Chapter Text
It starts with a cough that feels wetter than normal. He wipes it with the back of his hand and sees a trickle of blood. It is relieving in a strange way, he knew the Grey would catch up to him at some point. He has always been a bit sicker than the average person, a bit paler, weak. The chemical that was called “air” in Zaun has been slowly reaching to him for years now, its sharp claw curling around his body. First his leg, and now his lungs. It will swallow him, he knows it, has always known it. So yeah, he is relieved that he was right. Then the realization that he will have to tell Jayce hits him like a truck.
Viktor’s life has always been a tragedy. He was born to a poor family in the Undercity, with a leg that does not work properly. So he had to go through life with the weight of his cane in his hand. Then a riot breaks out between the people of Zaun and Piltover’s elites and in the flash of an eye, his parents are slaughtered by a bunch of enforcers. Viktor gets through this though, he has to. Some good things happen too. He takes up inventing and searches for scraps in the depth of Zaun’s junks. It distracts him from everything. Then there is a doctor, and he is kind enough to take Viktor in. This “doctor” seems more like a crazy scientist. His name is Singed and he is actually from Piltover. He used to work at the Academy, but parted ways with his partner after performing medical malpractice. Life seems good for some time and Viktor learns a lot from Singed. Then he realizes what kind of malpractice the doctor was performing: He is trying to resurrect his late daughter. Viktor wonders if he would ever matter enough for somebody to keep him alive. He decides that he would not want that as he realizes why that is a malpractice. Rio, Singed’s pet axolotl, falls terminally ill and the mad doctor tries to keep her alive by injecting chemicals into her twitching body. As Rio grows weaker, Singed injects even more chemicals into her, causing her to howl painfully. Whatever he must be injecting, it must hurt a lot. Viktor tells the doctor to let her go, that this is cruel. Singed replies that the mutation must survive and that is the end of their companionship.
Viktor’s alone again, but with a lot more knowledge on chemistry. The years go by as he tries to improve his knowledge on science. One evening, when he is in Piltover to find some parts that he could not in Zaun, he sees it. The Academy’s tall pillars are shining with the reflection of Pilover’s city lights. His throat tightens with longing and Viktor knows that he has to get in there. The Academy’s famous for its capable science graduates. Oh, how Viktor wishes he was studying there. He could find any part he needed and maybe he could have a lab desk for himself. It’s not fair that he doesn’t have a family name he could use or anyone at all to provide him with the money to study there. There has to be a way though. Novelty of this determination overwhelms him and he is sure of it now. He will get in there, even if he has to limp or crawl his way in.
A year later, he works at the Academy as the dean’s assistant. It pays his rent for a small apartment downtown. However, money is not a worry of his. He learns a lot, attends seminars, sneaks into lectures. Heimerdinger, his boss and the Head of the Academy, says that he is brilliant and takes him as a pupil. Viktor learns that Heimerdinger was the partner Singed parted ways with. This might be why his boss is so reluctant to take risks in his studies. Two sides of a coin, Singed and Heimerdinger. One day, the Council holds a public trial against a student at the Academy, Jayce Talis. He is being accused of using dangerous materials for his experiments and Viktor learns that there was an explosion at Jayce’s apartment. He watches the man get frustrated as Jayce angrily admits that he was studying magic. The council room is dead silent. The only noise is Jayce’s voice trying to convince them that magic can save their city, save lives. With Heimerdinger’s lead, the Council decides to ban his studies by confiscating his dangerous materials as well as his notes. After the trial, Viktor gets his hands on Talis’ writings on what he calls the “hexcore”. Heimerdinger tells him that the arcane is dangerous as it can corrupt. Viktor cannot stop himself from feeling intrigued.
He decides to go to Jayce’s apartment. It is ruined after the explosion, but he has a feeling that Jayce is there. He is proven right as he interrupts Jayce’s suicide attempt. He looked like he was about to jump. In the end, Viktor convinces Jayce that his hexcore project should continue, despite the Council’s verdict. So they start to study it together in the rubble of Jayce’s old apartment. It all seems very hopeful as the hexcore has a capability for different kinds of usage, as well as helping people. It also is very explosive and even a little pressure can trigger it. However, the bigger problem is stabilizing it as it is unusable without that. They could try to do it, but Jayce’s materials are locked in Heimerdinger’s lab. The only solution is to break in and that is exactly what they do. Councilor Mel Medarda catches them in the act, but they manage to convince her by explaining how impactful Jayce’s hexcore project can be. In the end, they manage to stabilize it and it is the best night of their lives. Viktor is finally where he wants to be, working in a lab with his partner, and Jayce gets to find purpose in life with Viktor’s belief in his studies. They don’t know this partnership would be the best and the worst thing in their lives.
Seven years pass and they don’t even realize it. They work tirelessly in the lab, improving the hexcore. They own Hextech, which is the name for their commercialized project now. Their biggest improvement is the Hex Gates, a way for easier, cheaper, and faster trade. It developed Piltover economically and welfare of its citizens have significantly improved. This helped them gain political power too. Their city is known as “the City of Progress” now. Jayce is the face of their project as he is good at this kind of thing. He also looks the part as he is undeniably handsome. “The Man of Progress” is thirsted after by a lot of men and women. His strong figure (thanks to the forge) with his big hands and broad shoulders, his bright hazel eyes, a contrast against his dark tan, make him look unforgettable. His charming personality with his childlike joy only add to the attraction. He looks like the perfect Piltie and their sponsors love that sort of thing. So Viktor stays in the shadows. People would surely be surprised to see that the partner of the Golden Boy was a sick cripple, with dark circles under his eyes. It is true, his condition overall got worse over the years. He has a brace on his bad leg now. A crutch has replaced his cane too. Both of them were made by Jayce in the forge. They are in House Talis colors. Jayce probably did this to make him feel like a part of his family. Jayce cares for these kind of things. In fact, Jayce is the most caring person he has ever met. He goes out of his way to help Viktor whenever he can, has never excluded him due to his disability. People tend to do that here, yet Jayce sees past it. He sees his brilliant brain and his humanity. Not a Zaunite, not a cripple, but Viktor, just Viktor. He doesn’t push it when Viktor states that he does not want to be in the public eye. Jayce is okay with being the face of Hextech.
These days, they are working on their latest improvement: making the hexcore safer. They did it in fact, it does not explode anymore. The thought of presenting this to Heimerdinger induces anxiety as he never was into progress. They want to give hextech to the people, they want to help. The people of Piltover and Zaun deserve better lives, and their project can facilitate it. The Progress Day is here and that means so is their presentation. It goes quite smoothly until Heimerdinger tells them to keep working on it for a decade so that is can be ready to give to the people. Dread fills Viktor. His health has been worsening rapidly, he might not have a decade. He can’t walk without his crutch anymore, not even a step. He is losing weight and feels weaker every day. Despite his protests, Heimerdinger is certain of his decision. The day gets only worse as their newly improved hexcore gets stolen by a Zaunite terrorist known as Jinx. Several enforcers die and Jayce’s childhood friend, Caitlyn is injured too. The Council is alarmed as they invite them to explain its powers. Mel proposes to make Jayce a councilor. Everyone, including Jayce, is shocked by such a proposal. They accept the offer when Mel states that they need someone that knows hextech on board.
Days go by and Jayce becomes more of a politician than a scientist. Gone are the late nights where they worked tirelessly in the lab together. Viktor doesn’t see him much now. He feels like a sea is stretching between them. Jayce does not talk about their projects anymore, he just tells him about his problems as a councilor and leaves. Their only other interaction is their bickering. Viktor feels Jayce slipping through his fingers, drifting further away from him, from hextech, from their dreams. One day, Jayce orders a blockade on the border of Zaun. Viktor is disappointed, but not surprised. Jayce is a scientist and he thinks like one too. These politicians are going to eat him alive. It gets more obvious that Mel is masterfully manipulating Jayce. Soon, Jayce is not so opposed to creating hextech weaponry.
“Jayce, we are not soldiers. This is the opposite of our goals.”
“What if this is the only way? Zaun has hextech now. They can use it against us. ”
Viktor cannot believe his naivety. “We don’t know that. If we create weapons now, it could trigger a war.”
Jayce looks at him hopelessly. “I just want to be ready. An uprising is likely, now that they have something as powerful as the hexcore. If they stabilize it, they can use it.”
“No weapon goes unused, Jayce. Someone could still use it and the damage would be too much. This is not what we wanted to do, this won’t help people.”
Jayce looks at him with sadness in his eyes. He says “This could be the only way to save people. That would help them.” desperation clinging to his voice.
“I don’t want to create something with the goal to harm. Especially something that has the capacity of the hexcore.” He gets frustrated, Jayce is not looking at him now. “This is ridiculous. You ignored our projects to help Zaun since the Progress Day, yet you want to create weapons for an unknown future. People need our help now Jayce.”
Jayce gives him a painful look “I have to think.” and Jayce is out the door.
Viktor is all alone. This last month, he coughed up blood for the first time. He did not tell anyone, not even to Jayce. For his defense, Jayce is rarely in the lab these days. He proposed using hextech in a war with Zaun to the Council, but surprisingly Mel has managed to convince him otherwise. Maybe she is not as bad as Viktor had thought. She definitely knew what she was doing. She wanted weapons, to be prepared, but she did not favor war. It made Viktor respect her brilliance a bit. She was the perfect politician, a complete opposite of Jayce. He really hoped there would be no war.
His illness is getting worse. The amount of blood that comes out is increasing with every cough. He has trouble breathing and he feels a lot weaker. One night, when Jayce is at an elitist party, Viktor feels a bit fuzzy. Their assistant bids him goodnight and leaves quietly. She seemes sad. Jayce told him that Sky had feelings for him. Viktor was not intrigued as he does not see her that way. Moreover, he is gay. So they were doomed from the start. Jayce asked him if he likes anyone and Viktor said that he didn’t have time to date. It is partially true as he is running out of time and that only makes him want to work more. Partially, because he loves someone. Even he is not immune to the charm of the Golden Boy. Viktor cannot tell him that though. Jayce seems straight. He also looks perfect while Viktor looks a mess, even more these days. So he keeps it to himself. He knows that Jayce loves him, but it is not romantic love. Viktor can live with that, though he misses Jayce these days. Especially on nights like this when he’s working till late hours. He is trying to find a way to cure himself. He thinks the hexcore has the ability to do that, but he doesn’t know where to look. After 2 hours more of experimenting, frustration creeps in. He shoves his notes off the desk and gets up too quickly. He feels dizzy as a coughing fit takes over. It does not stop after a few seconds and Viktor can see the blood on his desk, dripping from his mouth and nose. His Academy uniform is ruined now. Darkness swallows him after a while.
Jayce decides to stop at the lab to see if Viktor’s still working. It feels like they don’t talk really talk anymore. He is also worried. Viktor seems to get worse, he has visibly lost weight and has even darker circles under his eyes. It doesn’t help that he practically lives in the lab now. He works 24/7. His uniform is crumpled from sleeping in it, his chapped lips and disheveled hair makes his condition seem worse than it really is. At least Jayce hopes so. When he pushes the door of their lab open, he sees that Viktor is sprawled on the ground, his crutch beside him. There is so much blood on his face and on his uniform. Jayce cannot move for a moment, fearing his partner may not be breathing. Jayce gathers him in his arms and rushes to the emergency of the infirmary, another pros of living on the Academy Grounds. The doctors take over from there, they run a few tests. After an hour and a half, Jayce is sitting next to Viktor, who is still unconscious in a hospital bed. Jayce has his head in his hands, he has been crying. He had never felt so helpless before. Viktor shuffles in the bed.
“Jayce?”
“Viktor, the doctors… they said…” he cannot say it. That would make it real.
Viktor understands. “How much time do I have?” He doesn’t look scared or nervous. He looks relieved, like he expected this.
Jayce can’t help but ask “Did you know?”
“I had my doubts. One can feel when one’s body is eroding.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? Maybe we could’ve done something sooner.” His tone is not accusatory, it sounds sad, small.
“Well, you weren’t really around.” Viktor does not sound accusatory either. His voice is flat. He is just stating a fact.
“I’m sorry. I should have been there.” Jayce says in an apologizing tone.
“It’s okay. You’re here now.”
Jayce does not feel that its okay. He doesn’t feel okay at all. In only a night, his world came crushing down. He feels helpless. However, he is realizing something, something he should have realized sooner. He loves Viktor. Early on in their relationship he felt some weird things that he could not understand. So, he put those feelings away. Now, after coming so close to losing Viktor, he understands that it was love. He loves this man more than anything. He is going to resign from the council to be with Viktor for… till’ the end. He wants to tell Viktor about his revelation, but he has fallen asleep. Jayce does not have the heart to wake him, after such a night. So, he just stares at him, taking in his sharp cheekbones and angular jaw. He looks so tired, so small. Jayce realizes that he is not ready to lose him. Of course, he knew that already, but the novelty of his realization of his feelings for Viktor made him realize again. It will be hard to lose his best friend, he is not sure if he can lose the love of his life though. Jayce decides to not tell Viktor about his feelings. It is selfish, but he will be the one left behind. He needs to protect himself as much as he can. So he nods off in the plastic chair, hoping sleep can make him forget about tonight’s events.