Chapter Text
The clatter of the typewriter echoed in the darkened room. The room contained just two pieces of furniture, a desk and a makeshift mattress on which pages and pages of calculations and sketches were spread out. Other sheets had been pinned to the walls, lining the room with equations and propeller diagrams, each more complex than the last. However, it wasn't a scientific calculation that was tattooed on the immaculate page in the typewriter, but a simple amount, preceded and followed by a few lines of text.
Viktor only glanced at the model on his right before resuming his work, his fingers dancing over the rusty letters on his work tool. The shouts in the corridor drowned out the clatter of the machine, but he didn't lose his train of thought. He had to be methodical, precise and, above all, focused: a single hesitation and he'd have to start all over again.
The Piltover National Bank logo shook as he slid the machine to the left and moved to the line to add the last words of his letter. Then, finally, he removed the sheet from its metallic embrace and held it in front of him. With squinted eyes, Viktor observed every detail of the page, making sure that no smudges or errors had crept into the text, and then superimposed the original and its forged copy in front of the flame of the oil lamp. Apart from the amounts and account numbers, everything was exactly the same. He nodded and, using his best pen, imitated the bank manager's signature with movements that had been honed by practice.
Satisfied with his work, Viktor waited for the ink to dry before carefully folding the letter and slipping it into a cream-coloured envelope, still adorned with the Bank's logo and stamps already stamped by Piltover Post Office. Making sure his shirt was smooth, he put on his jacket - the one that was still neat enough for his outing - before wedging his crutch under his arm and leaving his lodgings, the letter carefully tucked into his pocket.
The journey to his target's home was the most difficult part of his job. Viktor couldn't simply send the letter from Zaun as it would be automatically traced and identified as false. So he had to go up the gutters of the Undercity and cross the bridge that would take him to Piltover. From there he could slip his request straight into his victims' letterboxes. It was worth the effort, but his aching leg always got more painful after making such a journey, so it often took him several days to recover.
Viktor had been doing this for nearly seven years now, and his routine was well oiled. Every four weeks, he would write a new letter to one of the families in his address book and travel to Piltover to drop it off at their home. Then, he would go to the bank to collect the sums sent by the previous month's victims. They were all convinced that they were paying the bank for insurance on their savings accounts, but the notes arrived in the account created under a false identity and only Viktor, by presenting documents he had created and falsified himself, had access to them. With his pockets full, he bought equipment for his research and work before returning to Zaun with enough money to eat for a month, and above all enough money to concentrate on his scientific projects without having to worry about the cost of living. The rest he would send anonymously to the orphanage in Zaun, praying that the money would be put to good use.
A small smile stretched his lips as the envelope disappeared into the letterbox at the entrance to the gigantic manor, and he mingled with the crowd to get to the bank.
His habits were well established: in seven years, he had never encountered a single problem.
He didn't see himself as a forger who extorted noble families, simply as a scientist who had found a roundabout way of finding patrons.
After all, it was only a question of point of view.
***
"You're not an easy man to find."
Viktor finished his glass of alcohol without a glance at the man who had just sat on his left. He savoured every sip and took the opportunity to control his heartbeat. The newcomer didn't seem to be showing any animosity; on the contrary, he had a small, satisfied smile on his lips, and that reassured him as much as it worried him. Judging by his calm and relaxed demeanour, it couldn't be one of his victims, which was good news. However, the fact that his clothes were tailored and a little too clean and that he was looking for Viktor did not bode well. He didn't look as out of place as his fellows, but it was obvious that he wasn't from Zaun. He was a Piltie, and Viktor was suspicious of all Pilties. Especially since swindling them had become his main source of income.
However, since there was no guarantee - for the moment at least - that he had been unmasked, Viktor would continue to behave normally, as if he had nothing to reproach himself for…
Carefully placing his now empty glass back on the bar, Viktor grumbled, "Maybe the hard-to-find people are hard-to-find because they don't want to be disturbed.
- I don't doubt that for a second. But my employer was very clear and I can't let her down."
Viktor turned slowly to the man, eyebrows furrowed, and watched him for a long time - as much to make him uncomfortable as to keep his composure - before grumbling. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid you've got the wrong person.
- And I can assure you I made no mistake, Viktor: finding people is my job. And I'm very good at it."
Viktor stiffened when the man slipped a hand into the front of his coat, already preparing to recognise the silver glint of the handcuffs. But his fear was short-lived: the newcomer presented him with two cards, neither of them Enforcer plates. Immediately, the threat disappeared, replaced by intrigue and mistrust. The fact that a private detective had been hired to find him wasn't reassuring in itself, but it was the other name that unsettled him. Viktor had never 'worked' with the Kiramman family, so they had nothing to hold against him… He , on the other hand, had a grudge against them. And he couldn't understand why Cassandra Kiramman needed his services, especially in view of the decisive role she had played in ruining his life.
Viktor wasn't stupid, and he certainly wasn't desperate enough to try and swindle such a big family. That was one of his unbreakable rules: he swindled with the rich, but never took such big risks. Despite his desire to see them brought down, families with too much influence remained out of his reach, a question of safety as well as survival. He couldn't afford to get caught and end up in Stillwater because he'd never get out alive.
Viktor handed the business cards back to the man. "I'm convinced that Councillor Kiramman has the wrong person, Mr Clavel.
- Don't worry about my employer, she's never wrong either.
- What could she possibly want with an insignificant scientist from Zaun when the Academy's most brilliant students benefit from her patronage?"
Viktor had done his best to mask the bitterness in his voice, so that his words sounded more like simple facts than bitter mockery. The man raised his hand, asking for the same drink as him, and he gave him a little wink that may have been intended to be knowing but was more condescending than anything else. "My mission was to find you and invite you to the Kiramman residence to meet the Councillor tomorrow at 10am. All the details will be revealed to you then.
- You do realise that without a minimum of details I won't be making the trip. So I suppose you have a few snippets to pass on to me, just to lure me there, don't you?"
The detective took a sip and smiled. "As smart and straightforward as I've heard."
This time, Viktor pursed his lips and gave him a dark look: far be it from him to be blinded by pride, but he found being called 'smart' terribly insulting. And given this man's profession, he must have been perfectly aware of it. Viktor had been top of his class every year with the highest distinction, and if it hadn't been for the incident that occurred during his last semester, he would have graduated with honours.
Viktor wasn't smart.
He was brilliant.
And that Piltie bastard knew it very well.
Viktor gave a small, petty smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I'm trying my best, officer."
The man twitched slightly, almost nothing, but just enough for Viktor to take immeasurable satisfaction from it. Touché. Either Clavel hated Enforcers or he had been one. Unless... Unless he was a former aspirant who had never seen his dream come true? In any case, the jibe hit the nail on the head and any mocking glint disappeared from the detective's eyes as he frowned slightly. "Councillor Kiramman would need your services, not as a scientist but as a former student of the Academy. It just so happens that she's looking to sponsor new talent, so perhaps she'll think of you if your answer satisfies her."
Viktor would have liked to say that this information had caught his attention, but instead it aroused his concern, setting off alarm bells in his mind. The incident that had changed the course of his life had been caused – among other things – by the fact that Cassandra Kiramman had never seen fit to pay any attention to him during his years as a student. So why now, seven years after leaving the Academy? Viktor couldn't work out whether dangling a promise of patronage was common for the Councillor or whether, on the contrary, those few words had been carefully chosen, as much to provoke him as to attract him.
"She also instructs me to tell you that you will be handsomely paid," added the detective, sliding a thick purse towards him, "starting with this 'generous' advance."
Viktor's heart leapt in his chest as a golden glint lit up his face for a second, and while he couldn't stop the envy rumbling in his stomach, he blessed his control over his impulses. His hands remained resolutely crossed on the bar, his gaze scornful as he moved from the purse to Clavel. "I suppose accepting this advance is the same as accepting the proposal.
- Not at all. Just think of it as a... gift. A friendly gesture on his part and a token of her good faith."
Viktor had to stop himself from chuckling. Oh, he wished he could have savoured the irony of the situation, but it left nothing but a bitter taste on his tongue. "And if I refuse?
The detective shrugged. "Then you'll never see me again and you'll go back to your little life as a lousy inventor. It's as simple as that."
Viktor did not give him the satisfaction of getting angry. On the contrary, he let out a falsely amused sigh and ran the pad of his index finger along the rim of his empty glass. "You have a strange way with words. Shouldn't you try to convince me?
- I've done my research, I know you're not the type to let an opportunity pass you by, especially when it's so... tempting."
Viktor stiffened again, and he couldn't decide whether Clavel's knowing wink was real or the fruit of his paranoia. He did not relax when the detective paid both their bills with an indecent amount of money, gratifying the waiter with an insolent "keep the change". Clavel stood up, clearly buoyed by the satisfaction of a job well done, and leaned over to place a heavy hand on Viktor's shoulder. Viktor had to fight with all his might not to shudder with disgust or let out a grunt of revulsion, but despite his best efforts, the hair on the back of his neck stood on end as Clavel whispered in his ear. "See you tomorrow. Try to wear something other than rags to make a good impression."
Viktor didn't react either when Clavel forcibly slipped the purse into his hand, but he couldn't help shuddering when he added. "And watch your pockets. Zaun isn't safe and it would be a shame to lose this fine advance, especially in your situation."
The detective tapped him heavily on the shoulder before leaving the premises, as abruptly as he had entered. Immediately, Viktor hid the purse - Gods, it was heavy! - in his pocket, not so much to grab it as to make it disappear from the envious eyes of the world. If he had wanted to draw a target on Viktor's back, Clavel couldn't have done it better. He had been discreet enough for no one to hear him mention Cassandra Kiramman's name, but he had also been clever enough for several people in the bar to be aware of the existence of the money.
Which meant that Viktor was potentially going to have to fight tooth and nail to keep it, and that if he survived the night, he would have no choice but to go to the Councillor and disappear from Zaun's memory for at least a few weeks.
Fortunately, not everyone would try to steal from him, not in view of the services he rendered to the community with his inventions and the first aid he could sometimes provide to the wounded and sick, but that didn't make him untouchable. So he had to be careful, spend the money as quickly as possible or hide until the large sum had been forgotten.
Viktor cursed the detective inwardly and grabbed his crutch to leave the bar as confidently as possible.
The one time he left his place, all this trouble had to be thrown at him, all because Singed hadn't been able to join him as planned. Instead of leaving the bar with the promised vials and medicine in his pocket, he was carrying a time bomb. For a second, Viktor slowed his pace and considered the fact that he had been betrayed. Singed hardly ever missed an appointment, so would he have arranged this meeting in exchange for a few coins or authorisations? Would he have made sure that his former pupil was at the bar so that Clavel could catch him there?
Viktor would have liked to say that it was impossible, but the moment the idea occurred to him, he knew that it had happened, and he mentally cursed his mentor as well.
What could Cassandra Kiramman have offered, through Clavel, to make Singed agree to put him in such a situation?
Viktor shook himself: there was no need to worry about that, he had other things to worry about… Like his own survival by the time he got back to his flat.
Fortunately, Viktor had grown up in these labyrinthine streets, even though he had moved away from them during his years at the Academy. He knew which passages to avoid, which to use only during certain hours of the day or night, and which he could navigate without fear as long as he greased the right paws... So he didn't encounter any real problems.
Until he noticed he was being followed.
A bead of icy sweat ran down Viktor's spine when, at the turn of a shop window, he spotted an excessively well-tailored coat, a black hat tilted over a masked face... And Viktor was now certain that his pursuer was not a Zaunite. Worse still, this person wasn't after his purse, because when he slowed down and then stopped, the man did the same and didn't try to use this opportunity to grab the purse.
Shit.
Viktor was certain that it wasn't Clavel, the coat and the attitude were too different. If the detective had been honest, his presence at tomorrow's appointment was not essential, which meant that it wasn't Cassandra Kiramman who was having him followed like this either.
Which meant that another Piltie was stalking him.
No doubt another private detective hired by a rich man he had recently extorted.
Viktor swallowed hard and his leg jerked painfully as he quickened his pace. Well, there was no need to panic. If that man had wanted to kill him, his corpse would already be lying on the dirty cobblestones of some dark alleyway. If Viktor was still standing, it was because his pursuer hadn't set out to kill him. At least, not for the moment. But as soon as he knew his address, that could quickly change. The man would inform his employer and come back - either with Enforcers or other thugs - to kill him and get the extorted money back. Either way, Viktor was finished.
He turned into another dark alleyway, hoping that this cut-throat would dissuade his pursuer, but the figure followed without hesitation. Viktor cursed his fragile leg and body, cursed Singed who had undoubtedly sold him out for some advantage, cursed himself for not having more contacts where he could have spent the night and lost the trail of his pursuer. He had no choice: under normal circumstances, his aching joints would not allow him to spend a night outside, walking in the damp and dangerous darkness of Zaun, but this option was even more unthinkable today. The purse in his pocket made every second spent outdoors more dangerous than the last.
If only the amount had been high enough to convince the man to give up the hunt... If only Viktor could walk into a bar and convince the manager to hide him there for a night...
Viktor shook himself mentally: he had to be rational. If he let himself be carried away by panic and adrenalin, he would only make more mistakes, and he couldn't afford to make just one. So, even if he had to walk longer to try and discourage his pursuer - he didn't even think about losing him, not with his bad leg - he took advantage of this unexpected 'walk', his free hand buried in his pocket and gripping the purse tightly, to think as calmly as possible.
Since it was impossible to lose him, there was no doubt that the man would soon know where he lived. He would just have to be quick and efficient. As soon as he would close the door, Viktor would have to burn all the documents he had falsified, and not just those relating to the targets of his latest scam. Everything had to go, right down to his address book, so that nothing could incriminate him. And once that was done, he had to gather up his meagre personal belongings and leave the flat as quickly as possible. This time, he had to make sure he wasn't followed: he wouldn't leave the house until he was sure the man wasn't following him. Had he been more vindictive and petty, he would have considered leaving clues that would lead his pursuers to Singed, but he knew that would be stupid. After all, Singed had to know that his former protégé had attracted the attention of Cassandra Kiramman, and it was better to avoid this information reaching the ears of another private detective. The situation would be even more uncomfortable if the Enforcers came knocking on the Kiramman manor's door just as the Councillor was receiving the man they were looking for.
Viktor ran an exhausted hand over his face and hurried down one last alleyway. He had always been extremely careful, and the documents were always carefully forged. He himself sometimes struggled to tell the difference between his creations and the originals. He was certain that his pursuer had not been able to trace the documents back to him alone. Someone had helped him, and he could only think of Clavel who could have done such a thing. He couldn't be sure, but in view of his 'subtle' undertones, he wondered whether the detective, in investigating him, had not discovered his subterfuge and slipped to a desperate colleague where he could find Viktor…
Viktor didn't think Cassandra Kiramman was responsible for this leak of information. After all, if she had known about his other 'professional activity', she would never have called on him: she would simply have had him arrested and he would then have been obliged to obey her, which was a much simpler strategy for her.
Cassandra Kiramman did not know that Viktor was falsifying documents to swindle a few wealthy families so that he could concentrate on her research, and only Clavel and this man knew his identity. If he had been in full possession of his means, Viktor would have tried to silence them, but he had neither the strength nor the means - the purse in his pocket would only whet the appetites of the muscles he could hire. Nor could he put himself under Silco's protection, because he knew that he would then spend his life falsifying documents for his little mafia. With Singed already in the position of scientist, Viktor would only eat crumbs, and he couldn't live without his research, not when his ambition was to change the world.
Under normal circumstances, Viktor would have refused Cassandra Kiramman's invitation. But he was no longer in a position to refuse...
He had to disappear and he had to find a new source of income. And no one would even think of coming to Piltover to look for him once he'd vanished without a trace.
Viktor pushed open the door to his flat and double-locked it, which was almost useless given that the wood was so damaged that a simple kick would have broken the door in immediately. He didn't switch on the light when he reached his flat, trying to make it as difficult as possible for his pursuer to identify his flat. Viktor remained glued to the wall, waiting a good ten minutes before cautiously moving towards the window to take a look outside without being seen. The man was there, standing on the other side of the small street, his gaze resting on all the windows still plunged in darkness.
Perfect. He didn't know which flat he was staying in yet, so he might as well keep it that way.
Viktor moved back slightly, still as discreetly as possible, and sat down on the thin mattress that served as his bed - positioned far from the window - wincing in pain. Normally, he would have removed his brace and makeshift back brace, massaged his leg and stretched his aching spine, but he had no time for the whims of his body. He gathered up the documents strewn across his mattress and rose to retrieve those adorning the small table that served as his desk, always bending down to avoid being seen. Viktor piled up the forged letters, the typewritten authorisations and attestations signed by himself, the true-to-life requests for payment and his beloved address book, and slid them all into the dustbin, which he took out into the corridor.
The crack of the match broke the almost supernatural silence of the night and Viktor dropped it on the documents. The paper burned immediately, drawing orange flashes across his drawn face and lighting his eyes with a determined glow. He watched the ashes rise in the corridor, smothered the smoke as best he could, and then went to empty the remains of the evidence of his misdeeds into the communal toilets. The last remnants of his forgery disappeared into the sewers, and Viktor left the bin in the room.
Back in his room, still without switching on the light, he retrieved the three envelopes containing his savings - he was always careful to divide the amount and hide one envelope less carefully, while the other two were better concealed, so that if thieves broke in, they would be satisfied with their first find and would leave without looking any further. Viktor then took out the small briefcase from his years at the Academy and slipped in the money, his two spare shirts, his medicines, his small typewriter, the documents about his research and all the pages covered with calculations that were still flying around the room.
Viktor then took off his clothes and rolled them into a ball in the small suitcase before putting on his old student uniform, which he couldn't bring himself to throw away. Fortunately, since he'd lost weight over the last seven years rather than gain some, it still fit. Admittedly, it was a little too big, but that wasn't terribly shocking. He put his neat jacket back on, followed by his weather and damp-worn coat, and lay back on his bed, eyes wide open.
Viktor wouldn't sleep tonight. He would wait for the miners to leave their homes for their shift, in about five hours' time, and then he would mingle with the crowd, disappear and walk to Piltover right under the nose of the man who had followed him.
Under normal circumstances, he would never have accepted this invitation and he would have sent Cassandra Kiramman to Hell so that he could continue to make a living as a forger and take advantage of this easily earned money to concentrate on his research... But this wasn't a normal situation, and he couldn't afford to refuse an offer that could save his life. And even if it meant being discovered, even if it meant having to give up his flat, he might as well benefit from a semblance of security while he made himself forgotten.
And if Viktor could extort a bit of money from the Councillor at the same time, he would kill two birds with one stone.
***
Viktor had thought for a moment that his limp would give him away among the crowd of miners, but instead it helped him to blend in with the mass of maimed and exhausted workers. With his crutch tucked under his arm, he hobbled to the mine with them before walking away. He waited a few minutes and, realising that his pursuer had lost his trail, he let out a brief sigh of relief before tucking his crutch under his arm and heading towards Piltover, his small suitcase clutched in his free hand.
The weight of his belongings was not incommensurable, but the small typewriter was heavy enough to unbalance him as he walked. He had to take frequent breaks, cursing the loss of time and the danger they represented, but he didn't for a second consider abandoning this tool. He took no pleasure in falsifying documents, but it was thanks to it that they were so realistic and credible, he simply couldn't abandon it. Especially as few Zaunites owned one: leaving it in his flat was almost like admitting his guilt.
So Viktor walked slowly, and by the time he had left his lodgings just before four o'clock, the sun had risen by the time he reached the bridge that separated him from Piltover. Viktor unapologetically threw off his worn coat in a bin and crossed the few metres of the border.
Once he had crossed that bridge and was standing in front of the Kiramman residence, there would be no turning back. So he'd give himself body and soul, as much to save his skin as to swindle as much money as possible from one of those responsible for his misfortune.
***
"Councillor Kiramman will see you in the small lounge."
Viktor followed the butler through a labyrinth of corridors and couldn't contain a scornful pout when he noticed that the Kiramman manor was a veritable display of wealth. The white marble walls were meticulously scrubbed and adorned with portraits of ever-greater proportions, as well as works of art that should have enriched museums but which were imprisoned in a private hall. Diamond chandeliers cast their shadows on the marble floor, and the ceilings were so high they almost made him dizzy.
One thousandth of that wealth would have been enough to lift an entire generation out of poverty.
One hundredth could have given Zaun a worthy hospital and healthcare system.
And that was just the tip of the Kiramman family's financial iceberg.
Viktor gritted his teeth and looked away from the family portraits to stare at the butler's back. He had to stay focused, remember what he'd come for. He wasn't going to play the ardent admirer or the desperate sycophant, but he had to stay alert: he had no confidence in the Councillor and he had to keep his cool. Fortunately, this was a skill Viktor had quickly acquired and honed on his arrival at the Academy. Given his leg and place of birth, people already assumed many false things about him based on their own sterotypes, so if he started to raise his voice, they would just shake their heads and label him an "uncontrollable, irritable Zaunite". So Viktor was quick to control his emotions and facial expressions, hiding his fury behind a mocking smile, concealing a sense of injustice behind a shrug...
He was not afraid of this meeting. He knew the role he had to play and he had worn this mask most of his life, but he was apprehensive about coming face to face with one of those responsible for the incident that had changed the course of his life.
The butler stopped in front of a high door and invited him in. "Take a seat. Councillor Kiramman will be here in a few minutes."
Squeezing the handle of his suitcase, Viktor walked in and, despite his desire to remain unimpressed, his eyes widened in amazement. The walls were still marble, but this time the ceiling was made of glass, and the room was bathed in natural light. The room was an immense greenhouse with coloured stained glass windows, chiselled tiles and plants, each more beautiful and rarer than the last.
This was the 'small' lounge? Viktor didn't dare imagine the size of the 'big one' - he'd probably get lost just walking through the front door!
The place was magnificent, a splendour of light and nature amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, and in another context Viktor would have spent hours studying every species on display here. But when he looked down at the armchairs at the far end of the room, his wonder turned to cold determination.
He knew the strategies and modus operandi of this world: visitors were first of all made to sit up and wait, so that they would feel insignificant, amazed and reminded of their place in this dream they could suddenly touch. Viktor was also expected to sit uncomfortably on the edge of an armchair, to look around and change position twenty times while smoothing out his shirt and checking that his collar was in place. And when he would begin to think that he had been forgotten, only then would the Councillor grace him with her presence, making him leap from his seat to shake her hand and bow too many times.
That was the aim of the game: to impress him so as to make him crack faster.
But he wouldn't give them the pleasure.
So Viktor remained standing, his feet firmly planted on the ground despite the pain that shot up his leg and spine, and he pretended to concentrate on the plants surrounding the living room.
As he had imagined, the sound of heels echoed down the corridor after many long minutes - almost ten, according to the clock standing in the room - and Cassandra Kiramman finally made her entrance. Viktor had sworn not to let himself be disturbed, but he felt a wave of resentment clench his stomach and burn his face. The Councillor had hardly changed in the last seven years. She was always dressed in the latest fashion, refined, and her impeccable hair was dotted with greying strands that gave her a more severe look. She walked briskly, an unusual gait for high society people used to having everything served to them on a silver platter without having to hurry, and when she arrived in front of him, she held out a gloved hand, her lips pursed. "Thank you for agreeing to this meeting. Please, sit down."
Viktor had expected some petty remarks, some semblance of unease perhaps, but not this strange haste. Watching her movements as they took their seats in opposite chairs, he realised that she wasn't just in a hurry: she was nervous, worried even... And that intrigued him more than the invitation itself.
"So, you're an alumni of the Academy?"
Viktor pursed his lips and swallowed the acerbic reply that almost escaped him.
She had no regrets about her responsibility for his fall.
She had taken part in his descent into Hell, and she didn't even remember him.
For a second, Viktor's vision blurred and sounds seemed to muffle as the butler poured fine tea into two cups. He clenched his fists in his lap, harder than he would have thought possible, and forced himself to take a deep breath. Cassandra squinted slightly at his silence and graciously raised an eyebrow as she sipped the first sip from the tip of her lips.
Viktor refused his cup with a wave of his hand, his body stiff with a bravely contained tension, and he finally breathed. "Indeed.
- What year did you graduate?"
He clenched his jaws briefly. "Seven years ago.
- Then you must know Jayce Talis."
This time, Viktor had to hold back a mocking sigh. One had to be totally stupid or out of touch not to know that name. There wasn't a single person in Piltover or in Zaun who didn't know Jayce Talis, the little prodigy from Piltover, the darling golden boy of the Academy but also of Cassandra Kiramman and of the entire Council. He was his junior by a year at the Academy, so even though they had never spoken, Viktor had quickly heard his name echoing in the corridors. Sponsored by the Kiramman family who had also been his patrons for years, Jayce Talis had proposed several revolutionary projects during his time as a student, so much so that once he had graduated, the big companies literally snapped him up. They all wanted him all to themselves, delighted to be able to benefit not only from great ideas that could make them millions, but also from such a photogenic spokesperson who was at ease in society.
In other words, he was the extreme opposite of Viktor, who had evolved in the shadows of the corridors without managing to receive any semblance of financial support other than the school scholarship he had fought tooth and nail for. Jayce was bright, smiling and talked easily in public while Viktor was sullen and struggled to talk in front of an audience of more than three people.
Viktor could still remember Jayce making a grand statement in the corridors of the Academy a few weeks before the incident. He could still hear his voice and see his smiling face as he proclaimed loud and clear that he wanted to make the world a better place with his inventions. And even though they had hardly ever exchanged a single word, Viktor had felt a semblance of surprise and interest in this man he had never talked to. At that moment, he had told himself that all was not lost. Viktor had thought that he could earn his place in this world despite where he was born, and he even thought he might be able to meet Jayce and offer him to work together.
This was one of the reasons why Viktor had been extremely disappointed by Jayce's decision to work for the Council when he graduated. Jayce had been such a brilliant student, so full of dreams and ideals, but he had started making weapons for money and glory.
And it disgusted him.
Viktor was all the more disappointed that Jayce's inventions, once so brilliant and innovative, were now… basic. And what was even worse was that he benefited from constant patronage to create such cruelty. If Viktor had had his chance, he would never have stooped to such a fate.
Viktor straightened slightly in the chair and sketched a semblance of a smile, more weary than he would have imagined. "Everyone knows the name of Jayce Talis.
- That I know. I'm asking you if you knew him personally."
Viktor frowned slightly at Cassandra Kiramman's suddenly hardened expression. He was about to reply that they had never exchanged more than the occasional greeting as they passed each other in the corridors (and even then, it was Jayce, as polite and charming as ever, who said it while Viktor merely shrugged), but her turn of phrase tipped him off.
She wasn't asking him this question to make conversation.
Judging by the inquisitive look on her face and the tone in which she'd said those few words, she'd called him here because someone had obviously led her to believe that Viktor knew Jayce. Why? He couldn't say. But she obviously needed confirmation to tell him more about why he was here.
Weighing up the pros and cons, Viktor finally nodded cautiously. "Indeed."
Immediately, he saw Cassandra's shoulders relax and her face soften, and he knew he hadn't made a mistake. He'd heard enough about Jayce during his studies to be able to slip in a few thoughts here and there to fuel his lie, but he'd have to be careful. This woman knew the 'Man of Progress' almost as well as Jayce's own mother: he had to avoid making a single false move at all costs or risk having his deception discovered.
"That's what I was told," the Councillor replied at last, sipping another sip of tea, "Jayce's mother and my own daughter mentioned your name and I had to call on one of his close friends, as the situation is desperate."
Well, obviously they were mistaken.
Either the aforementioned relatives had misremembered the name of the person who was really a friend of Jayce's, or Cassandra had made the mistake - after all, it was easy to go from Hector to Viktor. But he had no intention of opening her eyes to this misunderstanding, so he simply nodded as she continued. "As you probably know, Jayce left Piltover almost six months ago."
I did not, but I'll make a note of it.
"Perhaps he also told you he left in the company of Mel Medarda, and they left us only a brief note announcing their departure for an indefinite period."
This time, Viktor couldn't help but cringe: the affair between the Man of Progress and Councillor Medarda was an open secret, a piece of gossip that the media had been quick to pick up on. It wasn't in itself intriguing that they should have left together, presumably to live out their love life away from the curious eyes of the public, but it was surprising that Jayce Talis should have left the city where all his allies, both political and financial, were living. And it was even more surprising that Mel Medarda, the Noxian heiress in exile, had left Piltover after working so hard to become such a prominent member of the Council.
Why would she give up her privileges so abruptly? Did she love Jayce enough to ruin all her past efforts? Even though Viktor had never known her - she had not yet joined the Council at the time of the incident, so even though he despised her as much as the other Councillors, she escaped his wrath - he found it hard to believe.
Surprised by his reaction, Cassandra continued. "From your expression, I'm guessing you don't know when he'll be back either.
- I'm afraid not.
- And what did he tell you about this sudden trip abroad?"
Even if she was worried, she was still suspicious, and Viktor was going to have to be extremely careful. "What he must have also told you, I suppose.
- Enlighten me."
He squinted, still reading an ounce of doubt in her gaze, before answering slowly. "That he needs time and that he himself doesn't know when he'll be back."
When Cassandra nodded and pinched the bridge of her nose with a sigh, Viktor mentally congratulated himself for remaining vague. Given the Councillor's obvious concern, it was not difficult to understand that she was sorely lacking in information about the situation of her protégé, the boy she had modelled in her image and the man she had used to make her investment bear fruit. But Viktor couldn't take any more risks, he needed answers and above all he needed to know why his help was needed - or rather the help of the person everyone thought he was.
"Forgive my bluntness, Councillor, but why am I here?"
Cassandra raised her head and placed her cup on the table. "I'll get straight to the point: Jayce has temporarily left Piltover to 'think about new projects'," she quoted with obvious weariness, "as you already know, I spotted his potential very quickly, and even before he started his studies at the Academy."
Viktor nodded because that's what she expected him to do, but he couldn't stop his jaws from clenching at the words. Unaware of his inner turmoil, the Councillor was already continuing. "For nearly twelve years, I followed his development and his career, and once he graduated, I also made sure I always kept an eye on his research, to guide him, of course.
- Of course."
It was mostly to ensure that his inventions made you even richer than you already are.
Viktor wasn't stupid: he knew that a patron always slipped his ideas and desires into the equation, which was why he hadn't insisted for long when he'd realised that nobody wanted to sponsor him: he'd rather skip several meals but remain in control of his inventions. Clearly, Cassandra Kiramman was no different, and she had kept Jayce under her thumb to ensure that his creations complied with her wishes. Viktor almost felt sorry for him.
"When he started dating Mel Medarda, I didn't notice any change in Jayce's attitude: after all, she shared the Council's views on technology and the usefulness of these advances in ensuring Piltover's superiority. But in the few months before they left, I sensed that Jayce was slightly... down. They exchanged notes in and out of meetings, he increasingly refused to attend galas held in honour of his inventions... But I never thought he'd leave town, let alone with Councillor Medarda."
She slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out a neatly folded sheet of paper, which she handed to Viktor. "He left me only this note, and the two of them send me a few terse letters from time to time from the place where they have retired."
Viktor read the brief letter, looking as neutral as possible despite the surprise he felt. In neat, curved handwriting, Jayce briefly explained to his sponsor that he did indeed need time, but also a change of scenery.
"I need a new perspective to think about my next inventions, but also to work on some personal research that I'm sure will change the world. I'll be sure to keep you posted on my progress, but I'm not sure when I'll be back. There's no need to send anyone to look after me: I'm here with Mel, who will be sending reports to the Council."
Viktor reread the note twice, more intrigued than he had expected. Why would Jayce leave town when his status as Man of Progress and the Kirammans' patronage were assured? Why disappear when everything was going so well for him? And above all, why was he so vague about this personal research of his?
"It matches what he told me," he says cautiously, handing her back the sheet of paper.
- So you know what this... 'personal research' is all about?"
Not only had Jayce left the city for no good reason, but he had never told his patron about his plans... Every new piece of information was more disturbing than the last.
"I'm afraid not," Viktor said, "I know it's been bothering him but he's never said anything more. He wanted to wait until he had some conclusive results before sharing more information.
- Of course," Cassandra mumbled as she put the note away, "I suspected Jayce would have kept it a secret, but I was hoping for some clarification nonetheless."
Viktor immediately realised that, despite his skill, he had not been able to offer a sufficiently satisfactory answer and that he would probably be dismissed in a few minutes. But that was not part of his plan. He couldn't go home, he needed some semblance of protection for the next few weeks. "I'm sorry I can't be of more help. But I think you can trust him: you know as well as I do that he'll tell you more as soon as he's had some results. After all, Jayce always could hardly contain his enthusiasm."
There was something unsettling, almost intimate, about saying his name like that, and when Cassandra Kiramman stared at him for a long moment, he thought he had done too much or had made a bitter mistake. Yet that was how Viktor remembered the student who proclaimed loud and clear that he would change the world, a bright smile on his lips. Could he have been mistaken? A bead of sweat slid down his spine and he had to fight not to rub his sweaty palms on his knees, to simply stare at the Councillor's face without trembling. But at last she looked away, looking strangely satisfied. "I admit I was hoping to find out more about this project, but don't worry, that's not why I asked you here."
If Viktor had been out of practice, the relief would almost have made him faint. Fortunately, his voice didn't shake when he asked. "What is it you want from me?"
She leaned forward and whispered, in a tone of confidence. "I want you to take the first boat to Ionia and convince Jayce to come back to Piltover."
This time, Viktor nearly choked. "I beg your pardon?
- I know that your whole life is in Zaun and that I'm asking a lot of you," Cassandra argued, folding her hands elegantly on her left knee, "but as Mister Clavel has told you, you will be generously paid before, during and after you complete your mission, and all your expenses - travel, food, accommodation - will be covered by me. If you accept, I will immediately send someone to buy a first-class ticket for the first ship to Ionia, as well as a return ticket for four months from now."
She slid an envelope across the table, so thick that Viktor's throat suddenly went dry. "This should cover a month's stay on the coast, where Jayce sends his letters from. If you're going to be here for more than a month, just write to me and I'll send you more money. I know that Jayce can be... determined, so I'll give you four months to bring him back with you. If, after that period, he refuses to follow you, I will relieve you of your duties. You can either stay in Ionia, or use this return ticket and report back to my residence."
Viktor stiffened slightly and she gave a faint smile, her first since the start of their meeting. "Not to punish you, but so you can tell me about some of your research. If Jayce refuses to come back and your research catches my attention, I'll be delighted to sponsor you."
Bile rose in Viktor's throat and he clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He prayed that she would interpret his reaction as stage fright and huffed. "I suppose I have to give you my answer right away.
- I'm afraid so."
Viktor weighed up the pros and cons. Of course, he didn't like the idea of having to leave everything he'd ever known and he couldn't bear the thought of obeying the Councillor's orders... Nevertheless…
Nevertheless, he had a golden opportunity to disappear for four months, away from the men who were tracking him, away from the dangers of his counterfeiting business.
Nevertheless, he was offered a high salary that would keep him out of trouble for years if he maintained his usual lifestyle.
All Viktor had to do was go to Ionia and do what he had been doing for seven years: lie. He would need to send Cassandra a few letters during those four months, expressing his despair at his unsuccessful attempts and asking for money to extend his stay. Then, once he was back in Piltover, with his pockets full, he could disappear again, because he refused to let his inventions fall under the yoke of the Kirammans or the Council. But that wouldn't be a problem, because he'd have so much money he wouldn't know what to do with it, and he wouldn't need any patrons to finally realise his wildest plans.
Viktor had to fight off an amused smile: it was almost too good to be true.
"With all due respect, how am I supposed to convince him if his mother, your daughter and yourself have failed?"
Cassandra blinked, as if surprised that he'd made this deduction alone when it was so obvious, and shrugged. "You're a scientist: work with him, help him finish this personal project of his, and bring him back here. You're his closest friend," she added, "I'm sure you'll be able to find the right words."
Viktor pretended to think for a few long seconds before nodding. "Alright, I accept.
- I am delighted to hear that."
Cassandra stood up and when she held out a white-gloved hand, he hesitated for a moment before squeezing it with his fingertips. "It's a pleasure to work with you, Viktor."
His eyes darkened and he smirked. "When does the boat leave?"
***
Seagulls flew over the deck, as if escorting the boat to port, and a warm wind whipped Viktor's cheeks as he inhaled the salty air. Leaning against the rail, he let his gaze drift over the waves to focus on the coastline, which was gradually coming into view.
The crossing had gone smoothly. As Cassandra had promised, Viktor had left the Kiramman residence with an envelope full of money, his suitcase, the few letters sent by Jayce to his patron, but above all with his boarding ticket for a first-class cabin on the first boat to Ionia. Under normal circumstances, Viktor would have said he needed more time to think about it and refused outright, but his situation had become so precarious that he didn't hesitate for long.
Of course, he had never set foot outside Piltover and Zaun, and leaving everything he had ever known behind brought its share of worries, but between agreeing to this expedition and ending with his throat cut in a gutter, the choice was quickly made.
Viktor mechanically recalled the information he had on Jayce.
When he'd first come aboard, he'd initially thought that he'd simply go to Ionia and wait four months for his pursuers to forget about him, taking advantage of the opportunity to advance his own research. But then he told himself that, if Jayce ever returned to Piltover and Cassandra Kiramman discovered that Viktor had never made contact, she would know how to find him and, this time, he wouldn't be able to escape the trouble. He could have simply disappeared once arrived in Ionia, but he preferred to return quickly to his habits in Zaun. He wouldn't uproot himself for so little.
So, even if it meant making contact, Viktor had gone through Jayce's letters to try and find out more about him. If he didn't want Cassandra to find out that he'd also lied about his ‘friendship’ with the Man of Progress, he'd have to convince Jayce himself that they'd at least rubbed shoulders during their student days.
Fortunately, Viktor had a plan.
Well... he had a vague idea, and if it fell through, he didn't really have a plan B.
In general, people forgot about him very quickly, not only because of where he came from, but also because of his ordinary looks and his tendency to fade into the shadows. What some people would have found offensive, Viktor had turned into a weapon, a perfect way of keeping a low profile in his business as a forger. Paradoxical as it may seem, he was counting on his ‘forgettability’ - in fact, his plan depended on it. Because if there was one thing he was counting on, it was Pilties' fear of offending someone who could one day be useful to them.
Viktor slowly made his way back to his cabin when he saw the coastline more clearly, continuing his mental list of the elements of Jayce's life.
Jayce had joined Piltover with his mother when he was still a child and, thanks to the prestige of his name - a family renowned for their work as blacksmith - he had quickly benefited from the patronage of Cassandra Kiramman, who had financed his education. He was obviously very close to Caitlyn Kiramman, whom he affectionately referred to as ‘sprout’ in his letters, but also to his mother, Ximena. Strangely, these were his only really close ties and he didn't mention the names of any other friends. This surprised Viktor because, as far as he remembered based on the dew times he observed Jayce as a student and even from his public appearances, Jayce was always surrounded and so bright that the rest of the world seemed to revolve around him. Perhaps he was just more discreet about it in his letters?
Anyway: apart from Caitlyn, Cassandra and his mother, Piltover's golden boy never mentioned any friends.
And then, of course, there was Mel.
And there, things were clearer.
Viktor hadn't had to sift through all letters to confirm the true nature of the bond between Jayce and the Councillor. As the whole town thought, they were intimate. Jayce spoke of Mel in superlatives, flattering adjectives and compliments, and his overflowing affection, his love for her, was obvious and coated in mawkishness, to the point where Viktor almost had indigestion.
It was not surprising that Cassandra Kiramman wondered whether Mel Medarda was responsible for Jayce's sudden departure. In his letters, Jayce simply repeated that he needed time, but reading between the lines, it was easy to understand that the initiative had not come from him. He had no relatives or friends in Ionia, not enough contacts to have organised his departure and the rental of an isolated house on the coast... Each of these details seemed to bear the seal of Noxian nobility, and therefore of Mel.
Could she have encouraged Jayce to move away from Piltover? And if so, why would she separate her adopted town from its golden boy? Was she trying to win him over to Noxus' cause? After all, although exiled, perhaps Mel wanted to earn her place back alongside her mother, Ambessa? Convincing Jayce to give up Cassandra Kiramman's sponsorship to join the Medardas and create weapons for them would make perfect sense.
But the letters contained no answers and gave little to no information about Noxus. Jayce simply stated that Mel was with him, looking after him and drafting political treaties with the help of her assistant and confidante, Elora.
From what Viktor had gathered about the character of the two lovers, it might not be too difficult for him to get close to Jayce, but Mel would be the real problem. She'd immediately be suspicious of him, and he wasn't hypocritical enough to convince her to like him.
Viktor wasn't particularly keen on convincing Jayce to return to Piltover, in fact, he was only going to make meagre attempts to make sure these echoes would get back to Cassandra Kiramman, but he was... Curious. Curious as to what could have driven Jayce to leave the city and curious as to what this strange personal project consisted of.
Viktor adjusted the collar of his shirt, checked that his tie was properly knotted, and left the cabin without a backward glance.
Four months. He would play the game for four months to accumulate as much money as possible.
And then he'd go home, return to his calculations and diagrams, and get on with life.
Everything would be fine.
***
Viktor only felt uneasy once he reached the beach.
As long as he'd been on the boat, he'd been convinced he'd made the right choice, but now that he was there, arms flailing and feet in the warm sand, he realised how much he'd overestimated himself.
Getting to the nearest and cheapest hotel had been no problem. He'd paid to occupy the room for a week, preferring to wait and see Jayce's reaction once he'd made contact. If all went well, he'd extend his stay, and if it didn't, he wouldn't have spent money unnecessarily. He changed quickly, swapping his Academy uniform for a crimson shirt and his best-fitting trousers, and set off immediately.
Finding the address of the residence occupied by Jayce and Mel had been child's play - he'd simply had to make do with an interminable flight of stairs which had made him swear and which had forced him to stop several times to spare his angry leg. The most vexing thing had been to come all this way for nothing, as he'd simply wanted to check out the place: he wasn't going to simply turn up at Jayce's and pretend to be a friend, as that wouldn't explain how he'd got his address and his plan would fall through. No, he simply wanted to wait for the scientist to leave his home so that he could bump into him on the streets ‘by chance’. But while he was watching the house and catching his breath in the shelter of a column, a visitor rang the doorbell, asking to speak to Mel, and Mel's confidante - Elora - replied that the Councillor was at the beach with Jayce.
In other words, just outside his hotel.
Viktor had walked all the way in the opposite direction, mumbling curses, flashes of pain radiating from his leg as if to mock him, and so he had found himself facing the ocean again, his shoes and socks in hand. And now that he was here, he felt absolutely ridiculous.
What the hell am I doing here?
The beach was almost deserted, occupied only by a few couples or groups of friends enjoying the fine weather, and all of them were wearing only swimsuits.
And he was dressed to the point of wearing a tie.
A semblance of shame whispered to Viktor to turn around, disappear and go back to Zaun immediately, even if it meant having his throat slit as soon as he set foot in his house again. At once, this fate seemed more favourable than having to cross the beach dressed like that, wobbling on his legs and leaning awkwardly on his crutch, which would definitely not support him with dignity once it would be buried in the sand.
But just as he was about to turn away, a crystalline burst of laughter echoed through the air and his eyes locked on a couple lying in the shade of an umbrella.
An incredibly handsome man and a sublime woman with skin sprinkled with gold.
Jayce and Mel.
His throat suddenly incredibly dry, Viktor swallowed hard, dazzled but also intimidated by this almost unreal vision, as if the Gods had descended on Runeterra to grace mortals with their superb beauty.
Since when did humans have the right to be so beautiful, so perfect?
Viktor's unease increased a notch when he mechanically lowered his eyes to his own body, to his long, lean limbs and skin so pale that his veins drew a river map visible to the naked eye. His gaze froze on his makeshift brace, on the metal that warmed gently in the sun, on his crutch stuck in the sand, and he realised with amazement that he felt more than just shame…
A hint of jealousy nipped at his heart, a deceitful envy coiling in his belly and hissing in his mind.
It wasn't fair.
Why did Jayce have absolutely everything - beauty, health, desired status, wealth, patronage, barely imagined dreams that immediately became reality - while Viktor had nothing? Why did he have to struggle to survive on a daily basis when, if it hadn't been for the incident, he should have had the same radiant destiny, living off his inventions while changing the world?
It wasn't fair.
It wasn't fair.
Viktor looked up at the couple again, watched them for a moment, then took a step back. So much for Cassandra Kiramman's money and for the opportunity this represented: he was going to go back to the hotel and hole up in his room until he could go home and make sure people would forget about him.
He turned away, took several clumsy steps in the sand…
And he froze.
No.
Envy festered in Viktor's chest, stilling his limbs and darkening his eyes.
After all…
If he had to be here…
Why not take what he deserved?
Why not live the life he should have lived?
Viktor clenched his fist on his crutch, took a deep breath and drew a smile as natural as possible across his features. Nobody would see the shadow in his eyes or the darkness in his soul: they would only see what he was willing to show them.
Driven by anger and jealousy, Viktor strode quietly towards the parasol, his eyes gazing at the horizon as if he were simply strolling along with no other aim than to enjoy the weather. His heart rate seemed to quicken with every step, but nothing in his voice or face betrayed his nervousness when he passed the laughing couple before stopping and turning back to them, one eyebrow raised. "Jayce?"
Immediately, the voices fell silent and the timer started automatically in Viktor's head. There was no room for error.
Mel frowned and watched him from head to toe, while Jayce sat up slightly on his elbows and blinked. He was just rounding his lips on an answer when Viktor smiled frankly. "Jayce Talis! What a coincidence!"
The scientist hesitated, opened and closed his mouth, and Viktor pointed to himself with an amused little sigh. "It's me. Viktor."
A flash of panic seemed to cross Jayce's eyes as he straightened into a sitting position, about to speak, and Viktor knew instantly that if he had been alone with him, his plan would have worked immediately. If they had been alone on that beach, Jayce would have smiled to hide his embarrassment and shaken his hand before exchanging banalities in an attempt to remember this man who obviously knew him. From what he understood of his character, Viktor knew that Jayce would have done everything to avoid making him uncomfortable or offending him and that he would have ended up convincing himself that they had met but that he had simply forgotten about him. Jayce would have opened his arms without hesitation, driven by his fear of disappointing and offending others.
If he had been alone, the game would have been won before it had even begun.
But Jayce wasn't alone.
And just as Viktor had anticipated, it was Mel who stepped in, eyes squinting. "I'm sorry, do we know each other?"
Viktor let out a small chuckle, as if the answer was obvious. "Everyone in Piltover knows your name and face, Councillor Medarda, but unfortunately I haven't had the pleasure of meeting you." He waved his hand at Jayce again. "I studied at the Academy with Jayce. Oh, it must have been... seven or eight years since we last saw each other isn't that right Jayce?"
Jayce's gaze went from Viktor to Mel before he replied slowly, his tone anything but convinced. "At least all that, yes.
- I was in the year above," Viktor continued, "but we had the opportunity to work together several times during our studies. Remember how we almost blew up our equipment during that engineering lab?"
In other circumstances, Viktor would almost have felt bad for the poor man who was staring at him with round eyes, clearly horrified that he couldn't remember this stranger who claimed to know him. But finally, Jayce smiled hesitantly and nodded. "How could I forget?"
Viktor grinned mentally, cruelly amused by his choice of vocabulary, but he didn't let it show, continuing to ‘remember’ the details of an event that never happened. "Heimerdinger was furious and you were so impressed with him at the time that I took all the blame. I can still see the look on your face, you were so sheepish."
Jayce nodded, still smiling, but the panic in his eyes was so obvious it was almost hilarious. "I maintain that, when he's angry, he's scarier than he looks."
Viktor let out an amused chuckle and took a step closer. "I'm sure Councillor Medarda can attest to that too."
But as much as Jayce was trying to mimic his ‘friend's’ enthusiasm, Mel was still frozen in place. In fact, she had pursed her lips and frowned. "Fortunately, it's rare for my colleague to lose his temper.
- Fortunately, indeed."
Mel's tone was icy, her green eyes fixed on him as if they could read his soul, and Viktor was now certain that his strategy would have to rely entirely on Jayce's goodwill. So he turned away from her to focus back on his target. "What are you doing in Ionia? I never thought I'd find you here."
The Councillor and her partner exchanged a look that Viktor pretended not to notice, then, after a few seconds, Jayce replied cautiously. "I'm taking a holiday.
- And you deserve it," encouraged Viktor before turning to Mel, "in all the time I've known this man, I've hardly ever seen him rest. I'm glad to see he's learnt to let off a bit of steam... Not that I can be a good judge, I've never really known how to do that myself, have I?"
Jayce returned his knowing smile. "You were always the unstoppable type."
Bloody hell, he had him wrapped around his finger, it was almost too easy.
But even if Viktor relished the way he could play with his feet, Mel wasn't as fooled. "Since you're obviously having trouble resting, what are you doing here, Viktor?
- Unfortunately, even though I'm staying at the hotel, I'm not on holiday," he replied sheepishly, pointing to the building with his chin. "I'm working on a new ventilation project that I'd like to install in Zaun and I came to find out about certain types of materials that I could find in Ionia."
A flicker of interest crossed Jayce's face and he straightened up a little more. "A ventilation system?
- That shouldn't surprise you: you know I've always wanted to improve the lives of Zaunites. This is my home town, after all."
Jayce nodded, making a mental note of this information to try and refine the search in his memory, and Mel finally sat down, straight and majestic. Even though Viktor was standing, he had the impression that she was towering over him. "And you couldn't just have a few samples delivered to you rather than making the trip?
- I'm not lucky enough to have enough patrons to afford such a delivery. I preferred to save the money to go there.
- The cost of the trip is expensive, though, isn't it?
- Not as expensive as ordering samples that unfortunately won't fit. Jayce will confirm that it's better to test the material yourself, and I can assure you that the costs will be lower that way because I'll be coming home with the right metals."
As naive and gullible as Jayce seemed, Mel was openly suspicious of him. Her reputation as a brilliant and cunning Councillor was well established, and Viktor could see in her eyes that she was trying to understand who had sent him. She was no fool and she knew that the probability of this man playing them was non-negligible.
This reinforced his idea - and Cassandra Kiramman's - that it was Mel who must have been behind Jayce's departure. And although he couldn't be sure at the moment, he wouldn't be surprised to discover that the researcher's secret project was intended to enrich Noxus rather than Piltover.
"It's a fascinating project, Viktor," Jayce interjected, "were you already thinking about it when we were studying?
- Oh, it was only a draft back then, I had more time to work on it after I graduated."
The sentence hurt his throat, as if razor blades were sliding down his lungs, but he remained smiling and camped in the sand, mainly showing Mel that he had no intention of moving from there. The bait was out, now he had to wait for his prey to fall into his trap.
And just as he thought, Jayce took the bait in a second, unable to resist discussing technology with another scientist. "I'd love to hear more."
Viktor had to hold back an almost tender smile.
Oh Jayce, you're making this so easy for me.
"I wouldn't want to bother the Man of Progress with my little research."
Jayce's face flushed and a nervous chuckle shook his shoulders as he finally stood up. "Oh please, I hate that nickname.
- I'm sure you do. Sorry, I just wanted to tease you like I used to."
Mel stood up in turn, majestic in her every move, and she immediately moved closer to Jayce, as if she couldn't bear to be away from him for more than a few seconds. Or rather, as if she were watching him, like a bodyguard watching over his protégé or a bird of prey flying over its prey.
"Sincerely, Viktor, I'm very interested in your project."
Jayce placed a calloused hand on Viktor's shoulder, an affectionate gesture that confirmed the his victory. During his studies, he had observed that Jayce was very tactile with his friends, but he had not expected to receive such attention after a simple conversation…
Which meant that, if he were to grace him with such a gesture, Jayce was convinced that they must really have been close and that he had no memory of it. He was probably doing it so as not to offend Viktor and to make him think that he remembered him well.
Viktor humbly lowered his eyes, falsely embarrassed. "In that case, I'll be sure to get back to you when I've finished my first prototypes.
- Why wait?"
These two words and the intonation with which they were spoken froze Viktor, who raised his head and looked into Jayce's eyes. He had expected to see determination, intellectual curiosity and perhaps even evil envy, but not so many stars, so many dreams and hopes.
Viktor felt his heart miss a beat, his leg quiver under the weight of that gaze, so intense and so tender at the same time, and an unexpected wave of warmth caught him by the throat.
Viktor had prepared himself to have to deal with an insufferable child, a rich, capricious, stingy and haughty Piltie who got everything he wanted simply because he wanted it, a man who built weapons for the sake of money rather than using science to do good... He hadn't expected to find himself faced with such a…
Haunted gaze.
Unsettled, Viktor stammered for a few seconds. "I'm sorry?
- Why don't you come and eat with us tonight? We can talk about it then.
- Jayce," Mel hissed.
But Jayce wasn't listening. He was turned entirely towards Viktor, eyes pleading. "What do you say? For old times' sake."
Viktor knew he could win this round, but he didn't think he would win it so easily and so quickly. He had to struggle to take his eyes off Jayce's - whose colour was strangely similar to his own, which was disconcerting - and he felt as if he'd been under for hours.
When he answered, it was as much his role as his true personality that blew out. "I wouldn't want to impose.
- Of course not, we'd love to. Wouldn't we, Mel?"
The Councillor remained unmoved for a few moments before smiling politely, and she placed a graceful hand on her partner's shoulder when she replied. "Of course." She glared at Viktor with a rare intensity, as if daring him to insist and silently telling him to refuse. "We'd be delighted to have you for dinner."
Viktor pretended to hesitate, then returned her smile, just as provocatively. "In that case, it would be a pleasure."
Totally delighted and clearly unaware of the exchange that had just taken place before his eyes, Jayce gave him their address and a time to meet before holding out his hand, his face beaming and his eyes shining. "It was nice to see you again, Viktor. I'm so glad we're doing this.
- So am I, Jayce." Viktor shook his outstretched palm as he looked him straight in the eye. "So am I."
Chapter 2
Summary:
Viktor made contact with his target in Ionia. Let the masquerade begin!
Notes:
Hi everyone! I hope you're all doing well and that you've had a great week :)
As promised, I'm back with the next chapter of this AU, I hope you'll like it! I'd also like to thank you all for your support and feedback, it really motivates me and means a lot to me <3
Enjoy!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Climbing the endless flights of steps again left Viktor panting, and he thanked his impeccable timing for allowing him a few minutes to catch his breath before meeting Jayce and Mel at their holiday house.
After their conversation, Viktor had continued his ‘walk’ on the beach, cursing the unpleasant sensation of the sand stuck between his skin and his socks when he put his shoes back on. Well, it was decided, he hated beaches.
Viktor had then returned to his hotel room to shower, religiously wiping all traces of irritating sand from his skin, and to put on a new shirt. Unfortunately, he had underestimated the number of outfits he would need: by being invited to share a meal with Jayce so quickly, he was obliged to make the first effort to dress up on the first day, and he didn't own enough shirts to give the illusion that his wardrobe - even on the move - was that of a scientist recognised by the Academy. Even if it made him sick, he would have to invest quickly in three or four outfits to maintain the illusion.
Using the money he was supposed to keep for his research to buy clothes... Heavens, he had really sunk to a new low…
But that would be a problem for tomorrow. For the time being, he tried to catch his breath and absently massaged his right thigh, waiting for the moment to knock on his hosts' door.
Viktor gazed for a moment at the residence in front of him. He didn't need to do a complete tour of the coastal town to realise that this house was by far the most luxurious. It was absolutely enormous in size, especially considering that it only housed three people, and it was high up on the hill that dominated the surrounding area.
He shook his head and heaved an annoyed sigh: it made no sense, no-one needed that much space, a building of that size was simply a way for its owners to display their status and wealth.
I guess things are no different outside Piltover…
Viktor once again felt that strange feeling of envy rumbling in his chest, a clever mix of contempt and injustice, and he waited until he had it under control before approaching the door with steps stiffened by effort and pain.
He had to stay focused on his mission: to talk to Jayce several times before offering to return to Piltover, then give up and use these four months to work his own research and extort as much money as possible from Cassandra Kiramman.
When Elora opened the door, Viktor had put back on his mask of peaceful assurance, way different from the irritation he was really feeling. "I'm sorry to bother you, I've been invited by Jayce to…
- Of course, they told me all about it. Please, come in."
Elora watched him from head to toe, more discreet than Mel but just as suspicious as she was, and Viktor noted that he should also watch out for the Councillor's right-hand woman. In the end, paradoxical as it may seem, his only ally in this mission to trick Jayce was none other than Jayce himself…
Elora led him into the sitting room where Jayce and Mel were lounging, one leafing through pages of equations and the other reading an official letter which immediately disappeared from their sight when she noticed Viktor's presence. Elora had barely announced him when Jayce leapt from the sofa, abandoning his notes to stride towards him and shake his hand warmly. "I'm so glad you could make it. Was the house easy to find?
- Very easy, yes."
Especially because I did some scouting this morning.
"Thank you again for the invitation, Jayce, Councillor Medarda.
- Please," Mel interjected, standing up and holding out her hand, "you're a friend of Jayce's: call me Mel."
Viktor could clearly see the way she was glaring at him, her animosity even more marked than during their earlier discussion, but he pretended not to notice the tension in her shoulders as he replied simply. "You flatter me.
- You've already met Elora, my confidante and the housekeeper, but above all my closest friend. You will note that no one here treats her as a servant because she is not one.
- Far be it from me to regard her as anything other than my equal."
Immediately, despite her obvious contempt for him, Viktor felt his own resentment be tinged with respect: Mel may have been a noble, but she seemed to refuse to abuse her status, and that was surprising to say the least. But even if Viktor was pleasantly surprised, it didn't change the fact that he had to remain on his guard.
"What can I get you? Have your tastes changed since the Academy?"
Jayce's voice drew him out of his reflection and he mentally chuckled at the risk his target was taking. If he'd been any worse, Viktor would have replied with a simple "No they haven't" and he would've watched Jayce freeze, unable to choose the right bottle from his bar's collection. But fortunately for him, Viktor needed to forge some semblance of a bond with him and he couldn't afford to play with his feet for too long.
But he could still tease him a bit.
"Do you by any chance have some becherovka? Or some slivovice?"
Jayce blinked, cast a sidelong glance at Mel and Elora who shrugged, and Viktor let him panic for a good second before smiling, mockingly. "I'm just teasing you. You know I'm not fussy: if you've got any whisky, it would be perfect. And if not, I'll have what you're having, yes?"
Jayce let out a little relieved sigh. "I have a good bottle of whisky.
- Wonderful. Is there anything I can do to help?
- Not at all: you're our guest, so sit back and relax."
As Jayce prepared the drinks, Viktor got a better view of the whole room and said, his tone as admiring as possible despite his discomfort at the idea of uttering words so hypocritical and contrary to his own thoughts. "This house is sublime.
- It was Mel who found the place," Jayce explained, handing Viktor his glass and inviting him to sit down, "she's got an eye for beautiful things."
Of course she does. Just look at you.
Viktor took a seat that seemed to want to swallow him whole - which almost made him spill his drink - while the couple settled on the long sofa. Viktor noticed the furtive glance that the Councillor and her confidante exchanged as Elora took a seat closer to her, a knowing glance that contained a thousand silent words and testified to the sincerity of their bond. Mel had obviously already told Elora about her fears concerning Viktor, which meant that he was outnumbered. Dealing with one opponent was one thing, dealing with two in unfamiliar territory was another.
But fortunately, the person he had to trick didn't seem to notice anything, and that was the most important thing.
"Well, here's to our reunion," Jayce said, raising his glass to Viktor.
- And to happy coincidences," Mel added without taking her eyes off him.
Viktor paid no attention to her words, taking a sip of alcohol to give himself courage and time to think. Noticing a painting marked with two discreet M's on the wall, he pointed to it politely. "Do you paint, Mel?
- In my spare time.
- Mel is incredibly talented," Jayce added with unabashed enthusiasm, "you should see the last one she's been working on! You could fill an exhibition with her work."
Mel jostled him affectionately with a smile, the first real smile since Viktor had made her acquaintance. "Jayce is exaggerating. And so is Elora.
- I didn't say anything," Elora argued politely, looking away, but the corner of her lips raised in a knowing smile.
- I saw that nod.
- Ah, nothing escapes you."
All three shared a small laugh and Viktor struggled not to fidget in his seat, feeling terribly uncomfortable and definitely like a third - well, or fourth - wheel, but he suppressed these feelings to add.
"I'd be delighted to see your other creations. In any case, this painting is magnificent.
- You are too kind." Mel raised her glass of wine to her lips before continuing. "And you, Viktor, what do you do with your free time? Jayce couldn't remember."
Jayce blushed violently, mortified that Mel had been so honest, but Viktor simply shrugged. "He couldn't have because, in my spare time, I still work. It's like the saying goes: ‘choose a job you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life’, isn't that right?"
He had expected Jayce to smile back and support him, but to his surprise he saw him bend under an invisible weight and a new tension stiffened the shoulders of all three as Mel laid a sympathetic hand on her partner's arm.
Then Viktor understood his mistake and he froze.
Jayce had come here to distance himself from Piltover and his patron.
Jayce had said in his letter that he needed some air and that he was going round in circles.
Jayce might have been happy with his job once, but he wasn't now.
Fuck.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
How could he have been so stupid? Of course, he couldn't have pretended to be aware of the turmoil Jayce was going through since they hadn't ‘seen each other for seven or eight years’, but still! He could have been more subtle than that!
Mortified and his hands suddenly horribly sweaty, Viktor swallowed hard and broke the thick silence that had built up between them.
"I'm sorry, I feel like I've made a mistake of some sort…
- No, it's fine," Jayce reassured him, straightening up and thanking Mel with a grateful look and a gentle press on her knuckles. "You couldn't have known, but it's true that I've been going through a... a bad patch recently.
- Oh... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...
- I know, don't worry." Jayce smiled at him, obviously trying to compensate for his dejection with playfulness. "I'm counting on our talk to rekindle the flame."
This sentence should not be taken out of context.
Gods, didn't Jayce realise the words he was saying and the effect they were having on the people around him? Given his experience with the media, Viktor assumed the answer was ‘yes’, but he wasn't so sure anymore. A hot flush knotted his throat and he prayed it wouldn't show on his face: he could pass it off as shame or a side effect of the alcohol, but he'd rather it simply didn't show.
"Well... I will, eh... try my best then," Viktor replied sheepishly.
Jayce nodded and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his spread knees. "So, tell me about this ventilation project. I mean, if you're willing to share some information of course: I could understand if you'd prefer to keep things secret for the time being."
To be perfectly honest, Viktor would have preferred to avoid talking about such a personal topic. It had always been his dream, ever since he had seen the effects of toxic gases on the inhabitants of Zaun, and he had been working on this project for years, ever since he entered the Academy, but he had never told anyone about it. He had tried to do so, applied for sponsorship and taken part in competitions... But potential patrons had turned away when they realised that he was from Zaun and that the project would not bring any financial income to Piltover.
As for the competitions…
Well, it was more correct to say the ‘competition’, because after his first crushing failure, Viktor had given up on entering the next ones. To put it simply, he hadn't even been able to go on stage, all because he was busy throwing up in the backstage toilet.
Viktor held back a grimace at the unpleasant memory and slightly pinched his thighs to force himself to answer Jayce. He hated talking about this project into which he was pouring his heart and soul, it was like revealing an incredibly intimate part of himself to strangers... And he also knew that he was taking a huge risk: if Jayce and Mel decided to get hold of his invention, his name would simply be erased from History, and his dream would no longer belong to him.
But Viktor swallowed hard and chose to jump, deliberately avoiding giving too many details to avoid his project being stolen from him. After all, if the people he was talking to thought he had the backing of one or two patrons, as he had led them to believe, they wouldn't dare steal his idea: risking offending potential future financial partners wasn't worth the risk.
"I've been thinking about this project for a long time, but unfortunately it's still in its first steps. I admit that it took me a while to convince my patrons of the value of this research, so I started by analysing the composition of the air in the various districts and regions of Zaun."
So far, he wasn't lying. He had done this report during his final year of study.
What he didn't tell was that the incident had taken place on the very day he was supposed to show his research to the Council.
"You have to understand that investors can't make a commitment without knowing the financial risks involved," Mel said.
Viktor turned to her more curtly than he would have liked, and from the way she flinched, he knew his mask had cracked for a moment. "I'm well aware. But still, I'm always surprised at the extent to which the financial argument is more decisive than human lives."
Elora paled and cast a horrified glance at Mel, who did not move. They stared at each other for a moment, Viktor's heart beating furiously in his chest, then Jayce placed a reassuring hand on Mel's thigh and Viktor knew he had lost.
He was so attached to his principles that he had just ruined a game that had started so well. Jayce was going to ask him to leave and he could only obey.
Screw that.
Never mind the Kirammans' money, never mind his escape plan. He could play this role for hours, even years, but he would never back down on his principles. And if they didn't agree with him, all they had to do was kick him out. Viktor prepared to stand up, his right hand instinctively reaching for his crutch as anger rumbled in his chest and the glass shook between his fingers.
To Hell with them all.
"You're right."
Viktor's eyes widened and he turned his attention back to Jayce who was staring at him with a rare intensity. "I'm sorry?
- You're right. I know that patrons and sponsors need certainty, but it shouldn't be so decisive if people's lives are at stake. I think so too, and Mel, Elora and I have discussed this at length. To be honest, it's even one of the reasons we decided to take a few months off."
Mel stiffened and tried to intervene, but Jayce calmed her down simply by raising his hand. Clearly, she was convinced – rightly so – that Viktor was a spy and she didn't want him to know too much, but Jayce didn't seem worried. He mechanically ran his thumb over the leather bracelet on his left wrist and a bluish glint caught Viktor's eye for a second. But when Jayce continued, in a lower tone, Viktor's gaze instinctively locked with his. "I couldn't stand seeing my inventions used for anything but good."
Viktor looked at him in silence, stunned by his words and by the sincerity with which he had expressed himself, and he was certain that Jayce was telling the truth. His heartbeat froze before racing as a sudden emotion took his breath away. He watched Jayce carefully, squinted his eyes, as if he could read his thoughts. And as everything around them blurred, he suddenly felt something tug in his chest, something like…
A connection.
As if, for the first time since he'd left Singed's underground lab an eternity before, he was no longer alone and had found a soul similar to his own.
No…
No, that was before leaving Singed… The last time it had happened, the last time he had felt such a connection, it was in that dark alley…
The feeling of being heard and understood was suffocating Viktor too violently after less than a day of exchanges with a man who was a stranger a few hours ago, and he almost lost his footing.
The mental image he had created of Jayce cracked, drawing lightning bolts on the Man of Progress' radiant face and reflecting his deepest wounds…
Then Viktor closed his eyes for a second.
Pull yourself together. He's playing you like a fiddle. It's obvious he doesn't care about the greater good: he's been building weapons for Piltover since he graduated. He just doesn't want to upset you.
Clinging to that little mental voice that brought him back on track, Viktor loosened his fingers from the glass he'd nearly broken and smiled.
"I'm glad to hear that. Sometimes I feel I'm the only one who thinks so.
- So do I. But I can assure you there are at least four of us."
Right, of course, take me for a fool.
"I'm relieved to hear that, Jayce."
Jayce offered him a slightly sad smile before resuming. "So, that ventilation system. You were thinking of propellers, I suppose?
- Of course, but not exclusively.
- The opposite would have surprised me.
- We'll have to motorise the whole thing and, above all, install filters.
- Why filters?
- The ideal solution would be to be able to purify the air directly in the ventilation pipes, but I don't have a definitive solution for that yet so I'm thinking about ventilation first, I think that's a priority."
Jayce frowned slightly. "That's smart: you'll still be able to focus on cleaning the air once the polluting particles have been reduced by ventilation, so you might as well concentrate on ventilation first.
- I've considered several options, but I can't decide between photocatalysis and plasma.
- Wouldn't an air ioniser be suitable?
- Eh not really, because the pollution would fall back to ground level.
- Right, and it's the kind of system that's suitable for a room, not a city," agreed Jayce. "In that case, wouldn't plasma be the simplest way to purify the air?
- For small spaces, yes, but the air in the deepest parts of Zaun is far too polluted for plasma alone to be enough. I admit that I prefer the photocatalysis option, but…
- Excuse me," Mel said, "but what's the difference between these three systems?"
Viktor was almost startled by this brief intervention and he let Jayce answer first. "The air ioniser emits negative ions which trap the positive ions in a room, weighing down the pollutants that fall to the floor.
- As for photocatalysis," continued Viktor, "it breaks down biological and chemical pollutants into water vapour and carbon dioxide, which isn't ideal but, as the air is mainly polluted by chemical gases in the fissures, it seems potentially more appropriate when combined with a good ventilation system.
- What about that plasma you mentioned," asked Elora.
- It creates oxidising molecules from the oxygen in the air.
- And it destroys the membranes of polluting micro-organisms," concluded Jayce.
Mel nodded. "Plasma seems to me to be the most practical option, so why...
- Because you'd have to combine it with a catalyst" Viktor interrupted, taking another sip.
- Which would…?
- Recover the molecules produced so as not to release them into the atmosphere," concluded Viktor and Jayce at the same time.
They looked into each other's eyes before an uncontrollable smile stretched their lips and they added, pointing at each other, still in the same voice. "Exactly!"
Elora chuckled and Mel applauded mocking. "Impressive, gentlemen. It almost looks like you've been rehearsing."
Jayce laughed and when he leaned forward, his calloused hand landed on Viktor's left knee. "Just like old times."
Viktor's heart leapt uncontrollably in his chest and he nodded with a smirk. "Yes, just like old times."
The rest of the evening passed without a hitch. If he hadn't been in the middle of a mission, Viktor would almost have said he'd had a good time. Despite a few sharp comments from Mel, he spent most of the evening chatting with Jayce, talking about anything and everything, but mainly about false shared memories and science. Instead of talking about their personal projects, they got down to scientific debates, brainstorming about inventions that could be improved, and Viktor found himself laughing sincerely several times.
Jayce was... easy to talk to.
Viktor was taken aback by the man's simplicity, kindness and humility. He had prepared himself to deal with a spoilt brat, a rich man who was full of himself, but he found someone who was sensitive, attentive, gentle, full of humour, humanity and above all unfeigned intelligence. Jayce was indeed a genius, but he was more humble than he had imagined.
On several occasions, Viktor told himself that the Man of Progress was just a façade, a means of protecting the real Jayce who could thus remain hidden away from the eyes of the world.
And each time, he had to pinch himself to remind himself that he was surrounded by three hypocrites and that he mustn't fall for it.
They were just finishing dessert when Jayce leaned over to Viktor and put his hand on his forearm, a new gesture of affection that totally baffled him and made his blood ignite in his veins.
"I'd be delighted to see you again."
By the Gods, can he even hear himself talk?!
Viktor felt his cheekbones heat up and his heart instinctively race, as much because of the words as because of the gesture, but above all because of the tone in which this sentence had been uttered. He wasn't one to let alcohol go to his head, so whisky and wine couldn't be responsible for the heat wave in his veins. There was so much hope in Jayce's voice, so many stars in his eyes, that for a moment one would have thought he was no longer talking about science but about Viktor.
As if he just wanted to see him again.
Him.
All this attention was unexpected, something Viktor wasn't used to, and he hid his discomfort and confusion behind his napkin just long enough to dab the corner of his lips. "Me too."
He wanted to slap himself.
He doesn't really mean that, you idiot! He's convinced he's talking to an old friend and he's just afraid of offending you. Get a grip!
Of course, he had answered because he had to think about his mission and he couldn't miss this opportunity to see Jayce again, especially if he naturally offered to do so. But he also knew that he was being stupidly manipulated by the almost enchanting way in which the evening had unfolded.
Besides, he's a Piltie. You hate Pilties.
No, he wasn't going to fall for it, and he wasn't going to buy the act Jayce was playing on him.
"How long are you planning to stay?"
Viktor shrugged. "Depending on the outcome and effectiveness of my research, I could leave in one or four months from now.
- So maybe you... You could come back tomorrow?"
Three pairs of eyes widened in astonishment around the table, and a brief silence followed Jayce's question. Viktor couldn't believe his luck, but he barely had time to open his mouth when Mel intervened in a sweet voice. "Jayce, I'm sure your friend has more important things to do, isn't that right Viktor?"
She glared at Viktor and words weren't necessary for him to understand her intentions. She didn't want him here, she didn't trust him, and she expected him to have the decency and common sense to politely refuse Jayce's offer. But Viktor smiled brightly and nodded.
"Actually, I don't have any plans for tomorrow afternoon. I was thinking of doing a tour of the shops in the morning and analysing some metal samples, but that can wait a bit."
Watching Mel stiffen with fury was more than worth it and Viktor found it absolutely exhilarating. Jayce took no notice of their silent jousting, delighted that his ‘friend’ had agreed to seeing him again.
"Perfect! If you like, I could come with you tomorrow morning: I've been here for six months and I know the shop owners pretty well, so I can help you get the best metals at the best price.
- I'd be delighted, Jayce."
The more Jayce brightened, the more Mel frowned, and Viktor found the contrast between the lovers quite tasty.
"I'll pick you up around 10 tomorrow morning, is that ok?
- I'll be ready.
- Where did you say you were staying?"
Viktor gave him the address of the hotel and his room number, and Jayce paled. "You're really right on the beach, then?
- The most beautiful view in town," he answered, pretending to be amused.
But Jayce didn't seem to share his humour. "But then... it must have been painful to get here, no?"
Viktor twitched and instinctively clenched his fists in his lap, the metal of his brace cold against his knuckles. His voice was drier than he would have liked when he answered. "Stairs and I are not quite friends, indeed."
Jayce seemed to be on the verge of fainting and the concern that lit his eyes turned to uncontrollable shame. "Oh Gods, Viktor, I'm so sorry! I didn't think of that when I invited you! I should have offered to eat near the hotel so you wouldn't have to make that walk!"
Normally, Viktor hated being thought weak and diminished. He hated the false pity in people's eyes and their disdain when they scrutinised his brace and his crutch. But he felt no anger. In fact, a strange ball of warmth settled in his chest because he knew immediately that Jayce was sincere. He didn't think Viktor was incapable of doing it, he was just horrified that he hadn't offered him a more pleasant alternative for his leg... And that almost moved him.
Viktor raised a hand to soothe Jayce and he smiled hesitantly. "Thank you for your concern. Don't worry, I'm used to it.
- It's no reason to make you climb those stairs. Really, I'm terribly sorry."
Troubled by this genuine regret and concern, Viktor adjusted the knot in his tie and turned to Mel and Elora. "He really hasn't changed, always thinking of other people's well-being before his own."
The Councillor nodded slowly. "Jayce is a very altruistic person.
- That's just normal reasoning," Jayce defended himself, "anyone would have reached the same conclusion much sooner than I did!
- I can assure you it's not as normal as you think it is," Viktor replied softly, focusing on his plate. "It's easier for people not to think about it. So I mean it when I say thank you. It means a lot to me."
Jayce nodded, a small smile on his lips, and continued. "If we want to talk in the future, I'll meet you directly at the hotel.
- Jayce, you know Viktor has things to do," Mel gently reprimanded him.
- By the way, do you have a workspace? Is the hotel room big enough?
- It's perfectly adequate. But I probably won't be able to do any prototyping until I get home."
Jayce carefully placed his cutlery on his plate, without taking his eyes off him. "It would be a shame to find out that the metal you've chosen isn't suitable when you get back to Piltover.
- That's part of the job and a risk I have to take. Worst case scenario, I'll come back to Ionia to buy some more."
Viktor clearly saw Mel and Jayce exchange a look, one reproving and the other hopeful, before Jayce offered. "There's a room I've turned into a lab in the residence: you're free to use it if you'd like to build one or more prototypes."
Viktor grimaced: this was a golden opportunity, a direct way of finding out what Jayce was working on... But, frustrating as it was, he also had to remain aware of his body's limitations.
"I'm touched, Jayce, sincerely, but as you rightly say, I'm afraid I won't be able to make the journey regularly. You know me: I'm not one to stop until I've achieved a satisfactory result and it would take me several weeks to get a working prototype, but I won't be able to make this walk too often."
He clearly saw Mel relax at these words, and he added, as much to keep the door open as to annoy her. "But if you'd allow me to visit you in the lab sometime, I'd love to.
- Or you could stay in our guest room for the duration of your stay."
Viktor dropped his spoon and Mel choked on her sip of wine while Elora's eyes widened.
"Jayce," interjected the Councillor between two coughing fits.
"It would be much more practical and, above all, more comfortable for you," Jayce added, "you'd have access to the lab whenever you want and we could talk without having to worry about the stairs. What do you think?
- Jayce," Elora whispered.
- We… I would like that."
A new silence stretched out between the four of them, Mel opening and closing her mouth once or twice before exchanging hesitant glances with her confidante, then, finally, she heaved a sigh and placed a tender hand on Jayce's. They didn't exchange a word, just gazed into each other's eyes, as if he were begging her with his thoughts, as if she were sharing her worries with him and he was trying to reassure her…
When, at last, the Councillor gave a small smile and clasped Jayce's fingers in hers, Viktor realised that he had been holding his breath. "Stay, Viktor. We'd be delighted to have you here."
For the first time in many years, Viktor was speechless.
Mel was almost unrecognisable. She had been so aggressive, so suspicious, but now she was much softer, almost sincere… And that terrified him more than her anger and contempt.
But he couldn't miss such an opportunity.
Viktor swallowed hard, his hands clasped in his lap, and he was sure that his smile and his voice were not as confident as he would have liked when he replied.
"It would be an honour..."
Jayce's face lit up - so much so that Viktor had to blink to avoid being dazzled - and he leapt from his chair. "I'll go and get the room ready straight away!
- There's no need to rush, I'll... I'll spend the night at the hotel and settle in tomorrow afternoon after our shopping trip."
Viktor saw that this sentence soothed Mel - and he was sure that she would take advantage of the evening to try and convince her partner to break off all contact with him, but it was a risk he was prepared to take - but above all he saw that Jayce seemed to collapse at these words. A strange form of guilt gripped him by the throat and he held up his hands. "Just to get my things and talk to the owners.
- I can go and get your bags right away if you like."
And leave me alone in the lion's den? No thank you!
"You're overdoing it, Jayce," Elora said with a smile, "I'm sure Viktor just wants to explain the situation to the owners before he leaves, don't you think?"
Viktor mentally thanked her and nodded. "I wouldn't want them to think I'm running away because of a housing problem.
- That's very kind of you. It will also give us time to prepare your room."
Jayce relaxed slightly but he didn't sit back down, and the silence stretched…
Well, that was enough discomfort for one day!
Viktor stood up, assuming that Jayce's standing was a subtle way of letting him know that the evening was over. "Thank you for the invitation and for dinner, it was delicious. I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow."
He shook hands with Elora and Mel, who held her palm against his for a long time before offering him a smile. But as Viktor slid his crutch under his arm, he noticed that Jayce had put on his jacket and was standing in front of the entrance.
"Let me walk you to the hotel to make up for making you climb all those stairs."
***
What the hell have I got myself into?
Viktor had to admit that the job was almost too easy to be considered a real scam: after all, Jayce was literally doing all the work. And yet, while he should have taken advantage of this unexpected walk to try and find out more about Jayce, his secret project and when he planned to return to Piltover, Viktor couldn't bring himself to do so.
He couldn't rush these things.
That was the risk of this kind of mission: the simpler things were, the more people tended to rush forward, intoxicated by their success. And it was often there, blinded by their pride, that people hit a wall.
Of course, given the way the day had gone, a small voice inside Viktor's mind wondered if he could simply ask Jayce to go back to Piltover with him and have Jayce obey with shining eyes and a wagging tail... But he knew the risk was too great. If he pushed Jayce too much by telling him now about Cassandra Kiramman when he was literally eating out of his hand, Viktor risked offending him and losing the immediate bond that had been forged between them.
He had to be careful and subtle.
So Viktor let Jayce escort him down the city's endless stairs and never once mentioned the name of Cassandra Kiramman. Instead, he cursed his slow pace, the pain in his leg, and he had to stop several times, his muscles and bones aching.
"I'm sorry," Viktor said, out of breath.
- There's nothing for you to be sorry about! I'm the one who's sorry, it's my fault you had to climb those stairs. I'm convinced that you should have stayed with us tonight instead of making the trip all over again."
And Jayce seemed to mean it, so much so that Viktor was beginning to lose himself in the mental image he had of the Man of Progress. The difference between the reality of and the mental image Viktor had created was troubling. For a moment, he had wondered whether, isolated from Mel - who had miraculously agreed to let him get away from her - Jayce would behave differently, but not at all. He was still really kind and smiling.
Although... Perhaps he seemed a little more relaxed.
"Still," Viktor insisted, "you're going to get back home awfully late if you do the whole journey at my pace. You mustn't feel obliged to walk me to the hotel.
- I'm happy to," Jayce reassured him with a smile, "and I actually like to go for a walk after dinner, it helps me think.
- Given the number of breaks we have to make because of me, I wouldn't call it a ‘walk’".
Jayce rolled his eyes and gave him an amused tap on the shoulder. "You know what I mean."
Viktor returned his smile, still a little unsettled by these tokens of affection, and he realised with amazement that not only his body and his soul leaned into these touches - the first in years - but that to top it all off, a touch of guilt was tainting his soul.
And Viktor hated having to call himself to order.
He couldn't understand what was happening to him. He'd never felt this way with any of his other scams, always remaining distant and unscrupulous, but here he was finding it hard to detach himself from the situation as he usually did. No doubt it had something to do with the fact that, normally, Viktor only sent letters and received money, whereas here he was on the front line, spending time with his target.
Unless… Unless it has something to do with the target?
As they slowly set off again, Viktor discreetly observed Jayce, half-listening to his ramblings about the city. Jayce was definitely a Piltie, as his haughty bearing and reputation showed.
But at the same time, he was totally different from other Pilties.
Jayce was humble where the Pilties were haughty, quick to apologise where others would rather die than admit their mistakes, attentive where the rich would listen to no-one but themselves... Nor did his kindness seem feigned - unlike Mel's icy politeness and Elora's more distant one - and every laugh, every physical contact, seemed sincere and natural, as if this was really how Jayce behaved with those closest to him. And having seen his behaviour with Mel, the delicate touches they exchanged, the knowing glances that contained a thousand phrases, this was indeed the case.
Finally, what intrigued Viktor even more was the discreet shadow in Jayce's eyes. That haunted, downcast look when he spoke of his research, as if a flame had been extinguished, smothered by the weight of a strange guilt as much as by the ruins of his moral values.
It disturbed Viktor enormously, for he had never seen such a flash of despair in a Piltie's eyes. That darkness shouldn't have been there, least of all in the irises of Piltover's most famous and adored man.
And it was because of this shadow that Viktor felt guilty when Jayce looked at him and smiled, because of this same shadow that he had to look down and concentrate on his physical pain to remind himself not to be blinded by his own interpretations.
He's a Piltie and he doesn't give a damn about you. He builds weapons, for God's sake! Remember, you can't trust them.
"It's very generous of you to offer me the use of your lab.
- I'm glad to let you use it, really. I'd be delighted if it could help you carry out such a wonderful project.
- Still, I wouldn't want to keep you from working... I suppose if you've taken the time to set up a lab in your holiday home, you must be working on something, right?"
Jayce flinched at these words, and Viktor tensed slightly. He knew he was taking a risk, but deep down he needed to push Jayce a little because he hoped to discover his true face. So much for the caution he was advocating as they began their slow descent: by being so direct, by pressing directly where the scientist seemed to be hurt, he was at least maximising his chances of seeing Jayce abandon his mask of kindness. Then, at last, Viktor could stop feeling guilty about lying to him.
Come on. Get mad. Insult me.
When Jayce slowed his pace and clenched his fists, when his eyes clouded and his face darkened as he clenched his jaws, Viktor had to hold back a smile that was both triumphant and relieved.
Show me who you really are.
But the voice that rose was not hoarse with rage, nor did it explode and bounce off the walls. Instead, it became a whisper that squeezed Viktor's heart.
"I thought... I thought that by leaving Piltover I'd be able to make progress on a project that's been close to my heart for a long time... Something that patrons and Council members never wanted to hear about, something that could really change the world and make it a better place..."
Jayce ran his hand over the bracelet on his wrist, touching the small bluish stone that gave Viktor a strange feeling of déjà vu.
"But I was wrong. I'm getting nowhere, leaving didn't change a thing. They were right not to believe in that dream."
A gust of wind rushed through the alley, rattling Jayce's light jacket behind his back, and when he turned to face Viktor, he smiled sadly. "This lab might as well be good for someone, even if it's not for me."
Viktor swallowed hard, his throat constricted by a guilt that had doubled in volume.
He was sure Jayce wasn't faking it and he felt incredibly bad for him. The very idea of one day running out of projects sent a chill down his spine and even though Piltover's golden boy had spent his entire short career building weapons for money, Viktor now wondered if this had never been his wish and if he had lost himself, staring into a mirror with a horrifying reflection. By convincing himself that he was doing good, Jayce had not realised that he no longer had any control over his creations.
He had become bogged down in his crimes and his morale had plummeted.
That was why he could no longer create.
Normally, Viktor would have laughed at this fair return of karma... But as a fellow scientist, all he felt was compassion and discomfort.
He lowered his head, prepared to offer a half-hearted apology...
"You could help me with my research."
Viktor clasped his free hand on his lips, flabbergasted by the words that had involuntarily escaped him, but he didn't have time to regret saying them because Jayce was already looking at him, beaming and full of hope. "Really? You... You wouldn't prefer to keep a few things secret for now? I could understand! After all, it's always been your dream."
Viktor mentally cursed himself. What the hell was he thinking?! Why was he putting his own dream at risk just because Jayce Talis looked sad? Viktor shook his head slowly: there was no turning back now, not at the risk of suddenly seeming too suspicious.
"I won't stay very long so we could work faster together. Besides, I'm going to present my project as soon as I get home, so I know you won't be able to steal it from me.
- I have absolutely no intention of doing that," Jayce took offence, raising one hand and placing the other over his heart, "I solemnly swear that I would never do such a thing!
- I believe you."
And as crazy as it sounds, I really mean it.
"In that case, it would be a pleasure to assist you in your research, Viktor.
- The pleasure is mine."
They exchanged a nod before Viktor added. "It'll be a change for me to have company, I've always preferred to work alone... Well, apart from our shared labs at the Academy, of course," he said with a wink that was intended to mask his anxiety.
- Of course."
Focus! Stop letting yourself be thrown off balance!
"And who knows, maybe working together will give you a different perspective. I understand that this is a secret project you planned to work on, but if you'd like to talk to me about it and get a second opinion, feel free to do so: I'd be glad to offer you my help.
- I promise I'll let you know."
Jayce hadn't even hesitated for a second, hadn't even pretended to think. He had dived at the opportunity, swallowed the hook, the rod and the fisherman in one fell swoop, drowning Viktor in a wave of amazement.
"It'll also be a change for me to go back to the lab for a while.
- Really?
- Hm. These days, I spend most of my time at the local forge."
Fortunately, Viktor had done his homework on the Talis family, so he didn't have to make a fool of himself when he had to answer. "And what do you do in this forge? Do you create stuff or do you repair them?
- Mostly repairs. It helps me take my mind off things and stop thinking".
Viktor nodded. "Ah yes, the mental chatter. I understand that.
- Do you also... I mean, is it also so..."
Jayce pointed to his temple with a wave of his hand and Viktor raised an eyebrow before finishing his target's sentence. "Loud?
- Yes," Jayce sighed, clearly relieved by his choice of words.
Viktor shrugged. "The voices in my head are unbearable."
This time Jayce let out a laugh. "Yours too?
- Hellish even.
- Glad to know I'm not the only one.
- It may not be with the same intensity, it depends on each person after all, but I think a lot of people are in this situation. I mean… Don't beat yourself up unnecessarily, Jayce.
- It's just that it's exhausting to think all the time. It never seems to stop.
- And nothing has 'unblocked' your problem yet?"
Jayce ran a hand across the back of his neck. "If only I could be thinking about my project, it wouldn't be so gruelling…"
Viktor nodded, looking at him with new eyes. He'd never imagined that such a luminous face could conceal so much discomfort and such deep anguish. He definitely felt sorry for Jayce now…
"Don't be too hard on yourself: you've been creating since you could walk, or almost, so it's normal for your brain to need a bit of a rest.
- Has that ever happened to you?"
Viktor hesitated for a moment before answering cautiously. "No. Not yet. But that doesn't mean it can't happen one day. No matter how hard we try to change the world, we're only human, Jayce. It's only natural that we have to slow things down from time to time."
Jayce let out a small laughing sigh. "So… Slow and steady wins the race?
- Precisely. And I sincerely hope you find that flame again, whether you decide to help me in the lab or not."
When Jayce didn't answer, Viktor stopped and gave him a light knock on the calf with his crutch. And when his target turned towards him with wide eyes, he added.
"It's not gone forever, the spark. You just have to take it easy and take care of it so it can grow again. Yes?"
Viktor couldn't tell if it was just the play of light, or the reflection of the moon in his widened eyes, but he was almost certain he saw tears in Jayce's eyes as he answered softly. "Thank you, Viktor... I didn't know I needed to hear that.
- I'm glad I could be of some help."
They set off again at a slow pace and Viktor breathed a sigh of relief when they finally reached the coast.
"In that case, if you're really sure that I'm not a burden, I'd love to help you with your research, Viktor.
- It's your lab and it's quite literally your holiday home that I'm going to live in, I can't really refuse you getting involved."
Jayce paled violently and Viktor gave him a mocking smile. "Jayce, if we're going to work together, you must absolutely learn to understand my humour.
- Oh... Oh, yes, of course! Sorry! I'm just… I know I'm the demonstrative type and I've been told I'm a bit much, so I really wanted you to be sure you wanted me by your side. I wouldn't want you to feel pressured to say yes. Just promise me you'll tell me if I become too much."
Viktor frowned and shook his head. "Whoever told you that must have had a very sad life never to have felt a modicum of enthusiasm. Don't worry, I promise you that if I need space or air, I'll let you know... And more tactfully than this individual.
- Thanks, I appreciate it."
Jayce relaxed, clearly relieved, and Viktor prayed to all the Gods that his target wouldn't be as intrusive as he said he was. He had always worked alone and had always hated it when others got involved. He did things very well himself, had a very precise idea of how he wanted to carry out his research, and he much preferred to do it himself to guarantee a good result, even if it meant sacrificing several nights of sleep. So if Jayce got on his nerves after an afternoon's work, he'd find it extremely difficult to contain himself and not desert the lab.
The mission, focus on the mission. It has to be your priority. You're not really here to create your prototype.
"I think your idea is brilliant," Jayce continued as they walked along the dyke, "it's almost frightening that no one thought of it sooner.
- I suppose other Zaun researchers have thought about it, but as it's very difficult for Zaunites to be accepted into the Academy, the idea must have remained at the draft stage. Especially as, as I've already said, patrons aren't particularly keen on projects that don't earn them an obscene amount of money."
A hint of unease crossed Jayce's eyes, as if he was hesitating, and Viktor had to fight not to wait for him to ask the question. They were supposed to know each other: Jayce would never find a delicate way of asking him how he had managed to study at the Academy. So Viktor looked for a roundabout way of reminding him.
"I owe it to my parents. They earned next to nothing, my mum was ill and we barely had enough to eat, let alone buy medicine, but they saved their whole lives to buy me a school uniform and that's what made me stand out... Eh, or rather blend in.
- Really?
- Hm hm. I wasn't allowed to take the entrance exam because of my birth place, but I went to the welcoming ceremony nevertheless and I attended three months of classes without being enrolled. No one noticed a thing."
Jayce's eyes widened in astonishment and he froze, "No way!
- I guess clothes really do make the man. All I needed was a uniform, a good dose of nerve and to believe in myself... But I was also extremely lucky, because if any teacher other than Heimerdinger had realised, I'd just have been banned from the Academy forever. He saw my potential and offered me a chance. He regularised my enrolment, paid the fees for my first year, helped me prepare a file to get a scholarship for the rest of my studies, and..."
Viktor's voice cut off abruptly and the incident violently came back to him.
The same look of disdain in the Councillors' eyes.
The mocking smile shared by Salo and his protégé.
Heimerdinger's apologetic expression as he shamefully looked away.
Total disinterest on Cassandra Kiramman's face.
His own rage and the injustice that was crushing his ribcage.
His work drowned in the puddles outside of the Academy.
The rain mixed with the angry tears on his face.
"Viktor?"
Viktor inhaled sharply and flinched when Jayce leaned over him, a worried hand resting on his arm. "Yes, I'm... Sorry," Viktor stammered, grabbing his thigh in a hurry, "my leg's getting really painful. It's about time we got there."
He pointed to the hotel right next to them, a shaky smile on his lips, but although Jayce took a step back, he still didn't seem reassured. "I'm sorry, I'm the reason you're hurt.
- I knew what I was getting into when I asked for directions and started my ascent. I'll feel better tomorrow."
It wasn't true, of course. His leg would be in awful pain all night and for several days, but he didn't have the strength to have to reassure Jayce yet again.
Jayce's gaze wandered to his brace and Viktor could almost see the cogs turning in his brain as he squinted slightly. But in one breath he had straightened up and was watching his bloodless face and drawn features. "Are you sure you're all right? You looked... elsewhere."
Viktor hesitated, almost considered simply ending the conversation and going back to his room... But that wasn't how old friends behaved... So he sighed. "It's nothing. It's just... I've never told anyone this before."
What kind of aura did Jayce possess that Viktor had confided in him even though he didn't even know him? How did he get people to reveal their wildest dreams and most secret pasts to him in the space of an evening?
"It was incredibly brave and bold of you.
- Well… It was mostly foolish and frankly a bit egotistical," Viktor grinned, "all my life I've had things I cared about taken away from me, and I guess for once I just wanted to take what I wanted, hold on to it and not let anyone take it away from me. I knew I could do it, I just had to believe in myself and prove it to the world.
- And you were right. When you're going to change the world, don't ask for permission."
Viktor stiffened, all his muscles paralysed by a sudden tension that turned his blood to ice. Wide-eyed and breathless, he slowly turned to face Jayce. "What did you-...
- I'll pick you up tomorrow at 10." Jayce gave him a stunningly natural smile and put a firm hand on his shoulder. "Don't work too late tonight."
Viktor opened and closed his mouth twice, at a loss for words, as if the connections were no longer being made in his brain. "Where did you...
- See you tomorrow, Viktor, and thanks for everything."
Viktor watched him walk away and sighed - amused and desperate at the same time - as his future host turned twice to wave at him before disappearing on the other side of the dyke. When he was sure he was alone, Viktor slowly let his arm fall back down his body, and shrunk with a sigh, totally drained. He wasn't used to so much socialising any more! He was exhausted, incredibly thirsty and his whole body hurt like hell. Luckily, his room was on the ground floor and he was able to literally let himself fall onto his bed with a groan, face buried directly in the pillow.
Viktor knew he absolutely had to take off his brace and pay some attention to his leg, that he had to take off his clothes to avoid creasing them, but he didn't have a shred of energy left. He just wanted to sleep and sleep and sleep... And yet he couldn't afford to. He had to think about what Jayce had said to him, about that phrase that sounded so familiar on a stranger's lips.
"When you're going to change the world, don't ask for permission."
Viktor stiffened again, his mind foggy but his throat tight.
How could Jayce have chosen the exact same words he had grown up with? Could it simply be a coincidence or did he have to fear an even greater machination?
He had to sit up and think, he just needed a few minutes. Just... Just enough time to...
Viktor woke with a start, a flash of blue light imprinted on his retinas. He lay motionless for a few seconds, breath short, unable to guess how long he had been asleep. Fortunately, it was still pitch dark, so he hadn't dozed off for too long. He sat up, wincing under the stabbing pain in his leg and back, and slowly removed his brace, laying it on the floor with a sigh.
Carefully folding his shirt to remove his back brace, his eyes still swollen from sleep, he swallowed a painkiller, knowing that it would bring him little comfort. It was only when he sat back on the bed and absent-mindedly massaged his aching leg that he came to his senses.
His gaze slipped to his three other shirts, the one he'd worn this morning and the two that were still clean, and he realised with horror that he'd never have time to buy more outfits to maintain his lie of a sponsored scientist. And above all...
Fuck.
Clothes were nothing compared to the real problem, the one that hit him head-on when the moonlight reflected off his typewriter.
If he was staying with Jayce, Cassandra Kiramman would find out sooner or later.
This meant that he couldn't ask for money to pay for his accommodation or food. Because if he did so, the risk of being arrested as soon as Jayce returned to Piltover was certain.
Fuck!
Viktor had accepted this stupid mission to save his own skin and to extort as much money as possible from one of those responsible for his misfortune... He had planned to save this astronomical sum so that he could live without need and carry out his ventilation project without having to worry...
And he couldn't claim a penny.
He would have to come back to Piltover to collect his bonus.
Viktor fell back onto the bed, his eyes wide open.
"Fuck."
Chapter 3
Summary:
Viktor spends a day with Jayce, what impact will it have on his mission... and on him?
Notes:
Hi everyone!
I'm back with the next part of Viktor's (mis)adventures! Let's see how he settles in ;D I hope you'll like this chapter!
I also wanted to thank you all so much for your support on this story: it really means so much to me and it makes me so happy to share it with you and to receive such amazing comments <3 Thank you so much <3
Enjoy!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Viktor slipped the envelope into the nearest letterbox, muttering silent prayers, and once again thanked himself for having bought a stock of stamps at the hotel reception. After a night of almost total insomnia, he had decided to go with half-truths. He'd written to Cassandra Kiramman to let her know he'd arrived, that he'd made contact with Jayce and that he'd offered to put her up. Rather than admit that he didn't need the money, he had chosen to play on words.
"Jayce's enthusiasm is genuine, but I sense that Councillor Medarda is terribly reluctant. She obviously suspects that I'm not here by chance, but she can't prove it. (Incidentally, you'll forgive me for saying this, but to avoid any risk of being discovered if she were to go through my belongings, I've destroyed the letters you gave me). I wouldn't be surprised if she asked me to leave as soon as possible, which could jeopardise the contact I've established so far... Perhaps a financial contribution would prevent her from sacking me too quickly? Receiving the expected amount would also enable me to maintain my cover as an accredited scientist whose trip is sponsored by patrons. You can write to me at the hotel address once a month, and I'll make sure I'm not followed or discovered."
Now he could only wait. He would know within a month whether Cassandra Kiramman had decided to send him the money or not.
In the meantime, he could only hope and continue to play the game. Starting by greeting Jayce with a slight smile and a shake of the head when he arrived in front of the hotel, out of breath and with a bag in his right hand. "Hey!
- Hey.
- Have I kept you waiting long?
- Not at all.
- Great."
Viktor pointed to the bag. "Have you been shopping yet?"
Jayce blushed slightly and ran a sheepish hand on the back of his neck. "Oh, it's nothing, it's just... It's a surprise for you. For later."
Viktor's eyes widened. "I hope you're not doing anything crazy for me.
- It's nothing crazy. I was just passing the shop when the owner opened it.
- Jayce."
Jayce shook his hand. "I won't say anything, I'll show you tonight. (Then, radically changing the subject.) How's your leg?"
Viktor pouted and nodded. "Eh... temperamental. It's making me pay for yesterday's trip. I'm afraid I'll have to be more reasonable today and cut short our shopping trip.
- Of course! As soon as you feel any discomfort, let me know and I'll take you home straight away!"
Viktor had vaguely considered the possibility of lying to avoid worrying his target, but he knew it was totally useless: his leg was hurting like hell, his spine was killing him, and he wouldn't be able to hide it for long. He might as well be a bit honest and put himself out of his misery by shortening the day's walking time.
"I'm really so sorry I didn't think of this sooner," sighed Jayce, "I knew you should've spent the night yesterday.
- Nonsense, I would never have agreed to bother you with my presence.
- You wouldn't have: I was the one who suggested you stay.
- Semantics, Jayce. Anyway, you told me you knew the best merchants in the area."
Jayce offered him a beaming smile, gently took his suitcase from his hand, and together they made their way towards the centre of the small town. "As I regularly help out at the forge, I know where the owner gets his supplies. That way, you'll get the best metal at a reasonable price for your samples. If you'd like, we can also go and see other merchants, but that might make the walk longer."
Genuine emotion knotted Viktor's throat as he realised that not only had Jayce thought about the best places to recommend to him, sorting out the shops to visit on his own, but that he had probably also done this to reduce his discomfort.
"That won't be necessary. I trust you."
Jayce's face lit up and they continued on their way, slaloming through the winding lanes which, although steep, were fortunately free of steps. As he had promised, Jayce took him to visit three shops and Viktor was genuinely amazed at the quality of the metals on display. Despite his desire to be thrifty, he found himself buying several samples from each of the merchants, curious to see how each one performed on his prototype.
He listened to Jayce's advice, discussed and debated with him, let him negotiate the prices, and neither of them watched the time. Viktor was so absorbed in his ideas that he couldn't have said how long they had been there, wandering from shop to shop, analysing every sample. All he wanted to do was rush to that lab Jayce had arranged to start work straight away, until he fainted with exhaustion. If he'd been at home, that's what he would have done. He would have immersed himself in his work for hours, days and nights without stopping, until his body begged him to rest and his brain was unable to formulate a single coherent thought.
Viktor was going to start with this slightly bluish metal, which was both supple and strong. Then he would compare it with the third metal he had found, which was reputed to be more resistant. He'd have to test them in real life, of course, but if he could just take the time to...
The smell of food wafted up to them and Jayce's stomach rumbled, jolting him out of his thoughts.
Viktor stared at him with round eyes, unsettled by this brutal reminder of reality and the needs of bodies, and he apologized. "I'm sorry, Jayce, I didn't keep track of the time.
- Me neither, I hadn't noticed it was so late. Would you like to eat? I know a great restaurant just around the corner."
Viktor thought about the envelope gradually losing thickness and mentally cursed Pilties' expensive tastes, but before he had time to think about it, Jayce added. "I'm inviting you, of course.
- I know my patrons are stingy but I still have enough to pay for my own food.
- I don't doubt it, but I'd be delighted to invite you." He put his free hand on Viktor's shoulder and whispered in his ear. "You can pay for me next time."
Viktor's heart missed a beat before speeding off again, and a violent flush rose from his chest to his face. He almost felt like taking the shop owner as a witness, grabbing him by the collar and pointing at Jayce as he huffed. "You saw and heard that, didn't you? This guy's got to realise what he's doing, right?"
But of course he didn't. Viktor couldn't believe for a second that Jayce wasn't aware of his charm and therefore of the intensity that emanated from that kind of sentence, it was simply impossible . A Piltie with a face, physique and brain like that must inevitably be full of himself and know that he was the embodiment of perfection: Jayce must know that his words had a frightening effect on those around him!
And yet, Jayce smiled almost naively, without seeming to notice the confusion caused by his words or the sidelong glances that some people gave him as he passed... As if he was unaware of his charm.
If that's the case, then it definitely is unfair...
Viktor shook himself mentally and simply followed in Jayce's footsteps, clenching his fists. He hated the uncontrollable way his body reacted when confronted with such physical contact - something he had almost forgotten since it had been a while since anyone even brushed his shoulders. He knew that it was purely biological and physical, that humans were beings of contact and connection and that his own body would fire up just at the thought of not being alone in the dark. Except that, biological or not, Viktor hated these reactions. They made him feel atrociously weak, like he was losing control of himself, and that drove him mad.
He followed Jayce in silence, their steps leading them to the doors of a luxurious restaurant. Only then did he freeze.
Viktor could play the game for a long time, but going into this establishment, being surrounded by wealthy people, having to keep a calm, at ease look on his face while all his muscles were stiff with tension and as he fidgeted in his chair with the sole hope of escaping... He would be unable to act as if he were used to it. It was too much to ask of him.
His breath quickened slightly and he gripped his crutch tightly, swallowing hard...
"Jayce I...
- This way."
Jayce pulled him along and into a nearby street, away from the restaurant, and Viktor breathed again when they stopped in front of a small, discreet establishment. This was much better, much more within his capabilities. "I know the other restaurant is the most famous in town, actually it's Mel's favourite..."
What a surprise...
"But it's a bit too much for me," Jayce added with a smile, "I much prefer to come here, I feel more comfortable. The food's just as good, but at least it's quiet. I hope you don't mind?
- On the contrary, I too prefer this type of establishment."
Clearly relieved by his answer, Jayce nodded before opening the door and inviting him in. "After you, then."
It wasn't until he walked through the door that Viktor realised that he hadn't once thought about playing a role all morning, but had simply been himself... Which caused both confusion and relief to rise in his chest when he realised that he wasn't feeling any exhaustion despite a morning of intense social interactions…
***
Jayce ate an astronomical amount of food and Viktor pecked at his plate, which worried his host once they had put their cutlery back down. "You hardly ate anything... You didn't like it?
- Oh it was delicious. It's just that I've never had an appetite as big as yours.
- I like to think that nobody's appetite is as big as mine.
- Don't worry, I don't think it's possible."
Jayce chuckled and, true to his word, paid their bill before offering to take Viktor back to the house. The temperature had risen again and the heat that hit them as they passed through the restaurant door almost made Viktor faint as he clutched at his crutch. In his long-sleeved shirt, he soon felt suffocated and cursed himself for not having been more careful in his choice of outfit. In his loose shirt with short sleeves, Jayce was clearly dressed more appropriately and didn't seem to be suffering from the heat at all.
Fortunately, it was cool in the heart of the small town's winding streets, and the feeling of suffocation diminished, much to Viktor's relief.
They made slow, peaceful progress, talking about the metal Viktor bought, but the more they climbed, the more Viktor slowed down. Bending and lifting his leg was getting harder and more painful, so much so that he could barely hide the tension in his body and face. So he wasn't entirely surprised when Jayce, who was far more attentive to him than the rest of the world had ever been, noticed his discomfort and slowed his pace to lean towards him, so close Viktor could smell his Cologne.
Then, Jayce offered him his arm in a whisper. "If it helps, you can lean on me…"
Viktor looked at Jayce's arm with round eyes, then at his confident face, and gently pushed him away. "You're already carrying my suitcase and shopping in addition to your own bag, there's no need to do more for me.
- I can carry you too, but I wouldn't want to make you feel uncomfortable…"
Viktor almost choked and had to hide his confusion behind a cough.
Please, I'm begging you! Listen to yourself!
He was sure that Jayce was serious, and he sincerely preferred to avoid this kind of situation. So Viktor sighed, defeated. "There's no need for it to come to that."
Viktor gently slid his hand into the crook of Jayce's elbow, as if afraid of burning himself on contact with his skin, and slowly closed his fingers on Jayce's arm. And if he didn't get burnt, he clearly felt lightning flash under his flesh, a current that made the hair on the back of his neck stand and that covered his skin with goose bumps.
Could such a reaction be spread by a simple touch? Or was it just chance, or the contrast of Viktor's cold hand on Jayce's arm? In any case, Jayce shivered in turn and they looked away at the same time. "You… Tell me if it hurts and if you want us to stop at any point, okay?
- …Hm."
After an long, very long moment of discomfort during which Viktor felt his back break out in a cold sweat, he ended up being incredibly grateful for this extra support. Although at first he didn't dare lean on Jayce too much, it soon became essential and this arrangement took a little pressure off his good leg, which was also beginning to tire.
"Did you make your own brace?"
Jayce's voice was low, as if he was afraid of breaking the silence, and Viktor replied in the same tone: "Several years ago, yes.
- How does it work? I mean, what does it have to support?"
Viktor finally glanced at him, a brow raised. "Are you really interested in my brace?
- Erm… Yes? Well, unless you'd rather not talk about it, of course."
There was another brief silence before Viktor resumed with a sigh, a little faster than his usual tone. "It's not my greatest invention, I just did the best I could. I need something to keep my leg in line and my spine at least a little straight. I haven't found a system that allows me to straighten everything and move around at the same time yet, so for now I've concentrated on my back, knee and shin with two braces.
- So you wear another one?
- A back brace to provide maximum support. I know I still have to think about it, but it's not really my priority at the moment."
If Viktor had to be completely honest, since he had found this more or less suitable solution, he had stopped thinking about it. All he wanted was to be able to move around and keep his leg straight: as long as it was effective, he wasn't going to waste time thinking about an improved brace while he had so much better to do. "If you have a better idea, feel free to let me know," he teased as Jayce kept silent.
Jayce nodded absent-mindedly, his gaze focused entirely on the metal of the brace. "I'll think about it.
- I was joking, Jayce. Don't waste your time on me.
- If it makes your life more comfortable, I don't see it as a waste of time."
A new bolt of lightning flashed through Viktor's fingers, up his arm and into the back of his neck, and he had to look down at the weight of Jayce's intense gaze.
No.
His target.
He had to remember why he was there.
He had to stay focused.
"If you say so..."
They finally reached the residence and although he felt a wave of relief at being able to sit down, Viktor also knew that the most painful part of this cohabitation was just about to begin. From now on, he wouldn't just be with Jayce, with whom it was so easy to talk, so easy to be himself: as soon as he walked through that door, he would also have to adapt his performance to convince Mel - and, to a lesser extent, Elora. No doubt he would have to socialise for a few hours before it was deemed acceptable for him to retire to his new room.
As he stepped through the front door, Viktor waited for Jayce to free his arm, but he made no such move, so he was still leaning against him when Elora appeared, a jug of lemonade in her hand. "Good afternoon, gentlemen. Have you had a good morning?"
Viktor quickly released his grip on Jayce's elbow, slamming his own arm alongside his body with an even more suspicious stiffness than if he hadn't changed position, and he felt a shameful red flush his cheeks when Elora frowned slightly. Fortunately, Jayce pushed past him and placed a friendly kiss on her cheek - which stunned Viktor even more. "Excellent! What about yours?"
Elora grimaced. "We're having trouble with a certain paragraph.
- The same as yesterday?
- Alas... But the day is not over and we are not giving up hope.
- I'm sure it won't be able to resist you for long." Then, turning to Viktor. "Come on, let's go and greet Mel before you settle in."
Viktor followed them to the terrace, a respectful step or two behind them as Jayce recounted with unabashed enthusiasm their morning expedition. Viktor then realised that Jayce was still carrying his suitcase and the bag containing his samples, and without really understanding why, this embarrassed him.
Mel was not lying on a sunbed, as he might have imagined, but leaning against a table lined with piles of notes. She was twirling a pen in her right hand, her eyebrows furrowed, and a frown clouded her face. But when she saw Jayce, she straightened up and softened immediately. She greeted him with a tender smile and held out her free hand. "Welcome back. Did you have a nice morning?
- Very nice." Jayce tenderly squeezed her fingers before moving closer and placing a kiss on her forehead. "I understand yours was more complicated?"
She sighed wearily, "Everything has to be perfect and this paragraph touches on a particularly delicate subject. We're having trouble finding the right phrasing and, above all, thinking of every argument that could be made against it... In short, it's a real headache.
- That's what Elora told us. I'm sorry, Mel. If there's anything we can do to help..."
Hearing this "we", Mel stiffened again and shifted slightly, just enough to catch a glimpse of Viktor. He didn't know where to stand: tiredness and pain prevented him from being as provocative and mocking as he had been the day before, and all he wanted was a chair, even the most uncomfortable one. So he nodded politely in greeting.
"Ah, yes… I forgot that our guest was moving in today."
Viktor replied with a drawn and slightly acerbic smile. "It would have been inconsiderate of me to refuse such a generous invitation. Thank you again for the offer, Mel."
The Councillor returned his smile. Then, as Elora prepared two new glasses on the table and filled them to the brim, she pointed to the sunbeds - clearly, she didn't want Viktor to see what they were working on. "Why don't you sit down and tell us all about your morning."
Viktor was mentally preparing himself for a long and arduous afternoon, so he was incredibly relieved when Jayce almost immediately said. "I'll show Viktor to his room and help him get settled. We'll be right back.
- All right."
He kissed Mel's cheek before inviting Viktor to follow him. "Your room is on the ground floor.
- Wonderful. I must confess that I'm starting to have a real aversion to stairs.
- I'll give you a tour of the lab later too, but I think our legs have earned a bit of a rest after all those stairs."
Viktor found this way of acknowledging his discomfort without ever being too direct very touching, and so he silently followed Jayce into the residence. Finally, they stopped in front of a door which Jayce opened with a big smile. "Welcome to your room."
Viktor had expected a room of outrageous proportions, an avalanche of luxury that would have made it extremely difficult for him to remain neutral, but fortunately this was not the case.
The room was a little bigger than the one he'd occupied at the hotel, but it was mostly sober, with simple white walls, and occupied only by a desk, a chair, a wardrobe and a large wooden bed - which was disconcerting after a life spent in cities made of metal. Opposite them, a large glass door opened onto a small terrace, offering a breathtaking view of the city and the ocean below.
The natural light was so beautiful, so warm, that Viktor blinked several times before whispering. "It's beautiful, Jayce.
- Really? I was worried it might be a bit too simple but Mel was sure you'd love it."
In other circumstances, Viktor would have been annoyed at the way the Councillor was trying to offend him, but this time he blessed her and stepped forward to follow Jayce, who placed his suitcase on his bed and the samples on the desk. "She was right, I really like it.
- I made sure everything was ready for you, I even washed the sheets and made the bed myself."
Imagining Jayce making his bed was a sight he hadn't expected, and he had to grip his crutch a little tighter when the image made his head spin. "Ha… Well, thank you very much.
- You have access to a private bathroom," Jayce continued, pointing to a door in the corner of the room, "I've prepared towels, soap and shampoo for you as well as a stool, but don't hesitate if one day you want to take a bath rather than a shower to relieve your leg: there's a bathtub in the bathroom upstairs."
Which rather confirmed that this guest room was usually reserved for the household staff and not for guests, but Viktor couldn't care less. This room had a bed and he could shower whenever he wanted: that was all he needed.
"That's perfect, thank you very much, Jayce.
- I'm glad you like it! Would you like me to take your samples to the lab first? We can also do it together later when I show you around.
- Later will be perfect.
- Great."
Jayce watched him for a while, hands on his hips and his eyes shining. Then, as Viktor glanced not quite discreetly at his suitcase, Jayce gasped, as if suddenly drawn out of his thoughts. "Well, I'll let you settle in. Make yourself at home, alright?
- I will.
- Great. I'm going to take a quick shower and then go and do some work with Mel and Elora. Feel free to wander around the house and or to join us. Oh, and if you want something to read, there are books in the living room, so help yourself. And... And I'm still here talking and stopping you from settling in."
Viktor let out an amused sigh. "You're not disturbing me."
They exchanged a smile and Jayce answered in a slightly lower voice. "I'm really glad you're here, Viktor."
Viktor nodded, confused by his host's genuine emotion and by the hint of truth that tried to break through in his own voice. "Me too."
Jayce left the room, closing the door behind him, a radiant smile on his lips.
Viktor quickly arranged his meagre possessions in the wardrobe and on the desk before falling back onto the bed - by the Gods, neither mattress nor pillow had ever been so soft - with a weary sigh. This time, he didn't wait until he fell asleep, and took off his brace before opening his shirt and lying down. A warm wind gently rustled the white curtains and the sounds of the city and especially the ocean in the distance were lulling him gently as his right leg was at rest at last after so much effort.
Viktor could have fallen asleep right here and there, but chose instead to think. Unless he was an incredible actor and chose to make fun of him, Jayce had clearly fallen for it: he was convinced they knew each other and was doing absolutely everything to put Viktor at ease and to celebrate his presence. Viktor wasn't surprised that Jayce had fallen for his story, but all his efforts seemed strangely disproportionate, and that was what intrigued him most.
He understood Mel's mistrust and Elora's cautious distance: it was a logical reaction and, above all, he was used to it. All his life he had dealt with people who didn't like him and who had tried to put him down, and he knew how to behave with them to drive them mad without ever compromising himself.
On the other hand, nobody had ever treated him with so much attention, so much tenderness, so much reverence - no, deference - as if he were a true miracle made Man, and that baffled him terribly.
Even though Jayce was naturally tactile and friendly, Viktor could tell from Mel and Elora's reaction that he had never behaved like that with anyone. So why with him? Did Jayce want to make up for the fact that he didn't really remember him? Or maybe to make up for his silence when they'd met on the beach? Unless...
Viktor let his gaze slide to the bag of samples on the desk, and thought back to Jayce's enthusiasm when he had talked about his ventilation project, and to his despair when his own scientific block had been mentioned...
Maybe he's just lonely… Maybe Mel doesn't have the right words to reassure him and this is the first time he's had the impression that someone understands him…
That had to be the real reason. Viktor could think of no other logical explanation.
Nobody would have willingly wanted to be so kind and considerate to him.
"Nobody wants you here."
Viktor ran a hand over his face and banished this unwelcome memory.
Of course, there was something else bothering him... He hadn't forgotten what Jayce had said the night before, but he was now almost entirely convinced that he'd misheard. He was exhausted - both mentally and physically - and he had certainly distorted what Jayce had said. It was at least a more reassuring explanation than imagining that Jayce had literally quoted a phrase from Viktor's childhood. Unless...
Unless they had actually spoken to each other during their studies? But then Viktor would remember, he was sure of it.
He couldn't have forgotten a discussion with Jayce.
Immediately, his palm tingled at the memory of the contact against Jayce's arm, against his skin, and Viktor groaned as he rolled onto his side to bury his face in the pillow.
"Pull yourself together," he growled, "you're pathetic."
"If it makes your life more comfortable, I don't see it as a waste of time."
He closed his eyes, inhaled deeply to focus on the salty air... But all he could smell was Jayce's Cologne on his pillow and sheets, and he could suddenly almost feel his hand on his shoulder, could almost see his luminous smile as he said his name...
"I'm really glad you're here, Viktor."
Viktor sat up again, furious at being betrayed by his mind, his only ally for as long as he could remember. And when his body's reactions became impossible to ignore, when the heat grew and the fire fuelled by the smell of the sheets spread through his veins against his will, he rolled his eyes with an exasperated grunt.
He obviously needed a cold shower.
***
Jayce sat up in his sunbed and waved at him. "Ah, Viktor! Did you settle in?
- Yes, thank you very much, Jayce." Viktor ran his free hand through his still damp hair and smirked at the Councillor, still bent over her notes with Elora. "And thank you to you too, Mel."
She straightened up and returned his mocking grin. "I knew you'd appreciate avoiding more steps.
- That was very kind of you."
Still clearly oblivious to their verbal jousting, Jayce stood up and pointed to the sunbed next to his. "Make yourself comfortable. Can I get you a glass of lemonade?
- It was Mel who prepared it this morning," added Elora, as if to convince him, "it's di-vine.
- And so is the lemonade," Jayce whispered loud enough for everyone to hear.
Viktor thought his eyes were going to pop out of their sockets and he could clearly see that Mel was reacting the same way as Elora put a desperate hand to her forehead. Jayce's lips twisted into a smile that turned into a burst of laughter when Mel stood up and threw him a sheet of paper rolled into a ball. "Jayce Talis, you know I hate it when you make jokes like that.
- Please, I know you love it!"
Viktor instinctively looked away, feeling incredibly uncomfortable at witnessing moments which were brimming with such intimacy that standing here was almost voyeuristic.
Mel was very talented, he had to admit.
He had been prepared for her to try to make him feel uncomfortable or to let him know that he wasn't welcome here... But he hadn't thought for a moment that she could do it in such an innovative way.
Well done, Councillor, one point for you.
Jayce sat down beside him, sitting right next to his outstretched leg, and poured him a glass of lemonade. "How are you feeling? Have you had a chance to rest?"
Viktor nodded, grateful that he had been able to use a sunbed rather than a chair to relieve the pressure on his muscles. He was suddenly certain that this was why Jayce had sat there rather than at the table to reread his notes, because he knew that his "friend" would never have moved to more comfortable seats on his own unless he had been invited to do so. "I feel much better, thank you."
Stretching his leg a little, letting it rest and massaging it had given him little comfort after so many hours of walking, but it wasn't appropriate to be so honest. He knew himself well enough to know that he wouldn't feel better for a few days so, in the meantime, he would simply take more painkillers to calm the furious pulsations in his muscles and bones.
"I was thinking about our classes," Jayce said, "remember Professor Lewis?"
Viktor rolled desperate eyes and let out a weary growl, "Oh by Janna, I wish I could forget him."
Jayce burst out laughing. "You too?
- Please, this man was a teacher in name only, I'm sure he didn't know what he was talking about.
- Exactly! I felt like I was the only one who noticed!
- It's simply because his fans were too absorbed in his face and weren't paying attention to what he was writing on the blackboard.
- The number of times I had to correct his mistakes in my notes...
- That was generous of you: I was more direct in my 'correcting approach'."
Jayce's eyes widened. "You mean you were interrupting him during his class?"
Viktor smiled mischievously. "I should have asked to be paid as a proofreader.
- Oooh he must have hated you.
- Honestly, I think I scared him more than he hated me. You should have seen his face when I passed him in the corridors."
Jayce's shoulders shook with a bravely contained laugh. "And you passed his class despite that?
- Even if he had wanted to, he could never have made me fail. Everyone knows that it's his assistant who corrects the exams.
- A real Saint, this assistant.
- I feel sorry for him. I don't know how he puts up with Lewis."
Laughing, Jayce added. "And his speech patterns! He drove me mad!
- Oh, you mean you didn't..."
They didn't need to look at each other to finish in the same voice. "'Intuit' the concept?"
They burst out laughing, Jayce loudly and Viktor a little more calmly, but a frank laugh nonetheless. Jayce's hand found his shoulder and rested on it, and Viktor didn't think for a second about pushing him away, even when that strange shiver, that heat he wasn't used to, spread from his arm to his chest.
They talked for a good ten minutes about their teachers, the lessons that had impressed them and those that had exasperated them, while Elora and Mel worked and talked in low voices. When they had finished their drinks, Jayce stood up and held out his hand to invite Viktor to follow him. "Should we go and see the lab?"
Viktor looked down at the small coffee table and the sheets of paper covered with equations - which, if he was honest, intrigued him enormously. "I don't want to disturb you, you were working and...
- The room is air-conditioned."
Viktor took the hand Jayce held out to him and was on his feet in the blink of an eye. "Let's grab my samples on the way."
He clearly saw Mel's reproachful and worried look, but also the reassuring hand that Elora placed on her arm. And as the Councillor was doing nothing to stop him, he assumed that everything connected with this strange secret project had been covered up so that he couldn't find anything about it. He held back an amused smile: it was adorable that she thought he couldn't convince Jayce to tell him more.
Bag of samples in hand, Viktor followed Jayce to a converted cellar. Passing through the living room, he raised his eyebrows. "Isn't something missing here?
- I don't know what you're talking about."
And yet, Viktor was certain that the room seemed a little emptier, as if something had been removed since the day before. But this thought vanished from his mind when they reached the cellar, and he couldn't hold back a bemused exclamation. "Wait… So you turned this room into a lab?"
Jayce shrugged, a small, satisfied smile on his lips. "I've been here six months, I don't deserve any credit.
- Cre-... Jayce, that's amazing," Viktor marvelled as he passed him, "And is that... is that a couch? The one that disappeared from the living room?
- I brought it here last night after my walk. I understand you find it hard to stop once you're working so at least you'll be able to take breaks on something more comfortable than a stool."
Emotion gripped Viktor's throat and he searched for words before realising that they were useless, that they would never convey what he was feeling right now, and he turned back to the lab.
Viktor had expected to find two tables and a few tools, perhaps a blackboard as a bonus, but not a real and functional lab! What he had in front of him was everything he could have dreamed of for an ideal workspace: two reversible blackboards ideal for long calculations and diagrams, a state-of-the-art microscope, a welder, pliers, a battery, an incredibly full toolbox... And all this bathed in the soft daylight coming through the small windows under the arches of the cellar.
Pinch me, I must be dreaming...
"Do you like it?
- Do I like it? I feel like I'm back at the Academy. It's been ages since I worked in such a lab..." Viktor's voice choked in his throat and he hid his confusion behind a little cough. "I mean... It's just that my patrons don't pay me enough to invest in tools like these."
He prayed that Jayce would interpret his discomfort as shame at not earning enough money, praying that he wouldn't pick up on the inconsistencies in his speech... And fortunately, Jayce placed a hand between Viktor's shoulder blades, which spreaded a new wave of warmth through his body. "I'll admit I went a bit crazy with the equipment. I was really convinced that I could make great progress on my project and I wanted to use the best tools. I realise now that it was kind of crazy, but if they can be of use to you, it will be worth it."
A pang of empathy gripped Viktor's heart. Despite his cheerful tone, Jayce's eyes had clouded over, and he cursed himself for not being able to show him his support in a more direct way, for not being able, like him, to simply comfort him with physical contact. Viktor awkwardly raised his hand to lightly pat Jayce's shoulder. "I'm sure you'll find them useful too. Give yourself a little more time."
Contrary to what some people would have done, Jayce did not complain or lament more. He simply turned to him and thanked him with a nod. "You'll be the first to know." Then he stepped back and something in Viktor's chest mourned the parting, the absence of his hand. "So, where do you want to start?"
Viktor spun around to get a better look at the place before walking over to a blackboard and grabbing a piece of chalk. He half-turned and offered Jayce a smile. "I believe a picture is worth a thousand words."
Jayce nodded and sat down in a chair, leaning back against the backrest. "I'm all ears."
Viktor hesitated for a second, considering drawing a different diagram to the one that had haunted his thoughts for almost a decade.
Don't take any chances.
He put the end of the chalk on the board.
You can't trust Pilties.
And, buoyed by their conversation from the night before, Viktor drew an almost perfect circle, silencing the wary hiss in his mind.
***
"Sho… Let me get thish right," Jayce struggled to articulate as he picked up another handful of peanuts, "the problem comes from this part of the equashion.
- Didn't anyone ever tell you it's not polite to talk with your mouth full?"
Jayce shrugged and stood beside him in front of the blackboard. He presented Viktor with the peanuts bowl without looking at him and, surprising himself, Viktor helped himself with a distracted gesture, his eyes still scanning the numbers.
"I don't think that's where the problem lies," he grumbled, "it's the second part that bothers me."
He knew this equation by heart. It danced before his eyes during his sleepless nights, taunting him morning to night with its solution which, however, did not solve the general problem of his project. But he also knew that the calculation was correct, he had been working on it for months, he would have noticed if there had been a mis-...
Jayce put his finger on the board, on the third line of the equation. "Here."
Viktor's gaze fixed on the numbers before he shook his head. "No, that part is correct, I'm telling you that the problem comes... after... the..." He frowned and muttered to himself, retracing his reasoning and the whole beginning of the calculation... Before widening his eyes and cursing out loud. "Kurva!
- Kur-what?
- Shit, you're right! Hang on, hang on. Just let me..." Viktor erased the end of the equation with a sweep of his arm, ruining his shirt in the process, and furiously resumed his calculation, muttering almost incomprehensible words... And when he reached the end, when he circled the final answer and compared it with his second equation, when he instantly visualised that this simple modification had indeed solved his problem, he struck the blackboard with the flat of his hand and roared. "Damn it, Talis! Where have you been all this time?!"
Face pink with pride, Jayce laughed softly, a hand sliding up the back of his neck. "I'm sure you would have found it on your own.
- I've been working on this calculation for months, I've been convinced for weeks that the problem was the second part, and if you hadn't said anything, I'd still be convinced ten years from now!" An ecstatic smile on his face, Viktor clutched Jayce's shoulder, unable to control his excitement. "You've saved me an incredible amount of time!"
In another world, in other circumstances, he would almost have kissed Jayce. This simple correction was such a game-changer and solved all his problems! As the thought crossed his mind, Jayce looked at Viktor's hand, at the point of contact between them, and he blinked before looking away slightly. Viktor took a step back, a little too quickly for it to seem natural. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncom-…
- So you're not angry?
- Why would I be? Because you pointed out a mistake?"
Jayce shrugged. "It has annoyed other students during my studies...
- That simply means they weren't cut out for the job," Viktor sniffed with a hint of smugness, "that's the whole point of science: to fall and to get up, over and over again, which is why, as a scientist, you shouldn't associate your worth or intelligence with the results of your work. If they can't stand being wrong, or if they get offended when you point out a mistake, I really hope for their sake that they've had a career change."
Jayce laughed softly. "I never thought of it that way.
- Of what?
- Not associating your worth with the results of your work. It's liberating to think like that.
- Let's just say it saves you having to rack your brains with useless thoughts when it's already full of equations." (He squinted.) "Don't tell me you get offended when someone points out that you made a mistake?
- No, absolutely not! It's just that these days, I think I'm easily depressed when I don't get the results I want. I… I honestly believe I'm an impostor and I find it hard to motivate myself. I never felt that way before, but in recent years it's become more frequent.
- Jayce."
Jayce turned to him and their eyes met. "You're nothing like those people who lost their cool when you showed them the error of their ways. You're a scientist: it's normal to have doubts. And if you needed further proof, maybe you just need to change your point of view, step back and take a fresh look at your project."
Jayce offered him a smile. "Thank you.
- Wait, are you thanking me? I am the one who should be thanking you for the rest of our lives. You've saved me an incredible amount of time: without you I'd still be concentrating on the wrong equation. This result changes everything." Viktor turned back to the board and rubbed his suddenly itchy nose. "It'll make the propeller faster and the system more efficient, I'll just have to check the rest to make sure...
- Why don't we celebrate this success first?"
Viktor raised an eyebrow. "And how do you propose we celebrate?
- With a toast of course!
- Are you suggesting we drink every time we solve an equation?
- Only every time a major discovery is made.
- If I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying to get me drunk, Talis.
- Please, I wouldn't dare. It just happens to coincide with the happy hour."
Viktor rolled his eyes, more for form's sake than anything else. "Fine, a toast will do.
- I'll grab our glasses and a bottle!
- Wouldn't you prefer it if we went back to the living room?
- Nah, we've still got a bit of time before I have to heat up dinner, so let's make the most of it. After all…"
Jayce smiled a mischievously and gently but firmly grabbed Viktor by the shoulders to bring him closer to the wall adorned with a small mirror. Viktor felt his heart race in his chest and he stammered. "Jayce, w-what are you-?
- You're not exactly presentable right now, partner."
Viktor nearly choked on hearing this word, coupled with the large hands that completely encircled his shoulders. A shock seemed to spread throughout his body. "Par-..."
But he went silent when he saw his reflection in the mirror: almost completely hiding the crimson red of his cheeks, large traces of chalk were smeared across his face, from his forehead to his cheekbones to his nose, and his shirt was in a similar state. Viktor let out an curse that made Jayce chuckle, and used his clean sleeve to wipe off a minimum of chalk dust. Jayce walked away for a few seconds and came back to him with a damp cloth. "Here, let me."
Viktor stiffened, all his muscles tense as Jayce leaned forward and gently rubbed his face. The fabric was cool against his skin, a welcome caress after those few minutes of euphoria, and yet Viktor could feel his blood boiling in his veins. His face must have turned scarlet, he was sure of it, and the sudden proximity of Jayce's face wasn't helping to keep him calm. His heart was pounding in his chest, so hard he was sure his partner could hear it.
Partner...
At that moment, their eyes met and Viktor felt his hand slip over the handle of his crutch as heat grew in his chest.
Too close.
Too…
"It's fine, I'll do it," Viktor whispered at last, taking the cloth gently from Jayce's hand, "go and come back with that bottle instead.
- I thought you were afraid I was trying to get you drunk?
- Eh you'll get drunk before me, Talis. Besides, it's good for what we've got."
Jayce stepped back, as if with regret, and the air finally returned to Viktor's lungs, as if oxygen had been unable to circulate in the little space they had left between them.
"I'll be right back.
- Take your time, I'm not going anywhere."
Jayce took a few steps away, almost disappearing as he stepped onto the first step... Then he took a step back towards Viktor and gave him a mocking grin. "Should I also come back with a supply of towels for our next work sessions? In case you put your face directly into the chalk bucket again?"
Viktor turned to throw his chalk at him with surgical precision. "Shut up, Talis!"
Jayce dodged with a burst of laughter and quickly climbed up the stairs while Viktor sat down on the stool and continued to clean his face, an unbearably smug smile on his lips. He stared for a few seconds at the spot where his partner had disappeared before returning his attention to the board and the solved equation, his right hand mechanically massaging his thigh.
"Partner…"
Even whispered, the word seemed to echo around the room, ricocheting off the walls that surrounded his heart. It made his whole being, his whole soul, tremble, and Viktor savoured it as he repeated it a second time and rolled it around on his tongue.
Partner.
He who had always worked alone, who had learned to and preferred to be alone, had spent a whole day with someone he didn't know and he hadn't seen the time go by. Better still, he'd really enjoyed himself.
It had been ages since he'd felt so at ease, so understood, so... at home.
The last time was a long, long time ago, when he must have been about eleven years old, the day he went to Piltover to bring some equipment back to Singed...
Viktor's heart was swelling so much he could almost feel it in his throat, and the voice in his mind struggled to pierce the bubble of euphoria and happiness in which he had been living since the day before.
You can't trust him, he's messing with you! He used the excuse of the toast to go and tell Mel all about your research, you're definitely going to get your idea stolen, you idiot!
Immediately, the anguish returned and all trace of peaceful relief faded from Viktor's body. He was on his feet in a second, despite the complaint of his right leg, blood freezing in his veins. What an idiot he was! How could he have been so stupid! God, he wanted to slap himself! He would have been better off inventing another project, anything, rather than being so honest!
What an idiot! What a...
At that moment, Jayce came back downstairs with two glasses, the ice cubes clinking with every step he took, and at first he only stuck his head in the doorway. If he was surprised to see Viktor closer to the stairs than to the blackboard, he didn't let it show. "Don't shoot: I'm bringing offerings as a token of peace.
- Hm. You're lucky."
Jayce joined him in two strides and handed him his glass. "To your discovery.
- It was yours," Viktor corrected him cautiously.
- Well then... Here's to us, partner."
Viktor put his lips to the glass and, as the scent of cinnamon, cloves and lemon tickled his nostrils, he froze, his eyes wide. For a second, time seemed to stop, and when he looked up, Jayce was watching him with a smirk on his face, as if to gauge his reaction. "Jayce, is that… is that becherovka?"
An almost palpable relief relaxed his host's shoulders. "I understand you like it.
- But… You didn't have any bottle yesterday, when did you…" He fell silent, thought back to the bag Jayce hadn't wanted him to know the contents of, and finished in a breath. "You bought it this morning.
- I was passing the liquor shop, so I took the opportunity to buy a bottle as soon as it opened."
Viktor was silent for a few seconds, his throat in a strange knot, and his voice was hoarse when he asked. "Why?
- Hm?
- Why would you buy a bottle of something you've never even tasted before?"
Jayce tilted his head slightly before shrugging, as if it were the obvious thing to do. "For you."
The same lightning as this morning streaked across Viktor's skin, the same heatwave surged through him, as if to drown him, and Viktor distinctly felt something melt in his chest. And it was probably this something that must have made the mistrust in his soul stronger, because once it evaporated, the voice came to him less distinctly, so that he barely heard it when he sat down absent-mindedly on the edge of the nearest desk.
"That... means a lot to me. Thank you, Jayce.
- I hope I picked a good bottle.
- Believe me, it seems perfect." Viktor smiled mischievously, as much to hide his confusion as to gently provoke his new partner. "Since you've never tasted it, you should know that if it's a good bottle, the first sip will make you burst into flames.
- Do you really think I'm that weak?
- Not at all. I simply know is that this alcohol is a reflection of Zaun and its people...
- Hot as hell?"
Viktor rolled flabbergasted eyes at him before thinking it over and finally letting out an appreciative pout. "...I was going to say 'particularly intense', but 'hot as hell' works too."
Jayce winked at him, which almost made Viktor lose his composure. "Don't worry about me, I can handle it."
Refusing to be thrown off balance, Viktor smiled and raised his glass in a provocative gesture towards Jayce. "Here's to us, partner.
The soft echo of their toast echoed in the lab, and they raised their glasses to their lips, without taking their eyes off each other. In other circumstances, Viktor would have sipped the golden liquid, savouring the contrast of flavours and the sweetness of the ice cube gently diluting the alcohol, but he was in a playful mood. So he swallowed the contents of the glass in one gulp before placing it resolutely on the desk. Delighted to see Jayce's eyes widen at this feat, he raised his eyebrows, as if daring him to imitate him, and his host's breath caught in his throat for a second. Then Jayce smiled, without taking his eyes off him...
But as soon as the alcohol touched his lips and he took his first sip, a violent coughing fit shook his shoulders and he had to take a step back. And as Jayce's face turned crimson, Viktor burst out laughing, his arms clutching his stomach. "Nice try, Piltie!
- It just went down the wrong way!
- Of course it did."
Jayce laughed too, his eyes made bright by coughing but also by genuine amusement, and he struggled to catch his breath. "Don't laugh, V!"
The nickname made Viktor's heart flutter, and he, who hated having his name shortened, did not correct it. "I wouldn't dare."
For the first time in seven years, Viktor felt really happy, where he belonged, so much so that he almost forgot that he'd never spoken to Jayce before the day before. It was as if they had really been close during their studies, as if there was no mission he had to worry about.
As if they'd known each other all their lives.
***
When they joined Elora and Mel in the dining room, they were already seated and Jayce apologised, promising that he would prepare dinner for them the next day.
"Don't worry, you did enough this morning," Elora reassured him with a wave of her hand, "all we had to do was reheat the leftovers from lunch. That is, if you don't mind, Viktor?
- Not at all."
Jayce placed a kiss on Mel's forehead and, more surprisingly, did the same with Elora, which genuinely intrigued Viktor. He had seen for himself how tactile Jayce was and how openly he showed his affection, but he hadn't imagined that his lover and her confidante would receive the same treatment. He watched Mel's reaction but the Councillor only offered her partner a soft smile before turning to Viktor, her eyes once again as cold as ice. "We understand you had a better day than we did. We could hear you laughing your heads off while we were in the kitchen.
- We also worked on my project, didn't we, Jayce?
- In fact, I'd go so far as to say that we mostly worked on your project."
This seemed to reassure Mel, who relaxed slightly, and Viktor knew he had opted for the right strategy. The last thing he needed was to insist so that Jayce would tell him about his mysterious research, any more than he should invite him to follow him back to Piltover. He had to take his time, use his advantage.
"So did you choose an air purification system? What was it again, photocatalysis and plasma, right?"
Viktor was surprised that Mel had really paid attention to their conversation the day before and, above all, that she had retained some of the essential points. Immediately, his anxiety returned and he had the impression that he was closing in on himself, that he wanted to keep all the information about this project so dear to his heart hidden from the world. Even if it was ridiculously fast, he knew he could trust Jayce.
But he absolutely did not trust Mel.
And there was no way she was going to use his idea, especially for the wrong purposes.
"We haven't got that far," he said firmly, "but let's change the subject, I don't want to bore you for another evening.
- Not at all, I find it fascinating, don't you, Elora?
- Of course. And I think it's a really important issue."
Viktor felt the back of his neck break out in a cold sweat and his brain spun at full speed, looking for a way out, a way not to have to reveal the result of the equation he had solved that afternoon and what it implied…
Jayce put a hand on Viktor's back, just between his shoulder blades, causing a shiver to run down his spine and shake him from head to toe. "I think it's better to wait until we're further along in the research before talking about it. After all, Viktor's patrons should be the first to know about his successes. Right, V?"
For the second time that day, Viktor's relief led him to think that, in other circumstances, he would have kissed Jayce.
"Yes, exactly," he answered, lowering his eyes, unable to hold Mel's gaze, "I wouldn't want to offend them."
Mel squinted but didn't insist. She gracefully unfolded her napkin and placed it on her lap. "Anyway, it's been a long time since I've heard you laugh so openly, Jayce. It really makes me glad to see you so happy."
Jayce tenderly took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. "It was a lovely day. It was nice to think about something else while doing a bit of science."
They exchanged a knowing smile before the Councillor skilfully changed the subject, leading the discussion towards the work she had done with Elora, without ever going into detail, as if to show Viktor that she wasn't afraid to broach the subject in front of him without revealing too much. As far as he knew, they were working on a law that they wanted the Council to approve when they returned to Piltover.
Viktor understood that there was talk of returning to Piltover one day - unless it was a clever lie to deceive him - and above all that he couldn't tell Cassandra Kiramman about this project without risking compromising his cover.
If he brought up the subject and Mel did indeed come back one day to present this law to his Council colleagues and they weren't surprised, that would be proof enough for Mel to guess that someone had spread the word. And she was very clear that this project was known only to the people sitting at this table.
She openly provoked him, titillating him with crumbs in the hope that he would betray himself.
But Viktor just nodded without asking any questions, and dinner went off without a hitch.
Jayce cleared the table, inviting Mel and Elora to enjoy the evening, and Viktor, too uncomfortable at the thought of having to spend time alone with them, followed Jayce to the kitchen. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
His partner handed him a towel and set up a stool right next to him. "Can I pass you the clean dishes?"
Viktor sat, putting his crutch to one side, and religiously dried each dish and place setting that Jayce handed him. Music drifted towards them, a sign that Elora or Mel had played a record from the living room and turned up the volume so that they could hear it in the kitchen, and this little attention surprised him as much as it touched him. Immediately, Jayce began to tap the rhythm with his foot and to hum distractedly to the tune of the song.
The whole time they were washing the dishes, they didn't exchange a word, carried away by the music, and yet Viktor didn't feel any discomfort. He was surprised by the normality of this moment, by the intimacy contained in these everyday actions, and he felt something pinch his heart, like regret, but he brushed it away with a shake of his head.
Once the dishes were done and put away, Jayce invited him to join them in the living room, but Viktor knew he shouldn't push his luck. He had deprived Mel of her lover long enough: it was best to retire for the night.
"I think I'll go to sleep, but thank you."
A slightly sad glint crossed Jayce's eyes, but he hid it behind a smile. "Let me walk you there.
- Come on, it's such a long way to my room," Viktor pretended to refuse.
- I'll walk ten metres for you.
- How gallant of you."
When they reached the living room, they found Mel and Elora sitting on the sofa, hand in hand, leaning slightly towards each other, an almost intimate closeness that baffled Viktor as much as it surprised him.
"Oh they really are good friends indeed," he mused innocently.
But when they noticed them, when their hands separated sharply and Elora lowered her eyes with a blush, the wheels started turning in Viktor's mind. Perhaps Mel hadn't noticed, but it was almost certain that her confidante had feelings for her.
Viktor watched Jayce's reaction, not really surprised to see that the scientist had clearly not come to the same conclusion as he had, and then greeted the two ladies for the night, giving Elora a slightly more insistent look. He would keep this information to himself, but he would not hesitate to make good use of it if necessary. Viktor then returned to his room, followed closely by Jayce, and when he came to a halt in front of the door, he pointed to it with his thumb.
"Here we are.
- What a lovely neighbourhood.
- I've just moved in, so I don't know how friendly the neighbours are yet.
- The nicest kind there is," Jayce reassured him with a big smile.
- That's good to know."
Their laughter died away and a brief silence fell between them as they realised how close they were. Jayce was leaning against the door frame, close to Viktor, and their gazes seemed to lock into each other, as if nothing else existed around them.
His throat suddenly incredibly dry, Viktor pursed his lips and reached for the door handle with a sweaty hand. "Alright. Well, good night, Jayce."
His partner breathed in briefly and took a step back, as if suddenly coming to after hours of absence. "Oh... Yes, good night, Viktor."
They exchanged a sheepish smile, then the door closed between them and Viktor leaned against it, his heart beating furiously in his chest.
OK... What the hell was that?!
Even if he hadn't had many interactions of this kind, Viktor was perfectly capable of recognising desire in people's eyes when it was this obvious, which was how he'd suspected that Elora must have feelings for Mel.
But then why on earth did he find a similar gleam in Jayce's eyes?!
No. No, he must have been mistaken, it was just... Yes, it was the alcohol. The alcohol had given him that impression.
The heatwave that he had been trying to contain for the last twenty-four hours returned, taking over his thoughts, and Viktor laid on bed, trying to banish these thoughts from his mind.
Pull yourself together, pull yourself together, pull yourself together.
But rather than helping him, laying on the bed marked his defeat, as he found himself surrounded by Jayce's scent in the warmth of the sheets. Viktor closed his eyes, trying to dampen the reactions of his mind and body by focusing on the equation they had solved, but his brain kept wandering and thinking of Jayce, standing in front of the blackboard covered in calculations.
Jayce grabbing his shoulders and leading him to the mirror.
Jayce leaning over him to wipe the chalk from his face.
Jayce buying a bottle of becherovka just to please him.
Jayce installing a couch in the lab for his comfort.
Jayce facing him with a big smile.
"Partner."
Viktor jumped out of bed, determined to clear his head, and headed for the bathroom. He filled the sink with ice-cold water and plunged his head in it. The cold took his breath away and he blessed the sensation for driving everything else away.
It was his body that reacted to basic acts of kindness.
It was adrenalin finding a way to get out.
It was just classical biology, nothing else.
"Loneliness is often the by-product of a gifted mind."
"Nobody wants you here."
Viktor stood straight, his face soaked and his hair dripping, and when he saw his reflection in the mirror, he had to turn away, unable to face himself. There was no desire in Jayce's eyes. Just joy at having found a scientist who shared his love of science and progress. Breathless, Viktor closed his eyes so tightly that light dotted his vision, and he cursed himself with a sigh.
Pathetic...
Notes:
I hope you liked this new chapter! The next one will be shorter but no less intense, quite the contrary ;3
Edit: The amazing and talented @WobinR sketched the shop scene and posted it on Twitter it's so great and hilarious OMG!! ❤️
Also check this beautiful art of Viktor's struggles drawn by the wonderful and amazing @잔가지 on Twitter it's so beautiful haaaa !! ❤️
Both are so stunning!! Thank you so much for your support 😭❤️See you next week for the next chapter!
Chapter 4
Summary:
Viktor works in the lab with his new partner. Surely nothing could go wrong... Right?
Notes:
Hi everyone! Let's end the work week with this new chapter (a little shorter, but no less intense, on the contrary), I hope you'll like it! :D
I also wanted to thank you all for the amazing and overwhelming support I received since the beginning but also during the last few days! This makes me so happy and I'm so grateful for every comment, every kudo and every message of support I received TToTT Thank you all so much! I hope you'll like this new chapter <3
Enjoy!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
The weeks passed quietly, much to Jayce and Viktor's delight. Viktor managed to wake up before his hosts - thus avoiding having to have breakfast with Mel - and he often sipped his coffee or a sweet milk sitting next to Elora, who was as early riser as he was, albeit for different reasons. He couldn't say that they had formed a bond, but he felt less uncomfortable in the presence of Elora than he did in Mel's presence. While her confidante was becoming less and less distant, even smiling politely at him from time to time, the Councillor's hostility was still palpable.
Mel only looked at him with squinted eyes, as if she was trying to read his mind, and Viktor was as irritated by her obvious disdain as he was by her acerbic remarks cleverly disguised behind a honeyed tone. He returned the favour, of course, all with pinched smiles, and their few rare interactions consisted of masked teasing remarks exchanged during the few meals they shared together.
Fortunately, Viktor spent most of his time in the lab with Jayce. They worked on the propeller prototype, brainstormed about their options for purifying the air, talked about their studies, about anything and everything, and their connection grew stronger with every hour they spent in each other's company. Most of the time, they worked together, bent over the same blueprints, solving the same calculations, but every now and then Jayce would sit down at another table and would think about another project.
Although Viktor was curious, he didn't try to find out more, simply surprising himself with a feeling of relief at seeing his partner creating again. No doubt Jayce was finally making progress on his secret research, and this reassured and strangely soothed Viktor, although he didn't really understand why. He'd been there for almost a month when Jayce finished his secret plans, and he didn't expect to be kept informed of his progress.
So when his partner approached him with a measuring tape in hand one evening after dinner, Viktor frowned. "What do you think you’re doing?
- I was wondering if you'd let me measure your leg.
- .......Excuse me?
- I was wondering if you'd let me measure your leg," repeated Jayce in an even voice.
They stared into each other's eyes for an infinite second before Viktor realised the true implications of that sentence, and he frowned his nose. "Absolutely not.
- But…
- No ‘but’, it's out of the question. I don't want you wasting your time on me when you've been working on your project for almost a month now."
Jayce turned briefly to his own desk. "In fact, ever since the day you moved in here, I've been thinking about how to support your leg better and I finished this sketch last week." He pulled a blueprint out of his back pocket and handed it to Viktor, a shy smile on his lips. "I think it's a good idea, but we have to do at least one prototype. Hence the measurements."
Viktor clearly felt his breath catch and his heart freeze before thumping violently in his chest when he realised that Jayce hadn't rekindled the flame for his secret project but had been working on a leg brace.
For almost a month, he'd been thinking of a way to make Viktor's life easier.
For almost a month, he'd been thinking about his comfort, his leg…
About him.
For a moment, the room was suddenly so warm that Viktor wondered if the air conditioning had broken down. And when he realised that it was simply his body temperature reaching a new height, he felt like slapping himseld. "You don't have to do this.
- I know. I want to make you feel better." Then, after a pause, he suddenly blushed. "I-I mean: I want to help you!"
Ah, so he is capable of hearing the double meaning of his words!
"Jayce, I don't want to be a distraction.
- You're not. This is the first thing I've created in years and I'm sincerely grateful."
Gods, how could he be so naive and endearing?!
"Please, you don't owe me anything.
- On the contrary, I..." Jayce seemed to search for his words and he hesitated before shaking his head. "I was able to help you with your calculations and your project, I sketched a blueprint, I was driven by the desire to create, and for that I'm incredibly grateful. So I mean it when I say I'd be happy to help you."
Viktor pursed his lips as thousands of thoughts and retorts raced through his brain. Of course, there was the sincere desire not to disturb, but there was also the fear that his body would betray him, and above all... There was the fear that by analysing his weaknesses, his imperfections, Jayce would turn away from him.
"Nobody wants you here."
" I want to make you feel better."
Viktor swallowed, haunted by the voices of the past and the looks of contempt and disgust he had faced... Then he looked into Jayce's bright eyes and saw the truth.
"Please."
Viktor gritted his teeth and even though the voices grew quieter, the knot in his stomach hardly loosened. Jayce had finally rediscovered the desire to create... Who was he to stop him from completing a project?
He took off his goggles with a long sigh and stretched out his right leg. "Alright. But make it quick, I'd like to finish my prototype today."
Jayce's face lit up and Viktor mentally reassured himself. He didn't have to worry, it wouldn't take long and he could quickly get back to his calculations and blueprints. But when his partner knelt between his legs, right in front of him, Viktor realised how wrong he'd been.
He would never be able to concentrate on anything again after being confronted with such a sight.
Immediately, Viktor felt a pang of regret as his cheekbones heated up, and he would have pulled his leg back if Jayce hadn't just put his hand on it, literally taking his breath away. "I was also thinking of forging a second brace that you could wear next to your skin for extra support, but I'd rather start with this one."
Viktor would have liked to reply, to tell him that it wasn't necessary, but his voice simply refused to obey him, and he could only nod when he realised that Jayce might one day directly touch his skin. His eyes followed Jayce's movements, the path of his hands over the metal of his brace, like a caress whose echoes Viktor could only feel and which…
"V?"
He gasped, "W-what?
- I was asking if we could remove the brace, so that the measurements would be correct.
- Oh. Yes, of course, let me just…"
Viktor feverishly removed the restraints around his leg. His sweaty hands slipped a few times, making him curse silently, and he stiffened when Jayce's fingers brushed his, creating a discharge of static electricity that only he seemed to feel.
"Wait, let me help you.
- It's fine, I can do it.
- I know."
Together, they removed the metal scaffolding that held his leg, and as he gently placed it on the floor, Jayce nodded, clearly impressed. "It's a fine brace."
Viktor rolled his eyes and snorted. "You're just saying that to please me.
- No, I mean it. You did an amazing job.
- Flatterer.
- Maybe, but I mean every word of it."
This brief interaction slightly soothed Viktor, enough to convince him he could hold on as long as Jayce was quick with taking his measurements.
Viktor had quickly realised that his body reacted to any contact, even the slightest, because of the solitude in which he had lived for more than ten years. Beyond the purely biological reactions, he had also rationalised the fire that pulsed through his veins several times a week. After all, Jayce was almost perfect. He was objectively attractive - so much so that it was almost exasperating - and his manners, his politeness, his kindness, his attention to detail, his passion for science and his brilliant mind were real weapons that he wielded naturally without seeming to be aware of it. So it was only natural that Viktor should be charmed by his partner.
His body's reactions were rational and Jayce's sincere empathy simply conditioned Viktor's brain to become attached to him.
It was as simple as that.
And yet all rationality deserted him when Jayce's fingers brushed his ankle and when the measuring tape wrapped around it with infinite delicacy. "Could you write the measurements?
- ...Sure."
Viktor picked up a pencil and tore off a corner of his notes. "I'm listening."
In the end, it was a good distraction and he mentally thanked Jayce for the opportunity to let his brain focus on something other than his hands on his body…
He religiously noted the numbers and, for a few seconds, he thought he'd get away without too much problem. Then Jayce's hands slid down his calf, leaving invisible flames in their wake, and Viktor's breath caught in his throat.
As the pencil trembled in his hands, Viktor tightened his grip and resolutely looked away, focusing on his note rather than on the sensations that were now crawling up his knee, his thigh…
His heart was beating furiously in his chest, and he felt a bead of sweat slide down his back as Jayce steadied and immobilised his leg with one hand, in an almost frightening silence... And he stiffened, suddenly mortified, as he felt his blood leave his body to directly go south... Down to his crotch.
It's my body that's craving physical contact, it's only a biological reaction, it's biological, it's simply…
"I could measure you in hands," Jayce laughed in a low voice as he put the measuring tape away.
Breathless Viktor blinked, suddenly coming to with a startle, and he looked at Jayce. "W-what do you mean?
- For example..." His partner leaned forward and slowly closed his hand over his thigh, his fingers meeting easily. "My hand can circle your whole thigh."
The words were husky, whispered like a secret in his ear, and before he noticed Jayce's slightly dilated pupils and short breath, Viktor distinctly felt something break inside him as that sight, that hand closed on his leg, anchored itself forever in his mind.
All the air left Viktor's lungs as an uncontrollable shudder ran through him, and he suddenly clutched the pencil so hard that his knuckles turned white and that the object snapped in his right hand…
"Ah…"
The sound was nothing more than a sigh, an almost inaudible exhale, and yet Viktor felt it explode with the same violence as an bomb.
His whole body stiffened and he felt himself blush to the roots of his hair as he slammed his hand on his lips, and he pulled his leg out of the way in the same movement. "I'm so sorry! I didn't…
- Sorry, I must have hurt you!"
Viktor opened and closed his mouth before nodding and turning away, praying that his partner wouldn't notice the crimson of his face and, above all, the shameful bulge of his crotch. "A little," he lied in a muffled voice.
Immediately, Jayce panicked. "Oh Gods I'm so sorry, Viktor! I didn't mean to…
- Don't worry, it's... It doesn't even hurt anymore.
- Let me make it up to you," his partner added while placing a hand on his knee, "I'll help you get back to your room and…
- No!"
Viktor's voice echoed through the room, a mixture of horror and firmness that froze them both, and for a moment, it seemed as if only the sound of his ragged breathing broke the silence. Still kneeling in front of him, Jayce lowered his eyes, clearly hurt and ashamed to be the one responsible for his discomfort. "I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to be a nuisance.
- No that’s not what I... (Viktor sighed.) Forgive me, I just meant that you shouldn't worry about me. I don't want to disrupt your organisation any more than I already have."
Then, when Jayce didn't reply, he added slowly. "You haven't hurt me, Jayce, and you’re not a nuisance. Really, you have nothing to worry about.
- But I…"
Jayce's voice cut off sharply as he turned back to him and silence stretched. Then Viktor saw a hint of red in his partner's ears as he looked up at him, as if realising the position they were in… Jayce kneeling between his legs, right in front of his crotch.
And panic took over again.
Viktor scanned the desk, looking for something to hide the real reason for his uncontrolled gasp, something to hide the bulge in his trousers, and chose simply to cross his legs, slowly, with calculated, mechanical gestures. "We... we'd better call it a day, yes?" When Jayce didn't answer, he handed him the note with the measurements, unable to face him. "Do you have everything you need?"
His partner nodded slowly, eyes still fixed on him. "Yes, I... That'll do.
- Good.
- Good…"
For a second, they stood completely still. Then, finally, Jayce picked up the note before standing up and Viktor leaned against the desk. He supported his forehead with his left hand, hiding his scarlet face from his partner.
"I'll go straight to the forge," Jayce stammered, backing away slowly.
- Great.
- I suppose you'll be in bed by the time I get back.
- I suppose so.
- Well, see you tomorrow then. And sleep well.
- You too, Jayce."
The interaction was anything but natural, as if they were exchanging words without understanding them and in a tone that was both distant and a little dry. And for the duration of this brief conversation, Viktor kept his eyes glued to his notes, unable to look at Jayce who still wasn't moving.
"Right, I'm off.
- Jayce, I…" Viktor searched for words before huffing. "Thank you… For your help and for the time you dedicate to my personal comfort."
He didn't see Jayce smile but he could clearly hear it in his reply before he left the lab. "My pleasure. I'm happy to help."
Once he was finally alone, Viktor stayed frozen for a while, unable to concentrate on his calculations and his half-finished prototype. He tried to control his reactions, to order his body to obey him and relax, but to no avail. He let out a long sigh and massaged his temples. He wouldn't get anywhere today... He would have to wait until tomorrow to do some efficient work…
Viktor got up slowly, picked up his brace and walked slowly back to his room. He cursed his growing erection, which made every movement particularly uncomfortable, but also the fire in his veins despite the minutes that had passed since that unfortunate incident - fortunately misinterpreted by Jayce, bless his heart! Finally, Viktor was able to lock himself in his room and he laid on his bed. After a few seconds, he let his gaze slide slowly down to his thigh before shaking his head and resolutely closing his eyes.
No. No no no no. That's enough, this ends today!
But his leg seemed to be vibrating, as if his blood was pulsating through his veins to the beating of his heart, and no matter how hard he tried to avoid even unintentional contact with his erection, the heat still wouldn't go away. Worse, it seemed to grow with every pulse, and he realised that closing his eyes was even worse than leaving them open.
Without seeing it, Viktor could still feel the echo of Jayce's hand on his ankle, the memory of his touch grazing his calf, the ghost of his fingers on his knee, the warmth of his palm on his thigh, the caress of his voice…
" I want to make you feel better."
Viktor knew he should have gotten up and splashed some cold water on his face or taken an ice-cold shower to pull himself together. Instead, as if seized by an uncontrollable fever, his body took control and he gave in with a grunt.
Might as well do it fast and move on.
With clumsy movements, Viktor took off his shoes, trousers and underwear and rolled onto his side, burying his face in the pillow and inhaling Jayce's lingering scent as his hand slid slowly, almost hesitantly and curiously, towards his erection. A sigh escaped him as his fingers closed over his aching length, and the rational, distant voice screaming at him to stop vanished, silenced by a veil of lust.
It was not an act he performed frequently, and when he did, it was with methodical, calculated movements, almost with detachment, even exasperation. He had always seen masturbation - and sex in general - as a purely biological act that he had to perform so that his body would leave him be for several weeks, nothing more, nothing less.
Honestly, every time it happened, Viktor told himself that he didn't understand what seemed to drive people crazy about these acts. Sure, it gave him a few sparks of pleasure, but still it wasn't really something to write home about nor was it understandable for him that spaces dedicated to carnal pleasure were everywhere in Zaun.
But this time, it was different.
Terribly and shamefully different.
And this time, Viktor was beginning to understand the point of it all.
Every movement seemed to set his whole body ablaze, as if every part of him that Jayce had touched since his arrival - his leg, his shoulders, the hollow between his shoulder blades, his waist, his hands - was branded with a red-hot iron and vibrated at the mere thought of Jayce.
A trembling sigh passed his lips and Viktor buried his face in the pillow to muffle his voice, to silence what he couldn't control, while his hand moved up and down his cock.
"I could measure you in hands."
A delicious shiver ran down his spine, lodged in his abdomen and beads of precum rolled over his knuckles as his face flamed and his hips began to thrust.
He wouldn't imagine Jayce's hand in place of his. He wouldn't.
"For example, my hand can circle your whole thigh."
"Oh Gods…"
He wouldn't say Jayce's name. He wouldn't say his name, he wouldn't say his name.
"I want to make you feel better."
Viktor bit his lip until it bled to muffle his moans and to keep himself from saying Jayce's name, but he didn't have to say it for his whole being to be turned to him, to the warmth of his hands on his skin, to the sparkle in his eyes, to his scent and his smile.
"Partner."
He bit down on the pillow to silence his whine as a shudder ran through his body, and stars covered the sky of his eyelids as he came.
Breathless, his forehead beaded with sweat, Viktor let the wave of ecstasy slowly recede, the unexpected violence of his orgasm leaving him panting. For an eternal second, all was silent bliss, like a revelation of wonder.
Then, as quickly as it had appeared, pleasure dissipated, freeing Viktor's brain from its embrace, and shame and guilt replaced that brief moment of ecstasy, paralysing him with horror.
How could you?!
Mortified, his heart pounding with the violence of his embarrassment, Viktor looked down, praying that it had all been a fever dream. But when he saw his hand bathed in moonlight and the guilty marks of his pleasure drawn in white lines of cum on his palm and on his fingers, he gasped, stunned. "Oh fuck…"
Appalled by this act and by the thoughts that had encouraged it, Viktor distinctly felt his sweat turn to ice and the shiver that ran through him was no longer pleasant as he sat up with a grimace.
Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck!
He stood up awkwardly and staggered to the shower, discarding his soiled clothes and not waiting for the water to heat up before slipping under it. Viktor let out a hiss as the icy water hit him, and he vigorously rubbed his hand and his stomach, almost irritating his skin, which reddened under these assaults. When all physical traces of his shame had disappeared, he took his head in his hands and cursed himself.
How could he have thought that committing such an act was a good idea? He was brilliant, so how could he have been so stupid?
What monster, what... animal masturbated while thinking about someone he knew and trusted?!
Shame almost made him faint and he slammed his forehead against the wall several times, as if to punish himself for his act.
Pull yourself together! Focus on your fucking mission! Since when do you leave your body in charge?!
Viktor cursed, his fists clenched on the wall, his lips blue from the cold and his teeth chattering.
"You idiot!"
***
The next day, after a sleepless night of guilt, Viktor got up at dawn and wrote his second letter to Cassandra Kiramman. For a moment, he had considered leaving immediately, disappearing and taking his guilt with him, but he had convinced himself that even if he had made a mistake, all he had to do was not make it again. He couldn't throw away an opportunity to finance his project just because he had regrets and - he had to admit it - feelings for his host.
In his letter, Viktor spoke of Jayce's doubts and loss of confidence - things Cassandra had already seen for herself - and also of the bond that was strengthening between them. But he didn't tell her about the law project Mel and Elora were working on.
By the time the sun rose, Viktor had already descended the steps to the coast and sent his letter. He then went to the reception of the hotel where he had stayed very briefly and was handed a thick envelope which made his throat dry. It was only when he got outside that he opened it and discovered, to his amazement, a monumental sum of money, but no trace of a single letter.
Cassandra had responded to his request without taking the risk of revealing herself.
A satisfied smile stretched Viktor's lips: the game could go on. And even if it was greedy on his part, he was thinking big. He intended to swindle Cassandra Kiramman to finance his research, to take advantage of the security he had gained by her disappearance and to savour his meagre revenge on the person who had been an actor in his misfortune…
And above all, whatever he had imagined the day before, he intended to keep Jayce's friendship.
***
When Mel, Elora, and Jayce joined him in the dining room, Viktor had already set the table, made coffee that some would have considered too strong, and arranged pastries in a basket. "My patrons sent me my monthly salary, and I wanted to thank you for your hospitality and everything you've done for me," he said, glancing briefly at Jayce.
His partner marvelled at the breakfast and thanked him warmly before sitting down to eat, while Mel and Elora exchanged cautious glances and ate with more restraint.
Throughout the meal, Jayce acted as usual, as if what happened in the lab had no effect on him, as if he hadn't spent part of the night at the forge for his partner's sake, but Viktor was unable to meet his gaze. Perhaps Jayce hadn't felt anything, but for him, those few minutes had marked a mortifying point of no return.
Of course, he would do his best to hide his discomfort from Jayce and to behave as naturally as possible, but deep down, he would always be haunted by that moment of weakness. He would simply have to be careful not to let his shame be too obvious. So, when Jayce told him he would be spending several days at the forge to work on his prototype, Viktor felt a sense of relief slightly ease the knot in his stomach. Even if Jayce's absence was already weighing on him, he would have a few days to regain his footing and banish these ideas from his mind and body. He had to stay focused. Think about his mission and forget everything else. So, he answered with a nod.
"Duly noted."
Notes:
I hope you liked this chapter (and if the brief explicit scene was okay, this is my first time writing explicit smut so I feel quite nervous)! Things are going to get heated from now on. Viktor's struggles are not over yet ;)
Feel free to let me know your thoughts! I'll be back next week (maybe on Wednesday or Thursday as this chapter was shorter) with the fifth chapter, which contains a scene I'm really excited about, I can't wait to share it with you <3
Edit: The incredible and talented @Frigx_505 has drawn the measuring tape scene and posted it on Twitter ! Jayce is so stunning here!! Thank you so much for your support !!🙏🏼❤️
See you soon and thank you again for your kind support! <3
Chapter 5
Summary:
Jayce and Viktor work on the propeller, but a tiny mistake might ruin Viktor's mission... As well as their friendship...
Notes:
Hi everyone!
I hope you're all doing well and having a wonderful week! As promised, I'm back earlier with a new chapter, which is longer again and contains one of the scenes that came to mind very early on in the writing process. I hope you'll enjoy it :D
I also wanted to thank you all for the incredible support I have received and keep receiving, it really means so much to me and I'm so happy to know you like this story ! Thank you so much <3
Enjoy!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
As he had announced, Jayce spent several days in a row at the forge, much to Viktor's relief, who was able to get on with his research without having to let himself be eaten away by a shame made more violent by the presence of the object of his desire. He himself was in the lab morning to night, avoiding running into Mel or having to make conversation with Elora who, although a little more sympathetic, was still close to the Councillor and therefore someone he had to be wary of.
After two weeks, Jayce decided to spend only the mornings at the forge, so he asked Viktor if he could help him with his project in the afternoons, and Viktor agreed. Usually, his partner took the time to shower on the way back from town, but on their first afternoon together since that evening when he had measured Viktor's leg, he clearly hadn't had the chance. So when Jayce walked in the lab, his soot-stained tank top revealing his muscular arms and shoulders, Viktor thought he was going to choke on his glass of water.
"Sorry I'm late," apologised Jayce with a sheepish smile.
Ever since that unfortunate... incident that had followed their last evening working together, Viktor had forbidden himself to think of Jayce, had refused to give in to his baser instincts even when the memory of his partner's hands on his thigh became intolerable. The ice-cold showers he took morning and night were a great help, but even so, he guessed that this sight from his wildest dreams would be hard to get out of his mind.
Viktor blinked and looked away. "Don't worry about it."
Jayce wiped his forehead and temples with the towel over his shoulders, with gestures so naturally seductive that his partner hated him for a good second, before moving closer and leaning over him. "So, how is it going?"
The smell of the forge - flames, smoke, metal - and that of his sweat mingled with his Cologne in a scent that made Viktor's head spin, but he didn't pull back. He pinched his left thigh and remained firmly in place, savouring their proximity but cursing Jayce for feeding the fire of his desire in this way, a fire that was becoming increasingly difficult to control.
"I finished a prototype with the first type of metal but it wasn't strong enough and it started to bulge from the heat when the propeller moved at a greater speed.
- Yeah, I can see that," Jayce said, looking briefly at the twisted propeller sticking out of the metal bin.
Viktor shrugged and dismissed his worries with a wave of his hand. "Falling and getting up again, Jayce. Every mistake is a step forward.
- I suppose you've already made a lot of progress on your final prototype?
- Of course, who do you think you’re talking to?" Noting his choice of vocabulary, Viktor smiled mockingly. "And you're quite optimistic to believe that the second one will be the right one.
- I just believe in your potential.
- Haven't you ever heard the expression ‘third time's a charm’? You'd better get ready for the next prototype to join its big brother," he concluded, pointing to the bin with his thumb.
Jayce rolled his eyes, a smile on his lips, and, following Viktor's instructions, he carefully retrieved the new prototype, made of a stronger, less flexible metal. He placed it in front of Viktor, put on a shirt - to Viktor's regret and relief - that he always left in the lab before taking a seat beside him. "Do you need to make any more changes?
- Honestly, I was thinking of testing it."
His partner watched him with round eyes. "Are you sure?
- Well, the hardest part is to build it the first time. After that, it's pretty easy."
Jayce nodded. "I'm impressed, really.
- Pff, don't exaggerate.
- So, if I understand correctly, you were waiting for me to give it a try?
- Your deductive mind will always impress me, Talis."
They made a few final checks and adjustments, and it was at this point that they encountered their first disagreement. "I think you should keep the same settings."
Viktor frowned. "And risk the heat bending the metal again?
- This one's stronger, it won't bend.
- I don't know, Jayce, I think it's better to start slowly, make a few notes, then increase the parameters and see what needs to be adapted and, above all, whether this metal is suitable.
- That's valid reasoning, of course, and it's your project so it's your decision."
There was a brief moment of silence before Viktor raised an eyebrow. "But?
- But even if you have to use propellers that are ten or twenty times bigger, and therefore have more speed and generate more heat, I think it might be a good idea to test the way this metal withstands it. You'll find out straight away whether it's worth buying more, or whether it might not really be suitable."
Viktor let out a knowing 'hm', a proof that he was really listening to his opinion... And even though his instinct was to trust himself and ignore these remarks, the image of the corrected equation came to him.
He had also been convinced he was right.
Perhaps a new method was worth testing.
For Zaun's sake, he shouldn't stick to his own ideas.
So, after holding his chin for a few minutes, Viktor straightened up. "Fine. Let's try this way: we'll start slowly, as with the other prototype, and once we've reached the final parameters, if all goes well, we'll keep increasing. Worst case scenario, it blows up and you pay me back for this purchase, right?"
Jayce let out a small laugh and shoved him. "Cross my heart and hope to die.
- Oh no, not on my watch, Jayce Talis."
Viktor handed him a pair of goggles and slipped his own over his eyes before putting on his gloves. "Come on, put these on, Mr Man of Progress.
- I hate it when you say that," his partner grumbled as he obeyed.
- And I love your face when I say it."
Jayce nudged him mockingly and Viktor handed him a timer. "You're on duty to measure the timing. I'll increase the speed and therefore the heat every two minutes until we reach the same parameters as the previous prototype.
- Perfect. I'll let you know."
They exchanged glances behind their bluish goggles and nodded in unison. "Ready?
- Ready."
Viktor flicked the switch as Jayce started the timer, and with a whir the propeller slowly began to turn. The first two minutes, at reduced speed and minimal heat, went smoothly and when his partner signalled the end of the first test phase, Viktor increased the parameters.
They repeated these gestures a dozen times and reached the heat that had marked the failure of the first prototype, and after a minute without any deformation of the metal, Viktor nodded. "So far, so good.
- I'm sure we'll be able to increase the parameters even further," added Jayce, keeping an eye on the timer, "we might as well see how far this little gem can go."
VIktor let out an amused sigh and, once the two minutes were up, he increased the speed again. For ten minutes or so, they were convinced that this was the right metal and that they had been incredibly lucky to succeed in their gamble on the second try.
Then, just as they were about to claim victory, the arrow indicating the heat level suddenly increased, without any change in speed.
Jayce frowned. "It hasn't been two minutes yet.
- I haven't touched anything."
They exchanged a sidelong glance and Viktor clearly saw his partner turn pale. They looked at the gauges to confirm that the speed was stable - which it was - and they swore in unison when the temperature suddenly soared.
"All right, let's stop here," Viktor decided as he flicked the switch, "there's objectively a problem, so let's not..."
He paused and pressed the switch again, then a third and a fourth time... Without the propeller even pretending to slow down. And the heat continued to increase, higher and higher, so much so that the prototype's heart was turning a dangerous shade of orange.
"Kurva.
- Shit."
Without exchanging a word or a glance, they got up in one motion to take cover... Except that they both knew they wouldn't have time to move away. Viktor instinctively jumped in, uselessly trying to use his body as a shield, but Jayce reacted even faster. He closed his arms around him and pressed Viktor's face against his chest, turning away from the prototype as quickly as he could...
The propeller exploded before they had time to back away or Viktor's heart had the time to race in his chest.
The heat of the explosion whipped across their faces, made the atmosphere crackle, and a strong burning smell grazed Viktor's nose despite the fact that he was pressed up against Jayce, and they both flinched, about to crouch... But when no debris hit the ground, when the only sound that broke the silence was the slight whistling in his right ear, he realised with relief that they were not in danger.
Jayce seemed to have had the same reasoning as him, so they straightened their heads in one cautious movement and coughed as a thick cloud of black smoke assaulted their nostrils. On the desk, the propeller looked as if it had been ripped open, but fortunately not a single piece had come off. Still clutching to each other, they leaned forward and confirmed that only the central part of the propeller had not withstood the heat and that this was indeed what had caused the failure. The explosion had been minimal, contained in the heart of the prototype without spreading...
But on a model twenty times bigger, with speeds and heat far more intense, the damage would have been catastrophic.
After a long moment of stunned silence, Viktor raised his goggles to his forehead and shrugged. "So... about this refund..."
Breathless, Jayce looked down at him behind his goggles, and seeing his smoke-blackened face, Viktor smiled mockingly. "I’m afraid I usually only accept payment in cash, but we could get creative."
Jayce seemed to hesitate between collapsing and bursting out laughing... And fortunately, he chose the second option. He pulled Viktor close and, with his forehead pressed against his shoulder, he let out a nervous laugh. "Oh my God, V!
- Considering the state of my shirt, I'd be exceptionally willing for you to pay me back in cloth."
Jayce's laughter ricocheted against Viktor's skin, sending lightning bolts through his veins and encouraging the heat that had been so painfully contained for weeks to rise again... And yet, Viktor didn't pull back, savouring this contact, this embrace, the places where their bodies touched...
In another life, if they had really known each other for longer, he would have returned Jayce's hug. But he didn't dare allow himself to do that, preferring simply to pat his back as Jayce gasped. "I'm sorry, it's my fault.
- Don't be ridiculous: it would have blown up no matter what.
- It wouldn't have happened if you'd kept the heat down," Jayce said, stepping back, "like you wanted.
- And so the full-size prototype would have exploded in a few years' time, at best in a lab and at worst in Zaun. We might as well have a second prototype cracking here and now."
Jayce looked down and removed his goggles. "I shouldn't have gotten involved... I haven't been any good for months, I should have kept my mouth shut and let you do it....
- Jayce."
Driven by an unparalleled audacity, Viktor cupped Jayce's face with his hands and forced him to look at him. "We do not care about the prototype, okay? We don't give a damn about it. We're scientists, mistakes are part of our lives and in no way do they reflect our worth or our intelligence. And we're going to get back on track right away, making progress thanks to our mistakes. So please don't blame yourself, because I don't blame you. On the contrary, I'm grateful: it means that the next attempt will take us one step further than the last. Okay?"
Genuine emotion flooded Jayce's eyes and he nodded slowly, his eyes shining. After swallowing painfully, he looked at Viktor from head to toe and chuckled. "You should see your face.
- You're one to talk.
- You look like an inverted panda with the goggles' mark on your face.
- And you know what the inverted panda thinks of you, Talis?"
They kept their seriousness for only two seconds before bursting out laughing, an uncontrollable, euphoric laugh that made them bend double - and almost hit their foreheads - and that left them panting, their cheeks and stomachs aching. Their clothes and faces were black with soot, so that when they caught their breath, tears had drawn clear lines down Jayce's cheeks. As Viktor opened the windows to let the smoke out, his partner filled a bucket with water, blessing that small tap once again, and handed his partner something to wash his face with. "It's a good thing Mel and Elora are in town, they would've killed us.
- Please, they've been around a scientist long enough to know that blowing things up is a big part of our job."
They scrubbed their faces vigorously and when they looked more or less presentable again, the water was black with soot. They analysed the propeller for a few minutes, taking note of what had gone wrong and what, on the contrary, had gone right, then they threw away the prototype, which joined its elder without any form of ceremony.
"Let's get changed," Jayce said at last, "I'll do the laundry straight away."
Viktor grimaced. "I'll go and change later: my other shirts are still drying."
His partner shrugged and invited him to follow. "Don't worry about it, just put on one of mine."
Viktor paled and his voice turned to a croak as he tried to smile. "I don't know if you've noticed the difference in our builds, but I'm afraid it's going to be a bit too big for me.
- And that's why I'm offering you a shirt and not a swimsuit. Because yes, I know you came without one."
Viktor felt a new wave of heat irrigate his whole body and these mental images - as well as the implication that Jayce had noticed that he was never in looser clothes - almost made him flinch. "Do I have to remind you that I came here to work and not to bask in the sun?
- Perhaps a few hours on the beach or even on the terrace would do you good, though. Would you like to go together sometime?
- Jayce, you don't see me going out in the sun because, unlike you, I've only got two shades of skin: ghostly white or crayfish red, and if I have to choose, I'd rather be as pale as a sheet."
His partner burst out laughing and pushed him towards the staircase that led to his bedroom on the second floor. "Then you can pick one of my shirts while you wait for yours to dry."
Once upstairs, Jayce guided him to a room at the end of the corridor, but Viktor froze at the door, unable to step through.
The knot in his throat tightened as his gaze roamed the room, the walls covered with pages of equations and diagrams that were still incomprehensible to him, a shelf adorned with multicoloured stones and two blue orbs... And he swallowed hard when he stopped briefly at the sheets... At Jayce's bed.
Viktor realised what a bad idea coming here was when his heart jumped in his chest at the mere sight and, still standing in the corridor, on the border of Jayce's kingdom, he stammered. "On second thought, I'd rather keep this shirt on for the time being.
- And get soot all over the house that I am cleaning," Jayce laughed, "no sir.
- I don't think I'll risk messing up the place with only a…"
Viktor's voice cut off sharply and his eyes widened as he turned his attention away from the bed and encountered an even more troubling sight.
Jayce had taken off his work shirt and was in the process of removing the tank top he had worn while working at the forge, with a suppleness that was as admirable as it was ridiculous. The muscles in his back rolled under his skin, his shoulders tightening in the golden afternoon light, and Viktor's throat immediately went dry.
For God's sake, he wasn't going to let Jayce's back destabilise him! It really wasn't his style!
Oh, but that was before you realised you found him attractive , hissed the voice, before you fell asleep thinking about him, before you salivated thinking about his hands, before you used the thought of him to tou-…
When he noticed the mirror right in front of Jayce, even the voice fell silent.
Viktor's gaze remained fixed for half a second too long on the pectoral muscles against which he had been pressed just ten minutes earlier, on the muscular abs, on the v that…
"Please, help yourself," Jayce insisted gently, putting on a T-shirt that had been left on his desk chair.
Viktor gasped and realised with horror that he had literally been speechless, mouth agape, for those few seconds. "I...
- I'll go into town straight away and buy you those shirts I owe you.
- Jayce, I wasn't serious, you don't owe me anything.
- I gave you my word and I'm not going back on it." Jayce left the room, but not without gracing him with a gentle touch of his hand on his shoulder. "I'll be back soon."
Viktor waved and watched him whistle down the stairs... And for a long minute he was unable to enter the room. His feet and crutch felt as if they were rooted to the ground, as if they refused to obey him. He remained frozen for so long that he even saw his partner walk away from the house when he looked by the window.
Don't be ridiculous.
He clenched his fists and, after a brief sigh, forced himself to move.
The room was simple, but everything about it reminded him that Jayce lived there. There were the equations and blueprints, of course, but there were also the stones, the sketches, each more varied than the last, and the neatly stacked letters - he thought he recognised Ximena Talis's handwriting but refused to confirm his impression. Honestly, even though this was a golden opportunity to find out more about Jayce's project and above all to confirm the reasons for his departure, Viktor didn't think for a second about searching the room or even looking at the letters.
To do so would have been... wrong.
He should have taken advantage of the fact that he was alone in the house to try and glean some information, and instead, he felt guilty at the idea of betraying his partner's trust.
Ridiculous.
As Viktor looked around the room, however, he realised that there was something strange about it, something he didn't immediately identify... But suddenly it was obvious to him: if he hadn't known about Jayce and Mel's relationship, he wouldn't have been able to tell that they were sharing this room. While everything reminded him of his partner, there was virtually nothing to suggest that the Councillor had ever been in the room. Not one document, not one painting... It was as if she had never been there...
Or rather, as if she had carefully hidden all her belongings since the arrival of their unwelcome visitor.
Viktor snorted mockingly: she certainly wasn't taking any risks...
Moving closer to the wardrobe, he hesitated for a long moment before sliding his hand over Jayce's shirts and T-shirts. Some of the fabrics were of excellent quality, others were more classic, and he finally settled on a red shirt that reminded him of his student uniform. After propping his crutch up beside the mirror, he carefully unbuttoned the smoke-blackened shirt and folded it as neatly as possible on the chair.
As he caught sight of his reflection in the long mirror, Viktor observed himself for a second, something he hardly ever did... And he instantly winced.
He couldn't have been more different from his partner. Whereas Jayce was all firm muscles, tanned skin and haughty bearing, Viktor had to make do with a skeletal build, a corpse-like complexion and an atrocious posture from leaning on his crutch to try and relieve the pressure on his bad leg and on his spine.
No, they were definitely nothing alike. They were complete opposites, day and night.
Viktor waited for envy and jealousy to seize him by the throat, for him to turn away with an angry snarl and leave the room, clutching his stained shirt to his heart and cursing all the Pilties...
But they remained silent, silenced by a hint of shame and another feeling he struggled to identify... A clever mix of disgust, contempt for himself, and...
Despair?
Disappointment?
Viktor ran a hand over his face and shook his head, taking the opportunity to slightly loosen his back brace.
I'm pitiful...
And it was true. He'd always hated his too-weak body, his fragile leg, his too-thin limbs and his protruding ribs, but now, comparing himself to Jayce's radiant aura, he realised once again how hideous he was... Which meant that Viktor's feelings for Jayce could never be reciprocated, even in his wildest dreams.
"Nobody wants you here."
The voice of his past was right.
No one would ever want him, and that was why he'd learned to survive alone, that was why he'd built these walls around his heart. He couldn't let a month with Jayce and his kindness ruin his efforts.
Viktor resigned himself to putting on the red shirt and, as he had expected, it was at least three times too big for him. The sleeves protruded well beyond his hands, the shoulder area fell to the level of his biceps, and the shirt reached halfway up his thighs. And yet, rather than feeling ashamed, Viktor surprised himself with an amused smile.
"We could measure you in 'I's', Talis," he whispered, "three or four 'I's' to make one 'you'..."
He stroked the shirt mechanically, savouring the caress of the fabric on his skin. He let his thumb slide over a golden logo, then raised his head, and it was only when he saw himself in the mirror that he realised he had chosen a shirt with House Talis' colours.
Viktor's face flushed violently, almost camouflaging him with the garment, and for a second he considered changing his shirt.
But then he realised that Jayce's scent was enveloping him.
His heart stopped and then started to race again, exhilarated by this realisation.
He was wearing one of Jayce's shirts.
A shirt with the colours of Jayce's house.
Viktor swallowed painfully and, slowly, without taking his eyes off his reflection, with hesitant movements, he leaned on his crutch and tried to straighten up, to imitate his partner's upright and proud posture. Only then did he feel more dignified, more noble, a little less... deformed.
" Partner."
Viktor closed his eyes and his breath came in ragged gasps as he realised that he was alone in this house.
That no one would know.
So he let himself be embraced by Jayce's scent, shirt, colours and warmth, and took a deep breath.
Viktor thought of the euphoria that had seized them in the lab, of the way their bodies had been pressed together, of how his face had been buried against his partner's chest, of the smell of the forge and of his Cologne against his nostrils, of Jayce's hands sliding up his leg...
For a second, Viktor even wished Jayce had not taken his dirty clothes with him, because if he could have buried his face in them and inhaled his scent more deeply, he would have been in Heaven.
"I want to make you feel better."
A sigh escaped him as his free hand slid down his own throat, over his collarbone, brushed his torso, followed the line of his belly...
"Jayce..."
He shouldn't imagine his hands in place of his.
He had to stop, now.
He had to...
"Sorry I forgot my wa-... Oh."
Viktor startled so violently that he almost lost his balance and clumsily caught himself on the mirror as he leapt back, his eyes wide with horror and his blood pulsing violently in his eardrums.
There, standing in the doorway, Jayce was facing him.
Mouth agape and eyes wide open.
Viktor was faced with several options - fainting from embarrassment, feigning fainting, jumping out of the window (an option he considered very seriously), acting as if nothing had happened - and he stammered as he tried uselessly to close the flaps of the shirt with his free hand. "Jayce, it's not… I- I was just…"
His partner was speechless, and a distinctive flush gradually coloured his face and ears as his eyes remained fixed on Viktor. Mortified, his heart beating wildly, Viktor leaned awkwardly on his crutch. "I'm so sorry, I... I don't know what came over me. I'll take it off," he promised, starting immediately to remove the shirt, "I'm sorry, I didn't...
- No."
Jayce's voice was harsh and cold, and it had the effect of a slap on Viktor, who shuddered. He opened and closed his mouth, his forehead drenched in cold sweat and his legs trembling with shame and anguish. "But I...
- Keep it."
There was nothing generous about that sentence. It was an order. A proof that Jayce was so repulsed by what he'd walked in on that he refused to take the shirt back and would rather get rid of it. Utterly humiliated, Viktor slowly pulled the fabric up his arm and he bit his lip. His throat was so tight he couldn't say a word, couldn't defend what he had done.
Jayce watched him for a moment, retrieved his wallet from the desk beside the door, then left the room.
Without saying a word.
Oh he hates you.
The thought took his breath away and Viktor had to sit down on the bed to keep from collapsing as he staggered back in shock.
He's furious and he's going to throw you out because you disgust him. And that's all you deserve.
Viktor clutched his head in his hands in horror.
He'd ruined everything.
***
Once he had regained a semblance of calm, Viktor returned to his room and packed his bags. He retrieved his damp shirts, put on the driest of them and then packed his typewriter and personal belongings. Then he went to the lab and collected his notes and calculations, stuffing them into his suitcase with feverish movements. He didn't own much, but moving around took time, so when he firmly closed his suitcase on his bed, he heard the front door slam and froze, paralysed.
All his senses alert, he held his breath and, for once, prayed that it was just Mel and Elora, back from their trip into town.
At least someone will be absolutely delighted to see me go...
But when he recognised the heavier footsteps approaching his room, his heart raced. His survival reflexes kicked in and he braced himself against the opposite wall, crutch in hand. He hoped he knew Jayce well enough to know that his departure would be without violence, but he preferred to be cautious.
The footsteps slowed and then stopped, and Viktor felt a bead of cold sweat roll down the back of his neck as he caught sight of Jayce's shadow looming in the doorway. He heard him sigh heavily, saw him hesitate as he adjusted his weight from one leg to the other, and then Jayce knocked on the door.
Gently.
Not with the violence Viktor had been prepared for.
And yet he didn't answer.
There was a brief silence, an eternity of waiting, then Jayce knocked once more and called in a gentle voice."V? Are you there?"
Viktor bit his cheek, hesitating for too long, then he slowly approached the door, on his guard. He took a deep breath before half-opening the door, ready to react if things got out of hand. Jayce's face was slightly drawn, his hands behind his back, but he seemed to calm down immediately on seeing him. "Hey."
Viktor watched his partner from head to toe, trying to work out what he was hiding behind his gentle demeanour, before answering cautiously. "Hey...
- I... I came to apologise."
Viktor blinked, so flabbergasted that his question never left his lips.
What?
"When I realised I'd forgotten my wallet, I thought you'd already changed and I... (Jayce took a deep breath, as if to give himself courage.) I should have knocked before coming in like that, without a warning. I'm sorry."
Viktor stood completely still for a long second, and he didn't realise he'd been holding his breath until he breathed out. "Oh... No, you don't have to worry, I was just... surprised."
Janna be praised, he didn't see or realise what I was doing!
He blessed all the Gods he knew and even those he didn't know existed, and the relief that overcame him was so great that he felt the violent need to sit down.
"I promise I've learned my lesson," Jayce insisted, "I swear I won't make you feel uncomfortable again.
- As long as you don't make me wear a swimsuit, I won't get mad."
His partner shifted slightly and he let out a small laugh. "I promise I won't."
Viktor gave him a sheepish smile, still slightly tense, then Jayce handed him a box. "Here. To make it up to you."
Adjusting his crutch, Viktor opened the door a little more. "There was no need for this, Jayce.
- I gave you my word. I don't know your size but I... Well, I hope they'll fit."
A similar blush covered their cheekbones, and Viktor knew from Jayce's bright, worried look that he was waiting for him to unwrap his present. When he discovered four shirts in different shades - one of which was crimson and nearly made him choke - Viktor looked up, speechless. "Jayce, this is... This is way too much! You shouldn't have bought so many! You must have paid a fortune!"
His partner shrugged. "It was nothing. I owed you that after I'd blown up your prototype and... And after... Well... And I also wanted to thank you for everything you're doing to help me regain my self-confidence. I know it's not much compared to what you say and do to comfort me, but I really wanted to...
- Jayce."
Jayce swallowed the end of his sentence, his eyes wide and his thumb sliding nervously over his leather bracelet. This time, Viktor's smile was genuine. "Thank you."
They exchanged a knowing glance and the tension in Jayce's shoulders vanished as he sighed. "You’re welcome."
They shared a strangely comfortable silence before Viktor coughed. "Well... I'm not offering to try them on in front of you, then?
- Oh! No, of course not! That is, unless you want to! I- I mean I won't say no if that's what you want but..."
Viktor burst out laughing. "Sorry, I had to. You're so easy to tease. I'll try them on tonight and let you know if they fit.
- O-of course.
- And I'll wear them in the next few days so you can see for yourself.
- I can't wait. I- I mean, I can't wait to see if they fit." Jayce bit his lip and ran a hand down the back of his neck before taking a step back. "Right, well I'll leave you to try them on. Shall we eat together tonight? Mel and Elora are eating in town and will be back late, so it'll be a one-to-one meal.
- Perfect. I'll be there in a few minutes.
- Great."
Viktor closed the door and leaned against it with a long, relieved sigh.
Gods be praised, Jayce had no idea what he had walked into...
Viktor could stay here with him...
Clutching the shirts to his heart, he felt his lips stretch into an emotional smile.
And not once did he think about the mission he was supposed to be carrying out.
***
Of course, the shirts suited him perfectly. And although he didn't know how Jayce had managed to choose exactly the right size, Viktor was incredibly touched by the attention and wore the clothes with genuine respect and affection, much to the delight of his partner, whose face lit up every time he wore a shirt he had gifted him.
Notes:
When I first thought about writing this fic, I immediately thought of the scene in the "Ripley" series where Ripley wears his target's clothes, and the yearning, the size-difference and drama potential for Jayvik was sooooo great that I knew I had to include it somehow. So I hope you enjoyed this scene and this chapter :D Feel free to let me know your thoughts <3
Edit: The wonderful and talented @WobinR sketched the shirt scene and posted it on Twitter ! It's so soft and beautiful haaaa 😭❤️
Thank you again so much for your incredible support, and see you next week!
Chapter 6
Summary:
Viktor finally learns something about Jayce's research... But he also learns something that might convince him to forget about his mission and to try his luck.
Notes:
Hi everyone!
We're already almost halfway through this story! I can't believe we already reached chapter 6! I wanted to thank you again for your amazing support, it makes me so happy and I'm so glad you like this fanfic <3
I hope you'll also like this chapter!
Enjoy!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
The days went on as usual, Viktor spending his time improving his third prototype, Jayce alternating between the forge and the lab, and Mel and Elora working on their secret law. If the Councillor noticed that a shirt had disappeared from Jayce's belongings, she didn't say anything about it, but Viktor made sure to keep avoiding Mel as much as possible.
Even though he had never properly talked to Jayce before, Viktor could safely say that they both behaved as if they had known each other all their lives and that the shirt incident had done nothing to change their bond. So, as his second month in Ionia was drawing to a close, when Jayce handed him a notebook, his ears crimson, Viktor knew what it was about even before his partner opened his mouth.
"This is my research. Well, I mean, these are my notes on this dream I thought I'd work on when I came here. I've been keeping this notebook since my second year at the Academy. I only told three people about it before you, in total secrecy, because I don't want my ideas to be used to build weapons again. That's not why I became a scientist."
Viktor remained unmoved, but this sentence reminded him of the last thing that prevented him from completely trusting Jayce. How could he believe him when he said he'd never wanted to build weapons when, for years, he'd been paid for it? How could he believe him when his fame and success came from these weapons created for the Council?
"I'd be honoured if you'd go through it and give me your honest opinion," Jayce continued, "but you just have to promise me that you won't make fun of me.
- Why would I?
- Just... promise me.
- Jayce, you know I'd never make fun of you or your ideas," he replied softly, "I swear."
His partner relaxed slightly and sighed, "I know."
Viktor knew he should have jumped at the chance of discovering what Jayce was working on, congratulating himself on the way he had so quickly won Jayce's blind trust, and yet he felt... torn.
On the one hand, Viktor was happy that his partner was opening the doors of his mind to him in this way, revealing his secret project… And at the same time, he felt incredibly guilty at the idea of having to tell Cassandra Kiramman about it in his next letter... And he also felt excruciatingly uncomfortable at the idea of lying to his partner.
So he swallowed and didn't pick up the notebook straight away, preferring to take his time to pick the right words.
"Did Mel agree to this?"
Jayce frowned. "What does Mel have to do with it?"
The choice of words was interesting, to say the least. Ever since he'd arrived here, and even before he'd left Piltover, Viktor had been convinced that Mel was responsible for Jayce's departure and that she wanted to appropriate his new invention for Noxus. And yet... Mel had never been down to the lab, giving Jayce complete freedom of action, and she didn't ask any questions about it during the day, as if it didn't concern her, as if she didn't care... Since he had hardly seen her at all - apart from during the meals they had shared together - Viktor had therefore thought that this distance taken with Jayce's work was just a cover, a mask she wore in Viktor's presence to avoid feeding his reasoning while, once night had fallen, she pestered Jayce with questions. But perhaps he was mistaken?
Maybe this was really Jayce's project and Noxus wasn't involved?
No. No, that was impossible.
Jayce wasn't lying to him, Viktor was sure of it, but his partner was simply unaware of the Councillor's plans to sell his invention to her homeland. It was the only logical explanation.
"Nothing," Viktor answered at last, "it's just... I don't think she's particularly happy about me being here and I wonder if she'd approve of you sharing confidential information with me."
Jayce hesitated, "Mel adores you, I don't know what makes you think that she doesn't."
Viktor grinned. "Jayce, please: I know when people aren't happy to see me, it's quite literally the story of my life."
His partner heaved a contrite sigh.
"She has nothing against you, it's just that she's been suspicious ever since we decided to leave Piltover. She's afraid you've been sent by a member of the Council to spy on us and she'd indeed prefer it if I didn't tell you about my project."
Viktor stiffened slightly, both alarmed by these words, which testified to a discussion between Jayce and Mel, and upset by Jayce's honesty. How could a 31-year-old man be so naive, so honest, so... lovable?
Oh Jayce, you really are too honest...
"And what do you think, Jayce?"
His partner's eyes caught his, as if to anchor him in place. "I think you're a great scientist. I know that you're brilliant and that you like to take on the challenges that come your way. And I want to continue working with you."
Two months earlier, Viktor would have mentally chuckled and congratulated himself on this victory, but today he felt strangely ashamed, and the success didn't leave his usual sweet taste on his lips, but a bitterness he couldn't shake off.
Viktor tried to smile but he knew his grin didn't reach his eyes as he breathed out.
"I'm flattered, Jayce. Really." He gently took the notebook in his hands. "I promise I'll take good care of your notes... And I won't make fun of you, but you already knew that.
- Thanks, V, that means a lot." Yet Jayce didn't seem as relaxed as he would have liked: the way he fidgeted nervously with his bracelet was as much evidence of that as the way his voice faltered when he added. "Sorry, do you mind if I'm not around while you read?
- No, not at all, but why?
- I might over-interpret your every reaction and lose sleep over it, so I'd rather let you read through it at your leisure before we talk about it tonight. If that's all right with you."
Viktor held back an amused sigh. "Sure.
- Great. Thank you very much, Viktor.
- But you should know that I'm likely to prepare a list of questions and you'll have to answer them.
- I wouldn't expect anything less from you."
They exchanged a knowing glance before Jayce walked away... Then he stopped and turned back to him. "Don't tell Mel I told you all this, she wanted to keep it between us, but I know I can trust you."
The knot tightened in Viktor's throat and he felt his stomach twist with guilt. "I won't say a word. And I'll be as worthy of your trust as you are of mine.
- I know. (Then, after a brief silence.) She'll learn to like you, I'm sure she will. She's already much more relaxed than the day you arrived.
- You mustn't worry about me. Your girlfriend is entitled not to like me, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm enjoying the time spent with you."
Jayce blinked once, twice, three times. "Mel and I aren't dating."
Viktor received this news like a punch in the gut or a bucket of ice water dumped directly on his shoulders.
…...What?
He opened and closed his mouth, unable to form a single coherent sentence for several seconds. It seemed impossible and yet, coupled with the total absence of Mel's belongings in Jayce's room, it suddenly made sense. He stammered. "But... But you... The papers said..."
Jayce frowned, and Viktor realised with amazement that he was afraid he'd offended his partner. "We dated for a few months, but we preferred to stay friends. She likes... Well, she's seeing someone else now."
Try as Jayce might to remain discreet on the subject, Viktor knew immediately who this other person was.
This person with whom Mel spent all her days, this person whose hands she discreetly touched, this person with whom she was so close...
Ooooooooh Mel and Elora are dating...
"Ha yes, sorry I... I thought that... I mean, you two are so close, I thought that..."
Jayce relented. "Just because we're not together anymore doesn't mean I can't show her affection."
But... But what about the kisses on her forehead and on her knuckles? And the way he hugged her and held her hands in his?
As if following his train of thought, Jayce tilted his head slightly to one side. "I've told you, people have said I'm a bit intrusive and demonstrative. When I like someone, I see no reason not to let them know."
The hair on the back of Viktor's neck stood up at these words and the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle came together in his brain all at once.
If Mel and Elora loved each other...
If Jayce was no longer with Mel and had no feelings for her...
If it was really desire he'd thought he saw in Jayce's eyes that night...
A hot flush caught in Viktor's throat and he had to look away to hide the redness of his cheeks. "Oh... Oh right, that's... That's good to know... Well, I guess it is?"
What the hell is the matter with you?! Pull yourself together!
"I'd better start reading your notes now. See you later, Jayce."
Viktor resolutely turned his back to him and opened the notebook to the first page without managing to read a single word. It was only when his partner had left the lab that he allowed himself a long sigh and leaned his forehead against the desk, his eyes closed.
Breathe. Breathe and pull yourself together!
He understood that his reactions were purely biological, but the fact that he couldn't control them was driving him mad.
As mad as you are about Jayce.
Viktor silenced the voice with an angry wave of his hand. No. No, he wasn't ‘mad’ about Jayce. He was just unsettled by his kindness and the rest was just a stupid question of biology, nothing more, nothing less. It was the only reason he felt so calm when he was with Jayce, the only reason his smile filled his nights and...
Viktor's forehead hit the table a little harder than he'd intended and he let out an irritated grunt.
Concentrate!
He sat up, rubbing his face, and bent over the first page. For a few minutes, the words still didn't make sense in his mind, as if he was trying to decipher a language he didn't know. He frowned, recognised Jayce's signature at the bottom of the first page, and the second, and the third, and so on, and he smiled. He admired his partner's sketches, their precise, sober lines... Then he turned his attention to a post-it note stuck to the corner of a central page, to those few pencil lines that formed an angular face, to those carefully placed moles on a cheekbone and on the top of the lip... And suddenly the atmosphere changed into both lava and a blizzard.
"What the..."
There, staring right back to him, was a sketch of him.
The silence in the room suddenly became incredibly heavy, so suffocating that, for once, even his mind was speechless. Viktor slammed the notebook shut, so hard that the sound echoed through the room and he felt his face heat up violently as his furious heartbeat ricocheted off the lab walls.
Alright then…
Maybe the voices were right.
Maybe he really was going mad.
Because he thought that Jayce had drawn his face in his notebook.
Viktor sighed heavily, a sound that was part exhausted chuckle and part exasperated grunt, and rubbed his eyes: he must have been more exhausted than he thought to imagine such realistic things. Because Jayce couldn't have done such a thing. It didn't make any sense, it...
"Mel and I aren't dating..."
Viktor shook his head.
"When I like someone, I see no reason not to let them know."
"All right, that's enough."
Determined to erase this image from his mind, he returned to the first page of the notebook, refusing even to try and find the sketch. He grabbed a sheet of rough paper to make a few notes: he absolutely had to focus and to stop letting himself get distracted!
And on his second reading of the first page, a spark in his chest erased everything else.
Viktor leaned forward, his eyes scanning the contents of the notebook at full speed, with the relentlessness of a man dying of thirst who had finally discovered an oasis, and he didn't notice the sun going down, nor did he hear the others calling him for dinner.
He was engrossed in the notebook, and with each line his heart seemed to beat a little faster.
Jayce wrote about runes, neat, precise sketches that adorned the margins of his notes. He wrote about a technology powered by a new, non-polluting energy source. He dreamt of tools that would improve people's lives...
And above all, Jayce wrote about magic, about a way of controlling it through science.
For a few seconds, a blurred image tried to surface in Viktor's mind, a distant, buried memory of tear-soaked cheeks in the shadow of an alleyway, but the features vanished in an instant when he turned his attention back to the notebook.
Wide-eyed and amazement clutching at his throat, Viktor finished reading and sat completely motionless, mouth agape and arms flailing...
He's mad. He's totally...
"Brilliant..."
Those who are not born with an arcane affinity cannot wield magic, it's impossi-...
He leapt to his feet, tucking the notebook under his arm without thinking for a second about that strikingly realistic sketch, and climbed the stairs as fast as he could. But as he began the last flight of steps, he bumped into Jayce who was coming down to meet him, a still steaming plate in his hand.
"I was just bringing you your dinner, I don't know how much you still have to read, so I thought..."
Then, noticing his partner's stunned expression and shortness of breath, he stiffened. "You... You were leaving? Wait, V, I swear I can..."
But Viktor didn't give him time to speak.
"We need to talk. Now." he said as he grabbed Jayce by the hand to guide him back to the lab as fast as he could.
Jayce placed the plate on the corner of the desk and sat down on his chair.
"I take it you've read everything..."
Of course he'd read everything. Viktor had read all his theories, all his equations, all his progress. He now knew that seven years earlier, a few months after the incident, Jayce had conducted a new experiment and that an explosion had taken place in his room at the Academy. He knew that Cassandra Kiramman had hushed it up and that she and Mel had helped him get away with it with a slap on the wrist and that since then, Jayce had made almost no progress on the project, because from that moment on he had become the golden boy of the Council and had had to create weapons for its members.
"Jayce, I need you to be honest with me."
His partner seemed to freeze, shoulders tense and jaws clenched, and Viktor sat down on the desk to face him, the notebook still clutched in his free hand.
"Did you talk to Heimerdinger about this project?
- I did.
- And what did he say?"
Jayce looked down and immediately his right thumb drew circles on his leather bracelet and the blue stone that adorned it.
"What do you think he said?
- I'm asking you for an answer. What did he think of this Hextech theory of yours?
- It's not a theory!"
Jayce's voice cracked in the silence of the room, and although he tried to contain his emotion, it was still palpable when he continued.
"I saw with my own eyes what magic can do, the lives it could save. We could change the world for the better with these inventions, I'm sure of it.
- Jayce, I understand this is a sensitive subject, but I need you to stay focused. What did Heimerdinger think of your research?"
Jayce's face darkened and his voice became a growl. "He said that it was impossible... And dangerous. He told me that if I told the Council, I'd be expelled from the Academy at best, and from the city at worst. That's why I lied, that's why I mentioned another project and that's why Mel and Councillor Kiramman managed to convince the others not to punish me, because they thought I was working on a project that the Council could use.
- What else did he say?
- That if dangerous ideas didn't excite the imagination, we'd never wander astray, that magic is too dangerous in the wrong hands and that I didn't understand what was at stake. He said that power corrupts, and in that he wasn't wrong... I've seen what the Council does with my inventions, what they expect of me, but...
- But?"
Jayce clenched his fists, "But this invention, I won't give it to them. I'm going to use it to do good around me. We're the pioneers of science, and I'm convinced that we can use magic to serve a noble cause. We are the champions of discovery, so why fear the unknown when we can master it?"
A flame lit up his eyes with an orange glow, a sincere passion that drove him to sit up straight, and Viktor felt his own lips stretch into an almost imperceptible smile as this inferno fuelled the embers of his heart.
"Did he tell you what he thought about these stones and their potential ability to create magic?
- He said they were far too unstable.
- But could they be stabilised?"
Jayce let out a mirthless chuckle. "I asked him the same question. He told me it would lead to more problems." There was a brief silence, a hint of concern in the air. "Given your questions, I assume you agree with him.
- I just wanted to know what Heimerdinger had said to find out if it really was as impossible as he told you, or if he didn't want you to go through with it. And from your answers, I know that the second option is the right one."
Viktor moved closer and Jayce raised his head, his eyes shining with hope. "What?
- It only took one reading for me to be certain that you're onto something, which means that Heimerdinger knows perfectly well that your project has potential but that he didn't want you to go through with it. (He smiled and handed him his notebook.) I want to help you complete your research, to make your dream come true."
Jayce remained speechless, his eyes fixed on his partner's features without articulating a single word, and Viktor hesitated. Gently placing the notebook on the desk, he added.
"That is, if you'll have me, of cou-..."
His voice choked in his throat and all the air left his lungs as Jayce suddenly stood up and pulled him close. Jayce's arms locked around his body and a violent shiver ran down Viktor's spine as a shuddering sigh caressed the back of his neck. Goose bumps grew on his skin and it took him several seconds to make sure his suddenly hoarse voice would obey his command.
"Jayce?
- Thank you."
Viktor stiffened even more when he clearly heard the sobs in his voice, the tears of emotion flowing in those simple words. For a second, pressed against his partner's body in an irrepressible hug, he didn't know how to react.
How did one react when a friend was so moved?
Friend...
Oh, it had been a long time since he'd thought of that word...
He hadn't imagined using it in ages...
"Thank you for believing in me."
Cherish this opportunity , hissed the voice, oozing with longing and desire, an opportunity like this will never present itself again.
Slowly, with almost mechanical movements, Viktor allowed his free hand to find Jayce's back. It brushed against his shirt between his shoulder blades, then rested on it, and lightning flashed again beneath his skin. Driven by audacity, Viktor crumpled the fabric between his fingers, enjoying its texture and warmth. Then he closed his eyes and, his nose so close to his partner's shoulder, he inhaled as discreetly and deeply as possible, letting Jayce's scent intoxicate him and his warmth consume him.
The voice was right.
He really had gone mad.
"You're more than welcome. You're on the right track, and I'll make sure you achieve your Hextech dream.
- No."
When Jayce pulled back and took him by the shoulders, Viktor realized he'd gone too far, that he'd misread the signals, and that Jayce hadn't expected him to hug him back, and everything seemed to collapse around him.
Then his partner, his friend, smiled.
"Our Hextech dream."
And the last defences in Viktor's heart melted like snow in the sun.
***
The next day, Viktor got up before dawn to write a third letter to Cassandra Kiramman, without mentioning his suspicions about Mel's possible connection to Elora or the fact that Jayce and the Councilor were no longer dating.
And as he was about to write a final paragraph about Jayce's research, his hands froze over the typewriter keys. They brushed against the metal, as if trying to find the answer to his questions, as if to weigh the pros and cons one last time...
You can't trust him.
He is honest.
He's using you and making fun of you.
He wants to change the world for the better.
He'll betray you; no one wants you.
Jayce is my friend.
He doesn't even know-...
Viktor moved on and signed his letter, without mentioning his partner's research once.
The mission, the reason he'd been hired, had never really mattered. Too bad for Cassandra Kiramman.
To Hell with her, the voice hissed.
And this time, he agreed with it.
***
When Jayce arrived at the lab in the morning, Viktor had already covered the blackboards with equations, theories and a life-size sketch of the device described by his partner in his notebook, the one he had built in the hope of containing the instability of the crystals. They exchanged ecstatic glances and Viktor pointed to a carafe of black coffee.
"Make yourself comfortable. I hope you don't have anything urgent planned today, because we've got work to do. And I have several theories to present to you."
They talked all morning, not stopping to eat even when Elora generously brought them sandwiches. It was as if they were carried away by the proximity of a major discovery so close they could almost touch it.
They redid the calculations, corrected a few equations, adjusted a few parts of the diagram in anticipation of real revisions, and, as the sky turned gold and purple, Jayce fell back in his chair, stunned.
"This entire time, I thought I needed to dampen the oscillations...
- The crystals will only stabilise at high frequency," argued Viktor, drawing a line to divide the board in two. "We have to...
- Crank it!"
Viktor turned back to Jayce, looked at his partner's ecstatic expression and the stars in his eyes, and an irrepressible smile stretched his lips.
"Yes... Yes, we have to ‘crank it’."
It wasn't exactly the expression he would have chosen, but the almost childlike spontaneity with which Jayce had spoken those words strangely warmed his heart. Perhaps it was too early to tell, but he had the feeling that, in this barely contained excitement, he recognised the spark that had once animated the young man he had seen from afar in the corridors of the Academy.
And the idea that Jayce would finally find the flame again and reconcile himself with science made Viktor indescribably happy.
"It works!
- Eh on paper, yes. (Noticing Jayce's bewildered look, Viktor added.) We're moving into unknown territory here. Magic is even more capricious than science: we don't yet know whether practice will reflect theory.
- In short, we absolutely must test it."
Viktor smiled. "That’s the Jayce I know. Do you have the prototype and the stones here?
- In my room.
- Excellent."
Jayce leapt to his feet, then froze and his eyes darkened as they rested on the two twisted propellers in the bin.
"V I... If we're wrong, we risk blowing up more than a prototype. We could get hurt, or worse...
- Better be right, then."
He was trying to be encouraging and reassuring, but Jayce still didn't move. On the contrary, he watched him for a long time before huffing.
"Why are you taking this risk? Why put yourself in danger for a foolish dream?"
Viktor shrugged. "Firstly, because it's not a foolish dream. Secondly, because it's in our nature."
Faced with Jayce's forbidding gaze, he added. "We're scientists, and scientists seek discoveries and ways to make the world a better place. And your Hextech dream has the potential to do just that."
Jayce made round eyes at him. "Our.
- Sorry?
- I told you yesterday: it's our dream now."
Viktor shook his hand and rolled his eyes. "It's your project, Jayce. I'm just giving you a little push.
- No, you're not. You're doing so much more than that." Jayce draped an arm over Viktor's shoulders. "You help me, you support me, you encourage me, you believe in me... Without you, this notebook would still be in my room and the prototype would still be gathering dust. So I want to make one thing clear: as of yesterday, this is our dream. Our project. Okay, partner?"
Viktor felt his throat knot up, the heat covering his skin with goose bumps, and he tried to mask his emotion with a shake of his head.
"What a sentimentalist you are.
- My mother always told me it was one of my main qualities."
Viktor smiled and pushed him away with falsely annoyed movements.
"You're not helping your reputation as a mummy's boy.
- Maybe because I am a mummy's boy and I love it, because I love my mother.
- So why don't you be sentimental as you go get that stuff?"
Jayce was only gone a few minutes before coming back downstairs, his arms full of his prototype and a small bag, which he placed on the desk with infinite care.
"It's all here."
Viktor leaned forward and observed the mechanism from every angle. For several long seconds, they didn't exchange a word, and when he sensed that his partner's insecurity and anxiety were surfacing again, he nodded.
"Very good work, Jayce. Excellent, in fact."
Jayce's face lit up. "Really? I mean, do you think so?
- Of course I do. There's hardly anything to change. It's really very impressive."
Just to see him blush, struggling with embarrassment and pride, nervously crossing and uncrossing his hands, Viktor could have spent hours flattering Jayce Talis' ego.
But science wouldn't wait.
Armed with their tools, they made a few alterations, shortening this thread and refining that rune. And when everything was ready, when the lab was bathed in nothing but moonlight, Viktor carefully handed him a rounded stone, crudely shaped yet absolutely perfect.
Jayce nodded, his face slightly paler than before, and slowly, carefully, he placed the stone at the heart of the prototype. Brief flashes of bluish light shot through the mechanism, which lit up instantly, so brightly that they had to look away briefly. A hum echoed in their ribcages and, after a few seconds, when they realised that everything was going according to plan, Viktor handed Jayce his goggles and he put his on in the same movement.
"It's time to ‘crank it’."
Viktor punctuated his sentence with a frank smile and he closed the notebook, as if to stop himself from looking back, but his partner didn't offer him the smile he expected. Worry and doubt had taken hold of him again, tensing his shoulders and his face, and nervous tremors were shaking his hands.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing?"
Viktor would have liked to lie to him, to put a reassuring hand on his arm and promise that everything would be fine... But scientists don't lie, especially not before such a crucial experiment.
So he shrugged and gave him a contrite pout that spoke for itself, and Jayce sighed, taking his head in his hands.
"Gods, Viktor... If you were to get hurt, if Mel or Elora were hurt I... I could never forgive myself.
- If it makes you feel any better, we can warn Mel and Elora to leave the premises for the duration of the experiment. We can't control this variable until we've done some serious tests. And even if we're wrong, we'll just have to start again." Viktor put a hand on Jayce's shoulder. "Falling and getting up again, over and over again, that's what we do. This way, we'll move forward, one step at a time."
Jayce bit his cheek and a faint smile stretched his lips as he nodded. "You're right. Let's do this.
- Good boy."
They both froze as the terrible double meaning of those words reached them, Jayce with bulging eyes and Viktor with lips pursed so tight they were bloodless, and he added awkwardly.
"Hm. I mean... 'Please, do us the honour.'
- Ah... Yes, of course." His partner turned to the prototype and took a deep breath. "Here goes nothing."
Jayce switched on the mechanism and then, with a quick glance, invited Viktor to press the switch. Immediately, the stone lifted off its base, as if levitating in a force field generated by the prototype, and the metal bars began to turn faster and faster. Lightning flashed around them, and the machine spun so fast that an artificial wind caressed their faces and blew the sheets of calculations around them.
The whirring of the prototype became a growl, a noise that soon became deafening, and Jayce spoke first.
"I don't think it's gonna hold! Look at the build-up!
- The resonance will stabilise it."
Viktor's calm, assured tone contrasted with the anguish in Jayce's voice. And when his partner didn't respond, Viktor put a hand on the back of Jayce's neck and urged him to look at him, to turn away from his invention for a moment.
"Do you trust me?"
Lips parted, eyes wide behind his protective goggles, Jayce nodded immediately, without a second's hesitation. Viktor nodded too, a quiet, encouraging smile on his face.
"And I trust you, partner. That's all that matters right now."
At that moment, a halo of runes encircled the stone, outlined in the space contained by the prototype, and Jayce's breath caught briefly in his throat
"I told you it would work." Viktor smiled fondly and his could feel his voice getting softer as he added. "All yours.
- Wow… It's never done that before." Jayce took in a deep breath, exchanged a look with Viktor then whispered. "All right, here we go."
He leaned forward and his hand found the machine's controls. As if suddenly in a trance, his eyes half-closed and he adjusted the crank, turning it with an astounding instinct and precision that left Viktor speechless.
And when he saw the runes react, obey, to Jayce's requests, he smiled.
"Incredible..."
Suddenly, without warning, a rune appeared in the air and the stone stabilised.
Then an explosion of light blinded them and shook the whole building.
Viktor barely had time to protect his face, barely had time to try and move backwards, and when he suddenly felt incredibly light, as if he were floating in cotton wool, he mentally cursed.
Well... Either he'd fainted or he was dead.
His vision was dotted with green spots, hampered by the protective goggles he wore even in his mind, and it was only when he took them off with a grunt that his eyes widened and his jaw dropped.
He hadn't fainted.
Nor had he died.
He was simply having a daydream.
Head down, he realised that the lab was bathed in a soft blue light dotted with star-like sparkles... And that the floor was a long way from his feet.
A small stunned laugh escaped him as he realised that he was hovering, floating in the lab at the heart of a magnetic field powerful enough to encompass the entire room. He cautiously moved one arm, then the other, realised with surprise that no pressure was feeding the natural pain in his leg and spine, and he managed to find a more comfortable position. With his arms outstretched and his eyes shining, Viktor felt as if he were flying.
Across from him, looking just as stunned and amazed, Jayce offered him a smile that grew wider by the second.
"We did it...
- We did it."
Tears of emotion clouded Jayce's eyes before floating around them like new shooting stars, then they burst into ecstatic laughter.
Between them, the stone that formed the centre of the gravity field was haloed by a soft blue light and vibrated slightly, as if to mimic their joy.
They couldn't have said how long they stayed like that, floating in what seemed to be a timeless bubble, but when Mel and Elora came running down the stairs, they were still laughing.
"Jayce! Is everything all right?"
The two women froze at the foot of the gravitational field, as if they could feel the edge of it, and looked up with stunned eyes at the two scientists swimming in euphoria.
"Mel," exclaimed Jayce, trying to float towards her, "Mel, we did it!
- I... I can see that," she stammered.
It was the first time Viktor had seen her so unsettled. Mouth agape, eyes wide and shoulders slack, she looked at the blue stone, at the prototype hovering beside them, glanced angrily at Viktor, and finally looked at Jayce.
Mel's face softened immediately and her eyes became more tender, filled with genuine emotion.
"I'm so happy for you…"
Viktor couldn't have sworn, but he was almost certain he heard tears in her voice as she broke on the last syllable. And when Elora placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, Mel raised her arm and clasped her fingers in hers.
"It looks like the time has come," Elora said softly.
- Yes," agreed Mel, "it is time for the era of magic.
- And the era of Hextech," added Jayce.
Viktor didn't say a word, and he made sure to etch forever the moment when he and Jayce had floated, alone, in the lab, anything to erase the slightly bitter taste and frustration that had spoiled this timeless moment.
Now that Mel was involved, he was certain that his name would never be mentioned when people talked about Jayce Talis's brilliant invention... And he just hoped that his partner would be lucid enough to protect his creation from all the members of the Council.
The gravity field gradually ceased and they reached the ground with clumsy movements. Viktor's leg almost gave way under his weight and he clung to Jayce more by reflex than anything else.
Or at least that was the plan.
Jayce hugged him and lifted him off the ground again to spin on the spot.
"Oh my God, Viktor! Thank you!
- I haven't done any-...
- Without you, none of this would have been possible!"
Viktor returned his embrace, his cheeks aching from laughing, but he froze when Mel came closer, closely followed by Elora. He stiffened in his partner's arms and slowly pulled himself away to retrieve his crutch when the Councillor handed it to him.
"I understand Jayce told you about his research.
- As you can see."
She frowned slightly before turning to Jayce with a sincere smile. "I'm so glad to see you found a solution. Happiness suits you.
- I couldn't have done it without Viktor," Jayce insisted without letting his partner pull away, "he's the one who found a way to stabilise the crystals."
Mel's green gaze was back on Viktor and he held it without flinching. "Is that so? And why did you want to help him?"
He held her gaze without faltering. "Because I believe in his dream. Because I believe that in the right hands, away from politics, this invention can change the world for the better."
He waited for Mel to stiffen, for her to tick or for her face to close. But instead, he caught a glimmer of interest in her gaze that disappeared as quickly as it had crossed the emerald of her eyes.
"In that case, it looks like I have you to thank for helping Jayce.
- I’m glad I could help him."
Jayce interrupted them as he pulled Mel close before kissing her forehead and her hands, then leaving them for a second to do the same with Elora, who yelped in surprise at the warmth of his gestures.
Viktor smiled fondly, and his breath caught when Mel leaned over to hug him.
"What's your price?"
Her voice was made of ice as it slid against his ear, and a bead of cold sweat rolled down Viktor's back.
"I beg your pardon?
- You understand me perfectly. What do you want in exchange for your silence?
- I don't understand what you're..."
He wanted to pull away, to take a step or two back to at least be free to move, but she kept him firmly pressed against her with a strength he hadn't suspected.
"Let's stop playing games, Viktor: you're not here to help, and there are three of us in this room who know it. So tell me how much you were paid by whoever sent you, what they promised you, and I'll double it if you leave tonight and never come near Jayce again... And if you don't say a word about what happened in that lab."
In other circumstances, Viktor would have applauded her determination, because two months earlier, if she had given him the same speech, she would have been right. After all, he had come in Ionia thinking he was spying on Jayce, planning to betray him without the slightest hesitation. But that goal had vanished in a day, and the fact that she doubted his sincerity when he had in fact never been so true to himself, when he had given up on the idea of obeying Cassandra Kiramman, made his blood boil.
Viktor closed one arm around the Councillor's back and hissed in a voice as low and sharp as hers, without taking his eyes off Jayce and Elora.
"I don't want anything.
- None of this with me. I wasn't a member of the Council when you left the Academy, but I still have enough contact with Piltover to know you're lying."
This time he stiffened and felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end, all the sharp retorts he'd been keeping under wraps vanishing in an instant.
"I know what you are," Mel whispered, "I know what happened during your last year at the Academy. I know you're lying and manipulating Jayce. He refuses to see it because he's the best of men and despite everything he's been through, he still sees the good in people rather than being suspicious."
Viktor felt his blood turn to ice as he took the time to swallow. His vision blurred, darkened as oxygen struggled to reach his lungs, but he forced himself to resist, not to lose his footing.
"And yet, you didn't tell him anything.
- I warned him from day one, but no, I haven't told him what I know about you. Because, for some reason, he cares about you. Very much. And I don't want to hurt him by telling him the truth. I've already hurt him too much without meaning to..."
Mel's voice lowered and Viktor felt such genuine remorse in her words that it stunned him. "So I'm offering you one last way out. Name your price and leave this place tonight.
- Or else?"
Viktor could feel Mel's predatory grin against his throat.
"Or I'll make sure Jayce finds out the truth about you." When he stiffened even more, she added. "I've always been particularly good at reading people and at guessing their intentions. I knew right away you were lying and that you were here to use him, but I can also tell that you've… softened around him, and that losing his respect and friendship would destroy you. If I were you, I wouldn't take that risk."
Viktor swallowed hard, watched Jayce spin Elora in the air, laughing, and it felt as if time had stopped.
All wasn't lost. He had few ways out, but he could always resort to blackmail. He could threaten Mel, tell her he knew of her connection to Elora, that he knew she was working on a law the Council would never approve if they heard about it before she returned to Piltover…
All those words, all those ideas raced through his mind…
And instead, he sighed as he pulled away. "You won't tell him anything.
- Oh really?
- You won't. Because you're afraid of losing him. You're afraid he won't believe you and that his trust will be shattered forever."
Mel's hands tightened on his shoulder blades, and Viktor knew he'd won this round.
"Anyway, you don't have to threaten me or worry about Jayce.
- How could I trust you?
- I already swore to him that I'd keep it a secret, just as he promised to keep my ventilation project secret. I helped him because we share the same vision, because, like him, I want to improve people's lives. I helped him because I care about him and believe in his dream, not because I want to use him – that's more the domain of politicians like yourself. So let me return the… compliment."
As Jayce and Elora went upstairs to get glasses and champagne, Viktor leaned forward, closer to her ear, his gaze dark.
"If you try to use his invention to generate maximum profit, if you sell his dream and drag it through the mud for Noxus, Piltover, or any other country to profit from, I promise you, I will make you pay."
The Councillor took a sharp breath, and she sounded so outraged, so horrified by the idea, that for a second, Viktor thought she meant it.
"I would never do such a thing. I saw what politicians were doing to science; I had a front-row seat. Worse, I was part of the system," she added honestly, "and that's why I'm here with Jayce. Because I wanted to keep him away from them and because I wanted to protect him. I owe him at least that much after encouraging him to weaponize his inventions."
The last knot of tension gnawing at Viktor suddenly melted at those words.
Jayce had never intended to build weapons.
He was truly sincere and different from the others.
And so that was the reason they had left: after years of playing the political game, Mel had realized the consequences of her decisions were devastating, both for the innocent and for Jayce, who was wasting away more and more and losing his creativity. They had left Piltover with Elora to get away from everything that weighed on them.
Unaware of his internal reasoning, Mel added in a determined tone. "I love Jayce. He's my best friend, and he's forgiven me despite all the pain our decision caused. So I won't let anyone hurt him again. I promised myself that."
There was so much intensity, so much emotion in her voice, that Viktor knew she wasn't lying.
And that shook him.
Even the fact that she'd just threatened him seemed touching now that he knew it was to protect Jayce.
"I believe you," he caught himself saying, his voice softer, "and I won't tell anyone about his research. I promise that I'll never do anything to hurt him."
He'd been prepared for many reactions, but not for Mel to relax slightly and sigh, as if she herself couldn't believe it.
"You're telling the truth.
- That's what I've been telling you.
- No, I mean, you meant every word, and this is the first time you've been completely honest since you've been here."
At his hesitant expression, the Councillor added, a hint of a smile on her lips. "I told you, I'm very good at reading people. That doesn't mean I trust you – I'll continue to keep an eye on you – but I know you sincerely care about Jayce, enough not to betray him."
A newfound respect coloured their gaze, and then Mel added, "I won't say anything about your past. But you already know you'll owe him the truth one day.
- I know."
They exchanged a nod, not a sign of friendship, but at least a sign of respect and mutual understanding. And when Jayce and Elora joined them with refilled glasses of champagne, the atmosphere had relaxed, so much so that Mel went so far as to thank Viktor in front of them.
And this time, there was no mockery or provocation in her voice.
Notes:
I hope you liked this chapter! The cat is out of the bag: Jayce and Mel are not dating anymore! Will that knowledge push Viktor to finally try his luck?
I had a lot of fun writing this interaction between Mel and Viktor. I love both characters so much so I hope I've done justice to Mel but also to her wit and her empathy :) Another discussion between these two will take place in a couple of chapters, a scene that I also really enjoyed writing, but in the meantime, I'll see you next week with chapter 7, which will be quite... Hectic...
Feel free to let me know your thoughts, and see you soon for chapter 7:D
Chapter 7
Summary:
Jayce and Viktor celebrate their discovery, and Viktor finally finds the courage to cross the line... But how will his partner react?
Notes:
Hi everyone!
I initially feared I wouldn't be able to post this chapter today but here it is! I must confess I'm reeeally nervous about this one because it's my frist time writing explicit smut D: I actually had to resist a violent urge to self-censor even as I was editing the chapter before posting it!
So, yeah, smut ahead!
I hope you'll like it!
(Heleonora if you've read this chapter... No you haven't!)
Enjoy!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
They celebrated their discovery late into the night, even after Elora and Mel had excused themselves for bed. And when Jayce walked Viktor back to his room, they were still laughing, buoyed by the euphoria of the day and by their success. Fortunately, even though they'd had several drinks, they weren't to the point of being incoherent.
Sure, they were staggering a bit, but that could just as easily be down to the adrenaline.
"Thank you," Jayce whispered as they made their way down the corridor, "thank you for everything, Viktor.
- I haven't done much.
- You've done so much for me." Jayce put a hand on Viktor's back, sending a shiver down his spine. "I was lost, completely lost, and I was hitting rock bottom. I couldn't see any way out but you... you believed in me and you helped me.
- I'm sure you would have found a solution to your problem.
- I'm serious, V." Jayce stopped and looked him straight in the eye. "You saved my life. And I'll never be able to thank you enough for that."
Viktor searched for words, fought against the heartbeat that reverberated throughout his body and the guilt that tightened his throat, before he whispered. "I'm glad I could help you.
- You know, I meant it when I told you that this was our dream, our project. I'd really like to work on it with you. Would you be interested? We could work on your propeller project in parallel and...
- Our.
- Sorry?"
Viktor graced him with a light touch of his crutch against his calf, and he was the first to be stunned when he realised that he was sincere, that he really wanted this project so dear to his heart to be shared.
"Our propeller project."
Emotion crossed Jayce's face and he repeated softly. "Our propeller project and our Hextech dream.
- I'd love to work with you, Jayce.
- Do you want me to write a letter to your patrons? Just to explain to them that you're staying longer for your research, of course."
Viktor shook his head. "I don't think that will convince them. I have to leave in a month and a half to report to them.
- Oh... Yes, of course..."
Faced with Jayce's sheepish, apologetic expression, Viktor added. "I’m sorry but I will have to leave… But that still leaves us a month and a half to work together. Besides, that doesn't mean we'll never see each other again, does it?
- No... No, you're right. I'd be happy to work with you, partner."
Throat knotted, heat settling in his chest, Viktor nodded. "Me too."
When they reached the door, Jayce stumbled and giggled as Viktor supported him as best he could.
"Do you think you'll make it home in this state, Man of Progress?
- Maybe I should call a carriage...
- That would probably be safer. Or you could..."
Viktor fell silent, swallowing the end of his sentence, flabbergasted at the idea of having almost uttered such words, and the heat grew in his chest, until it overflowed throughout his body. Unaware of his confusion and moral dilemma, Jayce insisted. "I could… what?"
Viktor hesitated for a moment, looked up and met his partner's luminous gaze.
Then he heard two voices in his mind.
"He cares about you. Very much."
"When I like someone, I see no reason not to let them know."
Was it the alcohol? The euphoria of their discovery? Or perhaps the way Jayce was slightly leaning over him in the moonlight? In any case, Viktor found the courage to say what he had initially silenced.
"Or you could stay."
Immediately, Jayce stiffened and his face turned crimson.
There. That gleam in his eyes, the desire he'd thought he'd glimpsed a little after he'd arrived.
Viktor had set the hook... Now he had to wait and let Jayce choose. This time, he would know once and for all. Either Jayce would take offence and Viktor would pretend he'd had too much to drink to get away with it, and he'd know that Mel had been messing with him; or...
Or...
"Stay?
- To spend the night here. (Viktor held his partner's gaze, his heart pounding.) With me."
He saw Jayce swallow, saw his Adam's apple move up and down as he glanced to his right before coughing.
"I'm not sure I understand. Have you had a bit too much to drink?
- That depends. Have you?"
Their eyes met, remained anchored in each other, then, with feverish, almost trembling movements, Jayce took his partner's free hand in his and squeezed it with infinite tenderness.
"Viktor, I... I want to make sure I understand, that I'm not misinterpreting things and risking hurting you. Are you... Are you offering to...
- To spend the night with me," Viktor repeated, "in my bedroom. In the bed you've prepared for me."
He clearly saw a shiver run down Jayce's shoulders as he blinked and brought Viktor's hand to his lips, so close he could feel his breath caressing his goose-bump-covered skin.
"Are you sure you mean what you're asking me?"
"He cares about you."
Viktor swallowed, reluctantly withdrew his hand from his partner's embrace to let it graze his cheek, slide down his throat and find the top of his shirt.
"Very much."
And he chose to dare.
"Vik-..."
Viktor closed his hand over the shirt, pulled Jayce to him and pressed his lips to his in a kiss that tasted of champagne and magic.
Jayce's eyes widened and he let out a muffled exclamation that echoed between them, but Viktor didn't pull back. He knew he was taking a huge risk, that at any moment he could be pushed back, his back hitting the door as his partner, his only friend, turned away in disgust. But right now, he couldn't care less. He needed an answer, needed to know if he'd been wrong in analysing Jayce's looks and sentences.
Even though he knew that it was highly unlikely, that with his deformed body there was virtually no chance that his partner would feel the same way as he did, he wanted to give it his best shot.
Viktor had expected many things: to be rejected, insulted, pushed away... But Jayce did none of these things. He sighed against Viktor's lips, a sound that was part growl and part sob, and he cupped his face to return the kiss with a passion that took his breath away.
Viktor gasped, cursing his crutch that prevented him from clutching to his partner with both arms, and he answered Jayce's silent question by drawing him closer, closer still, and by parting his lips. Jayce got the message, immediately licking into his mouth, and his hands found Viktor's waist to hold him close, allowing Viktor to fumble for the door handle for what seemed like an eternity. But finally, they stumbled into the bedroom without a backward glance.
The door closed behind them, without them having stopped kissing, and Viktor dropped his crutch, which hit the floor with a thud. He clung to Jayce's shoulders, savoured the warmth of his body against his own, and when his partner pulled back for a moment, it was only to kiss his jaw, then his throat, then his lips again. Viktor gasped and his hands wrinkled the fabric of his shirt.
"Jayce...
- My God, Viktor, you're gorgeous."
Viktor shivered in his arms as Jayce's words turned to prayers, as his large hands slid down his back to his hips to press him flush against him. Their crotches met, pressed together, and the strangled sound that escaped Viktor made Jayce's shoulders tremble beneath his palms.
His body was on fire. He felt like his blood was bursting into flames with every touch, bubbling like wax in the glowing bright fire of the body against his, but suddenly Jayce broke their kiss, gasping for air. For a second, they remained silent, panting, their faces only a handful of centimetres apart, before Jayce gasped.
"Is this real?"
Viktor blinked and shrugged. "It depends...
- On what?
- On what you want." He pulled Jayce towards him again, so close that he could have kissed him, but still keeping him resolutely millimetres away from him. "How real do you want this to be?
- Very real."
Viktor smiled at his intensity and at his lack of hesitation, and he felt relief and surprise blossom in his chest like sunflowers in bloom. He'd had a few one-night stands in recent years - nothing to write home about, nothing he could think about and sigh with nostalgia for hours, but one-night stands nonetheless - but he'd never seen so much genuine adoration and emotion in his partner's eyes during such an intimate moment. The men he had slept with were, like him, only looking for a few hours of personal oblivion, not to worship the other person or even to see to their pleasure. And to be desired in this way, especially by Jayce, made Viktor's head spin, almost made him forget how to breathe.
Viktor gently ran his free hand over Jayce's forehead, letting it slide down his cheekbone and then his cheek, brushing his fingertips against his skin to draw shivers.
"Then yes," he whispered like a secret, "it's real."
A joy like no other lit up Jayce's face and he smiled and kissed him again, first on the cheeks, then on the lips, with redoubled admiration and fervour, and Viktor returned it, unable to believe his luck.
Part of him was convinced that he was dreaming, that he had fallen asleep in the living room and was living out the fantasy that had haunted him since his arrival in Ionia, which made him fear for a moment the state in which he would wake up.
But...
But this pleasure, these lips, these hands, this warmth were so real, so intense... Even in his wildest dreams, he would never have imagined these kisses and the sensation of Jayce's lips against his with such precision.
But it was simply impossible.
It was impossible for Jayce Talis to want him so much that he kissed him like that, so much that he could feel his erection grow against his hip.
Viktor shuddered and ran his hands over Jayce's shoulders, sliding them along his back before finally grabbing his waist and pressing him more firmly against him with a hungry grunt. Jayce let out a groan that made Viktor shudder, rubbed his cock against his in an unconscious movement to feed the pleasure radiating through his lower abdomen, and the power Viktor suddenly felt nearly made him faint.
He wasn't dreaming.
Jayce Talis wanted him to the point of devouring him.
And he was literally burning for him.
When a flash of pain shot through his hip and brought him back to reality, Viktor winced. His legs wouldn't be able to support him much longer: he'd better find a more comfortable position for himself if he hoped to go any further. And he was counting on it! As if he'd read his mind, Jayce lifted him into his arms, effortlessly. Viktor's surprised yelp crashed against his partner's lips, and when Jayce shuddered at the sound, the thrill spread through Viktor, as if they had shared the same jolt of pleasure.
"I prayed so much for this to happen," Jayce gasped between kisses, "I thought you didn't feel the same way, that I was the only one who felt that bond, that connection between us.
- I did notice some ‘interest’, but I didn't know if it was voluntary or not. "Seeing the flabbergasted look on his partner's face, Viktor smiled. "Given that you're naturally... demonstrative, I thought it was simply how you behaved with everyone.
- You really think I give my shirts to just anyone?
- You don't?"
Jayce rolled his eyes, an amused smile on his lips. "Of course not. Especially not a shirt with my house colours on it." He kissed Viktor's jaw, kissed along his throat and nibbled until Viktor gasped. "I've wanted you from day one, but it's all I've thought about since I saw you wearing my shirt... My colours... My God, V, I thought I was going to lose my mind."
He kissed his throat until he left a crimson hickey and then, without waiting a second, he lapped up the bruise with the tip of his tongue. Viktor flinched and buried his face against Jayce's shoulder, his lips parted in irrepressible gasps. He tried to not to let himself be distracted by pleasure and to leave his own mark, the proof of his existence, on his partner's skin. When his teeth marked the space between Jayce's shoulder and his neck, a growl vibrated against his skin and Viktor straightened up, breathless.
"I thought..."
His sentence caught in his throat and his moan became hoarser as Jayce's hands kneaded his buttocks, flushing their erections close. Their foreheads met and they breathed the same air, panting in the few millimetres that separated their lips.
"I thought you were offended," Viktor finally finished in a breath.
- Offended that you wouldn't wear it forever. That's why I asked you to keep it. I hoped you'd put it back on one day.
- But you left the room so quickly, I thought..."
Jayce looked down, slightly sheepish, and Viktor's eyes widened with sudden understanding.
"Oh... Oh you weren't angry, you were... " A teasing smile on his face, he nibbled Jayce's bottom lip, drawing a shaky gasp from him. "Aroused."
His partner blushed violently and Viktor decided to push him a little.
"Did you touch yourself thinking about me?
- ...Yes."
The sigh was almost inaudible, a feverish admission that made Viktor flinch and his breath catch. "...More than once?"
Jayce's cheeks flushed even more and Viktor huffed. "Oh Jayce, really?"
His partner buried his face against Viktor's collarbone with a shameful groan. "I'm sorry, I know it's awful but you were... You were....
- ‘Hot as hell’?"
Jayce laughed, a sound that tickled Viktor's skin as he nuzzled his nose against his collabrone. "Very much so."
Viktor let out an amused snort and then, with a mischievous smile on his lips, he let his hands roam over Jayce's shoulders and then slide down his collarbones until they firmly encompassed his pecs.
"Just so you know..."
Jayce's breath caught in his throat as the fingers drew circles around his nipples, slowly, like a gentle provocation, a warning, a chance to refuse himself... And as Jayce watched his hands with feverish eyes, Viktor pinched.
"If you want me to..."
Jayce shuddered and his moan caressed his partner's cheeks. Viktor reluctantly abandoned Jayce's chest to brush his fingertips over his abs, sending a shiver down his skin.
"I can be even more..."
Drinking in Jayce's moans, marvelling at his flushed cheeks, clouded eyes and sensitivity, Viktor traced the shape of the erection pressed between them. He swallowed hard and felt his heart race as his partner's desperate whines caressed his ear.
And not once, despite all these stimuli, did Jayce try to speed things up. He let his partner in control, suffered as silently as he could while Viktor savoured the shape of his body... Then, finally, Viktor pressed his hand against his partner's aching length and their eyes met.
"Intense."
Jayce swallowed hard, a bead of sweat sliding down his throat, and then, having been so patient for so long, he gave in. He grabbed Viktor's wrist to press it more firmly against his cock and kissed him again, as if he were about to collapse, begging him by repeating his name like a prayer every time their lips parted. "Viktor... Please, Viktor."
Viktor tipped his head back and his hips bucked when Jayce released his wrist to finally brush his crotch.
"Jayce...
- Please," Jayce begged, resting his forehead against Viktor's shoulder, "I can make you feel good... Please, let me make you feel good."
Viktor had hardly ever been asked for permission, either in bed or even in his everyday life, so to have Jayce Talis begging for his consent when he could simply have taken what he wanted without his partner having the physical strength to refuse him...
Viktor shuddered violently and an uncontrollable whine echoed through the room.
Oh...
Oh by the Gods, he could never live without this anymore, without this respectful devotion, this pleading adoration and the power that derived from it.
Viktor gripped his partner's hair, as much to hold onto him as to force him to look at him and to wring another gasp from him. "Alright."
As if I could refuse you...
Genuine emotion lit Jayce's eyes as he let out a small, relieved sigh and gently laid Viktor down on the bed, getting on all fours above him as if to cover his partner's body with his.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you." he repeated against his skin as he feverishly unbuttoned Viktor's shirt.
- You don't have to thank me," Viktor answered with a smirk, "after all, you asked so nicely. Good boys deserve rewards, don't you think?"
He punctuated his sentence with a kiss on the bite mark he left on his partner's shoulder and Jayce's body shuddered as a muffled moan crashed against his skin. Viktor's eyes widened, his lips parted in a stunned sigh as he realised what effect those few words had had on his partner, and the heat grew so suddenly in his abdomen that he shivered too.
He'd never imagined that the effect would spread to him, that it would leave him panting as Jayce regained his composure and freed him from his leg brace and from his clothes. Jayce covered each new inch of revealed skin with pressing, increasingly lascivious kisses, as if to show how much he cherished every part Viktor had to offer him.
Viktor sat, his lips almost instinctively finding Jayce's as he helped him remove his shirt with feverish movements, and when their hands met as they both reached for the middle button, they shared the same little muffled laugh. Finally, their clothes adorned the bedroom floor, leaving them only in their briefs and in Viktor's back brace. And for a moment, he was completely speechless, his hands roaming over the muscular body facing him...
By the Gods... Jayce was absolutely perfect.
It was only when his partner put his hands on his waist, on his back brace, that Viktor stiffened.
"May I?"
It wasn't so much being fully naked that suddenly made him flinch, but the vulnerability in the act of taking his back brace off. During his one-night stands, he had rarely taken it off, keeping it on as a final bulwark between the world and himself, a way of protecting his body and his mind.
Viktor couldn't bear Jayce turning his back on him after seeing him as he really was without his shell, both metallic and metaphorical.
Maybe when he would see his protruding ribs and twisted spine, Jayce would realise how deformed he was, how ridiculous Viktor was to imagine even for a second that someone like Jayce could want him... Maybe it was better to keep that wall up, to maximise his chances...
Viktor's heart raced in his chest, panic and rationality momentarily drowning out the pleasure, and he bit his lips as Jayce kissed his throat, sucking the skin to paint a new crimson bruise. His partner didn't insist, didn't rush him. He was giving him time to think about his question, and once again, the fact that such a powerful man was asking for his permission, his consent, made Viktor's head spin.
If he couldn't bear to reveal the whole truth to Jayce, he could at least reveal some of it and reveal his body as it really was.
So he chose to let him in despite the fear.
And even if his partner didn't know it, this act was as much a leap of faith as it was a way of calming the guilt and anguish that suddenly knotted Viktor's throat.
An offering on the altar of his affection, a proof of the trust he placed in Jayce.
After a few long seconds, Viktor nodded without saying a word, lips pursed. His partner gently stroked the back brace with his fingertips, as if afraid of hurting Viktor, as if he were touching a work of art hidden and shielded from public view until now. And as Viktor raised his hands to remove the strap from his shoulder, as he braced himself for his partner's eyes to cloud with disgust, Jayce's lips grazed the metal, taking his breath away.
"Beautiful."
Viktor felt his heart miss a beat before starting to race again, and both embarrassment and emotion knotted his throat, a confusion he hid behind a grunt and lowering eyes.
"Nonsense...
- It's true," Jayce assured him, looking up at him with clouded eyes as they carefully removed the back brace, "you're beautiful. Every part of you is.
- That's not true and you know it. You don't have to lie to make me feel better, I've accepted that my body will never be... (Viktor stumbled over the words, whether because of their weight or because of the hand Jayce had just slid down his body to his hip, he couldn't tell). That I'll never be beautiful or desirable because of these imperfections.
- There's beauty in imperfections," Jayce whispered lovingly, laying him back on the sheets and kissing his ribs and then his collarbone, "and I think you're beautiful."
Viktor gasped, suddenly much less confident. "You only say that because you want to flatter me."
Jayce kissed the tip of his nose, a smile on his lips, "Maybe, but I still mean every word."
The sentence echoed that moment in the lab, the day Jayce had measured Viktor's leg, and it was the last straw. The heat grew, grew, grew, and Viktor cupped Jayce's face to kiss him, stunned to realise how right everything felt, how well they fitted, how they belonged together.
"Prove it," Viktor ordered between kisses, "show me that you mean it."
Jayce's hands, calloused by the work of the forge, came to rest on Viktor's protruding ribs, drawing a trail of goosebumps across his skin, and when Jayce kissed his nipple, Viktor arched his back with a hoarse moan. He buried his hand in Jayce's hair, a million thoughts racing through his mind without a single one making it past his lips.
The insecurity grew briefly, then froze, and with each kiss on his chest, each caress on his ribs, it diminished until it disappeared behind a veil of pleasure.
There was only Jayce.
Jayce and the ecstasy of his every touch.
Viktor closed his eyes as Jayce's tongue traced a wet line down to his stomach. He shuddered and crumpled the sheets as Jayce kissed his bony hip. He sighed when Jayce's hands came to rest on either side of his waist, and he stiffened when a small, bemused laugh, more of a gasp than a sound, caressed his skin.
"I knew it."
Viktor opened his eyes and pushed himself up on his elbows, cheeks flushed, breath short and eyebrows furrowed. "What are you..."
His voice choked in his throat, turned into an uncontrollable whine when he saw his partner's hands circle his waist and his thumbs meet in the middle. Jayce smiled at him, his eyes bright and his pupils wide.
"I told you I could measure you in hands. I was sure two would be enough to circle your waist.
- Is that," stammered Viktor, his mind suddenly horribly foggy, "is that how you guessed my size to buy me those shirts?"
Jayce didn't answer, but his little smirk and the way he licked his lips contained all the information he needed. And it nearly made him lose his head. A violent shudder ran through Viktor's body and, for a second, he thought he would come untouched.
His skin covered in goosebumps, his hips quivering and lifting slightly in search of some contact, some semblance of friction, he parted his lips and didn't recognise his own voice as it rose trembling in a high-pitched whine.
"Oh ... Oh fuck..."
Despite the veil of lust over his eyes, he saw Jayce lower his head to his crotch with round eyes, to Viktor's erection and the precum staining his underwear. Jayce's chest rose and fell at an ever-increasing rate, and a flash of delight crossed his face as his right hand descended lower and caressed Viktor's cock.
"You like that?
- Hm!"
Viktor slammed a hand over his lips, breathing heavily through his nose, and Jayce looked up again, a smile of wonder on his lips. "Does it please you that much that I pay attention to details like this? That I thought of you?"
Viktor would have liked to roll his eyes and prepare a more scathing repartee, something to put this insolent man in his place, but all coherent thought had deserted his mind, replacing them with a litany of ‘more, more, more...’
"More...
- Hm?"
Viktor caught his breath as best he could. "It's going to take... more than that to convince me that you meant what you said, Talis."
Jayce placed a kiss on Viktor's hip before his mouth moved lower, lower still. Viktor arched his back and the flash of pain that went up his spine was swallowed by the wave of pleasure as his partner's lips brushed his clothed length.
"Like this?
- Yes ... Yes, like... that..."
He could almost feel Jayce's smile against him, and it drew another moan from him as his partner kissed his briefs, soaking it with his saliva. After a few seconds, Jayce briefly let his mouth move lower, until he was kissing Viktor's thigh and the bruises his brace was drawing daily on his skin, then his knee...
"As soon as I saw you, I knew you were an angel sent to save me," Jayce breathed, nibbling the inside of his partner's thigh.
- Not a demon to tempt you?"
Jayce kissed the hickey he'd left on his skin, with stunning gentleness and reverence, and their gazes met.
"No, not a demon. Never a demon. My guardian angel. My angel."
An uncontrollable whine passed Viktor's lips when, coupled with those words, he felt Jayce's lips on his cock again. He arched his back, his hands buried in his partner's hair, and when he winced slightly in pain, Jayce noticed immediately. Despite Viktor's desperate moan, he sat up and grabbed a pillow. His fingers caressed Viktor's spine, inviting him to slightly raise his hips, and when he obeyed, Jayce rewarded him by nibbling his earlobe.
"There, perfect."
Jayce smiled as his partner shuddered in his arms and he gently slid the pillow under his back before laying down right next to him, nuzzling his temple.
"Comfortable?"
Eyes clouded, right arm draped around the hot nape of Jayce's neck, Viktor nodded weakly and a brief sound of assent served as reply. Reassured, Jayce kissed his cheek and whispered, his fingers brushing the hem of his partner's underwear. "Can I?"
Viktor nodded and kissed his lips, panting. Then, almost reluctantly releasing his right arm from his partner's shoulders, he reached for Jayce's cock with determined movements.
"And can I-…
-Yes please."
Viktor let out an amused snort. "Impatient.
- Oh no I think I've been very patient."
Still laying on his back, Viktor let out a small scoff and Jayce settled more comfortably, laying on his side and tucking an arm under his partner's neck. And finally - finally - their underwear joined the clothes and braces on the floor.
When he had chosen to take this step, Viktor had been certain that revealing himself fully to Jayce would be embarrassing, intimidating, terrifying even. Instead, he paid no attention to the way his cock immediately sprang against his belly once it'd been freed from his briefs. Nor did he pay attention to the precum that was already soaking his lower abdomen, because he was entirely focused on Jayce.
His breath caught, lips parted and throat suddenly incredibly dry.
"Oh my...
- God," Jayce finished.
They only had eyes for each other, so for a second Viktor didn't worry about looking ridiculous or vulnerable. He soon began to salivate and, with his free hand, he gently stroked his partner's cock, detailing its size and thickness. Immediately, Jayce gasped against his cheek, turning Viktor's blood to lava at the power he suddenly held over him.
"Viktor... V...
- I know," Viktor breathed, "I've got you. I'll take care of everything."
Jayce was incredibly aroused, his cock painfully hard against his abs and precum running down his length as he shuddered against him...
All because of him.
Viktor bit his lip and pushed the image from his mind: he couldn't let go, not yet. He had to focus on Jayce first.
The position was comfortable – the warmth of Jayce's body was spreading through his and there was no pressure on his leg or back – but the angle was unfortunately not very practical, at least for him. Somewhat clumsily, his thumb drew ever-widening circles on the head of his partner's cock, eliciting an almost animalistic grunt from Jayce. Viktor spread the precum gathered there, then slowly closed his hand along its length and slid down to the base.
Jayce growled in his throat, his hot breath caressing Viktor's skin. "Fuck- V..."
Emboldened by his success, Viktor let his hand move up and then down, first at a slow pace, then gradually faster, to the rhythm of the gasps and moans against his skin. He added a slight twist of his wrist and Jayce moaned louder, taking his breath away. His partner's hips rutted against him, his skin covered in sweat glistening in the moonlight, and Viktor felt his heart racing in his chest.
"Like this?"
Jayce nodded against his temple, unable to answer, his eyes almost closed and his breathing increasingly ragged. Viktor quickened his pace, hesitating between fixing his gaze on his partner's cock or on his expression, and finally turned his face slightly towards Jayce, drinking in the air escaping from his parted lips, feeding off the way his features tensed and his brows furrowed as ecstasy took hold of him.
"Viktor... Viktor...
- Hm. You're doing so well, Jayce. (He pressed his forehead against his.) So perfect for me."
A strangled ‘holyfuckingshit’ answered him and Jayce's hips suddenly tensed, rutting furiously against his hand, and Viktor smiled, drunk with pleasure and power. Nothing could top this moment, nothing could ever be better than...
His head rolled back on Jayce's arm and he let out a high-pitched whine as his partner's free hand found his cock and mimicked his movements, stroking him fevereshly. And if the position was slightly uncomfortable for Viktor's movements to be as effective as he would have liked, Jayce, on the other hand, was perfectly placed for each touch to push him a little closer to his sweet release.
Viktor's eyes rolled back and, with his free hand, he grasped Jayce's forearm wedged under his neck, his fingers closing over his wrist and on the blue stone that adorned his leather bracelet. He moaned loudly, writhing on the sheets with each stroke as pleasure electrified him.
"Jayce... Jayce!
- I love you," Jayce sobbed against his throat with a wet kiss, "Gods V, I love you so much."
The words were unexpected, an even more violent stimulus than the body pressed against his, than the hand closed around his cock, and that was his undoing.
Viktor suddenly stiffened in Jayce's arms, his breath caught in his throat and his legs began to quiver as the wave of pleasure engulfed him whole, and he came with a strangled cry. He shivered against Jayce's chest, his lips opening and closing in silent gasps of pleasure, and the violence of the orgasm made his hand slow down on Jayce's cock.
Jayce kept stroking him, allowing him to ride his high until the wave receded, and the sight of his cum-spattered fingers caused them both to groan.
"V I'm going to..." Jayce's whisper against his throat grew huskier, more urgent. "I'm gonna come... Can I come? Can I...
- Yes." Viktor's voice was just a breath and his mind was still delirious with ecstasy fuelled by this habit Jayce had of asking permission. "Come for me."
Jayce seized up against him and he came with a muffled groan that echoed around the room. Eyelids half-closed, Viktor kept stroking him until Jayce hugged him with a blissful sigh.
For a few minutes, their erratic breathing was the only thing that disturbed the silence of the night and their hearts beat in unison against each other. As Jayce embraced him, he was careful not to crush Viktor under his weight, and when they had caught their breath, he managed to whisper.
"So? Did I do it?"
Viktor ran his clean hand through his partner's hair and raised an eyebrow, voice slightly hoarse.
"What?"
Jayce looked at him, his eyes bright and his cheeks flushed. "Did I convince you that I meant what I said?"
A wave of emotion knotted Viktor's throat, preventing him from answering, and he preferred to close his eyes with an almost inaudible ‘hm’. His partner didn't push him, satisfied with this discreet assent, and Jayce kissed him tenderly, the softest kiss they'd exchanged since the one they'd shared on the doorstep.
When Jayce pressed his cheek against Viktor's chest again with a delighted sigh after having cleaned them up with a towel, Viktor stared at the ceiling. And as always when the pleasure faded, the voice of reason returned to the surface.
What were you thinking?! Why did you do such a thing?! You lied to him! Why did you give in now even though you know you're leaving in a month and a half?! You'll just suffer even more when he pushes you away!
Panic and guilt gripped his heart and lungs in a vice, like a corset tightened to take his breath away.
You've ruined everything.
You've sacrificed your heart for a few stupid minutes of pleasure!
He's going to hate you!
He's going to...
"V?"
Viktor startled when Jayce stroked his cheek with his fingertips, a concerned look on his face. "Are you all right?
- I-... Yes, I… I am.
- Does anything hurt? Did I lean on your leg? I did my best, but maybe I wasn't as careful as I thought. Oh… Or are you angry that we didn't go all the way? We can! Just give me a few minutes and I'll... It's not that I didn't want to. God I want that so much , but I just don't have any lube or condoms and I don't want to hurt you! O-or to get hurt, I could also let you… Well, I mean both would make me so happy but would you mind waiting until I go to town to buy some and then we… Or… Oh... No, maybe you don't want it to happen again. I understand... No, really I do, and...
- Jayce."
Jayce fell silent, mouth open on a sentence he didn't finish, and Viktor kissed him gently, a reassuring smile on his lips.
"I'm more than fine. It was perfect. You were perfect. And if you want it too, I would be delighted to go ‘all the way’ with you once we have everything we need." He kissed his forehead. "Sorry I was simply… Distracted.
- Do you want to tell me what you were thinking about?"
Tell him.
Don’t tell him!
It’s now or never, you owe him the truth.
Shut up! Enjoy what you have now and shut up! Or else you’ll lose him forever!
Viktor bit his cheek and, carried by the pleasure and happiness that had nestled in his chest, he whispered instead.
"You said you loved me..."
Jayce's face turned a deep red – as if that's the most indecent thing that happened tonight! – and he stammered. "Oh I... I couldn't help it, I... I'm sorry.
- No, you don't have to be, it was... cute.
- You think so?"
Emotion swelled in Viktor's throat when he noticed Jayce wasn't trying to deny it, nor was he trying to imply that he'd said it in the heat of the moment. On the contrary, even as he apologized, he stood by every word he said, as sincere and transparent as ever.
And that was how Viktor knew he meant every word. That Jayce truly loved him and that their attraction, their connection, was mutual.
He rested his forehead against his partner's, an incredibly powerful symbolic gesture in Zaun, more intimate even than a kiss, and for a moment, he hoped Jayce knew its meaning. And he hoped he knew that even love wasn't a strong enough word to explain the bond that united their bodies and souls.
"Very cute.
- You… You don't have to say it back.
- I know.
- I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable, I was just…
- I know, Jayce." Viktor brushed his fingertips against his lips, but the words he wanted to say back were stuck in his throat, frozen by guilt. So he simply repeated with a smile. "It was cute."
Relief relaxed every muscle in his partner's body at those few words. Jayce hugged him more passionately, almost painfully, and Viktor savoured every second of it.
He had literally bared himself, even to the point of agreeing to take off his back brace, but he had been unable to lower his mind's defences... And he had been unable to be honest with Jayce before crossing that line.
If only he had told the truth...
Then he could have told Jayce that he loved him too without risking breaking his heart.
Then maybe they would have had a chance.
Viktor closed his eyes and buried his face in his partner's hair. He would have time to think about it later, tomorrow or in a month or a half, just before he left.
For now, he was in Jayce's arms, and that was all that mattered.
Notes:
I hope you liked this chapter! :D They finally crossed the line, but there are still many secrets to be revealed, and the risk may already be too great for Viktor to tell his partner the truth...
Also, on a less fun note, you've probably already seen the news, but a few weeks ago most fics posted before February were scraped to feed an AI... All my fics are affected except this one, and as locking it would protect it should this happen again, I'm seriously considering locking it in the next few days... Meaning only logged in users would be able to access the story... I'm not quite sure I'll do it yet, but I sincerely encourage guest readers to create an ao3 account just in case :')
Feel free to let me know your thoughts about this chapter, and see you next week for more Jayvik (and more smut, yay)! :D
Chapter 8
Summary:
Confessions are made, truths are revealed, and Viktor learns that strength comes in many forms...
Notes:
Hi there!
Here's chapter 8, in which some secrets are finally revealed! :D
But before I let you reunite with our two lovebirds (and more smut yay), I simply wanted to thank you all once more for your support. I was so nervous to post the previous chapter and your feedback really made my week, and it made me brave enough to proofread and post this one as well :') Thank you so much for your adorable comments and thank you for supporting this story, I love you! <3
And now, without further ado, back to the story!
Enjoy :D
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
The sun rose slowly over the horizon, painting the room with its golden rays, and a few particles of dust flew in its light, like stars dotting an amber sky. Viktor had already been awake for several minutes, perhaps even hours. Honestly, he couldn't have been sure, so absorbed had he been by the sight that had greeted him when he had woken up.
Asleep facing him, with one arm around Viktor's waist, Jayce was breathing deeply, his face relaxed.
Viktor's heart sank as he watched the sun draw golden lines across his partner's features and dance through his hair, and he savoured this timeless moment in silence, a slight smile on his lips.
He would have liked to run his fingers over Jayce's cheek, to follow the soft kisses that the morning light placed on his skin, to run his hand through his hair, both to lull his partner to sleep and to prove that this sight was real. But Viktor would have been too afraid to wake him up, to break the calm and peace of this moment, of this picture taken from his wildest dreams, and so he didn't move.
The arm on his waist was more than enough proof of the reality of this embrace, and for now he would be content with that.
Yet a slight uneasiness grew in Viktor's chest, knotting his stomach as the pink of the sky turned orange. Even if they had celebrated their discovery, he was certain that he himself had not been drunk when he had kissed Jayce and that he had been fully aware of every movement he had made, every word he had said...
But what about his partner?
He hadn't worried about him the night before, mainly because Jayce himself had been extremely attentive to Viktor's eventual state of inebriation. He had waited to be sure before giving in but perhaps, ironically, it was the alcohol that had done the talking? Maybe it was the adrenalin, the champagne, the becherovka and the whisky that had driven Jayce into Viktor's arms? Maybe when he would wake up, his eyes would widen in horror and he'd push him away?
You knew it would happen, so it might as well be quick.
In the span of a few weeks, Viktor had forgotten the words of his first mentor, a credo that had helped him to never again be disappointed or hurt.
" Loneliness is often the by-product of a gifted mind."
Viktor swallowed and pursed his lips.
He had won more than he could ever have imagined, he would be satisfied with this night and the memories he would keep in his heart forever. And for now, he was enjoying every second he spent with his partner, praying that time would stand still, momentarily forgetting the imminent date of his return to Zaun. Unfortunately, this night did nothing to change his decision: he would have to leave Ionia in a month and a half to remain true to his principles and move forward with the preparation of this ventilation system. It was his dream, his mission... And he couldn't turn his back on it just because he'd fallen in love...
In any case, Viktor would have to be honest with Jayce and tell him the whole truth about why he had come to Ionia in the first place...
And he couldn't imagine a world in which Jayce would forgive him his lies.
No matter what happened, Viktor would be alone again within a month and a half. He had to make up his mind and savour every second that separated him from the inevitable heartbreak and the end of their friendship, the severing of his bond with the man who had changed his world with a handshake and whose memory would haunt his days until his last breath.
After a few minutes, Jayce frowned slightly and muttered in his sleep, and Viktor held his breath. Slowly, his partner opened his eyes, flickering slightly against the daylight. Then his eyes found Viktor's...
And he smiled as he hugged him a little tighter.
"Hey...
- ...Hey."
Worry evaporated in an instant, replaced by relief and affection that momentarily knocked Viktor's breath out of his lungs. Jayce asked softly, his thumb drawing circles on the small of Viktor's back. "Did you sleep well?
- Very well. You?
- Wonderfully."
Guilt tried to replace his fear of rejection, but he stifled it, suppressed it with a shudder as Jayce's hand slid down his hip and over his ribs to gently caress his cheek and tuck a brown lock behind his ear. Jayce remained like that for a few seconds before his smile tinged with emotion and he whispered in a voice that was almost inaudible.
"You're beautiful."
Viktor rolled his eyes and pretended to push him away. "Liar.
- Not with you. Never with you." Jayce ran a hand through his hair. "It looks like you're haloed in light."
Both embarrassed and moved, Viktor wrinkled his nose. "What are you made of, Jayce Talis?
- Hm?"
Viktor finally let his hand trace his partner's features in a delicate, almost ghostly movement, caressed his forehead and then his cheek to rest there tenderly.
"You're far too romantic and cheerful for someone who's had less than five hours sleep.
- How could I be in a bad mood when you've been by my side all night? When the sight I wake up with is even more beautiful than the one in my dreams?"
Viktor felt his cheekbones heat up and he lowered his eyes for a moment, unable to hold Jayce's intense gaze. "I'm the one who should be saying that."
Jayce kissed his palm tenderly. "I wish you could see yourself the way I see you. To see how perfect you are, to know how lucky I am to have met you.
- I'm already in your bed, Talis, there's no need to try and seduce me any more.
- Well, technically, I am in your bed.
- Eh, semantics."
His partner laughed softly. "I'll be seducing you every day from now on, you'd better get used to it.
- Gods, what have I gotten myself into...
- I know you love it."
Viktor pouted, then smirked, and Jayce chuckled. "I knew it."
They stayed still for a few moments, as if they were afraid to ruin this moment of quiet complicity, then, slowly, with infinite tenderness, their lips met, and the last doubts vanished. Eyes closed, Viktor let his thoughts fall silent one by one, creating a welcome calm in his mind. He let himself be lulled by the sound of the waves below, by the hand caressing his cheek and then the back of his neck, by the foot that almost timidly brushed against his own...
And he agreed to take the place Jayce was offering him.
He would tell him the truth, he would.
But not just yet.
He still wanted to enjoy this sweet dream a little longer.
Viktor slid his left leg against his partner's and entangled them with a delighted sigh. But he felt Jayce stiffen and he frowned, not understanding the reason for this sudden tension. Then, something grazed his stomach...
Only then did he understand.
They moved back slightly, barely two centimetres, and Jayce gasped, his cheeks flushed and his pupils wide. "Sorry.
- Why are you apologising?
- Because... Because I'm...
- Didn't anyone ever tell you it was natural?
- I know, but still...
- Actually," Viktor teased, nibbling his partner's lip, "I'm flattered."
Jayce shivered and gasped as Viktor nestled against him more, pressing his erection between them. "Ah V...
- Shall we?"
Jayce nodded, so hard that he almost knocked his forehead against his partner's, and Viktor offered him a soft but hungry smile. "Then let me help you."
Pushing back the sheets, he sat up and pushed lightly on Jayce's shoulders until he was lying on his back. Once he was settled, when he looked at him with a shining gaze and his chest rose sharply, Viktor let himself slide down his chiselled body, dotting his skin with kisses until he reached his abs...
And when he almost shyly brushed Jayce's cock, when he raised questioning eyes to him, Jayce gasped. "Oh my God…
- Are you clean?
Face flushed, his partner stammered. "I... Yes."
Viktor rewarded him with a movement of his hand, his fingers gently stroking his partner's length. Then, without taking his eyes off him, he let his lips linger above to Jayce's cock and whispered in a low voice. "May I?"
His partner swallowed, Adam's apple bobbing in his throat, before nodding. "Yes. Yes please."
Viktor smiled a toothy grin and rewarded him with a kiss on his shaft. "Good boy."
Jayce's groan turned into a moan as Viktor traced his full length with the tip of his tongue. Even though he didn't want to show it, he couldn't help but swallow at the size of his partner's cock. He hadn't done that for a while, and he was afraid he wouldn't be able to offer his lover the show he had in mind.
Ah well, there was no need to panic.
All he had to do was proceed one step at a time.
Viktor kissed the tip of Jayce's erection, his right hand stroking his length, and Jayce's gasps were strangled as Viktor took him in his mouth, first just the tip, teasing his cock with deft movements of his tongue. His partner moaned, head thrown back, and this reaction was worth all the gold in the world. Encouraged by Jayce's obvious pleasure, by the sighs and gasps that filled the room, guided by his reactions, Viktor stroked him for a few seconds. Then, praying that he hadn't lost his skills, he breathed in deeply and bobbed his head to take all of him in his mouth.
"Oh fuck!"
For a moment, Viktor thought that his gag reflex would prevent him from achieving this feat, but fortunately, with a few deep breaths through his nose, he reached his goal and the instinct that was screaming at him to pull back receded, giving way only to satisfaction and pleasure. He could distinctly feel Jayce's cock throbbing in his throat, feel every shudder of his hips under his hands and against his nose... And the power he felt, the pleasure he was able to give his partner, made his head spin.
The sigh he let out vibrated in his throat, and when Jayce ran a tense hand through his hair, Viktor allowed himself to close his eyes for a few seconds. With his nose buried against his partner's pubic hair, he breathed in his scent, let it rise to his head and the heat grew in his belly... And when he straightened slightly, sliding his tongue over the cock between his lips, when Jayce's fingers closed over his hair and sent a delicious shiver down his spine, he groaned and pleasure warmed his whole body.
Bobbing his head, he slid a hand over Jayce's abs as he sucked, hollowed his cheeks and then swallowed around his cock....
"Ah!"
Jayce's hips stiffened, rutting upwards in an instinctive, uncontrollable movement, and Viktor let out an alarmed yelp as his cock hit the back of his throat. Immediately, his vision blurred and he sat up briefly to catch his breath and fight off a cough. But just as he was about to pick up where he left off, Jayce gasped, a horrified look in his eyes.
"Oh my God, Viktor I'm sorry!"
Adorable...
Viktor smiled and guided Jayce's hand through his hair again. His breath short and his voice a little hoarser, he reassured him with a whisper.
"It's fine. You can be rough if you want. Like this."
But as he invited his partner's fingers to close over his scalp, Jayce watched him, looking totally stunned. And when he spoke, his voice shook slightly.
"Why would I want to be rough?
- ...Because it feels good for you?
- But I don't want to be rough with you. I want to cherish and love you."
He had said this as if it were obvious, as if it was impossible that Viktor hadn't already understood this, and those few words set off a thousand fireworks in Viktor's heart and made his whole soul tremble.
Struggling to hide his emotion and the effect this sentence had had on his lower abdomen, Viktor leaned back and grumbled, closing his eyes to try and stay focused.
"You talk too much."
Jayce's lips parted on a groan, and Viktor applied himself even more than usual, tilting and lifting his head with a rhythm based on Jayce's reactions. Saliva dripped down his chin, accompanying each of his movements with obscene sounds, but he didn't worry about it for the moment. Encouraged by his partner's panting, by his hand in his hair, by his fingers caressing his cheekbone, Viktor half-opened his eyes veiled in uncontrollable tears... And the sight of Jayce, cheeks flushed, lips parted and eyes shining with pleasure and stupor, almost brought him to the edge.
Viktor tried to stifle a moan as his hips almost instinctively bucked and his own erection rubbed against the sheets... And Jayce noticed.
Jayce was always attentive to the needs of others.
"Please," he whined, "please... ah V- let me touch you."
Viktor let out a negative ‘hm hm’ that vibrated in his throat and made his partner's eyes roll back.
"Please... Please..."
Viktor shuddered, hesitated for a few seconds, then reluctantly let go of Jayce's erection and inhaled deeply. A trickle of saliva still connected his lips to his partner's cock, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop and time froze until it broke and their eyes met. Then, face slightly flushed, Viktor breathed out.
"Impatient.
- It's just... It's just that you're so beautiful," Jayce stammered, "so perfect..."
A violent shiver shook Viktor's shoulders and he bit his lip to stifle a groan.
"...and I love you…"
A shaky, slightly high-pitched whine escaped him and he pressed his cheek against Jayce's burning palm. He struggled to regain his footing, to catch his breath, and then, after weighing up the pros and cons, he made up his mind. Without taking his eyes off Jayce, Viktor straddled his thighs. Jayce's eyes widened and his gasp turned into a moan.
"Oh... Oh fuck, Viktor...
- Shh," he cooed, "I'll take care of everything.
- But I... We don't have any lube or...
- There are other ways to have fun.
- But... Won't your leg be hurting you?
- Don't worry about me. I'm tougher than I look."
Viktor punctuated his sentence with a slight movement of his hips, and when his erection slid against Jayce's, his partner's eyes rolled back and his hands gripped Viktor's waist firmly, to hold him in place as much as to anchor himself in reality. Viktor held back a breathy laugh, exhilarated by this power and the effect it had on Jayce, and, after spitting into his palm, he slowly closed his hands around both their lengths pressed together, as if to allow Jayce to stop him if this made him uncomfortable.
Viktor met his gaze and breathed out in a husky voice. "Is that all right?
- Fuck, V..."
If he was to believe the small uncontrollable movement of Jayce's hips, obviously it was more than ‘all right’. Breathless, Viktor nodded slowly. "Tell me if you want to stop.
- Never. Never stop, please..."
Face and body already burning with passion, Viktor licked his lips and he moved his hands back and forth around their cocks. Jayce let out a hoarse moan as his head rolled back on the pillow, his eyes closed and his lips parted. His hips rutted upwards, meeting Viktor's hands and seeking more friction, and that was the last sign he needed to rock his hips in turn.
Their moans rose as one in the room and the sun covered their bodies in gold dust. Encouraged by the movements under his thighs and by Jayce's hands on his hips, Viktor slightly arched his back and neck, his lips open in a ushered gasp. It wasn't in his nature to make a show of himself in this way, but he wanted to offer himself completely to Jayce, to show him how much he belonged by his side. So he moaned, his chest heaving with an increasingly erratic rhythm, and prayed that the pain in his leg would stay throbbing.
But soon, too soon, the flashes of pain became impossible to ignore and he had to slow down. Biting his lip, eyebrows furrowed, he bent slightly over, trying to relieve the pressure on his leg... But to no avail.
"Do prdele...
- Viktor?"
He hadn't realised that the curse had escaped him, a hiss of pain that had immediately caught his partner's attention. Viktor shook his head, jaws clenched, and, ignoring the burn in his leg, he moved even faster.
"I'm fine. Don't worry about it."
All feeling of power had vanished, replaced by a frustration that knotted Viktor's throat. He'd been lucky last night: his body hadn't betrayed him too much, so Jayce hadn't been disgusted or frightened by his limits. But he couldn't risk appearing so weak, so fragile, not now...
Please, he silently begged his body, please don't fail me now. Hold on for a few more minutes, just a little longer. Don't let him see me like this.
As if to provoke him, his leg gave way under his weight and he slumped forward, his right hand abandoning its position to press against Jayce's chest to prevent him from collapsing. Viktor clearly felt tears of rage trying to drown out his gaze, but he chased them with a furious shake of his head.
When Jayce's hands left his hips to rest on his shoulders, Viktor stammered. "I-I'm fine, I swear I can take it.
- I know."
Jayce kissed him tenderly, and his voice was so soft, so soothing, that Viktor thought he would burst into tears when he heard his next sentence.
"But let's not take any chances. You've already done so much for me, let me cherish you in return.
- But I can...
- You said it yourself... (Jayce kissed his throat, a small smile on his lips.) There are other ways to have fun."
If someone else had asked him to change position for fear of hurting him, Viktor would have taken offence and he would have simply ended their session and chased them away without a moment's hesitation.
But Jayce was different.
He hadn't told him he was fragile or broken.
He was simply suggesting another way of doing things, without implying that his leg was the reason, simply because he wanted to take care of him.
So, with a lump in his throat, Viktor nodded slowly, his eyes watering dangerously. Jayce hugged him tenderly and whispered against his ear. "Hold on to me."
Viktor obeyed and, with both ease and incredible delicacy, his partner reversed their position, laying Viktor on his back while Jayce knelt between his thighs. He had expected Jayce to take over the control Viktor previously possessed, but this was not entirely the case. After adjusting a new cushion under his partner's back, Jayce gently pressed Viktor's legs together before lifting them and holding them with one hand at knee level. He stroked his thigh with his free hand.
"Is it okay? Do you feel any discomfort?"
Certain that his voice would be too weak for his liking, Viktor simply shook his head, curious to see what his partner had in mind and grateful that he hadn't used the word ‘pain’ directly, replacing it with ‘discomfort’. Jayce smiled, reassured, and gently invited Viktor to place his hands around his own cock again, leaving enough room to also accommodate his length.
Intrigued, Viktor obeyed, not quite understanding how Jayce would do it with his legs in the way. His partner nodded, breathless and pupils dilated.
"Stop me if this makes you uncomfortable, okay?
- ...Okay."
Jayce nodded and, still keeping his legs closed and supporting them with one hand at knee level, he guided his cock between Viktor's joined thighs... At that moment, all the pieces fell into place in his mind, and Viktor shivered so violently he crumpled the sheets.
He adjusted his hands slightly and a strangled whine escaped him as Jayce's length slid between his thighs, then along his cock, in the vice formed by his hands.
Their pleasure still depended on Viktor's will, his hands and even his legs, and Jayce was simply offering to redistribute things and share that control to save him any discomfort... And this attention overwhelmed him even more than the pleasure that irrigated his veins.
Emotion and ecstasy clashed in Viktor's chest, and when his eyes rolled back, he felt an uncontrollable tear roll down his cheek as he chanted his partner's name in a voice that grew huskier and louder.
"Jayce... Jayce - Jayce!
- Does it..." Jayce bit his lip and slightly slowed his pace, his free hand gently stroking Viktor's leg. "Does it feel good? It's not too...
- F-fuck don't stop, don't stop!"
Jayce nodded, his eyebrows slightly furrowed by the effort and the care he was taking to avoid hurting him, but he obeyed.
"More! Mo-... Oh Jayce!"
Drinking in his partner's encouragement, moans and sighs, Jayce obeyed with a hungry grunt. Viktor writhed on the sheets, legs trembling, and Jayce, ever attentive, altered his grip to hug Viktor's thighs and to brace his knees on his shoulder.
"Like this?
- Yes ! Yes, pe-… Fuck ! Perfect... So perfect, Jayce!"
A groan passed Jayce's lips as these praises wrapped around his heart and he wedged his cheek against his partner's left knee. He kissed his skin and then, without taking his eyes off him, without slowing down, he bit down. Not hard. Barely enough to bruise, but enough to be felt.
And just like that, Viktor came with a cry, his back arched as his whole body shuddered violently. He remained like that for a few seconds, his eyes wide open, his breath caught in his throat as his muscles stiffened. Finally, his back met the sheets again, and he let out a high-pitched shuddering whimper. And when Jayce saw his own cock adorned with his partner's cum, the same now sliding through Viktor's slender fingers, he felt the growing wave in his lower abdomen explode.
"Oh... Oh fuck I’ll..."
Jayce curled over with a gasp and he came, lips parted with murmured sounds of bliss.
When the tremors stopped shaking his shoulders and hips, short of breath, Jayce tried to pull out to allow Viktor to rest his legs, but his partner's heels suddenly planted themselves in his back and a plea made him startle.
"No..."
Pupils wide, face red and glistening with sweat, Viktor looked straight at him, lips parted on a ragged breath.
"No... Stay like that… A little longer..."
Jayce shivered and swallowed the moan that swelled in his throat. He nodded slowly and tenderly kissed the left knee and thigh that lay comfortably against his chest and shoulder. They stayed like that for a few seconds, maybe a minute, and then Viktor's hands finally released their cocks, revealing his palms and fingers covered in their mingled cum, and the sight made them both gasp.
Viktor wiped his hands over his belly, causing Jayce's cock to twitch, and then, as he realised that his partner was still desperately waiting for a permission to move, Viktor smiled a blissful, satisfied smile.
"Good... Very good boy, Jayce. So obedient for me.
- V," Jayce begged with a whine.
Viktor snorted and held out his arms towards him. "Come here."
Jayce immediately placed his partner's legs on the bed - always with incredible care - and he nestled against Viktor to kiss him.
"Gods, you don't know the things you do to me," he whispered against his lips.
- Eh I think I'm starting to get the idea."
They shared a small laugh, their breath gradually returning to a normal rhythm, and they stayed in each other's arms for an eternity as they talked, Jayce punctuating his sentences with tender kisses on his partner's chest while Viktor drew circles on his back or stroked his hair.
"I could stay here all day," Jayce sighed against his collarbone, "or even my whole life.
- Your stomach would eventually make you move." Viktor sat down, holding back a hiss. "Mel and Elora will get worried if we don't show up soon for breakfast. I'm going to have a quick shower.
- We could shower together," Jayce argued, nibbling his hip.
- Animal," he scolded him with a light tap on the shoulder, "wasn't that enough for you?
- I'll never get enough of you."
Viktor rolled his eyes and stood up awkwardly. "We'll have other opportunities to explore your desires."
Jayce laughed but didn't insist, and within minutes they were washed and dressed.
"So, let's recap," Viktor insisted, adjusting the collar of Jayce's shirt, "we drank late into the night and you slept in the living room because...
- Because I was drunk, I know. And I came to see you early in the morning to talk about our research.
- Exactly." Viktor ran a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry, but I'm not ready for them to know about us...
- I know, and I respect that," Jayce reassured him, kissing his knuckles, "I promise I'll keep it a secret for as long as you want."
Viktor nodded slowly. "Thank you, Jayce.
- No. Thank you."
They exchanged one last tender kiss before leaving the room together, looking as innocent as possible. Viktor entered the dining room with a confident step, but when Mel and Elora looked up at them, his heart raced in his chest and he found it harder to remain calm than he had expected.
"Oh, there you are," Elora said gently, "we were almost starting to worry.
- We were talking about Jayce's research and...
- Our research!
- Hm yes, our research, and time just... flew by."
There was a brief, uncomfortable silence before Jayce pushed past Viktor and invited him to sit down.
"I'm starving," Jayce smiled, filling his plate with three croissants.
- I'm sure you are," replied Mel, without taking her eyes off Viktor.
He bit the inside of his cheek, struggling not to fidget in his chair. It was impossible, and yet he had the feeling that she knew. Elora gave the Councillor a reproachful look before handing them both a cup of coffee. "Were you able to rest despite yesterday's euphoria?
- Euphoria," Jayce flinched, "what euphoria?
- Well, your scientific breakthrough.
- Oh! Yes, it was a bit difficult to think about anything else, but fortunately I had a very good night."
Mel let out a mocking ‘hm hm’ and gently placed her cup on the table, her gaze still fixed on Viktor as if to freeze him there. "Still, I didn't hear you come up last night, Jayce.
- That’s because I slept down here and I-...
- Oh, there's no need to tell us more about your night." She crossed her fingers elegantly, a small smirk on her lips. "We already... heard."
Jayce choked on his coffee and Viktor felt like he was going to faint. He froze, praying that the earth would open up and swallow him whole, and he didn't need a mirror to know that, like Jayce, he'd just turned incredibly red. He pursed his lips, hands pressed to his knees, unable to look up from his empty plate, and he barely reacted when Elora frowned.
"Mel!
- We're all adults here, Elora. There's no point in playing this game for weeks on end."
She smiled before finally turning away from Viktor to focus on Jayce. "Are you sure you know what you're doing?"
Jayce gulped, then immediately, without a moment's hesitation, his hand found Viktor's, invited him to place it on the table and he intertwined their fingers for all to see. "I am."
Viktor felt as if everyone could hear the furious beating of his heart, and he opened and closed his mouth several times, unable to utter a single word. Clinging to Jayce's hand like a lifeline in the storm that threatened to drown him, he looked up at Mel, expecting to find fury...
But all he found was concern as she started at their hands...
Concern and genuine emotion.
Unsettled, he almost jumped when she looked at him again.
"This doesn't change anything I told you yesterday in the lab. If you break his heart, I'll make you wish you'd never been born.
- Mel!"
Jayce and Elora both gasped, but Viktor calmed them down with a wave of his hand. He cleared his throat, but when he spoke, his voice sounded more like a croak than a whisper.
"I know. And my answer still stands." He tightened his grip on Jayce's fingers. "I would never do anything to hurt him."
His partner's eyes lit up, and Mel was silent for a few seconds before nodding. "Good."
Then, to everyone's surprise, she placed her hand on Elora's and squeezed it tenderly in her own as their fingers intertwined.
A proof of her trust.
A final test.
Both at once.
And the gesture took Viktor's breath away.
A multitude of emotions flashed across Elora's face, and when she met Mel's gaze and noticed the tender smile on her face, she smiled back, her cheekbones flushed, and she returned her embrace. They exchanged a deeply moving look of complicity and sincerity before Mel turned to Viktor, looking slightly gentler.
"I believe you. But don't let us down."
Viktor held back a relieved sigh as he understood the implication: Mel wouldn't tell Jayce his secret and she was giving him the opportunity to be completely honest with them. He still had time to find a way to tell his partner the truth about his past.
He swallowed hard and nodded. "I won't."
Mel nodded back at him, then sighed and all tension disappeared from the room, replaced by a tranquillity radically different from the mood Viktor had experienced since his arrival.
"Well, in that case, I suppose we can arrange a double date in the next few days."
Jayce's shoulders immediately relaxed and he lit up, a broad smile on his lips. He debated with Mel about the best restaurant for the evening, both quiet and romantic, and Viktor remained speechless, stunned by the exchange he had just experienced.
When he met Elora's gaze, she smiled at him and whispered silently, slowly so that he could read her lips. "Welcome home."
And for the second time that morning, Viktor felt his eyes blur with tears.
" Nobody wants you here."
" Nobody wants you-..."
" Nobody-..."
Jayce turned to him and squeezed his hand a little tighter.
The voices of the past had been wrong.
There were definitely people who wanted him.
Seeing the variety of smiles on the lips of the three people facing him, Viktor smiled back.
And the voices finally fell silent for a moment.
***
Once breakfast was over, Mel asked Jayce and Elora if they could do the cleaning up and she held out her hand to Viktor, as if inviting him to take it.
"Come with me. I need to show you something."
He stiffened slightly and, immediately, Jayce was beside him, a hand placed on his shoulder in a reassuring movement, as if he had sensed his slight mistrust. Mel raised a hands in a proof of peace.
"Don't worry, I've said all I had to say. The night you arrived you said you'd be delighted to see my paintings, I just want to show you the one I'm most proud of."
Jayce relaxed instantly and, encouraged by his reaction and by Elora's little nod, Viktor followed Mel.
Although he was blinded by a happiness he didn't deserve, by being loved by someone as luminous as Jayce, he knew that Mel was using this pretext to isolate him. No doubt she was going to try to threaten him again, order him to leave, see if she could buy him off... Viktor frowned and followed her silently into her studio upstairs: she didn't scare him. The only thing she could use against him was insignificant compared to everything he was hiding.
But maybe it was time to find out if Mel knew anything else about him.
The Councillor left the door to the studio open behind them, which surprised him, and he couldn't help but gasp as he discovered a bright room covered from floor to ceiling with paintings, each more stunning than the last. Several canvases were piled up against one wall, two easels were set up in the centre of the studio, and the smell of paint, watercolour and pigments seemed to colour the air. There were portraits - some of Jayce, several of Elora, two of Mel's mother and one of her brother - as well as abstract works, but what particularly amazed him were the landscapes paintings. He could clearly recognise parts of Piltover, the street with the bakery he loved to go to when he was a student, the bridge separating the twin cities...
Oh Mel was more than ‘talented’.
She was an accomplished artist.
And that was something he hadn't quite expected.
Viktor's breath caught as he turned slightly away and laid eyes on a gigantic canvas that seemed to cover the entire side wall, a truly monumental fresco that left him speechless. Looking at the brushstrokes, the precise lines and those left deliberately blurred, he could almost feel the sea wind on his face and hear the seagulls despite the closed windows. He could almost hear the red sails of the ships flapping in the wind, smell the smoke of the city in the distance and the salt of the sea...
The landscape was magnificent, the shimmering colours complementing each other wonderfully, leaving both a surprisingly realistic impression and an almost unreal sensation, as if taken from a dream or an incredibly nostalgic memory... Mel had demonstrated an unparalleled mastery of the pictorial arts and styles of the greatest art schools.
But the most astonishing thing, which struck Viktor like a punch in the gut, was what had been painted over it.
Like furious waves, broad, thicker brushstrokes furiously crossed the painting, swallowing the ships, drowning the city gates in streaks of gold… These were no longer controlled curves, the reflection of a classical and controlled apprenticeship: they were much more visceral, much more primal, like a cry from the heart that had splashed onto the canvas with stunning naturalness.
"This is where I grew up," Mel explained peacefully, her hands clasped at the front of her dress, "one of Noxus' main ports. I started this painting three years after joining the Council, but I only finished it here." She brushed her fingertips across the canvas, a contemplative look on her face. "I’ll send it to my mother when we leave Ionia and return to Piltover."
Viktor finally turned to her and looked at her with new eyes. "Why show it to me?"
Still staring at the canvas, Mel let out a small sigh. "My family... My mother exiled me because I fell short of Medarda's standards, because I didn't live up to her expectations. She's a general in the army, a warrior, and she thought I was too ‘soft’. She expected me to be ruthless and unscrupulous, but she considered me too lenient and merciful."
Viktor's gaze slid to the side, toward a slightly smaller painting made almost entirely of variations of red. Pieces of ivory and blue formed a broken circle at the center of the canvas, like a necklace in a pool of blood. Viktor frowned, but Mel was already continuing, her voice as calm as ever. "I arrived in Piltover knowing no one except Elora. We were on our own in a foreign city, and ever since, I’ve been desperate to prove myself to my mother. I fought to join the Council, I became a ruthless politician, the best strategist there ever was, I sacrificed my moral values to make Piltover richer, and even though it was a Council proposal…"
Mel took a quick breath and closed her eyes for a moment. "I was the one who convinced Jayce to build weapons because I knew it would give us a financial and military advantage… I did all of this in the hopes that my mother would notice me and call me back to her side. I was so obsessed with finally living up to her expectations that I nearly lost everything. In my blindness, I almost lost my best friend, and I almost lost Elora… When I realized that, when I understood how much my pursuit of perfection would cost me, I decided to stop everything."
The Councillor ran her hand over the canvas, tracing the golden curves in an airy and incredibly graceful movement. "I realized it when Jayce hit rock bottom, when I realized that the Council… No. That I had pushed him too far, when he collapsed in my arms and when Elora told me she didn’t recognize me anymore… Two days later, I suggested to leave Piltover to catch our breath and find each other again. I wanted to allow Jayce to create again without feeling the Council's breath on the back of his neck, and I wanted him to be able to think about a project that would be entirely his own. We'd been here for a few weeks when we both chose to remain friends."
A delicate smile tugged at Mel's lips. "For years, I had thought this painting was finished, but I was wrong. I only finished it once I realized I had freed myself from my mother, from her expectations, but more importantly, from her ways of doing things. When I was a child, I wanted to paint the halls of a palace in gold, but she only saw the colour of blood. And it was when I drew those lines that I became who I've always wanted to be." Mel giggled slightly. "That was also the day Elora confessed her feelings to me, here in this room, as if fate were rewarding me."
Viktor smiled, touched by Mel's vulnerability and by her sudden transparency, and she finally turned to him. "I know this won’t allow me to correct my mistakes, that I won't be able to undo the pain my decisions have caused, but it doesn’t change the affection, the love I feel for them both. They are my family now, the family I chose, the ones who support me, help me grow and help me remaining true to myself. They have forgiven me for my mistakes, and so I am certain that Jayce will be able to hear the truth when you decide to tell him."
Viktor swallowed hard, and his voice came out harsher than he intended when he exhaled. "Is that why you wanted to show me this painting? To remind me that you can still tell him I never actually graduated from the Academy?"
A long silence followed his declaration and Viktor felt as if the words were burning his throat, as if shame and rage had sunk their claws into his lungs, as if he'd screamed rather than whispered.
Confessing it was terrifying, a leap into the void, revealing more of himself than he had ever revealed before, and a cocktail of fury, injustice, and humiliation knotted his stomach, made his blood boil. And at the same time... At the same time, he felt an unspeakable sense of relief. It was the first time he'd said those words, the first time anyone had shared that burden with him.
Finally.
The truth was out.
And now he would finally know if Mel knew the rest of his story.
Mel observed him calmly before moving closer and placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. As he refused to look at her, she slipped two fingers under his chin to gently turn his face toward hers. Their eyes met, and Viktor had the unsettling and uncomfortable feeling that she was probing his soul and reading his thoughts, as if she could delve into his memories with a single glance. But what surprised him most was that no pity veiled her eyes.
He was about to pull away when she finally spoke. "I'm sorry I researched your past, I had no right to do so. But I was worried about Jayce, and I wanted to make sure you wouldn't hurt him. I don't know exactly what happened for you to be expelled of the Academy, and I'm not asking you to tell me because you don't owe me the truth."
Viktor looked down, jaw clenched, and she said his name softly, as if suddenly afraid of scaring him. "I won't tell him anything, Viktor, I promise you. It's up to you to take that step and to take that risk. And that's why I wanted to show you this painting: because I wanted you to know that even if it's terrifying, even if we believe no one will ever forgive us for our past actions – whether we were responsible for them or not – we all deserve a second chance."
He felt the lump in his throat grow, and emotions caused thoughts to race through his head.
He wanted to push Mel away, thank her, scream, cry, insult her, smile…
Instead, he simply nodded, and let himself be convinced by her sincerity and vulnerability.
"Okay," he croaked, "thank you.
- That's what we do for the ones we love," Mel said with a smile, "for our friends and family: we support and look out for each other. And you’re part of that family now. So I wanted you to know that your secret is safe with me for as long as you want to keep it… But also that if you’re honest with him, Jayce can forgive you because you both deserve to be honest and happy."
Viktor grimaced, his survival instinct struggling with the tantalizing urge to be coaxed by the promise of safety, community, and security…
"You won't be alone anymore, and we'll look out for you now. I promise."
When Mel gently squeezed his shoulder, an encouraging and peaceful gesture, he nodded weakly, unable to tell her that he'd never get the same second chance if he decided to be honest. "That's very kind of you..."
Jayce, Mel, and Elora, each in their own way, were Pilties.
But they were also different.
Jayce had quickly proven that, and Elora, in her quiet smiles and thoughtful gestures, had been the second to reveal a tender side, far removed from that of the selfish people Viktor had crossed paths with. And even though it had taken Mel longer to remove her mask, from that moment on, he saw her in a new light.
He who had never been able to trust anyone, he who had learned to live alone, to survive alone, he who had always hated the Pilties, he who had accepted this mission to earn money in the hope of financing his project… He had finally gained something much more precious.
And that made him as happy as it made him sick with guilt.
***
All day, Viktor and Jayce worked in the lab, repeating the experiment and once again generating a force field using the blue crystals. Several times, between hugs and kisses, Viktor almost told his partner the truth, but each time, he bit back his words.
Despite Mel's kind words, he was lucid enough to know he didn't deserve redemption. All his life, he had learned that because of his birthplace, he would never enjoy the same opportunities or chances as others. Whereas the Councillor had been able to take the risk of being honest and be rewarded, Viktor knew that if he did the same, everything would fall apart and he would be alone again.
And he wasn't ready to put an end to the dream.
Not yet.
Notes:
Things are getting serious here! Now we know more about Viktor's secrets, but will he find the courage to tell Jayce? And if he does, will his partner react as Mel promised he would? More answers in the next chapter!
I really loved writing the last scene between Mel and Viktor! I wanted their talk to be focused on how being vulnerable is actually a proof of strength... And yeah, I was listening to Marina's "Soft to Be Strong" while writing this scene :')
I was still soooo nervous about the first part of this chapter, so I hope you liked it!Feel free to let me know your thoughts! And if you want to chat, you can find me on Twitter
and on Bluesky !Thank you all again for your amazing comments and for your kind support, and see you next week! :D
Chapter 9
Summary:
Faced with Jayce's undying love, Viktor takes a leap of faith. Will it mark the end of their relationship or the beginning of something new?
Notes:
Hi everyone!
I hope you had a great week! Here comes chapter 9, which contains its share of revelations! Let's hope that it doesn't damage Viktor and Jayce's relationship...
Thank you again for your amazing support and your kind comments, they make me so happy and grateful <3
Enjoy!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
For a week, Viktor felt like he was on cloud nine, living an absolutely wonderful dream in which nothing could happen to him. He spent his days in the lab working on their research with Jayce and his nights cuddling him and being cuddled in return, never leaving the bubble of happiness they had built together. His relationship with Elora and Mel relaxed and became more natural, and he was genuinely relieved to find that the Councillor had not lied to him by promising to keep his secret.
Yet Viktor was unable to tell Jayce the whole truth.
He couldn't tell him about Cassandra Kiramman and his original mission, he couldn't tell him that they had never spoken before their scripted meeting in Ionia, he couldn't tell him that he wasn't an accredited scientist and therefore had no patrons, he couldn't reveal that he earned his living by ripping off wealthy families in Piltover to work on his project... And he couldn't tell Jayce about the incident.
Viktor could see that Mel was waiting for him to do so, waiting for their relationship to become totally honest, but she didn't realise what he had to lose.
If he lost Jayce's trust, he wouldn't just lose a friend. He would lose his one and only friend, his soulmate, the only person who had ever understood and loved him since his parents died, the only person with whom he felt safe and cherished. Viktor would lose everything, and he didn't feel like he would be able to go back to the time when he was so alone that he had forgotten the joy of having a friend.
Now that he had tasted the luxury of Jayce's friendship and love, it had become unthinkable to risk losing them.
It was better to continue playing along, to keep on lying about these things. After all, he wasn't hurting anyone, quite the opposite: he was protecting himself and Jayce's heart, just as he had promised to do.
For a week, Viktor had convinced himself that this was the best course of action, and he no longer considered revealing the truth to his partner. Then, one evening, Jayce told him that he would have to go out of town the next day, promising to return as soon as possible. Viktor teased him at first that he'd taken his time deciding to buy what they needed to ‘go further’, but when Jayce's face flushed and he fumbled for words, Viktor knew that he was hiding something and, immediately, worry surfaced.
Had Mel broken her promise? Had Jayce discovered something? Had he been careless and left a piece of evidence lying around?
Instead of making progress on his propeller project or refining the list of tools they could build with the Hextech to improve people's lives, Viktor walked in circles around the lab all morning, haunted by the idea that Jayce might abandon him... Or worse...
He could betray you , hissed the voice that had become quieter, he could contact Cassandra Kiramman himself and sell her your project, taking all the credit.
No. No, Jayce wasn't like that. Jayce trusted him and he...
Viktor ran a hand over his face and sighed heavily.
Jayce loved him.
Since when do you blindly believe what Pilties tell you?
Not a Piltie. Not just any Piltie. A man who had recognised his own mistakes and was haunted by his past, who wanted to do everything in his power to create a better world.
A friend who cherished Viktor despite his imperfections.
Viktor sat down in the couch in the corner of the lab. This particular sentence made him hesitate on a regular basis. Every time he'd considered telling Jayce the truth, it was because he'd thought back to his partner's words, to the way he'd told him that he loved him as he was, and that there was beauty in imperfections.
But each time, Viktor had stopped himself, preferring to take Jayce's hand in his own or to kiss him.
He let out a sigh that echoed around the room.
You owe him the truth.
Yes.
Don't ruin this.
Yes.
You have to be honest.
Yes.
Lying saved your life.
Yes.
You don't...
"V, are you down there?"
Viktor almost jumped and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Downstairs."
He heard Jayce's footsteps skipping happily down the stairs and he drew a quiet smile on his bloodless lips: he mustn't worry him, mustn't give him any reason to doubt. And yet, despite the mask he'd been wearing for years, when Jayce arrived at the lab, he widened his eyes and rushed to his side, kneeling in front of him and dropping his bags to cup his face in his hands. "What's wrong? You're as white as a sheet.
- Have you forgotten that's my natural skin tone?"
But his attempt at a humorous diversion didn't work. Jayce looked at him from every angle, eyebrows furrowed. "Does anything hurt? Maybe your leg is...
- I'm fine," Viktor reassured him, placing his hands on his partner's, "don't worry about me, it's just a... a headache."
Jayce remained silent for a moment, as if not convinced by his answer. "Wait here, I'll close the curtains and turn out the light, maybe you'll feel better if you stay in the dark for a bit. Is there anything else I can help you with?
- Jayce.
- Hm?"
Viktor rested his forehead against Jayce's and closed his eyes, savouring his presence, his hands on his cheeks, the warmth radiating from him and the restless tenderness of his movements. He smiled, his most sincere smile of the day. "This makes me feel better already."
Even without seeing him, he could tell that Jayce was smiling and melting in front of him. He could tell by the way his hands adjusted under his, the way his thumbs tenderly caressed his cheekbones and, above all, the way his breath briefly stopped. And even before their lips met, Viktor once again had the certainty that he was exactly where he belonged.
Not in Ionia, not in Piltover or Zaun.
But by Jayce's side.
He sighed, a sound filled with relief and fulfilment, and his heart trembled when his partner whispered. "And how bout that?
- Hm. Much better."
Still kneeling between his legs, Jayce hugged him tenderly, resting his cheek against Viktor's chest and sighing with delight as he let himself be lulled by his heartbeat, and they stayed like that for long seconds, simply in each other's arms, blessing every moment they spent together. Then, almost reluctantly, Viktor broke the silence. "Did you find what you needed in town?
- I did, and I hope you’ll like it.
- You've got me worried, Talis: you were only going to buy lube and condoms, right?"
Faced with Jayce's silence and shy smile, Viktor blinked. "Right?
- Let's just say it was part of my errands for the day, but I was mainly going to finish up and bring you this," Jayce answered mysteriously, handing him a long rectangular box wrapped in gift paper.
Viktor paled slightly. "Should I be worried?
- Why should you?
- Well... Let's just say that while I have nothing against fulfilling some of your fantasies, the size of this... package is cause for concern. Unless it's an outfit," he provoked him gently, "maybe with your colours?"
Jayce rolled his eyes, cheekbones and ears slightly red. "I promise, it's nothing to do with that.
- Ah.
- ...But it is indeed something you'll have to try on and wear.
- Ha! I knew it."
Jayce patted him on his good knee, an amused smile on his lips but a nervous glint in his eye. "Open it. You'll see what it's all about."
Viktor raised an eyebrow, but didn't insist. In truth, he was teasing his partner because, deep down, he didn't know how to react to so much attention, to the gifts his partner had been showering him with - physical gifts as much as gestures and words - and he was unsettled but also ashamed that he couldn't offer him more in return. He'd offered him his heart, of course, and he reminded Jayce of that every day, but he had the feeling that it wasn't enough... And not only because he was still hiding part of the truth from him.
Jayce always said that Viktor had saved his life, that he had given him back the inspiration and the courage to create... But that was nothing compared to what Jayce did for Viktor on a daily basis.
Keeping his thoughts to himself, Viktor slowly opened the package, his throat tightening with an apprehension whose source he didn't fully understand. And when the light from the lab reflected off the polished metal, Viktor froze and his breath caught.
It was a crutch. A high crutch with a slightly mobile foot.
"But you... You didn't show me any plans...
- If I had, it wouldn't have been a surprise."
Mouth agape, Viktor let his gaze go from his partner to the crutch and he brushed it almost shyly with his fingertips. "Jayce, you shouldn't have...
- Do you like it?
- Do I like it? It's beautiful.
- Then I hope you like my other gift.
- What?"
Jayce handed him a second package, not as long but thicker, and Viktor sat still for a few seconds before unwrapping it... And when he discovered the contents of the box, he froze for an eternal second, as if time had stopped.
His eyes misted over and his throat tightened, he stammered in a trembling voice. "Oh... Jayce it's...
- It's just a first prototype," Jayce said gently, "I'll tweak it according to your feedback and I'll keep improving it. That is, if it suits you, of course."
There, in front of him, resting on a red velvet cushion, was a leg brace.
The most beautiful, most elaborate leg brace he had ever seen in his life.
And it was his partner who had forged it for him.
"Jayce, this is... This is too much, I-I don't know how to thank you...
- You don't have to thank me. I was so happy to work on this for you."
Viktor looked up at him, his eyes clouded with emotion, and he breathed out. "Thank you. It's beautiful...
- Really? Do you like it?
- Very much."
Relief relaxed all Jayce's muscles and he sighed, a smile on his lips. "I'm glad. Do you want to try it on?"
Since his voice too hoarse to answer, Viktor nodded and they worked together to remove his makeshift brace. And while he helped him, Jayce explained calmly. "It may not be very practical, you'll have to tell me how it feels, but you have to wedge it directly onto your shoe. You told me you wanted to keep your whole leg in line, so I started with your foot and ankle.
- That's... ingenious.
- As for the rest, it's a classic leg brace, and I was directly inspired by your design. I've also made sure that it's solid, that it stays in place, but also that it's easy to remove," he finished, gently tightening the metal and leather straps around his thigh.
As with every occurrence of Jayce touching him, Viktor felt lightning flash through his leg, but the heat growing inside him wasn't just due to the usual desire.
There was something else, an immeasurable emotion that was trying to drown him...
And when he recognised the hammer and the colours of the House of Talis on the straps, Viktor's heart melted in his chest. He brushed them with his fingertips, stunned, before looking at the crutch and realising that it was also covered in red and gold. Following his gaze, Jayce blushed and let out a slightly hesitant chuckle.
"You weren't entirely wrong: I did put my colours on it. I wanted you to remember me by wearing it and by using the crutch, and... And maybe also to let the world know that you're...
- Yours."
Jayce choked and coughed, his face suddenly flushed crimson.
"No! No, I meant that I wanted everyone to know that you're under my protection."
Faced with his partner's silence, he added. "I would never consider such a thing! You're your own person, and as much as I love you, I'd never dream of saying or thinking that you belong to anyone but you!
- I know you wouldn't. But I wanted to say it because it's true."
Jayce stiffened, mouth agape and face red, and Viktor looked him in the eyes as he whispered.
"I'm yours, Jayce Talis."
He distinctly saw Jayce's eyes fill with emotional tears and their fingers intertwined as Viktor added softly.
"I have no name, no colours for you to wear to prove it to the world, but are you...
- I'm yours," Jayce cut him off with a gasp, a bravely contained sob, "I've been yours since day one."
How could love be so sweet and so painful at the same time? How could Viktor want to laugh and cry at the same time? How could he deserve so much happiness?
"Forever?
- Forever."
Viktor smiled weakly and ran a tender hand over his partner's cheek.
"Miluji tě, lásko..."
A brief silence followed his sentence, a whisper that seemed to have stopped the waves below and time itself, then he repeated in the common tongue.
"I love you."
Jayce's lips parted and two tears immediately rolled down his face as he sobbed.
"Oh... Oh, V, me too. I love you so much."
With one hand still resting on the metal of the leg brace, Jayce leaned forward and kissed him briskly, a kiss that tasted of salt and eternal happiness...
And that was why pushing him away was so painful, as if Viktor were tearing his own heart out.
Jayce's eyes widened in surprise, incomprehension showing on his features, and Viktor inhaled deeply, his chest tightening with anguish.
"Viktor?
- It's because I love you that I owe you the truth. The whole truth."
His partner hesitated, seemed to be searching for words, and Viktor invited him to sit next to him. His throat ached, the voices inside him were fighting, encouraging him and telling him to be quiet at the same time, and he squeezed Jayce's hand in his before asking.
"Can you promise not to interrupt me? To wait until I've finished before reacting?
- V what are you...
- Can you promise me?"
Jayce bit his lip and nodded. "I promise."
Oh, the trust in his eyes... The care in his words... It was so painful, so terrifying to risk losing everything just to be honest with him....
But Mel was right: Jayce was the best of men.
And he deserved the truth.
At least, as both Mel and Elora were in town for the afternoon, there would be no audience if Jayce decided to kick him out.
"I want you to know that this doesn't change the way I feel about you. Whatever you decide to do when I'm done talking, you need to know that I love you and that's the truth. Okay?"
True to his word, Jayce simply nodded, and Viktor took a deep breath.
"I wasn't completely honest with you... I was a year above you at the Academy, but even though we bumped into each other a few times, we... We never actually interacted."
He saw Jayce tense and then hesitate, and Viktor smiled.
"I know you know it too, and that's why you were so uncomfortable when we met at te beach: because you didn't want to hurt my feelings by telling me you didn't know who I was. And if I lied to you, it's because... Because I was sent by Cassandra Kiramman," he admitted in a breath, "because she was worried about whether you were ever coming back. She mistakenly thought that we knew each other and that we'd been close during our studies because apparently, Caitlyn and your mother gave her my name, but I guess she misunderstood."
Viktor refused to turn to his partner: he couldn't keep talking if he saw Jayce's face pale, if he saw his shoulders slump and the soft gleam in his eyes fade.
"She wanted to pay me to convince you to come back with me, and I... I agreed because... because I..."
Gods, why was that so hard to say?!
Viktor closed his eyes and clenched his right fist on his leg.
"I agreed because I wanted to get back at her. Because I'm not a certified scientist. Because I didn't get my Academy degree and I've been surviving for seven years by forging documents and by extorting money from wealthy Piltover families."
Viktor's face was burning, crimson with shame, and he found it harder and harder to breathe.
"I actually agreed to come here because I need the money for my research, to make life better in Zaun, but also because someone must have discovered that the documents I was sending were fake and I was followed home. I needed to disappear and I needed money, and that's why I came here. I didn't particularly want to persuade you to come back, I didn't want to get involved, I just wanted to talk to you once or twice and then use the time I spent here to focus my research... Then I got to know you, and I discovered the most brilliant, gentle and sweetest man there is, and I fell in love with you."
Viktor glanced briefly to his left and when he saw that Jayce's jaws were clenched and his gaze hard, he finished hurriedly.
"I haven't told anyone about our... About your Hextech research, I haven't told anyone about the law Mel and Elora are working on, I haven't even told Cassandra you're no longer dating Mel and she will not learn anything from me. I promise you she doesn't know anything and I only came here for the mon-..."
His voice choked in his throat as he realised with horror how that sentence sounded, how it would give Jayce the impression that Viktor stayed only for the money.
"I mean- to fund my research. I don't care about the money, I don't care about any of that, I just... I just wanted a chance to survive and complete this project. And to do that, since I've been expelled from the Academy before I could graduate and no one will ever agree to fund me, I needed funds."
Noticing Jayce's hardened gaze, Viktor finally turned to him and clasped his partner's hand in his own, not daring to touch him more for fear of scaring him away.
"But that doesn't change anything I've told you, because everything else, everything I've told you about my past and my plans, was true. It doesn't change the fact that even though we'd never spoken before, I got to know you and I love you. I admire you, but I... I'd understand if you didn't want me here any more. I owed you the truth, and it doesn't change the fact that I've always been the real me with you, that my feelings are sincere. But if you ask me to leave, I'll respect your decision. And whatever happens, I promise I'll never tell anyone about Hextech and I'll always love you. Forever."
Viktor fell silent, out of breath, and they remained silent for an eternity before he managed to add.
"Now you know everything. Do you... want to talk about it?"
Eyes downcast, Jayce heaved a long sigh and Viktor swallowed painfully when he received no answer.
"Jay-...
- Why were you expelled from the Academy?"
Jayce's voice wasn't as harsh as Viktor would have expected, but the question paralysed him nonetheless. He searched for words, his breath getting shorter and shorter, and his vision blurred for a moment as he stood once more in the Council chamber, alone as he faced the disdainful gaze of each of the members who were silently judging him. He saw again the mocking smile of Salo and his protégé, the sorry look on Heimerdinger's face as he shamefully looked away, the total lack of interest on Cassandra Kiramman's face... He felt the rain on his face again, the same rain that drenched his work...
Viktor almost jumped when Jayce put his free hand on his back and sought his gaze to whisper in a soft voice. "Breathe with me. Slowly."
Viktor hadn't realised he'd started hyperventilating or that he'd gripped his partner's fingers so hard their knuckles had turned white. With ragged breath, Viktor released his grip on his hand and stammered.
"I told you that I hadn't been allowed to take the entrance exam, yes? That I'd followed almost a full term without being enrolled and that it was Heimerdinger who funded my first year of study?"
Jayce nodded.
"And I also told you that I had been asked to share the results of my analysis of the fissures' air to the Council?"
Jayce nodded again.
"I had to present my research to obtain the post of assistant at the Academy. It was the first draft of my thesis, which I would have liked to develop once I'd become an assistant, and the first term was just coming to an end. I was ahead of schedule, I knew my research was useful and serious, and Heimerdinger had practically promised me the job. He had even told me that Cassandra Kiramman had expressed an interest in sponsoring me. But when I arrived to the meeting... It was no longer a thesis jury but a faculty council standing before me."
Viktor closed his eyes.
"An hour before my interview, another student got the assistant post almost unanimously... Because Councillor Salo, supported by another member of the Council, made a substantial financial donation to get his protégé the post, a fool who had no thesis project and was only there because his family was wealthy, sponsored by Salo, and because he was the heir to a family close to the Kirammans."
He ran a hand through his hair, his heart still beating violently in his chest, even so many years later.
"The reason my interview wasn't cancelled was that the Council now wanted to make a decision about my place as a student at the Academy. To prevent his protégé from having a rival and to avoid the position being taken away from him the following year, Salo had researched me and demanded a Council meeting... My place of birth wasn't enough of an argument to dismiss me, but he found something else."
Jayce tensed beside him and Viktor nodded.
"He told the other members of the Council that I had ‘taken advantage of the system’ and that, as my first year had been funded too late and I hadn't technically passed the entrance exam, the authorities considered that I hadn't validated my very first term. And that since I hadn't respected the Academy's rules, I should therefore be expelled.
- But Heimerdinger...
- Didn't say or do anything. I think he didn't warn me because he found out the same day, but also because the information put forward by the Council put him in an awkward position. Salo made it clear that he wouldn't be accused of showing ‘favouritism’ if he voted in favour of my exclusion. I know Cassandra Kiramman wasn't sponsoring the selected student - she only picks people who are worthy - but her connection with his family was obviously strong enough that she didn't pay attention during the session. Even when I addressed her directly, she didn't look at me, not once, and neither did Heimerdinger. No matter how much I pleaded my case, the sentence was passed unanimously."
"Nobody wants you here."
"I know it was just a pretext, that from the start all the members of the Council have hated a Zaunite being first in his class... But I never imagined they could go so far... And no, I didn't even try to defend myself or take them to court, because I know it would have been pointless. Besides, it would have been playing into Salo's hands: a crippled Zaunite raising his voice and trying to take advantage of the system... It would have given them far too much pleasure... That's why I don't have any patrons, because officially, as I don't have a degree, I'm not a scientist accredited by the Academy... And that's why I've had to find other ways of earning a living. So when Cassandra Kiramman offered me this mission, when I realised that she didn't even remember me and what she'd done, I decided to take advantage of the opportunity to take revenge, just to get as much money as possible and be able to give my project a chance."
Viktor turned back to his partner, his throat dry.
"I'm so sorry I didn't dare to be honest earlier, Jayce. But I promise you that's the whole truth, and it doesn't change the way I feel about you."
The silence dragged on, and as he read the infinite emotions crossing Jayce's face, Viktor realised with icy lucidity that it was all over.
Of course Jayce hated him.
Of course he couldn't trust him now that he knew it was Cassandra Kiramman who had sent him... How could he believe a single word that came out of Viktor's mouth now that he'd admitted to lying about almost everything?
Without trust, love could not survive.
And neither could friendship.
"Jayce, I..."
Viktor hesitated, searched for words, then, realising they were useless, he nodded slowly. It was better to leave now, to turn the page before Jayce's anger exploded, to leave before guilt, grief and loneliness caught up with him.
"Nobody wants you here."
Salo had been right.
For a few days he'd convinced himself it wasn't true, that he was wanted and loved, but he'd been wrong. And this time, he was solely responsible for his misfortune.
Slowly, Viktor tried to stand up, mentally praying that he would at least be able to leave with the brace or crutch he had just received as keepsakes, but Jayce stopped him with a question and a hand around his wrist.
"Where are you going?
- Don't worry, I understand your anger and disappointment. I'll leave tonight and...
- Why would you want to leave?"
Unsettled, Viktor looked at his partner with round eyes, fighting back the sobs of pain and rage that were burning the back of his throat.
"Because... Because I lied to you. Because even though I love you, I don't deserve you. Because I promised I wouldn't hurt you and I failed."
Jayce let out a small sigh but invited Viktor to sit back down directly on his lap.
"You know, I'm not as naive as I look. I used to be much more gullible, but since I've moved up the ladder at Piltover I've learned to be wary of people who can't be trusted. I can tell when someone is lying to me."
Viktor couldn't breathe.
"As soon as you introduced yourself, I knew you were lying."
The air no longer reached his lungs.
"From the moment you called me by my name and smiled to me, I knew you'd been sent by someone to convince me to come home or to find out more about my plans. And I knew it had to be Mrs. Kiramman."
He was drowning.
"You knew?
- From the first breath you took.
- And you still... you still chose to welcome me into your home? To forge me a brace? To tell me that you..."
To tell me that you loved me.
The words caught in Viktor's throat as he realised how blind he'd been.
He'd been fooled, like a fool of the first order.
He'd only distrusted Mel and Elora, never for a second fearing Jayce's reaction. He'd let himself be persuaded by his smile and his little attentions and he'd refused to imagine that Jayce could be playing him. Except that, from the start, he had been the more naive of the two.
And he was the one the whole world had been laughing at.
Oh, how blind he had been... Blinded by his ridiculous and biological need to be understood, blinded by his desire to no longer be alone... And he had forgotten to be wary of all Pilties, even the smiling ones.
Especially the smiling ones.
Hurt and humiliated, Viktor looked away, his heart racing, and he felt a violent nausea send shivers down his spine.
"In that case, I suppose it was only fair of you...
- What do you mean?
- It was only fair to mock me... To make me think I'd managed to seduce you."
Jayce blinked, frowned and calmly turned Viktor's face to his. And when he saw his eyes shining with tears, disappointment and fury, he breathed out.
"Viktor, I...
- It's fine, Jayce. Well played, really.
- V."
The nickname was like a slap in the face, a bucket of acid poured straight into his chest. Almost folding in two under the pain, Viktor closed his eyes and pulled away.
"No. Just... stop. Don't call me that any more. The masks are off, you've won, there's no need to add to it. Now, please, just let me leave with what little dignity I have left.
- I didn't mock you. I never did."
Jayce leaned in slightly to seek his gaze, and as Viktor bit his bottom lip until it bled, he took his hands in his.
"Don't you want to know how I knew you were lying?
- No Jayce, I just want to leave.
- Do you really want that? Please, Viktor just let me tell you how-...
- Fine, you really want me to guess? Want me to say it out loud to humiliate myself even more than I already did? You knew I was lying because you didn't even know I existed and on top of everything else you've never been around a crippled Zaunite.
- It's because I've always admired you."
Viktor was stunned into silence and glanced at Jayce, his lip stained with blood. Eyes shining, his partner nodded.
"From the moment I stepped foot at the Academy, I've always tried to catch your eye, to reach your level. I admired you from day one and even though I was too impressed and shy to be more direct, I always hoped you'd notice me. That's why I played along when you got here, because I wanted to finally seize this opportunity to get closer to you and....
- Stop it."
A wounded glint flooded Viktor's amber eyes and he hissed. "I told you: you've won. You don't need to be so cruel about it.
- It's the truth! I signed up for the same courses as you to walk in your footsteps, I followed the more advanced labs so I could observe you and hope to have the chance to talk to you or work with you! But I never... I never dared, and I blamed myself all that time!
- Please, stop...
- You know how in the fourth year the teachers offer us the opportunity to meet with students from the year above to get advice for the thesis? I wanted to..."
Jayce looked down for a moment, his fists clenched. "I swore to myself that I'd talk to you this time. I filled in the paper, putting only your name on the list of students I wanted to ask for advice. But on the day of the interviews... you didn't show up. And I never saw you again."
Viktor swallowed hard. He remembered those meetings organized by the Academy. He remembered not listing any names at the time and never expecting to receive a request from anyone. But he never received confirmation, since the day the meetings took place, he had already been expelled from the Academy.
Maybe Jaye's request had been placed in his locker the day he left.
"I didn't know what happened to you, I just thought you didn't want to talk to me," Jayce continued, his voice becoming increasingly hoarse. "I thought I wasn't worthy of your attention, that I wasn't up to your level yet. I was so devastated that it took me a week to realize you were gone. I asked the teachers, I even asked Heimerdinger, but no one could tell me anything, and I knew the rumours that you'd dropped out were just completely impossible.
- You... You noticed?"
Noticing his existence was one thing, and it wasn't entirely impossible, being the only Zaunite in the Academy, the only one who had to rely on a cane, and the only one with an accent.
Noticnig his disappearance, on the other hand, was another matter.
And the idea that Jayce Talis might have secretly admired him before noticing his absence seemed impossible.
Jayce's eyes softened, and he cautiously touched Viktor's cheek.
"How could I not notice you? How could I not notice your absence when your presence brightened my every day?"
Viktor distinctly felt tears welling up, emotion trying to choke him, and he bit his lip again. "You're lying.
- Not to you. Never to you. You can ask Mel and Elora: they know that whenever I mentioned the Academy, I was talking about you."
And it was then, at that moment, that Viktor thought Jayce might not be lying. Breathless, he stammered.
"So... When your mother and Caitlyn Kiramman said I was your friend...
- It's because your were all I could think of throughout my Academy years. And even after.
- So... They weren't mistaken?
- They weren’t.
- A-and that drawing in your notebook? That sketch of me? Was it from your Academy years too?"
Jayce blushed, as if the admission that he'd been thinking about Viktor all through his studies was nothing compared to that sketch in his notes.
"Oh... You saw it?
- It was hard to miss it since you gave me full access to your notes. I thought... I thought it was a recent drawing, but... But it's older, right?"
His partner nodded slowly, sheepishly. "I drew that when I started freshman year, when I saw you again in the halls the first week.
- Again? But we never spoke before Ionia, you said so yourself."
A small, emotional, almost fragile smile made Jayce's lips tremble. "You really don't remember, then?
- Remember what?
- We didn't speak at the Academy... But we met long before our studies."
Jayce slipped a hand into his pocket and pulled out a white handkerchief, clean but worn by time. Seeing the embroidered pattern on one corner, Viktor thought he might faint.
Eyes wide as saucers, a vice tightening around his chest, he slowly took the handkerchief with a trembling hand and gasped.
"This is... my mother's handkerchief? How did you...
- You gave it to me when I was ten, remember? You wiped the blood off my face and told me to keep it."
Jayce's voice was growing distant, muffled by the irregular beating of Viktor’s heart.
Viktor could see nothing but his mother's handkerchief.
The handkerchief, the leather bracelet adorned with a blue stone...
And the scar on his partner's eyebrow.
"Oh, Jayce..."
Viktor brushed his fingertips over Jayce's wound, his lips parted, and when he spoke again, his voice was filled with tears.
"It was you..."
Jayce smiled at him, a smile of pure relief, and the memory washed over Viktor like a tidal wave.
Notes:
It's done guys! He did it!!
I must confess that when I first thought of this story, I was initially going for a much more dramatic scenario where the betrayal would have hurt Jayce so much that he would have pushed Viktor away and they would have distanced themselves... But the more I read this part of the plot, the more I found that it clashed with the image I wanted to give of Jayce, a man who loves unconditionally despite the mistakes of others or what they perceive as 'imperfections'. So I changed my plans so that Viktor's honesty would be rewarded (while still keeping a hint of drama, yum) :') I hope you liked it <3
And as many of you suspected at first, contrary to Viktor's certainties, they had already met! In the end, the "great pretender" might just be Jayce himself... Viktor thought he was pulling Jayce's leg, but it was actually quite the opposite since Jayce deliberately chose to play the role Viktor assigned him. But why would he do that?
I'll see you next week for more answers and a little trip "back in time" :D
Feel free to let me know your thoughts and to come and chat on Twitter
and Bluesky !
Chapter 10
Summary:
Twenty years ago, a chance encounter influenced the fate of two children... But can love and dreams survive in hardship? And can they bring hope back to life in Viktor's heart after a lifetime of solitude?
Notes:
Hi everyone!
I hope you had a great week and that you're all doing well! :D I'm back with a flashback chapter focusing on baby jayvik, I hope you'll like it <3
Thank you again so much for your amazing support, each comment and kudo make me so incredibly happy! You're the best and I love you all! <3
Enjoy! :D
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Things were definitely not fair.
This was Viktor's first visit to Piltover, the first time he had witnessed the radical difference between topside and the Undercity, and once again, the injustice of the world hit him hard.
At eleven, Viktor had already drawn this painful conclusion several years ago, and this impression was confirmed once again by this exceptional outing to Piltover. He hardly ever left Zaun, hardly ever went far from his neighbourhood and, when he did, it was only to isolate himself on the edge of the thin stream that flowed from what he liked to call the ‘artificial lake’. Usually, children from his neighbourhood and the surrounding fissures spent their summers here, diving into this pool of water made up of Piltover's sewage, but Viktor had quickly realised that in view of his fragile body - but also for obvious health reasons - it was better to avoid taking part in this kind of festivity.
For his reputation, Viktor would have liked to say that he had always been a loner, but that wasn't quite true. When he was about six or seven, he had tried to mix with the other children, had tried to overcome his doubts and get closer to a small group... He had handed them the spinning top he had just made, like an offering to join their group, but they had only taken one look at him before they decided to reject him. The less belligerent ones had simply turned away with mocking snorts, and the more impulsive ones had laughed before shoving him, beating him up and breaking his first cane, the one his father had made with his own hands.
With a black eye, a bleeding lip, cheeks darkened by dust, his face and body covered in bruises, Viktor had hobbled home, clutching the pieces of his cane to his heart. Even though he had only sobbed for a few minutes, curled up in a ball in the dirt, he had sworn to himself that it would be the last time he would give in to the call of tears... But also the last time he would try to make friends with anyone.
Viktor had lied when his father had held him at arm's length, his face drawn with worry and his eyes scanning his wounds. "What happened to you?
- I fell.
- And your cane?
- I broke it."
A sob had shaken his shoulders as he had lied, thinking of the hours his father had spent on this present despite his exhaustion when he came home from the mine in the middle of the night, and one last tear had rolled down his cheek. His father hadn't insisted, just giving him a hug and promising to make him a new, stronger cane soon.
His mother, on the other hand, had always been more direct.
"Don't worry about those idiots, myšáček" she had sighed as she had bandaged his wounds, "you're leagues away from them and they don't deserve you. People can be cruel, but I assure you that you will find friends worthy of you. Don't give up, okay?"
Viktor had nodded but he had silently thought that it was the other way round... That all the other children were leagues away from him. They were all running, jumping or diving, and he could barely walk without tripping... He would never be able to keep up, he had understood that quicly, and that lesson was indelibly engraved in his mind. As if she had read his mind, his mother had ran her hand through his hair and had handed him her handkerchief, the one she had embroidered herself when she married his father. "I'm sorry that the world works like this, sweetheart. I'd like to tell you that it will get easier with time, but you'll always come across fools, even when you're grown up...
- I'd like to change the rules" Viktor had sniffed, "I'd like things to be different and for everyone to have a chance, even people like me."
His mother had smiled, a mischievous little smile that had put a little balm on his heart."The future depends on you . You are the master of your own destiny. When you’re going to change the world, don't ask for permission."
But no matter how much his mother always tried to cheer him up, Viktor had learned that things weren't fair.
And this was confirmed years later when he met Singed, when the exiled scientist opened the doors of his world to him and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Loneliness is often the by-product of a gifted mind. But we can be loners together, hm?"
The man intrigued Viktor. At first, he had aroused his concern and mistrust, but in the blink of an eye, Singed's peaceful tone, his amazing knowledge and the way he had reached out to him despite Viktor's difference had awaken his fascination and admiration.
They weren't really close, and he knew he couldn't say Singed was his ‘friend’, but he was a scientist, a former researcher at the Academy, the closest thing he had to a genius and a soul similar to his own. He was the only person, apart from his parents, who accepted him.
So, for the past few months, Viktor had been spending his days in the cave that Singed was gradually building up. He ‘played’ with Rio, assisted the man he considered his mentor in his research, literally drank in his words and solved the sheets of mathematical exercises and equations that he handed him with a smile... And from time to time, when Viktor had made enough progress, he presented his mentor with one or other prototype and received advice and encouragement. Singed was a man of few words, and that was also one of the reasons why Viktor enjoyed the time they spent together. Every word was thoughtful and useful, and no breath was wasted in futile or embarrassing discussion. They talked about science, about their research, and that was the only thing they talked about. So, when his mentor looked at his pages of exercises, his calculations on the blackboard or his inventions, when he rubbed his chin with his skeletal fingertips and then smiled at him, Viktor felt satisfaction and pride grow in his chest.
Sometimes, when Singed was too busy to leave his lab, he'd send Viktor to run a few errands for him - which made him feel not only useful but important. So when his mentor asked him that very morning to go to Piltover to collect the flowers that Rio was feeding on, Viktor didn't hesitate before agreeing.
He had never crossed the bridge separating the two cities before and had never really thought of doing so until he met Singed. After all, he was the one who had told Viktor about the Academy, the one who had told him that he was bright enough to have a chance...
So he crossed the border, both artificial and natural, and wandered around Piltover, his eyes raised to the shining rooftops, his nose assailed by smells all the more enticing than the others, and above all, his lips parted at the inventions that populated this ‘topside’ world. He was stunned by the horse-drawn carriages that raised clouds of dust, amazed by the airships that seemed to cover the sky like artificial clouds... And if he hadn't had a mission, he would have spent hours marvelling at everything around him.
When I grow up , he swore to himself, I'll study here.
Because if he was going to change the world, he knew he had to be in Piltover, in the very heart of the city of progress.
Chasing his dreams away for a moment, Viktor analysed the paper Singed had given him and frowned, wondering once again how he was going to find the address he was looking for. So far, following the directions had been enough, but perhaps his mentor had been wrong – or maybe the city had changed since Singed's banishment. No matter how scrupulously he followed each instruction, he found himself at a crossroads that didn't appear on the little map he was holding between two fingers. He didn't think for a second about asking for directions: he'd seen how people looked at him here, some even wincing when they laid eyes on him. If he had to be suspicious in Zaun, he knew that suspicion was also a way to survive in Piltover. The violence was different, according to what his mentor had told him, less direct, less visible, but still perceptible and painful.
So he preferred to be all the more cautious and had sworn to himself to keep his distance, to move with the shadows and stay close to the walls to avoid being pushed around.
Viktor pursed his lips and tucked the paper away in his pocket, looking up for a sign or a panel that would miraculously show him where to go. He walked slowly, cautiously, leaning on his cane to lighten the weight on his right leg, and as he passed a dark alleyway, a noise made him jump... Then stop.
Unlike what he was used to in Zaun, it wasn't a scream or a sound of a struggle nor even a fall. Because if it had been, he would have lowered his head and quickened his pace.
It was a sob.
A muffled sob rising from a small figure huddled on the ground.
Viktor hesitated, looking towards the city and its bustle, searching for an adult's for the first time in the hope of pointing out the alleyway to them, but they all did their best to look away, not to see him.
"Ah... Excuse me..."
Gathering his courage, he pretended to approach a woman wearing a colourful dress, but she took a step to the side and huffed, "Sorry, I don't have anything for you."
For a second, Viktor didn't understand what she was talking about.
It was only when she moved away and he met the gaze of another sheepish passer-by that he realised they thought he was begging them for money.
Viktor's face flushed with fury and shame, and he turned resolutely away from the sunny street and into the alley.
I don't need them. I don't need anyone.
He walked slowly, his eyes squinting to get used to the sudden darkness, and when he stopped in front of the sobbing figure, he realised that it was a boy who must have been a year or two younger than him. The child had curled up and buried his face in his arms, clutching a piece of blue cloth, and Viktor stood for a moment completely helpless in the face of his obvious grief.
After the age of eight, you didn't cry in Zaun.
Not even hidden in an alley.
Not even in your parents' arms.
Even when you'd been beaten up and your most precious possession had been broken.
It was too much of a sign of weakness, too much of a risk, a luxury you couldn't afford without drawing a target on your back.
Uneasy, Viktor almost turned back to leave the boy in the alley and simply mind his own business. But when a bluish glint drew his gaze downwards, when he saw his grazed hands, something vibrated in his chest.
This boy was smaller than he was, and more importantly, he was a Piltie.
Viktor could stand up to him and he could defend himself if necessary.
So he cleared his throat and touched the boy's foot with the tip of his cane. "Hey."
The boy jumped violently and closed his arms over his head, cowering even more. And his voice was full of tears and pain as he sobbed. "No! Stop, leave me alone!"
He clutched at the piece of cloth he was hugging, as if he wanted to use it to protect himself but also to prevent it being taken away, and it was only then, from this angle, that Viktor realised it was a torn hat.
A pointed hat with stars on it.
What the hell?
Tilting his head slightly to one side, Viktor frowned. "You shouldn't stay on the ground. It's harder to defend yourself."
The boy froze, then slowly, cautiously, an eye appeared behind the magician's hat, a hazel eye reddened and swollen with tears. "Uh?
- It's easier to fight back when you're standing up.
- But I..." A sob shook his shoulders as he croaked. "I don't want to fight anyone."
Viktor twitched and stood speechless for a moment.
Sorry?
"The world isn't fair," he explained firmly, "it's hit or be hit. There's no point crying, it won't save you."
After remaining motionless for a long time, the boy slowly sat up, his hat still acting as a torn shield between him and the world. Then, timidly, he lowered the torn piece of cloth and Viktor took a step backwards, cursing under his breath.
The whole right side of the boy's face was soaked with fresh blood. Seeing him sniffle painfully and more tears rolling down his round cheeks, Viktor fought back the instinct that was telling him to stay away, not to get involved.
He put down his cane and sat down as gently as he could opposite the boy. There was no point in asking him what had happened, he was clever enough to understand that other children were responsible... But to have his eyebrow cracked... He hadn't expected Pilties to be capable of physical violence, not after what Singed had told him!
Viktor took out his mother's handkerchief, hesitated for a long second, then placed a gentle yet firm hand on the boy's chin to hold him still. "Don't move."
The injured child stiffened between Viktor's fingers, but he obeyed. He hissed in pain as the handkerchief brushed and dabbed at his split eyebrow and the tears redoubled in intensity, but he didn't move. He was breathing hard, struggling not to sob any more, and he was clutching his torn hat so tightly that his knuckles were turning livid.
"Look at me."
The boy bit his lip and fixed his hazel eyes on his, his chest shaking with irregular breathing, and Viktor smiled reassuringly. "Good. You're very brave."
Relief crossed the wounded boy's eyes as he hiccupped briefly, his shoulders shaking with each breath, and let out a strangled ‘hm hm’. Viktor nodded in silent praise, and continued, gently. "What's that?
- Hm?
- That hat. Is it a magician's hat?"
He already knew the answer, of course, but he needed the boy to be distracted, to think about something else while he cleaned his face as best he could. The Piltie nodded slowly, trying to catch his breath.
"Did you make it yourself?"
In front of him, the child's lips trembled on a whispered reply. "M-my mamá ... My mamá made it for me.
- She's very talented. It's beautiful.
- But it's... (New sob.) It's all torn now."
Kind of like your eyebrow...
"I'm sure she'll be able to repair it. All it needs is a few stitches and it'll be as good as new."
...Kind of like your eyebrow.
Viktor kept his medical thoughts to himself, preferring to avoid panicking the boy. He gently wiped his cheek, grimacing at the state of his mother's handkerchief. He'd learned his lesson since his first cane was broken: there was no point in placing emotional value on objects, but seeing it reddened with blood was still uncomfortable. And strangely enough, he wasn't sure the boy was ready for that lesson. So he preferred to spare him as much as possible.
"Do you like magicians?"
The injured boy nodded and Viktor let out a low ‘tsk’ as he tightened his grip on the child's chin. "Don't move.
- Sorry...
- So you like magicians.
- Hm hm.
- Is that why the others hit you?"
A tear rolled down the boy's cheek as he nodded. "They said... They said only babies liked magicians..."
Viktor mumbled under his breath, trying to remember his mother's words when she had dressed his wounds years before. "They're far too stupid for you and they don't deserve you.
- I just wanted to play with them...
- You don't need them. Better alone than in bad company.
- Really?
- Definitely."
Viktor wasn't going to tell the boy that, in, Zaun, had he spoken of his admiration for magicians in front of other children at his respectable age, he would've been more than beaten up... But there was no need to break his heart any more...
"I just wanted to play with them and show them my drawing. But they wanted to tear it apart too.
- I'm telling you they're idiots and they don't deserve you. Don't listen to them."
Viktor wiped the last traces of blood from the boy's face and examined him for a few seconds before releasing him. "There, that's better already." He nevertheless pressed the handkerchief against the wound and invited the boy to hold it there. "Press it here a little. That's it, just like that. Leave it there until you get home, okay?
- Okay.
- That's a good boy. You were very brave and very strong.
- As brave as a hero magician?"
Viktor smiled. "Even braver than a hero magician."
Wonder flooded the boy's face and he gave him a beaming smile. "I want to be a hero when I grow up.
- Do you now?
- Yeah. I'm going to protect people from bad guys and I'm going to have a cape and I'm going to use magic to save everyone. Look!"
He feverishly pulled a crumpled but otherwise intact piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to him. Viktor hesitated, then sat down beside the child and gently took the piece of paper... And he couldn't help but smile. "You drew this?
- Yes! Look, that's me," the child explained, pointing to the drawing, "and that's my magic hammer.
- A ‘magic hammer’?
- Yes, because my dad used to make great tools with his hammer, so I want to make one too. It'll even shoot out rays of light!"
Viktor nodded, letting the boy explain every detail of his drawing, and absent-mindedly ran his finger over the coloured lines, over the triumphant smile of the hero on the page.
He was astonished that a child not much younger than he still thought like that. The boy should have been thinking about more serious things, calculating the family budget and estimating which meals he could skip without starving. His shoulders should have been lowered and his eyes dulled by the reality of life... And instead, despite his face stained with dried blood, despite the bruises that must cover his body and the torn hat he clutched to his heart, his eyes continued to shine with hope and dreams.
And this moved Viktor as much as it surprised him, awakening in him a strange feeling of envy, like a hint of jealousy at not having been able to live in the same innocence.
Things were definitely not fair.
If Viktor had been born in Piltover rather than Zaun, he could have continued to dream, continued to believe that the world could be good, continued to be a child rather than having to grow up too fast and too soon to survive...
But still... Still, even in Piltover, people with dreams were getting beaten up.
So Viktor let the bitterness slowly fade away as he breathed out. "That's a very nice drawing.
- Do you draw too?
- Eh… Not in this style, but yes, in a sense, I guess I do.
- Do you have one with you?"
At home, Viktor never took the risk of showing one of his drawings for fear of seeing it torn to pieces. At home, he only showed his creations to Singed and his parents. It was a survival reflex, as ingrained in him as the pain in his leg.
And yet his body was acting before he was even aware of it.
Viktor slipped a hand into his pocket and found there the blueprint of the tinboat he had built himself a few months before... The one he was most proud of and sometimes still dreamt about, letting himself be carried away by the ship he had made with his own hands.
"Wow ! Did you draw that?!"
The boy leaned forward in wonder, but even though he held out his free hand, he didn't allow himself to take the blueprint in his hand, which strangely moved Viktor, who nodded in silent assent. "You can hold it if you like."
With gestures of reverence and caution, the wounded boy gently took hold of the paper and his eyes scanned the sheet, moving up and down and from right to left with impressive speed. Then he began to mutter inaudible and unintelligible words before huffing and pointing at a gear. "Do you think you can run it on water power?
- For a full-size model, that would have been ideal, but here it was more a means of training for later. (Viktor hesitated for a second before shrugging.) A bit like a toy.
- So you were thinking of using a spanner to reassemble the mechanism?
- Yes, exactly.
- Oh yes, that explains the opening in the cabin, away from the water. And you're going to forge the parts yourself so that the systems are identical for both paddle wheels?
- I've already built it this way, but it wasn't easy because the metal was fragile."
The boy nodded. "That's brilliant! It really is a miniature reciprocating engine!
- You know what a reciprocating engine is?
- Of course! (The child pointed to the relevant parts.) But I think it should be called a connecting rod engine, because it's thanks to them that the reciprocating motion is transformed into rotary motion."
Viktor gave him a surprised look, both amused and slightly worried. "Did you learn that at school?"
Gods, if every Piltie under the age of eleven already knew that, maybe he wasn't as bright as he thought! Maybe he was even already falling behind because of the lack of educational opportunities in Zaun!
But the boy smiled proudly and immediately reassured him. "I taught myself from a book. The others say it's dumb, but I think they just don't get it, otherwise they'd think it's cool too."
Viktor breathed a sigh of relief and put the blueprint away in his pocket: well, his honour was safe, he obviously wasn't - too - far behind the other children his age who had benefited from a conventional education. "Like I said, they don't deserve you.
- Are people mean to you too?"
Viktor stiffened and clenched his jaws, and his silence served as an answer to the boy who continued gently. "Is it because of that too? Because they don't understand what you create?
- Maybe. But that's not the only reason.
- Why then?"
Viktor shrugged and pointed to his right leg with a shake of his head. "Because I'm different. And because they think I'm weak."
The boy followed his gaze and inhaled briefly, as if he hadn't noticed the angle of his ankle and knee until now.
Ha... So that was the moment he was going to turn away from him, push him away with a laugh or insult him. It was fine. Viktor was used to it. He knew it would happen eventually.
But the boy didn't laugh. He passed his hand over Viktor's knee, without touching it, and he whispered, his lip trembling. "Did you hurt yourself?
- You could say that." Viktor shrugged, his lips pursed, and when the boy silently questioned him with his eyes, at first he thought he didn't want to answer. Then, faced with the pain and empathy in his gaze, he added slowly. "I was born with it.
- Oh... I see.
- That's what you wanted to know, isn't it?
- Actually, I wanted to know if it was because of some bad guys... And if you wanted me to kiss it better."
They stared into each other's eyes, innocence versus disbelief, then Viktor smiled and gently pushed him away. "Out of the question. Keep your dirty mouth away from me.
- But my mamá always kisses my wounds better!
- Magic kisses can't do anything for me.
- I like them. It always helps me feel less sad.
- Is this your way of telling me you're waiting for me to kiss your wound better?"
The boy's face lit up as he straightened up and leaned towards Viktor briskly, with barely contained enthusiasm. "You would?
- Not even in your wildest dream," Viktor chuckled as he shifted.
- Come ooooooooon! Please!
- I don't want your blood on my face."
They were both laughing now, shoving and bickering nicely. "Please! That's what friends do!"
Something knotted in Viktor's stomach, a knot that took his breath away and stiffened all his muscles, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. There was just him, him and the hazel eyes of the boy who was gently clasping his hand in his own and smiling at him with a staggering sincerity.
Viktor's throat tightened and he felt emotion burning his eyes, but he banished it with a flutter of his eyelashes. When he answered, his voice was lower and husky. "You're getting ahead of yourself...
- Why?
- Because we don't know each other."
The boy blinked, as if that were obvious. "But you're nice to me and we like creating stuff. That's enough for us to be friends, right?"
The knot grew, blocking the air that no longer reached Viktor's lungs, and he was unable to answer. He just nodded, his lips pursed to stop them trembling and his eyes lowered so that the boy couldn't see the tears of emotion shining through them. Finally, Viktor resigned himself to kissing his own fingertips and placing them on the handkerchief that still adorned the wounded eyebrow of the boy. "Here, this is the closest from a magic kiss you'll get.
- Oh thank you!" The boy's gaze suddenly became incredibly serious and he squeezed Viktor's hand a little tighter in his own. "That's why I want to be a hero," he explained, "because I want to protect everyone from the bad guys. When I grow up, I'll protect you too!"
Viktor held back a small laugh that could have been misinterpreted and hurt his... friend's confidence, and simply nodded. "I'll be counting on you."
They exchanged a knowing smile and then, as quickly as it had grown, the child's euphoria seemed to disappear and he curled up again, deflating like a balloon, and Viktor asked. "What's the matter? You don't believe me?
- No, it's just..." The boy rubbed his nose with the back of his hand and sniffed. "It's just that other people say it's impossible.
- To become a hero? No, I think it's possible. There are just different kinds of heroes. Me, for example, I want to change the world with my inventions, that's a bit like being a hero, isn't it? So it could be the same for you." He pointed a finger at the boy's chest. "You can become a hero by creating inventions that protect people.
- Like the magic hammer?
- Like the magic hammer."
The boy looked down for a moment and bit his lip. "But no one thinks it can be done."
Viktor slipped a finger under the child's chin and their gaze met. "When you're going to change the world, don't ask for permission. And don't wait for other people's approval. Don't even pay attention to them. Even when they make remarks and tell you that it's impossible or that what you're doing isn't good enough, you have to keep working at it and never give up, that's all that matters."
The boy's eyes filled with both tears and hope, then his lower lip trembled. "Does it hurt less with time?
- What are you talking about?
- People being mean to us. Does it hurt less with time?"
Viktor grimaced. "Eh... Yes and no. You just get used to it. You have to know that you'll still come across people who will be unpleasant, mean even, but you mustn't mind them. You just have to keep moving forward, okay? I for one can't wait to see what you'll come up with." He added with a mischievous smile. "Maybe we'll work together one day, when we've both become inventors or scientists. Hm? What do you think? Would you like that?"
The child smiled weakly before leaning forward and wrapping his arms around Viktor, hugging him tightly and burying his face in his t-shirt with a sob. "Thank you..."
For a few seconds, Viktor remained totally paralysed, all his muscles tense, waiting for a blow that would eventually fall... But as the boy was content to curl up against him, slowly, he lowered his arms and closed them over the child's shoulders. "I... You're welcome."
He knew that in Zaun, all these signs of weakness would have cost him dearly. But not with this boy, who also seemed to dream of a better world where he would be accepted for who he really was.
They stayed like that for a few minutes before Viktor's hip started to get really painful, and in an instant, the bubble of peace burst, bringing him back to reality. He slowly pulled himself up, cautiously with the help of the boy. The child pretended to give him back the handkerchief but, despite the guilt that gripped his heart, Viktor shook his head and gently pushed it away. "Keep it. You can give it back to me when we graduate from the Academy and work together.
- Will we see each other again then?"
W e won't.
But Viktor couldn't be that honest. He couldn't break the boy's heart after taking the time to rebuild it, piece by piece. And maybe he didn't want to close that door either. Maybe he also wanted to nurture the foolish hope that one day he would be able to study at the Academy, that one day he would be a scientist who would change the world alongside someone who shared his values.
So Viktor smiled and lied. "Of course we will."
The boy returned his smile, much more radiant and naive, and his credulity broke Viktor's heart slightly. "Come on now, hurry back home before your wound starts bleeding again.
- All right!"
The boy trotted off, clutching his torn hat to his chest, but just before he stepped into the light, he turned around. "You know, for your next boat, you could build it a propeller. Maybe we could build it together?"
Viktor looked at him for a long moment before smiling. "I'd like that."
He thought he saw the boy smile but, in the darkness, he wasn't sure.
And in the blink of an eye, the closest thing Viktor had had to a friend disappeared forever from his life, taking with him his mother's handkerchief and the dream that one day they might meet again.
***
Viktor had never forgotten that encounter, the effect it had had on him, the feeling of being understood and appreciated unconditionally. But as time passed, the boy's bloody features faded and with them the hope of creating a better world.
Hope rarely survived in Zaun.
Viktor stopped going to Singed's lab a few days later, horrified by the fate his mentor had in store for Rio and hurt by the cruelty of the man he admired more than anything and who had been his only friend for a few months. Viktor was left alone again. He isolated himself more and more, learning to enjoy his own company and above all that of his thoughts, which he shut himself away to when he realised that his body could never bridge the distance that was widening daily with his mind.
He studied hard, solved pages and pages of increasingly complex and lengthy equations, drew thousands of diagrams and built hundreds of prototypes, each more advanced than the last. He learned everything there was to know about chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics, astrophysics, mechanics, aerodynamics and thermodynamics... When his mother succumbed to the illness that was eating away at her, she made him swear not to give up his dream, and he clung to his mind, his brain, and gave up hope to feed solely on determination and resentment against the world. And a few years later, when his father died in a mine accident, he immersed himself even more in his studies and preparations.
When Viktor arrived at the Academy, dressed in a uniform that his parents had saved all their lives for, and attended his first classes with the threat of expulsion hanging over his head like a sword of Damocles, he had not forgotten that one day someone from Piltover had spoken to him as an equal and had appreciated his presence. His mind was occupied by his struggles, by the desire to prove himself and by a mantra that had been with him all his life.
He couldn't trust anyone: that was the lesson he had learned, the one that had enabled him to survive. He couldn't show weakness and try to attach himself to another person or he would pay a high price. He had to stay focused on his dream, on his goal, and he had to survive.
That was all that mattered, all that occupied his thoughts.
And as all he could think about was his goal, the memory gradually faded, becoming more and more blurred with each betrayal and with each disappointment, leaving in Viktor's heart only the embers of a blessed moment when he had no longer been alone.
Until the day he was expelled, when all hope was extinguished for good.
Not even in Piltover could hope survive.
On that day, the memory of magic faded with the child's face, until it became a vague utopia in black and white, drowned by the rain along with his dreams on the steps of the Academy. And all that remained in his memory was a bluish glow and promises of magic and protection.
Notes:
* myšáček : little mouse (affectionate term of endearment for a child in Czech)
--
I hope you liked this flashback chapter! Writing it was both heartbreaking and heartwarming, quite an emotional ride I must say ;-; Poor babies, they really deserve the world TToTT Also, I looked for various online source for the Czech translation of "myšáček" so feel free to reach out if I made a mistake of some kind :)
I also wanted to show how when in survival mode, you only have a sort of tunnel vision and you only focus on what is necessary to survive and forget some details. Poor Viktor couldn't have remembered their whole interaction since he had been struggling to achieve his goal for so many years now ;-;
I'll see you next week with chapter 11! We'll be back to the present time and we'll see how Viktor reacts! Oh and brace yourself for some more... "action" :3c
See you soon!
Chapter 11
Summary:
Now that the whole truth has been revealed, both Viktor and Jayce are free to love each other without guilt or fear... And they won't waste another second making up for lost time.
Notes:
Hi everyone !
I hope you had a nice week and that you're all doing well :D I'm back with chapter eleven and after two chapters of feels and drama, we're all rewarded with some fluff... and smut. Featuring the one and only : The Lab Couch TM. It's really in all timelines and in all possibilities !
Thank you so much for the incredible support I keep receiving, I'm so happy you like this story! I love you all <3
Enjoy !
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
"It was you," Viktor whispered, "it's always been you..."
Straddling Jayce's tighs, legs comfortably propped up against the couch, Viktor watched his partner with a stunned gaze. Jayce was still smiling and his hands were drawing tender, reassuring circles on the small of Viktor's back.
"I've never forgotten that conversation. I hung on your every word for years and kept going even when I doubted, just like you told me to. I always hoped I'd see you again, I went back to that alley hundreds of times in the hope of finding you, but I soon suspected that we wouldn't be seeing each other for a long time. So I studied and worked to join the Academy, because I wanted to, but also because I was sure I'd find you there. Because I was sure we had to meet again."
Viktor swallowed hard as Jayce kissed his knuckles before finishing in a whisper. "And you were there. Just like you had promised me you would. And it was then that I fell in love with you.
- Jayce I'm so sorry... If I'd known, I would have...
- You don't have to explain anything. I changed in seven years, and I kind of hope I am very different from the boy you helped."
Viktor let out a strangled chuckle. "Had you worn a magician's hat during your studies, I might've recognised you sooner.
- Right?
- But... how did you recognise me?"
Immediately, he cursed himself for asking the question because he knew he wouldn't like the answer and because he knew that it would embarrass Jayce.
Of course it was because of his leg and his cane... Or because of his accent and his place of birth... Of course Jayce had remembered things that were so obvious and so-...
Jayce stroked Viktor's right cheekbone with his fingertips and, with his other hand, he brushed the top of his lip. "Because of your eyes. And because you had the same moles."
A wave of emotion crushed Viktor under its weight, and those few words, that answer, overwhelmed him so much that it knocked the air out of his lungs. His chest compressed in a vice of affection and gratitude, he searched for words, inhaled weakly when the air didn't reach his lungs, and when he finally managed to speak, his voice was so weak that he hated it.
"You remembered everything, even such insignificant details...
- They're not insignificant, not to me.
- And I didn't recognise you..." He swallowed hard. "You must have been angry with me...
- Never." Jayce rested his forehead against Viktor's. "I knew you wanted to protect yourself by keeping your distance from the world. I hated myself for not daring to get closer to you, for not being able to take that stupid step... But I was so afraid of not being up to it, so afraid that you wouldn't recognise me or that, on the contrary, you'd recognise me and push me away anyway. So I admired you from afar, and when you arrived here, when you asked me to work with you on your project and when we became partners... My childhood dream came true, and I agreed to be content with that. It was painful, but I'd agreed to let my adult dream of loving you and being loved by you die if I could stay by your side and create that propeller we'd talked about."
Jayce tenderly cupped Viktor's face, his thumbs caressing his cheekbones, and an emotional smile stretched his lips. "You've saved me once again, Viktor. You pulled me out of the hell I was drowning in. And then you loved me back. That's all that matters."
Viktor closed his eyes for a moment, overwhelmed by emotion, before placing his trembling hands on Jayce's cheeks.
"So you're not angry?
- Why would I be?
- Because I didn't recognise you when we were students... Because I lied to you...
- Your lie allowed me to finally get closer to you." Jayce kissed Viktor's forehead. "I bless your lie. I bless every day I spent with you. I bless every moment you lived in my mind. I bless you, because I love you, and if you'll have me, I'll always be by your side. Because now that everything has been said, we can keep moving forward together."
Viktor smiled and didn't struggle when he felt a tear roll down his cheek. "You're a hell of a speaker, Jayce Talis.
- And you're my muse. You always have been. Even when I started working for the Council, even when I had to design and build weapons and signed that contract to work for them, I couldn't stop thinking about you, about our dream of creating inventions that would change the world. I thought it was my Hextech project that was keeping me afloat, but when I saw you on that beach, I realised that you had always been my light in the darkness... And that I would be happy to be yours.
- You've always been mine," Viktor whispered, "you're the only one who's ever really understood me. Only you could show me that there is beauty in this world, and only you could free me from my solitude. You're the only one. It's always been you."
Viktor was silent for a moment, and when he finished softly, Jayce uttered the same sentence.
"I've been waiting for you..."
They savoured the silence that followed, their minds' union, and then Jayce ran a hand across the back of Viktor's neck and sighed in a broken voice.
"I thought I was dreaming about magic, but in fact I've always dreamed about you. You're my dream, Viktor.
- And you're mine."
Viktor was drowning in his partner's tear-shrouded gaze. He caressed his forehead, then his wet cheeks, and murmured. "You were so brave..."
Chin trembling, Jayce nodded slowly. "Say it again. Say that you love me. Please.
- ...Miluji tě."
Jayce placed a kiss on Viktor's lips. "Again.
- Miluji tě."
Their lips brushed again, a little firmer. "Again.
- Miluji tě."
Each time Viktor breathed those words, that promise, Jayce kissed him. He kissed his cheeks, his forehead, his nose, his lips, his jaw, his throat, and then, slowly, with an incredibly touching slight awkwardness in his voice, Jayce repeated.
"Miluji tě, Viktor."
Tears rolled down Viktor's cheeks but he didn't try to stop them. A strangled sound, both a sob and a burst of laughter, escaped him as he hugged Jayce and kissed him back.
The world faded around them, and time seemed to stand still, as if to allow them to find each other again.
Still cradling Jayce's face in his palms, Viktor straightened slightly on his knees despite the flash of pain that instantly shot through his leg, and he tilted his partner's head to deepen their kiss with a stifled sigh. Jayce's hands slid over his ribs, down his back, pretended to stop on his hips before circling his thighs, as much to support him as to hold on to them. As Jayce's thumbs drew loving circles on Viktor's legs, his left hand caressed the metal of the brace, the proof of his affection and desire to protect him that had survived after almost fifteen years... And to feel his partner's palm on his thigh, to see the colours of the House of Talis adorning his leg, stirred something in Viktor's soul.
He gasped against Jayce's lips and pulled away briefly to catch his breath and whisper his name.
"Jayce...
- I love you, I love you so much, Viktor." Jayce reached out to him as if he needed to touch him to survive, and he nibbled Viktor's bottom lip, drawing a shaky sigh from him. "Say it again, please...
- I love you." Viktor kissed him with renewed passion." I love you, I love you..."
Oh how sweet it was to finally be himself, to realise that he meant every word that came out of his mouth and that nothing more needed to be revealed.
He had nothing to hide from the love of his life.
He could simply be who he was, love Jayce and be loved in return.
Mel had been right: he had taken a huge risk, and fate had rewarded him with a second chance.
Jayce let out a growl and leaned down to kiss Viktor's throat, marking it immediately with his lips. Viktor buried his hands in his partner's hair, pressed his face against his skin, and threw his head back with a gasp as Jayce marked his throat, his shoulder, his collarbone... Jayce's right hand left Viktor's thigh after giving it a gentle squeeze - as if to apologise - and unbuttoned the top of his red shirt. He drew goosebumps on the skin he was revealing before stopping on Viktor's chest, on his nipple... And when Jayce kissed the other, teasing him with his tongue and his lips, Viktor was unable to hold back the moan that grew in his throat.
Now that the truth was out, everything was more intense, stronger, more...
More.
Pleasure and happiness drove out everything else, silenced the anxiety and threats in his body, which was already vibrating with dull pain. And suddenly, everything was incredibly clear.
"I want you."
Jayce straightened immediately and looked up at him, lips parted, cheeks flushed and pupils wide.
"N-Now?
- Now.
- Here?
- Here.
- But...
- Isn't it where the magic happens?"
Jayce rolled his eyes but smiled, "Oh my God, V.
- Am I wrong, Mr. Magician?
- No, but the...
- Mel and Elora are in town and you brought back what we need, right?"
His partner looked at him dumbfounded before nodding. "Yes, but...
- Also I'm clean," Viktor added, "I thought you had a right to know." Then, noticing his partner's hesitant expression, he lowered his voice. "Unless you don't want to..."
Jayce whimpered. "I do! Gods, if you only knew how much I want to. I'm just afraid the couch won't be comfortable. I don't want to hurt you."
Relieved, Viktor smiled and carefully sat back on Jayce's thighs. "Can you be gentle?
- If I can-?! What a silly question," Jayce grumbled, nibbling Viktor's throat, "of course I can be gentle."
Viktor let out an amused snort. "Then you won't hurt me. I already told you I'm tougher than I look. We'll have other opportunities to be more... intense." He ran a hand through his partner's hair and his voice softened. "But we can also wait, if you prefer..."
The end of his sentence died in his throat, turned into a sigh when Jayce kissed him.
"I'll be gentle. And I'll make you feel so good."
Viktor smiled against Jayce's lips. "I know you will."
Jayce laid him on his back effortlessly, staying between his legs while still kissing him. With his left foot on the floor, he pressed the bottom of his right thigh against his partner's crotch. Viktor stiffened with a surprised moan and his hands closed over the back of Jayce's neck. "Ah!"
He distinctly felt Jayce's small, satisfied smile against his lips and he considered making him pay for this audacity, but his words faded when his partner's thigh wedged against his growing erection again and he shuddered, his lips parted in ragged gasps. Jayce's hands left his hips to focus on the straps of his new brace, and Viktor found the strength to let out a breathy laugh.
"What a shame to have to take it off when you've just offered it to me.
- You said it yourself, we'll find other opportunities to be more intense.
- Now you're just being kinky."
They shared an amused grin before the brace slid to the floor - definitely easier to remove than its predecessor - and Jayce's hands found Viktor's torso, opening the flaps of his shirt and feverishly searching for the snaps of his back brace.
"You're beautiful," he whispered, kissing the hollow of his neck, "so beautiful. I'm so lucky that you love me back."
Viktor shivered in his hands and he pressed his lips to Jayce's, briskly unbuttoning his partner's shirt to slide it to the floor, and his own garment quickly joined it in a pool of burgundy. When the back brace came off with a liberating ‘click’, Viktor wiggled to free himself and took the opportunity to remove his shoes, sending them flying across the room. Jayce's fingers struggled for a few seconds with the buckle on Viktor's belt, before finally sliding his trousers and pants down his legs.
"You too," Viktor gasped as his hands found his partner's trousers.
- And I'm the impatient one."
Viktor grumbled, which drew a laugh from Jayce, who finally got rid of his clothes. He leaned forward and placed a line of kisses from Viktor's lips to his navel, making him shiver with each touch. Then he looked up questioningly at his partner as his right hand caressed Viktor's stomach and then the inside of his thigh. Lips parted and breathing faster and faster, Viktor simply nodded and Jayce smiled as if he had just offered him the moon.
With his free hand, Jayce cautiously and comfortably propped Viktor's right leg up on his shoulder. Then, finally, his lips brushed his partner's erection and Viktor saw stars as his eyes rolled back. "Oh... Jayce..."
Immediately, his right hand flew to the head between his thighs, closed on strands of dark hair with more urgency and tension than he would have liked, but he was unable to release his grip. His muscles tense and his breath coming in ever shorter gasps, Viktor forced himself to open his eyes again, to enjoy every second and not take his eyes off his partner, but every time he tried to make his eyelids obey, Jayce did something that made his head roll back on the couch with a moan.
Jayce ran his tongue along Viktor's length, took him in his mouth with a delighted sigh then hollowed his cheeks and swallowed around him. He stroked his right thigh and moved his free hand up and down his partner's erection.
And then, Jayce looked up at him with eyes clouded with pleasure and love.
"Jayce-
- I'm here, I've got you. I'll take care of everything. Let me make you feel good."
A whimper went up in the room, a sound that Viktor didn't recognise, so he doubted for a moment that it had come out of his mouth. He had received very few blowjobs during his previous one-night stands, his partners - and himself, he had to be honest - generally contenting themselves with the sex itself and dispensing with a substantial part of the foreplay, and none had given him this feeling of losing his mind.
"Look at you, cariño," Jayce whispered, still stroking him, "so perfect..."
Viktor bit his knuckles to stifle a mewl.
Gods, he wasn't going to last if his partner kept complimenting him and touching him like that. Viktor could already feel pleasure electrifying every inch of his skin and the wave of heat growing in his abdomen... And they hadn't even begun preparations for the next step they wanted to take.
He wasn't going to last.
Jayce absolutely had to slow down.
He had to...
Chest heaving with ever-faster breathing, Viktor almost flinched when Jayce's palm cupped his cheek... And he leaned against it with a strangled whimper, his teeth still clenched on his knuckles as much to muffle his voice as to try to delay the inevitable.
"Jayce," he stammered weakly.
- Let me hear you," Jayce gasped, gently taking Viktor's hand in his to keep it away from his lips and inviting him to run his fingers through his hair instead. "Please V, tell me how it feels."
Face scarlet and eyes half-closed, Viktor shuddered when Jayce gently insisted.
"Tell me how much you like it.
- Oh fu-..."
The end of his sentence turned into a scream he couldn't stifle when Jayce took him whole in his mouth. If they hadn't been restrained by his partner's free hand, Viktor's hips would have bucked, and his thighs began to shake violently.
"Jayce... Jayce that's..."
His partner looked up at him with glossy eyes, mute pleading on his face as he bobbed his head...
And when, through the haze of his pleasure, Viktor saw that Jayce's hips were quivering, when he realised that Jayce was so entirely turned towards him and dedicated to his pleasure that he could only relieve himself by rubbing his own cock against the couch, he knew he had to give his partner something in return. So, after a few seconds during which he could only gasp and moan, Viktor managed to whisper.
"S-so perfect... So perfect for me, Jayce..."
And those few words were incandescent.
Jayce's shoulders shuddered violently and a muffled whine answered him as his partner's hips bucked against the couch, his erection rubbing briskly against the fabric. And when he groaned, the hoarse sound made his throat vibrate and the echoes reverberated all the way to Viktor's pelvis.
"The best I've ever had," he added in one breath.
Jayce quickened his pace, as if to reward him, and soon the encouragement and praise turned into a litany of moans and gasps, higher and higher, more and more frequent... And Viktor's eyes rolled back as his voice choked in his throat.
"Jayce, I'm going to..."
He held his breath, tried to stop himself from coming to allow Jayce to pull away and went so far as to try and pull his partner's face away, but Jayce resisted and looked up at him with eyes shining with expectation and love...
Viktor's back arched and his whole body seized up as he came with a cry, so violently that his vision blurred and that everything faded away, stifled by the wave of pleasure that spread through his every limb. When he opened his eyes again, breathless, he saw Jayce sitting up and they watched each other for a moment, their panting becoming the only sound in the lab... Then Viktor breathed out, a hint of worry and disbelief in his voice.
"Don't... Don't tell me you've swa-..."
Jayce smiled proudly at him before swallowing.
And Viktor clamped his hands over his flushed face. "Oh Gods, Jayce... You didn't have to...
- I wanted to. I wanted to taste y-..." He paused and his wonder turned to horror. "Oh, you didn't like it! Sorry, I thought... I got carried away and I..."
Viktor sat up, his legs on either side of Jayce's hips, and he silenced him with a kiss. He tasted himself on his lips and tongue, and that sent a shiver down his spine.
"So you... liked it?"
Viktor smiled. "Take a guess." But when he noticed that his partner didn't quite relax, he kissed his forehead and added. "I loved it. I didn't know Pilties did that sort of thing."
Jayce smiled again, clearly relieved by this answer, and Viktor's right hand slid down his abs to brush his aching erection, causing his partner to gasp and his hips to thrust.
"Let me return the favour," Viktor cooed.
His hand stroked his partner's cock, closing over it to move up and down at a slow pace, and the heat grew in his belly again when he saw Jayce's face contort with pleasure. His partner braced his forehead against his, arms wrapped around his back for support, and seeing every expression, every frown, every twitch of his eyelashes, every quiver of his lips, gave Viktor an exhilarating sense of power.
"That's it, let go."
But at that moment, rather than obeying and giving in, Jayce bit his lip and gently pulled Viktor's hand away from his crotch. Viktor's eyes widened, and immediately, worry resurfaced, replacing the feeling of power in his heart.
Jayce didn't want Viktor to touch him. He was going to change his mind and kick him out of his life because of his lies.
"What are you...
- I'll take care of everything," Jayce kissed him and laid him back on the couch, "let me cherish you. Let me take care of you. Please."
Relief and emotion knotted Viktor's throat, made his breath tremble in his throat and would have weakened his voice if he'd spoken, so he just nodded. Jayce cupped his face between his hands, with gestures of overwhelming tenderness.
"I promise to make you feel good. Will you guide me?"
Viktor nodded again and forced his voice to add. "I just want you to enjoy yourself too.
- I'm always enjoying myself when I'm with you," Jayce promised with a smile.
- But you haven't -...
- I can wait. In fact, I'd like to wait."
Viktor hesitated. He wasn't sure he understood his partner's reasoning. He'd never met anyone who willingly denied himself his release, the pleasure that came with it, so why didn't Jayce want him to touch him? Why didn't he want Viktor to take care of him in return? Was he hiding something from him? Did he want to postpone the moment he had seemed to be looking forward to? Had he changed his mind? Was this a final test?
As if sensing the source of his anxiety and hearing his every thought, Jayce kissed him gently.
"Do you trust me?
- I do."
The answer was blurted out without Viktor's brain taking time to think, like a heartfelt cry, and Jayce's face lit up.
"So believe me: I want to wait a little longer. And, if you'll let me, I'd like to be inside you when I'll come. I want to do this with you, but I want to make sure you're comfortable first. I want to make sure you're having a good time."
Viktor's face flushed violently and he looked away. No one had ever wanted to focus on him, either in bed or in his life. No one had wanted to focus on his pleasure in the first place, relegating their own release to later, as if it wasn't as important as cherishing him.
Jayce was the most selfless person he knew, a lover who thought of his partner's comfort and pleasure first before his own. And he seemed to get immeasurable joy and satisfaction from that.
"You really have a way with words, Talis," Viktor grumbled.
- And I know you love it. What do you think? Is that all right with you?"
Viktor pretended to think about it to mask his slight disbelief, to silence the fear of disappointing or being disappointed, and he answered by kissing his partner again and whispering against his lips.
"I remember telling you that I want you here and now. Don't make me wait."
Jayce smiled and kissed him, deepening their kiss as his right hand slid back between their two bodies, briefly flattering Viktor's growing erection. He braced Viktor's left leg against his shoulder, questioning him with his eyes, and Viktor reassured him with a nod. Jayce kissed his knee and, with his left hand, groped around blindly, rummaging through the bags before finally holding up the lube as if he had found the Holy Grail. Viktor considered applauding him for a moment, but that would have been taking the joke too far, so he just purred.
"Good boy."
And the effect those two words had on Jayce was worth all the gold in the world.
Jayce's back suddenly rounded and he leaned on the couch, clutching it as if he were about to collapse. He closed his eyes and his breath caught in his throat before crossing the barrier of his lips in a whine. A violent shudder ran through his body as his thighs and hips began to tremble, and when he opened glossy eyes, biting his lip almost to the point of bleeding, he whimpered.
"V... I'm sorry..."
At first, Viktor didn't fully understand what he meant. He knew that compliments and praise had a marked effect on his partner, but still he didn't see what deserved an apology and...
Then he looked down and his eyes widened in amazement as he saw cum rolling down his partner's twitching length and on his own thigh... When he realised that with only a semblance of friction and above all a maximum of attention paid to his partner, those two words had been enough to make Jayce reach his own climax.
Mouth agape, Viktor was unable to look away from his partner's softening cock, blown away by the power of those few words which seemed to have the effect of a tidal wave on Jayce.
"Oh Jayce, I’m sorry," Viktor stammered, "I didn't think..."
He didn't finish his sentence. Words were useless, impossible to find as this sight replaced every coherent thought in his mind.
It was he who was responsible for this.
He was the one who had made Jayce come with just one sentence.
He was the one who had had that effect on his partner.
A heat different from the one that was vibrating again in his abdomen grew in his chest and he placed a contrite kiss on Jayce's lips.
"Forgive me.
- It's okay," his partner gasped under his breath, "I just... I want to focus on you, to take care of you...
- I know. I'm really sorry, I didn't think I... I know I said this is where the magic happens, but I didn't think I knew a real spell.
- No, it's... It's me…
- Don't worry about it. I think it was hot, actually." Viktor smiled and cupped Jayce's face. "We can try again later when you-…"
He suddenly frowned, lowered his eyes then looked back at his partner with wide eyes and parted lips, and a stunned whisper escaped him. "Already?"
Face flushed, Jayce shrugged sheepishly. "I'm sorry, it's just… You're so beautiful and I love you so much that I can't..."
But Viktor didn't give his partner time to finish his sentence. Feeling his own body start to burn with rapturous pleasure, he kissed him with renewed passion and laid down again, pulling Jayce down with him. Viktor closed his left leg over his partner's back, pressing him close and drinking in the moans that escaped him as he offered him his own.
"Go on then," he murmured against his lips, "show me how you plan to take care of me."
Jayce moaned and nodded. "I promise I'll make you feel good.
- I know."
Their lips only parted when Jayce poured some lube into his palm to warm it. Then they exchanged a glance, Viktor gratifying him with a final nod, and Jayce braced his left leg on his shoulder again as he leaned forward. When his partner's fingers slid slowly along his crotch, when they brushed against his hole, Viktor let out a gasp and his head rolled back against the couch.
He focused his attention on his muscles, forcing them to relax despite the expectation, but for several long seconds, Jayce went no further. He simply caressed his thighs, his crotch, sometimes even his cock, which was slowly getting hard again... And the anticipation soon drove Viktor mad with impatience.
"Come on," he hissed, rounding his back and pushing his pelvis towards the hand that seemed to refuse him, "you won't break me.
- I know, I just want everything to be perfect."
Jayce's voice was low, almost a whisper, and Viktor realised he was panting, his eyes fixed on his hole with such ardour and reverence that he could almost see the saliva rising to his lips.
"Jayce, I swear if you don't-"
But his sentence turned into a moan when, at last, a finger pushed inside him.
After the first albeit minimal sensation of discomfort, Viktor raised his head, swallowing hard as he saw his partner's finger disappear between his thighs. He gasped, encouraging Jayce with a sigh with each movement, guiding him as best he could despite the veil of lust hanging over his mind...
"More," he panted, looking up at the ceiling, "more..."
Jayce seemed to waver for a second, but obeyed and a second finger joined the first. Viktor's breath caught in his throat and came back only in short, shuddering breaths that quickened when the fingers curved and finally grazed his prostate.
"There, right... there... Jayce..."
He didn't see his partner nod, nor did he see his small smirk, nor did he notice that all his attention was focused on his face and on the expressions that crossed it. He didn't see any of that, because Jayce repeated the movement and Viktor's vision blurred for a moment when his back left the couch with a mewl that echoed through the room.
"Yes ! Jayce, harder... Harder!"
Pleasure reverberated throughout his body, zinging through every muscle until it short-circuited his brain, turning his train of thought into a litany of "Yes Jayce there more harder faster fuck oh Gods Jayce Jayce". Each wave of pleasure reduced him to a babbling mess, a wreck kept afloat only by the waves that rippled through his body, and soon he was unable to form a coherent sentence, unable even to articulate a single word properly.
"Ah Jayce it's so...
- Tell me. Guide me."
Viktor hid the top of his face in the crook of his elbow, the warmth of his cheeks transferring to his arm, and he let out a whine. "So good..."
A sigh of both relief and joy, perhaps a little ecstatic, caressed his leg and Viktor's last coherent thought vanished when a third finger slipped inside him and he let out a cry. Viktor felt his legs tremble and his hips threaten to buck, but they were held in place on the couch by his partner's large hand.
"Don't hide," Jayce whispered, "let me hear you."
But Viktor couldn't hear him any more, he couldn't really understand the words coming out of his mouth. Everything around him had faded away, replaced only by the pleasure that shot up from his lower abdomen and made him shake like a leaf. His eyes almost rolling back, all he could hear were the echoes of his own voice, moans he didn't recognise, gasps that grew louder and louder, whines and whimpers that almost turned into uncontrollable sobs...
Jayce gently took his hand in his so that he would stop hiding his face, and when their burning eyes met, when Viktor saw his partner's flushed cheeks and parted lips, he shivered violently.
He was close, so close...
And yet, he needed so much more.
"Jayce," he whined, writhing under his hand, "now, Jayce...
- Just a second," his partner gasped, digging through the bags with his free hand without taking his eyes off him, "I can't find the condoms."
Viktor closed his eyes, frowned and let out a stream of pleas, curses and unintelligible words, a strangled babbling that Jayce couldn't translate. Then, fighting to prevent his voice from shaking, Viktor breathed out, driven by urgency and the blood boiling in his veins. "You're clean too, yes?
- I am. I haven't had sex since I broke up with...
- Then forget about the damn condoms and just fuck me . I want you. Now."
A shiver ran through Jayce's shoulders and he nodded. "Okay... Fuck, okay. Tell me if I-...
- Jayce Talis, I swear to the Gods, if you don't fuck me in this second, I'm going to have to curse you for fifteen generations."
Jayce laughed softly and nibbled his knee in apology. "Your wish is my command.
- Then hurry up and oh-"
Viktor froze and his hands stiffened on his partner's shoulder blades when, finally, Jayce lined up and slowly pushed in.
And immediately, the last surviving voices in his mind fell silent, replaced by a glaring, wonderful emptiness.
"Ohh fuck," he moaned, clutching at Jayce's shoulders.
He'd prepared himself for discomfort, for pain, given the size of Jayce's cock, and he hadn't been wrong. Viktor forced himself to breathe slowly, deeply, letting out gasps with every inch he gained, and his fingers drew red lines across Jayce's shoulders as his head rolled back with a muffled groan.
"Are you all right? (Jayce gasped against his throat.) V, tell me if I can keep going...
- K-keep going, I can take i-... ah kurva-"
The pressure built, momentarily taking his breath away, and for a second Viktor feared he wouldn't be able to take it, that he'd have to ask Jayce to stop when only half of him was inside him. But at that moment, Jayce took Viktor's cock in hand, sparking flashes of pleasure that drowned out the discomfort for a moment.
"Keep going," Viktor managed to gasp, "Jayce, please..."
His partner nodded, kissed his throat and moaned against his pulse when he finally bottomed out. Eyes rolling back, breath coming in ragged gasps, Viktor tried to catch his breath, to get used to the sensation of being so full that his brain stopped working. He gasped into the void, shuddering with every limb as Jayce, still motionless, continued to stroke his cock to help him relax.
"So perfect... So perfect," Jayce whispered against his throat with sobs in his voice.
And at those words, the last ounce of sanity that was still keeping Viktor afloat gave way.
It was too good to be true.
He had to be dreaming.
Viktor bit his lip and his hips twitched, the movement causing them both to moan.
"Move... Jayce, move... Now-..."
His sentence choked in his throat as Jayce obeyed and slowly withdrew, only to bottom out again, with the same care and precision.
Immediately, his cock pressed against Viktor's prostate and his whole body stiffened as a muffled curse echoed through the room.
"Yes," he hissed, "there... again… F-fuck, Jayce..."
Jayce moaned and moved again, imposing a slow rhythm to allow Viktor to get used to it, and with each movement, Viktor drowned under a new wave of pleasure even more intense than the previous one. But no matter how much he moaned, whined and sobbed, his partner didn't pick up the pace.
And despite the lust that was taking possession of his mind, Viktor could see how much it was costing Jayce. His partner's free hand was clenched into a fist next to his head, so tight that it was shaking and that his knuckles were white, and the sight made Viktor shudder violently.
Jayce Talis wanted him.
So much that he wanted to break him.
Jayce Talis loved him.
To the point of controlling the beast that was growling inside him simply to look after Viktor's well-being.
Viktor's hands slid down to the small of Jayce's back as he tried to encourage him.
"Harder. Please, Jayce, harder. I want you-"
The last syllable turned into a long, hoarse cry that coincided with the moment when Jayce thrusted into him again and pleasure vibrated through his entire body.
Was it the sound that had encouraged him? Or was it Viktor's explicit permission? Or perhaps the uncontrollable tear rolling down his crimson cheek? Maybe a bit of all three? In any case, it was at that moment that Jayce looked into his eyes with an almost frightening intensity, and picked up the pace.
Viktor screamed, a primal sound that was ripped from him with staggering force, and his back arched as pleasure spread through every muscle, fed every synapse in his brain to replace every thought with a single word, repeated in a loop between moans.
Jayce, Jayce, Jayce, Jayce, Jayce...
Every movement inflamed his body and mind, made his blood boil in his veins, and pleasure replaced every other sensation, every fear he'd ever had. There was no one in the world but them, no one but Jayce, holding him close and thrusting ever deeper into him, ever more accurately, and this knowledge made him lose his footing completely, babbling incomprehensible words between gasps of pure ecstasy.
Everything was absolutely and incredibly perfect, as if each movement was even better than the last.
It was stronger than anything Viktor had ever experienced, more intense, so... right.
And even though he didn't feel another tear roll down his cheek, he clearly felt something broken in his core finally coming together and healing.
"You're incredible, Viktor, so stunning, so beautiful," Jayce said, his eyes focused on Viktor's face and without slowing the suddenly brutal rhythm of his hips. "I love you. I love you so much."
Viktor wanted to tell him that he loved him more than anything. He would have loved to tell Jayce how perfect he was for him, how infinitely good he felt, but all he could articulate was a gasp that turned into a high-pitched moan. "Jayce-
- Like this?"
Viktor tried to talk but could only nod, eyes clouded, and Jayce insisted softly, his voice hoarse. "Tell me. Please tell me. Does it feel good?"
The word worked its way into his brain, slowly made sense, and he gasped. "Yes... S-so... So good, Jayce!"
His partner smiled, obviously relieved, and a shiver ran across his shoulders before he picked up the pace slightly. Jayce watched him with so much passion and attention, he kissed the lips Viktor was vainly trying to bite to silence his voice, he murmured compliments, grunted then moaned in echo to Viktor's reactions... And through the veil of pleasure placed over his psyche, Viktor found the will and clarity to ask.
"Jayce am I… ah fuck!
- Hm? Tell me.
- Am I g-good? For you?"
Jayce's eyes widened when the broken sentence made sense, and he leaned down to kiss him. "Amazing, V. You're so good, so perfect for me."
Viktor felt his body weaken at the words, his muscles igniting, the ecstasy growing more and more violently in his abdomen with each thrust Jayce made against his prostate. Suddenly, when his partner's hand closed around his erection again, Viktor tensed and his breath caught in his throat.
"Jayce- Jayce, I'm going to-!"
And Jayce whispered against his lips, pushing him over the edge. "Go on. Come for me, sweetheart."
Viktor's back arched sharply, and his nails dug into Jayce's skin as his eyes rolled back and he came harder than ever. He felt as if the orgasm had been wrenched from him with an almost supernatural violence, and it was as if his cry of pure pleasure could never end. His body was seized up with a violent tremor that left him panting, and his mind went completely blank, the purity of a delicious ecstasy. When he fell back onto the couch, he let out a tearful and breathless moan.
"Oh fuck, V," Jayce gasped, his voice trembling, "gorgeous..."
Viktor buried his cheek against his partner's palm, tried to place a wet kiss there, and babbled weakly. "...love you... Jayce..."
His partner's movements became erratic, irregular, and Viktor whimpered at the overstimulation.
"Viktor, I-..."
Jayce tried to pull out, but he yelped when Viktor closed his legs around his back and hissed with what little breath he had left. "No... inside... like you wanted..."
Jayce shuddered violently, his back arching as he whined against his lips. "My God, Viktor..."
He gripped his partner's waist, then he buried himself deep inside him with one final thrust, and he came with a groan.
Viktor moaned as the heat spread through him, and even though he knew it would be more difficult to clean up, he felt like he was in heaven, emptied of all worry or noise, surrounded and filled only by Jayce. After a few long seconds, his partner pulled out – earning a grunt of protest – and collapsed against him, supporting his weight with one arm, and they panted together, their faces separated by only a handful of millimetres. For several seconds, they didn't take their eyes off each other, their foreheads damp with sweat and their eyes still shining… Then, they smiled, exhausted and utterly delighted.
"That was so... So hot…
- Hm… Glad you…" Viktor searched for words, his mind still foggy, and he struggled to make the muscles in his face obey. "...liked it...
- And you?
- Hm?
- Did you like it?"
Viktor gently pushed back a lock of hair that was sticking to his partner's forehead, and since it took him a little too long for his liking to say something remotely coherent or mocking, he simply sighed. "Loved it..."
Relief washed over Jayce's face as he kissed him tenderly. "I'm so happy.
- M'too. Thank you, Jayce.
- Thank you. I'll quickly go get something to clean us up."
Viktor hugged him weakly and grumbled a refusal, resting his forehead against his partner's. "Stay...
- I'll be right back, my love."
Viktor felt himself melt, his mind wavering, and he whispered. "Again...
- Wh-... Now?!
- Say it again..."
Jayce smiled and kissed his forehead, the tip of his nose, and then his lips again. "My love."
Viktor smiled and let out a delighted sigh. "Again...
- My love.
- Hm… Lásko…"
As they kissed once more, Viktor knew he simply couldn't let Jayce go, not even for a few minutes. He buried his face in his throat and hugged him, grumbling. So much for aftercare and everything else. He just wanted to stay like this forever, curled up in Jayce's arms.
Jayce kissed his temple and said softly, a smile in his voice. "I have an idea."
He gently pulled away, kissing Viktor's palms as if to apologize, and he stepped back long enough to put on his underwear. He was immediately at Viktor's side and, with infinitely gentle gestures, he wrapped him in the blue blanket that had slipped to the floor. Buried in a cocoon of soft warmth, Viktor sighed contentedly and rested his cheek against Jayce's chest as he exhaled happily. His partner kissed his hair. "Come on, sweetheart, let's go clean up."
Under other circumstances, Viktor would have pulled away and reminded him that he could walk on his own.
But not now.
So he didn't react when his partner lifted him into his arms, didn't tense up when he realized he was being deprived of his freedom of movement. Because he knew Jayce simply wanted to continue taking care of him like he'd promised.
Adorable...
Weakly, Viktor put his arms around Jayce's neck, his eyes half-closed, and he let his partner carry him up to the second floor, to the bathroom he'd never seen. He also didn't say a word when Jayce carefully sat him on the edge of the sink while he ran a bath, just nodding his head with a blissful smile on his lips.
He felt like he was walking on a cloud, in a trance, as if he were floating between reality and some kind of astral plane devoid of negativity... Kind of like when they created that gravitational field in the lab. No more pain reached his brain, no more fear, no more shame, no more anger.
Just...
Happiness.
And Jayce.
Everything was so…
"Perfect…"
Jayce smiled at his muttering, and he replied softly, as if afraid to wake him from his sleepy reverie. "I'll take care of everything. You can just relax."
Viktor sighed as he was laid back in the tub and the warm water instantly relaxed his muscles. He sighed again when Jayce settled behind him and wrapped his arms around him before kissing the top of his heard. And even though he was still wide awake and conscious, he felt as if he were experiencing everything in a dream while his partner washed him, tenderly and carefully massaged his thigh, his knee, then his lower back before tracing the contours of his spine with his thumb.
So this was… Heaven?
Viktor wasn't fully aware of how long they were in the tub, nor did he realize he'd been pulled out of it and wrapped in a warm towel and gently dried. He only realized he'd spoken when Jayce lifted him back into his arms and kissed him again.
"Me too."
They shared a glance, a peaceful smile, and then, without realizing they had moved, Viktor found himself lying in Jayce's bed, his hands immediately seeking his partner's.
"I'm here. I'm here."
Despite the afternoon heat, Jayce wrapped them in the blue blanket and they curled up together. Viktor closed his arms around his partner, burying his face in his upper back and inhaling his scent.
"Little spoon…
- Hm?
- Didn't know you preferred being the little spoon… Really greedy, Talis…"
Jayce laughed and tenderly kissed his knuckles. "A little, yes." Then, after a brief silence, he added, slightly worried. "Does anything hurt? Do you want me to massage you a little more?
- Everything's perfect, Jayce." Viktor kissed the back of his neck, his voice becoming a little lower, more slurred. "You're perfect."
Their legs intertwined, and Jayce murmured a response he didn't quite hear, but Viktor rewarded it with a sincere "I love you…
- I love you too, V."
Viktor fell asleep smiling, curled up peacefully against the love of his life, without a care in the world.
Peaceful, and happy.
In Heaven.
***
The next day, he and Jayce went to the mailbox near the hotel by the beach.
His letter to Cassandra Kiramman was brief and terse. Viktor explained that he hadn't yet managed to convince Jayce to return, but that he'd heard Mel talk about a potential return to Piltover in the coming months, information that would no doubt channel the Councillor' impatience and that still didn't betray his friends' trust.
When he slipped the envelope into the mailbox and collected the money the Councillor had sent him, Viktor's stomach tightened slightly.
It had been three months since he'd arrived.
Which meant this letter was the last he'd send before his departure, in a little less than a month...
Because even though he would have preferred to deny it, Viktor knew he couldn't stay in Ionia indefinitely…
Notes:
I'm a little spoon Jayce truther <3
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you liked this chapter (both the smut, which I hope was ok, and the slight reality check at the end, woopsie sorry about that)!
I'll see you next week with chapter 12, the last one before the epilogue!
Thank you for your support! I love you <3
Chapter 12
Summary:
Viktor has to go back to Zaun and Jayce can't leave Ionia just yet. But as they prepare for a painful separation, Mel offers them a solution... And a way to make amends for the Council's past wrongs.
Notes:
Hi everyone!
I hope you're having a nice week! I'm back a day earlier with chapter 12! The drama is not quite over yet... But almost <3
I wanted to thank you again for your incredible support! We still have one chapter to go after this one, ane I'm so glad and grateful that I could share this story with you <3
But let's go back to our story!
Enjoy :D
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Days passed, turned into weeks, and they evolved in a bubble cut off from the world, made up entirely of science and love.
A routine naturally developed. For example, without needing to mention it, Viktor's bedroom became theirs and several of Jayce's clothes and belongings began to adorn the furniture. In the morning, it was usually Jayce who got up first, went to the kitchen and came back with a cup of coffee – if he knew they'd had a bad night or stayed up too late the night before – or of sweet milk if no caffeine was needed. He also made sure that his partner ate more, if only in small quantities several times a day. Then Viktor washed the dishes and prepared the lab for the day, while Jayce went for a walk or a run in the village. Viktor then had the opportunity to chat with Mel and Elora, and even if there was still a slight feeling of discomfort, a bond was formed with them too, especially since he had briefly explained the truth to them. He'd only kept a few details to himself, the ones that belonged to Jayce and him alone.
After a quick shower, Jayce would meet him in the lab, either working on the propeller prototype or on Hextech, and they would work all day in a quiet, conspiratorial harmony. Every other day, they finished their work early – which was still kind of difficult for Viktor, who found it hard to stop once he'd started working on something, but Jayce always found a way to convince and console him, often promising to come back to work after dinner – and they prepared the meal together and chat with Elora and Mel.
In the evening, they would return to the lab or take advantage of the cool of the night to sit on the terrace and read, reflect on their work, talk about anything and everything...
Viktor quickly learned to love this routine, to appreciate the safety and the domesticity of these actions, the tenderness and intimacy of these shared moments, so much so that he forgot about reality for a whole month.
I could live like this, stay here forever with him.
Except that you can't. You have to go back and you know the boat leaves in two days.
On the day the thought crossed his mind, as he watched Jayce focusing on the stabiliser, a violent pang of guilt seized Viktor by the throat and he had to sit down on the desk and clasp a hand to his lips to calm his erratic breathing. Immediately, his partner was by his side, eyes wide and voice full of concern.
"Viktor? Are you all right?
- I'm fine," he gasped, "don't worry, I just need to... catch my breath."
Jayce stared at him, not fooled in the slightest, but he didn't insist and simply put a reassuring hand on his partner's back, waiting for him to calm down. Viktor closed his eyes and struggled not to let himself go against his palm, to remember the real world he had tried to escape.
He had no right to stay indefinitely and forget his responsibilities, to close his eyes and turn away from Zaun's problems just because he had found peace. He had things to accomplish, dreams to realise, lives to save and improve, and he could achieve nothing if he remained hidden in Ionia.
If he did, he would be no better than the Pilties he had always criticised and despised, because if he stayed, he would be turning his back on his own people, abandoning those he wanted to help.
His chest suddenly aching and his body covered in cold sweat, Viktor looked up at his partner. He didn't want to leave, he didn't want to be separated from Jayce… But he couldn't stay, he'd made that very clear even before they'd become closer, when he'd told Jayce that he couldn't leave Zaun.
And he couldn't force his partner to follow him.
It was then that he knew he would have to leave on the next boat to Piltover in two days' time.
Viktor heaved a sigh, and hesitation knotted his stomach again briefly before he resigned himself to his fate. He had to leave. And he knew that even though it would be painful, Jayce would understand and respect his decision. Just because they'd stopped talking about it didn't mean it would change anything in their relationship. He trusted him.
Do you?
The voice that had been silent for a month crept into his mind, hissed in his ear again as he stiffened.
Are you sure he won't abandon you once you set foot on this boat? Can you swear he won't get bored of you while you're gone?
Yes.
Yes, I trust him.
And it was true. He had no doubts. It was just the fear of waking up from this dream that made Viktor waver. But he had to get back to reality, regain his footing, face up to the consequences of his actions and help the people of Zaun.
"Feeling better?"
Their hands met, their fingers intertwining immediately, and Viktor offered his partner a semblance of a smile, a grimace that was anything but convincing... And he couldn't lie to him, he just couldn't do it any more. So he just shrugged, and knew instantly that Jayce understood when he saw his features droop.
"It's not your leg or your back, is it?"
Viktor slowly shook his head and gently squeezed his partner's hand in his. "The boat leaves in two days...
- ... And your mind is still made up?"
He didn't answer, just stared into space and kept their fingers entwined. And Jayce whispered, as if he'd been punched.
"Oh...
- I know we haven't talked about it since our first night together, probably because I was hoping I wouldn't have to make that choice, but I can't run away anymore... I'd love to stay here, with you, but I... I have to go home," Viktor said in a low voice.
They stayed like that for a few minutes, in a painful silence, then Jayce pulled the stool close to him and sat down on it, facing Viktor, still keeping his hands in his. They looked at each other, looked away, looked for each other again... Jayce whispered, so low that Viktor almost didn't hear him.
"You could stay... If only for a few months."
His eyes fixed on the ground, his fingers entwined with Jayce's, Viktor remained silent for a moment, his throat tight and his heart pounding. He had no desire to leave, and if he'd been any more of a coward, he'd have simply stayed with Jayce forever, refusing to see the suffering around him, forgetting the very existence of the world to focus solely on the bubble in which he and Jayce were peacefully evolving.
But he wasn't that selfish.
He knew suffering and he couldn't turn a blind eye to it.
And he knew that if he didn't take this boat, he might never come back, therefore becoming everything he'd always hated.
"I can't," Viktor stroked his partner's hand with his thumb, "I want to be useful and to help people... I want to try and change the world for the better... And to do that I have to go back.
- We could continue working here, supervising your project from Ionia.
- Perhaps, but my sense of morality wouldn't allow me. I don't have the right to turn my back on Zaun just because I'm now safe from need and danger. That would be far too hypocritical and I'd never be able to look myself in the face again because I wouldn't be true to my values."
Viktor closed his eyes for a moment and sighed, "I have a responsibility as a scientist. I want to help those who need help, those who deserve to live in the same safety as I do now. I can't be a coward and run forever."
He distinctly felt Jayce stiffen at those words, and then he realised how stupid he'd been when he saw a hurt gleam cross his eyes. "No I-... Jayce, I wasn't talking about you. Your case is different, you...
- No... You're right. I know I can't spend the rest of my life running away from reality..."
His voice was hoarse, his gaze shifty to hide his pain, and the guilt hit Viktor hard, taking his breath away. He freed his right hand to gently lift his partner's chin, inviting him to look at him.
"Jayce, please. You know I wasn't thinking about you."
Jayce pulled away, and Viktor thought he'd lost him… But his fear wavered when Jayce simply cradled his cheek on Viktor's thighs with a pained sigh. "I know... But you are right... I know I can't stay here forever but I..."
He searched for words and Viktor ran a hand through Jayce's hair, suddenly hopeful.
"You could come back with me and improve people's lives with Hextech.
- I know... But I still have to wait. If I come back now while I'm under contract, the Council will take everything I've created and I refuse to let them have anything..."
Viktor knew this, of course, but he hadn't been able to stop himself from uttering this sentence, carried away by the foolish dream that Jayce might follow him. But he already knew, as he whispered those words, that his partner wouldn't be able to return to Piltover or even to Zaun with his new inventions as long as he was under contract.
"And when does it end, this contract?"
Jayce stiffened slightly. "There was no end date when I signed it..."
Viktor felt as if he'd been slapped harder than ever. He felt his breath catch and was silent for a long second before he breathed out.
"Oh...
- But I promise I'll be home soon," Jayce added as he straightened up and hugged Viktor tightly, "I just need to give Mel and Elora time to finish their law project and then I can come back with them and find you."
So that was what they were working on, a way of breaking the contract and allowing Jayce to remain the sole master of his creativity and inventions... But could they finish it soon enough? Would Jayce tire of him during their separation?
A shiver ran through his body and Jayce held him tighter, his cheek against his chest and his racing heart.
"Do you trust me?
- You know I do. I'll wait for you." Viktor lowered his head slightly to meet his gaze. "And I know you'll wait for me a little longer."
They exchanged a sad smile and Jayce lifted his head slightly to kiss him, the saddest kiss Viktor had ever shared. "I'm sorry, Jayce.
- You don't have to be. You've got lives to save and I respect your decision. That's why I love you, because you stay true to yourself and your ideals no matter what. You're the strongest person I know." He let out a mirthless chuckle. "You're so much stronger than me.
- Nonsense.
- It's not. You know how to make the right decisions by following your morals, whereas I sold my soul to the Council to build weapons for them.
- It's not the same thing.
- Maybe not, but I know you would have been able to say no."
Viktor didn't answer, but he didn't need to for the same certainty to silently float between them. Of course, had he been in the same situation, he would have said refused to sign this contract. And he would have found himself in the same situation he had lived in for almost seven years.
A personal suffering for the greater good.
But Viktor didn't say anything about this, preferring to return to the subject that was gripping his stomach.
"We'll meet again when you're ready to go home, okay?" He felt his throat and heart tighten in anguish when he got no immediate answer. "Jayce?
- Of course we will. We've waited almost fifteen years, we can wait a few months, can't we?
- I couldn't have said it better myself."
But there was no smile in their voices, and Viktor had to wait a few seconds before resuming with a lump in his throat.
"I promised Mel I wouldn't break your heart...
- You're not breaking it." Jayce gently caressed his cheek. "I told you: you saved me, Viktor. You saved me in that alley, you saved me by coming here, you saved me by loving me back... You save me by your very existence and your very presence. And distance won't change that."
Viktor smiled, more moved than he had ever been.
"You're more than just a hell of a speaker, Jayce Talis. You're a poet."
His partner returned his smile and they stayed that way for a long time, snuggled up in each other's arms as if time could stand still, until the sun set.
***
Viktor put his hands together on the table, his throat tight, but he didn't look down. Sitting opposite him, Mel and Elora remained completely still at first before exchanging a sidelong glance.
"I'll take the boat tomorrow morning and we'll keep in touch until you get back to Piltover.
- And what will you do?
- I'll find a new place to live in Zaun and get on with our ventilation project until you get back. I've made a lot of progress thanks to Jayce and I might contact a few potential sponsors to get a head start."
Mel squinted slightly and Elora leaned forward. "You told us you were being followed before you got on the boat to Ionia, how can you be sure you'll be safe?"
Viktor shrugged. "I won't be safe. Nobody is safe in Zaun.
- Then at least go and live with my mother until we get back," Jayce insisted, clasping Viktor's hand in his.
- Jayce, we've already talked about this: I'm not going to go and live with your mother. She doesn't know me anyway.
- She does. I-I mean, I've told her enough about you for her to know who you are. She'll look after you. I'll give you a letter you can give her when you get to Pilotver: she'll know I wrote it and she'll welcome you with open arms."
Viktor rolled both touched and desperate eyes at him, then he shook his head. "If my past is discovered and people follow my tracks back to Piltover, I don't want your mother to be put in danger because of me.
- I wrote the letter anyway. You can do whatever you want with it, but please feel free to-...
- Why did you tell us all this, Viktor?"
Mel looked at him with troubled eyes, as if struggling to understand his intentions, and Viktor sighed. "Because I owe you the truth and because I'm grateful to you for taking me in for four months and for giving me a second chance.
- So you don't expect anything from us?"
Elora's eyes widened and Viktor stiffened. Jayce had offered to send him money, of course, but when Viktor had refused, he hadn't insisted, and he knew that this offer showed Jayce's concern and his desire to protect him, even from a distance. On the other hand, Mel's question still showed her lack of trust and the image she had of Viktor because of his activity as a forger. And her blindness and his own error of judgement regarding his bond with Mel was making him furious.
"No, Mel, I don't expect anything from you. I didn't tell you this to extort money or to get the address of a safe house in Piltover. I just wanted to say goodbye and thank you."
Against all expectations, Mel smiled, a graceful arc slowly forming on her lips as she rose and invited Elora to follow her.
"In that case, I thank you for your honesty. It was a real pleasure to welcome you to our home. Elora and I still have a few things to discuss, but we'll see you again tonight for supper and tomorrow before you leave."
And with that, she left, without a backward glance. Elora took the time to shake Viktor's hand and to offer him a strangely intense glance with him. "Don't worry, we won't let you down. You'll find out everything tomorrow.
- I'm telling you I don't want anything."
She smiled at him with a knowing wink and left the room to follow Mel upstairs.
Anger and incomprehension knotted Viktor's stomach, and he stood up angrily, grumbling when Jayce joined him. "I don't understand them: Elora doesn't seem to understand that I don't expect anything from them and Mel is obviously delighted to see me go. I knew we couldn't call ourselves friends just yet, but still, I thought we'd started a cordial relationship of understanding."
Jayce ran a hand down his neck and sighed, "I don't know... I don't understand their reaction either.
- Actually, that makes me feel better: it means I'm not the only one to realise that this was one of the weirdest interactions of my life. And the Gods know I've had my fair share of weird social interactions."
They went to the lab to gather Viktor's stuff with slow movements, and after several minutes, Jayce handed him a note. "I can't force you to go see my mother, but I still want you to take this letter with you.
- Jayce...
- You're free to do whatever you want with it, but it would makes me feel better to know you have it with you."
Viktor hesitated, then took the letter and slipped it into his pocket. "Alright then. Thank you, it means a lot to me, but you know that I..."
He looked up at Jayce, the end of his sentence died on his lips when he noticed his partner's cheeks were wet with tears and that he was pursing his lips in a vain attempt to hold back his sobs. Viktor distinctly felt his heart break, and he hugged him with a desolate sigh.
"Oh, Jayce…
- Sorry," his partner gasped as he hugged him back. "I don't want to make this any harder, and I really don't want you to think I'm trying to make you change your mind, but it's just... I..."
He burst into tears, unable to finish his sentence, and Viktor remained completely frozen, his free hand clasped on Jayce's back and the other painfully tightening on his new crutch's handle.
Breathless, his throat aching, he pursed his lips and buried his face in Jayce's shoulder. "We won't be apart for that long. I'll write and you'll write too... And you'll come find me in a few months at most."
He waited a few seconds before pulling back slightly and placing his free hand on Jayce's cheek, inviting him to look at him. "This isn't goodbye. Okay?"
With reddened eyes, Jayce nodded slowly with a sniff, earning a mirthless smile from Viktor. "Good boy."
Their foreheads met, and he whispered into the space between their lips. "Did you know that in Zaun, this is the most intimate and powerful gesture there is?
- Really?
- Really. And you're the first person to be worthy of it." They exchanged an emotional glance before Viktor added, "Take care of your dream for us.
- Our dream.
- Hm. Our dream."
That night, their last night together, Jayce curled up against Viktor's back, holding him without saying a word, and for what seemed like an eternity, they didn't speak, just savouring each other's presence and pushing back the inevitable. Jayce's free hand moved slowly up and down Viktor's arm, drawing delicate shivers along it, and Viktor did the same with the arm pressed against his chest, the fingers of his other hand intertwined with Jayce's on his pillow. There was something terrifying about not being able to read his expression, and the tearful, broken mental image that haunted his mind made him sick with guilt.
When Jayce kissed the back of his neck, Viktor finally whispered, breaking the almost supernatural silence in the room. "I love you, you know?"
He felt Jayce's smile against his skin and he closed his eyes for a moment, savouring his partner's soft breathy laugh. "That's my line…
- But you know I do, right?"
Sensing his concern, Jayce placed a kiss on his cheek. "Of course I do. And I love you too. I'll love you until the end of time.
- And beyond?
- And beyond.
- And in our next life too?
- In all our lives."
Viktor sighed and nestled against him, kissing Jayce's hand as his partner buried his face in the back of his neck. They stayed like that for a long time, an eternity, then, in a hoarse voice, Viktor added, "I’m sorry, Jayce.
- Don’t be. You made my wildest dreams come true and you saved me. I don't regret a thing. And I know we’ll see each other again soon."
Viktor guessed that Jayce's eyes were glistening with tears when they kissed a little awkwardly, and he chased away the dull feeling that knotted his throat. His partner's hand slid on his cheek to support him while the other brushed his chest, slid down his stomach, and a flash reverberated from one body to the other as Viktor shuddered and Jayce whispered in a broken voice. "May I?
- Hm. Make me forget all this. Make it all go away so that I only remember you. Please."
Jayce placed a kiss on his throat, covering his skin with red marks, and after a few seconds of searching, he found the lube to coat his fingers with. Viktor shuddered with anticipation and he slightly bent his right leg to try and help Jayce as much as he could, wincing when a bolt of pain flashed though his muscles. But when two fingers pushed inside him, his head rolled onto his partner's shoulder with a delighted sigh.
Jayce was an excellent learner, an exemplary and wonderfully attentive lover. It had only taken one night together for him to perfectly memorise which movements made his partner tremble, which words made him arch his back, which areas to touch to drive him mad with pleasure. So no sooner had he begun to touch him than he curled his fingers and Viktor melted into his arms with a strangled yelp.
They didn't exchange a word, sharing sighs and gasps as his fingers moved in and out, scissoring him, Viktor shuddering more and more violently. With his free hand, Jayce caressed Viktor's chest, then his throat, traced the outline of his lips, and he froze when Viktor's tongue grazed his thumb. Jayce gave his partner a surprised look and held back a curse when he saw his half-lidded eyes and parted lips. Without needing to consult him, without stopping his pressure on Viktor's prostate, Jayce slightly moved his other hand forward, silently offering contact, and immediately, Viktor's lips closed around Jayce's index and middle fingers with a muffled moan. His tongue ran over his fingers, curling over them, and he sucked diligently, as if they could silence the signs of his growing pleasure.
Jayce groaned and a shiver ran up Viktor's spine as the sound vibrated against his body. His hips threatened to buck under the double stimuli, and he could distinctly feel the warmth growing in his abdomen, his erection hardening as he tried to apply some semblance of friction against it. His partner's fingers pressed lightly on his tongue, wedging it beneath their pads, and Viktor's voice trembled as he slurred.
"Come... Please, Jayce..."
After pouring some lube over his length, Jayce gently lifted his partner's right leg to wedge it carefully in the crook of his elbow, his breath caressing the nape of Viktor's neck, and he slowly pushed in. Viktor clutched at the arm around his chest, his breath catching in his throat before escaping in a low moan. At first, Jayce moved slowly, but each thrust was stronger than the last, as if he wanted to sink deeper inside him each time his hips slammed against Viktor's back. Viktor gasped and shivered in his arms.
"Jayce -"
Jayce nibbled at his throat, marking his skin with renewed passion, and he suddenly moved faster, drawing a cry of ecstasy from his partner. Despite the shivers running through his whole body, Viktor found the strength to keep from drowning, to keep himself afloat above the waves long enough to find the right words.
"I love you," he gasped, "I love you, Jayce...
- I love you too. Gods, V, I love you so much."
Viktor felt the wave grow, grow, grow, drowning the entire world in its swirl, and his last lucid thought was for Jayce and for the future.
"Promise me," he managed to pant between two moans, "promise me that you'll come find me in Zaun.
- I promise."
And with that sentence, reality and its pain, along with the tear that rolled down Viktor's cheek and the one that had just fallen on the back of his neck, faded away, replaced by Jayce's skin against his and the pleasure boiling in his veins.
***
The next morning, Viktor rose at dawn and noticed that Jayce had already left the room. He heaved a sigh and ran an exhausted hand over his face, worn out by a sleepless night. He retrieved his jacket and suitcase – much fuller than the day he arrived – and, leaning on his new crutch, he made his way to the entrance hall to drop off his belongings. When he noticed two bags already waiting for him there, he frowned and walked stiffly into the dining room.
"May I ask why your bags are packed?"
Jayce turned to face him, a determined look on his face. "Because I'm coming with you."
There was a brief moment of silence before Viktor flinched. "No you're not.
- Oh but I am.
- Jayce, you can't come with me. If you go back to Piltover, the Council will know, and your research will be thei-
- Fuck the Council."
Viktor was speechless, stunned by his partner's statement and by the agry determination in his voice. "Excuse me?
- They won't be able to take anything from me because they can't force me to build anything for them.
- But you love creating, it's your passion. You're not going to give it up just to follow me!
- And that's why everything we make together will be in your name, and I'll leave all my notes and research on Hextech here, with Mel and Elora.
- You came here to make your dream come true, you're not going to leave it behind. I refuse to let you give it all up for me.
- You are my dream!"
Jayce's cry reverberated off the walls and Viktor froze, staring at him with round eyes as he continued. "For years, I thought I wanted to create magic and give it to the world, but in fact, all along, it was you I was looking for. All I want now is to stay with you, with my partner."
Viktor distinctly felt tears burning his eyes, and all his answers, all his rationality, fell silent, replaced by an emotion that made his voice tremble. "And you're my dream too..."
Jayce smiled. "Then I'm coming with you.
- But you...
- I'm so sorry to disturb you, gentlemen, but would it be possible to let me speak for a few minutes?"
They jumped violently, so absorbed in their discussion that they hadn't seen Mel and Elora approach, a small smile on their lips. "I think you'll be pleased to hear what I have to tell you.
- Mel," Jayce moved closer to her, "I'm sorry, but I'm going to leave with Viktor today. I know we were supposed to wait a little longer, but I..."
Mel raised her right hand, and he fell silent. "As I was saying, I'll only be asking for a few minutes of your time." She turned to Viktor and her gaze softened. "Elora and I are working on a treaty that will allow scientists – Academy graduates or not – to no longer be dependent on political decisions."
Viktor's eyes widened, stunned by Mel's sudden sincerity as she continued in a calm tone. "To that end, once the new law is accepted – and I know it will be because we've been incredibly specific and they'll be drowned out by insignificant details promising wonders to those unable to read the small print at the bottom of the pages – we will recruit ten new members of the Council: five scientists from Zaun and five from Piltover. We'll then have a Council made up mainly of scientists, and after a few months, we'll hold a vote and separate the two Councils: the Political Council, unchanged, and the Scientific and Academic Council, made up of these ten new members."
Mouth agape, eyes as round as saucers, Viktor let his gaze go from Mel to Elora and from Elora to Jayce. And since he alone seemed surprised, since he apparently was the only one to realise that Mel had lost her mind, he huffed. "Is this a joke?
- Absolutely not."
He opened and closed his mouth several times, searching for words and trying to find support in Elora and Jayce, but they both just nodded. It was then that Viktor knew Mel wasn't lying... And that this was really what she and Elora had been working on since arriving in Ionia... On a law that would create a fairer Council of scientists, a Council that would free Jayce from its grip and allow more scientists to have a chance of having their research funded.
Still, he couldn't help but sigh. "Far be it from me to offend you, Mel, but even if it's an ambitious and exciting project, we're all lucid enough to know it won't work.
- Really? And why wouldn't it?
- Wh-… Well, first of all, because among the five Piltovian scientists, there are bound to be some who are closely or remotely linked to the current members of the Council and who will therefore be bought off.
- That's why the recruitment process will be extremely scrupulous.
- And for the Zaunite scientists," he hissed, "will the recruitment be as scrupulous? Will it focus on the same things or will it be discriminatory?"
Mel calmly folded her hands on the front of her dress. "The questionnaire will be identical. No one will be discriminated against based on their place of birth.
- Very well then, let's say they're recruited, all ten of them: what happens when the Piltovian scientists refuse to work with their Zaunite counterparts on the grounds that they're from Zaun?"
He felt annoyance rise in his chest at such naivety. Mel wasn't stupid, and neither was Elora: they knew that prejudices were rooted in people's minds. They themselves had carried the ideas and internalised them for years before opening their eyes, so how could they believe things would be so simple?!
Did they really think that no-one in Zaun had ever dreamed of a fairer world?!
Did they really think they had accepted the order of things without ever dreaming of anything more?
Feeling Viktor's anger rising, Jayce put a hand on his shoulder as Mel resumed softly. "I didn't say it would be easy, but it's a collaboration, an outstretched hand and a hope for a better future. That's why the recruitment will be scrupulous: because we'll select scientists who can put their differences aside to work together to make the world a better place, by separating science from politics. I want to believe in this project, and I want to believe in a first union between our two cities."
Viktor shook his head with a weary, mocking sigh. Of course, this project was beautiful and it was a dream that generations of Zaunite scientists had nourished, but unlike Mel and Elora, he knew that the reality was far more complex than that, and that it would take more than just a piece of legislation and strict recruitment to make this plan work. They were delusional.
There would be problems, tensions...
They weren't living in a fairytale, but in a cruel reality.
It was a beautiful dream they had, but it was still a dream.
And dreams didn't come true in Piltover or in Zaun.
Viktor wanted to shake them up, force them to spend a few hours in the fissures and in the Lanes so they would understand how different reality was from their ideal, but even so, he knew they would be unable to put themselves in the shoes of a Zaunite who had suffered discrimination, hunger, fear, envy, anger, injustice, and insecurity all his life. "And what does this have to do with my leaving?" Viktor found the strength to ask, as much to change the subject as to keep his composure.
"I'm offering you the possibility stay with us for a few more weeks – four, to be precise," Mel added, taking four tickets from her pocket, "while we finish proofreading this law. When it's ready, we can go back to Piltover together. And once it's established, the new Scientific Council will fund your project. Your ventilation system will be the first invention to inaugurate this Council."
This time, Viktor let out a small, mirthless laugh. This was definitely getting better and better. Either Mel and Elora were completely delusional, or they genuinely thought he was an idiot, and he didn't like either scenario. "Oh really now? And what if the law is rejected and this foolish dream of a new Scientific Council never sees the light of day?
- In that case, I promise to fund your project myself."
Viktor froze, swallowing his remarks as they died on his parted lips. His thoughts raced in his mind, distrust and anger battling with hope and boundless relief… Then his gaze darkened and he hissed. "With your funds or with of Noxus' and its army's?
- With my own funds, of course. I will finance you personally and no army will have a say in your research, neither Piltover's nor Noxus'. This is a solemn promise, Viktor. Your invention will remain in your name, and you'll retain its full rights, unless you wish to share them with Jayce. Your dream will improve the air quality in Zaun and save lives, and it'll remain your dream."
For a second, Viktor found himself dreaming, believing every word Mel said, and he had to hold on to his crutch to keep from staggering.
He saw himself working peacefully in a lab without having to worry about funding his project. He saw the ventilation system installed in Zaun and cleaner air blowing through the streets he had walked as a child. He saw the statistics on lung disease gradually decreasing. He saw himself going in search of the young Zaunite scientist who had once told him about her project to plant flowers deep in fissure to purify the air and who would be a perfect fit on this new Council. He saw the hope for a better world of which this project would be the first brushstroke, the first step toward something better.
He saw the light at the end of the endless dark tunnel that had been his life.
Then, reality caught up with him, and he swallowed when the voice, though distant, hissed.
You can't trust Pilties.
No... Of course... But these Pilties were different. He wanted to believe Mel was sincere, but he couldn't be sure without taking a huge risk.
When Viktor spoke, his voice was a little less assured than he would've liked it to be. "How do I know you're telling the truth?"
Mel smiled a soft, peaceful smile, as if reading his every thought. "You can't. You have to trust me, just as I've come to trust you. But I have something that can serve as a peace offering... And a token of my sincerity."
Elora moved closer to Mel, her hands still clasped behind her back, and they exchanged a smile before Mel continued. "I was touched by your honesty and your courage. I know how difficult it is to take that risk, but I was pleasantly surprised by your sincerity and your willingness to be honest, both with Jayce and with us. I know your affection for him is genuine, and I'm glad you were able to reunite after all these years. As you know, I was also particularly touched by your story and by the reason you were expelled from the Academy."
Viktor tensed, his hand tightening on his crutch, but she reassured him with a nod.
"As soon as you told us about this incident, I took the liberty of contacting Professor Heimerdinger, and since then I've been working with Elora to be able to offer you this, as a token of my good faith but also as an official apology from the Council. I want you to know that if you accept it, it will in no way force you to work with the new Council or with me, depending on how things unfold upon our return. It's a gift, a way to make things right."
Elora handed him a document and Viktor recognised the Academy's logo as well as the Council's. He frowned, parted his lips on a question... But he suddenly paled, and the sentence choked in his throat when he suddenly recognised the format and nearly fainted.
For a little over seven years, he had lived with his nose buried in official correspondence and typographical rules. He knew how to distinguish an original from a forgery.
This wasn't a fake.
This was an authentic document, the only one Viktor had always refused to create despite his anger and the injustice of his situation.
A degree with his name on it, already signed by Mel on behalf of the Council and by Heimerdinger on behalf of the Academy.
Viktor's heart pounded violently in his chest, his breath quickening and becoming increasingly hoarser, and he barely felt the arm Jayce put behind his back to support him. All sounds had died away, replaced by a high-pitched hissing in his eardrums, and the world seemed to fade away, reduced the simple piece of paper that had haunted him for so long, so much so that he barely heard Elora add softly. "We've been planning this since you told us the truth. That's why we're a little behind with our project, because Mel was in contact with Professor Heimerdinger to correct the Council's mistakes."
Viktor felt like he was going to faint, as if the oxygen was no longer reaching his lungs, and as if the emotion was choking him, trying to drown him. He turned to Jayce, mouth agape and legs wobbly. "D-did you...
- I didn't know anything about it," his partner answered with tears in his voice.
Jayce looked Mel in the eyes and murmured a silent thanks, which she accepted with a smile. Then she stepped forward, stopping beside Elora and directly in front of Viktor.
"On behalf of the actual Council," she announced solemnly, "I wish to formally apologize for the unfair treatment you have suffered. And I present you with your Academy degree with the rank of highest distinction and with full honours. All that's missing is your signature. As well as on the contract committing me to finance your project in the event the new Council doesn't see the light of day," she added as Elora presented him with a second document.
Viktor was speechless, stunned, totally disoriented, and unable to utter a word.
She's lying.
You can't trust Pilties.
You can't trust-
You can't-
You-
His free hand found Jayce's, then his gaze went from Elora's beaming smile to Mel's peaceful eyes... And there, he found the truth.
Viktor struggled to contain the tears that blurred his vision – and that would have stained the precious document – and he let go of Jayce's hand. With trembling fingers, he delicately took the degree and his thumb slid over his name, his date, and his place of birth...
And when he smiled, his voice was hoarse.
"Thank you…
- You're more than welcome."
Viktor swallowed hard, struggling to find the right words. "Therefore, if you'll have me... I'd be happy to wait another month before going home with you."
Mel smiled back, tenderly squeezed his shoulder, and then, without them really knowing who had initiated it, the four of them found themselves pressed together in a hug made up of laughter and tears.
And Viktor let himself melt into the bubble of happiness that was growing in his heart and all around him.
Finally, the voice fell silent, replaced by a softer one.
You can trust some people.
The right people.
Notes:
I hope you liked this chapter! I promised you the drama wouldn't last long!
Things are finally getting better, for Viktor as well as for Jayce, Mel, and Elora :') But it's not quite over yet, and there are still a few challenges to overcome in the next and final chapter ;)
See you soon for the epilogue, and thank you for your incredible support <3
Chapter 13
Summary:
Viktor and Jayce finally present their project the Council, but will Mel and Elora's plan work? And will Viktor finally get the recognition and closure he deserves?
Notes:
Hi everyone! There it is: the last chapter of this story! I can't believe we've already reached the end of this journey! What a ride! I'll say it again in the notes, but I still want to thank everyone who read this story and who either left kudos or sweet and supporting comments, it really makes me so happy <3
I hope you'll enjoy this epilogue :D
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Piltover, six months later…
Viktor nervously adjusted the left cuff of his shirt and then his collar, but the feeling of discomfort and suffocation didn't go away. Standing to his left, Jayce leaned over him. "Are you all right?
- Oh yes, everything is fine. I feel like I'm dying, but yes otherwise I'm feeling perfectly fine," he sighed, feeling a bead of sweat roll down his spine.
- Don't worry, V: they're going to love you.
- You know I can't speak in public without literally throwing up.
- But we've practised and I'm here to help you, okay? As soon as you feel bad, let me know and I'll take over."
Jayce drew soothing circles on his partner's upper back, just below the nape of his neck, and Viktor let himself go against his hand with a sigh, closing his eyes for a few moments to forget the world for a second.
The last time he had waited in this corridor had been seven years ago. At the time, he was proudly clutching the results of his research and was about to introduce his future thesis in the hope of getting the assistant title, of opening the door to a brilliant future. Then his life fell apart... And the simple fact of being back here put him in a state of emotion he couldn't bear. Even if a little anxiety was in order, and quite natural given the circumstances, he hated losing what little control he had over his body.
Viktor took a deep breath and opened his eyes again, forcing his heartbeat to slow down. In any case, all they could do for now was wait. According to the plan drawn up six months earlier, Mel and Elora were currently attending the Council meeting, the first meeting with all the members – the original members and the newly recruited scientists – since their return from Ionia five months earlier. If all went well, when the doors opened at the end of the meeting, the new law would have been approved and the separation between the Political Council and the Scientific and Academic Council would finally be effective.
This was the reason why Viktor and Jayce had arranged to meet the Council today rather than the day before: to take advantage of the opportunity to present their research to the new Council made up of the ten scientists.
In theory, everything was perfect... But for everything to work, the separation between the two Councils had to be effective... And while the original members had miraculously agreed to ten scientists joining their ranks thanks to Mel and Elora's hard work, Viktor wasn't sure that convincing them to separate science and politics would be crowned with the same success.
But as he had no control over the matter, he could only cross his fingers and hope that the second part of Mel's plan would work.
"Do you remember the day we bought our flat?"
Viktor turned to Jayce who was watching him with a quiet smile on his lips, looking totally at ease in his red, white and gold suit... The same colours that were scattered here and there throughout Viktor's outfit, from his brace to his crutch to his burgundy shirt – his favourite – and his white and gold coat. Viktor let out an amused sigh and rolled his eyes, well aware of what Jayce was trying to do... Grateful for the distraction and the real mental escape Jayce was offering him, Viktor huffed. "I remember you standing in the living room, in front of the bay window."
They exchanged an amused glance, and a feeling of peace and emotion poured into Viktor's chest as he remembered the moment when, at the end of the visit, he had looked at Jayce standing in front of the large window, bathed in sunlight and with an charmed look on his face. It was then that he knew that this was where he wanted to live with his partner, in a place filled with light and warmth. He had taken Jayce aside, and without needing to say anything, simply by exchanging a glance, they had smiled, nodded, then had gone the owner and offered a price, determined to leave the premises with the keys.
The flat wasn't that big, it wasn't even close to the standards Jayce had gotten used to over the last seven years, but it was spacious enough to allow them to convert a room into a lab and above all to benefit from unparalleled luminosity with a bay window that reminded them of the one in Viktor's bedroom in Ionia. And even better than the bath and shower in the bathroom, the building was equipped with a state-of-the-art lift that won them over immediately. They had immediately imagined themselves there, dozing on a couch, eating or cooking together, working on their projects...
He knew why Jayce was bringing him back to this moment, why he was inviting him to concentrate on something else: by choosing to live together, they had already achieved the most important part of their dream. It was also what Jayce had told him on their first night together in their flat, when he had knelt down in front of the bed and opened that little box that seemed to contain all the happiness and love in the world.
" All I want is to be with you. Will you share that dream with me? "
And Viktor hadn't hesitated for a second. Breathless and voice hoarse, he had sincerely answered that this was what he wanted too, and they had laughed and cried at the same time as they had agreed to unite their futures forever, bound by their love and by the engagement rings forged by his other half.
Soon, they would be wed.
Soon.
But for now, even that perspective drawn from his wildest dreams couldn't totally drown Viktor's anxiety.
Jayce's hand found his and he placed a kiss on his knuckles, on the ring that adorned his finger. "Don't worry, my love. Whatever happens behind that door, the ventilation project will be funded and your dream will come true."
Viktor smiled and returned his embrace. "Our dream."
They exchanged a knowing glance, then the door opened violently, startling them, and two men stormed out of the room. "This is an outrage," shouted the smaller of the two, "an outrage, do you hear me?! You'll hear from me!"
He passed them without even looking at them, but the second Councillor, a thin man with blond hair slicked back, slowed his pace to a halt and hissed. "Jayce Talis...
- Councillor Salo, how are you?
- Don't give me that. I know you had something to do with this masquerade.
- I don't know what you're talking about. Was the meeting about anything sensitive?"
Salo was about to answer when he noticed that Jayce wasn't alone, and he studied Viktor's features before hissing. "You... I've seen you somewhere before."
Viktor clenched his fists, glowering. "Indeed."
There was a brief moment of silence before a flash of recognition seemed to cross Salo's face, and his lips twisted into a grin. "Yes... You're the Zaunite who fooled Heimerdinger to attend the Academy and thought he could pretend to the title of assistant. (He let out a mocking sigh.) I never thought you'd still be on the scientific scene, or even alive.
- Well, I'm tougher than I look," Viktor grumbled, "I was saddened to hear that your protégé was unable to keep his position as an assistant, what a shame for him... And for you, of course. How long was he in place before he was dismissed? Eight months? Or was it nine? The exact number escapes me but it couldn't have been more than ten months, yes?"
Salo looked at him from head to toe with obvious contempt, and when he stopped at the symbol of House Talis on his leg and on his coat, he smiled again. "Ah, I see: you've fulfilled your ambition and become the Man of Progress' assistant."
Of course, the aim was to hurt him, to make him clench his teeth and fists and swallow his anger, but actually, Viktor was absolutely delighted that Salo had been so quick to snap. He had expected that he would have to throw even more metaphorical punches at him to get him to be even more insulting.
When Viktor felt Jayce stiffen with fury beside him, he grinned smugly. "Eh... Not quite. Unlike your protégé at the time, my life ambition has never been to be anyone's assistant."
Jayce put a hand on his shoulder in a protective gesture, towering over the Councillor, and his gaze was dangerously dark as he growled, teeth clenched. "Viktor is my partner."
Salo flinched, even taking a cautious step backwards, and Viktor added, fighting the petty urge to raise his left hand and wave his fingers to show how correct this term was on several levels.
"If I were you, I'd watch your language, Councillor: we're both very particular about that title.
- Wha...
- You see, we're working together on a joint project that we've just come to present to the Council but, for some reason that escapes me..." Viktor squinted and added, a tone lower, looking falsely contrite. "It looks like they don't want you here any more... Or maybe we have misunderstood the situation?"
The Councillor's face flushed with fury and his lips curled into a fiery scowl as he took a step forward.
"How dare you, you...!
- Come now, Councillor Salo, you can see that these gentlemen have an appointment and you're holding them up," a female voice intervened in a brittle tone.
Viktor stiffened and they found themselves facing Cassandra Kiramman, flanked by an elegant lady dressed in crimson and a man of tall stature, three of the four Councillors Mel had been sure she could convince... And judging by their calm and resigned attitude, she had clearly been right. Salo tried to retort, but Jayce took a threatening step forward and Viktor said softly. "It was a pleasure to talk with you again, Councillor."
The man glared at them, muttered threats under his breath and stormed off. Cassandra Kiramman looked at them in turn, eyebrows furrowed and lips pursed, then gradually her face softened and she shook Jayce's hand. "I'm glad to see you again.
- You too, Councillor.
- I hope your vacation has given you the answers and the clarity you were looking for.
- It did, thank you.
- Hm. I'm delighted to hear that."
She turned to Viktor, who swallowed but didn't look down. They stared at each other for a while, and for a moment, he thought that she knew what he'd been doing for almost seven years and that she was going to report him... That everything would be lost in a second because he'd been careless... A trickle of icy sweat rolled down his back and he gripped the handle of his crutch tighter. Salo had never been a real problem: the man was greedy and evil, but he was easily manipulated and impressionable... Quite the opposite of Cassandra Kiramman. She was stern and straightforward, almost impossible to unsettle, and if she decided to ruin his life yet again, no one could stop her... Not even Jayce or Mel.
After what seemed like endless seconds, the Councillor finally returned his slight nod and held out her hand. "Thank you for bringing him back, Viktor. I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself if anything had happened to him while his mother entrusted him to me.
- ...I'm glad I could help, Councillor."
As the other two Councillors moved away, Cassandra leaned forward slightly and whispered, so low that only he could hear her, "I have, of course, asked Detective Clavel to destroy his findings about you. You'll never be in danger again."
Viktor felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up, but as he parted his lips, she simply shook her head. "Mel told me everything. I'm truly sorry to have been responsible for your misfortune. I hope this helps you to forgive me."
She straightened up, adjusted a crease in her impeccable skirt and, after giving each of them a strangely sincere and slightly sad smile, she walked away.
After a brief second, Viktor sighed at the same time as Jayce, and it was then that they both realised they had been holding their breath. But they didn't have time to express their relief, because Mel and Elora were already inviting them closer, smiling. "The Scientific Council is waiting for you, gentlemen."
Jayce burst out laughing and hugged them both. "You've done it! You're incredible!"
Viktor took a step towards them, determined to thank them and celebrate this first victory with his friends - his family - but he froze when he saw a small figure approaching hesitantly, and it was as if his heart dropped in his heels.
"Ah... My boy."
In seven years, Heimerdinger had hardly changed at all. The only difference was in his downcast, sheepish look, where he had once been so bright and sparkling with energy. Viktor harboured a mix of conflicting emotions towards the man who had been his mentor during his Academy years: there was gratitude and admiration for everything he had done for him, of course, but there was also disappointment and anger at his betrayal and silence... And these opposing emotions had been battling for years without one side emerging victorious. This man had offered him a chance, trained him and promised him success before abandoning him, betraying him and turning his back on him, permanently engraving in his mind the maxim encouraging him to always remain alone to avoid suffering... And it wasn't a signature on a degree that would heal the wound.
So Viktor contented himself with a simple greeting in a bitter voice. "Professor."
Heimerdinger smiled sadly – at least, that's how Viktor identified the movement of his thick moustache – and an uncomfortable silence stretched on for several long seconds before the professor realised that his former student was not going to say anything more. So he resumed slowly, cautiously.
"I'm glad to see you're doing well. I'm sure that with this new Council, your project will be in good hands.
- Our project," Viktor corrected him firmly.
Heimerdinger glanced at Jayce and huffed. "Oh... Yes, of course."
He crossed his hands behind his back, as if waiting for something, perhaps a thank you, but Viktor kept his lips pursed and his teeth clenched. Just as Cassandra Kiramman had done, Heimerdinger's help with his official graduation wasn't enough to stop him feeling anger towards them, but it was tinged with a hint of relief, and he felt that was enough.
He owed these people nothing.
Not even a semblance of polite or comfortable conversation.
Finally, as if he had understood that he should expect nothing from his former student, Heimerdinger sighed resignedly and apologetically.
"I'm truly sorry for everything you've had to go through. None of this would've happened if I had stood up to the Council back then...
- Indeed."
His mentor let out a small laugh despite the icy tone in which Viktor had spoken. "You've always been very straigthforward, my boy, it's one of your many qualities. I just want you to know that I can't wait to see what heights you and Jayce will reach, and that I'll be watching your projects evolve with genuine pride."
With a heavy heart, Viktor nodded silently, and Heimerdinger gave him a small nod before walking away, his shoulders slumped. Viktor watched him disappear at the end of the corridor, hesitating for a moment to call him back and offer to have a longer chat... But he remained motionless, his hand clutching his crutch.
There was nothing more to say.
The bond was broken.
But at least he could move on.
"V."
When Viktor turned around, Jayce was holding out his hand with a bright smile. "They're waiting for us."
Viktor swallowed, sketched a trembling smile on his lips, and took his partner's hand. Together, they walked through the high door which closed behind them, Mel and Elora promising to wait for them in the corridor, and they faced the new Scientific Council. In front of five scientists from Zaun and five from Piltover, they presented their ventilation project, Viktor blessing the presence of Jayce who took over as soon as he felt himself losing his footing.
When they fell silent after around twenty minutes, out of breath and with their hearts pounding, the ten members of the Council exchanged whispers, notes and sidelong glances. Then, after debating for a few seconds, a young woman with thick brown curls held back in a bun adjusted her glasses and crossed her hands on the desk, a broad smile on her lips.
"Your project is a bold one, gentlemen, and I think I speak for my colleagues when I say that it has the potential to save lives. Besides... What better way to inaugurate the new Scientific and Academic Council of Zaun and Piltover than with a humanitarian and health project led by a representative from each city?"
Viktor felt the warmth his chest grow with happiness and fought back the emotion that made his hands tremble as he replied, "Thank you, Councillor Young."
Each member of the new Council added their signature to the contract committing them to funding their research, and when Jayce and Viktor finally held the document in their hands, when they met Mel and Elora in the corridor, they fell into each other's arms, laughing and crying at the same time.
The voice hadn't spoken to him in six months, his heart project was finally coming to fruition, and he was sharing his daily life with the love of his life.
All was well.
Perfect, even.
At last, everything was back in order.
At last, he could live his life as he wished, surrounded by those he loved and who loved him back.
Viktor squeezed Jayce's hand in his, and the ring on his finger seemed to heat up against his skin when it touched his partner's.
***
And in their bedroom, carefully placed on Viktor's desk, just below his framed diploma, the sun painted the dust on the typewriter with a golden halo.
Notes:
I promised a happy ending, and here it is <3
Many thanks again to everyone who left a comment, liked or simply read this fanfic! I'm sincerely overwhelmed and touched by the support this story received and by the adorable comments I got to read weekly (you can't imagine how happy it all made me). I love you all so much and I can never thank you enough for your support <3
I'll be back soon with a fic I had the privilege to write for a dear friend of mine (and yes, it will be spicy) <3 I should be able to post it next week ~
I'm also working on another jayvik fanfic, this time in a Modern AU that will focus on a violinist and a luthier. It's still in the veeeeery early stages (general outline is done and I'm drafting the first chapter), so I'll see you in a few months ;D
Feel free to come and chat with me on Twitter or on Bluesky !
Thank you so much for everything, and see you soon!
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mououng on Chapter 1 Tue 01 Apr 2025 01:34AM UTC
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