayce, please, let it go,” Viktor whispers next to him, trying to pull him away from the situation. My love, please stop, is what he wants to say but he’s not brave enough and obviously, it would be a bad idea. He doesn’t have the right to call Jayce that, no matter how much it’s true, and it would only fuel the rumours further.
Jayce yanks his arm away from Viktor, and he suddenly feels cold. It hurts. Jayce is apparently doing this for him. So why isn’t he respecting him when he asks him to stop?
The man and woman share a nervous look. Neither of them wants to say a word out of fear.
“Mr. Talis,” the offending man starts shakily, rising to his feet while the woman helps him up. “I… I apologize for speaking out of turn, can we let bygones be bygones?”
“What. Rumours.”
The tone that Jayce uses sends a shiver down his spine—he didn’t know Jayce could be so intimidating. He doesn’t know what to do, and it doesn’t seem like he’s going to be able to stop Jayce from getting answers. But, the hurt from before quickly turns into anger, morphing in the pit of his stomach.
There’s a beat of silence before the woman cracks. “That he slept his way into your lab,” she says with mild disgust, but mostly fear.
Jayce appears to be stunned. That particular rumour makes Viktor feel sick. It started at the Academy from other scientists who envied him for getting in on the ground floor of such revolutionary technology, not at all crediting him for his contribution. Somehow that rumour born of pettiness made its way to the general populace, including investors. One came for a tour of the lab once and while Jayce stepped out, the man sexually harassed him and made the implication straight to his face, hoping he could ‘get a taste too’.
“For your information,” Jayce spits through his teeth. “Viktor is the single most brilliant man in this city. That, up there,” Jayce points up at the Hexgate, now dark from the demonstration being over. “Would not be possible without him. He is hard-working, dependable, skilled, and my better half! I would not still be here if—”
“Jayce.” Viktor raises his voice, all the hurt, rage and sickness detonating like a bomb. He’s angry at the strangers, he’s angry at the memory of the man who sexually harassed him, and he’s angry at Jayce for ignoring him. Even though it’s not all Jayce’s fault, all of his bitterness is projected on just him.
Jayce stops and looks over his shoulder. Viktor knows his face is distorted and he’s shaking with unbridled anger, prompting Jayce’s expression to say, ‘oh, shit, I fucked up’.
“Come.” It’s a firm command, in a tone that Viktor has never spoken to him in before. He turns and his cane clicks with purpose as he leaves through the open doors to the main ballroom, expecting Jayce to follow.
Viktor ignores any guests or staff who give him odd looks as he beelines for the back doors of the venue where he spotted a garden. It’s a beautiful night, the flowerbeds and topiary lending to a peaceful, and even romantic, atmosphere. If he wasn’t so angry with Jayce, he would be fantasizing about kissing Jayce in this garden under the full moon.
Once they’re far enough from the doors and it’s obvious that no one is around, Viktor turns on his heel and faces Jayce.
“What were you thinking?” Viktor practically whispers it, gritting his teeth and trying to get his anger under control.
Jayce looks like a frightened lamb. “He insulted you—”
“So, what? You don’t think I’m used to being called a sump rat cripple?” It’s all pouring out now and his filter is gone. It’s so rare he just speaks his mind, unimpeded. “I’m twenty-eight for fuck’s sake, I’ve been hearing that since I could understand Common.”
He should maybe feel bad that he’s lashing out because Jayce is making himself small under Viktor’s fiery gaze. “That doesn’t mean you deserve—”
“And that doesn’t mean you punch one of the guests during the launch of our first project!” Viktor finally raises his voice, but he quickly switches back to the quiet, terrifying tone from before. “Jayce, this is going to be all the newspapers and the whole city are going to talk about. You could have very well killed Hextech—and your career—over a few harsh words about me.”
“They think you… you…”
Oh, here we fucking go. Viktor’s filter still hasn’t returned.
“Fucked myself into your good graces? Got a free ride to success because I rode your dick?” I wish. Not the free ride part, just the riding Jayce’s dick part. “ Yeah, that’s not new! I’ve been hearing that for the last three years, and I have ignored it because it’s not true, so what does it matter?”
Jayce appears to be thrown off by how blunt Viktor is being. Maybe the idea of having sex with Viktor is so disturbing or disgusting he hates to think about it.
It’s a new wound to add to the others he’s already lashing out for.
“I didn’t know,” Jayce admits quietly.
“That’s because most of these people know not to say any of it to you. They have no problem saying it to a trencher like me.”
Viktor’s anger is still burning inside him, but the fire dies marginally.
“I’m sorry—”
“I don’t need your fucking sorry. I don’t need your pity. And I certainly don’t need you to protect me. I’m not going to shatter at the first slur I hear,” Viktor grits, approaching Jayce but, instead of stopping, Viktor walks past him. He can’t do this tonight. Jayce might have just fucked them both and, on top of that, is repulsed by the idea of fucking him. “I will find my own way home. Goodbye.”
Goodbye. Not see you tomorrow or goodnight. Goodbye. He says it mostly because he doesn’t want to see Jayce tomorrow, and he doesn’t want him to have a good night out of pettiness.
“Viktor, wait—”
“You’ve done enough tonight, Jayce!” Viktor snaps at him, barely glancing over his shoulder before walking away again.
Viktor walks home and lets the anger burning inside him slowly sizzle away. The late spring evening is pleasantly warm and he decides a cigarette might help. He retrieves one and a lighter from the hidden compartment in his cane—his break in case of emergency cigarette. Once it’s lit and he inhales, the tobacco and menthol hit his lungs in a soothing way, cooling the heat in his chest even more.
A memory crosses his mind, from when he was begging Jayce to stop. My love. It’s so painfully pathetic how badly he wants to be able to call Jayce that. I’m so far gone and overwhelmed by how much I love him that I would gladly take a kiss on my deathbed if that’s what I could get.
He wants to strangle the part of himself that loves Jayce, which is a very large part—in fact, it might be his entire being. You’re in love with a straight man, give it up already, he thinks bitterly as he takes a drag of his cigarette, hoping the smoke will suffocate his hopeless infatuation.
When Viktor gets home, he starts by taking off his brace and then slowly undresses as he wanders the apartment, leaving pieces of the expensive suit all over his living room and bedroom. He changes into a loose pair of sweatpants and an old t-shirt, using the wall for support rather than his cane. Making his way into the kitchen, he pours himself a glass of whiskey—he’s had a few drinks, but he needs his favourite as a comfort. He also wants to eat his feelings away, so he searches his kitchen for something sweet. All he comes up with is a cheap chocolate bar, which is going to have to do.
Putting on some jazz as some quiet background music, he grabs the book he’s been reading and sinks into his couch. This one is about two detectives who fall in love while hunting a serial killer and it’s a little less trashy than his usual affairs. He distracts from the emotions twisting in his head and physically causing him pain, drinking until he feels sluggish and his limbs are heavy. It’s 2 am by the time he drags himself to bed, not realizing he had been reading and getting drunk for over three hours.
He wakes up the next day with a bit of a hangover and decides there’s no fucking way he’s going to the lab today. Time is what he needs—time to figure out what is best for him and Jayce.
Nursing his hangover with his usual black coffee and a full breakfast of bacon and eggs, he recalls the events of last night. Jayce went off the handle by punching that sráč, something he’s a little more satisfied with now, but so did Viktor. Maybe he was a little too harsh, but Jayce could have very well just killed Hextech with one single punch.
Should I even still work with Jayce? The question derails his train of thought entirely. Maybe this is Viktor’s fault. If Viktor wasn’t in the picture, Jayce wouldn’t have exploded like that. And if Viktor wasn’t in the picture, Jayce could enjoy the limelight without the guilt of feeling like he’s taking all the credit.
Working with Jayce is everything to him—Jayce is everything to him. He doesn’t want to think about a world where they aren’t partners. However, for Jayce’s sake, he has to consider it.
He spends his afternoon repotting his snake plant. It’s getting big, nearing three feet tall, and he’s tried to maintain it by trimming it, however, he can’t put off repotting it anymore. “There you go, old girl,” he murmurs to the plant once it’s in the new planter, a glossy white one with green leaves painted on it. Jayce haggled it from a street vendor in the Lanes for him.
Everything in his apartment reminds him of Jayce. He can’t escape the man. The snake plant. The pot. The pictures on his wall. The birthday cards he secretly collects in his desk drawer. The painting of the harbour that Jayce had given him. The sweater he left that Viktor keeps meaning to return but instead indulgently wears it all the fucking time. It still smells like his cologne—a sandalwood musk.
Viktor wraps himself up in that very sweater and goes back to binge-reading romance novels. He manages to feed himself another meal when his stomach growls loudly after rotting on the couch for six hours. He’s avoided thinking about it almost all day, but as the sunlight dwindles and he runs out of places (mentally) to hide, it creeps up on him.
Should I stop working with Jayce?
Viktor is a selfish man, he knows this. He first supported Jayce for selfish reasons—he saw a bright, young mind, not unlike his own, and was seeking companionship on top of the intrigue of Jayce’s theory. After all, he had a slight infatuation with his partner before that night in Jayce’s blown-up apartment.
Am I so selfish as to hold Jayce back, get him in trouble, and overall be a burden to him? All so I can bask in Jayce’s radiant smile while I slowly torture myself over the fact that I’m dangerously in love with a heterosexual man?
Yes. Yes, I am.
He decides to forgive Jayce for what happened—the sráč deserved it anyway—and move on from it. They could recover. This is going to be a scandal, no doubt, but it will blow over. It has to.
Viktor sleeps a little uneasily that night. He has a hard time sleeping when he’s anxious, lying awake with thoughts racing in his head. It’s 4:58 am when he decides enough is enough and he gets up to get ready for the day. When he’s showered, dressed, and eaten, he then heads out the door. Before he can even step out of his apartment, he’s met with The Piltover Times staring up at him from his doorstep. The front page is… not good.
He picks up the newspaper and takes it to the lab with him.
It’s around ten when Jayce enters the lab. Viktor is at the chalkboard, writing down his initial calculations on stabilizing the crystals before he turns to look at Jayce. A flurry of emotions passes through him when he sets his eyes on his partner—frustration, hurt and relief.
Jayce holds up a box of chocolates. “Raspberry truffles, your favourite,” he smiles meekly, and it warms Viktor’s heart, even though he’s still mad and Jayce is trying to buy his forgiveness.
Viktor sighs, setting down the piece of chalk before approaching Jayce. He takes the box, looking down at it before glancing up at him again. He’s angry for a brief moment because how dare Jayce come crawling back with his tail between his legs, bearing chocolates, after what he did. But it quickly dissipates with another heavy sigh. I forgive him. I need to let it go. “You owe me dinner.”
“I will buy you dinner twenty times over if it means you’ll forgive me,” Jayce says, shoulders relaxing with reprieve.
“Did you see the papers?” Viktor watches Jayce carefully, gauging his reaction.
Jayce pales at the mention of it and he doesn’t need to say a word, Viktor knows the answer is no.
Rolling his eyes, he heads to his desk, setting the chocolates down as he sits. Lifting the newspaper, he reads. “‘Man of Progress Assaults Key Hextech Investor at Gala’.” Viktor looks at him pointedly. “No mention of the Hexgates in the headline.”
“I’m so sorry, Vik, I royally fucked up,” Jayce groans before he moves to sit down, rolling his chair closer to Viktor’s until their knees are almost touching. Viktor is thrown off by how close Jayce has gotten, but he doesn’t move away—he never wants to move away. “Mel told me to apologize, so… I sent a note this morning.”
Viktor sets the paper down with a grimace. “Councilwoman Medarda is smart. We can only hope this blows over and Mr. Malloy continues to fund our projects.” Viktor pauses for a moment, the anger and bitterness directed at Mr. Malloy now resurfacing. “Even though he’s a fucking asshole, I will gladly take his money as payment.”
Jayce chuckles softly at that, and Viktor even smiles at him, the laugh making his heart sing despite the situation. I’ve missed you, my love.
Before Jayce can reply, Viktor drowns his thoughts and focuses on what he wants to do: apologize. “I’m sorry for how I reacted, and I forgive you.”
Confusion is painted on Jayce’s brow at the apology. “Why? I was completely in the wrong. You had every right to be mad.”
Viktor is amused, thinking Jayce looks adorable when he’s confused. “Oh, I’m not apologizing for being mad at you. I may forgive you, but I’m still mad at you. I regret how I spoke to you though, there was a better way I could have expressed my anger.”
Relief seems to wash over Jayce. Suddenly, he leans forward and buries his face in Viktor’s shoulder. “You don’t know how much that means to me—that you forgive me. I thought I… that you… I thought I messed things up between us.”
This is not the first time they’ve been close like this, far from it, but Viktor wasn’t mentally prepared for it. There’s complex feelings stirring in his stomach, like a whirlwind of locusts rather than pleasant butterflies.
He hesitates, but Viktor’s arms wrap around Jayce, one hand resting on his back and the other cradling his head. “I’m not going anywhere,” Viktor assures quietly, fingers combing through Jayce’s short hair like he’s always wanted to. He means it. There was a moment where Viktor seriously considered ending things with Jayce, partially because of Jayce’s fuck-up but mostly because of his unrequited feelings. However, he’s too far gone. He loves this man so much that leaving him would be like sawing off a limb. “I know you did it because you care.”
Jayce sighs against Viktor’s shoulder, leaning into his touch. After a few moments, he sits up, not leaving Viktor’s orbit. His hands cup either side of Viktor’s neck, looking at him with his enchanting hazel eyes. “Viktor, I would literally do anything for you. You’re… you’re important to me.”
There’s a beat of silence between them and Viktor is suddenly painfully aware of how intimate the moment is. Their breaths are mingling from the lack of space between them. What is happening? Viktor’s hands are gripping his shoulders as he looks at Jayce with a perplexed expression. He’s searching Jayce’s face while his partner stares at him, completely unreadable. Why does he look like he’s going to kiss me?
And then, Jayce pulls away. Viktor tries to not show his disappointment, forcing it down to the deepest recesses of his heart. Of course he wasn’t, why would he? He’s straight, dumbass.
“So, what are you working on?” Jayce asks, breaking the tension between them.
Viktor’s brain and spirit light back up, always gladly relying on work as a distraction from his feelings. Plus, he is excited about this. “Stabilizing the crystals, what we talked about the other night. I believe it’s possible.”
They work on the new concept and it’s as easy as breathing, a natural synergy between them. Jayce buys Viktor dinner, as promised, and they eat take-out in between calculations.
Viktor wishes Jayce had kissed him that day, just like he wishes Jayce would kiss him every day.
When Viktor sits at the bar, Meeko gives him a peculiar look. “You want whiskey, kid?”
“Sakra, ano prosím.” Viktor runs a hand over his face then through his hair, both tired and miserable from his fight with Jayce. “I mean, fuck, yes please.”
Meeko pours Viktor’s favourite whiskey—one that’s infused with the light floral taste of shimmering ladies—and sets the glass in front of him. “On the house.”
“Thanks,” Viktor sighs and takes a large gulp of the drink.
After a quiet moment, Meeko sighs and says, “Trouble in paradise?”
Viktor groans, covering his eyes. “You could say that.”
“Wanna talk about it?”
It’s almost midnight and Cynrys is not a party town, it’s already not as busy as when Viktor was working. The MU girl is gone and there’s so few people around that it might as well count as a private conversation.
“Sure. Fuck it,” Viktor sighs and shrugs. “It seems we want two different things for our lives here. Jayce wants to stay in Cynrys but I want to move to Myrkonia.”
“That’s a pretty big disagreement,” Meeko empathizes with pinched brows and a frown, leaning over the bar.
“Yeah, we’ve had so few real fights over the years but at the end of the day, we were always on the same page.” Viktor doesn’t include his stint as the Machine Herald in that. But everything else just starts to pour out of him. “We talked about what we wanted when we first came here. I said I wanted a house and to live with him, but I think the honeymoon phase made me blind to my other wants and needs. Cynrys is too small for me—I feel like I’m suffocating.”
“I came from Myrkonia, you know,” Meeko says casually.
“Really?” Viktor takes another sip of his whiskey, savouring the taste this time. “What made you move to Cynrys?”
“Kaedin wanted to settle down and the city made him anxious. He never felt like he could relax there. I loved the city though, so I had to choose: do I love city life or Kaedin more?” A smile touches his beak-like lips. “You know what I chose. You’re going to have to do the same. Either one of you compromises or… you go your separate ways.”
Viktor’s eyes begin to water as he pushes his hair back again. “I love him so much. He’s the love of my life. I’ve been in love with him for so long it feels like he’s more attached to me than my own bones. But, I would be miserable here. I’m almost thirty-four. I still have good years left in my life—which is a miracle since I thought I was going to die two years ago—and I don’t want to waste it playing house husband.”
“Then I think your mind’s already made up. It’s up to Jayce now to choose.”
Viktor sighs again, riddled with melancholy, as he finishes his whiskey and slides the glass toward Meeko. “I could use another. I’ll pay this time.” The same bitterness from earlier comes back as he sets one and a half gheld on the bar, realizing he’s paying for his drink with money Jayce made. He wants to make his own money. He wants to make his own choices.
Meeko pours him another. “You still want company?”
Shaking his head, Viktor looks down at the glass, staring into the golden liquor. “No. I would like to wallow by myself for a while.”
“Alright, let me know if you need anything,” the vastaya says, going to walk away but he pauses to look over his shoulder. “And don’t worry about getting up at dawn, just come down when you’re ready in the morning.”
“Thanks, Meeko.”
So, that’s what Viktor does. He sits at the bar, savours his whiskey, and wallows in misery and self-pity. Everything he and Jayce have been through is like a ghost in his mind.
Am I really prepared to leave behind the love of my life in pursuit of my own happiness? I could be content here.
He can feel his will bending under the weight of his love for Jayce and it makes him sick.
No. If I stay here I’ll be bitter about it for the rest of my life. I might even resent Jayce for it.
It’s after midnight when Viktor decides to go back to their room. He’s barely tipsy, two glasses of whiskey is nothing for him, but he knows it’s going to make him sleep better. When he opens the door, he’s not sure what to expect. However, he isn’t surprised when he sees Jayce fast asleep in their bed.
Viktor feels relieved, partially because he wasn’t ready to face Jayce. The tension and anger from earlier still lingers in his chest, but so does his breaking heart.
He doesn’t know what he’s going to do if Jayce chooses to stay.
Quietly, he takes off his shoes and the rest of his clothes before getting under the covers. It seems like Jayce is intentionally lying as close to the edge of his side of the bed as possible, his back turned to Viktor. It makes the heartache worse, so he makes himself small and does the same.
As he drifts to sleep, he realizes it’s the first time they haven’t said ‘I love you’ before falling asleep in the five months they’ve been together. The chasm between them leaves a hollow feeling in his chest.
Notes:
Timeline so far
September, Year -3 [NEW] - A brief encounter
September, Year 0 - First Meeting
December, Month 3 - Jayce gifts Viktor the snake plant
March, Month 6 - Lunch with the Kirammans on the blimp
July, Month 10 - Watching the sunrise over the harbour on the Academy roof
October, Year 1, Month 1 - Jayce's first fantasy about Viktor (also the anniversary of Viktor's mother's death)
November, Year 2, Month 2 - The pact + finishing the plans for the Hexgates
December, Year 3, Month 3 - Their first Winter Solstice together
May, Year 3, Month 8 - The Hexgates launch gala
October, Year 4, Month 1 - The almost-hookup at the gay bar
December, Year 4, Month 3 - Viktor's 30th birthday
January, Year 4, Month 4 - Jayce gets sick and Viktor takes care of him
January, Year 5, Month 4 - Drunken Hookup
March, Year 6, Month 6 [canon] - They learn Viktor is dying, Jayce kisses Viktor, and Viktor has a breakdown after talking to Mel
April, Year 6, Month 7 - Viktor is merged with the Hexcore
April, Year 7, Month 7 - The Battle for Piltover
Chapter 11: Mischief
Summary:
The argument ends, someone gets punished, and Jayce relives the night he met Viktor.
Notes:
Hello again! I know it's been a while but this was a monster to edit. Not much to say other than this is one of my favourite chapters because we finally get Jayce's perspective of the night they met.
New tags have been added! 👀
See end notes for an updated timeline.
Translations
Ano - Yes
Kurva/Sakra - Fuck, shit, damn
Grázl - Bastard, crook
Miluji tě - I love you (romantic)
Já tebe taky - Me too/I love you too
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Jayce feels like shit when he wakes at the crack of dawn. His body is used to the routine by now, so even on days he doesn’t have to get up early for work, or just to get up with Viktor, he’s awake. In the early morning haze, he almost forgets what happened last night, but Viktor’s absent touch reminds him.
Looking over his shoulder, he sees Viktor is still in bed, his back to Jayce and huddled at the edge of the bed. It’s so bizarre. They’ve never gone to bed like this before. In the night they’re usually reaching for each other, spooning or curling against one another.
I’m leaving Cynrys, with or without you, Viktor had said. And it sounded like he meant it too.
The words sting like frostbite on his heart. Do I not matter to him as much as I thought? Maybe I’m being irrational… he’s allowed to want more in this world. But what would that mean for us?
Quietly, Jayce gets out of bed, trying not to disturb Viktor. He’s surprised his partner isn’t awake with the rising sun, but he guesses he had a couple of drinks. Viktor only oversleeps, or sleeps through things, when he has alcohol in him.
When Jayce uses the bathroom, he notices the dark circles under his eyes. Technically, Rehna said he could take the day off. The plan was to help Viktor get his work done sooner so they could get dinner and spend some time together, but now Jayce doesn’t know what to do with himself. He’d rather work as a distraction.
Once he’s dressed in his usual white t-shirt and grey work pants, he pauses to look at the bed. Viktor looks so beautiful, brunette and blonde hair splayed out, lips slightly parted as he breathes like he’s a slumbering prince. It makes the ache in his chest deepen and part of him wants to give in, just give Viktor what he wants and beg for forgiveness. I need to think for myself. I don’t know if I can commit to something so risky. Debating on reaching over to caress Viktor’s cheek before he leaves, Jayce comes to the conclusion that he’s not brave enough to do it.
“I love you, Vik,” he whispers, knowing his lover won’t hear it, before walking out the door.
Kaedin and Meeko are already sitting at the table in the back kitchen, away from the main dining room. They look up from their coffee in unison when Jayce enters and makes his way to the pot of porridge on the stove. “Morning, guys.”
“Good morning, Jayce!” Kaedin greets him in his usual chipper voice, though there’s an undertone of nervousness he picks up on. “I thought you wouldn’t be working today since you came back so late last night.”
“Could use the money,” Jayce lies, adding a little bit of warm spices and honey to his porridge. Grabbing his own cup of coffee, he finally sits at the table. It’s only big enough for four people and the empty chair next to him makes him feel nauseous.
There’s an awkward silence while Jayce mixes his coffee. After a few moments, he notices Kaedin and Meeko are looking at him like he might shatter if they speak. Jayce sighs with exasperation and asks, “Okay, what?”
“Did you talk to Viktor?” Kaedin usually carries the conversation when he and Meeko are in the same room, but Meeko clearly has the same question based on his expression.
“No, I didn’t.” The continued uneasiness in his stomach is making his appetite dissipate. “How much do you know?”
Kaedin looks a little bashful. “Oh, well, you know, not much…”
“He came down to drink his problems away and said you two were at odds about what you were going to do with your future,” Meeko says bluntly, loudly sipping his coffee.
Cait had never been privy to any of their fights. When he and Viktor fought, it stayed between them, with the exception of everything that happened with the Hexcore, so it was an unusual feeling to have friends who were aware they were fighting. It’s uncomfortable and he wishes Viktor had kept it between them, but… he can’t expect Viktor to stay quiet about such a huge disagreement, it wouldn’t be fair. “Yeah. That’s basically it.”
“Shouldn’t you stay so you can talk to him when he gets up?” Kaedin says it so genuinely that it makes the nausea worse. It’s a good idea, but I don’t know if I can handle it right now.
I’m leaving Cynrys, with or without you, Viktor’s voice whispers in his ear, cold and detached. The memory might be skewed based on his bitterness about the situation, sounding much more devastating upon recollection.
“To be quite honest, I don’t want to right now,” he admits. “We’ll talk about it… eventually.”
“You shouldn’t let it fester, Jayce,” Meeko says, clearly disapproving of his decision.
“Yeah, well, let me know when you’re married to Viktor and then you can tell me what I should or shouldn’t do,” Jayce snaps before downing his coffee and standing. “Thanks for breakfast.”
He leaves his porridge untouched and doesn’t even realize until moments later that he suggested he and Viktor were married. It feels like it sometimes.
When he arrives at the shop, Rehna is just opening up. She gives him an odd look, her brows furrowed and eyes narrowed suspiciously. “I wasn’t expecting you to be in today, Jayce. Weren’t you going to spend the day with your boyfriend?”
Viktor said he doesn’t like the term boyfriend, but Jayce does, so he doesn’t correct her. “Yeah, well, that plan fell through.”
Rehna seems to pick up on something being off but she doesn’t pry, at least for now. “I have an order for new blades, we can get started on those. Have you designed weapons before?”
Something twists in his gut when he remembers building his hammer and the grim preparation of going to war with Silco—and the innocent kid he killed. Then the unpleasant flash of dismantling it in the bottom of the ravine to build his brace makes the sickness he was already feeling a hundred times worse. For a moment, he needs to take a few deep breaths just so he doesn’t throw up or hyperventilate.
“Yes, but no blades,” he finally says when he can speak again.
His mentor gives him another unusual look like she’s debating whether or not to tell him to leave. Jayce steels his expression, trying not to let his tumultuous emotions show through just so she’ll grant him the distraction. “I’ll teach you,” she finally settles on, much to Jayce’s relief.
Rehna spends most of the morning teaching him the differences between blade styles and what is needed to produce each one. By mid-afternoon, his first weapon, a dagger, is cooling while she inspects his work. “Not bad, kiddo. Where’d you say you learned how to smith?”
“I didn’t. I started my apprenticeship with my father but then continued with his headsmith after he passed.” He doesn't talk about his dad often but he’s always on his mind when he’s working a forge. Or in a harbour.
I want a house in a harbour. Myrkonia has a harbour, Viktor’s voice reverberates in his mind again. Jayce is glad he didn’t eat because his stomach is still churning with anxiety.
“Family business, I see.” She hums, looking down at him where he’s sitting next to the forge. “Take a break. Have some tea with me.”
Jayce doesn’t bother to question Rehna’s motives, he’ll find out soon enough. She closes up the shop and sets out a sign saying they’ll be open again in thirty minutes, then heads into the back break room. After removing his apron and gloves, he follows her and sits at a workbench that’s used as a table where he usually eats his lunch.
In comfortable silence, she brews her favourite tea—it’s made from a flower called a sugar iris from the Eastern Provinces. That’s a piece of information he only knows thanks to Viktor. Our lives are so intertwined I can’t go fucking five minutes without thinking about him.
After she brews each of them a cup, she sets it down in front of Jayce and sits across from him. “Talk. What’s biting your ass today?”
Fuck. Jayce was never good at hiding his emotions. He doesn’t know how Viktor didn’t figure out he was in love with him for all those years because he’s a very bad actor. Talking to Meeko and Kaedin about the situation feels too close to home (literally) but Rehna has only met Viktor a handful of times, usually when she’s stopped at the inn for a drink, so she might be a more neutral sounding board. If Viktor can spill his guts to Meeko, there’s nothing wrong with him venting to Rehna. She doesn’t know their situation—the truth—but he can explain it without the complicated past.
“I had a fight with my boyfriend,” he says simply, tasting the tea. Despite the name, it’s a little bitter. Tea was never really his thing, but he could appreciate the refreshing quality of it. He would have preferred a cold beer for this conversation, though. “I thought we were on the same page about what we wanted. Turns out, he wants to move to the city when I thought we were going to settle down here.”
“Did he say he wanted to settle down here?”
Jayce pauses, replaying their conversations of recent months. There were a lot of offhanded comments like ‘I can’t wait to wake up in our own bed’ and ‘you promise we’ll have a garden?’ However, none of that was… explicitly in relation to Cynrys. “No. We agreed to settle down but not where. I guess I just… assumed we would settle down here since things are so good. But, it feels like he suddenly wants to leave.”
“Did he say why he wants to leave?” She gives him a knowing look, like he’s the one being ridiculously unreasonable and he’s about to prove it.
Jayce sighs, carding a hand through his hair. “He says he wants to go back to school. Before he only showed interest in settling down—just living, he said—and then this came out of nowhere.”
“Back to school?”
“Huh?” He blinks at her, not understanding the question.
“He’s gone to school before?”
“Oh, uh, yeah, we both did. That’s kind of how we met. Back in, uh, the Eastern Provinces.”
She hums neutrally, sipping her tea. “What school?”
Jayce starts to sweat. Viktor has been doing most of the studying to make their story more believable. He wracks his brain for a name, any city. “A school in… Helsynd.”
“I said, what school?”
“You… probably haven’t heard of it.”
“I’m from Helsynd. Try me.”
Oh fuck. He should have said Trokennia, if that is even a city in the Eastern Provinces. He had guessed. “The… The Academy of… shit.”
“Mhm, so you want to tell me where you’re really from?”
“You’re not going to believe me.”
“Again, try me.”
Jayce chews on his bottom lip. “Do you believe in magic?”
Rehna pauses, tapping her fingers on the table. “I believe there are things we can’t explain that may qualify as magic.”
Okay, this might actually be easier than it was with Kaedin and Meeko. “Well, thanks to a magic anomaly, Viktor and I ended up here from… another reality. In our world, magic is real and Viktor and I harnessed it through science.”
Staring at him for a long moment, Rehna is silent before she finally says, “Okay.”
Jayce stares in silence for a moment before he remembers how to blink. “Okay?”
“Makes more sense than you being from Helsynd. I spent the first twenty-two years of my life in that city, met people from all over the world, and never have I heard an accent like your boyfriend’s. No offense, but he sounds a little alien. So, I believe you, kid.”
“That was… extremely easy, actually. Do you, uh, have questions?”
“Did you really learn your smithing from your father?”
“I mean, yeah. That’s what you’re concerned with?”
Rehna shrugs. “If you want to tell me more, that’s your choice. I’m not going to pry, I just don’t like being lied to.”
“Oh… yeah, okay. I’m a bad liar anyways, so I’ve tried to tell as much of the truth as I can.”
“Good,” she says simply, sipping her tea. “Back to your little problem. It seems like you made an assumption. I overheard your conversation with Gyrald yesterday. You were trying to get a house for Viktor as soon as possible?”
“Yeah, that was the idea. That’s what I thought he wanted. He… he came from poverty and narrowly avoided being homeless, so he said he wanted to avoid that. We got lucky here and I’m really starting to like it so I kind of thought, why not here? Things are good. Why fix something that isn’t broken?”
“You’re worried that if you go to Myrkonia you’ll end up homeless?”
“Yeah, basically. It’s hard establishing yourself in a strange city, and I know Viktor’s not going to be able to work for room and board in a city like he can in a small town.”
Rehna hums in thought. “I know a blacksmith in Myrkonia, you know.”
Tilting his head, Jayce furrows his brows. “Okay?”
“I could give you a letter of recommendation.”
“Oh,” Jayce says dumbly. He starts to process the implication, though. “Oh.”
“I can’t guarantee it’ll get you a job, but it will definitely improve your chances.” She gives him a soft smile, sipping her tea.
“I will… have to think about that,” Jayce says nervously. Am I actually considering this?
The rest of the day goes by quickly, but Jayce avoids going back to The Thistle Bird for as long as possible. He actually eats a sandwich at the café now that the nausea has faded, the anxiety a little more manageable.
Even though they’re currently in a potentially relationship-ending conflict, Jayce wants to get Viktor something nice. So, he picks up his favourite chocolate bar, one with a starberry cream filling that’s kind of like the cross of a raspberry and a kiwi, and a new romance novel he thinks Viktor will like—one about a prince eloping with his sworn knight. Viktor will probably eat this shit up, if I know him as well as I think. He gets a few snacks for himself too, only as a cover to say he didn’t just go for Viktor.
Even when we’re at odds, Viktor is all I can think of.
He steps into the inn around quarter after four and Meeko immediately looks up at him. “Jayce, just the man I wanted to see.”
“Oh?” Jayce arches a brow, approaching the bar and setting his bag of goodies down. The last time they spoke, Jayce wasn’t exactly kind to him, so he’s surprised Meeko is acting like nothing happened.
Viktor is nowhere in sight. Maybe he’s still doing laundry in the basement since he had a late start today?
“I was hoping you could help me. You’re handy, right?”
“I’m good with my hands,” he shrugs.
“I have a broken shelf in the store room. No matter what I do, it won’t sit straight. I was hoping you could take a look.”
This isn’t that weird, but I would have thought Meeko would ask Viktor first. Viktor can fix just about anything, he thinks. However, he brushes his skepticism aside. “Sure.”
Meeko nods for Jayce to follow and he does. When they reach the storeroom door, he silently gestures for Jayce to go ahead. Meeko’s a quiet guy, so he thinks nothing of it and steps inside.
“Meeko, I don’t know why you’re having me do inventory again today. I did it yesterday, so this feels like a waste of time,” Viktor sighs, looking over his shoulder. He jolts suddenly, not expecting Jayce to be standing there.
Jayce didn’t expect to see Viktor either.
The door shuts and they both stare in horror as the sound of a lock clicks.
“I will let you out after you talk,” Meeko says through the door. The sound of his footsteps follows and eventually fades.
“Kurva,” Viktor mutters his favourite word. “That sly grázl.”
Jayce isn’t sure what to say, he just stares at Viktor, who stares back. The air is thick with tension, like drowning in molasses, and they can both hear when Jayce swallows a nervous lump in his throat. The nausea is back.
Viktor discards the clipboard and pencil he was using on one of the shelves and just sits on the floor. Hugging his knees to his chest, he makes himself small, and Jayce just wants to scoop him up and tell him everything’s going to be okay… but he doesn’t know that. Jayce mirrors him, pressing his back to the wall and sliding down until he’s on the floor, legs extended listlessly.
There’s a long stretch of silence. Neither of them wants to be the first to speak because, as much as Jayce teases Viktor for his stubbornness, Jayce can be just as stubborn.
“You lied to me,” Viktor finally says after minutes of silence. He doesn’t look at Jayce, just keeps his eyes fixated on the opposite wall.
Jayce furrows his brow. “When?”
“When you said you would follow me to the ends of the world just to be with me. I didn’t realize that didn’t include anywhere outside of Cynrys.” Viktor sounds bitter but Jayce just knows that means he’s hurt.
The words sound familiar. He pinpoints, after a moment, when he said it a few months ago. Viktor had asked him if he would be happy, with just him, even if it meant they wouldn’t have kids. I meant it. So, why am I so hesitant?
“I did say that,” Jayce starts carefully. He sighs, reflecting as he fidgets with his fingers, tracing his well-earned callouses with his gaze. After a few seconds of silence, he says, “I’m just scared.”
“I think you’ve gotten too comfortable,” Viktor replies so bluntly it throws Jayce off.
He can’t deny it. Jayce has been carving out a life in Cynrys and fantasizing about what the rest of it could be like here. “Is it… wrong to be comfortable in a new environment that we need to find a new home in?”
Viktor still isn’t looking at him, just staring at the wall while still hugging his knees. “No. What’s wrong is you’re giving up on finding comfort elsewhere. We can’t just settle down in the first place we land.”
Jayce shifts uncomfortably. He thought they actually could. He was happy to be in a little bubble with Viktor for the rest of his life, even if they didn’t explore their new home. “Why do you want to go so bad?”
“Because I was never made for the small-town life. I need the excitement of a city. Sure, I don’t always participate in that excitement, I stay home a lot of the time or work, and I complain about the noise. But I still feel like I’m at home in it. In Cynrys, everything is too quiet.”
Viktor pauses, chewing on his bottom lip as he considers his next words, speaking softly, as if he spoke louder the walls would close in on him. “We’ve basically been to every restaurant and every store that’s interested us. I don’t want to spend the next—fuck, I have no idea how long I’m going to live. Ten? Twenty? Fifty years? I don’t want to spend it seeing the same things, doing the same things, and rotting away in some part-time job where I’m wasting my potential. Plus, this is a new world—I want to see it.”
Jayce’s stomach sinks as he starts to understand where Viktor is coming from. He’s content to see the same things, do the same things, and work a humble job for the rest of his life, as long as he has Viktor.
He used to be the type of person to pursue greatness tirelessly, but he’s already achieved greatness—greatness that nearly destroyed his home and the love of his life. His supposed greatness is evident in Viktor’s spine and limbs. The only good thing Hextech ever did, after a frightening amount of annihilation, was save Viktor’s life.
He doesn’t have to be content with a humble job. They could both do something more, even if it’s not science.
His mind drifts to their first meeting and what Viktor had said to him that night.
Jayce is completely screwed. Not only was his apartment and lab blown up by who-knows-who for who-knows-what-reason, but now the authorities are involved. He remembers a girl, maybe sixteen, with pink hair before he passed out but that isn’t much to go on. However… he’s the one paying for this accident because he knows his research wasn’t sanctioned by the Academy. Everything, his life’s work, is being confiscated before his eyes.
He has no idea what’s going to happen next. Sitting down, hunched over with his head in his hand, he starts going through his side of the story with the Sheriff. Shortly after the Enforcers arrive though, a man with a cane wearing Academy colours steps into the destroyed apartment. Jayce’s eyes rise to look at the man who… looks oddly familiar but he can’t quite place where he’s seen him before. A small voice in the back of his mind whispers, he’s quite handsome. Jayce smothers it though because now is hardly the time to be appreciating another man’s hair and cheekbones.
The stranger wanders around his work area, curiously taking in the equipment that the Enforcers are gathering while Sheriff Grayson continues her questioning.
“Let's go over it again,” she says.
“You have to believe me. I didn't do this,” Jayce says desperately.
“Relax, kid. We know it was a break-in but that doesn't explain this,” she says, pointing to his lab. “There's a lot of restricted items here and I don't see any permits. You wanna tell me how you got them?”
Jayce notices one of the Enforcers haphazardly carrying some of his equipment out of his apartment. “Hey, hey! Be careful with that, please.”
“I believe someone should have said that earlier,” the man from the Academy says finally, appearing to be reading his equations on the chalkboard before turning around and gesturing to the room. “What happened here?”
Jayce grimaces. “Science, I guess?” He’s partially joking, trying to lighten the mood, but it doesn’t work.
“Last time I checked, science didn’t require illegal equipment,” Grayson interjects.
“Nor was this approved by the Academy,” the handsome man with the cane adds. “Who authorized your research?”
Jayce hesitates to answer. He knows this isn’t going to go over well. “It was an independent study… Who are you anyway?”
“I’m assistant to the Dean of the Academy, who it may serve you to remember is also head of the Council,” Heimerdinger’s assistant says. “He sent me here to ensure that anything dangerous is removed safely. Which, according to my list, includes you.”
Alarm bells go off in Jayce’s head. He knew it was likely that all of his research would be detained, but him too? “What? How am I dangerous?”
“Uh, that’s for the Council to decide,” the assistant nods to Grayson.
Grayson puts away her notebook and instead pulls out a pair of handcuffs. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to put these on Mr. Talis.”
Jayce looks between Grayson and the assistant. “You’re serious?”
The Dean’s assistant looks almost… regretful, like he’s empathizing with Jayce’s predicament. “As I said, Professor Heimerdinger specifically stated that you must be brought before the Council. There will be a trial.”
“A-A trial? Is that really necessary?”
“Considering you were doing unsanctioned research with illegal equipment, which… I can only assume you obtained from the Undercity, yes. They do see it as necessary.” The empathy Jayce thought he saw is gone, replaced by a coldness that makes it seem like the man is intentionally trying to be detached.
“Come on, it’s time,” Grayson says. And just like that, Jayce is cuffed and taken away.
Jayce has always been well-behaved. He abided by the law, he listened to his mother, and he stayed out of trouble… all except for the part where he was conducting illegal research that strictly went against the Ethos. Even so, never did he think he’d see the inside of a jail cell.
The guards tell him his trial is planned for that afternoon, so he won’t be in a cell for long… unless a cell at Stillwater is his punishment. He takes his time to think in the meantime. If he can just get the Council to see the potential of his research, prove to them that he’s so close to a breakthrough, maybe he can get away with minimal consequences.
Heimerdinger pays him a visit. The yordle has been a mentor of his almost since the start of his attendance at the Academy—that’s what being top of your class will get you. However, Jayce can’t even get him to see the benefits of pursuing his dream.
‘The Arcane is dangerous, Jayce,’ Heimerdinger warned him at the first mention of magic. ‘Own your mistakes before the Council, admit your work was dangerous, but speak nothing of magic.’ That’s the Professor’s recommendation.
His life-long dream of bringing magic to the world, to help people with it, is slipping through his fingers like grains of sand. He doesn’t just have to admit his work was dangerous, he also has to hide his true intentions. Heimerdinger is asking him to lie, for his own sake.
Jayce has always been a terrible liar.
He tries to keep his head high as he walks the aisle up to the Council’s seats. When he walks, his eyes flicker over to a familiar face. Heimerdinger’s assistant is standing on the sidelines, a shadow casted across his handsome face as the shutters close, eliminating the sunlight from the room.
Standing in front of the seven councilors, familiar with only Heimerdinger and Mrs. Kiramman, a spotlight shines upon him. Cassandra begins to speak.
“Jayce Talis. You are accused of illegal experimentation and endangering the citizens of Piltover. What do you have to say for yourself?”
Swallowing his nerves and trying not to fidget inside the handcuffs, he puts on his most convincing remorseful voice he can. “The materials were far more dangerous than I was aware of, and I… I now know my actions were against Academy regulations. What I did endangered people. It was reckless, and for that, I'm sorry.” He takes a breath, preparing for his desperate request. “I ask the Council's forgiveness, and I hope that I can continue my studies.”
“As Jayce's patron of many years, I can speak for his character,” Councilor Kiramman generously steps in. I might have a chance yet. “I believe that one day, he will be a great contributor to our society.”
A councilor Jayce is unfamiliar with says, “He destroyed a building. Is this the sort of contribution we can expect?”
“If you were a scientist, you'd know you can't make a prototype without breaking a few wrenches,” Heimerdinger has the kindness to defend him.
A woman to Heimerdinger’s right, regal and beautiful with dark skin, thick braids and gold make-up cuts in. “Do you have anything to show for your work besides an explosion?”
Jayce stiffens and he can feel a bead of sweat trickling down from his temple. ‘Speak nothing of magic,’ the Professor had warned him. “Uh, no. It came to nothing.”
“So, you're saying your study was meaningless?” The woman challenges him, and the accusation that he has wasted years of his life on nothing makes him snap.
“It was revolutionary!”
“Revolutionary how?”
Jayce freezes, immediately regretting his outburst. He panics, trying to think of what he could possibly say in place of magic—something that could be believable.
The other councilors start cutting in, arguing that this trial is a waste of time and they should just move on. All the noise becomes overwhelming. They have the completely wrong idea. It wasn’t just an explosion. It wasn’t just unsanctioned research. It could—it would—have changed everything.
“I was trying to create magic,” Jayce finally blurts out, cutting through the noise.
Silence falls on the Council as gasps emanate from the crowd. Immediately, Heimerdinger gives him a complicated look. It’s a mixture of worry, disappointment and… hopelessness.
Jayce is willing to bet his life on this—he is betting his life on this. He can’t back down.
“Arcane talents are something you're born with. They can't be fabricated,” a councilor says.
“Actually, I believe it is possible.”
“Has anyone even tried it before?” The beautiful woman questions and Jayce thinks maybe, just maybe, she could be persuaded.
A mechanically augmented man speaks up in a robotic voice. “The Arcane is the curse of our world. My race was nearly destroyed by it.”
Jayce was prepared for this. He’s aware that magic has been used for great harm, but he also believes in its potential. “Surely, we, the pioneers of science, can use it for good. We're the champions of discovery. Why fear it when we can master it?”
“Jayce, enough,” the Professor warns.
“This is the city of progress, think of the wonders we could create. Let me prove—”
“Enough!” Heimerdinger raises his voice, assassinating what was left of Jayce’s monologue. A grim expression crosses his face, something Jayce is unfamiliar with and wouldn’t normally expect from the chipper yordle. “You don't understand what's at stake. But how can you? That's a burden that only I here carry. Time.”
Heimerdinger pauses, as if he’s contemplating his next words, and Jayce is hanging on every one despite his opposition.
“I've seen this power in the wrong hands. It corrupts, consumes, lays waste to civilizations. That cannot happen here, my boy. It must not.”
A murmur of agreements passes through the councilors with various offhanded comments. One demand catches Jayce’s attention: “The Ethos is clear. He must be banished from Piltover.”
Jayce feels his heart sink to the pit of his stomach as dread fills his hollow chest cavity. Banished. From my home? Jayce hasn’t even left Piltover or its vicinity in his life. Where the hell would he go? First, he’s having his life’s work taken away from him. Now, he’s being forced to leave the only home he’s ever known?
“Please, let me speak!” His mother’s voice comes from behind him and he glances over his shoulder as she approaches. He has no idea what she’s about to say and that alone worries him.
“As a lower house, my voice doesn't carry much weight here. But as a mother, I have a voice that matters deeply,” She says, holding her hands together in a plea. Jayce’s stomach churns because he has a feeling she’s grovelling for his sake, and she won’t be on his side. “My son isn't in his right mind. His entire life, he's chased an impossible dream. What he did was, uh, foolish and unwise. But he has a good heart. Please, let him come home.”
Ximena’s words hurt him deeply. Not in his right mind? Impossible dream? It’s the most painful betrayal he’s ever felt. Not even his own mother believes in him, even though he told her he was on the path to a breakthrough.
There’s some back and forth between the councilors but Jayce can’t pay any attention to it. His ears are ringing, his gut is twisting with the unsteadiness of his fate and his heart is breaking all at the same time. ‘Expelled from the Academy’ are the only words he hears before he returns to reality.
No, no, this isn’t happening. No. It can’t be.
“You may take your son home, Mrs. Talis, but he is to never set foot on Academy grounds again,” Heimerdinger finishes, and it’s the final nail in the coffin.
Jayce is numb to everything as the skylight shutters open. When his cuffs are removed, his mother places a hand on his arm. He flinches away, refusing to look at her. “Let’s just go, Mom,” he whispers harshly.
Ximena clearly senses his hurt but she doesn’t say anything. They’re escorted out of the building and an Enforcer vehicle is waiting to take them back to his mother’s house—his own home was destroyed, after all.
Apartment gone. His work detained. Academy enrollment revoked. Forbidden from studying science, one of the things he loves most in this world, in the City of Progress no less. And, worst of all, his own mother saying he’s crazy in front of a room full of strangers and people he respects.
I’ve lost everything.
When they get to his childhood home and through the front door, Jayce doesn’t say a word to his mother—not until she speaks to him.
“Jayce,” she says soothingly, and it burns even worse than if she were scolding him.
“Not in my right mind?” He snaps at her, looking over his shoulder from where he’s standing at the foot of the stairs. The plan was to run up the stairs and hide in his room like a wounded child, but he can’t stop the anger from erupting from within him. “You supported me! All these years, you believed in me!”
“I didn’t realize how dangerous it was,” Ximena replies, meek and hurt that he’s reacting this way. “If I had known, I would have discouraged this… this obsession long ago. I should have when you were a boy, not fuel it, otherwise, you wouldn’t be in this mess.”
“Obsession? It’s a passion. It’s science. It could change lives, Mom!”
“But at what cost, Jayce? You must promise me you will not pursue this further.”
“I’m twenty-four, you can’t tell me what not to do anymore,” he snips, finally turning back to storm up the stairs.
“Jayce,” she calls after him, desperation in her voice.
Jayce slams his childhood bedroom door behind him. He hasn’t done that since he was a rebellious teenager, and he didn’t think he would do it as an adult to his own mother. Sitting down on the single bed that he could barely fit now, the one he’s going to have to sleep in indefinitely, he stews in his emotions. The anger dominates everything as he glowers down at the leather band with the Arcane stone embedded in it. Part of him is frustrated with the mage who saved them. Why did he give this to me? Why set me on the path of magic if it would only destroy me? But, could the mage have even known?
Anger gives way to grief as tears begin to blur his vision. Everything he loved, everything he lived for, has fallen apart in a single day. He looks up and glances around his room. Magic is everywhere. The posters, the mage’s hat, the little knick-knacks, the crystals, everything reminds him of his ambitions. Tears freely stream down his cheeks as the unbridled grief overwhelms him. It’s been sixteen years—sixteen years he’s dreamed of making magic, only for it all to be snatched away from him in the span of twelve hours.
Letting himself cry quietly, determined not to let his mother hear, he holds his head in his hands. It’s like the world has suddenly been flipped upside down, or he had just faced proof that the laws of physics were all a lie—it has all fallen apart. He cries until he has no more tears left to shed and it’s replaced with the familiar numbness he felt in the Council chambers. After sitting and wallowing for a good half hour, a knock is heard from his door.
“Can I come in?” His mother says it quietly from the other side.
Jayce makes a noncommittal noise, keeping his head in his hand. She sits down on the bed next to him, trying to make an offhand comment to distract from the uncomfortable rift between them, but Jayce doesn’t hear it. It’s like the world around him is swimming in darkness.
“Jayce, please,” Ximena says quietly, reaching out to touch his back. He stiffens under her touch, the bitterness of betrayal still lingering. “If I hadn't spoken, you'd be lost to me. I had to say something.”
“Magic saved your life,” he says weakly. That’s how it all started. His love for his mother and the gratitude he felt for the mage saving them from that awful blizzard is what inspired him. That should mean something to her too.
“Yes, but it won't save yours now,” she soothes, rubbing his back. “You need to let it go.”
“I could've convinced the Council,” Jayce says, a new resolve filling his chest. Fuck it. This isn’t the time to give up. I could still fight this. “If my own family won't help me, I'll find someone who will.”
“Jayce—”
He stands, retreating from her touch. Rain begins to pitter-patter against the window panes, but it doesn’t dampen his determination to walk out of the house. “I need to do this.”
Striding toward his bedroom door, he steps through the threshold, looking over his shoulder. Ximena is still sitting on his bed, her brows pinched with worry and an expression of defeat on her face.
“No matter what happens… know that I love you, Mom,” he says before leaving, bounding down the stairs and out the front door before she can protest.
He leaves in the same clothes he’s been wearing since this morning with only two things on his person: the leather band with the Arcane stone embedded in it and the yellow topaz that lives in his pocket every day. He didn’t even bother with an umbrella.
Thunder rumbles above him as the rain soaks through his dress shirt, the sleeves clinging to his skin like a weighted blanket. The approaching cool air of fall leaves him shivering but he’s completely unbothered because he’s on a mission. The first place he goes is to the first person who defended him at the trial.
The Kiramman gates are closed.
He rattles the gates and is nearly startled when Caitlyn’s voice comes from his left. “They won't see you.”
She’s sitting under an umbrella next to the gate, almost as if she expected him to come, and she continues. “Your name's no good now. My dad says you're a misfit, and that we can't be friends anymore.”
I’ve lost the Kirammans too. What hurts most about that fact is he’s losing the little sister he never had. Caitlyn has been his constant companion the last four years that the Kirammans have been his patrons. She was only ten when they met and she lived in his shadow whenever he was around. It was only in the last year that he allowed her to see his lab, and she’s curious about everything. It’s endearing.
Caitlyn probably believed in him more than her parents combined. His stomach twists into a pretzel because he doesn’t know where she stands now after he’s been deemed a criminal. “So, why are you out here?”
“I'm a misfit too, I suppose,” she says quietly. There’s a pause between them, a silence that weighs on both their shoulders—this might be our last conversation. “What will you do?”
Jayce grasps at straws. His resolve to figure out how to continue his research is dwindling by the minute. “Join the Talis hammer business, I guess,” he lies, though it’s a partially true backup plan.
“You can't do that,” Caitlyn says bluntly, reading him so well despite their nearly decade-sized age gap.
“No, I can't,” Jayce admits, his shoulders slumping. The look of defeat on his mother’s face flashes in his mind. He’s starting to feel the same sense of failure.
A silhouette appears in the front entryway, backlit by the warm lighting of the impossibly big Kiramman manor. “Come inside, Caitlyn. Now,” Cassandra commands, glaring in Jayce’s direction. Her attitude is so much different from when she tried to defend him.
“I'm sorry. I just wanted to explain…” And hopefully win you back.
“I think you've done enough,” Cassandra says coldly, turning back and heading inside.
Caitlyn stands, peering up at Jayce from under her umbrella. “I’ll miss you, Jayce.”
“Yeah, you too… take care, sprout,” Jayce smiles weakly, watching her walk away with a heavy heart. It’s only after Caitlyn disappears into the brightly lit manor and the door closes that he walks away.
Jayce starts to wander the streets aimlessly, his fingers ghosting over the Arcane stone on his wrist. He’s out of ideas already. Heimerdinger won’t back him up, even with the viewpoint of a scientist. The Kirammans are out. He doesn’t even know the name of the beautiful councilor that seemed a little intrigued by his concept. Jayce has no more friends in high places.
Without realizing, it he walked across town to his apartment. He can see the maw of destruction on the side of the building, looking into his ruined home and lab, and it’s calling to him. Entering the building, he climbs the six floors, not bothering to take the elevator, and finds the door… well, no longer there. Crime scene tape covers the entrance of his apartment and he tears it away dismissively.
Jayce feels hollow when he looks at his empty lab. All of his equipment, all of his work, gone. All that’s left are his equations on the large chalkboard mounted to the back wall. The rain has stopped and a draft is flowing in from the enormous hole.
I could just… end it.
The thought invades his mind like a parasite, making a home deep in his frontal cortex. After everything he’s lost, after all the hope that has been drained from his entire being, death sounds like… a relief. What’s a life worth living if you’ve already lost almost everything you love?
The memory of his mother’s desperation to spare him from banishment makes him feel ill. It would break her heart. But… maybe he could leave a note, so she at least understands.
Finding a pen and a piece of paper, he sits at his desk and begins to write.
Dear Mom,
I’m sorry for lashing out at you when all you wanted was to take your son home. I wish I could be that son for you, the one who is content to find another purpose, like making hammers and settling down with a family. But that’s not who I am.
I am a scientist. I am a believer. And I hope, one day, maybe someone else can succeed where I couldn’t. But right now, I’ve been stripped of everything that has made me the man I am. I cannot be satisfied or content with a simple life. I need to discover. I crave change.
I hope you understand that I didn’t do this to hurt you. I did it because I can’t live in a world where I can’t marry magic and science—a world where I no longer have friends or family who believe in my dream.
I’m sorry and, If you can, please tell Caitlyn I’m sorry too. I know she will go on to do great things.
I was proud to be your son.
Love forever and always,
Jayce Talis
A single tear rolls down his cheek as he rereads what he wrote. He hopes that this gives his mom some comfort in her grief. Wiping the tear away with the heel of his hand, he folds up the note and takes off his leather band. Leaving it on the table, Jayce gets up and begins to advance on the gaping mouth in the brick wall.
The topaz in his pocket weighs more than it ever has. He’s taking it with him, even though it’s supposed to protect people from accidents. It comforts him, like his dad is with him, even though his old man is probably trying to barter with gods for his life. This will be no accident. I need to commit.
Stepping closer to the edge, lingering rubble falls to the ground below. He looks down and the view makes him qualmish, but he’s committed. Releasing a decompressing sigh, he mentally prepares himself to jump.
“Am I interrupting?”
Jayce startles, stepping back from the edge and turning to see who has cut off his suicide attempt. He’s almost embarrassed when he sees… Heimerdinger’s assistant?
“The hell's your problem?” Jayce snaps. The man is holding open a book and Jayce immediately gets defensive. “What's that? Another list with my name on it?”
“Actually, yes, but only because you signed your notes,” he says, looking down at what Jayce now recognizes as his notebook. There’s an amused grimace on his face. “Every page, I might add. Eh, a little egotistical, don't you think?”
“Is that why you came? To insult me?” Jayce spits, on the verge of sneering at the man. I am not in the mood to fuck around with this asshole.
“No, no, I was… I was intrigued by what you said at the trial.” The words sound distinctly genuine in the man’s mellow, unplaceable accent.
That… catches him off guard. The jagged edges of his anger soften. His walls are still up, but the man’s tone is promising. It’s almost in awe that he says, “That makes you the only one.”
“Yes, well, I wanted to talk about your work. This Hextech theory of yours.”
“It's not a theory. I saw with my own eyes what magic can do, the lives it could save.” A flood of emotion begins to consume his entire body—sadness, anger, hope, ambition—and he’s almost overwhelmed. He turns toward the hole in the wall, looking out to the city just to avoid the man’s gaze. Maybe I could still jump. “You've no idea how beautiful it is. And now it's gone. No one believed me.”
Jayce hears the man’s cane approach from behind him before he stands at his side to admire the view. “Nobody's ever believed in me. A poor cripple from the Undercity. I was an outsider the moment I stepped foot in Piltover,” he says and something about the way he speaks makes Jayce feel… connected. Understood.
He’s been there a few times but he doesn’t actually know anyone from the Undercity. Now, he feels ashamed that he’s surprised that Heimerdinger’s assistant is from such a dangerous place.
“I didn't have the benefits of a patron or a name. I simply believed in myself,” the handsome man continues, turning to Jayce. “Which is why I'm here, because I think you're on to something. I want to help you complete your research.”
Jayce feels as though he was falling from a great height and now he’s on solid ground, all thanks to this man believing in him. Never would he expect to find an ally in the Professor’s own assistant. Never did he expect to be stopped from taking his own life by a complete stranger. The man continues to surprise him. “No one thinks it can be done.”
The stranger holds out Jayce’s wristband, offering it to him with kindness in his eyes. “When you're going to change the world, don't ask for permission.”
Jayce accepts it, looking down at the Arcane stone in his hands, before realizing something. “I don't even know your name.”
“It's Viktor,” he responds with a slight quirk of his lips. He has a crooked bottom canine.
“Viktor… I’m—”
“Yes, I’m fully aware of who you are,” Viktor says with amusement. Turning away, he returns to Jayce’s desk, picking up the folded note Jayce had written minutes before. “I assume you don’t need this anymore?”
Jayce shakes his head, feeling a whirlwind of emotions. He’s ashamed that he almost stepped off that ledge, relieved he didn’t, hopeful now that he has an ally, and grateful to Viktor for everything he’s already done—and they haven’t even started. Watching as his co-conspirator pulls a lighter from his pocket, he sets the letter ablaze. They both watch it burn in Viktor’s hand, and it’s as though the fire is burning away a burden that was hanging off of Jayce’s shoulders. Once it’s reduced to ash, Viktor looks at him with a sly smile. “Let’s get started.”
Viktor, it turns out, might be the smartest man Jayce has ever had the pleasure of meeting. He’s brilliant, utterly brilliant. Viktor has only skimmed through his notes once and already he’s on the same wavelength as Jayce. It’s mind-boggling how fast he’s caught on.
“I admit, my intrigue began with this,” Viktor waves at the wall-mounted chalkboard with his most recent calculations on it. “When I first saw it, I had no idea what you were doing here, but it makes sense now.”
“Yeah? I’m surprised you were able to catch up so quickly.”
“Your notes and impeccable handwriting made it easy to understand,” Viktor says, resting his cane against one of Jayce’s workbenches. Jayce feels a little flattered that Viktor thinks his handwriting is impeccable. He picks up the chalk brush and starts to erase part of Jayce’s calculations. “I think your problem is here. You’re stifling the energy and preventing it from reaching its full potential.”
While Viktor begins to write his own formula, Jayce takes the time to decipher Viktor’s untidy handwriting. Eventually, he catches on to what Viktor is saying and stares at the chalkboard in awe. “This entire time, I thought I needed to dampen the oscillations.”
“The crystals will only stabilize at a high frequency,” Viktor says, finishing his formula and turning to Jayce. “You have to—”
“Crank it.”
Viktor stares at him for a moment, as if he’s hearing a saying he’s unfamiliar with. “Yes. Yes. You have to… crank it.” A shy smile touches his lips, and something about it makes Jayce’s heart skip a beat.
He’s never had a collaborator like this, the only person who has ever been remotely able to keep up with him or go above him is Heimerdinger himself. It’s beautiful. He wants to live in this feeling forever and capture it in a timeless still to revisit whenever he feels low.
“It works,” Jayce nods.
“Eh… On paper,” Viktor shrugs.
“Well, we could test it if we had access to my equipment.” Jayce is hopeful that maybe, just maybe, Viktor is able to pull some strings.
“Which is being destroyed tomorrow.”
His heart immediately plummets, racing in the depths of his stomach. His hands feel clammy and his mouth is dry. “What?” Please tell me I misheard that.
“Oh. I…” Viktor starts and trails off, looking a little nervous as he chews on his lip. His bottom lip is thin, pouty and pink. “Yeah. I-I meant to tell you.”
“That research is everything. My… my whole life,” Jayce says desperately. The dread he has been feeling on and off all day ravenously consumes every extremity and corner of his body like a ship giving way to a tsunami. He grasps at straws. “Maybe if we showed them the equations, they'd let us—”
“We need more than promises,” Viktor replies with a shake of his head. “We need proof.”
“Not without the crystals. The Enforcers took them all.” Letting out a shuddering breath, Jayce runs a hand over his face and then through his hair. “They're gone.”
“Yeah. Locked away in Heimerdinger's lab,” Viktor says, a mischievous twinkle in his eye as he holds up a key ring with… possibly every key needed to access the entire Academy.
“No. No. No,” Jayce panics, waving his hands. He’s starting to realize his first impression of Viktor from this morning—strict, by the book, Heimerdinger’s lapdog—was entirely wrong. He’s a troublemaker. If this doesn’t work, he’s going to get me banished or something. I might even have to take him with me. “You heard the Council. If we're wrong…”
“Better be right then.” Viktor shrugs one shoulder with a slight smirk.
Taking a deep breath, Jayce asks one question he’s been meaning to ask since Viktor stepped into his apartment. “Why? Why would you risk this?”
Viktor gives him a pained look as he considers his words. “Do you think it was my life's ambition to be an assistant? Scientists seek discoveries. Ways to make the world a better place,” he says, the pained expression morphing into a slight, hopeful smile. “This Hextech dream of yours has the potential to do that.”
At that moment, Jayce makes a decision. Viktor is a man with a mind, heart and soul similar to his own, and he is willing to risk everything because he believes. His mom doesn’t believe in him. His patrons don't believe in him. But Viktor, this strange, brilliant, beautiful man is his only believer. It wouldn’t be possible without him. It’s like Viktor himself was a divine intervention.
Jayce stands, crossing the few feet between them to place his hand on Viktor’s shoulder. “Our Hextech dream,” he corrects.
Viktor’s slight smile shifts into a grin, something that makes Jayce’s heart clench and his stomach flutter because it’s just so… genuine, handsome and made of pure joy. The joy of discovery, science, life. He wants to capture that smile and bottle it so he can sip it like a fine wine.
Quickly jotting down his own formula in Jayce’s notebook, Viktor looks up at him with an expression that says he’s ready to get up to no good. “What are we waiting for?”
“Wait, I’m banned from the grounds entirely. There’s always guards patrolling, how are we even going to get into the building?”
Picking up his cane, Viktor hooks the keys on his belt loop and makes his way toward the open doorway. “I know the grounds like the back of my hand. It’s almost ten, meaning the patrols are starting to get lazy. We should be able to enter the building from the employee entrance at the back of the main building.”
“And we won’t encounter anyone?” Jayce stands, hesitantly trailing after Viktor.
Looking over his shoulder, Viktor shrugs with a nervous grimace. “Eh… hopefully not? There will still be guards patrolling inside but most of the staff should be gone. I’m usually the only one on the top floor this time of night.”
Viktor calls the elevator and Jayce fidgets next to him anxiously. I can’t believe we’re doing this. Breaking into Heimerdinger’s lab. If there’s some sort of afterlife, I know Dad is shaking his head disapprovingly.
They walk in silence towards the Academy grounds and when Jayce is anxious, he usually talks. Well, inquires more like. “So, what do you do for the Professor?”
“Research, mostly. Some designing and building prototypes. The last few years the majority of my time has been dedicated to a water filtration project.”
“Oh, that’s really cool. How is that going?”
“Well, it has been frustratingly on hold because of the Health and Safety Committee, Piltover’s Waterway Board, and the Council, even though it’s Heimerdinger’s project too. I’ve spent the last year trying to fight for it and performing test after test but still, there are concerns about the degradation of the algae within the filter over time,” Viktor explains, frowning as he gazes up at the Academy building standing above all others within the city. “I’m afraid that three and a half years of work is going to be wasted all because of red tape and the fear of change. I wasn’t even doing it for Piltover, I was doing it for my home.”
Jayce hangs on every single word that leaves Viktor’s mouth, fascinated by a man he never knew was developing such an important project in the same halls he has been walking for the last four years. He wishes he had met Viktor sooner. “What do you mean?”
“The Undercity’s water has very poor filtration. A lot of topside’s runoff ends up in our water and the facilities are old and worn down. I wanted to develop this project to try to clean up at least one part of the city. Clean water is something you Pilties take for granted.”
The Undercity isn’t entirely unfamiliar to Jayce. He’s been there half a dozen times for crucial (and illegal) equipment for his research and development. However, he’s never… talked to someone from the Undercity about the quality of life and disparity between the two cities. Jayce is suddenly acutely aware of his ignorance and privilege. Not only that, but a fondness and admiration begin to grow for Viktor. “I never knew. I hope your project can get approved. You’re brave to fight for it… you’re brave to fight for this, too.”
Viktor has a slight smile on his lips, seemingly flattered but not willing to voice it. “You’re brave too for pursuing something so revolutionary. I admire your ingenuity.”
Jayce has never been complimented on his research regarding magic, only because he had to be so secretive. To have someone as intelligent and determined as Viktor to compliment him feels like an honour. His cheeks heat up, showing his own flattery very obviously. “T-Thank you. I, uh, admire your—” Everything? “—ability to adapt to such a complex project so quickly. You’re… probably the smartest man I’ve ever met?”
Viktor laughs at that, bright and warm. It twists his guts into knots in a way that confuses Jayce. Why is he so nervous around him? Is it just his admiration for such a wonderful mind that fits so well with his own?
“I, ah… may have to say the same thing about you,” Viktor smirks, almost as if he can sense Jayce’s nerves and he’s thriving off making him squirm. Before Jayce can reply, Viktor’s attention turns to the Academy campus now that they’re close. “Let’s keep our distance until we reach Seventh Street, that’s where the employee entrance is. And keep quiet so we don’t draw any attention to ourselves.”
Jayce nods and they proceed to walk in silence. In the distance, they can see a couple of guards chatting near the front entrance and they pay no mind to the two of them. Once they reach the back of the building, Viktor crosses the grassy quad and Jayce follows. The blades of grass are still moist from the rain, wetting Jayce’s leather shoes, and they leave footprints on the concrete walkway up to the back entrance.
Viktor, barely having to search through the ring of keys, unlocks the door and holds it open for Jayce. Stepping inside, Jayce takes in the unfamiliar hallways, and Viktor continues to lead, speaking quietly. “The employee elevator is around the corner. It will also put us closer to the Professor’s lab.”
“You really know your way around here. How long have you been at the Academy? And his assistant?”
“I’m a year your senior. I’ve been his assistant since my second year.”
Jayce doesn’t ask how Viktor knows what year he is, he just assumes that information was provided to him for detaining him. However, becoming the Dean’s assistant in his second year is beyond impressive. Clearly, Viktor is a genius, but that was obvious already.
“Now, quiet,” Viktor commands, peering around the corner to where the elevator is. He signals for Jayce to follow and calls the elevator.
Once they reach the top floor, Viktor pulls out a small flashlight from his pocket, which surprises Jayce. Did he… know we would be breaking in from the start?
They move through the dark, and Jayce whispers once they see the door in sight. “So far, so good.”
They reach the door to Heimerdinger’s lab and Viktor starts to insert the key when—
“Hmm. Willing to risk exile for your endeavour,” the beautiful councilor from before approaches them from behind as she turns on her flashlight. “That's quite the conviction.”
Jayce immediately stands at attention. “Councilor. What a surprise to see you, huh?”
Viktor, acting completely unbothered, says, “Wait a minute, this isn't my bedroom.” Jayce almost laughs, but he’s too scared to since they’ve been caught red-handed.
“Please. We can prove that it works,” he says, and Viktor stands at his side knowing Jayce gave away what they were doing. His ploy was weak anyway and he probably knows it.
“Hmm. You couldn't do so earlier today, how is tonight any different?” The councilor tilts her head, her gold makeup glistening in the light.
“We figured out how to stabilize it,” Viktor immediately cuts in.
“You're the Professor's assistant,” she regards him with curiosity.
“No, he's my new partner,” Jayce corrects, placing a firm hand on Viktor’s shoulder. His partner nearly jumps, looking to Jayce’s hand on his shoulder and then up at him in… a mix of confusion and awe. But then, he smiles a beautiful joyful grin, and Jayce can see that crooked bottom tooth again and it’s… adorable? Adorable. It’s safe to say he’s already fond of Viktor.
“Even if you manage to prove your theory, the Council would destroy it,” the councilor interrupts their moment, expecting a debate.
“Heimerdinger will recognize the potential.”
“He already does. It scares him. It scares them all.”
“What about you?”
“I recognize that any worthwhile venture involves risk,” she says, her lips quirking in a smile.
They hear whistling from down the hall. Jayce’s panic mode kicks in and he does what he does best when he panics: he talks. “Councilor, this technology, it's real. And no matter what happens here, it's going to change our world. We should be the ones to lead it. Piltover, the land of progress, equality, innovation,” Jayce says, and mentally he pauses. The word equality might not be exactly correct . He can’t help but think back on what he’s learned about Viktor and the Undercity tonight, but he goes with it. “I know it sounds impossible, but when have we ever let that stop us? Please, just give us a chance.”
She pauses, considering his little speech. After a few moments, she finally says… “One night, gentlemen. Impress me, or I'd suggest you pack your bags.”
As she walks away, Jayce pumps his fist at the small win.
“It’s too soon to celebrate, Jayce. We’ve got work to do,” Viktor says, returning to unlocking the door.
He realizes that it’s the first time Viktor has said his name and the way he says it in the accent that Jayce can’t place makes a home in the back of his mind. The way he says it is… well, he’s not sure. There’s just something about it he likes.
Once they get inside, Viktor guides Jayce to where his equipment is being stored. He begins to go through the boxes, pulling out one piece of equipment after another and handing it to Jayce.
Relocating the equipment to the nearest surface, Jayce looks at Viktor, perplexed. “Wait, how do you know what we need?”
“I read your notes, I see your vision, and I may have taken a look at your equipment once the Professor left.”
“You’re incredible,” Jayce blurts out, and he means it so earnestly. Viktor just smirks and shrugs in response.
Once they’re set up, Jayce takes a deep breath. He places a crystal in the centre of his prototype and Viktor is double-checking his equation. After a few moments, Viktor snaps his journal shut and excitedly says, “It's time to crank it.”
“Are you sure you know what you're doing?” Jayce glances to his right at Viktor who nervously grimaces with another shrug. It seems, now that they’re actually doing it, they both feel less confident.
It’s now or nothing. Jayce cranks it.
They break a window, which comes flying back at them. At some point, Enforcers are at the door and Viktor has to use his cane to keep it closed. Jayce is sweating while he rotates between the runes built into the prototype, closing his eyes to remember each one the mage from his childhood used. He lets instinct take over and energy crackles in the air. Then there’s an explosion and, suddenly, gravity is a thing of the past.
It’s chaos. It’s science. It’s magic.
Jayce and Viktor barely even acknowledge the Enforcers and Professor Heimerdinger entering the room. They’re floating, at least twelve feet in the air, and between them is a vibrating orb of pure magic. Actual magic. A gear drifts toward Jayce and he laughs while experimentally sending it through the orb towards Viktor. The Arcane sparks and latches onto the gear, teleporting it to the other side, close enough for Viktor to grab the gear. Viktor, handsome with his soft hair floating around him like a halo, looks at it with wonder before giving Jayce the same expression.
This might be the best moment of Jayce’s twenty-four years of mortal existence and he couldn’t be happier to share it with this strange, wonderful man who literally appeared out of thin air to completely change his life. He’s going to think about this beautiful moment, with beautiful Viktor, on his deathbed.
“You've actually done it,” Heimerdinger says with awe, looking up at them. “But just because it can be done, doesn't mean… Will you please stop hovering?”
“I'm not sure how to do that, sir,” Viktor says, trying to hide his silent laughter from the Professor but Jayce can see his shoulders shake.
“This is not what Piltover's future looks like, my dear boys,” Heimerdinger says warily.
“That's for the Council to decide,” the regal councilor, who Jayce would later learn to be Mel Medarda, cuts in as she enters the room. “Perhaps it's time. For the era of magic.”
Jayce clears his throat before correcting her. “Uh, Hextech. For the era of Hextech.”
He gets one more look at Viktor who is looking at him with the softest, most excited smile. While Jayce is feeling his own elation, Viktor’s joy is infectious, amplifying his own.
No one believed in him. He was at rock bottom. And yet, Viktor found him, picked him up, and carried him to heights he could have never achieved without him. He will never be able to repay Viktor for the most wonderful moment in his life. All he can do is appreciate him as his new partner, for as long as Viktor will have him.
Do you think it was my life's ambition to be an assistant? Scientists seek discoveries.
That’s what Viktor had said, and it stuck with him. That was eight years ago, as of next week. After all the anxiety and mulling he’s been doing in his mind, the memory makes the decision easy.
“I’ll do it.”
Viktor’s head snaps over to Jayce. “What?”
“Settle in Myrkonia. And if you don’t like it and want to try somewhere else, I’ll do that too.”
Tears are welling in Viktor’s eyes, though he resists letting them fall. Instead, he crawls over to Jayce and sits in his lap, side-saddle style. His slim fingers cup Jayce’s face, and he can’t help but miss the feeling of cool steel rather than leather—he’s learned to love the feeling.
“I’m sorry for raising my voice, zlatíčko,” Viktor whispers, petting his beard. The emotion in his voice sounds like something between sorrow and joy. “Do you mean it? You’ll go with me?”
Jayce’s hands find Viktor’s waist and squeeze. It’s one of his favourite parts of Viktor, though he loves every part. “I mean it. I forgive you and I’m sorry too, for raising my voice and not trying to understand.”
“I understand you’re hesitant, and I wasn’t empathizing with that, I was just hurt because it felt like you were planning our future without me.” Viktor frowns, continuing to brush his thumbs through Jayce’s beard.
“I think I got so excited about the idea of settling down that I was trying to take shortcuts.” Jayce sighs at the gentle touch, pressing his forehead to Viktor’s. “I want you to be happy. If you can’t be happy here, I’m not going to make us stay.”
“What happened to you wanting a quiet, simple life? You said you didn’t want to live in the city again.”
“I guess I was just… thinking about how hard it would have been to move to Piltover and try to make a life there if you didn’t already have money or status. Going to a foreign city where I have nothing is intimidating.”
“I did that. I clawed my way out of Zaun and made a life for myself—a life I liked. I could do it again,” Viktor says, brushing his right hand through Jayce’s hair. “We could do it together.”
Jayce's stomach churns. Sometimes, his spoiled upbringing becomes very obvious when Viktor speaks of his struggles and accomplishments. It makes him admire his partner more, but it also makes him feel like a prick. “You’re right. I didn’t have to do that, I know I lived a very entitled life.”
“Pilties,” Viktor says fondly, rolling his eyes.
The sickness eases and Jayce allows himself to laugh. “Yep, I’m a dumb, entitled Piltie.”
“Yes, but you’re my dumb, entitled Piltie.” They’ve been breathing the same air for a minute now, so when Viktor finally leans in to capture his lips, a huge relief washes over Jayce.
He sighs into the kiss, combing one hand through Viktor’s unruly wavy hair. His other hand follows the curve of Viktor’s side, over his hip and curling around his thigh. Viktor goes straight to sliding his tongue in Jayce’s mouth, moving slowly and steadily. It takes him off guard at first, but Viktor’s hand leaves his hair and gets under his t-shirt, sliding up his torso.
Jayce decides to be bold and unbutton Viktor’s pants with one hand, dipping into Viktor’s underwear and caressing the soft mound of hair there. Viktor gasps into his mouth, spreading his legs and—
The door slams open and they both jump, immediately breaking their kiss. Meeko is standing in the doorway, glaring at the two of them.
“There will be absolutely no fucking in my store room,” Meeko snaps. “I’m glad you’re not fighting, but Viktor has work to do. Time and place.”
Clearing his throat, Jayce tries to subtly remove his hand from Viktor’s pants. “Um, yep, sorry. Just, uh, got carried away.”
Viktor is still in his lap but hiding his face in Jayce’s shoulder.
“Uh-huh. Viktor, Kae needs you to help with dinner.”
“Yeah, be right there,” Viktor replies, still hiding his face but his voice is strained.
When Meeko leaves, they’re both silent for a moment before bursts of laughter that Viktor had been trying to contain erupt from him.
“What’s so funny?” Jayce starts laughing despite not knowing what the joke is, he just gets joy from Viktor’s laughter, always has.
“We really are ‘sex-crazed animals’,” Viktor says between giggles.
It reminds him of the giggles he made that night they had their actual first time. Jayce’s stomach flutters at the memory again, given that they only confirmed it to be a memory a few months ago.
Viktor continues, “I was ready to spread my legs in here for you.”
“I’m shocked we haven’t been caught in public.”
There was that one time in the park on the far side of town when they went for a walk late at night. They hid behind a tree while Jayce had his hand in Viktor’s pants, jerking off his cock, like he was ready to do just now. At one point, Jayce had to muffle Viktor’s moans with his hand because someone was walking their dog.
“There’s still plenty of time for us to get arrested for public indecency,” Viktor jokes but… it might not be a joke one day. His expression suddenly shifts to a far more serious one, cupping Jayce’s face again. “You really hurt me, you know.”
“Yeah, I know. I’m so—”
Viktor places a finger on Jayce’s lips, eyes dark and sultry. “I don’t want sorry, I want you to make it up to me. I’m planning a little punishment. Do you think you can take it?”
Wordlessly, Jayce nods. His eyes are wide and his dick twitches at the word ‘punishment’.
“I need to run an errand after work. I will be back by eight. I want you showered, naked and waiting for me when I return. On your knees.” Viktor then pulls his finger away to allow him to speak.
“Yes, sir.” It’s not even intentional, Jayce just says it automatically.
“Good boy,” Viktor says, almost condescendingly, patting his cheek before standing. He buttons his pants and grabs a hair tie from his pocket, putting up his hair in a messy bun. Jayce can’t help but think he looks delectable. How could one beautiful man, so much shorter and slighter than himself, have such power over him?
Well, he’s Viktor, and he has always held this much sway.
“I’m looking forward to seeing you later,” Viktor smiles down on him, like a merciful deity.
“Miluji tě,” Jayce says easily, standing and approaching him. He places his hands firmly on Viktor’s hips, breathing his air again with the intent of kissing him.
“Já tebe taky,” Viktor whispers in return before wrapping his arms around Jayce’s neck and leaning up to kiss him.
“Viktor!” Meeko calls from the kitchen.
Groaning as he pulls away from the kiss, Viktor lets his arms fall gradually, caressing Jayce’s shoulders and arms as he does. “Okay, I’m going now. I’ll see you at eight.” Before parting, he cradles Jayce’s jaw in one hand and gives him a wicked smirk.
Jayce swallows a lump in his throat. He knows he’s going to be thinking about this ‘punishment’ for hours. Viktor then leaves and Jayce indulges in one last glance at his ass.
Gods, how did I get so lucky?
There’s a huge weight off Jayce’s shoulders as he returns to their room and takes a long, hot shower. As he does, he notices that he’s embarrassingly a little hard already just from Viktor’s instructions. It’s going to be difficult to even look at him while Jayce eats dinner and Viktor works. Then again, it’s almost always difficult to look at Viktor without wanting to tear his clothes off, especially after a fight. The make-up sex is always phenomenal. One time they argued over the ending of a romance novel and it led to another noise complaint—from the sex, not the arguing. Meeko was pissed.
As predicted, it’s hard to eat dinner. The food is delicious, as usual, but Jayce sits in the back corner so he can ogle Viktor while he works. He looks soft and delectable in his black slacks and deep green sweater. But he knows Viktor isn’t just soft—he’s brave, bold, sharp and powerful. When Viktor’s eyes drift over to him while he’s taking an order, his gentle smile makes him melt like butter. Jayce mouths ‘I love you’ because he can’t resist, and Viktor even looks a little bashful as he tries to go back to the order he was taking.
They’re moving to Myrkonia. The reality starts to set in and Jayce is really going to miss this place. He wants to go to the bistro one more time before they leave because that was where they had their first date. They’re going to have to share one more bottle of wine with Meeko and Kaedin. Jayce wants to buy Rehna lunch before they leave. Maybe he’ll even let Ethel con him into a tarot reading.
Jayce will miss their life here, but he’s hopeful for the future.
He sticks around a little while and has a beer, just as an excuse to keep watching Viktor. Eventually, his partner comes over under the guise of cleaning up, but they both know he’s just using it as an excuse too.
“Hello, darling,” Jayce says with an adoring gaze, completely lovestruck as he props up his head on his fist. It’s one of his rarer terms of endearment, one that he’s pretty sure Viktor likes but won’t admit.
Viktor rests one hand on his hip, looking at him with amusement. “What are you doing?”
“Just admiring the view.”
“This isn’t dinner and a show,” Viktor says, quirking a brow. “It’s seven-thirty. Don’t you have somewhere to be?”
Jayce’s eyes widen a fraction. He didn’t realize the time. “Oh. Yes, sir.”
Viktor smirks, taking a step closer. He wraps his hand around Jayce’s beer bottle, picking it up and placing the mouth of it to Jayce’s lips. “Drink up, Talis,” he says as he tips the bottle up.
Tilting his head back and parting his lips, Jayce drinks up as arousal begins to build like a forge being lit. The now room-temperature hoppy beer flows over his tongue while his eyes are locked with Viktor’s golden honey. It parches his thirst but not the right kind. Viktor pulls the bottle away when there’s only one last swig left then presses it to his own lips and tips it back.
Viktor hates beer—loathes it almost as much as vodka. Sometimes, if Jayce has had a few too many, Viktor won’t even kiss him because of the taste. That means, Viktor is doing this for a show, to taste his lips in an indirect kiss. Jayce watches Viktor’s throat bob as he swallows and his cock twitches in response.
When Viktor pulls the bottle away, he gives him that familiar mischievous look in his eye, one Jayce has been seeing since that first night. “I will see you in thirty minutes,” Viktor says before turning and walking away, taking the empty beer bottle with him. There’s a little extra sway in his hips that is absolutely intentional.
Jayce doesn’t linger any longer, making his way upstairs to act out his orders. Before he gets started, he brushes his teeth so Viktor can’t taste any beer on his tongue. Once he’s done, he gets undressed entirely, removing everything including his brace. Even though he’s going to be on his knees, he should be okay because he’s got two pillows as a cushion. He’s kneeling in the centre of the room, in front of the door, by five to eight.
Viktor walks in only two minutes later, a satisfied smile on his lips as he closes the door. He’s carrying a small, nondescript paper bag which piques Jayce’s curiosity. “Hello, darling.”
“Hi,” Jayce smiles nervously. It’s nerves from excitement and the anticipation of being absolutely ruined by this beautiful, wonderful man.
“You’re a good boy for following your orders,” Viktor says, moving forward to pet Jayce’s hair affectionately. Jayce feels reverence on his knees, looking up at Viktor. “I’m curious… do you remember our second day together? Together together, I mean.”
With a little confusion, Jayce’s eyes soften. “Of course I do. You took care of me.”
“I also gave you a blowjob.”
Jayce blinks. “Yes, I remember vividly.”
“Mhm. And you said something along the lines of… ‘I would beg on my hands and knees like a dog’, did you not?”
A flush creeps up Jayce’s neck and cheeks as he vaguely recalls the comment. Viktor even asked if he would bark and Jayce, of course, said yes. Swallowing, he nods.
With a satisfied smirk, Viktor opens the paper bag and pulls out…
Oh. Oh gods.
It’s a collar and a leash. Pleather, a deep green, almost matching Viktor’s sweater—his favourite colour. Of course, he wouldn’t pick Talis house colours for Jayce, he would pick his colour because Jayce belongs to Viktor. He stares at the collar, eyes wide as he tries not to show how eager he is. It’s hardly a surprise that his dick begins to swell with arousal at the sight of it alone.
“Do you trust me?” Viktor asks, watching Jayce’s reaction with an amused smirk.
“Absolutely.”
“Then let’s try it on,” Viktor says, tossing the bag aside and handing Jayce the leash, separate from the collar. “Hold.”
Jayce takes the leash willingly, the almost authentic feeling pleather smooth against his palms. Viktor takes his glove off before lithe fingers unbuckle the collar and wrap it around his throat. His Adam’s apple bobs nervously as Viktor fastens the collar, testing the tightness. It’s not too snug on Jayce’s throat giving him a little bit of breathing room, but still tight enough to know he’s owned. It’s an honour.
Tilting his head up with the palm of his hand, Viktor looks down at him proudly. “How’s that, precious?”
The unfamiliar pet name makes Jayce squirm in the best way as butterflies beat against his stomach. He’s more than willing to hang off of every word from the man above him. Viktor is being overly sweet, which indicates he’s planning on being very mean. Jayce could worship this man, and has, thoroughly.
“It’s-It’s good,” he stammers, swallowing again.
Viktor frowns slightly. “Why are you so nervous, baby?”
“I, uh… just don’t know what to expect. And you’re a little intimidating. Not a bad thing.”
“Do you want to know what I have planned for you?”
“At least a little bit of a hint.”
“Well… I wanted to make you feel good with my fingers.”
“What do you mean?”
Pressing two steel fingers to Jayce’s lips, Viktor pushes past to force them into his mouth. However, Viktor doesn’t need to use much force, Jayce happily accepts them.
“Wouldn’t these feel good somewhere else?”
Oh. Jayce finally catches on and the reaction is immediate. He can feel himself stiffen further as he nods. It’s been on his mind, on and off for years. Oh, how amazing those skilled fingers would feel inside him.
“Good. And I also recall a very vivid fantasy of yours of me choking you. Would you like that too?”
The reminder of his first choking fantasy, after he saw Viktor at that bar in Zaun almost four years ago, resurfaces. He looks up at Viktor with pleading eyes and makes a little ‘mhm’ sound around his fingers, which he begins sucking on eagerly. Viktor looks down on him, wearing an expression that says he’s satisfied with Jayce’s behaviour so far.
Gods, all I want to do is be good for him.
Retracting his fingers, Viktor grabs the leash and clips it onto the collar. Experimentally, he yanks on it, and Jayce jerks forward with it. He’s getting harder by the second.
“How was that?”
“I liked it, sir.” Jayce can’t figure out why he so instinctively calls Viktor ‘sir’. He’s called him that so many times in his fantasies, and in bed. It’s like as soon as Viktor gets a little dominant towards him, he caves.
“Good. I like that. Be a good puppy and keep calling me ‘sir’,” Viktor coos, yanking on the leash again, just for the sake of pulling. Jayce’s head leans forward, almost to the point where he’ll need to plant his hands on the floor to keep his balance.
“On all fours,” Viktor commands, loosening his hold on the leash to walk around Jayce and stand behind him. The collar turns around on his neck, rubbing against his skin irritatingly, but it just turns him on more. It turns out yanking him so close was part of Viktor’s plan so he would get down sooner.
Once Jayce is on his hands and knees, Viktor drops the leash for a moment. Looking over his shoulder he sees Viktor digging in the nightstand and retrieving a bottle of lube. Jayce sucks in a breath, the anticipation building in his gut and his cock fully erect now.
Picking up the leash, Viktor approaches him and… brackets Jayce’s body before sitting on his back. “Is this going to hurt your leg?”
“No,” Jayce says with a flush as he watches Viktor set the lube down on the floor. “You’re, ah, light enough that it doesn’t bother me.”
“Tell me if it hurts and I’ll stop, got it?”
Jayce nods, still looking at Viktor over his shoulder, and his partner has that mischievous glint in his eyes again. Taking hold of Jayce’s hair, Viktor pulls his head back and leans over him to whisper in his ear. “Is my puppy ready for his punishment?”
A whine emits from Jayce, his bottom lip trembling. He knows Viktor isn’t actually punishing him. Viktor is aware they were both in the wrong and that there’s nothing for him to actually be punished for. This is just a game—a game Jayce is eager to play. “Yes, sir...”
Viktor is still fully dressed, even wearing his shoes, which just makes their power imbalance so much more prominent. He already feels humiliated, being called a puppy and mounted, and he’s aching for Viktor’s touch.
No longer fisting his hair, cool, metallic fingers follow the curve of Jayce's neck and then down the centre of his spine. The sensation is chilling, making him shiver. “Tell me how bad you want my fingers inside you.”
Jayce is almost relieved that he can’t see Viktor’s face very clearly, only appearing in his periphery because he’s already feeling embarrassed. This is something new that he hasn’t talked to Viktor about yet. It’s not that he finds it shameful, it’s just all his hookups would peg him as a top immediately so he doesn’t have any experience outside of himself. Plus, he didn’t meet anyone he trusted to do that with for the first time. Now he’s going to have to confess to all of his fantasies about it.
“I, ah… I’ve thought about your fingers for years but it was one of those fantasies I couldn’t… successfully recreate enough to satisfy me,” Jayce admits.
Viktor hums curiously as his left hand moves behind himself, caressing Jayce’s lower back and teasingly moving even further down. “What do you mean you couldn’t recreate it?”
“Uh… my fingers are, um… too thick.”
There’s a pause before Viktor laughs, throwing his head back dramatically. “Okay, okay, I get it. Easier to picture fucking me while stroking your cock, harder to picture me fingering you if yours are bigger than my dainty fingers, huh?”
Laughing nervously, Jayce says, “Basically. It was always disappointing.”
Viktor’s metal hand gropes Jayce’s left ass cheek and Jayce can see a grin spreading over Viktor’s face, a sadistic one. “Tell me, śtěně, what do you think about now? Which fingers do you picture taking you apart?” Viktor lifts the hand holding the leash. “Flesh?” He squeezes Jayce’s ass again, fingertips digging into the flesh bruisingly tight, “Or steel?”
Jayce’s breath gets caught in his throat, not expecting Viktor’s grip to be so strong. It takes a moment for him to process the question, but his face heats up as he considers his options. “I… um… I’m not sure. I’ve dreamt about your original fingers for so long but… the others feel really good.”
“There’s always another time, śtěně,” Viktor teases, soothing his hand over Jayce’s cheek, having picked up the unexpected pain that came with his grip. It also seems to hint to which hand Viktor might prefer.
“Does that mean what I think it means?”
“Puppy.”
“Thought so,” Jayce laughs shyly.
“Now answer.”
Going with his gut, Jayce swallows and says, “Steel.”
“Mm, good choice. You still didn’t tell me how bad you want it, though.”
Sweat begins to cling to the nape of Jayce’s neck beneath the collar, partially from his nervousness. Viktor’s handle on his leash is firm, not giving him the space to lower his head. “I… I’ll do anything you ask. Anything. Except, uh, maybe murder.”
“Only maybe?”
“Only maybe.”
Viktor seems satisfied with that as he gazes down at Jayce, a small devious smile on his lips. “Bark.”
If Jayce’s face wasn’t on fire already, it is now. “You—you mean—like actually…?”
“You heard me. Bark.”
Humiliation is laced with hesitation as Jayce swallows thickly, trying to build up the courage to do as he’s told. He clears his throat and lets out a quiet, pathetic woof.
There’s a beat of silence before Viktor sighs with disappointment. Suddenly, his hair is being yanked, triggering a groan of pain, and Viktor is next to his ear again. “Don’t insult me, Talis. You and I both know you can do better than that. I said bark, śtěně.”
Jayce knows that his cock is likely leaking by now, the humiliation fuelling his arousal to the point where he honestly is desperate enough to do it. He takes a deep breath and lets out a hearty bark.
Releasing Jayce’s hair and sitting up straight once again, Viktor says, “Good boy. Again. A little louder this time.”
There’s no hesitation this time as he barks louder and more enthusiastically, encouraged by being rewarded with a ‘good boy’. Viktor makes a pleased hum, stroking Jayce’s spine again. Embarrassment is starting to wane, replaced by pride when Viktor says, “There we go. That’s a good dog. I think you’ve earned my fingers.”
“C-Can I relax my neck for a sec?”
“Of course.” Viktor kindly gives his leash some slack as he gets off of Jayce’s back and instead gets on his knees behind him.
Hanging his head to relax his muscles a little, Jayce is trembling with anticipation. He wants it, he wants it so bad, and now that he’s getting it, he’s nervous.
“Relax, baby,” Viktor soothes, kissing the base of Jayce’s spine. “I’m not stretching you open too much, I can do a lot with two fingers.”
“I’m not worried about that, I think it’s just about how I’ve… built it up in my head.”
“Are you worried you’ll be disappointed or you won’t like it?”
“Uh… I think I’m more worried about how quickly I might cum,” Jayce chuckles awkwardly, his cheeks heating up.
Viktor laughs wholeheartedly and Jayce wishes he could see him because he always looks so beautiful when he laughs. “Nothing bad about that. I feel pride when I get you to cum so quickly.”
“Oh… you know what, yeah, I feel the same way about you.”
“Are you ready, zlatíčko?”
The usual term of affection makes his stomach flutter pleasantly. Whenever Viktor calls him that, it gives Jayce a warm, fuzzy feeling. It feels special to be Viktor’s little gold. “Yeah, I—I’m ready.”
“Tell me if you want me to stop at any time. Can I pull on your leash again?”
Swallowing thickly and with his neck now feeling a little more relaxed, he nods.
Hearing the opening of the lube cap, Jayce waits, trying not to tense his muscles so Viktor has an easier time penetrating him. There’s a pause and Jayce can only assume that Viktor is warming the lube between his steel fingers.
“I’m going to touch you now, got it?”
Jayce nods and takes a deep breath and then feels Viktor’s smooth index finger circle his entrance, lubing it up. The delicate touch feels nice, prompting him to relax even further. At that moment, he realizes he has been holding tension in his shoulders so he does his best to relax them. When Viktor tugs on the leash again, he groans as his head is pulled back once more.
Slowly, Viktor inserts one finger, eliciting a soft gasp from Jayce. He allows his eyes to flutter shut, enjoying the smooth glide of Viktor’s finger. It feels so much better than his own ever has. There’s barely any stretch, which doesn’t surprise Jayce given how slim Viktor’s digits are. “I think I can take another.”
“Aw, look who’s a brave little śtěně,” Viktor coos in a mocking tone and, gods, if he could get any harder, he would. Obliging to his request, Viktor eases another finger in.
There’s a stretch this time, but it’s not bad, just an unfamiliar feeling. Obviously, he’s fingered himself before, but it’s still a little foreign because it’s been a long time since. The last time might have been after his thirtieth birthday. Viktor was so handsome that day and something about it was so romantic that he just had to imagine being taken apart by him.
Viktor pushes in deeper until he finds exactly what he’s looking for. Jayce gasps as soon as he feels his lover’s fingers press against his prostate, bending his knees to push back against them.
“F-Fuck—” He chokes on his words as Viktor massages the spot and it’s unlike anything Jayce has ever experienced. No matter how hard he tried, he could never reach that spot inside him when he fingered himself. He wants to bow his head but he’s unable with Viktor still holding the leash taut.
“You like that, śtěně?” Viktor continues to taunt him, retracting his fingers just slightly so he’s no longer touching his sweet spot.
“Y-Yes, sir.” Jayce shudders, missing Viktor’s touch and bending his hips back more to chase the feeling.
“Ah-ah,” Viktor chastises, forcing Jayce’s hips back in position. “Do that again and you won’t get my fingers at all, understand?”
Whimpering, unbelievably desperate for what Viktor is gifting him, he replies, “Yes, sir.”
“Good dog.”
Continuing to take him apart, Viktor presses his fingers against his prostate again and Jayce lets out something between a moan and a whine. He wants to move his hips back against Viktor, but he wants to be good more than anything. Steadily, Viktor begins to move his fingers in and out, rubbing against his sweet spot with each thrust, and the pleasure is so intense that tears begin to well in his eyes.
“H-Harder, please sir,” Jayce moans, his thighs trembling with pleasure and from being on his knees for so long. However, he’s persevering, determined to see this through. He’s not going to last long anyway.
“Mm, I suppose I could,” Viktor teases, marginally picking up the speed.
Jayce whines pathetically, tears streaming down his cheeks as he does his best to remain still. “Mo—More please, sir.”
“Beg for it, precious,” Viktor says sweetly, and the resurfaced pet name sends a shiver down his spine.
“Please, please, please—I’ll do… I’ll do anything. I’ll eat you out, I’ll fuck you, I’ll—I’ll let you’ll do anything to me. I can—I want three, please,” Jayce practically cries, manic and writhing while Viktor barely teases his prostate.
“Aw, how sweet. You sound so pretty when you’re begging, do you know that?” Viktor sounds so pleased as he presses his ring finger to Jayce’s entrance, gradually sliding in.
The stretch is easy since his muscles are warmed up enough to be pliant. He chews on his bottom lip, his entire body shaking as Viktor pulls him apart at the seams. Each thrust against his prostate elicits another moan or whimper as his orgasm builds. It’s nearly painful with how hard he is and how much electricity is coursing through his body with each point of contact.
A dozen more thrusts and Jayce is making the most animalistic cry as he cums untouched, his entire body tensing and nearly giving out. Viktor reads his body language effortlessly, removing his fingers and dropping the leash. Jayce lets Viktor do whatever he wants with his body as Viktor hooks his arms under Jayce’s before wrapping them around his torso, forcing him to sit up. Leaning back into Viktor’s embrace, Jayce rests his head against his shoulder and tries to catch his breath.
“Dobrý chlapec,” Viktor whispers in his ear, petting his pec with one hand and the other caressing his stomach. In the haze of Jayce’s orgasm, he tries to remember if he knows these words, but his head is swimming with residual waves of pleasure. He doesn’t need to though, because then Viktor translates. “Good boy.”
“You… you’re incredible,” Jayce says as he takes heaving breaths, shutting his eyes as he fully relaxes in Viktor’s arms.
“Mm, I think this has been a successful little experiment. Consider that on the menu from now on.” Viktor chuckles, tickling his chest hair playfully.
His arms have been hanging uselessly at his sides, but he finally moves to touch Viktor. He holds onto the steel forearm wrapped around his chest and places his other hand on top of the one resting on his stomach. “That was… holy fuck,” Jayce laughs and Viktor chuckles too. He feels high on dopamine, and dizzy with satisfaction. “Can’t wait to do that again…”
Viktor hums in agreement before kissing the shell of his ear. Jayce can hear a smile in his voice when he says, “I’m not done with you yet, so enjoy your little breather.”
A shiver runs down his spine because that’s not a threat, it’s a promise. “C-Can I stretch my legs?”
“Of course. Do you think you could do one more thing for me before you do?”
Jayce furrows his brows, opening his eyes a crack and trying to see Viktor’s face in his periphery. “Yeah, I think I can… what do you want me to do?”
“I spent part of my morning making sure these floors were spotless. Clean up.”
Jayce pauses, processing what was said slowly before he finally lifts his head. There, on the dark, polished wood floor is a pool of his own release. Smaller droplets surround the pool, splattered like an abstract painting, and he can’t help but laugh awkwardly. “Oh, heh… Sorry, V. I’ll go get—”
“With your tongue.”
Jayce’s words die in his throat and his face falls. His cock is barely soft and he can already feel arousal building again. “I… oh.”
“What’s wrong, štěně? I think it’s only fair you clean up after yourself,” Viktor chuckles sadistically against his ear before pulling away. Standing, Viktor takes hold of the leash again before circling Jayce to stand over him, watching from above.
Looking from Viktor’s sly smile down to his semen, Jayce swallows thickly. He’s not afraid of tasting himself, he’s eaten his own cum out of Viktor’s pussy at least half a dozen times by now. It’s the humility of licking it off the floor like an animal that is both making him hesitate and getting him going.
What will I get if I’m good?
Getting down on his hands and knees, he bends low, trying to keep his eyes on Viktor’s irises of gold. Sticking out his tongue, he takes the first swipe, lapping up his bitter release.
Viktor grins cruelly, entertained as he continues to drink up. “That’s it, precious. Every last drop.”
The cute nickname, though said in a condescending tone, makes Jayce shudder. His dick reacts too and he can’t help but chase the humiliation in hopes of praise after. Once he’s done licking up his mess, he looks up at Viktor for approval.
“Good boy,” Viktor coos, grinning down at him proudly, reaching down to caress his cheek. “Take your stretch break. For the next part you can just sit however is most comfortable.”
“Thank you, sir,” Jayce says with a flush, leaning into Viktor’s touch. Unfolding his legs, he sits down on the pillows with them extended, feeling relief now that he’s out of that position. He might be stiff in the morning, but it will have been worth it.
Viktor hooks the leash onto the door handle before leaving to wash his hands. When he comes back, he removes his sweater, leaving him in a plain white t-shirt. Tossing it aside, he picks up the bottle of lube from the floor and places it on the bed. “Tell me when you’re ready, baby.”
“If I can just sit like this, I can keep going.”
“Okay, if you’re sure,” Viktor says as he stands between Jayce’s splayed-out legs. “Take off my shoes.”
“Yes, sir.” Obeying, Jayce slips off one loafer after another as Viktor lifts his legs and places them neatly next to the door.
“Socks.”
Jayce takes one foot in his hand, peeling off the left sock and then kissing the top of Viktor’s foot, lips meeting skin. Viktor makes a satisfied hum before putting his foot down and moving on to the other. Repeating the motion, Jayce is sure to kiss the top of his warped foot too. He tosses the socks toward Viktor’s sweater lying on the floor.
Viktor moves ahead by pulling off his t-shirt and discarding that on the floor as well. “Pants.”
Unbuttoning Viktor’s slacks, Jayce slowly unzips them as he holds his lover’s gaze. His palms graze the sides of Viktor’s hips and thighs as he pushes them down, earning a gentle pet to his hair. Viktor steps out of them and kicks them aside, standing in nothing but his briefs.
Jayce is confused when Viktor doesn’t prompt him to remove them, but he also has no idea what Viktor has planned. He could maybe eat him out in this position but it wouldn’t be the most comfortable for either of them. “Am I… taking those off too?”
“No, I’ll take care of them. But first,” Viktor starts before he steps over Jayce to grab his leash from the door handle. Adjusting the collar so the leash is behind Jayce’s back, he continues, “Put your wrists together behind your back.”
Jayce can figure out where this is going and obeys. He feels Viktor’s deft hands wrap the leash around his wrists and tie them together. “Test it.”
Pulling at the knot, Jayce has limited mobility and he feels a little useless at the moment. “I would have to really try to get out of it.”
“Good. I should get you a proper pair of cuffs in the future though.”
In the future, meaning Viktor’s planning on restraining him more than once. He can already feel his cock begin to fill up from the idea. “I, um… I’m trying to figure out what you’re planning next. Could you give me a hint?”
“I’m giving you a show,” Viktor says simply. “You’re going to be good and sit still, right?”
Jayce doesn’t like the sound of that, only because he knows Viktor is about to tease him mercilessly. “Yes, sir,” he says painfully because all he wants is to get between Viktor’s thighs again.
Slowly, Viktor slips his underwear off and holds them up before gripping Jayce’s jaw. “Open.”
Not hesitating to follow orders, Jayce opens his mouth and Viktor proceeds to stuff his underwear inside. Jayce groans around the fabric, wishing he could smell it rather than taste cotton. Patting his cheek, Viktor smiles down at him and says, “Dobrý chlapec.”
Viktor turns and walks toward the bed, sitting down and spreading his legs. Jayce’s eyes latch onto Viktor’s pussy, tracing the dark trail of hair leading down to his hard cock and pretty pink folds. Viktor reaches for the bottle of lube, squirting a little bit on the tips of his fingers, the gel glistening on his skin.
Lying back on the bed, Viktor plants his feet on the edge. With his knees bent and his pussy fully on display now, he circles his entrance with two lubed-up fingers of his right hand. “I bet you wish these were your fingers.”
Jayce makes a pathetic noise of agreement around his gag, his wrists twisting uncomfortably against his restraints. He watches with envious eyes as Viktor pushes the fingers inside himself, not at all taking it slow. That tells Jayce that Viktor is worked up too and wants to get fucked sooner rather than later. As he watches, Jayce daydreams about how he’ll get to fuck Viktor. Is he planning on riding him? Will he allow Jayce to plow into him? Getting inside his lover is all he can think about as he watches Viktor’s appendages disappear inside him over and over again.
“I bet you’re thinking about how you’ll get to fuck me,” Viktor says as if he read Jayce’s mind. “Which is bold of you to assume you’ll get to fuck me at all. I might just finger myself until I cum and leave your cock weeping.”
A pitiful sound, something between a whine and a groan, leaves Jayce as his hips jerk against nothing. He’s almost fully hard again, wanting desperately to sink inside Viktor and get lost in his heat.
Viktor inserts a third finger with a soft gasp this time, tilting his hips to get a better angle. The urge to cry hits Jayce, mournful that he might not get to enjoy Viktor’s pussy at all tonight. This is a punishment, after all, and Jayce already came once. Each moan that leaves Viktor’s lips makes him more and more desperate, his muscles tensing as he strains against his binding. He can’t even look down because the leash is holding his head up. If he really didn’t want to look, he could close his eyes, but is he really going to miss this?
“I bet I only need three to take you—if I do—but I’ll do four just to be safe,” Viktor teases as he adds his pinky, moaning when he does. “It feels so good… why would I need you if I could pleasure myself like this?”
A desperate noise comes from Jayce as he tries to plead around the underwear. He’s sure Viktor can at least recognize the word ‘please’ despite the gag, and he only laughs sardonically in response. If Jayce can’t get inside Viktor, he might actually die.
Viktor removes his fingers, his goal clearly being efficiency after all, and sits up on his elbows to look down at Jayce. Feeling absolutely helpless sitting there, bound, gagged and hard, he gives Viktor begging eyes as his partner grins at him. “Let’s see if you can earn the right to fuck me.”
Moaning eagerly, Jayce nods. His mouth feels dry from the cotton briefs soaking up his saliva, so it’s a relief when Viktor walks over and takes it from Jayce’s mouth. “P-Please, I’ll do anything to be inside you,” he rasps.
“Anything? You certainly use that word liberally,” Viktor smiles mischievously from above him. “Hm, I wonder… tell me why you think you deserve it.”
“I… I was good. I didn’t try to get my hands free.”
“You also made a lot of noise,” Viktor tsk s. Then, he lifts his right foot and carefully presses down on Jayce’s erection until it’s touching his stomach. Jayce gasps, trying to resist the urge to buck his hips. “It sounds like you were a little impatient to me.”
“Ah… I, um, I just… you’re so beautiful and I just wanted to, um, help,” Jayce says as he swallows a lump in his throat.
“Mm, that or you just want to fuck me like the dog you are.”
Jayce’s face heats up because Viktor is absolutely right. He’s been sitting here thinking about getting inside Viktor as soon as possible. “Yes, sir.”
“Oh, at least you’re being honest,” Viktor hums, moving his foot along the underside of Jayce’s cock ever so slightly, earning a whine out of him. “Admit you’re a dog.”
Honestly, Jayce isn’t above this. After licking his own cum off the floor, there’s very little Viktor could do to him to make him feel any more humiliated. “I’m a dog.”
“I guess I can’t blame you. You’re an animal—all you know is sex, food and attention,” Viktor taunts, grabbing his hair and pulling, just for the sake of doing so. “Isn’t that right?”
“Yes… I’m nothing but an animal, sir,” Jayce whimpers. I wonder what people would think if they knew ‘The Man of Progress’ got on his knees and begged like a dog for Viktor’s pussy. It’s actually kind of funny to think about.
“Tell me what you were thinking about.”
“I, ah… I was wondering how you’d… how we would fuck. Like, are you going to ride me? Are you going to let me…”
“Take control? Maybe,” Viktor says, making a point to slide his steel foot farther up Jayce’s cock, pressing the head against his abdomen. “What would you like, štěně?”
“I… I would like to pound you into the mattress if you’ll let me,” Jayce says with a violent shudder, still resisting the urge to grind against Viktor’s foot.
Pausing in thought, Viktor releases him, putting his foot back down. Jayce lets out a whine, both relieved and mournful that it’s gone. Rounding Jayce, Viktor reaches down and unties the leash from around his wrists, freeing him. However, it’s hardly freedom because Viktor is tugging on his leash again. “Up.”
Obeying, Jayce slowly stands up. His legs are feeling better after stretching them out. Viktor circles him, adjusting the collar and leash so it’s forward facing, before walking backwards and pulling Jayce towards the bed.
Sitting down, Viktor looks up at Jayce through his pretty lashes, gold eyes twinkling with pride. He knows Viktor loves this, loves getting off on taking control of someone bigger and stronger than him, and Jayce loves it just as much—he’ll happily worship the ground Viktor walks on.
“You’re going to follow my instructions, okay?”
Jayce nods, chewing on his bottom lip with anticipation.
“You’re going to fuck me into the mattress, just like you want. But I’m going to hold on to your leash and choke you while you do it. Sound fair?”
“More than fair,” Jayce agrees because there are no downsides to this deal; he’s getting everything he wants.
“Get to work.”
Like an animal being released from a cage, Jayce lunges at Viktor and forces him down on the bed. He didn’t think it through, because Viktor takes Jayce with him, not giving him much slack on his leash. Hunched over Viktor, Jayce goes ahead and lines his cock up with Viktor’s entrance before gradually sliding in. His grip moves from his cock to Viktor’s thighs as he closes his hands around them and hugs them tightly to his sides.
Viktor makes the softest noise as he’s stretched open from Jayce’s cock. Pulling Jayce closer by his tether, Viktor brings him in until their faces are inches apart. They haven’t kissed at all, this whole time, and now that Jayce is painfully aware of that, he can’t resist.
Capturing Viktor’s lips with his own, he remains still while his partner adjusts to his girth. Their mouths move slowly, a gentle caress compared to how rough Viktor has been with him, and Jayce feels like he’s falling in love all over again.
“Move,” Viktor commands between kisses, tilting his head to deepen it. His tongue invades Jayce’s mouth, and he willingly accepts, allowing Viktor to guide the kiss as he likes to do.
Steadily, he starts to thrust his hips in and out, barely holding back the urge to just pound into Viktor right away. It’s such a relief to finally be inside him after so much teasing. Jayce is so pent-up that he’s not sure if he’ll even last that long. It’s only seconds later that Viktor pulls Jayce’s hips in further by pressing his heels against his ass, and Jayce can feel the tip of his cock hitting Viktor’s cervix.
“You can do better than that,” Viktor growls into his mouth before biting his bottom lip. Needing no more encouragement, Jayce snaps his hips with more ferocity than he normally would so soon. He knocks a gasp out of Viktor as he does, fucking him rough and deep, clutching his thighs with a bruising hold.
Viktor gives Jayce’s leash a little bit of slack, allowing him to sit up a little while he groans from Viktor’s velvety heat. Then, he feels a steel hand come to his throat, just above the collar. Taking a deep breath, he waits for Viktor to choke him. Viktor’s thumb and middle finger press down on either side of Jayce’s neck and the breathless sensation is immediate. It only fuels his determination to chase his bliss, pounding into Viktor in response. Pride swells when he manages to make Viktor whine while tears begin to well in his pretty honey eyes.
Jayce decides that they’re not close enough, so he drags Viktor to the very edge of the bed and pushes Viktor’s legs back, holding him down by the crooks of his knees. With Viktor’s legs out of the way, he can thrust into him with more fervour, receiving moan after moan from Viktor’s lips. The feeling of having his breath stolen away is making him feel high, and Viktor releases briefly to relieve him before he presses down again with his smooth, metallic fingers.
“C-Close,” Jayce manages to choke out, despite the breathless feeling.
“D-Do not cum until I tell you to,” Viktor demands, pressing his fingers down harder. Jayce’s eyes roll back into his head from the sensation but he whimpers at Viktor’s words. “And you won’t cum inside me this time. Cum on my stomach.”
A pitiful sound leaves him, not just from being denied an orgasm, but because he can’t cum inside Viktor. It does feel like a punishment. It’s rare he cums on Viktor, the last time being his face after a blowjob as a reward. It’s great too but… filling him up is his favourite. Even so, he nods obediently, continuing to pound into Viktor ruthlessly.
Tears finally trickle down Viktor’s face, following the curve toward his temples. His hair is splayed out, continuing to get longer as the weeks go by, blond streaks highlighted in the moonlight. He looks like a divine being, more beautiful than anything Jayce has ever seen. A divine being who is choking him and clenching his walls around him while they fuck like wild animals.
“P-Ple—Please,” Jayce cries, his hips stuttering as he tries to keep himself from cumming. The grip on his throat eases to give him a slight reprieve.
“Not until you make me cum, štěně,” Viktor growls, yanking on Jayce’s leash to pull him closer. Jayce makes a sound of surprise, another whimper slipping past his lips. It’s becoming painful to hold back, edging himself by slowing down and speeding up erratically. Viktor’s voice suddenly turns sweet as his lips brush against Jayce’s. “I’m close. Come on, precious, you can do it.”
Even though tears are beginning to fall from Jayce’s eyes onto Viktor's cheeks, blurring his vision, he wants to please Viktor so badly. The need to make Viktor cum outweighs the pain of not having that release himself.
Trying to distract himself by kissing Viktor, he fucks him at an angle he knows he likes, earning a moan of approval. Viktor’s metallic hand is no longer choking him, instead moving to comb through Jayce’s hair soothingly. Continuing to regulate the speed of his thrusts to last longer, Jayce does his best to make Viktor feel good, anxious for his own orgasm.
After a few more targeted thrusts, Viktor tenses around him, breaking their kiss to make a noise somewhere between a gasp and a shout. Jayce has to bite his tongue painfully to stop himself from cumming as Viktor’s walls close in on him, pulling out so he doesn’t accidentally cum inside.
Panting and releasing his leash, Viktor says with a grin, “Good dog.”
Jayce whines, his erection angry and weeping precum. “B-Baby, please, let me—”
“Shh, it’s okay,” Viktor hushes him before reaching down with his right hand to take hold of Jayce’s cock. He begins to stroke gently, and Jayce frankly doesn’t need much more than this. “You may cum.”
Jayce lets out a sob when he finally releases all over Viktor’s hand and stomach, bowing his head while his entire body trembles. Viktor strokes him through it, all soft praises and sweet nothings, and it might be the most intense orgasm of his life.
Not wanting to collapse on Viktor, Jayce falls to his knees, panting and leaning his sweat-soaked forehead against Viktor’s knee. He plants reverent little kisses against his left calf while running a hand down his Hexcore leg.
“You’re not done, get up here,” Viktor says after a brief rest. Jayce’s mind is foggy and his legs are like jelly, but he obeys and stands. Holding out his right hand, covered in Jayce’s semen, he says, “It’s time for you to clean up. All of it.”
Jayce looks at the mess on Viktor’s hand and then on his stomach. It’s… a lot of cum, honestly, but he’s up for the challenge. He starts with Viktor’s hand, licking a hot stripe over his palm, before sucking on each finger. Jayce decides to make a show of it, maintaining eye contact as he cleans up every drop.
Releasing Viktor’s hand, he then gets to work on his stomach. From the top of Viktor’s mound to just below his sternum, Jayce drags the flat of his tongue across his skin. He even dips his tongue into his belly button, earning a giggle in response. Pulling away and grinning up at his lover, Jayce asks, “Is your belly button ticklish?”
“Maybe,” Viktor says, combing both hands through Jayce’s hair. “You missed a spot.”
Jayce looks down to see one more splatter at the bottom of Viktor’s ribcage, leaning in and licking it up effortlessly. “Done,” Jayce says proudly, closing in on Viktor’s mouth instead.
“Dobrý chlapec,” Viktor praises before he pulls him in the rest of the way, kissing him tenderly. Jayce sighs into it, melting against him. It’s perfect and soothing after such an intense orgasm and punishment.
“Let me get this off of you,” Viktor says quietly, his deft hands moving to remove the collar and leash. It’s a relief once it’s off, his neck is drenched in sweat where it clung to him, and he feels like he can finally breathe again. When they part, Viktor continues. “I’m going to run a bath for us, okay?”
Blinking down at Viktor, he processes what he said. A bath. For us. “You’re incredible.”
“It’s just aftercare.”
“You’re still incredible.”
Humming in acknowledgement, Viktor gently pushes on Jayce’s pec to get him to move out of the way. “You sit while I get the water ready.”
Jayce listens and sits on the edge of the bed, admiring Viktor’s naked form as he unsteadily walks away and starts drawing the bath. It takes a few minutes, which Jayce uses to stretch out his muscles and watch Viktor brush his hair. Once done, Viktor gestures for Jayce to come to the bathroom, which he gladly does so.
Maybe it’s their size difference, but Jayce had instinctively assumed he’d get in first and Viktor would be in his arms. But, no, Viktor gets in first and spreads his legs, expecting Jayce to sit between them, which he thinks is a better idea anyway. Once he’s settled in the hot soapy water, leaning his weight against Viktor’s chest, he lets out a satisfied sigh.
“You did so good, baby,” Viktor coos as he kisses the side of Jayce’s head, running his hands down his arms.
Jayce hums happily, smiling with his eyes closed as he rests his head back against Viktor’s shoulder. “Thank you… I just wanted to be good for you.”
“I could tell. How was it?” Grabbing a washcloth from the edge of the tub, Viktor continues to press kisses to Jayce’s temple and cheek while washing his chest.
“Was good. Top five. Maybe number one,” he laughs softly, practically turning into putty in Viktor’s arms. “You were very mean to me. I liked it.”
“Mm, I’m glad, zlatíčko. It was a punishment, but I still wanted you to have a good time.”
The heat seeps into Jayce’s bones and feels wonderful on his muscles after the workout he did. “You’re good at it, y’know?”
“Good at what?”
“Giving me a good time. And punishment,” Jayce laughs softly while Viktor washes his stomach. His hands find Viktor’s knees, brushing his thumbs over skin and steel. “You’re good at taking care of me too.”
“I try,” Viktor whispers, kissing Jayce’s shoulder. “You deserve to be taken care of.”
“You do too, y’know. I feel like you’re always taking care of me.”
“Not true. You take care of me all the time too,” Viktor says, kissing his temple again. “We take care of each other. That’s what partners do.”
Jayce lets himself get swept up in Viktor’s arms, soothed by sweet kisses and washed with careful hands. They stay in the tub until the water becomes room temperature at best, and when they get out, Viktor even dries him. It makes him feel so loved and cherished that his heart might just burst with all the devotion coursing through it. When they crawl under the covers, Viktor guides Jayce into his arms and he happily rests his head on Viktor’s chest.
“I love you so much,” Jayce says quietly, his fingers tracing one of Viktor’s mastectomy scars. He’s sleepy but after what was probably their worst fight, Jayce feels like he has a lot to say. “I know I say it all the time but I don’t want it to lose meaning. I love you. I will always love you, no matter what happens. I fall in love with you a little more every day.”
Viktor is silent for a few moments as he combs his fingers through Jayce’s hair. His other arm rests on top of Jayce’s that’s draped over his middle, thumb tracing the tendon affectionately. “I feel the same way. When I said you’re the love of my life, I meant it. There will never be another like you.”
“I meant it too… I can’t believe I was questioning leaving with you because what the hell would I do without you? You’re my other half. You make me whole.”
“That sounds horribly codependent,” Viktor chuckles softly, drawing circles on Jayce’s skin with a metallic digit.
“Please, we’ve been horribly codependent since the night we met.” Jayce laughs too, feeling so blessed to even be able to feel Viktor’s chest rise and fall beneath him. Breathing. Alive.
Viktor huffs with amusement. “That’s true. I nearly died when you called me your partner for the first time.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“Yes. Died of happiness because, outside of the Professor, you were the first person to show me kindness and respect in that fucking city.”
“I’m glad I did. The minute you were willing to risk it all, and after stopping me from taking my own life, there was no question. I knew you’d be important to me.” Jayce presses a kiss to Viktor’s chest, nuzzling his cheek against the soft flesh.
“I think I did too,” Viktor says wistfully, continuing to pet Jayce’s hair.
It’s probably well past midnight when they finally fall asleep, too preoccupied with trading whispers of fond memories and hopes for the future. Viktor spoons him until they do and Jayce drifts off feeling happy and content—a feeling that used to be so unfamiliar to him for so long but was now a welcome friend.
Jayce does something he hasn’t done in four months: he sleeps in. Just after dawn, Viktor wakes him up and with bleary eyes, Jayce can see he’s already showered and clothed.
“I’m going to work now. You just sleep, moje zlatíčko,” Viktor whispers, brushing some hair out of his face. “Miluji tě.”
“J’ teb… taky,” Jayce mumbles, his eyes feeling heavy as he shuts them again. He hears Viktor laugh softly before kissing his temple and then leaving. Jayce rolls onto his stomach before falling back asleep.
The sun is streaming through the window, bright and clearly telling Jayce he slept in at least a couple of hours. Sitting up and rubbing his eyes, he searches for the clock and sees it’s 9:36 am. He’s already running late for breakfast, he’ll be lucky if Kae will accept an order by the time he gets downstairs Sighing and resigning himself to getting food at the café, he gets up and showers.
When he finishes in the shower, he then notices there’s something on top of the desk—his clothes. Next to his folded dark jeans and forest green button-up is a note in an intimately familiar scrawl.
wear this.
xoxo- V
Furrowing his brows, Jayce tries to figure out why this particular outfit. Viktor always does things with intention, so it’s not random. Following the simple instructions, Jayce looks at himself in the bathroom mirror once he’s dressed. He still can’t quite place the reason because he’s worn this shirt and these jeans a dozen times.
It’s after ten when he comes down and he immediately sees Viktor cleaning up some of the tables after breakfast. He smiles softly, looking lovely with his hair put up in a messy bun and wearing a golden knit sweater that matches his eyes. Carrying a tray of plates and cups, Viktor approaches him and leans up to kiss him chastely.
“Good morning,” he says as he smiles and crinkles his eyes with adoration like he’s the happiest he’s ever been just because of Jayce’s presence. It makes him a little flustered because Viktor is so beautiful and his smile makes him weak.
“Good morning,” he replies, kissing the mole on Viktor’s cheek.
“Sit down and I’ll come eat breakfast with you in ten.”
Jayce furrows his brows in confusion. “What? You haven’t had breakfast yet? And I thought I missed my chance.”
“I’m cooking for us. Kae said he was fine with it. I had a muffin but I want eggs and tomorah.” Viktor wasn’t fond of Gheldania’s version of bacon at first but he’s come around to it. Jayce loves it more than pork at this point.
“Think I can get a coffee with that?”
Standing on his tiptoes to whisper in Jayce’s ear, Viktor says, “Since you were such a good boy last night, I’m sure that can be arranged.”
His face feels warm as he flushes from the praise and he clears his throat, trying to will his dick to behave. “T-Thank you… sir,” he mutters quietly so only Viktor can hear.
Jayce swears to every god that the giggle Viktor makes is diabolical. He might have enjoyed last night a little too much and Jayce might not survive next time. It’s something to look forward to.
Viktor heads to the back and Jayce goes to sit at their favourite table. It’s tucked in a corner with a partial wall next to it, separating it from the table behind. There’s a group of older women at the other table talking about an upcoming cook-off and their gardens that Jayce pays no mind to.
Waiting patiently, Jayce lets his thoughts drift as he looks at the jagged scar where the Arcane rune had been. He hasn’t had a nightmare of killing Viktor in a little while. It’s a relief but he knows, one day, it’s going to come back to him.
Just shy of ten minutes later, Viktor comes back with two trays, setting them down and sitting across from Jayce. On the tray is a plate with scrambled eggs, tomorah and sourdough toast, a glass of orange juice, and a coffee that already had his usual cream and sugar in it.
“Thank you for breakfast, my love,” Jayce says, reaching over to hold Viktor’s hand.
“Of course. I wanted to do something nice for you,” Viktor says, picking up Jayce’s hand and pressing a kiss to his knuckle before taking a sip of his coffee.
“You’re always nice to me.”
“Now, we both know that’s not true,” Viktor snorts and Jayce can’t hold back his own laughter. “How did you sleep?”
“Long and hard, what—”
Viktor laughs again, hiding it behind his hand. “Like you?”
It takes him a moment to get it but then he looks scandalized. “Viktor, did you just make a dick joke?”
“What? I can’t indulge in a little crude humour?” Viktor’s grin, with that slightly crooked bottom tooth on display, is gorgeous in the late morning sunlight.
“No, I think I just got ten times more attracted to you. Nice one.”
Jayce can’t believe that twenty-four hours ago he was worried they were going to split because of their fight, but he’s glad he saw reason. It’s all worth it to be with his best friend, the one who takes him apart at night, makes him breakfast, then cracks a dick joke. Viktor really is the love of my life.
“By the way,” Jayce says halfway through their meal. “Why this outfit?”
“You wore it on our first date. Plus, you look very handsome in green. Brings out your eyes,” Viktor says with a smirk.
The collar is green. This was just another way for Viktor to show ownership.
“Did you hear about the skinny boy from room twelve?” They overhear a woman at the table behind the wall and both of them freeze.
“No, what?”
“Well, Delilah heard from Jean, who heard from her daughter Clara, who works at the pet shop, that he came in and bought a collar and a leash last night.”
Jayce pales and Viktor just stares back at him.
“Whatever for? Meeko doesn’t let any pets in here.”
A third woman chimes in, “Well, that’s funny because I heard from Dan that the woman across the hall from them heard barking last night.”
The two other women gasp then start to giggle. The original woman says, “You don’t think they’re into walking each other like dogs, do you?”
The second woman says, “If anything, I say the skinny one is walking the big one. That boy looks lovestruck whenever he sees him.”
Jayce is mortified. Embarrassed. The rumour mill in Cynrys is brutal it seems and suddenly Jayce can’t wait to get out of here. Viktor, on the other hand, is barely containing his laughter behind his gloved hand.
“You’re a menace,” Jayce whispers and Viktor only grins in response.
I love this man more than life itself.
Notes:
Timeline so far
September, Year -3 - A brief encounter
September, Year 0 - First Meeting
December, Month 3 - Jayce gifts Viktor the snake plant
March, Month 6 - Lunch with the Kirammans on the blimp
July, Month 10 - Watching the sunrise over the harbour on the Academy roof
October, Year 1, Month 1 - Jayce's first fantasy about Viktor (also the anniversary of Viktor's mother's death)
November, Year 2, Month 2 - The pact + finishing the plans for the Hexgates
December, Year 3, Month 3 - Their first Winter Solstice together
May, Year 3, Month 8 - The Hexgates launch gala
October, Year 4, Month 1 - The almost-hookup at the gay bar
December, Year 4, Month 3 - Viktor's 30th birthday
January, Year 4, Month 4 - Jayce gets sick and Viktor takes care of him
January, Year 5, Month 4 - Drunken Hookup
March, Year 6, Month 6 [canon] - They learn Viktor is dying, Jayce kisses Viktor, and Viktor has a breakdown after talking to Mel
April, Year 6, Month 7 - Viktor is merged with the Hexcore
April, Year 7, Month 7 - The Battle for Piltover
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